Maijima's POV

Tiredness filled the hero as he walked into his workshop. Working late at UA meant he didnt get his usual nap before he had a patrol to do. It was still early and he regretted leaving his hero costume in his office. Currently, he was in a plain button down shirt and slacks. While not realistic for working in the design studio it got him through town without too much trouble.

Honestly, he didnt know how Aizawa was able to do this most days. It didnt help that the reason he stayed late was because of Midoriya. The teenager was hellbent on finishing the project he was working on.

Higari wasnt even sure if the kid went home last night. He left out the cot that was kept in his office in case Midoriya decided to spend the night. Every part of him hoped the kid didnt spend the night. It was insane enough in the mornings without adding a half-asleep child to the mix. Especially one like this particular child.

He was pretty sure he understood what Aizawa meant now when he said, problem children. The younger man would be lucky he only had to deal with certain explosive children for history. Higari had to deal with them for most of the school day and after class, if they decided to continue working on projects.

As much as they annoyed him during the explosions he was proud of what they accomplished. Most of them would go on to be great members of the support community. A few if they applied themselves could become support heroes like himself but he didnt hold his breath. It was rare that a student would try both courses. Enough so that it wasn't known to the general public.

It really shouldn't have been a surprise to find Midoriya on the cot he left out. He looked peaceful for the first time since Higari met him. Sleep didnt come easy for anyone in their line of work. Not even support heroes were exempt from nightmares.

Support heroes were always left with the what-ifs. Especially when a hero was injured or killed using their gear. Guilt would eat at them until they learned to deal with it in their own way. For Higari that meant figuring out where he went wrong and doing better. Then a bottle of Scotch later.

Speaking of Scotch he could smell the scent of alcohol in the air. A frown crossed his face. He didnt have any alcohol in this room. It was too dangerous considering all the explosions that happened regularly. So how?

Higari's eyes fell upon the sleeping child. Oh no, he didn't. As the hero got closer he could see part of a flask sticking out of the child's jacket. It seemed he had.

Carefully he took the flask from out of the child's jacket and opened it. One sniff told him exactly what he needed to know. It was high-end whiskey. Where in the world had a child so young got his hands on such a drink?

Higari should probably confiscate this but if he did he suspected that Midoriya would just get another one. Then he would lose any trust he had earned with the kid. What to do?

When he looked back down at the child he found cold grey eyes staring at him. The murderous intent that was rolling off of him made the hero shiver. So easy was it to forget this was not just any regular student or child. This was someone who had seen in lived through a war. A child soldier who killed and would not hesitate to do so again.

Another glance down showed that the boy had a hand on his half-hidden knife. While he knew it wasnt large that didnt mean it couldn't do damage. A well-placed strike could have him bleeding out on the floor of his lab. It would be hours before anyone found him if that happened. Best not to antagonize the child any further.

Slowly so that the boy could see his every move he returned the cap to the flask. Then he laid it on the cot before stepping back carefully. A moment passed before Midoriya picked it up carefully inspecting. Almost as if he was expecting the flask to be damaged.

Then the boy growled out his voice rough whether from a hangover or sleep Higari wasnt sure, "What did you want with my flask?"

Rather than lying, he said, "I smelled liquor and since I don't keep any here I was investigating. It's dangerous to keep alcohol in the lab you realize?"

Midoriya sat up and replied, "I realize that. The drinking didnt start until after I finished for the night. Not that suicidal."

Higari almost brushed off the whispered comment. If it had been any other student he might have. Seeing the glazed grey eyes and how his hands trembled Higari couldn't. To do so might mean the kid would drink himself to death. Or worse.

Cautiously he kneeled so that he was eye level with the child. Immediately the walls were back up between them. A hand was back on his knife despite knowing that Higari was a pro.

Softly as if trying to coax a wounded animal out he said, "You have been hurt far deeper than anyone realizes. Haven't you? I'm not a trained counselor like Inui but I can see how you are hurting."

Midoriya snapped, "What would you know? You are a hero. You have a great quirk. All I have is myself and my mind."

Higari blinked at him as he said, "I know a thing or two about being looked down upon for a quirk. Iron Claw wasn't exactly the most popular quirk when I was growing up. Though I'm sure the discrimination against it has nothing on the discrimination again quirkless people. I know the statistics of the quirkless even making it to adulthood."

There was a hard flinch from Midoriya that almost made him wish he could take back his words. Quirkless suicide rates were higher than any other in the world. 75% of quirkless committed suicide before the age of 18. Of those that were left 90% of them remained unemployed at the age of 30. Higari doesn't even remember the last time he heard of a quirkless making it to old age. Almost all died before they reached the age of 40.

Higari was drawn from his thoughts of the sad truth about quirkless when Midoriya stood. The cold look he was sent spoke wonders about what the child thought of him. Sighing he let the boy go about what he wanted and resolved to speak with Ryo later.

Izuku's POV

If the Dog Hero did not leave him be, Izuku was going to shoot him. Since his disastrous morning conversation with Power Loader, Hound Dog was spending a lot of time trying to get him to talk. It was beginning to get on his nerves. There was already one doctor shifting around in his head, he didnt need a second.

It didnt help that Present Mic was also hovering now that the written exams were done. They were easier than the exams he had done to become an intelligence officer. It surprised him considering he would have thought that UA would be more difficult. Only to shrug in response to his own thoughts. If they made it easy who was he to judge.

For now, he was going to be watching the practicals to pick out a set of students for his class and backups in case they chose to opt-out. Part of him wonder how many would actually join. Soldiers did not live an easy life even with all the assurances that Alex gave Nezu nothing ever goes to plan. If they weren't ready for this he knew he didnt have it in him to force them.

Killing for the first time broke something inside of you. The first kill would either make or break them as soldiers. Something that hopefully wouldn't come to pass until they had graduated. Hope only got one so far though. If Izuku read the signs correctly something was going happen and soon. It was why Abbott was so insistent about having the program set up.

Abbott was making him nervous with all the seemingly needless ideas. From what he had heard the Soldier Program wasnt the only one made. There was another that didnt have a name yet. One that used former Medusans from all over the world. They were preparing for something and the only reason Izuku wasnt called for it was because of UA. Something that could change at any moment.

So he would prepare the kids for the life they chose the best he could. It wouldn't be an easy one. They would see friends come and go. Lose some to war or to themselves. It would always be putting the mission before themselves. Once they graduated there was no turning back. They would be just as Izuku was. A soldier to a cause and it could be one they didn't believe in.