[Zipper]

Rumor has it there’s a new head of the support department. They’re a prestigious, attention-seeking PR savant that chooses this field. They could be a model or movie star, but he uses his intellect and social know-how to pave a path forward for all awkward support students around Japan. Kei fits perfectly into that category.

When he’s not the center of attention, Kei is a fully functional human being. A bit skittish, but we all have our ticks. But when he’s in the spotlight he turns into a mess. The same man on the news for saving the day — because he wasn’t aware of the cameras — became an echo of himself. It wasn’t as bad as some of the performances at the showcase, but…

Hasani was the template.

And the kicker? He knew how to make hero costumes. Zipper didn’t want to be a support kid, nor did she want to become a professional suitmaker, but she did need to know the process enough to help brand her clientele.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

---

Hasani Serna

[Hasani Serna]

A N U B I S

THE JUDGEMENT HERO

Office hours were an unfortunate requirement of Hasani’s new position. His were notably shorter than those of most other professors. He used his more varied and intensive role of not just instructor, but department head, as his reasoning for the more limited availability. In fairness, he was busying himself with those responsibilities. When the trio of knocks emanated from his door, he was already an hour deep into scheming how to make Lone Wolf’s existence miserable solely for his own amusement—and because he was just a touch territorial.

A long tongue snaked out past his lips and dragged across the top one. The intent wasn’t a lick, but to press the control button on the bottom of his lingual inhibitor to turn it off. His Quirk couldn’t reach past his own door with it turned on and Hasani wasn’t one for surprises. Thoughts not his own surged into his mind from across the school—at least the area that fell within the range of his domain, and quite a domain it was. Hasani had to focus intensely to narrow the scope to the closest person. In this case, it was the one responsible for the knocks.

The need for aid shined clear in her mind. A student then. Hasani repeated the motion with his tongue to reinstate Seshat’s filter. Silence returned. For the moment. It was on the verge of shattering whenever the door might open after he called out, “Come in,” to the girl beyond the threshold.

Notes & Tags: Zipper | Outfit

[Zipper]

Zipper struts in with purpose.

She’s about five feet away when she stops, takes a bow, and introduces herself.

“Doctor Serna,” She says. “My name is Ito Yoko but call me Zipper.” She stands up proper. “I’m in the management department but am looking to take a few electives on hero costumes to help prepare my clients for branding.” Client. Kei Hada.

Zipper takes a deep breath, determined as all hell to take her leap of faith. Rejection was a bitch. And after her series of rejections, she wasn’t sure how she’d feel if her career was stifled, too. Fortunately, this was a man. There wasn’t a way he could hurt her in the way a tall, terrifying woman could have.

“I would like your guidance in particular,” She says. “Not only do you specialize in hero costumes, but your reputation precedes you.” There was so much more to learn from him. He knew how to carry himself in a way most professionals couldn’t — even if some were put off by the person. Zipper, however, saw through it. It was genius branding.

She bows again.

---

Hasani Serna

[Hasani Serna]

A N U B I S

THE JUDGEMENT HERO

Once the door had been opened, even the inhibitor couldn’t prevent the forefront of Zipper’s thoughts from rolling off of her mind and into Hasani’s as soon as they formed. He respected ambition. The drive. The willingness to use what, and who, she had at her disposal to reach her end goals. After all, Hasani had done the same to get where he was now. Only he was far more ruthless and cunning in his methods—a perk of his Quirk that enabled him to know how best to get away with such things.

Respect for someone else on the grind wasn’t enough to move Hasani toward agreement. There were only three things that motivated the man. Success, money, and a third thing that Zipper was absolutely useless for considering the vast array of rumors about her recent antics around the campus. It was also unlikely that she could offer him enough money to make his efforts worth his while either. Success, however, was something she could aid in, even if not directly.

Kei was one of the many bright students in the Support Department. Unfortunately for him, his own success was hindered by the lack of a spine. Were he truly to be a useful wellspring of ideas for Hasani to leech from, then he needed more confidence. If he was the client lurking in Zipper’s thoughts, her success meant future success for Hasani. Plus, she might have a few bright ideas of her own for him to steal.

“Well, Ito-san,” Hasani started. He wasn’t going to demean himself by referring to a student by what sounded like nothing more than a casual nickname. That might be fine for unprofessional idiots like Lone Wolf, but Hasani considered himself above such things and, well, most things in general. “You are certainly welcome to sign up for any elective the Support Department offers provided that it fits with your current class schedule.” He opened a drawer and extracted a sheet of paper after a few seconds of rifling, then slid it across his desk in her direction.

“If you’re looking to take one specifically regarding Hero Costumes and is also one that I personally teach, I hold Functional Fashion classes every Tuesday and Thursday. This is the current syllabus. You would have some catching up to do as they’re already working on a project for this semester.”

He leaned back in his chair and gave her a once over with his eyes and mind. “Do you happen to have any previous experience with either fashion or support gear?” The answer would determine just how much work Hasani would have to put in, and if the reward didn’t eventually outweigh the effort, he could always pawn her off on another student to act as her mentor.

Notes & Tags: Zipper