Chapter 1: Wednesday
Chapter Text
Seven Days before Valentine's
7:48 PM
____________________________
It starts off with Sero suggesting that Todoroki might even be able to swoon upperclassmen during their group study. That triggers Mina who was waiting for an opportunity to excuse the two-hour study session. She practically lightens up. Typical Pinkie.
“Pooks, that’s an understatement. Like, have you seen him? That’s a bombshell, sensational, cold-served, nauseatingly mouth-watering, hair-wrenching heartthrob for girls regardless of age! ” She puts one leg on the leather sofa and points straight up the ceiling. Like a pioneer figuring the secret of the moon.
Sero knows she declares all of that for the rest of the world to know just for the sake of saying something, but both of them know what she meant without having the ability to understand half of the words.
“And boys too, can’t forget them. Our pretty boy has a dedicated fan club run by the Management Department that sells exclusive photocards, somehow? and fanblog updates every Tuesday, ‘tis unbelievable!” she inhales deeply, “Hey, might even have some of the students from other schools dropping off chocolates and ribbons on Valentine’s, the expensive kinds like Ferrero Rocher.” Exhales before Mina looks in a certain direction. Wherever the direction is Bakugou wouldn’t rather gives a fuck about. Also that chocolate brand is cheap, she must have mistaken it for Lindt’s. Personally, he likes Meiji at the convenience stores. He would never buy those expensive ass br-
“Still, he has a competitor in regards to the attracting and romancing field. That’s none other than, drumrollll, Momo the cutie herself.”
“I agree. Uh, on the competent part; unless you don’t have eyes you can definitely tell she’s up there on the ranks with the ways boys act like complete stupid asses around her. One look upon them and it’s doomed.” Kyoka chimes in, with her focus on her notebook, she looks suspiciously frigid and talks in a straight, fast line, “No shade towards you Todoroki, but she has friends and connections with upperclassmen and underclassmen from other schools, there’s no way someone as talented, and beautiful, and kin-.”
Realizing it might be too late, Kyoka zips it up and accepts the blush reaching her eyebrows; She can sense Mina with widened eyes and her grinning from ear to ear. Physically can feel the embarrassment coming, she rolls her eyes up to the ceiling awaiting the inescapable hollering and teasing from the others, flattening into the cushion sofa.
.
.
.
Doesn’t even take three blinks for the tomfoolery to start,
‘AaaAAaaaaAAaaAAAAAyyyYYyyyyyyyyYYYY’
} from all of them at once.
‘‘YOoooOOooooOOOOoOOOoooooOOOOoo’
If she had stopped without mentioning Todoroki, they would have had agreed with her and moved on with that nonsensical bet paying no heed. Kyoka digs her own grave here, okay?
Kirishima very violently collapses under the table while Kaminari starts to physically abuse the table along with Sero's ugly cackling and Mina lying face down on the table, vibrating like that half-broken washing machine(s) in the basement, over their friend’s slip-up. She just has a little crush, and they act like monkeys in a circus.
It’s not just boys who are fools. And not even have to be in front of Momo either.
“You’re so done now, babe. This is beyooooond saving!” She absolutely didn’t know that before Mina yells at her, nevertheless Kyoka can see her soul levitating; she hopes that she can completely fuse with the sofa. “But for real though, Kuteyoka might’ve got a point. Momo with her charms, definitely going to swoop anyone off of their feet easily. So you might need to work on that to compete.”
“She swept me off a few times, and I’m someone with a specific type. Makes me question myself every single time if I’m into whatever she is doing or just her in general.”
‘That’s because you are attracted to anybody who talks, nothing specific. That’s what bisexuals do I fucking hate bisexuals.’ Is what her eyes are telling Kaminari, throwing eye daggers at him, but he has used all his grey matter into studying earlier to be able to understand it, instead grinning back at her.
Under the table, the red spikes of hair poofs up and reappears. “Yeah! I heard Momo got two hearty confessions by two different people, one from the General Department and one from Support last week. Isn’t that sweet??” He sits up properly next to Kaminari. “Todoroki didn’t have any approach him outside of our class, not if we count back to months ago. That’s a 1-0. Man, I wish she teaches me a thing or two I want that to happen to me.”
Kirishima shakes up two fingers out towards the table center to emphasize his point of her massive romantic achievement, as if his enthusiastic loudness is not making through everybody’s skulls and into the walls.
It was indeed true that Todoroki hadn’t received a confession while Momo keeps getting interrupted in the hallway and brought over the school’s yard every other day. But it’s not really because that Todoroki suddenly appears to be undesirable for other people, but besides him spawns an unexpected factor. A difficult, spiky one.
That aforementioned factor is currently sitting in between Kyoka and Mina. A fluffy poof of blond hair and angriness permanently in the middle of his eyebrows. Surprisingly has been quiet since the sudden commotion breaking the peace of studying intensely.
In Bakugou’s defense, it was IcyHot who approached him first with his shiny big orbs of eyes, and the other extras just started to dissipate in due time. From that point the two just kinda stick together all the time, the taller, collected one tailing the short, angry one. No one knows why, not even him. Todoroki is not collected at all shut the fuck up. He says a lot of out-of-pocket shit that no one is conveniently around to hear upon their ears the most absurd, insane string of words formed and manifested outwards into reality with such ease and attitude.
It’s unusual to not see him hanging around Bakugou tonight, he’s not even in the Common Room anymore. Left about an hour ago with some ‘errand’ to attend to, he’s lucky his grades aren’t as concerning as these motherfuckers. Bummed he didn’t stay. Bitch.
“Dude, it’s not like I forgot, but I’m standing by my point that our pretty boy is only rising up in popularity these days, he’s trending on Tweeter every week that he’s outside, and that’s basically almost every week now that he’s going out more with Bakugou.!” Sero looks over at Kirishima before putting his arm over Kaminari’s shoulders, looking tauntingly straight across the spot between Kyoka and Mina. “Am I right, who are you betting on? Don’t you think Todoroki cutie lives up to the thirsty hashtags too?”
He thrives on annoying the raging blond, the latter knows too damn well because Soy Sauce wiggling eyebrows is starting to make him see red now. That fucking boy is gloating.
WhooooooooooooooooshH. “Sorry to be right, but my super accurate romance calculations is my second quirk, it’s tingling right now, mh-hum?. You are on the losing side of the story, boo. 10,000 yen for Momo. Go big. Or go home.” Mina with both her hands spread out on the wooden surface, pens falling under making ‘tack, tack’ noise. It’s unclear if she just cleared out the table but the notebooks are not where they were supposed to be anymore. The pen Bakugou just put down is also gone.
She’s giving out smooches ambiguously in the wind, seemingly to incite Sero to do something (not to specifically rile up Bakugou and Kyoka).
Pinkie and Tapeface are equally irritating as he feels the hair rising up his neck whenever they open their mouth and his right eye twitching afterwards. It is impressive how well he has come so far to contain himself when it comes to stupid shit that the squad keeps on doing, more impressive on the part that they can conjure up shitty ideas like this.
“Y’all fuc-”
“20,000 yE-n! The bet is on hoes!” Sero cracks his voice trying to scream, so loud that it’s more than enough for the others further away in the Common Room to slowly droop in their nosey selves. “Plus my precious extra-ultra-deluxe relaxing herb stash AND unlimited hotpot supply for the rest of semester. How about that? I’m more than confident~”.
Tapeface sure is fired up for anything except studying for Geometry and Vocabulary.
Bakugou internally wished death atop himself when the others started to flock around like they all have a hive mind, especially for times that they need minimal brain cells, ( ‘What bet? What bet?! WHAT BET’ ) indulging in pure chaos with the most concentrated amount of energy throughout the day.
No one has time to go through with the bet, let’s be realistic. The last Valentines there are always something crazy going on, multiple quirk accidents being activated out of nowhere involving fire, squids and jelly-fied coffee, someone melted out of excitement once and some poor dumb fucks from Support got teleported to another prefecture due to poor management of emotions of the guy that was confessed to; god knows what else, how is he supposed to remember everything?!? This year would be no different, maybe even stupider – like exploding tiramisu cakes that makes people tear up chili sauce or something.
He slips off the busy corner eventually but not without throwing his weight around; to no heed, no one is fucking fazed. They stopped fearing death(him) since long, and even have the nerve to compare him with pomeranians. They are cute though.
“ These little bitches aren’t even in the right mind to study anymore, I’m gonna go back.” Bakugou told Kyoka, who looks sane enough to acknowledge it and whispers back ‘Probably me too can’t lie.’
Tutoring be damned. He’ll wait and see them crawling and begging for his divine service later this week ONE DAY before the midterm. Of course he will help them while pretending to be pissy about it like he always do. He can be an asshole and not wish for others' downfall. Thank you very much for noticing.
Ears is capable enough to deal with the rest of class that’s present, she might appear to be miserable right now but he knows, she is so enjoying this to just scoot her ass over for Froggie and Cheeks, all during a mouth combat with Dunce Face.
The ongoing yammering can be heard from here. It sounds like Kyoka is fighting for her life dodging allegations of being a down-bad die-hard fangirl of Momo. Laughter can also be heard, he can make out some of them being Pinkie and Washi Tape being the loudest, and then Round Cheeks with a sprinkle of incessant lecturing from Calves & Thighs. Bakugou is not smiling along with them, hell nah. He has spring allergy.
The bets are split perfectly between his classmates, huh…, Birdie and Rocky are in it too, with them being on Todoroki side. And despite the preaching, Four eyes and Mask are on Momo’s with the latter putting his takoyaki secret sauce recipe onto the reward dump pile. The people he expected the least to be entertaining this nonsense, are quite active during the yelling.
He isn’t even here so Bakugou isn’t really interested in what the others has to say. The elevator door opens.
‘Ding Dong–’
There they are, the main targets of the fuss back there. Ponytail with Santa Claus, seems like they were having their own discussion as well; noticeably, they stopped when Ponytail spots Bakugou by the door, giving away a smile (as she does) to him and is given back in return a small ‘huff’.
“Didn’t see you there, Bakugo-” Momo stops when something crashes after a long shriek and a lot of ‘wowwws’ follows. She looks over and is seemingly amused. “ By chance, did you see Jirou back there?” She chuckles, and turns to the other boy. “Todoroki, do you want to join them?”
“She’s right where you think she is. Go entertain your girl.” He waves his hand towards her.
Momo steps out of the elevator and leaves space for Bakugou to walk in. She looks between the two, and smiles again with her eyes closed, mumbling something that Bakugou can’t make out of.
He also can’t make out the reason why this fucker standing besides him is acting weird. He’s always been weird, but his bastard-ness just thrives these days. Possibly, IcyHot might have caught up to the fact that his face is lethal to humankind, and Bakugou’s only human.
Right now, he is staring without saying a word at Bakugou and it ticks him off more than the shenanigans that happened earlier at the study table. He crosses his arms and leans on the other side of the elevator box, “Ponytail asks you a question. Don’t hold off my damn sweet time. Scram.”
He knows he is being irritated for no apparent reason, sure. Besides being the usual bitch that he usually is, seeing Todoroki being close with Momo gives him unhumorous feelings making his stomach grumble. And the idiot is still standing inside the elevator.
Todoroki turns away when Bakugou cranks his head sideways to glare at him. Acting like everything’s peachy.
“I’ll pass. Thanks for talking with me, Momo. Let me know what’s going on over there.” Bakugou can feel the other scoots closer to him (to push the <close> button, stop thinking). “Where are you going?”
The door closes slowly, shutting off Momo, who clearly just winked before fucking off to likely look for Ears. He internally gives her the finger and yells through the door. “Have fun keeping yourself alive!”
Says Kyoka being hopelessly sappy, has anyone noticed Ponytail also being really eager to make space and time for the other girl. Momo doesn’t even usually likes to hang out at loud spaces or waste her time doing nothing like the others.
“You are caring in your own way. That’s adorable.” Since when has Todoroki bent down to speak dangerously close to Katsuki’s ear, it’s up to a point where the younger one freely reaches his Ende*vor growth potential while Katsuki has not increased more than an inch or two for a while. They have a little more than a head difference in height now. Todoroki puts his hand over the handrail, mere behind the lower back of the blond, Bakugou hitches his breath.
He blames his parents’ genes for focusing on the wrong things to develop, like the ability to turn red easily like a loser, for example. Katsuki refused to admit his face is starting to burn right now. Fuck Halfie’s genes, too. His fucking fluttering eyelashes and deep voice, fuck them. (Please) Fuck him.
Todoroki sure has grown a lot more comfortable and bolder since their first year. It’s starting to get funnier as time goes by how his friends had not caught on to the amount of cockiness he has acquired from interacting with Katsuki.
Seeing Katsuki being flustered brings great joy to Todoroki, for a reason. He has had a suspicion he might be a sadist when it comes to Katsuki. Seeing many interesting reactions from Katsuki never bore him. Before he notices, something inside him tells him that maybe he wants more. Katsuki can’t really handle compliments well like his classmates do, and seeing him considerately be baffled and riled up just makes his day much more tolerable. Peculiar way to wind down the day, but don’t point it at him.
He wishes that only him can get deep under Katsuki’s skin, just hopeful and thoughtless prayers. He doesn’t like the idea of sharing much.
“what the fuck do yoU MEAN BY THAT?!?” There he is, he really is beautiful in his angry glory. Katsuki looks like he is one single breath from turning into a human-sized rabid pomeranian, yelling mid-sentence.
“Now you’re just pretending to not know it so I can repeat myself. You. Are. Adorable.” His eyes glisten, but he’s smirking. Bastard. Bakugou’s eye twitch.
Alright you know what. Two can play at this tango or however people phrase it.
Bakugou turns to face him, he glances down at his lips and back up. “I know I’m all that, just want to hear you say it again.” He grabs his face and brings it down to blow some wind on Halfie’s nose. “Aren’t you so willing to please me, strawberry shortcake?”
He is positive that didn't work out as well as he imagined it would go. His ears are so hot that Bakugou could only imagine how red they would look from IcyHot’s view.
All the bastard do is making his heart do somersaults or whatever the shitty stunt is called. He might die young from contracting fatal heart problems and it’s going to be this fucker’s fault. Bakugou scowls.
Maybe Todoroki was dumbstruck by Bakugou’s words, ‘cause he hasn’t replied back with his smartass attitude. He stares and blinks instead into Bakugou’s eyes.
“...”
“I-I’m not a shortcake.” That’s all he could get out of his mouth. He stands straight back, covering his face.
‘Tch’ If he knew that idiot wouldn’t entertain him back, the blond should have jumped off the elevator to save the last piece of his dignity. Why is this half-and-half bastard radiating heat now?!
‘Ding’. The elevator reaches Bakugou’s floor. Todoroki steps back, maintaining actual personal space like any other human does.
His heart. Fuck. How is Katsuki doing that?! He prays to whoever is mighty that the other hasn’t noticed the blatant thumping beats.
“G-good night, Bakugou. I will see you tomorrow.”
“Oh, fuck you.” Bakugou stomps his way out of the elevator. “You better prepare to DIE whenever I see you next time!”
Positive that the entire floor would have heard him if they weren’t downstairs doing stupid shit. How can he sleep after that lowball trick the fucker just pulled?! Bakugou screams into his pillows when he jumps headfirst onto his bed, his sweats absorbed by the cotton sheets. Most of his scream is muffled and incoherent. Yuck. Screw the washing room and its damned broken machines, he hasn’t been able to wash his clothes and sheets this week yet so he couldn’t bother being dirty on the bed.
He swears with his heart that Canada Flag will not gonna survive tomorrow training.
Yet,
Not to expect anything, but Bakugou is slightly, slightly hoping Momo would win.
She better win that fucking bet. The efforts that he had accumulated these past months better turn into a fortunate event where no extras even THINK of any funny business with that tall ass Strawberry Shortcake on that (anticipated) day. He will not win, not if Bakugou succeeds once again in intimidating the audacity out of the extras.
So it’d turn out okay if he also considers doing just a little something for half-and-half too; baking some cookies won’t hurt his pride and the bet. He's done worse for that walking A/C. Unlike Ears, he’s definitely more subtle.
…
Right ?
He’ll kill that idiot if he has anything to say about the not-at-all-a-gift-specifically-for-val*ntine’s. Better shut the fuck up and appreciate the heavenly taste of the homemade cookies.
He could try to bet, maybe he can win the takoyaki sauce recipe and Glasses’s ultra ultimate cardio routine.
Bakugou finally goes to sleep after an hour of turning and squirming in his bed brainstorming ideas. So much for giving the others crap about making a fuss about Valentine’s Day planning.
All he will say is, IcyHot would be worth making a fuss about. Even if he needs to exercise more to stabilize his heart rates.
Sleep well and be angry tomorrow.
The Bet (Wednesday):
Momo’s side:
10,000 yen + 17,500 yen + 35,000 yen = 62,500 yen
Secret takoyaki sauce recipe
Ultra Ultimate Iida-certified Cardio Routine
Todoroki’s side:
20,000 yen + 16,000 yen = 36,000 yen
Extra-ultra-deluxe relaxing herb stash and unlimited hotpot supply for the rest of class (needs to eat in Sero’s dorm).
Chapter 2: Thursday
Chapter Text
Six Days Before Valentine’s
9:03 PM
____________________________
“Cat got your tongue? Or is it someone? Rather a pomeranian?”
Todoroki realizes he’s lost focus on what Momo is talking to him about, for the second time, or the third time. He feels like it could have been longer. The background music is kinda taking his attention away and killing his appetite a little bit. It’s too loud for his liking, maybe.
“No? Not really.”
The first time he drifted off, they were talking about schoolwork and their upcoming exams before he lost her midway through, something something about mispronouncing words in class, which changed into another topic that involves out-of-school friends after curfew, shiny dragons and quirk-induced blueberry smoothies (?). His head has been on the clouds all day already.
Is it getting bad lately? not really. The music? Yes, where are his earplugs? Todoroki rummages through his shirt pockets.
Did he lose to Mineta during their training practice in hero lessons because he was busy looking at somebody else instead of his opponent, yeah he did. Almost got a nasty shiner tripping over the sticky balls and falling face first into the rubble. Ouch.
But what about it? People lose from time to time, his mother said it’s healthy to maintain a good balance in life between competition and friendships, plus in those ‘sometimes’ somebody would give Todoroki his time of the day (even when they spend most of their days together), yelling in his face (with concern and care) asking if he had noodles for brains (is hurt anywhere and if he wants to eat some kind of noodles later).
Hmm, speaking of noodles, he should ask him to make spicy soba, he actually started on the spicy agenda their second year, he thinks he’s got a bit of the spice palate more trained than others…
“I don’t think you know I noticed, but we need to get to the important bits, halt it with those thoughts. We have a plan to carry out.” She looks unimpressed, her mouth draws a line. “The plan needs both of us.” Sorry.
He looks back at her, she keeps her eyes on him. They keep on before Momo raises her porcelain teacup and takes a sip. Todoroki stops fiddling with his.
“The music is doing too much for you.” She exclaims, she didn’t phrase it as a question, putting down the teacup. “Just a moment.”
Out of her forearm, she manifests a pair of earplugs, each the color of his hair (nice) and passes it over to him. It’s a great fit, the sound is reduced to an acceptable level that everything stops spinning around and Momo’s face isn’t warped in a twisting conical way anymore.
“I’m so grateful to have you as my bestest of friends.” He reports.
“I would say the same, but I also will not hesitate to have a fistfight with you and win unapologetically, at any given time. Back to the topic that we discussed. Stay with me on this.” She brings his attention to the splayed out notebook, firm about him keeping up with her “plan”.
Both of the pages are almost written that it turns almost blue and black, it’s an elaborate plan. She knows what she’s doing and it’s… intimidating. Todoroki wonders if he should make one or just swing spontaneously because no moment is too dull with Katsuki.
He remembers faintly, they talked about it yesterday, the day before that, and days before the day before yesterday.
Contrary to popular beliefs, they too, are making plans for Valentine’s. They have their own bet to fulfill.
.
.
.
Obviously – both of them lack the bare minimum experience to do this, they could also do not have enough brain power (specifically for this). For this thing. It turns out much harder than studying for Finals. She wonders how her friends can handle both this and studying, how they even have time to bake packs of pastry goods to give away or chocolate to pass around in bulk. Must have sacrificed their sleep or skipped mealtime.
“Can I have a quick recap of your plan?” He asks, “I have not made one for myself yet, do you think it’s better to let it be in the moment for things to happen with me and him, or should i start ‘plotting’?”
Momo laughs just as he finishes, “Plotting? Sure, I mean you have always been on that piece of cake ever since we’re friends. But I want mine to be perfect, and I am competitive.” The laugh turns into a calculated smile.
“I asked around, and my friends from other schools say it’s popular to make homemade gifts. Heart-shaped dark chocolates with caramel filling, to be specific, is very popular lately.” Not sure why she had to whisper (she felt the need to), “I subtly asked Satou if he could help us with it, and he said he’d be glad to, though he asked me to confirm that I won’t give them to a boy because they don’t deserve me. Funny he was. And I said I promised.”
Why did he clock her like that? Accurate but taken aback. Momo thoughts she was being incredibly discreet about her… appreciation towards women. Even her parents think she likes men still.
“I also want to make a bouquet, I know her favorite flowers are hydrangeas and peonies because I subtly asked Mina to ask her yesterday of yesterday, and her favorite colors are actually a blue-ish purple, not completely purple like everyone thinks. I’ve learned pretty well in my inheritance class but have never tried styling these two together so it’ll be something new.”
“What?”
Todoroki rises up from his palms. They look at each other. Oh did he hear a single thing she said. He blinks slowly.
“What what?I will whack the loving god out of you if you try me one more time, Todoroki.” She threatens. “Whatever it takes you to listen to me, shit it out your front mouth.”
Woah.
Momo continues in a lower tone, preventing provoking attention to the two.
“I guess that you got it together and fuck him finally? I hope it’s not in the elevator. I use it everyday with her.”
She intertwines her fingers and puts them under her chin. Even though she’s not interested in whatever the men tangle ritual is about, it does zap him back to reality, which satisfies her.
The sudden cussing from Momo triggers a burst of aggressive coughs from Todoroki. “You’re hilarious. Ha. Ha.” He laughs warily, his nose turns red. Shit, the drink is coming up the back of his throat. He forgets sometimes that Momo can be really different when it’s just them alone.
“She would be surprised to find out this side of you.” Switching topic.
“Oh, I try my best to keep her entertained. She can have the rest of my life to do th-... You just want to derail here.”
“ I don’t know what you’re trying to imply.” He shrugs, playing with the tea leaves in the cup. “Anyway, I heard something about handmade something something with Satou and purple with something that involves an inheritance. That’s a good idea, asking for her hand in marriage on Valentine’s, quite early into your adulthood but I think you should go for it.” There’s an orange cat that is twirling between his legs. Todoroki pets it on the head.
The cat evades his touch but its tail entangles his fingers.
‘Like you have a clue what’s a good idea, sunshine.’ Momo tells him under her smile. “Do you know his favorite flowers? Because if you don’t, women wins again, men are kinda losers.”
The orange blob of fur reminds him of someone with a certain temper. Like last night, the minty breath on his nose…Bold carmine eyes. Importantly, pink soft lips that were so close to his, saying things that sure rile him up too much that his brain melts. “I don’t know actually, I am actually a loser thanks for noticing bestest friend.”
‘Poof,’ The cat lands on his lap and purrs. “You tend to attract orange things, don’t you.” Momo could be rolling her eyes if he is to look at her.
The cat café after school is totally Todoroki’s idea. This one recently opened in town, close enough to sneak out of the dorm on a Thursday and be back before it turns into another house arrest.
Just kidding. They’re in good academic standing and they abuse that title well. They wouldn’t be in trouble until like, the fourth time. This is just the second time.
The menu has a variety of items with silly designs, funky sodas, and a bizarre assortment of teas, fits right in with his preferences. And their cats are very fond of people. He can pet them all he wants and they allow him to, although it’s more exciting if he is to beg for their attention first.
“Bakugou’s blon-”
“The food here’s not bad, I think.” Momo takes a small bite out of the cat-themed glittery chiffon cake, disregards him. “Not as good as the ones I usually go for, but it’s decent enough to return to once in a while. I like the unique theme of glitter and cats. I’ll bring her next time.”
Not too long after, a cat with smooth, silky black fur approaches Momo, nuzzling her face as she picks it up to fondle its ears.
Yeah right exactly that’s what you get.
They turn to look at each other before both start to laugh wholeheartedly. “How about taro cheesecake? Not too sweet, not too bland. A decent gift?” He strokes the sleeping feline, its purring steady. “Taro cheesecake, heart chocolates, purple bouquet for you.” He points at her.
“For me, probably flaming hot and sweet tamarind mapo tofu, cocoa tiramisu. I’m not too confident about the bouquet because I don’t know if he likes flowers.”.
“Everyone has a favorite type of flowers, you should ask him.” Momo continues,“ Just hope it won’t turn into a shitshow like the last time you touch anything in the kitchen.”
Oh.
The last time. He (almost) burnt the whole kitchen up in ashes. Following a simple recipe of miso soup for Katsuki. Luckily Momo was there to quickly replace the damage before Teacher Aizawa (or anybody else) came. It was really late when he heard sneezes as he was walking in the kitchen, incidentally Momo was already in the kitchen doing something too.
She hasn’t told him what it was that she was making, but it was something that has sugar and flour. But they managed to make four portions of ginger Okayu together and bring it up to their own respective place. Her to the third floor and him to the fourth.
He owes her that time, avoiding scrubbing the grimes in the bathroom as punishment if he couldn’t clean up the huge mess before morning (which he’d be incapable of).
Katsuki was surprised to see him, and snorted as Todoroki was smudged still with soot. The important point, he thanked him by his real name through mumbling but that’s as good as it gets. He also finished the bowl clean. If Katsuki were to make it himself, the okayu would taste ten times better, in Todoroki’s opinion. No shade to Momo.
“Better not be.” It wouldn't be bad if it were to happen again, but Todoroki can do better than making ashes on Valentine’s. Not for Katsuki, at least. He can try better.
He said he doesn't like useless extras. Not his type. So Todoroki hopes he can actually get over the soot and blackened pans to actually make something edible.
Momo tried to pry Kyoka about the commotion last night, it didn’t work (fully), not because her blushing face was too adorable to press on or that Momo couldn’t bear forcing her to do something that she didn't want to (She seemed too embarrassed to continue).
Kyoka was stuttering so much that she didn't hear a single comprehensible thing coming out of those pretty lips. Then a (friendly) fight busted out involving Iida and Sero (?), they quickly moved on to trying to instigate the fight, much later on broke it apart half-heartedly because it was kind of late already.
About that okayu night, she was trying to remake the spicy dumpling soup that Kyoka told her about at a rock concert she went to the week before. She looked happy mentioning the street food, and even when Momo had never tried it before, she wanted to see that cute expression again, (and again and again if allowed). Street food isn’t really her thing, or something she usually look forward to, but if Kyoka seems very positive and is so fond of, maybe it wouldn’t be too bad to try something new.
It happened as expected – too much water the dumplings unraveled, too little water burnt the pot, the dumplings’ skin was too thin and they broke. Too salty, too bland, the filling in the middle weren’t cooked, the pot overboiled and the dumplings slipped out down the floor. She blamed herself for trying to make the dumpling skin from scratch when she never tried to make it before. Too much confidence. Wasn’t really used to have to come into the kitchen to have food served. And cooking is not exactly a thing that always comes out as perfect as in theory.
Two hours and thirty seven minutes passed trying the recipe before Todoroki appeared, and mayhaps pride got to her that she was embarrassed to tell him, leaving his side for a brief moment to rethink her life choices and reread the recipe only to come back to a passionate heap of fire burning so red that she almost thought he did it intentionally. But considering his character, the boy was definitely also piss poor at culinary arts as her. Maybe worse if she says so herself.
It floats around in the back of her mind: sometimes she thinks about the possibility that Kyoka deserves someone better at cooking and rock music. Maybe someone with an interesting personality, a bit loud and a bit opinionated, like Bakugou. God knows why he popped up in her head. Todoroki might have poisoned her too much.
…
Momo could always be someone better, she is no stranger to changes. As her friends keep saying, ‘if he wanted to, he would.’
She is no man, and is better than any man in all aspects. Of course she can change to pursue her girl.
“Better not be,” She repeats, her voice soft and sanguine. “Not if we try harder.”
.
.
.
“What the fuck do they think they are doing in there?”
They were on their way to the rock concert before Kyoka’s ears catch up on something familiar, and points out to Bakugou about the two inside one of the café. This one is newly opened. Kyoka wonders why Momo didn’t invite her to come, but instead asking a boy (yuck) to accompany her.
“Do you think she invited him because he can use his pretty privilege to get discounts on random shit?” She turns over Bakugou. Please say yes fucker I’m about to explo-
“Bitch prolly not, you can’t see the way she looks and think she needs HIS privileges. They’re about to be tongue deep in each other” That wasn’t a rhetorical question, nor a threat. He is stating facts. The last part he wasn’t so sure but really hope that wouldn’t happen.
What a (debatable) surprise to see the Heartthrobs Half-and-half and Ponytail enjoying their lives ogling at each other petting cats and eating cute-looking fucking food. Bakugou is so glad that she pointed them out to him, or else he could have been oblivious about this, live on and enjoy the rest of his night uninterrupted. Just one hell of a luck.
“ I’m fucking confused. Usually I’ll be the first he’s gonna bother to do these stupid shits with. But I guess not today.” He huffs and puffs out his chest.
“ You’re so honest the others would fucking die on the spot if they hear this.”
But no, now he’s going to be balls deep in these people’s business and wonder why Halfie’s gotta look at Ponytail and smile like that why are you smiling all like that can’t you see others are looking at you. Fuckin dimples and batting his curved eyelashes. The more he squints, the more delectable the cozy atmosphere surrounding the other two. If not for the damn cats, it’s a prospective arson scene.
“Actually, you’re right. What are they doing here? Aren’t they supposed to be in the dorms?” Kyoka looks puzzled, and quickly shrugs. “We aren’t expected to be here either, so… fair enough?”
Her voice falters at the end indicates to Bakugou that she is not doing well with this information either, despite trying to look collected and happy for her friends spending quality time. In a way, they both are going through ugly feelings, just different executions. There is something in her eyes that Bakugou only sees in times when things actually happened in their lives. ill-fated things.
‘Are you thinking what I’m thinking?’
The wind blows by and while Bakugou shivers, Kyoka is too occupied with her thoughts to care about anything else, pondering. Her eyebrows furrow, he doesn’t like that look on her.
“Actually you know what, we have things to do tonight. That’s why we are out here. And FYI we didn’t invite them either. Must be some meticulous plan coming up soon for the class.” She tries to deflect, but immediately Kyoka knows she is not so good at it. “Ah shit, I guess, maybe they caught up on the bet and are practicing to throw people off.”
“ You know how they are, doing unhinged garbage with a straight face. Except straight is the last thing you’ll see when you look at ‘em.”
Pfft, there we go. “That’s projecting.” She leans against the lamppost, her long breath foggy under the warm light. “There’s no chance in hell they figured that out. I was standing strong against the temptation of unloading the whole thing to her.”
“I expected that much from you, Bowlcut. Now move your ass, we are soooooo fucking late.” Bakugou turns away from the stores and towards the open street.
“No we’re so fucking not, Pom-pom.” she adjusts her guitar case, “The fun doesn’t start until I’m there.”
“Wanna bet who’ll be there first?” It sounds like a taunt. “Starts when we’re off the train.”
“Looking for humiliation again I see.” His hands pop excitingly, game’s on.
Whatever they were doing in the café, undeniably it was some suspicious activity and not an actual date (hopefully). Bakugou hopes that half-and-half suddenly develops an allergy for cats. Jirou disproves and says Momo is free to be with whoever she wishes to be with, but the blond definitely heard her cursing the other girl to contract a fatal distaste for boys. Sheeeesh talk about possessiveness.
The night is cold and long, they have enough time to figure that out later after the concert. And they could also crash Sato’s midnight baking and have something light. He’s been coming up with the craziest shit in that oven, something about ube and taro, purply shit.
Nevertheless, it’s not their problem for tonight. Yet(?)
The Bet (Thursday):
Momo’s side:
10,000 yen + 17,500 yen + 35,000 yen + 47,566 yen = 110,066 yen
Secret takoyaki sauce recipe
Ultra Ultimate Iida-certified Cardio Routine
First edition of All Might’s merch of yogurt packet that recently was released at the convenience store that has his real signature. Selling on Mebay auction for 33,333.00 yen
Todoroki’s side:
20,000 yen + 16,000 yen + 69 yen + 10,000 yen = 46,069 yen
Extra-ultra-deluxe relaxing herb stash and unlimited hotpot supply for the rest of class (needs to eat in Sero’s dorm).
Five 5L bottles of wild honey
Chapter 3: Friday
Chapter Text
Five days before Valentine’s (Friday)
6:09 PM
____________________________
He really lost.
He fuckling lost to Kyoka.
Of all times that he had won, it had to be the night that the loser finally had to commit to some atrocious act. Ears even had the weight of the guitar gears added on her, and yet she was TWENTY minutes ahead, already setting up the instruments behind the stage.
No quirks allowed during the bet, that was what they agreed on. But in a moment of the adrenaline rush he forgot that Ears is yet one of the top in their class when it comes to general studies. That means her persuasion and communication skills are the best out of the batch, unfortunately he has to acknowledge that.
Kyoka managed to hitchhike a truck to make it to the train station and a van from there to the concert, convinced the bouncers to let her slide in, rizzed up the event organizer bad enough (is that the power of lesbianism) to put her back on time for the performance. He couldn’t do half of that, running with his expensive leather jacket half-intact, arrived drenched in sticky sweat (embarrassing) and had to phone her to get inside the venue (embarrassing), maybe he should learn to study people persuasion tactics, it’s good hero protocols. Fighting Knocking-out (oh because he can) the bouncers would not do good to their reputation in the rock venues, especially when he actually enjoys the gig they do outside of hero studies.
The audience was loving their performance, despite that it was a last-minute announcement that they’d be on stage. Shitty start or not, it will always end as a banger. If not, they will fucking grab it by the throat and force it to. Violence is forever the answer.
Which is why he’s considering the spot behind the swimming pool to hide Kyoka’s body when he's done with her ridiculous “loser” task. How he is (not-)friends with a bunch of sly foxes, he doesn’t know, stop fucking asking himself random questions. He might grow another head due to psychological brain-altering conscious decisions.
“Post Todoroki eating ice cream on your Minstagram. Uhmmm, hand churned ice cream, strawberry. Making that won’t be too hard unless you’re not as good as Sato.” Kyoka responded to his automatic threat to spit out the punishment for the loser. “Don’t go back on your own words, you made sure the bet was gonna be nasty.” ‘And you lost ya cunt’, she calls out breathlessly. “Ah, maybe you could write something sappy under the post too, no?”
“You think that’d go well with the bet these fucking bums have going on,” He groans, “This is a fucking humiliation ritual.”
Bakugou feels his face getting hotter.
“Fucking hell! M’not making Halfie shit, and definitely no strawberry anything.” He goes from angrily whispering to aggressively snarls, “ Where in this fucking economy would I even find a churning tool goddamnit?!? You think I’m an old geezer in a buttfuck nowhere town?!”
“Don’t underestimate me Bakugou! I’m for sure able to make one or two for you, whatever it is!”
Unaware that their conversation now has another pair of nosy yappers joining in. They literally have a whole friend who can make anything that exists, bold of him to assume he-.
‘Can escape your fate, such naivety’ Kyoka shakes her head mouthing what he is thinking, the corner of her mouth twitches. “You’re so silly you forgot about someone so capable like Momo.”
“This damned f-” Bakugou is starting to see red the second time of the day, his hands are slowly making little pops.
“You’re making ice cream, for me? strawberry flavored?” Oh god, why are halfie's eyes sparkling, standing right behind Bakugou speaking straight into his eardrums. The blond widens his eyes, baffled when Todoroki winds out both arms to fondle his waist, loosely. “Can I watch you do it? Extra strawberries please. I will get everything ready for you, no worries.”
“The way you phrase your words makes it seem like I'm actually going to do that.” Kyoka can compare Bakugou with a shaking senile chihuahua under a dalmatian in this state, come on, the vision is there.
Halfie better not think if he says please that Bakugou would actually give him what he wants. He might, but no.
“Because you will.” Kyoka winks repeatedly at the ice cream recipient after pouting at the other boy, standing behind Momo (of course). “Are you okay? Your face is so red, boo.” Are you fucking for real with me?
Is it, obviously, for an ungodly reason. You see, Todoroki entwines his fingers around him as he crosses the other arm, and places his damn head on top of the blond floof of hair. “I can’t believe you’re getting sick before making me strawberry ice cream. Let me cool you down.” Todoroki hums, the soft spikes poking his cheeks.
It’s sizzling your face is sizzl-, that’s what the voices inside him tell him. Bakugou thinks too much inside his head that he forgot to act out at all. The world could have stopped around them and he wouldn’t notice a thing. Nothing matters far along this journey, he leans back against the other boy and enjoys it while he can.
He turns to Ears doing the same thing to Ponytail, her chin barely reaching the taller one’s shoulder.
The four of them look like sappy idiots that do too much PDA in the Cafeteria hall. They probably are. Everyone is actively focused on doing their thing right now, but it seems like the side-eyes are sharp, really sharp that it could pierce through their backs.
For Momo however, excuses Todoroki asking for the sweet treat, when he already had plenty last night, all kinds of atrocious mixed-up flavors in the coffee shop. The amount of sweets he had yesterday was metabolically diabolical, yet he is here in his best shape living. That can stay a secret between them. She also wants to taste Bakugou’s cooking, no need to ruin the fun.
Her hands relaxed on Kyoka’s.
“ You should make some lavender brownies to pair with it too, Jirou. I loved the ones you made last time.”
“Ooooh, so know you bake shit too. I didn’t know that.” Bakugou monotonely speaks. “Lavender brownies? Sounds like somebody got a little rendezvous going on.”
Kyoka shows him the finger discreetly while still holding Momo’s.
“And you might get to taste some if you behave, pompom.” Bitch. She mouths it.
Then there are sparks and buzzing sounds coming from one side of the cafeteria hall, combined with a lot of frustrated moans.
||
The rest of the class do have noses and ears that function well, really well and when Mina says really well they are too well for their own good. The ruckus in the kitchen between Bakugou and Todoroki is a clear distraction that some (most) of them do not need at this hour, some of them wonder how they have time to make ice cream of all things, when the class is going to have an extensive English test and tonight is 13°C, not ideal for ice creams is it.
Out of a traditional hand churner. 1-hour English test. Stone cold weather. Sneezes and wheezes. Geez...
She is not complaining 100% though! At all about the juicy stuff the two lover cuties have been saying to each other, they think they are being discreet or they are oh so bold to say that and not combust out of pure shame. Kyoka has been dropping in and out their conversations with her whenever the volume signals are getting “hard-to-reach”.
Mina does not just hear her emo babygirl repeat after one of them ‘Hands off me, you half-cooked squid.’ and ‘Can I call you boo, too?... Hmm, why not, they called you that…’. She tries really hard to contain her laughter to the point her throat starts to tingle like someone uses a muscle massager on her.
The foreign language list of words in front of him, what were those again? Why do they have to learn languages when they are supposed to be out in the streets and beat up villains, it’s not like they are writing and transcribing dictionaries.
He forgot his flashcards and he’s positive they haven’t learnt this page yet… Huh, huh; Kaminari must have zapped himself again, all he can think about is that they are free to do whatevurr tomorrow evening, hmm hmmm, My name is Kaminari, my favorite color is yellow, my favorite food is pineappl-smoked squid, mobile heat magnet, canada flag and the kitchen smells real, reaaaaaaaal yummmmmy~. A sweet aroma, somewhat fruity, something cutely pink maybe, he guesses, gotta be pink grapefruit or cherri–
The muted sound of metal rumbling.
“Are they making strawberry flavored ice cream? While everybody is out here?” He scream-whisper to Kirishima, who is seated on the other side of the table, through Sero in the middle who is snoring comfortably.”Such a tease! I brushed my teeth already.”
Well, not like brushing teeth has ever stopped him from any temptations before. He almost always forgot to brush them again.
“I didn’t know you do brush, lemon drops.” The sleeping boy twitches. “How do you even know it’s ice cream? Literally, they could be making protein waffles or cream soda, dumbo.”
“Someday you’re going to be jumped because of your mouth. It might as well be today.” Kaminari sulks, “And I’m asking Kiribro, go back to sleep!” He throws up his fist to the grinning Sero.
“ I think I’m gonna fail the test.” Kirishima declares, after half an hour of silently turning pages. “I thought Bakugou would come to the rescue, but my savior is busy entertaining other sinners.”
“More like a sinner, in specific.” Iida from a table away corrects, “It’s a singular person, maybe you should pay attention in class to not make this mistake so easily!” Tsuyu nods her head agreeing.
Kirishima wipes the corners of his eyes away from his non-existent tears. “Aw man, why so cruel?”
“If we have acting class, you’d be the one tutoring, guarantee.” Mina gives a thumbs up from her table, which sits between Iida’s and Kaminari’s.
‘Thanks Mina :)’. Kirishima mouths.
“ Also, if you need assistance I can help you with English. Kaminari, you too.”
“Aw man, you’re excluding my boy SexyRo? What is this? Education segregation? Affirmative discrimination? Man, this is why I hate authority figures.” Kaminari pouts, dismissively waves at Iida.
“That’s not what I meant, his English is decent eno-”
“Naurr, I’m reporting you to my therapist. And my sparkly cool-ass diary! I have a whole dedicated section for people like you by the way!”
“Come on, man. That’s not so manly of you!” Kirishima points at Iida, furrowing his brows and covers his mouth. “ Discriminating in this day and age will get you trending on Tweeter bro.”
“You guys just throw random accusations at me! All I wanted to do is help!!?!”
They managed to rope Iida into arguing nonsense instead of studying. Ganging up on him is fun. They probably still post something on Tweeter but he will be safe from getting hashtagged.
“Speaking of English, maybe Tsuyu can be more useful than I do, Mina. She lives in the U.S for a while.” Momo taps her cheek. “Kyoka needs help in Physics, I can help her with that, so she can stay. You should probably go over to their desk for some… singular pronouns and similar.”
Scram ho, is what Mina has gathered from her unwavering expression. She looks to Kyoka and then back to her before raising up from her seat carefully. ‘Someone’s jelly from all that whispery gossipy’ before marching off to the Iida’s, joining the lousy obnoxious squad.
She high five Sero before sitting down next to him, quickly asserting her weight in the arguments.
“Wha-what was that Momo? What physics…” Kyoka blinks repeatedly, flustered. Why did Momo just shush her off, leaving the two sitting together in the lone table that seems quieter compared to the mouth war happening over their heads. “You know your English is better than him.” She chuckles.
“I’m a bit… unease, you see. Whatever you two were quietly saying to each other, I…you, I want to do that with you, too.” She gets closer to her, her eyes telling of her intention. “Sorry, I don’t know to join, or, um, control my face if I was twitching or anyth-”
Kyoka can hear her soft breathing, her long lashes adorning her eyes. As she leans down, the bump on her nose, the shade of her skin, the rosy cheeks that she just now notices (when did they turn into this shade?). Her ear is just as close as Mina’s earlier, but it feels different now that it was someone Kyoka has complicated thoughts about. Thoughts that keep her up at night even.
“You called me by my first name.” Her words are not coming strong, but she guesses that’s as good as it gets. “One more time, I like the sound of it coming from y-”
Before she has the chance to finish, Momo collapses to the floor. It causes a few head turns, quickly there’s the screeching of the chair legs against the hardwood.
“Oi! What the fuck is up over there?” Bakugou pops out of the kitchen counter to scan the room, he also does not take long to circle her table. He gawks at Kyoka for an answer before he says something (insanely) inappropriate next, fixed to the kitchen entrance.
“Shit!” Todoroki zooms out from right behind him to get to his best friend.
Is that blood?
The Bet (Friday):
Momo’s side:
10,000 yen + 17,500 yen + 35,000 yen + 47,566 yen + 5,000 yen + 15,000 yen + 40,677 yen = 165,743 yen
Secret takoyaki sauce recipe
Ultra Ultimate Iida-certified Cardio Routine
First edition of All Might’s merch of yogurt packet that recently was released at the convenience store that has his real signature. Selling on Mebay auction for 33,333.00 yen
Hotpot setup table for 20 capacity
Diamond membership card at Ramen Crazy
Todoroki’s side:
20,000 yen + 16,000 yen + 69 yen + 10,000 yen + 46,000 yen + 400,000 yen = 492,069 yen
Extra-ultra-deluxe relaxing herb stash and unlimited hotpot supply for the rest of class (needs to eat in Sero’s dorm).
Five 5L bottles of wild honey
Mana-sama limited edition shirt
Pure silver jewelry stack
Fresh butter, garlic toast and smoothie of choice every breakfast.
Free entrance admission to the amusement park
SSSGoGe on Chapter 1 Tue 08 Oct 2024 08:04AM UTC
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yoursprinx on Chapter 1 Sun 14 Dec 2025 06:43AM UTC
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EmiODelPasso on Chapter 2 Tue 02 Dec 2025 05:14AM UTC
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