The Flap of a Butterfly's Wings

Tutelary

   Izuku watched. His gaze floated across every student. And as he watched, he analyzed. Making notes on even the most minuscule of details. He notices how Shinsou (Mineta's replacement) lacks stamina and strength, but is agile and light on his feet. Kirishima's quirk makes him slow, and hasn't earned the name "unbreakable" yet. Kaminari looks slightly afraid of himself- of what his quirk can do to him once pushed too far.

   He sees the potential, and knows how strong these people will grow to be. But he doesn't know how much time they have, and he knows that they're all going to have to work harder than before. Push them past their limits, train them for something they don't even know is going to happen (and they will learn, eventually. But they're just starting, and Izuku wants them to have their childhood for as long as possible).

   Katsuki is strong, but he's not like who he used to be, and Izuku knows this frustrates him. And maybe this frustration is good, because he can turn that into power.

   Izuku uses his quirk in the practices Aizawa has set them up for as well, refusing to hold back. Aizawa is repeating these exercises not to potentially expel any students, but to set them up for survival. He knows them, even if they don't quite know him. He's doing what Izuku is doing, soaking in every strength, growth, and weakness to ensure that none of them will die before their time.

   It's a weird thing, to excel at something you once failed at. He comes in first in some of the courses, second or third in the others. He ignores the shocked looks from Todoroki (after all, he was supposed to be quirkless), and the curious glances from Shinsou. Everyone seemed surprised by his skill -besides Kacchan and Aizawa-Sensei-, and why wouldn't they be? They don't know that he's done this before, or that he has years worth of knowledge and training on them. None of them have had to fight in war, or be trapped in The Arena, or roam the streets, witnessing the darkest parts of the human species.

   He can see the wall building between him and his friends (just classmates, they don't even know him), separating them. Izuku tries to smile warmly at them, and compliment them on how amazing they are (not just their quirks, but them).

   They're smart, and while they know that he is not like them, they also gather that he wants to be here, with them.

   After the courses are finished, Shinsou walks up to him, rubbing the back of his neck. His eyes are downcast, and it takes a moment for him to find words. But Izuku is patient, he has to be.

   Shinsou looks up, making eye contact, "I -uh- wanted to say thank you, for helping me at the entrance exam. I wouldn't have passed if it weren't for your advice."

   Izuku smiles (Shinsou squints at the brightness), "No need to thank me. You would have made it one way or another. Have more faith in yourself."

   In order to win a war, one has to trust themselves and know just how much they're capable of.

   Izuku squeezes Shinsou's shoulder before walking to the locker room to change. He grabs his clothes, and just like when he was putting on his uniform, he goes inside a bathroom stall to change. No one has ever seen the full extent of his scars, and he can't risk freaking any of them out. He wouldn't be able to answer any of the questions about the electric burn scars from The Arena (among the various others from that hell), his self-harm scars, or the plethora of permanent markings from being a vigilante. He doesn't bother to count them- doesn't want to be reminded of what caused them.

   People look at him oddly when he exits the stall, but don't ask questions much to Izuku's relief. Katsuki narrows his eyes at him; even he doesn't know the extent of scar tissue Izuku's body adorns.

   It's then that Kaminari's voice catches his attention: "Yo, did you guys hear that we're going to go to the USJ in a few days? I'm so stoked!"

   Izuku feels his face pale. He catches Katsuki's eye and sees that his reaction was similar. They had been so busy with training and focusing on getting into U.A that the USJ attack hadn't had a chance to occupy their minds. He slowly walks out of the locker room, trying his best to act normal. But a wave of self-hatred and panic washed over him. How could he have been so careless as to forget the class's first encounter with villains? With Shigaraki.