The two days of rest were over and Leizcio was on his way over to the train station. It was a rainy day, Leizcio's favorite weather. At least when it wasn't during his vigilante hours. A bit difficult to run on wet surfaces, much so at super speed.
"Hey you're that fast kid from the hero class!" A random person said from the streets as Leizcio was close to getting to the train station. More people started to recognize Leizcio and began to crowd around him.
"Good job getting 3rd place kid!"
"That fight was amazing!"
"He's kinda short isn't he?"
"You're going to be a great hero!"
Leizcio was overwhelmed by the amount of compliments he got showered with and slightly annoyed at the comment about his height.
"Thank you! I'll do my best!" Leizcio says with a small smile waving at the people around him as he makes his way onto the train. Shortly after, Ochaco enters seeming a bit tired, no doubt she got noticed by strangers as well.
The rest of the way to UA was the same as the two had to deal with people who had recognized them from the sports festival, congratulating them. When they finally get off their stop, the two took a quick sigh, letting their social battery charge for a second.
"Lots of people noticed you too Leizcio?" Ochaco asked as the two began their walk to their class.
"Yeah, but at least it's good recognition for once." Leizcio jokingly says, while the both of them laugh, they're glad that at least for once, it's nothing that could get Leizcio arrested.
"How'd your break go?" Leizcio asks as he puts away his umbrella.
"Good! My parents came by to visit meanwhile!" Ochaco said with a bright smile on her face. Leizcio sometimes forgets that she lives on her own since it's much closer to UA compared to where she lived with her parents. A bit mind-boggling for Leizcio since he hasn't lived on his own, always with his family for the most part.
"What about you Leizcio?"
Leizcio had to take a quick second to mentally prepare himself to explain what happened. Ochaco was slightly worried considering this was supposed to be their week of rest.
"My dad suddenly came back and I learned I have another sister now who lives with me now. But other than that, it was pretty nice. I got to know Yaoyorozu better and it was a quiet break which is what I needed." Leizcio explained as the two were about to enter the classroom.
"Wait you have another sister now?" Ochaco asks as the two were outside the class talking.
"Yeah, it's... basically what happened was Mashito had come back during the sports festival and after made me fight her. But we ended up making peace with each other and she lives with us now since it's better than her living with him." Leizcio explained as boiled down as he possibly could.
"Are you two okay now though?" Ochaco asked, about to see if Leizcio was injured.
"We're both fine now! I'm just a bit roughed up because she's actually pretty good at fighting." Leizcio says remembering how she was able to land really solid hits on him.
"Oh Okay, that's good to hear then. And you spent a day with Yaoyorozu? How'd that go?"
"Much better. After dealing with having another sister and everything, I needed some time with a friend. It was nice getting to know her more. Gotta admit though, she does love tea a lot." Leizcio recalls the amount of time she spent telling him her favorite teas, especially that Golden Tips Imperial one.
"It's good to see you being social Leizcio! To think you didn't talk to others that much but now going out of your way to invite others!" Ochaco said with a sense of pride but also happy for Leizcio to see him grow a bit as a person.
"Thanks Ochaco." Leizcio said smiling. He was making progress slowly but surely. The two went on to enter the class and sit down in their seats as entered moments after.
"Morning."
"Good morning!" The class says in unison
"Ribbit? , your bandages are gone. I'm glad." Tsuyu says as people start to take notice as well. He even developed a scar below his eye.
"The old lady went overboard with her treatment. More importantly, we're having a special hero informatics class today."
Knowing Aizawa, it could be a quiz on their first day back.
"Code names. You'll be coming up with hero names." Aizawa simply said.
"We're gonna do something exciting!" Majority of the class yells, overjoyed for doing something exciting for once. But that's quickly cut short when Aizawa uses his quirk sending the class into immediate silence. He deactivates it shortly after and begins to explain the reason why they're picking out names.
"This is related to the pro hero draft picks I mentioned the other day. The drafts begin in earnest in the second and third years, after students have gained experience and can become immediate assets to the pros. In other words, for them to extend offers to first years like you shows that they are interested in your future potential. These offers are often canceled if that interest dies down by graduation."
"So we'll have to prove ourselves once we get picked, huh?" Hagurake asks, thinking the same thing that Leizcio was thinking to himself.
"That's right, and here are the total for those with offers." Aizawa says as he displays the amount of offers.
Todoroki: 4,123 offers
Bakugo: 3,556 offers
Esperanza: 420 offers
Iida: 301 offers
Kaminari: 272 offers
Yaoyorozu: 108 offers
Kirishima: 68 offers
Uraraka: 20 offers
Sero: 14 offers
'Hehe, 420' Leizcio immaturely giggled to himself.
"In other years, it's been more spread out but all eyes were on those two this year." Aizawa said referring to the high amount of offers Todoroki and Bakugo received compared to everyone else.
As everyone talks about the amount of offers, Leizcio thought to himself about the high amount of offers he got himself. Sure it wasn't in the thousands like Todoroki or Bakugo, but he didn't think he'd receive hundreds of offers. He sees it as people who can see him becoming a good hero and hopefully teaching him more.
"Keeping these results in mind, whether or not anyone asked for you, you will all be participating in internships with pros."
"Internships?"
"Yeah. At USJ you already got to experience combat with real villains, but it will still be meaningful training for you to see pros at work firsthand."
"So that explains the hero names!"
"Well, those hero names are still temporary, but if you're not serious about it..."
"You'll have hell to pay later!" Midnight says as she enters the class.
"Because a lot of hero names used by students become recognized by society, and they end up becoming professional hero names!"
"Well, that's how it is. So Midnight will be making sure your names are okay. I can't do stuff like that."
"When you give yourself a name, you get a more concrete image of what you want to be like in the future, and you can get closer to it. This is what it means when they say 'Names and natures do often agree'. Like 'All Might' for example." Aizawa finishes as he gets into his sleeping bag and moves to the corner of the classroom.
As Leizcio gets his whiteboard, he stares at it blankly. Never really gave it much thought before, even when he did get his quirk. Sure "Blur" might've been good but that'd be a stupid move on his part and would just end with him getting arrested. Thus began his thinking.
'Flash? No that's way too bland and kinda corny.' Leizcio says erasing the name from his board.
'Quicksilver? Wait a damn minute, that's just the name of a metal!' Leizcio says quickly scribbling it off.
He continues looking at the board, his mind running empty on ideas. He puts it down and massages his temple, trying to think of something. Taking a quick look outside, he continues to see the downpour outside, nothing comes to mind. Holding the whiteboard marker in his hand, he looks at the whiteboard noticing a part of the old names wasn't completely erased, looking like a lightning bolt.
'I want to be like how mom was but also be my own hero. Wait... be who I am... Yes!'
Leizcio quickly writes down his hero name, proud of what it is.
"Okay, let's start presenting names starting with those who are ready."
'And there goes all the confidence I had.' Leizcio thought now having the stress kind of get to him a bit. He just decides to let others go first instead. The first one to go up was Aoyama.
"Here I go... 'Shining Hero: I Can Not Stop Twinkling'! Which means you can't stop my sparkles!'
'That's a whole ass sentence!' Leizcio thinks to himself, confused by the choice of the hero name.
"It'll be easier to use if you take out the 'I' and shorten the 'can not' to 'can't'."
"You're right mademoiselle."
'I guess that works.' Leizcio thought.
"Then I'll go next! Hero name, 'Alien Queen'!" Ashido says proudly presenting her hero name.
"Are you trying for the thing with acidic blood? I wouldn't if I were you!"
"Dang it..."
'That sounded kinda neat though but Midnight does have a point.'
"Ribbit! Then may I go next?" Tsu asks with Midnight giving her the go-ahead.
"I've had this in mind ever since I was in elementary school. 'Rainy Season Hero: Froppy."
"That's so cute! It seems friendly. I like it! It's a great example of a name that everyone will love!" Midnight says giving Tsu's hero name approval.
"Froppy! Froppy! Froppy!" The class chanted as did Leizcio, everyone glad that the atmosphere went back to normal. Feeling a bit refreshed, Leizcio musters up the courage he can to share his hero name.
"Could I go?"
"Go for it Esperanza!" Midnight says. Leizcio gets up and heads up to the podium and is slightly nervous with all eyes on him. He just takes a deep breath and places down his whiteboard.
"I wanted a name that is simple but also shows who I am and my background so here it is; 'Lightning-Step Hero: Rayo'!"
"Nice! A play on both of your quirk and heritage!" Midnight says approving Leizcio's hero name.
'Oh thank god' Leizcio thinks to himself as he returns back to his seat. The rest of the class went up, the majority making great hero names and a few unsure of it. As everyone had finally gone, Aizawa awakened and opened up his sleeping bag, leading class once again.
"Now that everyone's decided on their hero names, we'll go back to talking about the internships. They will last for a week. As for where you'll have them, those who had offers from pros will be given your own lists, so you can choose from those yourself. Those who didn't have offers will choose from among forty agencies around the country that will be accepting our interns. They all work in different places and have different specialties. Think carefully before you choose."
"Yes Sir!"
As everyone received the papers that listed off the agencies that offered them an internship. But Aizawa had one last thing to say to the class.
"Turn in your choices before the weekend."
"We've only got two days?!"
"Make your decision efficiently. Dismissed."
Leizcio looked down at his list. 420 offers. Quite a lot that he has to consider. Looking through the list carefully, Leizcio sees a few offers that stand out to him. However, there was one that just irked him. Beatdown Agency. Whatever Mashito was trying to do, Leizcio is not about to do it. Whether this was to try to get him to join him or as a reminder that he can't escape him, Leizcio ignores it.
Having selected a few out of the offers, Leizcio goes to the one person he can trust with hero info.
"Hey Midoriya, can you help me with something?" Leizcio asked as he tapped Midoriya's shoulders.
"Course! What do you need help with Esperanza?" Midoriya said, strangely shaking but Leizcio didn't question it.
"Could you tell me about these choi-"
"WAIT IS THAT BLINK'S AGENCY?" Midoriya suddenly said pointing to one of the names on the list Leizcio was showing him.
"Who's Blink?" Leizcio asked, about to be bombarded with information.
"He was a pro hero back in America who ranked in the top 10 for a while there! His quirk let him stop time if he held his breath but he took a break from being a hero in America. I didn't know he'd come to Japan though. I guess he must've started his agency here!" Midoriya muttered to Leizcio who was barely able to keep up with what he was saying.
"No wonder I didn't recognize that one I guess, but you're saying he... stops time with his quirk?"
"Yeah! Even in his interviews, he said he didn't understand it all that well either but he knows that everything but him stops!"
"I see... Thanks Midoriya!" Leizcio said grateful for Midoriya's hero info.
"Of course no problem!"
Leizcio took out his phone and began searching for Blink. In the clips that they had of his work, he always looked like a blur, almost as if he wasn't there at all and someplace else within a second. Working under him, Leizcio starts to think of how he can improve himself since he'd be interning under someone who has a similar, well... close enough quirk to his.
"Esperanza, did you already choose who you're going to intern under?" Yaoyorozu asks overhearing a bit of the conversation Leizcio had with Midoriya.
"Sort of. I mean, there's some decent ranking pros on my list but this agency is run by a pro who can stop time, so if I work under him, I could get better at my skills since in a way he's fast too." Leizcio says as he shows Yaoyorozu pointing to the agency.
"That sounds like it'd be a good choice given your quirk, training at someone who could match your speeds would be beneficial!" Yaoyorozu tells Leizcio as he nods in response.
"What about you Yaoyorozu?"
"I'm going to intern under Uwabami's agency! She's a popular pro and given my performance, I was a bit skeptical about offers given my performance, but to receive an offer from her, I could learn a great number of things!"
Leizcio looked with a bit of concern on his face.
"What's wrong?"
"...Are you sure that's a good choice? I don't want to come off as rude, but she tends to be a bit more of a celebrity than she is pro-hero. Heck, even my sister uses some of her beauty products."
"Well, all heroes have to deal with popularity at one point right? I'm sure that she'll teach me how to be a better hero!" Yaoyorozu said with determination.
"Yeah you're not wrong. So long as we learn something right?" Leizcio said, Yaoyorozu giving a small nod in agreement.
"Well, I'm going to turn in my choice then, see you!" Leizcio says as he gets up and leaves the room with his things, waving bye to Yaoyorozu. Walking over to where Aizawa was in the teachers' office, he hands in his choice and leaves UA a bit earlier than Ochaco.
Heading back home, Leizcio thinks back to his hero name. Rayo. It was fitting for him, just one word that he'll eventually make significant for being known as the name of the hero who could be there for everyone. The internship under that "Blink" pro-hero could also be extremely helpful to increase his high-speed reactions and maybe even go faster.
Getting off the train, Leizcio starts making his way back home to the cafe. The rain was starting to calm down and the sun showing its rays of warmth. Stopping a few blocks away from the cafe, he feels his phone vibrating and takes it out to see who's calling and immediately picks up after seeing.
"Hey Tamashi, did something happen?"
"Leizcio, I'm sorry, but I need to tell you something."
A sudden chill went down Leizcio's spine. Hearing something like that is never good and he began to get nervous.
"What happened?! Are you okay?!"
"I'm okay, but that's not the issue. Look, me and Lavania have been doing something behind your back but I've had enough of it."
Leizcio doesn't respond, a fearful quiet but Tamashi continues.
"I've been giving Lavania tablets that she puts in your drinks that limit your quirk. It's the reason why your quirk hasn't made you go faster yet. I'm sorry that I agreed to it in the first place but I've stopped giving her more. I understand how you'll feel but please don't be rec-"
Leizcio hangs up, in disbelief of what Tamashi just told him. How long has this been happening? Did it start after his first fight as a vigilante? His quirk wasn't at its strongest when he needed it to be? DOESN'T SHE REALIZE THAT THIS QUIRK WAS GIVEN TO HIM FOR A REASON?! THAT HE COULD'VE BEEN SAFER IF HE HAD BEEN ABLE TO GO FASTER?!
Leizcio runs to the cafe with tears falling from his face. He thinks back to the times he nearly died, the shadow beast villain knocking him around like a ragdoll, the nomu punching him into a pole, which would've killed him if it wasn't for his fast healing.
Leizcio enters the empty cafe, Lavania clearing the place up. As she's about to say something, she sees him. A face overflowing with tears but anger radiating from him.
Chapter 24
END
