Teachers pet (COMPLETE)

Chapter 26: The Test Results and Aftermath

The adrenaline is still coursing through my veins as the fake city finally settles back into place. The echo of Midnight’s surrender rings in my ears, and my heart races, but not just from the exhaustion of lifting an entire chunk of the city into the air. It’s from the realization that I pushed myself beyond my limits.

Sero is beside me, eyes wide, still in awe of what just happened. “Mailin… that was unreal,” he says, shaking his head, a grin stretching across his face. “Lifting an entire city? That’s like, top-tier pro hero stuff right there.”

I laugh, though it’s more out of exhaustion than amusement. “I don’t even know how I did it,” I admit, still catching my breath. “I’ve never pushed myself that far before.”

“You made it look effortless,” Sero grins, patting me on the back. “Midnight didn’t stand a chance once you went full powerhouse mode. I was just the distraction, but damn, that was impressive. You saved us both.”

“Thanks,” I say, feeling a warm sense of pride at his words. “But you weren’t just a distraction. You kept her off me long enough for me to focus. I couldn’t have done it alone.”

Sero shrugs modestly, but the grin doesn’t leave his face. “Still, I’m glad we were paired together. Teamwork makes the dream work, right?”

I smile back, appreciating his support. “Yeah. We made a good team.”

Before we can say more, Midnight herself approaches us, looking a little disheveled but smiling. “Well, well, Starforce,” she says, her voice teasing but filled with genuine admiration. “You certainly exceeded expectations. I haven’t had a student push me like that in a while.”

I blink, caught off guard by her praise. “Thanks, Midnight. I didn’t mean to cause too much damage—”

Midnight cuts me off with a wave of her hand. “Please, darling. Damage is part of the job. What you did back there was phenomenal. You’ve got real potential—power on a grand scale, and I don’t say that lightly. Keep refining it, and you’re going to go far.”

Hearing that from Midnight makes my chest swell even more. Coming from a pro hero, her words carry a weight that makes all the effort worth it.

“Thank you,” I say, a little shyly.

Midnight winks. “Don’t be so modest. I’ll be keeping an eye on you.”

As she walks away, Sero gives me a knowing look. “See? Even Midnight’s impressed. You’re seriously on another level, Mailin.”

I blush at the compliment but manage a humble smile. “I’ll take that as a win, then.”

Just then, Recovery Girl’s voice echoes through the simulation grounds. “Time’s up, everyone! The End of Term Test is over!”

Sero and I exchange a glance, both of us still breathing heavily. We make our way back to the main area, where the rest of Class 1-A is gathering. I spot Momo and Todoroki already there, both looking a little worse for wear after their fight with Aizawa-Sensei.

As we approach, I notice the mixed expressions on everyone’s faces—some are glowing with pride, others not so much. Aizawa-Sensei stands in his usual spot, arms crossed, watching over us with that cool, calculating gaze of his. The sight of him sends a familiar flutter through me, and I wonder if he saw my battle. Did I manage to impress him?

Recovery Girl steps forward to announce the results. “The only students who were unable to pass were Kirishima Eijiro, Sato Rikido, Kaminari Denki, and Ashido Mina.”

A few groans and disappointed sighs rise from the group, with Denki and Mina looking particularly dejected.

“I can’t believe it…” Mina mumbles, kicking at the ground.

“Yeah, we totally should’ve trained harder,” Denki adds, rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish grin.

Kirishima, ever the optimist, grins despite the news. “Well, we gave it our best shot! We’ll just have to train harder next time!”

Aizawa-Sensei steps forward, his voice calm but firm. “For those of you who didn’t pass, you’ll have remedial lessons during the summer lodge training. But remember, this test wasn’t just about passing or failing. It was about pushing your limits and seeing where you stand as heroes-in-training.”

I glance at Aizawa-Sensei again, my heart pounding in my chest. His eyes briefly meet mine, and I hold my breath, waiting for something—anything—that might indicate he was impressed. But he turns his attention back to the rest of the class, his expression as unreadable as ever.

Still, his words seem to resonate, and I can’t help but feel proud of what I managed to accomplish. The exhaustion is starting to settle in now, the weight of my quirk taking its toll.

As the class begins to disperse, I find myself lingering, hoping for a moment with Aizawa-Sensei. Just as I’m about to walk away, he speaks.

“Good job out there, Hoshino,” he says, his voice neutral but steady. “You handled the test well.”

It’s not much, but it’s enough to make my chest tighten. His praise, as rare as it is, feels like the most significant victory of the day. I nod, fighting back a smile. “Thank you, Aizawa-Sensei.”

He doesn’t say anything more, just nods back before turning his attention to the rest of the class. But the satisfaction of his words lingers, warming me even in the cool evening air.

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Teacher’s Meeting: Aizawa's POV

I lean back in my chair, eyes fixed on the replay of the battles. The rest of the teachers are gathered, reviewing the students’ performances from the End of Term Test. I can feel the weight of their eyes on me as the footage of Mailin’s fight against Midnight plays again on the screen.

Her telekinesis had lifted the entire fake city into the air—a feat I hadn’t expected, even from her.

Midnight speaks up, a hint of admiration in her voice. “Hoshino’s on a different level. I’ve never seen a student handle a quirk of that scale with such precision.”

I nod, though I keep my expression neutral. I had seen the potential in her from the start, but watching it unfold in front of me like that… it’s different. I know how dangerous that kind of power can be if it’s not kept in check. And yet, she handled it. Barely, but she did it.

“She’s impressive,” Snipe agrees, shaking his head in disbelief. “That kind of power… she’ll go far.”

The other teachers chime in with their assessments, but I stay quiet, watching the replay with a critical eye. Mailin’s control still isn’t perfect, but it’s better than most at this stage. That’s what concerns me.

She’s strong, and she’s only getting stronger. But power like that—if it’s not kept grounded—it can spiral out of control. And that’s where I come in. As her teacher, it’s my job to guide her, to keep her on the right path. But there’s something else, something I can’t shake.

I watch the screen as she floats in the air, her hair rising with the energy coursing through her. She’s not just a student anymore. She’s growing, changing. And I’m starting to see her differently.

That’s what scares me the most.

Midnight’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. “You’ve got a real challenge on your hands, Shota. She’s going to need careful guidance.”

I nod again, but inside, my thoughts are far from professional. I know I have to keep my distance. She’s a student. This is my job. But the way she looked at me today… the way she pushed herself to impress me—it’s getting harder to ignore.

For now, I keep my feelings buried. But I know that this is only the beginning.