The Flap of a Butterfly's Wings

Ticking

   Aizawa walks into Nezu's office with dread.

   He's running on too many cups of coffee, two jelly pouches (strawberry banana flavored), and zero fucks. All he cares about is getting this over with and going home where Hizashi has cooked a five-star dinner and Eri can present to him another drawing that she made (she said this one was going to be for her Deku-nii.)

   Nezu is at his desk sitting on his chair that is raised as high as it goes. In his paws is a cup of tea and to the side of him is a stack of papers. They're probably from all the students signing up for entrance exams this coming February (he knows Midoriya's is in there somewhere). Nezu looks up and smiles, "Ah, Aizawa-San! You wanted to meet with me, right? Please don't tell me you're retiring from teaching, we've been over this. You're too young to retire and just because you don't like teaching-"

   Aizawa interrupts, "No. I'm not retiring." He moves to sit down across from Nezu, who pours him a cup of what smells like jasmine tea.

   Nezu tilts his head, "No? I don't see any other reason why you would be here, then. I know you usually avoid coming in here at any cost." The principal snickers to himself.

   Aizawa scowls, "This is important."

   Nezu's gaze settles on him, and he tries to not let anything show. He knows that Nezu is calculating him, making predictions. He doesn't think even the smartest being in the country could guess what he was about to say, no matter how long he stared.

   "Do tell," Nezu leans in like he's a student learning about their favorite subject.

   "Midoriya Izuku." Nezu's eyes light up at that name.

   "I remember him! He was so little when he toured U.A. Remember, Aizawa? You were the one who brought him and his friend here. He was smart, too. I wanted him to become my personal student."

   Aizawa nods, trying not to think about Nezu and Midoriya together. They'd be either the downfall or salvation of everything.

   He decides to rip off the band aid, "He's from the future." It was blunt, and probably too sudden. But how else was he supposed to start it off?

   Shota's been pondering this for a while. He remembers most of everything (Blood and war and his students screaming-), but he still has no idea how his student managed to rewind time. Was it a quirk? Another quirk of the many he already has?

   Nezu tilts his head, "I beg your pardon?" The principle seems cut off guard- the first time in a very, very long time.

   He pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs, "Midoriya Izuku rewound time after U.A experienced a deadly war in his second year here. He went back further than he meant to, to when he was barely a toddler."

   Izuku had told him that the night he gained back his memories. That information had him lying awake for hours on end thinking about it. Izuku had to face the knowledge -the memories- of what happened all by himself for years. No one to support or guide him when he got stuck in a dead end or couldn't seem to fight off the nightmares. Izuku had to rebuild all of his relationships, and then get forced into that hideous arena, only to escape to a world further tilted off of it's axis. Aizawa has no idea how he got through it (did he? Could he really say that Izuku got through it? Or is his Problem Child just barely trudging along?)

   For the first, and probably last time, Shota sees that Nezu's surprised. Out of the possible million calculations he made, this was not one of them.

   "How?"

   Aizawa shakes his head, "I don't know. I only found out a few weeks ago. I've gained back all of my memories as well, although I don't think that's possible for everyone. I'm telling you this because I need you to believe me. In a few months from now Midoriya and the rest of his class will be attending this school, and know that I will do anything to make sure they live to graduation. I expect you to do the same."