(Author's Note: Hello there, everyone! Didn't expect this one, did ya? After completing Heroes Rising we're jumping right back where we left off, I gotta tell you guys, from now on things get spicy. Can you imagine the new tricks ol' Steampunk can learn from Endeavor himself? I can... we'll see ;). Have a good reading! Kisses!)
~~~
After this awesome adventure that I was barely able to add to the correct timeline without making it seem weird, the class returned to U.A High.
A few days passed, we're now at the last weeks of December, and you know what that means, Christmas! The class decorated the common area, waiting for the Christmas eve, and when the day finally arrived, they were ready to celebrate together, even dressed according to the occasion, all of them with their own Santa costumes and customized Christmas hats with the fluffy ball on the top according to either their quirks.
With the talk around the school that the Work Studies are returning in a few days, they discussed the subject while waiting...
"Ho ho, it's the steam Santa." Kaito floated down the stairs with his santa costume, and customized Christmas hat with a fluffy brass cog. That and, a Santa beard made of steam.
"Atsuhito, you're going back to Kyushu?" Kirishima questioned.
"Unlikely. Hawks is too busy, so he found me another Work Study."
"So, where are you going, then?"
"Endeavor's Agency."
"The number one?!" Kirishima was surprised. "That's crazy! You always get the best Work Studies! What about you, Midoriya?"
"Yeah, what are your plans?" Iida wanted to know. "Going back to Nighteye's agency?"
"Didn't Centipeder took over the operation?" Kirishima added. "You haven't seen him in a while, right?"
"I was thinking about returning there..." Midoriya spoke up. "But they're too busy too. Gran Torino can't take me too, so I'm kind of in a limbo."
"That sucks!"
"Last time it was voluntary. "Midoriya continued. "But this time is mandatory. I guess the school will find me somewhere to go."
"Oh, that's true..." Kirishima agreed. "Bakugo! You're going back to Best Jeanist?"
Kaminari smacked a Christmas hat on Bakugo's head.
"I don't know..." Bakugo looked down.
"Word is, Jeanist has gone missing..." Kaito pointed out. "I hope he's ok.."
"Oh, right. I heard about that too. But hey! You still have a lot of places to choose, man!"
"All those losers can't teach me anything!"
Ashido sneakily tried to put a Christmas costume on Bakugo, he ain't having none of it.
"I'm not wearing it! Dammit!"
"Hey! This is supposed to be a holy night!" Mineta slammed the table, voicing his impatience. "Why are we talking about this school stuff?!"
"He's right..." Kaito agreed.
"C'mon guys, Mineta has a point..." Sato entered the room, carrying a delicious looking roasted turkey. "Specially since it's time to feast!"
"Hooray for chef Sugarman!" The class cheered.
Suddenly, they heard a voice coming from outside the dorm.
"We're a little late, I hope they didn't start already."
"Is that.. Mr. Aizawa?"
The doors opened to reveal a cute scene, a Santa Eri!
"Trick or...treat?" She looked back and forth, confused.
"Not quite. Wrong holiday."
"It's Eri Claus!"
"Hnng-" Kaito felt his heart stop from cuteness overload, falling on his back.
"Are you ok?!" Jiro voiced her concern.
"Cutie pie!" Yelled Uraraka.
"You look great!" Midoriya complimented.
"Where's Togata?" Kirishima questioned.
"I told him we'd be here tonight. Right now he's celebrating with his class." Aizawa explained.
"The eggs are painted all pretty!" Eri offered a couple of Easter eggs.
"No, no, no. That's for Easter, Eri." Uraraka clarified.
"Her horn is getting bigger again." Midoriya noticed.
"Yeah, she seems more positive these days. What you and Atsuhito told her really hit home."
Kaito was still on the ground, holding a flower on his chest. Jiro approached with his guitar.
"Up for a Christmas duet?"
"Great idea!"
And so they did the thing again, this time with the Christmas spirit. The festivities continued for a while, everyone celebrates, everyone having a great time, they even had a surprise gift exchange.
"Hey, I've got a Top Hat." Shoji showed his gift.
Kaito chuckled.
"Looks great on you!"
He opened his present.
"A Crimson Riot figure? Gee, I wonder whose gift is that?"
After the festivities are over, Kaito found himself at the kitchen doing the dishes, something he volunteered to do.
"Goodbye, Steam!" Eri waved as she walked away holding Aizawa's hand "Happy crisis!"
"It's Christmas, Eri..." Aizawa corrected.
Kaito couldn't help but to chuckle at that scene.
"That's a lot of work. You sure you can handle all that, Atsuhito?" Jiro voiced her concern.
"Yeah, don't worry. Midoriya and Todoroki will help me out."
"Oh. Ok then, I'll see you tomorrow..." she began to walk away, when Kaito stopped her.
"Um- Jiro..."
She turned back.
"Yeah?"
"I- uh..." Kaito could barely speak, he was nervous. "I made something for you... it's a gift." He nervously pulled out a Steampunk style musical note necklace. "H-here..." With shaking hands he handed the gift.
Jiro looked at it with glimmering eyes.
"Y-you didn't have to..." she grabbed the pendant, immediately putting it on. "It's beautiful Atsuhito..."
"Well..." He rubbed the back of his head. "I've been working on it since the School Festival, we haven't had too much free time so it took a while. I wanted to thank you for your hard work for the Fest-"
Jiro hugs him before he could finish, taking the steam guy by surprise. On the outside he's paralyzed, but inside his heart is going full throttle, all engines ahead flank!
"Thank you, Atsuhito..."
He hugged her back.
"Ahem..." Todoroki suddenly appeared.
They let each other go immediately, trying to act like nothing happened.
"I-uh... I'm going to my room now..."
"Y-yeah I have to get back to work now.
"Bye!" They spoke in sync.
Kaito got back to work along with Todoroki, you can imagine the awkward silence.
"So..." Todoroki spoke up. The steam guy was red as a tomato, nervous.
"I'll see you at my father's agency, then?"
*relieved steam sigh* He was no longer red as a tomato.
"Yeah... sure." Kaito had a dumb smile.
"Are you ok, Atsuhito?"
"If I'm ok? I'm doing great!" Kaito seemed genuinely happy.
Todoroki looked back, kind of confused.
"...You must really like being a hero."
Kaito looked at Todoroki, dumbfounded.
"Yeah, that's it, Todoroki..."
~~~
With the whole point of the Dorm System being to keep the students, and their families, away from any harm, it became tricky for the students to celebrate Christmas with their families. So the teachers decided to let the students go home for a day, as long as they have a teacher with them.
In Kaito's case that didn't work, seeing as his mother is a nurse, and she works during Christmas, so a simple video call would do the trick. Kaito was at the common area, along with other classmates that had already returned from their homes.
"...and that's how we saved this little girl, Eri." He concluded the story. "Here's a picture we took yesterday." He showed his mother a picture of Santa Eri along with his classmates.
"Aww, she looks so happy. Also, I saw your hero debut with Endeavor!"
"Y-you did?"
"You did great, Kaito. I'm proud of you!"
"Thanks, mom... I told you I would do my best."
"Hey! That's your mom!" Kirishima jumped in, invading the call. "Hey, Ms. Atsuhito!"
"Atsuhito's mom?" That caught Kyoka's interest. So she jumped in too. "Hii! Ms. Atsuhito! We didn't get the chance to meet before, I was kinda unconscious from that villain's gas quirk!"
"Oh, I remember. You're Kyoka, right? I'm glad to see you're ok! Tell me, how's Kaito as a classmate?"
Jiro looked at Kaito with a devious smile.
"He's great! He made me this necklace as Christmas gift." She showed the necklace.
"Did he now?"
Kaito blushed.
"What?! You made Jiro a Christmas gift? What about the rest of us, man!?" Kirishima voiced his indignation.
"Yeah! No fair!" Mineta joined him.
"I want a neat necklace too!" Kaminari too.
"Y-you see, it took a lot of time to make it-"
"No excuses!"
And confusion filled the room. In the middle of that, Kaito ran to his room.
"Sorry about that..." he continued the call.
"She's not just a friend, right, Kaito?"
"W-what? I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Hm-hmm... I see..."
"I gotta go now, mom. I'll talk with you soon."
"Okay... good luck with your Work Study. And stay safe!"
"You too!"
He closed the call, then thought about what his mother said for a second.
"She's just a friend right...?"
~~~
Fast forward to a few days before the Work Study... Kaito found himself with All Might, Midoriya and Bakugo again.
"So you're all going to Endeavor's agency?" All Might wondered.
"What? Flyboy is going too? Great, another dead weight."
"It's only for a while. Hawks is too busy, and he thought I would learn more there."
"He's right." All Might agreed. "I'm sure you all can learn something."
"What about my One For All training?"
"I think you've been doing fine ever since Black Whip manifested. After all, we haven't seen any other new quirks emerge, right? As long as you've got the locking-unlocking visualization down, I don't think you'll experience any more outbursts."
"I'd unlock them in a flash, like 'bam!'" Bragged Bakugo.
"I'm sure you would..."
"This is a great timing for you, Young Bakugo. You and Endeavor are a lot alike, and I think seeing him as he is now will do you a world of good. The same goes for you too, young Atsuhito. If the three of you hope to become top heroes, you gotta make the best of this opportunity."
~~~
A few days passed, and Kaito found himself, along with his classmates exiting the train station, they finally arrived at the stage for their Work Study. They were recieved by the man himself, Endeavor.
"Welcome! I'm Endeavor." He had a chill, welcoming look. That caught them off guard.
And then Endeavor returned to his firm, stern, look.
"Is that the warm reception you were hoping for? I ain't thrilled about taking you two on! This is only cuz' Shoto asked! I was hoping it'd be just him and Atsuhito, who've already proven himself in Kyushu and is here due to a recommendation!"
Kaito smirked.
Then Shoto spoke up.
"You already accepted them, so stop complaining."
"Sh-shoto!!"
"Ever since our training course, I've been thinking..." spoke up Bakugo. "You're a jerk."
"Are you really friends with this boy, Shoto?!"
"Whatever. I'll put up with anything if it means watching how the top hero operates."
"I told you to choose your friends wisely, Shoto!"
"Man, this will be a long Work Study, I can already tell..."
"Thank you for accepting us!" At least Midoriya showed some respect.
Endeavor and the interns continued forward, takin a stroll down the street.
"'I'm not Shoto'. It was you who said that, right?"
Bakugo, Shoto and Kaito found that strange.
Endeavor suddenly, stopped and jumped over a fence on the sidewalk, getting ready to use his flame quirk.
"Sorry, but I don't give a crap about anyone but Shoto." He dashed toward what sounds to be villains causing some trouble. "You wanna learn? Stand back and watch!"
To Endeavor's surprise, when he glanced back, the four interns were already following, while putting on their support items.
"Tell us what we can do!"
The Endeavor Agency Hero Work Study... Begins now.
~~~
Just a quick chapter to hype you guys up for this new arc. I hope you liked it, and I'll see you in the next one! Kisses!