Kaminari

I was exhausted, I had run the furthest from the dorms to minimize the damage, but at what cost? I could barely stand and the lightning kept hitting me over and over again. While I had increased my energy focus, considering the darkness I was in coupled with an unpredictable thunderstorm, I was in dire peril if I didn't redirect the power surge before I hit my limit. And to think that just a few hours ago my biggest problem was repairing a video camera.

Something told me that I had to do what was necessary so that whatever it was that he wanted to show me, it would not be seen by anyone. I rubbed my hands on the coverlet, releasing small, imperceptible discharges of energy that, after a few seconds, had turned into static.

– I'll show you – as soon as he turned on the small screen of the device, I could see Bakugou next to Todoroki. At first glance they were just talking, nothing out of the ordinary, but I'm talking about a very angry Mineta, something must be worth his getting even. Without giving way to see something that I am sure was none of my concern, without even touching the device, it began to distort the image until it turned off. All right!

– What's wrong with this thing?! – why did his voice sound so guttural? – What did you do?! – His green eyes looked like something out of the Dead Hollow game, except that, in person, and at such close range, it was even more terrifying.

– Some short circuit must have occurred – separating me from him. His aura had suddenly become very heavy

– You don't have control over your quirk?! – I had never been so afraid of being with him. Why was he so interested in teasing Bakugou? Why was he so angry? Why did he look like someone else?

– Calm down! It's not so bad – feeling cornered

– I shouldn't have come here – heading to the exit – Don't worry, I just wanted to give you the scoop, everyone will see this. – slamming my door. I dropped to the ground, realizing that I had been holding my breath. What had just happened?

The next day, I approached a grumpy Mineta, who refused to talk to me.

– I'm sorry. – Sitting next to him in the cafeteria. – I'll try to repair it; you know I'm very good with electrical devices. – In part, if it was true. It could restore the camera circuitry without a hitch – don't be mad at me – and leave no trace of what it contained.

– Ah! It's okay! – he growled – But if you don't repair it, you'll have to buy me the new model. – Getting up with his tray of food. – Go to my room after school.

And as he indicated, I approached his room late in the afternoon, but I never received an answer after spending at least ten minutes knocking on his door.

– Kaminari, do you want to play? – Sero approached me with a ball

– Do you know where Mineta is? – Approaching him

– I saw him leave shortly after we got home from class – Then why did he tell me to come to his room? – Anyway, let's play for a bit. – If anyway I had to wait for the return of the purple-haired boy, I suppose I could distract myself in the meantime.

Despite the ban, we were throwing the spherical object in the corridors where the rooms were, and it is that making it bounce against the walls without touching the floor was the most challenging and fun thing we could do indoors, as long as we were not discovered.

– By the way – stopping the course of the ball – I noticed Shinso somewhat distracted, do you know what happens to him? – I had noticed it too, but considering what happened with Monoma, it sure wasn't something I wanted to talk about.

– Yes, I have noticed, but Shinso is very reserved with certain things. – Now that I think about it, he seemed down.

– Got it – throwing the ball that bounced off Shoji's door again

– Run! – I announced, running upstairs.

– Catch it! – throwing it far enough out of my reach. I ran as fast as I could, and when I thought I'd lose, I didn't let it hit the ground

– I got it! – However, I swayed, but far from feeling the rigid ground, I found a fairly comfortable surface, until I heard him complain. In the process of avoiding our fall, Sero managed to release his tape, just so we couldn't move. My heart started beating like crazy.

Since that happened, my nervousness near Shinso had only inexplicably increased, and my head would not stop spinning, as if every time I saw him, he finished coming out of a Russian Roulette at full speed. However, despite the fact that I didn't dare to ask him how he was while we were in that uncomfortable situation, in addition to being annoyed by his personal space being hopelessly occupied, his eyes were distant, as if he were carrying an invisible weight.

That day he hadn't come down for breakfast, and I hadn't seen him for lunch either. Asking our other classmates, I discovered that he hadn't left his room. It was after listening to the conversation between Professors Aizawa and Yamada about this day that I understood his seclusion. Searching various websites, I found information about the plane crash in the Sapporo city. Searching the victim list, two caught my attention: Shinso, Hatsume, and Shinso, Kyo. An overwhelming sadness overwhelmed me, but sitting around wasn't an option.

I stood in front of his door long enough for my hand to cramp before he agreed to let me come in. As soon as I entered, he sat up and I could see that his dark circles were much more pronounced than on other days.

After spending a while with him, listening to music, I finally told him the reason for my presence. He was expressionless and I thought he would be upset, until shortly after we were looking at photos from his childhood. I must say that one, his father was very similar to Prof. Aizawa and two, he was very adorable as a child. I even knew he spoke French! I was so happy that he wanted to share part of his memories with me; I just wanted to know more about him. Concentrating on the images he was showing me, the last thing I expected was to see that, on one of them, a small drop splashed, or rather, a tear, I was alarmed, but, after several days, he looked really happy while he was drying them off his cheeks.

"Kaminari, thank you very much for being my friend" How was it possible to be so happy and at the same time, overwhelmed by those words? As he said them to me, I felt my body fade and my chest heaved, only to find that my hands were shaking. Why does he make me feel like this? The longer I spent with him, the more questions like these arose.

The next day, because my mind was only occupied by Shinso, I had forgotten Mineta's camera. I went to his room, and since his door was open, I decided to enter it cautiously so as not to disturb him. The boy was on his back, distracted.

– Mineta? – The boy jumped, to turn in my direction

– You could have knocked before going in – at least he was in a better mood

– I'm sorry. – approaching him – When I came to get your camera, you weren't

– Yes, I had to leave – going to his desk, handing me the device. – I hope you keep what you promised me.

– Take it for granted! – I was standing in the doorway and a question that had been hovering in my head for a long time, wanted to be answered – Mineta, why you don't like Shinso? – Considering that I get along with both of them, I guess it's normal that I want them to get along too.

– Since you are too dense to realize it yourself, I'll tell you. – He walked towards me, and the air became heavy again. – Because Shinso likes boys – I could confirm this myself weeks ago, but how he said it, made it sound despicable

– What's wrong with it? – it sprouted without being able to stop it

– That, if you aren't careful, you'll be just like him – my heart sank. I was feeling sick, overwhelmed, and extremely uncomfortable being there. – Although being positive, that leaves me with more girls at my disposal. – My feet felt glued to the ground. – In fact, he's not the only one in our dorm with those preferences

– What do you mean? – Looking at his eyes, my whole body yelled "get away from there"

– You'll find out soon. Now let me rest, I have a lot to do – waving his hand, before closing the door. My hand was squeezing the camera so hard that if it had been All Might, it would already be shattered.

The way to my room, a few steps from there, seemed eternal. That night I couldn't sleep and concentrating became impossible, well, more than usual. I checked the device and with a few taps, it was already repaired, but it needed to be restarted. So, while waiting, I remembered the conversation with Sero at the pool, I think he's one of those who has noticed how important Shinso is to me.

While the software was been restored, I went to my friend's room, hoping he would clarify my doubts, and boy, he did.

Sero gave a name to the joy that being with Shinso caused me, talking with him, listening to him, sharing with him, staring into his eyes indefinitely ... His words were very clear "You are in love with Shinso", judging how my body seemed to reach his limit just by thinking about it, it was clear that it was true. But the more I thought about it, Mineta's words dug into my chest like daggers.

Remembering the contempt with which he referred to him, caused spasms throughout my body, until Sero's words comforted me again "No one who makes you think that what you feel for someone else is wrong just because they don't understand it, deserve to be taken it into account" and the weight of my shoulders vanished. And so…

– I'm gay! – not believing that those words came out of my mouth, feeling that happiness didn't fit in my own body. Shinso was the only one occupying my mind.

– Now you must tell him! – that I wanted to see him, doesn't mean that I was ready to face him.

– I have to think how I will do it – I said, before I left, but not before thanking him properly as one of the best friends I ever thought I had.

On the morning of that Saturday, I had decided to stay in my room as long as possible first, so that I could concentrate while studying a bit of Heroic Ethics, and because I didn't want to see Mineta, not before talking to Shinso, considering that the update software had taken longer than I thought. I had to clarify my feelings with both of them and, I would be lying if I said that I wasn't terrified of knowing their reactions to what I could say to them. That afternoon, as I was beginning to feel overwhelmed by the hypothetical scenarios that tortured me with different endings, I decided to go for a walk.

Almost every day looked cloudy, but that afternoon it was so clear that I didn't bother to grab an umbrella. I didn't want to get that far away, so I stopped in the park near the academy. The view was fantastic, and the cold weather, despite being mild, was tolerable. In that peace, I leaned on the edge of the railing that delimited the boulder a few meters ahead.

It may have been for longer than I can remember. His quirk seemed incredible to me as soon as I saw him face Midoriya, he can make whoever responds to his, do whatever he wants! That is a great deal of power. Despite that gloomy aura that enveloped him, once he laughed, or rather made fun of me, his countenance changed to one that was much more pleasant.

I started to get used to his voice, to share my progress with him and take an interest in his, to the point where I wanted to know more about him and it never seemed enough, and boy, it was like that when he showed me the photos of his childhood. Then the rest of his characteristics became more present in my thoughts: how he raised an eyebrow when he bothered me, how much his eyes shine when he is near a kitten, how tender he is with Eri, how he carried his hand behind his head when he was ashamed, how little the uniform helps to highlight the shapes of his body… I suddenly felt agitated.

My body felt like a wave of energy was running through it as I let out a sigh to realize how happy made me think of him, until the memory of Monoma crossed my mind again. I don't know the type of relationship they have, but I don't think I can endure another day without letting him know my feelings, even if they aren't reciprocated. I want to continue by his side and be his unconditional friend.

I'd been there long enough for the park lanterns to start to light up, signaling that it was time to go back, but before I left, I wanted to appreciate a few more minutes the hints of the night sky, whose purple and lilac hues made me want to see Shinso more even.

Small raindrops began to dampen the pavement, making me accelerate my pace, and it was after passing next to one of the light poles that the lamp in it exploded. I assumed it was due to high voltage and continued on my way, but as I progressed, the rest replicated the same action. I didn't want to think that I could be even remotely responsible for causing the high voltage, considering that, after Prof. Aizawa's many warnings, I would never use my quirk without a license, and even so, the power lines seemed to react to my presence.

With no better ideas, I decided to run along the street, only to now have the thick drops of icy rain slam into my face as I advanced, as the lamps exploded overhead like fireworks, leaving a shadowy path at my step. A short time later, what looked like cloud formations in the distance had turned into a thunderstorm, the rays of which seemed to increase in frequency as I approached the vicinity of the academy.

Somehow, I made it to the entrance of the academy, then I would have time to explain to Recovery Girl what had happened to me on the way to the dorm. I was a few steps from the entrance, when an incandescent light blinded me momentarily, accompanied by a loud roar, stopping my progress, and an intense amount of heat suddenly enveloped me, just like when my body gives off large amounts of energy, just that this time I was aware of my surroundings. However, once the effect wore off, I was plunged into considerable darkness.

– What…? – I said feeling exhausted, not knowing what had happened. Perhaps some of the rays would have hit the power source in the bedrooms.

Ignoring the cold, my nerves and how gloomy the panorama looked from the outside, I only concentrated on heading to the main dorm door to finally realize that I had been struck by lightning, not once but twice.

– That means... – My eyes went to the terrified sky, seeing how hundreds of lightning bolts were the little source of light that allowed me to realize the crude truth: I was the one who attracted the rays, and who had probably caused the blackout. I have to get away from here!

I ran without knowing where, while my mind wandered in all directions. Again, a lightning struck my body, except this time, I could feel its ravages. The impact nearly knocked me to the ground, creating a small crater where I was standing. How did I get into this situation? This had never happened to me and if I didn't figure out how to stop it, I would be at the mercy of the weather. How much would my body take before reaching my limit? Or, worse still, would I be able to resist it?

I felt dazed, barely able to evade the rays, as if the sky had taken it on me. Somehow, I made it to the training area, but now what? Another lightning hit my body, followed by others of less intensity but that tightened the muscles of my body, exhausted after running without a fixed destination. The drops fell on my face like needles, cold and sharp, as the strong blizzard clung me to the ground.

Being in this vulnerable situation, my mind traveled to the Cultural Festival, specifically to the haunted house and just like back then, the thought of Shinso enveloped me with a pleasant feeling of warmth.

– I cannot give up! – I joined all my forces to take shelter in the tiny space between the entrance of one of the spaces where so many times I practiced my conductivity just so that now I was a prey to it.

The rays didn't stop, in fact, I seemed to attract more and more. On the roof, they lunged like wild wolves trying to catch the rabbit hidden in a burrow, tearing the surface apart to slowly break through and devour their prey, roaring and ramming violently.

By this point, despite not being able to feel my extremities due to the cold, I could see my hands shaking and feel my teeth twitch, although I wasn't sure if this was due to the weather, the uncertainty, or both. Just like when I was petrified on the floor of the haunted house, I wanted Shinso to comfort me again with his hug, and after asking me if I was okay, I would answer "yes" because he would be with me.

– Kaminari! – For a moment I feared that, in my desire to want to see Shinso, I thought I heard his voice. – Kaminari! – This time it was heard closer. My eyes began to look in all directions, I really wanted to believe that I was not hallucinating.

A figure stepped into the shadows and I thought my heart would leap from my chest as soon as I could identify its silhouette when one of the many lightning bolts illuminated his body. It was an unusual image to see him with his hair stuck to his face, while agitated he yelled my name.

I wanted to run towards him, but considering he was a walking lightning rod, I had to be as cautious as possible so as not to hurt him. But before I could think about where to go, the successive rays had managed to wear down the roof to the point that, by the time I dodged the lightning, if I wasn't knocked out by it, it would have been by debris that fell shortly after I moved.

Again, I was struck by another lightning bolt, and this time I was beginning to feel the symptoms of physical exhaustion. If I couldn't find a way to stop this, I'd be in grave danger.

– Kaminari! – I heard his splash being heard, and despite the cramps that slowed down my movements, I managed to get to my feet before he reached me

– Stay away! – and before I could continue, another lightning struck me

– Kaminari, you have to listen to me! – He shouted with difficulty about the rain and the wind – The rain increases your conductivity; we have to take shelter somewhere! – He looked agitated in all directions while I only hoped to be the only target of the rays, I would not forgive me if something happened to him because of me.

As my weakened body allowed me, I dodged the rays as best I could, failing in some attempts, feeling how the electrical charge increased in my body. A loud roar forced me to look towards the warehouse, whose front door was wide open so that then the mallow-haired boy, now with a much darker hair tone, appeared shortly after.

– Kaminari! – leaning on the entrance, this being my signal to go in his direction.

I managed to dodge a couple more bolts before falling flat on the warehouse floor, which, compared to the weather outside, was a warm cabin. Shinso quickly closed the door behind me, and even though he tried to hide it, I could hear him growl. It was difficult for me to breathe, but the tension in my muscles gradually disappeared as I warmed up, and it was then that I realized that, like a bulb, I was radiating light.

He was audibly shaken, visible thanks to the fact that I was now a flashlight. Leaning against one of the walls as he tossed his hair back, he squeezed his left shoulder.

The rain blasted against the roof and the entrance, while now the rays did not wait, thundering with fury one after another, as if competing to find out which of the two would be the first to claim us as their victims.

– What happened to you? – wanting to get closer to me, and believe me that now there was nothing I wanted more

– Stay away from me! – crawling back – I don't know how much energy I have accumulated in my body, and I don't want to hurt you – so much Bakugou referred to me as a walking battery, that I ended up becoming one. I could see the energy halos draw my arms and feet, as if it were a scanner.

– Why do you have this excess energy? – keeping distance

– I don't know. – Realizing that I was scared as I had never been before – After going for a walk, back in the dorms, the lights began to explode in my path and by the time I realized it, I was already a walking lightning rod – how could I control what I did not know what was happening to me?

– We have to find out what changed in that period of time. – He leaned against one of the shelves at his side, concentrating his gaze on a fixed point on the floor. – I need you to think of something unusual that you have noticed in yourself or around you in at least the last hours. – My mind began to rewind until the moment I woke up without finding an apparent answer.

– The truth is that I don't know – Will this be the effects of my feelings for him? How unlucky can I be if that's the reason? I was starting to feel anxious

– Kaminari, we'll get out of this situation. – His calm voice was heard as a lullaby despite the deafening outburst of the storm that lashed against the warehouse as an opponent in a dispute. – Just concentrate and think carefully about the last hours – Despite the low light, I could notice how the wet clothes seemed painted on his body, and how a small stain spread on his left arm, perhaps some resin or oil when he was leaning at the door.

I wanted to tell him about it, but one of the strongest lightning bolts I had heard so far reminded me why we were sheltered here in the first place.

I closed my eyes, trying to recreate the last hours, to find no apparent answer to my abnormal state, as if being against the clock wasn't enough pressure. My body was at room temperature, but in these conditions, if I didn't get warm, Shinso could experience hypothermia.

However, despite my unstable state, he remained unperturbed, focused; thinking of some solution while I was a nervous wreck who had no idea what was going on with his quirk.

And then I remembered that it was after thinking of him in the park that, as on other occasions, my body felt a wave of energy every time I thought of him. I got up suddenly at that conclusion and, despite being the possible cause, my stomach turned at the idea of having to keep my feelings aside for my own safety; for his safety.

– Shinso… – my hand involuntarily rose to his direction, and as soon as I realized how damaging it was, I contracted it to my body, rekindling the already high energy charge.

– What's that noise? – turning around until he was facing the shelf he was leaning on. When he opened it, I could see that he was taking out a box from which it was possible to hear a noise with which I was very familiar: static. – Apparently one of the walkie talkies remained on.

– That it's! – I said when I realized the cause – Due to a certain situation, I generated a static charge in Mineta's camera and, as had happened on other occasions, I assumed that, after a reversal of the effect, it would be fixed, but it wasn't. – He was looking at me with his deep mauve eyes

– How long was it like this?

– It was like that all night, but by the time I woke up the software was still updating, even in the afternoon, shortly before I went out for a walk, which had never happened before... – for some reason, Mineta's throaty voice when I went to his room echoed in my head

– Some objects when they come into contact with static, create kinetic energy that can gradually become potential, increasing its intensity, causing in some cases, interference with other devices, or failing that, exponentially increase its static charge. – After returning the box with the devices, he continued looking among the other compartments – Somehow your body must have served as a magnetic pole that, after going for a walk, produced kinetic energy that increased the static in you... – Another lightning brought us to the reality we were in, interrupting him in the process

– How do you know all this? – Little or nothing had understood his explanation, but the sadness of getting away from him, escaped from my shoulders

– For the exam of the Heroes' Course, I asked Hatsume, of the specific classes course, to make me a mask to modulate my voice – he kept turning the shelves, taking out several objects at random –, and between the tests we were doing with different materials, we investigated about those that repel static to avoid interference while talking when using it. – And finished his explanation, he threw me a duct tape – Cover your shoes with that, until you make a thick enough layer.

– Okay, but why? – Doing as he indicated, while I felt my body temperature rise. What I was missing, the fever as the first symptoms of a flu

– As long as you are in motion, your body will continue to produce kinetic energy – began to cover a raincoat with several layers of tape. – We must go to the power generators behind the workshop of specific classes so that you get rid of the excess energy you have. – His voice was trembling – I'm not sure if it will work, but you can't stay in that state any longer

– Wait, if walking produces kinetic energy, wouldn't that increase my body's electrical charge? – despite the tireless rain outside, I could hear the heaviness with which he exhaled as he turned to me

– If we don't do something to reduce the electricity that you are producing even without moving as soon as possible ... – his hands became fists – ... you could remain in a state of direct current that could consume all your vital energy ... – the last words he spoke they numbed my muscles; the increase in temperature was a product of the energy that my body was accumulating. My hands started shaking. – But I'm not going to allow that to happen – throwing aside the tube where the black tape that now covered the raincoat that he threw in my direction was wrapped. – Put it on and as soon as you are ready, we will go to the power generator. – He was looking out, standing in the thin crack of the door that allowed to look outside, pressing his left arm against his body.

At first, I thought it was a cold product, until I realized that the stain on his arm sleeve had expanded, until it dripped onto his thumb and hit the ground in small red drops; it was blood. My breath hitched when I realized he was hurt. Because of me, he was in that state and I could do nothing more than put on the raincoat that he still covered with his injured arm.

– I'm ready – I said, more nervous than I tried to hide after having clumsily accommodated the only isolating hope that I clung to as a last resort.

His effort wouldn't be in vain.


Shinso's father's name, Kyo, is after one of the main characters in the anime "Fruits Basket." I loved it.

Fact # 65

For this chapter I looked for information about how Kinetic Energy and Potential Energy work, to support my explanation and I think the result is quite good.

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