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Denki was wandering around the school jamming to pre quirk era rock music. His friend Jirou had just turned him onto a band from late 20th/early 21st century called AC/DC and they were fucking amazing! Pretty much everything had been amazing at UA, sure the attack at the USJ had been scary as all hell, but he got to know Jirou and Yaomomo through it. Aizawa was a tough teacher but clearly he cared about all of them. Why else would he let himself get beat to hell like that? And then there was his crazy awesome new girlfriend, Mina, who he had a date with later today, and that wicked smart quirkless kid from the Support Course, Midoriya, that he’d befriended during the Sports Festival… Who was currently standing on the edge of the rooftop.
Denki took a sharp breath and pulled out his earbuds. “Um, h-hey Midoriya! Wh-wh-why are you standing so close to the edge man?”
“Because I’m going to jump Kaminari.” Midoriya answered, his voice sounding hollow.
“May I ask why?” Denki replied.
His mind was racing with thoughts. Should he leave? Maybe get someone better to talk Midoriya down? What if Midoriya jumped once his back was turned? Maybe he could use his quirk to make Midoriya’s muscles lock up so he couldn’t jump? Midoriya was without his usual red sneakers, but what if making him seize up made Midoriya fall over? Then Denki would be a murderer! Heroes can’t murder peo-
Denki’s storm of thoughts were cut off by Midoriya letting a defeated sigh. “I really thought I could make it Denki.”
“What do you mean?”
“I thought if I did well enough at the Sports Festival I could get into the hero course, but then it was just my luck-“ Midoriya started to cry. “I got matched up with the brain washer and he literally apologized to me to use his quirk on me and then he made me walk out of the ring. I was doomed from the start. I didn’t even come close to being a hero. I let everybody down. I failed.”
Kaminari was at a loss for words. A loss like that would’ve been tough for anyone but for a quirkless kid who otherwise could never get into the hero course, that had to sting.
“Midoriya…” Denki trailed off. Still no words. “You’re still a person! You still matter man! Even if you can’t be a hero, you can still help people with your support equipment.” There. Those were words. Hopefully good ones.
Midoriya shook his head. “You wouldn’t get it.”
“Then explain it to me! Please!” Denki pleaded.
“Do you have any idea what it’s like to never be seen as someone strong? Or worthy? Or durable? Everyone in my life since I was 4 treated me like I was either made of glass or like I was the scum of the earth. My mom still treats me like a strong wind could blow me away and my best friend in the world abandoned me and called me worthless every day of our lives after I got my diagnosis. This was my one chance to show everyone that I can stand on my own and be strong and that I can help people! But I lost and now I realize this is just the way it is. This is all I am. This is all I’ll ever be.”
Denki nodded. “I’m not gonna lie, you’re making a lot of sense and I get why you’d think there’s no point in going on, but I don’t think you’re right. You’re a support technician and a fucking awesome at that. I remember talking with you, Todoroki, and Yaomomo after we won the cavalry battle, the three of us were legitimately scared you could beat us with your gear. I know it sounds kind of crappy now but we were breathing a big sigh of relief when Shinso just made you walk out of the ring.”
The electric quirk user let out a sheepish laugh at the memory but stopped when he noticed Midoriya’s body stiffen. Like he was summoning the courage to actually jump. Oh man he hoped he accidentally convinced to him to jump!
“You’ll be a great hero Denki Kaminari. You, Momo, Shoto, Kyoka, Mina, you’ll all be better heroes than I ever would’ve been even with a quirk.” Izuku said softly.
“No!” Denki shouted, starting to run before thinking better of it. He’d either startle his friend and he’d fall off anyway or he’d get carried away and end up tackling the both of them off the ledge. “Midoriya- Izuku, please please please don’t do this! There are so many people who love you, so many people who-“
“They’re better off without me.”
“No they’re not! I mean think about Todoroki, he was inspired to use his fire because of you! You went on and on about how cool it was to have fire and ice powers and he said he wouldn’t use his fire because it was Endeavor’s quirk, and you just looked at him confused and said ‘But it’s not his quirk, it’s yours.’ And then he used his fire against Bakugo and won! You made Todoroki better! You made me better by telling me how to adjust my quirk’s output, by making me realize I can do more than just give it all or nothing. And even beyond that, think about how your mom is gonna feel, you’re gonna crush her. Think about Hatsume, I know you like her, are you sure you wanna jump without ever shooting your shot with her?”
Izuku actually paused at that. “Do you think she’d go for a quirkless guy like me?”
“Why not? You’re the smartest guy I ever met, you’re good looking, you’re more jacked than any fifteen year old kid has any right to be, and you’re really sensitive! Chicks dig that! They like guys who aren’t afraid to express themselves, you know?”
Izuku started to slide his foot back like he was going to step away but then moved it right back causing Denki’s heart rise and then sink.
“I’m not good enough for someone as amazing as Mei Hatsume.”
What did he have to do?
“Why do you think you’re not good enough? You’re the star of the support course! Any other support student would give up their quirks just to be you! Fuck being a hero! With your gear, you’ll probably end up saving more people in a day than most actual heroes will in a year!”
Izuku didn’t answer but he shifted his feet back and forth. Denki suddenly felt like he was a life guard and Izuku had grabbed onto his life preserver. Now he just had to reel him in.
“I gotta tell you man, I’m really hungry, why don’t you step away from the ledge and we can all get some pizza. You, me, Mina, maybe Hatsume too if you like. What do you say man?”
Izuku stood still. “Did you mean what you said?”
“About the pizza or about you saving people with your equipment? Because I absolutely meant both.”
“My support equipment. Do you really think I’ll save that many people with it?”
I’ll. I will. Not I could. Come on, Denki he’s almost home!
“Abso-freaking-lutely I do!”
Midoriya nodded, took a deep breath, and then took a step back. Denki wanted to tackle his crazy friend to the ground in pure relief but he held back. They weren’t on the shore yet.
Izuku then turned around to face Denki and he finally got a good look at the quirkless boy’s face. His eyes were red and puffy from crying but he was smiling, it was wobbly and looked apologetic but it was absolutely there.
“I’m so sorry Denki.” Izuku whimpered, starting to walk towards Kaminari.
Kaminari finally abandoned his caution and wrapped his friend in a big hug. “It’s okay man. It’s okay.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
“Thank you so much. I promise I won’t do that again.”
“You don’t have to promise that, just promise to call me the next time you’re feeling that way. Just promise to come talk to me or call me and I promise I’ll listen to you. Okay?”
“Okay.”
After that the boys quietly walked down the stairs after that. They found Mei, who Izuku quickly asked out, and she immediately said yes. They then found Mina, who Denki asked about doing a double date, and she immediately said yes too. On their way home, both boys separately explained to their respective dates what they’d been up to earlier leading both girls to text the other boy.
Mei: Thank you ❤️
Denki: You’re welcome ❤️
Mina: You are loved and you are special ❤️
Izuku: I know that now, thank you ❤️
Calls between Izuku and Denki were far from uncommon but they happened less and less often as their time at UA went on until it was Denki calling Izuku because he was nervous about graduating. Denki eventually became a great hero in his own right, even reaching the rank of Number 10, but in Izuku’s world, ChargeBolt would always be the number one hero for saving him from himself.