Izuku had been dating Mina for a while now. Ever since that first time they ran into each other after the sports festival, when he was out buying books, his life had changed. It was bizarre and hard to comprehend, and yet here he was. He was at UA, he was training to be a hero, he was being trained by All Might himself, and he had friends. Actual, good, loyal friends who would stand by him and support him. What's more, he had a girlfriend now. He was having a hard time believing it. And yet, he had met her parents, introduced them to his. He had her over his house for dinner. It was all too good to be true.

Of course, things weren't all sunshine and roses. There was the encounter with Tomura at the mall, the villain attack on the sports lodge. Bakugou had been kidnapped and Izuku had gone with four classmates of his to rescue him. Mina was not among them. That had been a hard decision. They had fought. Of course, they had. They didn't want to. It was silly to do so. They had just started out and they were worried about fighting, but when your new boyfriend goes off with some classmates to take matters into their own hands and rescue a classmate from the league of villains instead of just leaving it to the pros, you are entitled to freak out a little.

She could understand it. She knew where they were coming from. She knew of the plan. She certainly didn't stop it, but she had learned so much. She had learned of Bakugou and Izuku's history. She had learned just how unsavory he had really been, how awfully he had treated Izuku in the past. It had really lessened her opinion of the guy. And yet Izuku and Kirishima were willing to go out of their way and put themselves in danger for him. What's more Todoroki, Yaomomo, and Iida had gone with them as well, with Momo making the tracking device they used and serving as a guiding hand alongside their class president.

Mina couldn't comprehend how the smartest kids in class could be so stupid and reckless. And yet, she could. They were heroic and willing to risk their lives for others, even if those people were jerks. They would not leave a classmate behind, or a friend for that matter. Mina could appreciate that. She had risked her own skin against a supervillain before, in middle school. She was more overwhelmed at USJ, which she still regretted. She understood, but she didn't like it.

Their relationship progressed as normal as it could, but things just felt strange, like they were different now. All Might's true form had been revealed, he World's symbol of peace had retired, announcing to Izuku that he was next, and UA had made the transition to a boarding school. Students had moved into newly built dormitory buildings, which, thanks to the abilities of various UA staff members and contractors, were completed at breakneck speed. In a time before quirks, this would have been both miraculous and worrisome. Even now, faith in UA and in hero society was waning, but there were no fears about the stability of the buildings. Instead, the new residents were wowed by the mansion they now called home.

X

Izuku knocked on the door. He was nervous, as always. He still wasn't great at talking to girls, especially ones he didn't talk to tat often. However, he was getting better in no small part to his friendships with Tsuyu and Ochako and his relationship with Mina.

"Midoriya? What's up?"

"H-hey Jirou…Um…. sorry if I interrupted something." He stammered.

"You implying something, Midoriya?"

"Wha-I…I wasn't…"

The purple-haired girl chuckled. She was amused by how tightly wound he was, though curious as to his reasoning for visiting. They weren't on bad terms, but they didn't really talk all that much. "Jeez, dude. You are too easy. So, what brings you here?"

"Oh…right…um…I need help… assembling a playlist… Not that you're not cool and that I wouldn't like to be friends. I'm not trying to use you. I swear."

"Chill, man." She laughed. "It's for Ashido, right?"

"Yeah…things have been a bit weird... and I can't blame her for being upset…I just want to show her that I apologize, but that I understand why she is mad. I want to make it up to her… show her I care… Kind of silly, I know. I know it's not your business and story for making it your"

Suddenly two jacks shot out and poked the green-haired boy, hard enough to snap him out of his rambling but soft enough into to really hurt him. "Focus, dude." Izuku let out a shocked quack as the jacks made contact, flinching at the contact.

"Right, sorry." He coughed, still reeling from the surprise. "I want to make a playlist for her, and you are the best musician in our class. You know all about songs and stuff like that. More than I do. And you're her friend…I was hoping you could help me make one for her."

Jirou glared stonily at the awkward boy in front of her before smiling softly. "Can't be friends with me without needing something, huh?"

"I…" He was struck with both guilt at her words (teasing or not), and joy. On one hand, he really didn't want to use people in such a way. On the other hand, she had acknowledged him as a friend, a potential one at least.

"Dude, it's fine. I'm messing. I know. Have a seat, we can talk this out while I pull out my laptop."

Izuku took a seat. He was intimidated by this girl. And now, as he sat on her bed, he had to ask why. Even still, girls made him flustered in general. Coupled with that, she was more sarcastic and aloof. However, they were all UA students. They all had their reasons for being here, not just in terms of motivations, but who they were as people. Even Bakugou and Mineta had such traits. However, despite her sassiness and the fact that they barely interacted, he could tell she was a good person, even through her shell. They have both been up against villains. They had been targets and had fought back. There was some underlying kinship there and he hoped that after this, he could strike up more of a friendship with her. For now, however, he had a reason. He wanted help in showing his girlfriend how he felt. Even if he was often awkward and flustered, even if he couldn't always say the right words, he wanted to bare his heart to her. They hadn't been together very long, but already, she was important to him.

"So, you want to make a playlist for your girlfriend and pour your heart out into music, huh? Not a bad idea." The purple-haired rocker deadpanned. Izuku could have swore he had heard her mumble something about being jealous but decided against pursuing that line of questioning. If she wanted to bring it up, she would. He couldn't bring himself to pry into someone else's personal life without being invited to, even if they were friends. Heroes often stuck their nose where it didn't belong. That is what he had learned and abided by. This, however was a personal issue and not a heroic one.

"Any songs in mind? Any specific ideas? There are a lot of love songs and songs about apologies, dude. You'll have to narrow it down." She grinned, her colder demeaner thawing rather more easily than Izuku expected. He supposed he was being unfair in his assessment.

Izuku nodded. "I know some of her favorites. I could easily include them, using breakdancing music probably won't be romantic though."

"Yeah. Good call, dude. As weird as Ashido can be, I doubt the Alien theme would sweep her off her feet" Jirou paused and thought to herself, unsure of exactly how accurate that statement was. It was Mina she was talking about after all. "By the way, how are you planning on giving this to her? Mixtape? CD? Standing outside her window with a boombox?" The teenage rocker was only joking, but upon realization, she looked at Izuku, and he looked back. With that, a plan was formed.

She shook her head and grinned. "You can borrow my speakers."

X

Mina sat in her bed, groaning o herself about life. She was an easygoing girl, but even she had things hat stressed her out. Studies stressed her out. Being up against a threat she couldn't handle stressed her out. Mineta's lechery stressed her out. And now, the tension between her and Izuku was stressing her out. She didn't want it to. They had reconciled. Mostly, anyway. However, things still felt off. They weren't the same, and that worried her.

Mina heard music from outside her window. It was somewhat faint, but probably because of the glass and the curtains. Still, she was curious enough to investigate. What she expected was just one of her classmates listening to music. She was guessing Kaminari. However, it sounded stationary. Like whoever was playing it was standing in one spot.

Upon stepping out onto her balcony to investigate, she was faced with a surprising site, though certainly a welcome one.

There was Izuku, holding up his phone, hooked up to a pair of speakers, playing music for the pink girl. It was like something out of a retro-romance movie, specifically the 1980s. Her boyfriend had apparently set up a playlist on his phone, borrowed some of Jirou's speakers, and was blasting music for his girlfriend in an effort to reconcile any differences they still had. It was a silly gesture and couldn't have been within the boy's comfort zone, and yet here he was. She chuckled and sighed as lilac crept across her cheeks and her heart beat wildly.

"Did…Are you pulling a Say Anything because of the rescuing Bakugou thing?"

"S-say what?" Her boyfriend was clearly confused, which made it even funnier that he was copying a movie he was apparently not even aware of.

"Forget about it." She shook her head. "Jump up here, Izu."

"I…Is it even legal for me to"

"You're on school grounds and you're doing something dorky and romantic. Just get up ere so I can smooch you!"

He bushed and stuttered, but composed himself enough to follow her orders, landing on her balcony with an amazing jump. The pink girl threw her arms around her boyfriend and planted a big kiss on his lips, holding him close as he tried not to drop his phone.

"Come inside. We can talk more in my room." The two entered her dorm and sat on her bed.

Izuku placed his phone besides him and gestured to turn it off, but Mina placed her hand on his shoulder, looking at him softly.

"Keep it playing. I want to hear it all." Mina smiled. Izuku could feel his heart flutter as the pink girl's glistening black eyes gazed into his. He nodded and placed the phone and speakers on a nearby table.

Mina rested her head in his lap and hummed as the next song played. He blushed and shivered slightly but adjusted to it after a few moments and stroked her curly pink hair, leaning back against the wall as the music played. Izuku wished he could build a house on this moment and live there with Mina, but soon realized he was getting too far ahead of himself. Instead, he relaxed and smiled, letting the music and the scent of his girlfriend's shampoo take him away to parts unknown.

"I like this one. How did you know?"

"Y-you brought it up once."

"Did I? Oh yeah. Sorry. Forgot. Things have been a but hectic." Mina sighed closing her eyes as she made herself comfortable in the boy's lap. She

"Yeah, they have."

"Midori?" her eyes opened slowly as she thought over everything. They had just moved in recently. Her and Izuku had mostly been peaceful but there was still tension and unrest. Their relationship was as young and fragile as they were, if not more so. She couldn't tell what the future held, and she was normally just fine with that. Izuku changed that.

"Yeah, Mina?" the one-for-all user perked his head up ever so slightly in response.

"I don't want to be mad at you." Her tone was soft yet solemn, like a gentle violin on a summer night. She hadn't been mad at him not since a day or two after he had returned. She was really just happy he was safe and sound. But she was worried for his safety, sad that he would care so little for his own safety that he would do such things, hurt that he couldn't even spare a thought for how she felt during all this, and frustrated by her inability to do anything to stop him.

"I know"

"I just…you could have died…and I know why you did it. And Things seemed ok, but hey have been weird and awkward." Mina found herself rambling. It was more of an Izuku thing then anything she would normally do, but the boy left an impact on her and she couldn't stop herself from blabbing. It was up to her silly green nerd to help her.

"With a peck on the lips, Izuku silenced Mina, who had started to shed light tears. This was a different Izuku, one she had seen but had admittedly taken for granted. She knew him as the awkward, rambling blushing boy and the reckless, noble hero who would throw himself into danger because he thought it was right. But here she was seeing an aspect she loved the most. He was gentle, caring, kind, and more beautiful then she ever expected such a lain looking boy to be.

"Ssssh. I like this song too." He smiled. "You're fine, Mina."

Her heart raced, and her breath hitched as she gazed at him, eyes sparkling with love. Normally, Mina would have called him a sappy dork or said something along the lines of "Not as fine as you." However, in this moment, no words were uttered. Instead, she fell asleep in his lap.

She finally uttered three words groggily and contently. "I love you."

Izuku could feel his heart squeeze in his chest as it pumped vigorously, his cheeks flushed wit h red. He smiled warmly. He knew he still had a long way to go, as a student, as a hero, and as a boyfriend, but he knew she would be there every step of the way.

"I love you too." And with that, he fell asleep as well, not sure what the future held, but ready to tackle it with Mina by his side.

X

Mina and Izuku looked around the apartment. It was small but had an extra bedroom. It could come in handy someday. For now, it was extra space. It was hard to believe how far they had come. They had graduated UA. They were licensed pros now. They were part of a hero team. They had faced villains and revelations and that one time Mina fired her boyfriend from the dance team during the Culture Festival for reasons that now just seemed silly. Either way, they now had a life together. They were team mates. They were a couple. They were heroes. What's more, they were happy. The countless hours of work they had put into this apartment had been worth it. It was close to their agency, within close enough proximity to their fellow teammates in the Color Guard, and it had a lovely convenience store nearby that they could get groceries at.

They still had a long way to go, but they had come so far together already, and they would go beyond that, without a doubt.

"Izuku, come jump on the bed with me! It's super comfy!" a voice rang out from the master bedroom, as exuberant as it was when they first met. The green-haired pro sighed and smiled.

"I'll be right there." Izuku took off his hero costume and ran head first into the bedroom after Mina, towards the rest of their lives.