Disclaimer - I do not own My Hero Academia or the characters and universe that it is based in. However, we all need some more Dadzawa and Mina moments so here you go! Please review and enjoy!
The faint rocking of the UA bus that Mina Ashido is on is the only thing telling her that she wasn't in a dream. She was really on her way home to spend time with her mother who she hasn't seen in almost six months. Her and Faith have not always seen eye to eye because she has always loved the sharp, bitter taste of liquor more than her. Mina tried her best to never take it personally like her counselors, quirk counselors and foster families have told her. But it was hard knowing that at any given time she would leave and disappear for days, months even, without so much as a warning or message.
Thankfully, after a few home visits and threat of prison time it seems that Faith was trying and finally starting to piece her life back together. Mrs. Masami, Mina's new social worker handpicked by EraserHead informed her through him that Faith is now working as a migrant worker for a factory that mass produces cellphone parts. "Faith is making wonderful progress now that she is in our recovery program. According to her case file, her last few drug and alcohol screenings have come up negative and she has been showing up for work. Only a few absents but nothing to be alarmed about so everything should be just fine for a supervised visit."
Chewing on her Pocky stick a sudden rush of joy comes to her when she is back in her old neighborhood. Rundown apartments that have been around for over forty years and haven't been remodeled since then are surrounding the area. The pulsating beats from several muscle cars can be felt through the bus when it finally pulls over to Mina's house. Littered with trash on the sidewalk and streets, Mina recalls her times with her friends. Climbing the now dying trees next door, playing in the vacant lot where a house was burned down thanks to a drug explosion. The annual block party that would have people from all over Chiba come too it would be legendary. Mina would beg her friends to dance with her but normally she would just steal the show. But made a point to make sure everyone around her was having fun.
Mina was putting her AirPods in her bag when her body jerks forward, hitting the seat in front of her. "Ouch!" She shouts, "We're here" the bus driver announces nervously. "Are you sure this is the right place?" The driver questions, looking around puzzled at the surroundings. Normally students that attend UA are on more of the wealthier side. He knew that Ochako was from the more humble side of the tracks but never imagined that Mina was even worse off than she was. The driver had to give Mina credit, unlike Ochako, it never looked like she didn't have much.
"Yes this is just the place! Thank you very much" she beamed before bindings were wrapped around her. "Wait. It's New Year's Eve and this place is probably crawling with people" EraserHead scolds, holding his overly eager student in place. "Fine, but can we please hurry! I want to spend as much time with her as I can!" "She'll be there" he says releasing her. Running off of the bus she runs to her front door. EraserHead follows closely behind, taking in the house in front of him. The windows are boarded up with pieces of wood because of recent incidents of looting. Thankfully nothing of value was stolen from her home because she keeps her valuables locked up in a bank safe in the next town over. Men are hanging out under the streetlight starting at Mina which never fails to get on her teacher's nerves.
"Hey Mina! Long time no see!" One of the men scream, hungrily looking at Mina. "Come hang with us!" Before Mina can even respond, the crowd disperses screaming. "Do you have the door unlocked yet?" EraserHead questions, relaxing his quirk. "Yes! Just got in! Thanks again for the new locks." Giving her a nod, he ushers her into the home. "Where's the money Aoki! We need to pay the rent!" A lady shouts from the home connected to Mina's. "Don't start worrying me about some damn money! It'll get paid soon enough" Aoki responds. Mina and EraserHead are halfway up the filthy, green carpeted stairs when a loud thud sounds from the home. "Sorry about them. They fight a lot but whenever I try to help Nanami-San she just goes back to him. But I did try to help." She explains, finally reaching her home. Just as she grabs her key to open her second set of locks, a note grabs her attention.
'Heyyyyy Mina! Sorry I can't make it home tonight. Matsuda…you remember Matsuda? The one I told you about that took me all the way to China that one time...before you say anything, I didn't know he was smuggling drugs. But anyways we got back together and since I've been working so hard at that cold, damp factory; he said he would take me on a trip to relieve my tension and relax. I'll see you when I get back home. Promise!'
Love Mommy
P.S. – I left a little surprise in our old hiding spot. Have a good night Mina
Taking a deep breath to fight back the tears, she turns the key and pushes the door in. Mina has trained herself long ago to never get her hopes up about her mother. This was the only way to assure that she wouldn't be but so disappointed when she broke her heart. But she really believed that this time she would pull through. She was sober, she has a job, she has the time.
Walking into the cold living room, everything is how she left it. The fluffy, brown couch that was here when they first moved here, their thirty-two inch TV was still on the tiny desk stool and their twenty year old microwave were all still in tact. Thankful for that because it means that no one has been breaking into their home recently, she goes to her bathroom. Grabbing the step stool beside the laundry shoot, she pushes a loose wall panel to the right; revealing a shoebox taped with gray duct tape. A few years ago, her mother and Kin, one of the Tsutomu Village's biggest drug dealers used to use their house as a meet up spot for business. When the police got on to their plan due to constant snitching from disgruntled customers and competition; her mother was instructed to hide their money. "You should never have to deal with this because Uncle Kin doesn't like people dealing with his money. But whenever I tell you to put something in our special hiding spot, this is where I mean". Faith explains, running back into Kin's arms.
Putting the box on the ground, Mina traces her finger around the edges using just a drop of acid. When she lifts the box she sees a mix of mostly hundreds and fifties. "Where did you go Mina?" EraserHead asks out loud. "I'll be right there, I just had to get something before I leave. May as well while I'm here." She explains, counting each bill that passes through her fingertips. "Ten thousand dollars give or take. Well at least it looks like business is good for her." She thinks to herself, stuffing the money in her polka dot backpack. 'I'll put it in my moneybag when I get home'.
"Before we go, can we stop somewhere for some dinner? There's this Chinese place a few blocks from here and I really want some of my favorite fried rice." She pleads with the hero who is secretly happy that Faith didn't show up. EraserHead wants Mina to be able to spend time with her family like everyone else. But he was not too thrilled to leave her in this particular neighborhood with someone so irresponsible. Mina herself did not always have the best judgement when emotions and impulse came into play. So allowing her and Faith to be together would amplify those reckless emotions which would revert Mina back to her former ways. EraserHead usually doesn't get emotionally invested in his students because that's not his role. But class 1-A has changed that, especially with Mina due to her efforts and overall growth. She's become a more refined, productive young lady that doesn't feel the need to act out as much as she used to for attention. The separation, new environment and routine has changed her focus into something more positive. So he has decided to do anything that he can to make sure it stays that way.
"Fine, but after that we are going back to the school and rest assured this will be reported to the social worker." He concedes holding his hand out to a confused Mina. "I just saw you put the money in your bag. Hand it over." Pouting, she hands the bag over to her teacher; knowing that she's never going to see a dime of it. "Come on sensei! Just let me keep a little bit! It's like a late Christmas gift." She pleads but to no avail, "No sixteen year old needs to be carrying around this much money. Not to mention it is completely illogical for a semi-pro to be carrying what is obviously drug money. Besides you have money saved up from your waitressing job and internship. Not to mention the allowance that the prefecture and UA provide for you. You will be fine without it." Sighing, she nods and walks out the door when her back is against the brick wall. Her head bounces off the wall when she feels hands traveling under her shirt . "Where you been sexy?" Kenta Hara whispered in her ear, a neighbor that has been watching Mina since puberty hit her like a truck at thirteen. Usually she tried to play off his advances because it was much better to have friends then enemies; but today he was tired of waiting. Kenta figured that she had been teasing him for long enough. Every time he would speak to her she would smile or wave and sometimes even speak to him. Now was the time to take this to the next level, 'new year, new girl!' he thinks to himself when his hands reach the elastic band on her underwear.
"Give me a reason" EraserHead fumed, throwing his capture weapon around Kenta's throat, the white in his eyes are slowing turning red. "Sensei!" She says but is only met with a menacing glare. "Wait at the bottom of the stairs" he ordered. Shaken but alert, she slowly walks down the stairs knowing that this might be the last night this man might be alive. "I'm waiting." He snarls, loosening the weapon to allow some room for explanation. "She was asking for it! Do you see how sexy she is! She was looking right at me man! You just want her for all for yourself". Kenta defends, punching the hero in his chest; making him recoil. Tightening the weapon again he kicks Kenta in his kneecap, hitting the floor.
"You're going to regret putting your hands on her."
After what seems like hours, EraserHead finally comes down the stairs. No words need to be spoken when she sees that the cold look in his eyes hasn't gone away yet. "How long has things like this been happening and I want to know the truth." He questions, making sure to keep Mina as close to him as possible. "Having the mom that I have, people are always staring and making comments. But Kenta just took me by surprise. That kind of thing never happens. Just a lot of staring." "It's needless to say that you will never be coming back here." Mina is about to protest but decides against it. Ever since the USJ incident, all of the teachers have been on high alert. But she's noticed that Aizawa-Sensei has been more attentive towards her class. He has taken the time to tutor her after her cram school sessions, put new locks on her doors and even connected her with her now internship boss at the Public Safety Commission office. As much as she missed her mother and loved her former foster family, Mina has never had anyone worry or care about her as much as UA. "What happened to Kenta?"
"Don't worry about that, you just worry about your future and keeping your life far away from here."