CHAPTER 14: LOST IN TRANSLATION
A few weeks passed with nothing but the first partial exams and more training sessions with pro heroes.
"Engaging in one on one combat without a victim or civilian involved was illegal, of course-" Mr. Aizawa made a pause to write a date on the board. "This changed since the battle of the Alpha Hero in Yoroido. Midoriya probably already knows what went down, however, we need to review the circums—
"EVENING YOUNG HEROES, WHAT'S NEW?" Some students covered their ears as the vibrations of Present Mic's voice penetrated their ears and concentration.
The angry sigh of Mr. Aizawa was felt almost at a molecular level by the whole class. "Is it going to take long, Mic?" The scarfed professor in black inquired, reaching for his yellow sleeping bag.
"Don't relax too much dude! I'm just here to tell you SOMEONE'S GOT AN EYE ON YOU GUYS!" Again, the forever young voice bounced in every corner into everyone's ears.
"OMG. Wait, you're not talking about…?" Mina energetically stood up.
"IT SHOULD BE, WE'RE SENIORS NOW" Denki followed. "You must be talking about—
"THAT'S RIGHT YOU SHERLOCKS. YOU GUESSED IT" Mic corroborated the two students.
"What are they talking about?" Todoroki leaned over closer to Momo, she nodded in confusion.
"TOP HERO'S MAGAZINE ANNUAL ARTICLE ABOUT NEW HEROES!" Ochako exclaimed with a fist up in the air.
"YEAH!" Present Mic pointed at the brunette.
"Top what?" Todoroki questioned again.
"Every year, Top Hero magazine throws an article on the senior students of the best schools in Japan," Mina started to explain, dark eyes big in excitement. "So people get to know the new faces of heroes' society!"
"Gets the fan clubs started, that's for sure," Mineta added. "Babes get a glance of fresh meat." he lisped.
"Also it's a great way of getting statistics moving in terms of popularity. A first encounter with society via publicity gives civilians more trust to approach new heroes in case of an emergency as well. After all, people in the streets are also the ones who vote and affect heroes popularity at the awards—
"Whatever nerd!" Bakugo violently interrupted Midoriya's rambling. "LET'S VILLAINS KNOW WHO'S COMING FOR THEIR ASSES." Almost demented laughter followed his argument.
"Whatever dude, no matter how many villains you get," Kirishima pointed out. "In the end, Uraraka totally creamed you at Smash Bros." A friendly wide smile with the sharpest teeth of UA erupted in laughter.
"SHUT UP, MY HANDS WERE SWEATY!"
"Isn't your quirk all about how sweaty your hands are?" A croaky voice inquired.
"SHUT IT FROG YOU WEREN'T EVEN THERE."
"SILENCEEEEEEE!" Present Mic used his own quirk to end the ruckus. "GEEZ YOU GUYS YOU ARE ALMOST AS LOUD AS ME." Everyone sat, attention to the front of the class. "The photographer and interviewer are coming this Friday around 8." Mic was about to leave the classroom, but everyone burst into questions.
"WHERE ARE WE MEETING THEM?"
"WHAT SHOULD WE WEAR?"
"ARE WE GETTING INDIVIDUAL INTERVIEWS?"
"ARE MODELS COMING OVER FOR THE PHOTOSHOOT?" A flying shoe hit Mineta in the head.
Present Mic stayed 15 more minutes giving further information.
—
As the days went by, the excitement arose. When the day came, their appointment with Top Hero Magazine was all they could talk about.
"I'm so nervous! Do you think we should wear makeup? Or will they get us ready?" Ochako asked the already murmuring feminine huddle in the back of the classroom.
"Considering we're supposed to be working out at the gym while they take the pictures, it seems that going with a clear face would be appropriate." Momo pointed out.
"Appropriate my ass! I wanna stand out!" Mina argued.
"You could stand out in any crowd without a drop of makeup, dear" Tsu added, patting the pink-skinned beauty's hair.
"I'm more nervous about the interview." Jiro nibbled on her earlobe.
"How could you be nervous? You're rock and roll material girl!" And to this opinion from Denki, Jiro's cheeks turned into a velvety shade of pale rose.
Curious beams of sunset peeked through the trees into the all-windowed gymnasium, as if trying not to miss the fun of what was about to happen there.
"The famous golden hour," Mic casually started as both professors entered the gym, some students were already there; the air seemed full of sweat and expectations. "Perfect for the photoshoot, don't you think?"
"The only golden hour I know includes my sleeping bag." the other professor added, clearly bothered by the whole situation. "This is pure bullshit."
"You're just cranky because you managed to avoid this tradition when we were students." Mic chuckled as he tied his blond strands in a low bun. "And now you have to make an appearance."
"It just doesn't make sense to me. The more popular heroes are, the fewer chances there are to be recognized by villains." Aizawa argued.
"We've been over this, Shota." the tired tone of Mic answered. "If more villains and criminals recognize us, there is a lower probability of them acting up. You should've known this by now." Yamada added as they approached the students.
"I should've been a spy," Aizawa concluded, already suffering what was to come. Both pro heroes were asked, just as the students, to wear sports clothing, in the effort of making a theme out of the article's photoshoot.
An American young woman with platinum dyed hair and naturally tanned skin with a visitant pass around her neck was already being harassed by some students.
"Profesor Sensei Yamada-san?" she blurted out hesitating with a terrible Japanese when she approached the two men.
"Chill, miss! Mic is fine. Nice to meet you." Present offered to continue the conversation in English.
"Just correct me if I accidentally insult someone," she laughed in a friendly tone. "I am Beverly, today's photography director for the article. My people are setting up in the back, hope you don't mind."
Various people with cameras, lights, and big white illumination screens were moving around, trying to find the best light in different areas of the gym. A pair of men who seemed to be twins were setting up a makeup moving station.
"We'll start as soon as all your students are here," Beverly informed before walking away.
Aizawa gathered up the few early students from group A and started the roll-call, as Yamada took care of group B.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Momo asked the rest of the girls she was walking with.
"It totally makes sense, Yaomomo. We don't want to look all the same in the pictures, do we?" Mina explained, walking backwards to face the flock of excited young women.
"But that is literally the sole purpose of uniforms," Momo argued back.
"On a regular day, yeah," Uraraka intervened. "But on picture day? Think of it as a pro-hero tactic."
"A loop-hole, if you please," Mina added grinning.
"I don't think that altering our uniforms could be considered as a tactic."
"It's not like we vandalized the school's image. Besides, generations before us have done this and no one got in trouble for it, so why should we?" Tsu inquired.
Momo hesitated on this argument but kept walking either way. Professor Mic had mentioned they were obligated to use the school's training uniform, but he had said nothing about customizing it. While Ochako wore the uniform's classic blue and white pants paired with her usual black tanktop and wristbands, Tsu went for an outfit consisting of the school's white t-shirt and a pair of black shorts. Mina, on the other hand, wore the complete uniform along with flashy, neon, chunky sneakers.
Momo, on the other hand, went out of her dorm room with complete school attire and a sleek, clean low bun. However, she was sadly scolded into the girl's bathroom to have an aggressive revamp.
They took away the white uniform shirt, leaving her in her black sports bra and the uniform's blue bomber jacket, half zipped. After that, they made a messier version of her everyday high ponytail. Nonetheless, when they tried to put some makeup on, Momo refused, stating that it would be unrealistic to wear it when working out.
Sighing in relief, Momo, and the rest of the girls realized group B girls had done the same thing when they arrived.
"ALRIGHT EVERYONE!" Present Mic called for the room's attention. "Today's shoot and interviews will be directed by Taneo Tokuda, whom Class A is already familiar with." the tall, skinny man with disheveled dark brown hair and a charming smile waved at everyone. Momo recognized him from years back, when he had first come to their dorms to make an interview on class 1-A. "And Miss Beverly here will be in charge of the photoshoot. Listen carefully to her instructions and remember to add some plus ultra in your poses!" most students laughed nervously in expectation.
Beverly indicated everyone to start working out as usual. The twins started roaming the gym, only spending about 5 minutes per student for a light touch up. From what Momo saw, going with a clear face had been a good move, for the twins didn't hesitate to remove anything out of place, such as heavy makeup or false lashes. They did, however, really amped up natural looks and sporty hairdos in a matter of minutes.
While Present Mic turned the place up with some music as he waited for his turn to be photographed, Eraserhead was decided to sit back and keep an eye on his students. This was not possible though, for Beverly asked him to aid her with the language. He was then burdened with the task of walking along with Beverly around the gym as she directed each student's photoshoot. His mind became bored very quickly as he assisted with some Japanese or English words to the conversation, using the rest of the time to mentally run through his contract, trying to find where the hell did it stated that his paycheck covered this ingenious kind of torture.
Uraraka chose to hit the cross fit area with Seto, Bakugo, and Tetsu. Kirishima, Shoji, and Ojiro, along with Midoriya, gathered in the boxing and martial arts section.
"Wanna hit the treadmills?" Jiro asked Momo. A glance at Iida's frantic sprints was enough for the girls to back down on the idea. They ended up in the elliptical machines. Twenty minutes had passed when the twins arrived with them.
"Greetings, sweethearts." one of the slender twins with lilac hair and broad shoulders said as the exact copy of him, only with pastel red hair followed. "We're Aka and Murasaka. Would you please come down the machines so we can give you a retouch?"
Both ladies stopped their workout and came down. Murasaka, the one with the pale violet locks, started working on Jiro.
"Let's see what we have here." Aka, the other twin, mumbled as he inspected Momo's flustered face. "Alright, loving this natural workout glow you have going on. I'm totally digging your 'bombshell in a rush' vibe," after a light coat of mascara, a few powder touch-ups here and there, and several amounts of highlighter both on her face and body, the twin finished the look by putting blush, a heavy coat of rosy gloss and the tussle of her ponytail.
"Wow Momo, you look spicy hot," Jiro said once they were finished with them. Within just minutes Murasaka had left Jiro looking edgier than usual. "What's your quirk you guys?" she asked them.
"Taste and talent, honey," Aka answered them, putting a mirror in front of them. Momo, who felt the amount of product on her face would make her look a hot mess, realized she still looked natural and somehow aesthetically agitated. Both impressed girls admired their reflections. "I know right? We should be pro-heroes." Aka added.
The young women thanked the twins and got back on the elliptical machines.
"Thank you so much for your help professor. Understanding that small purple boy was not easy." Beverly said to him. It had been Mineta's turn for pictures, and his lisp made the language even harder for the woman to understand Japanese. As if that wasn't difficult enough, he had made the photoshoot even more awkward with flirty comments he was not willing to translate. "He's weird isn't he?"
"Yeah he's more like the school's maggot." he carelessly mumbled, going through his roster.
"The what?"
"School's mascot," Aizawa corrected. "Next in the list is Momo Yaoyorozu."
When they arrived at the cardio area, Shoji arrived too, only to inform Jiro it was her turn to be interviewed. The cameras and lights were being set up, so he took a moment to pop out his drops and quickly lubricate his eyes. All the illumination and flashes had tired his eyes faster than usual.
"My, my! What a knock out! What is your name, cutie?" he heard the director ask. He walked up to them again, in case she needed translation, sight still blurry from the fresh liquid.
"Momo Yaoyorozu pleased to meet you all," Aizawa recognized his student's voice timidly answer.
"So Momo," he heard the tacky Japanese accent of the American start. He lightly rubbed his eyes with his palms. "You realize you're fashion model material, right?"
Blinking repeatedly, Aizawa's eyes began to clearly see what was in front of him. The perky ponytail carelessly dangling side to side. Wisps of black, sweaty hairs contrasting with a pearly, glowy skin. Drops of sweat slowly running down her neck, only being rushed by the continuous bounce of her toned body.
He unconsciously gulped.
"What do you want me to do?" Momo asked between hot puffs of air, looking at him.
"Excuse me?" it was as if he had been slapped back into the situation. Beverly was looking at him, waiting for the translation. Aizawa quickly obliged.
"Alright she looks already great there, but if she goes this fast the pictures will come out all blurry," Beverly directed in fluent English.
Aizawa looked back at Momo. "Go slower." He watched how she bounced up and down, taking her time.
"Like this?" Her eyes were locked on him.
"Uh-huh…" he absently answered back, his dark eyes following the rhythm of her movements.
"Awesome," Beverly said. "ask her to be sexier."
The brawny and usually taciturn young man broke eye contact, blinking in disbelief. "What?!" Aizawa exclaimed, eyes wide in confusion looking back at Beverly. "No! I'm not gonna- that's inappropriate. She's a student."
"She's not a minor." Beverly pointed out.
"Well-no but...still! She's my student!" the sound of his own flustered voice irritated Aizawa even more.
"Whatever! Just, please? You don't have to say exactly that. Just, make it work." She pleaded. The raging heat around his neck made him miss his scarf more than usual. After a few seconds, Aizawa sighed in resignation.
"Alright," he said, looking back at Momo. "Follow your pace with the rhythm of your breathing," he waited for her to do so.
"Like this?" her quavering voice somehow made everything else sound muffled. The young professor slowly nodded.
"Now make it provocative. Take your time in every move you make."
"This way?" her breathing became an elegant panting.
"Enjoy yourself."
Their eyes engaged in a trance for an instant.
"That's great! Could you ask her to do all that but looking at the camera?"
After an hour and a half, all students had been already photographed and interviews were moved to the cafeteria, where the remaining future heroes could answer a few questions. Momo had gone after Jiro, and Tokuda had made the same 3 simple questions to her as he had to the rest. It consisted of a brief interview where they would give rather general information about their pro hero name, their quirks, and what they expected from life as official heroes.
"How did you do, Mina?" the tall girl with big dark eyes and tussled ponytailed asked Ashido.
"Awesome, I got to bust some dance moves into the interview!" Pinky answered showing Momo some of the poses.
"Excuse me, can I talk to you?" someone said in poor Japanese behind them. They turned to meet a skinny topaz face and platinum hair. She was signaling Momo, who nodded and waved Mina goodbye.
"I speak a little English, don't worry." Momo adverted to the American, who sighed in relief. "Just, slowly please." She added. Even if she was good in English classes with Present Mic, speaking with a native of the language was a completely different matter.
"You really caught my attention during your photo shoot." Beverly started, making an effort to enunciate loud and clear.
"Thank you, what you told Mr. Aizawa really helped me." Momo cleared her face from the usual rebel chunk of hair. The flash coming from the CrossFit area of the room distracted her from the conversation. The photography team was shooting professor Aizawa, who was trying not to look at the lens while he did pull ups on the bar.
Beverly turned to see what the girl with the plump cheeks and fair skin in front of her was gazing at.
"You know, I really just asked him to tell you to act sexier," Beverly mentioned, an eyebrow slowly rising. "Whatever he told you seemed to work."
The words her teacher had told her while she was working out still lingered behind her ears, waiting for her to be alone to be analyzed.
"I hope we all gave the magazine what they were looking for." Momo limited to answer. "By the way, it's nice to see women take big positions in magazines as important as Top Hero. Congratulations." the kind smile her mother had shown her since she was a toddler made an appearance.
The woman in front of her, who seemed to be a few years older than her, struggled to gulp.
"Yeah! It's no easy task, let me tell you that." Beverly answered with what looked like the American version of Momo's mother smile. She took out a small card with the corporative colors of Top Hero Magazine's colors. "Listen, I have a modeling proposal for you. Give me a call one of these days ok?"
Momo politely accepted the card and excused herself. Beverly stood there, eyes fixated on the dark-haired beauty who had just left.
"Momo Yaoyorozu…" the name of the student slipped slowly from her thin lips, like honey-like tree sap exuding from a Manchineel.
Thank you for following the story so far. This might be the last chapter...of the year! ahahahaha. I'll come back with a new chapter after the holidays. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Love - LB.