Chapter 3: Mutual Understanding

Neito had quickly realized why Denki was so popular among Class 1-A back in UA. He was so warm and friendly. Despite Neito's reputation, Denki worked hard next to him, engaging him with lighthearted banter that was well-timed to be in between intense bouts of studious production.

Denki made even the mundane aspects of the project interesting. He always spoke with passion, his eyes sparkling as he rambled on confidently about what he knew.

Neito could see how Hitoshi would be smitten with Denki. It must have been a nice break from being with him. Instead of dealing with Neito's constant competitiveness and superiority complex, he got to relax with down-to-earth, cheerful Denki.

Neito almost felt bad about asking Denki to leave so suddenly. Denki was probably just as heartbroken as he was, and he kicked him out to walk across campus to his own dorm room by himself. Denki probably wouldn't even be mad about it, which made Neito feel even worse.

He practiced being more empathetic by trying to think about what Denki would be feeling at that moment. Probably pretty shitty, Neito had decided. Hell, there was no 'probably' about it. It would crush anyone to know that their boyfriend was cheating on them with someone who was nothing like them. Neito was pretty confident that Denki was probably drowning in self-depreciation at that moment, wondering why he wasn't enough and why Hitoshi would cheat on him with a man who was the complete opposite of himself.

Maybe that is how Neito should be feeling, too, but he couldn't convince himself to feel that way. Denki was a treasure. Neito wondered if Hitoshi and Denki would be able to heal their relationship with him out of the way.

Then Neito got pissed. He shouldn't be thinking this way. He should be pissed at Hitoshi for deceiving him in such a way, not worried about if his and Denki's relationship would last. He should be demanding that he be the one to keep Hitoshi!

… But he couldn't bring himself to hold that line of thought for longer than 30 seconds at a time. After a betrayal like this, Denki's warmth would be a priceless tool in fixing the relationship if there was anything there to fix. What would Neito offer except jealousy and grudge-holding? Neito wasn't the forgiving type. Hell, he would try to be for Hitoshi, but how could he when he knew that Denki wouldn't even have to try and struggle? How could he when he knew that Denki for sure wouldn't fail when he didn't have that guarantee?

Neito froze when he heard his phone vibrate on his nightstand. He didn't want to look. What if it was Hitoshi? What would he say?

His arm felt as heavy as lead as he reached over and pulled his phone toward him. He squinted at the screen, like he would be able to decrease the hurt if he only saw it through the blur of his eyelashes. He would have laughed at himself if he wasn't so down. 'Safety squints' did nothing to protect his eyes in the chemistry lab; similarly, it did nothing to protect his heart.

Luckily, it was Denki's name that had popped up instead of Hitoshi's.

Still dreadful, but a different kind of dread.

Was Denki pissed at him? Did he think that he knew about them all along? He should have told Denki about the timeline matching up that Hitoshi started dating both of them at the same time. He only had himself to blame if Denki assumed that Neito had started dating Hitoshi after he had already been in an established relationship with Denki for a while.

Taking a deep breath, he clicked on the message.

It was more disappointing than if Denki had been mad.

Denki was such a damn ray of sunshine that he was checking in on Neito.

Denki deserved the world and how dare Hitoshi hurt him? Didn't Hitoshi know how this would affect him when he found out? Didn't he know that Denki would do mental gymnastics in order to blame himself and help them out even as his own heart was breaking from the effort?

Neito quickly tapped a message back on the phone, sending it before he lost his nerve.

He was suddenly pissed at Hitoshi, and he would much rather keep this rage instead of falling back into self-pity. At the same time, he would work to cheer Denki up and maybe distract himself a little bit in the process.

So, he texted Denki to forget about the project tonight and to just go out clubbing with him so they can dance their blues away.

Denki was never one to turn down dancing and he wasn't about to start now.

Neito always wanted to be the best, so tonight he was going to be the best broken-heart reliever Denki would ever have the pleasure of knowing.

Neito swung by Denki's dorm building and waited outside for him. He didn't have to wait long before Denki literally sprinted out of the building toward him. Instead of slowing his pace, Denki had grabbed onto Neito and tugged him along as he sprinted past.

Neito was surprised to find himself laughing already, so soon after heartbreak. He would have to work harder to be the best broken-heart reliever or Denki might come out on top, even when he was unaware of the mental competition Neito had put them in. That was okay, though. Neito was up for the challenge.

Being Pro Heroes in training, they were very fit. Neito had no trouble keeping up the intense pace the whole way to the street that was littered with nothing but bars and clubs. The place was always deserted during the day, but it became a lively place in the evening, and absolutely hectic with intense energy during the night. Especially Friday nights, so they were sure to be in for a good time.

They both danced like their lives depended on it, not caring about what they looked like, only wanting to get out the restless energy they felt as a result of the truth being discovered.

They both eventually realized that the other one hadn't been drinking. They were both thinking the same thing: They would be the one to stay sober so that the other could let go.

Neito offered to get Denki a drink, yelling over the thumping bass of the music to be understood. Denki had agreed but ordered a bottle of water when they reached the bar, not realizing that Neito had also ordered a bottle of water until the bartender handed them their drinks.

Denki took it in stride, giving Neito a mischievous smile as he tipped his water bottle against Neito's in a toast to their night out. Not to be outdone, Neito intertwined his arm with Denki's before taking a swig of the water, pleased that Denki didn't hesitate to follow his lead.

Neito had stopped drinking first, but he quickly noticed the glint in Denki's eyes as he continued guzzling the water bottle like he had just crossed a desert.

Challenge accepted, Neito had thought before chugging the rest of his water as quickly as he could.

Denki had conceded, laughing and hiccupping as he wiped the moisture off of his mouth as Neito chugged his water bottle faster than he did, even with the head start he had given himself.

Denki liked Neito's competitive side. It reminded him of Bakugou, but less serious and more playful.

Neito liked that Denki so easily brought out his playful side. Here they were, standing pressed against a bar with alcoholic drinks at the ready and club music pulsing through the air, and they were having an unspoken competition about who could chug their water faster. Neito felt so carefree, which is exactly the feeling he was after when he suggested this. He never thought he would get to this point so quickly and so sober, but here he was, having a great time with the man who his lover had cheated on him with.

When they had stumbled out of the club, it wasn't because of the intoxication of alcohol, but the intoxication of having a great time feeding off of each other's positive energy and just simply enjoying each other's company.

When Denki had seen a flash of purple hair, though, he was quickly pulled from his happy haze as he yanked Neito into the alleyway and out of sight. Peeking around the corner, though, revealed the purple flash to be a bouncer standing at the door for the club across the street, and not Hitoshi. Denki was disappointed in himself when he realized he was disappointed that it wasn't Hitoshi.

And just like that, Denki's mood crashed. The delicate, flimsy haze of happiness had vanished and Neito was there to catch him as he fell, not allowing him to sink to his knees in the dingy alleyway with who-knew-what on the ground under their feet.

To Denki's embarrassment, he had started sobbing uncontrollably. Some distraction he was, huh? He wanted to give Neito a nice night, but here he was, crying after the first little reminder of Hitoshi. To Neito's credit, he took it in stride. Denki was impressed. If the roles were reversed, he didn't think that he'd be as effective as Neito at comforting him.

When Denki tried to sink to his knees, Neito had reacted quickly (thanks to the hero training that honed his reflexes) and stabilized Denki by leveraging his weight to press him against the brick wall that made up the alleyway. When Denki let out a sob and went to cover his face in shame, Neito was already ahead of him, pulling his face into the crook of his neck and rubbing soothing circles on his back as he sobbed.

Neito felt his heart breaking all over again. Denki, the human ray of sunshine, should not be bawling in an alleyway.

"I'm so sorry!" Denki had wailed against his skin but didn't try to pull away. Instead, Denki gripped his shirt in his hands and pulled him in even closer, pressing his face harder against his neck to try to suppress the sobs forcing their way out of his throat.

"No need to apologize," Neito had soothed, continuing the soothing motion of rubbing Denki's back as he heaved. "I'm here for you."

"No! That's why I'm sorry!" Denki had argued through his tears. "You should be with Hitoshi, and I got in your way. I'm so, so sorry. So sorry."

"Hey!" Neito had growled out, but he could only be angry at himself for not telling Denki sooner and allowing him to think that he ruined something that was doomed to fail from the start. "You didn't get in anyone's way," Neito insisted.

"I swear I didn't know that you guys were dating," Denki pleaded, hoping that his new friend wouldn't drop him if he had started thinking that Denki enabled Hitoshi's cheating on purpose.

"He started dating both of us at the same time," Neito admitted. "We were both equally wronged. You aren't a homewrecker."

Denki wondered if Neito had stolen a mind-reading quirk while they danced, brushing up against others who were blowing off steam from the week of classes. It was stupid, though. Neito was just naturally smart. He had the talent of being able to easily read others. Of course, he would be able to quickly deduce what Denki had been thinking.

"Why am I not good enough?" Denki blurted against Neito's neck before he could stop himself.

In that moment, he hated himself. It had been a while since he had felt that way, but there was the feeling again, crawling up from his stomach and taking an icy grip around his throat.

Neito was just as much as a victim as Denki, and here he was comforting him as he broke down. Denki would never become a hero at this rate. He was too emotional and too self-centered when there were others who were suffering more than him.

Neito pulled him out of his thoughts by harshly pulling his head away from the safety of his neck and making him look him in the eyes, one hand on either side of Denki's head.

"You are more than good enough," Neito insisted firmly, leaving no room for argument. "Hitoshi should beg for your forgiveness and kiss the ground you walk on if you ever decide to forgive him."

That gave Denki pause. Even through his pathetic display, he could tell what Neito was thinking.

"You think he would want me over you?" Denki inquired, but he knew he was right. "You're both on the same wavelength, miles above me. Don't sell yourself short."

Neito was about to argue, but that wouldn't accomplish anything.

"So, what do we do?" Neito asked. "Do you want to confront him together and see what he has to say for himself?"

"Would you do that with me?" Denki asked, hope sparkling in his eyes.

"Of course," Neito answered matter-of-factly. How was that even a question? Who wouldn't give Denki the world if he had asked them with those eyes and looking so sad?

They were both ready to get some answers to questions that had been weighing them down.