Disclaimer: I do not own Boku No Hero Academia. I am not making a profit off of this.

A/N: So for the appreciation week, I decided to do a series of one shots that were connected. There might be some other one shots to go in between, but for now I just have the ones for the week. We shall see what happens!

The first time he noticed the hollow heaviness floating in his chest was during the Sports Festival Fighting Round against that round faced girl. Bakugo hadn't known her name despite them sharing a homeroom, but she stepped out unto the arena, delicate little fist curled as she lowered into a fighting stance.

Bakugo expected the pressure of adrenaline. The world was watching and waiting to see what he could do in a one on one fight.

He thrived on it.

Adrenaline meant sweaty palms, and sweaty palms meant plenty of ammunition for battle. The hormone would cause his breathing to become labored. Biologically, he understood the necessity. Labored breathing would increase his circulation, increased circulation benefited his muscles and brain.

The heavy breathing was fine.

The unfamiliar pain radiating through his chest as he stared into chocolate brown eyes had been a shock. The match hadn't even started and her glare had nearly brought the hothead to his knees. He assumed victory would cure a sudden case of butterflies.

So, he fought.

He dodged and countered everything she managed throw at him and was declared the victor after she had nothing left.

Victory somehow magnified the fluttering in his chest even though Recovery Girl assured him he was in top condition for his next match. He faired fine in his other matches without that unfamiliar twinge in his chest, so he figured it was a fluke.

The only thing Bakugo could blame were nerves.

Badass or not, he was only human. Humans got nervous, but heroes didn't let people see their weaknesses. Their lives depended on it.

So, he carried on.

Until Valentine's Day.

He'd spent months accustomed to the empty twinge bubbling in his chest, but today it seemed hotter today as it shortened his breath. Somehow, he'd managed to sit calmly as his classmates flurried around him. Girls giggling loudly as they dropped off chocolates and cards. Boys anxiously waiting or early accepting gifts.

The remains of his singed Valentine's basket were pushed to the corner of his desk. Bakugo slouched angrily at his desk, arms folded tightly in front of him as he focused on somewhere beyond the classroom windows.

His hands dug into the sleeves of his school uniform fighting the emptiness in his chest. The thudding of his heart vibrated between his ears as his classmate's chatter irritated him.

"Stupid holiday…" Bakugo murmured, sliding further in his chair. Aizawa had surprised them by giving the girls time to pass out Valentine's gifts. The stoic professor comfortably slid inside his yellow cocoon, declaring students were free to pass out their candy and cards.

Iida had announced at the beginning of class that students would be permitted to pass out Valentine's at the end of the class session. Bakugo planned to exit the moment Aizawa had closed class; he hadn't received a Valentine since the beginning of junior high school and was now forced to watch Deku receive enough chocolate to feed a small village.

A slow growl bellowed in his throat at the sight of the small mountain of chocolate growing on that peon's desk.

"Bakugo..." A bright bubbly voice squealed as light footsteps approached.

The hot head turned sharply looking up at sweet chocolate brown eyes. That round face girl from the sports festival. "Uraraka?" His brow furrowed, anger easing into confusion. The ache in his chest turned to fire that crept up his neck and burned to the tips of his ears. What the hell did she want with him?

Her eyes wrinkled as a bright smile wove along her face, "You remembered this time!" She giggled, rocking on the balls of her feet as she teased lightly.

Her light laugh rumbled through his chest, spreading warmth and making the phantom hole in his chest deeper. His jaw clenched as he ignored the feeling, "What do you want?" Bakugo couldn't understand why he wanted to hear her laugh again.

"Well…" She drawled, her eyes looking at his bag suspiciously. "I was going to drop this in your Valentine's bag, but-" Uraraka cringed looking at the remains of the charred bag before her. "Um, you don't have one." There was no need to point out the fact that he'd obviously destroyed his bag during one of his fits.

"Huh?" He sputtered forcing his trademark scowl and ignoring the heat blooming on face.

"This is for you," Uraraka chirped softly as she placed the gift on his desk. The small boxed was wrapped with black paper and decorated with an ornate red and orange bows. "I wasn't sure if you liked chocolate, but the chocolate shop I got it from has specialty flavors! This chocolate has a hint of chilli powder. It's supposed to be gourmet or something," she shrugged innocently as she rambled. "I don't kno-"

Bakugo looked at the small box on his desk as if it were viper ready to strike him. "Why?" He turned to her faded as his eyes slid around the classroom walls. Thankfully, no one seemed to be notice what was going on between them.

Uraraka nibbled on her lower lip as her head tilted in thought.

He swallowed a tight lump that sank into his stomach heavily as he watched her think. "Well?" He snapped, anxious for a response and for his head to stop spinning.

"I heard you liked spicy food," she shrugged with a little grin. "So spicy-ish chocolate? It's really good! Has a nice pleasent spice after you eat it. I tasted one-"

"No, round face!" He huffed, gesturing to the gift almost distastefully. "Why are you giving me a gift!?" He figured she would get presents for Deku and that four eyed pain in the ass. She was probably one of those people who got something for everyone.

The hot head frowned looking over at the small mountain of chocolates spilling from Deku's bag. A small box wrapped in green paper and a bright blue bow rested at the center of his desk. He snarled scanning the rest of the room for similar boxes decorated with ornate little bows.

Four eyes, too, had one wrapped in white that was tossed in with the rest of his treats, but they were the only two.

How did he get added to her gift list.

Bakugo felt the tension ease from his shoulders as he ache in his chest throbbed loudly, "Well?!"

"It's Valentine's Day," Uraraka blinked, unsure of the answer he was looking for.

No shit Sherlock. "And?!"

"And you give chocolate on Valentine's Day?" She questioned slowly. Was this some sort of trick question. She looked around the classroom. Little gifts covered their male classmates desks as the girls of her class weaved in and out of the rows to hand out their tokens of appreciation and affection. "Like everyone else is doing," Uraraka gestured to the holiday activity around her.

"No," He growled. "Why me?" He knew he'd done nothing worthy of receiving chocolates. From the moment he sat foot at U.A., he'd made it his mission to become the number one hero. Friends and memories wouldn't matter in the long run, so he hadn't bothered with them.

She considered the question for a moment, her shoulders shrugging as a soft smile appeared on her lips, "I don't know." Her answer was honest as she turned to walk back to her seat. "I figured you could use something sweet." With a gentle wink and a little flush, she skipped back to her seat leaving Bakugo stunned in silence.

His face erupted with heat, feeling as if his face had ignited.

What the actual hell?

"Hey man," Kaminari called, leaning up out of his seat to peer over at the hot head's desk. "Who the hell gave you chocolate?" He questioned, loudly.

To be fair, the logical side of Bakugo recognized that it was a reasonable question.

He was a jackass on a good day and a down unbearable most of the time. If he were an outsider looking at the situation, he'd ask the same question.

"You gotta girlfriend or something?" Why was that idiot's voice getting louder? "Who the hell would put up with your cranky ass?"

He didn't have to look around him to feel the confused stares slowly narrowing in on him. Why did the thought of calling that round face girl his girlfriend make his palms sweat and heat consume his face?

"Yo, you blushing or something?!

He was. "Bite me, asshole!" Bakugo growled between gritted teeth as he sprang from his seat. Snatching the little box, he slammed his chair into the desk as he stormed out of the classroom. He ignored the tremor in his chest catching Uraraka's stare as he slammed the door behind him.

This was ridiculous.

Bakugo Katsuki was someone who possessed more ability in his baby toe than some of those extras had on their best days.

He was tough.

Intelligent.

Agile.

He didn't give a flying fuck what they thought about him.

So, why was he suddenly aware of the crushing weight of her gaze?

Why did his chest hurt?

He collapsed against the wall next to the classroom door, clutching a hand to his chest as he tried to soothe the ache. Face hot and ears burning, he panted as he wiped his palms on his pants. He moved his fingers to the gift, tracing the wrapping paper.

He scoffed softly, looking down at the small present. Bakugo gently balanced the gift in his palm, while his other hand carefully untangled the bow. He tore the paper down revealing the small container filled with chocolate candies wrapped in fire red shiny paper.

Bakugo couldn't remember that last time he'd had chocolate. Did he even like it?

Bring a piece to his lips, tore he the wrapper off with his teeth and pulled the chocolate into his mouth. The soft chocolate began to dissolve as soon as it hit his song. He could clearly taste the deep flavor of rich dark cocoa with a hint of the warm spice she'd promised him. Bakugo felt a slow smile curl on his lips as candy swirled around his mouth.

His thoughts drifted back to the girl who'd presented him with the gift. His fingers dug into the jar, pulling out another candy as he exhaled deeply, "Something sweet, huh?"

Like she promised, the sweetness faded into the gentle burn of spice.