When You Believe

Chapter 18

Aizawa was losing his patience with Bakugo fast. It was only the second day of classes, and the hot-headed kid was already getting his second strike. Would he be expelling him tomorrow at the rate they were going? Aizawa felt terrible that, for some reason, he wasn't opposed to the idea.

One of the problems with that train of thought was how much potential Bakugo had. Unfortunately, that potential also came as a double-edged sword. Without some form of order and organization, and with a permanent black mark from UA of all places, Bakugo would never be a Hero. Which led to two paths, given Bakugo's personality.

The first would be that Bakugo would easily try to be a Hero anyways. Without the proper licensing and schooling, he would be deemed a Vigilante, and would be arrested as such. That would further hurt any chance he would have of fulfilling his dream, which could probably lead him to the next, worse option.

Becoming a Villain. Turning on everything he thought he would have been striving towards. With how Bakugo acted, he would feel the entire time he was the "good guy" in the entire scenario. That he was the one wronged, and he would need to fix the wrong. Because he failed to realize that it was his own actions that caused everything.

Of course, there was also a third, rarely used, option. It's likelihood of implementation would entirely rely on the Hero Public Safety Commission (HPSC). It was a program normally meant for non-violent criminals or Vigilantes. A Rehabilitation of sorts. With the program, Bakugo would be under the more watchful and less lenient or forgiving eye of the HPSC. He would have to shape up, or Bakugo would never be a Hero...or probably ever heard from again, a thought he didn't want to delve into.

As it was, there were other things Aizawa could offer to get Bakugo in line without risking his future. Of course, like everything, it would fall entirely on the boy himself. But he first had to go over yet another discussion with him. When they entered the teachers' lounge, Aizawa pointed to one of the two couches that faced each other with a coffee table dividing them. Bakugo scoffed, but took the proffered seat.

As he did, Aizawa made his way over to one of the filing cabinets. Though most everything was digital nowadays, it never hurt to have a hard copy on stand by. He hoped the information in the file he would show the boy would be enough to get him to at least look at things in a different light. Finding the file he was looking at, he grabbed it and made his way to sit across from Bakugo, setting the folder down on the table.

"I'm going to be straight with you, Bakugo," Aizawa began. "This will not continue. This is your second strike in as many days..." He was cut off as the boy across from him interrupted with an incredulous tone.

"You can't do that!" he almost shouted. However, anything else he may have said died on his tongue as Aizawa stared at him, activating Erasure, as his eyes turned red and his hair stood on end. The worst part was the feeling of emptiness that he no longer had access to his Quirk, like yesterday during the Quirk Apprehension Test.

"You seem to have a woeful misunderstanding of what I can and cannot do," Aizawa replied. "As your Homeroom teacher, and teacher of UA in general, I am well within my authority to expel you now should I choose." Those words further silenced Bakugo, as the cold truth that he was, in fact, close to being kicked out dawned on him.

This was for real. It wasn't empty threats to get him to tow some sort of line. They would expel him from UA, and then he could never be a Hero. No. He would find a way around this. He just had to figure out how. He grit his teeth, but said nothing more as Aizawa dropped his Quirk.

"The investigation into Aldera was a rather intensive one," Aizawa said, which really got Bakugo's attention. How would this guy know about all that. "It seemed that whichever anonymous Pro Hero made the initial request to look into things, a lot became uncovered. A lot more came to light when Nezu himself became involved." At the mention of UA's Principal, Bakugo actually gulped nervously.

He, like most, had heard the horror stories of what happened to people or organizations that drew the ire of the diminutive creature. Though small, he was powerful...and dangerous. Bakugo wondered how Aldera was even still standing if Nezu had gotten involved.

"If you're wondering why Aldera wasn't burned to the ground because of Nezu's involvement, you're not the only one," Aizawa broke Bakugo out of his thought process. "However, given that not all of the teachers were fired and/or arrested it means the investigation garnered a deeper issue than just discrimination." Aizawa opened the folder and started reading.

"From our understanding, there were teachers and other faculty that did not involve themselves with the discrimination," he continued. "However, the investigation uncovered that these were those who had to remain silent either from threats to the job and...disturbingly...lives, or had seen the negative impact of those who had dissenting voices to it.

"Now, here's the fun part. Have you ever heard of the Meta Liberation Army?" His question truly sent Bakugo for a whirl. Nevertheless, he composed himself enough to respond to the question.

"What does some old Villain organization that preached about free usage of Quirks have to do with Aldera?" He considered some implications, but wasn't certain.

"They don't only preach about free usage," Aizawa responded. "They also hold a belief that the world should be purged of those with weak Quirks...or no Quirks. And I'm bringing them up because the teachers, faculty members, and Administration that were not only fired, but also arrested, had ties to the MLA. They were trying to indoctrinate students to the MLA's ideals. Tell me, based on how you treat those you think are 'beneath you' or how you treated Midoriya before his Quirk manifested, would you say they had some success at Aldera?"

And wasn't that a complete punch to the gut, Bakugo froze at the implications. Was that what happened? Was he being taught a Villainous organizations way of life...and following it? That couldn't be it.

He remained silent as Aizawa watched his reactions. It was a start, but he didn't know if he had really gotten through to Bakugo. Closing the folder, he got up and returned it to the filing cabinet. As he did so, he pulled a different file from his desk. He quickly signed it and handed it to Bakugo.

"This is recommendation to attention anger management with UA's counselor, Hound Dog," Aizawa said, informing Bakugo of what the file pertained. "As I said yesterday, I can't force it, but I do implore you to go over this with your parents. Aside from that, you're dismissed for the rest of the day."

Bakugo merely nodded as he stood and left. He didn't need help from some shrink. He was still the best. He would prove it. He could follow this hobo's rules.

He just had to get rid of Deku.