Rise up

~4~

I race as fast as I can home to let my cousin in on my discovery I made with Bakugo.  As I see the balcony to my apartment come into view at an alarming rate, I hit the brakes as fast as possible and stumble for a second with my landing. Still running on the high of finding out I have another aspect to my quirk, I practically bust the door down and march into the living room.

"KEIGO!" I yell throughout the apartment, hoping he is back from the agency.  Waiting a minute for a response, I decide he is still across town at work when one never comes. Debating in my head for a little whether I should wait for him to come back or head to his building, I step back out onto the balcony. Stretching my wings out and giving them a tiny flutter, I prepare to take off towards Hawks Agency just as a ringing halts my actions.

Fishing my phone out of my pocket, the caller id on the screen makes me wince and hesitate before answering. I stare for an instant, then slide the answer icon, knowing it would be useless to ignore their call and place the phone to my ear.

"Hey Mis-" Not even giving me a chance to finish, I'm immediately interrupted.

"Meet me at my office in 15 minutes.  We need to have a short meeting." Again not even giving me the chance to object or respond, the line goes dead, informing me that the call has already ended.

I huff and prepare for a different route to a new location, and all the excitement I was feeling has disappeared. Now, I'm left nervous and irritated as I fly into the sky, headed towards my meeting.

~*~

Landing about a block away from the bustling building, I mentally prepare for all the possibilities to come from the talk waiting to happen. Entering the gigantic glass doors at the building entrance, I promptly stroll to the front desk and present my reason for arrival. Once the secretary gives me to go ahead, I make my way to the elevator and towards the office that is my destination.

Staring at the name plack next to the door, I inhale deeply before knocking to announce my arrival.

"Come in," The monotone voice that fills me with disgust rings before I push open the door. "Welcome, Miss Takami. I just wanted to have a small meeting for updates on your training and new enrollment to UA."

Straight to the point, not that I despise it since I would prefer to be getting my teeth pulled than spend any unnecessary time here. I swiftly walk to the chair positioned in front of the large wooden desk and claim it as my seat. I hoist my head up to make eye contact with the one woman who can make me feel an overwhelming amount of anxiety and fear, Esther Hale, President of Japan's Hero Commission.  Also known as my employer or as I like to call her, my owner.

"Now, I want to know how your first day at UA went?" Esther questions me, still typing away on her computer. She sounds almost concerned and friendly, but I know she wants to make sure I didn't disappoint her in any way.

"It was fairly easy.  We had a quirk assessment test, where our teacher said the last place would get expelled an-"

"Did you place last and get yourself expelled?" She interjects, momentarily making eye contact and looking ready to scream my ear off.

"Of course not. I would-" Interrupted once again. 'I don't even know why I try speaking at this point.'

"Then what rank did you get?" Now she is intently staring at me from above her glasses.

"First place, ma'am." I switch to shorter answers that still answer her question enough to not get in trouble.

"Good.  Anything less would have been quite disappointing, but I hope you would know that already." Her attention is transferred back to her computer as I let out a small yes ma'am. "Now, did you observe your classmates to understand better who may be a tough opponent in the upcoming annual sports festival?"