Climbing the Ladder {Currently Discontinued}

Chapter 10 - Gratitude

Ryoku walked out of the school. The students were now in Midnights hands to lecture on about history while she took the rest of the day off.

She regret telling them the story. If they ever took a test and were asked his origin, they'd definitely rat her out. The little weasels.

She let out an exhausted sigh as she exited through the gate of the school.

"Ryoku Fenikkuzu," A voice spoke, making her almost jump out of her skin. She turned her head to the gate's entrance to see a man with ginormous red wings leaning against the wall. He looked to be reading a document. "Age, 19. Birthday, April 15th, Happy early Birthday. Status, Graduated student. Hero name, Phoenix. Quirk, Burn. Whatever that means.."

Ryoku smiled. Two can play at that game. "Keigo Takami," She slowly advanced toward him. "Age 23. Status, Number 2 Hero. Hero name, Hawks. Quirk, obvious."

He lifts his eyes from the paper and stared her straight in the eyes, smirking. "Someone did their homework."

"I'd say the same but.." She glanced at the paper in his hands. "I'd say you were cheating."

"Indeed I am." He laughed. "Say, you were not at all what I expected you to be."

Her chuckle was empty. "Nor you to me. I hate you more than I thought I would."

He laughed again. "I appreciate the honesty." He continued reading. "Ryoku graduated UA High School and immediately moved to America, only to move back two years later. Reasons? Unknown."

Ryoku avoided eye contact.

"Maybe you can fill in the blank." He stuffed the paper in his jacket pocket, got off the wall and walked toward Ryoku. "Why'd you come back?"

She crossed her arms, faking a smile. "I missed it here. I realized how much UA means to me, so I moved back to become a teacher."

He hummed. "Alright then." He tilted his head, studying her. "You are aware that the League of Villains are greatly connected to UA right?"

"Yes..." Ryoku replied warily. "Why?"

"Just curious." He shrugged, smirking.

Ryoku felt like she was caught in a trap. "Is that so?"

Hawks's eyes half lidded. "I wonder," He avoided her question. "Have you ever heard of Purgatory?" She flinched, and he raised an eyebrow. "I guess so, the name hit home?"

She clenched her teeth. "Bastard..."

"Now now." He put his hands up in defense. "I'm not trying to fight here."

She turned away from him. "Okay, what if I do know about them? So does almost every other hero out there."

"And like every other hero, you want to stop them and give them what they deserve."

"Oh yeah?" She snorted. "Did that paper say that too?"

"No," He put his hands up in a shrug, shutting his eyes in satisfaction. "Call it a hunch, but it's just funny that when you graduated, you left UA to go straight to America, where Purgatory used to be."

"That's just a coincidence," She replied. "How could you assume that I knew-?"

"And you even moved back around the time the Purgatory relocated here. That must also be a coincidence, right?"

She looked at the ground. "I-."

"And who can forget that the moment you joined UA's staff was around the same time we got a word from our scouts that the Purgatory and the League teamed up? Must be fate!" He smiled eagerly.