With a Strum of My Heart Strings

Kaminari Denki vs. the World

Kaminari stood there in shock. He didn't move. He couldn't move. He was frozen in place. Tears started pouring down his cheeks as he watched the purple-haired man leave.

Hitoshi had broken up with him.

Hitoshi had broken up with him.

That thought alone made a choked sob escape him as he slumped to the floor and leaned his head against the wall of the cafe.

Denki didn't even hear as Sero got up and sat beside him, gently rubbing his back. In the far corner of his mind, Shinsou's words came back to him: Sero had planned this. He had to fight back the urge to move away from his friend. Sero would never do something like that.

"Kami, I'm so sorry," he whispered after a moment, once Denki's cries had died down. "I never thought-- this is all my fault." He took back his hand and gripped his hair, lowering his face.

Kaminari didn't even know what to do. He knew Sero was right, even though he'd never admit it. It was Sero's fault that this all happened. But it was also his, Denki knew that, too. He'd kissed him. He'd leaned in. He didn't have to do that, and he knew Sero probably wouldn't have done it if he hadn't. Sero would never force himself on anyone, Denki knew that for certain.

"I--" The blond tried to say something, to tell him it was okay, that it wasn't his fault, but his voice failed him. Sero just took this as a cue to keep talking.

"If I weren't so... so stupid, I would've realized-- I shouldn't have just confessed when you were with someone else!" Sero started rambling, barely paying attention to the hand Denki had brought to his shoulder. "I-I know that was so wrong, and I ruined everything you had with him. Denki, I--" It looked like he was about to cry now, too. He was completely blaming himself for this.

"Sero," Kaminari finally managed to say in a weak voice, causing his friend to look at him with glossy eyes. "I don't blame you." Sero seemed to relax at that, his tensed shoulders dropping and hands falling beside him.

"You should," he muttered. Kaminari didn't understand. Why did Sero think he did something so bad? It was Denki who kissed him. Denki had done this to himself, that he knew. He wouldn't blame Sero for his actions, even if he did encourage them in the first place.

"It isn't your fault," Denki said, trying to reassure him. He hated seeing his best friend like this, blaming himself. "You didn't do anything wrong!"

Sero shook his head solemnly, uttering, "I did, though." Denki sighed. Why couldn't he just believe him?

"Sero, please--"

"You should go, Kami," Sero said, looking up at him. "I've already done enough damage. I wouldn't trust me if I were you."

Wait, "What?"

Sero sighed, standing up. "Just go. I'll get Mina to cover the rest of your shift." He wouldn't make eye contact with Kaminari, who stood up next to his friend.

"I'm not leaving--" he tried to say, but Sero cut him off again.

"That's an order, Denki," he said sternly. That caused Kaminari to recoil. Sero never used the 'boss' card. "Go." Denki just nodded, casting one last glance behind him to Sero before hurrying out the cafe door.

Crap. Denki really messed up, didn't he? Why did he have to do that? Why did he have to kiss him? He knew exactly what he was doing. He knew this would happen. What was wrong with him? Kaminari hated this. He just lost Shinsou...

He sniffled as he slowly walked to his apartment. But then he stopped dead in his tracks. He really didn't want to be alone right now. He needed some comfort, someone to talk to.