This was it.

The day Mineta finally came out as gay to the class.

It had been a week since he had come out to Aizawa. As promised, he had given up perving completely. Everyone was impressed and they (thankfully) didn't question it.

In fact, he felt a little closer to his classmates.

Close enough to the point where he was comfortable with finally coming out.

Okay, how do I want to do this? Over text? In person? I came out to Kaminari over text and that worked out well. But it also went well when I came out to Aizawa in person. Mineta thought as he stared at the ceiling of his dorm. Through the group chat might be better. That way everyone will read it when they get the chance and I won't be interrupting anyone. He decided.

Grape Boi: Hey, everyone.

Class Dad: Hello, Mineta!

Broccoli Hair: Hey, Mineta!

Pikachu: What's up, bro?

Spiderman: What's going on?

Grape Boi: There's something I have to get off my chest. I don't think I can bring myself to say it out loud, so I'm doing it over text.

Pikachu: Oooo are you doing what I think you're doing?!

Grape Boi: Yeah...

Class Mom: I'm a little worried-

Pikachu: Don't be! It's not bad, I promise!

I'm Hard: I'm with Yao-Momo on this one, man. I'm concerned a little myself.

Spiderman: What IS going on?

Grape Boi: Kaminari, please don't.

Pikachu: I'm not going to.

Grape Boi: Thank you.

Class Dad: I am confused and slightly worried. What is going on?

KING EXPLOSION MURDER: STOP BLOWING UP MY FUCKING PHONE!

Class Dad: LANGUAGE!

Grape Boi: Okay, more people are online ... guess now is the time ...

Class Dad: Are you okay?

Pikachu: Just wait!

Grape Boi: Kaminari

Pikachu: (zipped mouth emoji)

Grape Boi: Thank you.

KING EXPLOSION MURDER: SPIT IT OUT ALREADY!

This was it. Now or never. Mineta took a deep breath and started typing.

Grape Boi: I'm gay. I perved on the girls to hide it because I was afraid. But now ... I'm not as afraid anymore. I only ask that you please accept me.

19 people are typing...

He let out a shaky breath and nervously anticipated what everyone's responses were going to be.

Glitter: No judgement here, mon ami. I'm gay, too!

I'm Hard: Same here! Coming out is so manly of you!

Pikachu: I'M SO PROUD OF YOU FOR COMING OUT, BRO!

Spiderman: I SUPPORT YOU!

Alien Queen: Wait, really?! Good to know! I support you!

CThru: Me, too!

Class Dad: As Class Rep, it is my duty to be there for my fellow peers! You have my full support!

Icy Thot: I support you.

Broccoli Hair: I SUPPORT YOU! GOOD JOB COMING OUT!

KING EXPLOSION MURDER: Tch. I support you, or whatever.

Pikachu: Awww, Bakubro cares!

KING EXPLOSION MURDER: SHUT UP!

Kero Kero: I support you, ribbit.

Class Mom: You have my full support! I forgive you, now that I know your reasoning!

Defying Gravity: I support you, too!

Aux Cord: I support you.

Anima: I-I support you, too.

Sugarman: Same here!

Tailman: Me, too!

Edgy Birb: You have my support, as well.

Tentacles: I support you!

Mineta could barely believe what he was seeing. They accepted him. They SUPPORTED him. This wasn't even a dream! He never would have thought he'd live to see something like this.

A smile took over Mineta's face as his eyes welled with happy tears. He wiped them away and typed his next message.

Grape Boi: Thank you! Thank you so much, everyone! I don't deserve you guys. Not after what I did...

After that, he got flooded with messages along the lines of "You're welcome" and "Don't feel bad about it." This only made him feel even more grateful to have a class like this.

No.

He was grateful to have a family like this.

Step one, come out to the class, is complete, and it was a success! Mineta thought to himself. Step two, get closer to Shoji. See if I can figure out how he feels about me. If step two goes well, step three comes in - confessing.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, causing Mineta to jump. "Who is it?"

"It's Mina! I want to talk to you real quick!"

Probably thirsty for tea. Mineta thought. "Come in!"

The door opened and Mina stepped in. "I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all. I wouldn't be surprised if everyone has questions. Have a seat," Mineta said, gesturing to his swivel chair.

Mina nodded a thank you and sat down. "So you perved on us girls to hide the fact that you're gay, implying that you have no crushes. But now that you revealed that you actually prefer men, it makes me wonder. DO you have a crush on anyone?"

Mineta was expecting this, but it didn't stop his face from turning pink. There was no point in denying it. Mina is really good at sniffing out crushes when she puts her mind to it. He smiled sheepishly. "Y-Yeah. I do."

"Oooo! Who?!" Mina asked.

Should I tell her? Can she keep a secret? Mineta asked himself.

"No! Wait! Don't tell me! It's Kaminari, isn't it? You're constantly hanging out with him!" Mina suddenly blurted.

Mineta chuckled a little at this and shook his head. "No. Not Kaminari. He was actually the first person I came out to."

"So THAT'S why he was acting like that in the group chat!"

"Yeah. Coming out to him encouraged me to come out to the rest of the class," Mineta explained.

"Okay. So if it isn't Kaminari, then who is it? I wanna know!" Mina asked.

Mineta laughed nervously and buried his face in his hands "God, I don't know about this."

Mina looked at him with pleading eyes. "Please? Maybe I can help you!"

"Well ... okay. It's- It's Shoji," Mineta admitted, his voice barely a whisper.

Mina took a moment to let this sink in. "Shoji, huh? I see it now! You HAVE been trying to get close to him throughout the year, now that I think about it. Yeah, I might be able to help with that! Who else knows about your crush?"

"Kaminari."

"Right. Of course he does. Don't worry. I'll talk with Kami and we'll see what we can do to play matchmaker!"

Mineta chuckled at this. "Thanks, Mina. I could use the help. I have no idea how to do this."

"Well, what's your current plan?"

"Really to just get closer to him. Find out how he feels about me. He probably thinks a little more of me now that he knows the truth. I hope I have a chance," Mineta explained.

"I'm sure you do! You've quit perving for, what, a week now? It allowed you to show your true colors! I'm sure he'll like you back," Mina explained. "Just give it a bit of time. That's another thing to remember."

"I know and I will. Thank you, Mina!"

"No problem, Mineta!"

At that moment, her phone chimed. "Oh! Right!"

"What is it?"

"Hagakure wants to study with me for a bit tonight. I gotta go."

"Oh! Of course. I should probably study a bit as well."

"See ya!" Mina said as she left.

"See ya!" Mineta called after her.

Once she was gone, Mineta flopped backwards on his bed and scrolled through his phone a bit, rereading the conversation that had just happened in the group chat. But what he reread the most were Shoji's words.

"I support you!"

It was only three words, but they were the exact words he needed to hear.

Well, maybe the second most important three words to hear from Shoji with "I love you" being number one. But that can wait. It's just like Mina said. These things take time.

She was also right about the studying.

He happily sighed to himself and shut his phone off. Then he grabbed a text book and got to work.