The next day
Satoru woke up and prepared to reach his brother's home to start the internship.
(I'm curious to know if the news of me being Hikaru's brother already spread.)
Just as Satoru stepped outside his room and reached the kitchen, all of his classmates cornered him.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE ORO'S BROTHER?" Tetsutetsu yelled.
"WHY DO WE FIND OUT ONLY NOW?" Sen pulled him from the shirt.
"I WANT TO KNOW MORE!" Setsuna exclaimed.
"SO ORO'S FULL NAME IS HIKARU SHIRAKAWA!?!" Nirengeki wondered.
"Calm down, everyone!" said Satoru. "It was a surprise for me, too. I only found out yesterday, I had no idea he was my brother either."
"Please, give him a moment of breath," Itsuka said. "Hideki-kun, I'm so happy for you. You finally found your brother, right?"
"Yeah... I thought he was dead alongside my parents," said Satoru, walking to the table and grabbing a cup of coffee. "But I'm happy he's alive and kicking."
"What a flex," said Monoma. "Being the little brother of the number one hero. I wish I were you, Shirakawa..."
(No, you don't, Neito...)
"Anyway," Satoru tried to change the topic. "I'm going to his agency today. He said we already have a mission on the first day."
"Let us know how it goes," said Tetsutetsu. "And say hi to Oro for me."
"Bring me his autograph!" said Setsuna.
"Tell 'im I always watch him on TV!" Nirengeki said.
"I will, I will..." said Satoru, walking away. (They know half of the truth... one day, whether I like it or not, they'll know the other half, too... and when they do, I'm done for.)
__________
Oro's Agency
Satoru opened the door. "I'm here, aniki. I must say, I missed this place."
Hikaru noticed him. He was eating ramen. "Oh, welcome, Satoru!"
"Speaking of my name," said Satoru. "Please, call me Hideki. There are a lot of people who don't know my real name yet."
"Oh, I see..." said Hikaru. "I'll make sure not to miscall you!"
"So, what's the mission we're going on today?"
"Who talked about mission?" Hikaru tilted his head. "Today, we're training!"
"Oh, as always!" Satoru exclaimed.
"So," Hikaru stretched his legs. "Is there something you'd like to improve or some new technique to learn?"
"Yes," said Satoru. "On TV, when you fought the villain named Mato, you used a technique called 'Light Spreading,' right?"
"Yeah!"
"I want to learn it! I can call it 'Dark Spreading,' or something like that. Also, this technique is very similar to one of my friends'."
"Fine, I'll teach you how to use 'Light Spreading!'"
(Should I ask him about our parents? No, it's not the moment... for now, let's just focus on training.)
"So," Hikaru crossed his arms. "The first thing you must do is spread darkness in your whole body."
"How?" Satoru asked.
"Let's imagine you're feeling cold and want a stove to warm you up," Hikaru explained. "You search everywhere for it until you find it. At that moment, when you turn on the stove, the warmth permeates your entire body, right? Now imagine that feeling, but with your darkness."
"I think I understand," Satoru said. "But it'll still take me some time to learn it."
"Understandable," said Hikaru. "Today, I'll train you to at least learn how to use it!"
"Fine, let's begin," Satoru cracked his knuckles. "Watch out, Aniki! I'm coming for you!"
__________
The next day, Class B
Satoru was sitting in the third seat of the second row. He was the only one to participate in an internship in his class, obviously.
"Hid," Tetsutetsu approached. "How was your first day with Oro-san?"
"It was fine," said Satoru.
"I still can't believe I'm his brother's best friend!" Tetsutetsu exclaimed. "You must introduce him to me sometime!"
"I will," said Satoru.
__________
School Canteen
Satoru sat at a table next to Yosetsu and Togaru.
"I'm proud we're friends, Shirakawa," Togaru said. "You're Oro-san's brother, and you're gonna become one of the greatest heroes, I can tell that."
"Yeah, I agree with Kamakiri," Yosetsu said. "Just... don't leave us in the dust, okay?"
"I already did," Satoru smiled. "But... I'll wait for you once I reach the finish line."
"You know, Shirakawa," said Togaru. "When I first saw you, I thought you were a bad guy, and I wouldn't have gotten along with you. But now, I realize I was wrong."
"Never judge a book by its cover, Kamakiri," Satoru ate a piece of his meal. "Even if I admit that, looking at you, I thought you were a bad guy too. I mean, who would ever think a humanoid lizard could be this kind?"
Togaru smiled. "Yeah, you're right."
Satoru looked in front of him. In the distance, he saw Izuku, but he could tell something was off with him.
(I don't want to bother him,) He thought. (I'll just let him be.)
__________
Some time later
Satoru woke up and got out of his bed.
(Today, it's internship time. I hope Aniki is available for today...)
He opened the door and stepped out of his room. Everyone was still sleeping.
"Seems like I woke up before anyone," Satoru muttered. "Well, I'll have breakfast and go."
__________
Satoru read the message once again.
"Ototo, today we're not doing the internship at my place. We're going... can't tell ya, just follow the position I sent you!"
"Guess I will," Satoru muttered. He reached the metro and waited for the train. Suddenly, someone approached him.
"Long time no see, Hideki!"
Izuku.
"Yo, Izuku," said Satoru. He also noticed Kirishima, Uraraka, and Tsuyu. "We're all going in the same place?"
"I guess so," said Kirishima. "Anyway, I've heard you're Oro's brother!"
"Yeah, tell us about this!" said Izuku.
"It was a surprise for me, too," said Satoru. "But... I'm happy to see someone in my family still alive."
"Is your brother as kind and cheerful as they say?" Tsuyu asked.
"Well, yeah," said Satoru.
"I can confirm!" Kirishima said. "Izuku and I went to Kamino with him when Bakugo was captured!"
"Oh, I see..." Satoru sighed.
"Anyway, since I'm one of the biggest Oro-san's fans," said Kirishima. "What do you say we become friends? We've met before, but nothing more!"
"Fine, let's be friends," said Satoru, shaking hands with him.
(It sounds strange, though...) Satoru thought.
(We take the same train...)
(We get off at the same stop...)
(We take the same route...)
(And we even turn the same corner...)
Satoru saw the Big Three. (Oh, they're here too...)
(What the hell does this mean?)
The eight of them opened the door and saw a room full of heroes. In the middle of the room, there was Oor.
He turned and noticed Satoru. "Yo, Ototo!"
"Aniki, what the hell is this place?" Satoru asked.
"You'll find out soon," said Hikaru.
He noticed Kirishima and Izuku. "Young Kirishima! Young Midoriya! You're here too! And... I remember those two girls, too!"
(I don't know what's going on,) thought Satoru. (But I'm pretty sure this is something big.)
Chapter 40 - End