Ch 5: School Daze
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The last thing Lee expected outside of the school gates was the press. Men and women in suits and ties with people holding all sorts of cameras and microphones. As he approached, Lee could hear them clamoring on about All Mightl, asking every student that tried to get on campus about the Number One Pro. Lee knew he wouldn't be an exception, and the only way was through.
He ducked his head and went in. On the tips of his toes, Lee danced and slid around journalist after journalist, sweaty man after frazzled woman, until the school gates were in sight. Just his luck, that's when one of the reporters finally got a hold of him.
A formidable microphone was shoved in his face, and suddenly, a slightly sweaty man was in his personal space with another holding a camera over his shoulder.
"Kid, are you in the hero course? Have you seen All Might? Can you tell us where he is?!" The man asked rapidly, pushing the microphone almost into his chest. The man's leering look made him look almost zombie-like with the dark circles under his eyes. His breath smelled like an old coffee and mints.
"Yes, I am in the hero course," He finally answered. The man perked up, hungrily latching onto Lee's answer and pushing the mic even closer. The cameraman followed. "I'm in class 1-B, and-"
"What? 1-B?" The man's smile dropped, and he grew offended. "You're wasting my time, kid. I'm looking for kids from 1-A, not the substitute class."
What?! Substitute class?! Who did this man think he was? Lee bet he never trained a day or knew what dedication it took to become a hero. 1-B was not anyone's substitute.
Before he could tell that man how un-youthful his words and actions were, something grabbed him by the elbow and dragged him through the front gates.
"Had to get you away from those slime balls, Lee," a friendly voice said.
Lee found the person pulling him by his elbow and felt a smile explode across his face.
"Mina!" He swooped in and gave her a tight hug. She laughed as he cheered. "You made it in! You made it in! Your flames of youth cannot be denied! And—and did you also make it into the hero course?"
"Yeah, I passed!" Mine beamed, pink cheeks stretched far thanks to her wide smile. "Got into 1-A! And you, I heard! 1-B! That's so awesome, Lee!"
Their reunion was interrupted by someone inserting themselves into the conversation. How unyouthful.
"Oh, you all in 1-A can't help but rub it in, hmm?" Monoma asked in a rude voice. "I'll have you know, I, for one, think your class is full of a bunch of armmpfh!"
Itsuka's hand had covered Monoma's entire mouth. From the muffled noises he was making, he really had something to say.
"Sorry about him," Itsuka apologized as she maneuvered their classmate into the school. "He's clinically rude," She said. "Nice to meet you. I'm Itsuka Kendo, class 1-B. This is Monoma. You can forget about him if you like."
"Mmmfphgh!"
"Monoma! You shouldn't call people that, least of all a girl. Have you no shame?"
"Mmfummuhu!"
"Of course, stupid question. Whatever, come on before you cause an academic incident or something."
"Mmmrfurmm."
"I don't know either, but I bet you'd find a way to make it happen!"
They passed through the front doors with more muffled anger and dragging.
Mina and Lee devolved into giggles and laughs.
"So those were your classmates, huh? The girl seems the responsible type," Mina noted. "Can't see how she understood any of that."
Lee laughed. "Yosh, Itsuka is one of the most responsible people I've met. It is an honor to have her in my class. She is very youthful!"
"Let's walk and talk, Lee. Our classrooms are in the same direction, no?" She asked.
Lee nodded, and together, they made their way to class. As they walked, like Mina said, they talked. It really was nice to see her here.
"What do you think of your class so far, Mina?" He asked her. "What kind of classmates do you have?"
Lee didn't know who was in 1-A outside of Mina. He wondered who ended up in the other class.
Mina tilted her head in a thoughtful expression. "Some pretty strong guys. There's a guy who can shoot explosions out of his hands, but he has a really foul mouth and a rude attitude. Another kid can shoot ice, like tons of it. Ooo, there's a girl with a cute haircut that can make things float, and someone I knew in middle school who's all about being a 'man' and 'manliness.' My class is kind of stacked," she murmured at the end, shoulders slumping slightly.
Did she not think she could compete with them? Ridiculous. If the class was 'stacked,' Mina was part of the reason.
"And, of course, there's a girl with skin like the cherry blossoms that come with springtime of youth," Lee said. "who can throw acid, melting all the obstacles in her way. She sounds very youthful as well."
She didn't say anything momentarily, but a smile seemed permanently stuck on her face.
"You say the nicest things, Lee," Mina poked his shoulder teasingly. "You make me want to run through a wall or something."
"Well, I don't know why you would want to do that, but it reminds me of the time my sensei trained me to run up walls."
"Wait, what?"
"Class is to start soon, Mina," the tired-sounding voice said. "Better get in here before I have to mark you late."
Lee looked to see who had spoken up. He found a tall, thin man with wavy, shoulder-length hair and bags under his bloodshot eyes standing in the classroom doorway. The room sign above said 1-A. Oh, Lee didn't even realize they made it so quickly.
"Aizawa-sensei!" Mina squeaked. "I'll get right on that. Let me say goodbye to my friend first."
"And who is this friend of yours," the man's tired, red eyes seemed to gain a gleam of alertness. "He's not in my class."
"I am Rock Lee of Class 1-B, sir," Lee bowed his respect. "It is nice to meet Mina's hero course teacher."
Mina turned to him. "Thank you for walking with me to class, Lee. Maybe we can meet up at lunch?" She asked hopefully.
Was it even a question?
"Of course, Mina!" He answered right back. He hadn't seen her the previous times they had lunch, but he blamed that more on how many people there were than anything else. Lee was just glad he'd get some more time with his friend.
She nodded with a bright smile, and her sensei, Aizawa-sensei, opened the door just as she turned to enter. Her sensei stood outside still, eyes glued to Lee. Lee wasn't even sure the man had blinked yet.
When Mina was gone, and it was just him and her sensei, Lee quickly grew slightly uncomfortable under the man's stare.
"Ah," He began awkwardly, not really knowing what to say. "Uhm, have a good class, Aizawa-sensei," He said as he turned around to head to class. He'd apologize later if his abruptness offended him. Lee just needed to get to class before he missed anything.
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"Class representative?" Lee repeated Vlad-sensei's words aloud to himself, mind awhir over who to vote for. The class was murmuring over it, too.
It was a boy with a long, single black braid going down his back, Hiryu Rin, who raised his hand, and Vlad-sensei indicated for him to speak.
"Are we allowed to vote for ourselves? What happens if everyone votes for themselves?" Rin asked. His voice was steady and stable without much inflection.
Itsuka's head popped up, ready to answer, but she stopped and looked at Vlad-sensei. He gave her a nod of permission to answer.
"I think we should, as it is a vote, but we should keep in mind to vote for someone we think can handle the responsibility and do the job right," She responded.
"I agree," Vlad-sensei nodded his head. "Any other questions?"
On the other hand, this time, a girl with a well-maintained, black bob-cut hairstyle, Yui Kodai, shot up and was called on.
"We don't know each other that well, as it hasn't been long since school started. How can we expect to make the right choice so soon into the year?" She asked, her voice soft but carried itself across the room.
Vlad-sensei didn't answer. This time, he eyed Itsuka, who chewed on her lip before voicing her thoughts.
"That's an excellent point, Yui, but if it's something we have to do, we might as well do our best. And, if whoever is voted in wants to leave or we as a class agree on someone else, we can hold another vote, no?"
Yui nodded, satisfied with the answer.
Vlad-sensei leaned back against his desk with a creak. "You have until the end of homeroom after lunch. If anyone's mind changes down the line, as Itsuka said, we will hold another vote."
Itsuka nodded at that and continued. "Yeah, see? No big deal, right? We have until the end of homeroom to decide, so even if things don't go right the first time, we can try again until we do get it right," She declared to the whole class. Every pair of eyes were on her as she spoke, "Being class representative goes beyond the classroom. It is a promise to your peers that you will work in their best interests and represent them the best you can when the time calls for it. Like a hero."
"Yes, yes, it all sounds fascinating," Monoma quipped from where he leaned back in his chair. He tipped forward, and his chair legs clacked against the ground. "I say we get on with the vote before 'big sister' Itsuka makes another speech in her favor."
The 'nickname' garnered a few chuckles from the class. Itsuka's brow twitched agitatedly until a smug smile grew on her face.
"Well then," she said slyly. "After you, 'little brother,'" she said with extra emphasis on the word little. The class went 'ooo,' but before it could devolve into a back-and-forth, Vlad-sensei began handing out paper strips to write down who they wanted to vote for.
Soon, the votes were collected and counted. The results were in.
"Introducing your new class representative, Itsuka Kendo," Vlad-sensei announced to them after writing the last tally mark onto the board. It was an all but unanimous victory in favor of Itsuka. Every single vote was for her, with only one for Hiryu.
Itsuka blinked confusedly in her seat, almost as if the numbers on the board were fake.
"W-what?" She squinted, and Setsuna rolled her eyes at her friends 'dramatics.' "You all voted for me? Why?"
"You're the only one who can get Monoma to shut up," Tetsu barked from his seat, earning more than a few laughs.
"You were the one to come up with the idea in the first place, Itsuka," Lee chimed in and gave her a reassuring smile. "Your flames of youth burn bright!"
"The Lord shines his light on you," Ibara said loftily. "It is a blessing to have you in this class."
"Your name was the only one I actually remembered how to spell," Sen Kaibara said in his easy-going voice.
Finally, her eyes landed on Monoma, who shrugged, "The better question is, did you vote for yourself, or is that one vote for Hiryu from you, itsuka? Anything you'd like to tell us, hmm?" he teased with a taunting smirk, but Itsuka paid it no mind. She only nodded decisively, determination shining in her eyes.
She got out of her seat and bowed to the class.
"Thank you all very much for your support! I promise not to let any of you down as your class representative!" She promised with as much conviction as possible.
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"What are you all doing here?" Recover Girl asked them in that shrewd voice old ladies seem to all have, like they were always suspicious of something.
"We, Class 1-B," Itsuka began confidently as everyone else stood together quietly but determined. "Want to help you help 1-A when they return from USJ," she said.
Recovery Girl's eyes narrowed, and her lips pulled back into a thin pink line. Her skin bunched together on her forehead, and then she hmmd and looked at them. And, no, it wasn't a regular look; it was THE look. It was that look old people gave you when they wanted to see if you were telling the truth. The heavy, unmoving stare that could pry the truth from even the most un-youthful spirits.
"You're sensei give you permission to be here?"
"Uhm, not exactly, no," Itsuka bit her lip. "But he'd understand, right? We're only here to help."
Recovery girl scoffed. "Help? Girlie, what do you or any of you youngins know about first-aid? Do any of you even know how to put on a bandage? Set a broken bone? No, you don't, and I know you don't. All you youngins know is how to use your Quirks to cause the most damage. You'd only get in the way. Now, back to class with you all. Shoo!"
Monoma's "I told you so" was summarily ignored.
"Recovery girl, ma'am," Itsuka tried again, more fervent. "Please. Anything is better than sitting in class doing nothing. We can learn, we can help."
All of 1-B, yes even Monoma, nodded along to the words of their elected class rep. They already had this discussion, which brought them to the nurse's office.
The veteran healer gave everyone that look one by one, and the instant it got to him, Lee felt like he'd been stripped bare. It felt like she could see every un-youthful thing he'd ever done and judged his worthiness. He felt the sudden urge to apologize, but Lee knew he was here in good spirit. They wanted to help.
He held his breath as she finished making them all feel like they were children(or maybe it was just him?) and hmmd again.
"You'll follow my directions then?" The aged hero suddenly asked. "I don't wanna hear any back talk from none of ya, ya hear me? I don't care if you think it's gross or scary or if you think you're too good for it because you're not. No one is too good to learn how to save a life, ya hear me? What am I saying, all thick-headed, the lot of ya. Ya do what I say when I say it, and how I say it, got it?"
Itsuka couldn't nod fast enough. None of them could. "Then that means…"
"Yes, yes," The hero quickly waved off their excitement. "Don't go getting too excited. This isn't a game. Lives are at stake here. You youngins ought to recognize that."
Once they all settled down, she continued with her instructions. "I need you all to wash your hands thoroughly. One of you, grab some gloves. I need a few of ya to help me grab some supply boxes from the closet- preferably those that can lift heavy weights. And you—the one with tall the audacity—you'll be my second in command. Make sure your classmates don't make a mess, understand?"
"Yes, ma'am!" Itsuka was close to saluting.
Recovery Girl delegated them to a purely supportive role of grabbing bandages, water, snacks, and other supplies as they were not medically trained. She also prepared them for the worst by showing various diagrams and describing some common hero injuries seen and treated at UA alone.
Instead of being disheartened by it, though, it only made them all even more resolved to help. If the worst did happen, forbid it did, they would be here ready to help however they could instead of being stuck in a classroom doing nothing.
While preparing, the intercom in the nurse's office came on with a low beep before Principal Nezu spoke.
"Recovery Girl and Class 1-B," he began, and Lee wondered how he knew the entire class was in here, too. "The bus with 1-A is arriving at the front gates in five minutes. I've got reports that everybody is stable, with injuries ranging from minor to major. The major case will go directly to you, Recovery Girl."
Then, the intercom clicked off. Everyone was quiet, but Lee could see the smiles growing on their faces. He could feel the one springing into his own face. He almost couldn't believe it. 1-A was safe, for the most part, and was on their way back.
"Okay, everybody!" Itsuka began to yell, but a quick look from Recovery Girl had her lowering her volume. "Err, okay, everybody, you heard Principal Nezu. They're okay for the most part, and we'll let the professionals handle the major cases. I don't know what we'll see, but we made our decision, and I, for one, am sticking by it. What say you?"
"Yosh! I'm with you, Class rep!" Lee was the first to say.
"You know wherever you go, I go, Itsuka," Setsuna said. "Can't get rid of me that easily."
"I don't run from anything." Tetsu looked like an angry surgeon with a mask and gloves. "I said I was gonna help, which means I'm gonna help."
"They'll need some support," Pony added. "This is what heroes do."
Recovery Girl cleared her throat, and Itsuka froze up before doing a whole 180.
She smiled, embarrassed, "If, uh, you don't have anything to add, that is, Recovery Girl-sensei."
Recovery Girl clacked her cane on the ground. "I'm going to need a couple of you to stay for the major cases," she told them. "Not to help. Much. The day I need help from a first year is the day I retire to that tropical island with a...well, you'll understand when you're older. If there are two amongst you who aren't afraid of the more gruesome side of things, I'd want you to stay and watch. Learn somethin' that's not how to jump in and out of a burning building while it's collapsing."
"Will we actually learn how to do that?" Tsuburaba whispered to Hiryu, who shrugged.
"I want to stay," Kimori sounded shy, but the speed at which she volunteered was more than courageous enough. "Blood doesn't freak me out, and I wish to learn more."
Reiko nodded, as did Kojiro, volunteering to stay behind and help.
Recovery Girl narrowed her eyes on the three volunteers before clacking her cane again against the ground. "Alright, I hope you all know what you're in for. What am I saying? Of course, you don't. If ya did, ya wouldn't be volunteering. The rest of you, get! The bus will be here soon, and you're blocking the doorway. That's a fire hazard, don't ya know?"
Itsuka turned back toward the door and walked through with a "C'mon everybody. Let's go!" everyone else followed her.
As they all entered the hall and began walking towards the front where the principal had said 1-A was pulling up, Lee couldn't help but wonder which one of 1-A was hurt. Was it someone he had yet to encounter, or was it a more familiar face like Mina? What would Lee do if it was Mina with severe injuries? He'd get her to Recovery Girl as quickly as possible so the veteran hero could work her magic like she was known to. He had no reason to worry.
Once the group headed by Itsuka made it out to the front of the school, the first thing that reached Lee's ears was the faint blaring of sirens.
The others had to have heard it, too, as Yosetsu asked, "Anyone else hear sirens?"
Lee nodded that he had, along with several others.
"To answer the question that you have asked out loud to everyone in the general vicinity, Awase, our fellow classmates currently on their way back to school must have a designated escort of officers whose job is to ensure 1-A arrives back to UA safely," Jurota replied.
Everyone turned to him in surprise. Their tall and hairy classmate adjusted his glasses before continuing, "The school that we attend more than likely wished to take no chances with another possible villain attack as the likely hurt and exhausted 1-A students and sensei made their way back here. So, logical thinking would dictate they, most likely the principal, would request a police escort back to UA.
Based on the recent articles detailing the agreements made between the city and the police force, such a task would fall under standard escort formation: two in the front and two in the back with the bus in the middle. Some other heroes may follow along as a further deterrent to attacks. Though I wonder if they may also have an ambulance for the injured," that last part was more of a question to himself, but everyone heard it.
"You know," Itsuka started, breaking the silence between them as they digested Shishida's factual guesswork. She gave their hairy classmate a look of delighted surprise. "You seem pretty smart over there, Shishida, with knowing how police escorts work. Do you know a lot of the law side of hero work?"
The tall teen grew embarrassed and smiled sheepishly while scratching his chin. "I-I mean, I just know some things, ma'am," he answered. "My mom is a lawyer, and my dad works in an insurance company."
"We got a resident smart pants," Setsuna interjected. She threw an arm over Itsuka's shoulder and shook the orange-ette up a little. "This one right is used to being Ms. know-it-all, so I'm glad there's someone around to deflate her enormous ego," the girl jibed with a bark of laughter.
Itsuka rolled her eyes at her friends' antics before looking back at Shishida. "Knowing how the police work is something we'll all have to learn eventually," she defended.
"Wait, really?" Tsuburaba asked, his brows scrunched up in confusion. "We have to know how the police force works? I thought we just captured bad guys, gave our statements, helped clean up, and then, y'know, leave. We have to remember things like escort formations?"
"Yeah, that sounds like useless knowledge to me," Kamakiri grunted and messed with his light-green mohawk. "No offense, Shishida."
"Uhm, none taken?"
Just as Itsuka opened her mouth to answer Tsubara's question, another student stepped forward.
"May I answer this one, Itsuka?" Hiryu spoke up with his hand in the air.
Itsuka raised an eyebrow at the raised hand and asked a silent question about it with her eyes.
"Dude, you don't have to raise your hand. We're not even in class, and Itsuka is definitely not a teacher," Setsuna said, taking another jab at her friend.
"Go ahead, Hiryu," Itsuka said, pulling on her friend's ear. "Make it quick, though, because I think they're almost here; the sirens are getting closer."
Hiryu simply lowered his hand and nodded. "I will summarize it then," he cleared his throat and began to explain, pitching his voice a little louder due to the noisy sirens. "To answer your question, Tsuburaba, since heroes work so closely with regular law enforcement, we have to know some of the same information they know for instances when our interests align. In this instance, it is to escort our classmates back to school, but there have been others," he said.
Tsuburaba and Kamakiri both made a sort of 'oh' noise, along with a few others.
"Heads up, everybody!" Itsuka called out, and they all focused on the quickly approaching police cars, bus, and ambulances. "We're here to support them! It might be a little awkward, and that's fine! I'd think awkward can work in our favor here! Just act natural! Well...not you, Monoma!" She added that everyone tried their best to smother their giggles or smiles. "You make people want to fight you, and don't think I don't know you do it on purpose."
Monoma rolled his eyes and shrugged. He knew it was the truth. There was no use trying to deny it.
With the sunlight reflected off the bus windows, Lee couldn't make out any definite faces. Plus, all the noise from the sirens made it hard to focus. Lee guessed he just had to wait until they got off the bus to tell who was who.
Every vehicle stopped before the school gates, but the ambulance crews hopped out and into action first. People in blue uniforms hopped out of the front of their ambulances and went to the back. Quickly, they swung open the ambulance's back doors, and Lee would be lying if he said he didn't crane his neck up to get a better view to fill his morbid curiosity.
Cautiously, the EMTs carried out their own stretcher. Slowly came the feet and legs, and then Lee saw who was on the bed, 1-A's homeroom sensei whose name slipped his mind.
As the EMTs approached, Lee's stomach clenched painfully at the up-close look he got at the injured man. His clothes were torn up. There were bandages and gauze all over the man's face to the point the only thing discernible was the manual oxygen pump one of the medics had over his mouth.
The EMT holding the mask pumped periodically as the second group carted another person way smaller than the first. It had to be a student; there was no other way. Still, in his green uniform, the EMTs moved as fast as they could without jostling the injured boy lying on the stretcher. Lee felt his insides twist in worry before a light nudge from Pony drew his attention.
"They will be okay," Pony assured him with a level of confidence that gently untwisted the worry curling up inside him.
He nodded and gave her a thankful smile, which she returned. He felt her lean her shoulder against his arm, and the warmth calmed his jacking heart.
"Are you the 1-A Class representative?" Itsuka's voice brought his attention back to the front of the school.
Lee turned to see the open bus doors. The slim doorway was filled with a girl in a pink costume with a big brown bob cut, similar to one of his classmates. The girl seemed to be looking for something or someone because her head went back inside the bus. Itsuka stood on the ground as the brown-haired girl stepped down.
In his peripheral, Lee noted the police officers in black vests and blue uniforms turning their sirens off and stepping out of their cars. They were speaking into walkie-talkies and spreading out around the front of the school.
"Uhm, no," the girl answered after a few moments, as if she had just realized Itsuka was standing before her. The girl in pink shook her head before donning a small apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, I'm just...it's been a crazy day, and I-" the girl's voice sort of trembled like a glass cup teetering on the edge of a countertop.
The girl in pink clamped her lips shut and looked away from Itsuka, but everyone heard the emotion bubbling beneath the surface. Another boy stepped down from the steps of the bus and onto the ground. It took Lee no time to recognize the armored teen from the interruption during class and earlier that morning with the press mob. He seemed unhurt, but Lee could tell he was tired by the slump in his shoulders.
The tall boy stepped behind the girl in pink and placed a hand on her shoulder. The girl shot him a thankful look and seemed to draw strength from the gesture as she looked back to Itsuka with a healthier smile.
"I'm 1-A's class representative, Tenya Iida," the teen told Itsuka in a voice that couldn't hide how tired he was. "I'm going to guess that you are 1-B's?"
Itsuka grinned and nodded. "You'd be right. I'm Itsuka Kendo, and it's nice to meet you, Iida. I wish it was under better circumstances than this," she gestured to the police cars and ambulances. "But we're here to help you all out. We've got water, snacks, and first aid supplies inside," she told him.
That was the moment Setsuna decided to jump into the conversation. "Yeah, plus we thought you'd appreciate seeing some friendly faces after what you guys' just went through," she said in an oddly subdued voice.
"W-well, I appreciate the support, but 1-A is made of stern stuff," Iida argued, but it felt weak and tired. "We just need-"
Itsuka cut him off abruptly and grabbed him by the collar of his chestpiece. "Cut the crap, Tenya," Her teal eyes were hard as diamonds, her tone low and stern. "I'm not blind. None of us here are. You all are not in the best shape. From one class rep to another, let us help you."
Iida's eyes suddenly began to water, and he took his glasses off to wipe at them. The girl in pink next to him smiled, having been close enough to hear.
"I think we could use the help, Iida," the one in pink began, but Iida nodded, already in agreement.
Itsuka let him go, happy to see she'd gotten through to him.
"You're right, Ochako. I will not be so shortsighted as to turn down this offer of help," the teen admitted, and that admittance seemed to take some of the weight off his shoulders. He stood taller and more assured, and that energy seemed to rub off on his pink companion. "I'm sorry, I don't even know your name…"
"Itsuka Kendo, class representative of 1-B, at your service," Itsuka saluted and patted the taller Iida on his shoulder. "Behind me is Setsuna, motor mouth but a heart of gold…most likely."
"Hey!"
"Glad to make your acquaintance. Tenya Iilda, Class representative of 1-A."
"Ochako Ururaka."
"Nice to meet you both. You don't have to worry anymore," Itsuka said, smiling wide. "We are here to assist however we can."
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(End Chapter 5)
AN: Told you I was editing. Until next time!