Teachers pet (COMPLETE)

Chapter 54: Prepping for the School Festival

The buzz of excitement in Class 1-A is infectious as everyone gathers in the common room to finalize their roles for the upcoming School Festival. Despite the exhaustion from hero training, there’s a palpable energy in the air. It’s something different from the usual intensity of battles or training drills. It’s a chance for all of us to let loose, to show another side of ourselves. But still, the tension from the other departments' criticism of us lingers in the background, like a shadow hanging over everything.

I watch from my seat as Mina enthusiastically talks about her vision for the dance. Her moves are fluid, confident—everything about her screams excitement. I smile a little, but my thoughts are elsewhere. The festival is supposed to be a time to relax, have fun, and bond with everyone, but I can’t help but feel the weight of all the recent events. Aizawa-Sensei’s injuries, Eri’s fragile state, and now the resentment from other departments—it’s all swirling in my mind.

Katsuki, sitting across from me with his usual scowl, breaks the silence with a sharp comment. “You guys seriously think this festival crap is gonna make things better with the other courses?”

Everyone pauses, looking at him. His tone is laced with disdain, but there’s something deeper there. It’s frustration. The criticism from the other departments must have gotten to him more than he’s willing to admit.

Kyoka hesitates, her hand tightening around the bass she’s holding. “We’re not trying to make things better with them,” she says softly. “It’s about having fun. For us.”

Katsuki scoffs, crossing his arms. “If we’re gonna do this, we’re not doing it to make them happy. We’re doing it because we’re gonna blow their minds.”

His words hang in the air for a moment, and despite his harsh tone, there’s something about it that resonates with the others. It’s not about proving ourselves to the rest of the school—it’s about us, as a class, doing something together. Going all out, like we always do.

Kyoka gives a small nod, and it’s clear she’s grateful for his support, even if it’s in his typical Katsuki way. “Right. We’ll put on the best show possible. For us.”

As the conversation picks up again, Momo is chosen for the keyboard, much to Mina’s dismay, since she wanted all the girls in the dance. Still, Momo’s experience with piano makes her a perfect fit. Katsuki’s decided to take on the drums, and it’s clear that the band is starting to come together.

“Who's gonna sing?” Ochaco suddenly asks, breaking through the noise.

Kyoka freezes at the suggestion, quickly shaking her head. “Not me. No way.”

Toru, always the energetic one, jumps in and practically forces the microphone into Kyoka’s hands. “Come on, Kyoka! You’ve got the perfect voice for this.”

Kyoka tries to resist, but when she finally sings, her voice fills the room. It’s powerful, beautiful, and the moment she finishes, everyone is staring in awe.

“That’s it,” I say quietly, even surprising myself with how strongly I feel about it. “Kyoka has to be our vocalist.”

It doesn’t take long for everyone to agree. Kyoka looks flustered but can’t hide the small smile of pride that tugs at her lips. With her on vocals and the bass, Momo on keyboards, and Katsuki on drums, the band is set. Denki and Tokoyami are chosen for the guitars after a quick demonstration of their skills.

With the band assembled, attention turns to the staging. Mina, as always, is full of ideas, and this time she’s completely in her element. “Eijiro,” she starts, her eyes gleaming with excitement, “you and Shoto can create the coolest effect ever. Shoto can make ice, and you can shave it into stardust while Yuga uses his laser as a light show. It’ll be epic.”

Eijiro grins, clearly loving the idea, and Shoto nods in agreement. Yuga, of course, is thrilled at the prospect of being the human disco ball once again.

By the time the clock hits 1:00 AM, we’ve got everything planned. Tenya, always meticulous, ensures every role is perfectly organized, down to the last detail. Kyoka takes charge of the band, effortlessly stepping into her role as the musical lead, while Mina, as expected, heads the dance team. The rest are assigned to staging, making sure the performance will be seamless. And then there’s me—on the dance team.

A knot forms in my stomach as I think about it. Dancing? In front of everyone? It’s not that I can’t follow the steps—Mina’s a good teacher—but the thought of Aizawa-Sensei seeing me like that... it makes my pulse quicken in a way I don’t know how to explain.

What will he think? I’ve always been focused, serious about my hero training. He’s seen me in battle, in the classroom, pushing myself to grow stronger. What if dancing seems frivolous to him? What if he thinks I’m wasting time?

But another thought creeps in, softening the anxiety. Maybe he’d smile. I’ve seen his rare smiles before, the way his eyes crinkle just a little. Maybe he’d find it amusing or even proud that I’m letting loose for once, showing a side of myself that isn’t all about hero work. Still, the thought of Aizawa watching me dance with the others stirs something deeper—something I’m not ready to confront fully.

I glance around at the others, laughing, joking, as the plan falls into place. It should feel exciting, but instead, all I can think about is how Aizawa will react when he sees me out there, moving with everyone else.

I lean back in my chair, exhausted but satisfied. Despite all the tension in the air, something about this feels right. We’ve come together, in a way that we haven’t in a long time, and even though the School Festival is supposed to be fun, it’s also an opportunity to remind everyone—ourselves included—why we’re U.A.'s hero course. Why we’re Class 1-A.

But as the chatter fades and everyone starts heading to their rooms, my thoughts drift back to Aizawa-Sensei. He’s still recovering, still taking care of Eri. I wonder how she’s doing, how they’re both doing. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about them since the raid, and now, with the festival preparations, I’m finding it hard to balance my excitement with the constant worry in the back of my mind.

I push myself up from my seat and head towards my room, hoping that maybe, just maybe, tomorrow will bring some peace. But deep down, I know I won’t stop worrying until I see them both again.

As I climb the stairs, I make a silent promise to myself. I’ll help make this festival the best it can be, but once it’s over, I’ll be there for Aizawa-Sensei and Eri. No matter what.