Christmas morning arrived quietly. The kind of quiet that only happened after snowfall. Peaceful enough that the whole world felt wrapped in a blanket.
Outside, fresh snow covered rooftops and sidewalks in untouched white while pale morning light spilled across the neighborhood. Somewhere far away, muffled Christmas music drifted faintly from passing cars, and every house on the street glowed warm behind decorated windows.
Meanwhile Denki Kaminari was fighting for his life. He stood outside your front door holding flowers in one hand and a small gift bag in the other while snow slowly gathered on his shoulders. He had been standing there for three full minutes. Because suddenly this felt terrifying. Not villain terrifying. Not exam terrifying. Girl terrifying. Specifically: the girl he was hopelessly, embarrassingly in love with.
Denki looked down at the flowers again. Then back at your front door. Then at the flowers. Then back at the door. "…Okay," he muttered quietly to himself. "You literally fought villains. You can knock on a door."
"…Why is this scarier?"
He adjusted his scarf nervously before finally lifting his hand and knocking. And immediately regretted everything. Footsteps echoed faintly inside. Denki's heartbeat instantly started sprinting.
The door opened and there you were. Half asleep. Hair messy. Still in pajamas. Blinking slowly like you had just been dragged out of the warmest sleep imaginable.
You stared at him.
Denki stared at you.
"…Denki?"
Your voice came out sleepy and confused. He forgot every sentence he practiced. Instead, he awkwardly lifted the flowers toward you like his brain had disconnected from the rest of his body. "Merry Christmas?" You blinked.
Then looked down at the flowers then back at him. Tiny bubbles started appearing around you. Because Denki was standing on your porch.
On Christmas.
Holding flowers.
Looking nervous.
Like nervous nervous.
"You brought me flowers?" you asked quietly. Denki immediately looked away. "Maybe."
"That's literally yes."
"I panicked at the flower shop."
Your lips twitched. "Denki…"
"I didn't know what flowers girls liked!" he defended dramatically. "And the lady working there started asking questions and suddenly I was emotionally vulnerable."
You laughed softly.
The kind of laugh that made his stomach flip every single time. You looked cute. Your cheeks still looked warm from sleep while the cold winter air turned the tip of your nose pink. Denki physically had to stop himself from staring too hard. "You came here this early?" you asked.
He shrugged awkwardly. "…I kinda wanted to see you."
Your heart instantly betrayed you.
POP.
POP POP.
More bubbles floated around your head. Denki noticed immediately. "There they are."
"Stop noticing them!"
"Never."
You groaned softly, hiding part of your face in your sleeve. Christmas morning. Flowers. Denki. This was too much for your heart before breakfast. Then suddenly Denki rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "…Can I steal you for the day?"
You blinked. "What?"
"For Christmas," he added quickly. "Like a Christmas hangout."
Then quieter: "…Date."
Your face turned pink immediately. The bubbles multiplied aggressively. Denki laughed nervously. "Okay wow, saying it out loud somehow made this scarier."
"You're ridiculous."
"But is that a yes?"
You looked at him standing there on your porch again. Snow dusting his hair. Flowers clutched awkwardly in one hand. Hope written all over his face. Like he really wanted to spend Christmas with you and suddenly there wasn't really a world where your answer could ever be no.
You smiled. "…Come inside first before you freeze to death."
Denki blinked. "…That means yes?"
"That means yes, idiot."
His face lit up instantly full sunshine Christmas itself had personally chosen favorites.
"YES."
"Shhh!"
"You said yes!"
"It's seven in the morning!"
"I DON'T CARE."
You burst into quiet laughter as Denki stepped inside, immediately tracking snow into your house while apologizing approximately six times. Just like that Christmas officially began. The second Denki stepped inside your house warmth hit him instantly.
The kind of warmth that only existed in homes that actually felt lived in.
Soft Christmas music played quietly from somewhere in the kitchen. A tree glowed gently in the corner of the living room covered in lights and ornaments while wrapped presents sat beneath it. The smell of cinnamon drifted faintly through the house.
And somehow It all felt very you. Denki stood awkwardly near the doorway still holding the flowers while snow melted slowly off his coat. "…Your house feels like a Christmas movie," he said quietly.
You blinked sleepily. "That's because my neighbors force holiday spirit on everyone."
"I support them."
You narrowed your eyes immediately. "Traitor."
Denki grinned. "You have cinnamon candles."
"They're festive!"
"You're festive."
"You came here at seven in the morning with flowers."
"…Okay, that's fair."
A few bubbles floated lazily around you again while you moved toward the kitchen, still rubbing sleep from your eyes. "Give me like…" you yawned dramatically. "…ten minutes to wake up." Denki watched you shuffle away in oversized pajamas and fuzzy socks. For one terrifying second his brain went: Domestic. He immediately looked away.
Instead, Denki carefully set the flowers on the counter before awkwardly taking his coat off. Because sitting under your Christmas tree was a wrapped gift. With his name on it.
Denki froze. "…Y/n?"
Your voice echoed faintly from the kitchen. "Yeah?"
"…You got me a present?"
"…Maybe."
He turned toward the kitchen dramatically. "YOU DID?"
"Stop yelling!"
"You got me a PRESENT?"
"You brought me flowers!"
"That's different!"
"How?!"
"I PANICKED BOUGHT THOSE!"
You laughed from the kitchen. Gosh that that laugh. It had become unfairly important to him lately. By the time you walked back into the living room, now slightly more awake and carrying two mugs of hot chocolate, Denki had somehow managed to sit crisscrossed on your living room floor beside the tree like an excited child.
You stopped walking. "…Denki."
He looked up immediately. "Yes?"
"Why are you sitting like that?"
"…Christmas energy."
You stared at him then sighed. "You're lucky you're cute." The words slipped out. Accidentally. Immediately your face heated. Denki froze completely. "…Cute?" he repeated slowly.
Your eyes widened. "I meant-"
"No no," he sat up straighter immediately. "Hold on."
His grin grew. "You think I'm cute?"
Your bubbles instantly exploded into existence. "I hate this conversation."
"YOU THINK I'M CUTE."
"Denki please."
"Merry Christmas to me!"
You groaned dramatically and shoved a mug into his hands before hiding your burning face behind your sleeve. Unfortunately Denki looked way too pleased with himself now. The worst part? He kept smiling like really smiling the kind that reached his eyes. The kind that made your chest feel warm in the weirdest way.
Eventually, after both of you calmed down enough to function again, you settled onto the floor near the tree. Christmas lights glowed softly around the room while snow drifted quietly outside the windows. For a moment everything slowed. Just the two of you sitting beside each other with warm drinks in your hands.
Denki glanced sideways at you. Then quietly reached into the gift bag he brought. "…Okay," he said nervously. "This part's scary."
You blinked. "What part?"
"The gift part."
"You're nervous?"
"Yes!"
"Why?"
"Because what if you hate it?"
"Denki." You looked at him softly. "There's literally no universe where I hate something you got me."
Somehow those words made his chest feel embarrassingly warm. Denki swallowed then slowly held out a small wrapped box toward you. "…Merry Christmas." Your heart fluttered instantly. This felt important like whatever was inside mattered because it came from him.
Tiny bubbles floated quietly around you as you carefully took it from his hands. Denki looked more nervous than when he fought villains. You looked down at the small wrapped box sitting carefully in your hands. The room felt quieter.
The Christmas lights glowed gently around the living room while snow continued drifting outside the windows, and for some reason Denki looked more nervous than he had any right to. Like really nervous. His hot chocolate sat completely forgotten beside him.
Meanwhile he sat awkwardly on the floor beside the tree trying way too hard to look casual. He was failing horribly. "Why do you look like I'm about to decide your fate?" you asked quietly.
Denki pointed dramatically. "Because you are."
You laughed softly. "Denki…"
"I'm serious," he groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "I've been stressed about this for like two weeks."
Your heart melted a little. Somehow that made it sweeter. He cared. Enough to stress about it. Enough to overthink. Enough to panic and knowing Denki? Probably enough to ask at least four different people for advice. You smiled softly before carefully peeling the wrapping paper back. Denki immediately looked away.
Inside sat a small jewelry box. Your breath caught. Slowly carefully you opened it, resting inside, was a bracelet. Delicate enough to feel special without trying too hard. Tiny details wrapped around it that somehow felt very… you and near the clasp a tiny lightning charm.
Small enough to miss if you weren't looking closely. Your chest squeezed painfully.Because of course he'd do something like that. Of course he'd secretly put a little piece of himself into it. "Oh," you whispered.
Denki immediately panicked. "Oh no."
"No?"
"Why did you say 'oh' like that?"
"No wait, was that a bad oh?"
"Please don't hate it."
You looked up so fast. "Denki."
He stopped instantly and then he saw your face. The way your expression softened. The way your fingers carefully touched the bracelet like it mattered. It meant something your bubbles floated around you quietly now.
"I love it."
Denki blinked."…Really?"
"You remembered."
He tilted his head slightly."Remembered what?"
You smiled softly. "That one time I said I liked bracelets."
Then Denki shrugged casually. "You said you always forget to buy them." Your heart nearly exploded. Because he remembered that? Some random thing you mentioned months ago?
"You remembered that?" you asked quietly.
Denki looked confused. "…Of course I remembered."
Like it was obvious. Remembering little things about you had become second nature. Because somewhere between movie nights and grocery runs and late night talks noticing you became easy. You looked back down at the bracelet. "…Can you help me put it on?"
Denki stopped functioning."…Me?"
"Yes, you."
"Oh."
"…Okay." Very carefully, Denki scooted closer immediately your heart started acting stupid now he was close. His fingers brushed yours softly when he took the bracelet from the box. Denki's focus shifted completely while he carefully worked the clasp. "…Why are these things so tiny?" he muttered quietly.
You laughed softly. "You okay over there?"
"No."
"Need backup?"
"Yes."
"No."
He narrowed his eyes. "You're making fun of me."
"Maybe a little."
Eventually after way too much struggling the bracelet finally clicked into place around your wrist. Denki leaned back slightly because seeing it there on you did something weird to his chest.
Suddenly it felt real something he gave you belonged there maybe he liked the idea of giving you things. Of taking care of you. Of making you smile. "…It looks pretty on you," he said quietly.
Your face warmed instantly before you could even recover you suddenly reached beside the tree. "…Okay," you said nervously. "Your turn."
Denki blinked. "What?"
You picked up the wrapped present with his name on it. "…Merry Christmas." His entire face lit up immediately like full sunshine. "Oh my god." Suddenly Christmas became chaos again.
Denki had never opened a present faster in his life. You barely handed it to him before he was already sitting up straighter on the floor near the Christmas tree, suddenly way too invested. "Okay," he said dramatically. "No pressure or anything but if this is socks, I'll still cry."
"They're not socks."
"…Are they cooler than socks?"
"You'll see."
Denki narrowed his eyes suspiciously before carefully opening the wrapping paper. For once he slowed down. Because it was from you. Which somehow made this feel important.
The Christmas lights reflected softly against the living room walls while quiet holiday music hummed somewhere in the background.
Outside, snow drifted gently. Inside everything felt warm, safe. As if time had decided to sit down for a while. Denki finally opened the box. "…No way."
You watched nervously because suddenly you were anxious too. Inside sat a black hoodie. Soft. Simple. But stitched carefully near the sleeve was a tiny yellow lightning bolt. Small enough that most people wouldn't notice. But near the pocket there was tiny embroidery. Almost hidden. A little inside joke. Professional Dumbass. Denki stared at it. Then immediately burst out laughing. "NO WAY."
"You like it?"
"LIKE IT?!"
He held it up dramatically. "THIS IS THE GREATEST THING I'VE EVER OWNED."
You laughed instantly. "You say that about everything."
"NO THIS IS DIFFERENT."
His fingers brushed softly over the stitched lettering again. He noticed something else. The size. The fabric. The little details. Everything you didn't just grab something random. You thought about him. Really thought about him. "…You remembered my favorite color," he said quietly.
You blinked. "Well… yeah."
Like it was obvious as if paying attention to him had become normal. Somehow that hit Denki way harder than expected that was the thing about you.
You noticed people. The little things. The things they didn't think mattered. And Denki? You always noticed Denki. His stupid jokes. His favorite snacks. The way he hated studying alone. How he liked his drinks too sweet. What colors he wore most. Tiny things.
Things nobody usually remembered but you did. "…This is really cool," he admitted quietly. Then immediately ruined the emotional moment. "I'm wearing it right now."
"Denki, you're already wearing a hoodie."
"Double hoodie."
"That sounds uncomfortable."
"Fashion requires sacrifice."
Before you could even protest Denki was already pulling the hoodie over his head. Almost getting stuck. "Hold on-"
"Denki!"
"WAIT I CAN DO THIS."
"You literally cannot."
Eventually after way too much struggling Denki finally emerged dramatically. Hair completely messed up. Slightly out of breath. "How do I look?"
You looked up immediately your heart betrayed you. Because somehow seeing him wear something you picked out felt weirdly intimate. The hoodie fit him perfectly and the tiny lightning detail somehow made him look even more like… well. "…Cute," you mumbled accidentally.
Denki froze a grin spread. "No way."
Your eyes widened. "Nope."
"You called me cute twice in one day."
"No I didn't."
"You absolutely did."
"I rebuke that statement."
"You're obsessed with me."
You grabbed a throw pillow immediately. "DENKI." He laughed so hard he nearly fell sideways off the couch.
Gosh this.
This right here.
The laughing.
The teasing.
The comfort.
The way being together felt effortless now. Somehow it all felt bigger today. Like the space between you had quietly shifted again.
Eventually, after Denki dramatically modeled the hoodie approximately six times and declared himself "the face of winter fashion," the two of you ended up curled on opposite ends of the couch with fresh hot chocolate.
The Christmas tree glowed softly nearby. Snow tapped gently against the windows and somewhere during your second holiday movie without even thinking you slowly leaned against him. Like your body already knew where it wanted to be.
Denki went quiet immediately not because he minded. Quite literally the opposite because somehow you leaning into him still made his heart lose all common sense.
Slowly, carefully like it was the most natural thing in the world he adjusted the blanket over both of you. After one second of hesitation rested his arm around your shoulders.
Neither of you said anything you just melted closer. Outside, snow kept falling. Inside Christmas felt impossibly soft. The peace lasted exactly twenty three minutes. Which honestly? Was impressive.
You had both somehow settled fully into couch mode. Blankets everywhere. Half finished hot chocolate forgotten on the coffee table. A holiday movie playing softly in the background while snow drifted outside the windows in lazy spirals.
At some point, neither of you even remembered how it happened but Denki had somehow become your personal heater. Your head rested against his shoulder now. His arm stayed loosely around you beneath the blanket. And somehow this didn't feel awkward anymore.
Not after everything.
Not after the date.
Not after the kiss.
Not after the way things had quietly shifted between you.
This just felt…right. The kind of right that made Denki's chest ache a little. He could get used to this way too fast. You were warm, soft.
And every now and then your bubbles floated lazily around the room whenever the movie got emotional or Denki accidentally said something cute.
Which happened more than either of you wanted to admit. On screen, some dramatic Christmas confession was happening. Denki scoffed. "Okay but imagine confessing in front of an entire town square."
You laughed softly against him. "That's something Mina would make happen."
"Mina would hire backup dancers."
"She absolutely would."
"Pyrotechnics."
"Confetti."
"Bakugo yelling in the background."
"Definitely yelling."
The two of you dissolved into quiet laughter.
RIIIIING.
Your phone buzzed loudly on the coffee table. You glanced over lazily. Then froze. "Oh no."
Denki blinked. "What?"
You slowly turned the phone toward him.
Incoming FaceTime:
Mina 💖💥✨
The two of you stared at it like maybe if you ignored it it would go away. It did not. Instead another call immediately started. Then another. Then another. Denki sighed dramatically. "She senses happiness."
"She always senses happiness."
The phone rang again. And again. And again. Finally you answered. Instant mistake. Mina's face immediately filled the screen. Her expression: wild, suspicious. Dangerously excited.
Behind her, Sero leaned halfway into frame eating chips while Kirishima sat in the background looking like he deeply regretted being included in whatever this was.
Mina narrowed her eyes instantly. "…Why do you both look cozy?"
Denki slowly looked down at the blanket. At your shoulder against him. At his arm very obviously around you. Then immediately panicked. "You can't prove anything!" Mina gasped so violently she nearly dropped the phone. "OH MY GOD."
"No!" Denki said immediately.
"Yes!" Mina screamed.
"No!"
"YOU'RE CUDDLING."
"We're literally watching a movie!"
"UNDER A BLANKET."
"It's cold!"
"YOU LOOK LIKE A MARRIED COUPLE."
You nearly choked. "MINA."
Behind her, Sero nodded casually. "She's kinda right." Kirishima peeked over from the background. "…You guys are super obvious now."
Denki looked horrified. "What does that mean?"
Mina practically vibrated. "It means you both look disgustingly in love."
Complete silence. Your bubbles exploded into existence instantly. Denki malfunctioned. "WHA-"
"I SAID WHAT I SAID."
Sero pointed at the screen dramatically. "Bro, you literally tilted the blanket over her shoulder like an old man."
Denki blinked. "…I did?"
"Yes!" Mina yelled.
"You keep fixing her hair," Sero added.
"And she keeps leaning into you," Kirishima said carefully.
You immediately sat up then somehow accidentally leaned back into Denki again. Which made everything worse. Mina screamed. "OH MY GOD THEY DON'T EVEN NOTICE ANYMORE."
Denki covered his face. "I hate this call."
"No you don't," Mina grinned. Then suddenly her eyes narrowed. Dangerously, suspiciously. "…Wait." Everyone froze. Mina leaned closer to the screen. "…Are y'all officially dating yet?" The silence hit hard painfully hard silence. Sero slowly lowered his chips. Kirishima blinked. Mina blinked harder. "…YOU'RE NOT?!"
Denki looked like he wanted to evaporate. You hid behind your sleeve immediately somewhere deep inside Mina spiritually ascended again.
After the FaceTime call ended the house became suspiciously quiet. The kind of quiet that happened after your friends publicly embarrassed you and then vanished, leaving emotional destruction behind.
The movie still played softly in the background. Snow still drifted peacefully outside. Christmas lights still glowed warmly around the room. And yet everything somehow felt different now. Because unfortunately Mina had planted thoughts. Terrible thoughts.
Like: You look disgustingly in love.
And worse:
Are y'all officially dating yet?
Which neither of you answered.
At all.
Denki stared very hard at the TV. You stared very hard at your mug. Neither of you were absorbing a single thing happening onscreen. A dramatic Christmas confession played. Neither noticed someone was crying. No clue why. Denki cleared his throat awkwardly. "…So."
"So."
Then simultaneously: "Today's been really nice." You both stopped blinked. Then immediately laughed. Somehow this kept happening now. Like the two of you had quietly started moving in sync without realizing it. Your laugh softened after a moment. "…It really has."
Denki looked at you then really looked. The way Christmas lights reflected softly against your face should honestly be illegal. Your hair slightly messy from lounging around. Still wearing cozy clothes. His bracelet resting against your wrist now.
Everything about this moment felt weirdly important like the kind of memory he'd remember years later. Denki swallowed hard. Because suddenly he wanted more time. Didn't want the day to end yet. Didn't want this warm little bubble around the two of you to disappear.
Then an idea hit him before fear could stop him he blurted: "…Wanna go on a walk?"
You blinked. "A walk?"
"Christmas walk," he corrected quickly. "Like… outside."
"…With me."
Your heart fluttered embarrassingly fast. Somehow when Denki asked things like that now it felt different. Like he genuinely wanted to spend time with you. Not because he was bored. Not because there was nothing else to do. Because it was you.
Outside, snow still drifted softly. Fresh enough that the sidewalks looked untouched. And honestly? A Christmas walk with Denki sounded kinda perfect. You smiled softly. "…Okay."
Denki lit up immediately. "Really?"
"You're acting like I said yes to marriage."
"Not helping my heart right now."
Your face turned pink instantly. "DENKI."
He grinned shamelessly. "You started it."
"No I didn't!"
"You smiled at me weird."
"That means nothing!"
"It means everything."
You threw a pillow at him. He barely dodged. Chaos restored. Eventually after way too much bickering over scarves the two of you bundled up to go outside. And apparently Denki had opinions.
Strong opinions. "Wear the red scarf."
"Why?"
"It looks cute."
You stared. "…That's your whole argument?"
"Yes."
"You're impossible."
"And yet," he said smugly, opening the front door for you dramatically, "you still listen to me." Unfortunately he was right. Which annoyed you. Outside, cold winter air greeted you instantly. Snow crunched softly beneath your shoes. The neighborhood looked almost unreal. Christmas lights wrapped around houses. Warm golden windows glowing softly. Snow drifting lazily through the air.
For a few moments the two of you just walked side by side. Shoulders occasionally bumping. Breath visible in the cold. Comfortable silence settling naturally between you. Then without really thinking Denki moved a little closer. Just enough that your arms brushed. Neither of you said anything. Neither moved away.
Somehow that tiny closeness felt bigger than it should've. Like something quietly changing again. The world around you felt soft. Muted. Like Christmas itself had slowed down. Then Denki glanced at you. Saw your nose already turning pink from the cold and immediately frowned. "You're cold."
"I'm fine."
"You literally did the shiver thing."
"I did not."
"You absolutely did."
Before you could argue Denki suddenly tugged lightly at your sleeve. And without really thinking moved closer. Close enough that your shoulders pressed together now. Your heartbeat instantly forgot how to behave. "…Better?" he asked quietly.
For some reason his voice sounded softer out here. You looked at him. Snow catching in blond hair. Cheeks pink from cold. Like being here with you was exactly where he wanted to be and your heart did something stupid. "…Yeah," you said quietly.
"Better."
The snow kept falling and slowly without either of you noticing your hands drifted closer again. The first brush of your hand against Denki's happened by accident. Neither of you acknowledged it. Even though both of you absolutely noticed.
The backs of your fingers bumped for half a second before separating again. Then brushing once more neither of you quite knew what to do with the space between you anymore. That tiny distance suddenly felt huge.
The neighborhood stretched quietly around you while snow continued drifting lazily through the air. Everything felt softer now like the whole world had lowered its voice for Christmas.
A house nearby glowed with warm yellow lights. Somewhere farther down the street, someone laughed behind a window. The smell of wood smoke lingered faintly in the cold air.
Beside you Denki had gone strangely quiet. Where his brows pinched together slightly. Something was happening in his head. You noticed immediately. "You okay?"
Denki blinked. "Yeah."
"…Maybe."
You tilted your head slightly. "That sounded suspicious."
He laughed quietly through his nose. "Yeah, well…"
His breath fogged in front of him. Then disappeared. For a second, he just looked ahead. Snow crunching beneath your shoes. Hands still dangerously close Like one tiny movement could change something. "I've kinda been thinking," he admitted.
Your heart fluttered. "About?"
He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly and suddenly Denki Kaminari looked nervous. Really nervous. Which immediately made your stomach flip. Denki didn't usually get quiet like this. Not around you. Not anymore. "You know…" he started slowly, "this year's been kinda crazy."
You laughed softly. "Understatement."
"No seriously," he smiled a little. "Like…" His voice softened. "Everything changed." Your chest tightened a little. You knew this wasn't casual conversation anymore. This felt important. Denki glanced at you briefly. Then looked away again. Eye contact suddenly became dangerous. "Before you," he said quietly, "I kinda just… floated around."
You blinked. "What?"
He shrugged one shoulder awkwardly. "I dunno."
Snow caught lightly in his hair. "You know how I joke around a lot?"
"…Yeah?"
"Well."
His smile turned smaller. A little quieter. "Sometimes it felt like people only really liked me when I was entertaining." Something in your chest hurt a little hearing that. Because suddenly he sounded vulnerable and Denki rarely let himself sound vulnerable. "But then…" he looked at you again, softer this time, "you happened."
Your breath caught. "You never really made me feel annoying."
He laughed quietly. "Even when I absolutely was."
"Debatable."
"I'm literally always annoying."
"A little."
"Wow."
You smiled despite yourself. Somehow that made him smile too. Then quieter: "You just… made things feel easy." Your heart stuttered hard. The way he said it like he meant it. Really meant it. "The movie nights," he continued softly. "You helping me study."
"The snacks."
"The grocery runs."
"You yelling at me for eating ingredients while cooking."
"You deserved that."
"I regret nothing."
You laughed quietly. Then the laugh faded. Denki's expression changed again. "And somewhere in all of that…" He hesitated. Like he was trying to figure out how to say something bigger than words. "…you kinda became my favorite part of every day." Everything inside you stopped. Just for a second. Snow fell quietly around you. Cars passed in the distance. Christmas lights glowed softly. But somehow everything else disappeared.
Because suddenly Denki was looking at you like you mattered. Like you mattered a lot. Enough that it scared him a little. Your bubbles floated softly around you again.
Denki looked at them and smiled. That soft smile again. The dangerous one. "…There they are." You immediately looked away. "Stop noticing them."
"Can't."
Your heart was beating way too hard now. without either of you really meaning to your hands brushed again. But this time? Neither of you pulled away.
The cold should've bothered Denki more. The way his fingers were definitely losing circulation. But honestly? He couldn't feel any of it anymore. Not when you were standing this close. Not after what he just said. Not after the way you looked at him. Because now his heart was doing something deeply unhelpful. Fast enough that he was pretty sure you could hear it.
The two of you had stopped walking somewhere near a quiet part of the neighborhood. Snow gathered softly around the sidewalks while warm Christmas lights blinked from nearby houses. Everything looked unreal. Unfortunately Denki was dangerously close to becoming one of those people.
Because standing here with you? After everything? It suddenly felt impossible to pretend this wasn't bigger than friendship anymore. Your hands brushed again. This time lingering. Just slightly. Enough that warmth slipped through the cold. Enough that neither of you moved. Denki swallowed hard. Then looked away. Then back at you.Then away again. Then sighed dramatically. "…Okay."
You blinked. "Okay what?"
"I had a speech."
You tilted your head. "…A speech?"
"Yes."
He looked offended already. "A very good speech."
"What happened to it?"
Denki gestured vaguely at the air. "Christmas happened."
"That means nothing."
"I forgot it!"
You laughed quietly there it was again. That laugh. The one that somehow made him feel like everything would probably be okay. Even when he was panicking. Especially when he was panicking. Denki rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. Then slowly reached into his coat pocket.
Your heartbeat immediately sped up. Suddenly he looked nervous again. The kind of nervous that made him fidget. Avoid eye contact. Overthink breathing. And then very carefully he pulled something out. Flowers. Slightly squished now from being carried around all day. But still pretty. Still carefully chosen. Still very, very Denki.
Your breath caught. "Denki…"
He looked down immediately. "I KNOW THEY LOOK A LITTLE SAD NOW."
"No-"
"I should've protected them better."
"Denki."
"I'm emotionally attached to these flowers now."
A tiny laugh slipped out before you could stop it and somehow that helped him breathe. Just a little. Then quieter: "…I bought them for a reason."
Your chest tightened. Because suddenly this felt important. Snow drifted softly around the two of you. Denki looked terrified but determined. Like he'd been building up to this for a while. "Okay," he said quietly. "I'm just gonna say it before I chicken out."
Your heart practically climbed into your throat. Because something in the air shifted. Something bigger. Denki took a breath. "A lot of things didn't go how I planned this year," he admitted softly.
"The Christmas party."
"The confession I totally ruined."
"The million times I tried to tell you how I felt."
You blinked because wait. Tried? Plural? Denki laughed nervously. "Turns out I'm kinda terrible at this."
"No," you said quietly. "You're not."
His expression softened immediately. Somehow that almost made this harder. Because every time you looked at him like that kind. Like he mattered it made him fall a little harder. "I just…" he hesitated. Snow landed softly in blond hair. Quietly like the truth had finally caught up to him he said:
"I wanna keep doing this."
You blinked. "…Doing what?"
"The movie nights."
"The grocery trips."
"The studying."
"The snow walks."
"The way you yell at me for eating ingredients while cooking."
"You do deserve that."
"I absolutely do."
You both smiled softly. Then Denki's voice quieted again. More vulnerable now more honest. "…You." Everything inside you stilled. Because suddenly there it was. The thing that had been quietly growing between you for so long. No hiding anymore. No pretending. Just the truth.
Denki shifted nervously. Flowers clutched too tightly in one hand. The other rubbing nervously at the back of his neck. Then finally heart fully on the line he looked at you and said softly: "So…"
His voice almost cracked. "…Will you be my girlfriend?"
The world went completely quiet. Snow still fell. Cars still moved somewhere far away. Christmas music drifted faintly from a nearby house. But for you everything stopped anyway. Because Denki Kaminari was standing in front of you. Holding flowers. Looking more nervous than you had ever seen him. Like genuinely terrified. Like this mattered enough to scare him.
And somehow that made your chest ache. Because suddenly all you could think about was everything.
The movie nights.
The study sessions.
The couch cuddles.
The grocery trips.
The snow walks.
The stupid jokes.
The way he always noticed your bubbles.
The way he remembered little things.
The way he looked at you like you were something soft he wanted to protect.
Like you mattered.
Like home.
And somehow without realizing it he had become that for you too.
Your safe place.
Your favorite part of the day.
Your person.
Denki shifted awkwardly. Immediately panicking. "Oh my gosh."
You blinked. "What?"
"You're thinking too long."
"Denki-"
"No wait, this is bad."
His eyes widened. "Was this too much?"
"Denki."
"The flowers made this weird, didn't they?"
"Denki."
"Oh no."
"You literally asked me five seconds ago!"
"I KNOW BUT FIVE SECONDS IS A LONG TIME."
Despite yourself you laughed softly, warmly. And somehow that made him stop spiraling. Just long enough to look at you. Really look he noticed it. The bubbles. Floating everywhere now more than before.
Tiny little things drifting around your head like your emotions had completely betrayed you and suddenly Denki's expression softened. Because he knew. He knew what those meant. "…Wait," he said quietly.
And for the first time since asking hope flickered across his face. "You're doing the bubble thing." You immediately hid part of your face behind your scarf. "Stop noticing them."
"No." His voice softened. This mattered. "Not this time." Your heart stumbled painfully. looked so sincere. So hopeful maybe just maybe he wanted this as badly as you did. You stepped closer slowly. Snow crunching softly beneath your shoes. And Denki? Denki stopped breathing.
At least temporarily. Suddenly you were right there. Close enough he could see snow melting in your hair. Close enough to notice your cheeks turning pink. Close enough to hear your nervous little breath. Then quietly so quietly he almost missed it you said: "…I thought you'd never ask."
Denki blinked. Once. Twice. Then: "…Wait." His eyes widened. "WAIT."
You laughed softly. "Yes, idiot."
And Denki Kaminari nearly ascended. "REALLY?"
"Yes!"
"LIKE REALLY REALLY?"
"Yes!"
"YOU'RE MY GIRLFRIEND?!"
You immediately laughed harder. "Oh my gosh." His entire face lit up. Christmas itself had chosen favorites again. And before he could stop himself Denki moved forward and wrapped his arms around you. Like he still couldn't believe he was allowed to. The flowers got slightly squished again. Neither of you cared. You laughed softly into his coat.
After one tiny second of hesitation wrapped your arms around him too. "…You make me really happy," Denki admitted quietly against your hair.
Suddenly your heart hurt. In the good way. The overwhelming way. The I think this matters more than I know how to explain way. You pulled back slightly. Just enough to look at him. Snow catching in blond hair. Cheeks pink from cold. Eyes soft warm.
Looking at you like he still couldn't believe this was real. Then Denki smiled nervously. That same smile. The dangerous one. "…So."
You blinked. "So?"
He rubbed the back of his neck blushing now. "…Can I kiss my girlfriend?"
Girlfriend.
The word hit both of you at once. Your face immediately turned pink. Bubbles everywhere. Denki laughed quietly. "There they go."
You looked away immediately. "Shut up."
"Never."
Snow drifted softly around the two of you. Christmas lights glowed. Everything felt warm despite the cold. And quietly heart pounding you nodded. "…Yeah."
Denki's breath caught he wasn't expecting you to actually say yes that fast. Then slower this time careful like he wanted to remember every second he stepped closer. One hand gently finding your cheek. Warm despite the cold, soft. His forehead rested lightly against yours first. Just for a second.
Snow landed softly on both of you and Denki whispered quietly almost to himself "…Best Christmas ever."
Then slowly he leaned in. The kiss tasted like winter warm somehow despite the cold snow falling into open hands. The kind of kiss that felt less like fireworks and more like finally coming home after wandering for a long time.
Denki's hand stayed softly against your cheek while yours curled into the front of his coat. Neither of you rushed. Neither of you pulled away too quickly. Somehow after everything this felt earned. Like all those quiet moments had finally led here.
The movie nights.
The studying.
The walks home.
The almost confessions.
The first kiss.
The waiting.
And now this. When the two of you finally pulled apart, neither of you moved very far. Foreheads touching. Breath visible in the cold. Snow caught lazily in blond hair and on your scarf. Denki looked completely gone. Like his brain had packed a suitcase and left. "…You kissed me," he whispered.
You blinked. "…You kissed me too."
"Yeah but like-" He gestured vaguely. "Wow."
You laughed softly. The sound warm enough to make his chest ache. "Wow?" you repeated.
"Yeah."
He looked at you like he still hadn't recovered. "I have a girlfriend." Your face immediately warmed again. "You're literally saying it like you won the lottery."
"I kinda did." You hid your smile behind your scarf. Denki noticed anyway. "You're smiling."
"No I'm not."
"Yes you are."
"Nope."
"Your bubbles are snitching."
Right on cue tiny bubbles floated around you again. Completely betraying you. Denki laughed quietly. Without really thinking he reached for your hand. Like it belonged there now. This had quietly been waiting to happen. "…C'mon," he said softly. "It's freezing."
The walk back to your house felt different somehow. Not in some giant impossible way.
Just… lighter. Shoulders bumping. Hands intertwined. Comfortable silence settling around the two of you like it always had. Only now when Denki looked at you he didn't have to wonder anymore. And when your hand squeezed his? He squeezed back.
The neighborhood glowed warmly around you while Christmas lights blinked softly against snow covered rooftops.
Everything felt peaceful. The world itself had decided to be gentle for one night. Eventually your house came into view. Suddenly neither of you seemed very eager to say goodbye. "Well," you said quietly.
"Well," Denki echoed.
Neither moved. Neither let go. Because apparently he had become brave overnight Denki smiled softly. "…Can I come in for a little longer?"
You laughed quietly. "Denki."
"What?"
"You basically live here already."
"TRUE."
And just like that the two of you ended up back where so much of this story had started.
The couch.
Blankets.
Warm lighting.
A movie playing quietly in the background that neither of you were actually watching.
Outside, snow continued falling softly. Inside everything felt warm. At some point, somewhere between quiet conversation and sleepy laughter you slowly drifted closer.
Until eventually your head rested against Denki again. Only now his arm wrapped around you without hesitation. Like second nature. Like he'd been waiting to do it properly. The blanket tangled around both of you while Christmas lights glowed softly from the tree nearby without meaning to you fell asleep.
Just like before. Only different now. Because this time when Denki looked down at you there was no confusion. No wondering. No fear. Just certainty. His girlfriend. The thought alone made him smile like an idiot. You looked soft like this.
A few tiny bubbles still floated sleepily around you before disappearing completely. And Gosh. Somewhere along the way without him noticing you had stopped feeling like someone passing through his life.
Stopped feeling temporary. Somewhere between late-night movies and shared snacks and snow covered walks home you had become something terrifyingly important. Home. Denki adjusted the blanket around you carefully. Brushed a loose strand of hair from your face. Then leaned down and pressed the softest kiss against your forehead.
Outside snow continued falling. Inside Christmas lights glowed quietly and for the first time in a long time Denki thought maybe forever didn't sound so scary anymore.