Chapter Text
For all that their studies had kept them apart, Denki and Hitoshi had found time for each other through the trials of higher education. Yet whenever Denki felt he could have more than just a photo to show his friends, Hitoshi had been unable to sync his schedule with the squad’s to allow him to arrange a meeting. Finally, the stars had aligned.
“Dude, this is so overdue.”
Hitoshi’s hand tightened on his, an acknowledgement that sent small shocks up Denki’s arm.
“They’re going to love you - no, I’m serious!” Denki’s declaration came without being prompted, and he ignored the way people gave them a wider berth on the sidewalk.
All that Hitoshi had needed was to give him a Look™ and Denki knew exactly where his boyfriend stood in his belief. No need for one-handed words, or dramatically mouthed sentences. And if he had cheated a little with his emotional field, well, he’d never minded. Hitoshi was uncomfortable, and Denki wouldn’t have that.
“It’s not a bias, they’re going to love you so much that I’ll have to woo you all over again!” He cried out with invisible tears, which had to be wiped away with his free hand.
Hitoshi tugged Denki into him sharply, and he stumbled. When he looked at his boyfriend with a solid pout, he wasn’t surprised to find that his eyes weren’t on him. Hitoshi hated when he made a scene, and yet, he still hadn’t let go of his hand. Progress. Denki admired the way his lips had turned up, and the pink blush that had spread across his cheeks and over his nose.
“Fine, but only because my hand gets too cold when you let go.” Denki huffed, rewarded with a more obvious smile that leveled out before he looked away.
Their walk had slowed while he had teased Hitoshi, and in the comfortable silence that followed, Denki coaxed them back to the brisk pace that they had started with. His phone had gone off so much when they had first left the apartment that Denki had just flat out silenced it, though he felt Katsuki’s angry voicemails' weight upon his meager inbox. Hitoshi’s reluctance to meet his friends today had been cute at first, but now it was life-threatening. Eijirou could only distract Katsuki for so long, and Ochako had sworn off any direct intervention in a flurry of texts this morning. Now, the device felt like it could burn a hole in his tripp shorts.
Denki counted his blessings when the towering ginko trees of Yoyogi Park neared. His stomach rumbled at the promise of food - courtesy of Ochako and Katsuki - and sparks jumped over the ends of his hair. Behind him, Hitoshi snorted in amusement. With a huff, Denki halted and turned to face his boyfriend.
“It’s not my fault you haven’t had their cooking yet! Trust me, you’ll understand when you try it.”
Hitoshi freed his hand from Denki’s with an accusatory look. While he braced himself for what his boyfriend had to say, a group of girls giggled about the upcoming festival and moved around the pair. He pointed at himself and then placed his right hand onto his left, both open and palms touching until he flipped his right hand over.
Denki sighed as he realized what this was about. In hopes of an end to the joke accusation, he pointed his index and middle fingers to the left beside his cheek, other hand pinched on the opposite side. Hitoshi continued to sign and ignored him when he pulled his hands outwards from his cheeks.
He made a fist with his thumb extended and placed under his chin, and shook his head when he pulled it forward. Hands rubbed together into front of him with a continued frown, and he pointed at him. If not for the lack of animosity in his eyes, Denki would have thought his boyfriend was seriously offended. But no, he was just doing his best to give him a hard time.
“Babe-” Denki started, cut off abruptly by the air being knocked from his lungs from behind.
Although Hitoshi didn’t look particularly alarmed by his apparent attacker, Denki still found that a small amount of discharge had leaked out in his surprise. As if the familiar shriek of offense wasn’t enough of a giveaway, the mass of pink curls against copper toned skin sure was. The tension in his body melted away, and Denki immediately pulled the lean woman into a tight hug.
“Mina!” Denki cheered and swung her in two complete circles.
With a well-placed knee to his kneecap, Mina encouraged Denki to put her down.
“Denki!” She cheered back once she was on her feet again. “You made it!”