The Emerald Prince

Chapter 49: Dignity and Pride

Uraraka: Hey Izu!!! ＼(≧▽≦)／
Izuku: What's up Ochako?
Uraraka: I was talking to Tsu, and she was wondering if she could join your combat training classes???
Izuku: Sure!
Iida: As class representative, I feel it my duty to ask whether you could make our practise sessions open to all our fellow peers! All Might's training is very good, but a broader grounding in combat would be beneficial to all!
Izuku: If you admit All Might is a shit teacher, I'll open it to everyone.
...
...
Uraraka: Ｏ(≧▽≦)Ｏ You can do it Iida!!!
...
Iida: All Might lacks teacher training...
Izuku: Tenya.
...
Uraraka: (✧ω✧)
...
Iida: All Might has no training, and no ability to teach techniques other than brute force.
Izuku: Pass. UwU
Uraraka: Well done! Izu! You used a Kaomoji ??!???!?!!!??
Izuku: ...Nope.

———

Izuku couldn't decide where to meet the rest of 1A, but eventually settled on the clearing in the woods where he and Bakugou trained.

He couldn't do it in UA since Nezu's cameras would pick them up - and though he didn't know why that could be dangerous, he didn't want to find out.
It had to be somewhere affordable to get to, but completely private, and in this case it was, literally private property.
Property never used, visited or monitored, but with the big fat no entry sign needed to stop any civilians, heroes and - however unlikely - villains; though it wasn't like he wouldn't be able to sense them anyway.

The woods were a good spot, only a few stops outside of Mustafu, and with his lock picking quirk gathered in less law abiding times, it was easy to open the gate for everyone, and there was a pretty visible footpath to the clearing, helped by Bakugou's tendency to stomp instead of walk.

The entire class showed the first evening.
Everyone.

And they continued to come.

The first week or so, he focused entirely on self-defence. How to protect yourself from attackers with knives, guns... how to recognise combat techniques by stances. And as befitting hero students, they learned fast. Nowhere near as fast as he had, but they didn't have quite the same advantages, or sense of urgency.

Today was different though.

Izuku thought excitedly on what he was about to do, as he made his way down the woodland path to their clearing, their 'arena'. It was going to be amazing.

To his surprise, since he was a good twenty minutes early, he found Ojiro already there.
"Mashiro? Everything okay?"

The blond jumped at his voice, and turned to look at him, a picture of nervousness.
"Oh, hi... hi Izuku."

"Hi." replied Izuku dryly, looking the taller teen up and down. "What's going on? You look terrified?"

Ojiro walked hesitantly forward until they were face to face, determinately avoiding eye contact, his tail shifting nervously. With his curly green mass of hair, Izuku had been likened to medusa on occasion, but no one seemed to have taken the warning quite this seriously. "Mashiro?" He repeated, uncertainly.

"Sorry," Ojiro scratched his neck slightly, embarrassed. "I must look like an idiot huh? I've.. I've never done this before and I'm freaking out a little..."

Izuku cocked his head, genuinely confused. "Well, whatever it is, I'm sure I can help?"
He wasn't quite sure why Ojiro laughed at that, but the guy seemed to relax a little so Izuku didn't ask.

Ojiro took a steadying breath. "I... I like you."

Izuku paused. "Well yeah, I like you too. You're funny, kind and great company."