Compulsion

Chapter 11: Testing, Testing

"And Kaminari?"

Midori gestured with his can, "Oh, he's trying to flirt with her." The blond stood across a table from a fair-skinned girl with vine-like hair. He held an occasionally faltering smile, saying something out of earshot. While the girl acknowledged his presence, she didn't seem too receptive to his words.

Mina gasped, "Oh my gosh, the first item of the Hero Course!"

"Isn't dating disallowed?" questioned Midori.

"There's no way rules in a handbook could stand in the way of true love!" she cried, bawling her hand into a fist.

Midori's face contorted, "I dunno I feel like suspension might get in the way." "But, uh, what about you? Taking a break, yourself?"

"Yeah, I don't have infinite durability when it comes to my Quirk," said Mina.

"Are you okay?"

She shrugged, "Yeah, it just stings a little – we didn't go too far."

"What is your Quirk? I never asked before."

Her brow cocked before her shoulder nudged his, "Eeh? Trying to dirt on the competition, eh? I didn't think you had it in you. For shame, Mr. Midoriya. For shame."

He blinked, "W-What? No, I'm just... Sorry for asking I-"

Her fist knocked into his shoulder as she giggled, "Oof, calm down, man. I'm just yanking your chain. My Quirk's Acid. I can make acid anywhere! I can mess with the acidity and uh... vis... cos..."

"Viscosity?" finished Midori as he rubbed his now aching shoulder.

"Yeah!" said Mina as she snapped her fingers.

"That's cool," he noted.

"Thanks."

Mina's eyes focused on the long strands of his curly hair, "You ever think about getting your haircut?"

Midori blinked, taking a lock of his hair, "Hm...?" He shrugged, "Uh, I haven't really thought about it..."

"You know, you could probably pull into a ponytail."

"I guess. Ponytail is just a simple thing, right? Hairband, pull through, and wrap?"

"Yep!"

A pair of stomping feet came closer and closer to the two. "Hi," he grumbled as he tossed a gas mask onto the dolly and hopping onto a stool himself.

Midori and Mina blinked, "Hey, Shinso..."

"Hey..." he replied.

"Everything okay?" asked Midori.

Shinso spat, "My partner is an asshole."

"Ah, Mister Grumpy-Senpai," she said, frowning and pulling at her eyes.

"Mr. Stick-Up-His-Ass more like."

"Ouch, Shinso, tell how ya really feel."

Shinso growled, pulling out a pamphlet and shoving it into Midori's hands, "He gave me this! Look!"

"So, Your Quirk is Dangerous? What to Do and Not to Do in Today's Society," was read aloud.

Mina's face contorted, "That's something they handout to kids in Primary School. I got that when I developed my Acid Quirk."

"Primary School!" echoed Shinso.

Midori nodded, "Yeah, I knew someone who'd get these, every week. He collected them and burned them."