Chapter Text
Two years ago Denki withdrew from Yuuei.
It was only a few weeks after the war and their second year had commenced when they had found a simple resignation form neatly placed on his bed.
There was no letter, no closure, not even a single message had been sent to anyone in their class. The school investigated it but there was nothing that could be done if Denki chose to leave on his own volition.
Initially, Shouto thought that war had been too much for him. After all, he's always been a nervous wreck when it came to serious confrontation, not that he blamed him for that either.
They were kids.
Then the news hit them. A few weeks later, it was announced within the community that former yuuei student Kaminari Denki had gotten involved with the Hero Commission. The contents of it all remained hidden but that was all the class needed to know to swallow their hope and accept Denki as a memory in the past.
And Shouto did.
He decided he needed to handle own affairs. Including his father who has been battling his expulsion as a hero and his brother who had fled after the war.
His family was in shambles and there was no room to think about somebody who made their own choice. However, that didn't stop his thoughts from drifting to his former classmate every now and then.
He was curious, naturally, and the sporadic pang in his chest dulled with time but it never stopped.
Ever since the contract had been announced there has been no other news disclosed about Denki. Not an article or even an internal rumor. It was almost like he had disappeared off the face of the earth to dabble in some secret business.
Which never clicked for Shouto because it wasn't like Denki was insanely strong or anything so he couldn't wrap his head why the commission had gone after Denki, unless it was vice versa, but that didn't make much sense either.
It didn't take long for the Sakura trees to lose their petals. Soon enough, snow hugged every street light. Then Japan had shifted back to the muggy weather and work studies were long and gruesome.
The effects of the war dug its claws into society but overtime attention began to shift and Japan recovered. All of that, just for society to revert back to its always.
Nothing had really changed.
There had been no trace of blue flames, meaning no trace of Touya. Shouto didn't know if he was alive or dead. They never found a corpse but he can't help but wonder if his brother had burned to ash in some filthy alleyway or maybe a meadow in the rural lands.
Until he finds that ash, however, he'll keep looking.
His father, on the other hand, recovered from the serious dent in his reputation. Some people had even defended him while Endeavor chose to stay silent.
Not an apology, not a defense, just silence. He acted as if Touya had never existed in the first place and that Dabi was just a villain and delusional opponent.
On the other hand, his mother drifted away. She was like a wilting lotus flower flowing down a stream she could not control, quietly fighting for her survival.
She owns an apartment outside of Musutafu, living off of more than enough settlement money. He visits her a few times a year but he can't help but get the impression that she wishes to forget her old life, or more so, him.
The existence of his father and eldest brother became her greatest pain, that doesn't excuse himself of course. She rebuked the idea but Shoto couldn't shake the strong impression after her letters grew less and less frequent.
He can't blame her either. Rei, Natsuo and Fuyumi made the perfect little family ― a normal one at that.
Meanwhile, hero course work gradually shifted from training to internships and work studies. He's been outside of Yuuei so much recently, he had gotten himself a small apartment in downtown Musutafu to lessen the hotel costs on the multiple nights he couldn't make it to the dorms.
Besides, graduation was approaching and so was adulthood. This was the one piece of advice from his father he couldn't disagree with.
Endeavor owns more than just their family estate. In fact, he probably owns a place in the most popular provinces in Japan where he's sent out to work, most heroes do. Well, typically those who are more well off or highly ranked at least.
Graduation came quickly. Quicker than what he was ready for. That also meant for the first time in two years his family had been united as a whole. It was uncomfortable, like there was a storm constantly looming and ready to pour, Shouto found he actually prefers when they keep their distance.
He wouldn't have thought like this two years ago, he would've wanted to cling to their side, except Endeavor of course. Now, he keeps his distance. Now, not even Fuyumi speaks of picture-perfect family fairy tales.
He spent the evening with his classmates. He'd been pushed around to take photos and had different kinds of foods shoved in his face to try. Everyone was ecstatic, mourning their school lives yet eager to take the next step in life.
Shoto was happy, genuinely. His chest squeezed with warmth, a feeling that doesn't come often but it always seems to appear when he's around his classmates, and the after-party of their graduation faded within hours.
Finally, just before midnight struck, he was punching in the code to his apartment and dragging himself across the living room with fuzzy chest and drained body.
He collapses on the couch, stripping off his tie and unbuttoning his shirt a few notches. He sighed and stretched and yawned, he even almost fell asleep on the couch right there with his hair all disheveled and his shoes still hanging on.
Then a thought drifted in his clouded brain and the smile lingering from the eventful night had faded in an instant.
The dull ceiling reflected back at him as the ghost of his former classmate, Kaminari Denki, lingered in his mind. The fact that he wasn't here seemed to resonate with him a little longer that night.
He was never close with Denki, not enough to be too sappy about it, he could only imagine what Eijirou and Katsuki were feeling right now. He's sure all of his classmates got the same pang of curiosity he did from time to time.
Mina had even expressed it a few times but it earned her a quiet and awkward atmosphere. Conversations about Denki didn't go anywhere, maybe because everyone still has mixed feelings about him, or rather, the way he left.
Shouto shook of his shoes and pushed back his hair.
Well, what's done is done.
He thought, brushing past the thought. He got up, slipped out of his blazer and tossed it on the dinning chair and set his shoes by the door in their respective position.
He's in the middle of debating whether he should shower or go straight to bed when a slow knock intercepts his thoughts. Shoto blinked. Maybe Natsuo had forgot something after dropping him off, he pondered.
He crept towards the door and looked outside the peephole. It was dark but the hall lights should still be on. Shoto furrowed his brow. Was someone covering it?
He pressed his ear to the door, listening for anything, only to receive another knock. He dipped back, rubbing his ear and carefully unlocking the door with his other hand behind his back, smoldering and ready to attack just in case
I would be unfortunate to ruin these clothes, he thought, opening the door. And then―
he didn't think.
His mind went still and what stood in front of him wasn't a threat, at least he didn't believe him to be, but a wad of cash raised to his face and his former classmate.
His hand stopped smoldering as a bewildered look crossed his face. It was Kaminari Denki, in the flesh, and he looked different now.
His stature was the most noticeable difference. He'd gotten taller, no taller then Shouto though. He was still pretty lean but it was clear he had been keeping up with staying fit, maybe even doing a little more.
His hair was about the same length and his eyes were a little more angled as he grew into his fox-like features. Except the eyes that once reflected a deep marmalade were not hollow looking and strangely expectant.
That's when Shouto shifted his attention back to the wad of cash being waved in his face, then Denki finally spoke.
"This should be enough for one room, yeah?" His voice sounded a little more mature but there was no significant difference. It definitely was Kaminari Denki.
The, Shouto frowned. He caught onto what his former classmates was trying to say pretty quickly and he would be lying if it didn't piss him off a little.
After all, who was this guy to come wave cash in his face and ask to stay in his place after the way he left?
Shouto isn't the most emotionally intelligent person but he knows an asshole when he sees one.
"This isn't a hotel." Shouto says after his initial shock subsides. He expects Denki to prattle on, he's always been a big talker, but the blond just sighs, stuffs the money in his pocket and turns to leave with his luggage strolling behind him.
Shouto caught his arm before he could go. If he lets him go now who knows if he'll ever return. Even though he and Denki weren't that close, he could at least do this for the sake of Katsuki and Eijirou who seeked closure the most.
"You don't have to pay." He adds, a little begrudgingly. He lets go of his arm and makes space for Denki to come in.
Denki doesn't even look the least but remorseful, or even relieved he's not being charged, he just strolls in with his suitcase clacking across the threshold.
He kicks off his own shoes like it's his own place and leaves his suitcase wherever it seems available, which happened to be beside the fridge. Shouto carefully watched him from behind after quietly closing the door.
Denki whistles as he looks around, standing in the kitchen. He peeps into one of the cupboards and even picks up an apple before settling it back down.
"Nice place. Daddy's money?" He ask casually.
Shouto's face hardens, partially because he can't deny it.
"I think we should talk." Shouto says as he walks into the kitchen. Denki hums, like it's nothing, then plucks an orange out of his fruit basket and learns against the counter.
Shouto takes a chance to scan his hands. They were calloused and unkempt, which was strange, because he remember's Denki had a strange habit of taking insane care of his nails so that even a speck of dirt wouldn't be found.
"What about?" Denki asks. Shouto's eyes flicker back up to his face, except Denki looks far more concentrated and messily peeling the orange then actually paying attention. They both know what it's about, yet he's shameless.
Denki's always been a little shameless, in his defense, but not to this degree.
"Where have you been?" Shouto asks.
"Nowhere special." Denki quips.
A brief moment of silence passes.
"Why'd you leave?" He tries again, but Denki looks up, almost disinterested.
"So I could crash your apartment two years later and eat your oranges." He replies, simply and seriously, like this conversation wasn't worth the energy.
"Kaminari," his eyes narrow, he draws a little closer to were Denki stripped the orange and left a mess on his counter. "I'm being serious." Denki glances up from his orange, sticking a slice in his mouth and chewing for a moment then swallowing after another.
"Listen, Todoroki, I didn't come here to talk. Just show me to the guest room and if you don't like my conditions then I'll leave." It wasn't a threat. At least, Shouto didn't think it was intended as one, and yet that was the feeling he got.
Whether Denki chooses to leave or stay isn't his problem, but for old times sake, he'll bear with it for one night.
Then a thought occured to him and suddenly he felt like an idiot. He'd never set up his guest bedroom. Actually, right now it serves as a study, although there wasn't much furnishing it.
He could probably run out and buy an air mattress but most stores have been closed for hours. To be honest, he didn't feel like running the errand either.
Shouto looked up and Denki was starring back at him. His eyebrow was raised, it was Denki's way of questioning the prolonged silence with one simple gesture.
"About that, Kaminari, I only had one bedroom." Shouto announced at last. Denki blinked then his eyebrows knitted.
"You mean to tell me you have this boujee ass apartment and only one bedroom?" The blond arrogantly critiqued him, as if he could be the one to judge. Shouto rolled his eyes, annoyance fizzing up again.
"You can't be the one to talk, I doubt you even own an apartment." If he did, he would be there instead of crashing at Shouto's place. Besides, it's hard to imagine Denki funded an apartment all by himself. Unless it was his parents whom Shouto's never heard a word about.
"Jeez man, you're so mean," Denki's face fell. He abandoned the orange peel on the counter and confidently strides across the living place, strutting down the hall leading to the bedroom.
Shouto wants to stop him but he doubts it'd go anywhere. So he reluctantly trails behind Denki as he swings the master bedroom door open and scans the room with a hum.
"This bed looks big enough for two, ion see the problem," Denki says and tries to wonder around the room but Shouto latches onto his wrist, speaking in a firm and demanding―
"That's enough." Denki looks at him curiously, his eyes widening a big, Shouto can't help but notice the dark circles accumulated under his eye from this distance.
"Listen, i'll take the couch and you could have the bed, just don't cause anymore trouble." He says, without compromise, and lets go his wrist. Denki just blinks ― bug eyed ― and slowly nods.
Shouto turns his back to the blonde and fetches some quilts for the couch. Denki doesn't move from where he's standing, just watches Shoto idly. The frivolous bullshit Denki had spewed seemed to have stopped.
It's a good thing yet Denki's silence puts Shouto on edge, naturally so. It stays that way as he switches out the decor pillows for plush ones and quilts.
Guilt stirs in his stomach. This wasn't the most warm welcome he could give a former classmate but the prospect of Denki appearing and disappearing like it's nothing― it gets under his skin more then he'd like to admit.
As for why, he has no clue. It's not like they were that close anyways.
He smoothes out the blanket as the finishing touch, turning back to face Denki only to find no one there.
"Denki..?" It didn't take long for him to find Denki poking around, digging in his closet and fiddling with his books. He glances at Shouto and pays him no mind, muttering something under his breath as he pokes around.
Shouto furrows his brows and steps inside the room. "What are you doing?"
"Lookin' into your oh-so mysterious life," Denki grins and turns around. "Why does that bother you?" he asks smugly. Shouto only stiffens when Denki pushes a novel he kept on his bedside into his chest.
"Confucianism teachings, seriously Todoroki?"
Shouto huffs, rolls his eyes, and tosses the book.
"I was under the assumption you were here to sleep, not judge my lifestyle," he answered earnestly. He wasn't embarrased, especially of philosophy. Still, it's weird Denki could peer into his private life as he pleased and yet Shoto knows nothing about Denki but the sliver of time they once shared together.
It's like looking into a one-way mirror and knowing you're being observed.
"Sorry, jeez. Just wanted to get a look at where I'll be staying at for the night." Denki brushed him off before he peeled of his socks and then his sweater, chucking them into the dirty laundry bin.
Shouto winced.
Without another word, he opted for his closet pulling out sleepwear for the both of them, and stuffing the outfit into Denki's chest with a small 'oof'.
He doesn't want to give his former classmate the satisfaction of knowing the impact his absence made on their class. He doesn't want Denki to know the curiosity that had been eating him up inside these last few years, and even more so, he doesn't want Denki to use his curiosity as a weapon.
Well, maybe it's too late for that.
And still, he has to ask―
"Why come to me of all people?"
The question hung in the air long enough for Shouto to feel like an idiot for asking.
He bites his lip with his back turned to Denki, resuming his leave when Denki scoffs. No, it's more like a laugh, but the blond isn't exactly humored.
"You're the only one with an apartment, obviously." Denki says. He can hear the grin on his face without even seeing it.
He's embarrassed but he doesn't show it. He just digs his grave a little further, for good measure of course.
"So.. you've been keeping tabs on us?" He isn't hopeful, he's learned a long time a go that hope gets you know where but disappointment, but it'd be nice to catch this new version of Kaminari Denki off guard just to show that his former friend wasn't completely gone.
Shouto looks back just for Denki to look at him with that same shit-eating poker face.
"Something like that." He laughs, carefree, without a trace of his old self.
That night a stranger slept in his bed and by morning he was gone.