Sparks - ShinKami

Self Preservation

POV DENKI

Shinso and I avoid each other for two weeks. It's awkward seeing him since I completely ruined our date. Shinso wanted a cute electric blonde, not a traumatized drama queen. So day by day, my life gets more and more tedious. Mina, Hanta, Kiri, and Bakugou accept me back into the group as if I don't disappear after school everyday. They still make me the butt of every joke, put me in the spotlight, laugh and joke like everything is fine. But it's not. I feel like I'm drowning.

I spot Shinso at lunch, sitting alone in the corner. He's staring at his phone, bored, it looks like. As the five of us walk by him, I sneak off, sitting down across from him. The BakuSquad doesn't even notice. 

"Hey," I beam, placing my tray down.

"Hey," Shinso replies, cautiously putting his phone away. "What's up? Why aren't you with your friends?"

"You looked lonely," I say, picking up my hamburger. I take a big bite, smiling with my mouth closed. Shinso chuckles, resting his chin on his palm, his elbow on the table. I swallow my food and copy his pose. "Why are you sitting all alone?" I ask. "You're one of the most popular boys in school."

"I'm not," Shinso corrects. "I'm just good-looking. Or, well, that's what the stupid list says. I came in, what, sixth place?"

"Fourth," I say, chomping on my food. "First was Todoroki, second was Midoriya, third was Kirishima, and you were fourth."

"It was dumb anyway," Shisno grumbles. "And sexist. Only the girls got to vote."

"You're right," I giggle. "If I could've voted, you would've been in first."

Shinso rolls his eyes, and I watch with pure joy as his face blushes a deep red. "Whatever," he says. "Bottom line is, apparently people find alt boys attractive, so I'm somewhat recognized, even though I hate being around people. Besides you, obviously."

"I like being around you, too," I say softly. "Sorry for, um, ruining our first date. I was thinking... maybe you could come over to our dorm house and hang out sometime. Let me make up for last time. I have a Switch, so we could play Mario Kart or something together. Oh, and I could ask Sato to make us some sweets! It would be a lot of fun!"

"Sure, Sparky," Shinso says. "Sounds great. Are you free after school?"

"Yeah." The bell rings overhead, signaling the end of lunch. I stand up, taking my tray. "Well, I'll see you after school! Bye, Shinso!"

Shinso waves softly, a small smile on his face. "Bye, Sparky."

#

"Where were you at, dunce face?" Bakugou growls at me, shoving my shoulder. He and I are walking alone back to the dorms since Kiri, Hanta, and Mina are talking with the DekuSquad. Apparently, Bakugou and I are too hyper for them. "You didn't sit with us at lunch."

"I, uh, went to the bathroom," I blurt.

Bakugou scowls at me, seeing through my unstable lie. "For the whole damn lunch period?"

"N-no!" My face heats up, and I look down at my feet. "...I was sitting with Shinso."

"Oh, so now that stupid emo bastard is more interesting than us?!" Bakugou screams. "Damn it, spark plug! I knew something was going on with you! You've been jumping like a fucking pussy cat all the time. You're always going off alone like you're avoiding us or something. Is it Shinso? Is that bitch abusing you or something?! I'll fucking kill him!"

"No," I say, stopping in my tracks. "Shinso is not hurting me at all. And I'm fine. You're just paranoid. Reading too much into it. So stop yelling, alright?"