The Emerald Prince

Chapter 22: Unseen Currents

Aizawa reported his 'thought over' version of the greenette's adventure, and the facts Izuku had already learned but now could convincingly have uncovered.
The staff meeting over the league was tense, they'd been so close to disaster, too close. Heck, they'd almost lost the entirety of class 1A if not for a particularly brave and clever student.

They discussed Tomura in detail, the principal mentioned how perhaps he could be taught and saved, and seeing this, Aizawa nearly mentioned that Izuku had had similar thoughts, but was worried about what rousing Nezu's curiosity could lead to. Though it would only be a matter of time.

The rat was a genius after all.

———

After Aizawa's announcement of the sports festival, the fires he lit in the classes' hearts burned bright. But none more than Uraraka.

Izuku watched her with concern. There was a different kind tension beneath her actions which he didn't like, and he realised for the first time, that she had a worry just like Iida, just like everyone, it seemed.

He turned to meet the gaze of the taller male and saw the request in his eyes.
Izuku smiled to himself, was he really that predictable? Never mind.
He nodded and they both went to Uraraka.

"Fancy eating on the roof today Ochako?"

———

The breeze was cool once again, though the sky was cloudier than last time.
While the others settled with their meals, Izuku closed his eyes to take in the soft sounds of bird song on the wind. It had barely been a few days since he saw Tomura, but now that dungeon could not feel further away.

He kept his face away from them, leaning against the railings when he spoke up.
"Why do you want to be a Hero, Ochako?"
It was clear she was taken aback by the question, and that the answer wasn't one she was proud of. He turned slowly to face her and smiled softly. "It's okay."

That phrase was all she needed.
Izuku let her pour out the full story, Iida remaining uncharacteristically quiet too. When she finished, Izuku moved toward the pair and sat down.
"I don't think I can imagine a more honourable motive. How could you be ashamed of wanting to support your family?"

They gazed into each other's eyes, Uraraka's filled with doubt and uncertainty, Izuku's with nothing but warmth and respect.
Iida broke into wild applause making them both jump as he killed the atmosphere. They laughed and all three began to eat.

"Izuku." Came a voice from the doorway.

The other two jumped in surprise and they turned to see mummified Aizawa glaring at them.
"Come with me."

Izuku smiled apologetically at the pair and rose. "Thank you for confiding in us, Ochako. I believe you really will be amazing at the festival and do your family proud, though I've no doubt they are already. I'd happily train with you both after school some time?"
He left them with one bright smile and disappeared after Aizawa.

Uraraka turned to look at Iida, noting how long he gazed at the door after Izuku disappeared.
"Do you like him? Or is what happened at the battles affecting you?"
The blue haired male flushed with embarrassment. "I don't know what you mean, Uraraka!"

She smiled slightly, she'd seen Izuku's reactions to her, and the message during that battle... she'd received it. She wasn't sad though, it had only been a budding feeling. Ochako nodded slightly, they'd be good friends.

"You're a terrible liar, Iida."

"Uraraka!"

———

"What is it?" Izuku asked once they arrived in the empty 1A classroom. He settled on Hagakure's desk at the front and Aizawa leant against the wall buy the window.
"All Might's time has been reduced, my quirk has been weakened too. But I actually want to ask you what you plan on doing about the Sports festival?"

Izuku furrowed his brows at the news but didn't question further. He'd offered once to upgrade the man's quirk. Aizawa knew he need only ask.
"As the adult in the room, don't you have any advice? I could win it, but... I'd bring myself to a much higher profile and show some of my hand, which would be dangerous... also I hate this whole ranking thing."

"You've had two villain encounters already, and even managed handle them without fighting. You are one of the best combatants I've fought. And your hand is a royal flush and you perfectly well know it."

Aizawa glanced out of the window at the UA area.
"The quirk you're showing the world will get you noticed, but I think you should flaunt it to its limitations, and dive in head first just like your classmates. At the very least, if you held back Nezu would notice. And with the strange relationship you already have with the league, showing that you aren't to be messed with is probably a decent call. Besides,"
Aizawa turned to Izuku and gave him a shit eating grin.
"I want to see my son turn that whole festival upside down. Could be fun right?"

Izuku matched his grin.
"Definitely."

———

In the principal's office at the same time as the Aizawas' talk, Toshinori sighed and leaned back in his chair, Nezu watched him closely.
"You need to choose a successor, and soon, you barely have enough time to do any saving let alone train someone else to replace you."

"I know. But who?"
"I should think it was obvious." Replied Nezu lazily. "Aizawa Izuku would be perfect, no? You heard of his escapades from Aizawa and his own class. He has that reckless heroism you so prize and even better a cool and clever head on his shoulders and a powerful quirk. He could almost succeed you as the symbol of peace without One for All."

Toshinori took a gulp of tea.
"Aizawa banned me from approaching Izuku."
"Did he indeed. How strange."
Nezu hid his surprise, but he could smell a rat, and it wasn't him.

He took a long sip of his own tea. "Then wait for the festival, and see if any other promising students rise to surface, perhaps Bakugou Katsuki will have mellowed or Nighteye's suggestion will become more amenable to you."
His final words were quiet and his gaze did not meet Toshinori's. He grinned.
"If not, maybe I'll have a chat with the Aizawas."