Warning: Name calling, rumors

Word Count: 2,235

You knew coming back to school will be tough, but it's tougher than you thought. Everyone is isolating themselves from being related to you. You wouldn't blame them, but you were a bit angry because of how people easily believe false rumors. The rumors are getting out of hand or even being dramatized.

You had to watch your step and be on the lookout because you became disgraced in front of everyone's eyes. People tried to make yourself look like a fool such as taking apart your desk and chair screws to attempt on tripping you. You were getting sick of it. You knew you couldn't go eat your lunch in the inventory room, as usual, you would do or sit with your ex tables with his friends. You took a seat in the corner away from everyone.

Misaka was using her pass on skipping couple periods to get ordered materials that needed to be picked up from the shop. She is working on her project for the invention event. You ate quickly using your school's tablet to pull up the roster of all students in the hero course matching up with students from the support department. You scroll down for your name to have your eyes land next to the name, Midoriya Izuku.

You took a deep breath and gulped down your saliva before you double-tap to highlight his name and press the button to delete. Now it's official that he is free for any other students to take him if they like to and ask for his permission. You blow out from your mouth and scrolled up to the top to see the available names to be quite surprised to see one of the top 3 heroes in training from Class A-3 was available.

Bakugou Katsuki.

You have worked with him before and already know his measures. An idea suddenly appearing on your mind could be the invention you could do for his costume. Perhaps an upgrade from his current costume to changing some parts of his costume. As you open the drawing application to start sketching away on what his upgraded costume could look like and writing down some details would have to explain to him.

You had to present something to him to show what you could do. Perhaps other students brought ideas that he didn't like which concludes blunt rejection from his part. He is a very blunt person who doesn't sugar-code anything. He could reject you for numerous reasons but you know he uses his brain more than rumors, hopefully.

You get so sucked into your work. You didn't realize the person you were sketching ideas for was getting into argument with his friends on the other side of the cafeteria.

"Bakugou, that's a bad idea. It will affect your reputation." Kaminari Denki doesn't agree on what his friend was about to do and the rest of his friends agree to expect Kirishima and Bakugou.

Kirishima Eijirou is dating your best friend, Misaka, and couldn't voice out his thoughts. He just makes his mouth open to speak but he doesn't agree with them. He believes to know [Name] well enough with all interactions he had with you. You aren't a bad person, perhaps you simply make a mistake. Everyone is human. Everyone makes a mistake due to a lack of judgment.

"All of you are dumbass to believe those fucking dramatized rumors. You must be fucking blind if you didn't see how they behaved with that loser." Bakugou Katsuki abruptly stands up shaking off Denki's arm around his shoulder. He was walking towards you.

Kirishima looks at his back and looks down on his empty before standing up too. "They did have genuine feelings for Midoriya despite what everyone thinks. I have seen it first hand." Kirishima says before walking away from his table.

He recalls all those double dates with the two. The look of full adoration and happiness towards Midoriya couldn't be faked. For someone who was faking their love, they wouldn't worry about their well being as much as they did. They would scold him and create something even stronger than before to protect him from harming himself. He remembers hearing Midoriya named being yelled and dragged inside while his friend and himself were playing video games in the lounge area. Someone to fake to ensure that Midoriya was eating despite being so sucked into training. You would drag him out from outside because Midoriya skipped a meal which earns scold from you.

You even cook for him ahead of time each time.

No one would go to those extremes when they are faking the entire time.

He recalls the festival where Misaka dragged him away to hide when she spotted you and Midoriya holding hands while chatting away in your conversations. That look in your eyes could not be faked, it was genuine feelings behind those (eye color) eyes.

Meanwhile, Bakugou takes a seat beside you which startled the hell of you. He was staring at the sketches which resembled his costume. You must have been thinking of ideas before approaching him to be your model considering numerous students tried to approach him.

"Show me what you got." He commands before looking at you who was looking at him completely bewildered.

"Why are you here?" You were shocked that he approached you out of the blue.

"I needed a partner." He lies, as Kirishima sits beside you.

"It seems like you needed some companionship." Kirishima smiles causing your lower lip to tremble. Your eyes shined before you blink away your tears.

"Those rumors are ridiculous. Perhaps one is true but the rest.."

"Bullshit."

You crack a smile feeling a weird sensation in your chest, perhaps its relief that not everyone believes those rumors. Kirishima and Bakugou are trying to cheer you up in their ways.

Bakugou snatches the tables over causing you to jump in surprise. "Be gentle! It can be deleted easily!" You exclaimed as he looked over the sketches.

"Are you gonna explain or not?" Bakugou mocks you before you huff your cheeks with air.

"Rude!" You mumble and take the tablet back from Bakugou, placing it in the middle where both of them could see.

You use your tablet drawing pen to circle what you are talking about in a new layer that could be easily deleted without affecting the rest of your work. "There are numerous options you could, such as upgrading your whole suit or just upgrading your gear."

"Wouldn't it be expensive?" Kirishima thinking back at how much his costume upgrades cost, thankfully Fatgum agency is paying for it. His wallet hurts from just imagining it.

"Yes. But it is possible to get donors, especially Bakugou's reputation as a hero and mine as an inventor. However, I believe Endeavor wouldn't mind since Bakugou is gonna be working under him. Endeavor knows me personally since I have done his sidekick's gear upgrades. He knows I am about the quality of all of my inventions, not the price tag." You answered his question without any hesitation.

"Why are my gauntlets smaller?" Bakugou questions.

"I could make them smaller which could be better for you if you were to need to carry citizens or carry anything, in general, a lot easier than removing your whole gauntlets off to do things."

"The same amount of power." Bakugou questions before a smile comes to your lips.

"I could, but I thought you would like it to be in higher capacity." Your answer brought a smirk on his face.

Kirishima's eyes widened, "Bigger. Holy shit."

He thinks of Bakugou with his famous gremlin laughing and letting out bigger explosions but seeing the two of you. He can see imaginary horns on top of the two heads with arrow tails behind them while the two discuss further into his costume change.

It was entertaining but amusing how well the two got along as if the two have worked before. He could see Bakugou was impressed but ignited to test it out. You were explaining the different options in detail as Bakugou gave tips to want he would like.

Soon enough, the time was flying so quickly that the bell rings alerting students lunchtime was over which caused everyone to throw away their trash and put their trays where they supposed to be. Kirishima had already said goodbye to you before walking over to his classmate while Bakugou stayed behind to talk to you.

"Hand over your phone."

"Excuse me." You were confused about his request.

"Don't you want my fucking phone number. We can discuss when we could meet up." Bakugou angry mumbles and holds out his hand where you quickly dig into your pockets to pull it out and open it for him to enter his digits.

"You want to be a partner." You were double confirming and surprised how easily he accepted it.

"Yeah, Dumbass." He hands it back to you where he starts walking away.

You smiled softly before thanking him loudly since he was speed walking to his class. "Thank you!"

"Whatever!"

_____________________

Later that day, Bakugou texted you if you were free after school to discuss it over some food. You can't deny free food. You were waiting outside his classroom since your classes were already finished for the day. Usually, you would use this time to be the inventory but since you are technically banned from the room for a while. You are just using the tablet to draw out better visual ideas and sitting on the floor.

You had your earphones on while students walk by to go home due to classes ending sooner. There are just a couple minutes left for the bell to ring. The door slips open to walk out Aizawa who tiredly glances over to the side to see you minding your own business and drawing on the school's tablet. He taps your foot with his.

You get startled and take off your earphones. "Stand up before my students start tripping over you." He mumbles before walking away.

"Sorry. Aizawa." You immediately stand up and stuff away from your tablet into your bag before putting it on to only make eye contact with big brown eyes that were filled with irritation.

Uraraka Ochako.

"Why are you here? Deku doesn't want to talk to you." She harshly says pulling your heartstrings. You whine at the thought he probably doesn't want to even see you.

"I already know that." You mumble rubbing your arm in discomfort.

"I am here for Bakugou." You could see the confusion and disgust in her eyes.

"The rumors are true. You are trying to hook up with anyone."

Your eyes widen and gasp. "What the actual fuck! No. He is -"

"Their new partner as the model for the department event. Round face." They both turn around to see him towering over Uraraka easily with his height.

He walks beside the brown-haired girl. "You shouldn't easily believe rumors."

With his last words to his classmate, before grabbing your wrist and dragging you behind him. You try your best to keep up with him, pacing him and ignoring the stars on your back.

As Midoriya Izuku finally comes out from hiding in his classroom to stare at your back being dragged away by his rival.

He isn't surprised but he couldn't help but feel hurt.

He isn't prepared to confront you again, nevertheless being your model where you would need to casually be in contact with one another.

His hands curl into a tight fist on his back straps before turning the other side of the hall away from you being in his sight.

He knew you had to find a new partner since the two of you did not end in a good note, but terrible note.

He knows this event is important for your career as an inventor for heroes. As much as he wants to hate you for what you have done, but he couldn't pull himself to do so.

On the other side, you were surprised how students moved quickly to stay clear from Bakugou path.

However, people were gossiping over the sight of being together.

"Is she sleeping with him too?"

"That feral boy and the whore deserve each other."

Your eyes glance down to the floor. You just want to bury yourself into the hole and die. The rumors are getting out of hands. Your mask is starting to crack. It overwhelms how your reputation is being dragged through the mud like shit.

However, you were snapped out of it by a pull and soft squeeze from him make you look up at him with your tearful eyes.

"Focus on me, block them out." He murmurs loud enough for you to hear as he glares down at the student that even tries to block his path.

Your eyes widen at his advice. You know he is trying to bring you comfort in his way. He is a good person deep down around his sharp edges.

It also sounds like he is speaking from experience. There are numerous rumors about the feral boy from Class A from the beginning of their first year after the sports festival.

Perhaps that's why he always glares at nothingness when he is walking to block out everyone's whispers around him.

You stare at the back of his hair and see Bakugou in a new light.

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I would love to hear any predictions or theories, you guys have!

Feedback is appreciated!

Please be kind within the comments. I hope you are enjoying the story. Sorry for any spelling or grammar errors.