Chapter 23: First Step
His lips twitched, and he looked at his mother, who brought Ibara inside.
However, he also knew that it was also quite rude for him to reject Ibara to enter since he wasn't exactly sick or anything. Even if she tried to stop her, Ibara might get hard-headed and wouldn't give up on meeting him.
Yet he wasn't surprised by her appearance since he didn't tell her about his plan to have a circumcision.
After all, how could he tell her that?
Ibara was worried about Mineta since she didn't see him at school and couldn't contact him. She also cried, wondering what was happening to him, yet when she saw him in the living room, holding a book while waving his hand at her with a gentle smile.
"..."
Ibara pouted and asked, "Why didn't you come to the class? Why did you ignore me?"
Right after school ended, Ibara quickly came to his house since she wanted to know what had happened to him.
His mother snickered, but she didn't intend to help her son, and asked, "Ibara, what do you want to drink? Are you okay with grape juice?"
"Ah, um, thank you, auntie. I am okay with that."
Ibara almost forgot that his mother was around and quickly apologized and helped her to prepare the drink.
Mineta didn't say anything and just stared at Ibara and his mother in the kitchen, which he could see from the living room. After all, the living room and the kitchen were in one room.
The two had been dating for six months, and it was natural for their parents to know they had been dating each other. It was also impossible to hide since they had been studying together for quite a while, so naturally, he had visited her house, and she also visited his house.
Their parents were also supportive of their relationship, especially his parents. After all, his parents didn't expect that Ibara had been dating him when he was still short and had only five points in charm. The fact she could accept him at his worst, move them much, and might even think of her as their daughter-in-law.
When they joked about this matter to him, he wondered what if he also joked around, telling them that he had broken up with her, but it was impossible for him to say so. In the end, he could only show an awkward smile.
Still, Ibara was also quite beautiful, and her body grew like an adult's.
However, the best thing about her wasn't that.
She was taller than him.
Her height reached 165 cm and might grow even taller, but she still loved him when he was only 108 cm.
This was the most important point.
Still, even now, he was shorter than her since he was only 149 cm.
'Well, I will be taller than her soon.'
He didn't think too much about the matter of height since this wasn't that important now since he could increase it sooner or later.
On the other hand, he sighed when he looked at Ibara, who was close to his mother.
His mother didn't go to work since she accompanied him to the hospital for surgery.
Anyway, leaving his mother and Ibara aside, he thought about his rewards, which he got after he dated Ibara for six months.
When he got this reward, he must admit he felt happy since, with this skill, it was easier for him to shape the substance released from his "Quirk" to any shape he wanted to.
Sculpture might be an art skill, but it also helped him to fight.
It was the same with his fishing mastery too.
Like a fishing skill, which greatly enhanced his insight and accuracy, his sculpting also increased his speed and precision with his hands.
He might take down the title of the "Golden Finger" from Taka Kato.
However, instead of taking down this worthless title, it was better to think about the entrance exam, which happened in February. They started to date each other in May, and it had been half a year since they had dated, so it was already November.
There were at least three months before the entrance exam started.
He and Ibara had done their preparation and only needed to do their best on the exam.
While he was in the middle of a thought, Ibara sat next to him after she had put down two glasses of grape juice. She stared at him and asked, "So can you tell me why you ignored me and skipped school?"
"...."
Mineta blinked his eyes and looked at his mother, wondering why she didn't explain what had happened to him.
However, his mother only smiled in his direction.
"..." Mineta.
"Minoru-kun..." Ibara stared at Mineta silently.
His lips twitched, and he wasn't sure what to say.
"Can you tell me? I am your girlfriend, right?" Ibara was sad when Mineta didn't say anything, but if he didn't want to tell her, she wouldn't force him. However, if possible, she still wanted to know.
He sighed and said, "I just ended the surgery."
"Surgery?!" Ibara was dumbfounded before she was worried and asked, "What's wrong with you? Are you hurt?" She suddenly thought of a plot on the tv drama where her boyfriend had an incurable disease, and it made her cry.
"...I am not sure what you imagine, but I had just finished a circumcision."
Mineta wondered whether this girl thought life was like a cheap plot on a tv drama.
"Cir-Circumcision?" Ibara stuttered, and her face flushed. "Wh-Why?" However, after that, she wondered why Mineta made such a circumcision.
"....."
Still, his mother looked at her son speechlessly since she didn't expect him to be so frank.
"Well..."
Mineta explained the advantages of being circumcised to Ibara, from being easy to clean and many others.
Ibara nodded several times, understanding his reason for doing the surgery, but at the same time, she was curious. Then, suddenly, she heard a whisper of the devil.
"Do you want to see it?"
If they were strangers, he knew he would be slapped, but they had been dating for half a year. While they hadn't done more than a kiss, he often teased her about the next step after the kiss.
"Huh?!"
Ibara blushed, but when she considered their relationship, she would be lying if she didn't have an interest in that matter.
Their kiss was so wonderful.
What about more than that?
Was it even better?
Even though she knew it was wrong, she was curious.
"...Can-Can I?"
Her voice was so low, barely audible.
"It's okay, but it's not fair if I am the only one who is naked, right? Can you show me yours too later?"
"!!!"
Ibara was so shy, but she nodded. "We-Well, it's fair..."
However, before Mineta could say something, he forgot that they weren't the only ones in the living room.
"Cough! Cough!"
His mother coughed loudly.
"!!!"
Ibara was jumping in fright.
However, Mineta looked at his mother speechlessly.
"Ibara, do you want to have dinner here?" His mother asked.
"Ah, yes! Ah, I will help you too, auntie!" Ibara quickly reacted and escaped from Mineta with a blush, which spread to her ears and neck.
His mother smiled at Ibara before she stared coldly at her son, but at the same time, maybe she should buy a book or something.
After all, what if she became a grandmother so suddenly?
However, he only rolled his eyes and took his tablet, showing an email of several All-Tubers, and heroes who asked for a collaboration. His eyes suddenly stopped at the name of two famous heroes, who unexpectedly asked for a collaboration on his video.
"Gang Orca and Selkie?"
He thought for a moment and decided to reject their offer. After all, it was only three months before the exam to enter the "U.A. High School" started, but after that, he might think about it.
'Let's see... maybe I should make a video a day with a hero or something?'
He felt this type of video would be interesting, but everything would only start after he was accepted to the "U.A. High School."
"Oh, maybe I should make a clarification video?"
Several ideas crossed his mind, thinking of optimizing his worth.
"Minoru-kun, the dinner is ready."
"Thanks, Ibara."
When his mother was looking away, he kissed her lips, showing how grateful he was toward this girl, who had given him an opportunity to become better.
Ibara blushed again and lightly hit his chest, showing embarrassment.
"Your mother is here!"
She scolded him with a low voice.
"Then, if my mother isn't here, it is alright, right?"
"..."
Ibara was silent and consented to his words. She had often repented to her sin when she was about to sleep every day to the Lord, so she should be forgiven for being a naughty girl, right?
While he didn't know what this girl was thinking, Mineta must admit that this girl was lovely, but was this girl's charm stronger, or was the temptation of the system stronger?
He wasn't sure, but he could only find that answer after he found other girls besides Ibara, who could trigger his system, and the "U.A. High School" was probably the school that would give him that chance.
When they prepared dinner together, his father also returned, and the four of them had a merry dinner.
Then, three months passed, and it was time for the entrance exam for the "U.A High School."
"Should we go, Minoru-kun?"
"Good."
He walked out of the hotel with Ibara and took his first step toward becoming a hero.