35 Oath of the Sakura Tree

Right after they received a notice of their acceptance on the Yuuei, Mineta and Ibara were busy with many things.

Similar to the two of them, Kodai and Kendo, who also received their acceptance notice, were busy.

Still, on the day they received their acceptance notice, Mineta was quite speechless when Kodai and Kendo called him privately when Ibara was right on his side. Fortunately, he was smart and handled the situation well, so no misunderstanding happened.

However, after they knew they had been accepted on the Yuuei, their relationship became closer since they talked about many things, such as hero costumes and living places.

As a hero, it was necessary for them to wear a costume.

They were asked to send the design of their costume so that when school started, they would be able to wear their costumes.

The girls were excited about it, and they talked about their costumes.

However, when he saw their design, he wondered whether it was alright.

"What's wrong?" Ibara asked.

"No, it's all good if you're happy with it."

When he saw the hero costume of the three girls, only Kendo had a mask.

On the other hand, Ibara and Kodai didn't wear masks.

Yet he also knew that he couldn't say much in this situation since many Pro Heroes didn't even wear a mask.

Even All Might, the strongest hero in this country, didn't wear a mask.

Not only All Might, Endeavor, Hawks, Mirko, Ryukyu, and most female heroes also didn't wear a mask, so it was natural for them to think it was alright not to wear it.

He wanted to say that it was better to wear them since, even if the mask might not stop the villain from knowing their real identity, it was better than nothing.

It was like wearing a helmet when one was riding a motorcycle.

Wearing a helmet might not stop them from getting into an accident, but their situation should be much better than one who didn't wear a helmet, right?

Still, his costume also didn't have a mask.

Yet unlike them, he could change the color of his hair and eyes.

However, he didn't bother to fix them since he knew it was futile. After all, unlike a man, who loved practical things, the woman wanted to appear beautiful in front of the public.

Ibara, Kendo, and Kodai were similar.

Mineta knew they understood the importance of protection, but being beautiful was even more important.

Well, in a worst-case scenario, he would protect them.

"But are you sure you're going to wear that costume? Don't you want to wear a cooler one?" Kendo asked.

"Mm!"

Even Ibara agreed with them.

After all, he was so handsome, so they thought he would make a cool design for his costume, but they never expected he would make such a costume.

"It's okay. I like this."

Mineta could only smile helplessly, feeling that they thought his costume was terrible. He wanted to slap their buttocks somehow for thinking so.

Knowing his decision, they didn't stop him anymore since they knew whatever this guy wore, he would be able to pull it off. On the other hand, they continued to talk about other things, such as their graduation and where they would live in Musutafu.

Considering they didn't live in Musutafu, they had to rent an apartment.

However, before he asked this question, their conversation changed to a different topic.

'Graduation...'

It was almost time for their graduation, and he couldn't help but sigh since it had been almost a year since he had been in this world.

While he was uneasy at first, the improvement in his power gave him the confidence he could live well in this world.

They talked to each other for a while before they ended the call, but Mineta asked, "Did you ask them where they're going to live?"

"Ah!"

Ibara forgot.

"Well, we can meet them sooner or later. More importantly, have you found your apartment?"

"Yes."

Ibara nodded, then sighed. "But I want to stay with you..."

"If you do that, your father might beat me up..."

Her mother aside, he could see her father was ready to throw a table anytime at him whenever he came. However, he didn't feel surprised since he had done many things with his daughter.

While they were preparing to move to Musutafu and become a high school student in the Yuuei, finally, the time of their graduation came.

As one of two students who were accepted to the best school in the country, Mineta became the representative of the 3rd year and had to stand at the podium to say a word or two. It was a part of the tradition, and he was chosen. However, he didn't reject it. Instead, he stood proudly in front of everyone with an expression as if he was saying, "In your face!"

That short and so-so face of Mineta was no longer there.

Instead, because of his popularity, many girls tried to steal him from Ibara.

However, he was firm with Ibara and didn't even glance at those girls. Yet he must admit, playing with their feelings was fun, considering how they had mocked him in the past.

As for those who had tried to bully him, he wasn't sure, but they might have transferred to another school since they couldn't handle the power of the media.

Still, he must admit he was reluctant to part with Kota and Tanaka.

When the graduation ended, the three of them hugged together under the sakura tree.

While he had changed, Tanaka and Kota also changed.

Tanaka, who had long and large teeth in the past, had normal teeth now since he kept training to control his "Quirk."

Kota, on the other hand, who had the most normal among them, also dressed quite well, so while his face was only so-so, he was fairly popular.

Under his tutelage, they also became quite popular, but unlike him, who was "loyal" to Ibara, they changed a lot of girlfriends.

"I wonder when we are going to meet each other again..."

"I am going to miss you, Minetasshi!"

If Mineta didn't change, they wouldn't change.

While their faces weren't as handsome as Mineta's, they were popular, so they didn't have anything to complain about and were glad they could spend this time with him.

Unfortunately, that day would end soon since he was going to become a student in the Yuuei.

"We're about to follow our dream, so naturally, we're going to part, but it doesn't mean we're going to end our brotherhood!"

"Minetachi!"

"Minetashi!"

They cried.

Mineta quickly pushed the two since he didn't want their snot and tears to dirty his uniform.

"By the way, how about we do the "Oath of the Peach Garden"?" Kota suddenly said excitedly.

"Ha? Where's the peach garden? There's only a sakura tree around." Tanaka was speechless, but he couldn't hide his excitement.

Mineta also wasn't much different since his lips twitched.

The three of them were quite nerds, so they loved to read many books.

One of their favorites was naturally the "Three Kingdoms."

"Oath of the Peach Garden" was one of the most popular scenes in the "Three Kingdoms," when Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei took an oath of fraternity in a ceremony in the Peach Garden and became sworn brothers from then on.

While Kota and Tanaka were all excited, Mineta sighed, thinking that he wasn't suitable to take this oath since he was using them from the beginning to the end. They were helpful to him since they had excellent talent and knowledge, so he befriended them.

On the other hand, Kota and Tanaka thought of him as their real brother. They worshipped him and did what he asked, no matter what. Their feelings toward him were sincere and genuine.

However, as a man, Mineta must admit he was moved by their loyalty, and he agreed with their idea.

"It's okay if there aren't any peach trees. The sakura tree isn't that bad."

"I see!" 2x

"But what about the sake and the cup?" Tanaka asked.

"I have grape juice," Mineta said.

"Oh, wait a moment, I will borrow a glass or something from the teacher's office!" Kota said and left.

They waited for a while before Kota returned with the three glasses.

Mineta then poured the grape juice into their glasses before the two of them looked at him at the same time.

"Minetachi, start the oath!"

"Yeah, you're our leader, after all."

They must admit even if they were quite smart. In front of Mineta, they were just a little chick. If Mineta wanted to, he could play and manipulate everyone to death. He could also make all the girls in the school and even the teachers fall for him, but even so, he was still with Ibara, which made them admire him even more.

Or did he give them a chance, so they could have an experience with love at the end of middle school?

They thought so.

Still, if Mineta knew what they were thinking, he would say they were overthinking since he was only interested in a woman who could trigger his system.

The woman was nice and all, but he wasn't so lustful and indulged in them. He also knew they would definitely cause trouble if the number was too much, like his neighbor.

In Kamakura, Ibara was enough.

"Okay, then, I will start the oath."

Unlike them, Mineta didn't overthink and thought of this as a joke, but he must admit he was having fun.

"Although the surnames are different, we have come together as brothers. From this day forward, we shall join forces for a common purpose: to save the troubled and to aid the endangered. We shall avenge the nation above and pacify the citizenry below. We seek not to be born on the same day, in the same month, and in the same year. We merely hope to die on the same day, in the same month, and in the same year. May the Gods of Heaven and Earth attest to what is in our hearts! If we should ever do anything to betray our friendship, may heaven and the people of the earth both strike us dead!"

The three raised their glass of grape juice and drank it together under the sakura tree.

If Kota or Tanaka had said that oath, it might not be suitable.

However, the one who said this was Mineta, who was about to become a hero, protecting everyone from the villain and making all of the people in this country live a happy life.

After they finished their grape juice, they hugged each other.

"Brothers!" 3x

Kota and Tanaka were in tears and decided to work hard on further developing their talents since they knew Mineta would walk harder to become the symbol of peace.

Mineta wasn't sure what they were thinking, but in the end, they parted after a while before Ibara approached him.

"I am so jealous that you can have such a friendship, Minoru-kun..." Ibara sighed since a girl was impossible to have such a friendship.

"What are you saying? You might not have such a friendship, but you have me as a boyfriend," Mineta said while leaning his head on her shoulder.

Ibara rolled her eyes at his narcissistic words, but she also leaned to his side and said, "That's true since I am grateful that I have you with me." She held her hand and smiled when she thought he would always be by her side.

Mineta glanced at Ibara, but he didn't say anything and remained silent from her words.

After they talked with their parents, they didn't go home immediately but went somewhere to celebrate their graduation.

On the other hand, Mineta knew that his first step as a hero would begin now.