A comfortable evening in the dorm common room. Two days had passed, with Saiki left to wonder about whether Mirko would come through for him. But he wasn't the only one who had been working toward an apprenticeship.
"I should be surprised that you managed to swing working for Sir Nighteye of all heroes," Saiki said to Izuku sitting on the couch with him, an arm slung over the back but not quite to the point of being wrapped around her. "Somehow, I'm not surprised at all. Almost like it was meant to be, I guess."
"It's not like that at all!" the buxom fangirl protested. "I had to work really hard and it had nothing to do with... Anything else," she finished lamely to cover what was really being insinuated for their mixed company. "Besides, Sir Nighteye doesn't even like me. He thinks I'm a failure not worth All Might's... Attention." Another weak cover.
"Pfft, well he's got you there," Katsumi mocked, not knowing what her childhood friend really meant. "You're nothing special."
"Thanks, Kacchan..." Izuku said glumly.
"Hey! That's not an excuse to just take it, ya damn nerd!" the more ferocious girl rebuked her rival's listless response. "You were never anything special! Now look where you are! If you're not good enough then get good enough! Then shove it in that damn nerd hero's stupid pointy face!"
"You really shouldn't talk about Sir Nighteye like that," Izuku mumbled. "Also it's still weird that you're being kind of... Nice. And supportive." A generous appraisal of the bomber's comments, but not an inaccurate one.
"Well screw off if you've got a problem with it, shitty Deku!"
Saiki grinned at the flustered and sulking tomboy. Not that she would admit to being either of those things. "Gotta be honest, Nighteye is one thing. I'm surprised you're willing to work there, what with the chance coming through the pervert."
"You're going to call Mirio that?" the green haired girl asked, smiling in a teasing way. "You? I remember that time I saw Katsumi coming out of your apartment smelling like she took a bath in your–" A quick burst of staccato explosions interrupted her, drawing her eyes to the blond looking all too intentionally relaxed even with a raised hand popping with explosions. "–Fruit-scented luxury soap!" The hand stayed raised for a few seconds, the slight disgruntlement on Katsumi's face remaining, like she was considering whether that was a tolerable save. Finally, the arm dropped, and Izuku breathed a sigh of relief.
"Katsumi's love of getting a cream filling aside," Saiki poked without a hint of restraint. Unlike Izuku who could be easily threatened into silence, Katsumi knew better than to try the same with him, instead simply flipping him off. To which he pursed his lips in a kissing motion. "Guy who flashed everyone and tried to look up your skirt, now he's your coworker. You're alright with that?"
"It probably doesn't sound honest, but all of that really was an accident." The grunt of doubt from him at least agreed with the first part. "I'm serious! I mean, I don't know for sure about the peeping thing but I believe him. And the flashing thing is just how his quirk works. His hero costume is made out of his own fibres so he can use his quirk on it."
"And he chose not to wear his costume for his little showcase because...?"
"Because he knew it'd fuck with virgins like Deku," Katsumi sniped. "Try to sound a little less like a jealous ex, Saiki."
"Not everyone thinks purely in terms of combat advantages like you do, Bombshell," Saiki shot back, choosing not to comment on the other part.
"It's fine, he's been a pro so far," Izuku reassured him. "In fact, it's kind of amazing. Like he's already a pro. Sir Nighteye doesn't let his view of me interfere either. They're both really great. What really bothers me is..." She trailed off in a familiar way. But this time it wasn't to cover for only those not in the know, but for everyone present. "It's... Real hero work is hard in ways I didn't expect is all."
"Well..." For as much shit as Saiki gave Katsumi for her shortcomings with other people, he wasn't exactly great at reassuring others. "Even if Nighteye doesn't like you, he wouldn't have even let you into his agency if he doubted you could do the work. Just... Be you." He realised how lame that sounded, and rushed to elaborate. "You're always pushing yourself, you always think things through, and you never hesitate to help when someone needs it. Nighteye'll come around sooner or later once he sees what you're made of. Same goes for being a hero. I said it to Iida, and I meant it. You're a natural. It might be hard, but I've never met anyone more suited to being a hero than you."
"Er-hem!"
"Take a lozenge." The dismissive comment wasn't going to score him any points with Katsumi, not after showering Izuku with praises right in front of her. But they were never in any kind of point scoring relationship. Hell, it was the opposite. Their relationship was like golf. The further they drove that score into the negatives, the hotter the sex was. "Oh, wait, weren't you starting with Best Jeanist, Katsumi?"
"Tomorrow," she grit out. "And he told me what that stupid name means, jackass!"
He affected innocence. "Name? I don't know what you mean."
"Bombshell, you fuck!"
"That's..." Izuku furrowed her brows. "It means an explosive, right? Like artillery?"
"It means a damn pin-up model! A stupid bimbo blonde with big tits!"
"Hey, being blonde and well endowed doesn't make someone a bimbo," Saiki chided with humour in his voice. "Don't let Melissa hear you talking like that. You'll hurt her feelings!"
"Like I give a shit!"
"Besides, it doesn't have to mean big tits. It could just mean an undeniably beautiful woman. A real knockout." He grinned at her. "Of course, I'm assuming. After all, I definitely didn't know about that definition when I suggested it as your hero name. No matter how hilarious I would find it."
"It's on my license now, you fuck!"
"And it's 100% accurate! Describes you perfectly! By the way, speaking of names" he added, somehow grinning wider, "What was it you called me just now?"
The bomber blinked, concern overriding her anger as she ran her last couple of complaints back. "I didn't call you shit!"
"You mean 'jackass'?" Izuku asked innocently. "When you said where you'd be-heeee!" A sudden squeal of terror at Katsumi's furious expression.
Saiki gasped theatrically. "You're right, Izuku! What a horrible thing to call me! After all, you know my name, don't you... Bombshell?"
"Deku... You just signed your fucking death warrant," Katsumi growled, glaring a hole through Saiki's smiling face.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I don't–! I just–! I don't know what's happening!"
"Don't worry, Katsumi just did something very rude that she knows she shouldn't do. And she'll face consequences for. Isn't that right, Katsumi?"
"BLOW IT OUT YOUR ASS!"
Kyoka gave Katsumi a wide berth as the blond stomped her way to the stairs. "What got up her ass?"
"Nothing yet," Saiki answered, already considering what he should do with Katsumi's second punishment.
"So... Have you heard anything from Mirko?" Izuku asked, somewhat desperate to change the subject.
"Not yet."
It was frustrating, but he could do nothing but wait. It was only made more frustrating when Aizawa showed up, announcing more students, Kirishima, Uraraka and Asui, had all gotten their own opportunities lined up. Saiki could only wonder how. Weren't they supposed to get it by networking with their internships? Kirishima made sense. He got scouted. So did Uraraka. But Asui didn't. Did she impress someone at one of the list agencies enough that they went to bat for her?
Before he could force the matter from his mind, his phone vibrated. Checking the caller, his heart jumped. "Gotta take this." He stood, moved away from the couch and answered. "Yeah?"
"Oh Mirko! I'm so grateful! I don't know what I'd ever do if I didn't have you always saving my ass, giving me all these opportunities! What would I even be worth if it weren't for you taking your precious personal time to swaddle me like a widdle baby and change my dirty diaper!"
"You got something for me?" It was too important to even comment on her mockery.
"I want you to admit it first," the rabbit hero insisted. "Say 'I'm Mirko's little bunny bitch boy'."
He looked around himself, at Izuku staring at him with hope in her eyes. "I'm not saying that."
"Are you in public?" she asked, sounding excited. "That's even better. You're getting nothing from me unless you say it right now. No, wait, shout it!"
Conflict warred within him. "... I'll get you back for this."
"No you won't. Shout it."
He let out a deep sigh. Moved the phone away from his head. "I'M MIRKO'S LITTLE BUNNY BITCH BOY!"
"Saisei, no shouting in the–What did you just say?" Iida quickly switched from chiding to confused as near everyone else present burst into laughter.
Aizawa, still giving the details to the other three students sighed to himself. "She hasn't changed much at all."
"Uh, Saiki?" Izuku asked.
"Good enough?" he asked, ignoring Izuku and trying to pretend he wasn't blushing.
"Oh yeah, good and recorded," she assured him. "Gonna play it on loop later on my date with Mister Vibrator."
"You recorded–?!"
"Don't throw stones in glass houses, bitch boy."
His mouth shut with a click that was probably audible over the call. She... She knew? She hadn't said anything all this time. Once again he was learning just how little he ever had over the pro hero. At least, without her letting him have it. "Erher," he roughly cleared his throat, "So... Work-study?"
"Well since you were a good little bitch for me," Mirko responded with an audible shrug. "I called in a favour. But... She said straight up she wouldn't let something like that fuck with her agency, no matter how many favours she owes. And she only owes me one so it's not like I could haggle."
"Did you just embarrass me just to tell me you got nothing?"
"Aww, is the widdle bitch boy getting cranky? Shut the hell up and let me finish, bitch boy. I got something, but like I said when you asked. All I can do is get your foot in the door. If you fuck it up, that's on you."
"Okay..." She wasn't telling him anything he didn't already know.
"So don't fuck it up."
He didn't respond.
She sighed. "You're no fun today."
"You've had plenty of fun today at my expense. You gonna tell me who I'm interviewing with or not?"
"First I want you to say–"
"Mirko!"
"Touchy! Fine. You'll be going to Ryukyu's agency after your classes tomorrow. Dress smart. Wear your uniform if you've got no better options. She's not as laid back as me but she likes people making an effort to look professional."
There was a part of him that was kicking himself for refusing Momo's offer to get him the fancy clothes. But, "I've got smart covered."
"Agree to disagree. Welp, good luck or whatever."
-(-)-
It was surprising to learn Uraraka and Asui would also be getting their chance with Ryukyu. The two girls given their shot by Nejire Hado who... Seemingly just decided to give a recommendation to two random girls from 1-A? It was hard to see why the spacey girl would even do that. Neither had done anything particularly impressive in the spar against Togata and the third years didn't know any of the first year students at all before that. From all he could tell, it was just a nice girl doing something nice at random for two people she literally just met. How nice for them, but... Well, it wasn't like they didn't deserve their chance, same as everyone else in the class.
Really, that might have been the problem. Everyone else deserved the chance, but Ochako and Tsuyu got it handed to them. He had never liked the idea of someone getting a leg up over others just out of circumstance. Not even when it happened to him, so he felt confident it wasn't just spiteful hypocrisy. Even as he felt discomfort about it, he had to keep reminding himself not to be a dick about it. They might not have done anything special to earn the chance, but they hadn't done anything to be undeserving either.
Besides, it wasn't like he had gone above and beyond to get his shot. Just asked Mirko after fucking her into a good mood. So as Mirko had said, best not to throw stones in his glass house. They were here. It was what it was.
"This is way different to what I was expecting," he admitted as he looked up at the building. The green dragon logo embossed on the façade. It wasn't a ridiculous skyscraper or anything, but it was sure the kind of office space he would expect to hold a few different companies. Not just one hero agency.
"Really?" Ochako asked. "Gunhead's agency was in a place like this. But, eh," she scratched her scalp nervously, "His wasn't the whole building."
"Selkie operated at the harbour so his was a little different too," Tsuyu agreed. "Just an office. But I guess his agency was the boat as much as anything else."
"I guess this is the difference when you're a top ten hero!" Ochako shrugged, trying to sound calmer than she was.
"Mirko is top ten too," Saiki pointed out. "But yeah, I guess she's a special case. Lone wolf type."
"She's a rabbit though," Tsuyu pointed out.
"A rabbit that would eat wolves for breakfast."
"How about dragons?" the frog girl asked, finger to her lips as she looked up at the logo.
Well, Mirko had once said Ryukyu was stronger than her, but... "Jury is still out on that. But I wouldn't bet against her."
"It's so nice you have a mentor!" Ochako told him sincerely.
Tsuyu looked at him, her wide eyes giving away nothing. "One that likes to embarrass him publicly." And due to her ever-flat expression, he had no idea if she was fucking with him or not.
"That just means she's a real mentor!" Ochako declared as if from personal experience. "Eleven minutes to!" she informed them ."Time to go!"
The trio entered the building, only for a familiar face to immediately, almost instantly appear in front of them. Nejire floating a foot off the ground and grinning excitedly. Saiki couldn't repress the urge to admire her skintight hero costume when such a view so suddenly appeared before him. Luckily, it didn't seem like anyone noticed. "Uraraka! Asui! I'm glad you made it! You found the place okay! Are you excited for your first day?!"
"Nervous, but excited!" Ochako answered with a light laugh.
"Same. But call me Tsuyu. Or Froppy."
"Right! Then you can call me Nejire, or Nejire Chan!"
"... Your hero name is 'Nejire Chan'?" Saiki asked.
"Yep!" she answered, unashamed. And in that moment, Saiki resolved that no one would ever be allowed to talk shit about his poor naming skills ever again. "Um, who are you?"
He raised his eyebrows. "Saiki Saisei?" he asked. "Their classmate?"
"Oh yeah! The one who wouldn't fall over!" the flighty girl suddenly remembered him in the most inane fashion. "Can we help you?"
Did she not know? "I'm here to discuss a work-study opportunity with Ryukyu."
A statement that visibly confused her. "But... You're a boy."
And a statement that confused him in turn. And mildly annoyed him for being called a 'boy'. "Is that a problem?"
"I don't know?" Nejire asked more than answered.
He looked around as she did, to see not quite all but certainly most of the staff were women. "Right. Well, that's my reason for being here. If Ryukyu has a problem with it she can yell at Mirko. I know I sure will."
"Well, okay! I guess! Everybody follow me!" To her credit, she at least accepted it easily, levitating her way to the elevator and taking them up to one of the upper floors.
The doors opened to reveal a hallway with two doors on either side and one at the far end of the hallway. The side rooms had windows that revealed the inside. Busy offices, people taking calls or typing away at computers. On the wall of one was what looked like an investigation in progress. On another was someone outlining merchandising possibilities.
"Being a top ten hero is so involved," said Ochako.
"If you want it to be," Saiki agreed. "Guess it's a case of how much you get out of it depends on how much you put into it." Mirko didn't capitalise much, only as much as she needed to for the sake of having her space and the chance to kick the most and most powerful asses in the country. The rabbit hero went in with an eye to going down fighting. Ryukyu meanwhile looked to be making sure she was set to retire one day. Good for her. Respectable.
Nejire rapped on the door. "Ryukyu, ma'am! The work-study applicants are here!"
"Come in."
The door opened, revealing the office on the other side. Open and spacious. And having known already what Ryukyu's quirk was and what it did, Saiki had to assume it was as practical as for show. Especially with the enormous bay window that was designed to fully open. The hero herself was already standing and approaching them as they entered. Displaying the elegant image she preferred in her human form. A good marketing gimmick. A beautiful and elegant lady that became a powerful monster, but one that still acted as a protector of the innocent. And when the danger passed, the reassuring, elegant lady came back.
"So these are the two you recommended, Nejire Chan."
"Yes, Ma'am! This is Uraraka, and Asui. Or Froppy!"
This time Tsuyu wasn't so quick to insist on her first name.
"Just Uraraka?" Ryukyu asked. "What's your hero name?"
"Uravity... Ma'am!"
"Nejire Chan," Ryukyu said with mild suspicion, "Why didn't you know that?"
"Mm!" Suddenly, the flighty hero student looked just the slightest bit nervous, lips vanishing inside her mouth to be trapped between her teeth. "Never came up?"
"How well do you know them, exactly?"
"Oh... You know... We're fast friends!"
Ryukyu stared at her. Then sighed. "Very fast, I take it. Uravity, Froppy, you two aren't starting off on the best foot, even if that isn't your fault. Nejire has good instincts, but she can be impulsive." Her tone declared openly that she knew how much of an understatement that was. "I'm willing to trust her on this for now, but it's on you to prove you're worthwhile. You're not just students here, you're employees. And due to the regulations of your work-study program, it's at will employment. If you don't measure up, you're out on your ears the moment I say so. Understand?"
"Yes, ma'am!"
"And you're Saiki Saisei. Evo?"
"Oh, it's Flygon now, sorry about that." He bowed, pulling out his provisional licence and presenting it in lieu of a business card.
"Flygon, then." She didn't take the card, so he returned it to his pocket. "You understand why I'm reluctant to take you on, right?"
"... Because I'm male?" he asked, not having a clue at a better answer.
"Excuse me?!" the dragon hero asked, affronted. "Where did you get that impression?!"
Blinking with wide eyes, he looked in the direction of Nejire, who was suddenly very interested in whatever was out the window. "Well, that was, something I heard might be a problem? And a lot of your staff are women so... Sorry if I offended from getting the wrong impression."
"Nejire!" the hero barked.
"Ooh, look, boss! I think that's Captain Celebrity's private plane!" No one present could tell whether Nejire was genuinely that distracted or just playing it up to not acknowledge her mistake.
A more frustrated sigh from the hero. "Well. That is not the issue," she insisted to her prospective apprentice. "The issue is you come with Mirko's recommendation and I know how she operates. You'll be my fourth employee coming to me as part of the work-study program and I can only be in so many places at once. So, if you're in any way as impulsive as Mirko I'm setting some ground rules. If I tell you to do something, you do it. The very first time you prove you can't abide by that, I fire you. With four of you, I don't have the capability to comfortably watch over all of you at once. Nejire has... Barring today's slip-ups... Proven she has a good head on her shoulders. But you're all first year hero students. I need to know you will follow orders when I give them."
"I understand, ma'am."
"Good. Let's get the paperwork out of the way. Oh, and from now on, it's Ryukyu, or boss."
"Yes, Boss!"
-(-)-
A/N This chapter seen very early by my generous supporters on THE GREAT FORBIDDEN P! FEAR THE P! LOVE THE P!