Names & Internships
"So many people talked to me on the way to school!" Ashido wiggled and giggled. "They all recognized me from TV!"
"Yeah. Me too!" Kirishima said.
"People were staring at me too. It was kind of embarrassing," Hagakure said.
"Isn't that normal for you, Hagakure?" Ojiro smiled.
"You won't believe what some elementary schoolers said to me." Sero's shoulders slumped.
"Nice try," Asui offered from her desk.
Sero grabbed his head. "Ahhhhh!"
"UA really is amazing, huh?" Kaminari sighed with delight. "It's like we're super stars now."
With a sigh Terra crossed her arms over her desk and laid her head on them. "Everyone's still so excited about the sports festival."
The door opened and their teacher walked in, silencing the excited chatter. "Morning."
Terra perked up a bit upon noticing Aizawa wasn't covered in bandages anymore.
"Good morning!" the students greeted.
"Ribbit! Mr. Aizawa! Your bandages are gone," Asui called out. "I'm glad."
"Yeah." Aizawa brushed a hand over his now exposed face. "The old lady went overboard with her treatment. Anyway, we have a special hero informatics class to address. Today you're going to come up with your hero name."
"Hero names," Terra mumbled as most of the class released exclaims of excitement.
"This is related to the pro hero draft picks I mentioned the other day," Aizawa said. "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 don't think that if you have an offer that you can take it easy. You'll have to continually prove yourself until graduation. So here are the totals for those with offers," Aizawa said as he projected the results on the screen.
- Todoroki - 4123 - Bakugo - 3556 - Tokoyami -360 - Iida - 293
- Kaminari -272 - Yaoyorozu- 108 - Kirishima- 67 - Uraraka - 20 - Sero -14 - Tanaka -1
"Huh?!" Terra gasped at seeing her name on the board.
"That's great. You got scouted," Yaoyorozu said with a smile.
"But why?" Terra looked at her friend. " I didn't do anything."
Aizawa cleared his throat. The girls faced forward. "There's usually more of a spread, but, this year, all eyes were on the top two. And we had some irrational behavior from some of those who made it into the finals."
"Gah, there's such a big difference!" Kaminari sighed.
"Those pros don't know a good thing when they see one." Aoyama huffed.
"Y-you're amazing, Todoroki," Yaoyorozu said. "You've gotten the most offers."
"They're probably all because of my dad." Todoroki looked at his fingers, disinterested in the results.
"Bakugo would have gotten more if he weren't so scary." Kirishima pointed at the blonde boy.
"Huh? If the pros are scared of me then they're just weak!" Bakugo blasted back.
"Hey. Pay attention!" Aizawa drew their attention again. "Keeping these results in mind, whether or not anyone asked for you, you will all be participating in internships with pros. It will be meaningful training for you to see pros at work firsthand."
"So that explains the hero name," Sato said.
"So we'll be going by our hero names for the internships?" Terra asked. I've never thought about a hero name before.
Aizawa nodded. "A hero name can define who you are. If you don't choose the correct one-"
"You will regret it later." Midnight strutted into the room. Her high heels clacked against the cold tile floor as she strutted up to the front of 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," Aizawa said. "So Midnight will be approving your names. It's not something I particularly care you give yourself a name, you can get a more concrete image of what you want to be like in the future."
Small whiteboards and markers were passed down the rows. Terra took hers and placed it on her desk.
"Okay. When you guys are ready, you'll come up and present your names to the class," Midnight said.
"What?! We're presenting these today?" Kirishima shouted.
"Think of it as practice for your debut to the public!" Midnight said. "Introduce yourself anew to your class and leave a lasting impression with your name!"
Terra continued to stare at her blank whiteboard. One by one her classmates got up and gave them their names. Only two of them decided to use their real names while the rest picked names that suited them and their quirks. But what about her? She knew she didn't want to use her real name. She didn't even want a hero name, but knew she had to pick something to move on with class.
"Having trouble picking a name?" Yaoyorozu asked.
"Yeah." Terra nodded.
"How about Bloom?"
"Bloom?" Terra looked at the girl.
"It fits both your quirk and you." Yaoyorozu winked.
"You think Bloom fits me?" Terra pointed at herself.
"I do." Yaoyorozu nodded. "You might not see it yet but you're on the right track to bloom into a great hero."
"I'm not so sure about that." Terra shifted at the guilt settling in her chest. I'm not on the road to becoming a hero at all. They're all working so hard. I really shouldn't be here.
"Bloom sounds fine to me. You should use it." Todoroki turned in his seat.
Terra locked eyes with him.
"Terra?" Midnight's voice drew her attention. "Have you decided yet?"
"Sure." Terra scribbled then suggested name down and slipped up front. Keeping her eyes down she held up her whiteboard. "Call me Bloom."
"That's perfect for you!" Kirishima said.
"I like it," Asui said.
Terra ducked her head. She really, really shouldn't be here. She rushed back to her seat.
"Okay. Now that everyone's decided on their hero names, we'll go back to talking about the internships," Aizawa said as he passed out papers to those who got offers. "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 can choose from among the forty agencies around the country that will be accepting our interns. They all have work in different places and have different specialties. Think carefully before you choose. You have two days to decide. Dismissed."
Terra stared at her paper. "Uwabami?"
"She's a hero who excels in rescuing people," Yaoyorozu said. "I got an offer from her too."
"Rescue. Why would she want me?" Terra blinked.
"You should have more confidence in yourself," Asui said.
"Yeah!" Uraraka nodded. "She must have seen something in you! You should go for it!"
"I don't know."
"Well, you have a few days to decide." Ojiro walked back to Terra's seat. "I think you should take up her offer as well."
Terra exhaled.
...
"I can't believe I'm doing this." Terra looked down at her suitcase holding her hero uniform. The sounds and energy from the subway fell dull against her ears.
"It'll be fun. We'll be there together." Yaoyorozu placed her hand on Terra's shoulder.
"That is a good thing." Terra smiled. She was glad that Yaoyorozu was going to be at the same agency as she was, but she'd preferred if it were Todoroki. Her smile faced and her eyes drifted to Todoroki. He had chosen to go to his dad's agency. She hated the idea. But he assured her he'd call her every day, at least once a day. It would have to do until they could reunited at the end of the week.
"Our train's here," Yaoyorozu said.
"Sho-chan."
Todoroki wrapped his arms around her. "You'll be fine. I'll call you as soon as I get to my dad's agency. Let me know when you arrive."
"I will." Terra hugged him back for a whole two minutes before releasing him. She forced herself onto the train and watched him until he made his way to his own train.
"Hey! Yaoyorozu! Terra!"
"Oh, Kendo!" Yaoyorozu waved to the orange haired girl. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm heading to Uwabami's agency." Kendo sat down in front of Yaoyorozu.
"Really?! That's where we're heading."
"Amazing." Kendo smiled. "I can wait to get there."
"I can," Terra mumbled but not low enough.
"This is your first time being separated from Todoroki, isn't it?" Yaoyorozu asked.
"That obvious?" Terra pulled her eyes away from the window.
"You two are so close. It's not surprising you're having trouble being away from him."
"Yeah." Terra leaned back against her seat. "This isn't going to be a very easy week."
"I bet your mom had a hard time letting you go, too."
Terra cringed at the memory of her mom balling like a baby the night before and how she adjusted Birdie to record every detail of her life while she was gone. She scratched her cheek. "Yeah. You could say that."
"You're really that close to him? Wow. I knew you two were close but not that close," Kendo said.
Terra nodded and fell into silence as Yaoyorozu and Kendo continued to talk about their internship.
Almost two hours later the three girls were standing outside of a multistory building. It was smooth, clean, and stood out from the buildings around it with the snake decorations. Terra sent a quick text to Todoroki to let him know she had arrived.
"This is it." Yaoyorozu led the way in.
"Hello. How may I help you?" A lady at the front desk pulled their attention.
"We're the three interns from UA," Kendo said.
"Of course. Miss Uwabami is waiting for you." She waved to the elevator. "Please head up to the seventh floor."
"Thank you." The girls bowed and headed for the elevator.
Terra swallowed as the elevator stopped and opened to a common area.
Uwabami smiled. "I'm glad you three got here safely. I am Uwabami."
Terra's eyes locked onto the pro's snake hair. She wondered if they were going to bite if they got too close.
"Don't be afraid of my snakes. They won't hurt you." Uwabami smiled.
"Sorry." Terra gave her full attention back to the pro. "Uh, I'm Terra Tanaka."
"Momo Yaoyorozu."
"Itsuka Kendo."
"It's a pleasure to meet all of you. Are you wondering why I brought you three here?" Uwabami asked. "It's because you three are cute."
Terra cocked an eyebrow. Because we're cute? Is she serious? Though that would explain why I'm here. Kendo and Yaoyorozu did more than I did in the sports festival.
"And you..." Uwabami stepped in front of Terra. "I especially wanted you to come because I'm going to help you shine."
"Shine?"
"That's right. I know you can do more than what you shown at the sports festival. I believe your introverted personality is what's holding you back." Uwabami flipped her hair. "And I have a plan to help with that."
I'm already not liking this. I want to go home. Terra hammered her feet to the floor and swallowed a whimper. She had to stay. Just seven days and it would be over. Just seven days.
"Come with me and I'll show you around." The girls followed the pro.
...
Terra slumped down on her temporary bed with a heavy sigh. Despite the fact their first day of the internship wasn't very exciting or informative she was exhausted. All Uwabami did was show them around the building, introduced them to others working in her agency, and explained that pros are allowed to have side jobs. She learned that Uwabami was a model and expected the three of them to preform with her in an up and coming commercial.
She got up and paced the floor, wanting to call Todoroki again. But she knew she couldn't. He had already gone to bed. And he needed his rest if he was going to face his dad this week. She could handle this on her own. She already knew he was fine. And she was fine. All was fine.
A knock came from the door.
"Yes?" Terra opened her door to find Yaoyorozu and Kendo standing there with their blankets and pillows. "What's up?"
"We figured you might be lonely and decided to come sleep in your room with you," Kendo said.
"And from the look of the tears we made the right choice." Yaoyorozu brushed a tear from Terra's cheek.
"You did that for me?"
"Of course we did." The girls entered.
"The first night's always the hardest. Tomorrow night will be better." Kendo spread her blanket on the floor. "If you need us every night this week then we'll be happy to accompany you."
"That's nice of you." Terra closed her door. "Are you sure you want to sleep on the floor?"
"It's not a problem." Yaoyorozu took a spot beside Kendo.
Terra watched them for a moment before pulling her blanket off the bed and joining them. "It doesn't feel right having you two on the floor and me on the bed. So I'll join you. And thanks. I appreciate this."
The girls smiled and settled into their first night of their internship.
...
"Relax, Terra," Uwabami said. "Your movements need to be smooth, flowing like a river."
"I'm trying," Terra squeaked.
"Let's take a break." Uwabami stepped away from the cameras.
Terra wanted to as well, but her feet wouldn't listen to her. With her heart pounding in her head, her eyes remained locked on the multiple video cameras in front of her. Sweat trickled down her face.
"Come on." Yaoyorozu's voice was a muffled murmur in her ears. A hand landed on her shoulder, steering her away from the cameras. "There. Now you're safe from the big, bad cameras."
Terra dropped into a chair. The big curls that were put in her hair sat heavy on her shoulders.
"Have some water." Kendo held out one of Terra's water bottles.
Terra grabbed it and guzzled down half its contents. "Thanks."
"You really have some stage fright there." Kendo crossed her arms.
"Sorry. I've never done this before. I had no idea I would react like this." Terra's eyes drifted back to the cameras. She shivered and looked away. For some reason Uwabami wanted them in her hairspray commercial. She didn't even use hairspray. And had no idea why any woman would want to. It stiffened her hair and made her skin sticky.
"Well, it's okay." Yaoyorozu twisted one of curls the makeup artists put in all of their hair. "We're not really use to this either. I'm kind of disappointed, but I'm sure there's some important lessons in this."
"You're still in deny," Kendo muttered. "We'll be on patrol again tomorrow. Hang on a bit longer."
Terra nodded and leaned back in her chair while the two girls continued to talk to each other. She closed her eyes for a moment then opened them again when she received a text from Todoroki.
Just letting you know before you see the news. I'm okay. Only a few scraps. Iida and Midoriya are fine as well. We got into a bit of trouble today.
"Sho-chan's... with Midoriya and Iida?" Terra blinked at her phone screen. "I guess that explains Midoriya's text." Worry seeped into her mind despite the words on her screen. She wanted to call Todoroki right that second but couldn't. If he was able to talk he would have called her instead of sending a text. She'd have to wait until later that night to call him back.
"All right, girls." Uwabami clapped her hands. "Let's get working again."
Terra sat Birdie down and joined the girls. With a relaxing breath she did her best to force Todoroki from her mind and work on flowing like a river.