Chapter Text
"Kaminari, are you alright?"
Denki looks up from his room door, shaking himself out of his reverie. "Huh?"
When he focuses again, a sleepy-looking Shouto comes into view in the hallway, rubbing his eyes with one hand whilst the other points towards the ceiling, the little dancing flame at his fingertip being the only light source around.
Where was he- Oh. He'd probably been on his way back from the bathrooms when he'd spotted Denki looking lost. (Despite standing right in front of his own room.)
His gaze drifts over the slightly messy hair, the red locks tousling into the white side, and the loose white tee slipping down one shoulder. At any other time, the mustard blond would be having trouble breathing at the sight. But as it stands right now, he's suddenly got a lot on his mind.
Right. I should probably reply to him. Before his classmate's gaze can shift into something akin to concern, Denki finally replies. "Yeah, I'm sorry. I'm- I'm good. Just thinking about.. stuff."
His classmate nods after a moment. "Alright, if you say so,” Shouto says, gracing him with the little smile that reminds him exactly why this boy ranks so high on his scoreboard. Not that that’s really on his mind right now either.
Then, “No pickup line?” he asks, and if Shouto wasn’t, well, Shouto, the blond teen would even say it sounded like he was teasing.
Denki can't help but laugh, even despite the day's events.
"It's 12am, Todoroki. I don't have any pickup lines on hand right now."
"You did when we were in the middle of that practice fight yesterday," the dual-haired boy points out, matter-of-fact.
Denki blinks. “Do I really flirt with you guys that much?”
The element user says nothing, but the fond look in his eyes says it all.
“Shit. Guess I do, huh?”
No response again.
"Kaminari, are you sure you don't want to talk about it?" Shouto asks one more time.
Denki hesitates for a moment. But then he exhales. "Yeah, I'll be fine."
“Alright, well, it’s late. You said it yourself - maybe you just need some sleep to get over whatever’s troubling you.”
Denki nods. “Yeah, that's a good idea. Good night, Todoroki.”
“Sleep well, Kaminari.”
As the boy walks away, his finger still lit, Denki turns the handle to his door and pushes it open. Then, at the last second, he turns back, slapping a hand against the wall to get the boy's attention. "Hey, Todoroki."
"Yes?"
"You know, I hate to see you go, but I love to watch you leave."
Without turning back, the element wielder makes a noise akin to a light snicker. "And there it is." He keeps walking.
Denki just smiles and steps into his room, shutting the door behind him.
Shouto was right - he should get some sleep. He'd figure things out more tomorrow.
*
For the second time in two days, Denki knocks on Ochako’s door, this time dodging before the pillow could hit his face.
“Ooh, a fast learner,” Mina says, a wide grin already on her face as Ochako and presumably Tooru pull him into the room like they had the night before, shutting the door behind them.
Dismissing the makeshift curtain hanging across one side of the room, he asks, raising an eyebrow, “You still decided to throw it even though you knew it was me?”
The pinkette winks. “Caught red-handed."
"Also, I forgot to ask you yesterday: You guys aren't coming to the festival with us?"
The three shake their heads. Tooru pipes up, "We're going to a book signing early, so we've gotta wrap this up in two hours. And we won't be back in time for the festival."
"Oh, I see," Denki says, smiling.
"But enough of that. Come see the kimono I have for you!”
Mina turns to her closet and rifles through its contents for a second. Finally, she pulls out a light pink and dark purple kimono with red accents, and he can’t help but stop dead and stare.
The pinkette drapes the article over her arm, letting the material soak up the sunlight and, undoubtedly, all his attention. “I had it in storage, but pulled it out this morning just for this little occasion. Whatcha think?”
"It's uh," he fumbles after a second, "it's pretty nice, I guess. Yeah."
Mina rolls her eyes as Tooru and Ochako croon over the fabric. "Come on, Denki. There's nothing wrong with admitting a piece of clothing looks nice."
"Okay," he blurts out. "It's... it's really pretty, Mina. But I- I can't borrow this! If I spill anything on it, I'll never be able to forgive myself." It looked so smooth, so ornate. He kind of felt afraid to even touch it.
“Pfft, a few stains are a small price to pay for seeing you in this beauty. I have some stockings and geta as well, so.. Ready to put it on?” She shakes the kimono teasingly at him.
Silently, he nods, and Mina’s small smile turns into a victorious one.
“That’s not all!” Ochako says, her brown curls bouncing as she produces something from behind her back. “This purse I’ve got matches really well with it too!”
He examines the rectangular purse. She was right - it was mostly light pink, and the dark purple in it was just enough to make people think it came as a complete set with the kimono. But, “Purse?” he asks hesitantly. “Do I really need one?”
Ochako’s expression falls for a second, and guilt snatches his heart strings, twanging them like a banjo. “Ah, of course I do! How could I possibly not carry a purse? I might as well go all the way, you know, haha..,” he says, clasping it gratefully to his chest, and watching in relief as her eyes lit up again. Dammit. Why did he have to be so weak to.. well.. everyone’s charms?
“I’ll take that,” Mina says, plucking the pouch from his grip. “Now get behind that curtain and change!”
“I’ll help set up the makeup corner!” Tooru says as the pink-haired girl thrusts the clothes into Denki’s arms and shoves him behind the white sheet. He can hear the three then busying themselves, presumably gathering their own stashes of makeup and laying them out.
Despite the things they'd told him yesterday, he can’t help but feel a little bad. What if he doesn't live up to their expectations?
“You know, you guys don’t have to put so much effort into this. I'm not going to turn out the way you hoped.”
A threatening voice echoes back, “Kaminari Denki, the only way you’re ruining my vision is by being insecure. So you will either shut up and put on that kimono, or I’ll come behind there and put it on you myself.”
He squeaks, suddenly scrambling to get the kimono off the hanger. “Yes, ma’am!”
*
Mina does in fact end up helping Denki put on the kimono towards the end, since he’s a dumbass after all, and he knows it. When they're finished, the fabric sits softly against his skin, caressing his wrists, making each step he takes swish lightly. And surprisingly, Mina's expression doesn't seem full of disappointment at all.
Still, he clasps the edge of the curtain shakily. "This is embarrassing."
“Just come on out, Kaminari!” Tooru prompts playfully from the other side of the curtain.
But before he can even prepare himself, the pinkette pulls the sheet aside in impatience and pushes him forward.
Instinctively, he yelps and brings his arms up in a cross to cover his face. “D-Don’t look at me!”
A second passes. Two.
“...Oh my God, I think I'm going to cry."
“Kaminari, you look so pretty!" Tooru says, sounding entranced.
Slowly, he brings his arms down, fully registering the looks of delight. They all seemed to be directed towards him, but there was no way that was it. He probably looked weird in his get-up. Right?
“You think I look..nice?” Denki asks, cringing a little less now.
“Nice? Honey, you’re gorgeous!” Mina says, joining the other two girls, and Denki blinks.
“Can... can I see a mirror?” he asks after a moment.
The pinkette grins. “After the makeover. Then we’ll do your hair and accessories, throw on the stockings and geta, and let you see yourself. So, ready for your face-up?”
The blond fidgets a little, before stroking the fabric of his kimono sleeve, Finally, he breathes a little sigh, drawing in confidence.
"Okay."
*
Denki should’ve known the girls were five times more excited for his face-up that he was from the instant he’d seen Ochako’s entire bed cluttered in about six different eyeshadow palettes, blushes etc.
“By the way, you don’t mind if we take a couple pictures to document our progress, do you?” Mina asks, looking through different foundations as the other two sit him down on the chair in the middle of the room and start pinning his hair back.
“Um, okay. Sure,” the blond says, trying not to flinch at a particularly sharp scratch at his scalp.
*
It's been about fifteen minutes, and honestly, he wasn’t quite sure what Mina and Ochako had done to his face so far, since he'd still been denied access to a mirror. But he’d seen a lot of pink go on, and even a tiny paintbrush at one point.
“You’re painting my cheek,” he says, matter-of-fact.
“Just a bit,” Ochako replies, giggling as she pulls back, paintbrush in hand. "Don't worry, you look good."
He flushes at this, and he can feel the mascara (that’s what they called it, at least) follow every blink of his eyes. He kind of likes the fluttery effect. If makes him feel… seductive. Powerful, even.
Yeah, well, that feeling goes away the instant Tooru bursts back into the room with some blond hair extensions and.. well.. something small and sparkly in her invisible palms.
“Look, I found the cutest earrings!” She leans into his space, lifting the tiny, dangling golden lightning bolts into the air. Denki breathes out a wistful sigh, because, yeah, they’re actually quite cute, though he doesn’t want to admit it.
Then he realises. “My ears aren't pierced though,” he says, and Tooru examines him. “Oh darn, you’re right.” She sighs. “Guess I’ll go put these back-”
“-Wait a second,” Mina cuts in, her arm going out to stop her friend.
Denki's eyes go wide. Don't tell me she's actually thinking-
“I think I can run out and buy a fresh piercing gun. We’ve got time.”
The blond gives her a warning look. “Mina? No. No! We are not piercing my ears.”
She just smiles at him a little too easily. “Beauty is pain, Denki. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.”
*
“Ah! Tooru, be careful not to smudge the eyeliner!”
“Sorry, Ochako. But look at how funny he looks with just these two hair extensions at his fringe. If we lift them up, he looks like a young All Might!”
“Girls, let’s focus,” Mina says, softly but firmly.
“Right!”
As the three clip the rest of the shoulder-length extensions into place and begin to put them up in a bun, Denki sighs in exhaustion. It may have only been an hour or so, but he's just about ready to pass out.
"Not long now, Denki! You’re gonna look amazing!” Ochako says, putting another golden ornate hair pin in, stepping back and glowing at him.
He just smiles faintly, feeling sleep overtake him. He hopes so.
My ears hurt.
*
“Done!”
Denki blinks himself awake, realising a second later not to shake his head side to side in case it undid anything. His hair feels a little heavier than usual, but for some odd reason, he feels regal too.
When he looks down, he can see the stockings and geta already on his feet. They must've put them on while he was asleep.
“You’re… really done?” he dares to ask, standing up carefully. The two (maybe all three, he can't really tell with Tooru) nod, looking a little tired out themselves.
Mina's the only one who still looks fully awake, her fingers under her chin in a slanted L, looking like an artist satisfied with her painting. “Oh yeah, you’re definitely 100% done. The picture of sophistication.”
“So can I look in the mirror now?” he asks for the nth time.
"Of course! Be our guest," Ochako says, walking over to the closet door. "Ready?" she says, eyes glittering.
Denki nods, and she opens it to reveal the full-length mirror.
Instantly, he yelps and takes several steps back.
“Fuck!”
“I take that back,” Mina says, sighing.
“Wait, that’s me?”
“Yeah!” Tooru says, cooing as she stands behind his left shoulder. Ochako joins him at his right. Next to the mirror, Mina looks him up and down brazenly. “Not bad. Look at her, isn’t she beautiful?”
Denki can’t help but feel a little shy at her words.
Under any other circumstance, he wouldn't have thought he'd be able to pull off this kind of look. But somehow, these three had managed it. His eyes drift over the pink, flowery kimono in the reflection, over the purple obi that accentuated the slimness of his waist, and the little red accents that added colour all over the garment. Stopping just above his ankles, his white stockings and red geta peek out, and he giggles.
When he brings his gaze up to his face, he almost can't believe the fact that it's his face. Just... a lot softer.
Slipping away from the girls' hold, he steps towards the mirror. He skims his eyes over the dark to light pink eyeshadow fanning out over his eyelids, the black and white eyeliner wings that set it off.
"Are those tiny, white stars on my eyelids?"
“Thought it would look cute,” Ochako supplies. “And I was right.”
Denki drops his gaze to the last tiny, white star at the corner of his left eye, just above his cheek. Ah, so that’s what that was.
He's so lost in how the makeup's made his eyes pop that he almost misses the smile curving up his face, emphasised by shiny pink lipgloss. Their shine reflects the sunlight, matching that of the tiny golden lightning bolts dangling from his ears. You could barely tell the piercings hadn’t existed an hour ago.
"Whoa," he mouths soundlessly.
"Cherry lipgloss," Tooru confirms. "Tastes like it too, by the way."
When the blond takes a step back again, he can see just how much the hair extensions bring together the whole look. The golden hair pins holding up his bun spill tiny artificial sakura from their ends. And despite most of his hair being put up in the bun, some had been left untucked, framing his face. His signature black zig-zag is still visible though, and he’s thankful for that.
Easing some strands behind his ear out of curiosity, he gasps, amazed at how elegant he suddenly looks doing it.
Behind him, the girls giggle.
“So... what do you think?” Mina asks.
"I..," Denki starts, "I don't know what to say." He looks at them all at last, lip trembling. "I didn't think it would look this good."
"I told you you'd make a pretty girl!" she says, pulling the other two to him in a group hug. After a second of surprise, he pats their backs, smiling softly.
"Thanks, you guys. I really appreciate it.”
And as Mina starts sobbing at her own handiwork, he thinks, Okay, I guess I’ll forgive you this once for piercing my ears.