My Hero Academia: New Students and Unexpected Love

Chapter 29: A Meal to Remember

The food court was buzzing with life, a mix of chatter and clattering dishes blending with the upbeat, tropical rhythm of steel drum music playing in the background. The lively atmosphere made everything feel even more vibrant as we all sat around a large table, each of us eagerly diving into our food.

Gino had a tray full of mini burgers stacked in front of him, and he was already halfway through his first one. “I don’t care what anyone says,” he mumbled between bites, “mini burgers just hit different. You can eat like ten of them, and it’s still not enough.”

Kirishima laughed, nodding in agreement while cutting into his juicy pork steak. “You’re not wrong, man. Though I gotta say, this steak’s making a strong case too.”

Across from me, Mina was grinning ear to ear, clearly enjoying her birria tacos. She took a big bite, chewing happily before letting out a satisfied hum. “These are so good. You guys have to try one if you’re not too full!”

Meanwhile, Tsuyu quietly slurped her ramen, her calm demeanor contrasting with the rest of the group’s boisterous energy. She took each bite with grace, the warm broth and noodles bringing a content smile to her face. Even though she wasn’t talking much, the way she savored her meal showed how much she was enjoying it.

As for me, I was happily devouring a plate of hot wings, the spicy tang making my taste buds tingle. I reached for a stalk of celery between bites to cool down the heat. The combination was perfect, and the steel drum music playing in the background gave the whole moment a laid-back, fun vibe.

“This food’s amazing,” I said, wiping a bit of sauce from my lips. “Best idea ever to come here after the arcade.”

“Kero, I agree,” Tsuyu added softly, her wide eyes glancing up from her bowl of ramen. “It’s nice to relax after all that gaming.”

Gino popped another mini burger into his mouth, nodding in agreement. “Yeah, after destroying all those games—and almost getting into another fight with Bakugo—this is exactly what we needed.”

Kirishima chuckled, his smile broad as he took a sip from his drink. “Good thing I held you back, man. We don’t need you getting kicked out of UA before you even get through your first year.”

Mina, still munching on her tacos, jumped in with her usual enthusiasm. “For real! You guys totally rocked today, though. And not just at the arcade—you handled Bakugo better than I’ve seen most people do.”

I shrugged, taking another bite of my wings. “He’s just... Bakugo. You get used to him.”

Mina laughed, nodding. “True that.”

The conversation flowed naturally between all of us, each of us swapping stories and enjoying the food. The upbeat steel drum music set the perfect tone for the easygoing meal, creating a relaxing, tropical-like atmosphere amidst the bustling food court.

As we continued eating, I noticed Tsuyu glance over at me, her eyes soft and thoughtful. She gave me a small, knowing smile, and I couldn’t help but smile back. Even though we were with our friends, it felt like there was still that quiet connection between us from earlier. Something unspoken, but understood.

Kirishima’s loud laughter snapped me out of my thoughts, and I turned to see him playfully elbowing Gino. “Dude, you’ve eaten, like, seven mini burgers already! You’re gonna explode if you keep going!”

Gino just grinned, unbothered. “Hey, I’m pacing myself. Besides, it’s all part of my strategy.”

“What strategy?” Mina asked with a raised eyebrow, finishing off her taco.

“The strategy of eating everything and still having room for dessert, though I don't eat any sweets.” Gino replied, his confidence unshakable.

We all laughed, the light-hearted moment filling the space as we continued our meal. The food was delicious, the company was even better, and the steel drum music playing in the background made it all feel like we were on a mini vacation from the hectic world of UA.

As we ate, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for this moment. It was just a simple meal with friends, but it felt like something special. A time to relax, recharge, and bond after a long day of excitement.

And though I kept catching Tsuyu’s calm, admiring glances, I knew that this was only the beginning of many more moments like this to come.