Gray was accepted into the program two weeks after he applied.
He was a little bit surprised. His grades were good, his attendance was clean, and most of his teachers liked him enough to write recommendations without much trouble. But it still felt too fast.The assignment itself was simple on paper. He would assist with administrative work connected to a pro hero's agency and an environmental research outpost in Antarctica, then write a report about the experience when he returned. But it felt strange that he was accepted. He heard someone had applied months prior to an agency and went through multiple interviews just to be rejected. He was shocked when he suddenly received a call a week later and was accepted. The school also prepared his departure. He didn't think much about it for now. All he could think about was Antarctica.
A continent of ice, it was freezing the entire year. No one lived there except researchers and scientists.
For Gray, it sounded perfect. He would be given a place to stay and free time to do what he wished.
The school sent several packets after his approval. Travel details. Safety rules. Emergency numbers. Contact procedures. A long list of recommended gear for extreme cold weather. They even provided him with a small allowance to purchase the gear.
Gray skimmed most of it. He pocketed the allowance. It was recommended to buy gear with it. However, Gray had all but ignored it. The whole point was to train.
He did pack enough to stop people from complaining. some coats, thermal layers, gloves, face protection, heavy boots. The kind of things normal people need when visiting a frozen continent.
Gray stared at the gear for a while, then packed it anyway.
Rei would worry unnecessarily if he didn't.
The morning he left passed without much drama. Fuyumi checked his bag more than once. Rei reminded him to call as soon as he arrived. Shoto told him to be careful, but there was some concern in his voice. Endeavor had already left for work, but he had sent a short message through Rei telling Gray not to embarrass the family. Natsu just said bye before rushing out.
Gray said his goodbyes quickly, accepted the extra food Rei insisted he take, and left before anything else.
The trip was annoying.
He had expected it to be, but he had underestimated how much of a pain in the ass it would be. First came the commercial flight. Then a long wait at an airport, people moving too slowly. After that came the charter flight, then a ship.
The air was cold. He breathed in. It was perfect. He looked up at the sky, it was already night time. Wait..? Night time?
There weren't many people where he stood. It was just another small group. Gray stood still for a moment longer, letting the cold settle against his skin. It was nice. One of the adults escorting the group noticed him lingering and reminded him to put his hood up.
Gray did, mostly to avoid the lecture, but it was with genuine concern. The ship was almost at its destination.
He didn't normally mind transportation, but after several hours of rough water, even Gray started to hate it.
By the time the drop off finally came into view, he was ready to sleep.
The station sat against the frozen coast like a cluster of metal boxes refusing to be buried. Low buildings were connected by reinforced walkways, their walls streaked with frost. Antennas rose into the sky. Snow blew across the ground in thin sheets, and beyond everything stretched ice.
Gray stepped onto the dock, bag over one shoulder, and looked out across the distance. It was white as far as he could see. Like a sheet of ice.
For a moment, the exhaustion faded.
The wind rushed past him, sharp enough that even he felt it a bit. Snow scraped across the ground.
He breathed it in. It was perfect.
Gray adjusted his bag and went inside a small outpost and sat down. It was warm. It was built for people so they didn't have to wait out in the cold. After checking his bag and making sure he didn't accidentally leave anything, he went back outside. The cold was much nicer.
He stood near the designated pickup area, hands in his pockets, wearing far less than the other people around him. The cold pressed against his skin, soothing him. He only had to wait a couple minutes before an engine rumbling was heard in the distance.
Gray turned his head as a black snowmobile came into view, cutting across the snow toward him. The vehicle slowed near the pick up point, kicking up snow around its sides before stopping a few feet away.
The man driving it was large. Very large. He had a broad rounded build, with a thick neck, and heavy shoulders. His face was unique, with dark eyes, a heavy nose, thick whisker-like bristles, and a wide mouth. He wore a simple coat that didn't seem nearly thick enough for this climate, along with gloves and a pair of goggles pushed up over his forehead.
He looked Gray over, then broke into a smile. He spoke in English. But Gray already knew that since the interview was in English.
"You are Haise Todoroki right?"
Gray nodded. "Yes."
"Good. I'm Miles Horker, but my hero name is FrostBITE," the man said, climbing off the snowmobile with surprising ease for someone of his size. "I'm the hero you'll be assisting while you're here."
Gray was a little surprised. He didn't think the hero himself would come.
Gray studied the man a bit more. He was a heteromorph.
"Elephant seal quirk?" Gray asked.
FrostBITE laughed. "That obvious?"
"Yeah."
"I don't have the flashiest quirk, but out here it does the job better than most."
He reached into one of the side compartments on the snowmobile and pulled out a pair of goggles. "Here. You'll want these before we move."
Gray held up his own pair.
FrostBITE paused, then nodded. "Prepared. Good. you did the reading.."
Gray slipped his goggles into place. "I am not going to lie. I was a little surprised to have been accepted so quickly. I figured an opportunity like this would have a lot of competition."
"Unfortunately, not many apply to this," FrostBITE said. "That's part of the reason why your approval went through so fast."
Gray looked at him.
FrostBITE seemed to notice the question before Gray asked it. He sighed. "Every year, we send the opportunity to several private schools like yours. On paper, it looks great right? Work experience connected to a pro hero agency. But unfortunately, it's very remote. And another big reason is that."
He gestured towards the frozen landscape.
"Then the students realize it means coming here."
Gray glanced out across the snow.
"I thought this was a good opportunity."
"It sounds good, i agree." FrostBITE said. "But most students don't want good opportunities if they're cold, isolated, and mostly paperwork. They want the big agencies in populous towns where they can work under big heroes. We also don't really have the budget to present the opportunity to many countries."
Gray nodded in agreement. "But it's still a great chance right?"
"It can be," FrostBITE said with a shrug. "Depends on the student. But out here, there isn't much glamour. The work is practical. You'll be helping with basic data entry and filing. Some of it connects to support research in the area, but you aren't really allowed to review the technical side of things. It's also too risky to put students out in danger. We don't want to get sued, haha!" He laughed.
FrostBITE climbed back onto the snowmobile and nodded toward the second seat. "Come on. The facility's not far from here."
Gray climbed on behind him, securing his bag as the engine rumbled beneath them.
"Hold on carefully okay. We don't want you falling face first into the ice."
The snowmobile moved forward, picking up speed across the ice. Wind rushed past them, pressing against Gray's coat and tugging at his hair. The facility came into view slowly, a small cluster of buildings. It was not large. A couple main buildings from the looks, and a few smaller buildings that looked like storage units, and lastly, a separate fenched off section .
It looked more like a research station than a hero agency.
FrostBITE slowed as they approached. "Welcome to the branch. Don't expect anything fancy."
"I wasn't."
"Great."
They stopped near the main entrance. FrostBITE climbed off first and led Gray toward the door. Inside, the sudden warmth made the goggles fog slightly before Gray pushed them up. The entry area was narrow but clean, with hooks for coats, shelves for boots, emergency supplies mounted on the wall, and a map of the surrounding area pinned beside a schedule board.
A few staff members looked up when they entered. Most gave brief nods before returning to their work.
The place was quiet. There weren't many people here from the looks of things. A handful of workers moved between desks and storage rooms. Two people were checking inventory near a stack of sealed crates. Someone else was speaking into the radio.
For a place connected to a pro hero, the facility looked understaffed. Or maybe he was just comparing it to a different Pro Hero's agency.
FrostBITE noticed his glance. "Yeah, it's smaller than people expect. We don't need a huge staff, but we could use more hands than we usually get. Weather delays, equipment problems, wildlife reports, research support, supply tracking, patrol documentation. It piles up."
He led Gray through the main room, pointing as they walked.
"That's communication. If weather changes, supply shipments delay, or another station needs contact, it goes through there. Storage is through that door. Research staff use the rooms down the hall. You'll mostly be working in the admin office, organizing files, logging reports. It isn't much but its important that it gets done."
Gray followed quietly, taking everything in.
FrostBITE continued, "You may also help with basic field logs. Nothing dangerous. Mostly recording patrol notes, wildlife sightings, equipment checks, and maintenance issues. Out here, small mistakes can become big problems fast. A broken machine, a fuel leak, a damaged fence, someone leaving equipment unsecured in bad weather. Human error causes more trouble than nature does."
Gray glanced toward the window. Beyond the reinforced glass, snow moved steadily across the ground.
"And the wildlife?" he asked.
FrostBITE smiled slightly. " We keep an eye them, just in case they get too close. Not because they need us hovering over them, but because human equipment can cause problems. Research machines malfunction. Supply vehicles break down. Waste containers get damaged. Sometimes animals get too close to places they shouldn't. Part of our job is making sure our presence here doesn't hurt what already lives here. We only interfere with the animals if its because of something we did. Otherwise, as they, let nature do its thing."
Gray nodded.
That made sense..
FrostBITE stopped near a small office with two desks, several filing cabinets, and a computer that looked like an older model but still functional.
"This is where you'll start," he said. "You'll get a proper schedule tomorrow. For today, settle in, read the safety binder, and don't wander outside at all. We are in the coldest part of this area. It gets very cold."
Gray looked at the thick binder sitting on the desk.
FrostBITE gave him a knowing look. "Yes, all of it. Safety first."
Gray sighed. "Understood."
"Good. And one more thing." FrostBITE's voice grew a little firmer. "I know you have an ice quirk. Your file mentioned it. That might make the cold easier for you, but don't get careless. The cold here can get extreme. Follow the rules, tell someone if you leave the facility, and don't go out without notifying someone."
Gray kept his expression neutral.
"I understand."
FrostBITE stared at him for a moment, and nodded.
Then he shrugged. "Good."
He turned to leave, then paused at the doorway. "Welcome to our humble abode, Todoroki."
Gray looked around the room, then toward the window where endless white stretched beyond the horizon.
–
A researcher was waiting by the time FrostBITE finished showing Gray the small office.
He stood just outside the doorway with a clipboard tucked under one arm and a thick scarf wrapped around the lower half of his face. Unlike FrostBITE, this person clearly wasn't acclimated for the cold. He had a Heavy coat, thermal pants, gloves, insulated boots, hood pulled tight, and goggles resting on top of his head. Only his eyes and the bridge of his nose were visible.
Gray looked at him, then at FrostBITE, waiting for an introduction.
FrostBITE noticed and grinned. "This is Evan Ellison. He's one of the grad students that works here. I'll have him show you around."
The researcher pulled his scarf down just enough to speak clearly. He looked young. He looked to be in his twenties. He was energetic despite the exhaustion visible in his eyes.
"Evan Ellison," he said. "Nice to meet you."
Gray nodded. "Haise Todoroki."
"I know. We received the information about you." Evan glanced toward FrostBITE, then back to Gray. "If you're finished here, I can take you to your accommodations. You'll probably want to settle in before lunch."
Gray looked around the office once more. There was not much else to see. A desk, a computer, several filing cabinets, the massive safety binder, and a pile of papers.
"I'm finished," Gray said.
FrostBITE gave him a short nod. "Get settled. Tomorrow morning, I'll show you what you will be working on."
Evan led him out of the office and into the main corridor. The facility was warm, but not overly so. It looks like they were managing it well. He knew they had make sure they didn't overload anything. Pipes ran along parts of the ceiling, and emergency signs were posted at regular intervals. Everything was labeled. Storage. Communications. Medical. Equipment. Lab access. Exterior exit.
It was small, but efficient.
"You got here faster than I expected," Evan suddenly said as they walked. "Most student placements take longer to process."
"I thought the same thing."
"Honestly, I think they were just excited that someone applied and didn't cancel."
Gray glanced at him. "FrostBITE said not many students want to come here."
Evan gave a quiet laugh. "That's putting it gently. We get interested applicants at first. Students like the words international experience and hero agency support. Then they realize the location is Antarctica, and unfortunately, that deters most of those private school kids away. It's not that big a deal, but I think Mr FrostBITE wants more people enthusiastic about this line of work."
Gray did not find that surprising. Most students wanted something impressive and comfortable. A famous agency in a big city. A sleek office. Maybe a chance to see a pro hero fight from far enough away that no one would ask them to help.
This place was the opposite of that.
It was cold, isolated, and definitely too much for some of those private school snobs.
That was fine with him.
"It seems useful," Gray said.
"It is," Evan replied. "Unfortunately, it isn't very glamorous. It's almost impossible to get coverage here, and there isn't any flashy fights, so its just not that popular. But the work thats done here is important. This research will have many beneficial results for the whole world."
Gray nodded. "I am excited to see it."
"Don't worry, your work as a student is very simple. Nothing dangerous."
Gray glanced toward one of the reinforced windows as they passed. It was nighttime.
"How long have you been here?" Gray asked.
Evan hummed, thinking. "This rotation? Three months. Overall, I've been coming back and forth for about four years.
"That long?"
"I am working on a very big homework assignment. I really envy FrostBITEs quirk, y'know?"
Gray looked at him. He was obviously patronizing him.
Evan smiled faintly and tugged his scarf higher. "I'm serious. There are days when the temperature drops so low that every exposed part of your face feels like it's being pricked by icicles. Wind makes it worse. We are on the east Antarctic plateau, it's the coldest place in the world. Thankfully, we arent in the coldest part of the region."
Gray listened quietly.
"And then there's FrostBITE," Evan continued. "Simple coat. Goggles if the wind is annoying. Standing outside like he's waiting for a bus."
"He said his quirk helps with cold resistance."
"That's one way to say it." Evan shook his head. "Elephant seal traits. Thick hide, fat insulation, it must be nice to have to wear 6 layers."
The cold did not bother him much either. Not the way it bothered the others. Antarctica was cold, but he had yet to see how bad it really was.
Evan glanced at him. "What about you? What made you apply here? I understand most students wouldn't want to come here."
Gray had expected the question eventually.
He kept his answer simple. "It seemed like a good opportunity."
Evan waited, as if expecting more.
Gray just shrugged.
After a moment, the researcher chuckled. "Fair enough. "
They turned down another corridor. This one was narrower, with small numbered doors lining one side. Evan stopped in front of one of the rooms and checked the number against his clipboard.
"This is yours."
He opened the door.
The room was tiny. Maybe calling it a room was too much. More like a big closet.
There was a narrow bed pushed against one wall, a small desk beneath a shelf, a chair, a storage locker, and a compact bathroom through a sliding door. A thick blanket was folded at the foot of the bed with a single pillow. The window was small and reinforced, showing only a slice of white ground and the dark sky outside.
Gray stepped in and looked around.
It was smaller than his room at home, but it was enough.
"It's not much," Evan said from the doorway, "but it's yours while you're here.
Gray set his bag near the locker. "Understood."
"Dining hall is back down the main corridor, then left past communications. Breakfast starts at 6:00 AM and ends at 8:30 AM. Lunch is at 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM. Dinner is at 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM. There are snacks and hot drinks available most of the day. Make sure you eat plenty. Just trying to stay warm burns thousands of calories."
Gray nodded.
"There's also a common room near the dining hall. It has some games and old movies if you want to watch them. There's a couple video games too.
Gray looked toward the small desk.
That was fine. He had not come here to watch television.
Evan checked his clipboard again. "That should be everything. Do you have any questions?"
"I don't. Thank you."
Evan gave him another polite smile. "Good. And Todoroki?"
Gray looked back.
"Don't ever wander outside the base okay? It's extremely dangerous."
Gray nodded. "I heard."
"You'll hear it a lot." Evan chuckled.
With that, he was left alone.
Gray stood in the center of the tiny room for a moment, listening to the low hum of the heater and the faint groan of wind beyond the walls. He unpacked slowly, placing his clothes in the locker and setting his school materials on the desk. There wasn't much else but it was fine. He opened his phone. He still had service. He opened the texts he received from his family. He smiled and took his time replying to each one.
After a few minutes, he walked to the small window and looked out where endless white stretched beyond the horizon.