Third person pov

"Endeavor wants me to intern with him?" Todoroki snorted, tossing the piece of paper over his shoulder like the piece of trash it was. The three hero course students were carefully going through their stacks of internships as they tried to figure out who to go with. They put away any common ones they had in case they wanted to go together, but they doubted it. This was all about learning to be a hero themselves, and they all wanted to develop some form of independence. 

Lillian was really nervous. She wanted to find someone who could help her with her confidence. She'd asked Amajiki, and he'd suggested Fatgum. Someone who was easy going and laid back, and pushed just the right amount. She had put his request for her aside as her default backup if she couldn't find anything. She didn't want to interrupt Tamaki, but it was good to have a back up.

Hitoshi had rushed off somewhere with his mother, claiming he'd be back as soon as he could. Erasercat was holding down the fort until then, sitting on Hitoshi's bed and licking his paws patiently. The three had been sad to see their purple-haired friend go, but knew he'd be coming around in another half hour or so. He refused to tell them where he was off to. They knew they'd find out later. They'd force it out of him if they had to. 

"H-He asked me too." Lillian snorted, glancing at the crumbled up request from the flaming shit bag. On the side, she was getting texts from Bakugo who seemed pretty stressed over his offers. She couldn't blame him; she was too. They'd both gotten a lot in common; a lot of the heroes in the top ten list seemed interested in their quirks. It was the same for Todoroki. However, Bakugo seemed to have lost some faith in the higher up heroes and was freaking out just a tad. And so started the frantic bout of messages between them as they exchanged information and sent photos of the forms.

"Did anyone else get five from Hawks?" Neito raised a brow, looking at the messy handwriting. The reason he'd wanted Neito to intern with him was that the blonde 'seemed like a really cool dude and it would be fun.' Hawks was the Number Three hero, but also the youngest in the top ten. Lillian held up her stack of Hawks papers, and Neito squinted. They seemed to have the same reasoning as well. 

"He came to Japan not long ago, didn't he?" Shoto asked, blinking. Best Jeanist wanted him, but he wasn't a fan of denim. He'd put it in the maybe pile just in case. Ever since moving here to Hitoshi's house, though it hadn't been that long, he'd felt freer. It was barely even his first day here and he already felt so much better. Like he'd been here his whole life, and his dad wasn't a total asshole. His dad was also asking why he hadn't accepted his offer already, clearly pissed he hadn't gotten the notification of his acceptance.

"Y-Yeah." Lillian nodded. "He wants me to join because I 'seem like a promising chick.'" 

"Ah, so he's a genius. I see." Neito winked at her, and she snorted at him, shaking her head. Shoto felt himself smile a little at that. That's what friends did. They made jokes, and teased each other, and complimented one another. He felt he liked having friends, even if he wasn't super sure of how to deal with them. After all, he'd been tutored at home before UA.

"Ah, I got a Hawks too." Shoto blinked. 

"You should go with him and help him advance to the Number Two spot." Lillian joked, squinting as she tried to read the handwriting on... who even was this? Not someone she'd ever heard of. Neito eyed Shoto was a certain sort of expression dawned on his face. The blonde tried not to burst into a hysterical fit of laughter for fear of deterring the half-and-half boy. Because he was actually taking Lillian's suggestion seriously, and that was something he wanted to see.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bakugo wasn't having a panic attack, but it was close. Endeavor was a royal asshole who'd shattered his faith in the hero world. How many pros could he trust? The higher up ones seemed like they'd be easily corrupt. Hungry for power and media attention, he notice they often times showed off for the camera when their main concern should be the safety and well-being of people around them. If being number one meant he had to be flashy just for the cameras rather than focusing on the issue at hand, he wasn't sure he wanted the title.

A lot of the top heroes had issued requests for him. Best Jeanist was one of those heroes, but he was uneasy still. He was all the way up in the top five, and he really didn't like that. Not at all. Was he an asshole, like Endeavor? What did anyone really know about his personality? If Endeavor, the flaming bastard, could put up a front, Best Jeanist certainly could too. It made him nervous. The only pros he could really trust were the ones he already knew. Which brought him to the offers sitting at the bottom of his pile.

Ground Zero:
Oi, did you look at the bottom of your stack?

Frozone: 
No, why?

Ground Zero:
We can intern with most of our teachers by default. Not All Might or anything, but...

He waited anxiously for her reply. Would she think him an idiot for even considering going for the defaults? The options everyone no doubt got? He felt like a dumbass, looking at all the other amazing offers he got. Three of the top ten wanted him to intern with them, none of which had shown to be anything like Endeavor in interviews. Yet he couldn't shake off the underlying nerves he held. At least this way, he could go with someone he knew. But would would others say? Lillian was a good test to see.

Frozone:
DJFSLKDJLKFSDL

Frozone:
OKAY SO I GUESS GOD IS REAL

Frozone:
THANK YOU BAKUGO AHHHH

Bakugo blinked. Oh... he hadn't been expecting that. Lillian was about as unpredictable as they came, though, so he couldn't find it in himself to be all that surprise. In fact, he felt a grin stretch across his face as relief washed over him. Setting a majority of his offers aside, he pulled the ones from teachers into his lap

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aizawa wasn't wearing his Team Eraserhead shirt and- shit, he'd left that box at school. He'd get it tomorrow and hope it wasn't a biological weapon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"No, okay. This one is cheaper and it looks better." Hitoshi gestured towards it vaguely. Next to him, his mom squinting contemplatively. The pair had taken to braving an IKEA in search of the perfect bunk bed for Hitoshi's room. Their plan to move Neito into the house was moving forward with Hajime's approval. It wasn't like the family didn't have the money for it. Mihoko worked from home as a freelance programmer, and Hajime was a surgeon at the best hospital in the area with a high success rate. Saving Aizawa's life had severely bumped him up the list.

"Okay, but it's not as sturdy. Why not invest?" Mihoko frowned. A few sales associates had approached them cautiously to try and help. The aura around them was so intense that they'd simply end up turning around and walking off once they got within a five foot radius, however. They were ready for this. They took their bed shopping seriously. 

"I think Mr. Aizawa is looking into adopting Lillian. If not him, Mr. Mic definitely is. She might move out if that happens." Hitoshi reported. It was true. Present Mic's favoritism was blatant, and Mr. Aizawa clearly held Lillian in a special place in his heart. He loved all his students even if he wouldn't admit it, but was weirder about Lillian. Hitoshi wasn't about to fault him for it. He and Lillian bore an odd amount of similarities that almost made him want to ask if... you know...

"No." Mihoko gasped in horror, bringing her hand up to cover her mouth. "Move out?"

"Yeah." Hitoshi grimaced. Mihoko looked mortified. As though she'd just been told she was losing her first born to the hands of Satan. Little did she know, that had already happened for real. There was no fucking way Hitoshi was getting into heaven. That was besides the point, however. Mr. Aizawa had been muttering about adoption and Neito could confirm it. That, and he smiled at Lillian more than he smiled at... well, anything. It was plain to see he adored her.

"This won't do. Not at all." Mihoko looked concerned. "Is he worthy?"

"I think so. He really cares about her." Hitoshi said as he pulled out a picture of his teacher and handed it to his mother, who was unfazed. Hitoshi liked having Lillian living at his house, just like he liked having Shoto there, and Neito even if he wasn't quite permanent. She was his first friend and always would be. Had they not met, they never would have questioned Neito about little Timmy, thus never meeting him either. The thought of that alone made a shiver rip down his spine. Where would he be without Lillian and Neito? Depressed and angry at the world?

"I demand a face-to-face meeting with him." Mihoko said, shoving the photo in her pocket. "And out of spite, we're getting the more expensive bed. Let's go. Your father can kill me for it later."

"Mom-"

"The more expensive bed, Hitoshi."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yo, so Chad didn't usually make deliveries in this part of town, but money was money. There was a 70% chance he'd get shot or at least stabbed out here, but it was whatever. Who was he to deny someone their Chipotle just because he was a little bitch? Exactly. He had no right. Some man out there was hungry, and it was his sworn duty as Chad the Uber Eats Driver to get the requested feast to the site of the banquet. 

This place was the definition of gnarly, dude. Total post-apocalypse area. He hadn't been aware anyone even lived over here until he got the ping. The person had used a smiley face emoji, so he'd been sold. What serial killer would ever possibly use a smiley face emoji? A really good one, that's who. It didn't matter. Chad could take them on if it came to it. It wasn't like he didn't have any self defense training or anything to defend himself with. Being quirkless, he was forced to learn. His brother had done it right alongside him, so he guessed it hadn't been too bad. Only mildly hellish.

Anyway, the address totally led to some shitty apartment building. Again, he was no pussy. He wasn't about to back down because some squatter in a building that was reportedly abandoned years ago wanted a burrito bowl and a Coke. He was a chill dude, so he wouldn't even report them for it. He'd drop the food off, salute, and walk off.

That being said, he did keep his car unlocked. Not running, because no idiot would leave their keys unattended in a part of town like this. He did have his keys at the ready, however. Clutched tightly in his hand as he approached. The structure looked ready to topple right over, the bricks looking seconds away from cracking from the pressure. He didn't even want to look at the foundation for fear his gaze alone would cause it to give way. Seriously, the thing didn't need anything more on it.

"Ay, bro." He called, hoping he wouldn't have to go in. "I got your Chipotle!"

The silence told him he was, without a doubt, going to die. He shrugged and started forward anyway. Yolo, right? Or was that a 2011 thing? Whatever, he was cool. So cool, in fact, that he wouldn't even get murdered. He was that cool. Yep. Even his little memesters in training thought so, and they weren't idiots. So long as he braced himself and prepared for the worst, it would make whatever it was seem less horrid. 

Before he could even reach the doors, something slammed into his side. And that was great. So this was the end. Fun. It had been nice living. He'd save his memesters a seat in hell. Hasta la pasta, amigos. Yah boi's going down. He's yelling timber! You better- oh, wait. It's not a psychopathic midget with a knife and/or shotgun trying to take him down or steal the Chipotle. It was... ah, shit.

"H-Help me." Eri whimpered, gazing up at the tired man with wide, watery red eyes. He didn't look like a bad person, but he didn't necessarily look good either. But she was just... scared. So, so scared. She didn't want to be taken apart anymore. She didn't want to be put together. She knew she was cursed, and she knew she... she didn't deserve to be saved, because that's what he said. She was a bad person, but it hurt so, so, so bad. And this man didn't look scary. Like a bird. He was just a man, and he had a bag, and maybe he wasn't bad.

Chad stared with wide eyes down at the little girl. Her hair was stark white, a small horn popping out on the right side of her forehead. Her eyes were red and watery, but she didn't cry. He'd never seen someone look so utterly terrified before. It sent his adrenaline pumping and his heart racing. He had to help this little girl, whoever she was. She was in danger and he was Chad the mother-fucking Uber Eats Driver.

"Hey, hey, it's okay, kid. Uh- shit. Fuck the Chipotle." Chad set the bag down and switched it for the girl instead. She was tiny and way too light, dark bags under her eyes. She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his shoulder, giving him her full trust as he darted back to his car. He heard rushing footsteps and risked a glance back as a man with a bird-like mask rounded the apartment building, eyes wide and furious. And damn, his hairline was atrocious. 

"H-He isn't my dad." Eri whispered as Chad dropped into the car, putting the keys in the ignition. The man was approaching, and fast too. The man didn't have any time to try and buckle his seat belt or pry the girl off him and secure her in the passengers. Eyes wide and sweat pouring down his brow as the man with the odd plague doctor mask approached, reaching out his hand just as Chad's foot slammed down on the gas. The tires let out a screech of protest, the vehicle shooting forward just before the man's fingers could skim the top of his trunk. He put a hand on the wheel, one resting on the girl's back.

"Holy shit." Chad breathed, tightening his hold on the girl. "Holy shit."

Eri peeked up and back, watching Overhaul disappear in the rear window, fists clenched at his sides. Eri knew he'd only find her and bring her back. He'd take her apart again, and then put her back together. But she couldn't help but hope that maybe, just maybe, she'd be okay. This man had helped her. She could feel his heart beating just erratically as her own. He was scared, just like she was, but he'd helped her anyway. He'd risked his life and he'd gotten her. They were okay.

"Holy shit." The man repeated, seeming in shock. He was almost shaking, but not as bad as she was. It was almost comforting to know he was scared too. That it wasn't just her. "Who was that man?"

"Bad." Eri whispered. "Very bad."

And he was. Eri knew this. If she was bad, he definitely was too. He hurt people. She'd seen it with her own eyes, and it left her scared almost constantly. She didn't like it. She hated it, she could even say. It didn't matter that she had a curse and made people disappear. At least she didn't take them apart like he did. At least she didn't... didn't kill people and make them nothing more than splatters on a wall.

"Well, he can't hurt you anymore. I promise. I won't let him, kiddo." Chad took a deep breath, shaking his head. He had to report this to someone. Maybe he'd ask his brother what to do. Chad's superior mind and his dull one combined, surely they could come up with something. Or maybe the memesters knew. They went to a hero school, so who knows. If not one of them, perhaps one of their teachers. Wasn't All Might a teacher there? "I'm Chad, by the way."

Eri was quiet for a moment before she took a deep breath. She could trust this man. He'd taken her away from Overhaul and from all the people in the bird masks, and he said she'd be safe. She knew that would probably change once he knew about her curse, but that was okay. For now, she was safe with him. He promised.

"E-Eri." She whispered, burying her face back in his shoulder and taking a deep breath. "My name is E-Eri."

~~~~~~~~~~~

JDLKD CONTEST OKAY

Thank you to everyone who took the time to enter. The fact that you took time out of your days to do art for this is amazing, and even if you don't win, I'll be making an effort to put every single piece of art (with credit of course) in this book so everyone else can see it. I think there's too many for one chapter, but we'll get there UwU

This was super hard. You guys are amazing artists and you went above and beyond for this and I can't thank you enough for that. I saw that some of you guys made art books specifically for this contest and I hope you keep them up and continue to produce art, because literally all the entries were amazing.

There will be two winners! One for the one shot book, and one for this one. You guys get the same prize thing so there's not much differentiation. 

So for the cover of this book, the winner goes to soggy_pizza! 

This is their entry. It is literally the cutest thing I've ever seen in my entire life. I almost died when I saw it. Shit was real. I had a small stroke. I'm gonna make it into a cover right after this so don't be alarmed if the cover hasn't changed. But seriously, thank you so much for this amazing piece! I hope you keep making art because you're seriously amazing.

So the prize a one shot of your choosing for this book. It can be one of the ones I've mentioned before or you can make up your very own. Message me the type of one shot you want and the details, and I'll do my best to deliver as soon as humanely possible! Yours will be posted in this book as a bonus rather in the actual one shot book if that makes sense. But uh... yeah, message me, yo!

The winner for the One-Shot book cover is Kitsune__San!

This was hers! I love it so much. Her hair especially is absolutely amazing. I'll be making this one into a cover too. I really love the art style. There's just something about it that I really love, you know? So thank you so much for entering! 

Again, the prize thing is a one shot of your choice for this book! You can make up one if you want or use one I've mentioned before. It's completely your choice and you have full control over the details. If there's something I'm not comfortable writing, I'll let you know, but I doubt it'll come up so go buck wild UwU

Thank you everyone. I wish I could choose everyone but I don't think I have the willpower to write over sixty customized one shots. 

Here below are some of my absolute favorites that I can't help but mention!

This one is by 865CrazyCat! I just love her eyes so, so freaking much. This one is actually my phone's home screen wallpaper right now, I adore it. I have no idea why; it's just amazing.

This one by Author_Axteria was so close just because of how absolutely amazing it is! This has been my lock screen since the second I laid eyes on it. It's so, so good just gAH. If you want a one-shot, Author_Axteria I will 101% give you one because this looks like it took forever, and it was so close that I literally flipped a coin-

This one was drawn by Pigeon_Turd and I adore it with every f i b e r of my being. I just love how Lillian is portrayed and the art style is 11/10. It's absolutely adorable, and I hope you keep making art because this is awesome as all heck.

This one by moon-palace was too adorable for me to pry my eyes off of. The art style is the cutest thing ever, and I love the vines framing her with all the little things that relate to her on it. It's so well done and has so much thought put into it. It's clear it took a lot of time to get all those things. I see Hamilton, eye drops, the medal, the sweatshirt, and gAH. And I love Yeet in there too omg it's amazing. Thank you so much.

This one is by PurpleDragonfly2002 and I adore it??? I love the clocks in the back and the fact that it's a polaroid. And her little goggles on there and the microphone, Aizawa's goggles, a grenade, a polaroid camera, and a cranberry sprite as well as a clock. They all have their own little meanings and relate tot eh story and I love how much thought was put into it.

This one is by LazyLameo and I love the art style and use of water colors! They clearly know what they're doing, and Lillian is literally so cute. Watercolor is not easy to deal with at times and bleeds into any moisture it touches, but she stayed in the lines somehow and I'm so impressed??? Seriously, I love this one so much. And the sweater is on point.

Y'allll, okay. So my literal child helloweirdstranger did this one, and I love it. She's such an amazing artist and literally look at this? Her art style has me quaking and I love all the references too. Seriously, amazing.

Last, but certainly not least, is this one by Waffle-Ninja. I love it. I love her expression, and the way it's colored. Seriously, they did such an amazing job I love it. And the use of the white gelly roll pen is just,,,, so amazing??? I'm quaking in my boots y'all.

Thank you all so much for participating! I hope you had fun, and thank you to all who joined in.