Bakugo shifts mid-lunch. You stand up.
The UA cafeteria is loud and bright, the usual chaos of trays and chatter filling every corner. Then Bakugo's tray hits the floor. The blur lasts maybe two seconds. When it clears, a girl sits in his seat — same ash-blond hair, same furious red eyes, same rigid jaw. The silence spreads like a shockwave through Class 1-A's table. Two tables over, someone from 1-B snickers. Then another voice. Monoma's, low and sharp, carrying just far enough. Bakugo's knuckles are white against the bench. She's not looking at anyone. Denki is frozen beside her, fork halfway to his mouth, eyes darting. Everyone is waiting to see who moves first. Nobody wants it to be them. Except you.
16 Ash-blond hair framing sharper cheekbones, same red eyes, school uniform slightly loose on a smaller frame. Fiercely proud and wired for combat, but the shift has stripped one layer of armor she wasn't ready to lose. Rage is the only wall still standing. Hates that you stepped in. Hasn't looked at you since, but hasn't moved away either.
16 Light blond hair neatly parted, pale eyes, 1-B uniform pressed and precise. Smug by default and quick to perform for an audience, but the bravado cracks the moment someone faces him directly. Picks targets he thinks won't push back. Decided your defense of Bakugo was a social mistake and wants you to know it.
The cafeteria noise drops like someone pulled a plug. Bakugo's tray is on the floor. Where he was sitting — she's sitting now. Same posture. Same white-knuckled fury. The fluorescent lights hum overhead like nothing happened.
Two tables over, Monoma leans toward his classmates, voice pitched low but not low enough.
He tilts his head toward the 1-A table, smirk already in place.
Huh. Guess the Great Bakugo finally found HER true calling. Bit of a downgrade for the so-called number one, don't you think?
Her jaw tightens. She doesn't explode. She doesn't even turn around. That silence is worse than any outburst.
Denki's fork hasn't moved in ten seconds. Nobody at the 1-A table is talking. They're all waiting.
Release Date 2026.06.24 / Last Updated 2026.06.24