Shattered Sparks (He's Done)

Is He A Therapist Or...

Denki awoke to a loud boom downstairs. Must be Bakugou at it again. He lifted his arm to rub his eyes, droopy and irritated from the night prior. Heaving himself up and off the bed, Kaminari walked groggily over to his closet and picked out an outfit. Once he was dressed, he strolled past the common rooms towards the bathroom, but before he could reach them, he heard his name.

"What was up with Kaminari the other night?" Sero questioned. Denki, being curious, stayed hidden, listening

"I don't know" Mina respond, "It was a nice change from his usual self" She laughed to herself, and the others followed

Great, my friends don't like it when I'm myself

"Yeah, he can be loud," Kirishima interjected, "But it's worth it, we never have to bring a phone charger anywhere!" The surrounding group laughed again. Denki decided that was enough. He didn't want to hear any more. He finally reached the bathrooms. They were empty, thankfully, so he was able to get ready in peace.

Dammit! I look like I've been crying my eyes out!

Truthfully, he had been, but he couldn't let anyone know that

Get a hold of yourself!

He turned the sink on, splashing cold water in his face

I just need to talk to them again.

He was racking his brain for ways to lessen the teasing.

But what if I lose them?

Denki decided he was thinking too much about this, and exited the bathroom.

By the time he returned, the subject had strayed away from him and was focused on something trivial

"Hey guys!" Denki announced his entrance with a booming greeting, halting the light dialogue. "What are we doin' the weekend? it's friday so we should plan."

"Uh, we were thinking a movie" Sero was exchanging glances with the rest of the group.

"Sounds good! What movie?"

"We aren't sure yet," Mina responded "You can come, just don't talk the whole time"

"Yeah, sure!" What did they mean 'He could come' he was their friend, it was a given he would be there, right?

The conversation continued, Denki participating, until it was announced breakfast was ready. He was quiet the whole meal. What did they mean? Did they not want him around?

The day continued through classes and other activities. Denki did his best to hide all the confusion and sadness he held, and nobody seemed to notice. He was spacing out while Aizawa was explain an exercise they were doing while standing in the gym, when Ojiro, a guy Denki didn't talk to much, but they got along, nudged him

"You okay bro?" he asked

"Huh? Oh yeah, im fine" Denki responded, not really paying much mind, consumed in his own thoughts

"You seem a little down, so just let me know if you need to talk, okay?" Denki thought about it.

I mean, you could use some advice

He was considering it, maybe Ojiro would be a good person to coincide in, he was always kind.

"Yeah, sure. Is it cool if I come by your dorm after classes?"

"Of course!" He whispered back

"Alright, let's get started" Aizawa concluded the instructions, and only then did Denki realize he wasn't listening to a word his teacher was saying. He just stood there, not knowing what to do.

"Uh, groups of 5?" Mina had jogged over to him

"Yeah, sorry"

Denki walked over with Mina to the others, and they were discussing a strategy. Turns out they were fighting robots similar to those used in the entrance exam, just smaller. The goal was to wipe as many out as possible

"We haven't figured out what Kami will do." Kirishima was looking at him with a thoughtful expression

"Dunce-face won't be any help" Bakugo was being blunt as always "Just use him as bait"

"That works." Sero agreed with him

Wow, that's all I'm good for I guess

The exercise went as planned, Denki not really doing anything, by order of Bakugo. Right as they all got back to the dorms, Denki and Ojirio spotted each other and walked silently to Ojirio's dorm. When they arrived, Ojirio pulled out his chair and sat down. He gestured for Denki to sit on the bed

"That was some lecture in math today," Ojiro started the conversation lightly "I didn't understand a word of it."

"Yeah me neither" Denki let out a little laugh with his words. "But, I never understand math, not my strong suit."

Ojirio had noticed the way Denki's friends treated him in the past. He also noticed how he went quiet when grades were brought up.

"So... What was goin' on with you today?"

Denki let out a sigh and looked down. He felt like he could trust Ojirio "Well, my friends have been making lots of jokes about me recently. About me being dumb and stuff." Denki let out. "And as much as I hate to say it, it bothers me"

"Have you talked to them about this?"

"Well, sorta. I texted them the other night about it and they just... played it off, like it was no big deal."

"They don't seem like much of friends if they do that"

"But I don't want to lose them." Denki obviously had more on his mind, but Ojirio didn't want to pry

"I mean, I just, I don't know why they can't understand that maybe I don't want to be thought of as the 'energetic, happy, stupid' friend all the time. I just want them to stop calling me dumb or useless or loud"

Ojiro was listening thoughtfully, just letting Denki rant

"Oh, and this morning, when we were planning the weekend, and they said they were all seeing a movie, and then Mina said 'you can come, just don't be loud' Like, I can come? What does that mean? Don't be loud? Do I normally talk through movies? Do they not want me around?"

Denki was beginning to spiral

"They just make me feel so stupid and worthless. Like, I'm sorry I'm the way I am? It's not my fault that my brain is quite literally fried from my quirk," Tears welled up in his eyes, and his voice began bubbling "I'm sorry that I want to be included and not just kept around because nobody else was there, because it's convenient for them"

Ojiro stretched his tail around his body and rested it on Denki's shoulder.

"And I-" The sudden contact cut off his rambling.

"To me, it seems like they aren't taking your feelings into consideration. Maybe you should try talking to them again, and be more assertive."

Denki was looking him eye to eye now, cheeks glistening.

"Y-yeah" Denki muttered, pulling the collar of his shirt and wiping his face. I'll try.