Omega

Eijiro- It's manly to cry

"Wow," Kyoka muttered as she hung to the back of the flooded atrium. "I didn't know that so many people would show up."

Eijiro nodded as he watched more students flood into the school and passed out programs. "He'd be really excited to see that so many people care," he agreed, struggling to keep his emotions under control. "Sure do wish he was here."

Kyoka offered him a sympathetic look. "Yea he would...at least all these people came to honor him."

Dont cry.

Be manly.

He nodded, absentmindedly playing with the worn paper in his hand.

"Hey," Kyoka smiled as she rested a delicate hand on his shoulder. "You're going to do great out there. Denki would want you to do this."

Eijiro nodded as the lights dimmed and everyone hushed their voices. All eyes turned to Eijiro as he stepped onto the small platform. His normally bright eyes surveyed the crowd. Students that he knew and recently enrolled heroes alike watched him, all waiting for him to begin.

Dont cry.

"Denki was a good friend," he began, clutching the microphone in his shaking hand. "For some he may have been that class clown. Others might have known him as just the stupid joker in the back row." he smiled weakly. "For those who saw him when he hit his voltage limit, well, we all know what that looked like."

A chuckle rippled through the crowd.

"For me," Eijiro continued after a moment, "Denki was a friend. He was someone I could count on when things were rough. He was the friend I could visit when I needed someone to talk to. He was the friend that sacrificed himself to save my life. Without him, I wouldnt be here. Today we are here to honor the life of Denki Kaminari." he drew in a shaky breath. "He was a good friend to many of us. To others he was just another face in the crowd. Most importantly, though, he was a hero. He taught us all that life is precious. No one knows what will happen tomorrow. He taught us all to be heroes—to risk our life for those we love. Most importantly, he taught us all how to be a good friend." he bowed his head slightly and stepped down, surrendering the podium to Kyoka.

Tears trickled down his face as he slipped out the back door to the decorated lobby and slipped into the bathroom. He splashed cold water on his face, hoping to hide the tears running down his cheeks. His gaze traveled upwards to rest on his reflection and his heart sank.

He looked terrible.

Struggling to stop the silent tears from leaking out of his eyes, he left the bathroom and watched Kyoka's speech from the lobby. He wasn't ready to sit with the rest of his class.

He wasn't ready to face the reality of Denki's death.

"Why are you here?" a familiar voice asked behind him.

Eijiro turned to see Katsuki standing in the back corner, shrouded by darkness. He forced a weak smile. "I didn't think you would come," he admitted, struggling to keep his voice high and cheerful.

Katsuki glared at him, hiding all emotions. "Why wouldn't I come?" he demanded. "Did you think I'd miss his funeral?"

Eijiro forced a nervous laugh and held his hands in front of his chest as a surrender. "N-no," he quickly answered. "No of course not I just didn't see you in the crowd so..." he trailed off.

Katsuki held his gaze but eventually looked down. "I shouldn't have been such a jerk."

Eijiro froze and stared at his classmate like he had grown a second head. "What?"

The blond sighed and lowered his head in defeat. "I was a jerk. I didn't know that...that he would go off and do something stupid," he rumbled. "I shouldn't have treated him that way."

Eijiro softened as tears ran down his face, leaving wet trails down his cheeks. "If Denki was here now, he would have forgiven you."

Katsuki's head jerked up and he stared at Eijiro in shock. "Wh-what?" he stuttered, caught off guard.

His friend reached out a rough hand and rested it on Katsuki's shoulder much like Kyoka had earlier. "I said that if Denki was here now, he would have forgiven you and done one other thing." he grabbed Katsuki's shoulder and pulled him into a tight hug.

The blond tensed, unsure of how to react, but slowly his shoulders slumped and his arms wrapped around Eijiro's shoulders. "Thanks," he whispered with barely contained emotion as warm tears wet his friend's jacket.

Eijiro smiled weakly. "Course man," he responded.

It was okay to cry.

It was manly.