Chapter 12 New School, Old Student

You can teach old dog new tricks with the right kind of doggie treats

Cynthia Lewis

What can you do for two weeks? What can you get done for two weeks? Plenty, is the answer, plenty of time to finish your assignments, relax, many things can be done within two weeks. For us, guardians, two weeks means two weeks of training, two weeks of rest and quest, two weeks of searching for knowledge.

For U.A two weeks are the time they need to choose which soul survive their exam, which soul capable of being a hero. And for the aspiring heroes those are two weeks of torture, two weeks of waiting, a situation of limbo, of uncertainty…

And then comes the letter…

"I still cannot comprehend the aspect of time Aria" I said to her. It has been two weeks since my examination at U.A, and now, I'm holed in my room. Learning the aspect of time of Rubric of Ahriman

"You have understood the aspect of space, my beloved warlock, You just need to apply the same concept to the aspect of time" Aria said, floating next to me, watching my frustration.

"Easier said than done…" I grumble while turning the rubric cube

'Learning the aspect of space is rather easy because I could imagine space as a paper. Time however, is abstract, I have nothing, my companion, nothing to act as a base for my understanding"

"Hmm… perhaps we should stop this exercise my dearest guardian" Aria said, floating in front of me "We have done this for the last four days, even if I explained to you how time works, the equation of continuum. Your brain would not be able to absorb any additional information"

"Are you saying that I'm stupid?" I look up at her, an expression of displeasure formed in my face

"No, my dearest guardian, of course not" Aria said with a calm soothing voice. "I'm merely saying that any guardian needs their breaks. And you, my beloved warlock, are no different" she explains her motives

"… Forgive me, for lashing out to you Aria" I said, lowering my head, ashamed of my behaviour, ashamed for lashing out just for a minor reason

"All the more reason for you to take a break my dearest guardian" Aria said before return back to my mind

'Haaah how tiresome…' i put my rubric back to my desk, and walking around my room, stretching my body and relaxing my mind. But somehow, I have a feeling that something big is going to happen right now

Suddenly I hear the footstep coming to my room, and before long, my door slammed open, from there I see the figure of my little sister. She's gasping for air, her hair is messy, and there are barely any clothes on her body. All of this pointed to the fact that she just awakes from her slumber

At one pm in the noon

How lazy…

"Nii-san it's here! Its here!" Izumi said while still gasping for air, but an ear-to-ear smile shows something important, yet good is here

"Hmm? You need to be more specific Izumi" I flatly replied

"The letter! Whether we will be accepted into U.A or not! Its here!" she said with barely contained excitement.

"Oh? I didn't know that" honestly, my mind is still nub from my experimentation with the rubric, and my body still hurts being move after sitting for four days straight, but seeing Izumi jumping up and down like this make me quite excited too

Although, as usual, I would put a straight face to hide my emotion

"Yeah! This one belongs to you Izu-nii, lets hope that both of us accepted into U.A!" she said before running to her own room, I suppose she forgot to mention that this is a private massage for each receiver, but again, judging by her action I could deduce the massage

'Watherver' I close my door and locking it, before summoning Aria

"Could you please use the Rune of Mirror on this room?" I ask for her help

"Of course, my beloved warlock" Aria says before several runes shines on my room

"Let's see what you have for us U.A…" I said before letting Aria scan the data inside and project its content to my walls

I see a small figure, a rodent-like wearing a shirt and a vest, he looks calm and I can sense a happiness radiates from him.

"Congratulations contestant number 15767, or should I say, Izuku Midoriya. You have passed the examination with a flying score, us teachers, staffs, and administrator welcome you to our school." The rodent said opening his arms wide, as if about to hug someone

"Ah! Where's my manner… My name is Nezu, principal of U.A and I myself alongside with the teachers would watch your career with great interest" Nezu introduces himself while also slipping a certain sci-fi joke "The class and introduction would start next week, so make sure you have your equipment ready and don't be late. Punctuality is important for heroes" he adds

"So! With that being said… WELCOME TO U.A!" before the recording stops

"So that's that…" I conclude

*THUMP**THUMP**THUMP**THUMP*

*BANG!*

I hear the thumping of footstep approaching before someone decided to kick my door open, apparently door handle is just an ornament. There stands Izumi, out of breath with an ear to ear smile in her face. I know what she will asks…

"I got accepted!" she said with an excitement in her voice "How about you Nii-san? You surely also get accepted, no?"

"Hm, Yes" I give a short reply, "Calm down Izumi, no need to get too excited. A new journey awaits us, and you should prepare. Being a hero would be a challenging work for you" I add

She tiled her head, confused by my warning to her "What about you? I know you're strong Nii-san but shouldn't you worry about yourself too?"

"I can handle myself, and my job as an older brother is to worry about you" Despite my past with Izumi, I truly cares for her, and seeing her effort to warming up to me the last six months… I guess she still cares for me after all.

"But that doesn't expla- "Izumi tries to argue, but my piercing gaze quickly silences her

"There are many things you don't need to know Izumi, not yet…"

"Sorry" she apologizes.

"We should prepare our stuff, next Monday is the first day of the class. A new journey, into the unknown, Izumi. Best to prepare for the worst"

"You make it sounds like we are going to hell Nii-san" she jokes and leave, closing the door

And now alone, finally I can meditate. There are so much, so much thing that will happened next week, and me? I'm just an old student used to the unforgiving harsh reality of what lies beyond the safety of the Last City.

I hope I could keep up with their expectation… for not killing everyone that threatens my friends (but we'll see if I could make friends), my family, and my goal to kill The Witness

"Both of you already prepare your equipment?" mother asks

"Yes" Izumi replies adjusting her tie

"What about notes?" she asks another question

"Mhm" I hum in return

"What about your medicine? You, have it?" another question

"Yes mom" Izumi replied

"What about-"mother is about to asks another question before I said

"We have everything in need mother, no need to worry" I replied in a low tone, I wish not to sound as a disrespectful child.

Despite, in my eyes, she's weak. I know that behind that weakness lies a strength that I would never able to achieve, a strength of a mother, someone that would lay her life to protect her children, an unconditional love for her offspring. And for that I respect her

"I'm sorry Izuku, I just… I just worry that something will happen to both of you. Being a hero is a dangerous job, perhaps even more dangerous than military. I just wanted both of you safe" she sighs

"I know" I give a short reply before leaving with Izumi

"How do you feel Nii-san? Excited? Scared?"

"… Nothing…" I murmur

"Really? Nothing? Come on! We are finally able to be heroes! Is that exciting?!" she said with a happy tone that truly irked me.

"Is that how you fell Izumi? Exciting? An adventure? Because if so, then you are not ready to be a hero" I said with a harsh tone, she's about to say something my angry face and piercing gaze shut her up

"You think this is a game Izumi? You think all of this is easy? You think that 'oh I have a powerful quirk I will be a hero' like that huh?! Let me tell you one thing my dearest sister, being a hero is to embrace pain, being a hero is to put a façade in the public. There will be battle, there will be destruction, there will be death!"

"You are handling life Izumi, your decision would safe, or kill a person, with your mouth you could sway the public, your action could inspire or bring hatred! There will be battle, there will be pain, there will be a moment where you would be plunged unto despair and if you are not ready that you will be destroyed!"

"And you think your quirk can help you? I omitted some information during my reveal but I was known as Kingslayer, Godkiller, Hivebane, Dark Apostle, and many more Izumi, and that title is EARNED! Not given. I have killed countless fools that calls themselves as gods, and entities that is ACTUALLY gods, being that can control space and time. I have destroyed an entire race more technologically advanced than all of our nation combined."

"They thought themselves as immortal, undefeated, and guess what? I KILLED THEM!" I yell at Izumi, who now looks extremely scared

"I suggest that you fix that attitude of yours, this is NOT a game, this is a beginning of world of hurt, of pain and suffering, where glory is destruction, where fame is blood spilled, where innocents are acceptable damage" I lower my voice and gaze on her sternly. I see she's about to cry, her eyes glassy and her breath ragged.

She sobs

"I… sorry… Nii-san, please forgive me…" her words laid with fear

"…" I said nothing and begin to resume my walk, the rest of the walk to U.A is sombre, of not downright depressing. Izumi lower her head, she refused to look onto me and I, knowing that I have overstepped, figuring out how to make amends

"We're here" I said looking at the gates to U.A, its richly decorated and have some baroque elements to it, and beyond that gate is a garden, a beautiful one and then, the U.A itself. We walk through the hall way, asking a janitor, a Finnish janitor, where our class is.

But before that I need to make amend with Izumi…

"Izumi, we'll take a detour" I said to her, she still hung her head, and letting a small nod of approval. After walking several minutes, we stopped in an empty hallway

"Izumi, look at me… please" my soft voice and pleaded tone seems to reach her, she looks at me, her eyes red trying to keep tears at bay

"Izumi, I… I'm sorry, I should not yell at you like that, forgive me…" I sigh looking to the ceiling

"It just, I have lost so much Izumi, I have lost Cayde-6, Kindred, Nightingale, Sir D, Omega-7 and many more. I could handle physical pain, I could handle being killed, I could handle being tortured alive. But seeing my family took away from me? It's… It's too much"

"I can't lose you as well Izumi, I know that this is not a justification for what I have done to you, I just… I just worry about you, I have seen plenty of death both of my enemies and my loved ones. But I don't think I would be able to stay sane if you died"

"I hope you understand why I'm yelling at you, and for that I'm sorry…"

"…." Izumi said nothing, a heavy silence fall to both of us.

"It's okay Nii-san, I… I understand why you are so distressed with my safety, I truly do… But, don't you ever think that I don't know the risk that I will take? I know that it will be dangerous which is why I aim to be a hero…" her voice in the beginning is soft, akin to a whisper, but gradually, It would strengthen, there's conviction in her voice

"But I suppose, I underestimate what a dangerous world I will enter soon"

"Perhaps, or perhaps I overreact… After all, this is not the Last City, and there may not be god, vex, hive nor eliksni exists…" I replied "Still, forgive me, Izumi, it is not right for me to yell at you"

"It's okay, and now shouldn't we check our class?" she smiles, seemingly already getting over me yelling at her. But it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth, I need to make amend with her

"So, this is class 1A" Izumi is quite shock with a large door, I kick the door, and it flies open. Inside the class several students, around 20 looks at us with a shock. I recognize some of them. Bakugou, a boy with a bird head, a girl with a pink skin, another boy with purple hair that looks like grape, the bob brunette that I saved during my confrontation with a werewolf long time ago. And of course the scarecrow.

The glass-wearing bastard in the entrance exam two weeks ago march towards me and Izumi, I could tell this will not go well, instinctively, I stand in front of Izumi

"You! As a student of U.A hero school you should act as a hero. Kicking a door open is not a heroic act! If you don't have the capabilities to be a hero, I suggest that you leave"

As much I would like to rebuke his statement, I know that I was wrong. Even the rowdiest hunter would show proper decorum inside the Last City, and a former interim Hunter Vanguard (a position forced upon me by the Six Coyotes after Cayde's death) I should do better

"Sorry the door looked heavy so i-"I apologizes but a certain Pomeranian yell something at me

"DEKU! YOU DARE COME TO U.A HUH!" Bakugou thumping towards me

"GUESS I WILL HAVE TO SHOW YOU THAT YOU ARE NOT WORTHY COMING TO U.A! YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A STEPPING STONE FOR ME!" He yells, opening his arms and letting several explosions to go off. But before I could say anything Izumi quickly walk to the Pomeranian

"You better shut up Bakugou, for too long I have listening you mocking my brother, for too long I tolerate you abusing my brother." She said with venom in her voice

"But today… no more… if you have wish to show your superiority to Nii-san you would have to get through me first, and we know what happened last time when you and I cross our path" she makes her threat clear to him, messing with me would mean messing with her.

But I wonder… what does she means with the last time… Make no mistake, I know that Izumi is strong, but I haven't even seen her in a real fight so it's hard for me to know her full power.

Our squabble in the rooftop does not count

But something drwas my attention and wake me up from my train of thought, Bakugou and Izumi still arguing with each other. I opted to stay out of this until

"Tch, you think im afraid of you bi-" his voice suddenly dies as my hand chokes his neck, and lift him up.

"You could say shit to me, you could punch me, you could bully me you could kill me if you are capable Bakugou" I said in a flat tone, my grip tightens around his neck, he's quickly running out of oxygen, his face started to becomes blue

"But leave… my… sister… alone" I growl at him before releasing my grip, he quickly gasps for air. I look down to him with an uncaring gaze, before returning to my usual self. I walk over him and find myself a sit with Izumi behind me

"Wow, so manly" a student with red hair said

"Such a dark soul" whisper the student with raven head

"Man what a beauty we have" that last remark comes from the purple boy and it make me nearly pop a vein, if it's not for Aria's soft voice I would have done so

'Calm down my beloved warlock, just take it as a compliment.' Aria's voice soothes me and refocus my attention.

'You have been on the edge since this morning my dearest guardian, why? I know that you fear for your sister's safety but are you not over doing it?'

'I know Aria, I know. It's just, she and mom is the only family I have you know, I would not worry about mother, she's in relative safety. But Izumi? There will be one day where she's iin front of a villain, a villain that could kill her, villain that could torture her'

'So, you don't trust her skill to keep her alive?" Aria continues, I have a feeling that this conversation would end up me doing something I don't like

'Perhaps, or perhaps I do not trust that this school is good enough to teach her survival skills'

'If so, then why wont you train her yourself my beloved warlock? And don't say that you are not a good teacher.' I tried to rebuke her statement but she quickly cut me off

'Need I remind you that you not are the one that teach Bloodhound to be the best tracker amongst guardians? And what about Crow? Your former enemy, you took him in to be your pupil, you teach him about how hunters work, and before we leave look what happened to him. A hunter Vanguard, respected, admired, loved by fellow hunters'

*Sigh*

'Bloodhound already have innate skill on tracking Aria, I simply let him sharpen it. And let me remind you that I purposefully not just teach but also groom Crow to be my successor. Being a hunter Vanguard took a lot of my free time. Time that I could use better to study, explore and meditate'

'Then why can't you do the same to your sister? There's conviction in her, I sense a strength…, a light and dark within her soul. Why can't you train her to wield it?'

'Because I myself are not a master of light and dark Aria, I haven't master it. If I teach her a wrong material, a wrong way to handle it, what would she become huh?'

'Excuses, excuses and more excuses' Aria's voice filled with regret, annoyance, and her chiding tone makes me feeling like a kid that has failed his parents

'What about your skill when you train Bloodhound? Or Crow? Are you weaker now than when you train them? Are you not flawed back then? Are you not also learning? Yet you still teach them, you still guide them.'

'And let me tell you something my beloved warlock, everything, and I mean everything that exist within the garden have not known what is meant as "perfection" or "mastery" no matter how old, how powerful, how knowledgeable you are you will continue to learn. The same rule applies to me'

'…' I truly am speechless, and I could not rebuke Aria's statement. I have no excuses left.

'What if she doesn't want to be trained by me Aria?'

"She will not deny to be teach by you my beloved warlock, trust me she will not' her voice firm, as if she's capable to predict the future

'How would you know that, Aria?' I ask with suspicion

'I know her as much as I know how you act my dearest guardian. After all she's still young, its not hard to predict'

'If you say so… Fine, I will ask her whether she's willing to be under my tutelage. But should she decline then…' I have a feeling that my sister would not accept me to train her. I know she look up to me, but surely, she would not lower herself to be trained by her brother. A brother that's quirkless.

I could only hope

"Hmm?" I don't know whether anyone in this class notice or not, but a new entity wearing a yellow sleeping bag slides into the room, I keep my eyes to him, analysing this figure. Before long the sleeping bag climbed to the chair and show that a man in actually inside the bag

'Hmm it seems the rumour of Eraserhead looking like a beggar in a slum is true. The eyes that depraved of sleep, a messy hair as if he never showers and face that have never been wash'

'Careful my dearest gaurdian, it is just a façade. His eyes, despite looking awful scruitnizing every of our movement, and inside his head he's making judgement whether we are heroic material or not. There are many more features that indicated he's a veteran, my beloved warlock. Be careful' Aria's soft voice warns me of our soon-to-be teacher, or perhaps homeroom teacher?

'I know Aria' a mental nod to my companion

It took another three minutes until anyone in our class detected his presence, before long the rowdy class, filled with chatter and laughter, went quiet

"Three minutes" Eraserhead's raspy voice can be heard by many students

"Three minutes for you all to recognize my presence, in that three minutes you know how much damage a villain can do?" he said, his piercing gaze scans the room

"If you all are here to make friends, then I suggest that you drop from this course. This is the time and place for us to forge you to be a hero, not a socializer. In just three minutes you could get killed so I expect for you all to be more aware with your surroundings" his voice hardens with each word, chastises us for not aware, for letting our guard drop.

"From today onward, you will act as a student of U.A, you will be forged to be a hero. Here you all will learn how dangerous this job is" some students gulps from his statements

"Welcome to U.A" he darkly conclude his speech

'Heh, I will look forward to your teaching Eraserhead though I wonder…

Could you this old dog new tricks?'