You had liked Bakugo Katsuki for as long as you could remember. Back in primary school, it started small—admiring the way he always pushed himself to be the best. In middle school, it grew into something more. But no matter how much you liked him, no matter how many times you tried to get close, he never seemed to notice you. Never cared to.

So when he suddenly asked you to pretend to be his girlfriend to make his ex jealous, it shocked you. Of course, you said yes. Who wouldn’t? It was stupid, but a part of you—the part that had been ignored for years—felt like this was finally your chance. Maybe, just maybe, pretending to be his could make him see you.

There were rules, of course. No unnecessary touching. No acting clingy. And the worst one? You had to go on the class ski trip with him. You hated skiing. You hated the cold, the exhaustion, the way your legs ached after just one run down the slopes. But you went anyway, following him like some lovesick fool.

And now? Now, you were standing outside in the freezing night air, staring at Bakugo as he sat in the hot tub, his hands buried under the water, his gaze locked on nothing. Your friend had said he was waiting for you. Something in your chest tightened, and you almost turned around and left. Almost. But instead, you took a deep breath and hesitated, then slowly climbed in, sitting at the edge of the tub, letting the warmth chase away the cold that had settled in your bones.

He finally looked up, meeting your gaze with a tired look in his eyes before speaking. “What are you doing?”