木の実は元へ落つる

Kino mi-wa moto-he otsuru.

Children observe daily and — in their behaviour — often follow the example of their parents.

I left the flower shop the next morning bright eyed and bushy tailed. I had just had my best sleep in years, and Missus Yukihime said I was free to return tonight as well, as long as I cleaned again. Things were going very, very well in my world. I had even been allowed to leave my duffel bag in the back of the flower shop, so I wasn't carrying all of my worldly possessions with me to school anymore.

Exiting the bus, I instantly spotted Ochako, who was waiting at the edge of the bus stop. Her face was down, rapidly scanning through a series of flashcards. Strolling over, I tapped Ochako's shoulder, smiling brightly. "M-morning, Ocha-chan!"

"Gyah!" Ochako yelped, spinning around to face me. Her hands flew up, sending her flashcards flying into the air. She paused for a moment, then burst out into laughter. "I'm so sorry," she gasped helplessly, clutching her at her stomach. "It's just - you surprised me - I can't -" I shook my head, smiling brightly in response. Kneeling down, I began to collect Ochako's flashcards off the cement.

"I-It's fine," I said, standing up to hand over the stacked cards. "I'm p-pretty quiet, I know."

Ochako grinned, taking her cards back. "Really, though," she insisted, taking a "mysterious ninja" pose. I stared at her oddly. "You're like a ninja!" I blinked at her for a moment, then let out a small giggle. I blushed, hands snapping over my mouth. It was Ochako's turn to stare at me oddly. "You know, you're disgustingly cute," she observed.

I titled my head at her, hands dropping down as my blush faded. "H-huh?"

"Nevermind," Ochako waved her hand dismissively. Grabbing my wrist, she began tugging me towards the school. "Let's just go!"

The walk to the school was pleasant enough. It turned out that Ochako had been studying the English phrases Present Mic had assigned the day before. I happily walked her through the phrases, despite having slept in class. When Ochako asked how I did it, I informed her that magicians kept their secrets. Then we arrived at the school, and I saw the horde of reporters and camera men.

Skirting around the edge, we tried to avoid them. Unfortunately, we were caught at the gate. A female reporter shoved a mic in our faces, looking very determined. "Tell us what the Symbol of Peace is like as a teacher!" She demanded.

I immediately conjured several answers. Irresponsible, novel, loud… but said nothing. Instead, I shrunk down behind Ochako, face turning various shades of red. I didn't like the camera or loud people shouting for answers.

Ochako was, as always, unflappable. "What's he like?" she repeated. "He's very… muscular!" she said, flexing her arms. I stared at her a moment with the reporters, stunned by the banality of her answer. Then, I realized she had created a distraction, and rushed towards the school gates, slipping inside and into safe grounds. Ochako appeared a few moments later, laughing at my desperation. I glared at her, unable to speak, before running off towards the classroom.

"Good work on yesterday's combat training," Mister Aizawa started, looking anything but congratulatory. I doodled quietly in the back, waiting for an opening to fall asleep. "I saw the video and the results," I winced. Oh, I was going to get a speech later about placing myself in vulnerable positions needlessly, I could just tell. "Bakugo, you're talented, so don't act like a kid." Bakugo grumbled something under his breath in response. "And Midoriya," Izuku ducked his head. "You settled it by breaking your arm again, huh? You can't keep saying it's because you can't control your quirk. I don't like saying the same thing over and over," Izuku looked even more cowed. I pursed my lips, feeling sympathetic. Mister's Aizawa's disappointment was very potent. "If you can fix the control issue, there's a lot you'll be able to do. Feel a sense of urgency, Midoriya."

Izuku brightented automatically, looking awfully like a puppy. "Yes, Mister Aizawa!"

"Now let's get down to homeroom business," Mister Aizawa continued. "Sorry about the late notice, but today I'll have you…" he paused, and the entire class tensed. Was there going to be another test? I, in turn, sighed at Mister Aizawa's penchant for drama. He had informed me yesterday morning about what was going on, placing me in charge of the selection process and paperwork. The sadist. "... decide on a class representative."

The entire class reacted at once. Hands went flying into the air, with loud cries of "pick me! Pick me!" I sank down, already knowing what was going to happen.

"Kurosaki," Mister Aizawa didn't bother to raise his voice. I stood slowly, feeling the eyes of the entire class digging into me. They thought he was choosing me. Hah, I wish (actually, not really, I'd die). My position as Mister Aizawa's unofficial teacher's assistant was about to be cemented. Standing at the head of the classroom, I faced him.

I swallowed. "Y-yes, Mister Aizawa?" I whispered.

He shoved the paperwork for finalizing the classroom representative into my hands. "You're in charge," he pulled his sleeping bag out and fell to the floor. I knew it. After a long pause, the students hand were back in the air. Everyone was screaming for me to pick them - with a few exceptions. I surveyed this, growing more and more tense, before finally snapping.

"W-will e-e-everyone sh-shut up!" I shouted, eyes clamping shut. The class went quiet, staring at me in surprise. I slowly opened one eye, then sighed in relief. "Th-thank you," I mumbled. "I d-don't w-want to be responsible f-for who ever g-gets chosen, s-so…" I picked up a piece of chalk, writing out "Nominees" on one side, and "Votes" on the other. "W-we'll do an election," I decided, then amended. "A-and n-no nominating or v-voting for yourself."

There was some muttering, and Tenya's hand rose up. "I nominate Ichigo Kurosaki," he announced. I froze in the middle of writing, because what the heck? My stutter was so bad I was barely understandable right now! I wrote my name out on the board meekly, feeling very, very stupid.

"I'd like to nominate Izuku Midoriya," Ochako added, hand in the air. Izuku's eyes widened, and he slumped down in his chair with a flustered expression. I wrote his name as well. There was an awkward pause, and then a few other hands rose. By the end of this process, there was my name, Izuku, Tenya, and Momo Yaoyorozu on the board.

I nodded. "O-okay," I stepped over to the other side. "N-now to vote." I decided to start from the bottom. "Y-you can't vote twice," I reminded, raising the chalk. "Momo Yaoyorozu," I read clearly. Four hands rose, and I tallied them. "T-Tenya Iida," two votes. "Izuku M-Midoriya," five votes. "I-Ichigo Kurosaki." I finished. Seven hands rose. I stared at them all incredulously, tallying up the marks. "I w-won?!" I whispered in disbelief. "Why?"

Tenya pushed up his glasses. "During the Battle Trials, you implemented the most strategy. You used your teammates abilities to their advantage, and won against an arguably stronger opponent in a short amount of time," The other students were nodding in agreement.

"Izukun analyzed everything out loud," Ochako chipped in, smiling at me proudly. "Your planning was really cool, especially 'cause you did it so quickly." I blinked, then slowly, slowly circled my name.

I waited for a moment. "B-but I don't want t-to be leader," I mumbled petulantly.

Mister Aizawa stole the chalk from my hand before I could shove the title on Midoriya. "The election is over, go sit down, Kurosaki. You're the class rep, and Midoriya is the deputy class rep," I walked over to my seat, face red and feeling numb, to plop down in stunned silence. Izuku looked similar, but I couldn't appreciate the irony of the two shyest people in the class being elected right now. Mister Aizawa continued to speak, and I stared at him dully. He met my gaze once, and I saw the intention there. He had known that would happen, I realized, but I couldn't determine why he allowed it.

Ochako happily chowed down on her rice. "This rice is delicious!" She cooed, cradling the bowl to her chest. Sitting at OUR table in the middle of the lunch room, Izuku and I radiated a cloud of gloom and doom, while Tenya and Ochako enjoyed their food.

"Even though I've been chosen as the deputy class rep, I don't think I'm qualified for it," Izuku said, staring at his lunch sadly.

I huffed, crossing my arms. "I d-didn't even know I w-was in the r-running f-for an election," I pouted miserably. "Wh-who the heck th-thinks I'd b-be a g-good c-class president anyways? I c-can't talk w-without s-stuttering!"

"You're both going to do great," Ochako said with confidence, not bothering to look up from her food.

Tenya didn't even blink. "It'll be fine," he stared Izuku down. "You're judgement and critical thinking in the heat of battle are exemplary, and make you a worth following." He then looked to me. "And Ichigo, you have the mind of a tactician and the ability to guide others. How are you not a good leader?"

"I-I c-can't talk!" I protested violently.

"That is a trivial matter, you can correct it in time," Tenya answered dismissively.

Ochako leaned over, grinning widely. "Are you a rich boy, Tenya? You talk weird."

"I s-speak that way as w-well," I pointed out, raising my hand awkwardly. I was about as far from rich as you got, but I was well read. I didn't see how speech could be connected to money.

Tenya turned his head away. "I tried to correct that," he mumbled, earning eager looks form both Izuku and Ochako.

"Y-your brother is Ingenium, r-right?" I said, easily connecting the dots. "Of course y-you're wealthy, h-he is a v-very p-popular hero."

Tenya nodded, smiling proudly. "Indeed, my brother is very successful! My family has been in the hero business for generations! It is my only wish to follow in his footsteps!" He practically glowed with joy.

"You're smiling!" Ochako squealed. "I haven't seen you smile before, Tenya-" The emergency bell rang, cutting Ochako off. The intercom began blaring warnings for students to evacuate immediately. Ochako, Izuku, and Tenya rushed off, attempting to escape with the bustling crowd. It took me about three seconds to look at the clambering people, remember my height and size, and decide to stay in my seat.

Picking up my bowl, I continued to eat my rice and observe. I'd be more likely to land in the hospital by being trampled, than if I waited for an opening. Whatever the threat was, I hadn't heard any loud crashes or screams (beyond the evacuees), so death wasn't imminent. Yet.

There was another loud scream from the crowd, and I winced. I was sure someone had just gotten run over. Glancing back down at my food, I spotted the dessert I had yet to touch. Wasting food was a heinous crime. I reached out and start chewing on it, feeling less and less anxious as I realized nothing bad was happening. Everyone had been clammering for the exit for over two minutes, and yet I heard no booms, crashes, or dying shouts. Obviously something else was going on. Was it a drill? If that was the case, we were failing miserably. Another student fell, shouting in pain. I shivered.

Suddenly, Tenya came flying out of the crowd, head over heels, and crashed against the far wall. Was he escaping the madness? Good for him. I took another bite of my brownie.

"EVERYTHING IS FINE!" He screamed, and the entire room went quiet. "IT'S JUST THE MEDIA! EVERYTHING IS FINE! THIS IS YUUEI ACADEMY! LET US PLEASE ACT IN A WAY BEFITTING THE BEST OF THE BEST!" Tenya was shaking, balancing over the exit doors. I clapped for him quietly, before continuing to eat.

Even better, I had less of a reason to evacuate now.

"Kurosaki, here," Mister Aizawa began, shoving a stack of papers into my arms. "The other officers need to be determined." I stared at the stack of papers in my arms blankly. Really? This again?

I sighed, walking to the front. I really didn't want the position, and I wouldn't enjoy it either. Wasn't there something I could do? I glanced at Mister Aizawa surreptitiously, then brightened. "Ahem!" I coughed, getting everyone's attention. "I-it is now t-time to determine th-the other c-class officers," I said, internally cackling madly. "B-but before w-we begin, I w-would like to s-say, th-that I think th-that Tenya Iida sh-should b-be the class r-representative instead!" Tenya stared at me with wide eyes. "H-he displayed excellent j-judgement and c-critical th-thinking during t-today's e-emergency. I b-believe he is w-worth f-following." I reframed Tenya's own words with ease, not feeling the slightest bit guilty for my verbal plagarism.

"I'm fine with that," Kirishima agreed casually. I smiled, recognizing the boy who'd introduced himself to me during the test. "Iida was a big help during the emergency today, and the way he spoke was very manly." My smile dropped. Why was this boy so obsessed with manliness? There were several people who added on their agreement.

Mister Aizawa sat up. "You're wasting time," he said monotonously.

I nodded eagerly, turning back to the class. "Th-then Tenya Iida is now c-class representative!" I rushed forward, dropping the paperwork on his desk. "Here!" I quickly scurried off to my desk, hiding a smug smile. I wouldn't have to deal with the work anymore, Izuku and Tenya would instead. I glanced at Mister Aizawa, showing him a proud peace sign. I had learned to pass off responsibility from the best, after all!

There were worse habits, I supposed, you could learn from a mentor than laziness.