Author's Note:
I received some mixed feedback about the last chapter in regards to Bakugou, so I wanted to clarify. Izuku and Katsuki are not friends. The events of chapter seven mean that their relationship is very different from what it was at this point canonically, but they are definitely not holding hands and singing kumbaya. As mentioned in the author's note of last chapter, it's complicated.
The best way to describe Bakugou's mental state in regards to Izuku is a strange mixture of post-Deku/Bakugou v All Might in the final exam arc but pre-Deku v Class 1A where Katsuki apologizes. Bakugou realizes that he fucked up really bad, but he is still Bakugou. So while he no longer believes that Izuku looks down on him, he is still struggling to come to terms with the fact that not only is Izuku stronger than him, but Todoroki probably is too. Instead of thinking Izuku is mocking him, he's left wondering how the hell he went from being so much stronger to so much weaker in the span of a year. Katsuki is questioning essentially everything in his worldview. Expect the next couple of 'seasons' to be pretty rocky in terms of their relationship. It doesn't help that, at least for now, Katsuki has no clue about One for All.
Chapter 19: Managed Democracy
I tensed slightly at the feeling of being lifted away from the throng of reporters that had threatened to smother me only a moment earlier. Relaxing as Aizawa's binding cloth released me from its hold, I gave my thanks to the irritated hero as he cut the media off from their attempts to pursue me through the main gate.
It didn't take long for word of my affiliation with All Might to spread like wildfire. Between the sudden announcement that All Might would be a teacher at UA and the rumor that he had taken a protege, it was no surprise that the media was willing to launch a frontal assault on UA in order to get their hands on a story.
I imagine the school won't be letting me take the train anymore.
A frown spread across my features as I began walking up the staircase to the entrance. Today was the day. Shigaraki was going to breach the main gate and use the media as cover to prepare the League's infiltration of the USJ, and without knowing exactly where the league would go aside from the main gate, there was no way of stopping them. Even if I did know the precise location where they would warp, it was unlikely that the staff would be able to capture Shigaraki given the presence of Kurogiri. As anxious as it made me, I had no choice but to let the attack play out.
Brooding on what I could, should, or would do about the attack, I made my way to class on autopilot and barely noticed when the bell rang and Aizawa took his place at the head of the classroom.
"Decent work on yesterday's combat training, you guys. I saw the video feeds and went over each of your team's results." Aizawa began before turning towards Katsuki. "Bakugou,-" The blonde in question tensed up, and from my position right behind him, I could see a small shiver run through him. No doubt a result of his 'review' with Aizawa the previous day. "-you're talented, so don't sulk like a child about your loss, okay?"
Bakugou turned to look out the window and grumbled. "Yeah, whatever."
Turning his attention to me, Aizawa continued. "Midoriya, try not to destroy a building every time you do practical training."
Rolling his eyes at my two fingered salute, Aizawa addressed the entire class. "Let's get down to business. Our first task will decide your future."
Most of the class tensed immediately at the ominous statement, but I struggled to suppress a chuckle at the overdramatic opening.
I wonder how long it will be before everyone gets used to him and stops falling for the bait.
"You all need to pick a class representative." Aizawa finished.
I couldn't help the amused smile that stretched across my features as the tension bled from the class.
No more than an instant later, the room was filled with sudden proclamations and discombobulated bids for the role. I grimaced in discomfort as Mineta practically stood on his desk behind me and began screaming about how he would make the girls do indecent things while Bakugou simultaneously began shouting his superiority.
It was a strange dichotomy with American culture where class president was rarely even a position at all, and when it was it was almost entirely irrelevant. In Japan, the position was far more common and did hold a semblance of actual authority. The primary motivator at U.A. however, was that being named class representative drew interest from agencies, as it showed a student was capable of leading a team.
"Silence, everyone, please!" Iida bellowed over the din, drawing the room's attention. "The class representative's duty is to lead others. It's not something just anyone can do. You must first have the trust of everyone in the classroom. Therefore, the most logical way to fill this position is democratically. We will hold an election to choose our leader." He declared.
An immediate barrage of skepticism rang out as several students questioned the process. I rolled my eyes at the fact no one proposed the idea of disallowing self-votes, but made no comment.
I have no particular interest in being class rep, but if Izuku was voted in canonically, I imagine it will be similar, if not more one sided, now. The real question is what to do once that happens. Momo was the only person with more than one vote besides Izuku if I remember correctly, and Izuku just kind of decided to make Iida class rep in his stead.
I didn't really care about the democratic process for something so mundane, and it would probably save a great deal of time if I just dictated who would be the rep and vice rep, but that could also cause issues if my classmates disagreed with my choices. Momo made the most sense for president, but as the votes were handed in, I wavered on who should be vice representative, or if I should just hold the position myself.
After a brief exercise in democracy, Iida tallied the votes on the chalkboard. As expected, I won quite comfortably, with eight votes in my favor. Yaoyorozu was the only other student with more than a single vote, earning three, including my own. I rolled my eyes when Katsuki unsurprisingly lurched to his feet, anger radiating off of him in waves.
"Okay you dumbasses, who voted for him?" Katsuki demanded.
"What, did you honestly think anyone was going to vote for you?" Sero asked incredulously.
"Yeah, I mean, he's All Might's apprentice or whatever. Of course we're gonna vote for him." Kaminari added.
I grimaced slightly at Kaminari's words while Bakugou began yelling incoherently at both of them. I knew I would be treated differently, but I'd rather not be put on a pedestal just because All Might knows me. They should at least make me earn it myself.
Watching as Aizawa rose from behind his desk with unnatural grace given his cocooned state, I slowly stood up from my seat and made my way to the front of the class alongside Yaoyorozu.
"Alright, the class rep is Midoriya and our deputy is Yaoyorozu." Aizawa announced.
Turning to my counterpart, I returned Yaoyorozu's small smile, suppressing a chuckle at the hint of disappointment as she gave me her congratulations.
I'm about to make her day, I imagine.
The class began expressing their approval, including those who had voted for themselves, but I turned to Aizawa as the man in question prepared to lay back down on the ground.
"Mr Aizawa, what exactly does the vice representative do?" I asked, Yaoyorozu also perking in interest at what her role would entail.
Aizawa regarded me briefly before replying bluntly. "Nothing, really. Unless you ask her to do something for you, Yaoyorozu will mostly just be on standby in case you call out sick or I expel you."
Laughing at Aizawa's semi-serious threat as well as Momo's disappointed sigh, I continued with my follow-up question. "Sounds great. Do you mind if she and I swap roles? I voted for her, so I'd like to executive order my own demotion."
Momo gawked at me while Aizawa grumbled irritably at the prolonged delay to his nap. "Fine, whatever. I don't really care."
Clapping my hands together, I turned to the rest of the class with a bright smile. "Great, so my first act as class dictator is to relinquish my duties to my vastly more qualified underling." Turning back to the girl in question who could still only blink owlishly up at me, I took her hand and shook it. "Congratulations, madam president, or whatever you want to be called. I thank you for relieving me of this burden I have carried for far too long." I said cheekily.
Blinking in astonishment several more times, Momo finally composed herself.
Giving me a faux-irritated glare given away by the small smile on her lips, she addressed the class. "Right, well in that case, I will endeavor to do my best in this role!"
"It's always so crowded in here." Uraraka lamented.
"That's because students from every course share the same cafeteria." Iida replied matter of factly.
Rapping my finger on the table, I turned to Iida. "That reminds me, I need to greet the other classes, and not just 1-B. It wouldn't hurt to make friends in the other courses."
Iida nodded his head in agreement, but it was Yaoyorozu who spoke up from beside me. "That's a good idea, Midoriya. Especially as Class 1-A's representatives, it would behoove us to be on good terms with the other classes."
Iida's shoulders slumped slightly at the reminder of the electoral result, and I gave him a sympathetic smile. "Sorry, Iida. I didn't really want to be vice rep either, but I figured if I stepped down entirely, we'd probably need to have another vote. Otherwise, I would just be dictating who was in each position, which wouldn't really be fair. Not to mention, I doubt Aizawa would have been willing to sit through another vote."
Iida waved his hand dismissively. "There's no need to apologize, Midoriya. While I am of course disappointed to not have been chosen by my peers for either role, I have no complaints that either yourself or Yaoyorozu were. Your courage and quick thinking under pressure will help make you a worthy leader, not to mention the strength you demonstrated. That's why I voted for you, at least. As for Yaoyorozu, you demonstrated your aptitude for both practical and theoretical hero work during the training battles, to say nothing of our time together on the Somei Private Academy Student Council. I have the utmost confidence in both of you to lead our class."
After Momo and I had thanked him for his kind words, Iida and Uraraka delved into a conversation, first about what makes a good candidate, and then about the Iida family agency. As they spoke, my attention drifted around the cafeteria, where many of the other students were staring and pointing at me while whispering to their neighbors.
"I'm sure it will die down after a few days." Yaoyorozu whispered with a sympathetic look.
Chuckling, I raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Does it ever stop for you?"
With a wan smile, she conceded. "I suppose not."
Turning my attention back to the gawking crowd, I returned the stares impassively, with only a handful having the decency to avert their eyes when caught.
I may have to ask Shoto or Momo to give me some pointers on how to just ignore the attention.
Suddenly, an alarm began ringing over the din of the cafeteria.
"WARNING: LEVEL 3 SECURITY BREACH. All students please evacuate the building in an orderly fashion." The automated system commanded.
Many students began jumping to their feet and hurriedly making their way towards the exit as others continued to either stare at the speakers or look around the cafeteria in confusion.
Turning to a table beside us, Iida addressed the older students who were hurriedly gathering their things.
"What's a level three security breach?" Iida shouted over the ringing alarm and the commotion.
One of the students turned to Iida and replied as he stood from his seat. "It means someone managed to get past the school's barrier! This hasn't happened in my three years here! We should get going!"
Sighing in exasperation, I slowly rose from my seat as more and more students rushed past. A large pile up began to form at the entrance to the cafeteria as people attempted to force their way through the double doors.
Placing a hand on Uraraka and Iida's shoulders to stop them from rushing towards the exit as well, I casually made my way towards the wall length mirrors along the edge of the cafeteria, my three classmates bemusedly following behind me.
Confirming what I already knew, I tutted at the mob of press attempting to force their way past the motley assortment of staff that had rushed to halt their progress.
Turning to Yaoyorozu, I spoke into her ear so she could hear me over the panicked masses. "Can you make a megaphone for me, please?"
Quickly realizing my intent, Yaoyorozu nodded and hurriedly unbuttoned the bottom of her blazer and shirt before creating a megaphone out of her stomach and handing it to me as requested.
"Attention, fellow students. If you would please direct your attention to the courtyard below, you will see that while the campus has indeed been breached by parasitic organisms intent on devouring you, they are not lethal." I declared through the megaphone.
The mass of panicked students quietened and turned in my direction, but my announcement was largely met with further confusion. After an elbow jab to my side from Yaoyorozu, I sighed and lifted the megaphone back to my mouth.
"It's the press, people. The media broke in. That's why the alarm went off." I clarified with the most innocent smile I could muster.
Chuckling at the exasperated looks I received from Iida and Yaoyorozu, I made my way back to our table to finish my food.