"It's just life. You have to be able to get up, face your flaws, and just, whatever it is, a step, an inch, you just got to keep moving forward." – Monty Williams

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

Peter found it difficult to resist tapping his foot on the hardwood floor of Ms. Kayama's apartment as he sat on the couch in her living room. Sitting in front of him was the familiar haggard appearance of Mr. Aizawa. Except he seemed more exhausted than usual, but Peter still saw the same focus and intensity in his eyes he'd grown accustomed to seeing while the man looked over paperwork on the newly bought coffee table.

The young man barely said anything to the professional hero. Compared to his friends, Peter struggled to find the appropriate words to break the painful silence. It almost felt like the meeting with Nick Fury back in Venice.

"Stop doing that. It's irritating."

Upon hearing those words, Peter immediately stopped tapping his foot. Soon, the living room became deathly quiet. It was nerve-wracking to sit across from someone like Mr. Aizawa without any clue as to what was going on.

The older man suddenly let out a deep sigh before raising his head to look directly at him, "I'm going to make this simple for you; answer my questions without questioning them in any capacity. The faster you understand that, the faster we'll be done. Do I make myself clear?

"Yes sir."

"Alright, let's begin with my first question; what's your full name?"

He answered without any trouble, "Peter Benjamin Parker."

"How old are you?"

"Eighteen years old, sir."

The only sound in the room was the pen scribbling down whatever he just said. Peter waited for him to ask the next question.

"When you were born?"

"August 10th, 2001."

Mr. Aizawa stopped writing for a brief moment and stared at the paperwork. He then shook his head for some reason before speaking up, "August 10th, 2111."

"I–"

"–Was born in the year 2111 on August 10th. That is exactly what you told me, correct?"

Peter stared at the older man in confusion but remembered his words from earlier. 'Right.' Peter knew it was pointless to argue with Mr. Aizawa, 'We'll be done quicker if I just go along with whatever he's got in store for me.'

"Yeah, that's my birthday."

"Alright, next question; where are you from originally?"

"Queens, New York."

"Do you recall the address?"

"Yeah," Peter could never forget his old home. He cleared his throat and reiterated the same letters and numbers he's come to memorize, "151 South Lafayette Drive, Queens."

"That leads to my next question...what brings you all the way to Japan, Parker?"

The harmless question allowed Peter to glimpse into what the man was thinking. 'A cover story? I can't exactly blame him or the others. Without it...I probably wouldn't be able to stay otherwise.' The thought of lying again was tough to swallow. Unfortunately, he was limited in his choices. The other option was to go and tell the government about his ridiculous situation.

That would've gone down rather poorly if Peter had to take a guess. It's why he needed to be somewhat truthful about what he was going to be doing in this country and his intentions.

"To be a hero."

"Is that so?"

Peter took a second to ponder on his answer. Afterward, he gave the best half-truth possible. "I...I only want to live up to the words of my aunt. She helped me figure out some stuff. She thought I was able to become a great hero." Those final words took a lot more effort for him to say out loud than he originally anticipated.

"Why Japan?" The man continued asking the questions. "You could've remained in America. Your life would've been much easier, especially given your former residence is in New York City. It does beg a certain question...why come here? Or rather why start so late in trying? You're already beyond the legal age to be a high school student. What gives?"

"I-I don't know."

Germany. Titan. Upstate New York.

None of those major life-altering clashes ever came close to making Peter rethink his choice to remain in the states. The thought of leaving was out of the question. Or he used to think so until May's death at the hands of the Green Goblin. Doubts began creeping into his mind about defending the city he's lived in for his entire life.

"You don't know?"

Peter balled his hands into fists as he gave the closest thing to an honest answer. "...I was lost after aunt May died. I always wanted to be a hero. Then–" Anger flashed across his face for a second. "Someone took her life. It left me wondering, questioning if being a hero is still the best choice for me. But her final words helped push me towards becoming one."

The smile he forced onto his face was difficult to maintain. Peter knew there was some risk in talking about her death so openly

"Your decision to be a hero, specifically in Japan, had nothing to do with All Might?"

'All Might.' Peter, upon hearing the name, was reminded of Japan's powerful number one hero. Videos, interviews, and numerous photos showcased the hero's larger-than-life stature. In the short he's spent in this universe, Peter found out just why people admired the man The muscular blonde hero seems to be a combination of Captain America and Thor. For a moment, he wondered how well Japan's hero matched up against the Hulk or Thor in a fight. That was until he remembered the stories about what people saw in Wakanda.

He heard about how truly godlike Thor appeared on the battlefield against the army of Thanos.

"A little," Peter admitted, recalling how joyful the hero came off. "I like to think a lot of people looked up to him as a kid."

"But he wasn't your main reason for coming here."

Peter shook his head at those words with a tiny smile, "All Might is a really cool hero. I think I get why a lot of people look up to him. But he's not the reason why I chose to put on the mask. People like May, Ben, and Mr. Stark are what keep me going. One day, if I'm Spider-Man, I get to work with a hero like All Might...that would be really, really cool."

The explanation was probably the most honest thing he's said in the two weeks since arriving here, and it seems to be the right words as well.

"Simple, generic, and hardly a reason that warrants suspicion from others," Mr. Aizawa commented in a bored tone as he leaned down to scribble something on the paperwork in front of him. Afterward, he raised his head and looked him directly in the eye, "For the foreseeable future, I suggest you stick with that kind of story."

"So you came here with the intention of creating a cover story for me?"

"Logically, we need the information to create a brand new identity, get you a visa, and make it to where you can avoid trouble with the Hero Public Safety Commission. The last thing you need is to get on their bad side," The older hero answered as he finished scribbling something down on the paperwork.

"Yeah, that makes sense."

Peter never imagined in a million years sitting across from a professional hero in a living room and giving him personal information to allow him to become a hero in Japan. The strangest part is knowing he's in a different universe. In contrast to his usual days of being a hero, Peter felt like he was preparing for a job interview or trying to get into college. Knowing his real identity and alter ego, Spider-Man, are going to be kept in some server in Japan also reminded him of something from back home.

'I wonder if this place ever went through something like the Sokovia Accords,' Peter was bound to find out about this universe going through its rough patches regarding heroes and how to regulate the whole 'everyone has powers' development. 'Still, this place is a lot easier to swallow compared to mine.'

There were no aliens, magic, or stones capable of rewriting the universe. It wasn't until Mr. Stark made the faithful decision to reveal himself to be Iron Man. Everything changed in the days to follow.

Soon, the room became silent once more as Peter waited for more questions from Mr. Aizawa.

He thought about what these questions meant for him in the long run. Becoming a hero again was not far out of reach. A thought came to mind, 'How long?'

"Uh, Mr. Aizawa, do you mind if I ask you something?"

Peter waited for a verbal response from the haggard-looking man to ask his question. He waited what seemed like an eternity, waiting for the man to say something. Mr. Aizawa, on the other hand, never said anything as he continued filling out some papers.

Awkwardly, Peter attempted to grab the man's attention.

"Sir?"

This is when Mr. Aizawa stopped writing and let out a very deep sigh, "Parker, you're not a child or my student. You're an adult. So there is no need to ask me for permission. If you have a question, I am not going to tear your head off for asking. Understand?"

"Yes, s–"

The words died in his throat after seeing Mr. Aizawa's bloodshot eyes glare at him, which was followed by a quick correction.

"I got it."

"Good."

Peter cleared his throat, "Do you know...how long this is all going to take? What are we talking about here? A few weeks? A month or two?"

"Unfortunately, I'm not a miracle worker. You're going to have to wait."

A short, but curt response from Mr. Aizawa was like a bucket of cold water. His words seem to echo a sentiment shared by Ms. Kayama. The conversation between them from a week ago came rushing to the surface of his mind. Spider-Man's debut was not going to be anytime soon, and he needed to learn that.

He chose to remain silent instead of answering.

It seemed Mr. Aizawa must have recognized his silence. The older man stood up and gathered all the paperwork he brought with him, "As I said, I'm not a miracle worker, Parker. I can only do what is within my means."

The entire incident with Doctor Strange came to mind upon hearing those words.

"Of course, I understand."

Those were the final words exchanged between the two as Mr. Aizawa headed for the door, leaving the young hero alone in the apartment as he mulled over the reality of starting over in a brand new universe like this one.

(X)

Operating after dark meant encountering some of the more heinous elements of the criminal world, and Shouta rarely showed anything but boredom on his face as he walked around after the clock struck midnight. More often than not, Shouta would be either patrolling or taking down a hideout suspected of some criminal activity. Tonight, however, was different. He needed to see a rather useful rate who can lend him a hand regarding Parker's lack of paperwork. Going through the proper legal channels might lead to some uncomfortable questions being asked.

The kind none of them were prepared to answer.

"I've seen mangas more believable than what the old man drew," Shouta muttered as he walked down an empty alleyway.

In his years under Hyu Araki, he learned to use the extensive pathways and alleys built in most cities these days. They allowed heroes such as themselves to have the element of surprise and let them avoid running into civilians who wandered around during the late hours of the night. Tonight was different as Shouta was specifically following directions to one of the many businesses opened in this area.

Most alleyways served as access points for local city services to be performed. Criminals, especially in recent years, found them to be the perfect area to make illegal transactions without being noticed. What might look like some regular grocery store run by an old woman, could turn out to be a front for a major drug operation or selling illegal items smuggled into the country. Over the years, countless hours spent by pro-heroes and law enforcement went towards shutting down as many of the major operations as possible. Unfortunately, the small-time criminals were smart enough to escape the law by destroying incriminating evidence that can be used against them, allowing them to continue operating without too much trouble.

The thing is...these small-time criminals actually were found to be useful for underground heroes such as himself. The old bastard hammered home the point about these particular criminals having their uses in bringing down major crime bosses or organizations. A relationship many within law enforcement agencies and some pro-heroes, including him, found necessary in the battle to prevent criminals and villains from making a comeback.

"Would it kill these people to keep their area somewhat maintained?"

Shouta wrinkled his nose in disgust at the endless row of garbage bins overflowing. The disheveled hero looked down at his phone and tapped on the screen, causing it to light up. Other than his phone, the only other source of illumination was the flickering light above some of the doors. Shouta raised his head and walked a few more feet before turning to the correct door. After confirming he had the right address, Shouta walked up to it and, with all the grace of a bull, banged on the door. He took a step back, raised his goggles, and kept law enforcement on speed dial should things go south.

His experience in dealing with this specific criminal has been nothing but amicable over the past two years. However, he simply couldn't act as if they were friends or something. After all, Shouta had dirt on his entire operation. If he wanted to put the man behind bars, a simple call to the local police station as well as dropping an entire folder filled with everything he had on him would be enough to put him in jail.

Soon, he heard footsteps on the other side of the door. A moment later, there was a series of noises. It was followed up by the door being slightly opened, letting the person poke their head out from their side. The hero expected a grown man, not a random teenager, to greet him at the door. From a quick glance, Shouta suspected the boy didn't appear to be older than sixteen or seventeen years old.

His light gray eyes, covered by a pair of glasses, looked at him with unease written over his face, "Yes?"

'Great, he has a little helper now,' Shouta couldn't believe Iwai went out of his way to bring a kid into the fold. 'The last thing I needed to see tonight is another kid getting himself into a rabbit hole of trouble.'

Sometimes, he wonders why he hasn't turned over the former Yakuza to the local authorities. The kid reminded him of the importance behind his sudden visit to the man's store tonight.

"Where's your boss?"

"He's...out right now."

"Kid, don't lie to me." the underground hero refused to play charades with him. He kept a firm look in his dark eyes, "I am not in the mood to deal with children associating themselves with criminals."

His words managed to do the trick as the teenage boy started back in slight surprise. Although the kid managed to keep his cool for the most part. He quickly ducked back behind the door and unlocked it. A moment later, the door was opened for him.

Shouta barely acknowledged the boy's presence as he entered the back of the store.

He was met with a dimly lit backroom filled to the brim with boxes of varying sizes. Some were labeled with black markers or poorly-made stickers indicating where they came from. There was nothing illegal about running a store selling airsoft guns or the items associated with the hobby. It's just most people would be surprised to know this store's owner made some money on the side delving into illegal activities such as creating fake documentation.

A profitable business for those wanting to stay under the law's radar.

"Are you a hero?"

Shouta glanced over his shoulder as he heard the boy speak for the first time.

Compared to him, he stood a few inches shorter. Taller than most people, but still shorter than the underground hero. Combined with light gray eyes, a lanky frame, and messy black hair, it made for a rather unremarkable person in most people's eyes.

The thing is Shouta doubted Iwai would allow a child to hang around if he didn't think the boy could defend himself should someone dangerous come around. However, the last thing he wanted to was to get into a fight with this child, all for the purpose of seeing if he had any skills.

"Mind your business," he replied curtly. "Just show me to your boss."

In contrast with the average criminal, Kaiji Iwai avoided the more dangerous clients roaming around at night. Shouta imagined it factored into his decision to open up his shop in a more populated area of the city, making it less likely to have someone truly troublesome walk through his door. Plus, it was more difficult for a hero or officer to catch onto what he does after closing.

Forging documentation. There's always a high demand for individuals wishing to dabble in any sort of illegal activities, and Shouta knew his friends would be vehemently against turning to people such as Mr. Iwai for help. 'There aren't a lot of ways to help Parker through legal means without him being tossed out of the country. Why not use the people experienced in evading the commission?'

Shouta understood the risk he was taking to help Parker. But it was better than letting the Hero Public Safety Commission sink its claws into him.

He may work for that organization like everyone else in the country, but the man always held some distrust towards them. Something about them always felt off to the underground hero. The only other person he knew who shared a similar sentiment was his former mentor.

Besides the old man, Shouta didn't know anyone else with such doubts. It meant he was forced to keep quiet about his opinions, especially given his position as a teacher at UA High. The idea of a teacher at one of the most prestigious hero schools in the country suspecting the Hero Public Safety Commission to have less than pure intentions was asking for trouble.

'Something to think about for later.'

As he followed the kid through the backroom, Shouta eyed the numerous airsoft guns in various stages of being built. Plastic containers are filled to the brim with pellets of various sizes. It was probably the closest thing to handling a real firearm the average citizen will get to experience. Still, he hardly cared about what the man sold in his store as these checked out and were found to be legally bought. The stuff in his basement was another matter completely.

They soon reached a rather ordinarily-looking door. Except, there was a nine-digit pad next to it. The young boy stood in front of the security measure, which prevented Shouta from seeing what the boy pressed. After he finished typing in the correct code, the door immediately unlocked itself and popped open slightly.

"He's been busy, sir."

"I'm sure he has."

The two began walking down the wooden stairs. Shouta was forced to lean down awkwardly as he knew it wasn't built for taller people. Upon reaching the bottom of the stairwell, the underground hero was met with a basement in better shape compared to his backroom. 'I can see he's done some renovations in the past few months,' Shouta glanced around the room before his eyes found themselves on who he needed to speak with.

Sitting in front of a computer was a man far older than the teenage boy.

In the eyes of anyone, he seemed to be around the same age as Shouta. A few might say he seemed to possess a similar appearance as the underground hero. Short gray hair, faint noticeable stubble, and rather dreary clothing.

The teenage boy, realizing his boss didn't hear them coming, coughed loudly on purpose to catch his attention and followed up with some words, "Iwai, someone is here to see you."

Looking away from the computer, the man named Iwai turned his head towards them. His eyes made contact with Shouta for a brief moment. Most criminals would've been more careful about what they say next, but it seems the former Yakuza was a lot less concerned.

"What do you want? I'm a bit busy here...being your little mole and all."

"Good to see you haven't forgotten about our agreement," Shouta replied. He scanned the room, "But you're mistaken to believe my arrival has anything to do with it. In fact, I came to ask you for a favor."

This caught the attention of the man as he turned around fully in his chair. "Oh?" the man said with a hint of interest in his voice. "What can I do for Eraserhead tonight?"

"I need those skills of yours for something."

"Really?"

Shouta crossed his arms, "Are we going to sit here and play twenty questions, Iwai?"

The man leaned back in his chair. He rubbed his chin and quietly asked, "What if I say no?"

"Who said you had a choice in the matter?" Shouta raised a brow at the man trying to push his luck, "I don't think even you want to risk anything right now. I'm assuming your son is still in school. Or what about this kid?" he looked at the teenage boy. "Do you want to make more problems for yourself?"

The basement was eerily silent as Shouta awaited the man's answer.

"Some favor you must need if you're willing to threaten me like this," Iwai retorted. Afterward, he let out a sigh, "But...I'm in no position to say anything, aren't I?"

"No, you're not."

Iwai clicked his tongue before speaking up, "Akito, go home. I'm sure your strict lady friend wants to know where you are."

The teenager seemed ready to fight back…

"I suggest you listen to him, kid," Shouta said harshly, cutting down the kid's bravado. "This is not a place for someone like you to hang around. Now go home. I'm sure you have school or something to worry about."

His words got across to the teenage boy. The two older men watched as the teen headed upstairs. It was followed by the door closing.

"Didn't need to be a complete ass."

Shouta responded to the man's words, "In my line of work, you tend to have to be to deal with people like you."

"Must be nice being able to break the rules, ain't it?" Iwai muttered, glaring at the pro-hero. "And they wonder why some people view you guys in the light they do."

"You must be mistaken, Iwai. You're under the impression I care."

The former Yakuza member dropped his glare before crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair. "So I'm assuming you're going to actually tell me what's going on. Leaving me in the dark means I'm not able to do my job effectively," he said, deciding to move away from that topic.

"All you need to do is listen to me."

"Why's that?"

"Because, for once, you're going to help someone." Shouta knew tonight was the first step to helping a young man find his way back. He just hopes Parker is ready for what might come his way as a pro-hero in this country.

(X)

"You excited?"

"Uh...I would go with more nervous than anything else," Peter decided to give the best possible answer to the person's question. In spite of the sunglasses on his face, he noticed the odd expression forming on Mr. Yamada's face, "Last time I met with someone in charge of college admission...it didn't exactly go so well."

The memory of the bridge attack involving Dr. Otto Octavius began replaying in his head. While it did result in the college faculty member promising to help his friends, Peter couldn't lie about feeling a bit anxious as he looked out the window of the car.

Throughout the past two weeks, he was still trying to wrap his mind around the fact that he was going to get another chance to attend college. Peter never imagined getting the opportunity again after what went down with Doctor Strange and the other Peters. Everything was gone. His school records meant college was nothing but a dream until he finished getting his GED.

"Don't worry about it," Mr. Yamada said in a comforting tone. "Nothing bad is going to happen. I can promise you that much, buddy. Unless you make a terrible first impression with the person we're meeting with today."

His grin made Peter feel a bit better about today, "I think I can manage."

"We'll see."

Peter could definitely say he enjoys being around a guy like Mr. Yamada, especially after learning a few things about him over the past couple of weeks. He was really laid back about most stuff. But the one thing that stood out was finding someone who likes American films. It was such a small fact about him, but it did so much for Peter. It almost gave him a tiny reminder of what life was like prior to being Spider-Man.

"Anyway, I wanted to know how you've been handling the whole...being a regular citizen for now," He softly inquired as they stopped at a red light.

"Tough. It's probably the easiest way to explain how I feel."

That was the truth. Peter struggled to even put into words what it's been like to sit on the sidelines. He can remember the most recent outings with Ms. Kayama into town. Some idiot tried to rob the purse of an old lady. The urge to stop him was almost impossible to resist. At the last minute, some random hero came along and stopped them.

It was harder than he originally anticipated.

Mr. Yamada shrugged his shoulders before sharing his personal opinion. "I don't blame ya. To be told to sit on the sideline until becoming a fully-fledged hero sounds awful. It's like suppressing a part of you for the sake of following the rules. The only thing I can tell you is to work hard and, who knows, maybe you'll pick up Japanese fast enough to take the exam next year."

"Yeah, hopefully…"

The young hero recalled the conversation from two weeks ago. Scarf guy, or Mr. Aizawa, came over to Ms. Kayama's apartment in the middle of the night. He handed them paperwork critical for him to stay in Japan as well as make it possible to become a pro-hero down the road.

If the path to being Spider-Man again meant taking classes, Peter was perfectly fine with it.

"What? Don't tell me you're worried about learning a new language?"

Peter wasn't too concerned about the work. He was mentally prepared to learn a language as difficult as Japanese. It's just he was more worried about those around him.

"Nah, it's not that…"

"Is it the whole 'from another country' thing?"

He hit the nail on the head. Peter allowed himself to share his worries with the man, "I'm not sure what to expect from people."

The topic surrounding his foreign heritage was bound to come up in a conversation. Peter suspected someone, regardless if they attend the same class as him or not, might try to ask about what it's like growing up in a different place like the United States. After all, he was told foreign heroes weren't a common occurrence around here. Curiosity was a normal thing. It's just the problem was less about the place and more about the memories associated with it. Or mentioning the whole 'being a hero' thing.

Secret identities may not be as important to people in this world, but Peter wanted to refrain from just casually revealing that part of him to others.

"Kid, don't sweat it. No one is going to look at you funny for being a hero," Mr. Yamada told him. "I'm sure a lot of them wouldn't mind getting to know you."

"Is that because they want to get to know me? Or would they rather say they're friends with a hero? In that case, I would rather keep to myself."

His words caught the man by surprise, causing him to scramble for a response.

"I mean, it's not the worst thing in the world…"

The sentence died in his mouth after Peter gave him a brief look. The car became painfully silent as the young hero went back to scouring the internet for information on the numerous heroes across Japan. He almost couldn't believe there were thousands of them. For a second, Peter remembered the fight against Thanos. The final one. A fight that had the fate of the universe at stake.

A thought occurred to him, 'I wonder if these heroes could've fought someone like him?'

He dismissed the question, knowing there wasn't any need to worry. Instead, Peter focused on the task of wanting to make a good impression on the dean of the education department. He only had to remember the lengths people like Ms. Kayama and her friends were going to for him. After all, the young man was suspicious of how quickly someone like Mr. Aizawa got him papers to use going forward in less than a day after his little interrogation.

"Hey, can I ask you something?"

"Hmm? What's up?"

"I, uh, wanted to ask what...what made you want to help me?"

"Because it's the right thing to do," the older hero replied back without hesitation. "Look, I...I will not lie to you about some of the stuff I saw in your head, but it made me realize something about you."

"What's that?"

"If you can still want to be a hero in the face of everything you've experienced in the past few years, I feel compelled to help you out as a fellow hero. No one can ever change my mind about you. A part of me even questions if I could handle some of the things you've seen and experienced," Mr. Yamada said, his expression was deathly serious.

Peter didn't expect to hear such glowing praise from the man.

"R-Really?" He felt obligated to ask Mr. Yamada. "I thought you would've said I was just a kid in over my head or that I'm crazy."

The blonde man slightly chuckled at him, "I'm being straight up with you. Look, between you and me, I have a sneaking suspicion Nemuri is the former and Shota is the latter when it comes to those thoughts."

"Uh…"

"Don't answer. I can figure it out for myself. Nemuri may not look like it, but she kept me and Shota in line during our days at UA High. She was always the protective one in our group. We could always rely on her...no matter what."

His voice trailed off.

Peter frowned at those words but chose to say nothing. He imagined it must've been something private among the three friends.

For the rest of the car ride, Peter kept his attention on either doing more research on the heroes he'll be working with in the future or learning some general stuff about Japan. That last part made him wonder if he really was making the right decision by staying in this country. Everything about Japan gave him a few subtle reminders of home.

The sidewalks were full of people.

Subways constantly running.

Tall buildings throughout the city.

He wouldn't lie about feeling homesick. It's hard to give up living in a famous city that never sleeps in exchange for a completely different nation. The problem is the effort people were expending to help him was making it difficult to voice such a thought. It felt like he was saying their hard work might be for nothing.

'On the other hand, it's not like going back to New York would solve all my problems.'

Everyone he ever loved or knew was gone from his life. Maybe some of them existed in this world, but they wouldn't know him. Peter can only look forward and keep moving. Being a hero meant needing to shoulder a burden most wouldn't be able to.

Juranno College had a reputation for being a fantastic school for anyone wishing to obtain a degree in a number of fields. For Peter, the young man was less interested in wanting to become a teacher, creating a company, or whatever might lead someone to this school. His focus was entirely on learning Japanese in order to return to being Spider-Man.

After all, Peter made a promise to keep being the hero his aunt believed he could be.

(X)

"You really need to learn to say 'no' to people, girl. What have we talked about before? Just tell her you can't do it. No one is going to die or anything if you're uncomfortable about the favor."

"Marina, give me a break. I-I just panicked at the moment and ended up saying yes by accident. What do you want me to do? Just tell Mrs. Fujikawa I can't show up today."

"Yes."

Fuyumi stared at her friend in disbelief, "B-But..."

"What were you expecting me to say? Do it? Besides, why can't you just tell her no?"

"It's not that easy." Fuyumi shook her head at Marina's question. She was somewhat starting to regret her decision to let Marina know about what had happened in the dean's office early in the morning. "It's too late for me to back out now. My little brother texted me back a little while ago, saying he was fine with ordering out. My father said something about being busy with a case in another town. I figure he's not going to come home till tomorrow morning."

"Natsuo?"

She sighed in exasperation, "He barely gave me a response. I'm sure he'll be fine...hopefully."

In the back of her mind, Fuyumi knew there wasn't any easy way to get out of helping Mrs. Fujikawa with the special meeting she was having today. Their school was going to be having a last-minute addition. Apparently, it was a foreign student from what the aspiring teacher could remember. To be fair, it's not like she was going to have to do some insane amount of work or anything.

All she needed to do was give the person a tour around the school, answer any potential questions they might have about the college, and make them feel welcomed by being able to converse with them in English.

Being able to speak another language properly wasn't the easiest thing to do in the world, and as a hopeful teacher, it was a subject she was going to probably end up teaching at some point in the future. It's why she was chosen by the dean as a substitute for the person who was originally supposed to be there.

The person had a family emergency and wasn't available anymore.

Fuyumi chose to bottle up her opinion on the matter, 'I can't blame someone for having to deal with something happening at home. I would do the same.'

"Are you sure about this? I've heard some foreigners are real jerks. What if this person turns out to be one?"

"It'll be fine," Fuyumi said, appreciating the concern from her friend. "Mrs. Fujikawa told me a close friend of hers is vouching for the person, even saying he might be a great addition to the school."

Then, she heard a strange noise from Marina. It was followed by Fuyumi freezing up as she realized she made an enormous mistake.

"W-Wait! Did I say it's a he...I-I really meant it was a her!"

It was too late to take back her words as a massive grin appeared on Marina's face.

"Is that why you're hesitating to say no?" Marina's smirk terrified her. When the girl reached over and started poking her in the side. "Did you already get to see what the guy looks like? Is he cute? Do you want some advice? I'm sure Shizuku-tan would've loved to serve a really cute guy. Come on, just tell me."

"Marina, I really don't know! Mrs. Fujikawa didn't mention what he looks like or anything."

"Really? That's lame."

Throughout their many years of friendship, Fuyumi had gotten used to her friend's eagerness whenever it came to topics of interest. The majority of them tended to involve cosplaying, manga, and rather mature games. It was sometimes embarrassing to listen to Marina go on about the various adult scenes that happened in some of her favorite games, but it always did one thing, reminding Fuyumi of how passionate her friend can get about what she likes.

'...And more than pretty enough to make whatever cosplay outfit Goro makes for her even more amazing,' She added in her mind, refusing to let that opinion be voiced. The last thing Fuyumi needed before heading to the dean's office was to start up the same old talk.

Marina, compared to her, was so much better looking. Her dark brown eyes were hidden behind some dark pink contacts, a figure that captured anyone's attention, and her blonde hair tipped with pinkish-red towards the end. All in all, she stood out from the crowd and had a personality to back it up.

"Fine," Marina pouted at her for a moment. It was soon replaced with a grin and pointed at her, "But you better text me the details about the foreign guy later. I want everything."

Whatever sense of relief Fuyumi felt was suddenly thrown into the wind.

"I-I..."

"No, no, no, you're not going to deny me this opportunity."

"What if–"

Marina poked her in the side, preventing her from being able to get out a word, "You're going to tell me every single thing that happens on that tour, and that is final. In exchange, I'll ask Goro to make you an outfit of your choosing."

"I already told you that's a bad idea. The last thing I want to do is…"

"Your dad, right?"

A frown made its way onto Fuyumi's face as she let out a sigh, "I'm sorry, really. I just don't want him to think I'm...you know...goofing off while in school."

The mood turned somber between the two friends. Fuyumi felt bad for rejecting the offer. A part of her was interested in having a little fun during her time in college. It's just...things were tough, especially since Shoto was going to enter high school in less than two years. Their dad was already starting to put pressure on him.

'Well, more than normal anyway.'

Before she had a chance to apologize for ruining their conversation, Fuyumi felt her cell phone start to vibrate in her pocket. She took it out and turned on the screen. It appears time is not on her side.

She turned to face Marina, "I'm really sorry, but I have to go."

"Ah, it's today. I'm praying he's a cute guy for your sake anyway."

The joke was obviously meant to embarrass her, but Fuyumi appreciated Marina's attempt to lift up their mood. In spite of their very different personalities, she was very happy to have a friend like her around.

"I'm sure it'll be a regular-looking guy."

"Oh, I'm definitely right then."

A tiny smile formed on Fuyumi's face, "Maybe you'll be wrong this time. Who knows?"

(X)

Peter had grown familiar with aliens, magical beings, and gods throughout the years. One of the best examples was having a guy like Mr. Stark be his mentor. He was...special, even compared to them.

The famous billionaire wasn't too far from what he saw on the internet, but Peter came to learn quite a few things about the man throughout their time together. Why think about the deceased eccentric billionaire? It's because Peter couldn't shake the feeling he was meeting him for the first time all over again, except the only difference is the person sitting on the other side of the desk was a female version of him.

During the car ride to the college, Peter thought about how he was going to introduce himself and practiced the tiny amount of Japanese he was able to cram into his head in the days leading up to the meeting. Ms. Kayama was a big help in the little time she was able to spare before needing to go to work.

So imagine his surprise when he meets the dean for the first time and, shockingly, finds out how casual she is about the entire foreign student situation. He was expecting Mrs. Fujikawa to be a rather serious woman who took education more seriously than anyone on campus. Instead, he got a rather pretty lady cracking jokes with Mr. Yamada and being okay with the idea.

'Maybe I was expecting a normal universe,' Peter thought, trying his best to keep up with the conversation between Mr. Yamada and Mrs. Fujikawa. They seem to be really good friends because of how casual they were being toward each other. 'Maybe quirks can affect people's personalities? With everything I've seen in my life, I don't think it's that far off basis.'

He glanced around the woman's office. Peter noted it didn't look all that different. It had freshly painted walls, modern furniture, and even a few paintings hanging on the walls. Although he did notice a small little bobblehead on her desk.

It was a guy wearing a red, blue, and white costume with blonde hair. He realized who it was, 'Looks like she's a fan of All Might.'

"Mr. Parker."

Upon hearing his name in English, the young hero immediately sat up and looked at the dean sitting across from him.

"Y-Yes?"

The woman gave him a gentle smile, "I was hoping to ask you a few questions if you don't mind."

"Yeah, of course."

He was thankful for the meeting being spoken primarily in English.

Although she did warn him earlier in the meeting about how that won't be the case if he decides to attend Juranno College. Students, primarily those whose first language is Japanese, won't always be the most proficient in his native tongue or understand him completely. So it was on him to adjust to taking his classes seriously and use what he learns if he has any hope of surviving in a brand new country like Japan.

"Good," She said in a pleased tone. "If you don't mind me asking...what brings you to Japan? I would imagine the colleges in America would be far easier for an individual such as yourself to enter than those over here."

Peter didn't respond immediately to her question. He looked over at Mr. Yamada for some confirmation. Thankfully, the man notices and lightly nods his head. In order to get this far with the school, the pro-hero did admit he had to lie about their relationship and say he knew Peter's family. It would be strange for a pro-hero to vouch for some completely random guy from another country and grab people's attention.

"I, uh, I guess the easiest way to explain it is...I just wanted a fresh start."

"Ah, that's understandable. So that does lead me to my next question; why come here?"

"...Because I can trust Mr. Yamda," Peter answered. "He's helped me out a lot since I arrived in this country. I was lost and really unsure of what to do. So when he offered to help me find a school and, surprisingly, even said he'll put in a good word for me at his alma mater. It was probably one of the nicest things anyone has done for me."

Mrs. Fujikawa must have liked his answer if the smile on her face was anything to go by.

"That's Hizashi for you," She said, looking over at Mr. Yamada. "In spite of becoming a radio host and school teacher, I guess you still have a heart of gold even after all these years."

"Who said I ever lost it."

"Alright, calm down, cowboy," Mrs. Fujikawa said, rolling her eyes at Mr. Yamada. The woman's dark brown eyes moved toward him, "As for you, Mr. Parker, I do have one more question, and it pertains to why you only want to learn Japanese and nothing more. Our school offers various programs to cover a wide range of interests. I imagine you must have some kind of plan in mind if you aren't here for anything else."

Peter froze up at the question. His hesitance to answer must have caught Mr. Yamada's attention.

The man immediately stepped in and answered for him.

"He has some ideas, but nothing concrete right now." The pro-hero shrugged his shoulders. A brief chuckle escaped his lips, "You think I ever imagined becoming a teacher back in the early days of my pro-hero career? Dealing with teenagers on a daily basis was not exactly in my plans. Besides, you know how most kids are these days. Some know right away. Others need a bit more time. I can definitely say Peter is a smart kid from some of the things he's shown me. He'll be fine."

Peter chose to keep quiet and let Mr. Yamada do the talking. It seemed his explanation must have worked on her.

"...Sounds like Hizashi must really believe in you."

He had no words capable of describing what he was feeling at the moment after hearing Mr. Yamada talk about him like that, especially since they'd only met a few weeks ago. Thankfully, Mrs. Fujikawa didn't seem to let the silence stop her from continuing.

"Well, I don't have too much more to ask," She said, folding her hands on the wooden desk. "If Hizashi thinks you are a good fit for the school, I'm inclined to give my friend the benefit of the doubt. I also think it might do the students some good if someone different comes along. Who knows? You might just offer them a different perspective on things. I hear you, folks, over in America like those who can think outside the box."

"I'll try, ma'am."

Mrs. Fujikawa visibly shuddered at his words, "Please don't call me that. I'm too young for that, Mr. Parker. Just stick with the missus part. It reminds me of my sexy man at home."

"Sure, I can do that."

Peter briefly glanced over to Mr. Yamada. The two made eye contact, but the older man just shook his head.

Rat-tat-tat

Suddenly, the three occupants inside the office heard the sound of someone knocking at the door. Mrs. Fujikawa called out to whoever the person was, "You can come in."

The door opened up slightly, allowing the person to slip into the office. When Peter laid eyes on the person, one word came to mind; unique. A girl – a student if he had to guess – entered the room. Now, Peter has been around a number of pretty girls in his life. A couple of older women too. As for the girl, she certainly would catch anyone's attention back home with her shoulder-length white hair with streaks of crimson in them. Thrown in turquoise-colored eyes as well for good measure.

'But she is really, really pretty.'

"Ah! Perfect timing, Ms. Todoroki. Just the person I wanted to see."

I have returned with a brand new chapter. Sorry about taking so long guys. I was rather preoccupied with some real-life stuff, but that has been taken care of, and was able to find the time to finish this damn chapter.

Anyway, I want to thank Zaru for helping out as per usual. He makes hammering out the details and overall storyline stuff a lot easier.

So let me know what you think about the story!