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“It was a sunny day…”
That's how most stories like this start, right? Well, it might have been a sunny day, but considering Denki was currently working at the indoor pool, he supposed it didn’t really matter what the weather was like.
Kaminari Denki, fresh out of college and recently moved back into his hometown (and into his parent's house), had been severely in need of a job. After reaching out to a few of his friends from high school, he had ended up reconnecting with his good buddy Sero Hanta. After a meet-up with some of the old gang and a few drinks, Sero had mentioned that the local pool had been looking for more lifeguards, and Denki couldn't help but perk up at the mention of a job opportunity.
A fun job, the opportunity to hang and reconnect with friends, and the pay was pretty good? Sign me right up!!!
A few weeks pass, and as he breezes through the training, Denki passes his certification test with ease. All in all, things are going great! It’s his second day working, and things are looking to be normal as far as he can tell. I think I'm really going to like working here!
Just as he finished his thought, Sero blew his whistle, signaling a safety break, and he jumped down from the chair, switching with another one of the lifeguards (A cute, tired-looking guy with lavender hair) as he did so. Denki noted the time, looking up at the clock to figure out when the next rotation was. As he did the math in his head to figure out when it was his turn up on the stand, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a girl bounce up to Sero as he was coming back to the lifeguard stand.
The girl is cute, with bubblegum-pink-dyed hair and Denki’s eyes immediately go to the yellow sunglasses resting on her head. Pushing up the bright curls onto her head, the sunglasses have what looks like little horns on the sides, and briefly, Denki wonders where she got them.
I wonder if the brand makes ones with lightning bolts on them? That would be cool.
“Excuse me, I have a question?” The girl lightly taps Sero on his shoulder and bats her lashes innocently when he turns around.
“Yeah of course, how can I help?” Sero said in that pure, helpful way that only he can do, and Kaminari’s eyebrows narrowed in suspicion as the girl bit her lip flirtatiously.
“When they hire the lifeguards, is being drop-dead gorgeous a requirement, or is that just you?”
Sero sighed tiredly and opened his mouth, likely going to respond and let the girl down easily but Denki knew that it was never that easy with people like this. “Nice” wouldn't cut it.
As the girl looked Sero up and down and twisted a curl of her hair flirtatiously, Denki decided he'd had enough and put his foot down.
( Metaphorically, of course. It would look pretty weird if he just randomly stomped for no reason )
Denki marches over and cuts off whatever thing Sero was going to say as he slung his arm around his best buddy's shoulders, scowling as he did so. “Hey, back off, he’s taken.”
The girl’s eyes widen slightly in surprise and Denki continues glaring at her as he watches her gaze switch from Sero to Denki, back to Sero, and then back to Denki, and suddenly her face is twisting into a mischievous grin.
“Oh really?” She feigned surprise, tapping her chin and pretending to look around. “I don’t see them.”
Oh, FUCK no.
Denki hasn't met Sero's girlfriend yet, but he’d heard nothing but good things from Sero in the few months they had been dating. Whoever his mystery girl is, she made his buddy the happiest he’s been in a long time, and for that, Denki would be forever grateful, even if he hadn't met her yet. They actually had plans to meet up with a few of their other friends for dinner that night, and Sero might be too damn nice to put his foot down, but Denki was not about to let some random girl hit on his best bud.
Before his brain could catch up, Dekni’s mouth blurted: “I’m right here,” and both Sero and the girl stiffened.
There was a moment of silence between the three of them as they all stared at each other, and silently, Denki prayed that Sero would go along with it.
Work with me here, buddy
Denki tried to send as many “go with it” vibes as he could to his friend, but Sero just groaned and facepalmed.
Okay wow. Seriously, dude, you’re not helping.
“Oh really?” The girl smirks, and Denki’s stomach dropped, but he was in too deep to stop now.
“Mhm.” He nodded once, firmly, hoping his faux confidence completely covered up his anxiety.
( It’s not like sexualities were a problem if that's what you're thinking. ) Denki had come out as Bi around the same time as Sero came out as Pan, and the two had bonded over their shared “ everyone is hot, ah what do we do? ” mindset, and they’d both been out and proud for years now. There had also been a period where they had tried dating each other, but neither of them had felt anything deeper than platonic attraction and it had been a mutual end.
No, that wasn't the problem. The problem was that Sero was going to tell his girlfriend, and Denki reeeeeeeally wanted to make a good impression.
“Prove it.”
…
Okay, you know what, what gives off a better impression than saving your best bud from froth-mouthed bimbos?
He grabbed Sero’s face, ignoring the wide eyes his best friend was giving him.
This is for your own good
Denki closed his eyes and leaned in for a kiss before suddenly being stopped by a rough palm. Sero’s hand, rough with rock climbing calluses, is pressed against his face, preventing Denki’s attempt to save his friend from landing. “Okay yeah, we’re done.”
“Ugh babeeeee,” The girl whined, “You ruined it!”
His brows furrowed questioningly. Wait...babe?
“I am NOT kissing my childhood best friend just for your amusement, Mina.”
Mina? Isn’t that the name of Sero's girlfr-
...
Oh.
Denki’s eyes went wide and his jaw dropped at the realization. OHHHHHHHH -
Sero removed his hand with a sigh and put a hand on each of their shoulders, turned Denki and the girl- Mina , to face each other.
Flirtatious facade dropped, the girl was now smiling sheepishly at him, and Sero gestured between the two of them, but Denki couldn't seem to snap out of his surprised state.
“Mina, meet Kaminari Denki.”
The pink-haired girl waved lightly, finally bringing him back to his senses, and her smile widened as an embarrassed blush spread across Denki’s face.
Oh my god, why me?
“Denki, meet Mina Ashido,”
The girl snorted at the formality and Sero sighs again as he shoots her a warning look ( albeit a fond one ).
“My girlfriend.”