Villain to Hero: Naruko Motomiya

Chapter 26: Next Big Step Forward

All of class 2-A were in their classroom, each talking amongst another while they waited for their homeroom teacher, Mr. Aozora.

"Congrats on getting your hero license, Miya!" Tamakawa congratulated him, putting an arm around his shoulders, partially hugging him.

"Yeah, man," Shima exclaimed, "I bet you're going to make such a good hero!"

Motomiya smiled warmly at them. "Thank you," He said.

"So," Tamakawa started, "Who're you going to do your work study with? You should totally join Shima and I at Mirko's agency. She's such a badass! We can even recommend you to her."

He shook his head. There was only one hero he wanted to do his work study with, one hero who he knew and trusted. "I'm planning on doing my work study with Kaillapse," He said.

"Isn't he the hero who recommended you to UA?" Shima asked him.

"Yeah," He said, "He is." But that wasn't all of it. Kaillapse was more than just that. He was the person who first saved him from his father, the person who saved him from spiraling into a life of villainy and crime, the person who changed him for the better.

"Our offer still holds," Tamakawa said.

Aozora walked into the room, and everyone rushed to their seats, their voices hushing. "To those who took the provisional licensing exam, congrats on passing!" Everyone started clapping, congratulating their classmates. Aozora grabbed six sheets of paper from the lecturn in front of him and handed one sheet to Motomiya, Saionji, Akira, Ueshima, Tenma, and Daiba.

Motomiya skimmed through the paper. It was a work study form.

"Please turn in the forms for your work studies as soon as possible," Aozora said. "Motomiya, Daiba, Saionji, Heiwajima, Tenma, and Ueshima, see me after class for more details."

Akira raised his hand. "Which Heiwajima do you want?" He asked, grinning slyly at his sister, his main adjective to annoy her.

"Which one do you think, dumbass?" Yumiko spat.

"Oh, I don't know," Akira replied, "We're so similar that I just don't know who he's talking about."

Yumiko shot up from her seat. "We are not similar! I am nothing like you, fuckface!" She shouted.

Akira couldn't help but laugh at his sister. He loved messing with her, grinding her gears so that she would make a fool of herself, feeding on the entertainment. "I know, I know," He said, his laughing halting. "It can't be helped that I'm the better twin. We're just not similar enough for you to measure up."

"Oh, for fucks sake! Will you stop with your bullshit?!" Yumiko yelled at her brother, marching over to his desk.

Akira stared at her, meeting her glare. "Nah, I'm good."

Just then, her eyes began to glow green as she attempted to use her quirk. Before she could, though, Aozora sent two small currents of electricity at her and Akira, just enough to lightly shock them, grabbing their attention. "Sit down. You both know who I meant," He said.

They both sat down as the class fell silent.

"Right, then," Aozora started. "Onto today's topic."

~

The class filed out of the room as the lunch bell rang, everyone except for the six who had recently gotten their provisional licenses.

"What do you need from us?" Tenma asked their teacher.

"Since you've all gotten your provisional licenses, agencies have reached out to us to offer each of you a work study at their agency," Aozora explained. He looked at Saionji. "Musiker and Soundweaver's agency have given you an offer, Saionji."

"Sweet," She responded with a smile.

"Tenma," Aozora started, "Ryukyu, Wash, and Red Bang have given you an offer."

"Who?" Tenma asked, not knowing any of those heroes.

Aozora turned to Ueshima. "Kamui Woods and Spirit Woman have given you an offer."

"Damn, that's a big name," Ueshima chuckled.

He then faced Daiba. "You've been given an offer by Crust, Mt. Lady, Spirit Woman, Rock Lock, Knuckleduster, and Musiker and Soundweaver's agency."

"Damn, that's a lot," Akira remarked.

"I know," Daiba said, "At least I have some options."

Aozora looked at Akira. "You've been given an offer by Spirit Woman, Mt. Lady, Mirko, Backdraft, Snatch, Slidin' Go, and Crust."

"Heh," Akira let out. "Looks like I've got even more options than you," He said to Daiba.

He then looked at Motomiya. "You've been given a work study offer by Kaillapse, Motomiya."

He couldn't help but smile at the offer. He would finally reunite with the hero who saved his life, the hero who changed everything for the better.

"Try to get those forms signed and returned asap," Aozora said to them all. "I recommend visiting each agency who gave you an offer. Try not to go off of the popularity of the agency, but off of how well it suits your quirk and goals."

"Yes, sir," They replied to him.

~

He held the work study form tightly in his hand as he walked to Kaillapse's agency. It was near the neighborhood he used to live in as a kid, just before his mother left. He turned at the crosswalk and saw in the distance a small office building with Kaillapse's name on the front. He knew he was in the right place. He sped up his pace and walked excitedly in.

The inside was less like a sleek office building and more like a lounge. Behind the reception were a few couches and a vending machine full of snacks and soda.

He went up to the receptionist and showed him his work study form. "I'm here to start my work study with Kaillapse," He said, his voice sounding too loud to him.

The receptionist glanced at the form and pointed to an elevator. "He's on the third floor in his office."

Motomiya bowed slightly and briskly walked to the elevator, pressing the button and waiting while tapping his foot. As he rode the elevator up, he couldn't help but feel so excited to see his hero again. It had been a couple of months since he had seen him, and he wanted to thank him again for saving him. The elevator opened, and he walked out, looking at all of the offices. He spotted Kaillapse in his office and eagerly went into it.

Kaillapse spotted him and stood up from his desk. "Motomiya! How're you doing?" He asked excitedly. He went around his desk and hugged Motomiya.

He returned the hug and stepped backward. "I'm doing okay, thanks to you," He said. He gave the work study form to him. "Can I... can I do my work study at your agency?" He asked.

Kaillapse waved his hand. "Psh- of course you can. That's why I gave you an offer in the first place." He grabbed a stamp and stamped the form, officially allowing Motomiya to be his work study student. "Here ya go," He said, giving the form back.

Motomiya took the form back and stared at it. He took a deep breath in and let it out. "I... um... I want to thank you for... for everything," He stammered.

"It's no big deal," Kaillapse said. "It's what us heroes do."

Motomiya shook his head. "It means even more to me. If you hadn't arrested me that day, I would still be with my piece of shit father and friend group who would just treat me like a dog." He breathed again. He wanted to talk about this. He felt like it was safe enough to finally talk about it all. "You saved my life, and for that, I don't know how I can repay you. I just--"

Kaillapse wrapped his arms around him, giving him a warm, welcoming hug. "It's okay, there's no need to repay me." He let go of Motomiya. "If you really want to repay some way, though, then you can start your work study with me tomorrow," He said with a smile.

Motomiya nodded. "Okay."