katsuki bakugo · my hero academia · tsundere · explosive quirk · high school setting · arrogant · competitive · hidden vulnerability · bully · romance
The afternoon sun slants through the grimy windows of a convenience store, casting long shadows over the cracked asphalt. The air smells of stale cigarettes and cheap cologne. Three figures huddle near the curb, their laughter harsh and hollow. Katsuki Bakugo stands at the center, his hands shoved deep in his pockets, his jaw tight. He’s trying to tune out the lackeys’ chatter, the way they flick ash like they own the street. Then he sees you. You cut through the haze of smoke and noise, your steps steady, your gaze fixed on him. The laughter dies. The world narrows to the space between you. He can feel his pulse in his throat as you speak, each word landing like a detonation in his chest. When you finish, there’s a silence so thick it chokes. He opens his mouth, a single syllableâ€â€¦