Due to some attempted rigging of the votes on AO3, this chapter somewhat serves as a tie-breaker, in case you were wondering. Sorry for the confusion.
Spoiled for choice, it's challenging for you to decide on a single mentor. You rack your brain for a solution before the realization dawns on your face.
Picking a single mentor isn't what Nezu meant at all! Because just like how I just graduated from elementary school, the students at U.A. will also graduate in a few years. Even if I can maintain a close relationship with my first mentor, why only limit myself to one class?
Sighing in relief, you go to Akia, asking for the records of all the current students and their quirks just to familiarize yourself with your current options. While initially reluctant to give you such documents, you can convince her to provide you with their scouting reports.
Emi Fukukado… her quirk forces her to be charismatic and approachable, and the fact that she wants to be a teacher means that I could be doing Dad a favor by encouraging her to return to U.A. after she's gotten her hero license and teaching degree. Still, her quirk isn't all that practical; it just isn't compatible with the two other quirks I have right now. I'm sure she'd be a great teacher one day; I'm just not sure I'm fit to be her first real student.
Turning the page, you find Rumi Usagiyama, the rabbit hero-in-training.
Rumi is probably the strongest student in the school; her quirk is just that impressive. And while it would pair incredibly well with Action Surge, Rumi's attitude toward working alone kinda scares me away from picking her. I mean, Himiko has made it clear that if I'm to become a pro hero, she wants to be my sidekick or teammate or… whatever it would mean for the two of us to work together. And there's a reason that hero teams are becoming more and more commonplace. I just don't want her mentality rubbing off on me at this stage until I experience the pros and cons for myself.
Flipping to the backside of the report, you see Anan Kurose's bio… and instantly look to see other options.
Pass. Anan's quirk is too volatile, and I'm not even sure I'm all that interested in being a rescue hero. She is just a bad match all around., even if she and her quirk are pretty cool.
It takes you all the way to the end of the pile of documents to find someone who piques your interest.
Ryukyu Tatsuma? A powerful quirk that could pair well with mine? I think she's even stopped to talk to me once or twice around the dorms, despite my being less than half her age. None of the other students have done that.
You review Akia's folder again just in case you find more suitable candidates, but you don't see anyone else among the current student body.
Huh. At least among the current student body, she's the best pick.
With new resolve, you return Akia the records and immediately make your way to the lunch area, knowing that Ryukyu is attending the summer special session for Class 1-A.
You find Ryukyu sitting with Rumi. From what little you've heard from the dorm gossip, you aren't overly surprised to see the two together, considering they're apparently best friends.
As you approach the pair, your nerves start getting the best of you, considering their status as the two strongest students in the school, even when factoring in the second and third years. These were the only two in either Class 1-A or 1-B to get their provisional hero licenses a year early, and the only reason Rumi wasn't at the podium at the First Years' Sports Festival was that she and Ryukyu were forced to face off in the Quarterfinals instead.
Against anyone else, Rumi would've destroyed that tournament. But the nature of Ryukyu's quirk prevented anyone from really standing a chance. There's a reason Rumi is considered the ace of Class 1-A… even if Ryukyu is way more likely to be valedictorian.
Coughing into your fist, you draw the attention of the two stars of the hero course.
"Ah, if it isn't Pipsqueak," Rumi teases.
"Stop calling me that," you grumble.
"But you're the daughter of a mouse."
"And you're the daughter of a rabbit."
"Touché," Rumi smirks. "But it doesn't change that you're shorter than me."
"Only because you're older than me."
"Got any proof you'll end up being taller than me one day?"
"I… don't."
"Great, because even if you did, I wasn't planning on stopping."
You groan, basically accepting your defeat. Somehow, finds time to silently gloat over beating a child at snarking before raising an eyebrow, genuinely confused as to why you're talking to them. "So what business does Pipsqueak have with us today?"
You try to ignore Rumi's comment and turn instead to Ryukyu, trying to keep up the brave face that Rumi had inevitably put a crack in.
"Can… can…."
You pause, unable to find the words.
Ryukyu puts a comforting hand on your shoulder. "It's okay, Kazuha. You can tell us what's bothering you."
"You… know my name?" you say, genuinely surprised.
"Of course."
"Why? Because I'm the principal's daughter?"
Are you just like those general course people who thought they could leverage being nice to me as a ticket into the hero or support courses?
"No," Ryukyu counters gently. "It's because we live down the hall from one another."
"Oh," you reply, embarrassed by your assumptions, realizing quickly how misguided they were. "I'm sorry."
"There's nothing to apologize for," Ryuoko insists. "Besides, you weren't interrupting anything important."
Rumi coughs into her fist, but you can make out a muffled "Liar."
"Please, Kazuha," Ryukyu says, deflecting the attention back from Rumi. "If you need something, just tell us."
Feeling comforted by Ryukyu's encouragement, you muster up the courage to ask your question.
"Can… can… can I be… your… apprentice?"
Ryukyu and Rumi stare at you for a moment….
Before Rumi bursts out laughing.
You shy away from the rabbit, feeling incredibly embarrassed.
"Wait," Rumi realizes, sensing your body language. "You're serious?"
You nod.
Rumi gives Ryukyu a questioning look as if waiting for her response, whom you can tell is deep in thought.
What is really seconds feels like minutes before Ryukyu finally gives her response. "Of course."
Your eyes light up with sparkles. "Wait, really?!"
Rumi, on the other hand…
"Wait, really?" she asks, a look of bewilderment on her face.
"Why not?" Ryukyu shrugs. "Our job as heroes is partially to be role models."
"But we're not heroes yet," Rumi observes.
"We have our provisional hero licenses."
"That's different."
"It's only different when convenient to you, Ms. Teen Vigilante. Or should I call you Usako?"
"That was years ago," Rumi grits her teeth.
"Sure."
"And she's quirkless."
That's only what Dad wants you to think… but it's too early to let that cat out of the bag.
"Anyway, just don't get in over your head. For both your sakes."
"You don't trust me?" Ryukyu questions.
"Your heart's in the right place. Just don't let it blind you. This kid ain't worth throwing your life away for. What if it gets you in trouble with the Principal or worse?"
You blink. "Excuse me? I'm right here?"
"Oh, I didn't forget," Rumi grunts. "Honestly, I get it, Pipsqueak. I really do. I'm just ensuring Ryukyu knows what she's getting into."
Ryukyu tries to keep things as civil as possible, but you can tell there's a slight harshness growing in her voice. "If she had asked you to train her, would you have said no?"
"We're not talking about me," Rumi counters.
"I'm just saying I'm not doing anything you wouldn't do."
"Whatever, Ryukyu." As Rumi gets up, she pats you on the back. "Anyway, you picked a heck of a teacher, Pipsqueak. Just don't get her in too much trouble, 'cause that's kinda supposed to be my thing."
As Rumi departs, you turn back to Ryukyu.
…
"So… what does an apprentice do?" you ask her.
Ryukyu shakes her head. "I have no idea."
Middle school is nearly a rinse and repeat of elementary school for you. You get up every morning, attend classes, get healed by Horie during lunch while Himiko drinks your blood, return to U.A. and get tutoring from Ryukyu, and then enjoy dinner with the family before heading to bed to start the process over again.
Throughout those few years, you and Ryukyu become increasingly close; Ryukyu constantly makes jokes about how you'll be her sidekick in a few years or how teaching you has interested her in becoming a teacher instead of a hero. Still, you're not sure how much of it is true and how much of it is not.
Some nights, you've even gone out for dinner with Ryukyu and Rumi… including this one.
It all starts as a normal evening.
…
Until you hear a bush whispering.
"Hey," it says in a pathetic attempt at a hushed voice. "You're the principal's daughter, right?"
You instantly find yourself on the backheel in a defensive position, ready to activate either Shield or Action Surge at a moment's notice. "Who are you?"
Out of the bush pokes two hands… two very human hands, in a salute of surrender. "I'm not gonna hurt you!"
The person inside quickly leaves the greenery, revealing a blonde freshman… wearing nothing but underwear and an oversized t-shirt. And yet… she's someone you recognize.
Yu Takeyama? Is her quirk gigantification or something? I've heard nothing but bad things about her. She's not quite a villain, but she's the last person I'd think of when I think of a hero. The only thing you could learn from her example is what not to do. Should I really get involved with her? What was she thinking walking around like that? Or rather, what thing against the rules was she up to?
Unfortunately, you're not given much choice, as Yu gets right in your face. "Please help me," she begs. "I got kicked out of my boyfriend's dorm room and accidentally left my keys in my jeans."
"How could you forget your pants? And why were you not wearing pants in your boyfriend's room?"
Yu's eyebrows furrow. "Are you an idiot or something? How could you not realize…."
That's when Yu remembers she's talking to an eleven-year-old. "Oh. Recovery Granny hasn't told you about the birds and the bees yet?"
You tilt your head. "The what and the what?"
"Don't worry, kiddo," Yu reassures. "You'll find out when you're older."
"Does that mean you aren't going to answer my questions," you pout. "'Cause I'm pretty intent on just leaving you out here and sending you back to your boyfriend."
Yu flinches. "Wait, you can't do that!"
"I can, and I will," you threaten. "I'm not going to help someone who broke the rules."
"I… I didn't!" Yu insists. "My… uh… boyfriend, like, literally threw me out his bedroom window."
"And the lack of pants?"
…
"He forgot to throw them down too?"
"But why would he need to throw them? Why weren't you wearing them when you left?" you ask, getting increasingly annoyed.
I'm smarter than most high school graduates. Besides, I'm 11. I think I'm mentally mature enough to learn what this birds and bees thing is.
"Uhh… strip poker?" Yu forces out, clearly unconvinced of herself.
You blink. "Why would you need to strip to play poker? And why would you strip in front of a guy? That's why there's a guys' and girls' locker room at school."
Yu keeps getting increasingly flustered by this conversation and the odds of her getting caught. "Well…."
The blonde gulps, knowing her time is running out. "I'll tell you about… the stuff I'm not supposed to tell you, but only if you get me to my room."
You smirk against your better judgment.
Well, you're supposed to learn something new every day, and today's Sunday, so… this can be that something.
"Deal."
Who knows? Maybe Yu isn't quite as bad as the others make her out to be. And frankly, I'm curious about her.
Using your keycard to open the front door, Yu quickly follows you inside, sprinting to the elevator. "Come on, kiddo! We gotta get to my room, and pronto!"
You roll your eyes. "You do realize I don't have a master key, right? I can't just open the door to your room whenever I feel like it."
Yu starts to visibly sweat in a panic. "Then what am I supposed to do?!"
"Luckily, there was a faculty meeting tonight. With Nezu, Chiyoko, and Akia stuck in a boring meeting, the only person who should be home is Horie."
"Who?" Yu questions.
"My sister? Nezu's second kid?"
"Oh," Yu realizes. "You mean Recovery Twerp."
You cross your arms, completely unamused by Yu's joke about Horie.
"Come on," Yu complains. "It's the same reason this whole campus calls you Pipsqueak."
"I thought that was only Rumi!"
"I don't know," Yu shrugs. "All I know is that the two 'snot-nosed brats' running around have been nicknamed Pipsqueak and Recovery Twerp. It's been a campus tradition since before I got here. I assumed you knew."
That… is probably Rumi's doing.
Deciding against your best judgment to correct her, you open the door to your apartment. "Wait here," you order Yu.
Sneaking past your and Horie's shared bedroom, Horie remains completely ignorant of your entry due to her headphones. You quickly enter Nezu's spare office, knowing where he keeps his spare master key, before heading back out, Yu impatiently tapping her foot, and Horie none the wiser.
"You get it?" Yu questions.
You twirl the key around your finger, taunting her with the act.
"Sweet," Yu says with relief. "I owe you."
"You do," you confirm. "Now, where's your room?"
"I'll show you," Yu insists as she walks down the hall. "Anyway, what was the Principal's daughter doing out this late at night? I mean, I assume your curfew is even stricter than ours."
"I was out with some friends."
"Friends?"
"Ryukyu and Rumi? They're seniors."
"Yeah," Yu answers with annoyance. "I know who they are."
"What's with that tone?"
Yu looks down at you. "Honestly? I'm jealous."
"Really?"
"Ryukyu's quirk, in many respects, is a stronger version of mine. We both get big and… she can fly, gets greater defenses, etc."
"So?" you question. "There's more to being a hero than just how strong you are."
"Ugh, you're one of those do-gooders, aren't you?" Yu complains.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Being a hero is about way more than saving people. It's about fame and fortune, baby! And how can I get rich and popular when Ryukyu's cramping my style."
"Are you kidding? That's so… petty."
"I prefer the term 'trivial.' What do my reasons matter if I'm saving people and junk?"
"Wow. How honorable," you mock.
"I really don't care what you think. Is it so bad that I want compensation for doing a good deed? I'm sticking my neck out on the line, and I can't want a little love and affirmation?"
"I'm not saying that."
"Then what are you saying, kiddo?"
You open your mouth, planning to retort, but you don't have the energy or argument to do so effectively, instead deciding to hold your breath.
"Nothing?" Yu looks at you, surprised. "Guess you see things my way."
Yu unlocks the door to her dorm room using your master key. "Wanna come inside?"
You're utterly confused. "Seriously?"
"I still owe you some answers about the birds and the bees, right? I don't like having debts."
"Alright then," you accept. "Don't forget the soda, either."
"We never talked about a soda," Yu protests.
"Well, I'm thirsty."
Yu faintly smiles. "Alright then…."
You realize you never told her your name.
"It's Kazuha."
"Okay, Kaz. So I owe you soda and a sex talk."
…
You blush.
What?
After that… enlightening night, you occasionally see Yu on campus, but you never get anything more than a courtesy nod or wink from the blonde. You assume it's due to her not wanting to attract your father's attention. Instead, you spend most of your time as you always have, such as trying to convince Ryukyu to give you proper training besides basic conditioning.
Ryukyu is initially resistant on training you, focusing instead on privately tutoring you on the lectures she already received on heroism, hero law, and hero history at U.A. That changes, however, on your twelfth birthday, just under three years into your apprenticeship.
"Where are we going?" you question Ryukyu, who's leading you around by a blindfold.
"It's a surprise." You hear the hint of amusement in your master's voice but don't find the same humor in this situation.
"Can I please take it off?"
"But it would ruin the surprise."
"I hate surprises."
"Rumi said the same thing until she learned about my surprises."
"Your surprises?"
"Yeah. They're the bestest, most awesome surprises in the world," Ryukyu hypes.
"Really, really?"
"Really, really."
Despite being smarter than the average newly twelve-year-old… you can't help but let your child-like wonder get the best of you. "Can we at least move faster? I don't want to wait any longer."
"Faster we can do," Ryukyu relents. "Oh, look at that, we're here."
"Seriously?"
Ryukyu laughs. "Deadly."
"Wow," you laugh. "That really was fast. Like, really, really fast."
"More like really, really, really fast."
"Can you two please stop saying 'really'?!" Rumi screeches. "It's getting on my damn nerves!"
"Swear," you comment.
"Damn is not a fucking swear."
"No, but that is," Ryukyu points out, causing both of you to laugh again, this time at Rumi's expense.
"Can I please take this off now?" you beg as things calm down.
You're not entirely sure, but knowing Rumi, you assume that she's smirking right now. "Go ahead."
Taking off the blindfold.
…
…
…
You're right in front of the U.A. training facility.
"I don't get it," you admit. "What's the surprise?"
Rumi holds up her entry pass. "Seniors can reserve this place for an hour a day, and as the top two students in our class, we get first pick on reservations. So Ryukyu and I coordinated it where we'll have two hours a day, this place all to ourselves. An area where the ban on quirk usage is officially lifted."
"Do you mean…."
"We're inviting you to train with us, officially," Ryukyu reveals.
You hug Ryukyu. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
"Why are you thanking us now?" Ryukyu smiles. "That's not your entire gift."
"It isn't?"
Rumi ruffles your hair a bit. "No, Pipsqueak, it's not."
Ryukyu crosses her arms behind her back, stretching idly. "Your father called us into his office. He… told us some stuff."
"Like how you're not actually quirkless,:" Rumi reveals.
You gasp.
"It's okay, Kazuha," Ryukyu insists. "We know why Nezu wants people to keep it a secret. He only brought it up because he figured the people closest to you should know the truth. We don't blame you for hiding it."
"Then… what?" you question. "What does my quirk have to do with…."
Ryukyu bites her hand, drawing a bit of blood from her fangs.
"Your quirks don't really line up with mine, so if I'm going to train you, then we'll have to have a similar, or in this case, the exact same quirk."
You're shell-shocked. "You'd really give me a copy of your quirk?"
"I'm not in it for the rankings, Kazuha. With your abilities, you could be the next All-Might. I want to cultivate your strength. Besides, there's nobody else I'd rather share a quirk with."
"Th-thank you," is all you can muster as Ryukyu cups her hand to preserve the bit of blood.
"Well, dig in," Ryukyu orders.
You gulp, now on the receiving end of the exact exchange you've shared with Himiko countless times over the last half-decade. Copying your best friend's technique as much as you can remember from memory, you quickly drink Ryukyu's blood.
As you finish the salty concoction, you take a step back.
…
"How long should it take to… take effect?" Rumi questions.
"I don't know," you admit. "This is my four…."
At that moment, you feel a searing pain in your stomach that quickly spreads across your entire body.
"What's happening?" you ask before the pain overwhelms your senses, forcing you to drop to your knees.
"Kazuha?!" Ryukyu screams, voice drenched with concern. What's wrong?!"
"I… don't… know…."
You don't know how to describe the sensation that overwhelms you, only that you would never wish it on another person.
Your whole body feels like a furnace… and like jello. The pain is the worst on your head, butt, feet, and back. Looking down on yourself, your skin flakes as if peeling off. It cracks, hardening. In one of your few conscious thoughts, you realize it's becoming scales.
Rumi picks up on things immediately. "I thought you said your transformation wasn't painful! And why is it so slow?!"
"I don't know," Ryukyu panics. "It was never like this! I swear!"
You shriek as the scales overtake your arms and legs more and more.
The five toes on each of your feet merge into three digits, your feet completely changing shape into something distinctly inhuman.
A small bump emerges from your little human tailbone before extending into an extra limb longer than your legs.
From your back, you feel the forming of two draconic wings, which quickly grow to full size, and another two new limbs in addition to your tail.
The rest of your body undergoes numerous changes, including two horns sprouting from your forehead and a shuffling feeling inside your mouth.
Unable to stay conscious due to your agony, you pass out as the gym door bursts open, a terrified Yu on the other side.
When you next wake up, everything feels so very, very wrong.
"Papa!" Horie happily cheers. "Kaz is awake! Kaz is awake!"
You immediately feel someone hug you. It feels… different against your… scales.
It's Himiko.
"Horie says you look scary now, but don't listen to her," Himiko snitches.
"I-I said no such thing!" Horie counters, flustered by clearly getting caught in a lie.
"But you did," Himiko smiles obliviously. "Oh, don't worry, you still have some patches of skin I can drink blood from."
That is… not even remotely one of my biggest concerns right now.
"Thanks?" you comment.
"You're welcome!"
You hear the door to your hospital room open. Tilting your head, you discover Nezu and Chiyoko both pacing their way to your bedside, Chiyoko using her quirk to give you a pick-me-up. A healing sensation spreads throughout your body... including your new tail and wings.
"What happened to me?" you interrogate your parents, who you quickly realize aren't smiling.
"Your quirk had a… severe reaction to the copying… and not as intended," Nezu reveals. "To our understanding, Ryukyu's quirk is a transformation quirk that she can trigger at will. But your version of her quirk… was… weaker… and instead presented itself as a mutation quirk."
You quickly realize the implications. "Am I… even human anymore?"
Chiyoko quickly hands you a hand mirror, allowing you to get a good look at your new body.
Much to your relief, you're still mostly human, with a few new draconic additions. Even your hands still have five digits, much to your comfort.
So I'm basically a dragon girl? Well, it could be worse, I guess. Still….
"I look like what happens when a dragon decides to fuck the princess."
Horie gasps at your use of a curse.
"Kazuha," Chiyoko scolds. "We didn't teach you to talk like that."
No, Yu did,
"I don't have ears anymore, Mom," you point out. "And I'm partially smelling out of my tongue. I don't think this is normal."
"I understand your anger," Nezu prefaces. "But there are plenty of mutation quirks like yours. It's nothing abnormal."
"But you know what is abnormal, Dad? Being a late bloomer at twelve! I've already had to deal with the world thinking I'm quirkless, and now this?!"
"We can always transfer you to a new school," Nezu suggested.
"But then I won't be with Himiko!"
"What do you want us to do?"
"I don't know!" you say, tearing up from frustration. "I don't know."
You all stay silent for a moment. Himiko, oblivious to her surroundings, deprived of her daily dose of blood, looks for a place to sink her fangs before Horie pulls her back.
Chiyoko puts a hand on Nezu's shoulder, clearly puzzled about handling your outburst. "It'll be a big change, Kazuha. We understand that. Your body is still healing from the metamorphosis and learning to use your new limbs… you'll have to attend physical therapy."
"Tell me something I don't know," you let her have it, completely frustrated.
"We'll be here for you every step of the way. Sometimes we… forget you're a child. But it's okay to be one. So… do what you have to do, child."
You take your mother's words to heart… and begin to sob.
The next day, still bedridden, you meet another two visitors… both blonde.
Ryukyu and Yu. With the way the latter talks about Ryukyu, I never expected them to be in the same room together.
"How do I look?" you instantly question them, causing Ryukyu's frown to become even deeper.
"I'm sorry," Ryukyu apologizes. "I'm so, so sorry."
"Oh, really?" Yu bites. "Because all I've heard you talk about is how you wanna make Kazuha your sidekick. But she's not the Robin to your Batman!"
Who are Batman and Robin? I know there were some superhero comics before the era of quirks; are they heroes from that time?
If Ryukyu got the reference, you're unsure, not that it mattered to her. "I haven't said anything of the sort, and you know it!" Ryukyu retorts. "I just wanna make things right."
"Wow," Yu rolls her eyes. "We came here to comfort dear Kazuha, and now you wanna argue, even though it's totally your fault this happened?"
Ryukyu's eyebrows narrow, but she holds her tongue for now. "Are you doing okay, Kazuha?"
"About as good as can be expected?"
Honestly, I'm not even sure anymore.
"I've been working on my quirk," Ryukyu reveals. "Trying to create a form similar to yours. I know it's not much, but I want to help fix things."
"Don't you think you've done enough damage?" Yu scoffs. "I mean, seriously, you're such a bitch."
"I thought we agreed not to do this now?" Ryukyu seethes. "And you start doing this?"
"I didn't start shit. I don't know what you're talking about. I'm just protecting Kazuha from you."
Ryukyu loses her patience. "The only reason you're here is because you're jealous of me."
"Do you really think so low of me? I might have selfish ends, but I'm a hero too."
"There's nothing heroic about you!"
"So I'm a villain then?"
"No, but -"
"You don't need to be a good person to be a hero," Yu snaps. "And don't pretend to be all noble and shit! I overheard you talking with Rumi. I know you think of Kazuha as your little sister. When she became like you, all you could see was how it would strengthen your bond, not how you fucking destroyed her life."
Ryukyu's fingernails lengthed into claws. "You won't take her from me."
"Kazuha isn't something to be owned; she's not your treasure horde to relentlessly shine into a perfect copy of yourself. She's a person, too. No amount of delusions you have will change that.'
"That's not what I'm doing! Stop mischaracterizing my love!"
"Then you're committing adultery?" Yu fakes shock. "That's even worse."
"Shut up!"
"Only after you dump that stupid training regime. Kazuha might be half lizard-brain now, but that doesn't mean she's your pet to demand obsolete obedience from. She should grow on her own. With the power of her quirk at her fingertips, the possibilities are endless. She can be more than Ryukyu 2.0!"
"And Kazuha will! But discipline and hard work are necessary."
"When will you realize she doesn't need you?"
"She does!"
Yu smirks.
"Did you hear that, Kazuha? Ryukyu here thinks that you need her. Everyone else doesn't need kid gloves to deal with their quirk, but you do? That's what Ryukyu thinks."
"There are plenty of children who learn from their predecessors, especially those with similar quirks! Your characterization of this world is plain wrong. Because the best heroes learn from the previous generation! "
Yu sneers. "That's what I hate about you the most. Heroes do this; heroes do that. I'm sick of people telling me what type of hero I should be. I'll be my own damn hero! This society is a disease, a place where the might of your quirk makes right."
"That's the talk of a villain."
"Or a concerned citizen who wants to see society go beyond one man."
"And I agree. But the principles of heroism, of leading by example, shouldn't be abandoned. That's what All-Might represents; people love him for that, not his strength!"
"That's naive."
"Coming from a slut! Have you seen your hero costume?!"
"That's the point!" Yu comments. "I have a great body, and if flaunting it will give me more fame and fortune, why shouldn't I use it?! As long as I'm heroic, why shouldn't I abuse the flaws in our society to better my position? If I could never beat you in power, then I can at least beat you in popularity and sex appeal!"
"Your income as a hero should come from your good deeds. Everything else is secondary and should arise from that. Instead, you plan to swoop in and steal the credit while shaking your ass. How is that worth anything?"
"You can't tell me as a senior you don't have brand deals lined up. And look at all the All-Might merchandise. You're telling me he doesn't use his image and goodwill to his advantage?"
Feeling the conversation has gotten off track, Ryukyu changes the topic back to you. "So? Even if you were right, everyone is free to act on their principles. You can't force someone to follow your ideology."
"That's rich, coming from you, control freak."
"I'm nothing of the sort! We've been over this! I'm doing this for Kazuha! I planned to train her even before I learned about her quirk. We've been working together for years. Does that mean nothing to you? Am I wrong to think of Kazuha as family and want nothing but the best for her? Why is my love so wrong to you?!"
"That was a mistake. This whole thing is a mistake! It never should have happened. She's better off without you."
"So she shouldn't have a mentor? Now that she's stuck with that body, you want to leave her to fend for herself."
"That's what I'm here for," Yu declares. "I'll teach her to make that power her own."
"Unless Kazuha can turn into a full dragon like me, then I'm pretty sure you can do nothing to help her. Your quirks aren't anything alike."
"There's more to teach her than just being a hero. Kazuha has a gift; it's time someone treated that power as just that, a superpower among superpowers."
"I won't let her be like you," Ryukyu threatens. "You won't hurt her. I won't let anything happen to her."
"I don't think that's for you to decide."
Yu turns to… well, you.
"Whose it going to be, Kazuha? You can't have the both of us."
"Of all the times you come in to swoop up the credit, you choose to do it over her? Do you hate me that much?"
"This isn't about us, is it? It's about Kazuha."
"Please, don't do this," Ryukyu begs.
"Because you're scared she'll pick me over you?"
"No, I -"
"Then stay out of it, and let her fucking pick! The person who turned her into a monster, or me."
"She's not a monster! You don't know anything about her."
"I know enough to know you're not right for her."
"You're the problem here, not me."
"Let's hear it from her own damn mouth, then."
Both Yu and Ryukyu turn to you expectantly. You couldn't get out of this if you wanted; you're in no condition to move quite yet, and the argument is too heated for you to have ended it before this point.
Both heroes in training are set in their ideals.
Both heroes have different images of who you can be.
One believes in the path of order; the other in chaos.
One wants to nurture you; the other wants to cultivate you.
One wants you to be a symbol of hero culture; the other wants you to stand in the face of it.
One loves you; one sees an opportunity.
One can give your strength and willpower; the other can provide you charisma.
Both can change you.
But who will you pick?
DECISION POINT: WHO WILL KAZUHA PICK TO BE HER MENTOR?
A - Ryukyu Tatsuma
B - Yu Takeyama
