Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 (end)
It was always Bakugo.
The one who answered your late-night texts, even when he complained about it. The one who scolded you for staying up too late but never told you to stop talking to him. The one who threatened to block you, yet never actually did.
He tutored you when you struggled, insulting your intelligence but never abandoning you. Dragged you along whenever the squad hung out, letting you sit close, steal his food, take up his space. Never pushing you away. Never correcting you when you got too comfortable.
When you got sick, he stayed by your side. Pressed his hand to your forehead, frowning when you burned up. Called you an idiot for not taking care of yourself, then made sure you ate, made sure you rested. Made sure you felt cared for.
So, of course, you thought he liked you. Of course, you thought you had a chance.
And he knew.
He saw it in the way you looked at him. He heard it in the way you talked about him to the others. And he never stopped you.
Because it was easy. Because it was fun. Because he never had to give you anything real.
You started giving more. You waited for him after training. You brought him water ‘cause you knew he’d be tired. You texted first, always. And he always responded. Always took whatever you gave.
One time, you asked him, “Do you think you’ll ever get a girlfriend?”
And he had laughed. Laughed.
"Tch. What for?"
And it was stupid. So damn stupid. But you believed it meant something. Believed it meant you were enough.
Then, one day, he started skipping hangouts. Started ignoring late-night texts. Started pulling away, just slightly. Just enough to make you wonder, to make you chase.
And then, he walked in with her. His arm draped around her shoulders. Introducing her as his girlfriend.
The squad barely looked at you. They couldn’t, because they already knew. They had seen him with her before. Had watched it happen in real-time. Had kept their mouths shut because… what were they supposed to say?
And just like that, everything made sense.
The way he had been busy. The way he had slowly started pulling away. The way he had let you believe you had a chance.
Your hands felt ice-cold. Your heart pounded so hard, it hurt.
But you smiled. Looked his girlfriend in the eye and greeted her like you weren’t breaking inside. Like the past few months of your life hadn’t been a lie.
Your voice was steady when you made an excuse to leave.
And Bakugo?
He didn’t even notice.
Maybe from now on, you wouldn’t act the same around him anymore. Maybe from now on… he wouldn’t even notice.
That night, your phone buzzed.
Bakugo: Oi. Why’d you leave so fast?
You stared at the message.
Read it once. Twice. Three times.
And for the first time since meeting him, you didn’t reply.
The next morning, you weren’t waiting for him after training. You weren’t carrying an extra water. You didn’t even look at him when he walked into class.
And that’s when he noticed.
That’s when he frowned, eyes narrowing at you across the room.
And that’s when, for the first time, Bakugo knew what it felt like to be ignored.