Routine

Failure is the one thing Kaminari is good at. Whether it be test taking or training he always manages to place last in the class. Being called "idiot" or "dumbass" on a daily basis isn't helping that either. But, he knows his friends dont mean it when they call him stupid. He knows that his girlfriend isn't just dating him out of pity. He knows that the class actually enjoys talking to him and doesn't find him annoying. He knows this. But he doesn't. He doesn't know this.

***

Once again he failed his test and ended up at the bottom of the class. At this point he shouldn't even be surprised. It's basically routine for him now. He fails his test, Kirishima sees his score and tells him it'll be alright, everyone calls him an idiot, he laughs off the insults, then cries himself to sleep in his dorm room. It's a routine he never planned on breaking until today.

As he was in the middle of wallowing in his own self pity there was a knock on his door. Desperate to appear alright he quickly wiped away the tears and smiled to himself in the mirror. Answering the door he was surprised to see Jirou there given that she was usually asleep by now.

"O-oh hey Kyo, what are you doing up?"

Instead of speaking she just invited herself in and sat on his bed implying for him to do the same. Kaminari takes the hint and sits down next to her hoping his eyes aren't too red and puffy to tell he was crying.

"Are you ok Denki?"

He laughs nervously at the bluntness of the question. "Yeah why do you ask?"

Looking closer she notices the slight wetness of his cheeks, the puffiness of his eyes, and the several tissues on the floor. ' He's been crying.' She decides not to bring it up just yet. "You looked really off after that test."

He pointedly looks away and scratches at his neck sheepishly which she responds to by tapping his cheeks with her jacks. "I'm not your girlfriend for nothing Jamming-Whey, so talk to me. What's bothering you?"

Tears begin pricking at his eyes again and clouding his eyes. His throat closes on him making it hard to breath. He looks away from Jirou because she shouldn't have to see him like this. She doesn't deserve to deal with his dumbass issues right now. She deserved to hang out with Yaomomo and the girls. Not to be here watching him cry like a little child. He was supposed to be a hero and heroes don't cry over something as mundane as failure and name calling. Everyone experiences it, so why does it hurt so much? Why does he always feel like everything he does will never amount to anything. Why does he feel like no matter how hard he tries he'll always fail.

Unable to stop it, quiet sobs begin racking his body. Over time he's learned how to cry to himself quietly. He didn't need Ojiro or even worse Iida finding him in such a defenseless and weak state. Because that's what he was right? At least that's what everyone called him. If enough people have said it then it must be true right?

Besides failing, self loathing seemed to be something else he was good at. It's not like he was worth anything so it didn't matter. All that mattered was to stay the class clown, keep everyone happy, make sure he doesn't show that the jokes get to him, keep short circuiting to make people laugh, keep the mask on. Just keep the mask on when his friends insult him. Just keep the mask on when he fails yet another test. Just keep the mask when even his own girlfriend-

A sudden warmth enveloped him. The type of warmth you felt at dusk on a warm summer evening. When the sun is still peaking over the horizon lighting the sky in purple, red, and orange hues. Not too hot but still not too cold. Just the perfect amount of warmth to soothe your soul into an everlasting calm. Through the months they've been dating Kaminari has learned to recognize this warmth as Jirou embracing him. She was never good with words and she probably didn't know what to say. He didn't mean to make her uncomfortable. He didn't mean to make her stay here trying to calm down his frantic tears. He didn't mean to-

"Look Denki, I don't know what's bothering you but I do know that you'll get through it. I'll always be there for you Denki so don't you dare forget that. If you ever want to talk about it I'm always going to be right here, okay?"

Hearing those words made him pause. He didn't know what to say so he just said the first thing that came to mind.

"Why?"

Jirou looks up from her embrace to look at the disheveled teen. "Huh?"

"Why be here with me? I'm a screw up Kyouka, why do you stick around?"

Jirou was at a loss for words. Did her boyfriend really think so low of himself? Did he really think he was a screw up?

"You're not a screw up Denki."

"Everyone else seems to think so."

"Wh-"

"Everyone else seems to think I'm stupid, an idiot, a dumbass... so do you. So why do you still keep me around?"

Jirou eyes widened in surprise. She couldn't believe what she just heard. After hearing that there was only one thing on her mind.

'Does Denki think I hate him?'

She turns to Denki noticing the silent tears still rolling down cheeks as he stares blankly at the wall in front of them.

'...he really thinks I hate him...'

"Denki, do you think I hate you?"

"O-of course not! I just don't know why you bother sticking around me. I don't know why anyone sticks around me. I'm an idiot Kyouka, you guys said so yourself. Why do you lower your standards for a guy like me?" Denki rubs his eyes with the palm of his hands and nervously laughs.

"Ach, this is so dumb. Just forget I ever said anything."

"Is that why you were upset after the test?"

"..."

"Look Denki, I'm not good with words so i'm just going to say it straight. We appreciate you. Sure we all call you names, some more than others, but if it's making you uncomfortable then we'll stop. I'll stop. And about the failing. Sure you may not be the best when it comes to academics but when it comes to being socially competent you're the best one out of all of us and that's really important to being a hero."

"Kyo, I-"

"And when it comes to us. I didn't lower my standards to date you Denki. I date you for you. For your clumsy ways, your god awful jokes, and your "light-up-the-room" smile. I love you Denki so don't you ever forget or I'll have Bakugou beat it into your brain."

"What happened to not being good with words huh?" Denki laughs which causes her to blush and lightly smack him with her jacks.

"But you do get it right? I care about you Denki."

"Yeah I got it Kyo."

***

That night Jirou decided to stay in Kaminari's room and worry about getting in trouble with Aizawa later. For now she just wanted to be there for her boyfriend. She just wanted to stay in this one perfect moment.