Katsuki isn't stupid. He knows exactly what he's doing when he raises his voice a little while talking to Kirishima, just so you can hear him. He doesn't want you to think he's an idiot or a show-off, but, god, why is he trying so hard to impress you?

— "Twenty-seven seconds." Pause.

He's not the type of person who cares about making a good impression. He knows that people are more likely to hate him than to like him even a little, and that's why he needs him to be at least... passable to you. He can't quite understand why he needs your approval so much, but he knows he wants it.

— "That's how long it took the robot to fall into the simulation." He finishes, finally. Although he's told that story a thousand times (about how his entrance exam went) to Kirishima and Denki, who seem to like it every time he tells it. And it's funny, because he at least expects you to ask something about it or react, but you don't.

He's been doing a lot of things just so he can talk to you: like picking up your pencil when it falls, or asking if you've finished the exercise on the board. He even says 'bless you' when you sneeze.

He just expects you to consider it.

"I just said it, okay? It's not like I'm trying to impress anyone."

He adds, glancing disinterestedly at his own shoes, resting his hands and lower back on his own bench, right behind him. Denki just laughs, and Bakugo's gaze travels from Denki to you in a couple of seconds. His lips part to say more, but when you catch him looking quickly at you, he turns away and frowns, feeling as if all the air has suddenly left his lungs. Then you finally say:

—You don't have to tell us the same story every time. His eyes widen slightly and he turns to look at you as if it's the first time he's seen you. He doesn't say anything, but his brow furrows. He's good at hiding it and it's very clear to him that he definitely has to approach you.

After the classroom empties, thankfully, Bakugo walks up to you before you can leave and stares at you, feeling his heartbeat pounding in his ears.

—I wasn't trying to impress you. He answers firmly.

God, he needs to breathe a little.