BNHA: Force Within

"Hero names are permanent," Vlad King stood at the front of Class 1-B, holding a stack of papers. "Choose carefully. These will follow you through your entire career."

Anakin looked down at his blank form. Two weeks of regular training had helped everyone get used to their costumes, but now came the next step - deciding what the world would call them.

"After you pick your names," Vlad King continued, "you'll choose which hero agency to intern with. Each of you has offers based on your performance so far."

Mirio raised his hand. "Can we change our names later if we think of something better?"

"Better to get it right the first time. These names represent who you are as heroes."

Anakin already knew his choice. He'd thought about it since getting his costume - something that connected to both his quirk and his family.

Next to him, Mirio scribbled ideas frantically. "What about 'The Phasing Hero?' No, too obvious... 'Ghost Man?' No..."

"Five minutes," Vlad King called. "Then you'll present your choices."

Anakin wrote his name clearly: "The Force Hero: Skywalker"

Nejire leaned over. "Using your family name? That's cool! I can't decide between three different ones."

Students stood to announce their choices one by one. Some picked names based on their quirks, and others chose completely new identities.

"The Million Power Hero: Lemillion!" Mirio declared when his turn came.

"Million?" someone asked.

"Because I'll save a million people!" Mirio's grin never wavered, even as he accidentally phased through his chair.

"Wave Motion Hero: Nejire-chan!" Nejire bounced up when called.

Then it was Anakin's turn. He stood, holding his paper. "The Force Hero: Skywalker."

Vlad King nodded. No complaints or suggestions. The name felt right.

After everyone presented, Vlad King passed out their internship offers. "You have until tomorrow after school to decide. Choose based on what you want to learn, not just the hero's popularity."

Anakin spread his papers across his desk. Several well-known agencies had made offers, but one caught his eye: The Sword Hero: Kenobi.

"Look at this," he showed Mirio. "He uses telekinesis with sword fighting."

"Perfect for you!" Mirio flipped through his own stack. "Sir Nighteye offered me a spot. Think I should take it?"

Before Anakin could answer, Nejire popped up between them. "Ryukyu offered me one! Dragons! Can you believe it?"

Anakin read through Kenobi's offer again. The pro hero was known for combining precise telekinesis with masterful sword techniques. Not the most famous hero, but Anakin was interested.

"Decided already?" Vlad King asked as Anakin turned in his choice.

"Yes, sir. The Sword Hero agency."

"Good pick. Kenobi's techniques could work well with your quirk."

At lunch, they compared their choices. Mirio had picked Sir Nighteye's agency, excited about working with All Might's former sidekick. Nejire couldn't stop talking about training with the Dragon Hero.

"When do internships start?" Mirio asked through a mouthful of rice.

"Next week," Nejire answered before anyone else could. "We get special permission to miss regular classes. Did you know some agencies are in different cities? We might have to travel! I wonder if-"

"Nejire," Mirio cut in gently. "Breathe."

Anakin pulled up an article about Kenobi on his phone. The pro hero worked from a small agency, taking only a few interns each year. His fighting style combined traditional sword techniques with an energy manipulation quirk, using a unique energy blade powered by what he calls a 'kyber crystal' - the only one known to exist. While his quirk wasn't as powerful as The Force, he used it with incredible control.

"Think he'll teach you sword fighting?" Mirio asked.

"Hope so."

"The Force Hero: Skywalker with a sword?" Nejire's eyes lit up. "That would be amazing! You could go swoosh and send enemies flying while striking with the blade! Or you can use the blade to fl-"

"One thing at a time," Anakin said, but he smiled. The idea of adding sword techniques to his Force abilities felt like something he should have thought of sooner.

After classes, Anakin packed up his notes. Next week they'd start their internships - their first real experience with hero work. He glanced again at Kenobi's offer letter. Adding sword techniques to The Force would open up new possibilities.

His phone lit up with a message from his mom asking how his day went. He'd tell her about the internship when he got home.

Next week would start their first real step toward becoming pros.

His phone lit up with the 'study' group chat:

Mirio: "The Force Hero, The Million Power Hero, and Wave Motion Hero reporting for duty!"

Nejire: "We need a group photo in our costumes with our hero names!"

****

With internships starting in 2 days and his spot at Kenobi's agency confirmed, Anakin had expected a quiet weekend. Instead, his grandfather walked in that morning declaring a "grandfather-grandson day out."

"You're not driving," Anakin said, watching his grandfather search for his car keys.

"One wrong turn-"

"Three wrong turns. And that's just this month."

Ben found his keys under a stack of American hero magazines. "Fine. Train it is. But I'm buying lunch."

"Where are we going anyway?" Anakin asked as they walked to the station.

"They opened a new collector's shop near Musutafu Station. Might have some rare All Might merchandise."

"You have enough All Might stuff."

"Never enough." Ben grinned. "The American releases are different from the Japanese ones. Have to complete the set."

The train wasn't crowded for a Saturday. Ben spent the ride telling increasingly terrible jokes about pro heroes until even the other passengers started groaning.

"That's not how Best Jeanist's quirk works," Anakin said after a particularly bad pun.

"Everyone's a critic."

The new shopping district sprawled across several blocks. Ben made a beeline for a store with vintage hero merchandise displayed in the window. His eyes lit up at a limited edition All Might figure.

"Look at this! It's from his debut year in America. They only made fifty of these."

"Didn't you order one last month?"

"That was the Japanese variant. This is the American release - totally different costume details."

They spent an hour in the store while Ben examined every All Might item for authenticity. He ended up buying the figure plus three other "rare finds" that Anakin was pretty sure were already sitting in his grandfather's collection at home.

"Lunch?" Ben asked as they left the store. "I saw a ramen place-"

"You mean the one we just passed three times because you got lost?"

"I was exploring."

The ramen shop was tiny but packed. They squeezed into seats at the counter, watching the chef work with practiced efficiency.

"Nervous about the internship?" Ben asked between bites.

"No, just interested in that crystal he uses. No one else has anything like it."

Ben pulled the shopping bag onto his lap and took out his newest prize - a limited edition All Might figure. "Remember when you used to carry that old All Might figure everywhere? Could barely get you to put it down for dinner."

"I was three."

"Sometimes I forget that you're not little anymore." Ben tucked the figure back into its bag. "Your mom says I spoil you too much. But after everything... well, someone had to make sure you had fun growing up."

"Mom says you're a bad influence."

"The best kind." Ben grinned. "Ready to check out that other hero shop? Heard they might have some American imports."

"You have enough-"

"Never enough." Ben stood up, checking his watch. "It's only 2:30. We've got time to check out that other hero shop. I heard they might have some American imports."

They spent the next few hours exploring more stores. Ben found even more All Might merchandise, insisting each piece was "completely different" from what he already owned.

By 5:30, the sun was starting to set, casting shadows between buildings. Ben was in the middle of another terrible joke when he stopped suddenly.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Ben's voice changed slightly. "Just thought I saw... never mind. Let's cut through here. Shortcut to the station."