Chapter 2. Making Waves
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
'English speech'
Izuku, Ochako, and Tenya walked through the halls of U.A. on their way to the cafeteria.
"I can't wait to show the world what I've got at the sports festival, I'm really pumped up!" Ochako pumped her fist as Izuku's sweat dropped and Tenya encouraged her,
"That's the spirit, Uraraka-san!" He said while waving his arms around, "however I am surprised that the two transfer students are going to be participating with us."
"Nezu-sensei described it to me as a sort of publicity stunt," came a voice from behind them
"Eeep!" Ochako squeaked as the three friends whipped around to find the source of the voice.
"Ah! Hello there, Howell-san and Strauss-san. My apologies for talking about you both behind your backs!" we bowed while apologizing.
"Oh please, call me Haruki!" He began, "and don't worry about it, it's only natural that two new transfer students would cause some discussion in the student body."
"And please call me Mirajane," the young women piped in with a sweet smile on her face.
"Well Haruki and Mirajane, would you like to join us for lunch?" Ochako asked the couple.
"We'd love too!" Haruki said as the two older students joined the group walking down the hall.
"you said earlier that you two participating in the sports festival was a publicity stunt, what did you mean by that?" asked Izuku curiously.
"Well, principal Nezu told us that it is a good way to earn back the trust of the public," Haruki continued, "and since we're new to this country, we need to show the public that we have what it takes to protect the school."
"That makes sense," Izuku thought out loud, "though you two seem really strong, isn't it unfair to the rest of the first years for you to participate?"
"A good point to bring up, however Principal Nezu and I have already taken precautions to make things as fair as possible."
"What kind of precautions?" asked Iida as they walked into the cafeteria, Ochako happily chatting with Mirajane.
"Well, most of my combat equipment is designed to be lethal, so Nezu-sensei forbid me from using it against the other students, meaning I should be at a pretty big disadvantage compared to those of you with fighting style quirks," he explained while they got their trays and entered the line to pick up their food. "For Mira, Nezu is only letting her use her weakest transformation, limiting our potential significantly. The only real edge we should have is our teamwork and experience," he finished as they say down with their food.
"How did you and Haruki meet?" Ochako asked while waiting in the salad line with Mirajane as the boys secured them seats.
"He rescued me when I was 11," Mirajane smiled fondly, "He nurtured me back to health and we have been partners ever since."
"Awww! That's so romantic!" Ochako gushed, "But wouldn't that mean he was eleven when he rescued you? What kind of combat training does that guy have?!" She asked in a concerned voice.
"Oh, that's probably a secret!" Mirajane winked as Ochako's sweat dropped. The two girls made their way the table where the boys sat and had an enjoyable lunch of light hearted discussion.
The final bell rang signifying the school day was over and while some stayed to chatter with friends, they eventually trickled out leaving only Haruki and Mirajane.
'Well Eirian, I think the class was rather impressed with your introduction today,' Mirajane smiled at the boy,
'So, you don't think I went too far or revealed too much?' Eirian asked.
'I think you gave the perfect amount, and what you did to that purple brat showed them that you mean business. A very good job indeed.'
'Thanks. How's your Japanese coming along? I noticed you and Ochako seemed to get friendly pretty quickly.'
'It's going well. I'm not nearly as proficient as you, but actually being here helps me learn much faster than studying with you,' she playfully jabbed.
'What is that supposed to mean?' Eirian shot back acusingingly, a hurt look was on his face before the two broke out into giggles.
'Well as fun as today was, Sebas is probably outside waiting for us,' Eirian rose from his seat and offered his hand to Mirajane.
'What a gentleman!' Mirajane continued to poke fun. They both chuckled as they left the 1-A classroom.
As Tenya, Izuku, Ochako, and Tsuyu left the high school together they noticed Momo waiting for her chauffeur by herself, and they began walking towards her.
"Hey Yaomomo!" Ochako began as she ran up to greet her friend. Momo jumped out of her skin when she heard the loud noise, it was obvious that she was on edge.
"Wow are you okay Yaoyorozu-san?' Izuku asked in a concerned voice, "you seem really stressed out about something."
"Yeah I'll be okay," Momo began, "probably just a lack of sleep." Her friends didn't seem convinced but Ochako continued anyways,
"So, what do you think about the transfer students? Isn't Mirajane sooooo pretty?" Asked Ochako innocently.
"Ah yes," Momo forced out, "she's very beautiful."
"Speaking of which," Tenya entered the conversation, "didn't Haruki stop at your desk to talk to you? Do you know him from somewhere?
"Well, I guess you could say he's business partners with my father," she replied uneasily, "He's always ready intimidated me." Momo muttered softly.
"What are you talking about?" Ochako smiled, "They both seemed really nice! Not to mention Haruki really put Mineta in his place today!" she said excitedly.
"I-I suppose so," Momo said shyly. 'Maybe he really has changed,' Momo thought to herself. 'I guess it's pretty rude of me to pass judgement on someone I haven't seen in years,' she reassured herself as the chauffeur rolled up in a limousine. Momo was about to make her way to the limo until an unfamiliar man stepped out of the driver's seat. A tall, well-built butler emerged with neat grey hair and a well-kept grey beard. Momo recognized him as one of the men who worked with Haruki and became frozen with fear. Not moving though had been the wrong move however, as the man had already locked eyes with her and was heading Momo's way.
"Greetings, you are the young Yaoyorozu ojou-sama, are you not?" the man asked in a soft but stern voice.
"Yes, I am, you're one of Eirian's butlers, aren't you?" She asked. Before the man had a chance to answer a voice behind her spoke up.
"that's right! This is Sebas, and he is the Howell household's head butler," Eirian said as he seemingly appeared out of thin air, Mirajane slightly in tow. Momo jolted in fear again.
"I really rather dislike when you use that silly trick on unsuspecting people," Momo chastised quietly.
"Sorry about that, I guess old habits die hard," Eirian admitted while rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry to make you wait, Sebas, won't happen again," Eirian directed his attention to the man.
"Not at all, young master, take as much time as you need." Sebas said as he brought his hand to his chest and bowed slightly.
"Yeah, yeah," Eirian dismissed the gesture, his attention back on Momo. "Well Yaoyorozu-san, as much as I love our conversations, I'm afraid I must prepare for the meeting with your father tonight. Have a nice evening," Eirian waved goodbye to Momo and the other students as Sebas opened the doors for him and Mirajane to enter the limo. Once they were in Sebas got back into the driver's seat and drove away. The moment they left Momo's chauffeur pulled up. She too bid farewell to her friends and they waved back. Once she had left the remaining four students began working their way towards the train station.
"How did he sneak up on us without us noticing? Gerro. Tsuyu pondered allowed.
"Yeah that's was quite the surprise! He really got the jump on us!" Tenya praised.
"Mirajane was telling me at lunch today that he has quite the combat training," Ochako informed the others, "maybe he has been trained to sneak up on people really quietly?" she offered her potential explanation.
"perhaps," Izuku pulled out his notebook and began writing in it. "although to be able to sneak up on us like that in broad daylight and no cover is quite the accomplishment," he surmised.
The group continued discussing the day's events until they went their separate ways at the train station.
Later that evening a very luxurious white convertible pulled up to the Yaoyorozu estate. The butler known as Sebas opened the doors for his young masters to step out of the car. Eirian wore a dark navy suit with brown dress shoes and a red tie. He wore a gaudy gold wristwatch on his left wrist and his white dress shirt hand golden cufflinks with the design of gears on them.
Mirajane wore a modest white blouse with a navy skirt, cream colored heels on her feet. She wore her hair up in a bun and had on a pair of black reading glasses. Her ears held two diamond studded earrings, and she wore a slick golden watch on her right wrist.
"Thanks for the ride, Sebas," Eirian said as he gave the butler a pat on the arm. "we'll be back in a few hours, don't work yourself too hard, alright?"
"Thank you, young master," Sebas bowed.
As the duo made their way to the front door of the mansion, two Yaoyorozu household butlers opened the large double doors for them, the one on the right speaking to Eirian, "Good Evening sir, master Yaoyorozu is in his study on the second floor, and we will lead you there shortly. First however, what kind of tea to you fancy?" the butler asked politely.
Eirian looked over to Mirajane so that she could tell the butler her preference.
"Do you have Silver Tips Imperial?" she asked sweetly.
"Of course, ma'am," the butler bowed. "and for you, sir?"
"You wouldn't happen to have Gorreana Broken Leaf Black, would you?"
"but of course, I will bring it up to master's study as soon as it's ready," he bowed again and excused himself out of the room as the butler on the left approached the couple.
"please follow me to the master's study," he said as he turned and led the two up the stairs. Once they were at the top of the staircase, the butler led them down the corridor to a door on the left. The butler knocked on the door three times and shortly after the third knock a voice came from within.
"Enter," said the voice. The butler opened the door for Eirian and Mirajane and they walked into the incredibly lavish office. On the left was a mahogany bookshelf filled with texts that went from floor to ceiling across the entire wall. On the right was a small marble hearth and some expensive looking paintings. Twenty feet from the door was a gorgeous mahogany desk with a middle-aged Japanese man sitting at the helm. As soon as he saw Eirian enter the room he began to stand, but Eirian raised his hand to stop him.
"There will be no need for that today, Atsuhito," Eirian said as the man took his seat,
"Then what brings you today?" the man asked, leaning back in his chair as he motioned for the two to take a seat. Eirian and Mirajane each took a seat on a pair of red velvet seats placed in front of the desk, and the other butler arrived to bring the two their tea. Eirian took a sip of the tea and let out a satisfied sigh.
"I'm here today to check on the status of our shared assets," Eirian took another sip as Atsuhito reverted to sitting up as straight as a board as he said,
"Ah, so it's about that then." he pulled a key out and unlocked one of the drawers in his desk as he explained. "all of our assets have been successfully transferred," he pulled out a manila folder and placed it on the desk. "All of the contract info you need is in this folder." He slid the folder towards Eirian who nodded, prompting Mirajane to pluck it off the desk.
"Thank you Atsuhito, your company's assistance in transferring EMC out of the U.S. has been immeasurable, and extremely commendable considering the circumstances of the acquisitions."
"You are very welcome, I only wish more members of higher society have the foresight to see how beneficial your mission is for all walks of life."
"Alas, it proves to be an ever more difficult task," Eirian sighed, "especially after the incident."
"Then we shall just have to work harder to make sure that everything is in line," assured Atsuhito.
"Man, I really love that Japanese work ethic," Eirian said while Atsuhito puffed his chest slightly.
Was there anything else you wanted to discuss?" Atsuhito asked.
"Yes, let us discuss our next moves."
A few hours later Mirajane and Eirian were leaving the office and exchanging final pleasantries with the Yaoyorozu patriarch and joined back up with the fist butler who was responsible for escorting them back to their car. As they made their way down the grand staircase Mirajane had her arm locked with Eirian's, with her other hand lightly holding his robotic arm. Upon approaching the front door, someone was standing in their way. Momo stood defiantly with her arms crossed and made the couple stop, the butler adopting a very worried face.
'I know what you did during the American-Mexican war last year.' Momo said with venom on her lips, 'I overheard my father talking about it on the phone.' The effects of these words were subtle but immediate. Mirajane's signature smile faded for a distinctly neutral look, but her hand on Eirian's arm began to turn white with the amount of pressure she was squeezing him. She glanced over at him with worry in her eyes, but Eirian's poker face remained unwavered, even as the corners of his lips slowly began to curl up.
'Then you must know that EMC Armaments has been wiped from all blame of the tragedy,' he exclaimed coolly. 'And furthermore, the events of those weeks have left me a completely changed man, I'm trying to be a hero now! Save people, stop bad guys!' Mirajane's grip on him loosened, 'The focus of me and my company rests squarely on the betterment of mankind, we are the largest employer in the world after all!' He then adopted a much darker tone. 'This includes your father, of course,' He stated simply.
This less-than-empty threat was not missed by Momo, who was terrified. She quickly stood aside and allowed the couple to pass. As they left the mansion Momo was left swirling in her own thoughts. She returned to her room to mull it over some more and finally concluded, 'There's nothing I can do to stop him,' the realization hit her like a truck when she concluded that her entire family's fate was in the hands of Eirian.
Thanks everyone for reading! Next chapter will begin the sports festival arc, and while I have good ideas for the tournament portion of the arc, I'm still mulling over how I'm going to handle the first two challenges. Make sure to leave a review with anything you like!
This has been your friendly neighborhood deity, and I'll see you all in the next one!