Izuku's POV
Getting things prepared for his class made time pass quickly for him. Before he knew it acceptance letters were going out. As promised with his passing score on the written test Izuku was admitted.
Nezu had agreed to allow one extra spot in his glass. Izuku had explained the way he would set the teams up. They would be grouped into teams of 7 with one being the leader. Leadership was not based on quirk but on the qualities they had.
When Izuku arrived at the support lab two weeks after the entrance exams he found a stack of papers waiting for him. It was the acceptance letters of every student who he had offered a spot and they accepted. To his surprise Kaminari Denki had declined his spot in Class A and took his spot in C instead. It was certainly an unusual occurence but not a disappointing one.
All of his first picks but two had accepted their places in Class C. His top back ups had also accepted their spots. This allowed for Izuku to easily organize how he would set up the classes and teams.
Team leaders were the only thing he couldnt figure out early. Without seeing them in combat and working together it was impossible to tell their aptitude. He knew personally how biased one's papers could be. So no everyone would get an equal chance to prove themselves the first day.
Unsurprisingly Katsuki been accepted into Class A. The family had insisted on him joining them in celebration. Reluctantly Izuku had agreed. During the few months he had been back he allowed himself to slowly grow closer to them. Specifically he grew closer to Katsuki.
Before his diagnosis as quirkless they had been like brothers. Then they had been the bully and bullied. They werent back to being as close as brothers again but Izuku Izuku honestly call Katsuki his friend. It surprised him when the other insisted on learning his triggers and how to help him.
Katsuki made an oath that night. One that Izuku would never forget as long as he lived.
"I know I've hurt you before. I swear to you now that if and when you need me I'll be there to help you. I wont abandon you again, Zuku."
The use of the childhood nickname had surprised him. Katsuki hadn't used it since they were four. Parts of Izuku werent sure he deserved having such a friend.
His exact words being, "I dont want you to have a moment at UA and no one being able to help you. Damn nerd. You need someone in your corner."
Izuku had been touched at the other's worry for him. He wasnt wrong in the fact that he needed someone to watch his back. There was only so much that Alex could do when he went to UA. If Izuku proved to be too much of a liability Nezu could insist that he be let go. It was the rat's school after all.
As more time passed things began to fall into place. All the gear he ordered specifically for his class came in. This included customized uniforms that for each of his class. They were very similar to military fatigues used in the field. Thanks to the support department however they were lighter and more breathable. The features did not take away from their protection however.
One of the last things that came in was the tactical packs he ordered. They would be light when the students first got them but as they learned to use more equipment it would get heavier. Basic items included changes of clothes, knives, field rations, water bottle, and a first aid kit. Almost as an after thought he added water purifier tablets. He had them in his own bag and it would be best to keep it as close to his own gear as possible.
The day before the new semester was set to start at UA he had a session with Panov. His relationship with the doctor had not improved in the slightest. They were still wary of each other and getting information from Izuku was like pulling teeth.
The only good thing that came out of it was word from Echo. Echo had been his second in command while in Medusa. It seemed his second was being dragged into the French's Soldier Program. Izuku had to pity the students his friend would be training. As a fifteen year old he knew more about teaching than Echo did. They had about the same amount of patience though. It would be interesting to see what Echo did with them.
That night Izuku ended up staying at the Bakugo's rather than a safe house. It would be easier to get to school and less likely he would end up hungover. He and Katsuki stayed up half of the night talking about how things could go. The reaction to Izuku declaring that his class would have a lesson in landing strategies was priceless.
Katsuki said looking a little green, "I'm suddenly glad I'm not one of your students. You've told me some of the stupid stunts you pulled as a soldier."
And he had. At least some of the tamer stories. There were times he left out parts due to what he had done. Like killing Alpha in cold blood because he had betrayed them. Part of him thought Katsuki would understand. A larger more realistic part thought the other would be horrified. Especially given that Izuku didnt regret the kill.
Flashback
Madness. The explosions were all around him now, blinding, deafening, punctuated by ear-splitting screeches from the jungle that erupted with each detonation.
The jungle! Tam Quan! The wet, hot stench was everywhere, but they had reached it! The base camp was theirs! An explosion to his left; he could see it! High above the ground, suspended between two trees, the spikes of a bamboo cage.
The figure inside was moving. He was alive! Get to him, reach him! A cry came from his right. Breathing, coughing in the smoke, a man was limping toward the dense underbrush, a rifle in his hand. It was him, the blond hair caught in the light, a foot broken from a parachute jump.
The bastard! A piece of filth who had trained with them, studied the maps with them, flown north with them … all the time springing a trap on them! A traitor with a radio who told the enemy exactly where to look in that impenetrable jungle that was Tam Quan.
It was Bourne! Jason Bourne. Traitor, garbage! Get him! Don't let him reach others! Kill him! Kill Jason Bourne! He is your enemy! Fire! He did not fall! The head that had been blown apart was still there. Coming toward him! What was happening? Madness. Tam Quan …
End of flashback
The screeching of the train drew him out of his thoughts. Wildly his eyes searched the train looking for the traitor. His heart was racing almost beating out of his chest.
Next to him, he could hear a voice trying to coax him out of the memory. It was familiar but not Echo or Foxtrot. Who?
Turning he saw the spiky ash blond hair of Katsuki. Then a warm body pressed against his leg. It was familiar enough to snap him back into reality. Right he was not in Tam Quam. He was back in Japan on his way to his first day at UA. Luka let out a low calming rumble.
Izuku mumbled tapping his fingers against the side of his leg, "I'm fine. I'm fine. Just give me a second."
Still breathing fast he tried to work through the exercises that Panov taught him. Breathe in for four, hold for six, breathe out for four then repeat. It took several long moments for his heartrate to return to normal.
When it did Katsuki asked moving closer to Izuku, "Can I touch you?"
At Izuku's shaky nod Katsuki wrapped an arm around his shoulders. It was the first time Katsuki Katsuki him this close since they were young kids. The shaking of his shoulders subsided right before they reached the stop for UA.
When they got off Katsuki stuck to his side protectively. There were a handful of exasperated looks sent their way but for the most part the two were ignored. No words were exchanged as they legged the rest of the distance to the school.
The gates around the perimeter were huge. Even with a quirk it would be difficult for most people to get over them. They could see the main building shaped in the form of a giant H.
The showed their student ids to the security guard at the gate. From there they made their way into building. Once inside they had to split up and head off to their own classrooms. They made an agreement to meet up at lunch to share how things were going.
Izuku's homeroom was still in the Gen Ed part of the building. Things wouldnt change until after the Sports Festival. That was their first test. If they passed that test then things would start changing more permanently.
The room was empty unsurprisingly when he entered. It was still half an hour before the class actually started. Unlike most of the classrooms this one had three groups of seven desks together. This was the teams that would have to learn to work together.
Izuku ensured all the packs were at their specific students desk as he waited. The first to enter the class was not a student. Instead it was Alex followed by Present Mic a few moments later. Pleasantries were exchanged briefly. Then questions about his plans.
When he said landing strategies Alex physically groaned while Mic looked confused. Izuku simply grinned at the response. Alex understood because he had lived through the insanity. Present Mic was lucky enough to be a hero. He didnt have to worry about the dangers of war. As soldiers the kids would have to be prepared for anything. Izuku would ensure they were.
