MHA: GAMER PATH

Chapter 122: Shie Hassaikai Arc (2)

~Third POV~

[Later, Nighteye Agency, Japan]

Finishing their conversation, Ren spoke to Bubble Girl and Nighteye in a calm tone and said, "Thank you again for this! And see you tomorrow!"

Ren closed the door and stepped into the corridor, where Mirio Togata greeted him with a beaming, relaxed smile as he said cheerfully, "Ahhahaha! So stiff, so rigid, Yuki! You got approved by Sir, so cheer up, buttercup!"

Ren stifled a small laugh escaping his lips as he walked with Mirio stoically, "Only after I gave him the info he needed. But I gave him a shocking impression. Although I dunno if I should be celebrating …"

The students of U.A. High School had spent their summer adjusting to dorm life, and today was the first day of fall. These two were at Sir Nighteye's hero agency, about an hour's train ride away from U.A.

Having successfully earned his provisional hero license, Yuki now sought to learn a thing or two through a work-study with All Might's former sidekick, and since Togata had already been working with Nighteye, the older boy had tagged along to make the introduction.

Though Nighteye accepted Yuki's application in the end, the strict hero hadn't deemed the boy a worthy successor of All Might's [One for All] Quirk, and he was determined to make Yuki see things his way.

However, instead of trying to force Ren into a practical, he brought valuable info about the Yakuza group they had difficulty gathering info. Knowing the importance, Nighteye stamped his paper to join his agency work-study, gaining valuable pieces of information, shocking every one of his capabilities.

Ren sighed out loud, exhaling a breath of relief wash over him as he muttered, "Sigh… I wasn't sure if Nighteye would've accepted because of his bias on me being All Might's Successor."

Mirio added jovially with a smile in an upbeat mood, "It sure did!"

Ren rolled his eyes, groaning, "Ugh…"

Ren wasn't usually one to fall into a funk, but his show of power of knowledge might've made a bad impression on Nighteye. And what's more, Nighteye had informed him privately that Togata had been the original candidate to inherit [One for All].

The fact that All Might had never mentioned this now weighed on Ren keeping secrets, but he shook it off as he commented curiously, "But still, I didn't think Nighteye was a total fanboy over All Might."

Changing the topic, Mirio nodded his head, explaining in a cheerful tone Ren's impression of Nighteye, "That's understandable! Not many people know about Sir Nighteye's fanboy of All Might, but it's the perfect illustration of how Sir Nighteye liked All Might's witty jokes! It's not just about having the strength to beat up villains; it's also about having humanity and kindness backed up by humor to reassure those in need. I seem to recall that there was an All-Might's Gags and Jokes: A Compendium. How, like, his jokes have the cynical edge of American humor while also being warm and relatable enough to inspire others…"

Ren blinked, genuinely surprised by that piece of information he asked, stunned, "He put out a jokebook, even? Who knew!"

Mirio nodded as he continued talking in an upbeat tone raising his finger up, "Yeah! But did y'know, I hear that's not even Sir's whole collection. They say he's got a whole storage unit chock full of All Might merch."

Raising an eyebrow, he asked, genuinely curious about Sir Night's All Might merch in a curious tone, "Seriously? How the heck does a man like him have that much merch of All Might? And did he buy ALL of them?"

Mirio replied with a straight face thinking about it as he suggested curiously, "Unlikely, but maybe you could get a peek?"

Ren paused, considering the offer as he shrugged his shoulders with a grin, replying, "Sure. I'd like to see how much merch this guy buys and show off to a friend of mine."

As the excitable first-year blathered on, Mirio took a good look at him and started thinking about Sir Nighteye. While on the job, the hero was impenetrable, with a glare as sharp as a knife, but off the clock, he would watch old clips of All Might and let those stern features relax, if only a little.

Nighteye was and always had been a big fan of All Might, even though the two had had a falling out several years ago as Mirio thought, 'Sir and Yuki… They're more alike than they know.'

Mirio realized that, despite their radically different ways of showing it, the mentor and his new mentee both idolized All Might in different ways. One was a sidekick, and the other his successor following the Symbol of Peace. Mirio thought curiously, comparing the two, 'That must mean they had some fundamental things in common, right? Hopefully, that common ground would lead to a good working relationship.'

Noticing Mirio spacing out Ren asked him snapping him out of his thoughts, "Huh? Togata? What's wrong?"

Having been returned to reality, Mirio shook it off as he replied joyfully, "Nah, nothing. But, hey, I hope you're ready to give it your all starting tomorrow!"

Ren simply nodded as Mirio showed him to where Nighteye kept his All Might merch…

/////

[Sky, Fukuoka, Tokyo, Japan]

While Togata reflected on those two of their relationship to All Might, Fumikage Tokoyami was down in Fukuoka, doing his own work-study with Hawks as the hero said, "Tick, tock, tick, tock…"

By the time Tokoyami got to the roof of the building, an impatient Hawks had already captured the villain that he and his team were after. The boy was getting used to the sight of prepackaged villains, tied and bound by Hawks, ready for processing.

The police and other sidekicks arrived moments later to take the villain into custody. Hawks passing out soft drinks to his team said in a chill tone, "How about we take a breather?"

One of the sidekicks asked when the boss had had the time to buy refreshments, so Hawks explained that during the chase, he'd rescued a lost child, and the grateful parent had offered the drinks as a reward.

Tokoyami used this brief respite to have a seat and think, 'Like they say, he's almost too fast…'

Hawks's Quirk, [Fierce Wings], allowed him to multitask at top speed, and his efforts had made him a top-ten hero as a teen, the youngest ever to pull off that feat. Hence his reputation for excess speed in all things.

Tokoyami was doing a better job keeping up with the winged hero than he had several months before back during his internship, but at the end of the day, there was no measuring up to a man who could soar through the skies with ease. But a quick thought of Ren using [Float] caused him to smile lightly, 'Right… there's that guy.'

While he was pondering to himself Tokoyami's eyes grew wide at the out-of-the-blue question from Hawks, who'd stealthily sat down next to the boy, "So, what's Endeavor's kid like?"

Shoto Todoroki was, of course, Tokoyami's classmate and the son of the provisional number one hero, Endeavor. Though Tokoyami didn't know the specifics, it was obvious from Todoroki's attitude how little he cared for his fiery father as he said after some thought, "He's extremely capable… He excels both inside the classroom and out."

Hawks raised an eyebrow as he asked curiously about Endeavor's son, "Hmm. And personality-wise, he's just like his old man, I'm guessing?"

However, Tokoyami shook his head as he explained stoically, holding his soft drink, "No. He tends to be cool, calm, and collected."

Hawks must've found something funny about this answer since he replied with an intrigued grin and an amused, "Ooh."

Tokoyami squinted, wondering why his mentor was so curious about the Todoroki family. This didn't go unnoticed by the Hawks as he said with a laugh, reading Tokoyami's expression, "It's just that I'm a fan of Endeavor. What's All Might's successor like?"

His smile seemed childish with a hidden edge of cunning, but he cloaked himself in his broad red wings before Tokoyami could get a closer look. However, Tokoyami dismissed his concerns when he brought the topic of Ren up since most heroes want to know about the young man for multiple reasons.

/////

[Okinawa, Ryukyu Agency, Tokyo, Japan]

"Hey, hey, didja hear? Lunch Rush Sensei's got a limited-time tapioca milk rice bowl!"

"Yeah, I heard the rumors! I haven't dared to try it yet, though."

"What could it possibly taste like? Ribbit."

Nejire Hado, Ochaco Uraraka, and Tsuyu Asui were all doing their work-study at Ryukyu's agency, and Hado's mention of the cafeteria's newest offering had the first years doubting. They'd finished their work for the day, and now it was teatime; floral notes of jasmine and the sweet scent of cookies filled the office as Nejire said cheerfully, "Togata tried it and said it's tastier than you'd think. Like ochazuke filled with sweet little balls."

Hearing this, Ochaco clasped her hands together, excited to try it in an excited tone "That makes sense, but I'm still having a tough time imagining!"

Tsuyu placed her hand over her lips with one finger, curiously saying, "It could be worth trying, at least once. Maybe. Ribbit."

Cutting into the conversation was Ryukyu watching over the three girls and their animated conversation in a curious tone, "Sounds like cutting-edge cuisine to me."

Neijre got up in the hero's face and said cheerfully in an excited tone, "You'd eat it, right, Ryukyu? You totally would! Yeah! Yeah?"

Ryukyu, with an awkward smile, shook her head as she kindly replied, "No, I think I'd pass Nejire."

Nejire pouted lightly before turning her attention to Ochaco and Tsuyu as she bluntly said curiously, "So… did you two do anything special during your days? I heard from Toga-chan that Tsuyu went on a date with Ren-kun?"

Bringing the topic up, Tsuyu blushed a deep red, causing Nejire to grin a bit wider as she asked, getting closer, "Oh! That's a sign that you did something quite unforgettable! Come on, Asui, can you share with your senpai? Pretty please with a cherry on top?"

Tsuyu had her face flushed red when being called out. She immediately recalled Ren teleporting into her room as they began to get very 'intimate'. This caused Tsuyu to stutter nervously, "Uh-oh… it was a very kind of very nice and – "

Nejire stops leaning back away from Tsuyu in a cheerful tone, being chill, "No need. I think I understand when I'm getting too personal."

Tsuyu sighed a breath of relief but froze when Nejire finished in a calm tone, "Toga told me. I'm so happy for you."

Tsuyu was now blushing, with Ochaco looking a bit nervous, knowing the topic they were discussing. Although she did feel a bit envious that Tsuyu had gotten the chance while she didn't, she shook her head of those thoughts, clasping her hands together on her face in a shocked tone, 'Ah!! Why am I even thinking of that?! I'm on work-study Ochaco – but then again, I'm curious and want to feel… 'that' again…'

Twirling her legs clasping, recalling Ren and her playing with each other. The pleasure she felt was gulping, wanting to finish what they started.

This didn't go unnoticed by Nejire as she mentally thought to herself, already assuming they had sex with Ren made her pout light, 'Ah… they got eaten up by Ren-kun already? In that case, I should go full throttle. Thankfully, Toga set me up to meet Momo, allowing me to join his harem.'

Ryukyu raised an eyebrow, sighing at the growing tension before a voice from the police scanner in the office alerted them, "Villain on the run on Espa Street! Requesting immediate hero backup—"

In an instant, the relaxed mood evaporated. The four of them stood, ready for action as teatime was over, with Ryukyu commanding, "With me, girls."

Nejire nodded, exclaiming, "Okaaay!"

Ochaco and Tsuyu lose their tension immediately in unison and respond as they break into a run, "Yes, ma'am!"

Ryukyu smiled, seeing despite them sharing a lover, they focused on her work in a proud tone and thought, 'A perfect portrait of a hero and her three gallant sidekicks. I hope they don't deal with any broken hearts. But it's time to get to work.'