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It was around second year when they started dating. Kaminari was over the moon—Shinsou had finally agreed to date him officially! Kaminari had been chasing Shinsou for months, but Shinsou had been too buried in studies and training, trying to prove he deserved a place in Class 1A—and he did! By second year, he was finally placed in Class 2A. (Mineta got expelled.)
Small dates at cafés, secret meetings in dorms—Kaminari took every possible chance to be around Shinsou. Shinsou, though reluctant at first, went to all the dates anyway. He had a hard time opening up to people, but deep down, he knew he could trust Kaminari. The boy would never hurt him. He was cute, adorable, very electrifying—maybe a little dumb. Shinsou didn’t mind it… until the day Aizawa caught both him and Kaminari in Shinsou’s dorm room and, surprisingly, asked Kaminari to join them for a family dinner.
Kaminari was scared shitless. His boyfriend’s father—well, adoptive father—or rather, his homeroom teacher (the bigger issue), had asked him to dinner. Kaminari knew he had fucked up when he got caught in Shinsou’s dorm. He should’ve listened to his gut and stayed in his own room. But oh well. Kaminari and rules never blended well.
He had combed his hair again and again, rehearsed his greeting ten different times, picked out the brightest flowers, and wore his cleanest, neatest outfit—one he saved for special occasions. The walk to the Aizawa residence was slow and painful. He kept overanalyzing everything—
What if Aizawa-sensei gives me ten million yen to leave Hitoshi??Nah, that only happens in dramas. Damn Mina for hooking me on those.Wait... what if he expels me? Surely he won’t... I’m obviously one of his favorite students… or maybe not… What if he shoots me—OUCH!
Kaminari’s head hit something solid. He yelped, rubbing his forehead as he looked up at the wooden door in front of him. A silver nameplate read:
Shouta Aizawa, Hizashi Yamada, Shinsou Aizawa, Eri Aizawa.
His heartbeat accelerated as he took a deep breath. Everything will be fine, he told himself as he rang the doorbell.
After a few moments, Aizawa opened the door with an expression Kaminari couldn’t quite place—but it terrified the shit out of him.
“Hi! Uh, G-Good evening, Aizawa-sensei! I’m honored that—oh—” Before Kaminari could finish, Aizawa shut the door on his face. Kaminari’s shoulders slumped as he sighed.
“Shouta! Why did you do that???” Kaminari heard a muffled voice behind the door, followed by approaching footsteps. The door flung open.
“WELCOME, YOUNG LISTENER! Come in! Sorry about Shouta—he usually doesn’t throw such a fit!” Present Mic said with his usual volume and flair. It wasn’t a secret that Aizawa and Yamada were dating, but seeing them as literal husbands? Still weird. Especially seeing his gloomy homeroom teacher score someone so… opposite to him. Well, lucky him—Present Mic happened to be his favorite teacher, and English his favorite subject!
Kaminari nodded, offering a polite smile as he stepped inside. The house was warmly decorated, with little scribbles on the walls(probably by Eri).
“Kaminari-kun!!!” a small, cheerful voice called out.
Eri came rushing toward him, her eyes sparkling when she saw the flowers. Kaminari smiled brightly as he handed them to her.
“For me???” Eri asked.
Kaminari nodded.
“Thank you!!” Eri beamed, hugging him before dashing off into one of the rooms.
“Denki,” another voice called out—gentle, familiar. Shinsou.
“Hitoshi,” Kaminari responded.
“Mmhm, first-name basis, I see!” Yamada said with a knowing smile, motioning for them to follow him to the dining table. Shinsou placed a hand on Kaminari’s shoulder as they walked together, and Kaminari awkwardly sat beside him at the table. Aizawa sat across, directly in front of Kaminari.
Now, Kaminari was used to Aizawa’s drowsy, judgmental eyes in class—but this was different. He was glaring at him. Kaminari fidgeted, squirming on his chair under Aizawa's death glare.
“Don’t pay him any attention! He’s just a little more cranky than usual,” Yamada said, helping Eri set the flowers in a vase at the center of the table.
Kaminari let out an awkward, half-assed chuckle. He looked like he was sitting at gunpoint.
After a few minutes, dinner was served and they began eating. The tension in the room was so thick it could be cut with a knife.
“When did you both start seeing each other?” Aizawa asked out of nowhere.
“Since two months, Sensei!” Kaminari blurted immediately.
Even Shinsou looked surprised. Did he not remember? They had celebrated their two-month anniversary—well, Kaminari did, with cake and gifts.
“Ok,” Aizawa said, going back to his food. The tension didn’t let up. Kaminari could feel Shinsou getting more nervous beside him.
“Sooo… who confessed first?” Yamada asked, clearly trying to shift the mood.
“U-Uh, I did!” Kaminari said.
It was the last day of their first year, just before everyone had to head home for the end-of-session break. Kaminari had been dropping hints all year, but he finally gave in to the relentless teasing from the Bakusquad (*ahem* Mina *ahem* Sero) and confessed. Luckily, Shinsou had accepted, replying with a quiet, "me too." His face hadn’t shown much emotion, but his ears had definitely turned red. Kaminari had found it so adorable.
Not wanting to overstep Shinsou’s boundaries, he had placed a gentle kiss on his cheek.
"See you soon, Sleepyhead!" Kaminari had called out, waving energetically as he rushed toward a bus.
God, how red he’d been back then. It was also the first time he saw Shinsou smile at him.
He smiled to himself, remembering that moment as he took another bite of food.
Almost at the end of dinner, Eri asked, “Are you guys going to get married?”
Kaminari choked on his food immediately, coughing and wheezing while Shinsou whisper-yelled, “Eri, no!” and looked between his dad and Kaminari in horror. Yamada quickly passed a glass of water, which Kaminari gratefully took. After a few sips, he recovered.
“Why do you think you’re worthy of dating my son?” Aizawa asked suddenly. Seriously, what was with this family and their out-of-pocket questions?
Kaminari stared at him like a deer in headlights. He wanted to answer, but his tongue was tied.
“Shouta! Really? What’s gotten into you today? Young Listener, you don’t have to answer that,” Yamada cut in.
“Why not? I need to know what he sees in him,” Aizawa insisted.
“Shouta—!”
“Sensei, I-I really love your son... e-ever since I first saw him,” Kaminari said, gathering his courage. “He’s a very diligent, hardworking man, and he inspires me every day. I learn a lot from him, and I’ll do my best to keep him happy.”
“Love is a strong word, don’t you think?” Aizawa replied, calm but cutting. “You say he inspires you, but your grades don’t come close to his. You still struggle to manage your quirk. Shinsou has already mastered his and worked his way to Class A. Can you really keep up with that?”
“I-I uh... sorry, Sensei… uh...” Kaminari glanced at Shinsou for help, but Shinsou had his head down, lost in thought. Was he regretting this already? Panic and anxiety surged.
“I will do better this year, Sensei!” Kaminari blurted.
“Easier said than done,” Aizawa replied.
"Shouta, don’t be rude," Yamada said with a sigh, completely ignored as usual.
Aizawa was especially protective when it came to Shinsou. Knowing the boy’s past, he was cautious about who Shinsou let into his life. And now that he had a boyfriend? Aizawa needed to be sure this wasn’t some fleeting game—he couldn’t bear to see Shinsou’s heart broken.
He did see potential in Kaminari, but the boy had a lot of work to do. Still, maybe this situation could be used to everyone's advantage. If Kaminari took this seriously—if he started focusing more on his training, on his classes—maybe Aizawa could finally entrust his two problem children to one another.
"Sir, I’ll try anything to prove myself!" Kaminari said, determination flashing in his eyes.
"Hmm." Aizawa’s gaze narrowed. "I expect significant improvement in your quirk management. And I want to see at least B’s on your quizzes, and hopefully an A on your next test. Can you do that?"
Kaminari was never great at following instructions, five minutes into a lesson and he was already daydreaming. And his quirk... yeah, he really did need to get that under control.
But now? He had made up his mind. He was ready to change—not just for Shinsou, but for himself. He wasn’t about to give up on this relationship. Not without a fight.
"Okay. Deal," Kaminari said firmly.
Even Present Mic looked shocked. Sure, Kaminari had straight A’s in English—he really did—but other subjects? That was another story. Yamada knew his student well. This was going to be a massive challenge.
"Good," Aizawa said with finality. "Until then, you shouldn’t meet Shinsou in his dorm, or vice versa."
"Dad—"
"No." That single word shut Shinsou down instantly.
Kaminari looked over at him. Shinsou’s expression had fallen, and truthfully, so had his own. This wasn’t going to be easy. He was barely scraping by each semester. The fear of failure—of getting expelled—hung heavy over his head.
"...Okay," Kaminari said quietly.
"Denki, I—"
"It’s okay, Hitoshi." Kaminari gave him a bright smile, even if it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "I’ll prove I’m worthy of you."
Shinsou sighed.
And with that, dinner came to an end.
Shinsou walked Kaminari to the door, pausing just long enough to mumble a soft, "Sorry."
Kaminari gave him a reassuring smile. "It’s not your fault. Good night, Hitoshi."
And with that, he walked away—heart heavy, but his mind set. He had a goal now. A reason to try harder than he ever had before.
______________________________________
'D' — a freaking D is what Kaminari scored on Aizawa's pop-up test. After hours and hours of reading, solving, underlining until his eyes burned, a D was all he could manage. The disappointed look on Aizawa’s face… the dejected expression Shinsou wore... Everything felt so damn frustrating.
He couldn’t even bring himself to apologise to Shinsou that day. He’d really wanted to—desperately, even—to tell him he’d tried. That he had put in the effort. But before he could gather the nerve, class was over. And just like he promised, he didn’t, or rather couldn’t go to Shinsou’s dorm. They didn’t go to each other’s dorms anymore. It was all just so fucking frustrating.
Soon enough, a week later, Ectoplasm was set to take a math quiz. This time, Kaminari doubled down. He worked even harder that entire week, spending hours holed up in the library, poring over textbooks, scribbling equations, pushing himself to make sense of it all. But the numbers and letters irritated the shit out of him. They kept floating away from him. His mind kept wandering, attention slipping through his fingers like sand.
Still, he tried. Slapped his cheeks. Splashed cold water on his face. Switched off his phone and left it in his dorm. He did everything he could to focus.
But everything else seemed so much more interesting than these goddamn numbers and letters. Sin, cos, tan, integrals—where the hell would he even need these when he was fighting villains? WHY would he need to find 'x' in the middle of a life-or-death situation?! His frustration reached a boiling point. There was just so much and now he couldn’t even remember the last question he’d solved.
He’d tried taking notes, sure—but when he looked at them now, they were nothing but scribbles. Absolute gibberish. Nothing made sense anymore.
“Oi, Dunce Face! Drink some water and get some rest or else you’ll fry your damn brain!” a gruff voice cut through his spiral.
Bakugou.
His #4 bestie—that’s what Kaminari liked to call him.(Bakugou glares but never denies.)
Kaminari blinked at him in shock.
“Didn’t you hear me? The library’s about to close. Go get some rest, idiot,” Bakugou huffed, stomping off. Aww, that tsundere!! Kaminari mentally smiled, too drained to even twitch his facial muscles. He really, really needed a break.
Dragging himself back to his dorm, he finally turned on his phone. No missed calls. He checked his messages.
No sign of Shinsou.
His face fell. Deep down, he didn’t know what he was expecting—Shinsou was never the one to start a conversation. It had always been him.
After dinner, Kaminari barely made it to bed before passing out cold.
He really did fry his brain.
The next morning, he woke up late. Really late. And of all classes to be late to—it had to be Aizawa’s.Of course.The side-eye Aizawa shot him as he walked in was enough to make him weak in the knees.
“Sorry, sensei,” Kaminari muttered quickly, scurrying to his seat.
“Good morning, Hitoshi!” he greeted the taller boy beside him.
Shinsou gave a small nod. “Sensei gave us an assignment. Solve it,” he said simply, handing over a copy he’d already picked up for Kaminari.
“Thank you!” Kaminari smiled, taking it with relief.
Minutes passed. Kaminari was struggling. He remembered Aizawa going over this just yesterday—but he couldn’t recall any of it clearly. His brain felt like static. Outside the window, traffic passed by, birds flew in perfect formation, and leaves played with the gentle breeze—and somehow, all of that felt way more enticing than the piece of paper in front of him.
“Time’s up,” Aizawa suddenly declared.
Kaminari panicked.
Already?! He had barely touched a handful of questions. He tried to scrawl out an answer or two more, but Aizawa was already standing at his desk, hand outstretched.
With dread pooling in his chest, Kaminari handed it over slowly.
Aizawa took one glance at it and shook his head.
Kaminari looked at Shinsou—only to see him looking down at his feet, probably out of shame. Aizawa moved on to collect Shinsou’s paper.
Kaminari hated it.
Hated not meeting expectations. Hated making others feel ashamed because of him. Hated himself.
Why couldn’t he have worked harder? Why didn’t he try more? Why was he like this? The questions kept on hammering in his head.
Kaminari had barely passed a few more quizzes. Shinsou seemed to be avoiding him in classes now, too. They barely talked during lunch. Kaminari could feel a void forming between him and Shinsou—and it was growing bigger and bigger.
Every family dinner was hell for Shinsou. If Kaminari ever came up, the conversation would become awkward as hell. Aizawa would sometimes throw scrutinizing glances at Shinsou, and all Shinsou could do was look down.
Did Kaminari actually mean what he said back then? Or was it just to impress his father? Was Kaminari really willing to try for him, or was it just a game to him? Shinsou really needed Aizawa's approval—he meant a lot to him. But now he felt trapped between his dad’s expectations and Kaminari’s underperformance. He hated this pressure. He hated being put in such an awkward position with his family all because of…
Kaminari's gut instincts had never been wrong. He could feel Shinsou slipping away. They had just started dating for God's sake!
Why couldn't they just date like normal teenagers? Why did he have to prove so much? Why couldn't they see that he was trying his best? Why was he never enough?
Kaminari had started losing sleep over studying, even skipping meals here and there just to cram in the library. Hours spent fiddling with books left his eyes aching. He was afraid of studying now. He hated it. And his quirk? It had done nothing but wear him down even more. His coordination was shot. He just felt too exhausted. His short circuits had gotten so bad they left faint, electrified scars all over his body—faint enough not to be noticed by others. He had been isolating himself from his friends, hardly going out with them anymore, if at all.
He was determined to prove himself worthy. This wasn’t just for Shinsou or Aizawa anymore—he needed to prove to himself that he was still capable of becoming a hero.
The self-doubt and overthinking had dug their claws in deep.
The Bakusquad had noticed. Their friend, suddenly obsessed with studying, was completely out of character. No more hangouts. No more jokes. It was as if he was a walking corpse.
The eyebags under his eyes were huge. He looked weaker than ever. They had been looking for him and thanks to Bakugou, they finally found him in the library.
"God, dude, you look like a zombie!," Sero said, concerned, as he sat across from him.
"I told you to take rest, dunce face!" Even Bakugou yelled—concerned.
"Guys, it's nothing really!" Kaminari said with a half-assed smile.
"Denks, tell us what's wrong—we can help you!" Mina said, concern etched in her voice.
"Guys, I’m fine! Just overworked myself a little bit…",well, Kaminari wasn’t entirely lying.
"Let’s just hang out at the dorms today," Kirishima insisted.
"No... I can't... I really need to ace the mid-semester exams!" Kaminari said defensively.
"Kaminari, what's wrong? Did that insomniac say something to you?" Bakugou asked, suddenly way more serious. Whenever he used your actual name, you knew he was being dead serious. Bakugou wasn’t dumb. He had caught on. Kaminari had been over the moon ever since he and Shinsou started dating, but ever since that dinner at the Aizawa residence, it was like all the life had been sucked out of him.
"No! It's not his fault! Aizawa told me to prove myself worthy of him. I need to score higher and get a hold over my quirk ASAP. I think I’m running out of time," Kaminari said, his face drooping.
"What bullshit is that?!" Mina spoke louder this time."You are worthy enough for Shinsou. Maybe even wayyyyy better. Has he ever done anything for you? Has he ever taken you on dates, given you gifts? It’s always you who’s giving—but never receiving, Kami!"Okay, Mina might had been a bit too loud for a library. The librarian was glaring at all of them. But in Mina’s defense, she was not about to just sit there and watch her best friend descend into depression. Hell nah!
They excused themselves (mainly Kirishima spilling apologies) and headed to the common room in the dorms.Kaminari felt a strange ease as his back touched the sofa. His whole body melted into it. He could have passed out right then and there.
"See? You're really worked up, Kami! You need to sleep for two days straight! Not even Tenya studies this much!" Sero exclaimed.
"Not now, Sero," Jirou said, her eyes fixed on Kaminari’s face. She had been silently observing him—and he was way too far gone from his usual self. The signs were alarming.
Wish I was as smart as Iida, Kaminari mentally sighed.
"Wanna play Super Smash Bros?" Kirishima suggested, trying to break the tension.
"Yea, please. I can’t think anymore!" Kaminari said.
Kaminari had fallen into an old rhythm—playing and joking with his friends, forgetting all his worries for a short period of time. He could still feel their concerned glances, especially when he drowsed off mid-game, but he stayed persistent.It had been a month—or maybe more.
He needed this.
Time passed, and soon, Kaminari saw Shinsou walk into the common room. Their eyes met. Guilt hit Kaminari all over again.
Maybe I should’ve just stayed in my dorm and studied.
Shinsou looked... distant? Irritated? Did he hate him?
Before Kaminari could say anything, Shinsou headed straight toward his dorm.
"Hey guys, I’m feeling really sleepy right now—Imma dip!" Kaminari said, excusing himself.
His friends seemed okay with it. They were just glad he was finally getting some rest—and let him go for the day.
Kaminari rushed behind Shinsou, stopping him just as he was about to enter his dorm.
"Hitoshi!"
"What do you want, Kaminari?"
*Ouch. What happened to the first-name basis?*
"You haven’t been replying to my texts! We haven’t even talked properly this week—the one before, and the one before that—"
"What do you want, Kaminari?" Shinsou asked again, his tone seemingly… annoyed?
"Do I need a reason to talk to my boyfriend? I miss you!"
"You still have time to hang out with your friends, even though your grades keep dropping," Shinsou remarked coldly.
"You didn’t have to bring that up! I am trying, you know!" Kaminari said, hurt.
"Actually, I don’t! I don’t see it. You say you’re trying—but are you really? Your performance has been consistently low. So tell me, Denki, just how much are you trying?"
"W-What? I’m getting Cs now! Isn’t that good?" Kaminari said, his voice beginning to break.
"No, Denki, no! You need to do better! Was that whole dinner just a performance for you? Because it sure didn’t seem like you were actually ready to change. Seriously—hanging out with your friends is all you do!" Shinsou's voice rose. "I can’t cover up for you anymore!"
"Then don’t!"
"What?"
"Don’t cover up for me. You don’t owe me anything."
"Wait, Denki, I didn’t mean—"
"What do you know about me, Hitoshi?" Kaminari asked softly, his exhaustion and frustration spilling over. "What’s my favorite color?"
"Why does that matter now?" Shinsou asked, getting frustrated.
"What is my favorite color, Hitoshi?" Kaminari repeated, his voice cracking.
"I... uhm... yellow?"
"No. It’s purple."
"Seriously, you’re gonna do this now—"
"What’s my favorite food?"
"Why are you—"
"You don’t know."
"What?"
"You don’t know," Kaminari repeated, quieter now, almost to himself.
Suddenly, Mina’s words echoed in his mind. Shinsou never initiated anything. Never called. Never gave gifts. Never compromised. Kaminari had given everything. Tried—tried for over a year. What did he owe Shinsou? Did Shinsou even care enough to know how he was doing? Where he was?
Kaminari spiraled, tears welling in his eyes.
"How would you know when you never even cared about me! You only ever see my grades—never my effort! The one time—the one damn time—I hang out with my friends, you find fault in that too. You think I’m at fault for everything, don’t you? You think I’m fucking dumb, huh?" Kaminari cried out, his eyes red and puffy. He looked at Shinsou, hoping—just hoping—that he’d deny it, say he wasn’t dumb. But no… nothing. No reply.
Kaminari let out a dry chuckle. He had his answer.
"Had you paid any attention to me, you would’ve known how hard I worked. I know I did. I gave my everything—but it’s never enough. Not for you. Not for anyone. Not once did you try to help me. Not once did you talk to me, really talk. You just… left me. Alone..." Kaminari whispered, broken.
Shinsou’s heart clenched. He had never seen Kaminari cry like this. Never. It hurt—really hurt—to see him like that. He opened his mouth to speak, to apologize, but before he could—
"This is over. I’m done. I’ll never be smart enough for you. Let alone be a hero. I can’t. I’m sorry for wasting your time."
"Denki, please—"
"Shinsou. We’re done here." Kaminari’s voice was hoarse, barely holding itself together. His eyes were still wet as he wiped his tears with the back of his hand and turned to walk toward his dorm.
Shinsou stood there, dumbfounded.
It was like when Kaminari first confessed—a soft kiss, and then he had run away as Shinsou stood stunned.
But this time, Kaminari wasn’t running away.
He was walking away forever.
And Shinsou couldn’t stop him.
Kaminari felt dizzy as he entered his dorm. His head throbbed painfully. He collapsed onto his bed and shut his eyes.
It was just like middle school again.
"Kaminari is not doing well in classes. At this rate, he’ll be held back a year."
"What’s wrong with you? Why can’t you be like the other normal kids?"
"Why don’t you try harder?"
"A dumbass like you becoming a hero? Joke of the year—no, the century!"
"How can you not get it? This is so simple! Are you that stupid?"
"No no no, I’m trying, please stop," Kaminari mumbled in his sleep. His heart ached as tears rolled down his cheeks. But slowly, the pain faded. Darkness took over as he drifted into oblivion.
The day after the messy breakup, Kaminari didn’t show up to class.
Aizawa had already been noticing Kaminari’s gradual deterioration. Even in class, he wasn’t his usual self—no jokes, no interruptions, no spark. And yesterday, when Shinsou came back home instead of staying at the dorms, Aizawa had suspected they might’ve fought. Initially, he was angry at Kaminari for hurting his son, especially since Shinsou refused to open up about it. But seeing Kaminari absent now... he was more worried than mad.
The Bakusquad was worried sick. They didn’t know about the breakup(it had happened on the second floor)but they had seen Shinsou rush out of the dorms with no explanation.
Now, they glanced at him in class, noting how his eyes lingered longingly on Kaminari’s empty seat.
Did he have something to do with Denki’s absence? They wondered.
After classes ended, they all rushed to Kaminari’s dorm and knocked on the door.
"Kami! Open the door!" Mina called. No reply.
"Kamibro??" Sero shouted. Still nothing.
They knocked a few more times, harder. "Wake up, Dunce Face!" Bakugou shouted. No response.
Now truly worried, they exchanged anxious glances. Kirishima panicked, punching the door open, while trying to knock it.
The sight inside would haunt them for a long time.
"DENKI!" Kirishima yelled as he rushed to the bed. Kaminari laid there, unconscious.
"Oh god—I need to get Aizawa-sensei now!" Mina gasped, staring at Kaminari’s almost lifeless form.
The commotion echoed through the dorm halls. Students from the entire floor began gathering outside.
"I’ll take him to the infirmary!" Iida declared from the doorway. Sero quickly filled him in on the situation as he let him inside. When Iida stepped into the room and lifted Kaminari up, that’s when Shinsou, peeking from the crowd, finally saw him.
How pale he looked. How beat up.
Shinsou felt his own tears sting the corners of his eyes. He took a hesitant step forward, wanting to get closer, but something or rather someone stopped him.
"Don’t even dare get near him." Bakugou’s voice was low and furious. "Grow a spine before you even think about talking to him again."
He stormed after Iida, who was already headed toward the infirmary, carrying Kaminari.
Shinsou didn’t move.
He couldn’t.
______________________________________
It had been two hours since the entire incident. Kaminari was now in a much more stable condition in the infirmary. Recovery Girl had taken care of him. Aizawa had been pacing outside the room nonstop. This was all his fault, wasn’t it? He should have done something when he first noticed the signs. Why had he let it go?
“Aizawa… Aizawa!” Recovery Girl called out, snapping him from his thoughts.
“I need to talk to you,” she said, her tone firm and expression stern.
Aizawa nodded and followed her into her office.
“Take a seat,” she instructed. He obeyed, settling into the chair beside her.
“How many times have I told you not to overwork your students? They are teenagers, for God’s sake!” she scolded. “Look at that poor soul. He worked way harder than he should have. He was this close to a quirk malfunction. You, of all people, know how deadly that can be. He has lightning scars all over his body—not to mention he looks malnourished!” Her voice rose with every word, and Aizawa was stunned into silence.
Was he really that close to losing Kaminari? Had he truly been so blind? Since when had he become this careless?
Was this about Kaminari’s qualifications—about him being Shinsou’s boyfriend?
Was that why Kaminari pushed himself so hard?
A wave of guilt crashed over him. He should have listened to Yamada. He should have just let them be.
“I… I’m sorry. This is my fault.”
“Of course it is,” Recovery Girl snapped. “They’re under your responsibility. You’re supposed to look after them—each of them. Nothing excuses this!”
“I… understand. Is he stable now?” Aizawa asked, his voice low.
“Yes. But he needs to eat more, drink lots of water, and sleep at least eight hours a day. He needs proper rest. The less stress he experiences, the better,” Recovery Girl stated.
Aizawa gave a quiet nod, mentally noting every instruction. He left the office, heading straight to his students. He’d already ordered everyone back to the dorms—he didn’t want them crowding the infirmary. They could take turns visiting starting tomorrow, since it was the weekend.
Aizawa quietly stepped into the infirmary room where Kaminari lay resting. He took a seat beside the bed. Now that he saw him up close, the faint scars near his collarbone stood out. His eye bags were deep and dark, and his skin looked paler than usual. The light inside Kaminari had been dimmed—and Aizawa could do nothing but blame himself.
“S… Sensei? Is that you?” Kaminari’s weak voice reached him as his eyes fluttered open.
“Yes, Kaminari…” Aizawa replied gently, adjusting the chair so he could meet his gaze.
“I… I’m sorry,” Kaminari whispered, his voice strained and drained.
“Don’t be. You did nothing wrong, Kaminari.”
“But I failed. I couldn’t do this any longer. The more I try, the less I achieve. I couldn’t meet my own expectations—let alone Shinsou’s… I don’t think I’m fit for this program either… I should be expelled—” Kaminari began to ramble.
“Breathe. Kaminari, breathe,” Aizawa said softly. Kaminari paused and followed his instruction, forcing himself to take a shaky breath.
“I don’t think I’m fit to be a hero,” he murmured between breaths.
“No. You’re wrong. So wrong. You deserve to be a hero, just like all your classmates. You earned your spot here. I’m the one who should be sorry—for pushing you too hard, for not helping you the way I should’ve. You did nothing wrong.”
Kaminari took another trembling breath. His vision blurred as the tears returned.
He needed this. He needed this confirmation—this approval—more than anything.
“I will help you, Kaminari. You are not going to be expelled,” Aizawa said, gently patting his arm.That was all he needed. Kaminari let the tears fall freely, crying his heart out.
Aizawa leaned forward, and Kaminari clung to him, burying his face in his teacher’s chest as he sobbed. Aizawa patted his back—silently, gently—the first adult to ever truly understand him.
After a few minutes, Kaminari finally let go.
“We do not talk about this,” Aizawa said, clearly referring to the unexpected show of affection.
“Aye aye, Captain,” Kaminari rasped, giving a loose salute with a hand over his forehead.
“You get some sleep today. We’ll escort you back to your dorm tomorrow,” Aizawa said. Kaminari nodded and drifted off almost instantly. He was just that exhausted.
Aizawa waited a little longer before quietly leaving the room and heading toward the dorm building. As soon as he stepped into the common room, he was met by the Bakusquad visibly distressed. Kirishima was teary-eyed, being consoled by Izuku. Bakugou, oddly silent, had a red tint at the corners of his eyes. Sero sat gripping the Pikachu plushie Kaminari had once gifted him, staring at it as if willing it to speak. Mina was crying hysterically, and Ochako held her hand, trying to calm her. Jirou sat in the corner, face buried in her hands.
“Sensei is here,” Momo announced the moment she noticed him.Immediately, the entire Bakusquad stood and rushed toward Aizawa. “How is he, Sensei?” Mina asked, her voice shaky.
“He’s doing fine now. He’s resting. He’ll be back tomorrow,” Aizawa assured them.
Everyone visibly relaxed at the news.
Excusing himself, Aizawa walked to Kaminari’s dorm.There, he spotted Shinsou standing at the door, just staring at it, completely lost in thought. He didn’t even notice Aizawa approaching.
“You can come in,” Aizawa said. Shinsou jumped at the sudden voice, startled out of his daze. His eyes met his father’s. Aizawa had already stepped inside the room, with Shinsou trailing behind, quietly sitting on the bed.
Aizawa was looking through Kaminari's study table. A few books were scattered across its surface. He took a seat and carefully examined each notebook and textbook Kaminari had used. He had indeed attempted all the exercises—but there were a lot of mistakes. Aizawa noticed how Kaminari had rewritten answers multiple times, filling page after page with corrections. As he flipped through the notebooks, he realized Kaminari had solved five to six books in his subject alone. Then why... why was he still struggling? What was Aizawa missing?
While scanning further, he came across a torn page, filled with scribbles and ripped in the middle. Maybe this was the point when the frustration kicked in.
When Aizawa turned to Kaminari’s school notebooks, the truth began to unfold. Many of the pages were almost completely empty—just a few lines here and there, followed by scattered scribbles and random drawings. He found a few vague instructions, followed by mqny question marks. Did Kaminari struggle with note-taking? Had he been unable to keep up with the lesson’s pace? Aizawa checked his other subjects, and it was the same—except for English. That notebook was neat and clean, organized with clearly written notes, possibly even better than those of his classmates.
While Aizawa continued his investigation, Shinsou sat silently, lost in his thoughts. He looked around the room. He used to be here so often—until he stopped altogether. Now the space felt hollow, cold. The warmth, the energy, the brightness... it had all been Kaminari. And now, he’d lost him.
Why had he been so distant? So cold? So selfish? Would it have hurt to talk to him—just once? To try and understand him better?
Hamburgers—Kaminari’s favorite food. He loved fast food. Pizza, burgers, hotdogs—and god, did he adore bubblegum ice cream. Why hadn’t Shinsou ever said any of this when it mattered? Why had he stayed silent? Was it guilt? Shame? The regret of an emotional outburst? He owed Kaminari an apology. Kaminari was right, Kaminari owed him nothing. Nothing at all.
Kaminari had done everything for him. Every anniversary, every gift... it had always been him putting in the effort. Why had it taken Shinsou this long to realize he was hurting the person he loved most? If he could turn back time, he’d disobey his dad in a heartbeat, hold Kaminari close and kiss away all his worries. He should’ve stood by him. He should’ve grown a spine.
But it was too late now.
The room was thick with silence. Aizawa, having finished surfing through Kaminari’s materials, now decided to check his student report. He needed to see if there were any registered health conditions or learning disorders—anything he might have missed.
As he stood from the chair, he glanced back at Shinsou, who was still sitting there, lost in his own world.
"You good?" Aizawa asked.
"Am I? I don't think so," Shinsou replied softly.
"He’s better now. He’ll be fine by tomorrow. You can see him then. And... forget about anything I said earlier. I shouldn't have overstepped. I'm sorry," Aizawa admitted.
"He probably doesn’t want to see me anymore. He hates me—like he should," Shinsou said, his voice hollow with guilt.
"Why? What exactly happened?"
"H-he broke up with me. I told him things I never should have! He needed me and I..." Shinsou trailed off.
"Hitoshi, what did you say to him?"
"I... I told him why couldn’t he just try harder... if all this was just a game to him... if he’d promised too much in the heat of the moment. I made him feel small when he was already trying so hard. I didn’t even check in on him. I thought texting would distract him, but I could’ve helped during classes... and I didn’t..." Shinsou’s voice cracked as he vented everything, shaking.
Aizawa listened quietly, disappointment shadowing his features. But deep down, he knew he had played a part in this too. He was supposed to guide them—to build them up—and all he’d done was make things harder. It had been the wrong approach from the beginning. All he could do now was sit beside his son, pat his back, and whisper, Everything will get better.
How did Yamada do it? How was he always so good at comforting people? He really needed Yamada right now.
______________________________________
Kaminari had been on rest ever since moving into the dorms. His squad made sure to keep him company, ensuring he ate all his meals and got enough sleep. Shinsou, meanwhile, kept his distance, choosing to receive updates through Iida—who got them from Sero.
Meanwhile, Aizawa had browsed through the student records, but found no mention of any illness. So, he decided to call Kaminari’s parents in for a meeting in his office. He had also informed them of Kaminari’s current condition and progress.
“How is he? Is he doing better now?” Mrs. Kaminari asked, visibly anxious.
“Yes, he’s doing much better,” Aizawa replied calmly.
“Thank God! Thank you for looking after our son,” Mr. Kaminari sighed, relief washing over his face. “Would that be all?” he asked.
“No,” Aizawa said, his tone shifting slightly. “There’s something else I need to discuss.”
“Sure,” Mr. Kaminari replied.
“It’s about Kaminari’s academic performance—”
“Oh God, not again. I thought he’d stopped being lazy. Is he getting expelled?” Mrs. Kaminari asked abruptly. Aizawa paused. The way they responded—like this was routine—felt off. As if this wasn’t news, but an expected outcome.
“I’m sorry, I don’t follow. Why would I expel him?” Aizawa asked, confused.
“Well, he’s always been like this—throughout middle school. We had to change schools almost every year. His grades just kept declining. He’d lie around all day and never study. Eventually, we got him a tutor—strict and firm. He molded him into a better student. Thanks to that, he got into U.A.,” Mrs. Kaminari said, narrating as if it was a success story.
Molded? Aizawa’s thoughts reeled. What the hell does she mean by that?
“What exactly did his teachers complain about? Any specific behavioural concerns?” he asked, already anticipating the answer.
“They said he often seemed distracted, like he was somewhere else entirely. He never took notes, and he’d crack jokes in class,” Mr. Kaminari replied.
“Before hiring the tutor, did either of you try helping him study yourselves?” Aizawa pressed.
“Yes, I tried,” Mrs. Kaminari said with an exasperated shake of her head. “But he’d forget everything I taught him the very next day. It was frustrating. Sometimes he’d toss his notebooks and books aside, just lay on the bed glued to that damn phone.”
“Did you ever try talking to him? Maybe getting him evaluated?” Aizawa asked, voice more pointed now. “Because after some review and with confirmation from our U.A. health counselor, I believe Kaminari is showing clear signs of ADHD. That condition affects his ability to retain and organize information but—”
“Wait, wait! He doesn’t have ADHD. Our son is normal,” Mr. Kaminari interrupted, defensive.
That one sentence hit Aizawa like a brick. Everything suddenly clicked.
“He is normal. His brain is simply wired differently. With proper support, he can—”
“Our son is not retarded!” Mr. Kaminari snapped. “He’s just lazy. Stop making excuses. My son is not mental.”
That was it. Aizawa had heard enough. His fists clenched under the desk. He was seeing red.
“Excuse me?” Aizawa said, voice dangerously low. “Your son is dealing with a neurodevelopmental condition, and you’d rather pretend he’s just lazy than accept the truth—and in doing so, you’re actively hurting him. ADHD isn’t even classified as a mental illness it is a neurodevelopmental disorder, and the fact that you treat mental health like it’s some curse makes me want to have your parenting practices officially reviewed.”
“You think you know my son better than I do? His tutor—Mr. Kurokawa—he made him a better student, and yes, he had to use some force—”
“Force? You mean more trauma? Forcing your son to function like everyone else instead of helping him in the way he needs? Do you even hear yourself? Kaminari isn’t some wooden toy you can break and remold at will. He needs help—real help!” Aizawa yelled, barely restraining himself from flipping his desk.
“You think you can do better?!” Mr. Kaminari bellowed.
“I know I can,” Aizawa said, voice hard with conviction.
“We’ll see,” Mr. Kaminari snapped, storming out of the office.
“I… I’m sorry… Please take care of him…” Mrs. Kaminari said quietly before following her husband out.
Well. That was a lot. Aizawa slumped back in his chair. He needed a beer. And a full stack of research on ADHD. He was going to help Kaminari rise from this. He was going to make a hero out of that boy—and make Kaminari see he was always so much more than the world ever believed.
Aizawa wasted no time. The moment he got home, he sat down with his laptop.
“Home early? Everything okay?” Yamada asked, poking his head out of the kitchen.
“Yes and no,” Aizawa sighed. “Just found out how ignorant Kaminari’s parents are—and how much that boy’s been suffering.”
“Ahh… those are the hardest cases. Even after years of teaching, some stories still make my blood boil,” Yamada said, leaning against the doorframe.
"I know..." Aizawa replied. He had failed Kaminari once. He wasn’t going to let that happen again.
"How do you do it? How does he do well in your subject?" Aizawa asked.
"Because I’m the best teacher at UA," Yamada grinned. Aizawa stared at him, deadpan, for a full minute.
"Just kidding," Yamada laughed, raising his hands. "I usually use more audio-visual aids for my students. Since they're learning a language, I tell them to watch movies in English and listen to English songs. It really helps with retention."
"I see… Thanks," Aizawa said.
"Anytime! You can ask me for help if you need anything, okay?" Yamada offered sincerely. Aizawa nodded.
He’d already started taking mental notes—audio-visual representations, colorful notes… hmm. Momo. He could ask Momo to help with that. Her notes were always filled with colors. Most importantly, Kaminari needed focused, personalized attention.
Aizawa had already started crafting a different approach to teaching him. One that actually fit the boy.
______________________________________
Back at the dorms, everyone acted like Kaminari was made of glass—one wrong move and he’d shatter. But if anything, the confrontation with Aizawa, the assurance, and his friends’ support made him feel stronger. Made him feel loved. Sometimes he got frustrated, but he couldn’t stay mad at his friends for long.
He’d hang out with them in the common room and sometimes find food(handmade burgers) and drinks near his door. He had a good idea who was sending them, but he wasn’t sure if he was ready to face that person just yet.
Days went by, and soon it was time to head back to class.
It felt strange returning to lessons and studying after everything that had happened, but little did he know—things were way different now. All the teachers used slideshows to teach that day. Oddly enough, Kaminari was fully invested.
At the end of Aizawa’s training session, Aizawa handed Kaminari a tape recorder with everything he needed to improve—tips, feedback, instructions—and invited him to join his weekend training sessions. He also insisted Kaminari meditate regularly to improve focus—five minutes at a time.
Momo always made a special copy of her beautifully handwritten notes just for him. Midoriya sometimes helped Kaminari analyze his quirk, brainstorming new tactics and techniques for combat.
Kaminari felt at ease—lighter, better. For the first time, it really felt like he was improving. For the first time he felt heard.
Soon enough, mid-semester exams came around. And for the first time, Kaminari could answer every question.
He was so happy with how it went. When the results came out, he came seventh in the class.
Guess what? Dude was a hidden genius!
"Look at you, our little Einstein!" Mina said.
"Jeez, I’m not a kid," Kaminari replied with a chuckle.
"Don’t talk to Mama Mina like that!" Mina joked.
"My bad, my bad!"
"Dude, exams are over—let’s go out! I can’t wait to get some fresh air and touch grass!" Sero said.
"You’re so real for that!" Kirishima exclaimed.
Bakugou gave them a weird look (probably the I regret being friends with them but now it’s too late and if anyone hurts them I am killing them look). "Same dude, same," Jirou said, looking at Bakugou.
That day, they all went to the mall and had a lot of fun—Polaroid pictures, maybe a little property damage.
Denki was worn out. The good kind of worn out.
When he got back to his dorm, he found a huge container of bubblegum ice cream with Congratulations written on it. The ice cream was still intact and freezing cold indicating that someone had just placed it there.
"I know you’re here," Kaminari said.
Immediately, he could feel footsteps approaching.
"Uh, hi," Shinsou greeted, slightly out of breath.
"Hi!" Kaminari replied.
"You seem tired—you should rest," Shinsou said.
"I think I can still talk for like a good fifteen minutes if you’re fast enough," Kaminari said as he opened his dorm door. Shinsou kept looking at him.
"Take a picture, it’ll last longer," Kaminari teased—just like the old days.
He looked so lively. So beautiful. It was breathtaking.
"I might…" Shinsou mumbled.
"What?"
"Nothing," Shinsou replied quickly.
"Okay, get in!" Kaminari said, signaling Shinsou inside.
They both sat on his bed.
"So, how have you been?" Shinsou asked.
"Better. You?"
"Fine, I guess."
"You look miserable though," Kaminari remarked.
"Ouch," Shinsou replied.
"So you do remember my favorite food..." Kaminari said. Shinsou rubbed the back of his neck, looking away.
"Yes."
"Could’ve just talked to me instead of dropping food by every day, you know. Not that I’m complaining."
"Oh... I thought you were mad at me, so I didn’t want to bother you."
"I mean, I am still mad at you. Doesn’t mean we can’t talk at all," Kaminari said.
Shinsou sat down on the floor and gently held Kaminari’s hands, catching him by surprise.
"About that day... actually, about all those days... I’m sorry I didn’t notice. Nothing I say should be a good enough excuse. I’m sorry, Denki, for leaving you when you needed me the most. It was selfish and inconsiderate of me to pressure you like that. I loved you—I really did. And I still do," Shinsou said, eyes locked on Kaminari’s, filled with longing.
Kaminari looked at him in a way Shinsou had never seen before. Was he confused? Angry?
"Shinsou, I... I need time. I don’t know if I’m ready to get back together. It’ll take time for me to forgive you. I think we can start off as friends," Kaminari said after a long pause.
"I understand. That’s fine by me. I’ll do everything I can to earn your forgiveness, no matter how long it takes. I promise to stand by you, and you can always turn to me—for anything. I’ll be here for you. Always," Shinsou said, determined.
"Cool," Kaminari said with a deep sigh, trying to process everything.
"Cool," Shinsou echoed awkwardly, letting go of Kaminari’s hands and standing up.
"Sooo... can you bring me a spoon? I really want to finish this ice cream before it melts," Kaminari said, trying to break the tension.
"You wanna eat all of that? You’re going to get a brain freeze," Shinsou said, matter-of-factly.
"Ugh, I can regret it later—now I wanna taste it!" Kaminari whined.
"Your wish is my command," Shinsou replied.
"Ew, that’s cringe," Kaminari said, scrunching his nose—though he couldn’t hide his smile.
"Only for you," Shinsou said as he left to get a spoon.
Mina’s going to kill me once she finds out and Bakubro’s gonna kill him once he finds out, Kaminari thought, smiling to himself.
______________________________________