Aerialist:
Back in the monitor room, All Might lines off the participating students at the front of the class. Young Midoriya is not among them, having been taken to the nurse's office by Uraraka after refusing to be carried by the medical bots. By the time young Uraraka returns, the class is a bit more animated.
"Now, now, children, I'm sure we'd all like an update on young Midoriya, but that can wait until after class! He's in very capable hands, so we can continue without worry," All Might announces, waving his giant hand around to get everyone's attention. "Now then, in your opinion, who was the MVP for this battle?" His question is little more than a formality. He knows exactly who the MVP was. No one responds immediately, so All Might kicks it off. "The MVP of this battle was Midoriya!"
Katsuki keeps his head down and his eyes hidden, but he can't help from gritting his teeth when All Might twists the knife.
"Does anyone want to explain why?!"
Thankfully, Yaoyorozu speaks up this time to eliminate the awkward silence, "I do, All Might-sensei." She says with a raised hand. "It's because Midoriya was most able to adapt to the situation. From what I saw, Bakugou's every action was petty, and manipulated by some grudge. Midoriya seemed to understand this as well, and adapted by kiting Bakugou away from the battlefield. He showed great trust in his partner, even if Uraraka lost focus midway through." Ochako looks down at her hands, disappointed in herself, but doesn't interrupt the assessment, "Iida, however, formed an actual counter-strategy, and he envisioned what the struggle would look like. However, " Her tone changes a bit, and her eyes land on the boy. "His hesitation when fighting Uraraka gave Midoriya enough time to return and enact his plan. Had he taken her seriously, the villains might've won."
Silence. Deafening silence. Some students gave the girl a side eye, while All Might started to sweat nervously. He gave a shaky thumbs up. "I'd also like to add that Iida was a bit stiff, but yes, you're correct. Up next, Team B vs Team I."
"Kid comes here pretty often."
"Too often, really."
"One For All really is strange."
Izuku blinks his eyes when the voices go quiet. He can't feel the pain in his ears or body anymore. He can't really feel anything anymore. The revelation makes his eyes go wide. He looks around in a panic, seeing himself to be back on the beach with the eight glorious suns shining down on him. For a fleeting moment, the familiar environment calms him, until, like before, the seventh orb in all of its deep purple majesty falls from the sky and takes shape before him.
Nana's appearance catches him off guard, but the warmth she gives is enough to quell the turbulence of his emotions.
"You used my quirk pretty well there, kid." She says happily. Izuku's chest bubbles and fills to the brim with pride. "There's still more to learn, but you're off to a good start. Torino really is a better teacher than he gives himself credit for. I knew it was a good idea trusting him..."
He tries to speak - to thank her for letting him use her quirk, to thank her for the kind words - but nothing comes out.
Nana giggles behind her hand.
"It's not my quirk anymore, kid. Not really. I'm just a memory. But you're welcome. I wish I could tell you more, but you're waking up. Good luck, Midoriya. We're rooting for you."
Nana starts to fade away before his very eyes, and he can do nothing but watch as the beach and all of its colors meld into darkness. Another pair of voices wake him up, but they're much closer.
"...you gave him your power, but whether or not he's your favorite, I think you should teach him more about restraint."
"You're right," Toshinori concedes. "I sympathized with him too much... so I hesitated. I think some extra time with Gran will do him well."
Izuku, content with going back to sleep, involuntarily shivers at the mention of Gran's name. All Might chuckles.
"I knew you were awake, Young Midoriya."
Izuku mirrors his actions, albeit more nervously. "I'll be more careful. We don't, uh, need to get Gran involved."
"You sure," Recovery Girl teases. "I have Sorahiko on speed dial."
"Pretty sure, ma'am," Izuku confirms, trying to ignore the nervous sweat falling down his brow. "Do you... know about -?"
"One For All? Yes," The aged heroine confirms. "I've been this buffoon's doctor for ages, he couldn't keep it from me."
"I see," Izuku turns to Toshinori. He looks so small in his baggy hero costume. A far cry from the image of All Might he idolized his whole life. "Does anyone else know?"
Toshinori raises a brow. "Outside of us in this room, the principal, an old friend of mine, your mother and Gran. It's a secret to all others."
"What if I wanted to, uh, tell someone else?"
"I'd advise against it," Toshinori says with no hesitation and with a level of gravity that Izuku wasn't ready for. "You mustn't tell another soul. There's a responsibility that comes with this power, and you must be aware of it." he explains. Nothing about his tone is anything Izuku likes; so serious, and grave. This message is coming directly from Yagi. All Might is not here. "Should more people learn about it, I don't doubt that all manner of scum would try to steal it. This is a secret that prevents all of society from falling."
Toshinori pauses and gives the boy a look. His expression is many things at once, and it's hard to place.
"Kid, it might sound harsh but it's also meant to protect you. Understand?"
"Yes, sir. I - I understand." Izuku replies. Images of a brunette with a wide smile and chubby cheeks flash into his mind. Maybe another time. "I, uh, spoke to Nana again."
Toshinori hides his surprise well, leaning forward in his chair and tilting his head to the side, thoughtful. "What did she say?"
"She told me I did well..." Izuku recalls, touching himself on the chest as the feeling of pure, heroic pride filled his chest again. "And that they're rooting for me."
"They?"
"Perhaps the previous users?" Recovery Girl hyposits.
"I don't know," Izuku admits, running his hands through his curls. "I've never seen anyone else. Only Nana."
"I see. I'll convey this to Gran and see if he has any idea of what this could mean. Did... did she say anything else?"
"That she was glad she trusted him."
Toshinori makes a sound and nods. The mood of the room changes then, and wordlessly, the hero stands up and excuses himself.
It's shortly before the end of the school day when Izuku is finally allowed to head back to class. He's still in his flight suit for no other reason than comfort, and takes this moment to lazily drift through the halls rather than walk. Recovery Girl told him to keep quirk use to a minimum, but something urged within him to take to the skies.
One For All is a fickle thing and he's learning that more and more each day.
'Aizawa might not be happy about this...' He dejectedly thinks to himself. Sliding the 1-A door open, Izuku is startled when all eyes snap to him, and a boy with spiky red hair and sharp teeth rushes toward him.
"Oh, Midoriya's back!" In no time, he's swarmed by various classmates, all leaning over him with smiles and enthusiasm. Izuku blinks as he's bombarded with questions, compliments and introductions and before he fully realizes it, he's drifting towards the ceiling like a balloon without a string.
"I knew that would happen," Uraraka giggles, pulling her lasso seemingly out of thin air and grabbing his leg with a single, well-aimed toss. The blonde boy beside her seems dumbfounded, but then gives Izuku a strange wink. "Let me just, uh..."
"Whoops, sorry bro!" the red haired teen boy laughs, "I'm Eijiro Kirishima, by the way! We were just talking about the battle training and how awesome you did!"
"I'm Mina Ashido! You dodge really well and your movement is super cool!"
"I'm Sato!"
From up here, Izuku can see them all and vaguely wonders if this is what Kacchan felt all those years. Admiration. It's... humbling.
When he finally hits the ground, Uraraka grabs his wrist to prevent him from moving again. "Sorry 'bout this, but I know how it is to float when you don't wanna." She says, not looking at him. "Are - are you okay, though? You looked pretty rough back there."
Izuku ignores the burning sensation in the base of his neck and tips of his ears, and clears his throat, lest the knot in his stomach make itself known. "Ah, yeah. I'm fine. Just a little tired."
"You sure? I know when I start to use my quirk too much, my stomach gets all funny."
Izuku agrees. His stomach is feeling all funny, but for different reasons he'll never say. "Yeah, I uh, know the feeling." Just then, his eyes catch something out of the window. A speck of blond walking away.
A part of him wanted to go speak with him. If for no other reason than to clear the air. To tell him the truth. He wasn't lying to him all of those years; not making a fool of him. A part of him wanted to, but the other part burned far hotter and brighter. It's like he's standing in One For All again, feeling the crushing weight of an ancient power, and the heat of the suns that accompany him. That part - One For All itself - muted his other half. You owe him nothing, it would grumble. This secret is yours . He doesn't try to deny the truth in those feelings.
Izuku sighs and watches as All Might appears and talks to the boy himself. Kacchan was as stubborn as a mountain, and Izuku knew better than to expect anything to come from it. But All Might tried nonetheless. And trying is all that mattered. He felt... off at the idea of leaving him to wallow in his own self pity; not when he could help. But One For All is unshakable in its resolve. He sighs to himself again. For as badly as he wanted to speak to him, he wouldn't.
A hand lightly squeezes his wrist and brings him out of his inner musings. It's Uraraka, standing by his side, unflinching and looking at him with her big, round, beautiful honey-brown eyes. "Hey," she whispers, expression laced with concern. "You okay?"
Against his better judgment, Izuku smiles and nods. "Yeah, I'm okay."
Uraraka returns the smile. "That's good."
Neither of the two realized that Ochako was still holding his wrist, and that he wasn't floating anymore. But neither of the two cared, either.
Somewhere across Japan, under the setting sun, a lanky man with pale blue hair watches behind a hand as a drink is set on the counter before him. "You see this?" He says, gesturing to a newspaper with All Might's face on the cover, "He's a teacher now. Hmm, now I wonder what would happen if villains were to kill the Symbol of Peace?"
A/N: Thank you for reading. It's been a while since my last update, I know, but I'm not dead!
