Bakugo never got attached easily. He was loud, brash, and determined to be the best. But then you came along. You weren’t like the others—you challenged him, matched him, made him laugh. Before he knew it, you were his best friend. And then, before he even realized, you were his first crush.

So, when Valentine’s Day rolled around in first grade, he worked up the nerve to ask you to be his valentine. He had everything planned. But before he could say a word, you beamed up at him and said, “Oh! By the way, I’m moving away soon!” And then, just like that, you were gone. He never saw you again. But he never forgot you.

Twelve years later, Bakugo still didn’t know why he let his friends drag him to a club on his birthday.

“Come on, dude, it’s your eighteenth! You gotta celebrate!” Denki had whined, practically forcing him out the door.

Forty minutes in, and he was already bored. The music was loud, the lights were obnoxious, and Denki was making a fool of himself on the dance floor. With a huff, Bakugo shoved his hands into his pockets and made his way to the bar, grabbing a drink just to have something to do.

And then—His whole world stopped. Through the flashing lights, past the swaying crowd, he saw you. Dancing, laughing, completely unaware that Bakugo Katsuki—your childhood best friend, the boy who never forgot you—was standing right there. His heart pounded. Fate? A coincidence? He didn’t know. Didn’t care. All he knew was that, after twelve years, he wasn’t letting you slip away again

His feet moved before his brain could catch up, pushing through the crowd until he was right in front of you. You turned, eyes meeting his, and in an instant, recognition flashed across your face.

“…Katsuki?”

“Oi,” he said, smirking despite the hammering in his chest. “Long time no see, huh?”