My Hero Automata

Chapter 9: A Three Ring Circus and Opening Shots

Summary: Jackals, side entrances are a thing, and something that resembles actual logic!

Chapter 9: A Three Ring Circus and Opening Shots

Izumi and Momo both grimaced as their driver was forced to let them off two blocks before UA the next day. Momo's security team were obviously even less happy than the girls, but trying to force their way through the crowd of media that was covering the entire street in front of UA would only draw attention to them. Which wasn't something any good security team wanted. With a thought, Izumi transformed just far enough to activate a connection to the school's servers, sending a query through them and getting a quick response.

There were, indeed, five additional entrances to the University that were only accessible with student IDs. They didn't show up on the semi-public maps Izumi had first downloaded, likely for security reasons. But her new query, this time using her student ID number, had gotten a more complete map that identified the extra entrances. Noting that the nearest would still be in sight of the media, Izumi took her girlfriend's arm and guided her away, around the side of the Campus. It would be a few minutes of walking, but it was worth it to avoid that mess. Momo looked at her curiously, but didn't protest.

"Side entrance. I queried the server with my student ID and got a more complete map."

Momo nodded, looking relieved.

"Good idea. Should we see if we can spot any of our classmates?"

Izumi frowned, subtly forming a monocle instead of her usual full visor, letting it scan the crowd. It pinged with three hits...but two of them were already trapped in the crowd. Izumi steered herself and Momo toward the third.

"Looks like Uraraka is the only one we can save from that vicious pack of hyenas."

Thankfully, they made it to their classmate before she worked up the nerve to dive into the chaos, though she almost gave them away when she lept half a foot as they surprised her from behind. The brunette grasped her heart as she pouted at them.

"Oh, god! Don't scare me like that. I was already on edge because of..."

She gestured at the crowd and both Izumi and Momo nodded in understanding. Izumi grinned, though it was a bit strained at the reminder of the reporters nearby.

"That's why we came over, actually. I was able to access a more complete map of the Campus with my student ID, and there's a side entrance. It's a few minutes walk...but that's a lot better than dealing with the media jackals, I think."

Uraraka's eyes widened and she nodded with feeling.

"Heck yes! Lead the way, please!"

Izumi's strained grin shifted to a genuine smile as she did just that, leaving the reporters behind.

... ...

Because it was a non-core day, it wasn't a surprise that more of the Heroics Course students had lunch at the same time. Over half of them had chosen to take Intro to Heroic Law at the same time, a class that ended right before lunch. They'd even been joined by some members of the other Heroics Course group, as well as few Support Course students that needed to know at least basic Heroic Law for planning purposes. It had been nice to put faces and names to a few of the B Group students, though there hadn't been much time to actually talk, and none of them had attempted to join Izumi and Momo's group for lunch. This time, said group included more people than ever before, Iida and Jirou being joined by Asui, Ashido, and Kirishima. More Group A members were scattered around, including Tokoyami, who actually was sitting with two members of Group B. But no one had claimed the single remaining chair at their own table.