For a first time in a long while. Izuku Midoriya was afraid.

Truth to be told it was a confounding emotion that wells up in his chest. The world was muted as he absentmindedly strip off his uniform to hang it up in the closet. Oblivious to his classmates chattering around him as they put their uniforms away. Some questioning what they'll do after class, some complain about the difficulty of the simulation test they went through. The latter being what sent the young boy into a state of silent contemplation. Trying to discern why he acted the way he did in the simulation. The test was a hostage scenario, his class split into three teams. One for Heroes, Villians, and Hostage respectively. He had thought it would be a simple test, it should've been simple. There were many moments in his life where he was able to act when he and others had been in real jeopardy! So wh-

A playful slap on his shoulder blade made him jolt. His eyes widen in surprise as he was brought out of his daze. "Ah sorry to scare ya man." Izuku realize the voice belonging to his friend Kirishima. Still blinking in surprise he turns his head to see his friend next to him. Stratching the back of his head as he looks at Izuku with concern.

"I've been trying to talk to you bud but you were out of it. You tend to mumble, not this freaky zoning out that you were doing. No offense." Hearing this made Izuku cheeks to somewhat flush in embarrassment. Sheepishly directing his gaze to the lockers beside them.

"Ah, I-uh sorry about that Kirishima." He chuckles to defuse the tension. Drawing up a hand to rub his arm to try to calm his nerves. The last thing he wanted was to lose control of his emotions in front of his classmates.

His friend continue to give him a look of concern. Putting his arm down to rest his hand on his hip. "It's alright man I'm just worried about ya. Don't tell me you are hung up what happened out there? So you choked, it happens to the best of us."

Izuku flinch as if he was struck. His face became downcast at Kirishima blunt words of reassurance. Yes, Izuku Midoriya the successor of One for All had choked during the test. He was assigned to the Hero Team, and they had come to a plan on rescuing the Hostage team from the Villain team. It took some effort to get a plan together, but he was confident that they would win the test. He had no doubt in his mind about it. He had believed that. Until his team made contact with the Villain team who was using one of the Hostages as bait, Ashido Mina. His girlfriend of two months.

For four seconds he stood frozen, feet rooted to the ground. Paralyzed in fear.

This was the crux of his emotional conundrum. It was simply baffling to say the least. He had never been frozen out of fear besides the close encounter with All for One. He moved without hesitation to save Kacchan from the Slime Villain, moved without hesitation to save Uraraka from the Zero-Pointer, moved without hesitation to save Asui from Shigaraki, so why is it that when it came to Ashido that he froze on the spot?

Unaware he fails to realize his was mumbling this time as he felt a broad hand rest on his shoulder. The young boy look up to see Kirishima looking at him. "Hey man, it's alright. I guess you just realized that you have something to lose." This drew an expression of shock on Izuku face. Yet a sense of epiphany burst in his chest. Realization dawned on his as everything became clear to him.

Kirishima was right in a way. Sure he had his Mother and All Might to not disappoint, but they were role models, figures in his life that stay in the sideline. He had dedicated every day of his life to prove the world that he could become a hero. Constantly pressing onward even if it meant breaking his limbs in the process. His very reason for being been to become the number one hero. Then Ashido Mina came into his life like a shooting star in a very dark world. His very world changed forever.

Unlike his mother or All Might, Mina have always believed in him. She accepted who he was without prejudice or bias. Always by his side to cheer him up whenever he felt down. The colors in the room always becomes more vivid whenever she enters. It's as if she was the source of his happiness that he had been missing for all these years. She made him feel complete, happy, and loved.

So is that what happened then? When he stood there, at that moment he was crushed under the realization of how much she met to him? No, now that he thought back on it he knew what brought him to a halt. A thought that came to him when he saw her. A small thought yet it terrified him. The world without Mina. Without her at his side. Unlike the other important people in his life Mina was beside him, out in the field with him. What would happen if something were to happen to her? That thought is what froze him. In truth he doesn't know. He doesn't want to know.

"Y-you're right Kirishima." Izuku finally stammers. His friend continue to have his hand on Izuku shoulder, still concern for him.

"Look man you know I suck at this unmanly stuff, so I'll say this. I know how you feel, heck I froze once myself before I enrolled here. It's okay to feel afraid, it reminds you that you're human. Reminds you to appreciate the things we take for granted." Kirishima said awkwardly, not use to giving a pep talk. Fortunately it was enough for Izuku who held back the pressure behind his eyes as he looks at his friend in gratitude. He was blessed to have friends like Kirishima.

Kirishima was right, he has been working towards one goal for so long that he forgot something important. To stop and enjoy life, savor every moment that he has with Mina. For a Hero life is a dangerous one.

Rubbing his eyes with his arm he gave his thanks to which Kirishima gave a wave in dismissal. "Nah don't mention it man, it's what friends are for." With a grin he walked away to converse with their other classmates. Leaving Izuku alone with his newfound understanding of his emotions.

Wiping away the last of his tears his expression turn to that of determination. Putting on his school uniform he closes his locker and beeline to the door. Exiting out into the hallway where he picks up snippets of conversation down the hallway to the left of him. Turning on his heels he saw a group of his female classmates gathering outside of the door to their lockers, talking among themselves about things he did not pay heed to. The only thing he set focus on was the beautiful pink girl that have become the core of his world in the last two months.

His feet subconsciously move on their own as he made his way towards her. She took notice of his approach, turning towards him with a smile. "Ah! Midori! We were chatmm-" Her words died in her throat as she was silence by Izuku gentle kiss. Her yellow eyes widen in surprise before becoming half-lidded as she savors her first kiss. There were noise around them, squealing follow by a smack was heard, but they were in a whole other galaxy away to notice.

Izuku didn't know how long his lips kept of Mina's own. Time seem to have slowed to a crawl. He wanted this first kiss to mean something, to be a silent promise. Despite feeling like an eternity it was only two seconds before he stepped back, blushing up a storm as he realized that he just kissed his girlfriend for the first time. Said girlfriend gave a wider smile as she caught Izuku tie with her hand. "Not bad~" She steps forward to give Izuku a light kiss, leaving him more red in the face. Lasting only a second before she lean back to look at Izuku. Her yellow eyes meeting with his emeralds. "I love you too, Izuku." Her sweet words finally made Izuku smile in return.

Izuku Midoriya was no longer afraid.

Author Note: A bit suprised at myself, only decided to participate in IzuMina week at 8 PM in my time and wrote this with a hour to spare. Deadline is one heack of a motivation. So I apologize for any bad grammar. Well here's my entry, I look forward to making more fluff on my favorite BNHA pairing!