"It's ironic." [•••] "I finally figure out why I want to be a hero, after getting kidnapped by villains."
"And why's that?"
"I want to change the world."
Cover made by @aloe-el
Koroko Hajime has always wanted to be a hero like her aunt, Ragdoll . B...
"You're Samurai, aren't you?" Hajime fangirled. Of course, the vigilante was before her time, but she knew a lot about her.
"I didn't think I was still relevant amongst the youth." Aya joked, but Hajime was a special case in this matter.
"No, I did a school project on yo with my friend Himiko. You were so cool, I think I still remember the presentation. You were, no, you are so cool. Countless criminals were jailed because of you, and best of all, no one actually knows who you are. Other than me. Wow." She explained, then realised that Hitoshi was right, she was starting to sound like Midoriya. "Sorry about that, I guess I'm a fan."
"No worries, I'm flattered." The older laughed, in a way, she was grateful that her efforts were still known.
"But if that's the case, why did you tell me?" Kokoro questioned. "It would have been best to lie about your past, considering I'm a hero and I'm supposed to arrest vigilantes. Why risk it all?"
"You're a smart girl." Aya complimented. "In all honesty, Samurai is needed now more than ever. The new threat of the league of villains, the absence of All Might, Stain, are all acting as catalysts for more crime. But, I'm old, my time as the worlds protector is over. But, my legacy isn't." She hinted.
"Huh?" Kokoro wondered, this had to be a dream.
"I may be a useless crime fighter, but you aren't." Aya suggested.
Hajime was speechless. Was the Samurai asking her to be her successor, it was almost too good to be true, but then again, it was. Obviously, it was illegal to be a vigilante, furthermore, she was a hero in training, if she went along with it, her future would be over. Was she willing to make that risk?
"I'm sorry to disappoint, but I can't." She finally decided, but even she was confused on her own answer.
"That's okay." Aya nodded her head.
"It is?"
"Of course, the world needs a hero, I'm sure you'll make a great one." The woman continued. "Don't feel pressured to do anything you don't want to. You're strong willed, I like that about you."
"I hate not hearing thoughts." Kokoro stated. "I can't tell if you're being sincere. It's confusing."
"There's no hidden meanings, no backhanded statements." Aya reassured as she got to her feet and began to lift a few papers and sheets off a chest. "I completely understand." She continued, then suddenly blew the dust off the box and opened it. "Well, will you look at that." The woman held up a mask. "It suits you."
"You're supposed to be old and mature." Kokoro sighed, but Aya didn't care, she simply took out another mask.
"Oh look, this one's in green." She handed it to the younger girl, who tried not to give into the temptation to try the mask on. "Oh, here's my sword collection. If I remember correctly, you use those blunt sticks, right?"
"Billy clubs." Hajime corrected. "And how would you know that?" She wondered.
"I have my ways. I also have a suit that I've pre-made for you. However, that was a long shot. I tried my best to modernise it." She held up a green costume, it looked stunning, and the fact she'd spent so much time designing it especially for her, made Hajime want to accept the offer then and there. "Won't you at least try it on?"
"Were you expecting this to happen all along?" Hajime questioned, there was no way Aya had planned this far ahead, that's if she hadn't done her research first.
"I've been needing a successor for a while, I saw you on the news for fighting the hero killer. Rumour has it Endeavour saved you, but I know better than to believe that flaming bag of shit." Aya explained while Kokoro was in shock at the woman's language. She was exactly what Hajime aspired to be when she was old; angry, snarky, genius.
"Okay, I might just try it on." Hajime took the costume and Aya directed her up the stairs to her apartment, where she lead her into a spare room. Although she was reluctant at first, Kokoro had to admit, she admired Aya's work, it fit perfectly, and she'd somehow chosen her favourite colours. Aya even said she'd tried to modernise the outfit, it was definitely different to the original, and probably easier to move in.
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The only problem was her hair. It was easily recognisable and too long to simply tuck away under her hat. But that wasn't a problem, because she still hadn't accepted the offer. Besides, she liked her hair, it was part of her identity.
After she was dressed, the teen walked back into the living room, displaying the suit that Aya put a lot of effort into making. She too, was impressed. "I'm not that bad of a designer, huh?" The woman shrugged, admiring the details she'd added.
"Not bad at all." Kokoro smiled.
"So? Have I managed to win you over yet?" Aya quirked a brow, Hajime hated to admit it, but she definitely had her cornered.
"I have school, and a curfew, I don't know when I'd find the time." She tried to reason, but Aya already had that covered.
"No, no, no, we'll have none of that." She argued. "You forget, I hid my identity for 50 years, I know how to forge a document or two. That's why, you'll be completing your work study with me."
"That's not exactly how it works." Hajime said. "There's a strict criteria, and I can't just say, sorry Mr Aizawa, it's time for me to go and work for the vigilante, Samurai. There's no way you could possibly forge your way through this one."
"Well, it's a good thing I have my allies." Aya unfolded some papers and turned them. "You'll be legally working under the pro hero Takeshita but you'll be coming here instead, where I'll train you."
"Takeshita? The bamboo hero? You can't just use the number 19 heroes name, it has to be more realistic." Kokoro scolded the older woman, but Aya had done this before, she knew what she was doing.
"Hush hush, he owes me a favour, and I decided to call upon it. No questions asked." She said as Hajime looked over the form again. "It's tempting, isn't it?"
"Well, yeah." Kokoro replied. "This is a big deal. But, why me?"
"Ever since the hero killer, I knew you were the one. You saved that boy and hundreds of others. And after the league of villains, I called upon another favour, it let me hear the police recordings. You protected them, even after they kidnapped you. It's so noble."
"So I guessed right." Hajime concluded. "You are a stalker."
"No." Aya corrected. "I'm a strategist." She countered. "You can't go far if you're alone, which is why I made allies, people who were trustworthy. None of them know my identity, however, they trust that I wouldn't bring any harm to them. You'll do the same when you're older."
"Are you sure I'm capable?"
"I know you are." Aya assured. "So what will it be?"
