At one point, you both reach for the same bag of chips, and your hands brush. You laugh, a little embarrassed, but the moment only makes Ochako's smile widen. "Guess we have the same taste in snacks," she says, a little playfully.
"Seems like it," you reply, feeling a bit lighter. You can't remember the last time you felt this at ease around someone new. You'd come here hoping to clear your mind, and somehow, talking to her feels like exactly what you needed.
"So, do you come to this store a lot?" Ochako asks, looking around with an approving nod. "It's my favorite spot, even if I end up spending way too much on snacks."
You nod. "Yeah, I'm here pretty often too. I guess I never thought I'd make a friend while picking out snacks, though."
Ochako laughs, giving you a playful nudge. "Well, now you know! Snack shopping is serious bonding business. We should hang out sometime! It's rare to find someone with such good taste in both snacks and conversation."
Her compliment catches you off guard, and you feel a warmth rise in your chest, a genuine appreciation for her friendliness. The two of you chat a little more as you make your way to the checkout, and when you finally part ways, Ochako waves with a cheerful smile, saying, "I'll see you around, okay?"
You wave back, feeling a strange sense of gratitude. Meeting someone like Ochako was the last thing you'd expected, but now, as you walk home, the day feels brighter. For the first time in a while, your thoughts drift from yesterday's frustrations, focusing instead on the unexpected warmth of a new connection.
✧༺✦✮✦༻∞ ∞༺✦✮✦༻✧
You arrive home, placing the grocery bag on the kitchen counter, still smiling to yourself as you recall your chat with Ochako. Her easy warmth and friendliness linger in your mind, lifting your mood more than you'd expected. For once, the weekend feels light, like a chance to reset.
Just as you begin putting your things away, your phone buzzes. You glance down, surprised to see Katsuki's name flashing on the screen. Bakugo? It's unusual for him to call, especially on a weekend. He usually insists on doing things on his own, so asking for help is rare.
You answer, and his face pops up on the screen, looking a little more flustered than usual. He clears his throat, seeming uncharacteristically hesitant.
"Hey... I, uh, I need help with the English homework," he mutters, avoiding eye contact. He scratches the back of his neck, and for a split second, his face seems flushed. "You got a minute?"
"Yeah, of course," you say, trying to ignore the surprised smile tugging at your lips. Bakugo asking for help? That's a first. "Let me just grab my notebook."
You settle down with your things, ready to go over the material, and he still seems a little off-kilter, glancing away from the camera now and then.
"So, um... what part are you stuck on?" you ask gently, not wanting to spook him with too much teasing.
Katsuki looks back at the screen, his brows furrowing in concentration. "Just... this whole translation thing." He flips his textbook to show you, and you notice a slight tremor in his hands as he adjusts the camera. He's blushing—just barely, but enough that you notice. It's so unlike him that you almost do a double-take.
"Alright, let's start with this sentence," you say, focusing on the page. "It's easier if you break it down into parts."
You guide him through the translation step-by-step, but each time your eyes meet through the screen, his expression softens, and he stumbles a bit over his words. He's usually quick to snap or grumble when he doesn't understand something right away, but this time he seems almost... bashful?
"Thanks for, uh, taking the time to explain," he says, rubbing his hand against the back of his head, his gaze darting away again. You can tell he's making an effort to maintain his usual confident tone, but there's something about him that feels almost shy, like he's trying to fight off the urge to look directly at you.
"No problem. It's kind of nice, actually," you admit with a smile. "I don't think we've ever really studied together."
His eyes snap back to the screen, and you can see his face flush deeper. "Yeah, well... don't get used to it," he mumbles, but there's no bite to his words, only a nervous energy that makes him fumble a little as he scrolls through his notebook. "I mean, I don't need help often, so... y'know."
You laugh softly, sensing his internal tug-of-war. "Well, you know where to find me if you ever do."
"Yeah..." His voice trails off, and he scratches his cheek, his face a mixture of frustration and something else. For a moment, he just looks at you, and you catch a glimpse of an unguarded expression—one that's almost soft, like he's trying to figure out what to say but can't quite find the words. "I, uh... thanks."
He hangs up rather abruptly after that, the screen going dark before you even have the chance to respond. You stare at your phone for a moment, feeling a strange flutter in your chest. Katsuki calling you for help had been surprising enough, but the way he'd looked at you, with that hint of vulnerability, stays with you, leaving you wondering if maybe—just maybe—there's more to him than you realized.
✦༝┉┉┉┉┉˚**.☣ ♡ ☣.**˚┉┉┉┉┉༝✦
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