Sometimes I lean toward the ones that don’t immediately jump into romance, you know? Bakugou’s personality is so explosive and guarded that any OC worth reading needs to earn his respect first. I love a slow, professional rivalry turning into something else—like if the OC is a transfer student who’s also aiming for the top hero spot, or a support course genius who constantly outsmarts his plans. The tension builds from him being infuriated by how competent they are, to reluctantly impressed, to maybe seeking them out for sparring sessions that run too late.
A trope I keep coming back to is the OC with a healing or calming quirk, not because it’s easy, but because Bakugou would absolutely hate needing it. The conflict writes itself: he’s injured, he’s livid about being vulnerable, and this person’s ability forces him into a state of quiet he can’t stand. Watching that initial resentment thaw into a gruff, protective loyalty hits just right. It’s less about fluffy moments and more about two stubborn people learning to communicate in their own messed-up language.
Also, the ‘childhood friend who moved away and comes back’ scenario has some legs if done with a twist. Not the sweet reunion type, but one where the OC remembers a quieter, different Bakugou and that memory clashes with who he is now, creating this weird pressure point for both of them. The dynamic feels layered, like they’re not just meeting but rediscovering and arguing over who they used to be.