Chapter Text
Finally, dressed in a school uniform, long black hair flowing behind her in the breeze, Akemi Homura arrives at the front gate of the UA campus. She pauses, taking a breath, before striding confidently toward the threshold. A wall erects itself in her way with dangerous speed, blocking her path. Despite the abrupt appearance of the barrier, she stops short of it without flinching. An audible, but not loud, alarm tones at her presence while a couple of red lights spin and blink. Homura takes a step back. A camera slides out of a higher section of the wall, pointing itself at her. She flips her hair off her shoulder, and stares back at it with a blank expression.
"Apologies. Only staff, students, and pre-arranged guests are allowed past this point." The intentionally robotic voice typical of UA's extensive robotic systems is a ubiquitous and familiar sound to all familiar with the school.
Homura tilts her head to one side. "I'd like to speak with Principal Nezu, if he can make time for me."
A pause of silence stretches, just beginning to grow stale when the robotic voice breaks it. "A staff member will arrive shortly to escort you. Please do not try to cross the threshold."
Homura nods and takes another step back. The barrier ceases its display and retracts back into the ground.
After about five or so minutes, the door of the main building opens and the individual exiting begins approaching the gate. His silhouette resolves into the sleep-deprived shape of Aizawa Shota, the hero Eraser Head. His combat scarf is deceptively comfortable-looking. He stops behind the threshold, scratching at his short facial hair and tiredly scans Homura head to toe, then toe to head.
Shota sighs. "What business does a middleschooler have with Principal Nezu?"
Homura smiles brightly. "My name is Akemi Homura. I'm here seeking employment. It's my dream to work here and support future heroes. I'd like to make the case for my utility directly to the Principal. If that would be alright?"
Shota cringes slightly, then sweeps a hand up across his face to brush his hair back. "Call me Eraser Head. You know there are official processes for that kind of thing, right kid?"
Homura nods, but averts her eyes nervously. "Of course, but I lack certain necessary credentials for that." She returns her gaze to meet Shota's, frowning sadly. "My only hope is for Principal Nezu to humor me and provide an exception."
Shota rolls his eyes and sighs hard. "I suppose I don't have anything better to do right now. He's pretty busy so it might be a while. But if you're fine with waiting, I can take you somewhere to sit at least. Unfortunately I do have to escort you while you're on the campus."
Homura nods enthusiastically. "I'll wait as long as it takes. Thank you very much."
Shota steps across the threshold. "If you're next to me, it will let you cross. After that, you only need to stay in line of sight, but please avoid wandering off." He pulls out his phone and starts tapping. "I'm letting Principal Nezu know."
The two of them cross the threshold and enter the main building.
...
After no more than half an hour sitting on a bench outside of Principal Nezu's office, Nezu himself exits the office and moves in front of Homura and Shota. He seems quite chipper.
Homura jumps to her feet with visible anxiety, and bows deeply to Nezu. "Principal Nezu! My name is Akemi Homura. I-it's a pleasure to meet you."
Nezu watches the display neutrally before words begin to rapidly flow from his mouth. "Well well well, this is quite unusual. A young girl such as yourself seeking employment at this time of year, completely avoiding the official channels by which to do so! Standard procedure would be to deny you on the spot. But to be perfectly frank, I'm bored with the off-semester work, and you've provided me quite an intriguing distraction. I'm more than happy to spend my breaktime humoring you. Do come in. Eraser Head, please get us some tea."
Shota grumbles an affirmative and walks away. Nezu leads Homura into his office, and offers her a chair across from his own seat at his desk. She sits primly. Nezu hops onto his chair.
He places his elbows on his desk and leans forward, placing his chin on his paws. "So, Miss Akemi, please do make your case to me."
Homura clears her throat. "I-I've always looked up to heroes, as many do, but I just don't see myself becoming one... I don't think I have the temperament for it. But my quirk gives me significant combat prowess. I would be a great asset for training future heroes. I-"
Shota returns with a tray of tea and cups, setting it upon the desk. Nezu nods appreciatively at him. "Thank you, Eraser Head." Shota takes a seat in another chair to the side.
"Th-thank you." Homura accepts the tea and carefully sips it.
"So then, Miss Akemi, what is your quirk?" Nezu leisurely drinks from his teacup.
Homura shifts a bit. "Um, I call it Superhuman. My body is more durable, stronger, and faster than a human can manage without a quirk. I also have heightened reflexes and senses, and I can heal very quickly..."
Nezu eyes her closely for a moment. Homura breaks eye contact and shifts nervously under his stare. He sets down his tea. "Well! I think a demonstration is in order. Eraser Head, are you up for a sparring session?"
Shota seems anything but enthusiastic about the prospect. "Always, Principal Nezu. Where to?"
"The PE grounds. We don't need to go further unless you think you're particularly flashy, or inclined to cause significant collateral damage?" Nezu gestures at Homura.
She shakes her head. "N-no, that will not be necessary."
The three of them walk out of the office and make their way to the courtyard. They pass a few other staff members on the way, and one Shuzenji Chiyo, the hero Recovery Girl, actually joins them, perhaps by coincidence and curiosity, perhaps subtly summoned by Nezu or Shota. She offers each of them a piece of candy. Shota declines. Homura pockets it. Nezu cheerfully eats his.
They arrive at the open PE space outside of the PE gym building. There is plenty of space for a spar between two people. Additionally, they will be out of the public eye, and thus free to use their quirks without any fuss.
Nezu takes a position at one corner of space. "Given your brief description, I have decided your roles. Since Eraser Head has a mostly normal human body, and Miss Akemi's is apparently enhanced, Eraser Head shall be on the offensive, while Akemi will be on the defensive. Recovery Girl is here, so some injury is perfectly allowable, but there's no need for overkill."
He turns to Homura. "Eraser Head will attack, and you need to simply defend yourself as you see fit. Is that acceptable?" She nods and moves to stand near the middle of the field. Shota joins her and they face off. "Begin when you're ready."
Shota takes a combat stance. "Are you ready? I won't go easy on you."
Homura silently nods, but does not otherwise appear to prepare herself.
Shota launches himself at her, leading with a simple punch. Homura dodges under it, stepping around him. Shota turns the momentum of his missed punch into a spin, allowing him to kick at Homura's new position in the same motion. She smoothly jumps over his leg.
This pattern continues for about a minute. Shota throwing an impressive flurry at her, only for her to dodge with inhuman speed and grace. Never retreating, but never being struck.
Suddenly, Shota jumps away from Homura and whips his combat scarf toward her. She was airborne in that instant, and fails to dodge it. It wraps around her left leg before going stiff, tripping her. He is immediately back on the offensive again. She rolls out of the way of his first blow and back onto her feet.
Shota pulls the scarf tight, immobilizing Homura, and throws a kick. She blocks the blow with her arms, but Shota doesn't stop, barraging her with blow after blow. She blocks all of them with her arms and free leg before Shota trips her again. This time, he sends out another ribbon of combat scarf, snaring Homura's right arm. She looks at the scarf in disgust.
Shota manipulates his scarf with some effort, and it throws Homura toward him, directly into a kick to her torso. She gasps at the blow and flies backwards away from him. She spins through the air and grunts in effort and frustration. She lands on her feet just as she pulls the combat scarf off of her right forearm with brute force, casting it to the side. Shota's eyes widen at the feat of strength.
Homura goes for the scarf around her leg, but Shota is already upon her. He kicks her hard in the head, sending her tumbling across the ground. But she once again expresses great effort and throws the combat scarf off of herself before claiming the momentum of her tumble and rolling back onto her feet.
Homura takes a combat stance this time, watching Shota closely. He casts multiple ribbons out and rushes her. She carefully dodges or bats away each ribbon that assails her, particular to keep her footing, and begins blocking Shota's renewed assault. He eventually manages to ensnare her again, this time throwing her into the air and swinging her toward the ground with great speed.
Homura collides with the ground and grunts in pain. A small cloud of dust is created by the impact. When it clears, she's on her feet and already has the scarf off of her.
"That's enough!" Nezu strides up to Homura and Shota as they both freeze for a breath before relaxing. He smiles at them. "That was quite a demonstration! How entertaining! Where did you learn to fight on such a level, Miss Akemi?"
Homura brushes the dust off of her uniform and looks to the side. "Most of it is just from my quirk, but my friends and I liked to fight, and I got a lot of experience that way."
Chiyo joins them. "Does anyone have any scrapes or bruises?"
Homura smiles and holds the back of her head sheepishly. "Not me, I've already healed."
Chiyo smiles. "That's a wonderful quirk you have, dear. Eraser Head?"
Shota nods and extends a hand. "Just bruises. Akemi wasn't lying about her durability."
Chiyo's lips stretch uncannily and provide a smooch to Shota's outstretched hand. He sighs in relief. "All better? Wonderful!"
It suddenly becomes apparent that Nezu is staring very intently at Homura, and she, Shota, and Chiyo all turn to him. Homura glances around nervously.
Nezu glances at each of them, acknowledging their attention, before settling back on Homura. "You weren't lying about your quirk. But you were lying about a whole lot, no? I'd appreciate it if you'd drop the facade, Miss Akemi."
Homura's expression goes blank, and she regards Nezu neutrally. "Very well, Principal Nezu. It got me in the door, and has served its purpose. I suppose the background check you ran on me did not provide satisfactory results?" Shota and Chiyo glance at each other, eyes wide. Neither had picked up on the deception.
Nezu nods. "But you're also not a terribly good liar."
Homura frowns slightly. "I don't like to lie, and don't get much practice."
Nezu begins walking back inside and gestures for the others to follow.