Here it is, the sixty-fourth full chapter of Miraculous Quirks released at the set time I promised each week. Alas the real world continues to be a factor in keeping my writing to a weekly upload but I won't miss a week unless I can't avoid it (so far only a literal bout with covid has managed that in the last 2 years) so here is the latest chapter as we deal with the aftermath of the licensing exam. The only remaining thing to say here is that with this chapter, I now have the longest by word count story that is within the Miraculous fanfic sphere on this site (regular or crossover) though it should be a back and forth with the one I've overtaken but for the moment I have the honor. Anyway, that is all the administrative stuff I have for now though and as there are no review questions to answer or guest reviews to respond to I will end this note here. Do keep the reviews coming as I enjoy hearing from y'all. Now, though, it is time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the 64th full chapter of Miraculous Quirks.
Disclaimer: I do not own either of these great works of fiction
Chapter 64: The Meaning of the Results
"Ok everyone, thanks for your hard work in today's exam." Mera said in his usual tired voice as he stood in front of the screen from earlier though it was now on a raised stage with the podium to one side by the flight of stairs that Mera had used to get to the stage with the whole set up having been brought out after the exam had ended so that it could be used for the results once they were tallied.
Before the stage were the 100 students who had advanced to the second round now changed out of their costumes and in their various school uniforms as they stood around grouped by their classes, at least those who had made it to the second round in their respective classes. Those who had been in need of healing had received it though Marinette was still a little unsteady on her feet having blown past her stamina limits at the end of the test with her mech, but she could manage. All were waiting nervously though as the time to learn if they had earned their provisional licenses was now upon them.
"Now before I announce the results, I should probably explain the way we evaluated you." Mera continued without fanfare as the students got progressively more nervous the more he spoke with some really feeling the weight of his words on their shoulders as the learned how they were graded. "Between H.U.C. and those of us at the Heroes Public Safety Commission we had a two-fold demerit system that was used to determine your total scores. In other words, we were evaluating you based on how few mistakes you made in a crisis situation like the one you faced. Anyway, the names of those who passed are listed here in alphabetical order. Keep my words in mind as you search the screen for your name."
As he finished, Mera held out his right hand and the board was suddenly filled with names. Based on the rows and columns, there were 82 names on the board meaning that only 18 students had failed the second half of the provisional license exam though none of those 18 had been removed from the test during which seemed odd but there had to be a reason for it.
Of course, no one had time to dwell on that as they began to frantically search the board for their names. This was made even harder for Adrien and Marinette as they quickly realized that it was alphabetical based on the Japanese alphabet, naturally, and not the Latin one so it took the couple a few moments to find their names, longer than the rest of the class who began to let out their own reactions as they searched but in short order…
"There I am." Marinette said with a breath of relief as she finally found her name where it was supposed to be, she really had to get better at reading kanji faster.
"Same." Adrien said finding his own name a few seconds later. "Not that I doubted that either of us would fail, m'lady."
"True, still reassuring to see our names there." Marinette said taking Adrien's hand and giving it a squeeze, it was too public for any deeper levels of affection than this.
Of course, the rest of the class had already begun to find their names while Marinette and Adrien had been finding their own names. Naturally that led to a lot of reactions that the French pair couldn't help but notice and smile at as they'd looked.
"I passed!" Izuku said his eyes wide at seeing his name on the board, he'd done it and he couldn't wait to tell All Might and his mother the good news. "I did it!"
"I'm up there, just call me a hero." Mineta said leaping up. "Ladies, please line up for me and don't worry, there's more than enough Grape Juice to go around."
"I did it." Jiro said with a sigh of relief at finding her own name on the board. "I was a little worried, but I passed."
"There I am." Ida said grinning and knowing that Tensei would be proud of him when he told him that once again Ingenium would be running towards those in need. "One more step closer to being the hero I swore I'd become."
"Alright." Shoji said simply with little emotion at seeing his name on the board.
"I'm on the board!" Ochaco cheered her smile wide, she was one step closer to her dream and pushing hard towards it just like Deku was.
"Thank goodness." Sero said ignoring the bead of sweat that had formed on his face and begun to run down as he searched for his name. "I passed."
"What a relief." Ojiro said wiping his forehead while Tokoyami just grunted and nodded in his usual taciturn way at finding his own name there though he was the first to notice what was missing as it should have been right after his name and wasn't. "I was getting nervous that I didn't pass but I managed it."
"Magnifique." Aoyama said glad to see his own name and ready to sparkle more, especially now that certain things were behind him at last after Kamino. "I shall continue to twinkle brightly."
"Yeah I did it." Sato said with a grin already thinking of the cake he'd make to celebrate with the class, with his sensei's help of course.
"Yeah!" Mina yelled leaping up at seeing her name while Koda just nodded happily at seeing his one, his shy demeanor meaning that he wasn't going to vocalize his success, but he couldn't wait to tell his mother and see how proud she was of him for passing his provisional licensing exam. "I passed, woohoo!"
"Another small step towards being a pro." Momo said smiling at her name on the board. "I will not dishonor these results."
"Ribbit." Tsu croaked out unable to say more at seeing her own name there.
"I passed, I passed!" Hagakure screamed waving her arms around which with her invisibility was always a strange sight.
"Killed it." Kaminari said grinning at how he'd passed the final, going with Bakugo had definitely helped him out as he'd passed both stages. "Time to be a hero."
"Right on." Kirishima said finding his name though he could feel the emotion from his side and didn't even need to look at the board to know the truth. "But er…"
"No." Bakugo let out his eyes bloodshot as he searched the list over and over, but his name was not on the board, he'd failed, and he wasn't the only one.
"Yo, yo, Yoarashi, yo." Yoarashi said from the Shiketsu lot as he looked down the list towards where his name would be, but it wasn't there just as the French boy from U.A. had predicted and lowering his cap over his eyes. "It's not there. I failed. It's over."
The last to look for, and fail to find, his name, was Todoroki. It should have been between Tokoyami's, and some kid called Choushu Naitou, but it wasn't hence why Tokoyami had been the first in the class to realize though he didn't say anything. Todoroki had failed and as Adrien had said he only had himself to blame for it. This was the music he had to face, and he was going to face it head on as he should. He'd dishonored and shamed himself, his friends, his class, his school, and even his family with this failure but he swore he'd make up for it by using it to redeem himself and become the hero that he wanted to be.
It took the rest of the class a moment to notice that Todoroki had failed, though they could tell with Bakugo given his reaction to the results. To those who didn't see the battle with Gang Orca it was a surprise, and even to some who did like Izuku it was given how none of the failures had been removed from the battlefield after failing, but Adrien knew that it was coming.
Adrien had explained it, and all that he'd done in the final, to Marinette as he took her to the infirmary and she'd agreed that there was no way that Todoroki would pass, while also being amazed at what Adrien had done. He'd been as well with her mech but all that would be dealt with at another time as…
"Todoroki." Yoarashi's loud voice said distracting them, along with Izuku, Momo, and Todoroki who were nearby, and causing them to look over to the tall Shiketsu boy as he approached Todoroki a serious look on his face.
Yoarashi stood there for a moment looking down at Todoroki who looked right back at him with a level gaze that was held for a moment. Then, before anyone could react, Yoarashi bent forward and slammed his head into the ground in a deep bow of apology, shame, and atonement, his speed so fast that his hat remained on the entire time.
"I'm sorry." Yoarashi said to the other boy as he spoke from his boy. "It's my fault that you didn't pass the licensing exam. My focus was too narrow minded. Forgive me."
Todoroki was surprised that the other boy had come to apologize to him, though it had been Yoarashi's anger that had started the escalation during that fight with Gang Orca, not that Todoroki had done anything to stop it and just played into it and knew that he too had to make amends. He'd tried to ignore his linage or move on from it, Midoriya had helped a lot with that in the Sports Festival, but Adrien had been right, he had to get over it. That meant that he had to accept it and move on to be the hero that he wanted to be.
"You're fine, I was the one who got us off to a bad start." Todoroki said looking at Yoarashi. "I hold as much blame for what happened as you do."
"But still…" Yoarashi began but Todoroki wasn't done as Mina and Sero looked at him in surprise from where they were behind their classmate.
"And what you said to me." Todoroki continued before Yoarashi could say anything more. "I have a lot to think about. Adrien spoke to both of us, I suggest we heed his words and grow from this."
"Holy crap." Mina said her black eyes wide. "Did he really fail?"
"How could two of our top classmates not pass the exam?" Sero added stunned at both Todoroki and Bakugo failing, thus making Dupain-Cheng the only one of the unofficial top three in class to have passed. "That's almost all the best we have."
"Well, we all know that Marinette wouldn't fail." Mina said. "But Todoroki is a surprise."
"Should have been more careful what you said Bakugo." Kaminari said to his friend recalling how Bakugo was in the test which likely led to his failure. "Words are important you know."
"Shut your mouth before I murder you." Bakugo said angrily causing Kaminari to wither away from him in fear at the pure rage coming from the explosive boy.
"Those entitled people at the top think so highly of themselves don't they." Mineta said feeling all smug and satisfied with himself now that he had accomplished something some of the very best hadn't for once. "Their own egos are their own worse enemies. Looks like our class hierarchy is collapsing…oof."
Mineta had finished this by climbing up Todoroki's back and grabbing his shoulder to get in close to his classmate before Marinette had walked behind him and grabbed him around the throat to pull him away from the two-tone boy. It may not be about his perverted side, but Mineta did need a little sending back to earth, and Marinette had more than enough strength to manage that even if she still couldn't use Lucky Charm.
"Leave him alone." Marinette said calmly as Mineta struggled in her grip that was deliberately not tight enough for him to enjoy like he'd claimed back at camp. "Not everyone is going to be great at every test and there were other circumstances here that led to these results that I am sure will be corrected. Also, so you don't forget this stupid hierarchy thing that you have in mind, I passed and last I checked I'm considered Bakugo and Todoroki's equal at the top even if I don't really care for such rankings, so it's still there."
With that Marinette dropped Mineta as the rest of the class continued to look at the other top students they had in shock. They were all now fully coming to grips with the fact that both Todoroki and Bakugo had failed the licensing exam.
"I can't believe this." Izuku said as he processed it.
"Really, you can't?" Adrien asked from next to Izuku as they and Momo looked at their classmate. "You saw Todoroki was like against Gang Orca and how the rest of the test was so you should know that it's not something that would mesh with Bakugo's personality. How could Todoroki expect to pass after that display while Bakugo likely ended up in the wrong place for him in this test and failed because of it."
"I know but why not remove them once they failed." Izuku said. "That's why I was surprised, if they failed then why were they allowed to continue the exam."
"That I can't answer." Adrien admitted. "But there has to be a reason for it, there always is."
"Poor Todoroki." Momo said not really listening and just worried for her friend but before she could say anything else Mera began to speak again.
"So." Mera said now that everyone had had enough time to find or not find their names on the board as HPSC agents began walking amongst the students handing out papers to them that Mera was about to explain the significance of. "Next we'll give you a print out of your results. They include a breakdown of your scores, so you know exactly what areas you need to improve going forward."
"Kirishima." The HPSC agent said as he reached the spikey redhead and handed him his scores and moved onto the next examinee in the pile.
"Thank you sir." Kirishima said with a smile taking it and looking at his results.
"Hand it over." Bakugo said turning to his friend his rage barely containable at the moment. "I want to see what you got."
"Er, maybe you should focus on your own scores." Kirishima said trying to placate Bakugo.
"Come on how'd you do." Hagakure said as she started to pester Kaminari as he'd been the second in the class to get his scores and she had yet to get hers.
"Give me a sec and I'll tell you." Kaminari said not complaining about the girl touching him.
"We lopped off points whenever you did something wrong." Mera said as the results were being handed out so that the gathered examinees could understand more about the scoring system that had been used. "Fall below 50 and you were done. These demerits are itemized on your result forms as you can see so I'd look at them to learn what you need to improve on."
"61 points." Ojiro said a little unnerved by it as he looked at his printout. "I barely made it."
"Woah I got 84." Sero said amazed at how few points he'd lost and smiling as he showed it off. "Look at that guys it turns out I'm actually kinda great at this stuff."
"Wait Yao-Momo, you got 94 points!" Jiro said stunned at her best friend's score, that was high even for Momo who was beaming and positively sparkling at her results.
"What about you Ida, how'd it go?" Izuku asked his friend.
"I ended with 80." Ida said thrilled that the results were being given to them like this, it was better than he could have asked for what with passing as well. "It seems like my weak points were in practical application. What about you?"
"I got 71 points." Izuku said showing Ida his results. "It looks like they mostly docked me for some of the stupid things I said at the beginning with that first injured bystander that I had to deal with and for times when I was just standing around doing nothing as I waited for an opening."
"I'm thankful we've been given such empirical evidence on what we should improve upon." Ida said pumping his fist as Izuku just nodded at his friend. "I will take all this to heart and work on it to get better now that I have my provisional license. I will make up for Hosu and become a hero worthy of the name Ingenium."
"Well kitty, what did you get?" Marinette asked Adrien as they looked over their results, taking a bit more time due to the kanji which, while readable to them, was still not as fast as it would be with the Latin alphabet.
"67." Adrien said surprised it was that low while Izuku was nearby still thinking on the whole system and why those who had failed had been allowed to continue once they went below the passing threshold, he just couldn't see the reason behind that. "Looks like it was mainly for my recklessness during my wave of destruction. I didn't fail because I'd set it all up so that it worked, and my earlier actions helped a lot, but they didn't like me being so blasé with my Quirk which I can understand and will work on. Also a few more points when I was just standing around waiting to strike Gang Orca. What about you bugaboo?"
"That is odd that you were so low." Marinette said a bit taken aback by how harsh they'd been for Adrien, especially compared to her own score. "I got 89 though and most of those lost points were for, like you, standing around at the end as I was busy most of the time with everything else though I did lose one or two points for practical mistakes here and there."
"Well, you are amazing so no doubt that you'd score high." Adrien said with a grin. "And you weren't demolishing buildings constantly like me. I know what to work on and will do so."
"As will I." Marinette said with a nod.
"Anyway, moving forward." Mera said interrupting them again and bringing their attention back to him once again. "Those of you who have passed can exercise the same authority as pro heroes but only during emergency situations. In other words, fighting villains, saving the victims of criminal acts or accidents, you can act using your best judgement with no direct orders from a fully licensed pro. Keep in mind that your every action from now on carries with it a deep responsibility toward bettering our society and that the world is watching you."
As Mera was talking he was looking out over the faces of the students who'd passed the first exam. They were all serious after getting their results, and a bit nervous, which was good. They understood his words and he didn't need to slow down at all as he spoke.
"I am sure you are aware that All Might, our greatest hero, no longer has his incredible power which was one of the reasons crime this country was so low." Mera continued. "With that deterrent no longer available criminals are no doubt going to become bolder and more wide spread. Expect the balance we currently have in our world to be destroyed and for things to change quickly."
Mera's words were blunt and to the point because they had to be. The students who had passed had to know the new world that they were about to enter and all that it contained now that the era of All Might had come to an end and the future ahead was clouded without him. Still, as Mera continued he made sure to reiterate what the HPSC felt was necessary for the future.
"You young people will be the hope for our future." Mera said. "It is imperative that you become exemplary heroes, that your reputations grow to suppress crime just as All Might's did. Remember the license that you earned today is provisional and you still have much to do. I would like for you to think of yourselves as fledglings and be even more diligent in your studies going forward."
Mera paused for a second to let his words sink in for those who passed and hopefully give them something to aim for now that they had their provisional licenses. As for the others, well it was time to address them and give them the olive branch that they had planned for those who didn't pass the second test.
"As for those who fell short and did not pass, we do not have time for you to feel bitter about your loss." Mera continued after his brief pause. "Instead, we offer you a chance to redeem yourselves because after you attend a 3 month long special course and pass an individual test we plan to issue an individual license to those of you who failed as well."
This got a bunch of gasps, grunts, and smiles from the failures in the crowd. Here was a chance to get their license without having to go through the test again and prove that they too deserve their licenses, while also being a fitting punishment for their failures today, at least to most of them.
"In order to reach this idyllic future that I have just spoken of we're going to need as many good heroes on the streets as we can get." Mera said not slowing down in the slightest, so everyone continued to focus on him. "The first round was designed to weed people out, but we would like to grow the 100 selected in that test as much as possible. That is why we watched you all until the end so we could see for ourselves that you each have promise, that once your shortcomings are corrected you have the potential to be as great as your fellow classmates."
Well, that explained it to Izuku and the others who were confused as to why the failures remained in the final after they'd failed. It was all still part of the overall test for them to be allowed to take the special course, so they had been allowed to finish and certainly in some cases, like Yoarashi and Todoroki's, they'd shown that promise by finally working together with that towering tornado of flame.
"Note that this special course will keep you busy as it will run concurrently with your normal studies." Mera said as he reached the end of his spiel. "So, you are welcome to retake the exam in April if you would prefer to wait."
"Oh, like hell I'm waiting." Bakugo roared.
"Special course!" Yoarashi shouted as Todoroki nodded in agreement at that, he would take this course and earn his license that way to make up for his failures, the fact that it was concurrent with his studies only added to it as the hard work he would go through from all of this would be a fitting punishment for his foolishness.
"Isn't this great Todoroki." Izuku said to his friend. "You can get your license by the end of the semester as well."
"You don't have to." Mineta said worried now that there was an alternative path for the failures to redeem themselves. "Just take it easy, relax, the hierarchy is…"
"Still there so long as people like me, Adrien, Midoriya, Tokoyami, and Ida are still around." Marinette said as she 'accidentally' kneed Mineta in the face to shut him up before looking at Todoroki and smiling at him. "You got this Todoroki, pass the course and earn your provisional."
"Yeah we'll root for you." Ida said a little worried about Mineta, but he did have it coming for that comment.
"Thank you, I'll work hard." Todoroki said before he turned to Adrien. "And Adrien."
"Yes Shoto." Adrien said as the whole class stared in surprise at the boys using each other's first names and then gasped as Todoroki proceeded to bow deeply to Adrien.
"I'm sorry." Todoroki said from his bow, one that was a fair bit deeper than the one he'd once offered Dupain-Cheng to apologize for burning her in the Sports Festival when he used his fire on her without really being able to control it or understand what it meant to him. "You tried to make me see reason before the second test when I first spoke with Yoarashi, but I failed to heed your words when the moment came. For that and my own inability to accept what I am and move on from it I have failed this exam. Your words at the end, I will not forget them just as I know Ida won't forget what you once said to him. I promise I will pass this course and I will not dishonor myself or my friends again."
"It's ok, please rise." Adrien said a little uncomfortable as the class stared at them, all but Ida, Izuku and Marinette a bit taken aback by how close the two actually were and what Todoroki was saying, not that they'd actually learn the deeper truths behind the words. "I'm, um, not great with this whole bowing culture thing."
"Right, forgot about that, thank you for accepting it though." Todoroki said rising and meeting Adrien's eyes. "Still, I am sorry for the shame I've brought upon all of you for this."
"I get it and you know how to be better, so I look forward to hearing that you have passed this course." Adrien said with a smile. "Now let's get out of here, we have to get back to school."
"Right, I need to get to work right away." Todoroki said.
"Agreste, wait." A new voice said as the examinees began to disperse and Adrien did as he turned to see Mora and some of the other Shiketsu students, though not the blonde girl as she was no where to be seen, approaching him. "I want to thank you."
"Me, for what?" Adrien asked surprised as the stocky student covered in hair reached him.
"For speaking some sense into Yoarashi at the end." Mora said. "He disgraced himself and our school with his actions. I would have said what you did to him but hearing it from someone his own age, and someone he clearly respects given all you did in the second test, was more important so thank you. I still want to foster stronger relations between our schools, and this is a good place for us to start."
"Agreed." Adrien said pulling his phone out and handing it to Mora. "So, add yourself, I'll forward your details onto Ida, he's our class rep so he'd want to be part of this, and we can go from there if possible. Plus, with Yoarashi, Todoroki, and Bakugo in extra lessons that is another point of contact for our schools."
"Yes they can begin bonding and making up for their mistakes there." Mora said adding his details and handing it back to Adrien who quickly shot Mora a message so that he had Adrien's details as well. "As will Camie, she didn't pass either but advanced so once she is feeling better, she's apparently already left for the station as she wasn't feeling well after the second test, she will also join them on their special course."
"That is good, but I should get going." Adrien said. "Until our paths cross again."
"Until then." Mora said with a bow of his head before he turned to lead the Shiketsu lot out, Yoarashi bowing to Adrien just as Todoroki had before he joined them, and Adrien just blinking at it all before he too turned and went to rejoin his class.
The provisional exam was over, and they'd get their licenses, we'll all but 2 would, and a talk from Aizawa about what happened in the exam. After that, well, they weren't sure, but Adrien and Marinette would likely have a talk with Mage very soon as they now had their provisional licenses. Soon it would be time for their next catchup with their legal guardian. In fact, it would be sooner than either expected and have a little twist to it.
After the announcement of those who had passed, and Todoroki and Bakugo had made it clear that they were going to take the special 3-month course to get their provisional license, the rest of the class got their new provisional licenses. The licenses were cards with their school photos, hero name and most of the other information covered with Xs for obvious reasons, and they met back up at the busses.
Naturally those who passed were thrilled and many were taking photos of their cards to send to family or mentors, Izuku key amongst them. Just the sight of it, and Izuku's reason for it being to thank all those who had helped him get this far, warmed Ochaco's heart to see because it was so him, while they waited to board their busses.
Marinette and Adrien weren't exempt from this, and both sent messages informing Mage that they'd passed and pictures of their cards so that he could see for himself. He did want to know and now they could see what was next when the semester began, well after Marinette dealt with her impending week of detention that was.
As this was happening, Yoarashi came up to them and told Todoroki that he'd see him in the special course but that not much had changed and that he still hated him but at least he was being honest, which meant that they now had a base to work with. That had prompted Izuku to go to Mora and ask about their training given his strange experience with the blonde girl who he learned was called Camie.
However, it turned out that they'd not had that training and that Camie herself wasn't there having let the other Shiketsu students know that she wasn't feeling well and had taken a cab to the station ahead of them. Apparently she'd been acting odd, and Mora was going to check on her when he got back to school.
Little did any of them know, and they wouldn't for a few days, that the Camie in the exam was actually Himiko Toga in disguise as her thanks to Toga's Transform Quirk that allowed her to turn into someone who's blood she's recently drunk so that she could learn more about Izuku via an unexpected avenue. She'd also gotten a few drops of Izuku's blood, so she was thrilled with her day's work and eager for her next meeting with either Izuku or Ochaco as the latter was now also a person of interest as well. She also still had a score to settle with Marinette, so Himiko knew her fun with Class A was far from over.
In time, the attack on Shiketsu would be revealed and the hero world would realize that no one was safe from the League of Villains as a school that wasn't U.A. had been attacked by them as well. That was in time though, for now it was just a confusing situation that had yet to unfold.
Marinette noticed none of this as she'd gotten a reply from Mage when Izuku had gone to talk to Mora that she read. It was partially what she'd been expecting, albeit earlier than she had thought it would be, and partially a surprise.
Congratulations you two, I knew that you could do it and you are one step closer to returning to what you were before the incident. I will summon you to my office tonight after dinner, do not worry I have permission from Nezu for it and to use my powers as I did last time, to discuss the next step that will happen. Please inform Miss Yaoyorozu that she will be joining us as well seeing as she is now in the know so she has earned this right for what is to come if she should chose to accept what I have to offer all three of you. Make sure you turn in before I summon you. Mage.
That was a little odd to say the least and Marinette showed the message to Adrien who just shrugged and accepted it as he too had been expecting the summons just not that night. However, Mage could be a little strange at times and Momo did know the truth, so it all made sense that they'd be summoned tonight.
Marinette agreed and as they boarded to bus to head back she shot Momo a text to explain the situation and to be ready in a few hours though she didn't know any more details. After that, they just boarded the bus and began the trip back to campus after a long and eventful day. They needed a break though little did they know that there was still one more excitement in store for one of them, a secret to be revealed to someone, and an interesting chat that only 3 would know about.
Due to the failure of two of their classmates to pass the licensing exam, the rest decided not to have a party when they got back as it would be in poor taste to do so though Todoroki did go to bed early citing a need to rest up as he would soon be very busy with school, hero studies, and his extra course. Instead, most just changed into part casual part sports kit clothes or full casual and gathered in the common area to relax, chat, or play with Kota's bunny Yuwai.
Normal classes were resuming the next day so an early night was a must for most of them and Marinette made it clear to the girls that that was what she was going to do, her still recovering stamina providing a good cover story for an early night. Adrien had already gone to bed early, as had a few other guys following Todoroki's lead, so Marinette waited for the right moment before leaving, catching Momo's eye as she left to make it clear that the time was almost upon them. During all of this, no one noticed Bakugo pass Midoriya and tell him to meet him outside later to talk about his Quirk.
Momo for her part understood as Marinette turned and went to her room to wait for the summons that was coming for them. She'd gotten the message from her friend and seen it on the bus back while Jiro dozed next to her. It had been unexpected, but she understood why she was being included and felt a little honored by it. The message, written in French, had read:
Momo, when I go to bed wait 5-10 minutes maximum before going yourself. My legal guardian has informed me that he wishes to speak to me and Adrien in the aftermath of our passing of the licensing exam and he has requested that you join, well more like stated that you will as he wishes for you to attend it as well. I am sure you can understand why you are being asked. Please be ready for this and be open minded on it. Sorry for the sudden notice but you know his nature, he's not exactly great with people.
Momo did understand, she'd even had a one-on-one chat with Mage after she'd been let in on everything regarding Marinette and Adrien, as well as Mage's own true identity, so that she could understand it all. It had been fascinating and very revealing about many things and while she still struggled to fully comprehend what was going on she was accepting it. Now it looked like she would be trusted with more and wasn't going to pass this up.
"Marinette's right, we should get to bed." Momo said a few minutes after Marinette had left as she got up and stretched, her invocation of the girls' unofficial leader adding to it all. "I'm going to go to it myself now and make sure that everything is ready for the first day of the new semester."
"Yeah I'm with you on that." Jiro said getting up as well as she stifled a yawn. "It's been a long day and I'm exhausted."
A few others just nodded but only the two girls went, heading to their side of the building and taking the elevator up to their respective floors, Jiro bidding her friend goodnight when she left on the third floor before Momo continued to the 5th. It was almost time and Momo hurried back to her room, unlocking it and entering her cramped quarters to make sure she was in position for when the sudden and jarring experience of being teleported from one place to another by magic happened to her.
Once the door was closed and she flicked the white noise machine she had that if asked was for her 'sleep' but was in reality to avoid Jiro listening in she turned to her room. It wasn't that Momo didn't trust her best friend not to abuse her Quirk like that, she did, but more out of an abundance of caution to protect Marinette and Adrien's secret and to avoid awkward questions whenever…
"Ah you are back in the stable Momo." Kaalki said in her posh accented French coming out from her hiding space. "Is it time for your evening reading and bed already? This is earlier than usual for you."
"Alas no Kaalki." Momo said in French, this was why she had the extra caution given her unexpected and unplanned roommate which she couldn't even begin to explain. "Mage has requested I join the others tonight in a chat in the wake of passing our license exams, so I had to retire early as we are being summoned like before I believe though Marinette was rather cryptic in her message."
"I see that is a great honor for you." Kaalki said with a nod as she flew up to Momo to hover in front of her. "Well then I expect a story of this test when you return. I have watched you study hard for it, so I want to know how it went."
"Of course, it was eventful for sure, but I did really well and am proud of it." Momo said with a smile. "In fact,…"
Momo didn't get to finish before she suddenly vanished without any warning. Kaalki sighed, she'd have to wait for the story it seemed as Mage had impeccable timing as ever. Turning she went back to her preening in Momo's fancy mirror knowing that the humans with the creator of the Miraculouses would be fine.
Momo, Marinette, and Adrien all appeared on the lilac sofa in Mage's U.A. office at the same time, the latter two more used to it after the first semester but Momo was still far from adapting to the experience. It was basically the same as before only this time the sofa was a 3-seater making the table longer and only one chair was opposite that was in the middle and in which Mage sat just as he had before. Marinette was in the middle with Adrien on her left and Momo on her right as they faced the Guardian seated before them.
Almost as soon as they were there did the scent of a few top tier teas reached their nostrils. In front of each was a steaming cup of their preferred blend, Gold Tips Imperial for Momo and French teas for the French teens, while Mage sipped from a proper porcelain cup that contained an exquisite British blend he liked to indulge himself in.
"I take it that there were no issues." Mage said in Japanese as he set his cup down on the floating saucer before him before it floated to the side to wait for when he needed a drink. "I wouldn't have transported you unless you were alone in your rooms, but no one questioned you going to bed I take it."
"Nope." Marinette said shaking her head. "After the day we've had no one cared if we went to bed early."
"Yeah people had gone before us, so it was to be expected." Adrien said. "So, no one minded at all. Plus, with classes resuming tomorrow we do need to be ready for them."
"Good, it will be a bit jarring going right back to normal school work, but you can manage it." Mage said before turning to look at Momo. "And Miss Yaoyorozu, I am sure that this is a bit of a surprise that I asked for you as well so please allow me to explain my reasonings. First though is there anything that you wish to ask about or for."
"Um only one thing." Momo said surprising them by speaking French when everything had started in Japanese. "Seeing as this is something you do with Marinette and Adrien; can we talk in French? I usually use it when I'm alone with Marinette, I'm not often alone with Adrien, or just them, as it helps me perfect my 6th language more. Also, it is respectful I feel as this is mainly about them."
"I see, we can certainly speak French if that is good with everyone." Mage said in French to which the other two nodded and Momo noted that his British accent thickened in French similar to how Marinette's French accent thickened whenever she spoke in English. "Ok then let's continue. I assume you are aware why you are included at least Miss Yaoyorozu."
"I am aware of the full truth of both Marinette and Adrien's past as well as your nature Mr. Mage." Momo said with a slight nod of her head. "And as these chats are no doubt frank ones I can be included in them should you request it. That said I don't know why this time I am being asked to join in."
"I am asking because now that your provisional license exam is over, and you three have all earned them as expected and congratulations on that, I wish to make the same offer to you that I have already partially discussed with Adrien and Marinette." Mage said. "I am going to, as soon as I get approval and the paperwork is sorted as it is still up in the air if we are going to let first years partake in these, offer all 3 of you a work study at the Guardian Agency for the coming semester."
"A work study?" Momo asked stunned, she knew full well what that meant and was shocked at the honor she was getting. "At the top international agency?"
"Of course." Mage said with a nod. "Marinette and Adrien, as international students and my wards were guaranteed to get the offer and are expected to take it for the first work study period, any future ones are up to them to decide if they wish to join me or another agency for. That and they will both get offers so I want to preempt other agencies by making the first offer."
"We would?" Adrien asked.
"Well Marinette would, her performance in the Sports Festival and passing of the exam would alert a few." Mage said. "You maybe but as you interned with me Adrien it is less likely. Still, I want to secure both of you right away. I actually hadn't intended on offering any other spots to your class but, well, Miss Yaoyorozu eared her offer from me on her own."
"Oh, I did?" Momo asked amazed, she hadn't planned on this at all.
"This offer you have earned." Mage confirmed. "I do recommend that you also take a work study at a Japanese agency as well in the third semester should they be available then as well, which I expect they will be, to experience your own nation's system a bit more but for next semester I'm making the offer to you. I think it will be an exclusive offer as only a few agencies have this ability for first years and the one I am a part of is one of them."
"I, I don't know what to say." Momo admitted still stunned but knowing she couldn't turn refuse the offer. "I won't turn this chance down, the benefits are too high to not for both hero and other networking chances, but can I ask how I earned it?"
"Of course." Mage said understanding her need to know. "The main way you did was through your hard work in finding out Marinette's secret. That takes dedication to do, especially after the effort we put in to avoid it, and you went about it really well. Add in that you did it because you care about your friend and went to her afterwards to make sure it was true and comfort her rather than anyone else shows your kind heart. That alone is enough for consideration but of course there is more that will help cover that reason."
"There is?" Momo asked as she tried to process how her inadvertent investigation into how Marinette knew a Tsurugi had led to not just her discoveries of Marinette's past, the revelations of Mage, but also this work study offer.
"Well yes, your language skills are more than impressive for us, as is the power of your Quirk." Mage said. "Though we don't really focus as much on that as other factors. Fluency in 2 languages is a minimum for the Guardian Agency however and you have 6 at proficient or fluent levels so that will help. Lastly, you are the top academic student and as my agency is a lot more investigative focused, so academics are important."
"I see so if this becomes official there is both a cover and more accurate story to it." Momo said.
"Yup which is a lot of how we do things." Mage said.
"It should be good Momo." Marinette said to her friend. "I don't know much about the work studies, but I am sure they will be advantageous to us."
"And with 3 it will be a lot easier." Adrien said. "And we can work together in it. I interned with Mage and the agency is great."
"I, I am truly honored." Momo said as she took a sip of the really good tea to calm herself. "And I'll accept the offer should it become official. I assume we will learn more about how the work study will work soon."
"Yes though I will wait until after Aizawa has explained it, it is his prerogative to do so." Mage said. "And it will have to wait a week anyway."
"It will?" Momo asked. "Why?"
"Marinette, care to explain." Mage said causing Momo to turn to her friend who was now scarlet with embarrassment while Adrien just sipped some tea trying to avoid grinning at the memory. "You are why we can't start for at least a week though it will take that long to set up at the minimum I feel."
"Marinette?" Momo asked. "What's going on?"
"I, um, am starting a week's worth of after school detention with Mr. Power Loader tomorrow." Marinette admitted as she picked up her tea cup to try and hid her embarrassment. "In the Design Studio in fact and, well, that does take priority over everything else."
"You have detention?" Momo asked stunned that someone like Marinette could get detention. "How did you get detention?"
"Mr. Power Loader wasn't too keen on me throwing Mei Hatsume across the room, twice." Marinette admitted cause Momo to splutter into her tea which was a bit of a waste of the exquisite tea that she was drinking. "Yeah not my finest moment."
"How did you even get to the point to doing that." Momo asked.
"She was all over Adrien, feeling out his muscles and what not." Marinette said defensively. "This was when we went there so that Adrien could discuss his mask idea and see if it could be made by them. As the cover for our costumes is that they are made by Technus, Power Loader doesn't have permission to alter or add to them but Hatsume, as part of some elaborate series of tests that Technus has apparently set her if she wishes to be hired by him in his impending Japanese branch, can. She jumped at the chance, but she got to close to Adrien and well I reacted a little too jealously when another girl was all over my man. I, um, have had issues with jealousy in the past and they clearly still linger a bit."
"You were also in your costume which did add to it." Adrien said. "Not that I'm complaining, it was really uncomfortable for me as well and I do like it when you defend me like that, it's sweet."
"Oh, I see." Momo said understanding the first time at least. "You pulled Hatsume off and with your already above human strength, augmented by your costume, you inadvertently tossed her across the studio. That doesn't explain the twice part though."
"Pretty much." Marinette said with a nod. "As for the other time, well turns out Hatsume is really sturdy and bounced rough up and proceeded to do the same to me, including touching me in some rather inappropriate areas, so I pried her off me and tossed her again. That was the last straw and Power Loader kicked me out and banned me until the start of the semester when I have detention with him, as does Hatsume as she was also not in the right, so I've got to clean the studio each day next week. Hatsume didn't seem to mind however, she just got to work on Adrien's mask and the other projects that she had."
"Huh well then…wait." Momo said as it all hit her, and she looked at Marinette. "By inappropriate areas you mean…"
"Yes those." Marinette said with a nod. "I know I'm not at all endowed there but it was still not what I wanted."
"And are you seeing anything else in this." Momo said. "You know, Kamino."
"Er…" Marinette began as it came back to her, and she went redder. "Sorry, I was trying to get the guys away and, well, you know…"
"I know it's more amusing that the situation was reversed on you, and I understand why you did what you did in Kamino, it was the right call there." Momo said with a chuckle. "But alright that makes sense that you have detention even if your actions are justified, you can't toss a student across a room, especially one who isn't in the Hero Course."
"Yeah I've accepted it and it might actually be interesting as I do like making things so who knows what I can learn from a week in the Design Studio." Marinette said, she'd long accepted her punishment for her actions and was trying to see if some good could come of it. "And as such we can't do anything until the second week."
"Which is fine." Mage said. "It will take time so it's not a problem. Now…"
However, before Mage could continue his phone went off. Someone was calling him, and a confused Mage pulled out his phone, his confusion getting deeper as he saw the caller id and hit accept as it was one that he had to take.
"Principal what's the matter." Mage said in Japanese and then he suddenly switched to a language that none of the trio could speak, Ancient Greek, which Nezu only knew because of his Quirk and at the request of the Guardians that he learn just in case the moment he heard what was up. "Sir, I have someone not in the know with me on that as you know, I can't speak freely hence this language…yes it is her, I have her here because I want her for the work study and she knows my truth and that of the French duo, so she's earned it…yes I am going to tell them the structure when they start, it's time but that's besides the point what is going on?...I see, ok I'll send them back right away…thank you for the heads up."
Mage ended the call before he looked back to the now confused trio with an apologetic look. He was going to have to cut this short, he'd cover anything else when they started their work studies.
"I am sorry, but I am going to have to send you back now." Mage said. "Something has come up and, well, you need to be in your rooms just in case there's a check. You will find out what in the morning, trust me. For now, get some sleep and I'll see you for your work studies once I get permission."
Before the trio could say anything, Mage sent them back with a thought knowing that they'd understand more in the morning, especially Marinette and Adrien though Momo will at least get the general idea of why given what he'd just been told of. It seemed like Katsuki Bakugo had decided to finally confront Izuku Midoriya given their past and almost certainly was at least suspicious of the origin of the latter's sudden manifestation of a Quirk after years of being Quirkless. As a result, they were now fighting on Ground Beta and Aizawa had been informed of them being their when they shouldn't be.
Thankfully All Might had stopped him as he was going to go and intervein with the situation personally and had shot a message to Nezu on the way, who'd called Mage as he knew that Mage had the trio with him. This heads up allowed Mage to get them back to their rooms before Aizawa made any checks, though he did have permission this allowed him to avoid awkward questions from Aizawa and prepare for what was to come. It looked like a new person would become aware of One for All tonight.
I think that is a good place to end the chapter as we've seen the results, with expected passes by Adrien and Marinette and scores that I feel reflect their actions well, and a good catch up with Mage that sets the stage for what they will do next (and the start of how they will be incorporated into the next major arc). The decision to add Momo was made during writing but I feel like she's earned the chance and now she'll too be part of what is to come but there are a few people to meet first as we get ready for the next semester, which means that it is time for a certain trio to arrive and to see how one handles the addition of two more to the class in that rather memorable scene at the end of season 3 but all in good time. That is all I have for y'all however so I will end this chapter here. If you like it or have any questions please let me know in reviews or PMs, I will try to answer them as best I could and post any questions asked between uploads at the start of the next chapter and do follow and favorite this, so you are alerted to future uploads. Do keep the reviews coming as I like hearing from y'all as you enjoy my work, it motivates me to keep producing the best work I can for y'all to enjoy. Until next time.
Stringdog
