Chapter Text
Mineta hated UA. He’d always felt like the odd one out, although he couldn’t really blame anyone for not wanting to be around him. He’d been an absolute nightmare.
Now 23, he lived in a small apartment, working in the coffee shop next day downstairs. He’d dropped out of being a pro, realizing he could potentially be blacklisted if people began to speak out against his teenage behavior.
Life was okay now. A little stressful, but okay. He’d gotten a little taller, standing at around 5”5, and he’d presented as a beta…Shocker.
He’d gotten up for the day, rolling out of bed with a groan. Begrudgingly, he dragged himself to the dingy bathroom in his dingy apartment to brush his teeth and start the day.
He didn’t have much to his name. His parents had pretty much disowned him, and he’d been kicked out around the same time he was expelled from UA, leaving him homeless for a brief period of time until he’d got on his feet.
And now here he was; in his own place, working to keep the roof over his head. It wasn’t much, but it was his.
Finally he made his way down to the coffee shop, greeting his boss as he entered and clocked in, putting on his apron.
Bakugo never expected to see Mineta working at a coffee shop. Honestly, he had almost forgotten the guy had existed. But as the blond stepped inside the coffee shop, he scanned the surroundings before noticing Mineta behind the counter.
"Oi, Grapehead," Bakugo grumbled, approaching the counter with a gruff frown. "Didn't expect to see you working here."
Mineta paused, swallowing his breath.” Uh…yeah. What can I get for you?”
"Coffee. Strong, black, no sugar," Bakugo replied gruffly, eyeing the former classmate with a hint of irritation in his eyes.
He leaned on the counter and scrutinized Mineta for a moment before bluntly asking, "So, how the hell did you end up here?"
Mineta shrugged, ringing up the order silently.” 8.94.”
Bakugo grunted in acknowledgment and fished a 10 dollar bill from his pocket, slapping it on the counter.
As he waited for change, his gaze lingered on Mineta, taking in the former classmate's appearance. "You've changed. Not as perverted as you used to be."
It was a backhanded compliment at best, but it was the closest thing to a positive remark Bakugo could muster.
Mineta winced.” Uh…yeah. Here’s your change.” He said, quickly handing Bakugou the money.” I’ll start on your order.”
Bakugo grunted in acknowledgment, stuffing the bills into his pocket. He watched Mineta begin preparing the coffee, the silence between them growing thicker with each passing moment.
After a brief pause, Bakugo couldn't help but blurt out a question that had been bothering him.
"Why the hell didn't you finish school and become a pro? You had the potential, even if you were a perverted moron."
“Got kicked.” Mineta sighed.” Remember? All the girls reported me and Nedzu finally had enough I guess.”
Bakugo grunted in acknowledgment, recalling the incident vividly.
"Yeah, I remember. You were a damn menace back then."
He leaned against the counter, arms folded across his chest, and a mocking smirk formed on his face.
"So, let me get this straight... You were kicked out of UA for being a pervert, and now you're stuck making coffee for a living. How the mighty have fallen."
Mineta winced.” Look, I’m doing what I can. I’m not some pro like you who graduated from UA at the top of his class or whatever. I’m just…me.” He shrugged.” Probably was never meant to be in UA in the first place.” He muttered.” Anyways, here’s your drink.”
Bakugo grabbed the coffee and took a sip, watching Mineta closely over the rim of the cup.
"Tch. You're still whining about that? Newsflash, Grapehead—you were meant to be at UA. If you weren’t, they wouldn’t have let you in."
He set down his drink with a thud and narrowed his eyes.
"You just sucked at taking advantage of it."
A beat passed before Bakugo sighed heavily. "Look... if I see any openings for sidekicks that aren't total crap gigs... I'll let you know."
It was as close to kindness as he'd ever get.
“No need.” Mineta shook his head.” I don’t have my hero license. It wouldn’t matter.”
Bakugo's scowl deepened.
"Yeah, no shit. So get it." He took another swig of coffee before pointing at Mineta accusingly.
"Look—if you really think this is all you’re good for, then fine. But if not? Stop being a damn coward and do something about it." His voice was sharp but oddly intense—almost like he was giving himself the same speech by proxy.
He downed the rest of his drink and set the empty cup on the counter with finality.
"Your move, Grape Juice." And with that, he turned to leave without another word.
Mineta just sighed, rubbing his temple. He felt a very strong headache coming on, and knew today was going to be a long day.
The morning dragged on, with the café slowly beginning to fill with the usual rush of the morning crowd. Mineta managed to fall into a steady routine, serving customers with quiet efficiency.
But as he worked, a nagging feeling kept poking at the back of his mind. Maybe it was Bakugo's visit, or more likely, the weight of his own past regrets... but either way, a dull tension settled at the base of his skull as the hours passed by.
And when he finally managed to drag himself up to his apartment after work, the tension still lingered. It was in the back of his head, knocking on every inch of his skull.
He could’ve been a hero.
“I could’ve…” he whispered, before shaking his head.” Snap out of it, Minoru! What’s done is done.” He said, taking a deep breath.
But the harder he tried to push it away, the stronger it returned. Memories—fragments of his time at UA, the faces of those he'd wronged, the disappointment on Aizawa's face when he'd been kicked out... they all swirled through his mind's eye, taunting and relentless.
Mineta felt a lump form in his throat, and a bitter mix of self-pity and self-loathing twisted in his gut. Why was it all coming back now? Why couldn't he just move on and be satisfied with what he had?
Trembling slightly, he rubbed his temples, trying to soothe the ache in his forehead. The silence of the room seemed oppressive, and all he could hear was the sound of his own shaky breathing.
"Get a grip," he muttered to himself. "You're a grown man, for God's sake. You can't keep living in the past like this."
But the truth was, he didn't know how to let go. The guilt was a constant weight on his shoulders, a silent shadow that followed him wherever he went.
The apartment felt claustrophobic now, closing in on him like a vise. Mineta stood abruptly, the sudden movement sending a jolt through his head. He stumbled, gripping the arm of the couch for support.
"Goddammit..." he hissed, closing his eyes tightly. Even the faintest light seemed to exacerbate the pounding in his skull.
He stumbled to the bathroom and fumbled with the medicine cabinet, searching for pain pills or something to ease the throbbing.
He found a half-empty bottle of ibuprofen and shakily shook out a couple of tablets, downing them with a gulp of water from the tap. He leaned against the counter, running a trembling hand through his hair again.
"Just calm down," he whispered, his voice shaky. "Just... breathe..."
But the pills seemed to take forever to kick in, the headache still pulsing through his skull like a relentless drumbeat.
He stumbled back into the living room and collapsed onto the couch, burying his face in his hands. The tension, now a full-blown migraine, left him feeling nauseous. He curled up on his side, gripping a throw pillow against his chest.
"This is stupid," he mumbled into the cushion, his voice ragged. "Stupid... and pathetic..."
As he lay there, the pills finally began to dull the pain—slowly, stubbornly. Mineta let out a shaky exhale and stared blankly at the ceiling, his body exhausted but his mind still buzzing with memories and what-ifs.
"...Maybe Bakugo was right," he muttered after a long silence. "Maybe I should do something about it."
But for now? For now, he just needed to sleep.
With that thought heavy in his chest, Mineta closed his eyes—letting exhaustion finally pull him under as the lights faded behind his heavy lids.