Disclaimer: I don't own Boku no Hero Academia

Chapter 46:

"So, what are you going to do about it?" Kaminari asked. He kept his voice pretty quiet, like he did not want to upset his classmate in front of him who still had a soft look on his face. Zach did appear better than the last time Kaminari and Kirishima had seen him though, and they both felt grateful to the fourth person in the room who was sitting at Zach's desk chair. They were all in Zach's room, and he had texted the other two to come up.

"Everyone's, seeing it, or seen it already," Zach began in a soft voice. "But I really just don't, want to talk about it. I know that'll just leave it to people's imaginations, and that'll be worse than if I try to explain it myself, but," Zach stopped and he lowered his gaze a big. He was sitting on his bed, to the left of Kaminari sitting next to him, in front of Kirishima who stood and Yaoyorozu sitting at his desk chair. "I don't think I'll be able to talk about that stuff, without getting emotional. I think I'd rather just ignore it, you know?"

"I mean, I guess that makes sense," Kaminari said, shrugging his shoulders. "It's not like I know how you feel. I'm thinking maybe it won't come out on mass media though," he added. Zach turned to him wondering what he meant by that, and Kaminari continued while holding up an open palm, "Who else could be taking those links down, if not the government? And if they don't want something running, they can stop the big news programs from showing it. It's what they did with the Stain video anyway. Can you imagine if news programs played that?"

Zach nodded his head in agreement, as that made some sense to him. Still, comparing his video to Stain's again made him grimace more and he lowered his gaze back to his floor. "You guys know, the stuff in that video was true," Zach mentioned quietly to the two guys he had texted a few minutes ago to come to his room.

"Not all of it," Kaminari said. "Not the last part at least. You're too short to be a demon."

Zach cracked a smile and let out a small laugh, even while Yaoyorozu had frowned at the blond for making a joke at a time like this. Zach laughed a couple more times though, and he shook his head while turning to Kaminari who just grinned back at him. Kirishima grinned too after a second when he saw Zach's reaction, and Yaoyorozu smiled too that his mood seemed to be a little better. Zach lowered his smile though from Kaminari's joke after another second, and he looked from Kaminari to Kirishima and then back. "But the other stuff," Zach said. "It was true," his voice was soft and the other two's heads bowed a little while getting serious looks to them. "My mom," Zach whispered. "I never told anyone about it. It was an, accident. I didn't know-" he paused and pursed his lips as he did not know how to continue talking about this. He never wanted to see the looks of pity on their faces he was seeing now, and he didn't want them to keep looking at him like that.

"I'm sorry," Kirishima said, lowering his gaze from Zach to the floor between them. "Can't imagine what- I'm just sorry."

"Yeah, that really," Kaminari began. He lifted his hands to his head and rubbed them through the back of his hair. He had already been thinking about it since he saw the video, but he still did not know how to respond to hearing it. He looked at the boy next to him whose gaze lowered to the floor before he even trailed off, "I'm sorry man."

Zach nodded his head, showing he appreciated their condolences though there was not much to say about them. They're just sorry though, Zach thought while looking down. Neither are calling me a murderer. I thought maybe, but, I guess not really. I never really thought my classmates who have always been there, who were so supportive, would treat me differently because of that accident. That's what it was. An unavoidable accident. If people knew- and they are going to know, one way or another. If they're going to find out though, and they're going to think about it, then I shouldn't pretend like they don't. They all saw the Nightmare form already. They all knew I went to the League of Villains, that I saved people as- and if they saw the trial they must have already known something about my dad. So really the only elephant in the room, as long as I treat it that way, is my mom. The first thing they mentioned.

He lifted his head and looked around at the others. He turned and looked Yaoyorozu in the eyes, and he started, "That wasn't too bad." She got a surprised look on her face, and the other two lifted back their heads to face Zach. "So if everyone's going to find out anyway, or they already have some kind of idea, I think I should give the context."

"You really don't have to talk about it," Kaminari began, as Zach told them a minute ago that he did not want to.

"I think it's the only way though," Zach said, turning back to him. "I know everyone will just be thinking about it. Or I'll think they are every day in class and, and I want to just get it out of the way. Tell everyone. Let them say what they need to. If I can just get through it all, tonight," he said and took a pause. He got up on his feet and took a deep breath, "Then I can move past it."

"That sounds," Kirishima began. He lifted a hand and scratched the back of his head, then he grinned and nodded, "Like a solid plan. Getting past it in one night. Know I couldn't do that," he said.

Zach felt like Kirishima was calling him strong by saying that, and Zach shook his head with a small smile on his face, "I had help." Kirishima grinned more, feeling like he had helped out himself. Kaminari got a small smile on his face too as he stood up from Zach's bed, but he looked towards the girl who stood from the desk chair after he grinned for a second. She had a clearly surprised look on her face at what Zach just said, then she smiled more warmly than Kaminari was. Wonder how she got him to open up? Well, whatever you did, nice job.

Zach glanced back towards Yaoyorozu after he said it, then to Kaminari too after a few seconds. "Thanks, you guys," he said. He turned back to Kirishima and said, "You said you were in the common room right? There still a bunch of people down there?"

"Probably," Kirishima said. "We could get the rest of the class to gather too-"

Zach shook his head and Kirishima stopped, a confused look forming on his face that Zach did not want that. "I'm not going to treat it like a big deal. Just go in there, tell whoever's there, and then I'm sure what I say will spread to whoever's not there."

Kaminari sighed and he scratched the back of his head. Zach turned to him wondering what that was for, and Kaminari said with a small chuckle, "You think too fast."

"I guess, that makes sense though," Kirishima said, thinking about how they really did not need to gather everyone, and how that would make it into a bigger deal anyway. "You want us to come with-" Zach shook his head again, a small smile on his face to show he appreciated the thought, but wanted to do this alone. "Oh. Well alright then," the redhead said with a shrug.

"Are you sure?" Yaoyorozu asked, walking up next to Zach who turned and nodded at her.

She looked unsure at his response, but he smiled more warmly and said, "I'm sure. Thanks Momo."

Yaoyorozu let out a small sigh as he did sound alright as he said that. She smiled at him and nodded, "Then good luck." By the time she looked up to head for Zach's door, the other two boys in the room had lost the surprised looks on their faces at what Zach called her. As they started walking out though, it was the only thing either of them were thinking about, and they kept glancing towards the tall, busty class vice-president who was smiling after how she was just referred to.

Kirishima glanced to his right at Kaminari as they walked, and then the two of them looked back at Zach who was walking towards the door just behind them. He got a slightly confused, but embarrassed look on his face. He was pretending like he did not know what those looks were for, but he knew his fake confused expression was not working. As much as that made him embarrassed as to what he thought his classmates might think of it, his face darkened a second later and the other two looked back forward. That's not good. I want to call her Momo. To make her feel like I'm not pushing her away, because we're friends, because she was scared for me and cares about… But if I call her Momo in front of others, they'll think- it's not even about that though. As embarrassing as I think it would be, that's just my excuse if I stop. The real reason I don't want to, is because they'll target you first. If they do come, and they do go after the people I love- or the people I care about again. Whoever the spy is, might find out. Tell Shigaraki.

They all walked out of Zach's room and he closed the door behind him, but before he followed after Kirishima and Kaminari towards the stairs, he looked at Yaoyorozu as she walked straight out towards her door in the opposite hall. She looked back and smiled at him, and he smiled too before turning to follow the others, his smile dropping down and his face darkening again. Kaminari looked back to mention something now that Yaoyorozu was not there, but he turned back quickly as it looked like Zach was thinking about what he was going to tell the others downstairs. Zach's mind had not left the girl Kaminari almost mentioned though, Momo. I don't want to put you in danger. But I also don't want to lose, our friendship. I don't know how to do this. Because I don't believe I can protect you. I don't believe it, because I failed before. I haven't managed to protect anything my whole life. I'm not going to go away again though. I won't distance myself either, being here but not really being here. I'll just have to do it this time. Protect the people I care about. Protect you, and Kaminari and Kirishima too. Protect Midoriya, so I can protect the future, and because I care about him too. I care about all of them. Damn, I really hope the spy isn't one of you. That'd really, really just crush me…

"Hey, Zach," Mineta started, lifting a hand and giving him a small half-wave as he walked towards them. The common room had a half dozen people in it, which was less than Zach thought there would be. One look at Mineta's face though, and Zach knew he had seen it.

He glanced around as he walked towards them sitting at tables and not on the couches. Zach wore a casual long-sleeved blue shirt and black sweatpants, and everyone was wearing comfortable clothes as they just sat around. He felt uncomfortable as he looked at a few of them, a bit nervous too since he had come down the stairs thinking more about Momo and villains than what he was going to say to them. He glanced left a little at Ojiro and Hagakure sitting on opposite sides of one table, and Ashido standing next to it looking at him hesitantly too after Hagakure mentioned something they saw on the video. "So," Zach started, his voice kind of joking, kind of just quiet and questioning. "Who, saw it?" He wondered.

Sero and Sato looked in at the short boy between them who gulped before saying, "I did."

"We did too," Hagakure said quickly, pointing at Ojiro and herself, which Zach saw when her long sleeves waved up.

"Sorry," Ojiro said, sweatdropping as Zach frowned at them. Half of them saw, and he figured the other half must have known some stuff already considering they looked to be talking about it when he walked over. "It's just-"

"It's fine," Zach said, shaking his head at Ojiro. He opened his mouth to continue, then he just closed it and lifted his left hand to rub the side of his head. "So, I thought I'd just say it, because it's out there so, just to clear things up…" it was harder than he thought it was going to be, and he already knew it was going to be difficult.

Hagakure waved her hands at him and said, "Don't force yourself. We don't care- I mean we care, of course we care."

Zach sweatdropped as he looked through the invisible girl's face. He thought about when she came to his apartment after the Sports Festival with the other two at that table. He said he was going to visit his other aunt in America, and she had asked him about his parents. "Dead," I still can't believe I said that to her. Zach grimaced as he wondered what kind of expression she had now, and he thought she must have felt even worse about what she said back then knowing it was him who caused his parents' deaths.

"Y-Yeah," Mineta said, shaking his head too and looking away like something else caught his interest. "I didn't believe any of that stuff anyway-"

"It was true," Zach said, and Mineta's eyes shot open wide while he spun his head back to Zach. All six of the other students in front of Zach stared at him with wide eyes, and he just took in a deep breath before trying to say, what he came down to say. "When I was seven, I hurt myself. I got hurt, and my mom she- she grabbed my hand to help me up. I thought I was Quirkless, I didn't- we didn't know," his voice got quieter but he stopped himself from looking down as he spoke. He just stared around at them and all their hurt and pitying looks, and he hoped it would be the last time he had to see them. "It was an accident. She grabbed my hand, and my Quirk manifested… and she died." Zach lifted back up his left hand and scratched the side of his head, darting his gaze down to the floor and thinking calming thoughts for a second as he had felt himself about to get teary-eyed again, and he did not want that to happen. Not while he was trying to avoid more pity. Not while he was getting past it.

"But that, was a long, long time ago," Zach whispered, and he lifted his head with a strong look on his face, even though it was soft like his voice. The others who were all about to open their mouths to say how sorry they were or how terrible that was, just stared in shock as Zach forced a small smile for them. "A long, time ago," Zach repeated. "I'm only saying something now, because I know it's going to come out anyway. Figured I should give context, you know?"

Sero lifted both of his hands up and ran them through his black hair. Ojiro kept staring with wide eyes at Zach for a few more seconds, until Zach locked eyes with him again and just nodded his head to show it was alright. Zach turned to Ashido whose bottom lip was lowered, and he gave her a slightly bigger smile than he gave the others. He thought about after the Sports Festival again, after Ojiro and Hagakure had started walking away when Ashido ran back and said what she wanted to. He thought about the last thing she told him that day, "…Cool guys don't get moody for long."

As he thought about it, Ashido's eyes started getting even wider as she thought about how Zach was not nearly as moody as she thought he would be, and she remembered telling him that before. Her black eyes that had started getting watery blinked a few times in shock as she knew why it was he was smiling like that at her.

Mineta's huge eyes he was staring at Zach with started to lower and he looked at the floor. What are you doing? He thought, his small fists tightening at his sides. That video, was I just avoiding him since it because I was trying to hide the stuff I knew? No, it was, I got scared. Why am I thinking like that? Zach's not a bad guy. Hearing about his mom, but they didn't say it straight out, just implied it at first. A mysterious heart attack though, it was obvious, and I- "I'm sorry," Mineta said, shaking his head at Zach who turned back to him. "That- I'm just sorry," he said, and he lifted a hand and started scratching the purple balls over his head.

"Yeah man, that really sucks," Sero said and nodded in agreement with Mineta. "You sure you're alright? Kirishima said- well I mean, I figure getting this stuff dredged up can't be fun." Sero cut back as he realized he shouldn't say Kirishima told them anything, since he really hadn't too.

"Yeah you're right, it stinks," Zach agreed, losing his smile and rubbing the side of his head with his left hand again. "But like I said, it happened a long time ago. It's not that I'm over it or anything-" he stopped himself and grimaced as he said that. "Just, I can control my Quirk now. So there won't, be anymore accidents," he said. He finished it as if he was assuring them not to worry, and the others went wide-eyed again as it seemed like now he had come over to make sure they weren't afraid of him.

"We know you're careful with it," Ojiro said quickly, standing from his seat and saying that in a tone like Zach did not have to worry at all. "Like at the training camp. Even in that situation, you still made sure me and Kaminari were far back when you came over with your hand out to save Kirishima."

"Yeah," Mineta called out, thinking back on that himself. At the time he had been scared out of his wits by Zach threatening them, only for him to then witness one of the most amazing things in his life. "We know you've got it under control," Mineta said, and he shook his head at himself for even questioning that since lunch.

Ashido opened her mouth to say something in agreement too, but she frowned as she watched Zach's face when Mineta was speaking. He shifted it away from his mom without anyone noticing, Ashido thought. Or, maybe Hagakure noticed too, and that's why she's not saying anything. If he doesn't want to talk about it anymore though, I guess that's fine.

Sato nodded along as Sero started talking about whoever made the video, but the taller and more muscular boy was thinking about something else when Zach responded saying he wanted to know too. I hope he really is alright. What about Jenny though? He seems like he's over his mom, at least a bit maybe, but you wake me up sometimes Zach. Sato thought while looking sadly at the boy in front of him, Nightmares about the same girl I heard Kaminari mention. I don't want to look into it, but what happened?

Zach saw Sato out the corner of his eye while he was talking to Sero about finding out who made the video, and he sighed internally at the larger boy's look. I knew it.

In class the day after Zach saw the Lifebringer video, he could not shake the feeling that there were eyes on him from all over the room. Guess it was too much to hope they'd all just get over the rumors that quickly. I only really talked to half of them about it, not even. Zach was slouched into his chair and looking down at his books closely through all the class periods. At lunch he made sure to sit around others he had already talked about the video with, avoiding having to discuss it again today. He saw some surprised looks from others who saw them eating in peace with none of the others around him bringing up the video, and he hoped some of the others would mention it to the people he was talking to so they could pass on what he had said without him needing to talk about it anymore.

The second half of the day he could already feel less people staring at him. Maybe no one else even saw it, Zach thought hopefully while he wrote out an English sentence Present Mic just said aloud. They'll hear that I told the others about my mom, and they'd probably not even bother looking up the video at that point. That'd be nice. I could just, let this get behind me. Zach closed his eyes as his pencil was close to the end of his paper. Mom. I didn't think about it, for so long. I pushed it to the back of my head, and before I knew it, I had done so many other terrible things that an accident when I was seven years old, is no longer at the top of that list. I'm still sorry. I wish, I didn't- I don't even know how to finish that regret though. Because it was just pure chance. As terrible… but, but it wasn't like that this time. I made decisions, that put Jenny and the Akers in danger. I- Zach shook his head and refocused up at his teacher who started calling out another sentence.

Jirou sat behind Zach with her eyes stuck down on the paper in front of her. Whenever she looked up towards Present Mic, her eyes shifted to the back of Zach's head in a second. She looked up again and tried to keep them away, but she saw him shaking his head in front of her while looking down, and it made her chest ache. I can't get it out of my head. "And when I close my eyes! I see her burning!" Gahh! I want to talk to Momo about it at least, but I don't want either of them to know I was listening. I should've just minded my own business.

At the back of the classroom, Todoroki was focused on the teacher's lecture, but his eyes did glance over to the left a couple of times through the class. He did not look at him as much as Jirou, but he also did not feel much regret over what he had heard, as after hearing it he knew he was right to be ready at his window. Why was he up on the roof? Was he really going to… I heard him and Yaoyorozu walking back down the hallway a few minutes after that. I had wondered who was up there with him, Todoroki looked at the girl on the seat right next to him who he noticed was still focused on her classwork all day despite what he thought would be distracting her.

"She died because of me…" Midoriya glanced to his left over towards Zach, then he turned back forward and started writing down another sentence. Was he talking about his mom the other day? At the time, I thought it made sense, but I didn't want to imagine it. Kirishima said he really sounded like he was past it though. So why does Zach still seem, like he's always, in so much pain?

Zach was a little off when he thought people were not looking at him as much anymore, but he was focusing more on class anyway so he noticed them less himself. The afternoon was going by fast, and Aizawa came back in towards the end of the day to discuss something with the class. Zach actually felt pretty good when Aizawa stood up there and he knew there were only a few minutes left until school was done for the day. No one had mentioned the video to him. Lunch was delicious. And he started to get excited even as Aizawa started, "So about the hero internships this term…"

Everyone leaned forward in their seats, their attentions snapping to their teacher and excited looks appearing on more of their faces. "U.A. won't be doing any for the first years," Aizawa continued. Most of the class dropped their jaws as Aizawa put that on them without any warning.

"Wait really?"

"Why not?" Kirishima asked, leaning forward and getting an aggravated look on his face. Aizawa glared at the class and they all sat up straight with their mouths closed and complete silence.

Zach sat up like the others, but his eyes lowered to his desk in front of him and his expression turned grim. Is it because of me? Why would they cancel? I really needed money from an internship, make it so I can really cut off all contact with Maye. I can't even get annoyed about it. It's my fault anyway.

Aizawa saw Sazaki's expression dip ten notches darker in the matter of two seconds and he tried not to sweatdrop. He continued to the students awaiting an explanation, scratching his right cheek as he did, "Some people think it's foolish to send students out multiple times during their first year into action. The amount of villain incidents are still on the rise, so it's even more likely you'll be fighting villains at your internships than it was in the fall."

"Sensei," Iida started while putting his right hand up high. "Is it not because of the rise in villain incidents that we should get more experience as soon as possible?"

"You make a good point," Aizawa said, though he kept his tired and unfocused tone. "But as much as experience is important, sending the unexperienced into these situations too early would just be an unnecessary risk. As you should all know, along with the increase in the rate of villain incidents, hero deaths are becoming more common too." A more grim hush fell over the classroom with Iida's hand lowering down and his eyes disappearing behind a glint of his glasses. Everyone stared at their teacher whose voice got a little more serious as he continued, "You already know it from your provisional license exams. The fifty percent pass rate from previous years was cut dramatically, below seven percent. This is one of the reasons for that."

Zach lifted his head and his confused expression started to fill with realization at Aizawa's explanation. Heroes are dying out there. They're not all weak ones, but if in recent years the tests were not as exclusive, there are bound to have been half-capable heroes out there. Still are too, since the ones who had their licenses are not going to have to go through the tests again. Though, maybe they should. That would reduce the number of pro heroes out there though, below the number of villains. It used to be more heroes than villains, now I feel like they're closer to the same number, but if they're letting less new heroes make it through the system at the same time as current heroes are dying… This world is only going to get more dangerous. I understand why they don't want to let those who aren't ready to get their licenses, and why they don't want people our age going out to fight the villains too often yet, but that solution is going to result in an even smaller fraction of the population being able to protect the rest.

"First the Culture Festival," Kaminari muttered on Zach's right side. Zach glanced at him and saw Kaminari running his left hand up through his hair in a frustrated way. "Now this. Kind of disappointing."

Zach looked past Kaminari as he was saying that, and his eyes widened a bit as he saw Midoriya with his head aimed down at his desk, a frustrated and sad look on his face. What's that look about?

"But for those of you who would have gotten internships, this may actually help you out," Aizawa continued. Everyone looked back up at their teacher if they had been taking a moment to think on what he told them. He went on, "Whether or not you were having them, the end of the year is coming up, and instead of a final exam we're having you write research papers."

The class who thought there might be something big to make up for the internships just groaned or grimaced more as it was a completely school-like thing and also sounded really boring. "You'll not only have to write the paper, but present it in front of the freshman hero classes and the faculty," Aizawa continued. The ones who groaned at how boring it sounded got nervous looks on their faces as they lifted their gazes again, but they were not the only ones. Hearing that unnerved a lot of people in class who were not the best public speakers. Jirou and Hagakure both looked in at Koda with apologetic looks while the very shy boy started shaking there with huge eyes.

"Is something like this really necessary?" Todoroki began. "Couldn't the report alone be enough?"

"Um, yeah I agree," Midoriya added, though he lifted up a hand as he said it. "Why would we need this?"

"You're all planning on being heroes," Aizawa started his response, not too annoyed at their questions since he himself was not very into the answer he was about to give. "At some point, you'll all come in contact with the media. You'll be faced with them, and you have to be able to speak publicly. I hate it myself, but just this year you all saw me have to go on tv." He grimaced thinking back on it, and Zach looked down as he thought about that too, while Bakugo was still grinding his teeth at the idea of giving a stupid presentation to the classes and teachers. "So if you think you can go into this with a good report only to bomb speaking in front of everyone, think again."

Koda's face turned even more red and his whole body started shaking at the idea of this being a final project for the year. Aizawa felt bad for him, but only him, and he glared around at the other students who all looked ready to complain about this. Iida lifted his hand again after Aizawa re-silenced the room, and when Aizawa looked over, the class rep began, "What are the specifics of this research paper? How many pages are required? And is the due date at the end of the semester or before it and the presentations are done at the end?"

Aizawa sweatdropped at all of Iida's questions, while everyone else in the class actually felt appreciative as they had gotten ahead of themselves thinking about presenting their papers that they forgot to ask what they were actually writing about. "It's ultimately up to you," Aizawa started. "Choose a topic related to anything you've learned this year. Hero activities, your own Quirks and possible uses for them, etcetera. For example, if you want to do a research paper looking up reasons why having another internship period in your first year would have been a good thing, for those of you I can see still mulling that over it could be a good topic." A few of the students who were still thinking about that looked at their teacher in surprise, and Aizawa continued, "As many reasons as there are why you should be kept here in school for your own safety, there are as many reasons why you should be out there interning with heroes. Think about both sides in your arguments. You aren't just doing research. You have to have your own opinions in these papers too. Do your research, pick something you're actually interested in so you don't come off as boring during your presentation, and don't miss the deadline. Which is, the day you'll be presenting."

Which is…

"That gives you around a month and a half to prepare. Your course load won't drop at all during this time, except in the final days leading up to the presentations," Aizawa scratched the back of his head like he was thinking about what else he might have forgotten. "There is no page limit, or minimum," he muttered. "Take that to mean what you will. If you fail this though, you fail for the year so don't cut corners… Oh yeah," he said, lifting the corners of his lips like he forgot the most simple thing. The students all getting worked up over the due date sighed internally as it seemed like he remembered, only to tense up again as Aizawa added, "You have to get your main idea cleared by a member of the staff. You can ask any teacher for advice in your research, use the school library to your advantage, and…" The class leaned forward.

Aizawa turned and looked up at a clock on the wall. "Class is over. You can all go."

"What day are the presentations?!"

Aizawa leaned back at the exclamations from half the class. He scratched his cheek and said in a tired voice, "I'll let you know in a couple of weeks. It'll be early April, sometime. Just have to work out what auditorium we'll need, or when we can use it…" he grabbed his sleeping bag from behind the desk and started walking for the door while putting it over himself. "If you have any questions… well, try and figure them out on your own."

Zach sweatdropped as he watched the homeroom teacher lazily exit the room, then he leaned back on his chair and stared up at the ceiling. Something we're interested in… Huh.

Kaminari was humming to himself with both hands interlocked behind his head, and he turned left to Zach a few seconds after Aizawa left. "What do you think? Any ideas?"

Jirou looked to Kaminari in surprise at the casual way he was talking to Zach, and the hum that Zach made after his question. She had not sat near them at lunch, sitting far off unlike usual. She had to avert her gaze too as Zach turned in to answer his blond friend. I can't look at him without giving away what I heard. That was so terrible. How is he, how does he do this? Every day, looking like nothing's bothering him. "As she died, screaming out in agony yet still believing that I would come save her. Until her very last breath, she believed in me. And I failed her! I let her die!"

Zach turned to Kaminari after humming for a second. "Maybe," he began. "I've got a couple of ideas," he said slowly, then he turned his head more and said, "What about you, Jirou?"

Jirou leaned back as she was not expecting the question, though she realized she had been watching them. Kaminari looked back too, and he lifted an eyebrow at her off-put attitude. "Um, I don't, think so," Jirou started, and she lifted a hand to scratch the side of her head with, looking to the side like she was thinking hard. "Maybe something about my Quirk…"

"Oh, cool," Zach said, turning back forward quickly. I thought I noticed something weird about her all day. She must have seen the video, and maybe she didn't hear that I talked about it. I should… her Quirk? No, of course not- but then again, if she was the spy it'd be a great one. She could eavesdrop everywhere without anyone noticing. Zach's expression got darker while he started packing up his things to head out. Most people were still in class talking about the paper, but a few had started leaving already and he no longer felt like being in there. Jirou's not the spy. She's not. At USJ she- and she's Jirou! Why do you have to suspect your friends? That's not cool. It's not fair to the ones who really have done nothing wrong. She could just be staring at you funny for the video, or, if she did eavesdrop on something, it probably was just because she was worried. I was on the roof last night… how close, was I?

Zach got up and started for the door. His head was partially bowed and his eyes shadowed over by his bangs, Never again. There are people who care. I can't do that to them. And, I can't give up like that. I still haven't changed a thing. Haven't, changed the answer. And it's not impossible. I can think of a way. To make up for everything. There has to be a way to do that much good. To make up for it all, to protect this world, from the monsters lurking inside it. Shigaraki, Dabi, Kurogiri, the spy, All For One, all of them. I can stop them. I told All Might I was going to. Yesterday was just a hiccup. A bad one, but the last one. Make it so. From here on out, I'm doing it. Taking down the League of Villains, supporting Midoriya in order for him to become the Symbol of Peace, saving this world. There are things I can do. A perspective on the world that only I might have. I know what I want to do for my research paper. I'll make up for all of it. Jenny, I'll never forget you, but I'll make you proud… I'm so sorry, I got you killed.

He walked out of the classroom, and Kaminari turned his head from the boy who just walked out without a word and looked so intense as he did it. He turned to the girl behind him whose bottom lip was lowered after she watched Zach right there, then she snapped her head down as Kaminari gave her an annoyed look. "What? Did you see the video or something?" Kaminari asked.

"I don't know, what you're talking about," Jirou said, packing up her things quicker.

"Really?" Kaminari asked, lifting his eyebrows up that she was going to try and play it that way. "Did it get you that freaked out?" He wondered. Then he leaned forward off his chair while she was leaning off hers so he could add, "You know Zach told us afterwards. His Quirk just manifested one day, and he accidentally killed his mom." Jirou bit down hard as she heard this, since she did not know that and it just added to the terrible things she had heard the night before. "It was an accident though," Kaminari repeated to her, since she seemed to tense up a lot hearing that.

"Yeah, I get it," Jirou said after a few seconds. She shook her head around and tried putting on a smile for the blond in front of her, but she could not force it if she tried. "That's just, sad," she whispered, giving her reason for why she could not fake the look at the moment. Even if that was an accident. That girl, she's the one Kaminari mentioned to Zach those times. Jenny. Zach's mood always changed when he brought her up. I should tell him not to talk about her any… but then, he'll ask why, and he'll start looking at Zach just like, I must have been. Jirou lifted a hand and rubbed her forehead before picking up her things. She started for the door herself, only to turn as Yaoyorozu called over to her to wait for a second so they could walk back together, as they often did. Jirou grimaced but then thought as her best friend in the class walked her way, I can't do this. I have to tell Momo at least- but then won't she tell Zach I know? Agh, she should, then I don't have to say it myself. Keeping it to myself that I know though, it's like I'm betraying their trust. I wish, I hadn't listened to a thing…

A/N Hey guys. Thanks for reading the chapter. Didn't put an A/N at the bottom of the last chapter, admittedly that chapter gets to me more than any has in Death. Rereading and editing it always brings tears to my eyes, especially the part right before I showed Jirou and Todoroki listening. Anyway, just wanted to mention that now since I didn't put an Author's Note at the end of the last chapter. I hope you enjoyed that one, and I hope you liked this one too of a bit more of reactions and seeing what's coming up. Leave a review below telling me what you think, and time for review responses:

D-Koy24 chapter 45 . 20h ago

Ammo locked and loaded...
"JUST TAKE THE SHOT!" ZachxMomo fans shouted in unison.
I am really believing you are just a tease! (Vain popping on forehead) but I like how you included Todoroki and Jirou in the scene and their reactions (Jirou obviously would've snooped, no doubt there.
~D-Koy, a very impatient ZachxMomo friend.
(Holds sign that says "Stop camping!")
(Please respond to this *Puppydog eyes times infinity")

Zach says 'Momo!' Haha, I was expecting people to be excited over them, but you guys are all too much XD. We'll see if I'm teasing or if anything comes from it... def some snoopers in the class, with Sato and Midoriya thinking on some things too. I get you're impatient, but although I won't say a ship has sailed, someone's definitely building a boat around here... ;) Thanks for the review!

Guest chapter 45 . 18h ago

FUUUUCKKIIIINNNNGG FINALY!

Haha glad you liked it! Thanks for reviewing!

An Average Jo chapter 45 . 11h ago

It happened! Finally! Yeahhhhhh boiiiiii

Glad y'all enjoyed! Thanks for the review!

Guest chapter 45 . 17h ago

WHY IS ZACK SO SHORT?! WHY?!

Well... he was a late bloomer? His Quirk showed up late, so maybe his height growth spurt's hitting late too? Only reason I got! Thanks for the review!