Chapter 7: Reward? Really?
The appointment to go out on the weekend had been made.
Mineta waited in the station while sitting on the bench and looking at his smartphone absentmindedly, reading various information about Enoshima. After all, even if his memory of the previous Mineta was there, he hadn't looked at it with his own eyes.
This world was much different from his previous world, and he also didn't come from this country, so he would be lying if he wasn't curious about this country.
Still, when he thought about the previous Mineta, there was one thing he must have been amazed by, and it was the fact he was fashionable.
He thought the previous Mineta had lame clothing, but he was wrong. The style of his clothes was good, and his casual clothes made him more loveable.
This was also why his plan to go out was smooth, and he didn't need to buy clothes, which greatly relieved his wallet.
However, this wasn't surprising since his parents were working in the fashion sector.
The fashion in this world was more unique and advanced than in his original world, considering how a "Quirk" also affected the development of fashion.
While the design wasn't much different, some particular "Quirk" would also affect the clothing.
If he gave an example, it was like someone whose "Quirk" added an extra limb such as wings, tail, or several arms.
For such people, it was impossible for them to wear normal clothes, right?
Frankly, he was also the same since, with his short height, he also needed customized clothing.
There were many more examples of how "Quirk" affected fashion, but it was better to leave it just like that since as long as it looked good, it was good fashion.
This was what he had thought, and there was no need to follow a complicated design or whatever.
The person he had been waiting for also had come, so it was better to think about his date.
"Mineta-san, sorry to make you wait."
"It's okay. I have just arrived." Mineta was still sitting on the bench since it was all the same whether he was standing or sitting. He looked at Ibara, and his eyes brightened. "It's my first time to see you in casual clothes, Shiozaki-san. You look cute."
"...Thanks." Ibara blushed and subconsciously stroked her vines-like hair.
He wondered whether her fingers weren't hurt, but he knew that Ibara could make her hair soft or hard since he had touched her hair before. Still, he must admit she was cute.
"Should we go now?"
"Yes."
Ibara nodded.
The two walked to Kamakura station since they planned to visit Enoshima. However, the station was quite packed since it was a weekend.
Frankly, it was better to use a private vehicle or a taxi there, but he wasn't rich, and he was also a student, so it was impossible for him to drive a private vehicle, and his height also didn't allow him to do so.
'I want to grow taller...'
He sighed, feeling depressed. However, he became even more depressed when the crowd pushed him. His body was small, so it was hard for him to walk among the crowds. Still, with his physical ability, it was possible for him to push them, but if he did that, he would cause even more chaos.
"Wa—!"
He was almost separated by Ibara, but suddenly a hand caught his hand.
"Mineta-san! Be careful!"
"...Thank you, Shiozaki-san." He felt conflicted since his pride as a man was slightly damaged. However, he was grateful for Ibara and could see she cared about him. This was an important point since if she didn't care, she might leave him or forget about him. Still, he didn't think she fell for him since everything was too early.
'Anyway, let's just enjoy it.'
Her hand was soft, so it was nice to hold.
"Let's hold hands while we're here," Ibara said in concern.
"...Yes."
Because he was dumbfounded, he answered after a momentary shock. However, he didn't feel dumbfounded because she held his hand. Instead, he was dumbfounded because of what had happened after she took the initiative to hold his hand.
"Okay, let's enter the train."
"Yes."
The two walked over to the crowd holding hands before they arrived at their intended train. Fortunately, after they entered the train, the crowd dispersed, and they also got to sit on the train.
However, he was still in shock.
How could he receive a reward just by letting the girl hold his hand?
Was the chance of the previous Mineta to let the girl hold his hand almost zero?
Was Mineta's existence this sad?
He just felt conflicted.
Still, he would be lying if he wasn't happy with his reward. He checked the "store" and saw that the ability he received previously had an outrageous price.
It was outrageous, but it was powerful since it could increase his speed enough to break the wall of sound.
In other words, supersonic speed.
It was a simple and powerful ability.
However, this ability also wasn't without weakness.
There was one weakness he had found out.
That weakness was that the energy consumption was massive, and his stamina was only enough to support the supersonic speed for a short time.
Leaving the weakness aside, he was surprised when the system told him his ability gave his body adaptability to the friction and burden, which came from a supersonic speed, which made him speechless.
'Still, what if I use it at my "Quirk"?'
After all, what he loved the most about this ability was the fact he could also augment the speed of anything he touched. Naturally, it only affected a non-living being and couldn't affect a living being except himself.
If he wanted to make this ability affect a living being or increase the speed far more than supersonic, he had to spend more points to buy it, but the price was so outrageous that he wasn't sure whether he could buy it in his entire life.
'1,000 points...'
The number of his points was so pitiful that he didn't use them.
Previously, he planned to exchange it for money since 1,000 points could be exchanged for 100,000 yen. It was quite a nice sum of money, but while he didn't have much money, it should be enough to support him on this date.
Anyway, he accepted his reward, and he got a new ability. It could be combined with his original ability, which was great, but he didn't plan to use it since the occasion wasn't right.
The most important today was his date since this date was related to his future happiness.
"Sorry for earlier, Shiozaki-san." Mineta apologized.
"No, it's okay. You don't need to feel troubled by it." Ibara shook her head since she held his hand because she wanted to.
"Then, can I hold your hand from now on? I am afraid that I might be pushed like that earlier." Mineta showed pure expression.
Ibara stared at Mineta for a moment before nodding with a shy expression. "Okay."
"That's great!"
Mineta held Ibara's hand naturally, even if he wasn't pushed by the crowd. Still, he must admit that this girl was so easily deceived. "Thank you, Shiozaki-san. You're so kind."
"It's okay."
Ibara was embarrassed, but it was too late to take her words back. Still, she must admit it was comfortable and soft, so instead of thinking about her embarrassment, it was better to enjoy it since she also didn't hate this feeling.