08/10/2022

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The Emperor's Dragon
Emergence 14 - First Day

Izuku waited about 20 meters down from UA's entry gate for his friends. It was busy here but not so busy that he couldn't see people coming to school. It was the first day and he was early. Not because he was overly excited, though many of the first years were, but because he wanted to see his friends before class began. They were all in different classes.

Ochaco had passed and was in the Heroics Course Class 1B, while Hitoshi was in General Studies in Class 1C. Mei was in the Support Course in Class 1H and he was in the Management stream in Class 1I. So if they were going to talk to each other, it would have to be before school, at lunch or after school and he wasn't sure they'd be able to do that. Lunch yes, he was reasonably sure they'd be able to catch up then but the chances were they would have different homework.

"Mei!" He cried when he saw his friend approach. He was actually slightly surprised. He thought he might have missed her because he knew Mei was very eager to start. She was looking forward to getting into UA's labs and making more babies!

"First!" She rushed over to him.

"I thought you'd already be in the lab!" He joked.

Mei actually looked annoyed at something. "They wouldn't let us in early," she grumbled.

Izuku chuckled at that. It explained so much. "Have you got the company papers?" He asked.

"Right here," she replied, patting her bag.

He would have said more but spotted Hitoshi from the corner of his eye. "Hito-" hie call died out as he turned to face the new student. "Sorry!" Izuku corrected. "I thought you were someone else."

The student in question was Hitoshi's height but their hair was darker and… they wore a third year uniform. "Ah… I'm sorry," the other student said.

"No, I'm sorry," Izuku corrected with a smile. He felt a bit embarrassed. He'd known Hitoshi for how long and now mistook someone else for him. "Don't let me make you late to meet your own friends," he added.

The dismissal seemed to calm the young man and he nodded and continued towards the gate but he seemed to think of something and turned back. "Good luck with your course," he said before resuming walking to the gate.

"Opps," Izuku said to Mei while she gave him an odd look.

"Opps, indeed." That was Hitoshi's voice.

"Gah!" Izuku jumped. He was usually better at knowing when people were around except with so many people heading to school it was hard to pick out individuals. "I'm sorry Hitoshi!" Izuku immediately apologised, turning to face his friend. Ochaco was with him and she looked amused too.

"We're all here!" Mei announced. Over summer they had spoken to Mei via chat, talking about how they were adjusting and looking forward to going to UA. They all had to move, which was a big change!

Shinsou had it the easiest! Because he originally hailed from Saitama, which was the next prefecture over from Tokyo, where UA was, his parents had just moved back. They said they'd been missing city life and had picked out a nice Tokyo suburb to move to. For Izuku it had been almost as simple. Kurogiri had told him that his Dad had arranged an apartment near UA. It was a small apartment, like a lot of apartments you saw in anime. Basically one room, with a partitioned area for a kitchen and small room for a toilet. The building had a communal bathing area. There was a balcony, so that was a nice way of getting in fresh air and it was east facing, which meant he'd get morning sun but not the worst of the hot westerly sun.

Mei was staying at a student boarding house. Her argument had been that she didn't need anything else. Izuku laughed when he heard that. He knew what she meant. She was going to spend as much time as she possibly could at UA. Ochaco was living in a small apartment like he was. She'd happily reported that they'd picked up a big job from one of the Panels they were on which would comfortably cover the costs! When he'd heard that Izuku had wondered for a moment if that was something his Dad arranged. He could remember, many years ago asking his Dad to help out Ochaco's parents, but he couldn't remember what had happened.

It was more likely that they were good builders.

"We are!" Ochaco agreed. "Can you believe it?"

"I think Izuku always knew we'd get here," Hitoshi replied.

"Well what are we waiting for!" Mei said, trying to drag them into the school.

"I think we should arrange meet up times," Izuku announced, resisting her pull.

"What do you mean?" Mei demanded.

"We are all in different courses so we are going to have different homework. I think we should arrange times to meet up, or agree to each lunch together," he explained. He'd found out over summer that contact was key to friendship.

Inasa had only told him when really pushed that he wasn't going to be at UA. The tall teen had admitted that something had happened in the recommendation trial but wouldn't say what. Izuku was hurt by his friend's refusal but then he'd remembered something Dad had told him. Relationships took work and contact. Even in business. It was best to not only communicate with those you had a business relationship with but to visit them. Be seen with them and let them know they could visit you. Izuku figured it was the same with friendship and he was all the more grateful that Mei was his friend.

He saw Ochaco and HItoshi every school day for the last few years, so they knew him. He'd kept in contact with Mei over text almost continuously as well but he'd only seen Inasa a few times at Quirk Use days and their communication… It hadn't been as much as he talked with Mei. Inasa probably didn't feel as close to him as he had felt to the taller teen.

It was a lesson he was taking to heart. Just because they were enrolled in different courses, he was not going to let them drift apart.

Izuku fixed Mei with a glare. "Or in your case, we make sure you have lunch," he added.

That got a chuckle from Hitoshi and Ochaco. They may not know Mei like he did but they'd figured out enough over the summer to realise that if she could, she'd probably avoid eating to create more things.

"That sounds good!" Hitoshi said as Ochaco nodded. "We may not be able to meet after school because of other activities," he added.

"We can try," Ochaco said.

Mei looked a bit conflicted.

"We could meet at the lab," Izuku said and she brightened immediately. He didn't. He wondered what he'd gotten them into.

"How about we try to meet at three thirty after school?" Ochaco suggested. "Unless we have other things on," she added the proviso.

"We could try before school," Mei pointed out.

Izuku laughed at the horrified expression gracing Hitoshi's features. "I'm not sure that's a good idea," he said. "Lunch, in the cafeteria, and after school in the support area," he offered the alternatives.

"That's good!" Ochaco agreed. Hitoshi nodded vigorously. Anything to get out of before school. It was likely he was only early today because it was the first day.

Mei looked more considering. "I suppose that will get you close for fittings," she muttered, nodding. "That works," she announced with a grin. "Now let's go! My babies are waiting!"

Izuku laughed as he was dragged along, and he managed to get a hand on Hitoshi's sleeve before Mei dragged him out of range. Hitoshi, in turn, caught hold of Ochaco and together, as a chain, they passed through UA's gates.

-ted-

Izuku wasn't the only one looking curiously around the hall. His fellow management students were and he could see they were focused on the one hero class that was present. It was a bit disgusting. They were looking at the hero students if they were slabs of meat and he could tell they were already determining who would be the most marketable as a hero of the future. There was curiosity as to where the other hero class was. 1A was notable in their absence, but at least it made it easier to find Ochaco.

When he'd found his classroom, 1I, he'd been met with a barrage of questions from the other students. They weren't interested in his quirk, they wanted to know his business lineage. Chui was a common name, and they wanted to know which Chui he was related to in business. The list of companies had been somewhat surprising as had the realisation that, while they may not care about quirks as much as other people, his fellow students still had their ways of ranking people and making preconceived notions of their abilities and life story.

Dad had prepared for that and had told him that Windy Chui was the head of BnL, which his dad had described as a poles and lines electricity company. They didn't make electricity, instead they kept the infrastructure operational. BnL had maintenance contracts with most of the large electricity suppliers. So Izuku, or Mitei, as he was enrolled as, was to say that Windy was his parent. The company wasn't hero related but it was respectable.

The instant he'd said Windy, the feeling in the classroom had changed. There was instant acceptance and a few people felt upset, as if he'd insulted them personally. As he was sitting through the first homeroom, one where they didn't introduce themselves, rather indicated their presence when their teacher called, Izuku had figured out it wasn't that they were insulted, they were upset because they thought he was out of their league.

There were rankings in every system.

He didn't have time to think about that before they were escorted to the welcoming assembly where class 1A was conspicuous with their absence. He wondered what they were doing but Principal Nezu didn't seem concerned so it couldn't be too bad.

Nezu welcomed them to UA, and gave an overview of the course structure and what they could expect for the next few years. The Principal made it obvious that even if they weren't in the Hero Course, they would be expected to embrace the school's motto of Plus Ultra, just as much, if not more than the hero students. Izuku didn't laugh at that, but it was a not very subtle reminder that most of UA's Alumni funding came from the other courses. Except, he didn't think anyone else had worked that out. Well, Hitoshi would know that, as would Ochaco but from the way everyone nodded, it seemed as if they didn't know it.

It all seemed standard, and he could tell that Mei really just wanted to go back to the lab. They were going to have to drag her out for lunch. He could tell. He sighed softly and gave his friend a soft smile. He kind of pitied the hero who had to teach her but he reminded himself, they signed up for it. Izuku sat back, and listened to Nezu, his mind absently noting what wasn't said. It might be his dad's teachings directing him to think like that, but it didn't mean they were wrong.

-ted-

"Oh my god, did you hear?" Ochaco asked as soon as she saw Izuku. She was with Hitoshi and they were making their way towards the Support area.

UA's central building had four towers, which were connected by walkways. Each of the towers was devoted to a different course. The Hero course, having one less class than the other courses had the teacher's lounge and other facilities.

"I heard," Izuku said. Everyone had. Except maybe Mei. If she had, he was pretty sure she wouldn't care. He frowned as he realised something. "Why'd you come the long way?" He asked Hitoshi. The General Studies tower was next to the Support Tower, the same as the Management Tower. The Hero Tower was the furthest away.

Hitoshi just glared and Izuku laughed. It probably meant they'd gotten lost. UA, despite only having about 660 students, had extensive grounds and was somewhat confusing to get around.

"Let's go find Mei," Izuku said instead of commenting further. They walked through the corridors towards the Support Department. "What did your class do in the afternoon?" he asked Ochaco. In first year, everyone did roughly the same classes in the morning, and then specialist course specific classes in the afternoon. On her schedule there was something called 'Introduction to Heroism' and he was curious as to what it was.

"We had a safety lecture," Ochaco reported. She didn't sound that interested but Izuku was surprised at his level of interest.

"A safely lecture?"

"On our quirks and how we can't use them in public yet but how once we get our license people will be relying on us."

"That is true," Izuku nodded. His statement appeared to make Ochaco calm slightly.

"It is necessary," she added.

"So what quirks do the future heroes have?"

At that question, Hitoshi burst out laughing. Ochaco also appeared amused.

"Third question," she managed to say.

"What?" Izuku demanded.

"Third question," Hitoshi repeated.

Izuku frowned. He didn't get it.

Ochaco laughed slightly. "You Little Dragon. Your third question was about quirks."

"Oh." He realised what they were going on about and chuckled. "I'll try for second next time?" he teased.

"You do that," Hitoshi said as they walked over the bridge into the Support area. From the bridge they could see that people were still leaving for the day. From the Support Tower it was a simple thing to find the first years. From there, a cry of 'My Baby!' was enough for them to find Mei.

"Mei!" Izuku called the other first year.

"Catch my baby First," she cried.

There was something flying towards them and he did dutifully catch it.

"Did you hear?" Ochaco said before Mei could do anything more than grab her baby from Izuku.

She looked at the other teen quizzically. "Hear what?" Mei asked before turning her focus back to her baby as they walked into what they presumed was her class room, or actually, it was her workshop.

"Two of class 1A were expelled!" Ochaco gushed.

"Were they any good?" Mei asked, instead of being concerned.

At that, Ochaco frowned. "I don't know," she admitted. "Apparently 1A's homeroom teacher puts his class through another test, which is why they weren't there at the assembly. Two of them failed."

"Do you know why?" Izuku asked. He'd heard that two had flunked out already but he didn't know any details.

"Vlad King said that the student who came last in the test was generally expelled anyway and that the other… 'relied too much on a single gimmick of their quirk'." She held up her hands to make the quote.

"What was their quirk?" Hitoshi asked before Izuku could.

"I don't know," she replied.

Mei sighed, apparently having listened. "Two less customers," she muttered.

"What happens now?" Izuku asked. "For them I mean. It's too late to enroll in other high schools."

"I don't know," Ochaco indicated. "I hope they can though."

Izuku smiled at Ochaco. She was so compassionate. He would ask around to see if anyone knew what happened to the kids class 1A's teacher expelled. There would have to be something, right? Especially if this happened every year.

"How was your first day, Hitoshi?" Izuku asked.

"Not too bad. Our specialist class is mostly PE," he said, sounding a bit annoyed.

"PE?"

"We can't use our quirks but if people want to try to get into heroics, they are going to have to do it at the Sports Festival. So we have PE almost every afternoon until then to help our chances."

"That makes sense," Izuku nodded but it was kind of cruel. Everyone in General Studies, or at least everyone in the Management course knew exactly how many people had ever moved from General Studies into Heroics. They'd already dismissed the General Studies classes.

"So when is your first hero class?" Mei asked, looking at Ochaco. Her question was transparent. She wanted to know when she'd have someone to test her babies on.

"Tomorrow!" Ochaco said. "Vlad King said that we will do some basic drills," she added, "before we do a combat class, with a rescue class at the end of that." She chuckled. "Apparently the debris from our combat class sets the scene for our rescue class."

They all laughed at that and Izuku just let himself enjoy that feeling.

His friends were all here and in courses they wanted to do and… yes, that was enough. For now. He could grasp for more later. For now, he was content.

-ted-

Aizawa always enjoyed a drink after the first day of the new school year. It was one of the few times he allowed himself to take the night off and enjoy the beverage. Granted, usually he took the night off 'cos he had to complete expulsion paperwork but with only two student's not making the grade this year, he'd already done it.

Therefore it was a bit of a surprise when one of the other teachers plucked the bottle from his hand and took a long chug. Usually he'd be more aware, but… It was times like these Aizawa was reminded that his fellow teachers were heroes in their own right. They had a variety of skills.

"Hard day?" He commented laconically, turning around to see Power Loader pulling the bottle away from his lips.

The other hero said nothing as he gave back the bottle and went to the special teacher's cabinet to pull out another one. Aizawa could admit to being curious. This wasn't behaviour he expected from the Support teachers. The third year heroics teachers yes, usually at something one of their students had done on an internship.

"She's gonna kill me," the man muttered.

"Who's going to kill you?"

"Mei Hatsume," the reply came from between gritted teeth. It was rather impressive that Power Loader could manage that feet and still drink the alcohol.

"What has the little listener done?" Hizashi asked before he could.

Power Loader looked like he was in pain. He rubbed at his forehead with his fingers, actually pressing the flat part of his metal fingertips into his skin. "She's already got the company," he said.

"Isn't that a good thing?" Hizashi sounded confused but Aizawa thought he could see where this was going.

"No! It's not a good thing," Power Loader actually snapped. "She wanted to get straight to the lab today!" He added the explanation.

"Oh," Aizawa chuckled. He got it now. This Mei was one of those over enthusiastic students who would, no doubt, blow up the lab if left unsupervised. He gave his fellow hero a look. It was part sympathy, part superiority. He at least had the reputation that if people annoyed him he expelled them. It was a nice, linear equation. "Did she get there?"

At that Power Loader took another long chug from the bottle. "Three explosions today."

Aizawa laughed. It took a lot to amuse him but that… Oh… sometimes, just sometimes the other students made the heroic students look easy.

He lived for those times and this year… Maybe with this Mei… He took another sip, saluting Power Loader who had taken another swig from the bottle.

Maybe this would be the year his fellow teachers finally learned what he went through.

-ted-

So who were the two who left us? - The bottom two from the test (If Izuku wasn't there).

With Izuku and Ochaco out of Class 1A, Ibara and Itsuka were moved in. Setsuna is in 1A and Momo in 1B, everything else is the same except there's two OCs in 1B to make up for Izuku and Hiryu not being there. Hiryu isn't in class 1B because AFO stole his quirk for Izuku way back in Nestling. Class lists, in no particular order, though two out of 1A are now no longer there.

Class 1A

Todoroki
Setsuna
Katsuki
Kirishima
Ibara
Itsuka
Tenya
Tokoyami
Sato
Kaminari
Jiro
Mineta
Aoyama
Ojiro
Shoji
Asui
Koda
Sero
Toru
Ashido

Class 1B

Momo
Honenuki
Ochaco
Tetsutetsu
Awase
Kaibara
Kamakiri
Kuroiro
Kodai
Komori
Shishida
Shoda
Tsunotori
Tsuburaba
Fukidashi
Bondo
Monoma
Yanagi
New student1
New student2

My discord is on this code: ZX2R5h2cEm FFN will remove links but you should be able to figure that out. It's a year old now! YAY!

-ted-

Loved it? Hated it? Found a spelling mistake? Let me know please!