"What do you think of All Might as a teacher?"
A huge group of reporters had gathered outside of UA's entrance gates. They had taken to interrogating every single student who walked in about All Might's teaching work.
"It redoubles my awareness of the fact that I'm enrolled where I can reap the rewards of the pinnacle of hero training. It goes without saying that his authority and mean are awe-inspiring, but so too are qualities such as his sense of humor. Now that we students will be constantly exposed to such an impressive role model, we will be able to study what one needs to possess in order to match the definition of a "top hero" and furthermore - "
At that point the reporters cut me off and waved me through the doors. It seemed the news that All Might was teaching us was an intrigue to the entire world.
Back int the classroom, things were back to normal and Mr. Aizawa was giving us our grades on yesterday's combat training.
Once finished, he said "Now let's get on with the homeroom notices. I'm sorry to have to spring this on you all, but…"
There was a noticeable sense of tension in the room as he spoke. As if everyone was dreading the next announcement.
"We need to pick a class president."
Immediately, everyone in class leapt to their feet, throwing their hands in the air and crying out their own slogans for the campaign. You see, at UA, showing that you can do well as Class President is a great way to get scouted and show the world just how good you can be. But…
"Settle down, everyone!" I credit. "This is a task laden with responsibility where you must carry and pull everyone else's weight. Just because you'd like to it doesn't mean you can! It's a holy office that requires the esteem and trust of those around you. The only truly worthy leader will emerge fro ma democratic choice, reflecting the will of the people. Which is why this must be settled by a vote."
Tsuyu Asui, the frog girl who sits in front of me, asked, "It's still too early to have developed any trust in each other."
Eijirou Kirishima, a redheaded boy with a hardening quirk, added, "And everyone will just vote for themselves."
"And that's precisely why the person who does manage to earn multiple votes will be the truly appropriate person for the job, no?! Is that all right, sensei?"
Mr. Aizawa replied, "As long as you all decide by the deadline, anything's fine."
I had already decided who I wanted to vote for. While I wanted the position myself - I could feel, taste the potential, and how much winning it would prove my worth - on reflection, I knew I wasn't ready yet to act as a real leader. I hadn't been able to perceive the truth behind that practical exam, and in the training exercise, I had not only lost as a group, but been unable to prevent my teammate from running off. No, the position of class representative could only, in good conscience, go to the worthiest person I knew.
When the results were tallied, he had three votes, including mine. He looked astounded.
"How did I get three votes?!" cried Midoriya. His name was at the top of the list, second place being the only other person with multiple votes, Momo Yaoyorozu.
Bakugou leapt to his feet, almost on cue, at seeing Midoriya' triumph. "What the hell, who voted for Deku!?"
I sighed and clenched my fists at the sight of a board free from my own name completely. "Zero votes. I see how it is…I can't argue with the system I chose."
"So you voted for someone else?" asked Yaoyorozu, looking dismayed.
Rikido SAto, a boy in our class with sugar based powers, asked, "Even though you really wanted the job so badly? What do you want, Iida?"
"So then, your president is Midoriya and your vice president is Yaoyorozu," said Mr. Aizawa, as our two new leaders stood before the class. Midoriya appeared horrified and Yaoyorozu annoyed.
Nearby, my classmates observed "I can get behind Midoriya!" and "Yaoyorozu was cool during training analysis."
It seemed nobody wanted to see me there.
At lunch, Midoriya confided in myself and Uraraka, "I was made class president so suddenly. I'm really not sure I'm up to the task."
"Sure you are!" replied Uraraka.
"You'll be great," I reassured him. "You've got the guts and judgement when it counts, Midoriya. I voted for you because I know you have it in you to carry us through."
"But didn't you want tone Class President yourself, Iida?" asked Uraraka, smiling at me. "You do look the part, cause of the glasses."
"Wanting a job and being suited to it are different things," I explained. "I humbly chose the candidate I felt was correct.
"Humbly?!" asked Midoriya and Uraraka.
"You know, I've been wondering something about you," said Uraraka, looking at me and smiling rather mischeivously. "Iida, are you a rich kid?"
I jumped a little at her perceptiveness. "I don't like to talk about my family, but if I must…yes, I'm from a family that's been in heroics for generations. I am currently the second son. Do you know of the turbo hero Ingenium?"
"Of course!" cried Midoriya. "He's the super popular hero whose Tokyo office has hired as many as 65 sidekicks! You don't mean -"
"You sure know a lot," I mumbled, but in reply to his question, "But that's correct. He's my older brother. He's a beloved hero who prizes the rules and guides the people. And I aspire to be a hero like him one day. As such, I think it might be too soon for me to be in a leadership position. For now, Midoriya, you are better suited to it."
My two friends were both looking at me with wide, impressed eyes. Uraraka then smiled even wider than usual, and looked me in the eyes.
"I think that's the first time I've seen you smile, Iida. You should do it more often."
I felt a little flushed; Uraraka's positivity was almost overwhelming, like looking into the sun. "That's not true, I smile all the time."
Before she could reply, a loud blare echoed through the cafeteria. Everyone jumped and started crying out. An electronic voice came over the intercom.
"SECURITY LEVEL 3 HAS BEEN BREACHED. STUDENTS, PLEASE PROMPTLY EVACUATE."
"What's security level 3?" I asked. An upperclassman, running all out for the hallway, replied "It means someone's infiltrated the school grounds! This hasn't happened in three years. Come on!" he cried.
As we made it into the hallway, we were met with an unstoppable mob.
"As expected of the pinnacle of education, their crisis response was swift!" I cried, oddly impressed.
"Yeah, but it was too swift and triggered a panic!" cried Midoriya, and before he could add more, the crowd surged him away, carrying him off though the crowd.
"Midoriya!" I cried; "Deku!" called Uraraka." We were squeezed together and pushed here and there by the suffocating, panicking mob.
"What on earth is going on?" I cried, looking around for some explanation. The crowd slammed me into the window, and I caught a glimpse outside.
The press from earlier were crowded around the front doors.
So they were the one's who'd infiltrated! I turned to the crowd, relieved. "It's nothing to worry about, it's just the press, calm down everyone - ah, ow!"
Nobody was listening to me. Everyone was running flat out.
Where are the teachers, Do they have their hands full dealing with the press?
Familiar voices were crying out, and I saw that like Midoriya, Kirishima and Kaminari were being swept away. Am I the only one here who realizes everything's fine? There's no reason for us to be panicking!"
"IIDA!" called Uraraka. She too was being swept away from me, her hand extended, calling as if she was never going to see me again.
If I were Midoriya, or my brother, what would they do? Think of a solution. Come up with a way to solve things.
"Uraraka"! I called, reaching out to her. "Make me float!" She looked confused, but did as I asked, her fingers gently brushing my outstretched hand.
It was a very strange sensation, as I shot up into the air, suddenly immune to the pull of gravity. My glasses fell off, slightly blurring my vision, but I could still see the glow of the emergency exit sign. My stomach was slightly dizzy from Uraraka's quirk, but there was no time to think about it now.
Now, for a place to draw everyone's attention. Engine boost!
I lifted my pants legs from my engines and with a simple boost, spiraled towards the glow of the exit sign. My feet found solid ground on it, and I was able to grasp the pipes above me to keep from floating off. I felt my legs shaking, my stomach even dizzier from spinning through the air. I need to be point blank and precise.
"Everyone calm down, it's ok!" I cried. The hubbub fell silent.
"It's just the press. There's nothing to panic about, it's OK! You're UA students. Let's conduct ourselves in the manner of those enrolled in the highest academia!"
The crowd fell silent and stopped pushing. With that, a wave of relief washed over everyone around me, and the incident was resolved.
In class afterwards, Midoriya and Yaoyorozu stood up to preside.
"All right president. Let's begin," said Yaoyorozu. Midoriya, shakily, said, "Uh, we need to decide who the other class officers are gonna be. But before that, I need to say something."
To my surprise, he turned to look at me. "I think that Iida should be our class rep. He was able to calm everyone down earlier. In my judgement, he's the right one for the job."
Kirishima, grinning, said, "He's got a point. Iida made a great showing back there. Not that I've got anything against Midoriya."
Kaminari added "He looked like the guy on the emergency exit sign."
Mr. Aizawa snapped, "I don't care who the rep is, just make your choice already.
I stood up, trying not to show them how deeply honored I felt. "If it's the wish of the class president, then I can't refuse."
"Do us proud, emergency exit!" called Kirishima back to me.
And that, simply put, is how I was chosen as president of Class 1-A.
At 12:50 PM the next day.
"Now, for today's basic hero training. This time, All Might, myself, and one other will supervise."
"What are we doing exactly?!" asked Hanta Sero, a boy with tape powers.
"Preparing you for disaster relief, from fires to floods. Rescue training."
Everyone started gossiping; sensei silenced them. "It's up to each of you whether or not you wear your costumes. As some of them are ill-suited to this sort of activity. The training site is a bit remote, so we'll be going by bus. That's all. Get ready."
As we arrived at the bus, I took charge. "Line up according to your ID numbers, fill those seats in an orderly fashion." I blew a whistle in excitement, but the moment we walked into the bus, it all fell apart. An open layout bus!
"Darnit," i muttered, slipping into disappointed despair. "It was this type of bus." Mina Ashido, a girl in our class with acid powers, laid a hand on my back.
Across the bus from me, Tsuyu Asui turned to Midoriya, who was sitting next to her.
"I generally say what's on ny mind, Midoriya."
"Oh? What is it, Asui?" He asked, jumping at being addressed.
"Call me Tsuyu. Your quirk resembles All Might's."
"R-r-rreally? Nah, I mean, I - "
"Hold up, Tsuyu," said Kirishima. "All Might doesn't get hurt though. They're already different in that way. But that sort of simple, enhancer type quirk. There's a lot you can do with one, and flashily too! My hardening power isn't bad for a fight, but I hate that it's just not that flashy."
Midoriya said, "Well, I think it's an awesome quirk! Definitely useful for a pro."
"Huh…but you know, heroics has a lot about it that can be more like a popularity contest, too," said Kirishima.
Next to me, Aoyama said "My naval laser is both flashy and strong enough for the pro level." Ashido replied "But it's way lame if it gives you a stomachache, honey."
Kirishima added "Well, if anyone in our class has pro quirks, it's Todoroki and Bakugou," looking over at the back seats of the bus where Bakugou was sulking. Bakugou just looked annoyed as usual and turned away with an irritable scoff.
"Bakugou's always fuming, though," said Asui, "So he won't be popular.
"You frog face!" Yelled Bakugou, instantly mad. "Come over here and say that to my face."
"See?" said Asui, with a sly grin.
Kaminari laid on "It's only been a little while since we met you, but we've already been made apodictically cognizant of your personality, redolent as it is of a tired getting steamed in a sewer." Oh yeah, Kaminari talks like that to sound smart.
Bakugou started yelling at him, "What kinda vocabulary is that? I'll fucking kill you!"
What bizarre, violent conversations! Though like Tsuyu, I was wondering a little. Why was Midoriya's quirk so much like All Might's?
"Almost there, settle down already," came Mr. Aizawa's reprimand from the front seat. "Yes, sir!" we chorused back at him.
Only a few minutes later and the bus stopped outside a big circular building with reflective panels all over. Inside, we found…
A huge theme set of mock areas, like a theme park attraction! Like USJ, Universal Studios Japan or something!
"A ship wreck, a landslide, a fire, etc.," said a mic-fide voice I remembered hearing dozens of times on TV. "This is a practical training area I created to simulate all kinds of accidents and disasters, and it's name is The Unforeseen Simulation joint!"
So it really is USJ, was the first thought, but the second was about the tall Pro Hero in a spacesuit standing in front of us, who we all knew as -
"The space hero 13!" said Midoriya. "The chilvarous pro who does phenomenal work helping with disaster relief!"
"Wow, I've always liked 13!" cheered Uraraka.
Mr. Aizawa mumbled something to 13, as we all gathered around and got ready for the day ahead. "OK, well, shall we?" he said, apparently satisfied with 13's reply.
"Before we begin," said 13, holding up fingers as they spoke, "Just one thing, or two…or three…or four…"
We get it.
"I'm certain you're all already quite aware, but my quirk is called 'Black Hole'. No matter what material gets sucked into its vortex, it will turn to dust."
"That's a quirk that's perfect for removing wreckage, and saving people injured by disasters!" cheered Midoriya.
"Yes," said 13, and a sinister note suddenly came into their voice. "However, it is a power that could also easily be used to kill people. And in that way, it's no different from the quirks of everyone here. Naturally, in this society of superhumans, quirks are strictly regulated, and the requirements for their lawful use enforced. We can tell at a glance that that is the makeup of this world. That being said, please don't forget that each of you possesses a quirk that can go awry. One wrong step is all it takes to kill someone else by accident. During Mr. Aizawa's strength test, you learned your power's true potential, and during All Might's battle training, I think you took away a true sense of the danger of brandishing those powers against each other. This lesson will serve as a fresh start! Let's get to studying about how to wield our quirks for the sake of human life. Your quirks do not exist to hurt others. Please leave this exercise having fully understood that your quirks exist to help people."
They're so cool! I thought, alongside the rest of the class.
"That is all. You have my gratitude for listening so intently and patiently!" 13 concluded with a bow.
"All right, first things first," said Mr. Aizawa - but before he could finish what he was saying, something seemed to catch his eye. Far away, by the fountain near USJ's play, some kinda of black, swirling mist had appeared out of nowhere, growing larger and larger. Suddenly, a hand came through the mist, as if it were a portal, and a face appeared within…or not a face…a guy with scraggly hair and a severed hand, covering most of his face and exposing a single, scarlet, bloodshot eye.
"Huddle together and don't move!" said Mr. Aizawa. "13! Protect the students!"
"What is that?" said Kirishima. , looking down as a cascade of strangers swept in through the mist. "Is this like that training pattern at the entrance exam?"
"Don't move!" said Mr. Aizawa. His tone was dead serious. "This are villains!"
There they were, right in the midst of our rescue training. The villains who pros did battle with. The giant mist guy who'd brought them inside was saying "Eraserhead and #13…according to the teacher's curriculum we proceed yesterday, All Might was supposed to be here, and yet…"
"I knew it. That was you yesterday," said Mr. Aizawa.
"Where is he…we went through all this trouble, and rustled up so many of us to bring along…you can't tell me All Might, the symbol of peace, isn't here…" the hand guy was hissing. "I wonder if he'll show up, if we kill some of these her kids?"
What we faced that day was an evil we could never have suspected.