Howdy folks, how's it going?

Man, it's kinda mind boggling to think that we're only two updates away from the end of the year. Time sure flies.

Anyway, as always, a shout out to Chaos Productions for his help with my stories (well, just story now, but still).

And as always, I own neither BNHA nor WH40K.

Enjoy.

/

"Sooooo…" Ochaco asked, looking around inquisitively. "Anyone else already decide where they wanna go for the internships?"

It was lunch break, right after the class where they had picked out their Hero names (or most of them, at any rate, Bakugou had been left behind to try to sort it out with an increasingly more exasperated Midnight), and the students of 1-A had spread out in their own little groups in the cafeteria, chatting away as they ate.

"I have to admit, I am unsure." Shoji replied, with a light shrug, glancing down at his own list. "In a way, it is not so bad that my options are not many, but still, I will need some time to think about it."

"I know what you mean." Momo commented with a nod, before the curious thought that had been in her head for a while couldn't be kept to herself any longer. "By the way, Midoriya, just who did you pick that had you so… hyper? Couldn't have been All Might-sensei…"

Having read through the rules and regulations, Momo knew for a fact that heroes working as teachers weren't eligible for the internships, as that'd defeat the whole purpose, which left out the possibility of it being the number one hero, who the green-haired boy very clearly idolized, making his odd behavior in class even odder than the norm.

At her words, which had clearly been voicing what everyone at the table had been thinking, all eyes fell curiously on him, who had been too preoccupied with ravaging his meal to pay much attention up to now.

"Uh? Oh yah, no, no it wuzn't All Moigt, but I'z got dah next best thing, tho." He said as he looked up in realization he was being addressed, his face a total mess, made all the worse by how widely he grinned at the question. "I'z got an offer by Lady Nagant! Ain't no zoggin' way I wuz gonna miss dat chance!"

…As usual, Midoriya completely failed to pick up on the impact of his words, as the whole table feel completely silent, staring at him with wide eyes. The hero business was so extensive that it was all but impossible for all but the most dedicated of fans to know every single one operating in Japan by name alone. But that name… that name was one that everyone knew, and not always necessarily for the best reasons. After all, while the industry did its best to not draw too much attention on the matter, it was difficult to not hear about a name with that kind of body count attached…

"Lady… Nagant?" The pony-tailed girl repeated, struggling to reign in her surprise.

"Yep." Midoriya replied chipperly, once again completely clueless.

"…It didn't cross my mind that was possible, ribbit." Tsuyu commented, a pondering finger to her lip. "I didn't even know she was still in activity."

"It makes some sense, honestly," Shoji provided, sounding the least surprised out of them, an oddly knowing tone in his voice. "I heard mention she became an underground hero, who tend to be far more private, and people have since moved on to the next big thing."

"It's certainly a… bold choice." Momo noted, really not quite certain what to make of it. "Why her?"

"You'ze kiddin'?" He replied, sounding genuinely flabbergasted at the question. "Ain't no hero out dere dat is bettah than her when it comes to dah shootah. Heck, even Snipe-sensei'z said as much in dat one interview once. And ain't none of dah ones dah use dem come as close as her tah having enuff dakka. Why wuldn't I pick her?"

Momo wasn't really quite sure at which point of her acquaintance with the eccentric boy had she started picking up on enough of his weird, personal jargon to understand he was talking about guns and ammunition being the basis of his choice, but understand she did, and with that understanding came a total lack of surprise that that was his reasoning…

"…Fair enough." She conceded, realizing that trying to bring up any potential future problems with that choice was likely a lost cause.

"Well, I guess there's nothing wrong with wanting to improve at a particular area. Heck, that's what I was thinking myself." Ochaco, both to move away from the topic and to keep the conversation going. "If the tournament showed me anything, it's that I really need to work on my combat skills. Out of everyone in my list, I was thinking of going with Gunhead."

"Oh, great choice dere, Floaty." Midoriya commented, with all the demeanour of a connoisseur. "Gunhead knows his way around all kindz'a foigtin', from dah dakka to dah punchin', with a knack fer pining baddies down in close quarters. A git-of-all-tradez like dat'z a pretty gud startin' point tah gettin' gud at a scrap, and work pretty gud with yer need tah get close'n personal fer yer quirk tah boot."

Once again, the boy seemed cheerfully oblivious of how everyone was staring at him.

"Uh, yeah, that was more or less what I was thinking." The brunette confirmed somewhat bashfully. She really needed to remember more often that just because the resident maniac was crazy it didn't mean he was stupid.

"I was thinking about going with Selkie myself, ribbit." Tsuyu threw in her own opinion. "Since I am good in water environments, I think learning to work in those scenarios will be good for me."

"I thought dat frogs didn't do too hot in saltwater, tho? And he'z usually out at sea." Midoriya pointed out in confusion, earning him a blank look from the amphibian girl.

"Actual frogs don't," She conceded. "But I'm not an actual frog, just a human with some frog-like traits, and the one that makes that a problem isn't one of them, ribbit."

"Fair, den it'z a great choice fer wot yer after, Froggy." The green-haired boy replied, earning a satisfied croak. "How'z about you, Boss Lady? Got anythin' in mind?"

"Oh, uh," Momo hesitated, suddenly feeling somewhat self-conscious in her uncertainty. "Well, out of the heroes that offered me internships, I was considering going with Uwabami-"

"Hhhhm, not so sure dat'z dah best idea, Boss Lady." Midoriya interrupted with a pondering frown, earning him a surprised blink from the pony-tailed girl. After all the gushing and praise the others' choice had gotten, such a response felt like a complete 180º turn…

"Why not?" She prompted, naturally feeling the need to defend her choice. "She is a highly respected and well-regarded hero. Surely, there is much I could stand to learn from her."

That she was also the highest rated hero to even bother sending her an offer after her lackluster performance went unsaid.

"I mean, yah, she does do her roundz as a hero and is gud at wot she does, no mistake," The green-haired boy conceded the point with a slight shrug. "But othah than her experience at findin' gits due to her quirk's snek senses, she'z mostly a hero who'z more about lookin' gud fer dah camerahs and appealin' to tah crowds, not fer bein' in the thick'a things when dah foigtin' starts. She can teach ya stuff, sure, but I dun really think it'd be anythin' ya need."

…Momo couldn't help but look at the others at the table with a raised eyebrow, everyone quietly wondering if the boy had even realized the implicit compliment in his explanation, and concluding that probably not. Still, it was an explanation that, despite her misgivings, the pony-tailed girl had to admit made a certain amount of sense. Perhaps just looking at it from the perspective of ranking had been somewhat shortsighted of her, and she did not like the sinking feeling the realization had left her with…

"I suppose…" She ventured with some hesitation, bringing up her own list, and then pushing it his way. "So, who then, do you think would be a better option?"

"Hhhmm…" Midoriya took up the sheet, and gave it a quick skim over, before slapping it back down at the table and tapping his finger over a name. "Dis one roigt here."

Momo checked. It wasn't even one of the heroes that offered her internships, but rather one of the basic options for those who didn't get any offers.

"The BMI Hero: Fat Gum?" She read, before looking back up at him, prompting him to elaborate.

"Yep, not only is he darn zoggin' gud at foigtin', with a specialty fer trappin' and pinin' down baddies, his quirk is a lot like yerz, since ya both require eatin' tah be at yer best. Sure seems like dah best choice tah me."

Momo did not immediately reply, pondering uncertainly. Once again, his reasoning was simple, but it was sensible. Logical even, despite its source. Some might even think it obvious. She could really not think of any reason as to why she should not heed the advice.

But still, the sinking feeling persisted, for what did it say about her, that she had failed to realize any of this until it had been pointed out to her…?

/

Once again, the waiting period came and went, and the time for the next, big step was here. The whole class gathering at the Musutafu train station, chattering away as they eagerly awaited for the trains that'd take them all to their respective internships, under the supervision of Aizawa-sensei and Midoriya-san.

But Momo wasn't finding it in herself to be able to join in the excitement. There was a variety of reasons for her current disquiet, she knew, but right now, she felt like she needed to prioritize the ones that she could address.

"Say, Midoriya." She called out to the boy, the two of them slightly to the side, unnoticed by the rest of their classmates.

"Yeah, Boss Lady?" He replied promptly, with a swiftness that almost threw her off.

"I understand that you'll be around Tokyo for your internship, correct?" She inquired, to which the boy nodded after a moment.

"Dat'z roigt. Why?"

"If it's not too much to ask, could you keep an eye on Iida-san?" She inquired, glancing at the class vice-president standing alone on the other side of the station, still with that unnatural rigidity after all this time. "I know you two don't get along, but I worry he's… not been quite himself since what happened to his brother. I'd keep an eye on him myself, but I am not going to be anywhere near Tokyo, so it'd help me be a bit more at ease if someone could, and out of all of our classmates going to Tokyo, you felt like the only one I could ask…"

Midoriya, apparently realizing the seriousness in her request, also glanced Iida's way, frowning somewhat distastefully, before nodding.

"Aight, I guess," He replied, somewhat grudgingly. "Won't be in dah same district, I dun think, but I suppose I can be near if anythin' happens tah Stuffy."

"Thank you, Midoriya, truly." Despite everything, Momo couldn't help to smile slightly at that. Sure, he didn't seem too pleased with the idea, but at least he seemed willing to heed her request despite that, and that did help assuage her worries somewhat.

Soon after that, the trains started arriving, and after a few stern words from Aizawa-sensei, and some more encouraging ones from Midoriya-san, the class said their farewells and went their respective ways.

The internships awaited.

/

So yeah, there wasn't much going on in this chapter either other than some dialogue and the sending of the students on their way, but this is all necessary build up for what is to come.

I can tell you right now, however, that we are ending this year with a bang, because in the next and final chapter of 2024, some long-awaited revelations regarding a certain character and why things turned out so different for her will occur.

In the meantime, I wish you all happy holidays, and good times with family and loved ones.

Cya all in the next one, stay safe and take care.