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CHAPTER START---
Sitting in Nezu's office, in Nezu's chair, Horizon has his back to the door as he stares out the window.
Playing the same training game he's been at all day, constantly moving the same raindrop from one inch above the floor to the top of his room, quickly exhausting himself through focus and Quirk use.
Hearing the door open behind him he closes his room and spins around to face Nezu and Yagi, with Nezu holding a small gift bag in his arms.
"You look good in that seat," Nezu says as he and Yagi move to sit on one couch.
"I look good in any position of power," Horizon gets up and moves to sit opposite them. "But if I wanted to work hard all my life without going anywhere, then sure I'd be a teacher..."
"Ouch," Yagi says.
Nezu just sighs, "it's been all of 5 seconds and you're already insulting us."
"So what'd you need to talk to me about?" Horizon asks. "I've already given Eraser my paperwork."
"I saw, he's already filed it, Endeavor...are you sure that won't be a problem since, well, the sports festival."
"I'll handle it," Horizon says. "So, what's up?"
Nezu quietly starts making tea for the three of them as Yagi speaks to Horizon.
"Do you recall the first time we sat here, when you gave a breakdown of what young Midoriya was doing wrong with his Quirk?" Yagi asks.
"Yeah, what about it? I already told Nezu I'm not here to teach, especially not that loser."
"I see," Yagi taps his chin and leans back, considering his options, eventually deciding to take the direct approach. By this point, he clearly understands that Horizon doesn't like his time wasted. "What would it take for you to help him."
"Eh, double my bank account?" Horizon shrugs.
Yagi considers it, then turns to Nezu.
"You can't afford that," Nezu says plainly. "And I'm not spending the worth of a small country for this."
"Two small countries," Horizon says with a chuckle.
"Is there anything that could change your mind?" Yagi asks plainly.
"Why do you care so much about him?"
"Well, he's one of my precious students. With the internships starting Sunday it's possible that something could happen where he'd have to act, right now if he does that he'll probably die."
Horizon leans back and nods, taking in the answer. "Ok, so that's half the reason, what's the other half?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you told me the problem, you didn't tell me why you care so much about Deku," Horizon points out.
Nezu just shakes his head before sipping his tea. Clearly amused by how hyper-aware Yagi was that he was currently walking a minefield.
"Well..." Yagi awkwardly rubs the back of his head, trying to find the words. "I've taken an interest in him. I actually first saw him a year ago, I saw him stand up to a villain even knowing that he couldn't use his Quirk. He ran in and tried to help, and probably would have died if I didn't show up, but he tried when others were standing around doing nothing...I can't help but want to nurture someone with such a strong heroic spirit. Seeing him on the first day at UA...it felt like destiny telling me I had to teach him to be a great hero."
Nezu was genuinely impressed with the lie. Littering the tale with truths kept Yagi's emotions at the surface, had this been anyone else they would have easily accepted this truth, but Horizon isn't just anyone...
"Close," Horizon says. "But you're still holding something back, so the full truth, or I'm gonna lean forward and polygraph you. Because if something didn't change you would have asked me to do this sooner."
"Gran Torino sent Midoriya an internship offer," Nezu says bluntly which causes Yagi to sputter and panic.
"Who the hell is Gran Torino?"
"He was Yagi's teacher, he only spent one year at UA, and was close with Yagi's mentor...so he's kind of like Yagi's uncle I suppose," Nezu says.
"Oh, so Yagi told him about Deku...now he wants to meet Deku...but Yagi is scared that Torino will be disappointed by his non-existent teaching ability, right?"
Yagi feels an arrow to the heart.
"Exactly," Nezu says.
Another arrow to the heart.
"So can't teach and he's a pussy...damn meathead," Horizon grumbles.
"Mhm," Nezu takes another sip of his tea, and by this point, Yagi is slumped forward on the couch.
"Still not enough of a reason for me to care about teaching Deku anything."
"What if it helps your reputation?" Nezu asks.
"I'm not going for the 'golden-hearted hero' reputation, so I'll pass."
"What about as a genius Quirk specialist," Nezu says, knowing exactly what buttons to press to get Horizon to play along. "The world doesn't actually have many of those since humanity has mostly just accepted Quirks and doesn't bother looking deeper...but you have a theory or two that could put you on that short list."
"My Quirk Mastery theory, you want me to publish it through UA?" Horizon asks.
"It would push your imagine that much further," Nezu says.
"Hmm," Horizon leans back and considers it while Nezu takes a box out of the bag he brought. A brand new chess set. As he's setting up Horizon just leans forward and picks up the small rulebook included. "Never actually played before..."
"I've always wanted to play you in chess," Nezu says with a smirk.
Yagi just sits back and drinks his tea, watching Nezu prepare the board while Horizon learns the rules, and a minute later Horizon puts down the book and gestures to the board.
Nezu moves one pawn forward.
"Have you, decided on your answer?" Nezu asks.
Horizon moves his piece, "I need real publicity."
Nezu makes a move, "what do you mean?" And between each sentence, they'd make a move, their own little chess timer.
"I need witnesses, publishing the thesis isn't enough, I need people to see me in action breaking down his Quirk."
"We can't do that," Nezu says. "But I will second your thesis under my name, and use my connections to help get it passed around in the scientific community."
"That'll work, what about Hero Network access?" Horizon asks.
"Giving you access to that is treason."
"For anyone else, yeah, but you're Nezu. And I need access if I'm gonna be doing solo work during summer."
"Hmm," Nezu pauses, breaking the momentum of the game to consider his next move. Then he just sits back on the couch, done with the game. "If I'm agreeing to these terms then this needs to be a full class instead of a 1-on-1 session with Midoriya."
"Quirk Mastery 101...fine, but they get the basic rundown then I help him," Horizon says.
"I won't be giving you access until you get the Provisional Hero License."
"Not like I'd need it before that," Horizon shrugs. "Quirk use is illegal in public, and I'm not really the type to go meddling in other people's lives."
"But a hero's job is to meddle," Yagi blurts out.
Horizon pauses, then slowly turns his head toward Yagi. "Oh...that explains a lot. Deku learned that shit from you, then he taught it to Todoroki...then I kicked in Todoroki's teeth because of it, good job, All Might."
"Huh, that's why you---"
"Nezu," Horizon cuts off Yagi. "We have a deal? I teach one class, you publish and push my thesis to get me some spotlight, and I get Hero Network access when I get the license."
"Deal, have the thesis written and sent to me later tonight," Nezu says. "Have a good night Horizon."
"Yeah, you too."
"Have a pleasant evening," Yagi says.
"Don't ever tell me what to do," Horizon immediately warps away, swapping with the card he left in his apartment in the city before it warps back to him.
Yagi just sighs and downs the rest of his tea, "he hates me."
"You're being dramatic, he doesn't hate you, he just doesn't respect anything about you," Nezu says plainly.
"How is that supposed to make me feel better?"
"I was only correcting you, anyway now you don't have to worry so much about Midoriya, Horizon will take care of it. But you should tell Midoriya to try and avoid contact with Horizon."
"I'll be sure to do that, I can't believe he figured it out when neither of us could, even you."
"Well, Quirk application and development isn't something I'm good at, at least not for battle Quirks. My brain is hardwired for algorithms and logistics after all, at that, I'm far beyond everyone, even him," Nezu says.
"And you're also the only person that can properly negotiate with Horizon, or maybe it's just because it's me, well?"
"A mix of both," Nezu says. "I'm the only person he's ever truly lost to, and we have a certain understanding. Thankfully he is a professional about it, so we get along just fine."
"I suppose that makes sense, but didn't that deal seem a bit one-sided, you gave him a lot, all things considered. I honestly feel kinda bad now."
"Any improvement to his public image is a step closer to him embracing the role of a true hero, and becoming our next Symbol Of Peace," Nezu proudly says. "Getting him to help Midoriya was honestly more of a bonus for me."
"I see, but you realize that if young Midoriya master One For All, he could very well overcome Horizon and be the next me. You've essentially helped the competition by doing this," Yagi says.
Nezu hops down from the couch and begins cleaning up the teacups, "well he is one of my students so it is my duty to do anything I can to help him. But I doubt this will truly matter that much."
"You're really that confident in him huh..."
"Well he's Horizon, there really isn't any competition, but I'm sure Midoriya will still become a great and powerful hero in his own right," Nezu says with a small chuckle.
"Well we'll just have to see what the future has in store for our students," Yagi says as Nezu begins clearing the chessboard and packing it away. "How come you didn't finish the game?"
"Oh we did, he would have won within the next seven moves."
Yagi's eyes open in absolute shock at that, "I thought you said you were the smartest on the planet earlier? And didn't he just learn to play from the book?"
"I am, but his ability to intuitively understand things, especially regarding Quirks and combat is second to none, the only person who comes close...at least from my former students, would be---"
"Endeavor," Yagi says. "Guess they're pretty similar in that regard, and neither of them like me..."
"Well Endeavor is overly competitive," Nezu says. "But at least for Horizon you know he just doesn't like you as a person."
Yagi groans, "thanks a lot...just what I needed to hear."
Nezu packs up the gameboard and turns to move to his desk, but he pauses, just staring at his desk and chair, a mischievous grin on his face.
Yagi raises a brow and asks quietly, "what are you smiling at?"
"I was just thinking, he really did look good in that chair..."
END CHAPTER---