'A dream…this has to be a dream.'
Emerald eyes, wide with stunned disbelief, stared at the person standing before them as if they were a mirage, a figment of his imagination, a beautiful dream-like specter that he hoped would never leave. He knew it couldn't be real, that even just being in this school, as a student no less, was too amazing to believe, that if he closed his eyes for even a second everything would disappear like a wayward mirage. Having the person who had inspired him to not give up on his dream, to keep fighting when everything seemed hopeless, in the very place he always hoped to make it to, was something not even the sweetest of daydreams could conjure up.
"It is you!" Jumping in surprise at the Gigantification hero's sudden cheerful shout, the golden-haired woman bouncing over to him with an excited spring in her step, Mt. Lady stood before the green-haired fanboy, as real as the day they first met. "So you did make it in! Good work, Midoriya-kun!"
Patting him exuberantly on the shoulder, a proud smile curling on her lips, the blonde hero was absolutely ecstatic to see her favorite fan again, and as a student at U.A. no less. He had truly done it. While she was proud of him for achieving this amazing feat, getting into a prestigious school such as U.A. was impressive in its own right, Mt. Lady couldn't help but pat herself on the back just a little bit. I mean, getting encouragement and praise from someone as amazing as her must have really pushed him that final step toward greatness.
Surely.
"M-Mt. Lady!" Screaming out in shock, the aforementioned hero wincing from the greenette's bellowing shout, Izuku's entire face broke out in a crimson blush from Mt. Lady's touch, despite it merely being a simple friendly gesture. "W-Why are you here?"
Darting his eyes back and forth, both in a panic and as a way to avoid staring too long into the Gigantification hero's beautiful face, the young hero fanatic currently suffering a minor crisis. He knew, or at least he thought he did, about every teacher of the school by heart, of their accomplishments and their quirks, sometimes even what classes they taught. But, seeing Mt. Lady here, dressed in her hero costume, made Izuku question everything he thought he knew about U.A.
Was…was he slacking in his hero studies!?
"Heh, surprised are you?" Grinning wide, hands placed proudly on her hips, Mt. Lady beamed triumphantly at the green-haired boy as she held up the lanyard slung around her neck. "I'll be helping out in different classes as a teachers assistant starting this year."
Emerald eyes widened in astonishment, a slight bit of relief flooding his body that his knowledge of heroes had not been compromised, Izuku gave an inner cheer, elated to know he would be able to see his hero and crush more often. Placing his hand on his chin, a million thoughts flooding his mind as he imagined all of the possibilities this arrangement could open up, getting to learn from a rising talent within the pro-hero ranks sure to help them with their prospective career paths.
'And,' Izuku thought with a soft blush coloring his freckled cheeks as he stared into the golden-haired woman's beaming face, his heart skipping a beat as she smiled brighter at him, her purple eyes sparkling with joy and warmth, 'maybe I could get to know her a bit better.'
"I thought it might be a great new career path for me to pursue." Mt. Lady said as she let the lanyard fall back against her chest, Izuku's blush darkening as he watched it rest almost teasingly over the generous swell of her breasts, the gigantification hero giving the boy a chipper thumbs up. Turning her head slightly, features covered by the voluminous locks of her perfectly styled hair, Mt. Lady's face took on a more softly sinister expression, her grin curling nastily in the corners of her lips.
'Plus, this job will be a good supplemental paycheck. And the chances of breaking something expensive are much lower too.'
Snapping out of her brief aside, Mt. Lady turned to Izuku with a dramatic flourish of her waves of golden hair, a guilty smile curling on her lips as she laughed nervously, hoping her green-haired fan hadn't noticed her less-than-desirable side come out. Can't have him think less of her, especially on the first day of school. The thought of the broccoli-headed boy, with his sweet and innocent face, emerald eyes shining with clear reverence for her(or so she made herself believe), thinking negatively of her made her stomach roll uncomfortably.
Giving the pro-hero a quizzical stare, unsure of what just happened, Mt. Lady's little delusional episode having happened in the span of seconds, Izuku perked up slightly when another thought popped into his head, their serendipitous reunion having given him the perfect opportunity to ask her directly.
"Ah, Mt. Lady!" Jumping slightly from the boy's sudden shout, his sudden shifts between meek and quiet to loud and boisterous always managing to catch her off guard, Mt. Lady simply blinked owlishly in response. "I had some more questions I wanted to ask about your quirk and how it works! Th-that is if you don't mind of course."
Staring at the boy silently for a couple of seconds, the jarring manner in which his confidence shrank away as he asked his question briefly stunning her, Izuku squirming slightly under her probing stare, Mt. Lady broke out in a wide grin as she began to giggle merrily. This boy really was adorable, wasn't he?
"Of course, shortstuff! Hit me with whatever you got!" Mt. Lady cheered with a beaming smile, her giggles only growing stronger at the pure elation that lit up the prospective hero's face, Izuku immediately rattled off a series of questions and theories about the gigantification hero and her quirk, the blonde answering each one with the same enthusiasm.
Completely oblivious to the students and faculty milling around them, their confused stares focused on the odd pair as they walked by them, looks of utter confusion or disbelief, if not outright jealousy, at how such a normal-looking boy could possibly be associated with a bombshell woman like the blonde pro-hero, Mt. Lady and Izuku continued to chat animatedly about hero's and quirks with bright, beaming smiles lighting up their features.
Emerald eyes sparkled with excitement and wonder as a neverending string of questions flowed from the young boy's lips, a small giddy thrill buzzing within his chest every time Mt. Lady answered them with a gorgeous smile, the pro-hero engaging fully with his, what many would kindly consider as odd, obsession. But, with Mt. Lady, he didn't feel that same kind of judgment. Those odd stares and awkward smiles they would give him as he ended up stuck in one of his muttering rambles, sharp judgemental gleaming in their eyes, were completely absent in the blonde hero's gaze. Talking to her, having her engage fully with his passion, with a kind smile and chipper lilt in her voice, made Izuku feel a sense of comfort and familiarity he hadn't felt in years.
Mt. Lady meanwhile, as she answered another one of the boy's seemingly endless questions, the blonde hero briefly wondering if there was even that much to know about her quirk, was thinking about how much fun she was having right now. Talking to Izuku, even if it was just about her quirk, never failed to make her smile. Every interaction they've had up to this point, no matter how brief, no matter how much time had passed since their last meeting, gave her a feeling of excitement and joy that was frankly intoxicating. Seeing him smile, feeling that passion for heroism burn within his soul, even the comical way he stutters and blushes at even the most playful of teasing, just lit up her heart with gleeful happiness.
She was so happy he made it into this school.
Glancing quickly at the clock hanging on the wall, Izuku's eyes widened slightly in surprise when he saw how much time had passed since he ran into Mt. Lady, the young prospective hero keenly aware of the world around him once more, everything having fallen away when his emerald eyes met hers. As wonderful as this has been, the surprise of seeing the blonde hero here having given way to excitement for what's to come in the future, Izuku had to come down from his cloud and place his feet on solid ground so he could walk forward toward his future.
To become the Number 1 Hero.
"M-Mt. Lady. I'm having a lot of fun and there are so many more questions I want to ask," grinning cheekily at the boy's words, greatly pleased with herself at being able to entertain the shy, awkward boy, the Gigantification hero sharing Izuku's sentiment, "but I should be heading to my classroom now."
"Ehh, is it already that time?" Blinking a couple of times in surprise, Mt. Lady turned her head to check the clock on the wall, purple eyes lighting up in understanding as she read the current time, the golden-haired hero humming softly in mild disappointment. "I should be on my way to my first lesson as well then. Good luck in your first class, motormouth. Show them what a Mt. Lady fan can do!"
"I will! Thank you!" Grinning brightly, the green-haired boy completely ignoring the new nickname the blonde hero gave him, Izuku and Mt. Lady shared a brief moment, not a farewell, but a see you again soon. Grabbing the straps of his bag tight, Mt. Lady dramatically fanning out her hair, the pair confidently strode forward toward the new path being forged before them, one of new beginnings and exciting challenges, a bright future waiting just ahead.
As they both started walking in the same direction.
Walking stiffly next to each other, the pair exchanging occasional awkward glances, wondering when their paths would diverge and free them of this embarrassing moment, Izuku and Mt. Lady could only stare in dumbfounded silence as they both stood before the immense doors of the classroom numbered 1-A. Staring up at the looming doorframe, able to easily fit someone with a major mutation quirk, the odd duo turned to face each other with wide, quizzical eyes, these favorable coincidences becoming a little too frequent to be considered normal.
"Well, looks like we'll be seeing a lot more of each other today. Seems like it must be my lucky day." Mt. Lady said, breaking the silence between them as she shot him a beaming smile which slowly morphed into a teasing grin, the gigantification hero voice taking on a flirtatious tone as she winked suggestively at him. "Or maybe it's yours~"
Breaking out in what one would generously describe as a roaring inferno of a blush, a strange sound between a squeak and a croak or the approximation of an answer the green-haired boy could manage escaping his mouth, Izuku viciously ripped the door open before bolting into the classroom in a bid to escape the conversation. While embarrassed beyond belief at the blonde's constant teasing, his body unable to handle the random spikes to his heart rate, Izuku, most of all, wanted to hide the immense, joyous smile that was curling on his lips.
Giggling softly to herself, fist demurely placed over her lips to hide her own smile at the boy's childish shyness, Mt. Lady couldn't get enough of the greenette's exaggerated reactions and mannerisms. They were just so delightfully adorable.
"OI! You're that guy from the entrance exam!" Stumbling backward in shock as a spikey, red-haired boy suddenly invaded his personal space, his sharp-toothed grin growing wider as his excitement at meeting the boy he'd heard so much about, Izuku was left completely dumbstruck, having expected to fly under the radar like in middle school. "The one who destroyed the 0 Pointer in one hit! Man, everyone was talking about it!"
"Eh? That was you!" A girl with pink skin and similar-colored hair that rivaled his in poofiness, small horns sticking out from within the dense jungle-like mane atop her head, Izuku gulping nervously as her intense stare seemed to bore deeply into his soul. "What kind of insane quirk allows you to take down one of those monstrosities!?
"You! You were the boy from the exam!" Squawking in shock, the bespectacled boy who had admonished him during the entrance exam lecture standing intimidatingly next to him, the freshly minted wielder of One For All felt as if his journey to becoming a hero would end before it began, his heart unable to take these constant alarming interruptions. "I would like to apologize for my previous behavior. Clearly, you had a much better grasp of what the exam entailed and I misjudged you. I'm sorry!"
"I-It's ok, really." Holding his hands up as the taller boy bowed stiffly to him, Izuku swore he heard a robotic creaking emanate from the bespectacled student, the young hero-to-be felt as if he was a fishing boat in a storm, the wave of questions from the growing flood of students threatening to swallow him whole. Backing off slightly, the wall of curious classmates bearing down on him as the roar of questions rose to a crescendo, Izuku could faintly hear a familiar giggle amongst the noise, a small comfort in what would surely be his social end.
"My, what lively students we have here!" Like a flash of light cutting through the darkness of the night sky, a beacon of hope to guide a simple fishing boat safely to shore, Mt. Lady's boisterous voice cast an awed silence through the classroom as she made her dramatic entrance. "Hope you can save some of that energy for me~"
Having greatly enjoyed watching her young fan's desperate floundering as he was put under the proverbial microscope amongst his new peers, something he clearly wasn't used to judging by his reaction, Mt. Lady decided to help him out a little as she entered the classroom with her trademark flair and confidence, everyone's eyes immediately drawn to the blonde pro-hero. With one hand resting lazily on the swell of her hips as they swiveled suggestively side to side, Mt. Lady strode confidently to the front of the class, the pro-hero shooting the students a confident and alluring smile, delighting in their undivided, and in one particular case indecent, stares.
Watching the Gigantification hero interact with the class, confidently controlling the room with practiced ease as she playfully bantered with them, effortlessly swaying them to her every whim with her larger-than-life personality, Izuku couldn't help the smile that was curling gently in the corner of his lips. She was simply incredible. The way she so confidently drew in the class's attention, swaying and rolling with every question and comment as if she had known them for years, the young hero fanatic wished he had that kind of confidence, finding those traits of hers incredible and admirable.
"Ah! The boy from the exam!"
Pulled unceremoniously from his inner musings, which were frankly becoming simple daydreams about the blonde beauty, Izuku nearly leapt out of his skin at the sudden, familiar voice coming from behind him, the young hero priding himself on being able to keep himself from screaming this time. Turning his head stiffly to where the voice had come from, emerald eyes grew wide with surprise when he looked into the familiar rounded features of the girl he had, and inversely she had him, saved during the entrance exam.
"Y-you're the girl from the video!" Snapping his mouth shut with an audible clack, Izuku silently chastised himself for that outburst, remembering that his acceptance letter was specially made for him and that she would have no knowledge of him having witnessed her selfless act. To her, he would just come off as some weirdo, if not a bit of a creep. God, he hoped it was just as a weirdo.
"Eh? Video?" Tilting her head curiously to the side, brown eyes staring at the green-haired boy in confusion as he rapidly shook his head back and forth, stuttering and mumbling a string of words that seemed to be some kind of deflection, the brown-haired girl giggled cheerily at his comical mannerisms. "I wanted to thank you for saving me then. I'm so glad you were accepted."
"I-It was nothing, really. I wouldn't have been able to get in if you hadn't saved me from the fall." Smiling shyly at each other, both of them were glad to finally be able to thank the other for what they did during the entrance exam, the pair falling into a comfortable, if not slightly stilted conversation. Izuku, smiling brightly as the girl explained the circumstances leading to her acceptance to the school, the green-haired boy feeling a sense of pride well up within him at finally finding the courage, inspired greatly by Mt. Lady's example, to talk to someone else.
As the pair conversed politely with each other, a budding friendship growing between the newly minted classmates, a set of purple eyes watched their interaction with a soft glint of jealousy refracted within their luminous depths. Shaking her head softly, blonde tresses dancing in waves of creamy gold at the corner of her vision, Mt. Lady took a deep, steadying breath before plastering on a wide, toothy grin, dazzling the students with another alluring pose and teasing remark, the pro-hero trying to distract herself from what she just saw.
And why it hurt so much.
"You're in the way."
Unfortunately for Izuku, and the brown-haired girl by his side who was unfortunately too close to properly protect herself, the sudden gruff voice grumbling ominously behind him caused him to let out a piercing howl of shock, the entire class's gaze shifting from the blonde pro-hero to a strange, scruffy-looking man lying on the ground, wrapped securely in a bright yellow sleeping bag. With rapt fascination, stupified stares following his caterpillar-like movements as he awkwardly crawled to the front of the class, the newly minted students of Class 1-A, and one greatly confused pro-hero could only watch in silence as this strange man glared at them with tired, bloodshot eyes.
"My name is Aizawa Shota. I'm going to be your homeroom teacher from here on out."
Slithering out of his sleeping bag in a serpentine manner, his deep, raspy voice a mix between bored and annoyed, Aizawa's sharp stare caused the students to quickly rush to their assigned seats, the clear threat in his glare plain to see. Shifting his dark glare slightly, giving the blonde pro-hero a sidelong stare, Mt. Lady quickly averted her gaping stare, trying her best to avoid eye contact with her newly revealed supervisor, more than a little creeped out by his odd behavior and disheveled appearance.
Was this guy really a teacher?
Shuffling quickly to his assigned seat, head ducked down as he tried to avoid his teacher's sharp stare, trying to focus instead on the awkward smile Mt. Lady shot him as he passed her by, Izuku came to a sudden stop as his gaze fell upon a familiar, yet not exactly welcoming, sight. Seated right in front of him, his crimson glare as piercing and hateful as ever, Izuku's lips formed a thin, straight line as he stared into the glowering features of his former friend and future classmate, Bakugo Katsuki. Clenching his fist tight, Izuku met his childhood friend's glare with a sharp look of his own, the green-haired boy's stare never wavering as he passed by Katsuki's seat and settled into his own, a soft, shaky breathe passing his lips as he placed his trembling hands on top of his desk.
Even now, with his dream finally coming true, nightmares from the past still had their hold on him it seems.
Pursing her lips slightly in confusion, purple eyes following the green-haired boy's movements as he walked to his seat, Mt. Lady watched the strange interaction with worry. Taking a better look at the boy who had glared at Izuku, a fact she considered strange on its own, the green-haired boy much too sweet in her opinion to elicit such a reaction, a flash of recognition lit up in the pro-hero's mind as his sharp, constantly angry stare briefly passed her before settling on the scruffy homeroom teacher.
'That brat, er…kid, was the same one Izuku was so desperately trying to save during the sludge villain attack!'
But…then why did he seem so pissed off at seeing him? Glaring at someone like that, especially toward someone who risked their lives to save him, seemed a little off to her. That look, so hateful and full of disgust, is not something that should ever be directed toward someone as sweet as Izuku. It is something you save for your greatest enemy or an especially bold fanboy when they ask for a selfie with you and decide to try and cop a feel and you lose tens of thousands of yen in settlement for having lightly 'stepped' on them in response. And then he has the gall to come back later and ask for more, but this time he WANTS! you to step on him, and he brought his friends who-
"Mt. Lady." Snapping to attention, back straight and arms tight to her side, Mt. Lady was pulled out of her spiraling reminiscing by Aizawa's dark, raspy voice calling her name, a note of impatience and displeasure noticeable in his tone as he stared witheringly at her. "Head to the field and get everything ready."
Jumping back into professional mode, fighting the urge to give the man a dutiful salute, afraid of what his reaction would be, Mt. Lady quickly rushed out of the classroom, but not before waving goodbye to Izuku with a cheery grin, blowing the green-haired boy a playful kiss before disappearing around the corner.
Sitting awkwardly in his seat, feeling several stares of his classmates shifting toward him, a cold shiver rolled down Izuku's spine as he felt a dark aura radiating from just behind him, hushed, seething whispers of promised pain floating to his ears as something purple briefly flashed in the corner of his eye. Jumping out of his seat as soon as Aizawa gave them the go-ahead to head to the P.E. field, the aura behind him dissipating slightly as the class went about grabbing their gym uniforms and heading to the change rooms, an air of excitement and trepidation filling the air.
The first step in their new school life begins here.
Stepping out of the school building and into the wide open fields of the P.E. grounds, eager eyes regarding the immense space with awe, Izuku, his heart fluttering wildly in his chest, looked at his hands with a contemplative stare. The excitement he was feeling was clear, this was his dream after all, the next step in his quest to become the number 1 hero, to succeed and carry on All Might's legend.
And yet, with everything that has happened, after all the training and hard work, Izuku still hasn't figured out how to effectively use his quirk. From his grueling training on the beach to being bestowed One For All and passing his entrance exam through what he deemed sheer luck, Izuku never found the time to effectively train with his newly acquired ability. All he had to go off of were some cryptic advice given to him by All Might and from the vast knowledge he had acquired of said hero's move list.
Could he really rely on so little?
Shaking his head to rid himself of the negative thoughts clouding his mind, the young hero fanatic reminded himself that he got this far, that he had people believing in him, that it was time to believe in himself as well. Lifting his head, determination set firmly upon his features, a small glint of joy lit up his emerald eyes as he caught sight of Mt. Lady, the Gigantification hero standing dutifully next to Aizawa, electronic tablet pressed tightly to her chest as she smiled with excitement at the approaching students.
"For this lesson, we'll be testing your aptitude and proficiency with your quirks, just like you would during the yearly physicals." Aizawa droned with a tired voice, his dark, bloodshot eyes slowly roaming over the assembled students with a deep, probing stare as if he was mentally sizing them up. "Oh, and the student with the lowest score will be expelled."
A cold, frightened shiver, like a frigid torrent of glacial water, rolled down Izuku and Mt. Lady's spines, emerald and purple eyes staring at Aizawa in shock as shouts of disbelief and horror rose up amongst the assembled students of Class 1-A. As the reality of Aizawa's words slowly sunk in, how his hero journey could end before it even started, Mt. Lady could only watch in mute horror as Izuku slowly trudged toward the first test, head hung low, his hands balled tightly into fists.
It was like watching a prisoner marching to his death.
And, in a way, it was starting to feel that way as Mt. Lady worriedly stared over the various scores and times littering her clipboard, her purple eyes constantly coming back to Izuku's results, the numbers not painting a pretty picture. While not horrible, the poofy-haired boy easily recorded above-average scores, they, unfortunately, were for people without quirks. In every category, from sprints to side steps, Izuku was frequently placing in the lowest ranks, his average currently placing him at dead last.
Nervously chewing on the tip of her thumb, the artificial texture of her hero suit lingering uncomfortably on her tongue, Mt. Lady watched as Izuku struggled his way through another test, wondering why he wasn't using his quirk. He managed to pass the entrance exam to get into U.A. so surely he must have one…right?
Looking over at the green-haired fanboy, Izuku breathing heavily as he wiped the sweat from his brow, teeth gritted with determination but the worry glowing in his emerald eyes shining through, Mt. Lady thought back to the question he asked her, about whether or not someone without a quirk could become a hero. At the time, she had assumed he was asking for himself, that, even if his dream was so big it couldn't be contained by a boy so small, would him being quirkless simply smother it before the spark could be lit.
But, he made it. He was in U.A. And right now he was fighting, clawing, giving everything he had to not let this chance be taken from him, holding on to that dream with a vice-like grip, even while the world was trying to snatch it from him.
She wasn't going to let that happen!
"C'mon, Midoriya-kun!" Before she could think about what she was doing, about how she would look or what others would think about her, how her playing favorites could impact her new job, Mt. Lady's body reacted before she could stop herself, her voice bellowing loudly through the P.E. grounds. "Don't give up! Fight!"
Like a pin dropping in an empty theater, all eyes turned to regard the blonde woman with confused and bewildered stares, some glinting with jealous rage at how such a plain-looking boy could catch the attention of such a stunning beauty like Mt. Lady, everyone wondering why she was so strangely fixated on him or how they even know each other. This thought, amongst others, was shared by their homeroom teacher, Aizawa's usually deadpan expression shifting slightly as he quirked a quizzical eyebrow at the golden-haired woman, having noticed their previous interactions as well.
It was worth keeping an eye on at the very least.
"Quiet down, Mt. Lady." Huffing loudly in exasperation, this schoolyear already proving to be a major headache now that he has to babysit a flamboyant, loudmouth of a pro-hero as well as children, Aizawa shot the hollering blonde a withering glare. "And stop playing favorite. You're supposed to be a professional."
Snapping her mouth shut, lips pursed in an angry pout as her cheeks puffed up comically, Mt. Lady softly grumbled under her breath as she went back to her notes, the screen groaning in protest as she pressed the pen roughly against its surface. As everyone returned their focus back to the task at hand, the strange event momentarily pushed to the back of their minds, a set of emerald eyes, glowing brilliantly within the sun's morning rays with unshed tears, stared at the golden-haired hero with love and admiration, lips quirking upwards into bright, determined grin.
Clenching his fist tight, heart beating loudly in his chest, Izuku quickly rushed over to the next test, his eyes set with new resolve. No, he wasn't going to let things end here. He couldn't give up when there was still a chance, when others still believed in him, when she believed in him. Now was the time to believe in himself as well, to believe in his strength.
To show them just what he could do.
Gritting his teeth, pushing past every limit he previously had, Izuku managed to claw his way through the next tests, his scores steadily improving from event to event. Though he was still hovering near the bottom, the lack of a usable quirk hampering his possible score, there was still a ray of hope left, one he was taking with his own two hands.
"This will be the final test." Holding up a plain-looking baseball, Aizawa lazily handed it to the green-haired boy, the small object feeling unusually heavy in his hands, the weight of expectation, his future, resting firmly within his grip. Stepping up to the pitching spot, emerald eyes focused firmly on the round object within his hand, Izuku exhaled softly, his entire plan resting on this one moment.
He had only one shot to use One For All.
As soon as he used it, he would be out of commission for the rest of the tests, his score sure to be at the very bottom even if he aced that particular one. That's why he had to save it for the very last one, hoping his previous scores were good enough to keep him afloat before he could use his new quirk. If he can ace this one, with his previous scores hovering at the bottom, he should be able to just about squeak through.
Lifting his head up, eyes set sharply, Izuku reared his arm back, One For All crackling just beneath the surface, power rushing through him as he let the ball fly with all his might.
And with a gentle plop, the ball landed only a couple feet away from him, an awkward silence washing over the assembled students.
"W-What?" Staring at his hand in confusion, not a single blemish or broken bone to be found, the power he felt before had vanished in an instant as if it had been forcefully taken from him. Snapping his head up, emerald eyes growing wide as realization dawned on the green-haired hero fanatic, Izuku slowly turned his gaze toward his homeroom teacher, a familiar pair of yellow goggles hanging limply off of the black-haired man's neck.
"You…you're Eraser Head." Eyes glowing an ominous red, his hair floating above him as if submerged in water, Aizawa glared sharply at Izuku as the bandages wrapped neck suddenly shot forward, grabbing ahold of the unsuspecting boy. Shouting in surprise, Izuku barely had time to respond before he felt the bandages wrap tightly around his arms, the material holding him fast as they dragged him closer to his homeroom teacher.
"You were hoping to bet everything on that one gamble weren't you, even if it left you injured or incapacitated?" Gasping softly in shock, emerald eyes snapping up to stare into the Erasure user's glowing red eyes, Izuku felt a small shiver run down his spine at the anger simmering behind his words. "That's why I deactivated your quirk."
Feeling the bandages around his arms slowly loosen, the glow in Aizawa's eyes fading as they took on their familiar black tone, the dark-haired man rubbing his eyes with an annoyed groan, Izuku flinching slightly as his glare fell upon him once more.
"What do you think would happen once you've saved one person using your quirk, but now you are incapacitated yourself? What about anyone else that needs saving or the heroes who need to now save you as well? You are too reckless and your quirk is too unstable."
Lowering his head, teeth gritted in frustration, Izuku couldn't deny what his teacher was saying, though it infuriated him to admit it. He had been shortsighted, so focused on passing a simple test to understand the greater whole of the lesson, to grasp the sheer gravity of where he was. He was in a hero course, the very foundation of which entails saving others, to protect them and others from villains and other possible disasters.
What good is a hero that can't even save himself?
"That's why I had recommended they reject your entrance into U.A." All at once, like an icy dagger into his heart, Izuku's entire being ran cold at the Erasure hero's simple, emotionless statement, as if his dream, his entire life, was merely in the way of pure facts. "You don't have what it takes to be a hero. Now throw the ball and let's get this over with."
Gritting her teeth angrily, purple eyes narrowed with rage as they glared harshly at the dark-haired teacher, Mt. Lady fought the urge to grow big and get a couple of good stomps in on Aizawa before he had a chance to erase her quirk. While it obviously would be a bad look for her, to assault a fellow faculty member on her first day of work, she unfortunately couldn't really fault the man's logic, that everything he said was true and that it was a valuable lesson for all prospective heroes to learn.
She just hated the way he said it! That pompous self-importance, the needless degradation, and the clear abuse of power pissed her off to no end. The gall to say that Izuku didn't have what it takes to be a hero when she witnessed firsthand just how amazing and special he was. She wasn't going to let this stand without saying her piece.
Stepping forward, her angry retort resting on the tip of her tongue, prepared to be unleashed at a moment's notice, Mt. Lady came to a sudden stop, her rage simmering down as she watched Izuku stoop down to pick up the ball, an air of quiet confidence and strong resolve surrounding him. Purple eyes, the fiery heat from before replaced with gentle softness, Mt. Lady watched with bated breath as Izuku prepared his next throw, the ball clenched tightly within his fist.
Holding the ball tight, Eraser Head's words rumbling through his head like a whirlwind of fear and doubt, all the jeering voices and taunts from his past, the disappointed stares and pitying smiles, thundering like a cacophony through his mind. But, through the buffeting winds, within the eye of the storm, a serene calm washed over the green-haired boy, two voices ringing clearly above the din of noise.
"Anyone can achieve their dream."
"You can be a hero."
Snapping his eyes open, electricity glowing within his emerald gaze, Izuku reared his arm back, One For All crackling to life within him. If throwing it with all of his strength left his arms incapacitated, then all he had to do was focus it all into a single point to lessen the amount of damage. As he threw his arm forward with all of his might, Izuku focused the power of One For All into the tip of his index finger right as he was letting go of the ball, a resounding crack of energy booming through the school grounds as it went flying at incredible speed.
Breathing heavily, an agonizing pain radiating from his finger, a dark, ugly bruise forming on his skin, Izuku nevertheless couldn't help but grin triumphantly as he turned toward his teacher, his hand clenching into a fist, flecks of blood dripping from his torn flesh as he proudly showed it off to the Erasure hero.
"Sensei. I can still move."
Watching the events unfold before her in stunned silence, the number 705.3 meters lighting up the measuring device in her hand, Mt. Lady didn't know whether to laugh in vindicated bliss or shout in confused rage.
'So…he wasn't quirkless after all?! And his quirk was this powerful!? Why did he ask me that question then?! No wonder he passed the exam though, I haven't seen that kind of raw display of power since All Might. Though, looking at his finger, his quirk seems to have a serious side effect. I'm worried about what might happen if he used his full strength.'
Looking down at her tablet, reading over Izuku's previous scores, wondering what they would look like if he had full use of his quirk, Mt. Lady suddenly snapped back to attention when she remembered what they were doing, the Gigantification hero quickly tallying up all of the points. Prepping the final counts, her tablet automatically formulated the students into a convenient ranking from best to worst, a sudden, enraged scream made Mt. Lady lift her head before she could properly read the final standings.
"DEKU!" The same blonde hothead from before, his severe features twisted and distorted into an expression of pure rage, rushed toward the green-haired poofball from the crowd of students, explosive bursts shooting from his hands as he bore down on Izuku with incredible speed. "What the hell was that?!"
Reacting quickly, sensing the clear intent to harm Izuku, Mt. Lady activated her quirk as she rushed toward the oncoming blonde, her sprinting footsteps becoming ponderous footfalls, the earth rumbling as she moved to intercept Katsuki. With dexterous speed belying her immense frame, Mt. Lady snatched the raging boy into her all-consuming grip in one swift motion, squeezing the squirming blonde carefully between her hands, managing to grab him before he was able to reach the petrified Izuku.
"Ow, ow, ow that's hot! Damn brat-ow-OW!" Thrashing wildly within Mt. Lady's grip, the gigantic hero biting back a series of less-than-school-friendly language as explosions went off within her hands, the bursts of heat painfully stinging her palms. Hopping from foot to foot, gentle tremors rumbling through the ground, Mt. Lady fought the temptation to launch him out of the school grounds, her temper flaring up with every repeated sting searing her skin.
"Bakugo! Stop or else you will be expelled for assaulting a teacher!" Feeling the explosions cease with the homeroom teacher's threat, Mt. Lady, none too gently, dumped the annoying blonde onto the ground, the Gigantification hero shaking her hands to try and rid herself of the pain as she shrunk back to her regular size, grumbling that he already did assault a teacher. Looking over her hands, small, black charr marks littering the palms of her hands, Mt. Lady was thankful that the explosions failed to break through the layer of her uniform, leaving her beautiful hands completely unharmed.
"You did well reacting quickly to the situation and de-escalating it before it could get out of hand." Lifting her head, eyes wide with shock, having not expected to hear praise from the curmudgeonly teacher, Mt. Lady shot Aizawa a bright grin, thinking that maybe he wasn't as bad as he seemed. "Now get back to work."
Well, she won't be making that mistake again. Grumbling indignantly under her breath, Mt. Lady quickly pulled up the final rankings, the color draining from her face, her chest growing cold as her eyes fell upon Izuku's name. Even with the last burst of points from the ball-throwing test, with all the effort he put in, Izuku still came in last. Lifting her head, purple eyes regarded the oblivious boy with a heartrending sadness, the reality of the situation, that she would have to take his dream away, was too much for her to bear.
He didn't deserve this.
"Oh, by the way, no one is getting expelled. That was a lie."
A pregnant silence, like the calm after a raging storm, fell over the assembled students before erupting into cries and shouts of disbelief and overwhelming relief, some of them falling to their knees as their bodies nearly gave out from the sudden shock to their system. Mt. Lady, holding the tablet tight to her chest, lifted her head to the sky as she let out a long sigh of relief, her heart leaping with joy that Izuku would not lose his spot at the school.
"Well, it was obviously a lie. Anyone could tell that." A girl with long, black hair, the one Mt. Lady was pretty sure was called Yaoyorozu Momo, remade with a haughty huff, her withering stare causing many of the students to avert their gaze in shame, having been thoroughly duped by their homeroom teachers lie.
Giggling softly to herself, a wavering smile curling on her lips, Mt. Lady nervously shifted her gaze back and forth, trying her best to seem like she had known all along about Eraser Head's plan, even though she was just in the dark as everyone else. As she turned her head, surely not to try and hide the barely concealed nervousness on her face, Mt. Lady's eyes fell upon the spikey-headed blonde from before, his narrowed eyes still focused squarely upon the green-haired boy, Katsuki silently seething as he glared angrily at Izuku.
'I'm going to have to keep an eye on him.'
"Good job, Young Midoriya." All Might whispered to himself from his barely concealed hiding spot, his hulking body, decked out in a gaudy yellow and black striped suit, clearly visible from behind the building he was peeking from, his trademark smile taking on a slight tinge of pride as he watched his successor defy expectations once again. "Aizawa seems to have grown soft after all this time if no one failed."
He knew choosing Izuku as his successor was the right choice. The boy's heroic spirit and ingenious mind, with just the slightest spark of recklessness that necessitated a selfless hero, was the perfect combination for the one to take over his spot as the Symbol of Peace. And, even then, Izuku still managed to throw a couple surprises into the mix.
'Though, this is quite an interesting development.' All Might mused as he watched Mt. Lady walk over to the green-haired hero fanatic, a bright smile blossoming on Izuku's face as they struck up a conversation, the awkward young boy he came to know seeming much more relaxed and happy around her. 'She must have been the one to give him that extra motivation. Very interesting indeed.'
Sighing heavily, his whole body awash with fatigue as he stared contemplatively at his bandaged finger, Izuku's mind kept going over the events of the day, trying to fully process everything that had happened and what he had learned. After the relief of finding out he wasn't going to be expelled, Aizawa had further surprised him by handing him a slip to go see Recovery Girl to get his finger treated, the previously gruff and cruel homeroom teacher seeming almost gentle as he imparted him with some last minute advice.
Staring at the injured digit, the sight of it torn and bruised after a single use of One For All still fresh in his mind, Izuku wondered where he was going to go from here. Now that he knew how to use One For All without hurting or incapacitating himself, at least to a manageable degree, the greenette still wasn't sure of how he was going to make full use of his quirk. While All Might and Aizawa's advice had helped him get a better sense of it, his progress in using it being slow but steady, Izuku knew he was still lightyears behind the rest of the class.
He needed to catch up and quick.
"Oi, Midoriya-kun!"
Lifting his head, emerald eyes looking about in confusion at the familiar voice calling his name, Izuku's face lit up with a bright smile as he caught sight of the Gigantification hero as she waved at him with a toothy grin, the green-haired boy blushing slightly at Mt. Lady wearing her civilian clothes. Sticking her hands into the pockets of her designer jacket, her features fully uncovered from her horned mask, Izuku could only watch in silent awe as the stunning beauty walked up to him, her purple eyes somehow seeming even more gorgeous as they were framed softly by the creamy tresses of her blonde hair.
"Guess it's time for me to formally introduce myself." Mt. Lady giggled as she smiled brightly, the Gigantification hero standing proudly with her hands resting on her hips, purple eyes sparkling with delight as she introduced herself to Izuku for the second time. "I'm Takeyama Yu. Nice to meet you."
Grinning wide, Izuku greeted her with an enthusiastic cheer, Yu giggling merrily at how adorable this poofy-headed boy was, the pair sharing companionable laughter, delighted to finally get to know their real selves.
"Hey, would you be a dear and accompany me to the station? It can get so lonely on that long walk." Fluttering her eyelashes playfully at him, the blonde hero leaned forward as she struck a comically exaggerated sexy pose, Yu immediately bursting out in raucous laughter at the expression on the green-haired boy's face, Izuku trying his best not to laugh in the pro-hero's face.
"Of course, I would be honored." Responding with a courteous bow, Yu covered her mouth with her fist to hide the distinctly unladylike grin on her face, a stifled chortle passing her lips at the comical expression on Izuku's face, his boyish features contorted into a snooty mug that was much too realistic for comfort. Sharing a brief bout of laughter, amused at their stupid shenanigans, completely oblivious of the throng of students passing them by, Izuku and Yu started their trek down the hill and toward the train station, the worries of the day all but forgotten.
"Oh, before I forget." Coming to a sudden halt, Izuku stared at the blonde hero in confusion as she pulled something from her purse, Yu smiling knowingly as she held his lost hero notebook out to him. "I'm pretty sure this is yours."
Taking the offered notebook from her hands, his eyes roaming over the charred cover with nostalgic warmth, Izuku gave the blonde hero a grateful smile, one Yu returned with a joyous one of her own, the pair continuing their trek down the hill, idle chatter and amused laughter following along them as they enjoyed each others company to the fullest.
A/N: First day survived.
New chapter is finally done! After successfully pushing through a horrible bout of writer's block, after which everything flowed rather smoothly to my surprise, we finally have the newest installment of Mt. Lady and Izuku's adventures. I'm sure that Katsuki fellow won't cause any problems. Surely.
I hope you all look forward to the next one!