15 Beneath the Starlit Sky

As we approached the dormitory buildings, I insisted on walking Hado to her dorm first. It only seemed right, after she had taken the time to accompany me on my shopping trip.

"Hey, Hado," I said, turning to face her as we reached the entrance to the third-year dorms. "Thanks again for coming with me today. I had a great time, and your suggestion about the honey for the curry was genius. I can't wait to see how it turns out."

Nejire's face lit up with a radiant smile. "Aww, Izuku, you're too sweet! I had a blast hanging out with you too. And please, enough with the 'Hado' stuff - just call me Nejire, okay? We're friends now, after all!"

I laughed, nodding my head in agreement. "You got it, Nejire. Well, I better get going - these groceries aren't going to cook themselves. But let's definitely do this again soon, yeah? I'd love to hear more about your hero work study."

Nejire's eyes sparkled. "Absolutely! And maybe next time, you can show me some of your moves. I bet you're even more impressive in action than you are in the kitchen."

"Hey, don't underestimate my culinary skills. I've been known to make a mean katsudon."

Nejire giggled, her hand brushing against mine as she reached for the door. "I'll keep that in mind. Goodnight, Izuku. And thanks again for a wonderful afternoon."

With a final wave, I turned and made my way towards the 1-A dorms, the grocery bags rustling at my sides and a slight spring in my step.

Entering the dorms, I was immediately greeted by the sounds of laughter and chatter echoing from the common area. It seemed like most of my classmates were gathered there, enjoying some free time before dinner.

I made my way to the kitchen, setting the grocery bags down on the counter and starting to unpack the ingredients. I had just begun to chop the vegetables when I heard a familiar voice behind me.

"Yo, Midoriya! Who was that cute girl we saw you with earlier?"

I turned to see Kaminari leaning against the doorframe, a sly grin on his face. Mineta popped up beside him, his eyes wide and curious.

"Yeah, spill the beans, Midoriya! Is she your girlfriend? How far have you-" He caught himself mid-sentence, his face paling slightly. "I mean, uh, she seems nice! What's her name?"

I rolled my eyes, turning back to my chopping. "Guys, it's not like that. Her name's Nejire Hado, and she's a third-year student. We just ran into each other after class and decided to hang out for a bit."

Kaminari whistled, his eyebrows waggling suggestively. "Just 'hanging out,' huh? Is that what the kids are calling it these days?"

I sighed, setting down my knife and turning to face them fully. "Seriously, it wasn't anything like that. We just talked about school and hero stuff. She's really cool and easy to talk to, that's all."

I was about to say more when I heard a soft cough from the other doorway. I looked back to see Jiro and Yaoyorozu standing there, their expressions a mix of curiosity and something else I couldn't quite place.

"Sorry, we didn't mean to eavesdrop," Yaoyorozu said, a slight pink tinge to her cheeks. "We were just coming to see if you needed any help with dinner."

Jiro nodded, her earphone jacks twitching slightly. "Yeah, and we couldn't help but overhear. This Hado girl sounds interesting."

There was a note in her voice that made me pause, a hint of something that almost sounded like... jealousy? But that couldn't be right. Jiro and I were just friends, teammates.

I shook off the thought, turning back to the counter. "Ah, thanks for the offer, I could actually use some help. And yeah, Nejire's pretty great. We had a lot of fun hanging out today."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Yaoyorozu and Jiro exchange a look, a silent communication passing between them. Then Yaoyorozu stepped forward, a bright smile on her face that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"So, what's on the menu for tonight? It smells amazing in here already."

I grinned, picking up my knife and resuming my chopping. "Chicken katsu curry, with a little twist. Nejire actually suggested adding honey to the sauce - she said it would give it a nice balance of sweet and spicy."

"Nejire, huh… first name basis already?"

"Ah, yeah. She insisted on dropping the formalities. Said we were friends now."

Jiro leaned against the counter, snagging a slice of carrot and popping it into her mouth. "Then you should call me Kyoka."

I blinked, caught off guard by Jiro's - no, Kyoka's - sudden declaration. Her eyes met mine and I felt my lips twitch into a smile. "Kyoka it is, then."

She grinned back, a flash of white teeth against her glossy lips. "Good. Now that we've got that settled, let's see about this curry of yours." She snagged another carrot, crunching it between her teeth.

I chuckled, shaking my head as I turned back to my chopping. The rhythmic thunk of the knife against the cutting board filled the kitchen, underscored by the sizzle of the oil heating in the pan.

Yaoyorozu watched the exchange with a thoughtful expression before turning her attention to my chopping. "I must say, Midoriya, you seem quite skilled in the kitchen."

"Thanks, Yaoyorozu. I find cooking kind of therapeutic, and I guess I've picked up a few tricks from my mom."

Yaoyorozu nodded, "Call me Momo, and it certainly shows. I dare say you'd make an excellent husband someday, with skills like these."

I nearly fumbled the knife at Momo's words, a flush creeping up my neck. "Husband? Let's not get ahead of ourselves here. I'm just a decent cook, not husband material."

Momo laughed, a sound that somehow made the kitchen feel warmer. "Don't sell yourself short, Izuku. A man who can cook is a rare and valuable thing."

Kyoka snorted, hopping up to sit on the counter. "Yeah, and a man who can cook and kick ass? That's like finding a unicorn."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "If you need that just hit up lunch rush. I'm just a guy who likes to cook and help people."

"And hang out with pretty third-year girls, apparently," Kyoka added.

I met her gaze, holding it for a moment. "Nejire's a friend, Kyoka. You'll always be my first partner."

Something flickered in her expression, gone too quickly for me to decipher. "If you say so, wonderboy."

I opened my mouth to respond, but was interrupted by the timer on the rice cooker. "Ah, perfect timing. The rice is done, and the curry should be just about ready too."

I moved to the stove, giving the curry a final stir. The rich, spicy-sweet scent wafted up, making my mouth water. "Momo, could you grab some bowls? And Kyoka, would you mind letting everyone know dinner's ready?"

They nodded, moving to their tasks with an ease that felt natural, comfortable. As if we'd done this a hundred times before.

As the common area filled with the chatter and laughter of my classmates, I noticed the absence of a certain blonde.

"Hey, has anyone seen Bakugo?" I asked, glancing around the room.

Kirishima looked up from his plate, his brow furrowed. "I think he's still at Recovery Girl's office."

I nodded, "I'll make sure to set aside a plate for him," I said, already moving towards the kitchen. "He's probably going to be hungry when he comes back."

I quickly prepared an extra serving of curry, making sure to include a generous portion of rice and vegetables. I wrapped the plate in foil and scribbled Bakugo's name on top with a marker before placing it in the fridge.

As the rest of the class finished their meals and began to drift back to their rooms, Kirishima and Iida approached me.

"Midoriya, let us help you clean up," Iida said, his hands chopping the air in his signature robotic motion. "It's only fair, considering you went to the trouble of preparing such a delicious meal for everyone."

Kirishima grinned, already rolling up his sleeves. "Yeah, man, we can't let you tackle this all by yourself. Plus, it'll go faster with three people."

"Thanks, guys. I really appreciate it."

Together, we made quick work of the dishes, with Iida washing, Kirishima drying, and me putting everything away.

Just as we were finishing up, the sound of footsteps caught our attention. We turned to see Bakugo standing in the doorway, his face unreadable as he surveyed the scene before him.

His eyes widened slightly as he spotted the plate with his name on it, and he reached out to grab it, his movements stiff and jerky. He peeled back the foil, revealing the still-warm curry, and shoved it into the microwave, punching the buttons with a scowl.

The silence in the kitchen was deafening as we watched Bakugo retrieve his plate from the microwave. The curry steamed, its aroma filling the space between us, but Bakugo seemed oblivious, his focus solely on the food in front of him.

Kirishima was the first to break the stillness. "Hey, man, how you feeling? We were worried about you."

Bakugo grunted, shoveling a spoonful of curry into his mouth. He chewed mechanically, his jaw tight. "I'm fine," he said finally, his voice rough. "Just tired."

Iida nodded, his expression sympathetic. "Understandable. You went through quite an ordeal today. It's important to rest and allow your body to recover."

Bakugo's eyes flashed, his grip on the spoon tightening. But then his shoulders slumped, just a fraction. "Yeah. Whatever."

Finishing his food, he turned to leave, his body taut with tension. But then he paused, his hand on the doorframe. "Deku. Meet me on the roof in ten minutes."

"I'll be there,"

Bakugo stood still for a heartbeat longer, then he nodded, just once, and turned on his heel, disappearing into the hallway.

Kirishima let out a low whistle. "Man, what was that about? You think he wants a rematch?"

I shook my head. "No, I don't think so. This feels... different."

Stepping out onto the roof, I was greeted by the cool night air, a gentle breeze tousling my hair. I spotted Bakugo standing near the edge, his back to me as he gazed out at the city skyline.

I approached, my footsteps echoing on the concrete. "So, what's up?"

Bakugo turned, his eyes meeting mine. "Deku," he said, and there was something in his voice I'd never heard before. Something raw, something real. "We need to talk."

I nodded, stepping forward to stand beside him. Below us, the campus sprawled out like a map, all twinkling lights and distant sounds.

"I'm listening."

Bakugo was silent for a long moment, his gaze fixed on some distant point.

"Do you remember that day in the woods? When we were kids?"

"The woods?"

Bakugo nodded. "It was summer. We were exploring with some other kids, and I slipped on a log while crossing a stream. Fell right into the water."

A memory flickered to life in my mind, hazy at first but growing clearer with each passing second. I remembered the shock on Bakugo's face as he tumbled into the stream, the way the other kids had laughed and called out to him to hurry back.

"I remember," I said softly. "I jumped in after you, didn't I? To make sure you were okay."

Bakugo scoffed, but there was no real heat behind it. "You did. Splashed right in, still wearing your shoes and everything. And then you had the nerve to ask me if I was hurt."

"Yeah, I guess I did. I was just worried about you."

Bakugo was quiet for a long moment, his eyes distant. "You were always like that. Always chasing after me, trying to help even when I didn't want it. Even when I pushed you away."

I said nothing, sensing that there was more he needed to say.

"I hated it," Bakugo continued, his voice rough with emotion. "Hated that you were always there, always reminding me of what I couldn't do. What I wasn't strong enough to face on my own."

"Kacchan, I-"

"Let me finish," he cut me off. "I need to say this."

Bakugo was silent for a long moment, his hands clenched at his sides. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost pained.

"I don't understand you, Deku. I've never understood you. How you can be so... so damn forgiving, even when people don't deserve it."

I shrugged, a small smile tugging at my lips. "That's just a part of who I am, I guess. I can't change that, any more than you can change your drive to be the best."

Bakugo snorted, but there was no real malice in it. "Guess we're both pretty stubborn, huh?"

"Guess so."

We lapsed into silence again, but it was different this time. Less tense, less charged with unspoken emotions. It was almost... comfortable.

"I've always been the best," Bakugo said suddenly, his voice quiet but fierce. "Always been the strongest. But you... you're changing that. And I don't know how to handle it."

I looked at him then, really looked at him. And in the moonlight, I could see the conflict in his eyes, the struggle between his pride and his growing respect for me.

"You've got something, Deku," he continued, the words seeming to cost him. "Something I don't have. And I... I need to figure out what that is. I need to get stronger. Better."

He took a deep breath, as if steeling himself. "And I think... I think I might need your help to do it."

For a moment, I was speechless. Bakugo, asking for help? Asking for my help? It was unthinkable.

But as I looked at him, as I saw the earnestness in his gaze, the determination... I understood. This wasn't easy for him. It went against everything he'd ever believed about himself, about me.

But he was trying. He was reaching out, in his own way.

And how could I deny him that?

I smiled, a real smile this time. And I held out my hand.

"Then let's get stronger. Together."

Bakugo stared at my hand for a long moment. Then, slowly, he reached out. His palm was warm, his grip firm.

"Together," he echoed, and it sounded like a promise.

Finally, Bakugo turned to leave, his footsteps echoing on the concrete. "Don't stay up here too long," he called over his shoulder. "We've got class in the morning, and I won't have you blaming me if your ass is too tired to keep up."

"Yeah, yeah. I'll be down in a bit."

Bakugo raised a hand in acknowledgment, not bothering to look back as he disappeared through the door and down the stairs.

And then, it was just me, alone on the rooftop with my thoughts and the twinkling lights of the city stretched out before me.

I leaned against the railing, the cool metal pressing into my skin as I gazed out at the horizon. The conversation with Bakugo played over and over in my mind, each word and gesture laden with a significance that I was only just beginning to unravel.

I thought back to that day in the woods, to the memory that Bakugo had dredged up from the depths of our shared history. At the time, I hadn't thought much of it - jumping in after him had been instinct, a reflex born of concern for a friend.

But looking back, I could see it for what it was: a turning point. A moment when our paths, which had always been so closely intertwined, had begun to diverge.

Bakugo, proud and independent, had seen my actions as a challenge, a reminder of his own perceived weakness. While I, earnest and caring, had only wanted to help, to be there for someone I cared about.

Two sides of the same coin, flipped in that instant to reveal the differences that would come to define us.

And now, years later, we were flipping that coin again. Not to erase those differences, but to understand them. To find a way to move forward, not as rivals, but as allies. As friends, in the truest sense of the word.

I smiled to myself. Kacchan had been right - we did have class in the morning, and I couldn't afford to be sluggish. Not when I had so much still to learn, so much still to prove.

But I also knew that I would rest easier tonight than I had in a long time. Because something had been settled, a weight lifted that I hadn't even known I was carrying.

With a final glance at the city skyline, I pushed myself away from the railing and headed towards the door, my footsteps echoing in the stillness of the night.