The weekend arrived with an unexpected request that left Ryuu staring at his phone in confusion.
A message from an unknown number had appeared during breakfast, the formal tone immediately identifying the sender even without a name.
*Good morning Kazama. This is Yaoyorozu Momo. I obtained your contact information from the class directory. Would you be available to study together this afternoon? I have reserved a private study room in the library. Please let me know your preference.
- Yaoyorozu*
Ryuu set down his coffee cup, weighing his options.
Refusing outright would seem rude, especially since Momo had been nothing but polite in her approach.
But accepting felt like stepping into territory he wasn't sure he was ready to navigate.
His phone buzzed again, this time with a message from Mina.
*Morning! Want to grab lunch later? I found this amazing ramen place near campus*
The contrast between the two messages was striking.
Momo's 'formal' politeness versus Mina's casual warmth. One felt like a business proposition while the other felt like genuine friendship.
Before he could overthink it further, his phone rang. Kirishima's name appeared on the screen.
"Yo, Kazama! You free today? Some of us are hitting the gym for extra training. Figured you might want to join"
"Who's going" Ryuu asked, already knowing he should probably say yes to maintain his friendships with the other guys.
"Me, Bakugo, Sero, and Kaminari. Maybe Iida if we can drag him away from his study schedule"
"Sounds good. What time"
"Noon. Meet at the campus gym"
After hanging up, Ryuu crafted his responses.
To Momo, he sent a polite decline, suggesting they reschedule for a weekday when other students would be around.
To Mina, he explained about the group training session but suggested dinner instead of lunch.
Her reply came back almost immediately: *Perfect! Dinner sounds great. Good luck with training*
The gym session turned out to be exactly what Ryuu needed.
Physical exertion helped clear his head of the social complications swirling around his quirk.
And Bakugo's aggressive training style was oddly comforting in its predictability.
He stood over Ryuu's bench press, eyes narrowed. "Drive it up, damn it! You're slowing down, Ryuu! You wanna be a hero or not?!" he snapped.
Ryuu gritted his teeth, his arms trembling violently as he pressed the heavy weight upward.
The effort consumed his focus, pushing out every fearful thought. Beside them, Kirishima's constant enthusiasm provided a welcome distraction.
"C'mon, man! Just one more set! I can hear that iron screaming for mercy already push it!!!!" Kirishima shouted, matching the intensity with a simple, genuine cheer that was almost a distraction in itself.
Ryuu finished the set and dropped the bar, his chest heaving, and ge felt kinda great full je couldfeel the exhaustion.
Bakugo's aggressive training style was oddly comforting in its predictability, while Kirishima's enthusiasm provided a welcome distraction.
"Your stamina's improved" Sero observed as they took a water break. "All that resonance training paying off"
"Has to be in good shape when you're amplifying other people's quirks" Ryuu replied, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Can't be the weak link in the partnership"
"Speaking of partnerships" Kaminari said with his usual grin, "heard you turned down studying with Yaoyorozu. That's like turning down a free tutoring session with the smartest girl in school"
"Wasn't the right time" Ryuu said simply.
"Dude, there's never a wrong time to study with someone who looks like that" Kaminari protested. "Have you seen her in the summer uniform? It's like looking at a goddess"
"Down boy" Sero laughed, flicking water at him. "Some of us have more self-control than you"
"Self-control is overrated" Kaminari shot back. "Life's short, you know? If a beautiful, intelligent, wealthy girl wants to spend time with you, you say yes"
Bakugo, who had been silent through most of the conversation, finally spoke up. "Maybe he's not interested in the complications"
The comment was surprisingly insightful coming from someone usually focused on combat rather than social dynamics.
"What do you mean" Kirishima asked.
"His quirk makes things messy" Bakugo said bluntly. "It has emotional connections, trust requirements, and even side effects....Smart people would want to keep it simple rather than juggling multiple partners"
Ryuu was impressed despite himself. Bakugo had grasped the core issue without needing detailed explanations.
"Plus" Bakugo continued, "Ashido's been marking territory all week. Only an idiot would miss those signals"
"Territory marking" Sero repeated with amusement. "You make it sound like a nature documentary"
"The same principles apply" Bakugo shrugged. "It's competition for resources, establishment of dominance, and even defense of claimed assets"
"Did you just call Kazama an asset" Kaminari asked incredulously.
"It's a valuable quirk after all; he also has decent combat skills, and he's not completely hopeless with tactics" Bakugo listed matter-of-factly. "Yeah, he's an asset. Smart partners recognize that"
The casual way Bakugo analyzed the situation was both flattering and slightly disturbing. Ryuu wasn't used to being thought of in strategic terms.
"Anyway" Kirishima interjected, clearly uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation, "ready for another set"
They returned to training, but Bakugo's words lingered in Ryuu's mind. Was that really how people saw him now? As a valuable resource to be claimed and defended rather than a person to befriend?
The thought was still bothering him when he met Mina for dinner that evening.
The evening was a beautiful, gentle transition.
The sky had deepened to a velvety indigo, signaling a quiet end to a long day. A soft, cool breeze carried the clean, earthy scent of the pavement.
Mina had chosen a small restaurant off campus.
It was a place that could only seat five people at a time, but that small size didn't mean it looked shabby; in fact, it looked great.
The space felt immediately cozy, lit by soft amber ambient light that cast a warm glow over the dark wood. The low hum of conversation and the comforting aroma of garlic and herbs filled the air...creating a perfect bubble of quiet warmth.
Mina, in contrast to Ryuu's simple attire, was dressed for ease.
He wore a dark hoodie and casual jeans....
Mina, however, was in a bright, sunny-yellow sundress that made her pink skin glow.
"You look tired" Mina observed as they settled into their booth. "It sure looks like a rough training session"
"Nah, The workout was fine" Ryuu said. "It's everything else that's exhausting"
"Want to talk about it"
Ryuu found himself explaining the conversation with the guys, including Bakugo's blunt assessment of his value as a partner.
Mina listened thoughtfully, occasionally asking clarifying questions but mostly just letting him vent.
"Bakugo's not wrong about the strategic value" she said finally. "Support quirks like yours are rare, especially ones with amplification potential. People are going to see opportunities"
"That's what bothers me" Ryuu admitted. "I don't want to be valued just for what my quirk can do for others"
"Then don't let them" Mina said simply. "You get to choose who you work with and under what circumstances. No one can force you to use your quirk"
"Even if they're friends asking for help"
"Especially then" Mina replied firmly. "Real friends will respect your boundaries. Anyone who doesn't probably isn't someone you want as a partner anyway"
Her conviction was reassuring to Ryuu.
But in her mind...well, she was thinking of specific people who might push those boundaries.
"What about you" he asked, bursting her out of her bubble of thought. "Are you seeing me as a strategic asset too"
Mina was quiet for a long moment, considering the question seriously.
When she spoke, her voice was softer than usual.
"I won't lie and say the quirk compatibility isn't amazing" she said...or more like admitted. "What we accomplished during that exercise was incredible, and I'd be crazy not to want to experience that again"
She reached across the table and took his hand, her touch warm and steady.
"But that's not why I'm here having dinner with you" she continued. "I'm here because I like you. Your sense of humor, your thoughtfulness, the way you actually listen when people talk. The quirk is just a bonus"
The sincerity he saw in her golden eyes made Ryuu's chest tight with emotion.
This was what he had been afraid of losing - genuine connection that went beyond his abilities.
"Good to know" he said quietly, squeezing her hand gently.
"Besides" Mina added with a mischievous grin, "if I was just interested in your quirk, I'd be pushing for more training sessions instead of dinner dates"
"Is that what this is" Ryuu asked, raising an eyebrow. "A date"
Mina's cheeks flushed pink, but she maintained eye contact. "Would you prefer it wasn't"
The question hung between them, loaded with implications they hadn't directly addressed before.
Ryuu found himself at a crossroads - he could deflect with humor and keep things safely in the friendship zone, or he could be honest about the feelings that had been growing since their partnership.
"I think I'd prefer it was" he said finally.
The smile that spread across Mina's face was brilliant. "Then it's officially our first date"
They spent the rest of dinner talking about everything except quirks and hero training.
Mina told him about her family, her interests outside of school, her dreams for after graduation.
Ryuu found himself sharing more personal details than he usually did, drawn out by her genuine curiosity and easy acceptance.
By the time they walked back toward campus, the dynamic between them had shifted into something warmer and more intimate. Mina walked close enough that their arms brushed with each step, and Ryuu found himself hyper-aware of every point of contact.
"Thanks for coming out for dinner." Mina murmured as they reached the dormitory entrance. "I had a really good time"
"Me too" Ryuu admitted. "Maybe we could do it again sometime"
"I'd like that" she breathed, moving closer. "A lot"
For a moment, they stood looking at each other in the soft glow of the entrance lights.
Ryuu was acutely aware of how beautiful she looked, her pink skin luminous in the evening night light, her golden eyes looks so warm with sincerity.
Mina rose up on her toes, clearly intending to kiss him goodnight.
But Ryuu on the other hand...
Ryuu's pulse spiked as she drew closer, but at the last second, his nerves got the better of him. He turned slightly, and her lips brushed his cheek instead of his mouth.
If Mina was disappointed by his evasion, she didn't show it. Instead, she smiled and squeezed his hand.
"Goodnight, Ryuu" she said softly.
"Goodnight, Mina"
As he watched her disappear into the building, Ryuu lifted a hand and lightly traced his cheek where her lips had made contact. 'What just happened...' he thought, the heat lingering on his skin. "Damn," he whispered to the empty air.
Even from the mere touch ...he blushed even harder.
The thought of what might happen if they became more physically intimate while his abilities were engaged was both thrilling and terrifying.
His quirk amplified emotions and physical sensations - what would that mean for romantic encounters?
It was another complication in an already complex situation, but as Ryuu headed to his own room, he found himself looking forward to finding out.
The only question was whether he'd have the courage to stop running from the deeper connections his heart craved, or if fear would continue to hold him back from the happiness that seemed within reach.
Either way, tomorrow would bring new challenges as his classmates continued to navigate their interest in his abilities and Mina staked her claim on his attention.
The game was just getting started.