Byleth sits at her desk, deep in thought. She's feeling quite… conflicted. The UA Sports Festival is coming up, and her thoughts on the whole event are incredibly mixed. While using it as a show of skill and to get students into internships is great, the other aspects have her worried. It's an event that's broadcast worldwide, giving free information out to any who see it. Including enemies. Not only that, but they'd just been attacked. Even with the increase in security, it feels like a risk too far. On the other hand, they have a duty to reassure the public, to let them know that the attack has left them unaffected and stalwart.

With a sigh, Byleth takes a sip of her coffee. She had never liked these kinds of decisions, especially as Archbishop, when all of Fodlan could be affected by her choices. Thankfully, the decision has already been made without her input. Nezu had decided to go ahead with the event, calling in local Heroes to increase security. Their aim is to ease the minds of the public, to show them UA is undaunted by this attack and can still move forward.

Seteth enters the teacher's lounge and approaches, "Byleth. Nezu has asked to see you."

With a nod, Byleth drains what's left of her coffee and goes the pay the Rat God of UA a visit.

As Byleth goes to knock on his door, it opens just before her hand reaches it. With an internal sigh at Nezu's bit of fun, Byleth enters and takes a seat across from the rat, a cup of hot tea already in front of her.

Taking a sip from the beverage, a wonderful Earl Grey, Byleth questions Nezu, "As much as I enjoy tea and company, I have a feeling this isn't why you called me here. Is there something you require of me?"

Nezu chuckles, a gleam in his eye, "Why yes, actually. You see, we're currently down a member of our usual Sports Festival staff, and I need someone to fill the position."

Byleth gives a small nod, this shouldn't be too bad, "What will I be doing?"

"Midnight has a… prior engagement on the day of the festival that she can't pass up on, so I'll be having you act as our umpire for the first year stage!"

Byleth nearly chokes on her tea. She'd been wrong. Terribly, horribly wrong. Nezu is going to make her the center of attention, and she has no grounds to refuse… Fuck.

She'd rather fight Nemesis again than do this, but unfortunately the man is currently indisposed on account of having died several thousand years ago.

Taking a moment to collect herself, Byleth takes a moment to study Nezu. Seeing the glint in his eyes, she knows he's enjoying how easily he threw her off balance.

With a sigh, she asks, "What makes you believe I'm the best for such a position? I'm not exactly known for putting on a show."

Nezu nods, "Perhaps not, but you're partially responsible for the training the Hero Courses have undergone, and are more than capable of putting a stop to any 'funny business', so to speak."

Byleth sighs again, knowing there will be no escaping this, "Very well then. However, I would like to request something in return."

Nezu raises an eyebrow, "Oh? And what would that be?"

"I'd like to change my Hero Name."

Nezu motions for her to continue.

She shifts nervously in her seat, "Well, I don't exactly enjoy the moniker, or the assumptions that come with it. I'm not exactly well known, and among the people who do know of me, none of them use it."

Nezu nods, producing a bit of paperwork, "Very well then! What would you like it changed to?"

Byleth brushes past how quickly he agreed and goes on, "Just my name, Byleth. It's what I'm most accustom to being known as and it isn't exactly a secret."

Nezu nods and fills in a few portions of the form before turning it to her and handing her the pen, "Just sign here at the bottom, your new license will be issued within a few days."

Byleth nods and signs. With that taken care of and no other business afoot, she finishes her tea before thanking Nezu and bidding him farewell. Arriving back in the faculty office, Byleth slumps into her chair with a groan. She's not looking forward to this.

Aizawa and Seteth approach, with the latter speaking, "Is something the matter Byleth?"

She sighs, sitting up, "Nezu is making me take over for Midnight as the First Year Umpire."

Seteth raises an eyebrow, "Really now? That's an… unusual decision."

Byleth rolls her eyes, "You got that right. I don't know what she's doing, but if it isn't as important as Nezu made it out to be I'm half tempted to wring her neck. Metaphorically, of course."

Aizawa snorts, knowing full well what Midnight would be doing. She'd be watching the festival in her Civilian clothes. Nezu had mentioned the plan to him even before the USJ incident, citing how he wanted to get Byleth's name out there to the public and possibly get her to go on a few missions as well. The Hero work she'd done since obtaining her license was rather sparse, and Nezu wanted his staff to have more credibility in the eyes of the public. Less questions that way.

He'd had an odd gleam in his eye during the conversation, the one that told Aizawa that the Rat had another motive. The Underground Hero knew better than to ask, but he was able to catch a glance of a research tab on the Rat's computer, and a particular word stood out to him.

Fódlan.

A/N: Finally. Done. This chapter did not want to happen, but I needed to get it written to establish why certain events would take place or why some details changed. Here you go, I hope it's enough until the next one… Whenever that happens… Cya.