Day 340, 10:30 AM

UA Dorms

With everyone in the common area either standing up or sitting down on an uncomfortable sofa, there were no blank spaces or empty spaces near the television set. The students murmur amongst themselves, some still shedding tears, others growling in anger, but none of them have a smile on their faces as they mentally prepare themselves for what is about to happen.

Kendo, being the sole surviving class representative, steps up to the center of the room and announces aloud in a firm, demanding voice, "We all know why we're here. It's trial time. Those on trial: Denki Kaminari and Izuku Midoriya. We're here to decide what we should do with them. I won't make a decision until I have all of your input."

"What's the point of even voting?" Uraraka asks. "They're one of us so we shouldn't vote."

"This is a democracy," Kendo explains, "we need to keep an open mind for everyone, regardless." She sighs heavily before resting her hands on her hips. "We're going to take a vote and the majority wins because... there is no way in hell it is going to be a unanimous vote."

Uraraka turns. "Come on guys, let's do the right thing and vote for the right thing."

"And what's the right thing?" Masahiro asks, feeling Hagakure stroking his tail. "I mean, what should we do?"

"That's what this is all about; trying to find out what we should do." Kendo turns to the others. "Now who wants to have the floor first?"

Hatsume holds her hand up. "Uhh, should we be considered part of this vote?" She gestures to Kimiro, Shimamura, and Mogami. "We don't know the person in first place as much as you guys do so should we even cast a vote?"

"You should because you guys are a part of this," Bakugou answers.

"Yeah, he's right," Shoji agrees. "Plus, it's good to have an objective voter in the room."

"Does this apply to me?" the big boy shirtless muscular Kenta asks. "I'm not exactly unbiased, considering I'm a member of the Kamisquad and all that. But..." He slightly flexes his muscles, getting the attention of most of the girls in the room. "My vote is that we keep these two buddies in our group."

Kendo glares at him. Using your muscles to get other students to vote for you rather than honest answers? What a deceptive, cheating bastard. "You're part of this so you're going to vote. There's thirty-four of us but since Deku and Kaminari aren't part of us, that means they're thirty-two of us. We need at least seventeen votes to make a decision. Now, before we start, we should lay out options before we start voting. The first option is..."

"We kick them out," Monoma says simply. "They're a menace to our classmates back then, they're a menace to us now so we might as well just send them on their way."

Kendo grabs a marker and writes on the wall. Writing the options in a thick black color, she turns back to the crowd. "Okay, that's our first option. And obviously, people want them to stay so that will be our second option. Those are our two options-"

"What about killing them?" Sero suggests.

Bakugou looks over. "How about I kill you instead, huh, tape arms?"

Kuroiro nods. "Yeah."

"We're not killing them," Kendo says firmly, "we will not stoop down that low to killing each other. Keeping them, exiling them; those are our only two options, period." She caps the marker. "So then, everyone should vote starting now. If you have something to say, step forward and say it to the class."

"Deku and Kaminari are our classmates and we shouldn't abandon them or have them abandon us," Uraraka says. "Exiling them is as good as killing them; they won't make it out there on their own."

"Kaminari can make it on his own out there," Kuroio says, "his quirk is pretty OP. But this does not mean I'm voting for that. I vote that we should keep Kaminari and Deku with us. Or at the very least, we keep Kaminari and decide something else for Deku."

"No," Sero snaps, "they were in this together so whatever punishment we decide should be inflicted on them both."

"I vote we keep Kaminari at least," Kuroiro says firmly once again.

"You all know where I stand, guys," Kirishima says. "I vote that we should keep them part of our group. Anyone else agree with me?"

Hesitant to stand up to say something, the students look at the ground, focusing on it like their lives depended on it.

"I believe we should keep them," Shoji says. "After all, Deku and Kaminari went out of their way to save Koji Koda. Even if it was all in vain, they still have the heart of a hero."

"But are you forgetting what happened?" Sero yells. "If they did have the heart of a hero, they would've been honest. All of this could've been avoided if they had just told us the truth. If they kept the whole transparent and told us from the beginning, Koki Koda never would've felt the need to commit suicide after this Bystander guy used his quirk on him. Maybe he still would be suffering from some kind of hallucination but he never would've been scared of Kaminari and Deku. Besides, let's also not forget that Aoyama was a spy. Why did All for One randomly give Deku a quirk without any strings attached? What was his endgame? How do we know for certain that Dkeu isn't the second traitor? How do we know that Shigaraki didn't plant some sort of tracker on that green-haired kid and is just waiting for us to slip up? How do we know Shigaraki isn't still keeping in contact with his younger brother?"

"Because Deku is not like that," Bakugou answers calmly. "Deku is a hero at heart and he always will be. Someone like Deku would never resort to using villainous tricks to get what he wants. He would never give in to the demands of a villain either. The night when Kaminari carried him home from the rescue mission in Kamino, the look of sadness in his eyes was genuine." How do I know? I fucking bullied him for the last eleven, twelve years or so. If Aoyama was a quirkless boy and had his power given to him by All for One, who knows what could've happened if Deku became a spy? I am so grateful that Deku did not become a spy. Now, I have to do everything in my power to protect him.

"I say we kick them out," Shoda says. "Keeping them here is too risky. Even if Deku isn't a willing pawn, Shigaraki could still be using him to get to us. We have to think about our own safety from now on."

"What is wrong with you?" Shiozaki yells. "What is wrong with all of you? I didn't want to say anything until later but... how could you all consider this?" She looks at Sero. "Especially you? Have you guys forgotten what we stand for?"

"We don't stand for anything anymore, Shiozaki," Sero says, dropping his gaze. "We're not heroes anymore; we're survivors. And Deku and Kaminari are absolute villains."

"We can't do this," Shiozaki yells. "Kicking them out is as good as killing them. We can't let our worst impulses take over. Please, Sero, I'm begging you; change your mind. Please, do the right thing and change your mind. You fought to get into this school to be a hero and now it is time to show that you can still become a hero. Please, don't let your worst impulse get the better of you." She touches his hand.

Sero takes her hand back. "I'm sorry, Ibara, but words can't make me change my mind. Deku is a traitor and Kaminari knew Deku was a traitor but still kept the truth from us. I'm sorry, but I can't change my vote."

"What would we even do?" Hagakure asks. "If we decide to kick them out, what would we do? Would we give them some food, have them be on their way, or..."

"We could give them some food," Kaibara answers. "Maybe a week's worth. It's the least we can do if we're kicking them out."

Kodai nods. "Yeah."

"Wait," Shiozaki yells, "it hasn't been decided yet and you're already talking like it is."

"We need to consider all options before we make a vote," Jirou says.

"You won't be unbiased," Manga says, "after all, you got the hots for that electric boy so you're not going to be unbiased in any definition of the word."

"These are our friends!" Jirou eylls. "We can't forget that." She looks at Sero. "Hanta, I don't know what your problem is but you need to take it down a notch."

"Where would we drop them off?" Tsuburaba asks, stroking his chin.

"Kaminari's got a bike so they can ride off," Kamakiri says with disdain. "And we shouldn't leave them any food." He glares. "Those two are the reason that Shishida's death was in vain. Had it not been for Koji Koda committing suicide, at least Shishida would've died trying to get Ki Koda back but now, his death is in vain." He clenches his knuckles. "Our friend's death is in vain because of those two. We don't need any more of our classmates' deaths to be in vain."

"They're just kids," Shiozaki yells, "you all seem to forget that. "They're just kids. We're just kids. We don't have anyone. How many of you saw your parents or siblings since this all went down? How many of you saw our teachers? How many of our families and our loved ones have we lost? We are not living in this world; we're surviving. We're surviving every day, living on borrowed time; we can't afford to let any more loved ones die." Tears well up in her eyes. "Please, I'm sad that we lost Bondo. And... Shishida... and Rin... Tetsutetsu... but... we can't blame each other. If we blame each other then, we lose. Please, we're a family and we can't tear each other apart." She looks around the room, seeing everyone focus on her with varying expressions on their faces. "Is there anyone who is going to agree with me? Please... please... let's just do what's right. Let's do the right thing. Out of family love, out of family loyalty."

With Shiozaki's speech done, silence fills the room so loudly that the slightest pin can be heard dropping to the floor.

Clenching her jaw, Pony looks up. "Shiozaki, I know you mean well.. but we have to look out for our family, the family we still have left. We don't know Deku and Kaminari, not like CLass 1-A does. And Class 1-B was family first before everything went down."

"I know Kaminari and Deku," Kuroiro says.

"Me too, shrooms," Komori goes next. "We know those two are the good guys."

"They can be good guys all they want but actions speak louder than words," Monoma reminds them. "Let's say we keep them with us; let's say they gain our trust. We haven't had contact with eh League of Villains in a long time; what's stopping them from circling back to finish us off? After all, they spared Deku so that means they have plans for him; how do we know we won't be caught in the crosshairs?"

"This isn't right," Shiozaki continues to argue, "all of this is just wrong. We should have each other's back because that is who we are."

"The old us are dead, Shiozaki," Sero snaps, "who were were before the fucking apocalypse is dead."

"No," Shiozaki shakes her head. "The world we knew is gone. But keeping our humanity... that's for us to decide."

"What's your opinion on it all, Ibara, do you want to save Deku and Kaminari out of personal investment or because it is the right thing to do?"

"I'm upset," she claims. "I'm sad they kept this from us and it cost us the lives of our teammates. I'm angry but... I can't give in. If I give in, then I lose. If we all give in, we all lose. It's easy to hate but hard to forgive but that's what we should do."

"What's the point of forgiving someone if it could result in us being dead in the future?" Shoda inquires. "Seriously, how?"

"We'll make it work."

"If we decide to keep them here, then what?" Reiko asks. "Are we just going to have things go back to the status quo? Honestly, it's kinda spooky sleeping in the same house where the son of All for One is sleeping. Maybe we should..."

"Everyone, order!" Kendo demands. "We have to make a decision right now; no more long drawn-out arguments. We all need to reach a final decision before we take action. At this rate, we'll just be going in circles and I don't want us to keep going in circles. We need to make a final statement, each of us, every single one of us, myself included, and then we'll decide."

"You're going to have a mutiny on your hands," Jirou says, glaring at Kendo. "You know, if the majority decides to kick out Kaminari and Deku, what do you think will happen to the ones who voted for him to stay?"

"They'll just have to live with it I guess." Kendo looks around the rooms. "Okay, I need to know who is still trying to make a decision. For those of you who have your hearts set on a choice, raise your hand and tell me your answer."

Several students raise their hands and shout out their reasons for their votes. Turning to the wall, Kendo uncaps the marker and writes tally marks on the wall. Turning back, she looks to the crowd.

"Okay, it's time for everyone to make their final statement before voting. No arguing, no debating, just speaking from the heart why they should vote for one answer or the other. Who is going to go first?"

"I will." Asui steps off the couch with Tokoyami beside her. She looks down at the ground, her tongue sticking out. "I vote that we should keep Deku and Kaminari here. If we send them off to die, that makes us no different than villains. When we went to Hosu City, it was to save Koji Koda, not kill the Bystanders. The Bystanders and everything that happened, when we killed them, it was in self-defense. We... should not overlook that fact, we shouldn't associate Deku killing Bystanders with him being responsible for the deaths of our friends. I vote we should keep Kaminari and Deku with us."

Tokoyami chokes up, folding his arms over his chest. "This is going to be such a torturous moment. As much as I wish for Deku and Kaminari to stay with us... I'm afraid I'm going to have to vote that we kick them out. In the light, Deku and Kaminari may have good intentions but who knows what's going on in the deepest recesses of their dark minds. This is a cruel world and it is the hand fate has dealt. I don't like it but we can't ignore any potential consequences that might come."

Kimiko Kimura raises her hand. "Just to clarify, Deku was quirkless before all of this?" When she sees Bakugou nod, she glares. "Put me down for kicking him out."

Mogami and Shimamura look at each other, some kind of nonverbal conversation going on between them.

Mogami speaks first. "I don't know this Deku but based on All For One's reputation, we should consider the possibility that he may have given Deku more than one quirk. For all we know, his fire-manipulating quirk is just a front and he has some kind of quirk that can wipe us all out. We should kick Deku out."

"I don't care about either person because I'm not close with any of them," Mogami begins, "but I have to agree with my friend. We don't know what Shigaraki's plans are and when the league came to our school to kidnap him, we lost Agoyamato, Togeike, and Arima. I can't forget that. So... I vote we expel them."

"Kendo," Shiozaki yells, "the lives of two students are in our hands and I think we should have a longer conversation, something longer than five minutes. We need to consider everything before we make a choice."

"Overruled," Kendo says, "I just want this to be done and over with. If we drag this out any longer, then I'm afraid we won't be able to think rationally. But if you want my vote, I vote that we should keep them."

"Wait," Jirou says, stepping forward. "Before the rest of you vote, I want you to know that Deku and Kaminari are among the strongest students we have in our group." Seeing the tense looks on their faces, she briefly chokes up before she forces herself to remain steady. "Kaminari's quirk has come in handy more than once and he is capable of taking out large groups of zombies at once. Sure, he goes stupid after one strike but he is still a valuable asset. And those who have worked with Deku know that Deku is one of the smartest guys we ever met. His ability to analyze things and come up with plans is amazing. If we do this, if we vote to kick them out, we'll be voting to get rid of one of the strongest and smartest people we'll have in our group."

Sero clicks his tongue before chuckling. "You're thinking with your pussy, Jirou."

She snaps her head at him, blushing hard.

"We all know you have the hots for the electric boy so you're just saying anything to save his life, ignoring everything that has been caused because of him."

"He is my friend," Mineta steps up, "and I'll fight to keep him here."

"No," Kendo yells, "no fighting, no arguing. Final statements then a final vote and then we can be done with this." She breathes heavily, her breath shaking. "It is only cruel to prolong one's suffering so we might as well just put this matter to bed as soon as possible."

"I already voted but I won't let you guys take Deku and Kaminari away," Uraraka yells suddenly, "I'll fight you to protect them."

Sero looks over. "You're also thinking with your pussy, pink cheeks."

Bakugou linches hearing Sero use his nickname for Urarka. "And what if I said the same thing? Does that mean I'm thinking with my dick?"

"No, you just want your punching bag to be here with you within arm's reach. You selfish bitch."

"What did you call me soy sauce face!" Bakugou prepares to blast him all the way to hell with that 'die die die' look on his face before Kendo enlarges her hand to act as a barrier between tape arms and the angry pomeranian.

"No fucking fighting!" Kendo announces. "Everyone who hasn't spoken before now is your chance."

"Shishida died in vain because of them," Kamakiri says, "we leave them stranded in the woods without any food, water, or supplies. Hell, we shouldn't even leave them a bucket to piss in."

Kendo writes down more votes before turning to the one person in the room who has yet to talk. "Hitoshi Shinsou, what say you and your insomniac eyes?"

Instead of groaning at his eye bags, Shinsou simply looks at the ground, rubbing his chin. Playing with the collar on his shirt, he thinks back to the sports festival.

Defeating Midoriya should've been easy, given my power, but I lost to him. That little prick; I lost to him because that monkey told him to shut up during our fight. No matter what I said, Deku just wouldn't talk. I hate that I lost to him. The reason I went to Hosu City, was to save Koji Koda. But I also did it because I wanted to prove myself useful. I wanted to prove to everyone that I've grown. I want to prove to him that I've grown as a person and a hero and I think when I saved Bakugou from the Bystander's hallucinogen quirk or whatever, I proved myself. For the first time in a long time, my quirk was used to save someone's life instead of manipulating them to take them down. I want to vote for him to stay. I want to show him that I am a hero with this quirk. Sure, I want to prove to everyone that I can be a hero with my quirk but unfortunately, my quirk can't make people change their minds. I will show Deku of all people that I am worthy of a rematch.

"We keep both of them."

Kendo writes down the rest of the votes. And with that, the voting round ends.

"Finally," Kendo sighs like she finished a marathon, "it's over. It's over but... I can't believe the results. The results are... much more different than I thought."

Exile - Sero, Monoma, Kaibara, Kodai, Tsuburaba, Kamakiri, Pony, Manga, Awase, Tokoyami, Shoda, Reiko, Mashiro, Hagakure, Kimura, Mogami, Shimamura

Stay - Shiozaki, Bakugou, Uraraka, Kirishima, Mina, Shoji, Jirou, Mineta, Komori, Kuroio, Kenta, Asui, Hatsume, Kendo, Shinsou

The vote was cast and the outcome was the exile of Deku and Kaminari.

"No," Uraraka sinks to her knees. "Please, no!"

"You're not taking either loser away," Bakugou yells.

"Guys," Kirishima turns to the others, "there's gotta be another way."

"The majority have spoken," Kendo says, her voice shaking again. "That's all we can do now."

"No," Shiozaki begs, "please, don't kick them out. Please, kicking them out is as good as killing them; they're powerful but there's a limit to what they can do out there. Please, if we kick them out, then we are dead. The people who we were are dead and it's not fair. Please, please don't do this. Please, I don't want the people who we used to be to die!"

"It's done, it's over," Kendo says, looking down at the ground, and closing her eyes. "Deku and Kaminari will be kicked out tomorrow morning unless the majority vote decides to change its mind by then. I doubt they will but... one can hope." She puts the marker down. "I'll go deliver the bad news."

"No," Jirou yells, "we'll do it." She gestures to the Kamisquad.

"And I'll be there to help you." Uraraka steps forward, Bakugou behind her.

Without wasting any more time, the lot of them head upstairs and knock on the door with Kaminari and Deku inside.

As the two kids sit on the bed, still wrapped up like a Christmas present in cellophane tape, the look on their faces tells Deku and Kaminari everything they need to know.

"We're dead," Deku says, "right? Kicked out?"

Uraraka sits beside Deku. "It was close. It was so close but..." her voice cracks as she tries to find the words. "The majority of the students want you and Kaminari gone."

Deku sobs, tears springing out of his eyes.

"Was it Class 1-B?" Kaminari asks.

"Both classes and the extras wanted you gone," Kuroiro clarifies.

"We voted for you shrooms to stay," Komori comforts.

"But it was useless," Mineta adds. "We're sorry, man."

"Deku, you damn nerd," Bakugou shakes his head. "This is not right. And no matter what, no matter what happens, you're not leaving."

Kaminari looks away, his eyes landing on Jirou. "I'm sorry, Jirou."

Jirou sits on the bed next to him. "I'm sorry too, dummy."

Knowing this may be the last time he makes physical contact with Jirou, he rests his head on her shoulder and soaks in the comfort it brings as Jirou strokes his hair.