The arcade was alive with neon lights, a dizzying display of flashing colours and sounds bouncing off the walls. Valerie's excitement was palpable, her eyes catching sight of her favorite game—Skee-Ball. With an excited tug on Bakugou's arm, she pulled him toward it.

"This one's my favourite," she said, her face lit up in a wide grin.

Bakugou raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Of course, you like something simple."

"Simple but fun," Valerie corrected, already grabbing a ball, her focus sharp. She lined it up and sent it rolling up the ramp. The ball bounced off the rim and landed in the 30-point hole. Not her best, but respectable.

Bakugou crossed his arms, watching with a look that was half-amusement, half-admiration. "Not bad," he muttered.

Valerie chuckled. "Better than you could do, I bet."

He scoffed, narrowing his eyes but not bothering to argue. He liked watching her like this—focused, competitive, fully immersed. It was one of the things about her that pulled him in, the quiet intensity she had in everything she did.

After a few rounds of Skee-Ball, Valerie's attention shifted to the corner of the arcade, where a motorcycle racing game caught her eye. "Let's try that one next!" she exclaimed, tugging at Bakugou again.

He eyed the game, giving her a teasing smirk. "You think you can handle it?"

"Bet I can beat you," she grinned confidently.

She hopped onto one of the bikes, gripping the handlebars as the game revved to life. The countdown flashed, and when it hit zero, she hit the gas, taking off down the virtual racetrack. But as the first turn approached, she realized it was harder than it looked. She wobbled wildly, nearly tipping off the machine more than once.

Bakugou chuckled under his breath, shaking his head. "You're gonna fall, dumbass."

"I got this!" Valerie shot back, though her unsteady grip said otherwise.

Before she could crash completely, Bakugou stepped up behind her, his presence steady and solid. He slid onto the bike behind her, his chest pressing against her back. His hands covered hers on the handlebars, and his grip on her waist was firm but gentle, grounding her.

"Lean into the turns," he muttered in her ear, his breath warm against her skin, sending an unexpected shiver down her spine.

Valerie's heart raced, but it wasn't just from the game. The heat of his body against hers, the way his voice rumbled so close—it made it hard to concentrate. But she listened to him, leaning with him, their movements synchronized. Together, they navigated the sharp turns, Bakugou's hands guiding her with confident precision.

"See? Easy," he said, his tone softening, his voice quieter now.

Valerie grinned, her pulse quickening for reasons far beyond the virtual race. They crossed the finish line, first place flashing on the screen, but Valerie barely noticed. She turned to look at Bakugou, realizing just how close they were—faces inches apart, his breath mixing with hers. The moment stretched, electric, her eyes locking with his.

Her voice was soft, almost teasing. "Guess I just needed a good teacher."

Bakugou's eyes lingered on her, something unreadable flickering in them. The arcade noise faded away, and for a second, it felt like they were the only two people in the world.

Valerie, caught in the heat of the moment, started to step off the bike, but her foot caught awkwardly, and she stumbled forward. Before she could hit the ground, Bakugou's arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her up against him. Her breath hitched as she felt his strong grip, his face inches from her neck.

"You okay, dumbass?" he muttered, his usual roughness softened by concern.

Valerie laughed nervously, still wrapped in his arms. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks."

Bakugou's hold on her loosened slightly, but he didn't pull away. His voice dropped to a low murmur, almost as if he hadn't meant to say it aloud. "You smell nice..."

Valerie's heart skipped a beat, her cheeks flushing. That was it—her moment. She had to say it now.

"Katsuki," she started, her voice soft and a little unsteady. "I... I've been wanting to tell you something."

Bakugou tensed slightly, his eyes narrowing, but he didn't step back. He was waiting.

"I like you," Valerie admitted her words hanging in the air. "I've liked you for a while now. Being around you... it just feels different."

For a moment, Bakugou said nothing and broke their gaze, and Valerie felt her stomach twist. His expression was conflicted, his usual confidence faltering. She bit her lip, ready to step away, to brush it off as a mistake.

"It's okay," she said quickly, forcing a smile. "You don't have to—"

Before she could pull away, Bakugou grabbed her arm and yanked her back, pulling her into a deep, heated kiss. Valerie's eyes widened in shock, but then everything melted away—the arcade, her worries, the world. She kissed him back, her hands gripping his shirt as the intensity of the moment overtook her.

Bakugou kissed her like he fought—passionately, fiercely, and without holding back. His hands stayed firm on her waist, pulling her closer as if afraid to let go. Valerie could feel his frustration, his want, everything he'd been holding back pouring into that kiss.

When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathless, their foreheads pressed together. Bakugou's face was flushed, his usual scowl replaced by something softer, something vulnerable.

"I feel the same way, okay?" he muttered, his voice rough. "I'm not good at this shit, but I... I like being around you. A lot."

Valerie's heart swelled, her fingers gently brushing his cheek. "That's all I needed to hear."

He huffed, trying to look annoyed, but a small smirk tugged at his lips. "Tch. You're not making this easy, you know."

"Neither are you," she teased, but the warmth in her voice made him smirk even more.

***

As Valerie and Bakugou stepped out of the arcade, the crisp night air wrapped around them, cooling their flushed faces. The stars glittered above, bright and vivid against the dark sky, while the soft glow of the street lamps illuminated their path back to the dorms. The light cast delicate shadows on Valerie's face, making Bakugou's eyes linger on her longer than usual. He found himself admiring the way her hair shimmered under the lamps, the way her eyes seemed to sparkle in the soft lighting, and the gentle smile she wore. For a moment, he forgot about everything else, caught up in how stunning she looked.

They walked side by side, an almost charged silence between them, both replaying the events of the night in their heads. Bakugou kept sneaking glances at her, his usual confidence wavering as the reality of what had happened began to sink in. He had kissed her. He liked her. And now, he had to face what came next.

Valerie, sensing his unspoken hesitation, broke the silence. "So... what does this make us now?" Her voice was light, teasing, but there was a hint of genuine curiosity underneath.

Bakugou's face immediately reddened, his hands tensing in his pockets. "Damn it, why do you have to say it like that?" he muttered, clearly flustered. He had never been good with words, especially not in situations like this. It was a vulnerable moment for him, and the way Valerie was looking at him made his heart race.

Valerie chuckled softly, stepping closer to him. "I'm just asking," she said gently, her smile widening. "Unless you don't want me to be your girlfriend?"

His heart skipped a beat at her question, and for a moment, Bakugou froze. His usual bravado crumbled, leaving him feeling exposed. "Tch... of course I want that," he finally muttered, his voice barely audible, his hand running through his hair in frustration. He looked down at her, his crimson eyes softening as he added, "You're mine, got it? I don't care what anyone else thinks."

His declaration was gruff, but there was a fierce protectiveness behind his words, and it made Valerie's heart flutter. She nodded, smiling warmly up at him. "Got it."

As they continued their walk, the atmosphere between them seemed lighter. Bakugou couldn't stop sneaking glances at her, every flicker of light from the street lamps illuminating her features, making her seem even more captivating. He never thought he could feel this way about someone—so drawn, so mesmerized.

When they finally reached the dorms, Bakugou paused for a moment, taking in the sight of her under the dim lights outside. He felt something stir in him—something new, something he wasn't used to.

Inside, Mina and Kirishima were waiting, perched on the couch, their excitement barely contained. They had clearly seen everything at the arcade and were now waiting for the two to return. Mina's eyes sparkled with mischief as she saw them walk in together, and Kirishima gave Bakugou a subtle thumbs-up, grinning ear to ear.

"Hey, guys," Valerie greeted casually, though she couldn't hide the small smile on her face.

Kirishima smirked, trying to play it cool. "Yo, how was the arcade?"

Before Bakugou could even respond, the door behind them opened, and Denki strolled in, sipping on a milkshake. He paused mid-sip when he noticed Valerie and Bakugou standing unusually close together. It took him a second to process the situation, and then his eyes widened in realization. He spat out his drink in shock.

"Wait... HOLD UP!" Denki blurted out, staring between the two. "YOU AND BAKUGOU?!"

The room fell silent, and everyone froze, eyes turning toward Denki, who was now staring wide-eyed at Valerie and Bakugou.

Bakugou's expression darkened immediately, a murderous glare fixed on Denki. "Dunce Face, I swear to god—"

Denki's jaw dropped further, completely ignoring Bakugou's threatening stance. "VALERIE, WHAT THE HELL?!" He dashed across the room, positioning himself between them like a human shield. "BAKUGOU, YOU STAY BACK! WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY COUSIN?"

Valerie burst out laughing at Denki's over-the-top reaction, while Bakugou clenched his fists, sparks flying from his palms. "You wanna die, you idiot?!"

Denki dramatically threw his arms out, still standing protectively in front of Valerie. "I WILL DEFEND HER HONOR!"

Bakugou's eyebrow twitched, and his hands lit up with small explosions as he lunged at Denki. "I'm gonna blow your dumbass to pieces!"

Denki yelped, scrambling behind the couch as Bakugou gave chase, explosions popping in his wake. "I WAS JUST KIDDING, MAN! CHILL!"

Valerie could hardly contain her laughter as Bakugou chased Denki around the room, Kirishima and Mina barely holding in their amusement. Finally, Bakugou stopped, spinning around to face the group.

"Listen up!" Bakugou barked, his voice booming through the common area. The room fell silent, everyone staring at him expectantly. He took a deep breath, and then, with all the confidence he could muster, he declared, "She's mine. Got it? Anyone tries anything with her, and they're dead."

The room was stunned for a moment before Mina let out a squeal of excitement, and Kirishima pumped his fist in the air. The rest of their classmates cheered and whistled, the energy in the room electric.

Denki, still catching his breath from the chase, raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright! No one's gonna mess with her!" He then glanced at Valerie, winking dramatically. "But seriously, Bakugou? You sure she's safe with you?"

Bakugou's glare could have set Denki on fire. "Shut up before I actually kill you."

Valerie, still laughing, stepped forward and grabbed Bakugou's hand, lacing her fingers through his. "Come on, Katsuki. Don't blow up the dorms."

He grunted, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Tch. Fine." But as they sat down together, Bakugou couldn't help but feel a sense of pride as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer. She was his now, and that was all that mattered.

Mina winked at Valerie from across the room, mouthing, "Told you!" Valerie just smiled, her heart warm and full as she leaned into Bakugou. Everything felt right.

***

During the Arcade...

Mina and Kirishima had taken their undercover mission very seriously. As they tailed Valerie and Bakugou to the arcade, they donned what they thought were "perfectly inconspicuous" disguises—Mina wore a giant pair of sunglasses and a pink wig, while Kirishima had a fake mustache glued on, along with a floppy sunhat that made him look like a tourist lost in the city.

They ducked behind arcade machines, peeked over counters, and whispered exaggerated updates to each other.

"Oh my gosh, they're totally flirting!" Mina hissed excitedly, her fists clenched as she crouched behind a claw machine.

Kirishima adjusted his ridiculous hat, peeking over the side of a basketball game. "They're getting close! Bro is totally going to make a move! I can feel it!"

As Bakugou led Valerie to a quieter area away from the motorcycle game, Mina felt almost too much tension. She was practically bouncing on the balls of her feet. "He's gonna kiss her. HE'S GONNA KISS HER!" she whisper-squealed, clamping her hands over her mouth to keep from screaming.

Kirishima, eyes wide and practically glowing with excitement, slapped Mina on the shoulder as if to say, Get ready! They crouched lower, their eyes glued to the couple.

Then, it happened. Bakugou kissed Valerie. A fierce, passionate kiss that left Mina and Kirishima stunned in silence—for about two seconds.

"AHHH!" Mina squealed in a whisper, shaking Kirishima by the shoulders. "He DID it! They kissed!"

"I KNEW IT!" Kirishima fist-pumped the air, looking like he was about to burst with pride. "That's our guy!"

The two tried to compose themselves, but their excitement was overwhelming. Kirishima slapped his "serious" face, but the fake moustache wobbled dangerously, barely hanging on. "Okay, we gotta go. If they see us, we're busted."

Mina nodded quickly, though her entire body vibrated with the energy of someone who had just witnessed the greatest rom-com finale. "Right! Let's get back before they do."

In an exaggerated display of spy-level sneakiness, they ducked, rolled, and scrambled out of the arcade, Mina almost tripping over her own feet in her rush. Kirishima's hat flew off mid-dash, but he didn't care. They were on a mission.

By the time they got back to the dorms, they tried to act casual, huffing slightly as they settled on the couch. Mina removed hher wig, but the moment Valerie and Bakugou walked in, she gave Kirishima a wide-eyed look. They both straightened up like nothing had happened.

When Valerie greeted them with a simple, "Hey guys," Mina could barely keep her excitement in check. She shot Kirishima a grin, and he gave Bakugou a subtle thumbs-up.

"Yo, how was the arcade?" Kirishima asked, his voice overly calm.

Mina bit her lip, trying so hard not to squeal. Mission accomplished

---

Yay!

Please vote and leave a comment. 

PlusUltra