Chapter 1

Hindsight. It's like the biggest "fuck you" your memory could serve. Like those memories that were funny in hindsight, but shitty and terrifying in the moment. Or those certain things you thought about at night that were so obvious in hindsight, but in the moment, you just couldn't figure out why no one was talking to you in middle school. (Hint: it was because you wouldn't stop talking long enough to let them.)

That was how Kaminari Denki felt right then. In hindsight, it was obvious that he was dreaming. Moreso, it was obvious that he was having one helluva nightmare.

Rulers slapping down on his desk. Snickers coming from all directions.

"Pay attention, Denki. High school will not tolerate such behavior,"

Stern tones in stuffy offices.

Whispers and hushed voices. High-pitched giggling and snickers.

"God, he's such an idiot. I can't believe he hasn't gotten held back yet!"

"I know right? Have you seen his grades? My parents would kill me if I came home with those grades!"

"Did you hear? He wants to go to UA High School!"

"In Japan? Wow, no way he's getting in! He's too stupid!"

Thoughts going a million miles a minute. Lips moving too fast for the brain to make words for.

"Shut the fuck up, you're ruining the best part of the song,"

"No one needs to know about all that,"

"Slow down. I can't keep up with your mouth!"

"Literally, when did I ask you about the logistics of cheat codes in 'Sister Location'?"

"Denki, no one cares about 'Marvel'. Those movies are like a thousand years old,"

"You're weird,"

"Stupid,"

"Loud,"

"Shut up,"

"Slow down,"

The laughter getting louder and louder, ringing in his ears.

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! HA, HA, HA, HA, HA!

Denki shot up from his pillow in a cold sweat. Heaving slightly, he ran his hand through his hair. It was obviously a dream. Only a dream.

He glanced at the clock. 5:48 in the morning. He'd finally learned how to get up on time.

"Looks like it's time to go-"

"DENKI! GET YOUR ASS UP IT'S TIME FOR SCHOOL!" a voice shot up into his ear canal.

"I'M ALREADY UP MOM!" he yelled down the stairs. There was a pause.

"Wow! Good job on that! I thought I was gonna have to yell at least nine more times!" There was laughter from Janus, his older brother.

"Shut up Janus! You're one to talk!"

"Not talking, my young padawan!" his voice mocked.

"This isn't Star Wars! 'Sides, I'm coming down. Just let me get ready!"

He got dressed, brushed his teeth, and made his bed. His hair wouldn't cooperate- he already knew. And he'd showered last night.

Taking the steps two at a time, he reached the kitchen and sat down, greeting his parents and siblings tiredly. His younger sibling Rhys passed him a java monster nonchalantly.

"Thanks," he muttered before opening the tab and taking gulps.

"Don't chug it!" his mother scolded.

"R.I.P. to your youth, my young padawan!" Janus teased. "You're gonna be a great Jedi someday."

"Hero, Janus. Hero. And you're twenty-one and still living with your mother. I don't think you can talk to me about youth. And I can't tell if you made that reference to 'The Neighborhood' on purpose or accident.." he wondered the last part under his breath.

"Hey, when you see that Pokeball lookin' kid in your class, sing 'Daddy Issues' to him for me?"

"Ah, so it was on purpose. And I may or may not take you up on that," Denki smirked. Messing with Todoroki was always fun. He never got the joke.

"Can you guys shut up for five seconds? This paper's due in five minutes!" his baby sister Destiny scowled, briefly looking up from her homework. Her professor was infamous in the district for being brutal with Satan's writing.

"Looks like Destiny's gotta date with Destiny~," Rhys giggled.

"Like you haven't used that line a million times since I was born!" she scowled.

"Give them a break, Dess. It's the only joke they can come up with. Small pea-brains, y'know?" Janus joked.

"Hey! I do not have a pea-brain!"

"Could've fooled me. You've been repeating the same unfunny joke for years now. It's gotten old." Denki fought without missing a beat. He was tired, ok?

"Like you?" Rhys fired back. Points for trying.

"Look at you, finally using your creativity. Good job, Sport." Denki shot back with no enthusiasm. He was really tired, ok?

"What crawled up yours and died, Denks?" his mother questioned.

"Bad dream. I'll get over it when I get to class."

"Better get goin' then, Bubba. See you at the dorms. We gotta help you move back in. It was kinda dumb of you to bring all of your clothes back home when Spring Break only lasts a week," Destiny informed Denki without looking up, muttering the last part under her breath. Thankfully, no one heard her comment, so no uproar of teasing ensued, to her pleasure.

"Thanks, Sis. Love you guys!" He downed the rest of his drink and raced off to his room to get his backpack. He ran back into the kitchen and kissed his mother on the cheek.

"Bye guys! Love you!" he yelled over his shoulder. He wasn't tired anymore, ok?

"Hey, don't I get a goodbye kiss?" Janus teased.

"Too ugly for my beautiful lips to touch!" he laughed back. His family roared with laughter as he got his shoes on and ran down to the train station.

The subway ride to Musufatu was over quickly as he got off the platform and raced up the stairs into the city near his school. He got to the intersection where he and the squad all met up. As he approached, he heard the voices of his friends.

"Where the hell is that damn Pikachu?" Katsuki was getting impatient. The electricity user smirked. It'd be fun to see how long they'd wait for him. He hid in the bushes a few feet away.

"Come on, he's not that late, Bakubro! Just calm down and he'll be here soon." Eijirou. Always a bro.

"It is a bit early. And it is Denki. Maybe he's still asleep," Hanta responded cheekily.

"If that dunce hasn't learned how to wake up on time, even after all we've been through, I'll kill him," Bakugou barked. Ha, sweet alliteration.

"Uh-huh, sure you will Bakubabe~," Mina, always the tease.

"Please don't doubt him, babe. I still wish to live to see tomorrow," Kyouka muttered. Mina giggled at that and kissed her on the cheek. When did that happen? He'd have to interrogate them later on. No matter, he was a master of being way too much to handle, so they'd crack eventually.

"This is boring. Why don't we just go on ahead and see if he catches up?" Hitoshi, you traitor. Now he had to come out of hiding so they wouldn't abandon him.

"ROAR!" Denki screamed as he jumped out of the bushes. Chaos ensued. Long story short, explosions chased Denki to campus. Lovely.