AMATEURS [Tenya Iida x OC]

Chapter 28 - The One Where They Reunite

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"Hello Peri. This is Tenya. ...I can't remember what I wanted to say... but I hope you are well. I... I miss you. Goodbye."

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"Hi Tenya. It's me. I just wanted to tell you that I got into a bachelor's program, and I'm finishing high school early. Tensei texted me and said you're going to be valedictorian... I'm really proud of you. I hope you're okay. Well... I guess I'll talk to you later? ...Bye, Tenya."

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"Peri! It's Tenya! The guys took me out for drinks to celebrate graduation, and I think I am inebriated, but I have never been inebriated before, so I can't really confirm. I just... I wanted to say I'm s-sorry. Deku, I mean, Midoriya, told me not to call... but, but I needed to apologize. I ruined everything, and I just wanted you to have room to flourish, but I destroyed our friendship, our everything, in the process. I- oh, Midoriya! No, no, I was just calling Peri. ...Talking to her voicemail. No- wait- Peri, I have to hang up now. Goodbye. Midoriya, I was just-"

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"Tenya, it's Peri. Sorry I haven't answered your texts, I've been busy with my thesis presentations. I was just calling to ask you to thank your parents for the beautiful flowers and card for graduation. Can you let them know that I accepted a PhD position at Harvard? I'll be in the states for the next few years working on that. Thank you. For relaying the message, I mean. I hope you're well, Tenya."

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"Peri, I hope this message finds you well. This is Tenya. I have news... I got my Pro Hero license just now and signed with an agency. Well, my family's agency. I don't want you to worry, as I can take care of myself, but I didn't want you to be surprised if you see me on the news for one reason or another. I wanted you to hear it from me first. And congrats on the PhD, Peri. I knew you could do it. Goodbye."

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His shoulders shook with exhaustion, and he desperately craved a cup of coffee. Tenya Iida had been up for nearly 48 hours, rescuing people from the aftermath of a devastating earthquake that had torn Japan apart. He deposited two more survivors onto gurneys in the triage area, and called Ochaco over his headset, "Are you already at the next site?"

"Sure am," she said, her voice as tired as he felt, "It looks pretty bad, Tenya. Brace yourself." They had been partnered up for search and rescue, due to their history at UA.

Chugging an orange juice, he let it hit his empty stomach before speeding over to meet Ochaco. What he wouldn't give for a nap, or some backup. At twenty five, they were some of the younger Pro Heroes, but the gravity of the earthquake was draining them emotionally as much as dragging corpses from the rubble was draining them physically.

Heroes from all over were flying in to assist with whatever they could. Villains were taking advantage of the chaos and looting broken buildings, robbing stores that managed to stay open, and causing more destruction. Many heroes had been injured in the earthquake, and some had been injured in civilian extractions or villain dust-ups. They were short-handed and waiting for backup to arrive.

GPS pinging, Tenya skidded to a stop in front of a dilapidated building. "I'm here, Ochaco," he said, stretching his neck only to wince at hearing it crack like a glow stick.

She floated down next to him, landing softly in the rubble. "I did a quick survey, and the building seems stable. There's a sign up in a top floor window asking for help, but I couldn't wave anyone down to tell them we're coming," she sighed. Ochaco stretched her arms up above her head, cracking her back.