Chapter 28: End of Internship
The elevator doors open with a soft ding and I walk into Ingenium's office, a slight limp in my steps.
It is now the final day of my week-long internship.
The doctor has given the OK for my release from the hospital just this morning, with a warning to not do any strenuous activity for at least a week, and I've finished the required report writing for my tussle with the Hero Killer the night before.
So here I am, after packing up everything from my room and changing into my school uniform, to say a final farewell to my temporary boss.
"Hey there, Tempest." He greeted me as he finished another of his papers, "I take it you have everything packed?"
"Yes, sir." I nodded, "Thank you for your guidance this past week. And… sorry for all the trouble I have caused."
"Glad that you're still aware of that. You have no idea how much a hassle your tussle has caused me. Oh hey, that rhythmed." He noted with what I can only hope is a mischievous grin, "Joking aside, this has been an interesting week. I'm glad to have you here, Tempest. The next time I see you, it would better be either as a full-fledged Hero, or as Team Idaten newest sidekick. We can save you a spot if you want. Fuusenko has taken a real shine to you."
"I'll think about it."
"Hope you do. Oh, that reminds me."
He reached into his desk drawer and drew out a folded piece of parchment paper.
"What's this?"
"Why don't you open it up?"
My curiosity peaked at that statement; I unfold the paper to see what looks like to be a childish crayon doodle of what I think is me in my hero costume holding hands with a doodle of a familiar looking girl. At the bottom, are the words in bright yellow crayon.
[THANK YOU, TEMPEST]
"Looks like someone got herself a fan~" Ingenium's teasing has my face flushing red. "One of our team was handed that by a little girl yesterday, saying that she wants to thank the one that saved her life."
"Kirinko-chan…"
To be honest, her life was never in danger.
But to be thanked for it anyway… now that's a complicated feeling…
"I know I'm repeating myself, but your actions have saved lives. Remember that, alright?"
"I will. And thank you."
"Don't mention it. You'll be a great Hero someday, I know it."
I gave him a thumbs-up and a grin before entering the elevator. As the doors closed shut, I can barely make out him giving me a two-finger salute. Ha, what a lovable dork…
Several hours of train hopping felt like days when you have an injured leg.
Not to mention that it is now late in the evening when I reached my home station. That means that the station is crowded with all sorts of people coming from either work or school.
I barely make it out of the crowded train and is struggling to maneuver around the massive evening crowd while not trying to agitate my injuries even more. That is proving to be a difficult task to accomplish; I struck my toes against the walls more time than I can count.
"E-Excuse me! Please, pardon me-OW!"
I grimaced when I was pushed around and ended up putting way too much weight on my bandaged leg. Winching from the pain, I limp to the side of the entrance before sitting down by the steps to massage the wound in hopes of making the pain fade away. Maybe I should have accepted dad's offer to pick me up after all…
"Genko?"
I looked up at the voice that called me, Taikou is standing there in his school uniform and bags in his arm.
"Oh, hey, Blazer."
"…You're never going to let that go, huh?"
"Not even the slightest!"
His groan makes me chuckle before I let out a hiss when I pressed my foot down too hard again.
"You okay?" He asked me.
"Yeah, just peachy." I stated as I got back up, "Nothing to be concerned about."
"Not from where I'm standing. Can you even walk?"
"Hey, I made it here fine, didn't I?"
He let loose a sigh before moving his bag to his front and handing me his costume case. After I receive it, he knelt in front of me, "Get on."
"…I've told you I'm fine, Taikou."
"You want to worry your dad even more?"
"…"
I let loose a grumble before wrapping my arms around his neck and getting on his back. With a mighty heave, he lifts me up on his back with relative ease.
"You really need to ask for help if you need it."
"Yeah, yeah, I know…"
I really do need to fix this habit of mine…
As we proceed on towards my house, I can feel some people gazing at us. A quick glance around has me seeing some old ladies chuckling, a couple of high school girls squealing at us while taking pictures with their phones, some of the high school boys are glaring death at Taikou for some reason, and a woman pointing at us while discussing something with her boyfriend.
Is this act something to be amazed about? I mean, it just a friend piggybacking on another friend. There aren't any romantic indications here.
"…Hey, Genko."
"Hm? What is it, Taikou?"
"Have you gained weight? Because you're heavier than usual-OW!"
I slaps his head as hard as I can for the question.
"What was that for!?"
"What kind of question is that!? You can't just ask a girl about her weight like that!"
"It's a just normal question!"
I scoffed at his answer before readjusting my grip, "So, how's your week? You've interned under Miriko, right? Is she as hardass as they say?"
"Not really." He tells me, "If anything, she reminds me a lot of like that asshole Bakugou, only without the explosions and the massive ego."
"A female Bakugou? Urgh, I don't want to imagine that."
"She's not as bad as him, though. If anything, she is a badass than a hardass. And I think she might be an adrenaline junkie…"
"Really?"
"Yeah, most of my time were spent parkouring over cities and fighting villains day in and out. She also seems to enjoy leaping off tall skyscrapers just for the fun of it."
"Sounds intense!"
"You're one to talk, miss-fight-the-Hero-Killer."
"…Yeah, that's fair."
"Was Maki-jii angry at you?"
"Furious." I shudder as I rubs my ears, "I can still feel my ears ringing from his lecture…"
"Which you rightfully deserved."
"Don't you start, too!"
Our banter continues on until I dropped off at my house.
The next day, classes officially restarted for us Hero Course students.
Dad, in his ever-increasing worry over my injuries, decided to chauffeur me to school today, much to my embarrassment. I think it reminded him of his own knee injury… sorry, dad…
After a brief check-up from Recovery Girl, with a reminder of my exclusion to the practical Hero Studies, I made my way to my class.
The moment I open the door, everyone who has arrived stopped talking and turn to face me; some of them have a small grimace in their expression.
"Um… morning…?" I greeted them as I limp my way to my seat. What's with the sudden change in atmosphere?
"Morning, Genko-chan!"
"A good morning to you, Tatsuya-san!"
At least Hagakure and Iida doesn't seems to be bothered by it.
"M-Morning, Tatsuya-san." Midoriya greets me back with a meek wave as he walks up to me with Todoroki next to him. "Are your injuries…?"
"Not permanent, if you are wondering. Just have to be exempted from practical for a week or so." I tells him before remembering something I didn't get to do back in the hospital. "You know, I never did get to thank you for your help that day, Midoriya-san. You too, Todoroki-san. I wouldn't have made it out alive weren't for you two."
"It's no problem." He stated.
"Y-Yeah!" Midoriya nodded, "It's no big d-deal!"
The door slides open once more, and I hear Kirishima and Sero burst out laughing.
"HAHAHAHA! Rea-Really!? Really, Bakugou!?"
I turn to the commotion before laughter burst free from my lips at the image of the explosive teen's gentlemanly hairstyle. It is way more hilarious than in the manga! Like, those spiky bangs are actually staying down!
"Stop laughing!" He shouted at the two howling teens, "It is stuck like this even after I gave it a good washing! Keep that up, and I'll murder you!"
"Yeah, I like to see you try, pretty boy!"
"WHAT WAS THAT!?"
"Ah! It turned back!"
I couldn't stop my laughter even after his hair blew back up into its usual spikes as he went on his way to grabble at the two. Oh man, that was epic! I really needed that laugh!
The tense and gloomy atmosphere from before immediately dissipates as everyone all returned to their usual conversations. I noticed Tsuyu seems to gave me a worried glance before going back to her conversation with Ashido and Jirou. I hope I didn't worry her too much like I did with Taikou…
"Speaking of exciting experiences, you can't get any more exciting than those you three." Kaminari pointed out.
"Oh right, the Hero Killer!" Sero noted.
"I'm just glad you guy are still alive." Kirishima stated.
"I was so worried." Yaoyarozu stated with sigh.
"Me too, kero." Tsuyu noted.
"I'm sorry for worrying you all…" I apologized to them.
"Endeavor managed to come and save you, right? That's our number two for you!" Sero stated with a grin.
"Yeah… we were saved…"
I don't think Todoroki is taking the cover story that well…
"I'm just glad that you're doing fine, Genko-chan." Hagakure tells me, "When I saw you on the news, I was really shocked!"
"Ah, right, they did show it on there, huh…" Taikou did mentioned something like that.
From the scene in which Stain is about to stab me while his knives are impaled into my leg, to the loss of the Hero Killer's arm by the hands of Endeavor, somehow the news chopper managed to videotape all of it and has played it on the news.
Iida walks up to me and lower his voice, "My brother has told me everything. While I don't agree with your breech of the Heroic Laws, it is undeniable that you managed to save lives because of it. And I respect that."
"…thanks, Iida-san."
"Please don't try to do so again."
"So, I've saw it on the news…" Ojirou decided to join in the conversation, "They think the Hero Killer is connected to the League of Villains, right? I hate to think how things would've turn out if a scary guy like him had showed up at USJ at the time…"
"Hold on. Sure, he is scary and all, but did you watch that video, Ojirou?" Kaminari asked, "That tenacity and one-tracked mindset, not to mention that he managed to harm Endeavor even after his arm was blown off. That's kind of… cool, don't you think?"
"Kaminari!"
"A-Ah! S-Sorry, Tatsuya! I didn't mean to…"
"No, no, it's fine." I assure him, "As much as it pains to admit it, he can be pretty amazing. And he is right, for the most part…"
"Then it is up to us to prove him wrong, right?" Todoroki, of all people, pointed that out, "We just have to become Heroes that even that bastard has no choice but to accept."
"…Wasn't expecting that to come out of your mouth, Todoroki." Sero noted.
"Yeah, no kidding…" Kaminari nodded, "For you of all people would say that…"
"I have a change in perspective, that's all."
Huh, I wonder what brought upon that change…?
"Alright, enough talking!" Iida shouted over the podium, "Homeroom is about to begin! Get to your seats!"
Morning classes flew past us in a flash, and soon enough…
"Alright, I am Here. And the reason for that is… your basic Hero Training! Welcome back, boys and girls! It has been a while, hasn't it!? How is everyone!?"
Here we are, standing in front the giant door that leads to one of the other training fields around UA. In front of it stood All Might in his more current hero outfit, which Midoriya is geeking out over.
Although…
"Not much of an entrance, huh?" Sero noted, "I've kinda expected more after the break."
"Maybe he ran out of shticks?" Tsuyu wonders.
"I guess so?" I shrugged my shoulders, "I mean, there're only so many ways he can use the 'I am Here' line till it gets pretty dull."
"Run out? Never! My supply of shticks is inexhaustible!"
All Might suddenly declares to us for some reason. Guess he heard us, huh? With some reddish tint on his cheeks, he let's out a small cough before continuing on, "Now, as an immediate follow-up to your internships, today's activity is a playful one; a rescue-training race!"
"Sensei!" Iida raises his hands high up in the air as he asks, "Shouldn't rescue-training be done at the USJ!?"
"That place is specifically for disaster rescues, not for what I'm planning today. This place is Field Gamma! It's a dense spread of factories that winds together to create an intricate network of mazelike alleys! You'll split up into groups of five, with each team going one at a time! I'll send a distress signal from somewhere inside, and you'll all start at the border and make your way to me. Whoever reach and 'rescue' me first, wins! Easy to understand, yes?"
I nodded since I knew that this lesson is definitely going to be here. Also, the idea of a distress call within a mazelike weave of alleys kind of reminds me too much of what went down in Hosu with me.
"Of course, you have to keep collateral damage to minimum! Understand?"
We naturally all turns to the most destructive person in our class, Bakugou growled out an "I got it." under his breath.
"Also!" All Might points at me, still wearing my school uniform minus the blazer which I've tied around my waist by its sleeves, "Tatsuya-kun, you are exempted from all practical for the rest of the week, so I expect you to behave."
"Yes, sir." I nodded.
With that all said, the groups are distributed among us and the first team is up, which consists of Midoriya, Ojirou, Iida, Ashido and Sero. The rest of us all waited outside and watch the whole thing unfold from a large video screen.
"All of the class's mobility experts are on this team." Yaoyorozu noted, "Well, excluding Tatsuya-san, anyway."
"Hey, wanna bet who would be first?" Kirishima asked, "I bet Sero would take the first win."
"Yeah… but don't count Ojiro out." Kaminari stated.
"I'm thinking Mina!" Hagakure cries out excitedly, "She is crazy athletic!"
"I have a good feeling about Iida-kun." Uraraka stated.
"Deku's last!"
No need to explain who said that.
"Well, I think Midoriya might snatch first." I noted, glancing at Bakugou who only scoffs at the idea. Just you wait and see, Bakugou…
The signal soon goes off and everyone made their move.
Ashido using her acid to glide across the pipes and melt grabbling spots on the walls.
Oijro makes use of his tail's strength to push himself off walls and grab pipes.
Iida pushes his engine to the limit and maneuver around the sharp corners and tight spaces.
Sero, being the most advantageous among them, uses his tapes to pull himself up into the air and over all of it like a discount spiderman, and is clearly in the lead.
"See!? In a cramped space like that, overhead's the way to go!" Kirishima cheered, "This place made for someone like him!"
"That puts Sero at an advantage." Shoji noted, "He's great at staying airborne."
Not too long after they said that, a green blur flashes past the screen before the camera refocus on to reveal the person that I have placed my bet on.
"W-What the hell!?" Bakugou shouted.
"Holy shit, is that Midoriya!?" Kirishima cries out in shock, "He's jumping all over the place!"
"Man, I didn't expect him to be so good at this!" Kaminari noted in awe.
"Wow, he's bouncing about, like Bakugou!" Uraraka noted.
"Has he gotten faster?" Tsuyu pointed out.
"Hm?" I look closely at his movements, "Yeah, I think he did. And those movements…"
When I took a good look, it is not just Bakugou's midair maneuvers he is using. For a second there, it looks like he's copying Taikou's own moves as well. Tucking in his knees in the air, kicking off the walls and pipes, he even wall run at one point! When did he become a master at parkour!? Did Gran Torino train him in this!? Can he even train him in this!?
As I watch him leap through the air, I can't help imagine that the long ripple effect this might have for the whole canon timeline.
And I fear what is going to change because of it…
…
To be continued…
Omake
Genko looked down at the accursed machine in her bathroom, a drop of sweat rolls down her cheek. "I couldn't have…"
Nervously, she raises her leg, and steps onto it.
A few tense seconds later, a beep can be heard and she reads the number being displayed on the screen.
55.8KG
"No way, I really did!"
Hey, hey! Here's another fast one for you! Man, quarantine really gives you a lot of time to yourself, huh? It didn't help that there aren't much to write from the time leading up to the finals.
With that, I thank you for reading this!
