The buzzing of my phone vibrated against my chest, snapping me out of the daze I'd been in all day. "Kaminari Denki, Pro Hero Chargebolt speaking." I answered, forcing a cheerfulness I didn't feel.
"Denki! It's Mina. You okay, babe? You sound…down."
I sighed, rubbing my temples. Even with my hero persona, Mina could always see right through me. "Just…kid stuff, I guess. Kimmy's been a mess lately. One minute she's yelling about how unfair life is, the next she's sobbing over a commercial for pet adoption. And Kai… he's just gone silent. Like a ninja. It's weirding me out, Min."
"Hmm," Mina hummed thoughtfully. "Kimmy, huh? How old is she now? Thirteen, right?"
"Yeah, thirteen. What's that got to do with anything?"
"Denki, sweetie," Mina chuckled. "Think back. Puberty. Mood swings. Hormones. Ring any bells? Maybe our little Kimmy is starting her… you know."
The penny dropped. I felt a flush creep up my neck. Of course! Why hadn't I thought of that? I'd been so caught up in the hero world that I was completely missing the obvious with my own kids. "Oh my god, Mina, you're a lifesaver! I feel like such an idiot."
"Don't be so hard on yourself, Denki. It's a tough age. Just be there for her, okay? Stock up on chocolate and those heating pads. And maybe have a talk with her, make sure she knows what's happening."
"Will do, will do. Thanks, Mina. You're the best." After hanging up, I felt a wave of relief wash over me regarding my daughter. At least that mystery seemed to be solved. Now, what about Kai? He's been distant and secretive.
I decided to tackle this head-on. I went searching for him, eventually finding him in his room, door slightly ajar. He was sitting on his bed, hunched over his phone. I was about to knock when I heard his voice, low and hushed.
"Eiro, you're being ridiculous. No, I'm not going to tell him yet… I don't know, okay? It's complicated… Stop it! Don't call me that… Okay, okay, fine. I miss you too, sparky."
Sparky? My eyebrows shot up. Kai, my usually stoic, lightning-powered son, was blushing, giggling, and calling someone "sparky." And then it clicked. Oh. Oh wow.
He hung up the phone, a dreamy look on his face. I took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
"Hey, Kai. Got a minute?"
He jumped, startled. "Dad! Jeez, you scared me." He quickly hid his phone behind his back. Classic.
"So," I said, leaning against the doorframe, trying to sound casual. "Who's Eiro?"
His cheeks flushed again, this time a deep crimson. "Just… a friend. From school."
"A 'sparky' friend?" I raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at my lips.
He fidgeted, avoiding my gaze. "It's… a nickname. He likes lightning puns."
"Right," I said, trying to suppress a laugh. "And this 'sparky' friend… you seem to be spending a lot of time with him lately."
He finally looked up at me, his expression a mix of defiance and vulnerability. "What's your point, Dad?"
"My point is," I said, softening my tone, "you don't have to hide anything from me, Kai. I'm your dad. I'm here for you, no matter what."
He looked at me for a long moment, and then the dam broke. "It's just… I didn't know how you'd react. You're… you're Chargebolt. Everyone expects you to be all… macho."
"Hey," I said, stepping into the room and sitting next to him on the bed. "I may be Chargebolt, but I'm also Denki, your dad. And I love you. Nothing you could ever do would change that. Do you like this Eiro guy?"
He looked at me, hope flickering in his bright blue eyes. "Yeah, Dad. I really like him."
I grinned and clapped him on the shoulder. "Then that's all that matters. Just be careful, okay? And if he ever hurts you, you let me know. I may not be able to shoot lightning out of my butt, but I can be pretty scary when I need to be."
He laughed, the tension visibly draining from his shoulders. "Thanks, Dad. That… that means a lot."
"Anytime, kiddo. Now, how about we order some pizza and you can tell me all about this 'sparky' friend of yours?"
Later that evening, after Kai had retreated back to his room, humming happily as he texted Eiro, I found Kimmy sprawled on the living room couch, surrounded by tissues and an empty ice cream container.
I sat down next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Hey, sweetie. Rough day?"
She sniffled and nodded, burying her face in my side. "Everything's awful," she mumbled. "My hair looks stupid, my clothes don't fit, and I just ruined my favorite shirt with nail polish remover."
I chuckled softly, stroking her hair. "Sounds pretty rough, indeed. But hey, I got good news from Mina. I think your body is changing sweetie. How do you feel about that?"
She looked up at me with wide, teary eyes. "What do you mean?"
So, I took a deep breath and dove in, explaining, as delicately as possible, about periods, hormones, and all the lovely things that come with being a teenage girl.
Kimmy listened intently, her expression evolving from confusion to understanding to a touch of horror. "So… this is going to happen every month?"
"Pretty much," I said, wincing sympathetically.
"Great," she groaned, burying her face in the couch cushions.
"Hey," I said, gently pulling her face up to look at me. "It's not the most fun thing in the world, but it's also not the end of the world. It just means your body is growing up. And I'll be here for you, every step of the way. We'll get you all the stuff you need, like pads and pain meds. And more ice cream, of course."
She managed a weak smile. "Thanks, Dad."
I squeezed her hand. "And hey, on the bright side, now you have a legitimate excuse to be moody and eat chocolate all the time."
She giggled, a genuine laugh this time. "Okay, maybe it's not so bad."
As I sat there with my daughter, listening to her talk about her fears and frustrations, I realized something. Being a single parent, especially to teenagers, was freaking hard. But it was also the most rewarding thing I'd ever done. Even though I messed up sometimes, and sometimes I felt completely clueless, I was doing my best. And that's all I could ask of myself.
I looked at my kids, so different, yet both navigating the turbulent waters of adolescence. Kimmy, with her nerve control and ever-changing moods, and Kai, with his lightning powers and newfound crush. They were my world. And I would do anything to protect them, support them, and love them, no matter what.
As Chargebolt, I fought villains and saved the day. But as Denki Kaminari, I was just a dad, trying to figure out how to navigate the chaos of teenage life. And honestly? I wouldn't trade it for anything.