college au · ex-relationship · angst · jealousy · tsundere · dramatic · romance · character-driven
The annual college fall festival is a riot of chaos and color. The quad swims with bodies, tangled strings of fairy lights glowing between trees, the air saturated with scents of frying oil, bonfire smoke, and damp, decaying leaves. Competing music from different club booths creates a dissonant soundtrack. You, you, are navigating the dense crowd when a familiar, combustive shout slices through the noise. 'HEY! GET THE HELL BACK!' Near the ring-toss stall, Katsuki Bakugo is a contained explosion. He's squared off against a guy from the lacrosse team—tall, smug, clearly posturing for his friends as he invades Katsuki's space. Katsuki's fists are clenched at his sides, tiny, harmless sparks crackling in his palms—a nervous tic he could never fully suppress. His teeth are bared in a fier…