With a Strum of My Heart Strings

Come to Me at Cloud Nine

"We should hurry up and get going if there are people waiting for you," Denki said hastily, avoiding Shinsou's gaze. Hitoshi didn't understand why it seemed like he was trying to evade him again, even after everything that just happened.

Oh, right. He had good reason to want to avoid Shinsou, didn't he?

He released his grip on the blond's wrist, surprising him, though Kaminari didn't say anything, just started walking. He turned back after a moment when he realized Shinsou wasn't following. "Aren't you coming?" he called. Hesitantly, Hitoshi rushed to be by his side, not daring to say a word just yet.

They strode in silence for a moment before Denki broke it, saying, "That was... intense." Shinsou had to stifle his laughter. It brought a smile to Denki's face that he was so easily cheered up. "Remind me never to accept his help again." Shinsou stopped laughing. That sparked a question in his mind.

"What even happened?" he asked. Kaminari's smile fell and he realized that might not have been okay to ask. "Er-- you don't have to talk about it if you--" Denki put a hand up to stop him.

"No, it's fine," he said, looking at his shoes as they walked before huffing.

"Really--"

"I said it's fine." Hitoshi visibly flinched at Kaminari's stern tone. The blond immediatly looked guilty. "Sorry, sorry," he apologized before continuing. "After... after the show, I ran out. I couldn't tell it was him at the time for... reasons... but Monoma helped me and took me to his car. Then I recognized him." Shinsou nodded along, internally chastising himself for the 'reasons' Kaminari couldn't see, knowing full well it was because he made him cry. He'd have to apologize for that, too, on top of everything else. "I tried to act calm, but I guess he knew I'd recognized him. At first, he tried to be nice to me, tried to tell me he wasn't gonna do anything and that I should just calm down, but then..." He paused for a moment.

"Then, when I wouldn't listen, he locked the car doors so I couldn't get out. I was really scared, Hitoshi." Denki's voice sounded so weak, and it sent a pang of sadness through Shinsou. "And I got even more terrified when he didn't bring me home, when he brought me to his house instead. The rest is kind of a blur... Up until you arrived, I had drifted in and out of consciousness, I'm pretty sure he beat me up at some point, and I think he drugged me because I could barely think and my mind was really clouded." Kaminari's fists were clenched as he walked, not once meeting Shinsou's eyes. "I... It was terrible. I thought I was going to die." When he finally looked up and saw the look on Hitoshi's face, he gave him a strained smile, wiping away a single tear that fell down his cheek. "Sorry. Didn't mean to unload all of that on you." Shinsou shook his head profusely.

"No, no, you're fine. I'm sorry that happened to you. I should have been there sooner," he said hurriedly, not wanting Denki to get the wrong idea. Kaminari just shook his head.

"It's not your fault." That made the guilt in Hitoshi start to build up even more.

"But I can't help feeling that it is." Denki grabbed his hand, probably out of habit, but that didn't mean the action didn't fluster Shinsou.

"It's not. Don't blame yourself," he said. Shinsou looked down at their intertwined fingers. Denki followed his gaze and jerked away. "Sorry!" he said rather loudly. "Sorry."

Shinsou went silent for a few moments as they continued towards his apartment before Kaminari granted them a much needed subject change.

"Uh, why are people waiting for you?" Oh, yeah, Shinsou forgot. Denki didn't know. Hitoshi looked down as he walked.

"Jirou and I organized a search party for you," he said quietly, not meeting the blond's stare. Denki stopped, hesitating for a moment before having to walk faster to catch up with Shinsou.