Sam is sitting in his room, still looking at the Polaroid picture. He hasn't forgotten a single moment of his past. Memories have become precious, since he knows how easy it is to lose them.
He thought of Aizawa's proposal. The rabbit hero Mirko.
'Just because she looks like Zola, doesn't mean she is her. But… what if she is? What if I can't even tell the difference?'
'*Live, Samuel.*'
Her voice echoes in his head again.
He still hasn't slept well, always seeing the blood and death and the suffering of Africa. Seeing the hypocrisy of Hero society that claims that peace is real, when a major continent is engulfed in never ending warfare.
And of course, he remembers those he lost. Zola and Charles. They were the only good things in Africa. Aside from Lieutenant Simmons and Doctor Miller.
He looks at both the Polaroid and at the request from Mirko.
"What should I do?"
———
"Are you sure?"
Sam was in front of a skeptical Aizawa.
"I'm sure. I need to do this."
Aizawa looked at Sam and saw he was slightly shaken. He looks afraid, but it might be what he needs.
'I hope I don't regret this.'
"Fine… I'll inform Mirko that you've accepted her request."
Sam nodded.
He left the office and returned to his room.
After thinking about it for a while, Sam decided that he needed to face his demons. He had to keep living. And he had to see for himself that Mirko was not Zola.
Sam was not confident about this. In fact, he was terrified. But that was normal for him. What he needed to do, was live. And in order to do that, he had to face a great fear of his.
"I guess… I'll see for myself what this rabbit lady has to offer. From that brief moment, she seemed so much like her."
It's true her hair and skin were similar to Zola's. But that cocky grin he saw when she landed in front of him was what caught his attention the most. That and her battle hungry eyes.
It seemed so similar to Zola's that he had to run away. Like a coward.
That wasn't living. That was running away. And he was done running away. He ran away from the Pale Hand and now he was running away from his past. But that was the easy way out. And Samuel Suzuki always does things the hard way.
———
It was finally the first day of the internships.
Everyone was given costumes, except Sam, and he decided to give them some words of encouragement. Sam ignores it and looks at Iida. He can tell the kid is full of hate and killing intent.
'Just as I feared.'
He decided he needed to step in. Not personally as he doesn't really know Iida. He decides to go to his closest friends.
"Midoriya."
Izuku flinches. He didn't even notice Sam walking up on him.
"S-Sam! Can I help you?"
Sam sighed.
"No. But you can stop the four-eyes from getting killed."
Midoriya looked at Sam seriously. He trusts that Sam has a reason for his words.
"I'm sure you know what happened to his brother."
Midoriya nodded.
"The hero killer."
Sam nodded.
"That happened in Hosu. And if we think about it logically, the chances he is still there are pretty high."
"That makes sense."
"Tell me… where did Iida decide to go for internships?"
Sam asked.
Midoriya thought carefully before his eyes widened.
"I think… he said he was going to Hosu. You don't think-"
"I'm almost positive. If you don't want him to die, you and Mochi cheeks should go and speak with him. I don't know if he will be lucky enough to find Stain, but it's still possible."
"I see… I'll have to go and talk with him. Thanks Sam."
Sam nodded.
"Sure."
Sam turned around to leave. Everyone was getting on busses to their internships. Sam didn't care enough to find out where everyone decided to go, so he just watched them leave.
He watched as Uraraka and Midoriya went and talked to Iida. They were obviously very worried for him. Sam also noticed someone else was listening in on them.
'Todoroki? What's that kid doing? Did he figure it out too? Tch. Great teacher skills Aizawa. Can't even see the reason why Iida went to Hosu.'
Sam was truly disappointed in UA. So far, it has only been a giant disappointment. He hasn't made friends. Midoriya is okay and so are Iida and Uraraka, but he wouldn't call them friends.
'Not like Charles…'
Sam doesn't think he would ever bond with someone as well as he did with Charles.
But maybe, just maybe, Sam could find some peace. After all, he hasn't found a day of peace since he returned to Japan. He still feels like he is limping through the forests of Africa, with a black ankle from a gaboon bite.
He looked down at his leg. He pulled up his jeans and saw his ankle. It had skin grafts all over it in a nasty scar. It looked like his ankle had a chunk of it removed.
'Thank you, Doctor Miller.'
Thanks to her, he can keep walking.
With nothing else left, he got ready to go and meet this rabbit hero.
"Suzuki."
Before he could go, Aizawa stopped him.
Sam sighed.
"Yeah?"
"I don't know what your deal is with Mirko. I won't pry. But if it's too much, you don't have to continue it. Just tell me."
Sam could see the slight worry in Aizawa's eyes.
Sam sighed again. Something he has been doing a lot as of late.
"I understand. Thank you."
Aizawa nodded.
Sam waited for the bus towards Mirkos home, since she doesn't have an agency as she does things alone.
When it arrived, he boarded and closed his eyes.
'I will try and live. Just like you asked Zola. But I need to see this through.'
He then opened his eyes and looked out the window.
'If it hurts too much… I'll leave.'
Sam decided to rest. It was going to be a long week.