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Kaminari had a bad day. He was emotionally exhausted, eyebags forming underneath his small eyes. He sniffles as he slams the door to his dorm, not even meaning to. He crashed into his bed, curling up. He knew he was sleeping too much after classes. He knew he wasn't getting enough sleep at night. He knows he only gets three hours. He knows his room is messy and trashed. He knows this shit isn't healthy. He knows. He closed his eyes, letting sleep drag him under and into a numb world.
He doesn't like his life. Some days he does, but most of the time he doesn't. Sure, he was in one of the best high schools, he had friends, he had good stuff, he didn't have good grades but he tried, but he doesn't have a lot of self-esteem.
Kaminari woke up slowly, feeling his body ache slightly. He grabbed his phone and he winced from the bright screen, sighing a little as he saw little to no notifications. He shut his phone off again and decided to let sleep drag him under for another hour or two.
It wasn't abnormal that he's been sleeping all day. Recently after classes, he would collapse into his stiff bed and pass out. To him, sleeping was an escape. A numb to the ache in his chest.
Every day he told himself it'd get better. It would, then it would go downhill in a week. Just like today.
Kaminari woke up around five pm to hearing all his classmates giggling and being loud in the commons. He groaned and sat up, his arms and waist sore. He didn't even know why. Probably a weird sleeping position? He doesn't know. He walked out and headed to the commons sluggishly, his hair messy and his back hunched. He padded into the area, yawning. He looked at everyone. "What's going on out here?"
The chattering had silenced, everyone looking at the blond. "Uh-" Ochako piped up. "We're playing Monopoly!" She yipped.
Kirishima grinned, his arm noticeably slipped around Bakugou's waist. "We heard you snoring from your room, so we didn't want to wake you up!"
It was oddly considerate, but also made Kaminari feel sad. It was probably just an excuse so they wouldn't have to hang out with him. His heart dropped at the thought.
"You can't join us because we are so far in the game," Sero smiled at him. Kaminari ignored the melting feeling in his bones. "But you can sit and watch!"
Kaminari shook his head, eyes feeling dry from exhaustion. "No," He said quietly. "I'm okay."
He could swear he saw Sero's face flash with disappointment, but he told himself it was just his imagination. "Alright!"
Kaminari turned around and left the commons, instantly finding himself tearing up. He walked slowly back to his dorm, flopping in his bed, and of course, falling asleep.
Sero turned his friends and sighed, "Guys, we should be quieter, Kami seemed tired."
Even though he told them that, they didn't listen.
They never did.
Kaminari was awoken to a small knock on his door. He grumbled and stirred, but he continued to lay down. He was still so tired. Said visitor peeked their head in and peered in, looking around the room before laying their eyes on the electric blonde.
"Hey, Kami." The person said softly. Kaminari instantly recognized it a certainly worried ravenette. He stretched his legs and rolled over, his back facing Sero. He just wanted to continue to nap.
This made the boy chuckle, then he felt a dip in the bed. He clutched his pillow, closing his eyes.
"How're you feeling?" He heard Sero ask, in the softest voice.
"'M fine," He responded in a lazy tone. "All good."
Sero smiled, putting his hand on his back and rubbing it gently. "Tired?"
"Mhm.." The blonde hummed, feeling mellow.
"You've been sleeping a whole lot lately," Sero said, now reaching up his shirt to scratch his back. He knew Kaminari loved that. "You okay?"
Kaminari just stayed quiet and Sero thought he had fallen asleep until he rolled over to face him. He pulled his hand away.
"Can I talk to you?" He said, looking a little pouty. Sero found it adorable, but he decided it wasn't the time to voice his opinion.
"Of course, dude. You can talk to me about anything." Sero smiled, grabbing Kaminari's hand.
The tension in his shoulders eased, nodding and taking a deep breath.
"Well.." Kaminari sucked in his teeth a little, nervousness pricking him. "You see I.. I've been feeling kind of depressed lately." He sighed, looking down at his lap. "There's so much to say and I don't even know what to start with."
Sero smile softened into a frown, now rubbing the male's knuckles with his thumb. "Take your time, I'm listening."
He nodded. "I guess it just began when I started to think negatively." He looked back up at Sero, his fingers twitching a little. Sero instantly soothed him by taking his other hand. He looked back down again. "There was this.. thing. In the back of my mind. Always telling me that I wasn't good enough. Always telling me I didn't deserve anything good and whenever something bad happened; that thing would feed off of it and get bigger and bigger. I started to become an asshole and distant because I thought maybe If I didn't talk to anyone anymore, people would be happier." His voice cracked, tears glistening in his eyes. "I-" He swallowed. "You- you know I have internet friends. I've been making more and talking to them a lot recently but they snap at me a lot whenever I'm rude. Or when I'm annoying. They call me annoying a lot. I bug them because I feel too bad to be with you guys. That sadness of annoying people made me sleep. Made my escape. No matter how much I sleep, I'm still so tired. I missed my mom's birthday because I was sleeping." he cried now, reaching up to wipe his eyes. "She kept calling me and calling me but I ignored it because I was in such a sleepy haze. She wanted me to come over and spend time with her but I'm so stupid and I missed her day. After everything she's done for me I act like she's not even there. She tried and tried but she just gave up. I felt so bad. I didn't even have any money to make it up to her." So many tears were threatening to fall, but they stayed in those shiny yellow eyes. "I feel so alone... I know I have you guys but I-I can't escape that feeling of emptiness. I'm so tired. I just wanna be happy again, Sero- I-"
His breath stuttered, tears finally down his face as his shoulders and chest shook. Sero felt horrible. How come he couldn't notice this behavior before?
He cupped Kaminari's cheek, wiping the tears that were falling. "Kami. Hey... Look at me. Hey. Look at me."
Kaminari looked up at the boy, sniffling. He was still crying and sucking in short breaths, trying to focus on him and only him.
Sero took the crying blonde into his arms, holding him close to his chest. "Shh.." He whispered, petting his hair and resting his chin on his head. "It'll be alright. Okay? Just breathe. Hold me tight and breathe. I'm right here.
"I've got you."
Turns out those comforting words were just what the blonde needed to hear. About an hour later, Kaminari fell asleep soundly in the taller boy's arms. His cheeks were stained with tears and his eyes were puffy, but he felt better to finally talk about it and get it out to someone. Specially Sero. He knew he could trust him with this. He knew he would be there for him, always.
Sero had laid Kaminari down and he did too, bringing the boy close to his chest again.
Kaminari stirred awake around fifteen minutes later, his eyelids feeling dry. They fluttered open slowly, shifting a bit to realize he was in strong arms.
"You awake?" He heard a deep, soothing voice. He felt a hand run through his hair, which he melted into it.
"Mhm."
"So, Kami, I've been thinking. I know this is a really bad time but, I like you. I like you a lot. More than just a friend. And I want to be your boyfriend, and I wanna help you in any way possible. So... again, really bad timing but,"
"Date me?"
Kaminari sucked in a breath, his eyes widening a bit. He hesitated. Is this real? Am I dreaming?
Sero seemed to panic at the silence, looking off to the side. "You- you don't have to answer if- if you need time that's-"
"Yes."
"What?"
"Yes. I'll date you, dork."
Sero grinned happily, hugging him even tighter. "Fuck yeah." He chuckled, kissing the top of Kaminari's head. "I'm so happy, dude."
"Dude?" Kaminari raised an eyebrow, looking up at him.
"Shit- babe? What- fuck-"
"Calm down, clumsy." He laughed. "I like 'baby' the most. And babe. You got it."
"Hell yeah, I do!"
Kaminari laughed, putting his head on his chest again.
"Hey, Kami?" He piped up, now sounding more serious.
"Hm?"
"About last night.." Kaminari instantly tensed, but Sero comforted him with a kiss to the shoulder. He started to rub his back again. "We'll get you the help that you need, alright? If you ever feel that sad again or numb just come right to me. I want to be there to help you. You won't bother me or anything, promise. Just send me a text or a call and I'll be there."
Kaminari smiled now, closing his eyes as he dug his face into the crook of his new boyfriend's neck. "Okay, I will."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Sero leaned down and kissed his cheek, his forehead, and his chin. He paused at his lips, bumping their foreheads together. Kaminari looked up at him innocently. "Can I?"
The ravenette looked for confirmation, in which Sero was more than glad to comply when he saw it, leaning in and pressing a soft kiss to his lips. Kaminari hooked his legs around his waist and leaned into him. He wrapped his arms around his neck, humming softly into the kiss.
Sero put a hand on Kaminari's butt, smirking a bit. The blonde pulled away and blushed. He glared playfully at him.
"Hehe."
"Pervert."
"Not my fault your ass is nice."
He stuck his tongue out, which Sero leaned in and kissed it in all playfulness. Kaminari quickly recoiled, giggling.
"Hey, Sero?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you."