Chapter 16: A Saint's Faith
After the arrival of UA's Instructors, the League of Villains were quickly defeated and detained. However, Shigaraki and Kurogiri, the leaders of the attack, escaped to parts unknown. And while a most of the students of 1A got out unscathed, Midoriya and their teachers needed medical attention, Thirteen and Aizawa especially. So at best, today's victory can be considered bittersweet.
Right now, Mineta and his classmates were being brought back to UA on a bus. And as one would expect, there wasn't much of a conversation going around. Not that the shorter boy minded as it gave him plenty of time to think, mostly on his own absurd level of mediocrity. Even though he helped during the escape from the flooded zone, he felt like he should've done more afterwards.
Instead, he froze or gave up completely when the situation went so far south, it would be in Canada or some other far north country.
"Mineta-chan, those dead eyes are starting to make you look like a fish. It's creepy."
The shorter boy snapped out of his thoughts and looked next to him, fully reminded that Tsuyu was sitting next to him. It took him a few moments to process what she was saying, the degenerate part of his brain throwing more thoughts into the slush pile of thoughts. But once he finally cleared his head, it dawned on him that the girl just called him creepy. And not because Mineta was being his usual, perverted self.
He supposed that's a step up.
"I was just thinking about today…" Mineta replied as he rubbed his eyes.
"Yes, today was certainly something to consider. If All Might hadn't showed up, I dread to think what would become of us." Tsuyu replied, her face stiller than a stone. Thinking about it, Mineta never really saw his amphibious classmate show any real emotion. But he supposed that means she would be able to remain calm despite life threatening crises.
"Even then, you were pretty calm back there, being able to move and all. If the Villains weren't out of our league, I'd say you and Midoriya could've made a difference." He said as a small but wistful smile on his face. Mineta's eyes then drifted to his classmates, each one either contemplating or conversing on the USJ attack. And despite the crisis they've experienced, they were still holding their heads high.
But upon turning back to Tsuyu, he saw how she was observing him. Her head was tilted slightly as her blank eyes stared deeply into his. Mineta was now caught in a loop as changing or keeping his expression would tip Tsuyu off to his true thoughts. And with her next words, the shorter boy knew she figured him out.
"Mineta-chan, give yourself some credit. Without you, we wouldn't have escaped the Flooded Zone so cleanly."
"I know… But everything that happened afterwards? I could've done something to help you and Midoriya. It would've been pointless, but at least it's better than standing around too afraid to move." He said, averting his eyes from Tsuyu.
"Maybe, but no one would blame you for acting the way you did. It was a bad situation and anyone would've done the same." The girl replied, her normally flat tone becoming more and more encouraging. Still, Mineta wasn't convinced at all. After all, he wasn't just anybody; he was supposed to be a Hero in Training. Tsuyu sighed and laid a hand on the shorter boy's shoulder, putting the weight of her words into the gesture.
Mineta, upon receiving the gesture he normally used on Midoriya, began to feel his woes melt away. It felt nice…
"All of us are still young Mineta-chan, both as Heroes and as people. It's why we're attending UA, to learn how to become like the Heroes we admire. But we have to remember that all the greats started out as students that were no different from us. And by scrapping through situations like the one we faced today, they could become the legends we know them for. So when you say you're weak or afraid, remember that so were they at one point." Tsuyu said.
Those words rang through Mineta, but somehow it wasn't sticking nearly as much as it should. His amphibious classmate was absolutely correct, all Heroes started out as weak and afraid as he was. And by overcoming that fear, they become the inspiration that allow others to do the same. But his heart wasn't in it like it once was when he first met Midoriya.
And as he recalled the sight of his reliable back, it seemed to get further and further away from him.
Mineta hung on that last thought, brows furrowing in confusion. When did that sight become so distant? The shorter boy had looked up to Midoriya and worked hard to become worthy of his friendship, but this felt like some kind of deification. Like the kind where he would never be able to reach the same heights as the one placed on a pedestal. And through this, Mineta would underplay his own efforts and achievements to absurd levels.
Was that why he felt this way? Was it because he constantly compared himself to Midoriya and everyone else?
"I… I think I need to reevaluate myself…" Mineta sighed as he closed his eyes.
"That would definitely for the best. There's value to your being here, that much I know. But what that maybe is up to you to find out." Tsuyu replied. Mineta slowly nodded to his amphibious classmate before she removed her hand from his shoulder. He then turned to stare out the window, entering a stage of deep thought once more.
From here, things just passed Mineta by as his body went into automatic. Too lost in his thoughts to notice that 1A made it back to UA without further incident. Too absorbed over Tsuyu's words to realize he changed out of his costume. Too concerned over his own severe incompetence to pay attention to his surro–
"OW!" Mineta grunted as he clutched his face. Looking up, he saw that he was in front of the Nurse's Office. He raised an eyebrow as he rubbed his throbbing nose, did he came here to fetch Midoriya?
"Well, at least I can still be called his friend. No man left behind." Mineta mumbled as he knocked on the door. A moment later, a short old lady in a lab coat a size too big for her opened the door just enough for the two to make eye contact. This is Recovery Girl, one of the best Healers in the city and possibly the country.
"Ah, you must be here for Midoriya, he just finished recovering." She said before turning back into the room. Mineta really couldn't get a word in before the door opened a little more, allowing his friend to slip through with backpack in hand. While the shorter boy wanted to ask why they were being sneaky with door… He concluded it probably had something to do with All Might, who should be in the room as well.
But, that was not his secret to uncover.
"Hey man, glad to see you're still in one piece. How's our Symbol of Peace?" Mineta asked, tone as casual as it can be. Midoriya flinched a little at the question, as expected of a secret keeper, but he quickly came back to his usual, optimistic self. Nice recovery.
"All Might's fine, just some cuts and bruises in a few places. Nothing some ointment and sleep can't fix." He replied.
"Always with the ointment… Anyway, you ready to go?" Mineta asked, noting how Midoriya was already out of his substitute Hero costume and in his school uniform. His partner just nodded as he slipped his arms through the backpack's straps. And with a wave farewell to Recovery girl, with Midoriya's parting words being a nervous 'see you later', the two began making their way out of UA.
Midoriya and Mineta walked through the empty halls in silence as the remnants of the setting sun finally vanished. Outside the window, the shorter boy noted how bright the stars seemed to shine that night. It was as though the sky put on her best evening dress that was decorated with the finest gemstones. But it did leave him wondering… For every brilliant light that reaches them, how many thousands are drowned out by the cold void of space?
How many martyrs die, forsaken and forgotten, for each Hero that's commemorated?
"Mineta-kun? Are you okay? You're… Crying…"
The shorter boy looked over to his friend and noticed how blurry he was. And upon wiping his eyes, Mineta felt just how tearstained they were. "Huh… Looks like I am…"
"Is… Is this about that attack on the USJ?" Midoriya asked carefully. Close, but no cigar. This kind of made the shorter boy wondered if his partner knew him like he did. Another step in the downward spiral towards endless incompetence, so below average that even his best friend doesn't want to deal with his problems.
"Yeah… That was pretty scary… We'd almost died…"
"It was, but that's not what I'm talking about. You feel like you should've done something more." Midoriya replied. The shorter boy stopped and so did his partner, both of their gazes meeting. Mineta's eyes were teary, uncertain, and surprised. Midoriya's eyes were focused, stalwart, and encouraging.
"How did–?"
"We've been best friends for almost three years; I can tell when you're second guessing yourself. And I guess today's the breaking point isn't it?" Midoriya answered, his tone calm and level. Mineta was the first to advert his eyes, his sight now focusing on some arbitrary spot on the ground.
"I just want to be useful to someone…" The shorter boy said, fists tightly clenched until his knuckles were white.
"But you are! If you weren't there are the flooded zone, Asui-san and I would be fish food."
"Then what about after that? When you tried to blow away that hand covered guy and Tsuyu was trying to get you away from that giant monster, what was I doing? Nothing, I just stood there and watched that guy reach towards me and Tsuyu. If All Might hadn't showed up, all three of us would be dead." Mineta spat back.
It didn't feel right to refute what Midoriya was saying; especially when he was doing everything he could to encourage him. But there was no changing reality; he didn't do anything even when his classmates were in trouble. Midoriya, however, refused to believe that, the light in his eyes and the weight of his words showing just that.
"We would've been dead no matter what any of us did, that encounter was just WAY over our level. So what if you didn't do anything? That's a normal reaction to have given what we been through. There's only so much fear a person could take before they freeze up. Even I have my limits, regardless of how much courage you think I have. And hey, at least you didn't run away screaming in the other direction." He replied.
Mineta wanted to argue against that. But like with Tsuyu, he couldn't really find any reason to. What he was saying makes sense, especially that last statement. He could've taken advantage of the fact that Shigaraki and Nomu would be distracted by his classmates to swim as fast and far away as he could. Mineta would've lived while Midoriya and Tsuyu would certainly die. It was the true coward's way, surviving at the cost of one's dignity and allies.
But Mineta didn't take that path. Instead, he chose to die at their sides. And that thought made him felt a little better, knowing that he wouldn't just abandon people.
"Yeah, I guess that counts for something…" Mineta said, holding his head a little higher. A quick glance towards his partner and the shorter boy noticed something. There was still a fire in Midoriya's eyes and words on his tongue.
"No, it's not just something… That part of you is everything that I'm grateful for."
Midoriya's voice was just as calm and level as it was. But Mineta had to take a step back at the sheer impact of his words. He didn't stutter or mumble. He didn't avert his eyes. The green haired boy had looked straight ahead at Mineta and put all of his heart into those words.
Mineta could only hang his mouth agape to that, words completely failing him. And through this pause, his friend pressed the advantage and continued speaking his mind.
"When we first met, you told me that there's a Hero in me and even offered to be my partner in crime. It was the first time in my life that someone believed in me, believed that I can be something more than just a Quirkless weakling. What's more, you didn't waver when Kacchan and everyone else picked on you. You kept faith and stuck around."
Those words brought back all the memories from before UA. Of the times Mineta argued against Bakugou and his cronies. Of the times the two had to downplay their bruises to Mrs. Midoriya. Of all the times Mineta had to reaffirm Midoriya every time he felt unable to reach his dreams. There was of course the irony that came with it, as the roles have now been swapped. Mineta wiped at his eyes and silently nodded to his friend. Yeah, he did do that.
"Do you remember what you told me beneath the underpass? Before that sludge Villain caught us? You said 'there are plenty of jobs that involve helping and saving people… But Heroes can do one thing better than they could, and that's bringing hope to others'." Midoriya continued.
"Yeah… I did say that…" Mineta replied, a smile forming because he knew where this was going.
"Well then, by that logic, that would make you a Hero too. It's because you cheered me on that I had the courage to keep trying. You're a Hero and there's no one else I trust more with my back than you." Midoriya said. Despite his calm voice, Mineta felt the roar of his partner's words. It completely shattered his doubt and the pride he held came back full force.
He was Mineta Minoru, partner to the Midoriya Izuku, and nothing was going to change that.
"Man… When did you get so cool?" Mineta asked with a laugh, wiping his eyes one last time.
"It just happened, though I guess that's the thing about change. We just don't know when it happens. But if I can grow like this, so can you. We just got to keep trying and face tomorrow with everything we got. Are you with me?" Midoriya said as he held his fist out. Mineta nodded and bumped it with a fist of his own.
"I'll do my best, partner."
Chapter 17: A Strange Scenario
Following the attack on USJ, UA was temporarily closed while the staff worked with police to investigate the incident. And though Mineta generally enjoyed the time off, still unwinding from 1A's tense run in with the League of Villains, he quickly grew bored. Turns out, being stuck in an apartment for the whole day with only so many things to keep him occupied quickly wore down his sanity. It got so bad that Mineta was even willing to welcome Bakugou into his abode, he was that starved for human contact that wasn't his father.
But at last, things have gotten quiet enough for Mineta to leave the protective eye of his Father. Just as long as he came back by six, one can't be too careful around Villains who think they can take on UA. So with all the joy in the world dwelling in the soles of his feet, he ran out and basked in the open air and the afternoon sun.
"You big beautiful blinding bastard, how I missed you…" He groaned, stretching his arms out towards the grossly incandescent body. Though, as that feeling settled, Mineta began wondering what he should do next with his acquired freedom. Visiting any of his usual locals would be pointless as Midoriya often made those visits a hundred times more interesting. Without that, the shorter boy might not even try.
"Hmmm... I guess I'll just visit him; it's been a while since I've done that. Though I guess I need to drop by the Bookside Honda, get something for Mrs. Midoriya." He thought before he started to comb through the contents of his wallet. Once satisfied that he has an antiquate amount of funds, Mineta set out to claim some literature.
As he traveled around the city, the boy began to note how the USJ attack was still being discussed by both the media and random gossipers. He supposed that only made sense as this sort of thing never happened before in a long, long time. But nothing has really changed except for sighting an extra hero or two out on patrol. Still, that gave Mineta a little respite, knowing that things are still in control. That society as he knows it won't go sideways anytime soon.
Anyhow, upon arriving at the book store in question, taking a moment to greet the rather skeletal looking owner of the store, Mineta began combing through the aisles for anything that would be of interest to a house wife. And while he knew Mrs. Midoriya, he really didn't know her that well. This resulted in Mineta caught between the stereotypical stuff, like cook books and other home care manuals… Or the really shelf filling junk, like 100,001 Ways to Predict the Weather, Job Opportunities, and When Your Child Enters a Relationship.
…
Mineta, grabbed that book and began flipping to a random page. His eyes then promptly landed on number 82155, a prediction on 'Enters a Relationship' using weather and job opportunities. There was absolutely no way someone sane will buy this book, which is why he's going to get it. And note, this wasn't a going to be a gift to Mrs. Midoriya, she's a bit more sophisticated than this. No, this book was for Mineta's library because it seemed hilarious enough to own.
And also because he's terribly desperate.
"Failing that, I could get some head's up on Midoriya's love life... Let's see… Your child will find themselves thrust into a relationship when there's a heavy sun shower and they are relied upon for relationship advice?" Mineta thought before reading prediction 82155. That is unusually specific and doesn't really bode well for the shorter boy. Still, this whole thing looks like it's worth giving a quick read through. So with that, Mineta tightly cradled the not so insignificant book on his arm and continued to look through the store.
And that's when he found a familiar electric blonde in the back corner, carefully eyeballing some Classic American Literature. This raised some eyebrows in Mineta, never really pegging Kaminari as a well read individual, let alone an aficionado of ancient works from over the Pacific. Then again, he really doesn't know what the rest of his classmates are really like outside of UA. So perhaps, Mineta should take this chance to familiarize himself with the people he'll be spending his whole high school career with.
And ultimately, expand his friend circle that only consisted of Midoriya, Uraraka, and Iida.
"You know, I'd never really got what any of these guys were writing about. Way too different from how we think now." The shorter boy said as he stood next to Kaminari.
"Woah! Where'd you come from?" He said, jumping away from his shorter classmate. It was kind of funny to see someone who was taller and, without a doubt, stronger jump away from Mineta. Kind of like how most people scream and run from a roach or rat.
…
Mineta had to suppress a frown, there's that comparison again. It's almost as if he can never see himself as something grander than low level vermin. Though he supposed there could be some hidden virtues and advantages associated with those disgusting pests… But he's going to need some off time to figure that out. Time that is not now.
"Blame my parents. But how about you? Here for that alien literature from over the pond?" The shorter boy answered.
"I can get why you say that about all this." Kaminari replied, gesturing towards the shelves full of American Classics. "But no matter how much time passes or how different our cultures are, the themes still carry over. Get us thinking about what it means to be Human…"
The electric blonde swiftly pulled a book out from the shelf with unflinching accuracy before slamming the cover into Mineta's face. The cover illustration had the woman's disembodied eyes and lips against a midnight blue background with a dazzling festival in the foreground. But despite how odd it looked, there was something mysteriously beautiful about it. Then his eyes finally went to the title of the book, The Great Gatsby.
"This right here, a message on what happens when you've become obsessive with the past. It also has boring rich people parties, crazy rich people parties, adultery, murder, a green light, a billboard with giant eyes, a ridiculous yellow car, a pool that Gatsby never swam in, and a narrator named Nick. Many scholars still contest over the characterization of the characters and is still part of the American Reading curriculum. It is a timeless work of literature."
Mineta had to take a step back. While Kaminari was in an exaggerated 'presenting' pose that bordered on laughable, the aura that radiated off his body was quite unsettling. However, the feeling was quite familiar to the shorter boy. And realizing what it was, Mineta let out a laugh that was hidden deep within his diaphragm.
"My God, you sounded like 'Hero Otaku' Midoriya just now."
"… I guess I did. Sorry if that got a little too intense." Kaminari replied with a short laugh, rubbing the back of his head.
"Don't worry about it man, I'm used to that sort of thing. But man, the contrast between this and your usual class performance is stark. Like where was that brain power when Ectoplasm called on you?" Mineta asked as he watched his classmate return the book to its proper place.
"Hey, if it was American Literature, I'd be running circles around the rest of you."
"After what you told me, I don't doubt it." If there was one thing that Mineta learned, it is how difficult it was to outperform someone in their field of expertise.
It was then that the two began conversing in full as they walked around the bookstore. The subject of it changed every so often, but no time felt wasted. And through this, the shorter boy felt a connection being formed with the electric blonde. He learned that Kaminari was a man who liked to experiment with various hobbies. He's been through things like skateboarding, cars, music from a long gone era, generic cool guy stuff. All of it made him look like that one guy who tries really hard to be cool only to end up looking silly.
Not that it made Kaminari any less endearing, since Mineta could guess why he would do such a thing. All of which led to their current tangent of a discussion.
"The human body is art. And art is best when it's consistent. Therefore, the best girls must have proportionally consistent bodies." Mineta said as the two left the bookstore. The shorter boy had settled on a cook book for Mrs. Midoriya's gift, as uncreative as that was. But he was certain that she would enjoy looking through it, just as he would enjoy looking through his 100,001 Predictions. That, however, wasn't what his mind was thinking about currently.
"Not the answer I was expecting… I pegged you as a fan of boobs." Kaminari replied.
"I do appreciate me some boobs… And I don't mind a fine ass… But it's wholly unforgiveable if a girl's body only consists of boobs and/or butt. Have you ever seen that wreck of an Anime, Winners Don't Cheat? The heroine is like a stalk but her breasts could destroy Jupiter if they fell into it."
"Everything about that was a wreck… But yeah, the character designs could've used a bit more time in the oven…" Kaminari muttered, a shiver rolling through his nerves.
"Told you, consistency is king."
"Then how about girls with mutation type Quirks? It kind of messes with your 'consistency' don't you think? I mean, Tsuyu-chan's pretty cute but her big hands and feet are kind of off putting." Kaminari replied. Mineta's brows furrowed as he glared with all his might at the electric blonde. This promptly threw him off, causing Kaminari to stumble away a few steps.
"First of all, don't shit talk Tsuyu. I happen to owe her after what she'd done for me at the USJ. And two, it's not 'my' consistency, it's 'their' consistency. As long as their various body parts are proportionate with each other, I'll be more than happy to… Study them." Mineta replied, his voice going from a low growl to a devious drawl.
"Alright, alright, I get it. But man, it's a shame our class doesn't have more girls in it. Not that there's anything wrong with our current selection mind you. I just wish there was a better ratio, improve the odds of landing a date." Kaminari said as a sigh passing between his lips. Mineta hummed to that as his previous emotions began die down. While there was some merit to his words, there were still plenty of arguments against it.
However, before he could utter even a single word, his eyes caught something sitting in the middle of the intersection ahead of them. The thing was slightly worn but it wasn't enough to dull the light sheen, alluring colors, and provocative figure on the cover. Unable to believe that someone would leave such a thing in the open, the shorter boy jogged ahead to answers his curiosity.
Only to find that the item was what he suspected all along. Lying upon the asphalt was a copy of the world famous, ultra premium, subscription only, gentlemen's magazine… Worship.
"Holy shit, is that the latest issue?" Kaminari asked excitedly as he tried to pick it up. Mineta grabbed the electric blonde's arm, stopping him as the shorter boy felt several eyes on the two. Immediately letting paranoia take hold, Mineta began to assess his surroundings. And that was when he lost all the warmth in his blood.
But not because there were Villains or crooks, it's actually quite the opposite. Coming towards Mineta and Kaminari were their classmates and fellow Heroes in Training. And no matter which direction Mineta turned to, the four roads out of their location had people directly heading towards them.
From the north came Bakugou and Kirishima, both of them drenched in sweat and lugging gym bags.
The South was blocked by Midoriya, Iida, and Uraraka, all three of them carrying grocery bags.
West had Mina, Tooru, Yaoyorozu, and Jirou, each of them holding different kinds of bags.
And from the East, Tokoyami and Shouji were carrying black garbage bags and quickly made their approach.
And while under normal circumstances he would be laughing at the sheer coincidence of this meeting. This scenario was anything but funny.
"Why now of all times!? And why are we all holding bags of some sort!?" Mineta thought. If they all catch him right now near this magazine, the image of a dignified classmate will come crashing down. Kaminari may have an inkling of his true nature, but he revealed that willingly and in careful amounts. This, however, is grounds for a strip search of the soul.
Worse still was the fact that Midoriya would get inevitably caught up in his mess. Because Midoriya covered for Mineta when Iida and Uraraka caught a glimpse of his true nature, this would cause them to question his partner. And there would be no easy escape from that. Mineta must get out of this situation…
Even though he doesn't actually have a plan.
"Dude, you alright? You look like you're going to die in a few seconds." Kaminari asked. Mineta proceeded to gesture in the four directions that surround them. The electric blonde took all of two seconds to look and piece things together. His eyes darted to the magazine on the pavement before finally returning to the shorter boy.
"Yeah, this spells trouble… Should we just ignore it and walk away?"
"They've already spotted us and saw you reach for this thing. And I've never seen anyone talk their way out of this sort of thing." Mineta answered grimly. Granted, his only reference was cheap harem series were the blundering idiot of a protagonist has to explain to his ten not girlfriends on how this porn isn't his. But since life sometimes reflects fiction, the shorter boy doesn't want to gamble on the possibility of a misunderstanding.
And in circumstances like this, misunderstandings were guaranteed.
"Then how about we just take it and run?" Kaminari suggested, the panic steadily growing in his voice.
"That sounds like a great idea! We totally won't look suspicious in any way if we do that!" Mineta retorted. The shorter boy realizes that the sarcasm wasn't exactly helping matters, but running away was only helpful in only a handful of situations. This wasn't one of them. Kaminari quickly looked towards their advancing doom before turning back to his short classmate with furrowed brows.
"Then what do you suggest we do? We'll be seriously boned and I don't want to be labeled as 'that guy' by the others."
"There is really only one thing that we can do…" Mineta said, realizing that there was only one true way out of this. He wished it hadn't come to this. He wanted to avoid this bringing up this problem for as long as humanly possible. But alas, fate has consigned him and his new found friend to this demise. And all he could hope for was that, through their guile and wit, they are able to survive the questions with some of their reputation intact.
"We go out in a blaze of glory…" The shorter boy finished, a resigned sigh escaping his lips. Kaminari stared at Mineta before once again looking at their approaching classmates. In just two or three short minutes, they would be forced into a conversation. And it would no doubt involve asking for a reason as to why he and Mineta were standing around the intersection for so long. So without any more options, the electric blonde sighed and looked upon the magazine that sat upon the pavement.
Its serene stillness completely mocking the turmoil the two now faced.
"Well, I guess there are worse ways for someone's social status to die. And who knows, we might get a chance to climb up eventually." Kaminari said, defeated but still holding onto a shred of optimism.
His words resonated with Mineta however. It didn't help him come up with another solution out of this mess. But it did remind him that he and Midoriya were once at the bottom of the ladder. A situation that was completely undone upon their admittance to UA. So if anything, Mineta was certain that he and Kaminari will pull through somehow.
"I'm sure we will. It's been an honor Kaminari." Mineta said before reaching down towards the magazine.
"To you was well Mineta." Kaminari replied, his breath becoming still as the shorter boy grasped the edge of the cover. This was it, no turning back. Mineta took a deep breath and prepared to go into this with his full attention. He might as well go into this with his true, perverted self.
He opened to the middle of the magazine and snapped it open, fully ready for whatever was about to hit him. Except that he wasn't.
"… Excuse me?" Mineta asked to no one in particular. The shorter boy could hear Kaminari reeling back behind him in serious confusion. But he couldn't blame him as the anxiety they both got out of this experience was for nothing.
Both the front and back covers of the magazine was indeed from an issue of Worship… Everything else however, wasn't. Completely gutted of its original content, now the magazine was filled with random numbers and writings on blank paper. And to add further confusion, this wasn't ordinary white copy paper; this was glossy, colored magazine paper. And all of it was even stapled together, making the whole thing more like an unnecessarily gaudy notebook or sketchpad.
Mineta filled through the thing, from one cover to the next, finding the same thing with each turn. Some random person actually took the time to make this thing the way it was. Just the fact that this magazine gave no indication of it being tampered with spoke volumes about its original owner. Either they were an extremely dedicated prankster… Or a crazy idiot who had a moment of brilliance and focus.
Regardless of which, Mineta and Kaminari were outplayed like novices at poker.
"Mineta-kun? Kaminari-kun? Are you two okay?"
The shorter boy looked up to find that Midoriya and their other classmates have finally reached them. Because Mineta was holding the magazine with its covers completely parallel to the ground, no one could see what this magazine was pretending to be. So without a word, Mineta folded the thing cover to cover as a smile spread across his face. He then proceeded to throw the fake magazine into the bag he was carrying, might as well figure out who left this sitting around.
"We're fine. But I can't say the same for our sanity though…"
Chapter 18: The Olympics for Quirks
Even though he was away for just one day, Mineta sorely missed UA. Home was great and all, but life would be just too confining and predictable if he stayed in. Here at UA, he could aim for bigger and better things. He could become worthy of Midoriya's friendship. He could, somehow, land a date with one of the fine ladies in his class. He could even witness the strangest of things occur.
Like he and the rest of 1A was about to right now.
"Morning. Now, let's not waste any time and get straight to business." Aizawa said as he walked in the door. Now that would've been the end of the story had it not been for the fact that their teacher was completely wrapped in bandages. Both of his arms were in casts while his face was covered up in thick gauze. Honestly, if it wasn't for his clothes and the mess of hair spilling out from his head, Mineta would've thought a mummy had escaped from the World History Museum in Tokyo.
That still didn't stop him from vocalizing his concerns over his former master.
"Jesus! How are you even on your feet?"
"Tenacity, something you'll all have plenty of by the time you graduate. But that isn't the main concern right now… Your fight is far from over…" Aizawa replied as he took his place behind the lectern. Now that caused the air in the class to chill by several degrees. Mineta swallowed the lump that formed his throat; they didn't have to fight more Villains right? Right?
"Sensei, by that you mean…?" Iida asked warily. Thank God for his honest soul, asking all the right questions and saving Mineta from confronting his deepest fears. Sure he wanted to become a great hero and partner to Midoriya, but there was no sense in rushing it. The best made plans require plenty of time, resources, and effort to put together.
"What I'm referring to is the rapidly approaching UA Sports Festival." Aizawa answered as his tired eyes glared at 1A from between the bandages. But that didn't faze them all as much as it should; being that the classroom was too busy exploding with enthusiasm. As for Mineta, he was slowly sliding down his seat as the tension began leaving his body.
"It's something normal… Well, as normal as having the entirety of Japan watching your every move can be… Though doesn't that mean the Villains who attacked us will be watching too? Probably, but I guess there's nothing that could be done about that. It takes more than shreds of paranoia to stop the most popular event of the season from airing." Mineta thought before his ears returned to listening to Aizawa.
"And because of the audience size, you'll need to be performing better than your best. As this is not only an event to show off your passion and vigor and whatever. It is in fact your greatest opportunity in your career as Heroes in Training." Aizawa said.
"We'll be scouted by Pro Heroes, correct Sensei?" Yaoyorozu asked. And though everyone knew of this fact, the girl still managed to whip up some extra energy out of everyone. Even Mineta was now feeling the excitement over all of this, his Villain anxiety finally subsiding in favor of a more hopeful future. It also helped that the person who got his blood pumping, in several ways, was absurdly attractive.
"Absolutely, they will be scrutinizing every detail of your performance. So work hard, this event only comes once a year and you'll only get three chances to leave a mark. Don't waste it." Aizawa answered before moving onto regular homeroom business. But even as 1A transitions to their regular school work, nothing could keep the Sports Festival from prodding their brains constantly. With each student finding their own ways to make it big at their first UA Sports Festival, this would certainly become an event they wouldn't forget.
…
Mineta stretched as Cementoss left the room, their fourth period class has just ended. And the moment the lunch bell finished ringing, 1A exploded into many conversations. Tuning his ears, he began listen to his classmates and their thoughts. Kirishima was especially pumped, barely containing his voice to prevent his classmate's ears from exploding. Kaminari was talking about his possible prospects as a sidekick in the future while Kyouka was shooting him down every step of the way.
It was all pretty overwhelming.
"Hey Midoriya, how do you feel about this?" Mineta asked as he and his partner got up from their seats.
"Hmmm… I'm excited but also a little nervous…" Midoriya answered, his hand placed over his chin. The shorter boy raised an eyebrow to that. He knew his partner wasn't that good with crowds… But the chance of him being noticed by the greats should override those feelings of anxiety. This was, after all, the first great step in their careers to become legends themselves. Midoriya really must have a good reason for that.
"Really? I mean, you've been doing well recently, so I thought you'd want to show all that growth off… Is this about your Quirk?"
Midoriya sighed and began scratching at the back of his head. "You got me… Don't you think it'll be harder for me because of my inexperience? The Pros will see that and turn to someone with better odds, like Kacchan."
"I'm sure you'll figure something out. And besides, anyone who passes on you should get their eyes checked." Mineta said with a hand wave. And he was being completely earnest about that last statement. Anyone who didn't see Midoriya's potential the way he did and Mineta will know those people are third rate at best. You could blame all the prejudice they faced during their middle school years for that assumption.
"Midoriya-kun! Mineta-kun! Why are you both looking like that? Are you not in high spirits? Are you not feeling it?" Iida asked as he, Uraraka, and Tsuyu walked over. Though with Iida, it's more like shimmy over as he was in the middle of some weird dance. The class president must be containing his emotions over this and was barely succeeding. Naturally, all who saw this had raised an eyebrow. And this is in spite of knowing why.
"If that's feeling it, then I guess not… But that's probably the mood whiplash talking." Mineta replied.
"Mood whiplash?" Iida asked, stopping his weird dance.
"What Mineta-kun meant was we went from 'fighting for our lives' to 'normal school business' in two days. If you can count the biggest athletic event in Japan as normal…" Midoriya explained.
"Ah yes, it is quite the contrast. But for UA to move onward despite that all that… It is nothing short of inspirational! So we must do our best as well, right Uraraka-kun?" Iida said, energy overflowing from his voice. He proceeded to look over to their gravity defying classmate, directing Midoriya and Mineta's attention to her as well. But what they saw wasn't the bubbly girl they've come to know…
Instead, it was a Lady of War emitting an aura of searing bloodlust.
"Yeah… Let's do our best…" Uraraka answered as her throat rumbled from the low growl that escaped it. Mineta reflexively hid behind his partner as Midoriya backed away a step from the girl. Normally, the shorter boy would be cursing himself for displaying such cowardice, especially after what had transpired two days ago. But even he had to admit, this was not a situation he wanted anything to do with. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned after all…
"Jesus Christ, what possessed you? Is it that time month already?" Mineta blurted out. Once more, his more rational half of his brain was kicking him for saying something so tactless. But quickly looking around, everyone was a little too preoccupied by an overly zealous and aggressive Uraraka to care. All except Tsuyu, who just stared at him with her usual nonchalant expression.
Although… Mineta could feel the unflinching gaze of her blank eyes pierced right through him.
"LET'S DO OUR BEST!" Uraraka shouted, turning to a cluster of their classmates. Mineta focus returned to the gravity defy girl and saw how she riled others in 1A to an awkward cheer. It was both a sight that inspired Mineta… And questioned whether or not he needed to change his trousers. Because, if anything, that girl could very well raise Hell with that aura alone.
"Alright, Uraraka-san, let's calm down before you traumatize someone. And we might miss lunch at this rate…" Midoriya said as he nervously laid a hand on his classmate's shoulder. It was almost as though a switch was flicked as Uraraka instantly went back to her normal cheerful self. Make of that however you want, but at the very least, Mineta didn't have to worry about his classmate turning into a demon.
"Then off we go." Uraraka said as she happily marched off. Iida looked between Midoriya and Mineta, apparently more than a little confused at what just happened. The former just scratched at his cheek as he let out a shy chuckle. Mineta just shrugged, even if he sort of understood what just occurred. Still, it was probably best if they all got a move on and not leave Uraraka alone for too long. Who knows if she'll turn aggressive again when they weren't looking…
Then again, Mineta supposed there must be a good reason for the girl to be full of piss and vinegar.
And the opportunity came up when the four were on their way to Lunch Rush' cafeteria. The question sort of came out of nowhere, being that Midoriya really didn't have any way to get it out there in the first place. But others took it in stride and played along as a question or two never really hurt anyone.
"Why I wanted to be a Hero?" Uraraka asked, looking over to a rather shy Midoriya.
"Well… With Iida-kun following his brother and Mineta-kun partnering with me to be a Hero duo, we kind of left you out. And I didn't realize that until now. I mean, you don't have to say anything if it is particularly personal. Just wanted to know…" Midoriya explained, voice wavering a bit at the end. Mineta, despite seeing the same awkward personality that his partner had always displayed (especially around girls)… Midoriya managed to not fumble his words. Not only that, he was aiming to understand Uraraka just a bit more.
"My boy, he's growing up so fast…" Mineta thought before turning his attention back to his cheery classmate.
"It's not that personal, just a bit embarrassing… Compared to you, Iida-kun, and Mineta-kun, it's not nearly as noble…" Uraraka said as she began scratching the back of her head at an uncomfortable speed.
"I can think of some really horrid reasons to be a Hero. So I'm sure you're over thinking it." Mineta replied. The shorter boy felt like he had the clout to say that. After all, he could think of someone amongst their little group that had a terrible, secondary motivation towards Heroism. Three guesses to whom that maybe…
And no, the first two guesses don't count.
"Like Mineta-kun said, I'm sure it's not so bad." Midoriya said with a nod.
"Well… I'm only in it for the money…" Uraraka said, the hand scratching at the back of her head becoming several tempos faster. Mineta raised an eyebrow to that. Only in it for the money? That seemed a little too self-centered for a kind girl like her. Perhaps this wasn't the whole story, causing Mineta to hold his tongue.
"Told you it's embarrassing…" Uraraka sighed, her cheeks turning a shade darker.
"I understand why you're uncomfortable, but there is nothing wrong with your reasoning. Seeking a more comfortable lifestyle is a common desire that most people work towards." Iida replied as his arms became a spatial hazard. Midoriya and Mineta quickly stepped out of the way as the former followed up on his class president's thoughts.
"Yeah, what Iida-kun said. Though hearing that from you was a bit surprising…"
"Well the way I see it, she probably has a good reason for needing the money." Mineta commented, putting his earlier suspicions out there.
"You got me… My family runs a construction company, but we haven't got any work in a while… So we're all poorer than poor… Please don't tell anyone that." Uraraka said, her voice growing increasingly hush as though this was a dire secret. It wasn't, but Mineta supposed she had some sort of image to maintain... Even though he doesn't think anyone would treat her any different just because of her social class.
"Construction… If you got permission, wouldn't your Quirk help cut costs?" Midoriya asked.
"That's what I told them! But…" Uraraka trailed off as her expression grew soft, most likely recalling words that she held close to her chest. Whatever they were, Mineta could feel the weight of her emotions behind them. To be trusted enough to hear something so sentimental; the shorter boy felt honored and opened his ears to Uraraka.
"My Mom and Dad wanted me to follow my own dreams… To become a Hero that anyone could be proud of. It was a little confusing to me back then; it made me wonder if I wasn't ready to help. But thinking about it now, I guess they didn't want me in to be stuck in their shoes. But if that's the case, then I'm going to succeed and get that money for their sakes. Until Mom and Dad are living easier lives, I won't stop working to become the Hero they know I can be."
Mineta, Midoriya, and Iida stared at their classmate, noting the flame of resolve burning within her gentle eyes. This outwardly determined look was kind of uncommon on the normally cheerful Uraraka… But it wasn't unwelcomed. In fact, it just made the girl all the more appealing.
"Damn girl… How is that embarrassing?" Mineta asked, a smile spreading across his face. Iida, on the other hand, began to express his awe in the least elegant and most bombastic manner possible... A standing ovation, even though he is already standing.
"BRAVO! BRAVO URARAKA-KUN!"
"You don't have to make such a big deal about it Iida-kun…" Uraraka said as her cheeks grew red again.
"I mean, when hasn't Iida-kun made a big deal out of something? Not that he's wrong to feel that way though, your commitment's inspiring." Midoriya replied. Before Mineta's thoughts could go to inwardly cheer his partner for his smooth compliment, a familiar booming laugh filled the hallway. The group flinched as they turned to the source, the only capable of performing such a thunderous humor.
"There you two are! Young Midoriya, Young Mineta, I have a request to make of you…" All Might said, dashing out from around the corner. He then proceeded to daintily hold out a bento wrapped in a cloth with bunnies printed all over it. The contrast between the action and the person doing it was beyond astounding.
"Care to have lunch with me?"
"He's like a schoolgirl!" Uraraka said as her lungs burst with laughter. For Mineta and Midoriya, however, they just looked at each other before looking at the Number One Hero, brows raised between them.
"Sure…"
The duo began to approach All Might, their strides filled with a curious urgency unlike anything anyone has seen. After all, when the Symbol of Peace calls, it's only appropriate that one should answer. Still, it did leave the two boys wondering…
"What's this about?"
Chapter 19: Guidance
Most of the time, Mineta never noticed what he sat on. While he preferred the soft, padded cushion of an armchair or couch, there was something to hard surfaced chairs. There was a sense of antiquity to it and it also changes the mood of the sitter. But right now, the stool he sat on was nothing more than a hotbed of anxiety and discomfort.
All Might, despite smiling his signature smile and sitting with authority upon the couch, looked a bit grim and somewhat uncertain. Midoriya was also pretty much feeling the same as the Symbol of Peace's gaze fell down on them. This tension in the atmosphere only meant one thing, they were about to engage in a terribly secret conversation.
"Could this be about Midoriya and All Might's secret? Am I even ready for something like that?" Mineta thought as All Might prepared the two boys tea. And as the hero set down the terracotta cups before them, his powerful voice rang through them. Even if it did sound a little forced… Perhaps there was no natural way to approach the subject?
"So, are you two excited about the Sports Festival?"
"Y-Yeah! I mean, we're going to be on national TV, so who wouldn't be?" Mineta said, forcing the words out of his throat. He had to suppress the cold sweat from breaking out as he sounded a little too obvious about his feelings over this entire situation. All Might didn't say anything however and simply nodded to the shorter boy before turning to Midoriya.
"Uhhh… Well… I might have some difficulty given my inexperience with my Quirk…"
"That is a given. But that is why we're here, to offer any advice to you before this turning point." All Might said, gesturing to himself and… Mineta?
"Wait, me too?"
"Yes. However, to help Young Midoriya, you need to know certain details pertaining to his abilities." All Might answered.
"All Might, you don't mean…?" Midoriya began before All Might cut him off with a swift answer.
"Yes, it's time for Young Mineta to learn about our secret."
Mineta could feel the sweat on the back of his neck frost over, prickling his skin with the kind sensation that he was too familiar with. All the questions he had since that day they began training for UA came to the front of his brain. Not only that, several other questions began to pop up, with the most important being…
"But, why me? Isn't there someone else that is more trustworthy? Because, depending how big this secret is, I don't want to be that guy who ruins everything by running my mouth."
"Perhaps… But since our meeting on Dagobah Beach, I suspected you have already deduced a few things already. And as afraid as I was that some stranger guessed my secret, Young Midoriya was able ease those fears. He continually vouched for your loyalty and, despite all that has happened since; you still didn't break your silence. So here we are, in this room as confidents." All Might explained. Mineta stared at the Hero before his eyes slowly turned to his partner. Midoriya simply nodded back to him, smiling that friendly smile of his.
This left him speechless. While Mineta knew that Midoriya had complete confidence in him, as proved by recent events… To have All Might, Symbol of Peace and Number One Hero, trust him enough to share what could be his darkest secret with him, it was just too much. What should he do now? Listen? Or decline?
But wouldn't that be running away?
"Of course, if you don't want to know the whole story, you are free to leave. Just know that you already have one foot into this and I fully expect you to keep up the silence." All Might said, upon seeing the indecision upon Mineta's face. While the shorter boy knew he meant well, those words really didn't help the feeling of uncertainty that he felt. On one side, there was the benefit of aiding his partner through his Hero's journey, as Mineta said he would do. But on the other, the likelihood of someone spilling the beans, which he feared, would increase.
Hmmm…
"Mineta-kun, I know that something like this is serious… But it's your choice and we won't trust you any less even if you say no. Just clear your head and ask yourself again, is this what I want?" Midoriya said. Mineta, while he didn't look to his partner, heard his words and all the stray thoughts and emotions began to empty. And within the void that was now his mind, there he saw the two halves of himself. One was dressed in gaudy pimp clothes while the other wore Midoriya's Hero costume.
Some may call these two their personal Angel and Devil. Others may call them Left and Right. Or perhaps Logic and Memes… For Mineta, however, he calls them Heart and Pants. And while they were normally at odds with one another on how to proceed through a problem, they were in agreement this time.
"We listen. If we are to help Midoriya, we need to know the situation he and All Might are in. And I know we can keep this a secret. We have, after all, been able to keep their relationship secret thus far." Heart said.
"Which is surprising, considering the kind of person we are. But go ahead and listen to Mr. Muscle. No skin off our bones if one of them screws it up instead. Besides, it's nice to have the biggest meat shield on campus rely on us." Pants added.
So with that, Mineta came back to reality and faced All Might once more. "Okay, I'll try to not let it slip." He said.
"Excellent. And worry not, I have no doubt you'll be able to uphold your end without issue. Now then…" All Might replied as his skin began to emit a hazy looking steam. The shorter boy raised an eyebrow before his eyes peeled back as the Number One Hero went up in a puff of smoke. And what replaced him was equally startling…
In All Might's place was the bony man who help with Midoriya's training. He was wearing the same suit that All Might had on moments ago. And as Mineta began processing the sight in front of him, the more questions he had that he wanted to ask.
"All Might? Is that you?" Mineta asked slowly.
"It is…" He said with a slight cough.
"Uhhh… How did you do that? And why do you look like a monster movie extra?"
All Might simply chuckled to that last question before leaning in with a serious expression on his face. Mineta quieted down as the Hero went into what his condition was and briefly told how he got it. And as the shorter boy listened, the color of his skin began to lighten until he was indistinguishable from paper. All those suspicions he had about All Might's health and Midoriya becoming his successor was confirmed.
And yes, while this did allow Midoriya a path to becoming the Number One Hero… Mineta had a feeling that the trials ahead of his partner will rival that of the great Heracles. Because whoever crippled All Might like this will, one day, turn his power and resources against Midoriya. And when that happened, Mineta knew that his partner was going to need all the help he could get.
"And that is how we got to where we are… Quite the predicament, isn't it?" All Might said, finishing his explanation. Mineta didn't move as one hand still covered his mouth, his stomach churning over this. To think the truth was this dire… But at the very least, there was still a fighting chance now that One for All has its newest user. Speaking of which…
"Well at least your super Quirk is Midoriya's hands now. And I can't think of a better person to use it." Mineta said with a light laugh, which loosened some of the tension in the atmosphere. All Might nodded happily to that before the two turned to Midoriya, who was staring at his hand.
"I'm still having trouble with it though… I just can't seem to find a good middle ground between no power and broken bones…" He said. And as anyone who knew him, the green haired boy began to mumble about various factors that came up whenever he used it. At one point, he mentioned how, during the USJ attack, he punched the strange creature Nomu with all his might and didn't break anything.
While that was strange, there wasn't any definitive proof of what may have caused that. All Midoriya knew was that he was using it directly on a person and that Tsuyu was in danger. It was quite a mystery…
"Hmmm… That is still progress though. Perhaps your body has grown accustomed to One for All and your subconscious has affected it." All Might suggested.
"That's great and all, but until Midoriya can do that consistently, he's still going to have a bad time. Hey, I know you make weird analogies and mnemonics for important things. What's the one for OfA?" Mineta said before looking over to his partner.
"It's, uh, an egg in the microwave. You know, if the wattage is set too high, the whole thing would explode. So if you replace wattage with One for All and egg with me, you get… Somewhat destroyed fingers and arms?" Midoriya answered. Mineta's brows furrowed as he stared at Midoriya, his face hanging as though he was silently asking 'why'. This tipped the green haired boy off that his friend saw an immediate flaw in his method.
"I'm open to any criticism…"
"Midoriya… You're one of the smartest people I know and I'm sorry for saying this… But that's by far the dumbest analogy you've made. You never put eggs in the microwave. No matter how low the wattage is, it will explode at one point or another." Mineta said.
"Then how about Young Midoriya adjusts it so that nothing happens to it?" All Might suggested.
"Then that will just defeat the point of a microwave, cooking whatever's inside. But you can't do that without the egg exploding."
"I think I'm starting to see the problem now… The egg will always explode; it's only a matter of time before it does. Maybe that's why I always end up injured…" Midoriya said, entering a deep state of contemplation. As the green haired boy did so, Mineta got up to stretch and began to think about microwave cooking. It was a nice convenience to have for sure, but no replacement for actual cooking implements. If anything, it really says something about one's cooking ability if they only relied on the microwave. But that's not the problem right now.
"And it's also a bad way to cook eggs. Even if it didn't explode, some parts of it would be more cooked than others. Personally, if I wanted hardboiled eggs, I steam then." Mineta said.
"I heard about that. It's a really nice way to hard-boil eggs because of how evenly they cook." All Might commented as he prepared more tea, seeing that this might take a while.
"That's what happens when you surround them in steam. It doesn't matter how many you put in there, all that hot, moist air will flow all around them without problem."
"Eggs… Steam… Evenly… Flow all around…" Midoriya mumbled over and over again. His eyes shot open as he instantly went to his feet. The stool he was sitting on fell over to the sudden movement with a clatter. All Might and Mineta jumped as their eyes went to him, seeing Midoriya taking a stance as though he was readying to fight.
"That's it! I need to steam the egg!" Midoriya shouted. All Might put a single finger to his lips, instantly silencing Midoriya. However, the green haired boy was still in a battle stance as though he wanted to demonstrate something. Mineta simply gestured for him to continue, but didn't say a word since this was meant to be kept under wraps.
"Since I've got One for All, I've only been putting all the power into one part of my body. But that only causes that one part to become overcooked while the rest of me is unaffected. So what if I spread it all around my body?" Midoriya explained quietly as a faint light bean to emit from his skin. Both All Might and Mineta began to feel the shift in the air, the force dwelling within Midoriya pushing it around.
"My boy, it looks like you found your next step. How are you feeling?" All Might asked, seeing how his successor is in an intense state of focus.
"I… Can't really move… Just maintaining five percent throughout my body is… Taking all the concentration I have…" Midoriya said through his teeth. But the moment he stopped talking, the light faded from his body and the air went still. The green haired boy hunched over and began to take a few deep breaths.
"Well, at least you've got something to work towards." Mineta said with a nod.
"Indeed… With this, you'll be a step closer to succeeding me. Because my time is running out, I need you to do well and announce to the world who you are… The next Symbol of Peace." All Might said, his weight of his words hitting Mineta and Midoriya. The shorter boy could only purse his lips as that was no easy challenge to complete. But for him to entrust Midoriya with that mantle… It told the level of trust and faith All Might had in him.
The Hero then looked over at Mineta, causing the boy to flinch. However, he could see the brilliant blue eyes and it filled him with resolve.
"Young Mineta, I will also need you to do your best to support him. Though you might be at risk of being stuck in Young Midoriya's shadow, every great Hero still needs a partner to cover their back. No one is wholly invincible, as I have proved." All Might said, his head slightly bowed.
Mineta couldn't even think, let alone say something to this. Here he was, being entrusted with protecting not only his darkest secret but his greatest hope. But after a few seconds, his lips were being pulled into a wide, confident smile.
"Who do you take me for? Of course I got his back, I always will. So don't worry All Might, we'll take care of it."
"I'm counting on you two." All Might said. And despite his face being thin and sunken, his famous smile was still the same. Mineta nodded and turned to Midoriya, who was looking to him as well. The shorter boy held his hand out and his partner readily took it, a firm shake between them.
"Let's keep doing our best Mineta-kun."
"For us and for All Might."
Chapter 20: War
This was it. Today was the big day… And Mineta was not feeling it.
As Class 1A waited around in their assigned preparation room, the shorter boy stood isolated from the others so that his anxiety wouldn't spread to the others. Not that his actions mattered, since everyone else had their own feelings to contend with. Midoriya especially since he only had two weeks to figure out the issues with his new One for All technique.
And that is not even going into the amount of pressure placed onto him and the rest of the class.
Two weeks ago…
"Uhhh… Excuse me?" Uraraka asked as she faced the massive crowd that stood outside the 1A classroom. Mineta could only stare, mouth hanging as he tried to figure out what any of this is. The shorter boy looked over to his partner and Midoriya promptly shrugged. Bakugou, on the other hand, strode forward towards the crowd as though they were nothing but tall weeds.
Though given that this was Bakugou, everyone was a weed compared to him.
"Quit your gapping Rat Bitch, what did you expect? We survived a Villain attack, so of course they wanted to scout us out before the Festival. Now beat it cannon fodder, you're in my way." He said as a growl accompanied his words. Several of the students flinched at the glare emanating from the human grenade, slowly retreating from the site. And it really served as a reminder as to why Mineta and Midoriya was scared of Bakugou to begin with. Iida, on the other hand, was more than willing to call out his classmate on his disrespect.
"Could you please not call these fellows 'cannon fodder' just because we don't know them?"
"Hmmm, not what I expected… Considered me disillusioned if this is what the Hero Course has to offer." A rather flat voice said, cutting through the chatter. Things quieted down as Mineta saw a mess of lavender hair making its way through the crowd. And stepping out in front was a tired looking teen, his attitude somewhat lax. However, Mineta could sense something slightly unsettling about this person and he wasn't sure what.
Maybe it was his voice? Regardless, the shorter boy could see the coming trouble if he allowed Bakugou to do the talking.
"Just saying, this short fused ass isn't representative of the rest of us." Mineta chimed in, doing his best to wedge himself into the tension. The guy's eyes looked over to him and Mineta flinched as he saw the disdain in his eyes. For whatever reason, this guy wasn't having any of it.
"Sure, but that's not going to change the fact that you're all on thin ice. Why? Just look around, there are quite a few of us who wanted to be here but was shunted off to the other courses. However, if we do well in Sports Festival, we might get transferred into the Hero Course. And from what I can gather… The reverse is also possible for you." The guy said, his eyes going between each of the 1A members that he could see. Mineta swallowed the lump in his throat as the possibility that he and/or Midoriya could get the boot.
"Scouting the competition? Of course I'd do that. For a General Studies kid like me, this is the perfect chance to knock you off your pedestal. Consider this a Declaration of War against each and every one of you." The guy continued, the air around him darkening as the words hit them. Mineta clenched his teeth as he stepped back, feeling more than overwhelmed by this challenger's spirit.
Bakugou, on the other hand, stood firm before taking one step forward to stare right back at this General Studies student.
"Yeah, sure. Now get the fuck out of my way and take your whining elsewhere."
The guy just gave a smirk before stepping aside, parting the crowd with rather mocking 'after you, sir' gesture. And as Mineta and the others watched, the atmosphere surrounding the school began to change. A storm was coming.
…
Mineta snapped back into the present upon hearing Iida's loud announcement that the event was starting soon. And with that, the shorter boy drew the character for man upon his palm and ate it. A wish for courage as this battle will test both him and the friends he's come to know.
"I just hope two weeks is enough for us…"
"Are you feeling alright Mineta-kun? Do you need anything to drink? Perhaps a light snack?" Iida asked, walking around with a box of small goods.
"I'm good Pres, just need to get the jitters out. I'll be fine once we hit the field where we'll be on national television and watched by hundreds of thousands of people…" Mineta said, trailing off as the thought finally registered in his head. The shorter boy proceeded to take the nearest chair and sat down. He then took the baseball sitting on the table, which he brought along as a stress toy, and began practicing on several grips to ease his nerves.
What was it about this event that had him more nervous than any other event in his life? Could it be that if Mineta slips up, which was entirely possible given that it was him, he would be embarrassing himself in front of everyone?
This isn't good… He's slipping away from the ideal again…
"Let's check on Midoriya. Perhaps he can give you some last minute advice from his rather detailed book of Hero notes." Iida suggested, causing Mineta to snap back to reality.
"Yeah… I think I could use that…" The shorter boy said with a nod, putting down the baseball. The two walked over to Midoriya, who was currently showing Uraraka some of the pages within his notebook. With varying expressions, it seemed like the two were in a really deep discussion regarding a Hero's Quirk. Though Mineta wasn't sure which one based on the words he managed to pick out.
At least one of them was having fun.
That was until one Todoroki Shouto approached Midoriya, his shadow looming over the green haired boy.
"T-Todoroki-kun? C-Can I help you?" Midoriya asked as sweat began forming on his brow. Mineta steeled himself as well, seeing that this maybe a job for two. He didn't know much about their dual colored classmate, being that he kept to himself all the time. But whatever idea he has about Midoriya, Mineta was ready to throw it right back into his face.
"… Objectively, I'm stronger than you, more capable. And though All Might has his eye on you, for whatever reason that maybe, I will defeat you."
The room went silent. And despite the abrupt nature of this declaration, Todoroki had an air of strength and pride around him. Mineta's face, as his thoughts began processing what was said, began to scrunch up. His shoulder began to shrug as he raised his hand towards his classmate. And finally, Mineta vocalized his feelings in the most eloquent way possible.
"EXCUSE ME!?"
"Todoroki-kun, why are you saying this? Did Deku-kun do something you didn't like? Where is this coming from?" Uraraka asked. The girl looked understandably upset, seeing her friend being confronted for no reason at all. But there was a degree of gentleness in her eyes, her mind open to whatever explanation he could offer.
Which he didn't.
"I don't have a particular reason for calling him out. It just felt like something I should do. Dislike me if you want, I don't care. I'm not pretending to be anyone's friend anyway." Todoroki said, his voice as chilling as his glare. Uraraka's brows furrowed as Mineta began to feel the fury well in his chest. What's this guy's problem?
But before Mineta, Uraraka, or anyone else spoke up against Todoroki… Midoriya stood up and turned to him. And while he still had that nervousness surrounding him, Midoriya's back was straight and his eyes looked only forward. His unyielding spirit was burning brightly.
"I don't know why you feel the need to call me out like this Todoroki-kun… And you are very strong, much stronger and more skilled than someone like me… I can admit to that much…"
"But even with that said… I won't step aside and let you through without a struggle. Everyone is going for the top with everything they have, including the other courses. So why should that make me any different? To show everyone who I am, I'll gladly accept your challenge." Midoriya said, the roar of his words betraying the gentle tone of his voice.
The tide of the atmosphere swung in Midoriya's favor and Mineta was floored. His partner is looking real cool right now. The shorter boy always knew this day would come where Midoriya would stand proud before everyone. So with the smuggest smirk he could muster, Mineta stared right at Todoroki for his response.
"And there you have it. What say you Todoroki?"
Their dual colored classmate was as stoic as ever, despite of having his challenge thrown back at him. "Alright, see you then." He said simply before wandering off to his own isolated space in the room. The high that Mineta felt returned to normal. In all honesty, what was he expecting? The only person the shorter boy knew that would get a rise out of that was Bakugou. And looking over to him, Mineta couldn't see what emotion he was feeling.
All he could see was the same old anger.
"Class 1A, we are ready to begin the Opening Ceremony." Someone said as a knock at the door drew in their attention. And immediately did their class president begin doing his work. This was mostly to dispel whatever tension was left hanging between each of the 1A members. While it mostly worked, Mineta could still see a three way conflict brewing between Midoriya, Bakugou, and Todoroki. Still, this wasn't the time and place to settle it. So with the hope that things go half well for both himself and his partner…
Mineta followed his classmates onto the field of screaming spectators.
The shorter boy looked around, doing his best to not act like a deer in the headlights. And through the roaring cheers and Present Mic's boisterous introduction of the first years, Mineta realized the full scale of this event. He moved towards Midoriya before giving him a nudge.
"This is it man… How you feeling?"
"Absolutely terrified..." Midoriya said, his voice shaking as one fist was held against his chest.
"I mean, between this crowd and being challenged by Todoroki, I would be surprised if you weren't." Uraraka said as she began rubbed Midoriya's back. Naturally, that had the opposite effect as the green haired boy turned into a big blubbering tomato. Mineta could only chuckle at the sight before turning to Iida for his thoughts. And noticing this look, the class president complied.
"It is indeed quite the crowd. But to perform under such scrutiny would be something we'll need to face in our careers as Heroes. So it's best if we make use of this time to acclimate to such pressure."
"R-Right! No pressure! Zero pressure! I am at peace! Zen!" Midoriya squeaked, his back still being rubbed by Uraraka. Mineta sighed as he decided to step in. If things were to continue this way, his partner would pass out from sheer joy and anxiety. The shorter boy stepped forward and placed a hand on Midoriya's arm, putting the weight of his words into it.
And that caught his attention.
"Midoriya, remember what you came here to say?"
The green haired boy panic halted right then and there. His back and shoulders began to straighten and square away. And within his green eyes was the shine of unyielding courage Mineta knew him for. Midoriya took a deep breath as his next step forward was with spirit and purpose. Uraraka and Iida could only stare as the change in their friend's gears was nothing short of extraordinary.
"Yeah, that always gets me too." Mineta said, nodding in the direction of his partner.
The crowd of first years continued to coalesce at the center of the stadium where their event referee waited upon the small stage. And Mineta had to inwardly cheer as it was one of his favorite Heroines, the R-rated Hero Midnight. The provocative heroine cracked her whip, forcing all eyes to be on her. Say what you will about her, but she really knows how to command the crowd.
"Welcome one and all to the legendary UA Sports Festival! We have loads of things to witness today, so let's get straight to the Athlete's Oath!"
"Thinking about this… Was it really wise to let her be a High School teacher?" Tokoyami whispered to no one in particularly.
"Eh, it works out one way or another." Mineta answered back, enjoying another opportunity to examine Midnight up close again. Though that ended when Midnight cracked her whip again, shouting out the name of the student representative for the oath. And it was the last person anyone could've guessed.
"Bakugou Katsuki of 1A! Make your way to the stage!"
Mineta's brows went to space as his jaw sunk straight through the Earth. Out of all the students they could've chosen, they choose the one that would enrage the rest. The shorter boy had no doubt that Bakugou would whip everyone into a wild frenzy by calling them a stepping stone for him. And it would take all of zero seconds for him to drag the rest of 1A through the mud.
But that was only if Bakugou hadn't done that already two weeks ago.
The human grenade stood up on the stage, all eyes and ears on him. But instead of flashing his usual cocky grin, he had this mean scowl upon his face. "Athlete's Oath… Honestly, it makes jack all sense. There's only one law each and every one of you losers should know, there's only room for one winner. And if you think you can take it from me, I welcome you to try. But let me warn you, you'll be a stepping stone the moment you cross me."
There it is. The fuse has been lit. The first years of the other classes began yelling all sorts of counter taunts and other obscenities as Bakugou walked off the stage. But the air around him was noticeably different from what Mineta knew. This wasn't the completely overconfident bully. And looking to Midoriya, seeing his cautious expression towards Bakugou, made the shorter boy realize something.
Bakugou was using that to motivate himself. Those high stakes would force him to use everything in his power to live up to those standards.
"There are easier ways to do that…" Mineta commented.
"But that's Kacchan for you…" Midoriya replied with a nervous laugh.
"What a claim! Let's see if we can follow that exciting start with our first event!" Midnight shouted as a screen was projected behind her. Assortments of events were flickering through like a roulette wheel, moving too fast for anyone without the right Quirk to read. With a flick of her whip, the R-Rated Heroine continued her introduction
"This is the qualifiers! The stage where many go home crying each year! So get ready, our first event is… This!"
The roulette stopped and what was on screen was Obstacle Course Race.
Mineta let out a sigh of relief, seeing that this was the type of environment his Quirk shined brightest. But what about Midoriya? Did his partner figure out enough of his new ability to make it work?
"This will be a race between all 11 classes! The course itself is a four kilometer lap around the stadium itself!" Midnight said before pointing towards a gate that began opening. "And in accordance of the freedom our school preaches, you're allowed to anything so long as you don't leave the course! Racers to your positions!"
The crowd turned to ready themselves as Mineta took a look at the gate. And not even five seconds of examining it did he realize that it was a chokepoint. If he were to rush in, the shorter boy would no doubt be swallowed and crushed by the stampeded. And he refused to experience that again.
"At the back it is then…" He thought as he went backwards. He noticed a few of his classmates moving back as well. Midoriya was a given. But Uraraka, Iida, and even Bakugou was with them. This must mean that they saw the issue with the gate as well.
Beep.
Mineta's attention snapped back to the gate as the first light lit up. This was it, no more time to think. He needed to get his head in the game. The shorter boy knew first place was out of the question, but the top ten should be feasible if he put all his effort into this.
Beep.
He took a deep breath and stretched out his limbs. He readied his body for a sprint, mind focused on but one thing. This was it, the moment of reckoning.
START!
It didn't matter that the signal was just an automated voice; every student reacted the same way. They all ran towards the open gate. And, as Mineta expected, there was a huge bottle neck. Students, desperately trying to squeeze through, were pushing and shoving each other out of the way. And given how sardine in a tin can it was, no one could use their Quirk effectively to get out.
That was, unless you were creative.
Mineta threw a ball towards the ground and jumped onto it. The shorter boy proceeded to jump onto and launch himself onto the heads and shoulders of the students trying to squeeze through the gate. And due to the density of people, he could run along them like any old road. Even though he felt kind of bad about giving people neck problems.
"Sorry! Excuse me! Rat scurrying through!" Mineta shouted, his feet pushing against the heads and shoulders of others. Over head, Bakugou darted by, propelled by his explosive Quirk. Moments later, Uraraka came floating by at a good speed. But the last person who came by was the most interesting.
Jumping from wall to wall with ease, shrouded in green sparks and a soft light, was Midoriya. And just from the glimpse of his face, he could see how hard his partner was concentrating. It was inspirational how fast he was growing.
"Can't be falling behind now can I?"
Mineta pushed against the crowd and upon reaching the other end of the passage, where the crowd was thinning out, he threw out a ball and jumped to it. The shorter boy kept this process up until he saw the next obstacle ahead. A crowd of the robots from the entrance exam, with the values between the zero points to the three points.
"Oh you got to be kidding me…"
It was here that Mineta noticed something. Bakugou was strangely caught up by several two point and three point robots. Normally, the human grenade would be able to blast through them all easily. But this time, he was more focused on a precise application of his Quirk, shutting them down with a well timed burst. He must be trying to preserve his strength throughout the entire race.
But this moment gave the shorter boy an idea. An idea so stupid it might work.
He rushed forward towards Bakugou as the number of robots surrounding him went down. Mineta threw down a ball and leapt towards the human grenade. And he stuck himself to Bakugou the moment the last robot was destroyed.
"What the Fuck!? Get off!" Bakugou shouted upon noticing the extra weight. He began to violently shake around, attempting to reach for Mineta to pry him off. But with each shift of his body, Mineta moved away in equal measures, just staying out of his reach. And whenever he needed more options, he attached another ball to Bakugou to provide another gripping point.
"FUCK OFF COCKROACH!"
Bakugou aimed his palms behind his back and it sparked. Mineta, in response, quickly grabbed the balls that sat on Bakugou's shoulders and jumped. The shorter boy, still holding onto the balls, managed to do a hand stand and avoid the imminent blast that followed. Although it was too close for Mineta's comfort. He fell back onto Bakugou's back and the human grenade was just about done with this farce.
"Listen here you Rat Bitch, if you don't get off of me RIGHT NOW, I'll make sure the rest of your stay at UA will be an utter shit show."
"Maybe… But at least I get to say I 'caused Bakugou Katsuki to lose'. Seriously, while you're busy with me, Todoroki is getting further ahead and I just saw Midoriya run on by." Mineta countered with the air and confidence of a used car salesman. Of course, the shorter boy was really on the verge of soiling himself since he knew Bakugou would definitely make good on his threat. But in turn…
The rat knew exactly how to pull this grenade's pin.
Bakugou glared at Mineta from over his shoulder before turning his attention to the path before him. With a growl, he muttered something at the shorter boy. "Get in my way and you're off."
"Absolutely, I'm already in enough trouble as it is."
Bakugou didn't say anything in response as Mineta braced himself. And soon enough, the two blasted forward at a speed one wouldn't expect from a person with a man attached to him. But whether this was the winning formula or not had yet to be discovered.
Such was the way of war.