(A/N: Formatting reminder: -Dialogue using sign language.- )
...
Upon the reveal of his Hero name, Izuku smiled at his classmates who gave their nods and comments of approval. Happy that they liked what he had come up with and their approval filled him with pride. Then the Purple Panda just had to get his own snarky word in.
"That's pretty edgy of you, Izuku," Hitoshi called out from the back.
"You can't use that pun because I already did," Izuku shot back with a stuck-out tongue.
Because he had right after their final match when Hitoshi had suggested calling his first invention 'edge'. It was a good name for sure. But this was what he had been saving the name for.
"I think it's perfect!" Kayama squealed, writhing in excitement. "Ten points to the Green Bean!"
The nickname caused Izuku to blush much to the class's amusement. Especially Hitoshi who teased, "Maybe you should have gone with Strawberry Boy? Since you look like one when you blush like that."
"D-do not!" Izuku squeaked as his flush darkened earning giggles from his classmates.
"Hey, yeah, you're right," Kaminari chimed in thoroughly entertained. "Strawberry Boy would have been hilarious. Either that or Tomato Man."
That earned a bark of laughter from the brainwasher who held up an air high five which the electric blonde returned from across the room. Izuku grumbled at the teasing as he turned away to hide his reddened cheeks. An action which allowed him to catch the one-eyed peeking of the caterpillar man eyeing him with an expression of mild amusement but also one of pride as the Erasure Hero gave him a minute approving nod before going back to his nap.
That subtle act filled Izuku with so much joy. That one of his Heroes approved of his choice in Hero name. Causing him to smile brightly as he cheerfully returned to his seat. Ignoring the joking suggestions of what his codename should have been that somehow was still being discussed. Very much having devolved to being super silly ones like calling him variations of names using broccoli in reference of his hair.
Teasing wasn't new to Izuku. His childhood had been filled with it after all. But this kind of teasing was different. Before UA, it had been jeering words spat out in malice. But now it wasn't. Instead, it was all in good fun with friendly intentions. Still annoying at times since he would get flustered especially when it came to his sort of maybe crush. But Izuku knew that it was all in jest so he let it slide.
Now that everyone had finished presenting their approved Hero names, Midnight released them to their promised free time after she collected all the whiteboards and markers. It wasn't a ton of time as all the thrown-out suggestions to Shouto had eaten up a chunk of it. But it had been fun so they didn't regret it. Besides, any sort of free time was greatly appreciated.
As Kayama left leaving the napping homeroom teacher as supervision, the students of 1-A fell into easy conversation. Some even leaving their seats to sit on the desks of their friends. Izuku stayed in his seat because he was quite literally surrounded by his friends. Being sandwiched between Shouto and Ochako in the back made him really happy. He was contently chatting with his friends when the focus of the class was drawn to him.
"Hey, Midoriya!" Kaminari suddenly called out gaining his attention. "So, you copied Sero's Quirk during the festival, right? Who else did you copy?"
"Well, technically I don't 'copy' Quirks," Izuku explained with air quotes. "The only person I know who can truly copy a Quirk is Monoma-kun since that is his Quirk."
"Oh yeah, isn't that the blonde spaz in 1-B?" Sero asked.
"Monoma-kun isn't a spaz," the greenette defended having gotten to know the other somewhat. Even considered him sort of a friend. "He's just…passionate about being a Hero."
And possibly insecure about his Quirk if his reaction to Izuku's previously given compliments said anything about him. He had seemed surprised, almost, that anyone would think such a thing. Making the Quirkless teen think that maybe Monoma was a kindred spirit of sorts having potentially been judged by his Quirk status growing up. Much like Hitoshi and Izuku had but differently.
Maybe we could really be friends.
It was a possibility. The blonde hadn't judged him for being Quirkless when he had told him. Or at least he hadn't said or done anything bad after he had done so. Nor had he outed him during the Cavalry Battle when Monoma had tried to copy a Quirk Izuku didn't have. Letting the failure to gain his nonexistent superpower as a 'miss' as one of the copier's teammates had said. Had even given him a congratulatory nod at the end of the day before leaving.
"That's one way to put it," Jirou commented with a hint of snark while she twirled one of her earphone jacks.
"Yeah, the guy's got a serious vendetta against us for some reason," Kaminari added. "Always vehemently declaring that 1-B is going to surpass us as Heroes."
"He seriously has no chill," Sero said with a shake of his head.
The greenette couldn't deny that. He had seen Monoma's pension of acting as boisterous agitator. Like when he had left Izuku's team alone to go after Bakugou's instead. Purposefully riling the explosive teen up leading to their own downfall. Or was told by Hitoshi about the rant/pep talk the copier gave when he had approached 1-B in hopes of joining them for the Cavalry Battle. That apparently Monoma viewed 1-A as 'cocky' and thinking they were 'greater' than 1-B. Wanted to use the festival to show that 1-B wasn't 'second rate' just because 1-A had suddenly becoming 'stars' after 'fighting off some Villains'.
While it was true that 1-A had more media attention because of the USJ attack, it was far from an experience that would make one 'cocky'. Well, maybe Bakugou but for everyone else it had been a humbling experience. Forced to face real Villains not even a full week into the school year. And Izuku hadn't even been in the Hero Course but still had to fight for his and Tsuyu's lives. Inventing an electric bomb on the fly and surviving by his and Tsuyu's efforts combined. Then working together in the Control Hub to help the others in any way they could from their safe haven.
The other Hero class had no idea what it was like to be suddenly attacked by a group of Villains. Naivete due to lack of experience not allowing empathy. But surely Monoma could feel some sympathy that his fellow peers had been through a traumatic event. If he truly believed that 1-A had asked to be attacked, that was verging on victim blaming. A terrible prejudice that takes the blame that should solely be on the attacker and instead saying the victim was 'asking for it'. Which was a horrible way of thinking and is very harmful. Something Izuku knew from experience.
He had been on the receiving end of victim blaming. Used as a scapegoat for the prosperity of others. Mostly for Bakugou's sake so he could become the Hero he was 'destined' to be. While Izuku was the Quirkless Deku who was pushed down and blamed for all that was done to him. Something he had long accepted as a fact of his life. Knowing that he hadn't asked for any of the bullying or mistreatment from his peers and teachers but feeling as if there was nothing he could do to stop it. Because nothing had ever come from asking for help or from his mother attempting to intervene. All of it swept under the rug while the injustice continued on.
But not for long.
The Quirkless boy's past schools were in for a rude awakening now that Nezu was on their case. Izuku didn't know what exactly his mentor would find or what he would do with it. But considering the care and effort the principal had put into confronting Bakugou with long needed consequences, the situation would be well handled in his skilled paws. Nezu did have a pension for revenge in the legal form after all. Having taken down numerous organizations from the inside out.
It was concerning if Monoma did indeed think 1-A asked for this kind of attention. Maybe he should talk to him about the insensitivity of his words. How such venom filled verbiage could cut just as deep as a knife. That one needed to be mindful of what they say and not just let anything that came to mind with no consideration how it would affect others. Or else they would be like Bakugou spitting out baiting words with the warped intention of 'saving' Izuku from himself.
How is telling me to kill myself 'saving' me, you explosive idiot?
Bakugou was finally paying for those recklessly said words. Will eventually learn to watch what he says and learn from his mistakes so he doesn't do it again. They didn't need another hothead blonde to ignorantly fall to the same fate. So, yeah, Izuku will probably need to talk to Monoma about his views of 1-A. Because they weren't enemies but fellow aspiring Heroes same as 1-B. They should work together not against each other. Uniting together as a strong Heroic front to push back against the darkness ever threatening to overtake the light of the world.
"I know he can be a bit…eccentric," Izuku finally responded, having come to the decision to talk to the other boy. "But I believe he really does want to be the best Hero he can same as you. We're all in the Hero Course working towards being Heroes in the future after all."
The class pondered his words for a moment before accepting them with mixed reactions of nods or hums of agreement.
"Anyway, my Support Items are more accurately somewhat altered replications than pure copies," Izuku said, returning back to the question asked by the electric blonde. "With Sero-kun's Quirk, his tape comes out of his elbows. While I wielded mine using a gun design instead. I also added a feature to turn it into a grappling gun as well by changing the cartridge."
"Oh yeah, you used that for the pit part of the Obstacle Course," Ashido said, remembering when she had called the Support students out on being able to use their gear.
"Yes, I did," Izuku confirmed with a nod.
"What other people did you take inspiration from for your replications?" Yaoyorozu asked.
"Oh, uh, well…you for one," Izuku replied earning a blush from the creation girl. "My shield was based on the one Yaoyorozu-san made during the USJ. But I modified it to be collapsible yet sturdy."
-Even up against falling ice,- Kouda signed to him as the quiet boy sat turned in his seat.
"Heh, yeah, it can stand up against falling ice," Izuku said with a chuckle while Kouda gave a soft giggle. Then green eyes turned to electric yellow. "And also, electricity."
"Is that how you countered my Indiscriminate Shock?!" Kaminari asked incredulously. "Dude, that's like my super move!"
"No, I did that by using another of my Support Items as a sort of lightning rod," the greenette explained. "Actually, I got inspired by you for a couple of my inventions. My escrima rods that emitted electricity from the ends and could be connected to make a staff. That I used against you to redirect your attack away from me while I jumped in the air protected by my shield. I also used one of the rods to take Ashido-san out. I had my electric gloves as well that I used on Shouto-kun to win our fight."
Izuku couldn't help but send apologetic looks to those who had succumbed to his volt-turous attacks. Knowing it had been sanctioned violence but still felt bad for hurting them with his inventions. He didn't want to hurt people but rather help them. However, he knew he couldn't hold back if he wanted to secure an as-high-as-possible place in order to receive the coveted offer of transfer.
The element wielder merely gave Izuku simple 'it's fine' with a subtle smile. While the acidic pinkette made a dismissive gesture while giving him a good-natured smile and wink. As for the electricity wielder, he looked at the Quirkless boy in awe before his expression shifted to a mischievous one.
"Copycat," Kaminari joked with a smirk.
"You know what they say," Izuku replied with a smile and a shrug. "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. But you will always be the electric guy and I will be the gadget guy. And as the gadget guy, I have some things I'd like to talk to you about in regards to your Quirk. Possible Support Items and such."
"Oh, really? Awesome!" Kaminari chirped with a bright smile. "Just tell me when and where."
"I'm not sure when exactly but possibly after the internships," Izuku replied, shoulders feeling heavy with all the work he had instore this coming week. He was going to be so busy. "I, uh, had some 'issues' with my Support Items near the end of the festival. I'm going to be busy working on either fixing or replacing them this week."
This earned various reactions. Scowls from Hitoshi and Shouto. Sympathy from others. The flash of devastated epiphany on Kirishima's face did not go unnoticed by the greenette. Nor the quiet horrified gasp to his right from Ochako. Most likely both having just connected the dots that the 'malfunctions' Aizawa had referred to during the final fight commentary was perhaps connected to why Bakugou wasn't in the room. Figuring out that the one the explosive blonde had attacked before the final match was most likely him.
Their reactions and realizations weren't all that surprising as they both knew Izuku had known Bakugou before UA and that they 'don't get along too well'. Or more specifically that he 'hated his guts'. Knew this having been told by Izuku himself on the first day of school that he 'gets a little prickly' when it came to anything related to the Quirkless boy. Requesting them to not mention his name around the blonde hothead to save them from experiencing his animosity towards the greenette. Had even known from the initial creation of the Hiro persona that it was all in order to hide in plain sight from his ex-childhood friend. But only now getting an inkling as to how 'prickly' Bakugou could be.
The greenette hoped they wouldn't treat Bakugou too harshly once he was back in the class. Izuku did feel that he was getting the consequences he deserved. Though some seemed a bit harsh like being denied from partaking in the internships. He didn't want to add the animosity of his classmates and friends on top of that. Especially Kirisihima or the others of the Bakusquad.
Izuku hadn't lied when he said they could be friends with Bakugou if they wanted to. Gods knew the explosive teen needed real friends after the years of 'extras' following him and letting him get away with all of his bullying bullshit. From the greenette's own table, he had been able to see the group of friends who surrounded the prickly blonde who may have acted angrily indifferent towards them. But having known him for so long, Izuku knew that if Bakugou had truly disliked their company he would have left. Refusing to do anything he didn't want to do. Meaning that to some small degree he did find their company…acceptable.
Friendship was important. The connections made with others formed a sense of community. A support system in which one could rely and be relied on. Filling one with a sense of belonging. As well as getting to know other people. Thinking beyond one's own person and giving the opportunity to see life through another's eyes. All of this was important and Izuku didn't want Bakugou to lose the few friends that he did have.
So, yes, he hoped Kirishima would stay friends with Bakugou. The redhead had been so determined in befriending the angry Pomeranian and had seemed to be making progress. Had even been able to sling an arm around irked shoulders without getting exploded from time to time. Merely having it brushed off with a scowl that hadn't held as much heat behind it. Still acting prickly but interacting with his friend group in his own fiery way. But whether that friendship continued or not would only be determined with time since Bakugou was suspended for two weeks.
"I also like to discuss Quirks and costumes with the rest of you," Izuku said, bringing his focus back to the topic at hand. "In my observations of your training, I noticed some weakness or issues that I'd like to address and give possible suggestions on how to do just that. Some are more pressing than others though so I'll probably address the most problematic concerns first."
Like Yaoyorozu-san's costume. Seriously, who the hell thought that design was acceptable or safe to give to a teenager? Her chest is completely exposed!
"That's very gracious of you to offer to help us, Midoriya-kun," said creation girl commented with a pleasant smile.
"Quite so, Midoriya-kun," Iida piped in to his right, a stern but appreciative look on his face. "I'm sure we could work together to arrange a schedule in whatever order you need to address any issues you deem necessary of fixing."
He is such a class president, Izuku thought with a fond smile for his friend and class representative before saying, "Sure thing."
It would be great to finally address the glaring issues he had noticed during his observations of their training. Questionable costume designs. Concerning Quirk backlash. All that Izuku wanted to discuss and help fix depending on the situation. Like he was with Shouto and the Support Item he had offered to make.
Oh, crap! Shouto-kun's Support Item!
Quickly the greenette turned to his friend and said, "Shouto-kun, I am so sorry but I don't think I'll be able to work on your Support Item for a while."
Grey and blue eyes had widened at the sudden apology and then lessened with subtle disappointment as he simply said, "Oh."
"I really want to," the greenette insisted. "But I have so much work to do this week for the internships. I'm not sure when I'll be able to finish it for you."
"It's fine," the bi-color teen replied even though the disappointment was still there. "I understand. I guess you won't have any time to help me redesign my costume either then. I was hoping to get your advice on redoing it."
"You want to redesign your costume?" Izuku asked, surprised but pleased. Because seriously, that first one was a monstrosity that needed to be yeeted into the sun. "I would love to help. Really, I would. But I have so many Support Items to fix or remake I really won't have any time. Even with the help from Mei-chan it will be cutting it close. I'm so sorry, Shouto-kun."
Izuku hated disappointing his friends. It was a sucky feeling that made him feel disappointed in himself for letting someone down. And somehow it hurt more when it involved Shouto. Probably due to that maybe sort of crush he had but still wasn't sure about. If only there was something he could do to make it up to Shouto. The notes and prototypes for the Support Item were already written and partially tested. He just didn't have anytime to finish it himself. Unless…
…maybe I myself don't need to be the one to finish it. That's it!
"I may not be able to help you myself, Shouto-kun," Izuku said, earning a curious quirked brow from his friend. "But I have my notes and such for your Support Item. Maybe we could submit those with your redesign request and the Support company could use them to at least incorporate some of it into your new costume?"
The bi-color teen hummed in thought at the proposal. It wasn't ideal as he had wished for Izuku to be the one to finish the Support Item himself. A special addition to his costume from his special friend. But he also really wanted to upgrade his Hero costume. Needed to now that he was going to work towards mastering both sides of his Quirk. So, although it wasn't what he had hoped for, with the limitations to time it was the best solution to the situation.
"Yes, let's do that," Shouto replied with a nod.
"Great!" Izuku chirped with a bright smile. "We should submit that to Aizawa-sensei as soon as possible since there's only a week before the internships."
The stoic teen agreed with a nod. While at the front of the room, the caterpillar man eyed the pair in the back. Having managed to eavesdrop on their conversation from across the room. An approving smile was hidden in his sleeping bag at the efficient and logical conclusion to include the green one's work with the request form to save time. As well as that the two-toned problem child was willing to change his ridiculous costume.
While Izuku had been apologizing to Shouto, the other students had been chatting among themselves. But having noticed that they had reached an understanding for their private predicament, the focus was once again placed on Izuku.
"So, you really came up with all that stuff yourself, Midoriya?" Satou asked from his seat by the windows. "That's really impressive."
"Yes, most impressive, Monsier Hiro," Aoyama chimed in from the other side of the room with a wink. "With your panache it is surprising you were not in the Hero Course sooner."
The greenette blushed at the compliments and shyly rubbed the back of his head as he said, "Well, there's a reason for that."
"There is?" Kaminari questioned.
Izuku cast a glance at Hitoshi who was frowning down at his desk. Green made eye contact with purple asking silently if it was okay to explain. The brainwasher gave him an accenting nod before the Quirkless teen turned back to the class.
"The Hero Practical is biased towards physical Quirks," Izuku revealed earning confused looks from the class. "Not all Quirks can be properly assessed by the exam. Like mental type Quirks. Hitoshi-kun didn't pass because his Quirk doesn't work on robots. Even Aizawa-sensei didn't pass when he went to school here. He was able to transfer because he won his first year Sports Festival. Which is where we got the idea from."
The greenette sent a kind smile to his best friend who sent a friendly smirk back. While the napping hobo hid a dust of pink that spread on his cheeks in his sleeping bag.
"I didn't even try though," Izuku said as he turned back to the group. "The reason being is that there is a UA bylaw that states 'In the Hero Practical Exam, Support Items are allowed under permission of the UA faculty as long as the Support Item directly aides in the proper use of an applicant's Quirk. Any Support Item that does not directly affect a Quirk is barred from the exam.' Because of this, since I don't have a Quirk, any Support Items I could have used wouldn't have been allowed."
"Dude, that's so unmanly," Kirishima commented with a frown.
"No, not really," Izuku responded. "Which is why I didn't even try. Planning all along to take my chances during the Sports Festival. Something Hitoshi-kun and I had been training for since the beginning of the school year. In combat and for me my Support Items."
And getting help from Aizawa-sensei and Yamada-sensei, Izuku thought, reminiscing on the goodwilled favoritism. It had certainly strengthened their student-teacher bonds between them.
"I've also been taking self-defense for years," the greenette added, earning a clear pique of interest from Ojiro. Not too surprising since he also done training but in martial arts.
"Among other altruistic endeavors," Hitoshi remarked with an eyebrow wiggle. "Helping people and getting little recognition for it."
Izuku's face scrunched at that comment. One because the brainwasher was hinting at his cleaning of the beach. An act that he didn't really care or want people to know. Yet more and more people were finding out despite that. And two, he said endeavor which was a word the Quirkless teen had been intentionally leaving out of his vocabulary ever since he had learned what the Hero Endeavor was really like.
"W-well I've always wanted to help people," Izuku said in an attempt of side stepping any questions as to what Hitoshi had been alluding to. "Even as a kid, being a Hero that helps others is all I've ever wanted to be."
He hoped to bring the attention away from it by repeating what he had said before about his goal as a Hero was instead. Because he really didn't care if people knew. Nor did he want to come off as bragging about it. He did it to help after all, not the attention. There was hope that he was successful. That is until…
"Huh, I wonder if that's what the person who cleaned that beach thought too," Ashido said, dimming that hope. "No one ever came forward about that."
They still remember it?
"Oh yeah, I remember that," Sero responded. "That beach sure was a mess. I wonder how many people it took to clean it?"
One mostly.
"Maybe a volunteer group or something," Shouji offered through a transformed mouth on one of his limbs.
No, just me. And Mei-chan near the end.
"But why would they keep silent about it?" Jirou asked. "Something like that would be great PR for them."
Maybe but I don't want or need it.
"That's true," Hagakure agreed. "In this day and age, PR is important. Especially for Heroes."
Sad but true. Part of the reason why Chizome does what he does.
"Well, who ever it was, it was super manly of them to do that," Kirishima added with a manly smile.
Izuku's cheeks were dusted pink.
"Definitely someone with some serious dedication," Kaminari said with a smirk. "Like did you see those before and after shots. Damn, that was a lot of trash."
"It so did," Hagakure chimed in, a shift of her clothes showing her shiver of discomfort. "I don't think I could stand to be around that much garbage. All the germs and tons of things to get hurt by."
It did get gross at times, Izuku thought with a cringe at the memories of some of the more…unsavory things he had found. Though he had made sure to wear protective gear for his safety.
"They probably protected themselves with gloves or something," Tsuyu offered with her usual calm demeaner.
You called it, Tsu-chan.
"I would certainly hope so," Yaoyorozu said with a slight furrow of concerned brows. "To protect themselves from all manner of injuries or diseases. Either way, it was a very benevolent thing to do."
Pink became pinker.
"Certainly, someone of noble heart," Tokoyami interjected, surprising some of the students as he had been keeping quiet for the majority of the conversation. "Being of serves to others while seemingly having no desire for recognition for such a philanthropic act."
Pinker became pinkest.
"Yes, they were quite altruistic," Iida commented with choppy arm movements as he turned to ask for Izuku's opinion. "Don't you think…"
And pinkest finally turned to red.
Time seemed to stand still as the class slowly came to the same shocking conclusion. Connecting what they were discussing to what Hitoshi had alluded to before because of a single word, altruistic. One with so many other synonyms that could have saved him from being recognized for his ten months of hard work. Having been happy with the little he had received in that framed news article hanging in his home. Not having needed any more than the smiles of the people who could enjoy the beach again.
But it seemed that the universe had other plans as 1-A let out a communal, "EEEEEEEHHHH?!"
The greenette was personifying the proposed name Tomato Man as his blush somehow became even redder as the class stared at him in various expressions of awe. Well, most of them. Hitoshi was smirking at him while Shouto gave him a small proud smile both having already known about what he had done. Even Aizawa hid a pleased smirk at the green one getting some well-deserved recognition even though the kid didn't want it which he could understand as an Underground Hero. Also because of how the purple one had initiated the subject but hadn't been the one to outright reveal his friend's secrets.
"No way…don't tell us that was you!" Kaminari exclaimed.
Izuku was too flustered to speak so only gave a shy affirming nod.
"Holy crap, Midoriya," Sero added.
"So freaking manly, dude!" Kirishima said in a voice filled with overwhelming feelings of the amount of manliness his friend possessed.
"Why didn't you ever say it was you?" Jirou asked.
"Yeah, why?" Hagakure asked as well. "It made the papers. You could have used it as a way to get noticed."
"Why didn't you tell us, Izuku?!" Ochako demanded with a whine as she was rocking Iida back and forth much like earlier. "We're friends!"
More and more of the students either complimented or questioned him. On why he had done it, why he hadn't said anything, how exactly he had done it, how long, etc. On and on the interrogation went. Becoming more and more overwhelming for the Quirkless boy. His growing discomfort was noticed by Aizawa who was about to step in to take control of the situation except the greenette beat him to it.
"Because that's not why I did it!" Izuku yelled over the cacophony of questions. Silencing the class in an instant.
Having all eyes on him was overwhelming much like their questions had been. Izuku hated being the center of attention ever since he became the target of everyone's hostility after he was diagnosed Quirkless. Another reason why he never cared about the rankings nor needed recognition. Much preferring to blend in with the others and not always rising to the top. The only exception was the Sports Festival in order to prove his worth and earn a transfer to the Hero Course. But besides that, he would be happiest doing his best in the middle to help anyone that he could.
"I-I cleaned the beach to help train for UA but also to help the community," Izuku explained, self-consciously evading their eyes. "That beach was a literal dump for years. No one went there anymore. I remember going there as a kid and how fun it was. S-so, I cleaned the beach so that others could make pleasant memories there too."
"Aw!" Ashido cooed.
"That's so sweet!" Hagakure said cheerfully.
And the blush was back as he was showered in compliments.
"Wanting to make others happy while also training…so manly," Kirishima commented with his by now traditional use of 'manly'.
"Your motivations make you sparkle like no other," Aoyama added with a wink.
"There is much more to your mystery than I originally thought, Midoriya," Tokoyami said with an amused nod.
Even Dark Shadow peaked out from the bird boy and chimed in, "Sun Boy is best!"
The spirit was quickly chided by Tokoyami who managed to sway the entity into returning within him while several of the class giggled at the interaction between Quirk user and Quirk. A humorous result of having a sentient part of one's Quirk.
"He certainly is," Hitoshi said with a smirk. "Even managed to get us transferred earlier than usual. From the start of next school year to the week after the Sports Festival."
"From a year to a day?" Ochako asked in susprise. "How?"
"Because Izuku talked our way in with the principal," Hitoshi answered with an even bigger smirk.
"One would expect that to be of your doing, Shinsou," Tokoyami commented in a playful tone having experience with Hitoshi's Quirk.
"True," the brainwasher replied with a conceding nod. "But Izuku does have his own way with words."
"It didn't make sense," Izuku explained with a frustrated huff. "It would have if we had made it to the third round but were defeated lower than the top three. But we placed in the top two like Aizawa-sensei did back in his first year. We more than proved ourselves. And we're only about a month into the school year. That would take less time to catch up on with extra lessons and training than an entire semester's worth. It just didn't make sense to make us wait."
There were various comments of acceptance. Such as 'he's got a point', 'if you put it that way', 'never would have thought of it like that', and so on.
"See?" Hitoshi smirked as the greenette was blushing again. "A way with words."
"Dude, the more I learn about you the more of an enigma you become," Kaminari commented with an amused grin and shake of his head.
"Indeed, but then again he has been under a shroud of mystery from the beginning," Tokoyami interjected while Dark Shadow poked out again giving a nod of agreement. "After all, we first met him while he was cloaked in secrecy as Hiro."
"That's true!" Hagakure chimed in.
"You're right," Ashido agreed. "Why were you in disguise anyway?"
"I, uh, well…" Izuku muttered out, really not wanting to talk about it.
Truly, he didn't want to ruin his new classmates' perception of Bakugou. Sure, Shouto had mentioned before that it was his way of hiding from the explosive blonde but it seemed most had forgot or let it slip their minds. While those that already knew had concerned knowing looks but none so much as Hitoshi and Shouto who were the most in the know. Beside him, Ochako who had been there at the creation of the Hiro persona looked as if she was about to explain only to be beaten to it by a certain redhead.
"It was to practice his disguising skills," Kirishima insisted, protecting his friend's secrets like he had several times before. "You know spy stuff. Secret mission. Code name. Disguise. Incognito."
Thanks, Kirishima-kun, Izuku thought sending him a thankful smile earning a supportive nod in return.
Hitoshi and Shouto gave their own degrees of a scowl at not addressing the secret elephant in the room. But said nothing because it was up to Izuku to tell being one of the 'persons involved in the incident'. While those more in the know of it being specifically to hide from Bakugou frowned amongst themselves. As for the rest who had just found out that day he had been Hiro, they were openly discussing why specifically he had done it. Unknowingly trying to open a long expired can of worms that would for sure blow up in their faces if they succeeded.
"Oh, wait," Ashido said turning her attention to the back of the room. "Didn't Todoroki say something about why he did it?"
"You're right," Kaminari responded, turning as well. "Something about hiding from Bakugou, right?"
"Come on, guys," Kirishima said trying to intervein only to be interrupted.
"Does that mean you knew Bakugou before UA?" Sero asked over his friend. "How?"
You really don't want to know. Nor do I want to talk about it. I did enough of that this weekend.
The greenette was scrambling to come up with a suitable excuse when he was saved by a deep voice saying, "That's enough."
Izuku let out a sigh as the class fell silent and all eyes turned to their homeroom teacher finally emerging from his sleeping bag. Sadly, the caterpillar had not turned into a butterfly as expected. Or would he become a moth instead if he slept in his cocoon long enough.
"I told you not to pester into things," Aizawa drawled as he rolled up his sleeping bag. "If the newbies want to share anything about themselves, they will in their own time. For now, you are on my time. Or rather UA's time. Homeroom has long been over. You missed the bell during your little 'chat'. Now get ready for your next class."
The class scrambled to get back to their seats and take out whatever materials they would need for the next period. Through the ruckus the tired man made his way to the back of the room coming to a stop before Shouto.
"Todoroki, I overheard you wanted to upgrade your costume," Aizawa said as he took out yet another paper from his scarf. Does he have a whole filing cabinet in there or something? "Fill this out with whatever changes you desire and then go to the Support studio to include Midoriya's notes. You can submit the request straight to Power Loader from there. He handles all requests and paper work for costumes and Support Items."
"Yes, sir," Shouto replied as he took the paper.
With that, the tired man gave a nod to the two-toned problem child and then the green one before leaving the classroom with sleeping bag and empty thermos in hand. Planning to wash the thermos in order to give it back to Midoriya by the end of the day before returning to his sleeping bag in the refuge that was under his desk. Teenagers were exhausting.
I need another nap.
...
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Notes extension: post/655360365109051392/part-2-chapter-16-getting-to-know-you