The Okami Hero: Amaterasu
Arc 6: Birth of a Hero
Chapter 17: The Tribunal Part 3
[Friday13thMay 2281]
[Courtroom 12, Musutafu Courthouse]
Izumi's eyes nearly popped out of her head in shock while the Heroes and Sakuya gaped at the grinning judges. Eri, Inko, and Ishiko just looked confused though. "Promotion Hearing? What the heck is that?" Ishiko asked, looking back to the shocked Heroes.
"It's a rarely used procedure, one that is only used in the event of an emergency such as a Hero Shortage, or to deputise Vigilantes and Heroic Civilians into the ranks of the Pro-Heroes. It is essentially a hearing to decide if a person can be promoted to a fully licensed Pro-Hero without taking the official Final License Exam!" Nezu explained. Even he was shocked to the core by the Government's actions here.
"Wait, are you saying they want to let Izumi skip the rest of her last year of training, plus the final exam? They're just going to give her a full license!?" Ishiko questioned, she and Inko now joining the rest in their shock. Only Eri still didn't understand, but she got the impression it was a good thing.
Izumi stared at the judges with uncomprehending eyes, trying to understand the purpose behind this move. A Promotion Hearing tended to come in one of three varieties; the first was the Vigilante Type, which was used to legalise the actions of popular and helpful Vigilantes (quite a few well-known Heroes got their start in that way), while the second was the Civilian Type, which was similar to the Vigilante Type, only it was used to allow Civilians with highly useful quirks, such as healing, to use those quirks in emergencies so long as they could prove they had the necessary control. The third type, and the one that applied to Izumi, was the Early Graduation Type used to officially declare an in-training Hero as a full fledged Pro.
There was strings attached to that though; the Early Graduate had to have a Provisional License, have completed a minimum number of cases and patrols, have the approval of their trainer(s), the Hero Commission, the Governmental Liaison to the Commission, and at least three full Pros, AND have a minimum level of knowledge and responsibility when it comes to Heroic matters.
Izumi didn't believe she met those requirements, but the smiles on the faces of the judges made her uneasy. She hoped they wouldn't bend the rules in her favour; she'd rather earn her license fairly.
"Judges, if you have any intention of ignoring the conditions for an Early Graduate Promotion Hearing because of my status as Amaterasu, then I will refuse the promotion. Accepting training from a young age is the only unfair advantage I'm willing to have, and even that is simply because I needed the training against the Demons. I don't need or want favouritism!" Izumi declared. She wasn't about to accept such a thing, especially if it was a governmental bribe to win her trust or allegiance.
Her family looked at her proudly, with All-Might petting her head affectionately and Eraser hiding a smile behind his scarves. Izumi may have been an easily flustered and over emotional Problem Child with a laundry list of traumas she needed therapy for, but the girl had integrity!
The smiles of the Judges didn't falter though, and in fact grew with Izumi's words.
"Your honour is laudable, Lady Amaterasu. I will admit without reservation that while your status IS the reason we are considering this, we have no intention of lying or cheating the system. In fact, everyone in the Government involved with this decision agreed that you would be judged fairly, with neither an advantage or disadvantage. Your own skills and accomplishments will decide the result of this hearing." Judge Hebigan smiled.
Izumi smiled with relief; "I'm happy to hear that. I'm still a bit uncomfortable with this, since I'm only being given this opportunity because of who I am, not what I've done, but since this will let me do more to help people and stop the Demons, I won't refuse it if it's fairly given."
"We are glad to hear that. Promoting you to Full Hero Status if you lacked the qualifications would be counterproductive, as if you aren't ready, then promoting you would just create a potential burden in the field. Forgive me if this seems harsh, but we in the Military do not want a person undeserving of their rank mucking things up for the rest of us." Captain Saibankan said seriously.
Izumi nodded seriously. This Promotion Hearing was a big deal, though the consequences could only be good. If they decided that she wasn't ready to become a Pro yet, then she'd simply continue her training and take the Final License Exam next spring, just as she'd originally planned. But if the hearing went well, then Izumi would leave the courtroom as a full hero, which considering she'd been afraid of being charged for crimes when she arrived would be one hell of a turn around!
Still, the conditions had to be met and as the Hero Representative for the Tribunal, Sidekick Manchu swapped seats with Minister Hebigan, taking his spot as the Head Judge for the Promotion Hearing. "Now, before we even begin considering this promotion, we need the consent of several parties. First and foremost; you yourself. Izumi Midoriya, do you consent to the possibility of early Promotion?"
"I do, sir." Izumi nodded.
"And you are aware of both the rights AND the responsibilities that being a fully licensed Pro-Hero would present?"
"Yes sir. I understand what becoming a full Pro means and have been preparing for it since I was five years old. If this hearing believes I am ready, then I will be ready." Izumi said seriously. She was actually a lot less confident than she appeared; she wasn't sure if she was good enough to be a full pro yet, but she was only a year away from gaining her license in the conventional way, so if the Government and Commission accepted her, she would accept their belief that she was ready. They knew better than her what was required to be a Hero after all.
Manchu made a note of Izumi's consent, then turned to Inko and Sakuya; "Miss Midoriya, President Konohana; you are the legal guardians and parents of Izumi Midoriya. As she is a minor, your permission is required. Do you understand the ramifications of this decision, and do you give your consent?"
Sakuya nodded immediately; "I believe in Izumi. She is ready. I give my consent."
Inko hesitated for a moment; Izumi was still her baby, and thanks to the coma Inko had suffered she found it hard to think of Izumi as someone so grown up. Still, this was Izumi's dream and Inko would not stand in the way of it again…
"I'm sorry Izumi! I'm so sorry!"
The elder Greenette suppressed a shudder at the memory; "I understand, and I give my consent. Izumi is a Hero."
Izumi smiled and reached back to squeeze her Mama's hand. Manchu noted the two mothers' consent and smiled. "Let it be noted that in anticipation of this event, we asked the Government Liaison to the Hero Commission for his approval. He was quick to give said approval."
The Family Group grinned happily; that was one condition met already!
"Now, under normal circumstances we would also require the consent and approval of your heroics teacher or teachers, but as those teachers are all Commission Employees, and we suspect Cherry Blossom Corps members, we have decided to accept President Konohana's consent in their place, seeing as she is the legal sponsor and overseer of the Junior Hero Training Program that you are a part of. This satisfies the second condition." Manchu explained, adding another stamp to the documents in front of him, "Likewise, we would need the approval of a suitably ranked Official from the Commission, but as President Konohana is, well, the President of the Commission, that is unnecessary." Another stamp hit the document and Izumi began to grow very excited; that was three more conditions met! She might actually meet the criteria!
Manchu double checked the stamps and notes he'd made, then smiled up at Izumi; "Now the last approvals we need are from at least three full Pro Heroes. On that score we have-"
All-Might cut him off; "I, All-Might, would like to give my full approval for Young Izumi Midoriya to become a Fully licensed Hero."
Izumi beamed and began to vibrate with excitement at the reminder that All-Might fully supported her. Of course, he was joined quickly by the others.
"I, Hawks, give my approval as well. The Lil Pup has become a strong wolf with a Lil Pup of her own. She can do this." Hawks said, sounding serious despite his usual grin.
"I, Nezu, also give my approval. I believe every Hero working at U.A would offer their approvals too." the Mouse Principal declared, pulling out his cellphone, "I can call any of them and they'll confirm it."
Izumi blinked; hadn't their phones and communication devices been confiscated? How did Nezu sneak an extra one in?
She didn't get an answer, as Eraser added his voice to the Heroes; "I, Eraserhead, give my approval. The girl needs some polishing, but she's convinced me she can handle it. The fact she is taking her mental health seriously proves it."
Manchu noted down the Heroes approvals, before giving Izumi an apologetic look; "I'm sorry, but I am under orders from up top not to accept Hero Approvals from any Hero that knows of Izumi Midoriya's true nature. The big shots are afraid that that those Heroes "in the know" will give their approval to ensure you are able to fight the Demons, not because you deserve it. I do not mean to call any of your integrity into question, but the approvals of All-Might, Ingenium, Hawks, and all the U.A Heroes cannot be used to satisfy the conditions. A record of their approvals will still be made though, so at least the people who read up on the hearing will know they approved. As a side note, my own mentor the Tao Hero: Prophet gave his approval too, but was discounted for the same reason."
That soured the mood again. Izumi understood the logic behind the decision, so she couldn't complain it was unfair, though it did rather dampen the chances of her meeting the minimum three Hero Approvals needed to continue to the Hearing.
The Tao Sidekick saw the disheartened look on Izumi's face and grinned impishly; "Of course, since we planned for the Promotion Hearing to be today, we reached out to several Heroes and Agencies and asked if they would give their approval. We received a generous response."
Izumi's eyes widened as Manchu reached under the desk and pulled out a small stack of files. "We have here the signed approvals from the following heroes: Death Arms, Kamui Woods, Backdraft, Air Jet, Ryukyu, Edgeshot, Miruko, and Endeavor. That means we have 8 approvals, more than double the minimum requirement."
The Greenette was stunned by the names of the Heroes who'd sent their approvals. Her supporters were almost as surprised, at least when it came to a few names. Since beginning her training, Izumi had attended both a week long Internship and a month long Work Studies assignment with four of those eight heroes. Izumi vividly remembered using her Wolf Form to carry villains knocked out by Death Arms, mimicking Kamui Woods' techniques with her Greensprout (much to the man's amusement), using Inferno to help Backdraft control fires, and using her Rejuvenation to assist Air Jet on his rescue missions. All four had been friendly mentors towards her, so Izumi wasn't too surprised by their approvals, but the other four were a different story altogether! Ryukyu kind of made sense, since Izumi had fought against her back in the Provisional License Exam, though Izumi didn't think she'd impressed the Dragoon Hero that much, but the other three were definitely out of left field!
Izumi had never met them personally, and had been purposefully avoiding a meeting with Endeavor, not trusting herself not to do something to him after what he'd done to Dabi. Edgeshot was a mysterious man that she greatly respected (Izumi had a major soft spot for Japanese themed Heroes) and while she'd never admit it, the little Wolf Girl had quite a crush on the white haired Rabbit Hero: Miruko. It was actually the sight of Miruko that made Izumi realise she was attracted to women as well as men, so an approval from her was always going to be exciting for Izumi.
"I'm surprised." Sakuya said, "Those first four aren't too shocking, since Izumi attended Work Studies with them and they always had good things to say, but the latter four haven't had much to do with Izumi. Did they give a reason for their approval?"
Manchu nodded; "Yes, in fact all eight Approvals came with a comment explaining their reasoning. Take a look." he said, handing the folders to the Bailiff, who used his quirk to make copies that he could hand to Izumi and the Heroes. Izumi spread the folders out on the desk in front of her and stooped over them to read, eagerly checking their comments.
"Amaterasu is as competent as any normal Sidekick, despite her young age. I approve of her early Promotion. ~Death Arms."
"Healing and Repairing abilities like Amaterasu's can't be wasted. She can use them properly, so we need her in the ranks of Active Heroes. ~Air Jet."
"I'd like to take Amaterasu as a Sidekick, since she can use her plant spells to mimic my techniques. Sadly she declined, but I still believe she has the required skill to become a Pro. ~Kamui Woods."
"A Hero that can control fires as keenly as Amaterasu needs to be active. Arson incidents are up and Villains with Fire Quirks are common. With her assistance, I was able to stop a fire that would have previously taken hours in a matter of minutes. ~Backdraft."
"I faced Amaterasu during her Provisional License Exam. She showed pro-level analytical and tactical ability, and even had enough physical and practical skill to push me back. Seeing the battle with Orochi on the news, I strongly believe she has greatly improved and is deserving of early promotion. She is stronger than I was when I got my full License, so I firmly believe she is qualified. ~Ryukyu."
That comment made Izumi blush. When she'd fought Ryukyu in the exam, the Dragoon Hero had felt like an insurmountable wall; Izumi couldn't imagine ever being that powerful at the time, but if Ryukyu was right and Izumi was stronger now than when Ryukyu graduated, then maybe Izumi really could surpass her one day? Ryukyu was currently the Number 12 Hero at a fairly young age, so that rekindled Izumi's faith that she could reach the Top 10 one day.
"I have not had the pleasure of meeting Amaterasu, though I have heard good things from Kamui Woods, and I have used one of her analysis reports provided by the Commission to assist me in taking down a difficult foe. Based on the reports I've read, her analysis, and the video of the Orochi battle, I believe she is capable of passing the Final License Exam, though I doubt it would provide much challenge. An Early Promotion Hearing would be more logical, hence I offer my approval. ~Edgeshot."
Izumi almost giggled at that; Edgeshot sounded a lot like Tachigami with his use of archaic and fancy sounding speech. It made him seem like a genuine Shinobi from the Sengoku Era! Of course, his approval definitely pleased Izumi and made her want to meet the man. Then it came to read the comments from Miruko, and Izumi couldn't hide her blush or excitement as she read the Rabbit Hero's words.
"I saw that Wolf Girl take down that massive snake monster pretty much by herself! All-Might teamed up with her and got knocked out of the ring, leaving Amaterasu to kick ass by herself! I want to fight Amaterasu! She's a White Haired Wolf Girl, and I'm a White Haired Bunny Girl; it's the perfect showdown! Exams and Hearings are stupid; if she's strong then give her a license and let her kick Villain ass all over Japan! I wanna see who can take down the most villains in a month! So yeah, I give my approval and all that crap. Come fight me when you get your license Amaterasu! ~Miruko."
Seeing as Izumi was currently turning beet red at Miruko's complementary (if combative) words, Nezu read the comments himself and chuckled; "Heh, she's as energetic as ever. Miruko's currently ranked in the Top 30, but every time the new official ranking event comes around, she shoots up at least ten ranks. She was only in the Top 50 last year."
Hawks nodded; "Yeah, she's hopping up the ranks at a meteoric rate. She's climbing almost as quickly as I did."
That was saying something too, considering Hawks was currently the Number 4 Hero, ranked only behind All-Might, Endeavor, and Best Jeanist.
Izumi wasn't listening though, too busy thinking about what a meeting between her and Miruko would be like. As well as the crush the Greenette had on the Rabbit Woman, Izumi also greatly respected her combat ability and the fact that Miruko wanted to see how Izumi measured up to her was a great compliment. The Wolf Girl also loved the moon rabbit motif that Miruko had, which played into her love of Japanese Legends. The only downside to Miruko was that Izumi didn't believe she'd ever get to work with her; Miruko didn't team up with other Heroes and viewed those that did as weak.
Still, Izumi was thrilled to have her approval!
That left only the final and most controversial hero's approval left to read, which Izumi and her mothers read carefully and with narrowed eyes.
"Few Fire Users have abilities in line with Amaterasu. She has adequate skill and has proven capable. Give her a license and send her into the field; if she is unworthy, we will learn quickly. ~Endeavor."
"Geez, even when giving his approval he sounds like a jerk." Izumi huffed.
"To think such an unpleasant man is technically a Hero. There's a line between strictness and coldness you know." Sakuya muttered in agreement.
"He offered you an Internship after that investigation started against him, right Izumi? And you rejected it." Inko pointed out, wrinkling her nose in disgust at the idea of Endeavor being left alone with her daughter for a week.
Hawks just glared at Endeavor's words on the paper with cold disdain. Nezu, Eraser, All-Might and Tsukauchi winced at the harsh comments and Hawks coldness; they had spent enough time with Izumi and her family to know that Endeavor was Persona Non Grata amongst the combined Konohana-Midoriya Household, though they didn't know why exactly. They of course knew of the accusations and investigations into Endeavor, and believed quite a lot of the accusations made, but they were still surprised by the depths of the family's hatred towards the Flame Hero. They assumed it was related to Dabi and his burns, though they kept their silence out of respect.
"I bet you 10000 yen that Endeavor only gave his approval as another attempt to get your favour." Hawks said bitterly, eyes flicking over to where Izumi was looking at the file with distaste.
Manchu and Hebigan watched the group curiously; they had thought Izumi would be ecstatic that the Number Two Hero was giving his approval, but her dislike of the man was clear. Saibankan couldn't help but ask; "Why the negativity towards Endeavor? He isn't aware of your true identity, so I can't see why he'd want your favour."
Izumi frowned; "Are you aware of the accusations made against Endeavor? The investigation he's been placed under?"
The three Judges nodded, with Saibankan looking even more confused; "Do you believe the accusations?"
Izumi barked out a sarcastic laugh; "Believe them? I made them! At least on behalf of a friend who shall remain anonymous. I know for a fact that the accusations are real. Before the Commission placed him under investigation, back when I still admired him, Endeavor was always too busy to accept an Internship or Work Studies assignment with me, but the moment the investigation began he suddenly changed his tune! We've had a few offers since then."
The Navy Captain winced; "So Endeavor really committed those crimes… and to think he'd offer an Internship or Work Study to the Commission President's daughter to stop the investigation. I confess to being disappointed; I was always fond of Endeavor's cool and professional manner."
"Join the club..." Hawks muttered.
"It goes a bit beyond the investigation too. Do you all know about my quirk?" Izumi asked.
The three Judges nodded, but the Bailiff and Scribe shook their heads. Izumi's quirk wasn't really relevant to her nature as a Divine, so it wasn't as widely known within the Government. "Only a select few elites and Heroes have been made aware of it." Hebigan said, "Can we agree not to mention the details of it here, since there are people present who aren't aware of it?"
"That's fair." Izumi agreed, "The point I was going to make was that Endeavor, as Number Two Hero, was made aware of my quirk and suddenly became even more keen to meet me. Mom and I think he wants to exploit my quirk for his own purposes."
The Judges were shocked by that, while Nezu and Eraserhead were disgusted. Tsukauchi was furious also, but nowhere near as furious as All-Might. The Number One Hero was sickened by his fiery rival; the idea that he wanted to use Izumi's quirk exchanging powers for his own ends was completely disgusting! All-Might decided then and there that he'd have to keep an eye on Endeavor… perhaps he could assist Sakuya in keeping him from meeting Izumi?
"Yes well… this situation is now a bit awkward." Manchu said nervously; "Lady Amaterasu, you understand that with those accusations you've made, we have to consider Endeavor's Approval to be invalid due to a potential conflict of interest, right?"
Izumi accepted that easily; "Seven fair approvals is still enough to meet the condition for the hearing. I'd rather not have Endeavor's approval attached to me..."
"In that case, this is useless." Manchu said, lifting the folder with Endeavor's approval in it; "Care to do the honours, my Lady?"
The Wolf Girl gave a toothy grin and a moment later, Manchu threw the file like a Frisbee. It sailed over Izumi's head, and right before it began to descend she shot a tiny Cherry Bomb at it, reducing the file to a rain of yellow and white confetti. Eri giggled and clapped as she tried to catch some of the confetti, which lightened Izumi's mood considerably.
With that out of the way, Manchu happily stamped his paperwork; "Well, even without Endeavor's, we still have seven approvals, so that is another condition met. That leaves us with three conditions left before we can make the Promotion Hearing official. Minimum level of responsibility, minimum level of intellect, and minimum number of completed cases."
Minister Hebigan looked at Eri sitting happily in Izumi's lap and chuckled; "I think the presence of the young lady in your lap proves you meet the minimum level of responsibility. Willingly adopting a young child with such a traumatic past while also intending to work as a Hero, a Goddess, and complete your schooling proves that you are responsible, if a bit of a glutton for punishment."
"I agree with that. What about you, Young Eri? You've been the officially adopted daughter of Izumi Midoriya for about a week now and have been in her care for a month. How do you think she's doing?" Saibankan asked with a much gentler smile than she'd used previously.
Eri beamed and hugged Izumi tighter; "Mama is the best! Mama 'Zumi teaches me stuff, and feeds me tasty food, and plays with me, and talks to me when I'm sad. I love Mama!"
The adults smiled, chuckled, and cooed at the adorable Eri, who sat proudly extolling the virtues of her mother. Izumi turned beet red in embarrassment, but she was overjoyed by Eri's praise and kissed the girl's forehead.
With yet another stamp on Manchu's documents, they were almost ready for the Hearing. Proving Izumi met the minimum level of intelligence was easy; she'd been at the top of her class for a long time and was at least high school level in Math, Science, and English, with her Japanese and Social Studies skills being college level. Her understanding of Hero Law and Procedures was also above average for a graduate of a Hero Course (largely due to Izumi's fanatic love of Heroes), and her analysis skills were her third most famous trait (her helpfulness and healing being the first and second). As such, all three Judges agreed that Izumi met the minimum requirements of intelligence, though Minister Hebigan did instruct Izumi to continue her schooling in those subjects she was worse at, so she'd have a more well-rounded set of knowledge.
When it came time to check that Izumi had completed the minimum number of cases, Izumi was nervous. She'd done quite a lot since getting her Provisional License, but she imagined that to meet the requirement, she'd have to have completed at least the average number of cases that a Hero Student would deal with in the years since they got their Provisional License. Since most Hero Courses have their students get their license halfway through second year (with U.A being unusual in allowing first years a chance), and those students tended to spend more time on it since they didn't attend regular school at the same time, Izumi was convinced she wouldn't met the requirement…
At least until Manchu reached under his desk and struggled to lift a frankly obscene number of case reports onto his desk. The desk groaned under the weight of the files; there had to be at least a couple of hundred!
"No way are all those mine. I haven't filled out that many reports!" Izumi exclaimed. Every case she'd been involved with since getting her license had received it's own report that Izumi had copied so she could keep a record. She had them hidden away in her room for the sake of both record keeping and reminiscing about her adventures and the people she'd helped. Izumi looked around at her family, but other than Eri and Inko, no one looked surprised by the number of reports.
"You didn't fill out all of these, but you were credited with at least an assistance role in each one. There are 326 completed case reports here, the first dating back to before you started Elementary School." Manchu explained.
"WHAT!?" Izumi cried, "B-But surely nothing before I became a Provisional Hero counts, right?"
"If the report was written and signed by an eligible person, and isn't fraudulent, then it counts. It's a bit of a grey area within the law. A combination of Good Samaritan Laws, the lack of complaints regarding your public quirk usage, and your little adventures as the Kami of Musutafu has allowed the Police, Commission, and Government to make these official heroism case reports. The only requirement for such a report is for a person to perform a Heroic Deed within the bounds of law." Detective Tsukauchi explained.
Izumi looked at him like he'd grown a second head, before giving the same looks to those around her; "W-Wait, did you all know about this!?"
Sakuya blinked; "Wait, you didn't?"
"No, of course not! I was taught that you could only be involved in a Hero Case if you had a Provisional License, unless you were the victim or villain!" Izumi said indignantly.
"Well, most Hero Courses do tend to teach that, to discourage those without licenses from getting into trouble and falling into acts of Vigilantism." Nezu admitted, "I'd assumed you'd looked into the laws more closely, and that was why you did all you did as the Kami of Musutafu."
"I had no idea! I didn't think to question what I was taught and while I knew the laws, I didn't consider how they created these loop holes and grey areas! I'm going to have to take a closer look later..." the girl frowned, eyes narrowed.
A shudder went up everyone's spine. Izumi was clever and analytical; now that she was taking a closer look at the laws, they had a sinking feeling she'd find loopholes to justify almost anything! Inko had a proud smirk on her face at the thought of it.
"Getting back on track..." Manchu began, becoming a bit miffed at all the interruptions, "We won't go through all the reports, since it'll take all day. Some of these reports are also highly classified and deal with the various Demon battles you've engaged in."
Manchu began dividing the massive pile of reports into smaller, more manageable piles. The vast majority of the reports were due to Izumi's healing efforts at the hospital, as each time Izumi used her Rejuvenation to help someone, the Doctors would right a report and submit it to assure the Government that Izumi had their permission when healing their patients. There were reports stretching all the way back to the day after Izumi had gained Yomigami's power, as the first healing report came from Doctor Tanaka and was about her healing Vice President Torikago after she was possessed. The reports then stretched forward to the Hibana Incident and then all the way up to when Izumi healed Ectoplasm and All-Might just a few days ago. Then there were the reports of Izumi's cases during her Work Studies with various Heroes; every incident she helped resolve was noted in a report and filed with the Commission and Government. Most were helping to restrain small time criminals, or helping fight a fire, etc.
What Izumi didn't expect were the Pre-Provisional License reports that dealt with her encounters with criminals, as well as her dealings with Demons; the Government knew more than Izumi expected about her battles. The reports about normal criminals before her license weren't really heroic reports, but police reports that listed Izumi as an assistant to the arrest. The girl had known not to confront the criminals without the legal right to fight them and had instead watched them carefully and called the police, often providing details that helped them arrest the crooks; few criminals paid any attention to children and animals, allowing Izumi to spy on them easily. The Demon reports were extensive and listed not only the battle with Orochi, but also the clean up operation in Corusantu (there was a seperate report for her saving Eri from the Shie Hassaikai), the Devil Gate on Dagobah Beach, and each and every Brush Demon Izumi had fought.
"To be quite honest, the completed patrols and cases you have performed on your Work Studies assignments were almost enough to meet the requirement on their own, but with all these extra reports from healing and Demons, you have completed more than triple the minimum number of assignments required." Manchu said happily, applying the final stamp to his document.
Izumi's eyes shone with excitement; "Does that mean…?"
"Yes, we can now legally hold a Promotion Hearing. All requirements have been met, so now we must have the hearing itself. We simply need to ask you some questions and get the opinions of those with you. If, after those questions, we find you capable, you'll be officially promoted to a full Pro Hero. Do you understand?" Manchu asked.
Izumi nodded enthusiastically.
"Be aware that unlike the Tribunal, this hearing is not merely a formality with a foregone conclusion. We are eager to have you become a Full Hero as quickly as possible, but to give you that rank before you're ready would be counterproductive. We will deny you the promotion if we believe you aren't ready." Saibankan warned.
The Greenette simply nodded in response; that was what she wanted anyway, so that was no concern for her. "I understand. I'm ready."
"Very well." Manchu said, "Then I declare the Promotion Hearing of the Provisional Hero: Amaterasu to now be in session."
The Scribe quickly put a new sheet of paper into her type writer and prepared to record what was happening, silently signalling that they shouldn't mention the Demons or any other secrets not meant for the record.
"Now, we have just gone through your qualifications to confirm that we can hold this hearing. When it comes to skill, intelligence, and experience; it is clear that you are at least on the minimum level we expect from our freshly licensed Heroes. However, while that is all well and good on paper, such things don't often hold up in real life. A normal early Promotion is usually given to those skilled third year Hero Students that have proven to be ahead of their classmates, with the occasional exceptional second year or genius first year receiving the same treatment. However, even the youngest early promotion was 16 years old. You are only 14, and while two years may not seem like a long time, it is fairly major to a teenager in the midst of puberty. Do you honestly think you are ready for this?" Hebigan asked.
"Yes sir. I understand that I'm young compared to those other Early Promotions, but those students likely began their training at 15 years old, with less formal training in their quirks being their only experience before that. I began training at the age of 5, with my official high school level Hero training beginning when I was 10. I achieved my Provisional License at 13 while most Hero Students achieve theirs at 17, with the exception of U.A students who get them at 16. Despite my age and developing body, I have achieved the same results as these older students through hard work and determination. If I can achieve a Provisional License at 13 while others do it at 17, then I should be able to achieve a Full License at 14, while most get them at 18." Izumi replied, speaking passionately.
Hebigan gave a satisfied nod at her answer, "And what of your family and supporters? Do you all agree?"
"Miss Midoriya's skills are what I'd expect from my most talented Hero Course Graduates." Nezu nodded.
"I've definitely had less qualified full Heroes work with the Commission." Sakuya added.
Each of them offered a brief, affirmative comment (even Eri, much to the Judges' amusement) but it was Hawks that had the most impact on them. "Due to various circumstances, I was made the first applicant of the experimental Junior Hero Program at the age of 5, much like Izumi. I also was able to achieve my full Hero License at 14, and I believe she can too. I've grown up with her, and was witness to her first triumph where she, a five year old girl with no training at all, saved my life from an incredibly powerful Villain. While her speed and combat prowess aren't on the level I was capable of at her age, her versatility and intelligence more than make up for it. To allow me to become a Full Hero at 14 and then deny her would be hypocritical."
The Judges were surprised to hear such impassioned words from the usually aloof Wing Hero. Unbeknownst to all of them, even his family, Hawks had been badly shaken by how easily Orochi had conquered him. All his speed and combat power had been worthless in the face of the Demon's fire. Hawks was the Number 4 Hero, but he hadn't stood a chance. Watching the video of the battle later, Keigo had felt his blood run cold as he saw how easily Orochi had held up against All-Might. If the top heroes in the country couldn't handle Orochi while Izumi could, then they needed her to become a Full Hero as soon as possible! The normal Pros simply wouldn't be enough to hold back the Evil One's forces.
"You are all clearly quite passionate in your belief of Miss Midoriya's readiness. I find myself being convinced, but I have a major concern. Miss Midoriya, you speak of Heroism with incredible devotion, but a Hero isn't all you are. You have recently become the adoptive mother of the child in your lap, and you have admitted that you plan to complete your schooling at both the Middle School and High School levels. Both motherhood and student life are fairly full time commitments, yet you plan on dealing with them both on top of training and Hero Work. How do you expect you'll be able to accomplish all of this while also taking proper care of yourself?" Saibankan asked.
Izumi sighed; that would admittedly be her biggest obstacle. Taking care of Eri, as well as being a Hero, were things she couldn't half-ass, but how would she fit everything else in around that? She thought about it for few minutes, before providing the best answer she could.
"I know it will be difficult, but I don't plan on altering my current schedule much at all. My normal schedule was always; wake up early, have breakfast, do my morning training, combine a short patrol with my walk to school, then school itself, my after school hero work, dinner, my evening training, and then bed. I did my school work and any reports I needed for my hero work either during lunch at school, or as part of the evening training. Master Onigiri insists that school is training of the mind, so it's an appropriate time to do it. The weekends are just completing any work I haven't finished and some heavier training on Saturday, then a full day of Hero Work on Sunday." Izumi explained.
Saibankan was mildly surprised by how busy the girl was; "And how do you plan on incorporating your daughter into that schedule?" she asked.
Izumi smiled; "Easy. My training time can double as time with Eri, since I'm sure I can work out ways to make my training exercises into games we can play. I'll also cut down my Hero Work. It sounds counterproductive, since I'm trying to convince you to promote me, but I don't believe in putting in a half-hearted effort. I'll cut down my normal Hero Work and become an Emergency Response Hero until I've finished my schooling."
Manchu hummed in thought. An Emergency Response Hero was sort of like a part-time Hero. They rarely went on patrols and were instead called on specifically when their help was required. In Izumi's case, it would only be in the case of Demons, someone needing her brand of healing, or other situations in which her quirk/powers would be useful. It wasn't the ideal, but with Izumi having at least four more years of school to complete, it was a fair compromise.
"It's not an unreasonable idea, but if you cut all your Hero Hours and only work Emergency Cases for the next four years, you're giving up a lot of time." Saibankan pointed out.
"True, but I won't be idle. I'll replace a lot of those hours by working as a Hero Analyst. I've been told my work is good enough to be used by Pros." Izumi said proudly.
Now that was a more appealing offer. Izumi could do her Analysis work, which was still a form of Heroics, while spending time with Eri, allowing her to effectively combine Hero Work with Eri Time whilst not endangering the girl. Plus combining her own training with play/training for Eri, Izumi would be fulfilling all her obligations fairly well.
"I'm almost convinced." the Navy Woman said, "But I have two points I'm uncomfortable with. The first is that even Emergency Heroes can be called away for days or even weeks if they are needed for a long term investigation. That could interfere with your schooling."
"If need be, I can catch up during weekends, holidays or through online classes. So long as I complete the work I'm given and graduate Middle School and High School, then it doesn't matter how long it takes. I won't be going to College either, so my education will eventually reach it's end." Izumi said, waving away the first of Saibankan's concerns.
"Fair enough, but that brings me to my second concern. You have your time well planned out, but when do you have time for friends, family, and hobbies? Even Heroes need recreational activities, else they become workaholics." the Captain pointed out.
Izumi blushed and poked her index fingers together; "W-Well to be honest, anything Hero related IS my hobby… my analysis work, my training, patrolling and helping people… I love it! I enjoy painting and reading during my breaks, but honestly being a Hero is more enjoyable to me than games and sports. Plus, my friends and family are involved in everything I do; I train with my siblings and spend as much time as possible with my family. Patrolling is usually the only time I'm alone!"
"Are you being serious?" Manchu asked with disbelief in his voice.
"Of course! Working as a Hero and helping others makes me happy; I suppose you could say it's my hobby, though I take it seriously." the girl promised.
The Tao Sidekick wasn't sure how to respond to that. Amaterasu was a benevolent and loving being by nature, and it appeared that Izumi's human side was just as kind-hearted. Both sides working in tandem resulted in a girl that was almost too pure, though Manchu was sure the girl had a fair few vices and temptations. Even Amaterasu in her prime had been prone to such things. That lead Manchu to his final question, and the one that would solidify his decision.
"While you've clearly put a lot of thought into all of this, and you've certainly proven your devotion and credentials to be a Hero, I have a concern about your mental state. While a Hero must indeed be self-sacrificing, there is a point where selflessness becomes foolishness. What assurances can you give us that you will properly maintain your mental health? You know what you would become if you allowed yourself to be consumed by negative emotions, and no one wants a mentally unstable Hero running about, so we need to be sure we aren't licensing someone who'd only hurt themselves and others." Manchu said, uncharacteristically strict as he asked his question.
Izumi flinched a little, especially at the thinly veiled reference to her becoming a Demon, but she wasn't cowed. "I understand why you'd worry. I know I've been… reckless… when it came to my health in the past. However, I have always been sure to get psychiatric help and emotional support when I needed it. I've been going to therapy for various things for years; my therapist has been helping me deal with everything and I will be attending more sessions soon, along with Eri, to deal with the consequences of the Shie Hassaikai Incident. I know that healing the mind is as important as healing the body; I always prioritise my therapy over training, hero work and schoolwork. Only family has a higher priority." she answered truthfully.
The Judges looked to Sakuya for confirmation, which the Wood Sprite quickly gave; "Izumi attends semi-regular therapy sessions with Doctor Nishikata, a renowned child psychiatrist. Her sessions become regular whenever she suffers some kind of trauma. Her tutors and I forbid Izumi from training or working at her usual level until the Doctor believes she is mentally sound. She isn't allowed to perform any non-emergency Hero Work during that time either."
Now the Judges looked pleased. With their questions answered, they turned away from the group and retreated to the chambers behind the courtroom in order to deliberate. They were gone for about an hour while they debated and discussed whether they should approve or dismiss Izumi's early promotion. For the most part, they agreed that promoting Izumi would be a good move, though they each had some concerns. Hebigan worried that Izumi lacked the maturity needed for a full Pro, as she was only 14 and a fairly small one too. Saibankan worried that Izumi had too many responsibilities already and felt it was potentially unhealthy to promote her and encourage her to take on even more work. Manchu worried that Izumi's mental state, especially her Martyr Complex, might be dangerous; after all, the world needed Izumi to save it from the Demons, which she couldn't do if her Martyr Complex led her to getting killed. Izumi's answers had helped alleviate these fears, but not erase them and that left the Judges in a bit of a bind.
They hadn't been ordered by their superiors to promote Izumi, though they had been urged to "strongly consider it" and told to make their decision based strictly on the facts of the case. The facts were clear; Izumi had the skill and intelligence, as well as the proper moral compass. Based strictly on the facts of the case, Izumi should be promoted as the Judges' concerns wouldn't be seen as adequate reasons to refuse by their superiors. The concerns themselves were valid, but they didn't have enough proof to use them to refuse the Promotion, especially after the answers Izumi had given. Their superiors would take one look at the transcripts from the Hearing and believe the Judges had made the wrong choice, before overturning it.
The three Judges weren't bad people or even that against the idea of promoting Izumi, but they had to use their best judgement for the sake of both the country AND Izumi herself. Ultimately, the trio came to a decision and emerged from the private chambers to deliver their verdict to Izumi and her family.
Izumi stood at attention, handing Eri to Inko so she could stand straight backed before the Judges, her hands at her sides. The Greenette watched with apprehension as the Judges retook their seats, all the while telling herself that no matter what their decision, she would become a Pro. Whether that would be today or in a year's time after the Final License Exam didn't matter.
"We have come to a decision." Manchu said, addressing Izumi.
The family held their breath as they waited for the man to finish; "Upon hearing the opinions of yourself and your companions, reviewing your qualifications and records, we have decided… to grant you early Promotion to a full Hero License."
Izumi gasped and happy tears immediately began pouring down her face. Both her mothers, Eri, Ishiko, and All-Might all burst into roaring cheers as they hugged the stunned Izumi and patted her on the back. Keigo puffed his chest out proudly and hugged the girl with his signature aloof smirk while his eyes portrayed how happy he truly was. Tsukauchi, Nezu, and Eraser had more sedate reactions, but they still smiled and applauded, giving the girl their congratulations. The Judges watched Izumi's reaction carefully, and were somewhat surprised at how stunned she was; they thought she'd assume her promotion was almost guaranteed considering her deeds.
In fact, it wasn't Izumi herself that finally made them agree to promote her, despite their concerns. It was actually the people currently surrounding her and congratulating her, and the other people who would certainly be throwing her a raucous party later that night. If Izumi had faced them alone, their concerns would have won out over their belief in her potential, and they'd have refused to promote her, but the presence of her family made them change their minds. Izumi wasn't perfect; alone she would stumble and fall, not yet ready to take on the duties of a Full Hero, but with her family backing her up, supporting her, and keeping her on the straight and narrow, the trio were confident Izumi would be able to handle the challenges life would throw at her now.
Izumi finally managed to find her voice again and began immediately bowing to the Judges, thanking them profusely; "Thank you! Thank you so much! You have no idea how much this means to me! I won't let you down, I swear!"
"We don't believe you will, but don't thank us just yet." Hebigan said sternly, "There are three conditions."
The group stopped celebrating and eyed the judges suspiciously, while Izumi tempered her enthusiasm. "What are these conditions?"
"First; the Government will be required to double check and confirm any and all reports made by or about you at the Commission. To ensure there is no conflict of interest in things such as Mission Pay, access to extra resources, and your position in the Hero Rankings." Manchu said.
Sakuya looked a bit offended that the Judges thought she'd allow Izumi to receive special treatment, but both she and Izumi understood their reasoning. They both nodded in agreement.
"Second; you may not join any other Hero's agency unless the Hero in charge knows of your true identity and your quirk. This is to preserve secrecy regarding your powers." Saibankan added.
"I plan to work as an independent until my friends get their full licenses and I turn 18, at which point I'll be making my own agency, so that's an easy condition to meet." the Greenette told them.
Hebigan looked pleased, then gave the third and final condition; "Third, the Government will send you cases that we believe need your help. These cases are to take precedence over ALL other forms of Hero Work. In fact, unless you have an important family affair to deal with, these cases should be your Number One Priority."
That condition gave Izumi pause. Accepting that would essentially make her a Government Agent in all but name… but if the cases they gave her were ones only she could do, she supposed it was a fair trade off. "I'll accept that, so long as I have the right to refuse those cases if I believe they're against my morals. I've heard stories about the missions that the Government gives to its Heroes, and while I'd like to think they're false, I have to be sure. I won't be a State-Sponsored Assassin, unless the target's a Demon, nor will I do anything else I believe is wrong."
The Judges winced, knowing full well what dark rumours surrounded those Heroes that worked exclusively for the Government. Thankfully, they were able to reassure Izumi; "That is perfectly acceptable. You will be our ally, not our slave; you can refuse any mission we give, but it may cause our less sympathetic associates to distrust you."
"As long as I'm doing the right thing, I don't care." Izumi said seriously.
The trio of Judges nodded and signed some documents in front of them. "In that case..." Manchu smiled, "We are in agreement. Would you and one of your legal guardians please approach the bench."
Izumi and Sakuya both went over and stood in front of the Tao Sidekick's desk while the man pushed some papers and a pen towards them. The papers were a legal written agreement that would ensure the signer would be bound by the conditions the three Judges just explained. Izumi and Sakuya both spent ten minutes reading and re-reading the document to ensure there was nothing fishy or out of place before they signed it. Everything appeared legitimate, and there was even a proviso written in that agreed that Izumi could refuse any mission given to her. Confidant that the agreement wasn't trying to slip anything past them, Sakuya signed it as Izumi's guardian, and then Izumi signed it herself.
Manchu smiled and took the papers back, before holding out his hand; "Your Provisional License, please."
Izumi took out her wallet and removed the small plastic card. She handed it over reluctantly; her Provisional License had become one of her proudest achievements and greatest treasures. Thankfully, Manchu didn't intend to keep it; he simply took it and stuck it into a bizarre hole punch gadget, which punctured a small series of holes in the bottom of the card below Izumi's picture. The holes spelled the word "VOID", and the card was promptly returned to Izumi.
"Keep this is a memento. We had to void it, so you can't use it in the future, in the event your proper license is suspended for whatever reason. Now speaking of your proper license..." the Sidekick reached into his pocket and withdrew a very similar white card, which he promptly presented to Izumi.
Izumi took it with shaking hands and tears in her eyes. It closely resembled her Provisional License, but the picture was more recent and instead of "Provisional Hero License" the card read; "Official Professional Hero License". The text box on the bottom of the card read three words in block capitals;
OKAMI HERO: AMATERASU
"We had this prepared in advance for you; we were fairly sure we'd give it to you today. Congratulations, Amaterasu. I'm proud to welcome you officially into the ranks of the Pro Heroes." Manchu smiled.
Izumi burst into tears of joy, while her family and the courtroom staff swarmed around her, all congratulating her and patting her on the back, telling her how proud they were of her. Izumi couldn't contain her happiness, and while still holding her fresh new license she scooped up the giggling Eri and spun her around in the air, laughing joyously.
She had done it! After her dark year of quirklessness and foster homes, her ten long years of arduous training, numerous battles with monstrous Demons, the harrowing experience with the Shie Hassaikai, and the exposure of her identity to much of the country, Izumi had finally achieved what so many had said was impossible.
How many people had told her to give up when she was a child? When she was just four years old and powerless? And they had all been proven wrong! Izumi had persevered and now she had achieved her dream!
Izumi Midoriya was the name of a Hero!
As the last of her tears dripped down her face, a new wave of flaming determination roared up within her. She was a Hero now; a full fledged professional Hero, but that was not the end of her journey.
There were still seven Brush Gods to save, the third and final Divine Instrument to discover, and an army of Demons to conquer.
The chapter of Izumi's childhood had come to an end. It was now time for a new chapter;
The Herohood of Okami Hero: Amaterasu!
END OF ARC 6: BIRTH OF A HERO
END OF ACT 1: CHILDHOOD
NEXT ACT: HEROHOOD
NEXT ARC: WRATHFUL STORM
First Chapter: Healing Heroes
To be Released: October 5th 2021
First off, sorry for being a bit late today; I was sick the last few days and had a doctor's appointment I couldn't reschedule! I'm doing okay; it was just a stomach bug so nothing major!
Now then…
Phew! We have finally reached the end of Act 1! It's been a long time coming! Over 5 months, 70 chapters, 470,000+ Words, over 650 Kudos and 1300 comments (not including my replies) on AO3, and 300+ Reviews, Follows, and Favourites on !
Thank you so much to everyone whose been reading my story, and a special thanks to all of you who took the time to leave comments and reviews; I really appreciate it!
Izumi has finally achieved her goal and has become a full Hero! I wanted to make sure that it felt earned, even with the early promotion, which is why I had so many conditions that had to be met. I think those are fair, so Izumi could get promoted based on her accomplishments and not just her name/title/family. Even though the Government wanted to promote her, they really couldn't have if she wasn't ready for it.
Next chapter will begin the new Act with an original story arc, which will be the last one before we get to U.A! It'll also help set the tone for the story to come!
One last important bit; Yes, I am taking a one month break between Acts. I've been hard at work the last several months and things are busy at home, so I'm taking a long break to recharge. Don't worry; this is not a hiatus but a between seasons break. I have a lot more of this story written and ready to go!
Thank you all once again, and I look forward to reading your thoughts on this chapter and the ones to come!