Izuku was completely sleep deprived and unprepared when Cathleen barged into the room, slamming the door open, and pulling the sheets back. "Wake up, buttercup!" Shocked at the treatment, he did the one thing he hadn't really done since... before his trip. He screamed, "AHH!" and then proceeded to rolled off the bed. "Ow!" Cathleen, actually concerned by that, walked over to the other side of the bed, to find Izuku rubbing the back of his head, glaring at her with bags under his eyes, asking, "Why?" She knew he didn't really hate her, and just laughed off the expression, "Why? Because you need to overcome your jet lag!" He sighed, loosening his gaze as he still rubbed the sore spot on the back of his head. "Why aren't you affected?" "Because I'm using New Order!" The use of her quirk brought him completely out of his sleep deprived funk. "Of course... wait, that's why you're not bustling with muscles!" He glanced over at her. She was still taller than him by two feet, but she was not bristling with muscles like she was in her hero costume. She nodded, confiming his observation, "I'm not here to be a hero right now, I'm here to support you! I don't need superstrength. C'mon, Inko has made pancakes!" With the promise of his mother's cooking, he got up quickly, "Right!" As they enjoyed their breakfast and got ready for the day, the doorbell rang. Inko asked, innocently, "Were you expecting anyone today, Cathleen?" Cathleen, meanwhile, frowned, "No... I never told anyone I was here except for the President..." She went and opened the door. Two men in suits... one of which was her old mentor. Although it was hard to tell, given his gaunt appearance. "Toshinori?" He smiled, being as friendly as possible. "Hello Cathleen. I heard you had come to Japan, so I wanted to stop by." She smiled at that, ushering them inside, "Sure, come in." However, she immediately picked up on the second man's... lack of desire to be there. "I'm sorry, I don't think I've met you before..." He introduced himself, "I'm Shota Aizawa. I work with Toshinori." "Ah, I see! Skill comes in many forms." He must be an underground hero. Perfectly acceptable, I guess... Turning to them both when they reached the living room, she asked, "So, what brings you two here?" Aizawa cut through any excuse Toshinori would've made. He was already on thin ice in her book, due to the debacle with Izuku. However, Shota Aizawa was blunt, "Look, We both work at UA, and Nezu would like to speak with Izuku Midoriya." She narrowed her eyes. It was fortunate that the two were out of the main room. She had plausible deniability, and Nezu was the last person she wanted him to see. He tried to have her assassinated in her second year as a full hero due to her, 'potential to disrupt his plans'. As far as she was concerned, he was an enemy. But, her response was to ask, not of Nezu's directives, but to cast doubt to their objectives. "Who?" Toshinori froze, as he wasn't the type for this situation. He told her what she was afraid of most, "Nezu observed that you arrived with a green haired kid that you rescued in the US." Shit! Nezu is in a position that I can't retaliate from. He knows enough, and has an interest in him... Her voice was a deep growl at this point, "Why does he want him?" After a moment of panicked fear, the blond man relented, "I don't know." "I'm supposed to believe that? I know what happens to those Nezu takes an interest in." Her eyes pierced Toshinori. "And you became one of his busibodies. I thought you were above that, Toshinori." He acted as if she was accusing him of treason. With good reason, honestly, "I... I have personal reasons for it. I am just trying to train the next generation of heroes... because my own time is so much shorter." She observed him, and realized he was absolutely right. He was gaunt in a way he wasn't before. His eyes expressed constant pain... but before she could continue, Izuku spoke up. Everyone turned to look at the greenette, who stood, just out from the hallway that led to their bedrooms. He continued, "He won't stop looking for me. He'll keep going as long as he needs to. He's just like Fisher." Nobody except Cathleen knew who that was, and she was glad that Izuku could look past the superficial appearances that the Chimera gave. She knew he was absolutely right in his assessment, and everyone could see that he was determined. Izuku did glance at the two men in suits. "Before I chose to study history, I did study heroes. I know why he sent you two. Everyone's favorite... and the one who is the most similar to me. I want to refuse... but... when does he want to meet me?" Aizawa was impressed. The kid read Nezu's actions like a book, but not through any concentrated analysis. "He wants to meet today, if possible." The boy nodded, "I'll come then." "He'll meet you at 3:00." Aizawa glanced at him, then left. Toshinori was about to speak, but Cathleen's glare sent him away. Instead, he said before closing the door behind him, "I'm sorry, Young Midoriya." The door then closed. She sighed, basically losing the battle, and worried she lost the war against the rat's meddling. "I'm sorry Izuku. I should have let you know since we were coming back to Japan... but Nezu has a less than stellar reputation in the intelligence community. He tried to hack into your memory file 3 days ago. I used one of my new orders to make it unhackable. Nezu... despite his appearance... is not a nice creature. Keep that in mind. Although, it does seem like you know that." He nodded, thoughtful on the situation, "I used to want to go to UA... so I studied all the teachers, pro heroes and the principal. I know of him. It's the fact that I know of him that I know it's inevitable. He'll stop me from getting back to America. But my work is more important, and I will let him know that." Nezu laughed as he sipped his tea, projecting his thoughts to the two pro heroes in front of him "Excellent! I cannot wait to meet him! And I knew sending you two would be the best thing to do..." However, both of them gave each other a glance. Aizawa and Toshinori knew that he arrived despite their interaction, instead of because of it. But they decided not to say anything. Let him have his fun. Because they had a strange feeling he wouldn't get what he wanted. 3:00 arrived quickly, and Izuku was driven to the school. Cathleen opted to stay with him, walking side by side as the pro heroine Midnight greeted them. Leaning down, she wrapped her arm around him, poking him in the chest. "Hello cutie... You're Izuku Midoriya, right?" Cathleen narrowed her eyes at the R-rated hero's antics, while Izuku became a stammering mess, "Y-yes." Even though he was smart, and tactful, he was still, just at heart, a teen. Standing back up, she gestured for him to follow. They did so, and the ravenette spoke as she walked, "Well, Nezu's waiting, so I'll lead you right to his office." Collecting his courage, he nearly whispered his response, "Ok..." Cathleen didn't say a word, just followed as Izuku noticed every facet of his escort's appearance and mannerisms. The American picked up on his muttering as he broke down her quirk before them. The other heroine couldn't tell what he was saying... but you spend enough time with him, and you pick up a thing or two. "Midnight, Quirk: Somnambulist, put others to sleep with pheromones she releases. Weakness: women, as the pheromones don't work as effectively against them, and comments about age, as it is a sore spot in interviews." Approaching a large set of oaken doors, she turned to the two guests. "Here we are, Nezu's office. I have to prepare a class for tomorrow, but feel free to stop by..." She winked slyly before leaving. As soon as she was out of sight, and out of earshot, Catherine was clear with her distaste for the ravenette, "I don't like her." Izuku explained, breaking down her behaviour, "She acts like that, but it's just an act. She's on edge because few people are outright invited to Nezu's office. She wants to set a good impression in the best way she knew how." "Hm... well that's fair." They looked at the large oak doors, and reaching for their handles. "Time to make our entrance." Nezu sat at his desk. Toshinori and Aizawa sat in front of him, almost as if they were a pair of guards. Izuku entered and sat on the sofa facing the three of them. Nezu started first, choosing his words like deciding a move in chess. Ignoring Cathleen's presence, he went with his planned opening. "Welcome, Izuku Midoriya. Do you know why you are here?" He shook his head, and feigned ignorance of the purpose. He was proven to be incredibly smart, so Nezu didn't buy it. "Not especially. I was kept in the dark about why you are interested in me. But I know you are." Working on his current information, especially the delightful datamine that was Toshinori, he contiuned. "I was interested in your intelligence. It is often that those with weaker quirks or... quirkless are suppressed... but you are a true gem. A brilliance not seen in a long time. So, I would like to extend an offer. Your expertise is hero analysis, correct?" He was really hoping to get that boy on his side. Toshinori told him earlier about his notebooks, and their impressive hero notes. It would definitely help his plans. However, the boy's answer threw the heroes, save Cathleen, for a loop. "It is one of my capabilities, but no longer my focus." Nezu's smile faltered for a moment, and imperceptively so. "Really?" Izuku nodded, honest as the day. "My focus is history, specifically pre-quirk history. It's a field that needs a lot of work, in order to recover our past before the world forgets... and repeats itself. I have no interest in heroics any more." The two heroes, which Izuku remembered before, were shocked. Toshinori's eyebrows were raised, and guilt was evident in his eyes. Nezu tried to salvage this meeting, "A shame, but... predictable. Given the way the world works. So, instead of focusing on Heroics, perhaps I could enlist you. After all, you are the most knowledgeable person in Japan, in relation to pre-quirk history." Izuku narrowed his eyes, just as his honorary aunt did as well. "Enlist?" "I would like to hire you as a teacher for UA." Nobody expected that, not even Izuku. The silence was unbearable, until Izuku asked, completely caught off guard. "What... I'm only 14..." Nezu agreed. If he wasn't going to get the kind of link he wanted, he'll take the next best thing. "True, but your knowledge is timeless. As you said, people need to appreciate history before it is lost." "..." Izuku was lost in thought for a moment. "That is what you want... but what you are offering me? All of this is just stopping what I want. I..." He swallowed, his nervousness catching up to him. "As of right now, I have no reason to want to help you or join your staff." This time, Nezu was left speechless. It took everything for the American hero to not laugh at the rat, and but oh boy was being here worth it. Nezu repeated what Izuku just said, albiet paraphrased. "You... don't want to join UA?" That broke the final straw, and Cathleen couldn't help but laugh at their incredulity. She'd known Izuku for two weeks, and already could tell that he was more comfortable out in the field, finding new artifacts and exploring history. Not sitting in a classroom explaining things to children who wouldn't care or understand due to them having quirks... and their importance pushed far beyond what they honestly should be. And his answer reflected what she knew. "No." Nezu thought, before trying again. "If you were to join UA, what would be your terms?" Izuku listed them quickly, "Pay for expenses, namely equipment and cost of living. Half a million a month should be good enough. Then, you will not dig into anything related to me. Ever again. It's breaking my right to privacy. Third, I will get... the same privilege you give Eraserhead here." Aizawa understood immediately what he was referring to. "Students will not listen to me at the start. I need weight behind my words. Four, I have free reign to use whatever resources I need to reinforce my work." He took a deep breath, "5, you won't target any of my associates, friends, and family, and 6 I will work with you until my findings are completed and published." Nezu asked, "Your findings?" Izuku explained as much as he was willing to share. "I wasn't in the Rockies for no reason, Nezu. What I found will change our understanding of history, at least in the region. But it is groundbreaking." He was intentionally peaking Nezu's curiosity before switching to the final point: "Also, you will not ask other teachers about me either. No direct or indirect investigations beyond what I choose to tell you. Those are my terms." The room was silent. Nezu cursed himself for letting him choose the terms. It was clear that he was very aware of Nezu's nature... perhaps even of his personality. And so he'd know how to get the better of him. They both knew that Nezu was wanting to acquire Izuku's skills, which were very hard to come by. They knew that Izuku was the one with the negociation power here."And there is nothing you will budge on?" "No." His voice was strained. He'd never pulled off anything like this, but he knew he had to try, knowing what to expect from his time in middle school. "Especially considering I will be teaching one of my worst bullies from Aldera, who beat, and blasted me with his quirk, for being quirkless. I doubt the other classes are that much better considering he's in a hero course, from my guess." Cathleen's eyes narrowed. She knew it was bad, but for UA to not do background checks to let one of those... monsters... in... it disgusted her. Aizawa spoke up, "Katsuki Bakugo is already on thin ice. He's already had to go to Hound Dog, our councilor, because..." Izuku interrupted, knowing what he was going to say, "You think a councilor is enough for him? He will not listen to me as soon as he knows I'm a teacher. If I were to accept, that is." The rat sighed, knowing full well this is the curse of his curiosity. Not able to resist such an interesting individual, he relented. "Very well. Those will be your terms. Let me draft a contract to send to you." Izuku reminded him that he would check, "I'll be sure to check if its accurate. I've been screwed over by too many people because of my quirklessness before. I refuse to let that happen again." After they left, Aizawa glanced at Toshinori. He glanced back, ill at ease. It was then that they heard a small thump, and a normally cheery sadist mumbling dejectedly, "I never thought I'd be outwitted by a human. Curse my curiosity..."