Chapter Text
My alarm went off, 6:45 on the dot. I only have one. It’s quick and efficient. I have never needed more than one, even when I was young.
I promptly sat up, to start my day. It takes a second for my eyes to adjust when I put my glasses on. I reach towards the closet where I had already picked out my outfit for the day.
As I buttoned up my white uniform shirt my arm began to cramp, it always hurt lately. After what Izuku and Shouto (they insisted that after going through it together that we are past first name bases by now.) deemed The Stain Incident.
It had only been a few weeks since we had moved into the dorms and, well it certainly made avoiding Tensei better. I hadn't talked to him since I found out the truth, if that is really what it is. I still have my doubts. But really it just clicked, all of the unusual things in my life started to make sense.
The way my “parents” always looked sad whenever I said that Tensei was the best big brother. The way that they always seemed to put more responsibilities with Tensei, and even the age gap between me and him. They always told me that I was a “happy accident,” and that they would not have had it anyother way. Well I guess I was an accident, just not their accident.
I know I have to talk to Tensei eventually, but I still need time to process that my whole family has lied to me my whole life. That I had no idea if they were even going to tell me. That I had to find out this information, from a villain, Stain of all people. The same Stain who may or may not be my father. It is a lot to process.
So yes, I told myself, I would talk to Tensei, just not yet.
I take a deep breath to calm myself. Like I had learned to do in middle school. I look in the mirror for a quick check before I walk out the door. Even if I was struggling inside, no one else had to know. It was my burden to carry, not theirs. This secret would stay between a hero, a villain, and me.
“Tenya!” A voice yelled right when I walked out the door. Strange no one was usually up yet.
I turned to face the source of the voice, it was Izuku, and he looked relaxed as if he had been here for a while. Did he really stand outside my door this early to wait for me? Is something wrong? I knew I should have left my door unlocked incase someone needed something, I can’t believe I failed again!
“Izuku, is something wrong?” I quickly questioned as I got ready to run wherever was needed.
His face turned to a smile, “Oh, no, nothing like that.” He said, waving his hands over his face. “I just wanted to see if you would like to walk to class with me!” Izuku said with a bright smile.
My worry swiftly fades. Good, so I hadn't failed, but just in case I should probably leave my door unlocked for any future problems.
“Yes! I would enjoy that. Thank you.” I say as I motion to the elevator.
Izuku smiles as we walk into the small elevator. “Thank you for agreeing to walk with me Tenya.”
“Of course, I was already about to leave. But why are you up so early, not to be rude but I never pegged you as a morning person Izuku?”
Izuku blushed at the question. “Well Tenya, in all honesty I wanted to talk to you about something.”
My heart stopped beating, did he know? He was there in hosu, did he overhear, but if he did, why bring it up now, why not in the hospital? Maybe because Shouto was there, but no, we have been alone before, in our study sessions.
“Tenya, you coming?” Izuku questioned from outside the elevator door.
“Uh, yes, thank you.” I say quietly as I slip out the door. “Did you have any breakfast yet?” I questioned hoping to delay the conversation longer.
I guess I have bad luck today because, with his signature smile, Izuku answered.
“Yep! Oh, I also made you a bagel, I think I got it right, this time! A plain bagel, with cream cheese, and cinnamon, right?”
Unfortunately, that is my exact perfect bagel. And what I was actually planning on having for breakfast.
“Yes, that’s right. Wait, how did you know my bagel order?” I questioned.
“Oh, I just see you make it a lot in the mornings, so I figured it was your go-to.”
“I see, thank you. Shall we get going?” Why did I say that, I am trying to delay.
Well what if this conversation is for a completely different reason. It may just be about last night's english homework. Or about my quirk, Izuku has always been interested in learning more about the quirks of his peers, teachers, and everybody else.
I take another deep breath, see I was getting all worked up over nothing, it’s nothing. Izuku was not going to ask about the one secret that rattles me to my core.
“It’s about Hosu.” Izuku states as we walk out the doors of Heights Alliance.
Well, there goes the quirk question theory. Oh, no. Well, this is going to be an interesting morning, if anything.
“Oh, what about it?” I ask, trying not to seem like he just unraveled the web of lies that my family has been stringing around for years.
“Tenya, did something happen between you and your brother after Hosu? I don’t mean to intrude too much, but I’m worried. Before, you used to light up at even the hint of your brother's name. You loved to talk about how amazing of a hero he was. But now, at even the slightest mention of him you, well I don’t really know the right word for it but, you kinda look conflicted. I know it must have been hard to face him after, well, all that happened in Hosu. I just want to make sure that you are ok, I guess?”
A slight bit of relief filled Tenya. Izuku had no idea about his may, or may not be father. But he did notice that Tensei was becoming a tense subject for him.
“I guess there is no beating around the bush. To be honest, I have not really talked to Tensei since a little before Hosu. I actually have been avoiding him. I know I am going to have to talk to him sometime, but I don’t think that I am ready to face him quite yet. I will though when I am ready. Thank you though, Izuku, for worrying, but I am alright.”
Izuku, on his part, did not look convinced, but did thankfully let it go.
Trying to change the subject, I brought up our last heroics class, we had begun quirkless sparring. Something I noticed Izuku being excited about.
Thankfully he went on a rant about the implications of quirkless sparing, and the benefits of it in the long run of our hero careers, until we reached the class 1-A door.
I quickly went to my seat to start getting ready for the school day, as long as nothing else about Stain, Tensei, my family, or anything else unexpected happens I’ll be fine.
***
Something unexpected happened.
The school day was great. The rest of class filled in until the bell rang at 8:00. Aizawa-Sensei stepped out to the class, and started up for the day.
Next was English with Present Mic, and that was normal too, all of my other classes were normal, calm, perfect. Even the heroics class, with Bakugo and Izuku, was alright!
But at the last class when the bell rang and Aizawa was dismissing us, I heard those unexpected words. That was not in the schedule for the day.
“Iida, can you stay after class please.” Aizawa-Sensei said as he massaged the bridge of his nose.
“Of course, Sensei.” I answered as I sat back down.
“See you in a bit, Iida.” Uraraka said as she walked past my seat. She was the last one to leave.
I stood up with my bag in hand. I walked over to Aizawa. This could also be nothing, but the conversation with Izuku was not nothing. Could Aizawa want to talk about the same thing? Could Izuku have told him his concerns about him? No that could not be it, as far as Tenya knew Aizawa had no clue about what really happened in Hosu.
“Sir?” I questioned when I got in front of my teacher.
He looked bored, as he was also packing up his things to get out of the classroom.
“Nezu wants to see you kid.” Aizawa said simply.
“Oh, alright, Sensei, then have a good rest of your day.” I answer quickly as I sprint towards the door.
Oh no, this is really, really bad. I kept thinking as I made my way to Nezu’s office.
I think that Nezu knows about Hosu, but I am really not sure, I mean he is Nezu so he probably figured it out without having to be told. So is he calling me up to his office to expel me? It’s what I deserve, really.
But is it selfish of me to not want to be expelled? (I already know the answer to that.)
I want to be able to become a hero I can be proud of. I am not proud of my actions in Hosu, truly. I wish I never tried to attack The Hero Killer. Because then I would never know. Because then I would not have this guilt over my head, this thing that will follow me. This is why there are rules, so that this will never happen. I just need to keep following those rules.
That is what I need to tell Nezu, that I promise to follow the rules perfectly, to the letter from now on. That might not work, but it’s all I can do.
This kept on repeating in my head until I reached the tall, metallic doors that hold the principal's office.
There were no handles on the door. I tried to push them, but they aren't moving. I twist my head to the side to see a card scanner.
Of course.
I grab my student I.D. from my right pocket. And place it onto the scanner, after a moment the light above it lit a light green.
I take a step back as the doors open inwards. I cossiouly walk into the office. I have never personally met the principal one on one, but I have heard stories of his antics. And if I am truly getting expelled then there might be a trap or two.
“Iida! Welcome, I have been expecting you!” A cheerful voice came from the front of the room.
I shoot my head up to inspect the voice.
At the front of the room was a large wooden desk with two gray felt chairs in front. On the wall behind the desk, a large golden U.A. symbol hung. A comically large black leather chair was tucked into the desk.
Principle Nezu sat in this chair. I have no idea how he is able to reach the top of the desk. But he is. Sitting with a smile and his hands neatly folding into each other on top of the wooden surface.
I quickly smile and bow towards him, before walking to the front of the desk.
“Sir.” I say when I am face to face with the rodent-like creature.
“Take a seat Iida.” Nezu says as he waves his paw towards one of the gray felt chairs.
I sit in the one to my left. My arm is still hurting even after all this time, and while I am not expecting an attack on U.A. again I can never be too careful.
“Sir,” I began. But was interrupted by Nezu.
“Iida, do you know why I called you here?” He questioned.
Why am I here? I know it’s to be expelled but what does he want me to say here? Do I confess, or do I play dumb, is it dumb to think that I can get away with this?
“You might have your theories, but I can assure you that they are wrong.” What?
“You see I just had the most enlightening conversation with Iida Tensei. And well he helped shed a bit of light on a situation that has actually confused even me for a time.”
“What was the situation sir?” I managed to get out the question, be it a bit quiet but, out there non the less.
I am not even breathing right now, I have absolutely no idea why Tensei would talk to the Principal. And what even is the situation, revolving around me, of all people that confused even the mind of Nezu?!
“You see Iida, I am talking about your birth certificate of course!” He said with a large grin.
“I have been trying to figure it out for ages. Let me give you a small lesson on a specific part of our society. When a child is born we do the regular birth certificate. But we also have special stamps, these stamps from then on are present on all government paperwork. We have green stamps for children of heroes, all children of heroes regardless of status on the hero rankings have a stamp. It is for safety, if a villain ever kidnaps a hero child for ransom, it happens more than you think, then we know exactly who they are. Now the average teacher does not have access to see the stamps, but all of your past and present Principles have copies. The second stamp is for the other end of the spectrum. We have red stamps for children of villains and criminals.”
I gulp, so that’s what this is about.
“Now the reason your birth certificate intrigued me was because it was obviously faked. For children of two pro-heros, like your birth certificate suggests.”
He knows that I am not the son of my (Gran)parents.
“We only do one stamp, not two. So imagine my shock when I was going over yours, and it had two stamps, one for each of your listed pro-hero parents. Now, two days ago I got a call from Iida Tensei, asking to meet to fix up some of your paperwork. I would finally get an answer to this mystery, and well I enjoy a good mystery in my school, as long as I am in the know. Anyway, we met yesterday, and he handed me a file with all of your correct paperwork. And well, if it is true then this would be a big mix up, yes?”
I nod.
“Good, now please tell me, it is listed here, on the documents that Iida Tensei gave me that your mother is Iida Tenri (now Tensei), pro-hero Ingenium. And your father is Chizome Akaguro, an S-tire villain, by the monicare of The Hero Killer, Stain. To the best of your knowledge is this true?”
This is it, the point of no return. If I say yes, then my fate is sealed. But Nezu says that only he has access. I just hope that’s true.
“Yes, sir, it is.”
I see his smile falter if for only a second.
“Wonderful!” He said with a clasp of his paws.
“I am glad we were able to get that sorted out.
And while we are talking I must let you know that you do have the legal right to be able to visit your father in Tartarus every Wednesday from now on.”
I blink twice, that can’t be true, can it? Apparently I need to get better at hiding my face because Nezu had the answer ready.
“Yes, I am telling the truth, with the shocking amount of children that high ranking villains have, the government made it so that every boarding school be able to give one day a week for its students to be able to visit their parents in prison. I have already looked over your schedule and Wednesday is the perfect day for you to visit. I understand that you might want to think about this,
given everything that has happened between your parents, but I truly think that it might be good for you.
Since it is Monday I will give you till the end of the school day tomorrow to decide. That will give me enough time to arrange transportation.”
I nod my head again. I just feel like I’m frozen.
“You're dismissed.” I faintly hear Nezu-Sensei say.
I stand up and make my way towards the door, it has handles on the inside. I am about to open it when I hear.
“Oh, and Iida, the visits are anonymous.”