A/N Doing another quickish chapter here, hoping to be able to shorten these things and tell more with less. Feel free to leave a review and tell me what you think about where this is going. All thoughts are appreciated. Enjoy the rest of your spring break!

While the group of four went one way, Mineta scampered down a different hall as fast as his feet could carry him. He was happy that Denki defended him, but hearing how the others were suspicious of his better mood and linked it up with him doing something awful to Momo scared him.

Could you imagine that? Me? Doing something awful to Momo? When have I ever...Damn it, I guess I can see why they would think that, but come on! I've never done anything to hurt her! Let a guy turn a new leaf in peace!

Rounding another corner on his way to class, Mineta slammed into someone. Although he was more hopeful that he ran into a cute girl than anything else (a choice at least would have been nice), the color drained from his face as he saw it was Bakugo instead, ready to explode as he turned to meet the unknown assailant.

"Who the hell thought they could bump into me and not apologize!?"

"Shit, Bakugo I'm sorry! I didn't mean to run into you. I was just trying to make it to class!" With these rapid fire apologies, Mineta was hoping to stop the brunt of the blonde's anger. Truth be told, he has only watched Izuku try to apologize to Bakugo like this. Admittedly, he has never seen it work, but maybe giving him what he asked for might do the trick.

Bakugo, now only scowling, stopped for a moment. Looking down at his shorter classmate he replied, "Oh it's just you, hairballs."

"The name's Mineta." Damn it, I get that I don't look threatening, but at least try to pretend I'm not only a stepping stone!

"Whatever, just watch where you're going, moron." Bakugo was about to head towards the class before Mineta ran up to cut him off. The scowl deepened and Mineta somehow turned even paler, but he had swallowed just enough fear to speak.

"Listen, I don't know why you helped me, but I just wanted to say thank you. She accepted my apology. I wasn't sure if it would even work, but even if she had never said a word to me again, it felt good being able to do that. You gave me the extra push I needed."

Bakugo just closed his eyes for a moment, took in a breath and opened them again, the scowl turning just slightly more neutral. "I told you before, balls for brains, it ain't any of my damn business. Just don't fuck it up in the open again."

"W-wait!" Mineta was poking the tiger now, but he had to know, "I just wanted to ask why you helped? It just seems odd, you know?"

Bakugo immediately blew up, "Who the hell said I can't help people, huh?! We're trying to be heroes, right? If I want to do something it's not any of your business!"

Mineta became microscopic under the explosive anger. He knew it would have been a touchy subject even in private. For now it was probably best to back off. Staying well clear of Bakugo's blast radius, Mineta let the now fuming classmate pass.

The scowling boy made his way halfway down the hall but stopped for one final word. "You should focus on what your goal is instead of worrying about what others think." Satisfied with getting the last word in, he continued walking off.

Mineta was left dumbfounded with the surprisingly sagely advice. That sounded almost Kirishima levels of manly at first. Really, that advice is pretty great if I was trying to become a super model or train for a martial arts tournament. But who the hell am I kidding? If the goodie two-shoe crew decide to tell a teacher about what I did, it won't matter what anyone thinks. I'll probably be expelled!

As he ran to class to avoid being late, he thought back to Momo. Seeing her text this morning made up for all of the anxiousness and worry he experienced yesterday evening. Even the usual, boring walk to class earlier had him floating on clouds, but the friendly smile he received even with Midoriya looking stood out as today's highlight. Speaking of the green haired classmate, seeing his jaw turn to lead with that smirk was great as well, but now Mineta was regretting that decision. Even if he deserved it for playing the nosy protagonist, I shouldn't have done it. I got way too cocky and if my luck is as good as it usually is, I'll be paying for it sooner rather than later!

Walking into the class and trying to ignore the stares from not just Deku's gang and Bakugo, but apparently Denki and even Jiro as well, Mineta quickly scrambled to his seat before Aizawa woke back up. Momo didn't give him a smile like she had this morning, but she did make eye contact.

To most people the eyes of the tall beauty were more intense than they would prefer. Her neutral look was an almost glare, and coupled with her height it would be enough for others who didn't know her to even shrink under it. As a true connoisseur of beauty, Mineta was enraptured with how they looked even before he got to know her. Even her actual glare was enough to send his heart into overdrive, but just now seeing her eyes soften just a bit made up for all the hardships he was put through since he joined this crazy school. It may have only been platonic to her, but he didn't care. Seeing them replacing the generally neutral or disdaining look she used to give him was an oasis to a desert.

Despite the conspiracy amongst his classmates, he at least had something to look forward to this weekend. During his run, he received a text. Momo felt bad for how everything happened, and figured lunch at a small restaurant would be a great change of pace from the usual meetings. With this, he had what wanted. Something most of the other students in his grade could only dream of, a date with Momo! Well, he thought to himself, not really a date, but it's a start! She may have rejected me before, but maybe if I play my cards right...

Just like that, his train of thought halted completely. Damn it, how the hell do I go from half-assed friend to boyfriend? I'm only able talk with her over texts and at the weekend meetups, not to mention the others are actually paying attention to what I'm doing now too. If any of them caught us, there's no easy way to explain that. Who's going to believe Yaoyorozu Momo went to lunch with me of all people? I'd have a better chance of telling the class that Midoriya and Bakugo are a couple and living to see tomorrow!

UA was well known for creating mountains for their students to climb over, but Mineta trying to romance Momo of all people may as well have been Mount Everest. There may have been no such thing as an easy battle, but is he even a fighter on this battlefield? There was no shortage of guys who crushed on her, but even in his class the competition was fierce. He knew Todoroki was the bane of every man trying to win a girl's heart in this school. The only saving grace in that regard was that he was so engrossed in stepping out of his dad's shadow that women weren't on his mind. Lucky punk, if you're not going to use your looks and your height, I sure could borrow some. It suddenly hit him. He shouldn't worry about other guys just yet. Surprising even himself, he realized what he should try to focus on. I need to see this from Momo's point of view.

Try as he might though, he couldn't really think about what Momo was looking for in a guy. She certainly had a nice variety in this class alone. Strong silent types, manly confidence, pure innocence, plainness. If this were a dating sim, she would have hit the jackpot. So why hasn't she collected her winnings yet? Speaking of winnings, what about me? Well, I'm definitely winning out on shortest guy in the school, but that doesn't really seem to be her thing. At least I can keep her interested in our conversations, but I can't tell if it's because she doesn't have to explain stuff multiple times or if she is more starved for attention than I am. As he stared off into space as class droned on, his brain was trying to find the equation to go from holding her attention to receiving her affection. Unfortunately, Aizawa seemed to skip over that chapter in lieu of more theoretical mathematics.

Speaking of teachers, an angrier version of the man in question appeared in front of Mineta's desk. "Are you going to answer the question, Mineta, or are you too busy daydreaming?"

The quick giggle from Ashido was quickly silenced with a glare as Aizawa turned to bear down on the now shaking student. "If you can't maintain your situational awareness long enough to realize you were next in line to answer or react after I called your name twice, perhaps some after-school tutoring will be more effective."

There was no point in arguing. All Mineta could do was nod while the stares from his classmates only compounded the humiliation.

As class ended for the day and everyone else slowly shuffled out, including Aizawa for his own reasons, Momo lingered for just a moment to send him a text message telling him not to worry. Mineta typed a quick thanks after she left, knowing full well that he hadn't much more time before Aizawa would be back in the room to give him hell.

Placing the phone back into his pocket, Mineta lounged back in his chair and waited for his punishment. The classmates were one thing, but pissing off the teachers was a different story. For all he knew Midoriya already told Aizawa about what happened. The punk wouldn't dare. He wouldn't sell a friend out, right? I AM a friend, right? Looking down at his desk, Mineta knew his classmates at least tolerated him or were friendly enough, but he could count actual friends on one hand, and it only doubled these last couple of months. Of course the one time I need people to care is when I can't tell a soul. Hope this isn't the universe trying to get back at me, I think I already suffered enough in this year alone. Well at least it can't get that much worse.

The thought hadn't even finished, as the classroom door opened again. Standing in the doorway was not only Aizawa, but also a much shorter, familiar figure.

"Mineta, do you mind if we have a talk?" Recovery Girl gently asked the short boy still at his desk.

Oh. I guess it can.

And that's the end of that. Hoping to really try and get into Mineta's thinking and what caused his change, or to see how Momo is holding up. Maybe both, which will lead to a chunkier chapter. If you guys want to see that just say something. Again, thanks for taking the time to read this, and have a wonderful day!