U.A. High School

“Good morning, Mr. Wayne. I hope you had a fruitful few days to get acclimated to Japan.” Nezu said, inviting John into his office at nine on the dot.  

“I believe it was, though I will say I’m not sure I get your train system quite yet. Never had much need to use public transit before, but with a train ride being only forty-five minutes compared to a couple of hours of driving, I’ll get used to it.” John replied, taking a seat on the couch. He had almost boarded the wrong train again, but luckily Rumi caught him before he did and then came with him to Musutafu today.

They had woken up early, and she started getting him to practice some kicks, along with some odd training in punching towards each other while their arms were in contact. She said it was something to toughen the skin; his arms were burning from the friction by the time they finished, so it probably would after some time. After the training, she came with him to the station to head out on her patrol, deciding at the last moment to come with him after catching him nearly boarding the wrong train.

 “Yes, I can see it being an issue for someone who wasn’t raised on it. I’m positive you will figure it out. Now, first some tea, then I will bring you down to your office.”

“About that, I believe there has been a mistake here. I’m not a therapist.” John said, wanting to get this out of the way.

“No, but you have a course on it, do you not?”

“Well, yes, but-“

“Then it’s fine. Your predecessor didn’t even have that much. He is a fine hero, and I will surely miss him for the security he provided for many school events, but he wasn’t what we needed in the position he held. In some of the letters I had you hand-deliver to the heroes, there was a request to hire a few of them as security for the upcoming student sports festival.

Speaking of students, I’ve had my receptionist set up a schedule for your initial interviews with all the students and staff. You have two hundred people to go through in the next two weeks for the first years, and another three hundred over the following month or so for the second and third years when their schedules permit.”

“That… seems to be a lot.”

“It is, but with the recent attack, I believe it would be good for them to have someone to talk to. We are giving them an initial fifteen minutes of your time, but if you deem it necessary, we can schedule them in for more sessions with you sooner. You are scheduled for six hours a day, with an hour break at lunchtime, and an additional hour at the end of the day open to anyone else you feel needs more time. In addition…” Nezu said, sliding a cup of tea to John and explaining more about the schedule and expectations for this position. 

John followed along, taking notes in his head as they went. Class 1-A would be his primary concern, along with the three instructors involved in the U.S.J Incident. John questioned him on why the instructors needed to be talked to, since they already had years of field experience. Nezu paused to gaze into his teacup.

“I’m sure you saw it on the news, but All Might’s illness was leaked to the press. He was injured several years ago when fighting the villain All For One, and it has been slowly crippling him. Right now, he only has about thirty minutes to use his power every day. Otherwise, he is how you saw him in the medical ward, a frail, injured man who is blaming himself for the attack. 

Eraser Head was brutally injured and nearly killed. He has had a rough life, and I’m afraid this will begin affecting his teaching ability. As for Thirteen, she isn’t a combat hero. This was her first taste of actual violence, and she has become even more withdrawn than she normally is. I have concerns for all three of them going forward, each for different reasons, hence why I added them to your list.” 

John had not seen anything about All Might on the news, or any news for that matter, so this was all new to him. “Still… shouldn’t they be seeing an actual therapist?”

“Mr. Wayne. How many therapists in Japan do you think have personal experience with killing villains?”

“I had no clue.”

“Out of the 59 000 registered therapists in Japan, there are five. One is retired, and the other four work for the police and are former police officers. We don’t have any retired heroes who became therapists, counselors, or mental health professionals. So, I needed to expand my search to allied nations. You Americans had a larger assortment to choose from, but most didn’t want to up and relocate for what we were offering to pay. 

So I broadened my scope a bit. That’s when your resume came across my desk. Sure, you aren’t an actual therapist, but you already know how to handle students, and you fundamentally understand something that most others don’t.” He said, then looked John in the eye with an intensity he did not expect from a furry animal. “You understand what it is like to kill, and how to move on afterwards. I’m a firm believer in hands-on experience, and you have that. You understand incredible loss, terrible violence, and how to move on afterwards.”

“I can’t dispute that.” He replied. After his wife had passed, he had shut down, but he had experienced great loss multiple times in his life prior to that. Not to mention his time in DEN seemed to be tempering him even more. He could kill pirates all day long and sleep like a baby afterwards.

“Of course not. I’m very thorough in my research. They don’t call me the Principal for nothing. Now, unless you truly don’t believe you can do this job, let’s enjoy our tea, and then I will take you down to your office. You have the rest of the morning to settle in, with your first clients scheduled after lunch, counselor.”

“No objections. I’ll do my best, even if it is outside the scope of my schooling.”

Guess I’m doing this. Well, it will be like that time I flew a crop duster for a few years without a pilot’s license. By the seat of my pants! 

With that, the pair of them enjoyed their tea, then left the office shortly afterwards. 

After Lunch

John had returned to his new office after working out in the school gym. The morning had consisted of reading and signing several contracts, along with a guided tour of the campus from Nezu. He was given dockets on all the students and staff, most of which were locked up in a filing cabinet behind his desk. 

The room was fairly large for an office, but nearly as spartan as the Principals’. Grey-walled, with white tile floors, the only real eye relief was a couple of windows that overlooked the U.A. sports field and the forest beyond from four stories up. He had his desk and a chair, along with a pair of recliners and a chaise lounge for his clients. It was pretty basic, and Nezu said that if he needed anything more, he should just expense it to the credit card they had given him. 

Not that I know what in the hell I should have. The closest I’ve been to a shrink’s office was seeing them in movies and on television.

He could see his clients for the day outside the window, lined up in front of Aizawa on the sports field. They would be doing individual training all afternoon, cycling in and out of his office as he went through them, reducing the interruptions to the class. It only took a few moments before two people darted back to the U.A. building, and the rest of the class broke up into different areas of the field.

John just shook his head, wondering where in the hell Aizawa had found a sleeping bag, and why he was wrapped up in it while watching the students go through drills.

*Knock, Knock*

“Come in!” John said, turning away from the window.

A young man stepped in, the same guy who ran to get help during the U.S.J. Incident. He was fairly tall compared to his classmates, standing at five-foot-ten, with short dark hair and glasses. 

“Tenya Ida, class representative of Class 1-A, reporting as ordered, Counselor!” He said, standing at attention in front of John.

“Geeze, calm down a little. This isn’t a military parade or anything.” John replied, smiling at the poor guy. “Please, have a seat.”

“Ah, of course.” He said, then took a seat in one of the chairs.

John sat down as well, picking up a file with the student’s name on it. He leafed through it for a second before looking over at the nervous kid who was staring at him with a little sweat dripping off his brow. He activated his Quirk and then spoke. “Listen, there is no need to be nervous, Ida. I’m here to listen to any concerns you’re having, with the battle at the U.S.J. or problems you or your fellow students are encountering, both here at school or elsewhere.”

“I understand that, Counselor Wayne. We were told as much by Mr. Principal last week.”

“John. In this room, please call me by name. Yes, I’m part of the school staff, but let’s not focus on titles here.”

“Yes, ah- John.” 

“Good. Now, how are you feeling about what happened?” John said, activating his Scouter skill as well to listen in on the student’s thoughts.

The kid pondered for a moment before replying. “I… I’m disappointed in myself.”

“Why?”

“Because I hesitated. I was scared. Scared that if I left, that I was leaving everyone to die. That I was going to be killed by that… villain.”

{I dishonoured my family, my brother’s name, by hesitating. I want to become as great a hero as he is, and I failed.}

“Do you think being scared is a bad thing?”

“Sir?”

“Ida, it’s human nature to be scared. Unless you are some reckless battle junkie with some screws loose, everyone is scared when faced with devastating odds. Before the U.S.J., have you ever been attacked by someone with overwhelming power before? I don’t mean sparing with the instructors, or in some controlled environment.”

“No, I have not.”

“So, don’t you think you’re being a little unfair to yourself?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re fifteen, a new trainee to become a hero, but a teenager nonetheless. You didn’t run from the fight, you didn’t break down. You listened to your instructor and then got help. That sounds pretty heroic for a first timer to me.”

“But the fight was over with by the time we arrived. If it wasn’t for that Twilight Knight, they all could have been killed already.”

“Maybe, maybe not, but that doesn’t change the fact that you acted. You say you hesitated, but you are still an untrained student. It’s not a reasonable thing to have laid on your shoulders, but it was the only choice your instructor had in the moment. You’re a damn hero, Ida, and you will just get better as you gain more experience.”

“You really think so, John?”

“I know it. I bet your brother does too. Have you talked to him yet about the experience?”

“No. He has been busy on a case. Wait, you know about my brother, Ingenium?”

“Only in passing. I know you come from a line of pro heroes in the Tenya family, and you will do them proud.” John replied. He had no clue about the kid’s brother, other than a few passing thoughts about how much he loved and respected the man. He added it to the list he was compiling on Ida for the next time they talked. “Ask him about his first experiences the next time you get a chance. I bet you’ll find that he had some insecurities as well.”

“I will.”

“Good. Now, do you have anything else you want to talk about today? Issues with yourself or other students? Problems with the school or your training?”

“No. Everything is fine.”

{I hate how undisciplined my classmates are. It’s like they are not taking this school seriously.}

Noted.

“Okay then, well, it was good to meet you one-on-one, Ida. You can return to class now. Send the next student in.”

“It was good to meet you too, Sir.” He replied, bowing his head towards John before leaving the room.

John shut off his quirk and took a deep breath. He thought that went well. He just hoped the rest-

*Bang*

The door slammed as another student strode into the room and jumped onto the chaise lounge. He had messy blonde hair and was wearing what looked like gloves in the shape of grenades on his hands.

“Oh, doctor, I’m all distraught. I got into a fight and beat up a few villains. I need your help- Oh, suck it up? Why didn’t I think of that? Thank you, doc, I’m cured. Can I leave now?” The kid said sarcastically.

I just had to open my mouth, didn’t I?

“Good afternoon to you, too, Katsuki. Please have a seat anywhere.” John said, remembering this brat from the other day. Apparently, he was wearing his hero costume for training rather than the gym gear Ida wore. 

“Seriously, man, can I leave now? I wasn’t bothered by the attack; in fact, it felt good to be able to use my powers on those villains.”

{I will become the best hero out there! Icy-Hot won’t beat me!}

John sighed. It was going to be a long afternoon.

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