20 A day off

[Kirishima Household]

The very next day, Eijiro woke up and went through the normal routine with a pat on the back from his dad, congratulating him for coming in first. And bragged about it to his friends.

"Eijiro, can we talk for a moment?" Kushina called him into the living room, where he sat down across from her.

"What is it, Mom?" He sat down with a small smile.

"I know after the festival you are all excited to go back to school, and I'm proud because you're becoming a young man getting older, and with your rise in popularity, you might attract girls."

Eijiro was quick to catch on to where she was going with this.

"Like that girl, Mina, for example," she said with a knowing smile.

"Ok, Mom, I know what you're trying to say, and I feel the same way," Eijiro said.

"You do?" Kushina raised her brow.

"Yeah! You don't want some random girl to take me away, but don't worry, Mom. I'm not that easy. I'll let you know when I find someone." Ejiro smiled, patting his chest.

"Oh, sweetie, that's not it. What I mean to say is that you already have a girl who's fallen for you." She said it with a chuckle.

"Wait, Ashido? I..." He paused for a moment, a lot of information crossing his mind. Eijiro's face heated before he looked at his mother, who gave a toothy grin.

"Ah, no, I don't know. I like her. She's my best friend, who is a girl, and she can probably do better than me. Though we are now on a first-name basis… I don't even know if she thinks of me like that. Well..."

"Really? From the short time I've seen her, she might consider you something more. Has she ever acted the same towards anyone else?" She asked, crossing her arms.

Eijiro took a moment to think. Has she? No, she's been close to him most of the time. It was then that the thought crossed his mind that she might like him.

"Oh, and it looks like you like her back too. Well, I'll leave you with your thoughts. Goodluck baby. Don't keep Mina waiting, alright?" She let out a hearty laugh, saying, 'They'll be kissing each other by the end of this week.'

Eijiro nodded, still in thought. He left the house, waiting for Mina at the traffic lights. 'Do I like her? I mean, maybe if she said she liked me more than a friend,' then His face would flush into a smile.

"Wonder where she is?" He looked around, waiting for her. Eijiro turned around and smiled, seeing Mina walking up to him.

"Yo! How's the cast going?" Mina smiled as they began walking to UA.

"Alright, it should fully heal by the end of today. I'm building up a healing factor by the number of times I break myself, haha," he scratched his head.

"Don't laugh at that; I don't like seeing you hurt and broken, even if it helps you get stronger." Mina got into a pout.

"Sorry, thanks for caring." He grinned and moved ahead.

Along the way, they passed some civilians. Those who knew him called him out with smiles and words of appreciation.

"Oh, look, it's him! You're Eijiro Kirishima, right? First place from the Department of Heroics?" One of the two girls looking the same age walked up and asked him. They also wore school uniforms.

"Can we get a selfie with you?" One asked, their eyes filled with excitement, "And sign your cast?" The other girl asked too.

"Sure thing!" Eijiro smiled before glancing at Mina.

The two girls followed his eyes to Mina, who had been watching from the side. The girls stepped back a moment and asked, "Do we have to ask your girlfriend first? I'm sorry."

They stepped towards Mina to ask for permission. The girl in question flushed, waving her hands frantically. "We're not dating! Haha, I'll take the picture for you!"

Both girls shared a look before chuckling and agreeing. Mina took the picture, and they left after signing his cast.

"Haha, that was interesting, huh?" Eijiro asked as they neared UA High, his face flushed from before. 'I think I might've already fallen for her but never noticed.'

Eijiro glanced at him and could tell she was blushing. Her cheeks were redder than before, and his mother's words rang in his mind.

Mina held her head down briefly to avoid eye contact and said, "Yeah."

"Isn't it weird they thought we were dating? Though I would like that," he muttered the last part under his breath, but not too low so she could hear.

Mina froze for a moment as Eiji kept walking. Did he say he would like that?' Mina's horns twitched, and she looked up at him; she was sure she heard that properly: Does he like me?' Her eyes widened, and she burst into a smile.

"Come on, Mina, I'm waiting for you." Eiji turned back to her, flashing a smile under the sunny sky.

'I need to make sure and tell him!' Mina smiled and walked alongside him.

...

[Class 1A]

Everyone quieted down in class as Aizawa walked in. He scratched his cheek before speaking.

"Since you've all performed so much, it's only fair you earn a rest, so get today, tomorrow, and the next day off. Until then, I'll be going through the papers of the heroes who've taken an interest in you, so you're free to do whatever you want till I sort it out. Peace." He said he was walking back out the door.

"Just like that?" Kaminari said.

No one was fighting against him. They all got up and were ready to leave. Some made plans, others did not.

"Hey, Eiji, do you mind if I crash by your place?" Mina asked, walking up to him.

"Oh, sure, I guess. Why?" he said, walking out the door, waving to Midoriya and fist-bumping Sero as they left.

"Well, my parents won't be home, and I get bored alone, so I thought it would be better to hang out with some people I want to."

"Cool, wanna get some pizza on the way?" Eiji asked, forming a smile. "I'm just going to wait for this to recover, so we can sit on the couch and watch some movies," he said, raising his cast.

"Cool, then I'll see you in half an hour. I'll bring some Pocky that we can play with and eat together!" She cheered and ran before he could say anything.

When he remembered what Pocky was and what she meant, he realised it. Seeing her run back, he blushed, letting out a small laugh. 'I like Mina Ashido,' and he was certain she liked him back too.

...

[Kirishima Household]

Eijiro was pacing back and forth, repeating the words holy sh*t constantly. I mean, how else would he react to the girl he realised he had feelings for, who liked him back and is coming over?

Eiji had already slipped out of his UA Uniform and put on some shorts and a black shirt with a red fist symbol. He has already ordered the pizza to come soon.

He went downstairs and switched on the TV. Eiji wasn't sure what Mina liked to watch, so he'd wait for her.

"I can do this! This is nothing compared to what I've been through; it isn't why I'm being nervous." It was then that he felt comfortable with himself and had good timing as Mina arrived outside and knocked.

She wore a purple crop top jacket with a black shirt and purple pants beneath. She waited until he opened the doors for her with a smile.

"So what are we doing first? Movies or something else?" Eiji asked her as they walked.

"I say we watch something. While I make braids out of your hair, you promised me to play with it before you cut it, remember?"

Right, and the Pocky?"

She flushed, bringing out the box. "We don't have to play."

"No, let's play after we watch. Come on," he said, pulling her into the living room. Mina was a bit surprised; normally he'd be flustered, but he was being cool.

"What kind of movie do you want to watch? Action, romance, Syfy, horror maybe?" He asked her.

"I'm down for anything," she said, plopping down on the couch. Eiji nodded and went through the list, continuing the Witcher series from where he left off.

He turned to Mina, who shrugged and patted her thighs. "What?" Eiji tilted his head.

"Lut your head here; just lie down sideways so I can do it better," she smiled.

Eiji took a moment before doing so. If she was fine with it, then so be it. He sat down sideways, placing his head on her thighs, both squirming slightly before getting comfortable.

Mina wouldn't say, but this is the second time Eiji has rested on her lap. Last night on the ride home, he fell from his seat, and she pulled him up, keeping him from falling on the ride home.

She found it cute to see his sleeping face and had fun brushing his hair.

"Did you set a time for the pizza?" Mina asked.

"Yeah, It'll come in an hour," he said, snuggling into her thighs, 'soft.'

"Cool," Mina said, fiddling with his hair.

The two sat in comfortable silence, watching Mina pull out some Pocky. "S-say ah," she said. Eiji turned his head and saw her wanting to feed him, blushing the entire time.

Kiri opened his mouth and took a bite before turning back to the TV. He wasn't sure where this was going, but he didn't want to beat around the bush anymore.

"Mina, do you like me?"

She jumped in place, looking down. "Where did that come from?" She got redder.

Eiji got up and faced her, saying, "Let's play Pocky; truth or dare you back out, you lose."

He grabbed the box from her, waiting for her response. Mina took a moment, and she nodded with a firm look in her eyes.

He placed it in his mind and bit the other end. Both went to eat their slices, making their way to the centre. Eiji's eyes were not backing down. Mina was surprised and eventually pulled back.

"Yosh!" Eiji smiled and ate the rest. "Alright, no beating around the bush, Mina, do you like me?"

Mina held her head down, nodding slowly, before looking up and saying, "So what now?"

Eiji's heart was set ablaze so much that he hugged her tightly. "I like you, Mina, a lot and I was wondering if you wanted to go on a date and be my girlfriend."

Mina didn't know what to do or say, but she was thrilled and wrapped her arms around him. "I like you too."

She never thought she'd be in a relationship. "So we're dating now? Are we boyfriend and girlfriend? Oh, can we kiss? I've always wondered what it's like. My only experience is from watching romance movies."

"Haha, I thought we would go on a few dates before that."

"Eijiro, my boyfriend—I never thought I'd have a boyfriend," she giggled, relishing the thought.

'Ashido my girlfriend,' he smiled, deepening the hug.