I own nothing. May contain Out of Character moments.
The next day came and Mineta was neck deep in hot water.
Naturally the volatile events of yesterday were reported by Iida. And while Mineta just wanted to forget that ever happened, it was the right thing to do. He attacked Bakugou almost unprovoked, that sort of thing shouldn't go unpunished. It was also unbecoming of a Hero in Training and the partner of the future Number One Hero.
However, what Mineta wasn't expecting, was the fact that his nemesis was also in the same position. Class 1A agreed that, while the shorter boy started it, Bakugou didn't help matters at all. From trying to incite more anger, to attacking Mineta with one last 'screw you', Bakugou was equally as guilty. So he had to be punished too, much to the explosive blonde's frustration.
So when Aizawa came in, he made Mineta and Bakugou go to room D1 near Principal Nezu's office. It was one of several rooms solely reserved for students in need of discipline. And without any right to complain, the two troublemakers went there without issue. They are to stay there for the entire day, missing out on whatever today's lessons and announcements were.
"Hopefully it's not anything too important…" Mineta thought as he opened the door to D1. It looked like their 1A classroom, just a lot smaller, only holding about six student desks and a teacher's desk. And sitting there was a formally dressed small animal. It was Principal Nezu, patiently waiting for 'the guests of honor'.
"Ah, you two must be Bakugou-kun and Mineta-kun. I'm your friendly mammalian Principal of UA, Nezu. While I normally leave my teachers to handle disciplinary action themselves… I thought I'd give Aizawa-kun some much needed rest and handle you two myself." Nezu said, an ominous glint appearing in his eye.
Mineta felt a shiver in his spine as he gestured for the two to sit. Mineta stiffly walked forward, Bakugou following as he harshly shut the door behind them. The two sat at the front row, but kept a single desk between them. No matter what, Mineta wasn't going to turn in Bakugou's direction. And judging from the hostility from his left, he could tell the explosive blonde was doing the same.
"Hmmm… I take it that you two dislike each other?" Nezu asked with a hum.
"That's a fucking understatement." Bakugou said.
"Dislike doesn't even begin to describe things Principal." Mineta corrected.
"Oh dear, this is worse than I thought… Well, let me first start by asking why you two have such a vindictive relationship? If I recall, you two went to the same Middle School with Midoriya Izuku-kun. Did your troubles start there?" Nezu asked as he began pulling out a tea set, a sure sign that this was going to take a while.
"Like you wouldn't believe…" Mineta and Bakugou answered simultaneously.
"So there are things you two can agree on. Would either of you like to talk about it?" Nezu asked with a satisfied nod. Mineta pressed his lips together, not letting a single sound out. For one, he would need to divulge information involving Midoriya's Quirklessness. And while the shorter boy was certain the Principal knew about the egg, Mineta still wasn't risking it.
And two… He wasn't about to die in a fiery explosion for exposing a certain someone's problems.
"I've got nothing to say about him except that he's been a real pain in my ass since day one." Bakugou said, folding his arms. Nezu looked over to Mineta, his beady black eyes trying to pressure him into saying something. Anything. But the shorter boy maintained his vow of silence. And it was a good thing he did, since Mineta could feel Bakugou's killing intent.
"You two know this sort of problem can't be resolved with silence, right?" Nezu asked, leaning back into his chair. The two boys only responded with more silence, completely dead set on maintaining it. The Principal sighed sadly as he put one paw over his face.
"If that's your answer… Then take this time to reflect on your actions yesterday. I want you to think about what you could've said and done differently. You both have a lot of potential; don't go wasting it on petty squabbles." Nezu said as he began preparing tea. Bakugou simply grumbled while Mineta nodded before the two continued their silence.
The shorter boy closed his eyes and began to meditate like his Shifu taught him. He began to explore yesterday's outburst in closer detail. What was it that caused him to lash out like that? Was it Bakugou's 'me first' attitude? Can't be, he's been like that for three years.
Could it be Bakugou's habit of hiding his true feelings about something? No, that didn't sound right either. He was brutally honest with just about everything and everyone.
Could something have changed within Mineta himself? That could be possible… With his newest training, he could've been emboldened to poke the bear. Actually, this could've occurred even before he met Shifu. I mean, Mineta had argued with Bakugou several times since the Sports Festival.
Hmmm…
"It's no good, I can't think of anything. It's just like with my perverted side…" Mineta thought sadly as he stretched. He glanced at the analog clock on the wall; its loud ticking filled the air. Only ten minutes have passed. The shorter boy looked over to Principal Nezu, who was sorting through various documents. And though the mysterious mammal was intently reading, Mineta could still feel his watchful gaze on him and Bakugou.
This was going to be Hell.
…
…
…
Mineta stirred from his meditative serenity when the lunch bell sounded. He stretched out his limbs again while thinking back to that lengthened period of boredom. And like his other meditation sessions, he yielded no major results to old and new personal questions. The shorter boy only revealed surface level details, the things he already knew.
"How does Shifu do it? How does one dig deep?" Mineta thought as he and Bakugou both got out of their seats. Principal Nezu looked up and gestured for the two boys to sit back down. The shorter boy froze and immediately did so. Bakugou on the other hand…
"You can't expect us to go hungry." He said.
"Oh don't worry; I've already arranged something for you two. Just spend this time continuing to mull over your transgressions." Nezu said. Mineta could hear Bakugou's eye twitch as he stomped over to Nezu's desk. He then slammed his hands on the Principal's desk, looming over the small mammal. But despite that threatening action, Nezu remained calm with paws nestled together.
"Listen here SIR, I've spent four hours in mind altering silence. You can't expect me to keep this up!"
"You could always talk to your classmate. I'm sure he'd appreciate a break in the monotony too." Nezu replied cheerfully, gesturing to Mineta. Bakugou slowly turned around, his red eyes making contact with Mineta since coming into this room. And as it happened, their gazes met for the briefest of moments. The shorter boy frowned as the explosive blonde hastily turned away with a growl. Bakugou then stomped back to his seat and sat down.
But before they were subjected to more tortuous quiet, there was a knock on the door.
"Please come in." Nezu said, putting down some papers. Upon it opening, Mineta's eyes widened at the people that stood at the entrance. The first was a blonde haired man completely dressed in denim clothes. His shirt even had a massive denim collar. And next to him was someone Mineta wasn't expecting to see since leaving her care just two days ago.
"Hmm? Best Jeanist, Fenghuang, what brings you to UA?" Nezu asked, raising his brows.
"I heard about Bakugou's incident from Eraserhead. As such, I'm here to correct my student and his misdeeds Principal Nezu. So please allow me to spend the rest of today with the boy." Best Jeanist replied, bowing slightly to the Principal. The small mammal looked over to the Radiant Wing, seeing her nod as well.
"I'd like to teach my young pupil as well, esteemed Principal. It seems there are still some lessons I need to impart onto him." She answered, bowing as well. Mineta looked between his Shifu and the Principal, not sure what to make of anything. But as the shorter boy saw the complex gears in Nezu's mind turn, a wise yet devious smile formed on his face.
"Permission granted. And feel free to partake in our liberal teaching policies. Now, is there a specific spot you would like to use?" Nezu replied cheerfully.
"Here is just fine." Best Jeanist answered.
"The roof if possible." Fenghuang replied. Nezu reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a key ring. He flipped through a few of them before removing the red one. And upon handing it off, Fenghuang gestured for Mineta to follow her. With nothing better to do and the inability to decline, the shorter boy got out of his seat.
"Why does he get to leave?" Bakugou asked with a growl.
"We don't want to conflict with the other's teachings. That is unless you would like my assistance Mr. Jeanist." Fenghuang replied before looking to her fellow hero.
"I'll be fine. After all, I have this." Best Jeanist said as he dramatically brandished a comb. Bakugou noticeably paled as a cold sweat began to appear on his skin. This degree of shock even spooked Mineta. What did this strange man of denim done to him?
"Let's go Young Mineta, we have much to do." Fenghuang said, her feather cloak swaying as she turned to the door. This snapped the shorter boy out of his stupor and he immediately followed. He even had the common sense to not look at Bakugou, who was definitely murdering Mineta with his glare. And that haunting feeling didn't leave even though the door has closed behind him.
This just left Fenghuang and Mineta.
She began walking, forcing Mineta to follow. Nothing was said as they reached the stairwell… But instead of going up to the roof, they were going down.
"Shifu? I thought–"
"There are still a few components we need my young pupil. I know you're eager to repent for your mistakes. But there is no use in learning an incomplete lesson." Fenghuang interrupted. Mineta swallowed his remaining words. If he was about to be imparted with Kung Fu wisdom, it's best to wait and see. Stupid questions give you stupid answers after all.
So with that, both Master and Student went down towards Lunch Rush's cafeteria. Mineta began wondering just why he was being led here of all places. Perhaps she just wanted lunch? Seeing that it was noon and Fenghuang had to rush over to Musutafu from Inuito. It was also possible that there was some hidden meaning in coming here.
"Mineta-kun?"
Mineta froze before snapping around, causing his Shifu to do the same but slower. And standing there, in one huge group, was Midoriya and the rest of Class 1A. Even the ones who normally brought lunch to school were here. So he really had to ask the question, even if the same one could apply to himself.
"What are you guys doing here?" Mineta asked, eyes bouncing between his classmates.
"Dude we could ask you the same thing. I thought you were stuck in discipline Hell?" Kaminari replied. The electric blonde then noticed Fenghuang and his already surprised eyebrows went up a bit more.
"Who's the pretty lady?" He asked before being elbowed by Jirou. Yaoyorozu and Ojiro blinked before realization dawned on them. The former quickly approached the Heroine as the latter stared in silent awe.
"You're the Radiant Wing Fenghuang! Master of the Heaven and Earth Temple in Inuito city. Your Flowing Taiji style is legendary amongst Heroes who use martial arts. I-I've studied your introduction to staff fighting so many times before UA." She said excitedly, momentarily stumbling over her words. To see the normally regal and composed Yaoyorozu acting like Midoriya was pretty shocking.
But it wasn't bad to say, just made the girl all the more endearing.
"Then I hope my lessons will continue to serve you well. And to answer your classmate's previous question, I am here to discipline Young Mineta for yesterday's transgression. You see, your teacher had informed me of what had transpired. And seeing how I was his mentor until two days ago, it felt appropriate to visit him and impart one more lesson." Fenghuang answered. She then looked at each one of the 1A students. And as she observed them, Mineta noted how she had finished piecing together an idea.
One he just figured out.
"We need them for our lesson don't we?" Mineta asked. He didn't know why his Shifu needed them. But whatever the case, he knew it could only benefit them all.
"If it's not too much trouble, may I ask you all to join us on the roof? Think of it as a supplementary lesson to your current curriculum." Fenghuang asked, bowing slightly to Class 1A. While Yaoyorozu and Ojiro looked ready to jump at the opportunity, the others were still one the fence.
"Hmm… But lunch though…" Uraraka grumbled, tilting her head back and forth. With her free hand, Fenghuang began to fiddle with something within her feathered cloak. It was only a few seconds before she unveiled what it was she was doing. The heroine showed the class two large bags, one box shaped and one cylindrical. Mineta immediately began smelling the air. And despite the overpowering scents from the cafeteria, he managed to pick it up.
The familiar smell of high nutrition pork buns.
"You didn't think I would visit without bringing gifts did you?" Fenghuang chuckled as she looked to her student. Uraraka, who caught a whiff of the food, began salivating and immediately changed her tune. Though that could just be Uraraka's social class speaking for her. Mina though, began to vocalize just why they were together in the first place.
"But I thought we were going to eat together, build up some camaraderie after yesterday's Hero training?" She asked with a pout.
"You know, we could still do that. It'll just be on the roof and not here." Todoroki said bluntly. Mina raised a single finger, words ready to leave her open mouth. But nothing came out as the pink girl slowly lowered her finger.
"… Yeah, that'll work. Lead the way Kung Fu Lady."
Fenghuang gave the group a gentle smile before leading the whole class forward. It was a strange sight, but Mineta supposed stranger things have happened in UA. Midoriya walked next to the shorter boy and leaned in as best as he could to whisper to him.
"What's her plan with us exactly?"
"My guess is as good as yours. But based on how Bakugou reacted with Best Jeanist, we're probably going to be thrown face first into cryptic wisdom. With me taking the brunt of it…" Mineta answered, sweat rolling down the side of his head.
"Best Jeanist's with Kacchan? Oh man... Whatever it is though, I hope you're ready." Midoriya answered. The shorter boy looked at the gentle yet resolute back of Fenghuang. With the way she moved, there was definitely a great degree of conviction and intent within her. Whatever this lesson was, it would no doubt be important to all of them.
Such was the way of the Radiant Wing…
And that has been Chapter 53! The wise master returns with another lesson to teach! But why does she require Class 1A for it? You'll find out... Next chapter.
But in all seriousness, the reason I have Fenghuang return so soon is simply because it made sense. Imagine you are a Teacher who finished instructing a student for a week, both of you leaving on great terms. Suddenly, just a few days later, you hear that this student has gotten into trouble. Wouldn't you contact them to make sure everything's okay? And so, here we are. But what do you think my dear readers? Was this necessary? Write your thoughts and send them over.
Remember, ever little bit helps on this journey to better writing.
In other news, I'm currently experiencing a lull in available work. But in return, I've started to hit my writing stride again. So, until I find more work, I'll be dedicating my time to The Saint and The Sinner. And who knows, I might be able to make my updates once a week because of this. So look forward to that as I try to find the balance between 'functional adult' and 'head-in-imagination' idealist'.
That is all the news I have for this update. Next time, you'll be finding out just what Fenghuang Shifu has in stores for our Hero class. So...
Until Next Time. T1.
