Disclaimer: I do not own My Hero Academia/Boku No Hero Academia, or any other property in this work that I did not make myself.
Vlad King's Green Bean
Chapter twenty-seven: Getting to work
One well enough morning at UA, Sekijiro was going over some stuff with his homeroom in regards to the Hero Work-Studies. "A lot of teachers here at UA had voted against the work-studies and wanted to call it off," Sekijiro began, "Given that if not called off, then UA students would be thrusted into spots that would endanger their lives. Given that six UA students had died, and before finals no less, many teachers here feel justified." A number of the students in Sekijiro's class looked disheartened by the news, but changed their tunes when the Blood Hero went on.
"However," Sekijiro went on, "First years will be allowed internships with agencies that have excellent track records." The 1-B students all cheered, knowing that they still had a shot at getting in on the work study shenanigans. Sekijiro nodded in understanding; he himself also had reservations about his students getting in on the work-studies, but he knew that they needed the experience. Keeping them from getting the experience they needed due to safety concerns will, in the long run, make said concerns for safety more and more valid because the students wouldn't be able to cover themselves due to not being allowed to get any of that experience. It would be a rather vicious cycle if left unattended.
And he did set the requirement for his students to go with places with excellent track records; he knew that his student Izuku was already scouted by the Ryukyu agency, which is headed by a pro hero in the Top Ten. Ryuko Tatsuma, who was otherwise known as the Dragon Hero: Ryukyu, is one of the absolute top pro heroes that Japan has to offer. With talent like that, Sekijiro was confident that the green haired boy wouldn't be at any risk. Not so long as the Dragon of Japanese Hero Society was there, both training him and looking after him.
...Perhaps that's why the villains took Ryukyu's quirk and gave it to Felgrand, before little Eri used her miraculous quirk to 'rewind' Ryukyu until she had her quirk restored to her.
...
"I'm going to be honest with you, Young Midoriya," Toshinori said when he and Izuku met alone in an office room at UA, "I'm one of the many teachers here at UA who had voted against letting any first years take part in the work-studies."
"Is there a reason, All Might?" Izuku asked.
The former Symbol of Peace let out a troubled sigh. "I feel it's too early for first years, not to mention how I want you to focus on working on your Shoot Style." Looking to Izuku, Toshinori went on, "Plus, there's talk of a Yakuza off-shot getting into heated exchanges with the League of Villains. I'm worried that you and other first years may get dragged into that messy business if you all take part in the work-studies."
"All Might," Izuku said, a sympathetic look on his face, "I understand that you're worried about all of us." Clenching a fist, the green haired boy went on, "But if the others in the first year and I are continuously kept from getting training and experience solely because our safety is feared for, then when we ARE allowed to hit the field, we won't be as ready."
Toshinori looked to Izuku, a look of surprise on his face. "...Young Midoriya..." Toshinori actually wiped a tear from his eye. "...Forgive me. I must be getting soft with my old age. I just can't help but worry for the safety of you and the other first years, you know."
Izuku gave a gentle smile in appreciation as he nodded once. "Thank you, All Might. Besides, I'm certain that Ryukyu won't let me or any other first year intern she gets do anything that is deemed too dangerous."
"Oh, the Dragon Hero," Toshinori said, "Yes, she's one of Japan's finest pro heroes. One of the few heroes in the current Top Ten on the Hero Billboard Charts JP to not be dead or retired as a result of the Battle of Kamino Ward." Looking to Izuku, Toshinori said, "All that I can ask of you is to do what she says, when she says it. Don't do anything on your own, ESPECIALLY if Ryukyu doesn't know about it."
The green haired boy could tell that All Might was hinting at what was involved in the case about the late Tenya Iida; Toshinori was wanting to make sure to avoid all of the mistakes that Aizawa had made in allowing Tenya to go with Manual to Hosu where Stain was hunting around at the time. "Believe you me, All Might," Izuku said, "I by no means want to get into any trouble if I can help it." A worried look of concern entered his expression. "...Especially since trouble is being given to me, rather than me having to go out and find it."
Toshinori nodded in understanding. "Yes, I'm aware that the tension between you and Aizawa broke and now you're at odds with one another, even though you did nothing to warrant any of what Aizawa's done." Toshinori reached over, placed a comforting hand on his successor's shoulder. "I'll talk to Nezu about it at the first chance that I get. In the meantime, you just work well under Ryukyu, alright?" Izuku gave an affirmative nod before thanking All Might for his time and taking off. After Izuku was gone, Toshinori now alone mused to himself.
"...Looks like Ryukyu had unknowingly beaten you to the punch, ehh Nighteye? Although I still wonder why you'd express interest in Young Midoriya. I thought that you and I had broken our friendship off years ago..."
At the end of the school day at UA, the first year students who were given the okay to take part in the work-studies were allowed to leave campus if they had agencies taking them in during the work-studies. For Izuku, this saw him meet up with Nejire-senpai, waiting for her right outside of the door leading into Class 3-A, which is Nejire's homeroom. The green haired boy came here as per Nejire's request. Nejire eventually came out of the classroom, followed by some dark haired boy who she introduced to Izuku as her friend Tamaki.
Nejire proceeded to explain to Izuku how she and Tamaki, along with a third friend named Mirio, made up a group at UA known as the Big Three. Izuku told her that he already had some familiarity with it due to a classmate telling him. When he noticed that he, Nejire, and Tamaki were all heading for the homeroom of Class 1-A, Izuku asked his senpais what they were going to be doing.
"I'm going to collect a boy who Fat Gum had expressed interest in employing as an intern during the work-studies," Tamaki explained, "A boy by the name of Eijiro Kirishima."
Izuku nodded in understanding. "I know him. My classmate Komori usually mentions him."
"As for us," Nejire said to Izuku while gesturing to him and herself, "We're also picking up a student in Class 1-A, a girl who jumped at the opportunity when she got the offer from Ryukyu."
"A girl in 1-A?" Izuku said, "Huh. I wonder who it'll be."
...
"I-Izuku?!"
"Uraraka?!"
Izuku and Uraraka, the girl Nejire was talking about, looked at one another in surprise as Nejire came out of the 1-A classroom with her; Nejire had Izuku wait outside because she was under the impression that 1-A and 1-B were bitter rivals. When she expressed her worries as such, Izuku and Uraraka quickly cleared the air for their senpai, saying that there was at most only friendly rivalry.
"Really?" Nejire said, "Huh, weird. I could have sworn as such given that Aizawa-sensei and Kan-sensei don't seem all that fond of one another."
Both Izuku and Uraraka scowled bitterly. "Let's... just say that the issues stem mostly from Aizawa-sensei doing things too hard," Uraraka replied.
"Well no need to worry about that with Ryukyu," Nejire said, "She'll expect you two to work, but she's not a slave-master if that's the worry here." Izuku then saw Tamaki leave the 1-A homeroom with Kirishima before taking off, presumably to go see Fat Gum. Izuku was also interested in the BMI Hero, given that he had played a significant role in evacuating and protecting civilians during the Battle of Kamino Ward. Uraraka's classmate Kirishima was lucky to have gotten a chance to work with so widely regarded of a pro hero.
Just like Uraraka, and Izuku himself. With things settled, Nejire proceeded to lead Izuku and Uraraka off to go see the Dragon Hero.
Later, over at the Ryukyu agency, Izuku and Uraraka walked in as they were led by Nejire. For a Hero Agency run by a pro hero in the Top Ten AND who also has her own fashion line, Ryukyu's agency wasn't as obscenely impressive as, say, the one that Endeavor or other top heroes had. Granted, it was still VERY impressive, especially compared to hero agencies ran by heroes ranked below the Top Ten. It looked like Izuku had stepped into the pristine first floor lobby of a high end banking firm. As he and Uraraka took in the sights, Nejire turned around to look at them.
She let out a bit of an amused giggle upon seeing her kouhais so enraptured with what they were seeing. "Impressed, huh?"
Izuku and Uraraka snapped back to reality upon hearing Nejire speak to them. "I, umm, err," Uraraka said, "Well it all is very impressive."
Heh, yeah," Nejire replied, "Well anywho, time to go meet the boss lady."
...
Izuku and Uraraka were led to the top floor of the agency building, where Nejire led them to a big door at the end of the hallway; a simple gold-bronze plaque that simply read 'Ryukyu' was on the door. Nejire knocked on it, before a woman's voice, the voice of the Dragon Hero, called from the other side, "Who is it?"
"It's me, Ryukyu," Nejire called out, "I brought the new interns for the work-studies!"
"Ah, good," Ryukyu's voice replied from within, "Could you bring them in?" At that prompting, Nejire opened the door and led Izuku and Uraraka into the room. Inside the office was decorated and set up like what one would expect the office of a banking firm's CEO to have. Very clean and professional looking. Sitting at the desk in the room was Ryuko Tatsuma, otherwise known as the Dragon Hero: Ryukyu. Ranked at number nine on the Hero Billboard Charts JP, Ryukyu was expecting to rise up a few ranks when the next official rankings list comes out.
...Then again, many high ranked heroes, ones above her on the current rankings list, were killed during the Battle of Kamino Ward.
Ryukyu got up from her desk and walked right over to Izuku and Uraraka. To their surprise, Ryukyu gathered them up into a group hug and gave them a friendly squeezing hug. "Thank goodness you two made it here alright," Ryukyu said.
"Why wouldn't they?" Nejire asked as Ryukyu proceeded to hug her as well. It was clear that the hugs were done out of relief.
"I'm well aware of how a lot of first year students from UA have been killed," Ryukyu began, "And then there was that attack at Takoba National Stadium." Ryukyu let out a guilty shudder. "...The villain who has my power even trapped some kids before mercifully letting them go."
"...He only wanted one of my classmates to deliver a message," Uraraka began, "He tol-" Uraraka was cut off again when Ryukyu hugged her again.
"You were one of the students that Felgrand trapped?!" Ruykyu nearly exclaimed.
Gesturing to himself, Izuku said, "Felgrand trapped everyone in my class and in Uraraka's class. But he didn't even try to kill or otherwise harm any of us. Just gave Uraraka's classmate Aoyama a message to give to UA."
Ryukyu, hearing that Izuku was also one of the students trapped by Felgrand, gave him another hug. "Well thank goodness the both of you are alright." Having barely personally known her for a few minutes by this point, Izuku already liked Ryukyu infinitely more than he liked Eraserhead. Uraraka was also of a similar opinion, but she didn't say that yet, nor did Izuku state his feelings on the matter. After Ryukyu confirmed that the first years from UA were alright, they took care of official paperwork and whatnot. When all of that was done, Ryukyu sent them home for the day.
"We'll be seeing you here first thing in the morning," Ryukyu said to Izuku and Uraraka, "We'll get you started on working in the work-studies. There's... something big brewing... but I first wanna see if you two can be trusted with it by seeing how you do with basic work." Giving her new interns a gentle smile, Ryukyu went on, "But I got a gut feeling that you two will do quite fine."
Both Izuku and Uraraka nodded in thanks to the Dragon Hero. "Thank you, Ryukyu," the two of them said in unison.
Ryukyu returned the gesture with a smile and a nod. She then turned to look at Nejire and said, "Nejire, since all UA students live on campus now in those new dorms, I trust you'll see Midoriya and Uraraka here back to campus?"
"You can count on me, Ryukyu!" Nejire replied, saluting her employer. Ryukyu smiled, allowed herself a hum of a giggle, the dismissed the three UA students for the day.
...
Upon arriving at the UA campus, Izuku, Uraraka, and Nejire ran into Kirishima and Tamaki, the latter looking drained. "...I can see why Fat Gum was interested in this one," Tamaki said wryly, "Fat Gum thinks he's sunshine in human form and hopes he'll bring me out of my shell. The fact that he's of a similar attitude himself just goes to prove it further."
"Well Fat Gum does kind of have a point about you being dour sometimes, Tamaki-senpai," Kirishima said, "You really do need to come out of your shell."
Tamaki rested his forehead against the UA Wall near the front entry gate. "...I don't wanna come out of my shell. It's nice and dark and secure..."
Turning to look at Izuku and Uraraka, Kirishima asked, "So, how was Ryukyu?"
"She hugged us on sight to express relief that we made it to her agency safely," Izuku replied, "She also hugged each of us in turn again when we told her how all of us were trapped by Felgrand for a moment during the Provisional Licence Exams before he let us go."
"Fatgum did the exact same thing with me when I told him how I was trapped by that Dabi villain's monster of a bodyguard," Kirishima said. Smiling a bit appreciatively, Kirishima went on, "He's a nice guy, Fat Gum. I'm looking forward to working under him." The UA students then entered UA grounds and went to their respective dorm buildings; 3-A for Nejire and Tamaki, 1-A for Uraraka and Kirishima, and 1-B for Izuku. The night had just settled, and it was time for everyone to get some shut eye.
The next day, the work-studies' first day was in full gear. For Ryukyu, this saw her start Izuku and Uraraka out on a simple patrol round. Ryukyu took Uraraka with her while trusting Nejire to lead Izuku. "Try not to tease him like you tease your friend who works under Fat Gum," Ryukyu said to Nejire before essentially handing Izuku off to her and sending them out on patrol.
While lout on patrol, Izuku asked, "So, Nejire-senpai-"
"We're on official hero work now," Nejire cut in, "So call me by my hero alias." With a single nod, Nejire said, "Nejire-chan."
Izuku went a bit wide-eyed with realization. "...Oh, umm, me and my classmates in Class 1-B didn't get the chance to come up with hero aliases yet. Same applies to Uraraka and her classmates in Class 1-A."
"Well then we gotta think of one for you," Nejire said as she and Izuku walked. As she wore a look of consideration, Nejire suddenly exclaimed, "Aha! I got it!" Looking to Izuku, Nejire said, "How about Green Bean?"
The green haired boy gave his senpai a curious, mildly confused look. "Green Bean?"
Nodding once in the affirmative, Nejire said, "Yeah! I mean it fits, given that your costume, hair, and eyes are-"
*SCREECH*
*CRASH*
*CRASH* *CRASH* *CRASH*
Nejire and Izuku both flinched when they heard the screeching of car tires, followed by a vehicle crashing before a whole lot of other vehicles began crashing as well. "That came from ahead!" Nejire said, "Let's go see!"
"We ought to stay back and just look at what's happening," Izuku said, "I'm pretty sure that Ryukyu won't want us going in directly, at a minimum without her being there to supervise us."
"Yes, that is exactly what Ryukyu would want, Green Bean," Nejire said as she proceeded to lead Izuku ahead to where they heard the crashing of cars coming from.
...
Upon arriving on scene, Izuku and Nejire saw a sight that horrified the both of them; at least twenty vehicles were crashed into one another in one enormous mess, some piled up on top of one another in a macabre real-life version of a pile of miniature toy cars owned by a child. Nearby, the Rabbit Hero Mirko was stomping down furiously on the head of one of those Nomu monsters, completely ignorant to the horrific traffic accident that was literally right behind her.
The sight of that Nomu, not to mention Mirko stomping down on its exposed brain head with a savage fury no one could ever have expected out of anyone, sent additional shivers down the spines of Izuku and Nejire. "...Waa..." Nejire said, stunned into a subdued aura, "...What happened here..."
Izuku gently shook his head. "...I have no clue, Nejire-ch"
"You! You're that girl who works for Ryukyu!"
Izuku was cut off when he and Nejire heard the bellowing shout of Endeavor sound out. Turning to see, Izuku and Nejire saw Endeavor come charging in, followed by Todoroki and Bakugo; they must have gotten employed by him during the work-studies. "What are you doing here?" Endeavor said as he came to a stop, with both of his interns behind him coming to a stop as well.
"Green Bean and I heard the crash while we were on a patrol assigned to us by Ryukyu," Nejire explained, "We came here to see what happened."
Pointing over to where Mirko was STILL furiously stomping on the exposed brain head of the Nomu despite how it was very clearly dead now, Izuku said, "Mirko is dealing with one of those Nomu monsters the League of Villains is known to use."
Endeavor turned to see where Mirko was stomping down on the Nomu, apparently blind to the fact she had already killed it. "...Shoto," Endeavor said, "You and the Bakugo boy look into trying to pull people from the wreckage while I go deal with Mirko having a freak out." Turning to look at Nejire and Izuku, Endeavor went on, "Can I ask you two to help Shoto and the Bakugo boy, interns of Ryukyu?"
Nodding once in understanding, Nejire said, "Right!" As Endeavor went off to handle Mirko, Nejire led Izuku over to Todoroki and Bakugo. "You boys ready to help pull some victims from this horrific wreckage?"
"Shouldn't we contact Ryukyu first to tell her what's happening here?" Izuku asked.
"Yeah, this is clearly a situation where we're justified calling Ryukyu in for aid," Nejire said, "Green Bean, you don't have a way to contact Ryukyu, so let me handle it while you help Strawberry-Vanilla Swirl and Angry Pomeranian. I'll join as soon as I get Ryukyu on her way here." As Nejire walked off to the side to pull out a phone to make a call, Izuku went to join Todoroki and Bakugo.
Shrugging, Bakugo said, "So what Round Face said last night was true, Deku. You really are working for the Dragon Hero, same as Round Face herself."
"Also," Todoroki began, "Why is Nejire-senpai calling you Green Bean?"
"When I told her my classmates and I didn't get a chance to come up with hero aliases yet, she came up with one for me because she said we're using hero aliases while on duty in the work-studies," Izuku explained, "Thus she had dubbed me as Green Bean."
Shrugging, Bakugo replied, "It fits, I guess."
"Anyway, we ought to get as many of these people in the wreck as possible pulled out," Izuku said, leading Todoroki and Bakugo into helping to pull the victims of the massive multi-car collision out of danger.
By the time Ryukyu had arrived with Uraraka (they were held up because Ryukyu was in her dragon form and a wary pro hero mistook her for Felgrand before realizing their mistake and letting her go), multiple paramedics and a few more pro heroes were on scene. Ryukyu landed, instantly turning back to human form, as Uraraka landed right next to her. Spotting where Izuku stood with Nejire, Todoroki, and Bakugo, Ryukyu sent Uraraka to see to them while she went over to where Endeavor and Mirko were having a row.
Upon reaching her schoolmates, Uraraka was worried to see that Izuku, Nejire, Todoroki, and even Bakugo were looking shell-shocked. "...How bad is it?" Uraraka asked, clearly worried.
Letting out a breath, Bakugo replied, "That rabbit bitch Mirko apparently wanted to be the star of a one-woman shitshow, Round Face."
"...She was attacked by a Nomu suddenly while she was patrolling her usual area," Nejire began to explain, "It dragged their fighting over to this area, not that Mirko was going to let it get away because she apparently got REALLY mad at it suddenly for reasons she can't explain. Mirko dealt it a powerful kick that sent it flying into a streetlight that's now bent, but the Nomu when sent flying caused a car to swerve out of control in an attempt to avoid it. The car crashed, then a few more cars ended up crashing as well..."
Todoroki gently shook his head. "...A total of twenty-two vehicles, in which were a combined forty-five persons. Bakugo, Midoriya, Nejire-senpai, and I pulled all of them out while my father went over things with Mirko."
Izuku, his eyes watering already, gently shook his head. "...Forty-five filled body bags are on the way to the morgue as we speak, Uraraka."
Uraraka covered her mouth with her hands, a look of shocked heartbreak on her face. "Oh... oh my god..." Gulping nervously, Uraraka went on, "How... how could such a horrific-"
"What the hell were you thinking, Mirko?!"
Uraraka was cut off when she and the others heard Ryukyu, clearly sounding angry, shouting at the Rabbit Hero. "Why the hell didn't you try to contain the Nomu and keep it from escaping while fighting it?!" Ryukyu snapped, "Instead of letting it lead you in a chase-fight all over until you ended up causing a twenty-two car accident that claimed forty-five lives?!"
"That fucking Nomu had fucking pissed me the fuck off!" Mirko exclaimed, "The fuck was I supposed to fucking do?! Fuck!"
"It pissed you off too much to think straight?!" Endeavor snapped, "Do you know how badly this will go down on the news?! Forget how it'll effect you personally, it'll also reflect badly on Japanese pro hero society as a whole! All of us are already being scrutinized my the media in light of what all has gone down ever since my youngest started his first year at UA! The attack at the USJ, the attack in Hosu, the attack on UA's training camp, Kamino Ward where Felgrand showed up, the attack at Takoba National Stadium during the Provisional License Exams! And now this! There's so much heat on all of us pro heroes here in Japan because of all of that, it makes even me look like a walk-in freezer! And you just turned the heat up even more!"
Gesturing to where the Nomu who attacked her laid dead, Mirko said, "But I took out this monster from the League of Villains! That's gotta count, right?!"
"I'm pretty sure one dead villain monster won't excuse FORTY-FIVE dead civilians, Mirko!" Ryukyu snapped, "Not as far as the rest of Japan will be concerned! You're going to get crucified on the news tonight Mirko, mark my words."
As the top ranked pro heroes went on, the interns turned back to look at one another. "...Even Mirko, who's known to get caught up in the thrill of a fight when dealing with villains, never loses her cool," Izuku said, concerned worry clear in his tone, "Something must have forcefully riled her up to the point she was well beyond reason."
"Well she did fight one of those Nomu things, Midoriya," Todoroki pointed out, "They have a reputation due to the League of Villains using them. Mirko was probably so worried about defeating it before it caused any mayhem, she lost herself."
Izuku gently shook his head. "...It's still out of character for Mirko." As Izuku pondered, he took pause when, as he was about to put his right hand to his chin, he saw that his Air Force Gloves that he was wearing were stained with blood from the victims of the twenty-two car accident that he pulled out. Some were already dead when he got to them, some were alive but those who were all died before any paramedics and other emergency workers were able to arrive on scene. It was literally his first day in the work-studies, and already Izuku had handled more than one dead body. The world of pro heroism was already proving to be a dangerous and gritty one, that's for sure. Had been proving it since the start of the current school year at UA.
It made Izuku all the more determined to do what he can to prevent future tragedy like what happened here.
END, CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Author's notes;
Here we see the work-studies kick off officially, with Izuku joining Uraraka in working for Ryukyu. Izuku sees first hand why Toshinori was worried for him and the other UA first years, given that on his first day of the work studies, Izuku was witness to a massive traffic accident with a huge death toll caused by Mirko being reckless in fighting a Nomu. Reckless to the point that it was so out of character for Mirko, Izuku has already become suspicious. Although the accident will play a major role later on, the next chapter will see the work-studies continue, with Ryukyu and her interns handling two familiar nameless giant villains before the shenanigans involving the Shie Hassaikai start ramping up.