Chapter 7: Triad in Action

Hitoshi was surprised when Neito had texted him, asking if he and Denki could speak with him and if now was a good time. He didn't think they'd ever want anything to do with him ever again, but who was he to deny them some closure if that's what they needed to continue their new relationship with each other?

It hurt that he was without them, but he truly wanted to see them succeed with each other where he had failed them. They deserved to be happy, and if being together made them happy, then who was he to get in their way? If they needed closure to move forward with their relationship, who was he to deny them that? It was the least he could do after all of the pain he caused them.

Hitoshi's heart hammered in his chest when the knock on the door came, and when he opened to door, Neito walked right in without being invited, dragging Denki inside with him by the hand. Neito had made himself right at home like usual, sitting on Hitoshi's bed. This time, though, instead of sprawling out, he made room for Denki to sit on the bed next to him, which Denki did without hesitating.

Hitoshi was thankful for that, at least. It was nice knowing that they helped each other get their confident spark back to baseline. Looking at them, sitting on his bed together, where each of them had sat before but without the other, was disorienting. He could tell that they were good for each other: Better than he would ever be for either of them because he wasn't ever even able to choose one over the other. There he went, having to eat his cake and have it, too. He thought he might be disgusted by himself for the rest of his life.

"Neito and I are boyfriends," Denki had said suddenly, breaking the silence as Hitoshi sank down in his computer chair.

Hitoshi paused at that. What reaction were they looking for? Then he scolded himself. He was going to give them the most genuine reaction he could, because they deserved the truth, didn't they?

"I'm happy for you," he had said, hoping that he didn't sound dismissive or sarcastic.

"Are you really?" Denki had asked, and not unkindly.

He sounded genuinely curious if Hitoshi meant what he said, and not because of the tone Hitoshi had used. Hitoshi sounded genuine enough, even though it was clear on his face that he was crestfallen.

"Yeah…" Hitoshi had confirmed before starting again, "Hey, I know I've already said it, but I'm really sorry for what I did to you guys."

Hitoshi thought he should just get the ball rolling. Allow them to get their closure and move on and allow himself to wallow in self-pity when they moved on without him.

"And why did you?" Neito had spoken up, ready to hear Hitoshi's reasoning.

Neito wasn't ready last time when they had confronted Hitoshi together for the first time. He was angry and heartbroken and on the verge of tears. Neito was much stronger this time around with the plan in place that he and Denki had come up with. Even if it didn't go as planned, he still had Denki to fall back on and cheer him up if this turned out to be a giant disaster.

So, without interruptions (to Hitoshi's surprise. It actually kind of made him even more nervous that Neito wasn't interrupting and calling him out on his bullshit excuses and saying that his explanations weren't good enough and that they deserved better), Hitoshi explained how he started dating both of them near the same time, and then it started getting serious with both of them around the same time, and how every time he tried to fix things, he couldn't decide who to break it off with. Hitoshi explained how he knew that it was inevitable that they would find out some day, but how he was holding out hope that one of them would break up with him first and solve his problem for him.

At this point in the explanation, Denki and Neito had made meaningful eye contact and squeezed each other's hands. Hitoshi was nervous that his explanation wouldn't give them the closure they need, but it was the absolute truth, and he had nothing but the truth left to give them. If he had been paying attention to the blonde boys seated on his bed, though, he might have gotten a hint of what was to come.

Both boys had a certain look in their eyes as they looked at each other. At first, it was empathetic sorrow for Hitoshi thinking that one of them would grow tired of him. They both had already known from prior experience that Hitoshi grossly undervalued himself and didn't see how worthy he truly was. But underneath the sad reservedness they were feeling at Hitoshi's confessions, there was a spark of gleeful anticipation. This is exactly what they had wanted to hear and worked well into their plan that Hitoshi had loved them both equally. They would not have had a better chance at this any other way.

Hitoshi went on to say how he loved them both so, so much and he truly never thought that he would be worthy of both of their attentions, let alone just from one of them. It was a dream come true that quickly turned into a nightmare when he realized that he couldn't choose. He assured them that he never saw anyone else other than them, not that he thought that would make them feel much better, but because they deserved the truth. When neither boy stopped him, he went on to explain that when he saw them together, he was surprised at first, but then it made a lot of sense when he thought about it.

"I really am happy for you both," Hitoshi had insisted. "I hope that you are able to give each other what you need since I failed you both. It's karma in a way, isn't it? It's exactly what I deserve."

Hitoshi had quickly stopped talking after that. It was just like him to make their relationship about himself, insinuating that they were doing that to punish him, but he knew that wasn't true. He hoped that they didn't think he thought that, but with all the shit he put them through, he couldn't blame them if they did. He wanted to think that they knew him better, but he was the one who showed them that they might not really know him after all.

Hitoshi had winced when Denki had said, "yes. You deserve exactly this."

And by 'this,' Denki had meant the proposal they were about to throw in Hitoshi's face.

Neito had crawled off of the bed, followed by Denki. Hitoshi had stood up from his computer chair to let them out, thinking they had gotten the closure they were after, but they were far from done.

Instead of heading toward the door together, the blondes separated and surrounded Hitoshi instead, Neito grabbing one hand and Denki grabbing the other. Hitoshi had paused then, truly confused about what was happening.

"Denki took me home over the weekend," Neito had started with Denki nodding, a grin growing over his face as he couldn't contain his anticipation of how Hitoshi might react.

"Okay…" Hitoshi drawled. He didn't want to listen, sure that he was about to be very hurt, but he deserved it after all. Denki said he deserved it after all, and Denki gets what he wants.

"We hung out with the… new and improved Bakusquad," Neito had hinted, waiting for Hitoshi to start catching on, watching his face for any sign of understanding.

"Yeah?" Hitoshi had inquired. "Bakugou, Kirishima, and Midoriya, right?"

Both blondes nodded, but didn't say anything further, looking at Hitoshi expectantly. Why were they looking at him like that? What did they want from him? Why was it so important that they mention hanging out with the triad?

Hitoshi had started to understand. At the look of amazement of what was being considered crossed his face, both blondes had huge smiles on their face as they watched the thought process obvious on Hitoshi's face.

Realization: A triad? Did they want to form a triad? With him?

Denial: They couldn't have possible meant that, could they? Why would they ever? Especially after what he had done?

Anger: They were doing this on purpose to mislead him and torture him further… but he did deserve that, didn't he?

As Hitoshi was rapidly progressing through thoughts, Neito and Denki noticed that his thoughts were dropping down the wrong path and decided to quickly set him straight.

Neito, like so many times before, reached out, grabbed Hitoshi's face, and pulled him into a kiss.

It was like coming home to Neito. So familiar and secure. Neito was surprised that there was no lingering bitterness of the situation as he moved his lips against Hitoshi who had started to respond, just like he knew he would.

Hitoshi knew that Neito and Denki wouldn't do this out of pure revenge, no matter how hurt they had been by his actions and poor choices. Hitoshi was overwhelmed at the prospect of possibly starting a triad and having Neito against his lips once again when he never thought he'd get to relive the pleasure again after he had stormed out with Denki following forlornly behind him a few weeks ago.

Neito paused, pulling back and blinking, eyebrows furrowed when he felt tears on his fingers that were holding Hitoshi's face in his hands. Hitoshi had met his look with a wide-eyed one of his own before glancing down at the arms that encircled his waist from behind. After a glance, Neito saw that Denki had wrapped himself around Hitoshi, hugging him from behind and burrowing his face into his back.

It was all so much for Hitoshi to process.

He had expected them to come here, announce that they were together, get closure, and never speak to him again. He had thought he was dreaming a few times, but his reality checks proved to him that he was not dreaming, and this was real life happening all around him.

The trio sunk to the floor as Hitoshi cried, lifting an arm to bring Denki around to his side and doing the same to Neito as he hugged them both close.

"Why are you doing this? I don't deserve this," Hitoshi had whispered.

Hitoshi was shaking, terrified of letting the blondes go when he was so close to being able to have and keep both of them. It was all he had ever wanted, and he never thought it was possible.

To be honest, if things hadn't played out the way they had, it probably would not have been possible. Denki and Neito's bond strengthened beyond basic friendship because of Hitoshi's infidelity.

"Can you do this?" Neito had whispered when Hitoshi had calmed down.

"Will you be our boyfriend?" Denki added.

"You really want me? After all I've…" Hitoshi had stopped, not wanting to start the waterworks again.

"Of course," Denki had answered. "We love you."

"But you have to be okay with Denki and I seeing each other, too," Neito warned, wanting to give Hitoshi a clear view of what was being offered.

Hitoshi had let out a watery laugh then, freeing his hands to wipe at his face before responding, "Are you kidding? You two together are hot!"

Neito threw his head back laughing and Denki grabbed Hitoshi's face and pulled him in for a kiss of his own. After a moment, Neito pulled Denki and Hitoshi apart to take Denki's lips for himself.

They all observed each other, then, and decided that it was worth a shot. Each of them, unbeknownst to the others, had already decided that they would do everything in their power to make sure that this new relationship dynamic worked out.

They stayed on the floor, tangled up in one another as they spoke about everything from the expectations of the relationship (closed triad, no other physical/romantic adventures without outsiders allowed) to how closely two out of the three boyfriends had been to being murdered by Bakugou (who is very vocally 'not above murder' for his friends' protection).

They were still curled up and talking when the sun came up, feeling better and better about the newly established triad as they stole kisses from each other and basked in the pleasant atmosphere of all of their combined companies together for once.

It was very freeing for Hitoshi to be able to spend guilt-free time with both boys. He hadn't realized until then that every interaction he had with them was weighed down by guilt for keeping the other a secret. He did, however, have a new worry that took place of all of the previous ones.

Hitoshi was either very easy to read or both boys knew him so well that they could sense the change in his mood.

"What's up?" Denki had asked, placing a hand on his chest to rest his chin on as he looked into Hitoshi's eyes, waiting for a response.

Neito had copied Denki, peering at Hitoshi as well and waiting for an answer.

Hitoshi had taken a deep breath and informed his boyfriends of his new worry.

"How am I going to tell my dad?"