p style="text-align: justify;""Why would she rattle on us?" Shouto wondered out loud, as him and Izuku fixed the wall with cement. They were sent to forced labor after attempting to escape, and it first meant that they had to fix the wall they broke yesterday. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"Izuku felt no desire to tell him the burnt hair story, since it would only make him realize how terrible of a person he actually was, but he didn't want to lie either. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"So he told him the truth./p
p style="text-align: justify;""Sounds like you had no choice but to burn her hair. You could only lose if she knocked you unconscious, didn't you?" Shouto asked, waiting for Izuku to nod, when he did, he simply spoke as if stating the obvious. "It was either get beaten until you don't feel anything or defend yourself. It only made sense you actually attacked her." /p
p style="text-align: justify;""So you don't think… I'm evil or something?" Izuku asked, surprised, as he mixed a batch of concrete patching compound according to the guard's instructions, who was giving them dirty looks as they worked on filling the hole on the wall. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"Shouto applied the patching compound to the hole using a trowel, pressing it firmly into the hole and smoothing it out to be level with the surrounding wall, frowning as he did /br /"No. I'm telling you, you did the right thing. It's better the match ended like that than having been beaten up to the point of not being able to stand up. That pain… I don't wish it on anyone." A dark expression came over his face as his lips pressed into a tight line, betraying no hint of emotion, while his jaw clenched, emphasizing the tense muscles in his face./p
p style="text-align: justify;""But now everyone hates me, especially her." Izuku said, but he could no longer feel sad about it, since being hated had become way too normal./p
p style="text-align: justify;""You just showed them how strong you are. If anything, I bet they fear you, which is exactly what you need to survive in this place." Shouto replied with his back to Izuku, so he couldn't see his unreadable expression. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"When they finally finished filling up the wall with cement, they followed the guard./p
p style="text-align: justify;"br /"The institute's director has news for you. You must enter this room and have a meeting with him." The dark skinned man said, without any emotion in his face. He seemed to be used to dealing with problematic children, if his unimpressed expression was anything to go by. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"They entered the room after an old man's voice told them to enter after they knocked./p
p style="text-align: justify;"Director Kobayashi stared at the promising two children. He had studied their quirks, and the promise they carried was too meaningful to be wasted, which is why the commission had came up with the perfect plan for them. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"Director Kobayashi's expression was stern as he addressed the two young boys before him. "Take a seat," he said, his voice firm and commanding. Izuku and Shouto exchanged nervous glances before sitting down, unsure of what was about to happen./p
p style="text-align: justify;""Izuku Midoriya, Shouto Todoroki," Director Kobayashi began, his gaze piercing. "Your attempt to escape the institute by damaging private property is unacceptable. As a consequence, you will be transferred to the most problematic class in the institute, located in another part of the city."/p
p style="text-align: justify;"He leaned forward, emphasizing his next words. "This class has the best security measures ever. You will not be able to attempt to escape again. The commission has devised this plan because they believe in your potential. Your quirks are powerful, and they must be honed for the greater good. Now, do you understand?" He raised his voice, watching how the problematic Izuku Midoriya startled as he avoided his gaze, while the other boy kept staring at him, as he should. "It is rude to not look to a person when they're speaking to you, boy" he addressed Izuku, which got him to finally look into director Kobayashi's eyes. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"br /"We understand" the kid with the fire and ice quirk spoke calmly, his composed expression not giving anything away./p
p style="text-align: justify;""Very good. You must pack for your new destination. You can leave now."/p
p style="text-align: justify;"*/p
p style="text-align: justify;"Nakamura after being expelled, felt empty and angry for being expelled in this way, at the same time, she was worried about her students who she left behind, especially 7-year-old izuku , in which she found her younger self, she wished that she was as brave as he was, and she knew that he desperately needed someone specially with what happened with him, So she decided to visit him, even though she knew that they wouldn't let her, but she tried anyway to find out that he had been transferred to another city./p
p style="text-align: justify;"*/p
p style="text-align: justify;"Three days had passed, Izuku got used to the new place and they didn't attempt to escape again after noticing the walls weren't made with cement anymore which made them hesitant to try again, because, what kind of other punishment would they receive? Surely they wouldn't let them rebuild the wall again, that had been too simple. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"However, Izuku couldn't find any rebellion in himself anymore, with all these thoughts and nightmares from time to time that fateful night. /p
p style="text-align: justify;""i did it .. I killed them.. I am a murderer .." Shouto woke him up from a nightmare with a little shake, asking him to wake up. /p
p style="text-align: justify;""What are you talking about while sleeping? Hurry and wake up before we miss the class" he said while wearing his tie and eyeing his friend, apparently concerned. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"The two went to class and throughout the lesson, Izuku couldn't focus at all. Shouto noticed the way his eyes kept lingering to the door instead of the teacher, and how he always seemed close to falling asleep, with deep eyebags in his face, Izuku portrayed an exhausted face./p
p style="text-align: justify;" After the class ended and the students went to eat, Izuku did not touch his food, he just didn't seem to be himself today, Shouto thought. /p
p style="text-align: justify;""You haven't looked well since we moved into this place. Did something happen?" Shouto asked, as he took a bite of his food, observing how his friend refused to do the same. /p
p style="text-align: justify;""I'm fine .. don't worry about me. I think it's only a bunch of bad dreams" Izuku wasn't going to tell him that he murdered his parents. While Shouto didn't judge him for burning Sakura's hair, this was an entirely different thing. /p
p style="text-align: justify;""Maybe you should talk about it with a therapist, I heard that the institution provides services like this now" Shouto suggested to him, as he carefully observed him. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"Izuku remembered the way the photographers had laughed at him after saying he killed his parents. Surely a therapist wouldn't react any differently. "I'll be fine after I eat now, don't worry" Izuku smiled at Shouto and actually started eating his food./p
p style="text-align: justify;"As they were eating, Izuku and some others were called to the post office./p
p style="text-align: justify;"Izuko went with a few other students and they were informed that they had been called to receive letters from their relatives or parents, but Izuku had no one but his parents and since they no longer exist, he wondered who cares about him to write him a letter. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"The students stood in line to receive each of their letters until their turn arrived, and the excitement and curiosity got him to find out what the letter contained! And who even sent it? As soon as he received the envelope, he turned it to read who it was from and his eyes filled with tears immediately and he felt great enthusiasm, seeing this name brought him back a lot of beautiful and happy memories with those who carry it "from Aiko Nakamura"./p
p style="text-align: justify;"Izuku read the letter./p
p style="text-align: justify;"em"Dear Izuku,/em/p
p style="text-align: justify;"emI have been worried about you ever since I left the school, which wasn't my own decision. I have been wondering how you have been doing and if you took into your mind the fact that the incident with your parents wasn't your fault at all. I can only imagine the weight that must be on your shoulders, and I want you to know that you are not alone in this. What happened with your parents is an act of self defense, since you defend yourself from a dangerous situation. /em/p
p style="text-align: justify;"emI wanted to let you know there is a therapist in the institute. I know teachers aren't very kind in general, but I promise that a therapist should be different. If you ever need to talk or seek assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out./em/p
p style="text-align: justify;"emSincerely, your ex teacher Nakamura". /em/p
p style="text-align: justify;"Izuku immediately wrote her back a letter, where he explained the nightmares he had been having and the way they had tried to escape by melting off the walls. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"*/p
p style="text-align: justify;""You seem happier." Shouto told him, a small smile on his face, as he observed his friend eating dinner, as they were in the school cafeteria. The atmosphere was tense around them, since a bunch of kids were fighting each other and the teachers weren't doing anything about it, so the children had made a circle to observe the fight. Izuku and Shouto weren't interested and attempted to ignore the situation as they ate dinner. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"br /Izuku happily explained that an ex-teacher who always seemed to care about him had wrote him. /p
p style="text-align: justify;""Maybe you could actually tell her to visit us," Shouto suggested as he ate his rice. /p
p style="text-align: justify;""That's actually a great idea!" /p
p style="text-align: justify;"*/p
p style="text-align: justify;""No teamwork is allowed at all!" The teacher barked to the kids. They were in the simulated forest that was the institute's training grounds. "Today's training will consist in a rescue simulation. Each one of you must navigate the hazardous environment alone to locate and rescue a designated civilian while avoiding detection by patrolling "villains", whose role has been taken by the instructors. The challenge is to complete the mission without triggering any traps or alarms, which would result in immediate disqualification. If there is cheating, such as teamwork, there will be severe consequences. If anyone is disqualified, there will be also terrible consequences, and the instructors will pick a different punishment for each one of you. Whoever is at the last ranking at the leaderboard will be expelled today." The instructor yelled, his voice resonating in an echo in the forest. "You have five minutes to interact with each other, before you're given a position to start and retrieve the civilians. We're only giving you the chance to talk between you due to the Ministry Of Heroism claiming that communication is important at this young age, but you must keep in mind you aren't in a team at all. Got it?" He finished speaking, finally. Shouto felt relief. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"Everyone yelled at the top of their lungs "yes". /p
p style="text-align: justify;"This was so much like the military that Shouto couldn't help but feel creeped out. What were the kids becoming in this school?/p
p style="text-align: justify;""Izuku" Shouto separated himself from the crowd, and whispered to his friend to come nearby. "We definitely need to team up. While I have no wish to face the consequences of it, I do not desire at all to find out what the consequences of being caught by the instructors will be. There is no guarantee we won't fail, and helping each other will be..." he trailed off, before he was interrupted by Izuku, who was smiling, for some reason Shouto couldn't figure it out. This was a terrible position to be in. While it would be awesome to be spelled, he had heard terrible things of foster care, the place where they could both end if that happened. /p
p style="text-align: justify;""Shouto, it's ok. You don't have to explain to me why it's important we collaborate. It simply is important, and that doesn't require a justification, not in this place. It's obvious we've got to stay together to remain strong!" Izuku actually managed to speak confidently and without stuttering, but he felt his temple sweat while he thought about the possibility of being both of them caught for cheating and also failing. He would deserve these punishments, but Shouto wouldn't, not at all. Shouto was no murder./p
p style="text-align: justify;""Well, I can't really see anything from here... but we could develop some kind of strategy regardless of the territory... listen to me, Izuku, I think..." Shouto and Izuku developped an strategy during the five minutes they had, until they were forced to be separated to start with the activity. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"*/p
p style="text-align: justify;"Shouto stared at the "villain". If only he could freeze him entirely without warning the rest of the instructors. He sighed, and created an icicle with his quirk, just like they had planned, and threw it far away with all the strength he had. It was supposed to be a distraction. While the instructors could see each other, leading him to a secluded place would allow both of them to knock him out with their powers. There was only one difficulty added: there was an instructor watching them through the cameras. They hadn't bothered to tell the kids, but Izuku and Shouto had both noticed right away that in the trees there were some hidden cameras, probably there to ensure no one worked as a team./p
p style="text-align: justify;"As the instructor went to check the area of the noise, slipping away from the other's instructors sight, he froze his feet, allowing Shouto to kick his knees and sent him into the floor. As the instructor's legs were glued to the floor, he leaped into the air and hit him with another icicle in his skull, sending him to the floor, unconscious. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"Shouto spat at him. Mom probably would disappointed of his manners, but these people just wished harm to him and his friend. They didn't deserve any respect. He looked at the sky in an abrupt way, just like they had agreed: that was the signal for Izuku to run through the forest and hide in another of the bushes nearby./p
p style="text-align: justify;"They kept going this way, Shouto using the same distraction, only for the instructors to react the same way, allowing themselves to be frozen in a way that had Shouto almost chuckling. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"They finally both arrived to the civilians, which were... obviously kids from other classes, since he didn't recognize any of them. They motioned for them to follow them, and they both respectively went through the same path they had taken to arrive there, being careful of the traps the teachers had put in the ground. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"They were quiet. Everything was going allright, since Shouto had ensured to freeze all the teachers so they wouldn't be able to scream upon waking up. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"Until they had reached the end./p
p style="text-align: justify;"Izuku and Shouto were being observed not only by the teacher, but also by the kids whose turn hadn't arrived yet. There was a crowd./p
p style="text-align: justify;"And every single one of these kids observed the instructor approach the four kids (both civillians and rescuers), everyone expecting him to congratulate the duo since they had only taken two minutes to complete the challenge... however, something was wrong. The instructor wasn't smiling, as he would if he were about to honor them. He was walking fast, just like Endeavor did before he.../p
p style="text-align: justify;""Izuku, run!" Shouto yelled as he created an icicle from his palms, ready to defend himself and Izuku from the man. He wasn't going to go down without a fight. He held it threateningly, as much as a seven year old could look with such a weapon in their hands, and when the teacher's hand was about to strike him, Shouto hit his ear since he was close enough, earning screams from the crowd who was watching them. "I won't let you touch us!" He shouted, as tears gathered in his eyes upon remembering what it felt like to be beaten down until he felt nothing at all./p
p style="text-align: justify;" /p
p style="text-align: justify;"However, he had taken for granted that Izuku would run. /p
p style="text-align: justify;" /p
p style="text-align: justify;"That had been a mistake./p
p style="text-align: justify;" /p
p style="text-align: justify;"Shouto's eyes widened impossibly upon realizing the teacher wasn't knocked out from the impact and was about to hit him back, when Izuku all of the sudden intervened, standing between Shouto and the threat. /p
p style="text-align: justify;" /p
p style="text-align: justify;""Please, don't hit him! I don't know what we have done wrong... But Shouto hasn't done anything! Please, forgive him for being stupid and daring to fight against you!" He pleaded as he got on his knees, lowering his head to the ground./p
p style="text-align: justify;"The teacher paused, his hand frozen mid-air, as he regarded Izuku with a mixture of surprise and judgement. /p
p style="text-align: justify;""Send the Todoroki kid to be punished" he spoke, his words directed at another teacher who was nearby. "for hitting me and allowing an opponent to take advantage of his actions. Don't punish the other boy." Izuku wasn't sure what he meant, but he understood that Shouto was going to face the consequences of teaming up with him. /p
p style="text-align: justify;" /p
p style="text-align: justify;""Like hell I'm going to let you punish me! Why don't you go fuck yourself?" Shouto's voice cut through the air, sharp. /p
p style="text-align: justify;" /p
p style="text-align: justify;"Izuku realized that Shouto was going to fight the adults, but he knew from experience that they were stronger than they could both ever be. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"However, he wasn't going to let him fight them alone. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"Izuku stood next to Shouto, his trembling fists in the air to make clear he wasn't abandoning him in his fight./p
p style="text-align: justify;"As they used their fire quirk, they could only gasp as both of their fire were put out... by an erasure quirk from someone else. br /br /p
p style="text-align: justify;""This is a clear example of cheating! Don't worry, teachers, I will help you out!" The voice came from a kid, who was clearly the source of the erasure quirk, since he was holding his hands in the air in a strange way towards them./p
p style="text-align: justify;" /p
p style="text-align: justify;"That day, Izuku and Shouto learnt that the world wasn't kind, not at all, as they were escorted for their respective punishment, the grip of the teacher's hands on their slender arms strong like a vice. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"Izuku felt no desire to tell him the burnt hair story, since it would only make him realize how terrible of a person he actually was, but he didn't want to lie either. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"So he told him the truth./p
p style="text-align: justify;""Sounds like you had no choice but to burn her hair. You could only lose if she knocked you unconscious, didn't you?" Shouto asked, waiting for Izuku to nod, when he did, he simply spoke as if stating the obvious. "It was either get beaten until you don't feel anything or defend yourself. It only made sense you actually attacked her." /p
p style="text-align: justify;""So you don't think… I'm evil or something?" Izuku asked, surprised, as he mixed a batch of concrete patching compound according to the guard's instructions, who was giving them dirty looks as they worked on filling the hole on the wall. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"Shouto applied the patching compound to the hole using a trowel, pressing it firmly into the hole and smoothing it out to be level with the surrounding wall, frowning as he did /br /"No. I'm telling you, you did the right thing. It's better the match ended like that than having been beaten up to the point of not being able to stand up. That pain… I don't wish it on anyone." A dark expression came over his face as his lips pressed into a tight line, betraying no hint of emotion, while his jaw clenched, emphasizing the tense muscles in his face./p
p style="text-align: justify;""But now everyone hates me, especially her." Izuku said, but he could no longer feel sad about it, since being hated had become way too normal./p
p style="text-align: justify;""You just showed them how strong you are. If anything, I bet they fear you, which is exactly what you need to survive in this place." Shouto replied with his back to Izuku, so he couldn't see his unreadable expression. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"When they finally finished filling up the wall with cement, they followed the guard./p
p style="text-align: justify;"br /"The institute's director has news for you. You must enter this room and have a meeting with him." The dark skinned man said, without any emotion in his face. He seemed to be used to dealing with problematic children, if his unimpressed expression was anything to go by. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"They entered the room after an old man's voice told them to enter after they knocked./p
p style="text-align: justify;"Director Kobayashi stared at the promising two children. He had studied their quirks, and the promise they carried was too meaningful to be wasted, which is why the commission had came up with the perfect plan for them. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"Director Kobayashi's expression was stern as he addressed the two young boys before him. "Take a seat," he said, his voice firm and commanding. Izuku and Shouto exchanged nervous glances before sitting down, unsure of what was about to happen./p
p style="text-align: justify;""Izuku Midoriya, Shouto Todoroki," Director Kobayashi began, his gaze piercing. "Your attempt to escape the institute by damaging private property is unacceptable. As a consequence, you will be transferred to the most problematic class in the institute, located in another part of the city."/p
p style="text-align: justify;"He leaned forward, emphasizing his next words. "This class has the best security measures ever. You will not be able to attempt to escape again. The commission has devised this plan because they believe in your potential. Your quirks are powerful, and they must be honed for the greater good. Now, do you understand?" He raised his voice, watching how the problematic Izuku Midoriya startled as he avoided his gaze, while the other boy kept staring at him, as he should. "It is rude to not look to a person when they're speaking to you, boy" he addressed Izuku, which got him to finally look into director Kobayashi's eyes. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"br /"We understand" the kid with the fire and ice quirk spoke calmly, his composed expression not giving anything away./p
p style="text-align: justify;""Very good. You must pack for your new destination. You can leave now."/p
p style="text-align: justify;"*/p
p style="text-align: justify;"Nakamura after being expelled, felt empty and angry for being expelled in this way, at the same time, she was worried about her students who she left behind, especially 7-year-old izuku , in which she found her younger self, she wished that she was as brave as he was, and she knew that he desperately needed someone specially with what happened with him, So she decided to visit him, even though she knew that they wouldn't let her, but she tried anyway to find out that he had been transferred to another city./p
p style="text-align: justify;"*/p
p style="text-align: justify;"Three days had passed, Izuku got used to the new place and they didn't attempt to escape again after noticing the walls weren't made with cement anymore which made them hesitant to try again, because, what kind of other punishment would they receive? Surely they wouldn't let them rebuild the wall again, that had been too simple. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"However, Izuku couldn't find any rebellion in himself anymore, with all these thoughts and nightmares from time to time that fateful night. /p
p style="text-align: justify;""i did it .. I killed them.. I am a murderer .." Shouto woke him up from a nightmare with a little shake, asking him to wake up. /p
p style="text-align: justify;""What are you talking about while sleeping? Hurry and wake up before we miss the class" he said while wearing his tie and eyeing his friend, apparently concerned. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"The two went to class and throughout the lesson, Izuku couldn't focus at all. Shouto noticed the way his eyes kept lingering to the door instead of the teacher, and how he always seemed close to falling asleep, with deep eyebags in his face, Izuku portrayed an exhausted face./p
p style="text-align: justify;" After the class ended and the students went to eat, Izuku did not touch his food, he just didn't seem to be himself today, Shouto thought. /p
p style="text-align: justify;""You haven't looked well since we moved into this place. Did something happen?" Shouto asked, as he took a bite of his food, observing how his friend refused to do the same. /p
p style="text-align: justify;""I'm fine .. don't worry about me. I think it's only a bunch of bad dreams" Izuku wasn't going to tell him that he murdered his parents. While Shouto didn't judge him for burning Sakura's hair, this was an entirely different thing. /p
p style="text-align: justify;""Maybe you should talk about it with a therapist, I heard that the institution provides services like this now" Shouto suggested to him, as he carefully observed him. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"Izuku remembered the way the photographers had laughed at him after saying he killed his parents. Surely a therapist wouldn't react any differently. "I'll be fine after I eat now, don't worry" Izuku smiled at Shouto and actually started eating his food./p
p style="text-align: justify;"As they were eating, Izuku and some others were called to the post office./p
p style="text-align: justify;"Izuko went with a few other students and they were informed that they had been called to receive letters from their relatives or parents, but Izuku had no one but his parents and since they no longer exist, he wondered who cares about him to write him a letter. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"The students stood in line to receive each of their letters until their turn arrived, and the excitement and curiosity got him to find out what the letter contained! And who even sent it? As soon as he received the envelope, he turned it to read who it was from and his eyes filled with tears immediately and he felt great enthusiasm, seeing this name brought him back a lot of beautiful and happy memories with those who carry it "from Aiko Nakamura"./p
p style="text-align: justify;"Izuku read the letter./p
p style="text-align: justify;"em"Dear Izuku,/em/p
p style="text-align: justify;"emI have been worried about you ever since I left the school, which wasn't my own decision. I have been wondering how you have been doing and if you took into your mind the fact that the incident with your parents wasn't your fault at all. I can only imagine the weight that must be on your shoulders, and I want you to know that you are not alone in this. What happened with your parents is an act of self defense, since you defend yourself from a dangerous situation. /em/p
p style="text-align: justify;"emI wanted to let you know there is a therapist in the institute. I know teachers aren't very kind in general, but I promise that a therapist should be different. If you ever need to talk or seek assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out./em/p
p style="text-align: justify;"emSincerely, your ex teacher Nakamura". /em/p
p style="text-align: justify;"Izuku immediately wrote her back a letter, where he explained the nightmares he had been having and the way they had tried to escape by melting off the walls. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"*/p
p style="text-align: justify;""You seem happier." Shouto told him, a small smile on his face, as he observed his friend eating dinner, as they were in the school cafeteria. The atmosphere was tense around them, since a bunch of kids were fighting each other and the teachers weren't doing anything about it, so the children had made a circle to observe the fight. Izuku and Shouto weren't interested and attempted to ignore the situation as they ate dinner. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"br /Izuku happily explained that an ex-teacher who always seemed to care about him had wrote him. /p
p style="text-align: justify;""Maybe you could actually tell her to visit us," Shouto suggested as he ate his rice. /p
p style="text-align: justify;""That's actually a great idea!" /p
p style="text-align: justify;"*/p
p style="text-align: justify;""No teamwork is allowed at all!" The teacher barked to the kids. They were in the simulated forest that was the institute's training grounds. "Today's training will consist in a rescue simulation. Each one of you must navigate the hazardous environment alone to locate and rescue a designated civilian while avoiding detection by patrolling "villains", whose role has been taken by the instructors. The challenge is to complete the mission without triggering any traps or alarms, which would result in immediate disqualification. If there is cheating, such as teamwork, there will be severe consequences. If anyone is disqualified, there will be also terrible consequences, and the instructors will pick a different punishment for each one of you. Whoever is at the last ranking at the leaderboard will be expelled today." The instructor yelled, his voice resonating in an echo in the forest. "You have five minutes to interact with each other, before you're given a position to start and retrieve the civilians. We're only giving you the chance to talk between you due to the Ministry Of Heroism claiming that communication is important at this young age, but you must keep in mind you aren't in a team at all. Got it?" He finished speaking, finally. Shouto felt relief. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"Everyone yelled at the top of their lungs "yes". /p
p style="text-align: justify;"This was so much like the military that Shouto couldn't help but feel creeped out. What were the kids becoming in this school?/p
p style="text-align: justify;""Izuku" Shouto separated himself from the crowd, and whispered to his friend to come nearby. "We definitely need to team up. While I have no wish to face the consequences of it, I do not desire at all to find out what the consequences of being caught by the instructors will be. There is no guarantee we won't fail, and helping each other will be..." he trailed off, before he was interrupted by Izuku, who was smiling, for some reason Shouto couldn't figure it out. This was a terrible position to be in. While it would be awesome to be spelled, he had heard terrible things of foster care, the place where they could both end if that happened. /p
p style="text-align: justify;""Shouto, it's ok. You don't have to explain to me why it's important we collaborate. It simply is important, and that doesn't require a justification, not in this place. It's obvious we've got to stay together to remain strong!" Izuku actually managed to speak confidently and without stuttering, but he felt his temple sweat while he thought about the possibility of being both of them caught for cheating and also failing. He would deserve these punishments, but Shouto wouldn't, not at all. Shouto was no murder./p
p style="text-align: justify;""Well, I can't really see anything from here... but we could develop some kind of strategy regardless of the territory... listen to me, Izuku, I think..." Shouto and Izuku developped an strategy during the five minutes they had, until they were forced to be separated to start with the activity. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"*/p
p style="text-align: justify;"Shouto stared at the "villain". If only he could freeze him entirely without warning the rest of the instructors. He sighed, and created an icicle with his quirk, just like they had planned, and threw it far away with all the strength he had. It was supposed to be a distraction. While the instructors could see each other, leading him to a secluded place would allow both of them to knock him out with their powers. There was only one difficulty added: there was an instructor watching them through the cameras. They hadn't bothered to tell the kids, but Izuku and Shouto had both noticed right away that in the trees there were some hidden cameras, probably there to ensure no one worked as a team./p
p style="text-align: justify;"As the instructor went to check the area of the noise, slipping away from the other's instructors sight, he froze his feet, allowing Shouto to kick his knees and sent him into the floor. As the instructor's legs were glued to the floor, he leaped into the air and hit him with another icicle in his skull, sending him to the floor, unconscious. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"Shouto spat at him. Mom probably would disappointed of his manners, but these people just wished harm to him and his friend. They didn't deserve any respect. He looked at the sky in an abrupt way, just like they had agreed: that was the signal for Izuku to run through the forest and hide in another of the bushes nearby./p
p style="text-align: justify;"They kept going this way, Shouto using the same distraction, only for the instructors to react the same way, allowing themselves to be frozen in a way that had Shouto almost chuckling. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"They finally both arrived to the civilians, which were... obviously kids from other classes, since he didn't recognize any of them. They motioned for them to follow them, and they both respectively went through the same path they had taken to arrive there, being careful of the traps the teachers had put in the ground. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"They were quiet. Everything was going allright, since Shouto had ensured to freeze all the teachers so they wouldn't be able to scream upon waking up. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"Until they had reached the end./p
p style="text-align: justify;"Izuku and Shouto were being observed not only by the teacher, but also by the kids whose turn hadn't arrived yet. There was a crowd./p
p style="text-align: justify;"And every single one of these kids observed the instructor approach the four kids (both civillians and rescuers), everyone expecting him to congratulate the duo since they had only taken two minutes to complete the challenge... however, something was wrong. The instructor wasn't smiling, as he would if he were about to honor them. He was walking fast, just like Endeavor did before he.../p
p style="text-align: justify;""Izuku, run!" Shouto yelled as he created an icicle from his palms, ready to defend himself and Izuku from the man. He wasn't going to go down without a fight. He held it threateningly, as much as a seven year old could look with such a weapon in their hands, and when the teacher's hand was about to strike him, Shouto hit his ear since he was close enough, earning screams from the crowd who was watching them. "I won't let you touch us!" He shouted, as tears gathered in his eyes upon remembering what it felt like to be beaten down until he felt nothing at all./p
p style="text-align: justify;" /p
p style="text-align: justify;"However, he had taken for granted that Izuku would run. /p
p style="text-align: justify;" /p
p style="text-align: justify;"That had been a mistake./p
p style="text-align: justify;" /p
p style="text-align: justify;"Shouto's eyes widened impossibly upon realizing the teacher wasn't knocked out from the impact and was about to hit him back, when Izuku all of the sudden intervened, standing between Shouto and the threat. /p
p style="text-align: justify;" /p
p style="text-align: justify;""Please, don't hit him! I don't know what we have done wrong... But Shouto hasn't done anything! Please, forgive him for being stupid and daring to fight against you!" He pleaded as he got on his knees, lowering his head to the ground./p
p style="text-align: justify;"The teacher paused, his hand frozen mid-air, as he regarded Izuku with a mixture of surprise and judgement. /p
p style="text-align: justify;""Send the Todoroki kid to be punished" he spoke, his words directed at another teacher who was nearby. "for hitting me and allowing an opponent to take advantage of his actions. Don't punish the other boy." Izuku wasn't sure what he meant, but he understood that Shouto was going to face the consequences of teaming up with him. /p
p style="text-align: justify;" /p
p style="text-align: justify;""Like hell I'm going to let you punish me! Why don't you go fuck yourself?" Shouto's voice cut through the air, sharp. /p
p style="text-align: justify;" /p
p style="text-align: justify;"Izuku realized that Shouto was going to fight the adults, but he knew from experience that they were stronger than they could both ever be. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"However, he wasn't going to let him fight them alone. /p
p style="text-align: justify;"Izuku stood next to Shouto, his trembling fists in the air to make clear he wasn't abandoning him in his fight./p
p style="text-align: justify;"As they used their fire quirk, they could only gasp as both of their fire were put out... by an erasure quirk from someone else. br /br /p
p style="text-align: justify;""This is a clear example of cheating! Don't worry, teachers, I will help you out!" The voice came from a kid, who was clearly the source of the erasure quirk, since he was holding his hands in the air in a strange way towards them./p
p style="text-align: justify;" /p
p style="text-align: justify;"That day, Izuku and Shouto learnt that the world wasn't kind, not at all, as they were escorted for their respective punishment, the grip of the teacher's hands on their slender arms strong like a vice. /p