Power games

"Monoma's getting out of hand." Sighed Kendo. "Trying to make us lose our focus. He now wants Present Mic to hold an English competition with 1-A just because we have Tsunotori and Honenukiiiii."

Too late she felt the hairy arms of Shishida grabbing her wrist and elbow and throwing her in the ground.

"It is a certainty he became a distraction for you, miss Kendo. I telegraphed that last movement quite clearly."

"You are right. I will no longer think about him." Her hands grew "Get ready for the slapping of your life."

"I was eager for a true skirmish since the start of the class, dear colleague."

A few meters from her, Monoma was also not so focus on his battle.

"While Kendo go all 'kumbaya' and peace and love on us, we are losing terrain." He dodged the spinning fingers of Kaibara "I refuse to play sidekick to any class at the upcoming Sports Festival."

"And I refuse to drill a hole on your thick skull, but that's what going to happen if you don't focus." Kaibara pointed to his arm.

Now, Kan asked to those fighting Kaibara or Pony Tsunotori to wear protective vest and headgear. Even so. Monoma saw the drilling guy managed to make a hole on his PE shirt sleeve.

Monoma gave two steps back, getting close to another sparring pair, and, in a hidden movement worth of a magician, touched Honenuki.

Kaibara rushed to Monoma, hands spinning, as the blond touched the ground, making it almost quick-sand level. Kaibara felt on the trap.

"As I was saying." He smirked, taking off the headgear. "My thick skull is thinking about ways to leave this school in three years the best hero I can. The best we all can. Isn't that a worthy goal? Oh, and I win."

"That's cheating."

"Nope, that's my quirk."

"Time's up, everyone. Go shower and change. I will deliver my considerations in class"

"Yes, Kan-Sensei" was the collective answer.

"But you two, Kendo and Monoma. I want a word with both."

When the trio was alone on the gymnasium, the teacher began.

"You are at a very special age. Your opinions and worldviews are forming now. In fact, this course may be putting too much pressure on those who are still deciding what's right or wrong."

"Sensei, I…"

"Let me finish, Monoma. Still, society need heroes, and having you children together is a tested way to put a mirror in front of you, to help you find your answers along several kids with the same development stage." He made a pause. "Now, 1-B already has two mirrors that shine the most." He pointed to both.

"S-sensei?"

"I will not ask for you to tone down your opinions or personalities, just to keep in mind if I feel we're heading to a class divided, there will be consequences. Severe. I will not mind losing a general to keep the army united. Is that clear?"

"Cr-crystal."

"Yes, sensei."

"Go change, meet me in class."

Both walked to the locker rooms together, in silence for a while.

"He treats us like children."

"Maybe, Monoma, you try stop behaving like one."

"I'm not the one who sees the world full of rainbows and unicorns and everybody is palls."

"I don't…! Look, I just want to be a good heroine. Make the difference in the world."

"So do I"

They walked a couple dozens of meters in silence.

"… so we should not fight."

She nodded, stopping on the corridor between the boys and girls lockers and offered her hand

"Truce so we can focus on the Sports Festival?"

"Truce to the Sports Festival" he shook it.

"Let's do our best."

"Let's destroy it."

Both blushed a bit.

"… and destroy it, sure." She added, smiling.

"Destroy being our best" He agreed.

Next day, Kan entered the class, still worried.

"I hope you all though about my critiques overnight. Two announcements. This is the end of the first week, but I decided to keep you all for a while. Despite some slip-ups, thre's no reason for one or more leave. Yet."

Kan raised his hand, asking for silence.

"Now, there's the matter of choosing the class representative. Any candidates?"

Some voices were heard, but kendo was louder.

"I'd like to nominate Neito Monoma."

You could hear a pin drop.

"No one can deny his passion for this class." She finished.

"Well, my vote will be for Itsuka Kendo." the blonde answered. "she is also passionate and has the head where it should be… no offense, Fukidashi."

The boy with a world balloon for a head just shrugged.

The eighteen students looked at each other, as Kan barely hold an smile.

"So, you want to vote?"

An hour or so later, the first years were in panic. The invasion alarms were blaring, and no one was trained on UA safety procedures yet. Few were more worried than Kendo. She was just elected representative, and was not able to calm down her fellow students. If someone with an dangerous quirk from any class activates it… she don't want to even think. Here and there she listens to warnings. Seems it's just the press, but how could she warn the others?

Fukidashi!

If she could have the balloon-headed boy to use his quirk and make everybody silent, she could make some order and…

Someone flew by her head. Fast. Too fast.

"Everything is fine!"

She heard the boy now plastered on the wall scream above all the noise.

"It's just the press! There's nothing to panic about. We're fine!"

Kendo looked at the boy. If he's not representative of some of the eight first years, he should be. And maybe she shouldn't.

Monoma, far away from her, knew exactly who the shouting boy was. And he frowned, realizing his mistake. Sorry, Kendo, time for being nice is over, truce is over. He would not be left in second plane.

Kan was just walking his bulldog. It was just a coincidence he was a kilometer or so off his usual route, and near Aizawa's apartment. May as well go up, Tepes needs water and rest. No other reason.

Aizawa was more receptive than his cat, but that's understandable.

"You should get a dog. Get out of this apartment more."

"I have the night shift at my office in a couple of hours. It's enough time out of home. Water for Tepes, scotch for you?"

He nodded.

"How's your chosen general?"

"Vice-representative, with two votes."

"Two votes? Kendo won representative of my class with nine votes. Monoma, seven votes, Shishida, four."

"How did your kids polarize in just one week?"

"Strong personalities and opinions. How many votes your representative got?"

"None."

Kan blinked

"Explain that"

After an exchange of stories, Kan sighed.

"So, our chosen four so far, a disappointment."

"I would not say that. It's too early, and Yaoyorozu has plenty of space to grow. Todoroki… Todoroki I still don't understand."

"Go talk to Endeavour."

"When his beard freezes over. Yours? You had plenty of choices, you know."

Kan looked at his scotch, remembering the last time he drank one, a couple of months ago.

"What do you mean, he gave up?"

The eyes of every teacher celebrating on the bar went to Nezu, who was listen to his mobile.

"No, you did the right thing to contact me. We'll solve this now. Thank you for your dedication." The animal took a sip of his beer. "It was my secretary. Yoarashi gave up."

After indignation and surprise interjections, Nezu raised his hand.

"Everybody agrees we solve this right now? Fine, first UA meeting at a pub is on. We could cut our recommendations to just three, or call up some student who also performed well today."

"I'd bark-barkall another one. It's a way to please another group who did the recommendation."

"Agree. Plus, knowing just one student of my class beforehand… I rather not give lady luck another slot."

"Are we settled, then?"

Everybody nodded. Kan smiled, trying to remember the details of the kids he saw a couple of hours ago.

"Right… The kid with butterfly wings… Shoragana, was it? He aced on the physical and, if I remember, was not bad on the written part." Kan was struggling to open the files on his phone.

"True, but his interview… this teacup has more personality than him." Said Recovery Girl, putting the object on the table.

"Any suggestiooooorooooow?"

Everyone looked at her. With all her years at UA, her opinion in most subjects was de facto at Nezu's level. Higher, when it came to students matters. She smiled and poured more of the steamy liquid on the cup.

"I'd go with someone hotter. Bold. A person to say 'let's go, 1-B' with every action. Setsuna Tokage."

"Chuzenji! You must be kidding."

"Do I look like I am kidding? The girl has that je ne sais quoi."

"She made an impression, all right." Said Aizawa, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Woof!" agreed Inui.

"Well, with the villains getting more daring, maybe it's indeed not the time to play safe. Any other name to consider?" Nezu asked, fingers ready on his mobile. When nobody moved, he went on. "Who will be, Kan? Shoragana or Tokage?"

"Honenuki's chief of diplomacy and second-in-command at Monoma's field. Tokage does what pleases her at the moment. A wild card."

"Just like the old lady said."

"Maybe too much of a wild card."

"I have one of these. We'll both will be fine, or will have plenty of reasons to drown our problems. Well, I must go to my office. Want a ride?"

"Sure."

"Your kids will be at Thirteen's playground Monday, right? We're scheduled for the next day. Try not to tear the place down."

"Aizawa attempting a joke? Wow, what did you put on that drink?"

"I didn't drink. I am driving, after all."

"Fine, exemplar hero. I got Ectoplasm to help this field class. He will really be useful, watching several kids at once. You?"

"All Might."

Kan looked at Aizawa with intensity. Maybe, maybe Monoma was right after all