Chapter 19: Rain
"This is it" Mina thought to herself, determined to finally be rid of her secret, for better or worse, better out than in. She would just have to pick her moment, perhaps as they passed the park after they got off the bus on the U.A. side, she could suggest a detour. It would be quiet, and it was unlikely they would bump into anyone who might start a conversation with them. That would be the ideal place to do it. Probably.
They were currently making their way out of the stadium and with each step she came closer to that moment her nerves grew sharper and her body more tense. While she longed to say what was on her mind, and her heart, there was the inescapable feeling of dread and fear that accompanied it. She really didn't want him to reject her. She could understand now so clearly why so many people opted to say silent. Better to preserve the friendship they had than to risk it all. She at last understood that sentiment, doubly so after today where she had a wonderful time with Izuku. It would be a memory she felt like she would probably carry all her life. First date with a boy. Even if it wasn't, that's how she knew she was going to remember it. There was merit to wanting to protect the relationship you did have.
Even so, she couldn't stand it. She found even with that bubble of anxiety within her, she could look it in the eye and reject its threats of ruining things. She had already run the risk of ruining things. Ochaco had already admitted that this was the wrong path to take. All it came down to now was braving up, putting her heart on the line and finding out if Izuku felt the same way, even a little bit, about her. She stood to lose it all, she knew that, but even the faintest glimmer of hope that there was that he might feel the same way back was enough for to her to take that chance because she wanted it all and had no intention on settling for less.
"Oh no" Midoriya blurted, disappointment plain in his tone.
"Still worried about what I am gonna put you up to?" she joked, looking up at him, but he wasn't looking at her, he was looking ahead.
As Mina turned she saw people running toward them, inside, then scattering in every direction, a sea of ponchos, coats and shaking umbrella's.
Wait, what?
She looked up at the glass windows above the entryway to see a sea of dark clouds and splattered rain on the windows with streaks running down it like tiny rivers. It was more than just a little rain.
"Don't suppose you have a super-compact umbrella in your bag?" Midoriya chuckled nervously.
"I normally do carry one with me." she groaned. "But it just looked so nice out I never even considered it."
"So, what's the plan? We could buy an umbrella, I'm certain there's a store around here that will have them." He considered, whipping out his phone and checking the local stores on a local map feature.
"Isn't this district all outdoor stores?" she recalled
"Yeah, pretty much. Why?"
"Well, I mean look at it. By the time we run to whatever store has them we still will look like we swam there." She groaned, dejectedly. Her plans for her confession were either going to have to change radically or just be postponed. How did you make a confession in the rain work? She didn't hate it so terribly, but it made you cold and your clothes stick to you. It was super uncomfortable and decidedly not the mood-setter she was looking for.
"That's probably true" he admitted putting his phone away then looking at her "So then, what's the plan?"
"The only plan I can figure is we run like hell!" she ventured, giving a hesitant smile.
"Is that really okay?" Midoriya doubted, glancing between her and the rainstorm outside.
"Unless you have another plan, why?" Mina posed, glanced down at herself, wondering what his concern was but unable to spot it herself.
"Well, I mean…" he murmured and seemed to be gesturing toward her. She looked down in wonder. Then she saw it. Her crop top was quite a light colour, if that became wet then it would probably...
She felt her cheeks heat but kept it under control, instead looking up at him with a smirk and she untied her shirt from her waist and put it back on.
"Why, Izuku, that's not very hero-like of you" she teased, sending him into her shade of pink
"N-not saying a-anything would be worse!" he insisted. She laughed at his response.
"Oh, Izuku, I'm only teasing, you're so cute" She giggled with a light jab to his shoulder.
"C-c-cute?" he repeated, darkening his shade and looking away. Mina flushed herself but then decided to dig her heels in a little, she couldn't be getting so easily flustered at every little thing!
"Y-yeah, I mean, you're so innocent is all" she muttered folding her arms and nodding at her own improvised logic.
"O-oh, well…" he trailed off, still not looking at her.
She smiled at his response; he was getting more confident all the time, but he still had such a shy side to him she couldn't help but love it when it got so much he looked away like that. Maybe one day she could see what his true, unfiltered self is like without him feeling the need to withdraw at all? A flash in the distance caught her eye.
She nudged him with an encouraging smile.
"Come on then, looks like we had better make a move" she said pointing, over the roofs of the buildings across the street the faint but unmistakable flash of lightning could be seen. "Rain I can handle, but I'd rather not risk getting deep zap-fried" she half-joked.
"You're right, let's go" Midoriya agreed.
They weaved through the crowd until they were at the doors, the rain hammering down harshly just inches in front of them, the scent of rain thick in the air. Mina always liked that smell. They looked at each other, nodded, then both made a break for it. Mina got the early lead as Midoriya almost ran into a row of teenagers and had to go around.
As he followed her checkered back through the crowds he was reminded of how fast she was, he was really having to give it all he had to keep up with her. Not just her sheer speed either, her reflexes in dodging and weaving through people, some walking in umbrella's and others, who had also been caught out, running too. He wondered how much of this was a result of training and how much was just her natural ability. He had zero doubt that she trained hard, but he also strongly suspected that her natural ability was as high as anyone else's in class. He found himself looking down as he could catch in the odd moments of her running her powerful leg muscles show, just for a moment at a time, with each bound and step forward. His mind flashed to her gripping onto the bull. That made total sense now he thought of it. His eyes drifted up.
"Ah!" he gasped and forced his eyes up toward her back. She glanced over her shoulder questioningly, seeing him she gave him a quizzical glance then turned to face forward again.
Minutes later they came skidding to a halt at the bus stop, fortunately it was the type with a shelter. They shared the space with a small handful of others, all huddled toward the middle of the shelter, lest the wind blow the rain inwards and soak their feet and legs.
"Ya'alright?" she panted, turning to look at him with some interest
"Yeah, fine" he responded in between his deep breaths.
"What was the yelling about?" she asked. Midoriya knew exactly what she meant and had to force himself not to look away.
"O-oh, I nearly ran into a kid" he lied and couldn't help his eyes drifting away. Mina watched this and raised a disbelieving eyebrow.
"Oh? But we didn't pass any kids around then" she countered, turning fully toward him, placing a hand on her hip expectantly.
"O-one came running out behind you" he continued to lie, unable to think of anything else on the spot.
Mina recalled the image when she looked back. Unless that was one fast kid, like quirk-levels fast, he was lying for some reason. It didn't really matter but she was curious. An idea came to her mind and a grin came to her lips. She could use her demand to make him tell her. But then, it could end up being a big waste. She wasn't sure why he was lying when he was clearly so bad at it but knowing him there was probably a good enough reason for it.
Behind her their bus pulled up, she turned and decided to let it go, for now at least. They both got on and were the only ones at that stop who needed that particular bus. Onboard, the bus was almost empty. Mina figured that was because it must have turned bad a while ago what with how dark the sky was now. It made sense that no one would be going out when the weather is like this.
They sat down with her at the window seat again, he sat next to her without hesitation this time to which she couldn't help but be happy at. Then as she sat back and felt just how soaked through she was, her smile gave way to grimace.
"I'm absolutely drenched" she complained holding up her arms away from her body and letting her arms fall at the elbow, giving her the pose of a scarecrow of some kind.
"Me too" Midoriya replied as he surveyed Mina's condition. She looked it, though there was something even like this that he couldn't help but find cute. The way her, usually thick, hair sat flat against her hair and looked longer, almost shoulder length revealed just how much her usual curls disobeyed the rule of gravity. It revealed how small and rounded her face actually was without the deceptive hair volume interfering with his perspective.
"What?" Mina asked with a self-conscious smile, her eyes doing a circle before settling back on his own, with a slight head turn and widening of her smile.
"N-nothing" Midoriya said, then looking at her and realising just that response wasn't going to fly, added "It's just your hair"
Mina picked some strands and ran it through her fingers.
"Yeah, I guess it looks pretty different wet" she agreed, her tone low and disappointed. Not quite what she had planned at all. Not only was she going to have to skip out on the confession and remain bottled up for now, but she also probably looked like a drowned rat to boot. Awesome. Just awesome.
"I actually thought…" Midoriya began, then stopped himself. Mina turned and forced a sweet smile, assuming he was going to tease her yet again.
"Go on" she dared with a smirk.
"J-just… nothing" he began then faltered. Mina narrowed her eyes in a mock-inspection of him
"Are you going to make me command it?" she threatened playfully. Midoriya glanced away then back again.
"Would you use it so easily?" he challenged. Mina grinned back.
"Normally, no, but when you so desperately don't want to say it makes me curious" she mused, considering "Besides, I would have used it to make you do something selfish for yourself, but you already promised that so now this is just an extra thing I have over you" she grinned.
"I-I see" he shifted away.
"The real question is are you going to make me use it on this? If so, doesn't that mean it's something worth using it on?" She whispered, leaning in toward him. He paused, thinking about it, his cheeks pinkening up
"I just thought… It made you look c-cute" he stammered quietly.
"Eh!?" Mina exhaled, her body stiffening up at his unexpected remark.
"I-I j-just mean, it's unusual s-seeing you with your hair d-down, I guess?" he avoided meeting her eye and instead seemed to find great interest in the bus ceiling. Mina subconsciously ran a hand from her cheek, over her ear, brushing her hair behind it as she did so.
"O-oh, th-thanks... I guess" she replied in a quiet voice and simpered, looking out of the window at the passing lights in the growing darkness.
They sat in silence for a while, each too embarrassed to strike up conversation again.
Mina looked out of the window and though about the day she had ended up having. Surely, they didn't get any more packed than this. Maybe it was for the best after all she didn't whack confessing on top of it all, no day would ever be able to follow all of that. A fight for the right to ask a boy out with one of her best friends, her first dinner date, her first date-but-not-date-date, her first time being called cute by a boy... Realisation dawned on her. He had just called her cute just now. She felt her face heat up again.
"Calm down. You called him cute earlier remember?" she told herself, trying to settle herself down "Yeah, but I actually LIKE him!" she retorted to herself entirely unhelpfully for her original goal. Her blush deepened as she considered what he had actually said. She wanted to hold on to it and even give the thread a tug to see what was on the other side. What, exactly, had caused the shy Izuku to come out with that? She turned toward him.
"D-do you prefer it like this?" she asked, barely able to get the words out at all. Midoriya quickly turned back to her too and his face begun to quickly turn pink too.
"W-well, it's not that I p-prefer it e-exactly…" he hesitated. Mina pushed on, unsatisfied with his answer.
"But you said it looks… cute" she muttered, having to force out the last word as her tongue resisted her.
"Y-yeah, b-but…" he stammered. Mina then forced herself to look up at him, meeting his nervous eyes.
Midoriya seemed to suddenly find himself staring into her golden-yellow eyes. He'd never really looked much before at her actual iris's. As he looked now, he saw just how much they seemed to sparkle. Or was that just an effect of the wet and rain? Did they always have that deep warmth to them, like she was someone emitting the same warmth that she did from her smile with her eyes all along?
"I-Izuku?" she breathed. In that moment he felt everything give way, all the barriers that had been in place dissolved and there was nothing between them anymore. The distance had become zero.
"You always look cute" he found himself whispering. The closely guarded secret escaped him, just like that. They really were beautiful eyes, he thought to himself as he moved a little closer to see better. A knife of dazzling orange light cut across his view and he sat back and up to see what it was.
Mina hesitated then turned to see what the light that shone on his face was too.
Across in the distant horizon the Sun had pierced through the dark clouds just before it departed the sky for the day. In that moment Mina felt a pang on unknown emotion at this sight of unexpected and indescribable beauty. It was like she felt some deeper meaning to it she couldn't place. The way the light cut through all the darkness of the day just to reach out at her, bringing it the warmth intrinsically tied to the Sun's light. As the light begun to wane, she felt as though she was supposed to do something, but she had no idea what it was. Like something deep in her past called out to her, harkening to her some important message that she couldn't hear.
As suddenly as that feeling came, with the fading ember of light so too did the feeling fade as the sun disappeared behind the horizon for the day. As the feeling faded, she felt some hollow feeling in its stead and couldn't help but feel like something was missing now.
She felt Izuku shift behind her.
He had been about to kiss her.
Hadn't he?
She felt heat surge throughout her body as she remembered what had happened only moments before. They had locked eyes; it was almost like it had been in the arcade but this time he was the one taking the initiative. She could feel him reaching out to her, inside. Those deep green, emerald eyes had been closing in on her. She could even feel his breath brushing past her skin when he whispered to her that she always looked cute. Then the light had hit, knocking them both out of the trance.
She couldn't even think. She could only replay it over and over in her mind and resist the urge to make a sudden commotion in… excitement? Frustration? Embarrassment? It was some mix between the three at least. So, she contained herself by staring out of the window, at the rain lashing against it and at the decreasing lights in the growing darkness as they moved away from the city. Each one seemingly becoming further apart than the one before it and a little dimmer too. As she continued to watch a thought occurred to her. It was unexpected and unwelcome but something about it seemed to hold a sliver of truth to it, enough to prevent her from dismissing it out of mind.
Were these lights that like her chances to finally have this burden unloaded? By saying nothing today, now even, was she resigning herself to the same indolence as Ochaco had? Her chances to do it becoming fewer and less ideal with each passing moment?
The bus came to a halt, they had reached their stop she now realised. She got up wordlessly and followed Izuku outside into the sheltered bus stop.
"L-Looks like it hasn't let up any, is running still a plan?" he commented and asked looking expectantly at Mina.
She turned with a heavy sigh, struggling to shake the feeling, and looked around at the rain pouring down on all sides. The odd flashes, now accompanied by the faint rumblings, had reached the city center, it wouldn't be long before they reached them here too.
"Mina, what's wrong?" he asked, his voice filled with concern at her unusual behaviour.
"Nothing. I just..." she trailed off unsure of what to say, or how much to say or not say.
"Mina?" He pressed. She looked up at his and gave a small smile, though something in her eyes seemed to say 'regret' to him as well. He wasn't sure when he had begun to be able to read her as well as he was now sure he could and was, but he was certain that right now she needed him to cheer her up. She hadn't said anything, nor had anything happened that would depress her, that he could think of. Hopefully his blunder hadn't depressed her. Yet the feeling in his gut was certain. She needed him to be the one to bring that all illuminating grin to bring her out of whatever funk had gripped her.
"It's nothing, just sad to see today end" she confessed. "I really had a lot of fun" Midoriya smiled in response.
"Well, shoot, there goes my plan" he huffed. Mina blinked
"What plan?" she tilted her head as she asked, confused
"Well for my selfish act I was going to make you go out with me again. You had to stand by me, whatever I asked, right?" he grinned at her as her eyes widened and her lips parted in surprise. A moment later she recomposed herself and grinned back
"Wouldn't count as selfish, I'd take you up on that in a second!" she chirped.
"Good, then next weekend" he quickly added "Keep an open schedule and let's discuss the details later."
"Okay!" she beamed.
"Right now though, I think we'd better run for it" he suggested, his eyes darting around the blackened sky. Mina reached a hand up on his chest
"Hey, Izuku?" she stepped toward him, a small, secret smile on her lips
"Yeah?" he questioned, uncertainly
"Race ya!" she laughed, and with that bolted off right into the heavy downpour. He paused in surprise before realising and chasing after her, through the cold and heavy rain.