Todoroki and Bakugou succeeded in getting their Licenses, and more. Soon enough, they were on TV and doing a talk circuit.
"Not 30 minutes after receiving your provisional licenses, you went to work and displayed some heroics that would put the pros to shame! You must have become good friends throughout all the training you've done, right?" Asked the Reporter.
"That how it looked to you? Better head to an optometrist. Or a neurologist,"Bakugou snapped.
"Yes, we are friends," said Todoroki.
"Huh? YOU MAKING CRAP UP NOW? WHEND' WE BECOME FRIENDS?"
"We spent a lot of time together during the licensing course."
"That ain't how it works! There's no correlation between time spent together and friendship!"
"Correlation?"
"All right, you need that brain doctor too!"
It was the final week of classes in December, term just about over, and we were all having a pretty good laugh over it.
"A WHOOOL E hour long interview!" Kaminari was snickering. "And Bakugou's part was totally cut!"
"It's for his own good, in a way," said Uraraka.
"HOW DARE THEY CUT ME!?"
"Not very All Might-ish of him," sassed Midoriya.
What the hell did you just say?
"He's nuts," said Mineta, while Iida shouted at him "Remove yourself from that desk, Mineta!"
"I HEARD THAT DEKU, YOU DWEEB! YOU TOO, BALLHEAD"
"To think that was his third interview…" I sighed.
"What a waste - just think of all the good press he could've gotten after they got their licenses," said Jirou, who was leaning on my desk.
We switched over to the rest of the news.
"These newly licensed heroes in training are just the sort of fresh faces we can rely eagerly await the day they can become full-fledged pro heroes so that hopefully we won't see a repeat of the Deika City tragedy. It's been nine days since that disaster where 20 individuals pushed Daika to the brink of destruction in less than an hour."
"They say the scope of the destruction was even greater than the Kamino incident," said Iida. "Although casualties were fewer thanks to Daika's remote location."
"Some see this planned attack as a deliberate attempt to shake society's faith in pro heroes, but what are people on the street saying?"
A series of interviews followed. "It's dumb to criticize the heroes of Deika. What they oughta be talking about is relaxing this whole rigid system."
"Let's not go after the heroes who stepped up in Daika. What, were they s'posed to file the proper paperwork first or something?"
"Keep trying even harder heroes! Cuz, like, we'll do our best too!"
"In the past, a situation like this where heroes were forced to make a difficult call would've earned those same heroes criticism. But I suspect we may be witnessing a critical turning point in this era. A large-scale shift in opinion from criticism to passionate support."
"Feels like everything's different ever since the 'captcha see kid' did his thing!" Said Uraraka, miming over her eyes with her fingers.
"It's all cuz Endeavor kicked butt!" said Ashido.
"Y'think the future's bright? Not so fast!" Came a voice from out the door. "It might seem like the winds of good fortune are blowing our way, but if you stop and think about the flip side of all this, it's actually coming from a sense of urgency - it's a response to danger! These cheers for the conquering heroes are really prayers - a plea that we emerge victorious! They've had enough of the showbiz side of heroism and want us to prove our worth for real now!"
It was Mt. Lady! And Miss Midnight, looking rather dejected.
"Mt Lady!" Mineta shrieked. Following them was Aizawa sensei. "She's your guest lecturer, since you'll have more media exposure going forward."
"More exposure my butt!"Bakugou snapped.
"You'll do better next time, dud!" Said Kirishima.
"Today we're talking about the media!" Said Mt. Lady, holding up a placard. "And as a rising star myself, I'm the perfect hero to teach you how to work it!"
"I don't know what we're gonna be doing…." Said Kirishima.
"C'mon kids! Let's do this with Plus Ultra attitude! It's hero interview training!"
We were suited up and outside by a stage the teachers had set up, with camera crew and everything.
Todoroki went first, with Mt. Lady interviewing him.
"Amazing work out there, Shoto!"
"Sorry, what are we talking about?"
"Pretend you just finished a mission and say thanks!"
'Thanks."
"Now tell us, Shoto, what sort of hero do you want to become?"
"The type who can make everyone feel at ease when I show up.
"Fantastic! But if a looker like you suddenly showed up, I think my heart would burst out of my chest!"
"Do you have a heart condition?" he asked. Poor Todoroki...but what was she saying, indeed?
"What are your ultimate moves?"
Todoroki walked down the stairs and demonstrated with some huge iceberg.
"Heaven piercing Ice Wall. It's good for crowd control, stopping villains in their tracks and creating platforms. It has many uses. I has another move called Flashfreeze heatwave, which is a little more rough."
"Huh? What about that other one he used against Class B?" Asked Jirou.
"Endeavor's thing, right?"
'Flashfire fist!" Said Hagakure.
"That's my dad's move," said Todoroki, going up the stairs. "I'm not as his level yet."
"IT's okay to have personal, touchy topics, but if you're trying to put people at ease, smiling would be a good start. Flash smiles and you'll be a genuine ladykiller!"
"My smile will kill women?" He asked, looking freaked out.
"All right, that's enough."
He descended, leaving me wondering in some confusion. Todoroki, a ladykiller? I suppose she's calling him attractive. I thought about that for a moment - was Todoroki attractive? I'd never really given it much thought before. He certainly was interesting-looking, with his half white, half red hair, the scar, the differently colored eyes, one blue and one grey...was he handsome?
I was interrupted by the questions resuming.
"Are we supposed to showcase our moves during interviews?" Asked Tokoyami.
Mt. Lady knelt next to him. "You sweet, naive UA kiddies. It's not like everyone in this world knows who you are already! Your ultimate moves symbolize you! It's through those moves that people can learn what you're capable of. Then you can prepare for impromptu team-ups nd combos and warn people of villains and crimes. This way, everyone trusts you enough to put their lives in your hands. Shouting out the names of your ultimate moves isn't just for show. There's plenty of meaning behind it."
"Not too long ago, she didn't give a crap about anything except being on camera," said Mineta.
"Mt .Lady's not the only one who has changed," said Sensei. Every hero out there is being pulled up by the number one hero's rising tide. "Next!"
Iida was up next, and I began thinking about it. Indeed, the people are looking for someone to bring them reassurance, a hero to show them they are safe, to inspire the kind of security that All Might did? How can I present myself that way, be the kind of hero they are looking for?
"Creaty, will you come up next?"
Jirou gave me a little smile, and I stepped up to face her.
"Good work out there, Creaty!"
"Thank you, ma'am. I am only doing my duty, after all."
"Tell me, what are your strengths as a hero?"
What am I good at? My strengths?
I was tempted to claim great strength or power, but it was perhaps best to speak to what my real strengths are...
I placed my hand on my chest and drew on my most confident self, though deep down I was feeling nervous. "I bring encyclopedic knowledge and a powerful memory to the table."
"So confident! I'm reassured already!" she smiled.
"Of course, that's not all," I heard Miss Midnight murmur. Mt. Lady looked over at her, seemingly slightly annoyed.
"What as that, Ms. Midnight?"
"Creaty is certainly intelligent, but that is not her only strength. She has also demonstrated very impressive leadership skills in her latest hero work."
I felt my face go red. Really? Impressive leadership? "But - I l-" i almost said, but stopped myself.
"Hm," said Mt. Lady, smiling at me. "Perhaps you should consider forming a team. But tell me, what are your ultimate moves?"
I felt a slight burst of confidence from Miss Midnight's words. I'd been attempting to do it for a long time - and now seemed like the time to debut it.
I took a deep breath, and thought through each component -
Creation.
"Flying shield!"
The boots formed around my feet, the carbon shield and armor - all over me, a slight layer, enough to keep me protected, with room to breathe. The boots activated and pushed me off the ground, and I hoisted my hand to aim a blast.
Miss Midnight applauded, and Mt. Lady asked, "Ooh! What kind of protection does that offer?"
"This move allows me to create a shield for my body that deflects the most powerful attacks, the ability to flight off the ground, and a weapon," I explained. "It's an absorbent metal as well, so even extremely strong attacks will absorb as vibrations."
Next time, Kendo.
"Wow, Yaomomo!" I heard everyone murmuring.
"How come you didn't use that before?" Tokoyami asked as I retracted it and removed the boots.
"It takes a toll on my body," I explained. "It has a toll like Iida's reciproburst or Midoriya's and Aoyama's quirks. It's an in-case-of-emergency move."
"Hm," said Mt. Lady as I rejoined the stage, "Perhaps you should consider having multiple ultimate moves, particularly if your quirk takes a toll on you."
"I am working toward it. But for now - that move is the one I am most proud of. And I hope when I lead others with it, they feel reassured just looking at me."
"A good leader is someone who can bring that kind of reassurance," said Miss Midnight as I walked down the stairs. "Good luck, Yaoyorozu."