Heroes of Tomorrow

Part 13~Reality

"So, we're back to normal classes tomorrow, right?" Jiro glanced at Momo as she nodded.

"I suppose there's no rest for the heroes." Momo paused as she spoke. "Speaking of which, have you seen Uzu?"

Jiro sighed. "No. I assumed he conked out. He did the most running in the class. He must be exhausted."

Akiko frowned, listening to them. She didn't respond when Bakugo screamed.

"You. Meet me out front later." Bakugo stormed past Midoriya, lowering his voice to say something to him that only he could hear. Midoriya agreed as the class collective decided to not get involved.

Akiko yawned as she stood up. "I'm going to take Uzu some food. Night." She grabbed the spare bowl when Jiro jumped up.

"Let me." Jiro took the bowl before Akiko could stop her. Jiro stopped by the doorframe, looking back. "Momo."

Momo jolted, looking at Jiro in confusion. "Oh- right. Yes." Momo stood up as Akiko decided she also wasn't getting involved in that.

~~~

Jiro stopped before Uzu's door, knocking and waiting for a response. They didn't get one.

Momo knocked as she began to speak. "Uzu? You missed dinner. We've brought you some food." Uzu still didn't respond as Jiro huffed.

"If you don't respond in ten seconds, I'm kicking down this door."

"Don't do that." Momo tried to stop Jiro, but she kicked down the door.

Uzu screamed, jumping up and falling onto the floor. "What the fuck?"

"Jiro!" Momo gasped in horror as Jiro walked in.

"You forgot to eat." Jiro put the bowl on Uzu's desk as he pushed himself up. His body shook under him as he struggled to stand. "Woah, you really did knock yourself out."

Uzu laughed. "I'm fine. Just need a night's sleep."

Jiro and Momo didn't look convinced. "Maybe you should ask Aizawa for tomorrow off."

"No. I'm good." Uzu forced a smile as Jiro continued to stare at him. She really didn't look convinced.

"Jiro, maybe we should let him rest." Momo gently placed a hand on Jiro's shoulder, pulling her to the door.

"Fine. But know I don't approve."

Uzu chuckled. "Understood." Uzu waited for the door to close before collapsing. He stayed there, staring at the ceiling before he pushed himself up. "I shouldn't be this exhausted." He glanced outside before he stood and snuck out for a run.

~~~

Naka walked without much thought. He wasn't sure what time it was or where he was. He failed the exam. He held his phone in his hand, ignoring the messages that had been sent, his family, seeing if he passed the exam. He hadn't found the heart to tell them the truth.

Boom.

Stopping, Naka glanced around in confusion. He could hear the explosions coming from the training ground. "Those sound like Bakugo." Rushing forward, Naka glanced down at the fight. Midoriya and Bakugo took in the smoke.

Either Midoriya had kicked Bakugo, or he had fallen over because he collapsed on the ground while Midoriya stood up.

"Hey. Are you all right?" Midoriya rushed forward as Bakugo growled, slapping the hand away.

"Don't you dare worry about me! Attack me! Why won't you fight back? Why did I end up having to chase after someone who was always so far behind me? Why did a damn small fry like you get strong and become the number-one hero's sidekick? His favourite? You got so much better, and I destroyed All Might. I admired him so much. But it's because of me that he ended up losing his power. If I had been stronger- If I hadn't been kidnapped by the villains, then it never would have happened."

Naka gasped as he heard Bakugo talk.

"All Might knows it was my fault but hasn't said anything. Everyone has to know, though! I can't get it out of my head. It's like it's constantly playing on a loop. And then Soy Sauce got involved, and he died. He fucking died, and Kamishiro is killing himself out of the guilt. What the hell am I supposed to do?!" Bakugo shook as he growled, stepping forward as Midoriya activated his quirk.

He charged as the fight resumed.

Naka stopped listening to their fight as he slid to the ground. The memories of that night played through his brain. He remembered Akiko shouting at him as she had to protect him. He remembered Uzu shouting as he realised what was happening. He remembered watching as All Might was destroyed before them all.

The reality finally hit him. Naka wasn't sure what happened after that. He heard the fight behind him, but he had no idea who won. He was sure someone arrived, maybe a teacher, but he remembered none of it. The next thing he remembered, he was in the infirmary being told he needed to stay for a day under Aizawa's orders.

~~~

Uzu frowned as he looked around the class. "Hey, Aki, where'd the moron go?"

Akiko hummed, turning her phone off. "I think he did something stupid. I heard a bunch of explosions last night."

Uzu blinked. "You snuck out again?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Akiko paused. "I'll try to check in on him later, but if he did something stupid, I doubt I'm the one he wants to talk to."

"You think?"

"Yeah. I think he's been avoiding talking to me. He's had a lot on his mind, and I don't think he likes talking to people who already know what they're doing."

Uzu grinned. "Oh, is that why he hasn't been talking to me." Uzu chuckled at his joke as Akiko gave him a look.

"Right, because Naka's standard for having one's life together is so high, it's seen as an achievement." Akiko laughed as she pulled Uzu forward. "Come on, we should head off before Aizawa screams at us."

~~~

The group walked in file as Iida shouted at them.

"I heard a little rumour about class 1-A," Monoma grinned as the class stopped. "Three people! You had three people fail the licensing exam, you losers."

The class groaned, stepping away from him as Kirishima laughed. "Bet you were the only one in your class to fail. Just like in the final, huh?" Monoma laughed before turning away. "That wasn't an answer."

Monoma grinned, posing in front of his fellow classmates. "Actually, every one of us passed. We've pulled ahead of you big shots."

Todoroki sighed, a dark look on his face. "I'm sorry. It's my fault."

"Hey, don't say that. If anything, they're the ones turning this into a competition. A weird competition considering the situations weren't the same and has no acknowledgement of your comparative skill." Akiko crossed her arms as a new voice spoke up.

"Accordin' ta teacher Vlad, we'll have classes together this semester- doesn't that sound like it'll be fun? I'm lookin' forward to it." The girl smiled sweetly as Monoma whispered to her.

Uzu grinned. "I can't wait! I want to test my gust power against the guy who solidified air!"

Akiko blinked, frowning at Uzu. "You remembered someone?"

"He pissed off Bakugo."

"Hey. We're tryin' to get through back here," Shinso grumbled as Iida startled, pushing everyone along.