Anyone here read the webcomic Rain? By Jocelyn Samara? Really cute webcomic. Cracked my egg. Recently read through it again. Please give it some love.
Anyways, here's your chapter. Here's the Discord: /cgFmXz3qJ5
While Jaune loved teaching, there was one thing he loved more- a week off. Shiketsu was great about giving those out. Plus, he could sleep in. Sleeping in as an adult is like doing crack. Such a rush.
…Maybe it's not THAT severe, but still. Feels great. Jaune sank deeper into his soft mattress, he relished the feel of the cool, clean cotton sheets against his skin. The bed felt like a safe haven, a nest of comfort that enveloped him in its warmth..
Pyrrha nudged Jaune awake in their bed. "Mmmm…" She mumbled.
Jaune yawned, and rolled over. "Mmmm?" He replied. "What…"
"Eggs." She murmured.
"Eggs?" He tiredly repeated.
"Eggs."
"...you want breakfast."
"Hmmm." Pyrrha said, cuddling up to him- it was her way of swaying her opinion. "Eggs."
Jaune chuckled. "Okay, okay. Give me a minute. I'm waking up now, I guess…"
Pyrrha gave a small smile. "Yayyy…" She yawned, nuzzling closer to Jaune. With a soft sigh, he mustered up the energy to swing his legs over the side of the mattress and plant his feet on the floor. Pyrrha also slowly got up- usually, she looked like a Goddess walking. But in the early morning, she looked like a mess. Dried drool and messy hair, pajamas slightly undone because of…certain night activities.
(Jaune, you devious dog-)
Teachers on Shiketsu lived outside campus, in a small 'gated' community not too far from the school. Pyrrha and Jaune lived in a two story house, with a cozy living room, a spacious kitchen, and three bedrooms. They both loved the privacy and peacefulness of the neighborhood.
Jaune shuffled into the kitchen, rubbing his bleary eyes. Pyrrha followed him, still half-asleep. Jaune grabbed a few eggs from the fridge and cracked them into a frying pan. He added a few pieces of bacon and soon the kitchen filled with the sizzling sounds of breakfast being made.
Pyrrha leaned against the counter, watching Jaune cook. "You know," she said, "I love these lazy mornings with you…"
"Same," Jaune said, flipping the eggs. "It's nice not to have to rush anywhere. Just take it easy and enjoy each other's company. Wanna do a 'no plans' day? Maybe watch some of those movies Ben and Ruby recommended?"
"Do you think they're free? I'd love to have dinner with them." Pyrrha was very hungry when groggy.
"Ah, I think Ben's busy. He's got that kid from UA interning with him, remember?" Jaune asked.
"Oh, right…internships." Pyrrha recalled, brain function slowly returning. The way Shiketsu did first year internships was different from UA- following a personality evaluation, kids were matched up with a hero that best suited their needs. It was a bit of a blind box, but most match ups were successful.
Most. Keep that word in mind.
"Our kids left for theirs today, right?"
Jaune checked the kitchen clock- 11:24. "They left bright and early, around 8 or something." Jaune said. "I hope they don't mind the assignment I gave them."
"Oh, don't pile too much work on them." Pyrrha teased. "I remember you could barely juggle your workload back at Beacon."
Jaune got all flustered. "That's different. All I asked was that they write about a hardship they faced DURING their internship. Probably something they can throw together the night before it's due. And I'll give them all A's after a quick read through!"
"It's because you wanna hang onto the laziness, isn't it?" Pyrrha asked.
"...yeah…" Jaune admitted.
Pyrrha giggled. "Well, I don't blame you. It's our week off, after all. We can be lazy if we want to."
"Exactly." Jaune said, piling the eggs onto two plates. "Now, let's eat before it gets cold…"
Medaka Kurokami
May 5th, 20XX
Professor Jaune Arc
The Hardships of Teammates: My Time with Best Jeanist
When considering the personality of Medaka Kurokami, Best Jeanist was a good fit for the girl. Best Jeanist was a man who values professionalism and excellence, as well as professionalism. An influential hero through and through, he believed very strongly that people with influence must maintain a positive appearance both physically and socially.
Medaka fit the description perfect- capable, competent, natural leader...and stylish.
Imagine Best Jeanist's surprise when Medaka showed up, already in 'uniform'. She wasn't wearing her usual Shiketsu uniform nor her hero costume, rather something she threw together from her closet. She wore an open, light yellow jacket and a dark red shirt which showed her midriff. She also wore jeans and detached sleeves that matched her shirt, with a badge of Shiketsu's emblem pinned to her jacket's left side.
Best Jeanist received a welcome shock. "Shiketsu remarked that you were ahead of your time. I wasn't planning on receiving a demonstration immediately."
Medaka nodded. "An honor to work alongside you for this week of enrichment."
"Just because you make a good first impression doesn't mean I'll go easy on you…" Best Jeanist said, leading Medaka into his lounge area. "But, consider me charmed."
"Thank you," said Medaka as they walked in. Something was already going on: Best Jeanist's equally stylish sidekicks were trying to brush someone's hair, and he was getting very angry about it.
Best Jeanist grimaced "Apologies for not informing Shiketsu earlier- I was offered another internship recently. Normally, I'd turn it down, but this boy needs some guidance. I'm sure you'll recognize him."
Guidance? Medaka thought, watching the scene.
"I said, STOP IT! If it's not gonna go down the first time you coated my hair in your shitty hair spray, it's not gonna go down the second time!" The character yelled. Medaka walked closer and closer, curious about what was going on.
"Listen up, boy. Jeanist is very concerned with being prim and proper, and your bedhead is the least prim and proper thing we've ever seen." A man with an oversized jacket (named Big Jacket) cursed, furiously brushing his hair.
"We got a reputation to uphold-!" Another man with an oversized pair of pants (named Big Pants) accosted him.
"Really!? Why the hell does a hero even need to look like he's going on a hot date if I'm gonna end up bloodied and bruised!?" The kid cursed.
"That should NOT be your end goal…" Big Jacket sighed, as he finally gave up. Medaka could now clearly see who the character in question was.
Medaka recognized him as Bakugou Katsuki, recent winner of the UA Sport Festival Tournament. She recalled thinking he was a brute, especially with the way he was acting during some of the matches. Medaka observed the fiery determination in Bakugou's eyes as he continued to argue with Best Jeanist's sidekicks. She could see the immense potential in him, despite his rough exterior and obvious attitude problem.
"Hm." Medaka said. While she expected to take a small break from fulfilling people's requests this week, it seems she'd have to help Best Jeanist with this task…
Considering who she was dealing with though, this might be the biggest challenge yet. Something to actually look forward to!
Bakugou shoved the other sidekicks away, and glared at Medaka. "What the hell are you looking at!?"
Medaka frowned. "What a proper greeting."
"Katsuki, this is Kurokami Medaka, a student from Shiketsu. You two will be my interns." Best Jeanist explained.
"Shiketsu?" Bakugou scoffed. "Great..."
"Do you have a problem with Shiketsu?" Medaka asked.
"Yeah, second best. U.A's the top spot with Shiketsu always in the shadows."
"How about we not dwell on rankings. We're all here to learn and become better heroes," Medaka replied calmly. "If Best Jeanist believes that we can benefit from this internship, then we should give it our all."
"Plus, Medaka is class president of the freshman class. She has the skills to back her up, just as much as you do." Best Jeanist added.
"What does she even do?" Bakugou asked.
"That will be revealed in due time." Medaka said. "A woman never tells."
"Really fancy way of saying 'I'm embarrassed about my powers'." Bakugou scoffed.
"Enough." Best Jeanist said, putting his arm in between the two students. "Let's just start with a basic patrol around the area."
"Finally. Real work." Bakugou took a step forward, but was stopped by Jeanist. "Aw, what now!?"
"Put on your patrol jeans, Katsuki." Best Jeanist frowned.
"...you're shitting me, right?"
"Something about my tone sounds like a joke to you?"
"'Patrol jeans' itself sounds like a bad punchline!" Bakugou pointed out.
"At least entertain the idea. We got a jean jacket if that's too much-" One of the sidekicks with oversized shoes said.
"I don't wanna wear ANYTHING denim related. Not my style." Bakugou frowned.
Medaka didn't exactly like Bakugou's attitude. To her, it screamed 'I am a tyrant, the world should bow to me'. It seemed very grating, too. She'd been around him for a full minute and already she missed Kumagawa's oddities and self deprecation. Bakugou was the total inverse.
"Unfortunately, the denim is required. Medaka showed up already in uniform, so, nothing to worry about there," Best Jeanist said.
"Just sucking up to you, probably," Bakugou huffed.
"First impressions are important," Medaka countered.
"...kiss ass." He mumbled, before going to reluctantly put on the 'patrol pants'. Medaka grimaced- Bakugou Katsuki could be her hardest case yet.
"Normally, we don't get many crimes around here," One of Best Jeanist's sidekicks, Big Scarf, explained to the two students as they walked around the block. "Mainly because no one's stupid enough to pull something with a top 3 hero nearby."
"That makes sense. The ranking itself can be a powerful deterrent," Medaka nodded.
"So then what's the point?" Bakugou asked, "We're supposed to take down villains, aren't we?"
"There's other ways of being a hero, kid." Big Scarf grinned. "Can't always be brutal fights to the death."
Bakugou looked miffed. "I'm wasting my time here, then."
"Wasting your time? How can you think that?!" Medaka asked, "We're supposed to protect people! Show them that no matter what, as heroes, we'll be there to defend their peace!"
"Except there's nothing to defend them FROM here. No villains, no crooks, no accidents, nothing! It's just boring sightseeing! If I wanted that, I'd just go on vacation!" Bakugou countered.
"Our role is to inspire and reassure the public, to make them feel safe even in the absence of danger. Do you think Star and Stripe is always in a battle?" Medaka asked.
"Villains in America are different," Bakugou said, "Lot more of 'em and a lot more villain groups. I mean there's some idiot with a butterfly Quirk who keeps trying and failing to kill her."
"Doesn't change the fact that being a hero involves more than just combat-" Medaka's counter was cut off by the sound of a commotion coming from a nearby store.
"HEY! STOP THAT GUY!" The shopkeep yelled, as a man burst from the shop, wearing a strange bunch of armor on his body. Looked like...a cash register and an ATM?
Bakugou grinned. "There we go..." He charged towards the man in the strange armor, his hands crackling with explosive energy. Medaka and Big Scarf followed closely behind.
"Hey, kid! Don't rush him so brazenly-" Big Scarf yelled, but Bakugou didn't heed his warning. Powerful explosions rocked the immediate vicinity, sending sparks and debris flying in all directions. The man in the makeshift armor struggled to maintain his balance, his contraption taking a beating from Bakugou's relentless assault.
"Little shit!" The man yelled, as the machinery on his body started to shift.
"Oh, and what are you gonna do about it?! Barely even a D-lister if your 'armor's' anything to go by!" Bakugou taunted.
The man's armor suddenly shifted into a massive gauntlets, which quickly wrapped Bakugou's hands. "These should contain you, you little shit!" The man smirked, suddenly whipping the boy into a wall.
"Oh, really?" Bakugou smirked, light starting to glow inside the gauntlets. The would-be robber looked down at his hands before two powerful explosions went off, shattering the gauntlets and freeing the explosive U.A. student.
"What the shit..." The foul mouthed thief cursed, watching the pieces of the machine scatter...and pieces of green paper rain down.
Big Scarf groaned. "Kid...please don't tell me you just blew up the money!"
"Wha-? The hell did you make your armor from?!" Bakugou asked.
"...the actual ATM," the thief deadpanned.
Bakugou grimaced. "Your fault for choosing something so stupid to wear!"
Big Scarf sighed, as Medaka brushed past him. She tapped the crook's clothes, and immediately, they morphed into steel. "W-what the hell!?" The crook yelled, as Medaka pushed him backwards, and he landed on the ground.
Bakugou scoffed. "Wow. Great way to show and tell." He said sarcastically. "Lame ass quirk."
Big Scarf cleared his throat. "Um...actually? That was my quirk."
"...huh?" Bakugou asked, "Oh don't tell me. You're like that self-centered asshat from the Festival. You copy Quirks..."
"In a way." Medaka said, tapping the crook's head. "His power was repurposing machinery, it seems." Medaka demonstrated it by touching a few of the fragments Bakugou blew up, and reconstructing the ATM. "Wasn't able to salvage the money..."
"So that's it? Just...piggybacking off the power of others huh? Super impressive," Bakugou rolled his eyes dismissively.
Medaka glared at Bakugou. "Is there a problem with that?" She said, with narrowed eyes.
"You get everything handed to you on a silver platter with a power like that." Bakugou scoffed. "I worked hard to get where I am...where you get to tap a guy on the shoulder and win. Cool power, Shiketsu Shithead."
"Yes. You worked hard. But you don't know the price of perfection. It may look nice, but this quirk is a curse. I don't know the rules for any sport, but yet I can play it. There's nothing new for me…and you're saying this life is a silver platter-" Medaka said.
"BOOHOO! I didn't ask about your life story." Bakugou rolled his eyes.
"Do you always interrupt people during heartfelt moments?" Medaka asked.
"Yes, because I don't care. To me, you're all just a bunch of extras with fluff backstories that no one really cares about anyway."
Medaka grit her teeth. "I don't know what hurt you back in the day, but you'll never be that great of a hero with that attitude."
"And your 'high and mighty' attitude ain't gonna do wonders either!" Bakugou yelled.
"If you focused all of that attitude to fighting villains instead of your teammates, you might actually be a good hero," Big Scarf sighed, cuffing the would-be robber.
"What's that supposed to mean? I am gonna be a good hero, the best Hero! You're looking at a future Number 1 here!" Bakugou said triumphantly.
"Pffft, yeah right..." the robber rolled his eyes dismissively.
"What did you say, scumbag?!" the temperamental hero-to-be held up his open palm, setting off a few small explosions just to get his threat across.
The man leaned back. "Wait a minute...you're that sports festival shitheel! The kid who threw the temper tantrum!" The criminal laughed. "Oh, man...class act."
"You better watch your mouth, you extra-" Bakugou growled, flames of frustration flickering in his eyes.
Big Scarf stepped forward, placing a calming hand on Bakugou's shoulder. "Easy there, kid," he said, his tone measured. "Heroes gotta keep cool, even when provoked. Losing your cool makes you look like a petulant child."
Bakugou forced his hand off his shoulder. "Whatever." He huffed, storming off. Medaka frowned- his unrelenting nature, while obviously his strongest quality, was a bigger weakness than he realized. A boy like that could never be a true hero if he didn't open his heart.
The criminal on the ground continued to chuckle, but his laughter was cut short by the stern glare from Medaka. "You may find this amusing now, but remember..." She warned, her voice carrying a hint of disappointment. "It's never too late to change your path and make better choices."
"Why'd you even steal the money?" Big Scarf asked.
"I needed money to buy a lambo." The criminal frowned.
Medaka and Big Scarf blinked.
Medaka shook her head in disbelief. "You risked your freedom...for a sports car?"
The criminal gave a casual shrug, clearly not fully comprehending the gravity of his actions. "Hey, you gotta have goals in life, right?"
"I don't even think you should go to jail. You just need some reformation..." Medaka sighed. "But, you ARE a dope."
"A dope who nearly had a lambo!"
"Okay, shush."
A few days after Medaka and Bakugou started their internship, there was an incident in Hosu City. From what reports were saying, a bunch of… 'monsters' started rampaging, and then the Hero Killer Stain took advantage of the situation. Thankfully, heroes like Endeavor and Ben 10k were there to deal with it.
…but what irritated Bakugou about the situation was the fact that, APPARENTLY, some kid he went to class with was also present. From what another friend told him, the kid sent a message in the class' group chat (Bakugou wasn't present in said chat because he didn't want some certain chatty members to have his number) with his location- and he was in Hosu.
Bakugou wasn't sure, but there was a chance he was who caught the Hero Killer.
All conjecture.
But people EASILY get mad at possibly false scenarios.
"Damn Deku…" Bakugou scowled, pacing around the room. "First he gets into UA, then he takes down some villain- like he's a big goddamn deal-!"
Medaka ignored his temper tantrum as she typed away on a computer in the Best Jeanist offices. She was typing up a report, furiously detailing everything she could about her experiences so far.
An embodiment of relentless determination and fierce independence, my fellow pupil is an unyielding character- but not one easy to follow. I won't name who this character is, but his goals for reaching the top are flawed. I had hoped to connect to him by the end of the internship, but he won't relent.
I'm a bit upset by that.
Bakugou, still agitated, glanced over at Medaka, clearly unimpressed with her focus on her report. "What are you typing so damn fast for?"
"I'm doing schoolwork," Medaka replied, her voice calm and composed. "I assume you have some as well."
"Did it in advance. Already know the damn courses," Bakugou retorted, his impatience evident.
Medaka let out a thoughtful hum. "You do strike me as an 'early to rise' sort of character."
Bakugou paused for a moment, his frustration momentarily eclipsed by curiosity. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I'm just giving a simple compliment. You don't want anything impeding your goals." Medaka said, not breaking from her focus on her computer screen. "And I respect that."
"Damn right you should." Bakugou smirked- feeding his ego was the only way to really end his argument. It was strange. Medaka tried not to let her ego grasp her, in spite of her inherently overpowered quirk. Sure, she could be 'extra', but in Bakugou's cause, spite and pettiness fueled his every move. Like he needed constant acknowledgement.
"Katsuki," Medaka said, her tone firm but not confrontational, pausing from her typing. "What's your take on this Hero Killer they apprehended?"
Bakugou scowled, his irritation evident. "Don't call me that," he grumbled. "And on that shitstain— he's a loser."
"How carefully worded." Medaka raised an eyebrow.
"Stain had this stupid vision- he was mad that heroes were doing their job. So what? If it's not broke, don't bother trying to fix it. Common sense."
"I'm not sure if I can agree with that very simplified dogma." Medaka frowned.
"Huh?"
"I know a character like Stain, at my school. He's an interesting personality, but one I have to begrudgingly admire for his brutal honesty." Medaka said. "He called people fake- while I can't say every hero is fake, there is a level of truth to his critique. Some heroes may lose sight of their initial intentions, becoming more focused on fame and fortune than genuine heroism."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Bakugou frowned.
"I'm not fully agreeing with Stain's actions- murder is still murder. A life is still a life- but I value reeducation and correction over all else." Medaka continued. "We should strive to reform those who've strayed from the path of heroism, rather than simply condemning them."
"This kid...sounds like a real loser."
"A good loser, actually." Medaka said.
"Whatever. There's no combating it. Stain's an idiot. Who cares if some hero has a personality?" Bakugou rolled his eyes. That unwavering confidence would be-
...
Medaka's next words struck a chord with Bakugou. "Implying you wouldn't be one targeted by him."
Bakugou's eyes widened, caught off guard by her statement. "Excuse me?"
"I'm just saying." Medaka frowned. Her words hung in the air, making the atmosphere uncomfortable.
"Are you saying I'd be on Stain's hit list?" Bakugou finally asked.
Medaka nodded, her frown deepening. "Your personality and approach to heroism might make you a contentious figure in the eyes of those who believe heroes have lost their way. What would you do if you were face to face with him-"
Bakugou slammed his hand down on the desk, but Medaka didn't flinch. If looks could kill, Bakugou would be arrested.
"I'd *win.*" Bakugou cursed. "I'd show him what a real hero is made of, and shut up his self-righteous crap for good."
"Then what do you truly gain from always winning? It seems like you never really learn from it." Medaka probed.
"What's there to LEARN?" Bakugou scoffed. "He sucks, I'm strong, and that's all there is to it. This isn't some stupid deep conversation."
"Strength alone isn't the only measure of a hero-"
"STRENGTH is my only measure." Bakugou snapped. It wasn't intentional. He didn't even catch it slipping out. That was something personal.
...and that told Medaka enough about Bakugou.
That's all there was to him.
A power.
Take that away...and you probably just had a husk.
"I see." Medaka said quietly, her tone tinged with a touch of sadness. "...I apologize for bothering you."
"Yeah. You should." Bakugou walked off, leaving Medaka alone with her report again.
Is this what I could have turned out to be like if I never met Zenkichi? Medaka mused. A woman too proud of her power to be much else?
Medaka resumed typing.
This internship reaffirmed my belief that powers aren't everything, She typed. I'd rather be saved by someone with a nice personality and smile than someone with a powerful quirk. Best Jeanist seems to recognize this more than anyone, and I'm grateful for his comfort.
…I hope his lesson won't be lost on the other student.
Medaka hummed. "I should erase that ellipses. That doesn't fit in an essay." She muttered, making her quick correction.
…
This is also a call out post for the author.
Zenkichi Hitoyoshi
May 6th, 20XX
Professor Jaune Arc
The Power of Observation
Zenkichi didn't end up interning at a hero agency, like most kids in his class. Instead, he ended up at…
"A police station?" Zenkichi frowned. As he stood in the bustling police station, he couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment. Medaka ended up working with Best Jeanist, Mogana was with Gang Orca with some other students…and he didn't even want to talk about who Kumagawa ended up working with.
I knew there was a reason Mr. Arc didn't tell me what was going on, Zenkichi thought, as he walked through the police station. This place is busy, but…
Is it just setting me up for failure?
Zenkichi's thoughts were interrupted when a senior detective approached him with a warm smile. "You must be Zenkichi, right?" the detective asked.
"Huh? Uh, yeah. I'm him." Zenkichi said.
"I'm Naomasa Tsukauchi. Star and Stripe recommended you." The detective said. "She said you were more observant than most kids your age."
"And that translates to working here for a week." Zenkichi raised an eyebrow.
"Police play a crucial role in maintaining order and ensuring the safety of citizens." Tsukauchi explained. "We gather intelligence, and investigate crimes that sometimes go unnoticed…and having a 'mind reader' is kinda handy."
"...fair." Zenkichi conceded.
"Besides, we kinda need backup like that right now. You've seen the news?" Tsukauchi asked.
Zenkichi paused. "Oh, crap. Forgot about all that Stain nonsense."
The police were grappling with the recent resurgence of the infamous Hero Killer Stain, whose actions had been making headlines. The mention of Stain brought a serious tone to the conversation…and one Zenkichi could understand.
"So, I take it we're just gonna get right into the debriefing." Zenkichi said.
"Correct." Tsukauchi nodded, motioning for Zenkichi to follow him. Zenkichi followed Detective Tsukauchi into a private office, a debriefing room.
The debriefing room was equipped with a large screen displaying images and information related to Stain's recent activities, as well as some photos the press hadn't seen. Zenkichi couldn't look at them for too long- too…bloody.
"As you can see," Tsukauchi said, "Stain is a dangerous and unpredictable individual. We have no way of really predicting his attacks- but we have a good look into his modus operandi thanks to the lead detective on the case."
"Oh…are you not the lead?" Zenkichi asked.
"Nah. The lead detective is a remarkable individual, one who has dedicated a significant part of his career to understanding Stain's actions and motivations…especially after he survived an attack from the maniac." Tsukauchi explained.
"Survived?" Zenkichi repeated. "Who is this guy-"
Zenkichi suddenly felt something strange in the air, a palpable sensation that seemed to hang in the room. One that was usually only present when Medaka was-
Oh.
Ohhhhh.
Oooooh no.
The door to the debriefing room suddenly opened, and Zenkichi flinched. I can't escape this family. He thought, as someone wheeled over to him.
"Aw. Thought I'd be the one to catch you at the door." The man sighed, patting Zenkichi on the shoulder. "How's my sister treating you? Hope she isn't working you to the bone like usual."
Detective Tsukauchi looked somewhat confused by the informal exchange between the two. "Maguro, you know this kid? Is that why you were the one who approved his internship here?"
The man teased Zenkichi with a mischievous grin. "You could say that."
Zenkichi huffed. "Hello, Maguro." He said, turning around to face the man. Maguro had waist-length purple hair and two ahoges on his head; very similar to Medaka's hair style. He wore a purple shirt, violet wristbands, and a cross around his neck. He also wore a pair of green pants with a matching belt that was decorated with a skull and crossbones.
"Your sister's been…" Zenkichi cleared his throat. "An interesting president."
Maguro laughed heartily. "Well, she does have a way of keeping things lively, doesn't she?"
"If you mean butting in…then yeah." Zenkichi frowned.
"Woooah, no need to be so cold!" Maguro said. "You're practically an honorary Kurokami with how long you've known my sister-"
Zenkichi started to blush. "Drop it."
"Oooh, cool guy phrase." Maguro teased, poking Zenkichi's face. "I miss your yankee phase. That was a fun one-"
"Can we PLEASE focus on the murderer?"
Maguro cleared his throat. "Right, right. Now, before we continue further with this discussion, you're going to need to sign a very airtight NDA. There's details here the public cannot know, now or ever." Maguro produced one. Zenkichi snatched it from him, and began reading. Maguro chuckled.
"What?" Tsukauchi looked confused. "What's so funny?"
"He's reading the agreement." Maguro said.
"...yes. That's what you do." Tsukauchi frowned. "Is there a joke I'm not getting?"
"Knowing him, he probably snuck some bullshit joke in here." Zenkichi frowned. "He always does this."
"Well, I'm usually guilty, but...in this case, no." Maguro grinned.
"SEE?" Zenkichi yelled.
"If I knew you two had this kinda history, I would've brewed more coffee," Tsukauchi muttered as Zenkichi signed the areement after giving it a thorough look-over.
Zenkichi huffed. "Fine, it's legit. Now acquit." He said, shoving the paper over.
"Alright then," Tsukauchi agreed, opening up a drawer in his desk and bringing out the files they had on Stain.
"Stain- unforgiving and merciless." Maguro clicked through a few slides. "He's a monster through and through, someone so convinced they're in the right by taking out all these innocents...and for what? If your acts of heroism aren't completely altruistic, Stain will consider you to be The Paragon and punish you accordingly...by either crippling you or killing you."
"You sound like you have the experience." Zenkichi said.
"Of course I do." Maguro said. "I was his first victim..."
"What?"
"Every psychopath has a 'first blood.' Sometimes people don't even realize that a sloppy attempted murder was the same guy. We got lucky in that Stain was still...getting into the swing of things, as it were," Tsukauchi said.
"I got lucky. He was still good at fighting, but he hadn't gotten quite as efficient at it, yet," Maguro added.
"Okay, hold up. HOW did this happen!?" Zenkichi demanded. "I knew some accident crippled you, but I didn't know that this hero killer bastard did it!"
"Back when I was still out on the field, I had contact with a particular vigilante...named Stendahl." Maguro said. "He'd trade me insider info on some underworld activties and I'd occasionally supply him with some materials. I was young. I was a bit desperate...and it cost me when he turned on me."
"Your informant-"
"Was Stain, yeah. The good news was that his Quirk...whatever it was, hadn't been honed yet."
"What do you mean whatever it was?!" Zenkichi asked.
"I'm not sure he used it. Only used swords," Maguro answered.
"All we know from survivors is that it involved blood manipulation of some sort. Maybe...clotting." Maguro explained.
"A...Quirk that causes blood clots..." Zenkichi muttered, "How do you counter that?"
"You don't." Maguro frowned. "I learned that the hard way." He lifted up his shirt- Zenkichi's eyes widened when he saw the scars. For years, he'd always assumed that some tendons in Maguro's legs had been sliced- that was what he told EVERYONE who asked.
But this truth was far worse.
"From his brutal attack...I lost my left kidney, 20% of my heart, 50% of my liver, 75% of my stomach, five arteries, and three veins." Maguro explained, patting the scars.
"...you're messing with me, aren't you?" Zenkichi frowned. "20% of my heart? Bullshit."
"Yeahhhh. But the other stuff is real." Maguro smirked.
Zenkichi glared. "Bad time to make jokes."
"It's how I cope." Maguro said. "Anyways, our investigation is tackling something far more pressing- who's the person stitching up our villain?"
"He's got a personal nurse..." Zenkichi frowned.
"A lot of heroes managed to do some serious damage before...before they were slain." Maguro pulled up some crime scene photos on the debriefing room's screen. The images were disturbing, showing the aftermath of hero battles and the gruesome injuries inflicted upon them. "We suspect that Stain is being patched up and cared for by someone with extensive medical knowledge. Someone who can keep him in fighting shape despite his injuries. We've been trying to track down this underground nurse, but it's like chasing shadows."
"Lotta money to be made working for villains. Maybe he's got more than one doctor?" Zenkichi asked.
"We've considered that, but it got tossed out early on. If it was multiple doctors, then there might be some varying degrees of...quality in the work. But he's always come back quickly. We're looking for someone experienced, someone who knows the criminal underworld and the best ways to stay hidden there," Tsukauchi explained.
Zenkichi leaned back in his chair. "So, we're looking for a highly skilled medical professional with a deep knowledge of the criminal world, someone who can keep Stain patched up without leaving a trace. That's a tough nut to crack."
Maguro chimed in, "And someone who's willing to put their skills to such a nefarious use. They're not just aiding a criminal; they're helping a killer stay on the loose. Thankfully- we have a crime scene."
"We do?"
Zenkichi found himself standing at the foot of a dilapidated shack in the middle of a shady part of Hosu. Zenkichi winced. "Of course it's the creepiest looking shack I've ever goddamn seen."
Maguro laughed. "Come on, Zenny. It's just a shack! Not like it's alive."
"Don't call me that." Zenkichi snapped, making Maguro laugh again.
"God, your buttons are so easy to press." Maguro said, wheeling his way over.
"Glad to see that not even this atmosphere dampens your humor," Tsukauchi chuckled.
"Part of my charm!"
As they examined the shack's interior, their attention was drawn to a cot with disturbing bloodstains on it. Tsukauchi frowned, his professional demeanor taking over. "Chances are this is Stain's blood. We had some guys take some samples for the lab- we're hoping we can get something from that."
Zenkichi kept looking around the shed; the disorganized collection of tools and machinery had attracted his interest.
As he rummaged through the cluttered room, Zenkichi's eyes widened as he came across various medical instruments. The contents of a first aid kit were scattered around an old table: scalpels, sutures, sterile gloves, and even a portable defibrillator. His first skepticism quickly transformed into a rising terror.
"Guys," Zenkichi called out. The two detectives looked over to see Zenkichi's discovery.
"Tools." Tsukauchi frowned, before squinting. "And no fingerprints, either. Damn it."
Zenkichi shook his head in disbelief. "These tools are just lying around haphazardly. Is this how they operate?"
Maguro, on the other hand, had a different perspective. "No, no...It's a calling card..."
"A calling card? This?" Zenkichi asked.
"You'd be surprised. A lot of criminals, no matter how big, are glory hounds. They can't stand someone else taking credit for their handiwork, so they make the whole world know it was them."
"But...it's just a bunch of scattered tools. Not exactly a slashed x in the wall or something."
"Sometimes, subtlety is their way of sending a message. You'd be shocked at how much you miss subtlety." Tsukauchi frowned. "This just screams 'I don't care that you saw this.'"
"Seems a little..." Zenkichi started.
"Reckless? Maybe. But some people think they'll never get caught so they leave behind just enough evidence to tell you 'it's me,'" Maguro cut him off.
"Is there logic behind this?" Zenkichi said.
"Of course there is." Maguro smiled. "My quirk's always right with these things."
Maguro Kurokami! Quirk: Mental Scape. Using context clues, Maguro can instantly get into the mindset of a person. It's a formidable ability when it comes to analyzing what happened somewhere. However, using it in giant locations like an open city can overload his brain with info.
"Anything else of note you can pick up?" Tsukauchi asked.
Maguro scanned the room once more. He pointed to a cupboard. "Zenkichi- open that for me."
Zenkichi frowned. "It's at LEVEL with you. You don't need my help."
"Ahh, but I'm so little and fragile and my back hurts-" Maguro pretended to whine.
Zenkichi rolled his eyes. "Okay, okay! Jeez."
Tsukauchi rolled his eyes at the routine, his partner having pulled that on him once or twice before. Zenkichi moved over and opened up the cupboard in question.
Zenkichi's eyes widened. "Oh, shit..." He took a step back to reveal his findings. A discarded bunch of broken swords.
"No way he's that stupid to leave these here." Tsukauchi frowned.
"Can I-?" Zenkichi asked, only to be thrown a pair of gloves from Maguro as an answer. After putting the gloves on so as not to contaminate the evidence, Zenkichi reached in and pulled out one of the broken weapons, looking over it in his hands.
Zenkichi hummed. "It's not a typical katana. Extra curve near the base suggests it's a larger sword...maybe a nodachi."
"Thought you'd know that. Cool guys gotta know swords, right?" Maguro teased.
"Can you not? I'm being cool right now." Zenkichi said, spying something else on the blade. There were some flecks of white paint on it...
"What's...you see this too, right?" he leaned over and pointed out the flecks of paint to the investigation lead.
"Interesting..." Tsukauchi muttered, putting on gloves of his own to further inspect the weapon.
Maguro looked at it for a moment. "Oh...OH...oh, we just found something most interesting. This may have very well been the weapon Stain used against Ingenium."
"Wait, seriously?" Zenkichi asked.
"During the ambush, Ingenium's armor took most of the damage. Stain managed to find an opening and slip the blade in, bypassing the protection. So outside of the blood at the very tip..." Tsukauchi explained.
"The only other material he cut was the painted armor."
"There's a chance Ingenium could have escaped, if not for this weapon- we were wondering what weapon was stabbed through his legs." Tsukauchi shook his head. "Good work finding this, kid."
"Giving you total credit for it, too," Maguro added with a smirk.
Zenkichi smirked. And here I was, thinking this was a boring ass job.
...so, he was right. It was a boring ass job after all. A few days after the investigation, Zenkichi found himself buried in paperwork. Legal jargon and other sorts of crap, forms for further investigation, the wonders of Bureaucracy...he hated it.
"I thought this internship would get me AWAY from Kurokami paperwork." Zenkichi complained out loud, eyes scanning the document.
"You can never truly escape it," Tsukauchi said, rubbing his forehead. "Thanks to those UA kids, we're sort of swamped."
"This is all still related to the whole League thing?" Zenkichi asked.
"Somewhat. Bunch of UA kids thought they could take Stain- and they could, but still. Pretty dangerous when you're a bunch of unlicensed minors." Tsukauchi sighed. "One of them is coming in for questioning a bit, and here I am still buried in paperwork."
Zenkichi grumbled, shaking his wrist. "I need a drink...I'm gonna take a quick break."
"Please do. Don't want a young hero developing carpal tunnel." Tsukauchi joked.
"Har har."
"Ehhh, 6/10," Maguro admitted.
"You have a better joke?" Tsukauchi asked.
"I can make one. Just need a bit of time."
Zenkichi walked through the busy office, and into the breakroom. He pulled a glass out of the top cupboard, and walked over to the water cooler. He was about to start pouring himself a cup when he heard a sigh behind him.
The Shiketsu boy turned around to see some kid, maybe his age, who looked exhausted. And injured- the kid had a thick cast around his arm. Despite this, he still looked proper, with his collared shirt and khakis. He looked familiar, but Zenkichi couldn't place him.
"Work getting you down?" Zenkichi joked.
"You...could say that," the kid said, his voice a bit sullen but somehow, Zenkichi knew this guy would be the loudest and the most confident person in the room. Or at least one of the most confident if Medaka was there too.
Zenkichi pulled up a seat next to him. The boy scanned him up and down a few times. "A Shiketsu student...I assume you're here on your internship."
"Correct." Zenkichi nodded. "And so far? Boring. Would do anything for more field work right now."
"I...think I've had enough field work during mine, truth be told."
"That the reason for the cast?"
"...to a degree, yes."
Zenkichi sighed. "I'd swap places with you in a heart beat. Take my slowly developing carpal tunnel over your broken arm."
The boy chuckled. "I'm not sure you'd want this." He adjusted his glasses. "Oh, where are my manners...I'm Tenya Iida."
"Hitoyoshi Zenkichi. Nice to meet you." Zenkichi nodded. "...you aren't from UA, are you?"
"I am, yes. Why do you ask?"
"Ah, guy I'm working with mentioned you might swing by. Didn't say a name, though. Guy's swamped in paperwork." Zenkichi sad.
"I see." Iida said, looking down at his cast. "...tell me, Zenkichi. Have you heard the proverb about revenge?"
"Can't say I have." Zenkichi said.
"Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves." Iida said. "If a loved one was threatened...would you dig those graves, or maintain composure?"
"That's...kind of a tough question. I mean, I feel like most people would completely ignore the proverb and just go gung-ho into it and get themselves killed. But..." Zenkichi trailed off, actually trying to think of a proper answer.
"I thought so too." Iida said. "I thought I could handle my anger, but...instead, I just made a mess of everything, didn't I?" Iida looked out to the office. "I'm the cause of all this busy work. I apologize for that."
"...you're the one who went after Stain?" Zenkichi asked.
"As revenge for my brother, yes."
"Your brother? One of the heroes...who..." Zenkichi's gaze lowered to see the exhaust ports jutting out of the kids legs, "...Ingenium."
"That's me." Iida sighed.
Zenkichi huffed. "... your brother was a true hero," Zenkichi said. "I'd probably fight to defend his honor too, if he was mine."
"And you'd run off on your own to do so? Intern with a Pro simply because he was in the area where Stain 'claimed' as his hunting grounds?" Iida asked.
"Yeah." Zenkichi answered honestly. "Stain's an idiot. I saw his stupid video. He had no real reason to attack your brother- think about his impossible standard. Aside from Star and Stripe, no one can match up to All Might. Our society's paragon. But, he attacks the little guys who are trying to make an honest living. Guys who don't even have any merch to their name...but yet, All Might is the golden standard. Now, I love All Might as much as the next guy, but...he's overmarketed. He's everywhere. And Stain takes no issue with the famous guy. He takes issue with..."
Zenkichi stopped. "Sorry. Ranted there."
"No it...it makes sense. It is a bit...hypocritical when you look at it from that lens. But I think the difference is that he sees it as just a side effect. All Might never asked for the merchandise. But simply because a hero sets out to make money is not a reason to kill them. A friend of mine is motivated by money but in a positive way."
"Funny. So is mine." Zenkichi chuckled. "But, yeah. I totally get why...that feeling overtook you. It's crazy- you think you can handle the situation, but then you see him, and..." Zenkichi trailed off. "Yeah."
"I was just lucky that my friends arrived in time to save me," Iida sighed.
"...hold onto those friends." Zenkichi advised. "I respect a friend that's ride or die like that."
"Indeed..." Iida smiled. "I never expected...to have such loyal friends. I'm glad I was able to meet them. Otherwise...I don't think I would have survived my encounter."
Zenkichi grimaced. A dark thought...but a true one.
"Ah, there you are." Tsukauchi said, walking in the break room. "Sorry for keeping you waiting."
"It's fine, actually." Iida said, standing up. "I had some company."
Tsukauchi gave a small smile. "Thanks, kid. Finish up your break and get back to work, okay?"
"Right." Zenkichi said. Before he could take another sip of his water, Iida extended his hand.
"Thank you. Whatever Shiketsu is teaching you, it's working." Iida said. Zenkichi smirked, and firmly shook Iida's hand.
"Hey...not always a bad thing to speak to someone in trouble." Zenkichi said.