Chapter 25: Manual or Dabi? Internship Choices
Choosing which pro hero to intern with was harder than one might think.
Aizawa knew all of the students would have to select which agency or hero to go with within the week to prepare for it. It was only the day after he turned the forms in and yet only a few of his students had narrowed down on their answer. Uraraka had chosen Gunhead, Kirishima went with Fourth Kind, and Asui had gone with Selkie.
He knew that, out of everyone, it must be harder for Izuku since he knew a good percentage of the people requesting him for the hero study.
Just like Shoto and Tenya since they were raised alongside Izuku, so they must have a good number of pro heroes reaching out to them as well.
Either way, he had sent out two forms of his own towards the main two he sees the most potential to train. He had reached out to Izuku only because he needed to brush up on his skills and have more of a real experience with the type of underground work he does.
And his other choice was Shinso. It was quite obvious from Izuku's own folder of information that promoted him to the Second Chance program in the first place. And his current training regime with Shinso would be even more hands on for the hero study.
If either or both of them decide to join him, he will make sure that both of them get experience out of it that will help their future in the hero class.
Although he should have expected something like this to come out of him offering a hero study position to Izuku.
Because now he was sitting with Hizashi in the faculty lounge with Izuku staring back at them while sitting at an empty desk. The supposedly tense situation was continuously broken with Izuku spinning himself in a circle while Hizashi did the same like the two were racing to be the fastest.
Luckily, Izuku decided to talk with them after school with most of the students already gone or heading home.
"Why are we all in here?" Midnight asked as she strolled into the mostly empty faculty room. She looked at all of them gathered in a circle of rolling chairs. "Are we planning a 'we're getting old' party?"
"No?" Mic piped up in confusion. He slowed to a stop, his eyes seemed to roll like the intense spinning he was doing just a moment ago. His eyebrows drew together above his sunglasses. "Wait, why would you think that? We're not that old yet."
"I can practically see the gray stains of hair in your blonde updo, Hizashi," Kayama said, poking at the tip of Mic's signature hair spike.
Hizashi dramatically gasped, grasping for imaginary pearls which... He had to look away for a moment to hide the laugh trying to escape.
"I called you here because of the internships coming up," Izuku said, laying out three forms onto Mic's desk that was right next to him. "I see, all three of you have sent in the forms directly to me."
"Guys, I thought it would just be me and then the two of you would come in," Present Mic interrupted, turning to Aizawa and Kayama with a pout.
"No, Hizashi," Kayama agreed back, lounging back in one of the newer rolling chairs that recline back. "We all agreed that if he chose one of us, he will be getting the three of us either way."
Aizawa looked between Kayama and Yamada in confusion because he didn't know anything about this surprise trio hero study plan. He wasn't particularly against it, but he should have gotten a memo for this.
Kayama thankfully noticed his confusion and answered, "Did you fall asleep when we were talking about this?"
Ah, that made more sense.
"Ah, that is what I guessed would happen," Izuku replied, throwing a glance in his direction before looking back at the papers on his side.
He swears the kid is growing up to be more and more like Nedzu. A more younger and innocent looking version of Nedzu.
"That's all I wanted to ask of everyone."
Hizashi questioned his intent, "Any reason why you were asking, bud?"
"I just wanted to make an education decision on who to choose," Izuku replied while standing up. "Now excuse me as I check on the others who have sent the same requests forms. See you later!"
Aizawa barely had time to react as Izuku rushed to the faculty door to rush out into the hallway. For a moment, there was nothing but silence in the room before Hizashi started to laugh.
"I know that he's probably going to pick Nedzu over any of us if Nedzu actually turned in a form," Hizashi said, chuckling a bit while his lips curled up in amusement.
"If he does, I don't blame him," Kayama commented. "I mean, Nedzu is his dad after all. But we will eventually have our time to mentor him officially."
"Haven't we already done that when he was growing up?" Aizawa asked, drawing the attention of his friends.
Hizashi whined, "Zawa, this is a whole different type of mentoring thing!
"Yeah," Kayama agreed with a pout. "This is like school official training. It's a whole different kind of mentorship we haven't touched on!"
Aizawa sighed as both of them brainstormed over what type of things they would schedule for Izuku in their own personal way. How Hizashi would cover more business dealing with both of his hero work and his radio work while Kayama detailed how the show would teach more about how to deal with the press and make a signature name for himself.
After checking in with his trio of his aunt and uncles, he walked down the hallway to check on the other familiar name from his stack.
Since Snipe's classroom was the closest, he walked through the door to see the pro hero sitting at his desk and sorting through the papers on his desk. He looked up to see Izuku walking in with a smile.
"Hey, kid! How's it going with you?" Snipe greeted cheerfully, his deep voice obscured a bit from his face mask.
Izuku smiled back, "Pretty well. I noticed you sent a form to me."
"Yeah. I also sent one over to Kaminari too," Snipe replied as Izuku walked closer. Snipe paused to ruffled his hair while contouring, "I thought he would be fun to bring along,"
Izuku fixed his hair while he hummed in response, "To help with his electrical output and direct it?"
"That's exactly what I was thinking," Snipe said with a strong laugh accompanying his words. "Yeah, I was thinking about helping him out with that since it would help in his fighting style since his electricity wouldn't go everywhere around him."
"Why did you send me one?" He asked with a curious tilt of his head.
"If anything, it's just to continue with your precision and accuracy training. And I'll show you the boring side of things too. I could make you do," Snipe paused for dramatic effect, drawing a hand up to his chest before looking back and forth. He leaned in like he was uttering a secret. "Paperwork."
"Terrifying," Izuku blankly said, making Snipe laugh at his deadpan delivery.
"And hey, if you decide on something else, then we'll just continue with the old shooting range some other time during the breaks or whatnot," Snipe responded with a nonchalant wave of his hands. "Oh!" Snipe bumped his fist into his palm as a sudden thought came to him. "Almost forgot to tell you, I think Power Loader fixed up your new and improved watch thing."
"Thanks for telling me. I'll go see him now," Izuku replied
"Be prepares for advanced paintball training next time!" Snipe called out to him as Izuku exited the classroom.
With that, he sauntered down the hallway, passing up a few third year students who were on their way out. A few called out their farewells to him after recognizing the head of green curls.
It wasn't long before he heard the changing of the support room. Anyone who passed nearby the classroom would always hear or smell it before they even came close to seeing it. The support course was also so creative with their inventions. Especially the person he needed to see: Power Loader.
Izuku hesitantly greeted, "Power Loader?"
"You're in the clear, Izuku. Everyone else went home," Power Loader called out to him as he pushed some of his works in progress to the very back of his work table.
"That's good to hear, Uncle Loader," Izuku was instantly relaxed at the news even though part of him was expecting to see Hatsume. Maybe she got an interesting internship opportunity too.
Power Loader cleared his throat, "Any reason you came to visit my humble classroom abode?"
"I hear you have something for me?" He questioned which made his uncle straighten in his seat.
"Ah, right! I fixed up your new watch device with new and improved abilities." Power Loader answered, plucking the new device from his work table from where it was hidden behind a power tool and a bulletproof vest with holes cut out of it. "The last one was more splash proof than it was waterproof. But don't worry! This time I specifically tested it out multiple times in multiple ways," Power Loader explained as he showed off the strengthened dark red watch. "So now it is waterproof and fireproof. And its features include, telling you the time and date along with allowing calls and text."
"I love it even more than the original one," Izuku admitted honestly, starring the new watch onto his wrist with a grin.
"Yeah, that's because it's not going to fail like the original prototype. But if you do feel the need to adjust it in any way, you can come in anytime to work on a new design."
Izuku shook his arm around to settle the watch comfortably on his wrist. "You won't be too busy?"
"Well, maybe during the harder testing seasons," Power Loader shrugged in response. "But other than that, I can fit something small like this into my schedule fairly easily."
"Okay," Izuku smiled, backing up from his work table. "Thank you for this, Uncle Loader."
"Hey, where are you rushing off to?" Power Loader asked.
"I need to talk with Recovery Girl!"
"Oh, don't let me keep you then," Power Loader said as he walked out of the room. Izuku paused when he heard his uncle yell out, "Tell her I said hi and thanks for the extra gummies!"
"Will do!" Izuku promised before walking right in the direction of the nurse's office.
The nurse's office was empty when he walked in with Recovery Girl folding the sheet of some of the beds set up along the far wall.
"Hello, dear," Recovery Girl greeted as soon as she saw him walk in. "Did you need anything?
"Nope. Although Power Loader says hi and thanks for the gummies," Izuku replied. "Did you find any new interns?"
Recovery Girl smiled gently, "I found a second year that has some potential with their quirk to heal. But I'm not sure they will agree to work with me.
"They would be crazy not to. I mean, all the gummies you could eat with wonderful company," Izuku grinned as the nurse passed by him, smacking his ankle lightly with her cane.
"Oh hush," Recovery Girl said. "I'm guessing you are having problems narrowing down your pick?"
"A bit. I mean, I know most of the people reaching out, so I want to consider my choices carefully."
"Izuku, all of the heroes are prepared for anything whether a student accepts or rejects the offer. None of them will hold a grudge against you if that's what you are worried about," Recovery Girl explained calmly.
"Yeah, I know that," Izuku answered. "I'm sure if they tried to hold a grudge, I think dad would put a stop to it really quickly."
"Think? Dear, there is no 'might', Nedzu will take care of it through any means in that particular scenario."
Izuku paused for a moment before nodding at her words. There was no doubt that his father would do that.
Speaking of his father, he needed to go see him.
Nedzu waited patiently, checking the cameras every now and then as he continued with finishing up his work.
Izuku had been planning out the best form of action since last night about all sorts of things. He remembered getting a glass of water along with a plate of cheese and seeing sheets spread in a circle around his son's blanket as he walked past his room.
So there was really no surprise when his teenage son walked in and gently shut the door behind him.
"Hey, papa," Izuku greeted him with a smile. "You already know why I'm here, I'm sure."
"Why yes. The internships?" Nedzu asked.
"Exactly," Izuku smiled, taking a seat across from him. "I just wanted to talk with you about what I might be able to learn from this opportunity."
"I'm assuming you did a lot of research last night about each pro hero from the small mess I saw," Nedzu commented.
"Yes. I cleaned up after I was done." With that answer, Izuku's cheerful face melted into something more calculating as he started to ramble his thoughts directly to him. "Since Manual is in Hosu, I know Iida will be interning with him as well. I went through each format to see how close the agencies were to Hosu and what type of training I could be a part of. The only choice that seems probable is Manual."
Nedzu asked with a calm air around him. "So you are going through with one of your plans?"
"If everything falls into place," Izuku answered quietly.
"Hmm. Has Manual reached out to you?"
Izuku nodded at his question. "Yes, he has. Shoto even said that he reached out to him as well, but he accepted his internship with his older brother already."
"Then accept his proposal," Nedzu replied. "Simple as that. He is a respectable hero that has allowed his interns to come out on patrols with him very often. If not, see if Dabi can take you on as well. I'm sure he would be open to the idea."
"You're right. I'll see if Dabi is open to me by tomorrow. I should have my choice filled out by then," Izuku replied before diving into his concentrated mumbling.
'Ah, this is interesting to watch play out,' Nedzu thought to himself as Izuku immediately dug his phone out of his pocket to contact Shoto.
He knew his son was smart enough to pull this off after the years he spent with him teaching him all he needed to know about all kinds of trades.
In doing so, Izuku has surpassed his expectations each time. He was most proud of his hacking work with the hero commission even though he had to pull him out of there before the commission could see him on their radar.
He quickly became a jack of all trades he has come across except a few bumps in the road like knitting and driving.
Speaking of…
"Since we have time today, let's go down to Ground Beta to see if your skills have improved since last time!"
Next time, they could work on finishing up the horrible knitted scarf in the corner of his room. But for now, he needs to make sure that Izuku can safely parallel park without running into a pedestrian... or a building.