Chapter 59: Mina
The flashing lights of the concert hall practically vibrated through my skin. The roar of the crowd – a sea of glowing pink glowsticks – was deafening, but exhilarating. Performing was my oxygen. But backstage, the air always felt thinner, the pressure heavier. That's where they came in.
Katsuki Bakugo, arms crossed, perpetually scowling, surveyed the backstage area like he expected a villain to burst through the drywall any second. Eijiro Kirishima, all sunshine and solid muscle, stood beside him, his grin radiating the kind of unwavering loyalty that made my heart flutter. My bodyguards. My best friends. My kryptonite.
"Oi, Pinky, you ready to rock this place?" Bakugo barked, his gruffness a comforting constant amidst the chaos.
"Ready as I'll ever be, Bakugo," I chirped, forcing my voice to be steady. Keeping my feelings for them hidden was getting harder every single damn day.
It had started subtly. A blush creeping up my neck when I saw Kirishima bench press twice his weight at the gym. A quickening pulse when Bakugo, focused and intense, would analyze my choreography, offering brutally honest but always helpful critiques. We'd been inseparable since UA High, battling villains, dreaming big, and navigating the rollercoaster of teenage angst. Now, years later, they were guarding my life – and unknowingly, stealing my heart.
Having them as bodyguards was my idea, of course. After my popularity exploded, my manager insisted on security. Who better than my two best friends, the fiercest protectors I knew? It made sense. Logically. Emotionally, it was a slow, agonizing burn.
The concert was a blur of vibrant costumes, synchronized dance moves, and the intoxicating energy of the audience. Afterwards, back in my hotel suite, exhausted but buzzing, I collapsed on the plush sofa. Bakugo and Kirishima, ever vigilant, hovered nearby.
"Good show, Mina," Kirishima said, his smile genuine. "You really lit up that stage."
"Tch," Bakugo grunted, "Could still use some work on the transitions in the second act."
I giggled, grateful for their presence, for the normalcy they brought to my surreal life. "Thanks, guys. Seriously. I wouldn't have made it out there without you."
"That's what we're here for, Pinky," Bakugo said, though his gaze, softened ever so slightly, lingered on mine a beat longer than necessary.
Later that evening, I was video chatting with a couple of old classmates, reminiscing about the ridiculous things we did in high school. I didn't realize Bakugo and Kirishima were within earshot until I heard a snicker.
"… oh my god, remember that time Mina tried to dye her hair green and it turned out neon blue?" My friend on the screen shrieked with laughter.
I groaned, mortified. "Don't remind me! That was the worst."
"And then Bakugo tried to fix it and made it worse?" Another friend chimed in.
"Hey!" Bakugo barked from the corner.
My face flushed. "Yeah, well, at least he tried," I said quickly. "Anyway, it was a disaster. Good times, though."
Before I could steer the conversation any further, Kirishima spoke loud enough for me to hear, "She's always had a thing for us, hasn't she?"
I could feel my face getting hotter, the blood running up from my chest to my cheeks. Before I could say anything the call ended and I stood up. "I'm going to go freshen up," I said, my voice wavering slightly.
I didn't make it to the bathroom. I was moving to leave the sitting area when suddenly, the world shifted. One moment I was standing, the next I was pressed against the soft couch, Bakugo's weight pinning my wrists above my head, Kirishima kneeling beside me, a playful, knowing smirk on his face.
"So, Pinky," Bakugo growled, his voice low and dangerous, "Heard you've got a little crush on us."
"W-what are you talking about?" I stammered, my heart pounding in my chest. I could feel the heat radiating off Bakugo, his breath warm against my skin.
Kirishima chuckled, his hand gently tracing the curve of my jawline. "Don't deny it, Mina. We've seen the way you look at us. The way you blush when we work out. The way you try to hide when you're staring."
My mind blanked I could feel my cheeks red than one of his explosions. I couldn't lie. I couldn't deny the truth that had been simmering beneath the surface for so long. "Okay, maybe... maybe I do," I confessed in a whisper, my gaze dropping to the pristine white sheets beneath me.
The air crackled with unspoken desire. Bakugo lowered his head, his lips hovering just above mine. "And what are you gonna do about it, Pinky?"
His lips crashed into mine. Bold, possessive, demanding. I responded without hesitation, my arms snaking around his neck, pulling him closer. Kirishima joined the kiss, his touch gentle but firm, his presence a comforting warmth. The kiss was a revelation, a whirlwind of pent-up emotions finally unleashed.
One kiss led to another, deeper, more passionate. Clothes became an obstacle, shed haphazardly in a frenzy of need. Bakugo's hands were rough and demanding, Kirishima's gentle and reassuring. I wanted them both, craved them both, needed them both.
The night was a blur of tangled limbs, whispered moans, and the exquisite pleasure of finally surrendering to the desire that had consumed me for so long. They took their time, exploring every inch of my skin, teasing me with their touch until I was a trembling mess of need.
When the first climax hit, it was explosive, a release of tension that had been building for years. I cried out, my body arching against theirs. They followed soon after, their bodies shuddering with pleasure as they poured their emotions into me.
Lying tangled in the sheets afterwards, exhausted but content, felt like a dream. Bakugo held me close, his fingers tracing patterns on my skin. Kirishima brushed a stray strand of hair from my face, his eyes filled with affection.
"So," I murmured, my voice still shaky, "What does this mean?"
Bakugo grunted. "Means we're officially yours, Pinky. All yours."
Kirishima squeezed my hand. "We've been in love with you for a long time, Mina. We just didn't know how to say it."
Tears welled up in my eyes. "I love you both so much," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion.
They kissed me again, softly this time, a promise of love and devotion. As I drifted off to sleep, nestled between them, I knew my life was complete. I had fame, I was loved, and I had them. My two best friends, my protectors, my lovers. My everything. The pink glowsticks of the concert hall seemed to pale in comparison to the vibrant, exhilarating love that now filled my life. It was a love story written in explosions and sunshine, and I couldn't wait to see what the future held. The stage was still there, but now, I had my family too and I truly felt complete.