Y/n's POV
Nothing prepared me for the side glances or whispers of the other students that I see and hear while I walk to class. I'm not early today since Aizawa didn't want to wake me any earlier than necessary so instead woke me up when he was leaving. I'd usually arrive before all other students but I guess this is just the cost of getting enough sleep. I almost wish someone would have the nerve to approach me and ask about it rather than talking about me pretending I don't have ears or eyes to know what they're doing.
"Well look who it is. If it isn't the all important teacher's kid that everyone's been talking about. Don't worry you must've been a certain kind of special if the villains wanted you so bad. Definitely not better than the rest of us here like your class seems to claim. Can't wait to see you fail during the sports festival, if you're even competing that is, everyone knows you'll probably be forced to watch." Who even is this guy? I don't think I have seen him before, with is judging eyes and haughty tone, tch must be another spoiled rich brat. Seriously though his eyes are so creepy I barely even registered anything he just said.
"Y/n's probably gonna kick all our asses so how about you leave him be before Aizawa Sensei decides to show up and dish out deserved punishment." Hitoshi says as he walks up from behind me to glare at the person who was talking to me before.
"Ha as if I'm afraid of class 1-A delinquents. What're you going to be able to do, send me packing in fear that I'll be expelled? My quirk is great enough that expulsion isn't even on the table." A few forced laughs come from the blond as Hitoshi simply stands there looking all stoic and unfazed. If this kid values his life I would suggest he leave, since I can feel his gaze watching from behind, but where's the fun in that. To my surprise Aizawa doesn't even have time to get over to us before a giant hand swiftly chops at the brat, leaving him unconscious.
"Sorry about him, he's got a complex. Uhh I'm Kendo from class 1-B it's nice to meet you." I simply nod and she clears her throat before saying, "I better get to class. See you later." She picks the unconscious boy up before walking off in the direction of the classrooms. Well that was weird especially since she used her quirk to harm another student. I wasn't aware that was something a person could do.
Aizawa walks past us completely ignoring us since I'm not showing any negative emotions from the interaction. A few moments later the halls were almost empty and I realize I had zoned out and am probably gonna be late to class. Hitoshi is still standing beside me, not too close, but looking a little awkward as if he's not sure if he should say something to me. "Let's head to class. Sorry if we're late I kind of just zoned out for a minute there." He simply shrugs as he keeps pace with me as we head to class.
The class is silent when we enter and I see their eyes occasionally glance up at me as I make my way to my seat. It was hard to pay attention to the lessons especially since I did not really understand what was going on for half of them. At lunch I stayed in the classroom getting notes from Izuku and all assignments and due dates from Iida. By the end of lunch I had a basic understanding of what I had missed and what I needed to catch-up on. The afternoon hero training finally arrives and everyone quickly gets up to change into their costumes.
"You can sit this class out if you're uncomfortable young Aizawa, no one will judge you for needing a break from strenuous activities after what happened." All Might says, and though I know he means well I can't help but feel a bit angry at the pity underlying his tone. I get up and grab my case, heading to the change rooms, completely ignoring him. I change quickly, glad that my costume was easy enough to have repaired in such a short time. If anyone realizes how many scars my body is littered with no one says anything.
I need to get my strength back or Dad will never let me compete in the sport's festival. Maybe I could get Hitoshi to brainwash him into letting me join. I'd have to bribe him a lot though... especially since if Dad found out he'd get in big trouble. Guess I'll first see how much endurance I have before making any decisions.
The exercise for today is simple, at least it seems to be simple. Just a basic workout before a stealth game. During the workout my vision blurs and my muscles tremble as I do another push-up. I'm so out of shape after just a couple weeks. I glance around at the others and realize I'm not actually doing that bad. Only a few of my classmates are ahead of me in the workout plan whereas quite a few of the girls are lagging behind. Not everyone is expected to have great endurance and strength when quirk usage is dominantly used when fighting. The workout is a certain number of reps of different exercises and it's expected to be completed in half an hour. Looking at the clock, I have ten minutes left to complete it. Anyone who doesn't complete it has to continue and risks missing the stealth game.
I manage to finish the last exercise of the workout right as the time stops, however, I'm unsure if I even have enough energy to do the game. I grab some water and take a breather as All Might explains the game. Apparently everyone will be given five minutes to run and hide in Ground Beta, a cityscape. Everyone will be wearing a target on both their front and back. It will be announced through comms who the target will be and whoever tags the person will get a point. As soon as this is done the target will change, if after ten minutes the target goes untagged the target will also change. If you're the target the only way to get the point is to go untagged. Whoever gets the most points wins. Using quirks is allowed but the exercise is trying to judge how stealthy you can be so it is not to be used on each other but rather to sneak up on others or hide from others.
The only person that seemed to have an unfair advantage would be Hagakure but at least the targets would still be visible. Everyone had finished their workout by the time we got to start. I stand to the side and watch as my classmates run into the city trying their best to avoid each other. All Might eyes me quizzically as I lean against the wall of Ground Beta. "You're wondering why I did not rush in after them. That's because I instead got to watch where everyone went off to and no one else seemed to notice I stayed behind. Plus I'm more tired from the workout than I'm letting on so why would I waste energy so early on."
Slowly I make my way over to the nearest building before glancing back at All Might giving him a quick wave. I shoot my chains up and they hook on the building before I go shooting up into the sky. I tuck and roll onto the flat roof before making my way up to the tallest building in the area. I squat at the edge and scout down below, seeing way too many people still trying to decide what place would be the easiest to avoid others in. A smirk appears on my face as the comms release the name of the first target. 'Y/n Aizawa'. I back away from the edge so I can't be spotted and look down at my targets. They glow blue instead of the black they were before, meaning if I stuck to the shadows I'd still be visible because of the light they'd give off. I try not to move too much and I keep my breathing quiet knowing that both Jiro and Shoji have quirks that could find me through sound alone.
Five minutes have passed and I have yet to notice anyone realize where I am. Not many people could reach the top of a building quickly and those that do wouldn't have a quirk that would allow them to know where I am. A small laugh leaves my mouth as I see Hitoshi a couple roofs away, clearly the scarf around his neck isn't quite his forte yet, a few scratches are visible on his hands and face. I make my way to the edge and glance down knowing more than just Hitoshi must know I'm up here by now. I hear a few explosions before an angry pomeranian is behind me on the roof. "That was very stealthy of you Bakuhoe *cough* Bakugo." A growl comes from him and I turn to face him as he runs towards me, winding up to hit my target. Since I'm not allowed to use my quirk on him I simply lean backwards and fall off the roof smiling at him as he panics a little.
As I fall I flip over and shoot my chain up onto another building. Using my quirk to deal with the tension so I don't rip my arm off accidentally, I swing between the buildings before landing close to a dark alley. I throw a few larger rocks through windows that would've been in my trajectory had I not stopped on the ground. Hopefully that will lead people towards those buildings thinking that I crashed through a window to get away. I move deeper into the alley way and perch myself on top of the trash bin keeping watch at all possible exits or entry ways to the alley. I hear more explosions where I had sent the rocks and shake my head at Bakugo's stealthiness. Suddenly the temperature drops and for a split second I thought that a ghost must be near by before realizing that if my breath was visible it was more likely Todoroki's quirk. I barely had time to think before the alley was completely blocked by ice on all sides.
My eyes meet Todoroki's mismatched ones as he stalks his way over to me. "I have a feeling that nobody here really knows what being stealthy means... an ice barricade is definitely not stealthy, now everyone probably knows where I am and where you are, you better hope you're not the next target." Hesitation is evident as Todoroki comes to realize his own stupidity. Luckily for me a loud blast bursts through the ice and steam fills the air making it hard to see anything. I move against the wall towards where the blast came from, trying my best to control the steam around me to protect me from both Todoroki and Bakugo's vision. I make it out of the alley just to come face to face with Hitoshi.
I sigh and shuffle sideways so my back would be to a building and not the alley. Hitoshi realizes what I am going to do as soon as I raise my hand so he runs at me. His capture scarf stretches out to grab my body as my chains fire upwards and start to pull me to the roof. A simple deflection from my quirk has me escaping easily and soon enough my target goes back to black and the next target is announced.
The class ends after everyone has been a target and it's clear that everyone knew who won even if the points were not announced yet. Izuku comes up to me and asks if I could teach him a few things and I nod, not having the energy to respond. He seems to notice the swaying of my body and acts as a support while we wait for the scores to be posted. No one was surprised when my name was at the top of the board since many of them had been tagged by me and next after that was Hagakure then Izuku. I had figured out pretty quickly that no one expected to be dropped on from above and thus I was able to tag a lot of people that seemed to be running between buildings hoping to be hidden in the dark alley ways. Hagakure and I were the only ones that went the full ten minutes without being tagged.
All Might gave everyone pointers for how they can perform better before we were dismissed. I pretty much collapsed on the bench in the change room as soon as Izuku stepped away to get dressed. A few concerned glances are sent my way but I wave them off and say, "Just need a minute...I'm more worn out than I should be..."
Aizawa's POV
I was definitely more nervous than Y/n was when he decided to start going to school again. I waited all day hoping that I would not be notified about him having a breakdown or something like that. I was more than surprised when Midoriya knocked on my office door at the end of the day to let me know that my son had fallen asleep on one of the change room benches. I felt relief that he hadn't collapsed from straining himself during class but actually managed to pull through and just fall asleep as soon as class was over.
I pack up my things and thank Midoriya before going to get my son. He wasn't kidding when he said right after class. Y/n is sprawled on the bench in the middle of the room, costume still on, sound asleep. I sigh and contemplate if I'd be able to wake him or if waking him is even a good idea. I proceed to shake him gently and when I get no response I decide to change him myself. Luckily he doesn't wake up as I awkwardly lift him up to get his suit off. Eventually he's fully dressed again and I put him on my back to carry him home.
On the walk home he starts to mumble in his sleep. Something about getting stronger and loving cats and knowing that cats will rule the world someday. I smile and shake my head at his dream thoughts that are being voiced. He nuzzles into my scarfs before saying, "Sorry for falling asleep Dad. I guess I was more tired then I thought..." His voice is still soft with sleep and soon enough he's dozing off again. By the time we get home he's already back in a deep sleep so I tuck him into bed before starting to make dinner.
Just as I'm about to head upstairs to check on him he comes down and mumbles "What time is it?" I respond with "Dinner time." A loud stomach growl is heard and I chuckle a bit as he seems to wake up a bit more at the prospect of food. We eat in a comfortable silence until the front door bursts open and a loud "I'm Home!" filters through the halls. Y/n flinches at the loud noise before relaxing once he recognizes the voice. When Hizashi enters the kitchen I give him a pointed glare and slightly jerk my head at Y/n. He has the nerve to look sorry before smiling in a teasing way at me.
I roll my eyes as he comes up from behind to hug me and kiss my temple gently. "So how was school kiddo?" He asks and Y/n finally looks up from his food at us. Y/n shrugs before his gaze travels to look anywhere but at our eyes. "He fell asleep right after school in the change rooms but other than that I'd say it went pretty ok right?" I say, not wanting him to feel pressured to respond with what we want to hear but rather just the truth.
Y/n nods before saying, "I have less stamina than before, that's why I fell asleep as soon as the adrenaline wore off. It's just something I'll need to work on before the sports fest. The class also was nice they didn't talk about me or anything that happened...unlike almost every other student. It's fine though, I'll prove them all wrong at the end of the week." I'm going to have a really hard time saying no to him competing if he keeps this up. Maybe I'll have to ask his therapist to see if he is mentally ready to compete before I make my final decision, cause he is no doubt going to be physically capable of beating most of the first years at the sports festival.
Hizashi responds animatedly with, "That's good to hear!" before adding in, "If any of the other kids are getting on your nerves don't hesitate to let us know ok? And you should try to open up more to your friends about what happened because I'm sure that would help you move past it instead of feeling like you're facing the world alone." To my knowledge the only person from his class that remotely knows what happened while Y/n was held captive is Midoriya and that's only because he was able to visit him in the hospital. Other than that Hizashi and I are the only ones with all the details except for his therapist and it's true that talking about it must be hard but he needs support from people that are his age or he'll end up with his emotions bottled up with no release around him most of the time. I'll have to go back to patrolling as soon as I'm healed and then he'll be home alone, a lot, and that doesn't sit well with me.
"Look I understand the concern and everything but it's all in the past so can we all just move on and stop acting like I'm a ticking time bomb. If it really truly bothers you that I haven't told any of my friends then I'll promise that I'll tell a couple of them, it's just that I don't want more people to pity me and I don't want to be a burden to them. The stress and everything is a lot for me but I know I can handle it because I've done it before, but I don't want to put this weight on them too cause some of them might not hold up well with the fear of something like this happening to them. So can we please just drop it for now? At least until after the sports festival?"
I sigh before agreeing to let him be until after the sports festival, hopefully this doesn't end up being a mistake.