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Waking up before his alarm was something Kaminari could consider the easiest thing to ruin his day, especially when it was just a minute before it went off. This morning, however, he woke up in a frenzy, his hair a whipped, wild mess around his head, his cheeks flushing a fast, hot shade of red. He stared at the lap of his blanket, heaving out a long sigh, a hand clasping to his chest. He furrowed his brows--why did he say that? Was that real? Was that a dream? He was absolutely delirious, but he couldn’t stop thinking about it--it was frustrating, annoying, and so damn embarrassing. He was used to having incredibly vivid dreams, ones that left him pondering the possible meaning all day until it slipped his mind to go do something else, and then return when he tried to sleep again that night. But this one? He was burning with regret in the dream, and when he woke up. Kaminari whined, falling back onto his bed with a tired grunt, fluttering his lashes to stare at the ceiling. He couldn’t stop asking himself the same question: Why did he say that? Of all people, why did he have to say that to--he cut himself off, shaking his head with a grumbled refusal to think about the dream at all. His chest still thumbed hard in embarrassment, the redness plaguing his cheeks slowly dying down with every second he fell asleep.
By the time Kaminari woke up again for school, he had gleefully forgotten about his dream, replaced by another equally ridiculous dream, but far less embarrassing. He got himself dressed, fixated on toying with his hair for half an hour, and still managed to make it out of his room with just a minute to spare. Everything was perfect as usual, Kaminari bumping into his friends on the way, giving his usual “good mornings”, fist-bumps and idiotic jokes that would probably lead Aizawa to give them detention just for the hell of it. The morning seemed fine, and maybe just too fine, but Kaminari failed to notice that, until he headed into the classroom, his backpack slung over one shoulder, clumsily bouncing against his leg with every step he took. He made the mistake of looking up as he headed to his desk, his eyes landing directly on seat fifteen, where Todoroki sat in silence, staring at the few pencils he lined up on his desk. The dual haired boy noticed Kamniari’s look, and met his eyes in return, lifting a hand to tentatively wave at him. This usually wouldn’t be a problem, since Kaminari had recently been making an effort to get closer to Todoroki, since the kid had basically no friends, and on a regular day, Kaminari would have been over the moon with Todoroki’s physical display of friendship, but this wasn’t a regular day. This was a confusing day. Kaminari blinked, his mind flashing with the hazy memories of two toned hair, multicolored eyes, and a monotone voice--oh, of all people.
Kaminari turned quickly on his heel, his backpack strap slipping from where it barely clung to his shoulder, falling to the junction of his elbow. He let it hang there, the blonde’s face growing a dark red. He was used to having weird dreams that would star his friends sometimes, so why was he so embarrassed about this one? It was just Todoroki, right? But… after what he said in the dream, Kaminari could barely find the courage to look Todoroki in the eyes. It was a dream! There was no way it was real, so why did it embarrass him so much? Kaminari felt regret bubble up in his chest all over again, and he groaned, silent, lifting a hand to rub his face. This was so dumb, he seriously couldn’t take it.
Kaminari’s attempt to wallow in his own imaginary embarrassment was interrupted by a hand on his shoulder, the blonde jumping, turning to stare straight up at Todoroki.
“Ahhh…” Kaminari groaned.
“Good morning,” Todoroki offered.
“Morning. How are you?”
“Fine. How are you?”
“Fine.”
Silence. Kaminari glanced to the side. God, get him out of here.
“You’re quieter than usual. And you didn’t even come to my desk. Are you okay?”
He was so sweet. Kaminari could seriously cry. “Dude,” he whined. “I’m alright! Well--okay, I’m alright, but like, I’m not. But It’s nothing to honestly worry about--do you know what I mean?” he tried, watching Todoroki’s mismatched eyes stare silently at him. They were just like the dream, Kaminari could still remember the way they sparkled in the cloudy haze of the room they were in, the corners of them lifted up by a smile that he doesn’t think Todoroki would ever do. It’s so weird how dreams can completely warp how you see someone. Kaminari furrowed his brows.
“I don’t really get it, but okay.”
“I’m okay!” Kaminari blurted.
“Did you just not want to talk to me today?”
“Stop iiit,” Kaminari whined, throwing his arms around Todoroki’s torso, squeezing him in a loose hug, one arm drooping from the weight of his backpack. “I did! I just--” he swallowed. Oh my God, this was hard. He couldn’t bring it up! If he said it in the dream, and woke up on the verge of a total panic attack, why the fuck would he say it out loud? That would just make it worse. “Had a dream?”
“You had a dream?”
“Yeah! You ever… have dreams?”
Todoroki’s brows twitched inwards. “Yes?”
“Yeah?”
“Yes.”
“So you get it!”
“No, Kaminari, I don’t.”
Kaminari whined, dropping his head against Todoroki’s shoulder, letting himself rest there. He could almost hear the other boy’s heartbeat, the soft tone reminding him of the dream. It was so soft, warm and fluffy. He and Todoroki had been standing there, their arms around each other, a bit like how they were now, except Kaminari’s arms had been tossed around the other’s neck, playing with his hair, while Todoroki’s hands had remained gently still around his back. He could remember the faint remains of them talking, chatting on and on, with Kaminari’s interjected giggles, and the sweet, uncharacteristic smile that rested sweetly on Todoroki’s face. He could remember the way it seemed to sparkle in that room, and Kaminari was enjoying the life out of it. He remembered Todoroki asking him something, and Kaminari answered, nonchalant. He remembered the way Todoroki tilted his head at the reply, and that was when it happened. The regret. Why would he say that? Why did he say that!
Kaminari groaned, dropping his arms from around Todoroki where they stood in reality, his backpack slumping itself to the ground.
“Are you okay?” Todoroki asked again, his voice gentler.
“I have no fuckin’ idea, dude,” Kaminari snorted, laughing softly. He moved a hand to his face, rubbing it lightly. “Yo, how… how mad would you get at me if I… ugh…”
“I don’t think I would get very mad.”
“I didn’t even finish it, though,” Kaminari mumbled behind his hand.
“Yeah, I know, but I just know I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t get mad at you. I have no reason to. Even if you say something dumb, it’s not that bad.”
“You’re niiice,” Kaminari smirked, peeking up at Todoroki from behind his hair. He furrowed his brows, staring off at the side. “Even if it was like… something you didn’t exactly like?”
“I’m pretty sure I would still be fine, yes.”
“You’re nice… so nice to me, man.”
“I think you’re the nice one here. You haven’t said anything to piss me off since we’ve talked at all, yet you’re worrying a lot about pissing me off. You’re compassionate.”
Kaminari snorted, his face growing a slow, steady red. He had been blushing way too much today, hadn’t he? He couldn’t help it. After making himself seem like such an idiot in front of Todoroki in a dream, he guessed he worried it would come true a lot more than he thought. He wondered why it was such a problem--sure, he would hate to make any of his other friends upset with him, but it felt so different with Todoroki. He was so unlike the people Kaminari usually got along with, but Kaminari really loved it. He loved the differences they had, and the way it seemed to make them click. He didn’t want to lose Todoroki, not by a long shot.
“Can you believe all this is over a dream?” Kaminari chuckled.
“It is?” Todoroki asked.
“Yes! I had a stupid dream, dude, now I’m like… hyper-worried I’m gonna say something wrong that’ll piss you off, and you’ll honestly hate me. It’s so dumb!”
“I don’t think it’s dumb. It might be a little silly, but it’s not dumb. Silliness isn’t always a bad thing.”
Kaminari smiled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Well… you’re not wrong.”
“It’s just a dream, too. It’ll be fine. Plus, you haven’t said anything to piss me off, so I don’t think you should worry that much. I’m pretty sure it would be a little harder to make me angry.”
“Oh yeah, I bet,” Kaminari snorted, gently punching Todoroki’s arm. “Thanks, man. I’m glad I could still talk to you.”
“What was the dream, though? If you’ll tell me,” Todoroki said.
Kaminari chuckled, slowly shrugging. “It was just… stupid. Or--silly! It was silly. As much as it’s stressing me out for no reason, I really think I should just forget about it. Oh! I even fell back asleep, and had another dream, that wasn’t totally ridiculous, wanna hear that one?”
Todoroki nodded. “I’d love to.”
Kaminari smiled, kicking his backpack under his desk while he began to explain, the easing words from their conversation making his heart settle. It was just a silly dream, anyways. There was no way he was going to forget the “Why did you want to talk to me anyways?” that came from dream Todoroki’s mouth, and the sweet, genuine interest that glowed on his face while he asked. He would never forget the way that he laughed in his own dream, and responded with a matter-of-fact “Because I’m in love with you, ‘course.”
Sure, it was embarrassing, it was stupid, and he had no idea why he’d spout such a thing to a friend he’s only gotten close to for about a month so far, but he didn’t really mind. It was a silly little dream. He would keep it close, regretfully embarrassing or not, and he would cherish it. A silly little dream, never to come true.