Hero-fur-hire.

As we sat in class waiting for homeroom to begin, a discussion fizzled about in the room.

"Did you guys see the news yesterday?" Sero asked.

"Yeah, all the channels made a big deal out of it." Kaminari said.

"I was surprised!" Kirishima said.

"Can you blame them? The hero course that keeps pumping out pro heroes was attacked." Jiro said.

"Who knows what would have happened if Haru wasn't there?" Sero wondered.

"You would've been fine. Deku would've broken a couple of bones, Kaminari would have some injuries and All Might would have saved the lot of you in time." I said.

"Why do you always downplay your efforts?" Mina asked.

"I don't." I said.

"Yes. You do. That time you saved my friends. You said don't mention it. When you talked about Haruto you joked around. Are you allergic to praise or something?" Mina said.

"He's just shy. He doesn't show it but he gets embarrassed real easy." Deku said.

"You really like washing my dirty laundry in public, don't you?" I said, glaring at him.

"They're friends aren't they? Shouldn't they get to know you better?" Deku said.

"I've known them for all of three days." I said.

"Yeah. And so? The first time you met me, you were all chummy with me, calling me Deku and talking about making the impossible possible." Deku teased.

"Ugh. Don't remind me. That was so embarrassing!" I said, hiding my face in my palms.

"Oho! That's interesting. Tell me more~" Mina asked Deku.

"Don't." I warned him with a murderous glare.

He flinched like a cat that was pet on its back by surprise.

"Ok. Ok. Haru-chan. I'm not going to tell them. Stop glaring already. It's scary." Deku acquiesced.

"Good. Or else I'll tell them of that time we went diving and you ...."

"Yeah. Yeah. I won't. I get it already." He pleaded.

I checked the time.

"Shouldn't homeroom be starting about now?" I asked, as if I didn't already know what was happening.

"Where's Aizawa-sensei anyway?" Kaminari asked.

"There's a staff meeting this morning. So he's probably there." Momo answered.

"Everyone! Morning homeroom is about to start! Stop talking and take your seats!" Iida ran in and shouted from the podium.

"We're already in our seats. You're the only one not in his seat." Kaminari said.

"Shoot!" Iida said, running back to his seat.

Heh. I snorted, holding back a chuckle as Iida's venomous glare dug into my back.

The door slid open and Aizawa-sensei walked in.

"Morning. You all did good yesterday. Haru, good job leading the class. But next time just run. You're not pro heroes. Students shouldn't have to fight villains in their first years. And you need to deal with that hero complex. You got another headache from quirk overuse yesterday didn't you?" He chastised.

"Yup. But all's well that ends well, right?" I said, smiling.

"That'd be true if the fight was over." He said ominously.

"But the fight is over, isn't it?" Mineta asked, shaking in fear.

"The UA sports festival is drawing near." He said, breaking the suspense.

"That's a super normal school event!"

Kirishima cheered.

"Wait a minute! Is it really okay to have the sports festival so soon after the villains snuck in?" Kaminari asked.

"Yeah. What if they attack again?" Ojiro added.

"Apparently they think of it as UA showing that our crisis management system is solid as rock by holding the event." Aizawa-sensei answered, "Security will also be strengthened to five times that of previous year's."

"Above all, our sports festival is a huge chance. It's not an event to be canceled because of a few villains." He added.

"Shouldn't it be? It's just a sports festival!" Mineta screamed.

Deku turned to Mineta and asked, "Mineta, haven't you seen the UA sports festival?"

"Of course, I have! That's not what I meant." Mineta said.

"Our sports festival is one of Japan's biggest events. In the past, the Olympics were called a festival of sports, and the whole country was crazy about them. But as you know, with reductions in scale and population, they're now a shell of their former glory. And for Japan, what's taken their place is the UA sports festival." Aizawa-sensei explained.

"Of course, all the pro heroes around the country will be watching. For scouting purposes!" Momo said.

"I know that." Mineta said.

"After we graduate, it's typical to join a pro hero agency as sidekicks." Kaminari said.

"A lot of people miss their chance to become independent after that and become eternal sidekicks, though." Jiro said in response looking at Kaminari.

"Kaminari, I feel like you'd be one of them. Because you're dumb."

"Of course joining a famous agency will get you more experience and popularity. Time is limited. If you expect to go pro, then the path to your future will open up at this event. One chance a year - a total of three chances. No aspiring heroes can afford to miss this event. If you understand that, then don't slack off in your preparations." Aizawa-sensei added.

""Yes Sir."" We all answered.

"Homeroom dismissed." Aizawa-sensei said, leaving the room.

"Even though all that suff happened, I'm really excited!" Kirishima shouted.

"If we performrelly well, we'll have taken the first steps too being a pro." Sero said.

"It was worth coming to UA!" Sato exclaimed, pumping his fists.

"We'll only have a few chances, so we can't afford to waste them." Tokoyami said in a dulcet tone.

Emo little shit.

"You said it was worth coming here? Did you come from somewhere real far?" I asked.

"Not really. But my mom was insistent that I choose a school closer to home." Sato explained.

In a corner of the room, Aoyama was twirling about.

"Oh dear! What'll I do? I stand out just by standing still, so the scouts won't be able to stop looking at me, right?" He asked getting into Koda's face as the shy mute became flustered.

"Right?" Aoyama pressed.

"Don't bother Koda, Yuga." I said.

"Don't you think I'll stand out?" He asked me.

"If you do something flashy? Sure." I replied.

In the back, Uraraka sat twiddling her thumbs.

That argument about money grubbing heroes had thrown her into a dilemma. Was she wrong to want the best for her family? Was it really bad for a hero to work only for money?

She decided she would ask me in private.

I sighed, perusing her thoughts.

Now, I'll have to make time for her too?

Well, might as well nip the problem in the bud.

I got up and walked out to go to the cafeteria, moving past Uraraka in a purposeful gesture.

She noticed and as planned, followed me out.

As soon as we were out of earshot, she called out to me.

"Haru-kun!" She said, "Can we talk?"

"Uh Uraraka-san. Sure, what's eating at you?" I acted.

"Do you think it's bad if someone wants to be a hero just for money?" She asked.

"Why?" I asked, teasing the already flustered girl.

"N-nothing. Nevermind." She said, turning around and getting to leave.

I caught her by the wrist, pulling her back.

"It's clearly not nothing. So hear me out before you go running back." I said.

"U-uh yes." She nodded.

"It's not wrong for someone to want to be hero just for money. Being a hero today is just a job like any other. And so, as long as a hero does their job well, it shouldn't matter if they are doing it for money or out of some noble ambition. What matters is what you do, not why you do it. As long as you do the right thing, it's not a matter of why you do it at all." I explained.

"So, ..I wouldn't be a bad person for wanting to be a hero for money?" She asked, eyes full of hope.

"No. You won't. It's perfectly valid to want to do that. Just don't let it overshadow the job of being a hero. You're a hero first, salaryperson second." I assured.

She nodded.

"Thanks, Haru-kun, no, Haru!" She said, smiling brightly.

"No worries." I said, and continued to the cafeteria, acting as if I hadn't spotted the secret admirer hiding behind a wall.

Toru Hagakure. So she did get in huh?

I wonder what class?

I activated Laplace Junior and found the answer.

General Studies.

Huh? Not unexpected, I suppose.

And things went well enough, until the end of the day.

It was the infamous declaration of war by Shinso! And it was here.