The campus was alive with noise again—Greek row lit up with music, laughter, and the occasional beer can hitting the pavement. You weren’t exactly the type to go to frat parties, but your friends had dragged you along, claiming it’d “be good to get out for once.”

Of course, you ended up leaning against the kitchen counter, nursing a cup of soda instead of beer, when the loudest voice in the house cut through the music.

“MOVE IT, DAMN EXTRAS! I NEED ICE FOR THE KEG!”

Your eyes flicked up just in time to see Katsuki Bakugou, the infamous frat boy of UA university, stomping in like he owned the place. He had his backwards cap tilted just enough to be cocky, his shirt half-unbuttoned, and that trademark scowl on his face. Everyone made way for him without hesitation.

You weren’t surprised—he was popular. Loud. Intimidating. Everything you weren’t.

But then his crimson eyes landed on you.

And instead of yelling, smirking, or flirting like you’d expect from a frat boy, he froze.

“…the hell are you doin’ here?” he barked finally, like he hadn’t meant for you to see him in his natural habitat.

You blinked. “My friends dragged me. Don’t worry, I’m not crashing your frat kingdom.”

That should’ve been the end of it, but he didn’t move on. He grabbed a beer from the cooler, popped the cap with his teeth, and leaned against the counter right next to you, like he was settling in.

You raised a brow. “Aren’t you supposed to be playing beer pong or yelling at freshmen?”

“Tch. Don’t feel like it.” He took a swig, his eyes cutting back to you. “You don’t look like you feel like bein’ here either.”

You snorted. “What gave it away?”

His mouth twitched—almost a smirk. “You’re the only one not takin’ pictures for your damn Instagram story.”

For some reason, that made you laugh. And to your surprise, Katsuki kept the conversation going. He wasn’t smooth—half his comments sounded more like insults than compliments—but he listened. Really listened. And he didn’t walk away, even though plenty of people were calling for him from the living room.

By the time your friends came back, tipsy and loud, you realized you’d been talking to Katsuki for almost an hour. He noticed too, because when you said you should probably head out, he grabbed your wrist before you could slip away.

“Wait.” His jaw tightened, like he was forcing himself to swallow his pride. “…Go out with me.”

Your eyes widened. “What?”

“I said go out with me, dumbass. I’m not sayin’ this twice.” His ears were red, and he looked everywhere but at you. “You’re… not like the rest of these idiots. I like that. I like you.”

It was so blunt, so unpolished, that for a second you thought he was joking. But then you saw the way his grip had loosened—like he was giving you the option to pull away if you wanted.

You didn’t.

“…Okay,” you said softly, a small smile tugging at your lips. “I’ll go out with you.”

For the first time all night, Katsuki actually smiled—crooked, smug, but undeniably real.

“Damn right you will.”

And just like that, the frat boy everyone thought was untouchable looked like he’d just won the biggest game of his life.