.
Chapter 15
Izuku shifted uncomfortably in her seat, feeling the weight of Nezu's scrutinising gaze. She was in her child form, which only added to her sense of vulnerability. Her small hands clutched the edge of the chair as she looked up at the imposing figure of UA's principal.
"Midoriya-chan," Nezu began calmly, his voice carrying a tone of both curiosity and authority, "you told us that the villains would be attacking the USJ five days ago, correct?"
Izuku nodded slowly, her eyes wide and nervous.
"Then would you care to explain why it never happened?" Nezu's question was pointed, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Uh… maybe it's because there have been some changes in the timeline that made this…" Izuku trailed off, trying to find the right words to explain the complexity of her situation.
"So you're talking about the butterfly effect, I understand," Nezu said, his tone contemplative. "Most of your knowledge about the future should be almost useless if there have been more changes in the timeline. However, that does not change the fact that you must tell us if there is anything else that you have not revealed yet."
"There's nothing more…" Izuku said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Are you sure?" Nezu's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of suspicion creeping into his voice.
"...yes."
"Well then, Midoriya-chan," he said, his tone taking on an almost threatening edge, "I hope you are speaking the truth." She gulped, feeling a cold sweat break out on her forehead. "For now, you are free to go to your classroom."
"Yes, sir," Izuku replied, her voice trembling slightly.
Izuku stood up, her legs feeling like jelly, and bowed slightly before leaving Nezu's office. As she walked down the hallway back to her classroom, she couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had settled in her stomach. She had tried to do the right thing by warning them, but now it seemed like her presence and her knowledge of the future were causing more problems than solutions.
"Aizawa, keep an eye on her," Nezu said, picking up his phone. The device was already on, and Eraser Head had been listening to the entire conversation. "I'm sure she does not harbor any ill intentions, but she might be confused."
"Okay," Aizawa's voice crackled through the phone, his usual calm demeanour unchanged.
After seven days of what felt like a suspension, Izuku finally returned to her classroom at UA. The moment she stepped through the door, she was swarmed by her classmates, their faces a mix of concern and curiosity.
"Deku-chan, are you alright now?" Ochako asked, her eyes wide with worry.
"What happened that day during the battle trial class?" Kaminari added, leaning in closer.
Izuku smiled awkwardly, trying to maintain her composure despite the barrage of questions. "I'm fine now, thanks," she said, sidestepping the more probing inquiries about the battle trial. "Just needed some rest."
"Rest?" Sero echoed, puzzled. "You looked pretty intense during that fight. Did something happen?"
Izuku felt a cold sweat trickle down her spine. She couldn't exactly explain the bizarre transformation or the chaotic battle with Bakugou. "It's complicated," she said vaguely, hoping that would suffice.
Kirishima, ever the supportive friend, clapped her on the shoulder. "Hey, we're just glad you're back. Whatever happened, you can count on us."
"Yeah, what Kirishima said," Mina chimed in. "We're a team, after all!"
Izuku nodded, grateful for their support. "Thanks, everyone. It means a lot."
Bakugou looked at her for a moment before focusing to his mobile phone.
Aizawa entered the classroom, his eyes scanning the room before landing on Izuku. "Alright, everyone, take your seats. We have a lot to cover today."
The students quickly dispersed, taking their seats but still casting curious glances at Izuku. She sighed in relief, grateful for the brief reprieve from their questions.
As Aizawa began the lesson, Izuku tried to focus, but her mind kept drifting back to the events of the past week. The confrontation with Bakugou, the transformation, and the subsequent meeting with Nezu replayed in her mind like a broken record.
She knew she couldn't avoid the truth forever. Her classmates deserved to know what had happened, especially those who had been there during the battle trial. But for now, she needed to regain her footing and figure out how to navigate the complicated web of the future she remembered and the present she was living.
The lesson continued, with Aizawa diving into the intricacies of hero ethics and the responsibilities that came with their future roles. 'Everything has changed! I cannot control anything anymore!' Izuku took diligent notes, trying to push aside her worries and focus on the here and now.
After class, Ochako and Iida approached her again, their expressions a mix of determination and concern.
"Deku-chan," Ochako said gently, "we're here for you, no matter what. You don't have to go through this alone."
Iida nodded in agreement. "Indeed. As your friends and classmates, we're committed to supporting you in any way we can."
Izuku smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "Thank you, both of you. I appreciate it more than you know."
In the cafeteria, Izuku settled down at a table, ready to eat her lunch in peace. However, her female classmates quickly surrounded her. Ochako, Mina, Momo, and Tsuyu took their seats beside her, effectively creating a wall that blocked out the boys.
"Hey, Deku-chan," Ochako greeted warmly, giving her a comforting smile. "Mind if we join you?"
"Sure, no problem," Izuku replied, though she sensed something was up.
As soon as the girls were settled, several of the boys—Kirishima, Kaminari, and Sero—approached, looking to join them. Mina immediately waved them away with a playful grin.
"Sorry, boys, this is a girls-only conversation," Mina declared, shooing them off with a flick of her hand.
Kirishima blinked in confusion. "Why can't we join? What's so secretive?"
"It's just… girl talk," Momo said with a polite but firm smile.
"Yeah, stuff only girls can hear," Tsuyu added, her tone calm but decisive.
The boys exchanged puzzled looks but ultimately respected the decision and headed to a different table.
Back at the table, Ochako leaned in closer to Izuku. "So, Deku-chan, we wanted to check in on you after what happened during the battle trial," she said softly.
Izuku tensed slightly but nodded, knowing this conversation was inevitable. "I'm okay, really. Thanks for asking."
Momo began carefully, "We're worried about you."
"Yeah, you seemed really shaken," Tsuyu added. "Is everything okay?"
"I'm fine, really," Izuku assured them, managing a small smile. "It's just that my Quirk can be unpredictable sometimes."
"We're glad to hear that," Mina said sincerely. "But we were thinking, maybe you could use a break. How about a girls' night out? It could be fun and help you relax."
Izuku's face turned bright red at the suggestion. As someone who had been a boy not too long ago, the idea of a girls' night out was overwhelming. She looked for an escape, but her friends' hopeful eyes made it impossible to turn them down.
"Uh, I don't know," Izuku stammered, trying to find a way out. "I mean, it sounds fun, but…"
Just at that moment, her phone rang. She looked at the screen and felt a wave of relief. "Sorry, I need to take this," she said quickly, standing up and walking away from the table. "It's urgent."
Her friends watched her go with a mixture of disappointment and understanding.
Izuku answered the call, grateful for the interruption. After a brief conversation, she hung up and took a deep breath. She knew she had to face her friends again, but for now, she just needed a moment to herself.
For the rest of the day, Izuku did her best to avoid her female friends, feeling guilty but also relieved. She knew they meant well, but she wasn't ready for that kind of social interaction yet. As she navigated through her classes and training sessions, she kept to herself, focusing on her tasks and avoiding any further invitations.
In the back of her mind, she knew she couldn't avoid them forever.
In the night, Izuku sat in her room, absently watching television while her phone vibrated with notifications. She knew it was the group chat for the girls of Class 1A discussing their plans for the weekend. Despite her efforts to stay under the radar, it seemed fate had other ideas.
The phone buzzed again, and she glanced at the screen. The group chat was alive with messages about where they should go for a girls' night out. Izuku sighed and tried to focus on the TV, but curiosity got the better of her. She opened the chat, intending to stay silent and unnoticed.
Mina: "How about we go to that new karaoke place in the city?"
Ochako: "That sounds fun! But what about the shopping mall first?"
Momo: "We could do both! Shopping and then karaoke!"
Tsuyu: "I'm in for anything. As long as we're together, it'll be fun."
Izuku read the messages, feeling a mix of excitement and dread. She didn't want to seem like she was avoiding them, but she also wasn't ready for a girls' night out. She thought she had managed to stay unnoticed until another message popped up.
Mina: "Hey, Deku-chan is online! What do you think, Deku-chan?"
Izuku's heart skipped a beat. She hesitated, trying to come up with an excuse, but more messages followed quickly.
Ochako: "Yes, Deku-chan! You should come with us! It'll be fun!"
Momo: "We'd love to have you with us, Deku-chan."
Tsuyu: "It'll be a good break for you, Deku-chan. You've been through a lot."
Izuku sighed, realizing she couldn't escape now.
"Deku-chan, we were thinking about what to do next weekend," Ochako wrote. "Any ideas?"
Before Izuku could respond, Jiro chimed in with excitement. "There's a new movie coming out that looks amazing, but it's for adults only. We can't watch it without an older person."
"Yeah, and none of our parents are free or willing to take us," Mina added with a frown emoji.
Just then, Tsuyu had an idea. "Deku-chan, you can change your size and age at will, right? Why not change into an adult and pretend to be our guardian and take us to the cinema?"
At first, nobody agreed with the plan, thinking it was too much to ask. Mina typed, "Isn't it a bit risky? What if we get caught?" Momo added, "I don't want to put that kind of pressure on Deku-chan. It seems unfair."
The chat was silent for a moment, everyone considering the consequences. But as the conversation continued, the enthusiasm for the movie began to outweigh their concerns.
Jiro insisted, "Guys, this movie is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! It's getting rave reviews and everyone is talking about it. We can't miss out just because of some age restriction."
Ochako chimed in, "Come on, Deku-chan, it would be so much fun to watch it together. Besides, your transformation quirk is perfect for this!"
Tsuyu added thoughtfully, "It's not like we're asking her to break any important or huge law. Just to be our guardian for a few hours. We'll be responsible."
Slowly, the doubts started to fade away as more messages poured in, each one more persuasive than the last.
"Please, Deku-chan? We really want to see this movie," Mina pleaded.
"Yeah, it would be such a great bonding experience for all of us," Momo agreed.
"We'll even treat you to popcorn and snacks!" Jiro added, trying to sweeten the deal.
As the messages kept coming, the idea started gaining traction. Eventually, everyone was practically begging Izuku to help them out.
"Deku-chan, you're the only one who can do this for us," Ochako wrote, followed by a series of puppy-eyed emojis.
"Think of it as practice for undercover hero work!" Tsuyu suggested.
Izuku sighed, feeling the weight of their expectations. She didn't want to let her friends down, and the thought of them all enjoying the movie together was appealing.
"Okay, fine. I'll do it," she typed back, finally giving in.
The chat exploded with cheers and excited emojis. "Thank you, Deku-chan! You're the best!" Ochako wrote. The girls continued to chat excitedly, planning their night out, while Izuku leaned back, wondering what she had gotten herself into.
TBC
.