Teachers pet (COMPLETE)

Chapter 20: Hero Names

It’s been two days since the Sports Festival, but the buzz hasn’t died down at all. Everywhere I go, I can feel the stares—people whispering, talking about us. I keep my head low, hoping to avoid too much attention, but it’s impossible to ignore.

Even now, sitting on the train to U.A., I can feel a few passengers glancing my way. I overhear bits of conversation about Class 1-A, and I can’t help but wonder what they’re saying. My mind spins with thoughts of the Sports Festival. Did I stand out enough? Did I make the right impression? It’s weird being noticed at all, but I guess this is just part of being a hero.

Izuku stands nearby, gripping one of the poles for balance. A few passengers nod at him, clearly recognizing him from the tournament. It makes sense. He was incredible out there, as always.

As we step off the train, Tenya rushes past us, his arms flailing in his usual exaggerated manner. He’s decked out in a green raincoat and rubber boots, already acting like we’re late. “We should be at least ten minutes early for school!” he shouts back at us.

I smirk, shaking my head. Even after everything with his brother, Tenya still manages to be the perfect model student, pushing all of us to stay on track.

When we finally arrive at U.A., there’s a different energy in the air—lighter, like a weight has been lifted after the Sports Festival. But in the classroom, the conversation quickly turns to the attention we’ve been getting. Everyone’s buzzing with excitement, and it’s kind of nice seeing how happy they are. Kaminari and Kirishima, especially, seem to be basking in the spotlight.

“It’s so weird that people recognize us from TV. I had so many people stop me on my way here,” Mina says, practically bouncing in her seat.

“Yeah, me too!” Kirishima grins, throwing his arm around Kaminari’s shoulder.

Sitting behind Midoriya, I can’t help but overhear some of their conversation. It’s nice seeing them so excited, but there’s a part of me that’s still processing everything. I got 250 offers… it’s a solid number, but nowhere near Todoroki or Bakugou. Did I make enough of an impact?

Before I can dwell on it too much, the door slides open, and Aizawa-Sensei steps in.

“Morning.”

Everyone scrambles back to their seats. I quickly straighten up, feeling a familiar flutter in my chest as I catch a glimpse of him. No more bandages, just his usual stern expression. There’s something about seeing him fully recovered that makes me feel… well, never mind. I shake the thought away, focusing on the lesson ahead.

“Good morning, Aizawa-Sensei,” we all chime in together.

“Aizawa-Sensei, you don’t have bandages anymore. That’s good news,” Tsuyu comments from the far side of the room. I nod quietly in agreement.

“The old lady went a little overboard with her treatment,” he says, rubbing his eye lightly. I notice the faint scar under his right eye, a reminder of the USJ attack.

He moves to the front of the class and turns toward us. “Today’s lesson is about hero informatics. You’re going to pick your hero names.”

The room erupts with cheers and excited chatter. I can’t help but feel a flicker of excitement myself. This is a big deal—choosing our hero identities, the names we’ll be known by for the rest of our careers.

Aizawa-Sensei raises his hand, instantly silencing the room. “This is connected to the pro hero draft picks I mentioned. Normally, this happens in your second or third year, but your class is different. These offers are a reflection of your potential. Keep in mind, though, that any offers can be rescinded if their interest in you fades before graduation.”

He clicks a remote, and a chart with our names and the number of offers each of us received appears on the screen.

Katsuki Bakugo: 3,560 nominations
Shoto Todoroki: 4,123 nominations
Fumikage Tokoyami: 360 nominations
Tenya Iida: 301 nominations
Hoshino Mailin: 250 nominations
Eijiro Kirishima: 68 nominations
Denki Kaminari: 28 nominations
Mezo Shoji: 36 nominations
Ochaco Uraraka: 20 nominations
Yuga Aoyama: 13 nominations

“There’s a pretty big gap this time,” Aizawa-Sensei remarks.

“Gah! That’s no fair!” Kaminari groans, slumping dramatically over his desk.

“Todoroki got the most ahead of Bakugou?” Jirou raises an eyebrow.

“Yeah, it’s the opposite of how they placed in the festival,” Kirishima comments.

“They probably weren’t excited about working with the guy who had to be chained up at the end,” Sero jokes.

I wince, the memory of Bakugou tied up and muzzled flashing in my mind. That image still lingers, unsettling.

“If I scared a pro, they’re just weak!” Bakugou barks, his temper flaring.

Yaoyorozu leans forward in her seat, glancing at Todoroki beside her. “That’s amazing. You must be proud.”

Todoroki’s response is calm, almost detached. “These offers are probably because of my father.”

Behind me, I hear Uraraka sniffling, happy tears streaming down her face as she shakes Iida’s arm. I glance at Midoriya, who sits directly in front of me. I lean forward slightly. “Midoriya… you didn’t get any offers. I’m so sorry.”

He shakes his head with a small smile. “It’s fine. We’re all going to intern anyway.”

Aizawa-Sensei nods. “Exactly. You’ll all be interning with pros, even those without offers. You’ve experienced real villain combat, but seeing how pros work in the field will give you a new perspective.”

He pauses, as if gauging our reactions, before continuing, “These names you pick might just be temporary, but take them seriously. Or…”

Before he can finish, the door bursts open.

“You’ll have hell to pay later!” Midnight’s voice cuts through as she strides into the room, dramatically twirling her whip. “What you pick today could be your codename for life!”

“Yeah, she’s got a point,” Aizawa-Sensei agrees, already slipping into his sleeping bag. “Midnight will have final approval on your names. It’s not my thing.”

As Midnight takes over, cardboards are handed out, and we all start thinking. I stare down at the blank space in front of me. A hero name… something that represents me, my quirk, my goals. But how do I condense all that into one word?

Sitting behind Midoriya and in front of Yaoyorozu, I feel the weight of their presence. Both of them have such clear paths ahead of them—Midoriya, with his endless drive, and Yaoyorozu, with her natural leadership. It makes me wonder if my hero name can live up to theirs. But as I pick up my pen, an idea starts to form.

I’m not just my quirk. I’m more than that. And my name needs to reflect that.