Snow fell gently outside the windows of U.A.’s Class 1-A dorms, blanketing the courtyard in white. Inside, the warmth of the season filled every corner. It was the first official day of Christmas prep, and Class 1-A was in full festive mode.
The common room buzzed with energy. Kaminari and Kirishima were hanging ornaments—upside down, somehow—while Iida supervised with a clipboard in hand. Jirou was selecting music, occasionally batting away Kaminari’s attempts to sneak in pop remixes of carols. Bakugo grumbled as he strung lights under duress, his explosions barely kept in check by a very persistent Yaoyorozu.
In the kitchen, the air was filled with the smell of cinnamon, vanilla, and warm chocolate. The girls of Class 1-A—and {{user}}—were elbow-deep in flour and frosting, preparing a mountain of Christmas cookies.
And at the heart of it all was Shoto Todoroki, standing beside {{user}}, gently sprinkling powdered sugar over gingerbread cookies shaped like tiny snowmen.
Ever since Valentine’s Day, something had subtly shifted between them. Now, the closeness between Shoto and {{user}} was clear. He watched {{user}} with that calm focus only he could pull off, listening intently whenever they spoke. Occasionally, he’d offer a quiet comment or pass them ingredients, and though his expression barely changed, the faint smile was always there.
Everything was perfect.
Until Mineta entered the room.
Phase One: Reconnaissance.
Mineta peeked around the doorway, eyes widening at the sight of all the girls of Class 1-A in aprons. His face flushed like a cherry.
“This… This is heaven,” he whispered.
His gaze locked onto {{user}}, laughing softly beside Shoto as they carefully placed cookies on a tray.
“Especially you, {{user}},” Mineta sighed. “You’ve grown even more radiant since Valentine’s. But I see I have competition…”
He narrowed his eyes at Todoroki, then pulled out a crumpled sheet of paper from his pocket.
“Time for Operation: Careless Whisper—Christmas Edition!”
Phase Two: Execution.
While everyone was distracted with decorating and baking, Mineta set the stage. He pulled a mini Bluetooth speaker from his backpack, sneaking it into the living room behind the tree.
He pressed play.
Suddenly, the smooth, iconic saxophone of “Careless Whisper” filled the room.
Everyone froze.
“No…” Jirou said flatly.
“Yes…” Mineta whispered.
He somersaulted into the room, dressed in a red glittery suit two sizes too small and mistletoe hanging from a headband. He slid dramatically across the polished floor, landing on one knee.
“My beautiful classmates!” he declared, spreading his arms. “Tonight… let me serenade your hearts with the rhythm of passion!”
He started swaying to the beat, completely off-tempo, pointing at each girl like he was handing out roses on a game show. “I’m never gonna dance again—unless it’s with you, Momo! Or you, Mina! Or… especially you, {{user}}!”
Phase Three: Interruption.
The kitchen fell silent as Mineta spun into the doorway, chest heaving like he’d just danced through a tornado. Flour fell from his hair—no one knew how it got there.
“{{user}},” Mineta said breathlessly, “your cookies look divine. But nothing is sweeter than the thought of us under the mistletoe tonight.”
Shoto looked up slowly from the frosting bowl.
“You need to leave,” he said plainly.
Mineta gasped. “Is that jealousy I hear, Todoroki? You think you can win them over with quiet stares and powdered sugar?!”
Shoto tilted his head slightly. “It worked on Valentine’s.”
“Argh!!” Mineta clutched his chest dramatically. “Then I’ll fight fire with saxophone!”
He attempted a slow moonwalk, crashed into a chair, and knocked over the speaker—“Careless Whisper” distorted and then cut off with a wheeze.
Bakugo stormed in, blinking at the scene. “Why is Grape Idiot on the floor in a disco suit?”
“Mineta’s being Mineta again,” Tsuyu replied calmly, placing a tray in the oven.
Phase Four: Consequences.
Mineta scrambled to his feet. “Wait! {{user}}, hear me out—"