Requiem of the Broken

Chapter 17: Recruitments

Ochako knocked on the door to Nezu's office a few hours after the meeting she and everyone else had had. They had discussed at length how to proceed from where they now stood. Eventually, the decision was to have Hawks, Tokoyami, and the mapping hero Mapper go and recon the area Aria had given them. She wasn't sure precisely where the lab was only the general area, her instincts were her guide, and given time she could find her way back on her own. However, nobody liked the idea of traipsing through the woods of a mountain for possibly days on end, where they could easily be detected. So that very night, a three-man team would be heading out to recon the mountain. After that, they could plan out a strategic strike on the base in more fine detail.

This meant that Ochako had little to do for the rest of the afternoon, so Nezu had asked her to come by his office around 2:00 pm. She only had to wait a moment after knocking before she heard a "Come in."

She opened the door and walked into the office, closing it behind her she turned and faced Nezu in his office. His office was immaculate as ever, everything organized and not a thing out of place or any personal effects for that matter.

"So what did you want to see me about sir? Ochako asked formally.

Nezu stood on top of his desk facing her as he said, "You've been to the Invisible Glass have you not? You've met my friend Sasakura?"

"Yes I have, his bar was quite impressive and I was surprised to learn you two went to the same school together." She answered, surprised that he knew, but obvious in hindsight.

Nezu nodded, "Good, you are no doubt aware then of his past as a hero?"

"Yes, I asked to see his papers authorizing him to use his quirk for his commercial business so I know he was stationed down south and worked mainly on dock security and the like," she said.

Nezu started pacing then, going from one side of the desk to the other slowly as he talked.

"I have been putting considerable thought into the school's position and the future generations that will be raised within these walls. Since the war, we have lost many heroes, with many more retiring, or committing suicide both before and after the war. We have a desperate need for more teachers, even part-time teachers would be of help to us. Sasakura can no longer work as a hero due to his development of Arrhythmia early in his life, he risks heart failure in high-pressure situations. I have been thinking, however, how much good he could do helping us here at the school. I doubt that he will join, but I do hope he might acquiesce to a part-time position or perhaps tutoring as Ms. Asui does. That is why I have called you here, I want you to help me convince him to join us here." Said Nezu.

Ochako, a bit surprised at being asked to help asked in turn, "Why do you need my help though? You've known him far longer than I have."

Nezu nodded at that, "Yes, I might be able to convince him myself, however, I hope that your youth and earnestness may help convince him to come back into the field of heroics in a teaching capacity."

A thought occurred to Ochako, "You say come back into the field of heroics, does that mean he has actively avoided it since his retirement? I find it hard to believe that someone forced out due to things beyond their control wouldn't desire to help in some capacity, he did, after all, become a hero, to begin with."

Nezu sighed and quite possibly the saddest expression Ochako had ever seen him wear came over him as he responded, "He blames the Hero Association for the death of his wife and unborn daughter. He holds no personal animosity towards any particular hero but he resents the system that failed to protect his family when it was within their power and duty to do so given the circumstances. After using his quirk and skills to apprehend the criminals responsibly, he took the H.A. to court, where he won his case. It was during his raid on the criminals where he nearly died of a heart attack. I then used his newly diagnosed Arrhythmia to swing his retirement. I myself presented him his papers to use his quirk outside of his work as an apology on my part. I was working for the H.A. at the time, and while I was not high enough within the organization to be involved I felt some responsibility for the tragedy. This is again why I want your help, you have endured more hardship than almost any hero alive and I hope that your determination and earnestness will be enough to convince him. He has years of knowledge and now years of wisdom that would be invaluable to us given the threats facing heroes and civilians alike."