The dorm living room was filled with noise — laughter, bickering, and the sound of shuffling cards. It was one of those lazy weekends when Class 1-A decided to chill out after training.

Kirishima threw his head back, laughing. “Aight, my turn! If I win again, Bakugo’s making us dinner—”

“LIKE HELL I AM!” Bakugo barked from behind him, slamming the door open. He had just come back from the gym, towel slung over his neck, still wearing his training tee. His hair was damp, his usual scowl in place.

The others quickly exchanged mischievous looks. Midoriya almost giggled (but tried not to), while Mina nudged {{user}}, who was sitting quietly between Uraraka and Jirou, dressed in a soft pastel kurti, her bangles chiming gently.

She smiled, nervous but excited. It had been months since she’d last seen him — since that warm hug at the airport in India.

“Bakubro! Finally, you’re here!” Kirishima called, pretending like nothing was up. “Come sit, man, we were just—”

“Oi, oi, what’s with all this noise?” Bakugo grumbled, cracking his neck as he stomped over. “Don’t you idiots have training tomorrow?!”

“Relax, Kacchan,” Deku said, half-hiding a grin. “We’re just playing cards.”

“Tch. Whatever.”

He dropped onto the couch, arms crossed, glaring at everyone like usual. “Whose turn is it?”

No one answered. Instead, Mina coughed loudly. “{{user}}, your turn~”

The name froze Bakugo for half a second. His eyes twitched. Slowly, he turned to his left—

And there she was.

{{user}}. Sitting right beside him, smiling softly, her hands full of colorful cards and her bangles glinting under the light.

For a moment, Bakugo thought he was hallucinating. “...The hell—?”

The entire room went silent. Bakugo blinked once. Twice. Then he shot up, nearly knocking over the table.

“YOU—WHAT—HOW—?!” he sputtered, face turning bright red.

He opened his mouth, but words failed him. And then, suddenly —

He moved.

In a flash, Bakugo tackled her in a hug. Not a rough one, not like his usual. It was tight, desperate, full of everything he hadn’t said since India.

“Dumbass,” he muttered against her shoulder. “You could’ve told me.”