Chapter 40: End of the Internships
[ HARUE'S POV ]
The rice was a bit bland, but the curry made up for it. Steam curled upward as I lazily scooped another bite into my mouth, my tray resting on the clean table in the Ryukyu Agency cafeteria. The place was calm — peaceful, even — with only the light chatter of sidekicks and a distant hum of kitchen equipment filling the space. For once, I let myself unwind.
These last few days had been productive: training, patrols, paperwork reviews. But now? Now I could finally just eat and relax.
Or so I thought.
"Harue!" came a sudden, bubbly call that jolted me out of my moment.
I looked up just in time to see Nejire nearly skipping toward me, holding her phone out like it was a trophy. Her blue hair bounced around her shoulders with every step, and she practically beamed as she slid into the seat beside me — way too close.
Mina wouldn't like that if she was here.
"Did you see this yet? It's all over the news!"
I blinked, chewing my food slowly as I leaned over to glance at her screen. There it was: bold headlines and dramatic footage — "Hero Killer: Captured!" The news anchors were talking over video clips of a smoky alleyway. Endeavor's figure towered in the frame, looming over a broken and restrained Stain.
So… it happened.
I set my spoon down, leaning back slightly as I absorbed the image. I kept my face neutral, mildly curious — just another first-year student reacting to big hero news.
But inside? Inside, a wave of something much heavier settled in my gut.
So the Hero Killer arc ended just like in the show… even the timing matches. "Endeavor takes him down" just like in the anime.
So the police already have covered for Midoriya, Todoroki, and Ida.
I stared at the screen, heart steady, mind racing. This is real. The plot is moving.
The sports festival. Shoto's fire awakening. My win. Bakugo's frustration. And now Stain's arrest. Things were lining up faster than I thought.
All for One isn't far behind.
The thought chilled me more than it should've — not because I feared him, but because I knew the chaos he'd bring. I had power, sure. But was it enough?
I reached for my tray again, pretending to go back to my food. But I couldn't even taste it anymore.
I need to be ready. Stronger. Smarter. Faster. If the real fight's coming soon…
A poke to my cheek snapped me out of my spiral.
"Hellooo? You totally spaced out," Nejire said, puffing her cheeks as she stared at me. "You were super serious for a second. What's up?"
I blinked at her, surprised by how quick she'd noticed. "Ah… sorry," I said with a small smile. "Guess I was just thinking how glad I am they caught that maniac. Guy gave real heroes a bad name."
She tilted her head, clearly not buying all of it, but nodded anyway. "Mmm, makes sense. Still, I thought you'd have something cooler to say."
I chuckled, brushing it off as I picked up my spoon again.
Crisis averted. For now.
But the storm was coming and I need to overcome it.
———————
The final day of the internship week had arrived, and the front lobby of Ryukyu's agency felt strangely… quiet. Not in sound, but in mood. Like the calm after a summer storm — still, warm, and reflective.
I stood near the front entrance, my uniform pressed and neat, suitcase slung over one shoulder. My hero costume was packed away for now, and with it, a week of patrols, drills, rescues, and quiet lessons that hit deeper than most lectures ever could.
One by one, the staff and sidekicks I'd come to know over the week gathered around to say goodbye.
"You were a damn natural, kid," one of them said, clapping me on the back.
"Come back next semester, yeah? Agencies like ours need a bit of flash too," another joked.
I offered a small smile. "I'll think about it."
Nejire popped up beside me with her usual energy, hands clasped behind her back, leaning in with a grin.
"You better come back for second semester!" she said, her voice a little softer this time.
"Also there's someone I wanna introduce you too in UA, when my internship is over. "
I tilted my head slightly. "Someone?"
She nodded excitedly. "Mhm! He's super strong, he won the third year sport festival this year, but I think you'll surprise him."
I blinked. There was a short pause — just long enough for a thought to slip in.
A certain someone came to mind. Third-year. Known for his power and personality. Always smiling. And kinda looked like anime Tintin.
Ah. So it's time to meet that guy.
I chuckled inwardly. Well, guess I'm finally getting my turn in the Lemillion experience.
Before I could respond, Nejire waved me off with both hands. "You'll see! Don't worry about it now! Just don't go getting lazy, got it?"
"I'll try my best," I said with a smirk.
Ryukyu approached then, tall and composed, her presence commanding even without saying a word. She gave me a small nod.
"You handled yourself well this week, Harue. Better than most first-timers I've seen," she said. "Good luck with your studies — and if you ever want to come back, the agency doors will be open."
Her praise was calm and to the point, like everything she did.
"Thank you," I said, bowing deeply to her and to the others. "For everything."
As I stepped outside, the city greeted me once again. The noises, the light, the breeze. I glanced back one last time. The glass doors closed behind me, and I took a breath.
Time to return to U.A.
The festival, the internship, the lessons — it was all part of the journey.
But things were moving. Fast.
———————
The morning sunlight streamed through the windows of Class 1-A's homeroom, casting a warm glow across the desks as students filtered in, chatting and laughing.
"I swear, Uwabami made us pose for more commercials than patrols," Mina pouted dramatically, twirling a strand of her bubblegum-pink hair. "But hey—camera loved me." She gave a smug little grin.
(AN: she went with momo for her intership unlike in canon in which idk if she got any internship opportunities. Correct me if im wrong tho. )
"You did look super cool in that TV spot," Ochako said with a laugh, nudging her shoulder. "We actually did some real hero work at Gunhead's agency, though. Lots of close-quarters combat drills."
Mina's eyes widened. "Combat training? Ohhh, I'm jealous!"
"I got a good grasp on his fighting style," Ochako continued proudly, balling her fists. "It's intense but really practical."
Off to the side, Tsuyu croaked softly, "Selkie's ship was fun. Patrols every day. I even helped rescue a drifting boat."
"Sounds adventurous," Momo said politely, overhearing as she and Jirou organized some papers by their desks. Jirou nodded silently, earbuds already tucked into place, bobbing faintly to music.
Meanwhile, near the windows, Kaminari leaned over Harue and Kirishima, arms crossed and expression sulky.
"You got Ryukyu? Ryukyu?!" Kaminari groaned. "Man, I've had her merch since I was ten!"
Harue chuckled, shrugging as he leaned back in his seat, one foot lazily kicked up over the other. "Guess she liked what she saw."
Kirishima grinned. "Bro, I'm not even surprised. You blew up half the arena with that Phoenix thing. Pro heroes eat that kind of flash up."
"I didn't blow that much up," Harue said, waving a hand dismissively — though a flicker of amusement danced in his eyes. His mind briefly flashed back to those early morning patrols and Ryukyu's constant reminders about collateral damage.
"Still jealous," Kaminari muttered.
Just then, the classroom door slid open with a sharp shhk.
Bakugo stepped in.
The class fell silent for a heartbeat.
His hair was slicked back — neat, styled, and most importantly, not its usual explosive mess. His sharp scowl hadn't changed, but somehow the new look completely derailed the class's ability to hold in their reactions.
Kirishima blinked, then cracked.
"Pffft—what happened to your head, dude?!"
Sero nearly fell out of his chair. "Is this the polite Bakugo arc?"
Harue grinned wide. "Someone got told to look presentable, huh?"
Even Kaminari chimed in through stifled laughter. "You trying out for a boy band or something?"
"SHUT UP!" Bakugo roared, cheeks twitching as he stomped toward his desk. "I'LL KILL ALL OF YOU!"
The laughter only intensified, echoing through the classroom as Bakugo grumbled threats and slammed into his seat.
Then, as if on cue, Midoriya, Todoroki, and Iida walked into the room.
The noise settled quickly as the trio entered, heads turning their way.
"They're here…"
Everyone's eyes seemed to drift toward them — especially Iida, whose usual energy felt a little more reserved.
"Yo! Midoriya!" Kirishima called. "You were in Hosu too, right? That stuff with the Hero Killer was crazy! I saw the news!"
Midoriya blinked. "Ah—y-yeah…"
Sero leaned in, eyes wide. "Did you see him? That guy Stain? I heard Endeavor was the one who took him down!"
Midoriya, Todoroki, and Iida exchanged a quick glance.
Todoroki nodded calmly. "That's right. We were in the area, and Endeavor saved us."
Iida added with a small bow, "We're all okay thanks to the pros. Sorry if we worried you."
Harue, arms crossed, watched them quietly. He knew the truth — that the three of them had fought Stain directly, and that the public story was just a cover.
'Same as canon,' he thought to himself. 'Just like before… everything's still on track.'
But he kept the thoughts to himself, letting the lie slide as everyone started bombarding them with more questions.
As the class continue to talk amongst themselves, happy that the trio were all right But also worried about the impact that the hero killers words have caused on hero society and villains.
The Class then started and in walked All Might in his hero costume. His towering figure making the teachers desk look small.
"I AM HERE!!!"
"All might!?" They looked at him in excitement.
"ALRIGHT CLASS!! CHANGE INTO YOUR HERO COSTUME AND FOLLOW ME"
"LETS START TODAYS FOUNDATIONAL HERO STUDIES!!!"
Everyone cheered in excitement as they headed to their lockers.
End of the chapter.