Before this chapter start's I want y'all opinion on my chapters. Should I make them longer? Or keep them short? Ok lets get this shit started now
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The last bell of the day rang out, and Midoriya practically melted into his desk. His brain felt fried from the endless parade of equations and history notes. He slung his bag over his shoulder, shuffling toward the school gates when his phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced at the screen. Mom.
He answered immediately.
"Hey, Mom, what's up?"
"Inko Midoriya," ever cheerful and warm even over the phone, "could you stop by the store on your way home? We're out of soy sauce, and I'm making teriyaki tonight."
"Ah—! Sure, no problem!" Midoriya said, straightening up a little despite the fatigue in his voice. "Anything else?"
There was a pause, then, "Hmm… actually, maybe grab some milk too? Oh, and don't forget to check the expiry date this time, okay?"
Midoriya flushed slightly. "That was one time…" he mumbled.
She chuckled softly. "Thank you, sweetie. Be safe coming home."
The call ended, and Midoriya tucked the phone back into his pocket. He adjusted his backpack strap, mentally adding soy sauce, milk to his checklist. He was about to step off the curb toward the nearest convenience store
The little bell above the convenience store door jingled as Midoriya stepped inside, still in his school uniform, backpack slung over one shoulder. He was halfway to the drinks cooler when he spotted a familiar figure at the coffee aisle.
Accelerator stood in front of the shelves, scanning the rows with his usual irritated expression, one hand buried in his coat pocket. He finally grabbed a bag of black coffee beans and tossed it into a small basket.
Midoriya blinked. "Oh—Accelerator-san?"
The albino teen glanced over lazily. "Huh. You again."
Midoriya shuffled a bit closer. "Uh, yeah… I didn't know you liked coffee."
Accelerator gave him a look that said obviously. "It's the only thing in this city that doesn't taste like sugar-coated garbage."
There was an awkward pause before Midoriya cleared his throat. "Earlier… you called heroes 'contractors.' What did you mean by that?"
Accelerator dropped the basket onto the counter with a dull thud. "Exactly what it sounds like. They're not saints. They're not there because of some noble dream. They're on a payroll—paid to keep things looking clean for the public."
"But—" Midoriya started.
"Save it," Accelerator cut in, fishing for his wallet. "When you're on a payroll, the job isn't about the 'right thing.' It's about doing what the ones paying you want done. That's the reality."
The clerk rang up the coffee, and Accelerator grabbed the bag without another word, brushing past Midoriya on his way out. Midoriya stood there for a moment, frowning, as if trying to decide whether that was cynicism… or the truth.
TimeSkip
The late sun draped the street in gold, making the dust motes dance lazily in the air. Accelerator leaned against the brick wall outside the convenience store, tearing open the seal on his freshly bought coffee beans.
Midoriya jogged up, still catching his breath from chasing him down the block. "Wait—Accelerator-san!" Accelerator shot him a sideways glance, clearly debating whether this conversation was worth his time.
"Tch. What now, Broccoli Boy? You gonna ask me about my 'tragic backstory' or somethin'?" "N-No, it's just… I've been thinking. About you. And U.A." That earned him a sharper look, the kind that dared him to keep talking.
Midoriya began to steady himself before saying "Not for… you know, hero stuff. I get it—you're not that type. But think about it—U.A. has one of the highest rates of graduates getting stable, high-paying work. Heroes, support tech, security positions—you name it. Even if you don't care about saving people, you can build a career that keeps you comfortable for life."
Accelerator tilted his head, clearly not expecting the lack of moral preaching. "So, you're telling' me to sell out?" "No I mean", Midoriya began to step closer to him. "You've got a lot of potential to do good, but you're… well, you're working part-time jobs right now, right? U.A. means access to the best facilities, best training, best network. The top one percent. Even if you never put on a cape, you'll still be set up for… whatever future you want. Money. Security. Freedom to do what you want without worrying about rent."
Accelerator didn't say anything, his pale eyes narrowing slightly. "I just think you deserve better than scraping by. U.A. can give you that."
The silence stretched, broken only by the distant hum of a vending machine. Accelerator finally scoffed and looked away, but there was no bite in it. "Tch… you're annoying' as hell, you know that?" "I'll think about it"