Chapter Sixteen – Another Lecture

"My, Mister Derreks, you've certainly had a busy couple of days!" Principal Nezu said cheerfully, his small hands expertly shuffling a stack of papers as if they were nothing more than holiday cards. His casual demeanor, paired with his ever-present grin, made the situation feel simultaneously welcoming and foreboding.

"Shall we start with earlier in the week?" Principal Nezu asked, slipping the first piece of paper from his stack and setting it neatly in front of him. His voice was as lighthearted as ever, though his words carried a certain weight. "You made two statements of… minor concern. Quote: 'If you jog through that drill again, there'd be three hits. I hit you, you hit the ground, and the ambulance hits sixty,' and, 'People like Mineta should be kicked in the balls at least once a day.'"

Clay leaned back in his chair, arms crossed as he met Nezu's gaze without flinching. "I don't remember sayin' the ambulance line, but yeah, I said the one about Mineta. I'll say that to anyone who'll listen," he replied, his tone as unapologetic as his posture.

Principal Nezu chuckled softly, his paw-like hands clasping together as he leaned slightly forward. "I appreciate your honesty, Mr. Derreks. It's refreshing, truly," he said, his tone cheerful despite the weight of the conversation. "However, there's a certain... finesse expected of heroes in training, particularly when it comes to how we express our thoughts. Colorful language can, how shall I put this, sometimes paint an undesirable picture of one's character."

Clay shrugged, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Figured honesty was supposed to be part of bein' a hero. Ain't much point sugarcoatin' it. Mineta needs to know when he's bein' a problem. I don't think I'm the only one who feels that way."

Nezu tilted his head, his ever-present grin widening slightly. "An admirable perspective, though perhaps one that could be... fine-tuned. Heroes are leaders, after all, and how we communicate can inspire or alienate those we seek to guide. Might I suggest a touch more... diplomacy in the future?"

Clay raised an eyebrow, his smirk fading slightly. "Diplomacy's not exactly my strong suit, sir. But I'll try—so long as Mineta keeps his hands to himself."

"Fair enough," Nezu said, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he shuffled the papers again. "And now, moving on to yesterday's... incident with Mr. Neito Monoma."

Clay let out a low groan, leaning forward in his chair. "I reckon you're gonna tell me I shouldn't have decked him."

Nezu's grin didn't waver. "A fascinating observation. Physical altercations with fellow students are, of course, strictly against school policy. However..." He paused, his tone shifting slightly, becoming more thoughtful. "Your actions were not entirely without merit. It seems many of your classmates—and even a few of Mr. Neito Monoma's—feel your intervention was, shall we say, long overdue."

Clay blinked, momentarily caught off guard by Nezu's calm demeanor. "So, I'm... not in trouble for that?" he asked cautiously, leaning forward slightly. "I'd argue it was necessary for the sports event. Him copying my Quirk decreased my competitiveness. I had a tactical reason for... incapacitatin' him."

"Oh, you're still in trouble," Nezu replied cheerfully, his grin widening further. "But consider this a teaching moment. Perhaps next time, you might find a less... confrontational method of resolving such disputes. Words, for instance, can be quite powerful."

Clay chuckled dryly, leaning back again. "Words didn't seem to work on him, sir. Figured a right hook might get the point across better."

Nezu let out a soft laugh, his expression remaining as unreadable as ever. "Indeed, Mr. Derreks. But let us hope there isn't a next time, shall we?"

The room fell quiet for a moment, the weight of Nezu's words lingering in the air. Then, with a flick of his paw, the principal placed the stack of papers neatly to the side. "Now, about the Sports Festival. I noticed your rather... unconventional approach with Mr. Shinso."

Clay stiffened slightly, his smirk fading as he met Nezu's gaze. "I thought he deserved the shot. He's got the makings of a hero, and I don't think it's fair he's stuck in Gen Ed because people are scared of his Quirk or his Quirk didn't happen to work well on robots."

Nezu's eyes glimmered with something akin to approval. "An admirable sentiment, Mr. Derreks. And while your methods may have been... unconventional, they did not go unnoticed." He leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to a softer, more serious tone. "The ability to recognize potential in others is an invaluable trait for a hero. Do not underestimate its importance."

Clay nodded slowly, the weight of Nezu's words sinking in. "I'll keep that in mind, sir."

"Next, there's the matter of your… outing with Miss Tsuyu Asui."

Clay blinked, his face shifting from thoughtful to utterly caught off guard. "I don't reckon that's got much to do with heroics, sir," he said, scratching the back of his neck.

"Quite opposite. Surely you recall foiling an armed robbery with at least four people taking videos of you doing so?"

Clay's jaw tightened as he straightened slightly in his chair. "That ain't exactly how I planned to spend my evenin', sir," he muttered, glancing away. "We just wanted some ice cream. Didn't figure on gettin' famous for it."

Nezu's grin remained firmly in place, though his tone grew more serious. "Hero work rarely adheres to plans, Mr. Derreks. You acted swiftly and effectively, ensuring the safety of both Miss Asui and the civilians present. However…" He tapped his claws lightly on the desk, the sound sharp and deliberate. "the manor in which you subdued the robber, disarmed him, scolded him, and offered reimbursement for the chair has spurred some… attention that we were not prepared for."

Clay rubbed the back of his neck, his brow furrowed as Nezu's words sank in. "Didn't think folks'd care much about me breakin' a chair, sir," he said, his voice low but steady. "Just figured it was the quickest way to end things without someone gettin' hurt."

"And that quick thinking is precisely what caught the attention of both the public and certain hero agencies," Nezu said, his tone balancing between praise and caution. "While your actions were undeniably effective, the… colorfulness of your approach has garnered mixed reactions. I check the public trust in heroes every morning, and since those videos went viral, public trust has gone up by almost two percent. I suspect you are part of that."

"You're… welcome?"

Nezu chuckled, his sharp teeth flashing in a grin. "Indeed, Mr. Derreks, but don't mistake this as entirely positive. While the increase in public trust is commendable, not all attention is beneficial. Hero agencies are watching you now, and while some may find your straightforward approach refreshing, others may view it as unpolished or impulsive. That's why, for your punishment, you will be undergoing some remedial classes focusing on branding."

Clay sat in silence for a moment, his expression thoughtful but wary. "I take it these remedial classes on brandin' are gonna involve an instructor," he said slowly. "And if it's who I think it is… I really hope it's not him."

Nezu's grin widened, his head tilting ever so slightly. "I see you're already putting that sharp intuition to use. I assume you're referring to a certain loud, enthusiastic colleague of mine?"

Clay groaned, leaning back in his chair and rubbing a hand down his face. "Present Mic..."

Nezu chuckled, his small paws clasping neatly on his desk. "Who better to teach you about connecting with the public than a hero who has mastered the art of attention? His methods may be... unconventional, but they're effective. And if you're fortunate, Eraser Head may assist in balancing the enthusiasm."

Clay let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head. "Well, guess there's no fightin' it. Just don't expect me to be screamin' catchphrases at the top of my lungs when this is all said and done."

Nezu's gaze twinkled with amusement. "We wouldn't dream of it, Mr. Derreks. The goal isn't to change who you are—it's to help you channel your authenticity in a way that resonates with the public. Think of it as adding polish to the raw material."

Clay smirked faintly, his tone dry. "So, you're sayin' I'm rough around the edges?"

Nezu nodded sagely, his grin never faltering. "Precisely. And that's where the real work begins. Now, off you go—your first session starts tomorrow morning."

"Thought we had tomorrow off," Clay said, his brow furrowing.

"Correction," Nezu replied with a cheerful yet pointed tone. "The majority of your class does. But you do not."