softie ᝰ katsuki bakugo ✓

like having you around

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the morning passed in a haze, the minutes stretching longer than usual as y/n tried to focus on her lecture, her thoughts constantly drifting back to the unexpected conversation she'd had with bakugo. he hadn't acted like himself, and neither had she. a part of her wondered if she was reading too much into it, but another part couldn't deny the thrill of anticipation swirling in her chest. that moment on the terrace, the way everything had shifted between them, lingered in her mind more than she cared to admit.

the professor's voice droned on, but y/n barely registered the words. she could feel the nervous energy buzzing in her veins, a mix of confusion and excitement that made it hard to concentrate on anything else. what was she supposed to make of it all? it wasn't like she and bakugo had become instant friends or anything. they'd just shared a moment. but something in her couldn't shake the feeling that it was more than that. or at least, it could be.

when the professor finally dismissed the class, y/n snapped her notebook shut, taking a little longer than necessary to gather her things. the small movement gave her time to think, but it didn't help much. her heart raced with uncertainty, and her mind kept returning to the same question: what now?

a coffee. that's all it had been. but even so, the memory of how she'd leaned into bakugo's presence, how he'd felt so... unexpectedly steady beside her, kept replaying in her mind.

she glanced at her phone as she packed her bag, and it buzzed with a message from bakugo:

"heading to the coffee shop now, lecture just ended. you still good for coffee?"

y/n smiled to herself, her fingers hovering over her screen for a moment. she quickly typed back, "yeah, just got out of class. see you there."

the sun hung low in the sky as she stepped out of the building, casting a warm glow over the campus. the slight chill in the air made her tug her jacket closer around her shoulders, but she hardly noticed. her thoughts were already on the coffee date ahead of her. what had started as a simple invitation from bakugo now felt more significant, though she wasn't sure why.

as she approached the café, the familiar scent of coffee filled the air, and she spotted bakugo standing near the door, looking a little out of place but still impossibly cool. he glanced up as she walked toward him, and there was a flicker of something in his eyes—maybe anticipation, maybe something else. she couldn't tell.

"hey," she greeted, a soft smile tugging at her lips.

"hey," bakugo replied, giving her a small nod as he pushed the door open for her. "you get that lecture over with?"

"yeah, finally," y/n answered, stepping inside and looking around for a place to sit. "i was starting to wonder if it was ever going to end."

"could've been worse," he said with a shrug, his usual gruffness slipping back into place. "at least it's over now."

she nodded, glancing at the menu board. "so, what's your go-to order here?"

bakugo raised an eyebrow. "i dunno, whatever you're getting. i'm not picky."

y/n chuckled. "i guess we'll find out."

they ordered their drinks, and as they took their cups and made their way to a small table in the corner, y/n couldn't help but notice how comfortable it felt to be with him. the awkwardness of the past seemed to have melted away, replaced by something more... easy, more natural. they didn't need to force conversation; it just flowed.

bakugo shifted in his seat, a rare moment of quiet settling between them as they sipped their drinks. for a while, the silence was comfortable, with only the background hum of the café filling the space. y/n glanced at him, wondering what was going on in his mind, but before she could ask, he broke the silence.

"you know," he said, his voice low, "i don't mind hanging out with you. it's... different, but in a good way."

y/n blinked, surprised at the honesty in his words. she smiled softly, her heart warming at the compliment. "i feel the same way."

bakugo looked down at his cup for a moment, almost as if gathering his thoughts before continuing. "i like having you around," he added, not meeting her eyes, though there was something about his tone that made y/n's chest tighten in a pleasant way. "you don't make things... complicated."

she raised an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly. "i'm pretty sure you like to make things complicated, though."

a small, amused smirk tugged at the corner of bakugo's mouth. "yeah, maybe," he muttered, but there was a sincerity in his eyes that made her heart flutter. "still... it's nice, having you here."

y/n wasn't sure what to say, but the words that came out of her mouth next surprised even her. "i like being here with you, too."

the atmosphere between them shifted just a little, a soft warmth spreading through her chest as she met his gaze. for a moment, neither of them spoke, both caught in the rare quiet that existed between them.

finally, bakugo cleared his throat, his usual confidence returning. "by the way," he began, his voice nonchalant, "there's a party tonight. you should come. i mean, if you're not doing anything."

y/n blinked, a little caught off guard. she'd expected him to be direct, but the way he said it made her feel like there was more behind the invitation than he was letting on.

"a party?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "is that your way of saying 'i want to see you again'?"

bakugo grinned, his eyes glinting with that familiar spark of mischief. "maybe. or maybe i just want to make sure you're not stuck at home being all boring."

y/n laughed, shaking her head. "well, if you insist."

"good," bakugo replied, his grin widening. "i'll see you there."

as they finished their coffee, the conversation drifted naturally, but y/n couldn't shake the feeling that the invitation wasn't just about the party. there was something more between them now, something that had shifted in the quiet moments they shared. and despite the uncertainty, she couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement bubbling up inside her, eager to see what would happen next.