Top pic credit: KadeArt

~ Eight Years Later ~

"Ari! Ari! Wait! Don't hang up on your mother! Make sure you wear your coat, and that you're eating enough, and getting enough sleep. Oh! And don't let those villains push you around. If anyone hurts my baby, I'll be all over them like white on rice. You hear me? If anyone gives you any trouble, you tell mommy right away!" My mom babbled to me, from the other side of the line.

I giggled softly, absentmindedly listening to all of her overprotective notions as I continued walking down the dorm room hallway.

"Mom, mooom! I get it, alright? Look, I'm already in my third year at UA now. Are you still gonna call me like this every day, reminding me to be careful, when I become a pro hero?" I asked her lightly, already knowing the answer. Ever since that day eight years ago, she's been very overprotective of me. Understandably so.

"Of course I will! You're my baby, and you always will be...no matter how old you are. Have a good first day of school. Oh my! A year from today, you'll finally be a pro hero." My mom exclaimed, clearly starting to get choked up.

I was about to speak, before I heard my dad jump in.

"That's right, sweetie. We are very proud of you! Are you going out in the field today, for your work study? We'll be watching for you on the television." He called out in the background.

I sighed, lazily tracing my finger along the wall of the hallway as I walked.

"Hmm. I don't know. It all depends on whether or not some villains wanna cause trouble, doesn't it?" I explained, hearing footsteps coming up behind me.

"Ari! Ariiii!" Nejire exclaimed, bolting straight towards me.

I quickly turned my attention back to my family, before Nejire was about to trample me to the floor.

"Hey guys, I gotta go! I love you! Tell Sam I'll call him later-"

BAM!!

I felt the air leave my body, as Nejire jumped onto my shoulders, tackling me to the ground.

"Ow! Nejire, what the hell." I groaned out, as I lay face down on the carpeted floor.

She giggled, before quickly sliding off me to sit on the floor.

"Sorry! I was just so excited to see you! I haven't laid eyes on you, since our second year at UA, ya know." She countered lightly, shooting me a beaming smile.

I chuckled lightly, sitting up straight now to face her.

"That's very true. But, we were second years only a month ago." I retorted playfully, grabbing Nejire's hand as she helped me to my feet.

She scoffed lightly at my words, as we continued walking down the hallway.

"You act like a month isn't an eternity for me. Especially when my best friend has been featured on every news station in the country. Everyone is saying you're one of the heroes to look out for, when we graduate." She smiled, her baby blue hair swaying gracefully at her back.

I smiled stiffly at her words, rubbing the back of my neck in slight anxiety.

Being in the Big Four, at UA high, was no easy task. I've trained my quirk to the limit, as well as my mind and spirit. I've done everything I can, in order to rise to the top of the charts, and I plan to do the same thing, once I become a pro hero.

It started out, strictly as a passion. I wanted to save people. It's as simple as that....or it was. However, everything changed eight years ago, during the Great Attack of Fukuoka.

Yes, that attack from eight years ago. The attack, where I got caught in an explosion, and saw the angel of the sky. My angel. I'd never been able to track him down after that. I had convinced myself that he simply didn't exist, that he was a spirit I saw because I was knocking on death's door.

Anyways, minutes before I met that mysterious boy...I had been trying to save another little girl from a piece of falling debris. Civilians had witnessed my act of valor....as well as the president of the hero public safety commission.

She tracked me down....bragging to my family about my endless potential. This woman...offered up a deal my parents couldn't refuse. She promised to make me into an amazing hero, in exchange for a new life. Not just a new life for me....but, a new life for my entire family. A new house....new clothes...new cars....just about everything a family in poverty could ever dream of.

So who am I to say no?

Well, fast forward to eight years later and here I am. At the top of the Big Four, along with Mirio, Tamaki, and Nejire.

I'm eighteen years old, and I basically have the world at my fingertips-

"Parker...your work study internship with Best Jeanist." Mr. Aizawa started out, trudging by Nejire and I.

"Hey, Mr. A! Yep. I'm supposed to see Jeanist today, what about it?" I asked, watching him keep his eyes glued to his phone.

"You're out." Mr. Aizawa called out to me plainly, casually continuing his walk down the hallway.

Well, that's a bit of a problem.

"W-WHAT?! What do you mean I'm out?! Best Jeanist is the number three hero, and working under him the last two years has given me amazing publicity!! I really need that experience!!" I exclaimed desperately, leaving Nejire behind in the hallway to catch up to Mr. Aizawa.

Mr. Aizawa let out a small yawn, as he continued scrolling on his phone...barely glancing over at me.

"I get that. But, he's taken on someone new for an internship. A first year from the other class I teach. Katsuki Bakugou. Jeanist says Bakugou requires....all of his attention and guidance. He said he has no more room for you at his agency, but he believes you will be just fine taking on this year, rogue." Aizawa sighed out, clearly not onboard with this either.

NO. NOT ROGUE.

Being rogue means not working under a specific agency. Sure, as long as I have my provisional license...I can still go fight crime whenever I want. But, without an agency, I won't know where or when this crime is taking place. I also won't have the publicity and name of a top hero agency, meaning my success and popularity as a hero will suffer greatly.

The hero public safety commission will not have that. They'll get rid of me right away, if I stop meeting their expectations.

I know, because they've....they've told me.

I groaned out in annoyance, running a hand through my hair.

"I can't go rogue. Especially, not in my third year. This is the most crucial year to make an impression on the civilians. How am I supposed to do that, without a top class mentor? Are there any open spots in the other agencies?" I pleaded to Mr. Aizawa, shooting him a hopeful smile as we walked into the 3-A common area.

Aizawa pursed his lips in thought, as he trudged tiredly into the kitchen.

"I've been trying to figure that out, all morning. I've asked around, and unfortunately, I don't know any of my friends who are in need of another work study student. The best I can do right now, is an offer from Ryukyu. She said she would take you for a week, maximum. Just until you're able to find another agency. You'd be able to work with Nejire, and it would give you time to contact other pro heroes, in order to find another work study place." Aizawa explained, grabbing an apple off the counter and tossing it in his hands.

I mulled over his words for a moment, not loving that situation. But, I don't really have another choice.

"Uh-yeah! That'd be.....that'd be great, Mr. Aizawa. Thank you for helping me." I stated politely, trying to hide my irritation.

He simply nodded, either completely oblivious to my sour attitude, or simply ignoring it.

"Great. Go get suited up and head to the Ryukyu agency with Nejire. I was listening to the police scanners this morning, and it seems like today's gonna be a busy one for the heroes, and the villains." He said, taking another bite of his apple, as he walked out of the living room.

Once Aizawa left the room, I felt my shoulders visibly deflate in annoyance as I trudged off to my room to get dressed.

You just had to go and fix Katsuki Bakugou. Didn't you, Best Jeanist?

.......

"All set to go?" I asked Nejire, meeting her in the class 3-A lounge.

"Yeah, just a sec! I wanna see the final results of the hero billboard charts." She said, gesturing to the television at the front of the room.

"Oh yeah. That was on last night, right? I missed it." I mumbled curiously, watching the recap of the Hero Billboard Chart celebration that went on last night.

"I am humbled to be apart of something so wonderful. I hope to make the citizens proud." Edgeshot stated firmly, giving the crowd a respectful nod.

"What a great guy! I met him once, you know. He was super cool." Mirio exclaimed to all of us, leaning back into the couch.

"And even though Best Jeanist is recovering from the All for One fight at Kamino, he still managed to nab a spot in our top ten heroes. Let's give him a hand!" The announcer exclaimed, as the crowd began clapping for Best Jeanist.

"Yay..." I mumbled deflatedly, a little salty at Best Jeanist right now.

That's right. Best Jeanist is still running his agency, he's just recovering in the shadows. Not that it matters much to me, anymore.

"Wow. Best Jeanist made the top ten, without even being in the public eye. I-I'm really jealous of him." Tamaki mumbled weakly, hiding his face into the couch pillows.

I smiled softly at Tamaki, turning my attention back to the television.

"And we have Hawks!! Our new number two hero. Let's give him a hand!!" The announcer exclaimed, appearing to be much more excited than before.

"I love Hawks!" Nejire cheered, listening more intently to the television now.

I laughed at her excitement, rolling my eyes lightly.

"You've never even met Hawks!" I pointed out, also turning my attention back to the television.

"Plus, I heard Hawks is....a little hard to work with. People say he's really arrogant, and lazy-" Tamaki began saying, before the loud talking on the tv interrupted our conversation.

"Hey, hey, hey! Back to what Edgeshot said...no one wants to hear that, am I right?!" Hawks exclaimed, laughing his ass off at his own words.

Nejire and I dropped our jaws at his bold words, watching the crowd silence in shock.

"Ohhh boy. This is about to be a train wreck. I can't watch!" Mirio cringed, also stuffing a couch pillow over his face.

Hawks quickly grabbed the mic out of the announcer's hands, starting to strut-or rather fly around the stage.

"Look, sayin' things like "I'm humbled," "I'm honored," are all peachy keen and heart warming, but don't try and act like All Might! Our symbol of peace is gone, so how about we all stop trying to act like him. How about we stop saying what the press wants to hear, and start saying something actually heroic!" Hawks exclaimed, with a cocky smirk plastered across his face.

It was silent, as Nejire, Mirio, Tamaki, and I all watched Hawks basically commit social suicide in front of the entire world.

"Why is he doing that?" I mumbled in slight irritation, assuming he just wanted some attention.

"Phew. I mean...that was bad. But, at least he didn't say too much-" Mirio said, before we heard the cheerful voice of Hawks coming through the television screen again.

"Plus, if we're talking fan service...Best Jeanist would have me beat. Man, I love that guy. So much denim. But anyways, I'd definitely be second, Edgeshot would be third....and Endeavor would be fourth, can't you tell? Just look at that smile." Hawks laughed, using his wings to hover his body above everyone else.

The camera panned to Endeavor, who was visibly fuming at the young winged hero floating around the room.

Everyone in the 3-A lounge room gasped at his words, wondering how he could say such a thing.

"W-What?! He just said the new number one hero would be fourth in fan service!?" Tamaki exclaimed in panic.

"This guy's definitely got balls." I mumbled, getting slightly annoyed with this snarky attitude from the one they call Hawks.

I was shocked when the crowd began cheering for Hawks, realizing they ate up every word.

Psh, probably all of his fan girls. He looks like a pretty boy, after all.

"Hah. Please, please! Enough with the praise. Anyways, that's all from me folks!! Let's hear what our number one hero has to say!" Hawks winked, carelessly tossing the microphone to Endeavor.

"Wow." I scoffed, as Endeavor tried to do damage control on Hawks' speech.

"Yeah, right. Seems like a diva, if you ask me." Nejire remarked, as we began walking out of the lounge to meet Ryukyu for the day.

One thing I know for sure...

Hawks is definitely someone I never want to work with.