After Shinso went to the classroom looking for Kaminari, they went up to the roof together. Just to talk.

They knew they'd be late for the next class, but Kaminari felt that it was okay if they did this. Just once. He's been through a lot, and his teachers know, so maybe they'll pity him a bit and let this slide. It's only for a little bit anyway.

"Is that why you came back weird so many times from your house?" Shinso asks as they look over at the campus. They're both leaning onto the railing, feeling the nice, cool air around them.

The trees are so pretty. Just swaying in their bright green color. It's refreshing.

The way this turned out. Sure, everyone knows.

But they know.

It's not gonna happen again.

"Yeah. Not fun bleeding down there," Kaminari snorts.

Shinso face palms and gives a small laugh.

"I shouldn't be laughing at this. I'm sorry," the taller says.

"No. Please laugh. God, if we don't laugh, I'll just cry. So laugh. Make jokes. It's really okay," Kaminari smiles.

Shinso just shakes his head in amusement.

"I just feel- it's just really insane how easy this is. I was so scared. God, I was over thinking everything. I mean, holy shit it's embarrassing, but you make it easy to talk. Ew, but I still hate you," Kaminari says, crossing his arms over his chest.

Shinso laughs, shoving Kaminari slightly.

"Can't believe you still won't shut up," Shinso jokes and Kaminari scoffs.

"Shut the fuck up. Anyway, Aizawa almost made me cry earlier. Stupid teacher. Didn't think he had it in him to be that caring," the blond says, yawning and stretching a bit.

Shinso just looks at him, observing his behavior. It's the same as before. Kind of closed off, but still somehow very expressive. Shinso finds it weird how he can tell that Kaminari is tired. As if he didn't sleep last night.

Knowing Kaminari, and his over thinking, he didn't. He was probably up all night wondering what would come of this situation.

His biggest secret coming out, pretty much to the world.

He goes to UA, in the best hero class in his grade. It's bound to get unwanted attention, no matter how much he tried to fight it off.

There's no way it would've stayed hidden.

Shinso feels sort of upset about that. Being a hero-in-training doesn't allow you the privacy of a regular high school student.

Everyone's eyes are on you all the time. They're the heroes of the next generation, so it's part of the job to deal with the media. He can't imagine having his darkest secrets just exposed for everyone to see like that.

It's not like his darkest secrets are that bad either.

But here Kaminari is, at school the day after everyone found out that his dad, r-worded him.

He doesn't like the word.

It's so vulgar and strong. Makes him sad.

Not just because his friend went through that his whole life, but because it's upsetting that it happens to millions of people. It's sad.

The blond rests his head on his hands, looking pretty sad, too. He's been through a lot and hadn't gotten any help.

Shinso realizes that this is the first time anyone actually knows about what happened to him.

He probably went his whole life not being able to confide in anyone and having to keep it a secret because he was embarrassed. He said so himself.

"You shouldn't be embarrassed, just so you know," Shinso finds himself saying.

"I mean, I can't really say anything. I can't tell you how to feel. Whatever you're feeling, it's valid. They're your feelings, but none of us blame you. It was on the paper that you went through this since you were just a toddler. We're all still kids," Shinso starts.

"But you shouldn't be embarrassed or ashamed or whatever bad thing you're thinking. Your dad should be embarrassed. You were just trying to get by. You didn't know how to handle it at first and I feel like it was a survival instinct or something. I don't know, I'm rambling now. Just, you shouldn't be embarrassed."

Kaminari stares at him, wide-eyed. His eyes look teary and ready to spill at any moment.

"God, this is really fucked up, huh?" The blond asks, rubbing his eyes with a laugh.

Shinso nods. "Yeah, it is."

The bell had rang such a long time ago, Shinso wonders if their teacher is wondering where they are. Wonders if they're worried about Kaminari.

"I haven't gone through what you've gone through, but I did have a rough patch a while back. I know it gets easier after some time. I sound really fucking annoying to you right now cause damn what you went through was so not chill, but all I can really say is that it gets easier," Shinso nods.

A heavy sigh from Kaminari makes Shinso look over at him. "I hope so. Man, I want a nap," he says, resting his head on his hands again.

"We can just chill in your room after school. I'm tired, too."

The blond nods at the taller's idea.

"Thanks."

"Ew, don't say that."

"Fuck you."

Shinso laughs.

~~~~~

The teacher doesn't say anything when they get to class about an hour before school is over.

Of course, everyone looks at them, mostly at Kaminari because of this amazing fantastic good news that the entire fucking school knows about.

Mineta hadn't been in class since Mr. Aizawa told him to go outside and everyone hopes that it means he got time off from school. Everyone, especially Kaminari, could use a break from him.

"Which means the earth, inevitably, will die along with the sun," the teacher finishes. Wow, they're still telling them about that.

When the bell rings, just a minute or two later, Kaminari gets up and starts putting his stuff away.

He'd been writing notes. Thankfully he was able to pay attention and keep it there for the entire day. Sure, he missed a class and a half, but if Shinso is right, and all his friends are still his friends, they'll lend him their notes.

Everyone walks slower as they pass Kaminari as if they want to tell him something. If they were going to say something, they should have just said it.

It's kind of annoying how they just look and linger.

His friends, however, approach his desk and wait for everyone to leave.

"Oh my god, why are you so slow," Shinso sighs.

Kaminari glares at him as he fixes his folders. "Shut the fuck up."

Then he turns to his other friends who are still looking at him like he just died and came back to life.

Except Bakugo and Shinso.

Bakugo looks like he's gonna murder Kaminari in the nicest way possible and Shinso looks bored.

He turns, thinking they're all gonna follow him, and Shinso does.

"Kaminari."

Agh.

"Yes, Mina?" He asks, turning around.

Oh god, she's crying.

Kaminari steps forward, eyes wide and hands hovering, not sure what to do.

"Shit, sorry. Uh," he pauses, looking to the others for help but Kirishima and Sero start tearing up too.

Fuck.

Shinso and Bakugo just shrug as the three crying teens surround him.

Mina hugs his front while Kirishima and Sero take an arm.

"We're so sorry, man," Kirishima sniffles.

Sero punches him. "But fuck you. You could have told us."

Kaminari almost laughs at that. No way in hell.

"Sorry, but there's legit no way I would have told any of you ever."

Mina pulls away, tears streaming down her face and nose runny. Gross.

"I hate you," she cries before burying her face in his chest again to continue crying. What is going on? This is not what he expected and it just keeps getting weirder.

"You're getting your nasty ass boogers on me," he tells all three.

"Mine aren't nasty," Kirishima says, pulling away.

Ew, what does that mean?

The look on Kaminari's face must be funny because he and Sero laugh.

When are they gonna stop hugging him?

He tenses up a bit. "Alright, is that enough hugging?" Kaminari asks.

They reluctantly pull away, still keeping close and Kaminari groans. He's gonna have to wash his blazer right now. His other ones are dirty and he didn't expect this one to get dirty so fast.

"You guys are gross. Can we play Mario Kart?" Kaminari says, slouching exaggeratedly.

Kaminari makes it a point to not look at Bakugo. He's probably disappointed in him or something. It scares him to think that Bakugo might actually be upset at him or something. What will he say? Will he hit him or something?

No one moves for a moment before Sero breaks the silence, realizing that he's the one who has to agree because the console is in his room.

"Oh, yeah, let's go," he calls, already walking towards the door.

Shinso sticks by Kaminari almost protectively and the blond is thankful for that.

He's not too close either.

It's just comfortable.

They walk and continue walking in silence.

"Can you still help us with the essay?" Shinso asks, shoving Kaminari.

"No. Too much trauma. Brain no function."

"Your brain doesn't function cause you fry it every other week," Shinso retorts.

Scoffing, Kaminari shoves him hard.

Shinso shoves back harder until they're just going back and forth shoving each other laughing. It's when Kaminari shoves too hard that Shinso starts falling, pulling Kaminari down with him, actually flipping Kaminari so that Kaminari hits the floor too.

"Ow," Kaminari laughs. His backpack had landed an extra blow on his stomach.

He's smiling, though.

It's amazing.

When Mina's face pops into view, he realizes they did this in school.

Oops.

His face mostly falls, small smile still on his face from the left over rush of happiness he felt. It's more awkward now.

"Help me up," he hears Shinso call.

With that, he stands up and helps Shinso who has a small smile on his face, too.

"I definitely won that," Shinso announces after they've made it halfway to the dorms.

"Fuck you."

The others watch them banter and find themselves thankful that Kaminari can still find some normalcy in his crush. Shinso is a great guy, and even if neither of them make a move, their friendship is healthy.

Although none of them feel as close to Kaminari as Shinso is, they're all grateful that there is someone who can provide their crazy blond friend with some happiness and closeness because while the others were usually loud and jumpy, minus Bakugo, Shinso was calm and was able to be around Kaminari when Kaminari felt down.

That sort of friendship where just being in each other's company is a beautiful thing, and the fact that Kaminari found it with Shinso was a win got them all.

Their friend has someone.

The others could have gotten that close, but felt sort of intrusive for wanting to do that. So when Shinso came along, they urged the two to get closer. Sure, it would be great if they got together, maybe not at this time, but it would also be fine if the two stayed as friends.

If they started trying to date now, it would probably end badly. Maybe in a few months or longer they should try.

It would be fine now, too, but it might stress both of them out with what just came out. Kaminari's dad- Kisho took advantage of their best friend for his whole life according to the news.

The entire squad takes time to think about how to go about their friend. Obviously they don't want to treat him differently, but it might be appropriate to treat him sort of different.

Maybe asking him what's okay and not okay would be acceptable.

Boundaries should be set.

God, they have a lot of work to do.

As long at they can help their friend, it'll be worth it.

~~~~~

When Kaminari went home about a month later, him and his mom had both decided not to talk about it.

They didn't talk about not wanting to talk about it, but it just came to that.

"They want you to do a rape kit."

The word makes him cringe. Makes it real. Makes it not a bad dream.

Everyone knows.

His mom knows.

But they don't talk about it and that's what surprised him the most about this.

He won't do it though.

"I'm not doing it."

His mom nods, seeming mad.

Why is she mad?

It's not his fault.

But it is. He let it keep going. He never told anyone. He kept it a secret his whole life. He messed up. This is his fault.

"Okay."

Yeah. She's mad.

"Give me your phone."

He freezes. What?

He reaches for his pocket, grabbing his phone. He's going to give his mom his phone because she's mad.

About him not going the rape kit?

That's scary. Why would he want to go through that? They'll be touching his private parts.

He hands her his phone. Yukako turns it on and looks at the home screen.

Kaminari has learned to turn off his notifications. That way she won't be able to see who texts him and what they texted him.

"What's your password?"

Fuck.

"Eight, nine, three, one, eight."

He feels his whole body freeze and he freaks out as she looks through his phone.

If she reads through his messages, he'll see how his friends talk badly about both his parents. His mom isn't a horrible person but she messes up a lot. Especially recently. He's never cursed out his mom or blamed her for anything she hasn't done. He knows that.

But still, he has mentioned the things that make him upset.

She's looking through stuff.

Gallery, notes, web browsers.

Then she gets to the message app.

She opens it and Kaminari can see all of his friends had texted him at least once and also in the group chat.

Fuck.

She doesn't open them, just looks.

He reads over them quickly.

-----

bakugo(3:16 pm): you're hanging out with me when you get-

purple guy(3:02 pm): hey let me know when you get back.

pinky(2:15 pm): hisieesss hope you're not down!!!!

BAKUSQUAD(2:14 pm): aw man, when is Kaminari coming back

kiri(2:10 pm): yoo Kamiman chill out>:)

sero(2:04 pm): pp

-----

Stupid Sero.

Okay. As long as she doesn't open them, he's fine.

He sighs and thinks he's going to get his phone back.

He doesn't.

***
Word Count: 2,447
I hope y'all have a great day and enjoyed this chapter. Next chapter will go up next Sunday at 8pm central time. I love you all<3