The walk to U.A with Katsuki was in uncomfortable silence. Izuku had played along with his friend's desire to avoid one another out of mutual respect, but it didn't make things any less awkward. Mitsuki and Masaru had picked up on their behavior and tried questioning it, but Katsuki would always storm off while Izuku politely refused to explain. The small rift felt like it was only going to expand if they didn't talk soon, but Izuku knew too well that Katsuki would have to decide that time on his own for it to work.
Being forced into an interaction wouldn't resolve anything – and yet, that's exactly what happened.
"What the fuck?"
Izuku turned his gaze to Katsuki when hearing the usual profanity. Then, he looked back forward to take notice of his surroundings. An army of reporters crowded around the U.A entrance gate.
As if the media frenzy had a third sense stronger than Izuku's, they took notice of the student's arrival.
"What's it like learning from All Might?", a query of questions invaded the boy's personal space.
Izuku became a bumbling idiot as soon as a dozen microphones got shoved into his face. Katsuki rolled his eyes and took charge of the situation, yanking on Izuku's tie to steer him. Miniature explosions in the blonde's free hand forced the reporters to part like the Red Sea.
"Buzz off, ya fucking shit stains!", Bakugo couldn't resist making a crude remark. It's just in his nature.
When the U.A barrier separated the students from the unrelenting press; Izuku regained his composure. Though his tie had been wrinkled and untangled by Katsuki's harsh pulling, it wasn't tied very well to begin with. As the green haired boy shoved the red piece back into his suit jacket, he shot Katsuki an appreciative look. "Th- Thanks, Kacchan."
"Tch. What the fuck ever.", Bakugo pretended he didn't acknowledge the boy. However, with his back to Izuku, he was free to let a small smile fall on his face.
The two made their way to the homeroom to find other students already seated. A few conversed with one another while others occupied their time by studying or reading. Yaoyorozu was one of the few with their face stuck in a book and it came as no surprise to see Ashido being a social butterfly.
Eventually, all chatter died down and everybody's attention settled on the cocoon opening. Instead of a beautiful bug flying out, a disheveled teacher climbed free.
In his hand, were papers pertaining to scores & grading. They were meant to be handed out, so Aizawa gave them to each student in the front row so they could be passed down. "Good work with yesterday's battle training. I've looked over your grades evaluations. You all received passing scores.", he lazily drawled.
Then, his tone became more demanding. "Bakugo. Grow up already; stop wasting your talent."
The blonde grinded his teeth upon being the only student to get called out. It was probably to force himself from letting profanity slip out his mouth.
"Now, onto homeroom business. Sorry for the sudden announcement, but today.."
Most of the class sweatdropped as anxiety crept over them. "What is it? A brutal pop quiz?"
"You'll pick a class president."
Relief flooded the room as the class collectively exclaimed, "That's such a normal school thing!"
Aizawa began to zip himself back up in his portable sleeping bag to withstand the onslaught of ensuing shouts. The students began to yell over one another to gain the most attention, but their teacher learned to zone such noise out after spending so much time with Present Mic.
"I wanna be class president, lemme do it!"
"I wanna be a leader!"
"I'd like to do it."
"This position was made for me."
Suddenly, the commotion was broken by a single holler.
"Quiet down, everyone! Leading the many is a task of heavy responsibility! But ambition does not equate to ability! I believe that should be kept in mind if our leader is chosen by election."
The outburst by Iida stilled most of the class, but a certain word hung on Izuku. Responsibility. If Tenya understands it as much as he says, then that should be Izuku's vote. Unknown to the other, Iida had similar thoughts for Izuku.
"This is a classroom, not congress!", Sero exclaimed.
"Besides, we haven't known eachother long enough to build any trust.", Asui added.
"Everyone would just vote for themselves!", Kirishima agreed.
"That's precisely why anyone who manages to earn multiple votes will be the best suited individual for the job.", Iida argued. The class realized the bespectacled teen makes a good point.
"Will you allow this, Sensei?"
"However you do it, just make it quick.", Aizawa yawned from his spot on the floor.
"Very well! Thank you, Sensei!", Iida mechanically bowed.
The class then began tearing pages from their notebooks to write ballads. Each paper was folded and added to a pile upfront where Aizawa would tally the numbers. When the process was complete, the disheveled hero marked it on the chalkboard.
"I got FOUR votes?!", Izuku exclaimed.
"I got 'Vice' by two votes..", Momo Yaoyorozu mused.
"B- But who would vote for ME?", Izuku wondered aloud.
"Who WOULDN'T vote for you, nerd?!", Bakugo growled.
"K- Kacchan.. Did you v- vote for me?"
The blonde seethed through his teeth before facing the opposite direction to hide a low blush. To keep his sweaty hands from accidentally igniting, Katsuki shoved them in his pockets.
Izuku let a small smile grace his lips. Katsuki would never apologize verbally, so this action must be his way of making up for the past few days.
"Just make sure you don't do a shitty job or I'll take back my vote, ya damn nerd!"
"Bakugo, I'm afraid you can't do that!", Iida began chopping his arms condescendingly.
"HAA?! The fuck did you say, four eyes?!"
"There's no need for such slurs! I voted for Midoriya too!"
"But Iida, if you didn't vote for yourself, how did you get one?", Asui put a finger to her chin in question while glancing at the chalkboard.
"Uh.. That was me.", Izuku bashfully rubbed his neck with a forced chuckle. "He seemed to really know what he was talking about and takes these sort of things very seriously. He was the one that came up with the voting system to begin with.", Izuku gave his explanation.
"That makes sense.", Asui ribbited.
"Thank you, Midoriya.", Iida adjusted his glasses with pride.
"D- Don't mention it."
"Then, who were Midoriya's other two votes? And what about mine?", Momo interjected.
Uraraka decided that was a good time to whistle her favorite anime theme song. Jirou plugged her earjacks into her phone so she wouldn't stand out to any accusations.
Meanwhile, it wasn't uncharacteristic for Todoroki to be quiet, but his gaze seemed to linger on Yaoyorozu much more. Nobody noticed though, as Mina Ashido bounded in between.
"Come on, Yaomomo, you're obviously cut out for the part!", the pinkette boasted.
"Yaomomo?", the ponytailed girl blushed when hearing the sudden nickname.
"Alright, everybody settle down.. Now that your Class Presidents have been decided, we can begin.", Aizawa applied eyedrops with a drawn out sigh.
The class of first years felt just as drowsy as their teacher throughout the ensuing lecture.
Eventually, the relief of lunch break woke everybody up. This time of the day was meant for all sorts of gossip and conversation. Cliques and factions claimed their rightful tables; the groups ranged from the Hero Course to Gen Ed, Support, and Business.
Izuku was happy to see Katsuki & Eijiro waving him over. Ochaco had tried calling out to him with a mouth full of rice, but she made her presence known from the table as well. Even though the band breakup was short lived, it was like a reunion. Everything was back to normal.
"Yo, Midoriya."
"Huh?"
Izuku spun to see who else wanted his attention. Behind him with her own tray, stood Kyoka Jirou.
"Um, do you maybe wanna eat together again?", the girl fiddled with one of her earjacks while avoiding eye contact.
"Oh! Uh! Y- Yeah, sure. I'm sure Kacchan, Uraraka, and Kirishima wouldn't mind.", Izuku stammered out a response while gesturing to the table of friends.
Kyoka seemed to withdraw from that when she spotted the blonde grenade. "Actually, I think Yaoyorozu offered to eat with me earlier. Maybe some other time?"
"Oh, okay! S- Some other time, then.", Izuku's response fell upon deaf ears as the girl walked away.
The two went to their separate tables.
"What was that all about, Deku?", Uraraka caved in to curiosity after watching the strange exchange.
Even Bakugo seemed interested, judging by the quick glance he gave in between scarfing down curry.
"Ah, n- nothing really. Jirou-San was just wondering if she could eat with us some day."
"Oh, that'd be so cool! It'd be great to have another girl to talk to."
Katsuki gave a low grunt in between bites.
"That's so considerate of you, Midoriya! And super manly!", Kirishima added.
"Th- Thanks..", Izuku tried lowering his head to hide a light blush.
"So, Deku, what's it like to be Class President?", Ochaco changed the subject.
"A- Ah, well.. To be honest, I'm a little worried that I won't be able to live up to expectations.."
"Tch. You might be a shitty Deku, but even a shitty Deku can handle a shitty task.", Katsuki's remark sounded like a jumbled slur due to a mouthful of food.
"Bakubro, don't talk with your mouth full! It's gross, not manly!", Kirishima scolded.
Izuku and Ochaco had to stifle a laugh over the nickname that caused a vein to bulge on Katsuki's forehead.
"His choice of words aside, Bakubro is right! Being the Class Rep is probably super easy!"
"Yeah, I agree with Kirishima-San. I think you just have to do roll call and make sure people get in lines or something. Whatever the duty, it's probably nothing too difficult.", Ochaco nodded.
"Th- Thanks everyone. That's a little reassuring.."
Izuku took a spoonful of soup before continuing.
"Still, I wouldn't know what to do in the event of an emergency-"
Suddenly, the ear piercing ring of an alarm began blaring. Every student was jolted from their seats in shock. Some classmates were in the middle of eating or drinking and ended up spitting it all over.
"Security Threat: Level Three has been broken. All students, please evacuate in an orderly fashion.", an automated electronic voice blasted over speakers to warn everyone.
"What the hell is level three?!", Katsuki shouted.
"It means someone's infiltrated the building! We need to hurry up and get outta here!", a stray student yelled amiss the growing stampede of teens.
Pretty soon, the lunchroom crowd found itself stuck together in narrow hallways. Whoever attempted to scramble out of it felt like they were trying to swim upstream during a rapid river.
"Quit shoving me or I'll fucking kill you!", Katsuki's threat was drowned out among the other panicking students.
The crazy rush could rival the crowds during Black Friday sales. It was no use trying to fight such a swarm of rough pushes. Whoever attempted to do so just found themselves being toppled over.
Izuku was one of the poor souls to be overpowered and slammed around. Eventually, the freckled teen found himself pressed against a wide window. His eyes frantically darted about to see what could cause such a rapid rush & panic.
The barrier that sealed off the press earlier looked to be gone now. A pile of dust that needed to be swept away was in its place. The big breach was most likely the crowd of reporters.
"There's no danger! It's just the media! Everyone calm down-"
Izuku got mushed against the glass even harder, cutting off his desperate shouts.
Then an idea struck the super powered teen. While using his quirk without a license would be considered illegal, an exception was made for students on U.A property.
With a forceful leap, Izuku bounded from the crowd and planted his palms on the ceiling. Making haste, he frantically crawled towards the emergency exit where others would be more likely to see & hear him.
"EVERYTHING'S FINE! IT'S JUST THE PRESS!", Izuku shouted at the top of his lungs.
The crowd must have heard him, because it stopped swarming like a flock of angry bees.
"There's nothing to panic about! We're fine!"
However, that statement couldn't be any further from the truth..
When the U.A Staff & Teachers finally resolved the situation, they began to investigate how it even arose. The small mammal called U.A's principal inspected the dust left behind.
"No ordinary reporter could have done this. Someone instigated this whole affair."
"What makes you say that, Nezu?", Present Mic raised a brow.
"Several documents were missing from my office. While most were nothing important and could have simply been misplaced.. it makes me wonder. Did some evildoer manage to slip in?"
Aizawa's droopy eyes narrowed as he understood the rodent's words.
"If so.. They could be intending to wage some greater war."