"So, to tell you the truth, I think you two would make great Pro Heroes!" Togata encouraged with a wide smile. About two-and-a-half hours had passed since he sat down to talk about Pro Heroes and the only known origin of Quirks. "I go to UA High, the school that taught the greatest Hero in the world, All Might. Anybody who wants to be the best goes there."
Pan turned to her friend and looked Bulla in the eyes. Although Pan could see the fear and concern in her friend's eyes, all Bulla could see was the same compassion and determination as Super Uncle Goku.
Protect it with your dying breath. That'll become...your new home... Bulla could hear her father's words suddenly play through her mind. "His dying wish..." She suddenly said under her breath.
"Huh? Did you say something, Brief?" Togata asked, looking over.
Her head hung, and tears began to drop from her eyes, and her fists clenched tightly on top of her knees.. Mr. Togata, if we go to this place, will we be strong enough to protect the world?"
Pan could see it. He was surprised, but he smiled nonetheless. "You can. If you work hard, and train even harder, you might even be able to surpass All Might himself one day."
Slowly, Bulla's arm passed over her eyes, when, all of a sudden, she threw her head up, her face displaying pure determination. "Then I want to go to UA High! I want to become a hero and protect this world!" Bulla said with all of her might.
"Alright, then!" From his backpack, Togata pulled out a calendar and pen and circled the current date. "So, here in Japan, school starts in April. Today is October 3rd, and in March, applications for admissions to UA are supposed to be submitted, followed by the entrance exams. What would you say your education level is?"
"We were both in the process of finishing middle school. The school...isn't there anymore, though." Pan explained, trying to avoid speaking of her universe's cruel fate.
"I understand. Well, this is certainly a predicament...would need your teachers...apply for foreign..." Togata's voice continued to slightly grow and fade as he combed through different solutions. "I've got it!" He said, slapping his fist against his palm. "You can convince my boss that you're Pro Hero material! He can get you in by recommendation!"
"Mr. Togata, are you sure tha-" Before Pan could finish, Togata jumped to his feet.
"If Nejire tutors you two, and you pass the written exams, you'll be able to get in for sure!" He explained excitedly, clenching his fist in front of him. "The word of All Might's old Sidekick is bound to get you two in!"
Pan met Bulla's eyes, and the two nodded. "Alright. We'll do it." Pan said.
"Great! I'm going to stop by the Agency and talk to Sir Nighteye before it gets too late. I'll see you both at the same time tomorrow." Togata said as he waved goodbye. Pan waved back, and within minutes, the room was already quiet.
Bulla lied back in bed, taking another attempt at getting some rest. Meanwhile, two girls, both a little younger than Pan and Bulla, approached the taller of the two Saiyans. "Hi!" The girl who spoke first had long black hair, and dark eyes similar to Pan's. She wore a long white dress with a denim jacket. "My name is Hina Takado!" She said with a smile.
"And I'm Shizui Hanamura!" Her friend with brown hair in pigtails and green eyes said. "We wanted to introduce ourselves earlier, but you two seemed so busy with that man." Hanamura seemed to have a different style from her friend, wearing jeans and a striped striped shirt tucked in with a plain black belt.
"Shizui, and Hina. It's nice to meet you both." Pan told them with a smile before the two girls looked at each other in confusion. "What is it?"
"You...called us by our first names." Takado said in confusion
"Yeah… Did I do something wrong?" Pan asked them.
"Well, it's not really a problem with us, we don't mind, but it's normally seen as disrespectful. I think I read about how in America, people will call those older than them by their last name. It's the same way here with everyone unless you're really close friends or you're talking with your family or boyfriend." Hanamura explained.
"Or if you'd rather be called by your first name and you ask someone to call you that. It's the most informal you can be outside of nicknames." Takado chimed in. "Like how I call Hanamura Hana, and she calls me Taka."
"Is that so…? I apologize for my disrespect." Pan told them with a bow as the two began to shake their hands.
"No no! It's alright! Like I said, we don't really mind. We'll just call you by your first names, too!" Taka told her with a smile.
"I'd like that very much. My name is Pan Son, and my friend's name is Bulla Brief. She's been really shy lately, so please understand if she doesn't warm up to you right away."
"It's fine. So, did we hear that you were trying to get into UA High?" Taka asked her.
"Yeah, that's right." Pan told her. "Bulla and I want to become heroes that are strong enough to protect the world." She said.
"Well, I'm really sorry, but unless you have the right Quirks, you won't get into UA so easily." Hana told her. "My older brother goes to UA, and he said the Hero Course was almost impossible to get into. He's here, too, but he's with the older kids right now, since the orphanage provides unadopted kids with job training so that they don't leave at 18 without any skills."
"Hanamura's Quirk is Quick-Time. It lets him see things in slow motion when they get close. It's a super cool Quirk, but he had such a hard time getting in through the practical exams, because he had to fight a bunch of big robots!" Taka explained.
"What are your Quirks, Pan?" Hana asked her.
"Oh, I can fly, and Bulla can shoot energy beams…" She explained, staying careful to disguise their Ki abilities as powers.
"With a Quirk like that, you have to work extra hard, just to get in!" Hana said, waving her arms at her side.
"I know, but Mr. Togata said that he could get us in on recommendations…" Pan told her with a nervous chuckle.
"But you still need to prove yourself to the hero!" Taka butted in. "I overheard him saying that he works for Sir Nighteye. I've only seen him once, but his eyes were so scary!" She explained as a series of chills traveled up her spine.
"I'm sorry, Pan." Hana said. "We're not trying to scare you. We just want you to prepare yourself for the worst."
"No, I understand. Hina, Shizui, thank you so much. We'll gladly keep your advice in mind." Pan's bow expressed her gratitude clearly. "I'm so happy to have been able to meet you both. However, if it's alright, it's been a long day and I'd like to get some rest."
"Okay, Pan! Have a good night! We'll be quiet until then!" Hana told her with a big smile as the two left the room.
With her distractions gone, Pan crawled into bed and thought back over the day. Dad...Mom… I really miss you… Please give me the strength to protect Bulla… Super Grandpa Goku, please watch over us…. Turning over to her side, the weight of the sky came crashing down on her. She covered her mouth, allowing her to cry silently. Having to remain strong for Bulla has easily been the hardest thing that she's ever had to do. Regardless, she did it for her best friend, and allowed herself to suffer from the festering emotion and negativity. It was a long while before she finally cried herself to sleep.