Disclaimer: I do not own My Hero Academia/Boku No Hero Academia, or any other property in this work that I did not make myself.
A couple that will go down in legend
Chapter twenty-nine: Time of grief
In the homeroom class for 1-A, Izuku noticed that, with the exception of the still-absent Uraraka, all of the students in the class were present, including the five new additions that were added to the roster due to the increased need for there to be as many heroes as possible in light of recent major events. Izuku and the others milled around a bit as Aizawa had to leave to pick something up for the debriefing he had to go over with them. As such, it gave him time to talk to some of his friends, including Todoroki.
"Sorry, Midoriya," the dual natured-quirk boy remarked, "But Reiko was sitting right next to me in the exam room, so I was understandably too distracted to pay attention to whatever scheme you say that Mina was trying to pull off or whatever." Izuku, without missing a beat, took out his smartphone, pulled up a certain picture that he took, and showed it to Todoroki, who arched a wry eyebrow upon seeing it. "…No way in hell is that Mina," Todoroki said, "In fact, that looks like Tsuyu's kid brother who is terrified of my father dressed up as Mina."
Izuku, as well as Tenya and Shinso who were with Izuku, let out relieved sighs. "Well thank goodness that you believe us as well, Todoroki," the green-haired cinnamon roll said, "I think that I might have actually cried out in frustration if you didn't believe me."
"Midoriya, I'm a lot more observant that others give me credit for," Todoroki remarked. Pointing to where the photo was still pulled up on Izuku's phone, Todoroki continued, "But all of that is beside the point. Why did Mina dress Tsuyu's kid brother up as her, then had him take the math exam for her?" Tsuyu, when she heard someone mention her, came over to see what was up.
Tenya crossed his arms, a look of bemusement on his face. "What I would like to know is how so many people, including many who could be counted on to not have the wool pulled over their eyes, were so easily fooled by Ashido's little scheme."
Tsuyu looked like she was about to say something, but she was cut off when Aizawa returned to the classroom, prompting everyone to return to their desks as quickly as possible. Aizawa stood at his desk in the front of the classroom, looked around to make sure everyone was acting orderly. The underground hero gave a passing glance to the empty desk in the classroom that was normally occupied by Uraraka; he gave a mildly troubled sigh as his gaze passed by the gravity girl's desk before he focused his gaze on his other twenty-four students.
Aizawa cleared his throat a bit as he set up the laptop on his desk with a flash drive that he produced from his front right pocket. After a few brief moments, Aizawa had a file pulled up on the smartboard behind him and his desk. The slideshow style report was on the first slide, which said 'Ongoing investigation into group against Uraraka family' in big bold capital letters, as the underground hero began to address his students.
"Shinso, Hatsume, Mongoose, Yamamaya and Sirknight may not have a whole lot on this since they weren't in our class at the time of our recent field trip, so I'm going to have to take a bit of time to catch them all up on what happened during said field trip." To the five students he had mentioned by name, all of which sat in the back of the classroom conveniently enough, Aizawa said, "During the field trip that took place before the five of you were placed in this class, a pair of assassins tried to murder your classmate Uraraka. Those assassins were ultimately foiled, thanks partly to help from local quirked persons in Royal Woods where the field trip took place, including a young man who had charges dropped against him as a favor for his services in helping to track down Uraraka's would-be killers."
Shinso raised a hand at this, and Aizawa called upon his protégé. "Yeah, Midoriya gave me a bit of a run down on all of that, both how Uraraka was targeted by killers for some odd reason and about that one guy with the gold fire quirk that Mineta led into beating up a lot of the guys here, Midoriya himself included in that lot."
Aizawa nodded in confirmation to Shinso's remark, partly thankful that Shinso didn't mention the true nature of the guy's gold fire quirk in the middle of class. Focusing on the parts that relate to the attempt on Uraraka's life during the field trip, the underground hero debriefed his class on a few points concerning both the incident during the field trip (to give those that weren't there a better understanding) and how said incident was connected to the recent attack on U.A., where a bunch of mercenaries attacked during the recent school festival that was visited by students from the one local regular high school, Azu-Daioh High.
Bakugo, getting a tad impatient with all of this beating around the bush, scoffed a bit. "So what does all of this have to do with this debriefing, Aizawa-sensei?"
Letting out a resigned sigh, Aizawa remarked, "I was just getting to that, Bakugo." Aizawa then clicked his laptop's mouse button to move the slideshow style debriefing to the next slide, which to the immediate alarm of Izuku and other friends of his and Uraraka's in the class had a profile picture of Mrs. Uraraka, the gravity girl's mother. Aizawa, without turning around to look at the smartboard behind him, pointed to where the picture of Uraraka's mom was up.
"Your classmate Uraraka's mother, who is shown here, was found lying in a pool of her own blood in her family's kitchen, her throat slashed. This was two days ago, on the same day that the villain Trapezius Head Gear escaped police custody while on transport to Tartarus and went on a rampage at the local mall before being recaptured, even though the two events are unrelated." The underground hero gave his shocked-looking students (all of them, yes even Bakugo, were all shocked to hear what happened) a serious look that carried a hint of resigned sadness. "In case any of you were wondering why Uraraka was absent, well here you go."
The students of 1-A were reeling a bit from hearing the news about how Uraraka's mother was found murdered in her own home. Izuku was particularly shocked, as he prayed that none of his classmates had to go through what he went through when his father was killed by unknowing police during a secret undercover job over in the United States. Hearing that one of his closest friends was now suffering much the same way he had suffered not all that long ago, especially since Uraraka's mom was an innocent civilian when you get down to it, made the green-eyed boy's heart ache in empathy for the gravity girl.
Izuku was already thinking on what he should say to Uraraka in her time of grief when his thoughts were interrupted by Aizawa continuing on with the slideshow style debriefing. "Due to a certain bit of evidence that was found at the scene of the crime, both the police and the pro heroes that are helping them with the investigation have reason to believe that the murder of your classmate Uraraka's mother was carried out by the same group that was aiming to kill Uraraka herself." Aizawa clicked the laptop's mouse to go to the next slide.
A number of the students in 1-A all gasped in shock when they saw a pocketknife pinned into the wall, pinning up a sheet of paper that simply said 'YOU'VE BEEN WARNED' in big bold capital letters. The slide after that one showed both the pocketknife and the note in separate evidence bags, laying out on the surface of a table; the note in its bag was unfolded and showed what was written on it.
Seeing that all of his students were reeling in shock, Aizawa let out a knowing sigh. "Given the evidence that was recovered from the scene," the underground hero began, "As well as the two connected attacks that were both aimed to eliminate your classmate Uraraka, the police and pro heroes are all working with the theory that the group that is slash was aiming to kill Uraraka is behind the murder of her mother." Aizawa then clicked the laptop's mouse to move things on to the next slide, which showed a crying Uraraka being hugged by her similarly grieving father.
"Now we get to the part that involves the lot of you." Everyone in class turned to regard Aizawa, noticing the resigned sympathy in his expression. Seeing such a look on Aizawa's face was rather rare, given the man's history. "Many of the heroes that are lending aid to the police in the ongoing investigation are many of the pros that you kids tend to intern under. As such, don't be surprised if your mentor heroes have you assist with the investigation at some point."
Tsuyu held up a hand, and Aizawa called upon her. "I can very much see Ryukyu ask me and Eunice to help her investigate since Uraraka is also one of her interns kero."
Aizawa nodded in agreement with the frog girl's remark, understanding where it came from. "Aside from helping your hero mentors with investigations in this matter if you're called upon to do so, there is something else that you all need to consider." Aizawa jerked a thumb over his shoulder, pointing out the picture of Uraraka and her dad, which was still up on the smartboard. "One of your classmates is grieving right now, grieving because she just lost a loved one. She's going to need as much support from all of you as you can spare."
"Aizawa-sensei," Mina remarked as she raised her hand, her tone sounding a bit sad because of what she and the others just learned, "This…isn't exactly our first time in showing a grieving classmate that we're all here if they need it. We know what to do, and we intend to do it." Izuku, knowing that the pink-skinned girl was talking about him, nodded silently in agreement. Granted, Izuku was still disappointed in Mina given how she not only cheated on the recently completed math exam but how exactly she did so, but Mina still had a point.
The pink-skinned girl was also right in how Uraraka, given that she had lost her mother, was going to need the love and support of everyone in 1-A. Izuku, remembering what happened when he lost his father, was pretty sure that all of 1-B would get in on offering their condolences to the gravity girl. All of the new students in 1-A and 1-B, as well as the Big Three, would also be there for Uraraka in her time of grief. Izuku was glad that his friend had so many people who were all going to be there for her.
Just as they were for him.
The small home where Uraraka and her dad lived wouldn't be enough to hold all of the guests that were expected to come over after a funeral service was held a week after Uraraka's mom was found, so Mitsuki, when she was informed by her son and her boyfriend what had happened, declared that things would be held at her place, since she did get the house in the divorce from her ex-husband.
Granted, things were a bit on the crowded side, what with a combined fifty U.A. first years, three U.A. third years, two U.A. teachers and a number of pro heroes (at least one being retired) all there, things still went pretty smoothly. Mr. Uraraka, as he stood with Mitsuki, Inko, Aizawa, Hizashi, Sekijiro and Toshinori, looked to be a bit overwhelmed by all of the love and support that he and his daughter were being shown.
"This…" the Uraraka patriarch said in a tone of slight disbelief, gently shaking his head as he saw what all was going on. Turning to face the other adults, Mr. Uraraka said, "…I simply don't know what to say, everyone."
"You could, in a way, consider it as one of the perks that comes with your daughter being a growing part of the hero community," Toshinori remarked. The former symbol of peace gestured to where all of the girls in 1-A and 1-B, plus Nejire of the Big Three, were in a group hug with Uraraka in the middle of the group. Toshinori lowered his arm that he used to gesture with, turned his attention to face Mr. Uraraka. "We take care of our own."
Mr. Uraraka smiled a bit, knowing what Toshinori was getting at. The widowed man then turned his attention to a table upon which a wide variety of baked goods were sat. "Those Rikido and Tamaki boys sure pulled out all the stops in making all of those baked goods over there for me and Ochaco."
"Well it is a custom to bring food to grieving families when they lose a loved one," Inko pointed out to Mr. Uraraka, "Something similar happened when I lost Hisashi." Aizawa, who noticed that Hizashi looked to be about to say something that probably would have been stupid to the full-bodied woman, quickly stopped the cockatiel-haired pro hero before he could get one word out.
It wasn't until Aizawa and Hizashi calmed down when Mitsuki asked something that was on her mind. "Hey, I got it from both my brat and my bae that your wife's murder is believed to be connected to both incidents where people tried to kill your kid," the ashy-haired woman said to Mr. Uraraka. Arching a wry eyebrow in a sigh of piqued interest, Mitsuki said to the widowed man, "Sorry if asking this right now isn't the most appropriate thing to do in the world, but who in the hell did you and your family piss off?"
Mr. Uraraka looked a bit surprised by Mitsuki's question. "Excuse me?"
"There were two attempts on your brat's life that thankfully both failed, and one on your wife which I'm very sorry was successful," Mitsuki pointed out. She crossed her arms over her chest, gave the man that she was addressing a serious look with a hint of knowing in it. "Call me what you may, but from where I stand it looks like someone's really pissed at you and your family for some odd reason, and wanted to make you guys pay for it."
"That's…actually a theory that the police and the pro heroes helping them with the investigation are working with," Sekijiro remarked, a bit surprised that a civilian woman like Mitsuki was able to piece things together. Granted, she did get a bit of info from Bakugo and Izuku, so that must help to explain a lot of things.
…
While the adults all conversed amongst themselves, the U.A. students all talked among themselves. "Wow, I still can't wrap my head around how another one of you first years lost a parent," Nejire said in a somewhat sad and clearly sympathetic tone as she and the other girls all talked to Uraraka. The lone girl of the Big Three gave her junior student a sympathetic look as she looked her right in the eyes. "We're all here you, Uraraka. Just call on us if you need it."
The gravity girl nodded once in acknowledgement, showing thanks for the support that she was being shown. "I…I still can't b-believe that m-my mom was murdered." The stammering in her wavering tone made it clear that Uraraka had not only cried at least once before, but that she may start up again at the drop of a hat. "I still can't b-believe that someone wanted t-to murder me." She looked up from the floor to all of the girls that were gathered around her, the look of sadness on her face clear as day. Uraraka, with tears welling up in the corners of her eyes, then asked the other girls something that took all of them by surprise.
"What did I do to deserve all of this?"
"Uraraka, you did nothing to have this coming," Mina said, her tone firm and serious as he placed both of her hands on Uraraka's shoulders, keeping the gravity girl's focus on her. "You did nothing wrong, you got me? The people here who did do wrong are the fuckers that wanted to make things for you and your folks a living hell." The other girls all looked on as Mina, in her own way, was trying to reassure Uraraka.
More tears welled up in the corners of Uraraka's eyes as she, overwhelmed by all of the love and support that her fellow girls were showing her, began to softly cry, which elicited another group hug from the girls. Over a ways, some of the boys in 1-A and 1-B, as well as Tamaki and Mirio, looked on as the girls did what they were doing for Uraraka. Not one face among the boys that were looking on held anything other than sympathy for the gravity girl; Mirio in particular was crying just as much and just as hard, if not more so, than Uraraka. It was clear that the well-toned third year was quite the softie.
"…First a bunch of mercs try and fail to kill Round Face twice," Bakugo began, his tone carrying suspicion, "And now someone succeeded in eighty-sixing Round Face's mom on their first attempt." The explosive teen turned to regard Izuku, Todoroki, Shinso, Juzo and the crying Mirio. The look of suspicion on his face could not be mistaken for anything else. "Call me what you may, but Round Face's family has obviously pissed someone off big time. I mean, why else would there be so many attempts on their family?"
The boys (aside from Mirio who was unable to respond due to his crying) all looked at Bakugo with surprised expressions, a little shocked that even Bakugo would so blatantly talk about stuff as heavy as killings, both attempted and successful, at a post-service gathering for a funeral. But, when the initial shock wore off, a lot of the boys realized that Bakugo had brought up a logical, valid point in the case.
In fact, out of the boys that were with the explosive teen, only Izuku had thought of the possibility that the reason why there were attempts on Uraraka, why there was an attempt on her mother that sadly succeeded, is because the Urarakas did something to someone that said someone did not like at all. This made the green-eyed boy think on the matter. First off, whoever it was that tried to have the gravity girl eliminated over in Royal Woods, and later here back home in Japan, has the means to hire out a good number of mercenary killers to take care of the dirty work for them.
Izuku also heard that a few known villains that were seen on U.A. grounds during the recent attack on U.A., despite claiming not to be part of said attack, said that their group and the mercenary group both get a bit of their respective funding from the same source. This made the green-haired cinnamon roll think really hard; two notably large groups that are separate from one another, yet they both draw funds from the same source. This meant that whoever it was that was behind the attempts on Uraraka's life, the one successful attempt on her mom's life, had to be on the wealthier side of things.
Unfortunately for Izuku, he couldn't think of anyone who was both wealthy and had a reason to want anyone in Uraraka's family dead. And that note that was found pinned to a wall with a pocketknife at Uraraka's family's place…that was something only someone who was a clear cut villain would want to leave, something that only they would make others doing their dirty work leave. From what the green-eyed boy was able to figure, whoever it was that had Uraraka and her folks in their crosshairs is a rather wealthy villain that wanted to do something to shake the hero community of Japan to its core by attacking an innocent hero-in-training and her family.
The only question now…is who?
The day following the service for Mrs. Uraraka, staff members of U.A. were in a meeting with one another. Nezu, who was leading the meeting, let out a troubled sigh. "It's very terrible what all the Uraraka family has gone through as of late. Ms. Uraraka's mother was murdered in her family's home by as of yet unknown assailants, and Ms. Uraraka herself was targeted twice, and let me be the first to say thank goodness both attempts on Ms. Uraraka had failed."
"We shouldn't rest on anything," Aizawa said, the seriousness in his tone obvious, "Sure, both attempts on Uraraka's life were foiled, but who is to say that whoever it is that has it out for her family won't try again, especially considering that their first attempt on Uraraka's mom had been successful?" The underground hero crossed his arms over his chest, leaned back in his seat. "We have to do a complete overhaul in security for all of U.A.'s students, as well as whatever we can spare for certain persons related to said students."
"That's easier said than done," Ken Ishiyama, aka the pro hero Cementoss, remarked to his co-worker and fellow pro hero, prompting Aizawa to turn to face him. Aizawa's eyes were on Ken as he (Ken) faced him (Aizawa). "The hero community in Japan is short-staffed as it is, what with all that we've been having to do since events such as the monster attack and the siege here at U.A. during the recent school festival. And all of that is in addition to what all we already have on our plates as pro heroes, in terms of our regular duties."
"As much of a pain in the rear as it is to realize, Ishiyama has a point there," Snipe remarked, his fingers locked with each other as his elbows rested on the arm rests of his chair, "The most we can do, from what I figure after looking at my copy of the debriefing of the situation, is call for a few additional pro heroes to be stationed here at U.A., as well as potentially get some additional security for Uraraka and her father since they are both still potential targets for whatever mangy varmint it is who wants to see them hang."
Nezu inhaled through his nose as he contemplated all the facts that he and the other U.A. staff members had. The quirked animal principal of U.A. looked at his own copy of the debriefing, went over a few of the figures in his vastly efficient mind. He sat his debriefing copy down at his place at the meeting table before he looked around to all of the other U.A. staff members that were here at the meeting with him.
Everyone of note was there; Aizawa, Hizashi, Ishiyama, Ectoplasm, Nemuri, Snipe, Higari, Sekijiro, and Toshinori were all there. Even U.A. staff members that weren't teachers, such as Recovery Girl, Hound Dog, No. 13 and, surprisingly enough, Lunch-Rush, were also at the meeting. Such a gathering made it clear that the current situation's climate was one of the most serious events that U.A. has ever had to deal with.
"…Snipe is correct, everyone," Nezu said finally after a few moments of consideration, making everyone turn to face their boss. The quirked animal principal of U.A. gave a troubled sigh before he went on. "According to the figures that we have in our budget, the most that we can expect to afford for the time being are four pro heroes for the job to act as auxiliary members of U.A.'s staff. While said auxiliary staff jobs are what the public will be made aware of, in truth the hired pros will be secretly acting as additional security for our students." Nezu gave everyone present a knowing look. "Ms. Uraraka, in particular."
Toshinori, a look of piqued curiosity on his gaunt face, picked up his copy of the debriefing and skimmed through it. "…Can U.A. really afford four pro heroes for the job you speak of, Nezu?"
"Provided that we pull from heroes ranked at number fifteen and below on the Hero Billboard Chart JP, yes," Nezu replied, "Any ranked fourteen to one are a bit out of budget for us, as heroes ranked that high need to be afforded more consideration, and thus more pay. Although if any of said heroes who are ranked that high are willing to take the job for what we're able to offer them, then I won't turn them down."
It was right after that meeting discussing how to increase security for the students of U.A. (with Uraraka being a highly protected student, given how she's been targeted as of late), that Nezu sent out the request for increased security for U.A., taking care not to let it slip to the public that it really was a call for increased security as opposed to the hiring of auxiliary staff members as what the job looks like. It would, after all, cause something of a panic in the public if they knew that U.A. had to request help from additional pro heroes to act as security for the students.
To the surprise of Nezu and the other current staff members of U.A., a fair number of notable pro heroes came by. Showing up with Mt. Lady to the 'interview' were Mirko and Ryukyu, two heroes that were currently ranked in the top ten. Other pros who showed up included Gang Orca, as well as Pixie-Bob of the Wild, Wild Pussycats. Nezu also noted with some mirth that Pixie-Bob and Ryukyu looked at each other briefly, their gazes narrowed at one another. The quirked animal principal figured that it was because both of them share the same first name of Ryuko.
After the pros that had shown up did all of the initial interview stuff, Nezu called a meeting with all of the staff members that he met with the previous day. "Well I would first like to remark that the interviews for the secret job were more than impressive," Nezu began, drawing hopeful looks out of everyone else. Nezu nodded once in confirmation as he picked up some papers that were from the interviews earlier. "It helps that all pros who showed up are willing to accept the pay that we can offer them while they are working the secret job."
"Have you picked any yet?" Aizawa asked his boss. A number of other U.A. staff members at the meeting all nodded to show that they were likewise eager to see if their boss had made any choices yet in regards to who to hire for the secret job.
The quirked animal principal nodded once in confirmation, a bit of an amused smile on his face. "As it just so happens, out of the four positions we need filled in order to meet the prerequisite need for increased security, I've already made three choices, with those being Mt. Lady, Ryukyu and Mirko." The members of U.A.'s staff all nodded in agreement, especially since this move grabbed two of the current top ten pro heroes.
Nemuri was particularly happy with the choice, as it grabbed three more women for U.A.'s staff; out of the current fourteen at the staff meeting, she was one of only three women, the other two being No. 13 and Recovery Girl. To be quite honest, the eighteen-only hero was starting to feel a bit outnumbered by all of the men that were staffed for looking after the hero course students. With a look of curiosity about who is going to fill the last spot, Nemuri looked over to Nezu.
"So Nezu, who do you have for the last position?" Piqued by Nemuri's question, Nezu looked at his packet of papers that he had brought with him to the meeting.
After looking it over, Nezu gave a shrug as he sat his papers back down before addressing everyone else at the meeting. "To be completely honest with you guys, I'm actually still trying to decide between Pixie-Bob and Gang Orca. Both seem to be very viable choices."
"Ooh, ooh, you ought to go with Pixie-Bob," Nemuri said, "She did well when Aizawa and Sekijiro took their students to the training camp that her group ran, and having her here will give us the potential to temporarily call in her teammates if we need the extra help."
"I was figuring that Gang Orca would be a better choice," Sekijiro remarked to everyone at the meeting, drawing a bit of an annoyed, pouting look out of Nemuri not that he saw it. Sekijiro gestured around at everyone, saying, "He's proven to be a friendly and reliable ally in times of trouble, and he's shown willingness to be hard on students when the need arises. We need more staff members here willing to be firm with the kids."
"Personally, I think that we already have plenty in that department, Sekijiro," Nemuri remarked as she crossed her arms over her chest, prompting the class 1-B homeroom teacher to turn to look at her. The eighteen only hero gave her co-worker a knowing look, with one of her eyebrows raised in a wry manner. "The last thing that the students here need is to think that U.A. is being turned into a boot camp to prep them for military service. Besides, Pixie-Bob's quirk, which lets her manipulate earthen material, has more versatility and combat potential than what Gang Orca has. If she were here during either the monster attack in the city or at the recent siege here, then Pixie-Bob would have proven to be invaluable."
"I have to agree with Nemuri on this one," Ishiyama remarked, drawing a mildly surprised look out of Sekijiro. Sensing that he was being looked at, the pro hero Cementoss turned in the right direction, saw Sekijiro looking at him. "Oh, come on, Sekijiro. Pixie-Bob can better fight off large groups of enemies than Gang Orca, and given how many times we've had to deal with large groups of enemies as of late, we could totally use someone better suited for fighting them off." Ishiyama leaned back in his seat. "Also, and I hope no one takes this the wrong way, but I believe that U.A. could use more of a woman's touch, and having more women join the staff would help with that."
"That is exactly what I was thinking!" Nemuri exclaimed as she gestured to Ishiyama with both of her hands, "Thank you for agreeing with me on this, Ishiyama!" The modern literature teacher of U.A. simply nodded once towards the eighteen only hero in acknowledgement of her thanks. Likewise, both No. 13 and Recovery Girl nodded in agreement with Nemuri and Ishiyama.
Sekijiro scowled a bit, gently shaking his head at the ridiculousness of it all. The 1-B homeroom teacher turned to face his counterpart that taught the 1-A homeroom class. "Aizawa, please tell me that you agree that Gang Orca is a better choice."
The underground hero considered the decision to choose between Gang Orca and Pixie-Bob. To be fair, and under normal circumstances, Aizawa couldn't care less about which choice was made on the matter. But something that was discussed at a past U.A. staff meeting sometime prior to the murder of Uraraka's mom suddenly popped into Aizawa's mind, coming back from the deepest reaches of his memory.
It was something about a future event where a group representing a foreign high school would be coming to Japan, coming to U.A. Aizawa remembered certain facts about what was discussed way back when, and although he hoped that said certain facts wouldn't come to pass when the future event actually happens, he had a feeling of dread that at least one of said certain facts may very well end up playing out, although he silently prayed to Gilgamesh that none of said certain facts would end up popping up.
…But, if the specific certain fact that was on Aizawa's mind did end up cropping up, then it was best to prepare the first year brats, both his and Sekijiro's, for what may end up coming. And given the nature of said certain fact on the underground hero's mind, it played a very big role in his decision making process. Resolved in what he was going to say, Aizawa casually raised a hand, bringing it to about level with the side of his head.
"…If this ends up turning into a vote between Gang Orca and Pixie-Bob, then I'm going to vote for the latter of the two."
Nemuri was unable to help herself as she pumped her right fist into the air and gave a bit of a cheer, although No. 13 and Recovery Girl cheered in a more modest fashion (they calmly clapped their hands). Things more or less did end up becoming a vote, and out of the fourteen U.A. staff members at the meeting, only Sekijiro voted for hiring Gang Orca. As such, Nezu made the choice of Pixie-Bob as the fourth and final of the four new auxiliary staff members to be joining the U.A. faculty.
…
After the staff meeting was called to a close, Sekijiro met up with Aizawa outside of the meeting room. At the time when Sekijiro found him, Aizawa was talking to Toshinori and Hizashi. "And here I was thinking that you'd agree with me that having more disciplinarians on the U.A. staff, even if only as a cover for increased security for the students, would be a good thing to keep our respective brats in line."
"Normally, I'd agree with you that making sure the kids are kept in line is a priority, Sekijiro," the underground hero replied, a hint of resignation in his tone that did not escape Sekijiro's notice. But before the class 1-B homeroom teacher could comment on it, Aizawa continued on with what he was saying. "…But I believe that Pixie-Bob, with her quirk, is a better choice, both for the immediate need we're facing, as well as for future events."
What Aizawa had said just now about 'future events' caught Sekijiro's piqued interest. "What are you on about, Aizawa?"
"You recall how U.A. is expecting a group representing a certain high school over in the United States to visit us within a couple of weeks?" Aizawa asked as he opened a vanilla folder he was carrying. As the underground hero flipped through the papers within the folder, the others that were with him looked on in curiosity.
Sekijiro, a bit impatient with all of this leading around, gave a gruff scoff. "So what does that have to do with you voting for Pixie-Bob over the more logical-"
"I have a bit of a dreading feeling that Visionquest may be one of the persons in the group that is slated to visit us in a few weeks."
Sekijiro, as well as both Hizashi and Toshinori, regarded Aizawa with wide-eyed looks of surprise on their respective faces. "Given how Pixie-Bob's quirk is rather similar in terms of principle to the quirk that Visionquest has, having our students do some sparring with Pixie-Bob may help them figure out some strategies that would help all of them out in the times to come." Aizawa turned to regard Sekijiro in particular. "That's why I cast my vote for Pixie-Bob instead of Gang Orca, in case you were wondering."
Sekijiro looked very much humbled by what Aizawa had explained. Similarly, Hizashi and (especially) Toshinori looked a bit worried about the potential of what the underground hero was talking about. The former Symbol of Peace voted for Pixie-Bob because he agreed that her quirk would be of more use in the long run (but not for the same reason Aizawa stated just now), and Hizashi voted for Pixie-Bob because he agreed with the ladies and Ishiyama that there needed to be more women on U.A.'s staff.
But…but after what Aizawa had pointed out, after what they (even Sekijiro) had come to realize, the move Nezu made of going with Pixie-Bob over Gang Orca was a rather brilliant one. The kids were going to be needing as much prep as possible, and with the plausible theory that was provided just now, all four of the men were thankful that it was Pixie-Bob who had made the cut and was slated to join them on U.A.'s staff.
END, CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Author's notes;
Look, look, I know that the move to eighty-six Mrs. Uraraka did not sit well with a lot of you, but it is still necessary in order to tell the story that is being told here. Besides, it's relevant to a sub-plot that started up back during the second arc of this story, and it will continue onwards well past this arc and the arc after that. Yes, I am planning that far ahead. Never let it be said that when I have something hot to work with, I do a half-assed job.
Anyway, the move to have additional pro heroes stationed at U.A. for extra security (although as far as the public will be aware they're there for non-security related auxiliary roles only) is also related to said sub-plot that began back in the second arc. They will be playing key roles later on, Pixie-Bob especially. However, before we get to see the four lucky ladies slated for the new posts at U.A. on their first day(s) on the job, there is one chapter that I want to get out of the way first. A chapter that I've been wanting to do ever since I got out the first chapter of this story. It'll be a bit of an emotional chapter to be sure, and one of the students in 1-A will be suffering a bit.
…But Aizawa will be damned if he left his protégé hanging out to dry.