"Your concerns are valid. However, the university believes this is a good way to assure everyone that the threat has been handled." Midnight calmy spoke. "Rest assured, we'll be increasing security compared to past years. This event is a huge opportunity for the students participating; especially for you Hero Course students. We can't afford to cancel it entirely."
"Um, w-why not, K-kayama-sensei?" Mineta looked slightly pale at the thought of another potential Villain attack. "I mean, it's just the All-Star Games."
"Mineta," Iida incredulously turned to the purple ball-headed student, "surely you jest? You know how important the All-Star Games are."
"Obviously! I just don't wanna die!" The Pop Off-user exclaimed, beads of sweat racing down his forehead.
"As you all know," Kayama spoke louder, ending their conversation, "our All-Star Games is one of the most watched sporting events in the country. The Games are number one in Japan for viewership when it comes to competition between future Heroes."
'Whoa…' Midoriya was stunned by that fact. 'I knew the Games were popular and all, but is it seriously that big of a deal?'
"Top Heroes from all over Japan will be watching." Yaoyorozu added in. "This is an event where we can get scouted."
"Unless we're dead…" Mineta murmured to himself.
Midoriya considered that. 'Scouted. Right… Like the scouting combines that professional sports leagues would hold for new potential players.' He mused, drawing comparisons with his era. 'Yet another similarity between pro sports and the Pro Hero profession. Don't know if that's a good thing...'
"She's right." Kaminari piped up with a grin. "After graduation, a lot of people join agencies as a Sidekick!"
"Yeah, but that's as far as some people ever go." Jiro glanced at the blonde. "They miss their chance to go independent and stay eternal Sidekicks. Actually, that's probably where you're headed, you're kinda dumb sometimes." She smirked slyly.
"Hey…" Kaminari practically pouted at the critique. "I'm getting better…"
"Don't listen to her, Denki-chan." Tsunotori chimed in, smiling brightly. "You're not dumb. I know you'll make a great Pro one day."
Kaminari comically sniffed, touched by her words. "Thanks Pony-chan!" He wiped away a few tears.
A few students who weren't in Midoriya's group were moderately surprised by the fact Kaminari and Tsunotori were on a first-name basis while others simply didn't care.
Jiro and Tsunotori shared a brief look with the latter grinning impishly while the punk girl huffed in annoyance, turning forward. 'What is her deal?!' Jiro internally growled.
"Yes, getting scouted and joining a famous Hero Agency can get you more experience and even popularity." Midnight confirmed. "That's why this event matters so much. If you want to go Pro one day, this event can open up doors for you. You get one chance a year, four chances in a lifetime. No aspiring UA Hero Student can afford to miss the All-Star Games. So," she adopted a saucy grin, "all of you keep training hard…and don't skip your psych evaluations. Kay?" She winked.
"Yes, ma'am!" The class chorused.
"Good." She nodded. "Now, before I continue with the lesson, there's another important announcement I need to make. Are all of you familiar with 'class representatives'?"
"Indeed." Iida nodded and chopped his hand dramatically. "We had class representatives for our homeroom classes throughout our respective high school tenures."
"And pray tell, what were the typical duties of class reps?"
Various answers were given but they mostly involved organizing class events, aiding fellow students, serving on the student council, and essentially being a public face for the class.
Midoriya didn't have anything to contribute to the discussion as his time in high school was drastically different compared to his peers. Not just because it was 150 years in the past. But Vulcan High, like most small American public schools, didn't take the role of class representatives very seriously. It was more so a popularity contest than anything else. Apparently, that wasn't quite the case in Japan.
"All of you are correct. A class rep has various duties to ensure the success of their peers." Midnight explained. "Universities normally do not have such a post, however, in light of recent events, the Hero Department has agreed to implement a Class President and Vice-President role for both Hero Course classes."
The class broke out into loud chatter, but then Midnight pulled out a small whip from her bag and cracked it. "Enough! I am not finished!"
The room went silent again and were also moderately perturbed by the whip. Mineta and Kaminari were struggling to maintain their composure.
"Keep in mind that these roles are to be taken seriously." Midnight proclaimed, putting the whip away. "Both representatives will serve as the public face of their class in any matter. And possibly even as field generals in the event an instructor or Pro Hero is not present. They are not merely a note to put on a resume."
The class was momentarily silent as they processed this news. Most who were intending to vote for themselves were immediately reconsidering now.
Iida then raised a hand. "Kayama-sensei, how will these positions be determined?"
"I discussed that with Aizawa and he said, and I quote, 'I don't care as long as you leave me out of it.'" Midnight then rolled her eyes, "Since this is his class, I'll respect his wishes."
"In that case," Iida stood up, "I propose we have an election."
"Kero. Isn't that going to be difficult though?" Asui inquired. "I mean, we've only known each other for less than two weeks, so how do we know who's qualified?"
"Yes, but as first impressions are key to almost every interaction, I believe that anyone who has made a good impression will make for fine candidates." He turned to Kayama. "Kayama-sensei, is this acceptable?"
Midnight crossed her arms under her impressive bosom. "As I said, I'll let you as a class decide. However, I personally believe that after what happened on Monday, you should already have a good idea of who is qualified to lead you."
That was a valid point, though the mood was dampened slightly at the mention of the USJ incident.
"But yes. I'll allow this." She then suddenly shuddered, hugging herself. "Ooh, I love it when young people take charge. It gets my blood hot!"
Most of the class suddenly felt awkward; though Mineta and Kaminari were the exceptions as steam could even be seen coming out of their ears.
From there, everyone pulled out a piece of paper to write down a name. Midoriya tapped his pen against it, contemplating his choices.
'Let's see… Tenya is a potential candidate…though he may be a little too strict for the President role. He'd be best suited for Vice President. Too bad we can't vote for that. Momo, on the other hand, is a valid choice. She's intelligent and levelheaded. Even though she expressed doubts about her abilities the other day, I still believe she'd adapt to the role quite well.' Midoriya contemplated.
With that, he wrote her name on his paper.
Later, with Iida leading things, everyone finished writing down their respective choices and put them into a black top hat—created by Yaoyorozu—and Iida counted the names. He then wrote the results on the chalkboard.
Bakugo: 1
Yaoyorozu: 4
Midoriya: 15
The super-soldier blinked twice to ensure he was seeing things correctly. Sure enough, he was.
'Whoa… Seriously?' He was dumbfounded.
"There we have it," Iida declared. "By the number of votes, Midoriya-san is our Class President, and Yaoyorozu-san is our Vice President."
Most of the class gave polite applause—except for Bakugo, who just looked infuriated as usual—and the newly elected class leaders walked to the front of the room.
"Are you freakin' kidding me!?" Bakugo shouted indignantly. "One vote!? The hell's wrong with you people!?"
"What? Did you seriously think anyone but yourself was gonna vote for you?" Jiro deadpanned.
"Yeah. You didn't exactly make a good first impression, dude." Kaminari grinned teasingly. "Calling everyone 'stepping stones' and all."
"Shut it, Sparky!" Bakugo barked. "Not my fault you can't handle the truth!"
Midoriya reigned in his embarrassment as he stood before the class. "I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting to win…especially by so many votes. But," he adopted a determined expression, "I promise to not let your trust be misplaced. I'll lead our class to the best of my ability!"
Yaoyorozu nodded. "And I'll do my best to take the burden off of Midoriya-san." She said confidently.
Midoriya turned to her. "I'll be counting on you, Vice."
Yaoyorozu smiled at him, a hint of pink tinting her cheek. "I promise I will give it my all."
Uraraka grinned brightly. In her eyes, Midoriya and Yaoyorozu were the perfect pair to lead the class! The rest of the class—sans Bakugo—had reached a similar conclusion.
Midnight, off to the side, smiled in satisfaction.
"You also have strong leadership qualities. Wouldn't you agree?"
"I prefer others to make that judgment."
She smirked as she glanced at the election results on the board. 'Well, I would say the people have spoken.'
Once Midoriya and Yaoyorozu sat back down, Midnight resumed speaking. "Now that the class representatives have been selected," She pulled out the class textbook from her bag. "Turn to chapter 7 and we'll discuss the Pro Hero ethics to maintain a positive public image."
'Is she really the best person to teach this lesson?' Everyone sardonically wondered.
Later in the afternoon, following their Foundational Heroics and General English classes, Midoriya and his friends were eating lunch in the cafeteria at a table together. The group had over an hour before their Modern Literature class was slated to start at 13:30 (1:30 PM), so they had time to relax and enjoy their meals. Which was good as Midoriya and Yaoyorozu's meals were bigger to accommodate for their enhanced metabolism.
"Congratulations on winning the Vice Prez role, Yaomomo." Jiro said, and then waved one of her jacks at Midoriya. "You too, Prez."
Uraraka patted Midoriya on the back. "Yeah, congrats, Izuku-kun! You and Yaomomo will be awesome!"
Midoriya shrugged modestly. "Thanks. Though, I'm not entirely sure what I'm supposed to do."
"It's like what Midnight-sensei said," Iida said, pausing to take a sip from a large container of orange juice, "your task will be to serve as a leader for the class in field-type situations with Yaomomo there to assist you."
"Guess that makes sense." Midoriya then stroked his chin contemplatively. 'I suppose it's like leading a squad… With classroom duties added to the mix.'
"I think our class is in good hands." Kaminari stated.
"Heck yeah!" Kirishima piped in. "I can get behind Midori-bro and Yaomomo as the leaders."
"I would've thought you'd vote for Bakugo-san, babe." Ashido cheekily commented. "Considering you've got a guy-crush for him."
This earned a few chuckles from the group.
The redhead playfully rolled his eyes. "I admire his passion and drive. And I saw firsthand at the USJ he can work with others…begrudgingly, but I don't think he's ready for something like a Prez or a Vice Prez role. Yah know?"
Tokage grinned sharply. "He'd be too busy barking at others to get out of his way."
Midoriya took a bite of his food. "Bakugo-san has potential to grow. Just give him time."
The greenette directed a sharp-toothed grin at him. "Guess Kirishima-san isn't the only one with a guy-crush." She teasingly remarked.
Midoriya shook his head, smirking. "No. It's just he's not the first hotheaded jerk I've had to deal with. Military has its fair share of those types."
"If you say so." Ashido shrugged. "But, hey, Midori! You said you'd help me and Eijiro-kun with Algebra later. You want us to be in the Games, right?" She whined.
Midoriya rolled his eyes. "I expect you both to be in the final round, actually." He turned to Yaoyorozu, who was sitting on his left. "You mind helping me with these two after Literature class, Yaomomo?"
Yaoyorozu gave them a brilliant smile. "Of course! We can go to the library. It's quiet enough for us to concentrate."
"Thanks!" Kirishima clasped his hands together in gratitude. "We definitely need the help!"
"I can help you with English if you want, Ochako-chan." Tsunotori offered, sitting to Uraraka's right.
"Thanks, I appreciate it." Uraraka nodded gratefully.
"Mind if I join in?" Kaminari requested, sitting on Tsunotori's left. "English is still kicking my butt."
Tsunotori giggled. "Trust me, Denki-chan. You'll be speaking it fluently when I'm done with you."
Kaminari blinked twice. 'Why am I feeling hot all of a sudden?'
Jiro glared at Tsunotori out of the corner of her eye. 'The hell does she mean by that?'
"Before that, why don't we discuss the All-Star Games?" Iida suggested. "We should put a schedule in place for us to train our Quirks outside of class time."
Yaoyorozu nodded in agreement. "That would be wise. Although our Quirks are different, we can still work together and lend aid if necessary."
"Speaking of, what do you think this year's All-Star Games will be like, kero?" Asui inquired, tapping her chin. "Do you think the overall structure will be the same?"
"I don't see why not." Yaoyorozu said. "The format hasn't changed in years–an individual event, a team event, and then the bracketed fights. The only thing that changes is the specific events for the first two rounds."
"Not much to train for, huh?" Sero remarked.
"Yeah…" Uraraka said nervously. "The only sure thing is combat at the end."
"Hence why the instructors will be training us so thoroughly." Iida nodded. "How responsible of such a fine institution to give us the best chance possible!"
From there, the group discussed types of training they could do outside of the scheduled sessions while in school. Midoriya offered plenty of advice for everyone to improve their individual training regimen for physicality and Quirks to achieve the best realistic results possible. Yaoyorozu even invited them to her place on weekends as she had a training ground on the estate property that was big enough to accommodate everyone.
Outside of training, Midoriya didn't have much to contribute on the topic of the All-Star Games. He could understand the importance behind the event for the Hero students. However, he pondered if the vaunted event held any significance for him personally given his unique situation.
'The Games are all about Hero students showcasing their skills to Pros in hopes of being scouted. Meanwhile, I'll be with SHIELD that whole time.' The verdette then glanced around at his classmates. All of them actually had something real to compete for; meanwhile, he'd be slotted for some SHIELD mission during his Internship Week regardless of his placement in the Games.
Thinking about it further, he mused that it was sort of unfair.
'Makes me wonder if I should even participate…' He briefly considered that thought but squashed it just as quickly. He knew it'd be disrespectful towards himself and his classmates to not participate; especially since he was Class 101-A's President now.
Later, after their Modern Literature class and library study session, the group made their way back to their Foundational Heroics Field class scheduled for 15:30 (3:30 PM). Much to their confusion, there was a huge crowd standing in front of their classroom door. As Midoriya studied the crowd, he recognized some of the faces from the Heroic Department's Entrance Exam.
"Pardon us, but our class is starting soon. May you let us by?" Iida politely requested.
"What the hell are you extras doing here?!" Bakugo suddenly stomped past Midoriya's group, scowling. "Here to grovel at our feet or something?"
"So this is the vaunted Class 101-A," came a tired voice.
Stepping out from the group was a man standing at 182 centimeters tall (six-foot) with messy indigo hair and a tired expression comparable to Aizawa's. He adorned purple sneakers, loose black jeans, and a black-and-white striped shirt with an olive-green pocketed vest over it.
He eyed the ash-blonde with an indifferent look. "Tell me, are all the Hero Course students so arrogant…or is it just you?"
Bakugo snarled, but Kirishima dragged him back before he could try anything. "Sorry about that, man. Anyways, what's going on here?"
The lavender-haired man crossed his arms. "It's all over the news that this class fought real Villains on Monday. We wanted to see if your class really lived up to the hype. Gotta say, I'm not impressed."
"What'd you say?!" Bakugo shouted angrily.
"Hey!" Ashido jumped in, sounding indignant too. "You haven't even seen us in action yet!"
"Fair."
"So, what?" Tokage detached her head, floating above her classmates. "You're here to scout out the competition?"
"Some of us are, yeah." He replied. "You see, not everyone here could make it in the Hero Course, and either had to take other courses…or just go to another university. But the All-Star Games gives students like us a second chance. Your seats aren't secured. If we do well in the events, we can earn ourselves a spot in the Hero Course, meaning one of us could steal your seat from under you."
Bakugo sneered at the crowd. "So that's it, huh? You losers couldn't hack it the first time, so you think you can do better after we've actually practiced? Don't make me laugh!"
The purple-haired man never lost his composure. "Just watch your backs; if you're not careful, your seats in the Hero Course could get taken by any one of us."
"Well, that's good to hear." The crowd shifted their gaze to Midoriya. "Glad to know the school had a fallback system in place."
This took everyone by surprise.
"Huh?" The lavender-haired man was dumbfounded.
Midoriya elaborated. "The practical portion for the Hero Course's entrance exam is flawed. It's heavily geared towards those with combat-oriented Quirks. There's plenty of useful abilities out there that would work well against people but wouldn't be useful against robots."
"Oh please." Bakugo rolled his eyes. "If you can't even handle those weak-ass robots from the exam, then you have no business being a Hero!"
Midoriya turned to him, unperturbed. "Are you saying Aizawa-sensei and Midnight-sensei aren't cut out to be Heroes then?"
"Huh?" Bakugo tilted his head, confused.
Yaoyorozu stepped in to elaborate. "Midnight-sensei's Quirk is very useful in sedating Villains. On the other hand, it is ineffective against machines."
Bakugo huffed, looking away. He knew from personal experience how effective Midnight's Quirk was.
"Speaking of Aizawa-sensei," Uraraka chimed, turning to Midoriya, "you told us he was an Underground Hero, right?"
"Eraserhead, to be specific." Midoriya confirmed. "He can nullify Emitter Quirks with a stare."
"Hold up!" The tired student perked up, shocked. "One of your teachers is Eraserhead?!"
Midoriya nodded, his mouth forming a thin line. "He's had us fighting since the first day to make sure we belong in this course. If we didn't impress him, he'd have expelled us. You say you want to steal our seats? Fine. But all of us have been working to earn our seats every single day. If you want them, then you'd better be ready to bring your A-game."
"Hell yeah!" Kirishima cheered. "Manly!"
Tokage smirked, joining in. "Tell 'em like it is, Prez!"
Bakugo scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Whatever. Just move aside, extras!" He roughly pushed himself through the crowd, heading inside the classroom.
Meanwhile, the purple-haired student momentarily stared at Midoriya, and then smirked. "Guess you're not so bad. Challenge accepted." He held out a hand. "Shinso Hitoshi. Consider this a declaration of war."
Midoriya returned the smirk, shaking the other student's hand. "Midoriya Izuku. I accept."
The moment Aizawa had been released from the hospital, he had returned to work. As the saying goes, a Hero's work is never truly over. As soon as his mind was able, he used his speech-to-text feature on his phone to start with lesson plans. The All-Star Games were drawing near, and he didn't have time to waste with the chance to return to his office. Despite being so injured, Aizawa was a Pro and held himself to a certain standard.
He was released on Wednesday evening and was given a prescription of powerful painkillers. He was grateful to Present Mic for picking him up and dropping him off at his apartment. And not so grateful for the annoying radio and crappy singing along the way; it made him long for the silence of the hospital.
He went in and out of consciousness throughout his stay. The moment he had gotten to Mic's home, gotten a proper shower, dressed himself as best as he could, he went back to UA–ignoring his longtime friend's concerns.
With him now being able to walk and use an arm, Aizawa believed it was good enough to do his job in the classroom.
Dean Nezu, however, had other ideas.
"You are NOT teaching tomorrow." Nezu sternly ordered.
"Sir, with all due respect, I'm well enough to do my job." Aizawa argued; his voice muffled by the bandages wrapped around his face.
"Out of the question." Nezu shook his head. "Think of the example you're setting for the students if you try to work in that condition. No. I've already selected a substitute to cover in your stead. You will remain out until Doctor Chiyo can heal all of your injuries. My decision is final, Eraserhead."
Aizawa exhaled in exasperation. "Fine." He relented. There was no point in arguing further. "At least let me work in my office so I don't fall behind on my paperwork then."
Nezu tilted his head back, as if considering the offer. "Very well." He nodded. "But you must ensure you get plenty of rest. No late nights. Am I clear?"
"Fair enough, sir."
Deep down, Aizawa knew that Nezu was right, but his sheer stubbornness prevented him from fully relaxing. He was especially less than thrilled that Kayama would serve as his substitute, but it was out of his hands. At least he could count on her to properly convey the gravitas of the All-Star Games to his class. After all, both he and Kayama were bumped up to the Hero Course after good showings in the Games.
Oh! There was also the new 'Class Representative' policy that the administration approved for the Hero Course. Four students out of both classes would essentially serve as'field generals' for their respective classes. Truthfully, after what transpired at the simulation facility, Aizawa could see the logic behind the move. He made it clear to his substitute that he'd allow the class to choose their own Reps and he didn't care how they did it.
One less thing for him to worry about, he thought.
Upon entering his office, Aizawa did his best to edit Class 101-A's curriculum with one hand. As he did so, he recalled the details of the battle. Kurogiri and Shigaraki Tomura were easy to remember as the latter was the cause for the red patchy scar on his elbow. The All Might-counter Villain, Nomu, left him feeling on edge for understandable reasons.
The students who had been separated by Kurogiri's warpgate had joined the fray to save not only him, but also Uraraka Ochako, Asui Tsuyu, and Jiro Kyoka. Most of them got out relatively unscathed. Tsunotori Pony and Iida Tenya had overused their respective Quirks, Jiro suffered a concussion and damaged eardrums, and Ashido Mina sustained acid burns on her hands. It was nothing that Recovery Girl's Quirk and a few days' rest couldn't fix, though.
Midoriya had gotten the worst of it, but he was still able to walk away from it according to all of the reports. In addition to Todoroki Shoto and Bakugo Katsuki, the group was able to turn the tide by holding their own against the Villains Aizawa had previously defeated, Midoriya killing the Nomu and knocking out Shigaraki, and Bakugo pinning down Kurogiri long enough for Midnight to put him to sleep. Sero Hanta and Tokage Setsuna had also provided excellent support throughout the incident.
Overall though, this was not what the Underground Hero had wanted–throwing his students in live combat in a facility where the point was to rescue others. The best he could do at this point though was levy the pros and cons of the situation.
Reaching for some prescribed eye drops, he placed a few drops in his dry eyelids. All of the sleep and recovery did his eyes some good, but Recovery Girl's Quirk could only do so much given his stamina and the damage to his skull. Catastrophic damage to his eye sockets, to be specific.
Wonderful. He thought his dry eyes were bad, now he'd have to test how long he could keep Erasure active once all this blew over.
Injuries aside, there were actually some pros to be garnered from this tragedy. His students had gained experience that only a few upperclassmen could claim, experience that would help them grow into becoming full-fledged Heroes.
From what he had heard, they also fought incredibly well. Midoriya and Yaoyorozu had both proved themselves to be capable leaders, with the former's exceptional on-the-fly tactician skills and the latter showcasing her Quirk and intelligent mind. He wouldn't be shocked if those two were given the President and Vice President roles.
Hell, even Bakugo had shown to be receptive; albeit from Todoroki's testimony, he was less following Midoriya's order and more so attacking Kurogiri because he had reached the same conclusion in that he was the best one suited to handle the Warpgate-user.
Nevertheless, they had all made it out alive.
The cons? Midoriya was forced to kill. And though they weren't life-threatening, several students still sustained noteworthy injuries. The trauma many of the students had suffered could be severe and linger for a while. Lastly was the media sh*tstorm that came down while he was out. The university would be under a microscope going forward.
Thankfully, Dean Nezu and the President's press conferences had done its job. That should help, in some form.
As he continued typing with one hand, Aizawa's thoughts shifted back to the class's former soldier. The first kill. Every Pro Hero who had been alive long enough and involved in enough combat situations faced Villains who wouldn't yield. With innocent lives on the line, a difficult choice had to be made sometimes.
Aizawa then recalled the instance where Midoriya stood on the stairway, ready to jump down and fight the Villains. The intense, hardened expression he had worn. It made the haggard man wonder if Nomu even counted as Midoriya's first kill.
He sighed, stopping to glance at the manila folder that contained the information he had gathered about Midoriya Izuku so far. He had decided to start his investigation by gathering background information on Midoriya.
First, he had contacted Janus High School; one of the schools Midoriya had listed on his transcript.
The call had been rather peculiar.
"You've reached the office for the Janus High School district. This is Rose speaking. How may I help you?" The female receptionist, Rose, spoke in a cheery voice.
Aizawa cleared his throat. "Hello. I am Shouta Aizawa. I teach in the Hero Course at UA University in Musutafu, Japan." He spoke in accented English. Thank goodness Present Mic's lessons in English had stuck for him.
"UA!?" Rose sounded surprised. "That does explain the international number."
"If you would like verification of my identity, I can give you my contact information and Pro Hero license number."
Moments later, after confirming Aizawa's identity, the conversation continued.
"Well then, how may I help you then, Professor Aizawa?" Rose asked with a giddy tone in her voice. Perhaps she was excited to be speaking to a staff member from UA?
"Please. Aizawa is fine." He replied politely. "Anyways, I am calling to inquire about one of your students. Past student."
"A former student?" Rose sounded bemused.
"Yes. His name is Izuku Midoriya. It says on his transcript that he graduated from your school in 2192." Aizawa clarified, looking over Midoriya's paperwork.
"Interesting… That name doesn't sound familiar. Wait, transcript? Did he make it into UA?" Rose eagerly asked.
"...Yes. He's actually my student." He answered boredly.
"NO WAY!" She exclaimed, surprised. "One of our students made it into UA?! In their Heroic Department, no less? How wonderful! The administration will love to hear this news!"
Aizawa blinked in moderate surprise. Was his school not made aware? He supposed it was possible, especially since Midoriya had entered the US Army upon graduating. Still, it was odd. Most high schools would be touting the fact one of their own made into such a prestigious organization like UA University.
"So, Mr. Aizawa, what did you wish to discuss about Mr. Midoriya?"
"I am reaching out to all of my students' highschool teachers to acquire any additional information about them. That way… I can put together a tailored lesson plan for them."
That was utter bulls**t, but at least it sounded believable.
"I gotcha. Well, what information would you like to know?" Rose asked. "Keep in mind, I can't exactly provide you with sensitive information about our students."
"That is not necessary. I just like to know if Izuku was part of any clubs or extracurricular programs during his time at your school. What the teachers and staff thought of him. Stuff like that." He explained.
"I gotcha. Well…I'm afraid I personally don't have any recollection of Izuku myself." Rose admitted, chuckling sheepishly. "Which is shameful on my part."
"How so? You are a receptionist. It's unfair to think you can remember all of your former students." He pointed out.
"Janus is a small school, Mr. Aizawa. Our graduating classes are typically between 30 to 60 students at most." Rose elaborated. "I've been working here since '85, and I've made it a priority to remember all of our students. So…the fact that I don't recall one is rather embarrassing on my part…" She sounded disappointed.
So, a small-town school with a receptionist who claimed to recall all of the students since starting in 2185, except for Izuku? He made a note of that.
"I see… Would you have Izuku's profile information on file then?"
"Let me see…" Rose drawled, the sounds of typing in the background. "Huh…strange?"
"What is?"
"Izuku is on the 2191-2192 class registry…but his profile is rather bare. I don't even have a profile picture for him."
Not even a picture? He made another note.
"Out of curiosity, how many students were in his graduating class?" Aizawa questioned.
"33." Rose quickly answered. "It was a small class that year. Seriously, how could I have not remembered him?" She said that last part to herself.
How indeed. Aizawa made another note.
"Are there any teachers on your staff that would have had Izuku in a class?"
"Hmm… According to his schedule," Rose continued, "he had a class with our mathematics' teacher James Roosevelt each year. If anyone at our school would remember Izuku, it'd be him."
"I see. Where may I contact James Roosevelt?" Aizawa pulled out a separate sheet of paper, ready to jot down the info.
That call had been several days ago. He had gotten James Roosevelt's contact information and sent him an email requesting time to chat. Via email, they had both agreed to talk on Monday at 17:00 (5 PM) in PST, which equated to 10:00 (10 AM) in JST. It worked out for both parties as Aizawa wouldn't have a class to teach (Midnight filling in for him) and Roosevelt should be free by then too.
Aizawa sighed deeply. "I swear…the Golden Boy is on the verge of becoming a Problem Child real fast." He muttered to himself as he altered the dates on the class syllabus. The two days off threw a wrench in his plans and would cut into his student's training for the All-Star games–which would be in two weeks starting next Monday.
Heroes adapt though. They need to in order to perform their duty to society.
Looking over the syllabus of exams and various training dates, he glanced at the summer section. If he sent a few emails, he could pitch for a summer camp of some sort, depending on how well the class was performing. Although he would need a better grasp of his students once he sees them in action in the Games, feedback from their internships, and then the Final Exams.
He typed 'TBD'. Something to shelve for now.
With a few more edits, Aizawa finished the updated syllabus. Now it was time to tackle the schedule for the All-Star Games. He looked over the docket, mainly the order of events for the Freshmen students.
Preliminary Obstacle Course Race, Random Event, and then Battle Tournament.
Under random events were a selection of games the registering students would partake in; the ones who placed within the top forty in the Obstacle Course Race. Calvary Battle, Labyrinth Hunt, Capture the Flag, Kingdom on the Hill among so many others. There was a box for a suggested event that the teachers can offer but would have to explain the rules.
Narrowing his eyes, Aizawa began to think.
Calvary Battle was a four-man team free-for-all for the headbands of enemy teams.
Labyrinth Hunt was Tag on Steroids within a giant moving maze, courtesy of Cementoss and Power Loader with a point-system similar to the practical exam.
Capture the Flag was a ten-man team free-for-all for the flags of enemy quadrants.
Finally, Kingdom on the Hill was a four-man team of whoever was the four people on top of a position and had to kick off whoever was coming onto said position.
So, small team games…or individual free-for-alls?
For the next few minutes, Aizawa's fingers tacked across the keyboard.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday evening…
Dark, gloomy clouds hung in the late-evening sky. Lights from streetlamps and buildings were the only illumination in the area. Midoriya was running down the dimly lit sidewalk adorning his usual red high-tops, black jogging pants, and a long-sleeved gray US Army shirt. The pair of dog tags he wore often hung freely from around his neck.
The saline ocean air became stronger as he approached Takoba Municipal Beach Park. He spotted a familiar red Corvette and white pickup truck parked on the side of the road. Going down the stairs, he ran across the barren beach and spotted two men standing at the end of the pier.
Quickly making his way down the boardwalk, he approached the pair. "Toshinori, Coulson! What's the problem?" He asked urgently.
He had received a text earlier from Coulson requesting him to come to the Takoba Beach pier immediately. He felt bad having to leave Uraraka's apartment so abruptly, but the tone of the agent's text was urgent.
Yagi and Coulson both turned to Midoriya with grim looks, confirming that something was indeed wrong.
"Young Midoriya… Have you not seen the news?" Yagi asked.
"No… I've been with Uraraka most of the evening. Why…?" He asked cautiously.
Coulson stepped forward. "I'll cut to the chase then. The ringleaders for the League of Villains, Shigaraki Tomura and Kurogiri have escaped."
Midoriya's verdant eyes widened slightly. "Escaped?"
"Detective Tsukauchi informed me earlier today." Yagi spoke up. "The vehicle transporting them to Tartarus suddenly blew up. The officers inside were sadly killed. But Shigaraki and Kurogiri were nowhere to be found."
"One of the guards inside was missing too." Coulson added, his arms folded across his chest. "It was likely an inside job."
Midoriya frowned, his gaze dropping to the floor. "It must have been whoever is in charge of the League." He looked back up. "Any leads on who it was?"
Yagi and Coulson shared a brief look before turning back to Midoriya.
"We…have one possible suspect." Coulson then turned to Yagi, who shifted nervously.
Midoriya looked suspiciously between the bald agent and the haggard blonde. They both seemed so troubled. "Well… Who is it?" He asked evenly.
Yagi approached Midoriya and stared at him with a grave expression, his hand brushing along his mutilated left side. "The same Villain who gave me this."
"Are…you serious?" Midoriya was surprised.
The Number One Pro nodded grimly.
A short moment of silence passed.
Midoriya's mouth then became a thin line. "Toshinori, you've been dodging the question whenever I asked…and I respected your wishes…but I can't anymore." His tone became sharp. "Tell me, who is this Villain?"
Yagi didn't immediately respond as his gaze dropped and his expression contorted in discomfort. The sounds of waves crashing on the shore and seagulls squawking was all that could be heard. Midoriya's hardened gaze was focused on Yagi while Coulson leaned against the metal railing out of the way.
"He's… a powerful Villain; the strongest I've ever fought. Likely the strongest the world has ever seen…or ever will see." All Might finally said. "When I finally fought him, victory came at a steep cost…but I thought it was worth it because I had finally won. That I had finally killed–"
Yagi's voice suddenly became harsher. Angrier. Unpleasant memories threatened to bubble up to the surface, but he fought hard to push them back down.
Midoriya's expression became sympathetic. "He must've been. To force you to kill…"
Yagi nodded, closing his eyes. "As a rule I always hold back. I have to. Killing…as a Pro Hero we do have some protection since we sometimes fight Villains that don't value human life. Even so, I hold back."
The super-soldier nodded in understanding. Given All Might's incredible strength, killing was a line he could easily cross if he wasn't careful. He could relate as he had to hold back in most of his fights as well.
"But…against that monster…" Yagi started to tremble. "I couldn't hold back. If I had, I would be dead. Before I delivered the final blow though, he had already ripped out my left side."
Midoriya grimaced at the gruesome imagery. 'Just…how strong was this Villain?'
"Unfortunately…it seems that it may not have been enough."
Midoriya considered Yagi's words and deduced what he was implying. "The League. You think this Villain is the one pulling the strings?"
"Yes," All Might nodded. "He's clearly set up Shigaraki Tomura as the figurehead while he stays in the shadows. The Nomu is his doing as well. An engineered weapon with multiple Quirks crammed into it. He's the only one I know who could be responsible."
A pit began to form in Midoriya's stomach. 'No…'
"This…may sound difficult to believe, Captain…but this man's origins stretch back to the Dawn of Quirks. During your time, actually."
That sense of dread started to intensify. 'No… No…'
All Might went on. "His Quirk is unique in that it allows him to rob others of their powers and grants them to its user."
…
…
The world around Midoriya stopped as his emerald eyes slowly widened in shocked disbelief.
The Nomu having multiple Quirks. Shigaraki Tomura's very name. He didn't want to jump to conclusions, hoping it was just some separate organization with a figurehead sharing his surname as either a descendant…or out of sheer coincidence.
But he couldn't ignore the evidence anymore.
'It's him…' He internally despaired.
"His name is–"
"All For One."
Midoriya's expression hardened as his fists clenched tightly, his body beginning to tremble.
Everything went silent. Only the waves crashing on the shore and ocean breeze could be heard.
Yagi broke the silence, gasping in shock. "W-what?!" His blue eyes popped out. "You…You…You know him!?"
Midoriya slowly nodded. "Yeah… We're acquainted."
"But…but…HOW!?" Yagi spluttered out, his mind reeling from this startling revelation.
Midoriya leveled his gaze at the disheveled blonde. "I served on a campaign here in Japan, Toshinori. I came across him on a couple of occasions. Also…" He paused, reaching up to clutch the dog tags on his necklace. "...People I served with died because of him. And…the doctor who gave me the super-soldier serum…she told me about him too. And what he did to her…"
Before All Might could ask for clarity, Coulson spoke up. "Doctor Hatsume Teruko. A brilliant meta-biologist during Cap's time. She possessed an amazing Quirk that allowed her to view objects, living or nonliving, on the microscopic level…and gain insight on them. All For One forced her to synthesize a serum to enhance his physiology; Quirk included."
Yagi's jaw dropped further, thunderstruck. 'What!?'
Coulson continued. "Long story short, the American government freed Teruko from All For One's clutches and recruited her." He shifted his gaze to Midoriya. "She found Izuku and recruited him for the super-soldier program."
"I've…never heard of this..." Yagi managed to say.
"Of course not. It isn't public knowledge. I only know because I'm a Level 7 SHIELD agent." The super-agent replied.
"W-why didn't you ever tell me back then?!" Yagi yelled, anger present in his voice.
"Because I wasn't Level 7 six years ago. Besides, would it really have been relevant for you to know the Symbol of Evil was a steroid junkie?" Coulson snarked.
Yagi wanted to retort, but he couldn't. His eyes dropped to the wooden decking as he mulled over this stunning information. 'All For One…is a super-soldier… Just like Captain America?' He glanced over at Midoriya, who was standing frozen with a hardened expression shrouded by the darkness. '...No. Not like him. He's nothing like Izuku.'
"Dr. Hatsume…Teruko…" Midoriya spoke up. "... She…she had a close relationship with All For One's younger brother, Shigaraki Yoichi."
Yagi's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates in shocked horror. "S-Shigaraki!?"
Midoriya nodded grimly. "Yeah… That's All For One's surname. I never learned his first name. But…it's clear that All For One is Tomura's mentor. Maybe even his father? Although I doubt that. What I am certain of is that Tomura's hatred toward you, All Might, is All For One's direct influence. He's molding him for something. For what, I don't know."
He then shook his head. "But I'm getting off track. Teruko and Yoichi were very close." His expression became crestfallen. "Yoichi was always sick and frail, and Teruko wanted to use her Quirk to develop a cure for him. And she did! A temporary one…but it was enough for All For One to notice her. He captured them…and forced Teruko to alter the serum she made to cure Yoichi into a permanent enhancement drug."
Yagi could hardly believe what he was hearing. He knew that All For One was powerful, obviously. But to think he had gotten stronger via the super-soldier serum unnerved him to no end.
Midoriya continued. "Teruko wanted to make things right. She synthesized a refined version of the serum. She put together a squad of very capable young soldiers…and then chose me… a sicky, scrawny kid to be the first subject…"
'I…don't believe it. The one who enhanced All For One's power…the one who gave Captain America his strength… had a relationship with the First?' All Might suddenly felt a warmth stir inside him. It took him a brief moment to conclude it was the flames of his Quirk.
Odd.
"... After my procedure, one of All For One's agents killed Teruko." His tone became shaky, and tears brimmed in his eyes. "She never got to take that monster down! She never got to reunite with Yoichi!"
Yagi's expression fell at that. Another person who set out to stop All For One who ultimately gave up their life. He understood perfectly the pain that Midoriya felt for his doctor friend's sad demise. She had shared the same fate as his mentor…and the ones who came before her.
"I thought there was no way he could still be alive. Not after all these years…but I was a fool! Of course he'd find some way to extend his life." Midoriya turned to Yagi with a steely-eyed gaze, tears streaming down his face. "I know that he hurt you, Toshinori… But I have to stop him! I…I can't let all the people who died trying to defeat him be in vain!"
All Might was rendered speechless, blown away by everything he had heard. He suddenly felt the power of his Quirk raging from deep inside of him. The faint indiscernible whispers of the past bearers calling out to him. Like ghosts.
It was then that the Number One Pro Hero…All Might…Yagi Toshinori realized what he had to do.
'It's time.' Yagi suddenly buffed up into his Hero form and approached Midoriya, laying a hand on his right shoulder. "I understand, Izuku. Perfectly clear."
Midoriya reached up to wipe the tear off his face, bewildered why he suddenly transformed into his muscled form.
He was also using his given name too. That was a first!
"Phil." The agent perked up. "Please…give Izuku and I some privacy."
"Toshinori?" He questioned, confused.
"...This is an important matter between me and him…and only me and him." He emphasized, glancing over his shoulder at the agent with a stern look in his eyes.
Coulson's eyes widened slightly, picking up on All Might's meaning. "Copy that." He nodded, and then started walking down the pier. 'About damn time.'
Once the SHIELD agent was out of ear shot, All Might directed his attention back to Midoriya. He gestured for the verdette to follow him. The two legendary Heroes walked to the far end of the pier and stopped up against the railings.
The cloud cover had partially cleared, allowing the moon to shine down and reflect off the dark waters. A moment of silence passed between the pair as the salty breeze blew against their faces.
Midoriya then glanced up at All Might, who's gaze was seemingly focused on the sea. "Toshinori…?"
"Izuku… What do you know about my Quirk?" He inquired.
'That…seems random.' The 21st Century man was confused, but decided to humor the Pro. "It's clearly some form of super-strength. Awesome strength, actually. It's strong enough to redirect air currents. Perhaps a form of super-durability as well to complement it." He arched an eyebrow. "Though…I've noticed in interviews when people ask about your Quirk, you dodge the question with a joke…?"
All Might nodded, chuckling mirthlessly. "For good reason. People can't know the true nature of my power. They must believe that their Symbol of Peace is a natural born hero like them…but I'm not."
Midoriya perked up.
"Like you…I wasn't born with my Quirk." He proclaimed.
Midoriya's breath hitched in his throat, his mouth agape. 'What?!' He internally yelled.
All Might turned to him with his signature smile. "Surprised? Ha-ha-ha!" He laughed boisterously. "Indeed! My power was given to me by another."
"Wait! T-t-time out!" The verdette stammered as a shocking possibility occurred to him. "Toshinori…a-are you a super-so–"
"No." The blonde titan held out his hand, cutting him off. "I am not a super-soldier. My power derives from an actual Quirk and not a serum like yours."
"That's…that's…unreal." Blinking twice, he reconsidered his words. "Yet after everything I've been through…I have to believe it." He confessed honestly.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha!" All Might threw his head back, with his signature laugh. "Don't feel bad!" He gently patted the super-soldier's shoulder. "When my mentor told me what I'm telling you, I thought it was some kind of sick joke."
"Your mentor?" Midoriya asked.
"Yes." All Might brought his clenched fist up to his chest. "My Quirk is a sacred torch that has been passed down from mentor to student since the Dawn of Quirks…all the way back to the first bearer, the younger brother of All For One…Yoichi–you said his name was."
Shock was plastered onto Midoriya's visage. "W…what…?" He uttered, awestruck.
All Might nodded and continued. "It is the crystallization of each previous user's power. It carries all of their hopes and dreams…with the sole purpose of one day becoming strong enough to defeat its evil twin, All For One. Its name…"
Midoriya felt as if All Might was gazing into his very soul; his cerulean eyes held an intensity that locked him into place.
"One For All."