False Heroes

What if it All Turned Out Fine

Shinsou could do this. In Asui's words, he was going to do this, whether he wanted to, or not. It wasn't a big deal. It was just Kaminari. They were friends. He could get past this.

Shinsou knew that he shouldn't have been freaking out. It was just that he was nervous. He really liked Denki. He didn't want their friendship to go up in flames because of his stupid mistake. He wasn't going to let that happen.

Which was why he really needed to make up with him.

Sucking in a breath, Shinsou stood up from his seat at the Dekusquad's lunch table. They all gave him encouraging smiles-- sans Todoroki, of course-- and he tried to return one of his own. It felt more like he only pursed his lips, though.

"Wish me luck," Hitoshi said as he turned away from the table, zeroing in on where Kaminari was sat laughing and eating with his friends.

"You'll be fine!" Uraraka assured him. Shinsou slowly nodded his head. Right. This was a small thing. He would be absolutely amazing. No big deal.

Shaking himself from his spiraling thoughts, Shinsou pressed onward, walking across the cafeteria to Denki's table. Kirishima was the first to notice him as he approached, waving cheerfully and flashing him his signature toothy grin.

"Hey, man!" Kirishima called, which caused the other members of the Bakusquad to turn to what he was looking at. Shinsou watched Kaminari's eyes widen a hair when they fell on him, but the blond was quick to cover up his surprise with a bright smile.

Bakugou grumbled something inaudible once Hitoshi reached the table, and Ashido was quick to slap him across the back of the head, obviously not afraid of the consequences. Sero laughed at the scowl Bakugou was wearing, which was directed then to the tape-hero. Sero wasn't as brave as Mina, Shinsou realized, when he apologized profusely with a nervous laugh and hands up in surrender.

Deciding to ignore the others, Hitoshi turned his attention back to Denki, who was patiently waiting for him to speak. Shinsou averted his eyes, his hand moving up to rub his neck.

"Can I talk to you?" he asked. Kaminari nodded, quirking a brow. Shinsou shot a quick glance at the blond's friends again, who were now all watching him. He swallowed down his peaking nervousness-- he still didn't understand why it had to be there in the first place-- and clarified, "Alone?"

Denki seemed to realize and he nodded again, standing up from his seat.

"Be right back, guys!" he called before turning back to Hitoshi, motioning for him to lead the way.

They walked in silence out of the cafeteria-- at least, Shinsou walked in silence. He couldn't say the same for the bubbly blond at his side, who didn't seem worried for their progressively crumbling friendship in the slightest.

"--and so I said, 'Dude, you can't just explode an ant because it stole your potato chip!'" Denki exclaimed, throwing his head back in laughter. Hitoshi was hardly paying attention to the story he was being told about a Bakusquad picnic. "But he didn't listen, so not only did he kill a completely innocent ant, he also burned his potato chip in the process." Shinsou hummed, a slight smile playing at his lips. He would never admit it if anyone asked, but Kaminari going on and on like this was kind of cute. "And he sent the blanket up in flames, too, I guess." Hitoshi snorted.

"You don't think that would be the first thing you mention?" he asked. Kaminari grinned back.

"No way. We'll never forget Anterson's noble sacrifice." He faked a sniff, whipping a finger underneath his eye. Shinsou was laughing now, too.

"'Anterson?'" he repeated with a lopsided grin.

Denki giggled. "I told Mina it was a terrible name," he sighed, shaking his head as if he were disappointed in his friend's choice of name.