Arthur POV
Ring, ring
"For the love of god," I muttered as I ran across a beach along the east coast of Japan. The sound of my footsteps against the sand created a rhythmic pattern, each step sending giant clouds of yellows granules into the air behind me making an enormous trail like a carved path.
I picked the phone from my pocket, and just as I was about to decline the call once more, something I'd done way too much for me to remember by now, the phone seemingly accepted on its own.
Okay, what?
The screen flickered to life without my input.
Then that squeaky voice echoed from the device, along with the face of the animal hybrid known as Nezu appearing in crisp detail on the screen.
"Don't hang up!" he yelled quickly, his mouse-like features animated with urgency.
I came to a stop, sand blowing forward from the sudden cessation of my speed. Which was kind of a hassle since it flew over me, small particles of sand blowing into my own clothes, shoes and even hair.
"You gave me one year," I said, trying to keep the exhaustion from my voice. "It's barely been a month."
"Yes I know, I know, but I didn't expect you to just cut all ties with me on that note. I mean come on, you don't pick up a single phone call," Nezu replied, his tone carrying a mix of exasperation and genuine concern.
I could see his office behind him through the video call, shelves lined with books, certificates on the walls, and what appeared to be a rather sophisticated tea set on a side table.
A mouse with ocd?
I'm sure there was a joke there.
"So what do you want to talk about exactly?"
I felt a bit bad about being so blunt and kind of disrespectful, but to be fair I had gone an entire month without sleep or food. Then again, Avalon made it so those things weren't necessary, but I still enjoyed them nonetheless.
The legendary scabbard's healing properties had long since adapted my body to function at peak efficiency regardless of conventional human needs, though the psychological comfort of routine meals and rest remained appealing.
"Well for one, it would be nice to talk to you about how this turnaround is gonna go with the press," Nezu began, adjusting what appeared to be reading glasses perched on his snout.
"So you want me to go on a press tour?" I asked, somewhat bewildered. The thought of sitting in front of cameras, answering questions, it just...
"No, I won't do that," I added, shaking my head vehemently.
"Oh I know that," Nezu answered quickly, waving a small paw dismissively. "And no, I don't want you to actually show up in interviews or something like that. But there are a few officials I'd like you to at least greet. Just a brief meeting, nothing public. But once again, this isn't why I keep calling you."
His expression grew more serious, and I could see him leaning forward slightly in his chair. Whatever this was about, it was clearly important to him.
"Then why?" I asked, cocking my head to the side.
"You remember when I said you'd be a good fit."
I nodded, recalling our conversation in the hospital room. The memory of his words echoed in my mind, something about being perfect for U.A., though he hadn't elaborated much at the time.
"Then the thing that you'll be being a fit for is coming up, and you are needed here," he continued, his voice taking on an almost urgent quality.
"What exactly is this thing I need to be a... fit for?"
"Too important to share over the phone," Nezu replied. "Just come to U.A. I'll be waiting for you at the door."
"It will take me a while..."
I looked around the empty beach, I mean i was somewhat close to Musutafu, but he didn't need know that, I'd just get a cat out of the tree and then head straight to U.A. yeah, I'd do just that.
"I know your location," he said matter-of-factly. "Be here in fifteen minutes. After today, I'll call you once more eight months from now, by my calculations, that's when most of the proceedings will be done."
The line went quiet for a moment as I processed his words.
"You there?" Nezu asked, his voice cutting through my thoughts.
"This is a lot of trouble, isn't it?" I finally responded.
"Of course, but good things aren't easy. I'm sure you know that," he replied, and I could that same eerie smile as the one he had showed me in the hospital a month ago.
"Yeah I know. See you soon, Nezu, and... thanks."
"Thank you, young lad. I'll try to make the meeting quick."
Then the phone turned off by itself, leaving me alone with the sound of waves lapping at the shore and the distant cry of seabirds.
I pocketed the device, took a deep breath of the salty air, and got into position. My legs coiled like springs, energy building in my muscles as I prepared for the journey ahead. Then I sped across the beach, a sonic boom resounding behind me, shaking sand and disturbing the still water at the shore.
Narration POV
U.A. was many things, a school for one, a training ground for another. However, more than either of those things, it was Nezu's very own playground, a place where his extraordinary intellect could be put to its fullest use. And right now, he was waiting to receive his newest guest who would soon become his student.
The principal stood alone outside the imposing gates of U.A. High School, dressed in his characteristic thin business suit.
Nezu checked his watch.
Then raised his head as he stared down the street, watching for any sign of movement. The road was empty, lined with cherry trees that had long since shed their spring blossoms.
He blinked, and suddenly...
There he was.
Blonde hair in a disheveled mess, blue eyes bright and molten. Arthur stood before him as if he'd materialized from thin air, which, Nezu supposed, wasn't far from the truth.
"It took you three minutes," Nezu observed with a slight smile. "I gave you fifteen."
"Really?" Arthur asked, shaking his head. "You gonna berate me for speeding here."
"I'm just joking, lad," Nezu chuckled, his whiskers twitching with amusement. "Come on, let's get you a change of clothes. You reek, which I guess I should have calculated, I mean, you are a teenager in hormone season."
Arthur's face flushed slightly with embarrassment. "I stink?" he asked, genuinely clueless. He raised his armpit, smelled himself, and detected nothing unusual.
"You can't smell yourself, it's the same as tickling, only other people can do it to you, so come on, get inside," Nezu said as he went behind Arthur and gently pushed him forward. The massive doors to U.A. opened automatically as they approached, seemingly welcoming Arthur in, more likely than not they were actually welcoming Nezu.
Twenty minutes later, Arthur stared at himself in a full-length mirror in one of U.A.'s many preparation rooms.
He had just come out of a wonderfully warm shower, which he had enjoyed much more than he would ever admit aloud.
Now he was dressed in a crisp U.A. uniform that fit him perfectly, which made him wonder if Nezu had somehow taken his measurements during their brief encounter at the hospital. The dark blazer felt comfortable across his shoulders, and the tie was already knotted to the perfect length. Even the shoes were the right size.
"You look good," Nezu said from behind him, having entered the room with his characteristic silent footsteps. "So how's the uniform comfortable? Cause that's what you'll be wearing for most of the day once you actually enroll."
Arthur turned to face the principal, still adjusting to how different he looked in the mirror.
"Yeah these are comfortable," Arthur replied.
Nezu however lowered his gaze to the sword hung at Arthur's waist.
"Could you take that off?" Nezu asked pointing at the blade.
Arthur's hand fell to the sword's hilt, his eyes meeting Nezu's button like ones.
"No, I'm sorry, but I can't."
Nezu shrugged his shoulders.
"Well ok then," Nezu said turning around and beginning to walk away. He cocked his head back to stare at a still Arthur. "You coming? We wouldn't want to keep our guests waiting."
Arthur smiled as he began to jog after Nezu, a smile on his face as they both walked down a corridor side by side.
Finally, they reached a conference room, and Nezu opened the door with a theatrical flourish.
Inside were three men, well, one was clearly a teenager, arranged around a polished wooden table. The room itself was impressive, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a view of U.A.'s training grounds and a chandelier that spoke to the school's considerable budget or Nezu's refined taste, could be one or the other.
Seated on one side was a man who immediately commanded attention. He was tall, lean, and muscular, with sharp and elongated features that seemed almost predatory in their intensity.
His shiny hair was worn smoothed down and parted to his left, and was dark green with three distinctive yellow streaks toward the front, two on his right and one on his left. His eyebrows were also yellowish, matching the rims of the triangular glasses he wore and the strikingly bright yellow irises of his stern-looking eyes.
To Arthur, it looked like the man was constantly glaring at everything in the room with barely contained disapproval.
Beside him, however, was his complete opposite. The boy, for he was clearly still a teenager, had an ever-present smile that seemed to radiate genuine warmth and enthusiasm.
He was also wearing a U.A. uniform identical to Arthur's, and the similarities didn't end there. Like Arthur, he had blonde hair and bright blue eyes, though his hair was styled differently and his build was much larger.
But it was the third figure that made Arthur's breath catch in his throat and nearly caused him to stumble over his own feet.
The Symbol of Peace.
All Might sat across from the others, and even in a seated position, he was an imposing presence. His towering frame was somewhat compressed to fit in the chair, which would have been comical if it had been anyone else aside from the Symbol of Peace.
He had the chiseled facial features that graced countless posters and merchandise, a strong jawline that could probably deflect bullets, pronounced cheekbones, and bushy eyebrows that seemed to have their own gravitational field.
His short blond hair was swept backward in his characteristic style, with two distinct tufts that stuck up slightly to each side. And his eyes were the same shade of blue as the two other blondes in the room.
The Number One Hero. The man who had saved more lives than anyone could count, who had stood as humanity's shield against the forces of evil for decades. And he was sitting in a conference room at U.A., apparently waiting to meet a fourteen-year-old vigilante.
Then Nezu's squeaky voice resounded in the room, breaking the moment of awed silence.
"Wait, I know this one," he said, his whiskers twitching with barely suppressed amusement. "Three blue-eyed blondes walk into a bar... wait, this is an office. I guess it doesn't work."
A/N: Boom baby, chapter out, hope you lads and ladies enjoyed it. This is all from me and once more I'd like to apologize for the late update, I really should start writing a stockpile, simply so stuff like this doesn't happen lol.
Either way, I have done my part now you do yours, send me your stones, also if any of you are able to come up with a punchline to the three blondes walk into a bar joke, I will write it in the next chapter, let's get some interaction going. Hope you all enjoyed reading this and until tomorrow. Author out.