Class Rep & Threats

Terra skipped along, humming, with Todoroki walking beside her. The tune died in her throat when they crested the hill. A large crowd was gathered at the front gate of the school. "Hm? What's going on here?"

Words reached their ears the closer they got to the crowd.

"Hey you! Please tell us how are All Might's classes?"

"What's it like to train under the greatest hero of all time?"

"Are you a big fan of his?"

"What has he taught you?"

"The press," Todoroki said. "I'm surprised it took them this long to come here."

"Hm?" A man noticed them standing there. His eyes widened. "It's her! Terra Tanaka!"

The press stampeded over to her.

Terra leaned backwards when multiple microphones and recorders and cellphones were shoved in her face.

"Is it true that you were recommended by All Might to attend UA?"
"What is your connection to All Might?"

"Did he train you? Does he know your family?"

"Are you related to him?"
"How does All Might differ in personal live and as a teacher?"

Terra blinked rapidly. Her eyes locked onto a single microphone, the dark circles grew large in her eyes. The press's words were distant in her ears until they faded away completely. The dark circles continued to grow until everything went black.

…

Todoroki sighed as Terra's body became stiffer than a steel rod. Her eyes remained locked onto a microphone as the press continued to hound her with question after question. He wasn't sure if her freezing was better than babbling. Either way he needed to get her out of here.

"Hey, are you okay?"
"Did she freeze?"

"Is this really All Might's recommendation? She's not what I expected."

"Maybe she's camera shy?"

With another sigh Todoroki picked Terra up under his arm, her body remaining stiff, and pushed his way through the crowd. "Move. We're going to be late for class."

"What? You have ten minutes before class. Don't try and run away from us."

"Yeah! We have a right to know about her relationship with All Might." The press tightened around them.

"Answer our questions! The people have a right to know!"

Todoroki glared.

The press jumped back.

Todoroki took the opportunity to get behind the school gate and into the building. With the press no longer a problem, he sat Terra down beside her locker. "Terra?" He snapped his fingers in front of her face. No reaction.

"Is she okay?" Ojiro walked over to them.

"She froze when the press spoke to her," Todoroki said.

"I should have known." Ojiro looked back at the door. "I got bombarded with questions, too. The teachers should be taking care of this. I wonder why they haven't yet."

Todoroki snapped his fingers again and still got no reaction from Terra.

"Maybe you should take her to Recovery Girl," Ojiro said. "Maybe she has something that'll help."

Todoroki nodded and picked his friend up again.

Reaching Recovery Girl's room, he knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Todoroki entered, disinfectant wafted into his nose. "Excuse me."

"Oh my. What happened with her?" Recovery Girl turned away from her desk.

"She froze when the press asked questions. Can you do something for her?"

Recovery Girl hummed before hopping off her chair. She meandered over to a cabinet and opened it then walked over to the teens. "Here, snap this then hold it under her nose."

Todoroki took the smelling salt from the nurse. It snapped as he bent it. He held it under his nose. A few seconds later Terra shook and shoved his hand away.

"What the heck is that smell? It's so gross."

"Good to see you're awake now." Recovery Girl took the smelling salt from Todoroki and tossed it in the trash.

"Huh?" Terra blinked as she looked around the room. "Weren't we outside?"

"You froze when the press started asking you questions." Todoroki shoved his hands into his pockets.

"I did?" Terra rubbed her neck and laughed. "Well, that was odd. But then I've never faced the press before so maybe it's not."

"You two go on now. Class will start soon." Recovery Girl waved at them.

"Right. Thank you for your help. Sorry to cause you trouble." Terra bowed.

"It was no trouble at all." Recovery Girl nodded.

The teens left the room. Terra pinched Todoroki's sleeve and gave a small tug. "Sorry to cause you trouble, too."

"It wasn't your fault."

"I hope we don't have to go through that everyday now."

"We won't. The staff will get rid of the press."

"I hope so. I don't want to have to go through that again."

The two students sat down before Aizawa passed out their test results from hero training. Bakugo got scolded for acting out while Midoriya was scolded for breaking his arm again.

"And, Terra," Aizawa said. "I understand your past, but that doesn't excuse you from slacking off. Try harder."

"Yeah sure, Aizawa," Terra mumbled.

"That's Mr. Aizawa. Mind your manners."

Terra huffed.

"All right then." Aizawa took his place behind the podium with a heavy sigh. "Let's get down to homeroom business. Sorry about the late notice but today, I'll have you..."

Terra glanced at her classmates as they tensed up. Heavy tension filled the air. Were they really that scared of Aizawa?

"… decide on a class representative," Aizawa finished.

Everyone slumped in their chairs, relieved it was normal school stuff. But the relax state didn't last long as they started throwing up their hands and shouting.

"I want to be class rep! Pick me!" Kirishima waved his hand.

"Me too!"

"I want to do it!"

"Same!"

"I'll be a great class rep!"

Almost everyone raised their hand. Those who did were herself, Todoroki, and Midoriya. Then Midoriya timidly lifted his hand.

"You don't want to be the class representative?" Yaoyorozu asked.

"Me? No way. I couldn't care less about it." Terra waved her hand in dismissal. "I mean I've never done it before. I'd have no clue what I'd be doing."

"Hm? Didn't you have class reps in your junior high school?" Yaoyorozu asked.

"No, I didn't. I was homeschool," Terra said.

"Really?" Yaoyorozu's eyes widened. "I guess that might explain why you're socially awkward, or you were born that way."

"Is that bad?"

"Not at all. Everyone can't be a social butterfly. For some it's normal to be socially awkward. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Nor is it something you have to fix."

Terra rested her chin in her palm and hummed in thought. Maybe she should do some research on social awkwardness. "So what exactly does a class rep do?"

"They represent the class. In normal schools a class rep would do a lot of after school duties. But here in hero school it's more than that. By being a class rep you can catch the eye of pro heroes. It's a good chance to show leadership skills," Yaoyorozu said.

"Leadership. I will definitely pass on that." Terra put her hands behind her head and leaned back in her seat.

"Really? You might not have done it before but it's a good chance to get some experience."

"Naw. I'm good. I'm definitely not the leader type."

"Everyone, be quiet!" Iida shouted over everyone's chatter. The room went silent for a moment as everyone looked at him. He stood from his desk, his hand raised high in the air. "This is a task heavy with responsibility where you must carry and pull everyone's weight. Just because you'd like to do it doesn't mean you can. It's a high office that requires the great esteem and trust of those around you. The only truly worthy leader will emerge from a democratic choice reflecting the will of the people. Which is why this must be settled by a vote."

Terra could tell from his words he was being sincere. But with his hand raised high in the air it was clear that he too wanted the position as class rep.

"It's still too early to have developed trust in each other," Asui said.

"Besides, everyone will just vote for themselves," Kirishima said.

"That's precisely why the person who does manage to earn multiple votes will be the truly appropriate person for the job," Iida said. "Is that all right, Mr. Aizawa?"

"As long as you decide by the end of my nap." Aizawa zipped himself up in his sleeping back and laid down in the corner.

"All right, everyone," Iida said. "Pull out a piece of paper and write down your votes. Then we'll pass them to the front of the rows and count them."

Paper rustled as everyone did at Iida had said. It only took a couple minutes for everyone to cast their vote and pass them forward.

Terra sat at her desk and waited for it to all be over.

"You're really not going to vote?" Todoroki turned in his seat so he could look at her.

"I don't see the point since I'm not participating." Terra shrugged. "Besides my vote would be for you. Not really fair considering how we've known each other for so long."

Todoroki nodded.

Once all the votes had been gathered, Iida volunteered to count then write the results on the board.

"One vote." Iida sighed with defeat.

"Th-three votes for me?!" Midoriya trembled with excitement and shock.

Terra twirled a strand of hair, wondering how Midoriya got three votes and Yaoyorozu got two. She too thought everyone would vote for himself or herself. So how did Midoriya win?

"Why Deku?! Who voted for him?!" Bakugo slammed his hands on his desk and stood.

Terra scanned the room for any signs of who voted for Midoriya. The only reaction she found was Uraraka whistling. She must have voted for Midoriya. Who else? She saw no other signs. Almost everyone else admitted to have voted for themselves.

"Well, it was better than voting for you," Sero said, which earned him a harsh glare from the explosive boy.

"What did you say?!" Bakugo's teeth sharped.

"Okay." Aizawa sat up and crawled out of his sleeping bag and took back his position at the podium. "Well, looks like Midoriya is your class rep and Yaoyorozu is your deputy class rep."

"S-seriously?" Midoriya said through chattering teeth. He and Yaoyorozu made their way up front and stood side by side.

Terra compared the two. Yaoyorozu held herself with confidence while Midoriya's head was lowered, his body trembling. He doesn't look very comfortable up there. Can he really represent the class?

"Okay. Now that business is done, everybody go to lunch." Aizawa shoved his hands in his pockets and left the room.

"Well, that was easier than expected." Terra stood with Todoroki and headed for the door. "Uh, congratulations, Yaoyorozu."

"Thanks." Yaoyorozu smiled.

"I hope you can, uh, full fill your duties as deputy or whatever." Terra rolled her hand in the air as if it would help get her words out. "Sorry. I guess I'm not good at this kind of thing."

"It's all right. I understand what you mean. I'll do my best."

The lunchroom was buzzing with chatter as the small group got their food and sat down. Everything was normal and calm like the first couple of days. Then, without warning, an alarm shrilled, cutting through the chattering students.

"There has been a level three security breach," announced a robotic voice over the intercom. "All students please evacuate calmly."

Thumping footsteps and panic spread through the room as students bolted for doors.

"Level three security breach?" Terra asked.

"It means someone is trespassing on school grounds," Yaoyorozu said.

"Who would be stupid enough to trespass on a school full of h-" Icy concern ran through Terra's veins. Her eyes shot to Todoroki's. He had the exact same thought she did. Villains.

"Let's go." Todoroki stood, grabbed her wrist, and took off towards a door that wasn't blocked by students.

"Wait! Where are you going?!" Yaoyorozu called.

Neither stopped as they left the lunchroom. Turning the corner they raced up the stairs.

"What do we do?" Terra asked. "Were are all the teachers? Do you think they're outside?"

"I don't know. They-" Todoroki jerked to a pause, his eyes locked out the window before he walked over to it.

"What is it?" Terra glanced out. A group of people were crowded around the front door. "Is that… the press from this morning?"

"Looks like it."

"They're still here?" Terra eyes wandered from the press to the gate. She knitted her eyebrows. The gate was crumbled onto the ground. "Wait. Look at the gate. Has it been destroyed?"

Todoroki's eyebrows narrowed.

"Did the press force the door open by a quirk?"

"Someone had to have. There's no other way they could have gotten through." A moment of silence passed between them as they stared at the crumbled gate. Then flashing lights and sirens filled their senses. "Looks like the teachers called the police."

"Should we go back to lunch?"

Todoroki nodded. They headed back down the stairs. By the time they got back to the lunchroom most of the other students has returned as well.

"So where did you two run off to?" Yaoyorozu sat down.

Terra opened her mouth. Before she could attempt an answer Todoroki said, "We escaped like everyone else. That's all. Now eat. We don't have much time before classes start again."

Yaoyorozu looked to Terra as if the green haired girl would be clearer.

Terra shrugged. "It is what it is."

"Right."

Terra ignored the curious looks Yaoyorozu was giving them and tuned her ear into the others around them. The students chattered about what happened, some said something about Iida and an exit, but no one mentioned anything about the gate being crumbled. Did no one else see it? Or did the teachers tell them some story or another about it? Either way she was sure she'd get an answer at some point. So she refocused on her food before heading back to class.

Once everyone was back in their seats and Aizawa hovering in the corner, Yaoyorozu and Midoriya stood at the head of the classroom. Midoriya fidgeted while Yaoyorozu stood still.

Yaoyorozu cleared her throat. "Ahem. Let's proceed, class rep."

"R-right. Well, uh, we need to decide on the other class officers." Midoriya continued to fidget as he addressed the class. He then gulped and looked up. "But first, can I say something? I think that Iida should be the class rep. He was really good at handling the emergency that happened during lunch. And he did it in such a cool way. I think it would be best for Iida to be our class rep."

"I'm good with that," Kirishima said as he turned to smile at the stunned Iida. "It's true that Iida was a big help at the cafeteria today. He took control like a man."

"Yeah." Kaminari nodded. "And he kind of looked like the person on the emergency exit signs, didn't he?"

"Stop wasting time," Aizawa said from his corner. "Just hurry up and decide so we can move on."

Tenya got up to his feet, arms straight at his sides. "I am honored to be nominated. Thank you, Midoriya. And from this day forth, I, Tenya Iida, promise to do my best to carry out the duties of class representative!"

"We're counting on you, Emergency Exit!" Kirishima shouted.

"Emergency Exit Iida!" Kaminari cheered.

"Emergency Exit Iida? What did we miss?" Terra asked.

"Iida saw the press outside and noticed they were the ones who tripped the alarm. With Uraraka's help he flew over everyone's head. He stopped when he slammed against the wall. The posture he took was that of the man on the emergency exit sign," Kirishima explained.

"Oh." Terra's eyes drifted from the redhead to Midoriya. For some reason she wasn't surprised at the boy stepped down from the position of class representative. With all his fidgeting he didn't seem to fit the part. She was going to have to talk to him at some point, learn more about his character.

And she got her chance once class ended. Todoroki said he had something he needed to take care of and that he would meet her outside. So Terra rushed to get outside so she could catch Midoriya before he went home. Leaning against a pillar, she watched as the students left the campus before she spotted the boy she was waiting for. Iida and Uraraka were walking with him. "Hey, Midoriya, can I talk to you for a moment? Alone."

"Huh? Oh, sure. I'll catch up with you two." Midoriya smiled at his friends. They nodded and headed on without him.

Terra glanced around. A few students were still on campus but were too far away to hear them. She brought her eyes to Midoriya. "So you know about All Might's weakened form."

"Huh? Uh, what are you talking about?" Midoriya's eyes darted everywhere before landing back on her. He rubbed his head with a nervous laugh. "It's not like that. I mean I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Don't play dumb with me. He told me you two had a talk after the run in with the sludge villain. I don't know exactly what happened that day between you two, but I do know that All Might wouldn't have told you about his two forms if he didn't trust you." Terra gave him a sharp glance. "However, I do not trust you at this point. If you do anything to hurt All Might you will pay for it."

Midoriya froze.

Terra watched the wheels spinning in his eyes. He was thinking about something. But what she didn't know. Probably never would know.

"That's unexpected."

Terra twitched. "What do you mean?"

"Normally, you would be rambling on and on. But now you're are solid, firm in your meaning." His expression softened. "I have no intention of hurting him. I have admired All Might my entire life."

"I don't care. I only want him to remain safe."

"He means a lot to you."

"More than you will ever know." Terra wrapped her arms around herself.

"You can trust me, Terra. I will keep All Might's secret."

Terra searched his eyes as they filled with determination. He seemed sincere. If only she could be sure. She still knew nothing about him. Except for those she was close to, she had no idea how to tell if someone was lying.

"Terra." Todoroki walked up to them. "Is something wrong?"

"No. It's nothing." Terra pushed off the pillar and walked away.