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the gym was alive with the sound of sneakers squeaking against polished floors and weights clanking in the background. y/n adjusted the strap of her bag as she stepped inside, feeling slightly out of place amidst the crowd. she wasn't here for herself, mina had dragged her along, insisting that it was the perfect way to de-stress after an intense week of assignments.
"come on, y/n! you've been glued to your laptop for days. a little movement won't kill you," mina had said, practically bouncing with excitement as they'd walked over.
y/n wasn't entirely convinced. but now, as she scanned the room for mina, her gaze froze on a familiar figure across the gym.
bakugo.
he stood by the weight rack, a towel slung around his neck, his usual scowl etched on his face as he adjusted the plates on a barbell. the tight black tank top he wore showed off his toned arms, and for a moment, y/n found herself staring, until mina's voice snapped her out of it.
"y/n! over here!" mina's cheerful voice cut through her thoughts, snapping her back to reality.
y/n blinked and turned toward the treadmills, where mina stood waving enthusiastically, her grin as infectious as ever. she hurried over, shaking her head in an attempt to banish the image of bakugo from her mind, but as they started their warm-up, her thoughts betrayed her, drifting back to him.
she glanced in his direction again, her curiosity getting the better of her. to her surprise, bakugo's eyes flicked toward her briefly, locking onto hers for a fleeting second. her breath hitched again, and something in his expression shifted—just slightly. it wasn't a smile, or even a softening of his usual scowl, but the recognition was there. and then, just as quickly, he looked away, turning his attention back to the barbell in front of him.
mina, ever perceptive, didn't miss the exchange. she slowed her treadmill and leaned slightly toward y/n, a knowing glint in her eyes. "well, well," she said with a teasing lilt. "did I just see a certain explosive someone look your way?"
y/n groaned, already regretting her decision to come. "don't start," she muttered, pulling her towel off the side railing and dabbing her forehead.
"oh, I'm definitely starting," mina teased, her grin widening. "come on—what's the deal? is there something going on between you two? anything other than that rooftop text?"
y/n rolled her eyes, pretending to be exasperated as she stopped her treadmill. she grabbed her bag and set it on a nearby bench. "there's nothing going on. we haven't talked since that text, and honestly, i don't think he's even interested in me."
mina raised a brow, her grin not faltering. "are you sure about that? because the way he looked at you just now says otherwise."
y/n sighed, tossing her towel over her shoulder. "mina, he looks at everyone like that—like they're just in his way. it doesn't mean anything."
mina's grin turned mischievous as she leaned against the treadmill railing. "yeah, sure. keep telling yourself that, y/n. but trust me, i've been around bakugo long enough to know he doesn't look at everyone like that. you're special, babe. admit it—he's totally into you."
y/n scoffed, shaking her head. "you're imagining things. and even if he was—which he's not—I'm not exactly his type."
mina crossed her arms, her tone turning slightly more serious. "you know, you're really good at overthinking things. just go with it, y/n. if he's interested, he'll make a move. and if he's not... well, no harm in having a little fun with the idea, right?"
before y/n could respond, a loud clang echoed across the gym, drawing their attention back to the weight rack. bakugo had just set the barbell down with a thud, wiping his hands on his towel as he glanced in their direction again. his gaze lingered for a moment longer this time, and y/n felt her stomach twist nervously.
mina nudged her, her grin back in full force. "see? totally into you."
y/n groaned again, burying her face in her hands. "i should've stayed home."
but despite her protests, a small part of her couldn't shake the tiny flicker of excitement that sparked every time their eyes met.
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the rhythmic clang of weights hitting the floor echoed around the gym, but bakugo hardly noticed. his focus was locked on the barbell in front of him, every lift accompanied by a silent determination to block out the noise—not just the noise of the gym, but the chaos in his own head.
why was she here?
he'd spotted her the moment she walked in, looking slightly unsure of herself, as if the gym was the last place she wanted to be. mina was dragging her around like she owned the place. bakugo hadn't meant to stare, but his eyes kept flicking in her direction, no matter how much he told himself to stop.
he adjusted the weights on the bar, trying to shake the image of y/n from his mind. it wasn't like they'd spoken much since that rooftop conversation. hell, he didn't even know why he'd sent her that text in the first place. it wasn't like him to care about stuff like this. and yet, every time he caught her in his peripheral vision, he felt his concentration slipping.
across the room, her laughter cut through the noise, drawing his attention again. She was talking to her friend, shaking her head with that annoyed-but-amused look she always got when someone teased her. Bakugo scowled, gripping the barbell tighter. What the hell was wrong with him?
his hands twitched around the towel hanging from his neck as he wiped the sweat from his face, stealing another glance before she could notice. her eyes met his for a brief second, and he quickly looked away, muttering a curse under his breath.
"focus, idiot," he growled to himself, gripping the barbell again. but no matter how hard he tried, the image of her standing there—her messy hair, that slightly flustered expression—stayed burned in his mind.
this wasn't supposed to happen. he doesn't get distracted by anyone. and yet, y/n was proving him wrong in every way possible.
