***Denki's P.O.V.***

I dropped Maki off and made my way back to my house. My heart was still beating faster than normal… Maki, she gets to me in ways none of my exes have.

I thought of the way she smiled at me as we danced, the way she held on to me during the slow songs, and the way she breathed as I kissed her… no, Denki, stop. Don't think about that.

I need to get some sleep.

A few days went by and I was bummed, I couldn't spend much time with her. My parents needed my help at their shop.

I mostly only see her at school which isn't enough time.

Today was supposed to our end-of-semester exam but Aizawa's daughter, Eri, got sick so he didn't come in and rescheduled the exam for the end of the week. That was a relief for me, I wasn't ready.

Aizawa had Mic cover our class and he threw on some music videos.

Maki got bored quickly since they were weird music videos and she laid back on me, eventually falling asleep.

My heart skipped a beat over how cute she is. She looked so peaceful and comfortable.

I loved that she's getting more and more comfortable with me.

Mio rolled her eyes, "Why is it always Mic who covers our class?"

I shrugged, "Him and Aizawa are best friends… that our Aizawa likes to punish us."

Our classroom door opened and principal Nezu smiled as he walked in, "Hello, Mic, I hope I'm not interrupting."

Mic paused the video, "Not at all, my man, just showing them some history."

Nezu nodded, "I won't keep you long, I've just come to collect Mio and Maki Kagayaku. Their father is here to pick them up."

I looked back at the door, Mr. Kagayaku stood there, a sullen look on his face and flowers in his hand.

I was confused.

I nudged Maki, waking her up, "Buzzy, your dad is here."

She opened her eyes, looking at Mio confused, "Why is dad here?"

Mio checked her phone, "Check the date."

Maki glanced at the date before standing, grabbing her things.

I was even more confused, "What's going on?"

She threw her bag over her shoulder, "We have something to do. I'll see you later."

I nodded, leaning forward for a kiss but she just followed Mio out. I was so confused.

The rest of the day went by so slowly without Maki, I tried texting her but she never responded.

I thought about going to her house but dad needed me to watch the shop while he was out.

The next morning, I sent her some more messages:

Me: Hey! Did everything go okay yesterday? You never got back to me

Me: I miss you

Me: Do you need a ride to school

Me: I wish you'd answer me. I'm worried about you.

I sighed and went to school. I don't understand what's going on. Why isn't she responding to me? I hope everything is okay with her.

When I got to class, I almost ran into Bakugo as he came out, "Watch it, dumbass!"

I stepped back from him, "Sorry."

He started to walk around me but I caught up with him, "Hey, where are the girls? Maki isn't answering me. Have you talked to Mio?"

He raised his angry brow, "Don't you know what today is?"

I shook my head, "Am I supposed to?"

Bakugo rolled his eyes, "Damn, you really are an idiot. Today is the anniversary of their moms' death."

I froze… what? I didn't know… she never said anything. How could I not know this? Why wouldn't she tell me?

Bakugo growled, "You're dating her and you didn't know her mom was dead?"

I shook my head, "She… She never said anything. She always talks about her mom like she's just out of town. She and Mio both do. How do you know about this? Did Mio tell you?"

He scoffed, "Please, she spoke the same way to me but I'm not a dumbass. It bugged me that something didn't seem right."

I nodded, "Then how did you find out?"

He sighed, "I went upstairs in their house and there were pictures of their mom from various performances and I googled her. She died three years ago, right before they moved here. Mio stopped responding to me yesterday and I got… anyway, I stopped by and talked to their dad. The girls aren't going anywhere today, on this day the last two years, they've shut down."

My heart ached for Maki, "So, she's home?" Sad… alone.

He nodded, "I'm taking Mio her assignments."

I ran my fingers through my hair, "I'm going over there."

Bakugo shrugged, "I don't care."

I ignored him and started running to my car.

She needs me. She's alone, sad, and she needs me.

How could she not tell me?

I got there before Bakugo and ran up to the door, knocking.

It took a while but the door finally opened. Mio glared at me, pure anger in her eyes, "What the hell do you want short spark?"

I took a deep breath, "I need to see Maki."

She looked even angrier, the dark circles under her eyes making it more menacing, "What if she doesn't want to see you? Let me guess, she isn't answering your calls or texts. Maybe you should take a hint, I get you have fewer brain cells than a drunk college frat guy but even you should be able to see the big, blinking, leave me alone sign she's sending."

She's angrier than Bakugo.

She rolled her eyes, "God, you're such an imbecile. I don't see what she sees in you. Maybe that's why she hasn't called or texted. Space and distance to gear up for the big break."

"Mio." I heard Bakugo's stern voice as he walked up.

Mio locked eyes with for a second before stepping aside to let me in.

I ran through to Maki's room. Her door was closed.

I knocked lightly but there was no answer.

I opened the door slowly, stepping in. She was in bed, holding her pillow, tears streaming down her face. My heart started to break.

My Buzzy Beautiful Sunshine Nugget.

My Maki.

The love of my life.

I walked over to her, I took off my school jacket and climbed in bed with her, scooping her up, "Maki."

She tried to pull away from me but I held on, "It's okay, Maki, it's okay. I'm here for you, my Buzzy, you're okay."

She eventually stopped fighting me and let me hold her, she buried her face in my chest, and continued to cry.

I pulled her into my lap, holding her as tight as I could, "Maki, I'm here, you're not alone."

She cried for a while longer but eventually calmed down, "Why are you here, Denki?" She sniffled.

I kissed the top of her head, "I know about your mother, I didn't want you to be here alone. I'm here for you. I'll always be here for you. You don't have to go through this alone."

She gripped my shirt, burying her face again, "What about school?"

"You are more important." I squeezed, "I can make up those assignments."

I tried to think of some way to make her feel better, "Hey, I have an idea."

She nodded, not responding.

"Why don't I read to you?" I smiled, kissing her hair, "Something to distract you and maybe make you feel better." I remember her saying her mom used to read to her.

She took a deep breath, "I'd like that."

I stood and grabbed a book from her shelf, "How does The Princess Bride sound?"

She nodded.

I laid back down, pulling her to lay on me and I started to read to her.

I didn't read aloud as well as she does. I tripped up on some words and had my own commentary but after a while, I noticed Maki had fallen asleep. She needed it.

I ran my fingers through her hair, enjoying just being with her.

I jumped when my phone started to ring. I panicked and dug it from my pocket and silenced it before carefully crawling out from under her.

"Hello?"

"DENKI KAMINARI!"

Oh crap, "Hey, mom."

"Wanna tell me why you skipped school? It better be a good reason!"

She sounds beyond angry, "Umm, I do, I swear."

"Well?"

I sighed, "It's Maki, mom."

"What?! Did she encourage you to skip school? I thought she was a good kid?!"

I rolled my eyes, "Mom, no, Maki's in a bad way right now and she needed me. She didn't ask me to be here or to skip school, I came on my own because she needed me."

"What's wrong? Is she okay? What happened?"

I sighed, "Today is the third anniversary of her moms' death. She needed me."

She paused, "Okay," I heard her take a deep breath, "I understand. I covered for you with the school so you're excused. Just stay with Maki and make sure she's okay. Call me if she needs anything."

"Thank you, mom."

"Yep, but next time, call and pretend to be your dad to excuse your absence, I was scared half to death."

I nodded, "I will, mom, love you."

"Love you too, baby, give Maki a hug for me."

I hung up and looked back at Maki, she's still asleep.

I crawled back in bed next to her and before I could reach for her, she curled up next to me, wrapping her arms around me. I was surprised as I hugged her.

I hate that she spent so much time alone… I never want to be without her. I can't let her feel this pain alone. She needs me.

It didn't take long for me to fall asleep with her, the sounds of her breathing made a great lullaby.

I woke up when I heard a deep voice and someone clearing their throat.

Maki was still on my chest, I wiped the sleep from my eyes and nearly fell off the bed when I saw her father at the door, "Mr. Kagayaku, hello sir."

He didn't say anything. He stepped away and motioned for me to follow.

I gently pulled away from Maki and followed her dad into the living room, "Hello sir."

He sat in his chair and gave me a stern look, "Have you been here all day?"

I nodded, "Yes, sir."

"Why?"

I leaned on the arm of the couch, "She needed me. I couldn't stand the thought of her being alone today."

He nodded, "And you know what today is?"

"Yes, sir."

He sighed, "My girls take this day very hard. They will be fine tomorrow but today they go through their grieving process. Mio gets angry. When I came home, Bakugo was leaving. He told me Mio was sleeping and he had just finished cleaning up her rage."

I raised my brow, "Her rage?"

He nodded, "She destroyed the living room. I received flowers from a coworker who knew what today was and Mio destroyed the flower and smashed the vase they came in."

I was shocked, you'd never know.

He sat back in his chair, "I have to say, the last two years when I've come home from work, they haven't slept through this day. The full twenty-four hours are filled with Mio getting angry at everything and Maki crying uncontrollably and she's unable to stop.

When I left for the day, they were both doing the same thing as previous years, but, I came home and both of my girls are getting some much-needed rest. Do you know how incredible that is?"

I felt bad for them. They don't deserve this kind of pain.

He sighed, leaning forward, "Thank you, young Kaminari, for being here for my daughter. I've tried everything for my girls but nothing has ever worked. My baby girl is in there, peacefully moving through this painful day."

I shrugged, "Sir, I love Maki. I will do anything for her. She's done so much for me. I don't think I could ever do anything to repay her."

He was surprised, "You love my daughter?"

I nodded, adamant.

He smirked, "Have you told her that?"

I shook my head, "No, sir, Maki is easily scared. I think if I was that honest, she'd run."

He let out a laugh, "That's very accurate."

He sighed, "Would you like to see some pictures of their mom?"

I nodded, feeling curious.

He led me upstairs, "The girls won't come up here, it's where I have all the pictures from her shows and all of her things. They have a hard time looking at it, especially Mio."

I raised my brow, "Why?"

He pointed to a photo of their mother, she was in a white formal dress, and you could tell it sparkled, he hair was pulled back and she looked exactly like Mio, "Mio has always been an identical copy for her mother, she refuses to let her natural hair grow out so she doesn't resemble my Kameko.

I think she does it more for Maki and me rather than herself. She saw our reactions after her moms' death. We would turn a corner and think it's Kameko and would break into tears."

I felt like crying.

He sighed, "Maki is lucky to have someone who cares so deeply for her. Thank you for coming over today."

I nodded, "I'll always be here for Maki."

He smiled, "I believe that. Hell, I even think Bakugo will be there for Mio in any way she needs. I don't think he's capable of expressing it right now but I know he feels the same way."

I walked back downstairs and peered in Maki's room, she's still sleeping.

Her father sighed, "Stay as late as you're able too, I'm fairly confident you won't try anything on her because you know I have a gun, right?"

I felt a bit of fear set in as I nodded, "Yes, sir, I would never."

He nodded and walked away.

I climbed back into bed with Maki, pulling her close, "Maki, I love you." I whispered as I kissed the top of her head.

"I love you too." I heard her whisper as she snuggled closer.

I was surprised, "Are you awake?"

I waited but I heard nothing but her steady breathing.

I glanced at her face, no blush, she'd be blushing if she was conscious.

I held her tighter.

God, I love you.