Chapter 3

He blinked, mouth agape. "I'm sorry, but can you repeat that? I think there's something in my ears."

"Do you want to become a pro hero?"

Issei stared. "What brought this on?"

Ryuko's gaze did not falter. "You have a quirk with a lot of potential, Ise. Imagine what you can do with it; how many people you'll save; how many villains you can capture."

"You're talking about the gauntlet, right?"

Ryuko nodded. "Of course."

Issei continued to stare, his thoughts racing as he recalled the events that happened a month ago. How he had discovered the strange contraption partially covering his right hand and forearm, how there was a foreign voice-deep and rumbling-inside his head as it issued commands, and in his panicked state, he followed it to the last word. He saw the people knocked out by his own hand and immediately snapped back to reality, blanching.

"No..." Issei shook his head. "I don't know if I can be one."

Ryuko tilted her head. "Why?"

"I can't control it. How can I be a hero? What if I kill someone, or already had?"

Ryuko nodded. "Are you feeling guilt because you think you killed someone back there?"

Issei gave a tentative nod. "I think I did."

Ryuko gave the utmost shake of the head. "Ise, you didn't kill anyone."

"How are you so sure?"

"I kept in touch with the cops handling the case. There were no fatalities back there, Ise. In fact, only several had suffered injuries, and they were minor ones. Your quirk was not so powerful as to kill people."

Issei averted his gaze, then refocused it a few seconds later. "Even so, I can't be a good hero if I can't figure out a way to control it."

"That's where I'll come in, Ise. I'll help you with the control aspect of your quirk."

Issei paused, deep in thought. "Alright... but I need some time to think it over."

Ryuko nodded. "I understand. I'm not expecting an immediate answer, as it is a monumental decision. When you're ready, you can tell me the answer, whether it's yes or no."

Issei nodded. "Okay, but you won't hold it against me if I decide to say no, right?"

"That's perfectly fine."

"Thank you."

Issei stood up from his chair and returned to his room. He began to ponder on the decision.

The next day, Issei was out and about on the Shinjuku streets, still mulling over the offer. Ryuko woke up early and would always commute to her hero agency closeby at 7AM, leaving upon Issei to prepare for the day by himself. He stopped by the 7-Eleven across the street from the apartment and breakfasted on an egg sandwich.

Further down the street, he heard a noisy commotion nearby. He went over to the source to see a line of excited people waiting for something. His eyes scanned down the line to the front and saw Present Mic signing autographs by himself.

Issei thought about the opportunity presented before him, and decided to stand in line. He never had a pro hero autograph, and it wouldn't take long to get one with the well-known radio announcer and pro-hero. In the meantime, Issei dug through his satchel and got out a Kukuyo Campos composition notebook.

Twenty minutes later, Issei finally stepped up to Present Mic and presented his composition notebook for him to sign. The pro hero wrote his signature in large letters befitting of the loud hero. As he gave it back, his eyes suddenly glimmered in recognition.

"Hey listener! I recognize you!"

Issei tilted his head. "You do?"

"Yeah! I saw you a week ago, in the Suginami Ward. I was at the FamilyMart, enjoying the FamiChikin!"

Issei wracked his brain to the past week, when he went out on his lonesome to the FamilyMart for lunch. He recalled the customers who went in and out, or sat at the counter to lunch on their food. The memory became clearer, recalling a tall, blond man with a short ponytail and eyeglasses who sat by him. He compared their faces and saw the resemblance.

"I do remember you. How do you remember me so well?" Issei said.

"It's hard for me to forget a face!"

The people in line became agitated and Present Mic took notice. "Hey, I'm sorry for taking up much of your time! If you have any questions, make sure to tune-in to my radio show! Call-ins are appreciated and I'll be happy to answer your question!"

Issei nodded, smiling. "I'll keep that in mind! Thank you, Present Mic!"

"Thank you, listener! Have a great day!"

Issei placed the signed composition book back in his satchel. Present Mic had a good ability to raise the spirits of anyone within his vicinity. In fact, Issei couldn't dislodge the smile on his face as he got on the train for Suginami.

Another school day passed uneventfully. Issei joined the other two members of the Hero Research Club as another meeting had begun. It was a good time for Issei to tell them about his current dilemma.

"...So I was wondering what you guys thought about it."

Nobuhiko leaned forward. "So who brought up the idea?"

Issei paused. "...My sensei."

"Your sensei? You have one after school?"

"Yeah." Issei's eyes narrowed. "And what's with that look?"

Nobuhiko shook his head. "Nothing. It just sounds like you're in one of those shounen mangas, where you have a 'sensei' to mentor and guide you onto your journey."

Issei nodded. "Fair point."

"Are you able to show us your quirk?" Ryoko said.

Issei grimaced. "I..."

"You're not gonna violate the quirk usage law in this room. It's not like the club advisor is here to see it."

"That's not what I'm concerned about..."

"The only way we can give you a good answer is if you show us what you're working with."

Issei sighed. "I suppose you're right."

Issei began to focus on his left arm, imagining the red gauntlet. Imagination turned into reality as the gauntlet shimmered and encased his forearm.

Ryoko's eyes widened and immediately moved over to Issei, her fingers tracing along the metal. Her eyes were focused on the jewel on the back of the hand. "I have to say this is pretty cool."

Issei blushed. "Thank you."

Any subsequent response from her was drowned out by the booming voice of the dragon inside his head. He learned his name was Ddraig.

"See? You should not be scared of the Sacred Gear you have, partner," Ddraig said.

Issei's eyes narrowed. Sacred Gear? What the hell is that?

"I'll explain it later. For now you should pay attention to the conversation."

Issei returned to reality as he looked at his companions' confused gazes. He chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "Sorry about that. What were you guys saying?"

"You didn't miss much. Nobuhiko was rambling about your quirk," Ryoko said.

"You were doing it too! You were running your mouth a kilometer a minute!" Nobuhiko said.

Ryoko laughed as she looked over at Nobuhiko. "We should tell him about our quirks."

Nobuhiko sighed. "My quirk pales in comparison to yours, Ise. My quirk is called "Instant Calculation." I can pretty much calculate any mathematical equations before me instantly, from the simple to the most complicated."

Issei was wide-eyed, "It pales in comparison to mine? Dude, you're able to do Math instantly and pass those damn classes! Math is like one of my most difficult subjects..."

"Thanks, I guess." Nobuhiko looked at Ryoko. "Your turn."

Ryoko took a deep breath. "My quirk is a trade secret."

Nobuhiko sputtered. "A-are you serious?!"

Ryoko nodded, grinning. "All I can say is that it's also a mental quirk."

"But you're the one that suggested we share our quirks!"

"You never know if there are any spies roaming around the campus, aiming for the chance at knowing our company's greatest secrets."

Nobuhiko sighed. "Alright, moving on. We still need to answer Issei's question."

"True. We can't leave him hanging."

Nobuhiko steeled his gaze. "You might be surprised at the answer I'm about to give you."

Issei tilted his head. "Surprised? How come?"

"Well, remember when I said that I was a walking, talking encyclopedia of anything hero-related? I know the good side of hero society, but I also know the bad side. I figure you should make a well-informed decision on the matter, so listen closely." Nobuhiko took a deep breath. "First off, I should tell you about the Hero Billboard Chart. What do you notice about the current top ten Heroes on the chart?""

Issei paused. "It's based on approval ratings?"

"Partially, but that's not the ultimate deciding factor. There have been a few cases where one hero was more popular than another one, but the other one was ranked higher on the billboard chart in spite of the lower approval rating. This is because their rankings are based on multiple factors. Approval rating is one of them, but the other factors are their strength level, overall contribution to society, and the number of cases they've solved.

"But there's another factor not considered that should be noted among the top ten. Actually, I'd extend that to a good amount of pro heroes currently working. Do you want to know what that factor is?"

Issei nodded. "Sure."

"What unites many of them is their lack of a private life. You see, many pro heroes will have to sacrifice a lot in order to serve the public. They're celebrities heavily scrutinized by the public, and by villains looking for any weakness they can exploit.

"Take All Might for example. He's been a pro hero for a long time, and has a track record unmatched by most heroes worldwide. In order to get to that point, he had to sacrifice a lot. It seems like all he does is saving people and beating up villains. There's barely anytime for him to relax, and he's been in the business for almost forty years."

Issei's eyes widened. "That long?"

Nobuhiko nodded. "Yeah. Now, there are a few exceptions. Endeavor has managed to start and raise a family despite being number two. But he's the exception, and not the rule. Many heroes will never settle down or raise families. Having a family can instantly paint a target on your back by villains. Even having significant others can be dangerous if a villain is able to find out about it. Now, granted, it can be canceled out if the significant other is also a pro-hero. But the danger is still applicable to their children.

"Heroes also have a larger risk of dying. There are some heroes out there who have died in the line of duty. Even the best of quirks may not amount to much if the villain manages to get the better of you. They have nothing to lose, after all."

Issei nodded. "I see. What else should I know about?"

"Hero society is pretty flawed at the moment. There aren't many heroes out there who are saving people just out of the goodness of their hearts. Many come into the business to be glory-hounds, or get a sizable paycheck from the government. Their pay can be significantly increased if they reach the top, so many aspire to be at the top. It's a cutthroat industry so to speak.

"Your choice of hero school can be a significant factor in how far you'll go. Many of the top heroes have come from two hero schools. One is UA High, and the other is Shiketsu High. That's not to say you can't reach the top ten without going to these two high schools, because you most certainly can and some heroes have managed to become successful despite going to a school like... Ketsubutsu Academy.

"Powerful quirks are also beneficial to success, and your position in society can actually grow if you have a strong and impressive physical quirk. Sad truth, but that's how it is."

Issei lowered his gaze. "Damn, sounds like you're speaking from personal experience."

"When I lived on Sado Island in Niigata and attended school there, people didn't really care about my quirk. I never got bullied for it, but still..."

Ryoko looked up. "Your quirk's pretty impressive. You should work for my company."

Nobuhiko laughed and shook his head, "Thanks for the offer, but I'll have to decline. I'm aware that my quirk makes me the perfect worker drone for any company... but then I take a look at my father. He's barely in my life, works long hours, and he never gets home till midnight. I want to enjoy life, not work myself to the bone."

Ryoko sighed. "I'm sorry to hear that... now, are you sure you're not cynical about hero society because your quirk's not suitable enough?"

"You know very well my quirk won't help me in rescuing or fighting. Hell, would any agency hire me?"

"Maybe Sir Nighteye would."

"Oh, please! Sir's a hard-ass. He won't ever consider me. Besides, I've already told you I wanted to enjoy life."

Ryoko sighed as she turned to Issei. "It's up to you really if you want to be a pro hero or not. I concede Nobuhiko has made some good points, and it's good to consider what he told you. However, I can tell you'll make an ideal hero should you decide to pursue that path. I don't know how good your sensei will be in training you, but if you think they're a good fit, I recommend you take up on your sensei's offer. Speaking of, do you know what hero school your sensei had in mind?"

Issei shook his head. "My sensei didn't bring that up. I should probably ask her when I get home."

"Your sensei's a she?"

Issei gasped. "Y-yeah."

"I see. I hope she's capable of training you."

Issei nodded. "She is."

"Before you go," Nobuhiko said, "I've heard All Might will be interviewed on TV tonight, at seven. You should watch him before you make your decision. He might have good points in regards to being a hero."

"I see. Thank you for letting me know."

"No problem."

The conversation turned to other topics until the meeting's end.

He arrived at the apartment with ten minutes to spare before the broadcast. He went over to the computer and looked up the details. He then changed his mind and searched for Present Mic's radio show. The resulting site explained the call-in format, and the time it started was at 7:30 PM.

He clicked the play button for the radio show's online stream a minute before it started. It didn't take long for Present Mic to show up as the stream showed him in the radio station's room, a high-quality mic in front of him on his desk. The preceding music faded to Present Mic's booming voice.

"Good evening listeners! This is your host Present Mic, and I welcome all of you to "Put Your Hands Up Talk Radio!" For the first half-hour, I will be talking about the current hero news and will be answering your questions within the next half-hour! For all my radio listeners, you can call-in at this number..."

The call-in phone number showed up on-screen and Issei dialed it. The phone rang for a bit before it was eventually picked up by the radio show's screener. Issei answered a few questions and was then placed in line.

Thirty minutes passed before Present Mic began the call-in segment. Many callers came and go with their question as the host responded. Now it was nearing the end of the show and Issei began to worry about being skipped for tonight's broadcast.

"And now we move onto our last listener for tonight! Hailing from Shinjuku! What is your name, listener?!"

Issei stammered as Present Mic's voice came from the phone. He picked up the phone. "Um, my name is Issei, sir."

Present Mic's eyes widened. "I remember you! I just saw you in Shinjuku this morning! Didn't expect you to call in so soon!"

"I figured I might as well."

"You made a great choice, listener! Now, please ask away!"

Issei relayed his situation to the radio host.

"Hey! That's a great question! First off, there's nothing wrong with being careful about your decision! Being a pro hero can be daunting. You'll be under scrutiny and be expected to serve the public at all times! There will also be times where you'll put your life at risk for the greater good, whether that would be through saving people or taking on villains. Other than that, a career as a pro hero can be very rewarding! The public will appreciate you for your contributions!

"To this day, I have no regrets about being one! I appreciate all the listeners who I've helped out or tune in to listen to me playing music or my commentaries! So, listener, while your sensei says you have potential as a hero, it is ultimately up to you to decide whether or not to pursue it! If it helps, I think that you have the potential to be a great hero! You look like someone who will put in the hard work to achieve their goal! Remember, listener! 'Go Beyond! Plus Ultra!'"

Issei nodded. "I will! Thank you for answering my question!"

"Anytime, listener! And with that, the show comes to a wonderful close! It's time for me to give way to our next song from the Russian musical duo, 'Smash!'"

Issei clicked out of the stream and leaned back into the chair, staring at the screen. Present Mic's pep talk had stirred something within his heart, a spirited pride. After Present Mic said those final words, how could he say no to going beyond? How could he say no to becoming a hero?

As Ryuko arrived home that night, Issei was beaming. Ryuko chuckled as she saw his expression. "Have you come to a decision?"

Issei nodded. "I have! I will become a hero!"

"I'm glad to hear it."

Ryuko ushered him to the living room table where they both sat down facing each other.

"I will give you the training plan tomorrow, but I have to warn you, this path you'll be going on will be long and hard."

Issei nodded. "How long?"

"It will last three years. There's a lot you'll need to train on. Strength, stamina, fighting ability, rescuing ability, and so on. If you think that's early, some pro heroes have already started training their kids, giving them a head-start ahead of you."

"I see. So what will I need to do?"

"You'll need to pick a martial arts to train in. I'd recommend karate but it is up to you on which martial arts you're willing to practice."

"Karate sounds good," Issei said.

Ryuko nodded. "As for strength and stamina training, there's a great sports center in Shinjuku off of Nishi-waseda Station. They have a lot of equipment and have a pool you can use to train your stamina in. I recommend you don't skip out on the swimming aspect of your training."

"I see."

"I say this from my experience. Okinawa is surrounded by water on all sides, so being trained in handling aquatic situations was a must in the area. As for the combat aspect, it will be difficult to do it here. For the time being, strength and stamina training will be at the forefront of your regimen. The combat and rescue ability can be handled when we get to Okinawa."

Issei raised an eyebrow. "We're going to Okinawa?"

Ryuko smiled. "Eventually. I know a lot about the prefecture, and I know a lot of areas where we can train without the prying eyes of society, or the law for that matter."

"Alright! So when will my training start?"

"As soon as you get the training plan."

Issei's eyes widened. "Starting tomorrow?"

Ryuko nodded. "Yes. You'll need all the training you can get, because this regimen is all planned for you to get into the school reserved for the best-of-the-best."

"UA High?"

"Yes. You already show a lot of potential that makes you worthy of becoming a UA student. By the time you're finished with your training, your admittance to UA will be all-but-certain... Now, it's getting late so you should get some rest. As soon as school is done, your journey to become a hero will begin."

Afterword: Believe it or not, this chapter had a quick turnaround time. I had put off writing it for the past two days, but then I got into gear and began writing this chapter. I cleared the mental hurdle pretty quick and managed to write, revise, and publish it all in a single day.

Initially for the final persuasive push, I followed up on Nobuhiko's mention with a complete written scene of Issei coming back to the apartment, tuning into the interview and watching All Might answer a question from the journalist about what he'd say to hero aspirants.

But then I deleted one useless scene that happened in-between the club meeting and Issei's return to the apartment in favor of expanding/changing another scene. I decided to change the hero people were lining up for to Present Mic and had Issei pretty much wait in line to get his autograph. Building up from that scene, I thought it'd be interesting and make more sense if Issei takes up on Present Mic's offer to call into his radio show... and the rest is history.

I'd say that Present Mic will come to be Issei's second favorite teacher at UA High.

Anyway, I'd like to thank anyone who read this chapter. I hope it's satisfactory!