MHA: Horizon(Ope-Ope No Mi)

Chapter 18: (Two Types Of People)

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CHAPTER START---

Sitting submerged up to his shoulders in his hot tub Law has a glass of whisky in one hand and a textbook in the other.

In the modest but luxurious bathroom, he has music playing quietly through the surrounding speakers built into the walls as he lazily reads.

The book in his hand is UA's 'Hero procedure and regulations,' and beside the tub was a stack of over a dozen other books that would be needed over the three-year hero course at UA.

"Finally," Law sighs as he puts down his glass and turns to the last page. After reading it and the entire index at the back he sets the book down atop the pile and sinks down to his chin in the warm water. "Bunch of boring junk..."

Law closes his eyes and enjoys the warm water for all of seven minutes before his music is overshadowed by a cacophony of loud chimes.

"Mmm," he grumbles, knowing that specific ringtone. He sits up and flicks some water off his hand before reaching for his phone, thankfully waterproof, and answers the video call. "Kinda late for a call don't you think?" he asks in an annoyed voice.

"Figured you would finally go a day without calling me since today was the big sports festival, guess I was wrong..." Law sighs.

"You're too important for me to not check in on you," Nezu says. "So were you up to anything interesting, I hope I didn't interrupt."

Law rolls his eyes, "just got done with the stack of books you sent me, you can have them back when I get back to Japan."

"Those are yours, you'll need them during your time at UA."

"No I won't, I read them once, that's all I need."

"Oh..." Nezu nods along, "I see. Well, keep them, just in case."

"Whatever."

"Did you by any chance watch the sports festival?"

"I caught the beginning of it in the car to my patient, but had to cut it off when I got there...also...what the hell was with the streaker?"

Nezu chuckles, "Togata's Quirk makes clothes...logistically difficult."

"His hero suit has to be organic then, I know your handbook says it's not allowed but you could have at least let him use the pants," Law laughs.

"He insisted on sticking to the rules himself, that attitude combined with his excellent work ethic is what makes him one of our best, and soon to be one of Japan's best."

"Seriously?" Law asks, more surprised than anything. "The naked blonde dude, you sure about that?"

"If you ever get to meet him you'll find out rather quickly how capable he is."

"I'll take your word for it, whatever," Law shrugs. "You promised competition so I'll take what I can get, phasing is pretty interesting at least."

"Permeation," Nezu corrects him. "But good guess on the name."

"Thanks, but is there a particular reason you called this time?"

"I just wanted to inform you that Toshinori has been feeling much better this past month, he wanted to extend his thanks once more."

"Just doing my job, is he taking it easy as I said?"

"..." Nezu gives an awkward smile.

Law straightens up and looks at the screen. "I don't like having my time wasted Nezu, why have me fix something that's just gonna break itself again?"

"He's a bit stubborn, unfortunately, he won't listen to anyone."

"Ugh, well I can't extend his life a second time so whatever, once he knows what he's doing," Law shrugs and sinks back down. "It's his life, he can end it if he wants."

"He fully understands the consequences of his actions," Nezu nods. "What about your other patients?"

"You know I can't discuss that with you Nezu," Law says.

"I'm not asking for specifics, just anything super miraculous that nobody else would have been able to accomplish."

"Well..." Law thinks for a moment. "A few tumors here and there, heart disease in a few people. Failing organs, growths on the brain, and I fixed some spines so people could walk."

"You say that like it's nothing impressive," Nezu points out.

"Oh I know how impossible this stuff is for everyone else, I'm just used to it," Law shrugs. "Didn't really understand the last one completely."

"Hmm, what do you mean?"

"Well, the man spends billions of dollars for me to fix his kids spine right, cracks and shattered bones, the guy was in a coma for a long time before me, but he's quirkless."

"What don't you get?" Nezu's voice was a bit concerned as to where this was going.

"Why spend so much to save some Quirkless trash, just make another kid, or fucking buy a better one with all that money," Law shakes his head. "Honestly I'll never understand that. He was from the generation before me so like 5% of them are quirkless, 1% of mine, just replace him."

"Hmm, I didn't realize you were that kind of person, not to this extent," Nezu had a disappointed tone in his voice.

"What kind of person?"

"Someone who discriminates...is it only about those that are quirkless?" Nezu asks bluntly.

Law pauses for a moment, then laughs, nearly dropping his phone in the tub. "You're kidding, right? You think I pay enough attention to those ants to care about where they come from or how they look or who they want to fuck? Like I care about that," he breaks out into a fit of laughter at the very idea. Him caring that much about useless people was so foreign to him.

"Then why do you care if he's quirkless?"

"Because, Nezu, Quirks are nature's metric of showing how useful you are. Better the Quirk the more useful you are. And quirkless people are level zero, anything they can do, someone with a Quirk out there can do it a hundred times better. You should know, your quirk is what separates you from the other mice, do you really think you're of equal value to them?"

Nezu stops and takes a moment to think of his response. "I can understand how someone born as powerful as you may think like that, but I believe all people are capable of great things, Quirk or not. Hopefully I can show you that during your time with me."

"Trying to make me a hero is one thing, trying to convince me that some quirkless filth could ever be anything more than worthless is an impossible dream. Quirks give people inherent value, the fact that you've never had a quirkless hero in your school shows that on some level even you believe that. Anything they can do we can do better."

"Hmm," Nezu doesn't speak, realizing that this conversation would get absolutely nowhere.

'Law is from a school of thought similar to 'might makes right,' he thinks as Law takes another sip of his drink. 'A school of thought where usefulness and competence determine value. Not even morality or ethics are considered in his actions, only the most effective way of completing the task, and he's willing to step down if someone is proven to be more competent at a task than him... convincing him with words is impossible,' Nezu sighs in temporary defeat.

"Well, I'm glad you don't discriminate by race, appearance, or gender, that would be much more problematic," Nezu says. "I atleast know the requirements to prove you wrong, you will see that there are all different types of people in this world, and every one has a purpose, even if they aren't born at the top like you."

Law grumbles, "I wasn't born at the top, I trained my ass off for 11 years to get here, before I even had my Quirk."

"Oh, you never mentioned that before."

"Because it's not really any of your business, but don't belittle my hard work by saying it's all my Quirk. I was trained to be perfect, that's why I'm better, and my Quirk manifested based on that."

"What?!" Nezu didn't miss that little bit of information that Law accidentally let slip.

"Nothing," Law quickly says. "Just know that there are only two types of people in this world---"

"People who are useful, and people who aren't," Nezu says.

"Nope," Law shakes his head and smiles before looking directly at the camera. "People who are perfect, and people who aren't me..."

Nezu is left speechless by that statement, and the moment he opens his mouth to speak.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

Law's head shifts over to look at the door.

"Sir, the captain says we're twenty minutes from Milan, I need to secure the tub before we land," the flight attendant says in a sweet voice.

"Sorry Nezu, gotta go..."

END CHAPTER---

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