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“Ok…I can do this,” Izuku said to himself as he looked into a wall mirror.
It was currently the afternoon at U.A. campus, and class sessions had concluded for the day. Everyone had gone about their day in either heading home for the weekend or heading into town to hang out with fellow classmates. Though one certain green haired student decided to go to Heights Alliance instead.
Izuku Midoriya was that certain student as the current One For All inheritor stood alone in the empty common room of the building. He wanted to go out as well, but he wanted to ask someone out for a change, feeling the need to spice things up.
He needed to spend more time relaxing after dealing with the Shie Hassaikai, Overhaul specifically, about two weeks ago. The entire event made him realize that life can be short, and it scared him to know that he might just die sooner down the line, which meant he wouldn't be able to do what he wanted in life outside being a hero. It was a sad thing to know one could die so fast, especially in the society he lived in today.
Be it a hero, villain, or citizen.
The more he stared at the mirror in front of him, the more he could see that stress that plagued him. He frowned a little, saddened that he was allowing said stress to get the better of him. He might have to face All For One at some point in his life, but he wasn't going to let a terrible man take hold of his life, even if he was locked up in Tartarus. He just had to stop worrying about it, at least for the time being.
Izuku shook his head in an attempt to get rid of those thoughts. He needed to focus, and it was to ask someone out. His nerves shot up from even considering that thought!
He stared at the mirror once more until he closed his eyes, clenched his fists tightly, and took a much needed deep breath. He felt his nerves loosen up as he concentrated.
“Ok…” Izuku uttered and then opened his eyes, staring at himself in the mirror with a confident smile. “I've done a lot of crazy things already, I fought a few villains, and I even defeated Overhaul. This shouldn’t be hard.”
He took one last deep breath and let it all out, he had it now.
“So…” Izuku began but slowly started to sweat, “H-Hey…we k-known each other for a good f-few months, ever since we s-started c-classes.” Izuku trembled, his lip quivering. “I-I-I was wondering if w-w-we can…we…aauughh!! I can't do this!!!” Izuku shouted before throwing his hands in the air in exasperation.
“Ugh…” Izuku groaned before he slumped his shoulders. He closed his eyes and sighed in defeat.
“Why can't I do this? Why is this the only fight I can't win against? I'm such a wreck,” Izuku muttered to himself, disappointed.
He grimaced at how he felt. It was already one attempt, and he felt terrible that fast? He didn't like that the first attempt was all it took to shoot him down a peg. It may be hard, but he didn't want to quit. He didn't quit with All Might's training, so he wasn't going to quit here.
Feeling a little more confident, he rubbed his face and opened his eyes.
…only to blanch a little once he saw Mina in the mirror now, looking over his shoulder.
“Heya Midori~” Mina greeted him, smiling playfully.
“A-ah!” Izuku yelped at her before quickly turning around on his heel, facing his fellow pink classmate. “A-Ashido?! H-How long were you standing there?” He blinked in realization, becoming much more alarmed. “And were you eavesdropping on me?!”
Mina giggled, making him more on edge. “Come down, Midori. I won't say anything to the others.” She gave him a pat on the head before smirking, “But it really isn't eavesdropping if you are the only one shouting in the common room.”
“O-Oh…” Izuku uttered in realization. Mina leaned in close before giving him a boop on the nose, making him blush some more.
“And I’m going to be totally honest with you. You suck at asking someone out,” she said rather bluntly.
“I know…” Izuku muttered, frowning as he looked down.
“Don't be like that. I wasn't trying to be mean.” Mina stated before putting a hand on his shoulder. Izuku shook a little and looked up, seeing her giving him a reassuring smile. “It's just that you won't be able to ask anyone out if you are going to be so nervous about it.”
Izuku sighed, “I know…but what am I going to do? I-I have never done this before, and I keep getting flustered.”
“Well duh. It's really not hard to see that,” Mina remarked, smirking a little. “It's always hard on the first attempt, especially when you do it for real. The key is confidence, Midori.” She rubbed under her nose with her finger, feeling proud of her words.
Izuku rolled his eyes a little at her. “No offense, but you make it sound so easy. It's just…” He trailed off with his words. Mina heard him sigh, catching his attention now. He rubbed his face in frustration, “At this rate, I won't be able to ask a girl out.”
Mina felt her eyes gleaming once he said that. “Oooooo. Midori wants to ask a girl out? Do tell!” She leaned in closer, making him back up in embarrassment. “Awww come on! Don't leave a girl hanging here! You can't just tease a bomb drop like that,” she remarked as Izuku gulped when he felt his back press up against the surface of the mirror.
“A-Ashido, come on,” Izuku whined a little as he bashfully looked away, her curious face near his. He could even feel her excited breathing hit against his soft skin. ‘Way too close!’
She giggled a little. She already had a really good guess who he might want to ask out, and she felt happy for him. Though she really and really wanted to hear who he had in mind. Oh that would make things so much better for her if he admits it.
This was getting good to the point she wasn't going to leave his side, no matter how hard he tried to get away. Izuku though couldn't help but smile at just how adamant she was acting. He would be lying to himself he didn't admit her smile was really cute.
“Hey. Hey!” Mina snapped her fingers a few times in front of Izuku's face. He snapped out of his trance while she kept snapping her fingers near him. “Earth to Midori, I'm still here! Stop staring into space and reconnect your signal with Mina, stat!”
“What? You gave up heroing for cosmology now?” Izuku joked a little with a smile, loosening up just a little bit.
“Pfft. At least I can do it way better than you,” Mina retorted as she poked his chest playfully in return, making Izuku softly chuckle. She backed away and gave him some space to breathe. “My question still stands, green guy. Who do you have in mind?”
“Well…” Izuku blushed a little while he scratched the back of his head. Though the more he scratched, he felt his anxiety building up from picturing who he had in mind. He sighed, “No…It doesn't matter. You said it yourself. I suck. Like no self-pity here, but w-who would want to g-go out with plain as me Midoriya if I'm g-g-going…” Izuku paused, then groaned at what he was doing, “See, I'm stuttering here, Ashido.”
Mina hummed a little, “The stuttering is a bit of a problem, but in all honesty it's what makes you endearing, Midori.”
“W-Wait? Huh?” Izuku exclaimed, surprised at her own compliment as he blushed like a cherry.
“I said what I said, Midoriya, and I honestly mean it.”
Mina smiled a little and approached him, her finger tracing along his cheek. “And I'm just pointing this one out, but you aren't really that plain looking.” Izuku felt his blush intensify, still in shock from feeling that smooth finger trace along his cheeks.
Mina giggled a little at his reaction. “Any girl would be happy to have you as a date, Midori. You have cute freckles, nice fluffy hair, you know kinda like mine here,” Mina remarked as she pointed at her own hair. “But really, you are really a nice guy, too. A bit nerdy if you ask me when you mutter, but it still makes you a better pick than most of the guys in our class. But wow, I do like it when you get serious like-”
Izuku looked down as Mina kept going, his face getting more redder with each passing compliment. He even glanced back at the mirror and noticed his face was completely flushed, yet Mina had her eyes closed now as she kept listing what she liked about him and why he was a good date. He was embarrassed as she went on, yet he felt a little relieved.
He was never one to receive such compliments in his life. He thought such compliments were either lies or to ridicule him by getting his hopes up. He just never trusted them, especially during his time in Aldera.
His mom and All Might were probably the only two he could take such praise since at least they meant it. He figured that would be that.
But…if it came from Mina, the most sociable person in class, then he felt happy knowing those compliments she said were really true. Why would she lie? It just meant he had what it takes if he could get rid of this anxiety. Maybe he actually can do this after all.
He smiled softly, most of his flush fading away.
“And don't get me started wit-”
“T-Thanks, Ashido.” Izuku said as he cut her off. Mina blinked a little as she saw him smile shyly, twiddling his thumbs. “S-So…you really mean all of that then?” Izuku then looked her in the eyes.
Mina blinked a little but gave him a warm smile in return. “Definitely, Midori. You sell yourself short, but whoever you ask out will enjoy their time with you.”
Izuku nodded as the anxiety left little by little in him. “Glad to know then.”
“Anytime,” Mina replied. “Like I said, you are pretty cute, enthusiastic, and really smart.” She then cupped her chin, smiling mischievously. “But damn, you definitely rock those muscles under all those clothes! You're like the perfect combo, Midori!”
“A-Ashido!” Izuku yelped in embarrassment, his flush returned in full force as he buried his face in his arms. He would have been flattered at that compliment, had it not been said so out of the blue.
“C-Calm down there, Midori. I didn't mean for you to break down,” Mina said as she scratched the back of head sheepishly. She hummed a little then, “But you know what? Even if you ask someone out, you'll probably still fail at it.” She slammed her fist against her palm, humming with delight as an idea occurred in her head. “Fortunately for you, I know how to help!”
“Wait, you do? How?” Izuku asked, looking at her curiously.
“Relax,” She instructed in a friendly tone. “You will get nervous, but you need help in asking someone out. So…why not practice on me?”
“W-Wait? W-With you?!” Izuku asked nervously, feeling as though his heart was about to stop. “B-B-B-But I-MMPH!”
His words came to a halt by a finger pressing against his lips. He looked at Mina who waved at him. “It's okay, Midori. I really don't mind at all,” she said, stopping him from having another meltdown. “I won't even ask you to tell me who you are trying to ask out. But regardless, whatever is said between us, stays with us, k?”
Izuku watched her wink at him, making him feel at ease as she pulled away her finger. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “O-Ok. As long as you promise.”
Watching Izuku take a second to answer made her a little anxious. Though the relief Mina experienced was amazing after agreeing to her help. She had to fight the urge to fist pump in victory, wanting Izuku to finally pursue a romantic life already. She had to keep it cool, just her sake and his. “Nice, Midori! And whatever happens, stays with us. You have my word.” Mina reassured him, sounding a little too excited before patting him on the shoulder.
Izuku raised a brow but was thankful his anxiety was fading some more. Having such an endearing friend like her really did lift a lot of stress off his shoulders. “Thanks, but how do we go about it?” He asked curiously.
“Hmmmm…” Mina put a finger on her lips. Another idea came into mind as her eyes lightened up in delight.
She grabbed him by the wrist, making him let out a small squeak, which she found cute as she led him away from the mirror. “H-Hey. Where are we going?” Izuku questioned with a whine in his voice.
“So that you won't take your eyes off me. I can't let you have that mirror,” Mina joked before taking them to the couches in the room. She sat on the couch and patted the seat next to her, “Right here will be fine for you, Midori.”
Izuku scratched the back of his head at first but realized that Mina wouldn't let him get away so easily now that they were this dead set to start practicing. Pushing his nervousness aside and darting his eyes to the side with a soft smile, he took the seat next to her and took a deep breath. He quivered a little but calmed himself after Mina patted him on the shoulder once more.
“Just relax, Midori. You won't get it done on the first attempt,” Mina admitted then winked at him as she raised her finger. “It's like how I taught you dancing for the cultural festival. Just try taking that and using it here.”
“I…I see,” Izuku noted, looking down in thought.
Mina knew the big difference between confessing to helping him dance was glaring, but he needed some comparison to work with. She did her best helping him to dance. His determination to learn dancing for Eri's sake was admirable, and it was something she liked about him.
Once he was determined then nothing could stop him, and she just wished she had that drive like he does. It made her really appreciate him a lot more than she should. She swore she couldn't stop smiling at him as he muttered to himself, deep in thought.
“Heh…” Mina let out an amused huff. ‘It's going to be so fun being a wingwoman.’ She thought to herself.
“O-Okay. I think…I think I might just try again like I did with the mirror,” Izuku proposed before scratching the back of his head. “I-If that's alright with you?”
“Whatever makes you comfortable, Midori. Just don't feel defeated if you mess up,” Mina reminded, slinging an arm over the couch as she faced him. “Just try again if it happens. You're practicing for a reason.”
Reassured, Izuku closed his eyes and concentrated, not wanting to have his breathing to take a hitch. “Ok…” he began again as he opened his eyes while fighting back his nervousness, staring directly into her yellow irises. “S-So…we have k-known each other for a f-few months, ever since we started classes.” Izuku paused, taking note of her face. Seeing how she was interested, he decided to continue as he cleared his throat. “S-So…I-I was wondering if we c-can g-go…” He shuddered, faltering a little before clenching his fist tight, “I-I was w-wondering i-if…we can go out t-tonight!”
Izuku blinked, his eyes widened in shock. ‘I…I did it!’ He smiled a little for getting that far, yet his smile gradually went away, feeling confused once he looked back at Mina after she looked away in thought, though playfully on her part.
“Hmm…” Mina pursed her lips while cupping her chin. “Not bad, Midori. Maybe with a little less stuttering, you'll be alright,” she explained but patted him on the head a little. “But don't think for a moment you can ask them out just like that.”
“Wait…there's more to it?” Izuku asked, blushing a little as she kept patting him. “I thought asking them out was what you needed to do,” Izuku pointed out as she pulled her hand away from his head.
Mina giggled in response. “True but that's only if you're either lucky or you're just that good at asking them out,” she explained before leaning in close. “But here's the thing, Midori.” She poked him on the nose, “Stutter or not, you have to prepare what she will say next. Like this for example.”
Izuku looked on as he watched her clear her throat. She closed her eyes, giving him a thumbs up. “I would like to go out with you, but can I ask why you picked me?”
Izuku gulped, suddenly realizing this was harder than it looked. He had an idea what to do on a date and doing that looks so easy but asking someone out was just next level anxiety for him. “Oh I-um…” Izuku uttered, readjusting his shirt collar, searching for answers, and avoiding eye contact. He tensed a little after feeling Mina putting a hand on his cheek, comforting him.
“Relax…it's only practice. Just keep going,” Mina encouraged, her hand directed his attention to her before pulling away.
He couldn't describe how, yet her face, her smile eased away his worries the more he looked at her. He knew he got this far, so he can't stop now. He can't let Mina down at this point. He had that flow and needed to grasp it again, Plus Ultra style!
“O-Ok.” Izuku nodded and sighed a few seconds later. ‘It's only practice. J-Just focus on your words,’ Izuku told himself in his head as he squeezed his eyes shut.
“Midori, you don't have to…” Mina trailed off a little as Izuku opened his eyes. She saw that determination he had, taken aback at staring into his viridian eyes. ‘Whoa…’
Mina didn't even mind if he shyly looked down afterwards. He had her undivided attention as he cleared his throat.
“I…I wanted to go out with you because you are really amazing,” Izuku began as he scratched the back of his head, embarrassed. “I just can't stop thinking about you since I met you. You've been on my mind for the past few days. You helped me in more ways than I could ever ask for, and it makes me like you that it hurts, all because of your kindness.”
“Wow…” Mina uttered, blinking a little before giving her friend a warm smile. “That was a little corny, but I can tell you really mean those words, Midoriya.” She blushed a soft lilac as she patted his arm. “K-Keep going. You’re doing great.”
Seeing her approval, he nodded in response yet didn't catch her blushing for him. He was doing great, better than how he did in front of the mirror, yet he figured something was missing from his attempt. He eyed her hands for a moment, remembering how hands on she was earlier to him.
Just maybe then…maybe words alone won't seal the deal.
With curiosity getting the better of him, Izuku reached and took hold of Mina's hands as he softly grasped them.
“M-Midori!” Mina stammered at his bold move, her blush became hotter.
Izuku almost wanted to pull away but was surprised Mina hadn't done so, too. Seeing he was doing something right, he continued, “Like I said, you're just amazing. You have a beautiful voice…you're so passionate to everyone around you…and you bring a smile to my face when I see you, making me laugh, too. And…” Izuku trailed off, stunned at what he said yet couldn't help himself to continue staring at Mina. His blush just intensified like hers as he stared into her rather cute yellow irises, stuck in a trance.
Mina felt her mouth gape, her breathing took a hitch, her body tingled the more she listened to his words. She didn't know what to say at first. It was supposed to be a practice for him…
…yet she was charmed by his compliments. It felt like a confession than a practice now, and like the romantic girl she was, she wanted more. She eventually smiled softly. “Midori…” She breathed, sounding rather happy. “I…you…Can you…”
She couldn't even keep talking. She trailed off as she stared back into his viridian eyes, taking appreciation on how cute they really were up close. The freckles on his cheeks made it even better for her. He really was a keeper.
Izuku wasn’t faring any better, either. He felt like her eyes casted a spell on him, his attention wasn’t able to go anywhere, except focusing on her. He didn't mind it though, the whole interaction made him want to go on.
“And…” Izuku repeated, his breath almost shuddery. “And…you're really caring. Y-You helped me t-to dance, even when you tried to fire me. Y-You went out of your way to teach me when it looked impossible, all so you can see Eri smile, too. Without you, I w-wouldn't have been able to do that, but you did. You put your trust in me…” He gripped her hands a little tighter, leaning in close.
“I did, and I was happy to help you,” Mina finally admitted as she leaned in closer as well. Her blush became a dark purple, which Izuku found interesting yet cute at the same time. She gripped his hand back in return, “And…I will be honest. I never wanted to fire you, I even felt bad for trying to do it when I should have been more considerate for you and her. I…I keep forgetting that you're just amazing, Midori, even when you are being a nerd about it.”
Izuku watched her look down in shame, making him frown a little. She sighed, “You're always doing good for people, even when they don't ask for it. I feel bad for making you worry. I'm…I'm sorry…”
Izuku blinked, seeing a small tear building in her left eye. “Ashido…” He managed to say, taken aback from her feelings. He let go of one of her hands and wiped the tear away with his finger. The act alone made her look at him, surprised. He smiled back, “You don't need to apologize for my sake. You were just being you and that's what I like about you.”
“R-Really?” Mina asked with hope.
Izuku nodded, “I wouldn't change you at all. Not your quirk, your pink skin, your hair…” Izuku then eyed her horns, making her mouth part a little in shock. “And no matter what you say about them, I really like your horns. I wouldn't change you at all.”
“M-Midori.” Tears dripped from her eyes as they traveled down her cheeks and onto her shirt. Mina knew she was an alright person on the outside, yet she never liked her horns, with one of her big fears being that it would turn people away. While no one mentioned her horns to her, she always had that fear, but Izuku shattered her fear into pieces.
The best part? He wasn't trying at this point, just like how she wasn't trying when she got him flustered. Izuku's smile became warmer as he did his best to wipe away her tears.
“Thank you…Midori. It means a lot to me,” Mina said, almost choking in between her words. She leaned in closer now, “I'm glad I met someone amazing like you.”
“I'm happy, too.” Izuku agreed, scooting closer to her. The two were closer than ever on the couch. “You're an amazing person, too, Ashido.”
A few seconds passed before they noticed how closed they were. The two blinked, seeing their faces were close to one another. They sat there as they got lost with each other's eyes, their feelings they got from the practice keeping them in place.
Without even realizing it, the two gave into their feelings and closed the gap. Their lips pressed against each other as the two closed their eyes from the waves of passion they experienced. It was only a brief kiss, yet it felt wonderful for the two once the two pulled away, being the two's first kisses in their lives.
Mina blinked then realized what she had done. She touched her own lips, feeling like she was on a whole different plane of existence from how they felt after the kiss. Her first kiss, and her lips were tingling.
She always thought a first kiss would be like an explosion of passion. Instead, it was like a fire that slowly blazed across her entire body, and she didn't mind the feeling, she embraced it. It felt more satisfying than any fireworks like her friends described back in middle school.
She expected Izuku to be gone or already became a nervous wreck from what they did with each other. It was the exact opposite, he was still next to her on the couch, feeling the same sensation she felt, his expression was one met with stunned silence.
The two looked at each other only for the silence to be broken a few seconds. “W-Wow…w-we just d-did that, A-Ashido.”
“W-We did, didn't we?” Mina acknowledged, still stunned.
“I…I guess…” Izuku scratched the back of his head, still stunned yet smiling. “I…I guess I d-did it.”
Mina watched him smile, his face helping her snap out of her shock, making her smile once more. They went too far, yet it really looked like they didn't even mind. What was initially a practice, it quickly turned into a passionate confession, and they couldn't have ever predicted it would end up with them kissing. At least they didn't mind and that was the most important thing.
“I-I guess you did,” Mina finally replied. “I think…you're ready,” She said as Izuku looked at her and watched her twiddle her fingers. “S-So…I'm guessing you are going to go ask who you have in mind now?”
Izuku almost gasped as he parted his lips. He thought about it for a moment as he looked up. He shook his head and got up off the couch. “...You know? I don't think I need to go ask.”
“You're changing your mind, Midori?” Mina tilted her head, confused after all the work they did together. "But you wanted to go out.”
“I still do. It's just…” Izuku turned around and reached his hand out. “Do you want to go out with me, Ashido?”
Mina's eyes widened a little as Izuku offered his hand to her. She blushed, completely taken aback at his question as her mouth parted. Various emotions flooded into her, and most were personal feelings she had about accepting. She knew now that if she accepted his request then Ochako would lose her chance with Izuku for good.
Whatever happens…Mina knew it would build into a loving relationship that Ochako wanted with Izuku, and she didn't want to be the wedge that comes in between them.
But what ate at her was rejecting Izuku after everything they did just minutes ago. If she rejected him now, then she lost her chance with Izuku for good. The boy that blew away her anxieties and made her feel special, gone. She knew his words were genuine, he meant them one hundred percent, but she was at risk of losing everything with him if she threw away the chance with refusal.
And the most important thing troubling her was that Izuku was her first kiss, and she knew for a fact she was his first kiss, too.
It was the hardest choice she ever came across in her life, and she didn't know what to do. She was so conflicted, but she kept looking at his hand. The longer she looked, the more she looked at his face. His smile, it was so comforting, and she no doubt gave him that newfound confidence to ask someone out. That was all her.
She…She couldn't break his confidence. She didn't have the heart to do it. She only wished that Ochako would forgive her down the line.
Mina grasped his hand and squeezed gently. “I would love to, Midori. I guess Valentine’s day came early for me.” She said happily.
Izuku chuckled at her joke and pulled her off the couch. Mina got up on her feet but pressed against him after he accidentally pulled too hard. It didn't mattered as Mina wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a loving hug.
Izuku almost jumped but stopped as Mina pulled away. “Thank you, Midori…I appreciate what you told me. Every word,” Mina thanked, her cheeks purple once more.
Izuku paused a little then softly smiled back in response. “Anytime, Ashido.”
The two hugged each other once more before Mina took him by the hand and headed for the door.
“This is going to be so much fun!” Mina chriped happily as Izuku couldn't help grin at her enthusiasm.
“Yeah.” Izuku opened the door and headed out of Heights Alliance with Mina. He turned back and laughed a little, “It really is with you coming along with me, Ashido.”