Shina Etsuha had expected U.A. to assign him something within the school—but he hadn't anticipated being sent directly to a Hero agency. The decision caught him off guard at first, but the surprise quickly turned into excitement.
Working at a Hero agency meant gaining partial access to a professional Hero's authority. And if he managed to accomplish something significant during this period… his reputation could skyrocket in an instant.
With that thought, Etsuha felt a surge of anticipation.
The document he received contained several agreements. In simple terms, once signed, it allowed him to intern at a Hero agency ahead of schedule.
After signing, he was presented with a list of invitations from various agencies.
Normally, even students who performed well at the Sports Festival wouldn't receive many offers. But Etsuha's case was different. His overwhelming abilities, combined with incidents like the battle against the "Muscular man" and the sludge incident, had already made him widely known. On top of that, U.A.'s entrance exam had been observed by numerous Heroes, further boosting his visibility.
As a result, multiple Hero agencies had taken notice—and extended invitations.
"A total of five agencies have invited you," Aizawa Shouta said, placing several profiles in front of him. "I wouldn't recommend going somewhere too far. And some of the lower-ranked agencies can be ignored. The ones here are all fairly reputable."
Etsuha scanned the list, but didn't see any invitation from his sister's agency.
Thinking about it, that made sense. Shizuoka Prefecture had been unusually quiet lately. Aside from the Nomu incident, there hadn't been much crime. The presence of All Might had drastically reduced criminal activity in the area, making it one of the safest regions.
After reviewing the options, Etsuha realized there weren't many agencies that truly stood out.
In the end, his finger stopped on one name.
"I'll go here."
Aizawa Shouta glanced at the selection and nodded. "Best Jeanist. Good choice. He's a very capable Hero."
One of the reasons Etsuha chose Best Jeanist was his strength. Before All Might's retirement, Best Jeanist had ranked No. 4 among Pro Heroes. His quirk wasn't overwhelmingly powerful, which meant his position had been earned through relentless discipline and mastery.
There was another reason, too.
Etsuha vaguely remembered that a League of Villains stronghold had once been located near Best Jeanist's area. The details were hazy, but he recalled that Best Jeanist had discovered All For One's base—only to be defeated with ease.
"I wonder if I can use this chance to track down Nomu created by All For One…" Etsuha thought to himself.
He had plenty of powerful techniques at his disposal now—especially the abilities contained within his Mangekyō Sharingan, such as Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi. While Uchiha Itachi hadn't used these techniques to kill many opponents, that was due to the level of enemies he faced. At this stage, those abilities could absolutely turn the tide of battle.
After making his decision, Etsuha didn't waste any time.
A few days later, he stood at the entrance of Best Jeanist's agency.
"Hmm? A new intern?" someone inside muttered, glancing up. When their eyes landed on Etsuha, their expression immediately brightened. "Oh! So it's you, Etsuha. Come in, have a seat."
Etsuha greeted them politely and took a moment to look around.
The agency was surprisingly modest. The surroundings were simple, without any extravagant decoration—but the atmosphere felt comfortable and grounded.
Everyone working there was a professional Hero. The difference between them lay in experience and seniority. Veterans handled more complex and dangerous missions, while newcomers like Etsuha started at the bottom. As an intern, he was expected to address everyone else as his senior.
Before long, Best Jeanist himself entered.
His expression shifted slightly upon seeing Etsuha. He gave a small nod and said, "Come with me. There's a task I'd like you to take on."
Dressed in a light blue coat, with blond hair partially covering his eyes, Best Jeanist carried an air of quiet authority. There was nothing flashy about him, but the pressure he exuded was unmistakable—a presence built through years of discipline.
Etsuha followed him into the office, where Best Jeanist began flipping through a stack of documents. His brows furrowed as he spoke.
"Things have been a bit unsettled lately. Three people have gone missing in succession—and the number appears to be increasing. We're currently investigating the matter, so manpower is stretched thin."
Three missing people?
Etsuha immediately thought of the League of Villains and their Nomu experiments. After all, their creations required a steady supply of human test subjects.
Best Jeanist looked up and said calmly:
"Your first mission… is patrol duty."
Etsuha: "…"
That was… unexpectedly simple.
Seeing his reaction, Best Jeanist chuckled.
"I understand what you're thinking," he said. "But everyone starts somewhere. For your safety, I can't assign you anything too dangerous—not yet. Otherwise, I wouldn't just have U.A. to answer to—your sister might come after me as well."
He added with a faint smile, "Besides, patrol duty isn't as boring as it sounds. If an emergency arises, you're fully authorized to act."
While working under the agency, all of Etsuha's actions would be officially covered. He wouldn't need to worry about restrictions on using his abilities.
That much, Etsuha understood.
If it was patrol duty, then so be it.
"I have no problem with that," he replied.
Best Jeanist nodded approvingly. "Good. Get ready. You'll be patrolling the streets with a senior shortly."