With a Strum of My Heart Strings

Don't Make Me be the Bad Guy

He couldn't help the smile that crept across his face. Bakugou grimaced. "Don't tell the other I told you that." His palms sparked in a threatening manner as if to show him what he'd have to go through if he even dared mention Bakugou's generosity to another soul. Kaminari nodded ecstatically.

"Of course!" he exclaimed, hands flailing about in defense. "I would never, wouldn't dream of it!" He mentally facepalmed at his anxiety. God, he was starting to sound like Midoriya. Holding back a chuckle at his own thoughts, Denki calmed down, saying, "But thanks, Bakugou. For helping me, I mean." Katsuki just rolled his eyes, scoffing.

"Whatever," he murmured. "Just don't get used to it!" Denki nodded. He knew better than to think this would mean Bakugou would be nicer to him. "You'd better go now. I can hear them moving up there." The ash-blond pointed towards the ceiling. Denki only then noticed that he too could hear people-- most likely Shinsou and Jirou-- walking around, the floorboards creaking.

Nodding, Denki agreed with his friend. He was nearly shoved out the door, Bakugou muttering one last time, "Tell no one," before it slammed behind him. Just in time, too, because just as he heard Bakugou walk away down the hallway, he also heard Shinsou's voice calling for the angry man. Letting out a breath he didn't even know he was holding, Kaminari stepped away from the house, walking down the street towards his next destination.

Maybe he had wanted to talk to Bakugou for a little longer, but that didn't matter now. He had someone else he needed to talk to before resolving this whole mess.

It had only been a few days since he'd last been to the cafe, but it felt like it had been an entire lifetime. The luminescent sign shone brightly as he stepped inside, the chime of the door's bell greeting him.

Mina immediately spotted him from behind the counter as she helped prepare a customer's drink. She smiled and waved at him, holding up her finger to tell him she'd talk to him in a moment. It felt weird to be here and not be working. Denki sat down at one of the sofas meant for the consumers, which he technically was. That was just so strange to him.

After finishing the drink, telling the person to have a great day as they exited, she went to meet him on the couch. "What's up, Denki?" she questioned. She glanced around to make sure no one was awaiting her assistance before fully directing her attention to him.

Nervously, Kaminari asked, "Uh, is Sero here?" Mina had heard everything that happened, even with Sero. She gave him a concerned look, one that almost seemed to be warning him, but he ignored it as she nodded.

"Yeah, he's in the back. Need me to get him for you?"

Denki shook his head. "No, I'll go see him," he said, standing up from the seat. "Wish me luck!" He flasher her a bright grin, but they both knew there was almost no confidence behind it. Ashido reached out a hand that stopped him in his tracks before he could get too far.

"How'd it go with Shinsou?" she asked. Oh, right. Of course, she was going to want to know what happened. She'd been the one to suggest the plan in the first place, after all.

Forcing another smile onto his face, he said, "It could have gone worse. I'll tell you the details in a few, okay?" Hesitantly, she let go, nodding.

"Okay. Good luck." With that, Kaminari rushed to the back of the shop where he was told to find Sero. He wasn't going to lie, he was nervous. He didn't know what to expect. Sero might hate him! This could end their friendship, not to mention lose him his job. Kissing his boss? Pretty sure he could be fired for that.

Ignoring the churning in his stomach and swallowing down the lump in his throat, Denki pushed open the door to the backroom. Sero had his back to him, and as he heard the blond enter, he didn't turn to face him, just said, "Mina? Aren't you supposed to be working the counter?" Kaminari awkwardly cleared his throat, and he could see Hanta's shoulders tense as he spun around on his heel. "Denki!" he said a little too loudly, placing down the dish he was scrubbing. "What are you doing here?"