CHAPTER 25 – Time Difference

With the instructions of Inspector Tsukauchi in mind, Nanami took the papers to school to have them forwarded to Madame Sonic via the school. Though expecting this to be Nanami's choice in almost any case, Mr Kan had something to say to her before she made up her mind,

"So, while I was going through your offer yesterday, I realised that even though you'll intern under Madame Sonic, this offer was made by her sidekick…"

"Is it the Sand Hero? I don't exactly remember his name though.", Nanami did a bit of research the day before and Tetsuya kept sending her factoids which were even remotely related to Madame Sonic, the whole time.

"Yeah, SandForce… He was a friend back in school, actually, that is not the problem here. I found this article", Vlad Sensei said before changing a tab on his browser to show her a collection of articles. Madame Sonic, despite her immense popularity, was infamous for being bad with children.

"I appreciate the concern, but I am not 5!", Nanami was annoyed at this but managed to maintain an uncomfortable-looking smile on her face out of respect.

"Yeah I get that and I'm not doubting you but being a hero is not just about making it to the billboards! A hero has to be good with everyone they are protecting especially the ones who are most likely to be scared. It's reassuring to see a strong back in front of you knowing that you'd make it out of the dire situation, but it is far more comforting to see someone who is saving you and feel safe!"

"…", this was weird coming from one of the roughest and toughest looking teacher in the school. The concern was a nice gesture but Nanami felt as if she was being swayed out of her decision, any more persuasion would have made her actively doubt her choice and thus reconsider everything.

"That being said, Madame Sonic is a great hero and you have made your decision. I wanted you to know this before saying yes. "

"I will keep that in mind!", deciding anything was always tough for her, but once she did make the decision having to reconsider was probably her second-worst nightmare, after the actual nightmare she experienced during the sports festival!

As the days passed everyone else made their decision and that was all they needed to do in order to participate in their internship, but Nanami had to wait for a confirmation from Madame Sonic to eventually participate in her internship. The day before the internship began, Nanami's worries peaked as she had effectively said no to Hawks' internship and then there was the travel, which would be arranged by Madame Sonic. But given that even a flight would take 10 hours, Nanami saw her dreams of a top tier internship fleeting away, only to get an email a few minutes later that the required paperwork had just been done and verified. Still, a 10-hour hectic flight awaited her except there were a set of instruction instead of a ticket!

Apparently, to travel to Dubai, Nanami had to go to Madame Sonic's Japan PR Office branch which happened to be quite near to UA. As the teachers of both class A and B accompanied the students to the Subway so that they could go for their respective internship, Nanami was promptly dropped at her 'destination'. On entering the receptionist identified her by her face! However, the receptionist had absolutely no idea of any such internship and thought that this was some weird prank before Nanami pulled out a picture of handwritten instructions which were mailed to her on the previous night.

"I am sorry they told me nothing about an internship. Madame Sonic avoids interaction with younger kids… you might be the only intern under her!"

"How does she pick sidekicks then?", Nanami could understand the receptionist's surprise, after all, she felt the same way on getting the news.

"She has only 1 sidekick!"

"SandForce is a very strong hero but just one sidekick under a top hero?"

"Well technically she has more sidekicks, but they operate in other areas and they are picked by Mr SandForce… You have to go to room T, the first room on the first floor near the staircase!"

"Is there a teleporter there?", Nanami asked before making her way to the room.

"Kind of but not exactly."

Nanami went to the first floor only to see a single room with a sign saying T-room hanging on it. She entered into the room which was fairly well lit but was empty except a ring on the ground. Expecting it to be some sort of a portal, Nanami stepped on it. However, nothing seemingly happened except that the door was now closed! This was creepy, but she went towards the door regardless to closely investigate what happened. However, once she went near the door, she realised that there were multiple rings arranged near the one she had stepped on!

The door then started to open and Nanami went into a fighting stance on instinct. This person was visibly sleepy, but he managed to put up a smile on her face and welcomed her, that too in Japanese!

"I'm sorry for how I look but it's 3:30 in the night, we didn't plan for the time zone…", he yawned under his hand, "… difference. You can go to the room on the right… down the corridor, try and read up on the local hero laws till morning… Unlock your phone and give it to me…"

"Uh yeah sure…", she had expected a completely different sort of reception at her internship, but she had to deal with in any case. She wouldn't usually give her phone to anyone, but she handed over her phone before she could conjure an objection to the request.

"I have connected it to the… wifi, I'll see you tomorrow morning!", he said before heading towards what seemed like his own room.

"Wait a sec…", but he was already gone. He looked like SandForce but she couldn't tell with the dreary and tired look on his face. But she had her task cut out for the morning… uh, night!