Coco: Hey, guys! I know it's been a while. Unless you read a few of my other stories then we've talked since then XD But I'm sure that you've noticed that I am making some progress in my writing. Things are 100% better yet. Still looking for a place to live. Kind of half living out of my grandmother's house and still moving out of the old house with really nowhere to go. And still have school and work, but I'm in a place where writing is something I can once again enjoy and do even if only in small parts. And it has been quite some time since I have wrote for my Boku no Hero Academia story.
I've certainly missed it and while catching up with season 4 (I've read the manga pretty up to date, so I'm just setting myself up for some heartbreak all over again in this season XD I nearly died when I read it the first time but anyway...moving on), I just got this strong urge to pick it up again and so here is a new chapter. Now, in this internship arc, we are going to learn more about Ayano's biological family and kind of set up things for future chapters. However, I want to focus mostly on my three other Class 1-A OCs: Konan, Hachiro, and Ayumi. I want to give them more depth in this arc, which is why they each get their own chapter to shine in. Ayano might be in the beginning of the chapter or the end, so we can keep up with what she's doing. But the main focus is those three.
And the star of this chapter is Konan. She's been a bit of a problem child for me since I've been so on the fence about what to do with her. But I feel like I've finally found the right path for her and you're going to see A LOT of character development and growth with her, starting with this chapter. And while it might look like I'm hinting towards a Konan/Kirishima pairing, I'm not saying it's happening. Besides, Ayano/Katsuki and that little bit of Ayumi/Shoto kind of going on, I haven't given that much though into other pairings. They might just become good friends. Who knows? But anyway, I hope you enjoy the chapter. I'm quite proud of it even though I feel like I'm kind of trying to get back into the groove of the story...if that makes sense XD
Ayano blinked once and then twice as she stared at Nighteye who was trying…to get her to smile. After their tour around the agency and Nighteye explaining the fundamentals on how agencies were run and how he particularly ran his, they ended up back in his office. They were waiting on Mirio to join them and since they had time on their hands, Nighteye was trying to get the girl to smile. But they weren't making much progress as Ayano was quite the stubborn one.
"Smile." Nighteye ordered.
"Give me a reason to," Ayano retorted.
Usually the girl wasn't this rude towards authority figures. And it wasn't as if she was taking a disliking to Nighteye or anything to make her defiant. It was weird, but she felt as if she could be more…casual?...around the man. Like, she was with Katsuki and Izuku, but this man definitely wasn't them. It was a weird feeling, but she didn't mind it.
"A reason?" He replied.
"Yes, a reason," Ayano said. "You say I need to learn to smile because heroes are supposed to smile to calm those around them in dangerous situations. To laugh in the face of danger to seem fearless, but…I don't see things that way."
Nighteye's brow quirked at Ayano's statement as the girl crossed her arms over her chest.
"There are times where smiling seems completely impossible," Ayano said. "Like times where you're in a dangerous situation or when you're fearing for your life, which is why I can see why you think a hero needs to smile in those situations to calm people. However, for people like me…I can see through those smiles. I can hear their fear, their doubt, so that smile really means nothing to me. It's all just a facade."
Ayano paused in what she was saying as she thought back to what Ko had said to her in his last fight.
"My brother smiled at me in his last fight, and his thoughts reflected the emotions he was portraying," Ayano said. "I think that's the first time I saw that, but even so, I won't lie to people by putting on a false front because there are those like me who can see through such things. When I arrive to help others—to save citizens—I will tell them, "Even if you are unable to smile now, I will fight this danger for a future where we can all smile together" and that will be my message."
Ayano knew that smiling despite the terrible odds was in a way brave, and she wasn't meaning to say that those heroes who can smile during dire situations were wrong. They had their own way of trying to calm citizens and to even calm themselves. And Ayano would never put them down for that, but still, she didn't like pretending. She just couldn't bring herself to do it, which is why she decided she wouldn't be a hero like All Might who smiles all the time for those around him. She couldn't.
"Wow, Ishida, that was pretty cool!" A voice said from behind the girl.
She turned her head seeing Mirio standing there with a big smile spread across his face.
"I can see why Sir took an interest in you." Mirio said as he walked fully into the room.
Nighteye watched as Ayano turned completely towards Mirio with her lips finally tuning up into a small smile.
'Now, she smiles,' He thought with slight amusement.
"I wasn't really trying to be cool, Senpai," Ayano informed the blonde. "But thank you."
Mirio just laughed as he scratched the back of his head before he finally came to a stop next to the first year.
"Mirio, now that you are here, I ask you to take Ayano out on patrol." Nighteye said as he stood from his seat.
"Oh, sure thing, Sir!" Mirio said. "I'll show her the ropes! Don't you worry. Ready to go, Ishida?"
He placed a hand on the younger hero-in-training's shoulder while giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Yes," Ayano replied with her smile growing slightly.
The two teens left to prepared to leave for patrol as Ayano vaguely wondered if the others were patrolling the streets in their own internships. Were they fighting villains now? Or perhaps helping some pedestrians?
As the sun started to set on the first day of student internships, Konan's patrolling continued. She's been out on the streets with Fatgum for hours and the most they've dealt with is helping a little girl get her balloon out of a tree. The child was grateful though, which had Konan feel good knowing she helped make someone happy. Though with night falling, Konan was on higher alert. Fatgum did warn that criminal activity became livelier at night.
Konan then glanced to the intern beside her—Amajiki Tamaki or Suneater during hero work—who was a third year at U.A. She's heard a bit about him as he is quite famous around school as being a member of the "Big Three" as in he's one of the top three students in the entire school. Though he wasn't what she had been expecting. He was rather shy and timid for someone with such a high reputation. He couldn't even look her in the eye when Fatgum introduced them. But he seemed like a nice enough guy.
"So, Crane, I never asked earlier," Fatgum spoke; gaining the girl's attention. "But why do you want to be a hero?"
Konan tilted her head at the question. Oddly enough it wasn't something she was asked often. When her former classmates back in middle school heard Konan decided on the hero track, they acted as if it was just something she would do. They never asked her why. They were just like, 'That sounds like something Kurafutoshi would do' or 'Of course, she's going to be hero. She's just the type', and their reactions always confused her. What about her just had people thinking she was the hero type? She never understood, but she did have her reasoning for the path she has chosen.
"It's a bit complicated," Konan replied. "But I suppose you could say I decided to be a hero because someone once told me I could be whatever I wanted to be—be more than what those around me had decided for me."
There was definitely a story behind her words. Fatgum could see that, but he wasn't about to push the girl. If she didn't want to say that was up to her.
"Though I am finding it a bit difficult to reach my goal," Konan added which had Tamaki and Fatgum glancing down at her. "My quirk isn't that powerful and it has many weaknesses, which is why I trained hard in martial arts and in kendo to make up for such weakness, but even still, I find myself falling behind those around me. It makes me wonder…if I can be the hero I want to be."
Konan has never said this out loud. Not even to Mashirao, her best friend and they've been together since they were babies. She just didn't want to burden him with her own self-doubts.
'I see,' Fatgum thought. 'In a way, she's a bit like Suneater. She lacks confidence, but she's better at hiding this fact. Most likely due to her upbringing as the future face of Kurafutoshi Industries. She's probably used to putting on a front whenever the moment calls for it.'
Before Fatgum could try to get the girl some advice, someone cried out. This had all three of them whirling around. Konan's eyes quickly took in the scene to see a young woman and a child hitting the ground after someone shoved them over in haste. That person seemed to be fleeing from a group of men who were yelling and shouting after him.
"And there they go again." Fatgum said. "This is a every night thing."
He then sprang into action to go after the guys doing the chasing. It didn't take much for Fatgum to subdue the men in his body thanks to his quirk. And as he took care of them, Tamaki went to apprehend the one running away. However, before the third year could even get close, paper scattering passed him brought him to a halt. He watched as the paper quickly caught up to the man who shouted in shock. It started to cocoon him in its grasp, and despite the man's struggles the paper only tightened.
"Please calm yourself." A voice seemed to speak out of thin air. "I do not wish to cause you injury."
Some of the paper that was holding the man reformed to reveal Konan from her shoulders up to her head. Though she was white and crinkled like the paper she was controlling.
"This would all be over much more quickly if you would stop resisting." Konan informed the man.
The man screamed as if in fright before he finally stopped his struggling. In fact, he went limp in Konan's hold, so the girl dropped him as she reformed her body next to him. She looked down at the man as Tamaki and Fatgum, who left the other thugs to the police who arrived, joined her.
"I believe he passed out," She said. "I didn't think I was holding onto him that hard."
"I think you just scared him unconscious, Crane." Fatgum said with a grin.
Konan blinked not seeing what was so scary about her. She then turned towards the two who had been shoved down as the police were taking care of the guy she stopped. She walked over to them as a police officer was checking on them. The woman was trying to talk to the officer while consoling the crying boy at the same time. However, the two looked up as Konan stopped in front of them.
"Are you alright?" Konan asked as she sat down on her knees in front of the pair.
"Yes, thank you, hero." The woman, who was still a bit shaken up, said. "My son has a bit of a scrape, but he'll be okay."
Konan turned towards the boy who was holding his elbow, which was bleeding from the scrape the mother had mentioned. Konan held out her hand and the boy paused in his crying to watch as a piece of paper seemed to appear from Konan's palm. It floated over to his elbow and pressed against it forming a bandaged of sorts. He watched with wide eyes before he looked to Konan who pat him on the head.
"I'm sorry," She said. "I know that had to be scary. I promise those men won't hurt you again, okay?"
She then smiled and though the boy sniffled a smile broke across his face as well.
"Th—thank you, hero!" He said as he wiped at his eyes.
Konan nodded then stood up as some of the people around clapped for Fatgum and the interns work. Though Tamaki didn't really do anything this time around, which was something he kept telling himself in his head.
"That was some solid work there, Paper Crane." Fatgum said giving the girl a thumbs up. "You reacted quickly and efficiently when dealing with that guy."
"Thank you, sir," Konan said as she gave a bow.
She turned to Tamaki after she stood straight again and the boy stiffened when her eyes were on him.
"I apologize, Senpai, for getting in your way," Konan said. "I rushed ahead of you to apprehend that man. I am certain you could have handled him yourself as you are more talented than I, but I believe my excitement got the better of me."
Tamaki quickly covered his face with his hands while turning away from Konan to boot, which had Konan blinking in confusion. Fatgum laughed in amusement as Konan walked around Tamaki to face him again.
"Are you alright, Suneater-senpai?" Konan asked as she bent at the waist to try and look up at the older student's face.
"No, I just want to go home." Tamaki, who turned away again, said. "Your sense of confidence in my abilities is like a crushing weight. I don't know how to handle it."
While many might be confused by Tamaki's words or not know how to deal with them, Konan got a look in her eyes and a small smile pulled across her lips.
"I apologize," Konan said once more. "I know what it's like to have others' expectations place a heavy weight on one's shoulders. Sometimes the weight becomes too heavy to carry, doesn't it?"
Tamaki removed his hands from his face as he turned towards Konan who had a sad look in her eyes.
'I know better than most what it's like to feel as if you'll never be good enough,' Konan thought. 'That it's impossible to be the person someone wishes you to be or believes you to be.'
—FLASHBACK—
Konan stood in front of her father with her hands clasped in front of her and her head down. They just left a meeting with one of his longtime partners. It was an important meeting to renew the contract between the companies in hopes of a continuation of their prosperous partnership. Konan was asked to sit in on the meeting as a learning experience as she was the next head of her family. But she knew she didn't do as good as her father had expected of her. She knew the second he called her to his office after the meeting that she had done wrong.
"I'm sure you know why I called you here, Konan," Her father—Ryūshi—began.
While Konan didn't know exactly what she had done wrong, she nodded her head.
"I was expecting more from you during today's meeting," Ryūshi said. "Yes, the meeting went well and our partnership with the Hibikishi Company will continue, but you hardly participated. Even when spoken to directly, you kept your answers short and you hardly looked anyone in the eye—a clear sign of nervousness, weakness."
Konan frowned at the hiss in her father's tone, but kept her mouth shut as he continued.
"You are to be the next head of this family—of this company." Ryūshi reminded her for the umpteenth time. "Weakness cannot be tolerated or shown to those who we do business with. It sets a bad image on the company as a whole."
"I understand, father," Konan finally spoke. "It won't happen again."
She said this while lifting her head to meet his gaze. Their matching eyes met and for a long moment Ryūshi said nothing as he looked into his daughter's gaze. He then 'hmph'ed as he finally went back to his work.
"See that it doesn't." Ryūshi said. "Your mother and I didn't raise you to be weak or a failure, Konan, so stop behaving in such a manner."
His words stung, but Konan didn't allow that to show in her face as she bowed to her father.
"Yes, father," Konan said.
—END OF FLASHBACK—
Konan slightly shook her head as she pushed away such thoughts from her mind.
"However, all we can do is our best, isn't that right?" Konan asked Tamaki.
"I don't know," Tamaki said. "Positivity isn't really my thing."
Konan sweat-dropped though to be honest positivity wasn't really her thing either. She left that kind of stuff to Mashirao and her classmates—like Eijiro. That boy always seemed to be full of positivity and energy. She was kind of jealous of that part of him. She wished she could be like that.
—FLASHBACK—
Konan waved goodbye to Mashirao as the two were about to part ways at the station. As he left to board his own train, someone called out to Konan. The blonde turned while seeing it was Eijiro. The boy stopped in front of her with a big grin on her face.
"Just wanted to wish you luck during your internship, Kurafutoshi!" Eijiro said. "I know you were kind of worried about where to go, but no matter what you picked I'm sure you'll be amazing!"
Konan was a bit surprised by Eijiro's words. His confidence in her abilities felt different than when people set those expectations on her—the ones that felt like crushing weights. His words were warm and kind.
"And ya know, if anything does happen, you have all our numbers, right?" Eijiro asked.
"Yes," Konan replied.
The class as a whole had exchanged numbers quite some time ago. Even Katsuki was in her contacts—though the blonde had made a fuss about it until Ayano just handed over his number for him to everyone else. He completely exploded after that, but didn't tell any of them to delete his number.
"Remember you can message or call any of us if you need anything," Eijiro reminded her. "But like I said, I know you'll do your best out there, which is all any of us can do, ya know?"
Konan thanked Eijiro for his words before the two said their goodbyes. And as Konan boarded her train, she felt a smile pull across her face. She had been worried about doing well and making the right impression, but now those worries seemed to have disappeared. And just a few words from a classmate made that possible. With that in mind, Konan pulled out her phone to shoot a quick group message.
Konan—Good luck with your internships, everyone!
Not long she got several replies back to her message with the others wishing her well as well or thanking her.
Momo—You as well, Kurafutoshi-san!
Denki—You know I'll be rocking it! ;)
Ayumi—Thanks, girl!
Almost everyone in the class replied. Even Shoto and Katsuki though the latter's words weren't that encouraging or nice, but still, he took the time to reply so Konan guessed that was some kind of progress. He was starting to warm towards everyone.
Eijiro—I'll be sure to tell you guys how awesome it was when we're all together again!
Konan liked the sound of that. When they all got back to school, they'd have so much to tell each other. And she was interested in seeing how the others might grow between now and then. She'll do her best too, so not to fall behind.
—END OF FLASHBACK—
For those few short moments, she had felt positive, and the heavy weight of expectations she carries daily seemed to melt away. But the moment was short lived, and she wished she could have it back. Positivity seemed like such a wonderful thing. Konan sighed as she looked off to the side. Well, there goes her content mood.
'Gees, I got my work cut out for me with these two,' Fatgum thought as he scratched the back of his head. 'Not an ounce of confidence in either one of them. And I thought Tamaki could get gloomy.'
But no matter, Fatgum would work with both of them. He could see that Konan had some real potential just like Tamaki. He'd help her realize just how amazing she could be if she put her mind into it and left the self-doubt behind her. He might have only a week to do it now, but who knows…maybe Konan could come back under his care as a work study student.
"Okay, you two, let's get moving." Fatgum said. "Still plenty of work to do, ya know?"
"Yes, sir." The two replied.
Konan dodged the knife slashed at her as she was once again faced with another squabble between rival thugs. Fatgum was right when he said things would become livelier at night.
"Stand still, ya brat!" The man shouted as he took another swipe at her.
She dodged again though firmly grabbed his wrist to hold it into place as Suneater, who came to assist, hit the guy across the face with a clam he manifested on his hand. The man cried out before falling limp to the ground. On the older teen's other hand were long tentacles that had more of the thugs wrapped up.
"Thank-you, Suneater," Konan thanked the teen.
Suneater just looked away, and Konan felt her lips twitch up. She then turned around when two more thugs came running from the alley.
"Hey, don't think we'll let you get away for roughing up our brothers!" They shouted as they rushed the two.
Konan turned to face them calmly while letting out a breath. She dodged the first one's punch before lashing out her leg to catch him in the gut with a strong kick. The air was knocked out of him from the blow and as he was falling forward, Konan attacked the second man by grabbing his arm to twist him in front of her, so she could kick the back of his knee to knock him down. And as he was forced to his knees, she used her own to hit him the face to know him out. She let him go with the two new threats already handled.
"Good job you two." Fatgum said. "I didn't even have to step in that time. Now, it's getting a bit late. How about we call it a night? Paper Crane, we'll clear you up a place at the office. It's not much. Really just one room, but we'll make something up for ya."
"Thank you, sir." Konan said bowing her head to the man.
Konan let out a breath as she laid on the makeshift bed in Fatgum's office, which was a small building the hero rented out for people to be able to find him if he wasn't patrolling. She looked over at said hero who was sleeping at his desk. He was snoring slightly as he was leaned back in his chair. He could have gone home to his own bed, but he insisted on staying so the girl wouldn't be alone.
—FLASHBACK—
"Fatgum-san, you don't have to inconvenience yourself in such a way," Konan insisted after the man finished making her a place to sleep. "I am certain you will be more comfortable in your home. You needn't stay here with me. I will be fine."
Fatgum just gave a chuckle as he moved over to his desk to sit down behind it.
"Hey, hey, don't worry about it." Fatgum said waving off her worry. "I'd feel bad if I left you here alone. You are my responsibility for the week, and I take that seriously. If I went home and you needed something—even if something small—I'd feel bad if I wasn't here to help."
Konan blinked because she wasn't expecting something like that. She knew Fatgum was nice. She's seen that through how he interacts with those around him, and she could see the people of his district seem to like him.
"Thank you." Konan said. "That's very nice of you."
"It's nothing." Fatgum said. "Now, make sure to get a good night's sleep. We have more work to do tomorrow. And if you need anything, you just let me know, okay?"
—END OF FLASHBACK—
Konan wasn't used to such kindness except from Mashirao-and well her new classmates have also been so nice to her. Most of her life she was told to take care of herself. Told not to be a bother to those around her. And she did that to the best of her ability. She became so good at it that those around her started believing that she could just do anything. That she was perfect. That she was everything a Kurafutoshi should be, but few knew the truth. Konan wasn't perfect—far from it in fact. She's just become a good actress over the years, and while she does have her own talents and while she does her best at everything she tries, it's never good enough.
Her parents expect more from her. And in her pursuit of perfection to please her parents, she's only gained more expectations from others. She hears so often 'As expected of Kurafutoshi-san, always so perfect' or 'No matter the situation, Kurafutoshi knows what to do. She's always so calm' or even 'We expect many great things from Kurafutoshi'. It's an everyday struggle to keep up with it all. There are somedays where she fears she might fumble, and the truth will be let out—Konan isn't perfect. Oh, what her parents might think—what they might do—if that ever happened.
Konan sighed. This really shouldn't be what's on her mind right before bed. She'll never get to sleep with such thoughts muddling around her head. With that in mind, Konan turned over to her side to try and get some sleep. She needed to be sharp for tomorrow. She was here to learn after all.
Coco: And that brings Konan's chapter to a close. I do hope you enjoyed it :D Ayumi's chapter will be up next and it will mostly be canon as it follows the fight with Stain and all that goes down in Hosu (I think that all happened on night 2 of the internships anyway), and then it'll be Hachiro's turn in that special episode that featured Tsuyu in the anime. Anyway, hope you all liked the chapter. And I hope to be writing a new one in soon :D