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The paper of his test crinkled between his fingers. Kaminari had thought about crumpling it up while trying to avoid looking at the big “76” written in red pen on it, but he had decided not to do it simply because he thought his classmates would want to see it. He’d narrowly avoided letting Jirou see his grade, and honestly, that was a fucking blessing. But he knew that everyone would be disappointed, after all the studying he’d done, and all the cheering that Kirishima and Ashido had done for him.
If Kaminari was being honest, that was what really sucked ass the most.
He tried not to look too dejected walking into the dorms, but when his classmates’ voices called out, “hey, Kaminari, we’re gonna watch a movie, wanna join?” or “hey, wanna come up to my room and play video games?” he turned them down, as nonchalantly as he could, blaming a lack of sleep and needing a nap. But he really couldn’t get up the stairs fast enough, taking it two steps at a time, past the second floor where he could hear Tokoyami’s emo music playing from all the way down at the end of the hall. Finally, he reached the third floor, and dashed down the hall to Iida’s door.
He knocked to the tune of Every Time We Touch, like he always did, until he heard Iida’s voice, beckoning him in, as usual.
As soon as he opened the door, Iida’s voice rang out from the bed, “How did your test go?” He was under the covers up to his middle, reading some textbook about physics or something else that Kaminari couldn’t make heads or tails of.
“Aww, man, did you have to ask?” Kaminari groaned, throwing his bag down onto the floor of Iida’s dorm room and taking his shoes off before throwing himself on top of his boyfriend. “I got another C. We all know I’m a complete fucking idiot, so I dunno why you even bother asking, Mr. Class President.” He had meant it good-naturedly, but it hadn’t exactly come out that way.
“I was simply wondering, since you studied so hard for it, Kaminari-kun,” Iida began, setting his book face down on top of Kaminari’s back and pushing his glasses up. “Did you feel confident when you took it?”
Kaminari gave him a look that said, “what kind of fucking question is that?”
Iida sighed. “I hope you don’t really think you’re an idiot.”
Kaminari gave him another look. “Dude, I don’t know what you’re talking about. My grades are trash no matter how much I study, and I can’t keep my quirk under control enough to keep myself from frying my own brain. I dunno what’d make you think I’m anything other than an idiot.” Kaminari rolled over onto his back, knocking Iida’s book off of him and losing his page. “I mean, Jirou is always going on about how big of an idiot I am, and I mean, she gets better grades than I do, so don’t’cha think she’s probably right? I can’t do math for shit, I’m garbage at science, and just about everything else but English…”
Abruptly, Iida sat up, displacing Kaminari from his spot draped over Iida’s middle. “Kaminari-kun, now you’re actually sounding like an idiot.”
Kaminari blanched. “Wow, well, thanks for agreeing with what I was already saying I guess…”
“No, no, you misunderstand me.” Iida placed a hand on Kaminari’s shoulder. “Just because someone says you’re stupid doesn’t necessarily make it true. I mean, if it makes any difference to you, I think you’re very smart.”
Instead of making a snide remark, or laughing it off like he usually would, Kaminari looked away from Iida, worrying his bottom lip. “You’ve gotta be kidding me. What makes you think I’m smart?”
“Lots of things, Kaminari-kun,” Iida began, in his stereotypical lecturing voice that everyone in Class 1-A made fun of behind his back, “For one, when I watch you during practice, your movements always seem so calculated, I wonder how you even pull some of them off, even if sometimes you overdo it. Secondly, you always seem to know what to say when no one else does. You know how to make every single person in our class laugh. Not only that, but you’ve memorized every one of our classmates’ favorite things and birthdays, and thus far, you’ve never failed to get everyone a birthday present that they really liked. Even Bakugou.” He sucked in a breath, and continued, “Just because you aren’t book smart like I am doesn’t mean you aren’t smart at all. Also, looking down on yourself and letting people’s ideas of you get you down aren’t things a hero should do!
“So I’m going to keep reminding you how great you are, so you can become a great hero, just like the rest of us.”
By this point, Kaminari was red as a tomato. “Jesus, Tenya, I didn’t mean to trigger your lecture switch!” He smiled a big, bright, sunshine-y smile and leaned up to kiss his boyfriend on the cheek. “Ya said that I always know what to say, but I think that’s you, actually, ‘cause, like, I would’ve never thought to say any of that stuff to myself.” Kaminari laughed, climbing his way into Iida’s lap and wrapping his arms around his neck. “Anyway, I didn’t come here to get lectured about why I’m cool and yadda yadda, because we all know I’m the coolest ever, so you don’t gotta remind me. I wanted some kisses and I’m gonna get ‘em!”
He leaned up and pressed his lips to Iida’s, his palms sliding against his boyfriend’s scratchy undercut. Iida was stiff— he was always stiff at first, which Kaminari thought was cute— but all Kaminari had to do was tug on his hair just a little in a specific spot, and then he was melting, arms wrapping around Kaminari’s waist, pulling him closer. Kaminari giggled, moving to pepper kisses across Iida’s cheek, before pulling back.
“Okay, okay, easy there, babe,” he teased, knowing full well what he was doing and smiling a winning smile. “Maybe we oughta head downstairs and see what everyone’s up to, yeah? I mean, I can go by myself, but…”
He looked at Iida from behind his eyelashes and gave him his best puppy dog eyes, and knew he didn’t have to say any more, because he’d won. Iida was already moving, huffing and sighing as he got out of bed, clearly trying to hide that he was blushing, and Kaminari hopped after him, grabbing his phone and grinning from ear to ear.
“Hey, Tenya?” Kaminari spoke up, stopping his boyfriend before he went out the door.
“Yes, Kaminari-kun?” Iida turned back, looking impatient. Kaminari bounced up beside him and leaned up onto his tip-toes to whisper in his ear.
“Love you.” If this had been a cartoon, steam and hearts would’ve shot out of Iida’s ears.
Iida huffed, turning back toward the door, bright red. “Come on, everyone will be wondering where you wandered off to.” He pushed his glasses up, and headed out, with a smug-looking Kaminari following closely behind.