[Lawbringer]

Taking a sip from his coffee, he attentively watched the footage. A common occurrence, license tests, so many students eager to prove their worth and rushing headlong into becoming a hero that they often lose sight on what was important.

A license wasn’t everything, and to Max’s own frustration he had seen way too many young heroes getting their licenses too early and not being able to handle the responsibility they took on. They were always technically sound, significantly more capable than Max had been at their age, but the mental aspect was often underestimated, and the tests tended to be poor at detecting the ones that struggled under the pressure.

Sure, the tests had pressure, but when real lives or livelihoods weren’t at stake, it was a lot easy to simply ignore it all.

But sometimes there was more at play, exterior pressures pushing them forward, someone with all the good intentions, all the skill, but whose mind was elsewhere.

”You’re seeing what we saw, yes?” They asked him, nursing their cup of tea calmly but with a noted worry on their voice.

”What’s there to see, she flunked the test.” He replied in a deliberately obtuse manner, enjoying the coffee.

“She’s distracted, unfocused. It’s been there, but since the start of the year it has gotten worse.” they explained.

It helped fill the gaps Max couldn’t know, having only started at U.A. at the start of the semester. He knew the family name of the young woman, the Ando family were famed for their craftsmanship all across the world. But his knowledge ended there.

Glancing over the desk, he stayed aloof. ”Sounds to me she needs sessions with the school counsellor, yeah?” they suggested, again avoiding the unspoken question.

“She’s tried that, it’s different. We’d like it if you were to talk to her, maybe a new approach will work better. Debrief her, try to talk her through what went wrong… Maybe take her under your wing?” They proposed, the last question being made all the more cautiously.

Max couldn’t help but laugh at the proposition, he was not in the position to be a mentor to anybody when nobody even knew who he was. ”I’m not the right person to mentor anybody right now, chief. With all due respect, I’m not sure if I am the right person to even be a teacher.” he’d say with a laugh, sounding increasingly incredulous.

Perhaps it was disrespectful to mention the latter to the person who had hired him in the first place, the person who had offered him this chance when he had burnt so many bridges in the past. He wasn’t a people person, not for a lack of trying, but due to an excess of demanding the excessive standards he demanded of himself.

But the humour wasn’t reciprocated, and Max’s smile quickly departed his face again as he understood how serious the request was for it to end up with him.

”I’ll do it, but don’t look at me when I end up making the problems worse.” he’d finally relent, finishing his coffee. ”You owe me more of this coffee for this, though.” he’d smile…

He probably needed all of it…

Masao Ando

[Masao Ando]

A failure.

She had struggled during the hostage rescue exercise, she couldn't defeat Stronghold at the Beta Blitz and she even came up short at the Sports Festival. After all this time she thought she was finally starting to improve, she was finally regaining her confidence enough to go for her provisional license, only to fail miserably. She was stood out in the hallway waiting while some UAU staff was talking through everything that had happened without her. She couldn't possibly know what they were talking about, but she didn't spare it many thoughts either. She was too preoccupied being angry with herself, running the events back in her head again and again. Where had she failed? How many missteps had she made? What was she going to tell her parents?

...Could it be that she wasn't worthy of the name Paragon?

She looked down at her hand. She had been training harder lately, harder than ever before, but her quirk hadn't gotten any stronger from it. Had her armor rejected her fully? What was it that she lacked? Why could people like Ylva Riis, vulgar brutes who held little to no respect for the people around them improve so much over her in the same timespan? She felt like punching the wall, but she resisted, held back her emotions like she always did. Unable to fully express them. Taking a deep breath she only straightened up her back once the door opened. ''Lawbringer-sensei.'' She stood at attention as if she was a soldier, or a noble knight. She couldn't let any of her frustrations show, she couldn't afford to show weakness now, not here. ''I was told to seek you out.'' She paused for a moment before bowing her head. ''I'm Masao Ando, a third year support student and the eldest of the Ando family.''

Lawbringer

[Lawbringer]

Putting the finishing touches on grading a few papers, Max rubbed his eyes a little. The teacher life was not something that was coming natural to him, and something inside of him was still fighting the urge to not just disappear and go somewhere else.

But those urges would be for another time as he noticed a student walk into the now empty classroom. It wasn’t a surprise, after all, he had promised the headmaster to talk to Ando, and he figured that she had gotten the notice too.

”Please Miss Ando, first drop the honorifics, I can’t get used to those.” he’d say with a weary smile and a raised hand. ”Call me Max, Mr. Deveraux, or Lawbringer…” he re-introduced himself.

The honorifics was something he didn’t really get used to since moving to Japan. He knew how to be formal, but it was a level of formality alien and awkward to him.

Looking back at the notes and papers on his desk, he shook his head for a second and stood up, being somewhat surprised at how tall the young student was. ”I need a break from grading, do you mind walking along to the fields?” he’d proposed.

He could definitely use the fresh air right now, and it helped him think of the daunting task of knowing what to ask or say.

Masao Ando

[Masao Ando]

For being a hero, she knew shockingly little about him. Usually she was well-read and researched on most heroes she came across months or years before she ever saw them, but not Lawbringer. She had a vague sense of who he was, she had heard a few rumors here and there, read some English articles online about him, and he did seem familiar somehow. However, all of that was just what other people said, or who they claimed he was. She needed to meet him herself to get a good look at the hero Lawbringer.

As someone who had a strict upbringing she was a little taken aback by his request to drop the honorifics. For a moment she forgot that not every culture on Earth was so preoccupied with titles and formalities. She tried and failed miserably to repeat Mr. Deveraux in her head, and Max seemed too formal. ''Duly noted, Lawbringer.'' She was as serious and tense as ever, not to slight him, but just because she was a very stoic person. A glance at his desk told her he had a lot of paperwork to get through, but she didn't comment on it. ''Not at all, I will accompany you to the fields.'' She stepped aside to let him take the lead, before following him out the door.

''Lawbringer.'' She started up, she was terrible with people, but that wasn't going to stop her from trying to get a conversation going. ''May I ask, why did you come to Japan? What compelled you to travel?''

Lawbringer

[Lawbringer]

”Traveling kinda came natural to me, I guess.” he’d lie somewhat stone-facedly.

In truth, it had become as much a necessity in his career than a genuine desire. But eventually he had grown used to the transient nature of his career, ending up in different places also meant that he had learnt how different countries had different heroes, and also different ways of upholding the law.

”As to why I came to Japan, the simple answer is because the headmaster offered me a job to become faculty, and it was the best job offer a hero like me could get.” he’d add, somewhat discounting himself, but still probably a honest assessment of the truth.

U.A. was the cream of the crop, not just the students were some of the best and most talented in the world, the faculty was equally capable and exceptional to go with the state of the art nature of the university.

The hero named Lawbringer was painfully plain compared to all that, the only thing he brought to the table was the experience of traveling the world one burnt bridge at a time.

”But I think the traveling was good for me, it taught me more than I would have had if I had stayed in France.” he’d add.

Glancing back at the hero in training, he figured that the same question was in order. ”I have a good idea why you came to U.A., but what makes you want to be a hero?” he’d ask directly, deciding to immediately start with the live ammo.

He knew why they were becoming one, that was obvious to anybody that had half an idea of how career dynasties worked. But more interesting to him was what pushed her to try to become one, rather than what had pushed her into the door.

Masao Ando

[Masao Ando]

One look at him and it was clear that he not only had years of experience, but he had seen a world much more vast than hers. ''I see. So you've moved for the sake of work primarily, forgive me if I was speaking out of turn asking you such a personal question.'' She was nervous speaking to a teacher like this after class. She knew nothing about him and she wasn't exactly in trouble for breaking any rules, but for some reason it felt like she was. Would a prestigious hero really accept a failure like her and try to teach her anything? She could only hope so, as learning from Lawbringer might be her last shot at making any progress.

''I will take your word for it. My parents traveled when I was young, but I have yet to learn much about the world outside of Japan myself.'' She was lacking in knowledge there, but she could always travel later in life, or read up on the different parts of the world where it felt relevant. ''Me?'' She was a bit surprised by his question. ''Like many others, I want to become a hero to make a difference. I was born with the most treasured quirk in the Ando family, the same one as my father. A shining armor. It's a symbol of peace and justice. To carry on the tradition of my family name, it is my duty to dedicate myself to the people and the betterment of our world.'' She said it like it was a noble mission, but even she was starting to feel exhausted with the expectations that were placed on her. Not that she could let that show through her stoic facade. ''If I am not mistaken, our quirks have a few commonalities between them.''

Lawbringer

[Lawbringer]

As he somewhat expected, the young student gave something of a catch-all statement on why they wanted to be a hero. Even with the added pressure, ‘wanting to make a difference’ always felt like such a flimsy reason to go into a profession that involved putting ones own life into danger.

Not that he had been any different when he had gone into law enforcement, before stumbling into heroics. But at least from an early age he had been taught the importance of self-sacrifice for the betterment of society, so the choice had been natural for him.

He let the question go for now, it was ultimately whatever, he couldn’t look into anybody’s soul and if they were still here, it at least meant they hadn’t shied away from the first hurdles…

”I guess to a point, yes. My skin is tough like metal, and I heard you can produce yourself a suit of armour on command?” he answered her with a rhetorical question. ”I think you’re better off avoiding getting hit, even with your armour, I have kind of leaned into taking the damage for better or worse.” he’d understate.

Even with his healing, his body wasn’t in the prettiest state, and at forty-five he had morning where he looked closer to sixty. They were personal choices made in the heat of battle, time and time again.

”I know you’re in support class, so you’re focused more on that side of things, but it’s good that you have a capable quirk to rely upon when our jobs inevitably leaves us in danger…” he’d say in faint praise, although it was ever the awkward to praise someone for something they simply had.

Coming to a stop near the fields, he’d look out for a bit at some other students enjoying some time off and playing football. It helped him figure out his next line of questioning.

”By the way, I know you’re busy with your studies, but how often do you take time off?” he’d ask, effectively turning the conversation into an interrogation whenever he pleased.

He didn’t have a moral ready whatever she’d answer, but they were all part of his process to inevitably start talking about the elephant on the campus.

Masao Ando

[Masao Ando]

She gave a soft nod. ''That is correct. The armor quirk has been passed down in my family through the years.'' She was a bit surprised someone like him knew that. It wasn't she was like especially talented or a celebrity or anything like that. What he said next kind of took her by surprise. ''Avoid getting hit, but, Lawbringer, does that not defeat the purpose of a defensive quirk?'' Maybe she just couldn't think ahead, or maybe she was too young to get it, but what he said seemed to run counter to everything she had told herself during training.

''Yes, while I am indeed in the support class first and foremost, I believe it is my duty as a future hero to train and prepare myself for real combat. I don't plan to get a desk job by the end of my studies, I want to take to the streets myself. Face evil head-on.'' Despite her inexperience there was a fire in her voice, a burning desire to become someone who could help a lot of people. ''Time off?'' She looked blinked her eyes, looking at him, then over at the other students in the field. ''Lawbringer,'' she smirked, ''surely you jest, I do not have time for time off. When I am not studying I am forging, when I am not forging I am training. I'll have time off the day I grow old and retire.''

He was joking... Right? Surely a professional like him, and such an esteemed hero had worked hard to get to where he was.

Lawbringer

[Lawbringer]

“It’s easy to hide behind a shield knowing it can’t break, but I’ve not seen a quirk in my life that’s been perfect. And knowing when to hide behind the armor, and when to strike from behind it is a major distinction that heroes need to learn.” he’d tell Masao dryly, like an engineer explaining his craft.

“Besides, depending on the situation, our work requires us to take risks to keep others safe.” he’d add.

His body was littered with lingering scars from fights, and he was pretty certain that none of those scars happened because he tried to protect himself.

He’d let the young woman’s remarks about her workaholic nature lie for now, if only because he was intent on pushing it at a later moment when he had a more poignant point to make.

“Right, makes sense.” he’d say, playing it off. “Let’s change the subject, why do you think the headmaster told you to seek me out?” he’d say, wanting to get closer to the point.

He’d point at a bench near the fields, and offer her to take a seat as he looked over the grass pitch.

Masao Ando

[Masao Ando]

She had never thought about it like that, but it was easy to follow his logic when he laid it out that way. Still, she couldn't help but feel that sort of thinking made quirks like his and hers weaker. Quirks that were meant to be defensive, meant to protect yourself and others, ideally they should never budge to the pressure. ''I see... In other words, just because one has an advantage in one application of combat because of their power, does not mean that they should neglect other paths. In other words, practice dodging too without just relying on the shield?'' She looked to him, hoping she was getting at what he was trying to say.

''Why?'' She blinked her eyes and thought about it. Why did the headmaster tell her to seek him out? Because he was a teacher? Because they had functionally similar quirks? Was it because she failed her exam and would have to retake it at a later date, or was it perhaps because she wasn't doing enough to improve herself as a combatant. If she wasn't showing enough progress, how could they possibly expect her to become a fully fledged hero in another 2 years. ''Because...'' She trailed off, mulling it over one more time. ''Because there is something that I am lacking. Something which you have, or you can teach me.'' She couldn't help but feel like she was off the mark, but she didn't even know what she was supposed to reply to his question.

She took him up on the offer and sat on the bench, looking out at the grass pitch. ''Perhaps it is to tell me off, to tell me to focus on being a support hero and stick to what I'm good at.'' She continued after a pause, a more cynical reply.

Lawbringer

[Lawbringer]

Max cracked a light smile at the notion of him being somebody that would tell anybody to not do something. He had his opinions, some he would freely share with others if he felt the need to give someone a push, but if the young lady was already thinking about being told to stop trying to be a hero, maybe it was more on her mind than anybody else’s.

“Do you think you’d do better as a support hero?” he’d ask, quickly leaping onto their cynicism. “Because I’ll tell you straight up right now that I’m not here to tell you what you have to do with your career.” he’d say, bluntly and pointedly.

He had to say it, partially to clear the air about his reasons of helping her as a student, and to find out what was really on their mind.

Because that latter part was probably the key to her problems anyways.

Masao Ando

[Masao Ando]

''As a support student, I can create weapons of the highest caliber. Blades that sing and resonate with the kind of harmony weapons made by an Ando is expected to.'' She still took her support job seriously, and while she might come across as a little arrogant, she also just was very good at her niche, and had a lot more confidence in it than she did her fighting or rescuing abilities. ''However, weapons alone do not win the fight. Weapons alone...'' She took a moment to mull over his words again, he was trying to make her reach some kind of conclusion, wasn't he? She looked out at the pitch and then it dawned on her. ''Weapons alone do not protect those I love.''

She looked down at her hands. She kept them delicate and soft despite the fact that she used them to shape and hammer metals. ''As a manufacturer and support hero I could live a life of relative peace in my workshop, but that is not the life a warrior should lead.'' She was starting to get over some of her angst, who knew talking about things that she kept bottled up could actually help? ''I was given a gift, and a chance by this world. I want to pay my opportunity forward by giving back to society and becoming a Paragon.''

Lawbringer