Shoto and I chatted, including Bakugo once in a while as we walked down the street.

I was still trying to understand how Shoto had gotten Bakugo so upset. He must have struck a nerve. The whole number one thing must be a sensitive topic. I always thought that system was stupid anyway. It was mostly judged by how well liked someone was, and I always thought it was unfair.

Then again, Enji was number one for a while and people hate him, so there got to be some truth to the system.

"Well, I should get back to my shift. I've been gone too long as it is." Shoto said once we were all quiet.

"You shouldn't have let us keep you. Go ahead, enjoy your shift." I smiled at him, staring at his eyes again.

They're so pretty.

"I hope to see you again soon my darling."

"I have a feeling we'll see each other around," I said, throwing him a wink.

"Till next time." Shoto practically purred, kissing the back of my hand gently before giving me a wink and running off towards his patrol area.

Bakugo "tched" as he glared daggers in Shoto's back.

"What's gotten you so riled up? I thought you borderline liked Shoto." I observed, eager for his response.

The breeze felt nice on my face as we walked, our hands in our pockets. My jacket lay over my arm from where I had taken it off. My loafers clicked on the cement, Bakugo's running shoes making full thuds.

"I was hoping that this would just be us two and it wasn't." It was a simple answer, but I wouldn't pry for more, not now anyway. Besides, I had another question I really wanted to ask.

"Are you and Deku dating?"

"Why did Shoto's teasing make you so mad?"

We had spoken at the same time and stared at each other as we walked.

"Go ahead."

"You go."

We stared at each other again, not sure how we kept speaking at the same time.

I started laughing and soon I heard Bakugo chuckling along with me. It wasn't his normal laugh, the daunting, annoying laugh he always had. This was genuine.

"Ok, really," I said, laughing between my words, "what were you saying?"

"I was asking if you and Deku were dating." He said it quieter this time as we passed a crowd of people, sinking into his hoodie to try and hide his face.

"No, we're not. I wasn't lying during that interview, it really was just blown out of proportion. Why do you ask? Jealous perhaps?" I teased. He turned red and started sputtering.

"What? No. I'm not jealous, I don't get jealous! Lord Explosion Murder doesn't get jealous!" He exclaimed, quick to defend himself. I laughed, grinning at him.

"You say that, but everything about you says otherwise."

"What the hell does that mean?!" He exclaimed, flexing his hands and I could see sparks starting to fly off them.

"Calm down man, I just mean that you're blushing and you're denying the fact that you're jealous which further proves that you're jealous." He clicked his tongue, turning away.

"Whatever. What was your loser question anyway?"

"I asked why Shoto's teasing got you so mad."

His steps slowed a bit, and I slowed in response. Bakugo was silent for a moment or two before finally speaking.

"Because I'll be number one someday and he needs to respect me," he said in a matter-of-fact tone. His steps sped up to their normal pace and I sped up to keep in line with him.

"Is that really it?" I prodded.

"What else would it be?" He smirked.

"Oh nothing, just the crumbling insecurity you have over your position at number two because you feel that you haven't lived up to your full potential. Which, by the way, you have no reason to feel, you should be proud of where you are right now, you've made it farther than I would have." I explained it all quickly and quietly, careful to not let anyone else hear my analysis of the great Lord Explosion Murder.

The blonde beside me made a small choking noise and slowed again.

Oh my god, pick a pace already!

"You alright?" I asked, rubbing what I hoped were comforting circles into his back.

"You need to stop doing that." He said, returning to his normal fast pace.

We're playing cat and mouse here.

"Doing what?" I asked, confused.

"Reading me like that."

"So I was right?"

"I never said that."

"But you did."

"How?!"

"Your body language, look Bakugo," I grabbed his shoulders and made him face me, ending our banter. "You shouldn't feel insecure about your ranking. Not at all. You're at number two! How amazing is that! People have tried and failed, but you made it! You made it because you deserve it!"

He looked away, making his little 'tch' sound.

"Whatever." He grumbled, a light pink dusting his cheeks.

"Come on, say it with me."

"What?" He looked back at me, eye brow raised.

"Repeat after me. 'I, Bakugo Katsuki, am proud of my ranking because I deserve it.'"

"Damn right I deserve it!" He exclaimed.

"That's the spirit! Now say the words!"

"No."

"I, Bakugo Katsuki-"

"No."

"-am proud-"

"(Y/N)."

"-of my ranking because-"

"Because you're being a bitch-"

"I deserve it."

"-that's why."

"I, Bakugo Katsuki-"

"Oh god, you're starting over?" I smirked and repeated myself as Bakugo glared at me. He tried to turn away but I held him in place by his shoulders.

"Fine!" He yelled after about my third round, "I'll say it!"

"Atta boy!" I exclaimed in excitement.

"I, Bakugo Katsuki, am proud-"

"That's it!"

"Shut up. Am proud of my ranking because I deserve it." I said the last words along with him and smiled wide once he had finished.

"That wasn't so hard was it?"

(/)/(/)/(/)/(/)/(/)/(/)/(/)/(/)/(/)/(/)/(/)/(/)

"Well, this is my stop," I said, lazily pointing to the door of the agency.

"I would have never guessed considering your name is on the glass." Bakugo said in a flat tone. I lightly punched his arm, making his chuckle.

"No need to be mean. I should get back to work."

"Yeah, whatever. See you later." He said, punching my arm in return. He was almost cute when he wasn't yelling at people.

He looked to both sides and then all around us before pressing his lips to my forehead and running off.

I sighed, entering the agency.

Chiharu tapped her nails on her desk, watching as I walked towards the hallway to my office.

"Are we gonna talk-"

"No Chiharu, no we aren't."

"Oh come on!" She whined, "please? I used to want you to be with Cellophane after the whole drunk kiss thing but now I'm not sure because of Chargebolt, Deku, Temperature and Lord Explo over there! Plus you and Suneater? Huh? Huh? I saw the way he caught you!" She exclaimed, running around and stepping in front of me.

"I can see stand the rest, but Suneater? Really?" I asked, putting my hands on my hips.

"Yes!" She exclaimed, looking excited. "The sexual tension while you guys flew through the air was so thick you could cut it with a knife!"

"Oh please, don't you have anything better to do than try and get me in a relationship?" I asked.

"Nope! Been doing since high school, and I will continue till you're no longer alone!" She exclaimed, winking.

"You're way to excited about this," I sighed, brushing past her. "Besides, this isn't high school."

"You're right," she said as we entered my office, "in high school I was trying to get us together."

"That you were." I said, thinking back to our high school years together at Johtoh.

"But I've moved past that, and now I'm trying to get you together with someone else that isn't me. Honestly? I'm kinda rooting for Chargebolt, but then again Lord Explosion Murder seems to be in your top three." She observed, leaning against the door way as I sat down.

"I don't have a top three."

"What's this about (Y/N) dating someone?" Daichi said, popping his into the room.

"Don't you guys have work to do that doesn't involve my love life?" I saw Daichi open his mouth, but before he could say anything I blurted out, "or sex life," and his mouth shut again.

"Not really." Chiharu said, sitting in one of the chairs across from my desk, "so spill."

God I love writing the reader and Bakugo's interactions.

I'm really excited because you get to see more of the reader, Chiharu and Daichi in the next few chapters! Yay!

Fun Fact: (Y/N) tends to dress more masculine, in suits and loafers. This is mostly out of spite. Her mother always told her to dress more feminine so she would attract a handsome man, so she wears traditional "men's clothing."

Reminder: Stop for a minute. Breathe. Clear your head. Just let go of everything for a minute. Just exist for a moment with you and yourself. That's all you need, so don't rely on other people. You are the only person you need in life. Breathe. Drink some water. I love you. 💞💞

Over and out.