With a Strum of My Heart Strings

I've Got Chains and You've Got Wings

"Does he have to stay here?" Shinsou asked grimly after a beat of silence, pointing to the cafe's owner. Sero looked at his feet, refusing to meet either of the other two's eyes.

"'Toshi, he should stay," Denki said, glancing at his boss. Shinsou huffed but complied.

"Fine." Sero looked like he was about to speak up when Shinsou cut him off, saying, "But I really don't think this is any of his business." Kaminari shook his head as Sero nodded his, trying to walk away. Denki grabbed his arm, similar as he had done to Shinsou earlier, to get him to stay.

"He's staying," he said firmly, despite his prior nervousness.

Another beat of silence passed.

"So?" Shinsou asked, growing more and more agitated. If Denki had something to say, he might as well just say it so that Hitoshi could leave sooner.

"Right," Kaminari said softly, glancing between the two. "I don't exactly know how to start this," he admitted, only causing Shinsou's annoyance to increase.

"'I'm sorry' would be a pretty good start," he stated, almost glaring at the blond, who shrunk slightly under his gaze before regaining his posture, straightening his shoulders.

"I guess I could say the same thing, then," he said, which threw Shinsou off. What the hell did he have to apologize for? Denki was the one in the wrong here!

"What's that supposed to mean?" Shinsou asked, sharper than he had intended but he paid no mind to that. "I didn't even do anything!" Anger flashed over Denki's features, which almost caused Shinsou to recoil. He'd never seen him mad like this. What was that about?

"This again?" he asked, fists tensed. He was referring to his earlier confusion when he'd called. "You know what I mean!" Shinsou really didn't know. His agitation reached his peak as he shot up out of his stool.

"No, I don't!" he nearly yelled. Denki didn't even wince at his raised voice, just stared him down with rage. "So, just tell me. I can't read your thoughts, Kaminari!" Shinsou saw a spark of pain in Denki's eyes before they glared at him. Sero's head shot up for the first time at the use of the blond's last name.

"I--" Denki cut himself off, his features twisting into an unreadable expression. He let out an aggravated cry as he threw his hands up. "That you're using me, Hitoshi! That's what I'm talking about!" The purple-haired man took a step back at that. He thought he was using him? "You told me you were getting over Monoma, but clearly not if you think you need me to make you feel better. Do you know how cruel that is?"

Shinsou did his best to cover up his uneasiness, snapping, "I'm using you? If anything, it looks like you're using me!" Denki's hands lowered and carded through his hair. He let out an exasperated scoff.

"I just-- I cannot believe this," he said, more to himself than anything. Shinsou was fuming at this point.

"Me neither." Silence washed over them again as they took a moment to calm down. Shinsou hated this situation. So much. He was torn between storming off and putting this whole mess behind him and pulling Denki into a hug, apologizing, and telling him it was okay. Neither of those was really an option, though.

"Now what?" Denki questioned, pulling Shinsou from his thoughts.

Shinsou crossed his arms once again. "If you're looking for an apology, you're not getting one," he told him, gaze still fierce. "And for the record, I'm not using you. I don't know why you thought that." Denki looked up to meet his stare.

"Sero told me," he said, which made Hitoshi's blood boil. "He said that a friend of his told him." Kaminari's tone was firm, though it'd lost its previous anger. Shinsou couldn't say the same for himself.

"Don't you get it?" he asked, voice rising again. "He just saying that! He's trying to take you away from me!" Shinsou pointed an accusatory finger at Sero, who met his eyes with an emotionless gaze.

"You're doing a pretty good job of that yourself, blaming him like that," Kaminari retorted. Was he seriously taking Sero's side on this? Shinsou clenched and unclenched his firsts, growing more and more anxious.

"Denki, he--"

"I thought it was 'Kaminari' now." Shinsou's heart felt like it momentarily stopped. That was cold, especially for Denki.

"But, Denki, he--" Shinsou tried again, but Kaminari cut him off once more.

"At least, that's what you said earlier, right? Why call me Denki--?" Shinsou nearly screamed in frustration.

"Don't you ever listen?" he cried, properly shutting Denki up. He knew the look on his face was a bad sign, but he just couldn't bring himself to care. He was just so done with this. "He kissed you! Is that not enough proof for you?"

Kaminari's face twisted into anger as he practically shouted, "Did you ever think that maybe I kissed him?" Shinsou took a step back, face pailing. Denki made the first move? Even though he knew what that would mean?

Hitoshi couldn't help the angry tears from flowing over, though he paid no mind to them as he continued to yell. "I knew this was a bad idea!" He then lowered his voice to barely a whisper, saying, "I knew I shouldn't have trusted someone again. I can't trust anyone, apparently." Denki's anger was gone in an instant. He frowned.

"Hitoshi, you can still trust me," he said, reaching a hand out for him. Shinsou backed away from it.

"Did you forget that you cheated on me?" he cried, not even bothering to dry his cheeks. "You're probably the last person I can trust right now!" Shinsou started backing away slowly, spurring Denki to move from behind the counter, hands outstretched towards his boyfriend.

"Hitoshi, please--"

"It's Shinsou," he corrected, voice laced with venom. Denki took a step back.

"So, what?" he asked. Hitoshi didn't miss the way his voice slightly wavered, as if he were terrified of what was to come, though he didn't want to show it. "What's that supposed to mean, then, Shinsou?"

"It means--" Shinsou started, successfully making his way to the exit. Denki didn't chase after him this time, "--that we're done."

Hitoshi didn't miss the tear starting to make its way down the blond's cheek, but he just turned around, opening the cafe door, finally letting those instincts to flee take over.

"Goodbye, Kaminari."