Chapter Nine: Declaration


"All right, listen! It's time for this morning's homeroom period! Take your seats, everyone!" Iida announced in the loud boisterous tone he always used to speak over the class. Minami was starting to wonder if he didn't also have some form of voice enhancement like Yamada on top of his engine legs.

That being said…he was also the only one standing so this announcement was unnecessary and seemed like a way to throw his authority around again.

"We are in our seats, you're the one whose not." Thank you Sero for being a voice of reason!

"Morning."

Minami's head whipped to the door with widened eyes. The voice clearly belonged to Aizawa and his wrapped body, resembling a mummy, was there like the voice suggested. He shouldn't be here. He should be at home recovering. How could he talk about self-preservation and rationality when he was before the class in such a condition.

He shouldn't be there, but a part of her was relieved that he was at least recovering.

"Don't concern yourselves over me. After all, the battle hasn't really ended for you yet. U.A.'s Sport's Festival is approaching."

Some wondered whether this was really the time for a sports festival, but Minami sat in quiet excitement. She always enjoyed school festivities, and liked it even more when she got to run around. Sure, it would be broadcasted in front of a huge audience which she was less enthusiastic about, but she would deal with it in order to be able to run around and have fun.

"On the contrary: since we're going ahead with the festival, it means the school is confident in its crisis control. I hear the police presence will be five times bigger than normal, for example," explained Aizawa. In other words, the school wanted to use the upcoming event as a P.R. stunt. The increased security would indicate a lack of assurance that someone would interfere. It might feel reassuring to some. That there is an available presence if needed, but it might cause other people to be on edge because there would be so many law enforcement present.

"What you should be thinking about is what a huge opportunity the academy's Sports Festival presents for all of you. This isn't some event that'll be brought to a halt by the likes of villains." Ah right. The Sports Festival was supposed to be for promotion of U.A.'s quality students.

"No, if villains do appear, can we halt it please," said Mineta.

"Mineta, have you never seen the Sports Festival?!" Midoriya twisted in his seat to talk to the student seated behind him.

"Of course I have! That's not it at all…"

Minami had to somewhat agree with Mineta. Some liked to hijack events because there was attention on them. They've already had some infiltrate U.A. which to most would be inconceivable. In the case there was a problem large enough to effect the event it should be stopped. That being said, a lot of pros would be in the audience, or agents on behalf of various pro agencies. Add that with the added security and it would have to be a catastrophically large problem for the event to be stopped. Not impossible, but unlikely.

"It's because they'll be scouting for us." Yaoyorozu stated.

Denki pointed to himself to add, "I'm thinking I might follow the tactic of going sidekick for a pro hero's squad after graduating!" Minami thought about it. She never decided whether to go solo or a sidekick. Well, it wasn't always as simply as choosing. Agencies were expensive to run. Going solo as a beginner also could limit one's ability to adapt to the industry and for some there was a lot of added work and maintenance that they think about when going into it. She would still like to get a university degree afterwards, but working on the side under someone else didn't sound so bad. Or if she worked solo she could make a schedule that worked best for her. It was something to consider at a later time. There was time to decide.

"But there are loads of people who get stuck as sidekicks forever and miss their chance to break out as solo heroes. You seem just like that kind of dumbass, Kaminari." Jiro insulted Kaminari from her seat beside him. Right, of course her classmates would be focused on becoming leaders and soloists. The profession attracts people who want to stand out.

"Naturally, entering an agency of a famous hero will get you higher status and more experience. Remember, time is limited. If you get noticed by a pro, that gives you the standing for a brighter future than otherwise. This is the chance you'll only get once a year for a total of three chances. If you aim to be a hero, this is an event you can't overlook."

Minami mulled over Aizawa's words. She didn't think the attention they garnered at first years would matter that much. At this point in their professional development any experience would be valuable experience. In the long term though, she supposed it would look good on a resume. Noticed early on for talent – the industry thrived on that sort of thing.

She couldn't control if anyone would look her way or see potential though. Even if they did, would they want her. Throwing that aside she was just going to deal with what was before her and enjoy herself a bit. After everything that had happened recently, she deserved at least that.

It seemed the Sports Festival was announced across the entire school that day. She should have expected it since it was announced during homeroom. What she didn't expect was a hoard of students approaching their room.

"They're crowding the exit! What are they here for?" Mineta complained.

"They're scoping out the competition retard." Despite the name calling, Bakugo somehow seemed more relaxed. Or perhaps his demeanor just stood out compared to the others in the class who didn't know what to do in this situation. "They wanna see the class who came through the villain ambush. They're checking us out before the big battle asshole." She hadn't thought of people wanting to see them because of the villain attack. It was just a part of hero culture, she supposed.

Though, if her classmates couldn't stand other people in their school staring at them now then how were they going to fare during. That being said, they were hoarding like the reporters. At least make space for people to leave. Otherwise, they were no better than a mob.

"It's pointless to try, so why don't you just fuck off, ya goddamn mob!" Bakugo walked up to them straightforward and yelled.

"Don't go calling people you don't know a 'mob' right off the bat!" Iida yelled. In the classroom, Iida and Bakugo often were at conflict than Midoriya and Bakugo surprisingly enough. No, it shouldn't be a surprise. The two always wanted to be heard with the attitude they were always right.

If there was something to call out she would have called out the first part. 'It's pointless to try' since it wasn't pointless – though it may have just been competitive shit talk. It was hard to tell which Bakugo because it seemed everything was a competition with him.

"I came to see what you were made of, true, but I didn't think you'd be this arrogant. Are all kids enrolled at the Department of Heroics this way?" Shinso made his way to the front of the group. "There's lots of kids who wind up in the General Education Department or other departments because they failed the heroics one, did you know that?" Minami was all for venting, but she didn't think doing so in front of an audience was appropriate. What was he hoping to achieve? "And based on the results of the Sports Festival people can undergo a review to be transferred to the Heroics Department." Shinso taunted. "I thought, why don't I try pulling the rug out from under those heroics kids while they're on their high horses? Consider this a declaration of war."

Unfortunately, this declaration was probably going to backfire on Shinso. If you thought the people at the top were arrogant it would be best to keep them oblivious to your attack. This would only motivate her classmates rather than deter them.

"Section 17, paragraph 3—" Minami said as she grabbed her bag and stood from her seat. She looked directly at Shinso who hadn't looked her way once. "of U.A. policies the potential to transfer into the Heroics Department. The Sports Festival is opened to all students. Between the direct contrast between students of other departments, it also allows the opportunity for current industry professionals to take note of students with little knowledge about their academic placement."

She slid her bag over her shoulder and she walked up next to Bakugo. Friendly and sanctioned competitions were allowed to have some competitive banter. "I welcome the competition, but if a direct attack didn't work last time what makes you think it will this time." Brainwashing could effect humans not robots, but as much as she supported Shinso's goal, she wasn't going to go easy on him – or anyone.

People in the crowd had been encouraged by Shinso's words but frowned at Hanajima's.

"It's been months since the entrance exam. I accept your declaration, but I hope your actions can back up your talk. Will alone isn't enough." She would know that. She could literally will things into existence, but without training, strategy, and the willingness to grow it wouldn't matter. "Pull us from our high horses?" Minami would love to see that, but at this moment – "Look at a mirror first. As Mr. Aizawa said, you can't become a pro as a one trick pony." …or something like that. Actually, she'll have to check later to make sure Shinso understood this was supposed to be friendly banter and not a personal attack because a lot of others seemed affronted by her words.

Shinso's eyes widened a bit at the mention of Aizawa. She probably wouldn't have noticed if she wasn't standing in front of him.

Minami just realized this also meant she would have to go against Monoma. She had been able to keep her distance for the most part but that guy was extra when it came to competitions. It would be different though as it as a competition and not constant nagging during daily life.

She pushed through the crowd to go home.

Minami was starting to learn that pushing your way through was the only way to survive at U.A. – both literally and figuratively.

Heroics Studies were kept to their classroom that particular day. They were split off into groups to discuss strategies for various situations, and were left to their own devices. All Might no where to be seen, and Aizawa somehow sleeping though this mess. Maybe it was the injuries. He really should still be resting somewhere more peacefully.

Minami wished she was in another group.

Group 1: Bakugo, Iida, Ojiro, Hanajima, and Ashido

Group 2: Aoyama, Midoriya, Kirishima, Kaminari, and Mineta

Group 3: Asui, Uraraka, Koda, Tokoyami, and Jirou

Group 4: Yaoyorozu, Hagakure, Shoji, Todoroki, and Sero

Half of group two seemed to be crying about the unfairness of the groups – whatever that meant. From her point of view, they had a good mix of thinkers and acters, and their personalities seemed to mesh well that would probably help actually getting work done.

However, Minami had to deal with Bakugo and Iida going at each other for every suggestion. Ashido tried to calm them down at the beginning but gave up after several failed attempts. Ojiro was much in the same position and seemed to default to letting the two argue it out before adding in his own comments.

"You can't just abandon her!" Iida yelled entering into another yelling match. They put themselves into the scenarios so they could make decisions based on their own capabilities. A practical approach to a theoretical project.

"Shut it glasses. If it's between the villain and dead eyes then I'm blasting the villain."

"That's not a hero thing to say," interjected Ashido. She was getting tired of this project. Couldn't they just talk it out normally?

"What was that raccoon eyes?!"

"She's right," Ojiro said. Iida looked proud that people were 'taking his side'. "You can't just sacrifice someone because others need saving."

Minami thought. In this scenario, she was captured with a blade against her neck in an attempt to stall the 'heroes' and flee the scene themselves without capture. Civilians were also on the scene and at risk of danger. There were other villains but the exact number was unknown.

"I'm not letting a villain get away and sure as hell aren't giving into their demands," argued Bakugo and his fist slammed down on the desk.

"It's not giving into their demands! It's preventing casualties," replied Iida who once again stood up from his seat. His arm moved downward in a chopping motion.

"I think context matters," Minami, who had been silent on this scenario up until this point, spoke out. "There's no guarantee they'll let me free even if you let them go. The type of crime matters too. If I did end up in that kind of situation and you got me killed because of some petty crime I'd be mad. If they pose a risk to others and are using me as a meat shield so they can run away and cause more harm then do it. In that case, Bakugo, attack even if I might die. There's no guarantee negotiating would save me anyway, and if they take me with them then you might want to assume they killed me at a different location."

Iida, Ojiro, and Ashido looked affronted that Minami would allow herself to be killed.

Even Bakugo gave her a look, even though it was his plan. Not affronted like the other three, but something… Minami couldn't exactly read him.

"…We should move on to the next scenario." Ashido said to which Ojiro eagerly took the page with the scenarios on it and read the next one before anyone could argue.

.

"Hey Shinso, where are you going?"

Hitoshi stopped and looked back. It was Minami Hanajima.

"Are you mad? You were the one who came to taunt 1-A. That includes me too, you know." He was still irked by the back talk. He'd been thinking about Eraserhead since then though. His disdain for the class only grew when he learnt that their homeroom teacher was Eraserhead! How unfair.

Eraserhead became a hero despite his non flashy quirk, but it was true he also had a variety of skills to accompany him.

His brainwashing would be enough.

It's what he told himself. He was still hesitant to believe otherwise. If someone didn't have control of themselves then he took their power away to win. However, there was just a sliver of doubt. What if he got into a circumstance where he was outnumbered and they acted faster than he could use their quirk on them? How could he reach Eraserhead's achievements just standing on the sidelines?

There was less than two weeks until the Sports Festival. How was he supposed to gain any skills in that timeframe? He was confident on one-on-ones. People were talkative and defensive making it easy for him to use his quirk on them, but there was no guarantee what the festival would entail. He could be adaptable but even he had limits.

"At least I know you also have a haughty attitude."

"Haughty?" Hanajima's voice squeaked. "It was competitive trash talk let it slide. Or do I always come across that way? Is that the answer to why I'm unapproachable?" He was confused before remembering their conversation on the street. She was still on that? To him, Hanajima was a mixed bag of confusion.

"I'm going to train." Maybe she would leave him alone now.

"So am I! Do you want to train together? You could use your quirk on me or we could spar." He hadn't thought that far ahead. He could practice his quirk on his own, and he wouldn't become strong enough to fight the heroics department in ten days. Maybe he could strategize for different scenarios.

"I prefer to train alone."

"The training rooms are probably all booked by now, unless you have somewhere else you can train. You can come to Training Room B with me. I have it booked." Why didn't she get the hint?

"What kind of training are you doing?" As soon as Hanajima began to answer he let his quirk take over. She had been the one who wanted him to use it so she had no reason to complain. "Stop putting on a mask." His chest soared in validation when the smile dropped off her face and her body fell into a relaxed posture. He wished he could get her to answer his questions.

Actually, maybe that was training he could achieve.

Hitoshi told her to follow him and they walked to the row of training rooms. Hanajima held her student card next to the sensor and it let them in.

He stopped using her quirk and she slowly came to.

"Huh? What was I?" She looked around the training room. "I remember walking here but…" She turned to face him. "Was that your quirk?"

"Yeah. So what? You're scared now?" He already knew she was putting on a front of him. He wasn't going to fall for whatever elaborate plan she had.

"That's amazing!" What? She seemed lost in though. She looked over her hands and arms before twisting them to look on the other side. "I should be careful though." Aha! "It could become addicting." What was wrong with this girl? No, don't answer. Too much was wrong with her.

"You like being brainwashed?"

"Like or dislike… I think it's more complicated than that." She bit her lip and pulled at a strand of hair before deciding to share her thoughts. "I'm just used to trying to exert control over as many aspects of my life so relinquish that without second thought is nice. Also, my face is naturally pretty monotone and it's exhausting trying to copy others. I don't think it works like I want it to, but it's better than 'resting bitch face', so thanks."

She thanked him. For brainwashing her.

Yeah, she still didn't make sense. It was like when he thought he was making progress on one side of a rubik's cube only to realize the rest is still so jumbled that you have to back track on your progress.

"I should go."

Hanajima still didn't seem to be able to read the room. "I'll also be here Friday, Monday, Wednesday, and next Friday if you want to join."

"Hn." Hitoshi walked to the door but peaked back. He could at least find out her quirk before he left. He never did ask.

What was the black blob?

…..

"I'm home and I have enough food to last us weeks."

Minami placed the three large kraft bags and a large sac of rice on the counter.

Kaede came over from the couch to see what was brought home. "Did you go to Hosu?" Kaede eyes the containers full of food.

Minami didn't talk about her time volunteering. She had been doing it once every few months in attempt to find closure, but it never happened. There was a conflict of interest now too, so between that and the pain it brought volunteering she wouldn't be going back – at least to that location – again. Their grandmother, however, lived in the same city so her trips never seemed out of place. Got both things out of the way at once.

"Yeah, she wants you to call her sometime. Also, who else would give us this much food."

Kaede nodded. "We should freeze some of this."

They put the food away before Minami excused herself to take a bath. She locked the door before bulling a small white sealed envelop from her sweater's pocket.

She knew Todoroki looked familiar. She didn't know the circumstances, but what little she did know – that his mother was in a long-term psychiatric facility, the same facility her own mother had been in – she felt some small connection.

Rei was nicer than her. When Minami felt conflicted, Rei offered her an easy way out. Minami wasn't allowed to disclose personal information. It was part of the long vetting process to volunteer in the first place and general standards for health care. Telling her son that she knew wasn't technically breaking that rule since the person involved already knew and was listed as family who could know. Still, it felt wrong. However, it also felt wrong not to be able to disclose to her classmate that she knew. She didn't want surprises. She didn't want him to think she was blackmailing him.

It wasn't Minami's business but it still felt wrong not to disclose it.

Rei, who didn't seem fully ready to talk to her son, Shoto, still wrote some kind of letter to him. She asked Minami to give it to him. She didn't say it out loud, but it was obvious she was only doing it so Minami would feel less torn on the matter.

Minami still felt conflicted, but she also felt like she couldn't backtrack now that Rei had reached out. She put the letter aside where it would stay dry before she walked to the tub.

She turned the water on to fill the bath and she sighed.

Minami had been in a good mood the past few days as she prepared for the Sports Festival but now her mood turned sour.

Why couldn't things just stay happy?

…..

Minami spent all morning trying to figure out how to speak to Todoroki. He sat next to her but he kept to himself as much as possible. She considered pulling his contact information based on their class's group chat but she felt that was an invasion of privacy. It was exclusively for the group chat. It could also offer misunderstandings if her words or tone didn't come across well. She really didn't want him to think she was blackmailing him.

She arrived first to class again.

Just say something.

Just say something.

He's literally beside you. Just say something.

It was only with two minutes to spare that she finally asked. She had been practicing with Shinso! Why did speaking with her classmates have to be harder?

"Todoroki." The only acknowledgement she got that he was listening was the slight turn of his head. "Can I speak with you at lunch? Alone. It'll only be a few minutes."

"No way, how brave!" What? Minami frowned and she looked back at Uraraka. She didn't understand but Uraraka gave her a thumbs up. Did she know how hard it was for Minami to speak to her classmates? She had semi-regularly making small talk with Koda. Maybe she should try with Uraraka next?

Minami looked back to Todoroki. He slowly nodded.

Now to have the conversation.

…..

Minami returned to the classroom to grab her student card so that she could go to the cafeteria for lunch.

She didn't expect the girls to still be in the class. Uraraka and Ashido grinning.

"So how did it go?!" Hagakure ran up to her and grabbed Minami's hands with her own.

"How did what go?" Minami looks around. It really was every girl from their class. Did she miss something.

"With Todoroki! Quite daring." Uraraka added as she skipped over. Her steps light and bouncy that Minami almost thought Uraraka had been using her quirk. She knew Todoroki spent a lot of time alone but were they scared of him or something?

"It was quite forward." Asui too? How else do you talk to someone? Someone, please explain.

"I don't know. It could have gone better but it could have gone worse." Minami couldn't exactly tell them what they had been discussing but why are they acting like they know? Was it Jiro? Did she use her quirk to listen? Minami's face paled. "Don't tell me you listened in."

"Of course not!" Jiro's cheeks-tinged pink. "I shouldn't listen in on those kinds of things."

Those kinds of things? So they did know it was more serious in nature. Was Jiro flushing because of being accused. "Sorry for accusing you."

"We were thinking of having lunch together today! Girls day! You can tell us all the details."

This was fast. Minami was overwhelmed. Being suddenly invited to eat with all the girls was flattering and felt really good, but she couldn't tell them the details.

"I'm happy to eat lunch with you." She needed to make that clear. If not it might come across as dismissive and this was her chance! "But really there's nothing to tell."

"There is something. You didn't call out Todoroki for no reason." Not Yaoyorozu too.

Ashido and Hagakure each grabbed an arm and started dragging Minami out of the classroom.

"My student card! I need my student card." Please let me go!

"I'll get it." Yaoyorozu assumed the role.

Minami was happy but very, very confused.

Is this what they mean when they say accidental friend acquisition?


Notes: You'll have to wait a little longer to find out how that conversation went.