With a Strum of My Heart Strings

The Calm Before the Storm

A/N: ATTENTION: I'm going on vacation this week (until the 7th), so I don't know when, if at all, I'll be able to post. I'll try to when I can, though. I've got one more chapter that I'll post later today. Though my birthday is the 5th, so maybe I'll try to post then!

Kaminari Denki may have been a bit of an idiot, but he wasn't stupid. It was clear as day that Shinsou had lied to him. He had way too many tells; the way he avoided eye contact, the way his voice was just slightly higher pitched and wavered, and the way he kept pausing, obviously looking for some kind of excuse.

But the biggest tell was when, after cleaning up their lunch, Kaminari reached the edge of the park just in time to see Shinsou climbing into what he assumed was an Uber. He immediately knew he'd been lied to then. The car drove away in the opposite direction of his dads' home. Or the pet hospital, in that case. Instead, he was heading the direction of his apartment. Of course, he was.

Kaminari had thrown the basket to the ground in frustration. Why the hell had Hitoshi lied to him? What was going on? Did he seriously just bail like that? There had to be some excuse. But why go back to his apartment? Whatever the reason was, it didn't seem to be very important. That's what made Denki the most upset. Had he done something wrong? He thought the date was going pretty well. Did Shinsou not like it? Yeah, it might have been a little cheesy, but Hitoshi seemed to be enjoying it. He had planned it with Shinsou in mind, too, knowing he didn't like crowds much. So why did he just leave?

Denki thought he'd be over it once he got a texted Shinsou and everything could be explained. But, unsurprisingly, that didn't work out, either.

When he had asked if everything was okay with the cat, Shinsou had avoided the question and instead thanked him for the date. When Denki told him that he could talk to him if anything was bothering him, he just told him he knew.

Kaminiari was starting to feel more like this was his fault by the minute. He huffed, flopping down onto his bed. He wished he had someone to talk to about this, but who?

He scrolled through his contacts on his phone. He didn't feel like Bakugou would be the best to talk to about his insecurities right now. Mina wouldn't have been a bad choice, he'd admit, but he didn't think she'd be the best choice, either. She'd probably listen more for the drama than for her friend. Though, he knew she'd still care.

Next, he thought about texting Kirishima. He was one of his closest friends. Though, he did have a shift with him later. Maybe he could just talk about it with him then.

Shinsou was probably one of the worst options here. Yeah, they could talk it out and Denki could get the whole story, but there was something Hitoshi wasn't telling him. He didn't want to pry. He hoped his boyfriend would just come to him.

Letting out a sigh, Denki called the last, and probably best, option for this: Sero. His best friend since forever. If he could turn to anyone about this, it was him.

Of course, not if he wouldn't pick up.

Kaminari groaned into the pillow of his bed. Of course, Sero was busy. Perfect. Denki huffed, sitting up. Kirishima would have to do.

Though, before he got up to get ready for his shift, he sent Sero a quick text. "I rlly need to talk to you. Tell me when you can." Direct and to the point. Yeah. Great. Kaminari groaned again, frustrated, as he started to get ready, pulling on one of his favorite shirts that had roses weaving over the front and around to the back and sleeves. It was a birthday present from Sero last year. Hopefully, it'd make him feel even the tiniest bit better.

Denki knew he probably should talk to Shinsou. He shouldn't assume things. But he was just too upset and not exactly smart enough to do the best thing in this situation. He hated this, though. He just wanted Hitoshi to tell him the truth. It felt like he didn't trust him. But he pushed those feelings aside, because he had to go to work, and he didn't want his friends to worry about him.