The Staff Room Buzz

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The staff room was abuzz with a tension that hadn't been present before. As the video feed replayed the events of the day, especially the brutal confrontation with Pony Tsunotori, the teachers couldn't remain silent anymore. It was time to debrief, to understand just how far Deku—Izuku Midoriya—was willing to go in these games.

Nezu, seated at the head of the table, tapped his paw against his chin thoughtfully. His small stature belied the gravity of his presence. He knew exactly what was at stake. Around him, the teachers settled into their seats, murmurs of concern already bubbling to the surface.

Midnight was the first to break the silence. "That was... excessive." Her voice was sharp, tinged with disbelief. "He turned that alley into something straight out of a crime scene. That girl was covered in blood—more than necessary to take her out of the game."

Aizawa, his arms crossed and expression as unreadable as ever, let out a quiet sigh. "It was calculated. He didn't kill her, but he made sure to send a message."

"Message?" Midnight scoffed, her hands gripping the table. "That's more than a message, Eraser. He left her bleeding out. How is this even acceptable? We allowed him to play the villain, but this..."

Hound Dog snarled in agreement. "He could've incapacitated her without all that bloodshed. He's going too far."

Nezu raised a paw to silence them. "Let's not jump to conclusions. Yes, it was brutal, but we knew what we were signing up for when we invited him to participate."

All Might, standing by the window with his arms folded, seemed lost in thought, but he finally spoke up. His voice, though quieter than usual, carried the weight of years of experience. "He's playing a role, but it's not just any villain role. Deku's embodying something much darker. This isn't just about winning or losing a game."

Aizawa nodded in agreement. "He's putting the fear into them. If you noticed, he didn't even try to eliminate Tetsutetsu afterward. He's deliberately letting one of them live to carry the story back to the others."

Midnight raised an eyebrow. "And why exactly would he do that? Why not just eliminate both and make it simple?"

Nezu interjected, his eyes gleaming with a strategic insight that only he could offer. "That's where the true brilliance comes in. By leaving Tetsutetsu, he's spreading fear without wasting energy. The students are already on edge, but now? They'll be terrified. They'll scatter, lose coordination, and second-guess themselves. He's destabilizing them without lifting a finger."

Recovery Girl, who had remained silent until now, leaned forward, concern written all over her face. "He's barely eating, you know." Her voice was soft but firm. "I've been watching him. His metabolism is already suffering. For someone as tactical as Deku, that's a dangerous game to play."

The room fell silent, processing her words. All Might turned from the window, his brow furrowing. "You're saying he's not taking care of himself?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying," Recovery Girl replied. "He's nibbling on small amounts of food, but it's nowhere near enough for someone using the amount of energy he is. I've seen this before—kids under stress push themselves too hard, and eventually, they collapse."

Hound Dog let out a low growl. "Is that part of his plan? Push himself to the breaking point?"

Nezu shook his head. "I doubt it. If anything, it's a blind spot for him. Deku may be brilliant, but he's still human. He can only push himself so far before his body starts to fail."

All Might clenched his fists, the strain in his voice more evident now. "He's walking a fine line, then. And if he collapses in the middle of another confrontation..."

Aizawa cut in, his voice calm but laced with a warning. "That's exactly why we need to monitor him more closely. We can't let him push himself too far."

The tension in the room deepened. It was clear that Deku was playing a dangerous game—one not just for the students but for himself as well. Midnight broke the silence again, her voice tinged with frustration.

"This isn't sustainable. If he's planning to use fear as a weapon, it's only a matter of time before it backfires on him. The students will catch on, and if his physical health deteriorates, we might be dealing with more than just a strategic mastermind."

Nezu remained thoughtful, tapping his paw rhythmically against the table. "We anticipated that Deku would push boundaries. That's why we invited him in the first place—to see how far he could go in this environment. But..." He paused, eyes flicking to the screen where footage of Pony's attack replayed, the brutal precision of it clear as day. "Even I underestimated just how far."

Snipe, who had been quietly observing the exchange, finally spoke up. "What's his endgame here? If he's not aiming to win outright, then what is he trying to prove?"

Aizawa tilted his head slightly, his gaze locking onto Nezu. "He's trying to prove that he can break them mentally before breaking them physically. By leaving Tetsutetsu alive, he's planting seeds of doubt and fear. Every student who faces him from now on will hesitate, unsure of whether they'll make it out unscathed."

"And yet," All Might mused, "he didn't eliminate Tetsutetsu. Why not? If he wanted to instill fear, wouldn't it be easier to take out every opponent he encounters?"

Nezu's eyes gleamed, his mind racing with possibilities. "No. If he took out every opponent, it would just be another victory for him. By leaving one behind, he amplifies the fear. It's not just about winning—it's about control. By allowing Tetsutetsu to return to the others, Deku makes them question their own abilities. He creates paranoia."

Midnight let out a slow breath, trying to wrap her mind around it. "So, it's not about the individual battles—it's about the ripple effect."

Nezu nodded. "Exactly. And the more time that passes, the deeper that fear spreads. That's why Deku left Tetsutetsu—because the story of what he did to Pony will do far more damage than just taking him out would."

The room fell into a contemplative silence, each teacher considering the implications of Nezu's words. The war games had taken a darker turn than any of them had anticipated, and while Deku's tactics were undeniably effective, they were also dangerous—for both the students and himself.

"We'll need to keep a closer eye on him," Aizawa said finally, breaking the silence. "Especially with his health in question."

Recovery Girl nodded, her concern deepening. "If he keeps this up, it won't be the students who get eliminated—it'll be him."

Nezu stood, his small frame casting a long shadow over the table. "We'll adjust our surveillance. But for now, let's see how this plays out. Remember—Deku's playing the villain, but villains always make mistakes."

The teachers exchanged glances, the weight of the situation settling in. They had to be ready, not just for the students, but for Deku's next move. And with every calculated step he took, the war games grew more dangerous—for everyone involved.

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