It was a bright and sunny Sunday. Minato, with his newfound friendships blossoming, had invited Mina, Kirishima, and Himiko over to his house for a fun hang-out. The only one missing was Touya, who, when asked, had vaguely mumbled about "things to do" and expertly dodged any further questions. Minato sighed internally; Touya was still a tough nut to crack.
Soon, the doorbell rang, and Minato greeted his excited friends. Their parents, after dropping them off, exchanged pleasantries with Minato's mother, who, with her usual warmth, offered the quartet a tray piled high with delicious cakes and refreshing juice. The main hall quickly filled with the cheerful sounds of children munching and giggling.
After they had happily devoured the treats and drained their juice boxes, Minato led them to his bedroom. As soon as they stepped inside, Mina, Kirishima, and Himiko paused, their eyes scanning the room with a mixture of curiosity and awe.
The room was surprisingly neat and tidy, a reflection of Minato's disciplined nature. A sleek computer sat on a desk in one corner, flanked by shelves neatly organized with a collection of video games. A large, modern TV occupied another wall, connected to various gaming consoles.
"Woah, Minato! Your room is so cool!" Mina exclaimed, her pink eyes sparkling.
"Yeah, this is super manly, Minato!" Kirishima added, his gaze fixed on the game collection. "So many games!"
Himiko, a little less expressive but equally curious, subtly took in the orderly space, a stark contrast to perhaps her own own environment.
"Thanks!" Minato beamed, gesturing towards the TV. "Wanna play some games? I've got Mario Kart!"
Their faces lit up instantly. "Mario Kart!" Mina cheered. "I'm amazing at Mario Kart!"
"Bring it on!" Kirishima declared, already hardening his arm in anticipation.
Minato quickly set up the game, handing out controllers. Himiko hesitated for a moment, looking a little unsure, but Minato just smiled. "It's easy, Himiko-chan! We'll show you!"
The race began, and the room was immediately filled with a cacophony of cheerful yells, frustrated groans, and bursts of laughter.
"No, no, NO! I almost had you, Minato!" Kirishima bellowed, narrowly missing a red shell. "That was so unmanly of you to hit me with that banana peel!"
Minato, expertly drifting around a corner, just chuckled. "All's fair in love and Mario Kart, Kirishima!"
Mina shrieked with delight as she pulled off a perfect boost. "Look at me go! Pink power!" She then giggled as she purposefully bumped Kirishima off the track. "Oops! Sorry, not sorry, Kirishima!"
Himiko, initially quiet, started to get the hang of it. She squealed in surprise when she deployed her first item, a green shell that ricocheted wildly and somehow hit her own kart. Minato burst out laughing.
"Haha, you hit yourself, Himiko-chan!" he teased playfully. "Don't worry, it happens to everyone!"
"Hey! No fair, Minato, you got the Star!" Kirishima complained, watching Minato zoom past invincibly. "You're too good at this!"
"Practice, practice!" Minato sing-songed, narrowly avoiding Mina's strategically placed bomb.
Mina, meanwhile, was plotting. "I'm coming for you, Minato! My acid powers are no match for your speedy kart!" She then proceeded to accidentally drive off a cliff. "Awww, no! My amazing driving skills!"
Himiko, slowly shedding her shyness, even let out a small, genuine laugh when Minato narrowly avoided a blue shell by activating a mushroom at the last second. The sound was a pleasant surprise, both to Minato and to Himiko herself. The competitive spirit was high, but it was all in good fun, solidifying the easy camaraderie between the four young friends.
After a few more intense rounds of Mario Kart, punctuated by shouts of triumph and playful accusations, Minato's mother's voice drifted up from downstairs. "Kids! Lunch is ready!"
The four of them paused their game, controllers momentarily forgotten. "Finally!" Kirishima declared, rubbing his stomach. "All that racing made me hungry!"
They trooped downstairs to find a delicious lunch spread out on the dining table. Minato's mom had prepared a feast of kid-friendly favorites. They ate with gusto, recounting their Mario Kart battles, with Minato, Mina, and Kirishima playfully teasing Himiko about her self-inflicted green shell incident. Himiko, instead of retreating, actually giggled along.
After lunch, with full bellies and renewed energy, they headed back to Minato's room. "Okay, video games were fun," Mina said, "but what about something else? Do you have any board games, Minato?"
Minato's eyes lit up. "Of course! I have a few. How about Chutes and Ladders or Candy Land?"
"Ooh, Candy Land!" Mina cheered, "I love that one!"
Minato pulled out a colorful box, and soon they were gathered around the coffee table, navigating the sweet, winding paths of Candy Land. Kirishima, ever the straightforward one, groaned when he landed on a "licorice swamp."
"Aw, man! This is so unmanly! Just when I was about to reach the Candy Castle!"
Mina, however, strategically used her cards to bypass obstacles. "Ha! You gotta think pink, Kirishima! Always find the sweetest path!"
Himiko, still learning the rules, quietly followed along, her eyes observing the joyful antics of her new friends. Minato patiently explained the rules whenever she seemed confused, and cheered for her every time she advanced. The afternoon passed in a blur of laughter, friendly competition, and the simple joy of shared playtime. The house was filled with warmth and the sound of burgeoning friendships.
After a while, with the board game put away, they were simply lounging and chatting, the conversation flowing easily between them.
"Himiko-chan," Mina suddenly asked, her pink eyes sparkling with curiosity. " Your Quirk is super cool! Can you show us?"
Himiko's body stiffened slightly. She glanced at Minato, a flicker of her earlier apprehension in her eyes. He gave her a reassuring nod and a soft smile.
"I... I need someone's blood for it to work," Himiko explained, her voice quiet.
Kirishima, without hesitation, puffed out his chest. "No problem! I'm super manly, I will give it!" He then held out his arm. "Here! You can use mine!"
Minato, seeing the opportunity, quickly got up. He walked over to his desk, pulled open a small drawer, and retrieved a sterilized needle. "Here, Kirishima-kun. Use this. It's safe."
Kirishima took the needle, his brow furrowed in concentration. He squeezed his finger slightly and, with a quick, decisive prick, drew a bit of blood. He then carefully offered a few drops to Himiko.
Himiko stared at the glistening red droplets, a complex mix of emotions crossing her face. Hesitation, longing, and a touch of fear. She glanced at Minato again, who gave her another encouraging nod. Taking a deep breath, she leaned forward and, with a small gulp, swallowed the blood.
A shimmering distortion rippled over her, and in mere seconds, Himiko Toga was gone. Standing in her place was a perfect replica of Eijiro Kirishima, complete with his spiky black hair and signature grin.
"Woah! It worked!" Mina shrieked with delight.
The transformed Himiko-as-Kirishima then struck a pose, flexing her arm. Her voice, now perfectly mimicking Kirishima's, boomed, "That's so manly!"
Kirishima himself stared, wide-eyed, then burst out laughing. "That's incredible, Himiko! You even got my voice! This is so cool!"
After a moment, Himiko shifted back to her own form, a faint flush on her cheeks, but a genuine, delighted smile on her face. "It's... it's a little weird," she admitted, "but it's fun to do!"
"That was amazing, Himiko-chan!" Minato praised. "See? So much potential for a hero!"
Himiko beamed. Then, turning to Minato, she asked, "Minato-kun, you never told me what your Quirk is?"
Mina and Kirishima, who had been too caught up in Himiko's Quirk, now focused their attention on Minato.
Minato's sunny smile broadened. He nodded. "Well, I've been practicing. It's a kind of energy, and I've learned to control it a bit." He then stood up, walked calmly to the nearest wall, about a meter away, and without a word, he began to walk.
He didn't walk on the floor. He walked horizontally on the wall, as if gravity simply didn't exist for him. His small feet stuck perfectly to the vertical surface, and he took a few steady steps along it, his movements fluid and natural. He reached the corner, paused, and then effortlessly walked back, before dropping gracefully to the floor.
Mina, Kirishima, and Himiko stared, mouths agape. Silence hung in the air for a full three seconds before it shattered.
"WHOA! MINATO! HOW DID YOU DO THAT?!" Mina shrieked, jumping to her feet, her pink hair practically vibrating with excitement.
"THAT'S SO MANLY, MINATO!" Kirishima roared, eyes shining like stars. "You just... walked on the wall! That's insane!"
Himiko, for her part, simply gasped, her hands flying to her mouth, a look of utter astonishment on her face. Her eyes, filled with awe, followed Minato's movements. This was beyond anything she had ever seen.
The rest of the afternoon was filled with their excited questions about Minato's Quirk, his explanations remaining vague about the full extent of Chakra, but enough to fuel their imagination. The school day was officially over, but for Minato and his new friends, the adventures had just truly begun.
Just as the excitement reached its peak, Minato's mother's cheerful voice drifted up the stairs. "Kids! Your parents are here to pick you up!"
A collective groan went through the group. "Aww, already?" Mina whined.
"Time flies when you're having manly fun!" Kirishima sighed dramatically.
Minato smiled, gathering the discarded game controllers. "It was really fun having you all over! We should do it again soon!"
Himiko gave a small, genuine smile. "Thank you for inviting me, Minato-kun. And... for everything." Her eyes met his, conveying a depth of gratitude that transcended words.
They all gathered their things, said their goodbyes to Minato's mom, and headed out. The laughter and excitement of their day together lingered in the air as they parted ways, already looking forward to their next adventure.