The first lesson of the day, surprisingly, was practical hero training. Which was a surprise. They usually left this for the last lesson, to make room for everyone to recover from any possible injuries they received during training.

They understood the change once they were all standing in front of Mr. Aizawa in their PE clothes. Shinsou, for some reason, had been told to stand next to the teacher instead of the rest of the class.

"Alright. I didn't ask you to get your hero costumes because today you will all be fighting Shinsou."

The whole class raised their eyebrows. Shinsou tried his hardest not to scream inside though.

Because, what the fuck?

"Uh, sir. That doesn't seem very fair," Momo spoke up.

"Yes I know." Aizawa nodded, "Also, none of you are allowed to use your quirks. Except him, obviously."

"Why!" Bakugou shouted, "I wanna beat him nice and fair!"

Aizawa was not fazed. "You all know how Shinsou's quirk works. Once you respond to him, he can make you do anything. That is all. Is that too hard for you?"

The class frowned. Was that a trick question?"

Aizawa nodded, and made to sit down. Shinsou stopped him, speaking quietly, "I... I think you're overestimating my power, here."

Aizawa just scoffed, "I think you're underestimating their stupidity." he kept walking, going to sit on the benches and lean.

Shinsou looked to the class. All standing in a line.

Shit.

"Well come on then fucking eye bags!" Bakugou was the first to step forward, obviously, "Show us all why you fucking suck! You can't do a damn thing here!"

Shinsou's eyes narrowed. Alright then.

"Bakugou, does it bother you that you'll probably end up being the number 2 hero? You know, because Midoriya is so obviously better than you on every possible way."

The class gasped, Midoriya hid behind Asui, and Bakugou exploded, "What the fuck you fucking piece of-"

"Go sit down by the wall."

Bakugou went limp. He turned around and went to the wall, sitting down immediately.

Shinsou smiled. Okay. This might be fun.

Class 2A stared at him with wide eyes, and with fighting stances. Okay. Now they were on alert.

Shinsou looked around. And his eyes locked with Iida's. The boy in question glared.

"I will have you know, I have been training all my life to be aware against mental quirks such as yours! You will not defeat me!"

Shinsou went through his memory. He didn't know much about this class personally, except for all the ranting Aizawa would do at home when he thought he was being quiet. He'd heard enough to know that Iida Tenya was intense, determined, and all but worshiped his older brother.

Shinsou nodded, "Yes, Iida you're right. You've worked so hard. And that's why I know that you're already a much better Ingenium than your brother."

Iida was scandalized, "How dare you!?" he chopped his arms fiercely at Shinsou, "My brother was the best hero to ever-"

"Go sit down by the wall."

Iida did as he was told. And now the class looked scared. And Shinsou smiled. This was fun.

His eyes scanned the class, finally looking on the one guy who was grinning like nothing was wrong. Kaminari noticed immediately.

"Oh no way bro, you not getting me! My lips are zipped."

Shinsou narrowed his eyes. He remembered all those nights when Aizawa would be marking tests, and always seemed on the verge of tears when Kaminari's came up. And when Yamada marked his English essays, and had to take walks to calm himself down in between paragraphs.

He wondered if they were just being dramatic.

"Kaminari, what do call a pig that knows karate?"

"Oh that's easy! Pork ch-"

"Go sit down by the wall."

... Guess not.

"Denki come on!" Kirishima slapped a hand to his face as his friend walked away.

"I thought he would last longer," Shinsou said to him.

"Yeah bro, me t- Oh fuck!" he slapped his hands to his mouth. And then he was gone too.

Shinsou's grin was sadistic. After that, it was almost too easy. One by one, Class 2A fell to his power and lined the far wall. After five minutes, there were only three students in front of him. Kouda, because he didn't talk anyway, Ojirou, because he had actually learned his lesson at the sports festival, and Sero, who had literally taped his mouth shut.

Aizawa walked towards them and stood next to Shinsou. The ones at the wall, looked at him in varying degrees, of shame and disbelief.

The teacher sighed, "All you had to do was not talk." He shook his head at them, "That's all you had to do."

"Technically it wasn't a competition, so I didn't lose," muttered Bakugou. Aizawa just shook his head and sighed again. He turned back to his sleeping bag.

"For some reason, I expected you people to last longer than ten minutes, so I didn't plan for anything else today. So do whatever, I don't care."

He went back to his corner, and took out some work, knowing that sleeping in the training center was frowned upon.

The class immediately burst into conversation, most complaining about how easily they were beaten.

Iida tried to get everyone's attention, telling them that they should be grateful for this free time and use to to further train, seeing as they were clearly unprepared. o one really paid attention to him, all basically breaking into groups, and chattering away.

Shinsou wasn't smiling anymore. These guys seemed nice, but now that he had actually brainwashed them, they were probably gonna be reluctant to talk to him again. It's not like he blamed them. It was fine. He didn't mind, really.

He made to go back to the locker room, when a voice stopped him.

"Hey Shinsou!" he heard behind him, "Good fucking job, humiliating us all in front of Mr. Aizawa!"

Shinsou sighed, turning around. He was surprised when he saw the speaker. It was Ashido, marching up to him with the brightest grin.

"How the hell did you do that? That was insane!"

Shinsou almost frowned when he realized that the girl wasn't being sarcastic. Or mean in any way. She was sincerely complimenting him.

What the actual...

"Yeah man, damn!" Sero joined his friend, "That was a damn trip!"

More people around the training field gathered around, nodding and murmuring their agreements. Shinsou's frown deepened.

What the actual...

"Like Mr. Aizawa said," Ojirou sighed, "all you have to do is not talk. You guys just need to be more alert!"

"Oh shut up, you're just saying that because he already used his quirk on you," Hagakure glared.

"Yeah!" grinned Kaminari, "He made you quit the tournament like a little bitch baby!"

"It was a matter of fairness and honor!" Ojirou all but stomped his foot, "I dropped out because of integrity!"

"Dropped out like a little bitch baby," muttered Kaminari with a little smirk.

Ojirou glared at the blonde, "Keep talking Denki, see if I ever let you ride my tail again."

Kaminari gasped, "Wait no Mashirao, I'm sorry, please!" he clung to the martial arts hero, pleading his case and apologizing.

Kirishima grabbed his attention away from the two, "I have a question!" he yelled.

Shinsou blinked a few times. "Okay?"

"Can you make people do anything? Like, say I couldn't do a back flip by myself. If you brainwashed me into doing it, would I be able to? Or would I just try and fail like always?"

Shinsou blinked at the wide eyed boy. He had never really been asked questions about his quirk before, so he didn't really know what he was supposed to say. Or how he was supposed to act.

"Um," he started, "I... I don't know. I've never tried anything like that."

"Could you try on me?" Kirishima beamed, "Please! I've always wanted to do a backflip but I just can't! But maybe if you make me do it... it could work!"

It took a few moments for Shinsou to understand exactly what the red headed boy was saying. And then another few to process.

"You... you're asking me to brainwash you into doing a backflip?"

"Yes please!" he grinned, trying to bat his eyelashes.

Shinsou blinked a few more times, "You... you want me to brainwash you?"

Kirishima shrugged, "I mean, if you don't mind."

Shinsou was... perplexed. He was had spent his whole life with people either making sure he didn't brainwash them, or with him staying quiet enough to make people trust that he wouldn't brainwash them. And now this guy... this random guy he had only properly met today, was asking him to brainwash him? With all his friends and classmates standing by and encouraging him?

What the actual fuck?

It's then that Shinsou noticed that he had kept silent for too long, and Sero's face was starting to drop.

"Well I mean," he cleared his throat, "I don't know what would happen. I've never really tried to make anyone do anything. Well, besides at the sports festival. I... I don't know how that would turn out."

"I don't mind being an experiment!" Kirishima's grin returned, "Sero could stand close so I don't break my neck. Just in case. Come on please!"

Shinsou was still quite confused. What in the actual...

"Alright."

Kirishima let out a whoop, "Okay great!" He stretched his arms, and Sero stood close by, with his arms out.

Shinsou really wanted to just go back to the locker rooms, but he would feel really bad letting this happy little guy down.

"Alright, you ready?'"

"Yeah I a-"

"Do a back flip."

Without hesitation, Kirishima leapt into the air, flying backwards, twisting over, and landing back on his feet. Shinsou released him, and the boy blinked a few times before letting out a whoop.

"Holy shit I did it!"

"You didn't do shit, Shitty hair!" Bakugou yelled at him. Kirishima ignored him.

"Shinsou can you do that again!" he held out his phone, "Quick someone take a video!"

He put himself in position again as Jirou took the phone. She nodded at Shinsou, and the purple haired boy, again in a daze, looked to Kirishima.

"You ready?"

"Totally ready!"

"Do a back flip."

Again, Kirishima did as he was told.

"Got it!" nodded Jirou, and Shinsou released him.

Kirishima punched the air, "Thanks Shinsou! I'm gonna send this to my sister. She never thought I could do a backflip and this will fucking prove her wrong."

"Well technically, you can't do a backflip," Asui spoke up, "You were forced to do it, so it doesn't count as if you were doing it for yourself."

"And technically, nobody asked you, Tsu!"

The frog girl just smirked, "ribbit,"

Kirishima pulled out his phone, "Take that Marra," he grinned at the screen.

Shinsou looked at him with narrowed eyes, still trying to figure out what the hell had just happened.

"What if you told me to recite the American declaration of Independence?" asked Shouji, "Seeing as I suck at English, and also do not know the Declaration of Independence, would I still do it?"

Shinsou blinked, "I... I don't-"

"Do you think that if you forced ne to do my homework I would do it?" asked Hagakure, "Cause I have the hardest time getting myself to do homework."

"What if you told me to go to sleep? Would you have to hold the brainwashing the whole time or would I stay sleeping even after you released?" Tokoyami joined in.

"Ooh! What if-"

"Guys stop!" Iida raised his arms to the class, "You cannot just ask Shinsou to brainwash you into doing things you won't do for yourselves! That is an unacceptable abuse of his quirk!"

"I make about 10 new pens daily," blinked Yaoyorozu, "At least."

"Yeah! And you people use me as a phone charger all the time!" Kaminari crossed his arms.

"And I always have to hold the couch up when we vacuum," Midoriya added.

"I am constantly reheating or icing your drinks," said Todoroki.

"Yeah, sorry Shinsou!" Kaminari threw an arm over Shinsou's shoulder, "Here in class A, your quirk is no longer your own. You're gonna have to make us do a ton of stuff now."

Shinsou was trying to catch up with all the chatter and all the questions and the fact that Kaminari was practically on top of him.

Considering he spent most of his time alone with quiet this was all slightly, extremely overwhelming.

And confusing. Why were they all talking to him? Did they forget that he had just brainwashed them? Like, it had just been a minute ago.

And why the hell were they talking like they wanted him to do it more.

What the hell was going on?

And why was Kaminari still practically draped over his shoulder? He had then fucking grin on his face that made it so very hard for Shinsou to look at him directly. Jesus Christ was this guy the literal sun, why was he so bright?

"Hey Shinsou!" immediately there was a head of green in front of him, a huge grin on his face, and eyes so wide it was almost scary, "Shinsou do you know your quirk limits? How long can you hold it for? can you brainwash more than one person at a time? What about animals, can you brainwash animals? What if you brainwashed Kouda and made him talk to some animals, do you think you could control the animals through him? What about over the phone? Does it work over the phone? Is it just a voice thing or do you think you'd need to use eye contact as well? Cause it would be so useful in hostage situations in the future if you could use it through the phone as well! Oh, what if you-"

"Jeez Izuku, let the man breath!" Kaminari laughed, finally letting go of Shinsou and shoving at Midoriya's shoulder.

Midoroya, who had gotten so far into Shinsou's personal space he had subconsciously began to back away, leapt back with a bright blush.

"Sorry! I get so excited with new quirks, and yours is just so cool! I wanted to talk to you after the sports festival but I just... never saw you around? And then, well, a lot of stuff happened last year, and it just slipped my mind."

Shinsou just blinked. Midoriya was still looking at him with bright eyes. Kaminari, although not draped over his shoulder anymore, was still really, really close. Most of the class had drifted oof, but those nearby were just looking at him, just waiting for him to answer those questions.

"I..." he blinked, "I uh... I don't know."

God had he spent so long trying to be quiet that he'd forgotten how to have an actual conversation with a person? You know what, that sounded about right.

"What the fuck you mean, you don't know?" Bakugou scoffed from the back. He still seemed bitter about losing, "Do you not use your own fucking quirk?"

No actually. Never, if he could help it.

"Oh, can I train with you!" Midoriya jumped up again, "You can practice on me and and we can see what you can do! Oh that's gonna be so great, I love mind quirks so much I'll probably need a whole new notebook for you! I should actually write all those questions down I don't wanna forget agai-"

"Here I have this if you want," Todoroki was suddenly standing behind Midoriya, pulling a small notebook and pen out his pocket, "There's a new quirk in class, I had a feeling you would want to write stuff down."

Midoriya beamed, "Oh Shouto thank you do much I love you!" he grinned a blinding grin at his friend, before taking the notebook and turning back to Shinsou.

If he hadn't turned around so quickly, he would have seen Todoroki's eyes widen almost comically. And then, to Shinsou's utter shock, the dual haired boy promptly burst into flames.

A few people leapt away from the fire, but no one seemed all that surprised. Even Todoroki didn't seem all that fazed. He merely sighed, running his right hand over his left arm, patting down flames as if it was nothing. When the fire was gone, his face was noticeably pink. Whether that was from the fire or from something else though, Shinsou had no way of knowing.

And also, the entire left side of his PE shirt was gone. That, Midoriya seemed to notice. The green haired boy's eyes noticeably widened, and his face went redder than Todoroki's.

"Again?" sighed Uraraka as she came closer, "What happened this time?"

"Todoroki brought Midoriya a notebook," snickered Hagakure.

"And Midoriya was so grateful he told him he loved him," Kaminari's said with a shit eating grin.

"Oh my god, Shouto I'm sorry, I don't mean to make you uncomfortable!"

"I don't think that's the problem here," Snorted Jirou before being nudged quiet by Yaoyorozu.

Todoroki was still looking down, trying to hide his blush (Shinsou knew it was a blush now) and Midoriya was staring, unblinking at his still smoking torso.

"Did fucking half and half set himself on fire again?" Bakugou snapped, the laughter evident in his voice.

"How many times is that now?" asked Ojirou.

"Seven since we returned to the dorms," Aoyama sighed, shaking his head "You're hopeless, darling."

Todoroki just glared at the blonde, who just giggled back at him.

"Here you go," Yaoyorozu sighed, resigned, as she pulled a black shirt our of her stomach. Okay, Shinsou knew immediately that he would never get used to seeing that.

Todoroki nodded his thanks as he took the shirt and made his way to the locker rooms.

Midoriya did not stop staring until he was completely out of sight, and then he promptly let his head fall into his hands, dropping the notebook and letting out a strangled groan.

"Oh my god, did I really just say that, what's wrong with me?"

"How much time you got?" Bakugou muttered before a nudge from his boyfriend shut him up.

Midoriya didn't seem to hear. That or he was too busy having a crisis to care, "You guys he's so perfect and beautiful what do I do?" he all but whimpered.

"You ask him out like a normal fucking person you fucking coward!"

"Kacchan, keep your voice down!" he begged.

"Tch, if he doesn't already know he's more stupid that you are."

"Well he must be plenty stupid then because he doesn't know, ribbit." said Asui.

"There's not a braincell between them when it comes to this stuff," Satou looked at the flustered Midoriya sadly.

Shinsou watched the scene with narrowed eyes. God, this was sad to watch.

At the laugh next to him, he realized that he had spoken out loud.

He had spoken out loud, and Kaminari wasn't edging away in fear, he was just... laughing.

"Oh you ain't seen nothing yet," he said, low enough for only him to hear, "With those two, their either tip toeing around each other like the awkward virgins they are, or they're practically on top of each other on one arm chair during movie night. It's kinda hilarious and really kinda sad how oblivious they are."

Shinsou couldn't help but frown. He watched Midoriya, crouched on the floor, muttering to himself and scribbling in the notebook, while his eyes kept flashing to the door Todoroki had disappeared behind.

"Yeah, they reek of awkwardness."

Shinsou didn't know who he was to talk. Kaminari had a hand on his shoulder and he didn't know how he was supposed to react. Plus he kept grinning at him with that freaking smile that was too bright to look directly at. So he kept his own hands in his pockets and stayed as still as he could and looked at the top of the boys head. Damn, he had always been pretty awkward, but this was bad, even for him. What the hell?

"Dude, you're lucky you missed Kirishima and Bakubro at the height of their pining! It involved a lot of explosions and a lot of crying. They were a hot mess, it was hilarious! Come on, Mina's the best at reenacting it."

With that, Shinsou once again had an arm around his shoulder, and was being led (dragged actually, more like dragged) over to the group of friends at the far wall. Ashido and Hagakure very enthusiastically went into great detail about the hot mess that was KiriBaku (they actually called them that, out loud, in front of them) before an explosive accidental confession at a New Years party.

Shinsou wasn't going to lie, he missed most of the story. He was too busy trying to wrap his head around what was happening. Trying to wrap his head around this whole day.

God this was weird. This was so... so weird.

All his life... all his damn life he had done all he could to make sure that no one would have to fear his brainwashing. He had lived with everyone else making damn sure that he didn't use his quirk. And that meant doing a whole lot of not talking. Preferably, at all.

After what happened in elementary school and most of middle school, he had even tried his hardest to make sure that no one even knew what his quirk was.

The sports festival had been the only exception. Before that, not even his class new his quirk. But the festival was different. He had told himself that he couldn't hold back then. It had been his only chance to get into the hero course, and so when he failed at that, he retreated back to his old ways of shutting up and trying to be invisible.

He had made the mistake of thinking that after his fight with Midoriya, the classmates who had cheered for him would maybe, possibly consider maybe, like, becoming friends with him or something.

But that thought had gone away almost immediately. He had a habit of getting his hopes up, and then being gravely disappointed. As that had been proven when school resumed after the festival. Class 1C had been glad that General Studies had gotten a smidgen of spotlight, but that didn't mean that they were about to risk letting themselves get brainwashed.

So while before, it had been him opting to isolate himself, all of a sudden he was being actively avoided.

If it hadn't been for the fact that he had been recently adopted by perhaps the best people that currently existed on earth (not like he would ever admit that to them), and had actual conversation with actual people who seemed to actually like him at home, he would have probably spent the rest of the year in silence.

And then he was told that he was moving to the hero course. And he had only been here for like... an hour.

And these people... these bat shit crazy, unbelievably weird people, were just... talking to him?

And... asking him questions?

And pulling him into conversations?

And asking about his quirk? And fucking requesting to be brainwashed?

Like it was normal?

He was confused. And he was overwhelmed. He didn't know if they were really nice, or really stupid.

But he watched as Ashido and Hagakure dramatically pretended to declare their love for one another, and Bakugou tried his hardest to scream them to death, while his boyfriend held him back and grinned at the dramatic re-enactment, and Kaminari and Sero cackled on the floor. And Shinsou had to try to fight a smile off his face as he reminded himself over and over again not to get used to this.

He knew when something was too good to be true. And Class 2 A absolutely reeked of 'too good to be true'.