Chapter 2: A Hero Arrives
Morning came around and Kaseki's eyes fluttered open, staring at the boring beige ceiling. She sighed and sat up in bed, the pink comforter she's had since childhood offering it's familiar warmth to her in the cold hours of the morning. Sighing once more Kaseki slipped out of bed, her scaled feet slipping into bunny slippers she bought ironically, but quickly grew to love them.
Looking around her room Kaseki sighed yet again, she had moved in late last night, and still had boxes all over her room. She really wanted to get to them today, but that would have to wait, today was the first at the Ryukyu agency, and she couldn't be late. However, before she could do anything she reasoned she'd need to get breakfast first. She wandered into the kitchen, her new roommate already in the room cooking what looked like a traditional American breakfast, something she had all too much of while working abroad.
"Ooh that smells delicious," Kaseki smiled as she sat down at the dining table, looking at her roommate. She knew her name was Arakan Sugimoto, she was a fairly standard-looking girl, though her white hair was crazy and frizzy, while her bright green eyes seemed to swirl with a spiral pattern.
"Oh, good morning sleepyhead," Arakan turned to her, smiling with a cheeky grin, "I know you said that you were just coming here from America so I decided to whip you up a healthy American breakfast, I hope you don't mind."
"Oh I don't mind at all," Kaseki smiled as Arakan dished some eggs onto a plate and walked it over to her, "Thank you very much."
"So we haven't properly introduced ourselves yet," Arakan said as she sat across from Kaseki with her own plate of eggs, "Arakan Sugimoto, a wage worker at the local convenience store."
"Kaseki Shiryoku, soon to be the sidekick of Ryukyu," Kaseki announced proudly, with a smile on her face. A look of shock and surprise crossed Arakans face, before finally fading into one of awe.
"A SIDEKICK?!" Arakan jumped up and pointed at Kaseki, "OMG, I love that, I love you, that's sooooo awesome!"
"R-really?" Kaseki stuttered out with a bit of a blush, "It's not that cool."
"Yes, it is!" Arakan moved up to her and hugged her from the side, "I've always wanted to know a real hero, and now you're roommate? That's pretty freaking awesome!"
Kaseki blushed some more and hugged Arakan back, "So I hope this means you like me?"
"Like you? No way, I abso-freaking-lutely LOVE you!" Arakan nuzzled up to her more, "You've got to tell me all about it, how long have you been doing this, how long has it been your dream, which heroes have you worked with, everything, you've got to tell me EVERYTHING."
"Sure," Kaseki chuckled and gently pushed Arakan off of her, "I've been a fully licensed Pro for the past two years, though I spent those two years in America working with Canon Catapult."
"Canon Catapult?" Arakan pursed her lips for a second as she wandered back to her seat and taking a bite of her eggs, "He's a pretty stingy hero ain't he?"
"Yeah, everyone was surprised when he made me an offer, it was the first time he even extended an offer to someone outside of North America," Kaseki informed, explaining it between bites.
"I know, so does that mean you worked with San Andres and 10-ton?" Arakan asked as she finished up her eggs, "Cause those two are real hotties."
"Yes I worked with them," Kaseki blushed, thinking about all the fans that they had, it wasn't surprising, San Andres was also an actress and 10-ton was a former bodybuilder, "Didn't think you'd be the type to be that blunt about it."
"What? It's not different than all those girls simping for actors online, I just happen to like heroes."
"Well I guess there's nothing wrong with that," Kaseki chuckled and put down her fork, having finished the eggs, "Anyways it was nice talking to you, but I've got to get ready, I'm working today."
"Ahhh, already," Arakan pouted as she sat her own utensil down, "I was just starting to get to know you, I've got the day off, maybe we can do something tonight after you get off?"
"Sure, maybe you could help me unpack, I'll need all the help I can get." Kaseki chuckled, she really didn't look forward to unpacking, but having someone do it with her could prove to make it more fun.
"Well I guess I should let you go then," Arakan got up gathering the dishes, "Don't want to let evil triumph now do we?"
"No, not at all."
Kaseki returned to her room, showering and getting ready for the day, changing into her hero costume. The green and red stripes stood out against the black skin-tight suit that made up her hero costume.
"Welcome to the agency newbie," The pro hero Ryukyu stood in front of Kaseki right as she entered the agency, her beautiful face only slightly contorted by a grin showing off her sharpened teeth, "We don't have time for pleasantries, you're gonna meet everyone and then go on patrol with Bubblegum, comprendo?"
Kaseki nodded vigorously, she had heard about her agency, but in the years since the end of the war with the villains, she gained vast popularity. However, the power vacuum that appeared after so many heroes quit in the wake of the war forced her to step up and take on more responsibility, her agency expanded and as a result, she became more hardened.
Ryukyu waved her goodbye and left back to her office, where a pile of papers awaited her. Kaseki hoped she could catch a glance of something more, but the door closed behind her new boss and now she had to meet up with her new co-workers.
Kaseki entered the common area of the agency and looked around, golden eyes lighting up as she recognized, not one but two people here. The brown eyes and hair of one of her old classmates, Ochako Uraraka, and the periwinkle bob of an upperclassman, Nejire Hado.
"Shiryoku-chan!" Uraraka called out upon seeing her, the brown-haired girl waving at her old friend as she approached her, quickly followed by a dramatic hug, "I knew we were getting a new hire, but I didn't know it was you, Ryukyu-buchou isn't exactly forthcoming with information like that, she just said you were skilled."
"Hey hey Kaseki-chan," Nejire approached, the bundle of sunshine that was her former upperclassman approached also giving her a hug, "I saw you on the news, great job handling that terrorist, he didn't stand a chance against you."
"You're being too kind," Kaseki said with a blush, which fortunately was hard to see underneath her scales and the headpiece of her costume, "He was a pushover that's all."
"Not true," Urakara pouted, putting her hands on her hips, "That man was a dangerous criminal and you easily apprehended him, that shows true promise as a hero, besides Ryukyu-buchou wouldn't ask for you unless you were awesome."
"Gee thanks guys," Kaseki smiled and hugged them back, the tip of her tail wagging back and forth like a dogs, "Now, where's Bubblegum, Ryukyu said I was supposed to go on patrol with them."
"PRESENT!" A voice shouted from the back of the room, a woman with bring pink hair pulled into twin buns burst out of a door at the back of the room, her pale skin sparkling as her sharp neon pink eyes pierced Kaseki right to her very soul, "Neon Hikari present and reporting for duty, but you can call me Bubblegum!"
She marched across the room, her heeled boots clicking on the polished marble floor. A pure white cape billowed behind her as she approached Kaseki. She stopped only inches in front of her, sharp eyes examining her up and down. A second passed, then two, and then finally a bright pink blush exploded onto Neon's face and squealed picking up Kaseki and swinging her around in her arms.
"YOU'RE SO FREAKING CUTE!" Neon spun around, Kaseki's face being pressed into her generously sized chest, "OMG, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, THIS AGENCY IS ABSOLUTELY ADORBS!" Neon stopped spinning and set Kaseki down, who was now very much dizzy. While the reptile girl tried to get her bearings, Neon spun around behind her and started stroking her hair, "This is amazing, your hair is so soft, and like, amazing, seriously girl I'm so glad to have you on the team."
"D-did Ryukyu really hire you?" Kaseki asked as she finally got her wits about her and was no longer busy, "You don't really seem to be the type she'd like to have around."
"Don't be fooled by her cutesy appearance and personality, Bubblegum-senpai is a remarkable hero on her own, she ranks 55 overall." Uraraka pointed out as Neon finished stroking Kaseki's hair, "Pay attention to her, she could show you a thing or two."
"Yup," Neon stood and grabbed Kaseki by the shoulder, "It's time to go on patrol pinky pie," Neon pulled Kaseki along, taking the reptile girl outside and starting their day-long shift at the agency.
Tokyo Police Station
7:30 PM
Hijiri sat in the holding room, his piercing red eyes staring at the one-way mirror that no doubt had police and pro heroes alike on the other side. It had been over twenty-four hours since he had tried taking down the plane, something he gladly would have done if he hadn't been stopped by that filthy mutant hero. If he had his way, he'd have already scrubbed his skin raw, trying to get her filthy taint off of him, but he hadn't been given any such liberties. Instead, he had been kept in this tiny room, a quirk suppressing cuff around his neck and automatic fire extinguishers aimed right at him. If the cuff failed somehow he'd have carbon-dioxide foam sprayed at him at over fifty miles per hour.
The door handle jiggled and shortly thereafter a woman walked in, and instantly Hijiri shivered, he didn't feel any colder, a side effect of his quirk made even a sauna feel blustery, but something about how this woman carried herself put him off. He couldn't be certain, but he was convinced that it was her eyes. They were a vibrant orange color, making them stand out starkly against the navy blue hair she had pulled back out of her eyes. She wore a sleeveless shirt that exposed rippling muscles that seemed to strain at her very skin. He glanced down noticing that she had a rather small chest, but that was made up by the massive thighs that looked like she could crack a watermelon in half with barely a sweat. He pulled his lecherous eyes back up to meet hers as she smiled at him, exposing canines that he swore were longer than normal.
"Hijiri is it?" She started, her voice layered with sadism and a hint of sarcasm, "According to this file I've got here you were a lawyer," She waved a manilla folder in front of him, "Now what's a nice guy like you working for a piece of sh*t terrorist group anyways? I mean according to this you could have easily started a law agency of your own."
"Who the h*ll are you?" He spat out, his eyes staring back at hers, however, the fire behind his quickly went out, "Wait a sec aren't you-"
"Triumvirate? Yes, glad you noticed," She grabbed him by the collar on his neck and smirked, pulling him in close, her lips almost brushing against his, "You're a lawyer, you know that legally I can't hurt you, not in this situation that is."
"Y-yeah, I've heard about your history of brutality," He gulped, sweat trickling down his face, he was literally powerless here, and as long as that was the case, he was safe, she already had the police breathing down her neck as is, she wouldn't risk it on trying to get a confession out of him, "B-but you can't do a thing to me, you can't make me talk."
"Not unless something were to happen to that collar of yours," She smirks at him, "Now I'm only going to ask this once, who are you working for? I mean a guy like you doesn't just up and decide to take down a plane without reason, especially for an outdated organization like the CRC."
"I ain't tell ya nothing," He shot back, his confidence rising, and his emotions too, especially as her lips inched closer to his, "But maybe I could be convinced with something else."
"Oh you poor thing," She glares at him, a sinister smile crossing her face, "This is all a part of the plan." She let go, letting him fall back in the chair, and quickly he started feeling his body heat up, he didn't know what was happening, but in a matter of seconds his quirk had returned and now he was gonna burn up.
"What the h*ll did you do b*tch?!" He screamed as his body started to glow red, he wanted to calm down, his quirk was closely tied to his emotions and would start going out of control if his adrenaline got too high, which unfortunately for him was already the case.
"Oh dear, it looks like I got a little too close, the collar malfunctioned and now you're trying to escape?" She smirked and pulled her fist back, slamming her knuckles into his forehead, sending the villain flying back and into the wall, with a resounding crack echoing out through the room, "I had to defend myself from the dangerous criminal."
She squatted down next to him as blood poured out of a cut on his head and his eyes started to roll into the back of his head. She wiped the blood off of his head and turned her head to the side as the fire extinguishers rained down on his body, cooling him off and eliminating the heat.
"Wanna tell me who hired you now?" She traced her finger in the blood, drawing a mustache on his lip with it, "Or maybe I could get a little rougher, you know, get you excited a little more, and just lay it on ya."
"P-p-p-pain-painkiller…" He mumbled out a his eyes rolled into the back of his head.
Satisfied with his answer Triumviret stood up, wiping the blood off of her finger and onto his shirt, "See it wasn't that hard." She turned and left the room, leaving the medics on standby to take care of the injured villain, he wouldn't sue, in fact, he couldn't, because according to all the instruments he activated his quirk before she even threw the punch. Clutching an eraser in her hand Triumviret tossed it at a trashcan, knocking the thing to the side despite how little force she put into it.
Triumvirate
Quirk: Force Multiplier
Triumvirate has the power to increase the force of anything she does by up to a factor of ten. She uses this to great effect and could turn a pebble into a bullet if she so desired.
"Painkiller," She murmurs to herself as she steps out into the cool night air, bringing a cigarette to her mouth and lighting it, letting the soothing power of the tobacco caress her lungs and calm her down, "Who in h*ll is that?"
"Here do this Pinky Pie," Neon blurted out, holding her arms up like the letter "y".
Kaseki had no idea what Neon was doing but did as she was told, putting her arms up to the sky. Neon quickly wrapped some sort of gummy substance around them and pulled back, the gum stretching as she put a metal ball in it and let go. The gum rocketed forward and hit someone in the back of the head, knocking him down. Neon pumped her fists and ran over to the guy, taking a couple of wallets out of his pockets.
"Anybody get their wallet stolen?" Neon called out, holding them up in the air. People frantically checked their pockets letting a few people come up and claim theirs. Once that was taken care of Neon came back to Kaseki and started pulling the gum off of her hands, "Sorry bout that Pinky Pie."
"How'd you notice that?" Kaseki asked, she had been Neon all day and every time something happened Neon resolved the incident in only a few seconds, all Kaseki had done was catch a runaway balloon and get a cat out of a tree.
"Oh the guy touched my butt, he was probably checking for my wallet." Neon shrugged it off like it was no biggie, and frankly to her it might as well have been.
"You're really awesome Bubblegum-chan," Kaseki sighed, taking a seat on a park bench as the sun finally finished going over the horizon, "My first day, and all I did was some cheesy old school superhero stuff."
"Being a hero isn't all about taking down villains or stopping crime," Neon pointed out, taking a seat next to her and crossing her legs, "I know it's been five years since his retirement, but people kinda forget that All Might was the number one hero not because of all the incidents he resolved, but rather the fact that he always did it with a smile on his face, he was a symbol of peace."
"So you're saying that being a hero is more about actually helping people feel safe rather than stopping the bad guys?" Kaseki proposed as she slipped a juice box out of the pockets on her costume's belt.
"Pretty much, not that stopping bad guys isn't important, but we should always take the chance to do something good, even if it is a little cheesy." Neon ruffled Kaseki's hair and stood up, "Well that's it for our shift, I'm sure you're tired and want to get home."
"You can say that again," Kaseki chuckled and stood up herself, stretching as she reached to the sky, "I just want to go home and get my stuff unpacked."
"You're still not fully moved in? That sucks." Neon chuckled, "Well I'd offer to come and help, but my fiance has dinner reservations tonight, I can't leave him waiting." Neon waved her off and went her own way.
Sighing now that she was off Kaseki made her way to the bus station, hoping she could still catch one back home. Fortunately, that was the case, Kaseki found her way into the bus and found a seat in the back, sitting next to an angry-looking woman with navy hair. Kaseki didn't pay too much attention to her and looked out the window as the lights of the street lamps passed by.
The bus stopped letting Kaseki and the navy haired woman get off, Kaseki couldn't help but notice that the girl seemed to be following her. Nervously Kaseki made her way up the stairs and quickly to the front of her apartment, and she checked thinking the woman was still following her, however she was on the floor below, going into an apartment of her own. Letting otu a sigh of relief Kaseki retrieved her own key and entered her apartment.
"Welcome back great hero!" The voice of her roommate Arakan emanated from what appeared to be Kaseki's own room. Confused Kaseki made her way back to her room and peaked inside, there wasn't a single box in sight, and all of her furniture was set up. In fact, everything was set up, not a single thing was left in a box and everything had a place.'
"Arakan, did you do this?" Kaseki smiled, as she approached her bed, picking up the dragon plush she's had since childhood.
"Yep, I figured you'd be all tired and what after your first day, and I had the day off so I figured I'd get it all set up for you." Arakan smiled, a faint blush dusting her cheeks, "I hope that's fine."
"It's more than fine," Kaseki smiled and hugged Arakan, "That's awesome, thank you so much!"
"Hey it's my pleasure," Arakan smiled wider, her face turning more pink with each second Kaseki let the hug last, "And I thought you might like to take the night and watch some hero movies with me, I've got Present Mic in Jungle Thunder if you want."
"Sure that sounds awesome!" Kaseki smiled as she let go of Arakan, and the girl went to the living room to set up the movie. Changing out of the sticky and sweaty hero costume she showered and changed into a t-shirt advertising her mom and a pair of sweat pants. The two girls settled in on the couch and started the movie, snacking on popcorn as Kaseki smiled to herself.
"This was a good decision."
Weekly Hero Rankings:
(In this AU, fans of heroes will come together every week and rank all the heroes currently in japan based on popularity, public appearances and resolved incidents. This isn't exactly official, but many hero fans consider it to be)
1. Hawks
2. Miruko
3. Kamui Woods
4. Best Jeanist
5. Fat Gum
6. Mt. Lady
7. Ryukyu
8. Endeavor
9. Burnin
10. Lemillion
..
23. Hiroto Yukio aka Yagi
…
290: Reza Hikari aka Ultraviolet
…
301: Deku
302: Nanako Haizono aka Dust Devil
…
320: Hina Amai aka Tanuki
…
352: Chargebolt
…
530. Yusha Kirameki aka Swap
537. Kaseki Shiryoku aka Basalisk
Changes: Kaseki moves up one ranking
A/N: Well sorry this took a while, but here's chapter 2 of my fic. I hope you guys are enjoying this, and are as interested in the story as me. I have no other things to update you guys on, but please read and review. Go Beyond Plus Ultra!
Discord: /NEWUyPg3