Today is the first day of the work-study.

I should be excited.

But some bitter revelations stole all sentiments of enthusiasm.

Class 1-A had congregated in the dormitory's common room to celebrate Christmas. Two days later, we would leave for our respective work-studies. Even though it was long decided where I would go, I was eager. A chance to learn. A chance to prove that I deserved my license. An official debut into the world of heroes.

Midoriya and Bakugou were going to join me on this journey. The fact that they accepted my impromptu invitation … it only made me happier.

So after cleaning up the party, I went upstairs to share my joy with Selene.

I knocked. A few seconds later, there was a crash. I called out if she was okay. The echoes of shuffling and sliding were the only response. Then I heard the chain lock open. She opened the door.

"Oh, it's you, Shouto. Good evening!" she yawned.

She was in a nightgown, and her hair had come a bit undone. "Did I wake you?" I asked. "I'm sorry."

"No, no. It's completely fine. Come inside." She turned on the light switch and moved to give me entry. "I was exhausted from another bout of flares, so I thought it would be best to go to sleep. I had just closed my eyes when you knocked."

"That bad?" A weak smile told me all that I needed to know. I pulled her away from the wall that she was limping against into my arms. It was a short distance to her bed, but I insisted on carrying her to her it, despite her protests. "In case you haven't noticed," I grinned, "I quite enjoy holding you like this."

It amazed how she could blush like I was doing this for the first time.

It made me want to tease her more.

When I set her down and propped her pillows behind her, I removed my shoes and sat across from her on the bed. "Would a foot massage help?"

"Hmm?" Her cheeks reddened further.

I brushed my fingertips against the slope of her bare feet. Watching her toes curl in response filled me with delight. "I'll use my fire." I repeated the touch with just the barest hint of heat.

Her breath hitched. "If you wish."

I required no further prompting. Plopping her feet on my lap, I promptly began to massage one of them. Squeezing the muscles, pressing the tendons, bending her toes. As promised, I activated my quirk just enough to warm her. It did not escape me that besides her face and neck, this was the only skin on her persona that I touched. Her feet were badly scarred; the soles, especially, carried the vestiges of third-degree burns. Various parts had slightly different textures. At some point, she hid her face in a pillow. It was then that I understood that she was more embarrassed by the scars than my teasing.

I lifted the Santa cap from my head and put it on hers. She looked up in confusion. My smirk made her flush. "You look adorable," I whispered.

"Red and white suit you better," she murmured back.

"Then you should put it back on me."

When I finished massaging the other foot, I kissed her front ankles. A silent declaration that not a single part of her disgusted me. She hugged the pillow tighter.

I did not let go of her feet when I told her about how I looked forward to the work-studies. Things were still tenuous between Endeavor and I, but it was an opportunity that I was willing to take. With my friends there, it would be better. All I had to do was set some guidelines to make it bearable. Selene listened to every word intently. She asked what his agency was like. I was more than happy to tell her.

A long time passed like this. She forgot her exhaustion, and I almost forgot what I wanted to ask her.

"Where are you going during winter break? If I recall correctly, I think for internships near the start of the school year, you went to Okinawa."

Her smile fell. "Shouto," she grimaced. "I'm not going anywhere."

"What do you mean? These are mandatory."

Selene let go of the pillow and wrung her wrists before staring me in the eye. "I never went to Okinawa. It was a lie fabricated by Hanada-sama because he had arranged meetings with me and his associates. A lie I was ordered to tell you and anyone else who asked. And even now I'm staying in Honshu. With the upcoming wedding, many preparations are underway, and it is my responsibility to oversee them." She moved her legs to reach for my hands. "I'm really sorry for lying to you. I can make all the excuses I want, but it doesn't justify hurting your feelings."

She was not wrong. I did feel hurt. I had thought that were close enough to keep our secrets but still not lie. But what hurt more than that was the implication that since she did not go anywhere, she was stuck for an entire week enduring unspeakable things at Hanada-shi's command. And now … she was about to suffer more. I threaded my fingers through hers. "Last winter you were stuck at the manor. At least this winter you should go somewhere. He, his sons, and the staff can handle the preparations. He wants to use you to gain hero favor, right? Then the work-study is a golden opportunity for him. Can't you use that excuse to convince him?"

She shook her head. "No one is going to choose a disabled girl to fight on the frontlines. Those nominations from the Sports Festival … they were the product of entertaining the public, not my effort. Do you remember Bakugou's first nickname for me? Three Legs, was what he called me. A joke on the Greek riddle of the sphinx. But it was an accurate representation of what most people thought of me: weak, crippled, and harmless.

"Shouto, you care about my personality than my disability. But people see what they want to see. And most people see a girl who cannot walk without a cane."

I refused to believe that. "If that's true, then how have you been garnering hero support all this time?"

"By showcasing myself. The heroes who nominated me called Hanada-sama that evening to arrange a meeting with him. He told me that I was repeatedly praised for the burst of roses and rainbows. No one acknowledged the thought I had to put into winning those battles. For some, simply being a student of U.A. is enough to consider investing. For others, it is a grandiose yet sickening notion to help those unable to fend for themselves. No matter the individual reasons, it is not my work that grants me merit; it is my appearance."

People were shallow. That was indisputable fact. I heard her be insulted. I witnessed her spectacles at the Sports Festival. Miyamoto and his gang's reactions to her victory, the news anchorage talking about the poor fate of a 'handicapped' when she was kidnapped, the perverts who sidled up to her thinking she was easy … Selene was right. Time and time again, the public focused on her inabilities instead of capabilities. Yes, there were some things she couldn't do; no, that was that not the only quality that defined her.

But who am I to preach? I'm not blameless, either. When we first met all those months ago, didn't I mostly wonder why a girl with a cane was taking the entrance exam to the Hero Department? Then I realized how sorely I had underestimated her. Even though I recognized her talents soon after, there was no way I could prove the same to others. Never had my shortcomings become so apparent as it did now.

"Shouto," she spoke again. I looked at her, disappointment at the world and myself brimming in my eyes. "I do not blame you. This is simply a bitter pill of life I learned to swallow a long time ago. Thank you for thinking about me, but I will manage. The Hanadas will have to be careful how they treat me around their future relatives, so I expect the abuse to lessen significantly over the break. So I wish for you to concentrate on your own progress, Shouto. Focus on having a good time during your work-study. Can you do that?"

I sighed, "You're asking me to do the impossible. Yet I'll try for your sake. Promise me you will keep in touch. It's not going to be easy for me to give my all, knowing that you are under constant threat."

It was her turn to kiss me. She pressed her lips against my scar. "I promise."

That night, I clung to her like she was sand that would drift away.

Next morning, she did.

I reread her text from this morning.

It is a photo of white arum lilies with a message reading that she is out shopping for wedding aesthetics.

Her subtle way of telling me that she is all right.

For now.

Two words whose balance lies precariously on the edge of safety and danger. I try to seek comfort that she is safe at the moment and focus on the task at hand. Endeavor apprehended a 'peaceful villain' and handed him over to the police. Bakugou, Midoriya, and I tried to assist, despite his idea that we watch from a distance. After a confusing talk about a novel with profound ideologies with Hawks, the four of us drive straight to his agency.

His assistants give us a tour of the place, even though I have been here many times in the past. All I really care is the kind of training we would get. To learn that I will be personally trained by Endeavor while my classmates will work with the assistants bothers me. I don't desire any sort pf preferential treatment. I begin preparing my argument when he steps out of his office.

He calls each of us by our hero name and announces, "I will be the one in charge of you." I'm more than a little surprised that I do not have to do anything to convince him. I recover quickly. So I don't have to tackle that problem, but some boundaries have to be set. Mom had faith that I could make decisions for myself. Selene reminded me that forgiveness was my choice. With their words in mind, I summon the courage to do what must be done.

Endeavor requests Bakugou and Midoriya for their goals in coming here. Midoriya answers first. He seeks to control his powers - new and old - so that in times of duress, he can maximize the impact and minimize the damage. At least, that is the conclusion Endeavor reaches from Midoriya's spiel. Bakugou is succinct with his words. His purpose is opposite of Midoriya's: he desires to learn the limits of his power and overcome them.

I wait for him to grant me the chance to speak, but when his figure turns around, it is up to me to make him listen.

"I've got something to say, too," I tell him when his back is facing me.

He moves to properly face me. Flames ripple in a frenzy along his frame. "I thought you came here to master Flashfire!" he shouts.

Contrary to his visible frustration, I keep my voice calm. "You beat the way to use my quirk into me when I was a kid. And I put into practice with my right side." I have his attention now. "Looking back on it, I was stupid. All I was thinking about was how to best piss you off. But when I started attending U.A., spending time with these guys … with everyone … and competing with them, it really opened my eyes.

"Endeavor. When all was said and done, I played right into your hand." A memory from the Sports Festival resurfaces. He had accosted me after my first one-on-one battle, in which I won with just my ice. He warned me that my stubbornness would hinder me in the future. It stings my pride to admit it, but he was right. For the same reason, that is the only bit I will concede. I meet his gaze head-on with my next words. "But remember this. The hero I admire is the one I saw on TV together with Mom. I came here of my own free will. As an aspiring hero. In order to become a person worthy of that title, I came here to use you.

"Sorry, but you're just a convenience. That's all. So quit trying to act like my dad in front of my friends."

Let family stay at home, let heroism stay outside. That is the boundary I want to draw.

My message reaches him. "Got it," he says resolutely. "I'll watch over you three as a hero."

Shortly after, the three of us go on our first patrol with him. Endeavor isn't the type of person to waste time with theatrics and small talk, a quality I appreciate now more than ever. Rescue operations, aiding evacuations, and fighting villains … these are the three foundations of heroism. In general, heroes choose to develop their skills in one of the three fundamentals; Endeavor strives to achieve all of them. His examples include: "Knowing everything there is to know about your jurisdiction so that you won't overlook even the slightest anomaly, rushing to the scene faster than anyone else, and minimizing casualties by warding off civilians with heat." I take mental notes of the things he says.

For the duration of our winter break, we are expected to remain rational and efficient at all times.

Gain experience to accomplish our individual goals.

And most importantly, subjugate one villain faster than Endeavor.

The heat of eagerness may not be coursing through my veins, but the blaze of unwavering determination is.

I will give my best in everything.

I will surpass my shortcomings.

Note: I have copied some dialogue from one of the English-translated versions of the manga. The link to the chapter is here:

.online/manga/boku-no-hero-academia-chapter-247/