[Time: 08:30 AM][Location: U.A. High School – Class 1-A]
"Internships," Aizawa announced, dropping a stack of papers on the podium. "The Hero Public Safety Commission has authorized the resumption of field work. Due to the... recent increase in villain activity, they want you on the streets sooner rather than later."
The class erupted in whispers.
"However," Aizawa's eyes flashed red, silencing them instantly. "This is not a field trip. If you are not chosen by a Pro Hero, you stay on campus for remedial drills."
He began walking down the aisles, placing nomination slips on desks.
Todoroki got a stack. Endeavor's agency, obviously. Bakugo got a thick pile. Best Jeanist had requested him back, along with half the top 50. Tokoyami got a request from Hawks.
Aizawa stopped at Reiji's desk.
He dropped a single, lonely piece of paper.
"Only one," Aizawa muttered, looking tired. "The HPSC has flagged you as 'High Risk' due to the Dorm Incident. Most agencies are scared to touch you."
Reiji picked up the paper. He expected it to be a pity offer from a low-rank hero, or maybe a trap from Hawks.
He read the name.
[Hero Name: Mirko][Rank: No. 5][Agency: None (Solo)]
Reiji blinked.
"The Rabbit Hero?" Kaminari leaned over, his eyes wide. "Dude! Mirko?! She never takes interns! She says they just slow her down!"
"She saw the footage from the Sports Festival," Aizawa explained, walking away. "And apparently, she saw the police report from the warehouse fight. She said she wants to see if the 'White Fire Kid' has legs or just flashy magic."
Reiji stared at the paper.
Mirko. A hero who fought purely on instinct. No sidekicks. No politics. Just violence and speed.
Reiji grinned.
"Perfect."
[Time: 04:00 PM][Location: An Abandoned Gym, Tokyo Outskirts]
The address on the slip didn't lead to a glass skyscraper. It led to a run-down boxing gym under a railway bridge. The sound of trains rattling overhead shook the dust from the brick walls.
RATTLE-RATTLE-RATTLE.
Reiji stood at the entrance, wearing his hero costume—the black ninja garb inspired by Noob Saibot and Scorpion.
He pushed the rusty metal door open.
CREAK.
Inside, the gym was dim, smelling of sweat and iron. Punching bags hung from the ceiling, some wrapped in duct tape.
In the center of the ring, a woman was doing handstand pushups.
One-handed. Without a shirt, just a sports bra and her hero pants.
Her long white hair pooled on the canvas. Her rabbit ears twitched as the door opened.
"You're late," she said, not stopping her pushups.
"I'm on time," Reiji corrected, checking his HUD. "It's 4:00 PM exactly."
"If you're on time, you're late," she huffed, pushing off the ground and flipping onto her feet in one fluid motion.
Rumi Usagiyama. The Rabbit Hero: Mirko.
She stood a head shorter than Reiji, but her presence filled the room. Her thighs were thick with muscle, built for explosive power. Her red eyes scanned him like a predator looking for a weak spot.
"So," Mirko walked up to him, invading his personal space. She poked his chest with a hard finger. "You're the kid who melts warehouses."
"I am," Reiji replied, not flinching.
"And I heard you got beat up by a mute Nomu in your pajamas," she added, grinning wildly. "Embarrassing."
Reiji's eye twitched. "I was debuffed. And silenced."
"Excuses!" Mirko shouted.
WHOOSH.
Before Reiji could blink, a foot was inches from his face.
He instinctively leaned back, the wind pressure form her kick ruffling his hair.
[Passive Skill: Danger Sense (Low) Triggered.]
"Hoh?" Mirko lowered her leg, looking impressed. "You dodged that? I was aiming for your nose."
She hopped back, bouncing on the balls of her feet. The rhythm was hypnotic. Bounce. Bounce. Step.
"Listen, kid. I don't care about your flashy fire or your ice tricks," Mirko said, cracking her knuckles. "Endeavor relies on firepower. Hawks relies on speed. Best Jeanist relies on technique."
She pointed a thumb at her own chest.
"I rely on Survival. When your quirk is gone, when your voice is gone, when your bones are broken... can you still kill the other guy?"
Reiji narrowed his eyes. "That's why I'm here. To learn how."
"Good answer!"
Mirko's grin widened into something feral.
"Admission test time. Land one hit on me."
"One hit?" Reiji asked.
"Just one. You can use your fire, your teleportation, whatever. If you touch me, you're hired. If you don't..."
She gestured to the door.
"...you go back to school and play with the other children."
Reiji didn't hesitate.
[Combat Mode: ENGAGED.][Style: SCORPION.]
TELEPORT.
Reiji vanished in a burst of flame.
He reappeared directly behind her, swinging a flaming fist at her head.
SWISH.
She wasn't there.
"Too slow!"
Reiji felt a heavy impact on his ribs before he even saw her move.
BAM!
He was launched sideways, crashing into a stack of gym mats.
[Damage Taken: 150 HP.][Ribs: bruised.]
Reiji coughed, scrambling to his feet. She was fast. Faster than the Nomu. Faster than anyone he had fought besides maybe All Might.
"You're thinking too much!" Mirko yelled from the other side of the room. "I saw your eyes shift before you teleported. You decided to move, then you moved. That delay will get you killed!"
Reiji wiped blood from his lip.
'She's right. The System... I select a skill, then I execute it. It takes milliseconds, but she lives in those milliseconds.'
He needed to be unpredictable.
[Style Switch: SUB-ZERO.]
Reiji stomped the ground. Ice spikes erupted from the floor, rushing toward her.
Mirko laughed, jumping onto the ceiling beams. She ricocheted off the walls like a pinball.
BOING. BOING. BOING.
She was a blur of white and brown skin.
Reiji closed his eyes.
He couldn't track her with his eyes. He had to use the lesson from the Silent Nomu. He had to use his other senses.
The vibration of the air.The sound of her feet hitting the steel beam.
'There.'
Reiji didn't teleport to her. He teleported to where she was going to be.
He visualized the space in front of the heavy punching bag.
TELEPORT.
Reiji reappeared in mid-air.
Mirko was mid-jump, heading right for him. Her eyes widened in surprise. She couldn't change trajectory in mid-air.
"GOTCHA!" Reiji roared.
He summoned his chain.
"GET OVER HERE!"
The spear tip flew at her.
But Mirko didn't panic. She smirked.
She spun her body in mid-air, grabbed the chain with her bare hand, and yanked.
"What—?!"
Reiji was pulled forward by his own weapon.
Mirko used his momentum. She brought her heel down in a devastating axe kick.
[Luna Axe!]
CRASH!
Reiji barely managed to block with an X-cross of his arms. The force slammed him into the floor, cracking the concrete foundation.
Dust billowed up.
"Not bad!" Mirko landed softly on the edge of the crater. "You predicted my path. But you underestimated my grip strength, bunny boy."
... Reiji lay in the rubble, his arms numb.
[System Warning: Arm Durability at 40%.]
He groaned, looking up at the ceiling where dust motes danced in the light.
"Did I pass?" he wheezed.
Mirko looked down at him. She saw the bruises forming on his arms. She saw the fire in his eyes that hadn't gone out, even after taking a direct hit from a Top 5 Hero.
She walked over and extended a hand.
"You made me use a named move," Mirko grinned, pulling him up effortlessly. "You pass."
[Quest Complete: The Rabbit's Test.][Reward: Internship with Mirko Secured.][New Skill Unlocked: "Instinctive Reflex" (Lvl 1).]
"Get up, Reiji," Mirko slapped his back, nearly sending him to the floor again. "Wash your face. We're going on patrol."
Reiji steadied himself, rolling his aching shoulders. "Where to? The business district?"
Mirko scoffed, walking toward the exit. "Business district? Boring. I got a tip from a street rat about some weird movement in the Naruhata District."
She stopped at the door, glancing back with a feral glint in her eyes.
"Some old-school Yakuza types are trying to reclaim their turf while the heroes are busy with the League. They think because they wear masks and suits, they're tough."
Mirko cracked her knuckles.
"Let's go remind them who really owns the streets."
Reiji smirked beneath his mask. Yakuza. Organized crime. That meant structure. And structure was something he loved to break.
"Lead the way, Boss."
End of Chapter 110
_________________________________________________________________________
🔥 Hey legends! Quick updates! 🔥
💥 Can't wait for the next chapter? Good news—ALL advance chapters are available on Patreon for just $5! No more waiting, just pure binge-reading goodness! 🚀
👉 patreon.com/cyci07
✨ Power Stone Challenge! ✨
If we hit 100 power stones, I'll drop 2 bonus chapters! Let's see if you guys can make me suffer! 😂
💬 Enjoying the story? Leave a review and let me know your favorite moment so far! It helps the novel grow and reach more readers!
Thanks for all your support—you guys are awesome! ❤️