Green Tea Rescue

by ss3dj

When Midoriya Izuku was 4 his quirk finally manifested. The doctor named it psychokinesis, but his friend Bakugou Katsuki called it worthless. For the next 10 years, Izuku would grow up bullied and isolated. Then, when a new student named Uraraka Ochako transfers into his class the last year of jr high, everything changes. Rated M for eventual themes.

27. What's in a Name

With breakfast done and the kitchen cleaned up, Izuku, Ochako, and Eri claimed the couch for themselves as they turned on the tv and waited for the second year's Sport Festival to begin. Eri bounced happily in Izuku's lap, though Ochako was't sure if it was her own excitement or the fact that every time another new hero agency commercial came on Izuku practically vibrated excitedly

While cute, Ochako still wasn't sure why they were watching the tv now. After all, the actual Sports Festival was still a couple hours away.

"Because," Izuku answered as he hugged a giggling Eri, "the commercials are one of the best parts of watching the Sports Festival at home. All the heroes pay top dollar for today so they can advertise themselves and their agencies."

"But it's still almost two hours before the thing kicks off and I haven't seen a single hero I recognize in any of these commercials."

"Well duh." Izuku said simply.

Ochako frowned, "Eri, where'd you put that paper towel tube?"

Izuku realizing the grave danger he was suddenly in quickly continued, "I MEAN, the prime time is of course during the actual festival, but none of the newer heroes can afford those spots yet, so they buy up all the time before the Sports Festival. That's why it's so exciting to start watching so early, this is the best time to see all the new heroes."

With Ochako contemplating the pitfalls of having a hero fanboy as her best friend, Izuku turned his attention back to the tv, expecting to see the booth of sports commentators about to start talking about the students that would be competing. However instead of that, a breaking news bulletin flashed across the screen with the caption 'Latest on the Hero Killer: Stain's latest victim officially identified.' Not wanting Eri to hear about something like this, Izuku reached for the remote to change the channel. Ignoring the reporter talking as best he could. He had the remote in hand when he heard a name that made him freeze.

"-can confirm now that yesterday's victim was the hero Ingenium. According to reports, Ingenium was on patrol with his sidekicks when he was ambushed by Stain-"

Izuku dropped the remote from his hand as he turned to look at the tv, a picture of Ingenium plastered on the side of the screen, while behind a video of police taping off a dark alley while investigators combed the area.

"Oh my god."

It took Izuku a second to figure out he wasn't the one that spoke, but Ochako besides him. Ochako had a hand over her mouth in shock, the color draining from her face, "Is this why Iida had to leave yesterday?"

"Toga said he left because of a family issue."

Reaching for his phone, Izuku pulled it out just as it started beeping along with Ochako's. Message notifications were going off as everyone started flooding their chat room, with Izuku and Ochako quickly joining the rest of their friends, trying to see what was going on.

Was his brother okay?

What happened?

Did he need anything?

Was it really Stain?

How did this happen?

The news said he was a victim of an attack.

Everyones messages piled up before a notification popped up showing that Tenya was typing, and everyone else's messages came to a stop. Ochako held her breath while Izuku held Eri close. The little girl wasn't sure what was going on, but could tell how worried the two were.

: Thank you everyone for your concern. I was going to wait and discuss this with you all in person when we returned to class. However, it appears the recent news coverage has done that for me. It is true, my brother was attacked yesterday by Stain. He was hurt and is in critical condition, however the doctors have stabilized him. He was lucky he had his sidekicks in the area as they were able to find him very quickly. He will need a lot of time, but my brother is strong and will recover. I will let you all know more once I see you all in person. Until then I will not be available in the chat, as I do not wish to disturb the doctors as they work. Before I go, as your class representative, I encourage you all to be sure to watch the upcoming festival matches as these are our seniors that are competing and you should take the opportunity to learn from their example.

With that Tenya signed out and his notification status went red, showing he wouldn't be receiving anything from the chat. Izuku leaned back and let out a long sigh. While he was worried about just what kind of serious injuries Tenya's brother had, he knew Tensei was lucky to have survived. Stain wasn't called the Hero Killer for nothing.

---

Himiko had been wrapped up, snug in her bed when her phone had started going crazy. She had cursed herself for not putting it on silent and almost decided to just ignore it but when the beeping kept happening she finally relented and grabbed it. Ready to tear into her friends for being so talkative after such a busy day. Her curse laden text died before she could even type out the first word. Her eyes had been immediately drawn to a single name that flashed on the screen.

Stain.

Wide awake she read through everything before jumping into the questioning frenzy. Soon after, Tenya's message to them confirmed what she had feared when he had told her he had to leave. Stain had gotten to his brother. He was alive, a miracle in and of itself as Stain didn't normally leave survivors, but was in really bad shape. She read and reread the text, looking for clues.

He was lucky he had his sidekicks in the area.

Himiko frowned at that, in the area?

Grabbing her remote, Himiko quickly found a news station that was talking about the attack. Most of the coverage was nothing that she found relevant. It didn't scratch the nagging itch in the back of her head. That was until one of the reporters talked about what Tensei was doing in the area.

"While Team Idaten has yet to release an official statement of their activities the day before. Insider information points to the fact this was a manhunt mission gone wrong. Ingenium was leading his team in search of Stain who had been in the area for the past few weeks."

Himiko clicked off the tv before she was out the door, "Mother fucker!"

Rushing down the halls of U.A. without bothering to change out of her sleepwear and not caring for some of the startled looks the few remaining teachers gave her as she ran, Himiko made a beeline for the one person she knew would have answers to her question. Without a care for manners or decency, Himko slammed open Nezu's door and barged in, "Nezu what the fuck are you hero fucks doing!?"

Nezu turned towards Himiko as she marched in, holding two fresh cups of tea and looking not at all surprised to see her, "Ah, Toga. You're just in time for some morning tea. Please, come join me."

Himiko eyed a conveniently placed chair across from Nezu at his desk, a platter with small biscuits and more than a few of her blood pouches. Once again Nezu had somehow predicted Himiko's movements before she had even thought of them. If she wasn't so pissed off she would have been creeped out.

Nezu motioned towards the empty seat, "I assume then you are aware of the unfortunate news?"

With a deep frown, Himiko sat and glared, "It's been months. Mr. Stain's good, but now you heroes are looking incompetent. He was picking you guys off before you learned what his Quirk is and now that I told your commission, he's still picking you guys off. I know a lot of you guys are brain dead but...Tenya's brother seemed like he had a good head at least and yet after I got an update from him and what the news said, it sounds like he went off on his own. Which is the dumbest fucking thing you can do against someone that paralyzes you."

Nezu nodded, "Unfortunately your worry for your friend and anger at the situation, while not wrong, is missing a key piece of information."

"Huh?"

"You're assuming that the heroes that have become victims of the Hero Killers knew what his Quirk is."

Himiko sat in her seat as she tried to wrap her head around what Nezu had just said. I'm assuming that the heroes knew? Of course they would know. How could they not?

"What are you talking about?"

Nezu sipped his tea, "Unfortunately the Commission has been very...stingy with who they have let know about Stains Quirk."

"Define stingy."

"To my knowledge, besides the police investigators you talked to while making your deal, some of the upper Commission officers who got the reports, myself and Midnight who you've told as part of your therapy, only a select few of the top ten heroes have been given the information. And all of us are under court order to keep that information classified."

Himiko slammed her fists into the table, almost sending the tea cups clattering off, "What in the fuck!? Why!? They were practically salivating when they learned I had that info."

"Appearances, it would seem. Though they are masking it under the guise of safety. Officially, they don't want start ups or low experience heroes getting ahold of this info and going after Stain and getting killed. They want seasoned veterans."

"And yet Stain is still making a name for himself killing off heroes left and right. A good handful of those were heroes looking for him too. Like Tenya's brother."

"Unsanctioned operations, is the term they like to use. Anything goes wrong, it's not on the Commission's head."

Himiko scowled, "Which is part of the real reason they're keeping the info to themselves. If a hero they sent got killed, it'd look bad for them."

"Correct. They want to send in a top ten, and make a show of Stains capture. Unfortunately getting something like that organized has taken some time."

Himiko could feel herself ready to burst, "This. This shit right here is why there are people that don't trust heroes. All they are doing is proving Mr. Stain right. This society is filled with fakes."

Nezu watched Himiko closely. For all her time at U.A. Himiko had been coy with her reason for following Stain. At most, Midnight had come up with it being some twisted form of hero worship, adoration and love. Of the person yes, but his ideology was another question. Himiko was't just another Stain follower or disciple that had been known to pop up now and again. Either in the field or in chat rooms. Her reasons were different, though no one had been able to figure out what exactly they were. Off the top of his head, this might have only been the third or fourth time Himiko had even mentioned Stain's philosophy of fake heroes. She might believe it, but she wasn't following Stain because of it.

"While that subject is a matter we should discuss in more detail," Himiko groaned but Nezu continued, "I believe that now, the Commission's original timeline is a moot point. Ingenium was a very well liked hero both inside the hero community and the populace. His attack has spurred the interest of several veteran heroes and has given the Commission the perfect opportunity to get their headline."

"So they're only acting because their hand has been forced or because finally some big name heroes have decided to throw their hat into the ring."

"Correct."

"..." The disgust on Himiko's face was obvious. Downing her cup and snatching a few of the blood pouches lying on the table, Himiko got up and left. Nezu tilted his head to the side as he watched her go.

"I wasn't aware you had taken such a keen interest in Hero affairs."

Himiko paused, but not for long. Without looking back she replied curtly, "I haven't. I don't give a fuck about any of those flashy peices of shit."

Nezu hummed and sipped his tea, "Except when it affects a friend it would seem."

Nezu's office door slamming shut was his answer. With Himiko gone, Nezu leaned back in his chair. He could not blame Himiko for her anger, or her disgust at the actions, or more exactly inactions taken by the Commission. The Commission had made it a point, that for the good of the heroic community and the society as a whole, that it was willing to make sacrifices. As long as their world was still standing, it was all worth it. But as Nezu looked down at his reflection in his cup he couldn't help but wonder, how long could a pillar hold up such a weight when the ground was getting soaked with the blood from the pile of necessary sacrifices.

And, if such a time came, what would he do if there ever was a time when it was one of his own students that was at risk of being added to that pile?

---

Eri giggled as she wrapped herself up in a blanket and sank into the cushions of the couch and turned on the tv. Flipping through the channels until she found her cartoons. A knock on the door, grabbed her attention but she went back to watching her tv, "Mrs. Midoriya, someone's at the door."

The knocking continued, and Eri looked over the back of the couch waiting for someone to answer the door. But neither Inko or Izuku did. Scratching her head, Eri got off the couch and headed for the front door. It was strange that neither Izuku or Inko had come to the door, but Eri could be responsible.

The knocking was getting louder now so Eri hurried for the door, "Coming!"

When she reached it though, the knocking stopped and silence filled the Midoriya home. Tilting her head to the side, Eri was about to peak through the mail slot, to see if anyone was still there, when cracks started to spread out from the door knob. The cracks spread out, reaching the floor, walls and ceiling. Eri gasped and fell back, scurrying back.

"ERI! I KNOW YOU'RE THERE!"

The door exploded into splinters and Eri screamed as she ran. The ground underneath her falling away as she scrambled to get away. Reaching her room she slammed the door shut and crawled under her bed, shivering. She could hear footsteps just on the other side of the door, before it too exploded into splinters. Keeping her hands over her mouth, Eri tried not to make a sound, but her whimpers were so loud.

"Did you think I wouldn't find you? I'll always find you Eri."

A white gloved hand reached under the bed, grabbing her leg and pulled her out, even as she clawed at the ground to get away.

"There's nowhere you can hide from me!"

With that hand holding her, Eri watched as she slowly started to fall to pieces.

---

The sudden scream jolted Izuku awake. In a matter of moments, Izuku went from not knowing what was going on, to realizing that Eri was screaming. Eyes wide, Izuku flailed about, untangling himself from his covers before leaping out of his bunk bed and landing on the ground below. Scrambling, Izuku dove through the dark room and found Eri thrashing about, screaming loudly in terror.

"Eri! Eri wake up!"

Izuku shook her, trying desperately to rip her away from whatever horrible nightmare she was having.

"Eri please! It's alright!"

Eri went rigid and her eyes snapped open, darting all around the room. Her breathing was in strangled gasps as she tried to get her bearings. Finally Eri's red eyes found Izuku's green, and her breath hitched as she fell silent. Then the tears came and buried herself into Izuku's chest, crying and wailing. Izuku held her close, doing everything he could to soothe her. Outside the room, the hallway lights snapped on a few seconds before Inko tumbled into the room, "Izuku!? Eri!?"

It took several long minutes before Eri was able to stop her crying, though she still kept herself latched to Izuku, while he held her close, running a hand over her head to help calm her, "it's okay Eri. It was just a bad dream. That's all. It was just a dream. You're safe. Dreams can't hurt you."

Inko reached over and used a tissue to help wipe away the tear on her face, "There, there dear. You have nothing to worry about."

"The bad man. He came to take me away. He...he's going to find me again. Take me apart. I don't want to come apart!"

Izuku and Inko shared concerned looks before Inko bent down and kissed Eri on the forehead, "No one is taking you away. You're safe here."

Eri sniffled, whimpering.

"Hey mom, maybe Eri would like something to drink. Maybe some apple juice?"

Inko smiled softly, "Would you like that Eri?"

Eri nodded slightly, and Inko gave her another soothing pat on the head before getting up and headed for the kitchen.

"I-Izuku, you won't let the bad man take me away will you?"

Holding Eri close, Izuku shook his head, "No one is taking you away. I'm not letting any pointy mouth villains anywhere near you."

The two sat in silence. Izuku could hear Inko opening and closing the fridge, as she got Eri her drink.

"White hands."

Izuku blinked before looking down at Eri, "What was that?"

Eri looked up at Izuku, a strained look in her eyes before her face scrunched up, "his hands...he has white hands."

Izuku's held his breath. Not since he had gone to visit Eri at the hospital had she ever spoken about what this bad man looked like. And then the only things they had learned was that the man had a pointy mouth, maybe a beak of some kind, and that he could take it off to wear a medical mask.

If Eri's remembering him…

A frown crossed izuku's face. He didn't want to ask her about her nightmare, but if she was remembering things about this monster, he had to ask. If he could learn anything that could help the police in their investigation, he had to ask.

"Eri, do you remember anything else? Anything else about the bad man?"

In the hallway, Inko stopped at the door, glass of juice in hand, but she kept back. Glancing back and forth between the two.

"You said he had white hands. Anything else?"

Eri started shuddering, and Izuku started to feel horrible. Maybe he had asked to soon. Maybe he should have waited until the morning…

"He...breaks things with his hands."

Izuku frowned, "He breaks things? How?"

"He...he…" Eri face was scrunched up, and her shaking started to get worse.

"It's okay Eri, you don't have to think about him anymore. It's okay. Look, Mom is back with your juice."

Eri's shuddering stopped and she turned to look at Inko who smiled down at her, handing her the cup in her hand, which Eri toop and took a few sips. Looking down at the cup, Eri took a long shuddering breath before pointing towards her pillow, "Under. I hid them. I'm sorry."

Izuku and Inko glanced at each other before Inko walked over the head of Eri's bed and pulled the pillow off. There, stuck between the headboard and the mattress was a sketch pad. Izuku recognized it as one of the ones they had picked up for Eri so she could draw. Opening the sketchbook, Inko hissed under her breath. Unlike Eri's other drawings, which were bright and cheerful, the book was filled with dark scribbles of a man. Dark brown for the head, a long sharp triangle sketched onto the head and around that was scribbles and scribbles of purple.

"Eri, is this the bad man?"

Eri nodded, "If I put him in the book, he doesn't come for me when I sleep...sometimes."

Izuku frowned as he watched Inko flip through several pages, each one with a dark scribble of the bad man, "Eri. have you been having that many bad dreams?"

This had been the first time Eri had had a nightmare as far as he knew. Maybe this is just the first bad dream that turned into a nightmare.

Eri leaned against Izuku as she took another sip, "I'm sorry. I didn't want you to worried. I just wanted to put the bad man away."

Quickly, both Izuku and Inko reassured her that she wasn't in trouble, and that she was safe. Then with her cup now empty, Eri left out a long yawn. Gently, Izuku wrapped Eri up in her covers and sat by her as she started to drift back asleep. Just as she was about to finally fall back into a hopefully peaceful sleep, Izuku was just able to hear what she said next.

"He breaks...what...he...touches."

---

As quietly as he could, Izuku closed the door to his room and joined his mother in the kitchen. Sitting at the table, both let out long sigh and slumped into their chairs. Both then looked down at the sketch pad with deep frowns.

"In the morning, I'll give Detective Tsukauchi a call. Let him know about the drawings and what else Eri told you."

Izuku nodded, "White hands, and he can break what he touches...maybe it's a Quirk."

Breaks what he touches…

Izuku shudder, that sounded far too similar to the Decay Quirk of Tomura Shigaraki. But at least that maniac didn't have a pointy mouth, so it couldn't be the same person. Unless you count that hand he wears on his face. That's kinda pointy…

"I'll send Uraraka a text so she knows what's going on. And All Might too."

Inko sighed, "that's a good idea."

"At least I still have tomorrow off. I don't think I'd be able to just go off to school after...this. I also wish I had known that she was still having bad dreams."

"Don't blame yourself for that. We just have to be ready to help her however we can."

"Yeah…" Izuku glanced back at the sketchbook and the monster drawn inside. A monster that hopefully the police will find and lock away for the rest of time. But at the same time, a small angry part of Izuku hoped that he would be the one to finally find this bad man.

---

Izuku frowned as he scrolled through his phone. The rain outside the train droning on as he checked every hero forum and news site he could, finding only breaking stories about Stain. Since Ingenium's attack, there had been several more victims. All with the same M.O. and unfortunately not all of them were as lucky as Tenya's brother. It made for very grim reading on the train ride to school.

I'd hoped that there might be some news on his recovery, but it's all about Stain's new victims…

Looking over his phone, Izuku caught Ochako's eye and shook his head. Telling her he hadn't found anything worth sharing. Ochako frowned and turned to look out the train window. Izuku could tell she was anxious, so was he. After Tenya's last message, he had gone completely radio silent. Both were desperate for any update on his brother's health, but without word from Tenya they had hoped that the news would give them something. However neither of them had had any luck. With a sigh, Izuku slipped his phone back into his pocket and tried to ready himself for when he would see Tenya in class.

Should I try and be optimistic? Or would that seem disrespectful? I could try and let him know how concerned I was, but his message seemed like he didn't want that… Maybe I could-

"Hey! I know you! You're that first year that won the Sports Festival!"

"Oh hey it is him!"

"Midoriya, his name is Midoriya!"

Izuku's head snapped up in alarm as he was suddenly very crowded, "Um. Hello!"

"Oh wow it really is him!"

Izuku gulped as more people from the train crowded around him. Desperately, his eyes looked for Ochako but when he found her, peeking between the people he saw he wasn't going to be getting any help from her. Since she was too busy laughing up a storm. Izuku's mind spun as he tried to keep up with the sudden attention, thanking everyone for watching the Sports Festival, and making sure to mention his classmates and their hard work. When paper and pens were passed his way for autographs, his mind just about broke. A few girls wearing school uniforms he didn't recognize pushed up through the crowd to take some selfies with him though...

"Just a few pictures please!"

Izuku nodded, feeling a little flushed as the two girls pressed up against him on either side.

"Oh wow, you're so much cuter than you looked on tv!"

The flush on Izuku's cheeks darkened and his mouth went dry, though he still made sure to smile at the camera's. Even managing to copy the girls peace signs.

"You were so hot with your clothes all torn up. Hey think we can take another selfie but with your shirt unbuttoned? I'd love to see those pecs again."

That question turned Izuku into a stuttering red mess, which the girls found very appealing, "oh look, he's so flustered. That's so adorable!"

"Excuse me! Ex-excuse me, you're getting a little too close to my friend."

Ochako started to push through the crowd but didn't get very far.

"Hey look! She's the badass girl from the tournament!"

Ochako nearly tripped, "Eh!?"

"Oh wow, we got two of them here!"

Quickly Ochako was also swamped as people tried to get pictures with her and her autograph. Soon after both were surrounded and posing for quick pictures together with everyone on the train. Over the noise of the crowd, Izuku was able to hear the intercom signal that their stop was coming up. Unfortunately it didn't seem like Ochako noticed and the crowd of people were too preoccupied to care.

We'll be late if we miss our stop…

With the train coming to a stop, Izuku acted. Quickly he grabbed ahold of Ochako's hand and gently but firmly pushed his way through the crowd while pulling Ochako behind him. Opening his umbrella as he stepped outside and making sure Ochako was under with him, He quickly turned and bowed to the people still in the train, offering his thanks for their praise and well wishes. Then turning on his heel, he tugged Ochako along with him at a hurried pace, not wanting to give the people a chance to follow after them. It was only after they were off the platform and the train was on it's way that he slowed down and let the two of them catch their breaths.

Glancing down, Izuku blushed when he realized he was still holding Ochako's hand, and let go. As he did, he couldn't be sure, but it felt like Ochako was a little slow to let him pull his hand back. But it must have been his imagination. Soon Ochako had her own umbrella opened and they were on their way to the front gate of the school.

"Well, that was a thing that just happened," Izuku said with a light hearted chuckle.

Ochako nodded, "Yeah, I can't believe they recognized us like that."

"Hopefully we won't have to deal with that for much longer. I don't think my heart can take it."

"Pfft, says the guy wanting to be the next number one hero."

Izuku hissed, "Oh yeah…Well I guess it wasn't all that bad. Taking the pictures was nice. I was pretty shocked when those girls wanted to take a selfie with me, but it wasn't that bad I guess. It was kinda fun."

There was a short pause before Ochako replied with a frosty, "Oh? So you liked that huh?"

"Yeah, I just wish it hadn't just happened so suddenly though. Everyone kinda went crazy," izuku said with a laugh. Not noticing Ochako at all.

"Well," Ochako began with an eye roll, "I'm glad you had so much fun getting your picture taken. Maybe you'll find someone else to do it again."

Izuku shrugged, "Nah. If I want to have a fun time getting my picture taken, we could just go to the mall and find one of those fun photo booths. Doing that with you was way more fun than those selfies just now. Actually maybe we could do that again sometime soon. What do you say?"

When he looked back, he was a little confused as to why Ochako had a goofy grin on her face, and very red cheeks. When she saw Izuku looking at him, she quickly reverted back to normal, "Yeah! That would be fun."

---

After walking past the gate, Izuku and Ochako found Himiko waiting nearby. Along with Hitoshi, Tsuyu, and Mei all huddled together under their umbrella's. The group exchanged quiet and subdued hello's before they fell silent.

"Sooo," Mei began after the silence had stretched for longer than she was comfortable with, "What exactly are we supposed to say? Or do? I'm not really used...to all this."

When she glanced at Tsuyu the other girl shrugged, "I'm not really sure. I don't want to just wait but I can't think of what's appropriate to say either."

"It might be best to let Iida be the one to say something first, if he chooses to say anything at all," Hitoshi said.

Izuku nodded, "Yeah. He said he'd talk to us when classes started up, so we should let him decide when he's ready to talk."

While the group stood around, none of them noticed a lone student running up to them, covered in a large raincoat, "You all! You shouldn't be loitering! You'll all be late if you wait around any longer!"

Everyone was startled as Tenya rushed by as he called out to them. Stunned they watched Tenya run down the path and into the school. Himiko was the first to recover, "Okay...What the hell?"

Quickly everyone else followed after Tenya and met up with him as he placed his rain coat into his locker. When he turned around, and saw his friends worried faces, he sighed and made sure to smile for them, "I know I have let you all worry over these past couple of days. I am truly sorry for that. But please, do not worry. The doctors were able to save my brother and he is now recovering in the hospital. So please, there is no need for any of you to worry."

Himiko narrowed her eyes as she looked at Tenya, but didn't say anything. Keeping her thoughts to herself. Hitoshi sighed, along with Ochako and Tsuyu. Relieved that things weren't as bad as they feared. Izuku was also relieved but still felt uneasy. The initial reports of the attack painted a pretty grim picture and he had been sure things would be more complicated. Mei however took Tenya at his word, "That's awesome! I'm sure your big bro will be up and about in no time!"

"I.." Tenya paused for a second before he continued, "Yes, my brother still has a long road ahead of him, but for now he is safe. Now let us hurry to our home room. Hatsume, you should head to your class as well."

"Oh yeah, I should. OH! Before I forget, Midoriya," Izuku jumped when Mei turned her attention towards him. Her tone was one he had heard several times now after working with her on his new costume these past couple of weeks, "I did a little tinkering and I think I have some good news for your costume. I'll make sure to give you the details at lunch. Later!"

As Mei left, Hitoshi rubbed the back of his head nervously, "Are you sure it's a good idea to let her work on her costume?"

Izuku shrugged, "She's actually pretty brilliant when she's not making me wear stuff that could make my head explode."

"The fact you can say that with such a straight face is terrifying," Hitoshi said with a shake of his head.

---

"Code names. Today you will be coming up with your hero names."

There was a brief pause as the class took Aizawa's statement in before they exploded with glee, "We're getting to do something exciting!"

Aizawa's eyes flashed red, and the class immediately settled down, "Now as I mentioned before your break, from your showing at the Sports Festival, you will be given a list of interested heroes who want you to intern with them. Normally this level of interest is reserved to the second and third years, but it seems they have a keen interest in your potential. Though this level of interest will wane if you don't prove yourselves. They may even withdraw their offers."

"Great...more work," Himiko grumbled under her breath.

Izuku leaned over, "It makes sense. This is just part of what being a pro hero means. You have to always work to make sure you keep the public's eye on you."

"Midoriya is right," Aizawa said, "don't think you can get by with one good showing. Now here are the number of offers you each have received."

With a press of a button, the board behind Aizawa flickered to life as the students' names and a chart appeared next to each one. Listing them in order of most offers, with the class noting a huge gap between the top four and the rest.

1st: Todoroki Shouto - 4123 offers

2nd: Bakugou katsuki - 3556 offers

3rd: Uraraka Ochako - 3107

4th: Toga Himiko - 2752

Ochako's jaw dropped, tears welling up in her eyes as she latched onto Tenya sitting in front of her and started shaking him in excitement, while Himiko looked like she swallowed her tongue. Katsuki growled angrily as he stared at the number 2 next to his name and Shouto didn't react much at all. Aizawa motioned to the list of names, "Normally, the offers are a bit more spread out, but this year four of you managed to get a lot of attention."

Several of the students didn't look too happy that there was such a drop off in interest for the rest of them, with more than a few grumbling that they hadn't even been able to get on the board at all. However it was Eijirou who noticed something that surprised him, "Hey wait a second? Midoriya won so why does he only have the one offer?"

Izuku laughed nervously as he looked down at the list and sure enough, he was at the bottom all right, with only a single offer. Mineta shook his head while poking him, "The way you fought was too scary Midoriya! All that blood spraying out of your nose and getting beat up like that! You fight too crazy!"

Katsuki rolled his eyes and growled back, "Will you shut up, if that was the case then Round Face and Bun Bitch wouldn't have placed so high. I bet they only got so many votes because of their fight."

"Uraraka did get third place too, Kacchan. Plus her match against Todoroki was incredible. Also Toga showed off her skills and Quirk while she was running circles around everyone else," Izuku said as he quickly gave more reasons why the two should be listed so high.

"That still doesn't explain why Midoriya only got that one offer from All Might though," Eijirou said.

"It's because All Might already gave Midoriya his offer, and he did it so publicly," Momo said, "Can you think of any hero that would want to try and compete with that? With Midoriya off the table, it probably freed up a lot of offers for the rest of us if you think about it."

"Oh! That makes sense. I guess."

Hitoshi sighed, "Not for everyone though," he said with a frown as he hadn't been able to get any votes.

Aizawa continued on, "Keep in mind that even if you didn't get any offers, you all will be participating in internships with pros. We have a list of heroes that you will be able to choose from. So none of you will be missing out at a chance to see how heroes work in the field. It's true you all have experience dealing with villains because of the attack, however being a hero is more than just fighting. This will be a good chance for all of you to learn. Do not waste it."

Tsuyu tapped her chin, "So since we will be working in the field with the heroes, that's why we're getting to pick our hero names now?"

"Correct. These names might just be temporary, but you need to still be sure to take this seriously. If you don't-"

The door to the class slid open as Midnight walked in, "Because if you don't, then there will be hell to pay later."

Several of the boys in the class, immediately brightened up as Midnight strutted into the room. Himiko groaned and rubbed her temple.

"You see, more often than not, the names heroes picked as students when they begin their field work stick with them throughout their careers. It can be very hard to change after the name gets ingrained into the hearts and minds of the people."

"Midnight is right, so she will be here to make sure the names you pick are okay. Just remember, when you give yourself a name, it will sharpen the image of the hero you want to be in the future."

"Now, I want you all to take some time to think about your names, and write them down on these. Then you'll get up and present them to the class."

As small white boards and markers were handed out for the class, Izuku thought about that, Aizawa's words striking a chord within him, The hero I want to be in the future…

---

After a few students had been brave enough to venture to the front of the class with their names, Katsuki, with a grunt, got up in front of the class and slammed his board down onto the front podium, showing everyone his name, "I'm King Explosion Murder."

Izuku covered his face, as he did his best not to laugh. It was such a horrible name, made worse because he knew Katsuki was serious about it. Around him he could hear other students not even bothering to hide their own laughter, though he swore Himiko and Ochako didn't have to laugh so loud.

"REJECTED!" Was Midnight's immediate response.

"The hells wrong with my name!?"

"You can't have 'murder' in your name."

"Bullshit!" Snatching his board, Katsuki stomped back to his desk and started wiping the name off.

While the rest of the class went back to coming up with their names, Izuku leaned forward to talk with Katsuki, keeping his voice at a whisper, "Hey Kacchan, why don't you use the name you used when we played heroes and villains?"

Katsuki looked back at izuku with a scowl, "The fuck are you talking about?"

"You don't remember? You used to call yourself DynaMig-"

"Fuck no."

"But it was such a good name!"

"Fuck. No."

"But-"

"I will fucking murder you."

Izuku leaned back into his seat, his hands up, "Okay, okay."

"You want me to use that fucking name, then you go up there and use Deku for yours. And since you're not stupid enough to acutally do that, then leave me alone, I gotta think of another better name."

Izuku almost said that that shouldn't be too hard, but was able to stop himself. He might not be afraid of Katsuki anymore, but that didn't mean he was foolish enough to openly provoke him. He'd leave that to Eijirou, Sero, Himiko and Ochako. Speaking of, out of the corner of his eye he spotted Ochako getting up from her seat and headed for the front of the class. Immediately all other thoughts were pushed from his mind as he gave her his undivided attention.

Ochako smiled brightly as she flipped her board around to show the class her name, "This is the name that I came up with, Uravity."

Midnight nodded, "An excellent name. Well done."

Sighing in relief, Ochako made her way back to her chair, glancing over at Izuku briefly only to see him giving her a huge smile and thumbs up. When she sat down, Hitoshi stood up and made his way to the front.

"I'm the Mind Games Hero: Override."

There were a few oohs from the class with Midnight giving her seal of approval. Aizawa, who had been sleeping in his yellow sleeping bag, nodded in approval and then went back to sleep.

Midnight looked over the list of students, "Okay, so we have Bakugou, Midoriya, Iida and...Toga left. Do you have your names ready?"

Katsuki started to get up, but Midnight spoke up before he left his desk, "Does your name have murder in it still?"

"Er.."

"Rejected."

"God damn it!"

Izuku peaked at the card and sighed, "Kacchan, it's the same name."

"No! It's Lord Explosion Murder now. Totally different."

Himiko's head hit her desk as she broke out laughing, "Oh my god, could you be any more of a try-hard?"

"Bite me."

"No thanks, I don't like the taste of douche." Himiko snickered before she stood up, "anyway let's get this over with.

"Toga," Midnight began, watching Himiko as she stood behind the podium, "You've selected a name?"

After Shouto had decided to just use his first name for now, she had expected Himiko to do the same, since she hadn't expected the girl to take this exercise seriously to begin with. Her eye roll when she was handed her board and marker had cemented this for Midnight.

"Yeah, I figured I might as well give it a try. Of course if this one doesn't work, I'm just gonna use my name."

"I'm sure it'll be fine," Izuku said with a smile.

"Yeah Toga, show us what you picked!" Ochako added.

Freaking pockets of sunshine those two, I swear to god.

Flipping the card over, she showed off the name, The Bloody Queen of Discourse: Carmilla. Midnight couldn't hide the fact she was impressed. It did seem like Himiko had taken this seriously, and the name had a good ring to it. "Why Carmilla though?"

Himiko shrugged, "I've had a couple of talks with Vlad King. I guess I got the idea from him maybe? And his Quirk uses blood too, so it's a theme."

She had talks with Sekijirou? About what?

Mina raised her hand, "Is Carmilla an okay name though? Midnight sensei shot down my Alien Queen name for being too scary. Isn't Carmilla some evil vampire?"

Himiko smirk, "Too scary for you maybe, because you're literally walking talking pink bubble gum, but for me...the name fits. My Quirk uses blood after all. Plus, I can be a real nasty piece of work when I want to be." Ochako and Tsuyu were both nodding at this point, making Himiko laugh.

With Himiko back in her seat, Midnight scanned the room, looking at the three remaining students. Katsuki was angrily glaring at his board, writing and then erasing names at a fevered pitch. Tenya, who had spent more time staring at his board than actually writing in it, and finally Izuku, had his board flipped around and up against his chest as he drummed his fingers against his desk. When he glanced up, he caught her eye. Nervously, Izuku stood up and walked up to the front of the class. Looking at everyone watching him, Izuku gulped nervously and turned his card around.

Unlike before, when the class had reacted with cheers, claps or nods of approval, this time there was a long pause from everyone before Momo asked, "Midoriya...are you sure about that?"

Kyouka nodded, "Yeah that name...it's a little…"

Katsuki looked up from his board, and nearly swallowed his tongue, Are you fucking kidding me!?

"I understand your worries. In fact, this name was used to make fun of me ever since I was a little kid. I hated it for so long. After everyone I knew started calling me it, I even started to believe that I was worthless too."

An uncomfortable silence fell over the class as they recalled the little bits of Izuku and Shouto's conversation that they had overheard when Kyouka had been plugged into a mic. How he had mentioned how his father thought he was weak and worthless. As did everyone else around him. Katsuki ignored a couple of glances from Izuku's friends that were thrown his way. He didn't notice one from Ochako though. Her attention, he noticed, was totally on Izuku.

Izuku continued on, the nervousness in his voice fading as he spoke, "But then I met someone, and she...she changed the meaning of the name in an instant. When she did that, it felt like she changed something in me as well. And it made me feel so happy. I wasn't someone that was useless anymore. Instead, the name meant 'I could do it.' From that day on, even if it was hard, even if there were times I stumbled, I never gave up, and she didn't give up on me either. And now here I am. This is my hero name, Deku!"

When Izuku had walked up to the front of the class, Ochako couldn't help but be a little excited. She had no idea what name Izuku had picked for himself. Like his hero costume before, she was left completely in the dark at what he was thinking. She kicked herself a little wishing she had been smart enough to ask him about these kids of things before hand, or had tried to look through his notebook a little more closely to find out these answers. Because now she had to wait like everyone else, but she was sure she was the only one sitting on pins and needles.

Then Izuku flipped his board around and showed everyone the name he had picked and Ochako just stopped. Of all the possible names, she hadn't expected that one. As Izuku started to talk she felt her heart start to thunder in her chest, the biggest smile spread across her face and she was pretty sure her whole face was as red as a rose.

I can't believe it. He picked Deku as his hero name. All because of...because I...Oh Deku.

Ochako couldn't even think of the right words to describe how touched and happy she was at that moment. She was grateful that at least Izuku hadn't mentioned her by name. That would have been really embarrassing.

"So it was totally Ochako that you're talking about right?" Himiko asked with a knowing grin as Izuku got ready to walk back to his seat.

Izuku showed great poise and grace by only tripping on his own feet a little bit, "AH! I mean! Um…"

Himiko turned to look over at Ochako, "Oh yeah, that makes total sense. At least give her proper credit."

"TOGA!" Ochako shrieked in embarrassment as the whole class looked between the two and started to laugh.

Mina smirked as she leaned back in her chair so she could look at Ochako, making Tsuyu behind have to catch her so she didn't fall, "Oh come on. You two have already admitted you trained together before getting in. Who else could Midoriya be talking about? Mr. Calm & Patient?" Mina pointed her thumb over at Katsuki who sneered her way, "Cram it Raccoon Eyes."

Mina shrugged, "I'm just saying, since it's so obvious you spent so much time together, there isn't really a need for the secrets."

Izuku and Ochako shared knowing, happy smiles as Mina kept going, "Heck, I bet the two of you even have team names picked out."

Ochako suddenly found the ceiling of the class room very interesting as she whistled a little tune and did her best to ignore the eyes on her. Izuku turned red and hid behind his board, muttering about a billion words a second. Tooru started clapping in excitement, "Oh my god that is so cute! You have to share it!"

"N-n-no! We, um...we don't," Izuku tried to salvage some kind of control of the situation, but that soon became impossible.

Himiko's grin turned maniacal, "Oh you don't have to tell us. But I bet you have the name in that book of yours."

Several students all looked towards Izuku's empty desk. Totally and completely defenseless.

"ACK!"

While the rest of the class egged them on, Izuku glanced at Ochako, who even though she was beet red, shrugged and looked over at Midnight. Izuku did too and finally asked, "Um, would it be okay if we share our idea?"

Midnight smiled, "Go on. I'm interested in what you two came up with so early in your heroic careers."

Nodding, Izuku waved Ochako up. Stiffly, Ochako hurried up to the front of the class. The class watched in anticipation as the two whispered amongst themselves, before Izuku surprised everyone by grabbing Ochako's board and marker from her desk with his Quirk and pulling it over to her. The two turned their backs towards everyone and started scribbling on their boards. Finally the two turned around, and Izuku spoke up, "This is actually an idea I thought up a little while ago. I was playing around with puns based on our names. This one, is the one Uraraka picked out as her favorite when she peeked," Ochako chuckled nervously, "at my notes."

A few classmates snickered, hearing the slight sarcasm in Izuku's voice, while members of the Dekusquad gave Ochako some knowing looks. Fully aware that Izuku had been hesitant to show off his entry about her. Himiko wagged her eyebrows at Ochako, and the other girl made sure not to make eye contact, Ooooo, you got caught. And he's putting you on blast and you're just taking it. Naughty naughty Ochako.

Together, Izuku and Ochako flipped their boards around and pushed them together. Izuku's first, with Ochako's next to it. Under their hero names, they each had their part of their team name written down. Together they showed off their team name: Green Tea.

Midnight nodded, "It's peppy and very modern sounding. Cheerful too."

Izuku flushed as more of the class started to agree with Midnight, "Like I said, I was just looking for puns that used our names, and since the kanji in my name has green, and Uraraka's has tea, it just sorta fit."

"Well, I think you have a knack with names Mirodirya," Midnight said with a smile.

Izuku could hear Katsuki roll his eyes, but he ignored him. Delighted that everyone liked the name, and Midnight gave her own thumbs up, Izuku and Ochako headed back to their seat. As soon as he sat down, Katsuki turned to glare at him, "Why are you bothering with team names when you said you wanted to be the next number one?"

Izuku frowned, "What does either thing have to do with the other?"

Katsuki's voice was harsh as he drove his point home, "Last I checked, no team has ever made it past the top 30, much less the top spot."

"And?" Izuku asked, with more snark than Katsuki was expecting.

Fucking hell, why the fuck couldn't he have grown a brain along with his backbone, Katsuki growled before answering, "and if you're aiming for the number one spot, you don't need to be playing around with people that are weaker than you. Don't let others drag you down, or else you'll be useless to them later on."

Izuku's eyebrows shot up as he tried to make sense of that. On one hand, it sounded like Katsuki was bad mouthing Ochako, not something all that new, but calling her weak struck a nerve. While at the same time Izuku was also coming to terms that Katsuki was offering him advice. The two issues collided in his head, and left him in a dumbfounded state.

"Bakugou, have you decided on a name yet?"

Katsuki frowned over at Midnight, before glancing down at his blank board. Glowering, and feeling Izuku's eyes on him with what he was sure was a cocky smirk that he'd love to rip off his annoying face, Katsuki let out a string of swears with each stroke of his marker. Snapping the cap back on with enough force he almost broke it, Katsuki snatched his board and marched up to the front and slammed the white board down on the podium with enough force to crack the name board.

---

After a long and drawn out fight, Katsuki and Midnight had found an uneasy compromise with his hero name. So now, only Tenya was left. A fact he was very aware of and yet, he sat frozen in place unable to make a single mark on his board. He had tried several times to write out a name but every time his marker touched the board, he wasn't able to move. His throat closed up and he fought to breath. Worse yet, he was very aware that he was the only member of the class left, and the fact he wasn't walking up to the front of the room was starting to draw attention.

"Iida, are you ready with your name?"

Tenya glanced up, wishing that so many eyes weren't on him. He knew none of them were intentionally pressuring him, but they were all the same. He also wished that he couldn't see the naked concern in his friends eyes. He had worked hard to keep himself steady, to alleviate their concerns and not be a distraction. But his inaction here and now was enough to grab their attention. Worse yet, Midnight was watching him closely. As was Aizawa, his tired eyes peeking out from his sleeping bag. Tenya couldn't be sure, but as professional heroes, somehow he knew, that they knew about his brother. Even if the media was none the wiser. Even if the news was less than a day old, heroes were connected, and news traveled fast between them all.

Quickly, Tenya acted. Scribbling his first name done, but freezing when he tried to get up. It was wrong. If he went up there now with this, the idea turned his stomach. Turning the board over so no one could see it, Tenya looked up at Midnight, "Midnight sensei, Aizawa sensei. If it's alright, would it be possible for me to have… a little more time to select my name?"

Midnight glanced over at Aizawa, before the man slid out of his bag and folded it away, "Very well. You can have till the end of the day. Delaying after that won't do you any favors and I will enter you first or last name as a placeholder. You will need something for your internships and will have to make do with that for the time being. Understood?"

Tenya nodded, "Yes Sensei." It wasn't a lot of time, but it did give him an option. To have the decision taken out of his hands might be the best choice in the long run.

With that decided Aizawa retook the podium and addressed the class, "With that out of the way, lets get back to your internships and what you can expect. They will last for a week, and those who were able to get offers from pro will be given their own list to choose from. If you didn't have any offers, you will have a list of agencies that are working with U.A. to take on interns. These agencies all specialize in different aspects of heroics and take place in different locations. From Urban to rural. Oceanic to mountainous. So make sure consider all your options before making a decision by the weekend."

Denki nearly fell out of his chair, along with a few other shocked students, "You're only giving us a couple of days!? After telling us to consider all our options!?"

"Consider all your options, but make your decisions efficiently and rationally."

---

With the lunch bell ringing, class was dismissed and everyone went to get something to eat. Izuku pulled out a chair and joined his friends. The range of emotions at the table was wide. Some, like Izuku and Himiko were picking away at their lunch seemingly unconcerned with the upcoming internships, while others had their list of hero offers out, reading them over carefully, with varying degrees of intensity. Taking a bite, Izuku watched his friends carefully. Himiko had only skimmed over her list and had then folded it away and hadn't looked at it since, though izuku wasn't totally shocked by this. After all the time he had spent with her, he knew Himiko marched to the beat of her own drum. Next was Tsuyu. She had expressed interest in interning with a hero agency that specializes in water rescue and disasters so her choices were immediately narrowed down. Easing her search.

Next was Hitoshi, though his list was stranger than everyone else's. While he hadn't gotten offers, his list of the agencies working with U.A. had a strange addition to it which he showed everyone on their way to lunch. Across the top was a note from Aizawa that read: Apply for Ms. Joke. Have your application filled out and on my desk by the end of the day. All other applications for other agencies will be rejected. Don't make me wait or come find you.

"I mean, that's weird right?"

A few hums echoed over the table. Izuku had his phone out and was doing some fact checking, "Lets see...Ms. Joke, the Smile Hero."

Himiko snorted, while Ochako coughed into her hand and looked away, "Oh my god, is she going to teach Mr. Sleepy the secret art of smiling?"

Hitoshi ignored her and kept his attention on Izuku who kept reading, "Her Quirk is called Outburst. It forces her targets to start laughing uncontrollably," Himiko was laughing now, "Making it easier for her to capture or incapacitate them."

"Okay, that doesn't really explain why I'm being told to apply to her."

"She was the same kind of underground hero like Aizawa sensei for a while. Maybe they ran in the same circles and worked together in the past." Izuku said scratching his chin, "Oh this is interesting. It says here that she's a teacher at Ketsubutsu Academy High School. Besides that there isn't a lot to her bio."

"Great. Guess I'll get to find out what's up when I meet here. Was actually looking forward to finding an agency that did work in urban environments. Not going to another school."

Tsuyu looked over her papers, "You could ask Aizawa sensei why he wants you to intern with her."

"I get the feeling he'd just tell me to give him my application and stop wasting time."

Putting his phone away, Izuku glanced over at Ochako, and the thick stack of papers she was leafing through, "find anything that catches your eye yet Uraraka?"

Ochako groaned, "I have over three thousand names and agencies to read and look up. It's awesome I made such a good impression but this...this is going to take time."

Izuku winced, "Oof. That sounds fun. Do you at least have a field you want to specialize in? That should help you narrow it down."

Ochako glared over the list, "Deku. I don't have every hero in the world permanently imprinted into my head like you. This is gonna take time. Even if I am looking at combat heroes."

That grabbed some attention. Izuku perked up, surprised, "Wait you're looking at combat heroes? I thought you'd be looking up heroes with rescue backgrounds. Isn't it still your dream to be a hero like Thirteen?"

"I mean, yes it is. She's still my role model and everything. It's just…" Ochako trailed off. Not sure exactly how to explain her reasoning without sounding a little petty.

"You're still sore about your loss to Todoroki, aren't you?" Izuku asked without missing a beat.

"Gah!" Ochako flinched, Okay Deku, you need to pick a lane. Be super observant or dense. This flip flopping is going to wear me out.

Himiko chuckled, "Oh come on. Was that supposed to be a secret? With the way you hold grudges, Shouto should have body guards on him for the next few months."

"HEY!"

"Come on Toga, Uraraka isn't one to hold that kind of a grudge," Izuku came in defending his friend. And missing the knowing smile Himiko shot Ochako, and the 'you shut your mouth' glare Ochako shot back.

"Why are you looking at only combat heroes, kero? You're already great in combat. Don't you think you should take this opportunity to get some rescue experience in?"

"Well...While losing to Todoroki is still...annoying. I have other reasons for wanting to get better at fighting before I put in some time at rescue stuff."

"Oh?" Izuku leaned forward. Curious.

"It's the League of Villains. After everything...I just feel like right now it would be best for me to focus on getting stronger. Right now...the best way to rescue people might be in my ability to protect them."

Ochako's eye darted over to Izuku before looking back at her list of names. Himiko however did catch that look, and nodded to herself. Agreeing with Ochako's approach and unspoken reasoning.

Izuku rubbed his chin as he mumbled to himself, "So you want to save people by winning."

Hitoshi blinked, "You say something Midoriya?"

Izuku waved him off, "no no, just talking to myself. So what about you Iida? You got a lot of offers didn't you?"

Tenya, like Ochako, had been looking over his list of names with a careful eye, though he was going through them faster than Ochako. Almost like he was looking for something in particular, Izuku thought. Though what Tenya could be looking for he had no idea.

When Tenya didn't respond right away, Himiko leaned over and poked him in the side. Doing this gave her a brief chance to look at the notes and list of names he was working on. Noting that Tenya was paying attention to cities more than the names of the heroes.

Tenya blinked as he looked up, "Huh? I'm sorry. I missed that Midoriya. What did you say?"

Izuku frowned, "Hey. Are you oka-"

Before Izuku could finish, he was interrupted as Mei walked up behind him and jammed his head into a helmet like contraption with lights and several long wires connected to a remote and display screen in her hand, "Midoriya! Quick. Use your Quirk and float something!"

Mei's sudden appearance and the strange device now on Izuku's head got everyone's attention, as all thoughts of hero intern applications were pushed aside at the absurdity taking place. Izuku gulp and sputtered, "Er Hatsume. What exactly is going-"

"Less talking, more glowing. Lift something! A cup, a bowl. A skirt, I don't care. Just come on!"

Himiko quickly stood up, "I volunte-"

Ochako grabbed her arm and yanked her back into her seat, "Oh don't you even try that!"

With a scrutinizing eye from Mei bearing down on him, Izuku gulp as he reached out and lifted up his tray of food. As he did, the lights on the device blinked rapidly and the little screen in Mei's hand beeped and booped, like a techo chime.

"Success! My baby works! Finally, after so many popped watermelons it works. Was getting a little tired cleaning up those messes."

Izuku glanced up nervously, That explains the fruity smell.

Tsuyu looked between the two, "So what's that thing on Midoriya's head for?"

"I'm pretty sure this is supposed to help keep me from getting headaches and nose bleeds when I overuse my Quirk...but I don't feel any different."

Rolling her eyes, Mei plucked the cap off Izuku's head, "Of course not. This was just an activation test. Plus you were only lifting something small. This baby shines after repeated Quirk usage or when you lift really heavy stuff."

Putting the device away, Mei plopped into an empty seat, "So now it's just getting the gear into your costume and everything will be good to go."

Izuku perked up at the mention of his new costume, "So it'll be ready for the internships?"

"Oh yeah. It'll be done with time to spare. Don't you worry."

Even if he wanted to, Izuku couldn't hide the huge grin on his face, his excitement bubbling up as he bounced a little in his seat. Mei also visibly shared in Izuku's excitement, "I gotta say Midoriya. I've always loved making babies, but it's been extra fun with you. It's nice working with someone that knows what he wants."

Hitoshi opened his mouth to say something, but twin kicks to his shins redirected his attention back to his lunch. With Mei now digging into her meal, and eyeing over Tsuyu's hero list while commenting that she has plenty of submersible babies she'd be happy to let her try, Izuku turned his attention back to Tenya and was a little startled to see that the small stack of papers he had been reading through look mostly done. Neat black checks marking heroes he had decided not to go with. At least that was what he assumed, since there were no other kinds of marks on the papers signaling any kind of acceptance.

There was something else too that Izuku noticed, now that he was paying attention. A glint in Tenya's eye that Izuku found, unnerving. The closest word he could come to describe it, was desperation. He felt unsure what to do, he knew Tenya was hurting after his brothers attack, but Tenay had reassured that things were going to get better. But that, and the look on his friends face just didn't mesh.

Should I ask about it? I don't want to pry but-

"Err…"

Himiko's unsure voice, along with everyone looking behind him, even Tenya with that desperate glint gone and replaced with some surprise and confusion made Izuku blink. He blinked a few more times when he saw Ochako turn a little frosty, her mouth tugged downward in a frown. Turning around, Izuku nearly did a double take when he found Shouto standing behind him.

"T-todoroki?"

On the list of things Izuku expected to happen today, having Shouto show up at his and his friend's lunch table was not there at all. Shouto always either sat alone, or didn't eat in the cafeteria to begin with. And yet, here he was. Lunch tray in hand, looking at Izuku.

"Midoriya."

Shouto's voice kicked Izuku out of his stupor, "Y-yes? Can I...can I help you?"

"I didn't get a chance to say this after our match, but I wanted to thank you. What you said to me, and did for me. You've helped me in more ways than I can say."

"Oh!" Izuku rubbed the back of his head nervously. "I'm glad I could help."

Shouto nodded, and then turned towards Ochako. Bowing his head, and getting a startled eep from her, "I also want to apologize to you Uraraka. I didn't treat you with the proper respect, before and during our match."

Suddenly having the tiny amount of spite still in her system get fizzled out from Shouto's apology, Ochako waved him off with a smile, "It's fine Todoroki. No harm done."

Tsuyu tapped her chin, as she thought about Shouto's wording, "During and before?"

Shouto nodded, "Yes, I was...distracted going into the match but even before that, I thought I could end the match quickly and worry about...the more important finals."

Himiko snorted, "Ouch."

Ochako winced, but kept her smile, Shouto had already apologized after all, and she wasn't one to hold a grudge, "And my pride takes another beating. I am a serious threat, thank you very much."

"As serious a threat as someone who's round and pink can be." Hitoshi said as he took a bite of his lunch.

As Ochako turned to give Hitoshi a piece of her mind, with the other boy ready for a verbal throw down, Izuku looked back over at Shouto, "Looks like all is forgiven Todoroki."

While Shouto didn't suddenly break out into a huge smile of relief, something that would have freaked out Izuku and more than half the school, Izuku swore it looked like a weight had been lifted off Shouto's shoulders. He seemed less tense, at the very least. Turning to leave, Shouto bowed to the group, "I won't take up anymore of your time."

As Shouto started to leave, Izuku again remembered all the times he had seen Shouto eating alone, on top of all the other times he had seen him isolated. And he knew the reason now. And now that Izuku knew, he didn't like the idea of it continuing. He might have been able to help Shouto during the Sports Fest, but he didn't want to leave it like that. Those kinds of troubles aren't solved by yourself. What Shouto needed, Izuku thought, was friends.

And their table did have an empty seat left.

"Hey, Todoroki. Would you like to eat with us?"

---

With lunch over, everyone was up and walking back to class. Mei had dashed off, making sure to promise that Izuku's costume would be ready for his internships. After returning his lunch tray, Izuku rushed to meet up with his friends but, with the hallways crowded with other students returning to their classes as well, Izuku ended up walking back alone. Only getting a small glimpse of his friends as they teased him while they slipped away, missing the worst of the crowd. Still, at least he wasn't the only one stuck with the crowd. He could make out Tenya ahead of him, his face still buried in the list of hero offers.

Izuku was surprised however when Tenya didn't turn down the hallway for their classes but kept walking forward.

Iida?

Instead of turning towards his class, Izuku pushed forward and went after his friend. By the time he was able to get close, they had long since passed the Department of Heroes wing of the school and were deep into the Department of Management's wing.

"Iida!"

Reaching out, Izuku was able to grab onto Tenya's shoulder and finally get the taller boys attention. Startled out of his thoughts, Tenya turned around. Looking just a little dazed, "Huh? Midoriya? What are you still doing out in the hall? Our classes will be starting...starting…"

Tenya looked around and quickly realized he had no idea where he was, "Um…"

"You missed our class a while ago Iida."

Tenya winced, "Oh no. I haven't made us late have I? As aspiring heroes-"

Izuku waved Tenya's fears off, "No, no. We still have at least five minutes before next period."

Nodding, Tenya pocketed the papers and started off, "Good, then if we hurry we can be back in class well before the bell."

"Iida wait," Izuku didn't block Tenya's path, but he didn't move to get out of his way either, "You...you know that you're my friend right?"

"Of course."

"And that you can talk to me if you need to. Right?"

Tenya frowned, and looked away, "I know, but that isn't necessary. I told you, everything is fine."

Izuku bit his lip. He wasn't sure what he was going to say next was the right thing, but he couldn't just stand by and say nothing anymore. Not when something was clearly still bothering his friend, "I don't think that's true."

Izuku flinched when Tenya looked at him sternly, but he kept going, "Iida, you've been acting strange, and not just right now," Izuku motioned to the hallway that Tenya had unwittingly walked down while distracted, "but the whole day. You've always been decisive, you know what you're doing, but now? It's like you're lost."

"Midoriya, that is a gross oversimplification. You heard Aizawa sensei, we must consider all our options and make a rational decision. I admit I may have allowed myself to become a tad too engrossed and I do appreciate your concern however, that concern does not give you the right to claim I have been dishonest to you."

"Your hero name. The whole morning you looked like you were hurting. I've never-"

Izuku stopped when Tenya flinched and looked away. His face looked so pained, and his head snapped around so fast, Izuku's words might have punched him across the face. Then Izuku saw the tears in Tenya's eyes, and his blood went cold. A cold fear filled him. A fear that Tenya might finally tell him what was wrong, but he couldn't stop now.

"Iida, please."

The hallway grew more and more quiet as students emptied into their classroom. Yet izuku wished the crowd and noise stayed. The growing silence made him feel like something bad was coming. And maybe it was. If Tenya chose to tell him what was going on, Izuku already knew it wasn't going to be good.

"My brother asked me to take up the mantle of Ingenium."

The hallway was quiet now, and Izuku tried to wrap his head around what Tenya had just said.

"Isn't...isn't that good? It means he has a lot of faith in you. The Ingenium Brothers has a good ring to it. Though I guess it might be a little strange having two heroes with the same name."

Tenya just shook his head, "No. He wants me to take the name from him."

"He's giving you his name? But why would he-"

"Yesterday, my brother told me that he couldn't feel his legs. After that, the doctors confirmed it. Stains attack did damage that they couldn't reverse. He's paralized."

Izuku felt dizzy. The floor under him suddenly wasn't solid enough. As he struggled to keep himself from falling, Tenya kept talking, "When my brother told me, he said his days as a hero were over, but he asked me to take his name if I was up to it."

Tenya's words made Izuku recall something. Conversations he had had with All Might. Some from the very first time he had met him.

"Listen I'm going to show you something but I'm counting on you to keep your mouth shut. Don't go talking about this online or telling your friends. Do you understand?"

All Might lifted the side of his shirt up, exposing a huge and disfiguring scar on his side. Izuku covered his mouth in shock, taking a sudden breath through clenched teeth. All Might nodded in understanding as he glanced down at his scar, "Yeah it's pretty gross, huh. I got this from a big fight about five years back. I lost a lung so my respiratory system is basically shot to hell. I also lost my whole stomach. All that on top of all the surgeries I had to go through have reduced me down to this. Nothing can be done to fix it either. Right now, I can only do hero work for about 3 hours a day. The rest of the time, this is what I look like."

All Might had shown Izuku a horrific injury, something that modern medicine couldn't fix. An injury that would eventually lead to him not being able to be a hero anymore. A fact he had reiterated to Izuku, before the Sports Festival.

"Soon, I'm going to have to retire. It's an unavoidable fact that I've been faced with for years, and unfortunately after my battle with the Nomu, my time left has gotten shorter."

"I can only sustain my muscle form for a little over an hour now. With such a short time, I won't be able to be out there for much longer.

Both times, hearing this had been hard for Izuku, but All Might trusted him to carry on his legacy with One for All. Telling him that he was the next to hold the torch. Izuku couldn't help but draw the comparison of himself and All Might to Tenya and his brother Tensei. That name, Ingenium, had a legacy behind it. In some ways, that legacy might be heavier than One for All since it was a family legacy. Now that Izuku knew what was going on, he now had a better idea at what was tearing his friend up. At least partially. While he didn't know the pain of seeing family hurt, the fear of a legacy he knew very well.

"You're afraid that you won't be able to live up to your brother. Aren't you?"

"How could I? Tensei he...he wasn't just another hero Midoriya. He was my hero. I've looked up to him my whole life. He is everything I think a hero should be. He wants me to take up his name, to carry on his legacy, but how can I? How can I do that when all I'll ever be is just a pale imitation."

The same questions I'd ask myself...the same things I still ask myself.

"Iida. Your brother...he knows the kind of person you are and the kind of hero you are going to be. It might seem hard or even unfair, but I don't think your brother would have asked you this if he didn't believe in you. He wouldn't ask you to bear a weight like that."

Izuku's words left Tenya stuned. If he didn't know any better, he would have sworn that Izuku had looked into his soul and read his very fears, Almost as if he had gone through something similar.

Though Tenya couldn't think of what that could be. Still, to hear Izuku counter his fears so well, Tenay wasn't sure what kind of answer to give, "Midoriya I-"

The chime of the school bell, signaling that next period was about to start interrupted before he could say anything more on the subject. Something he honestly was grateful for. It would give him time to think more about izuku's words before saying anything.

"I guess...we should hurry to class."

Tenya nodded and followed after Izuku, both sprinting to avoid the late bell. When they made it to their class, Tenya placed a hand on Izuku's shoulder, stopping him before he opened the door, "Thank you for your words Midoriya. I'll...think them over. But please, keep this between us. I know this is unfair, but I need time. Please give me this."

Izuku frowned, but nodded after a few seconds. It wasn't his place to force Tenya to tell anyone else. Especially since he himself held his own secrets. Still, at the very least, his words had had some effect on his friend.

So now, all Izuku could do was wait and hope.

---

Hero - Normal Hero: Manual

Location - Hosu City, Tokyo

Tenya felt his breath catch in his throat. He had hoped, hoped that he would find a hero who was stationed in Hosu City, but as the day had gone on, and he had crossed out hero application after hero application Tenya had started to believe that he wouldn't find what he sought. But now, near the end of the school day, he found what he had been searching for.

"Iida," Aizawa said as he finished clearing the board behind him, "Do you have your name selected?"

Glancing down at his list of hero applications, and at the one that got him where he wanted to go, Tenya nodded.

"Yes Sensei, I have."

A few of his classmates whispered excitedly to each other, wondering what he had picked. He could feel Izuku's eyes on him as well. Izuku's words still echod inside his head and heart. With his small whiteboard in hand, Tenya walked up to the front of the room and turned to face his classmates.

Tensei, you entrusted me with your legacy. And I promise I will do everything I can to honor it. I have a chance to bring justice against the villain that hurt you, and I will do just that. I will find him, flipping his board around, he showed his class the name passed onto him, The Turbo Hero: Ingenium. And it will be Ingenium that stops him once and for all.

---

"So Iida already left?" Ochako asked as Izuku checked Tenya's foot locker. Finding his shoes gone.

"Yeah, looks like it. He must have left after he dropped off his application in the teachers' office." Izuku said with a sigh.

"Well in that case I think I'll go ahead and head on out. I'll catch you all tomorrow," Hitoshi said with a wave.

Tsuyu was right behind, "If either of you hear from him, give me a text okay."

Both Izuku and Ochako nodded while Himiko flashed Tsu a peace sign. With just the three of the left, Izuku picked up his and Ochako's umbrellas, "Well hopefully things will be a little more normal tomorrow."

"Yeah, Iida must still be dealing with his brother getting attacked. But at least things should be getting better soon."

Izuku nodded but kept his peace. With Tenya deciding to take up the mantle of Ingenium, Izuku hoped the uneasy feeling in his chest would start to feel better, but now it only felt worse. He just wished he knew why.

"Hey, before the two of you leave, I'd wanted to ask you something."

Izuku and Ochako turned to look over at Himiko, "Oh? What about, Toga?"

Izuku was then greeted with a sight he hadn't seen since he and Himiko were hidden away in their fort at the Sports Festival, and honestly he wasn't sure he'd see again. Himiko looked bashful, poking her pointer fingers together, "It's about...your guys' offer."

Ochako tilted her head, "Our offer?"

"Oh. OH! Uraraka offered to let you have her blood too! Yeah that makes sense." Izuku nodded to himself at his flawless logic. Of course Ochako would make the same offer as him.

"Total sense that you made the offer too," Ochako agreed.

Himiko looked between the two, her jaw on the floor, dear god these two share the same brain cell…

"A-anyway! I spoke with Nezu and he gave the okay to go ahead. So if you guys wanted…"

Izuku scratched his chin, "Well if we wanted to do it before our internships, the sooner the better."

Ochako agreed, "Would tomorrow be okay? That should give us plenty of time to recover. I'm assuming it's going to be like a regular blood drive donation."

Himiko nodded while trying not to show how excited she was. She had expected them to say after the internship after all, "Yep! Just like that."

"Oh."

Himiko and Ochako blink and looked over at Izuku, "Oh? Why oh? You're not afraid of needles are you Deku?"

Izuku shook his head, "No, not at all. It's just...not what I was expecting is all. It's kinda...normal."

"What were you expecting Izuku?" Himiko asked with a chuckle, "That I was gonna latch onto your neck like a vampire?"

Izuku blushed, and unconsciously started rubbing the finger she had drank from a few days ago. Himiko saw that and a devilish smile spread across her face, "I~zu~ku, what dirty things were you thinking I was gonna do to you to get some blood? I didn't expect a little sucky suck to get you this hot and bothered."

Izuku's eyes went wide as he flailed his hands about, "No no! You got it all wrong Toga! I haven't thought dirty thoughts about you or your Quirk! I'd never do that!"

Himiko pouted, "Oh? Then I need to start trying harder then."

"Huh?" While Izuku was a little confused by that, Ochako stepped in. Putting a quick end to the teasing, and shutting the door before Himiko could plant any kind of dirty ideas into Izuku's.

"Anyway! So tomorrow then. We'll do it after classes. Great! Come on Deku, we don't want to miss our train! Bye Toga!"

Getting pulled along, Izuku and Ochako waved goodbye while Himiko's laughter echoed after them.

---

"So Kan, what exactly have you and Toga been talking about behind my back?"

Vlad King blinked in surprise as Midnight walked up besides him as they, along with several other teachers, made their way to Nezu's office for a meeting. Ectoplasm and All Might behind them exchanged curious looks, "I wasn't aware Young Toga was going out of her way to talk to other teachers here besides you and Principle Nezu."

"She only comes to find me when she wants to stab something...though that hasn't been for awhile now."

Present Mic chuckled darkly, "Now that's the big question, is it good or bad that she hasn't come by for a visit?"

Midnight ignored the gossiping behind her, a testament to her focus on getting an answer from Vlad King, "Well?"

Vlad King shrugged, "I wouldn't call what we've had 'talks' really. Passing comments is a better way to put it. Nothing I felt needed to be brought to anyone's attention. Why the sudden interest?"

"She mentioned your talks when she picked her hero name."

Besides her and Aizawa, the rest of the teachers had their interests perked. With Vlad King looking at Midnight carefully now, "She did?"

All Might rubbed his chin, "What name did she pick? I haven't seen the lists yet from the classes."

"Carmilla," Aizawa answered.

Several eyes immediately looked over at Vlad King who was scratching his head as he digested that, "oooookay."

"And right after she showed off that name, she mentions that you two had a couple of talks. She also brought up your Quirk."

Vlad King did a double take, "Wait, she mentioned my Quirk?...Wait is she talking about those questions she threw my way over the weekend?"

"Questions?"

Vlad King held up a hand, holding up two fingers, "She literally ran up to me and asked me two questions. It was like a drive by questioning. First was, was it hard to be a hero with a blood quirk. Second was why Vlad King. First I said some people were a little freaked out at first, but then after I saved their lives, no one gave a damn. As for my name, Vlad was a badass, there is a reason why his legend gave birth to Dracula. Plus, having a blood Quirk, the theme fit. Then she said, 'oh neat' and scurried off. The whole thing lasted fifteen seconds."

"Well," Midnight said with a shrug, "Looks like she's using you as an example. Congratulations."

Vlad King felt his eye twitch, as he felt a headache coming on.

Soon after, the teachers walked inside Nezu's office, and found the principal sitting at his desk, drinking a cup of tea and looking a little more subdued than normal, "Thank you all for coming here on such short notice."

Aizawa crossed his arms, "What's going on? Do you have any updates regarding the League?"

Nezu shook his head, "Unfortunately not. We're still no closer to identifying the villains or locating them. No, I've called you all here because I just got off the phone with Chief Tsuragamae."

All Might frowned, "The Chief of Police? That doesn't sound good."

"No. It wasn't a good call at all. The call had to do with Toga in fact."

Midnight stepped forward, "Why are the police calling you about her? Our agreement was that we would take custody of her and to give them weekly updates on her case. They agreed to not get directly involved."

"True, that is the agreement, however there has been a complication. It appears that Saito saw her during the Sports Festival."

Midnight hissed, while the mood in the room with the other teachers darkened. They all knew who Saito was. Himiko's first victim that sent Himiko spiraling down a dark bloody path.

"The boys parents of course contacted their local police, who contacted our police. I wasn't given all the details, but I was led to believe that there were a lot of very angry phone calls that were taking place over the weekend between the police, the Hero Public Safety Commission and some lawyers before I was notified."

"So what's going on?" Aizawa asked, already feeling a headache coming on. The moment Nezu mentioned the Commission and layers, he was ready for the worst.

"For now, we've been lucky. The family was informed of Toga's general current custody arrangement and the treatment she is being put through."

"Considering what Young Toga did to that poor boy...I can't imagine that his family was too happy to hear what was going on."

Nezu shook his head, "No they were not. Apparently the fallout from hearing about this was what took up most of the calls over the weekend and why lawyers were involved on both sides. As Toga's rehabilitation is in the public's best interest, the family was put under a gag order and forbidden from talking about or taking any legal actions against Toga. I was told the penalties for breaking this order were very...stiff."

While Midnight was relieved that Himiko's treatments were going to be able to continue without interruptions, she couldn't help but feel uneasy about the actions being taken against Saito and his family, "This boy just watched his attacker get broadcasted and praised nationally, and when he comes forward, he's told to be quiet or he and his family could face repercussions. This feels…"

"Dirty," All Might finished.

"I was told the family would be offered any kind of financial, and if needed, phycological help."

"So a bribe," Snipe said with a sigh, "because that's a nice cherry on top of this whole mess."

Nezu took a sip of his tea, "We all knew that eventually, Toga's past was going to make things difficult. If we wanted to do things the safest way, she would have not been allowed to enter the Sports Festival, but I have said from the very beginning, Toga was to be treated like any other student. She had to be given the chance to learn and grow along with her classmates. Anything that acted as an unnecessary roadblock could undermine our efforts to save her, and any progress she could make on her own. Which as I've been told, she has come along much faster than any of us could have dared to dream. I admit, I hoped that something like this wouldn't happen until much later, but its happened now and we must do what we can to make sure it doesn't stall or undo everything." Nezu paused, a pawed hand running along the top of his tea cup, "What happened to that young boy was horrible, and what's happening now is...cruel and unfortunate and I expect that there will be repercussions down the line. But right now, we must stand by our decision to help save Toga."

The teachers nodded. None of them liked the current events, but they knew that stopping now, might end up doing more harm than if they hadn't done anything at the start.

"So what about Toga," Ectoplasm asked, "How are we going to break the news to her about all of this?"

Midnight bit her lip, That's a good question…

Nezu took one last sip of his tea before putting the cup down, "I will be the one to tell her, after internships are over."

"After?" Midnight asked.

"Yes. I think...I think this next week will be very trying for her. I would rather not pile too much on her right now."

Midnight watched Nezu closely. She was under the impression that Himiko's internship was already planned out by him so that there wouldn't be any unnecessary stress for the school, the hero Himiko would study under, or her. Just what did he think was going to be so trying for her?

And why did that thought chill her to the bone?

Notes: Happy New Year folks! With any luck, 2021 will be a damned sight better than 2020. I mean, it can't possibly get any worse right?

...

Anyway! New chapter! So yeah, this was the original back half of chapter 26 but I think splitting it was the right call. Shouto is now the 8th and final member of the Dekusquad! Because I'll be damned if I go past eight members. Izuku, Ochako, Himiko, Tenya, Hitoshi, Tsuyu, Mei, and Shouto. No MORE! Also got to finally say what names I had planned for Himiko and Hitoshi! Had those typed out for about a year burning a hole in my pocket. I hope you all like them. Also What name did Katsuki end up picking? Who knows ;) And of course the big reveal, Izuku and Ochako are team Green Tea! Because of course they are. Huh? What's that you say? "Shouldn't they be called Green Tea Rescue?" Oh well, you see thats because... *runs away* I hope you all enjoyed the new chapter. Please, feel free to leave any comments, critiques or reviews. All are welcome!
I'd also like to take a chance to thank the beta reader of this chapter! Because I spelled Tenya as Tenay so many times. AHHHH