It is a difficult choice, but eventually, you decide, putting all the folders down but one.

"I think I'd like to meet with Mr. Nezu again."

Akia's smile is a bittersweet one. "Of course. I'll give him a call."

Dialing the phone, you sit there as Akia delivers Nezu a voicemail.

"Excuse me, Mr. Principal. This is Akia Kuzunoha from the Akuyoshi Adoption Agency. I'm calling to inform you that we've received your adoption application, and Kazuha Chiba is interested in speaking with you again. However, we'd like a formal interview before finalizing the adoption process. We'd happily schedule an appointment if you could call us back at your earliest convenience. Thank you for using Akuyoshi."

As Akia hangs up the phone, she bursts into tears.

"Is something wrong?" you ask her.

"No!" Akia insists. "Not at all. These are happy tears."

"They don't sound like happy tears."

"Tears never sound happy," Akia counters. "And they're ugly."

"Only when adults cry."

Akia hiccups, stifling a laugh. "You're strong, Kazuha. You can do anything, including be a hero. You'll see bad stuff, but it will be okay."

"Because I'll be there?"

Akia ruffles your hair. "No, but that works too; you All Might fangirl."

You giggle.

"It's gonna be tough seeing you go."

"I'm not going anywhere yet."

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Akia looks at the clock. "I'll leave it to you to break the news to your friends. They should hear it from you."

You nod and make a quit exit, curious to see how your life will change in the coming weeks.


The next time you're in Akia's office, Nezu is there.

You still have absolutely no idea what animal Nezu might be. For a man who is less than three feet tall, he's relatively stout. It probably doesn't help you're basically the same height. His head is most reminiscent of a mouse, with a large scar over his right eye. Yet his ears are small and rectangular like a bear's, his paws most like a dog's, and his tail that of a cat's. He appears bipedal, wearing a thick set of thick orange sneakers, contrasting with the business attire of the rest of his ensemble. The white of his fur blends into his dress shirt, hidden under a red tie and dark dress coat.

"Nice to meet you again," Nezu shook your hand as he entered the office.

You accepted it before bowing in curtsy as Akia taught you to do. "Same here, sir."

"Please, Nezu is just fine," the chimera insists. "After all, we might be family soon."

"Okay… Nezu," you say hesitantly, causing the man to smile before turning to your current caretaker.

"Ms. Kuzunoha, was it? I'm sure you have questions for me."

"Of course," Akia confirms. "But I know that you must have questions of Kazuha and vice-versa."

"Indeed. Why don't we get this interview started then?"

As everyone gets seated, both of the adults turn to you.

"Why do you get us started?" Akia encourages you. "After all, if you're uncomfortable with Nezu for any reason, then we have no reason to continue. This interview is, first and foremost, for you."

You ask the first question on your mind. "What are you?"

"Well, I could be a mouse, dog, or bear, but I prefer to define myself by what I do. So to answer your question, I am the principal of Yuuei Academy."

"But you look like Mr. Fluffles," you counter, holding up the teddy bear and comparing the two.

"Kazuha," Akia scolds. "Please, don't be rude to our guest."

"Oh, it's quite alright," Nezu interrupts. "Even my university students fuss over my species. My professors have a betting pool on it. I know Kazuha here means no harm from it. She's merely a curious child."

"I suppose your right," Akia relents. "Though, please avoid any more questions on this topic, Kazuha."

You decide it's probably best to consider this a losing battle and move on to your question. One that's far more serious. "Why do you want to adopt me?"

Nezu pauses before grabbing the cup of tea Akia had so graciously laid out for him.

"Do you remember our first interview?"

You nod.

"I'd ask to ask you some of those questions again. Can you do that?"

"But you already know the answers."

"Yes, but maybe the answer has changed. Maybe you remember something that you didn't before."

You don't want to anger Nezu, and the request seems reasonable. "Okay, but my memory is really fuzzy."

"That's quite alright, dear. I appreciate your efforts."

He beings with the first question.

"Your quirk is a copy-type quirk, correct?"

"I think so."

"And specifically, you can permanently absorb the quirks of others?"

"But I don't… like, take them? Sadow still has his quirk."

"Yes, my bad. I should have been clearer," Nezu apologized. "But you do copy them?"

"Yep."

Nezu writes something down on a notepad. "And what do you know of your parents?"

"Well, according to Akia, I didn't have a father. Before she died, I was raised by a single mother. She was killed in a villain attack."

"That's all we know," Akia admits, collaborating on the story.

"Do you know if Kazuha's mother had a quirk?"

"The records are inconsistent," Akia admits. "So no, we don't have an answer on that."

"Mama… didn't have a quirk," you clarify. "At least, not that I know of. All I remember is her smile."

Nezu closed the notepad. "Thank you, both of you." He smiles at you sadly. "To be completely honest, when I first came out here, I didn't intend to adopt Kazuha."

"You mean you don't like me?" you say fearfully.

"No, I'm referring to my first visit," Nezu course corrected. "You see, there was a villain during the Golden Age of Heroes. And that villain is incredibly powerful and influential due to his quirk. That quirk is a copy-type quirk."

"But there are others with copy-type quirks?" Akia counters. "Kazuha's pediatrician mentioned another child recently registered with one."

"Indeed," Nezu agrees. "It is not all unusual to see a copy-type quirk, but the difference is that most copy-type quirks are limited in some way. And almost all of them cannot permanently copy the quirks of others. But the quirk of that villain I mentioned… his quirk allows him to copy other quirks, but his copy destroys the original in the process."

"So, like stealing?" you guess.

"Exactly," Nezu praises. "You're very smart for a child your age."

"Thank you!"

"Well, I cannot deny that the practice of quirk adoption, while deplorable, is rather common, especially among heroes who have lost their ability to have kids. And as such, I've heard of quite a few orphaned children with interesting quirks over the years."

"Sir, I don't mean to be rude, but what does that have to do with me and the villain's quirks?"

"Ah, right," Nezu ends his tangent. "The point is, your copy quirk is unique in its duration and more similar to the villains than other copy quirks because you can hold on to the copied Qurik for a long time. And when we could find no record of your father and the circumstances of your mother's deaths, many made assumptions."

"That this villain is my father?"

"Possibly," Nezu surmises. "I wouldn't put too much stock in that idea, though. While there is a history of quirks being somewhat hereditary…."

"Hereditary?"

"Passed down through the bloodline. Anyway, there is no evidence your quirk is a mutated version of All for One. There are many single mothers and, unfortunately, many orphaned children. I find the hypothesis to be nothing more than build upon coincidence."

"Then why come to see Kazuha?" Akia questioned.

"A few reasons. Part of it was curiosity. Another part was as a sort of favor to my dear friend. And yet another was I simply wanted to do some good in the world."

Nezu took another sip of tea. "My physiology prevents me from having children, at least with an intelligent lifeform. And in my early years, I was apprehensive about how my quirk would affect my lifespan. Much of my motivation for taking a teaching position initially was to make up for my inability to have a family. But meeting Kazuha and playing with her and her friends brought about a longing in me I hadn't had in a long time. She's such a sweet girl, and I know she'll likely find a good home, but I can't help but be fearful, especially if this outrageous hypothesis is somehow true. And I know I'm probably not the ideal candidate to be a father, but I would like to try my hand at it, so to say."

The chimera spoke with such conviction that you can't help but believe him.

His words also remind Akia of the second purpose of this interview.

"Well, we have no concerns about your occupation," Akia begins. "And as a former Pro Hero, we have no concerns about your background check. But as you mentioned, our concern is your, to be frank, lifespan."

"You don't want to send a child to a home they may lose once again due to medical reasons; I totally understand," Nezu sympathized. "Though I'd like to make some addendums to my recent application."

The chimera reached into his bag and pulled out… two new copies of the paperwork before handing it to Akia.

"What is this for?" Akia said. "What…."

Akia's jaw dropped.

"What's wrong?" you questioned, making Nezu chuckle mischievously.

"You see, Kazuha since I filed my application to adopt you a little over a week ago, I got engaged. To a woman named Chiyo Shuzenji."

"Recovery Girl?!" you say, eyes lit up in excitement. "That's Horie's favorite hero!"

Akia couldn't help but be suspicious. "Why so sudden?"

"Ah, you know," Nezu dismissively claimed. "Chiyo and I go way back. We've been working together for decades, and neither of us has tied the knot, per se. So we got to talking one night, and we realized how special our connection was."

"Uh-huh."

"And when I told her about Kazuha and her bunkmate, she was so enthusiastic about the idea that she asked me to file the paperwork for Horie Koume as well."

"Does that mean Horie and I will be actual sisters instead of secret sisters?!" you scream ecstatically. "And Horie's mom will be Recovery Girl?! That's like a dream come true for her!"

"Assuming the adoption goes through, yes," Nezu confirmed.

"I can't wait to tell her!"

You nearly sprint out of the room, but Akio grabs your arm. "Hold your horses, Kazuha. Let's not get ahead of ourselves."

You sit back down, pouting. "I wanna be sisters with Horie. I wanna go with Nezu and Recovery Girl. Why don't you want us to be a family?"

Akia grimaces. "I know it's rude to ask a lady her age, but Recovery Girl is in her fifties, correct?"

"And yet she's more healthy than most people in their thirties. Her hero name begins with 'The Youthful Heroine' for a reason."

Your caretaker looks down at the paperwork one more time. "You're actually engaged?"

"Absolutely."

Akia bites her lip.

"Can you find a godparent? You know, just in case?"

"Of course. I'll take every precaution with Kazuha and Horie as I would my own."

Akia sighs. "You know what? If child services have a problem with this, they can deal with it. You're okay in my books."

"Yay!" you cheer.

"I thank you," Nezu smiles.

"Don't thank me yet," Akia smirks bittersweetly. "You're gonna be a father."

"I've steered many young adults toward their destinies."

"But you've never had to deal with four-year-olds."

"How hard can it be?"

Akia leans in menacingly. "How old do you think I am?"

"It's rude to ask a lady her age."

"Answer the question."

"Around your early-to-mid-thirties."

"I'm twenty-four."

"Oh."


You're woken up by an excited Horie a few days later. You can't exactly blame her, though, considering today is moving day.

"Come on, Kazuha! We have to get ready! Like, right now! They'll be here any minute!"

"Horie, it's six in the morning. It's still dark out. They won't be here until ten."

"Get out of bed, slowpoke!"

"But it's a Saturday."

"Out! Or I'm gonna cry!"

"You'll cry even if I don't get up."

Horie sniffles. "Meanie."

You roll your eyes. "You're the only meanie here."

Deciding it's not worth fighting Horie on a day like this, you get up… not that you have much to do, with the few belongings you have already packed into a tiny suitcase.

As you head to the bathroom to get presentable for the big day, you make small talk with Horie.

"You seem excited."

"Oh, of course, I'm excited! We're getting a family today!"

"Yeah," you smile. "It's kinda weird to think about, though."

"I guess it is, sis." Horie tackles you into a bear hug. "This is so cool! I can't wait!"

You can't help but share Horie's enthusiasm.

And yet, things feel so bittersweet too.

But why?


You figure that out by breakfast.

Benimaru is slumped; he's refusing to eat.

"You're… really leaving?" he says lifelessly.

"We've got a family now," you console.

"I know, and that's great, but…."

Benimaru doesn't finish his sentence. He doesn't need to.

"We'll miss you too," you say, grabbing his hand.

"I'm scared," Benimaru admits. "To face Sadow alone. And the other kids don't like me at all."

Horie begins to tear up. "I'm sorry, Ben."

"Don't be sorry. This is your special day. Don't let me ruin it."

"But I don't want to hurt you. I don't want to be a bad friend."

Hearing your conversation, Akia comes over and sits at the table. "This isn't a wound that your quirk can heal, Horie." The caretaker looks at Benimaru. "I know I'm mostly in charge of the girls, but I promise to keep an eye on you so long as I'm here."

"Thanks," he mutters, clearly terrified.

"You'll find new friends," Horie insists through the tears strolling her face. "Friends even better than us."

"You're a bad liar."

"I'm totes not, and you totes will!"

"That's not how you say 'totally.'"

"It isn't?!"

The four of you share a small laugh, but it's not enough to break the oppressive atmosphere.

Akia bears the bad news. "I hate to do this, but Horie and Kazuha, some final preparations must be done before the Shuzenjis' arrive."

"Can't we have more time to say goodbye?" Horie begs.

"My parents used to say there was no such thing as a goodbye," Akia reveals. "Instead, there was just 'see you later.' Because while it might be a long time before you see each other again, that doesn't mean you stop being friends."

You ponder Akia's words in your head.

"If there's something else you want to say to one another, this is probably the last chance you'll have for a while," she prefaces. "Take a minute, but I really don't want to get behind schedule. You've got a big day ahead of you."

What should I say?


Decision Point: What Are Your Final Words To Benimaru?

A - "See You Later."

B - "I Hope You Find A Family Of Your Own."

C - "Can I Have Your Quirk?"

D - "Take Care of Yourself."

E - "Beat Up Sadow for Me."

F - [Give Benimaru Mr. Fluflles]