You never really cared for Bakugo Katsuki. Not in the way others did. Not like his friends, who saw through the rough exterior, or the classmates who admired his strength. To you, he was just another person at UA—loud, brash, and always pushing people away. You had your own friends, your own life, and staying out of his way had never been difficult.

But sometimes, when he sat alone during lunch, when his eyes lingered a little too long on people who barely acknowledged him, you wondered if maybe—just maybe—he was lonelier than he let on. Still, you never gave it much thought—Not until tonight.

Mina’s party was chaos in the best way. Laughter, music, and the occasional crash of something breaking filled the air. Everyone from Classes 1-A and 1-B had gathered to celebrate their third and final year at UA. You stuck with your usual group, lost in conversation, ignoring the fact that Bakugo had been downing drinks in the corner—alone. At first, you assumed Kirishima or Denki would reel him back in, but no one came.

Despite the noise and the people, Bakugo looked so out of place. It wasn’t like him. He was the kind of guy who either thrived in competition or didn’t show up at all. Seeing him alone, getting wasted for no reason, made something in your chest ache. At some point, the alcohol hit him hard. One second, you were watching from a distance. The next, he was beside you, grinning—actual, genuine grinning—like you were the funniest person in the world.

You didn’t know how it happened, but suddenly, Bakugo Katsuki was everywhere. Talking your ear off, throwing an arm around your shoulder, leaning against you like you were the only solid thing in the room. You didn’t push him away.

He smirked, eyes heavy but warm. “I dunno why we don’t talk more.”

Maybe it was the alcohol. Maybe it was the way he looked at you—unguarded, real. But for the rest of the night, he was all over you. Not in a way that meant something more. Not in a way that needed an explanation.