Heroes of Tomorrow

Part 25~Snapping

Days had passed since the conference, and they were working in class, climbing a giant wall. Uzu was climbing faster than before, not allowed to use his quirk and just fly to the top. The other Work Hero Students were moving fast, too, arriving at the top before anyone else got halfway up.

"You can really tell who's started their work studies, huh," Jiro commented in awe at his boyfriend as Bakugo growled.

"They picked up some tricks while they were away from here. Hey! What've you guys been learning?"

Kirishima ignored Bakugo's shouting. "Sorry, we can't."

Akiko smiled proudly. "Uzu's improving fast. That Work study must be really working for him."

Jiro nodded. "He told us that he was being allowed to help with some surveillance on a big mission, though he couldn't say much from what he's said, he's working with some of Hawks' best."

Tokoyami nodded. "Both Robbin and Eagle have worked with Hawks since the agency first started accepting interns. They've been rising the ranks and could easily start their own agencies if they wished; they have both the public support and the track record to do so."

"Yeah, but you forget, that is only three years," Akiko chuckled as Tokoyami shrugged.

"It is still two years longer than either needed to stay with Hawks."

"Guess so."

"I thought I told you not to talk about your work studies," Aizawa growled, making the group go quiet.

Aoyama tilted his head as he tapped Akiko's shoulder. "What do you mean three years?"

Akiko smiled. "Hawks is a young hero. He only came onto the scene 5 years ago. He started accepting sidekicks around three years ago, but the sidekicks he takes on tend to be a few months away from being ready heroes, so he has one of the highest turnover of sidekicks among all agencies. Still, occasionally, there are a few like the ones that Uzu is working with that chose to stay with Hawks because of his ideals or personal loyalty."

Aoyama gaped as Akiko nodded.

"Uzu is really proving himself." Akiko paused before she glanced back. Naka stood away from most of the group, not listening to their conversations. Sighing, she knew she was going to regret this. She's going to have to confront Naka. This can't continue.

~~~

"Nakashima Hatsuharu!"

Naka froze as Akiko stood before him. The students in the corridors stepped away, deciding they didn't want to get involved in whatever was about to happen. "Oh, hey, Aki? What's up?"

"What's up? You've been ignoring me for weeks now, and I know you. So what the hell did I do wrong?"

Naka blinked. "What?"

"Naka, I'm not going to stand around while you brew some imaginary grudge until I have to be put in serious danger for you to snap out of it. Just tell me what I did wrong so I can apologise, and you can stop being an idiot." Akiko grabbed Naka's shoulders as he lowered his head.

"You didn't do anything wrong."

"Naka, then what the fuck? What's wrong?"

"It's nothing." Naka tried to push Akiko away as Akiko took in a deep breath.

"I'm not going to leave you alone."

"Why not? Don't you have a girlfriend to hang out with?"

Akiko blinked in shock. "I don't. Ava and I aren't together."