Chapter 11
"Feel Good Inc. is better than Clint Eastwood! No ifs, ands, or buts about it!" It was a normal Friday afternoon for Queen. Izuku was sitting on the piano, half writing and half listening to the argument. Jiro and Bakugo were starting to get heated about the best Gorillaz song. Denki was just watching them, well more Jiro than Bakugo but he was watching.
"The fuck you thinking jacky? Did the Pikachu rip-off shock you so hard you matched his own stupidity? Clint Eastwood is obviously better!" Bakugo argued.
"No, I just have a good taste in Gorillaz songs. While Clint Eastwood is good, it is not better than Feel Good Inc." She shot back crossing her arms.
"You ain't even sort of right. Feel Good Inc. top ten at least, number one, not even in your dreams." He said. Jiro looked annoyed before she spotted Izuku snickering.
"Mercury! Which songs better? What song is the best Gorillaz song?" She asked and all eyes turned to him. He looked up at them before shaking his head.
"On Melancholy Hill." He said like it was obvious. Both parties involved groaned, Jiro in exasperation, Bakugo in annoyance. Denki just chuckled.
"Come on Deku, On Melancholy Hill? That's your favorite?" Bakugo said while groaning.
"No, that would be Empire Ants. I personally think Plastic Beach was their best album and On Melancholy Hill to be their most well-known and best song on that album." He said closing up the notebook and pulling out his phone. Jiro and Bakugo relented that he had somewhat of a point. Jiro then turned to Denki.
"Your favorite jammingwhey?" She asked. He frowned at the nickname he didn't like but liked at the same time.
"I think that Strobelite is underrated." He said a tad meekly as it was Humanz that got him into the band in the first place. Jiro stared at him before nodding in approval.
"Fair enough." She said.
"If we're talking underrated…" Bakugo started "Then it's obviously Kids With Guns along with Fire Flies." he said which got a groan from Izuku and Jiro.
"Tomorrow Comes Today and Stylo." Jiro said.
"Empire Ants and El Mañana." Izuku said. Bakugo was about to retaliate but Izuku through up a hand. "Before we can start this riveting musical… debate, I've got to go, I'm taking Itsuka to the new music museum tonight." Jiro perked up at that.
"Hey, I'm going there with my parents too. Maybe we could meet up?" She said. Denki slightly scowled at that. He knew he shouldn't be jealous but he couldn't help it.
"For a little while, it's kind of date night." Izuku muttered with a light blush. Jiro laughed.
"Even though you can sing and dance all over a stage without a problem, talking about your love life can get you to blush. I'll never get you Mercury." She said throwing an arm around his shoulder. He chuckled lightly.
"The right person will do that to you." He said with a soft smile.
"God, can we stop with the cheesy shit." Bakugo muttered as he started picking up his notes.
"And what're you doing tonight?" Jiro asked him flipping her and Izuku around.
"None of your damned business! That's what!" He yelled back.
"He's working out with Kirishima before calling his parents." Denki said with a chuckle as he started doing the same. Bakugo let off a little firework as he rounded on him.
"How the fuck you guess that? Wonder what you're going to do, cry that your perv partner is in detention?" He sneered at him. Denki quirked his mouth to the side with a look that was a sad 'really' look.
"No actually, I'm going to do a light jog before seeing if Sero is free. If he's not then I'll probably do homework and give my grandfather a call." He said. It was silent for a minute before Jiro coughed.
"Well… see you guys tomorrow. Firecracker…"
"The fuck you-"
"Mercury."
"Bye darling."
"Kaminari." She said with a soft smirk as she moved the curtain out of her way and hopped down the stage. Kaminari smiled after her before sighing after she left.
"Fucking hell dude, just ask her out already." Bakugo grunted annoyed which got Denki to jump and turn to face him.
"W-what are you-" He started to say before being interrupted again.
"Denki… don't try to deny it. You've liked Jiro for a while now." Izuku said. Denki tried to deny it with just expressions but couldn't speak up to defend himself. He sighed and slumped down.
"How long?" he asked.
"Since recording Bohemian Rhapsody." Izuku said.
"Fucking forever." Bakugo muttered. Denki just sighed again before standing up.
"She's just… she is just so cute." He said Bakugo looked at Izuku who just waved him off. "She gets really excited when she talks about music. She hates that she does it but I love it. She gets easily flustered whenever anyone compliments her and that's adorable. I love her snark and her sass. She is able to put up with anyone's shit, including yours Bakugo. She knows who she is and I love that about her. I love spending time with her whenever I get a chance. But when she's on stage or doing hero work I find that I can't take my eyes off her. She is so beautiful when she's determined and driven. She-"
"Ugh, please stop with the mushy shit." Bakugo says sarcastically "We get it, you're in love. Congratulations. Now are you going to pussy foot around it or are you going to do something about it?"
"Nothing!" He exclaimed getting shocked looks from others. "Nothing." He muttered again.
"Why?" Izuku asks.
"Because, she deserves better." That got two groans "She always puts me down with that stupid nickname, Jammingwhey. I hate it and love it at the same time. It's from her, but the way it's used just pisses me off sometimes. I'm one of the last in the class, and I'm barely a bass player. She could replace me with someone else who could play and it wouldn't make a damn difference. She deserves someone better than me, hell, I couldn't give a shit if it's a woman, just someone better than me." He looked up from his self-deprecation rant to get slapped once and punched once. "Ouch, what the hell guys?" He asked rubbing his cheek and stomach. Izuku had an annoyed look on his face and Bakugo had a pissed expression.
"Really? You're asking why?" Izuku asked.
"Listen up Pikachu because this is the last time you'll hear something like this from me! Got it?" Bakugo exclaimed. Denki nodded. "Good, now listen up. She likes you back. Whether or not you think you have earned is not up to you. She likes you. She likes your commitment to Queen. She likes your humor and effort. She likes your bravery and courage to become a hero even with a serious drawback on your quirk. She likes your attitude change over these months, not hanging around the micro perv as much and the focus you have shown to not only this, but to becoming a hero and school. She fucking likes you back." Denki was in shock, as was Izuku but in less shock than the lightning boy.
"Ar-are yo-"
"Yes I'm serious you dumbass!" He shouted. "Just saying that you'll do nothing will fucking hurt you and her in the end! So, figure out what you're going to do and just fucking do it! You have nothing to lose!" He exclaimed before storming off the stage. The two remaining members just watched him leave before turning to each other.
"I got my best friend to lose though." Denki muttered.
"I did." Izuku said quietly "But it all worked out in the end and I believe that it'll work out in the end for you two. Falling in love with your best friend is an amazing feeling darling." He said before smiling at him, patting him on the shoulder, and walking off the stage. Denki sat in silence for a couple second before chuckling softly and smiling.
"My best friend huh… I like that." He said before grabbing a note book. He flicked the lights off as he walked off the stage. He started humming to himself. "You're my best friend."
"Listen up dumb shits, Brian just called and says that we should have around 10-12 songs done before summer break as he wants a summer release for sales or some shit. So how many do we have right now?" Bakugo asked to the confusion of Izuku. The band, minus Denki were on the stage again, preparing for practice.
"He talked to me but you-"
"Shut up and answer the damn question nerd!" He shouted. Izuku rolled his eyes.
"We should have around seven at the moment." Jiro said sitting on her stool. "Where the hell is Jam-"
"Eight!" Denki said pushing open the curtains not bothering to close them all the way as he walked over to the rest of the band. "We got eight songs because I just finished one." Jiro looked at him with interest and confusion as Izuku held out his fist for a fist bump with Bakugo who only shoved it away with a growl.
"Fuck out of here." He muttered quietly which got Izuku to chuckle.
"You wrote one?" Jiro asked, drawing back the attention of the drummer and singer.
"Well yea. I felt as though it was my turn to write one so I did." He said with a smile handing out papers to Izuku and Bakugo, before handing Jiro her own set of papers. Izuku and Bakugo looked through them with a critical eye before Izuku smiled.
"Looking good Denki."
"Tch… could be worse." Bakugo muttered moving over to his bench.
"What's this about anyway?" Jiro asked. Denki smirked at her.
"That's for you to figure out." He teased as he moved to grab his bass. "But I say we try it out once and decide, what do you think?" He asked mainly Jiro as Izuku and Bakugo figured out what was happening. She looked at the paper before turning to the other members who both nodded.
"Let's give it a go jammingwhey." She said. Denki's mouth twitched but nodded.
"Sweet. Let's go!" he said. After a couple seconds of preparations, they tested out multiple beginnings before deciding on one. After that was done Denki looked over to Izuku who nodded.
"Ooh, you make me live, Whatever this world can give to me, It's you you're all I see, Ooh, you make me live now honey, Ooh, you make me live…" Izuku sang, with the other three joining in at certain parts.
"Oh, you're the best friend that I ever had, I've been with you such a long time, You're my sunshine and I want you to know, That my feelings are true, I really love you, Oh, you're my best friend…" As the song goes on Jiro notices something off. Mercury isn't singing, Denki is and he's looking straight at her as he does. Mercury is focusing on the piano and Denki isn't playing his bass at all… did she get the wrong notes.
"Ooh, I've been wandering 'round, But I still come back to you, In rain or shine, You've stood by me girl, I'm happy at home, You're my best friend…" He sings as if he's trying to get a message across to her. She knew he was a good singer, not on Mercury's level but good, but this was better than any singing he has ever done. Why? "Ooh, you make me live, Whenever this world is cruel to me, I got you to help me forgive, Ooh, you make me live now honey, Ooh, you make me live…"
"You're the first one, When things turn out bad, You know I'll never be lonely, You're my only one, And I love the things, I really love the things that you do, Oh, you're my best friend…" 'Wait… wait… was he… he… he is… is this a confession song?' Jiro thought to herself. As if to confirm it he nodded at her with a smile. Her expression must have given it away. He was actually doing it. She laughed through some small tears. Took him long enough. Denki smiled at he before singing again. "Ooh, you make me live, I'm happy at home, You're my best friend, Oh, you're my best friend, Ooh, you make me live, You're my best friend" As he finished he pulled the bass off of him and focused on finishing the song. She couldn't believe he was doing this, even after all the shit she puts him through, the insults, the discouragement, the scathing remarks, damn she was really rude to him wasn't she, how did he ever fall fo-
"I know you have realized it by now." He says softly, breaking her out of her thoughts. "I wasn't going to do anything about it because I believed that you deserved someone better than me. But Bakugo and Izuku helped me out with that. I knew that I wanted to do something special for you, but I didn't know what until I remembered what Izuku did. While not very original this song is meant for you, and every word I wrote, sang, and played is true. I do love you and I do believe that you are my best friend. So, there is only one last thing I have to ask… Will you go out with me?" His confidence became sheepishness with the last question. Jiro just stared at him with wide and watery eyes. She couldn't believe that a few sentences freed her from most of the worries she had. He doesn't mind her sass, rudeness, or the insults, should she tone them down, yes, but she realized what he saw her as. His best friend that he was in love with… and she feels the same.
She walked over to him and stared up into his bright, hopeful yellow eyes. She smirked as she pulled his head down into a kiss. Denki floundered for a bit before melting into it, placing his hands around her waist. Izuku gave a little cheer and even Bakugo had a smile on his face. Once they pulled apart she spoke "Took you long enough Denki." He smirked back at her.
"It sure did Kyoka." He said in return. "We'll practice later, want to get some food."
"I think they won't object." She said motioning to the other members.
"They won't. Let's go." He said wrapping his arm around her waist as they walk out together. She pulled back the curtain to see the whole class standing there, phones out with huge smirks on most of their faces.
"Sooooo… how'd it go?" Ashido asked teasingly to the frozen couple.
AN: Hello Again. So we finally have the Kaminari x Jiro paring done and yay! John Deacon originally wrote this song for his wife so I thought it would be right for Denki to write it as a confession song for Kyoka. Two more chapters before the end of the album which I'm still very excited for this work to continue to grow. While it is a shorter chapter I think it is good where it ends. Next up will be two more songs and maybe some fluffy moments, i'll see what I can do about it. Anyway that's all I have at the moment. So peace- 3008
P.S. What's your favorite Gorillaz song? Mine is a toss up between Stroblite and Fire Flies.
Queen song list so far:
Don't Stop Me Now
Bohemian Rhapsody
Love of My Life
Keep Yourself Alive
Somebody to Love
Killer Queen
We are the Champions
You're My Best Friend
