Chapter 14: Shota Aizawa
"Well Aizawa, we thought it would be more palatable coming from you." Chiyo Shuzenji, better known as Recovery Girl, nudged Kando Watabe as she spoke.
"Oh yes, since you know her. Weren't you guys at the same hero agency for a couple of years? I think she would be most receptive to you." Watabe said.
Aizawa grimaced. "Actually it was on and off for about a year. And I never was a part of the Golden Time Agency, I just worked with them from time to time as a free-lancer. Shuzenji, you were a fellow faculty member with her a few years ago right? I think that would be a much more…. Even and comfortable situation."
"I rarely interacted with her back then. She was a smart lady who never got injured and even if she did, she just healed on her own using her quirk. You actually worked with her on the field and strategized with her. I think this is the best way."
Aizawa sighed. He had new responsibilities this year at school. More administrative work than previous years and Principal Nezu continued to lean on him more and more. After Nezu he had the most responsibility and everyone knew Nezu was grooming him to take over the school someday. Part of Aizawa didn't want to take on another project, but he remembered that this could benefit the school and the community so it was a rational decision to take it on. Even if this study was starting to sound more and more reckless as he began to learn the additional risks involved. "Kimura has been briefed about this right?" he asked.
"Yes! The possibility of this project was mentioned to her upon her hiring. She just needs to know it has been approved by the district and the specifics. You two need to schedule a time during the school day you can complete these tests. Then Watabe will go over some safety precautions with the both of you before you proceed with the experiments." Shuzenji said.
"Fine. I'll talk to her after school today." Aizawa said with reserve. He already wanted to take a nap but had to instruct his homeroom class. He had gotten used to sleeping in over the break and wasn't used to the early hours. He was tired and he had not even started class for the day. The first year hero class students were all still terrified of him, even though the first week was almost over. He was enjoying their fear, but it wouldn't last.
"I haven't heard anything about this. All Might mentioned I would be collaborating with other faculty to better hone mine and other's quirks, but that was it. It really sounds quite reckless honestly," Ren said.
"That's what I think as well." Aizawa answered. Damn you All Might, of course you would leave someone else to do the dirty work he thought. All Might was the one who planted the seed about this study to Nezu and it was ASSUMED he had talked to Ren. Proposing Ren with such an asinine scenario was too much. But here he was doing the dirty work.
"Okay, well fill me in with the details. This will be kind of like old times back at the agency." Ren smiled warmly.
"Well, it was only a year and it was a long time ago. I don't remember much." He cleared his throat. Ren nodded.
Aizawa pulled a chair up to Ren's desk and he went over the printed out copy of the proposed study he had made for her. First they would see if Erasure could cancel out Ren's Pain quirk and leave her Restoration quirk intact. Whether or not they succeeded in this first step, the next step would work towards using Erasure to help Ren understand more clearly how her quirks activated. Erasure would be activated so she could see if she could tell a difference when her quirk was active or not. Since her whole life her Pain quirk had been active, hopefully she would be able to feel a stark difference when it was 'erased,' and this could give her an edge to control it. They would also implement methods like guided mediation to see if she could "feel" within herself how Pain was activated.
"So our first step will be to see if I can Erase your Pain quirk and leave Restoration intact. If that is successful, we will see if you can use Restoration on a subject when Pain is suppressed by Erasure."
"Well, who's the lucky subject?" Ren asked looking apprehensive.
"It's me. It seemed the most logical choice. Keep it simple."
"Oh. I guess that makes sense."
"Of course it does," Aizawa said slightly irritated. This study was already sounding like it would be invasive and convoluted. But he reminded himself of the benefits. They looked at their schedules and decided to start the next day. Aizawa thought the sooner they started the study the sooner it would be over with. Hopefully Watabe could go over safety protocols tomorrow morning.