Aiza's big post

The twinkling light of the stars was the place he wanted to be. Even now, as the world below the sky was burning from this war, he continued to fight. He still had a reason to fly. Smoke billowed up into the sky, and the string of recent arsons was still popping up, causing more chaos for the heroes on patrol right now. Firefighters were working hard on attempting to douse the inferno that was raging out through the windows. There were some heroes on the scene, some with water-based quirks, but as well, a modified news van sat nearby. Communications were one of the first things to fall, but given that Eagle Eye's quirk warranted his strengths, he was there to ensure coordination. The camera stalks rose high, his usual professional attire had been replaced long ago for something more akin to the police were now, kevlar body armor and tactical straps kept his equipment on him as he sat with the police van, having attached himself in. "<b>Captain, this is Eagle Eye! First Responders have started to contain the fire on the first floor, however, the accelerant used is most likely quirk-based. Please re-route paramedics down the road, there is still a felled building on that street! </b>" His network was extensive, with local cameras all tilting and viewing by his command. However, he did notice something, someone trying to enter the burning building from one of the back entrances, a woman, seeing to be in a frenzy. She looked to have slipped past police blockades, and his torso turned. "<b>Down that alley! A woman is attempting to enter!</b> " Was it some looter? The answer was unknown, but apprehending the wailing woman wasn't difficult, she was one of the first to be pulled out, flailing as tears washed down soot covering her face. "LET ME GO, MY DAUGHTER IS STILL IN THERE!" Blood ran cold, the hero turned to look toward one of the sergeants, "<b>I thought we pulled everyone out!</b> " There was confusion, and concern, the higher levels were still ablaze, but before a plan could be formulated, there was a roaring off in the distance. "Eagle-Eye Sensei! Tell me where she is!" His apprentice's voice rang in his sensors, running out of the van and looking toward the sky as the blazing trail of Aiza's jets could be seen speeding toward the building. He had caught the conversation over the radio as he got closer. It didn't matter that it was rill a raging inferno, he had a job to do. And as much as he hated putting someone so young on the spot, Aiza's body was more resilient to flames, with the others focused on making sure the surrounding area was cleared and evacuated. There was a silence before Eagle-Eye returned to the radio, his central camera looking at one of the screens. "<b>She told us that she was near the top. 15th Floor! The flames haven't quite reached, but there's lots of smoke. The flames are burning from a quirk's accelerant, you need to hurry!</b> " Golden eyes looked up, seeing and counting the rows and rows of windows before finding the 15th floor. "Roger!" There was a swift motion, deactivating his palm jets so he could reach into his jacket and pull out an oxygen mask. Normally, he used this when he flew at high altitudes, but using it as a portable source of air was going to be vital when entering the building. Fingers pulled back the straps mid-air the building getting closer and closer, securing it to himself and aiming for one of the closed windows. His jets turned off, after angling himself and letting the speed he was traveling carry him before shifting in the air, and used his heavily, armored boots to be the entry tool, smoke rushing out and clouding his vision as he slammed into the wall of the room and caught himself on the floor. It was hot, no doubt the fire only a few stories below him, but there was black smoke billowing out from the vents and cracks, his senses heightening in a situation like this. He was there to find someone, but from judging where he was, this wasn't it! "Is anyone still up here?!" His voice had to reach out through his mask, quickly checking the room he was in before kicking down the door and moving on. There were so many apartments, kicking down the next door and finding himself in the transition hallway, so much had collected on the upper floors. He had to work quickly, looking up and down the hallways before he swore he could hear tired shouting from further down the hall. There wasn't time to hesitate, his palm jets popping out and accelerating him down the hall to the door in question. "I'm coming in! Please step back!" He landed looking at the door and tugging the knob. Locked. No doubt the mother had just come home to see such a tragedy, but he didn't want to speculate. Stepping back, he was pressed against the opposite door before leaping and twisting, a firm impact to the knob forced the door inward, granting him entrance.  Stepping in, he looked everywhere, getting the debris of the door out of the way before finding her.


<i> She was on the floor, coughing and looking up at the hero, still in the pajamas she was left in, drawing on the coffee table while waiting for her mom to come home. His breathing hitched, stepping toward her as he took his coat off and wrapped it around her, and lifted her up. "It's ok. I'm here." His voice was somewhat muffled, looking up from his place as she was pressed against his chest. He had to hurry! "<b>Afterburner, the fire has reached the 14th floor!</b>" He heard glass exploding as the heat rose, looking toward the door as the glow of orange flames was building up. But he heard her coughing, trembling in fear before as golden eyes looked down at her. He's always been a selfless person, peeling the only oxygen mask he had off his face and moving it over hers. "Don't let go of this, breathe slowly. Your mommy is waiting for you." Tiny green eyes looked up at him, inhaling carefully as she was not the recipient of fresh air, though one of her hands pointed weakly towards her toys. And at least one worn bunny rabbit plushie. By the time Aiza rushed back out into the hallway, he was coughing, panting as he hunched down as low as he could, to keep his head as much below the smoke as possible, thankful for the goggles he was wearing. The way he came in was being enveloped, as the fire began to catch up to them, like a flood of water rushing down the hallway. He couldn't save everything, gritting his teeth as he began to run. There was a window at the end of the hallway, doorways to either side erupting in flames and smoke as he rushed to get to the end. He was covered in ash and soot, dusking out of the way of exploding wood splinters and using his torso to prevent the small girl from any harm before the final escape. From the ground below, they could all see as Afterburner's form burst out from the window, glass flying everywhere as the flames reached out to try and grab them, only to fail as he began plummeting. And for a few seconds, the only thing that came from his jets were tiny pops, smoke evacuating out from the gust of wind, having prevented them from spooling up. But he didn't give up, gritting his teeth before there was a sputter that turned into a loud roar, once again, he was a streak across the sky, flying over the city as the small girl managed to work up the courage to first look where they were, then up to his dirty, smiling face. "It'll be ok. You're safe. Just hang on." It was only a minute before he could slow down, debris kicking up as he landed near the paramedics, who were awaiting his return, alongside the mother, who let out a wail of relief rushing over and pushing Aiza out of the way once she was safely in the hands of the paramedics. At first, he didn't say anything, just watching as she comforted the trembling child while they got her onto oxygen and checked her for burns. "What took you so long...?" Her voice started to crack, Aiza's eyes softening as he lifted his dirty goggles from his eyes, looking with a frown over his expression as she snapped toward him and stepped at him, gripping his dirty undersuit and shaking him. "She could have died! Why were you so slow!?" Because he was so tall, sometimes people didn't even know he was a student, but Aiza's expression steeled up, with Eagle Eye looking on as he allowed himself the responsibility. "...I will work harder. Please forgive me." Even if he did save her daughter, even if her anger was unwarranted, he did as he always did and bowed respectfully toward the woman. He always knew he could do better. He could be faster... couldn't he? But he had no reason to refute or argue with her. Yet, her anger suddenly disappeared as a tiny hand gripped her sleeve, causing her to turn and look toward her daughter, who was also reaching out toward Aiza. He rose back up, realizing perhaps why as he stood up straight and approached cautiously. "...I'm sorry I couldn't save all of your friends." Aiza gently placed the soot-covered rabbit in her arms, allowing her to take it and hold it. "You were very brave. I'm proud of you." He shouldn't linger longer, not wanting to disturb their peace. Yet before he could escape, she had grabbed him once more, and made him look as her lips muttered her thanks under the clear mask. And as angry as the mother was, she began to break down more, leaning against the bed and holding her child's hand tightly. She didn't need to apologize, Aiza simply lifted his jacket up and laid it beside the girl. It wasn't his special jacket, just the one he used on patrols. But it was something he could easily replace, but he put on a bright grin. "You recover soon. I bet all your friends are going to think you're cool for beating a fire, huh?" And leaving the moment, he stepped away and bowed once more before moving toward Eagle Eye.


<i>It was like this more often than he wished, being ridiculed for his speed, for not being there on time, and thankfully, the only one watching him wipe his eyes was Eagle-Eye, as his gloved hand reached up to grab Aiza's shoulders. "<b>Go home, Aiza-kun. </b>" But the Jet hero was stubborn, turning his head up toward one of the cameras as he held his fists up with wet eyes. "But there might be more people trapped inside!" Only to be met with a shake to his worry. "<b>Everyone was evacuated. Those here were just some of the few who didn't get to the shelters right away. It was honestly surprising, but some people are just stubborn. Don't worry, we'll make sure to get them housing. </b>" But that didn't seem to dissuade Aiza's emotions, trembling softly with balled fists as his eyes looked down. "...I need to do better." There was a gentle whirring of the camera's lens, with gloved fingers giving a tighter squeeze. "<b>Heroes are people too, Aiza-kun. Even if we want to be there in an instant, its not something we can fix. You can only do what's in your grasp. When someone watches their entire life go up in smoke, it makes them irrational. But... you saved a life, Aiza-kun. Even if you think you failed, you succeeded in making sure she can live another day. And in time, she'll understand that what you did was more important than anything else. You need to focus on what you can do, not what everyone expects you do to. </b>" Aiza turned his eyes up again, pursing his lips as he sighed in defeat, but understood his mentor's words. He knew better than anyone that you couldn't save everyone. But what he could feel accomplished in doing was being there when he was needed. With a wipe of his sleeve against his eyes, which only made his face dirtier, he nodded. There was a reason why Aiza didn't intern under one of the higher-ranked heroes. As much as that might give him some better clout for his career, it was these moments that mattered more, helping the smaller citizens, scenarios that might be swept under the rug. And thankfully, there wasn't anyone currently looking as Aiza stepped forward and hugged the hero, causing all three of his cameras to shift down to Aiza as he squeezed tightly. "Thank you... Eagle-Eye Sensei..." He sniffed, stepping back and saluting before taking his advise and flying off. He didn't notice, but Eagle Eye saw as the child waved toward the bolt of light in the sky, disappearing toward UA's campus as he used his speed to get rid of his tears. He did his best, that's all he could do. The glow of his jets carried him off like a Shooting Star. "What was his name...?" The woman asked Eagle Eye, holding the jacket in her arms as the paramedics were preparing to transport the child to the hospital. "<b>Aiza Kuroiki. The Breakneck Speed Hero: Afterburner. He's still in training. But he's one of Yuuei's finest. </b>" She nodded quietly, sniffing as she wiped her face meekly, giving only the faintest of smiles as she turned to walk toward the ambulance. She wasn't read to admit she was wrong, but she did acknowledge his name. It wasn't very long until Ochaco could see a streak across the stars, a bright light leading a vapor trail as the Jet Hero was returning home. This was his home, after all, the place he would want to come after a long day's work, and while his face and clothes were a mess, he couldn't help but notice a familiar face standing on her porch. Was she having a long day too? He didn't know, but that streak in the sky began to turn, the distant rumble of his jets increasing in volume before she would be greeted by a soot and ash covered Jet Hero, his golden hair carrying streaks of black from the charred remains of the building he escaped, and lifted his goggles up to expose his shimmering golden eyes. He had a long day too, and while it was clear he needed to shower, he remained to hover just outside the patio, laughing quietly and holding his arms out for her. "Do you want to get dinner?" In this state? Probably not the best idea, but ultimately, he just... missed her. His partner missed him in action, but when they needed to comfort one another, they always tended to find one another, didn't they? While it might be more practical for him to land to embrace her, it was if he was encouraging her to take the leap off her balcony so he could catch her. After all, the sky was theirs, right?