Ad Astra-26:
The New Day...and a New Lease:
Aizawa, Mic, Cementoss, Snipe and Thirteen had arrived onto the scene where the battle had taken place at the community park just outside U.A. Finding Izuku...hurt but not too badly with Aizawa surmising that Izuku must have used that strange power of his again like he did at the Joint Training. Having only seen Izuku in this similar state as back then not long ago...even so, this unknown event was bound to cause an uproar with newcasters dying for pieces of information on U.A. Fortunately, thanks to principal Nezu, it was reported that an accident with biker gang hooligans had taken place. As the damage across the park itself was not too great, nor extensive...though still. Aizawa warns principal Nezu that situations should be more carefully handled within the future...
Refusing to be kept in the dark any longer, Aizawa demands that Nezu shares what he knows with him, Mic and the rest of the faculty. Seeing that his methods won't maintain peace like he thought...Nezu sighs and relents. Alongside All Might, he explains what they could towards the U.A. teachers about the group known as the Seven Darks...and their interest...in the student of Class 1-A: Ochaco Uraraka. Meanwhile...both Corkscrew and Quantum had retreated elsewhere within the city, the former tending to the latter's arm loss injury. Quantum curses Izuku over and over whilst Corkscrew tells him to reel it in...only for the two to then be met by Dogma.
With immense fear, the two knew that they could not provoke a confrontation against him, not as injured as they were. Instead, they try to kiss up towards their young commander...towards no avail whatsoever. However, having met Izuku and becoming more interested in him...Dogma decides to be lenient and spare both Corkscrew and Quantum the punishment they deserve by his hand. Taking into account Quantum's arm injury and deciding that would be enough punishment, as Dogma likes the "detail" that went into said injury. Although they do not find this turn of events humourous...the pair of Villains have been at least spared their fates of death. Quantum begs Dogma that seek vengeance...but Dogma does not want to hear another word from "these abject faliures"...
Because of their bungling, U.A. will be on full alert now. So instead, they will remain on schedule as originally planned. The whole Armament squad of the Seven Darks will now have to regain their honour ten times the amount then when both Quan and Poralis had failed prior. Though unlike Quan whom was demoted from being an Armament Shadow, Dogma will not demote both Corkscrew and Quantum. Not because they didn't fail worse then Quan when in fact they have...but because Dogma cannot feel bothered at this point. Showing a very lazy side of his personality...
Returning to U.A. does Aizawa become horrified and especially angered to learn that one of his own Class' pupils was being targeted yet again by Villains. After the incident with Bakugo, the school was already on enough alert as it was but this? now knowing the truth. Aizawa demands to know what does the principal plan to do with the remainder of Hero Appreciation Week. Aizawa is deadset against holding the Festival of Courage, remembering that the Sports Festival was the reason how the League of Villains had learned of Bakugo and thus decided to kidnap him. Wanting to induct the explosive mannered youth into becoming one of their very own.
Because of Bakugo's Character, he was able to resist their wilds. But these new Villains might go towards other extremes in order to convince Ochaco to become a member of their group. Knowing this, Aizawa demands to hold a ballet amongst the teachers that will decide in favour or not of the Courage Challenge ultimately being held. Aizawa is the representative for those not in favour and Nezu reluctantly the representative for those in favour. All Might believes that this will only divide the teachers, however. Nezu states that this must be done in order to consider the feelings of not just the students of U.A. but also it's teachers. Aizawa reveals that he would never hold this bullet if it wouldn't be equal to both sides and whichever side the teachers themselves end up picking within the end...
In opposition to the festival being held are: Aizawa, Mic, Power Loader, Hound Dog, Lunch Rush, and Recovery Girl. Joining the ballet just then are both Midnight and Ectoplasm, wanting to cast their votes as well despite the wounds they suffered against Quan and Poralis with Midnight siding with Aizawa's faction. Those belonging to the faction that are for favour of the Festival of Courage are: Nezu, Vlad King, Ectoplasm, Snipe, Thirteen, Cementoss...and All Might. With both sides being tied...there could be no tiebreaker. However, All Might reveals that Gran Torino still counted as a teacher at U.A. even though he only taught for a whole year and has retired.
Despite losing his teacher's licence, as punishment for Izuku's involvement with the Hero Killer incident since the youth was under Gran Torino's wing at the time. Because he is still semi-active as a Hero since fighting alongside the other much younger pros during the K.W.I. The teachers had decided that his vote would be the one that would decide the festival being held or not. Nezu informs All Might to phone his mentor and ask for his vote on the matter. Though not liking how things have turned out...All Might sighs and complies. Dialling his mentor's number and respectfully asking for Gran Torino's vote after informing him of the situation behind the ballet's purpose...
The night passes by after much debate and deliberation...in Recovery Girl's office...is seen Izuku. He awakes slowly but surely to find himself in said office and as he turns...he finds...a resting Ochaco on another bed neighbouring Izuku's. Peacefully sleeping away without a care in the world as though she were naturally sleeping...suddenly. Realising this turn of events, what it might signify to himself as a male...Izuku wakes up with a beat red coloured expression. Catapulting himself upwards from his bed and trying to rapidly regain his composure without comically panicking.
Suddenly, he remembers last night...remembering Dogma and how he used his Quirk to stop Izuku's Blackwhip with relative ease. Automatically calming himself down from recalling this memory, Izuku then looks at his clutched fist. Opening and closing it...before looking over at Ochaco, still sleeping away as though she looked like an angel towards Izuku. His face turns beat red again and Izuku tries to shake away what he thinks are impure thoughts. Slapping his cheeks with his hands, Izuku starts wondering something to himself...
He was unable to control the Blackwhip whatsoever...and yet Dogma appeared and was able to dispel it like it was nothing. His Quirk giving off silver coloured power was much like Izuku's Full Cowl in appearance. Izuku ponders...if his Full Cowl is capable of the same kind of abilities that Dogma's Psycho Soldier already possesses. Izuku then decides on the conclusion that if were the case, he would have manifested said abilities in his past fights already. Fearing what will happen in the future...Izuku takes hold of his crooked hand with his normal hand...remembering the confident but evil smile that Dogma had upon his expression.
Just then though...a very familiar voice speaks up. Hearing the voice sounds like a sight for sore eyes for Izuku...the voice belonging to none other but Ochaco, having awoken from her deep slumber. She wonders what time is it in the morning? still dazed from being asleep. Tears start to well from Izuku's eyes...and he rushes out of his bed and over to Ochaco's. Hugging her so tight that she couldn't breathe, forcing Ochaco to use her Zero Gravity Quirk and send Izuku up against the roof in order to get him off of her. Tokoyami was seen approaching the office outside with a basket of fruit, hoping to pay both Izuku and Ochaco a visit.
Much to his surprise...he sees All Might leaning next to the entrance without being spotted. Showing a smile upon his face, All Might decides to leave, having already learned what he needed to know. As he started to take his leave, he sees Tokoyami before him and All Might also decides to impart a message with his apprentice's classmate. Inside the office, Ochaco starts to become aware of her surroundings upon awaking. Izuku was hugging her...and upon realising this...Ochaco's expression turns crimson. She rolls about in her bed, thinking that she would die from what she considered to be comical shame.
Ochaco then regains her senses, wondering where Izuku was since he was only just here moments ago. Izuku weakily calls out from above, trying to get Ochaco's attention. Much to her comic fault, she accidentally had plastered Izuku against the roof of Recovery Girl's office. A few minutes pass after Ochaco deactivates her Quirk and manages to get Izuku down from the ceiling...soon after, the two felt...rather awkward to be around each other. Sitting on their respective medic beds, the pair of friends look away from one another with solemn faces.
Ochaco had recalled their argument back at Hatsume's lab and saying that she didn't want to be friends with Izuku anymore. As she tries to speak up, Izuku says that he needs to say something first. Ochaco, wanting to be considerate of her argument's ramifications agrees to let Izuku speak first, wanting to hear what he will say to her. As Ochaco holds a pillow and tightens it, fearing that Izuku might hate her now...Izuku takes a deep breath and says the following...
Izuku reveals...that he never knew how Ochaco felt. At first, she thinks that Izuku has realised her feelings for him. Turning away from clutching the pillow and looking at him directly instead. However...Izuku slightly disappoints Ochaco and reveals instead that he never knew how she felt about him always rushing headlong into danger without considering the feelings of his friends backing Izuku up. Ochaco herself, Iida and the others...they are all there for Izuku but he never once has reached out his hand towards them. In truth...Izuku acknowledges that he was conceited in regards to the fact of possessing a strong Quirk that allows him to protect others.
But having heard All Might's story from before...Izuku learns a valuable lesson that sometimes he must allow himself to be saved, not the other way around like it normally is. Izuku has always hated being powerless...unable to protect others and instead being the one that is always being protected. Therefore he has much trouble adapting to that concept...however. Having somewhat learned how Ochaco truly feels...Izuku decides to become more opened up around his friends, to trust them more. It might take sometime for this to take effect...but Izuku promises Ochaco. He will live up to the expectations of his friends...and in turn. His expectations of them as well...the classmates and friends aspiring to be Heroes, just the same as Izuku if not even more so then him.
Ochaco becomes surprised...but she seemed to have expected this kind of answer. Even though she thought Izuku hated her for earlier...that was never the case. It could never be in Izuku's nature to hate others, not outright at least. Hating someone completely and utterly was the nature of those more likely to become Villains in life, not Heroes. Realising that Izuku could never hate Ochaco...and in fact, it is more the reverse. Izuku is actually worried about if Ochaco hated him instead...for not trusting her more. Ochaco...returns the sentiment right back at Izuku. She speaks up, deciding to get out of her bed...
(Music Cue-Might + U from My Hero Academia.)
Izuku warns her not to move otherwise she might reopen her injury, however Ochaco does not care. For she wants to convey something...towards the one whom she loves. Without any warning beforehand, Ochaco joins her forehead against Izuku's and says to him...he isn't just her friend...he is her best friend. Izuku does not realise...but Ochaco says these words along the lines of them being lovers. She calls Izuku her best friend in the vein that lovers would like to consider themselves each other's best friend. Their partner in life...their one and only. Ochaco phrases her words this way, knowing that Izuku wouldn't be able to understand the true meaning behind them...not YET, at the very least.
Hearing Ochaco call him her best friend, she then removes her forehead from Izuku's...but not before he grabs her hand. Saying in reply that he considers Ochaco his best friend too and that fact would never change between them. Izuku phrases his own words the very same way that Ochaco did towards him only a moment ago. Not realising the true meaning behind the phrasing he just used...however. Hearing the phrasing...makes Ochaco...extremely happy. This time, she does not shy away from her feelings...she embraces them. Hearing Izuku call her his best friend...and that the bond between them...will never change. Not ever...
Both Ochaco and Izuku decide to rejoin their foreheads again, wanting to continue sharing the moment. As Tokoyami behind the office door sighs with a smile and states "good grief".
To be Continued.