Disclaimer: Boku no Hero Academia characters and plot events belongs to Horikoshi Kohei.

To Be a Hero

effort and progress

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During the remainder of the time with Gang Orca and going through his rigorous training regime, Shiro had started to record her progress at the end of the day. It kept her on her toes and served as a reminder of her struggles so that she can push herself more the following day. Sometimes, though, it only made her sigh and rub her bruised body with frustration.

Day 4—

Breathing exercise: My lungs feel lighter, but the balloon did not pop.

Water training: Gang Orca's lackeys are relentless. Every time I think I've improved on my speed they go even faster.

Infinite obstacle course: I couldn't get past the stupid clay machines. Apparently that is only halfway to the end. Note - don't get hit in the face next time. The clay is extremely irksome to get out of hair.

Bell test: I was thrown across the training room when I attempted to sneak up on Gang Orca. Did not get bell.

Day 5—

Breathing exercise: I blew the balloon even bigger towards the end of the session. Why hasn't it popped yet? Gang Orca came by and saw my progress, but he did not say anything. I can't tell if that's a good or a bad thing because he just looks scary.

Water training: Do the lackeys ever get tired of throwing those bricks? My arms are so sore but I think I'm gaining more muscle from the training.

Infinite obstacle course: I'm faster. I tried to keep my Probability Manipulation on the entire time and concentrated more. I felt more in-tuned with my surroundings and was able to dodge more effectively towards the end. I still couldn't pass.

Bell test: We went on night patrol and a kid was crying because his cat was missing. We found the cat but Gang Orca made him cry harder on accident because of his appearance. Kids are scared of him and that seems to make him sad. I forgot about the bell test.

Day 6—

Shiro was nervous because there was just one more day after today before the end of the internship. The breathing exercise and water training was going well for her and left her in a state of unrest when she got around to the obstacle course. She was practically itching to get past it today because she felt more ready than ever.

Gang Orca regarded her with a firm expression as she walked into the obstacle arena. The hero could feel that her aura was slightly different today. "Are you ready?"

"I am," she replied and clenched a fist. The water training had made her faster than before her and body still feels light. Her Quirk was already activated and her left eye was spinning wildly. "I'm going to get through this today."

The hero nodded with a slight grin and the machines whirred up. He was going to watch her performance from higher ground and the girl dashed off once the signal sounded. Shiro's breath was even and her eyes were completely focused. She had long mastered the obstacles before the clay machines and it took her no time to reach the area where the many pillars stood imposingly.

She ducked inside without hesitation and let her Quirk guide her. Her endurance was so much higher thanks to the previous two exercises and her senses were sharper, too, because she became so cautious of the irregular shots that the clay machines made.

Zip!

Splat!

Zip!

The first dozen that came whizzing by were expertly dodged by her and she continued on her path. She learned to widened her field of vision rather than darting her sight around too much. She had felt it last time—her Quirk was getting accustomed to it and in a last burst effort before time was up she had managed to pinpoint three of the clay shots exactly before it even came out of the barrel. She needed to focus and recreate that.

Zip! Splat!

Gang Orca watched intently as the girl continued to dodge the machines. He was impressed that she has not gotten hit yet but she was still struggling to get through the part since the machines was built to maintain and push people back from the exit. The clay pillars served two main purposes for the girl's training: to test her endurance that she's built up from the previous exercises and to push her Quirk to an untouched domain.

It should be time now, he thought as the machines sped up.

Shiro kept the wide scope of vision around her and forced her Quirk to maximize the probability potential as the clay shots quickened their pace. I will not be hit by this today...! she gritted and the area around her glowed. Suddenly, she was able to see a zone around her everything within that zone had a probability score above them. Since she activated her left eye, she found that she could control and dodge all of the incoming harm before it even happened.

"Probability Manipulation..." she concentrated and charged through. "Absolute Zone!"

She jumped, rolled, and leaped with incredible speed and agility through the clay machines with the allotted time before her zone lost effectiveness. She could only control it for about 30 seconds.

Each clay shot that whizzed by didn't faze her at all because it was a guaranteed miss as she focused on only one thing: the exit to the next stage.

Zip!

Splat!

Zip—!

Shiro leaped across the barrier just before her Quirk deactivated, and the momentum caused her to drop and roll on the ground. A sharp breath left her lips when she looked up and saw nothing—no pillars, no clay machines.

I... her heartbeat quickened at the realization that she passed and in learning a new ability with her Quirk. I did it!

There was no time for celebration as she still had the latter half of the obstacle to go. However, the clay machines was arguably the hardest section there was. Concentrate, Shiro. The rest will be easy...!

Meanwhile, Gang Orca cracked a smile as he watched on.

Across the cities, everyone else was having their own hardships and moments of revelations with their internships.

Bakugou was on patrol with Best Jeanist, though it was more like hero work than getting his hair done back at the agency, he wished he was anywhere but here. The No. 4 hero was popular with the citizens and he would stop and wave or give short conversation to those who walked up. To Bakugou, it felt completely useless and stupid.

He wanted to fight villains, not chit-chat!

"Oh, I've seen him on TV before!" a kid pointed at the blonde as his two frineds blinked up at him with blank stares. Bakugou couldn't help the irritated sigh that left his lips.

The sports festival again?

"He was caught by a villain and looked like he was about to cry, right?"

"What did you say?!" he turned around and gave the three snickering kids a menacing glare, causing them to look as if they just pissed their pants with tears in their eyes.

"Did you already forget what I taught you?" Best Jeanist said from behind with a calm voice. "Deal with them properly."

Bakugou stopped his urge to pummel the crying kids to the ground and gritted his teeth. "Fine!" he huffed and walked up to the kids with a lighter scowl.

"I wasn't caught by the villain back then. I was thinking about how to defeat him," he explained while the three boys still looked scared of him. "It wasn't that I'd lost. I'm the man who'll become the number one hero! So there's no reason for kids like you to worry about me—!"

"WAAAAAAHHHH!"

Best Jeanist sighed and shook his head. He's too proud. It's fine for those strong feelings to be aimed at becoming a hero, but if that's no longer the case... Now, what shall I do with you?

At Gunhead's agency, Uraraka was learning critical skills to defend against an opponent with a knife. Though Gunhead looked menacing at first because of his large form and mask concealing his face, he was actually very gentle and cute.

"Uravity-chan, can you try attacking me?" he asked while the girl gripped onto the knife.

"Are you sure?"

"You don't have to hold back."

Uraraka nodded and charged with determination in her large brown eyes. She swung her arm out and tried to slash the Pro Hero, but she was unable to reach him as he took skillful steps back and caused her to lose balance.

"If your opponent attacks directly, use one leg as an axis to turn and dodge, then grab their wrist and neck at the same time," he explained with enthusiasm as he pinned the girl on the ground. "If you can twist their wrist to make them drop the knife and kick it far away, it'll be even more perfect!"

Uraraka stood back up while holding the wrist that got twisted. He moved so smoothly and without hesitation. Gunhead's martial arts... So amazing! she watched as the hero pranced over to pick up the knife again. Even though he acts cute...

"This time, I'll hold the knife, 'kay?" he said enthusiastically. "We'll keep repeating this until you can do it!"

"Yes, sir!"

At the Pro Hero Uwabami's fan-signing event in a neighboring city, Momo and Kendou watched helplessly as the beautiful hero greeted fans. All week, the two female UA students have been doing nothing but trailing the hero while she did her star work rather than actual hero work. Uwabami even got them to appear on a promotional commerical!

Momo was trying to keep a bright outlook towards everything and convinced herself that there was merit and valuable things to learn in everything, but...

"When you work diligently like this, you can eventually make big blossoms bloom," Uwabami said among the yells of fans. "It's like when an enka singer goes on provincial tours."

"Doesn't 'work diligently'..." Momo trailed off with confusion.

"...mean something different?" Kendou finished with an equally exasperated and confused look.

With Pro Hero Fourth Kind, Kirishima and Tetsutetsu was getting hands-on with community work by cleaning up trash at a local children's playground.

"Contributing to the community is also an essential part of being a hero," Fourth Kind taught sternly. "Don't drag your feet doing it! Do you understand?"

"Yes, Fourth Kind-san..."

"I can't hear you!"

"Yes, Fourth Kind-san!" Kirishima and Tetsutetsu shouted louder.

Jiro was following Death Arms and his sidekick to a bank where real villains where keeping people hostage. It was a heart-pounding first experience that was incredibly valuable as a student. For the hero to trust her to lead the way was an honor and she used her Quirk to locate how many people were in the room and what location.

"I can hear two hostages," she reported.

"All right, we're breaking in," Death Arms nodded and beckoned for his sidekick to follow. "Earphone Jack, please tell the escaping hostages what to do."

"R-Right!"

"Let's go!"

As the heroes broke into the room to apprehend the villains, the hostages was able to break free and run out. Jiro stood and instructed for them to follow her to safety. "I will escort you! Come below with me!"

"We're saved!"

"Thank you, hero!"

In a different port city, Tsuyu was interning under the Sea Rescue Hero: Selkie. She was undergoing regular training and tasked with cleaning up the deck of the ship with the hero's sidekick, Sirius. It was boring work, but the girl didn't complain about the experience no matter how small or mundane it was.

Little did she know, she will soon encounter a stowaway ship that will bring some danger and excitement into her time here and learn a very valuable lesson of the importance of being a hero.

"So... Close!"

Shiro hit the ground with a fist. She triumphed over the infinite obstacle today, but she couldn't say the same for the blasted bell test. Granted, she was exhausted from the day's training and finally making it through the entire obstacle, but she was still frustrated that she couldn't reach the bell.

I only have one more day... Even if I do everything else right, if I don't get the bell...

"You will fail this internship."

She furrowed her brows with determination and she looked up at the hero. His expression wasn't jeering in any way, but it the shiny bell that hung on his belt was nonetheless taunting for her.

"We'll continue this tomorrow," Gang Orca said as he walked away. Even though he didn't express it outright to Shiro, he was happy and proud internally for the girl for coming so far. She really took her training seriously and tirelessly. Even upon numerous failures, she only got back up and tried again. The Erasure Hero really taught her to never give up. "It will be your last day tomorrow. Rest up and think of what you need to do to complete this final test."

"Yes, sir," she nodded with clenched fists.

Upon returning to the room she was given to rest, she took a long shower and mulled over everything that has happened. She closed her tired eyes and allowed the hot water to hit her skin. She knew that she was doing everything that she could against the No. 10 hero, but of course it would take more than a week's worth of hard training to compare against him.

What is he really looking for in this test? she wondered with frustration before turning off the water. Drying herself off, she wrapped up her wet silver-blue hair with a towel and reached into her suitcase to pull out a night shirt and sweatpants almost mechanically. She was so tired after finally completing the obstacle course today and manifesting a new ability to her Quirk, and her body felt heavy with exhaustion. She pulled the shirt over her head and went to brush her teeth in front of the mirror.

Blink.

Blink.

Her ruby eyes widened with surprise mid-brushing at the skull design on the black shirt that she thought was hers. In her exhaustion, she hadn't realized that the shirt she stuffed into the corner of her suitcase did not belong to her, but to a certain explosive blonde. Shoot. I should change.

But her eyes drooped with sleepiness and she sighed, ultimately deciding against it. The material of the cloth was extremely soft and it wasn't like there was anyone here to judge her.

I'll just wash it before returning it to him later... she thought as she face-planted into the bed and was immediately pulled into sleep. That night, she dreamed of the dark haired boy with ruby eyes again.

Shigaraki stared at himself through the dirty mirror in the bathroom. He had been stewing in his anger since Stain's capture because it catapulted a movement of inspiration within underground villains. He hated that the man was able to be so influencial even if he was able to use that notoriety to the League of Villain's benefit.

Stain was just a sore subject because he had wronged Shigaraki. However people have wronged him, he wanted to pay them back double.

But right now, it was time for the villains to gather and plan. No matter who started it, his organization will reap the benefits in the end. Everything he was doing was to make his master proud; the man gave him everything when he had nothing in the past.

Shigaraki hated his past, but he couldn't help but obsess over it. The more he had time to think about it and the more he encountered the probability manipulating girl, the more he angered and became upset.

Why did she get everything and he didn't? Weren't they suppose to be in this together?

Didn't she love her brother?

He gritted his teeth and scowled with chapped lips. His ruby eyes, the same ones that Shiro possessed, stared back at him through the mirror almost tauntingly. But then he noticed his hair. Black roots were peeking out from the mess of silvery-blue, and he slammed his fist on the sink with panicked anger.

No, no, no, no no no no...!

"KUROGIRI!" he shouted, demanding for the man to come and fix this disgusting sight as he thrashed around the bathroom to search for the bottle he was looking for.

"Shigaraki—" Kurogiri was at the door immediately and paused when he saw the young master in a state of hysteria. He understood immediately and calmly grabbed the hair bleach from the shelf that was yet untouched. "I got it, please calm down."

Shigaraki's chest heaved as he sat down in front of the mirror with clenched fists. "Fix this," he spat as his ruby eyes narrowed at the reflection as well as the old picture that was taped on the side.

"Nii-san!"

It used to be a picture of him and Shiro taken back when they were still a family, but now the picture was purposely torn down the middle and just of little Shiro, smiling with her bright ruby eyes and silvery-blue hair that was just like his mother's.

Shiragiku...

Shiro was more refreshed after she woke up. With eyes of fire and determination, she quickly got dressed and was ready to face Gang Orca once again. She only had until noon to do so and she had a plan.

Last day.

Bell test.

Eight seconds.

Can't fail.

Thoughts swirled around her mind but she was focused.

"I see you have your resolve," he remarked with crossed arms when he spotted her after breakfast.

"Yes," she said. When she first met the hero, he had told her that the test was to make her show him her strength, stealth, and intelligence to prove that he made the right choice in selecting her after the U.A. sports festival. There was no guarantee that she can actually defeat the Pro Hero in a one-on-one, but she realized that with all he has taught her in the week, she had many skills to aid her. "I'm prepared for anything. I will get that bell."

"Then come," Gang Orca curled a finger to beckon her to start while he got into an defensive stance. He saw her growth during the week and wasn't foolish enough to not be on guard. "Show me what you've got, Shiro!"

The dial in her right eye spun as Shiro dashed forward, only to disappear in front of the hero's eyes. "Back to your old tricks?" he mused as he kicked behind him to throw her off. In all of her trials, he had never allowed her to sneak up from behind successfully. It was not his weak spot, but she needed to create a diversion. Shiro was ready for his attack and jumped above the hero with her ribbons to bind his leg.

Gang Orca was fast and avoided her attack while carrying out another one, but she was fast as well. Her left eye spun this time and ducked under to stop his flying fist. It was fortunate that the hero was not going to be using his hypersonic technique in the agency because she knew it could incapacitate her immediately. He has given her so many handicaps to maximize on, so she couldn't fail now.

Thanks to the training, her endurance and speed was faster. Tiring him out was out of the question but she could make short bursts that were faster than the hero even if he was faster than her overall.

"You've gotten better. But do you think that's enough to take the bell from me?"

You won't know until you try! she gritted her teeth and allowed the dial to spin faster so that she could concentrate on bringing out the zone. Their scuffle had drew them towards the edge of the pool and she was prepared to receive any surprises. Gang Orca was the fastest in water so she should do anything to avoid that.

The hero knew what she was planning and he wasn't going to make it easy for her. He was strong on land but in water, he was near invincible. Time to truly test the limits of your Quirk and skills, he smirked and jumped into the pool.

Shiro's ruby eyes narrowed at his action but internally she was plotting with a victorious grin. She was glad that her expression and actions hadn't given away her plan; she wasn't afraid of him going in the water, in fact, she wanted him to do so. She snapped her fingers and dozens of Gang Orca's lackeys came out with familiar training bricks in their hands.

After training with them for some time Shiro had formed a respectable bond with them, and they were willing to help her with this test since they liked her drive and wanted to see that she succeeded.

"I'm counting on you all!" she nodded at them as they followed the plan and launched multiple bricks into the water at an unrelenting pace.

"You got it, Shiro!"

"Go!"

Gang Orca was shocked at the turn of events, but his smile stretched wider underwater and he dodged or blew away any incoming bricks that were thrown his way. He had to give it to his lackeys to be efficient; the attacks weren't ending and it created such a diversion and confusion underwater that was sure to aid Shiro in whatever she was planning.

The constant onslaught of bricks allows Shiro to go almost undetected in the disturbed waters and she counted the seconds in her head before her zone was depleted—it was just under 20 seconds.

Perfect.

Her senses were enhanced as everything around her stilled; Gang Orca was distracted and in the middle of the attacks which allowed her to come up to him from the side at an incredible speed—training for hours in the water for multiple days allowed her to be quick and not hindered by the density of water.

Ten... Nine...

Her eyes zeroed in on the floating silver bell.

Eight... Seven...

Gang Orca sensed her and blew the surrounding bricks at her to push her away.

Six... Five...

The bricks were deflected automatically due to her probability zone and her hand darted out to reach the bell.

Four... Three...

Gang Orca, with incredible reflexes, hit her arm and pushed back. However, he then noticed that both of her eyes were spinning now, which means she activated her Reality Rewrite.

The lackeys surrounding the edge of the pool retreated back with gasps as the water started to swirl and tug like a tornado over the surface of the water. The Pro Hero was in the center of it and it restricted his movements due to the force of the currents. Shiro, on the other hand, was unaffected due to her zone. She grinned at the wide-eyed hero as her finger looped around the string on the bell.

Two...

One...!

However, Gang Orca grinned back.

Hypersonic Wave.

The terrible, high wavelength ringing shot through the water at such a high speed and intensity that Shiro swore it felt like literal bullets ripping through her body. She was blown out of the pool and her back hit the wall with a harsh smash. Water spurted out of her mouth from the impact as her body became limp. The sensation of pain was infinitely more intense than when she was caught in the hero's hypersonic wave on land.

The hero pulled himself out of the pool and his heavy footsteps seem to boom across the room as he walked up to her. Shiro shakily looked at the clock on the wall and saw that there was just five minutes left until noon, yet she can no longer move a muscle.

I lost. Damn it. Damn it!

A strong hand pulled the girl up and leaned her against the wall as she cannot move at the moment.

"Shiro, your time at this internship is now over. You failed to take the bell from me," Gang Orca's voice barely registered through her mind because of the terrible ringing, but she glanced up at the hero with a look of discontentment and frustration. She was surprised to see him smile gently at her.

"However, it seems that I have failed to keep the bell on my person as well."

Ruby eyes widened when she finally noticed that the the silver bell was no longer hanging on the hero's belt. Rather, it was floating in the now calm water. Just seconds before he blew her out of the water with his ability, she had managed to tug the bell loose from the belt. The impressed look on the hero's face told her that if he had not resorted to using his Quirk, she would've gotten the bell.

"You forced me into a corner. I had to use my strength at 100%," he revealed. "You may not have completed the test fully, but you have passed without a shadow of a doubt."

"S-Seriously...?" Shiro's heart was pounding. The hero nodded.

"I do not regret sending out a request to you. It's a known fact that I rarely participate in the U.A. draft because I am often away on long missions, but it's also because I was not interested. However, you've given me reason to invest in the draft once again. A hero is not just someone willing to fight danger head-on, but someone who can adapt and change even when things don't go a favorable way. You don't give up and you keep trying new methods. I'm very impressed that you even thought of recruiting my lackeys to help; no one has ever done something like this. I value your intelligence and adaptability... And the fiercely passionate drive that you have to give every given task your 100%."

"So that means..."

"You have my stamp of approval, and you didn't fail this internship," he gave her a firm handshake. "If you ever decide to come back, my agency welcomes you with open arms."

"Thank you...!" she bowed her head. Surrounding them, everyone clapped for her achievement and she felt a great surge of happiness bubbling and filling her heart.

Day 7—

I did it.

After some heartfelt farewells and a long train ride back, she finally reached home.

I'm home.

"Eraserhead, I'm back—" Shiro was taken aback when white bandages shot out and wrapped around her head and torso, effectively restraining her before her own house. Wh… What in the world?!

Eraserhead walked from the shadows, his hair in an even greater disarray than when she last saw him and the stubble on his chin was even worse than usual. "Seven days and not a single word back, huh?" he grumbled. Stopping her struggles, Shiro gave the hero a curious blink.

"What? You told us to focus on our internsh..." she felt a small chortle bubble at the base of her throat when she realized why she was suddenly attacked now. The hero looked like he was tossed into the streets and became homeless for a month because he was worried when she never contacted him? It warmed her heart.

"I'm sorry, Eraserhead… But look, I came out of the internship with Gang Orca alive. He was intense..."

Hearing her apology, the hero released his bandages and stuff his hands in his pants pocket. "He wouldn't live up to his title otherwise," he merely said before walking away. He didn't get far, though, because Shiro's arm wrapped around his torso to give him a hug.

"I missed you too," she replied knowingly.

It truly felt like home. This was her family.

Eraserhead sighed, a week's worth of worry finally leaving his body as they stood there like a father and daughter being reunited. "Good job at your internship kid," he said. "You better have learned something."

"Of course," Shiro grinned as they walked inside the house together. But, there was something that she wanted to talk to the hero about during her internships but made it stay in the back of her mind because training had taken precedent. "Eraserhead… I've been having some flashbacks."

The hero frowned. "What do you mean?"

"It started with a dream... I think I was in my old orphanage," she said with furrowed brows as she tried to recall the details. The boy, why can't she remember who the boy was? "It's just very small bits and pieces, but there was someone… I can't remember but I feel like it's important."

It was the first time that the girl had gotten a resurfacing of her memories since he took her in. This may potentially lead them to find out more about her birth past… Eraserhead paused. Would knowing of it change anything?

Through the years he had forgotten that she was just an orphaned child assigned to him to protect. She was family now, and he was reluctant to change that. But looking at the girl who was deep in thought, trying her hardest to recall a single memory, he supposed he shouldn't be so selfish.

He took a deep breath.

"Shiro," he said with his eyes hard as stone. "Perhaps it's time you talked to All Might."

"All Might...?" Shiro echoed with confusion.

WOOHOO! New ability unlocked!

Absolute Zone: marks a zone around Shiro in which she has absolute control over all events that are happening. All attacks become effective while opponents attacks will continuously miss. This can only be activated for 30 seconds at a time at Shiro's present endurance stage. Requires: extreme endurance.

Sorry for the long wait, I finally got rid of my writer's block for the end of the stain/internship arc :) please let me know how this chapter was!