After the chaos at USJ, U.A. decided to give students a much-needed day off to recuperate. For [Name], that meant a whole day devoted to deep, restful sleep, aiming to shake off the exhaustion that clung to them. The hospital room provided a peaceful refuge, shielding them from the outside chaos.
[Name] was relieved to hear from the nurses that Aizawa-sensei and Thirteen-sensei were recovering well and would be back to work soon. However, they mentally noted to scold Midoriya for breaking some bones while trying to save All Might.
Stepping back into class, [Name] was immediately swarmed by classmates concerned about their well-being after seeing them being taken away in an ambulance during the USJ attack. Only a few were allowed to visit them in the hospital room before the school instructed everyone to return to campus.
Midoriya, his eyes glistening with relieved tears, was the first to speak, "I'm so glad you're okay, [Last Name]-san!"
In response, [Name] wordlessly gave a playful punch to Midoriya's shoulder, concern etched across their face. "I heard you broke your bones again!"
"I'm sorry, [Last Name]-san!" Midoriya stammered, rubbing his shoulder in an attempt to alleviate the ache.
With a protective instinct that surprised even Midoriya, [Name] enveloped him in a headlock, their strength evident without the use of their quirk. "Don't be so reckless!" they scolded, prompting Midoriya to emit a sound that resembled a mix of apologies and pleas for mercy.
As the atmosphere lightened, Mina stepped forward, pulling [Name] into a warm embrace which ended them letting the green-haired boy go, who looked relieved. "We were really worried," she confessed, echoing the sentiments of their concerned classmates.
"No need to worry! I feel so much better after sleeping the past few days," [Name] reassured, a genuine smile gracing their lips.
As the students chattered around them, [Name] settled back into their usual spot in the class, feeling a mix of relief and camaraderie in the air. Laughter and conversations filled the classroom, and [Name], thankful for the friendly atmosphere, made their way to their seat. The return to normalcy felt comforting after the recent chaos, and [Name] couldn't deny they missed the familiar faces that made U.A. feel like a second home.
"Hey," Hagakure's voice floated across the room as she glanced towards [Name]'s desk, her tone carrying a friendly warmth. "Did you catch the news last night?" Her question brought a sense of camaraderie, reminding [Name] of the comforting presence of friends, even from just a few feet away.
Feeling grateful for the connection, [Name] experienced a surge of happiness, a sharp contrast to their previous belief that they weren't particularly close to their classmates during middle school. The countless get-well cards and balloons that once adorned their hospital room served as real life proof of these bonds, now safely tucked away in their apartment as cherished mementos.
Ojiro responded with a nod accompanied by a thoughtful hum.
"I didn't. I just slept all day yesterday," [Name] admitted, slumping onto their desk as they could guess what she meant by the news.
Hagakure sighed audibly, her invisible form seeming to convey a sense of longing. "Of course, but Ojiro-kun and Shoji-kun, did you see how everyone in class came on for a second? I didn't stand out at all." Her words carried a touch of wistfulness as she addressed the two boys.
"That's true," Shoji acknowledged, empathizing with Hagakure's sentiment.
"It's hard to stand out looking like that, huh?" Ojiro observed, his gaze turning towards the invisible girl with an understanding expression.
Kaminari, adopting his usual carefree demeanor, chimed in, "Man, all the channels made a big deal out of it." A sigh escaped him as he casually placed his arms on the back of his neck.
Kirishima, looking up at Kaminari, voiced his surprise, "I was surprised."
"Can you blame them?" Jiro interjected, waving her hand in the air. "The hero course that keeps pumping out pro heroes was attacked."
Sero, resting his head on folded arms, added, "Who knows what would've happened if the teachers hadn't come when they did."
"Just be glad no one was seriously hurt," Tokoyami commented, crossing his arms in contemplation. The gravity of the situation hung in the air, and everyone soon recognized the class's fortunate escape from the clutches of potential tragedy.
"Yeah, it was thanks to the class president and deputy!" Uraraka's voice rang out in cheers, sparking applause from the students. [Name] felt their face flush with warmth, a pleasant departure from Iida's usual sternness to the class, especially since he hadn't arrived yet. They weren't used to being in the spotlight, a discomfort that may have stemmed from the absence of attention from their parents during childhood.
"Just thinking about it is enough to make me piss my-" Mineta's crude comment was abruptly cut off. [Name] instinctively scrunched their nose in disgust, thankful for Bakugou's intervention.
"Shut up!" Bakugou barked, cutting off Mineta. It was a rare moment when [Name] found Bakugo's outbursts oddly satisfying, secretly appreciating his occasional usefulness.
"But man, All Might was great," Sato sighed, offering a praise. "[Last Name] was too! They pushed back the crazy strong villains!"
"Yes," Tokoyami added, his voice carrying an air of curiosity, "their strength is worth wondering about."
"No way!" [Name] shook their head in denial. "Everyone here is super strong since we all survived the attack. We should be grateful no one died."
"Yeah!" Mina chimed in, throwing her hand in the air. "I'm glad no one was killed."
"Everyone! Morning homeroom is about to start!" Iida charged into the room, effectively halting the ongoing conversation. "Stop talking and take your seats!" His command came with a swift chopping motion of his hands. [Name] stifled laughter, amused that Iida, the one instructing others to take their seats, was the only one not in his own.
"You're the only one who's not in your seat, Iida," [Name] pointed out, their tone teasing.
"Shoot!" Iida hastily sat down, a tinge of embarrassment coloring his features as he realized the rest of the class was already settled.
"Don't mind!" Uraraka chimed in, sitting a little up from her seat as she leaned over to pat Iida's shoulder reassuringly.
"Hey, Tsu," Mina leaned back in her seat, nearly toppling over. Swiftly, Tsu extended her hands and caught Mina's chair before disaster struck. Mina mumbled out a quick thank you and continued with a carefree grin. "Who's going to teach homeroom today?"
"Well, Aizawa-sensei is supposed to be at home recovering from his injuries," Tsu replied, her green eyes showing she was deep in thought. She wondered who might take over homeroom duty, maybe Present Mic or Midnight? [Name] couldn't help but hope that someone had made sure Aizawa-sensei was resting at home like he should be.
The door slid open, and to everyone's surprise, Aizawa entered, sporting a couple of fresh scars on his face. Better than encountering Aizawa wrapped up like a mummy, [Name] thought wryly. The saying about speaking of the devil seemed all too fitting at this moment.
However, seeing the teacher back in class, [Name] had an internal struggle, torn between relief and frustration.
"Morning," Aizawa greeted them with his usual tone.
"Aizawa-sensei, you're back too soon!" The class exclaimed, voicing their collective surprise. Aizawa's scars were a sign to the recent events, but overall, he appeared remarkably unscathed, much to everyone's astonishment, expect for [Name] who's chest puffed in pride at the good work they did.
"You're too much of a pro..." Kaminari gaped at Aizawa, admiration and surprise evident in his expression.
"So you're all right, Sensei?" Iida asked concern etched on his face.
"My well-being doesn't matter," Aizawa dismissed a statement that sent a surge of frustration through [Name]. How could he disregard their efforts?
"[Last Name]..." Aizawa-sensei called out, snapping [Name] out of their mental scenario of giving Aizawa a piece of their mind (that will never happen, but hey a teen could dream).
"Yes, sir?" [Name] tilted their head in confusion.
"Thanks. I heard that you healed me and Thirteen. Thirteen told me to tell you that they will come in person to thank you later on." Aizawa-sensei nodded in gratitude.
[Name] beamed, and it felt as if an aura of warmth enveloped them. Some classmates swore they saw metaphorical flowers blooming around them as if they didn't just plan to scold the teacher in their mind. "I am just happy that you are fully recovered, sir!"
The weary teacher regarded [Name] for a long moment before turning his attention to the rest of the class. "More importantly, the fight is not yet over."
They let out a noiseless sigh, relieved that Aizawa-sensei didn't seem to notice their slip in attention.
"Don't tell me..." Midoriya gasped, his eyes wide with apprehension.
"The UA sports festival is drawing near," Aizawa-sensei announced.
"That's a super normal school event!"
"Is it okay to have a sports festival so soon after the villains snuck inside?" Jirou questioned, twirling her earphone jack.
"What if they attack us again or something?" Ojiro voiced his concern, a sentiment shared by many who still felt mentally and physically unprepared for another potential fight.
"Apparently, they think of it as UA showing that our crisis management system is as solid as a rock by holding the event. Security will also be strengthened to five times that of previous years," Aizawa explained. "Above all, our sports festival is a huge event around the world. It's not going to be canceled because of a few villains."
"That's not a good reason, is it? It's just a sports festival," Mineta whimpered.
Midoriya turned around in his seat. "Mineta, have you never seen the UA sports festival?"
"Of course I have. That's not what I meant!"
"Our sports festival is one of Japan's biggest events. In the past, the Olympics were called a festival of sports, and the whole country was crazy about them," the dark-haired teacher said. "As you know, with reductions in scale and population, they're now a shell of their former glory. And now, for Japan, what has taken the place of those Olympics is the UA sports festival."
[Name] bit their lower lip, sensing the weight of U.A's decision. By letting the sports festival happen, they were sending a signal that the USJ attack didn't faze them, a sign that they would not hesitate to fight back. That U.A. is strong.
Yaoyorouz spoke up. "Of course, all the top heroes around the country will be watching. For scouting purposes!"
Now that remind them, [Name] hoped they would get scouted by someone who could teach them more combat moves.
"After we graduate, it's typical to join a pro agency as a sidekick," Kaminari said as he placed his cheek on his palm.
"A lot of people miss their chance to become independent after that and become eternal sidekicks, though," Jirou said, twirling her earphone jacks. "Kaminari, I feel like you'd be one of them." Kaminari gasped in offense, and [Name] couldn't help but let out a small giggle at Jiro's comment.
"I am sure you will get scouted by some good pro heroes, Kami-kun!" [Name] tried to cheer him up.
"I know I can count on you, [Nickname]-chan!" Kaminari gave [Name] a bright smile, causing a slight blush to grace their cheeks.
"Of course, joining a famous hero agency will get you more experience and popularity," Aizawa huffed, ignoring the hormonal teenagers. He wondered, not for the first time, why he chose to teach high schoolers again. "Time is limited. If you expect to go pro, then the path to your future will open up at this event. One chance a year. A total of just three chances. No aspiring heroes can afford to miss this event. If you understand that, then don't slack off on your preparations!"
[Name] made a mental list of things they wanted to improve on by the time the sports festival rolled around.
"Yes, sir!" The class shouted in unison.
"Good. Homeroom dismissed." Aizawa-sensei sent the students off with a nod.
As Aizawa-sensei left the room, the students chattered about their preparations and expectations for the upcoming sports festival.
"You're so lucky, Shoji," Kaminari said, grinning teasingly. "Your brawn stands out on its own."
"There's no point if I cannot show them its usefulness," Shoji replied.
[Name] patted his shoulder, "Don't worry. I am sure you will!"
Shoji nodded at [Name] in thankfulness.
"I think you'll stand out, too." Jirou teased Kaminari, and the class erupted in laughter as they understood what she meant by that, leaving Kaminari pouting.
Soon enough, it was the end of school.
"Wh-What's going on?" Uraraka exclaimed, staring out the classroom door.
[Name] stepped forward and saw that outside the classroom door, they could tell immediately there were students from other classes. They took a few steps back and linked their pinkie with Tokoyami's, feeling anxious.
Tokoyami noticed [Name] squeezing his pinkie in fear and squeezed back to reassure them. They relaxed a bit, feeling comforted by Tokoyami's acceptance of their touch, especially since they weren't good with crowds.
"What business do you have with class A?" Iida asked sternly, glaring at the students blocking the hallway.
"We can't get out!" Mineta complained. "What're you here for anyway?!" [Name] didn't like Mineta, but they couldn't help but agree with his question.
"Scouting out the enemy, small fry," Bakugou said, walking calmly to the crowd. [Name] admired his confidence even if his outburst leave little to desire.
"I have to agree," [Name] said, glancing at Tokoyami, who nodded in agreement.
"We are the ones who made it out of the villain attack," Tokoyami said.
"There's no reason to do that," Bakugou growled. "Out of my way, extras!" The crowd backed up in fear as Bakugo walked out into the hallway.
"Stop calling people 'extras' just because you don't know them!" Iida exclaimed, not wanting a war due to Bakugo's words.
"I came to see what the famous Class A was like," a new voice emerged from the crowd, "but you seem pretty arrogant." The speaker pushed his way through the students, a boy with purple hair and eyebags darker than Aizawa-sensei's. "Are all students in the hero course like this?" he asked darkly. [Name] couldn't help but think the purple-haired boy was strikingly attractive.
[Name]'s classmates behind Bakugou violently shook their heads 'no,' trying to convey they weren't like Bakugo at all.
[Name] wanted to laugh at their classmates' actions.
"Seeing something like this makes me disillusioned," the boy rubbed the back of his neck and continued. "There are quite a few people who enrolled in general studies or other courses because they didn't make it into the hero course. Did you know that?"
[Name] couldn't help but whisper, "you can replace Mineta for all I care."
Tokoyami glanced at [Name], "I highly agree [Last Name]-san." [Name] blushed in embarrassment as they thought no one heard their comment.
"The school has left those of us a chance. Depending on the results of the sports festival, they'll consider our transfer into the hero course. And it seems they may also transfer people out." [Name] couldn't help but think of an idea to make the boy's goal come true. Nothing against Mineta... well, yeah, totally offensive to that pervert. They would not be a hero if Mineta goes pro with that personality.
"Scouting out the enemy?" The boy looked at the rest of the class with a challenging expression. "I, at least, came to say that even if you're in the hero course if you get too carried away, I'll sweep your feet out from under you. I came with a declaration of war."
"If you don't like your destiny, don't accept it. Instead, have the courage to change it the way you want it to be," [Name] said. They didn't know if those words were for them, for their classmates, or for the boy who wanted to change his path to become a hero.
The purple-haired boy heard [Name]'s words and looked at them for a long moment, then looked away scratching his cheek, but if you looked closer you could see a pink tint on his face.
"...[Last Name]-san," Tokoyami mumbled, prompting a slight confusion among the others, but also stirring a sense of excitement by [Name]'s words. [Name], for some reason, always seemed to say things that resonated with the students, words that stood out and felt beyond their years.
"Hey, hey!" A gray-haired boy shouted. "I'm from Class B next door! I heard you guys fought against villains, so I came to hear 'bout it! Don't get full of yourself! If you bark too much, it'll be embarrassing for you during the real fight!"
[Name] narrowed their eyes in anger. "Excuse me, Tokoyami-san." [Name] let go of his pinkie and walked over to the door. they positioned themselves next to Bakugo.
"Are you sure you aren't trying to embarrass yourself?" [Name] tilted their head with a smirk. "If you are here...barking about us embarrassing ourselves doesn't that mean you think your class can't handle themselves...and have you come here to intimidate us? Seems like to me your classes are a bunch of scaredy-cats if they can't come to face us."
The gray-haired boy looked taken aback by [Name]'s remark. However, they weren't done with him.
"If you think threats can stop us, then you've got another thing coming. I do not care what rumors you heard. Every single one of my classmates saw something you should be grateful for not experiencing. I would never wish that on someone." [Name] gritted their teeth as they had flashbacks to the attack. "I had to heal my teacher who I saw was repeatedly smashed into the ground. My friends had to see each other fight for their lives in order to survive." [Name] couldn't help but coldly smile at the dumbfounded boy.
[Name] stepped forward, meeting the gray-haired boy eye to eye. They grabbed his tie, pulling him closer until their gazes met.
"If you're here to make threats, forget about being a hero," [Name] asserted firmly. "It's not acceptable for a hero to even think about making threats." Releasing his tie, they gave it a mock pat and offered him a sweet smile as he squirmed uncomfortably. Turning away, [Name] walked back to their classmates but halted just before reaching the classroom door.
"Now, I wouldn't want to call one of the teachers to tell you guys to scatter, so if you kindly will. Leave." [Name] turned their head and glared at the students. The students quickly scattered, and some were in awe of their actions.
Seeing no one stay behind, [Name] turned around to face their classmates.
"Wah!!!" [Name] cried into their palms as they couldn't believe what they did. Some of the others came to [Name] and thanked them for what they did. [Name] couldn't believe they had the guts to do that.
Soon enough it was the end of the day.
[Name] couldn't help but fidget with the sleeve of their blazer as they stared intensely at the teacher lounge door. They let out a suffering sigh as they brought up their fist to knock on the door. Only to meet with air as the door was open to show Aizawa-sensei had opened the door.
"O-Oh Sensei!" [Name] squeaked in embarrassment as they stared at the tired teacher.
"...Yes, [Last Name]?" He raised an eyebrow.
"May I come in? I have something I wish to talk about." [Name] cast their eyes to the floor. Aizawa-sensei glanced up and down [Name]'s form for any hint as to why [Name] stopped by. With a long sigh, Aizawa-sensei opened the door wider as a sign for [Name] to come in.
"What do you want, kid?" Aizawa-sensei turned around and walked to his desk. [Name] quickly walked in after closing the door behind them.
"Well..." And then they spoke.
After [Name] finished, there was a brief silence. Aizawa-sensei, known for his stoic demeanor, studied [Name] for a moment before sighing.
"You've got a point," he admitted. "I'll look into it. You did the right thing by bringing it to my attention."
[Name] nodded as they said their goodbyes to their teacher.
Stepping out into the fading daylight, they couldn't help but feel the cool breeze against their face. With the school's hustle and bustle slowly fading away, [Name] took a moment to adjust the straps on their rollerblades.
As they stood there, preparing to glide home, a familiar voice pierced the tranquility. "Hey, [Name]!" Turning, they spotted Hagakure hurrying towards them, a noticeable shift in her usual cheerful demeanor. This abrupt change in her usual upbeat nature set off a small alarm in [Name]'s mind, prompting a feeling of concern.
"Hagakure," [Name] acknowledged a hint of worry creasing their brow. "Is everything okay?"
Hagakure hesitated for a moment before replying, "I heard you spoke to Aizawa-sensei about my hero costume. Thank you." Her gratitude was evident as she bowed, holding the gesture for a moment before straightening up.
[Name] nodded, a supportive gleam in their eyes as they placed a hand on her shoulder. "Of course, Hagakure. Everyone deserves to feel comfortable and confident in their hero outfit."
Hagakure sighed, her invisible form seeming to shimmer with vulnerability, catching their attention as they wondered where that effect was coming from. It certainly wasn't from Hakegure as people claimed she has an invisible quirk but thought it was just a trick to their mind and didn't bother asking (for now). "It's just, you know, awkward to bring up something like that. I didn't want to seem ungrateful or overly concerned about how I look."
[Name] shook their head, giving her an assuring look. "It's not about being ungrateful. Your feelings are valid, and you have every right to express them. Your costume is a crucial part of your identity as a hero. If it makes you uncomfortable, it's worth addressing."
Hagakure looked down, appreciating [Name]'s understanding. "Yeah, it's just tough. I mean, I spoke to Aizawa-sensei about it once, and he said he talked to Principal Nezu. But, you know, change takes time."
[Name] offered a comforting smile. "Change might be slow, but it's coming. Aizawa-sensei and the school are aware, and they're working on it. It's a process, but you'll get a hero suit that makes you feel confident."
Hagakure nodded, a mix of gratitude and relief in her eyes. "Thanks, [Name]. It means a lot. Sometimes, it's hard to speak up about these things, but having someone understand makes a huge difference."
"Anytime, Hagakure," [Name] said sincerely. "We're all in this together, supporting each other to become the best heroes we can be. You don't need to hesitate to come to me."
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OMG thank you guys for the 235 reads and 14 votes <333! Next up is the Sports Festival Arc!!! I hope you guys are hyped for it (unless you read it on Quotev-). I will try to finish updating till the current chapter by the end of next week. Thanks once again and until next time!
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Edited: 1.12.24
Note: I add the scene with Hakgure and fleshed the chapter out. Hope you guys like this. As of now, the book is almost done being edited. I plan to edited the Sports Festival arc and add more details to them. Please be patient and thank you again for reading this <3