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Sero and Kaminari were…close. Shinsou knew that, but how close? He really wasn’t sure.
He had thought Kaminari had been coming on to him, and pretty heavily too, back at his practical test. But after officially transferring to class 1-A and seeing the way the blonde acted around his friends it became clear that Kaminari was just… like that. With pretty much everyone.
Namely, especially, with Sero.
“Hanta,” Kaminari whined, “I’m sleepy.” He squirmed his head in Sero’s lap as he laid on the communal couch, trying to get comfortable.
“Aw, poor baby,” Sero cooed, he chuckled as Kaminari pouted.
“Hanta,” Kami whined again as Sero laughed.
“Look, dude, I’m sorry. I can’t hang out for much longer, Todoroki said he’d help with my Japanese homework.”
“ugh,” Kaminari groaned but relented and sat up on the couch. “Fine, ditch your poor little baby Denki and go off with some katy perry piece of ass,” he grumbled.
Sero rolled his eyes, “jesus, Denki, just go nap in your room. Or find someone else to sleep on,” he brushed off his jeans as he stood. “I’ll see you later, k, babe?”
Still pouting he waved Sero off, “fine, fine. Later, babe.” Sero rolled his eyes again and headed towards the elevator. Kaminari sighed and bit his lip, going over his options.
“Hey, Kami!” Kirishima greeted with a smile, plopping down beside him on the couch.
“Kiri!” All previous signs of pouting washed away as Kaminari hugged Kirishima around the waist. “Thank god you’re here! Hanta just totally ditched me!”
“Yeah, with good reason too, you clingy bitch,” Bakugou’s annoyed voice rang through the communal space. “Get the fuck off of Kirishima,” he muttered prying Kaminari’s hands away and pushing him to the other side of the couch. He sat between the two of them before Kaminari had a chance to slide his way back to Kirishima’s side.
“You’re so mean, Kacchan,” Kami pouted. “Can I cuddle with you, then?”
“No.”
“Ugh! You’re so unreasonable! I can’t cuddle with Kirishima, even though he certainly doesn’t object to it! And I can’t cuddle with you because you’re a prickly bitch!” Kaminari groaned, “Kirishima!” He leaned away from the couch to meet the red head’s gaze past Bakugou, “say something, man! It’s not fair!”
“Uh,” Kirishima left Kaminari’s eyes to meet Bakugou’s. “Sorry, bro. It’s just that…uh…Well…”
“Kirishima can’t cuddle with you because he has to be open in case Bakugou wants to cuddle later when he thinks we’re too tired to notice.” Ashido said casually, slipping onto the couch beside the three.
“You raccoon eyed freak!” Bakugou growled. Kirishima tried to laugh it off, grabbing Bakugou’s shoulder and patting his chest in an attempt to calm him down….and in position to hold him back in case that didn’t work.
She winked at him and laughed, which only agitated him more. Shinsou was sure she was dead.
However, Shinsou watched in quiet amazement as he breathed deeply and leaned into Kirishima more. Bakugou was calming himself down and openly using Kirishima to do it. Like open, openly. Like they were in the common room and Shinsou was not the only one seeing this. Like holy fuck, he had only known Bakugou a month or two, tops, and he never would have expected this.
“Fucking whatever,” he muttered, eyes closed. “You guys wanna watch a movie or something?”
Kirishima smiled and moved to subtly and yet still entirely noticeably wrap his arm around Bakugou’s back, “yeah, Kats, sure. What do you want to watch?”
Wow, okay, they were way closer than Shinsou thought. He glanced around the common room but no one else really seemed bothered. He wondered if this was actually a much more usual occurrence than he thought. He caught Midoriya smiling at the scene from the kitchen and thought about asking him. But the green haired boy left up the stairs before he got the chance to.
He decided it really didn’t matter. He turned his attention back to the four of them. People watching was something he did often. Ever since his quirk presented people avoided having to talk to him so he took to watching them from the sidelines and listening. It was good practice for hero work, honestly. He excelled at recon work because of it.
“I swear to god, dunce face, get the fuck off of me. Cuddle with Ashido if you’re so set on it!” He watched as Bakugou shoved Kaminari off the couch and onto the ground. They had turned off the lamps and previews were playing out on the tv. Guess they had picked a movie then.
“Mina,” Kaminari turned to the pink skinned girl with puppy dog eyes and an overexaggerated pout on his lips, “can I please cuddle with you?”
“Aw, Kami, babe, my sweet prince,” she opened her arms and smiled, “of course.” Smiling, he scrambled off the floor and into her open arms.
“I love you,” he murmured, tucking himself into her side.
“I love you too,” she giggled.
“Shut up, the movie is starting,” Bakugou throw a pillow at them.
“You’re just jealous,” Kaminari stuck out his tongue as Bakugou rolled his eyes.
Maybe Sero and Kami were just friends, he really did act like that with everyone…Well, all of his friends at least. Shinsou wondered if Kaminari considered them friends…If he did…Would he cuddle with him like that? His body felt hot just imagining it. Probably not, he reminded himself. He ate lunch with the group of friends and found himself hanging out with them a bit more than the rest of the class, but he doubted he was considered part of their group. Or that Kaminari would cling to him the way he did to Ashido or Sero. He literally just said he loved Ashido and, even if they were friends, Kaminari didn’t love him. He clenched his fist and tried to bring his focus away from the blonde.
Even if Kaminari did consider him a friend. Even if he did love him. It wouldn’t matter.
If the way he acted around Sero and Mina was just something platonic, Shinsou wouldn’t be able to handle it. His heart would beak every time he tried to enjoy it.
If the way he acted around Sero or Mina wasn’t platonic… then…well… Then his heart was already broken.
He ended up enamored with Kaminari’s every reaction. Honestly, he wasn’t even sure what movie they had watched. Kaminari didn’t really like it though, that he knew for sure. He had winced more than once and spent most of the movie turned away from the screen. Face in the couch, head leaned against Ashido’s shoulder. She didn’t really pay Kaminari any mind and Shinsou felt that a crime.
If that were him Kaminari was leaned into, he’d have wrapped his arms around the boy at the first sign of wincing. He’d have combed his fingers through his obviously soft blonde hair to calm his down. He would have… He’d have wanted to… To kiss… to distract him. Or, if Kaminari would want to, he’d have just scooped the blonde in his arms and carried him back to his dorm and cuddled with him there… Watched a different movie or fallen asleep… Whatever Kaminari wanted.
He was suddenly glad Ashido didn’t pay Kaminari any mind, if she had done all that for the boy he would have torn out his air…or thrown up… or fought her or something equally as stupid. Kaminari deserved all that, obviously, but Shinsou wanted it to come from him.
He dropped his head into his arms on the table in front of him. This was so fucking stupid. He was training to be a hero now! He shouldn’t even have time for relationships! He should focus.
He peaked through his arms back to the group. The movie was officially over. Most of the common room had cleared out and gone to bed. In fact, besides him and the four, he didn’t think anyone else was still around. Ashido stood, ignoring as Kaminari fell onto the couch behind her.
“Ow, Mina, a little warning next time,” Kaminari grumbled as he straightened up.
“Sorry,” she yawned and stretched out her back, “Well, that’s it for me. I’m heading to bed, boys. See y’all tomorrow.”
“Night, Mina,” Kirishima whispered. Kaminari murmured out something similar.
“Later, pinky,” Bakugou muttered, muffled by Kirishima’s shirt as he leaned against him. She smiled at them and headed off to the girl’s dorms.
“Alright, we should head to bed too,” Kirishima stood up, gently holding Bakugou to keep him from falling in the process. (Unlike Ashido had done). Bakugou straightened out so Kirishima could remove his hold from him. He let Kirishima stretch before he reached out his arms to him.
“Ei,” he said it softer in both tone and volume than anything Shinsou had ever heard him say. Kirishima smiled in delight and a deep fondness Shinsou felt uncomfortable noticing. He leaned down and let Bakugou wrap his arms around his neck while he gripped under his thighs.
Kirishima hefted him up into his arms. “You good, Kats?” He whispered. Bakugou nodded and nuzzled his face into his neck.
“I’m tired.”
Kirishima chuckled softly, “I know, I know. We’re going to bed.”
Shinsou’s face burned in guilt and embarrassment. This was definitely not something he was meant to see. He wanted to shrink away. He tried to remain perfectly still and hoped they wouldn’t notice him.
“Good night, you guys… I love you,” Kaminari whispered
“We love you too, Kami,” Kirishima responded. Bakugou hummed what sounded like agreement. Kaminari smiled as they walked off towards the elevators.
Then he was alone.
Well. Actually, they were alone.
But, blessedly, Shinsou had gone unnoticed. He couldn’t believe what he had just seen… That scene they made earlier showed something teetering the edge of a relationship, sure, but the whole group seemed like that… so…
Bakugou? Bakugou had a boyfriend? Out of everyone in their class, Bakugou was the last person he would expect to be in a relationship. The boy was so…one track minded. He was so determined to be a hero, no… To be the number one hero. But still, he made time to watch a movie with…his boyfriend and his friends.
And if Bakugou could have a boyfriend, then he could too… right?
That still didn’t answer if Kaminari was single though… In fact, that aspect was gloomier than before.
Bakugou and Kirishima teetered the edge of a relationship in public and they really were in a relationship.
So, it wouldn’t be surprising if Kaminari and Sero… too.
God, he couldn’t even finish the thought. Shinsou was pretty sure Ashido and Kaminari were not an item, she had seemed rather caviler as to his wellbeing during and after the movie.
But Sero… They inexplicitly referred to each other as ‘babe,’ they called each other by first name, they were super touchy… Or well, Kaminari was… God, he was getting nowhere. All of that could be said about Ashido and Kaminari’s relationship as well. Well, they called each other ‘babe’ less often then him and Sero but still-
“Shinsou?” Kaminari’s surprised whisper cut through his thoughts and iced his spine. Panicked, he sat up straight and immediately stretched. Maybe he could pass off like he had been sleeping.
“Oh, hey, K-kaminari,” he forced out, trying to appear relaxed. “What’s up? What time is it?”
“Uh, like ten…thirty?…” Kaminari eyed him suspiciously, “dude, were you sleeping?”
“Yeah, I just woke up,” Shinsou answered in what he hoped was a casual tone. His voice was very monotone which did not help in situations like this, the slightest inclination could give him away as not calm. He wondered if Kaminari was worried he had seen Bakugou and Kirishima earlier.
“Ah, okay, good,” Kaminari bought it and exhaled in relief. Shinsou smiled, he was so lucky it was Kaminari that noticed him and not any one of the other three. He had a huge crush on the boy but, damn, he was gullible.
It was adorable though, if probably not a great trait for a hero to have.
“You heading up to bed?” he asked. Kaminari nodded and yawned.
“I napped a little too,” he admitted, “during the movie we were watching but I’m still exhausted… and I’m sure Hanta will want to train in the morning again.”
“Oh,” Shinsou felt his smile drop but he was too tired to try to fake it, “you and Sero train in the mornings, huh?”
“Ugh, yeah,” Kaminari groaned and plopped himself into the seat beside Shinsou. “We used to train in the evenings, after dinner, but now he’s always hanging with Todoroki.” His face scrunched up, annoyed….and adorable. “I don’t care because I know he’s really good friends with Todoroki too, but waking up early is still annoying.” He sighed now and leaned his head against the back of his chair, “I mean, it’s probably all for the best because we usually didn’t actually train in the evening. We’d just make excuses like we ate too much or we’re too tired and play video games of hang out instead. But in the mornings, we don’t have an excuse to make so we end up actually working out. Plus, Bakugou and Mina train in the mornings so we have a people to scold us if we don’t.”
“Bakugou and Mina train together?” Shinsou asked surprised.
“I know right? You totally wouldn’t expect it,” Kaminari smiled proudly, “Mina might seem like a slacker but she’s really strong physically. She’s in the top of the class. She started training with Bakugou because she felt she relied too much on her quirk for endurance and mobility, since she can use it too slide around and stuff. Bakugou’s training is actually mostly stuff like yoga and long distance running, exactly what she wanted to do.”
“What about Kirishima?” he found himself asking, they seemed inseparable.
“Kirishima…Why?” Kaminari leant his head off the chair and squinted at him. Shinsou felt himself sweating under his gaze, maybe the blonde hadn’t bought his lie as easily as he thought.
“I just thought, if you and Sero train together, and Bakugou and Ashido train together… You know that’s like… The whole… Friend group? So what does Kirishima do?”
“Oh,” Kaminari relaxed, “I get it. He trains with Tetsutestu from class 1-B. They have really similar quirks so their training is almost the exact same. Bakugou, and even Mina, join them sometimes for strength training but they don’t want to bulk up like they do.”
“That makes sense… What kind of training do you and Sero do?”
“We do really basic stuff… We haven’t found our, like, rhythm yet or whatever… I don’t know what kind of training I need most with my quirk, you know?”
“Right,” Shinsou nodded, resting his chin in his hand, “that makes sense.”
“Yeah,” Kaminari watched him for a moment. “You could train with us if you want? I know Hanta’s tape and your capture weapon could be used in similar ways so…it might be good for you guys to train together.”
Shinsou grunted in response. He wasn’t too fond of the idea of training with the guy who may be dating the object of his affection. On the other hand, however, Kaminari had a point and he did like Sero just fine… Plus training with Sero would only get him closer to the friend group in general…
“Yeah, maybe I will. If that’s cool… What time do you guys train?”
Kaminari smiled, “we train at five am, just in the yard behind the dorms. We don’t really do quirk training… The teachers don’t like us to do that outside of the gyms and training grounds, but we could do that after school sometime! Or the weekends. But yeah! Will you come?”
“Sure,” Shinsou licked his lips and smiled, “I’ll be there.”
“Sweet,” Kaminari held out his fist. Shinsou eyed it for a moment before catching his drift.
“Ah,” he murmured tapping the held out fist with his own. Kaminari giggled and hopped off his chair.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, bro!” he called and skipped off to his dorm. Shinsou sighed in the silence and glanced back at his hand.
Yeah, bro.