My Hero Academia: EMTs

Two weeks later,

Katsuki Bakugo:

Another dull day of class. It's primarily academics today- hence boring. But it all adds up, so I pay attention. I will be Japan's next number-one hero- if not the world's number-one. If that's gonna happen, nothing can slip through the cracks. Nothing.

When the professor's daughter first showed up, I got worried. I've seen this movie before, and I didn't like the ending. The whole class could suddenly start to revolve around the person with the most reasons to stand out: underage, related to the professor, a trauma story- it's all perfect for her to become the main character- and heck no, that will not happen. She's just an extra. This is the story of MY rise.

Course, maybe I was overreacting. Hotaru is slowly fading into the background. Every time we train, she sits in the bleachers and just studies or draws dumb comics to amuse herself. Sometimes, she'll cheer someone on, but that's the extent of her participation. Honestly, I'm disappointed in myself for getting worked up about her being here.

I've seen the worksheets she does while the rest of us are studying, and they're just stuff for a regular middle schooler. She's not even that good at any of it. If she has to get in on her own merits in two years, then at the rate she's going- good luck, brat, you'll need it.

I quickly finish my math worksheet, doing the extra credit questions. Most kids do those only if they feel they might be behind, a kind of cushion to make sure they get a good grade. I do them because every point counts. Falling behind isn't an option. I will be the best.

And... done! I turn over my answer sheet so no one can cheat off my paper.

I get curious- what's the brat doing? I look over at her answer sheet. Professor Aizawa sees me doing it but probably doesn't care. It's not like I can cheat off her. Let's see... beginner fraction multiplication. Huh... probably about right for a sixth-grader. And how is she doing on them- wow... maybe the professor should put her back where he found her.

"Time's up. Pass your papers to the front of the room," says the professor. Gladly.

"Professor, Hotaru isn't handing in her paper. She-" Momo begins, but she's cut off.

"It's you who wanted her to be physically in the class. She's not part of the class. Just because you're all taking a quiz doesn't mean she is."

Freaking dummies. I figured that part out the day the brat got here. The professor literally said she would just be studying in the corner. I'm unsure why so many classmates keep trying to include her.

Mr. Aizawa takes the quizzes and then returns a stack of papers to Ida, the class leader. "Pass these around, please. They're extra credit assignments for the rest of the year." Ida does as instructed as the professor turns to the class, "These do not come before your regular assignments and cannot be used as excuses to not participate in training. I will not permit taking two extra credit assignments; I had a student try that once, and it was more trouble than it was worth."

I listen closely to the rules. Right, I need to find the assignment that gives me the most points. My finger travels down the page. Let's see... report on a significant hero, including dates, significant achievements, political beliefs, and why they're important to you specifically... Fifty points- not worth the effort.

Make a presentation... 70 points... better.

Research a correctional facility in person, 150... now we're talking.

Mentor, 100 points... per year, though, so long term, that's 400 points... and I can get more points for doing well.

Why would I get more points over time for babysitting? Let's see; you must help a child at least two years your junior in three areas of struggle, improving their grades at least one letter grade in each area. If the area of struggle is not a graded subject, such as weight loss, an applicable standard will be discussed.

"Are there any questions?" The professor asks. He leans back in the chair by his desk, looking ready to fall asleep. He's so disinterested.

I quickly raise my hand. "Will there be new extra credit assignments every year until we graduate?"

"Maybe, maybe not," He answers.

"Then how do we know if the mentorship offers the most points?" I ask, taken off guard.

"I don't recommend mentorship if you only want the points, but, realistically, if that is your goal, it is a more sure bet. After all, if there are no extra credit assignments next year, you'll have no way to make up the difference."

I'm not backing down, however. I will be the best, and no one will question it. If I have to mentor a brat for that, fine. "Can we work with just any kid?"

"The school has a program with a few foster care facilities and juvenile detention centers. You can choose a kid from those to work with or any other kid with parents who will agree to let you work with their child. I don't care."

"The mentor assignment says we can get more than a hundred points- how?"

"Hm?" Mr. Aizawa takes a copy of the paper off his desk and reads it over. "Huh... what do you know? It does say that. I guess you'll have to impress the kid's caretakers- and me. Good luck. Mentorship points are partially dependent on the kid's initiative. That's the catch- and why it's worth so much. It's a gamble."

I grit my teeth. He's right, of course. "How many more points can be made over a hundred on mentorship?"

"Hmm... a max?" He reclines in his chair again, still looking so disinterested. I don't know why they let someone so unprofessional teach. "Screw it- fifty points over if you REALLY impress me."

Crap... that's six hundred points over four years if I can swing it.

So... I need a twerp; they have to be two years younger than me... I could track down a real go-getter and make sure I get the grade. I twist my lips at that thought. Would I be impressed by someone improving the grades of a kid who was a go-getter before they even showed up? But if they're not on the ball already, how do I know the little snot won't let me down and not do the work to improve themselves, no matter what effort I put in?

I need a child who is a bit behind so my efforts can be noticeable... but it needs to be someone with a reason for being behind besides laziness... and thus, my eyes travel to THE brat. Hotaru.

Her dad loves to put pressure on people, and as I look over at her, she sucks at math, but she's working through everything everyone is doing around her... yeah... yeah why not? She's even in the freaking school, so that makes things easier.

The class finally ends, and up to the front, I march, not heeding the line of other students starting to form, freaking extras. "Old man!" I say, slapping the professor's desk. He looks at me with an annoyed expression. "I want to mentor your kid."

"No." He says curtly, going back to work and not looking up from a stack of papers he's grading.

"Why not?" I ask back.

"Why would I say yes?" He asks back. "IF I let her be mentored, I already have a short list of students I would allow to do it. You're not on it."

I think about leaving... but no, this is too perfect. I look around his desk, with several stacks of papers for grading and notes for his lectures. Among the stacks, there are a few pictures. One of the professor's graduating class, another of the Professor hanging out with his best friend Mr. Yamada, and finally, one with Hotaru riding on his shoulders and cheering with her little fist in the air. In the image with Hotaru, she must be eight or nine, but I notice something: it's the only one out of the three in which he's actually smiling. I don't doubt that the professor genuinely likes the company of his friends; he's not the kind to smile very often.

Hmm... so she must be pretty important to him. I have to focus on her needs if I'm gonna win him over. "Your kid is kinda dumb, you realize that, right?"

"You're cruising for a bruising, ya little f- just get lost."

Wow, he almost cursed; I struck a nerve. "I can fix her."

"Where should I send your body?"

"You know I don't have a soft touch, but the fact is, Hotaru has failing grades, doesn't she? And between being a hero and being a teacher, you don't have a ton of time to work with her. I bet you don't even WANT to spend what little time you get focused only on fractions, do you?"

He rolls his eyes, but they freeze on that picture of her on his desk. "You're not wrong on that point." He admits.

"Look- I'm brash and scary, sure, but I'm observant, I never hurt people on accident, and I'm a straight-A student."

"How many fights have you caused this week alone?" He asks back.

"Well... Hotaru also needs to grow a spine. Who better to teach her?"

"I can think of several people."

"Yeah, well, they're not up here asking, so tell me, if someone were to mentor your daughter, what three subjects would you want them to help the kid with?"

"How do I get you to leave me alone? I mean, without giving you detention... again? I'd rather go home and not have to watch you today."

"Just humor me for a bit. I can take no for an answer, but not if I'm not even given a chance," I try being a little honest with him.

"Not a single word that you have said convinces me that you give a rat's ass about my daughter's future you little cretin."

"So?" I fold my arms, "I promise results, not friendship. Results are what you want, right?"

He raises an eyebrow to this. "Okay, my biggest concern right now is for her social development. How will you help with that?"

"Um... well... I can help her with math and quirk control. Um... I bet she needs help with science!"

"You don't decide what I'm worried about- and you don't seem to care." He goes back to grading papers. "Literally, anyone here can help her with her sixth-grade math and science studies if she dares to approach them. It's hard enough to approach teenagers when you're twelve, but add a history of trauma and social isolation- that's her real problem." And with that, he once again goes back to his papers.

Dang it- I want those points. I want them even more now that they're out of reach. Heck, I like things more the harder they are to get- but what the heck am I supposed to do? The professor is barely listening.

I growl, "Rrrrr- look- your kid has no spine, so she can't make friends. How did she even get that way? You're not the protective type of person. You put your students through hell, and I don't see you coddling her during class, either. Heck, class is over now, and you're not even paying attention to her."

"You realize insulting her doesn't make me more interested in giving her to you, right?... But I'm letting you do this because I hate an anti-climax. At least try to give me a good argument." He loves to taunt people. There's every chance he's just dragging this out, fully intending to tell me to get lost.

I fold my arms. "All right." I look back at Hotaru. "She's much smaller than everyone in here; she's at a disadvantage in every way that could matter in a fight. Being a little intimidated is just common sense. She needs to be around kids her age- but you can't do that because villains will want to get at her, right?"

"That is the problem. Why? You have a solution?" And- just like that, I seem to have his attention now. He looks up from the papers and puts his chin on his hand, elbow on the desk. He still looks tired, but at least he's paying more attention to me than the papers.

"Well... actually, there's a straightforward solution here. I'll go hang out with her at some middle school functions. She can have fun with kids her age while I study in a corner. If you think about it, it's a little ironic; I'll be the one in the corner of her function. The point is, if someone tries to mess with her, I'll clean their clock."

"You don't have a hero license yet. I can't let you deliberately get in situations where you would need one, like fights."

"If we come under attack... fine, I'll beat feet and get out. It'll be better for her anyway. And before you point it out, I know her presence could put other kids in danger. But stopping me from blasting out of there would require a coordinated assault. If Hotaru is gone, there will be no reason to threaten the other kids. I'll stop coordinated assaults from happening by just being spontaneous. I'll only take the kid to events like an open basketball game or something."

The professor looks at me, then looks at his desk, then looks at his daughter. He pauses for a beat. I think he's thinking my offer through, but it's hard to tell because he's not showing emotion.

He eventually sighs. "I can't believe I'm saying this. That's not a bad idea."

"I'll even bring along other classmates to make it less conspicuous that I'm around at middle school events. Meanwhile, I can make it easier for her to hang out with Uraraka or whatever at some local stores."

"Yeah, that makes sense." The professor sits back. "And the fact is, aside from Ida's, your quirk is one of the fastest I've seen. But I doubt Ida will go for mentorship; he's more likely to do a report or presentation."

I smirk. I won... I won the right to hang out with a preteen girl... crap... how do I make this not uber lame?

"Professor, can you tell me WHY Hotaru is being hunted?"

"I thought you would never ask," he says with a chuckle. "In fact, you were STILL not asking was about to get you turned down, but you're finally demonstrating interest. Hotaru was nearly raised in a lab by a villain. She was subjected to all kinds of experiments for three, maybe four years until she was eight years old." I cringe hearing that. Even I must admit to a bit of sympathy for a living hell like that. "Somehow, her quirk was enhanced... ten, maybe twenty times over."

I whistle. "Damn."

"For a preteen girl, it's more of a burden than a blessing. She's next to impossible to train, but I'll figure something out... eventually."

Oh, oh, this is suddenly too easy. "I'll train her quirk."

"Oh boy... Do you have a toughness quirk I'm not aware of? Cause she can put out a lot of hurt in not much time. I have to use erasure on her daily not to get blasted myself, and she likes me more than anyone else."

"I have something along the lines of toughness- else my explosion quirk would kill me when I use it for propulsion."

"Good point." He shakes his head.

"I'm self-trained, sir, and I can take a damn lot of damage. I'm a perfect trainer if the runt's constantly going nuclear."

"You've got a short temper. You won't make HER take much damage?"

"What?!" I almost demand. "Have you lost your mind, old man? Do you have any idea what kind of social hell I would go through if I blasted a little girl? I'm a jerk to Deku, sure, but he's a boy, and we're about the same age. Your daughter wouldn't stand a chance against me, so even if she annoyed me, hurting her would be wrong and- I don't know, rather pathetic. I know I'm a bit of a jerk, but- pathetic?"

"You have your moments..." I hate how readily he says that.

"Well, I promise never to do anything I think could injure her."

"You'll temper your training because you're not licensed in that either? I'm warning you: if I see you taking the same kind of shots at her as you do at your classmates..."

"Yeah, yeah, we're only allowed to fight at full speed with supervision, even with peers- right? And since she's not a peer... I'll go half speed... maybe a quarter- I don't know, the point is I'll be sure not to break her face just for training."

He sighs. "I hate that I'm about to approve of this. What's the third thing you want to work with her on? I guess you can pick something at this point. You're good at math, so-"

"Whatever, old man," he gives me a look that lets me know I'm on thin ice. "My point is what you already said: literally anyone here could help her with sixth-grade math. What are they doing in a prestigious school like this? But they all eat like slobs. I've seen the junk Ochaco gives that brat to make her stop being such a fraidy around her. Also, she uses all her money to eat from the vending machines."

"Really..." he sighs. "Here, I thought she was saving her allowance for a bike."

"Ha- no, at the rate she's going, she'll manage to be in debt to a candy machine."

"I can't believe I'm doing this," he says.

Hearing that, I grin.

"Put that grin away; you're making me second guess this..." He starts to sign- but then writes something on the back. "I have a simple stipulation. Until I say otherwise, you never train her unsupervised or take her anywhere private."

"I promise I won't hurt her professor," I say, almost hurt now.

"Maybe not on purpose, but I've known you long enough to know you have trouble reigning it the hell in. If you try to be alone with her, you do not want to know the consequences. Always have someone with you who can report to me that you're controlling yourself- that's the offer, take it, or leave it."

I think for a second but then shrug. It's not like I want to be alone with the brat anyway. "Works for me."

Paper for approval in hand, I march out into the hall. I see my little... what's an appropriate nickname? She's properly mine now, not in the familial sense, but she does belong to me in some sense, right? Brat works. She's my brat.

Anyway, I see her sitting with Ochaco and drinking one of those dumb juice boxes she likes so much. Sugary trash! What's Ochaco doing? Ruining my pupil, that's what! I stomp over and grab the preteen by the arm. "C'mon, we're going to the gym runt," I announce. "I think Professor Ectoplasm is in there. By the way, we have to be supervised."

"The heck!?" Ochaco demands, getting up and looking like she's feeling dumb enough to fight me.

I throw the kid's drink in the trash, which makes the kid look at me like I'm some monster- but what do I care? "She's MINE!" I say, holding up my approval letter.

"What are you talking about- you're her mentor? Who the hell... are you serious?" she asks, gritting her teeth.

"Ha- see, she belongs to me now- now- if you don't mind," I pulled the little girl with me, away from her only friend, possibly in her entire life. I probably should realize how badly this is about to go, but I have this issue with not paying attention to people's emotions- seriously, why doesn't everyone have the control I do?

Apparently, when Hotaru gets pissy... stuff happens. I feel a pulse flow through the room. I turn, looking around the room while holding the kid's arm. I think maybe some punk is getting some nerve when-

Pain. Lots of PAIN. I fly down the hall and skid like a rag doll across the floor. What was that number? Ten, maybe twenty times the power she SHOULD have? Ya know I was curious how someone could come to a figure like that when all quirks are different, but as I lay on the floor recovering, I'm figuring... ten or twenty times where she should be... yeah that's about what it feels like.

I get up. That was her left arm. This... this could be fun...

I look up at the two girls. Ochaco looks more stunned than me, but Hotaru is a picture of fury. The little girl's hair is lifting into the air with electric charges, and static charges emerge up and down the hall. Around the girl, I notice a kind of blue fog or haze drifting into the air. The mist seems alive with energy as the little girl glares at me. Her gaze is so intense at this moment that it gets my blood pumping. I feel just a taste of mortal peril, and I love it.

I slam my fist into my palm, and- the little demon vanishes from her eyes as the brat runs behind Ochaco.

I give an exasperated sigh. "SERIOUSLY!? You could eat her for dessert, you dumb tweenager," I say to Hotaru. "Do you know what kind of power it takes to stagger me like that? I get a feeling that's just a sample, but you're hiding like a wounded bunny."

"She doesn't like you!" Ochaco says, asserting her stance between us.

"Yeah? The feeling is mutual... but she's cooler than I thought, or at least she could be."

"You realize she has a say in this, right?" Uraraka says.

"What do you mean? I'm her mentor. She has to do what I say." I say as I stomp over to them.

I grab the little girl and push her against the wall, moving through Ochaco, who doesn't nearly have the power to stop me. "You..." I growl. "You are going to be a monster when I'm through," I tell the girl. She looks petrified now, but give her a few months; she'll thank me. I'm gonna transform this kid.

"Bakugo, if she says she seriously doesn't want to work with you, that's her right. You're not her father. The contract you waved in my face even says," Ochaco waves the paper near my face.

"Huh?" I look at where she's pointing on the page as I loosen my grip on the kid. I read, 'The child must give at least general consent.'

Hotaru breaks my grip and runs behind a pillar.

"So, I guess that settles that," Ochaco says, going to retrieve her little friend so she can keep spoiling her. No- no, I will not be denied. Does the girl have to WANT to work with me? Seriously? How am I supposed to get a kid to like me? That's dumb; this assignment is dumb!

But no, I won't be defeated- pay attention, Bakugo, you're going to lose- you don't lose! Ochaco takes the little fraidy's hand and walks away with her. "Wait!" I growl.

"I will fight you..." Ochaco warns as she pushes Hotaru behind her.

I roll my eyes. "I can't believe I'm doing this," I look out a nearby window. "There's a new confectionary opening down the street from school. Why don't you take Hotaru there for some fun?"

"That... that's a weird question from you..." She looks out the same window as me, looking over at the new shop just visible from our vantage point. "I've wanted to check out that place, but I can't do it with little Hotes." Hotaru's eyes move from Ochaco and then over to the window. I get the feeling the little kid is more interested in spending time with her friend than the promise of sweets. Either way, both girls look like I have their attention.

"Security issues, right? What would you do if some jerk attacked her? You're not that strong or fast," Ochaco glares at me, "Where's the lie?" I ask with a shrug. "I am that fast and strong. So how about this: you two accept me as working with you, and I'll make it so you can go off campus together. The professor already permitted me to escort the little punk to middle school functions. You can even accompany her in whatever she does with me whenever you want; I don't care." I shrug.

Ochaco looks down at her little friend, who looks up at her with trusting and naive eyes. "I do hate seeing her locked up in the school all the time..."

I fold my arms and smile as I see Ochaco lowering her guard. And that means Hotaru won't be far behind. I nod. "That's it. Hotes is it?" I ask the little girl.

"Only Ochaco can call me that..." Hotaru says, gritting her teeth. I want to put her in her place, but... no, she just stood up to me. The little turd always hides like she's in a constant state of fear to have her talk back... I figure maybe I should encourage her for now.

"There ya go. You're my student now. You don't take crap from anyone. How about you work with me for a week to start? After that, if you've convinced me you've earned the right, I'll take you and your weak little friend to the confectionary so you can have some fun."

"Weak!?" Ochaco repeats.

"Uraraka, I'm gonna have this kid standing two stories tall; just you watch. She's gonna be like me in no time- no compromises, no second place."

"I don't know that I like the sounds of that..."

"It's not your choice to make." I look down at Hotaru. "What do you say? You could leave the school. You could experience the world a little more. I could do that for you. All you have to do is follow my instructions and not slack. Candy, sports, friends- think of all the crap you're missing out on, kid. Go on, look out that window. Imagine yourself down on those streets; imagine yourself out there and not afraid."

Hotaru lets go of Ochaco's hand and walks over to the window. Her eyes look longingly over the city. I can tell I struck a chord in the quiet little girl's head- maybe even her heart. I can see what Ochaco sees for a bit. She's like a bird in a cage. She's meant to be out there, but she has to live with the trauma forced on her by that villain, the fears of her father, and the threats of villains. It's not right. I remember my childhood, running around in the woods without a care in the world. Why do I suddenly care that she's being denied that?

Well... I'm training to be a hero. When a hero sees something wrong, he's supposed to want to fix it, so... yeah, it's only natural. I'm not going soft; I want to make something right that's wrong. That's not soft; that's just what I'm supposed to do.

"Well?" I ask, and I realize I don't sound as demanding as usual this time.

"No more fear?" she asks, looking back at me.

"You're gonna forget what fear even is, brat. That's a promise."

Those eyes... those hopeful naive eyes... why is she looking at me like that? What am I feeling right now? I don't get it. What is this? I want to keep my word like always, but... there's a conviction behind my feelings, a conviction I've never felt. Someone is depending on me... "Can you really make me not afraid?"

"Who the hell do you think you're talking to? Course I can." I walk over to her. "What do you say?" I hold out my hand to her.

Her little hand reaches back to me.

...

Ochaco:

Oh no- that's not the end of it. If he thinks he's just walking away with my little buddy... I'll be watching you, Bakugo...