17/12/2022

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The Emperor's Dragon
Emergence 34 - Unexpected Contact

How are you doing, Izuku?

He looked at his phone. The message was from Inasa and he hadn't heard much from his friend… associate? Izuku wasn't quite sure any more. He hadn't heard from Inasa for a while.

I'm not too bad, you?

Pretty good, came the fast reply.

Izuku blinked at his phone, wondering what Inasa wanted and then he shook his head. He shouldn't be that suspicious. How is Shinketsu? He asked. He wanted to know how it differed from UA. Shinketsu was a dedicated Hero School and didn't offer General Studies so he was interested to know the differences that caused. Except ever since he had enrolled, Inasa had been distant.

It's interesting. They emphasise discipline and quirk control. How is management?

It wasn't really the in depth analysis Izuku wanted, but it was a start. He smiled fondly at his phone. Interesting. They alternate between hero management and company management, he told his friend. You know which one I'm more interested in, he added.

He'd never really spoken to Inasa about heroes, not beyond telling him his dad had been injured.

I can imagine, Inasa sent back. What can you tell me about the hero student's quirks though?

Izuku blinked at the question. It answered what Inasa wanted but why would he want that? He decided to play along with it.

There's a couple of interesting ones, he replied. A couple of them have been trained, he added. Those were sort of obvious answers.

I know. All the recommendation students trained, and at least some of the regular entries would have slipped in some training, Inasa replied. It was, again, kind of obvious.

Izuku got the impression they were both dancing around something. For him, it was wanting to know if Inasa wanted to be his friend again, and for Inasa… he wasn't sure what. That's true, he sent back.

Can you tell me about Yuga Aoyama?

He frowned at the question. Yuga Aoyama was a member of Class 1A. He'd gotten through to the tournament round of the Sport's Festival and that was about all Izuku knew. Why would Inasa be interested in him? Why?

There was silence on his phone for a while and he could tell Inasa was thinking. Eventually the replying dots appeared. There's a rumour going around that UA will send their first year classes to Provisional Licensing this year, came the response.

While he had an answer, it didn't make any sense. So what? Izuku replied. What did it matter if the first years got their Provisional Licenses? Though, it wasn't normal. And it would mean they were ahead of their counterparts in Shinketsu.

Inasa didn't reply immediately and Izuku got the impression he was thinking. None of the other Hero schools really like UA, he sent through finally. There's a tradition at the Provisional Licensing Exam to try to make the UA students fail. Eventually they pass, but usually on their second or third attempts.

And some don't pass at all? Izuku questioned.

_へ_(‾◡◝ )

What happens if they don't pass? He really didn't know. He knew Heroes were licenced but he'd never really thought about the specifics of it.

Then they have to get sponsored, Inasa told him. And they usually don't do as well as other heroes in the long term.

Inasa didn't know that he really didn't care about that. He'd be more interested if the answer was 'they couldn't become heroes'. Does Shinketsu send their first years?

Nah. Most high schools start sending their students at second year. Like I said, it's a rumour that UA will send the first years.

It had to be. Ochaco hadn't mentioned anything. She was more focused on her exam and the camp after it. Vlad seemed to keep his class better informed while Aizawa… Izuku wasn't sure. It was probably just different teaching styles. One guiding and the other expecting their students to find things out for themselves. While that would lead to independence it didn't seem efficient at this level.

And you want to pass information up to help the Shinketsu students knock out the UA ones? Izuku asked.

(￣▽￣)ノ

That really was wrong coming from Inasa. I'll see what I can find out, Izuku sent back. ｡◕‿◕｡

Thanks!

But I want details on Shinketsu! Izuku wrote. Not quirks. I want to know how it differs from UA, he explained before Inasa could object.

That I can do, Inasa agreed.

Izuku smiled at his phone even though Inasa couldn't see it. He felt buoyed by the conversation. Send me the list of who you are most interested in, he typed back. And we'll see.

We will.

-ted-

"So the heroics students have a training camp, and the rest of us just have holiday projects?" Hitoshi sighed.

"We've gone over this," Izuku laughed. UA was very much focused on their heroics course but the other courses did get a camp, just later in the year. The focus of the camps were different. The management students went to camp next. It was mostly a trip to Kabutocho, which was Japan's Wall Street. The Support Students went after them to something that was like a workshop and he wasn't sure what the General Studies Students did.

"I know. Our camp is last," Hitoshi said.

"What do you do?" Izuku asked. He was kind of curious.

"A lot of different hobby work," Hitoshi replied.

"What?" Ochaco demanded.

The purple haired boy sighed. "The General Studies Camp is the last one for the year. By then, most of them have realised that they aren't going to get into Heroics," Hitoshi explained. "They don't say that, but it's reality," he added before Izuku could object. "The Camp is kind of like-" he paused, seeking the right words. "It's not work experience but more general. The focus is craft work but under that is a focus on encouraging us to find a new career to be passionate about."

"Craft work?" Izuku snorted.

"The fancy kind," Hitoshi assured him. "And if you are interested in science, then there's workshops and lectures on that. It's not called a careers camp, but it is," he said, making a face.

Izuku huffed. "I suppose UA would say they are being realistic," he murmured.

Hitoshi nodded.

"But?" Izuku raised one eyebrow as he looked at his friend.

Ochaco caught the movement and grinned as she copied his gesture. Mei was too engrossed in the latest baby she was working on to notice. She'd no doubt heard the conversation but hadn't taken it in.

"Yeah I might not need it," Hitoshi admitted, looking away.

"Revolutionary baby!" Ochaco fist pumped.

Izuku smiled. "When is your camp?"

"In a week," Ochaco chirped. "What are your projects?" She asked. "Mei's is going to be some sort of support project," she grinned. "Yours?"

Izuku felt his lip curl as he thought of the project. "We are going to be given a scenario. Probably something to do with a scandal a hero got into and then we have to come up with a management solution, which includes marketing."

"An actual scandal?" Hitoshi asked.

"Probably, but they'll change the names," Izuku said. "What's your project Hitoshi?"

"It's a bit of a pick your own," he replied. "We can build some sort of support item, or do something like a management project," he said.

"Okay," Izuku sighed. "I get why you say the world thinks the General Studies students are just Heroic Studies dropouts. Don't they do anything that's just for General Studies?"

"You mean like a normal High School?" Ochaco asked.

Izuku nodded.

At that Hitoshi laughed. "Izuku, you said it yourself!"

"Hmm?"

"UA is not a High School," Hitoshi reminded him. "They are an apprentice training facility," he said unnecessarily.

"All right," Izuku sighed. He hated it when they quoted his words back to him but the explanation made sense. The other courses all had defined career pathways. General Studies was just that - general. They had to try a bit of everything to find out what they wanted… and they had to stop wanting to be heroes. "What do you think you'll do?"

At that, Hitoshi grinned and Izuku knew enough to interpret that expression. His friend would get a special project.

"Good luck," he murmured.

Hitoshi nodded. "Thank you."

There were smiles all round, even one from Mei, though Izuku was more inclined to believe something had gone right in the creation of her newest baby than she was really listening. Even so, this was nice and he couldn't help but wonder if this could continue.

Probably not. He had group work to do tonight and again Zellia had invited everyone to his place… He really needed to insist they go to hers, or something. But it was the last assignment of the semester and so the sooner it was done the better. He'd insist next semester.

-ted-

Izuku had found if he kept his uniform on when the other management course people came over after school to do homework, then they were much more likely to work, rather than gossip. Both Te and Korei had a huge ability to gossip, more so than Zellia, which was kind of odd. The stereotype always made it out that women were the biggest gossips. Nope. It was definitely the guys.

And he had no idea where they got some of their information but they always had something new to talk about. Some of it was interesting, but he knew most of it was a waste of time. So… he kept his uniform on to at least make sure they concentrated on the assignment.

Today they had Luca with them. Ms Kanri had not been impressed that Zellia kept pulling the same group together for work and she had insisted that they take the other girl. Izuku hadn't minded but Zellia had, yet there was nothing she could do. An instruction from the teacher was an instruction from the teacher.

"Luca, which management do you want to do?" Te asked. That was the usual question.

"Support heroes," she replied, reaching out to take a sip of water.

Izuku only had four glasses so his guests had them. He had a cup, which Korei had jokingly said put him in charge. He'd rolled his eyes at that.

"So specific!" Te murmured as Zellia smiled sweetly.

"Why support heroes?" Korei asked. There was a lot more work in marketing and managing patrol heroes. Support heroes were usually sidekicks attached to an agency. Rescue heroes tended to manage themselves since they weren't called upon as often. The lower ranked ones did anyway. The upper levels had managers who made sure their schedules were full, giving training or talks.

Luca smiled. "Management is kind of support, so I thought we could relate that way," she said. "Plus… I kind of like support gear."

"You should get Mitei to introduce you to his friend then!" Te laughed.

"Oh?" Luca looked surprised.

"Mei is one of the support course," Izuku answered before someone could launch into a longer explanation. "She is enthusiastic about her gear," he added.

Zellia gave an unladylike snort at that sentence.

"Isn't she the one who was in the Sport's Festival?" Luca asked.

"To show off her gear," Izuku nodded.

"She had some good ideas."

Izuku smiled widely. Mei would love to hear that. "Keep talking like that and I'll see what I can do to convince Mei to give you a contract," he told Luca.

She frowned at him. "Isn't it the other way around?"

At that Korei laughed. "Mitei here believes that Mei's gear will be in such demand, that she'll get to pick her contracts," he explained.

Their classmate didn't look convinced. "Most support companies are grateful to sign on with anyone," she noted.

Izuku smiled. "Most agencies are going to be grateful to sign on with Mei," he countered.

Te chuckled. "And I suppose you've got an exclusive contract, already, Mitei?"

"I might have negotiated something," Izuku admitted. They still didn't know that he was the silent partner in Mei's company.

"Wait, wait, wait," Zellia objected. "You are going into regular management, aren't you Mitei?" she demanded.

"I might dabble," Izuku said. "Plus ultra?" he added the school motto. It didn't just apply to the heroics course.

"I suppose it would be interesting to see if it can be done," Zellia murmured.

"You really think Mei's support gear is that good?" Luca asked.

"Not yet," Izuku shrugged. "But it will be," he concluded.

"Maybe I should ask for a contract now then," she smiled but Izuku could tell she was joking.

"Do it!" Korei encouraged. "Could be the only way you could get in with Mei," he added.

"Might be the only way you'll get in," Izuku observed.

"No!" Korei theatrically clutched his heart but he was laughing. He wasn't going into hero management. His family expected him to come into the business. "I probably should," he recovered. "Then I can get in on your plan."

"Mitei has a plan?" Luca asked.

"Oh yes," Te replied. "He's going to lobby to have support gear available for civilian use."

"It doesn't make sense for it to only be in the hands of heroes," Izuku said mildly.

"But if civilians can get it, then villains can," Luca pointed out. It seemed to be the favoured argument for keeping support gear the sole purview of heroes.

"So?" Izuku asked. He really didn't see the logic in the argument. It sounded good but it was really a bandaid. It suggested that the heroes were so weak that they needed the advantage.

Maybe they did, the part of his mind that knew what his father wanted, suggested. He couldn't think on that now.

"Mitei!" She gasped.

"I don't mean it like that," he said, waving one hand dismissively. He knew exactly how she'd taken it. If you suggested something even a bit radical you were viewed almost as badly as a villain. "Some bits should remain hero only," he began explaining. "But there are some things that would be a great help to civilians."

"Such as?"

He knew better than to suggest the special fabrics could be more widely available. "Some of the materials used in support gear could be transferred into prosthetics and other devices like that, which would make them stronger and lighter." He kept the explanation general. There were a lot of people who required assistance due to various injuries. "So I'm not talking actual dangerous gear, just putting some stuff into new uses."

Luca frowned as she thought. She knew his history, that his dad had been injured in the Tsu take down of Toxic Chainsaw so she probably thought he was thinking of that. He was… but not in the way she was thinking. He wondered what might have happened if his dad had a stronger suit or… Probably nothing. All Might hadn't aimed for his chest after all.

"I can see how that would be good but-" she paused. He knew what came after the but…

It was the fear that villains would get support devices.

"They already have them, you know," he murmured.

"Mitei?" Korei asked.

"Villains already get support devices," he said. He knew they did. He hadn't spoken to Giran for a long time but he knew what the man's job was. He'd figure out a way. "There's a black market for support gear," he pointed out.

"Yeah, but villains don't get the really good stuff. And we can't make it easier for them," Luca said. "Though, I do like the idea of using materials that way," she added with a smile.

Whatever else anyone was about to say was forgotten when a black, swirling disk opened above Izuku's table. He recognised it and felt his eyes widen.

Kurogiri… Except the misty man only delivered food occasionally. This was too big for that, and not at the right time. No, no, no… this wasn't what he wanted.

He didn't get to think much more before someone came through Kurogiri's portal with a shriek, falling onto the table. "Mother-" the person snarled angrily. It was a she and she lashed out with a knife.

Izuku froze. He knew that voice. His classmates were scrambling back.

The girl on his table swung into a sitting position, and swung her knife around and there was no doubt in his mind. She was dressed in a sailor fuku and had messy blonde hair confined into two buns.

"Himiko?" he whispered, ignoring the knife. His classmates were staring.

That brought the girl's attention to him. Her eyes were as yellow as he remembered and belatedly Izuku realised he had bright, fire blue hair. Would she recognise him?

"Izu?" She said, frowning, not putting away her knife.

He grinned. It had been so long! "Himiko!"

-ted-

Inasa, if you want to pump a friend for information it's traditional to butter them up first! But no... he's just trying to find out about UA quirks for the hazing. That might cost you later Inasa... you really want to make nice with Izuku.

And yes, the mid year exams and stuff and that summer camp is coming, though I really hesitate to call them mid year exams when in canon it was about 2 months into school. This isn't really a summer camp, it's more a winter camp but we'll see how it goes. Izuku will want to know all about it! And yes, he's still doing boring study with the others in his class. Since he can't do the work with his normal friends, Izuku just has to put up with it. Sigh... But they have a far more interesting study session this time :D

My discord is on this code: ZX2R5h2cEm FFN will remove links but you should be able to figure that out. There's a heap of other authors there, so come along and chat to us all!

-ted-

Loved it? Hated it? Found a spelling mistake? Let me know please!