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❟❛❟ CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR ❟❛❟
IZANAGI COULD STILL RECALL THE EXACT MOMENT HE handed the internship application to Akame Yukie. The first time he noticed her was during the U.A. Sports Festival, but not for the reasons most would. She wasn't a standout in the traditional sense—no flamboyant quirk that drew crowds, no reputation like her more famous classmates. It was almost as if she willed herself to be invisible. She hadn't even made it to the third stage of the tournament. She was just... ordinary.
But something about her lingered in his mind, an inexplicable pull. Perhaps it was the way she moved, so deliberate, as if weighing every step. While the rest of the world was dazzled by the explosive displays of power, Izanagi saw something deeper. And for the first time in years, he felt compelled to make an offer—to reach out among the throng of more prominent students and offer an internship.
He was no celebrity hero, not one of the shining names on the top ten list. In fact, he was certain that most wouldn't recognize his name if they heard it. Izanagi operated in the shadows, a specialist in covert missions for the hero commission, the kind of work that kept him away from the limelight. And though he doubted Akame Yukie would accept his offer, he still extended it, curious to see her reaction.
To his surprise, she accepted.
Akame Yukie had been quiet during the internship—watchful, calculating. She rarely spoke, but it was clear her mind was constantly working, assessing everything around her like a soldier in enemy territory. Too cautious, too stiff, as if every movement was a step into danger. Izanagi had noticed that about her early on.
And yet, despite her cold exterior, she completed the month-long internship with an efficiency that astounded him. Patrols were swift, and secret missions from headquarters were handled with precision. It was as if she had been trained for this her entire life.
There was something buried beneath that surface, something sharper, more dangerous. Her movements had a speed and intelligence that suggested far more than she'd shown at the Sports Festival. It intrigued him.
Izanagi had wondered why she'd failed the hero provisional license exam. What could possibly have caused her to falter? Was it part of a plan? He wasn't one to pry into her affairs, but the question lingered in the back of his mind, especially now that she'd returned for a work-study over the winter break.
This time, though, there was a subtle difference. Her presence felt less guarded, her cold demeanor melting ever so slightly, like ice on the verge of cracking. She wasn't as detached as before, her expressions hinting at something more—maybe even comfort in her role.
