Lightning in a Bottle

Chapter 5: Meet the Parents

(Shinsou's POV)

Coffee tastes better when it's early in the morning, in my opinion anyway. It also tastes better when it's your day off and you can drink it relaxingly on the couch. Little black cat curled up and purring in your lap. And the TV screen displaying the latest interview of you and your fake idol boyfriend.

Okay, maybe not that last part.

"So, how long have you two been dating?" The woman interviewing us asked.

"Oh, not long, just a couple of weeks. But he already makes me so happy, ya know?" Denki answered, leaning his head on my shoulder.

The audience awed at us along with the interviewer. "So, did you know he was Chargebolt when you met?" She asked me.

"I heard his name from radio and stuff, but I didn't know his face. So, no I didn't really know who he was. I just saw him and thought he was really cute," I answered, and it wasn't a lie. I really had no clue who he was when we met.

"Must have been quite the shock when you found out!"

I laughed and rubbed the back of my neck a bit, squeezing Denki's hand. "It was, but you know, celebrities are just as human as the rest of us. So, when I look at him, I don't see someone who's famous, I see this cute blonde guy that's like sunshine incarnate and he makes my life a little brighter."

The audience and interviewer awed even louder. Looking closer at the TV screen, I can see Denki's cheeks tinted with an intense shade of red. His eyes wide and lips parted slightly. Then the TV screen switches to a clip of his recent concert, a voice over talking about how the show was dedicated to me, and the blonde's lovely voice comes through the speakers.

'And I feel so alive

With you by my side

We can make a life

I've got nothing to hide

Driving so fast

Every town passed

Never look back

We're good at that

'Cause I feel so alive

Damn you look good tonight'

One corner of my mouth twitches up in a little half-smile, remembering how it felt to hear this song in person. Standing backstage, watching the back of the electric blonde idol as he performs. Feeling the rush, the energy of his quirk, his voice, his presence, through the floor of a great big stage. The adrenaline of the crowd so strong that even the staff and Denki's managers could feel it. It was an experience I could never forget.

When the blonde is on the stage, looking out at the audience, it feels like he's truly trying to give each and every one of them his full attention. That's not possible, of course, but that's how it feels. Like each time he's singing a song, it's just for you. Or maybe I just felt that way because in my case, it was sort of true. But the energy of the crowd told me that maybe they all felt the same way; like Chargebolt is singing just for them.

I told Denki that when he asked me what I thought of the show. He laughed, smile big and goofy, and replied; "That's because I am!"

I didn't ask him to clarify or how he does it; an answer didn't feel necessary. I felt it. He truly meant every word.