Author's Note: So it's taken a bit and I have no excuse, but my mind isn't cranking out chapters as fast as it used to. I apologize. Also, I'm not sure if this chapter is gonna necessarily go in the direction that some of y'all might want, but I just gotta say that in my head, it makes sense, and I'm content with it, so that's that. I do hope you guys enjoy, though.
Also, if you want to get into a place with other lovers of MHA, and specifically IzuJirou stuff, come on and join this Discord server that I'm on:
/eFtmT8cTbY
We're only kind of crazy, and not at all a cult... except, we also kind of are. Anyway, yeah, join that!
I hope you enjoy this chapter! It's cross-posted on Ao3 as well. Leave a review if you want to. I welcome the feedback! See you next time.
"We have a lot to talk about, Izuku Midoryia." Nezu said with a smile.
Izuku was thankful that he had his mask on to hide the expression that he made immediately. He immediately activated Analysis and began thinking.
"Fuck. How does he know who I am? Didn't Mei say that she deleted all of the files from the admissions test? He has to be bluffing, right? No… He knew my exact name, there's no way that he's bluffing. But I have to not react. I can't give it away." Izuku thought to himself.
"I can see that you're trying not to react so as to not give it away." Nezu said, leaning down and opening a drawer. "I'm afraid that there's nothing that can stop me from finding things out once I start looking into them, though. And your little stunt where you told everyone most of your quirks today didn't help your cause." Nezu pulled out some papers and laid them all on the table. "Which, of course, surprised me slightly. That's not easy to do. You said that two of you were keeping information from the other students, and yet, three of you participated in that." Nezu gestured to the papers in front of him.
Izuku tentatively approached the desk and glanced at the collection of papers. He had to do everything in his power to not react, as the papers listed a general profile for everyone in his group, complete with pictures and names. Even Himiko. Izuku felt people move behind him, and after a few seconds, a mask was placed on the desk in front of them. Mei's mask.
"Well, if you have this information, I don't need to have that on anymore." Mei said. As soon as she said that, Izuku followed suit, and everyone else did so as well. With that done, Nezu hummed appreciatively.
"Yes, I was hoping that this would be the course of action." Nezu placed his hands together.
"So what happens now. Are you going to turn us in?" Izuku asked.
"Oh, heavens no. That would ruin all of the fun." Nezu giggled. "You've shown your true identities as a show of faith, and so I will display one as a return gesture. You will not be turned in, and in fact, I will be offering you a place to stay tonight and for the rest of the nights while this training continues."
Okay, I have… so many questions." Kyouka said.
"As I figured you would. Raise your hand if you have questions." Nezu instructed. Everyone in the group raised their hands except for Himiko, who raised both of them. "Alright then, Hatsume Mei. Your question first."
"How did you get our information? I deleted all of the applicant files off of your servers." Mei asked.
"I'm sure that you all are aware of my quirk, yes? High Specs?" When everyone nodded, Nezu continued. "Not only does it allow me to think highly efficiently and possess a high level of intellect, but it also provides me with excellent memory. As such, I transcribed written accounts of all applicants as well. Taking those into account and cross-referencing them with Shouta's accounts of your encounters made it quite easy, actually. Along with looking into hero course student applicants that were denied entry. It was strange to me that four accepted students turned down their acceptance and then, despite the desire to apply for the hero and support courses, were not enrolled at any other hero or support schools. The difficult one to figure out was Miss Toga."
"That's my question." Himiko said. "How did you know who I was?"
"Ah, yes. That one, as I just said, was the difficult one, but through some simple logic, I was able to deduce her identity. When Societas Requiem took down Stain, they suddenly gained a new member directly after their broadcast. One of my informants had been secretly following Miss Toga to keep track of her, especially after her connection with the League of Villains was seen. And then she suddenly dropped from our radar. And "Changeling" became a thing. It took a bit of research, especially since your quirk had not been seen by Shouta, but eventually with the knowledge that you took people's blood, I was able to deduce that it was Miss Toga." Nezu explained. "The name Changeling is actually very clever. It took me looking into a popular game from the pre-quirk era where people sat around a table with paper and little figurines, but I pieced it together after looking through the quirk registration database."
"Ahhh… I see…" Himiko said. "The Mosquito might have been better for keeping me unidentified…"
"Oh, I still would have figured it out." Nezu admitted quickly. "Izuku, your question next?"
"Why?" Izuku asked simply.
"Why what?"
"Why offer the help? Why not turn us in?" Izuku asked. "I'm sure it would be heaps better for your reputation at UA to turn us in. Or to try and make us students here."
"That's simple, really." Nezu said. "It's because I have a use for you still."
"A use for us?" Hitoshi asked.
Nezu stood up and began pacing around the room. "In my time researching things about the world, I have stumbled across information that if those that kept the information had their way, I would have never found. You've had a run-in with them, too, albeit unknowingly."
"Those people being?" Fumikage asked.
"The Hero Public Safety Commission."
"What?" Kyouka asked. "Aren't they supposed to be the 'good guys'?"
"That is what they display themselves as, yes. But they are corrupt. They train assassins and murder pro heroes that do not fit within their ideal. And when those assassins step out of line? They get sent to Tartarus. They are not protecting the general public, but themselves. I can't do anything myself because, as you said, I have the reputation of myself and of UA to protect. You, however, do not have that obligation. And as such, I wish to strike a deal between the two of our organizations. I keep your secret safe, give you lodging for this week, and provide assistance when I can, and in return, you work on taking down the HPSC in a way that I feel only you can do."
"What do you mean by that?" Izuku asked. "That only we can do?"
"After a single broadcast interruption, you were the talk of the community. People in the community are massive fans. You were the subject of talk shows, people are making Societas Requiem merchandise, and the takedown of interviews by the HPSC definitely raised some eyebrows. Believe it or not, you have a profound impact on the society that you are wanting to change." Nezu explained. "As much as I'd love to have you all as students here to provide some sort of hope to people, especially with him and the situation he's found himself in, it's much more beneficial to have you working with us but not under us."
"Him?" Kyouka asked.
Nezu sighed. "It's All Might. His fight with All For One took more out of him than he had wanted. He's not out of it yet, but he has told me that he will be retiring soon."
"All Might? Retiring?" Mei asked.
"Yes, although the exact details of the reason why will not be disclosed." Nezu said.
"Of course, of course." Izuku said, no indication of emotion in his voice.
"This will, of course, have an effect on people and their belief in those that can protect them. We're already feeling these effects now, and we'll only feel them more as time passes. What we need is a revival. And for both the students and the general populace of this country, a figure that removes corruption and vanquishes evil… That is what we need." Nezu explained.
After a few moments of silence, Mei spoke. "Anyway… We will need the information that you have about the HPSC and why they are problematic."
"Of course." Nezu agreed. "I have prepared a thumb drive of this information. I caution you: Do not release this immediately. We can't let them know that you know until you have the capabilities to push towards the end of their corruption." Nezu explained.
"So we will hold the keys to avoid ruin and yet we must contain this information lest ruin come for us as well." Fumikage pondered.
"That's a way to put it, yes." Nezu nodded. "I will, of course, provide you with more information as I get it."
"That's very generous of you." Kyouka said.
"I simply wish to root out corruption where it lies." Nezu said. Now, that shall conclude our conversation here. Put your masks back on, and we'll head to my house, where you all will be staying for these next few days. Do join me." Nezu hopped off of his chair and walked towards the door. Once everyone's masks were on, he opened the door and led the six of them to a car at the front of the school, far enough from the gate so that people couldn't see them from outside of the school premises. The car ride to Nezu's house was shorter than expected, but it was still nice. It had been a few months since any of them had ridden anywhere that wasn't the van. Or that one of them wasn't driving. And yet, even in the silence and peace of the moment, none of them could find any words to say to the manimal in front of them.
"You seem stressed." Nezu said.
"Just being cautious." Izuku said as he looked out the window.
"Understandable. A quality of a good hero. Or in your case, heroes." Nezu nodded to himself. "Oh, and I do apologize that I hadn't told you earlier, but I have three extra rooms in my house. One for every two people. I'm afraid that you're going to have to share a room. Do be good."
For all of their affection, neither couple looked at their respective partners. They were still in uniform. They still had a guard to put up. They couldn't give too much information away to their new benefactor, regardless of how generous he was being. Information was power, and everyone in the car knew it. Even the driver probably knew it. But everyone in the car also knew that Nezu knew it the most.
Izuku hadn't interacted with the principal before today, but in the few times when Nezu did participate in hero work, the amount of sheer planning and intelligence in that creature's mind was shockingly terrifying. Izuku had seen the reports. And that was enough to get him to be wary of the man. Rat. Thing? Regardless, when they approached the rather large house, Izuku tentatively took a few steps out of the car. He lead the way for his group.
The interior of the house was neat and tidy, just like Izuku had expected. So far the only things that he had expected today was the fact that he and his friends would be kicking some students' asses, and then once Nezu had revealed his "master plan", it only made sense for his house to be incredibly well organized.
"Your rooms will be upstairs. Do enjoy tonight and the rest of the week. The kitchen is open to all of you. Do try not to leave, though." Nezu said, stepping inside the house. He turned down a hallway, and before he disappeared inside of his room, he spoke again. "I'll be in here for the night. I'll be here to take you all to UA in the morning. Don't worry. I have cheese in here. I'll be fine. Goodnight, Societas Requiem!" And with that, he walked into his room and shut the door.
"This feels weird." Kyouka said first.
"Yes it does." Hitoshi peered around the hallways. Despite the time of day, the interior of the house was dark and ominous. Turning on a light helped with that. The six of them stalked through the house, following Nezu's directions. They ended up upstairs in another long hallway. Izuku approached the first door to the left and grasped the knob only to be met with resistance. He jiggled the handle slightly, and a small slip of paper fell from the top of the door.
"That's… not ominous…" Mei said.
Izuku bent down to pick up the paper. It had writing on it, which Izuku read aloud. "Thank you for trusting me, Societas Requiem. You will see that the doors for your room are locked. The keys to these doors are in the house, but in order to get to your rooms to sleep tonight, you must find them. The first key is-" Izuku was cut off by Kyouka pushing him to the side.
"That's not gonna happen. Mei, you have a hairpin, yeah?" She asked.
"Of course!" Mei fished a hairpin from her head and gave it to Kyouka.
"Awesome. We're cracking these doors open. Izuku, could you give me a little boost?" Kyouka asked as she knelt down by the door, putting her jacks into the doorknob. "Even if it's not a safe, you can still hear some of the tumblers moving. Plus, it's a feeling thing too."
"Alright." Izuku nodded. As Kyouka put the hairpin in the door lock, Izuku activated Luck. He saw the probability for Kyouka picking the lock was already at a pretty high 85%, but there was no harm in him increasing the odds to 100 as they were.
Kyouka succeeded, no problem, as Izuku guaranteed, and then she moved onto the next few doors, unlocking them with little issue as well.
"Fuck you, Nezu. I'm not in the mood for puzzles and cryptic bullshit." Kyouka said as she unlocked the last door. She turned around and looked at the rest of the group. "So Izuku and I will share a room. Mei, you and Hitoshi can share, which leaves… Himiko and Fumikage… Are you guys…? Are you guys okay with that?" She asked.
"I… Uh…" Himiko blushed slightly. "If we have to, then I'm okay with it."
"Alright. Fumikage?" Izuku asked.
"The same can be said for me." Fumikage responded. Strangely, he wasn't making eye contact with any of them.
"Alrighty then. Let's get some sleep. We have more kids to beat up tomorrow." Kyouka said with a smile. She and Izuku both departed from their friends to their room.
"You're enjoying that a bit too much." Izuku said.
"I disagree." Kyouka replied. "I think I'm having an appropriate amount of enjoyment. Especially since you should have gotten accepted and gotten in that class anyway." She said as they made their way into the room.
"Kyo… It's in the past. I didn't get accepted, and now we're here. Arguably in a better place. Getting practical experience, being housed by the principal of UA, helping teach some of the kids of UA, and making a name for ourselves." Izuku explained. "It does still bother me sometimes that I didn't get accepted, but then I remember where we are. And not just us as a group, but the 'we' that is you and I. We've grown, both on our own and with each other, and I'm happy about that."
"Izu…" Kyouka was caught off guard by that speech. "I guess you're right. There's a lot that we can still be happy about."
"Exactly. So let's settle down, get ready for bed, and then have a little laugh about how nervous Himiko and Fumikage probably are together in the same room." Izuku smiled.
"Oh my god, they're probably tomatoes right now. Or at least Himiko is. Fumikage is probably more like a grape or something." Kyouka said, sitting on the bed and taking her boots off.
"I think you're right. My mom thinks they like each other." Izuku said over his shoulder as he explored the room slightly.
"Izuku, I think they like each other. And I was kinda blind to you liking me for a while, so if I can see it, it's probably got some merit to it." Kyouka said. "Now stop looking around the room and give me cuddles! Your lady requires attention." She held out both of her arms and fell backwards onto the bed.
"Shameless, really." Izuku shook his head and smirked.
"I may be shameless, but I am also someone that wants to hug my boyfriend every now and then."
"Alright, alright. I'm coming to bed." Izuku conceded.
"Good. As you should." Kyouka nodded as Izuku laid down in her embrace. After a few seconds of silence, Kyouka spoke again. "Izuku, I just realized something."
"Yeah?"
"Isn't it incredibly early for us to be going to sleep?"
"It might be, but is that really going to stop any of us?"
"Probably not. We did have an explosion happen right in front of us today." Kyouka admitted.
"Exactly. We've earned a bit of sleep. The next few days are going to be kind of rough. I don't think we've had multiple days in a row like this that we'll be suited up for." Izuku explained.
"If I get more time here with you, then I'm fine with it."
"Agreed." Izuku said.
"Goodnight, Izuku." Kyouka said, snuggling her face into his chest.
"Goodnight, Kyouka." Izuku smiled. This feeling was nice. He could definitely keep getting used to it. And as he faded into sleep, he smelled the oh so familiar scent of lavender that made his heart soar.
"So you found a way into your rooms last night aside from what I had planned, it would seem." Nezu said once they had started their drive to UA.
"Yeah, we weren't amused. You're surprised that we didn't play by the rules?" Izuku asked with a raised brow.
Nezu chuckled. "Fair enough. That's the kind of thing that I respect about you and your group, Izuku."
Izuku was caught off guard for a split second due to his given name being used, but he didn't let it show on his face. "The fact that we don't follow the rules?"
"The fact that you don't let things like the rules stand in the way of doing what's right." Nezu corrected. "There are too many people that follow the letter of the law for their own benefit and to the detriment of others. And some of them are seen as heroes. And yet, there are people like you that do the right thing, for the benefit of others, while acting outside of the law. And what do those from the first group do to people like you? They label you as criminals, putting you in the same place as someone like All For One." Izuku shivered at the mention of his father.
"We're just trying to make things better." Izuku said.
"And regardless of the results of the entrance exam, you were determined to help people." Nezu said. "Most people get in serious trouble for that. I believe that while heroes are important, the power of one's quirk doesn't change the fact that you can help someone with your quirk even if you're not a hero. So I guess on a fundamental level, I agree with your ideals and support you in your endeavors."
"Thank you, sir. Your support means a lot." Izuku said, and everyone else nodded.
"Of course I can't be vocal about it — not yet anyway — but I can offer you something."
"Oh? You have our interest."
"I know that you have been in contact with Shouto Todoroki. You seek to recruit him?" Nezu asked.
"Honestly, yes. Along with a few other people." Izuku admitted.
"You owned up rather quickly." Nezu noted.
"If I'm seeking to foster a relationship between us based on mutual trust, it's important to be honest." Izuku countered.
"It is indeed." Nezu agreed. "Work Studies are coming up soon. I will give Todoroki permission to work alongside you during the work study under the guise that he isn't participating for the public, and that he is staying with his family as an excuse for the student body."
"Why?" Kyouka asked. "Why go through all the hassle?"
"As another show of good faith from me to you. And as a way for me to help aid you all, since after this week, I can no longer do much for you." Nezu explained. "Todoroki doesn't know about this yet, but once things start up, I will approach him separately."
"Alright…" Kyouka trailed off. "We appreciate it."
"Of course. Now, we're almost to UA. You'll have another few days of this, though. That will be educational for both you and the students. Use this time well." Nezu said before the car came to a stop. "Oh, and you might want to put your masks on." The group did as they were told before Nezu opened the door. "Here we go, you six. Make yourselves proud."
And so, Societas Requiem exited the car and tread towards UA.
The next few days had gone by quickly with a lot more of the same things. All of the fights had been incredibly easy up to this point. None of the first five groups had proven any challenge, and each night when they got back to Nezu house, they were given different puzzles to 'keep them sharp,' but they circumvented each of them every night, much to Nezu's excitement. He'd congratulate them each morning for thinking outside of the box.
Regardless, they were still getting good sleep. And good sleep was needed for them, especially coming in today for their last fight.
They were ready, and they hoped that their opponents were ready as well. Because before, they wanted to teach the students a lesson about themselves. But for these five, they had something to prove, and they had something that they wanted to show to the students.
That they were the better choice. That Societas Requiem wanted them.
