an ODST among Heroes.

8

Izuku scanned the notice about the upcoming "Bring Your Parent to School" event, then passed it to Daisy with a raised eyebrow.

"Just what we need," Daisy muttered, shaking her head. "A snag."

Izuku nodded, already calculating the next steps. "We'd better contact the C.O. and let them know."

---

Across town, Dr. Halsey's cellphone buzzed in her pocket as she oversaw a team of techs fine-tuning the Yggdrasil Mark I ADS prototype. She was operating out of a discreet facility fronting as a support gear company, an ONI-led shell meant to protect high-priority black projects by relocating them to this Earth, away from the Covenant's prying eyes.

The Yggdrasil system, a state-of-the-art armor and defense prototype, was scheduled to be handed off to Izuku for field testing eventually, though ONI had yet to finalize the timeline.

As she picked up the call, Halsey's face broke into a small, knowing smirk. The moment she heard about the school event, her decision was already made.

"I'll be there," she replied, her tone both amused and determined. "It's time I meet this headmaster in person."

----

The day of the event arrived, and Dr. Halsey strode into the school with the calm authority of someone who had seen far more intense settings than a parent-teacher conference. Monica was the first to approach her, extending a hand.

"Dr. Halsey?" she asked.

"Correct," Halsey replied, taking her hand. "I go by 'Doctor,' not 'Mrs.'-unmarried, married to the work, you might say." She offered a polite but reserved smile and took a seat across from Monica, her sharp gaze showing she was here on more than just a casual visit.

Monica cleared her throat, sensing immediately the composed, calculating aura around Halsey. "It's about Izuku. There are a few...unusual things we've noticed."

Halsey raised an eyebrow, her tone careful. "I hope he's not in trouble."

"Oh, no," Monica replied quickly. "It's more that he doesn't...well, he doesn't act his age."

Halsey nodded, as if expecting this. "That's likely because of his background. I enrolled Izuku in a specialized military academy shortly after I adopted him at five. He grew up in that environment and was trained in discipline, strategy, and self-reliance. By the time he was seven, he was already excelling among his classmates, many of whom were far older. For all intents and purposes, you could say he's a trained soldier."

Monica's eyes widened slightly, absorbing this new revelation. "That explains...a lot. The way he holds himself, his cautious manner-it's almost as if he's been through more than most adults."

"Indeed," Halsey replied with a hint of pride. "Izuku's experiences set him apart. I would be surprised if he acted like any of the other students. His unique background has made him far more capable and aware than his peers."

Monica nodded, impressed and a bit unsettled. After a few more questions regarding Izuku's academic history and adjustment to civilian life, she offered a polite smile and thanked Halsey for her time.

Halsey returned the nod, fully aware that she had left Monica with more questions than answers. As she stood, she scanned the room, her eyes narrowing slightly. She sensed there were eyes on her-and not all of them were friendly.

-----

Tsukauchi, who had been watching nearby, approached Monica as Dr. Halsey walked away. "Everything she said read as true," he began, voice low and contemplative. "But that woman... She's no ordinary civilian."

Monica nodded, her gaze still fixed in the direction Dr. Halsey had gone. "I agree. There's a precision about her-something in her eyes that says she's seen more than any parent in a school meeting should."

Tsukauchi crossed his arms, his brow furrowing. "I've seen seasoned operatives before, and I'd wager young Mr. Halsey has seen real combat. There's no mistaking that kind of experience, especially for someone his age."

Monica looked at him, unsettled. "If he's been in combat, then... who did he fight for? And why hide all trace of his records?"

Tsukauchi exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "That's exactly it. Whoever he fought for-and whoever trained him-they have the reach and resources to bury everything about him. No civilian has that kind of pull."

Monica's expression grew darker. "But that would mean he's... he was a child soldier."

Tsukauchi nodded grimly. "It seems that way. But it raises another question-who was it he fought?"

Monica pondered that, a chill running down her spine. "And if he's here, attending a civilian school, then maybe... whatever he was trained for isn't over."

Tsukauchi's eyes hardened. "We're out of options with normal channels. Whatever operation Halsey's connected to, it's far above our clearance. All we can do now is watch carefully. If there's a bigger game being played, we may be the last to know... but we can be ready."

----