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There are some things about Kaminari Denki that class 2A didn't know. Like how he loves the moon. And how classic literature is his favorite type of book to read, science fiction right under that. The choker he wears isn't just for fashion, it's also to help ground him and his quirk, the same reason why he's so touchy.
And one thing class 2A definitely didn't know was that because of his quirk, Denki had horrible insomnia, adhd, and anxiety.
He couldn't stop his tics if he tried, and the way the lighting flooded through his veins made him restless most nights.
But most nights he wasn't crying his eyes out either.
Pushing the balls of his palms into his eyes, Denki let out a silent prayer to anyone who would listen. Begging for tears to stop rolling down his face at 3 in the morning.
It had been a good day- a great one even. Training had gone amazing. He didn't short circuit and had actually expanded his limit up by a thousand.
All until he got his math test back.
A bold and bright red 34% stared at him as Denki's mouth dropped some.
34
34
34
Denki wanted to cry, he wanted to scream and rip that paper in half, but he sat there, in shock. His silence must have gotten Jirou's attention somehow, because she came up behind him, looking over his shoulder.
"A 34? Really Kaminari?" She snorts loudly, making it known to the whole class how much a failure he was.
Bakugou grumbled something about him being a dumbass but Denki couldn't hear the words very well. Almost the entire class was staring at him with pity in their eyes. A worried expression that made Denki want to electrocute the classroom dark.
But instead, he put on a fake smile, "Yeah, I guess I really am dumb, huh," he tried to joke back, but it felt ill on his ears.
But not to his friends
They laughed
Actual fucking laughed
And it hurt
Denki pushed it down until he went to bed, which was earlier than usual, using the excuse that he needed to study.
"You could fucking use it dunce face!" Bakugou shouted, almost making Denki flinch before he caught himself, just sending the ash-blonde a smile before heading upstairs.
Now, to be honest, Denki has no idea how he ended up downstairs, but what he did know was the moon was very comforting as he balls his eyes out, trying to contain his sobs so he doesn't wake up anyone in the dorms.
His heart hurt, and so does his head. It fucking hurt that his friends would laugh at him.
But by now, Denki was used to it. The laughing he would hear when he short circuits was routine at this point. No one knew that he could hear everything they said. About how he's dead weight, he's a mess. A fucking dumbass.
And, even if they did know he could hear them, the class probably wouldn't care.
At that though, Denki cried harder, sinking into himself.
Denki couldn't hear the glass door open from how loud his sobs were in his ears.
"Kaminari,"
Denki's head shot up at his name, wiping away any stray tears that may have fallen with his hoodie sleeves.
"Oh, hey Shinsou. What's up?" Denki asks, trying to remain calm. Shinsou stares at him, a small look of worry in his eyes.
Denki liked Shinsou. He was cool and had an amazing quirk. He is hero material. Denki even told him that the first day he met the guy. But then again, Denki had also told him that he was hot, so what can the blonde say much on that topic.
"What are you doing out here at 3 am?" Shinsou asks, shutting the door behind him.
Denki's fake smile faded only for a second, but he was sure Shinsou saw it, "Ah, just looking at the moon, she's beautiful tonight,"
"How can you look at the moon when you're crying over yourself?"
Denki's smile faded again, but this time, he didn't have the energy to pull it back, "You saw that, hun?"
Shinsou nodded, moving to sit next to Denki, "Yeah, I did," Denki sniffed, wiping his face again, "Wanna...wanna maybe talk about it?" The boy asked, rubbing at the back of his neck.
Denki stiffened. Did he want to talk about it? It would be amazing to get off his chest, but the aspect of someone else having to deal with his problems troubled him.
"You don't have to if you don't want to. But it might be good ya know, getting it off your chest," Shinsou continued.
"Um, no- not right now," Denki whispered. The blonde barely heard himself, he has no idea how Shinsou heard him.
Shinsou nodded again, looking up at the sky, letting the quiet flood over them.
"Want a hug?" Shinsou said into the almost complete darkness.
Denki let out a wet laugh, "I'll get snot in you,"
"I don't mind,"
Shinsou said it like it was the easiest thing in the world. That he wanted to help Denki. Slowly, Denki moved closer to Shinsou, letting Shinsou pull him into his arms.
The hug was awkward at first, it seemed like Shinsou didn't know where to put his hands as Denki sat half over his lap, head resting on the latter's shoulder. After a few seconds, Shinsou rested his hands on Denki's back, feeling the blonde melt into the touch.
Denki wasn't sure when the sobs came back, but here he was, openly crying into Shinsou's shoulder. Shinsou moved Denki a bit, forcing the blonde to fall completely into his lap, which made Denki wrap his arms around Shinsou's neck.
And there they sat, for how long neither knew. Shinsou rubbing Denki's back and whispering every once in a while that he'll be ok.
"I failed the math test today," Denki said quietly, his voice muffled from his mouth being pressed into Shinsou's shoulder. "And my friends just laughed at me, called me stupid. I know it's not that big, I don't know why it hurts so much, they call me that all the time-"
"Hey," Shinsou says, cutting the blonde off, "it doesn't have to have a reason to hurt. And they shouldn't call you stupid for not knowing something. It's normal to not know everything,"
Denki sniffed, wiping his nose with his sleeve. Poor thing is gonna need a wash after this, "Really?"
Shinsou softly grabs Denki's face, swiping away any tears that have fallen from the blonde lashes with the pad of his thumb, "Really,"
Denki smiles, a true smile. The first one that night, leaning his head back on Shinsou's shoulder, shoving his face into the latter's neck.
"And your friends shouldn't call you stupid. You're not stupid. You've got a cool quirk, but it comes with backlashes like any other quirk does. But that doesn't define you,"
Denki snorts, "Wow, didn't expect Mr. 'I'm not here to make friends' to show so much feelings," he jokes.
"Oh fuck off," Shinsou says, but the undertone of a laugh slips through, giving away his tough-guy demeanor.
"Thank you though, it means a lot," Denki murmurs, glancing up at Shinsou.
Shinsou shugs, which makes Denki move with him, "Ah, it's no problem,"
"You'll be a great hero one day, ya know that,"
"So will you,"
Denki sighs, melting into the touch Shinsou offers him, swaying side to side slowly.
Denki knew everything will be ok, thankful that anyone that listened.