Idiot Trio

Part One

Oboro marches into class with an extra bounce in his step.

"You look a little too happy. Did you prepare for the exams for once?"

Oboro doesn't let Suzuki's words get him down. Who cares about the test? Okay, he does. He still needs to pass to graduate. "Better! I got a job offer!"

Usui gives an agonizingly slow clap. "Congrats on catching up to the rest of us."

"Do you have to say it like that? I'm still searching myself," adds Hotta.

Shouta walks in with his bag half falling off his shoulder. "Shouta! I got us a job." He blinks at Oboro's words. What?

Hizashi, Shouta, and Oboro sit on the roof to eat their lunch.

"What's this about getting us a job?" Hizashi has recently been given two offers. He's been weighing his options and had been planning on choosing this week when new information is giving to him. Working with friends is super nice and he's willing to give up some opportunities for that, but at the end of the day he also needs something that will advance his career.

"Who in their right mind would give all three of us a job through you? Are you sure you aren't falling for some scam?" Shouta takes a bite of rice.

"Have a little faith in me, will ya." Oboro puffs his cheeks and crosses his arms. He lifts and index finger at the two. "Tsunade's agency is officially opening in a few weeks, and thanks to me we got an in. We just need to officially graduate then we can sign official contracts."

Shouta knows the two know each other, but he thought she had better sense than this. He can't complain. He doesn't have any other prospects and he's seen what she can do first hand. Ever since that day he's doubled down on his training. There's got to be more he can do. He almost lost his friend.

Hizashi thinks. Tsunade would surely bring certain benefits. She may not have a trail of hero work behind her, not formally at least, but her name is a recognizable one so she'll surely get attention. She also has the abilities to easily put her in the eyes of the public meaning that if all goes well she should get the public's approval easily enough. If Oboro's words are true it also means that he'll get to work with his friends directly. Not just vaguely in the same agency.

Shouta and Hizashi share a look.

"We just need to pass exams, right? I'm in if you two are." Hizashi says only realizing it might be insensitive after the fact.

"It's not like I have anywhere else to go. Guess I'm stuck with you." As usual, there's no bite to Shouta's words.

"Alright! Super Awesome Friendship Trio unite! Let's show the world who we are." Oboro plops down.

The three step into the building and look around amazed. It's certainly newer and higher end then any of their internship placements. It gives the same spacious feeling U.A. has, though the ceilings aren't as ridiculously high.

Entering only allows access to the lobby. To enter further one either needed an access card or sign in and be granted permission through reception. The receptionist calls Tsunade who comes down and leads them to a large empty training room where they are informed that they are going to spar instead. More importantly, they need to get a bell to pass and there are only two.

"Work together and play janken for the spots?" suggests Shouta.

The three have a stare down before agreeing.

Hizashi wishes he knew this sooner. He would have just accepted one of his offers and these two could have taken the two spots. He needs to be his best. What else is he meant to do? Go back and plead? The probably already found replacements. Also, isn't it super mean to try and pit them against each other when she knows they're friends?

Silence passes as they all continue to stand in their spots. "Aren't you going to say start?" asks Oboro.

Tsunade's smile turns predatory. "But we've already started. It's you all who are wasting your allotted time."

"Gah! Give us a warning next time!" Oboro complains as Shouta immediately aims his capture weapon.

Tsunade avoids the entanglement before grabbing it and tossing it along with Shouta who refuses to let go. His mistake. He hit's the wall and slides several meters down.

Hizashi uses Loud Voice only for Tsunade to grab Oboro and use him as a shield. Her scowl is indicative that his quirk affects her, but he releases it as to not harm Oboro. It's too bad she twisted Oboro's arms behind him so that he couldn't grab the bells while in close proximity. He runs forward to give a DJ Punch but she jumps away before his hit can land.

"Where'd she go?" Hizashi looks to Oboro who frantically looks around.

"Above you!" Shouta shouts.

They look up and there she is. Standing on the ceiling with just her feet as if it's perfectly normal.

"I haven't begun my counter attack yet. You should take advantage while you can."

"You'll regret that granny!" Oboro's words hit a nerve, but she continues to wait on the ceiling as Oboro produces a cloud to float himself upwards.

Shouta uses the opportunity to throw his capture weapon again. It's clear his quirk won't work on her otherworldly powers, but he can use Oboro as a distraction. It goes horribly wrong. Tsunade side steps Oboro and kicks him into the path of his capture weapon before dropping to the ground.

Shouta watches her dodge Hizashi's punch without looking back. "One: it's important to know your surroundings." Hizashi pivots raises his arms to block the incoming punch. "Two: dodging is often better than taking on an attack." Hizashi is sent flying much like he had before.

Clouds start to shroud the room. "Shh. It's me." Oboro startles him as he grabs his wrist.

"Not bad. However, while you may be able to navigate through these clouds, does the same apply to your friends?" Shouta barely has time to react to the voice beside him. He takes her words to heart and dodges to not end up like Hizashi. "Three: when working in teams, know what skills hinder others. Four: the environment can help determine the tide of battle."

Hizashi uses Loud Voice again. Oboro and Shouta cover their ears, but it's enough for Tsunade to back off a bit and it helps clear some of the clouds.

The fight easily goes on for another twenty minutes. The bells as clear as day yet are forever far away.

Hizashi has the best chance of immobilization Tsunade. Oboro understands why Tsunade would have preferred a forest. In a forest there's an open space for movement. This room doesn't grant anywhere to escape. Everything is open. Something that normally wouldn't be a problem for her except when taking on wide ranged attacks.

Hizashi uses his quirk again. His ears are already ringing, what's a little more pain. Shouta seems to agree as he runs in line with Hizashi's attack. Tsunade momentarily covers her ears leaving the bells for the taking. At the last moment, she removes one hand and aims a flicker at Shouta. Oboro uses his cloud to jostle him out of the way.

There's a victory. One bell. However, the flick that Oboro forced Shouta to dodge has enough force to overpower the force of sound, cancelling the attack, and hits Hizashi with the aftershock.

There's no way she has that much power!

"Times up." Wait. No. Oboro's happiness of Shouta retrieving a bell vanishes into a pit of horror with the realization that they only have one bell.

"And my team would have pummeled you as children. Maybe not Jiraiya. He took a bit for him to find his groove. The point is things aren't fair. Age. Schooling. Lineage. Quirks. It's all unfair and shouldn't be your determinant of strength or ability."

Oboro doesn't believe it for a second. Tsunade has a warped idea of what constitutes a child. Jiraiya would have totally kicked their asses too. He knows it. Especially when Tenko let slip that Tsunade graduated at six years old. Six! Of course it would take someone a little longer to find their groove.

"Should we begin going over the information packets?"

"Weekly training?" mutters Shouta as he glances ahead.

Oboro can understand training. Keep up strength and become stronger and all that. The issue he has is with, "What do you mean supervision?" He thought he was done with that once he got a full-license. Supervision means they are viewed as still not capable.

"Exactly what it sounds like." Oboro looks down. He's tall while Nezu is not. "There are a lot of scenarios you'll face. It's best to build the base and prove you have the leadership and thought process to take initiative while limiting harm and collateral."

"Sounds like another internship." Hizashi sinks further in his chair again.

Nezu places his copy of the package down. "The main difference is that supervision doesn't equate to being a follower. Supervision is that – supervision. It's for feedback and for someone to step in if the situation requires it. There's enough trust that you have the minimum capacity to manage yourselves, and by now you've been exposed to various scenarios. Think of it as a transitional precaution rather than a personal attack."

That… doesn't sound as bad as Oboro imagined, even if it does still feel like someone is holding their hands through the process.

He shouldn't complain. The distribution of licenses are behind schedule, so they still only has their provisional license.

That's it! They'll have to prove their competent enough by the time they receive their full, unrestricted, license.

"Anymore questions or concerns, or can we move on?"