With a Strum of My Heart Strings

Something Seems Off

As much as his purple hair usually stuck out, Kaminari couldn't find Shinsou anywhere. He didn't see either of the other band members either, which was odd. Where could they have all gone? Eventually, he gave up and just asked one of the staff members.

"The band?" she asked. "I don't know. I just assumed they were already here." She then walked away to do her job. Denki checked the time. But they were supposed to be on in--! Oh. They still had thirty minutes until they preformed. Denki supposed there was a chance they just weren't here yet, then.

Sighing, Kaminari made his way across the place to where Sero was sat. But as his friend came into view, he noticed him frowning at his phone. He looked almost... angry. Kaminari decided to just brush it off and leave him alone.

Usually, he would have walked around, looking out for anyone worth flirting with. But not tonight. Tonight, he had an actual boyfriend. No flirting with random people today. He had Hitoshi. Sweet, kind, handsome Hitoshi who he was supposed to be mad at. Oh, yeah, he was supposed to be upset at him. Oh, look, there he was now. Why couldn't he just be mad at him? Why-- wait! There he was! He just entered the restaurant! Denki's search was over.

Shinsou was on his phone, just like Sero, and looked pretty bothered. He hadn't even noticed Denki bounding up to him.

"'Toshi!" he chirped, smiling. Wait. No. He's supposed to be mad. Denki cleared his throat. "I mean-- Hitoshi," he said in a much calmer voice. Shinsou looked up from his phone, his face shifting from concern to confusion.

"''Toshi'?" he questioned, cracking a small smile. It took everything in Kaminari's power not to smile back. He had to be mad. Be mad, he told himself. What was he even supposed to be mad at again?

Shinsou seemed to remember before Denki. "Wait-- How'd you know I had a gig?" Oh right.That. So Shinsou hadn't forgotten. Denki crossed his arms.

"Sero told me," he said. Shinsou seemed surprised at his tone of voice before his eyes lit up with realization.

"Okay, wait, I can explain," he said quickly, avoiding eye contact. Denki wanted to be mad but Shinsou sounded sorry already and he hadn't even explained yet. Kaminari didn't trust his voice to not betray him so he just raised an eyebrow to urge him to continue.

"Denki, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to make it seem like I didn't want you to come. Well, I didn't, but-- okay, that makes it sound worse. Can I restart?" Kaminari forgot all about being mad and almost laughed at how nervous his boyfriend was acting. It was cute how much power he seemingly had over him. He decided to use that to his advantage for some sweet, sweet revenge.

"You didn't want me to come?" Denki asked, trying his best to sound angry and to not smile.

"That's not what I--" Kaminari cut him off.

"I can't believe this! Why wouldn't you want your own boyfriend to come to one of your shows?" That's right. He played the boyfriend card. He almost felt bad for how scared Shinsou looked. Almost.

"Denki--"

"Especially this show! Don't think I don't know how important this is!" People were starting to look at the 'arguing' couple but Kaminari didn't care. Shinsou's reaction was just too good.

"I'm really sorry. If you'd just let me explain, please, Denki--" That was it. Kaminari burst out laughing, hugging his sides. Hitoshi looked at him with confusion and nervousness, which just made Denki laugh harder. By the time he had recovered, Shinsou had figured out what was going on.

"I bet you think you're real funny, huh?" Shinsou asked as the blond wiped a tear away from his eye, smiling up at him.

"Oh, I know I am. And you totally deserved that," he remarked, pointing at the taller man. Shinsou sighed.

"Yeah, I did." Denki chuckled at that. "Will you let me explain now?" Kaminari looked up like he was contemplating the question.

"I don't know. Will you buy me a drink?" Shinsou's face twisted into amusement.

"And deal with a drunk Denki? No, thanks. You're already chaotic enough as it is." Kaminari elbowed his side which made Shinsou laugh. "But fine, come on." Denki grinned at that and skipped to the bar, Shinsou close behind. He was going to ask Sero to join him, but he couldn't find his friend anywhere.

They sat down and, just as Shinsou opened his mouth to start talking, the bartender came up to them.

"I'll have a Shirley Temple, please," Denki said, well aware he had interrupted Hitoshi. He still deserved it.

The bartender nodded and ran off. Shinsou looked slightly confused. "What?" Denki asked. "You said you didn't wanna deal with me drunk." The two laughed before Kaminari gave in and finally let his boyfriend explain himself.

"It's not that I didn't want you to come. I did." Denki looked at him, arching an eyebrow. "Really! But, see..." Shinsou hesitated for a moment. "I just have been super tired today. I didn't sleep at all last night. In retrospect, pulling an all-nighter on a day like this was a really bad idea. But I didn't want to slip up on stage and then have you there to see. That's all." Shinsou looked away, rubbing his neck. So Sero had been right. He probably should have listened to him, honestly.

Kaminari smiled at him softly. "That's okay. I'm sorry for getting mad." Shinsou looked surprised.

"You were actually mad?" Kaminari giggled.

"I was at first. But then you being all nervous and stuff was funny and I calmed down." Shinsou huffed.

"You still yelled at me," he whined, causing Denki to laugh.

"Revenge is sweet, isn't it?" Shinsou pouted before chuckling. Neither of them could stay mad at the other, it seemed.

Denki's drink was soon given to him and paid for by Shinsou, who said that it was the least he could do for worrying him. He was so sweet. The two were so engrossed in the conversation that they both lost track of time, and those thirty minutes went fast before Shinsou had to run off to find the rest of the band.

Kaminari then decided he was going to try to find Sero again since he had left the bar. Which was actually easier than he thought. Sero had gotten a table in the back and was eating what looked to steamed vegetables, though it was kind of hard to tell from where Denki was.

Kaminari ran over to his friend eating by himself. "Mind if I join?" he asked as Sero looked up from his phone. The black-haired man smiled and nodded, putting the device away.

Sero looked like he wanted to say something as Kaminari sat down, but never got the chance to. They were starting.

As the band was stood on the stage, Denki looked around, remembering why this show was so important. He couldn't tell which person was the producer, though. Everyone just looked like normal, everyday people. Honestly, Kaminari didn't exactly know what he was looking for in the first place.

He made eye contact with Shinsou as he looked back at the band, nodding to his boyfriend in encouragement. Kaminari didn't miss the quick smile on Hitoshi's face as he turned back to look at the crowd.

But then Hitoshi suddenly looked worried. Kaminari couldn't understand why, though. He tried to brush it off as Jirou and Bakugou started playing. Shinsou didn't look like he was paying attention. It wasn't until Shinsou's bandmates gave each other a concerned look that Denki realized what had happened.

Shinsou had missed his cue.