Chapter 49

"There's a robbery, for example"

Glasses glimmer under the artificial light of the room as the man speaks - loud and clear as to be heard by all. He stands near his desk, leaning back slightly and facing his students with a lazy and always there smile. A long ponytail goes down his back, with strands of hair sticking out near the front and falling before his eyes. He's dressed in a simple shirt and pants and acts as casual and laid back as he is dressed. He has been introduced as Mr. Mitamura - Mitamura sensei - and has been very pleasing to listen to, despite how sleep-inducing his class may have sounded at first.

"Those happen rather often" he continues, talking as if he were telling an interesting story. Dark eyes take in the room, watching the faces of his students, smiling even more when he notices that they are indeed listening. "The criminal has been cornered by the cops and has taken multiple hostages. In fact, they have one at gunpoint"

It's an example he has used many times before as it is a situation that happens quite often in this day and age. Many would think that the appearance of heroes would scare any daring enough to commit a crime, yet people still attempt to rob banks.

"How do we proceed?"

A hand goes up and dark eyes travel to the boy. Dark hair, grey eyes, round glasses, an expressionless face.

"Nitsu, right?"

"Yes sir" the boy nods.

"Go ahead then"

"If we're too brash the hostages will be in far more danger than they already are so the best course of action in this situation would be to try and negotiate" he proposes, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear, yet still sounding oddly soft. He speaks as impassive as his face appears to be - stoic and flat. "Or perhaps find a weakness, a fear and talk them down using this weakness or fear or perhaps intimidate and threaten"

"Smart choice, but let's say negotiations don't work" Mitamura counters. "Let's say you can't get through to the bad guy, they're too hot-headed, perhaps. What do you do now?"

Another hand goes up - a blonde girl with bright round eyes and sharp brows. She's from class B if he's correct.

"Yoroi Ren?" He says questioningly and smiles when she nods.

"Talking has failed so we have to take different actions. We need to get into the bank without the criminal noticing as to not alert him and have a hostage killed. Someone distracts the bad guy, somehow, but make sure he is distracted while another sneaks into the bank to handle the situation face to face" Yoroi suggests with a contemplative silence following her as if she's thinking over her own words. "I believe it would be the next best thing to do"

"Good, good" Mitamura nods, smiling. Good, the kids are presenting logical solutions to the problem and thinking about it carefully.

He looks about the room before he continues his questioning, taking in the many eyes staring back at him. The room resembles a college classroom, with benches instead of chairs and long shared tables in place of desks.

"You get in, but the villain notices you before you can knock him out and goes for the attack. You get into a fight and things are damaged within the bank" he creates the scenario and watches them go off in their imagination. "The press blames you for the damages"

"That's stupid," someone says - someone seated in the front row who scoffs loudly.

"But it happens more often than you would think," says Mitamura, sighing. "Fights happen and things are destroyed. It is unavoidable in this business"

"Stupid" the same person repeats, a boy with curly silvery-white hair and narrow black eyes.

"Yeah it can be, but what would you do in this situation?"

"Contact my manager," someone says and Mitamura scans the group of students until he meets dark brown eyes and a small smile. "It's best not to go off trying to defend myself and just end up digging myself a deeper hole. My manager is supposed to handle situations like this, handle the press or advise me on how to retaliate to claims against me. Hey, get my lawyer even, if someone plans on suing me"

Someone scoffs

Fox Zena, yes that's her, it's hard for him to forget anyone who's made a lasting first impression. She had gotten into somewhat of a verbal fight with one of her classmates, a short kid with purple balls on his head. He's not sure what he had done as he hadn't noticed the problem until it escalated and nearly became a physical altercation, but Zena had said some nasty things to him and came this close to kicking the poor boy who was only saved when something compelled the girl to stop. She just stopped and regained her equanimity and shot the small thing a single scrutinizing gaze before finding a place to sit.

"Yes, usually that is what is suggested," says Mitamura, pushing loose strands of hair out of his face. "You're in the management department, aren't you?"

"Yes sir"

"Those extras have no right to blame me for damages when I'm the one fighting the villains while they just stand around with their cameras and mics and get in the way," another memorable person says obnoxiously. Katsuki Bakugo sits reclined with a leg on the table and looks as annoyed as one can.

"And that's why the people won't like or trust you," another says bluntly, disheveled purple hair and tired eyes of matching color sitting just a seat above the blond. "Someone with your personality will probably come off as more of a villain than some of those criminals on the streets"

"No one asked for your opinion, extra" Bakugo says in rebuttal, agitated, but not moving from his place.

Shinso makes a sort of grunt and casts his attention on his notebook, more than content to sit in silence as he had been for most of the class.

Mitamura will have to talk to Hoji about one Bakugo Katsuki. He has known the boy for all of forty-five minutes, yet it's enough for him to tell the kid needs some form of counseling. His behavior points towards a mental issue of some kind and he's heard Zena as well as Izuku joke about a superiority complex and he's inclined to believe the telepath/empath and the childhood friend. On top of that is the fact that he does show signs of the complex, so his concern isn't completely unfounded.

He continues the lesson from there, making sure the kids interact by asking questions or testing scenarios to see their answers. He was convinced that Zena had been distracted through his class as she seemed almost entirely focused on the girl next to her - Ashido Mina - however, he later realized that she's been sharing her notes and explaining what the other probably did not understand. She could answer all his questions and even offers her own thoughts on matters through the lesson.

The same cannot be said for the other Fox because she's so obviously not focused on her lesson and is openly tinkering with something on her table. He calls on her - she answers without even looking at him and bluntly tells him that she had not been paying attention.

She's honest, at least.

"All working and recognized heroes are insured, it is a must because of the destruction that sometimes comes with the job. A building gets destroyed after you were thrown into it, the insurance company will cover it" he could only imagine the world without the hero insurance companies because the things that happen on the field are just atrocious.

The bell rings soon after, signaling the end of the lesson and his students don't wait much after he allows them to leave.

~~~~~~~

"What do we have now?"

Zena shrugs at the question, mentally pulling up their schedule while putting her notebook away. They're supposed to return to homeroom so their next period will be spent doing whatever Aizawa has planned. Zena doesn't even know what Aizawa teaches as he hasn't taught much of anything and only appeared to inform them of this or that.

"We have homeroom," Izuku says before she could, falling into step next to her. His hair is a mess as always and one of his eyes is hidden behind a curtain of hair, but he hardly seems to care. "Does anyone know what Aizawa sensei actually teaches?"

"No clue, hombre" Sero pats him on the shoulder as he passes, carrying a binder in one hand and backpack in the other. "He just appears, drops some information, and then leaves"

"Basically, yeah"

"Maybe he teaches math" Denki supposes. "He gives off the vibe"

"Maybe he doesn't teach anything and is just a homeroom teacher"

"Could be that he just teaches general stuff, kinda like elementary school teachers" Uraraka adds.

He was just compared to an elementary school teacher and it has become Zena's favorite thing.

"I'm copying your notes later" Lissa declares, speed walking to catch up to the group. "I'm sure you have everything"

"What exactly were you doing during class?"

"Working on something"

All the answer she offers and she's off, going down the opposite hall they're supposed to go. Likely she's off to the lab for whatever reason. She's allowed free reign over several expensive pieces of equipment that she couldn't stop talking about. Zena knows of everything in that room and she hasn't even visited the lab yet.

The group settles into idle conversation, what about varies. While they have a class to get to, in the three days they've been in this school they've come to understand that Aizawa never shows up on time and they can always rely on him showing up almost ten minutes late - so they have plenty of time. It's why Alissa ran off with little concern, though she has left her backpack behind. And with the most unexpected person to boot. Nitsu shoulders the extra baggage after a look of confusion at being handed the thing, but continues as if nothing had happened.

Mina has been lingering at Zena's side - she's always at her side - a frown on her face and staring ahead, but not seeing much. Something's on her mind, Zena notices, because of course she notices, it's hard not when she's so used to Mina's thoughts. The issue at hand has Zena staring at her in exasperation, stuck between disbelief and annoyance because of course Mina has such a concern. She's Mina and as cheerful as she is she worries she's a bother, or too much and Zena doesn't know why she sometimes thinks like this, especially when Mina knows that she's no bother and as bright and cheery as she is - she's not too much. Zena's far too used to her already.

"Mina, what is it?" She asks, despite knowing the problem. It's always best to have her voice the problem and go from there.

"It's stupid," Mina says as if in realization and colors red in sudden embarrassment.

"I won't say it is" because it's not very nice to deem someone's thoughts and concerns stupid.

"Feels stupid"

"You wanna hold my hand," Zena says bluntly with a rather blank expression and in any other circumstance, Mina would have laughed.

"Yeah" she nods, because really, it would be stupid to play coy or lie when Zena can see right through her.

"Okay, so hold my hand," Zena says, it's that simple.

Mina doesn't seem to agree and it's not every day she hesitates when Zena offers her hand, which is baffling to Eijiro who had been subtly watching. He almost chokes on his water in shock and earns a look of concern from Shinso who's the closest to him. He pats his back, not knowing what else to do, and doesn't say anything when he's certain Eijiro won't kill himself.

Zena takes her hand after she doesn't act, interlacing their fingers and holding their hands up as if to prove a point.

"You can hold my hand anytime you want," she says earnestly. "It's fine"

It's concerning when Mina's not taking every opportunity to hold her hand. Mina's not very shy when it comes to such things, she's very physical with her affection, taking any chance to show her friends and family how much she cares. Eijiro would get a random hug, Zena would have her hand held, even Alissa isn't left out and loves when Mina comes around with hugs and cuddles.

So when Mina isn't doing typical Mina things, there's room for concern.

"I'm being clingy" Mina mumbles

"Your point?" and Zena doesn't care

"That's a bad look you know" Mina huffs.

"Clingy is something else entirely" from what Zena knows, being clingy is basically the same as being obsessed with someone. For kids, it's normal to be glued to someone's side and always seek their attention. It's a different thing entirely when someone is constantly calling one person in particular, stalking their socials, desperately wanting to be around them, always wanting to be where that person is - an obsession as Zena says. Maybe those two aren't as similar as she thinks but that's the comparison she has.

Mina's situation is fairly simple; touch and physical affection seem to be her love language.

It could be the same for Alissa if she takes her overwhelming joy when she's offered hugs into account.

Or her cousin just likes hugs.

"So you don't mind at all" Mina asks, still needing reassurance.

"No, I don't mind" they've known each other for a couple of years now, you'd think Mina wouldn't have such worries. "If you wanna hold my hand you can hold my hand. If you want a hug you can get a hug. If you wanna cuddle we can cuddle, it's just that simple. You love it so I don't mind, and what kind of heartless creature would I be to deny hugs and cuddles?"

What does she look like? A fatherless child?

To be fair, fatherless children are likely the ones craving such affection.

Mina's beaming now, a complete contrast from her previous mood, and the feeling quickly travels over to Zena, who attempts to hide her laugh behind a cough.

"You'll regret this" Mina sing songs, swaying slightly and Zena easily follows the gentle pull.

"Unless you hug me to death, I doubt I will"

~~~~~~~~ Zena P.O.V

Softball pitch, standing long jump, 50-meter dash, endurance running test, grip strength test, sustained sideways jumps, upper body exercises, and seated toe touch. That is the list of middle school activities Aizawa brings up once were outside on a free training ground. Vlad King stands next to him as we're joined by class B once more. He's almost the opposite of Aizawa, dressed in his hero suit while Aizawa has maintained his sweatpants and sweater look.

"In middle school, you were banned from using your quirks," Aizawas says. "There is no such restriction here, so today you will be partaking in those same exercises with the key difference being your newfound freedom"

The ball is tossed and someone from class B fumbles the catch.

"Softball pitch" Aizawa directs the kid to the circle next to him and the boy walks up to him, albeit a bit sheepishly after having fumbled the ball like that. His most noticeable feature is a stark white hair that frames his face in loose curls and odd ends. His eyes are just as remarkable; black with white pupils.

"Use my quirk?" He wonders but doesn't look to see Aizawa nod. He understands what he must do, the question is more something said in contemplation as he pulls his arm back.

From what I've seen, class B has four unknown students - unknown to myself. I've fought one during combat class two days ago, a blonde girl with a well-built frame - Yoroi Ren if I remember correctly. Now there's the white-haired boy with white pupils. He's smaller than the blonde, smaller than most. He looks pretty lanky, perhaps not used to physical activities?

Soon he understands what he wants to do and starts spinning his arm at his side. He goes faster and faster every second until his hand is just a blur and he's stirring up sand around him. With a resounding "whoosh" he releases the ball and almost tumble back with the force, but watches on curiously. It's obvious to me that this is the first time he had attempted such a thing.

Also, I've learned that he's quite possibly a speedster.

"307.00m" Vlad King announces after a moment, holding the device for the boy to see. "Nicely done Shiru"

He grins upon seeing the numbers and mentally pats himself on the back. He's swinging his arm with a hand on his shoulder to make sure he didn't pull a muscle with his attempts, but seems more than content with his performance.

Another ball is produced and the next person up Izuku, who catches it with one hand and drags a bat with another. There are surprise glances at the fact that he has a literal bat when he hadn't been carrying the weapon before now. He likely convinced Momo to craft him one for the test. He stands in the circle and gives the bat a few swings - testing its weight and how hard it would be to swing.

He swings, one, two, three times and seems happy enough. In the next instance, he throws the ball up, pulls the bat back, and swings. There's the familiar sound of a bat hitting a ball and it's out of sight within moments. He packed a pretty good punch there.

"200m" Aizawa calls. He's as surprised as he is impressed and it shows on his face for a split second before he grins this odd thing. "I see"

One by one all forty-eight of us get a try and the highest scorer is bound to still be Uraraka with her ball likely drifting off into space if she doesn't release it. Katsuki gets the expected 705m and I get the names of the class B students I'm unfamiliar with, and a glimpse of one of their quirks. A girl by the name of Kusei Shizu - small and athletic with a mess of pale orange hair and round amber eyes. What she does when she's in the circle confuses everyone and baffles even me when put into action. She doesn't walk into the circle as a normal person would, she approaches more as if she were dragging something in the sand - back bent and some struggle on her face. When she stops she sighs deeply, shoulders slacking and muscles relaxing, which is confusing because there was literally nothing there. There are not even lines in the sand that would suggest her dragging something invisible.

She's handed the ball and proceeds to walk around whatever object she alone can see, holds the ball up, and drops it in, and it's gone. It's gone. It disappeared before our very eyes and at this point, people are making their disbelief quite clear and I'm slowly starting to understand what this girl's quirk may be. Through it all, she doesn't say a word, only smiling this knowing thing when people watch on in confusion and fascination. She moves around again, acts as if she's pressing a button, there's the sound of something being shot out and the ball goes off.

Silence is all that follows.

"Did you just use the power of miming?" I have to ask because that is just unbelievable and kinda cool.

"Yeah, that about sums up my quirk" she reveals, cheeks red and smile bashful. "It's kinda childish but it's fun"

"Holy crap!" Someone exclaims.

"Whoa, that is unexpected and so cool"

Well damn, how do you deal with someone with such an ability?

"270m" Vlad King announces loudly enough to somewhat settle the growing buzz of conversation.

"You, troublesome Fox" Aizawa says after that, putting an end to any further conversation and looking in my direction. I look at Alissa, who's idling nearby and we both point at each other despite knowing who he's referring to. He stares at both of us, eyes intent and squinting. "Number 6"

Touché

I'm in the circle and the ball is handed to me. They have a basket of similar balls at their side as most of the balls aren't recovered after being thrown since we have no time for that. The balls aren't softballs, they're made of something metallic. I can confirm when I manage to force it into the air even just a little.

I've got many a options when it comes to throwing this ball but the most obvious option to me is the use of my aerokinetic abilities.

Through manipulating air pressure one can actually lift a heavy object, which is a pretty amazing thing to be able to do.

Now then, how do I apply enough pressure without blowing myself and the class away? I've been practicing with this, naturally, but I'm terrible with the calculations and always go off hopes and guesses.

I'll have to rely on those again and hope I don't cause too much damage - or too little.

I can never explain the feeling I get when I tap into my aerokinetic abilities. All I can say is that it's dangerously relaxing and soothing and incredibly easy to focus with all the information that suddenly floods my senses. Air is everywhere all at once so sometimes it feels as if I'm experiencing too much all at the same time, but with focus, I can push those feelings away and keep my attention on the here and now. I pull back, breathe and ignore the sudden loudness of everything around me. I dig my foot into the sand and throw, truly hoping I don't overdo it and throw myself on my ass.

What follows is a sound almost deafening and I have to flinch away as if it would physically harm me. The wind that hits me when the ball goes flying threatens to nudge me away and I sigh in relief when I remain in my spot. Okay, I guess I added enough pressure there, hmm? The ball is long gone now and my hand is tingling from the throw.

"805.00m"

Whoo! Not as impressive as Uraraka's infinite throw or Nitsu's astounding 1000m, but greater than Katsuki's 705m, making me the third to surpass him in this category - second since no one counts Uraraka because of the nature of her ability.

Is my sole goal of this test to annoy him? Yes, it is. Do I have a reason to? No, not really, I just find that I haven't been up to anything impish in a while and need to rectify that.

And so everyone gets their turn with the leaders of the first exercise being Uraraka, Nitsu, and I - Katsuki comes in fourth. I highly believe he won't come in first for any of these challenges because of the amazing quirks some of these kids have - what I am attempting is to remain just above him in all the challenges. I don't need to be number one, not even two or three, as long as I'm ranked just above Katsuki, I'll be content.

Next up is the fifty-meter dash and the first pairing had just been disrespectful. The pairings are random, that much I've noticed, but putting Iida up against the potential speedster boy was premeditated. Iida finished in 3.04 seconds, amazing speed, amazing time, amazing form.

Shiru Gin, the speedster of class B, finished in less than a second - .03 to be exact.

To say Iida is shocked, flabbergasted, disbelieving, and discombobulated would be the understatement of the century and to say that Alissa had not been laughing like a donkey would be the understatement of the millennia.

.03 seconds.

Amazing, we got a flash on our hands. Not Barry Allen - that disgrace of a speedster - no, no, we've got ourselves a Wally West. Or maybe a Quicksilver.

Actually, with the white hair and pupils, the name would fit.

Okay, time to befriend Shiru and implant the idea, and watch it grow.

The mimer - Kusei - pulls another stunt and finishes in three seconds as well. Another from class B - Setsu Shiloh!, I finally have all their names - clocks in at two seconds, quite amazing. Alissa, fast devil that she is does a good enough job despite not utilizing her quirk and clocks in at five seconds.

Katsuki gets the expected four seconds, the time for me to beat even if by just a millisecond. I have to be incredibly precise with the use of my quirk as to not finish too soon or too late, just at the perfect time.

"What are you plotting?" an accusing voice questions.

"I'm not plotting" Not like Mina won't see through the obvious lie.

"Yes you are" as expected she doesn't believe the words that leave my mouth. "You have that mischievous smirk on your face and I can practically see the gears turning in your head - you're planning something"

You know, I never thought I would love the fact that someone knows me so well as to understand what I'm up to by just a glance. Truly, I always thought it would annoy me or be a bit embarrassing but it's oddly pleasing.

"Okay, so I am plotting something" I don't feign further ignorance and speak quietly - as if anyone would be interested in my dumb plan. "I'm gonna get on Bakugo's last nerve"

For a moment she just looks at me, golden eyes unreadable and expression blank. She blinks, incredulous, amusement, fondness - she smiles

"And how do you plan on doing that?"

"By always being ranked above him," I say proudly. "If he's fourth, I'm third. If he's tenth, I'm nine, and so forth"

"That's very childish of you," Mina says matter of factly. "Petty too"

"It's entertaining"

"You're aggravating"

"Am not"

"Is this plot of yours gonna aggravate him?"

"Yes

She hums and says nothing further, my answer alone proving her point.

"It's not childish" It's a carefully thought out - and executed - plan. Okay, no it's not, but I refuse to label it as "childish".

"It is" Mina disagrees, watching Bakugo out the corner of her eyes before returning her attention to me. "It's incredibly childish and you know it"

Doesn't mean I have to admit it.

"You're pouting" Mina gleefully points out, to my horror.

I do not pout, I've been saying this for so long now and she just insists that I pout.

"No"

"Yes"

"No"

"Yes," she giggles and takes my face between her hands, far too happy with this development for my liking. "You're so cute"

I huff, she smells like my perfume and my shampoo and it shouldn't smell better than it does on me. But goddammit does it smell a million times better on her.

"You used my stuff"

"Yup"

No shame at all.