"Master Recovery Girl," I said, waiting for her nod before continuing. "I have a question. When performing treatment with a Quirk, is medical knowledge still a requirement?"
She gestured for me to continue, her eyes keen. She, too, was a teacher and a hero. Her intuition was sharp. Every teacher here was a pro, and unlike some of the lackluster heroes one sees in the news, these felt like the real thing. I had only been here half a day, and yet I was already delighted by these encounters.
"Of course it is," she replied. "There's a massive difference in the results between healing someone after proper medical intervention and just 'healing' them blindly. Unless you're the type of person who can literally rewind time, knowledge is everything."
"I thought as much. In that case... I believe it would be wise for me to begin studying medicine for the sake of the future."
I had found a new goal. This planet lacked the advanced medical tech of things like Bacta tanks. The ability to physically treat a person was a skill I could not afford to lack. And while I had knowledge from the Republic, I needed to see how much of it was applicable here.
"Hmm... if that's your angle, you should become a Health Representative. That talk about increasing stamina directly has me curious. I might need your help from time to time."
"Representative... I see. Understood. I would be honored to assist."
With our business concluded, Midoriya and I took our leave of the infirmary.
"Phew... but man, Mashie-san, you're really something. Since you skipped grades, that means you're younger than me, right?"
"I'll be eleven this August."
"Eleven in August! That's... that's incredible. You're a total genius..."
Midoriya's gaze drifted, a hint of envy mixing with his awe. But there was no malice in it.
Ah. So I am now the one viewed with those eyes. My "talent" is a meager thing, really—merely the result of living a second life. I felt compelled to correct him.
"No, you're wrong, Midoriya."
"Eh?" He blinked, caught off guard.
"I have very little 'talent' to speak of. I simply had a friend I respected above all others, and I have spent my life striving to stand as his equal."
"...Effort... just to stand beside someone you respect..."
In my past, there was a genius. The hero, Anakin Skywalker. And while I envied him, I never let myself resent him. I didn't want to be that small of a person. So I worked. I struggled. I just wanted to be worthy of standing at his side. That was all.
...However, reality is a cruel master. The only thing I managed to achieve was the resolve to keep trying; no matter how hard I worked, I never even reached the soles of his boots. And as I knew all too well, I was never able to save him.
"I see..." Midoriya whispered. "Maybe if I... if I had worked harder from the start, maybe I could have... with Kacchan..."
"Did you say something?"
"N-no! It's nothing! Just reflecting on my own shortcomings. But still, for you to say all that... that person must have been amazing."
"Yes. He was amazing. The strongest man I have ever known."
"Oh... I see. I'm sorry... I shouldn't have brought up something so difficult."
"I don't mind."
My regrets were tied to the fact that I couldn't save Anakin as a friend, not the fact that he was "gone." After all, his death happened long after mine. I had already been reduced to nothing by then; there was nothing I could have done.
Besides, while Anakin is technically "dead," he's still perfectly active as a ghost. It isn't nearly as tragic as Midoriya thinks. I'd prefer if he didn't worry so much. Though explaining that would be a nightmare, so I held my tongue.
When we returned to the classroom after changing, we found Iida and Uraraka talking with Himiko.
"You look like you're having fun, Himiko."
"Koto-chan, welcome back! And Green-kun too!"
"Welcome back! Good to see you're okay!"
"H-huh? Oh, um, I'm back!?" Midoriya turned beet-red as Himiko and Uraraka approached with smiles.
"Midoriya-kun, is your finger healed?" Iida asked.
"Iida-kun... yeah, thanks to Recovery Girl and Mashie-san. Did you guys wait for me?"
"Indeed! I felt it improper to leave the ladies alone in the classroom, and I wished to speak with you further. Uraraka-kun felt the same."
"Really!? I... I'm honored!"
"Ehehe, you were so cool during the entrance exam too!" Uraraka chirped. "Let's see... was it 'Deku-kun'?"
"DEKU!?"
"Eh? But during the test, that Bakugo guy kept calling you..."
"Um, my actual name is Izuku... 'Deku' is just something Kacchan calls me to make fun of me..."