Controlee

83. Argentus

For those of you reading this as a multiverse chronologically, this comes after SSD: Eri Chapter 2: Wake Me Up.

Rule 89: You don't have to say yes.

At this point, Otsuka felt it wasn't inaccurate to call herself something of a mess. She was a controlee. She'd been involved in helping a non-villain villain without telling anyone. She was currently in the process of figuring out which things she'd been taught as a child were complete lies, and which were actually pretty useful.

In simple terms, she was probably the least ideal candidate for a work studies than had ever existed.

In fact, she'd not only imagined there was no way a hero would ever take her on for a work studies, she'd also been pretty convinced that UA wouldn't let her go on one. Withholding her from a work studies would make sense as a punishment for the stuff with TT, especially as a work studies could get in the way of her additional ethics and how-not-to-help-a-not-villain-villain classes.

A few of her classmates had managed to get themselves a chance. By impressing UA's Big Three, Uraraka and Tsuyu had got a contract with Ryukyu (a hero with the incredible ability to transform into a dragon). She'd been pretty high up in the hero rankings for years, and people were pretty sure she'd be in the top ten when this year's rankings came in. Then Midoriya had managed to get confirmation from Sir Nighteye, a hero who'd worked as All Might's sidekick for years, and was also Mirio's mentor. Kirishima's method of getting Fat Gum to take him on and mostly involved heckling the most socially anxious of the Big Three until the boy suggested it to his mentor.

Otsuka had just never ever expected she'd get the same opportunity, at least not this term. And then she did.

The hero had come to UA, introduced herself, and made the request to Otsuka. This hero had somehow heard of Otsuka, maybe through the sports festival, maybe because of all the stuff at Kamino, and she'd chosen Otsuka. She'd come to seek out Otsuka. She'd decided she wanted Otsuka as a work studies student and put in the effort to get her.

It was completely insane. The only other 1-A student Otsuka knew of who'd been chosen rather than going out on a limb to fight for a work studies was Tokoyami. He got chosen by Hawks, one of the most popular current heroes.

Otsuka's new hero mentor, AG, was somewhat less impressive than Hawks, but Hawks was a really high bar to set. Though, even if she set the bar a little lower, Otsuka hadn't even heard of a hero by the name of AG before.

It didn't matter. A hero was a hero. To be an acceptable work studies mentor, AG had to be an experienced hero. Not only that, but there was a new rule this year about only those who'd had a work studies student before being allowed to accept one, an attempt at improving the safety of the initiative for her class. They'd been through enough this year for their work studies to go wrong too.

Learning from AG was going to be an amazing opportunity.

Heading into the 1-C dorms, it wasn't until Aki nudged her that Otsuka realised her friends had been talking to her during the walk, or trying to anyway. "Sorry," she blurted. "I'm just-" She couldn't wipe the smile off her face. Every time she thought about the work studies, she just got so happy!

"You look like somebody just gave you a lifetime-supply of ice cream," Aki said, a grin on his face.

Oboro's eyes widened, taking hold of Aki's shoulder. "Did someone say ice cream?"

Otsuka shook her head, unable to speak for laughing at their antics. "No, ice cream," she had to tell them, sadly. "But I did get a work studies request."