A/N: This is my first chapter contribution for the TDDK Big Bang 2020! My partner was chococustard and she did the most beautiful piece and was very encouraging during my messy process, and I was very happy to have her. She's amazing, check her out! Thank you to all the Mods (BIG SHOUT OUT TO ANNA) for your hard work during these precarious times.

Midoriya Izuku did not have a good relationship with letters. It wasn't the nature of letters in particular; he enjoyed the rustic look of handwritten notes over indifferent text. However, he had too extensive a history of receiving daunting information and life threatening demands from pieces of parchment that he never expected favorable news. Dread sank in his stomach each time like a reflex, such as when an object is thrown at his face or when his body digests something terrible.

So when Melissa, his closest person to a sister, handed him an envelope with the official capital seal, his reaction was no different. But he had enough practice not to show it.

The envelope itself was expensive—embossed with the national symbol, the return address gilded in gold, and stamped on the back with the current king's insignia. The papers inside were just as grand but without the flourish. It was rare for citizens to receive physical documents since their country developed instantaneous communication between Scrolls and public PRC Terminals. Izuku would have to assume the message wasn't an urgent matter but it was obviously of severe importance.

He unfurled the first letter and read:

You are formally invited!

The recent census has confirmed an unmarried citizen between the age of eighteen and twenty-five currently resides in your home. We gladly invite them to the upcoming opportunity to honor the great nation of Yuuei with our beloved prince, Todoroki Shouto, in his coming of age. As he ventures into this new point in his life, he hopes to move forward with a partner, a true Daughter or Son of Yuuei. If your eligible citizen is interested in becoming the partner of Prince Shouto and an adored Prince or Princess of Yuuei, please fill out the enclosed form and return it to your local Province Services Office. One citizen from each province will be drawn at random to meet the Prince.

Participants will be invited to stay at the lovely Yuuei Palace in Ryval for the duration of their stay. The families of each participant will be generously compensated for their service to the royal family.

At first, Izuku stared, uncomprehending. He struggled to recall anything he learned about this contest. He must have studied it over ten years ago. What was its popular name again? The Marriage? The Bachelor…ette? Choosing…election…Selection! The Selection.

He scanned the second letter for more clues. It was a concise questionnaire asking about the applicant but had a specific range of topics from birth details, physical descriptions, quirk description, special talents, number of languages, and education. Izuku wrinkled his nose at the clear disregard for 'random drawing'. Considering the rumors of the King's marriage with the Queen, it would be unsurprising if he handpicked every immaculate candidate for his son. Though the letter did mention 'Daughter or Son'. Perhaps the King's plans weren't entirely genetic but looked into expanding his supporting factions—

Izuku internally groaned— he remembered everything now. The fake transparency, the showmanship of events, the strings pulled behind cameras...The Selection was the largest artificial show of political power disguised as a fairytale. It was the one kingdom affair Izuku wanted to avoid in his lifetime.

The Selection was more than a contest, it was a pivotal landmark that determined the future of an heirs reign. When the cameras were on, it was a paradise; when the cameras were off, it was a political war zone. Izuku dreaded it because the royal crown had a special faction at their disposal, skilled at intelligence and combat, who were perfect lapdogs to clean up all troubles during such a sensitive time period. Izuku was a part of those lapdogs.

It was ironic Izuku began weaving predictions before he even remembered the contents of his job. His commander would be proud.

Later, Izuku learned the Selection letters arrived three weeks prior. Around the time he was sent on two intelligence recons in Bridgetown. The correlation wasn't unusual, per se, but Izuku found it odd his commander didn't inform him immediately after he completed his assignments. Izuku expected a meeting or multiple missives to prepare for such a grand occasion, but instead, he was caught by surprise. It was rare to catch Izuku by surprise.

Melissa sent in her application immediately after speaking with him. He had little reason to stop her except personal concern. However, it was clear the palace wouldn't choose anyone below a Six. Quirks were less impressive in the lower castes, which was less enticing to the all-powerful Ones whose entire authority relied on the foundation of being evolutionarily advantaged.

Melissa asked Izuku to submit his, but-thankfully-he couldn't even if he wanted to. He was a puppet to the crown, meant to stay in the shadows. It would be a waste of a letter.

—

A week passed and Izuku, as it was pointed out to him, was driving Melissa insane. It had nothing to do with the Selection, but wholly to do with Izuku remaining home for a week. And, again it needed pointing out to him, his restless energy was a contagious nightmare. After a few days, Izuku did find it odd he wasn't called for an assignment— he even checked his Scroll every hour—but he assumed the coming events were more important than his side services to the crown.

Melissa had to force Izuku out of his apartment when his 'high-strung-workaholic-complex' echoed across her ceiling. In his defense, she was the one who chose to live below him and she didn't listen when he said the place was collapsing and lacked sound insulation. She retorted with a sudden urge to sharpen her underutilized scalpel collection, and Izuku prepared to leave as soon as he could.

He changed his clothes before taking a surreptitious path towards the edge of the village. He wore his Intelligencer uniform, which was unique for each ranger but recognizable in pattern. His design was form-fitted and comfortable, but overall black. Only the green pattern of his faction running up his stirrups, and his painted face mask of a broad toothy smile, showed any pop of color.

He ran above the town of Tsuyoi, watching the vision of melted pearls draped on every rooftop. Few trees had their leaves for the season, but there was no lack of nature. Buildings grew old but exposed vines and bamboo wove into the fractured wood as if greeting an old friend, creating a sturdy foundation when there should be none.

Reaching the edge of the village, a man in standard Vanguard armor stood next to a nondescript four-wheel black van. Izuku watched and waited, checking no one else was nearby. The Vanguard was loading boxes into the back of the van, and as he finished Izuku took the chance to sneak closer.

"Kacchan!" Izuku exclaimed brightly, popping upwards from a nearby bush but Bakugo didn't flinch.

"A surprise visit from Deku?" Bakugo said with a rumble. "How surprising."

"Still not as surprising as your amazing sense of humor," Izuku laughed, patting Bakugo's armored back. His shoulder jerked forward and Bakugo held back his usual glower. Izuku assumed he was in a good mood.

Bakugo was the assigned Vanguard to their town and the only outsider to regularly visit. Vanguards were stationed everywhere across the kingdom as the eyes, ears, and strength of the Royal family to maintain peace. Usually, a town would have several Vanguards, but since Tsuyoi was occupied of all Eights and poorly governed, one was more than enough.

Izuku stopped short when he looked closer at Bakugo. He smacked his shoulder. "Woah, did you…cut your hair?"

Bakugo's shoulders tensed before he whipped his head to glare at him. "What the fuck are you asking for?"

Izuku pressed his curling lips together, though Bakugo couldn't see it through his mask. He raised his arms in defense. "Nothing. It's great."

"Oh really?" Bakugo happened to pick up a wrench from his van and it glistened under the sun's light.

Izuku was reminded that Bakugo truly had the most entertaining aggressive personality in the Kingdom. Not that Izuku would ever say that. "I would never lie to you, you know that! I love admiring your handsome face every time you remove that hideous military helmet. Any special reason?"

A tick appeared at the corner of Bakugo's jaw, but he lowered the wrench, throwing it back into the van. "Let me remind you, Deku. I don't know shit about you. And this arrangement never was, and will never be, a friendly gathering to talk about our appearance."

Izuku rummaged inside the van beyond the boxes of food to his usual target of unmarked items. It was a good selection: jewels, watches, bottles of liquids, high brand coffee beans, and brand new clothes to name a few. It wasn't illegal for certain castes to obtain these items, but certain companies took extra pains to make them inaccessible. It was illegal to sell without a permit though, but Bakugo clearly had that covered.

"Are you saying I no longer have permission to flirt with you?" Izuku's tone feigned hurt. "I thought we were finally making a connection," he teased.

"Everything is double today. You touch it, you owe me," Bakugo snapped.

"Aw, don't be like that! I'm a regular!" Izuku just started eyeing a crate of assorted spirits. It was nice to buy alcohol for the homes when the weather got this frigid.

"A regular pain in the ass. Hurry it up, I have places to be!"

"Yeah, yeah. Stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. How can you tell me not to fall for you?"

Izuku heard a noise comparable to a growl and allowed a victorious smile as he rifled deeper into the boxes.

"I don't know if you heard," Bakugo announced slowly, "but today is my last run."

Izuku snapped his head upwards. He urgently asked, "What? What happened?"

Did somebody report him? Was the town going to get penalized? They hadn't done anything particularly illegal, but all it took was one prejudiced guard or governor to backslide all their hard work over the years.

"Don't bust your balls," Bakugo grouched, raising his chin. "I'm not in trouble. I'm being transferred, that's all."

Izuku sighed, relieved. "I see." He glanced at the number of edible goods in the van.

Bakugo had been assigned to their village for years. At first, everyone hated him, but the moment he offered to sell their extra crops and baked goods when no one would make a transaction with an Eight, he was as good as family.

"Why do you help us?" Kota had asked him one day. Melissa was behind Kota, curiously. She couldn't reprimand him since she had the same question in mind. "No one likes you."

Bakugo just swiped his nose and sniffed. "I have nothing else to do all damn day, and I refuse to walk up and down your boring, filthy, fucking trash heap of a town, so I might as well make a buck."

"But you always bring back 100% of the profit," Melissa chimed in.

"Shut the fuck up. Eights can't math."

Izuku laughed for weeks after hearing the story.

Bakugo wasn't an average Vanguard. He was smart, resourceful, and his bark was greater than his bite. In fact, it took a long time before Izuku was able to figure out his quirk. Bakugo was a mystery, and Izuku liked him enough not to pry. Izuku almost considered him a friend.

"I'll look into who will replace me," Bakugo grumbled, though it sounded softer than usual. Bakugo had a way of speaking that sounded like it was an effortless pain. "I don't want to hear you crying to me about how I'm ditching these guys."

"You'd do that?" Izuku thought he was a good guy with a rough exterior but, sometimes—

"You got a fucking problem?"

—he shouldn't pry, right. "Nah. None at all." Izuku smiled. "Thank you."

Bakugo made some rumbling complaint that it wasn't for him, but Izuku ignored it. Izuku took the entire crate of alcohol, a few books, and a nice scarf and showed them to Bakugo. It was more than he needed, but he felt zealous today.

"Three thousand Credits and this smile do it for you?" Izuku pointed to his mask.

"Yeah, yeah, take it."

Izuku's brows raised but he wordlessly tapped his Scroll against the reader inside the van. "That was half the price I expected. Are you sure you're my Kaachan?"

"The price of you leaving is worth a lot to me," he deadpanned.

Izuku grinned. "Whatever you say, handsome."

"Fucking get out of here!"

Deku laughed as he hefted up his prizes and left the way he came. He'd have to figure out where Bakugo would transfer to hassle him later.

—

"For those of you just joining us, you've guessed it! We're buzzing around The Selection today! It's been thirty years since our King Enji selected our beloved Queen Rei in a whirlwind of romance, but it's finally time to witness their son find his One and only. I hope everyone got in their applications because I hear our Prince Todoroki Shouto is a real catch— "

Yuuei's leading spokesman, Present Mic, dazzled the outdated flat screen TV with his brilliant smile and a dashing suit reflecting the kingdom's colors of red and white. He sat at his porcelain white desk and a graphic hung next to his head with Yuuei's national symbol, The Eight Bodies.

Izuku sat with the Izumi family to view the lineup of chosen candidates. The Yuuei Capital Report was a free broadcasting station, so as long as a citizen found a display, they could view the results. Restaurants, train stations, PRC Terminals— Izuku expected all of them to share the same footage. However, he was happy to enjoy good food and company to drown out the over the top showcase rather than watch it alone.

They gathered around a low dining table with ceramic bowls of rice, individual plates, and chopsticks. Bottles of spirits, contributed by Izuku, were also scattered across the table. Plates of raw vegetables covered most of the space along with two large bubbling pots of broth which varied in haze and color. There was only one plate of meat, but that was common. In fact, it was a very special occasion when they all dined together with any meat. And if one looked closely, they could see the dents on the side of the pots and the chips around the corner of the plates.

The room was filled with seven, including Izuku, which was a lot considering most of the small houses in Tsuyoi. However the Izumi family held the largest home along with the best furnishings available. They were a staple and kindness to their community from the beginning of their town. They housed and fed anyone in need, and helped demoted newcomers that popped in throughout the years. There wasn't anyone who didn't love or respect them.

Melissa, Shino, Tomoko, and Ryuko leaned excitedly towards the TV screen, hanging on Mic's every word and gesture like a cat watching a string.

"As we are just twenty minutes away from the reveal, let's remind everyone that this year's 42nd Selection is very special! The available slots to apply were open to all eligible 18 to 25 year-old citizens of Yuuei. Meaning women and men could compete for the heart of our beloved prince. Will this romance go down in history as the greatest in our country?"

The women around the table tittered.

Tomoko, her long green hair tied in a chopstick bun, spoke, "Mic is so over the top, I love it! The prince must really be amazing as they say."

"What I wouldn't give to put my name in the running for princess." Ryuko sighed. "I would've wooed the prince in a heartbeat." She leaned back, blond hair trailing towards the floor.

Shino was already pointing her chopsticks. "Honey, a toddler would run from you with those money hungry eyes of yours," she leered.

"Got something to say, crinkles?" Ryuko parried back, her hand slapping the table.

"Just thinking your chest isn't big enough to carry your ego, sweetie," Shino cackled.

Tomoko tried to calm them down, but everyone knew they could banter from dawn to dusk and didn't interfere. Melissa rolled her eyes, smiling, and looked to Izuku. He smiled back as if enjoying a personal joke, so she returned a questioning raise of her brow.

"I never took you for a romantic, Mel," he said.

"Oh," She moved a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. "Only a little bit. As a scientist, it's unfamiliar, but I believe it's because I haven't done enough research," she spoke, stilted, as if it were embarrassing.

"Have you even had your first kiss yet?" Izuku teased.

Her cheeks ran red up to her ears. "N-no," she said in a hush. "Neither have you."

Izuku raised his brows and took a sip of water.

She smacked his arm with a look of mirth and disbelief. "Izuku! You never told me!"

"You never asked." He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. It was never romantic, it was always part of his work. Moreover, it wasn't the sort of details he wanted for casual conversation. "Do you have a crush yet?"

"Don't change the subject." Melissa grinned. "Do you have a crush? Aw, Zuzu, I can't believe we haven't had this talk yet!"

Izuku made a theatric grimace. "I thought we were done with that name," he groaned. "And I would never have a crush without telling you. I hardly have the time to think about that stuff."

"I don't remember agreeing to that," she said in passing. "And in twenty years, you've never had a half-second thought about liking another human being? I've seen you jump twenty topics in two breaths. Izuku." She looked at him as if she caught him in the largest lie known to mankind.

"Well, we should agree to it now," he retorted. "And it's the truth! What would I even think about? The person's face? Their quirk? Do they dress nice? Smell nice? Can they fight? Are they smart? Can they drive—"

"Yes!" Melissa cut in, encouraging. "All those things! Who did you think about?"

"I just listed the first superficial characteristics I could think of," Izuku said with a small tone of victory.

Melissa groaned then laughed in amazement. "You're absolutely hopeless." She leaned back and looked to the ceiling. "I won't be surprised the day you finally like someone, you won't have the words for it."

"Isn't that when someone is 'struck dumb'?"

"That's the idea."

"Why do you look so happy?" Izuku squinted.

She softly pat his cheek as if to assuage him. Izuku pouted and finished filling his plate in silence.

Yawara sat at the head of the table, farthest from the television, and made a bowing motion. Everyone proceeded to dip their raw food into one of the simmering pots and watched them cook.

The last at their table, Kota, sat to Izuku's left with his head in his hand and poking at his raw cabbage. His red cap, which never left his head, shadowed his face.

"It's not like you to be quiet," Izuku addressed him. Izuku picked up some cabbage and enoki mushrooms and tossed them into the pot in front of them. Kota followed suit, tossing his portion.

"The Selection is stupid. Everyone falls for it."

"Hmm," Izuku hummed, unsurprised by Kota's opinionated statement. "What is everyone falling for?"

"Playing the system. Pretending everyone is happy. It's cowardly."

Izuku's mouth curled slightly. "Hm, I see. Don't you think they could be scared?"

"Why do they pretend to like someone who is scary? Because they're cowards." Kota clenches his chopsticks. "The prince sends the Vanguards, he makes unfair rules, he hates Empties."

Ryuko threw a mushroom at Kota's face, hearing part of the conversation. Izuku had to cover his mouth with chopsticks at Kota's stunned expression.

"You're never to use that phrase, Kota. Our number doesn't define us," she said wisely.

Kota didn't say a word in return, but his hands relaxed.

"Where did you hear that phrase?" Izuku whispered.

"At school. They don't say it to me though."

Izuku couldn't say he was surprised. Every child was required to have an education in Yuuei. Lower castes had to attend public school, but Fours and above could attend private or specialized schools. Schools were currently on break, but that meant Kota must have heard it a few times. He probably even defended his friends with his Quirk but was ridiculed for it.

"If you married the prince—" Izuku began.

Kota whipped his head up, disgust smeared on his face. It was difficult not to burst out laughing.

"— theoretically, I mean. Don't you think it would be easier to change Yuuei? Stop the bad Vanguards, make better rules. Help your friends."

"No way," Kota intoned with confidence. "It's dishonest and temporary. The next ruler would just change everything again. Or ambassadors will ignore the changes and cause more problems. Change starts with one person, but continues with a connect—collec—collective," he corrected himself.

Izuku blinked. "You've been studying a lot."

Kota took more gusto in eating his food, like a job well done. "I'm not an idiot."

"Here they are, ladies and gentlemen! The list of our beloved Selected! As with every Selection, we will announce the name along with caste and display the province and submitted photos. Let's hope we don't see anything embarrassing."

A hush fell over the room, and the ladies returned to their hypnotic trance towards the screen. Izuku took a large bite of rice, feigning disinterest, but hoping if he ate the whole time he'd be excused from making commentary. He was watching for the sake of his profession, not for personal enjoyment.

"First up, it's a Two, Momo Yaoyorozu!" The box next to Mic's head displayed a photo with a two in the corner and 'Yagimi Province' at the bottom. The image was of a beautiful woman with long black hair wearing a lavish silk top with many subtle adornments.

Ryuko gasped. "I heard of Momo! She's the heiress to the Creati empire! I've always dreamed of wearing their wonderful clothes."

"Don't dream below your age, sweetie," Shino said.

"Your cups couldn't fill them anyway," Tomoko said at the same time.

Ryuko eyes flared, her chopstick creaking in her hand. Izuku almost choked on a piece of squash.

The Creati Empire was more than clothes, Izuku recalled. They made tremendous headway in the development of armory construction and materials. And they were also number one in designing casual quirk resistant fabric for a wide price range. They held almost unanimous support from the general populace.

"Next is also a Two, Iida Tenya!" A handsome man with a strong jaw, broad shoulders, and a severe expression popped on the screen. 'Chigawa Province' flashed at the bottom.

"Ooh, Ingenium?" Izuku chimed in. They're a prominent group in the army, working as soldiers and messengers due to their hereditary speed. Also staunchly in support of the king.

"Fastest man to the heart," Shino joked.

"We have a Six, Ochako Uraraka! A Four, Tamaki Amajiki! A Three, Tsuyu Asui!"

The list went on and never strayed below a Six. Izuku could recognize names only if they were tied with the military. It was possible he met them before as 'Deku', but unless they were previously investigated for crimes he didn't need to remember them.

As the names continued, Izuku drifted off and came back to his conversation with Melissa. Did the prince think of this competition as a way to find a romantic partner? It would be depressing if he needed a lottery to find options. Yuuei had a history of romantic royals, but they didn't historically last long as rulers. Even the King didn't select love, even if many citizens refused to see it.

If a prince was a true romantic, he wouldn't use the Selection. Unless he chose someone he already liked and brought them into the competition to feign fairness. Did Endeavor do that for his candidates? Izuku groaned. He was weaving theories again.

It didn't matter who got chosen, but Izuku admitted he felt sorry for all the candidates who joined believing in finding love. They would be sorely disappointed.

"And the last of the selected, you're—oh my this is exciting!" Present Mic did a dramatic show of moving his eyes to the side as if confirming what he was about to read. The girls were bouncing in their seats. He might have paused just to add dramatics to the last choice. Izuku smiled, amused, and raised a glass to his lips. "You'll never believe it! The last is— an Eight, Midoriya Izuku!"

Izuku sprayed water all over the table. Sharp coughing came from Kota next to him and inhuman shrills followed around the room. The screen displayed a photo of Izuku he'd never seen before. He was staring straight ahead, void of expression, and his clothes were unfamiliar but decent for his class. His hair didn't look different, so it had to be recent, but he couldn't recall it.

The spokesman's voice drowned into the background, a muffled bass drum behind a glass that fell farther and farther away. Izuku couldn't have heard correctly. He couldn't have.

"You entered?" Tomoko gaped, her eyes sparkling. Her bright blue hair focused his attention back to the present like a sharp violin string piercing his ear.

Izuku tried to speak, a hand thumping his chest. "N-no! I can't—I wouldn't—"

"You're going to be royalty!" Ryuko exclaimed.

"I don't think—" They acted as if he'd already won. Izuku glanced at Kota. He wasn't looking at him, his hands clamped tight under the table.

"We raised a future royal," Ryuko simpered into a sigh. All the Izumi girls followed suit and looked ready to cry.

Melissa looked concerned. She understood why he shouldn't have been up there. It didn't make sense.

"Look, there has to be a misunderstanding," Izuku started laughing nervously, not knowing how to explain it. Of course he hadn't entered, it wasn't an option to someone like him. Not just his position with the crown, but as the lowest caste citizen in the country. It had to be some sort of monumental joke. He rather lotto his spot to another villager, someone who cared more about their chances and dreamed of a better life.

"But this is amazing!" exclaimed Tomoko. "Big beds, all the food you could imagine. Izuku no one can deserve it as much as you do."

"And you can invite us to all the best parties if you get bored with all those stuffy privileged lords and ladies." Ryuko winked at him.

"And even if you don't like the prince, all sorts of amazing people from different castes live in Ryval. You can learn so much! It's like being sent off to a university," Shino finished.

"Sent off…" Izuku mumbled. Then he knew.

Izuku shot up.

He quickly bowed when he realized how he likely looked—white as a sheet but eyes cold and flinty over something that should be good news.

"Sorry, I— I need to go. Thank you for the food. I'll talk to you later, okay?" He directed the last statement mainly to Melissa.

Izuku burst out the doors and ran straight to his home. He was wary to pass anyone that would recognize him and offer congratulations. The more he thought about the sudden surprise, the more outlandish the reasoning.

Izuku was being planted in the Selection, that was clear. But why the secrecy? Why him?

Izuku would make sure Aizawa explained himself thoroughly.

A/N: (not beta-d btw, we die like grills) Big real talk. This story is my baby. I've had this idea for at least two years now, and I really bit off the bark taking it into MY FIRST FULL BIG BANG (last time I was a pinch hitter, I don't count that). The overthinking was insane. But it was a necessary push because perfectionism would've made sure I never ever finished this. Thank you, thank you again to everyone in the Big Bang, it was a rough one but everyone came together with so many great pieces and support.

I always write to improve, comments and critiques are welcome! Please help make my stories better! Thank you!