Trigger warnings: mentions of suicide

Mitsuki's POV

Bakugo Mitsuki had a lot of regrets in her life. One of them being not keeping a better eye on her late best friend. She had known about Inko's depression and still had not checked up on her enough. This in turn had led to the woman's suicide.

The fact that Katsuki was the one who found her would forever haunt Mitsuki. Her son didnt deserve that not at such a young age. She knew it affected him even if he wouldnt outright say anything. The glazed look in his eyes that he got sometimes. It was very similar to that of Izuku. Looking at something that no one else could see.

Another regret she had after seeing both her son and Izuku off that morning was not telling Izuku of his uncle. Very few people knew that Inko had an older brother. The only reason she knew was because Inko confessed one night after too much to drink.

Originally Inko Midoriya was in fact Inko Tsukauchi. Her parents had died when she was in her teens just before she started high school. Naomasa for his part had just joined the Police Department. Despite being of age the court system did not allow Naomasa to gain custody over his sister and she went into the system.

Inko had never really forgiven her brother for not trying harder. To her, they should have stayed together. Naomasa had tried to get in touch with her a few times over the years but she always shot him down angrily.

Any forgiveness that might have come went with her to her grave. Naomasa had been devastated to learn his sister had commited suicide. The devastation was only compounded on when he learned of his nephew. Izuku who had gone off to war and who had stopped sending letters. All anyone would tell them was that he was alive.

Naomasa had given her his number if she or Izuku ever wanted to contact him. A part of her wanted to keep him away from the hurting child. But that wasnt fair to Izuku and it would only hurt him. So she made the call. That child did not deserve anymore hurt than he had already recieved.

Izuku's POV

Students came into the classroom in groups of twos or threes. They seemed to have made friends with each other. At the very least allies. Some of these kids had gone to the same middle school.

One of the first things he noticed was the odd looks he got. They seemed confused as to why he was standing in front with Alex and Yamada. For now he ignored them. They would know the truth soon enough. Then the confusion would turn to sneers and looks of disdain. No one would take him seriously until they tried and failed to beat him.

The last one to enter was Shinsou Hitoshi. Dark bags under his eyes rivaled that of Izuku's own. The brainwashing quirk would have made a great heroic quirk. Even better it would make a great quirk for a soldier.

Izuku had high hopes for the purple haired boy. Only time would tell if those hopes would pan out or not. He only had a month before the first major test of the program would commense. If at least 10 of them didnt make it to the second round then the program would be disbanded. That was their ultimatum.

Their skills and ingenuity would be tested soon. He had to know what he was working with and how far to push them. Otherwise things would go downhill quickly and the program would fail before it ever gets off the ground.

From his position at Alex's right he watched as a few students looked inside their bags. Eyes widened at the sight of what they found. Better to start this before others got curious.

Izuku said drawing everyone's attention to him, "I believe this is everyone. Welcome all of you to the Soldier Program. As you know UA and a handful of other top hero schools are trying out this program. Their attentions are to train the next generation of soldiers so that we arent caught off guard again with a war. I will be leading you through your training. My name is Izuku Midoriya. To my left is Alexander Conklin and our homeroom teacher Hizashi Yamada better known as Present Mic."

An ash blond haired boy questioned his eyes narrowing as he assessed Izuku, "And who the fuck are you to give us orders?"

Izuku replied his tone ice cold, "UA and CIRO had to ensure someone who knew the dangers of war would lead you. I was a team leader of a 4-0 operation for a year and a half. There is no one better in Conklin's eyes to teach you. So here I am. If you dont like how I'm teaching you land what should be a killing blow. And then we can discuss changes."

Alex took over from there, "Each of you has a syllabus of what we plan on doing. Everything we plan on teaching over the course of the next month is on there. On the bottom is a waiver. The moment you sign that you are agreeing to be trained to be the next soldiers. After your five year contract is up you will be free to work as heroes. Or if you decide not to go into the heroics profession then you will be given recommendations and a legal quirk use license. Read carefully and ensure this is what you want to do."

Izuku had already signed his. It was signed the day that he agreed to take part in this program. How many would sign away their lives? How many would make it all the way through the program? These were the questions that ate at him.

It shouldn't have been surprising that every single one of them chose to sign the waiver and syllabus. They knew what they were getting into when they signed up to take part in the program. At least they thick they did.

Izuku was going to push them harder than any other class in the building. Unlike the other classes this group they needed to be prepared for everything. Heroes thought they had it had but it didnt compare to what the battlefield was. Heroes got to go home after they did their job. Soldiers had to keep fighting on.

Once all the papers were handed over to Alex, Izuku questioned, "Do all of you know how to use a knife properly? Dont be afraid to say you don't."

No one spoke up even after a few seconds of waiting. Fine if they dont he can work on that after landing strategies. Izuku listened with half an ear as Conklin explained their uniforms. The combat uniforms would be worn in lieu of regular uniforms. They would train and fight in them unless in heroics training twice a week.

Then it came time for the cliffs specifically made for this class. Present Mic was asked to stay back at the classroom. They would be back in two hours. After a little convincing from Alex he agreed. Poor man had no idea what landing strategies were. Oh well. He'd know soon enough.

Izuku instructed falling so easily back into the role of Delta, "Each of you stand on the platforms. They are grouped into sections of seven. The groupings that your desks were in are now your team. Today is your assessment. Give everything you have and you will do fine. Based on the qualities you show in today's exercise a team leader will be chosen for teams 1 and 2. Team 3 I'm your team leader for obvious reasons. The offer from before stands. Land a killing blow and the position is yours. This is the way of Medusa and now the way of what you will learn. Do not go easy on me just because I dont have a quirk. For I will not go easy on you because you have not trained in this capacity before."

Alex stepped forward as Izuku moved to his own platform. Sneers crossed the other students faces as he passed them. They doubted him and his capabilities now but they would learn. The hard way if need be.

Alex said his eyes looking over each one of them, " The teams you're in now will be the teams for the rest of your time here. There will be no changing unless first approved by Midoriya and myself. Now the goal of this first exercise is to capture Izuku by any means necessary. Each of you have a knife that you said you know how to wield. Quirks are authorized to be used. Team 3 you have a choice on whether or not you defend or attack Izuku. Whatever you do however must be done as a team. You have one hour."

Here Alex paused his hand now holding the button for the launch pads they were standing on, "Good luck. You're going to need it."

The screams and cursing that followed could be heard all the way back at the school. Even over Class 1-A doing their own assessment. Shivers ran down the spines of all who heard it.