The Bakusquad was talented at cornering people. Shinsou had learned this the hard way when Bakugou slammed his hand against the wall he was trying to walk past and Mina jumped behind him to hold his arms in place. Sero and Kirishima fell into a practiced circle around the rest of him. He was about to use his quirk when he noticed the type of expressions on his attacker's faces.
Complete exasperation.
"Shinsou, buddy, I think you're great but you're killing us here. Can't you just say something? Denki isn't going to," Sero pleaded with a strained version of his usual toothy smile.
"If I have to hear him whine about you one more goddamn time I'll turn you both into stupid gay ashes," Bakugou said through clenched teeth. Shinsou was perplexed at the method of their suggestion.
"Are you threatening me to ask out Kaminari?"
"No shit, Sherlock. Here's a dollar. Go buy yourself a fucking clue."
"How do you guys even know about this?" Shinsou had honestly thought he had been subtler than that.
Kirishima seemed to have found that hilarious and had to hold onto Bakugou's shoulder so he wouldn't fall down from laughing.
"Bro, you are literally all he's been talking about. He even said you were hot after the culture festival though you scared the shit out of him in your class' ghost labyrinth. He's obviously into you, dude."
God I hope so, but that seems too easy.
"Who says he even feels anything for me? He could just be flirting like he does with everyone."
"The both of you are idiots!" Ashido cried. Sero nodded solemnly and patted her back in a show of support. "You do like him, right? You aren't actually just trying to round up pretty boys? Todoroki is already taken."
He could agree Todoroki was pretty but ultimately not his type. He preferred a man with more emotional range. Ok, someone with a lot of emotional range…who is blonde, had a cute lightning streak in his hair, is smarter than anyone gave him credit for, and is insufferably sweet. Not that he was thinking of anyone in particular.
"Yeah. I think I do."
I really do; so incredibly much. You have no idea.
"Looks like we finally have a bro-in-law," Kirishima faked wiping a manly tear from his eye.
"If you ever fucking say anything."
"What's your favorite of Bakugou's pastries?" Mina asked with a very serious expression. It took Shinsou a moment to properly change gears enough to answer her.
"Um, probably cookies?"
"You heard him, Mama-gou! We are now putting a ban on cookie making until you talk with Denki." Bakugou nodded as if he had already made the decision, but also lightly slapped Ashido upside the head for the nickname.
"You better treat him right, too." Sero was clearly on board with the idea. "He might occasionally be an annoying dumbass but he's our occasionally annoying dumbass."
"Shouldn't you give me this talk after I ask him out?"
"If we've given you permission you're basically already dating him," Kirishima explained.
"I better tell him the news that he's taken. Will you be deciding the timing of our first kiss as well?"
Bakugou made a face. "Gross. Don't talk about shit with you and dunce face, just go and do it." At this point you could almost call his expression an affectionate scowl.
Shinsou felt like he was dreaming. Acceptance from the squad and the reassurance that Kaminari has feelings for him? Please let this be real.
He'd started to plan just how he'd go about asking the shorter boy to be his boyfriend. He wanted to have everything worked out before he got there. How to say it, how to look, when to do it, and everything else.
Shinsou didn't do things by halves.
Firstly, he had some questions he needed to ask in order to make it perfect and for that he needed the Bakusquad.
Am I really one of them now? This is so surreal. I wonder what the inevitable hazing ritual will be. Could it be talking about Midoriya in front of Bakugou and surviving the backlash?
He found the group, Kaminari included, participating in a study circle. He could tell that's what it was by the glazed eyes on Ashido, Kaminari, and Sero's faces. Bakugou had literally turned in his seat so he was solely talking to Kirishima about a math problem that his 'students' had all gotten wrong. If Shinsou really did count as a Bakusquad member he'll be raising their average IQ score immensely.
Upon reaching the round table they were sitting on, Shinsou opened his mouth to greet them. Then he realized his whole mission is ruined if Kaminari is present.
I can't ask about Kaminari while he is right there. How the hell do I get him to leave for a moment?
"Hey, Shinsou!" Kirishima spies him first and the others respond happily now that they get an out from studying. Out of the 4 pupils, Kaminari looked the most excited to see him. It brought a tiny smile to his face.
"Shinsou! Save your best friends from being educated! The world couldn't handle me being pretty and smart. Clearly, I gotta cut it off after the pretty part. Be the hero I know you are and save the world! "
He said hero! But he also said we were best friends. Does that mean he doesn't want to date? He said plural friends, though. Could it be that the squad considers me a real friend?
"Shut your fucking trap, dunce face. Some of us are trying to be sexy and a genius." The angry boy didn't even glance up from his textbook while saying so.
Shinsou was never going to get used to Bakugou making a joke. Then again that might have been a serious statement. He's not sure he'll ever speak Bakugese the way the rest of the squad does.
"Aw, Katsuki. You're already those things!" Kirishima had that embarrassingly loving look on his face, which only comes out when something related to Bakugou occurs.
"Yeah. Why don't you just give a blow job while you're at it," Sero suggested.
The boom from Bakugou's hand immediately burnt his pencil to ash. "Want to fucking say that again, tape face?"
"Once was enough, but thanks for the offer," Sero turned to Mina, "isn't he so thoughtful?"
Shinsou used this moment to try and subtly gesture for them to make Kaminari leave the room. He hoped his probably awkward facial expression and hand movements got the point across. Before anyone could offer ideas Kaminari pointed at Ashido with glee in his eyes and almost laughing already.
"Does anyone else remember when Mina used to joke- thanks to friction and static- that I would have to wear rubber gloves if I wanted to give someone a hand jo-"
My brain has officially shut down. Oh man, please don't let me visualize it. How would that still be so hot when-. Hanta jumped in and cut off his train of thought.
"TMI, Denks," Sero groaned, but this wasn't his first rodeo of Ashido and Kaminari talking about every uncomfortable thing ever.
Shinsou watched the conversation Sero and Bakugou were now having entirely with their eyes and small nods of the head. Both parties understood whatever was conveyed and then Sero got up and said, "I can't look at my textbook anymore. I'm gonna grab something from the vending machine upstairs. You guys want anything?" For the 17th scoring student in the class, Sero was a genius.
"Soda!"
"A fucking reason to live,"
"Just water, thanks!"
"Kaminari, don't answer. You're coming upstairs to help me carry all of this."
"Whaaaat? That's no fair! I am probably the person at this table with the least muscled arms." Kaminari pulled up his shirtsleeve to show what was still very legitimate musculature. He made a muscle with a saucy expression, and an embarrassingly vigorous eyebrow wiggle while meeting purple eyes with his own.
Please don't undress anymore or they may have to send me back to Gen Ed for losing my mind.
"You don't need muscle to carry cans of soda. Get your spazzy butt over here. Shinsou, you want anything?"
Yes, but he's currently leaving to help get soda.
"No, I just had a cup of coffee a minute ago. Thank you."
Sero shrugged as if to say, "your loss," but after Kaminari had turned around to leave he gave them all a big wink and mouthed 'I'll keep him busy while you talk' before he followed the blonde to the elevator.
"What was so important that you had to ruin our study session, brain fucker?"
And isn't that just a great superhero name. Bakugou really is the ultimate conversational icebreaker.
"I'm going to ask Kaminari out."
"Good. Then go do that. Problem solved. Go home."
Shinsou had decided earlier that one of these days he was going to test just how much he could get away with when speaking to the furious boy.
"I want you guys to help me find the right way to say it." Shinsou felt incredibly self-conscious but he was glad that his trademark exhaustion left him looking calm and unbothered more than anything else.
"And you've come to us why?"
"You know Kaminari better than everyone. Plus you have experience. How did you ask out Kirishima?" Anger trigger number 1.
Bakugou yelled, "We AREN'T dating!" while Kirishima answered, "Oh I asked him out. It was the basic: 'Please don't kill me but I'm super gay for you, has anyone mentioned that you have really nice eyes, I like how you're actually a total softie and a talented leader who really cares about his squad. I'm pretty sure I'm in love with you, so can we date?' Pretty straightforward, right?"
Not the definition Shinsou would have picked for 'pretty straightforward" dating speeches, but apparently it worked.
"He even loves me too. You can tell because I'm still alive! Plus we went on a super cute date afterward-"
"It wasn't a date. I asked you to fight me so I could have an excuse for killing you 'by accident'."
"It was totally a date! Two manly guys talking about feelings and then hitting the gym to spar? That's true romance, dude."
Shinsou was oddly jealous of the relationship in front of him. It was the bizarre but touching things like this that made him long for being part of a team, with friends, a lover, and a family- biological or not.
Mina ignored the bickering boys to her right and gestured for Shinsou to sit down next to her. "Ok, let's do this."
"You have any ideas? I mean, I know he likes flashy things but I'm not a flashy person. I don't know how to make it understated but still…gaudy."
"I think the word you're looking for is 'tacky' my friend. But don't worry, I know my Pikaboy would rather have something more personal. Like, honestly you could just pull him aside to somewhere quiet and tell him there. Oh, but get him like a single flower or something. Don't sweat it too much, though. You aren't getting married. We'll save the bouquets design, matching suits, and ballroom reservations for the wedding."
"So you've all moved on to planning our wedding as well? I haven't even told Kaminari that we've been dating since this morning thanks to you four."
"Details, details," Mina waved it off both physically and figuratively. "The important thing is what you say and how you say it. Denki isn't going to care where it is."
"What do people usually say? I've never asked someone out before," and it was embarrassing to state but Shinsou had a feeling they'd already figured that out. Last time I tried to ask someone out they wouldn't reply and later said they expected me to make them say yes after they'd answered. It still hurt to think about.
Kirishima and Bakugou had resolved- as much as one can with Bakugou- their argument over what does and doesn't constitute a date and tuned in to the conversation.
"Just say: 'you aren't the worst. We're dating.'"
"Or you could compliment him like I did with Bakugou. Mention his good points. Why you like him, and that sort of thing?" Kirishima was more excited for the confession than Shinsou was. Which was easy for him to be since his heart didn't nearly miss a beat every time he thought about confronting the lithe blonde.
Nonetheless, Red Riot certainly had a good point. It had managed to work on Bakugou and if you can make that happen then you can do anything. Shinsou approved.
"That actually sounds pretty good. I guess I'll go with that one."
Mina squealed, "Oh my gosh you have to tell us what you're going to say! Let me write a script! Maybe we should get balloons…"
If a god does exist it sent Kaminari and Sero back to the table at the perfect time. Shinsou wasn't sure he could handle a fully amped up Ashido on a mission.
"Got your drinks!" Kaminari started to hand them out, "but I also found out that Sero can use his tape and carry them all by himself so he's a douchenozzle for asking me to help."
"And here I was trying to spend time with you and enjoy your company."
Sero definitely knew him well, because that phrase was a super smart move. Kaminari whipped around to look at Sero with a sincerely crestfallen expression.
"Bro! I didn't realize you just wanted homie time! We could have hung out longer. Want to watch a movie tonight?"
Sero made unsure eye contact with Shinsou, who shrugged, in an attempt to find out whether or not he'd end up getting in the way of his confession.
"Sure, yeah. I can probably do that. It's SciFi original movie night, too. We can see the new OctoTwister vs DolphinStorm. You guys want to join in too?"
Should I join or try and catch him on his own?
Having a group 'date' was still viable. Shinsou hoped that if they all went together there was a tiny chance he could still talk with Kaminari, and if it didn't work there was always tomorrow. But can I handle a movie marathon with the Bakusquad?
Question answered.
"I think I'll just head back to my room. I didn't really sleep last night. This way you guys can watch the movie with your boyfriends."
Mina quickly laid down the law, "You are not allowed to no-homo your way out of movie night!"
"It's more like so-homo, but I concur," Sero added.
"Not everyone is a couple here, Shin. You can stay if you want?" The blonde was playing with fire.
A nickname. Oh crap. Stay calm.
Kaminari bat his eyelashes at him but seemed unsure what the speed of that should be. Instead, it appeared to be a very localized aneurysm. Kaminari continued, "I mean I know I'm single, Mina is doing something to someone somewhere but it's not official, and Sero is probably going to die cold and alone. You'll fit right in!"
"Denki, you prick! What's this 'die cold and alone' crap you've doomed me to?!" Sero shouted with a frustration previously unseen by Shinsou. It still wasn't very scary, but it's probably difficult to appear angry when your teeth and mouth are forever grin shaped.
Kaminari ignored his words altogether and made this face that was probably intended to be puppy eyes.
It may or may not be working.
"Okay," the tired boy sighed and threw up his hands in defeat, "I'll watch it. Happy now?"
Kaminari looked so openly gleeful that Shinsou was immediately glad he'd said yes.
"In that case, you and I get the sofa chair. It's usually just my spot but it's your first movie night so you get the honor. I'll just sit on the arm of it or something."
"You could sit on the chair too," Mina butt in, "just sit on his lap, sparkylicious!" she turned to Shinsou with a delighted expression, "Denki weighs like 40 pounds soaking wet. So it won't be an issue."
The purple haired boy subtly pinched his thigh to check if this was indeed true. Yep. Not a dream. I've got to text Papa Mic about this later.
"Are you even ok with that, Shin?"
"Yeah. That's fine. You're light."
He could hear the audible zap that ran through the blonde and felt pretty proud of himself for causing it.
"Uh, cool."
"See," Mina sang, "problem solved. Now let's get to the couch and get this party started!"