Chapter 43

All Might was very understanding once I told him about my break up with Itsuka. So, he forgave me for bailing out on him. He recommended me to try to intern at Nighteye's agency. They've had a falling out because All Might wanted to keep being a hero after be was severely wounded by All for One.

I talked to Mirio about introducing me to him. Before he agreed, he asked me, "What kind of a hero do you want to be?"

I looked staright into his eyes and said, "I don't care if I'm number 1 or 100.. I have power and strength.. It's a gift I was granted with. But, not everyone is fortunate enough. There are people who exploit their gifts for evil. I cannot stand that. If I don't stop evil while having the power to do so, then I am as complicit as them. I cannot turn a blind eye as people, lawful and honest people, suffer at the hands of the villains. I want to be a hero whose mere thought would make the villains think twice before committing a crime."

Suffice to say Mirio was a little blown away.. and a little unnerved at my display of animosity against villains.

"That's deep.. You've really thought about this! I thought you'd say something vague like being the best and becoming number 1.."

Yeah.. I wasn't that naive.

"Anyway! I have no problem with introducing you to sir."

So, he escorted me to Nighteye's agency on the weekend.

As we walked towards the building, Mirio said, "I failed to mention this before, but, Sir is quite strict."

"I guessed he would. From his appearance and his gaze, I thought of him to be a very strict and serious man. But, looks can be deceiving. Someone who was All Might's sidekick can't be that easily figured out."

Mirio chuckled and said, "You're smarter than I thought. Yeah, he has another side to him that he doesn't show to the media. If you don't want want to be turned away, you have to make him laugh atleast once by the time you finish talking to him."

"Eh?"

"Yeah. Above all else, he holds humor in high regard. I can introduce you to him but I can't help you any more after that. You'll have to impress him and make him acknowledge you on your own."

As I digested all that information, we reached the door to Nighteye's office.

Murio barged in while saying, "Hey! I brought the first year I told you about yesterday!"

What greeted me was the site of Nighteye standing in a badass pose while a girl was tied to a machine that was tickling her intensely.

"What the hell?!"

The girl was wearing a short blouse and I wondered if she was ever worried about it climbing up and exposing her.

'She is showing her underboobs! I thought this was a PG show!!'

*Ahem*

Trying to ignore the questionable tickle torture happening in front of me, I began, "What do you call a parade of rabbits hopping backwards? A receding hare-line."

"..."

"..."

"Heh"

'He smiled!'

Nighteye looked at Mirio amd then at me and said, "So, he told you about making me laugh. That was a good try. Got something better?"

I shrugged and said, "Well, I have invented a new word... Plagiarism."

"..."

"Man.. Once I tried to explain a pun to a kleptomaniac.. I couldn't. He always took things literally."

"..."

"Have you heard the story of the Tin-man? Poor guy was steamrolled. His last words were, 'Curses! Foiled again!'"

"Pfft."

"These days are so crazy. Animals are also developing quirks. The other day, two cows at my uncle's farm were talking to each other. 'Hey, are you worried about the mad cow disease?' The other one said, 'Why should I care? I'm a helicopter!'"

"Mmhmhmhahaha! Ok stahp!"

I was accepted by Nighteye for internship. Both him and Mirio were laughing at I was done telling joke. Although, I couldn't say that about Bubble Girl.. She was still being tickled.

The next day was the beginning of my internship.

"Today is patrol and surveillance. Bubble girl and myself. Mirio and Midoriya." Nighteye said.

"We are currently conducting a secret investigation. A small, designated villain organization called 'The Eight Precepts of Death'."

Buuble girl showed me a picture of a man wearing a face mask that looked like a large beak.

"Their leader, a man named Chisaki, has demonstrated some unusual movements. A former yakuza member, he has begun assembling the organization again with all the former members. And recently, he made contact with the league of villains."

Nighteye continued after Bubble girl, "However , we've been unable to gather any evidence to show that he's planning something criminal. For that reason, his organization cannot be labeled as a criminal one. We are seeking proof of their criminal activites. So, on with the patrol with that man in mind."

As Mirio and I began our patrol, I started using observation to remain fully aware and pick up on any criminal activity hidden from our sight. With my track record or letting my guard down, I didn't want it to become my weakness. So, I was actively using observation every chance I got so that it becomes something of a habit.

Suddenly, Mirio said, "Oh, that's right! We still don't know each other's hero names!"

I perked up and said, "Oh! Yeah.. Mine's 'Emerald Knight'."

"Emerald Knight? Kinda cool name! Mine is 'Lemillion'!!! Not quite to the level of 'All', but I want to be able to save a million people. Also, it kinda sounds like that rock band, 'Remioromen'! Cool, huh?! Anyway, when we don our costumes, we are heroes! So don't let your guard down, Emerald Knight!"

Right when were about to cross the opening of a dingy alley, I sensed a child running towards us. I immediately caught the child before they collided with me.

"Woah! Hey there kid."

I knelt down and gently grabbed the child from their shoulders. It was a very cute girl with a horn growing from her head. She looked like a baby unicorn.

As my eyes traveled down towards her bandages, a man walked towards us from the alley and said, "My apologies on behalf of my daughter, hero. She gets carried away with her games and hurts herself. Such a troublemaker, this one."

I looked at the man amd said, "No worries, sir. Good that she didn't collide with me. She could have gotten hurt."

'It's him.. Chisaki!'

Lemillion came forward and said, "That awesome mask of yours.. You must be a member of the eight precepts, right?"

"That's right. Pay no attention to the mask. I'm just sensitive to dirt."

Meanwhile, I was trying hard to remain. The amount of fear and distress I could sense from the little girl was putting me on the edge. It wasn't superficial too. No, her fear was deep seated. She was terrified of Chisaki.. had been so for a long time.

Chisaki continued, "This is the first time I've seen either of you two heroes. Are you rookies? You're both rather young."

As I busy with the girl who was trembling from fear, Mirio replied, "That's right! We're both rookies, but, we're doing our best!"

"What office are you affiliated with?"

"We're still sudents! Like little baby chicks! They're having us participate in field training right now. Now, we've got until noon to finish circling this block, so, let's get going partner!"

Mirio was tense and wanted to leave as soon as possible. But, how could I simply ignore the little girl? She was screaming for help!

I looked at Chisaki and said, "Why's she so sacred?"

"It's because I just scolded her."

'Lie..'

"Her bandages, they don't seem to be the kind you'd get from simply playing around."

"She happens to fall down a lot.."

'Are you fucking kidding me?! How many times do you think an abusing parent has used that fucking excuse?'

I clenched my jaw and said, "A little girl like this, shaking and frightened.. so much so that she can't even speak.. doesn't seem normal to me."

Chisaki was getting impatient and said, "Don't impose your idea of normal on other's families."

Mirio was beginning to panic.

I hugged the girl close, like doning a protective blanket over her. I even used a little bit of conqueror's will to calm her down.

"Would you be willing to come with us to a hospital? You know, to get her checked."

I kept using Conqueror's will to try and create a connection between the minds of Eri and I.

Chisaki sighed and said, "It's an embarrassing topic. I don't want to talk about it in the open. Could you follow me into the alley?"

Finally, there was a spark.

"You see, I've been worried about Eri recently.."

'Eri-chan!'

I felt the girl jolt up in my arms.

'Don't say anything. Just keep listening to what I say.'

"No matter what I say to her, all she does is defy me."

'We cannot take you away from him right now. But, don't be afraid. I promise you, on my life, that I will save you.'

"Raising a child can be quite difficult, huh?"

'If I act now, I cannot promise the safety of the people in the streets. You don't want them to get hurt, right?'

Eri shook her head vigorously.

"Indeed, they're hard to understand, children."

'You are a precious child, Eri-chan. No matter what, even if I have to go against the world for it, I will save you, Eri-chan.'

"Especially when they should be thinking about what kind of person they will become."

Before Chisaki could act, Eri got away from my grasp and ran towards Chisaki.

"Oh, are you done with your tantrum now? She's always like this. I'm sorry. Thanks for listening to my worries. Good luck with your work."

When Eri and Chisaki were out of our sight, I said to Mirio, "We have to save that girl. What she's being subjected to isn't mere physival abuse. If it were so, we'd see bruising on her face. The bandages were around her arms and legs. No, something worse is being done to her. We need to report to Sir, now!"

'I hope you are able to forgive me for not helping you right away, Eri-chan. But I'll assure you this, I'll make Chisaki pay for what he's done to you.'

Angry and frustrated but determined, I walked the streets with a single thing on my mind.

'The villains with tremble upon a simple mention of my name... that's my aim as a hero... and I'm going to start with you.. Chisaki!"

(BNHA)

A/N: Hope you liked it! Comment your thoughts as they motivate to keep writing. Thanks for reading my work!