Chapter 12
Internships (Part 1)
At last, the day for their internships came.
The class had briefly shown up at the school to pick up their costumes before heading to the station all together. Aizawa was the one to see them off, voice somehow managing to project over the noise of the station. Rei, if anything, was impressed. To be completely honest, she had never expected that their monotone homeroom teacher would ever speak above a mutter, but U.A. was proving things wrong about everything all the time.
"You all have your costumes, right?" He leveled them with a look of warning, staring into each and everyone's eyes. "Remember, you're not allowed to wear them in public. Don't drop them or anything."
"Yes!" Ashido sprung up energetically, one of the few who had a frightening amount of energy going about the day. Rei cringed at the shrillness of her voice, her long and drawn out affirmative grating on her nerves. Frankly, it was both too early and too much to handle at any given hour regardless, especially when the acoustics in the station were as terrible as they were. Hopefully she wouldn't be on the same train as her. Rei didn't want to think of the nightmares that would ensue.
"Speak clearly, Ashido! It's just a curt, 'yes,' when you get there." The reprimand was enough to dull Ashido's energy marginally, the girl slumping over with a less energetic "yes" in response to Aizawa's correction. Turning to look at the rest of the class once again, Aizawa continued. "Make sure you mind your manners with the pro heros! Off with you now."
The class snapped to attention as their teacher finally left them, allowing them to finally relax. Yaoyorozu turned to Rei, who was standing to her right on the edge of the group. "Good luck, Akatsuki-san. Text me how it goes!"
Rei nodded. "Yeah." Biting her lip, the motion drew Momo's attention for a moment longer, the girl looking at her in concern.
"Akatsuki-san?"
"I've been thinking," Rei began, looking back into Momo's eyes a bit sheepishly. "Call me 'Tsuki-chan,' if you want."
Ever since Yaoyorozu had told Rei to call her by her first name, Rei had felt slightly sad that she hadn't extended the same courtesy to her friend. She wasn't ready to give her first name yet, but neither did she want Yaoyorozu to continue calling her something so formal. She had been about to launch into an explanation in order to fill the space and try to make things less awkward, but Momo cut her off abruptly with a brilliant smile. "Okay! Tsuki-chan. I like it! Take care over the next week!"
Rei smiled, the two waving goodbye as Momo raced off to find her train. She watched her spiky black hair bobbing through the crowd until it disappeared around the corner, making Rei sigh. There was no question that Rei was excited for the internships, but at the same time, a week without seeing Yaoyorozu was going to feel weird. She would even miss her other classmates, if she was honest. Their bright energy had latched onto her, and now that she was about to be faced with their absence she realized how much she had grown to enjoy them. Every one of them.
Well, to be honest, she was still on the rocks about Mineta, but that was a given.
"Hey, Akatsuki-san!"
Rei turned around, watching as Kaminari, Sero, and Kirishima quickly approached her. Bakugou was following at a more lazy pace, costume case slung over his shoulder in a casual manner. Kaminari was the first to pull out his phone, unlocking the smart device and almost shoving it into Rei's hands. "Let's exchange phone numbers so we can all text during our internships!"
She blinked once before nodding her head. Silently she put her name into each of their phones, handing over her own phone so that it could be passed around as well. Their group began to get bigger as almost all of 1-A began a phone exchange, everyone eagerly tapping in their numbers. Rei was almost certain she had lost her phone to the group until Uraraka handed it back to her with a smile, placing her own phone in Rei's hands. "Will you exchange numbers with me?"
Nodding, she accepted the flip phone, blinking in surprise. Everyone else had smartphones, this being the first flip phone she had seen besides her own in a while. Looking up to Uraraka, the bubbly girl shared a knowing smile with her, making Rei's eyes soften.
Uraraka knew. She knew what it was like to not come from money.
"Bakugou! Let's exchange numbers!"
"Like I want to text you, shitty hair!" Bakugou barked back at Kirishima, but found the redhead's phone in his hands anyway. With a growl he punched in his number rather aggressively, chucking the phone back through the air in a violent manner and aiming for his friend's head. It was easily plucked out of the air with a grin and a thanks, which only seemed to irritate the explosive boy further. He started to walk away, but a hand and a new phone was suddenly thrust in front of him. Blinking, he looked to the side to see Rei, who was staring blankly in front of her. But after he stared longer at her action she finally turned her head to the side, a neutral mask on her face.
"Will you?"
He scowled, but snatched the phone from her hand, aggressively tapping the keys to enter his information. When he finished he dropped the phone back into Rei's hands. She had been about to leave, but the boy shoved a fist into her face along with a sleek black phone, forcing her to stop in her tracks. Blinking once, then twice, she looked back at Bakugou.
"Hurry up," he uttered in a lowly voice, "I'm not gonna miss my train for you."
Rei smiled, a tiny smile but warm nonetheless. She quickly tapped her information into his phone, handing it back quickly and placing it in his palms. "Good luck."
Rolling his eyes, he shoved his phone into his pocket. "I don't need luck."
"Then," she amended, "good skill, this week."
It was a strange notion and one that he had clearly not heard before, but he got the idea. With a solemn nod and an under the breath mutter of farewell to Rei he broke off from the group, not bothering to say any more goodbyes. Rei watched his back as he walked away, noticing the way that his shoulders were pulled up more straight than usual. It filled her chest with a sense of satisfaction, watching him walk with confidence into the distance. She hoped that his internship would be fulfilling; after all, he was going with Best Jeanist…
To be honest, she wasn't sure what he was going to learn, but she sure as hell knew that Bakugou's expectations would most likely be shattered from the moment he walked in.
Waving goodbye to her classmates, she set off to find her own train. Hosu City wasn't a terrible distance away, but she had never been to the platform before. After consulting a map she was off, marching toward her destination with a few minutes to spare.
The train had already arrived, Rei putting her bags away and settling into her seat. It would be a long ride. Now was the perfect time for a nap.
Upon arrival in Hosu City she began her search for Black Panther's agency. Rei walked quickly through the streets, eyes alert as she walked around the area and scanned her surroundings. Hosu was definitely an urban city with a large variety of upscale towers and modest buildings that spanned out from the center. Her search for Black Panther's agency had her walking a slight bit away from the center, in a more modest area of town. Most of the buildings didn't reach above five or six stories, a conglomerations of small businesses and other shops that lines the streets. There were a surprising amount of people walking around, filling the city with a life that Rei hadn't ever really seen in her hometown. Her area was more of a suburban setting, and she felt rather strange in such a metropolis.
Still, it filled her with excitement, the thrill of being in an urban city making her blood pump. It was no secret that, the more populated and urban an area, the more villains appeared. She wondered if she would be able to go on a mission to restrain a villain, but she had to calm herself from getting too far ahead. She was still only a first year in high school; she would be lucky just to see the day to day routine of a pro-hero in action. Continuing on her way, she kept herself on high alert, taking in the sights and making sure to orient herself properly.
To Rei's fortune, the agency wasn't difficult to find. After turning off of the main street onto a somewhat smaller road she found the building one block away, easily accessible to the main street. It was humble in comparison to its surrounding neighbors, only two stories high, but its appearance was polished and incredibly well maintained, tinted windows glittering without a single speck to mar its appearance. Nerves began to pool in her stomach. Swallowing hard, she rolled her shoulders back and lifted her head high. First impressions were important. She walked through the sliding glass double doors, making her way into the reception area.
Clean. That was her first impression. Everything was sparkling and well maintained, from the sparkling floor tiles to the well maintained plants that livened up the space. The woman at the front was dressed smartly, looking up with a polite smile on her face as Rei approached the desk. "How can I help you?"
"I'm Akatsuki Rei, from U.A., here to begin my internship."
The woman smiled warmly, standing up from the desk. "Excellent. Chirasaki is waiting for you in his office." She gestured for Rei to follow her, leading her to an elevator to the second floor. The ride was silent, making Rei even more nervous, but she kept her face smoothed over, ever the image of a placid, calm, and put together intern. There was enough to keep her mind busy anyway, like how the receptionist had just called the pro hero by his name. Was that something that was normal in this setting, a casual acknowledgement of one another? Already this place was slightly different than Rei's initial expectations, although admittedly she didn't have too many.
Upon emerging onto the top floor they walked down a long hallway that ran against the wall facing the front of the agency, windows on the left and other offices and rooms on the right. The afternoon light was streaming in, reflecting off the glass even as the tinted windows minimized most of the sparkle. It was still bright, Rei's eyes narrowing in order to cut the flood of light. Thankfully she wasn't exposed to it for long, as the duo made their way to the end of the hall. The receptionist knocked on the door sharply before opening it and poking her head in. "Chirasaki, the intern from U.A. is here for you."
"Good. Thank you, Hana-san." The man's voice was deep, solid and a bit intimidating as it sounded from around the corner. The receptionist bowed, pushing the door open further and beckoning Rei to enter, closing the door behind the girl as she left. Leaving the two in silence Rei marched forward to stand in front of the desk, bowing formally at the waist
"I'm Akatsuki Rei. Thank you for the opportunity to learn from your agency. I look forward to working with you."
"Thank you for choosing our agency. I know you must have had many to choose from. I look forward to working with you as well." Rei lifted her head, straightening up and taking the time to truly look at her superior for the next week. She had heard rumors and seen some pictures in the news, but she quickly found that images didn't do the infamous Black Panther any justice upon meeting him in person.
He was incredibly muscular, a hulking frame that looked as though he could snap Rei in half just from grabbing her in his hands. But for all the differences in physicality, she couldn't help but find that the two of them were very similar; both had deep golden eyes and black hair, though Chirasaki's was long and tied into a high ponytail. From what information she had gleaned in preparation for the internship he was an absolute powerhouse, a man who was feared and respected for not only his strength but his sharp wits and clever strategies. He no longer infiltrated illegal rings due to his fame, but he always was the first to lead his teams to destroying and busting locations. All throughout he was humble, always deferring to the police and keeping quiet about himself. And for all that he had the respect of many.
She couldn't help but be intimidated in his presence. All around he was impressive, and Rei had naturally been drawn to his agency once Bakugou had pointed it out. Located in a bustling city, it couldn't have been any more perfect, and the fact that he was relatively well known and had a good reputation was also a solid plus. Looking sharp, she vowed that she would do her absolute best, giving her all. It was what a man of his stature and reputation deserved in the very least.
He gestured for her to take a seat in one of the chairs in front of his desk. "Have a seat. I just need to finish up some paperwork before we get started."
Rei set her bags down on the ground, easing into the plush chair. She sat near the edge, not quite sure if she was meant to relax quite yet. Was this a test? Chirasaki turned a pair of golden eyes onto Rei, curiosity in them even as he turned back to the work in front of him. "So," he began, "why did you choose my agency? I'm sure there were other higher ranking pro-heros that have their eye on you as well."
Placing her hands in her lap, Rei considered his question for a moment. Eventually she decided that honesty would be the best tactic. "I wanted to choose an agency that best fit what I wanted."
"And what would that be?"
"I want to work with agencies that have experience primarily with busting quirk trafficking rings." Her bluntness garnered a look from the corner of his eyes, watching Rei carefully as she continued. "It's a dream that I've had for a few years now. To be frank," she summarized, choosing her own words carefully, "I know I won't be getting any direct experience as a high school student. I'm looking to establish connections since I'm riding the fame from the sports festival, so that I'll have better chances once I graduate."
Chirasaki put down his pen, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms, moving his full attention to the young girl that sat across from him. His golden eyes glittered with something akin to amusement though still serious, meeting Rei in a solid stare that would have been intimidating to most people. But she was used to making eye contact with people who had worse personalities; without looking too confrontational and aggressive she met his gaze, looking back at him with determination. She had meant everything she had said, and she wouldn't take it back.
In the end he smirked. "You're honest and concise. I like that. Reina-san wasn't lying when she said I'd like you."
Blinking, Rei tilted her head. "Reina..." Golden eyes widened. "You know Reina?"
"Yeah. We're family friends, technically speaking." Uncrossing his arms to clasp his hands and place them on his desk, he leaned forward. "To be honest, I thought that Reina had told you about my application, and that was why you had chosen to come here." His smile still on his face, Rei couldn't help but hope that she some day looked like him; welcoming enough, but leaking dangerous vibes that warned people not to mess with him. "To know that you chose me on your own decision, and to know that you're honest, that's what I like in people. I look forward to working with you."
So it had been a sort of test, and Rei had passed. She smiled, face matching his own. "As do I."
Chirasaki stood from his desk, allowing Rei to see his full costume. It was a skin tight bodysuit, much like her own, although his was more clearly plated with metal pieces to protect himself. She knew that his gloves hid his retractable metal claws, massive metal blades that extended over his hands and acted as claws that could shred through almost every sort of metal. On his waist was a utility belt, filled with various items that Rei couldn't quite distinguish. It made her realize how similar their uniforms were, making her almost sheepish.
"Change into your costume. We'll be going on patrol soon. I'll explain to you in detail what this week will entail along the way. Meet down in the foyer as soon as you're ready."
Rei stood up sharply, hands at her side. "Yes, sir!"
It was nearing the end of April, and the afternoon was warm. Rei had discarded the jacket that she normally wore over her bodysuit, keeping it in her costume container as she stowed it away. The belts around her waist and hips barely stood out even now that they were unobscured, though Rei had to admit that she felt a little bare without the coat. The function of the jacket was first and foremost to provided more pockets, acting as additional storage and less of an item to keep her warm. She was forced to slip her phone inside one of the flat cases that rested on the side of her thigh now that she was lacking her jacket, muting its sound and leaving it on vibrate. One never knew when a phone would come in handy, so she kept it on her body.
When she arrived in the foyer she saw that her superior was ready to go, adjusting something on his wrists before looking up to see her approach. He nodded affirmatively as he looked over her costume, a grin slowly spreading across his face as he took her in. "By that costume, you already look like my sidekick."
Rei smiled, but the face mask was already on, obscuring the motion save for the way her eyes crinkled slightly at the corners. "It was meant to be," she answered dryly, earning a chuckle from the man. Now that she looked at him, knowing that he was a friend of Reina, she could see that he was indeed rather young, barely getting to his thirties. She wondered just how well they knew each other, but squashed the thought down as he led the way through the streets.
"When we're out here, call me Black Panther, or Panther. Either one will do. I'm sure you learned about the importance of code names?"
Nodding solemnly, Rei replied. "It's important to keep a line between work and personal life. Otherwise, your personal life is basically ruined."
"Right." They made their way to the main street, turning right and walking further away. "But not just for interacting with civilians. It applies to villains too." He looked over his shoulder for a moment before motioning for Rei to follow at his side. She had to jog a bit to catch up, but she fell into step with his quick strides. "Your name is Meishin? Why did you choose that?"
"Originally I was going to go with Black Cat, but I decided against it. Didn't want to live in association with the American hero. But my quirk is called Nine Lives, so I decided to keep with the theme a little bit."
He hummed, nodding his head. "It's creative, I'll give you that, and it's a pretty good name. But you still have some time to decide, just in case you're still not sure." Looking around, he changed the topic, getting down to business. "As you might know, my agency most deals with covert operations and joint strike teams with the police. Usually there wouldn't be much for us to do during this week, except for training. But unfortunately that Hero Killer has been pretty active in Hosu, so we've been enlisted to help do extra rounds with the other agencies in the city."
"Hero Killer…" Rei looked up at her mentor. "That's the guy that took out Ingenium, right?"
"That's right. A real shame; that man's a real honorable and respectable guy. It hurt to see him go down like that." Suddenly a connection hit him. "That's right, wasn't his younger brother in the sports festival as well?"
"Iida-san is in my class at school."
"Isn't that right?" He crossed his arms over his chest. "Your year is really filled with potential. Good to see an entire class really shining."
Internally she beamed at the praise. She thought the same as well. To hear that others outside U.A. saw their potential made her spirits lift a little more. But she remained as cool on the outside as ever, head on a swivel as she looked around the town. Now that the afternoon was wearing on there were more and more people showing up, meaning that Rei was receiving even more stares than before. Most of them were being thrown to the Black Panther, who was physically intimidating and towered above almost everyone, but there were also glances being shot at Rei's small figure walking purposefully next to his, keeping up with his powerful strides.
He continued to talk, his baritone voice soothing as he kept it down low enough so that he wouldn't disturb the other people on the street. It helped Rei keep her wits about her, her ears thanking the heavens that he wasn't an incredibly loud person. Immediately she felt guilty as she thought of Iida, but she tried to keep focused on the man next to her in the present moment. "I know we're patrolling now, but most of our patrols are set to be in the late evening. We tend to take most of the afternoon and graveyard shifts, since the other heroes already work during the day time. During that time we'll be training. Hope you're ready to get beaten up."
"I wouldn't expect anything less."
Chirasaki seemed pleased with her response. "Well then, what would you like to know? Ask anything."
She thought carefully to herself, trying to think of what she wanted to know. Really, what wasn't there that she wanted to know? She had so many questions, trying to narrow it down to one at a time was proving to be difficult. "Can you tell me about how operations work at your agency? How do people get assignments, and what do they look like."
"That," he began, "is probably a question best answered back at the agency. Don't want any other people listening in to that conversation."
Rei nodded. It was about what she had expected, but she had tried anyway. At least they would have something on the agenda to talk about once they got back. So instead she went a little more personal, something almost completely opposite from the top secret nature of the job. "How do you know Reina?"
This time he grinned widely, a devious look that made Rei look up in anticipation. "Originally it was our parents who knew each other. We grew up together, went to the same elementary and middle school and everything. After that, I went to hero school, and she went off to a private high school and Tokyo University." The smile dropped from his face, returning to something more serious. "We kept in touch loosely after that. I've been busy with my work, and she's been doing… whatever. Probably trying to escape her parents."
The mention of Reina's parents brought an immediate scowl to Rei's face. Her eye twitched, thinking back to their first and only interaction at the hospital, the day that Reina had slipped into a coma. "I hate them." The sentiment slid from her mouth before she could stop herself, but fortunately Chirasaki didn't seem too phased by her words.
"I'm guessing you've met them in person then. They're well intended when it comes to their daughter, but it comes off as overbearing and strict." Shrugging his shoulders, he sighed. "Well, it doesn't help that Reina's still rebelling. They sent her to Tokyo so that she could get her business degree, but that was about the last time she obeyed them. They've been fighting ever since she graduated."
"Fighting?" Rei was slightly surprised. For all that she knew, she hadn't known that Reina was actually actively fighting with her parents. All these years Reina in fact had never once mentioned any details about her relatives, mostly pushing them away by saying that she didn't get along with them well. But actually fighting, that was news. Still, with the way her parents acted, Rei didn't blame Reina. They were total jerks, from her limited experience.
But Chirasaki looked surprised. "They've been trying to get her to take over the family business for years. But Reina started resisting. They still support her in their own way, but they don't talk anymore. I'm just lucky that they still like me, so that I can get discounts on their merchandise."
"Merchandise?"
"Reina didn't tell you?"
She tried to fight the hurt, looking to the ground. From the way this conversation was going, Reina really hadn't told her anything. Why hadn't she? And why did she have to find all this out from her mentor for the next week?
But Black Panther only talked on, not seeing the internal struggle that Rei was fighting. "The Fujiwara's have almost a complete monopoly on specialty textiles and raw materials, specifically those used by support companies for hero costumes. Reina's their only child, so they're trying to get her to take over. But she started refusing a few years ago."
"I… didn't know."
A hand dropped onto her shoulder, making her jump as she was brought out of her sulking and betrayal. Golden eyes that were wiser than her own stared down with compassion and a bit of pity. "Reina probably didn't tell you because she didn't want you to worry. From what she's told me, she loves you like her own family. She's naturally a very happy and outgoing person, but the conflict especially with her father has really taken a toll on her. She probably didn't want you to worry about her."
Scoffing, Rei partially rolled her eyes. "Well now I'm definitely going to worry about her. Parents are dumb."
He laughed, patting her on the shoulder. "I won't fight you on that one."
They took a turn down another street, a commercial avenue with bright electronics sticking out from the buildings and hovering over the walkways below. Rei's thoughts continued to turn in her head. Reina and Chirasaki were childhood friend. From the way he talked, they continued to talk with one another, and he knew almost everything about Rei. But that meant…
"So, you know I don't have parents."
Much to her surprise, he only shrugged his shoulders. "Parents or no, the only thing that matters in this world is what you do. Reina's worked to give you a chance, from what I can tell. And you're doing fine, just as is. Believe me. And now," he grinned, "it's my turn."
Rei only nodded in response as he looked between her and the road ahead of them. "I watched the sports festival. Most people were watching that Bakugou and Todoroki kid, and even that Tokoyami boy was impressive. They all have flashy quirks that they all knew how to use pretty well during a fight, so it's no surprise that they made it to the top four."
Even if the pro hero didn't mean it, the words dug into her feelings, chipping away at her composure. She had faced this fact multiple times, so much that it irritated her. She knew that, by the way he was phrasing it, he was leading up to making assumptions about her own abilities, her plainness in comparison. There was a chip in her shoulder about the sports festival still, and she hated it when people brought it up. But when the pro hero opened his mouth again, Rei found herself surprised.
"You not only were one of two girls out of sixteen to make it to the second round, but you made it to the semifinals. All the while, you kept the audience guessing about what your quirk is. I've seen some of your abilities, but now I want to hear from you. So tell me," he beckoned. "What can you do?"
During the sports festival, Present Mic had completely ignored her quirk, summarizing her as a general beast that was incredibly pain tolerant and sharp thinking. For the first two rounds she had managed to keep most of her abilities a secret, forced to show more of her hand during her fight with Todoroki as things got hairy. She had been described as a mystery, a dark and shadowy figure that no one could figure out. All this time, she had brushed it off, keeping to herself and away from the group.
But now, someone was actively asking for her skillset.
It was the first time that she could actually remember someone being genuinely interested in knowing what her quirk was and how it manifested in her body. The last time she had been invited to talk about herself in this manner, it was when she had her first conversation about becoming a hero with Reina, back in her first term of middle school. She was so shocked that her brain short circuited for a moment before regaining cognition, trying to organize the information so she could present it more clearly. Was this what Kaminari felt like when he overexerted his final move?
"The most notable feature is that my gracilis muscles are strong," she began, "just like a cat. I can leap high into the air. Over the years I've trained my stamina so I'm better at long distance running and taking fall damage. I can fall from a twelve story building at this point without breaking my bones."
She watched as he nodded, arms folding over his chest again as he began to think. Taking it as a gesture to continue, she spoke quickly but efficiently. "My arms are probably my weakest point, but I've been trying to build them up as well. My nails are retractable, as you probably saw in the sports festival."
"Right, you scaled that ice wall that Todoroki put up." He grimaced. "Doesn't that hurt your bones? The chill?"
"Yeah, but I had to do it. Otherwise I would fall or get eliminated immediately."
He muttered something half to himself, something about her being a tough kid. It made her lips twitch, but she continued on. "Overall, I'm flexible like a cat, and my senses are heightened. I have better hearing and smell than most people, and my eyes can see in low light."
"There's one more thing, isn't there?" Golden eyes clashed with one another. "You were impaled by an ice spike. There's no way you should have been standing on that podium if you were normal."
Sighing, she looked away. "We thought it was regeneration, but Recovery Girl said it was something more. It's powerful enough that it can bring me back from the brink of death." Or from actually being dead. She decided not to add that last piece of information, lest that lead to more questions about her knowledge and understanding of her quirk.
Fortunately it seemed like enough for Chirasaki. "I see. That's a lucky ability to have, indeed. Really give the name Nine Lives and Superstition a whole new meaning."
Rei's lips twitched. "That is the point, I guess."
"Thank you for sharing with me. I appreciate your honesty. So then," he grinned, "are you up for a game?"
The game ended up being an obstacle course around Hosu City, the two cat quirks racing across the skylines in a chase. Rei had to follow his exact course, sailing over gaps between buildings on occasion and dropping to the ground in others. It was exhilarating, but as time wore by she found her stamina sorely tested and wavering. The sun had long set in the sky by the time they finished, landing in a quiet area on the fringes of Hosu. Rei gasped for air, panting as she tried to keep her posture upright in order to maximize the amount of air she took in. Chirasaki on the other hand looked as though he had barely broken a sweat, surprisingly agile and fast for someone so large in physique.
He merely gestured for Rei to follow him into a restaurant, opening the door for her as they slid in. The owner and chefs greeting them with a shout, Rei muttering her own response and dipping her head courteously as they sat down in a booth. Steaming cups of tea were placed before them, Chirasaki handing her a menu for her to look at. "They have the best takoyaki here, just as good as street food during festival season in my opinion."
At this Rei immediately perked up, eyes scanning the list for the item before finding it in the appetizers. "Can I… order it as a meal?"
"Eat up, kid. It's on me." He chuckled as her eyes widened, licking her lips in anticipation and looking more like a tiny, starving student rather than an apprentice. Watching her as she placed her order, he internally grinned at her reserved motions that betrayed her excitement. She was collected and calm on the outside, but he could see her personality peeking out from below her shell. Reina had really picked a keeper.
Waving off the waitress with an order for his usual, the two of them sat in companionable silence, sipping their tea in the cool evening.
"Why did you extend an offer to me?"
Blinking, the man looked back at his temporary student. "I saw potential in you. Your style reminded me of myself back when I was your age." She seemed surprised by this admission, although it appeared that she seemed to put the pieces together. Even now they were ridiculously similar, from the way they acted, the way their quirks worked, all the way down to the costumes they wore. If they weren't careful, they could have been mistaken for siblings. Blowing on his tea to cool it down, he mused. "I had already put in my request when Reina called me a day later, asking for a favor."
"Reina asked you to take me?"
"From what she told me, you were apprehensive about the internships. She knew exactly what you wanted to do, so she asked me to step in. To be honest, she didn't have to. I already had my eyes on you."
Rei had removed her face mask, and he could now see her full expression. She smiled, raising the teacup to block her mouth. "But she did. I'm happy."
"She really cares for you, kid. Seriously."
"I know." But did she? Rei clearly had an idea, but Chirasaki saw things from a different perspective. Reina couldn't hide anything from him, and she certainly couldn't hide the fact that she adored the little black kitten with every fibre in her body.
He continued his explanation. "Do you know why you lost to Todoroki?"
Rei frowned. Back to the sports festival again. But this was a conversation she had held with herself multiple times, a hobby of hers being the nitpicking over her past failures and fights and how to improve. "There isn't just one reason," she admitted, tone suggesting that the conversation might be longer than he anticipated. But he gestured for her to continue with a wave of his hand. Rei conceded, jumping right in. "I wanted to win, but I guess he wanted to win more."
"A battle of wills," he agreed. "Strength of one's determination."
She nodded, continuing as she swirled her tea in her cup. "Also, I panicked right at the end. I knew that he was slowing down, and that I had to play the waiting game. But when he broke out of the circle I had tried to trap him in, I began to lose focus. I jumped too early, and he knocked me out of the air. That was my biggest mistake."
"I'll admit, I didn't realize that your jump had been a timing error. Logically it did make sense, although I understand now what you were thinking. But do you know what your biggest problem was?"
Immediately she shook her head, although her eyes glazed over and her face hardened as she began to think, trying to brainstorm ideas of what she had missed. "Upper body strength?" She suggested, though still unsure. "If I had been able to hold on to the ice a little longer, or had been able to pull myself up."
"That's also true, but eventually your fingers would have been numbed, making that ineffective." Nodding her head, she conceded to his answer, now watching him and waiting to learn. Chirasaki sat back in the booth, holding his mug in his hands.
"The best answer is that your stamina ran out." Rei seemed surprised, but she listened carefully with wide eyes, absorbing every piece of information she could. It was adorable, what with the way she hung on every word, but the pro hero moved along. "You said it yourself that he was slowing down. Remember that all quirks have their limitations. If you can outlast them, it doesn't matter if they're close range or long range. Eventually, you can close in for the kill, if you know how to wear them down."
But Rei only frowned, a scowl on her face. "But that was given that Todoroki didn't use his left side. If he did, he would almost be unstoppable."
"True, but the key is almost. Everyone has a downside, and as a hero you have to exploit their weaknesses if you can't immediately take them down."
Bowls of miso soup came, distracting them for another moment as they began to dig in. Rei sighed in contentment. Nothing beat a hot meal after a long day of working. But the day wasn't over yet; she had to keep reminding herself that they had night patrols coming up. She would be hard pressed to keep up after running the gauntlet, but Black Panther had promised her that she would want to die from getting run into the ground. Savoring the food as it came, she took the time to relax for just a little bit. She would need every bit of strength for the next seven days.
"So, tell me about U.A.. What's it like?"
"Challenging. High expectations everywhere. But it's worth it for the battle classes and the facilities."
"Yeah, I hear you. I actually went to Ketsubutsu, though I did apply for U.A.."
"Really? I applied there as well."
"Well, getting into U.A. was undoubtedly more prestigious and a better option. How did the practical exam go? Is it still the same?"
The rest of the meal passed casually, the two of them talking more freely now that they had begun working and established a common connection. Nearly an hour passed before Chirasaki paid the bill, mentioning that it was time to get a move on and start up the evening patrols. Rei followed at his side, sticking close as the two slipped in and out of conversation, talking about everything from highschool to patrol duties and other aspects of being a pro hero.
Deep down, Rei thanked Bakugou for picking Black Panther's agency. She would have to text him later.
Thankfully, Black Panther's agency had saved a temporary room for her to sleep. Down in the basement, which she hadn't realized existed until Chirasaki had led her to it, there were multiple rooms and showering facilities, all set up like a dorm room experience. He had explained that, on occasion after some strikes, some of their members didn't feel safe walking home or returning to their normal place of residence, lest they be staked out by vengeful criminals who wanted to catch them off guard. Rei was the only one in the women's side, but she wasn't alone; Chirasaki had mentioned that he usually slept in the building anyway since he tended to stay later than everyone else, and it was much more convenient to simply stay in one place. Finally left to her own devices she showered quickly and began getting ready to sleep.
It was only day one, and she had already learned so much. A part of her wondered if everyone else's internships were going similarly, if they were getting as much out of their experiences as she was. Or perhaps she was just lucky. It wasn't every day that someone shared a connection with a high ranked hero.
She had known that her phone had been going off around nine o'clock, just when she had been getting into their night shift for patrolling. She had fought the urge to check it, curious to see why it was literally ringing off the hook in her pocket. Temporarily forgetting that she had passed her phone around, she was forced to read a long thread involving almost everyone from class.
Reading through the class thread and essentially ignoring everyone, she turned to the other, more personalized messages that some other people had sent alone. She first turned to Momo's texts, shooting off a response to her friend, then gradually combing through the list and responding to whatever she wanted. Her fingers lingered on the last person, phone lighting up suddenly even at the early hour. By the time she finished answering everyone she was exhausted to the core, passing out just as she plugged her phone into the charger.
Yaomomo (10:15 PM)
Finally got done! Good work today 3
I'm not sure what I'm doing at my agency to be honest
How's being in Hosu?
Yaomomo (10:47 PM)
Going to sleep soon
Text me, okay?
Tsuki (2:50 AM)
Just finished patrol
Definitely getting pushed hard
Black Panther is a friend of my mentor
Sleep well :)
[you have been added to the chat w/ 5 people]
Kaminari (9:12 PM)
I'm beat! This internship is no joke
Serophane (9:15 PM)
Same here! I'm definitely getting pushed
Kirishima (9:16 PM)
Tetsutetsu from 1-B is here with me!
[download image]
Kaminari (9:16 PM)
Woah, nice view! Luckyyy
[Bakugou left the chat]
Kaminari (9:16 PM)
boooooo :\
[Bakugou has been added to the chat]
Kirishima (9:17 PM)
Bakugou, how's your internship going?
Bakugou (9:17 PM)
Take me out of this damn chat you nerds
Kaminari (9:17 PM)
:0
Kirishima (9:17 PM)
:)
Bakugou (9:18 PM)
I hate you all
Kirishima (9:18 PM)
C'mon don't be like that
How's your internship?
Bakugou (9:19 PM)
Fucking sucks
Bakugou (9:19 PM)
Stop texting me
[Bakugou has left the chat]
Kirishima (9:20 PM)
I'm gonna add him tomorrow when he's not looking
:)
Serophane (9:20 PM)
Wonder what's going on?
Serophane (9:20 PM)
Anyway i'm beat; good night all!
Kaminari (9:20 PM)
Akatsukiiiiiiii where are you?
Kirishima (9:20 PM)
Is she ignoring us?
Kaminari (9:21 PM)
Can't tell; doesn't show if she saw this
I'm gonna sleep too!
Kaminari (9:21 PM)
Goodnight!
Kirishima (9:21 PM)
Goodnight!
Akatsuki, text us when you can!
Akatsuki (2:51 AM)
Just finished patrolling
Night everyone
Bakugou (9:15 PM)
Better not be lost or dead
This internship blows
Akatsuki (2:52 AM)
I'm alive, idiot
Srsly? Why?
Bakugou (2:52 AM)
Why the hell are you up so late?
Akatsuki (2:52 AM)
Thought you went to sleep already
Bakugou (2:53 AM)
Damn phone woke me up
Bakugou (2:53 AM)
Answer the question
Akatsuki (2:53 AM)
Patrol just ended. We're taking late shifts
Extra patrols bc of the hero killer
What's wrong with ur agency
Bakugou (2:54 AM)
Tryin to reform me
Asshole
Akatsuki (2:54 AM)
Also its ur fault u didn't turn ur phone off
Bakugou (2:54 AM)
Tried to gel my fucking hair
Bakugou (2:54 AM)
Shut up
Akatsuki (2:55 AM)
Pics or it didn't happen
Bakugou (2:55 AM)
Fick off
Bakugou (2:55 AM)
Fick
Akatsuki (2:55 AM)
:(
Bakugou (2:55 AM)
fick
Bakugou (2:55 AM)
FUCK
Akatsuki (2:55 AM)
lol
Bakugou (2:56 AM)
Shut up and go to sleep already
Akatsuki (2:57 AM)
Night then
Rei couldn't say things happened like clockwork, because things changed all the time. Chirasaki occasionally had private consultations, meaning that Rei was left on her own to train and mind her own business. Most of the time there were usually some of Black Panther's subordinates around during the day, who were more than happy to entertain and answer questions of the intern that floated in their office. She had become a sort of fixture, most of the workers calling her the mini Panther due to her small size but similar eyes and hair color, as well as matching outfits. Her delicate ears had picked up the whispered strains, but she found herself quite pleased with the likening to her superior.
Contrary to what she had expected, the mood of the office was light and maintained a level of fun. When she had asked one of the workers, they had explained that it was one of their ways of keeping the work environment positive, considering what sort of dark things they had to deal with on a daily basis. Everyone seemed to be on a first name basis, a strong sense of camraderie passing on to Rei as she watched everything with a critical eye. It certainly hadn't been expected, but it made her extremely happy to be in such a wonderful place.
She wondered if Chirasaki would take her back in the future for another internship, or perhaps as a sidekick some day when she graduated.
Every day he pushed her physical skills to the test, the two of them running through, over, and around the streets of Hosu. Much to Rei's disappointment they had yet to be called for any encounters with villains, but if anything that was a good thing, a testament to the fact that the heroes were doing their job. Running through the city she was getting a good feel for the layout, able to pick out locations quickly and run common routes with the Black Panther. She felt like a little house cat compared to him, but she couldn't deny that she was enjoying herself. They had agreed that her stamina needed to improve, and Chirasaki was set on making sure that she received the help she needed.
All the while, whispers of the hero killer continued to circle around their heads.
The villain had been strangely silent after taking down Ingenium, something that brought a sense of peace to some and a sense of anxiety to others. Chirasaki in particular belonged to the latter, and although he didn't voice his opinions around Rei she was beginning to take it in as well. Every time they sailed over a dark alleyway she couldn't help but watch her feet as they flew over, looking for suspicious persons and figures that hid in the dark.
For the most part, the daytime brought confidence and strength.
It was the darkness that brought a sense of urgency and a healthy dose of fear.
On the first night, Chirasaki had admitted that night patrols were more dangerous than the daytime patrols, the chances of unsavory people not limited to the hero killer meandering and looking for trouble much higher than when the sun was in the sky. But he made the executive decision to keep Rei with him during the night shifts, something that Rei had appreciated. He had mentioned that she had already fought villains in the past, and from watching her during the sports festival her skills were to be trusted. Placing that trust in her made Rei all the more determined to prove herself, keeping her on her toes at all times. She was proud to be placed with Chirasaki, and she was eager to show him that his faith was not misplaced.
By the time the third night began to settle in, Rei was confident that their pattern had been established. The two of them had finished running around the town, Chirasaki complimenting Rei on how her stamina was improving slowly. They had gone to dinner at the same restaurant as the first night, knowing how Rei had fallen in love with the takoyaki platter. By the time they finished they burst back out into the night, refreshed and ready to take on patrols.
Rei hadn't placed her face mask on her mouth and nose just yet, pausing as a scent drifted her way. She stopped just as Chirasaki did, the two of them lifting their faces to the night sky and sniffing tentatively, as though to confirm what their noses were telling them. It was then that the screams reached their ears, Chirasaki immediately taking off down the street. "Come on!" It was a command that had Rei closely running after him, the two scaling the closest building and rushing to find a high vantage point.
As soon as they got up high enough, Rei gasped at the sight.
The city lay in flames.
The screams could be heard more clearly from their new vantage point. But in the mix, a familiar groan could be heard in the distance, mingling in with the normal human noises that were easily distinguishable, and Rei's blood ran cold. She had heard something similar before, and although this shriek was different there was an inhuman quality that was shared by the one she had heard a few weeks previous. Rei had hoped to never hear it again, had prayed in her heart, frozen by the way that it struck fear into her chest. It was unstoppable. And now…
"Nomu…"
Chirasaki glanced between her and the city. "You know something about this?"
"That cry, it's the Nomu. The creature that tried to kill All Might at USJ." Rei turned to her superior, eyes wide. "It's not exactly the same, but it's close enough."
He frowned, but motioned for her to follow them. "Our priority is to clear civilians from the scene. But, if it comes down to it…" He looked at her head on, golden eyes deadly serious. "I give you permission to use your quirk to fight in combat."
Rei couldn't hide her surprise. "Seriously?"
"If this situation is as serious as you say, I'm not going to take any risks. I authorize you, as according to the law, to use your quirk to fight in combat." Eyes on her for a moment longer, he turned away. "Follow me closely. Prepare yourself."
He began to leap from building to building in order to get closer to the scene, taking a route over the rooftops and flying through the air. Rei followed close behind, pulling her face mask over her mouth and nose and trying to steady her breath.
It was happening all over again. The thought that there was a chance that she would come face to face with one of those dastardly creatures again made her blood run cold. If All Might had been hard pressed to fight one of them off, how would she manage here? But as she followed Black Panther into the fiery abyss, she found that her thoughts were pulled away from such fears as the civilians came into sight and the flames grew higher and higher, the destruction and broken glass coming into view.
Last time, she fought to save herself.
This time, she would fight to save others.
AN: I was just thinking the other day of how this story kind of started as a shit post/ test document that I wasn't really invested in since I was just tossing around ideas and trying to get myself to write. I never thought that people would actually enjoy this story or read it. So thank you to all of you who have followed and favorited this story so far. Words can't describe how surprised and shocked I am, but I'm thankful all the same for your support.
In celebration of everything, the next update (Chapter 13) will take a break from the regular story. Can you guess what it will be about? I've been working on it for a few days now, and I'm finally getting to the editing stage. Please look forward to the next update!
Leave a review and leave a guess as to what you think the next chapter will focus on! Even if you don't get it right, you might give me ideas for another special chapter in the future, so go wild!