Work Text:
Dawn is just breaking across the city of Fukuoka, painting the sky in soft, pink hues and allowing the more early risers of the city to experience a brief reprieve from the summer heat that is soon to settle.
The camera captures a scenic, peaceful route through the window of a moving car, showing storefronts just beginning to open for the day, traffic lights blinking patiently to streets that remain mercifully empty of morning traffic, and long shadows of skyrise buildings stretching across the pavement.
Text appears on screen: DAY IN THE LIFE OF PRO HERO HAWKS
Then, a short description appears for a few seconds: At the time of filming, Hawks has been an active Pro Hero for just over seven years and currently holds Rank No. 12 on the Annual Hero Billboard. He fought during the war at Rank No. 2 and has since remained active while also spearheading numerous HPSC-sponsored projects focused on Hero Society reform. Hawks Agency, based in Fukuoka, remains one of the top choices for employment among newly graduated Pro Heroes.
The video cuts to show a feminine hand knocking on a solid and heavy, dark wood door. A few seconds later, the door opens to reveal a slightly disheveled-looking Pro Hero Hawks, dressed in a plain white t-shirt and shorts.
YUNA THE VIDEOGRAPHER: Good morning, Hawks!
HAWKS (mid-yawn, with a soft smile and one eye crinkled shut to shield from the early morning light that filters through the ceiling-to-floor windows behind him): Morning! Come on in.
The video cuts to Hawks walking through his living room, past a large teal-blue couch decorated with numerous throw pillows and blankets of various neon colors, all placed atop a bright yellow-and-orange rug that covers most of the open space. The set up teeters dangerously on the edge of maximalist and into “tacky” territory.
HAWKS (while walking): It’s just after six in the morning right now, which is usually when I start my day. Today, you’ve got no choice but to come with me. Welcome to a day in my life.
He turns to direct a cheeky, yet tired, smile at the camera.
HAWKS: The first thing I do when I wake up, nearly everyday without fail, is go on a morning flight. And– (He lowers his voice briefly in a playful, conspiratorial whisper.) –this might be a huge shock, but I spend a lot of my time in the sky. (Speaking at a normal volume again.) And Yuna, my lovely friend who’s behind the camera right now, can’t come with me for that. But don’t worry, I like to think I’ve gotten pretty good at handling a camera myself these days. Or maybe this’ll just be a pre-recorded clip. Who knows.
He laughs softly as he pushes open the door to his bedroom. The video pans the room, which has a king-sized bed decorated with even more colorful pillows than the living room, placed atop a large teal-blue rug that almost matches the shade of the couch. Then the camera zooms in on a tall shelf that displays no less than three professional photography cameras and various pieces of photography equipment.
HAWKS: I’ve gotten more into photography recently, and it’s kind of taking over both my camera roll and also my Instagram.
He picks up one of the Cameras and turns it on, before clicking a few buttons.
HAWKS: This one’s a Sony A7, and it’s been my new favorite. I take it with me practically everywhere when I’m not on the job. It’s got a ton of sick aerial shots– boring, I know– but also a lot of food, nature, people, pretty much everything. It’s versatile like that. Come look.
The camera moves to angle over Hawks’ shoulder to show the Sony A7 screen as he flips through a few recently saved photos. There are two skyline shots, a shot of a roadside yakitori stand taken at night, a close-up of a yakitori skewer, and a shot taken in his own colorful living room of a man with snow white hair curled up and seemingly fast asleep on one end of the teal couch–
HAWKS (quickly moving the camera away from view): Oop! Okay, you get the idea.
He laughs nervously as he shuts off the screen and replaces the camera on the shelf.
HAWKS: Anyway, I’ll see ya out there.
—
The video cuts. A new clip of Hawks already in the sky, flight goggles and earmuffs in place, begins to play.
HAWKS (grinning widely): Hi, world! Do you ever wish you could have a birds-eye view of the city? Haha! …Okay, sorry, that was bad. But here’s how I start my day. I see morning flights as quick workouts that let me stretch my wings and get some mild cardio in. And also just feel the fresh air on my skin. It helps me wake up proper, especially when I’m exhausted after a long patrol the day before or something. I work out with actual gym equipment too, sometimes, but if I ever don’t have time for that, a morning flight will always have me covered.
The video shows several scenic clips of the city zooming by at speed, as Hawks races between buildings, circles rooftops, and even drops down at the mercy of gravity for several seconds before he picks up toward the sky again. It plays like footage from a rollercoaster.
HAWKS (off-screen, as he flies in the open sky above all the buildings, audio cracking occasionally with the wind): Sometimes I’ll end my flight by stopping for a cup of coffee somewhere, or even a pastry. I gotta indulge sometimes. Not today, though. You guys have to see the side of me that’s actually healthy and eats a homemade breakfast, okay? There’s enough pictures of me out there eating fried chicken in the air, I think. I know you know what I’m talking about. It’s your fault. Not today, guys.
—
The clip cuts. The camera turns back on in Hawks’ apartment.
HAWKS: Okay, we’re back! Now it’s time to have a shower, and then the best part. Skin care routine. You can join me for the skin care, but not the shower.
He winks at the camera.
The camera shows a large en-suite bathroom with a shower and a separate bathtub with a Jacuzzi, before cutting to show Hawks with damp hair standing in front of a massive mirror. An extra toothbrush can be seen in the tumbler by the sink, next to a few silver rings that hardcore fans can likely identify as belonging to a certain fiery young hero. Hawks pays it no mind.
HAWKS (speaking to the mirror): First things first. The cleanser I use is this one (he holds up an exfoliant cleanser), then I use this, um… (he rummages through a drawer). Sorry, there’s so much junk piling up in here, lately. Aha! This Vitamin C brightener that’s supposed to make your eyes look not dead or something. And then finally, a moisturizer. That’s it. I’ve been told people want to know my hair routine, and sorry to burst any bubbles, but I don’t actually have a hair routine. I usually just let it air dry. It does its own thing.
The camera zooms in to one side of the counter which very clearly houses a fancy-looking blow dryer, a tube of styling gel for spikes, and a can of anti-frizz hair cream.
YUNA (off-screen): Do you share this apartment with anyone else, Hawks?
HAWKS (breaking out into a teasing grin): Nah. It’s just me.
YUNA (chuckling): Okay.
The video shows a few clips of Hawks going through his routine, before he flashes a bright smile first at the mirror and then directly at the camera. Then it cuts to Hawks standing in his kitchen.
HAWKS: I guess we can do a little house tour while I make breakfast. Which is usually just eggs and toast if I’m eating at home and not grabbing something on the way to work. And a ton of coffee.
YUNA: Inspiration behind the bold colors in the apartment?
HAWKS (placing sunny-side-up eggs on toast): Hm. I guess I can tell you. I’ve lived in this same place since I first debuted seven years ago, and for the first four of those years it was very thread-bare. A lot of the furniture had just come with the place and I never bothered to replace it or add anything that was more me. It looked like something straight out of a showroom, the couch was super hard and uncomfortable, and there weren’t even any bookcases or shelves. But I barely spent time here so I thought, who cares? Wing Hero Hawks doesn’t bother with useless distractions like home decor when there are people out there who need to be saved. (He pauses to grab black pepper from a cabinet). Then I think I started to realize, with the help of some people very important to me, that was a very bleak way to view my life. Don’t get me wrong, my number one priority will always be the job, but I also needed to focus on having some things for just me. And I guess this —(he gestures out to the bright living room)— is one of the first things I did for myself. You like?
The camera turns to capture a full view of the living area, which contains items in almost every color of the rainbow, including a photograph placed on a shelf of a literal rainbow– likely from Hawks’ own photography portfolio.
YUNA: It’s very… vivid.
Hawks barks out a laugh.
HAWKS: That’s one way to put it.
—
The video cuts to Hawks sitting in the backseat of a moving car. He’s positioned in an odd, sideways angle in between the seat back and the car door, wings curling out from both sides of him.
HAWKS (staring straight into the camera): Now here’s something you never see. Me, in a car.
YUNA (off-screen): Sorry.
HAWKS (laughing): It’s okay! I usually fly everywhere – shocker, I know – but since Yuna’s following me today, we’re taking a car. And, ahem, on the agenda today we have… an ad campaign, then an HPSC Quirk Training class, and then a patrol shift. You can come with me for the first two, but maybe not for all of the patrol.
YUNA: What is the quirk training class?
HAWKS: Right. It’s part of the new Hero Training Reforms some other heroes and I have been working on implementing. One of the biggest issues we’ve seen in our society is the ostracization of quirks that can sometimes be wrongly-labeled as ‘abnormal’ or even ‘dangerous’, like heteromorphic quirks, quirks that are hard to control, quirks that hurt the user, quirks that even just look different. Anything. And a lot of people with these kinds of quirks can be discouraged from pursuing heroics, or be forced to train secretly or in very harmful ways due to a lack of support from peers. Many hero schools aren’t always equipped with resources to train and handle these quirks effectively, and prejudice runs deep in the top schools. Some youth can even turn to villainy, because society has told them their quirk is better suited for something like that– which to me is just ridiculous. The Hero Training Reforms hope to implement some change into that way of thinking and equip young people to get a better handle on their quirks, and to not just write-off a career in heroics just because of societal pressure.
He pauses, to let that sink in.
HAWKS: And so the Quirk Training Classes. That’s something me and To—Dabi… Uh, can I say anything about that?
YUNA: You can say anything you want, Hawks!
HAWKS: Okay, yeah, so Dabi. You might not have heard of him, he’s some low-level hero, kind of an asshole. His hero outfit is, like, super edgy with a really ugly black coat– maybe you’ve seen it– and outside of that, he’s got a downright horrible sense of fashion. And that’s coming from me. You’ve just seen my apartment.
Yuna chuckles off-screen, and Hawks cracks too, the corners of his lips curving up slightly, before he clears his throat and regains focus.
HAWKS: So these Quirk Training Classes are something Dabi and I founded together earlier this year, as a part of these reforms. They’re held at HPSC locations all over the country and are for kids with quirks that fall into one of the categories I described. Those who need extra training, quirk counseling, or just a safe and supportive environment to learn in. The class we’re gonna pop into today is being taught by Uravity– a newly debuted Pro fresh out of U.A. We’ve got quite a few newly-graduated heroes teaching at these. It’s really coming together. Dabi and I will host some sessions ourselves, but even when we're not, I like to pop in and meet the kids.
YUNA: That’s very honorable.
HAWKS: Mm. Don’t tell Dabi. It’ll go to his head.
—
The video cuts to Hawks sitting in a dressing room chair. He’s changed into his Pro Hero Uniform for the ad campaign. A hairdresser is fussing with his hair.
HAWKS: I know I said I don’t have a hair routine, but this stuff for TV does not count. It’s not me doing it.
HAIRDRESSER: Sit still, Hawks.
HAWKS: Yes, ma’am.
A small cut to Hawks still sitting in the dressing room chair, now with his phone in hand.
YUNA (off-screen): Who are you texting?
Hawks looks up, and the camera zooms in on his face. He grins, and then winks.
There are a few video clips of Hawks on set for the campaign as he walks, talks, and poses against a white backdrop, but text appears on the clip in subtitle format: Clips from the upcoming TV advertisement cannot be legally shown at this time.
—
The video cuts to show a wide, zoomed-out view of a tall corporate building rising over the street, with massive double revolving doors that turn steadily as people pass through. Above them, blocky, polished letters gleam in the sunlight: HERO PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION. Hawks walks into the frame, still wearing his Pro Hero Uniform, and stops in front of the building to glance up at the letters.
HAWKS: This is one of the new HPSC branches. Nice, right? I also have an office in here, but we aren’t going there today.
YUNA (off-screen): Will Dabi be joining us today?
HAWKS: Nah. He does usually, but not today. He’s got… something. I don’t know what that guy does with his time. Come on, let’s go.
The camera stays a few feet behind Hawks as he enters the building and rides the elevator up to the seventeenth floor. He checks the time on his watch, before slowly pushing open a door to a training room and sticking his head in.
HAWKS: Hello! Hope I’m not interrupting.
A sudden chorus of “Hawks!!!” can be heard from inside the room, and Hawks grins and pushes open the door fully. The camera follows him and captures a panoramic view of the room, with many kids aged between five and ten, from the looks of it, shooting up from their chairs at the sight of Hawks. Uravity, in all her bubbly glory, stands at one end of the room.
HAWKS: Hi there, little chickadees! How are we doing today?
Uravity lets out a faux-exasperated groan as the kids begin shouting their greetings back at Hawks.
URAVITY (fighting a smile): You’re always barging in unannounced, Hawks. We’re in the middle of an important training lesson!
HAWKS (shrugging): I checked the time, there’s only three minutes left of class. Don’t you guys wanna talk with me for a while instead?
Another chorus of “Yes!!!”s ring out through the room.
HAWKS (grinning): Sorry, Uravity. The chicks have spoken. (He turns back to face the class). Alright, how about we do something that your teacher will probably approve of, too? What if we take turns sharing one important thing we’ve learned about our quirks today?
KID #1: Where’s Dabi?!
Several other kids join in on questioning Hawks on Dabi’s whereabouts, and Hawks chuckles.
HAWKS: I know right? Boooo. He’s missing out on all this fun! But that’s his loss. Come on, who wants to share first? Shall I start? (a chorus of ‘Okay’s sound). Alright, today I learned that it’s really difficult for me to sit in a car, given my wings (he shakes his wings out for emphasis, drawing out some ‘Ooh’s). And that it sets me apart from many other people who can sit in a car because I can’t travel anywhere with them and have to go on my own. But that doesn’t make me any less than them, right? Because there is something else I can do that others can’t. I’ll let you guess what.
KID #2: Fly, obviously!
HAWKS: Yeah, exactly! Now who wants to share? Maybe in your answers, you should talk about something your teacher taught you today. Let’s keep her happy, alright?
The camera zooms in on Uravity as she rolls her eyes, though a fond smile creeps onto her face.
KID #3 (raising a hand): Okay, I’ll go!
—
The video cuts to Hawks back outside, standing on the now-bustling streets of Fukuoka. He’s taken off his flight jacket, which is now draped over his arm, and remains in just his HPSC compression suit which clings tightly to his toned arms. Some loose hair strands stick to his forehead with sweat.
HAWKS: Summertime in Fukuoka is brutal, eh?
YUNA (off-screen): You’re faring better than many others.
HAWKS: I know. Imagine people with fire quirks. (He blows a raspberry). I’ve still got a couple hours till patrol. Wanna get lunch? Late-lunch, I guess, at this time. Come on, I know a place.
The video cuts to a clip of Hawks entering a small, hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Downtown Fukuoka with dim, yellow lighting. There is a small bar with just four seats right upon entering, and a few scattered tables in the back. Hawks is immediately greeted by a very excited old man, likely the owner of the restaurant.
OWNER: Oh, Hawks! Come in, come in. It’s wonderful to see you. Been a while, huh, big shot? How’ve you been, huh? Survivin’ okay in this heat?
HAWKS: I’m great, man! Hope you’re keeping the place cool. This is my friend, Yuna, by the way. We’re doing a small video. That okay with you?
OWNER: Obviously! Been telling you to bring this old man more business, haven’t I? Maybe this will finally be what lets me retire. (He turns to face the camera.) My little shop’s called *BLEEEEEEEEEEEP* and I’m located at *BLEEEEEEEEEEEP*.
HAWKS (laughing): You know, maybe that wasn’t a very good idea.
OWNER: Like I give a damn. I’m gettin’ real old and it's probably my last year running this place anyway. Come in, both of you. Pick any table you want.
The video cuts and restarts after it’s been set up by the wall of their chosen table, capturing both Yuna and Hawks, as well as the owner who stands by to chat, in the frame.
OWNER: So where’s that other hero friend of yours, huh? The one with all the tattoos and the attitude?
HAWKS (throwing his arms up, feigning offense): What’s with everyone asking me that today? Is no one happy to just see me?
OWNER: I’m just messin’ with you, boy. But bring that kid around more, will ya? He’s the only one that’ll have all my soba.
HAWKS (mumbling): ‘The only one.’
OWNER: Whaddya want today? The usual? Karaage? What else you get, huh? I forget.
HAWKS (looking the owner straight in the eyes): Yes, Karaage. And one order of the cold soba, please.
The owner barks out a rough laugh.
OWNER: Alright, alright. And you, miss?
YUNA: I’ll have a cold somen, if you have that. No spice, please. Thank you.
OWNER: You bet! Comin’ right up.
The video cuts to show the table now scattered with half-eaten bowls of food.
HAWKS (swallowing a piece of chicken): I kind of stumbled into this place very soon after I debuted, I think. Back then, it was one of the only places that was open late into the night, and I came here exhausted, almost dead on my feet, after a twelve-hour patrol shift that ended in the A.M, which came right after a big, weeklong case I was forefronting. In that state of mind, I thought it was the best chicken I’ve ever had in my life, and I’ve been coming back ever since. I don’t know what I’ll do with myself if grandpa over there actually shuts this place down next year. (He gestures to the food in front of them.) What do you think?
YUNA: Oh, it’s very good. Thank you for bringing me. Do you still work odd hours like that?
HAWKS: Sometimes, yeah. It’s not like crime sleeps, so I’m always on call, even off-shift. I’ve taken a step back on more of the other stuff I used to do, like all the modeling gigs and photoshoots. I leave a lot of that to the younger heroes now– their turn to gain popularity, right? And as my agency grew and I hired more people, and learned to actually rely more on those people, I stepped back on a lot of the admin work. (He huffs out a sudden laugh.) Now I’m running the admin work for some HPSC programs, as you saw today, so I still have that. But those are things I want to take on and I’ve got a lot of help with them, obviously– other heroes who are just as passionate about those programs as I am. So it doesn’t feel as… exhausting, let’s say.
Yuna nods.
The video cuts to them back out on the street.
HAWKS (putting on his flight goggles): I’ve got a half-shift now. You can come with me for a bit, if you think you can keep up (he wiggles his brows at the camera.) But feel free to leave whenever. I'm not going into my agency today, so I’ll see you later, okay?
—
The camera pans to capture a panoramic view of the skyscape from Hawks’ apartment balcony. The sun begins to set, painting the horizon in a mixture of bright colors, not too unlike the inside Hawks’ apartment. Lights can be seen slowly flicking on through the windows of nearby buildings as the city gets ready for nighttime.
Then the camera angles toward the gorgeous sky, zooming in and out a few times, before focusing on a particular speck in the sky. The speck grows larger as it comes closer, and soon reveals itself to be Hawks.
He slows his speed just as he lands on the balcony railing, bringing a gush of wind with him that makes his hair fly in his face. He sweeps a hand through his locks and tucks his wings behind his back before dropping onto the concrete.
HAWKS: Hi! Welcome back! I’m done for the day. It’s about eight at night, yeah?
Cuts to Hawks fully inside his apartment, shutting the balcony door behind him and peeling off his flight gear.
HAWKS: I guess usually on a day like this, I’ll go to, uh, not back to my place. But this other, slightly more dingy apartment, which has a way smaller balcony than mine but is still surprisingly very cozy. Smells like cigarettes sometimes though, so it’s really not all that. It’s about a thirty minute flight from here, if I really book it. Forty-five if I want to enjoy the sunset.
YUNA (off-screen): Do you want to go there now?
HAWKS (grinning with a slight blush coloring his cheeks): Do I want to? Yes. Will I, though? Probably not.
Yuna chuckles.
YUNA: Have you ever thought about moving in with each other?
HAWKS: Yeah, of course. It’s not feasible right now, though, with our agencies two hours apart. I’ve still got a lot of work to do here, especially now with some HPSC operations having moved to Fukuoka that I’m running. It’s not so bad though. I’m the fastest flier in the nation, right? I’m there and back like that. (He smiles, snapping his fingers for added effect.) Hey, isn’t he gonna get his own feature on this ‘Day in the Life of Pros’ thing?
YUNA: I don’t know. We’ve asked, but his team hasn’t given us a clear answer yet.
HAWKS (nodding solemnly): Yeah, he’s like that.
Cuts to Hawks in his kitchen, now dressed in a t-shirt and sweatpants.
HAWKS: I’ve already eaten out for one meal today, so the dinner’s gonna be home-cooked, alright? (He turns toward his fridge, opening it and inspecting the contents). I think stir-fry today. Something simple.
Cuts to Hawks standing by his stove, dumping cut vegetables into a pan.
HAWKS: I used to be a horrible cook when I was younger, and I would give myself a lot of crap for it. I’ve gotten better over the years though, with the help of some people who have always been much better cooks than me and surprisingly a lot more patient than me. (He looks directly into the camera.) If there’s one thing you take away from this entire video, let it be that you shouldn’t be so hard on yourself for not knowing how to do things, because honestly, you’ll get there eventually. Everything in life is trial and error. Lord knows I’ve almost burned down this very kitchen more than just a few times. Hell, I didn’t even have a dining table until, like, two years ago!
Cuts to Hawks sitting at a nicely-sized dining table, two near-empty plates of vegetable stir-fry and two near-empty bottles of beer on the table before him.
HAWKS: That wasn’t too bad, right? After this, I’m usually just in front of the TV. Or maybe I’ll make that thirty minute flight tonight. (He sighs.) I dunno.
YUNA: Thank you for today, Hawks.
HAWKS: Of course! You’re welcome to hang out any time. This is a nice segment— I’ve seen the video you did with Miruko, where you showed her work at the prosthetics company she’s bankrolling and all the people she’s helped with that. It’s good exposure.
YUNA: Will you put in a word for me at Blue Flame Agency?
Hawks barks out a laugh.
HAWKS: I’ll see what I can do.
—
The video fades to black for a few seconds. Then, a block of text appears on the screen: EXCLUSIVE OUTTAKE FROM HAWKS’ PATROL.
The video cuts to a clip of Hawks standing on a rooftop of a seemingly-random skyrise building.
HAWKS: It’s kind of quiet today. We’re near the north border of the city, and—
He’s cut off by a sudden gush of loud wind, followed by a streak of something bright and very blue whizzing by the neighboring building’s rooftop.
HAWKS (turning around to inspect): Ah, shoot. I sorta knew this was gonna happen. He's also patrolling right now.
The very next second, Pro Hero Dabi flies onto Hawks’ rooftop, his black coat flowing behind him and spiky white hair flying into his face as he lands in a crouch a few feet away from Hawks.
HAWKS (dawning a signature PR smile): Fancy seeing you here!
DABI (panting slightly as he straightens, then shooting Hawks a bewildered look): The *BLEEP*?
HAWKS (smile dropping as he gestures aggressively at the camera): I’m doing this *BLEEEEP* Day in the Life thing, I already told you!
Hawks turns to the camera.
HAWKS: Can I curse? I can’t curse, right? *BLEEP*— I mean shoot.
Dabi starts laughing, also taking notice of Yuna and the camera.
HAWKS (wide-eyed, speaking to Yuna): You can’t use any of this.
DABI: Like *BLEEP* she can’t.
Dabi shoots off a jet of blue fire from his hands that propels him toward Hawks, who turns back to Dabi and opens his arms just in time at the last second before impact. Hawks lets out an alarmed squawk as the other man crashes into him, but wraps his arms around Dabi’s middle anyway. The two of them get lifted a foot off the ground as Hawks beats his wings to keep them from falling over, and Dabi buries his face in Hawks' neck.
HAWKS (huffing fondly as their feet become reacquainted with the ground, but not releasing Dabi from his hold): You *BLEEEEP* menace.
—
Video cuts to signal the end with a black screen.
Credits roll.
A pop-up link to more information about Hawks and Dabi’s HPSC-Sanctioned Quirk Training Program fills the screen.
In the description of the video is a short summary of the segment’s host: Kirowasa Yuna is a Quirk Support Professional and a Media / Activism Journalist. She graduated from U.A High School of Heroics with a coursework focus in Management and Quirk Studies, after which she went on to work for Mokune Quirk Support Equipment Company where she stayed for ten years and helped lead the manufacturing rush for support equipment during the war. After the war, she found a new passion in Activist Journalism focused on hero society politics and has numerous published works on her website, linked here. Two years into her career in journalism, she came up with the idea to bring transparency into the lives of seasoned Pro Heroes, their values, and the work they focus on. She has partnered with MX Media Company to bring her visions to life.