The problem started because of Mina Ashido. Honestly, most of Denki's problems usually did. It happened during lunch three days before Christmas break, when the cafeteria buzzed with loud conversations and the scent of warm food filled the air. Snow drifted lazily outside the large windows while Class 1-A crowded around their usual tables.
Denki had been perfectly fine. Relaxed, even. Until Mina leaned across the table suddenly and asked, "So what'd you get Y/n for Christmas?" Just like thathis soul left his body. Denki choked on his drink so violently that Sero had to smack his back while laughing. "BRO."
"You okay there?!" Kirishima asked.
Denki coughed dramatically, pointing accusingly at Mina. "Why do you attack people like that?!"
"Answer the question," Mina said immediately.
Denki froze. That told everyone exactly what they needed to know. Mina's eyes widened. "WAIT." Sero started laughing before Denki even spoke. "You didn't buy anything yet?!" Mina whisper yelled.
"I was BUSY!"
"With what?" Bakugo asked from nearby, looking deeply unimpressed. "Being stupid?"
Denki pointed at him. "See this? This is why nobody likes you emotionally."
Bakugo looked offended for exactly half a second. "I don't want people to."
"That's honestly fair."
Mina slammed both hands onto the lunch table dramatically. "Absolutely not. We are fixing this today."
Denki blinked. "…We?"
"Yes, we," Mina repeated. "You clearly cannot survive this alone."
"I can survive!"
"You panic when Y/n smiles at you."
Denki immediately looked around the cafeteria in fear. "KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN."
Several nearby students had already turned toward him. Including you. You sat a few tables away beside Ochaco, mid-conversation, your expression soft with confusion when your eyes met Denki's.
Denki... Poor Denki completely short circuited. His face went bright red instantly before he whipped back around in his seat. Mina stared at him with the biggest grin imaginable. "…You are down catastrophic."
"I hate this class."
"You love this class," Kirishima corrected.
"Unfortunately true."
And that was how Denki Kaminari somehow ended up walking through a crowded shopping district later that evening with Mina, Kirishima, Sero, and an extremely unwilling Bakugo. The city looked beautiful in winter. Christmas lights stretched across buildings and storefronts, glowing gold and red against the dark evening sky. Snow rested in soft piles along sidewalks while music drifted faintly through the streets from nearby shops and cafés.
The entire place felt warm despite the cold. Denki, however, was suffering. "I don't know what girls like!" he whispered harshly while Mina dragged him toward another store.
"You've literally been best friends with one for months!"
"That's DIFFERENT."
"How?!"
"I don't know!"
Bakugo shoved his hands deeper into his pockets as he walked behind the group looking like he regretted every decision that led him here. "Why am I involved in this?"
"For support," Sero answered.
"You're terrible support."
"I'm emotional support."
"You're emotionally exhausting."
Kirishima laughed loudly while Denki continued spiraling beside Mina. Every single store became a crisis.
A jewelry store window?
"Too much pressure."
A bookstore?
"What if she already read these?!"
A clothing store?
"I don't know her size!"
"You absolutely do not need to know her size," Mina said immediately.
Denki's face went nuclear red. "THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT."
Sero started choking laughing beside him. Mina, unfortunately, looked inspired now. "Ooo," she hummed mischievously while pointing toward a more expensive clothing store window. "You should totally buy her something mature." All four boys froze instantly. Denki blinked once. "What does that mean?" Mina grinned wickedly. "Like matching bra set or something."
Silence.
Actual silence.
"WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT?" Sero shouted.
"I WASN'T READY FOR THAT IMAGE," Kirishima cried.
Denki looked moments away from cardiac arrest. "MY BRAIN JUST LIT ON FIRE."
Bakugo physically turned away from the group in disgust. "You're all pathetic." And yet even he looked mildly traumatized. Mina laughed so hard she nearly slipped in the snow. "You guys are so easy to mess with!"
"You are a menace," Denki muttered weakly.
"Correct."
The shopping continued after that, though Denki's dignity never truly recovered. Still, despite the chaos and teasing, something slowly became obvious to everyone. Everything reminded Denki of you. A scarf display made him pause because "Y/n likes softer colors." A tiny bubble shaped keychain made him stop walking entirely. A café selling warm drinks made him randomly say, "She'd probably love this place."
Every little thing somehow circled back to you. And the boys noticed. "Oh, he's gone gone," Sero whispered dramatically to Kirishima.
"Like DEEP gone," Kirishima whispered back.
"I can hear both of you."
"That's unfortunate."
Even Bakugo had gone quieter by then, watching Denki glance through another small shop window with a strange look on his face. Not panic this time. Something softer. More serious. Because underneath all the jokes and chaos Denki genuinely cared. He didn't want the gift to be expensive or impressive. He just wanted it to feel like you. That was the problem. Nothing felt good enough.
The group wandered through another row of decorated shops before Denki suddenly slowed near a tiny little store tucked between two larger buildings. Warm golden light spilled through the windows onto the snowy sidewalk outside. "What?" Mina asked, noticing him stop.
Denki didn't answer immediately. His eyes focused on something sitting in the display window. A delicate silver charm hanging from a thin chain, shaped like a tiny floating bubble with soft blue crystal inside that caught the warm light beautifully. Quiet. Gentle. Pretty. Like you immediately he knew. "There," he said softly.
The others looked toward the window. For once, nobody teased him. Because the expression on his face had changed completely. Gone was the panic. Gone was the dramatic complaining. Now he just looked…certain. Denki stepped inside the little shop quietly while snow continued falling outside beneath the city lights. The boys and Mina followed behind him more slowly this time, watching as he carefully picked up the necklace from the display counter.
The tiny crystal shimmered softly beneath the warm shop lighting. Denki smiled. Not the loud, goofy grin he usually wore. Something softer. Something real. "…She'll like this, right?" he asked quietly. For a moment, nobody answered immediately. Kirishima smiled. "Yeah," he said. "She definitely will." Mina's teasing expression softened too as she leaned against Sero's shoulder dramatically. "Aww. He's in love."
Denki's face turned bright red instantly. "DON'T SAY IT LIKE THAT." But even while groaning in embarrassment he never put the necklace down.
The tiny necklace rested carefully in Denki's hands while the shop employee wrapped it neatly behind the counter in soft tissue paper and ribbon. Even now, he kept glancing toward it like he still couldn't fully believe he'd actually found something perfect. The silver charm caught the warm shop lighting every time it moved, the pale blue crystal inside reflecting softly like winter light trapped inside glass. It reminded him of you instantly. And honestly? That realization alone made his heart nervous.
"There you go!" the cashier said warmly, handing over the small gift bag. Denki accepted it carefully, almost too carefully, like if he squeezed the bag too hard the entire thing might somehow combust. Sero immediately leaned over his shoulder trying to peek inside again. "Lemme see it one more time."
"You already saw it."
"Yeah, but now it's emotionally important."
"That sentence doesn't even mean anything."
"It means you're whipped."
Denki groaned under his breath while Kirishima laughed beside him.
Outside the shop windows, snow continued drifting softly beneath glowing Christmas lights. The streets had grown busier during the evening, people moving between stores carrying shopping bags and warm drinks while holiday music floated faintly through the cold air outside.
The whole city felt warm tonight.
Like one giant romance movie Denki unfortunately got dragged into against his will. The group stepped back out onto the snowy sidewalk moments later, cold air immediately brushing against flushed faces after the warmth of the little shop. Mina wasted absolutely no time. "So," she started casually.
Denki narrowed his eyes immediately. "…Why do you sound evil?"
"Because I'm inspired."
"That somehow makes it worse."
Mina ignored him completely, walking backward dramatically through the snow so she could grin directly at him. "I'm throwing a Christmas party."
Sero blinked. "Since when?"
"Since right now."
"That's not how planning works."
"It is when you're talented."
Bakugo shoved his hands deeper into his pockets, already looking exhausted by all of them. "What does this have to do with us?"
Mina pointed directly at Denki.
"You're bringing Y/n."
Denki nearly slipped on the icy sidewalk.
"I'M WHAT?"
Kirishima grabbed the back of his hoodie before he could completely wipe out in the snow.
"Careful, bro."
Denki pointed accusingly at Mina while trying to regain balance. "Why are you deciding things for me?!"
"Because you clearly can't survive romantically without supervision."
"What does that even mean?!"
"It means," Mina said dramatically, "Christmas parties are literally perfect for romance."
Denki looked horrified already.
"Warm lights. Holiday music. Snow outside. Emotional vulnerability."
"Please stop talking."
"And," Mina continued proudly, "it's the perfect opportunity to lay a move on her."
All four boys froze instantly. Silence hit the sidewalk. Denki's face turned violently red so fast it almost looked painful. "I AM NOT 'LAYING MOVES' ON ANYBODY."
Mina gasped dramatically. "You're holding hands now. We're beyond moves."
"STOP IT WAS ONE TIME!"
Her eyes widened immediately. "Oh my gosh."
Denki froze.
Mina grabbed Sero violently by the shoulders. "HE ADMITTED IT."
"KAMINARI HELD Y/N'S HAND?!" Sero shouted.
"YOU ARE BOTH SO LOUD."
Several nearby pedestrians turned to stare while Denki looked seconds away from collapsing into the snow permanently. Even Bakugo looked mildly shocked now. "…You actually did?" he asked. Denki looked betrayed by the universe itself. "It just happened!"
"That's somehow worse," Sero wheezed.
Mina looked spiritually fulfilled. "YOU'RE IN THE PINING ARC."
"I'm in hell."
"You're in love."
"THAT IS A CRAZY THING TO SAY."
Mina opened her mouth again, clearly preparing to make things even worse somehow, but Kirishima stepped in immediately like a man trying to stop a disaster before casualties occurred. "ANYWAY," he said loudly. Everyone looked toward him. Kirishima pointed toward the small gift bag in Denki's hands. "You should make her chocolates too." The conversation paused. Denki blinked once. "…Chocolates?"
"Yeah!" Kirishima nodded. "Girls love handmade stuff. It feels more personal."
Sero tilted his head slightly. "…Wait. That's actually kinda genius."
Mina gasped dramatically. "STOP THAT'S SO CUTE."
Denki stared down at the little gift bag again while snow drifted softly around the group beneath glowing streetlights. Homemade chocolates. Something warm. Something made specifically for you immediately his heartbeat started acting stupid again. "But what if they taste bad?" he asked weakly.
"They probably will," Bakugo answered instantly.
Denki looked offended. "Wow. Supportive."
"You're terrible at cooking."
"That's fair."
Kirishima laughed loudly. "Then practice first!"
"You make it sound easy."
"It's chocolate, bro. Not a bomb."
"With Denki involved, it could become a bomb," Sero added.
"WHY DOES EVERYONE THINK I'M INCAPABLE?"
"Because you electrocuted yourself making ramen once," Mina answered immediately.
"That happened ONE TIME."
"It happened three times."
Snow continued falling softly around the group while their laughter mixed with the distant sounds of the city around them. Christmas lights reflected against icy sidewalks beneath their feet while Denki looked down once more at the little bag resting carefully in his hands. The necklace inside felt important. Not because it was expensive. Not because Mina forced him to buy something. But because the second he saw it he thought of you. And somehow, that feeling alone warmed his chest more than the winter coat wrapped around him.
Mina noticed the expression on his face almost immediately. For once, her teasing grin softened slightly. "…She's really gonna love it, Denki." Denki looked away quickly, embarrassed all over again. But despite that he smiled. The rest of the evening blurred together afterward in the softest way possible. The kind of night that stayed warm in your chest long after it ended.
Snow continued drifting gently over the city while the group wandered through crowded streets glowing with Christmas lights. Storefront windows reflected gold and red against icy sidewalks while holiday music drifted softly through the cold air from nearby cafés and little street vendors. Everything felt alive. Warm despite winter.
At some point, Sero convinced Kirishima to try some weird holiday snack from a stand on the corner, and both of them immediately regretted it. "This tastes like sadness," Sero complained dramatically. Kirishima looked personally betrayed. "Why is it spicy?"
"You told me it was chocolate!"
"I THOUGHT IT WAS."
Mina laughed so hard she nearly slipped in the snow again while Bakugo looked seconds away from abandoning all of them permanently. "You people are exhausting."
"And yet," Sero said proudly, "you're still here."
"Tch."
Denki barely paid attention to half the chaos around him. Every few minutes, his attention drifted back toward the little gift bag hanging carefully from his hand. The necklace inside felt strangely important now. Every time he glanced at it, he imagined you opening it.
Would your eyes light up?
Would you smile softly first?
Would you laugh because he got nervous over something so small?
The thought alone made warmth spread through his chest again.
"You're smiling at the bag."
Denki immediately looked up to see Sero grinning beside him. "I am not."
"You literally are."
"Mind your business."
"Can't," Sero replied cheerfully. "This is the most emotionally invested I've ever seen you."
Denki groaned while Kirishima laughed nearby.
Mina immediately hooked her arm around Denki's shoulders dramatically. "Our boy's growing up."
"I hate all of you equally."
"No you don't," Mina said proudly. She was right. Nights like this reminded Denki how lucky he actually was. The city glowed softly around them while snowflakes drifted beneath dark skies overhead. Crowds moved through the streets bundled in winter coats, warm light spilling from café windows onto snowy sidewalks while laughter echoed through the shopping district. For a little while everything felt simple.
Eventually, the group ended up near a large outdoor ice rink sitting near the center of the district. Lights wrapped around the railings surrounding the ice while skaters moved clumsily across the frozen surface beneath falling snow. Sero immediately challenged Kirishima to a race despite neither of them knowing how to skate properly. Bakugo refused to participate on principle. And Mina somehow convinced everyone to go get hot chocolate before they froze to death.
"I'm getting extra whipped cream," Sero announced proudly.
"You always get extra whipped cream," Kirishima pointed out.
"Because I believe in happiness."
"That's honestly inspirational."
The boys wandered off toward a nearby stand arguing loudly while snow continued falling softly around the rink. Denki stayed behind near the railing, hands tucked into his pockets while watching the lights reflect across the ice. Beside him, Mina leaned quietly against the rail she wasn't talking that alone made Denki nervous. "…Why are you being weird?" he asked carefully.
Mina looked up toward the falling snow for a moment before answering. "I already sent the invites out."
Denki blinked. "What invites?"
"For the Christmas party."
"…Wait, when?"
"While we were shopping."
Denki stared at her. "You planned an entire party while dragging us around the city?"
"I'm talented."
"That's terrifying."
Mina laughed softly before continuing. "It's gonna be the first night of break," she said. "Everybody's coming."
Denki nodded slightly. "Sounds fun."
"It will be."
Something about her voice shifted slightly then. Snowflakes melted quietly against her pink hair while lights from the rink reflected across the ice below them. "And that," Mina said calmly, "is gonna be the night you and Y/n stop pretending you're just friends." Denki's entire brain shut down. Heat rushed violently into his face while his heartbeat immediately began trying to kill him. "Mina!"
"Nope."
She cut him off instantly before he could even attempt to defend himself. Then suddenly, just as quickly as the serious moment appeared, Mina grinned again and smacked him hard on the back. "ANYWAY," she announced loudly. "Don't screw it up!"
"Mina?!"
But she was already jogging away laughing through the snow toward the others, boots crunching against the icy sidewalk while Sero waved dramatically from the hot chocolate stand nearby. Denki was alone. Left standing beside the glowing ice rink while snow continued falling softly around the city. His face still burned. His heart still pounded stupidly hard against his ribs. Despite trying not to his thoughts drifted toward you immediately.
Your smile.
Your laugh.
Your hand in his during the walk home.
The necklace sitting safely inside the little gift bag beside him.
More than friends.
The words echoed embarrassingly loud in his head while snowflakes melted quietly against his hair and coat. Denki Kaminari standing alone beneath glowing winter lights couldn't stop blushing.
Could we be more than friends?