My Hero Academia: The Ties That Bind
Chapter Two: The Life Of A Pro
"…and I pulled another all-nighter the other day. If I had known being a pro meant having to take care of paperwork on EVERY job we pull, I might have never taken the entrance exam."
Akira chuckled as he took another sip of his sake. "Don't say that, where you're at now is good. Considering it's only been two years since graduation, making it into the top 50 heroes so soon is something to be proud of."
Shizuka sighed. "Maybe, but these days people seem to forget what being a hero is.". Akira nodded his head. "Yeah,", he responded. "I know what you mean. Heroes these days are all about the money. Rescue numbers are getting lower and villain arrest numbers are rising. People only care about the publicity, and villain take downs rake in more than rescues.". The harsh reality of modern hero society sickened Akira as he poured himself another shot of the strong liquor. He downed in it one go.
Shizuka looked at his friend in surprise. Akira had never been one to drown out his frustrations like this. He would always take out his frustrations on a punching bag. Several punching bags, actually. Shizuka remembered watching his friend dragging half a dozen broken sand bags into the garbage one night during their second year. He sighed again. The downsides of hero life had been hammered into them during their third year at UA, but all the advice their teachers had given them seemed to prove meaningless in such a harsh reality. Watching young heroes focus on taking down villains and setting aside things like property damage and civilian safety hurt his heart. He had always been told that out of their entire graduating class, there were only a handful of those with a strong sense of duty and justice. He only wished that wasn't painfully true, as it reflected heavily in recent hero activity.
Shizuka pulled out a zippo lighter and a pack of foreign cigarettes that Akira didn't recognize. The black energy hero watched his friend put one in his mouth and light it without covering the flame. Shizuka leaned his head slightly back and breathing in. A puff of grey smog escaped his closed lips and a stream of smoke coming of out the end. Akira looked around to make sure there were no No Smoking signs. He was surprised to see the owner of the outdoor Udon stand lighting one himself. Shizuka had been smoking since he debuted as a hero. He remembered hearing Shizuka telling him in their first year that his father was a smoker, because tobacco increased the capacity of his quirk, Psycho Control. Something about how cigarettes affect normal brains differently from one with Psycho Control. Shizuka hadn't tried it until his debut, and found the results to be quite beneficial. Akira knew Tsugu hated it, because his mother had died of lung cancer, but knew from accidental eavesdropping that Hanabi particularly thought cigarettes made Shizuka look more attractive. As of himself, Akira simply saw it as practical. Shizuka did it to enhance his quirk. Nothing more, nothing less.
Akira sat back in his chair, sharing a comfortable silence with his close friend. Ever since Mjolnir's debut two years ago, they'd quickly soared to the top tier of heroes, breathing a breath of fresh air into hero society, emphasizing justice and saving lives. Since their meteoric rise, rescue numbers higher than they had been in recent years, and Mjolnir was considered "the most influential hero duo of the modern generation", according to various news sources. It was hard to go somewhere without someone pointing him out. Despite the fact that he wore a mask, somebody somewhere managed to find his picture and leak it all over the internet. His performances at past UA Sports Festivals helped with that. And in Japan, being 6'3 didn't help him blend in either. He had sort of accepted it as a part of hero life, but he didn't like it. He wasn't in this for the fame and universal recognition, he wanted people to feel safe without anybody else messing up their lives. He wanted to put evil-doers in their place. Sadly, hero society was considered an "industry", something he refused to accept.
Shizuka took another drag of his cigarette and look at Akira. "By the way, isn't today the anniversary of your debut?". Akira nodded. "Yeah, it's been two years since Kaito and I took down Colossus in Ao City.". Shizuka let a cloud of smoke escape his lips. "Shouldn't you be celebrating with Kaito? We should've held a party at the agency.". Akira shook his head violently. 'No no! I wouldn't want you to feel obligated. Besides, your debut anniversary was yesterday and you didn't say anything about it.".
"Yeah,", Shizuka replied as he closed his eyes, taking in the feeling of the nicotine. A trail of smoke rose from the end. "You know I don't like to celebrate things.". That was true. While everybody in their class insisted, Shizuka never had a birthday party during their time in UA.
"So what did you do yesterday then?", Akira asked, curious of his mysterious friend's attitude toward celebration. "You must have done something special.".
"Look at you,", Shizuka shot back. "You're hanging out with me at an udon stand. That's nothing special.". Shizuka sighed, and Akira saw the faintest smile through his cigarette. "Hanabi and I had drinks at her place.".
"Oh.". It was no surprise to their friends, and now the rest of the world, that Psycho Buster and Scorpion were extremely close. They were constantly asked if they were dating, to which Shizuka usually responded with a flat 'no', and Hanabi would make some sort of lame excuse and ditch the interview all together. Many people shipped them online. Akira recalled reading a fan poll that ranked them both as the most attractive heroes currently active. Shizuka was something of a fashionista in the hero society. He appeared on several covers of magazines dressed like James Dean mixed with rock bands, and he was very popular with a lot of publicity, but Akira knew his heart was set on justice. Anyway, for a lot of people, the two fit. Their common attractiveness, their chemistry, and the amount of time they spent together was more than suspicious.
"What about you and Ina?", Shizuka asked in a slightly playful tone. "When are you two getting together?".
Shizuka watched a scene that never got old as Akira over explained himself and tripped over his words, saying he and Ina were "just friends", and obliviously pointing out that there was no way she liked him anyways. This was the exact same response Ina would give when asked about Akira, except with a lot more blushing on her part.
When Akira closed his case, Shizuka stood up. His cigarette fell from his lips to the ground, and he grinded his shoe against the now stubby stalk to put on any spark it had left. "I guess I'll get going first.". Akira got up to bid his friend farewell. Shizuka placed 3000 yen on the table. Akira started to reach for his own wallet and insisted they split the bill, but Shizuka refused. "It's my gift to you.", he said drily. "Happy Anniversary, Akira. I'll see you at the agency tomorrow.".
And with that, Shizuka walked away, lighting another cigarette on his way home. Akira watched his friend turn the corner, and walked in the opposite direction.
When he arrived at his apartment, he got texts from Kaito explaining his absence. He was needed in Osaka, and wouldn't be back for a few days.
"Happy anniversary, partner. I'm sorry I couldn't be there."
Akira sighed and collapsed on his bed. His head was a bit light from the sake. He fell asleep, but was awakened by the rumbling of his phone in his pocket. When he looked to see who was calling, he smiled and sat up. Answered the call, he put his phone to his ear.
"Captain Takahashi. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Shut up. You've always been too formal. You can drop the Captain and just call me Mr. Jin."
"Yeah..right. Sorry Jin."
"That's MR Jin to you, punk."
"Yeah, sorry Mr. Jin."
Ever since their debut, Mjonir had remained in contact with Lieutenant Takahashi, who had since been promoted to Captain. The Captain had been like a mentor to Black Thunder, and they worked together in the field often. With Captain Takahashi a few years away from retirement, Black Thunder became particularly fond of him. It was good to have a friend in the police.
"Happy Anniversary kiddo. Two years go by in a flash, don't they?"
Akira chuckled. "Yeah, I remember two years ago today you were ready to crap you're pants before we came along.".
"Shut up!", Takahashi growled. "I even went through all the trouble of getting you a gift, too!".
"Yeah, thanks.". Akira turned to see the goldfish swimming about in it's glass bowl that the Captain had sent him "Thanks for being there for me. Kaito and I wouldn't be where we are without you.".
Takahashi sighed over the phone. "Yeah, it's no trouble Masayoshi.". There was a brief silence between the two "Well I've got paperwork to do. Give my regards to Takahashi. Over and out.".
Akira's ears were greeted with a long, monotone beep. He slowly set the phone down on his bed. He assumed being a cop for so long eventually got him using phrases like 'over and out' out of habit. Also, he kind of found it odd that his partner and mentor shared a last name. Akira collapsed onto the bed again. Life was lonely. He really only talked to people he worked with. He hadn't had a lot of time to himself ever since his debut. He could only talk to his old friends when they worked together. He hadn't seen Ina in over a year. "Maybe I should give her a call.", he thought to himself. "No,". He turned over onto his side. "That'll just resurface old feelings I don't want to deal with.". Akira bolted upright and slouched over his legs, arms resting on his knees. He looked at his phone. "Screw it". He said out loud. He picked up his phone once again and went to his contacts. Ina. A picture of the two of them at graduation hung over her name. He pressed the call button, and placed his phone over his ear. It rang twelve times, and went to voicemail. "Damn," he thought to himself. "How embarrassing.". He collapsed onto his bed one final time. Lonely, tired, and filled with sadness after is conversation with Shizuka, he went to sleep that night, awaiting another tomorrow, sure to bring on the same challenges.
—
"Hello?", Black Thunder answered his office phone while sitting at his desk at his hero agency.
"Akira!". The electric super strength hero hesitated at the sound of Ina's sweet and boyish voice. "I'm sorry I couldn't return you're call! I was out on patrol.".
"O-Oh! Sorry! I didn't mean to bother you.".
"What were you calling about?".
"Oh, I…". Akira hesitated telling her how he felt last night. "No way. It's Ina! I can tell her anything!". He suddenly felt a grip of guilt. "Everything except for…that.". Akira sighed. "It was nothing, Ina. I just…felt kind of lonely. You're good company, even an entire city away.".
There was silence for a moment, and Akira heard a small, brief squeal and a deep breath. "A-Ah. I see!", she responded after a few seconds. "I understand. Being a pro isn't everything I thought it'd be either.".
"I know. It's been hard without you guys behind me."
"But you still have Kaito! And Shizuka! The Big 3 is still together!"
"Yeah. But the Big 3 wouldn't be anything if we didn't have you guys."
Another brief pause.
"Ina…"
"Y-Yeah?"
"…I miss you."
Beep Beep Beep Beep
Akira put the phone down slowly. He leaned back in his chair and smiled. "I guess I still feel the same as I did then. It feels good."
With a new positive attitude, Akira got up from his desk and slipped his mask on. He went over to the desk of a lower ranked hero, one of his juniors at UA who had debuted last year.
"Hey! Rock Solid!"
The earth powered hero stood up in the blink of an eye, his back straight and his hands at his sides. "Sir, Black Thunder, sir!"
Black Thunder laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. "Hey, come on Kamina, I'm not your upperclassmen anymore, and I'm not your boss either. We're colleagues, and with Kaito gone until Tuesday, I'm getting bored. Let's go out on patrol."
Rock Solid nodded, and eased up. "Ok then. Let's go Masayoshi!".
"Yeah.". Walking out of his agency's building, Black Thunder was immediately met with a cry for help.
"My bag!" A young lady yelled. Black Thunder looked to his right to see the crook coming straight at him, paying no attention to what was in front of him, instead looking back to see if anyone was chasing him.
"What an amateur," He thought to himself. He merely stuck out his arm in clothesline position, and when the pickpocket finally turned his head forward, he was met with Akira's solid right arm. He hit the ground on his back, leaving Rock Solid to catch the bag, which had blown up in the air. The young lady came to retrieve it.
"Thank you so much!", she said, bowing formally. Bystander came forward. "Wow, it's Black Thunder and Rock Solid!" "As expected of a top hero and a rising star!". Rock Solid, still not used to the sudden attention, got flustered quickly. Black Thunder simply turned to the young lady, towering over in his signature stoic nature. "Ma'am, I recommend you call the police. He'll be out for a good thirty minutes like this. That should give you just enough time for the cops to arrive and for you to give a quick testimony about the theft.". The young lady blushed and turned away slightly. "Y-Yes, of course.". Black Thunder turned to Rock Solid. "Come on, Kamina. Let's get started on patrol."
"Yes sir!"
Akira sighed. "Again with the honorifics…"
— —
On the other side of the phone, Ina was still blushing heavily, over thinking the meaning of the simple "I miss you"