Chapter Text
The first year class of UA was called to the auditorium one fine day. Too fine for what was about to happen, honestly. Everyone filed in as neatly as possible (for the heroics, support, and management classes of UA, anyway) and it was announced that there was a tournament of sorts coming up.
“‘The Cards,’ this exam is called,” droned Aizawa sleepily. “There is a King of the Force, be the Force police or heroes, whatever you want to call yourselves, and there is a Queen of the ‘villains,’ or anti-heroes, or whatever. That is to say, don’t be fooled by the names- the Queen and King can be any gender. However, they must be a first year. The Queen will be chosen by the principal. The King will be chosen by the Force. Remember, the Queen is chosen. They can back out if they wish, though it is not recommended. The King is elected by the Force. They can also back out, although their replacement will be a council of at least three people.” At this, muttering started up, and it was obvious people were extremely pensive about this exam.
Present Mic cut in with a cheery smile and a few parting words, “Don’t look so glum, all of you! If you have any questions, you are welcome to ask us teachers or the principal. However, we cannot truly aid you, except for answering questions. Asking us to help you will result in different ways: for example, penalization of your entire team, to your immediate disqualification. Do not ask us to help you beyond answering questions . Each of you will receive a notebook in your dorms or locker: please be mindful of who you show them to! Have fun, listeners!”
The whole year was silent. However, most minds were spinning like a tilt-a-whirl. Particularly Izuku Midoriya’s.
I wonder who’ll be chosen as Queen? I think it would be interesting to see how people react to the responsibility. Perhaps that’s why this exercise is created? Testing which students react well under pressure and how? What’s the significance of the cards? Or is it cards at all? That could just be a misdirection. After all, chess also uses Kings and Queens. And it sounds like Queens have more freedom in this game than the King, which is the same way as it is in chess, but not with playing cards. If I was Queen, I would make a play on that. I’d have my Aces and my Knights, my Jacks and my Bishops. Maybe I could have people with numbers? Like a hierarchy or something? I’d see if I could get a uniform-
“Hey! Deku! What do you think of this game-thing? I think it’s gonna be so fun! As long as we’re heroes, right? Being part of the Queen’s team must be for the worst kids, the ones they think will be villains, with their quirks. Oh! They’ll probably put the weak-quirked kids on that team too, make it so they finally learn their place,” Uraraka said quietly, looking sure of herself
and her wrong opinions.
“O-oh, but they said the teams were picked randomly, except for the Queen, remember? They couldn’t put the “villainous” kids or the “weak-quirked” on one team…” And that was the most quirkist, bigoted thing I’ve heard you say yet… how distasteful. “And you know, maybe it’s not r-random, but I doubt they’ll pick and choose to give one team an advantage or d-disadvantage. Oh, hello, Aiwaza-sensei.”
“Hello, Midoriya. All of you! Get in the classroom, please.” Every student filed in quietly, sensing their teacher was either angry about something or conflicted.
Or that’s what he wants us to think, Izuku mused quietly. “Excuse me, oh! Sorry Todoroki! Excuse me please, Shoji. My bad, Hagakure.” Pushing past people to get to the back of the line, Izuku was stuck apologizing to everyone he bumped into in the doorway (it was huge, how was he bumping into this many people) until he got to his perpetually-tired teacher. “Aiwaza-sensei, is everything alright? You look a bit upset.” Making sure to put emphasis on look, he watched as a wry, if not smug smile chased the frown off his teacher’s face.
“Thanks, problem child, but now I’m just fine. Mic-sensei now owes me 2,000 yen.”
“O-oh, alright then. Well, um, I guess I’ll just go inside…?”
Another grin. “You do that, Midoriya.”