The air was crisp as October bled into November, leaving behind a trail of fading jack-o'-lanterns and remnants of candy wrappers scattered across U.A. High School. Class 1-A had just survived three nights of terror, immersing themselves in classic horror flicks for their annual 31-day movie marathon. After battling through the likes of Michael Myers and Ghost Face, they were both physically and mentally exhausted but craving just one more movie night to cap it off.
"Okay, so what are we watching next?" Izuku Midoriya, better known as Deku, asked, his green eyes wide and earnest.
"Let's watch The Nightmare Before Christmas!" Uraraka cheered, her excitement infectious.
Deku's squad cheered and made their way to the courtyard, fully intending to enjoy the whimsical fright of Jack Skellington's adventures. Meanwhile, the Bakusquad—Bakugo, Kirishima, Mina, Denki, Sero and their friends—remained in the common room, prepared for their own cinematic experience.
"Forget that! We're watching Scream," Bakugo announced, an eager glint in his eyes. "Nothing cheesy this time, we need some real fear over here!"
"Are we sure about this?" Kirishima hesitated, trying to maintain his cool demeanor. But the excited chatter around him and the mischievous grin plastered across Bakugo's face made it hard to decline.
"Come on, it'll be fun!" Mina said, already setting up the laptop. "I've seen it a hundred times. Plus, who doesn't like a little gore?"
Once the movie started, the mood shifted dramatically. Shadows flickered on their faces, and the sound of eerie music permeated the room. Jirou, sitting beside Denki, was immediately on edge. Every jump scare sent her digging her nails into his arm.
"Stop gripping me so hard…you're going to break my arm!" Denki laughed nervously as he tried to focus on the screen.
"Sorry! It's just… oh my god!" Jirou shrieked, clinging tighter to Denki during a particularly tense moment.
Kirishima chuckled nervously, trying to muster his courage as the killer's mask glided across the screen. "I'm… totally fine!" he insisted, but his red cheeks betrayed his anxiety. "Just… keep it together!"
Bakugo's laughter punctured the air whenever there was a particularly gory scene, his bravado shining through the tension. "Look at that idiot! Can't even run straight," he mocked the character on screen, causing the others to roll their eyes and respond with equal parts amusement and exasperation.
"Dude, chill! You'll give me nightmares!" Sero exclaimed, jokingly pretending to shield his eyes.
Mina took a break from her own squeals of excitement, "I just scream when I get nervous! It's a natural response!" Her laughter, quickly followed by a real scream as another unexpected twist unfolded, made everyone laugh.
"What did I say about being manly?" Kirishima teased, only to be jump-scared by a sudden noise.
As the movie reached its climax, Denki's palms grew sweaty, and he suddenly yelled, "What the heck!? Why are they separating?" He leaned into Jirou, who wasn't just holding onto him but using him as her own personal shield.
"Because that's what stupid people do in horror movies!" Bakugo shouted, but there was a flicker of protective energy in him, especially when the tension reached its height.
"Maybe they deserve it!" Mina laughed, snorting her drink as she was caught off guard, sending a splash flying toward Bakugo's shirt.
"You're dead!" he bellowed playfully, but there was no malice in his playful threat. With an exaggerated growl, he lunged toward Mina, who squealed again, laughter echoing through the room.
With each suspenseful moment, their laughter intermingled with screams, binding them closer together. Jirou playfully threw popcorn at Denki to regain her composure, the atmosphere turning from fear to comfort as they found solace in each other's presence.
As the credits rolled with the film's signature theme music, one thing was clear: the Bakusquad had faced their fears together, and despite the heart attacks and nervous giggles, they came out closer than ever, wrapped up in a night woven with thrills and laughter.
"Tomorrow , I'm picking the movie," Kirishima declared with a grin, still buzzing from the high of the film.
Bakugo smirked, "Yeah, but you'll probably just choose another rom-com."
"Hey! More romance in our horror nights!" Mina chimed in, giggling.
As the group mocked and teased one another in the aftermath of their fright-fueled evening, one truth remained - sometimes, the scariest movies are the ones that reassure you that being together makes everything a little less terrifying.