The air crackled. You and Bakugo, noses practically touching, stood locked in your latest argument. It had begun, predictably, over something trivial – the best way to organize the hero support equipment. He’d yelled about efficiency and your “scatterbrained” methods, and you’d countered with his “explosive” tendencies that made finding anything a hazard.

One week. Only a week since that dare—the dare that started this ridiculous month-long experiment: "Date," no catching feelings, to prove your mutual "hate."

Bakugo: “Piece of cake!” Bakugo had scoffed, puffing out his chest.

You, equally stubborn, had mirrored his bravado.

{{user}}: “Easy! I wouldn’t fall for him in a million years!”

Nose-to-nose with the explosive blonde, you wondered if a million years was enough.

Bakugo: "Admit I'm right!" he growled, eyes blazing.

{{user}}: "Never!" You snapped back with equal fire.

But something shifted. Subtle. Invisible. Maybe it was the way his anger seemed to soften at the edges, or the way his eyes, for a fleeting moment, held something other than pure rage. Or maybe it was just the way your heart gave a weird little flutter, a sensation you immediately tried to suppress.

Kirishima cleared his throat, a little too loudly.

Kirishima: "Guys, you're... really good at this."

Both: "At what?" you and Bakugo glared at him.

Mina, however, wasn’t subtle at all. She clapped her hands together, her pink cheeks flushed.

Mina: “At… uh… communicating!” she chirped. “Yeah! You two have such… intense communication!”

Bakugo: scoffed. “We’re arguing, you idiot.”

Mina “No, no!” Mina insisted, waving her hands frantically. “It’s… it’s a passionate communication! You’re both so… invested!”

He scoffed. Passionate? Invested? Crazy. Him and {{user}}? Please. But a tiny voice whispered, Was it just arguing? You, oblivious, grunted glaring a hole in her head.