The UA campus wasn’t the same after the war. The laughter in the halls had dimmed, the hero course felt heavier — like it carried the ghosts of battles fought too soon.

You’d transferred to the Support Course halfway through your second year. It wasn’t out of ambition or fame — you just wanted to help rebuild. You’d always admired heroes, but after seeing the cost of what they endured, you realized the people behind their gear mattered just as much.

Your workspace was tucked in the back corner of the lab — quiet, organized, and smelling faintly of solder and metal polish. That’s when he started coming by.

Bakugou Katsuki. The explosive prodigy everyone had talked about — or whispered about.

The first time he walked in, it was with his gauntlet dangling off one arm, carbon scoring trailing up the side like battle scars that refused to fade. His expression was a mix of impatience and exhaustion.

"The damn thing cracked again,” he muttered, setting it on the table. “You the one fixin’ this?”

You glanced up from your bench, wiping grease off your hands. “Yeah. But if you’re looking for Hatsume, she’s on the other side of the lab.”

He scoffed. “I ain’t lettin’ her near my stuff again. Don’t need another damn laser cannon poppin’ out mid-fight.”

You smirked softly. “Fair.”

That was the first of many visits.

At first, he only came for repairs. You didn’t talk much—he’d sit nearby, arms crossed, sometimes watching you work in silence. Sometimes, he’d mutter small observations— “That seal’s loose,” or “It overheated here last time.” You’d reply with a quiet “Yeah, I noticed,” and keep working.

It became routine. He’d show up after training, sweaty and scowling, but calmer by the time he left. You’d learned how to read his moods — the subtle difference between frustration and exhaustion. The way he said “Tch” could mean a dozen things.

Sometimes you’d hand him the finished gauntlet with a small smile.

“Try not to blow this one up, okay?”

“No promises.” But his lips would twitch — a ghost of a smile that made your chest feel strangely warm.