The Quiet of Us (Denki Kaminari x OC)

Public Spotlight

It was a beautiful autumn afternoon as Kaminari and Aiko walked hand in hand down a busy street, the crisp October air making everything feel fresh and alive. The city was bustling, with people enjoying the weather and getting into the Halloween spirit, but as they strolled together, Aiko couldn't shake the feeling of eyes lingering on them.

She kept her head down at first, focusing on the conversation she and Kaminari were having. They were planning their matching Halloween costumes, a lighthearted topic that usually made her smile. But every now and then, she'd catch someone glancing their way, a look of recognition crossing their faces before they quickly whispered to the person next to them.

"You okay, honey?" Kaminari asked, glancing over at her with concern.

Aiko nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... a little distracted."

Kaminari squeezed her hand, his grin reassuring. "You'll get used to it. People recognize me sometimes. Comes with the job, you know? No big deal."

Aiko tried to relax, but inside, her thoughts were racing. She had known, of course, that dating a pro hero would come with attention. Kaminari was beloved by the public—his energetic and fun persona made him easy to like. But Aiko wasn't used to being in the spotlight. She wasn't sure if she ever would be.

When they entered the costume store, the world outside seemed to fade away. The atmosphere was playful and filled with excitement, with customers browsing through costumes, decorations, and accessories. The moment they stepped inside, Aiko felt her worries begin to melt.

"Alright, babe," Kaminari said, rubbing his hands together with a mischievous grin. "Let's find the perfect couple's costume. What do you think? Classic superheroes? Or maybe something spooky?"

Aiko laughed softly, the lightness in Kaminari's voice pulling her out of her anxious thoughts. "Let's go with something fun. Maybe we can be a famous duo? Like Batman and Catwoman?"

"Ooooh, I like that," Kaminari replied, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "But how about we throw in a twist—what if we're Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein? Spooky and cute."

Aiko chuckled, imagining the two of them in those costumes. "I think we can make that work."

They moved through the aisles, trying on hats, masks, and even a few ridiculous costumes just for laughs. Kaminari found a pair of oversized glasses and put them on, striking a goofy pose, which had Aiko laughing so hard she almost couldn't breathe.

"You're ridiculous," she said between laughs, nudging him playfully.

"Ridiculously handsome," Kaminari shot back with a wink, pulling her into a quick hug.

As they continued to browse, the worries that had been weighing on Aiko earlier seemed to disappear. Being with Kaminari like this—laughing, hugging, sneaking kisses between the costume racks—felt effortless. It was moments like these that made her forget about the world outside and the attention that sometimes came with being by his side.

They eventually settled on their matching costumes—Frankenstein and the Bride of Frankenstein—and left the store, bags in hand, still chuckling about how great they were going to look at the Halloween party they'd planned to attend.

But the moment they stepped outside, Aiko's heart sank. A small crowd had gathered near the entrance, and it only took her a split second to realize why. Paparazzi. Fans. People with cameras and notepads, their eyes lighting up as soon as they spotted Kaminari.

"Oh no," Aiko whispered, her grip tightening around the handles of her shopping bag.

Before they could react, they were surrounded. Flashes went off, voices shouted Kaminari's name, and questions were hurled at them from every direction.

"Kaminari! Who's your girlfriend?"

"What's it like dating a pro hero?"

"Can we get a picture?"

The sudden chaos was overwhelming, and Aiko's breath quickened as her heart began to race. The noise, the flashing lights, the eyes on them—it all became too much, too fast. Her vision blurred slightly as her chest tightened, the familiar signs of a panic attack starting to creep in.

Kaminari noticed immediately, his cheerful demeanor dropping in an instant as he sensed the shift in Aiko's energy. He placed his arm around her protectively, his voice steady but firm as he tried to keep the situation under control.

"Hey, guys, not today, okay?" Kaminari said to the paparazzi, his tone polite but authoritative. "We're just trying to enjoy a quiet day."

But the questions kept coming, and Aiko's panic grew. Her breathing became shallow, and her grip on Kaminari's hand tightened as her mind spiraled. She felt trapped, like the world was closing in around her, and she didn't know how to stop it.

Kaminari's arm tightened around her, and he leaned in, his voice soft and soothing as he whispered, "Hey, I've got you. Let's get out of here, okay?"

Without waiting for a response, Kaminari led her swiftly through the crowd, gently but firmly guiding her away from the chaos. He kept his body between her and the paparazzi, his focus entirely on getting her somewhere safe and quiet. Aiko followed him, her mind still spinning but grateful for his presence beside her.

They rounded a corner and slipped into a quieter side street, the noise from the crowd fading into the distance. Kaminari kept walking until they found a small, secluded spot, where he finally stopped, turning to face Aiko with concern written all over his face.

"Aiko... you okay?" His voice was soft, and he gently cupped her face, his thumb brushing against her cheek as he searched her eyes.

Aiko closed her eyes, taking a few deep breaths as she tried to calm herself down. The panic attack hadn't fully set in, but she had come close, and the weight of that realization hit her hard.

"I'm... I'm okay," she whispered, though her voice trembled slightly. "That was just... a lot."

Kaminari's brow furrowed, and he pulled her into a tight hug, his arms wrapping around her protectively. "I'm sorry. I should've been more prepared for that. I didn't think it would be so intense today."

Aiko buried her face in his chest, her body slowly relaxing as she felt the warmth and safety of his embrace. "It's not your fault. I just... I don't know if I'm cut out for this. All the attention, the cameras..."

Kaminari held her close, his voice soft as he whispered, "You don't have to deal with it alone. I'm here, okay? We'll figure this out together."

Aiko nodded, her armstightening around him as she let out a shaky breath. She trusted him, but partof her couldn't help but wonder if she'd ever really get used to this part ofhis life—the part where the whole world seemed to be watching.