Chapter Text
Apprehension washes over Izuku as he approaches his classroom door. It’s a new year at a new school, and he hopes that it will prove to be a good and fruitful experience for him.
He peers through the entrance as a rush of sounds reaches his ears. Much to his delight, his classmates seem to be an extremely lively bunch. He doesn’t recognize any faces, having only interacted with the quirkless candidates at the entrance exams.
He tries to be silent and discreet as he walks towards an empty desk. He doesn’t want to engage in any conversations yet–at least not before he’s observed his peers a bit. He likes the observing part better than the socialising one anyway.
His plan doesn't work though, because as soon as he takes three steps in, a heavy load lands on his right side and he jolts. Blue hair irritate his nostrils and he turns around to sneeze. It’s that weird fellow again.
Shin is completely lax as he uses Izuku to pull himself upright.
“Missed me?” Shin asks with a cheeky grin on his face.
“Of course not,” Izuku snorts, “I don’t even know you.”
“Hm,” Shin hums, “Well, I did so you better feel honoured.”
Before he can give an appropriate response to that, something nudges Izuku's foot and he turns to look straight at a bright yellow sleeping bag. A bored, haphazardly shaved face is peeking out of it, eyes lazily scanning them both.
Izuku would’ve jumped in surprise if it wasn’t for Shin weighing him down.
“Um... who are you?” Izuku asks, eyeing the man warily.
The man rolls his eyes as if already exhausted with the minimal talking, “Your teacher. Now settle down.”
Too bewildered to come up with a reply, Izuku simply nods and drags Shin to an empty desk.
"Hey! You two! Psst!" the cheery voice draws their attention and Izuku turns to meet the bright eyes of a pink-skinned girl. She gives them both a wide smile in greeting which Izuku returns readily.
“Hello,” Izuku says.
“Hey, I’m Mina,” the girl extends her hand, “Nice to meet you.”
Izuku accepts it, charmed by her friendliness, “I’m Izuku Midoriya.” He turns to look at Shin expectantly.
Shin just shrugs and Izuku sighs in exasperation.
"Er... this is Shin Shinji,” Izuku introduces in his friend’s stead when said friend continues to be an infuriating asshole.
Mina grin widens, “You two were from the group two right? You are so cool man.”
The blond guy next to her whirls around, "Group two?! Those guys are here–” he halts, spotting Izuku and Shin. His eyes brighten, face lighting up entirely. He shoots them both a winning smile, “Hello! I’m Denki. Finally, I get to meet you two!”
Izuku looks at them dazedly, confused as to why they were acting like Shin and him were some minor gods.
"Um," he fumbles with his words but settles on a simple, “Hi Denki.”
Shin yawns, stretching onto his chair, “Will you two stop acting like we’re the best things to come to this world since sliced bread?”
“But you two are!” Mina exclaims, then sobers up almost immediately. “Eh... sorry, what I mean is, you are literally the first two quirkless hero course students ever. I mean your names will go down in the history textbook, taught to the kids in a century or so–do you even realise how awesome is that?”
Izuku’s smile turns a little strained, “That doesn’t matter. We’re the same as any of you.”
Denki props his elbows on the desk and places his chin on his palms. “Nah, you both are so much better. I bet you are smart as fuck to crack the exams without a quirk.”
“He is,” Shin replies for Izuku, “But also can we stop talking about how special and amazing we are and focus on–”
"Shut up, you idiots,” Aizawa’s alarmingly calm voice succeeds at silencing the chatter. His sleeping bag lies neatly on the desk and he stands with crossed arms against the whiteboard.
“Good morning, sir!” Tenya Iida greets crisply. Izuku recognizes him from all the interviews posted online of the hero Ingenium and his family. It’s a bit marvelous that Izuku will be studying alongside the brother of a famous hero.
Aizawa nods at Tenya and pierces his lazy gaze across the classroom.
“One is missing,” he mutters to himself.
As if on cue, a violet-haired boy stumbles in. His overall appearance shouts exhaustion and boredom but he freezes on noticing Aizawa.
“Why are you late?” Aizawa interrogates half-heartedly, only because he’s heard that that’s what teachers are supposed to do. It’s a pain though, so he waves at the boy to take a seat without even bothering to wait for an answer.
While the boy passes by Izuku’s desk, he makes eye contact with Shin and they grin at each other.
"What was that?" Izuku whispers. Those grins didn’t hold anything innocent about them.
"What was what?" Shin asks back.
"The grinning, like you two were planing world domination or something."
Shin nods slowly, “That’s because we were.”
In the face of Izuku’s unimpressed stare though, Shin relents, “Stop looking at me like that, for fuck’s sake. He’s my cousin okay? His name’s Shinsou. A right bastard, I tell you. I bet all my money that he reached UA on time but lingered in the hallways till our class was quiet. He hates idle chit chat and noises in general–honestly, what an old man.”
Izuku nods because it makes sense. The resemblance between the two cousins is remarkable.
“Right then,” Aizawa says, "Normally, I’d take you all to the grounds and have a... quirk apprehension test. But in light of recent developments, I’m scrapping that. So, for the first time, my class will attend orientation.”
Aizawa picks up his yellow cocoon and wraps it around himself. He looks like the personification of coziness. “Stop staring at me and start moving to the main hall. And before you ask–no, I will not be joining you. You all are big kids, I’m sure you can manage getting to the hall in one piece.”
With that, he closes his eyes and falls asleep.
Izuku bites back a laugh as he walks outside. Aizawa sure is a unique individual.
Class 1 A enters the hall and they stand in a straight line after much shouting on Tenya and Kirishima’s part. Izuku knows them by names now, they’s had a brief introduction session on the way to the assembly–much to the chagrin of their less than social classmates.
Nedzu, the principal stands behind the podium and clears his throat sharply. Silence ensues instantly.
“A very warm welcome to all the students, new and old, to another term of education at UA. I hope you will enjoy this academic year and find it productive and helpful for each of your respective careers. I won’t bore you with pointless details and pleasantries now. Just a quick note,” he looks to his right where three students stand at attention.
“UA doesn't have a conventional student council. Instead we allow the third years to elect any number of leaders for the year. The leaders can range from one to all of the third years, it doesn’t matter. The latter has never happened in all of UA’s history though. Now then, let me present to you, this year’s leaders. They go by the name of The Golden Triad."
Nedzu steps off the stage politely as a round of applause follows the three older students who take their places at centre stage. An excited girl with a bob of light violet hair that flows smoothly down her back waves at the audience. Her smile is infectious and joyous.
Next to her, a tall guy with a metaphorical cloud overhead drags his feet as he approaches his position.
Though these two make for unique personalities, mostly everyone is the room is drawn towards the third person of the group. He’s got blond hair styled rather boyishly, a sincere smile and beady blue eyes that see through everything. His gait is relaxed yet alert and the moment he turns his attention towards the students, they know who the actual leader for the year is.
“Hello,” the blond speaks, tone warm and utterly friendly, “I’m Mirio Togata, pleased to serve as one of the leaders this year. Hope we all can have some fun and make UA proud in the process!”
Cheers erupt from the second and third years, joined by the first years who don’t really understand why this guy is so liked by the students–but are compelled to applaud him anyway.
Izuku feels weirdly motivated seeing Mirio. Next to him, Shin slumps towards his side, leaning onto Izuku’s shoulder.
“Man, this is so boring,” he whines, a pout almost evident in his tone, “I want to sit on my chair again. It was so bloody comfortable.”
Izuku shrugs his shoulder but it does nothing to faze Shin. The guy can make anything his pillow.
“It’s fun,” Izuku counters, “I bet these three are amazing–hero course students most probably? Although I’d think the management students would be elected ‘cause they’re usually very diplomatic."
“And devious,” Shin adds, “These three were elected, remember. I can’t imagine the management students willing to enter into too much spotlight. This leader shit means hardwork but also exposure.”
Izuku nods, "Yeah, and management students don’t like to be the centre of attention. They work best from the sidelines. Invisible to the public, but ultimately with a lot of authority and control. Meanwhile, Support students are too absorbed in their inventions to ever volunteer to run the school in addition to their daily craziness."
“Izuku!” Ochako whispers, drawing their attention. “Nejire called out your names.”
Izuku tilts his head, “Nejire?”
Ochako points towards the stage, “The girl, that’s her name. She’s been addressing you two for the last two minutes.”
Izuku immediately straightens up, looking up at her. “Yes? I’m–I’m listening!” he calls out, uncertain and more than a bit nervous.
Nejire beams at Izuku and Shin, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “Ooo! Yes! Tell me Izuku? You’re Izuku right? Izuku Midoriya? The one who was on TV? How was your experience of the whole thing?”
Izuku tries to come up with a suitable answer for such a direct and intrusive question but Nejire is already turning towards Shin, babbling out questions.
“And you! You’re the guy who used pistols and guns in the exams right? Is it true you went to use the loo in middle of the entrance exams? Is it true you use coconut oil to style your hair? Is it true that you shot down several cameras during the exams?”
Shin goes rigid for just a moment but Izuku catches it. Observation. That’s what he does best.
Izuku doesn’t know much about Shin. Only the obvious. But somehow, Izuku suspects that there’s nothing obvious about the guy. Shin is lazy, perpetually tired. He likes to act like a creeper, coiling himself around Izuku. A bit cynical, a bit weird, but ultimately harmless. He likes guns too apparently, but something about him feels... off.
Shaking his head, Izuku reminds himself to not be so paranoid, so wary of every stranger who is nice to him.
And that’s what Shin is to Izuku. Nice. The guy had never met Izuku yet he spoke to him with friendly familiarity. Joked with him like they were buddies. It’s unfamiliar territory for Izuku.
To have friends. Friends that aren’t faking it or trying to take advantage of him.
Orientation ends after instructing the first years about the dos and don’ts of UA and the generic instructions to follow.
Izuku finds himself alone for the first time on his way back to class. Shin stands chatting with Shinsou about God knows what–and by the smirks on both boys’ faces, he guesses it’s nothing good. He’d like to claim that plausible deniability, so he won’t be asking his friend either.
Izuku notices the other odd fellow in his class. The boy has been unusually quiet throughout the day, barely breathing. All he does is stare, almost glare at something or someone that’s not here. His name’s Shouto Todoroki and Izuku knows who he is. Whose son he is.
“Sulking, are you?” Izuku asks lightly, stopping beside Shouto.
“Sort of,” Shouto murmurs, without batting an eye.
“I’ve done loads of that,” Izuku admits. “Never helps, you know?”
Shouto doesn’t reply, face stoic. Unreadable.
Izuku frowns but doesn’t add anything else. Walking away, he settles back into his seat. The day continues without much fanfare.
No hero training, unfortunately. But the day is still enjoyable, and calm. Present Mic is extremely fun to be taught by. His anecdotes and accents make English a much more interesting language than it normally is. Ectoplasm is strict but with a witty sense of humour which he incorporates well into his teaching style making Maths easier to grasp. Such is the manner of all UA teachers. They’re heroes too but they prioritize their work as teachers more and the result is a very academically enthusiastic Class 1 A.
Izuku goes home with positive memories and eagerness to finally start learning under All-might the next day. It was truly as shock when he’d first learned that the number 1 hero had accepted a position in the staff of UA and now he couldn’t wait to see the pro in person. Again. Their last meeting had been decidedly bizarre but their next one held more promise.
Izuku drops his backpack on his desk chair and enters the shower. Washing away the minimal grime, he comes out rejuvenated. His eyes linger around his room, taking in the little mess he’ll have to clean. He sees it then. A small piece of yellow paper by his window. It hadn’t been there before. It’s placed under his flowerpot, a precaution against the wind, he assumes.
He picks it up gingerly and is confused by what's written on it. It says–
Join us.
-LOV
Frowning, he turns the paper around, but there’s nothing more to the message. He’s had loads of fanmail already but this is peculiar, the way it was delivered. Someone must’ve climbed up the window to drop the paper there, since he keeps that one window unlocked, so the room doesn’t get too stuffy. His vicinity is safe and almost crime-free but this puts a sense of foreboding in Izuku. He decides to never leave the window open again.
He places the note on his desk and wonders if the LOV was supposed to be LOVE. Whoever wrote the note must’ve forgotten the E, perhaps?
He thinks some more about the message but ultimately doesn’t reach any proper conclusion about its origin or even it’s meaning. Shrugging it off as a prank wouldn’t be too farfetched but Izuku has learned to be a cautious person when it comes to people he doesn’t know.
The handwriting is fancy, and cursive and unlike any of the people he does know. The parchment looks crisp and new, tinted in a mellow shade of yellow. Recently torn out of a book or manufactured then.
Not much to go on, Izuku tucks the note inside his cupboard drawer, intent on getting back to it after some more information.
The note doesn’t haunt him much, maybe because it contains no threats.
He plops onto his bed for a nap.
He can figure out highly mysterious notes later on, his sleep comes first.