Melissa sat nervously in front of Momo at the principal's office. She could see numerous awards and credentials alongside degrees. Photos of her class were on her desk and Melissa could see the personal weapon case Momo had on the side.
"So…" Momo started.
"So…" Melissa said as she sweated.
Momo smiled and created a pipe in her hand. Holding her finger at the end of it, she formed tobacco leaves and lit the tip of her finger with a tiny flame. She took a bit of a puff and offered to Melissa,
"Ah no thank you."
"Good on you. You'd be surprised by how long it took to make a pipe before." She took another puff. "If we're both waiting for our partners then I'd like to discuss something with you."
"With me specifically?"
Momo nodded. "I've kept an eye on you since Mei brought you up during our college years. She went on and on about the great Melissa Shield and the legacy she left behind at I-Island. She respects you."
"Really?" Melissa questioned. Mei Hatsume was able to make tidal waves in the industry. Melissa did not and she was in the game longer than her. How could she really be that impressive?
"Yes, even I was confused by it. I understand your name. Your father was commissioned by my family once to develop our home security system. Even a fraction of that genius is worth looking at. So what I want is to understand you, who you are, and why my partner holds such affection for you."
Melissa swallowed nervously. "I don't know either. I've been seen as a genius for years and I spent my life trying to live up to that title. Yet when I look back, I don't see much of my accomplishments on the level to garner Hatsume's attention. Anyone's attention really."
The floor began to swirl around her as Melissa felt something she repressed for years come up. The people whispering behind her back. Wondering if she was truly like her father. If she was anything like how her father was currently. The professor's giving her a second glance at her work.
Yet under Momo's gaze, the exposure made her remember more about that day.
Handcuffs, screaming, and blood. She remembered one of her blueprints being soaked with blood.
"I've always strived to do my best. I want my inventions to work. To help people." Melissa started. "I intend to lead with my company a new technology to keep up with the versatility of quirks."
Momo didn't look too impressed. Not yet anyways.
"Everyone here wants to help people and everyone wants to surpass other's quirks. I'm not seeing what makes you stand out." Melissa clenched her fists as Momo continued. "I'm aware of what the former great David Shield did and how that might have affected you."
A sharp pain in her side. "I don't let the past define me."
Momo tilted her head. "Really? From what it looked like, that was the reason why you disappeared for a couple years after graduation. You only made a few sparse appearances since then. In fact your start up company has been your first major move since the incident. From anyone else's position, it would seem you just got over that hurdle."
Melissa felt the pressure build on. Momo Yaoyorozu, the principal of the finest hero school, was interrogating her. Why is she judging her character? She was an inventor, her past didn't define her.
"You also just admitted that you didn't have any notable accomplishments. You have ambition yet no drive. You claim to defy your past, but nothing to show for it. You've done work for one hero and as impressive as they are, there are ten more impressive displays from others."
Momo snapped her fingers and Melissa saw the weapons on display change shape. They busted out of their case and flew right to Momo's arm. Melissa watched the metal meld into her shape. Seamlessly.
She was in awe as Momo flexed her fingers. "Mei worked on this for months and you know when she did it? Senior year during our tenure in UA."
"Senior year?" Melissa remembered how long she slaved over the design that went with Uraraka. So many sleepless nights and failed experiments and there was someone who enhanced her end goal years ago.
"I'll make my feelings clear. I don't believe that you've got anything worthwhile. Not to me or…" She paused and lifted her metallic hand. A light construct formed in her palm and expanded. A foot stepped through and a clean Mei Hatsume walked through while drying her hair. "Her."
"Mei?" Melissa said.
Mei smiled sadly and turned to Momo. "You're not being honest with her are you?"
"You wouldn't." Momo said. Her playful smile gone and switched with the look of an ice queen looking down at her prospects. "And what about your partner? Where is he?"
Melissa swallowed nervously. Where was Izuku?
Meanwhile
Izuku was handling another UA staff member.
"Pass? What do you mean pass?" Izuku asked. Eraserhead put down his phone and walked past Izuku.
"I have classes to teach, responsibilities outside of school to do, and the last thing I need is a twenty six year old liar asking me to train him." Eraser walked on. "You parade as quirkless, hiding power, and now what? You want to finally train? I can't work with someone who just decides to be a hero."
Izuku clenched his teeth.
"I made a promise Eraser, to you and your ward, that I would master this power." Izuku charged up two percent of his power and shifted his food. A few cracks on the ground webbed across the floor.
Eraser raised an eyebrow while looking back. Izuku dropped his jacket and let One For All flash before his eyes.
"I'm going to fulfill that promise and you're gonna help me!"
Eraser cracked his neck and kicked the door closed. The boom echoed as Eraser weaved his scarf around him.
"You're new to your quirk. Barely able to use even a fraction of it." Eraser said, "Take it from me, you're not the first to ask for my help and you won't be the first I reject."
All Might stood next to Izuku. {Young Midoriya, I've seen Aizawa fight. I'll aid you in this battle. Let's do it together!}
"Right!" Izuku said and charged. Eraser ducked under his arms and jabbed him in the ribs. One to the ribs. Twice to the face. A kick in the sternum. These moves knocked Izuku to the ground, but he knew how to harden his body.
Red Riot had a form known as Unbreakable. Apply the quirk to the whole body and every bit will work. Izuku knew he had to follow a similar principle. It's what stopped Eraser from knocking him out so quickly. Still he never expected the blows to be so heavy.
Eraser rolled his fists as he watched Izuku get up. "Not bad, but not good enough. If you haven't given your all until now then you shouldn't bother now!"
"I never had the chance." Izuku growled. Should he reveal One For All? No, if he hasn't shared it with Melissa then there's no way he'd ever tell Eraser. Not until he agrees to train him.
{Watch his hands Young Midoriya. If he knows what he's weaving then you'll know where his scarf will be!}
"Focus, Izuku." He muttered. "Feel the pull and shift my actions to the right limb!"
With his limited combat training Izuku got from All Might, he tried to box. Eraser didn't even flinch at the strength he was pushing. Izuku gritted his teeth and tried pushing harder. Eraserhead was an underground hero and his current information was something that took Izuku months to find.
He initially felt worried about his quirk. He had the power to stop quirks from working. Though now he knew his mistake. Eraser evens the playing field, the biggest threat was his combat mastery.
He deflected every single one of Izuku's punches, grabbed his wrist, and kneed him in the stomach. Izuku could barely catch his breath when Eraser wrapped his scarf around him.
{Flex!}
A grunt of effort and the scarf unraveled. Eraser looked at Izuku curiously. He seemed to be steaming. The room was getting hotter. Izuku grunted. His arms were twitching violently. He could hear the muscles tearing themselves apart.
{Young Midoriya, stop using One For All! You need to recover!}
"Not yet." He said. Izuku stared at Eraser with his crazed eyes. "I need to prove myself."
{Young Midoriya!}
Izuku shut All Might out as he increased the power to four percent. He threw one punch at Eraser and the gust was enough to blow him back. Eraser found himself sweating as he saw Izuku walk towards him.
Izuku charged up to a full five percent. His body was screaming. The muscles were starting to strain and tear once again. He zipped past Eraser and appeared behind him. He held his fist close.
Eraser barely activated his quirk when Izuku slammed him in the back with a punch. Spark flew as he felt spit fly from his mouth and get knocked into the wall.
"RAGH!" He shrieked and charged. The lightning scorched the ground before his body suddenly felt off. Eraser's golden eyes gazed over him. Without a second delay, he grabbed Izuku by the throat and hopped in the air.
He threw his scarf to the ground and with a mighty yank, he slammed Izuku on the ground.
"You passed." Eraser said. Izuku could only groan in confusion. "I'll train you."
"Why?" Izuku wheezed. Eraserhead stood up and patted the dust off him. He picked up the piece of paper off the floor and pulled out his ultraviolet light. He shined a light on the piece of paper. There was a hidden message.
-To the Aizawa reading this, make sure this guy can use his quirk creatively before you agree to anything. Make sure he isn't expecting everything to be given to him so easily.-
"Eraserhead, you dick!" Izuku groaned. Aizawa chuckled and leaned against the wall.
"Call me whatever you want, but you're the one who wants help. Also try to be less suspicious if you want to see someone like me. Ashido is very familiar with my…fanbase. You acted like you would try something unsavory." Aizawa said.
Izuku felt a little irked. "I'm not that kind of fan…anymore."
"Of course you're not. I'm more of an All Might fan." Izuku said. All Might turned away like a shy maiden at that admission while Aizawa raised an eyebrow.
"Vintage hero, I can admire that." Aizawa cracked his neck. "It's been a minute since I've had someone force break out of my binding techniques. Your power isn't the most conventional when it comes to strength."
"No, that's why I want you to teach me. To handle my power or to fight so I can use my power more efficiently."
"No shit. Just before I cut off your power, I saw how your body was shaking. You reached your physical limit and not the quirk's right?"
Izuku nodded. Aizawa went on his phone and summoned a few bots to come by. "Don't worry I'll wipe their memory of this incident and keep your little secret safe. A Quirkless man like you has probable cause to keep this a secret from others, right?"
"Yes sir. I can't control this power yet and until I do, I can't trust myself giving this secret to others. Villains could use it as an opportunity to strike." Izuku said before Aizawa chopped him on the head.
"Oh look who's getting big in his britches." Aizawa said. "You haven't even worn any spandex. Any real villains will take advantage that you're weak, not because your power is anything to ride home yet. My first years could take you on."
Izuku's eye twitched at the insinuation. He calmed down and bowed before Aizawa.
"I'm in your care, I will do my best to retain all that you teach me." Aizawa punched his head and had Izuku on the ground.
"Lesson one: Expect the unexpected. Heroes have all sorts of random things happen. Even if it's to show respect, don't let yourself show any openings."
All Might tried patting Izuku on the back. {Ah, he's got a point about Young Midoriya. I'm sure you'll adjust quite well to Aizawa. He's similar to a friend of my master's. Oh the bones I broke with him.}
Izuku smiled and got up. He dropped his jacket and got into a stance. "Alright then, why don't you give me some examples. I'm a student that learns through trial and error."
Aizawa barely cracked a smile as he tugged at his scarf. "Most people with developed frontal lobe would stop to think logically before challenging a superior opponent. You, however, just seem crazy enough to be a hero. Just."
He pulled out his phone and put it down for fifteen minutes. "You have until the end of this timer to do your best. Without your quirk."
{Uh, Young Midoriya, I may have given you the basics of combat training when we were testing your quirk, but maybe this isn't right-} Izuku charged in. {Oh, yeah fine. Just ignore the voice in your head telling you not to challenge the brawling homeless man. I know how skilled he is from the future!}
Aizawa grinned as he landed the first punch on Izuku's face.
In the Meantime…
Melissa faced Momo and Mei. The three women feel something shake in the room as Melissa grabs her suitcase. Fine! If Izuku wasn't here then she'll do it herself. She'll do what her Uncle Might does and smash through these obstacles.
"You think I'm all ambition and no action?" Melissa tapped a few buttons on the suitcase. "Don't think you're the only one who did research on the other Yaoyorozu. I know of your reputation from my partner. The Iron Queen. The Perfectionist Heroine! Not one step out of line or you cut them off."
Momo only smirked at her nicknames. Mei tilted her head. She never heard these nicknames before. Then again she didn't know that some of her apprentices got married. Melissa tapped her bracelet and it turned into a red wrapped bat.
She pointed it to Momo and Mei. "I am good enough to stand next to your standards."
"Yaomomo, we can't fault her spirit! I can feel chills and inspiration! Look at this bat! The transformation sequence is .01 seconds faster than my weapon deployment! Plus the material doesn't look like anything I've developed."
Momo raised an eyebrow. The elements of the world were in the palm of her hand yet of all the things she's created, Melissa's material was something else. Melissa snapped her fingers and the suitcase broke into several pieces.
Similar to her bat, the pieces reassembled them into various shapes: drones, a medical bed, and funnily enough a shield. Momo raised an eyebrow while Mei was completely struck with love for these designs.
"Oh my goodness! Your babies look amazing! What do they do? Can they fly like Uravity's gauntlets? What features can you cram into these small shapes?"
Melissa smirked at seeing the inventor's approval. Momo on the other hand watched with little interest. She snapped her fingers and the inventions came to life. The medical bed opened the case to reveal supplies and necessary equipment. The drones flew around the room, streaming videos directly to Melissa's feed. The shield grew to the size of her and reinforced itself.
"Flashy." She said. Melissa tried to let her confident facade stay standing. "But nothing new. One question, could you repair any of these if they were damaged."
"I'd hardly say they get damaged, but I'm positive that anything you destroy I can repair."
"Good." Momo walked up and held out her hand.
Mei's eyes widened. "Momo, wait!"
Melissa watched as Momo created a tiny disc in her hands. She tossed it in the air and electric pulses through it. The drones flying through the air fell to the ground and cracked. Melissa is stunned when she sees the medical bed shutdown as well. The lights shut down. Finally she turned to the shield.
"In the world of quirks, technology is always one step behind. For every scrap of metal forged into a blade, a scrap of miracle is born twice over. Heroes and the public cannot blindly rely on flashy technology when it can be so easily disabled." Momo held out her right hand and created a metallic hilt similar to a knight's blade. Only there was no blade.
Mei crossed her arms and turned to Melissa. The blonde was sweating. This meeting wasn't an invitation. It was a test! After all, small tech businesses would sacrifice their very passions and goals to enter UA's Hero Support Festival.
Mei may have held true affection for Melissa, but the one to truly judge her creations was Momo Yaoyorozu!
Momo clicked the button on the hilt and red energy erupted from the hilt. It stabilized before taking the shape of a knight's blade. With a few quick slashes, the Melissa approved shield fell into metallic ribbons.
Melissa could only slump back into her chair as she witnessed all of her designs get destroyed. Momo had a point. Quirks were ever evolving, ever improving. What can take her years could be born by tomorrow afternoon. What was the difference? She turned to Mei. The pink haired mechanic was already taking notes, seeing the flaws in which Melissa thought were perfect.
The designs were perfect in her eyes. They had to be. Her inventions never saw the light of day until they were, "Perfect."
Mei looked at Melissa while Momo scoffed. "Perfect? Did you really say perfect Ms. Shield?"
"Y-Yes?"
"Momo, I think you made your point." Mei said.
"No, my dear Mei, I don't think I have." Momo said. "You called me the Perfectionist Heroine. That's a title only known to those that have given up on seeing my flaws. Perfection is meant for the inadequate. Perfection is a term meant for the blind. Perfection is giving up on what can be improved."
Melissa gazed at Momo. Eyes confused and despondent. "But when do I stop? When is it enough?"
"If you're asking then you're not ready." Momo said. She turned to Mei and silently apologized. "Your faith in Ms. Shield has been misplaced, Mei. If she comes here with no fire and relies on "perfect" designs to get her through then she has no business being here."
Melissa saw Mei look down. Disappointment. That was the look her professors had, her old friends had, what the world had. She deserves this. The door then burst open. Momo and Mei turned to see Izuku running in, sweating and with torn clothes.
"Izuku?" Melissa said.
"Sorry, I'm late! I got caught up after seeing a quirk user's ability and got caught in the blast radius." Izuku tried to brush it off, but he stopped when he saw Melissa's glare. It was so cold and it didn't help that Momo and Mei were giving him a similar look.
He could almost read Melissa's thoughts about his arrival. Momo didn't look impressed to see him and Mei looked disappointed at him for a different reason. He looked and saw all their showcases disabled and destroyed.
"Melissa, I'm sorry." He started, but Momo held up her hand to silence him.
"We were finishing up here. Melissa Shield, Izuku Midoriya, I'm sorry but I don't believe either of you can-"
"Wait." Mei said. She stood in front of Melissa and Izuku. Holding her arms out, she grabbed onto Melissa's wrist and held up her bracelet. "She's impressed me enough. I think she…they both deserve a chance."
"Mei?" Melissa asked.
Momo raised an eyebrow. "Mei, my friend, you cannot be serious."
"Are you doubting my eye Momo? From what I recall you were chastising the nickname of the Perfect Heroine. Do you think your judgment is really so sound when it goes against my own?" Mei's expression turned serious as she stood in front of Momo. "Genius is not without flaws or chances. I personally picked Shield for the potential she brings. You as an educator should understand what it means to cultivate potential."
Momo looked at the destroyed shield and the disabled support items. Then she glanced at the red bat in Melissa's hands. Then she spotted Aizawa standing out in the hall with an eye on Izuku. Perhaps she went too far.
"You, Midoriya." She said, "Are you truly her partner in these endeavors?"
"Yes." He said with no hesitation. "I'm by her side no matter what."
"Not today it seems." He winced internally at that. "Mei is right, I should cultivate potential. Ms. Shield, your inventions do have a chance of becoming something greater and I will not be made a fool if you did. Though I will say, take in consideration your partners."
Izuku felt a chill run down his spine as Momo glared at him.
"The people you surround yourself with and trust with your heart are the foundations of any ambition to come true."
Melissa nodded and Izuku let those words sink. He looked at Melissa and she was only staring right ahead of her. He could see All Might saddened by his inability to comfort his niece.
"I'll give you one more chance at the festival. Do your best." Momo said. Aizawa disappeared from her view while Mei patted Melissa on the shoulder.
The two were escorted out. Izuku was carrying the broken pieces in the suitcase while Melissa kept her stare up. The blank face of despondence.
"Do you wanna grab some ramen? I'll pay."
He sat across from her at the table and she was still silent during the whole trip there. This ramen spot was going to be their celebration spot, but the mood was anything but.
Melissa drank her juice while looking at Izuku with a neutral face.
"You seriously left me behind to deal with those two."
"Ah, sorry Mel. I got caught up with the quirks of the staff and I got too close." He said bashfully. Melissa didn't respond and he could read her attitude. It was even colder. He bowed his head down. "I really am sorry Melissa. I never intended to leave your side."
Melissa angrily chugged the rest of her juice. "Izuku, do you…do you still believe in our dream?"
"What? Of course I do." Their dream was to help people. Research and inventions to aid everyone. Of course it was…right? He looked at his hand and saw the tiny sparks between his fingers. One For All.
Melissa tried to find the words. Still this was her best friend, she should be honest with him. "Ever since you disappeared and then came back, you've been different. You're working out, you insist on it every chance you get. I didn't stop you since you were attacked. You needed some form of coping, but there's something else. It's like there's something or someone else in your view."
Izuku looked at All Might sitting next to her. He closed his eyes for a second to have him disappear.
"Izuku, this was important and I did it alone." Izuku winced at the word. Alone. That was the one thing the two never wanted to be. Melissa's isolation from her peers due to her father's crimes and Izuku's history of bullying isolated them. They only had each other and yet…
"I don't want to be an asshole. I just want to know if you still want to do this."
"Of course I do. I suggested we do this when we were about to graduate." Izuku retorted.
"Then why?" She asked. "What has your attention? If you want to do more quirk research outside of us then say it. If you want to be strong then I can make things to defend ourselves. I can make anything."
"It's not that. I just…" Izuku took a deep breath and stood up. He held out his hand. "Come home with me. I need to be honest with you. Something I've hidden from you."
Melissa looked at his hand and for the first time hesitated. Izuku saw this and felt even worse. Eventually she did. The two left money on the table and walked off. Izuku could only try to wrangle his thoughts. This was a long time coming. He's kept it quiet for months, but this was something he needed to share. If not her then who else?
The two arrived home and saw a note from Inko. She left to go have dinner with her old friend Mitsuki. Izuku sighed in relief. It would've been harder to tell this secret with his mom around. The two were silent as they walked in.
"Izuku, what do you need to say?" Melissa said. Worry carried in her voice and that worry scared him. What could they understand from this?
"I've been holding something back from you. It was something I felt for a long time and I didn't share with you. It wasn't until recently that I finally got the chance to really understand what I wanted. And what I wanted, I didn't know how you of all people would take it."
Melissa blinked a few times. Izuku was pouring his heart out, but on what? Unless…
No. No! NO! That can't be what she imagines. How could romance be in the way of their dream? To leave her alone! They were friends! Best friends, bestest friends! What could've made him so confident in wanting to confess such a thing? Was it cause she was mad at him?!
He continued. "I didn't want to tell you because I didn't know what your reaction would be or how it would affect us as partners. I mean if I was honest I should've shared this from the beginning."
He dropped his torn jacket and Melissa's eyes got wider. "Wait, Izuku."
"No, no more waiting. You deserve to know the truth. Melissa I have-"
"-I can't accept your feelings!"/"A quirk!"
The green and blonde paused at the response. Izuku turned bright red. "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU JUST SAY?!"
"YOU HAVE A WHAT?!"
Melissa quickly realized what she said and waved her hands frantically. "No, I mean I'm flattered Izuku, but we've known each other for years and if nothing happened then why change things now! We just moved on-in! I can't expect us to even move that quickly! We already have two beds! We can't get rid of another one! Also what if we break up that's-"
"I don't like you that way!" Izuku said, still blushing! Melissa slowed herself as Izuku seemed just as embarrassed by the prospect. Though maybe a bit of pride was cracked by how fast he said it. "I;m not saying you're not pretty or awesome to date or anything negative…I just never want you to settle for someone like me anyways."
"Oh. Good. I mean not good because someone like you deserves love, you know. You're a catch! But not for me!" Melissa said. Her heart was going crazy. The two friends took a second to catch their breath as Izuku sighs in disbelief. The wind has been taken from his sails.
Izuku took a deep breath and exhaled.
"Actually Mel, it's something else. Something you wouldn't believe." Melissa watched him roll up his sleeve and pushed a concrete block in front of her. He took a deep breath in and charged up four percent of One For All!
KRAAKK!
Melissa's eyes bugged out. Izuku dusted off his knuckles and took a deep breath. "Before you start please let me explain."
He turned and saw Melissa's eyes turn dreary. "I…I, huh? You have powers. You have a quirk? How do you have a quirk?! Have you been lying this entire time? To me? To your mother! Wait a second, super strength isn't part of your mother or father's quirk line. How is this possible?!"
She didn't realize that she was shaking Izuku the entire time. His mind scrambled. He held up his hand and showed her the watch. "It all started with this watch on the day I got kidnapped."
Izuku retold his tale. From meeting Eri to being taken into her world and finally inheriting One For All. And Melissa did her best to follow him. Especially when he mentioned the Hatsume device.
"...I agreed and revived my oldest dream. I want to be a hero."
"You have Unce Might's powers."
Melissa nodded and looked at the watch. She noticed the trademark Hatsume signature and felt even more weight on her heart. She was able to create an interdimensional traveling watch. One that her best friend used after getting superpowers.
"You kept it hidden for months."
Izuku finally felt all the guilt crush him. This day was supposed to be a triumph for both of them. Yet he abandoned her at a pivotal point in time.
"I don't know why and I'm really sorry for that. This power was new and I had no idea how to control it."
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Izuku stopped and saw Melissa's eyes were hidden in the sunset's light. "I have designs, research! We've worked with all sorts of things. You have…you really didn't tell me?"
"I haven't done any exploits as a hero yet! I mean when that Sludge villain attacked I fought, but I wasn't strong enough to finish them off. In truth, I've been training just to use the power. I'm not even at the starting line."
Melissa was quiet for a minute. Two minutes. Three minutes. Izuku just stewed in his guilt as Melissa took off her glasses and wiped them clean. "Obviously you wouldn't be at the starting line."
Izuku didn't even bother blocking that jab.
"Because you didn't have any support!" Melissa dramatically pointed her finger at Izuku similar to All might. He could only blink as Melissa crossed her arms, red in the face, and a few pricks of tears in her eyes. "I thought in college we learned to rely on each other! That out of anyone in our lives we could rely on, we rely on each other!"
"Melissa." Izuku dared to hope.
"You…" She took a deep breath. "You've been an idiot for too long! You want to be a hero and yet you ignore the very daughter of the man that supported All Might! I'm not some fragile woman! I am Melissa Shield, niece to the greatest hero in the world! And I will help you!"
Izuku felt tears flow down his face as Melissa cracked her knuckles.
"Whether it's as my assistant or as your tech support, our dream is the same! To support the world! To save lives! Izuku, our path's haven't diverged! We're still in this together!" The sun shined behind Melissa. A near heroic light. Izuku could see a glimpse of All Might standing in awe at Melissa.
She herself felt the heat, the flames of ambition run through her. She held her hand out.
"I will stand with you no matter what!"
Izuku clutched his shirt. So much guilt, so much unnecessary pain from hiding this, it all burned away. He reached out and grabbed her hand. The two had work to do.
Meanwhile at UA…
Aizawa was eating up his dinner when he felt two presences behind him. He tilted his head and gave a cheshire smile. "Ah, Principal and Todoroki, what a surprise."
Momo and Shoto didn't seem to match their former teacher's energy. Momo stepped forward. "Todoroki stopped by to find out how it went with our new arrivals. The Quirkless duo."
Aizawa's smile dropped and went back to his food. "Oh that. How did the girl do?"
Momo shook her head. "It seems there's still some areas to hammer out. She's impressive though. Mei was not joking about her talents yet I'm still concerned about her connections to her past. A clean slate is a rarity in today's society."
"And Izuku Midoriya, teacher, what did you find?"
Aizawa looked at them. His students still looked like children in his eyes. The mask of adulthood nearly fused to them, but he was aware who still lurked behind the visage. "Todoroki, are you still looking for connections to the cases Aoyama Yuga and Tenya Iida?"
He saw the tiniest hint of a flinch.
"No teacher, those cases have been closed for years. Iida's got nothing to do with this." Momo said.
Aizawa cracked his neck and faced his students. "You know, humans are designed to recognize patterns, but if it becomes muddled with emotions and ties from the past, it's harder to recognize why that pattern is there."
Momo shook her head. "Teacher, it's nothing like that. I'm aiding Todoroki in his investigation that's been happening for the past year. Just help us as you've done many times before."
Shoto still hasn't said anything. Aizawa thought back to Izuku. A Quirkless man with a powerful ability underneath the surface. He couldn't fault his student's suspicions. After all, he taught them and knew what was right or wrong. Honesty was the best policy.
"I tied him up the second he came within my vicinity. He couldn't do anything."
Honesty could also be a detriment if not used carefully.
Shoto was not satisfied by that answer. Momo sighed and patted him on the shoulder. "Back to the drawing board Shoto? Maybe I can get Bakugou to come by and aid-"
"No." He said firmly. "I don't have time to ponder with our classmates. I need to return to my father. We're going to get ready for a press release about my return to hero work."
Aizawa's face scrunched a bit. Shoto's been shown running around like a new pony in a circus. Everyone wanted to see him and either cheer him or boo him. He knows the vultures in journalism are ready to try this man.
Momo saw how restrained he was when he mentioned his father. Endeavour is touted as the greatest hero in history. Shoto was next on the board. They watched him leave, disappearing into the dark hallways of UA.
Aizawa turned to Momo. "Principal, are you and the rest of the class aiding in Todoroki's investigation? What've you found?"
Momo clenched her fists. "I don't know, but something feels…off. It has been for months. Have you ever felt that something was coming?"
Considering the circumstances for his newest student, Aizawa felt something in the air. The two staff members watched the sun set and the dark of night approach. A cold feeling running down their backs.
And someone watching them through a telescope.