Lonely Ninth

Hope

  Class 1A, minus Izuku, Bakugo, Yayorozu and Jirou, held a meeting. They waited until the end of the day and met up back in the classroom once everyone had left.

  Yayorozu and Jirou had declined the meeting, saying they already had plans. Bakugo hadn't even replied in the group chat, muttering about 'stupid idiots' as he left the room. Izuku hadn't been notified.

  Shoji and Koda made sure Aizawa had left before the class sat down.

  The muscular boy gave Iida a nod before sitting down at his desk.

  "Alright, thank you both. Shoji, would you mind keeping an ear out for anyone outside the room?" The class president asked.

  The gentle giant nodded silently, extending one of his arms to the door.

  Iida cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses.

  "Some of you may be wondering why I have called this meeting. It is about something that happened at the USJ. More than half of the class were warped all around the facility, so did not witness what we are here for. Those of us who were left at the top of the stairs; myself, Uraraka, Sato, Sero, Ashido and Shoji, witnessed something we were not meant to see, I believe." He explained.

  "What happened? Everyone's okay, right?" Kirishima asked.

  Iida nodded.

  "Indeed. In fact, I think we are all better than just 'okay' Kirishima. The ninth user of All Might's quirk revealed himself at the USJ." He said.

  The class sat in silent shock for a few moments.

  "Who is it?" Kaminari asked quietly.

  Iida adjusted his glasses quickly.

  "We are not absolutely certain, however we believe Midoriya is All Might's heir. He displayed speed and strength far greater than he's used in training, faster even than All Might himself. I didn't even see him move, he just.. vanished from where he was standing and a flurry of impacts sounded from the villains below. That pure brute force... It can only be One for All."

  Uraraka raised her hand, standing from her seat.

  "And, when he came up the stairs, he said All Might's famous line! It was really cool, and he smiled just like him too!"

  Mina nodded, a smile stretching across her face.

  " 'It's alright now. Why? Because I am here!' " she said.

  Iida nodded along with their input.

  "Indeed. He obviously has a great respect and admiration for All Might, so much so that, if he weren't his successor he wouldn't dare quote the man. Nobody has spoken those lines ever since All Might's death. That, coupled with the monstrous speed and strength, as well as Aizawa and Endeavour's reactions to Midoriya's actions, leads me to believe he is the one."

  The whole class looked convinced, starting to mutter amongst themselves.

  Iida interrupted with a light cough.

  "With that said... We should keep quiet about this. There is most likely a good reason they aren't telling anyone this, and Midoriya himself needs to focus on his training. If All for One were to catch wind that Midoriya is the most likely candidate to be All Might's successor..."

  Even Mineta looked grim, but determined. The world had lived in fear of All for One for years, they wouldn't be the one to ruin it's only chance.

  Class 1A left the classroom feeling more hopeful than going into it. One of the students looked unnoticed around at her classmates, glad they'd figured it out. She would have exploded trying to keep this secret.

  She stumbled up the stairs of the USJ silently. Todoroki had dealt with the villains in the landslide zone, so she just needed to get back to the teachers.

  She looked up, spotting Midoriya, Aizawa and Endeavour standing just at the top of the long staircase. The invisible girl was able to make out their words.

  "So, you are the ninth user of One for All." Aizawa said accusingly.

  "I am."

___________________

  Izuku stood amongst the first years, watching Midnight introduce the Sports Festival to the crowd.

  "Would the student representative Izuku Midoriya please come to the stage to deliver a speech!" She yelled.

  Izuku stared at the hero in shock. Student representative? Speech? When was he supposed to have been told that little bombshell?

  Up in the announcer's booth Aizawa came to a realization.

  Hm. I didn't tell him did I? Ah well, he'll be fine.

  Izuku stepped up beside Midnight, accepting the microphone from her. He hesitated for a moment, before sighing, holding the microphone up to his face and speaking to the crowd.

  "First I'd like to thank Mr Aizawa, who notified me I was supposed to give a speech." Izuku turned to the announcer's booth. "Thank you sir."

  That got a chuckle from the crowd, while Mic gave the underground hero a disappointed stare.

  "Now. There are two things I'd like to address. I know we've got people wanting to enter the hero course through the festival. I wish you luck, and hope you do your best." He smiled sincerely at the crowd of students standing before him, earning some surprised looks.

  Izuku's expression turned a little more serious.

  "The entire world is living in fear. Of villains. Of disaster. Of him. Ever since the previous number one hero's defeat, every citizen, every hero, and even every villain has been living in fear of one man. All for One. He's hiding in the shadows, manipulating people like pieces on a chessboard, searching for All Might's successor desperately."

  Izuku paused for dramatic effect. The crowd remained silent.

  "That's all the USJ was. A desperate attack in a futile effort to draw out the ninth. The villains themselves even told us as much. His underlings, or even All for One himself are probably watching the festival right now in an effort to find All Might's successor. To all of the people angry at him, hurt by him, afraid of him..." Izuku turned, staring directly into the camera.

  The world watched as once again, a bright, determined, reassuring smile shone on their screens.

  "Have no fear. Because I am here."