Since we were training with Shinsou, my dad had to pick out my outfit for me. It was all black--my sports bra (duh) underneath a black tank top with some longer tennis shorts for today. I couldn't blame him. He didn't want anyone--especially not Shinsou--looking at me. He was just trying to keep me safe.

But, if he recalled, I'd shown more skin than this in front of him before. Against my will, but nonetheless.

But, it's still understandable.

Either way, that's what I wore, with my tennis shoes and black socks, I took my lanyard and followed my Dad out the door.

"I'm going to have you do your warm up, then work on your endurance, flexibility, and balance today," He said. "You're going to be doing handstands and leg lifts."

"How many?"

"Not too many. You'll be okay."

I sighed. Of course.

We made it to the workout room, where Shinsou-San was waiting outside the door for us.

"You ready?" Dad asked him.

He shrugged. "You tell me."

Dad gestured to me. "She will be joining us today, doing her own thing. Don't worry about her."

He looked at me out of the corner of his eye and I nodded politely.

"You can head in. I have some things to attend to before we begin. I'll be with you both shortly."

"Yes, Sir," I said, putting my lanyard up to the scanner.

Shinsou-San was still looking fairly confused, concerned and irritated all at once.

I swept my hand gracefully. "After you."

"Thanks."

I showed him in and directed him into the workout room. It looked like he had just entered a museum. He was looking around at everything, almost appalled.

I decided not to say anything about it. Who knew what situation he came from.

"Big room."

I nodded. "Big heroes to train."

"I didn't realize they used a workout room," he said with a chuckle "to train."

"This is only for staff members and whoever they permit to use it. It's a long process to get someone in if they're not employees."

He went quiet. I side-eyed him. He seemed contemplative and grateful.

He should be.

I started stretching up and down, back and forth, side to side and Shinsou-San followed my lead...for whatever reason.

I didn't know what I was doing. I was just stretching.

But whatever.

"So," I said, "Why do you want to be a hero?"

He looked over at me and kept stretching. "To prove people wrong."

I looked up at him.

"I've always wanted to help," he said, "but never known how to. People always thought my quirk was a villain's quirk, but...if it can hurt people, it can help them, too, right?"

I nodded. "Anything used for evil can be used for good," I said. "It's about the person using it."

He looked at me, a small smile on his face. He didn't say anything. Neither did I.

I started stretching my legs and Shinsou almost looked at me cross eyed.

I did a full split, and his jaw dropped.

"You expect me to do that?" he said, almost shyly.

I chuckled. "Only if you wanna give it a try."

He looked at me with disgust.

I laughed again. "You really are funny."

"Does Sensei expect me to do this?" he asked next.

"Eventually. He won't rush you, though, so you won't break anything, uh...vital."

He glared at me.

I laughed again.

.o0o.

Dad came back, and started actually warming up with me and Shinsou-San.

We did all kinds of stretches and endurance warm ups. That was most of the workout, actually.

He had me do my squats, leg lifts and mountain climbers as he reviewed with Shinsou-San some weight and strength requirements for the Hero Course, if he should transfer. They didn't have a weight requirement starting out and it obviously was not enforced, but since he didn't make it in, he would have to try and get in next semester. And by that time, the heroes in training in question would be bigger, better, faster, and stronger. He would have to keep up with the same pace without the same environment that they have.

It would be a challenge. There was a reason why my father was working me out like this before I was even in high school.

And he was up for it.

And I respected that. In fact, I admired it. He was an admirable person. He saved my life. Why people were so quick to diss him appalled me.

Dad made me do push ups again today, and they were harder in some ways today, but easier in others. They hurt more, but I could do more.

Dad was mostly paying attention to Shinsou and talking to him, so I worked on my stamina, doing wall-sits without weights.

Yeah, that was a mistake.

My legs….Ow…

Dad finally came over to me, who was sitting on the floor, rubbing out my thighs from being stupid.

"You okay, kid?"

"Kinda…" I said. "My legs are stiff."

"Hm. Do you think you can run? Just a mile today."

I sighed, hanging my head. "Yeah…" I hated that I couldn't lie to him.

"Alright. Let's get you set up, then you can work on your upper body strength and handstands."

I almost shot him a look, but I realized that wouldn't be the best idea.

He helped me up and had me gather my bearings as I stomped my feet, trying to get feeling back in them.

I stood on the treadmill, and Dad started the cycle.

"I want you to do the whole cycle, but if you feel nauseous, then stop. I don't want you to hurt yourself."

"Okay."

I started the run. Dad went back with Shinsou.

Surprisingly, I was able to run without wanting to die. It was helpful for me to reset and gather my thoughts, my strength, my stamina. It was surreal, to run and not worry about collapsing. The only issue for me was the stinging soreness in my legs every time I landed on the treadmill.

I could do it.

The mile was over before I knew it. I was breathless, but not exhausted out of mind.

I took a small sip of water and stretched again, my thighs literally screaming at me with every move I made.

But, it was a good kind of pain. Which was weird.

Anyway, Dad made Shinsou do more sit ups for something he did. I didn't ask, I don't want to know.

He came over and set me by the wall, almost against it.

"You remember how to kick off?"

"Yeah," I said, settled in a plank-like position.

"Alright. I'm right here to steady you. I won't let you fall."

"'Kay," I said breathlessly.

"Alright. Three, two, one."

I kicked up and off, feeling my dad's hand on my stomach as my feet hit the wall.

"Hold," Dad said.

I held my position, my stomach tightening to keep myself up and balanced.

I was breathing harshly and erratically, my face was turning hot.

"You're doing great," he said.

I heaved in another breath or two, my arms shaking.

"Keep your legs straight," He reminded.

I lifted my legs further.

"Ten more seconds."

Yeah, right.

Those were the longest ten seconds of my life.

He brought my legs down, and had me sit back, resting my arms. Then, we did it again.

This time for just a little bit longer.

Then again. For shorter.

Then again. For longer.

It was conditioning. And I...really, really didn't like it.

But, hey. By the end, I could do a handstand on my own. Kickoff and balance and everything.

My workout was done. Thank the Gods themselves.

I sat down, watching Dad train with Shinsou-San for a while longer. It was quite enjoyable.

Dad was so mean to him. But it was motivation. It made sense how he was working with him, at least to me. Shinsou-San was negatively motivated. If he kept tearing him down, then building him up, progressively and methodically, it would make him that much stronger.

As much of an introvert my Dad was, he knew how to get the most out of a person. With me, I needed strong guidance and good support. With everyone in his hero course, it seemed they loved a challenge. He raised the bar and helped them get there.

And he was good at it.

Dad's phone started ringing, and he turned to me.

I blinked. Then sighed. "I'll get it."

"Thank you."

I looked at the ID. It wasn't anything I recognized, since Dad didn't put in contacts. He just memorized the numbers, and the ones he recognized, he either answered anyway, or ignores all calls anyway.

So it didn't really matter in the end.

Either way, I picked up, just in case it was someone important.

"Aizawa Shota's phone, Samiko speaking," I introduced with practiced ease.

"Oh. Hello, Samiko."

I knew that voice.

"Todoroki-Kun? Is everything alright?"

Dad turned to face me.

"Yes, everything is alright. I just wanted to clarify something with your father, if that would be okay."

I walked over to my Dad. "Yes. He's right here."

"Thank you."

Dad shook his head and waved me off.

I was shooketh.

"U-uh," I stuttered trying to gather my bearings, "Uh, so it turns out my father is, uh….unavailable, so uh, can I help you, perhaps?"

"Hm...Uh, do you know where he may have the internship papers at? I just need to verify the terms."

"Uh, I think he took the papers to Principal Nezu...I can speak with him tomorrow since he's already left and get back to you if you would like."

I heard a long sigh.

"No. That's alright. I'll speak to you soon. I apologize for the inconvenience."

"No trouble at all. I wish you luck, Todoroki-San."

"Thank you. Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

"Did he need anything?"

I turned to my Dad. "He wanted to see something on his internship paperwork...I'm not really sure what thought. That's all he said."

"Hm…"

And that was it on the matter.

.o0o.

After about another hour, Dad and Shinsou-San finished training.

"I have to go and assist another teacher with some things," he said casually. "Samiko, can you keep him company?"

"Of course."

And he left.

Shinsou eyeballed me with what I thought looked like envy or contempt. Or both. I don't know.

He sighed. "You don't have to stay if you don't want to."

I shrugged. "I'd rather not disobey my father. He might make me do your workout."

Shinsou smiled snidely at me. I grinned.

"Do you have anything better to do?"

"Other than follow my dad's orders? No." I said. "I'm not leaving."

"So you're just going to watch me stand here looking all pathetic or what?"

"You're not pathetic."

He scoffed. "I just proved I don't have what it takes."

I shook my head. "No. You proved you did."

He looked at me like I was crazy.

"I'm going to be blunt, so prepare yourself. The thing is," I said, "is that you want to be a hero. But you're skinny. You can't lift weights, you can't do a pullup. And that's okay. That's what my Dad does. He pushes you to your limits to set goals. He does it to me too. It's not personal. You feel terrible, but really, it's for your own good. And he gets some insight on what needs work and what doesn't."

Shinsou looked like he understood me still, but also like I just rocked his world.

"So," I continued, "Maybe you are pathetic. But that doesn't mean you can't be a hero."

Shinsou's gaze turned to a glower. He looked away.

I jumped off my seat on one of the exercising equipment pieces, grabbed a water bottle and handed it over to him.

"Here."

He looked back up at me tiredly.

"Staying hydrated and eating healthily are the first steps to being fit," I said casually.

He sighed, taking the bottle from my hands.

"That, and," I continued, "A good night's sleep."

He glared at me.

"Hero training starts today," I smiled. "Welcome to the Hero Course."

.o0o.

A/N: HI!!! Oh my gosh it's been a hot minute.I have an announcement.This chapter was hell to write...The ones after this should come easier for me, but I was literally racking my brain to try and find words, so sorry if it was a little boring.So, finals are coming up...I finished one, but all of my other finals are this upcoming week, so I am focusing on that as of right now. Blindsided will be put on hold for just a little while--no, this is definitely NOT being discontinued, don't worry.I also do my writing on my school computer, which has to be returned at the end of the year, which is in about one week. So, until or unless I buy a new computer (which is probable) I will not be doing any more writing or publishing online for this story. Other stories--that have been prewritten--may be updated and published as i see fit.Thank you so much for understanding, for your constant love and support and attention this fic has been getting. I love this story, I love Samiko and I'm glad you guys love it as much as I do. It does not go unnoticed.As always, stay strong, and have a good one. I'll see you all very soon!!