Without another word, Yui immediately grabbed a plate and hurried over to the cake, her eagerness palpable. The others quickly followed suit; their eyes glued to the cake like a flock of birds on the hunt.
"I've got to admit, Izuku," Kirishima said, taking a generous slice of cake for himself, "You've really outdone yourself with this dinner and the cake. This is next level."
"I'm just happy it turned out well," Izuku replied, wiping his hands on a dish towel. "I wasn't sure how the cakes would turn out, but I'm glad they're being enjoyed."
As the first slice of cake was placed onto Yui's plate, she wasted no time in picking up her fork and taking a bite. The moment the rich chocolate flavor hit her tongue, her usual stoic expression softened just a bit, her lips curving into the faintest smile.
"Good," she murmured in approval, nodding once before immediately taking another bite.
Izuku grinned, feeling oddly proud of the reaction. Before he could say anything else, the rest of the class descended upon the cakes like a pack of starving wolves.
"Alright, one at a time!" he called, laughing as everyone eagerly reached for their own slice.
"Izuku, this might actually be the best cake I've ever had," Kaminari declared dramatically, already halfway through his piece. "No joke. I feel like I've been lied to my whole life about what cake should taste like."
"That's because you usually eat store-bought snacks," Jiro pointed out, rolling her eyes as she took a smaller, more refined bite. She paused, her own expression shifting slightly before she gave Izuku an approving nod. "But… yeah, this is really good."
"As a baker myself. I give it 8.7 out of 10. That's pretty damn good," said Sato eating the cake.
Izuku chuckled at the praise, rubbing the back of his head. "I'm really glad you guys like it. I just wanted to do something nice for everyone."
Everyone enjoyed the meal that was provided for them when Izuku noticed one person was gone.
Iida.
He frowned, knowing that he was missing out on this. But family is important for a lot of people and when your brother damn near dies it's natural to want to be near him. He would save him a piece of cake.
Izuku carefully set aside a slice of cake for Iida, wrapping it up so it would stay fresh for when his friend returned. He knew how much Iida valued responsibility and discipline, and he imagined that even something as simple as a homemade cake might serve as a small comfort during such a difficult time.
"Not bad, nerd," Bakugo muttered after finishing his slice and walking away.
Everyone soon settled down and were all lying on the couch in the common area holding their stomachs. That's how Izuku knew it was a good meal. Thankfully there were no leftovers so there was that, aside from Iida's cake. Izuku finished eating his slice of cake and walked over to the sink to wash his dish. Everyone said it was amazing, and they were grateful for the meal, which made him happy. Now all that was left to prepare themselves for their internships.
He felt his phone buzz. He looked at his phone, and it was a call from Mr. Aizawa. A better question was how the hell did he got his number.
"Hello?" he asked, questioningly.
"Yagi," said sternly. "Make your way to the Support Course Development Studio. Power Loader is expecting you for something, but he didn't tell me what. Be there in 10 minutes."
Izuku straightened at the unexpected request, his mind already buzzing with questions. "Yes, sir! I'll head there now," he replied quickly before Aizawa hung up.
Why would Power Loader want to see him? The Support Course rarely had any direct involvement with hero training unless it was for costume adjustments. Did this have something to do with his internship?
Shaking off his confusion for now, Izuku grabbed a napkin and wiped his hands before making his way out of the common room. His classmates were still sprawled out, lost in their food comas, though a few waved lazily as he left.
The walk to the Support Course Development Studio was quiet, the halls mostly empty at this hour. The faint hum of machinery and the occasional sound of welding echoed through the corridors as he neared the workshop.
When he arrived, the door slid open with a hiss, revealing the bustling workspace of the Support Course. Various students were hard at work, tinkering with gadgets, modifying hero suits, and testing new prototypes. The scent of oil, metal, and burning circuits filled the air.
Standing near the back of the room was Power Loader, arms crossed, his signature yellow helmet and clawed gloves making him stand out even in the sea of inventors. Beside him, with an excited grin and a smudge of grease on her cheek, was none other than Mei Hatsume.
"Aw…Izuku Yagi. Come over here for a second," said Power Loader. "I know we haven't talked much but I am Power Loader. The teacher for the Support Course and the Hero Course. This here is Mei Hatsume," he said with her bouncing around.
"Nice to meet you both. Mr. Aizawa said that you need to see me about something," he said walking over to the two of them.
"Yes, we do. About three things actually," he said stepping to the side to show him the Sound Gauntlets Mark II, the Formuband, and the Volt Vanguards. Izuku went wide-eyed at what he meant. These were the inventions that he made for Momo, Jiro, and Kaminari.
"I think you know why you are here now. Now we haven't touched them yet, but we wanted to ask you how you were able to think about something like this. Most hero course students don't really think about stuff like this. I like to see what happens in the minds of other students and your mind has me spinning," he said, Mei still bouncing around.
"Well," Izuku started, rubbing the back of his neck, "I guess I just wanted to help my classmates in ways that made sense for their quirks. Jiro's Sound Gauntlets Mark II are meant to amplify and direct her heartbeat vibrations better, giving her more precision and power, and she doesn't have to use her Earphone Jacks. Momo's Formuband is to help her scan the objects around her to see what they are made of, and so she doesn't have to remember every little thing when she creates an object. And Kaminari's Volt Vanguards… well, if he can't control electricity in one direction, I could give him something to channel it in streams."
Power Loader nodded, clearly impressed. "That's a solid breakdown of your reasoning. You're not just thinking about making something flashy, you're engineering solutions tailored to your classmates' specific needs. That's what a good support engineer does."
Mei, who had been silent for a whole five seconds (a record for her), suddenly burst into excitement. "And they're sowell designed! The integration between function and form, the way you've optimized power efficiency—'chef's kiss!' Yagi, you've got a brain for tech, and I love that!" She leaned in, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "So, tell me, what other ideas do you have rattling around in that head of yours? Got any upgrades in mind already?"
"Alright Mei, simmer down…I brought you here to see if you would like to work in the Support Course from time to time. You've got a bright mind. You wouldn't necessarily be in the class itself, but could come and work in here when you can. Think of it like an honorary support course student. You could run by a few ideas, build stuff, and learn what works best," said Power Loader offering.
Izuku blinked in surprise at the offer. An honorary Support Course student? He had always been interested in hero support gear, but he never considered actually working alongside the Support Course. His mind immediately raced with possibilities—ideas for improving his classmates' gear, ways to enhance his own costume, and even designs that could help other heroes in the future.
He looked at Power Loader, then at Mei, who was practically vibrating with excitement. "I... I'd really like that," he admitted, a small smile forming on his face. "I've always been interested in support gear, and if I can learn more while helping others, then I'd be happy to contribute."
Power Loader nodded approvingly. "Good. You're not officially part of the Support Course, so you won't have assignments or projects like the other students, but you'll have access to the resources here when you have time. If you want to work on something specific, you can coordinate with me or Hatsume."
With that, Hatsume jumped right into his face and started to ask him loads of questions. "How did you come up with the ideas for those three babies over there? What are you going to do next? Do you need help with it?"
Izuku took a half-step back as Hatsume leaned in, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and excitement. Before he could respond, she unleashed a barrage of rapid-fire questions.
"Oooh, and what kind of materials did you use? Did you think about integrating nanotech? What's your stance on kinetic energy conversion? Have you thought about making an energy regulator for Kaminari's gauntlets? What's your opinion on electromagnetic shielding? Ooh! What about a self-repairing function? That could be fun! And tell me—do you plan on making something for yourself? What kind of hero tech would you design for your own quirk?"
Izuku felt his brain short-circuit for a moment as he processed the wave of questions. He knew Hatsume was energetic, but this was something else. He raised his hands slightly, laughing nervously. "H-Hold on, one question at a time!"
Power Loader sighed, shaking his head. "Hatsume, breathe."
Mei pouted but relented—only slightly. She took a deep breath, then immediately leaned in again. "Okay, but seriously, Yagi, you've got to tell me—do you have any new projects in mind? Because I need to see what else is rolling around in that big brain of yours!"
Izuku considered that for a moment, rubbing his chin. Truthfully, he did have a few ideas. With the internships coming up, he'd been thinking about ways to improve not only his classmates' gear but also his fighting capabilities.
"I was thinking about making something related to the wind pressurized attacks I can do. Some more precise when I snap my fingers rather than something that spreads out," he said, making the snapping motion. "I haven't started it because of our internships coming up."
Mei's eyes widened as if Izuku had just handed her the greatest treasure in the world. She vibrated with excitement. "Ooooh! So, like, concentrated air blasts?! That's genius! If we design a mechanism that refines the way the pressure builds up before release, you could create something with way more precision!"
"Yeah. I thought it would be better that way because then I don't risk hitting someone if they are my allies or teammates or even causing unnecessary damage. Maybe use some micro sensors so that it knows what finger I am snapping. Then also something with shock absorption to handle the power I am channeling into my finger snaps," he said, starting to ramble on.
Izuku's mind raced with possibilities as he continued, his fingers instinctively mimicking the snapping motion. "If I can refine the output, I could use it for pinpoint attacks instead of broad bursts. Maybe even have adjustable settings depending on the situation. If I need to push back multiple enemies, I could keep it wide, but for direct hits, I could focus the force into a smaller, more concentrated blast."
Hatsume practically vibrated in place. "Yes! Yes! And if we use a variable compression chamber—oh, or maybe a rapid-response pressure modulator—no, wait! We could integrate microturbines to further regulate output! Ooooh, this is going to be so cool!"
Power Loader rubbed his temple. "Hatsume, pace yourself. We don't even have a prototype yet."
Mei stepped back and sighed. "Alright, sorry."
"It's fine," said Izuku. "But I should be going back now. Thank you for allowing me to work in here."
Power Loader gave a firm nod. "Of course. Just remember, this is an opportunity, not an obligation. You come in when you have time, and if you need any guidance, you know where to find me."
Izuku bowed slightly in gratitude. "Thank you again. I'll do my best."
As he turned to leave, Hatsume shot forward again, nearly bumping into him. "Wait, wait, wait! You can't just drop an idea like that and leave! If you're serious about making this, we need to start brainstorming now! Or at least, like, tomorrow!"
Izuku chuckled nervously. "I'll try to find time after the internship starts. I don't want to rush something like this."
Mei pouted but quickly nodded. "Fine, fine. But you better not let that genius brain of yours go to waste! I wanna see results, Yagi!"
He gave her a small smile. "I'll make sure to keep you updated."
As he finally left the Support Course workshop, the cool air of the hallway was a stark contrast to the bustling energy inside. He took a deep breath, letting the weight of the offer and everything that had just happened settle in. It was overwhelming, but in a good way.
3 DAYS LATER
It was nearly time for Izuku to leave, but he had to meet with someone before he left for Edgeshot's Agency. Hounddog asked to meet with him. He didn't know why but it was likely for his weekly meeting since he wouldn't be able to do it at all. It was 4:51 am right now and he was at his office. He knocked on the door when he heard a voice.
"Come in," he called out.
Izuku opened the door and stepped inside. The room was dimly lit, with only a single desk lamp casting a soft glow over Hounddog's desk. The man was seated in his usual spot, the ever-present aura of professionalism hanging over him, even at this early hour. His sharp features softened only slightly when he noticed Izuku entering, but there was a noticeable warmth in his eyes.
"Izuku, good morning," Hounddog greeted, pushing aside a few files on his desk. "I know this is a bit earlier than usual, but I wanted to talk before you head off for your internship."
Izuku nodded, slightly confused but intrigued. "Of course, sir. What's this about?" He moved to sit across from the older hero, trying to gauge the mood.
Hounddog leaned back in his chair, folding his hands. "I just wanted to have a quick conversation. During the Sports Festival…Mr. Aizawa said that you were…acting different in your fight with Inori. Is there a reason for that?" he asked thoughtfully.
Izuku froze a little bit, not sure how to answer. "Well…I was nervous…to fight one of the people that bullied me growing up…it…was pretty hard…for obvious reasons."
Hounddog's gaze softened as Izuku spoke, sensing the weight behind his words. He leaned forward slightly, his voice steady but full of understanding. "I see. That would certainly make things more difficult. I can imagine how hard it must've been, especially considering the history between you two. But Izuku…" He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly, almost as if he were trying to read Izuku's thoughts. "You can't let that define how you approach things in the future. You're a hero in training now. That means facing your emotions head-on and still being able to act with clarity when it counts."
"Yeah, I know. I'm trying…" he said quietly.
Hounddog stood up and looked to Izuku. "I know. It's all I ask. That's all you can do, and it takes time. But don't worry about that now. Go back to the bus. You are about to depart with your internship. Good luck with Edgeshot. You can learn a lot from the number 5 hero."
Izuku nodded, trying to absorb Hounddog's words as they sank in. He had heard similar things from other mentors, but coming from the calm, collected hero in front of him, it hit differently. His thoughts were still tangled, but there was something reassuring about Hounddog's steady presence, as though everything would fall into place in time.
"I will. I'll make sure to learn as much as I can," Izuku said, feeling a new determination settling in him. "Thank you, Hounddog. I really appreciate the advice," he said running out of the door.
"No problem kid," he said calling out to him.
Izuku made it with record time getting back to the dorms in less than 1 minute. He had a bit of help with Jolt. The bus was outside waiting for them and many were getting on. Mr. Aizawa looked to Izuku, who was holding his hero costume, with Izuku smiling.
"Right on time," he said, getting on the bus.
Izuku stepped onto the bus, scanning the rows of seats. Most of his classmates were already inside, chatting excitedly or checking their gear. Some, like Todoroki and Iida, sat quietly, mentally preparing for what was ahead. Others, like Kaminari and Kirishima, were buzzing with anticipation. He sat next to Jiro who was listening to music.
"You ready dude. We won't see each other for a week," she said putting her headphones down for a minute.
"Yeah, I am. Just...lots of emotions right now," he said putting his hands to his face.
Jiro smirked slightly, nudging him with her elbow. "Yeah, I get that. First big internship—pressure's on."
"Yeah, you know I'm always like this. I get the jitters, then it fades out eventually when I'm used to it," he said leaning back in his seat, breathing. "You ready to work with Death Arms?" he asked her. "I personally know it will be good for you. You'll learn how to fight more hand to hand in case you ever need to do that."
Jiro stretched her arms and let out a small sigh. "Yeah, I know. I've been thinking about that too. I can't always rely on my sound waves alone. If someone gets too close, I need to be able to fight back properly."
"You will be fine. You're tough," he said looking at her. He looked at her and noticed she had a huge blush on her face. "You ok, Kyoka? Do you have a fever or something," he said putting a hand to her head.
Jiro's blush deepened as Izuku's hand rested gently against her forehead. She immediately swatted his hand away, turning her head toward the window to avoid eye contact. "I'm fine, nerd! Just… surprised, that's all."
"Just making sure," he said as she offered him an earpiece. She was still blushing as she looked out the window. "You…wanna…listen to music…with me?" she asked.
Izuku blinked in surprise at the offer, then gave a small smile as he took the earbud. "Yeah, sure. What are we listening to?"
Jiro still refused to look at him directly, pretending to fiddle with the cord of her headphones. "It's just some rock. Thought it might help clear your head before the internship."
"Are you sure you are good? Your cheeks are red," he said putting his hands to her cheeks once more.
Jiro nearly jumped out of her seat when Izuku placed his hands on her cheeks again. She swatted them away for the second time, her face burning even more. "Would you stop that?!" she hissed, turning to glare at him, though the effect was ruined by how flustered she looked.
Izuku laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head. "Sorry, sorry! I just wanted to make sure you weren't getting sick before your internship."
"I'm fine," she grumbled, crossing her arms and sinking a little into her seat.
"Sorry, if I made you mad, Kyoka, I didn't mean to," he said feeling bad.
Jiro glanced at him, noticing the way his expression dropped slightly. His usual energy seemed to dim, and she could tell that he genuinely felt bad about upsetting her. With a sigh, she shifted in her seat, turning toward him slightly.
"You didn't make me mad," she muttered, tapping her fingers against her thigh. "I just… wasn't expecting it."
Izuku blinked. "Really?"
Jiro rolled her eyes. "Yeah, really. You're such a dork sometimes."
"Psst...hey, Izuku," said Momo from behind them. "I don't mean to be a bother, but could you help me with the settings of the Formuband," she asked showing him the invention he made her.
Izuku turned around, spotting Momo holding the Formuband in her hands. He had suggested it a while ago and seeing her actually use it made him feel a surge of pride.
"Oh, of course!" Izuku said, shifting in his seat so he could get a better look. Jiro leaned back, subtly watching as he examined the device.
Momo handed it over. "I was testing it last night, but I think the calibration might be slightly off. It's taking longer than expected to recognize the mass-to-energy ratio of my creations."
Izuku nodded, already analyzing the issue in his head. "That makes sense. The sensors might not be adjusting to the variance in your Quirk's output. Let me…" He trailed off, pressing a few buttons on the side of the band, fine-tuning the input sensitivity.
Jiro smirked, resting her chin in her palm. "And here he goes… full nerd mode."
Izuku shot her a quick look before turning his attention back to the Formuband. "Okay, I think if we adjust the responsiveness here… and tweak the processing delay…" He tapped the screen, his expression lighting up as he found a solution. "Try it now."
Momo slipped it back onto her wrist and activated her Quirk. "Oh! That's much better!" She smiled at him. "Thank you, Izuku! Your attention to detail is always so impressive."
Izuku blushed at the compliment, rubbing the back of his head. "I just like figuring things out."
The right was filled with chatter even if it was a little after 5 in the morning. He looked over to his left to see Mineta glaring at him. He went wide-eyed when he made a gesture to come here. He took out the earpiece to make sure not to disturb Jiro as he scooted over to them.
"What's up. Why are you glaring at me," he whispered to him.
"Because you are always with girls," he said, upset. Kaminari next to him leaned into the conversation. "He has a point Izuku-bro. You are a chick magnet."
Izuku blinked, his face turning red. "What? No, I'm not!" he whispered back, incredulous. He quickly glanced over at Jiro, who was still listening to her music, blissfully unaware of the conversation unfolding.
Mineta pulled out a sticky note and cleared his throat, whispering to him. "These are the girls you talked to over the past 24 hours. Jiro, Yaoyorozu, Setsuna, Shiozaki, Ashido, Asui, Uraraka, Yanagi, Hagakure, and Pony."
Izuku stared at the sticky note in disbelief. "W-Wait a second! You've been keeping track of who I've been talking to?!" His voice was a mix of surprise and embarrassment. He glanced over at Jiro again, who was still completely oblivious to the conversation going on around her. Izuku couldn't believe what he was seeing—was Mineta actually keeping a record of who he interacted with?
Kaminari snickered; his expression was full of amusement. "Mineta doesn't miss a thing, bro. It's his thing. He's got the whole 'chick magnet' tracker system down. He's like a walking romance encyclopedia." Izuku groaned, burying his face in his hands. "I'm not a chick magnet! I don't even know how I ended up talking to all of them!" He glanced down at the note again, feeling the heat in his cheeks intensifying. "Some of these are just casual conversations, not… not like that!"
"What are you guys whispering about?" asked Kirishima, looking over the set behind him as he was in front of them. "Yeah, what is it," asked Sero as the two of them were looking over the seat.
Izuku's face turned even redder as he tried to explain himself. "It's not what you think! Mineta's just… uh, keeping track of who I talk to." He quickly glanced at the sticky note again, his heart racing. "But it's not like that, okay? It's not a big deal."
Mineta snickered and added, "Oh, it's a big deal, alright. Izuku's got more girls on his radar than you'd think. I'm just helping him keep track, so he doesn't miss out."
Kaminari chimed in with a smirk, "Yeah, man. It's like you're in some kind of romantic spy game, and Mineta's your mission control."
Izuku let out an exasperated sigh, his face still burning. "Guys, come on, this is embarrassing! I'm just trying to focus on the internship, not some… some girl tracker thing!"
"I don't know bro," said Sero, whispering. "Women tend to gravitate to you. I look at it in a way that Mineta is jealous," he said chuckling as Mineta looked offended.
"No shit I am jealous," he whispered pointing at Izuku.
Izuku shook his head in disbelief, trying to process the conversation that was rapidly escalating. "Jealous? Mineta, this isn't about being jealous! It's just... I don't even know how to explain it. I'm not... I don't even know how all of this started! I am going back to my seat," he said turning around blushing. He put his earpiece back in and sighed, listening to her music to calm down.
Jiro smirked at Izuku as she heard the whole conversation. She wouldn't tell him, but it was cute the way he acted sometimes.
Soon all of Class 1-A were all at the train station ready to be sent off to where they needed to be sent off to. Mr. Aizawa had a few words to say for his class.
"Alright everyone. This week is going to be pretty important for all of you." Mr. Aizawa's eyes scanned the group of students before him. "You've all been selected for internships with professional heroes. You've worked hard to get to this point, but remember, this isn't a vacation. You'll be expected to work just as hard as any pro, if not harder. The internship will test your skills, your decision-making, and your ability to handle real-world situations. Also…remember this…you are not pro heroes yet. You still need licenses. So, if something does get a bit iffy. Listen to the pros."
The class stood at attention as Mr. Aizawa's words settled in. The weight of his message was clear—this wasn't just some learning experience. It was a real-world test, and mistakes could have consequences. Izuku shifted uneasily, still feeling the heat in his cheeks from the earlier teasing, but the thought of the upcoming internship was quickly taking precedence in his mind. He couldn't afford to be distracted by jokes, no matter how persistent they were.
"Now. Good luck. Do your best and learn a lot," said Aizawa as he looked to his students. Izuku smiled as he looked over to his friends. He walked over to the group of Jiro, Momo, Uraraka, and Kirishima.
"Good luck you guys," he said smiling at all of them. "Ah, yeah! We will do our best!" said Kirishima.
"Agreed. We will all come back better," said Momo happily.
Izuku smiled as he continued to talk with his friends. He looked out of the corner of his eyes to see Iida walking away. He turned around and ran over to him. Ochaco looked to see Izuku running and she did the same.
"Iida, wait!" called out Izuku. Iida stopped in his tracks when he heard Izuku calling his name. He turned around, a strained expression on his face, his usual stern demeanor replaced by something more somber.
"What is it, Yagi?" Iida's voice was quieter than usual, with a hint of frustration. His hands were clenched at his sides as if he were holding something back.
Izuku approached him, his smile fading slightly as he noticed the change in Iida's posture. "Iida, I just wanted to wish you good luck on your internship. I know you'll do great! You've worked so hard for this."
"Thanks, Yagi. But there's something I need to focus on during this internship. It's not just about the work," Iida said, his gaze briefly turning away as though he was lost in thought. "I have... other things to keep in mind."
Izuku blinked, sensing the weight in Iida's voice but unsure how to respond. "Other things? Like what?"
Before Iida could respond, Uraraka caught up with them, slightly out of breath from running behind Izuku. "Hey, Iida. We're all in this together, okay? If there's anything you need to talk about, we've got your back," she said, her voice filled with concern.
Iida didn't immediately answer. Instead, he looked down, clenching his jaw. His usual confident and reassuring aura seemed to be slipping, replaced by something far more conflicted. "I appreciate it, but there are... things I have to deal with on my own. Just focus on doing your best, okay?"
"Iida..." Izuku started, his voice hesitant. "If you ever need to talk, or if there's anything we can do, don't hesitate to reach out."
Iida straightened up at that, forcing a small smile. "Thank you, Izuku. I will... but for now, I have to focus." His expression hardened once more, and he turned to walk away, his steps quick and purposeful.
Izuku wished that he had done something more to help his friend that day. To be there for him. To help him. Izuku got off at his stop saying goodbye to his friends a while ago. He opened his phone to see he had a text from a group chat that he was put into from his dad. It has his parents and two siblings.
Dad: Good luck with your internships everyone. Proud of you all.
Mom: Love you, my babies! Kick butt!
Inori: Thanks guys!
Ichiro: Ty
Izuku: Thank you
It wouldn't hurt to reply. It didn't hurt. But he put it away for now and walked out of the train station to be greeted by a chauffeur holding a whiteboard with his name on it.
"Izuku Yagi," said the man opening the door in the car. "I am here to escort you to the Edgeshot Agency."
Izuku nodded, his nerves still tingling from the earlier exchange with Iida. Something was clearly bothering his friend, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He took a deep breath, shaking off his concerns for the moment. He had a job to do now, and he couldn't afford to get distracted. This was his first internship, and he had to make a good impression.
He climbed into the back of the car, and the chauffeur shut the door behind him. The inside of the vehicle was plush, the leather seats inviting and comfortable. The soft hum of the engine settled in as they began driving toward the Edgeshot Agency, and Izuku stared out the window, watching the city pass by. His mind was buzzing with excitement, anticipation, and a little bit of anxiety.
Edgeshot was one of the top heroes in the country, known for his incredible speed and ability to transform into a human projectile. He had a reputation for being extremely meticulous and professional, which made Izuku both excited and nervous. He had no idea what to expect. What if he wasn't good enough? What if he made a mistake?
The car came to a stop outside a sleek, modern building, the headquarters of the Edgeshot Agency. The exterior was a sharp contrast to the older, more traditional buildings around it, its polished glass and metal structure gleaming in the sunlight. Izuku's heart started to race as he stepped out of the car. This was the real deal. He was about to enter the world of professional heroes.
"Thank you," Izuku said to the chauffeur as he stepped out of the car and adjusted his bag on his shoulder. The man gave a polite nod before driving off.
Izuku took a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and walked toward the entrance. He wasn't sure what awaited him, but he was determined to give it his all. As he approached the door, it slid open automatically, and he was greeted by a tall man with sharp, angular features and a stern expression.
"Izuku Yagi?" the man asked, his voice low but steady. "You're here for your internship with Edgeshot?"
"Yes," Izuku replied, nodding. "I'm here for the internship."
The man sized him up for a moment before nodding and gesturing for Izuku to follow him. "This way."
Izuku followed the man down the hallway, his footsteps echoing in the quiet building. He couldn't help but feel the weight of the moment. This was its first real step into the world of professional heroes. He had worked so hard to get here, and now the time had come to prove himself.
The man led him into a spacious room with high ceilings, sleek modern furniture, and a large glass window that offered a panoramic view of the city. The room had a serious, non-nonsense vibe, and Izuku immediately felt the intensity of the environment. Many people were at desks, likely looking for crimes to report on. Some with statistics boards, radars, and radios. He counted nearly 30 people.
"Follow the carpet until you get to the double doors at the end, they are waiting for you," said the man leaning against the door now.
As he reached the double doors, he hesitated for just a moment. He pushed the doors open to be greeted with a big desk and with windows providing a nice view of the city. In the center was Edgeshot looking out of the window. Gran Torino was off to the side of the desk as Izuku walked in and he nodded at him.
Edgeshot turned around and Izuku could see a smile under his mask. "Ah, welcome Izuku Yagi," he said walking over to him. "It is a pleasure to meet you."
Izuku clutched his suitcase handle in his right hand as he switched the suitcase to his left. He stuck out his right hand to greet him with a handshake.
Edgeshot's grip was firm and steady as he shook Izuku's hand. Despite the mask that covered most of his face, there was warmth in his voice that made Izuku feel more at ease.
"It's an honor to be here, sir," Izuku said, trying to keep his voice steady. His nerves still buzzed in his chest, but he was determined to make a good impression. This was his chance to prove himself, and he wasn't about to squander it.
Edgeshot's eyes seemed to glint behind his mask, his smile more apparent now. "I've heard and seen good things about you, Yagi. You've made quite a name for yourself already." He stepped back, motioning to the room. "Please, have a seat. Let's get down to business."
Izuku nodded, taking a deep breath as he moved toward the chair in front of the desk. As he sat down, he couldn't help but glance around the room. The atmosphere was so different from what he was used to back at U.A. The polished desk, the sleek technology around them, and the serious tone of everything reminded him that this wasn't a training ground anymore. This was the real deal.
Gran Torino, who had been quietly observing the exchange, gave Izuku a small nod of acknowledgment. The seasoned hero's presence added to the weight of the moment. Despite his usually laid-back demeanor, He walked over with Izuku and sat down next to Edgeshot, pulling a chair up from the background to get closer.
"Right," Edgeshot continued, turning his attention back to Izuku. "Would you like some tea?" he offered, pouring himself some. Izuku nodded slowly as he poured himself and Izuku some tea.
Gran Torino settled into his chair beside Edgeshot, his usual laid-back posture making the atmosphere seem slightly less intense. He gave Izuku a small, approving smile as Edgeshot poured the tea, the steam rising gently from the cups.
"Tea always helps to calm the nerves," Gran Torino said, his voice light but still carrying an air of experience. "You've got quite a big day ahead of you. You might as well take the edge off."
Edgeshot looked at Izuku with curious eyes and sat up straighter. "Now then. I should tell you now that you are the only one that I offered an internship to out of everyone at the Sports Festival. The first in a few years."
Izuku's eyes widened slightly at the revelation. The only one? He couldn't help but feel a sense of both pride and pressure settling over him. Being the sole person chosen was a huge honor, but it also meant that he had to live up to some very high expectations. He swallowed hard, trying to steady his nerves.
"Thank you, sir," Izuku said bowing slightly. Edgeshot put his hands up in a placating manner. "No need for thanks kid, that was all on you. But do you know why I chose you?"
Izuku tried to think of an answer, but he couldn't think of one off the top of his head right now. Edgeshot saw he was hesitating and decided to answer for him.
"When I was watching you in the one-on-one battles, I didn't take an interest in you immediately. The first round against that Shinso boy, I didn't think much of it, but it was quite clever that you found a way around his quirk. The second round, when you fought your sister Inori, now that was where I started to be interested in you. You were pitted against an incredible strong telekinesis quirk, and you found a way around it. The third round you showed your durability and strength against your brother by showing that you were a brick wall. The final match against Bakugo showed to me that you were there to show everyone that you weren't going to give in and give up. The reason I chose you was because of four things. Determination. Heart. Intelligence. Adaptability."
Izuku listened intently, his heart pounding as Edgeshot laid out the reasons behind his choice. He hadn't expected such an in-depth breakdown of his actions. Hearing it all laid out like that, he could feel the weight of the responsibility that now rested on his shoulders.
Gran Torino, who had been sipping his tea, nodded approvingly. "It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of a fight and lose sight of strategy. But you, kid—you saw what mattered. That's what makes the difference."
"I… I never realized I was showing all of that," Izuku said, his voice soft but filled with a sense of gratitude. "I just… I just wanted to do my best, to keep up. I still have a lot to learn, but I'll keep working hard. I won't let you down."
Edgeshot smiled, a small but genuine smile. "That's the attitude I like to see. Hard work, resilience, and a willingness to learn—those are the traits that separate the good from the great. But remember, this isn't just about proving yourself to us. It's about proving yourself to you. Heroes don't just fight for recognition—they fight because they believe it's the right thing to do. Though one question, if I may. What type of hero do you want to be?"
Izuku smiled at the question. "I want to be a hero that falls into many categories. Combat, rescue, and support. I want to be as well rounded as possible," he said with conviction.
Edgeshot leaned forward, his eyes studying Izuku with an intense focus. "Well-rounded, huh?" he repeated, as if tasting the words. "That's ambitious. There are a few heroes like that. Myself, All Might, and a few others. I will do my best to help you get there Izuku Yagi."
"Thank you, sir," said Izuku.
"Well then. How about you go and get changed into your hero costume, and we will go from there," Edgeshot said happily.
"Right!" Izuku said, his voice full of determination as he stood up from his chair. He gave a quick, respectful bow to Edgeshot and Gran Torino before heading to the back of the room where the changing area was located. His heart was pounding in his chest as he made his way to the small, private space. He set down his bag and opened it, pulling out the neatly folded hero costume his mother had helped him design.
He pulled out a note from Mei and he sighed. "Oh boy," he said flipping it open. "The Support Course department has made some changes to your suit. Mainly your gloves. White looks better than gray on your costume. That's the only thing I changed," -Hatsume.
Izuku gave a deadpan look as he started putting on his forest green jumpsuit. He put on his white gloves and black boots and Mei even gave him this weird thing that connected around his neck. It was likely for style more than anything, but he looked good regardless.
He looked himself over one last time, taking in the full outfit. This was it. His first day on an internship, with Edgeshot, of all people. He was both nervous and exhilarated. His heart raced, and the weight of Edgeshot's words echoed in his mind: Determination. Heart. Intelligence. Adaptability. He was determined to live up to those expectations, but a small voice in the back of his mind reminded him of how much he still had to learn.
"Alright, Izuku," he muttered to himself, straightening his posture. "You've got this." He gave himself a final nod of encouragement before stepping out of the changing area and making his way back to where Edgeshot and Gran Torino were waiting.
When Izuku reentered the main room, Edgeshot gave him a brief glance up and down, a small, approving nod on his face. Gran Torino, meanwhile, gave a thumbs-up with a wry smile.
"Looking sharp, kid," Gran Torino commented. "I'd say you're ready to take on the world."
Izuku blushed slightly but nodded. "Thank you, Gran Torino." His eyes shifted to Edgeshot. "I'm ready, sir."
Edgeshot rose from his chair, his movements quick and precise. "Good. Let's not waste any more time. We've got work to do." He turned toward the door, and Izuku followed closely behind, feeling a surge of excitement running through him. Time to start this internship.