The morning sun filtered through the windows as I made my way back to UA. The Hero internships were about to start, and today the students would be choosing their Hero names. A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips as I thought about how excited the students would be. The energy in the school always surged on days like this.
As I entered the school grounds, I spotted Mirio and Yuyu chatting animatedly. They saw me approaching, and both of them immediately lit up.
"Shiro-senpai!" Mirio called out, giving me a wide grin. Yuyu waved enthusiastically beside him.
"Morning," I greeted, nodding in their direction.
"Senpai, can we spar later? You know, hand-to-hand combat!" Mirio asked, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He was always eager to improve his combat skills, no matter how many times we sparred. His enthusiasm was admirable.
Meanwhile, Yuyu looked at me thoughtfully. "Senpai, are you taking any interns this time? Many of us were curious, Sports Festival brought in a lot of attention to the opportunity to learn from you."
I chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of my head. "I don't think they allow anyone with less experience to take interns, especially someone without an official agency."
Yuyu gave me a look as if I had said something ridiculous, and even Mirio paused, his brow furrowing.
"Senpai, don't think so little of yourself," Yuyu said with a frown. "You may be new, but you've got more real-world experience than most of the Pros at the festival. I know plenty of second and third years who are really eager to intern with you."
I blinked at her, caught off guard. I wasn't used to hearing that kind of praise, and I could feel a slight heat rise to my face. "I appreciate it, but I'm more comfortable working alone."
That was the truth. I wasn't eager to have an intern following me around. Being an underground hero and a detective gave me the freedom to work without extra eyes, and it decreased the risk of anyone finding out about my true capabilities. The last thing I needed was someone getting too close and noticing things they shouldn't.
After a few more pleasantries, I bid Mirio and Yuyu farewell and made my way to Class 1-A. I had a feeling Midnight would already be there, waiting to start the Hero Name Selection.
Sure enough, as I entered the classroom, Midnight turned around with a grin. "About time, Bladie," she teased, using the nickname she had picked out for me early on.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kaminari and Mineta glare at me with envy, clearly not liking the way Midnight addressed me so casually. I rolled my eyes and dismissed them. They'd get over it.
"Good morning, everyone," I greeted the class, scanning the room. Their eyes were bright with excitement, probably more so than usual due to the Hero names discussion that was about to take place.
Midnight clapped her hands, drawing everyone's attention. "Alright, Class 1-A! Today is the day you get to choose your Hero names. But remember, it's not just about picking something cool. Your name defines you as a hero, and it will be something you carry with you for the rest of your career. So, take it seriously!"
The students were buzzing with excitement, a mix of nervousness and eagerness hanging in the air. I could already tell some of them were going to try and push the boundaries with their names.
One by one, they began stepping up to present their names, with Midnight either approving or rejecting them. Unsurprisingly, Bakugo's first suggestion was immediately shot down.
"Lord Explosion Murder is too extreme!" Midnight exclaimed, holding her head in disbelief.
Bakugo scowled, crossing his arms as he leaned back in his chair. "Tch, whatever."
I held back a chuckle. Trust Bakugo to come up with something over-the-top. As the students continued to present their names, I walked around the classroom, offering advice here and there.
Kirishima had a confident smile when he stepped up and proudly declared his Hero name as "Red Riot," in honor of his idol, Crimson Riot. Midnight beamed and gave her approval immediately.
"I like it, Kirishima. Very fitting," I said, giving him a thumbs-up as he returned to his seat.
"Thanks, Shiro-sensei!" Kirishima grinned from ear to ear.
Uraraka, in her usual upbeat manner, stepped forward next, presenting her name as "Uravity," which Midnight also approved without hesitation.
"Great choice, Uraraka," I said. "It's catchy and represents your quirk well."
She blushed a bit at the praise, her smile bright. "Thank you, sensei!"
Things were going smoothly, and I could tell the students were enjoying the process, though some struggled more than others. Bakugo, for one, was still brooding after his initial rejection.
"Bakugo," I called out, walking over to him. "I get that you want something intense, but you've got to balance it out. Your name should reflect your strength but also something that isn't too… murderous."
Bakugo huffed, his eyes narrowing. "What do you suggest then, genius?"
I leaned against his desk, thinking for a moment. "How about 'Dynamite'? It's explosive, it suits your quirk, and it's not as extreme as your first idea."
Bakugo's scowl deepened, but after a long pause, he grunted. "Fine. Dynamite it is."
Midnight, overhearing the conversation, gave Bakugo an approving nod. "Dynamite, huh? I like it. Very powerful."
Bakugo smirked, finally satisfied.
I moved on to Todoroki, who sat quietly in his seat, deep in thought. He hadn't made any suggestions yet, and I could tell he was struggling.
"Todoroki," I said, catching his attention. "Any ideas for your Hero name?"
He looked up at me, his heterochromatic eyes filled with a mix of uncertainty. "I'm not sure. I want to just use my own name, but I don't know what else would fit."
I could see the conflict in him, the struggle to distance himself from his father's reputation while still embracing who he was.
"How about 'Polarity'?" I suggested, after a moment of thought. "Your quirk deals with both fire and ice, two opposing forces. It's like the poles of a magnet—opposite, but part of the same as whole."
Todoroki looked at me, his eyes widening slightly. "Polarity… I like that."
He stood up and presented his new name to the class, and Midnight smiled, giving him her approval.
With the day coming to an end, the students had all finally chosen their Hero names. There was an air of satisfaction in the room, but also a sense of anticipation. The internships were next, and I could tell that they were all looking forward to gaining real experience in the field.
As the students filed out of the classroom, I stayed behind with Midnight, helping her clean up.
"Thanks for helping out, you have gotter better at picking names Bladie," Midnight said with a smirk.
"Anytime," I replied, leaning back against the desk. "I think they're all set for their internships."
Midnight nodded. "Yeah, but don't forget. You've got plenty of students hoping to intern with you."
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I'm more of a solo worker, you know that."
"I know, but you might not have much of a choice this time," she teased. "You're in demand, Shiro."
I shook my head, chuckling lightly. "We'll see."
For now, though, I'd enjoy the peace and quiet while I still had it.