The Immortal Hero: Phoenix

Chapter 24: The Family of Heroes

After the Closing Ceremony for the First Year section of the Sports Festival, Class 1-A tiredly walked to their classroom for a word with Aizawa-Sensei before they left. It was late and they were all exhausted, especially Izuka who was practically asleep on her feet, though with extreme willpower, she managed to stay alert.

Aizawa gave his class a rare smile as he addressed them; "You all did well. You made me proud." he said, making the whole class beam at him. He turned to Mineta; "Mineta, this was your last day with us, you'll be transferred to Class 1-C of the General Education Course, as we agreed after the USJ incident. Your change in attitude has been good, and you worked hard today. I hope you return to our class next year."

Mineta nodded, not saying a word as he feared his voice would crack and he'd begin sobbing. The Class gave the boy some encouraging words and fond farewells, with Izuka even hugging the boy and wishing him well. Mineta, despite his urges, took the hug in the spirit it was intended and left the classroom with a smile, having earned a bit of real respect from his classmates. "I'll be back once I've become a really strong and cool guy!" he said, giving the class a thumbs up as he left. Once Mineta was gone, Aizawa turned back to the class.

"Alright, so it's no big secret, but we'll be getting a transfer student to replace Mineta. It hasn't been confirmed who yet, but it'll happen. As the Staff are needed for the Second and Third Year portions of the Festival, for the next two days, you have no classes, so it's up to you what you do. The day after the festival ends for good, a school bus will be going to each of your houses to collect your belongings and move you to the dorms. Since you've all been allowed, you'll be moving in that day, so normal lessons won't resume until next week." Aizawa explained, "During that time, Scouting Reports from the Pros watching the event will come in, offering Work Experience Placements. They'll be waiting for you when you get back, so look forward to that."

Izuka perked up, she wondered who would send her offers. She was the winner, so quite a few would. She already knew Gran Torino and Sir Nighteye would, as would Water Hose and the Wild Wild Pussycats, but in truth, they were more out of courtesy than real desire; there was little Izuka would learn from them after spending so much of her childhood with them all. She thought on this more as she went home, and almost immediately fell asleep after a very long day.

[TODOROKI COMPOUND, GEONOSU WARD]

Shoto felt a strange sense of trepidation as he arrived home, knowing his father wanted to talk to him. He half suspected him to start screaming or beat on him for his loss, or for Endeavor to take out his own frustrations for his own loss on him but something about the look in his eyes as he had left the arena made Shoto doubt this. Another part of him feared Endeavor would turn around and forbid him from having anything to do with Izuka, which was something Shoto wouldn't abide; she may not have returned his feelings, but she still cared for him as a friend and he wasn't going to give that up.

So it was rather confusing when Shoto returned home and found no hint of fire or screaming. Fuyumi, his older sister, was waiting for him with concern on her face. "Shoto! I'm so glad you're home! Father has been acting oddly ever since he got home. He greeted me, which was weird in itself, then raided the pantry for sake and then went to his office, telling me to send you to him when you got home and I haven't heard a word since!"

Shoto raised an eyebrow; "Did you watch the Sports Festival?"

Fuyumi nodded; "I did! You did amazingly! You fought really hard, but I was scared for you when you lost to that Bakugou kid. But I was even more scared when your friend challenged father!"

Shoto smirked; "She didn't just challenge him, she humiliated him."

"H-How? Didn't she lose?" Fuyumi asked fearfully.