It was the next day, and the students were back in their homeroom.
"Good work with yesterday's battle training," Aizawa addressed the class.

"I've looked over your grades and evaluations, and I only have a few notes. Bakugo…" Izuku saw him shift slightly in his chair. "Work on your awareness of enemies during battle - even minor threats can take you out if they surprise you."
Bakugo grimaced. "... Got it," he muttered.
"Midoriya, Uraraka, Iida." Each of them sat straighter when their names were called. "… Well done."
Their expressions shifted from surprised to pleased, and Iida stammered out a "Ah - Thank you, sir!"

"Now, on to homeroom business… Sorry for the sudden announcement, but today… you'll pick a class president."

The feel of the room shifted. Everyone started shouting, clamouring to be picked for the position.
'Oh yeah,' Izuku realized after a moment, 'It's not just a bunch of mundane tasks at U.A. To be the leader of a group… It's the kind of position suited for a top hero in the making.'

After only a few moments of this, Iida, ever the voice of reason, cut through the noise with a suggestion.
"I put forward the motion… that our true leader must be chosen by election!"
"But Iida," countered Tsuyu, "we haven't known each other long enough to build any trust."
"And everyone'll just vote for themselves!" added Kirishima.

"That's precisely why anyone who manages to earn multiple votes will be the best-suited individual for the job!" Iida turned to Aizawa, who had already zipped himself up inside his sleeping bag, "Will you allow this Sensei?!"
"However you do it, just make it quick."

As expected, most people came out with only a single vote. Although there were a few exceptions, as some people actually had none.

Momo Yaoyorozu won with only three votes. And the vice president, with only two, was-

Sitting with Iida and Uraraka at lunch, Izuku said, "I admit, I'm a little worried about being vice president…"
"Worry not," said Iida, "Midoriya, although I personally felt someone with a quirk to be a more fitting vote, your ingenuity and decisiveness in a pinch make you a perfectly acceptable leader."
Uraraka said, "Didn't you want to be president, Iida? You've got glasses and everything!"
Iida, looking a bit nervous, set his drink down. He avoided eye-contact with both of the other students. "Ambition and suitability are different matters… I humbly made the choice I thought was correct."

Noticing his speech pattern, Uraraka excitedly asked, "The way you talk… Iida, are you… A rich kid?!"
Iida responded hesitantly. "... I don't like people to know, so I try to hide it, but… Yes. Mine is a renowned hero family. And I am the second son."

Izuku went into fanboy-mode after realization hit him. "Of course! Ingenium! He employs 65 sidekicks at his office in Tokyo! So you're…!"
Finally looking up - and even looking a bit cheered - Iida responded, "How very informed… Yes, he is my brother."
Now filled with pride for his family, Iida went on, "He leads the people with his unwavering adherence to rules and regulations. A truly beloved hero! It's my admiration for my brother that's inspired my own desire to become a hero."

He deflated slightly, smiling with admiration. "Though I realize I'm not yet ready to lead anyone. As the superior candidate, it was right that the role should go to Yaoyorozu."

Uraraka and Izuku paused in their eating.
"Never seen you smile before, Iida," Uraraka observed.
"Eh?! Is that so?! I smile on occasion!"

'Iida has Ingenium to look up to, huh…?' No longer eating, Izuku watched his classmates banter in front of him. 'I guess I have Master and Kurogiri-sensei, but… It- doesn't feel the same. I don't want to be a vigilante like they are.'
He looked down at the bowl in his hands. 'But… do I… still want to be like All Might…?'

He was taking a break, drinking some water in the middle of training, when Kurogiri asked him, "Tell me, Midoriya…"
He stopped drinking.
"What kind of hero do you want to be?"

"I-…"
Izuku looked away, thinking. Every time he thought about becoming a hero, Izuku couldn't help but remember that video. The one of All Might rescuing so many people with a smile on his face!
But, at the thought of All Might… Izuku's mind turned to that moment on the rooftop. Yet still…
Izuku's fist clenched, and he replied, "I want… to be the Greatest Hero, who smiles as he saves people!"

"So… You want to be like All Might, correct?"
Izuku's gaze shot up to Kurogiri.
"It's not an unusual assumption. But… Do you really believe society will allow someone who's quirkless… to become the Number One Hero?" Kurogiri's wispy, mist-like face was unreadable, but his tone was full of pity. "After all… It is a popularity pole more than anything, isn't it?"

…

While riding the bus with his class on their way to "Rescue Training" the next day, Izuku was still contemplating that question. But his thoughts were interrupted by Tsuyu, "I generally say what's on my mind, Midoriya."

"Oh?!" Izuku's head snapped to face the frog-like girl. "What is it, Asui?"
"Call me Tsuyu," she corrected him automatically, "Without a quirk, hero training seems kinda pointless. Why not just become a police officer?"
"Ah! Well!" he floundered, "See, I considered it and all, but-!"

"Hold up, Tsuyu," Kirishima said from the seat on the other side of her, "Police officers and heroes are totally different! Heroes can patrol and help people completely independently, and can even have part-time jobs, if they want! Not to mention those support items Midoriya has. You can't have those as a police officer, and they're awesome! You can do a lot of cool stuff with them!"

Kirishima struck a pose, activating his quirk. "Not like my hardening. I'm good in a fight, but it's real boring."
"I think that's pretty neat, though. Your quirk's more than enough if you wanna go pro," said Izuku.
"Pro!" Aoyama exclaimed from across the aisle, "But don't forget that heroes also have to worry about popular appeal!"

Izuku flinched, just slightly.

Aoyama didn't notice. "My navel laser is both strong and cool. Perfect for a pro."
"As long as you don't blow up your own stomach!" said Mina. Aoyama didn't seem to like that comment.

The conversation was cut short when All Might wooshed by the bus, and everyone realised how close they already were to their destination.

.~*~.

Thirteen, their instructor for the day, greeted them by talking about how a lot of quirks could easily be used to kill. How "one wrong move with an uncontrollable quirk" could defeat society's restrictions and monitoring of quirks…
"During Aizawa's physical fitness test, you came to learn of your own hidden potential. Through All Might's battle training, you experienced the danger that your respective quirks can pose to others. This class…"

Thirteen's previously grim demeanor did a 180.

"... will show you a new perspective! You will learn how to utilize your quirks to save lives. Your powers are not meant to inflict harm. I hope you leave here today with the understanding that you're meant to help people."
Izuku thought to himself, 'I can't help thinking that… somehow… that doesn't apply to me.'

Thirteen bowed to the students, the unwilling audience to his speech. "That is all! I thank you for listening."
"Great." Aizawa stepped forward, away from Thirteen, All Might - and Mirio. "First off… Midoriya."

Izuku felt his stomach drop.
'Please, let me be wrong…'

The teacher's words were cold. "Without a quirk, these exercises will be pointless for you. Honestly, you should just leave the rescuing to professionals in these situations." It wasn't an attack. His tone made it clear: He was - or he believed he was - stating facts.
Which just made it worse.
"But still… we'll teach you the basics, for now. Everyone else will be divided into groups and rotate through the different sites. Listen for your name."

While Aizawa listed off names, Mirio approached Izuku. "Hey… That's a bummer. But don't let it get to you!"

Mirio practically shined with optimism, "There's plenty of awesome things you'll get to do here at U.A.! And that strategy you used yesterday - not to mention getting into U.A. without a quirk in the first place…!" Mirio's eyes sparkled, and he practically shouted, "That is SO Plus Ultra! I'm actually kinda jealous!"
At the older student's support… Izuku couldn't help smiling.

All Might called Mirio back over; it was time to start the lessons.
Before leaving, Mirio said, "Hey, if you ever want some pointers - or just to train - give me a call, ok?!"

After that, the rest of the day wasn't too bad.

But still… Aizawa's tone…
Izuku wasn't sure what to call the teacher's tone, actually.

Except maybe… pity?

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