Izuku was new to this. He had started to wonder if he had moved too fast. He and Mina shouldn't have been much of a match. And yet, he felt at peace around her. She had an infectious personality that, when she wasn't going out of her way to fluster Izuku, could tear his guard down and let him. The two of them had decided to go to the beach, specifically one that had great significance to Izuku.
"T-this is Dagobah Municipal Beach!" Izuku shouted in astonishment. He certainly didn't expect to come back here on a date, though he was quite happy. It was nice to see the fruit of his labor and training pay off.
"Yep! I remember seeing something about it getting cleaned up, so I wanted to check it out. Did you know about it?" she asked.
The two of them went for a swim. Izuku was shaking and blushing. Seeing a girl his age in a swimsuit was new to him, let alone being in a relationship with one. And yet, here he was, at the beach his hero training started at. He had done a great public service with this beach clean-up, and now he was on a date here.
"I trained here with All Might." Izuku admitted fondly, not realizing until later that he had taken a step towards admitting his secrets. He turned pale when this dawned on him. Mina noticed and was confused.
"Really? That's awesome! When did this ha…. Izuku, are you ok?"
"Y-yeah. Yeah. I'm fine. Sorry."
"Oooookay. So, what's the story with this place and All-Might?"
Izuku looked back out to the sea as he started his story, shifting his focus to Mina halfway through. He gazed into her eyes intently as he regaled her with his tale. He had a hard time doing so, as he wasn't being completely honest with her, but he was telling as much as he could without breaking his promise to All-Might.
"H-he took notice of me. I had thought myself quirkless. I wanted to be a hero so bad. I took notes. I studied heroes. I hoped one day to become one, even when it looked like I would never get a quirk. All-Might saved me from the monster that attacked Kacchan. I asked him later if I could be a hero, even as I was. He…. told me I couldn't. It left me dejected…. But that same villain that attacked me went for Kacchan…. even if he had picked on me. Even if he called me worthless…. I couldn't just leave someone like that. So, I ran…. And that's the day my quirk kicked in. I…I'm a bit of a late bloomer, but I impressed All-Might enough that he took me under his wing and we cleaned up the beach. He wanted to help me get into Yuuei after that, so….um…. here I am."
"Wow! That's a mouthful. Well, thanks for opening up to me about that, Midori. I appreciate it." Mina nodded curtly and smiled. She hugged her boyfriend and played with his hair. She couldn't help it. He was cute and his hair was as fluffy as hers.
Izuku felt guilty. He was lying to his girlfriend. Technically, everything he said was true. He just omitted some key details. However, he promised All Might not to reveal those secrets to anyone. He was worried this counted, but He didn't really reveal the secret of One-For-All, or that he was really born quirkless, or what All Might's true form looked like, or any of that. Izuku made a mental note to talk to his mentor about letting Mina in. He felt bad enough about not letting his mom or friends in on the truth. Lying to his girlfriend felt worse somehow. Mina placed her hand on his.
"thank you for telling me this. That's pretty cool. Having a pro take interest in you from the get go like that. I'm kind of jealous. Of that anyway. I'm sorry you lived most of your life feeling powerless. Still, you did it."
"Yeah. I got into Yuuei." Izuku smiled.
"Not that, silly. You proved yourself a hero. You ran in to save someone, you cleaned up a beach on your own, and what you did at the Sport's festival…. Man, you really are going to make one hell of a hero." Mina admitted happily. She had grown to admire this young man a lot, in such a short amount of time.
"T-thanks." Said a very flattered Izuku.
"Any time. I am happy you got into Yuuei though. I doubt I would have met you otherwise."
Izuku's face was flush as he looked at her. He was touched by those words and tears nearly welled up in his eyes, but he shook them off.
"Are you crying, Izu-kun?" Mina looked concerned and a little confused. This boy was a real softy for someone who could level a building and his own body at the same time.
"No…. it's just, that means a lot. Thanks again, Mina-kun."
"Any time." She flashed a grin and booped the green-haired boys nose.
Izuku and Mina found themselves getting closer until their lips touched. They pulled away after a few minutes, feeling exhilarated by the moment they just shared before going in again. Mina rested her head on Izuku's shoulder. Izuku pulled something out of his pocket.
"Um…. I worried I was going too fast, but since you gave me one…." Izuku pulled out a pink ring pop and unwrapped it, slipping it on Mina's finger. "W-we're even now."
"Why are you, like, the cutest dork I have ever met?" Mina ruffled Izuku's hair and laughed. She just wanted to squish his freckled cheeks and cover them in smooches. Perhaps she would do that later, when she was positive it wouldn't stop the boy's heart.
"I-I don't know. I don't think I'm that cute." He bowed his head bashfully, heat emanating from his face. He was certainly flattered, but this sort of attention was new to him.
"Well, you're wrong dude." She took his hand and kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks for welcoming me into the girlfriend corps, Izu-kun."
"That's…. pretty new." Izuku paused, letting his new nickname sink in. She had used it before, and it caused him to blush.
"Not a fan?" Mina asked, wondering if she was causing him too much anxiety.
Izuku shook his head. "No…I like it. Thanks." He smiled as he wrapped his arm around her and her head rested upon his shoulder once more. They stared out at the ocean and watched the sun set into the horizon.
After night fell, the two decided to change back into regular clothes and get some food. Mina changed into short jean shorts, pink hi-tops, and a black tank-top with her hero name on it. Izuku wore the clothes he had worn when he first started cleaning up the beach as part of his training, including his one All-Might shirt. There was a little eatery nearby that caught Mina's attention and Izuku offered to pay.
"Are you sure? You don't have to be a gentleman about it. We can split the bill." Mina insisted. She knew neither of them were made of money and, if anything, her family could afford more than Izuku's. He persisted however.
"I-it's ok. I insist. I want to do something nice for you." Izuku managed to be both shaky, ye firm. Min was impressed.
"You already did. We went swimming and you gave me a pink ring pop. Not the most elaborate of gestures, but it's enough for me." The acid girl assured her boyfriend that he didn't need to go above and beyond. His company was enough.
Izuku understood this. However, he made his mind up. "Consider this this the soybeans on the rice." He smiled. Mina appreciated the reference to one of her favorite foods. Somebody had been paying attention.
"Well, dang. You convinced me, Izu. But I owe you." Mina sighed, then elbowed Izuku before heading inside.
Izuku didn't like to think in terms of anyone owing him anything. That wasn't how he operated. Still, he agreed. "Deal." He nodded and headed in after her.
The two of them sat at a booth and waited to be served. The waiter was a short man with male pattern baldness and a mustache that was tapered at the ends ever so slightly. He also seemed to have a bit of an accent.
"Welcome, mes invites. My name is Maku. How can I help you today?" he bowed curtly.
After looking at the menu, Mina had an idea. She thought it might be interesting, so she ran it by Izuku.
"Hey, Izu. I have an idea. Remember how we talked on that first night about favorite foods and stuff like that?"
"Yeah. How could I forget." Izuku reminisced. It was certainly new and bizarre, but he had only fond memories of that night, even if he was out of his element.
"Follow my lead." Mina winked confidently at Izuku, excited to try out her plan. If worse came to worse, they could just switch, but she thought it would be fun and help them grow closer, even if they were already on that path to begin with.
"O-ok." Izuku was only half-sure he knew where this was going, so he complied and hoped it wasn't anything too out there.
"Katsudon for me." Mina chirped while placing her menu down.
"O-okra and Natto, please." Izuku followed suit awkwardly.
"And we'll both have sakura tea." Mina chimed back in.
The stout waiter bowed and went to get their meals. Izuku and Mina looked across the table at each other.
"Y-you practically ordered for us both." Izuku laughed softly.
"It's only fair. You pay, I choose. We both get a say." Mina shrugged, with her usual playful demeanor.
"I'm not quite sure that's how it works." The nerdy boy chuckled.
"Neither am I, but it seemed like a fun little thing to do."
"I-I'm on board with it." Izuku smiled.
Mina was so glad Izuku idolized All-Might, because seeing him smile was something she couldn't get enough of. Was she falling in love this quick? She coughed to herself to slow herself down. It wasn't even a month. Like, they were a couple now, but she didn't want to sail to close to shore and crash this ship before it even left the harbor. Mina calmed down. Sweating stuff wasn't like her. Still, she was in uncharted waters. "Why am I making all these nautical allusions? If anything, that's Tsuyu territory." She thought to herself.
Their food arrived and they dug in. The portions were surprisingly large, which worked out well, as they ended up sharing with each other. They enjoyed each other's favorite foods well enough, but they couldn't help but have some of their favorite meals. They ended up feeding it to each other after a while.
"How is it, Izu?" Mina asked, taking a break from her meal and placing her head in her hands as she looked ahead towards her floof mate.
"Pretty good. Thanks. Still prefer the Katsudon."
"Yeah, still more of a natto girl. Veggie dishes are best."
"Didn't you have a burger on our first date?" Izuku questioned.
"Yeah. That was an exception. "she laughed sheepishly.
Izuku was really enjoying his girlfriend's company. She had a way of either making him laugh or making him blush harder than he ever had. It's like she had a secondary quirk that granted her an infectious personality not even an anxious nerd like Izuku was immune to. Once their waiter arrived, Izuku paid the bill and they ventured into the night once more.
Little did they know that they were spotted by someone who recognized them. She had been walking to meet some friends after buying a soda when she saw Izuku and Mina laughing and holding hands. She dropped her drink and stood there, mouth agape and heart in her stomach now. Ochako ran to a nearby bench to be alone with her feelings for a while. She had given Mina a go ahead. Izuku had talked to her and said he wanted to tell her something, but her parents had come to get her, so she decided she would hear it eventually. She did via text message, but right now, before her eyes, it had really hit her, and it hurt.
The two found an arcade nearby, but it was about to close in an hour. That wasn't a lot of time, but it gave them something to do. Izuku and Mina headed for the DDR machine, but were cut off by a group of older teens, the oldest seeming to be about 18 or 19.
"Excuse me, we were about to use that." Mina stated with bemusement.
"First come, first serve, Pinky." The oldest teen said. She was tall, slender, and athletic in build, with a shaved head and a stripe across her nose. Flanked on either side of her were a shorter boy with purple hair tied into a ponytail and a girl with a third eye in the center of her forehead and cropped red hair.
"Tell her, Asuka." Said the boy.
"Don't be such a kiss-ass, Shin." Spat the three-eyed girl.
"Nobody asked you, Kairi." He shouted back, before both were rebuked by their assumed leader.
"Both of you can shut it. Anyway. Dem's the breaks, Pinky. Asuka grinned, patting Mina on the head condescendingly. Mina was not amused, but she tried not to let it get to her, especially when Izuku held her hand.
"Okie doke. Understandable. We'll just move on. Try not to break the machine with your wack moves, cue ball." Mina smiled back before skipping away with Izuku in tow.
"Whatever, raccoon eyed bitch." Asuka spat, equally unamused. She was not the only one as Mina hesitated for a second, but ran towards some arcade machines. Izuku kept her anchored though and looked at her.
"I'll be right back, Mina. I'm sorry." Izuku looked at his girlfriend with an apologetic smile before heading towards trouble.
"E-excuse me, Asuka, was it? I challenge you to DDR." Izuku stepped forward with his fist in front of his face, like a valiant knight about to face a bald dragon in dance-based combat.
Mina was shocked. Izuku had been getting better under her guidance, and she appreciated the gesture, but he kind of sucked at dancing, if she was being honest.
"Izuku, don't worry about it. It's not worth it dude."
"Oh? You want to step to me, mop top? What's your wager?"
"I win, you have to apologize to Mina. You win, we never come to this arcade again."
"Hmmmm. Ok, broccoli boy. You're on. I'll even set it on easy to humor you. I am a fair and just empress." She gave a wild smirk.
"Normal is fine." Izuku stated. Mina really didn't want the trouble. This wasn't worth it. Still, holy shit, her heart was beating right now.
"Alright then." Asuka purred as she selected the song and the difficulty. "Clear some room, guys. This show is getting started." Izuku steeled himself and prepared for a valiant trial by funk.
One embarrassing defeat later, Izuku had put up a valiant effort, but they were now banished from this arcade, and Mina still didn't get an apology.
"Dammit, Izu." Mina gave him a playful jab in the arm. "Now I owe you twice. I'm totally going to make it up to you.
"What for? I lost." Izuku shuffled his feet and give a look of confusion.
"Yeah. Sorry, babe, but you're not quite there yet. Still…" she hugged him tightly. "You are such a freaking sweetheart. Thanks for sticking up for me. Just remember I can do that for myself next time."
"Yeah. Sorry. I just don't like seeing people I care about treated unfairly." He said with a subdued confidence. He gave off a warm glow as e switched from looking at his feet to his girlfriend.
"I know. If anyone does the same to you, I'll have your back." Mina spoke softly and sweetly to Izuku, kissing his cheek and wrapping an arm around him.
Thanks, Mina. I…I appreciate that." Izuku smiled. He didn't have the most confidence in himself, even if he was improving in that area. He had still thought of himself as beneath Bakugou and not worth fighting for, but the fact that there were people who would do that for him just as readily as he did for them, that was something he didn't even need to wright in his notebooks. That would be too hard for him to forget.
"We should probably head back." Mina whispered into his ear.
"Yeah…. It is getting late. Let's take the train." Izuku took her hand and they walked to the station.
Upon boarding the train and taking their seats, Mina remembered something she wanted to run by Izuku.
"Oh, by the way, Izu. I know it's kind of sudden, but my family wants to meet you. You should bring your mom too, if she wants. Nothing scary. My family just wants to meet yours is all. Plus, um…as embarrassing as this is, my mom kind of sucks in the kitchen especially with this experimental phase she is going through, so maybe your mom can help her. Sorry." Mina smiled guiltily at the end.
Izuku was flustered by this. He had been worried about if they were going too fast, and now he they were introducing their parents to one another. It wasn't a big deal. He knew they would meet eventually, but still, Izuku was just a worrier about things like that, and not so much his own physical well-being, as evidenced by Recovery Girl no longer being willing to treat him with her quirk if he got reckless with his again.
"S-sure. I think my mom would like that. I'm…. a bit nervous though." Izuku smiled, before looking out the window pensively.
"About my folks? Nah. They're great. They can be a bit rowdy, but I think they'll love you. They ask about you a lot." Mina smiled, placing a hand on Izuku's shoulder.
"R-really? Izuku still felt nervous, letting his mind wander about what they could say. Mina already had a grasp of this tendency of Izuku's and held his hand.
"Relax, Izu. Nothing negative. My younger siblings tease me about you though." She stuck her tongue out.
"Oh. W-what do they say?" Izuku stuttered, having calmed down a little, but still bracing himself for the Ashido clan.
"You'll have to wait and see on that. Mite and Takure can be a bit of a handful, but if my folks end up liking you, they will too." Mina's siblings were, as Izuku would later discover, just as rambunctious, if not more, than Mina.
"Alright. Looking forward to it." Izuku grinned in that charming yet bashful manner of his that made him a target for affection by his pink-skinned partner.
"Me too." She replied as she stretched her arms out and wrapped one around Izuku.
They snuggled on the train the rest of the way until they reached their stop. Izuku walked Mina to her train and kissed her on the nose. "Text me when you get home." Izuku waved to her.
"Oh, you can count on it, Izu. See ya!"
And with that, Izuku and Mina went home. Halfway to his house, Izuku got a text. He was surprised at how quick Mina had texted him until he realized it wasn't her.
"hey deku. Um can we talk sometime? Sorry if you're busy."