CHAPTER 13

There's A Hero When You Look Inside Your Heart

UA High School,
Musutafu, Tokyo Prefecture,
March 9

The nursery where Recovery Girl spent most of her time was far from smelling like typical hospital, reeking bleach and disinfectant from every corner. It smelt pleasantly fresh like spring flowers. Of course Recovery Girl didn't need bleach and disinfectant. Most of her patients were cured with her quirk rather than medicine. She was known to 'fix' quirk-related injuries, like those of Izuku a few months before.

But the most severe of injuries like Monoma's still needed some time to heal. Even a Pro Hero like Recovery Girl had her limit. Monoma was on a fast recovery track but he still needed to stay in the nursery. It was not easy for a rambunctious overactive kid like Monoma to stay in bed for a long period of time, but he had no choice. Recovery Girl threatened to chain him to the bed if he didn't listen.

Hiryu Rin had a hard time not to burst into laughter seeing Monoma wrapped in bandages. He had seen many UA students fighting a 'villain' and got injured in the process. It was part of being a Pro Hero student. Still, the spectacle was too much to handle.

"Come on, Rin, get it over with," Monoma sneered, dejectedly. "Let's get it out of your system."

"What do you think I'm here for?" Hiryu maintained his straight face, although he didn't do a good job about it. There was not a lot of time where Monoma was utterly at his mercy, and he planned to make it last.

"What else are you here for if not to make fun of me?" Monoma fumed.

"I'm not here to make your life harder," Hiryu said. "You see, I am doing research on Pro Hero in training. What makes Pro Hero a Pro Hero? What makes him different than just regular people with quirk? Having quirk doesn't make someone a hero. Then I heard about you, and I think you'll make a perfect example of what I am working on. That's what I'm here."

"Well then, what do you want to know?" Monoma thought Hiryu was sincere.

"So… you and Shinsho, eh?" Hiryu grinned from ear to ear. "Since when you play 'fencing' together?"

"Kusattare!" Monoma grimaced. "When I'm out of this bed, I'm gonna make your life miserable!"

"Come on, Monoma, lighten up a bit," Hiryu snickered lightly. "Love is love, and everybody's curious about everybody else's love life. Of course, there are more pressing matters, but things like this always pique the most interest."

"Perhaps you should mind your own business and leave me alone!" Monoma growled.

"Sure, I'll respect your wish, but I need a friend's help, so I'd appreciate your help." Hiryu cleared his throat and flipped his notebook. "What you did at the concert was admirable, helping people to get out of the way and getting hurt in the process. Why did you do it? What made you lend a hand and put your life on the line?"

"There is a line between love and obsession," Monoma said. "I defended the oppressed which, in this case, Yon*Machi, against Aqours rabid fan. This is not just a matter of favoritism. His mind was clouded by his infatuation that he lowered himself to the level of terrorist. My motive might not be pure, but I can't let it happen. The result was the same anyway."

"Him?" Hiryu cocked his brows. "Who are you talking about?"

"The big Pro Hero student. He was here, at the Cultural Festival. He's always wearing a captain's hat and thick, heavy jacket with furry collar. You'll recognize him if you see him."

It took Hiryu a few minutes to place a face in Monoma's words. "Yoarashi?"

"Yeah, whatever. He's behind Yon*Machi's cancelled show. The freak accident was not natural disaster. He was responsible for everything! He did it once and he would do it again if I didn't confront him!"

"But he's a Pro Hero student!" Hiryu scratched his head. "This is a work of a villain! Why would a Pro Hero student do such heinous thing?"

"He's losing grips of reality," Monoma replied with a small smile. The talk with Hiryu brought back her former self, and he started to feel empowered. "He's a fan of Aqours, and he wants Aqours to win Love Live Finals, so he's trying to eliminate competition, starting with the strongest opposition. When Yon*Machi is out of Aqours' way, he'll move on to the next opposition, and the next, and the next, until victory is ensured."

"This is a serious accusation Monoma," Hiryu muttered. "Do you have a basis for that?"

"He didn't exactly say that he sabotaged Yon*Machi's concerts, but he did say that he would make sure Aqours win Love Live Finals. It's not hard to connect the dots. He's not a complicated man, a simpleton who acts before he thinks. We have to report him to the authority."

"I may say something to Sekijiro Kan-sensei," Hiryu wrote down some notes. "But do you swear that what you said is the truth and nothing but the truth?"

"Why would I lie about somebody that I barely know, Rin?" Monoma scoffed. "I'm a Pro Hero in training. I take pride of what I am. Yoarashi has been sabotaging Yon*Machi's concert, and if he is not stopped, he will continue his villainy until a lot of people get hurt. We have an obligation to uphold the law and protect the innocents."

"I agree with you, and I assume that's what motivates you to become a Pro Hero."

"What else is there? A good rectitude, with responsibility as foothold."

"Great." Hiryu scribbled a few notes on his notepad. "One last question, Monoma." His eyes twinkled with mischief. "You and Shinsho… who's pitching and who's catching?"

Monoma threw a pillow at Hiryu with all his might, but Hiryu had already slipped out, cackling like a hyena.

Fumikage Tokoyami and Reiko Yanagi were on the way to hit their regular book club when Yosetsu begged them to give 5 minutes interview. Fumikage didn't really want to come late to the book club, but Reiko – a good friend of Yosetsu – pleaded for Fumikage to stay a little longer.

"I guess 5 minutes is OK," Fumikage sighed as he glanced over his watch. "What do you want to ask, Awase?"

"A few questions for my class project," Yosetsu quickly produced a notepad. "Why do you want to be a Pro Hero?"

"Aside from responsibility of having a superhero power? Haven't you heard 'Great power comes with great responsibility'?"

"Come on, you have to give me more than a cliché catchphrase that has been rehashed and rebooted a dozen times." Yosetsu looked deep into Fumikage's eyes. "Why are you here? What purpose are you pursuing by becoming a Pro Hero? Money? Fame? Girls?"

Fumikage traded look with Reiko for a while. He turned to Yosetsu, his tone turned dark. "Look at me. I don't have many friends. I intimidated kids when I was younger. My interest creeped out my peers. I flourish in the dark. Kids my age were terrified of darkness. Some called me 'boogeyman' because of my fondness in anything dark. The Pro Hero program is the only place that doesn't give a crap about what I like. Quite the opposite, Pro Hero Hawk nurtured my obsession of dark places to enhance my ability. Dark Shadow would never reach its potential without the help of Hawk.

"But of course, I could turn the other way. I still reserve a place for responsibility somewhere at the back of my mind. It may be cliché, Awase, but it is still true. I still have responsibility to use my quirk to uphold the law and help people."

"That is very good, Tokoyami, thank you very much…" Yosetsu recorded Fumikage's response. "As for you, Yanagi…"

"Kaibara already got to me," Reiko hooked her arm on Fumikage's. "Now, if you're done with Tokoyami-kun, we're taking our leave."

"Sure, alright, I won't keep you much longer," Yosetsu nodded politely. "Thanks again for your help."

Before the Joint Training, everybody regarded Hitoshi Shinsho as a villain, or anti-hero at least. His antagonistic demeanor, his animosity toward top Pro Hero students, and his 'villainous' quirk made him that one guy everybody loved to hate. The Joint Training revealed Shinsho's true heroic side worthy of Pro Hero, but a lot of students were still uncomfortable being around him.

Sen Kaibara felt that aura of animosity around Shinsho, even though the shaggy-blue-haired student was cooperative. He wasn't hostile, but not warm either. It was probably just Sen's imagination, fueled by general perception of Shinsho. Nevertheless, Sen was in full alert, trying to spot any slight hints of Shinsho making attempt at him.

"Shinsho-san," Sen started, using honorific to address his peer lest his action aggravated Shinsho. "You started as a general student, then moved up to hero course. You are the only one I know that does that. Why do you want to be a Pro Hero? Are you trying to prove something?"

"First of all, you can drop the honorific," Shinsho replied without showing any emotion. "I am no different than any other students here. Seconds of all, I am not an enemy. I am not a villain. I might not be your friend, but I am just a regular student at UA, just like you. You can drop your guard."

"I'm not afraid of you," Sen scoffed.

"Who said you were afraid?" Shinsho replied stoically.

"Good, then we are in agreement," Sen observed Shinsho, looking for a hint of any brainwashing move. But Shinsho didn't show signs of aggressiveness. He just sat there, waiting for Sen to continue with his inquiries. "As I said, you are the only student I know who moved up from general studies to hero course. What makes you do that? Is there something at the hero course worth pursuing?"

"Contrary to popular believe, I want to be a good citizen," Shinsho said. "I want to live in good society. I know I have a quirk that is considered 'dark', but I don't want to harm people with it. I'm here like everybody else, to learn how to use my quirk to help create a healthy, peaceful society."

"Some don't believe in peace."

"You're looking at the wrong person. I am not the one who desire chaos. Those people at the concert could hurt each other in the process of evacuating Yokohama Arena. I helped restore order; I used my quirk to avoid chaos. Have you used your quirk to help citizens, Kaibara-san?"

"No," Sen replied with a blush of red across his cheeks.

"It gives you a sense of purpose, that you're not just anybody with a quirk. More than half of the world's population have quirks. Only a small fraction of them use it for the sake of other people. I want to be those people."

The mentioning of Yokohama Arena distracted Sen from his original intention. "You were there at Yon*Machi concert. What really happened?"

"Apparently an Aqours rabid fan decided to botch Love Live competition by hurting Yon*Machi," Shinsho loosened up, riding Sen's sudden interest in the incident. "He must've thought that if the strongest candidate forfeited, Aqours' chance to win Love Live Finals increases."

"You are not talking about Awase, are you?"

"Awase is not the only Aqours fan. He's that big student from Shiketsu. Loud, brash student."

"Inasa Yoarashi?" Sen leaned back on his chair, stumped.

"I don't know the name," Shinsho muttered. "I didn't see him. Neito-kun saw him and fought him off. That's why he got his injuries, fighting a powerful Pro Hero. His quirk couldn't handle it. But he knew the guy. He said he saw him during Cultural Festival a few months ago."

"So what do you want to do about that?" Sen wrote everything. "Clearly this is an act of villainism, and we Pro Hero students shouldn't let this go unpunished, don't you think?"

"I can't do anything since I didn't really see him. Neito-kun is the one that saw him, so he is the only one that can testify and report Yoarashi to the authority. I'm just going to support him as needed."

"Neito-kun," Sen cracked a small smile. "So you decide to go public with your relationship with him?"

"I'm opening up to you, because you would understand," Shinsho suddenly showed a considerable warmth. "You're on the same boat as us too, aren't you?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I am," Sen could feel a ton of weight was lifted off his shoulder. Of all the things he could think of about his life at UA, he couldn't believe he was closest to Hitoshi Shinsho regarding intimate relationship. It was so relieving to know that he could share this side of him with someone that walked in the same direction with him. "I'm with Tsukiyomi. He's from the photography club."

"I know him," Shinsho offered a smile. "He's a good guy. You are lucky."

"So are you. Monoma is a good guy, rather loud and one dimensional toward Class 1-A, but deep in his heart he is a Pro Hero. You should be proud." Sen finalized his notes. "Thank you, Shinsho. I will discuss your report with my friends and we will see what we can do with Yoarashi and Yon*Machi."

"Good luck," Shinsho replied politely. "We may see each other again if we decide what we want to do with Yoarashi."

Compared to his friends', Kosei's data collection was inferior. Understandably so, because he didn't put a lot of effort about Pro Hero motivation. Nor he cared. His sole intention was to find the perfect birthday gift for Tsuyu Asui. It was nearly a month past her birthday, and he still couldn't make up his mind. But the more he asked, the more confident he was about his choice. It was, in his mind, the perfect gift for Tsuyu Asui. And now, it was time to present the gift.

Kosei could choose Lunch Rush Café and buy her a meal while presenting his gift, but he didn't want to look desperate. He could do it between classes, but he didn't want to sound like he didn't care. He wasnted to make it special, but not too romantic as not to scare Asui away. This consideration delayed his action even more. Then he realized that the longer he waited, the farther the moment slipped away. He could not present her birthday gift in April. So he chose the library, pretending he was interviewing her for his project. His plan was to let her loosen up by telling things about herself, then at the end, he would present the gift to her.

It sounded like a perfect plan, although he was never sure it would work.

"Asui-san," Kosei tried to look natural, but in reality he was fighting off the pounding within his chest. "Thank you for helping me out. I am uh… I am doing some class work about uh… about, Pro Hero, thing…"

"I know," Asui replied with a polite nod. "My friends told me about it, and I am surprised you never came for me until now."

"Oh? You… you uh, expecting me?" Kosei was thrown off.

"Yes, Tsuburaba-chan, I am your friend. I want to help you. That's what friends do."

"Uh, friends?" Tsuburaba shot a disappointed smile.

"Yes, friends," Asui gave him a reassuring smile. "We are all friends, and friends help each other out."

It took a while for Kosei to compose himself. Friends. He hadn't even proceeded with his plan yet, and Asui already put him in the friend zone. He started to think that this was going to work, and he was thinking of just return to his room and sulk. But Asui deserved more than that. In his eyes, she was the most remarkable girl in the entire school.

"Well, uh… then I'm going to ask you a few questions," Kosei cleared his throat and composed himself. "Why do you want to be a Pro Hero?"

"I was an honor student during middle school, and although my parents were still alive, I have to take care of my little sibblings." Asui stopped for a while as she played with the tip of her long hair. "My parents are in a business trip often, so I have to take care of my sibblings in their absence. I am used to take care other people. I guess that's why I want to be a Pro Hero, because I want to take care people. Taking care of people needs a lot of responsibility, because it is not easy. I know I can do it, and I know I am good at it."

"That is uhm… that is cool," Kosei forced himself to smile. He tried to prolong his interview, but his brain just went blank.

"Is that all I can help you with, Tsuburaba-chan?" Asui looked at him with her two large eyes. "You said few questions."

"Well, I guess you answered all of my questions," Kosei cringed. Things got awkward quickly.

"Then if you need anything else, just let me know," Asui said. "If you can't find me, you can ask Uraraka or Yaoyorozu or Ashido or Hagakure or Jiro to let me know."

"Sure, yeah, I'd do that," Kosei was at the loss of words. He watched Asui walked away from him, and his plan went to the drain, and he was powerless to stop it. But before Asui left the library, he summoned all power he knew remained, and called for her. "Actually, Asui-san, I have something else…"

Asui turned back and looked at Kosei from where she stood, halfway toward the library exit. "Yes?"

"I uh… I have been… you know, I know your birthday is February 12, and we are past that, but I thought I just bought this for you." Kosei approached Tsuyu in wobbly knees and produced a box wrapped in teal. "Happy Birthday, Asui-san."

Asui's eyes bugged out for one second, but she quickly receded into her aloof self. Yet her lips sprang into a smile like Kosei had never seen before. She received the gift from Kosei and deftly unwrapped the box. She pulled the top off to reveal a luxurious, antique-looking traditional Japanese kanzashi. Her cheek turned into rosy buds, and her smile stretched even wider.

"Tsuburaba-chan, you shouldn't have," she murmured.

"I'm sorry, I would love to give this to you on your birthday, but it took me a while to find the perfect gift for you," Kosei grinned awkwardly. "I bought this because I think it would look good on your long hair…"

"I knew," Asui said. "I knew you've been doing a lot of research for this, and not so much about your school project."

"You… you knew about that?" Kosei grimaced.

"Friends talk, Tsuburaba-chan. Mongoose-chan and Ashido-chan told me that you asked weird questions for your class project."

"I just want to make it special for you."

"It is special. It is special because you make it special." Asui walked closer to Kosei. "You remember my birthday. That's the true birthday present for me. No money could buy that." She reached forward and squeezed Kosei's hand. "Thank you, Tsuburaba-chan. Thank you for making me special."

It felt like an electric jolt, as far as Kosei concerned. His spine turned to mush, and he needed to support himself on a chair using his other arm. His mouth went dry from gaping too long, alternating between awkward smile and trying to say something but stopping before he embarrassed himself.

"Asui-chan, actually…" he took a series of quick breath before finally had the guts to say things he had been waiting for a long time. "I have been thinking… about you… a lot. You are… you are great. And I would like to… you know, spend more time with you… outside school… like uh, like on a date. That, if you are fine by it."

"I'm fine by it," Asui leaned forward and kissed Kosei on the cheek.

Kosei couldn't wait any longer. He grabbed Asui's shoulder and pulled her gently, then pushed his lips against her. The world erupted in and around him in brilliant colors. Asui made no effort to pull away, and that was proof enough for him. Sometimes things were better left unsaid.

Translation

kanzashi: Japanese woman's hair ornament, usually with flowers and beads