Was it hard for him to go with Melissa?
Yes.
However, it was fortunate that Melissa asked him when they were alone, and no one heard their conversation, so he could slip out by saying that he would have to make another video that he forgot to make.
Naturally, except for Jiro, no one heard their conversation.
However, Jiro's desire to talk with him alone became even stronger.
When he moved away, Melissa suddenly came and said, "Come on, Minoru-kun!" She quickly held his hand and quickly wanted to bring him somewhere.
<As Melissa Shield has taken the initiative to hold your hand, you have received "Oboe" Skill (Master)>
Why oboe?
He shook his head and thought it was a good thing that he got a reward, but he had underestimated Melissa's IQ and EQ. It seemed she was better than he had imagined since she could read the situation, and she also knew how to take advantage of it.
"Where are we going?"
"To my dorm."
"Your dorm?"
"Un!" Melissa looked at him with a smile and said, "There is something I want to show you."
What?
What do you want to show me?
Yet the bigger the expectation was, the bigger the disappointment was.
"This is what I want to show you."
As of now, he is in Melissa's room. No, he should say that he was in her laboratory.
"It's amazing."
He didn't know what this girl wanted to show him.
Did she want to brag about all the things that she had invented?
If so, she had to be disappointed since he didn't have much of an interest in technology.
Until...
"This camera is..."
He looked at one camera on the table with a shocked expression.
"Yes." Melissa nodded with a smile. "This is something that I have developed. It will help you with your job." Her voice was so happy since she thought that she could help him.
"...is it really for me?"
He was surprised since the camera that had been invented by Melissa was more advanced than his own currently. It also had many things which could help him with the shooting of his videos, such as an internal drone, automatic focus, smart artificial intelligence, and many other things.
It was everything in one.
"Yes!"
"Sorry, I can't accept such a precious thing."
This thing was so expensive, and it was impossible for him to accept this gift so carelessly.
"No! Please accept this gift! I have made it for you!"
"But..."
"Please!"
Even though he was the one who received the gift, it was Melissa who begged him to accept her gift.
He hesitated for a while before he sighed and nodded. "Okay, I will accept your gift. Thank you." Suddenly, it was amazing when he thought that someone could beg others to accept a gift.
After all, should it be the other way around?
"That's great!"
"So, is there something that you want?"
"Huh?" Melissa was startled.
"You have given me something so precious. If there is something that I can give you now, I will give it to you."
"...is that okay?" Melissa looked at him shyly, and it seemed that she had a hidden desire that she wanted to
"Yes." He wondered what this girl wanted to do.
"Can... can we take a picture together?" Melissa asked with a blush.
"...sure."
Well, it seemed that not all the fans he met were like Reiko, who tried to blackmail him, but it was okay since even if they couldn't do anything when they were in I-Island, they could do something after that.
Anyway, after this, they would become acquaintances, and by then, they could get to know each other better.
"So, how do you want to take a photo?"
"Can we take a selfie?"
"Selfie?"
"Un."
"Sure."
He moved closer and stood by her side.
"Do you want to take a photo of me?"
"I-I will take the photo!"
She blushed and pressed one of her gadgets, causing one of them to fly.
"...is that the camera?"
"Un."
"You're really smart."
"Hehe..."
Still, the two were so close to each other as they smiled in front of the camera.
"Done?"
"Can I ask one more?"
"Just take as much as you want."
It was only a photo, so he didn't care much since he had often had people take his picture secretly.
However, hearing those words, Melissa couldn't control herself and walked out from his side before she took a lot of photos of him.
"Ah, please look over the distance! Put on a melancholy expression! By the way, can you change this?"
"...I want to remind you that the party will start soon."
"...sorry."
"It's okay." He sighed and felt a bit helpless. "Then, I will go back first."
"Wait, Minoru-kun!"
"Hmm?"
Melissa was a bit embarrassed and hesitated, but she asked, "...can I ask you something?"
"...I can't make a promise, but let's hear what your question is."
"Um... why did you date Ibara?" Melissa asked the question that had been on her mind.
"...why did I date Ibara?" He thought for a moment, and somehow, a complicated expression appeared on his face, even if he didn't realize it. "You might not know, but in the past, I was not as handsome as I am now. Everything has become like this because I have tapped the potential of my "Quirk." Still, when he said those words, his expression was so gentle.
"Ah, I have heard those articles."
As his fan, she naturally read much of his news, including his transformation. It was still hard to believe that in the past, he was only 108 cm, but many thought that he was sick and he was cured, so he could become like this. However, many also thought that it was because of his "Quirk" since it was a mysterious thing.
Even if scientists had done research on it for a century or so, there were still many things that they didn't know about "Quirk."
"We were together before I became like this, so you understand, right?"
"...un."
"See you at the party later, Melissa. Thanks for the camera." He waved his hand and left since his phone had been vibrating several times.
"...see you."
Melissa waved her hand and sighed, realizing there was no chance between them, and she also thought Ibara was amazing. Still, if she was in Ibara's place, even if Mineta didn't have his current appearance, she believed she could also do the same.
If Mineta knew what she was thinking, he could only think that she was cute for thinking so.
---
At the venue, Iida, Midoriya, Momo, Urakaka, and Jiro arrived.
Still, the person that they had been waiting for hadn't come.
"Where is Mineta? Isn't he late?" Jiro complained.
"Maybe, he was attacked by the villain?!" Iida quickly guessed.
"..." Everyone.
Still, hearing Iida's words, they suddenly became worried since this wasn't his first time being attacked by the villains. No, he was attacked many times.
The I-Island was famous for its security, which was comparable to Tartarus, but nothing was impossible since even Yuuei, which was famous for its defense, was also attacked.
"Sorry to make you wait."
Hearing this voice, they quickly turned.
Unfortunately, it wasn't Mineta.
Still, they had to say Melissa was so beautiful in her dress.
"What's wrong?" Melissa felt weird by their reaction.
Was her dress weird?
She suddenly became conscious, wondering whether she had chosen the wrong dress. After all, she wanted to appear the best in front of him, so when she saw their reaction, she thought she had chosen the wrong dress.
However, before they could answer, they heard his voice.
"Sorry for making you wait. We're not late, right?'
When he appeared, the world lost its color.
Some of you might not know, but some might know, but I have added the 10$ option on the Patreon. Naturally, there are more chapters for this option.
There are a total of 40 chapters for "I Refuse to Become a Scumbag," and 30 chapters for "Living as Mineta is Hard."
You can check the advanced chapters on the link below:
https://www.patreón.com/akikan40
Thanks.