If it were any other time of day, Shouta was sure he would have parted a sea of students as he stalked through the halls. Unfortunately, no one was around to bask in the terror of his overwhelming fury. Which sometimes became literally hair-raising when he would get so angry he would activate his Quirk on instinct. Or sometimes just for the fear factor of looking like a demon with glowing red eyes. Either of which was possible in the coming…conversation.
All Might was an idiot. Blind to raw potential because he was too focused on Quirks. Seeing the lack of Quirk as a shackle that was keeping Midoriya from achieving his dreams. But it wasn't. If anything, it was a liberator for the kid. Or as the green one's excitable friend had worded it, him being Quirkless made him a 'blank canvas'. A base that could be transformed into an infinite number of possibilities. A clean slate to be manipulated and built on in any way he wanted. Never being held back by a genetically determined skill as many Heroes and people were.
There was a Quirk for every situation but not every situation required a Quirk. Nor did every Quirk work in all situations either. Many came with weaknesses such as Asui's to extreme cold or dry heat same as a frog would be. Or Tokoyami's Quirk being weak against light. Even Bakugou probably has a weakness against cold considering the melting point of nitroglycerin. He would most likely have to layer up more in winter to compensate.
But Midoriya didn't have any of those weaknesses. He was essentially a regular human living in a world of magic. Where everyone around him had special powers and he was just him. That didn't make him any less than anyone else. It just made him different, but everyone was different. Every single person in the entire world was a unique combination of atoms and genetic codes. Just because Midoriya's added up to not having a Quirk didn't change that he was human same as the rest of them.
Unfortunately, humans have a penchant of declaring the 'chosen' few above the rest. It was a constant theme throughout the history of the human race. Wars. Genocides. Eugenics. Even the crimes Shouta dealt with in the dark alleys of Japan. Murder. Human trafficking. Assault. Among countless others. All crimes where one or more people believing what they wanted was more important than others. Pushing their own desires onto others no matter who was hurt as a result.
Not all criminals were like that. He knew that as an Underground Hero. Yes, there were those who broke the law for the thrill of it. Such as the Carnal Murderer Muscular. A sadistic and bloodthirsty killer who saw his violence as a battle of wills between his intent to kill and his victims' wills to either stop him or just simply stay alive. A Villain who was currently incarcerated for the deaths of the Pro Hero duo Water Hose and had left their son an orphan. Neither of which the sadist had any remorse for.
But there were those who had no other option than crime to get by. Stealing food so they wouldn't starve. Pickpocketing wallets to use the cash for much needed medicine. Crimes committed through necessity. To some Heroes, the world was black and white, good and evil. That the truly evil and the circumstantially unfortunate were the same. But as an Underground Hero he knew that life was more painted in shades of grey.
It was the same for the world of Heroes. Many were good and did their jobs well. While others got distracted by the limelight. Then there were those who fell into Villainy themselves allowing criminal corruption to grow. There were also those who worked as Heroes outside of the law. To a Hero like Endeavor, a Vigilante was nothing but a criminal. But to Eraserhead, they were allies that he was willing to let their illegal public use of Quirks slide as long as they didn't get into too much trouble. Sometimes literally such as when he worked with the Crawler.
There were so many different kinds of Heroes and even more so of people in the world. There just had to be a spot in that mix for a Quirkless Hero. A piece to the puzzle that made up this world. A part of the amalgamation and helping to create a better more diverse picture. Providing another perspective of the world and serving as a role model for those in need of one. It was a part the kid was already playing being the first Quirkless winner of the Sports Festival and becoming the first Quirkless Hero Course student ever.
While the naysayers could continue screaming protests into the void, Midoriya was already proving them wrong. Already setting an example that the Quirk does not define you. Shinsou too with his 'weak' and 'Villainous' Quirk. Because out of all the 'strong' and 'Heroic' Quirks, it was his two chosen problem children who ultimately won the day. Using a combination of skill, strategy, and spite to come out on top.
They would both make excellent Heroes. Especially in the Underground. And Shouta just so happened to have a week to start training them as such. Giving them a peek into his world. It wasn't glamourous but it was where the Erasure Hero thrived. Where he could serve his purpose effectively and efficiently. It was also where he was needed the most as many limelight Heroes focused more on higher populated areas where they were more guaranteed media coverage.
But Underground Heroes didn't care about that. In fact, they purposefully avoided it. Whether to keep their identities and Quirks a secret or just out of personal preference. For Shouta it was both. Fuck the media. Just a bunch of vultures circling around for a new scoop. Flocking to the flashy Heroes to make a buck. Which is one of the reasons why the tired man dressed the way he did.
Mostly black to blend into the shadows with a single splash of color with the yellow of his goggles. But those he usually kept hidden in his scarf until needed. As for the capture weapon itself, grey was just the color it came in and Shouta was fine with it. The rest of his Support Items like his caltrops or his knife were either in or attached to his belt. All paired with black boots to complete the ensemble.
The materials were sturdy but flexible. Practical rather than flashy and quite comfortable to be honest. Which was good because he practically lived in it about as much as he did his precious sleeping bag. Saved him from wasting time on choosing an outfit every day. Same reason why he didn't bother much when it came to his hair or the annoying chore of shaving. Even if Hizashi would jokingly complain about his stubble being scratchy. The big baby could just fucking deal with it because the tired man didn't care enough to bother with it every day. Besides, his husband took long enough in the morning for the both of them with that ridiculous cockatoo hair of his.
All Might could keep his flashy costume and power moves. They were part of the Hero he chose to be. But that wasn't the only way to be a Hero. Shouta was proof of that. Eraserhead was the complete opposite of All Might. Like night and day. Quite literally when it came to their patrol times. Yet they were both Pro Heroes tasked with upholding the law and protecting the innocent.
A Quirk wasn't needed to do that. The everyday heroes such as first responders and police did the same thing without them. The only difference between them and a Pro Hero was that the Heroes had a license to use their Quirks to fight crime. Midoriya could do that as well but with his Support Items instead. No Quirk, flashy or otherwise, needed.
Shouta was going to teach that to the Number One Hero even if he had to beat it into him. With his words of course. Though if it came to fists then so be it. He'd like to see Yagi try after he erased his OP Quirk. The hobo versus the living skeleton. It would either be the showdown of the century or just a sad sight of him breaking All Might like a toothpick.
The Erasure Hero was all geared up for a fight whether verbal or physical as he finally arrived back at the meeting room holding Yagi. He forcefully opened the door without knocking prepared to start scolding the buffoon when he stopped in his tracks. Because the skeletal man wasn't alone.
"Do come in, Aizawa-san," Nezu beckoned from the couch as he was sipping some tea. "Please take a seat. And don't worry, you aren't interrupting anything."
The principal's tone was pleasant as always but the tired man took notice of an underlying hint of anger. Tired black eyes observed the scene before him. Nezu was on one side of the couch while Yagi had been relegated to the stool. The blonde offered him a weak smile in greeting but seemed nervous. While the chimera was quietly drinking his tea. There was another cup on the table near the open spot on the couch, but there was nothing in front of All Might.
That can't be good.
Nezu was a lover of tea. It was a well-known fact that he would push tea on anyone in his company. Somehow being able to whip out a fresh pot out of nowhere any time he pleased. Much like how Shouta kept an air of mystery when it came to his capture weapon and its storage capabilities. Tea was Nezu's way of socializing and being cordial. So, to have the principal not give a cup of tea to Yagi was not a good sign. For the blonde anyway. Shouta was apparently still in Nezu's good graces to receive one himself.
The tired man slid the door closed before taking the offered spot on the couch. He gave a nod in thanks to the mammal as he took a sip of tea. As well as silently accepting his civility in tea form. Nezu gave a nod back as he tipped his cup before taking a drink as well. All while Yagi watched them quietly from where he sat. Tealess and probably unaware of the shit hole he found himself in. One that he had dug himself and Nezu probably knew all about it through the cameras littered throughout the school.
"How is Midoriya-kun?" the principal asked after a sip of tea.
Shouta took another drink himself before placing the cup down as he answered, "He's fine. He's in the studio now working. Maijima is keeping an eye on him and a couple of his friends are there too."
Across the table the skeletal man let out a quiet sigh of relief as some tension left his bony shoulders. But Shouta knew his reprieve was only temporary. Because he was up against two fronts of mentors who were pissed at what he had said to their shared charge.
"That is good to hear, Aizawa-san," Nezu replied. "Thank you for taking care of him. He seemed quite upset earlier."
Sunken blue eyes cast down guiltily at that. Two pairs of black eyes took notice but didn't actively acknowledge the action.
"How much do you know?" Shouta asked, though he already could guess the answer.
"The world is a wealth of knowledge and I am privy to a far fairer amount of it than most," the chimera quipped with smile earning an eye roll from the black-haired man. "As for this particular situation, I know everything pertaining to the last hour or so. You may speak freely in front of me."
The Erasure Hero didn't need his permission to do so because he was going to regardless. But he nodded in acceptance anyway to at least acknowledge the expected answer. He then turned his attention to the solemn skeletal form of the Number One Hero who looked like even a light wind would blow him over.
"What the hell did you say to him, All Might?" Shouta asked, getting straight to the point.
"I believe that is a matter between young Midoriya and myself, Aizawa-san," Yagi replied. "He and I…"
"I don't care what you believe," the tired man interjected with a growl. "He is my student and my responsibility. Whatever you said to him made him so upset I found him crying alone in a classroom. Making this my problem to fix whatever you fucked up. Now I ask again, what the fucking hell did you say to him?"
The blonde looked taken aback by his spat-out words with wide sunken blue eyes. Either from the reveal of the state Shouta had found the kid in or the swearing. Or both. Didn't matter either way because the imbecile was in for it. Yagi seemed to hesitate from answering when Nezu spoke up.
"I would start from the beginning of your talk with Midoriya-kun, Yagi-san," the chimera advised. "Leave no detail out. Not one. And I'll know if you do."
"You…how?" Yagi asked in concern.
"One does not reveal one's investigative secrets," Nezu jested trying to be coy.
"He has cameras everywhere," Shouta outed though the principal didn't mind and simply let out a chuckle at Yagi's shaken expression.
"C-cameras!?" the skeletal man exclaimed as he looked around the room for said device.
"Why yes of course," Nezu replied as he moved to refill his cup. "I have cameras and listening devices throughout the school to ensure the students' and staffs' safety. But not to worry. Your secrets are safe with us."
The tired man piqued up at the use of 'us' rather than 'me'. Meaning that Nezu intended to include him on whatever this big bad secret was that Yagi had. One that he had felt necessary to share with a teenager.
"As I said, leave no detail out," Nezu added as he sat back with his refreshed tea. "Because if you do, I will be filling those in regardless of what you do or do not say. Understood?"
The Symbol of Peace looked properly chided as he humbly replied, "Understood, sir."
Shouta highly approved and appreciated the principal putting the Number One Hero in his place. It was extremely satisfying to see the man authoritatively overpowered by someone a third his size. The Erasure Hero reached for his also refreshed tea to savor the moment with the glorified hot leaf juice. Though the particular blend of flavors the chimera had chosen were more on the palatable side. But the tired man still preferred coffee.
Yagi cleared his throat before starting his recounting of the meeting. A general recap of their small talk where the Hero had learned of the inspiration of the kid's Jet shoes. Which Shouta was surprised to learn about as well. Not the part about the kid knowing about an older Hero active back when the media wasn't as disruptive. Not after he had been able to dig up so much information on Eraserhead himself. Rather it was the new information of All Might's past mentor. Or rather, past mentors as the skeletal man had two.
The talk of Yagi's former mentors had somehow led to a discussion of his Quirk. One that was obviously a sort of super strength but the exact details were unknown. A secret that he had willingly revealed to a fifteen-year-old but hesitated to speak up in front of two fellow Pro Heroes. But a glare from Eraserhead and a prompting pointed nod from Nezu were enough to prod All Might forward.
Shouta sat there in shock though he didn't allow it to show on his face. All Might, the Number One Hero, was given a Quirk. Like a fucking present on Christmas. Gift wrapped in a long history of past users with other concerning goodies inside. Such as an evil nemesis who had the ability to take and give Quirks as he pleased. Who wished to rule the world as some sort of god. Who was such a dick that he forced a Quirk on his own brother in order to attempt to gain some form of control over him same as he had with everyone else.
This same nemesis was apparently immortal and still potentially alive to this day. Had survived a horrendous battle that had left All Might in this weakened form. And possibly was in league with, well, the League if the Noumu was anything to go by. Just the reminder of the creature's existence sent a shiver down the Hero's spine.
Being crushed like paper by the Noumu had been a topic of discussion between him and his therapist several times after the event. They had warned him of potential PTSD symptoms from it but thankfully you don't fight a Noumu every day. And hopefully it would be a onetime occurrence for him. Though if he did happen to go up against another one, he would suck it up and fight regardless whatever psychological nonsense his brain tried to pull. Because Shouta was in charge of his emotions and thoughts. He wasn't going to let a blob of gray goop disrupt his duties as a Hero.
"Why did you tell him all this?" Shouta asked in a lull of the recounting.
"Because…I am in need of a successor," Yagi answered hesitantly. "And I believe that young Midoriya is the perfect choice. Though he doesn't seem to think so."
The older Hero went on to explain exactly why he believed this. About Midoriya's strength and intelligence. His desire to help others. But then the skeletal man started to spout crap about Support Items being more of a crutch than a solution to not having a Quirk. That without them the kid would be defenseless. Which was why All Might wanted to offer him his Quirk.
In another life maybe that could have worked. Though it probably would have led to Midoriya not being allowed to tell anyone and left with only Yagi to confide in. And since he grew up Quirkless, there was a high chance that he wouldn't know how to control it and most likely would have ended up hurting himself. While the idiot blonde who can't teach for shit wouldn't know how to properly train the teen. But would probably still have kept those who could help in the dark through a misguided sense of loyalty to the secrecy of his Quirk.
Thank the gods the kid said no. Apparently quite strongly the way Yagi put it as he spoke. Even called him an idiot which was a detail Nezu provided when the blonde did not. Shouta hide a smile as he took a sip of tea at that. Midoriya had even argued with the Number One Hero for all the reasons why giving him One For All was a bad idea. All of which the Erasure Hero agreed with.
Number one though was that the kid didn't need it. He was doing just fine without one no matter what Yagi thought. Midoriya had said repeatedly that he didn't care about rankings and wanted to be his own kind of Hero. Which was one that helped in any way they could. He didn't want to be a Hero exactly like All Might. In fact, the kid had told him himself that he'd rather be a Hero like Eraserhead. Which was still embarrassing but flattering for the tired man.
But All Might was so focused on the rankings. Blinded by his own status as the Number One Hero to see there were others out there who still did good outside of the popularity contest. Such as those who worked in the Underground. Not that being a Daytime Hero was bad. Many of them were good like Hizashi. The ones who used their status and media presence to inspire others and effect change.
However, again, there are all kinds of Heroes. Midoriya didn't necessarily need to go up against the big bads that All Might did to be a Hero. He could do his part in literally any other situation. Also, there were different areas of expertise for Heroes. Combat like All Might. Rescue like Thirteen. Reconnaissance often allocated to Underground Heroes. Among several others. Any of which Midoriya could excel in.
Besides, it wasn't like he would be alone. Yes, there were Heroes that work best solo. Hell, Endeavor was almost impossible to work with because he tended to go all out every time. Threatening to burn both his allies and enemies alike. Yet because he was the Number Two Hero the Hero Commission didn't really do anything to curb his actions.
All Might was somewhat similar. Not that he didn't work well with others. Quite the opposite. The Symbol of Peace was kind to everyone he met. Well, other than the Villains he faced because they were upsetting the peace he worked so hard to cultivate and maintain. But the Number One Hero was so powerful that he typically didn't need anyone else's help in a fight. It was one of the reasons he was seen as the Symbol of Peace. Because no matter how powerful the Villain was, All Might would be able to defeat them and keep the people safe.
When Yagi got onto the topic of his role as the Symbol of Peace, he sort of brushed over a good point made by Midoriya. What did happen when All Might ultimately retired? Because the time had to be approaching sooner rather than later based on his physical state and his need to find a successor. Did All Might really expect to pass on all that he had amassed on his own shoulders to whoever he chose was 'worthy' of it? That along with all the baggage that came with his Quirk?
It was completely irrational and irresponsible to dump all that on Midoriya. Not because he was Quirkless, but because he was still a child. A teenager yes, but a minor. A student. All Might had been working for years as a Pro Hero and wanted to unload all of his problems onto an amateur. One who was barely into his first year of high school. The kid had only just joined the Hero Course for gods sake.
If All Might was that desperate for a successor, wouldn't he have better luck looking at the third years? The ones who managed to survive the rigorous course work and had more knowledge of what it was really like to be a Pro Hero. Who would be able to make more rational mature decisions because of their experience. It would be a more logical place to look and he could think of a handful of third years who would be good candidates.
But no, Yagi had his eyes on Midoriya. A Quirkless teenager barely a month into his first year of high school. Which that was another good point the kid made. How in the hell did All Might think he would explain away that complete one-eighty from Quirkless to Quirked? At age fifteen? After very publicly winning the Sports Festival without a Quirk? How would he handle the media backlash that came with that? Nezu was good but even he had his limits.
On top of that, Yagi had wanted to pass down his very dangerous Quirk to the boy without telling his parents. Which was illegal because he was minor. The law required a parent and/or guardian to be present in critical decisions. Being offered a Quirk definitely qualified as such. Even then, while at school, all students were under the guardianship of their homeroom teachers as well as the principal. Neither of whom All Might had consulted in this case and both were sitting across from him seriously judging him for his own poor judgement.
"You are a fucking idiot, All Might," Shouta interjected, mirroring the kid's and his own insults from earlier.
"But I don't understand," Yagi said, confusion clear on his gaunt face. "Why would he say no? Young Midoriya would be perfect for receiving One For All."
"Because he doesn't need it," the Erasure Hero stressed. "Midoriya can handle himself just fine without a Quirk. He proved that during the festival."
"I admit that he performed well with his Support Items," the skeletal man conceded with a nod. "But what will he have to rely on when he doesn't have any? Young Midoriya doesn't have a Quirk to fall back on."
"Just because he doesn't have a Quirk doesn't make him defenseless," Shouta retorted. "Midoriya has been physically training in self-defense since he was young. His final match showed he could hold his own in a physical fight."
"But he still had whatever was in his pocket," Yagi countered. "Still relied on a Support Item to break out of young Shinsou's hold. What would he have done without that?"
"Simple. He wouldn't have fucking talked," the tired man shot back. "Midoriya knows all about Shinsou's Quirk and knows how to avoid being affected by it. But he purposefully chose to react to Shinsou so that they could both show their skills in that fight. Otherwise, it would have been a Quirkless fight because Midoriya doesn't have one and wouldn't have responded to Shinsou there by negating his Quirk."
"Purposefully?" Yagi asked in surprise.
"Why yes he did," Nezu chimed in. "An enterprising civilian made the effort to transcribe their fight. The result was quite entertaining. Midoriya-kun was the one to initiate their fighting banter influencing the rest of their match."
The skeletal man looked down in contemplation of this fact as he said, "I see. I didn't know that. Seems there's a lot I don't know about him. Same as I didn't know he was fluent in English or being mentored by you, Principal Nezu."
"He is indeed," Nezu said with a proud smile. "Midoriya-kun is a bright student and I have been enjoying having him under my tutelage."
"Same," Shouta said. "The kid's got potential."
"You as well, Aizawa-san?" Yagi asked again in surprise.
The tired man nodded as he replied, "I've been training Midoriya and Shinsou since the start of the school year. And with Hizashi's help after the USJ since I was physically indisposed."
Sunken blues eyes cast down guiltily at the reminder that he hadn't been there to help his fellow Hero. Had wasted his time in his buffed-up form on stopping crime on his way to UA. Neglecting his teaching duties and arriving late to the USJ that had been under attack by Villains looking specifically for him.
"I apologize for my negligence that day, Aizawa-san," Yagi said with an apologetic bow. "Young Midoriya brought up my inexperience in teaching has been having a negative impact. For the students and faculty. Especially during the USJ attack when I wasn't there from the beginning. I will do my best to be better from now on."
Well, it's something I guess, Shouta thought as he begrudgingly accepted the skeletal man's apology.
"If you're going to start taking your teaching position seriously," the tired man said as the other Hero came back up from his bow. "You can start by working toward your teaching license. It takes more than just shoving students into a training scenario and expecting them to know what to do without covering the basics."
It was a dig on All Might's first training sessions. Battle Training certainly wasn't where Shouta would have started. Much like his Quirk Assessment Test, he would have taken the time to figure out where each student was when it came to fighting in general. Only then would he move forward toward any sort of Battle Training but keep Quirks out of it until the students were more comfortable with fighting by itself. Because releasing a bunch of inexperienced teenagers with permission to use their Quirks as they saw naively fit was a recipe for disaster. Yagi got lucky that his worked out so well for both classes.
And judging by their confrontation, things could have been very bad outside of the training between Bakugou and Midoriya. Another kudo for the kid's disguise.
"Thank you for the advice, Aizawa-san," Yagi said with a grateful nod. Then a somber expression grew on his face. "Might I ask a question?"
"Shoot," the tired man replied.
"Young Midoriya…he told me about how he grew up," the skeletal man said. "About…how the Quirkless are seen nowadays. How he was bullied and was told to…" His voice trailed off not wanting to speak of the baiting words. Though the other Heroes could guess what he was referring to as Yagi asked, "Has it really become that bad?"
Tired black eyes studied the Number One Hero before answering, "Yes. From what I have seen and been told by Midoriya, it has. He was mistreated by his peers and teachers growing up just because he was Quirkless. A bunch of Quirkist idiots being bigots."
Like you, Dumb Might.
"I see," Yagi said solemnly. "I wasn't aware the situation had deteriorated so much since I was…young."
The Erasure Hero quirked a brow at the hesitation and was about to ask about it when Nezu spoke up.
"I am aware of what you were about to say, Yagi-san," the principal interjected between sips of tea. "Please feel free to express yourself freely with us."
To some that may come off as a comforting statement but Shouta knew it was Nezu's way of demanding for Yagi to be completely truthful. Since he himself knew everything and wanted all the dominos to fall in place as they should. To reveal all that had transpired in that meeting whether the Number One Hero wanted to or not. Knowing this, All Might let out a conceding breath and gave a nod.
"As I said before, I was given One For All by my mentor," Yagi explained. "It is a Quirk that can be passed on and stockpiles power from holder to holder. It also helps boost the current holder's Quirk to become more powerful. Or so I was told by Nana. I never experienced that myself because before I received One For All, I too was…Quirkless."
The Erasure Hero just stared at shriveled form of the Number One Hero before him trying to process that information. All Might, the Symbol of Peace, had been Quirkless until he was gifted a Quirk. Who used that Quirk to become the Hero he was today and had offered that same Quirk to a Quirkless teenager.
"That is partly why I wish to give young Midoriya One For All," Yagi continued. "I see myself in him. He has the heart of a Hero. The drive and desire to help others. And he is skilled in fighting and with his Support Items. But his desire to be a Quirkless Hero is…ill-advised."
Shouta was seething internally but still didn't let it show as he asked, "Why?"
"Hero work is dangerous," the elder Hero replied. "Villains commit acts of violence with no regard of the laws and rules set in place to protect the people. Young Midoriya won the Sports Festival but that is a highly regulated event. I fear that without a Quirk he would be vulnerable in the real world. I believe that by giving him One For All would protect him as well as ensure his goal to become a Hero."
"What makes you think that he can't become a Hero without a Quirk?" Shouta pressed with a pointed glare.
"It is because I was once Quirkless myself," Yagi answered with a sigh. "I too had a dream to be a Hero growing up. To become a symbol of peace that the people could look to and be put at ease. But it was a lofty goal and I had no power in order to attain it. Not until Nana took me under her wing and passed One For All to me. Only then was I able to become the Symbol of Peace."
A tired eyebrow twitched in irritation at what he was implying. That a Quirk was necessary to be a Hero. But it wasn't. Because a Quirk was a tool and could help but the duties of a Hero didn't require one. Midoriya had certainly found a logical work around to not having a Quirk and it worked for him just fine. Besides his goal wasn't to become a Symbol of Peace like Yagi. He just wanted to help people which he could do just as well Quirkless than if he had a Quirk.
But All Might was still focused on the Quirk. As if it was the only way to be a Hero. Perhaps that was true for his case, but Midoriya wasn't him. He was his own person with his own goals. Ones he was working hard to reach with his own skills and power. Just because Yagi couldn't make it as a Quirkless Hero doesn't mean Midoriya can't. That is…if the Hero before him had even tried.
"Let me ask you something, All Might," Shouta said, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. "You said you had 'lofty goals' but 'no power' to attain them. Did you even try?"
"To what?" the skeletal man asked.
"Try to be a Quirkless Hero?" the tired man inquired.
"No, I didn't," All Might admitted, clasping his hands together. "Because I knew it was impossible. I wanted to be a symbol of peace. But how could I be without natural power? I still dreamed of becoming a Hero but I wasn't able to actually pursue that dream until I received One For All. Only then was I able to become a Hero."
Black hair rose and tired eyes flashed red as the Erasure Hero growled, "All Might, you fucking hypocrite."
The blonde jumped in alarm and stared at him frightenedly as he said, "What?"
"You can't say you know if you didn't even fucking try," Shouta snapped with his Quirk still active. "How could you know shit if you didn't put any effort into even attempting to be a Hero without a Quirk? You have no idea how much time and effort Midoriya has put toward becoming a Hero. And he is succeeding because of those efforts you never bothered with."
"I admit he is strong and skillful," Yagi insisted. "But he would be able to do so much more good with my Quirk. I tried to explain that to young Midoriya but he left before I could get him to understand. That if he truly wants to become a great Hero, he would be better off accepting One For All."
"You're not listening, All Might," Eraserhead retorted as he stood up in order to glare down at the blonde imbecile. "Midoriya doesn't care about being a great Hero. He only cares about being a Hero period. A Hero who helps for the sake of helping with no regards to the rankings or receiving credit. Because saving people should be credit enough."
The room fell silent after his little rant. The Erasure Hero eventually had to blink and deactivate his Quirk in the process. He let out an exasperated sigh as he sat back down and ran a hand through his shaggy hair. Nezu simply pushed a refreshed cup of tea closer to him which he accepted gratefully. While Yagi sat there taking in his words.
Eventually the blonde gathered his thoughts as he said, "I commend young Midoriya for his goals. He has more tenacity than I did before I received One For All. I accept that him becoming a Quirkless Hero is his desire and is possible to a degree. But I still believe he could do more with a Quirk. My Quirk."
Shouta was about to argue but Nezu held up a paw to steadying paw. Tired black eyes turned to him as the chimera took another sip of tea before speaking.
"It seems we are at a difference of opinion then," the principal said. "We believe Midoriya-kun will become a fine Hero as he is. While you believe he could be more with One For All. Both sides standing firm in their beliefs with no inclination to change, correct?"
The black-haired man and the blonde both gave affirming nods.
"Very well," Nezu continued putting down his cup. "There is no point in continuing this discussion at this time as both sides are certain their views are correct. Therefore, I suggest we adjourn this particular topic at this point in time. Perhaps to be revisited in the future as Midoriya-kun grows and proves one, neither, or both correct. Agreed?"
Again, the two other Heroes nodded in agreement as Nezu moved to refresh his cup again. Though there was still stubbornness permeating the air. But only time would tell which of them were right. That and how far Midoriya's convictions would take him.
"Now then, before we adjourn this meeting entirely, I have a few things I would like to discuss," Nezu said as he settled back into his seat with his tea. "Midoriya-kun made several points I would like to bring attention to. First being that you, Yagi-san, were consulting him without a parent and/or guardian present. As well as intended for him to not inform his parents in the event if he did accept One For All. Which would be against regulations considering he is a minor."
The skeletal man gave a confronted expression but nodded as he said, "Yes, young Midoriya did mention something similar to that."
"That's because Midoriya actually uses his brain unlike you," Shouta jeered he slumped back while crossing his arms.
Paying no mind to the tired man's comment though the skeletal man did bristle at the jab, Nezu pressed on, "As this occurred on campus during school hours, that would fall under the jurisdiction of Aizawa-san or myself as homeroom teacher and principal respectively. Acting as guardian while students are on school grounds. This denial of informing an appropriate authority figure steps out of your own range of authority, Yagi-san."
The Number One Hero gulped nervously at the stern look the principal was giving him. Shouta sat there silently enjoying every moment of it.
"This infringement cannot stand if we are to maintain the status quo," the mammal stated. "Along with this are your lapses in your teaching duties. You were offered a position at UA to teach, Yagi-san. Meaning you need to put forth the effort to be a proper teacher. You were allowed to join our staff without a teaching license on the behest of the Hero Commission as well as my own understanding of your ultimate goal of finding a successor."
The tired man was surprised and yet not that the Hero Comission had something to do with All Might being hired. They always did like to stick their noses into other people's business even if it had nothing to do with them. If it had to do with Heroes, they always tried to gain any kind of control over it. One of the reasons why Shouta was grateful for being an Underground Hero. They didn't have as much say in an Underground Hero's duty nor did they care. Because an Underground Hero didn't have as much media exposure or influence.
"While I do see that Midoriya-kun would make a good successor, I highly suggest you do not bring up the offer again," Nezu stressed, because 'highly suggested' was basically an order coming from him. "You must accept that he has different goals than you and there is nothing you can say to change his mind. He has given you his answer."
All Might let out a reluctant sigh but nodded anyway.
"Going back to your lack of teaching experience in conjunction with your views of Midoriya-kun's qualifications," the chimera continued. "I am concerned of whether you will be able to remain unbiased in your lessons while working with Midoriya-kun. As well as the level of effectiveness your lessons are in general. Not to mention your breach of authority while interacting with a minor individually."
"Don't forget that he had failed to give proper aid to an assault victim," Shouta added with a glare. "One who had nearly drowned and had blacked out. Rejecting him because he was Quirkless. Leaving him on a roof to fend for himself on the same day he was told to jump off of one."
"Also, a fair point," Nezu concurred. "As such, I would like to one, keep your interactions with Midoriya-kun to a minimum and two, to have another teacher present during your class time to observe and assess your teaching capabilities. Offering you support and guidance to become a better teacher yourself. While also assuring your continued association with Midoriya-kun and his peers is appropriate."
While the Number One Hero was used to hiding his emotions behind a smile, there was nothing he could do to hide the grimace that formed on his face. Not having the experience of maintaining a neutral expression like Shouta was. Who was blanking observing the scene but was reveling in the scolding internally.
"If you do not adhere to these conditions, we will have to revisit your fitness as a teacher here at UA," the principal stated firmly. "Because while it is important for you to find a successor, the safety and wellbeing of the students are far more important and I will not allow them to be jeopardized. Is that understood?"
The chimera took a sip of tea as he waited for the man's answer. Which didn't take long as Yagi let out a sigh as he nodded in agreement. Good. It was a step closer to ensuring Midoriya's wellbeing as well as a step forward to the skeletal man actually learning to be a teacher. A difficult but very important job in its own right.
"Very well," Nezu said before taking a last long drink of tea. He placed the empty cup down and then jumped down from the couch. "I will inform you of who will be observing your classes tomorrow once I've coordinated with the other teachers for the change. You are dismissed for today."
The principal walked toward the door but stopped before leaving the room. The mammal turned back and addressed the tired man, "Do come along, Aizawa-san. Let us leave Yagi-san to reflect on his actions."
Shouta simply gave a nod as he stood as well. Leaving All Might to his thoughts. That and the task of cleaning up the dirty dishes. Another tea themed rebuff as a final mark of Nezu's distaste of the situation they had found themselves in. The tired man had never been so glad for a cup of tea before.
The principal and homeroom teacher quietly walked the halls before parting ways. Nezu to his office to start his preparations for Yagi's new teaching circumstances and Shouta to the teachers' room. It wasn't until he was at his desk removing various things from his scarf in order to work on lesson plans and paperwork for a few more hours that he noticed he still had the thermos.
Keeping a thermos stored in his capture weapon may seem weird and cumbersome. But if Nezu could hide in his scarf with ease, a thermos was nothing compared to that. Shouta had intended to give it back to Midoriya clean today. But the whole drama with All Might distracted him from completing that task. And he didn't want to disturb the kid again today with giving it back.
Besides, this gave him an opportunity to return the favor of the green one giving him coffee. Sure, it had been as a thank you for yelling at some sexist idiots in the crowd. Something he had been happy to do because all of his students could kick ass regardless of gender. But he appreciated the gesture either way.
But what kind of drink would the kid like? Not coffee because he had said he didn't like it every time Shinsou would drink it around him. Hot chocolate maybe but it was summer and that was more a winter time drink. Tea was another option though the Hero was sure the teen got enough of that while working with Nezu. What other options were there? Shouta decided he would ask Hizashi for advice next time he saw him. The cockatoo had a wider range of experience with different drinks than he did. Not surprising that a perpetual napper relied on coffee to survive.
Whatever he ultimately decided on, hopefully it would act as a pick-me-up for the kid. Gods knew he needed it after the shit he's been going through recently. The confrontation, the poor reaction from the public to his Quirk status, and now today with Yagi being a Quirkist imbecile. Plus, the USJ early on in the school year and him being attacked by a Villain before UA. Midoriya just keeps drawing trouble to himself like a magnet. Meaning that Shouta would probably have to keep an extra eye on that particular problem child.
While Shouta made an effort to maintain an air of indifference, he did care for his students. Even the ones he kicked out of his class because he was doing them a favor and saving them from themselves. Whether out of lack of potential or just sheer stupidity of wanting to be a Hero but not willing to put in the work. But this year he had a good batch of students even though he would never admit that out loud. And with the addition of the two new problem children his class was now complete. He looked forward to see how far all of them would go.
...
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Notes extension: post/659158434591195136/part-2-chapter-23-a-tired-man-yells-at-an