There they are. The fucking "Bakusquad". Lame ass name. Seriously...just...what the fuck…  Whatever I usually ignore them anyway. They're just the usual group hovering around my....friend....(UGH! I'll never get used to that term) they're Blondie's friends...fuck dude...

I was just about halfway through lunch when the usually empty seats around me screeched.

"

Who the fuck are you? And why the FUCK do you think it's okay to sit with me?" I growled at the person trying to socialize with me. It was some pink tramp...no seriously like completely fuckin pink! Her eyes are black where the whites should be and her irises are... gold? What the fuck? Weird.
 
She's accompanied by some plain looking dude with weird elbows, black hair, and big ass teeth. The pink bitch is playfully smacking his arm with an overly fake look of shock across her face, squealing.
 
"NO WAY! DID HE REALLY SAY THAT?" Pinky shrieked.
 
A dude with bright yellow hair with some weird ass zig-zag mark was laughing obnoxiously. Hmmm, reminds me of Pikachu.
 
Plain face hummed in confirmation. The group basically ignored my outburst as they sat in their chosen seats. They look like they might be in my class but I don't pay attention to 'extras'.
 
ANYWAY. Pinky finally looked over to me, ignoring my outburst with a smile that seemed mischievous. I may not pay attention to 'extras' but I do have ears. I've (unintentionally) overheard many other students talking to each other and most of it are things Mina had told them.
 
"Mina said that Midoriya has a crush on Todoroki!"
"What? Really? But Todoroki wouldn't like him back, right?"
"Well, Mina said that she heard that..."
Blah blah blah ugh gossip is a waste of fucking time.
 
Mina is referred to as the Gossip Queen, affectionately by some and with disdain by others. Her 'Royal Lackeys' Sero and Kaminari are never too far from her fucking highness.
 
Pinky cocked an eyebrow at me, "We see you walking to school with Bakugou in the morning, and at the gym together after school every day." She says, resting her chin on her curled up fist. Her black eyes seem to study me mischievously. "You obviously don't socialize with other students so I have a question to ask you. Why?"
 
My glare faltered at her question. I didn't expect that at all, let alone so fucking blatantly and to be honest I don't know why to be honest. He's always just kinda there and I'd rather have him waiting for me every morning then be without him. I felt like shit when he wasn't there like there was a hole in my chest. When I see him in front of the coffee shop I can...relax...
 
I must've zoned out because a cough snapped me back into focus. All three pairs of eyes were trained on me. Fuck that's creepy. Grabbing the rest of my lunch I got up from my seat
"Mind your fucking business, Pinky!" I yelled out loud. Numerous of other 'extras' snapped their heads in our direction at my sudden outburst.
 
I glanced around annoyed at the unwanted attention but when looking to my left towards the end of the lunch line I see that Blondie Bastard was all but running over with his tray towards my table. He looked kinda worried, not that I cared or anything.
 
I gave the wide-eyed group one more snarl before walking away, throwing out my remaining meal with too much force. I couldn't control my anger to the point that my quirk activated instinctively and my tray was (accidentally) destroyed.
 
"Tsk"
 
"Stop!"
 
A firm grip on my shoulder jolted me back, forcefully turning my body to face the asswipe dumb enough to touch me. I mindlessly swung my arm with my fists clenched, still hardened.
 
*BOOM*
 
An explosion deflected my attack.
 
"What's wrong?" The persistent blonde said frantically. I feel kinda bad about attacking him. Biting the inside of my cheek for a moment to gather myself. I close my eyes tightly, inhaling deeply through my nose.
 
"Get...The...Fuck...Away...From...Me." My teeth clenched tightly, hoping it would sting.
Pinky's 'Why' flooded my mind again filling me with more fucking questions. FUCK!
 
My hardened hand gripped his still firmly planted hand from my shoulder, removing it. I couldn't muster my usual cold glare at him. He looked shocked and pained by my words. I felt a sharp pang in my chest when I turn to leave again.
 
I made my way to the gym to blow off some steam. I've pushed countless fucks away but I have never felt this fucking shit about it. I need to stop thinking about pink bitch's question and the heart-wrenching expression on Blondie's face when I...FUCK...Whatever, a light workout before class should help clear my mind.
 
BAKUGOU'S POV

His words hurt but not as much as his lack of emotion displayed. I spun myself around to my apologetic looking friends, their heads hung low. They can't look at me in the eyes.

"What did you do?"
 

My voice is weak and I am so desperate not to let my tears fall.

Mina spoke up first,

"Why do you try so hard for him? I think you should be careful with being so close to him"

I would normally just tell them it's no big deal. Our route is similar and our quirks are compatible. They know that my explosions could potentially kill someone so I always hold back but with the tough redhead, I can finally let loose. It was so difficult to gather the courage to ask him to spar with me for the first time. I had nervously observed him during class and at the gym. I needed to be sure he could actually take it. I had never felt so alive letting loose all the pent up nitroglycerin in my palms.

"I'm at least on good terms with everyone so why not Kirishima? Sure, he's rough around the edges and growls at anyone trying to talk to him but he's not a bad person. He just seems like the kind of guy that prefers his privacy and he seems to trust me for whatever reason. He's the strong silent type. You don't need to worry about me being close to him" I responded carefully as to not trigger the Gossip Queen into thinking anything is up. So far I think I'm in the clear.

I don't want this to ruin all the effort I put in to being his friend! I've been chipping away at his social barricade for months! He just pushed me away because my friends crossed the line.

I don't want to lose him

My thoughts kept going back to him, bringing up some fond memories and things that I didn’t realize. I noticed that he had never mentioned anything about the smell of my quirk. It's not a bad smell in particular, according to others (I've been told it's like caramel), I'm just not too fond of it. It's a little embarrassing to explain all the time. We often work out together so he must've noticed it by now and ignores it, thankfully. He seems to know when I'm bothered by something and is just kinda there, listening, albeit, not always intently. Ya, I know that I talk too much but he's still there tolerating me.
 

I like his red spiky hair but it's always down by the end of our after-school training from all the sweat and movement. It's long enough to brush his shoulders.

I admire the way he values strength and manliness. He has a silent fire in his crimson gaze that I find hard to look away from as he exudes confidence in every situation.

He doesn't say much but when he does his voice is deep and gravelly making my knees weak and I can see his badass sharp teeth. I wonder what he looks like when he smiles.
 

Sometimes he bites his lip piercing from the inside of his mouth when I call him Red. I don't think he knows he does it but when he does my heart does this flip...um ya I don't know why I mentioned that... sorry...but I like that the scar above his right eye makes him look tougher than his eyebrow piercing above it. Although, I like that too.
 

He turns away when I tell a bad joke. He's trying not to smile but I see it in the corner of his mouth.
 

I notice the way his brows unfurl when he sees me waiting for him every morning and when I came back from being sick for three days he even looked relieved. Maybe even happy (in his own way). I finally felt like my efforts paid off and that he actually might've missed me. He finally seems to be trusting me. I don't want him to feel like he should close off again.
 

A hand on my shoulder broke me from my trance. Blinking a few times remembering what just occurred moments ago I responded to Mina softly.

"He's different." Saying softly.
 

Mischief was all over her face at my answer, her eyes darted over to a smirking Kaminari and Sero.

I realize now that I have made a mistake...
 

"H-hold on I mean.. Ugh.. you know he's just...I just want to help.. um...."

Cursing myself for being so obvious in front of my observant friends, I shut up real quick, looking away. My face must be as red as Kirishima's hair.

Mina's grin was wider than before,

"You like him, don't you?"
 

Sero and Kaminari are cackling like a couple of hyenas.
 

"Guys! Come oooonnnn.” I groaned out.

"Don't play with me like the others. I'm not your gossip material."
 

Wiping an invisible tear Kami spoke through the last of his giggles.

"Nah man, we don't mean it like that."

Sero chimed in,

"We're sorry it's just that you guys are like polar opposites, it's hilarious!"

Mina added,

"Buuuuuut, you do like him right?"  

All three of them waggle their eyebrows in unison.

"Well, we're sorry but we were just a bit worried about his intentions with you."

Mina wraps her arms around my waist, trapping me in a friendly embrace. I pat her fluffy pink curls as I normally do.
 

"We're sorry Bakubro."
 

Of course, I'd forgive my bratty friends.

"You don't have to worry about those things. He just prefers to be left alone. He's not a bad guy, just driven by his goals. Just please don't bombard him like that again. He's not ready for the SQUAD."

"All right, that's enough come on I'm hungry"

My gut was still in knots over what Kirishima said but I'd regret not eating later on.

I'll give him some space for now and try talking to him before class starts.
 

When he didn't come back to class the knot in my stomach tightened with every passing minute.
 

Everyone wanted to know what happened to him, why didn't he come back after lunch.
 

Jiro mentioned that she saw him heading to the gym on her way to the ladies room.

"He looked kinda different than usual, maybe he got sick."
 

"Do you think it was about the argument at lunch? What were you guys fighting about anyway?" Midoriya nervously added.

I looked at the squad as they were so obviously avoiding eye contact with me.

Mina just looked up and pursed her lips to the side, while Sero and Kami suddenly busted out into whistles looking wildly in different directions.

This must be so hard for them to hold in. I silently thank them with my eyes rolling back to my old friend.

"It was just a misunderstanding. I'm sure he's fine."

Murmurs about Kirishima's well being and our 'fight' continued for quite some time.

After class, I ran to the gym to find the sweaty exhausted redhead.

KIRISHIMA'S POV
 
My light workout turned into three hours of bench presses. Every time I stop to rest, my mind would snap back to her question. ‘Why?’
 
Why? Why do I spend my precious time with that fucker?! Why do I like the way he smiles that shit-eating grin? Why do I feel so fucking comfortable with him? Why do I look forward to seeing him in front of the coffee shop every fucking morning? Why do I trust him?
 
This is too fucking much!!
 
I didn't want to think about that so I just added more weight and more reps until my muscles gave out from exhaustion. I activate my quirk just in time to avoid injury but goddamn I can't move. It's unmanly but I can't get up.
 
I can't escape from 'why' now.
 
Staring up at the ceiling my thoughts about Blondie invaded my mind. I'm not angry anymore, I'm kinda happy and calm while I think about the fucker. Mere thoughts of him calm me now too. Huh, why?
 
Maybe it has to do with the way his bright ass smile lights up the room and that it brightens up my day too. His ruby eyes never look away when I scowl and sometimes smirks like he knows something I don't.
 
He's fucking fearless when we spar, shit, he actually puts the fear in me. He's tough as nails to take a hardened fist to the face and still come at me for more. He challenges me in ways that I've never been challenged before.
 
He smells...delicious like smokey caramel.....it's because of his fucking quirk. Shit! Don't get all excited!
 
He's kinda self-conscious about it so I don't say anything. While we work out/spar the sweet aroma is at its most potent. I have to fight the urge to grapple him and lick his.....woah woah okay you get the point.
 
His stupid fucking jokes are actually a little funny but I hope he doesn't see my lips curl up when I turn my head.
 
His voice is soothing, deep but light and refreshing like a spoonful of honey in a hot cup of green tea. When he speaks my worries melt away. I get this chill up my spine every time he calls me ‘Red’, that drives me fucking insane but that sweet honey voice makes it feel so endearing.
 
His shitty ash blonde hair looks like a halo when the sun hits it just right. Like I have a personal angel. It helps that his caring joyous personality is angelic as it is.
 
He just...UGH FUCK... He makes me want to let him in. I want to tell him about what my dad...
My thoughts are cut off by a familiar honey voice.
 
"Yo, Red! So, this is where you've been huh? You missed the rest of the class and everyone was kinda worried."
 
I scoffed, "Ya right, they don't give a flying fuck..."
 
Blondie actually fucking yelled when he cut me off.
 
BAKUGOU'S POV

My blood boiled as he said that. I couldn't control the words that came out next as I interrupted him.
 

"Yes, they do! Everyone does. You're our classmate and we care about you!"
 

"I care about you!"
 

Oh shit! Oh shit! I can't believe I actually yelled at Kirishima and what the fuck did I say?! Gawd, I hope I didn't ruin anything...

KIRISHIMA POV
 
His words rang in my ears. I can't look at him. I've never seen him yell before. He didn't seem mad exactly but hurt. I guess people do care but I don't care about them. I only care about.... My thoughts were cut cut off again.
 
"You're my friend, Kirishima. I can't stand to hear you say that! At the very least I was worried and I very much fucking care..."
 
I don't talk much but in this instance, I have never felt more speechless.
 
After a few of the longest fucking seconds possible, I gather myself to look at him.
For the first time that I can remember, I feel a real smile dance across my face.
 
BAKUGOU'S POV

He's smiling. Kiri-fuckin-shima is smiling at me!

Why doesn't he smile more? His sharp smile is so soft and caring, I can't get enough! My chest feels so light and heavy at the same time. Lord have mercy, I swear my heart just skipped more than just a single beat.

His expression is gentle and his normally fiery, storm-ridden eyes are calm and relaxed as he responds to me
 

"You're my friend too, Bakugou."

The two friends both had the same thought at the same time.
 
But why does the mention of 'friendship' hurt so much.

A/N
Riot_Anime helped me to further edit and I'm so grateful! Thank you! I love you!

I love my awesome editors/beta readers 🧡
KiriBaku_luver my OTP!
Crazy_cat_bitch my sweet crazy lady!

InfernoFrost
I couldn't not use waggle (~^_^)~

I hope everyone enjoys, I'm still working on getting better. My writing style is weird but it is just the way I am, I guesssssssss 🧡

I can't find the original artist for the chapter cover, please let me know if you do so that I can credit them