"Ah shit, really? You can't come?" Kaminari Denki pouted. "I need to RSVP in a couple days and my parents said I can't skip out on this dinner, and that I have to have a date for it."

Jirou Kyouka laughed. "You better find a date fast then, because I really can't. I'm busy that day, and I already told you: I have no interest in dating you."

"Damn. I thought I'd at least try," Denki chuckled. "... Do you happen to know of anybody who-hey, Jirou? Jirou-ah, of course."

The call ended and Denki rolled his eyes as he saw the screen on his phone automatically return to its home screen.

Who am I gonna ask to be my dinner date?

~~~

Todoroki Shouto groaned in frustration. "Do I really need to go to the stupid dance? I have two left feet, and who would I even dance with anyway?"

Todoroki "Endeavor" Enji glared at his sons bitter attitude toward him. "It's not a stupid dance. It is a large ball, where many other large companies will be appearing, and I need my son, who will be taking over the company when I retire, to show up and prove that he is obedient and is able to be commited."

Shouto blinked. "... Commited? What do you mean?"

"I mean that you will need to bring a date." Endeavor said. Shouto studied his fathers face for hints of a joke despite knowing the man never messed around. When he said things, he meant them. Unless, of course, he was speaking to the public about the inside practices of the company and his family life. So obviously he wasn't joking, no matter how badly Shouto wished he was.

And when he realized his father wasn't joking, he also realized he would probably have to bring a girl. He wasn't exactly out to his family, but he hadn't really been subtle. Though, that didn't mean his family had picked up on it. He decided to test the waters as he met his father's eyes. "Would I ... Would it be alright to bring a man?"

"I said a date, not a friend." Endeavor narrowed his eyes.

"Yes. I know." Shouto tried to read his father's reaction, but the man's face was always some form of distaste, so Shouto couldn't tell if the expression was for him being gay, or if it was for anything other than normal.

Endeavor sighed-or, it was more of a groan, really-and ran a hand down his face. "Fine. If you can show that you can maintain commitment to ... A man, then sure, bring a man. I'm sure the media will love that."

Right. The ball would have a few people from the media to have interviews and take pictures and a couple of videos. Of course his father would use the chance for publicity. Having a gay son would only show how truly loving and accepting of a father he is. Of course.

Shouto's heart didnt warm with the begrudging acceptance from his father.

~~~

Kirishimi Eijirou bit his lip in habit. "And why do you need a date for the dinner? Can't you just say you're single and get out of it?"

Denki whined. "I tried, dude! But my parents aren't taking no for an answer! I said I could go alone and they got weirdly mad, like me being single was a personal offense."

"Yikes, bro. And you called me ... Why, again?" Ejirou asked.

"Well, I need your help brainstorming. I'm at the point where it's impossible to find a real date and I need to tell my parents who I'm coming with tomorrow." Denki sucked in a breath through a wince. "So, do you know of anyone who's willing to put up with me flirting with them in front of my family for one night?"

There was silence on the other line for a couple of moments, then, "Sero is with Aoyama, Midoriya is with Iida, I'm with Katsuki, Jirou's already turned you down, Uraraka and Tsuyu are together, uh, what about Ashido?"

Denki sighed. He could ask Mina, but she had just as much chaotic energy as himself. "No, Mina and I are a ... Chaotic duo. I wouldn't be able to hold myself back from trying to prank everyone there immediately if I went with her, if I'm honest. It would be fun, though-no! I can't ask her. Who else?"

"... Have you asked Todoroki?"

"T-Todoroki??"

"Yeah."

"I-No I haven't. I feel like that would be begging for embarrassment, even if he was the only witness. He's so calm and cool, and probably a little too handsome to be believable as a date of mine." Denki chuckled.

"What, and I'm not?" Ejirou fake-gasped.

Denki laughed harder. "Have you seen Todoroki? You're handsome, hella, but c'mon, you must be out of your mind if you think anyone rivals Todoroki."

"I mean, Katsuki can. He's so manly and-"

"Okay, no, no, we're not doing this. I dont have time to let you go on a rant about how 'manly and amazing and attractive and and and' Bakugou is right now. You can do that later. I need a date now!"

Denki knew his wording was a little harsh but didn't apologize, knowing his friend wouldn't take it too deeply.

Ejirou laughed, "alright, alright. Uh, Shinsou?"

"You really think he'd put up with my shit?"

"Yeah, sure! ... Okay maybe not, but have you asked?"

"I haven't, no. But he's definitely the kind of person who only tolerates dumbassery from whoever he's dating."

"Is, he though? He tolerates-"

Beep beep.

"Oh hey, speak of the devil," Denki said as he pulled his phone away from his ear to look at a text.

"Shinsou?"

"Nah, Todoroki. He said: 'I need to ask you something.' Oh god." Kaminari's eyes widened.

"Oh?" Eijirou sounded. "What's he gotta ask you?"

"I dunno." Denki spoke out his reply as he typed it, "'Alright, dude, shoot.'"

Immediately, he got a reply. "Oh, he replied already. 'I'd rather call you.' Ah shit, okay, Kiri, I gotta go. I'll let you know later."

"Alright, bye!"

Denki hung up on Eijirou and texted Shouto.

u can call me now if ud like

Not even 10 seconds after he sent the text, his phone was ringing.

"Hello?" He answered.

"Are you free on the night of the 10th next month? It's a Saturday," Shouto asked.

"I ... Let me check." Denki pulled his phone away from his ear and looked at his calander app. Because he definitely used it. "Yeah, I should be, why?"

"My father said I needed a date for a dance we're making an appearance at for the company. I'm not dating anyone right now so I figured I would ask you, since you're also single. Unless I assumed wrong, and your flirting attempts have succeeded?"

"Woah woah, are you doubting my abilities?" Denki asked dramatically.

"Yes."

Denki gaped at the wall in front of him.

"So, would you mind accompanying me to the dance? We don't actually have to date, but I'd rather not bring a girl and have it be assumed that I'm straight. We would have to pretend to be dating, at least, though, and the event will have media coverage for some reason, so you would have to be comfortable with everyone thinking we're dating," Shouto explained.

Denki blinked before answering and closing his mouth. "You're serious?" Before Shouto could reply, he continued. "Sure, dude! As long as you're free the Saturday before that! I have a somewhat ... Similar situation, actually."

"I can make sure I'm free, then. What do you need?" Shouto asked.

"I need a fake date for some sort of fancy dinner with my family. They won't let me go without a date, but they also said I can't skip out for some reason."

"Then yeah, I can do that." Shouto breathed out a short laugh through his nose. "I guess it's a date then."

"Yeah, it's a date," Denki agreed in wonder.