BEN 10 DOES NOT BELONG TO ME. MY HERO ACADEMIA DOES NOT BELONG TO ME. SINCE GENETIC MANIPULATION IS OUT, I'M FORCED TO BUILD A ROBOT ARMY TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD. THIS IS YOUR FAULT, AND YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
Time for things to wind down for our heroes, and kick things into the next gear for the villains!
My Alien Academia
Chapter 37
Partners
Shigaraki was in a better mood than normal, and though that still meant that he would kill anyone who angered him, he'd at least consider sparing them. Nothing felt better than a plan going off without a hitch. Toga had retrieved what he needed, and even though the Heroes would eventually find out, there was no way she had been tracked.
He had just gone to the meager kitchen to see what he could eat, when Kurogiri emerged from one of his portals with Twice. "Shigaraki Tomura, we have returned."
"How did the meeting go?" Shigaraki asked.
Kurogiri turned to Twice, who nodded vigorously. "Perfect! They want to meet you and discuss a co-op!"
Twice had become a great deal more sane since discovering that he was not, in fact, a clone. He had connected that sanity to his association with the League of Villains, and his dedication to the group—and Shigaraki in particular—was now absolute. As long as it made Twice more competent and loyal, Shigaraki was all for it.
"Interesting. I thought they'd wait at least a day before giving their answer." Shigaraki fished a bottle of water from the fridge. "What did you make of them, Kurogiri?"
"We only met one of the lieutenants, but he seemed competent. The 'soldiers' he brought with him were little more than thugs. If it came down to a full battle, I believe we would have the upper hand. However, they have money and connections, something we sorely lack at the moment."
"That's something I want to ask them when we meet." Shigaraki pulled the hand off his face and placed it on his knee so that he could take a drink. "The Yakuza have been small-timers since even before All Might showed up, so how do they have the kind of cash we're talking about?"
"Oh, I got the answer to that from my contact!" Twice's chest puffed up with pride. "Turns out, these Yakuza are the ones who make Trigger!"
That got Shigaraki's attention. "Really? That certainly makes things more interesting. Twice, set up the meet; they can pick the place, but we choose the time. I want to have Toga and Kurogiri scout it out first."
Kurogiri bowed. "Understood. I will inform Toga-san and prepare."
Shigaraki waited until his underlings had left before allowing himself to smile. If things went well, the League of Villains would soon be back in business.
…
Class 1-A was in various states of consciousness. After getting back from the exam and cleaning up, most of the students had immediately gone to bed, while the Rising Stars spent a little time in the living room.
"I am exhausted," Ashido whined as she flopped onto the couch. "I'm gonna sleep for a week."
"I'm pretty sure you'll miss school," Todoroki said idly, not looking up from his phone. "And do you really want to risk getting on Aizawa-sensei's bad side?"
"That implies he has a good side, ribbit." Asui had her eyes closed and her head rested against Sero's shoulder, but spoke as if she was completely awake.
"Actually, Aizawa-sensei mentioned an announcement tomorrow morning," Midoriya said. "I think it has something to do with us getting our Provisional Licenses."
"Probably paperwork or something," Ashido dismissed.
"I'd like to do something more exciting, like another internship," Uraraka admitted. "The last big thing we did at school before today was the training camp, and, well…"
Yaoyorozu smiled weakly. "Perhaps we could stand to do something slightly less exciting than that."
"Actually, I would not mind another internship," Iida said brightly. "I just got a text from my brother, and he is officially returning to active duty, as of tomorrow!"
His friends immediately broke out in cheers. "That's wonderful, Tenya!" Yaoyorozu said, and gave him a quick hug.
Iida flailed about for a moment, flustered. "Yes, well, he said that I would be on the top of his list of interns, though he also said that he would not mind any of you joining me."
"All this is just theoretical, right?" Todoroki returned his attention to his phone. "We still don't know if we'll even have another internship this year."
Ashido frowned at him. "Okay, what is so important that you're basically ignoring us?"
Todoroki raised an eyebrow at her. "I was texting my brother; he's setting up a video-call for my mom tonight. Do you want to meet her?"
"I, uh, what?"
"You. Meet my mom. Do you want to?" Todoroki shrugged. "I told her I had a girlfriend, but she doesn't know much about you."
Ashido spluttered, then turned to the others for help, but received none; after all the teasing she'd inflicted, she was on her own. "Sure?"
"Great." Todoroki stood up. "It's in ten minutes. Meet me in my room then."
"Ten minutes!?" Ashido sprang up and ran upstairs. "Damn it, Shoto! I just got out of the shower, and my hair's still a mess! At least let me change into something nicer if I'm gonna meet your mom! Argh!"
Midoriya scratched his head. "Her hair looked exactly the same to me."
Uraraka patted his head. "Deku-kun, we girls work very hard to get our hair just right. We know if something is out of place, even if you can't see it."
"Also, Mina is meeting Shoto's mom," Sero said. "Isn't that a big deal for relationships? Hey, when is Ochako gonna meet your mom, Izuku? Wait, no, she met both of your parents at I-Island."
"Actually, I already met his mom before then," Uraraka admitted. "It was at the hospital, when we saved Eri. She was really nice."
Asui nodded. "Then I guess Izuku is the one who hasn't met your parents, ribbit. Maybe you two should get on that, since you've been dating for a while."
Neither Midoriya nor Uraraka looked at each other. "Er, yeah, we'll do that, Tsu, thanks."
"Ribbit." With her eyes closed, Asui didn't see Sero's eye twitch, but she could imagine it, and it made her smile.
…
Todoroki waited patiently in his room, only occasionally adjusting the tablet on his desk. It wasn't out of anxiety, he just wanted to make sure there was as little glare as possible when his emotionally-fragile mother met his overly-enthusiastic girlfriend.
Okay, so maybe there was a little anxiety.
There was a knock at his door. "Come in."
"Did it start yet?" Ashido poked her head through the doorway.
"No, you're fine," Todoroki assured her. "But could you wait for me to introduce you? My mom can be a little… delicate, especially with new people."
Ashido nodded; Todoroki had told the Rising Stars a little bit about his mother shortly before the training camp, and it broke their hearts. Ashido herself had had to hold in tears until she got home, and made a personal vow that she would never forgive Endeavor for what he had done.
Todoroki took a moment to look at his girlfriend. "You look nice."
"Thanks." When not in her school uniform, Ashido liked to wear shorts and tight-fitting shirts, usually with loud, exuberant colors that fit her personality. That had been what she'd been wearing before rushing to her room; now, she had a modest white T-shirt and blue jeans.
Todoroki hadn't even known she owned pants.
Both of them jumped when Todoroki's tablet rang. He spun in his chair and answered the call. "Hi, Fuyumi."
His sister, an older girl with glasses, and white hair speckled with red, smiled. "Hey, Shoto! How are you doing? Classes going well?"
"Everything's fine. Is Natsuo there?"
"Yeah, he's just talking to Mom while I make sure the connection's good. Is your girlfriend joining us?"
Shoto glanced to his right, and Ashido grinned at him. "Yes, but I wanted to take things slow with Mom."
"Good call. She's been getting better, but there's still the occasional bad day."
"Anything recent?" The last thing Shoto wanted was to see his mother have a breakdown, especially in front of Ashido.
"Last week, but they gave her some meds to calm her down, and she was fine after a couple of hours."
"That's… good, right?"
"Yeah, it was the first time they'd had to do that in almost three months, and it was over pretty quick." Fuyumi gasped. "Your girlfriend is in the room, isn't she? Sorry, Ashido-san! I didn't mean to throw all that at you, I'm just not used to Shoto having company."
Since Shoto's mother wasn't there yet, Ashido took the opportunity to come into view. She gave Shoto a quick hug, and smiled at Fuyumi. "It's okay, and I promise that nothing I hear will leave this room."
Fuyumi smiled back. "Wow, she's even prettier than you said she was, Shoto!"
"And it seems good looks run in the family," Ashido said with a grin.
Shoto closed his eyes and groaned. "I'm having so many regrets right now."
The two girls laughed for a moment, but then Fuyumi paused. "Oh! Natsuo is bringing in Mom!"
Ashido gave Shoto a quick kiss, and then retreated out of sight. A moment later, a young man with short, spiky white hair brought in one Todoroki Rei. She looked younger than she was, with pale skin and hair the color of freshly-fallen snow. She walked slowly to the chair that Fuyumi had quickly vacated.
"Hello, Shoto," she said with a voice so gentle that it made Ashido immediately want to hug her. "I'm so glad to see you again."
"Hi, Mom." Shoto nodded at the screen. "Hi, Natsuo."
"Hey, little brother!" The older Todoroki sibling grinned. "Before we start, the doctors told me that we can have these little chats once a week, so we can make this a regular thing!"
"That's… great," Shoto said awkwardly. "I'd like that."
"So would I," Rei said. "Now, Shoto, can you tell me what you've been up to?"
"Actually, before we go into that, there's someone I'd like you to meet. If you feel up to it, I mean."
Rei tilted her head. "I think so. It should be easier than in person."
Shoto nodded, and then gestured to Ashido. "I'd like you to meet Ashido Mina."
Ashido took a moment to take in Rei's appearance, and then bowed. "It's so nice to meet you, Todoroki-san."
Rei smiled. "Please, call me Rei. So, you're my son's girlfriend? If his last few letters are any indication, you make him quite happy, though he didn't do your beauty justice. Those horns are quite lovely, Ashido-san."
Behind their mother, Fuyumi and Natsuo muffled their laughter, while Shoto resisted the urge to bang his head on the desk. For her part, Ashido grinned and slipped her hand into Shoto's.
"Thank you! They make hats a challenge, though. And you can call me Mina, if that's okay."
Rei turned her attention to her youngest. "I like her."
Shoto smiled. "So do I."
"Hey, Shoto!" Fuyumi leaned over her mother's shoulder. "Didn't you guys have a big exam today? How did you do?"
"We had our tests to get our Provisional Licenses." Shoto pulled out his wallet and showed them his license. "I passed."
Ashido took out her own license. "So did I! Only one person in our class didn't, and he can take a make-up exam."
Rei's eyes lit up. "That's wonderful! I'm so proud of you both. Can you tell me more?"
Shoto put his license down, then slipped his hand below the camera so that he could take Ashido's free hand.
"I'd like that."
…
The next day, Aizawa walked into class with even more of a slouch than usual, and the students had gotten to know him well enough to realize that meant one of two things. Either he had had a busy night on patrol—because he had his Hero duties on top of being a teacher—or he had been working on something that had to do with them.
"Today, you won't be training during Heroics," he said, to the muffled groan of the class. "Instead, all of you with Provisional Licenses will be making contact with Heroes for work-study programs."
Most of the class was stumped, but Midoriya, Iida and Yaoyorozu perked up in interest. Bakugo, on the other hand, scowled and leaned back in his seat.
"Work-studies are like internships, only much more intense," Aizawa explained. "You'll be learning from Pro Heroes, but you'll be expected to work in the field. This will also go on for an entire month, and you'll be expected to keep up with your classes in the meantime. As such, if you think you can handle it, you can apply, but it will look much worse if you try and fail than if you wait and build yourself up for next year. The Hero community will look on you more favorably if you're being honest with yourself."
The students in the bottom half of the class looked uncertain, especially Ashido; she had been steadily improving her grades, but she was still at the bottom among her friends.
"However, if you make it through the entire month, you'll receive appropriate financial compensation—essentially, you'll be temporary Sidekicks, and will be treated as such." That had Uraraka's attention more than anyone else.
"Furthermore, you will not be scouted by Hero Agencies. Instead, you will reach out to any resource you've made since the Sports Festival and apply for a work-study. Any Agency you apply to has the right to refuse, and most do, since there's a higher possibility of you going into dangerous situations, so if you don't have many connections, your chances aren't good. I'll give you the rest of class to think about it." Aizawa then pulled out his sleeping bag. "Don't make too much noise."
As soon as Aizawa was asleep, the Rising Stars grouped up around Midoriya's desk.
"Should I even try for a work-study?" Ashido asked. "I mean, Midori, Momo, Shoto and Tenya—you guys have the best grades, so I'm guessing you'll be doing it?"
Midoriya nodded. "Aizawa-sensei said to utilize the connections we've made. I wonder if I can talk to Hawks?"
"I fully intend to speak to my brother about a work-study under him," Iida said proudly.
"Endeavor will probably insist I go with his Agency." Todoroki sighed. "He'll just tell me to watch as he does all the work."
Yaoyorozu bit her lip. "The idea of a work-study sounds challenging, but also exciting. I'll place a call to Ryukyu and see if she would be willing to take me on again."
The other half of the Rising Stars looked uncertain. The opportunities the work-study offered were huge, but so was the risk to their future careers. Eventually, they reached a conclusion the same way many teenagers did—their friends were doing it, so they would as well.
"Maybe Gunhead and Selkie will take us on again," Uraraka said to Asui.
"That would be nice, ribbit." Asui shrugged. "What about you, Hanta?"
"Honestly, I don't know if I made that big of an impression with Air Jet," Sero admitted, then turned to Iida. "Were you serious about your brother letting us work with him?"
Iida nodded. "I will speak to him later and ask on your behalf."
"Cool, thanks!"
Ashido sighed. "I guess that leaves me. Man, I really hope Sky Dancer does work-studies, or I'm gonna have to sit this out."
Yaoyorozu smiled sympathetically. "Remember, the worst that can happen at this point is that they say no, and we still have a good chance next year. All we have to do is ask."
…
"Sorry, kid, I'm gonna have to say no."
Midoriya winced at Hawks' words. "R-really?"
"I can seriously picture you looking all sad right now." Hawks sighed. "Look, don't get me wrong, on any other day, I'd say yes in a heartbeat. Hell, I'll definitely take you on for another internship and a work-study next year, but I'm… I'm on a sensitive assignment right now. I can't do this job and worry about you at the same time."
"I understand," Midoriya said, though he couldn't hide his disappointment.
"Hey, you think you have it rough, I have to tell Yuki that I turned you down, and she'll read me the riot act for a week." Hawks chuckled. "By the way, I need to apologize."
That threw Midoriya for a loop. "F-for what?"
"I should have checked in on you before now; I wish I'd done more to help after you got kidnapped, but I kept going to the wrong place at the wrong time."
Maybe it was Midoriya's imagination, but while Hawks sounded genuine, his words felt… scripted, like he wasn't saying what he really wanted to. Still, he appreciated that someone like Hawks cared enough to say something at all.
"It's okay," he said. "I'm okay, mostly."
"Yeah, I saw your Provisional License picture on the Hero Network. Did your eyes get cool powers, or do they just make you look like you're related to that pink classmate of yours?"
"Everyone thinks we're twins now!" Midoriya complained, even though he really didn't mind.
Hawks laughed. "Anyway, sorry again for not taking you on for a work-study. If you have any friends who are going, maybe try asking them to see if their mentors have another spot. Sorry, gotta go, kid; good luck out there."
Midoriya stared at his phone for a long moment after Hawks hung up; the Number Three Hero had been his best hope for a work-study, but now he was back to square one. He supposed he could ask Iida or Todoroki if their work-studies had any open spots, but Sero had already asked the former, and the idea of working for Endeavor made Midoriya uncomfortable.
"Hey, Freshman!" A strong hand slapped his back, and he nearly stumbled headfirst into a wall. "Whoops! Sorry."
Midoriya took a moment to slow his racing heartbeat, and then turned to Togata. "H-hi, Mirio! What are you doing here?"
Togata shrugged. "My class ended early, so I thought I'd see how you were doing. What's up?"
Midoriya sighed. "We're trying to sign up for work-studies, but Hawks was too busy, and I don't know if I have any other options."
"Wait, you're looking for a work-study already?" Togata grinned. "You're really going for broke, huh? Hey, what if I put in a good word with Sir Nighteye?"
Midoriya slowly blinked. "You know Sir Nighteye?"
"Yes?" Togata tilted his head. "Did I never mention that before?"
"No!" Midoriya grabbed the older boy by the arms and shook him. "You know All Might's former Sidekick!? How!?"
"He's my mentor?" Togata activated Permeation in his arms to slip free. "I had my first internship with him, and he's been my mentor ever since. He'll probably want to test you, but I bet he'll love to have you on the team."
Midoriya couldn't believe his luck; his issues with All Might aside, Sir Nighteye had a reputation for efficiency and discipline, even back when he was a Sidekick. His Agency was also very active, which meant that not only would Midoriya be able to get some real experience, he would also be able to do some good.
"Thank you, Mirio!"
Togata waved him off. "No problem, Izuku." He looked over his shoulder and grinned. "Looks like you're not the only one getting offers today."
Midoriya followed his gaze and saw Uraraka and Asui talking to Hado; he was too far away to hear, but whatever the older girl said made the other two smile and hug her.
"Is she going to introduce them to Ryukyu?" he asked.
"Yeah, Nejire was going on about how Ryukyu wanted more interns, and Momo told her that those two couldn't get in touch with the last Agencies they worked for."
Midoriya sighed in relief; he had been worried that no one would be willing to take on some of the lower-ranked students for work-studies.
"Since you don't have to worry about this anymore," Togata went on, "mind helping me with Blackwhip? It's still a handful."
"Sure!" After what Togata had just done for him, Midoriya was more than eager to help. "What do you want to work on?"
Togata grinned. "I kinda want to see how strong it is. Mind turning into something with muscles?"
On the other side of the room, Hado put hand over her mouth to keep from laughing. Uraraka and Asui were confused, until they followed her pointing finger. They then saw Humungousaur hurl Togata into the air, and only stopped because the latter had Blackwhip attached to the former's arm.
"Do we want to know, ribbit?" Asui asked.
"Probably not," Uraraka said as she watched the boys reenact a fish on a line. "But maybe we should get snacks, because this is funny."
…
Shigaraki had elected not to bring the entire League for the meeting; officially, he had only Twice, Magne and Chimera standing behind him. Of course, he wasn't stupid enough to take chances, and had Toga, Mr. Compress and Slice waiting in the shadows, and a signal from any of them could summon the rest of the League via Kurogiri's portals. The only one absent was Nine; he had burnt out his latest regeneration-Quirk, and the Doctor was busy implanting a new one, while he searched for a permanent match. Personally, Shigaraki hoped that search never ended, because it kept Nine dependent on the Doctor, and through him, Shigaraki.
It might have been breaking the terms of the meeting, but Shigaraki would bet his left arm that the other side of the meeting had taken similar security precautions. In fact, he would be disappointed otherwise.
Chisaki Kai was, for the most part, fairly unimpressive. He wore casual pants and a green jacket, and his features would have been unremarkable, save for the beak-like mask over his face. Shigaraki wasn't sure if there was some avian theme going on, but all of Chisaki's men had similar masks, though theirs had goggles to go with them. They also wore long coats and hoods to conceal any weapons, Quirks, or identifying features.
Shigaraki wanted to roll his eyes; if you wanted to be inconspicuous, don't wear outfits that practically announced that you were hiding something. He could go unnoticed with just a hoodie and casual demeanor.
"Thank you for attending this meeting in person," Chisaki said, his voice calm and collected. "Though I can't be sure if you're a clone or not."
Shigaraki decided that that had been a poor attempt at a joke, and not an insult. "Well, I don't plan on breaking my arm to prove I'm the real deal."
Chisaki didn't bat an eye. "Fair enough. What does the League of Villains want with the Eight Precepts of Death?"
Shigaraki wanted to sneer; he probably could have gotten away with it if he was careful, but that defeated the purpose of a sneer. 'Eight Precepts of Death' sounded like these Yakuza were either trying too hard to sound dangerous, or there was some stupid historical or philosophical meaning behind the name. Either way, it sounded stupid to him.
"I think there's a mutual benefit to a partnership," Shigaraki said. "Your organization has money and connections; mine has power and prestige. I don't need to spell out how we can both benefit."
Chisaki slowly leaned back in his chair—both leaders had brought seating arrangements from their respective hideouts, but while Shigaraki brought in a battered armchair, Chisaki had a carved oak throne.
"You really don't offer much."
"Excuse me?"
"True, your League has some powerful fighters, but prestige? You've been on the run since All Might defeated All For One. You haven't done anything to earn prestige, other than an association with Stain, who was captured, and a failed attack on a school full of children. You don't have a plan; just some half-baked ideals." Chisaki raised an eyebrow. "You would be better served to join my cause."
Shigaraki's first instinct was to be furious at such a brazen declaration. Yes, the League had suffered some setbacks, but even after everything, they were still intact; in fact, with Twice's sanity restored, their power had only grown.
After a moment, Shigaraki composed himself; he would not lose control in front of a Yakuza punk. "And do you have a plan?"
"Of course I do."
Shigaraki scoffed. "Well, enlighten us; maybe we can come to an agreement if I know you're not all talk."
Chisaki slowly rose to his feet; the League of Villains tensed, but the Yakuza only stared up at the ceiling.
"The Yakuza's power has always shifted; sometimes, we were kings in all but name, while in others, we were barely more than common gangsters. But one thing that remained constant was that we survived; we wouldn't die out, and that gave us the chance to grow strong again. All that changed with the advent of Quirks." The way Chisaki said that last word made it sound like a curse. "Suddenly, law-enforcement agents not only had the courage to stand against us, they had abilities no normal human should have had. In two generations, we were all but extinct."
"Is there a point to this history lesson?" Shigaraki asked.
Chisaki glared at him. "My plan… is to level the playing field. I have the resources necessary to make Heroes obsolete, save for one thing. That's what I need the League for—you bring me what I need, and I'll make sure you have a seat at the table."
Now it was Shigaraki's turn to rise. "You don't know me very well, do you? I don't want to be a bit player under someone else, and I don't care about resurrecting a bunch of nobodies. I want to rule, and to hell with anyone who tries to stop me."
All of the Yakuza—minus Chisaki himself, oddly enough—bristled at the insult, especially the one who looked more like a tiny puppet than a person.
"Watch your mouth, punk!" The little guy said with a high-pitched voice that suddenly deepened. "Nobody insults the Eight Precepts like that!"
"You're not the only one who doesn't like being insulted!" Magne stepped forward. "I joined the League of Villains of my own free will, and I'm not about to hand myself over to a bunch of lowlife gangsters!"
Before Shigaraki could stop her, Magne aimed one of her new gauntlets at Chisaki; they were a poor substitute for the enormous magnet she'd used, but they got the job done. Chisaki flew towards her, and all hell broke loose; Shigaraki was closest, and his hand reached out for Chisaki.
"Shield!" The Yakuza boss snapped, and one of the foot soldiers placed himself in front of Shigaraki. The man screamed as his head disintegrated, but he refused to budge.
Magne landed a devastating punch on Chisaki's face, and the tide seemed to turn in the League's favor, as Kurogiri warped in the backup unit. Shigaraki felt confident, even as more Yakuza burst in.
Then Chisaki put his hand on Magne's chest.
One second, Magne had been completely fine; the next, her entire upper half exploded in a wash of blood. Her legs trembled, then flopped to the floor.
The League froze at the sight of their comrade so easily and mercilessly killed, and the Yakuza, seeing that their master was no longer being attacked, paused as well.
"Blood… so disgusting…" Chisaki stumbled backwards, then composed himself. "I suggest we take a break, and meet after tempers have cooled down."
"You think we're just going to let you leave!?" Twice looked apoplectic, even with his mask on. "You just killed Magne!"
"And your leader just killed one of mine, which makes us even." Chisaki walked to the door. "I'll send you the time and place. Just you and me, though; we can hash out the details of what I need then."
Shigaraki said nothing, and waited until the Yakuza were gone before turning to the League. "Head back to the hideout."
"Are you kidding, Shigaraki!?" Twice grabbed him by the shirt. "You're just gonna act like nothing's happened!?"
"Of course not." Shigaraki pushed the other man away, then noticed something out of the corner of his eye—a glint in the dead Yakuza soldier's coat. "What's this?"
Shigaraki pulled a gun out from the man's pocket; he wasn't an expert on firearms, but he'd played enough shooters to know when a weapon had been modified. He removed the bullets and found that they weren't bullets at all; instead, they looked like a needle attached to a red cartridge of some kind. Shigaraki suspected that it had something to do with Chisaki's nebulous plan.
"Kurogiri, get these to the Doctor and tell him I need to know what they do. This now has top priority. The rest of us are going back; I need to think."
This wasn't over, Shigaraki swore, not by a long shot.
…
Aizawa leaned back in his chair and sipped his coffee like it was the last cup he'd ever have. His students gave him enough sleepless nights on a good day, but now it felt like they were trying to get revenge for something.
Almost half of Class 1-A had applied for work-studies, and to his surprise, all had been accepted. Yaoyorozu, Uraraka and Asui had all been taken under Ryukyu's wing, while Iida and Sero were working under Ingenium. Ashido had talked to Sky Dancer, and was working for her again, while Todoroki was back with Endeavor. In hindsight, none of those choices had surprised Aizawa, save for Midoriya; somehow, he'd ended up interning with a Hero Aizawa would have kept his student away from.
He didn't necessarily dislike Sir Nighteye; on the contrary, the man's logical approach to cases and his rationalization of ideals struck a chord with Aizawa. However, he knew that Nighteye had been spying on Midoriya, and that bothered him. From what Nezu had told him, Nighteye didn't have the same hang-ups about Midoriya that All Might did—whatever they were, and the little rodent wouldn't say. However, he seemed particularly protective of Togata, so anyone he hadn't thoroughly interviewed raised red flags with the man.
Aizawa sighed; the only one of the work-study students that wasn't giving him a headache by associating with Midoriya was Kirishima. The boy had somehow bullied Amajiki into introducing him to his mentor, Fat Gum, and had been approved for a work-study. That wouldn't cause problems; Fat Gum was a street-level Hero, rarely dealing with Villains more dangerous than common criminals. Between him and Amajiki, Kirishima would be safe.
"Hey, Eraser!" Present Mic slapped his friend's back, and Aizawa scrambled to save his precious coffee. "How's the paperwork for the work-study kids?"
Aizawa gave him a withering glare, then pointed at the stack of papers on his desk.
Present Mic whistled. "That's for all nine of 'em?"
"No, that's for one of them," Aizawa growled. "Ever since the students moved into the dorms, paperwork for security and liabilities have quadrupled."
"Dear god." Present Mic turned on his heel. "Well, good luck with that, buddy!"
"Not so fast," Aizawa said, catching his old friend with his binding cloth. "These all need two signatures by tomorrow morning, and you just volunteered."
"See, this is why I think Ms. Joke is completely insane, because she wants to spend time with you outside of work."
…
"So, what's Sir Nighteye like?" Midoriya asked as he and Togata got out of the taxi. They had been talking about other things during their trip, but it had taken until now for Midoriya to work up the courage to ask about his mentor.
Togata laughed. "Well, he's strict, but he also likes humor. If you can make him smile, you're golden. Oh, and I think he knows almost as much Hero trivia as you do, so if you get on his good side, you'll have a ball."
"W-well, I don't know if I can be funny, but I'll do my best."
"That's the spirit!" Togata opened the door to the Agency, which looked more like an office building. "Sir doesn't have many Sidekicks, but they're all good at what they do; feel free to ask them anything."
Togata led him to another door and opened it. "Sir, I brought Midoriya, and—oh, whoops! Sorry, I didn't know you were inflicting Tickle Hell."
The sheer randomness of that sentence made Midoriya look around Togata and into the office. There, surrounded by All Might merchandise lining the walls, he saw a woman with blue skin and a high-cut top strapped into what looked like a space-age wrack, while a man in a suit glared at her. Instead of being torn apart, the woman appeared to be getting tickled mercilessly, and was gasping for breath.
"It's fine, Mirio," the man said, and pressed a button; the woman fell out of the machine with a whimper. "I hope that you do better for your next assignment, Bubble Girl."
"Absolutely, Sir!" The woman shakily got to her feet and staggered out of the office.
"Come inside," Sir Nighteye said, and waited for Togata to close the door before turning to Midoriya. "I assume you're wondering what that was about."
"I don't think I'm old enough to know what that was about."
Nighteye raised an eyebrow. "The attempt at humor is noted, but not very effective. I give you a five out of ten."
"Better than my first try," Togata stage-whispered. "I got a three."
"You told a knock-knock joke, a three was the best you were going to get." Nighteye adjusted his tie. "I enforce discipline and punish failure through my version of corporal punishment."
"Isn't that illegal?" Midoriya asked.
"Corporal punishment is described as inflicting physical pain," Nighteye said blandly. "Tickling does not fall under that definition. If anything, stimulating the pleasure centers of the brain is actually considered a reward by law."
Midoriya was now seriously reconsidering working for a man who was technically rewarded for torturing his employees.
"Now then, Midoriya Izuku." The towering, lanky man looked down at the student. "Why did you apply for a work-study under me?"
That had been something Midoriya had been thinking about for a while, and once he'd gotten over his panic, he'd come to an answer.
"Because you were the Sidekick to the Number-One Hero," he said. "If anyone would have insights on how to become a successful Pro, it would be you."
Nighteye didn't move. "And why wouldn't you apply to work for Endeavor? He is currently the top Hero, after all."
Midoriya didn't like the idea of working under a man who had driven his wife to a mental breakdown and disfiguring his friend. "I… don't think he would be a good fit for me."
If Nighteye had any idea about what Midoriya knew of Endeavor, he didn't show any sign. "Indeed. And you think that my association with All Might will provide you with the insight you need to be the best?"
"I don't care about being the best." Midoriya was surprised to find that he meant it. "All I care about is doing what I can to help people. The only reason I'd want to be the top Hero is because the higher-ranked you are, the larger your jurisdiction, and therefore, the more people you can help."
Nighteye blinked. "A surprising rationalization for an idealistic mindset." He glanced at the older student. "Mirio, please leave us. I want to test this boy before I decide if I will accept him or not."
Togata saluted. "You got it, Sir! Good luck, Freshman; you're gonna need it."
Nighteye waited until the older student left, and then gave Midoriya a piercing glare. "Midoriya Izuku. How much did Mirio tell you about One For All?"
For a moment, Midoriya panicked, but then realized that if All Might was going to tell anyone about his Quirk, the man who used to be one of his closest friends would be near the top of the list. Nighteye was probably testing him, trying to see if he could be trusted; Midoriya tried not to take it personally.
"Um, can I ask how you know if he told me anything?"
Nighteye raised an eyebrow. "I have staked much of Japan's future on Mirio; considering what you have been through in this year alone, it would be prudent of me to be aware of all your dealings with him."
That… wasn't completely unfair.
"As far as I know, he's told me everything," Midoriya admitted. "I've been helping him control Blackwhip since it awakened."
"Yes, such a phenomenon has never happened to a user of One For All before. If Mirio gains all the Quirks of the past users, he could be one of the greatest Heroes in history." Nighteye sighed. "Assuming he can master them all. He has informed me of his struggles with Blackwhip."
Midoriya felt the need to defend Togata there. "He's been getting better; when we were sparring, it only took him two seconds to get Blackwhip to let go without cutting his Quirk entirely."
"Indeed, that was better than the four seconds it took last week." Nighteye adjusted his glasses. "I track his progress as thoroughly as you do, Midoriya-san."
Midoriya didn't know what to say about that, and settled for looking around the office; specifically, at the many pieces of vintage All Might merchandise lining the walls and shelves. Even if his opinion of All Might was lower, he could appreciate the rarer items Nighteye had acquired.
"Tell me something, Midoriya-san—what do you expect to do while working under me?"
"Um, I guess I would be training, maybe helping you on patrols—even though you aren't known for street-level operations like that, and prefer to search for crime, rather than wait for it to happen—and generally learning from you."
If Nighteye felt anything about Midoriya suddenly mumbling mid-sentence, he didn't show it. "That is correct. For the most part, I will leave physical training to Mirio; you two work well together, and I see no reason to stop that. I will also send you two out to investigate certain areas regarding an investigation I am leading. However, your tasks will be to observe and report only; if you encounter a criminal, you will only stop them if your life or the life of someone else is in danger. You will think and consider every action before making it. I want your solemn vow that you will follow that order before I even begin to consider accepting you into my Agency."
Considering the last time Midoriya had gone off without thinking, he had no problem agreeing to those terms. "I understand, and I promise."
"Good." Nighteye held out a piece of paper and a rubber seal. "Each work-study student will have a different schedule. I expect you to be here for three hours every day after school during the weekdays; during the weekends, you will be here from six in the morning, and will only leave when I say so. In addition, I have the authority to call you here at any point if there is an emergency; that includes pulling you out of class. Can you handle that kind of work?"
To his credit, Midoriya considered the man's words. It would be exhausting, but if he really wanted to be a Pro Hero, he would be working far longer hours.
"I can, and I will."
"Good answer. Now, one more thing." Nighteye placed his hand on Midoriya's shoulder and looked him in the eye. "I want to test your abilities; observing you can only get me so much information, and I need to know what you are capable of in the field. You and I are going to spar—here, in my office. Your goal is to take this seal," he held up the stamp for emphasis, "from me, and press it against your permission form. If you do that, or prevent me from escaping in three minutes, I will have you as a work-study student for as long as you wish. This includes the rest of your time at UA as well."
Midoriya saw Nighteye's eyes glow as he stepped back. "You just used your Quirk on me!"
"I did." Nighteye held up his watch. "Your time starts… now."
Midoriya didn't hesitate, and in an instant, turned into a blue monkey with four arms and four eyes. With a simian shriek, he lunged for Nighteye's hand; however, the Hero had not only moved out of the way, but positioned himself to send Spidermonkey sprawling with a perfectly-timed kick.
What was that? Spidermonkey wondered. I'm moving faster than any normal human, and there was never any record of Sir Nighteye having a Quirk that enhances physical abilities. Then again, his Quirk was never made public, so it's probably something the government doesn't want getting out.
"Are you done analyzing?" Nighteye turned and headed for the door. "It has only been fifteen seconds, and you are already knocked down. You are not making a very good first impression, Midoriya."
Rather than answer, Spidermonkey flipped his tail to arch over his head, and from the hollow end, fired a net of sticky webbing that covered the door. Now, Nighteye had no way of leaving. Of course, Nighteye had no intention of running away, and surprised Spidermonkey again when he kicked a large book off his desk with enough force to leave a sizeable bruise when it connected with Spidermonkey's head.
"Ouch!"
"I believe I have made my skill abundantly clear," Nighteye said dryly.
"Well, yeah," Spidermonkey replied. "You're a Pro Hero with years of training and experience. I've been in three real fights in my whole life."
To his surprise, Nighteye nodded. "That is true. I appreciate that you do not factor in your power in your assessment. It shows maturity and humility." He took a step back an instant before he finished talking, narrowly avoiding the webbing that would have hit his foot. "And your willingness to strike while your opponent is speaking shows practicality."
Spidermonkey jumped to avoid another book that Nighteye hurled, only to fall to the ground when the man used the distraction of the projectile to run up and kick him in the head. How does he know exactly what to do, and when to do it? He's so calm, it's like he knows… what's… oh.
"I think I figured out your Quirk," he said through clenched teeth.
Nighteye paused. "Do tell."
"I've got it narrowed down to two options; you can either read my mind, or you can see the future. Either way, the result's the same—you know what I'm going to do before I do it." Spidermonkey stepped away, then reverted back to normal. "I had no chance of winning."
"Technically, you did, but it would have involved destroying a good portion of my building," Nighteye admitted. "Of course, I didn't foresee you doing that, so I was not worried; and, yes, my Quirk lets me see the future of an individual, as long as I am physically touching them and making eye-contact. I can also only use it once per day."
Nighteye's only reaction to Midoriya pulling out a notebook was a raised eyebrow. "Even with those limitations, it must make you extremely effective against individuals, and not just in combat! You would be able to track their movements without ever needing to put yourself in danger more than once, and—"
"I am well aware of my Quirk's potential and limitations," Nighteye interrupted. "Just as I am aware of yours—while the recharge time for your watch is only a few minutes at most, you are still vulnerable during that time. During your work-study, your training will involve sharpening your skills in your normal state; Mirio will handle that."
Midoriya let that sink in for a moment. "Does that mean that you'll let me work for you? But I didn't stop you, or take the seal."
"That is true, but you impressed me with your deduction of my Quirk; very few people ever figure it out." Nighteye adjusted his glasses. "And Mirio has been practically begging me to take you on for weeks. If I say no now, I will have to deal with him moping, and that is not worth the extra work you will make me do."
Midoriya grinned, ignoring the pain from his bruises. "Thank you so much! I won't let you down!"
"I should hope not," Nighteye said gravely. "The case you will be assisting me with cannot afford failure. I do not exaggerate when I say that lives could hang in the balance."
For the first time, Midoriya truly wondered what he was getting himself into.
I owe everyone an apology for not updating sooner. Life got in the way, as did doubling my hours at one of my jobs, so I just don't have the kind of time I used to for writing.
Anyway, the Rising Stars have begun their work-studies! Yaoyorozu, Todoroki and Ashido all got to go back to their previous mentors, but everyone else had to switch it up. And it felt really good to announce in-story that Ingenium is back in action! We'll see more of him and Virtus soon enough, I promise.
If you thought that Midoriya got accepted by Nighteye pretty easily, you'd be right. After all, while Nighteye is protective of Lemillion, Togata has One For All, and he has no real reason to not want Midoriya around. There are fewer biases against him; if anything, Togata vouching for him probably earned points in his favor.
And now, I'm going to go off on a bit of a tangent. I have a theory about Nighteye's Quirk. In canon, it was never wrong until Midoriya changed the future in his fight with Overhaul. In my mind, that means one of two options: either Midoriya did that with MC powers, which is boring, or Foresight doesn't actually see a set future. Instead, I think it just sees probabilities, and happens to be really accurate, to the point that it had only ever been wrong once. It's still a really handy ability to have, but that would explain why it's not infallible. I would also imagine that it becomes more accurate the closer to the present Nighteye looks, but there's still room for error.
As always, please consider buying my book, Alpha Sanction, by Josh Gottlieb. You can find it on my website (link in my profile), or on Amazon, in both eBook and physical format. Maybe, if enough people buy it, Amazon will take notice and make a movie/series about it! I can dream, can't I?
If you want to support me in other ways, there's always my P-atreon account (link in my profile). People who donate at a high-enough tier get early access to chapters, and even a PDF of my book! You also help me get a little closer to not needing to work almost every day of the week, which lets me write more!
Speaking of which, the following Patrons are just amazing:
Serious Muffins: Nimrod009, Anders Lyngbye, Matthias Matanovic, John Collins, Red Bard, Aaron Meek, Shaolin Khalil, killroy225, Zann Nightroad, Lokthar
Incredible Muffins: RaptorusMaximus, michaelb958, Crazyman844, Ben Stueckle
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Next Chapter: Work-studies begin, just as the forces of darkness begin to make their move…
Plus Muffin!