Every muscle in Katsuki's body was tense as he approached the stage, where the Year Three class was waiting with their laminates. The older students had come down before the rim of the structure, standing with four on each side and a professor in the center. Said professor was one that Katsuki hadn't properly met outside of the tense meeting where he and several others were admitted to U.A.. Unfortunately for him, she was the worst possible hero from the professional circuit that he could have run into in his current mental state… but if nothing else, he at least wasn't the only one staring.

Professor Nemuri Kayama, known better as Midnight to the public, was standing with her legs crossed and hands holding the edge of the wooden stage behind herself. Unlike the conservative attire of the other professors, she was wearing her iconic skintight white bodysuit, showing off all of her curves. At the very least, the woman appeared to be wearing some sort of pasties, as the shape of her chest was smooth… but the way that the suit clung to her suggested there was nothing else going on underneath. Her long, dark, feathered hair seemed to almost spill out around her shoulders, and she wore a thin red domino mask over her eyes. The only other accessories of note were a tight corset around her waist, high leather boots, a chunky high-fashion belt… and a rolled leather whip affixed to her side.

The first time he had met her, Katsuki had been too nervous to pay attention to what she was wearing and just how wildly inappropriate the attire seemed. Then, seeing her standing and showing off in public… he had to force himself to look away. Most of the others seemed to be doing something similar, though one or two students seemed either unbothered or perfectly content to make their interest in her body known. Funnily enough, Professor Kayama didn't seem to mind at all- if anything, her stance suggested that she wanted to show off her chest, impressively large as it was.

"Hey there, new bloods," the woman offered, her tone suggestive and playful. "I've got something fun to show you that I think you're gonna like."

"Yeah, I bet you do," Minoru said under his breath, his eyes laser focused on her chest.

Katsuki wanted to punch him right then and there, but he held back. He had finally found something else to focus his attention on to tear his eyes away from Professor Kayama's body… even if it served to make him angry. Izuku was standing over to Katsuki's left with a few other students from Class 1-B, watching the spectacle with confusion as he remained close to Ochaco. He, too, seemed to be trying to look anywhere but at Professor Kayama… and his eyes eventually met Katsuki's. Izuku's face immediately went pale as he noticed Katsuki's hard glare, and he broke the eye contact almost immediately.

"This year, we're doing something new and exciting," the pro hero continued. "I'm sure you all know that I'm Professor Kayama… but this group right here is Class 3- just second in line to graduation. Each of them will be taking on two or three of you as mentees this year. You'll be working together closely, and they'll be serving as guides and a resource for any questions and problems you might have- both professional and personal. I'll let them go ahead and introduce themselves, as well as who they've chosen to take on. Without further ado, I guess that means we'll start over here…"

Katsuki turned his head to see a familiar member of Class 3 holding a pair of laminates. Mirio Togata looked absolutely exhausted- the tie on his academy uniform was slightly crooked, his usually perfect hair was somewhat matted and uneven, and he had bags under his eyes. Though Katsuki didn't know the details of the young man's immediate plight, from what he did know, he wasn't surprised by the sight at all.

"Hey there," Mirio said flatly, not even bothering to fake enthusiasm. Katsuki wouldn't have minded being placed under the 'leader' of the Big Three- it would at least associate his name with someone well-respected and talented. "Mirio Togata. I'll be taking on Tsuyu Asui and Juzo Honenuki."

Juzo in particular looked surprised by the revelation… but Katsuki noticed even with his high-tech mask in place, he seemed thrilled by the announcement going by his eyes alone.

"Hi guys!" Nejire offered with a cheery wave as she stepped forward, holding three laminates instead of two. She made a show of holding them up to read the names off one by one, and Katsuki held his breath hoping to hear his name. At least she had been somewhat interesting and seemed to care about him personally, however annoying he found it. "I'm taking on… Kyoka Jiro, Amaya Kan, and Himiko Toga this year."

Katsuki let out a small noise of frustration as he pulled a face, watching the last of the Big Three quite literally hide behind his laminates.

"…Tamaki Amajiki. Hanta Sero and Tenya Iida."

And there went his last opportunity to be associated with the stars of the upper class. Next up was a bubbly girl with bright pink dreadlocks, looking very uncomfortable and out of place in an academy uniform.

"Mei Hatsume. I've got Momo Yaoyorozu and Mina Ashido."

Katsuki did a quick scan of the remaining potential mentors, finding that he didn't recognize the other four at all. He also took a look at the remaining students from 1-A and 1-B and realized that who he was given as a mentor was the least of his concerns. The possibility of what was about to happen hit him as one of the other third year students stepped forward, and he could feel it coming.

"Shiv Lazuli. I will be mentoring Katsuki Bakugo and Izuku Midoriya."

The two boys locked eyes once again, and somehow, Izuku's face looked even paler. It almost seemed like his heart had stopped, while Katsuki's began beating into overdrive. He was furious, enough so that he missed the remaining three announcements and had no idea who else was placed where. It didn't matter, in the end- the only thing he needed to know was that he hadn't escaped Izuku and managed to sever all ties beyond those necessary. Things were right back to where they were in high school, if mentoring entailed what Katsuki expected it did.

"Well, it sounds to me like we've got some matches made in heaven brewing," Professor Kayama said with a smirk as she clapped her hands together. "I'll be overseeing the mentorship program and will handle any issues that may arise. After all… relationships are my specialty. Now, I know you're scheduled to be in my class at the moment, but for now, your mentors will be taking you to one of the nearby classrooms and getting to know you, addressing any immediate concerns… that sort of thing. You know, the boring part before we get to the action. Dismissed."

Katsuki watched as those around him began to move toward their assigned mentors. Every muscle in his body felt tight and stony, as though he wouldn't even be able to move if he wanted to. Izuku was behaving much the same way, and Shiv remained leaning back into the side of the stage as he looked between the two of them. With a sigh of resignation and a roll of his one visible eye, he beckoned Katsuki to approach and then began heading for a side door. Katsuki didn't notice Izuku coming up to him, and he jumped slightly as his friend spoke in a low voice.

"…I didn't ask for this either. I'm sorry…"

"I'm going to find out who did," Katsuki spat. "This doesn't fix anything. We're not suddenly just fine again. I'm fucking pissed."

"And he probably will be if we don't follow him," Izuku considered as he nodded toward Shiv, who was rapidly disappearing through one of the side doors of the auditorium. "We can sort this out later, and maybe talk to Professor Kayama about moving one of us. Let's go."

Katsuki answered with a low growl and stepped around Izuku, leading the way over to the door and out of the auditorium. Shiv was leaning against the wall next to a classroom door in the nearby hallway, arms folded over his chest and one foot flat up against the stonework.

"Inside," was all the heteromorph said at first, already sounding annoyed. He heaved another sigh and shook his head as the two boys approached. "We have… a lot to discuss."

"Yes, Mr. Lazuli…" Izuku said as he opened the door, only for his mentor to immediately pull a face.

"Just Shiv," the upperclassman corrected, his tone dripping with disgust. "We're not operating like that, especially given our unique circumstances."

The choice of phrase filled Katsuki with dread. Surely there was no way that the worst case scenario had already happened… and yet, he had a suspicion that it was true, and he was going to have an aneurysm as a result. Feeling even more uncomfortable and stressed, Katsuki stepped inside and heard Shiv close the door behind himself.

"…so. One for All."

"Are you fucking kidding me!?" Katsuki roared as he whirled on Izuku, who immediately took a step backward. The shorter boy's eyes were wide as he looked between Katsuki and Shiv and immediately began to hyperventilate. "You… god damn it, you absolute moron!"

"I-I-I didn't…!" Izuku stammered, beginning to feel faint. "I sw-"

"Enough!" Shiv interrupted, his voice raising suddenly and loudly enough that it caused Katsuki and Izuku both to freeze in place. "Midoriya played no part in my discovery of his Quirk. I figured it out mostly on my own, and then Togata confirmed my suspicions. I chose the two of you for that reason- because my Quirk will allow me to aid you in ways that the others cannot. Calm yourselves. Now."

Katsuki immediately decided that the best course of action would simply be to listen, and he unclenched his fists. He watched as Shiv removed his patch and kept both of his eyes closed while letting out a hiss. Upon opening them once again, his eyes were glowing, and he seemed to be looking through the two younger students.

"…my Quirk allows me to see things about you that others cannot. It is an overwhelming amount of information, which is why I keep one eye covered almost at all times. Fully engaged like this, I can see how saturated your blood is with oxygen. How tight your muscles are, and how fatigued they become with each movement. The very amount of saliva you produce, and how your heart rate changes as I'm telling you this information. All that matters right now, though, is that I can see the details of how your Quirk affects your body, Bakugo… and how all seven of Midoriya's work. It wasn't difficult to piece together the truth from there."

The revelation did help Katsuki to calm down, however slightly… though he still wasn't at all pleased with his situation.

"Great. Fine. Whatever. I still don't want to be involved in this. I've been dealing with him and his bullshit for years now, and he's gone against my advice and made my life absolute hell the past few months. Now, he's been telling everyone with a fucking class schedule about his goddamned Quirk, and I don't want to be a part of what's going to happen because of it! I came to U.A. to focus on myself and finally be able to do my own thing for once. I don't want to be chained to him! Especially when he's acting like an absolute dumbass and endangering all of Japan by running his mouth and being an idiot!"

"And that is exactly why I chose you as my second," Shiv explained, his voice once again somewhat soft and calm. "You played an integral part in training him to defend himself throughout high school, did you not? Togata told me as much."

"Yeah," Katsuki seethed. "I did. And I helped him get used to using his stolen Quirks, too."

"Stolen?" Izuku asked, sounding almost offended as he looked at Katsuki with a bit of anger.

Shiv ignored the provocation, instead cracking his knuckles.

"Precisely. So now, you have me to back you up with training him… and together, the two of us will make sure he stops acting like an absolute dumbass, as you put it. The real training begins here and now, and Midoriya… you will be listening to and abiding by my every word, as well as those of Bakugo. That is not a request."

Author's Note:

The crackdown begins…

-RD