By lunch it wasn't subtle anymore. It wasn't just a weird morning. Not just a quiet moment. It was all day. Denki sat at the lunch table, one elbow propped up, poking at his food like it had personally offended him. Across from him, Sero watched for a second longer than necessary. "…You gonna eat that," Sero asked, "or are you just emotionally processing it?" Denki snorted lightly. "I'm eating it." He wasn't. Next to him, Kirishima leaned forward slightly, brows pulling together. "You've been kinda out of it today, man."
"I haven't."
"You missed Aizawa calling on you twice."
"I heard him the second time."
"That's not helping your case."
Denki huffed, finally taking a bite just to prove a point. "…I'm fine," he said, waving it off. Across the table, Ashido narrowed her eyes slightly. "No, you're not."
"Yes, I am."
"No," she leaned forward, pointing her chopsticks at him, "you've been weird all day."
"I have not."
"You have," she insisted. "You're like… you, but off."
"…Off?" Denki repeated.
"Yeah," Sero added. "Like someone turned your volume down but didn't tell you."
Kirishima nodded. "You're still joking, just… slower."
Denki leaned back in his chair, exhaling through his nose. "…You guys are reading too much into it."
"Or," Mina cut in, "we're not."
Denki's gaze drifted. Not on purpose. Just habit. Across the cafeteria you sat with a small group, listening to someone talk, nodding along, smiling softly at something they said. Same as always. Same warmth. Same ease. Denki looked away. "…Seriously," he said, pushing his tray slightly forward. "I'm fine." Mina didn't respond right away. Because she followed his line of sight and saw you.
Then looked back at him.
Oh.
"…Oh," she said quietly.
Sero caught it next. "…Oh," he echoed.
Kirishima blinked between them. "…What?"
Mina leaned back slowly, arms crossing. "…Nothing," she said. But it wasn't nothing. Not even close. Because now they knew where to look. And Denki still pretending nothing was wrong didn't realize he'd just told them everything. Mina didn't say anything else. Neither did Sero. But the look they shared? Yeah that was a conversation.
Denki didn't catch it. Or maybe he just didn't want to. "Anyway," he said, pushing his tray forward as he stood, stretching his arms like he could shake something loose, "we've got training next, right?"
"Yeah," Kirishima said, watching him a little too closely. "You ready?"
Denki shrugged. "Always."
It sounded right.
It didn't sit right.
The group filtered out together, the cafeteria noise spilling into the hallways lockers slamming, voices bouncing off the walls, the usual chaos of U.A. Mina slowed slightly, falling back beside Sero. "…We're not dropping this," she muttered. "Not a chance," Sero said under his breath. Kirishima glanced between them, then ahead at Denki. "…Maybe he just needs a day?"
Mina gave him a look. "Does that look like a 'just a day' face to you?"
Kirishima hesitated. "…No."
Ahead of them, Denki walked with his hands in his pockets, gaze forward but not really focused on anything. The hallway blurred a little. Noise came and went without sticking and somehow everything felt louder anyway. By the time they reached the training grounds, the air had shifted. Open space. Bright light. Energy buzzing as students spread out, forming groups, calling out names. At the front, Aizawa stood like he'd been there the whole time, half lidded gaze sweeping over the class. "Rotating pairs," he said. "Control drills. Keep it precise."
Short. Of course it was.
"Try not to embarrass yourselves."
Students moved quickly, slipping into position, pairing off with familiar ease. Denki rolled his shoulders once, flexing his fingers slightly as faint sparks danced across his skin. Focus. That's all he needed to do. Just focus. "Yo, Kaminari," Sero called, stepping into position across from him. "Try not to fry me, yeah?"
"No promises," Denki shot back automatically. There it was. That sounded like him. "Begin," Aizawa called. Sero moved first tape snapping forward, quick and controlled. Denki reacted a second too late. Electricity sparked from his hand, misaligned, catching the tape but not cleanly. "…Okay," Sero said, raising a brow. "Little slow there."
"I got it," Denki muttered, resetting his stance.
Again.
This time better.
Not perfect.
But enough.
They rotated.
New partner.
New position.
Denki moved through it, step by step, action by action.
Almost right.
Almost sharp.
But just off.
"Kaminari." Aizawa's voice cut through clean. Denki snapped his attention forward. "Focus."
"…Yeah," Denki said quickly. "Got it." He did for a moment until...
"Denki."
Your voice.
Closer this time.
He turned.
You stood a few steps away, already in position for the next rotation, posture relaxed but ready. "…You're with me next," you said like it didn't mean anything. Denki nodded once. "…Right." You watched him for a second longer than necessary. "…You okay?" you asked. There it was. That same tone. Soft. Careful. The one you used with everyone. Denki felt something twist slightly in his chest. Don't. He shrugged.
"Yeah."
Flat.
Your expression didn't change much but something in your eyes stilled. "…Okay," you said and that was it. No follow up. No second question. You turned back to your stance. Denki swallowed lightly, stepping into position across from you. "Begin." You moved first. A small bubble formed instantly at your fingertips smooth, controlled, expanding outward with quiet precision. Denki reacted a fraction too late. The bubble brushed his arm before he redirected, electricity flickering in response.
"…Sorry," he muttered.
"You're fine," you said.
Calm.
No frustration.
That almost made it worse.
They reset. This time, Denki moved faster electricity snapping forward but your bubble shifted smoothly, absorbing the impact, dispersing it with a soft ripple. "…Nice," he said automatically.
"Thanks." You didn't look at him. Just focused like this was just training. Like he was just another partner. Denki's jaw tightened slightly. He pushed forward you countered the rhythm should've been there. It wasn't. Not like before. Not like the first time. When it had been easy. When it had felt like He stopped himself.
Focus.
But his attention slipped anyway. Because for a second you smiled. Not at him. At the movement. At the success of the drill. The same smile. Denki missed his next cue completely. "…Kaminari." Sharper this time. He flinched slightly, snapping back. "Sorry!"
"Again," Aizawa said. No patience for it. They reset. Denki exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. Across from him, you adjusted your stance again. Ready. Focused. That got to him more than anything else because nothing had changed for you. You were still the same.
Still kind. Still steady. Still you.
Denki clenched his hand slightly, electricity crackling faintly across his fingertips. Focus. He tried. He really did. But for some reason standing across from you felt harder than facing anyone else. "Again." Aizawa didn't raise his voice he didn't need to. Denki reset his stance. You did the same. For a second everything went still. You moved smooth. Controlled. The bubble formed effortlessly, expanding just enough to pressure him without overcommitting. Denki reacted Late again.
The edge of it brushed his shoulder before he redirected, electricity snapping out in a quick arc sloppy. "…Sorry," he muttered under his breath. "You're fine," you said like nothing about this was different like he wasn't missing things. Like he wasn't off...
They reset.
Denki exhaled through his nose, running a hand through his hair again.
"Switch." The word cut through the field. Partners rotated just like that you stepped away and someone else stepped in. Denki didn't realize he was still looking at where you'd been standing until Sero snapped his fingers in front of his face. "Hey."
Denki blinked. "…Yeah?"
"You with me?" Sero asked, raising a brow.
"Yeah," Denki said quickly. "Yeah, I got it."
Sero held his gaze for half a second longer then nodded. "…Sure you do."
"Begin."
Sero moved first tape snapping forward in a clean, practiced motion. Denki reacted better. Not perfect but better. He blocked, redirected, stepped forward electricity flickering with more control this time. "Okay," Sero said mid motion. "There you go." Denki almost smirked. Until his attention drifted again. Not far just sideways. You were across the field now, paired with someone else. Moving the same way. Focused. Smiling faintly at something they said.
That same smile.
Denki hesitated Just long enough.
Sero's tape caught his arm. "Got you," Sero said, not pulling just holding. Denki looked down at it then sighed. "…Yeah. You did." Sero released him, expression shifting slightly. Less joking now. "…Dude," he said quietly. Denki didn't respond.
"Switch."
Again.
Again.
The drills kept moving.
But Denki never quite caught up. By the time Aizawa finally called it "Enough." Denki was already stepping back, shoulders heavier than they should've been. "Cool down. Five minutes." Students scattered some stretching, some collapsing onto the ground, others grabbing water. Denki barely made it a few steps before. "Okay." Mina's voice was right behind him. "That's it."
Denki closed his eyes briefly. "…What."
"Don't 'what' me," Mina Ashido said, stepping in front of him, hands on her hips. "What is going on with you?"
"I'm fine."
"No, you're not."
"I am."
"You missed like half your cues," she pressed. "You never do that."
"Yeah, well, maybe I'm having an off day."
"That's not an 'off day,' Denki, that's a whole personality shift." He huffed lightly, trying to step around her. She didn't move. Behind her, Sero walked up, arms loosely crossed. "Yeah," he added. "You've been weird since lunch." Denki glanced between them. "…You guys are dramatic."
"Or," Mina leaned in slightly, narrowing her eyes, "we're paying attention." Denki looked away bad move because Mina followed his gaze. Straight to you. You were across the field again, talking to someone else smiling softly, nodding along. Same as before. Mina's expression shifted. "…Oh my gosh," she said under her breath.
Sero blinked. "…Wait." Then he followed her line of sight too. "…Oh."
Denki tensed slightly. "…Don't," he muttered.
"Don't what?" Mina snapped back. "Don't notice the very obvious thing you're not saying out loud?"
Kirishima jogged up then, glancing between all of you. "Hey what's going on?" Mina didn't look away from Denki. "Oh, we're about to find out." Denki sighed, running a hand through his hair again. "…It's nothing."
"No," Sero said this time, quieter but firmer. "It's not." A pause settled between them. The kind that didn't move unless someone pushed it. Mina crossed her arms. "…Talk." Denki hesitated just for a second then looked away again. The pause stretched. Wind moved faintly across the training field, distant voices filling the space where Denki didn't. Mina didn't budge neither did Sero. Kirishima glanced between them, then back at Denki. "…You can just say it, man."
Denki let out a quiet breath. "…There's nothing to say."
"Bull," Mina snapped immediately. "You've been weird all day and you keep looking at her."
Denki's jaw tightened. "…I'm not-"
"You are," Sero cut in, calm but direct. "You literally just did it again." Denki looked away that was answer enough. Mina softened just slightly. "…Did something happen?" she asked, quieter now. Denki hesitated because it sounded stupid. It felt stupid. But it also wasn't. "…No," he said finally.
"Then what is it?" Kirishima pressed gently. Denki exhaled slowly, dragging a hand down the back of his neck. "…She's just..." He stopped shook his head once. "…It's nothing."
"Denki." Mina's voice this time serious.
"Just say it."
He stared at the ground for a second longer. "…She's like that with everyone, okay?" The words landed flat but heavy.
Sero blinked. "…Like what?"
Denki let out a short breath, frustration slipping through now. "Nice. Patient. Whatever!" he gestured vaguely. "She talks to everyone like that. Smiles at everyone like that." His voice dropped slightly. "Helps everyone like that." Silence. Mina's expression shifted. Sero's brows pulled together. Kirishima didn't say anything. Denki laughed once under his breath. "…I just thought..." He stopped again like saying it would make it worse. Mina didn't let him stop. "You thought what?"
Denki swallowed."…I thought it was different with me." There it was the truth. No one spoke because there wasn't really anything to say to that. Denki huffed lightly, shaking his head like he could brush it off. "But it's not," he added quickly. "So it doesn't matter." Mina stepped forward immediately. "Yes, it does."
Denki shook his head. "No, it doesn't."
"It obviously does," she shot back. "You've been off all day because of it!"
"I'm not-"
"You are," Sero cut in, more serious now. "Dude, you literally just admitted it."
Denki looked away again. "…I'm just being realistic." That line hung there. Heavy. Kirishima frowned slightly. "…Or you're overthinking it."
"I'm not," Denki said quickly.
"You didn't even ask her," Sero added.
Denki let out a short, humorless laugh. "And what, I'm supposed to go up to her and say, 'Hey, are you nice to me differently than everyone else?'"
"…When you say it like that." Sero started.
"Because that sounds dumb," Denki cut in.
Mina stepped closer. "No, what's dumb is you deciding how she feels without actually talking to her."
Denki's shoulders tensed. "I'm not deciding anything," he said. "I'm just looking at what's there."
"And what's there is that she's kind to everyone," Mina said. "That doesn't mean you're the same as everyone."
Denki didn't respond. Because that was the problem he didn't know if he believed that. "…Talk to her," Kirishima said quietly. Denki shook his head immediately. "No." Too fast. Too firm.
Mina blinked. "…No?"
"No."
"Denki-"
"I said no," he repeated, sharper this time. Denki ran a hand through his hair again, exhaling like he was done with the conversation. "It's not a big deal," he muttered. "I just misread it. That's it." But none of them believed that not even him. Mina crossed her arms slowly. "…You're an idiot."
"Yeah," Sero added lightly, "this is fixable, you know."
Denki didn't look at them. "…I'm good." Kirishima glanced between them, uneasy. "…I don't think forcing it is the move," he said quietly. Mina didn't respond not out aloud but the look she gave Sero? Aplan already forming. Sero caught it and smirked slightly. "…Yeah," he said under his breath. "Totally not forcing it." Denki missed that too because his attention drifted not to them. To you. Across the field.
Still talking to someone.
Still smiling.
The same way.
Denki looked away. This time he didn't go over. Didn't call your name. Didn't even try. Because if it wasn't different then there was nothing to hold onto.
Right?
…