Classes had ended an hour ago, but the halls were still busy — clubs letting out, teachers lingering, students drifting toward the dorms in loose groups. Denki moved through it all at an unhurried pace, backpack slung over one shoulder, hands tucked into his hoodie pockets.
Tutoring had gone... fine.
Math, today. Vectors and equations that still refused to make sense no matter how long he stared at them. But he'd stayed the whole session. He'd asked one question instead of pretending he understood. He'd focused, really focused, all the way through.
That alone felt like progress.
He stepped outside, the late afternoon air cool against his skin. The sky was already shifting toward evening, soft orange bleeding into blue. Denki followed the familiar path toward the dorms, sneakers scuffing lightly against the ground.
A week ago, his head would've been loud right now.
Every step would've dragged up something — a memory, a fear, a mistake — each thought hooking into the next until he was stuck replaying everything he'd done wrong. His mind used to grab hold and cling, like letting go meant something bad would happen.
Now... it didn't.
The thoughts still came, but they passed through instead of cutting deep. Heavy, yes. Uncomfortable, definitely. But not sharp.
Denki slowed, frowning slightly as he noticed it.
When did that change?
He thought about therapy — about sitting in that quiet room, answering questions he'd avoided for years. About saying things out loud and not immediately trying to take them back. About realizing he didn't have to explain or justify every feeling for it to be real.
He thought about Eijirou.
Not about the hurt. Not about the fight. But about the moment he'd stood outside Eijirou's door, heart racing, knowing he could walk away — and choosing not to.
That choice lingered with him now.
Denki stopped walking.
He stared down the path ahead, the dorm building visible in the distance, and felt something settle in his chest.
He hadn't told Eijirou because he was breaking. He hadn't done it because someone pushed him.
He'd done it because he wanted to.
A quiet breath left him, almost a laugh. "Oh," he murmured.
For so long, everything in his life had been reaction. Flinching. Avoiding. Letting fear decide before he even realized there was another option.
But this — therapy, boundaries, honesty — this was different.
This was him choosing.
Not because it was easy. Not because it felt good. But because it felt right.
The sound of footsteps broke his thoughts. Fast. Rhythmic.
Denki glanced up just in time to see Eijirou jog past — earbuds in, tank top clinging to his shoulders, hair damp with sweat. He looked like he'd just come from a run.
Eijirou slowed, then doubled back when he spotted Denki.
"Oh— hey," he said, pulling one earbud out. He jogged in place, bouncing lightly on the balls of his feet. "Didn't expect to see you out here. How was tutoring?"
Denki blinked, caught off guard — and then smiled, small but real.
"It was okay," he said. "Math still sucks."
YOU ARE READING
Work it Out - KiriKami
FanfictionDenki loved his boyfriend more than anything in the world, but he couldn't bring himself to say it. He couldn't even bring himself to hold hands in public. One day, determined to overcome his fears, he decided to go for it; he held Eijirou's hand in...
