Sato Akari is a spectacular student reporter and she's going to be an even better real one. As soon as she gets her diploma and graduates with her degree in journalism she's going to get a job at a newspaper or a news station and she is going to track down leads and expose corrupt powerful people and work on important stories. That's all in the future though, right now she's just the best student reporter she can be.
U.A. was definitely the right choice for her. Her parents were pushing for Shiketsu but she managed to talk her older sister into vouching for her and the school. Akari wants to be in the middle of all the action and in a hero society that means the top hero school.
She's making connections left and right, she's friends with the president of the school journalism club and she makes sure to tune into all the gossip circles.
So, when Akari hears rumors of a child no one can account for making appearances around the school, she knows she has to get to the bottom of it. It may turn out to be nothing interesting but this is her dream and she's going to take every opportunity to fight for it.
Every story, every lead, every investigation is skills gained and progress made. She's going to be great, not because of her quirk, not because of her school, not even because of her teachers. She's going to be great because she knows that's what she wants and she's going to fight for it.
-
She starts her investigation with her classmates, Kinoshita seems to know anything and everything. She's quiet but her quirk means, like it or not, she usually has a handle on all the rumors. Better, she's usually willing to talk, but only if you ask.
"A kid? I haven't heard anything concrete about any kids but..." She holds up a finger before Akari can say anything more, "I did hear that the 3rd years have been whispering about something lately. I'd try the management course first if I were you, they're usually the ones on top of those types of things."
Akari's least favorite course to deal with by far is the management course, followed closely by support and trailed far behind by the hero and general courses. They're always looking for an angle, what to say, when to say it, how to twist their words just so. It's exhausting. Good practice of course! But utterly exhausting. If she had it her way every investigation would end with the management course after she's had the time to figure out all the facts.
But she knows that not every story will be so cooperative, she'll roll with the punches and take what she can get.
She doesn't have many contacts with the 3rd year management students, something she'll have to rectify, but she thinks she can get Honda to talk. One of her first articles for the school newspaper was writing a short fluff piece about some extra curricular project he took the lead on in his second year.
She spots him at a lunch on his phone, there's a spot open across from him and she takes her shot, slamming her tray on the table decisively.
"Honda-senpai! Fancy seeing you again!"
"Sato-san," he inclines his head in greeting, serious as ever. "What can I do for you?"
"Can't I just be checking up on one of my first subjects before he goes on to graduate to great things?"
"I don't graduate for months Sato-san, it's not even October, and we both know there's only a few reasons for such a dedicated student reporter to eat lunch with someone like me."
"Fine." Akari would like it if he'd play along but she'll take what she can get. "I've been hearing rumors around campus and my sources say you might know something."
"I might, who knows, if I do it sure doesn't seem to be in my interest to tell you."
Man does she hate the management course.
"I'll write you another puff piece if you give me valuable information that leads to answers. Length of the piece is determined by how useful your information is. Deal?"
"Deal, I have an exciting final project on merch sales practices I've been dying to advertise. What do you want to know?"
Merch sales practices!? There's a reason she can't stand these people. How her sister ever graduated even slightly normal she'll never understand. She leans in discretely.
"I've heard tell there's some kid, like an actual kid, who's been seen around the school. Nobody seems to know what the deal is and I want answers. Witness protection, teacher's kid, random child Nedzu lured in with the promise of tea doomed to walk the halls for all eternity, I don't care. I have to be the one who breaks this story Senpai."
"Well, never let it be said I object to ambition. Unfortunately, I haven't met the child myself." She scowls and he rushes to finish. "I've heard a few things though! Your best bet is someone from 3-E or 3-F, they were the ones to start all the rumors. Word is they've actually met him."
"Alright, you get 400 words, give or take. Provided this lead pans out, please don't explain it in management-ese. We'll talk later."
-
Akari decides to start with 3-E since she's already dealt with management today and really doesn't want to follow that up with support right now. There's still time before lunch is over.
Her contact in 3-E is a certain chatty Maeda Yoshiko, queen of 3rd year gossip and never stingy with information. Her color manipulation quirk means that everything she touches turns the most beautiful shade imaginable. Everyone's a little jealous of her uniform, it's just a little bit better looking than everyone else's and it's not blatant enough for the teachers to call her on it. Akari tracks her down at a table with a bunch of her classmates, giggling over something of interest.
"Hi! Uh, could I borrow Maeda-senpai for a minute?"
"Aw, sure, anything for my adorable kouhai! What do you need?"
She grabs her lunch and leads them to a quieter table. By the time they're settled Maeda is nearly bouncing in place.
"Is this about the green kid?"
Green? She never heard anything about green.
"If the green kid is the child who's been spotted around U.A. the last couple weeks and subject to all the rumors than yes."
"I knew it! He's so cute Sato-chan! He has this adorable fluffy green hair, it's the cutest thing ever!"
This is her most useful lead yet! She definitely should have come here first. She grabs her notes and leans in.
"You've seen him?"
"Seen him? The whole class has been talking about it for like a week now! Get this, Aizawa-sensei is in for his ethics and law class right? Normal stuff, awful essays, I swear he wants me dead Sato-chan."
Akari nods vigorously, everyone knows about the essays, there's a reason she's putting off taking that class. She wants the goods on the kid.
"So, it's weird cause he's been out for like weeks, right? And Aizawa-sensei never takes vacations, it's like, not in his nature to be healthy or something. I heard Kayama-sensei grumbling about how weird it is he took time off. Not only that! I'm sure you've heard but Mic-sensei took time off too!"
Everyone knew that, everyone takes English at some point and he's a great teacher. The substitute wasn't nearly as engaging as Mic-sensei, she's never going to complain about his classes again.
"Here's the super weird thing Sato-chan, they took the same days off! They both came back at the same time! There's rumors they were on some top secret mission together."
"That's interesting but the kid, Senpai, the kid!"
"Oh, right. So, we all knew Aizawa-sensei was back so its no surprise when he shows up. He wouldn't tell us anything but honestly what do you expect? He's a bit of a bore like that. But! There's this little kid behind him! Where did he come from? Why does Aizawa-sensei have him? How did he get so cute? ...Alas, I have no answers. Aizawa-sensei wouldn't tell us anything, it was awful. I need my answers Sato-chan!" She whines and flops dramatically onto the table. "We couldn't answer one of his horrible questions and he asked the kid if he had any ideas, his names Izu... Izu... I don't know, Izu-something. He was so cute Sato-chan! He wrote all these little notes on his little paper. He got all nervous and fidgety but he did such a good job answering! He's so adorable I can't even do it justice!"
Useful information, but not enough to write a story on. She could write an article about the rumors without any actual answers but there's no satisfaction in that. Stories need conclusions! They need answers! She won't get anywhere with Aizawa-sensei either, he hasn't agreed to an interview with the school newspaper ever. No respect for the press. Hopefully this isn't a complete dead end.
"Thanks for your help senpai, do you remember anything else about him?"
She lifts her head off the table and looks off in thought. "I don't, but! so you know how I'm dating Chiba Ryo from 3-F right? Absolute riot, he's so sweet, anyway, he said he sat in on their English class too! Super weird right? Mic-sensei and Aizawa-sensei both disappear at the same time and come back with some kid who's only ever been seen with one of them? The whole class has been whispering about it. Wouldn't it be romantic if it was their kid? Perfect opposites attract story." Maeda giggles a little at the idea of Mic and Aizawa of all people being a couple before focusing again. "I think Ryo said his friend... Suzuki... yeah, Suzuki, actually talked to him after class."
That might be just the break she's been waiting for. She'll have to track Suzuki down before lunch ends. She should have just enough time if she hurries and gets away from Maeda fast enough. She hasn't eaten anything but sometimes you have to make sacrifices for your stories.
"Thanks Senpai! This has been really helpful, I'll bring you a donut or something tomorrow."
"Don't even worry about it Sato-chan, I can't wait to hear what you track down!"
-
Suzuki is a bust, she doesn't find him before the bell rings for afternoon classes. With her luck he's probably one of those support kids who eats and (if he could swing it) sleeps in the support labs.
Akari spends the evening writing down everything she knows and coming up with theories, nothing concrete, but it's good practice for the future.
Lunch comes the next day and she sets out on her mission. As it turns out, Suzuki doesn't eat his lunch in the support labs, she finds him with a couple other kids at a back table scribbling wild notes and mumbling about schematics and "security flaws in the laser boots."
"Um, sorry to interrupt, is Suzuki-senpai here?"
"Oh yeah, that's me, I'm Suzuki! What's up?" He has black hair that shouldn't be naturally wild but is anyway, she can see markings on his skin that are probably quirk related and he grins widely, she makes sure not to shiver at all the pointy teeth. Reporters need to make sure not to make their sources uncomfortable.
"I'm Sato Akari from the school newspaper, I've heard you know something about a kid who's been seen around U.A. recently. Would you mind telling me about him?"
"Oh for sure, so I first saw him with Mic-sensei and I asked what was up right? And he wouldn't say much but then the kid's like 'is your blood poisoned?' which is crazy right? My quirk is a minor mutation, we all thought it was just breathing underwater and having wicked teeth but no, turns out my blood is actually poisonous! Awesome! I can't believe I didn't know this whole time!"
This is completely unhelpful. The story isn't supposed to be "Student Discovers New Aspect of Quirk!" it's meant to be "There's a Child on Campus and Here's Why!" She might have to write that inconclusive ending after all.
"...Once again, unbelievably cool thing, and I ran into the kid again on the way and it was kinda weird..." Shoot, come on Akari pay attention!
"What was weird?"
"Well, he was with Mic-sensei and Aizawa-sensei visiting Shuuzenji-sensei. I know he was seen with one or the other before but I didn't know they were friends. Super cool of them to work together and be professional on stuff like that."
"Like what?"
"Isn't it obvious? Mic-sensei and Aizawa-sensei take time off at the same time, they return with a nervous little kid who's definitely not been eating enough. Clearly, this is a case. Heroes have witness protection stuff right? Aizawa-sensei probably took some super secret, ultra underground case and wound up with a kid and Mic-sensei's helping out since he knows about kids. They probably couldn't leave him alone until they catch whoever they're after and didn't want to miss more class so they brought him along."
A logical theory, probably makes the most sense out of the ones she's heard so far. It's way less fun than Maeda's they're actually secretly married with a child theory but Akari is a reporter not a gossip.
She bids Suzuki goodbye before he can get too far into his rant about all the ways he could use his blood for support items. She doesn't need to know about his plans to protect his newest AI system from tampering with little tubes of blood.
-
Akari wanders the empty halls to get her thoughts in order, figuring out the timeline of events and throwing out the most ridiculous theories. The teachers don't usually help much with the student newspaper, even as sources but maybe, just maybe she could get Mic-sensei to talk to her. It might be a long shot but it's her only option to get anything close to a satisfying story.
She's not paying much attention when she notices something green out of the corner of her eye. She looks up, half convinced this case is driving her crazy when she sees him. Making his way back to the teacher's lounge. He's as green as Maeda said and as underweight as Suzuki said. Maybe... maybe she could talk to him.
He notices her staring and hunches in on himself defensively, dropping eye contact and moving faster.
She doesn't move to follow, too stunned by her sudden luck to make a decision or chase after him.
"Would Sato Akari from 2-C please make her way to Principal Nedzu's Office? Sato Akari from 2-C to Principal Nedzu's Office please."
She can hear the ringing of feedback from the speaker even after it's turned off. She's still standing in the hallway and her best lead is gone.
fuck.
-
Akari's not scared, who told you that? Whoever it was is a dirty rotten liar.
Why are all the doors in this stupid school so big? It's making her, not for the first time, feel really small. Maybe it's some sort of thing with Nedzu wanting humans to know how he feels all the time. Who knows, certainly not Akari.
She manages to get the door open and walk in without trembling. She's not sure what she did wrong and she hates that.
"Greeting Sato-kun! Would you like some tea?"
She nods dumbly. She spent her entire 1st year hoping to never see Nedzu outside of congratulations and long winded orientation speeches and now she's here. Staring into his beady eyes that see far too much.
"Um, Principal Nedzu, why am I here?" She hopes she doesn't sound nervous, she's never gotten in much trouble before. Reporters are supposed to be brave but she can't help but shrink a little bit.
"Ah, my apologies Sato-kun, you're not in trouble. Think of this as more of a... preemptive action. I noticed you've been investigating one of my guests."
"The, uh, the green haired kid?"
He nods and she continues warily. "Yeah, everyone was curious and I thought it would make for a good story."
"Hmmm, I suppose it would make for a good story, but I must ask you to consider whether it should."
"What?" Akari isn't sure what he's getting at.
"Consider your theories Sato-kun, the things your sources have suggested. If you wish to become a reporter," he tilts his head a little and corrects, "if you wish to become a great reporter, you must consider how your stories will impact the world around you and your subjects."
Akari sips on her tea and thinks for a minute. Nedzu seems content to let her come to her own conclusions in her own time so she puts aside her anxiety as best she can and thinks. Maeda had jokingly theorized that Mic-sensei and Aizawa-sensei are married and the kid is theirs. If they aren't, her story might make them uncomfortable and ruin whatever relationship they do have. If they are, it might put them in danger. No one's really sure of Aizawa's hero identity, but what if he really doesn't have one? She's never seen him do anything hero-like, though he teaches in the hero course. It especially might put the kid in danger, to insinuate a connection like that to a popular hero like Present Mic.
Suzuki's theory seems more likely to her personally and she hadn't even thought about what it might mean if she publishes her article if he's right. She could get him killed! She thinks about the skittish little kid she saw in the hallway and she knows she couldn't put him in danger, even if she's dying to know.
"I think I get your point." She deflates, it's such an unsatisfying conclusion.
"I'm glad," he gives her a small smile that she returns hesitantly, "I understand it might be frustrating to be left without answers but, sometimes that's for the best."
-
Akari's in a slightly melancholy mood walking out of the school late that afternoon. She understands why Nedzu had to put a stop to her investigating but it still hurts. She hates abandoning stories before they're finished. It feels wrong.
She takes the long way to gather her thoughts and is startled by another flash of green. She darts back behind the corner before he can see her. There's less tension in his frame now as she watches him smile timidly up at Aizawa-sensei. He looks so happy in the moment, fiddling with the hem of his shirt and responding to Aizawa's quiet questions with nervous enthusiasm as they turn and walk down the halls towards the exit.
She sighs against the wall she's leaning on, closes her eyes, takes a deep breath and starts on a different route out of the school.
Onto the next story, maybe merch sales practices will wind up interesting after all.