Looking out the window, gazing at the blue landscape from high above, Izuku gently held a black pendant with green details in the shape of half a heart between his hands.
A soft smell of coffee and sweet bread filled his senses. A part of him didn't know how to feel about his new experience, leaving his country to study in another under the tutelage of one of the most influential people in the world. It could easily seem like his life was some kind of literary work written on the internet by someone with many traumas.
He slowly lifted the coffee to his mouth, taking a slight sip and burning himself in the process.
Aguilar appeared in his view. "Take it carefully. I was talking with the pilots; in an hour, we'll land in New York. Don't you want to rest a bit?"
"Really, teacher, I think I've rested enough."
"I believe you, but I know later you'll be dying of sleep. But no matter, it's good that Tanaka-San came with us."
"You don't need to thank me, Mr. Aguilar. It's my pleasure to help Izuku in this way. In a way, he is like how I would want my son to be when he grows up," replied Tanaka from his seat, looking paternalistically out the window.
"How old is your son, Tanaka-San?" Izuku asked with some curiosity.
"He'll soon be three years old. I also have a younger daughter, only one year old."
"That's interesting. What are their names?"
"My son's name is Keiko, and my daughter's name is Narumi. They are both my pride; they are great kids," he declared with a paternal gleam in his eyes.
"I'm glad to know they have a great father."
"I used to worry a bit because my wife has to work just like me to have enough to take care of them, but now I'm very grateful for this opportunity," he said with a bow.
"It's nothing. Don't worry about it, Tanaka-San," Izuku responded.
"Izuku is right, Mr. Tanaka. Don't worry about that," Aguilar said as he got comfortable. "In two days, you will meet your English tutor, Izuku. After that, we'll make sure you continue school."
Izuku stretched his arms. "Understood, sensei. Please wake me up when we land."
Aguilar stroked Izuku's hair. "Of course, rest well."
...
After arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport and being greeted by a large escort and curious press, Izuku timidly followed Aguilar, trying to avoid the cameras.
"Mr. Aguilar, Mr. Aguilar, can you answer some questions?" a reporter called out among the press.
Izuku moved forward, escorted by Ramirez, knowing that even if he stayed, he wouldn't fully understand the conversation taking place.
Aguilar approached the area where the press was located. "Good morning, everyone. I appreciate it if you can be quick; I'll only take three questions."
"Mr. Aguilar, Mr. Aguilar," several reporters raised their hands to ask a question.
Aguilar identified a reporter among them and kindly pointed at him. "Charles, you have the first question."
"What was the reason for delaying your return from Japan?"
"An unexpected incident occurred, but fortunately, it helped reinforce the deal I made with the Yaoyorozu family," Aguilar calmly responded. "Second question."
Once again, hands were raised, hoping to have an opportunity for questions.
Aguilar pointed at a reporter among the press.
"Mr. Aguilar, I'm Jasmine from CNN. Does the unexpected incident have anything to do with the boy who just arrived with you?"
"I see you're observant, Jasmine. I can't say much, but the boy impressed me. He's really intelligent and analytical, so I decided to take him under my tutelage."
Hands were raised again, hoping to have the last question.
A reporter was lucky enough to be selected again.
"What quirk does the boy have?" he asked immediately.
Instantly, the atmosphere around Aguilar became a bit tense.
"That's not something I should say. The only thing I can say is that he will be one of the best heroes in the future, and I will make sure to support him to make that possible."
He walked away toward a limousine, where Izuku, Tanaka, and Ramirez were waiting, along with the rest of the escort.
"Everything's ready. Take us to the main building of the company," Aguilar said through an intercom located in the back seats of the limousine.
"Yes, boss."
...
After a short journey, they arrived at the Financial District, greeted by the sight of Wall Street and its buildings, stopping in front of one 53 stories tall.
It wasn't the tallest building, but the view completely impressed Izuku. It looked majestic and imposing despite its minimalist style, probably because where the other buildings had transparent or blue-tinted glass, Monarch Inc.'s was dark-tinted, matching the white that covered almost the entire building.
Upon getting out of the limousine, they were greeted by two armed guards, guarding the entrance to the building.
"Sir, welcome, sir!" they greeted Aguilar with a military gesture.
"At ease," Aguilar replied. "It's good to see you again, gentlemen. Where is Commander Roberto?"
"Sir, he is—" before he could finish, someone came out of the main door. "I'm here."
He was a tall person, probably 1.94 meters, with a large physique and several extra kilos. His dark skin matched the green military suit he wore.
"Commander Roberto, it's good to see you haven't wasted any time."
Commander Roberto took it easy and put his arm around Aguilar's shoulders. "How could I waste time when my esteemed friend is doing everything possible? The least I can do is the same."
"Yes, yes, always so eloquent. Sometimes I think I should have hired you as the head of advertising and not as a commander."
Both began to laugh as they bumped fists.
"Man, who is this kid?"
"I introduce you to Midoriya Yagi Izuku. He's a prodigious boy. I will take him as my student until he's ready for UA."
"What?" Roberto was immediately surprised.
"Izuku, come here. I introduce you to Roberto; he is the commander of Monarch Mercs."
Izuku timidly approached, somewhat intimidated by Roberto's height and physique.
"Uh-uhm, it's a pleasure, Mr. Roberto."
"The pleasure is mine, little Midoriya. It's very rare for this old man here to take an interest in a person, so congratulations."
"Hey, I'm not that old," Aguilar casually excused himself. "I'm only ten years older than you."
"Which is enough to be considered old by me," Roberto countered.
Both burst into laughter, an unusual sight for Izuku, seeing two highly respected people mocking each other.
Mainly because he didn't fully understand the language. He knew it wasn't English; it was probably Spanish, which wasn't entirely strange considering their origin.
"I'm going to ask you to help with the boy's physical training. Will you be okay with that?"
"No problem, boss, leave it to me."
"Perfect, then I won't worry. Follow me, Izuku; I'll show you my main office."
Izuku, understanding slightly, nodded and followed Aguilar, contemplating the building's interior.
They had a short walk to an elevator, which was waiting for them.
They went up several floors until they reached the main office, which occupied the entire floor.
Just as they stepped out of the elevator, they were greeted by a group of people.
"Mr. Aguilar, it's a pleasure to have you back," several subordinates greeted him.
"Thank you all for your reception. I'm glad to be back with you. Let's keep working as usual, understood?"
"Yes, sir," they responded in unison and returned to their posts.
"Follow me, Izuku," Aguilar said as he headed to his office, opening the door and letting him enter first.
Izuku walked in and was immediately amazed by the office's appearance.
The floor was decorated with marble, a large desk with several monitors, and a state-of-the-art computer, as well as a large window with a complete view of the street.
"Wow," was all Izuku could say as he snapped out of his daze.
"It's wonderful, isn't it?" Aguilar asked as he ruffled Izuku's hair. "Get used to it. For a few months, you'll study here with me and learn important things about the company."
"Yes, sensei, I won't let you down."
"You won't, Izuku, you won't."
...
The day passed with Izuku learning the basics of company management and listening to the life experiences of Aguilar's other workers and assistants.
Tanaka spent the entire day with Ramirez, learning about his duties and how he should carry them out, familiarizing himself with the system and everything necessary.
The next morning, while Aguilar was going to his office, Izuku was guided to the CG of Monarch Mercs.
Roberto was driving an armored truck, with Izuku in the passenger seat, and the rest of his team in the back cabin and the bed.
"The boss asked me to take care of your physical training," Roberto said, keeping his eyes on the road. "So that's what we'll be doing every morning."
Izuku nodded, understanding only half of it, and stayed silent for the rest of the trip.
After half an hour, they arrived at the Monarch Mercs headquarters. Izuku was impressed by its size and the heavy security.
They entered, and upon getting out, the atmosphere gave Izuku a chill. Several people were lined up while jogging, demonstrating the discipline they were instructed with.
"Attention!" someone ordered, and everyone stopped their tasks to salute Roberto, who was getting out of the truck.
Several rows, well-ordered and all standing firm in a military salute, made an impactful image for Izuku, who could only gape at the scene.
"At ease!" At Roberto's command, everyone stopped saluting while remaining firm. "It's good to see you all again. I have news for you, but it will come through your Team Leaders," he said, and everyone paid attention to what he was saying.
"So, get back to what you were doing. Dismissed!" And just like that, everyone returned to their tasks.
"Now, Izuku, follow me, please."
Izuku got out of the vehicle and followed Roberto around the base, admiring the squads and the discipline they exuded.
Roberto stopped in front of a physical training field.
"The first thing we'll do is train your body and endurance."
In front of him was a complete circuit where Izuku could exercise in various ways: jogging, climbing, jumping, etc.
...
Izuku was panting after completing the physical training circuit Roberto had assigned him. For someone used to studying books and training his mind rather than his body, the experience had been exhausting but rewarding. As he gratefully drank water, Aguilar approached with a reassuring smile.
"Take it easy, don't want you choking," Aguilar said, handing him a bottle of fresh water.
"Thank you, sir," Izuku replied, accepting the bottle and drinking eagerly as he tried to catch his breath.
"You did great out there, Izuku. I understand this is very different from what you're used to in Japan, but you adapt quickly," commented Aguilar, proudly observing the young man's effort.
"Yes, it's definitely different, but I'm determined to learn everything I can here," Izuku responded, looking up with determination.
"That's what I want to hear. Now, after a good physical training, it's time for you to join me in the offices. There's much more to learn about Monarch and how we operate," announced Aguilar, guiding Izuku towards the main building.
They walked together through the elegant and modern corridors of Monarch Inc., passing by different departments and offices where employees moved efficiently. Izuku looked around with curiosity, impressed by the organization and the professional atmosphere in every corner.
Finally, they arrived at Aguilar's main office, a luxurious and functional space that reflected the importance of the man who ran the corporation. Izuku discreetly admired the minimalist design and cutting-edge technology that adorned the room.
"Wow," Izuku softly exclaimed, overwhelmed by the surroundings.
"It's wonderful, isn't it?" Aguilar commented with a smile, pleased by Izuku's reaction. "Get used to it; you'll spend quite a bit of time here with me while you learn how Monarch works and the responsibilities that come with running a company like this."
"Yes, sensei. I won't let you down. I'm ready to learn everything I need to," assured Izuku, determined to make the most of this unique opportunity.
Aguilar nodded approvingly and sat behind his imposing desk. He invited Izuku to sit in front of him, creating an atmosphere of mentorship and learning.
"Alright, Izuku. Let's start with an overview of Monarch's history and structure. After that, we'll discuss our current projects and how you can contribute with your unique skills," Aguilar explained, turning on one of the monitors to begin the presentation.
For hours, Aguilar guided Izuku through the fundamentals of Monarch Inc. He talked about the company's ethical principles, its global impact in various industries, and the business philosophies that had led to its success. Izuku took diligent notes, absorbing every word with interest as he tried to assimilate all the new information.
"And now, let's move on to the technological innovation projects we're working on," Aguilar continued, shifting the focus to the company's cutting-edge initiatives.
Meanwhile, Tanaka and Ramirez were also busy. Tanaka had been assigned to learn about Aguilar's security and management operations, while Ramirez coordinated with other members of Monarch's security team to ensure the ongoing protection of the building and its personnel.