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The UA Sports Festival was the chance for hero students to show off what they’d learned to the world. It was their chance to get scouted by pros and take a big step towards becoming full-fledged heroes. In the past, nominations used to be spread out amongst hero course students but recently, only those that made it to the last event caught the eye of pros.
During his second year, Shouji made it to the tourney-style finale but lost to Todoroki in the first round. He'd wanted to show his growth and prove that the wide gap had closed between him and his stronger classmates so his loss took a toll on his pride. Still, he must have proved something because that following week, he had several nominations waiting for him. But there was only one that mattered to him.
The number eleven hero—Sakamata Kugo, better known as Gang Orca—wanted him .
When he arrived at the Chuo City train station, one of Sakamata’s chauffeurs greeted him and drove him to the branch office. Along the way, Shouji was asked to change into his costume in the back of the car. He wanted to make a good first impression so he did as he was told. Sakamata was, after all, someone he admired greatly.
From debut, Gang Orca was feared for his brutal methods with dealing with villains. His intimidating stature and expressions didn’t help his public image either. But he ignored what the tabloids and gossip blogs said about him. He ignored the rumors that he was associated with some underground mafia. He built himself up from the ground, acquiring legions of sidekicks and even peaking in the top ten.
Shouji had watched his rise intently. And now he was going to work with him. Go on patrols, fight criminals, keep civilians safe… he was going to do it all by Sakamata’s side.
He hadn’t realized that “all” included babysitting.
“I promised to give a lecture at Aqua Park Shinagawa,” Sakamata explained. “I know it’s probably not what you expected on your first day, but I think it will be a good experience for you too.”
They used the back entrance of the aquarium so they wouldn’t gather unwanted attention. Shouji lingered for a moment to examine the watercolor mural painted on the walls. There were dozens of graceful sea creatures swimming in their natural environment. He noticed an octopus staying still, camouflaged against a rock, hiding under the shadow of a massive orca. He turned to his mentor, realizing that he was getting left behind.
Shouji watched Sakamata’s back as they walked down the dim corridor, lit up by walls of fluorescent jellyfish. “What do you need me to do?”
They paused outside the lecture room, an opaque plastic curtain separating them from the excited clamor of children on the other side. Shouji created an extra ear to listen to the first grade class that they were meant to be entertaining. They squealed as they ran through the rows of seats in the miniature amphitheater. He also heard the voices of chaperones trying to calm them down as someone got ready to announce the name of the guest speaker.
“Just make sure the kids don’t run away,” said Sakamata.
Shouji frowned. “Run away?”
“Please welcome, pro hero, Gang Orca!”
When Sakamata made his entrance, waving at his audience, the adults applauded and the children were silenced. Some were in awe, eyes glittering, mouths agape, necks craning to get a better look of the sharp-toothed face of the towering hero. Others were actually quaking in their shoes, slowly backing away behind the chairs and their teachers. One little boy in the front row even started crying.
Shouji had some experience with taking care of children. But he wasn’t prepared at all. Normally, he’d put on a puppet show or give him a chocolate chip cookie, anything to pacify the child. However, he didn’t even have a flashlight to make shapes with his shadows. He didn’t know what he was supposed to do.
Sakamata suddenly kneeled down, reached inside his jacket, and produced... a large rainbow lollipop. This got all the kids’ attention. But the hero focused on the one child at the front. “I'm sorry, little one, I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said, talking softly. “I just want to teach you about the world under the ocean. Is it okay if I do that?”
The child sniffed, accepting the candy and nodding timidly. “Okay.”
“Thank you,” Sakamata smiled.
Shouji had never seen this side to his mentor before. The media has probably never seen this side to him before.
“Tentacole,” said Sakamata. “You can sit in the audience if you’d like.”
“Huh? Oh, right,” he nodded, sitting next to the boy who was crying before.
The lights dimmed and the projector turned on, playing a slideshow of the various marine life that the aquarium had to offer. Sakamata naturally donned the lecturer role like it was his day job. He spoke passionately and kept their attention, making them laugh at personal anecdotes of when he had a certain species for lunch. Even Shouji had to admit, it was enjoyable to hear about his mentor’s way to prepare a salmon.
By the time it was over, Shouji was exhausted. After each lecture, the kids got distracted by his physique, climbing on his arms like a jungle gym. He played with them for as long as the chaperones allowed. They were also really sweet once their initial fear dulled, giving a chorus of thanks to the heroes. Afterward, Sakamata took Shouji to a seafood restaurant a few blocks away so they could eat lunch. Shouji had never felt more hungry or relieved.
“You’re pretty good with children,”said Sakamata, as their waitress placed down glasses of ice water onto the table. “I was surprised, but impressed.”
Shouji didn’t want to order much since his mentor was paying. But before he opened the menu, Sakamata ordered one of everything, explaining that they needed lots of fuel for the next few days. He apparently had a rigorous workout routine planned for his student.
Shouji gave the menu back to the waitress. “I have experience babysitting back home.”
“I can tell,” Sakamata nodded. “That puppet show was a great idea.”
“Thanks, I used to tell it to my neighbor’s kids.”
Shouji had so much he wanted to ask but the words spun around so fast, that he couldn’t catch any to form a sentence. He mostly replied to Sakamata while they waited for their food to arrive.
Soon enough, carts wheeled out with octopus, catfish, king crab, rock shrimp, oysters, it wouldn’t stop coming. Sakamata inhaled everything as soon as it came and because he was busy eating, the conversation halted. Suddenly, Shouji saw an opening to say something instead of just responding.
“Gang Orca,” he started. “I was surprised by you too.”
“Hm?”
“I’ve never seen you behave so… softly before.”
“Softly?” Sakamata picked up his bowl of shark fin soup, drank it all in a single gulp, and slammed it back down on the table. Shouji didn’t react but the patrons at the table nearby jumped in their seats. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Shouji took a moment to think about his next words. “It’s just… I always thought that no matter the situation, you were genuine. You didn’t care about rumors, you did things your way.” He stared down at the mackerel. It stared back. “I’m not saying that it’s a bad thing, I just wasn’t expecting to see you like that.”
Sakamata exhaled, leaning back. “Let me ask you something. Did you think that the hero you met at Fukuoka Aquarium when you were seven was genuine?”
Shouji looked up, eyes wide. He even forgot to speak through a morphed mouth and used his real one, behind the mask. “You remember that?”
“Of course I remember!” Sakamata laughed. “Who could forget? Back then, kids weren’t as brave as they are now. You were the only one that stayed for my lecture.” He picked up a crab claw, cracking it open. “How can I forget this little kid with white hair and multiple arms looking up at me with those big eyes? You made me feel like a hero.”
“But you are a hero.”
“Yet no one treated me like it.” Sakamata smiled. “You were one of the first.”
“How can that be?”
“Even if I ignored the tabloids, the general public did not.”
Shouji understood then. No matter what a person did, others will always buy into rumors they hear. He understood that well. Yet despite his peers telling him that it was impossible to be a hero because he didn’t have the face of one, he didn’t give up on his dream. Because he knew that Gang Orca succeeded when everyone else said he’d fail.
“I’m still not sure I understand completely,” said Shouji. “Are you saying that… it was because I saw you as a hero when no one else did that made you decide to change the way you behaved around children?”
Sakamata chuckled softly. “No, I’ve just grown. Like you.” He finished off whatever was left of their meal. “This isn’t about making my public image more ‘hero-like’ to the media. I just want to be the best hero that I can be. And that means not having little kids cry all the time.” He called for a check and wiped at his mouth with a napkin. “I’m not compromising who I am to be a hero. I’m a hero because I love growing and finding out what kind of man I’ll become. Do you get that, Tentacole?”
Shouji thought about the progress he’d made since entering high school. How he met the most incredible heroes-in-training and how they were sprinting towards their collective goal. He thought of the kids in middle school that told him to give up on UA because only the best can get in. But he was in. And he was doing everything to prove he had rightfully earned his spot.
He wanted to protect people. He wanted to save people. And even a man more than twice as old as he was still learning what it meant to be a hero.
“I get it,” said Shouji. “I want people to see me as a hero. But I’ll do it my own way.”
Sakamata grinned. “That’s what I like to hear.” He stood up. “Now then… it’s time for a workout!”
“Huh? But we just ate!”
“You may have grown up but you still need more guidance!”
“Wait! The bill!”
--X--
“Wait! Come back!”
Sakamata lowered his outstretched arm to his side with a heavy sigh. But when he looked down, one child was still there.
“You… You’re not afraid of me?”
The kid stared back at the mountain of a hero, his black eyes blinking through the gaps in his white hair. He was wearing a blue mask that matched his denim overalls and covered his mouth and nose, though Sakamata guessed it wasn’t because he was sick. In his six little arms, the boy squished a purple stuffed octopus to his chest, its velvet tentacles reaching for the floor. Finally, the boy shook his head.
A mouth appeared beside his head, timidly asking, “Are you afraid of me?”
Sakamata exhaled softly, a smile on his lips as he kneeled down to his level. “No, not at all.” He pointed at the doll. “I see you like cephalopods. You want to know some fun facts about them?” The boy nodded vigorously. “Okay,” he chuckled. “Let’s go to the octopus exhibit.”
“After, can you teach me how to be like you?”
“Like me?”
“I want to be a hero! Just like you!”
Sakamata didn’t realize it at the time, but he had never heard those words from anyone before. “Well then,” he smiled, as he took one of Shouji’s hands in his, “I look forward to seeing your growth.”