The Quiet of Us (Denki Kaminari x OC)

One Last Look

Kaminari stood at the checkout, his mind racing, his heart pounding in his chest. His hands moved automatically as he unloaded the items from his cart, but his focus wasn't on the groceries. It was on her—Aiko. She was just a few tills over, her presence almost magnetic, pulling his attention no matter how hard he tried to focus on anything else.

Every second felt like an eternity.

He couldn't stop thinking about how close they had been, how easy it had been to talk, even after all these years. But as much as he tried to act casual, the weight of their shared history hung heavily over him, pressing down on his heart.

As the cashier rang up his items, Kaminari risked another glance over his shoulder, his pulse quickening when his eyes landed on Aiko. She was still there, still checking out, her expression distant, almost as if she was as lost in thought as he was. He didn't know what he expected to see in that brief moment—maybe a sign, some flicker of the love that still lingered between them.

Aiko, too, couldn't help but steal a glance in his direction. Her hands moved on autopilot, placing her groceries on the belt, but her mind was miles away. Her chest tightened as she watched him, her heart aching with a familiar longing. It was like they were both frozen in time, teetering on the edge of something they couldn't quite define.

The cashier's voice pulled Kaminari out of his thoughts, and he forced himself to focus, handing over his payment. His heart felt heavy as he gathered his bags and turned to leave, but before he walked out, he glanced over his shoulder one last time.

One last look at her.

Aiko's heart fluttered when she caught him looking back. It was just a brief moment, their eyes meeting across the space between them, but the intensity of it sent a rush of emotions crashing over her. For a second, it felt like nothing had changed—like the connection between them was still there, still burning just as brightly as it always had.

But then Kaminari was gone, walking out of the store with his bags in hand, disappearing from view.

Aiko's chest tightened painfully, and she swallowed hard, trying to push back the wave of emotions that threatened to overtake her. It felt too familiar—too much like the day she had left him. Her heart ached as she finished packing up her groceries, her mind swirling with memories she thought she had buried.

She walked out of the store, her movements slow, almost hesitant, as if every step was a reminder of what she had lost. As she reached her car, she opened the trunk and began loading in the bags, but the nagging feeling in her chest wouldn't go away.

She needed to see him again. One last time.

Aiko stood still for a moment, her hands frozen in mid-motion as she turned around, searching for him. Her heart pounded in her chest as her eyes scanned the parking lot, and for a moment, she wondered if she had missed her chance.

But then she saw him.

Kaminari was standing near his car, his eyes scanning the parking lot, searching. And when their eyes met, the world seemed to stop.

He had been looking for her too.

Without thinking, Aiko dropped the last bag into her trunk, her heart racing as she moved toward him. And Kaminari, the moment he saw her, took off running toward her, his footsteps quick, his heart thundering in his chest. They closed the distance between them in seconds, both of them breathless, both of them filled with the same intense, unspoken longing.

They stopped just inches apart, staring at each other, their breaths heavy, their emotions raw. Neither of them said a word, but the look in their eyes said everything.

And then, without hesitation, they moved at the same time—closing the gap, their lips crashing together in a passionate, desperate kiss.

It was as if two years of distance, of heartache, melted away in that single moment. Kaminari's arms wrapped around her, pulling her close, and Aiko melted into him, her hands gripping the front of his shirt as if she couldn't bear to let go.

The kiss was everything they had both been holding back—the love, the pain, the longing. It poured out of them like a flood, overwhelming and undeniable.

When they finally pulled back, breathless, their foreheads rested against each other, their hearts still racing.

"I... I missed you so much," Aiko whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Kaminari's grip on her tightened slightly, his own voice shaking as he replied, "I've never stopped missing you, Aiko."

They stood there for a moment, wrapped in each other's arms, the world around them fading into nothing. It didn't matter that they were standing in the middle of a grocery store parking lot. It didn't matter that two years had passed. All that mattered was that they were here, together, in this moment.

And for the first time in a long time, neither of them wanted to let go.

For the first time in two years, he felt whole. He wasn't sure what the future held, but he knew one thing—he wasn't going to lose her again.

All the doubts, the fear, the uncertainty—they still lingered. But in his arms, she felt safe. And she knew that right here, in his arms, she needed to stay.