Guidance, or To Help (those in need) by orionchildofhades / shwwmf

9. time to meet some teachers

When Izuku met Giran for his hacking lesson, he was asked to come to a coffee shop first, much like he had for the league. He still needed the crunches but his ribs had healed enough for him to walk longer distances. The scar from his shoulder was a nasty hand print, a flash of red against his pale skin, a hole in the sea of freckles, and Izuku hated it with all his might. But at least, it didn't hurt anymore. The scar he still felt vividly was the one in his mind.

Food was far more difficult to eat. After being so violently burned, he had discovered the startling similarities between human skin and animal meat being cooked. Every time meat would be pushed on his table, he would be reminded of the smell and the pain of his burn and couldn't differentiate what was in his plate to what was memory. He actually threw up when his mom decided to cook once and forgot the food on the stove.

He was nursing another coffee, working on his notebook to check if his new writing made sense and exercising his calligraphy. He needed to be able to read what he wrote afterward and messing up letters wasn't a good idea.

Giran arrived, he was smiling at Izuku and holding in one hand a cup and in the other a bag.

He sat in front of him, pushing the bag toward the teen and getting comfortable.

"Guidance, glad to see you made it. I wasn't aware you got, hum, broken? Got into a fight? I wouldn't recommend it if you're trying to keep a low profile. Anyway, the person I found for your little lessons won't meet in person until she's sure you're really in. She likes hacking more than anything else. Almost. And she's very serious about it. She would love to teach, for the right price obviously, but she wouldn't want anyone to just come into her world if you're not in to actually do some stuff. She asked me to give you this," he tapped on the bag and took a sip of his coffee. "All I can promise is that it won't explode. The rest is yours to deal with."

Carefully, Izuku opened the bag and took out what was inside.

A computer.

A post-it note on it read 'An old one of mine, if you're serious about it, you'll find out how to unlock it.' signed with a little heart.

Izuku tried to look for another note, and, after finding none, tried to open the device. The screen remained dark and even after trying to power it up, it wouldn't show any sign of life.

Izuku wanted to believe the whole thing was dead, and needed the charger but clearly his new, potential, teacher wanted him to show his worth and he wasn't about to give up. If Izuku wanted to enter UA, he would have to do better than just some creepy notes. If it meant finding a way around this computer, he would. If the person, this 'she' that Giran had found, really intended to take him as an apprentice if he was capable of doing this, it must be feasible, and to his level; he was still here to learn after all. So Izuku packed the computer and finished his coffee, shooting a look at Giran.

"Did she give you any more info, a deadline or something?" He asked after downing his drink.

"Nope."

"Then I'll get going. I have some work to do."

"See ya."

Giran smiled and waved ironically in Izuku's direction as he left.

From the window, Izuku saw a man slip into the chair he just left, and leaned into Giran. If he had been waiting for Izuku to leave, he might have been there for a while.

Maybe he needed to work on his situation awareness.

—

At home Izuku went to work. He hadn't the slightest idea of what or how to do it. But if Izuku had one talent, it was research. Somewhere on the internet, he would find something to get going, and he would get past this little challenge. He had to.