His Little Fox(Kirishima x reader)

44

"So how was your date?"

I was so infinitely glad my back was to Mina right now. She was sitting on my bed while I was fiddling at my desk. Technically trying to catch up on homework. I hadn't gotten anything done all night. Mina had invited herself in. 

"My what?"

"Your date with Kirishima."

I could feel my face heating up. No. I didn't. I couldn't. I couldn't like Kirishima. 

"I haven't been on a date with him."

I heard Mina flop back on my bed. "Please. You train with him for hours then go out for lunch together? No one was with you? That's a date."

"It wasn't a date. We're just friends." Nothing can happen.

"Yeah, right sister."

I turned around in my swivel chair. "It wasn't a date."

Mina just rolled her eyes. "Alright then."

Nothing could happen with Kirishima. I didn't like him. He didn't like me. We were just friends. We were just classmates. There was nothing there. It was all nothing. I was being silly. Maybe I had a cold or something. Nothing could happen.

But a small, tiny voice in the back of my head whispered:

Why not?

Work Studies were coming up. Normally, first years wouldn't be taking part in them, as they were basically accelerated internships where students were treated like pro sidekicks. But Aizawa said that we needed to be extra prepared now that All Might had retired. But due to everything that had been happening, we had to choose a reputable agency that was known for doing well with work studies.

I hadn't been at UA for the internships, so I didn't have any relationships with heroes already that I could use. At least I wasn't the only one. Not everyone could go back to the internships they had. Plenty of us had to find new agencies to work with. 

"I just don't know where I'd start. There are so many." I flopped down on the green couch in the common area next to Mina and Jiro. "Do I want to stay close or go a bit farther away. There are lots of agencies here."

"I know," Jiro said. "And where do I even start? I don't really have a relationship or connections with any agencies. It's like finding a job but worse."

I did. I would never, ever use them though.

"But we are the class that has survived multiple villain attacks," Mina added. 

I groaned, draping an arm over my eyes. This seemed like a whole lot of effort. I didn't even know if I wanted to be a pro. 

But...

...could I really say that anymore? I've been pushing ahead, doing more and more prep to become a hero. I've been training on my own and with others. I've got my provisional hero license. I'm taking hero classes at UA of all things, and fighting to stay. Maybe I do want to be a hero? What changed?

Kirisima's face flashes across my mind. I groan again, covering my face. He's just so determined to help people. It's admirable. That's all. I respect him.

"You know, L/n," Mina said. "Fat Gums's agency is nearby. You wouldn't have to miss too much school or make a long commute. I heard they're looking for a sensory type too."

"Oh yeah," Jiro said, "and didn't-" She cut off when Mina kicked her.

"One of the Big Three goes there too. You should go check it out after school tomorrow," Mina said.

I nodded. "I probably will."

Fat Gum's agency was in the middle of the city. It was a large office-looking building with plenty of wide windows. It looked nice.

I entered the building. I should probably have someone introduce me, but I don't know anyone who could. A receptionist in a hero costume greets me at the front desk. 

"I'm hoping to talk to Fat Gum about a work study?" I said. "I'm from UA."

"Oh sure," she said. "Fat Gum will be happy to see you. It's fun that you and your friend are trying to work at the same agency."

"My friend?"

"Yeah. The other UA first year. One sec, I'll go let Fat Gum know you're here."

"Uh, thanks." There was another UA student here? Other than the member of the Big Three? Maybe it was someone from class B?

I sat down on one of the couches in the waiting area. In a few minutes, the receptionist came back out. "Thanks for waiting. Fat Gum will see you now. He's just through this door."

I expected him to be sitting at a desk or in an office or something. Instead, he was at a small in-office cafe, drinking a coffee and eating a bagel. He waved me over. He was just as big as I had thought he'd be. His quirk let him store up fat and use it both as protection and power. He was wearing his very yellow hero costume and had his hood-mask pulled over his eyes.

"Hey there," he called. "I hear you're from UA too. Man, I'm lucky to have so many of you wanting to work with me. Come sit down."

"Thank you," I sat down awkwardly across from him. 

"So tell me why you want to do a work study at my agency. Is it because you've got a friend here?"

"No, I didn't know there was another first year working here when I came."

He nodded. "Alright then, be honest with me. Why are you here?"

I hesitated. I could lie. I could come up with some noble dream. I didn't really want to start out like that though.

"I'm not sure why. Partially because everyone else in my class is pushing so hard to get to do these work studies. Partially because someone I respect wants to be a hero so badly. I guess I also don't know if I really want to be a hero. I want to see if I do or not."

Fat Gum nods slowly while eating. "Thanks for your honesty. I didn't think you'd actually tell me the real reasons." He smiled. "So you're here not because you want to save others, but because you want to save yourself."

"Uh, no-"

He held up his hands. "Sorry, I didn't mean it that way. You probably want to save others too. But more so you don't want to live a crappy life. Am I right?"

"Yeah, I suppose so."

Fat Gum smiled. "That's a pretty big part of being a hero too. You can't just save others around you. You've gotta live a good life too. So tell me, what's your quirk."

"It's called Fox. I can basically do anything a fox can do, especially with my senses and I've been working on some attacks recently. I can turn into a fox too." It felt weird telling someone else the full extent of my quirk. I'd been trying to hide it from Kirishima for so long. There was no reason Fat Gum shouldn't know though.

"Alright," Fat Gum pushed back from the table and stood up. "I've liked what I've heard so far. I could use some more sensory types now that we've got a close-combat brawler. I'll give you a trail week to see if you should stay on."

I stood up too. "Thanks so much," I said with a smile. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure thing."

"Whose the other first year you just took on?"

"Eijiro Kirishima. you should know him. He's in your class right?"