Daisuke continued scrolling through his phone, checking his usual forums and news posts as he leaned up against the wall across from the bathrooms. The young hero had no problem waiting around while most of the others continued on to the assembly. He looked up as one of the bathroom doors opened and someone he didn't expect stepped out into the hall.

"…hi?" Juzo said awkwardly through his filtered mask. "Waiting on someone…?"

"Amaya and Kyoka," Daisuke answered, pocketing the device and folding his arms over his chest. "You're welcome to join, but I won't be offended if you don't. I guess I might be waiting for Katsuki, too, given how long these two are taking…"

"What's Bakugo doing?" Juzo questioned as he moved to stand off to Daisuke's side, taking care not to step on his massive tail. "He doesn't seem like the type to hang back when there's an event to get to."

"Minoru was having some issues, so Kats stayed behind to help out," Daisuke answered. "I was a little surprised, too… but I probably shouldn't be. He's a good guy, once you get past his prickly exterior. I think a lot of people here are more caring and comforting than their public personas would suggest."

"…yeah," Juzo agreed, rubbing the back of his neck. "That's… part of why I'm waiting with you, actually. I spent some time with Amaya recently, one-on-one. She's… not who I expected her to be behind closed doors."

"She's a sweetheart," Daisuke agreed with a smirk. "We spent some time together just laying on her couch the day we got the news about Sir Nighteye. It was nice, just lounging around and keeping each other warm while watching some mindless show. I kinda hope she's up to do it again sometime."

Even behind the mask, the look that Juzo shot his classmate caused Daisuke to raise a brow. There was absolute venom behind the glare, though its severity quickly lessened as Juzo tried to rein it in to avoid rousing suspicion. Unfortunately, he was too late in doing so and Daisuke had definitely noticed.

"Or… not…"

"Sorry," Juzo offered quickly as he let out a rattling sigh. "That was… not warranted. I just don't like the thought of competition. I haven't been interested in someone in a long time, and Amaya is... something else."

"Oh, you've got nothing to worry about there," Daisuke reassured with a nervous laugh. "We're just friends. She and I have actually already talked about that possibility and decided to keep it that way. It was more my decision than hers, but… so, you and Amaya, huh? Is something already going on, or…?"

"…unclear," Juzo answered. "There was a bit of… experimentation. She was trying to find something that works for me, and…"

The boy trailed off as Amaya and Kyoka finally emerged from the bathroom, leaving Daisuke incredibly confused and unsure what to think of what may or may not have happened between his classmates. He didn't have much time to mull it over as Amaya clapped a wing around his shoulder and back, pulling him closer to her.

"You didn't have to wait, you know. Sweet that you did."

"Not a problem," Daisuke answered with a smile. It faded immediately as he noticed Juzo's glare yet again. "Juzo decided to hang around too."

"I can see that," Amaya said with a nod to the other boy. "What's up?"

"…I don't know," Juzo answered, the tension carrying in his voice. "I'm just… here. Let's go."

"You and me both," Kyoka said, shooting Daisuke a quizzical look. "Did Bakugo come out yet?"

"Still with Minoru," he answered as Amaya finally unwrapped her wing from around him. "I think some of those questions hit him hard, for whatever reason."

"He's not the only one," Amaya admitted as she waved for the group to follow her. "I put a lot into some of those answers. Not really the kind of questions I expected, but they are important. Hopefully whoever gets the Field Lead position is trustworthy if it isn't me."

"You're going out for it?" Kyoka asked. "I mean, assuming there are tryouts or some kind of competition. I think you'd make a good leader…"

"Seconded," Daisuke chimed in.

"…yeah," Juzo agreed, annoyed at being beaten to the punch. "You would have my vote… but I would also be throwing my hat in the ring."

"Really?" Amaya asked, turning her attention to the boy. "Doesn't really seem like your kind of thing, given how much you'll have to deal with all of us and how personal it could get. What's the motivation?"

"To prove that I can," Juzo answered simply. "I'm tired of being underestimated and overlooked. I know I don't do myself any favors by tending to stay quiet and away from social situations, but…"

"You're working on that," Amaya reminded. "I'd say you have a decent shot if you get your shit together… but then again, you'll be up against me. And probably Dai."

"What?" Daisuke asked with another nervous laugh. "I am… so uninterested in leading this circus. I mean, sure, I like helping people with whatever's on their minds, but I'm a terrible choice for a Field Leader. Besides- my vote's with you."

"Of course it is," Juzo grumbled quietly to himself as the group made it into the stairwell and began their descent.

Kyoka kept to the back of the pack, pulling out her phone and beginning to text someone as she followed along.

"You know Bakugo is absolutely going to try for it, right? I figured your vote would go with him. You two seem close."

Daisuke let out a noise that sounded almost painful as the realization hit.

"…shit. Yeah, never mind. I don't know what I'll do if it comes down to supporting one or the other. Both of you are great, and both of you could do it…"

"Do whatever feels right at the time," Amaya suggested as the group emerged into the downstairs hallway. "I won't hold a grudge if you go with him over me. He has been taking charge since we got here, even if it's been reluctantly. Guess that also means I've gotta step it up…"

"Or bow out, so I can challenge him more effectively," Juzo suggested jokingly. "Still, we're all getting ahead of ourselves. We don't even know what the competition to find a Field Leader will entail. It could even just be a standard election, like Class President…"

"If it is, I'm wearing a low-cut top on that day," Amaya declared as the group made their way down the hallway, joining the procession of students headed for the auditorium. "I'll have it in the bag."

"…unless 1-A and 1-B share a Field Leader," Kyoka considered. "There's still Yaoyorozu, in that case…"

"Damn, good point," Amaya agreed as she turned to walk backward, using her hands to push up her chest. "Boys- who has better tits? Me or Yaoyorozu?"

Juzo's face immediately flushed beneath the mask, and he let out a rattling cough as he looked away.

"U-uh…"

"I mean… purely from an aesthetic standpoint?" Daisuke replied. He didn't bother to look away, nor did he seem particularly bothered by the question as he looked Amaya over. "I can't answer honestly without a side-by-side comparison…"

"Cowards," Amaya accused, letting her breasts drop as she turned around and quite nearly ran into someone coming out of a nearby bathroom. "Shit! My bad…"

Hitoshi Shinso turned to face her and offered a nod.

"…you're good. Nice to see you again. We haven't really had a chance to talk since the bookstore…"

"Glad to have you on board, Shinso," Amaya agreed. "Do you know the others yet?"

"…somewhat," Hitoshi admitted as the group slowed to a pause at the back of the line into the auditorium. "I've heard all of your names, but it may take me a while…"

"Kyoka Jiro," she offered with a wave.

"Daisuke Aki."

"Juzo Honenuki," the boy finished. "You do know there's a bathroom right near Professor Aizawa's classroom, right?"

Hitoshi paused, giving his classmate an exasperated look.

"…yeah, I… saw you go in and don't like being in the bathroom around other people, if I can help it. Turns out this one was much more crowded and a bad decision on my part…"

"Live and learn," Daisuke said with a shrug. "Honestly, though- I'd suggest you use our bathroom on the 1-A floor. It'll be even more awkward if you're stuck with the one that General Studies is using…"

"Especially with that Aoyama prick being your roommate for however long," Amaya pointed out. "Maybe even the year. He'll be extra insufferable now that he's next in line to jump to the Hero Course…"

"Please don't remind me," Hitoshi grumbled. "So far as I know, Professor Aizawa is currently working on a plan to move me off the General Studies floor, but… I don't see what he could possibly do, besides making another dorm a triple instead of a double. He isn't going to put me with a girl…"

Kyoka quirked a brow and moved slightly to be in Amaya's peripheral vision.

"…well… do you think we could make it work with Tsu? Pull her in with us and have the only girl dorm on the floor?"

Amaya flexed her wings and pulled a face.

"I mean… we could, sure, but if I'm being honest… I'd personally rather not. Yeah, it'd be fun in some ways, but it would suck in others. Nothing against her, or against you, but living with even one other person is still weird to me. I don't know…"

"No pressure," Kyoka reassured. "And that's totally fair. Just thought I'd ask."

"I know, but…" Amaya started before letting out a frustrated noise. "…it would be the right thing to do, given the circumstances. Maybe we should talk to Aizawa later. It's not all about me."

"Please don't feel pressured because of my situation," Hitoshi said warily. "I wouldn't ask that of you, nor would I expect it."

"Uh-huh. It's fine," Amaya said, her tone suggesting the situation was anything but. "I'm not upset with you, or Kyoka, or anyone else, really. The situation is shitty, and there's an opportunity to step up and do the mature but inconvenient thing to help someone out. We should all be getting used to that feeling."

Daisuke put a gentle hand on Amaya's shoulder, earning her attention immediately.

"If you really don't want to, we could potentially pull Shinso into our dorm. If Minoru is cool with it, I wouldn't really mind. Having a third person there might help to balance him out."

"…balance him out how?" Hitoshi asked with a sidelong look at the heteromorph.

"He's a perv," Juzo accused, shooting Daisuke an annoyed look.

"…hard pass," Hitoshi said immediately. "But thank you for the offer. Let's not get too fixated on this just yet. The dorms could barely fit a third bed in them, and we don't know what Professor Aizawa is thinking as a potential solution."

"Still," Amaya insisted. "Kyo, if you're cool with it, I say we talk to Aizawa tonight. Do our part and help ease the burden on our class as a whole. I like Tsu. Could be way, way worse."

"I like her too," Kyoka confirmed. "I'd be okay with it. To be honest, I also prefer being on my own and having space, but… it's Tsu. She doesn't strike me as the type to cause issues. Let's make the offer."

"Then it's settled," Amaya agreed. "We've got your back, Shinso. If this works out, you'll have the solo dorm."

"I don't know what to say, truly," Hitoshi admitted. "Your generosity toward someone you barely know is overwhelming. Thank you, Kan. Jiro. And Aki, for the offer… even if I'd rather not."

"Any time," Daisuke offered. "We're all supposed to be working together for the greater good. That includes the greater good of our class and U.A. as a whole."

As Amaya draped her wings over Daisuke and Kyoka's shoulders, Juzo took a deep inhale and focused on the crowd ahead. It was stifling within his mask, and the anger stewing in his chest didn't help at all.

Author's Note:

Next time- the Hassaikai prepare to welcome All Might…

-RD