The Hope Barely Found

Questioning

"So sorry for interrupting before you could finish," Kaminari sheepishly apologized. "What was the rest?"

Shinsou went quiet.

"No pressure!" Kaminari panicked, thinking he had said something wrong. "You can leave it there if you want!"

"What are you here for?" Shinsou quietly asked. "If you don't mind me asking".

Kaminari easily slid off his shirt, shaking off a scrappy but firm stomach, scars raking across his chest.

"A lot of people have scars," Shinsou muttered.

Kaminari nodded and turned around. "A lot of people do have scars".

Shinsou couldn't keep his eyes from widening in surprise. Kaminari had a pale pattern striped across his back, leading all the way to his legs.

"I was struck by lighting," Kaminari explained, in a quiet voice that Shinsou didn't think matched the boy. "It was storming, and the cable broke, so they sent me outside to fix it. I got hit with lightning on the roof, and my parents left me for dead".

Shinsou forced his eyes away from Kaminari's back. "All scars have a story behind them".

"They do," Kaminari thoughtfully agreed. Shinsou was surprised when Kaminari didn't even at least glance at the scars across his lips.

"I hope you don't expect me to just open up that easily," Shinsou said, pursing his lips tightly.

"Nope!" Kaminari went back to smiling, and humming. "I just figured I could tell you some of my story, let you have something to think about".

They spent the rest of the morning watching the clouds in silence.

          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Inside, everyone had woken, and were discussing plans to visit the school early to let Deku, Shinso and Todoroki look around before school started.

"Look, not everyone can go," Aizawa sighed. "I'll be taking six people in all, so only three of you".

"I'll go," Katsuki instantly volunteered.

"No. Your going to stay here and relax," Aizawa ordered. "You've been pushing yourself too far again".

Katsuki muttered a curse, but sat back down.

"I'll go," Kirishima offered, nervously raising his hand.

"That will work," Aizawa agreed. "I'll also have Kaminari go".

"I'm okay with going as well," Tsuyu muttered.

Uraraka gave her an encouraging nudge.

"Great. That's our plan then. Go ahead and get ready, we'll have lunch while we're out too".

"Is that safe with people trying to get Deku?" Katsuki challenged.

Aizawa rolled his eyes. "We'll eat at the school. Calm down Katsuki".

Katsuki muttered a curse, but backed off, slouching in his chair.

"I'll go let Denki and Shinso know," Sero offered.

"I'll help Deku get ready," Tsuyu croaked. "If that's okay, of course".

Aizawa nodded. "Ten minutes. I'll be waiting in the van".

   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When they pulled up to the school, Todoroki and Shinso silently stared. Tsuyu helped Deku out of the car, and Kaminari and Kirishima climbed out after them.