Heroics a class every student wanted to be apart of, yet every year only forty students would manage to qualify for the U.A heroics course. Each day the two heroics classes would be alternated between a practical lesson and theoretical lesson, the aim to not only ensure the heroes in training could properly use their quirks and had the right skills to survive in the world of heroics, but to drive home the importance of not only quirk laws but the bulk of the legal system surrounding bringing in villains.
It was not the reason that this was his first-class that had Toshinori nervous, well not entirely at any rate. The bulk of his nerves stemmed from the presence of a single student and the scary similarity she held to the world's deadliest hero, 'The Grim Reaper of the ISAHF' the single deadliest hero to have ever existed. Toshinori had only ever worked alongside the man twice, and both times he had been horrified by the destruction he left in his wake.
The first time Toshinori had met the man, he had watched as he almost single-handedly decimated Europe's equivalent of the defunct Meta Liberation Army, he'd offered them no chance to surrender. Given no final warning to end their ways before reducing anyone foolish enough to meet him in combat into a corpse. But in doing so it had sent a message to the underworld outside Japan and America, a message that they had a hero willing to play hardball and do what needed to be done.
The second time he had run across the man had been five years ago when he had been gearing up for taking the fight to the murderer of his master and friend, Nana Shimura, knowing that All For One would have amassed a large following who would willingly follow the orders of their master blindly he had wanted the aid of the only hero he believed could stand up to All For One should he fail.
Even after beating his foe at a staggering cost to himself, Toshinori wished he had not gathered the aid of this particular hero. He still heard the screams of All For One's servants, their cries for their masters help to stop 'the Ribboned Reaper' as he cut a bloody swathe through them with no remorse. It had brought him all the time he had needed to bring down All For One, yet the cold uncaring look on his fellow's heroes face at the destruction and death he had unleashed would forever remain with him.
So when he had been spying on Aizawa's quirk apprehension test he had felt his heart skip a beat, as the memories of that cold uncaring face flashed back into his mind. Made even worse by seeing that expression on the face of one of young Izumi Midoriya, as she had levelled her arms towards a classmate with sparking blue electrical energy fizzling around them. The way she had looked towards young Bakugo as he had charged towards her with no remorse and intent to kill spelt exactly how dangerous the girl was.
The idea that the next generation would have its own 'Grim Reaper' rocked Toshinori to his core. If young Midoriya had been given training by such a hero then Toshinori would have to show her the right way to be a hero just like every other student. He had seen she had the selfless drive to do so, the girl's actions during the entrance exam had shown that so it would only be a matter of bringing those traits out over what she had been taught. It was why he was going to listen to the advice Aizawa had given him.
"Tomorrow with your heroics class, listen carefully to what Midoriya asks." Shota had said walking past the Symbol of peace, only offering him a sideways glance, "Clarify its a non-lethal training exercise, and make sure under no circumstances are she and Bakugo paired up or put against each other in whatever exercise you decide on."
Toshinori had been shocked by this, "AND WHY IS THAT AIZAWA?" He could not foresee any eventuality where two students couldn't work out their differences in the heat of combat.
"If hadn't stopped him she would have felt no remorse blowing him apart with that shockwave she launches from her arms." Aizawa's response had left no room for interpretation in its meaning, "She's been trained to go lethal as a first response and that is dangerous, don't put her or Bakugo in a situation where she will use it." With those final words, Aizawa had walked off leaving Toshinori alone to think over his first lesson.
Shaking his head clear of the memory but keeping his sleep-deprived colleague's advice at the forefront of his mind as he gripped the door handle pulling the door open with a practised flourish, "I AM!" it was his first-class so why not make a heroic impression, "ENTERING LIKE A NORMAL PERSON!" Striking a pose with his chest pushed out and arms behind him as he aimed his signature smile towards the class, Toshinori took in the excited expressions and cheers of the students at realising he really was their heroics teacher.
Well, every student but young Midoriya that is but if his hunch about her being trained by who he thought she had been was true then him being a teacher really wouldn't be a surprise to her. He'd have to find the perfect time to ask her about who had trained her to first handle her quirk, but that was a goal for later.
"HERO BASIC TRAINING! THE CLASS THAT WILL PUT YOU THROUGH ALL SORTS OD SPECIALISED TRAINING TO BECOME THE FUTURE HEROES YOU ALL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE!" Striking a crouched pose at the front of the room with his back to the students, Toshinori drew out the card that held what today's heroics class would be about. "NO TIME TO DAILY AS TODAY'S ACTIVITY IT BATTLE TRAINING!" With a flourish, Toshinori span to face the class holding out a white card emblazoned with the word 'BATTLE'.
Watching as the students began to grow excited at the prospect of battle training Toshinori withdrew a remote pressing it, causing the wall at the back of the room to slide open, revealing nineteen cases that held the student's costumes. Noticing that slot number one was empty he glanced over to Midoriya, who yet to loose her blank expression.
"AND FOR THAT YOU WILL NEED YOUR COSTUMES!" Pride swam in his chest as he saw how pumped the other students had gotten at the mention of costumes, "AFTER YOU CHANGE, COME OUT IN RANKING ORDER TO GROUND BETA!" As the rest of the students bolted for their costume before heading for the door Izumi just slowly stood pulling a sleek silver lined blue case with the white symbol of the ISAHF on the front, three triangles forming a large triangle around a kite shape, "Ah young Midoriya!" His voice had softened slightly grabbing the girls attention along with some of the students still in the classroom, "Might I have a word with you before to proceed to change?"
Giving him a simple nod in acknowledgement she turned to the few students left and whispered something to both Tenya and Ochaco, who smiled and nodded back before leaving only her and Toshinori alone in the classroom.
"What did you want to speak about sir?" Her voice was soft and neutral, the kind of voice used when speaking to someone they respected.
"I wished to know why you have a hero costume provided by the ISAHF and not via the quirk registry?" Toshinori asked, hoping to steer the conversation into Izumi letting out how trained her.
"My current training suit is still functional sir," Izumi answered looking up at Toshinori an eyebrow raised, "It would be a waste to have a new suit made only to ruin it during battle simulations."
Toshinori bit back a sigh, her answer had been just like that of anyone who'd spent extended periods with the ISAHF, function over aesthetic was how ISAHF heroes operated. They didn't do flashy or outlandish costumes like aboveground heroes, nor did they do dark and stealth-based like underground heroes ISAHF heroes instead all wore a similar style designed to send a message of uniformity and show they all held the same ideals. Not a bad philosophy if Toshinori was being honest with himself, but not one a child should follow.
"But don't you want to make a statement about the type of hero you will be?" Toshinori asked, giving the girl a winning smile, one he often gave when telling people to follow their dreams.
"I'd rather let my actions speak for me sir," Izumi blinked watching Toshinori's smile falter slightly, "It's what I was taught when I was learning to control my quirk."
"AH! Speaking of your quirk I had a question about that as well young Midoriya." Toshinori spoke seeing this as a golden opportunity to see if his suspicion was true, "You have a level of control over your quirk not many at your age can boast, who taught you such fine control?" As the question left his mouth Toshinori watched as Midoriya's eyes narrowed, losing the small warmth they had held becoming cold.
"Why does that really matter sir?" She asked the hand holding her costume cases handle tightened, "I was taught by someone who understood leaving a child with my quirk untrained would be extremely irresponsible."
"Call it concern for the mental wellbeing of one of my students," Toshinori hastily said trying to think of a plausible reason he would be asking, "I do not wish to insult who taught you, nor yourself young Midoriya I merely wish to know so that I do not trend the same lessons."
Izumi blinked studying his expression looking for any sign of what he was truly after, not seeing anything but a teacher's concern for their student. "I still don't see why it is relevant sir,"
Toshinori sighed seeing that he was not going to get the answer from her, it would be another thing he would have to leave for Aizawa to find out when the overly tired man would manage to arrange a meeting with the girl's parents. "Of course young Midoriya, now go join your classmates in getting changed."
With a nod Izumi stepped out of the classroom making her way to the changing room, leaving Toshinori to make his way to ground beta and await the arrival of his students. If Toshinori was honest with himself he wasn't all that surprised at her reaction, it showed she had the mindset of an ISAHF hero already and would only let slit just enough information to satisfy curiosity.
As he stood waiting for the students to arrive Toshinori wondered how best to pair them up for the battle training, he couldn't just pair them himself as it could easily be seen as playing favourites perhaps the best way was by simply drawing lots. While random it offered the fairest way to determine teams and the chances of young Bakugo and Midoriya getting paired were extremely low, so it was worth that small risk in the name of fairness.
Hearing the sounds of the student's footsteps echoing he felt a broad smile form on his face as he saw the silhouette outlines of their costumes. "From this day forward students. YOU ARE ALL HEROES!"
Slowly he took in all the unique and colourful designs of his students, some costumes like young Iida's baring a family resemblance to his family's heroic heritage. While others like that of young Bakugu related to their personality and quirk, it filled him with pride watching as the students gushed over each other's costumes.
"Izumi isn't that the outfit you wore during the entrance exam?" Tenya questioned, his voice slightly tiny as it reverberated from his helmet. "Did you not get your hero costume in time?"
Izumi turned to Tenya and shook her head, "Nothing like that Tenya, this is a training combat suit more suited for what we will be doing. Weather conditions and area of heroic operations play a role in the outfit worn."
"That is well reasoned," Tenya nodded slamming a fist into an open palm, "I only thought of a single design for my costume rather than multiple."
"I'm jealous Izumi," Ochaco pouted, "My costume puffy and hugs tightly I wish I'd been more specific on the design forms."
Izumi blinked rapidly as she looked Ochaco up and down examining her costume, her chest once again pounding as she felt her cheeks heat up. She was thankful for the high collar of her jacket hiding the lower part of her face to avoid embarrassment. "I...I think it suits you Ochaco," Pausing as Ochaco gave her a confused look Izumi gestured to her hero outfit, "It's aerodynamic and would allow for improved movement while under the effects of your zero gravity, it compliments your quirk perfectly."
Ochaco blinked rapidly for several seconds her own face reddening at the description Izumi had given, glad her pink visor was shielding her face making her blush harder to spot. "I..I never thought of it that way, thanks, Izumi."
"I SUPPOSE MOST OF YOU ARE WONDERING WHY WE HAVE COME ONE OF THE GROUNDS THE ENTRANCE EXAM TOOK PLACE IN?!" Toshinor's voice boomed gaining the attention of the students, "WHILE SOME VILLAIN FIGHTS TAKE PLACE OUTSIDE IN PUBLIC VIEW MANY TAKE PLACE IN TIGHT NARROW PLACES, SUCH AS BACK ALLEYS, ABANDONED BUILDINGS, UNDERGROUND SECRET BLACK MARKETS AND NARROW TUNNELS!" at the mention of tunnels Toshinori saw a dangerous and excited glint light up in Izumi's eyes, that confused him why would a heroics students who's quirk was best suited for outdoor hero work look excited about fighting villains inside a tunnel? But that was a concern for later, "FOR THIS EXERCISE YOU SHALL BE PAIRED UP AND FACE EACH OTHER IN A SIMULATION OF HEROES VS VILLAINS! IN A TWO ON TWO INDOOR BATTLE SIMULATION!", Before anyone could ask how the teams would be selected Toshinori continued, "JUST LIKE THE REAL WORLD OF HEROICS TEAMS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME BETWEEN ANY HEROES, SO TO SIMULATE THIS RANDOM LOTS SHALL BE DRAWN TO DECIDE THE TEAMS!" from behind him Toshinori drew a box containing the names of every student, yet before he could draw the first name he heard Izumi's voice above everyone else's asking what should have been a question that should not have needed answering.
"Will the use of lethal force be permitted?" The question drew horrified looks from nearly every single student, none of them able to understand why she would need that clarified, this was training for the future if they used lethal force at a minimum half the class would be going home in body bags.
Rath then allow the question to show how it disturbed him Toshinori merely laughed it off as a joke, "HAHA! WHILE IN SOME SITUATIONS HEROES MIGHT NEED TO RESORT TO LETHAL FORCE AS A CLEAR LAST RESORT TO SAVE LIVES, DURING THIS TRAINING EXERCISE AND ALL FUTURE ONES LETHAL FORCE IS NOT PERMITTED!" he turned his gaze towards Izumi staring into her eyes trying to impress the importance of this, "I HOPE THAT CLEARS IT UP YOUNG MIDORIYA?!"
"Yes sir," her answer was eerily calm, like a soldier. It made Toshinori marvel at how quickly she could flip between acting like a normal girl around her classmates to someone that gave of the aura of a hardened soldier.
Not wasting any further time Toshinori began to draw the teams out, the pairings being projected behind him.
Team A
Yuga Aoyama
Momo Yaoyorozu
Team B
Tenya Iida
Fumikage Tokoyami
Team C
Ochaco Uraraka
Eijiro Kirishima
Team D
Mezo Shoji
Mashirao Ojiro
Team E
Minoru Mineta
Rikido Sato
Team F
Koji Koda
Hanta Sero
Team G
Katsuki Bakugo
Shoto Todoroki
Team H
Izumi Midoriya
Mina Ashido
Team I
Denki Kaminari
Toru Hagakure
Team J
Kyoka Jiro
Tsuyu Asui
With the teams chosen Toshinori waited for the various students to move to their partners before continuing to explain the exercise, "NOW LISTEN UP THE SCENARIO FOR TODAY'S TRAINING IS SIMPLE! THE VILLIANS HAVE HIDDEN A EXPLOSIVE OF THE NUCLEAR VARIETY WITHIN THEIR LAIR, THE HEROES MUST BREACH THE LAIR AND TAKE CARE OF IT! THERE WILL ONLY BE A LIMITED TIME WINDOW IN WHICH THE HEROES WILL HAVE TO EITHER CAPTURE THE VILLAINS OR DISARM THE BOMB BY TOUCHING IT, WHILE THE VILLAINS MUST EITHER CAPTURE THE HEROES OR DEFEND THE BOMB UNTIL THE TIME LIMIT RUNS OUT!" Watching the excited chatterings among the students Toshinori pulled out another two boxes, one label 'HEROES' and the other 'VILLAINS' before plunging his hands into them, "UP FIRST WE HAVE AS THE VILLAINS TEAM G! WHILE AS THE HEROES WE HAVE TEAM H!" As he called out the two teams inside horror dawned on Toshinori at how fate had conspired against him, pitting the two students he had been warned to keep apart against each other.
He couldn't change the match-up or teams now that would be a deliberate sign of favouritism no matter the intention, so he'd just have to roll with the current match up. "NOW WHILE THE REST OF THE CLASS HEADS INTO THE OBSERVATION ROOM THE VILLAIN TEAM WILL BE ENTERING THE TRAINING BUILDING FIRST AND GIVEN A FIVE MINUTE PREPARATION TIME, AFTER THOSE FIVE MINUTES THE HEROES WILL ENTER THE BUILDING WERE THE EXERCISE WILL START ITS FIVE MINUTE TIMER!"
Watching as the rest of the class moved away he turned to the two boys on the villain team, "YOUND BAKUGO, TODOROKI FOR THIS EXERCISE YOU MUST ADOPT THE MINDSET OF VILLIANS! THIS IS A PRACTICAL EXERCISE SO GO ALL OUT!" Stopping at the realisation of his words Toshinori knew he had to clarify, "HOWEVER SHOULD THINGS STRAY TO FAR AND BECOME LETHAL I WILL STEP IN AND PUT A STOP TO THE EXERCISE! AM I CLEAR?!" While he had directed his question towards Bakugo and Todoroki, he flicked his eyes over to Izumi seeing her return a subtle nod in understanding. He watched as the two boys entered the building before turning to the hero team and handing them a very rough set of building blueprints.
"AS WITH ALL HERO OPERATIONS SOME INFORMATION IS NORMALLY AVAILABLE! IN THIS REGARD STUDY THESE BLUEPRINTS AND MEMORISE AS MUCH OF THEM AS YOU CAN!" His advice given Toshinori made his way to join the rest of the students in the observation room, hoping that this first battle trial would not in disaster and that just maybe Aizawa's concerns were unfounded.