(Formatting reminder: -Dialogue using sign language.- ... "-Dialogue using sign language and verbal language.-" )
...
The rest of English went as normal after the revealing tangent of Izuku's English fluency as well as being mentored by Nezu. Which would have come out eventually most likely but Shouto had spilled the beans about the latter. Simply by being his usual blunt self and answered honestly to a rhetorical question. Which Izuku didn't hold against him but it wasn't something he would have brought up himself because he didn't want to come off as bragging. Being Nezu's personal student was just a part of his education same as learning JSL from Yamada. Different from the everyone else but a much-needed differentiation so that he could use his time at UA wisely.
Thankfully his teacher was able to bring the class focus back to English and away from him. All this attention was getting overwhelming so he was grateful for the distraction. Because it wasn't just his classmates who were paying more attention to him. The media, the public, other students in UA. All of them had a new awareness of the Quirkless teen now that he had won the Sports Festival over all those with 'strong' and 'Heroic' Quirks. It was quite the contrast from being pushed down and ignored for the most part in his past schools to this.
But once again, UA was proving to be different. Not entirely as there were still those who had passed derisive comments questioning how a Quirkless person could ever actually accomplish such a thing let alone be allowed in UA. But they were only a portion of the whole that thought that way. Many were supportive even if some were tainted with a hint of Quirkism about him winning 'despite being Quirkless'. Still supportive though and again not the majority. There were still others who wholeheartedly accepted and endorsed his win and transfer.
I hope All Might does too.
Izuku wondered what the Hero wanted to talk to him about. His text this morning had been a surprise and quite vague. But there had been no time to ask follow up questions. He would just have to find out when they had their meeting later. The greenette was hopeful though that their talk would be good. After all, other than the backhanded comment about him reaching for more attainable dreams, their previous meetings had been quite nice. Talking Quirks and student performances after the Battle Trainings.
Those talks had been pleasant even though they were brief. Izuku hadn't really had a chance to talk to Yagi since the one after 1-B's training. He had been so busy preparing for the Sports Festival. And after the USJ attack, he hadn't been asked to observe any other training sessions which he was fine with. Because again, he had been busy getting everything ready gear and training wise for the event. Effort that more than paid off in the end now that he was seated in a desk in Class 1-A and finally a Hero Course student.
The greenette was able to refine his plans for his Support Items more during the remaining class time. It was a relief to have this time to figure out what he should focus on in order to be prepared for the internships. Which his was going to be with Hitoshi under Aizawa's tutelage. It was less stressful since he already knew how the tired man taught having trained with him and Yamada since the start of the school year. The coming week would be difficult that was for sure, but Izuku looked forward to it none the less. For training as well as getting a peek into his mentor's personal life.
I wonder how all that's going to go.
Did Aizawa live in an apartment or a house? Or did he just plop down wherever with just his sleeping bag as shelter? Was he married, dating, or single? If he was in a relationship, what kind of partner was he attracted to? Someone cynical and serious like himself or a polar opposite personality? Did he have pets? Which would probably be a cat if he did because he had confessed to Izuku himself through sign that he absolutely loved cats. So many questions that would be answered in a week's time.
At the conclusion of English, Yamada gave his customary loud salutations to the class as well as a signed goodbye to Izuku out of habit. Which was returned by both himself as well as Kouda before the loud man left. This made Izuku wonder if the quiet boy in front of him would become confused with the combination of signing and learning English. He didn't want to disrupt the other's education after all.
The greenette tapped the shoulder of the boy in front of him and signed his concerns. Kouda was quick to say he would be fine and that he shouldn't worry. But Izuku would anyway because he was a natural worrier much like his mother. Planning to do his best to keep any misunderstandings during that class to a minimum and maybe bring up his concerns with Yamada just in case.
The end of English brought the start of lunch. The bell brought a smile to Izuku's face because he would hopefully be able to eat lunch with the new friends he had made during the Sports Festival. If they could find a big enough table or tables that is. Fingers crossed and all that. But if not today, they could always try again another time. They had the next three years to get to know each other after all.
"Finally," Ochako lilted with a relieved tone. "I'm so freaking hungry."
"Did you not eat breakfast this morning?" Iida asked as he turned to face her.
"…no," she admitted with a hint of embarrassment.
"Uraraka-san! You must diligently eat breakfast every day," the class president lectured with customary choppy hand movements. "It is the most important meal of the day and we all need to properly nourish our bodies to be physically fit."
"I know~," Ochako whined as she splayed herself out on her desk.
Izuku giggled at her tone before saying, "Let's go to the cafeteria and get you something to eat, Ochako-chan."
"Good idea," Hitoshi chimed in with a smirk. "I can hear her stomach growling from here."
"Hey!" the gravity girl exclaimed in protest only for her stomach to indeed start growling loudly making her perpetual blush darker than usual.
"See? Told ya," the brainwasher teased as he stood up with his bag slung on his back.
Izuku was quick to do the same as he waited for his friends to finish packing their own bags. As he waited, Kouda tapped his desk to get his attention.
-Yes, Kouda-kun?- the greenette signed.
-Is the offer to join you still open?- the shy teen asked.
"-Of course!-" Izuku signed and said aloud. "-Anyone who wants to join us for lunch is more than welcome to.-"
That statement got a number of excited reactions from his new classmates. Such as Ashido who gave an enthusiastic fist pump at the idea. While others were more subdued in their interest in the offer. Like Tokoyami who gave him an accepting nod. It wasn't before long that all of 1-A, minus one suspended blonde, headed for the cafeteria together.
It wasn't too busy when they got there and joined the lunch line. Able to get their chosen food quickly before scouting out a big enough table for everyone to sit comfortably. Which they were able to find quite easily as if some writer made it so out of plot convenience. They trickled in to claim the blessed table one by one as they got their food. Izuku himself got gyuudon choosing to mix things up today with having beef and rice instead his usual katsudon.
Their usual group of seven gravitated towards each other and the rest of 1-A plopped themselves around them in their own mini groups. Such as Yaoyorozu sitting near Jirou or the Bakusquad minus the Baku. Izuku was happy to finally be able to share lunch time with Kirishima after so long. But he had been fine with the red head trying to work his friendship magic on Bakugou. Something that the greenette hoped the other would continue to do despite what the explosive blonde had done to him. Bakugou really did need friends like Kirishima and Izuku didn't want their issues to get in the way of that. But he knew that it would also be dependent on if the redhead wanted to or not.
The students of 1-A were also joined by Mei who had some how managed to tear herself away from her babies to eat lunch. The pinkette took the seat next to Hitoshi who had saved it for her with his bag. While Izuku was on her other side and then Shouto next to him.
"Who's that?" Ashido asked through a mouth full of food.
"Oh, everyone, this is my friend Hatsu-," Izuku started to introduce only for the pinkette to interrupt him.
"Name's Hatsume Mei, Support engineer extraordinaire!" Mei answered with her usual amount of enthusiasm and flair. She wrapped an arm around Hitoshi and Izuku each. "And these two are my best baby making partners!"
Red bloomed on his freckled cheeks and even Hitoshi wasn't immune to the misleading comment with his own blush. Now you feel my pain, you purple bastard! The reactions varied as some sputtered out laughter and nearly choking on their food while others either cast curious looks their way or blushed as well at the declaration. The only ones mostly immune to her antics were those who had sat with them since the beginning of the year like Ochako, Iida, Tsuyu, and Shouto. Having long become immune to her lack of tact.
"What she means is that we're best friends," Izuku explained as he willed his own blush to cool down while worming his way out of her hold. "And Mei-chan and I both work on making Support Items or as she calls them 'babies'."
"Oh, you're the one who put the class prez through the ringer during the Sports Festival," Sero said which caused many of them to cast glances in the embarrassed engine user's direction. "Man, that was sure…something."
"Yeah, like watching a live advertisement," Kaminari added with a huff of laughter. "You make quite a puppet, don't you Exit Sign?"
...
Mei cast her gaze down at the teasing of her using Iida to advertise her babies. At the time she hadn't seen too much of an issue with it with the barest amount of guilt of tricking him into it. But then Izuku had talked to her about it and pointed out they were friends. Then Iida left early so she wasn't able to apologize and was left to stew over it all weekend. Distracting her enough to not be able to put her full attention on the babies she had smuggled out.
She was nervous. Knowing she needed to apologize and fix what she hadn't intend to damage and hopefully didn't break. Because friends were precious to her. Not as much as her babies but they were a close second compared to anything else. Especially Izuku and Hitoshi who were on the tier of best. But the others were still her friends as well though she hadn't really noticed they had become that over the course of many lunches.
But even though she hadn't noticed until Izuku pointed it out, he was right. They were her friends and as such she felt compelled to do two things this lunch. First to apologize for using Iida like she had and second to clear the muddled friendship air around her. Like a vent hood sucking up smoke after a baby mishap.
"Yeah, about that," Mei said with a nervous chuckle. "I actually wanted to apologize for what I did."
Her statement caused a hush to fall over the table in the otherwise noisy cafeteria. A hand was placed on her shoulder and the pinkette turned to see it was Izuku who was giving her an encouraging smile. Mei returned it with a determined nod before turning back to Iida.
"I'm not the most well-versed person when it comes to friend stuff," she explained, casting glances at those who were frequent attenders to their lunch table. "So sometimes I don't know when I'm going too far. Which I did during our fight. I shouldn't have tricked you and instead told you that I wanted to show off my babies to the scouts. I'm sorry."
Yellow eyes closed and cast down as she emphasized her apology with a bowed head. Waiting to see if Iida would accept or learn that their friendship was broken beyond repair. Because before Izuku, Mei hadn't really had any friends. Had constantly been written off as the baby obsessed spaz which was true but she could be that and still be friends with others. Preferring the company of those who accepted all of her. Because if they couldn't handle her at her craziest, then they didn't deserve her in her moments of 'sanity'.
Before Izuku, she hadn't known how lonely she had been growing up. Sure, she had her babies to keep her company and her mom who loved her with all her heart. But after finding someone her own age who was also interested in Support was an eye opener. It was oh so good to be able to bounce off ideas with someone who actually understood. Taught by yours truly as well. They had been joined at the hip ever since she had found him cleaning the beach and he had asked her to teach him. It wasn't until today that she realized how much she relied on their friendship.
Mei had gotten so used to having Izuku close in the same classroom. Sitting right beside her to trade ideas at the drop of a hat. But now he was in 1-A while she remained in 1-H. Not that she wasn't happy for her friend being able to transfer to the course of his dreams, but still…she missed him. Dimming her usual manic brightness in class now that her best friend was no longer by her side.
The rest of the class had noticed due to the lack of chattering in the back. Finding a subdued Mei all alone. It had surprised her when a few had actually walked up to her during the breaks and started conversations with her. Thankfully on Support and such which she clung to the relatable topic like a life line. But it had been nice to talk and get to know her classmates more now that it wasn't just a Mei and Izuku bubble in the back of the classroom.
The experience somehow drove that guilt further into her gut for how she had tricked Iida. Because that wasn't what friends should do. Friends talked and helped each other. Like Izuku does for her and her babies. The pinkette now knew that she should have just talked to Iida about it instead of leading him on with talk of 'fairness' and 'leveling the playing field' to only use him to showcase her babies. But there was nothing she could do to change the past. She could only apologize and hopefully have the opportunity to move forward.
A clearing of a throat caused her to look up and see Iida as he spoke, "I will say I did not appreciate being turned into a patsy for you to present your inventions. I would have been glad to help you if I had known that was your intention."
The pinkette cast her gaze down again in shame because she knew that now but hadn't even considered it before. Simply too focused on how to best show off her babies and not even thinking she could have had a willing test subject for them. But again, there was nothing she could do about the past.
"Be that as it may," Iida continued while adjusting his glasses. "I accept your apology."
Yellow eyes shot up at that and Mei beamed at him with a bright smile. Blinding most of the table as Hitoshi beside her pulled out a pair of sunglasses without missing a beat as he continued to eat. Even Iida was affected by her joy displaying a dusting of pink on his otherwise stoic features.
"So, we're still friends?" Mei asked earning an affirming nod from the boy. "Yay!"
With that cleared up, the pinkette clapped her hands together with glee before diving enthusiastically into her food. Feeling giddy and in a much happier mood now that she had been able to apologize and that it had been accepted. Relieved that they were still friends and she hadn't broken a bond that was still growing. Perhaps still slightly busted from how she had treated him but could be repaired with time and care.
...
Good on you, Mei-chan, Izuku thought as lunch continued on. Proud of his friend for apologizing and is such a public way. If it were him, he would have done it somewhere more private. But this was Mei who gave no shits as to how others saw her. Doing a public apology was no sweat off her brow.
The display had been easily moved on from by most of the class though there was one boy who seemed more effected by it than the others. Izuku spied Ojiro across the table staring down at his food with a guilt-ridden look. Probably reminded of his own need to apologize but most likely in the same ilk of wanting to do so privately much like Izuku would. But he would get his chance eventually.
The students fell into various conversations across the table as they ate. Talk of a new video game between the Bakusquad. Sharing of new music between Jirou and those seated around her. Gushing over the newest idol news for those into that sort of thing like Hagakure. For Izuku, he went between eating and signing to Kouda while also verbally conversing to his friends around him.
Not everyone joined in the conversations verbally. Those who had more reserved personalities were content to listen to the others and only had their own comments here or there. Like Shouji and Tokoyami. Hitoshi too but his input was mostly snarky comments. Then there was Shouto who was quietly eating his food and, since Izuku's hands were quite busy both eating and signing, satisfied himself by placing a hand on his warm friend's knee.
The friendly gesture was small but it still brought a slight blush to Izuku's face leading to him having to wave off any concerns. It was during one of these secretly shared touches that Izuku was surprised by Shouto suddenly jerking his hand away. Curious the greenette looked down to see why and found Dark Shadow peeking out from under the table.
Green eyes cast over to where Tokoyami was eating and intermittently talking. Obviously unaware of what his Quirk was doing. Izuku looked back down at the spirit and held his hand out waiting for permission to touch. The phantom eagerly nuzzled into his hand before settling down in his lap like a cat. The buzzing sensation was odd but not unpleasant as he petted the sentient shadow in his lap.
Beside him, Shouto watched curiously while also feeling a little put out that Izuku's lap was currently occupied by the entity. Its presence was preventing him from being physically close with his special friend. But Izuku seemed to be enjoying himself so he didn't want to interrupt. Though his hand still itched to touch. Not just Izuku but he was curiously how a living shadow felt. Having only had a spark of contact that felt like a static shock which was what had caused him to jerk his hand away.
"Izuku," Shouto called out to get his attention. "Do you think I could…?"
His question trailed off as he extended his element wielding hand towards the spirit. Hovering above the shifting mass but not touching without consent.
"If Dark Shadow is okay with it," Izuku replied as he continued to pet the sentient Quirk.
At the mention of its name, Dark Shadow peeked open a yellow eye and looked at the hovering hand. The phantom considered it for a moment before giving an accenting nod as the spirit closed its eye again. Internally delighted, Shouto carefully reached out and pet the living shadow.
"Woah," the bi-color teen let out at the buzzing sensation under his fingertips. It was so strange yet fascinating.
"Yeah, I thought the same thing the first time I touched Dark Shadow," Izuku said as he giggled at his reaction. "I still wonder if it has to do with static electricity or something."
The greenette scritched behind the spirit's ears and earned a new addition to the vibrating sensation in his lap. Is Dark Shadow…purring? Which was more of a cat thing than a bird's. But the vibrations persisted as he continued to scratch and did not go unnoticed by the Quirk connected teen across the table.
Tokoyami had felt the vibrations through their link and looked down to see that his Quirk's tether was sticking out of his stomach and disappeared under the table. Red eyes scanned the table for any sign of his escaped Quirk and found him in Izuku's lap. While Hitoshi near the greenette had taken notice and decided to take a picture of both Izuku and Shouto petting the spirit.
"Dark Shadow!" Tokoyami exclaimed in embarrassment.
The phantom's eyes shot open at the outburst and peeked its head barely over the edge of the table and let out a squeaked, "Fumi!"
The exchange drew the attention of everyone at the table as the dark teen ordered, "Return at once, Dark Shadow. Desist this invasion of personal space."
"No!" the spirit shot back as it nuzzled closer to the greenette. "Sun boy is nice and gives good pets. He said we could see each other at lunch, remember?"
Tokoyami opened his mouth to retort but Izuku interrupted, "It's alright, Tokoyami-kun! I did say that after the festival."
"Indeed, you did but this behavior is most unbecoming," the bird boy replied, crossing his arms as the dark feathers on his cheeks fluffing up in place of a blush.
"I really don't mind," Izuku assured him as he gave the living shadow another pet. "We are trying to get to know each other as friends as a class. And if you think about it, Dark Shadow is sort of an honorary student of 1-A as well."
"Huh, I never thought of it like that before," Sero chimed in with a thoughtful expression as Tokoyami silent considered the comment.
"Intriguing," the dark teen eventually said. "Dark Shadow does also learn alongside the rest of us. Though mostly during Quirk training rather than regular classes."
Ochako suddenly burst into a fit of giggles gaining everyone's attention. She forced herself to calm down as she said, "Sorry! I just suddenly started imagining Dark Shadow in a uniform. It was so cute!"
"Aw, that would be adorable!" Hagakure squealed. "Dark Shadow in a little suit and tie."
The rest of the class cooed over the concept while Tokoyami and his Quirk shied away from the attention. Shouji did his best to comfort the bird boy next to him while Izuku did the same for the spirit in his lap. The greenette knew of the discomfort of being the center of attention all too much. But as seemed to be a trend ever since he had won the festival, the focus of the group turned once again to him. Izuku was enjoying a bite of his food while continuing to pet the spirit in his lap before he was asked a question.
"So, Midoriya," Ashido called out to get his attention. "What all this about you being Nezu's personal student?"
The greenette turned a bit pink now that the focus was once more on him. This time thanks to Shouto's blunt big mouth blurting out his business and Yamada's even bigger louder mouth confirming it. He thought that the initial reveal with following storm of questions that was quickly quieted by the English teacher to get back on track was the end of it. But 1-A was proving to be quite nosy when it came to other people's business.
"Well, I, um, I like to analyze Quirks," Izuku explained bashfully. "It's a hobby I've had since I was little. Quirks are so fascinating to me. Each is unique with different strengths and weaknesses. Which is what I was doing when I was observing your training. Figuring out any issues that need to be addressed as well as find ways for you to improve."
"Which is why you want to meet with each of us, Midoriya-kun?" Yaoyorozu asked. "To discuss our costumes and Quirks?"
"Correct," Izuku replied with a nod. "Anyway, Maijima-sensei showed my notes to Aizawa-sensei who then passed them on to Nezu-sensei. He liked my analysis and offered to teach me himself."
The greenette finished with a shrug as if it was nothing special that he was being taught by one of the smartest beings on earth. Personally selected because of his analysis that was impressive enough to catch the chimera's keen eye. Making them wonder just how smart this green haired enigma was as well as what other secrets he had yet to reveal.
But he had answered the question so their curiousity was sated for now. The rest of lunch was spent eating and chatting with Dark Shadow staying in Izuku's lap. The spirit may be a result of a Quirk but it had a stubborn mind of its own. But the greenette didn't mind. He had never had a pet growing up but he would pet stray cats sometimes. Plus, petting animals, or a living shadow in this case, was good for you health wise with lowering blood pressure and stress levels.
At the bell for the end of lunch, the gang broke up to gather their things and dispose of their trash while Dark Shadow reluctantly returned to Tokoyami. Many of them left to get back to the classroom in their own little groups. Kirishima cast a glance at Izuku with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes before leaving with the others of the Bakusquad. While the regular party of seven lingered behind. Izuku was chatting with Mei discussing plans for when they were in the studio together when they were interrupted by one of their other friends.
"Hatsume-san," Iida called out to the pinkette. "I want to thank you again for your apology."
"Thank you for accepting it!" Mei chirped. "And please call me Mei. That's what my friends call me."
Then she thought for a second that if she was extending this to him then she should for the rest of their friend group too.
"That goes for any of you as well," the pinkette added to the others of their regular lunch group. "Anyone who is a friend of Izuku and Hitoshi are friends of mine."
"Yeah, that goes for me too," Hitoshi added with a lazy salute. "Call me Hitoshi if you want."
Iida, Ochako, and Tsuyu all had a flash of surprise upon the realization that the two may not have considered them friends before. But their expressions morphed into their various degrees of happy. Because though they may not have thought them friends before, they did now.
"Then please call me Tenya," Ii-Tenya offered in return.
"Tsu for me, kero," Tsuyu added.
"Oh, me too! Call me Ochako!" the gravity girl chimed in excitedly while Izuku just beamed brightly himself at the friendliness of it all.
"Shouto," the bi-color teen added though more towards the three who spoke before him. Having already earned first name status with the others.
And so, their friend group had become closer with the amicable trading of first names. Which Izuku found sort of funny that they were just declaring their friendship with now being on a first name basis. Even though they had been sitting, eating, and getting to know each other since the beginning of the school year. But he guessed it wasn't too surprising with their own levels of social awkwardness. But this was UA. A school very much different in so many ways. Allowing the forming of friendships so easily. It was really really nice.
"I am pleased that we have that settled," Tenya said with a stiff chop of his hand. "And I would like to offer my services to help you, Mei-san, to test your inventions in the future. Though preferably non-lethal ones."
The bluenette extended his hand for her to shake on it, but the pinkette was having none of that. Instead, she smiled brightly and went in for a hug instead. Squishing the engine user tightly in her strong grip and even lifted him up in her excitement. Which caused Tenya to blush in embarrassment but also surprise at her strength. While the others giggled at his predicament.
"Much appreciated, Tenya!" Mei chortled as she put him down. "Oh, I have so many babies that would do wonders for you! Like jets for your arms or a power suit to make you stronger. Or even a…"
"I'm not sure how that would help seeing that my Quirk is in my legs," the engine user argued as she continued to list off ideas.
The pinkette ignored his protests and proceeded to geek out and over explain how this baby or that one would be perfect for him. While the bluenette tried his best to assert his own opinions but there was only so much he could do against her own tenacity. The scene made Izuku giggle because he knew that once Mei had her mind set on something, there was very little chance of persuading her otherwise.
"Uh oh, Izuku," Hitoshi said beside him as he leaned an arm on his green curls. "I think we're getting replaced as 'baby making partners'."
The blush returned to Tenya's face and even a hint of pink dusted Mei's. While the other three snickered at Hitoshi's comment and their reactions. The pinkette was quick as ever to recover though.
"Replace you two?" Mei gasped in mock offense. "Never. For shame that you would doubt me like this."
"Well, you two just seemed to be getting along so well," the brainwasher teased with a wink.
Izuku quickly ducked out of the way as Mei rushed at Hitoshi for his teasing. Tenya began protesting for them to stop with chopping motions. Tsuyu and Shouto watched in silent amusement while Ochako giggled as she slung an around Izuku's shoulders. Surprising but not unwelcome. The touch was nice but there was no hint of any fluttering in his stomach from it. Not like when Shouto and he traded friendly contact.
Green eyes glanced up to find grey and blue scanning him with a blank expression. When their eyes met, that brought the fluttering feeling and they weren't even in physical contact. He wasn't sure if Shouto felt something similar but he did catch a flash of something in his two-tone eyes as he shifted closer to the other. Linking their pinkies as a subtle demand for his attention which Izuku easily gave with a small squeeze of their linked digits.
Tenya was finally able to wrangle Mei and Hitoshi as the warning bell rang. They left the cafeteria and the pinkette gave her goodbyes before leaving for 1-H. While the rest of them returned to 1-A to find out what was in store for the afternoon classes. The veterans of 1-A suspected some sort of Hero training of either physical with Quirks or combat or something more literary such as Hero laws. While Hitoshi and Izuku really had no idea what to expect.
The students were all settling in at their desks as the final bell rang and Aizawa stepped into the room. They sat silently as he made his way to the podium and placed down the stacks of papers in his hands. Some were thicker than others which made them curious what they were as they waited in anticipation for what their homeroom teacher would do next.
Tired black eyes scanned them portraying no real emotion as he said, "I have the draft picks mentioned earlier. As I said before, not all of you got offers. However, for those who didn't I have a list of potential Heroes and agencies you may pick from for your internships. Those that did get offers will be choosing from those. Now, when I call your name come to the front and get your list."
Aizawa called those that got offers up one by one with Shouto's stack being much thicker than the rest with his large amount of offers. Once he passed those out, he instructed for those who didn't get offers to come up and take a separate packet of the premade list of Heroes. As for the two newbies…
"Midoriya, Shinsou," Aizawa called out as he gestured for them to come to him.
The pair walked up to the front as the others collected their papers.
"You may not be eligible for choosing your internships," the tired man explained. "But that doesn't mean that no one sent in offers for you. Here."
The homeroom teacher picked up two more stacks of paper which he offered to his two newest charges. Nowhere near the amount Shouto had gotten but still a fair few. Though Izuku's was noticeably less than Hitoshi's. Which he could easily guess was because he didn't have a Quirk while Hitoshi did. It made a sad resigned sigh escape the greenette as his friend gave him a comforting elbow nudge.
"Don't let it bother you," Aizawa said, knowing what was going through his head. "Instead of focusing on those who didn't, consider those who did as potential allies in the future. Showing their interest in you as a promising Hero."
"Or they just want to see the Quirkless freak up close," Izuku mumbled to himself but the teacher still heard it.
The Erasure Hero flicked the greenette's forehead to rid him of that self-deprecating thought. Izuku rubbed the painful point of impact with his hand with a soft 'ow'.
"None of that, problem child," Aizawa ordered sternly but not heatedly. "You have more than proven your worth as a person and as a student of this school. No matter what anyone else thinks, you've earned your spot in this class and as a future Hero. Others be damned."
Green eyes stared into black seeing no hint of misgivings or deception in them. Showing that the Hero before him believed what he had said. Believed in him. The Quirkless boy smiled brightly at the tired man while Hitoshi pulled out his sunglasses again. The teacher rolled his eyes at the action before ruffling the greenette's hair and shooing them back to their seats.
"Now then, problem class," Aizawa said addressing his students who had been perusing their lists. "Internships are in one week. Have your preferences submitted by Wednesday."
Aizawa then called Tenya up to pass out additional forms for their choice of placements. The class president was quick as ever to pass them before returning to his seat.
"Think carefully of your choices," the Erasure Hero stressed. "Consider your Quirks as well as the kind of Hero you want to be. As some of you know, there are certain Quirks and situations that may not work well with your skill set. So, take time to consider your options. For now, go change and get to Gym Gamma for training."
"Yes, sir," the class replied and was quick to follow his directions.
The students grabbed what they needed before trickling out the door for the changing rooms. Before he left, Izuku was pulled aside again by Aizawa who told him that he was free to go to the studio instead to start working on his Support Items. Which the greenette was grateful for and quickly accepted the offered extra time. Any and all of his free time was going to be spent working on replacing and repairing his gear. With some breaks in between to keep his health and sanity of course.
After fetching his notebook and pen case, Izuku joined his classmates in the changing room. Wanting to switch over to his PE uniform for comfort but also because it was better to get that uniform dirty with grease than the formal one. Of course, the overalls helped with that too but they weren't perfect. The other boys were already starting to change when he got there and Izuku was quick to follow suit.
Ha! Suit. Because clothing.
The greenette giggled to himself and his own mental hilarity. Earning some odd looks from a few but he waved them off. The others shrugged before going about their business while chatting casually.
"I wonder what we're going to for training today," Satou pondered aloud.
"Maybe we'll do another Quirk assessment or something since we got two newbies," Kaminari guessed.
"Probably not," Izuku said since Aizawa had already assessed them.
"Why not?" Sero asked.
"Well, one, because he already knows our strengths and limits," the greenette explained as he pulled off his shirt. "And two, I would need to physically be there for the assessment to happen."
"Wait, what?" Kaminari asked confused. "Why wouldn't you be there?"
"I'm going to the Support studio instead," Izuku answered back.
"Midoriya-kun, you must not skip out on training," Tenya scolded fully changed due to his need for efficiency. "Especially on the first day. It is essential to our growth as Heroes."
"This is part of my training," the greenette retorted. "Aizawa-sensei told me I could go so I can get as much time working on my Support Items before the internship week."
"Oh, I see. Apologies, Midoriya-kun" the class rep said with an apologetic bow. "I was unaware that Aizawa-sensei was the one who instructed you to do so."
"Right…," Izuku replied.
We really need to work on his bad habit of jumping to conclusions.
Quick thinking was great but if you let the impulses run wild instead of investigating further, it could lead to some sticky situations. Like when Izuku had latched onto All Might's leg after being saved from a slimy one. Only to be told 'no' by his idol and left on a roof top the same day he had been told to jump off one. Which could have ended badly if it weren't for Izuku's stubborn will to live as well as the Hero Killer paying him his first visit.
That in and of itself could be considered a sticky situation. Well, perhaps not the first time because it hadn't been his choice to meet Stain on that roof top. More like a chance act of fate stepping in to direct his life forward. But as for the other meetings…those were done by his choice. Because Izuku could have chosen to not meet the man on another roof of his own volition. But he had. Three times. Each meeting bringing them closer both emotionally of sharing life views and values as well as physically with hair ruffles and even hugs.
Izuku had no idea what would happen if any of that ever got out to anyone. Hero, Villain, or civilian alike. There were already questions of his potential to be a Hero just being a Quirkless underdog who came out of nowhere. The fact that he consorted with but never reported the Hero Killer on top of sort of hiring him to look into Endeavor would most likely aggravate that questioning further.
Yeah, best to keep that can of worms tightly closed.
The recording burned hotter in his pocket at the thought. He really should delete it. Get rid of the damning evidence of his failure to report a Villain and even getting close to the man. Because being associated with Stain would not be helpful for his path to become a Hero. But still, the Quirkless boy wavered on doing the logical act. Not wanting to lose that tether to the first person to ever tell him 'yes'.
Maybe I should start looking into how to code things. Nezu-sensei would probably be willing to help teach me. Seeing as how he coded the tablet he gave me.
Though it would do good for him to come up with his own code when it came to more personal information like the recording. Because even though Izuku shared a lot with his mentor when it came to his analysis and such, there were still things he would prefer to keep to himself. The potential repercussions not withstanding though they did play a part in considering venturing in coding. But not right now. First, he needed to focus on his Support Items.
"So, what gadgets are you going to work on?" Kaminari asked curiously as he's putting on his shirt.
"Well, I have a few to tinker out improvements for," Izuku replied with his scarred hand on his chin in thought. "But others I'll have to start from scratch with."
"Why's that?" Satou inquired.
"Oh, I had some…issues with them before the last fight," the greenette answered, catching the concerned sad look from Kirishima. He should probably talk to him about what happened. They were friends after all and he knew more than most did. "A lot of them ended up broken so I'll have to remake them."
"Oof, that's rough," Sero commented as he wormed his bulky elbows into his sleeves.
"It's okay," the greenette said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "It will take time and work to be ready for the internships, but this gives me the opportunity to take what I learned from the festival to improve them."
"That's an optimistic take on the situation," Shouji stated through one mouth manifestation while two of his other arms adjusted his sleeveless shirt.
"That's Izuku for you," Hitoshi interjected as he gave his friend's hair a ruffle. "Perpetually seeing the glass as half full."
Izuku swatted his hand away before saying, "Better than being a pessimistic Purple Panda like you."
"I just see life for what it is," the brainwasher shot back with a shrug. "Not everything is sunshine and rainbows, Green Bean."
This earned a considering look from Tokoyami who said, "Hmm, it seems you are indeed another embracer of darkness."
Hitoshi grinned at that and was about to respond when Tenya interrupted to remind them to hurry up. He himself was fully dressed and prepared to corral them out of the changing room whether they were ready or not. The reminder prompted the stragglers to finish up quickly and head out to Gym Gamma. Izuku had planned to wait for Hitoshi to walk together before parting ways but decided not to when he saw Ojiro approaching the brainwasher. Most likely wanting to apologize now before they went off to training.
So, instead the greenette sent a smile and wave to his friend before walking off with a few of the other boys of 1-A. They chatted for a bit until Izuku had to leave them to head to the studio. He bid them goodbye and to do their best which they returned before they parted ways. Izuku was excited and grateful to start working on his Support Items. Because again, he had a lot of work ahead of him but with his notes, experience, and Mei's help, everything should turn out alright.
...
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Notes extension: post/656623731951665152/part-2-chapter-18-friendship