"There are things that, even when changing worlds, remain the same both there and here. I feel remorse for involving them in something that they possibly would never have experienced if not for me."
When they arrived on the island, the sun emerged on the vast horizon surrounded by the sea. The artificial island, true to its name, took on the shape of a sea turtle. Eagerly, they began to admire the infrastructure, technology, and security from the moment they set foot on the airport.
The first step to enter was to undergo identity verification, providing blood samples and receiving identification and access bracelets that could not be removed at any time. As the secretary of the prime minister explained during the tour, being the island where the United Nations Association congresses take place, it is one of the safest places in the world, even more so than Tartaro and I-Island. The island has the privilege of political asylum for the nations associated with the UNA. As a security measure, freely using quirks is prohibited to avoid misunderstandings and international problems, unless they have the corresponding permission upon entering establishments.
Inside the island, they were surprised to find an environment surrounded by opulence and elegance, both in tall and large buildings and in the people. Actors, singers, celebrities, state-of-the-art cars, and high-end fashion dazzled them.
The surprise faded when Aizawa's deep voice was heard from the front, alongside the prime minister's secretary and Present Mic, who were assigned to keep them under control.
"Listen," Aizawa warned gravely, "stay calm, follow instructions, don't run, and stay close."
"But sensei!" Kaminari and Ashido protested.
They suppressed their complaints, as did the others who were dissatisfied, when Aizawa's eyes glowed red.
"Don't be too hard on them, Eraserhead," the secretary intervened to boost the kids' spirits.
"Yeah, Eraser, they're at the age to have fun, Yeah!" said Present Mic, hanging on his best friend's arm.
Aizawa simply looked at him in annoyance, unable to comprehend how, among all the teachers, the principal decided he was the best choice to accompany him in handling his students, especially considering that several of them already had problematic backgrounds.
Luckily for Aizawa, it wasn't long before a large limousine pulled up in front of them. The driver got out, and as he opened the door, they were surprised to see the Prime Minister himself greeting them from inside. They quickly bowed.
"Please, come in, you are our dear guests," said the Prime Minister, stepping aside to allow the kids to pass.
Immediately, Ilda, along with Aizawa and Present Mic, established the order to enter the limousine one by one. Once inside, those who were not nervous or intimidated by being with one of Japan's most important figures were excited about the luxuries in front of them.
"Thank you very much for allowing us to come," Aizawa expressed on behalf of everyone present.
"In reality, I am the one who should say that," the Prime Minister responded, downplaying the teacher's words. "Miss Haruno Sakura will surely be very happy when you see her."
Discreetly, the secretary signaled to the driver, and the car began to move. On the other hand, the hero class students showed more interest in the Prime Minister's words than in admiring the luxury of the car and the streets through the window.
"Are we going to see Sakura?" Ashido asked.
"I'm sorry," apologized the Prime Minister, showing a bit of embarrassment. "Actually, at this moment, we are still discussing Haruno-san's situation within the congress. I took the liberty of stepping out, leaving the Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge. Ah, it seems we have arrived at the headquarters; I'll leave you with my secretary to guide you."
The UNA headquarters was a large round building made of white limestone that seemed to shine under the sun. While some were excited to take a stroll through the facilities of such an important place, others wanted to see what grand things they could find or girls they wanted to try flirting with.
Once they left the president, the secretary began to give them a brief tour, explaining that a lot of money moved in this place, important people came to do business, sign international treaties in a neutral place, or just relax: heroes, high government officials, movie stars, singers, millionaires, and their children. Since the UNA was located here, and considering the importance of the people who arrived, it was the only place where asylum was given to those who entered, as long as they did not threaten the residents. Therefore, the use of quirks was not allowed, except in authorized entertainment establishments for both adults and young people.
He showed them the street where they could shop, pointed out the most popular place for team fights using their quirks, indicated some restaurants, and other areas of interest until finally taking them to the hotel where they would stay, the largest and tallest on the entire island.
He led them to the hotel, and with the bracelets they had been given at the beginning of the trip, they could access the 24th floor, which was exclusively assigned to them. Before they ran off to choose their rooms, the secretary stopped them one last time that day.
"As mentioned, expenses while on this trip will be covered by us, so feel free to buy whatever you want both inside and outside the hotel," the secretary began to explain. "When it comes to paying, just swipe the bracelet to make the charge. Tonight, you can meet with Haruno Sakura at a party organized by the UNA, so you can go buy the gala dress, matching jewelry, and shoes you prefer, and the girls have a reserved time at five to meet with stylists who have been hired. You have the whole day to explore the island until that time, where the stylists will be waiting for you in this room. The reception will start at nine, so we expect to see you at the Aroma Hall, which is located on basement one. For now, I must take my leave, so you can go have fun."
Once he disappeared into the elevator, Toru and Mina squealed with excitement at the thought of new dresses, while Mineta and Kaminari got excited about the prospect of meeting beautiful girls on the trip.
"Wow, this party is really important!" commented Yaoyorozu, impressed. "According to what I learned from my parents, the bigger the gathering, the more generous they are with gifts; they really value Sakura-san."
"We must show off so they see that Sakura is a good person before we return home!" exclaimed an excited Mina, receiving the enthusiasm of the others.
Nervous and excited, Midoriya watched Todoroki and Bakugo, who seemed to be calm. While Mina shouted, Aizawa and Present Mic exchanged a brief sidelong glance and furrowed their brows slightly before returning to their usual demeanor. Although he wanted to approach Bakugo and Todoroki to ask them what was happening, he didn't want to interrupt the cheerful mood of the class, so he decided to leave it for later.
With the limited time they had to enjoy, they quickly dropped their bags in the dorms they had chosen before heading out for fun, with Aizawa and Present Mic following them. They took photos, visited the amazing aquarium recommended by the secretary, participated in a place where they could fight in teams using their powers. If it was impressive from the outside, inside it almost seemed to rival the rescue training facility they did at the beginning of the year. Then, they went shopping and ended the day dining at a luxurious themed restaurant, where they enjoyed the food and laughed to their heart's content. Finally, when the clock struck five, the girls went to get ready while the boys strolled a bit more before changing outfits.
Upon finishing, the boys gathered in the floor's lounge to wait for the girls. When Midoriya joined the others wearing a green suit with a red bowtie, he noticed he was the last to arrive. Since Aizawa and Present Mic were absent, Ilda was in charge of maintaining order, so Midoriya looked to Bakugo, who had surprisingly been quiet throughout the entire trip and hadn't caused his usual ruckus.
"Kacchan, is everything okay? You've been very quiet throughout the whole trip," he asked once he approached him.
Bakugo, dressed in a black suit with an orange shirt, tensed at Midoriya's concern, feeling irritated by the attitude that reminded him of preschool days.
"Eh? Who do you think you're saying that to? I have enough common sense to know when to behave! Damn nerd," Bakugo shouted, causing Midoriya to take a step back, intimidated.
"I also think this is too much kindness," commented Todoroki as he approached the two friends, unfazed by Bakugo's outburst. "It feels like we're the gifts."
For a moment, Bakugo and Midoriya turned their heads to look at Todoroki, who was wearing a black suit, a white shirt, and a navy blue tie. Both couldn't deny that the Prime Minister was spending too much on them just for them to meet Sakura and make her feel safe with familiar faces. Nevertheless, Bakugo regained composure and growled.
"And who told you that you could approach, half-and-half?" he got defensive, ready to attack if necessary.
"You've also noticed, Aizawa-sensei and Present Mic have been acting very weird," observed Todoroki, unfazed by Bakugo's rudeness
The doors to Aizawa's and Present Mic's rooms opened, revealing the two men well-dressed in black suits, their appearances neat and tidy; Aizawa had even shaved his beard. Seeing them in that state, both Bakugo and Midoriya couldn't deny that Todoroki had a point.
"Todoroki-kun, what do you think they're planning?" asked Midoriya, becoming serious.
At that moment, the door to the girls' room opened, revealing all of them already dressed in long dresses of different colors, their hair and makeup done in a way that made them all seem to shine. More than one of the boys was left with their mouths open at how beautiful they looked; from being the girls they fight and share classes with, they had turned into women. Kaminari and Mineta were the first to drool over them. Some of them posed to show off their dresses, while others, like Jiro and Ochako, appeared embarrassed.
"This is the second time I've worn formal clothes," said Uraraka, approaching the three boys nervously. "This brings back memories."
The three boys turned to look at her. Midoriya's cheeks turned red upon seeing her; she wore a black dress with red accents that, being next to him, made his heart race.
"You look amazing," Midoriya stammered.
"Deku-kun, you don't have to flatter me!" Uraraka shouted, waving her arms, blushing from the green-haired boy's compliment.
Both Todoroki and Bakugo stared at them in silence, while the other two were nervously not understanding each other's behavior. Bakugo didn't hesitate to mutter "idiots" without them hearing, except for Todoroki who was next to him.
"You sound like Sakura."
"Huh? Who sounds like her? Why the hell are you thinking about gum now?" he put his hands in his pockets and approached Todoroki with a thug look.
"I don't see anything wrong with sometimes thinking about her, sometimes I do, I also think about you guys who are my friends," he tilted his head to the side as Bakugo did. A red vein formed on Bakugo's forehead.
"Damn, who said we're friends?" Bakugo said, grabbing him by his tie.
"This is too much," said Uraraka, bringing her hands to her still-red cheeks from embarrassment. "I like the dress, and the trip has been great, but I feel overwhelmed with so much luxury. Isn't it too much they're giving us?"
The three boys couldn't deny Uraraka's point; it's exactly what they've been thinking. Midoriya, fully trusting Uraraka, approached her again to share the suspicions that have been circulating.
"Oh, come on, Ochako-chan," Hagakure approached, putting her invisible arm around Uraraka's shoulders, "accept these once-in-a-lifetime gifts and let's have some fun!"
Mineta, Kaminari, Kirishima, Sero, and Ashido excitedly joined in. With everyone now gathered, they took the elevator down to basement one, the floor where the event hall is located.
Once in front of the doors of the hall, they could hear the sound of music coming from the cracks. Before opening the door, Aizawa and Present Mic turned around; they were already used to their teacher Aizawa's serious expression, but seeing it on Present Mic's face was something new, and they unconsciously became alert.
"Listen carefully, I understand that you're excited to see Sakura, but right now, you must be clear that you are UA students representing Japan," Aizawa looked at each of his students for a few seconds, hoping that this time these words would be engraved in their minds and that they would definitely do what they were told.
"The people you'll see behind this door are not ones you can joke with or bother," Present Mic warned them, "whatever you see, it's better not to point, say something imprudent, or you could cause an international problem."
Several swallowed hard.
"Be careful with what you see and do, remember that the island has asylum, but still, you can't be too trusting," Aizawa told them, hoping they would behave and the more astute ones would understand what he meant and take care of the others.
Seeing the twenty kids stay still and slightly fearful, he decided it was time; internally, he sighed heavily, wishing they hadn't been invited to this kind of event. If there's anything he hates more than attention, it's bureaucracy. If possible, most of them would have grown up without learning about this dark side of the adult world.
Upon opening the door, fear was replaced by amazement. If the city was particularly impressive, here they were left speechless at the grandeur of the hall and, above all, at heroes, famous people, and world-class singers, all gathered in one space. Drinks and small appetizers circulated the room on silver trays; laughter and compliments could be heard everywhere, and on more than one occasion, they were almost shocked passing by a hero or someone they admired.
Despite the great liveliness in the hall, the twenty kids followed Aizawa and Present Mic like ducklings making their way through the hall until they stopped.
"Eraserhead, Present Mic, you're just in time," said the prime minister, happy to see them, "I hope you enjoyed the morning."
"Thank you very much for your hospitality," said Yaoyorozu on behalf of Class 1-A, bowing slightly, holding the sides of her pink dress, "we've had a great time, and we wanted to know when we can see Sakura."
The more daring ones felt excited.
"Actually, that's exactly what we're going to do now," said the prime minister, taking a glass of champagne from a passing waiter's tray, "follow me carefully."
Aizawa threatened them silently before following the prime minister with the others. They walked in silence, watching the people passing by, looking up hoping to find pink hair among the crowd.
"There's Sakura-chan," Tsuyu pointed out.
At a considerable distance from where they were, they saw All Might in his emaciated form, dressed in a gray suit; next to him was Hawks, and finally, between the two men, there was a smiling Sakura talking to another person. They were left speechless. She wore a long red dress that seemed to be made of pure sequins and sparkling stones that clung to her skin like a second skin; you couldn't see where the dress began. The top was made in a V-cut that reached and disappeared under the red belt, and the skirt had a pronounced slit on the left side. To top it off, over her shoulders attached to the dress was a thin red cape that seemed to be made of ruby-colored precious stones, and at the bottom of the cape were red feathers that matched her earrings.
Around her, there were many people trying to talk to her, and instead, a line formed where they waited their turn to approach her. They had no choice but to wait until their turn to go to her.
Sakura said goodbye to the last person who approached her, wondering how much longer she would keep smiling at these people. Her cheeks began to numb; she wanted to relax her muscles, but she knew that wasn't possible, especially with many eyes on her. At least, she consoled herself thinking that this was not something she had never done before. As Tsunade's pupil, it was inevitable that she would delve into politics, attending meetings with leaders of the clans of Konoha, the elders' congress, feudals, and even from other villages. Sometimes, Tsunade was so drunk that she had no choice but to be her representative. By her side, no matter who saw it, Hawks sighed.
"I thought this would be more fun than it seems," he sighed again, dropping his shoulders for a few seconds.
Sakura, who couldn't stop smiling, raised an eyebrow when she turned to look at him.
"If it's boring for you, why did you volunteer to be my escort? Did the Hero Commission tell you to volunteer?"
Hawks and All Might gave a small jump of surprise when Sakura uttered those words. The two men looked around, making sure no one had heard them. Fortunately, as the party had just begun, most people had not yet approached Sakura in droves. Instead, when someone approached, they waited a few minutes before someone else did.
"Where did you get that information from?" his golden eyes turned for a moment to All Might, who vehemently denied telling Sakura about the Hero Association, then smiled again at Sakura. "It seems we have a princess who is more informed than she seems."
Sakura pursed her lips slightly upon hearing again the nickname that Hawks had given her since he introduced himself as her escort. This guy started joking and flirting with her from the start, so having him around made her patience shorten drastically. She couldn't believe it, but she even preferred Sai calling her ugly, something she would never admit aloud.
"I'm a ninja from another world; if I have to survive until I return to my world, it's important to gather information that outsmarts my enemies and pass the academy without raising suspicions," she said with a mischievous smile. "You have to look beneath what's below. I've found my ways to get information."
"Look beneath what's below," Hawks murmured, impressed by the wisdom-laden phrase. He couldn't help but laugh a little, feeling excited to get to know more about this girl whom he bet would surprise him if he stayed by her side. "Seriously, they underestimate you for being so beautiful," he enjoyed seeing her cheeks tinted with a soft pink color. "I won't deny that the Commission made me that proposal, but in reality, you're very wrong. I volunteered to be next to a dazzling princess like you."
All Might coughed alongside the two as he felt he was making a third wheel between Sakura and Hawks. Sakura, for her part, frowned feeling embarrassed by Hawks' insinuations. Ino would have turned into a puddle of water with his flirty words, but she wasn't going to let Hawks do the same to her.
"You, you, you stop talking nonsense," she stammered a bit, poking Hawks' chest with her finger, ignoring how well-built he seemed under his suit. "Don't think I'm so innocent to believe you. Surely you volunteered because you saw the opportunity to flirt with famous people. Since we met, all you've done is flirt with every woman that crosses your path. Moreover, if you want, you can go now to find your next victim. All Might and I can handle it on our own."
In Hawks' eyes, she looked so adorable when angry that, secretly, he began to enjoy deliberately teasing her. He took the hand that was poking him between his and his other hand dramatically brought it to his chest.
"You hurt me deeply. Since I saw you on television, I knew this was love at first sight," Hawks, seeing that Sakura lowered her guard due to surprise, took advantage to bring the hand he was still holding and kissed it on the back. "I couldn't pass up the opportunity to be your escort and admire your beauty firsthand. Besides, Endeavor has a lot to do now that the number one hero has retired, so I was the best option."
Sakura rolled her eyes, withdrawing her hand that began to burn after Hawks kissed it.
"You probably say that to all the girls. I told you that won't work with me; I'm bird-proof like you," Sakura said, pretending to be annoyed.
She wasn't really upset with Hawks. She had to admit, even if only to herself, that his playful and flirty personality, though irritating, was well-received in the midst of all this media chaos in which she found herself wrapped.
"Ouch, I think you've stolen my first time," he almost laughed when he saw All Might and Sakura turn as red as tomatoes. "The first rejection of my life. I give you my heart, and you break it in less than a minute. You're a real ninja princess."
Sakura snorted, holding back the urge to hit him in the face and wipe that smile off for using those specific words.
"For the umpteenth time, I'm not a princess. You have many girls interested in you; I am not dispensable. Besides," Sakura said, smiling maliciously as she remembered something very important, "as I am now in your world, I will follow the rules of this world, and according to the laws, I am younger than you."
Hawks returned the smile, dangerously approaching Sakura's face.
"A forbidden love, that makes it more exciting," he whispered, taking Sakura's hand. He smiled triumphantly to see her blush until she almost screamed in pain when she squeezed his hand to the point where his bones began to crack.
"My ninja princess knows how to bite," Hawks whispered, his smile starting to tremble in an effort to maintain it.
"I know more than biting," she whispered in a ghostly voice that promised hell if he continued like this.
"Now we're talking dirty; I like you more every second," Hawks said.
"Shameless," Sakura whispered back.
It wasn't until All Might started coughing to get their attention that Sakura realized their faces were so close that their breaths were colliding. Carefully, she straightened up and turned to All Might, pretending that she hadn't just been too close to Hawks.
"Hawks, I would appreciate it if you kept your composure for the rest of the evening," said All Might, putting his hand on Sakura's shoulder as a sign of support. "We are in front of many people who are watching Sakura, and as her guardian, I seek the best for her. She is underage, so I ask you not to make moves on her until she is of legal age, unless she agrees."
Sakura bit her tongue to stifle a scream of surprise right there, in front of everyone. All Might seemed to be giving his blessing to Hawks, as long as she approved! He's crazy! Seeing the latter grin widely, it definitely made her want to knock out all those pearly teeth, and by the way, All Might too, who, even though he meant well, seemed to be understanding the opposite.
"Good evening, Haruno Sakura."
The three turned to the man who approached, pretending that the conversation they were having hadn't happened, putting on their best poker faces. For now, they had a job to do, so this conversation could be saved for later.
The evening continued, with people coming and going to greet the three. They received compliments and even gifts that would be waiting in Sakura's room once the evening was over. People had lost their fear and had approached the three to the point where a line had formed to greet them. Although Hawks was already bored, he didn't show it. When receiving the next person, he noticed that in the line, two people away, the class 1-A was waiting for their turn to greet the prime minister. He pretended not to see them and attended to the person in front of him.
Midoriya and the others anxiously awaited their turn to approach; there was only one person in front of them before finally getting to Sakura. They were eager and a bit confused because, despite being so close, it didn't seem like she had noticed them.
"Good evening, my name is Abdel Ali," the man in front of Sakura introduced himself. He took the pink-haired woman's hand and kissed it before taking the opportunity to lean in and give her a kiss on each cheek. "I had heard a lot about you, and I must admit you are a true beauty."
"Pleasure to meet you. As you know, my name is Sakura Haruno, and I would like to thank you for taking the time to come to this event before the congress makes a decision about me," Sakura smiled back.
Midoriya and the others opened their mouths in disbelief that this man had taken the liberty to kiss Sakura's hand and cheeks; more than that, it was surprising to see that Sakura was not disturbed and, instead, remained polite.
"Miss Sakura, you should know that I am next in line from my country in the Middle East. That's why, on behalf of my country and my father, I extend the invitation for you to live there. You won't have to worry about your housing," the man surprised them even more, "you can live like a queen for the rest of your life, with more comforts than you have ever seen. If you're interested, how about accompanying me for the rest of the evening, and I can tell you about the land we will share?"
They couldn't believe there was someone so audacious. Sakura, unfazed, approached Hawks, standing shoulder to shoulder. She tilted her head towards him and placed her arm over his. Hawks instinctively, with his free hand, touched Sakura's and gave it a little squeeze.
"Thank you very much for the offer; I will think carefully about your proposal. It's not the first of the night, so please excuse me if I can't give you an immediate answer," Sakura said calmly. "I'm afraid I can't go with you; I still have guests to greet, and I already have a partner for the evening."
"Mr. Ali, I'm afraid I beat you to it and many others. How could one not be amazed by this girl's beauty?" Hawks said, turning to look at Sakura with deep love that she returned. "I'm Hawks, the number three hero in Japan. Once you see her, you can't help but be possessive."
Midoriya felt nervous when the man in front of him remained silent for a moment.
"I apologize for these two boys," All Might quickly intervened. "As you know, I am Sakura's guardian, and as you can see, both are very young, so sometimes they don't know how to behave in front of adults. This is the first time for both of them, so they are not familiar with the customs of other countries."
All Might tried to ease the tension emanating from the guest. It wasn't the first time he had to play the card that Sakura is fifteen years old and comes from another world, while Hawks, although he is the number three hero in Japan, is only eighteen; therefore, they don't know how to behave, even though their words and actions were by no means careless. The first time he was surprised to see how well the two synchronized in pretending to play the role of a couple for the night.
"No problem, youth is great these days," the man forced a laugh. "As Hawks says, you'll have to enjoy someone like Sakura for tonight. She's as precious as a diamond, just needs a little polishing to learn and she'll be the best diamond in this world."
"Thank you for your understanding," Hawks said. "We wouldn't want to take more of your valuable time in this perfect place for business. We still have to greet more people."
Midoriya and the others watched in surprise as the man, once he said goodbye and turned away, let the smile fade, showing evident annoyance.
They were so taken aback that they overlooked when the prime minister was the first to greet Sakura and the other two; only when Aizawa called them did everyone come to their senses. Sakura was in front of them.
"Sakura-chan," Uraraka said, taking a few steps toward her, ready to hug her once she stopped thinking about that rude prince.
"Hello, I didn't expect to see you here," Sakura cut in, bowing slightly in a respectful greeting, leaving the boys static. "It's good to see that everyone is well."
Uraraka and the others fell silent when they noticed that Sakura had drawn an invisible line between them.
"Of course, you've been through so much that I took the liberty of inviting your friends so that you feel at home again," the prime minister interjected.
The last part he said in a slightly louder tone than usual, so those nearby could hear it. Immediately, the boys surrounded by adults got goosebumps; they could feel multiple piercing gazes fixed on them, sharp looks that seemed to want to launch daggers at them as soon as they turned.
"Prime Minister, you are so kind to bring Sakura's classmates," Hawks emphasized. "The ANU has done its best to ensure the best for the world and for Sakura, so we'll wait to see what decision they make."
"Of course, of course, we're all eager to know what will happen. Actually, I wanted to talk a bit with All Might about a matter," he discreetly winked at the boys before approaching All Might and taking some of his time.
All Might silently communicated with Hawks, who nodded in agreement. Knowing that Hawks would stay close to Sakura, he felt more at ease; he knew she needed some time with the boys, and the boys with her.
"Is something wrong, Sakura-chan?" Uraraka asked, noticing that something wasn't right. This imaginary distance wasn't normal.
Sakura's smile diminished slightly.
"I'm fine; it's been chaotic, but I hope the situation will be decided today. As far as I know, they will make an announcement soon," Sakura replied.
"Are you dating Hawks?" Toru asked on behalf of everyone, seeing how close they were, still holding hands.
Immediately, Sakura let go of Hawks' hand; he, in turn, laughed.
"It was too good to last," Hawks said. "No, we're not dating; it's just a last-minute measure so that those who think they can do whatever they want stop insisting."
"For a scoundrel, at least your face serves some purpose," Sakura sighed.
"Are you saying I look attractive?" Hawks teased.
Sakura rolled her eyes.
"Why did that man propose to you?" Kirishima suddenly asked. "If I were you, I would have hit him for being rude to you."
Sakura and Hawks were surprised. Sakura didn't have the courage to answer; instead, Hawks turned to Aizawa and Present Mic seeking answers.
"The prime minister brought them to show support. We were ordered only to take care of them," Aizawa said carefully, passing his hand through his hair in case they were being overheard.
The kids looked more lost than before, especially when they saw Sakura twist her smile in a sign of disgust.
"I'm sorry," Sakura murmured to the kids. She felt her stomach churn realizing that all she was doing now with them is apologizing.
"Sorry?" Iida asked.
"Thanks for coming for Sakura. Unfortunately, we have to greet other guests, so if you'll excuse us," Hawks took Sakura by the waist and led her to where All Might was.
Midoriya saw Hawks talking to All Might before he opened his eyes; their gazes met for a brief moment before looking away. He was the only one who noticed All Might's sadness.
"Sensei, what's happening?" Kirishima asked.
"Why did Sakura act so distant?" Jiro asked.
"Why are they proposing to her?" Toru asked.
"Will Sakura-chan come back with us?" Uraraka asked.
The others stopped talking when Uraraka asked that question. Everyone turned to Aizawa and Present Mic. They took them to a corner where no one could hear them unless they got too close to be noticed; only then did they decide to tell the truth. The twenty waited in silence.
"We couldn't say anything because it was an order," Present Mic began. "You've seen and heard enough; even if we don't say anything at this point, you'll soon figure it out."
"If they're in this room, it's because they have the privilege of having been Sakura's classmates in these months," Aizawa said, there was no turning back. "That man you saw proposing to Sakura, judging by Hawks' reactions, it means he's not the first... What I mean is that Sakura, the moment she revealed that she comes from another world, became vulnerable to this one, just as there was no law to stop her from trying to kill the villain, there's no law to protect her. The ANU is taking measures to see what to do about Sakura and everything that her existence entails. That also means Sakura doesn't belong to Japan."
Midoriya gasped as he finally realized what that meant.
"They're fighting for Sakura to stay in their countries," Yaoyorozu gasped as she realized.
A tense silence settled over the group.
"You already know what it's like to fight a villain," said Present Mic. "The Sakura you see now is one who is carefully treading each step, smiling at people, showing gratitude even if they are arrogant. What you see here is a cold fight between powerful people to win the grand prize."
He didn't have to say it for them to understand that he was referring to Sakura.
"She's very smart," Aizawa said, more to himself than to the kids. "She distanced herself from you so you wouldn't attract the wrong kind of attention."
Since he found her in the classroom, he watched her carefully. He knew she had as a teacher the counterpart of what would be the prime minister for them; however, he was surprised to see that she seemed to handle herself with ease, even though the situation at times looked suffocating. If it were these kids, he doubted they would last as long as she was. This is only possible when someone has been going through this for some years now.
Midoriya felt that suddenly the room was too small, so he could hardly breathe with ease. He and the others understood that the prime minister was not being kind to them to make Sakura feel comfortable; he was using them as bait from the beginning. The party they thought would be fun took a completely new turn for all of them. The people they saw with admiration now distrusted them. How many of them would be watching the steps the Class 1-A takes and checking if Sakura feels enough attachment to be an obstacle to their goals? How many of them are waiting for the slightest opening in Sakura to use that weakness and get her? That's why Hawks acted as her lover for the night, and some of them thought there was really something between them.
Midoriya looked for Sakura, finding her laughing at something a stranger was saying. She seemed so calm that he couldn't believe that others had different intentions with her. He remembered the recording of the round table where those two doctors gave their opinion about Sakura. For the people gathered in this room, Sakura was nothing more than a powerful object to covet.
"They can't do anything to her here; there can't be any attacks here," Tokoyami said.
"It's not possible," Aizawa replied. Seeing their scared faces left a bad taste in his mouth. For their own good, now that he had started telling them the truth, he knew it was best to warn them completely. "In theory, it's the safest place, but just as there are politicians and millionaires, anyone who steps into this place and hasn't been vetted by the ANU can enter."
"It means that villains and bad people who have managed to evade the law are here. That's why you have to be careful," Present Mic said. "They can find a way to evade the law as they have so far. Sakura protected you in more than one sense by becoming distant when greeting."
The five who were there on the day of the villain fight now felt terrible. Never in their lives did they believe that the decision to rescue Bakugo would have these consequences. "You have your path, and I have mine." The five now knew that although they didn't know this was going to happen, she did, accepted it, and still went to fight against All for One.
Once they finished giving explanations, Aizawa and Present Mic, along with the group, began to approach the prime minister, who appeared as if everything was in perfect order, although the kids could no longer look at the prime minister with the admiration they had before. They even began to notice a fake smile versus a genuine one. The political gatherings surprised them as they saw how politicians could smile at each other and, upon turning around, show disgust, and even some, after saying goodbye, wiped their hands they shook with the other. Despite being surprised, they didn't forget to follow Aizawa's order, kept a low profile, and tried not to let the dislike and horror show on their faces.
After what seemed like an eternity for the kids, in the esplanade at the back of the hall, in front of a microphone that had been set up beforehand, appeared the current leader of the ANU congress. Everyone at the party fell silent and approached the esplanade. He began to give thanks and some words directed at certain people until finally, the long-awaited announcement moment arrived.
"As many of you know, the world has taken a 180° turn with the arrival of Haruno Sakura in our lives; she has certainly made herself known," several people laughed, including Sakura, Hawks, and All Might. "After hours of meticulous talks and debates, we want to announce the final verdict for Miss Haruno here present. I will say the most important things so that the announcement is not too long; if you want more information, the complete report will be released tonight at midnight in the official ANU newspaper. As a minor, it will be respected that All Might, the number one hero of all time, is her legal guardian. For the same reason, she will be forgiven for acting against the villain known as All for One. She will acquire the same rights and obligations as a person her age in the country where she resides. She will have the same restrictions as us, prohibiting her from using her powers, except for healing, as she has legally obtained the medical license. She has been granted the opportunity to continue studying to become a heroine, and in the meantime, she will be monitored at all times by a guardian or responsible person to whom she will report her movements. Miss Haruno Sakura's official place of residence will be decided early tomorrow morning."
The kids didn't miss the covetous looks from several people directed at Sakura. All Might, along with Sakura and Hawks, stepped onto the esplanade, where everyone in the hall could see them with the president of the ANU. People applauded when the three shook hands with the president, and then All Might began to say a few words on behalf of Sakura. The kids weren't listening anymore; the opportunity to talk to Sakura and have her return with them felt more and more distant. Their dreams of being heroes who protect people were suffocated when they realized what the real power behind these influential people is. They even doubted whether the present heroes were here willingly or if they were called to convince Sakura to join the country they belong to.
This is disgusting.
They arbitrarily raised their glasses when the president of the ANU offered it.
"I think we've coveted Sakura's time too much," said the president. "As a gesture of affection, we have organized a party for the young people who were invited for today. Please, Sakura, would you be so kind as to go to the Tulip Hall? You can have fun with young people your age instead of continuing boring adult conversations."
Several people laughed at that comment; on the contrary, Class 1-A was hopeful to hear that there was a separate party.
Aizawa and Present Mic led the kids out of the hall before Sakura started her journey to the exit. The two guided them to the hall on the first floor of the hotel. Before entering, Aizawa and Present Mic told her that with people her age, she could relax; they wouldn't be like the people in the adult hall, although they still had to be careful.
Upon entering the party, they were amazed. The hall was even larger than the previous one, with a large table full of food, snacks, sweets, and sodas. In the center, an illuminated dance floor awaited to move to the rhythm of the music provided by the DJ in the background. As the president of the ANU said, there were many young people of her age, and they had no doubt that they were hero class students. Although the groups seemed friendly, it could be felt that each one had a mission in mind: recruiting Sakura.
When the pink-haired girl entered the room without Hawks and All Might, they knew. The "students' battle for Sakura's guardianship" was beginning now.