"That would be a mistake, Aizawa," Vlad King said. The hero known as, "Eraserhead", didn't respond and kept his gaze on the principal. Getting into a squabble with his fellow instructor would weaken his case and he needed for this to happen. If he were required to justify his request he could, his arguments were already prepared but he would not bicker. It would be illogical.

"I am inclined to agree with Kan, Aizawa. It is an unfortunate series of events that have brought us to this point but this situation must be handled with care. To be blunt, Midoriya-kun will not give us the benefit of the doubt on any of our choices and jump to the most negative interpretation of our actions. How will assigning you to be his homeroom teacher appear to him? An attempt to demonstrate my control over his life, perhaps? Or a sign I plan to fail him as soon as possible."

"I am aware of the fraught nature of my request, Principal. Still, I believe Midoriya would be best served by being assigned to me. He can't resolve his feelings and move past them by avoiding me. Besides, right now he idolizes All Might but seems to have a negative opinion of most other heroes. He needs to see how our imperfections don't make us less heroic, that failure is guaranteed for all heroes. We all have to learn to grow from those we fail to save."

"Shota," Sekijiro spoke and he glanced over to him, "is this really about the kid or you? I understand wanting redemption but it shouldn't happen at the expense of, by all reports, a highly traumatized child. Whatever regrets you may have are yours to manage. With me, I'll train him hard and won't tolerate any nonsense but he'll be like every other kid. Most importantly, he'll get to be a kid."

The two would argue their cases more but Aizawa admitted, internally, Kan had the superior arguments. He wanted to make amends to Midoriya for his failures but having left the meeting he was sure it wasn't to be. He was dumbfounded when he received the final roster for the years, including Midoriya. While he couldn't favor him or give him an unequal amount of attention, he would show the hero-in-training that he didn't have to like someone for them to be valuable to his goals.


Midoriya jettisoned Aizawa through the wall. If asked, the underground hero would compare it to the briefest moment of flight followed by gravity reclaiming its dominion in the most violent way possible. He hit the ground and rolled, confused as to why he hadn't been overcome by pain. He hadn't felt the wall but knew he traveled through it. Sliding into a three-point-stance he watched Midoriya emerge from the hastily made exit.

Even gait and moderately paced, Midoriya approached him completely unbothered. Aizawa accepted the young man hated him, he had good reason but he hadn't expected him to attack with little to no notice. Upon entering the class, he noticed Midoriya's body lange. Tense, overly tense. Something had agitated him before Aizawa entered the class. He'd try to reason with the boy but he'd have to stop this attack. No matter how justified in his motivations, Midoriya couldn't be indulged in this way.

His head flung back slightly, hair lifted from his eyesight as he simultaneously flared his quirk. Midoriya still approached him, giving no signs he realized his quirk was erased. An appalling lack of awareness. Aizawa rose to his feet as the boy neared him and slipped into a stance and launched a punch. His analysis of the fighting form, crude but workable and something clearly learned in that institution, was interrupted when he heard Midoriya mutter one kilometer.

The confusion remained as the punch broke through Aizawa's guard, packing much more force than someone without strength quirk should have. Confusion turned to pain, the body blow caused him to fall on his knees and evacuate the contents of his stomach.

"Your quirk can't reach me anymore," Midoriya said. A swift kick rocked Aizawa further. He rolled with the momentum, realizing he needed to create some space. Something was wrong, Midoriya had an emitter quirk. It was a mystery but one that would have to wait, he needed to take his student down. Aizawa pulled at his capture weapon and prepared to char-

"Why do you attempt to create distance," he heard Midoriya say before he disappeared, and Aizawa felt pain again, felled again, on his knees again, "when I can reach you in a second."

"Midoriya, you have to stop," Aizawa advised.

"Hmm, plan not quite coming together, Aizawa? You and the rat thought you were going to show me the order of things, right? Put me in a class with you to prove you can keep me under control. You've made a grave mistake." Aizawa again felt his body go weightless and rigid, forced to his feet but unable to move. Compelled to watch as Midoriya slipped back into his stance.

"You know what I hate most about you? It's not just that you ruined my life. It's not that you've suffered not one consequence for it. It's not just every tear my mother shed because of what you caused." Lefts and rights thundered against Aizawa's captive body. He was certain Midoriya was utilizing his quirk to enhance his strength but he couldn't deduce how. His thoughts, nor the pain, could drown out MIdoriya's monologue.

" It's that you did it to me because I annoyed you. That's all it took, half a decade gone. Sometimes beaten, sometimes starved, nearly raped and all because I got scared and a emotional when you threatened to block me from ever being a hero."

Midoriya had transitioned from using Aizawa as a heavy bag to slowly choking him. His abused lungs were burning, vision starting to narrow. He doubted his next words would have any impact, there would be no redemption found; worst still, he'd been a crucial figure in poisoning someone with great potential. He'd robbed society of a hero and created a villain.

"I…I was wrong, Midoriya."

The cloaked teen stood eerily still for several moments. A false calm swept through the area before it was shattered.

"You think I'm the villain?" Midoriya asked. Aizawa knew he hadn't spoken those words aloud. Telepathy was an even rarer quirk than telekinesis. To have both… "Stop worrying about my quirk and ANSWER ME." Aizawa, despite himself, felt compelled to obey; his free will momentarily stripped from him.

"Y-yes, Midoriya. T-this isn't what heroes should do. It's not justice but revenge."

"You admit you were wrong but feel you shouldn't suffer for it? No consequence for the series of events you initiated, for the harm you carelessly caused? You're all alike. Shifting blame, taking no responsibility. I was only following orders, I was only doing my job. I didn't make that decision, I didn't do the really awful things. Somehow no one is truly accountable but I'm the villain. If I'm the villain then you're a demon made flesh. Go back to hell."

Midoriya straightened out one arm, two fingers pointed toward the sky. Aizawa felt a concentration of energy and saw a sphere being created. He didn't know what was about to happen but he was confident these were to be his last moments. He'd sought to make peace with the boy, he'd hoped to redeem himself. Kan had been right, at the first pushback he'd hid under his identity as a hero. Even if only internally, he'd dodged responsibility.

It was only now that he could really see Midoriya. Just like that day, one he could barely remember. More than anger, more than hatred, the boy was scared. Scared to trust, scared to believe. Scared that anything he gained within UA or larger society would be taken from him. He wouldn't learn the mysteries of Midoriya's quirk but it was clear it was the sole thing the teen did believe in.

Aizawa watched as Midoriya ceased his attack as his shoulders sank, an utter look of disgust maring his boyish features.


The newly formed Class 1A sat in mutual confused silence, though not all for the same reasons. Most were shocked by seeing a student openly attack a teacher with zero prompting. While the incidents involving Midoriya Izuku's incarceration had been widely reported, nary a mention was made about the hero that made the initial arrest.

It became obvious who it was for the more astute. The question was should they intervene? A desire to be heroes conflicted with a society that instilled a strict sense of restraint when it came to their quirks or involving themselves in hero work. It felt wrong to remain passive, especially if their teacher were at risk of serious harm. The more they debated internally, the more the bystander effect took hold. Each waiting for one to act to give a clear sign it was ok to.

All but one. Bakugo Katsuki had seen a ghost from his past. He'd written Deku off years ago when the idiot's sentence kept getting extended. It was bad enough the loser didn't manifest his quirk when everyone else did but to do so and get sent away over it? Only a genuine Deku could achieve that. Truly seeing the boy as a lost cause, he spared him no further thoughts, never questioning why his mom and Inko-san lost touch. Didn't affect him so he didn't care.

Until the news broke. Heartless bastard he may be but even he could admit Deku got a raw deal. However, in Katsuki's black and white view, if you attacked a hero that made you a villain. Sob story or no, there were simply things you didn't do. That Deku and he briefly grew up together meant if he took him down it'd only add to his origin story. A story that would befit the future number one hero. He, again, had to be the one to put Deku in his place.

Resolute, Katsuki stood from his desk and charged toward the hole in the wall. He didn't care about Deku's quirk, his telekinesis would bend to overwhelming force, everything did. This was the true start of his legend, the point where he undeniably cements himself as the future top dog. Each step felt lighter, freer. Anticipation and excitement caused a thin layer of sweat to form on his body. He was ready. Ready for victory. To wreck shit and leave. Ready to be a real hero.

Katsuki didn't make it ten feet outside before he lost control over his body. No matter how hard he struggled he was powerless, he detested the feeling. He found a new level of hatred for being yanked toward Deku like a yoyo. That Deku seemed to accomplish this without even acknowledging his presence, no hand gestures or anything agitated Katsuki.

"Is this your idea of a future hero, Aizawa?" Deku asked.

"Fuck you, Deku!" Katsuki yelled, unable to do anything else.

"This piece of trash, I bet you think he has a lot of promise, don't you?" Deku continued to ask their sensei, having ignored him completely.

"Can't know… was supposed to see… today."

"Oh, I imagine Kacchan here would be a fast favorite. Student in good standing. Bet he had stellar grades. Good control of his quirk. Well, he had good control. I don't know if his skills slipped when you sent his favorite test dummy away, Aizawa," Midoriya said breezily. Katsuki tried to fight his control but was utterly powerless. Even if he had full mobility he wasn't sure he could easily shrug off the look this Aizawa person shot him. Deku draping his arms across Katsuki's shoulders made the blond all the more uncomfortable.

"Yep, the thing I did to help someone Katsuki used to do, daily, just to put me in my place. He used to get so angry when I said I wanted to be a hero. You two seem to share in that. Well storytime is over. Truthfully, Katsuki should share your fate, Aizawa. He's just as villainous as you, probably more. But he was a child so he gets a pass." Katsuki was flung backward, a demonstration of how lowly Deku valued him.

He expected a fight. Well, expected victory. Deku had denied him both and reduced him to a prop in his tantrum. It was the most severe blow to his pride he'd ever endured and worst still he was powerless to respond. Tossed away like trash, no control over his body, the explosive boy didn't think he could sink any lower.

"Ughf," he exclaimed as he came to a sudden stop.

"Oh wow, he really flung ya there, huh?"

"Fucking let me go, goddamnit!" Katsuki shouted. Mobility returned and he was ready to blast Deku into orbit.

"Calm down, fella," the larger blond suggested as he lowered Katsuki. "Principal Nezu requested my friends and I to be here. He also said, under no uncertain terms, that class 1A shouldn't get involved or face immediate consequences. Trust me, always take the Principal's threats very seriously."

Katsuki didn't want to hear one word of that. He needed to pay Deku back for looking down on him while jumpstarting the legend of King Explosion Murder! But jeopardizing his place within UA would sink his ambitions. "Let me go, bastard," Katsuki growled.

"You're very angry, friend," said bastard observed as he released Katsuki, "and the name is Togata Mirio. I much prefer it to bastard."


Izuku sagged when three new arrivals appeared. It was murky, morally speaking, fighting through pro heroes to get to Aizawa but attacking fellow students? He just couldn't square it, which is why he didn't outright harm Katsuki. These three were clearly older, possibly third years and in their final steps to become pros but they weren't pros yet.

"Please leave," he requested. "I know what this looks like, I know everything you've ever been taught tells you I'm the bad one here but I'm not. He deserves this."

"Deserved or not, heroes don't distinguish between the two," the blond one said.

"Trust me, they do. He does and quite frankly, you will. But that's a problem for a later date."

"You're much too cynical to be so young," the blue haired girl said. He wouldn't deny the charge. He also had no desire to explain his life's story endlessly. It was all rather moot anyway. Izuku did a surface scan of their minds. He didn't like doing it to non-enemies as it felt deeply unethical. That commitment also meant his telepathy was much more underdeveloped compared to his telekinesis. He sagged further.

Apparently, these three were a big deal; a trio known as the big three and the best UA had to offer. Permeation, energy manipulation and matter recomposition. Those were some good quirks, incredibly versatile especially if diligently trained. Izuku stopped himself from going down a rabbit hole, he could think about the quirks later. Besides, they were secondary concerns. Nezu sent them here, not to stop him but to collect him. The principal didn't believe he'd actually kill Aizawa, at least that's what he told the set of students. Izuku was put out by that. He'd totally waste Aizawa if people would stop interfering.

He would.

But he couldn't now, those students would intervene and he'd have to repress them… something that rodent planned for. This was all within his plan. Izuku didn't enjoy feeling manipulated and decided he'd have a talk with the head of UA.

"Can I go straight to him or do you have to escort me?" Izuku asked and Togata-san smiled.

"Go on, we'll help Aizawa-sensei." Izuku nodded and disappeared from view, forgoing any delay.

"Whoa, he's fast," Nejire observed.

"I think that was teleportation, Nejire-chan," Tamaki suggested. Nejire's cheeks puffed in embarrassment.

"Well, that's still fast, Tamaki-kun!"

"Would you help me get to Recovery Girl?" Aizawa asked but the three students heard the command. Mirio helped him up and the quad departed.

"Aizawa-sensei," Nejire said, getting the instructor's attention, "why didn't you erase his quirk?"

..

"It just never occurred to me."

"Oh."

"She means well," Tamaki whispered. Aizawa didn't disbelieve that he also couldn't find it in himself to give a damn.


"Regardless of his history, there is no excuse!" a tall, glasses wearing boy stated. Ochaco frowned at the boy's words. She shouldn't, she reasoned. Not attacking teachers, not attacking what appeared to be a pro hero were items so ingrained into them that no one had to tell them it was wrong, it was just known. But who she saw today didn't match with the plain-looking boy she'd met at the exams. "Why, I'd say Midoriya-san is little more than a thug," he finished, chopping one hand at every syllable.

"You're wrong," Ochaco said. She hadn't realized she'd spoken until she saw all eyes on her, especially a pair of furious red ones of the recently returned blond. She started to feel self-conscious, she hadn't wanted attention. They were expecting her to follow up, she really didn't want to.

"I followed the news, I know his story and it's easy to conclude Aizawa-sensei was the hero that initially arrested him but he's not to blame for what happened, he was only following the law," a ponytailed girl reasoned. Ochaco's initial thought hadn't been about his tragic life but she did think his detractors were being cavalier about his experience. They were all fifteen. She wondered how they'd feel if they'd lost a third of their current lifespan and everyone felt secure in telling them who they were allowed to hold responsible for it. That felt convenient.

More than that, it was dismissive. Not similar but she'd seen people judge her parents for their struggles. They always had the right answer after the fact, and could with perfect precision detail every mistake. No one defended them, no one ever said that those who have got to be imperfect because money papers over flaws. They were just too content with having someone to judge.

"Forgive me, but while I wasn't referring to that I don't believe you get to release Aizawa-sensei from responsibility, certainly not because you passively watched the news. I don't know Midoriya-san well but I know when I was stuck under a fallen slab of concrete with a broken ankle he came for me. If I recall, Iida-san, you were in my section but I don't remember your offer of aid."

Ochaco received no satisfaction in the look of shame he dawned. It wasn't her goal to shame him but people were complex. Most villains aren't solely through their own desires and not all heroes are virtuous, people simply didn't work that way. What she did welcome, however, was the lull. She wasn't interested in an extended debate, she had no doubt Midoriya-san could defend himself but she was glad she'd, unwittingly, said something instead of indulging in a pile on.

"Not saying it was right but kicking our sensei's ass on the first day is pretty manly," a red haired boy observed, killing the lull and reigniting the issue once more.


"Oh, Midoriya-kun!" the principal exclaimed, "you're right on time." Nezu laughed at the boy's facial expression, barely restrained anger and resentment. "I hope you worked out your issues with Aizawa-sensei, we can't afford further disruptions."

"Why am I in his class to begin with?"

"He requested you, Midoriya-kun."

"What, to hold me back? Find a reason to violate the release agreement?" Nezu shook his head at the logic of the adolescent. The boy had a keen mind, he knew that much but anger was clouding his thoughts and dulling his wit.

"Even if that were the case, attacking any member of staff or faculty would accomplish that so you've allowed him to win."

"I'm not going to be so easy to cage but I welcome you to try."

"Oh, yes, I am sure you are willing to take on all comers. It'd make things easier. You make an enemy of us, we make an enemy of you. Nice and simple, no ambiguity to struggle with."

"Am I supposed to give you the benefit of the doubt? You put me in a class with the man that took my life from me and my long term bully. You require that I live alone… I've been incarcerated for five years. What kind of life skills do you believe I have!? You clearly have me here for some purpose and I doubt it is to my benefit."

"If I did have this nefarious plot, why would I confess it?"

"Oh, the dozens of hostages on the grounds might be enough of a reason."

Nezu laughed at the boy's baseless taunt. "Please, Midoriya-kun, I'm a greater threat to my students than you are. You didn't even harm your long term bully when you had him at your mercy. Your nature betrays you."

Izuku grimaced but offered no response. He wouldn't actually hurt the students, he wasn't a villain so it wouldn't be a valid avenue to compel the rat. He didn't have time to form a new plan as the principal retrieved and placed several books on his desk. Izuku knew the books, they were a fraction of the ones he'd read while inside, for a while his only solace in a waking nightmare.

"When I was sure you'd be attending my fine academy I got curious about you. I wanted to know more than just what you'd been through but I assumed you'd be unwilling to share any real information so I conducted an intellectual genealogy. I think I've got you," Nezu could barely hold himself together, it was finally time for the big reveal.

"For instance, many would assume you avoided Aizawa's quirk through some kind of barrier and while I have no doubt you can construct such a thing, that's too pedestrian for you. No, a boy with a fascination for quirks and one who had hours a day to think deeply about his and several books about the mind… no, it's not a barrier. It's extreme spatial manipulation, isn't it? Right now, it would seem I'm not but a few meters from you, however in an instant it could be what?"

"Infinite," Izuku muttered. He'd underestimated Hi-spec, clearly.

"Infinite? Amazing. And that's how you augmented your strength, yes?" Izuku heard the rhetorical nature of the question so remained quiet while the principal rifled through the books, "Ah, yes, basic science. If two objects are to reach the same destination at the same time but one is exponentially farther away then the speed in which it travels, and the force generated, must too be increased exponentially. What an elegant solution but that's not all, is it?"

"...No," Izuku admitted.

"That sphere you were creating was a vacuum within occupied space, one that would be hastily filled with surrounding matter; which included Aizawa. Is it safe to assume you can achieve the opposite effect as well?"

"...Yes."

"Of course." Nezu was extremely pleased, Midoriya could go far if he could help the boy get a handle on his issues. The biggest impediment was, rightly, Midoriya didn't trust anyone except for his mother and All Might. The second biggest impediment was him being fifteen. Brains still developing, rampaging hormones, and prone to impulsivity. Nezu needed the boy to trust him to some small degree. They could build from there but right now he was an enemy and Midoriya was looking for any faint sign of oncoming betrayal. It slowed his plans and that's the exact opposite of what needed to happen.

He didn't sigh, humans did that, but the enormity of his challenges were not always easy to bear. He had to keep this young man free from the HPSC's grasp while also keeping said boy from erasing said commission from existence. Then there was the All Might of it all…

"Midoriya-kun, I know you are not liable to trust me but we must forge ahead. I do not care if you like or even forgive Aizawa; Shota is a good man but one prone to overvaluing his own assessments. A good kick in the rear will benefit him in the long run."

"Wait, if I'm not supposed to mend fences why am I in his class?"

"Because despite his faults he's a fine educator. He will help you become a better hero. You don't have to like him for him to be beneficial to you. If nothing else, learn this lesson as fast as you can. Not all allies are people you'd share a cup of tea with. Right now you have access to some of the best resources the heroing profession has to offer. Use them, use us to become more than you ever could be alone." Nezu saw it on the boy's face, a sentiment too pure for one who'd gone through so much. He hadn't needed to say the words, Nezu already knew.

"I don't want to use anyone."

"Why not? We are here to teach, what is unethical about learning as much as you can while here? It'd be no different than using books written before the quirk era to aid in developing your own. No, no. Use us, Midoriya because I assure you I plan to use you; wait!" Nezu commanded before the boy could interject. "I mean you no harm, Midoriya-kun but you have great abilities and even greater potential. You also are coming of age during a time of great upheaval. All Might is employed at UA not just to teach the next generation but to find a successor. He won't be a hero for much longer."

"All Might is going to retire?"

"Yes, but not just retire. Midoriya-kun, what I am about to reveal to you is known by only a handful and could cause serious repercussions if it ever got out. I'm extending this trust to you despite knowing how you feel but this goes beyond that. This is about All Might's quirk, One for All."


Hey, chapter 2 here. Not a lot to say but those who tell me to write other stories instead of not… boy are you working against yourselves. New Seals in 2023 lol!