winddemon199: ahaa ~ ! i laughed writing that part. i love Endeavor too, honestly. his character development is amazing ❤ even tho she didn't choose his agency, you can expect a ton more interactions between them ! (´ ∀ ` *)
LadyAmazon: lool ~ ❤ happy you smiled ! and unfortunately hugging Aizawa-sensei won't be so easy anymore, ehe ! can't wait for you to hear her joke ~ ! o(≧▽≦)o
DoesNotCompute: aah , thank you sm ~ ❤ that means a lot to me ! i'm excited to see how far this story will go !
Frenchie Is French: it sure looks that way, doesn't it ? what has she gotten herself into ? („ಡωಡ„)
MariDL: it would seem so, aha ! your english is good ! ❤ thank you for reading !
pinkpaladin: gotta love Mirio, aha ~ ! aahh Daichi is one of my most favorite characters ever honestly. he's like a breath of fresh air. i wonder if that dinner will happen ? ehehe ~ ( ´ ▽ ` ) thank you ❤ ! ~
aarime: haha this joke gives me so much life ! ｡ﾟ(TヮT)ﾟ｡
bbymojo: aaah, tysm! oh he most definitely secretly loves it, aha ! aah , all of your highlights are my highlights, too ! (especially the wish, ehe ~ ) Daichi basically saved Hotaru's life from Endeavor, lmao. it seems the flaming hero also doesn't want to admit how good she did (¯▿¯) i can say you're right about that. and of course , Mineta will never learn ~ ❤
Vienna22: i'm happy you love it ! and yes , Mineta xD his delusion is so enjoyable.
jaffa3: ( : ౦ ‸ ౦ : ) it would seem that way, huh ?
AugustRrush: ❤ ! tysm ! can't wait for you to read it
Aqua Salmon: ahaha lmao ! it's okay typos haunt me and they forever will ! tysm for reading!
lovelyhatter: ❤ ! i hope your finals went well! and thank you soooo much (´ ∀ ` *) the parts you mentioned are absolute favorites of mine, too. Shoto and Taru are too cute .. ! can't wait for you to read this chappy ! ❤
ShinigamiReiko: aah , thank you so much for reading ! i'm really happy this story is to your liking, ❤ writing Shoto and Taru stressed me out for a bit too, honestly ! don't worry Mineta isn't going anywhere, aha ! hope you like this chapter ~
Emocean: aha , thank you! i love writing the anime effects ! i think it kinda helps make everything seem more real and feel like the actual anime itself ❤ and of course, it's also funny ! happy you love it ! and Taru's hero name, too ~! cheers!
paracosms: aah , that means a lot, tysm ! ❤ if i'm being honest, i can completely relate to her crybaby trait too, lmao ! thank you so much for reading, and i hope you can enjoy this chapter ! (⁀ᗢ⁀)
shethoughts: wow ~ ! thank you lots ! i hope you like this chapter ~ ! and your english is really good !
MissLaufeyson97: ohh ! aha it's okay ! no worries ~ ! that sounds like a good idea actually ! i'll just need to think of a way to make it interesting c; ❤
paulina101: next chapter for you ~~ ! ❤
•○●○•
as always, i'm sending a special thank you to everyone ❤
i'm very grateful to everyone who's reading, as it really means so much. love being able to share my writing ❤
i apologize for the longer than normal wait. finals really were a hassle this year and i couldn't be more happy about them being over. now it's in the past, aha !
i tried my best writing two certain characters that appear this chapter, hopefully i did okay , aha. i really adore them both
either way, i hope everyone enjoys this chapter, and i apologize for any errors if there are any !
hope everyone is doing well ~ ❤
•○●○•
❤•○●○•❤
Unforeseen
❤•○●○•❤
"You all have your costumes, right? Remember, you aren't allowed to wear them in public." Aizawa speaks, looking over all of his students. "Don't drop them or anything."
A few days have passed since they have chosen their hero names, and it has only been a couple of days since Hotaru has finally chosen a hero agency she wants to intern at. She was one of the last to submit her choice. Now, the big day is finally here. She's going to get a true taste of the hero world.
Instead of meeting at school, they met at the station nearby. Everyone is holding a suitcase that contains their hero costume. Ordinary people walk by them, staring in excitement and wonder. Hotaru draws in a breath deep enough to cause her shoulders to rise.
The agency she chose—she thinks it's the best one she could've picked. It was the one that stood out to her the most. She did some gruesome research like her teacher's suggested, and this hero in particular seems just as cool as his name. After all, he was All Might's former sidekick.
He must know a lot about the Symbol of Peace, and most importantly the secrets to becoming the best hero possible. He may as well have been the number one hero himself. This is sure to be an amazing experience.
"Yessir!" Ashido cheers, bringing Hotaru out of her thoughts.
"Speak clearly!" Aizawa scolds her. "It's 'yes, sir,' Ashido."
"Yes, sir…" She pouts, speaking more clearly like she's told.
Hotaru offers her a smile while adjusting her suitcase in her hands. It's obvious she's excited about today, and Aizawa seems more strict today, too. She wonders if he's worried about how they'll perform.
"Make sure you mind your manners with the heroes at your internship!" Aizawa speaks again and more severely than before, confirming Hotaru's thoughts. "Off with you, now."
"No promises~!" Hotaru sings out while everyone else responds formally, making Aizawa zone in on her as everyone scatters.
"Especially you." He glares. "If you break any rules, you won't be given simple school consequences such as detention. You're entering the real world now, with real laws."
"I was joking." Hotaru laughs, walking up to him with upward curved lips as she continues to jest. "I will show utmost courtesy—ow."
He thumps her forehead, and she rubs at it instantly with squinted eyes. A sigh escapes him as he stares down at her almost hopelessly. She has no idea what she has gotten herself into. Why this man even extended an offer to her makes him skeptical. This can end either on a very high note or an exceedingly low one. It all depends on her.
"Don't lose your composure, problem-child."
After those words, his hand settles atop her head as he moves past her. Her mind goes blank for a short moment and her jaw slackens. She blinks a few times in bewilderment, staring after his retreating form. Was that some sort of cautioning for the road that lies ahead? She hums to herself and turns around, facing Shoto who's giving her an odd look.
"You're…" He begins, and her head tilts.
"What?"
"Stupid." He affirms.
She sticks her tongue out at him, skipping on over. Her skirt swishes with her movements and her wavy tresses bound. Once she comes to a stop in front of him, she slings her suitcase over her shoulder. She uses her free hand to fiddle with her spiraled strands of hair over her forehead.
"Oh, whatever." She speaks airily, offering him a tender smile afterwards. "I like messing with Aizawa-sensei. He's funny. He's like..." Suddenly, she shakes her head. "Ah, never mind. Are you ready for your internship? You're not nervous, are you?"
Her suitcase is now being held with both of her hands and in front of her. She's leaning forward and peering up at him with an almost electrifying grin, her dark hair tumbling over her shoulder. A few seconds of silence pass by and her lips purse.
"Sho?" She inquires curiously.
"I'm not nervous." He answers, and she straightens up. "Are you?"
"I don't think I'm nervous." She muses aloud. "But, I am feeling something. Not sure what, though."
He nods, and suddenly his gaze shifts to beyond her. Someone passes by from behind, and she looks over her shoulder to see Iida walking by. His movements are way more stiff than usual, and his jaw is notably tight. A crease forms in her brow. Midoriya and Uraraka are running after him to talk.
"I'm worried about him." Hotaru whispers.
"Me too." Shoto reveals, and just as a voice over the intercom announces the nearing departure time of a specific bullet train, the one Hotaru needs to board.
"Oh, that's me." She starts up in surprise, looking back at Shoto. "Time for me to go. Good luck, Shoroki!"
With a smile, she bumps her fist against his arm before spinning on her heels. She jogs off and he somewhat extends his hand as if to stop her. His lips part and he blinks twice as he stares after her. She seems eager for her internship. He lets out a sigh before walking off in the opposite direction.
"You too." He says quietly and beneath his breath, wishing she would've stayed put for at least a second longer so he could've said that to her face.
Hotaru boards the train and finds a seat with surprising ease despite the many people present. She hugs her suitcase to her chest, staring out the window and at the many city buildings passing by. Some of those buildings even reflect the deep blue sky like a mirror. It's a mesmerizing sight. Her lips twitch upwards.
Although she doesn't know what exactly to expect, she's excited. She wonders what kind of things she will learn. Will she get the chance to actually work as a hero and save lives? The hero she's going to work under, what kind of person is he? These thoughts run through her mind even as she reaches her stop.
Once she steps out of the train she gets a whiff of fresh air. She finds herself inhaling more deeply. Now that she's getting closer to her destination, a jittery feeling sprouts alongside her excitement. Maybe she's just as nervous as eager.
She raises her hand over her head as she travels down the street to block the sun, carefully studying the buildings alongside the streets. The agency should be nearby. Is it further down the road? She lowers her hand and starts to pull out her phone to get the exact address.
"Ah! He said you would get lost!" A voice suddenly speaks out, making her pause mid-step. Slowly, she looks down and blanches at a familiar sight.
Beady eyes are staring up at her, sparkling to match the present grin. Protruding from the ground once again is that face she and Shoto encountered a few days ago. What the hell? She's seeing it again and in an entirely different location. Is it a ghost? A stalker? Some sort of lowlife?
She points down at the face, making its mouth form an "o" shape. Sparks are emitting from her fingertip and her eyes now hold an eerie glow. A threatening aura spews outwards. A drop of sweat forms on the face.
"What the hell are you?" She inquires in a sinister tone. "If you're following me this is your final chance to leave. If you don't take advantage of this chance, you'll experience a lot of pain within the next five seconds."
"You really were a past villain!" It laughs out loud. "You looked like an ordinary girl before! How strange! I'm 'Togatally' surprised—!"
"You have less than three seconds left." She interrupts him, the lightning at her fingertip growing in size. Anyone nearby grows frightened and scatters.
"O-Oh! You're serious!" It sputters in shock. "Wait! Sir told me to fetch you!"
"Sir?" Hotaru gasps and her impending attack diminishes. "Sir Nighteye?"
"Correct! Alright! I'm coming up. But, you might want to look away!"
Why would she look away? She wonders if this thing is pulling a prank on her. It doesn't feel right to let it out of her sight considering the circumstances. It's way too creepy. Her eyes narrow as the face starts to protrude from the ground even further.
"Why would I—? What the hell?!"
Hotaru moves quicker than ever before, turning around in a literal flash before she sees something she absolutely does not want or need to see. Her teeth grit in annoyance and her cheeks become extremely warm. Just who is this weirdo? She wants to shock him.
"Want to tell me why you're naked in broad daylight?" She bites out, her eyelid twitching. Her fingers tremble at her sides and static tickles her flesh. "If Sir Nighteye himself told you to 'fetch' me, you should've done so in a more proper manner."
"Sorry about that! My Quirk isn't compatible with my clothes." He explains as he changes into his clothes that were lying nearby.
"If that's the case then don't use your Quirk." She retorts.
"But, you were surprised, weren't you?" He questions with a joyous laugh. "I did it because I thought you'd be surprised!"
"Who wouldn't be surprised?!" She turns around with bared teeth. "Running into some naked man in the middle of the street? I swear," She jabs a finger at him. "If I saw that you would be dead!"
"Oh! You were more surprised by that than my face—?"
Lighting strikes the ground near his feet. The small portion of the concrete ground now is blackened and cracked with steam rising from it. A shadow is over Hotaru's face as she fiercely glares at him with scarlet cheeks.
"Shut up." She speaks in a low tone.
His muscular form that is much bigger than hers is unfazed. There is still a smile across his face and the breeze ruffles up his blonde hair. He's dressed in a U.A. uniform which explains why she saw him at school. He's a student there, and someone who she already can't stand.
She lowers her sparking finger, her eyelids lowering. Without a single word, she walks past him while running her fingers through her hair. He stares after her with a smile and points down a different road.
"Sir Nighteye's agency is that way." He informs her that she's going the wrong way, but she keeps walking. "Ah, you're really stubborn! How… strange."
He raises his index finger in thought, and Hotaru looks over at him. At some point, he started walking by her side. His smile that's been present for so long now falters slightly as he contemplates.
"You know, you keep referring to me as strange but the way I see it, you're the strange one." Hotaru mutters, and he laughs while waving his hands about.
"I don't mean that you are strange! I think you're quite interesting." He responds as they cross the street. "I just think it's strange that Sir was interested in you. That's why I came to see you the other day. I was curious about what kind of person you were."
"Oh, really?" She speaks in a rather dull tone. "You're not the only one who thinks it's strange. I think it's strange, too."
"Right?! I have no idea what this is about!" He laughs loudly and brings his hands to his hips. "What a coincidence!"
"No matter the reason, he sent me an offer." She sighs when he suddenly takes the lead. Now she's the one following behind him. "He wants me for something. I just hope that it's not disappointing."
"Hm…"
He hums to himself, contemplating once more. He also wonders what Sir wants from her. She seems like the kind of person he would loathe. No sense of humor, always frowning, quick-tempered… that's the kind of person she is right now. However, the other day she was smiling and laughing, more chipper overall. Then, it hits him. She was with Endeavor's son at the time. She must be comfortable around a select few people.
"You're a tsundere, aren't you?!" He suddenly exclaims as they continue around the block.
"...What?"
It's not that she didn't hear him, and it's not that she doesn't know what that is, she's just trying to process that he referred to her as that. A tsundere? Her lips purse. That's not it. She's not someone so fabricated. Does he think he has her all figured out?
Once they come to a stop in front of a five-story building, Hotaru maneuvers so she's in front of him. Her silvery orbs are narrowed as they stare up at him. The grip she has on her suitcase tightens.
"You misjudge me." She begins with a deep frown. "I greatly value first impressions. Depending on how someone acts, I'll act in a relevant manner in return. You see, you didn't make a very good first impression on me. To me, you came off as a stalker, freak, and I even referred to you as 'it' in my head. As if I would be all giddy with you." She scoffs. "Not to mention you're a complete stranger."
Suddenly, his hand is held out to her. She stares at it blankly before looking up at his smiling face. He's brimming with optimism even after her blunt words. She may as well haven't said them.
"I'm Mirio Togata, a third-year at U.A." He grins, and her brows furrow. "It's nice to meet you, Aihara-kun!"
"You know my name?"
"Yeah! You are a frequent hot topic around school." He explains.
"I see." She murmurs, slowly placing her hand in his for a friendly shake. "It's nice to meet you, too…" She trails off for a short moment, thinking to herself. He's an upperclassman, so the honorific she should use is… "Togata-senpai."
"We're not strangers anymore, are we?" He beams, moving to open the door for her.
"I guess you can say we're acquaintances. Which isn't anything special."
She steps inside with a thankful nod of her head. Upon entering the building, she doesn't waste any time at all to look around. Sir Nighteye's Agency. The moment has finally arrived, and it's a moment she didn't think she would ever have the pleasure of having.
So far, it looks like a typical office building. Sunlight floods into the large structure through the plentiful windows. The floor is made up of tiles the color of sand and there are house plants in nearly every corner. There is a fresh and clean scent lingering in the air. It's a spotless building.
Togata moves by her, and she follows after him while she continues to take in her surroundings. He leads her over to a large and spiral staircase that seems endless. She adjusts her suitcase in her hands as she begins to climb up the stairs after him.
"I was told not to give you too much advice, so I can't offer you much." He begins, smiling at her from over his shoulder. "All I can really say to help you is 'be yourself.' If you do that, I think it'll be easy to win him over."
After those words, Hotaru gives Togata a strange look. She's always herself. She's more concerned about the last words he spoke. What does he mean by "win him over?" Sir Nighteye sent her an offer, so didn't she already win him over with her performance in the sports festival? Well, whatever. She'll find out soon enough.
Before long, she finds herself walking down a light-colored hallway. A lone wooden door resides at the end of it. Call it instinct or her nerves, but she can sense him before she even sees him. She draws in a long and deep breath, doing it just like Aizawa tells her to do when she's overwrought like she is now.
"He's just beyond that door." Togata informs, pointing at the door while smiling at her. "If you're ready to face him, open the door with your own strength!"
Hotaru releases her breath after holding it for three seconds, then proceeding to draw in another one. Togata lets out a laugh while crossing his arms over his chest. She really is quite the interesting character, nothing like most of the rumors he hears about her.
"Are you nervous?" He asks, and she rejects that with the simple motion of walking past him. She waves him off, her hand shooing him away almost like he's a bug.
"Not at all." Hotaru grabs onto the metal handle. However, just before she turns it she looks over at Togata. She gives him the smallest of smiles. "Thank you for showing me the way."
His usual grin grows into the biggest one yet. That's the first time she's smiled since they met, and seeing that smile makes him think she'll do just fine against whatever lies ahead once she opens that door. He gives her a thumbs up.
"You're welcome. After all, wanting to do what you can to help is an important part of being a hero, right?"
"Right." She nods, turning the handle.
She pushes the door open with no hesitation, keeping her poise resolute and strong. This is it. From here on out, she'll be learning from one of the best. There's no room for hesitation or fear… huh? Abruptly, she closes the door and takes a step back. Was she hallucinating just now?
"What's wrong?" Togata inquires with the curious tilt of his head.
"I think this is the wrong room." She states.
"It's the right room."
"Can't be."
"Why do you say that?"
"Well," She points at the door. "Someone is being tortured in there."
"Oh!" Togata brings his hands together in realization. "That must be Bubble Girl! Don't worry. She just failed to make Sir laugh."
"...Failed to make him laugh?" She murmurs, her brows furrowing.
To answer that, Togata brings his index finger over his lips as if he just said something top secret. What's that supposed to mean? She lets out a sigh and stares at the door. Why does she feel like she has made a grave mistake? She opens the door once again, seeing that she most definitely wasn't hallucinating.
A young woman with light blue skin is restrained to some weird contraption that is mercilessly tickling her. Her laughs echo throughout the room and tears stream down her face. Through her laughter, she's begging to be freed.
Not only that, this room has All Might plastered in every corner. Even all of the bookshelves are filled with books about All Might. The only normal thing about this room is the office desk in the back corner, that a certain someone is sitting at. Don't tell her, is he seriously just sitting there while this woman gets tickled to death?
Even though he's sitting down, she can tell that he's very tall. He has a lean build and his hair is a dark green with yellow streaks. His eyes are bright, and the suit he wears goes with the overall business theme this building has.
Their eyes meet, and she grows stiff instantly at his intimidating gaze. So, this is Sir Nighteye. The pressure behind just his stare alone is insane. Is he glaring at her? It's hard to believe a guy like this was All Might's former sidekick. He seems too stern. Her lips purse and she steps fully into the room, Togata following behind her.
"I found her like you told me too!" Togata beams. "She really did get lost."
"I didn't get lost." Hotaru objects. "I just needed directions."
"Isn't that… the same thing?" Togata muses aloud, only to be ignored.
Hotaru takes a single step forward, bowing respectfully as she greets Sir Nighteye. His eyes narrow the tiniest bit as she straightens up, poker-faced and boring. She seems even more obstinate in person.
"I'm Hotaru Aihara," She introduces herself, her tone steady and mythical. "It's nice to meet you, Sir Nighteye. Thank you for extending an offer to me. I'll do my absolute best."
After her introduction, silence hovers in the air. The machine that was torturing that woman stops and Sir Nighteye doesn't say a single word in response. Instead, he's still glaring at her.
With a sigh, Hotaru lowers her suitcase onto the ground. She flexes her now free fingers before folding her arms over her chest. She counters his glare with a glare of her own, only her glare comes off as villainous. Togata skeptically looks between them.
"That's quite the glare." Sir Nighteye states, adjusting his glasses with his middle finger.
"When someone glares at me, I tend to glare back." Hotaru bluntly states. "Forgive me if it's rude. Just call it a habit."
"I see. Is being apathetic also a habit of yours?"
"It all depends on who's standing before me. Is that disappointing to you?"
"It is." He reveals. "There is no future for a society without energy or humor. You don't have a single funny bone and your insufficient energy is bleak."
Togata moves to free Bubble Girl, and Hotaru frowns at Sir Nighteye. He doesn't seem like someone who she can get along with. According to him, her energy is bleak and she doesn't have a single funny bone. Doesn't everyone have a funny bone in their elbow? He mentioned humor… wait. Does he mean to say she isn't funny?
"Sorry to disappoint, but I'm not a comedian." She says, letting her arms fall back to her sides. "That shouldn't be a problem though, since there are plenty of other humorous people in the world to make up for my lack of it. Personally, if everyone was funny I think that'd be pretty annoying."
"Why's that?"
"Because people will end up taking things too lightly. I think negativity is necessary for growth. I guess it's just one of those things that have to do with balance. For instance, heroes and villains are two sides of the same coin, they correspond and can't exist without the other." She explains, finding herself staring at an All Might poster. "Well, whatever. That's just what I think. Beliefs are circumstantial."
That's one thing they can agree on—that heroes and villains are two sides of the same coin. However, she's too lackluster and missing the point. Humor and energy are vital characteristics of being a hero and she lacks them all. How can someone so dull assure those that need to be saved? She evidently has the combat part of being a hero down, but personality wise she's forlorn.
"You can't become a hero without good humor." He affirms. "This internship won't officially kick off until you can display that."
"What?" She breathes out in disbelief. "Are you being serious?"
Her brows furrow at that. His hardening stare makes it clear that he is serious. She's sure she can be a hero without "good humor." She wouldn't even call that an important characteristic. There are far more important things other than that. What about kindness? Throughout her entire life, the acts of kindness have left the most profound impact on her. It brought about an entirely new light in her life.
"How about kindness? Isn't that more important?" She blurts.
"That qualifies as energy, which you lack."
"Excuse me?" Hotaru grumbles, fighting back a scowl. "Now I'm not nice enough for you?"
"When you walked into this room you brought a certain dreariness. How is that supposed to reassure a victim you're saving? How are you going to be beneficial to society? A past villain like you, how can you be useful in the hero world?"
His questions were spoken swiftly and cut through the air mercilessly. So, that's how it is. This guy doesn't see anything hero worthy in her. He thinks so lowly of her he may as well think nothing of her. Did he just send her an offer to scold her? She's kind of pissed off now. She could be doing more productive things right now. Is this what Aizawa meant when he said to not lose her composure?
"Guess we'll find out when I get out there." She retorts.
"No. We'll find out now." He disagrees. "I'll give you a single chance. Show me that you do have a funny bone and we can get this internship started."
Hotaru stares into his eyes that are stern and bright. Her arms hang limply at her sides and her brows knit together. What kind of initiation is this? The lenses of his glasses gleam a pure white when she brings her hand to her hip, even shifting her weight in a sassy manner.
"Yeah, this is a waste of time." She states. "I can't make you laugh."
"It is a waste." He agrees. "It seems I've taken in someone who doesn't have the ability to try."
A popping vein bursts from the back of her head, and he leans back in his office chair. She raises her hand, taking some strands of hair between her fingers. Her cheeks gradually darken as she looks off to the side. Damn it. This sucks. If she can't do this, then it all ends here.
"...What do you call a fish with no eyes?"
When someone tells a joke that involves a question, they are supposed to respond, right? If they know the answer they say it, if they don't they guess or claim that they don't know. So, why is it so quiet?
Sir Nighteye's intense gaze is drilling a hole right through her. Togata and Bubble Girl just stare at her curiously. A full minute goes by of only silence and she begins to sweat. The hanging wall clock ticks away. Her hands move over her extremely warm face.
"...Fishually impaired." She whispers the answer, and Togata coughs.
"You think that's funny?" Sir Nighteye asserts, standing up from his chair. Hotaru shakes her head, listening to his approaching footsteps.
"N-No…"
"Then, why did you say it?"
"Because I heard someone say it before… at a park… a-and," She swallows thickly, quickly turning away from him as he closes in on her. "E-Even though I thought it was sad... a lot of people laughed."
"A-Aihara-kun?!" Togata looks at her in worry when Sir Nighteye grabs onto her wrists, pulling her hands away from her face.
Her cheeks are flushed and a vivid pink, and thick moisture is sticking to her ebony lashes and threatening to spill over. Her eyelids are clamped together as if to keep them at bay. Sir Nighteye's eyes narrow further.
"Do you like fish?" He questions, and she nods instantly.
"I love fish."
"And the thought of an injured fish makes you sad?"
"V-Very." She says softly. "But, I think I'm sad too because I wasn't able to make you laugh. I'm sorry, but I'm really not all that funny."
The intimidation in Sir Nighteye's stare falters. It seems he was very wrong. This girl is nothing like he originally thought. How unexpected. Just mentioning fish brings about a drastic change, and she's veritably way more sensitive than she portrays. Despite that, he needs to confirm something else before he can let this internship commence. He just needs to make eye contact.
"What is your favorite fish?"
At a slow pace, her eyes crack open. They hold a soft glow and even develop sparkles, like falling rain immersed by emerging sunlight. Her lips curve upwards serenely as she peers up at him.
"Koi fish." She answers happily, and images flash before him.
They are brief and spread out, unforeseen. The film sound is replaced with the ringing in his ears. A black and white film that grows hazy. A film that becomes tainted with blotches. It's fast paced like a raging river, fleeting like a clap of thunder, and yet—
"I especially like butterfly koi fish. Oh, and even this bottom feeder that's called a royal plecostomus!" Hotaru's voice grabs his attention. She's smiling in excitement as she gushes over the aquatic creatures. "It can digest wood. My big brother Daichi told me that. He even has a fish store! Oh, that reminds me. He's supposed to be getting a shipment of fish soon…"
She trails off when Sir Nighteye takes a step back, adjusting his glasses and causing them to gleam. His lips are pressed together firmly in a straight line. A dark cloud may as well be hovering over him. Her head tilts. It's like he saw a ghost.
"Sir?" Togata speaks up, seeming worried.
"So, you want to be a hero?" Sir Nighteye begins taking steps back over to his desk, tense. "Let's get started, then. You should have a paper that needs to be signed."
"Even though I didn't make you laugh?" She breathes out, outwardly stunned but inwardly relieved. She digs into her travel bag to hunt down the important piece of paper.
"I never said you had to make me laugh. You just had to prove that you had a sense of humor." He explains, taking his seat. "Although your joke was awful, your enthusiasm for fish is preposterous."
"...Preposterous?" She repeats, a shadow over her face as she hands over the sheet.
"In other words, amusing."
"...For your sake, I'm going to pretend that I didn't hear that."
She watches as he grabs onto the paper. His other hand reaches towards a lone pen on his desk. However, he doesn't use that pen. Her breath gets caught in her throat as she watches her paper drift down into the nearby recycling bin. It disappears from her sight and she instantly locks eyes with him.
"You shouldn't be a hero." He says.
It's impossible to say exactly how many times someone told her that she can't be a hero, but someone saying she shouldn't be one is a first. Somehow, it hits her differently. She can't tell if it's more perturbing or not. But, it's the same all around, and it's getting old.
"Should and shouldn't. Can and can't." She sighs aloud, folding her arms over her chest. "If I had a dollar for every time someone tried to tell me what I can and can't do I can guarantee I'd be a millionaire by now. I'm going to be honest with you. If you told me this a couple months ago I'd be experiencing a heap of doubt. Now, it's different."
Her feet carry her around his desk, and she reaches inside the recycling bin and retrieves her paper. She uses it to lightly fan her face before facing him with tenacious eyes. A smirk forms on her face.
"I learned the hard way that I'm the only one who calls the shots on what path I take. I'm going to do what I want even if other people like you are bothered by it. I've been dreaming of becoming a hero for so long, and I'm never going to let that dream slip from my grasp again. I guess what I'm trying to say is; I don't care what you think."
She's now standing in front of his desk again and holding out her paper. No other words come out of her mouth. The way she's holding out her paper isn't in a pleading way, but a demanding way. This girl is unrelenting even after his piercing words. His yellow orbs narrow.
"Being a hero isn't an easy job, and for someone like you it'll be unbearable. You should step down now." He warns.
"You're saying things I already know. I know I'm going to have to work harder than everyone else, and I know that there are going to be a ton of people against me. I don't expect it to be easy." She laughs a bit. "Thank you, Sir Nighteye."
Her sudden gratitude is something he didn't foresee. It catches him off guard, even making his jaw slacken the tiniest bit. Her lips are curved upwards into an amicable smile. He doesn't think he has ever met someone so fluctuating.
"You looked into my future at some point, didn't you?" She speaks in a buoyant tone. "I'll face it all and won't have a single regret. You shouldn't worry for my sake, even if I end up hitting a dead end." She slides her paper across his desk with a growing smirk. "After all, signing death certificates comes with the job."
The air conditioning unit kicks on, filling the room with a reverberating sound. Her gaze remains unwavering. Gradually, a shadow falls over Sir Nighteye's face as he lowers his head. He stares down at the paper. His shoulders tremble, and Hotaru blinks in bewilderment.
He brings his hand towards his face, letting out an airy cough. Togata grins widely from the back of the room as Sir Nighteye reaches for his pen once again. He scribbles his name across the paper, looking up at Hotaru with a smile she didn't expect.
"You're something special, Aihara."
•○●○•
An endless pastel sky adorned with cirrocumulus clouds. It's like time has frozen until a flock of birds fly over her head. A gust of wind slams into her from behind, tousling her hair about. She lowers her head and her wavy tresses fall over her face.
"...Something special?" She whispers into the wind, her cheeks feeling warm all of a sudden. That was unexpected. Although, so was the task she was given.
She stares down at the open book in her lap, then looking at the small pile of books next to her. Basic heroic skills, All Might stories, and even books that teach one how to be humorous are all within that pile.
She's supposed to read these all before she can go on her first patrol with him. She understands why she would have to read over hero basics and even Quirk regulations, but these joke books are irrelevant. There's no use in complaining, though. The sooner she gets this done the sooner she can truly jump right into this internship.
After she was given these books, she came up to the rooftop. It's the most peaceful up here and the weather is really nice, too. She learned that Togata is doing his work studies here which is apparently much more different than internships. How interesting. She wonders how much different work studies are, but pondering over that now would be a waste of time.
An airplane flying overhead catches her attention. It's leaving behind a cloudy trail. The blinking red light makes her mind suddenly drift elsewhere. She pulls out her phone and opens up her contacts, scrolling through the many names. Her finger hovers over a certain name.
Is his internship going well? She hopes it is, and deep down inside she knows it is. The way his eyes shined so resolutely just the other day was like a breath of fresh air. There was no room for doubt or worry.
Her fingertip taps his name and a green icon pops up. She moves her finger towards it slowly. It presses against it, although it doesn't lift.
He's probably busy right now. Maybe he doesn't even have his phone with him. Or, maybe she's just making up excuses.
She slides her finger all the way off of the screen, her touch being too opaque even for her phone to understand she was pressing down on the call button. Despite her thoughts, she can't help herself.
She holds her phone up high and opens up her camera, aiming it at the soft-hued sky. After searching for the best possible angle, she takes a picture to capture the painted scenery. She shares it with him and attaches a message that reads;
"The sky is pretty."
With a smile, she places her phone next to her and focuses back on the book in her lap. She's already halfway through it. Her goal is to finish all these books by tomorrow even if she has to stay up all night long to do just that.
•○●○•
Shoto trails behind Endeavor as they walk down the city street, currently on a patrol. His old man wasted no time at all to show him what "it means to be a hero." It's an uneventful evening although a valuable learning experience. He looks up at the scenic sky and his mind begins to wander.
Suddenly, his phone vibrates from within his pocket, prompting him to reach for it. His walk gradually slows at the name in his notifications. It's Taru. He opens up her message that has an image attached. It's a picture of the same sky that's over his head, and her message reads;
"The sky is pretty."
He comes to a stop. So, she is staring at the sky too? It looks like she's on a rooftop and he wonders why. Is her internship going well? Is anyone giving her a hard time? He looks back skywards while holding his phone over his head.
No longer hearing Shoto following behind him, Endeavor comes to a stop and looks over his shoulder. Shoto has his back to him and his phone angled towards the sky. His teeth grit and the flames surrounding him spike.
"What are you doing, Shoto?!" Endeavor barks, a shuttering sound following afterwards.
"Taking a picture." Shoto answers in monotone, opening up the picture he just took.
The angle of the picture is obviously much different than the one she took. Hers resembles a vast ocean that stretches on for miles, while his resembles an average overhead view. In other words, it's not as pretty as hers. In spite of that, he sends her the picture along with a message of his own that reads;
"It is pretty."
He continues after his irritable old man. Instead of putting his phone back in his pocket, he keeps it in his hand. Taru is always quick to respond to text messages. Within the next minute or two, he'll be getting a reply from her.
Endeavor's eyes narrow slightly as he starts walking. The sky is quite the sight, yet for him to take a picture of it was out of the blue. Realization dawns on him, and his thoughts are confirmed when he sees Shoto looking at his phone again. He's texting someone when he's supposed to be looking at him.
He turns around to yell at him, only to pause at the surprised look on Shoto's face. His mismatched eyes are wide and focused on the sky, like he's searching for something. Endeavor's fists clench and he glares at the sky, trying to figure out what the hell is up there that's so interesting. He doesn't see a thing, but Shoto does.
Shoto's lips curve upwards and he reads her message again. Suddenly, they are texting back and forth with the names they have for each other displayed.
Taru:
"You're so lucky. That cloud looks like a fish. Even though we're looking at the same sky, I can't see it."
Shoroki:
"Only you would notice that."
Taru:
"Only me? But, it's so obvious up there. You should notice it, too."
Shoroki:
"I'll try to next time."
Taru:
"I'll hold you down to that! As soon as we can, let's go cloud watching! ^.^ "
Shoroki:
"Okay."
"Shoooo—!" Endeavor's yell is interrupted when Shoto suddenly walks by him while uttering like he's the one in charge.
"Let's go."
"Ootoooo…!"
•○●○•
It's not until well after midnight when Hotaru finishes reading all the books she was told to. She paid close attention to every little word in the hero basics, a little less in Quirk laws, even more less in the All Might comics, and only skimmed through the joke books. Either way, it was a productive night.
She walks down the hallway, bringing her hand over her mouth as she yawns. She put the books back on the bookshelves in Sir Nighteye's office which was empty at the time. He's probably sleeping which is something she needs to do herself. It's nearly three in the morning.
Her feet carry her down a different hallway where her temporary room is. Bubble Girl showed her where her room was earlier. She thought Bubble Girl would be more "bubbly," but she's actually quite deliberate. Clearly, she takes her job very seriously.
"Power!" A muffled voice sounds out.
Pausing mid-step, Hotaru turns her head and focuses on the door she just passed by. That sounded like Togata. He's still here? She thought he had gone home earlier. He mentioned having to go back to school tomorrow… well, realistically speaking, in a few hours. What's he still doing up?
"Mirio's training." Sir Nighteye speaks up from behind her. She jumps, not expecting to see him at all. Her looks amused at her reaction, especially so since she has positioned herself in a poor offensive stance.
"D-Don't sneak up on me like that!" She stutters out with a glare. "You could've gotten shocked."
"Interesting. So, you have the instinct to attack anyone who sneaks up on you?"
"...Sometimes." She admits. "A-Anyways, I finished reading all of those books. They're back in your office."
"That was quick."
Just his stare alone makes it clear that he doesn't believe she read everything. Sir Nighteye is also very perceptive, it seems. She clasps her hands together behind her back and looks off to the side.
"Most of it…" She mutters, correcting herself and focusing back on the door Togata is behind. "Shouldn't he be getting some rest?"
"He will soon. Mirio is very tenacious and the ideal hero candidate."
"I see…" She murmurs with a thoughtful head tilt. "He's a bit weird, but, he's kind of like All Might, isn't he?"
Surprise crosses Sir Nighteye's features at that statement. He thinks the exact same thing. That's why he chose to train him, because he believes that kid can be the one to rise up as the next Symbol of Peace. Although, he's curious why she thinks that.
"How so?" He inquires, and she holds up her index finger.
"Well, he's always smiling like All Might and he always makes his presence known. When it's time for class, All Might bursts through the door and yells, 'I am coming through the door like a normal person!'" Hotaru tries mimicking All Might's voice while extending her arms. "Togata-senpai does something similar just by poking his head through objects and laughing. And, just earlier Togata-senpai called me a tsundere—which I'm not. But, now that I really think about it, All Might calls the class 'zygotes.' I didn't know what that meant so I asked Aizawa-sensei, and he kicked me out of the staff room..."
•
"Aizawa-sensei," Hotaru magically appears behind him, and he sighs heavily in annoyance. "I have a question."
"What?" He grumbles while massaging his temples.
"What's a zygote?"
He turns around with eyes as wide as ever, his jaw slack. She's staring at him curiously. Did he hear her right?
"A what?"
"A zygote." She repeats. "What is that—?"
His capture weapon seizes her, and she's dragged back to class by his fuming form.
•
"I still don't know what that is. But, whatever." She shrugs indifferently after her flashback. "It's probably something stupid like a bug."
Sir Nighteye moves his hand towards his face, covering the majority of it as he adjusts his glasses. He coughs, and Hotaru's lips purse. Quietly, he moves by her and towards the door. He grips the handle and looks at her.
"Would you like to train as well? Or, would you rather rest since it's so late?"
It's true she's tired, but not overly so. She hums to herself. Saying 'yes' would probably lead her to a great learning experience, and just that thought makes her excited. What kind of training do they do here? She wants to find out.
"Sure." She nods. "I'm game."
She follows the Pro Hero inside the large room Togata is in. There is typical workout equipment within it, but the majority of it is just wide and open space. Togata is standing right in the middle, wiping sweat from his brow as he tries to catch his breath. He must have been working really hard. He's even dressed in his hero costume. The sight of Sir Nighteye and herself makes him grin widely.
"Sir! Aihara-kun!" He greets, waving enthusiastically. "Was I being too loud?"
"No." Sir Nighteye shakes his head at that. "Aihara wants to train too."
"Ah!" Togata clenches his fist in excitement, running over. "Really? Let's fight, Aihara-kun!"
"Fight?" She repeats, surprised.
"Yeah! I think it'd be fun to fight you! You're really experienced, aren't you? Let's test out your 'Togatally' amazing skills! I want to see if you can land a hit on me!"
The last bit of his words gets to her somehow, and his usual happy grin has morphed into something more taunting. Is he implying that she can't land a hit on him? For some reason she doesn't think it'll be easy, but if she goes all out she knows her speed can surpass his own. Her silvery orbs narrow, and she brings her hands to her hips.
"Do you know who you're talking to?" She begins with a frown.
"Yeah." He nods, his beady eyes glinting earnestly. "The daughter of Lightning Beast and Two-Face, Hotaru Aihara! Come at me whenever you're ready."
"I'll come at you whenever you're ready." She retorts with a hair flip. "Just give me a signal and I'll end things quickly."
"You're so confident! That's good!" He praises.
They move so they are standing across from each other, both dressed in their hero costumes. Sir Nighteye stands off to the side to watch. Togata stands with his arms hanging at his sides, while Hotaru's stance has a slight crouch with her hands raised in front of her.
"Are you ready now, Aihara-kun?" Togata asks, referring to the fact that she briefly left the room to change into her hero costume. Her wavy tresses are now also pulled back by a hairband, too.
"Of course, I am." She responds with tinted cheeks, watching as he tosses his water bottle aside after taking a drink. "Are you ready?"
"Yeah!"
"Then," Her form glows cyan and sparks emit. "Here I come!"
Hotaru darts forward with speed like no other. She moves quickly like lightning and as nimbly as a cat. There's determination surrounding her as potent as a thunderstorm. It's clear she has much battle experience. As expected from her.
He remains rooted in the same spot even when her lightning coated leg comes soaring towards his side. He smiles and Hotaru gasps when her leg goes right through him. It's like she just kicked the air. She didn't feel any contact at all. What exactly is his Quirk?
As she's recovering from her blunder, Togata shifts to offense. He makes a peace sign with his fingers, and his fingertips are on a beeline right towards her eyes. Her eyelids clamp together instinctively, then a blinding pain erupts in her abdomen. Everything's happening too quickly.
"Blinder Touch Eyeball Crush!" Togata exclaims.
His fist pushes into her stomach mercilessly and she gags. He used a feint against her? And she fell for it? She staggers backwards on her wobbly feet, listening to his laughter which makes her appendages tremble in anger. It's so tempting to just let herself drop onto the ground at this nauseating pain, but that would make this fight even more disappointing than it already is. She doesn't understand. He should've been shocked upon touching her.
"H-How didn't you get shocked?" She breathes out, having a very hard time staying upright. She wants to throw up. "W-What the… ow…"
She can't fight against it any longer. Her legs go limp and she falls down onto her knees, her arms wrapping around her midsection tightly as she tries to keep her stomach contents down. It's only a miracle that she's somehow able to.
"E-Everything…" She murmurs, pressing her forehead against the floor as Sir Nighteye walks over. "...Hurts."
"Sorry about that, Aihara-kun." Togata smiles sheepishly at her obvious pain, bringing his hand behind his neck. "You're really fast though. I was surprised!"
"I should've moved faster…" She groans.
"Huh? You could move faster?" Togata gawks. "Why didn't you?"
"Not only did you underestimate your opponent, but you also held back using your Quirk out of dread. The technique you use to increase your speed is done in a careless manner. It does more damage to yourself than your opponent." Sir Nighteye states, answering Togata's question as he holds out a bottle of water to Hotaru. "Your body can't handle it."
"...It's that obvious?" She whispers, slowly pushing herself up onto her knees and taking the water thankfully.
She takes a long and profound drink of the cool liquid, feeling it travel down her throat and into her stomach. It soothes her instantly and she lets out a heavy breath. She stares down at her lap dejectedly. He's right and she can't speak to deny it. That technique was always reckless.
"Right." She says quietly. "Depending on how high of a voltage I use, the quicker I overheat. To increase my speed, I'm channeling lightning inside myself which makes me reach my limit faster."
"You need to train your body to tolerate the heat." Sir Nighteye utters, making her look up at him with a pout.
"How do I do that?"
"By continuously exposing yourself to your Quirk, you can develop a higher tolerance to it. Like a swimmer practices holding their breath to build up their lung capacity, you can do something similar to withstand the heat from your lightning for longer periods of time."
"You can also only channel your lightning just where you need it, right?" Togata grins. "Like my Quirk, Permeation! It lets my body pass through everything, but in the process I can't feel anything. It's tricky." He crosses his arms over his chest. "To prevent myself from falling into the ground below, I can't activate my quirk all at once. For instance, for me to pass through a wall I need to activate everything but one leg when I pass through, then I release in the other leg and stand on it, then finally activate my other leg to go all the way through."
Hotaru stares at them both with parted lips, her hands situated in her lap. Her silvery orbs are wide as they stare up at them. She now understands why Togata didn't get shocked upon touching her, and how her kick simply went straight through him. His technique is incredible. Sir Nighteye's advice also is very valuable.
To build up her own resistance to heat, she needs to continuously expose herself to it. To lessen the damage she does to her own body, she should only channel her lightning where she truly needs it. An example of that would be if she wants to run quickly, she should just focus her Quirk in her legs.
"...You're amazing, Togata-senpai." She admits in awe, then looking at Sir Nighteye. "I think I know what I need to do now, but…" She trembles a bit. "T-That kind of sounds like torture."
"But, it'll be worth it!" Togata clenches his fists. "You can do it, Aihara-kun! Just imagine how much stronger you'll become! Maybe you'll eventually be able to land a hit on me!"
"I'll do it." She asserts instantly after that, rising onto her feet. "Watch, by the end of the week you'll be the one quivering on the ground. I'll start working at it right now."
"I can't wait." He beams.
"I'll guide you through the process."
Sir Nighteye is suddenly towering over her, resembling a dark shadow. The lenses of his glass gleam brightly and Hotaru takes a backwards step. What's with this sudden change? He looks like a monster. Togata's hand comes down onto her shoulder.
"Have fun training with Sir! His teaching ability is the best of the best. You'll feel the effects in a single day." He says, giving her an encouraging shake. "Well, I'm off to school! Good luck, Aihara-kun!"
Togata disappears from the room before she can even blink. She stares at the door with an agape mouth, slowly looking back over at Sir Nighteye. He pulls out hyper-density seals, holding them between his fingers. This time, she takes multiple backwards steps.
"Let's get started." He insists, moving towards her. "I'll shape you into a fine hero."
"W-Wait…!" She stutters and he lunges forward.
Her scream echoes throughout the entire building.
~ Next Chapter Sneak Peek:
❤•○●○•❤
Joint Effort
❤•○●○•❤
"What the hell are you doing here, Lightning Bug?" Bakugo jabs a finger at Hotaru, barely able to make out her form in this shadowy prison.
"I could ask you the same question, Chain Chomp." She retorts with a glare. "But... there's something else I want to know more." Slowly, she points at his head and giggles. "W-What's up with your hair? And those tight jeans...!"
"Stop laughing!"
"Huh? You guys are here, too?" A new voice makes them look over.
"Sero-kun? Shoji-kun?" Hotaru murmurs. "And... Aoyama-kun? Why are you guys here?"
"It seems we were all kidnapped!" Aoyama states the obvious with a smile, snapping his fingers and summoning sparkles.