I felt that it was time to tackle this mystery :)

Chapter 11: A Hero's Name

"So, who are you going to pick this time?" Kirishima practically hollered in my ear as we walked back to the dorms after school.

I swung my fist in his direction, but he dodged with ease, "If you scream in my ear again, I'll fucking kill you!"

He kept pace alongside me, "Chill bro, shouldn't you be used to loud sounds in your ears? Your quirk isn't exactly what I'd call quiet."

"My hearing is fine, damn it!" I lied. 'My hearing isn't as sharp as it was before high school, but I'm not about to admit such a dumb-ass flaw. The continuous use of my quirk after becoming a student here at UA is beginning to take its toll. I already put in a damn request for discreet high decibel sound mufflers with the costume designers. However, those fuckers are taking so damn long that I'll be fucking deaf before I get them.'

"I've decided to intern with Death Arms. He has such manly brute strength that I'm sure I'll learn from him." Kirishima flexed his arms like a damn moron as he spoke. Then he looked at me, "Have you decided?"

"My decision was already made before the requests came in, shitty hair." I glared at the sky, "I'm returning to that damn glamour king, Best Jeanist."

Kirishima busted out laughing. "I can't wait to see your hair afterward."

I shot an explosion at him, but he hardened. However, his sleeve got singed, "Shut the fuck up, you dumb ass piece of shit! I have a matter to discuss with him!"

"Is it about a new hairstyle?" He remarked before running ahead, laughing.

"Get back here, you damn coward. I'm going murder your ass!" I was about to give chase when I felt a tap on my shoulder.

In a fury, I turned around screaming. "What!"

When my eyes met with the chocolate brown eyes of Uraraka, our Soul Bond affected me, and my anger subsided. I felt my expression soften a little.

Uraraka gave me a sheepish smile then glanced past me, "Sorry. Did I interrupt something?"

"It's fine. I can kill that shitty hair bastard later." I stated, then glanced around before asking, "Where's the nerd? Don't you usually walk with him?"

"He decided to stay behind to talk with All Might." We stood in silence for a moment before she quickly said, "So, I received an intern request from the Genius Office." She scratched the back of her head, "Since you've interned with Best Jeasnist, I was wondering what your opinion of him is. Did you learn much from him?"

I turned and started to walk towards the dorms, signaling for her to follow, "I got a request from that damn agency as well. That fashion deva must've watched the Sports Festival while he was in hiding and wants us to intern together. I wouldn't be fucking surprised if a few agencies sent requests to both of us."

She walked beside me, "Have you already decided on an agency?"

"Of course I have."

"Which one? Maybe I got a request from them too." She opened her school bag and started to dig around.

I stopped and gave her a stern look, "Decide on whoever you think you'll learn the most from. Shine and become a badass hero without voluntarily standing in the shadow of me, that damn nerd, or anyone else."

Her eyes widened, but then she nodded and pulled out a paper from her bag. It was a handwritten list of agencies with the Genius Office was at the top. After walking in silence for a moment, she looked up from her paper, "You never answered my question about Best Jeanist."

I contemplated as we walked, 'He cares way too much about image, but he did almost sacrifice himself when I was kidnapped.' We reached the steps to the dorm when I answered, "He's a moron who uses stupid clothing metaphors, talks continuously about appearance and presentation in front of fans, and has a terrible sense in fucking hairstyles."

"I guess I should scratch him off the list."

I stopped just outside the door and looked down to hide my expression before saying, "However, some of his words have stayed with me, especially after what happened during the Kamino Incident."

Uraraka said nothing as I opened the door, and we walked through. Once inside the dorms, we went our separate ways. I walked toward the elevator and spotted Kirishima exiting the kitchen. I shot him a death glare, "Any more shit from you and you'll regret the day you were fucking born, red!"

He just grinned and gave me a thumbs-up before walking to the lounge. I headed to my floor and got ready to take a shower. When I stepped in and felt the steaming water on my skin, I let my thoughts drift back to my internship.

"Your alias represents your desires. The embodiment of how you wish to be your ideal self. You are naive to the ways of the world, but I hope to show you that world. Once you've earned your provisional license in your second year, return to me. On that day, tell me your chosen name."

'Those were his shitty words for me back then. Little did I know how much I'd take them to heart. Seeing his almost lifeless body, along with other seriously injured heroes, at Kamino Ward still haunts me.' I clenched my fists and glared at the water going down the shower drain, 'I won't allow myself to be so fucking weak that others will have to die to save my sorry ass again. My hero name will reflect that desire.'

Three days later, I found myself in full hero costume on a train to the heart of Tokyo. To my lack of surprise, Uraraka was on the train as well.

"You decided on Best Jeanist then?" I walked over and sat next to her.

She giggled, "Yeah. He's the number three hero, and I figured I'd give him a chance after the last thing you said about him. I wasn't expecting you to choose him as well." She scratched the back of her head, "Guess I did exactly what you told me not to. Sorry."

I folded my arms and leaned my head against the rest, "Tch! Don't fucking apologize, pink cheeks. You made this choice on your own."

"Sure." She replied, her voice bleeding with hesitation.

We arrived at the agency and were directed upstairs to Best Jeanist's office. When we knocked and then entered his office, he was giving one of his lame-ass pep talks to his sidekick groupies.

"Speaking of the potential stitched into each of us, here are our two UA interns for this week." Best Jeanist walked to stand in front of his desk, leaving his groupies to stand in a stupid line and motioned for us to approach.

"Since you've returned, I must've said something that has sewn itself into your core, Bakugo."

"Tch," Was the only response I gave.

"Uravity, it's a pleasure to meet you. I hope you allow all knowledge that myself or my sidekicks offer you to weave itself into the foundations of your being."

"Yes, sir!" She said stiffly.

"Both of you will come on patrol with me, but first, we must talk. The rest of you are dismissed and remember to sow the seeds of safety into the frameworks of this society."

"You've got it, Best Jeanist!" The sidekick groupies yelled in unison before filing out of the office.

"Why did you invite us both here?" I asked, making sure to add some bark to my voice.

"Even in my absence, I managed to watch the Sports Festival." He looked between myself and Uraraka, "I'd like to witness the form of your teamwork with my own eyes." His eyes then landed on me, "Bakugo, pride is fastened into your very structure, and yet the organization you displayed while teamed up with Uravity tells me that you've allowed your pride to unravel a bit since the last time you interned with me."

I was about to yell a comeback, but before I could even utter a fucking word, the hero had me tied up using the denim from his damn sleeves. "You've returned to this agency. Was it to tell me your hero name?" He pulled out a comb and started to work on flattening my hair. 'Fucking hell, not this shit again!'

I glanced at Uraraka, who held a look of amusement. I then glared straight ahead of me, trying to ignore my humiliation. "Yes."

He stopped combing my hair, "What have you decided?"

It had been forever since I decided on my hero name and feared I'd never get the chance to tell this dumb pro when I heard the news that he went missing. I took a deep breath, "Ground Zero."

"Tell me the meaning behind why you chose this name." He started trying to flatten my hair again.

"It is what they referred to Kamino Ward after the Incident. The whole thing was my fault for being fucking weak enough to get kidnapped like some damn amateur. Civilians and heroes were injured or killed, and the Symbol of Peace was forced to retire early because of the attempt to save my stubborn ass. That name serves as a reminder to keep pushing myself harder to become a stronger hero, so nobody needs to get hurt on my account again."

I looked back at Uraraka, her eyes were wide. Best Jeanist stepped in front of me holding the comb, like a damn hairdresser, "What I told you did weave its way into your core." The denim from his sleeves released me, "I expect great things from both of you. Now let's go patrol. Come along, Uravity and Ground Zero."

Uraraka pumped her fist, "We'll do our best right, Bakugo!"

I felt that my hair was laying flat and growled, "Sure."

"Ground Zero, you will wear jeans for the rest of the week." He walked behind his desk and dug through a drawer, pulling something out and handed it to Uraraka, "I have this denim vest for you to wear, Uravity."

"Yes, sir! May I ask why, though?" Uraraka asked as she put the vest on.

"Denim is the signature look for my agency for a reason. My quirk specializes in denim, so, should something happen, I will be able to react quicker." Best Jeanist led us through the agency towards the front doors.

Uraraka smiled, "That makes sense."

Most of the patrol was mundane. Not a single fucking incident happened. Best Jeanist asked us questions like we were doing a damn pop quiz for school. Of course, he had fangirls fawning over him throughout the patrol.

On our walk back to the agency, we walked past a mother and her child. The kid gawked at us as we walked past before yelling, "Look, mommy! It's the winners of the UA Sports Festival! I want a picture!"

"If it's alright with them," The mother said. "Excuse me?"

I huffed and was about to decline when Uraraka placed her hand on the bare skin of my arm, triggering the calming effect of our Soul Bond, "We'd love to take a picture with you!" She then grabbed my hand and pulled me down to pose with the kid. She and the kid smiled brightly, but I kept my expression neutral.

Best Jeanist observed in silence while the mother took a few pictures. She then looked at the pro hero, "Did you want any pictures with Best Jeanist?"

"No. I already have a picture with him," the child replied. Then he looked back at us, "Can I have your autographs?"

"Sure!" Uraraka gleamed. The mother handed her a pen and a notebook. She signed her hero name. After she finished, Uraraka passed the notebook to me with a look that told me to sign it.

I grabbed it and roughly scribbled Ground Zero before shoving it back to the kid, "Don't lose this! I don't give out my autograph to just anybody! Understand!"

"Yes! I hope to become as cool of a hero as you someday!" He bounced back towards his mom, who thanked us before they left.

The denim-clad pro hero said nothing about the ordeal and dismissed us for the day when we returned to the office.

On the train, Uraraka started the conversation, "I didn't know the Kamino Incident affected you so much."

I remained silent, refusing to acknowledge that I had admitted such a thing in front of her.

"I like your hero name." She threw a few mock punches in front of her, "It makes you sound tough."

"Thanks," I muttered lowly.

"Best Jeanist really doesn't like your spikey hair, does he?" She laughed, "You also weren't kidding about the metaphors."

I snickered in response.

Luckily, most of the students in class 2-A were interning outside the city and needed to stay in the cities they were interning to spare them from long commutes. Those who were still staying in the dorms were smart enough not to comment about my hair.

The rest of the week was about the same, except for a few minor incidents. The requests for autographs and photos increased as the week went on. Uraraka dragged me into it, every single fucking time. I lacked the desire to resist, thanks to our shitty Soul Bond. She always made sure to touch me whenever a civilian asked for our time.

The last two days, we were split up. At the end of our shifts on the final day, Best Jeanist led us into his office to discuss what he noticed during our internship. He sat in the chair behind his desk and motioned for us to sit in the two chairs provided.

"I'm going to be blunt to both of you." He stared straight at me, "Bakugo, I still don't like you very much. Your attitude and morals still need mending. Pride is fastened into your very structure. However, I noticed that the seam of your pride unravels a bit when you're around Uraraka."

His attention turned to Uraraka, "You lack self-confidence and tend to step back to let someone else take charge. However, when you team up with Bakugo, that flaw seems to repair and patch itself together." His gaze shifted between both of us now, "From what I've observed with both of you, I've knitted together a theory. You two share a Soul Bond."

Uraraka gasped. I was about to explode, but before I could react, Best Jeanist once again tied me up using his denim sleeves.

"Your reactions to my theory says it all. The red string of fate is the thread that weaves our futures. To deny it is to unravel the web of our destinies. You two work well together, mending each other's flaws to become a strong team. Fate did well when it Bonded you together. You can help embroider a feeling of safety into the structure of society by remaining as a team." His expression turned stern, "Do you both understand?"

"I do!" Uraraka nodded with vigor.

"Sure," I mumbled.

"Good," He said as he untied me and then pulled two papers out of a drawer, handing one to each of us. "Here are your reviews for your teacher to go over and grade. You both are welcome to return for any future work studies or internships. I wish you luck as you mend and grow as future heroes."

Uraraka stood and shook his hand, "Thank you for this opportunity."

I just rose and started walking towards the door, but before I could step out, Best Jeanist said, "Ground Zero."

"What?" I growled.

"I expect you to live up to your hero name."

"You know I fucking will." I left that office actually feeling happy that that fashion freak approved of my hero name.

Best Jeanist is, without a doubt, the hardest character I have ever written. I really hope I did him justice.

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-JFDragonFire