CUPID'S LIST (Kirishima x Bakugou)

Challenge accepted!

Bakugou lay sleepless in his bed once again. He let out a huff, he'd never been burdened by anything so much and he kept going over and over all the things he could say to Kirishima.

First and foremost, he would have to apologize. But if he couldn't even wrap his own head around what had come over him when he'd kissed him then how was he supposed to explain it to the redhead? He was angry at himself and had to physically stop himself from blowing anything up.

He angrily threw the blanket aside and sat up. Out of habit, he went onto the balcony to let the cool night air calm him down. He leaned against the steel railing and felt the cold metal cool his almost glowing palms.

His gaze wandered automatically to the sky and then to the point where, just four days ago, the parchment had fallen down. It wasn't even a week ago, but Bakugou had never been so agitated. He was someone who was always focused on his own goals! Someone who had never paid anyone any mind!

And yet the simple fact that he was on Cupid's list with Kirishima had fundamentally changed his relationship with him. The fact that Kirishima (probably) loved him and Bakugou was meant to reciprocate that love had made him question everything about their relationship. In the whole time that Kirishima had ignored him, Bakugou had asked himself over and over again whether he would be able to love him back.

To be honest, he had never been particularly interested in love. When others at his age began to talk about girls, he had usually shrugged his shoulders without understanding. His goal in life wasn't a wife and children, it never had been. He would become the number one hero so what did you need love for?

But perhaps there was another reason why he could never comprehend his classmates' enthusiasm. Maybe he just didn't like girls.

It wasn't just a thought any more. He knew. By the time he realized it wasn't just any list and love couples were noted on it, he had already accepted it.

He was gay.

Why hadn't he known that before? Probably because he had never been focused on love.

Bakugou sighed and looked up at the full moon. He wouldn't have thought he'd ever have to admit to being bad at anything. But in terms of love, he knew he was a total failure. Yet, who would he be if he didn't accept a challenge?

Challenge accepted!

---

When he woke up the next morning, he immediately thought of his red-haired neighbor. When will he come back? Bakugou looked at the clock and saw that it was already ten o'clock in the morning. No surprise, it was late by the time he'd finally fallen asleep last night.

When he went down to the common room, most of the class was already there. They were sitting on the sofas and on the carpet in front of them. Some still had breakfast and just talked. Kaminari and Jirou had seized the TV and were playing Mario Kart, screaming in battle. Sero and Mina watched and cheered them on.

Bakugou rolled his eyes. This amount of noise in the morning was unbearable. He grabbed the cornflakes and poured a heap into a bowl before adding milk. He thought for a moment and struggled before going over to the others.

"Morning, Kacchan!" Deku exclaimed happily.

Bakugou made only an incomprehensible, but not particularly unfriendly, sound and headed for Kaminari.

"Pikachu, when's Kiri coming back?" he asked and stood in front of him.

"Hey, I can't see anything!" Kaminari whined and tried to see around him on the TV. But it was already too late. He had fallen off the road again. Jirou, on the other hand, just crossed the finish line. "That's not fair! I want a rematch!" he demanded.

Jirou just grinned. "Sure, you don't stand a chance anyway."

Bakugou cleared his throat to attract their attention.

Kaminari sighed, "Kiri arrived about an hour ago, but went straight to his room."

"Okay." That's all Bakugou said before he stepped out of the way of the TV and sat down, a little off. He ate his cornflakes, but he didn't like them very much. Actually, they were the ones he always ate, but everything tasted bland at that moment and his mouth was so dry that he could hardly swallow them. His heart was beating too fast from the mere thought of his upcoming conversation with Kirishima.

But still he got up as soon as he had finished eating and went back to the rooms. He walked down the hall on the fourth floor and stopped at Kirishima's door. He took a deep breath to get his racing heart under control. Then he knocked.

Silence. Bakugou couldn't hear anything other than his own rapid breathing. He frowned and raised his hand one more time to knock again. This time louder and more powerful. Still nothing.

"Kiri! Open up!" he shouted.

He heard a quiet rattling from the inside, but still no answer.

"I know you're in there! I need to talk to you!" Bakugou shouted again. His voice became increasingly louder. He'd mustered up the courage to face him and then Kirishima had the nerve not to open the door!

But then he heard quiet footsteps walking towards the door. The click of the door handle sounded, then the door opened a little.

Kirishima looked worse than the last few days. His dark circles had become deeper and more pronounced and his otherwise always perfectly styled hair hung greasily on his shoulders. But the worst part was the expression in his eyes. Grief and despair were reflected in them.

"Kiri ...," Bakugou said quietly, shocked by the sight.

Kirishima's gaze, which had previously stubbornly passed him by, slowly directed towards the blonde in front of him. "What do you want, Bakugou?" he asked quietly.

The blonde swallowed hard and his voice was brittle when he answered. "I wanted to apologize."