Surprise! Another chapter update. This was stuck in edit purgatory but I thought that I should just stop being a perfectionist and upload it already.
He arrived first and the empty classroom was what greeted him. The thought of being early than Iida passed by him for he still shivered and recalled every detail of the dream. The door slammed open and he greeted the first person with a smile. "Good morning, Iida-kun."
Who else could it be if not Iida Tenya who was the most do-gooder—Kacchan's words, not his—student of 1-A.
His smile turned upside down when he saw that his friend didn't have his usual energy with him based on his gaunt pale face and solemn eyes. God, he hoped that they were able to at least make Iida feel a little better yesterday.
"Good morning, Midoriya-kun," Iida said waving and approaching him. "I know I said this yesterday, but thank you for visiting Tensei-niisan and for the gift. My brother and our family like Yakushi." He bowed to him all of a sudden.
His cheeks light up. "I'm sorry about yesterday. I know I said it was just me. I felt like I betrayed you when I brought them."
His friend crossed his arm. "Don't apologize, Midoriya-kun! I know I said I wanted time alone, but I appreciate the thought. The visit yesterday made my brother and I happy." Iida's eyes started to moist and just when he thought that Iida was about cry, he held on.
Izuku for his part said nothing about it and beamed at him. "I'm glad both of you like it. Is your brother out of the hospital now?"
"Not yet." He replied looking slightly melancholic. "But the doctors said he would be tomorrow or the one after."
Izuku wondered what would happen now to Team Idaten now that Ingenium's off active duty permanently. Maybe he can lead from a distance but Ingenium was the face of his agency. It would greatly affect the public perception of his hero agency without their leader on the field. Not only that, their effectiveness and prowess. He wanted to ask, but he thought it too depressing of a topic so he asked a different one.
"Are you alright, Iida?"
Iida opened his mouth but closed it a second later and sighing followed by a wistful smile. "I'm feeling much better than yesterday thanks to you guys. I did not think that I needed a distraction to sort out my feelings, but I realized last night that I do."
"Truth be told," he started as he sat on Katsuki's chair and turning it to face him. Usually, Iida was one to say not disturb the orderliness of the room, but Izuku did not mind this more carefree version of him, even if for a brief time. "You may think less of me for thinking this, but." Iida opened his mouth but closed it as his brows furrowed and sighed. "I wanted to intern to an agency in Hosu and avenge my brother for what Stain did to him."
His friend slouched like deflating and would not look at him directly in the eye. Izuku noted his shaking fists in his lap. It was so unlike Iida to doubt and shame himself for feeling like that.
"Then, my brother told me all some of his untold experience when you left. He told me of the time a sidekick of his got critically injured from a villain attack. Sent to ICU even. He said….," he paused and Izuku saw his Adam's apple bobbing up and down, clearly mincing on what he was going to say. "He felt angry, but he held himself off and didn't let it affect him when he faced the villain and brought him to justice because that was the right thing to do. I feel bad for being this way, but still, I want to do it. For Tensei-niisan. To erase the fire burning in my heart!"
"Some hero I am, huh," he derisively said followed by a slow shake of his head and snort. "My brother resisted this feeling, why can't I? I bring shame to the Iida name just with these dark thoughts alone."
Were the pitter-pattering rain and the ominous thunder that raged outside that only served to darken the mood a sign of his friend's dark thoughts? He didn't believe in such notion but that's what he thought when Iida told him of his dark desire. He found it... symbolic.
"I don't blame you for feeling that way," Izuku replied, more like asserted, too quickly before he could think hard about it. "It's family. It's our whole world. Hero or not, it's normal we feel that way. I'll probably feel the same as you if the same thing happened to my mom or Kacchan, so I don't blame you. What matters is how we act on the feeling."
Just the thought of his mom or Katsuki being near death brought an ugly feeling within him but when he becomes a hero. He knew that would be an inevitability at some point in the future.
"That's just it! I know it's bad, I know it's normal. But why does these feelings persist in me even when I try to stop it!?" He snapped before looking down once more. "The more I resist, the more the feeling grows and makes me want to do it! The need to do it for Tensei-niisan."
"You really love your brother to go that far," Izuku replied looking at Iida scowling darkly. "Part of me wants to say, don't do it, but I don't know what you're feeling personally to say that to you. I don't, or maybe won't say anything to change your mind since I don't know what you're really going through now. In fact, I'm not sure I can say anything to sway you away from it because it looks like you've decided on it. But maybe think about what your brother would feel if you do act on it. Ask yourself, is this the hero that your brother saw or want you to be?"
He winced at his own words. Was it unfair of him to use Iida's brother to make him stop? Yes, but it was just what he needed and wanted to say. He knew what Iida was feeling, but he couldn't understand what's he going through now. Iida came clean to him about this without hesitation and he would do the same; answer it with his own truth. No inhibition.
"I'm sorry if that—"
"You don't have to apologize," Iida said as a small smile formed on his lips. "I understand what you meant. Thank you, Midorita-kun." A moment of silence passed between them which Izuku found it comforting. Iida got up and went to his assigned seat.
He let Iida sort himself out as time passed between them that he didn't notice much that one by one his classmate came and before he knew it, it was time for class. Briefly, he saw Mina, Hagakure, and few others give Kaminari, Kirishima, and Mineta something he money. He glanced at Iida expecting him to stop the bet payment and frowned when his friend had no visible reaction to it. For Iida to ignore things that he considered bad was a worrisome thought.
The excited chattering of his classmates drowned out his worried thoughts for Iida and the dream.
"I had many people talk to me on the way here!" Mina said happily. "We're super famous!"
Hagakure jumped, her sleeves waving up and down. "Me too! They congratulated me for my effort even if I didn't make it to the finals."
Looks like everyone in the room is recognized by the people. He expected no less since it was a nationally televised event on par with the Olympics.
Most of the talk went like that and he opted to remain silent for a while. At least, he wanted to until Mina called him out. "Hey, Midori! Did people talk to you too?"
He looked at them sheepishly. "Yeah. They were all over me on the train. Asking me questions and some even took video for their blogs!"
"What about you Katsuki?" Hagakure asked Kaachan who sat with his foot on the desk and ignoring the others. His glance turned to Iida who still said nothing about his best friend's lack of care for school equipment.
"What do you think," he said scoffing. "Of course they would recognize my talent."
"Of course they would! What kind of question is that?" Kaminari excitedly said. "No one's gonna forget our fights anytime soon."
Sato whistled. "That's UA. One little thing and the world's eyes are all over you."
"Right?" Ojiro replied. "Even if most of us didn't make it to the finals, they still noticed us."
"G'morning," Aizawa-sensei, who was already out of his whole body bandage, drawled as he entered the room looking as if he wasn't critically injured. The only mark of left from the USJ Incident was the scar below his left eye. It made his eyes intimidating than before
"Good to see your bandages off, sensei," Tsuyu commented.
"Never mind that," he said while scratching his scar. "Today, we've got a special Hero informatics class."
Crap. Izuku tensed. He didn't study because he did not expect anything special planned by their homeroom teacher as he expected Aizawa-sensei to give them the drafts of the agency that's willing to accept interns like he said last time. On the edge of his vision and all around him, it looked like he wasn't the only one that was expecting something worse. The tension in their room was palpable and could be punched away by All Might.
"You'll be coming up with your hero aliases," he said with no shred of excitement as his eyes glanced at them for a second. Izuku shivered at the second their teacher's eyes lingered over at him before moving on.
He was not in any trouble was he? In any case, he was not called yet, so he'd have to hold his thoughts about that. Maybe he was just paranoid.
Just like a switch, the tension left his body and he cheered with his classmate when their teacher declared it. He was sure it was going to be a pop quiz. He was glad he was wrong!
"But before that…," their teacher explained the agencies that picked them was one of the ways they showed interest and that can be revoked anytime. He then wrote the draft numbers.
He was shocked that Todoroki had the highest draft with an amazing amount of 4,980. To be honest, he expected Kacchan to have the largest one since he won, but he had 4,432. A huge gap between his friend and Todoroki, though he didn't wonder why. Todoroki was well trained in more than basics of hero skills like hand to hand, intelligence gathering, quirk prowess, and not to mention has a powerful quirk to boot. These main factors were the reasons why many agencies undoubtedly picked him.
As for himself? He looked at agencies that picked him in wide-eyed disbelief. Never did he expected to have so many! He placed third and thought that his performance was okay, and his best, but not enough to garner the attention of 3,045 choosing him.
If he was to be asked if he felt happy he would say yes, but it felt wrong to have that an insane amount since he felt his Sports Festival performance wasn't his best. It was his best, yes, but he did numerous blunders lost consciousness in the end. His expectations went only as high as between 600 to 1000, but damn it was it unexpected he got that many.
"Typically, it's more of a spread, but the top three of the festival got most of the spotlight."
He ignored the awed chatter of his classmate, some who turn to him causing his cheeks to go aflame, and read the rest of the list. It was good that Iida got 300, and Uraraka had 35. For a second, he wondered how much offers did Itsuka Kendo since she placed second.
"Whether you're picked or not, you still have a chance to work alongside Pros."
"Oh, that's why we need our hero names!" Sato concluded.
"Correct. The name you pick will be tentative, but it will be the one you will use in this internship so pick something appropriate." Aizawa-sensei took something from his desk and he suppressed a laugh for it was his sleeping bag, the one he used during their first day. The hero wore it and slept leaning against the wall without a care for them.
"Be careful though," all eyes turned to the door where a familiar female voice commented. In came Midnight into their room sauntering that emphasized her assets, especially her hips, with every step. "The name you come up with maybe the one the world calls you throughout your whole hero career! So choose wisely"
"True enough," Aizawa lazily commented on his spot without moving. "In creating your hero names, think of the future you see for yourself. The image you want to to show the world, and one that reflects your character. Midnight here will assist you in picking the names."
"Alright!" Midnight roared while giving them small whiteboards to pass along. "You have fifteen minutes to come up with your hero alias."
One that reflects our character and what we want the world to see.
He had a few ideas in mind but he wasn't sure if it fits him. It went like this for the whole time, him putting a name and quickly erasing it. He had thought of names before, but it wasn't that great nor was it serious. To think that the day where he would make a hero name himself had come this early. Honestly, he thought that was a little way down the line.
He wanted something of his own. What he thought was that it had to be far away from All Might as possible to avoid questions from people since his costumes already based on his mentor. It had to define him. What makes Midoriya Izuku as Midoriya Izuku and what he was as a hero.
"Time's up," Midnight-sensei said raising her whip. "We can start with whoever's ready."
One by one his classmate volunteered after Tsuyu who came up with the name Froppy. He found himself feeling jealous of their good names. No! He shook his head. Even with Aoyama's long name that suited him well, he envied their creativity for choosing names.
I have to be confident. This was what he felt was best that described him. This was him.
Kacchan gave him confidence when he presented his without problem as "Explosion Hero: King Explosion Murder." Regardless if it was rejected by Midnight. It not only made him laugh but gave himself confidence in his own chosen name.
Uraraka's was a bit of a pun with her, "Uravity" name. Kirishima chose the name, "Sturdy Hero: Red Riot," an obvious homage to his idol Crimson Riot who had the same hardening quirk as his friend.
When it was Iida's turn, his eyes looked at his friend in worry. "Tenya," his friend had written as he presented it with looking at them directly while discretely looking down as if averting his gaze from everyone. With what Iida said earlier, he was sure of his conclusion and wished he could help him more.
Izuku was right to worry for his friend, but now was not the time to worry for Iida because it was his turn. When it was time for his, he took a deep breath and clutched the board tight to his chest. He was sure this was his hero name. Despite his confidence in his chosen name, his nervousness persisted.
"Here goes," he muttered, his feeling his chest tighten and confidence shake. "Warp Hero: Breach." He showed and read out loud for everyone to hear. "The League of Villains have the misty guy that easily broke through the USJ. If the villains have him, then I'll be the one representing the heroes. The hero that can break through anything, even an impenetrable defense. Even through the fears and pain of those I save."
No defenses could stop him for he could appear anywhere. He couldn't allow those he saved to let fear grip their heart because he would break through it and light it like All Might's smile.
"Breach," Midnight repeated. "Could be more fun, but I like it!"
He sighed. He expected to be questioned about his chosen name but he was glad it was not the case.
"With that, only Bakugou remains unnamed."
His childhood friend grumbled, "this better be 'friendly' and appropriate enough," as he walked to the front. He lazily showed him his name. "DynaMight," it read and Izuku can't help but laugh. All throughout their childhood, he thought of names that was based on All Might—like All Might Jr., Super All Might, crappy, he knew, but hey, he was a kid—and Kacchan laughed at it thinking he was lazy yet here he was emulating him but only coming up with something much better. Still! He copied him. Oh, he was not going to let this one go easily.
It was distinct enough that it screamed "Katsuki," yet paid homage to his friend's idol like Kirishima.
"Ah!" Midnight squealed in delight and he flushed at the suggestiveness of it. "Much better! Very punny, yet it screams who you are and your quirk while paying homage to All Might. Clever boy," she said licking her lips slowly.
"Pst, hey Kacchan." Izuku smirked when his best friend growled. "I thought that—"
"Shut it, nerd!" Kacchan hissed as small explosions popped off his arm. Izuku chuckled and left it at that. For now.
"Now that it's done, I'll be handing out the application form for the agency you want to intern at and the list of agencies that drafted you," Aizawa-sensei said quickly standing up as if he wasn't sleeping earlier. Or was he pretending to sleep? He never knew which. "For those not drafted, here is a list of forty agencies around the country willing to accept interns." He showed them the printed list.
"Choose well because they each specialize in different areas. Thirteen, for example, would be focused on rescue from accidents and disaster than fighting villains." Midnight added. "Endeavor excels in fighting villains and investigating crimes."
Class returned to normalcy after Aizawa-sensei handed out the application form and the list of agencies.
"Think carefully before you choose. You have until the end of the week to decide or we'll choose for you if you can't. Make your decision rationally. Class dismissed."
But that's tomorrow?!
"Aizawa-sensei." Mina raised her hand. "But that's tomorrow!" Their class shared his sentiment, but they can only murmur their annoyance.
Their teacher sighed, narrowing his eyes. "Then I suggest you think about your choices now."
He thought they would be given more time but he was once again at surprised at how fast things moved at UA. It's like a well-oiled machine. They really can't slip up with Aizawa-sensei around.
It was only on lunch when Izuku read his list and felt himself shrunk from the overwhelming names on the list. Some of the names he recognized and some he did not. But that didn't make his choice any easier. It was going to be hard choosing among all of this many agencies. He had to look if All Might's agency was on it.
He'd have to look at their track records like specialties, arrest rate, resolved incidents, methodologies, and heroes they have in the agency. Personality the last two didn't matter as he'd adapt to them and only the first three mattered for him because he would be learning from one of these people. So much to do in such little time.
"You're muttering again, Deku," Kacchan said, nearly growling in annoyance and looking like he was ready to kill someone with his scowl alone. He must still be pissed about not getting his chosen name. "C'mon, do that when we're eating lunch. I ain't gonna waste time here." He left without comment after that and went ahead of their group.
He excused himself and followed his friend out but before he could, Uraraka called him and asked. "Is Kacchan, okay?" She looked at the blond whose walking like a bull ahead of him.
Izuku had to stifle his laugh and reassure his friends. "Yeah. He's just mad he didn't get the name he wanted."
"DynaMight sounds awesome, though," Kirishima commented. "All of you guys' names are cool too."
Except for Iida's. He thought that went unsaid with a frown as he then glanced at Iida's now empty seat. He must've missed him leaving the room early when they were dismissed. The only thing that on his mind now was that, why Tenya? Why his name? What happened to make him pick his name as a choice. Iida takes being a hero too seriously for him to just pick his name.
"I'll go ahead and have lunch with Kacchan. What're you guys gonna do?"
"I'm going home straight. I need to decide which agency I need to intern to. What about you Kirishima-kun?" She turned to Kirishima.
"I'll stay here with the others. I need to ask them some things."
"Oh, see you guys later then." Uraraka grabbed her bag and waved.
Saying goodbye to Kirishima, he went out and chased Kacchan on the hall whose grumbling can be heard a few meters away when he caught up. Both of them walked to the cafeteria when wind gushed before them. His hair flew in all directions and nearly became unbalanced because of it. He had to close his eyes from the strong blow of wind and he didn't need to know who it was.
When he opened his eyes, All Might grinned broadly at them both. "Good day to you young Midoriya and Bakugou."
"Good afternoon, All Might."
Bakugou waved lazily at their teacher.
"Can I borrow Midoriya for a minute?"
Kacchan huffed. "Take the nerd. I'll wait for you."
"Thank you, young Bakugou! I promise it will not take long."
All Might took him to his office where he immediately deflated to his civilian form. On his table, there were two steaming cups of tea waiting on the table. "I know this is sudden, and you got a lot of choices to pick from, but there's one last one that came for you."
He gladly received the piece of paper that All Might reached out to him with shaking hands. "Gran Torino." He read the simple calling card and and looked at the man questioningly on the other side of the table.
"He's the best friend of my mentor that taught here for a year. My homeroom teacher. The one who trained me after…, my mentor..." All Might clutched his cup tightly and tensed as he said this and Izuku let the sentence remained unfinished for he got the gist of it. "He knows about One for All and could help you better control it better than I could."
He hasn't even chosen one yet and here was all Might recommending, helping him even, him to someone he knew. His heart and whole body constricted from the sudden weight falling onto his being. This Gran Torino must've been fearsome for All Might to shake in either fear or from something else he didn't know.
"Gran Torino," he muttered. No flash of recognition or remembrance of ever reading the names on the web came. Even on the deep part of the web, he didn't remember a hero name like that. As far as he knew, this was the first time he ever heard of the hero. "It's the first time I heard that name. If they are your mentors, aren't they supposed to be famous? With a quirk like One for All and someone mentoring you, the news could've picked something up about Nana-san and Gran Torino."
"They didn't like the spotlight pointed at them unlike me who wanted it so that I can show the world what I can do and reassure the people that I am here for them," he replied smiling wistfully before shaking his head. "We're digressing. I'll explain in due time. I know that I haven't been much of a mentor to you and that you like to make your own choices." His mentor's blue eyes pierced his as he said this. "But, I would like to request this one time that you take this. I recommend you intern with Gran Torino because I know he could help you just as he helped me. He could help you better than I could, after all." His mentor smiled. "It was thanks to his guidance that I learned to master One for All by the time I graduated at UA."
Izuku knew he needed to hurry in mastering his quirk and One for All soon because All Might's time as a hero was slowly dwindling yet still, Toshinori-sensei still had the time to help others. Himself included! He understood why he had no time for him and found himself frowning at the ugly smile that came from the man before him.
The need to master One for All soon was urgent because someone had to take his mentor's place as the pillar that held back villains and those that thrived in the underworld. For All Might, Izuku would hurry for him without hesitation.
He was taken aback and deeply appreciated the assistance his mentor gave. His sensei did not have to go through this and recommend Izuku to intern to his former mentor, and a former teacher at UA too, just to give him the highest chance of mastering One for All quickly! But he did! He wasn't sure how to make it up to Toshinori-sensei because he was damn well sure that a simple thank you would suffice. He would not let a simple thank you suffice. There had to be something he could do for All Might.
"I…," he paused and looked at his reflection on the tea. "You don't need to apologize, sensei. You didn't fail in training me because it was your lessons that got me to pass the entrance exam and that's more than I can ask for. I like to train on my own because I know you still want to be there for the others. To be the symbol that our society needs. I can't waste all your time training me when I can do it on my own."
"A noble reason, my boy." All Might smiled a little but frowned a second later. "You can never waste my time. Plus, it is my job as your mentor. So, don't worry about wasting my time."
Oh. He certainly can't refute that but still, he felt his heart pull in two directions. He still stood by his statement yet cannot refute his mentor's words. Toshinori-sensei really needed to stop being harsh to himself. "Can I think about it Toshinori-sensei?"
The man simply smiled in return. "That's all I can ask for Midoriya-kun. I will respect your choice whether you accept him or not. Now tell me about your progress regardless of whether you showed it during the festival or not."
Izuku told him of the training he did with Shinso, like punching with the most minimum power while still having power behind it and the best he could do without breaking his body. He could do it now fight hand-to-hand while using One for All now too. He handled it well but it stung—and hurt more sometimes—depending on if he loses focus. The focus needed to prevent the power from spiraling out of control as he put his focus on one or two limbs was staggering. One slip and he could break his limb.
As for his warp? Well, he'd like to think he improved with the way he can manipulate many smaller portals and conjure a few bigger ones. He had his human-sized portal down to pat. Making multiple bigger ones was still taxing though, like in his match with Todoroki. Plus, he learned to warp more accurately now. No more falling off the ground unless his focus was off. The drain was still there, but less because he learned to control his quirk better. Not to mention, the accuracy of his exit warp was better than before.
All Might laughed heartily. "That's good progress."
"Thanks," he said scratching his cheeks. "It was because I had help."
"No need to be so humble. Yes, you had help from Hitoshi Shinso, but it was your determination that continues to bear fruit!"
Their conversation devolved to trivial things for a few minutes and he was happy to oblige in talking to his mentor, though surely by now Kacchan was already mad at waiting at the cafeteria.
He was right when Kacchan waited impatiently, but scowling at their table with two trays of food. Seated right in front of him was Todoroki who sat quietly as he ate. Huh, he wondered why he chose to sit with them. Not that it was a bad thing, he was just curious. Normally, Todoroki was content to sit alone.
"Hey Kacchan, Todoroki-san," he greeted the two. "Sorry for the wait. Just had a talk with All Might."
"Midoriya." Todoroki nodded and went back to eating as if it was normal for him to sit with them. He ate alone most of the time. Not even the jovial Kirishima and Kaminari were able to make him interact with them, so what changed?
There was something in Todoroki that changed after the Sports Festival, but he couldn't identify what. Maybe it was his eyes? They lacked the usual edge it had that stopped others from approaching him before.
"So, uh, what're you doing here?" He scratched his cheek.
"I told the bastard to shove it, but refused to move," Katsuki grumbled more but he tuned it out.
"I wanted to eat with a friend."
Izuku found himself blushing, but still, he smiled and shrugged leaving it at that. If Todoroki wanted to be friends, in his awkward way, then who was he to refuse.
"Todoroki," Izuku began. "Why did you pick Shoto."
The night after school yesterday was tedious for he researched the hell out of the many agencies that offered. He had to consider the agency's history, crime solved, villain arrests, rescue rate, the heroes working for them, cross-agency cooperation, and methodology. He had then rated them on his own if he would prefer there. Most of the agency, he heard with a select few being famous while the others were still relatively new or old yet obscure.
In the end, it all came between the three agencies of—
"Who the fuck's Gran Torino?" Kacchan screamed in full disbelief making the whole people around them on the cafeteria glance there way curiously. Kacchan glared at them in return making them flinch and back to what they were doing. "You placed third and you chose some hero no one knows?! There are better choices than this guy, someone well known, and you choose him of all people. The fuck's wrong with you, Deku?! You better have a good reason for it or I'm busting your ass on the next hero training."
Curiously, for a second, he looked around for Todoroki which didn't sit with him now. He thought he was making headway in making Todoroki open up to others. Why would he not be here today? Maybe he's just shy around others? Given his tendency to act aloof, that was the only thing he can think of.
He just can't outright tell the truth, but he did get permission from Toshinori-sensei to tell his friends somewhat he told him. There were a lot of good ones but he had to choose the most sensible one. Or Aizawa-sensei's words, the most rational and efficient one.
By good ones on the many choices, he meant the good ones. But again, it was hard, but he had to choose the sensible one in his case. Gran Torino was that choice. He needed someone that knew what he was dealing with, aside from just All Might. He needed someone that could speed up his mastery of One for All.
"The ones that chose me was easy to find and are good. All of them had good track records of solved crimes, successful rescue operations, and whatnot but Gran Torino? I searched for him all over the internet but I got nothing. He's a ghost. First, I doubted he was alive or even real, but then I thought wouldn't the school know if it was the case? So, I ask the staff, and only two of them knew him."
"Who?" Uraraka asked tilting her head curiously while slowly leaning forward.
He breathed. "All Might and Principal Nedzu."
All of them nodded, with some shocked, but otherwise said nothing, so he took this as a sign to continue. "I ask All Might any information I can about him, but all he said was that he was a teacher here for a year. All Might's batch to be exact, and retired a year later after he graduated. But All Might did give me his records to analyze, and it's better than I expected it to be."
Lies, or half-lies but still he internally flinched no matter the case because Toshinori-sensei did no such thing but he had to get Kacchan off his back! He did, however, search the hell out of this man, but got nothing. He's an underground hero like their Homeroom teacher. The only difference was, whereas there's info about Eraserhead somewhere on the web, Gran Torino had none.
What he just knew was just that he was Toshinori-sensei's mentor when Nana, the seventh holder died, and helped him master One for All before he graduated and went to America that. If Izuku was correct, that was generally what happened. While All Might never said it out loud, he had just pieced it from the small information he'd been given.
"I thought to myself, if this man taught All Might himself and lived long enough to be old, then he's bound to know some more than other heroes does."
"Shit. He's much old school than All Might."
"Right!" He nodded.
"Language, Bakugou-kun!" Iida chided chopping the air. "I am sure whoever hero Midoriya-kun chose has a lot to teach him. Famous hero or not, this Gran Torino can still teach him something for he still is a hero with numerous experience and a former teacher of this institution."
Iida's interruption was well-timed so that he can explain his reasons to Katsuki. "What Iida-kun said. He may not be famous, but he's different from all of the ones from the list." He thought of thinking of One for All. "He has lots of experience than any other heroes out there. He can offer me advice from all the years he had as a hero."
"Dude," Kirishima smacked his palm excitedly. "That's awesome! I don't know 'bout you guys, but older heroes have a different feeling from the new ones. They know things that're forgotten."
"Dunno, who he is, but he sounds, cool," Uraraka giggle. "I'm imagining Gran Torino like one of those strict old mentors in the movies." She made a sour face and her hand seemed to have an cane. "Maybe a bit old fashion too."
"Anyways," Izuku said looking at each of them after chuckling. "What about you guys?"
Uraraka puffed her cheeks. "I lost because I didn't know any maneuvers aside from the ones taught. Maybe." She slumped in her seat. "That's why I think I lost against Ibara-san. My skills wasn't enough."
"Hey—"
"Don't sweat about it," Kirishima, who sat next to her, patted her back. "You did your best. That's all that mattered."
Her frown turned up to a half-smile and she nodded slowly. "I… I guess you're right. That's why I've been thinking about my weaknesses. It's not just long-range that I'm weak at. I realized hand-to-hand too. That's why I chose Gunhead's agency. I want to learn Martial arts! Maybe then I'll be able to dodge long range and get near next time." She breathed and punched the air as if in training. "I'm not sure that'll solve my problem, but..."
"That's awesome. You're strengthening your weakness. As for me," the redhead proudly proclaimed. "I chose—"
"Good afternoon, future heroes!"
Izuku automatically shifted when another student slammed down their tray on the table on his left. There was only one person he knew who had pink hair and goggles on her forehead that had the showmanship of a master car salesman.
Iida automatically was quick to greet, "good afternoon to you too, Hatsume-san."
Uraraka giggled at the eccentric Support Department student. "Hey, Hatsume-san. What's going on?"
"The fuck you doing here, goggles?" Katsuki gave Mei a dirty look which she completely ignored.
The girl laughed uncaring of the odd looks that once again went there way again. "Call me Mei. Why am I here? Because I need connection to the Hero course! As a Support student, it is my job and duty as a creator to know those who I'm making babies for."
"Babies?!" Iida spluttered and pounded his chest wildly. "How indecent!"
"Oh yeah, Hatsume-san," Izuku called before she could on a tirade about her babies.
"I told you! Call me, Mei! No need to be so stiff Izuku." She elbowed him making him lose his chopstick hold on his food. "You guys can call me Mei too. After all," she smirked confidently, "you're going to me sooner or later. Might as well know you guys now because I need volunteers for testing my babies."
"Mei-san," he cleared his throat uncomfortably at the closely curious peering Mei. "Does the Support Department have Internship too?" he asked.
"Yeah, we do." The girl answered too excitedly. "We don't need to enter the festival, as it's optional, for us to be interned. Our standing and grades are the only things that affect the number of Support Companies affect those willing to employ us. If one were not chosen, then they give a list those that're willing to intern. Joining the event can showcase our items there for more publicity. And if we're chosen, we can intern for a company for a week."
"Not me though! I wanted more! I wanted them to know what my babies and show them! I'm proud that in the end, I got what I wanted! Thanks to my amazing performance, I got the attention of someone from I-Island." She proclaimed with a hearty laugh.
"I-Island!?" The same I-Island that's home to millions of scientist creating support items and making discoveries to advance humanity? Was it that same island?
"Yes, Izuku," she nodded sagely with a flippant nod. "The same I-Island."
Crap, he was muttering out loud again.
"Amazing." He breathed. "Good luck with it. I hear only the best gets in there."
"Thanks for the good luck, but I don't need it. Don't even believe in them. I need only myself and my babies!"
Full of yourself, aren't you? Then again, if Mei was a guy then he'd be Kacchan. Confident in herself not to be affected by anything. It was the trait he liked most about his childhood friend. Also, he couldn't fault her confidence because he showed herself during her match. Heck, she would make a great hero too if she pursued it judging by her performance against Iida.
"I guess so?" he scratched his cheek straining from the awkward smile that graced his face. He had already seen what Mei was capable of during the festival when she fought against Iida. Among all the first year Support Coursers, she was the only one that dared to enter and reached the third round.
Uraraka puffed her cheeks and pouted. "Wow. You're amazing Mei-san! You must be a genius."
"Ha, ha! Thank you for the compliment, but I know that already."
"Hey goggles," Katsuki called. His blank red eyes said revealing nothing of his intentions. "What's in it to us if we test your toys."
"Is that even allowed?" The redhead turned to Iida for guidance.
"Yes it's allowed," the pink-haired girl replied Iida before he could say anything. "I test my baby myself all the time! I just needed someone to test it for me so that I can look at it in distance and see what goes wrong."
"Why not your classmates?" Uraraka asked.
"I need connection to the hero course! I need data by using your extraordinary quirks!"
Iida looked wary of the girl, and he wouldn't fault him for it with the way he was manipulated by Mei during the festival to inadvertently used to advertise her creations. "Can we confirm that with Power Loader-sensei, Hatsume-san?"
"Why, of course!" she sang with a grin. "Ask him if you want. In exchange, I can offer suggestions to make your hero suits better. It's up to you if you accept them."
As far as Izuku knew, he wasn't sure if that was allowed. All he knew was that they can send a petition letter to the Support Company that makes their costumes to add whatever item they needed, which would then be reviewed and if possible, allowed the changes. That or the student could make the costume provided they have enough materials to do so.
Still, having a genius like Mei look at their hero costume design and see what they would be great. While he was confident that what he created and what he got was good but there's always room for improvement. He and Kacchan looked at each other and immediately came to a silent agreement with a single nod while the others expressed their thoughts about that idea.
"Isn't it illegal to modify our suits without going through the proper channel?" Uraraka questioned. "Something about sending a request first to modify it and then writing the changes done? I remember reading that on the handbook."
"It is," Mei flashed a smirk but disappeared a second later. "Then again, I'm only helping improve your hero costume plans. Nothing against that. It's up to you if you accept my modifications or not."
Eager to always improve himself by anything, Katsuki with a jovial call of "Deal!" eagerly accepted Mei's proposition.
"Meet me at the Support Department tomorrow," she put her index finger on her cheek. "Oh, and bring many clothes." He internally groaned at the way she said it. As if it was just an afterthought.
When class ended, Izuku ran to Todoroki who was nearing the door. "Todoroki!" he called. His classmate turned to him with only an ounce of curiosity on his face. "You didn't sit with us today." Not that it bothered him, but did he do something wrong? Or maybe even offend him in some way?
"Sorry," he replied. "I was thinking about something."
"No need to apologize. I'm just curious." He shrugged. "You want to come with us tomorrow? You know Hatsume Mei from the Sports Festival, right?" Todoroki nodded courtly. "She invited us to help test her creations. Wanna come? "
He hoped that Todoroki would say yes. It'd help, not only him, but others in knowing more about their introverted classmate.
"Sorry, but I have training with my old man tomorrow."
He scowled at the mention of his name. "Don't apologize. It's fine." He smiled reassuringly. "I can just give you my number, just in case you change your mind. Is that alright?"
Todoroki handed him his phone and Izuku put in his contact. "See you later, Todoroki." He waved at his new friend as he turned the corner.
That was one thing down, he still had one thing left to do. With that, he turned the other direction towards the Faculty room. He swallowed heavily once outside of it.
What if he was the last one to submit his internship form. Oh god, he could already see the disapproving dark eyes of Aizawa-sensei boring into his. Maybe even admonish him for being too tardy or anything like that.
Hey, he had too many choices! Considering there were many offers, he had to be meticulous to see if he missed anything. He was too meticulous. With a sigh, he knocked and Aizawa-sensei beckoned him to enter. It was only their homeroom teacher left who was cleaning up files from his desk.
His desk was barren, unlike Present Mic's beside it which was full of music paraphernalia. "Midoriya." He barely moved and just glanced at his approaching form. "You're late."
"Yeah, sorry sensei." He smiled abashed at their teacher. "Had a lot of choices and I had to make sure I chose the best."
"Reasonable," his teacher simply said as he accepted the paper. "But next time, think faster. Be efficient in thinking quickly."
"Thank you, sensei. Sorry about the late pass," he bowed before turning. If he knew Kacchan, he was already annoyed waiting for him at the gate with the others.
"Midoriya," their teacher called before he could open the door and he glanced curiously back at the man. Aizawa-sensei looked at him blankly and he wondered what he was thinking.
"Yes, sir?"
Izuku and his teacher stared at each other with uncomfortable silence between them and was the first one to look away. It felt weird being looked at by Eraserhead intensely with the intensity he'd only seen on their first day.
His foot shifted uncontrollably and his fingers twitched but he did his best to stop it. "Did I do something wrong, sir?"
Did he? The answer was a big fat no, but it could that he just forgot about it? He did his duties as a representative well enough.
The heavy feeling in him subsided when his teacher's intensity vanished. "No, Midoriya. Just a reminder that as the Representative, it is your duty to set an example to your classmates. So pass early next time."
"Yes, sir." He let out a sigh he'd been holding once he was out of the teacher's faculty room. The way Eraserhead looked at him made his hair stand. Was it him or did Aizawa-sensei really eyeing him weirdly since the week after the USJ Incident? Was his potential as a hero being questioned? He shivered at the thought but knocked it out since it serves no purpose than heighten his paranoia.
If it gets there, then he'd deal with it then.
Hope you enjoyed it. :)