Midnight walked with a determined stride and a smile on her face. Today she would help Class 1-A choose their hero names. For some, this would be the name they would be known by for the rest of their lives, so the importance goes beyond a simple nickname.
But as he approached the classroom, doubt crept into his chest, like an unwelcome guest. He still remembered the incident from the day before with one of the students.
She reached the classroom door, her cheeks flushed and the bitter feeling of defeat weighing on her back. But it was not the time to sulk; it was time to be Midnight.
With an audacious and sensual smile, she opened the door, ready to start with a great line and baffle her students with her words and her body.
But everything died in her throat, except for a little saliva as she choked when she looked at the boy with the intimidating eyes at the door in front of her, his hand extended, about to open it himself.
—Cough, cough, cough!! W-what are you doing!? — she yelled in a panic.
—I'm going to the bathroom, Sensei. Aizawa-sensei gave me permission— Tetsumaru said calmly before walking past her.
—Damn it, he ruined it!— Midnight exclaimed to herself, frustrated with the brat.
-Midnight will help you with choosing your names- Aizawa said in a bored tone before wrapping himself up like a worm in his cocoon, leaving an embarrassed Midnight with all eyes on her.
With a sigh, she decided to save face a little and proceed with this important moment for her students, swearing she would take revenge on the sand brat.
**************************
—Explosion King of Death!— Bakugo shouted, throwing out a strange name again, and Midnight had to reject it again.
This had gone on for the first ten minutes, and the heroine was starting to get tired.
—Then I'm next— Terumi Mei announced, stepping forward and writing her hero name for everyone to see. Midnight raised an eyebrow at the curious title the girl wrote.
—Mizukage?— someone asked in the first row.
Midnight considered the name, as well as the girl's personality and her performance in the sports festival. She found no flaw and approved with a nod.
—I like it! Good choice— she gave a thumbs up. But her smile faltered when Tetsumaru's figure walked past her, taking Mei's place and writing his name.
—Tetsumaru— he said casually.
—You too!? Come on, man, there are a lot of people in this class who are using their real names— Kirishima spoke with a sigh.
—Why don't you try to think of a different name?— Midnight asked.
—I already did, and this was the best option.
—You didn't think of anything then!!— almost the entire class shouted.
—You give too much importance to those names, but you forget that everyone's goals are different— Tetsumaru said, looking at the class with dead eyes.
-What do you mean? It's important for everyone, as this will affect your career- Midnight asked with an eyebrow raised.
—That's the key, Sensei. I don't plan on having a hero career, I'm going to be a hero— he said slowly, leaving the class to reflect in silence. Even Midnight was genuinely surprised by the honesty and firmness with which he said those words.
But what Tetsumaru didn't add was that, under any other circumstance, he wouldn't have signed up for this damned hero course, and he would have been happy filling his pockets with the great works from his world that didn't exist here, and he would have filled Mei with a dozen children.
That last part made Mei blush, as although she didn't hear that unformed thought, Tetsumaru's feeling traveled to her in the form of longing.
—Hmph, stop thinking nonsense. Besides, your talk is very deep and mysterious, but the truth of the matter is that no name convinced you— Mei complained.
—But they don't know that— Tetsumaru replied.
—Tetsumaru, you really didn't come up with anything, did you? Don't worry, Todoroki-San over there is going through the same thing— Tsuyu said with an expression that didn't show the sarcasm her words should have had.
—I knew it!— Mineta accused, his finger pointing at Tetsumaru. —You're trying to act all cool, but you're an idiot just like us!
—Who are you calling an idiot, pygmy!?— Bakugo growled.
Tetsumaru didn't seem to react to the minor commotion that erupted in the classroom, but some observers noticed his slight, minuscule, and almost imperceptible flinch/shrug.
Midnight smiled like a predator, finally finding a crack in the boy's composure. Todoroki gave him a sympathetic look for a moment. Tsuyu's lips almost twisted into a smile.
Mei gripped the table to prevent her mental laughter, which was the reason for Tetsumaru's flinch, from escaping into the real world.
The rest of the day was typical for a school. Boring classes, note-taking, lessons, some less-than-brilliant teenagers slacking off, and some of the more diligent ones slacking off too, but for different reasons.
At the end of class hours, everyone was leaving the facilities. Mei watched them and said goodbye to her classmates with a polite smile, staying near the doors with a drink in her hand.
—Mei? Are you waiting for Tetsumaru?— Momo asked as she approached. The car that was supposed to pick her up hadn't arrived yet, so she decided to start a conversation with the girl.
—Yes, he's busy with something right now.
—I see... By the way... I was wondering, have you thought about a particular agency?— she asked tentatively.
—Not entirely. I still have a few options to choose from. What about you, Momo?
—Uh, well, I'm thinking about it too.
After that, they remained in a brief silence, Mei lost in her thoughts and Momo finding it somewhat difficult to converse with the girl.
Given Mei's condition, she found it difficult to communicate effectively with both boys and girls, which made her somewhat inaccessible, like Tetsumaru, though for different reasons.
Finally, Momo blurted out what she wanted to say.
—Um, Mei. I think you'll do great at any agency.
Her words made Mei raise an eyebrow. Momo continued, her gaze slightly distant and, deep down, somewhat dejected.
—You are incredible. You are a capable fighter and you find very creative ways to use your Quirk that don't hinder your combat style. In comparison, my performance at the festival was quite pathetic.
Mei blinked a couple of times, finding the girl's statements strange.
—Is she jealous? No, it doesn't seem to be that. Is she depressed? Ouch! What the heck is a girl supposed to say in these situations!?— Mei's thoughts spun at full speed, searching for a solution.
Deciding that she wouldn't be branded a pervert for being a woman, Mei took a step forward and hugged Momo, who was just over an inch taller than her. For now.
Momo was surprised, never expecting such a warm gesture from this kind but distant girl.
—You are incredible too, Momo. But not everyone is born for the same thing. That tournament was a place where some Quirks would stand out more than others, but it doesn't change the fact that your abilities, your intelligence, and your Quirk are truly useful. Have a little more confidence in yourself— Mei cooed, less like a friend and more like a boy comforting a younger sister.
A smile slipped onto Momo's face and she returned the hug. Meanwhile, inside U.A., the rescue-specialist Pro Hero dropped his pen, and his face reddened beneath his helmet.
—W-w-what did you just say?— he stammered his question to the student standing next to his desk.
—Sensei, I choose you— Tetsumaru said with a determined expression.
******
**"In that last line, the verb used in Spanish is 'Want' which can be misinterpreted as 'I love you'"**