With a Strum of My Heart Strings

Bad Blood

Shinsou paused his television as he heard his phone chime halfway across the room. Grunting, he got up from the sofa and walked over to it.

"Bored at work," Denki had texted him. "Entertain me?" Shinsou laughed.

"Is that all I'm good for?" he sent before turning around to look at the mess he'd made of his apartment. He'd accidentally stayed up all night watching TV again. Sighing, he started to tidy the area, folding the blankets he'd been curled up in and straightened out the couch cushions. His phone buzzed again.

"Of course not <3," Kaminari said, which brought a smile to Hitoshi's face. "Kiri just has his friends here and they're boring. One is kinda rude too >:(." Shinsou chuckled, not being able to help but find the emotes cute.

He had his phone in one hand and a dirty plate in the other as he typed, "Kay. Be there in 20," to which Denki responded with another heart.

Shinsou finished cleaning up and slid on a hoodie-- the same one Denki had borrowed, so it still smelled a little like him-- and locked his apartment door, heading out.

Hitoshi was happy to be able to see Denki again. It'd been a few days at least since he helped to write that song. Though it still wasn't finished, and neither of them could find the right lyrics for the chorus, it still was a lot better than he had started. Kaminari had quite a knack for writing.

That thought led him to think about that producer, Iida's, offer. He had to admit, he was tempted to take it. But he didn't know what that meant. He didn't want to have to leave Bakugou and Jirou, they had all always wanted to make it big together, but this also might be the only time he gets an offer quite like this one. He'd definitely have to talk it out with his band members, there was no way he could make this decision on his own.

Soon enough, Shinsou was nearing the cafe. He hoped that Kirishima's friends, as Denki had told him, wouldn't be too loud. He wished he could just be left alone with Kaminari, though he was at work anyhow, so that was pretty unlikely in the first place.

Once he approached the building, Shinsou was about to reach for the door when he stopped. He walked off to the side and peered in the window to see just how crowded it would be. Then he froze.

He felt like his entire body couldn't move; like it was affected by someone's quirk. But he knew that wasn't it. Time seemed to slow down and he managed to find it in himself to duck away from the window before anyone could see him. Before Monoma could see him.

Of course, he was there. Of course, he had to be there. Why wouldn't he be there? Shinsou rubbed his temples and tried to calm himself down. It was proving very difficult, though.

He considered not even going in. He could just text Denki that he couldn't make it, then he wouldn't have to face his ex. Hell, Neito had even brought Tetsutetsu along. The same guy he cheated on Hitoshi with. Was this just some twisted fate?

Shinsou took another quick peek in through the window, praying no one saw him. They were just talking with Denki and Kirishima. How could they just be chatting like that? Shinsou couldn't even find it in himself to talk to either one of them, really. But he knew he had to. For his own sake, and Kaminari's. Maybe he could even show Monoma that he'd moved on...

With that thought, Shinsou's legs moved for him, and he entered the shop. The only one who looked up upon his arrival was Denki.

"Hitoshi!" he called, beaming as he cleaned off the counter space with a rag. He ran up to Shinsou and gave him a quick hug. He noticed Monoma visibly flinch at his name, casting him a quick glance before turning around, focusing heavily on the drink in his hands. Shinsou scowled at him, though he knew Neito wouldn't see.