Friendly Foreign Dimensional Exchange Student Spider-Man!: Academia

A Quid Pro Quo

If there was one thing Rumi preferred not to have during her stay in a hospital bed, it was intravenous therapy.

She's dressed in a patient gown, switching through the channels provided by the hospital's cable. There are no shows she likes, and none of her favorites are on at the moment.

Stuck here in this bed, with nothing to watch or do, needless to say, she was bored.

The only good thing at the moment that Rumi could say about her stay is that she's alone in the two-person room.

Giving up on finding anything entertaining, Rumi switches off the television and drops the remote next to her.

Looking up at the ceiling, it is still tough to digest what happened.

She got the retribution or justice against Nagant… but Shohei is gone.

Her rabbit ears twitch, hearing something moving fast, very fast.

Before she can blink, the door to her private room is thrown open, and the thing is right next to her bed. She nearly leaps out of her skin before the injury along her side reminds her she's not moving anywhere fast.

Her heart thumps under her ribs before she looks and sees the smiling High-Speed Hero: O'Clock standing there, a pot of jasmine flowers in hand. "Good morning, Miss Usagiyama. Sorry for my sudden appearance."

Her fingers gingerly ghost over the injury at her side, cringing. "How the heck did you know I'm here?"

"I have my connections." O'Clock simply responds; he places the flower pot on the rolling table close to Rumi. "Just saying my direct wishes for your good recovery."

The rabbit girl responds as she settles back on her hospital bed. "Look, it's not that I don't appreciate you coming here. But why?"

Due to O'Clock's mask, the only facial emotion seen is his mouth changing to neutral. One of his hands holds onto the small barrier. "I wanted to personally congratulate your bravery on achieving what we Pro Heroes couldn't do and what we failed to prevent…"

He then looks down. "Before, part of me felt guilt for being too preoccupied for your safety which I should have also been for the other intern student."

"It's… you were just doing your job." It was also hard for Rumi to admit, but it was mainly her friend's fault that Shohei got himself killed.

"But this won't stop me." Her hands clenched. "No matter what, I'll become a Pro Hero for him.

O'Clock reacts by showing a faint smile of approval. "Glad to know that resolve, young lady. And I'm sure your late friend is happy to hear that too."

He moves closer to Rumi, now placing a hand on her shoulder. "I'm certain you will become a great hero in the future." The speed hero looks up to see the clock. "Well then, I'm sorry to make this meeting short. But I have a job to do."

Rumi smirked. "Guess we'll see each other again when I'm pro."

"Maybe we will, kid." O'Clock responds as he begins to leave. He is just by the door to stop and look behind, seeing the young Rumi one last time. "And Miss Usagiyama, I'm glad that you're now leading to the right path of heroism."

Those last words made her react with a raised eyebrow, but O'Clock ignored her confused state as he prepared to leave fast by activating his quirk. "Goodbye, and get well very soon… Tiger Bunny."

Immediately, she reacts in horrified shock with her ears up high. "WHAT THE?! HOW THE HELL DO YOU-?!"

Rumi halts the loud question and covers the mouth with her hand, realizing the Pro Hero is already gone. She frantically looks around, hoping no one else heard that name. It had been the one Rumi used when crashing that illegal underground fighting event in Osaka during a school field trip. It was also the last one she ever did something like it after Shizune begged her to stop or potentially get expelled from U.A.

"Good morning, sweety!"

Rumi startles, looking towards the door and finding her parents. The father's whole appearance is of a white rabbit, wearing dark clothes and a red stippled muffler. His right rabbit ear has an open cut. Her mother is foreign with a long dress, she is brown-skinned, and her long hair is white as snow.

"Oh, um… hi mom and dad." Rumi responds while trying to recompose.

Then suddenly, Rumi is hugged tightly by her joyful rabbit father, repeatedly rubbing his cheeks with hers. "Oh, my sweet bunny! So happy you're okay!"

"Glad… to… see you… dad." The rabbit girl replies, not minding the constant cheek rubbing.

"Luckily, your father has some time off today to come with me." His mother explains. She then begins to show excitement. "And, guess who's also here to see you?"

"Uh…" Before she could say anything else, a massive gush of wind envelops the room, making Rumi close her eyes.

"IT'S ME!"

She immediately opens her eyes to see All Might right in front of her, holding a large grocery bag.

"I AM HERE!"

The unexpectant visit of O'Clock was one thing, but having the number one hero visiting her is too much to absorb. "All Might, you're here too?! And what's with the giant bag of carrots?!"

"Your recovery gift, of course!" He lifts up the non-rigid container to show it is filled with only the orange vegetable.

The mother is the next to move closer to her daughter, placing Rumi's phone and the charger on the table. She begins to elaborate. "We were both fortunate enough to meet All Might at the entrance. He guessed correctly we're your parents and asked to know what to give to you. So I just responded on what you really like to eat and drink."

Rumi looks back to the front to see the Pro Hero has now placed the bag on her bed. "Well… thanks so much, but I'm afraid they'll rot when I'm half way eating them."

"Then just share some with your dad. He loves them as much as you." All Might answers her.

"You know I do!" Her father responds happily, releasing the carrot from his mouth to reveal that all that is left is the long leafy part.

The four converse for a couple of minutes, including selfies and autographs. It continued until Rumi's father checked his watch. "Well, I'm afraid it's time for me to go. I do have a large zoo to keep an eye on. See you soon, my girl, sorry my visit's short."

"I'll drive you to work, honey." The mother says to her husband and then turns to her daughter. "I'll be back very soon, sweety."

Rumi nods in understanding. "Sure mum, see you later dad."

"Good day Mister & Missis Usagiyama." All Might bid farewell to them as they leave the room.

The place now only has the Pro Hero and the rabbit girl left. Rumi inserts the charger into a socket and connects it to her phone, letting the device begin recharging.

"So, All Might." Rumi's voice has the giant man his new attention on her. "Guess the stories are true that you are always there when anyone needs help, huh?"

Yagi first responds with a loud chuckle. "Probably, who knows. But with you, it was a little different." He begins walking to the window while he elaborates. "Your former superior, Miss Yaeko, had an epiphany in her investigation on the Blossom Killer. Believing that hero students like you will be added within the usual targets, she came to my agency demanding insistently for Sir Nighteye to use Foresight on her to see if she encounters the murderer in any way."

After arriving very close to the glass, he stops, staring at the horizon. "My sidekick agreed and foresaw what had transpired to you and Yaeko. After I was told where you could be, I went full speed to your possible location. Luckily enough, I found you during that fall."

"Well then, I really owe you for this." Those words make the large Pro Hero look at the rabbit girl, confused.

"Huh? Why that's not necessary young Usagiyama. That's just what we do, and I think you should say that to Miss Yaeko and Sir Nighteye." He waves his hand sideways, emphasizing his polite refusal.

"I wouldn't be alive today it if weren't for you. So, I'll repay you one day, I insist."

Yagi could see in her facial expression that she genuinely wanted to give a favor for being saved. After thinking about it a little, he switches to the biggest smile he can make.

"If that's what you want, then so be it!" He responds proudly, lifting his large arm close to Rumi for a handshake deal.

Rumi lifts her arm as well; both hands grab each other to make the agreement.

"Now then, be sure to stay out of trouble young lady, see you around." After letting his hand go, All Might begins to do some quick stretches

"Huh? Oh yeah, guess you skipped some patrol time to come to me." Rumi postulates humorously.

After the warm-up, he opens the windows, deciding to leave the hospital from there. "Correct, my agency programmed my personal alarm systems to temporarily stop during my visit here. By the way, detective Eizo will likely arrive today to record your testimony on yesterday's event."

The Pro Hero bends down deeply, preparing himself for a high jump out of the hospital. "Now careful, I'm taking off. May you have a quick recovery, young Usagiyama…"

Ending with a proud voice, All Might jumps through the window and up in the air, disappearing from sight. "… AND GOOD LUCK IN GRADUATING U.A.!"

With the number one hero no longer present, it is back to Rumi being alone in the room, although her mom will come back eventually. But her time in the hospital had been clearly not ordinary, with two visits from Pro Heroes with a giant gift of her favorite snack. The rabbit girl will definitely have to tell this to her best friend.

She then hears a notification sound from her phone, now charged enough to be functional again. In fact, Rumi had been waiting since last night to use her phone to make an important call. So she removes the device from the charging plug and finds the number to press. While it is pushed on her ear, there are a few rings until the person picks up.

"Hello?" It is the voice of the P.I. Hero, Yaeko.

"Hi there, it's Rumi. Do you have a moment?" She asks.

Thanks to her ears, she can hear the unmistakable sounds of paper shuffling. "I'm currently making a copy of my Blossom Killer investigation as evidence for the future case of prosecuting Lady Nagant, but I have some time right now. How are you feeling?"

"Well, the doctors say my injury is not too serious, which means I'll be discharged tomorrow morning. So I'll have help from Recovery Girl to increase my recovery." Rumi responds to the P.I. Hero.

Next, the sound of a copy printer is active. "That's good to know when you see Chiyo say hi for me."

"Will do. Anyway, I'm calling you for an important reason. So, I'll be blunt…" The rabbit girl pauses for a moment, ensuring she won't stutter or show any hint of doubt. "I want to do my last Hero Work Study in your agency. It's got nothing to do with Shohei; I believe you're the person I need help becoming the Pro Hero I want to be."

There is also a short silence from the responder. "I see… I'm flattered Rumi, but I believe your better suited to the more renowned agencies who could use your specific talents. The first ones I think of now are with Crimson Riot, Snatch or the rising star Endeavor."

"Here's the thing, Yaeko, I don't wanna begin my career as a sidekick. No matter how powerful or fast someone is, they can be weakened due to the restrictions or conflicts with other heroes. I must have full control of my decisions and actions I take on the field, which means no sidekicks around me either. You're the very few in this country who does their hero work independently, if All Might can also be like that, why can't I?"

The silence from the P.I. Hero appears again, then the hearing of sitting on a chair. "From the sounds of it, you had this idea for quite a while."

"Yeah, ever since I returned to U.A." Responds Rumi; she can now hear sounds of pondering from the other line.

With a deep sigh, the P.I. Hero made her decision. "Your actions outside of school in the past two years shows you got what it takes… understood, I accept you for work studies. But there are three major conditions you must do if you want to become my protégé."

Rumi smirks and clenches her fist in delight from hearing her answer. "Tell me."

"One: You keep your grades high, especially in teamwork. No matter your heroism stance, you'll very likely team up with heroes from other agencies on the spot or in group missions. It's advantageous to work with possible pros who can keep up with you."

"That sort of teamwork I can accept." While listening to Yaeko, she rests her back on the oversized pillow.

"Two: Between the time you're working for me, you'll also be with Himuro to understand how he manages my agency."

The rabbit girl nods. "Alright."

"Which leads to three: After graduating, you shall take a management course related to Pro Heroism. Because though there'll be an assistant managing your future agency, there could be times when your coworker is unavailable and you have to deal with the paper work on your own."

"Got it. Luckily, I know someone from the U.A.'s Management branch for that position." Rumi says with a wink.

Then a ring is heard from the P.I. Hero's office phone. "Okay, that'll be all for the time being. I'll elaborate on the details further when you come to me for the H.W.S. For now, recuperate and concentrate on school, Rumi."

"I will, and thanks for agreeing to help me. Bye Yaeko."

"Talk to you later, Bunny Girl." After the last words from Yaeko, Rumi hangs up the call.

She silently celebrates herself with limited movement for achieving her first goal. But suddenly, she feels her phone vibrating to see it is Nakiri, guessing that she is calling in between the ten-minute lesson break in U.A.

Rumi accepts the call. "Hi Nakiri."

"Rumi! Oh man, it's great to hear you again! It's been hard to concentrate at school without knowing if you're alright!" Clearly, the tanuki girl's voice is of concern.

"Don't worry, I'm fine. I'll be discharged from the hospital tomorrow; you'll see me in school the same day." The rabbit girl responds.

A sigh of relief is heard from Nakiri. "That's great. Then you gotta tell me your story on what happened yesterday. Me and everyone at school knows the news about how you and All Might captured the infamous Blossom Killer." Next, an excited squeal comes out. "This is incredible! I bet by now your school email is being flooded by the best hero agencies wanting to hire Bunny Girl for a H.W.S. or a future sidekick contract."

Rumi couldn't help but chuckle at Nakiri's opinion, who does not know what her rabbit friend plans to do in the future. "About that, there's something important I need to tell you. Well, two things, actually."

"Oh? What are they?" The tanuki girl asks.

"Well first, I want to change my hero nickname. I feel Bunny Girl is no longer the sort of name I want to be called for the type of Pro Hero I'll become."

"That's fine with me, you have an idea in mind?"

"Rabbit Hero: Mirko." She announces. "The name's from my favorite pro sports fighter in Europe."

"Mirko huh? Original and easy to remember, I like it… Hold on, what do you mean by "type of Pro Hero"?" The confused Nakiri asks.

Guess it's time to spill the beans to her friend. While she wonders what reaction the tanuki girl will make when hearing it, Rumi hopes it won't take over ten minutes to explain.

"Second, I got big plans for now and after I graduate U.A. You see…"

(X)

A simple but well-designed tombstone is one of many other graves in the large cemetery. Mirko and Nakiri, dressed in civilian attire, are in the middle of praying to the grave, which they have done during his birthday every year.

Nakiri looks at the tombstone one more time. "Bye Shohei, see you next year."

Both women bow politely to the young man's grave and leave to return to their building. Then, as they walked through the row of graves, the tanuki girl got a specific alert from her phone.

"Another email?" Rumi asks without looking down.

"Yep, a third unread. Time to check them." Nakiri responds as she starts tapping her device.

They arrive at the entrance, where a dark luxury car with a well-dressed walrus man notices the two coming towards him.

"Take us back, please." Instructs the Rabbit Hero.

"Of course." He opens the passenger door letting Mirko and Nakiri inside.

While both fasten their seatbelts, the driver closes the door and enters the driver's seat. He starts the vehicle and begins the journey back to Mirko's agency.

"About those emails…" Speaks up the tanuki girl, to which the Pro Hero pays attention. "A second-year hero high school student is asking for a possible internship, one third-year is insisting on us agreeing to a work study for the second time, and another sidekick is asking to be hired in our agency. There's also an attached video, most likely footage showing them in action."

That information makes Mirko slap her own face in annoyance. "For fuck's sake, at this point they're acting like internet stalkers, since they ignore the "about us" section."

"I mean, you did accept to hire... or was pressured to hire someone for the very first time in your career. Guess there are those believing you had a change of heart in how you do things." Nakiri explains while watching the promo video of the sidekick.

Mirko removes her hand and looks at her friend. "Well, you better prepare a statement pronto, because now, I've had it."

"Will do." Nakiri answers as she begins writing a draft on her phone.

The rabbit woman switches back to seeing the view from the car window. "Besides, none of these losers can compare to that kid."

Edited by Ld1449

Retcon: In chapter 17, I changed Nakiri Shizune's Department in U.A. from General Studies to Management Studies. I realized later on that the latter is the better place the tanuki girl needs to study since she is planning to work in a hero agency.

And this was the chapter concluding young Rumi's arc and how these events influenced the future ones in the FFDESS story.

There had been a lot of creative discussions and hard thinking between me, Zaru, and LD in making these four chapters since it was my first-time writing events very far from the FFDESS story timeline. They had to connect well with the fanfic and material from the MHA canon. But as you can see, it has paid off.

Big shout out to mangakas Hideyuki Furuhashi & Betten Court for their work on My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, which inspired me to make this arc.

As usual, expect new chapters to appear sporadic, see you next time!