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Kaminari was always one of the more energetic members of his friend group.
He’s always joking around, laughing with the rest of his friends, genuinely enjoying their company. He was never socially withdrawn or apprehensive towards them, or anyone for that matter.
Which is exactly why it’s particularly suspicious that when he shows up to class that day, he doesn’t greet anyone with more than a weak smile.
Kirishima is the first to put his eyes on his buddy, instantly noticing that something isn’t right. He taps him softly on the shoulder. When the blonde turns around, Kirishima raises an eyebrow, a silent, ‘you okay?’ He earns a shrug and a hesitant nod from Kaminari, who turns back around, hunching over.
Kirishima blinks at the mixed message he just received. He knows that Kaminari almost definitely is not okay, judging by how pale he looks, and his curled up sitting position, and the way he’s gripping his desk almost as if for stabilization. But he also knows that there isn’t much he can do about it but watch his friend with concern and hope that he doesn’t keel over the way he looks like he might.
And, admittedly, Kirishima's hunch is completely correct. Kaminari's stomach is cramping and churning within him, coupled with a dull ache that worsens in waves. He bites down on the inside of his cheek to stop himself from moaning in the middle of Aizawa's lecture, sliding a hand up his shirt to gently caress his tortured middle on occasion.
Next to him, Mina picks up on the off feeling to Kaminari's whole vibe. She gets a much better view than Kirishima of what's happening, seeing him rub softly at his abdomen and wince in retaliation to what must be a nasty stomach ache. But he looks far too pale to just have a stomach ache--he looks like he's either going to pass out, vomit, or both any minute now, the same look he gets when he forgets to take medicine for motion sickness.
He's sick, no doubt about it.
Mina and Kirishima exchange knowing glances. When Aizawa's back is turned, Kirishima gives Sero a tap on the shoulder, gesturing to the oblivious boy sitting in front of him. A look of confusion appears on Sero's face before becoming sympathy. And after a long moment of hesitation, Sero gives Bakugo a poke in the back, making the ash blonde turn around with a brooding look, but it quickly softens once Sero motions towards Kaminari and Bakugo ends up catching on, too.
All four of them suddenly find it hard to focus knowing one of their friends isn't feeling so hot. They take turns looking over at him while he stays totally oblivious.
And then, suddenly, just as class is almost over, Kaminari stands up. He clasps a hand over his mouth, muttering something like "b-bathroom," before dashing out of the classroom. The four others exchange looks. Moments after, all of them stand up to go after Kaminari, all with half-assed mumbled excuses.
Aizawa blinks, but he doesn't stop them. He knows his students well, and Kaminari could probably use the support. He'll let it slide this time, he figures, as he raises his voice a bit to get the attention of the class back on him.
Outside of the classroom, Kaminari makes it about fifteen steps away from the door, maybe twenty away from the restrooms, before he's forced to double over. Vomit sprays from between the fingers of one hand while his other clutches at his stomach. He can't help the way he moans, long and pained, before pulling his hand away just in time to bring up a torrent of sick onto the linoleum.
Kirishima is the first to approach him, rubbing his back gently and pulling his fringe out of his face. He mumbles quiet reassurances, glancing up at the bathroom. He looks back to Bakugo, who seems to get his train of thought and nods--the second he gets a moment to breathe, pick him up and haul ass to the bathroom. The redhead turns back to Kaminari, wrapping an arm around his chest to support him so he doesn't fall forward into a puddle of his own puke. Kaminari heaves again, the puddle just growing, but after that he seems to get a moment to breathe. The color hasn't returned to his face in the slightest--he looks paler, actually--and he's shaking like a leaf, but this looks like the time to act.
Bakugo runs up to take Kaminari, Kirishima letting go of his hold on the boy as their usually explosive friend picks him up gently and with ease in a princess-like carry. He mutters something like, "if you puke on me in the next twenty steps, I'm throwing you," but the tone in his voice says he doesn't mean it. Kirishima would smile at the scene if he wasn't so concerned. Sero and Mina stand in the back, not exactly knowing what to do. Mina decides to grab Denki's stuff for him while Sero follows the others to the male restrooms in case they need any assistance or anything.
Bakugo drops Kaminari in front of one of the toilets, and just in the nick of time, as he instantly lurches for the porcelain as a wave of sick barrels up his throat. He whimpers weakly, sadly, and it's clear that he feels like a dumpster fire. Kirishima crouches back down beside him, pulling back his fringe once more and rubbing his back, keeping him stable. Kaminari's head dips beneath the rim of the toilet seat as more forceful retches take over, back to back, making him gasp for half a breath in between before the sound of liquid hitting liquid is heard again.
"Shit, try to breathe, sparky," Bakugo calls, concern clear on his usually tense and aggressive features. Kaminari gives him a weak thumbs up, but quickly puts his hand back down to support himself.
"Yeah, c'mon, bro," Kirishima mumbles, much softer than Bakugo's demanding attempt of comfort. "Try and breathe as best as you can, calm down a little..."
"Should I run and get something for him to rinse his mouth with, a drink, from Recovery Girl or something...?" Sero suggests.
"Yeah, that might be good," Kirishima doesn't take his eyes off of Kaminari as he speaks, scared that if he does, he might just shatter. He's trembling so horribly in his grasp, and sniffles between gasps and heaves tell him that Kaminari has also begun to cry. Which anyone probably would. Sero runs off to Recovery Girl's office without a moment's hesitation, wanting to do anything he can to help his close friend.
It takes a long while, but eventually, Kaminari's heaving calms to a stop and he can breathe again. He goes to rest his forehead on the toilet seat, but Kirishima stops him, pulling him back to rest his head against his chest instead. Bakugo comes into the stall to flush the puke away, brusquely checking Kaminari for fever.
"Is he warm?"
"Yeah, feels like it to me." Bakugo's voice is so unbelievably calm. "Feelin' better yet, dunce face?"
Kaminari shrugs with a sigh, clearing his throat before speaking. "M'sorry," he chokes out. "But I'm good now. For the moment."
Bakugo almost raises a hand to slap him for apologizing, but he stops himself. "Shut the fuck up and catch your breath, idiot."
"What Bakugo means is, it's not your fault your sick, man," Kirishima butts in, chuckling softly. The ash blond in question rolls his eyes. "Just focus on gettin' your breathing a little more even and calming down so we can get you a slip to go back to the dorms."
Kaminari nods, giving a thumbs up. Sero tosses Bakugo the juice he'd gotten earlier, which he uncaps and holds out to Kaminari. The sick boy reaches to grab it, but with how shaky his hands are, Bakugo decides to hold it to his lips for him. He sips slowly at it--he's had enough lectures from the others about not chugging his drink after being sick like that.
And then, once Kaminari feels alright enough to try and move, Bakugo and Kirishima take up either side of him for support while Sero holds the juice for him. Mina joins them outside of the bathroom, patting Kaminari's head affectionately as her show of sympathy as the group make their way to Recovery Girl's office.
"Hey, guys?" Kaminari pipes up as he takes his stuff to head back to the dorms once Recovery Girl clears him to do so.
All four of his friends look to him.
"Thanks."
And then, all four of them smile.