All the King's Men - IidaMomo

Chapter 1

Tenya listened as incentively as he could to Aizawa's current lecture, jotting down notes and charts he felt would be of some importance. His handwriting was typically neat and organized on the page, but it seemed as though it was sloppier and almost illegible. He sighed and rolled his eyes with irritation, deciding to just get down what he could and review with Ochaco and Deku later.

Yeah, that sounded like a solid plan, Tenya thought to himself. Not only would re-writing his notes allow him to comprehend them better and make them neater overall, he'd have an opportunity to distract himself from everything going on.

He'd yet to speak to Momo about it all, but from the glances he had snuck, and the way she turned a pink hue and looked away were indicative that she knew as well. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Maybe things would actually work out really well and—

"Iida, can you tell me when the Heroes Commission was first presented to Congress?" Aizawa's voice snapped Tenya out of his thoughts, and, since he hadn't been paying attention for the last thirty seconds, the usually attentive and quick class rep fumbled over his words.

"I- um, it was presented in um..." he trailed off, looking down at his notebook embarrassedly. He could feel Aizawa's eyes burning holes into his head, he could tell he probably had an annoyed scowl on his face because he didn't know.

"1972, in July, to be specific," Momo cut in from the back of the class, and she managed to smile at Tenya.

"Very good, Yaoyorozu," Aizawa said before turning back to the blackboard and continuing to write on it as he lectured. Tenya's head nearly dropped to the desk in embarrassment.

Maybe it was just the sudden stress and pressure of even thinking about getting married, let alone to a close classmate, but he could practically feel the stares of his peers burning into his skin, the giggles and whispers he would be the target of.

This had him falling apart! Unravelling like a fishing line being dragged away by a bass, his life suddenly felt out of control. It made Tenya dizzy! So dizzy, it made him feel like he'd vomit...

But then he remembered, he had told Ochaco and Deku that he had been feeling unwell, and, considering his track record, maybe he could get away with skipping class in Recovery Girl's office just this once. It made a sigh of disappointment in himself want to leave Tenya's throat.

Swallowing his pride just this once, Tenya raised his hand. "A-Aizawa-Sensei," he began. "Could I go to Recovery Girl's office...? I feel nauseous..." he said. Aizawa permitted him to do so, much to his relief.

"Oh, Tenya, do you want me to walk you there?" Deku offered, going to stand up from his desk.

"No, Izuku," he interjected. "It's quite alright..."

And with that, he was off to Recovery Girl's office, his safe haven, his respite from the suffocating air of the 1-A classroom. Tenya shuffled down the hallway, finally arriving at the surprisingly quiet office and he pushed open the door.

"Ah, Iida," Recovery Girl began as she looked up from the medicine cabinet she was organizing. "Strange seeing you in here so early, young man. What ails you?" She asked.

Tenya blushed in embarrassment, a lump forming in his throat as he wondered if he should just tell the truth or lie. However, he didn't have it in him to lie to an authority figure, much less someone as understanding and wise as Recovery Girl.

With an embarrassed sigh, he sat down in one of the chairs and looked down at the floor. "I... could not be in class anymore. I could not stand it," he admitted reluctantly.

"... so you're playing hooky?" Recovery Girl glanced at Tenya with a suspicious look. "For a good reason, I swear!" He exclaimed. Tenya cringed as he said that, now knowing he basically had to explain why he came here to Recovery Girl.