Chapter Text
1
The sun has been hanging around all day. Kaminari’s favorite meal was on the menu for lunch, thanks to Lunch Rush. During sparring, Bakugou gave him actual praise, of course in the Bakugou Katsuki signature gruff and dismissive manner. Still, the compliments never failed to make Denki stand a little taller, smile a little wider. It’s a decent Thursday overall. But this decent Thursday graduates to being spectacular as Aizawa closes out class for the day.
“No class tomorrow,” He announces, like it’s just another thing to check off his list.
The class balks. Denki rushes with excitement, the slightest prickle of electricity running from shoulder to fingertips.
Midoriya shoots up a hand. “Do we have the day off? Is there something we should be working on tomorrow? Are we getting a project? Are we supposed to go somewhere for training?” Denki waits for Midorya’s guesses to continue but it seems Aizawa’s waiting stare quiets him down.
“The teachers have collectively decided you all deserve a break. So, tomorrow is all yours. You’ll still be expected to complete your usual homework over the long weekend, but nothing extra will be added. I suggest using this extra time wisely.”
Denki takes note that Aizawa doesn’t specify what wisely entails. He likes to think that means homework can be set on the backburner for the time being. Wisely, he decides, means finding a way to spend this new extra time stress-free.
When class is dismissed shortly after, everyone is buzzing.
“Oh my god, I can’t wait to relax,” Ashido squeals, stretching out her arms in anticipation.
“We should go to the mall,” Yaoyorozu suggests.
“Or see a movie,” Jirou pipes up and Denki almost takes interest, but he knows exactly what he wants to do with this gifted time.
He wants to go to the beach. Not to relax in the sun or swim, the water is too polluted anyways. He just wants to get away from campus. Go into the city, and walk on the beach. It’s a simple desire to get away from UA and the unfortunately hellish world of hero-ing, just for a day. He wants a break in the truest sense of the word. Somewhere nice where he and his friends can just relax. The wise choice.
-
“What do you mean you already have plans?” Denki whines, “We literally just found out we have Friday off.”
He’s just finished pitching his beach idea to Kirishima. Takoba beach is closest to the school, running along the edge of the inner city, it would be a perfect destination for them to go to. They could even shop around if the ocean was too boring (though for Kaminari that could never be possible).
Kirishima flashes him an apologetic look from where he sits cross-legged on his bed.
“My mom wanted me home this weekend, so I’m gonna surprise her by coming home early tonight. That way I can be back by Saturday to hang out with you guys!” He explains with a cheery smile.
Denki groans, falling back onto Kirishima’s bed dramatically. “But I want to hang out with you tomorrow .”
“You’re hanging out with me now,” Kirishima points out, shoulders moving with the roll of a laugh.
“Plus,” He adds, “You see me all the time. We should be sick of each other by now.”
Kaminari could never get tired of Kirishima. He thrives off being social and Kirishima is a beacon of activity. The comment, however, makes him wonder if Kirishima ever gets tired of him . It’s easy to forget that he doesn’t function like most of his friends. He’s on a whole other operating system, one that requires constant company. His social battery is limitless. So, as Sero has respectfully pointed out in the past, Kaminari can be a little too much sometimes.
“I’ll be back Sunday,” Kirishima says, oblivious to the tightness in Kaminari’s expression, too busy tipping over the edge of his bed to grab a duffel bag from underneath it. “We can game or something when I get back.”
Kaminari holds tightly onto the fact that Kirishima sounds like he’s at least looking forward to hanging out with him then.
-
“We should go to the beach,” Denki says.
He’s in the common area, sitting on the couch somewhere in the midst of Ashido, Uraraka, and Tsu. Across from them Yaoyorozu and Jirou are taking up a chair, smooshed together. Todoroki and Midoriya are nearby at a table. Iida has taken a separate perch in the room to read a book. Sero is folded over the back of a chair where Bakugou’s sitting, trying to peek at whatever game the blonde is playing on his Switch. Bakugou keeps turning his screen away with grunts of annoyance. Kirishima’s missing, having already taken the bus home.
Denki’s statement hangs in the air. Incompatible with silence, he keeps talking.
“Just a day trip,” He says, “We’d be back before dinner. Wouldn’t it be nice to get away, enjoy the ocean, see some cute babes on the beach?”
Jirou rolls her eyes at the sales pitch but there's enough of a smile on her face to assure Denki she finds it amusing rather than irritating.
“Sorry Kami,” Ashido says, “You’re out of luck with girls because we decided we’re having a girls day. Just us ladies.”
“Momo’s treating us to a mall trip,” Jirou throws in.
“And then we’re going to indulge in some overdue self-care,” Yaoyorozu nods, recalling the plan. “Face masks, homemade dinner, and I read that trying something new is a good way to refresh your brain, so Jirou’s going to teach us some guitar basics.”
The rest of the girls nod along with eager faces.
“Well, it’s no beach, but I can’t say I’m not jealous,” Denki laughs, but his heart sinks a little.
“You could join us,” Uraraka offers kindly. Denki’s never excluded from girls’ nights. Often he’s dragged along by Ashido or Jirou and he always loves it.
“Yeah, your face looks like it could use some rejuvenation,” Jirou teases and Denki puts on the theatrics, recoling at her words with an overly-wounded “Hey!”
After a few more antics, he denies the offer. He doesn’t want to worm his way into anyone else’s plans. The girls don’t need to be dragging Kaminari Denki around. They deserve to enjoy themselves the way they want.
He looks expectantly at everyone else. Someone has to be interested right? (Wrong).
Todoroki says he’s visiting his mom.
Midoriya and Iida are day-tripping to Tokyo with All-Might so Iida can see his family and Midoriya can attend a Hero conference.
Sero wants to be alone.
Ojiro and Hagakure are spending the day together.
Tokoyami and Shoji are celebrating some strange holiday Denki’s never heard of.
Denki doesn’t bother asking Bakugou because he doesn’t want his face blown up.
Everyone in class has something they want to do and someone to do it with.
He really wishes Kirishima hadn’t left. He knows Kiri wouldn’t hesitate to do something with him, even if it was trudging out to Takoba.
“Why not take yourself?” Midoriya suggests, “The beach isn’t a bad idea. Sounds relaxing honestly. Treat yourself.”
He says it with a genuine smile on his face, but with a soft pity in his eyes that Denki tries to ignore.
“Yeah, I’ll do that.” He says, not wanting Midoriya to feel bad.
-
Friday rolls around and Denki just stays in bed. He considers Midoriya’s suggestion, but he doesn’t want to go to the beach alone. He hates being alone. However, this Friday finds the dorms quiet, and Denki finds himself alone either way. Disheartened by his failed beach idea, the only decision he can bring himself to make is to needlessly punish himself by staying cooped up in his room.
An hour into his sulking, he gets a text from Ashido offering him a spot on the girls’ day excursion. He considers this too, but his mind is already submerged in self-deprecation. He texts back that he’s just gonna relax at home today.
Sleep, he figures, is at least a wise way to spend his time. Maybe he can get some of that rejuvenation Jirou mentioned.
-
Someone is pounding on his door. He’s been awake for a while now, busying himself with Animal Crossing, but the sound still startles him.
“It’s open,” He says. He figures the girls must be back by now and Ashido has come down to slap a face mask on him and drag him to her room with the others.
However, the person who walks in is definitely not Ashido, nor are they forcing self-care upon him.
It’s Bakugou, looking irritated. But he always does, so no alarm is raised at the sight.
“Hey man, what’s up?” Denki greets, belatedly trying to make himself not look like he’d been lazing the day away.
“Did you forget about studying?” Bakugou asks, leaning against the door frame.
Denki catches the time at the top corner of his Switch.
4 ‘o clock on a Friday.
He groans.
Three days a week, Bakugou forces a study session upon Kirsihima and Denki. Always Monday, Wednesday, Friday, at 4 'o'clock because Bakugou never fails to be punctual. To be fair, Denki’s grades need the help. Kirishima had proposed the idea in the first place for the same reason. To draw Bakugou in, Kirishima framed it as a challenge, and it worked. Maybe too well. Bakugou is a strict (and strangely committed) teacher.
“It’s our day off,” Denki whines, shrinking back away into his pillows and drawing his knees to his chest, making a display of looking comfortable (trying to look presentable be damned). “Kirishima isn’t here, it’s not the same!”
Bakugou looks unimpressed.
“So?” He scoffs, “Your grades are still shit.”
“You're so mean,” Denki huffs, focus falling back to his game. He has enough bells to buy a new fireplace for his home. “Don’t you want to relax today?”
Bakugou is taking a seat at his desk, unloading textbooks. He doesn’t answer the question. Instead he shoots off his own.
“How was Takoba?” He asks.
Denki’s glad Bakugou’s too busy organizing study materials to catch his face in unadulterated surprise. He’s confused by the question at first, but more so stunned by the fact that Bakugou is bothering to ask in the first place. A villager waves at him from his Switch and he shakes out of his shock.
“Oh,” he says, “I didn’t want to go alone so I ended up not going.”
Bakugou glances at him.
“That’s stupid.”
Denki just shrugs. It is what it is, he figures. Over the course of the day he’s convinced himself that he’ll get off campus some other time. But disappointment still manifests in his chest and he turns his attention back to Animal Crossing to ignore it. It’s quiet for a moment, just the sounds of papers being shuffled around and the clicks of the Switch’s joysticks.
“We’re going tomorrow,” Bakugou abruptly states.
Denki’s eyes shoot up. Bakugou doesn’t seem to acknowledge him, opening a Math textbook. Denki wonders if he even said anything.
“What?” He asks, to make sure he didn’t imagine it.
“To the beach. We’re going -” Bakugou cuts himself off with a sigh. His eyes stay glued to the pages in front of him. “Let’s go to Takoba tomorrow.”
A smile blooms on Denki’s face. Something warm heats up his chest but he doesn’t notice it.
“Really?”
“Yes, moron.”
As much as Denki gets a kick out of irritating Bakugou, he loves it even more when Bakugou drops the act. Yes, he’s naturally rude, and yes, he doesn’t give a shit half the time, but Kaminari knows something deep down in Bakugou cares. Something in Bakugou forced him to make friends and to actually give a shit about those friends. Bakugou of course, when provoked, refutes the idea profusely.
“Aw, Kacchan,” Denki teases, “I can’t believe you want to go to the beach with me.”
Bakugou grunts, flipping a page so hard it tears.
“I just want to get off this damn campus,” He says, eyes never leaving the homework he’s covered Denki’s desk with.
Denki beams at him anyway. He turns off his Switch and sits up taller. Having the oddest change of heart, he starts looking forward to the study session at hand.
-
Rain drums on Denki’s window the next morning. He cracks open his blinds to see the sky is swollen and grey. He must be cursed. What a dreary day to go into the city and walk on the beach. He waits for a ray of sun and when none shine through, he gets dressed and heads up to the fourth floor. Even if they don’t go to the beach, a wise way to spend his Saturday would be by pestering Bakugou.
He knocks on the door and it quickly swings open.
Bakugou stands before him, looking ready to leave. He’s wearing a few layers, topped off with a rain jacket, a backpack slung over his shoulder. His hair is messy, but it frames his face nicely, bright eyes standing out against the wash of his hair and skin.
“It’s raining,” Denki says dumbly. God knows what possessed him to say it, because obviously it’s raining and obviously Bakugou knows.
“I have eyes,” Bakugou responds flatly, stepping to the side to reveal the rain-spattered window behind him.
Denki quickly sweeps his own eyes across the room. Bakugou’s dorm isn’t totally forbidden to him anymore. He’s seen it a couple times, but study sessions and hangouts typically take place in the common room or Kirishima’s dorm. So everytime Kaminari pops his head into Bakugou’s space it seems new. Maybe it’s because Bakugou keeps things pretty clean. His decor is minimal, an atrocity to someone like Denki, but it was somehow sleek and well looked after.
“You still want to go even in this weather?” Denki questions.
“You trying to cancel on me or something?” Bakugou tests, raising an eyebrow.
“Not at all,” Denki smiles.
His chest warms up again and he’s happy to feel happy. He’d been hesitant to consider before, but maybe going with Bakugou to the beach wasn’t going to be so bad.
“We can walk to the train stop,” Bakugou is stepping back into his room, inviting Denki in. “the next one to Takoba is pretty soon.”
He grabs his phone off his bed. Denki squints at the gap where Bakugou’s comforter meets his pillow and is sure he sees All-Might themed sheets peeking out. His brain nearly explodes and it takes every part of his being not to point them out. Things have been oddly civil between them this weekend and he wants to preserve friendly Bakugou for as long as he can. He keeps his mouth shut.
“Should we head out now?” Denki asks and Bakugou nods. Bakugou moves to leave but pauses and gives Denki a once over, eyes trailing from his head to his feet then flicking up again. A warmth in Denki’s chest suddenly rushes to his face.
“Like what you see?” He says out of panic. Okay, so maybe Denki can’t preserve the peace for that long.
Bakugou scrunches his nose in distaste before saying, “Is that what you’re wearing?”
Kaminari takes offense before he even checks his outfit. A hoodie, black cuffed jeans, sneakers.
“What?” He defends, snapping his gaze back to Bakugou, “I look good.”
“You’re gonna get soaked.”
It’s raining, Denki reminds himself. He feels ridiculous. Color rushes to his cheeks, more embarrassed than flustered this time.
“You’re gonna find this funny,” Kaminari says, “I actually, um, don’t have a rain jacket. I kind of lost it a month ago.”
Bakugou looks at him like he’s inhuman.
“How do you lose a whole jacket?” He questions, “Why didn’t you get a new one?”
“I thought the rainy season was over!”
Bakugou rolls his eyes and stomps over to his closet. After a second of rummaging, he throws something into Denki’s chest. It’s a colorblock rain jacket, one that’s a lot nicer than what Bakugou has on. He takes a nervous glance at Bakugou, unsure if he’s actually supposed to wear what he was given.
“Hurry up,” Bakugou huffs in answer to his unasked question.
Denki slips it on and a smile pulls at the corner of his mouth.
“This seems too colorful for you,” He says, admiring the two-tone sleeves over his arms. He tries to imagine Bakugou wearing anything remotely stylish, an image that seems unbefitting. Maybe Best Jeanist has rubbed off on him.
Bakugou dismisses the article of clothing altogether.
“We’re gonna miss the train,” He says, heading out the door.
-
The train station is bustling. There’s dripping umbrellas, hands clutching shopping bags, huddled families. For a rainy Saturday, the congestion is surprising. They barely catch the train, jumping into a full car just as the chiming ding signals the doors closing. Bakugou carves a path to an empty pocket on the train, just big enough for the two of them to stand. He’s quick to take hold of the hanging strap as the train jolts into action. Denki, not the most adapted to railway cars, stumbles when the train lurches and grabs on to whatever is closest to him. That would be Bakugou who, surprisingly, doesn’t seem to mind. Denki takes hold of his sleeve as the train glides ahead.
Denki talks Bakugou’s ear off the whole ride, blabbing about anything and everything that comes to mind. He doesn’t bother filtering his thoughts because each one, he finds, is newsworthy or a stroke of comedic genius that has to be shared. Bakugou occasionally responds with some snark, but mostly he listens, and surprisingly never tells Denki to shut up.
The train gets fuller as they get closer to their destination, plowing further into the heart of the city. As the crowd increases, Denki leans further into Bakugou. His hands, first gripping onto the water-proof fabric of Bakugou’s raincoat, move to secure around his arm because there’s barely room for Denki to stand in his own space. Eventually, he’s practically clinging onto Bakugou. They’re crammed together, but Denki doesn’t pay much mind to it. He’s too enveloped in whatever story he’s trying to recount and the warmth radiating off Bakugou is nice.
Their stop gets announced a minute later, and the second they escape the train, they tear apart from each other.
Denki decides to acknowledge the close contact. Maybe it wasn’t the smartest move to draw attention to it, but he never misses an opportunity to drive Bakugou crazy.
“Just to think if we had been on there for a few more stops, we could’ve held hands!”
“You’re so annoying.”
-
Denki is content, staring out at the ocean. The wind pushes at the waves and spreads the salty smell of the sea. Even with the hint of fish in the breeze, it’s a breath of fresh air to not be staring at the familiar structures of UA.
He looks at Bakugou, who’s leaning his elbows on the railing, looking out at the horizon just as he is. There really isn’t much to see. Just a gradient where grey water meets grey sky. But Denki finds it exhilarating. He scans Bakugou’s profile to see if he’s enjoying it too. Denki wouldn’t put it past him to be miserable. They were stuck with each other after all, in gloomy weather. But Bakugou seems neutral, and Denki takes that as a win.
“We should take a picture to show everyone what they’re missing,” He says after he’s had enough comfortable silence. The crash of the waves, and the symphony of sounds from the city could only go so far to keep him from talking.
“They aren’t missing much,” Bakugou says, but he doesn’t take his eyes off the water or turn his back to the wind because he knows it's something they are definitely missing.
Denki fishes for his phone, digging his hands into the pockets of Bakugou’s jacket, then his hoodie, then his pants. He realizes he’s been missing the sensation of a rectangular 200g weight in his pocket since his departure from UA. The image of his phone blending in with the clutter of his desk pops into his mind. He left it behind. His wallet must be there too. He hadn’t thought twice about grabbing them when he went to Bakugou’s room.
“I left my phone in my room,” He announces, “We’ll have to use yours.”
“Huh, why am I not surprised?” Bakugou says but there’s no venom in his words.
Denki grins and holds his hand out expectantly. Bakugou rolls his eyes and hands over his phone. He lets Denki open the camera and hold it out for a selfie.
Denki waits for some sort of protest from Bakugou, expecting at least the threat of an explosion, but nothing happens initially. He smiles wide for the photo, making sure the ocean is in the background and snaps a few pics. Bakugou looks away from the lens and keeps his face flat for each.
“C’mon Bakugou, just one smile?” Denki asks, knocking their shoulders together.
“You’re lucky I’m even letting you do this.”
“You can smile, right? Like a real smile, not just that sadistic look you get during training.” Bakugou’s face twitches. “Now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve seen you smile before.”
The words aren’t true, but they provoke a reaction.
“Shut up,” Bakugou growls.
Denki readies to take another picture and catches sight of Bakugou on the screen. He notices how the blonde’s hair is puffier than usual and his face is pulled down in irritation. Denki can’t help himself.
“The humidity kind of makes you look like a dog.”
He’s struck by fear as Bakugou instantly tries to throttle him. He can hear the sound of a photo snapping in the process.
“I’m kidding! I’m sorry!” Denki pleads as he defends himself from Bakugou’s crackling hands. “You actually look good, I swear!”
When Bakugou settles back down, Denkii searches through the photos. The first ones are ridiculous. Bakugou is stone faced while Denki expresses joy for them both. He absolutely loves the image. Then as the photos go on, Bakugou looks more and more irritated until there’s a blurry picture of Bakugou lunging at Kaminari and Kaminari’s face is full of fear. He laughs at the photo.
He pulls up the group text chat on Bakugou’s phone, getting ready to send some pics to their class, when suddenly it's snatched out of his hand.
“Worried I’m gonna see something private?” Denki jokes.
“I’m gonna throw you into the ocean.” Bakugou warns before immediately moving on, going to attach a photo to a message.
“Which one do you want me to send?” He grumbles.
Kaminari leans over and examines the options again.
“Send these,” He says, tapping the screen to select two photos.
“The second one looks like I’m trying to kill you,” Bakugou says.
“You were,” Denki points out. Bakugou almost seems embarrassed by the photo and the idea of that pulls a laugh out of Denki.
“Send those two,” He repeats, “It’ll be funny. Tell them I'm having the time of my life and that they have every right to be jealous.”
Bakugou mutters something under his breath but types out a caption anyways and hits send.
Dunce Face wants you all to know he’s having the time of his life and you extras have every right to be jealous.
-
The rain lets up and the two go down to the actual shore. They walk for a while, wet sand shifting under their feet. Denki scans the sand for anything interesting, occasionally looking at the water and Bakugou.
At some point he finds a jagged looking rock and presents it to his friend.
“Check this out,” he says, flaunting it proudly.
Bakugou stares at him blankly. “It's a rock.”
“Isn’t it weird looking? I’m keeping it,” Denki says smugly, as if he’s beaten Bakugou at some sort of game.
Bakugou takes offense at that and his eyes begin raking over the sand. Denki goes to question what he’s doing but suddenly Bakugou is diving a hand down into the sand and a smooth, egg shaped rock is picked up.
“You’re rock looks stupid, this one’s better,” Bakugou says, letting the rock drop into Denki’s hand.
Denki has to admit, it’s a nearly perfect rock.
“You’re giving it to me?” He asks as Bakugou begins walking away.
“I don’t care what you do with it,” Bakugou says.
Denki stares at the rock, warming it up in his palm. He pockets it along with the jagged one.
-
Denki is hungry. He didn’t think about how Takoba beach being a day trip meant that he’d be missing his usual meal times. He starts day-dreaming about his left-over onigiri in the kitchen fridge. Bakugou beside him seems to read his mind.
“We should go to the market and get something to eat,” Bakugou says, eyes on the cloudy horizon.
The two depart from the beach, finding a staircase back up to the road. It takes no time at all to get to the street market. Bakugou navigates the city well, though the whole time he looks tense, especially when they round into a busier section of the city. Denki, used to seeing unbreakable cool and confidence in Bakugou, wonders if it has to do with the always-present threat of villains. Rates of villain attacks increase with population density. That’s something Midoriya told him once.
It makes sense that Bakugou would always be on edge in places like this. His eyes watch everything, taking pensive assessment of the crowds of civilians, the stands selling fish and spices, the corner restaurants steaming with hot food. Denki wants to say something, to tell Bakugou to relax, that he doesn’t have to be a hero every waking moment, but he suspects words on the matter would be futile.
Instead, Denki grabs his arm when he sees a Taiyaki stand and pulls Bakugou through the traffic.
“That looks good,” Denki suggests.
There’s a huddle of people around the booth, little kids lifting their hands up expectantly for a hot fish-shaped dessert, parents handing over payments. Some people are just watching the food get made or lingering close as they decide what kind of filling to order.
“Don’t you want a real meal first?” Bakugou asks.
Denki takes his gaze off the stand and is suddenly rattled to find Bakugou looking right at him. Their faces are closer together than he expected and he suddenly can’t ignore the fact that his hand is still wrapped around Bakugou’s arm. He quickly retracts it before Bakugou notices too.
“We should treat ourselves,” Kaminari shrugs, “we can make an actual meal when we get back.”
“Can’t argue with that, I guess,” Bakugou says and a smile creeps onto Denki’s face.
He doesn’t have to mention the absence of his wallet when Bakugou goes up to the stand and demands for four pastries, shoving money at the vendor. He does, however, have to profusely apologize for Bakugou’s impolite nature as they stroll away with food in hand.
They walk through the rest of the market as the evening grows. There’s not much else to get, unless they want a whole fish or octopus, tacky souvenirs, or a variety of rice dishes. But with the dimming sky, the strings of light hanging over the walkways become enough of a spectacle to keep them around. The atmosphere is just as refreshing as the ocean. The murmur of the people around them is like the waves breaking on the shoreline. The wind still finds a way to push down the center lane and keep them awake. Bakugou even seems at ease and Denki would risk betting that he’s enjoying things. Something warm settles in Denki’s chest (again).
-
“Sensei’s gonna kill us!” Denki says as he plops down in an open seat on the train.
Time had slipped his mind and he and Bakugou were heading back to UA too close to curfew for comfort. He’s surprised Bakugou doesn’t seem more agitated about it.
“Calm down,” He huffs, sitting himself next to Denki.
“I’m totally calm,” Kaminari says without missing a beat, “when am I not?”
Bakugou could probably scrapbook all the times Kaminari has been a little frantic in the past. He gives Denki a narrow stare that conveys the message.
“Well,” Denki says, “your grades are stellar. Mine aren’t. Missing curfew for you probably comes with a less severe punishment.”
Bakugou turns his head.
“You’re doing better aren’t you?” Bakugou’s looking right at him again and Denki swears his heart misses a beat. Weird.
“My grades?” He questions.
Bakugou gives a curt nod. “Wasting my time at those study sessions hasn’t been for nothing, right?”
Denki laughs and reels at the fact that Bakugou is being genuine. His tone might still be rough around the edges, but they’ve been friends long enough (even if Bakugou won’t admit it) to know the difference.
“I guess you're right,” He says, thinking about how he performed on Present Mic and Ectoplasm’s latest tests. “I’ve haven’t been doing too bad.”
“You better not be,” Bakugou says and it’s an underhand way of agreeing with the statement.
“Thanks for the help,” Kaminari says. “Maybe Aizawa won’t wring my neck when we get back.”
“ Tch , don’t mention it,” Bakugou swivels his gaze to the window.
-
Bakugou swipes them back into UA with a minute to spare.
“How did you plan to get back inside?” He’s shouting.
Kaminari had finally had to mention leaving his wallet behind when they arrived at the gate, having no ID on hand to get back in.
“I honestly didn’t think about it.”
“You are hopeless,” but something on Bakugou’s face makes Denki wonder if he finds his forgetfulness just the tiniest bit endearing. He doesn’t entertain the thought long, but it crosses his mind nonetheless.
The rain is long gone, but a frigid chill in the air keeps Denki close to Bakugou’s side as they cross campus to the dorms. He goes to put his hands in the pockets of his borrowed jacket and suddenly feels the two rocks he had stored there earlier.
“I have a gift for you,” He says without thought, pulling out the ragged rock he’d picked up and forcing it into Bakugou’s hand.
Bakugou eyes it down with disgust.
“I don’t want your ugly rock,” He says.
“I still have yours,” Denki says, pulling the smooth stone from his pocket, holding it up for Bakugou to see.
“So?” Bakugou huffs.
Denki shrugs, because he doesn’t really know. It just feels like an equal trade. A rock for a rock. They both have something to remember the day by.
“It’s a little reminder of the beach,” he says.
Bakugou doesn’t say anything, but Denki sees him shove the rock into his own pocket.
Another breeze whips around them and Denki presses further into Bakugou’s side. His friend doesn’t seem to mind.
The whole class is scattered around the common room when they walk in. Sato’s in the kitchen guiding Ojiro and Yaoyorozu through a recipe. Jirou and Tokoyami sit on bar stools, watching the scene unfold, chatting with each other. Sero is giving Todoroki a walk through on how to hook up and switch the HDMIs on the TV. Mina, Ururaka, and Kirishima, back from visiting home, observe from one of the couches. Midoriya and Tsu are nearby on the floor, Hagakure teaching them a card game.
Bakugou instantly hardens into his usual self at the sight.
Denki waves hellos as everyone turns their heads and greets the two of them.
“How was it?” Mina asks, “The weather was terrible!”
“It was fun,” Denki says, “We went to the market too!”
“Did you get me anything?” Sero asks over his shoulder with a lazy grin, too busy keeping Todoroki from breaking the TV to provide his full attention.
“If I had my wallet, I would have,” Kaminari says, “There was a menbachi with your name on it.”
Kaminari heads to the couches, intrigued by Todoroki learning the ropes of television technology. Bakugou drifts over with him.
There’s some more chatter from their other classmates, Midoirya commenting on the history of the market by Takoba, Iida noting their late arrival. Denki throws himself onto the cushion next to Kirishima. Bakugou hovers by the arm of the couch for a second before announcing that he’s going to bed.
“What? It’s only 8,” Denki objects and knowing Bakugou goes to bed early he quickly tacks on, “and it’s Saturday. ”
Bakugou pauses.
“Sero can show Todoroki how to set up the Switch and we can game,” Denki presses as if it's the perfect offer because it is.
“You can try to overthrow my winning streak again,” Kirishima chimes in to sweeten the pot.
Bakugou dismisses them with a wave.
“I’ll see you guys tomorrow,” He mutters, heading off to the elevators.
“You’re such an old man,” Denki calls after him, but it’s not enough to stoke the fire. Bakugou’s already out of earshot.
-
It’s a little past midnight, Saturday night turning into early Sunday morning. Denki is sitting on his bed, fidgeting with the rock Bakugou found, back against the wall. Kirishima is sitting at the other end, talking about his day home. Sero is sprawled out on the floor nodding along to either Kirishima’s words or the music playing quietly in the background. Ashido had turned in for the night, leaving Denki’s desk chair wide open in her absence.
Denki’s not paying too much attention to Kirishima’s story. He catches a couple words, but he’s tired and more easily entertained by thinking about the redesign of his Animal Crossing room he had done yesterday. He’s itching to grab his gaming console.
“Hey man, did you and Bakugou go on a date?”
Kaminari thinks he hears wrong, but the question hangs in the air as he stares at the rock in his hands. Kirishima must’ve noticed how Denki’s mind had been elsewhere and was using the shock factor of what he said to bring Denki’s attention back to his story because there’s no way Kirishima is legitimately asking him that.
But when he looks up at Kirishima, he sees curious eyes pinned on him. There’s a patient smile on his face and Kaminari realizes Kirishima’s story must’ve been over a while ago.
“What?” He says.
Kirishima shrugs, looking a little flustered by his own question. But there’s an eager gleam in his eyes.
“I don’t know man, love is like the last thing Bakugou ever wants to talk about. So I just thought I’d ask.”
Kirishima is being so genuine, Kaminari chokes on his spit.
“Do you hear the words you're putting together?” He gawks, “Bakugou on a date? With me? Are you crazy?!”
Kirishima’s smile turns so bright, it’s almost blinding. Sero props himself up on his round elbows, piqued by curiosity and taken aback by Kamianri’s response.
“It wasn’t a date,” Denki quickly defends, unsettled by the way Kirishima’s expression seems all-knowing. He’s astonished that he’d even contemplate the idea.
“I don’t know man,” Sero chimes in, “It kind of seems like a date now that I think about it. You guys literally went to the city together, took photos at the beach, got food that he paid for -”
“Because I didn’t have my wallet!” Kaminari squeaks.
“And when you guys came back into the dorms, you walked in the way Jirou and Yaoyorozu do,” Sero continues and then laces his fingers together as a visual aid for his final point, “All strung together.”
Denki wrinkles his nose. “What does that even mean?”
But Kirishima seems to know, nodding along.
The temperature in the room becomes sweltering, heat turning Kaminari’s cheeks pink. His hand squeezes at the rock he’s been fiddling with.
“You guys are literally insane,” He says.
“Do you like him?” Kirishima asks, smile pulling into a smirk because Denki’s face nearly matches the color of Kirishima’s hair.
“I like everybody,” Denki deflects. He is certain that this is the worst conversation he has ever had with his friends. Wait - why didn’t he just say no?
“True, Kaminari could turn doing anything with anyone into a date,” Sero says.
“Exactly,” Kaminari sighs with relief, willing his heart to stop thrumming in his chest, “I’m irresistible like that.”
Sero throws a pillow at his face. The topic is forgotten for the moment, at least by Sero and Kirishima. They fall into conversation about something else but Denki doesn’t pay any attention. He slides onto his back, and holds the smooth rock out above him. His heart races as he thinks about the train and the market, the rain and the sand.