Summary:

Mirio has a talk with Izuku. Class A starts on their wall.

Izuku looked up at the dorm building in front of him, the students of class 3 A could be heard as the doors were open and they were bringing boxes outside and into the waiting vehicles. He heard his booming laugh before he saw him carrying a stack of boxes out the doors. "Mirio!" He called out with a smile.

"Midoriya, you made it! Let me put these up and we can talk." Izuku nodded and waited for him to put the boxes in the waiting truck. Mirio walked back up to him and draped an arm around his shoulder. "Let's talk inside." As he was guided through to common space he saw it, a wall of pictures of class 3 A. Moments of triumph and several news articles. Candid pictures and posed ones, all with small notes beside them telling who was in them. In the center of them all a small red square of cloth fused to the wall, and a picture of Mirio holding a smiling Eri underneath. As they settled onto one of the couches his gaze kept straying to the wall.

"Nejrie started that." Mirio smiled as he gestured to the wall.

"Huh?"

"All the pictures and stuff. She figured it would bring us together as a class better. She's been running around taking so many pictures since we moved in I'm surprised the entire common space isn't covered."

"Why?"

"So the ones who come after us know that there is more than being a hero than the fame." Mirio's voice was sad, not his usual cheery self. "Not all heroes go in the history books." Izuku knew he was talking about himself. "I graduated, Midoriya, but I'm not going to be a hero like the rest of my class. I've accepted that I'm quirkless now, but my life isn't over." Mirio gave him one of his blinding smiles. "I asked you here to tell you that I'm staying at UA. I'm going to be living on campus with Eri as UA is the safest place for her. I've also decided to start classes to become a teacher."

"That's wonderful Mirio!" Izuku was thrilled for Mirio, thrilled because he was going to use his knowledge to help others.

"Midoriya, that isn't all I wanted to talk to you about," his eyes were serious now as he stared Izuku down. "The Jaku Hospital incident was just the beginning. Shigaraki is still out there, waiting to strike. Your class could be the strongest classes here, but you need a leader."

"Iida is the class representative shouldn't you be talking to him?" Izuku was confused as Mirio shook his head.

"Not a representative, a leader. Someone they trust and look up to. Someone who keeps getting up when they're knocked down. They need you, Midoriya, to lead them. Most of them already follow you, but if you don't lead, and soon, your class won't be able to reach it's full potential."

"You sound like Aizawa-sensei," he said sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head.

"He is the one who told me to tell you that. He also said there was one other potential leader, but with Bakugo's temper and attitude it was not a good idea. He also mentioned that the two of you need to work your differences out. Nejrie and I didn't get along at first, but look at us now."

"Nejrie," he thought of the bubbly girl, "how could you two not get along?"

"Well as first years she kept flirting with me, but as I didn't return the feelings she got annoyed and started petty fights with me. Around the beginning of our second year I had to tell her that I was gay, and ever since we bonded over our love of cute guys." It was Mirio's turn to sheepishly rub the back of his head.

At that moment Izuku's phone rang, a message from his mother telling him she was at the gates waiting. "I have to go Mirio, it was a very… enlightening talk."

As he got up to go Mirio held out an envelope. "Take this, read it on your way home." With a smile and a promise to see each other soon Izuku left, and on the car ride home he opened the envelope to find a square of red cloth the size of his hand, and a letter.

Midoriya,

If you hadn't guessed by now this is part of my cape, you of all people should know the importance of it. I've given a piece to each hero class for their dorms, along with the idea to start their own wall. There is a message to go with the cape. Protect those who cannot protect themselves, no matter the cost. I also have a message for you. I know about One for All, All Might told me after you left my hospital room. He told me that Sir Nighteye wanted me to inherit it, but that he chose you. I agree with All Might. You were the better choice, even if you don't see it and feel guilty. Be the hero I couldn't be. Lead your class. Your class is capable of changing how the world sees heroes, be the one to lead them. The world will be better if it's you. You have a spark that no one can replace.

Mirio

Izuku leaned his head back against the seat and thought about Mirio's words. He pulled out his phone and with a small smile he messaged Uraraka, asking her for pictures of their class and for her to ask the others as well. She didn't have any but she knew the others did.

As everyone moved back into the dorms Izuku was handed envelopes filled with pictures from most of his classmates. As they relaxed in the common space that night Izuku started hanging them up. Soon he was joined by Uraraka and Iida, and their laughter over some of the pictures drew the attention of most of the class who soon joined them.

There were group selfies of everyone, some from the sports festival, some from various internships. Pictures from the school festival. They weren't all happy though, much to everyone's surprise. There were pictures of Midoriya and Aizawa-sensei after the USJ attack, some of him after summer camp covered in bandages. There was only one picture of Mineta, much to everyone's relief. Though Mina had written PERVE over it in bright red marker. He had actually managed to get expelled right after finals when he had made some inappropriate comments to the girls in class. The look of murder in their eyes was enough for Aizawa to expel him before they harmed him.

"What is all this for Midoriya?" Yaoyorozu asked as she watched him put the piece of Mirio's cape on the wall.

"So we all remember how we became heroes." Izuku said and stepped back to admire the classes work. If only they knew how soon they would be adding another hospital picture to the wall.

notes

-So the Jaku hospital attack (currently still happening in the manga) isn't as bad, not as many injuries (Hawks) or as many pro hero deaths, in my story, mainly because it's still happening in the manga so idk how it ends.