Wings of Awakening

Part 19

As Izuku approached U.A. the next morning, he immediately noticed a large group of reporters outside the gates. They were pressing students for details about All Might, who had only recently begun teaching at U.A. Just as he tried to slip by quietly, a reporter spotted him.

"You! Young man! Do you know All Might personally? Is he a good teacher?" one reporter shouted.

Izuku flinched, suddenly surrounded by cameras and voices, all eagerly pushing for his response. He stammered, trying to think of a polite response, but before he could speak, a familiar voice cut through the crowd.

"Move aside; your disturbing the students they need to get to class." Aizawa-sensei stepped in, his cold glare enough to make the reporters flinch and create space for Izuku to escape the chaos. "Save your questions for the press briefings," he added before steering Izuku and the other students back toward the gate.

"Th-thank you, Sensei," Izuku mumbled, still catching his breath.

"Don't waste time outside next time. Go straight to class." Aizawa's tone was as flat as ever, but Izuku caught a hint of amusement in his gaze.

The rest of the day passed quietly with their usual classes until the end of the morning, when Aizawa gathered the students for an announcement. "Listen up," he said, "We need a class representative and vice representative to handle student issues and act as a liaison between teachers and the class. Decide amongst yourselves."

Before Aizawa could say another word, the room erupted into chaos.

"I should be class rep! I'm the best pick!" Kaminari shouted, grinning.

"No way! Pick me!" Sero said, raising his hand high.

Everyone seemed to want the role, each shouting over the other in their eagerness. Meanwhile, Izuku, sitting toward the back, watched in surprise at how quickly his classmates had burst into excitement. Lida, however, looked deeply frustrated by the disorder.

Raising his voice, Iida suggested, "Classmates! This is not the way a group of heroes in training should decide leadership. We should resolve this fairly—with a vote!"

Mina looked skeptical. "But, Iida, won't everyone just vote for themselves? It won't really work."

Iida shook his head. "Not everyone here is interested in the responsibility of being a class representative. Those who do not wish to take on the role will vote for someone they believe is most capable. The goal of this position isn't popularity—it's about leadership, responsibility, and acting as a bridge between us and the teachers."

The class seemed to consider Iida's suggestion. Momo stepped up and handed out small slips of paper for everyone to cast their votes. Once they finished, they tallied the results on the board.

Izuku blinked in surprise when he saw his name at the top with five votes. Momo stood next to him as the vice representative with two votes. They both stepped to the front of the class, Izuku standing nervously as his classmates applauded.

Aizawa, watching from his desk, gave them a single nod. "Good. Now that that's settled, let's move on with our schedule."

During lunch, Izuku joined Ochaco and Iida in the mess hall. He still seemed unsure about his new position and expressed his worries as they sat down.

"I just... I don't know if I can do it," Izuku admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm not used to leading people. What if I mess up?"

Iida gave him a firm pat on the shoulder. "Midoriya, I voted for you because you've already shown the traits of a leader! During the entrance exam, you acted on instinct to help others. A true hero and leader puts others first."

Ochaco nodded in agreement. "I think you'll do great, Izuku! You're always thinking about everyone and how to help, so this fits you perfectly!"

Izuku's confidence lifted a little with his friends' encouragement. He turned to Iida and noted his formal, respectful posture. Curious, Ochaco asked, "Hey, Iida, what's with the... serious vibe you've got going on? Is this a family thing?"

Iida hesitated, visibly uncomfortable about the topic. "Well... yes, actually," he admitted. "My family... is known in the hero world. My elder brother is the Turbo Hero Ingenium."

Ochaco's eyes went wide with amazement. "Wow, that's incredible! So you're, like, a hero legacy?"

Iida looked away, embarrassed. "Yes, but please don't let it change anything. I want to earn my place here, not rely on my family name."

Before they could continue, a loud, blaring alarm sounded throughout the building. The students froze in shock, and the cafeteria erupted into a buzz of alarmed voices.

A third-year student passed by and informed them, "That's an intruder alert! Someone managed to bypass the U.A. defenses!"

The news threw the entire mess hall into chaos, with students rushing to the exits all at once. In the crush of people, Izuku, Ochaco, and Iida were nearly swept away by the crowd.

Pressed against a window in the frantic mass of students, Izuku looked out and saw, to his surprise, the reporters from earlier. They had somehow broken through the school's security system and were swarming the grounds outside. Izuku quickly realized the situation wasn't truly dangerous.

He turned to Ochaco, calling out over the commotion, "Uraraka! Make me weightless!"

Understanding his plan, she tapped his shoulder, and Izuku floated up above the crowded students. Releasing his wings, he caught the attention of the room as his wings spread out. He cleared his throat and spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Everyone! It's just the media! They aren't a real threat to us. Please calm down and return to your seats; we aren't in immediate danger!"

Slowly, the panic subsided as the students began calming down and filing out in an orderly way, realizing it wasn't a serious threat. When Izuku touched down and rejoined his friends, Ochaco gave him a high-five.

"You did it, Class Rep!" she said with a grin.

As they walked back to the classroom, Iida looked thoughtful. "It's strange, though. How did the reporters manage to get past U.A.'s security? The barriers are supposed to be state-of-the-art."

Izuku nodded, troubled. "Yeah... that security system shouldn't fail this easily. Someone must have helped them, or they found a weakness."

The incident left him unsettled, his thoughts lingering on the breach. If reporters could slip through, who else might be able to enter?