Extra Credit pt. 2: Falling Behind (2.9k)
synopsis: bakugou is assigned to visit an elementary school every friday as part of a new hero outreach program. though this friday's hero field day left a lot more surprises than he had anticipated.
cw: fluff, slow burn romance, prohero!bakugou and teacher!reader, light teasing/banter, bakugou being bakugou, canon-typical hero themes, angst kinda?eventual romance,
a/n: this is a series! part one is here! here is part three. also might keep the title, i think it grew on me. or if anyone has suggestions for a better title? or any suggestions for the series at all? my asks are open!
Bakugou has started to look forward to his Fridays, but it’s not like he’d ever actually admit that.
It was just the schedule. The hero outreach program was every Friday, and he had committed to it. The kids enjoyed it, and it was good practice for future heroes. That was all.
Except lately, Thursday nights had started feeling longer than usual.
The program was always the last thing on his mind before he fell asleep and the first thing he thought about when his alarm dragged him awake the next Friday morning. His eyes cracked open, rays of sunlight already leaking through the gap in his curtains. They turned his ash blonde tufts of hair into little rays of sunlight, messily splayed across his forehead.
Bakugou wondered what was on the agenda for today’s Hero Course Program before the answer came to him a second later, his paper schedule flashing through his mind.
Today is Hero Field Day. Bakugou scoffs at the thought in his mind. Some type of kiddie bullshit so all the students can have fun and exchange information about what they’ve learned through the hero course program. Whatever, that part doesn't concern him much.
He pulls his arms behind his head to rest on them, now pondering in the morning glow. He wondered if you'd be wearing that stupid cardigan again.
Bakugou blinks away his tiredness in frustration, the edges of his eyelids still sore with every pass. Why does he know what type of cardigan you wear? He sprawls his muscular limbs across his bed, his soft cotton sheets spread to cover his crotch and upper thigh. He stared up at the ceiling, annoyed with himself before he’d even gotten out of bed.
It was just a cardigan. A piece of clothing. A completely normal thing to notice about someone he saw every week. Of course he would grow fond of someone he’s regularly interacting with.
Except he didn’t remember what any of his coworkers wore when they were out of costume. Or what color their mugs were. Or how their perfume smelled. Or what they looked like when they tucked their hair behind their ear, or when their lips curl up slightly before they start to giggle, hand rushing to cover their mouth as they smiled wider.
His jaw tightened.
Three weeks. Three fucking weeks, and somehow he’d managed to develop a problem. Every damn day he told himself to knock it off. She was a teacher. He was there to do his job. End of story.
But every time he walked into that classroom, his eyes found her before anyone else. Every time she laughed at something stupid, it stuck with him longer than it should’ve. These past few weeks, he’s shut down villains bigger than buildings. Negotiated media interviews and rescue operations under pressure.
Yet somehow he couldn’t stop thinking about one damn teacher. He slowly dragged a jagged hand down his tired face, sighing before forcing himself to get up for the day.
Hero Field Day. The idea was actually a little exciting. With the weather finally warming up over the past few weeks, the school board had decided to host the event outdoors as a celebration of the Pro Heroes who volunteered their time to inspire the future heroes of Sakura Elementary.
The setup looked very cute from what you saw when you walked in this morning, it should be pretty fun for the kids.
You turned toward them at the doorframe of your classroom, reminding them what a single-file line was supposed to look like. The excited kids shuffled into something that resembled a line. Crooked, with a few students grouped together at the back.
“Okay,” you started, raising your voice just enough to gather their attention. “Who remembers the rules for our Hero Field Day today?”
You lifted your hand as an example, and almost immediately, tiny hands shot into the air. You smiled, scanning the eager faces before calling on one of your students.
“No fighting, no crying, and stay with a friend!”
“Exactly.”
You waited until the chatter died down before motioning for them to follow you into the hallway, Walking backward toward the exit —this was a skill you’ve learned over the years. Your eyes continuously swept over the line of students, making sure everyone stayed together.
You didn’t notice Bakugou leaning against the exit door, watching as you guided your students toward him. No cardigan today. His eyes dropped for half a second. New jeans, though. They looked good.
The hero immediately frowned, pushing the thought away before it could settle. Before he could catch one more glance to see the brand name of your new pants, you turned around, nearly walking straight into him before your feet come to a quick stop.
Your smile was bright enough to catch him off gaurd. “You came back!”
Bakugou shoved his hands into the pockets of his hero costume, deliberately looking past your gaze. “I work here.”
One brow arched. “You work at an elementary school now?”
A quiet scoff left him. You continued to walk out of the door into the field with your class, Bakugou staying close beside you. “Once a week. Don’t be a smartass.”
His words lacked any real bite, and the corner of your mouth lifted a little further because you knew it. This time, he actually looked at you. His gaze lingered for half a second longer than necessary, taking in the warmth in your expression, the way you seemed genuinely happy to see him. It was nice.
When you finally stepped onto the sprawling school field, you couldn’t help but pause. It was even better than you’d imagined. Colorful booths stretched across the grass, each one decorated to match the hero running it. Balloons bobbed in the breeze, music drifted through the air, and the excited chatter of hundreds of students filled every corner of the field.
You tried to recall the details from the Field Day Protocol email the school had sent out the week before, though by now it had long since been buried beneath a mountain of unread messages.
Every hero participating in the Heroes Public Safety Commission’s program at Sakura Elementary was there, each standing alongside the class they’d been assigned to throughout the year. The field had been divided into different stations, each one designed around the hero running it, showcasing their quirks, their strengths, and the skills they used as heroes.
You had to admit, it was actually a pretty thoughtful idea.
You spotted Lemillion in the distance, standing proudly beside his station. The Number One Hero. It was still a little surreal seeing someone like him here, spending his Friday afternoon at an elementary school field day. But more than anything, it made you appreciate the heroes involved even more. The fact that the Number One and Number Two heroes were willing to step away from their busy schedules to encourage the next generation of heroes said a lot about them.
Lemillion’s station was titled Save the Civilians. A giant inflatable building structure sat in the middle of the field, with stuffed animals scattered throughout the “damaged” building, waiting to be rescued. You could already guess the objective: students would have to crawl through tunnels, squeeze through obstacles, and “phase” through hanging curtains to reach the civilians trapped inside.
Judging by the excited screams coming from the station, it was already a hit. Lemillion beamed down at each of the kids with his signature smile. He was actually a lot more handsome in person, you thought.
Your attention drifted back to Dynamight’s field day station, finally taking in the setup you’d been too distracted to notice before.
A large sign overhead read BLAST ZONE. The course was packed with obstacles. Cardboard villains lurked around corners, while others were rigged to spring up without warning as the kids made their way through. Their mission was simple: toss “grenades”—bean bags—at every villain they encountered before reaching the end, where a towering villain dummy waited as the final boss. One direct hit would trigger a dramatic explosion of colorful confetti.
A slight giggle escaped you. It was ridiculously over-the-top, but still very fitting for the Pro Hero.
You were crouched beside one of the students, helping them adjust the strap on their helmet before they ran through the obstacle course. The kid was rambling excitedly about how they were going to beat the “villains” faster than anyone else, and you listened with a smile, encouraging them before sending them back toward their classmates.
Bakugou watched the interaction from across the field. He wasn’t even sure when he’d started doing it.
Maybe it was the way you never rushed the kids, even when there were a dozen other things demanding your attention. Or how easily you matched their excitement without ever talking down to them. Maybe it was how good you looked in these jeans he’s never seen before, or the way your messy hair always fell perfectly around your face and ears. He found himself noticing you. And unfortunately for him, someone else noticed too.
“Woww Katsuki, shameless.” Bakugou’s shoulder stiffened, the simple comment was enough. He turned slowly, already knowing exactly who he’d find standing beside him. Mina Ashido wore the kind of grin that meant trouble.
Bakugou let out a rough sigh. Of course she had to be here. She didn’t even know Mina was in the Hero Classroom Program, or that she was even assigned to this school at all.
“What?” he asked, though the warning in his voice was immediate.
She glanced between him and you, far too amused. “Nothing,” she said, drawing out the word. “Absolutely nothing.”
“Mind your business, Mina.” He grumbled, hands still in pockets. He didn’t even have to look over at her anymore to see the huge grin plastered across her face. He scanned the field for her Field Day Station before landing on it across the field. An Acid Agility game with bright colors, obstacles, and music playing. It even had a dance floor at the center.
It didn’t take you too long to notice that Bakugou was chatting with the Number 10 Hero, Pinky. Your cheeks went flushed. He knows Pinky? Your mind flashes to the moments you were obsessed with her in college, even had one of her posters up in your dorm. You practically wanted to be her. Plus, her Pinky’s™ Pink Acid Power-Hold Hairspray is totally iconic. And you had the commercial memorized.
Mina was exactly as she appeared on the media and publicly; bright, and impossibly energetic. Her signature pink hair bounced as she practically beamed over, a huge smile spreading across her face as she talked excitedly to Bakugou.
You watched the interaction with a small smile, surprised by the familiarity between them. It was strange seeing heroes talk so casually. Mina’s eyes bounced with eagerness as her gaze met yours. “And when were you going to introduce me to your cute teacher friend?” She teases. “Katsuki, you’re so rude.” Hearing Mina use his first name made you deduce that they had probably met a while ago, during hero training.
You smiled a little awkwardly, clearly caught off guard. Mina had that effect on people. Plus, you’d been obsessed with the Pinky’s™ haircare line for years. “O-oh thank you. I’m Ms. L/N” you stuttered, holding out your hands for her to shank “I’m a big fan.” Is all that you could muster. Your palms were definitely sweating.
Bakugou watched the way you immediately got flustered, your attention completely stolen by Mina’s presence. His eyebrow twitched in annoyance.
Seriously? This was the same person who’d looked him dead in the eye and talked back without hesitation. He couldn’t even get five words into a conversation with you before you were already firing back with some quick comeback. But Mina shows up with dumb pink hair and a smile, and suddenly you’re tripping over your words? Unbelievable.
He looked away, annoyed by the strange feeling settling in his chest. Pinky had you nervous. Not him.
Mina laughed nervously at your admiration, one hand met with yours in a handshake, “I’m not all that, promise me.” She turns toward the number 2 hero, who still had an annoyed look plastered on his face, two hands in his pockets.
“Who you SHOULD be gawking over is Mr. Dynamight here. It’s not easy to be Number 2.“ she slaps him on the shoulder playfully, he glares at her, his eyes like bright crimson lasers in response, “Plus Kacchan’s totally a softie underneath all of that yelling.”
Bakugou knew exactly what she was doing. Somehow, Mina had developed an infuriating sixth sense for sniffing out the moment any of her friends caught feelings for someone. She’d been weaponizing it against Katsuki specifically ever since he’d admitted to his first crush after high school, making it her personal mission to drag him into the dating world whether he liked it or not. He suppressed a groan.
Because the second he let himself think too hard about you, his mind went straight to everything that could go wrong. You were a teacher. Normal. Grounded. Completely outside the mess of hero society.
And he was Dynamight. A hero with enemies, cameras, reporters, and a life that never really belonged to him. Wanting you felt selfish. Acting on it felt reckless. He suppressed another groan.
“Don’t even start,” he muttered.
Mina’s grin only widened. “I didn’t say anything.”
She didn’t have to. Because he knew where this was going. Next time they see each other she’d give him the same speech she always did. That he worked too much. That he was too hard on himself. That maybe he deserved to have something outside of hero work.Mina didn’t understand. Or maybe she did, and that was the problem.
You stood confused between the two, did you miss something?
He opened his mouth to shut her up before she could get any smug ideas, but a student came rushing up at the worst possible moment, tugging at your sleeve and asking for help with something small and urgent. Whatever it was, it pulled you away again before Bakugou could even get a word in.
He watched you go, jaw tightening. Of course the universe would keep doing this to him, giving him just enough of you to make him want more, then yanking you out of reach before he could do anything about it.
Mina followed his stare, then looked back at him with a knowing expression that made him want to explode. “Seriously?” she said once you were out of earshot. “You’re gonna stand there and brood every time she walks away?”
“I’m not brooding.” He sniffs, eyes still planted on you.
Mina sighed, clearly done with his stubbornness. “You need to put yourself out there. Stop acting like wanting something normal is a crime.”
He scoffed, but there was less bite in it than usual. “Normal isn’t really my thing.”
“No kidding,” she shot back. “But that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve it.” Bakugou didn’t answer.
Mina knew him well enough to recognize when she’d hit too close to the truth. She just watched him stand there, stubbornly refusing to admit she had a point.
A few moments later, you came back over, your attention shifting between him and the obstacle course behind you. There was a slight crease between your brows, like you were debating whether or not to interrupt.
He noticed immediately, “What’s up?” he asked before you could even get the words out.
You blinked, surprised that he had noticed something wrong so quickly. “Sorry, but…” Your gaze flickered back toward the kids gathered around Dynamight's Blast Zone course. A few of them were struggling with one of the obstacles, looking unsure of what to do next. “I think they need your help. They’re having a bit of trouble. I tried to help but I don’t really know what I’m doing” You chuckled. Your voice was soft and semi-defeated.
For a second, Bakugou just looked at you. It was almost irritating how easily Mina’s words had gotten under his skin. Like she’d reached past every excuse he’d built and dragged something out into the open that he’d been trying not to acknowledge.
Which was that he wanted to get to know everything about you. What you ate for breakfast when you were too tired to cook. What songs you listened to on your way home. Whether you were the type of person who stayed up too late despite knowing better or if you actually went to bed at a reasonable hour. If you had a pet waiting for you when you got home. If you talked to yourself when you were alone. What color were your pajamas?
He wanted to know all of it. More than anything, he wanted to know what was going through your mind when you looked at him like that. That earnest, eager expression on your face should’ve been easy to dismiss, but somehow it had carved itself into his memory ever since the day you two met.
And even though helping the students was literally the reason he was there, a small part of him was grateful for the excuse to step away before Mina could say anything else.
“Yeah,” he put his thoughts beside himself, already walking over. “I’ll handle it.”
Mina followed your gaze toward the obstacle course, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. “Well,” she said, clapping her hands together. “I’m gonna go check on my group before they decide the bean bags are actually weapons.”
You laughed softly. “Probably a good idea.” Probably for the best, too, since you’d likely end up just fangirling and unintentionally freaking out the pro hero.
Mina shot Bakugou one last look before walking away. A look he definitely noticed.
You watched as Bakugou crouched down beside the students who had gathered around the obstacle course, all of them staring at the setup like it had personally offended them.
“Alright,” he said, eyes flicking over the course. “Who’s freezin’ up?”
A few hands went up immediately.
“I keep hesitating!” One of the students explains.
“I know where to throw, but I miss every time!” Another one joins.
More students angrily complain about their qualms with the field day event.
Bakugou stared at them for a second. Then he huffed, just like he’d already figured out the problem. He positions himself to stand back up, his muscular arms that you definitely don’t stare at every week bracing themselves on his thigh before he gets up in one swift motion.
“Yeah,” he grunts. “You’re all thinkin' too much.”
The kids blinked at him.
He picked up one of the bean bags and rolled it once in his palm. “Y'don’t need to make it perfect. You need to commit.”
He stood and demonstrated the throw, not with a huge burst of power, but with a clean, controlled motion that sent the bean bag straight through the opening. The cardboard villain quickly thuds to the grown with a loud electronic “OH NO!”
The kids gasp in excitement, ready to try their hand at his new advice.
“See that?” he said, pointing at the target. “Pick your line. Trust it. Then move.”
One of the students tried again, this time without stopping halfway through their throw. The bean bag landed exactly where it was supposed to. The kid’s face lit up. “I did it!”
Bakugou’s mouth twitched, almost forming a smile. “Yeah,” he said. “You did.”
More students began grabbing bean bags and racing through the obstacle course, their cheers and laughter filling the field as they knocked down the cardboard villains in their path. Dozens of electronic “OH NO!”s rang out from the defeated targets.
You watched from the side, a quiet smile tugging at your lips. The program had been everything you could have hoped for your students, but there were only two weeks left before it came to an end. The Heroes Public Safety Commission had chosen the timing intentionally, giving the children time to adjust to the excitement of seeing heroes every week before the sudden change of summer break.
Still, knowing it wouldn’t last much longer left a dull ache in your chest. This school year had already been one of your best, but this program had changed something. It had given you more opportunities to connect with your students, to see them open up and believe in themselves.
You watched the students play, a hint of melancholy softening your expression. From the field, Bakugou caught sight of you standing off to the side, watching your students with a look he couldn’t quite place.
Kids ran around him, laughing and shouting as they threw bean bags and took down cardboard villains, but his attention kept drifting back to you. He wondered what was going through your head.
“Hey there!”
You turned at the sudden voice, finding a bright smile and a familiar face standing in front of you.
“I don’t think we’ve properly met yet. I’m Mirio Togata. Lemillion.” He offered his hand, the brigthness of his smile somehow rivaled the sunshine outside. “I’ve been meaning to introduce myself.”
You blinked, a little surprised before shaking his hand. “Oh! It’s nice to meet you. I'm Y/N L/N. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“All good things, I hope,” he teased, his eyes crinkling with amusement. He looked exactly how you expected him to up close, handsome and bright. “Though I have to admit, I was curious about the teacher brave enough to let Dynamight loose around a bunch of kids.”
You glanced toward the field, laughing softly. “He’s actually been really good with them.”
Mirio looked over as well, amused. “Yeah… that’s probably something not many people get to see.” His eyes returned to you, a playful glint in them. “Guess I’m lucky I got to meet both of you today.”
For a second, when his eyes met yours, you swore your heart stopped.
Was Lemillion… flirting with you?
Lemillion? The number one hero?
Your thoughts immediately went somewhere ridiculous. Was it the new pants you bought? Was that the secret? Had you accidentally unlocked some kind of confidence boost without realizing it?
Or was he really just being friendly and finally taking the chance to introduce himself? Whatever the reason was, you were definitely enjoying all of the Pro Hero attention you were getting today.
The field day ended earlier than Bakugou realized. The loud screams of kids had dissipated as they all made their way back to be picked up or after school programs.
After the principal’s announcement, teachers and heroes began working together to clean up the field, gathering equipment and returning the obstacle course pieces back to storage.
Bakugou should’ve been focused on the task in front of him. He wasn’t.
His eyes kept drifting back to you.
More specifically, to the way you and Lemillion were standing together near the edge of the field, packing up some last pieces of equipment and smiling at each other like you were sharing some private joke.
Bakugou frowned, taking a deep breath to keep his irritation from consuming him. The hell was so funny?
By the time everyone started heading back inside, he found himself walking near you before he’d even decided to. “What’s with that face?” he asked.
You looked over, confused. “What face?”
“The one you’ve had all afternoon.” His eyes flicked briefly toward where Lemillion had been standing. “You and Togata. What’s going on? Some type of inside joke?” His tone was almost interrogation like.
You paused, realizing he’d been paying attention more than you expected. You hadn’t even noticed him watching you and Togata that closely. Why did he care so much?
“Oh.” The memory came back to you, and you felt a little heat creep into your face. You had been smiling pretty much the entire conversation.
Bakugou immediately didn’t like that reaction. “Oh?”
You looked away, a small smile tugging at your lips. “He asked me on a date,” you said softly.
And Bakugou froze. Your eyes glimmered with something he couldn’t quite name; something warm, something excited. He’d never seen you look like that before. Not at him.
For a moment, Bakugou said nothing.
“…A date?” He sounded almost perplexed.
Of course someone like Lemillion would make a move without even thinking twice. He was friendly, confident, easy to talk to. The kind of person people naturally gravitated toward.
“Yes, Dynamight,” you teased. “Despite what you may think, men actually do ask me out sometimes.”
Bakugou scoffed internally. You bent down to grab a basket of bean bags, tilting your head slightly toward the pile of cardboard villains sitting at his feet. Without a word, he followed behind you, picking them up as instructed. That was when he was finally able to catch the brand of the new pants you were wearing. Not that it mattered now.
“Tch. But you guys work together,” he called out, trying to ignore the irritation creeping into his tone.
“Not really,” you replied. “Plus, you guys are leaving soon anyway.” You glanced back at him with a small smile, gesturing vaguely in his direction. “Might as well take what I can get, right?”
The hero frowned, a low grunt leaving his throat in defiance. He didn’t like the way that sounded. Not one bit.
Bakugou felt utterly defeated. He couldn’t tell what bothered him more: The fact that Lemillion had asked you out… or the fact that he hadn’t even thought to do it himself until now. He felt like a damn coward.
“So where’r you guys goin’?” he asked after placing the gathered equipment on the nearest bench inside of the storage shed. The question slipped out before he could stop it.
Was he jealous?
“Oh my goodness, am I being interviewed?” you joked, throwing your hands up dramatically. “I don’t know yet,” you admitted with a laugh. “He said he’ll text me tonight and let me know where we’re going.”
Great. The date was tonight.
Makes sense. Bakugou knew Fridays were usually Mirio’s days off. With UA students and provisional license heroes taking over patrol rotations for work studies, it gave active pros a little more flexibility during the weekends.
He fought the urge to roll his eyes when he looked back at you. You looked way too excited. Like some teenager gushing over a celebrity. He didn’t like it. He didn’t like other heroes having your attention. He was the one who came here. Dynamight. The hero who was supposed to make this program fun for you and your students. The one who’d spent weeks watching you smile, watching you care about those kids.
So why the hell were you going out with fucking Lemillion? Sure, the guy was popular. Sure, everyone loved him. But Bakugou knew he had more than enough to back himself up. More power. More bite. More confidence.
He wasn’t letting Lemillion win that easily. Not again.
“Enjoy your date,” he grumbled, the words coming out sharper than he intended.
Before you could respond, he turned and walked off, leaving you standing there in the storage shed alone. You stared after him for a moment, caught off guard by the strange edge in his voice.
You didn’t let it bother you too much, knowing you had a date to rush home and get ready for.
The night patrol should’ve ended hours ago. Bakugou knew that.
His assistant definitely knew that.
“Bakugou,” her voice crackled through his earpiece, already sounding exhausted. “Your patrol time was up two hours ago. You can go home now.”
“I’m busy.”
“You’re literally still patrolling.”
“Yeah. Almost done.”
“That’s not—”
He ended the call before she could finish.
The city was quieter than usual, but Bakugou kept moving. Kept looking. Kept finding reasons to stay out longer. He told himself it was because he wanted to clear his head. That was a lie.
His attention drifted toward the brightly lit windows of a high-end sushi restaurant tucked between the buildings below. Mirio’s favorite place. The kind of place he’d take someone for a special occasion.
Bakugou had already passed by it twice tonight. This was the third time.
He hated himself a little more every time. His eyes scanned the tables through the clear windows, searching for any sign of you. A glimpse of your messy hair. That smile he’d been missing all day.
He didn’t even know what he was hoping for. Maybe that the date wasn’t going well, or maybe you’d look up and somehow notice him. Maybe he just wanted proof that he still had time.
Before he had the chance to turn around, a sleek black car pulled up along the curb, immediately catching Bakugou’s attention. His eyes narrowed.
The driver stepped out and walked around to the back, opening the door for the passenger. Then Mirio stepped out. Of course.
A moment later, Mirio walked around to the other side of the car and opened the door for you, offering his hand with that same damn smile he always wore. And then Bakugou saw you.
You stepped out wearing a black gown that was perfectly suited for the setting of the restaurant. The dress was elegant, the dark fabric sitting against your skin as it hugged your figure in a way he’d never seen before. The neckline framed you beautifully, the fabric fitting close around your waist and the draped effortlessly with every step you took.
Nothing like the teacher he’d gotten used to seeing every week in the classroom. You looked good. Really good.
Then Mirio took your hand. You smiled, stepping towards him. You looked so happy, excited.
And Bakugou felt it. The familiar sting of heat gathering in his palms. A sharp crackle of sweat and nitroglycerin building beneath his skin before he even realized he’d activated his quirk. His palm sparked.
“Tch—” Too late.
The explosion tore through the quiet night, sending him flying straight into the side of a nearby building.
“Damn it—” he muttered, pulling himself out of the damage.
Across the street, you and Mirio turned at the sudden noise. Bakugou froze, smoke curling around him as he stared from the shadows. For one second, he was sure you’d seen him.
But after a quick glance around, you simply looked confused before Mirio gently guided you toward the entrance. Neither of you noticed him. Bakugou watched as the doors closed behind you.
“Idiot,” was all he could mutter to himself before launching into the night sky and heading home.
Part 3
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