Kaminari entered the 1-A classroom before anyone else could arrive. As bodies piled in one after another, they all looked in astonishment at their yellow-haired friend. He was never in early if anything he was almost always the last one to arrive.

Word of the incident quickly spread amongst the class and most of the class felt sympathy for Kaminari. Bakugou obviously strutted in loud and proud as he always did, to the disdainful expressions of his classmates. Bakugou was used to this kind of treatment and his animalistic side hungered for the controversy.

"The fuck are you morons staring at?" He asked, his words doused with conceit. He knew what he did stirred up quite the ruckus amongst the class but it only proved once again that he was the alpha male in his mind. Nobody was going to get in his way when it came to asserting his dominance as the future number one hero.

Kaminari wouldn't even make eye contact with the King-of-Explodo-Kills. He was far too embarrassed at what had happened. "I'm so unmanly," he thought, thinking of what his friend Kirishima might think of him backing down.

Kyouka walked in right behind Bakugou and looked directly at Kaminari before quickly looking away and taking her seat. She really didn't want to come to class today, she prayed that she wouldn't have to see him and relive the emotions that engrossed her last night. Her eyes had dark circles that she attempted to cover up with makeup; their severity was reduced but they were still noticeable to anyone who was looking for them.

The tension in the air was thick. Thick to the point that a knife would be incapable of cutting through it. The hair on the students' heads stood with anticipation for the next interaction between the two.

But it never came.

Neither Kaminari or Bakugou made a single passing glance at each other throughout the day. Not even during Heroics class, where they were on opposing teams. During the training drill, Bakugou acted as though Kaminari didn't even exist.

Midoriya could see what was going on. Kacchan deemed Kaminari irrelevant. He was no longer worth his time, he may as well consider himself non-existent in Kacchan's world. He felt determined to talk to Kaminari after class, even though he was never the best at picking people up.

After class was dismissed for the day, 1-A walked down the path in groups as they always did on their way back to their dorms. There were some variations in the groups but one of the notable changes was that Kaminari was dragging behind the lot, which was never the case. Kaminari was always talking to his friends or failing to smooth talk the girls of 1-A into his arms on the way home.

Midoriya looked his girlfriend in the eyes, who he always walked back with, and said: "I'm going to hang back and talk to Kaminari-San, you go on ahead and hang out with the girls, babe."

Uraraka just nodded subtly, mouth slightly open in affection and wonder. She still couldn't get used to the fact that Deku-Kun was her boyfriend, calling her things like "babe" and "sweetheart". She blushed a vibrant red as he gave her a peck on the cheek before heading off.

Mina saw Uraraka walking alone and immediately joined her, wrapping her bubblegum pink arm around her shoulder. "Hey, what's up Ura-San? Are you blushing? Oh em gee! That's adorable!"

"Shu' up Mina!" Uraraka clasped her mouth shut at her accent escaping her. Mina just snorted in response. "It's not funny!" Uraraka insisted but Mina couldn't control her hysterical laughter.

Kaminari looked up from the rock he was kicking along the path to see Midoriya approaching him.

"He probably forgot something back in class."

Kaminari was surprised when his green-haired pal began to walk alongside him.

"Hey, everything alright?"

"Oh, yeah man! I'm doing great!"

"Hm, you don't seem to be doing fine. You don't have to act all nonchalant with me, I won't judge, I promise."

"Well, I guess I could be better."

"Wanna talk about it?"

Kaminari hesitated for a minute before opening his mouth to speak. "Have you ever felt like you weren't good enough? Like you just didn't belong and everyone else around you is just better in every way?"

"More than you know. I spent my whole life feeling that way."

"Really? It sucks doesn't it man?"

"It does but coming to UA gave me a chance to prove that I am somebody and I'm really grateful I got the chance to do that in front of such amazing people."

"Ha, if anything it went the opposite direction for me. I was much more popular and looked far more badass before coming here."

"You don't think you're popular? Or strong? I beg to differ. I think you're awesome!"

"Well, I can tell I'm not popular amongst the ladies," Kaminari chuckled "as for being strong, I feel like I'm the weakest guy here."

"I don't like being mean to anybody at all but you really think that you're weaker than Mineta?" Midoriya tried to stifle a chuckle.

Kaminari smiled a toothy grin "God damn, I forgot all about Mineta! I guess I'm not the weakest after all!"

"A-A-ACHOO. Damn allergies!" Mineta exclaimed off in the distance.

"I don't know about the girls but I know that the guys in the class like you Kaminari-San."

"Thanks, Midoriya man, I appreciate that. Wanna go play pool when we get back to the dorm?"

"Uh, I'm sorry, I can't," Midoriya rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly with a pink hue becoming his cheeks.

"Oh, I get it. Spending time with your girl huh? You dog!" Kaminari patted him on the back while Midoriya just fidgeted nervously.

"Y-yeah, I'm going with her off campus to the mall."

"That's what's up dude," Kaminari chortled "you're a lucky man, Midoriya."

"Huh?"

"Yeah, I don't know how you managed to pull getting Uraraka. Not that you aren't a great dude or anything, it was just kind of surprising that it all happened so fast."

"Yeah, I guess I'm lucky. What about you and Kyouka-San?"

Kaminari was visibly shaken by Midoriya's question. "U-uh, there's nothing going on between Kyouka and me. We're just friends!"

Midoriya eyed him suspiciously, "...but I thought that you liked her?" He inquired with his hand on his chin in deep thought.

"Well, you're wrong!" Kaminari quickly blurted out and he immediately apologized for his rude outburst.

Midoriya laughed heartily at his friend's response. "I'll see you later Kaminari!" Midoriya began to run ahead before turning back "and good luck with Kyouka-San!"

Kaminari belligerently yelled out after Midoriya but to no avail, Midoriya wouldn't have made any sense of his words even if he did hear him.

With Midoriya's kind words relieving his insecurities he decided to hit up the fitness center again this evening. He wasn't about to give a damn about what anybody had to say about him, he was going to improve himself regardless.

Kyouka was sipping away at her iced tea in her room, meticulously scanning every word in her textbook in preparation for the upcoming test. The temptation to kick back and play her bass was evergrowing and the urge was only strengthened by the stress she felt throughout the day.

Music was always her goto when she felt stressed out or anxious. Maybe she needed to take a break from studying and get back to what she enjoys doing most.

Kyouka began playing an original tune that she had been writing, switching between bass and guitar to find the best sound that accommodated both instruments when she heard a knock on the door.

"I wonder who that could be."

She opened the door to find a sweaty Kaminari on the other side.

"Hey, what's up sweet thang?" Kaminari winked at her, still wiping the sweat out of his hair with his towel.

"Not much, just studying. Would it kill you to take a shower first before coming here?" Kyouka pinched her nose in disgust at his gym smell.

"My bad," he chuckled "I know you aren't studying though, I could hear you playing your bass when I walked by the front of the building. Your window was open," Kaminari gestured to the window that Kyouka forgot to close before she began playing.

Kyouka always shut her window and tried to make sure nobody was on her floor when she was writing. She was a bit of a shut-in when it came to her music and didn't often share it with anybody. At the revelation that her music notes were leaking out into the world around her, she turned a pinkish hue and shut the window immediately.

"Something wrong Kyo?"

"N-no, it's nothing!"

"Don't tell me you're embarrassed about your music?! I noticed that you don't play very much around others. You shouldn't hide it! It's fucking rad, girl!"

Kyouka could feel the warmth stir under her cheeks at the compliment. She had never been good at taking compliments so her natural response was to retort sarcastically.

"Well, you could probably do something too if you didn't fry your brain every time you tried too hard."

"Ouch, that cuts deep Kyo," Kaminari's hands shot up in defense.

"I-I'm only teasing! I'm sorry!"

"Don't worry about it, it's cool. I think you should keep working on your music, you could be an amazing musician if you wanted to."

Kyouka's eyes scanned Kaminari's warm expression for a little longer than she'd like to admit. Looking at him there with his towel wrapped around his shoulders, sweaty from the gym, should have been repulsing but seeing his genuine self made her unsure of what to feel. Seeing him be himself without trying to be the "cool guy" was a real punch in the gut. She liked this Kaminari but she would never acknowledge that.

Kaminari, feeling the awkward shift, broke the silence. "I should go hit the shower I guess, it was rad talking to you Kyo!"

"Yeah, I'll see you later."

She watched as he turned the corner, almost closing her door on his fingers when he poked his head back in, causing her to jump and squeal.

Kaminari burst into laughter, trying to force his words between giggles, "would you help me study English? I just suck at it and I figured you might be able to help me a bit."

"Sure, sounds good. Tomorrow at 6:00 PM?" Kyouka didn't know what she was saying. She loved spending her evenings studying alone. She panicked at his question and just said the first thing that came to mind.

"It's a date! See you then, gorgeous!" Kaminari winked at her as he disappeared from her doorway.

"D-d-date?" She asked weakly, long after Kaminari had turned tail.

What had she gotten herself into?

Hey there folks, we have some character development this chapter! Hm, I wonder what's going to happen between the two next chapter? Guess you'll all have to wait and see!

As always I look forward to everyone's reviews, it greatly helps my thought process when I write. Please continue to read and review!

TheMortalCoil