The lunchroom at U.A. was louder than usual, filled with overlapping conversations, trays clattering against tables, and the occasional burst of laughter from one side of the room to the other.

And right in the middle of it all sat you.

Bakugo noticed immediately.

Not because he was looking for you—he definitely wasn’t, according to him—but because some extra had practically draped himself over your table.

“Toji,” Sero muttered beside him, balancing his tray in one hand. “That new guy again.”

Kirishima grimaced. “Man… he’s laying it on thick.”

Bakugo’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

The new transfer student was leaning across the table toward you with a grin so fake it made Bakugo want to blast something. One arm rested on the back of your chair like he belonged there, the other running through his hair every thirty seconds like he thought he was starring in some romance movie.

“You know,” Toji was saying loudly, clearly wanting everyone around him to hear, “if you ever need someone to train with, I could help you personally. Wouldn’t want a pretty girl like you getting hurt out there.”

Bakugo stopped walking.

The air around him shifted instantly.

Kirishima felt it first and slowly turned his head. “Uh oh.”

Sero sighed. “He’s about to kill somebody.”

At the table, you gave a polite but awkward smile, clearly trying not to be rude. Bakugo could tell you were uncomfortable from all the way across the room.

Toji either didn’t notice or didn’t care.

“I mean seriously,” he continued, flashing another smug grin, “I don’t know how your boyfriend lets you walk around looking this cute without supervision.”

The sharp crack of Bakugo’s tray snapping in half echoed through the cafeteria.

Silence hit the room almost instantly.

Toji blinked.

Slowly, everyone turned toward the source of the noise.

Bakugo stood near the cafeteria entrance with a terrifying expression darkening his face, one hand still gripping the broken remains of his tray. His crimson eyes locked directly onto Toji like a predator spotting prey.

Kirishima carefully stepped back. “Yep. There it is.”

Sero muttered a quick prayer for the poor idiot.

Bakugo started walking again.

Each heavy step against the floor seemed louder than the last.

Toji straightened slightly, trying to recover whatever confidence he had left. “Oh, hey man—”

“Move.”

The single word came out low and sharp enough to cut glass.

Toji laughed nervously. “We were just talking—”

“I said move before I move you.”

The nearby students immediately scooted their chairs away.

You looked up at him, eyes widening slightly. “Katsuki—”

Bakugo ignored everyone except the boy standing too close to you.

Toji tried to keep smiling, though it faltered badly under Bakugo’s glare. “Relax, dude. Your girl can talk to whoever she wants.”

“She can,” Bakugo said coldly.

Then he leaned down slightly, eyes narrowing.

“But you’re annoying the hell outta her.”

Your breath caught.

Toji glanced toward you for confirmation, and the hesitation on your face answered for you.

Bakugo clicked his tongue.

“Thought so.”

Kirishima finally approached carefully, rubbing the back of his neck. “Maybe let’s not start a fight in the cafeteria…”

Bakugo scoffed, never taking his eyes off Toji. “Then this extra should quit acting desperate.”

A few students snorted into their lunches.

Toji’s face reddened instantly.

“I’m not desperate.”

“Really?” Bakugo deadpanned. “You’ve been following her around all week like a lost puppy.”

Sero nearly choked laughing.

You tried to hide your smile behind your hand, but Bakugo caught it immediately. His expression softened for half a second before he looked back at Toji with the same murderous irritation.

Then, without another word, Bakugo grabbed the back of your chair and pulled it—along with you—closer to him.

Protective. Certain.

His hand rested briefly against the top of your head as he glared down at the other boy.

“She’s taken,” he said firmly. “So back off before I get mean.”