As the class followed them Midoriya was still being bombarded with questions.
"So how do you have a griffin shift?' Kirishima asked, practically bouncing with excitement. "Should I fear your mother more than I already do?"
"Why are you- okay whatever. No. My mom has a Ewe shift, really soft green wool. I got this from- well from my dad."
"How, you're dad's right there." Todoroki whispered so only Izuku would hear him and gestured subtly to All Might.
Izuku made a strangled noise and tripped over his own feet. "No Todoroki. From my dad, Midoriya Hisashi. He had a griffin shift."
"You never talk about your dad," Yaoyorozu pointed out. "Is he-?"
"He died when I was little." Midoriya sighed, "before my shift even came in. But he took me flying once, it scared mom half to death, but I loved it. It was right after- I had just gotten some bad news and he wanted to make me smile."
He had a far away look and a few tears perked at the corner of his eyes.
Uraraka jumped to change the subject. "So why isn't your fur green?"
He took it, "It sort of is. The black parts look green under certain lighting."
"My question is why your fur is green, sir." Iida asked All Might paused momentarily and shuddered.
"There was an incident when I was still at UA, involving a pool. Stained my fur forever." He shuddered again and kept walking.
Come to think of it, the rabbit's fur wasn't the shade of viridian that Midoriya's hair was. Instead it was more yellow.
Some other blondes in the room nodded in understanding, also aware of the chlorine curse.
By the time they reached their destination Midoriya had answered many questions about his shift form. All Might also answered any question posed to him.
But unfortunately Bakugo had been slowly stewing in anger as the positive attention had been on Midoriya far too long for his liking.
He grit his teeth and rage. So all these years Deku was just hiding this awesome second form from him. This couldn't like the quirk he stole off of All Might, since the man apparently had one of the dumbest fucking shift forms possible.
Seriously? A fucking bunny? No wonder he kept it a secret, it was pathetic.
But shitty Deku didn't have a pathetic shift, he had a mythical shift. One that was absolutely wasted on a quirkless loser who didn't even use it. Not when someone like him could have had it. He'd actually be worthy of it, just like he would be more worthy of the title hero.
"Today shifts will be the topic." All Might was explaining. "Shift forms are often more useful for certain tasks, even if you cannot use your quirk in that form. So, today we'll practice using them in a mock trial."
Finally.
"Deku." He stormed forward.
The coward jumped and looked ready to hide behind Stick Up His Ass even as Half and Half moved to intervene. He would mow down any extras he had to if it meant putting the Deku back in his place.
"You really think you could get away with this? Pretending to have no shift so long, what? Just to make fun of me? Well guess what, you were smart to do so. Because I would have blown those ugly excuses for feathers off before letting you take a tumble off a building. If you think you're better than me just because you have a fancy shift form, you're dead wrong."
"Why would I hide this to make fun of you?" The shitty greenette asked in a barely whisper. He was terrified. Good.
"You're right, maybe you just did it because you knew you were a freak like your father." He snapped at him. "Probably died in a freak show, where you'll head next."
And as Bakugo snapped, so did something in Midoriya. Making jokes about his dads death had always been a line. One that Bakugo hadn't dared to cross.
Until now.
"Don't you dare talk about him like that." Midoriya launched forward, getting an inch away from the taken aback blonde. "You don't get to make fun of my dad. Not now, not ever! Understand!?"
Everyone looked dumbfounded as they saw the normally chipper or fearful teen get genuinely angry at Bakugo. It was rare, even when the blonde had punched him during their final he hadn't been this upset.
Toshinori smiled very subtly, 'Go off, young Midoriya' he thought.
"Why did I never show you my shift before? You literally just said it! What would you and your gang of sycophants have done if I had huh? Suddenly welcome me back with open arms to be friends again? No! You would have taken that little bit of joy from me too. You already had taken my joy, my blood, my tears, and you nearly got my dream and life! But like hell I would ever let you take my wings and claws from me!"
It was all pouring from his mouth without a filter and in the very back of his mind he remembered that other people could hear him.
"Why-" Bakugo moved to open his mouth but was cut off.
"And guess what!? I know exactly why! Because you would have been jealous, like you are now. Let me guess the second you found out about my shift you thought, 'it's wasted on him. It should have been me.' Because you hate your shift Kachan. Just like you hate that nickname. You don't like anything about yourself except your power so you have to tear everyone else down so they can't enjoy anything about themselves either. Well guess what, you don't get to choose your shift and I personally think it's great."
Somehow even when angry Midoriya couldn't help but throw compliments at people.
"But you just hate it because it's a cute-"
"Don't you dare."
"-g eyed, button nosed-"
"Deku!"
"-londe, fluffy-
"Don-"
"POMERAINIAN!" The greenette finally finished before collapsing from not having breathed the entire time he was shouting.
Bakugou waited all of two seconds before trying to lunge at the greenette. But apparently two seconds was enough.
SInce in a flash feathers the teen was replaced with the truly massive lion-bird he had so recently been revealed as. He opened his mouth in an angry roar directed at the blonde while lunging.
Toshinori had buffed up ready to keep the two from killing each other before stopping mid step.
Yapping very angrily in the jaws of the large bird feline was a gold pomeranian with bright red eyes. It had little sparks coming from its mouth but was unable to move from the spot.
Oh yeah, my additional ability for my shift? Turns out I can force someone into shift with my roar. And he can't change back while scruffed.
The mental message rang through the minds of the gathered class.
As the chaos of seeing the greenette finally snap,and the blonde being forced into his small dog form finally settled down, several students put a hand to their mouths.
DON"T YOU DARE LAUGH AT ME! I"LL KILL YOU! LET ME GO YOU OVERGROWN HOUSE CAT-CANARY!
More sparks flew from the dog's mouth but he was not put down by the feline-avian.
"Bakubro, it's a good shift." Kirishima said, hiding his own giggled behind his hand. "We're not laughing because we think less of you or anything."
The dog growled at him.
"No really." Kaminari told him. "It's just- well it should have been obvious huh?"
This did not stop the blonde from growling and he let out one very indignant bark.
Toshinori was hiding his amusement pretty well while the rest assured Young Bakugou that he was plenty intimidating even with his shift form. His phone buzzed and he saw the message was from Aizawa.
'Were gonna want to separate those two aren't we?' He could practically hear the tired man's frustration at the extra work. 'Some of the things Problem Child said were concerning.'
Then after a moment.
'Rat say's tell your kid to put Bakugo down. We could get in trouble for letting that happen.'
He sighed.
"Young Midoriya, I am going to have to ask you to put Young Bakugo down." He saw the griffin make a face. "Spit him out, you don't know where he's been."
Izuku rolled his eyes but complied, gently setting the pomeranian down before backing up as the blonde promptly turned back into a human. He immediately began cursing but before he could lunge Toshinori stepped in.
"Young Bakugo, if you wish to make a harassment claim against young Midoriya I fully understand wanting to go now. You may return to your next class when that is done."
Thankfully the angry teen seemed embarrassed enough to take the out. Still snarling at everyone as he left.
Toshinori knew he probably would still be in trouble for letting things get this far but he'd happily take the reprimand if it meant Young Midoriya carried a little less weight on his shoulders.
Honestly, what was he thinking calling those two rivals? They were so far into the unhealthy territory they had only managed to avoid nemesis by Midoriya's unwavering faith in Bakugo's inventions. Which he finally seemed to realize weren't as well meaning as he thought.
"Now I believe we have a volunteer for one of our first round members. Who else wants to try the obstacle course using their shift?"
Several hands shot into the air.
+x+
Later that day a green rabbit sat outside waiting. When a green haired teen exited the building he picked the rabbit up and placed him on his shoulder, where the animal had a surprisingly good sitting spot.
"Will I be in trouble for forcing Bakugo into a shift?" Midoriya wonders aloud. "I mean it was a dick move of me to reveal his shift when he wanted to keep it a secret."
I'm sure you will get a reprimand for outing another student secret but I doubt you will be in too much trouble for the forced shift. Young Bakugo clearly attacked first and you did little more than incapacitate him with no injury. Unless you count the bruise on his pride.
The boy snorted. "Still, I should apologize."
You are too good for us Young Midoriya. You would forgive those who never asked for it, and apologize to those most would see as undeserving. But you aren't stupid about it, you just think about the events that lead up to a moment and evaluate whether it's worth being mad. It's an emotional maturity most your age haven't mastered.
He hummed, "Most might call that being emotionally unstable. Forgiving people who maybe don't deserve it."
Still. You've now shown you know when to be unapologetically vocal about how you should be treated. I can only hope Young Bakugo internalizes what you said.
"What's gonna happen to Kachan?" Midoriya asked as he continued to walk back to his dorm. "I kind of revealed more than I meant to."
I can not tell you everything but I can say we will recommend he see the school's counselor about his self loathing for his shift. And that I don't see him staying in your class much longer- Oh no, no! He's not being kicked out, don't worry about that. But he will likely be changing classes until his behavior changes
Izuku felt himself relax marginally.
They reached the door to the dorms and he took the rabbit off his shoulder and placed his mentor on the ground.
"I think I need a flight later." Izuku admitted. "Things are easier when your feet are off the ground."
The rabbit shifter closed his eyes and his nose twitched in happiness. "My mentor once said the same thing. Enjoy your flight young Midoriya."