With a Strum of My Heart Strings

Ready or Not, Let's Begin

It was also at that instant that Jirou decided to show herself, kneeling down to attempt to use her quirk. Though Monoma was too fast, charging up behind her and knocking her to the ground with one swift punch.

"I don't believe we've met. You are?" he asked. Kaminari tried to yell to tell her not to answer, but stopped himself, realizing Monoma could take him then if he wasn't careful.

Unfortunately, Kyoka didn't know of Neito's quirk, because she soon responded with a soft grunt, saying, "What did you do to Denki?" Monoma grinned victoriously.

Crap.

Jirou's face fell, her shoulders going limp at her sides as Monoma chuckled. "That was a silly move there, wasn't it?" Kaminari struggled, but Shinsou's grip was too tight for him to break out of. Denki had to force himself not to talk, not to yell at Monoma. He'd win if he did. In all honesty, he was already winning.

But Neito was running dangerously low on time, and he seemed to know that as well when he ordered Shinsou to walk forward. Denki was dropped to the ground harshly, knocking the breath out of him as Monoma put restraints on both Shinsou and Jirou.

Almost as if on cue, both snapped out of the trance, immediately starting to struggle. They were ignored as Monoma moved forward on Kaminari, obviously trying to restrain him, as well. But Denki wasn't going to give up that easily. He shot up to his feet, glaring at the blond in front of him.

Now at least temporarily having his speech back, he said, "What the hell are you doing this for?" Monoma's lips twisted down into a snarl as he lunged forward. Kaminari had to be very careful not to be touched. If he was, Monoma would regain his lighting. They didn't want that, not now.

"You don't get it, do you?" he asked as he continuously attacked, not resting between each attempted blow. Somehow, Denki managed to avoid them all, but he didn't know how long his luck would last. "Hitoshi is mine." Kaminari was almost hit as he flinched from Monoma's words.

"You say that like he's an object," he said between dodging. He spun around Neito, almost dance-like in the ways he moved. Monoma seemed to grow even more infuriated at every failed attack, growling.

"He's mine! Not yours!" he yelled, resting for a moment to catch his breath. Kaminari stayed on guard but was thankful for a break. "You tried to take him from me." His smirk was back in an instant as he shrugged, saying, "So, I'm taking him back." Kaminari hated how he was talking about Shinsou like he wasn't a living person with his own thoughts and feelings and emotions.

"What about Tetsutetsu?" he asked, trying to direct the conversation away from Shinsou, who was eyeing them with a mixture of rage and panic. Monoma scoffed.

"He doesn't matter." Kaminari felt sympathy for the man, being roped into all of this like that, just being Neito's little toy until he got bored of him.

"You had your chance with Hitoshi," Kaminari said, that adrenalin kicking in again. "You don't deserve another!" Monoma's eyes squinted, lips curling up into a snarl.

"What the hell do you know?" he barked, deciding that their short break was over as he threw a punch that Denki was not ready for, finally managing to hit him and send him tumbling to the ground. But Neito seemed so caught up in his own anger, Denki wasn't even sure if he used his quirk that time.

"Enough to know that you don't deserve Hitoshi, or his kindness! You don't get another chance with him," Denki retorted, voice cracking as he pulled himself back to his feet, wiping the blood away from his chin.

"That's what you think," Monoma grumbled before running at Denki again. He whirled around Neito, landing himself right beside Shinsou. He didn't have time to check on him or even say something, though, because he had to dodge a kick aimed at his legs to knock him off his balance, jumping over Monoma's leg as he sprinted away.

"Looks at this!" Kaminari pushed on between heavy breaths. "Look around you! Do you think Hitoshi will really take you back after this?" Another punch, another dodge. "He wouldn't, if you couldn't tell."

Monoma let out a frustrated yell. "Dammit!" he cursed. "He will. Why are you so persistent? He dumped you, too, you know!"

"Because I love him!" Denki shot back. "I'm never going to give up on him!" Kaminari only realized what he said as he watched Shinsou's eyes widen, exchanging a look with Jirou. He cursed himself for saying that and for feeling embarrassed about it at a time like this. "And that was definitely not how I wanted him to find out about that, but that doesn't matter right-- eep!" he was cut off, shrieking, as a significantly stronger punch was aimed right at his face, and he had to duck and fall to the floor to not get hit. Monoma smiled above him, bringing his fist up over his head.

"Denki!" Shinsou yelled hurriedly from his spot across the room as the fist started to come down. "Lightning!" Of course! Kaminari had almost completely forgotten about his quirk, too focused on defense and not offense. He closed his eyes, emitting a powerful bolt that hit Neito's body. He yelled out in pain, falling off of Denki and allowing him room to stand up.

Using the opportunity, he rushed to Shinsou's side, managing to untie his binds before Neito was back up. "Get Jirou!" he told him as he turned back to Monoma before thrusting both arms out, sending one last, much more powerful lightning strike his way. "How can you handle one-point-three million volts?" he shouted.

The attack hit Monoma full force, and he shrieked as he fell to the ground, clothes partly singed and smoking. It was a miracle Kaminari hadn't fried his brain yet, but he could tell that he was at the very edge of his power. One more attack and he'd be out.

But, thankfully, Denki wouldn't have to use any more of his power. Upon further inspection, Neito was out cold. All three breathed a sigh of relief, finally being able to relax.

A loud knocking at the front door broke their attention away from the unconscious man in front of them as someone yelled, "Police, open up!" Shinsou rushed downstairs and, after a moment of hearing voices downstairs, three police officers were brought upstairs, trailing behind him.

Their gazes immediately fell on Monoma, who was still slightly smoking. "What happened here?" one of them, a shorter girl with pale blonde locks, asked them. One of her antennae twitched at the sight before them.

"Kaminari--" Shinsou pointed to said man beside him, "--was abducted by him. Jirou and I found him, though Denki did most of the fighting when we were attacked." The lady nodded. Another, more timid looking officer with pink hair covering one of his eyes stepped forward.

"So you used your quirks? Do any of you have licenses?" his eyes narrowed, but the third police officer with short, caramel-colored hair put a hand on his shoulder.

"It looks like they were only using them in defense, Sousuke," he said. The man, 'Sousuke', nodded, mumbling an apology.

The three officers were quick with their work, only asking a few more questions as they handcuffed Monoma. Jirou, Kaminari, and Shinsou were escorted out of the house before the officers said their goodbyes, towing Neito away.

Despite everything they had just gone through, an awkward silence enveloped the three.

"So," Jirou started, slowly stepping back away from the other two, "It looks like you two have a lot to talk about." Her gaze flickered between the two. They made eye contact briefly before both looking away, cheeks tinting pink. Jirou just giggled at the sight. "I'll walk ahead and let you guys talk on the way home." Hesitantly, Denki nodded, averting his eyes.

"I-- okay," Shinsou stuttered, seemingly just as nervous as Kaminari. That was reassuring.

"Oh!" Kyoka suddenly exclaimed. "I forgot to tell you, I let everyone searching know what happened, they'll probably be waiting for you guys back at your apartment." The blond gave her a quizzical look, and she just smiled at him. "Shin will explain," she said before trotting off, leaving Hitoshi and Kaminari to themselves.

Denki was already dreading this conversation.

He wasn't ready to face rejection again.

But Shinsou turned to stop him when he started walking away, making it extremely clear that he wasn't getting out of this.

Crap.