The Quiet of Us (Denki Kaminari x OC)

The First Date

Kaminari stood in front of the mirror, staring at his reflection as he adjusted his jacket for what felt like the hundredth time. "Okay, Kaminari, relax... It's just a coffee date. You've faced villains way scarier than this."

But somehow, none of that calmed him down. Aiko had finally said yes, and now he was a bundle of nerves. He kept wondering if his usual energy would be too much, or if she'd think his jokes were lame. He couldn't stop pacing, checking his phone every few seconds for the time, even though he knew he had plenty of it.

"Get it together," he muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair. "You got this."

After a few more deep breaths and one last look in the mirror, Kaminari grabbed his keys and headed out the door.

Kaminari arrived outside the rehabilitation facility early, of course. He leaned against the wall, hands stuffed into his pockets as he tried to play it cool, though his heart was racing. Every time the door opened, he straightened up, only to relax when it wasn't Aiko.

Finally, she stepped out, and Kaminari's breath hitched. She wasn't in her work clothes today, but something casual—still elegant, of course. She spotted him, giving him that soft smile he'd grown so fond of.

"Hey," she greeted as she approached.

"Hey!" Kaminari replied, a little too enthusiastically, then quickly cleared his throat. "You, uh, ready to go? There's a coffee shop a few blocks from here that's really nice."

Aiko nodded. "Lead the way."

As they walked side by side, the tension in Kaminari's chest started to loosen a little. He cracked a few jokes about the neighborhood and made her laugh a couple of times, and each time she did, it felt like a victory.

"I gotta admit, I've been looking forward to this all day," Kaminari said, glancing over at her.

Aiko smiled. "So have I. It's... nice to take a break from work."

"Yeah? Well, I'm glad you chose to spend that break with me." Kaminari's grin was genuine, and Aiko couldn't help but return it.

They arrived at the coffee shop—a cozy, quiet little place that Kaminari had picked out deliberately. It wasn't too loud or flashy, just the kind of spot where they could talk and relax.

The barista greeted them as they approached the counter, and Kaminari gestured toward Aiko. "Ladies first."

Aiko looked over the menu briefly before ordering a simple latte. Kaminari stepped up next, ordering his usual coffee, but then quickly added, "And we'll take whatever pastry she wants too. My treat."

Aiko raised an eyebrow, smiling slightly. "Are you trying to bribe me with pastries now?"

Kaminari chuckled. "Is it working?"

She shook her head with a laugh, finally deciding on a small croissant. Kaminari quickly paid for both their drinks and the pastry, waving off her attempt to reach for her wallet.

"Nah, it's on me. It's the least I can do for finally getting you to say yes."

Aiko gave him a playful look. "You're never going to let that go, are you?"

"Nope," he said, grinning as they waited for their drinks.

Once their drinks and Aiko's croissant were ready, they found a booth near the window. Kaminari pulled out her chair, making an exaggerated show of being a gentleman, earning another laugh from Aiko as she sat down. He slid into the seat across from her, his nerves still buzzing but masked by his natural charm.

"So," Kaminari began, stirring his coffee, "what do people even talk about on a coffee date? Besides how much of a genius I am for picking this place."

Aiko smiled, her hands wrapped around her latte. "Well, I'm still waiting for you to prove the genius part."

Kaminari laughed, leaning back in his seat. "Alright, alright. So... tell me something about yourself. What got you into working with kids?"

Aiko's face softened as she considered the question. "I guess I've always wanted to help people. When I was younger, I saw how much trauma could affect children, and I knew I wanted to do something about it. I wanted to make sure they had a safe place to heal, both physically and mentally."

Kaminari nodded, genuinely interested. "That's really admirable. I mean, you can see how much they trust you. You've got this whole calm, comforting vibe going on, you know?"

She smiled again. "That's probably the quirk."

"Nah," Kaminari said quickly. "That's just you. The quirk's a bonus."

Aiko looked at him for a moment, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "You're good at this, aren't you?"

"Good at what?" Kaminari asked, playing innocent.

"Saying just the right thing."

He grinned. "It's a gift. But seriously, it's cool that you found something that suits you so well."

Aiko took a sip of her latte, her eyes briefly scanning the coffee shop before settling back on him. "What about you? Why did you decide to become a hero?"

Kaminari thought for a moment before answering. "I mean, the hero life's always been about helping people too, right? I guess I wanted to do something big, something that would make a difference. And honestly, it's fun. The thrill of the job, saving people—it feels good." He paused, then added, "But lately, I've been thinking there's more to it than that. Heroes do the big, flashy stuff, but it's people like you who really help in the long run, you know?"

Aiko smiled softly at the compliment, appreciating the way Kaminari always managed to bring the conversation back to her.

"You know," she said, looking at him thoughtfully, "you're different than I expected."

Kaminari raised an eyebrow, grinning. "Different good or different bad?"

"Different good," she replied, shaking her head at his exaggerated relief.

The conversation flowed easily between them, filled with lighthearted stories from their childhoods, awkward moments, and small victories. Kaminari shared some embarrassing hero training moments that had Aiko laughing—really laughing—and each time, he felt his heart skip a beat.

"So you actually short-circuited during training?" Aiko asked between giggles.

"Oh, yeah, full-on fried my own circuits," Kaminari admitted with a sheepish grin. "Had to walk around all day with that dumb face I make when I overload. Let me tell you, not my proudest moment."

Aiko was still laughing when she said, "I'm sure you made it work somehow."

Kaminari shrugged. "What can I say? I'm a pro at making awkward situations... slightly less awkward."

Aiko smiled, taking a small bite of her croissant. "Well, you've certainly made this a lot less awkward than I expected."

Kaminari grinned. "Hey, that's what I'm here for—good coffee, bad jokes, and, hopefully, a good time."

Aiko met his eyes, and for the first time, she seemed to let herself relax completely, enjoying his infectious energy. "You've succeeded."

As the evening continued, Kaminari and Aiko fell into an easy rhythm, their conversation flowing naturally, filled with laughter, teasing, and the occasional meaningful exchange. Aiko found herself enjoying Kaminari's energy—it was a welcome change from her usual calm and controlled life.

For Kaminari, thiswas everything he'd hoped for. A chance to get to know Aiko beyond thereserved, professional persona she often carried. He was already smitten, butnow he felt like he was getting closer to the person she was underneath it all.