Chapter 11

Coming out in 12th place wasn't so bad in her book considering the other contestants uncanny abilities in comparison. Though Deku's strange debut into first place just proved to worker harder for what one wanted, no matter the risk.

As she ran through the top hallways of the arena building with eagerness, it was a tad embarrassing for how much she wanted to show off. In high hopes of not only making him proud, but also her parents.

Not waiting a second longer to break away from the crowd to join Aizawa to hear what he had to say about her personal performance, wondering if he had even paid attention to her out there on the track.

It was the first break before the second round of events would be held, and everyone was off for either lunch or mental training to prep.

Aizawa slouched back into the chair, sighing hard at the replay on the video. Glad to see it was just another's stunt that luckily got no one else, Ochako in particular, injured. Or maybe not too gravely. Though Mic by his side stood, patting him on the shoulder with a slight snicker at the worried behavior he let slip past the cracks of the always cold, well kept behavior.

"Jeez your yelling almost gave me a heart attack more than the race!," he laughed, enjoying the agitated expression he wore.

Aizawa shrugged him off. "Whatever. I was concerned about everyone else as well."

"Whatever you say! Let's go grab lunch, I am starving!"

"You're always starving."

Their bickering could be heard down the hall as they exited the room, making way to the pro hero lounge to also conversate among others present with the U.A. faculty.

He'd be sure to congratulate his class on coming most up on the top, drawing attention from many agencies and going well on their way to internships. Surely they'd get more than what they bargained for after the attack at the USJ placing them dead set in the spotlight. With the media frenzied, asking questions from the school about his class in particular, he wasn't sure how to handle it.

They could hear the sounds of feet running along the floor as they halted, glancing over their shoulders as her figure came into view. Sweaty and tattered from the games.

"Mr. Aizawa!," Ochako waved, a small smile filling her face through the heavy breaths she took.

Present Mic was stunned for a moment seeing the girl in close up once more, with a wide grin plastered immediately after looking back and forth to see her and his friends faces upon greeting. The drama was just too enticing not to get drawn up into it since Eraserhead was always one to rant about straying away from such behavior, regardless if this was kept under wraps.

An excuse to tease at him was more than enough to get him going.

They watched her rest her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.

"Oh Shou she's adorable!," Mic squealed, tugging an arm roughly around his shoulder.

Though through his scowl, to Mic's surprise he ignored him. Carefully observing her for an indication that she may have been hurt. For the most part he felt a little guilty, knowing he personally played a role into her late wakening and exhausted demeanor that was surely affecting the performance in the sports festival.

Ochako raised her head, blushing slightly with bright eyes.

"Did you see me out there?," she asked with an eager hint to her voice.

Aizawa simply stared back at her with the usual calm expression.

"Yes. You did well. Though maybe you should show off your quirk a little more. I'm not the only one watching after all."

Her smile fell, blinking a few times at his somewhat praised answer.

Even Mic's face contorted uncomfortably, looking close at how the words sunk the poor girls heart as Aizawa turned his back, continuing his way down the hall.

"We're off to get lunch. You should eat too with the other students," he said low over his shoulder.

Ochako clasped a hand over her heart with wide, hurt eyes as his back began to fade farther away.

Mic looked back and forth, wanting to follow but also feeling too sorry to let the uneasy tension go. Had he always been this straight forward to her? That shallow look within her eyes at the sound of that blunt answer even shook him to the core.

He walked up to her with a bright smile, hands on his hips to ease the mood.

Ochako looked up at him, broken from her thoughts to meet his opposite personality.

"Don't worry about him! You were perfect girly!," he teased, raising a hand to place on her head to ruffle it.

But as he did so, he stopped an inch before, the smile fading a tad as he recalled something similar.

A memory of this exact girl at the beginning of the year who had entered his office. Begging to let her share the earned points during the entry exam with the one called Izuku. The voice pleading, with a kind gesture of selflessness. And in that same sense, he comforted her, with the exact same gesture.

Mic pulled his hand away slowly as she studied him confused. His eyes skimmed over her face, down to her body.

With a small bit of a smirk forming.

"I guess you've always been around huh?," he muttered, ignoring the strange look she gave him as he turned.

Waving to her over his shoulder as he began to jog to catch up to Aizawa. It felt odd, like he was running away from her. Unable to meet that same gaze knowing that it was the sole affection of his best friend. There were very few things in life that made Mic uncomfortable enough to chicken away, but something pulled deep down that wouldn't allow for snarky comments yet. The best word that would come to mind, for some reason, was intimidation.

Was it perhaps that no other woman had ever scored the heart of Eraserhead? Not even the few he had suggested, more over forced, his way to give him some time of attention. Rarely Aizawa would go along with it, laughing as the round of booze was passed in the nights they went out causing his mind to grow hazy then take them off to certain rooms for intimacy. But even then, he never stayed. Left immediately no matter how drunk, sure to leave an impression that there was absolutely no love or desire for anything further than physical.

Watching them in that classroom, the sweet way he handled her by placing the girl into his Very private space was almost maddening, knowing this had been going on for months and wasn't told. It was a side of Shouta that possibly made him jealous of her, that she got to witness what Mic never knew existed.

Finally he caught up, shaking the uneasy feeling off.

"Wow you're an asshole! Could I have been wrong about your little feelings?," he mocked as Aizawa picked up the pace more agitated than normal.

"You'd think seeing her would've made you happier!"

In turn he glared at him with red eyes for a moment. "Do you ever shut up?"

Mic raised his hands in defense. "I'm just saying Shou that was mean."

They reached the center area meant only for pro heros, passing through the tight security with their identification cards. It was packed, filled with adoring pros boosting with their egos in means of the spotlight. A crowd that always put a bad taste in his mouth, how utterly distasteful they appeared to the underground hero.

Aizawa didn't bother to grab a tray, only stopping for a juice box not really up for a meal at the moment. Though his partner loaded a tray down with one of anything they had, stopping to give fake laughs at those who greeted them. While he in turn ignored them completely, slipping through to an isolated table at the very far corner of the inside.

Mic shuffled through, trying to keep up passing the people in his way. He couldn't understand why the man was suddenly sulking more than usual. Today was an eventful day if anything, all class 1-A were doing excellent. The students were happy. The faculty, aside from his accidental outburst, were also overjoyed.

Shoving his tray down, he mimicked Aizawa's pouting expression. Resting his face in the palms of his hands, staring hard at him. Though he appeared spaced off in a daze, looking anywhere else than at other people in a deep thought. Tuning out the sounds of laughter and ideal conversation.

He hated this scene more than anything. But for now he'd deal, unwilling to admit it was for Mic's sake since he liked this.

"So~," he began, that same voice pitch that told him that the blond was about to ask something annoying.

"Ya gunna apologize to her?"

"What for?," he replied bored, sucking hard on his straw.

Mic scowled. "For being a jerk! You totally blew the light out in her eyes!"

Aizawa looked away towards the windows, glancing at the crowd of adoring fans making their way on the outside to their vehicles, others arriving.

"So? She should stop putting me on top of her priority list, it'll get her no where in sight of becoming a pro."

"So you're annoyed because she wanted your approval?"

"I'm annoyed because you won't shut up."

Mic aggressively bite into his apple, growing agitated himself. Shouta could be so cruel at times, even if it was the chance for a learning experience for the girl. Sure she was his student, but not recognizing the greater role he played in her life would help nothing, at least in his nosey opinion.

"You can't just ignore your relationship," he uttered, earning another glare from him.

"It's none of your business, stop meddling already," he snapped a little louder for a few heads to turn.

Mic took advantage of his uncomfortable shift at the attention they drew, giving a wicked smile.

Aizawa leaned further onto the table to hush his voice from listening ears.

"You already practically told an audience about my private life. The faculty knows it was us two up there. So I have enough on my plate."

"Oh?," Mic teased, giving him a slight wink. "Are you getting shy?"

He gave him a taken back look, parting his lips in angered confusion at how dense the voice hero could be at times. There was no getting into his head the severity of what was at stake if people found out, and he couldn't tell if it was a joke or if he was really that stupid.

So naturally he'd be tense, still dealing with the shock value at what would come once he'd have to face someone like Midnight who'd surely hound them to find the source of their conversation.

"What's wrong with you!?," he hissed, angered by the grin that grew wider on Mic's face.

"When's the last time you saw her before this?," Mic whispered with a seductive tone, obvious at what he was getting at.

Aizawa opened his mouth to snap at him but stopped, thinking over a proper answer. Maybe if he gave the man something, he'd leave him alone. For now at least, waiting until a more safe area came.

So he squinted his eyes, leaning back onto the wall in his seat with a strong look. Smug to turn the tables around, how easily manipulated Mic was.

"Last night actually," he answered calmly finishing his juice, watching as Mic began to squirm in his spot like an excited child. That spark inched in the corner of his glasses as he practically leaned over the whole table.

"Tell me more!," he squealed.

"No," Aizawa stood, slamming the small box into the trash and made his way around the table, past the crowds with a smirk. Sensing the floored face Mic had made, so easily giving the power over to him once again as he scrambled out from the seat to follow.

Mic reached out and grabbed him hard by his forearm, trying to pull him back as they struggled against each other. Cursing at one another, bursting past the doors and running straight into Midnight and the rest of the U.A. faculty making their way in for lunch.

Both were shocked, ceasing their badgering at once upon seeing the mouse's small, evil smile with his hands behind his back leading the group. There nearby was Midnight with her hands on her hips, the rest arms crossed all adorning looks of disapproval. Maybe even concern by how strange they had been acting towards one another lately.

"My My. And I can recall just a moment ago fussing you both for the horse play, correct?"

oo

Ochako tried to focus on the tray in her hands, frowning as she walked past the packed room of students. Off into the distance she made out Deku who waved to her alongside Ilda, a cheery smile on his face with the other classmates of 1-A.

She gave a weak smile back, trying to push down the negative thoughts in her head due to their teachers words.

It wasn't to be mean, just a reminder on the more important things worth noting around them. And he was correct about one thing, he wasn't the only one watching. There was a secret hint to them that spoke to her, telling her not to worry about what he thought because it didn't matter. Only on succeeding, progression into the finals while pushing down the childish need for his validation.

Still, it stung to hear. Shouta never did mind the proper scolding when needed, regardless of the situation or who was around. He made sure to keep her in check and she was grateful. Though a more kind answer would've been nice she supposed.

Deku began to rant as she sat down, trying to make out his voice among the loud conversations of the overly excited bunch, listening to other classes also shout around each other.

Every muscle hurt, but after the encounter she was determined to follow through with what Aizawa warned her of. Regardless of the next task up ahead.

"Deku you really were amazing out there," she added, trying to appear more friendly.

That comment clearly make him more vibrant, a compliment coming from the girl that he was trying hard to win back into his good gracious.

Though it caused a few other students to turn heads, whispering low as they stared at the two not quite understanding the solid friendship dynamic they were working towards.

"So what do you think will be next?," he asked her.

Ochako only shrugged. Not like she wanted to think about going through with another game, the school surely didn't believe in giving them much of a break as she bite into her food quickly.

"I'm not sure. It's really hard going against your friends though."

"That's weak thinking and it'll only end you up in dead last," Bakugou cut in, standing with an evil smile while the rest rolled their eyes in reluctance to his comment. Waiting for the decree of being the best.

But to everyone's surprise, she nodded. A small smile on her face.

"Yes I guess you're right," she added, causing him to jerk back instead of an awaiting argument or some dreamy sentence about companionship.

"We should all work hard. Our parents are watching, some are even here. It's not only the teacher's attention that we need to get."

The atmosphere tensed a little at her strange comment, even if it was true. Ochako was the last person aside from Izuku that they'd expect to be so level headed about it all, with the usual delighted glow gone.

Though Deku picked up on it right away, that absent look within her eyes as she took another bite. It was concerning to him personally. But, unlike before, he'd disregard it and accept it, choosing to acknowledge this new person she had become. After all she did make that clear inside the training grounds, and had kept that same demeanor ever sense.

Before anyone could add anything else the bell had rung, forcing them to their feet to hurry back to the field in signal of the next upcoming game. Met with a mixture of groans and cheers.

Ochako scowled for a moment, lifting her head in fixation to be more like the stronger classmen. Bakugou was an ass, but he wasn't stupid about the ideologies that got him farther than anyone else, in addition to Todoroki who was also feared. Surely her quirk wasn't strong, but moping about it would get nothing done. After all, if she somehow made it to the final round, she'd face them head on. And the chance to leave an impression would give Aizawa more than what be bargained for with those words, watching her on the battlefield.

The arena lit up with the scream of the crowd, lining up beside the others to await Midnight's announcements.

Through the higher hallways leading back to the commentary room, Mic and Aizawa walked, both sulking as All Might attended the trip with them. All three tense, with Hizashi aware to be careful of his choice of words. Aizawa on edge that he would blow the lid off his cover at any moment. And All Might just plain awkward, exchanging glances between the two as he stalked behind them.

"Look I didn't want to have to be up in here with you two either, but the principle has had to fuss you both twice now. I don't know what's going on lately but cut it out please," he tried to fuss in a calm voice.

Mic only huffed in return, kicking the door open as they both silently agreed it'd be best to remain quiet. Not even a small answer would be risked with Aizawa's death glare sending shivers through the voice user's body, reaching for the microphone for dramatic effect to the games below.

They could feel All Might's eyes watching everything they did, every look. Every posture. Body language. The idea of a babysitter needing to be present had set the mood to more agitating than he could have imagined.

Surely he guessed Mic wouldn't be that idiotic to say a word or even hint at what the occurrence was about. Then again, he wouldn't put it past him, leading to both of their expulsion.

The announcements revealed it was the calvary battle that they students would have to deal with next, and to All Might's amusement Midoriya had a large target on his forehead coming in first.

While he gave praise to the young man in hopes that he'd do good, Aizawa raised an eyebrow. Watching Ochako make her way over to declare a partnership. His eyes widened at the intensity she'd be putting herself in, a snark look shot his way from her below in the field.

What the fuck is she doing!?

oo

Okay! Little bit of comedic effect for these chapters though soon it'll be back to that intense drama!

Little shorter than what I've been doing lately but it's not like each will be 6000 words each lol I work with the days ideas. Hope you've been enjoying so far!

It'll go back to the basics soon I just try to incorporate a bit of the Canon plot a little