Fukuoka Station Entrance, Kyushu
"Rikaga-san, are you feeling ok?" Runa Tenshi and Erude Rikaga were walking towards the Hawks Agency for the third day of their internship.
"It's fine…I get some headaches occasionally if I've been using my powers, don't worry about it" Erude responded wincing and smiling at the same time. "Besides, I'm not the one you should be worrying about…I've noticed you've seemed down lately, is everything alright?"
This was in the day, before they had met up with the rest of their secret recon group to tail Nagai. It was only natural Runa Tenshi was being affected by the news about Nagai, and their plans to tail him in the evening. "I'm ok…it's just this internship is…not what I envisioned."
At this Erude sighed and nodded. "Tell me about it. Hawks mostly just reads manga and asks us to go over those legislative notes and crime reports. There was the very first morning where he took you for a test flight. Just kind of left me alone with my cans and rocks though." He tried not to look sullen but failed.
"Oh, I'm sorry Rikaga-kun. That really wasn't great was it…I did try and bring it up to him after but he just said he had other plans for you. That must've been frustrating."
Erude just shrugged. "Meh. I'm used to it. I had Sato-san as my mentor. He's a very nice guy, but our Quirks do not mix at all. We mostly learned about baking and endurance training. I'm not exactly geared towards endurance training…you know, telekinesis and what all." While he said this Runa noticed he had been subtly levitating a rock from his palm. She looked shocked.
"H-hey…. we're not at the agency yet. You shouldn't be using your Quirk like that." He sighed and obeyed her.
"Yeah, my bad. I'm just getting a bit antsy. If I don't grow, everyone will get even further ahead of me then they already are."
"Nonsense. Telekinesis is a great Quirk and you're a good tactician. I think you're stronger than you see yourself.
"Nah. I've never excelled in anything to be honest. I'm like, painfully average across the board. Borderline competent. And be honest, how often have you heard people even talk about my skills like they do Niriyama or Hisekawa? Even Narruk and Aome are loud but they have a presence. Even Saiga, Tokuhei and yourself had a presence in the tournament. Me? I didn't even make it through the race. My telekinesis isn't strong enough for big robots. And Niriyama overwhelmed me easily in the two-on-twos. I've made no impact whatsoever."
This shocked Runa further. "Erude-kun…I had no idea you felt this way. You seemed quite confident to me before."
Erude just smiled. "Aaaaand that's the first time you've actually called me Erude too. Well glad we got somewhere now. Also, to be honest I don't mean to come across as self-depreciating. I'm just trying to look at the fundamentals, and fundamentally I'm painfully average. I almost wish I was super weak or something."
"Hey, that's not-"
"We're here." Erude ended up cutting Runa off, and walked in quickly. She looked worried but then angry. "We're gonna finish this conversation later." They both entered the Hawks Agency.
As they walked in, they saw the Number Two Pro-Hero Hawks, lazing around, reading various seinen manga. The two could hardly hide the displeasure in their faces. Hawks noticed them when Erude coughed.
"Oh, you two! There are still a few legislative notes to look at. Also if you're good, I'll take you on some patrols. Promise. It's just this new chapter of Insanity is too good. Turns out, Innards is actually gonna take on all the demons at the same time! Isn't that well, insane? Also, Pegasus really hasn't done anything wrong by my books but the verdict is still pending…" Hawks continued but Runa Tenshi interrupted him.
"Hawks. Sir. That does raise a good question; why don't you allow us to accompany you on your patrols? Surely that is the best way to gain on the job experience as future heroes?"
He scratched his head. "Yeah, you got a point there. But I'm very efficient working alone. And I don't usually get on with sidekicks, unless I'm helping Endeavour. I figured it made far more sense to get you guys to handle the legislative side of things, and also y'know, not expose you to danger too often, right?"
At this Erude spoke "With all due respect isn't that why we're here? We need to get that exposure to real life villain attacks or situations. Plus, it's not like you've trained me much for over half of the internship. I implore you to reconsider."
Hawks eyed him slyly. "What you lack isn't power kid…it's a purpose." Erude moved to retort but a ringing call defused the situation. Hawks looked curiously at the large flatscreen affixed to the wall opposite his reading couch, and pressed a button on a remote. On the screen, a slightly bloodied Edgeshot appeared. The two interns looked shocked and also excited. Hawks remained unfazed.
"Hey there Edgeshot – you've looked better."
"Hilarious. I could use some help Hawks.!
"Well, my two ears are yours – can the interns listen?"
"Yes that is fine - aren't you using them in your operations anyway?" The two students shook their heads furiously, and Edgeshot looked quizzical.
"What's up Edgeshot?" Hawks tried to steer the conversation away from his managerial methods.
"Yes well…that detainee…he escaped me."
"What happened?"
"There's a plant in the police force Hawks. We can't rely on them. The police transport was highly confidential, with only two small squadrons and their lieutenants knowing of the transport route. None of them were told the nature of the payload either. But one second, the two cars are travelling on the highway to the docks, to Tartarus. The next, there's an explosion from the car with the prisoner. I was in the car behind, monitoring the situation. I tried to immediately jump forward and catch any of the flying officers. Two of the officers were badly burned and needed immediate medical attention. One was obliterated in the blast. The villain used his telekinetic chains just as the explosion occurred to propel himself over the highway into the sea water below, taking some burn damage but still able to move with his chains. I looked to pursue him but there was a motorboat waiting below with hooded figures who quickly started to speed off. They were already with a considerable lead, and those officers needed treatment. I…had to let them get away." Edgeshot's shoulders sank and he looked tired.
"Nonsense man, you did the right thing. All of the officers need to be interrogated once they are fit to do so. But why call me?"
Edgeshot looked him in the eye, quietly saying "You know espionage, and you know politics. Who else would I turn to?" This piqued the interns' interests, but Hawks replied curtly saying "Fair enough. So you wish to conduct a joint investigation?"
"I'm reaching out to various agencies for now to keep an eye out and noses to the grindstone for any information. However, it is likely he has gone into hiding with his team. Whoever this team is. It could be the League…but it could be something else, I am not sure. Just keep me updated if you hear something about this. Please." Hawks nodded, and the communication was ended.
There was some silence, then Hawks got up and put on his cream jacket. "We're going on patrol. Rejoice." He looked calm yet eerily focussed. The interns hadn't seen him like this. And thus they had been brought into the fold.
