Ripples of Fate

Chapter 42: A New Era of Teaching Begins

Mailin’s POV

Sitting beside Shota, All Might, and Principal Nezu, I can't help but feel the gravity of the situation. The aftermath of the battle with All For One still weighs heavily on us, and as much as we’re relieved that no one died, the damage is done. The world is changing, and we have to change with it.

Principal Nezu speaks with his usual calm, analytical tone, thanking All Might for his victory and acknowledging the uncertainty it’s left in its wake. The parents are scared—society is scared. With All Might no longer able to fight, U.A. is facing intense scrutiny.

I glance over at Shota, his expression unreadable as usual, but I know him well enough to see the subtle tension in his jaw. This isn’t easy for him—acknowledging the failures and the dangers that have come so close to our students.

"Parents are anxious," Nezu says, "and rightfully so. But we can’t afford to let that fear dictate the future of hero society. We need to instill confidence, not just in our students, but in the world."

Vlad King chimes in, agreeing with Nezu, his voice carrying that unshakable resolve. He vows to protect and nurture the students more fiercely than ever before. I nod in agreement, my own thoughts aligning with his. These kids aren’t just our students—they're the future of hero society.

Then Nezu drops the real bombshell. “We will visit the parents of Class 1-A and 1-B to propose transitioning U.A. into a boarding school. It will allow us to offer better protection, closer supervision, and ensure their training is uninterrupted.”

I exchange a quick glance with Shota. This is a big move. Taking these kids away from their families is going to be a difficult sell, but it’s necessary. Keeping them safe while pushing them to grow as heroes—it’s the only way forward.

Shota, All Might, and I are assigned to visit the families of Class 1-A. Our first stop: the Jiro household.

---

Shota’s POV

Standing in front of the Jiro household, I prepare myself for the conversation ahead. It’s not easy admitting our failures as teachers, but it’s something we have to face.

Mailin walks beside me, her presence always grounding. Even now, I can feel her calm radiating, easing some of the tension that’s settled into my shoulders since the villain attack. She catches my eye and gives me a small, reassuring smile before we knock on the door.

Inside, Kyotoku Jiro greets us with a polite but wary expression. It’s clear he’s worried about his daughter’s safety, and I don’t blame him. We failed to protect our students once—convincing him to trust us again is going to be tough.

“U.A. has been negligent,” I admit, my voice steady but firm. I don’t sugarcoat the truth. “But we’re taking steps to ensure this doesn’t happen again. We will protect Kyoka and raise her to become the hero she’s meant to be.”

Before he can respond, Kyoka enters the room, fully recovered and standing tall. I see her look toward her father with quiet confidence, and for the first time since we arrived, I notice a shift in the air.

“My family’s already agreed,” she says with a small smile. “Besides, Dad, I’ve seen All Might in action. I’ll be fine.”

Mailin chuckles softly beside me, her eyes lighting up as All Might tries to hide his amusement. It seems Kyotoku Jiro is more of a fanboy than we expected. The conversation wraps up smoothly after that, and we leave the house with a sense of relief.

On the way to the next stop, All Might jokes, “You’re lucky, Aizawa. That was all thanks to me. You owe me a drink.”

I roll my eyes but smirk. “You’re not like me at all.”

Mailin walks between us, smiling softly. “Well, let’s hope that luck holds for the next family.”

---

Mailin’s POV

Next, we head to the Bakugo household, and I brace myself for what I know will be a... different dynamic. Katsuki Bakugo’s family isn’t like the Jiro’s, and as soon as we step inside, we’re greeted with a loud smack to Katsuki’s head from his mother.

“You little brat! You’re the reason for all of U.A.’s trouble!” Mitsuki Bakugo snaps, smacking him again for good measure. Meanwhile, Masaru, Katsuki’s father, tries to calm her down, but I can’t help but find the whole scene strangely endearing.

All Might looks utterly bewildered by the family’s dynamic, while Shota stands beside me, completely unphased. He’s used to dealing with Katsuki’s temper, and I know he’s come to respect the boy, arrogance and all.

Once Mitsuki calms down, she turns to us, her expression softening just a bit. “I’m grateful for U.A.’s dorm system. Honestly, I’ve had enough of this boy’s attitude. He’s been pampered his whole life, and it’s made him arrogant. But I’m glad that Aizawa-sensei sees him for what he is and not just for his Quirk.”

I see Shota’s eyes soften slightly at her words. Despite the roughness of the conversation, there’s a deeper layer of gratitude here. Mitsuki Bakugo is trusting us with her son, and that means something.

“We’ll do everything we can,” Shota promises, and I know he means it. He cares deeply about these students, even if he doesn’t always show it. And Katsuki—for all his rough edges—has the potential to become an incredible hero.

As we leave, All Might nudges Shota with a grin. “That was... something. I’ll definitely need that drink now.”

---

Mailin’s POV

As we walk back to the car, Shota takes my hand in his, squeezing it gently. He’s not one for public displays of affection, but after a day like this, I can feel the weight lifting from his shoulders.

“You handled that well,” I say quietly, leaning into his side as we walk.

He smirks, his usual stoic expression softening just for me. “It helps having you around.”

We’re not done yet. There’s still so much work to do—visiting the rest of the families, preparing the dorms, and regaining the trust of the world. But for now, we’ve taken a step in the right direction. And with Shota by my side, I know we’ll keep moving forward, together.