Electrify Me

Chapter 9

The halls are empty as Hitoshi and Denki head for the training ground where Shouta and the others wait for them. School is out for the day, so students are all either home or in their after school clubs letting the best friends have time alone. Alone time that they use to talk about the upcoming internships for the hero course students.

"So, have you decided who you're choosing for your internship?" Denki asks Hitoshi. "I heard they're letting you since heroes scouted you despite you being in general education. Which is awesome, by the way!"

Hitoshi sighs hating that their internship jad more stipulations than that of the actual hero course students. "Honestly, I just want to intern with one of my dads, but they weren't allowed to scout me, and I'm only allowed to choose from the ones who did since I'm not in the hero course. I'll probably choose Best Jeanist. His quirk is a little like my capture weapon, so it might be beneficial."

Denki nods in complete understanding. She's known Hitoshi long enough to know how much he prefers things to feel normal. Normal was safe to the purple haired boy. "At least you'll be with a friend, then. Kacchan is choosing him too. I chose Mic. I heard some pros are transphobic, so I figured going with your Papa would be the best choice."

As Hitoshi is about to comment on Denki’s choice, about to tell her that she should choose Jeanist so they can be close, another blonde rounds the corner and walks smack into Hitoshi.

The blonde backs up, and looks like he's about to apologize until he lays eyes on Denki. Immediately, his expression changes from apologetic to manic. He starts laughing. "Are you confused, Class A Trash!?"

Denki immediately recognizes the boy as Monoma from class 1B. "You call my class trash, but more of my class made it to the third round of the Sports Festival than yours. Hell, you didn't even make it to the third round."

"At least my class isn't confused on what uniform to wear!" Monoma continues to laugh. "Did you forget you're a boy!?"

"I'm not a boy today." Denki's tone has dropped. All she can think of is her adoptive parents telling her that she was born a boy which makes her a boy. "I'm gender fluid."

Hitoshi can see the distress in Denki’s eyes. They hate seeing their best friend like this. They go to say something to the boy, but Monoma continues, this time speaking to Hitoshi. "Can you believe that he thinks he can just be a girl whenever he wants?"

"She is a girl. She has been all week. And her pronouns are she/her. Misgender her again, and this they/them will make you a was/were."

Monoma continues laughing and goes to say something, but he immediately stops and his eyes go blank.

"Go back to your classroom and leave us alone." Hitoshi says, controlling the boy.

Monoma has no choice except to obey. Once he's out of sight, Hitoshi releases their control on him, and they continue walking.

"Thanks," Denki smiles at Hitoshi sheepishly.

Hitoshi nods their acceptance of the thanks, but doesn’t say anything.

"So, uh, you go by they/them pronouns?" Denki adds. "I wish I had known. I've been thinking of you as a boy. Are you, like, agender or something?"

Hitoshi shakes their head. "Demiboy, actually," they respond, shrugging in nonchalance. "He and they are both fine, just some days I prefer they/them a little more than others."

Denki smiles at Hitoshi. "I'm glad you at least have your family around who accept you for who you are. I wish I could have that."

Hitoshi’s voice grows sad. "I know." They place their hand on Denki’s shoulder comfortingly. "Katsuki's been talking about starting a support group for people like us in the hero course. I'd be the exception when it comes to who's allowed since I'm not in the hero course. You could join it. Have others who understand what it feels like."

"Kacchan is thinking about it." Denki thinks about her conversation with Izuku and Katsuki before the USJ. She hasn't had the chance since to ask about it. "Does that mean he's..?" Denki trails off. She shouldn't have asked. Only Katsuki should be the one to tell her if he feels comfortable.

Hitoshi groans. "Shit. I didn’t realize that you didn't know. I mean, I guess I didn't either until I saw him giving himself a shot of testosterone and made the mistake of thinking it was estrogen."

"You feel any different?" She asks, changing the subject. She doesn't want to go any further into that conversation. Now her theory has been confirmed, but she should have learned her friend's secret from the boy himself.

Hitoshi shakes their head. "No. Not yet." They knew they were lying, but they didn't want Denki to think that her plan didn't work. They couldn't tell Denki that thoughts of that Monoma boy had invaded their brain since seeing him in the hall. Hitoshi also wasn’t really sure if they would notice anything different with their feelings for Denki with how much they already thought about her.

The rest of the day goes as normal, Shouta terrorizes them with brutal training. It's not really as brutal as the students claim it is, but it is necessary, especially to help Denki catch back up with her friends. Then, after training, Shouta drives Denki and Katsuki to their respective homes before taking his sons home. Hizashi doesn't really stay around for the training anymore with how upset Sakura gets watching her brothers and her Kacchan fight, so he was already home with the girls long before Shouta, Hitoshi, and Izuku arrive.

Hitoshi lays in bed and falls asleep with the image of two loud blondes kissing them in their head. If there was anything more to the dream, they would never tell anyone as those images belonged to them alone.