Torn Down The Middle Chapter 22: Oh? What’s This??

Shouto looked around the group and nodded a greeting to everyone before taking a seat beside you on the sand, his knees up with elbows resting casually on the top of them.

You smiled happily across to him, your eyes lingering on his soft, well defined arms.

“What uh, what were you doing here?” You asked causally.

“My family own a beach house here and we decided to come for the weekend.” He said frankly, his mesmerizing eyes taking you in softly as he looked across to you.

“Must be nice having a house here you can come to, whenever.” Kirishima piped up.

You looked over to him and your eyes went past the red head to a very seething blond beside him.

Bakugou’s crimson red eyes had an ‘intent to kill’ look in them and you could almost feel the black aura radiating from him. He obviously didn’t like Shouto being there…or being so close to you. One or the other, but maybe it was the first option because he had said you weren’t his type, right?

Your train of thought led you right back to square one and you scowled at your fake boyfriend.

“Screw you, you can’t sit there and hate Shouto if you hate me already.”

“Oh, Y/N, you have a bit of sand on your cheek.” Shouto said as he gently placed a hand on your opposite cheek and turned your face towards him.

It successfully broke you out of your annoyed trace and you e/c doe eyes met his. He tenderly brushed something off your cheek with his other hand, keeping the original one where it was to keep you looking at him and your body froze on command.

“You’re tense, Y/N.” He said quietly and lowly.

Your heartbeat increased.

“Has Bakugou done something to frustrate you again?” 

You let out a sigh.

“Damn it I thought he was going to pick up on the fact that HIS TOUCH IS MAKING ME FEEL THINGS!”

“Uh…yeah…but it’s ok…you’re here now.” You replied back softly.

A smile pulled at his lips at that last line and your body broke out in a nervous sweat, realizing how forward you sounded.

“I’m glad my presence calms you.” He said gently as he let your cheek go.

You giggled shyly and looked away.

You heard Bakugou ‘Tch’ softly then he stood up.

“I’m gonna go for a walk.” He stated angrily as he turned and stormed off.

“I’ll go with you, bro!” Kirishima said and scrambled to his feet to follow the stalking, raging, blond.

Your eyes followed the pair as they walked off together. You started to relax more now that Bakugou wasn’t constantly staring you down.

“Dinner is ready!!” Mina called and you looked over at the food she had laid out. She had really gone all out.

Shouto got up quickly and turned to extend a hand to you to help you up, which you gratefully accepted, your eyes glossing over his torso and his rippling abs that were visible though the open part of his shirt as he helped you up.

Naturally, your eyes slowly traveled up and met his and you both looked into each other’s eyes before you shyly looked away, a smile pulling at your lips.

“This layout is plus ultra, Mina!” You commented, letting go of Shouto’s hand as you walked over to the table.

Shouto stayed close to you as you walked around getting food and sometimes your hands would touch as you reached for serving utensils- It felt like every 3 seconds you were saying sorry for touching his hand.

He didn’t seem to mind, though, and would always offer you the serving utensil first before he used it.

“Hey Todoroki, wanna stay with us tonight?” Mina asked, “we have 2 rooms, 1 girls room and 1 boys room.”

“I would like that.” Todoroki said as his heterochromic eyes glanced across and settled on you.

“Yo, are Kiri and Baku coming back to eat? They’ll miss out.” Kaminari said, with a mouthful of food.

“Dunno.” You shrugged, “he’ll come back when he’s ready, I guess.”

…………..

“Bro, come on, what’s gotten into you?” Kirishima asked as Bakugou kept marching purposefully onwards. “Did you and Y/N break up?”

“No.” Bakugou snapped back, “we didn’t.”

“So why you so mad then? Is it because of Todoroki? But you were even mad before he turned up.” Kirishima mused.

“I’m just pissed off, alright?!”

“I can see that,” Kirishima chuckled, “but why? I don’t get what’s going on between you two? You’re still together, did you have a fight earlier?”

“Yeah.” Bakugou grunted.

“Ohh, I see… what happened?” Kirishima asked in a bold move.

“It’s complicated.” Bakugou grunted.

Kirishima sighed, “well, all I can say is, if you love her you gotta apologize and talk things out, yeah? She’s your girlfriend, bro, she’ll understand.”

“Yeah but she’s not. We’re faking it.” Bakugou replied with a scowl.

“WHAT?!” Kirishima shouted. “BRO!? AND YOU NEVER TOLD ME???”

“Oi, I have my reasons, ok?” Bakugou snapped. “I’m…sorry… I didn’t tell you, but it’s complicated.”

Kirishima stayed quiet for a moment, thinking about what Bakugou had just said.

“Do you like her though, bro?” He asked.

Bakugou went bright red in the face. “No?! Why the hell would I like Y/N?!”

Kirishima looked at him. “Lying isn’t very manly, Bakugou.” He said bluntly.

“Fuck.” Bakugou spat, “is it that fucking obvious?”

“Bro, I can’t believe you just asked me that.” Kirishima laughed. “Yeah, it’s pretty obvious but no one has said anything because we all thought you two were actually dating! So of course that would explain why you’re always looking at her and teasing her to get her attention.”

“Tch.” Bakugou grunted.

“Bro, just ask her out for reals, yeah? I’m like 99% sure she’ll say yes.” Kirishima said as he gave Bakugou a good pat on the back.

“What if she says no, though?” Bakugou asked, his voice breaking and showing a degree of concern.

“Listen bro, sometimes you gotta let that manliness override your pride or you’ll get nowhere in life.” Kirishima said with a smile. “How could she say no to you? You’re amazing, manly, strong and good looking! Anyone would say yes to you!”

Bakugou smirked. “Yeah, guess you’re right. It’s just…I’ve only ever made a move on a girl once before and it was when I was a kid. My memory is hazy but she was a flower girl at a wedding and I found a ring so I gave it to her but she obviously didn’t care about me because she lost the ring.” He said with a scowl. “That memory has been with me ever since.”

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Torn Down The Middle Chapter 23: Duel Hair Colour And A Moonlit Night >>>