Kirishima turned white as a ghost. "The Crim, the Crim, The Crim," he babbled.
Mina shook him by the shoulders. "Get a hold of yourself, Kirishima," she whispered. He stopped mumbling, but he still didn't blink since Fatgum told him the news. Mina turned to the large and in-charge hero. "Please, Fatgum, you have to introduce Kirishima."
"No, Ashido," Kirishima said, returning to normal, "I can't meet him. I'll do something completely stupid, and I can't have my hero thinking of me like that. I'd rather die."
Fatgum stood up. "I'll go talk to Crimson. That should give you a couple minutes to prep," he said as he walked to the retired pros table.
"Oh god, oh god, I'm going to meet Crimson Riot," Kirishima said as he gripped the table cloth with his quirk activated.
"Eijirou Kirishima, look at me," Ashido commanded. He turned to her, and she began to fix his tie and straighten his suit. "You are about to meet your number one hero, true. What you have not realized is that once he hears about you, he's going to admire you just as much as you admire him. You have earned this."
Kirishima deactivated his quirk and took hold of her hands. "Please come with me, Ashido. I would feel better if you did."
She caressed his cheek. "Of course, Kiri." They then saw Fatgum wave them over. "It's time."
They walked over to the older former pro. He had on a tuxedo rather than his hero suit, but he had his iconic spikey hair style, now grey with faint red streaks in it and his metal mask on. "Crimson Riot, this is Eijirou Kirishima, also known as Red Riot, and this is Mina Ashido. I'm sorry, but I didn't catch your hero name," Fatgum said.
"Pinky," she said as Kirishima shook Crimson Riot's hand.
"It is such an honor to meet you, sir," Kirishima said as he shook Mina's hand.
"The honor is all mine," Crimson Riot said, gesturing to the two empty seats next to him. "Would you join me for a little bit?"
The two students bowed their heads. "Of course, sir," they said. Kirishima pulled out Mina's chair for her as Crimson Riot watched.
As Kirishima sat down, Crimson Riot said, "It's nice to see that your generation still has etiquette." He took a sip of water. "Red Riot, I can't help but notice that your name is similar to mine."
Kirishima lost the will to speak as his face began to match his hair. Mina placed a hand on his arm. "That's because he admires you very much, Crimson Riot. His quirk is not only similar to yours, but he tries to be as manly as you are sir," she said. Kirishima smiled at her and nodded.
"It's nice to know that we share the same morals," Crimson said. "Fatgum was telling me how valiantly you fought in the battle to save that little girl. I'm very impressed with your background. I don't want to keep you too long tonight, but maybe you and I can meet sometime. I can show you my old hero agency and introduce you to the people there now."
"That would be incredible, sir!" Kirishima exclaimed.
"Are you trying to steal him from me?" Fatgum asked.
Crimson Riot laughed. "Oh no, just trying to get him more connections, my good man." Crimson then turned his attention to Mina. "Can you remind me of your quirk, young lady?"
"I can secrete acid from my body," she replied.
"My, that is a powerful quirk," Crimson said.
"You have no idea," Kirishima added. "Ashido has the best reflexes in the class and is the bravest. Besides you, she is the other hero I admire most."
"You mean that?" Mina asked, staring at him.
"Of course!"
Crimson laughed once more. "You two make a darling couple. Don't worry, Pinky, I'll think of someone you can meet with as well," he said.
"Thank you, sir!" she said, bowing her head.
"The night is young, and you two don't want to spend it with an old timer like me. Go have fun!"
The pair stood up. "Thank you for talking with us," Kirishima said as they bowed. They waved to Fatgum and walked towards the student table.
"Thank you for doing that," Fatgum said.
"No problem, that Red Riot is going to be truly special someday. I also have faith Pinky is going to be there right up with him," Crimson Riot replied. A true power couple.
I agree with good ol' Crimson Riot. They would be a power couple.
Side note, I wish Mina went with Alien Queen as her hero name. Maybe that will change in the future (unless it has I'm not caught up with the manga), but for now I went with Pinky.