Wings of Awakening

Part 56

The Hero Work Studies program had officially begun, but only a few students from Class 1-A managed to secure placements. Izuku initially planned to intern with Hawks again, but Hawks was tied up on a private mission. This left Izuku scrambling for an alternative. Thankfully, shortly after the class met with the Big 3, he was summoned to a discussion with All Might and Mirio Togata.

"All Might? Mirio?" Izuku asked, entering the room with a puzzled look. "What's going on?"

All Might greeted him with a reassuring smile, while Mirio beamed as brightly as ever. "We wanted to discuss your Work Studies, Young Midoriya," All Might began. "Mirio here has recommended you to study under Sir Nighteye alongside him. And I'm sure you've figured it out by now—Mirio is my successor."

Izuku froze for a moment, then composed himself. "I had my suspicions," he admitted, quickly glancing at Mirio, who gave him a sheepish shrug and a confident grin.

"I know this might be a surprise," All Might said gently. "But there's more. Nighteye and I worked together for years, and he's an incredible strategist. Based on your approach to battles so far, I believe you share some of his strategic potential. Working with him will help you sharpen your mind as much as your physical abilities."

Izuku's mouth opened and closed a few times as he processed the information. "Sir Nighteye... as in the Sir Nighteye? All Might's former sidekick?"

All Might nodded. "Yes. And while there are other heroes who've shown interest in you, Mirio made a compelling case for this placement."

Mirio stepped forward, still smiling but with a touch of sincerity in his tone. "I see how much drive you have to improve, Midoriya. You're strong, and you have so much potential. I think Sir Nighteye can help you unlock it. Plus..." He placed his hands on his hips in a dramatic pose. "Having a companion who knows about OFA will be a great help in the future."

Izuku blinked, surprised. "But... we barely know each other. Why are you going out of your way to help me?"

Mirio's smile softened. "Because I've been where you are—striving to prove myself. And if there's even a small chance I can help someone make a difference, I'm going to take it."

All Might placed a supportive hand on Izuku's shoulder. "This is your decision, Young Midoriya. You've caught the attention of other heroes, so you're free to choose where you want to go. But if you haven't made a decision yet, this could be a fantastic opportunity."

Izuku looked between All Might and Mirio, then nodded firmly. "I'll do it. I'll intern with Sir Nighteye."

That weekend, Izuku found himself on a train heading to Nighteye's agency with Mirio. Shoto and Katsuki were back at U.A., focusing on their Provisional Hero License courses, while Izuku embarked on his own journey.

"Sir Nighteye is strict," Mirio explained as the train clattered along the tracks. "He's incredibly serious about hero work and holds everyone to a high standard. But..." He grinned mischievously. "He also loves humor. If you want to earn his respect, you'll need to make him laugh."

Izuku nearly choked. "Make him laugh?!"

"Yup!" Mirio said with a nod, clearly enjoying Izuku's reaction. "I know it sounds strange, but trust me—he values humor just as much as heroics. Consider this your first test."

When they arrived at Sir Nighteye's office, Mirio gestured for Izuku to step inside first. "Good luck! I can't help you here—you're on your own."

Izuku cautiously pushed open the door, only to freeze in place at the sight before him. Sir Nighteye stood with a completely stoic expression, holding a feathered tickle device, while Bubble Girl—his sidekick—was restrained in a bizarre contraption, laughing uncontrollably.

"Uh... I think I'm in the wrong place," Izuku muttered, backing up slightly.

Nighteye looked up sharply, his gaze piercing. "You're in the right place. Mirio, release her," he ordered curtly. Mirio rushed to free Bubble Girl, chuckling as he did so.

Bubble Girl offered Izuku an awkward smile. "Don't worry, this is... normal," she said, brushing herself off before exiting with Mirio.

Now alone with Nighteye, Izuku swallowed hard. The tension in the room was palpable.

"Midoriya Izuku," Nighteye began, his tone as sharp as his gaze. "You wish to do your Hero Work Studies here?"

Izuku nodded and pulled out the contract. "Yes, sir. I want to learn from you."

Nighteye adjusted his glasses. "My Work Studies are not easy. You'll work long hours, several days a week, for at least a month. It will interfere with your school schedule, and I expect nothing less than excellence. Are you prepared for that?"

"Yes, sir," Izuku replied without hesitation.

Nighteye picked up the contract and examined it. "I see you've come prepared. But..." He placed the contract back on the table without stamping it. "I don't see how taking you on would benefit my agency. We're already operating efficiently with two sidekicks and one student intern. You'll need to prove your worth to me."

Izuku's heart sank but nodded firmly. "How can I prove myself?"

Nighteye's eyes narrowed. "Take this stamp from me and stamp the contract yourself within three minutes. If you can do that, I'll accept you."

Izuku's eyes widened. "What?"

"And one more thing," Nighteye added. "Why didn't you accept One For All when All Might offered it to you?"

Izuku froze. "How... how do you know about that?"

"All Might told me everything," Nighteye said calmly. "Including the fact that he considered you for his successor before deciding on Mirio. I want to know—why didn't you take it?"

Izuku hesitated but then took a deep breath. "If he had offered it before my Quirk manifested, I might have accepted. But now that I have my own Quirk, I want to save people with my own power. I'm still learning about my abilities, and I want to master them before anything else."

Nighteye studied him carefully. "Interesting. But let me be frank—you wouldn't have been worthy of inheriting All Might's legacy. Mirio is a much better fit."

Izuku's fists clenched, but he kept his tone steady. "Mirio doesn't need All Might's power to be great. He's already a fantastic hero on his own. The world doesn't need a single pillar to hold it together—it needs many heroes, working together, to keep the peace. Even if one retires, the others can still stand strong."

Nighteye's eyes softened slightly. "A well-reasoned answer. Let's see if your actions can match your words. Begin."

Izuku quickly analyzed the room. It was cramped, filled with shelves of documents and All Might figurines. Flying freely was out of the question. His gaze lingered on the collectibles, and he had an idea to end the test without a fight. Silently, he apologized in his mind.

Activating his telekinesis, he lifted several objects in the room, including the figurines.

"What are you doing?!" Nighteye's voice rose in alarm.

"Using my Quirk," Izuku replied, his face serious. "I have telekinesis. I can lift and throw objects. I'm ready to attack."

Nighteye looked like he was about to have a heart attack. "Let's not be hasty. Calmly put them down... and I'll stamp your contract!"

"You said I have to stamp it myself," Izuku countered.

"You've already proven your worth. Just hand it over!" Nighteye said, clearly flustered.

Izuku carefully returned the items to their original places and handed over the contract. Defeated, Nighteye stamped it.

"Congratulations," Nighteye muttered. "Your Work Studies with my agency begin now."

Izuku smiled, bowing deeply. "Thank you, Sir Nighteye. I'll do my best!"

And so began Izuku's journey under Sir Nighteye's tutelage and his somewhat complicated relationship with him.