Minato's POV
The letter arrived a few weeks later, a thick envelope bearing the prestigious U.A. seal. I opened it with a practiced calm, though a flicker of anticipation ran through me. It was a projector, and All Might's familiar, booming voice filled my room, congratulating me.
"Minato Namikaze! With an astounding 78 Villain Points and an unprecedented 60 Rescue Points! You have achieved the highest score in this year's U.A. Entrance Exam! Welcome to U.A. High School!"
A quiet satisfaction settled over me. The strategy had worked. I had showcased enough power to dominate, enough restraint to avoid revealing too much, and enough heroism to earn the rescue points.
My phone immediately began to buzz.
First, a call from Mina. "MINATO-KUN! YOU GOT IN! I KNEW IT! I'm in too! Class 1-A!" Her voice was a joyous shriek.
"Congratulations, Mina! That's awesome!" I replied, genuinely happy for her. "What about Kirishima?"
"He just called! He's in too! Class 1-A as well!" she cheered. "We're all gonna be together!"
"That's great news," I said, a genuine smile on my face. I knew they would be in the same class as me.
Just as I hung up with Mina, my phone rang again. It was Toga.
"Minato-kun! You got in right!" Her voice, usually so expressive, was trembling with excitement and pride. "I just was on phone with mina she told me the news! Congratulations!"
"Thanks, Toga," I said, a warmth spreading through me.
"Yeah!" she chirped. "And to celebrate your acceptance, how about we go out? Just us two. My treat!"
My smile widened. "I'd like that very much, Toga. Where do you want to go?"
"There's this new Italian place downtown," she suggested, her voice hinting at a shy excitement. "It's supposed to be really good."
"Sounds perfect," I agreed. "Pick you up at seven?"
"Seven it is!" she said, her voice practically skipping.
That evening, I picked Toga up from her apartment. She had moved out of her parents' house as soon as she turned eighteen, a two years ago. It was a quiet, unassuming building, a stark contrast to the villa she'd grown up in, but it was hers. She was now a third-year student at U.A., and currently interning with Ryukyu, the Dragon Hero, which was a testament to her progress and control over her Quirk. She looked stunning, dressed in a simple but elegant dress that highlighted her natural grace.
The Italian restaurant was charming, with soft lighting and the aroma of garlic and herbs. We talked for hours, the conversation flowing easily between us. We discussed her internship with Ryukyu, the challenges of third year, and her plans for after graduation. She asked me about my own expectations for U.A., and I gave her the carefully curated answers, hinting at my "multi-faceted" Quirk without giving away the true nature of my abilities.
"It's going to be tough," she said, swirling her pasta. "But you'll do great, Minato-kun. You always do."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," I chuckled. "And you're already doing amazing things, interning with Ryukyu. That's a huge achievement."
"It's tough, but I'm learning so much," she admitted. "Ryukyu-sensei is really strict, but she's also fair. And she helps me understand how to use my Quirk in ways I never thought of."
We talked about our friends, about the upcoming school year, and about the future of hero society. The night was filled with comfortable silences, shared laughter, and a growing sense of intimacy that transcended mere friendship.
When I walked her back to her apartment, the city lights twinkled around us, a serene backdrop to the quiet anticipation building between us. We reached her door, and she fumbled with her keys, a faint blush on her cheeks.
"Thanks for tonight, Minato-kun," she said, looking up at me, her eyes shining. "It was really wonderful."
"It was," I agreed, my gaze lingering on her.
She unlocked the door, then pushed it open slightly. She hesitated, then looked back at me, a shy, hopeful smile on her lips. "Would... would you like to come in for a bit?"
My heart gave a little leap. "I'd love to."
I followed her inside. Her apartment was small, but cozy and filled with personal touches – a few of her quirky drawings on the wall, a comfortable-looking sofa, and a scattering of books. The air was warm, carrying a faint scent of something sweet.
As soon as the door clicked shut behind us, Toga turned to me. Her eyes, usually so expressive, were now filled with a raw, undeniable desire. She took a step closer, then another, until she was right in front of me.
Without a word, she reached up, her hands cupping my face. Her lips, soft and warm, met mine in a kiss that was no longer tentative. It was deep, passionate, and utterly consuming. I responded instantly, my arms wrapping around her waist, pulling her closer. The world outside the apartment faded away, leaving only the warmth of her body against mine, the taste of her lips, and the intoxicating rush of emotion. This was a new chapter, not just for my hero career, but for my heart.
The kiss deepened, a blissful eternity where time seemed to warp and bend around us. Her hands tangled in my hair, mine tightening around her waist, pulling her flush against me. The scent of her perfume, light and sweet, filled my senses.
After a long, breathless moment, we finally broke apart, our foreheads still resting against each other. Her eyes, usually so intense, were soft and hazy with emotion, her lips swollen and red. My own heart pounded a frantic rhythm against my ribs.
"Wow," Toga whispered, a shy, breathless laugh escaping her lips.
I smiled, a bit dazed myself. "Yeah. Wow."
A comfortable silence settled, filled only by our ragged breaths and the soft hum of the apartment. I wanted to stay like that forever, lost in the moment. But then, an idea sparked in my mind, something I'd been holding onto.
"Hey, Toga," I said, gently pulling back just enough to look into her eyes. "I actually... I wrote a new song."
Her eyes widened, suddenly bright with curiosity. "You did? For your new album?"
I shook my head, my smile broadening. "No. Not for the album. I wrote it... for you."
Her jaw dropped slightly, a blush creeping up her neck. "For me? Really?"
"Really," I confirmed, my gaze unwavering.
A wide, ecstatic grin spread across her face. "Oh my gosh! You have to play it! Right now!" She practically leaped away from me, her earlier shyness completely forgotten in her excitement. "My guitar! I'll go get it!"
She darted into the next room, returning a moment later with a well-worn acoustic guitar. She handed it to me with trembling hands, her eyes gleaming. "Here! Play it, Minato-kun!"
I took the guitar, my fingers automatically checking the tuning, testing the strings. The familiar feel of the instrument grounded me, channeling the swirling emotions into a tangible form. I looked at Toga, who had settled eagerly onto her sofa, her eyes fixed on me, radiating anticipation. This was it.
I began to play the opening chords – smooth, melodic, instantly recognizable. The notes of Bruno Mars' "Just The Way You Are" filled the cozy apartment.
Oh, her eyes, her eyes make the stars look like they're not shining
Toga's eyes, already wide, widened even further. A soft gasp escaped her lips. She instinctively reached up, touching her own cheek, a faint blush spreading across her face. Her gaze, usually so direct, softened, almost melting as she focused on me.
Her hair, her hair falls perfectly without her trying
She ran a hand through her blonde locks, a shy, self-conscious smile flickering across her lips. Her eyes never left mine, a profound sense of wonder and disbelief dawning in them. She rarely thought about her appearance, especially not in such a romantic light.
She's so beautiful, and I tell her every day
A genuine, heartfelt smile bloomed on her face, and a soft sigh escaped her. She knew I complimented her, usually on her spirit or her strength, but hearing "beautiful" sung directly to her, with such earnestness, touched her deeply.
Yeah, I know, I know, when I compliment her, she won't believe me
And it's so, it's so sad to think that she don't see what I see
Toga's smile faltered slightly, replaced by a contemplative frown. Her past, filled with self-doubt and feeling like an outsider, made it hard for her to accept genuine praise. She looked down at her hands for a brief moment, a flicker of vulnerability. He really sees me, doesn't he?
But every time she asks me, 'Do I look okay?'
I say, 'When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change'
'Cause you're amazing, just the way you are
Her head snapped up, her eyes glistening. She remembered asking me that very question before our date, her usual confidence wavering. My simple "You look great" then, now resonated with profound meaning through this song. A tear, bright and unshed, welled in her eyes.
And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while
'Cause, girl, you're amazing, just the way you are
A small, breathless laugh escaped her, a joyous sound. She covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes crinkling at the corners. She loved making others smile, but to hear that her own smile had such an effect on me... it was overwhelming.
Her lips, her lips, I could kiss them all day if she'd let me
Toga's eyes, previously filled with tears, now darted to my lips. Her own lips parted slightly, a nervous excitement making her breathe a little faster. The memory of our recent kiss, still fresh and tingling, made her flush scarlet. She bit her lip, a shy, almost playful look on her face.
Her laugh, her laugh, she hates but I think it's so sexy
Her eyes widened in surprise, then a small, embarrassed giggle escaped her. She often tried to muffle her laughs, thinking they were too loud or unrefined. To hear me call it "sexy" sent a shiver down her spine, a delighted, unfamiliar warmth spreading through her.
She's so beautiful, and I tell her every day
She simply nodded, her gaze fixed on me, a deep understanding passing between us. His genuine affection was undeniable.
Oh, you know, you know, you know I'd never ask you to change
If perfect's what you're searching for, then just stay the same
A wave of relief washed over her, followed by a sense of acceptance. For so long, she'd felt the need to hide, to conform, to be "normal." To hear him say he wouldn't change a thing, that she was perfect just as she was, was the most liberating feeling she'd ever experienced. Her hand went to her chest, as if to calm her racing heart.
So don't even bother asking if you look okay
You know I'll say, 'When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change'
'Cause you're amazing, just the way you are
A single tear finally slipped from her eye, tracing a path down her cheek. But it was a tear of pure, unadulterated joy. She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, letting the words wash over her, a wave of acceptance and love.
And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while
'Cause, girl, you're amazing, just the way you are
She opened her eyes, brimming with emotion, and slowly, a wide, radiant smile, completely unburdened, stretched across her face. She felt truly seen, truly cherished.
The way you are, the way you are
Girl, you're amazing, just the way you are
I strummed the final chords, letting the last notes linger in the air. When I looked up, Toga was no longer on the sofa. She had practically flown across the room and pressed her lips to mine.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________A\n: I changed the dialogue where eraser head says his quirk is super strength and speed to chakra.