Chapter 19 Strawberry Pie And The Damned Press
Izuku side eyed Dabi as they stood in front of their new house. They had promised each other that only after Izuku's classes were over will they both get a chance to choose their room. Before that, Dabi spent the entire day helping Inko unpack the boxes.
"Alright, this is it." Dabi murmured, cracking his neck.
"There are three rooms on the first floor, one of them belongs to me." Shouta announced as he walked past with a box in his hand.
"Shit." Dabi cursed. Both of them had no idea which one belong to Shouta because they hadn't yet unpacked the boxes with the personal belongings. If they chose the wrong rooms, then they will have to shift later on, and they'll end up losing the chance to pick the better room.
Izuku stared at the first floor, trying to deduce which one might belong to his Dad. Two out of the three rooms seemed like a possible option because both of them had an attached balcony. The balcony would provide an easy entrance to the house after he comes back home from his night patrol.
"On the count of three, okay Izuku?" Dabi said.
"Mhmm!" Izuku nodded earnestly.
Dabi looked away and grinned, "Three!" And then he sprinted.
Izuku blinked, surprised and shocked. He took a few seconds too long to break out of his stupor. Then he squawked in surprised, and ran after Dabi
"Dabi, don't-" Izuku peeled off his school's blazer as Dabi rushed inside. He threw it just as Dabi tried to close the door. The blazer stuck between the gap of the wall and the door, preventing the door from being shut. Dabit cursed, and tried to push the door close. However, he gravely misjudged just how strong Izuku was even without the use of any skills.
"Dammit." Dabi hissed, giving up on trying to overpower Izuku in terms of strength and ran up the stairs. However, Izuku was anything bur noncompetitive. He used Pull to haul himself up to the first floor, taking the shortcut much to Dabi's loud complaints. He had a few seconds at most to choose the room. There were two rooms one after the other down the corridor, and another one on the other side of the corridor.
If I was Dad, which room would I choose..
Hmmm….
Screw this.
Eeny Meeny money mo…
That one!:
Izuku sprinted into the second room down the corridor. "I call dibs!"
"Nooo" Dabi complained, dramatically reaching out for the door while Izuku slammed it shut.
A few moments later, Shouta walked up the stairs. Izuku opened his door slightly and peeked out to find Dabi still dramatically moping on the ground,while Shouta looked at his judgment. He waited with baited breath as his Dad went to his room. Izuku felt himself freeze up as his Dad turned towards the direction of the room.
No, no, no…
The moment his Dad turned towards his room, Dabi stood up and ran to the other room. Shouta took a few steps, before stopping and muttering, "Oh wait, wrong way."
"What?!" Dabi all but cried, "This is favoritism!"
Shouta gave his signature 'logical ruse' grin as he walked to the room Dabi had chosen. Dabi whined as he stepped out and let Shouta take the room.
"Go check the last room." Shouta murmured.
Dabi frowned, "Uh-huh, sure give me the worst room. I get I'm not your son, but this is cruel."
"Stop spouting nonsense and go to your room, or you're grounded." Shouta gruffed, kicking the door further open.
"You can't ground me!" Dabi shot back.
"Oh yeah?" Shouta turned and looked at Dabi. (Izuku assumed he was glaring at him.)
"I… em.. I'll head to my room." Dabi withdrew and trudged to the only remaining room. Izuku stuck out his tongue as Dabi walked past his room. This is for trying to close the door on me.
Dabi sneered at him, before huffing and stomping down the rest of the path. Izuku poked his head out, and he noticed his Dad had already walked out of his room, and was leaning against the wall opposite to the door while watching Dabi.
Dabi threw a glare at both of them, before opening the door to the room and walking inside. He looked at his Dad curiously. Obviously there was something he was waiting for. His Dad looked at him and shrugged. Frowning slightly, Izuku turned his head back towards Dabi's room and waited for whatever his Dad was waiting for.
Izuku heard rushed footsteps and a second later, Dabi appeared out of his room. A gobsmacked look on his face as he pointed to something inside of his room.
"Try not to kill it." Shouta said, pushing himself off the wall, and walking into his room. Without another word, he closed the door.
"Try not to kill what?" Izuku asked curiously. He looked back to Dabi, and froze in surprise when he saw the elder's eyes red with unshed tears.
"Dabi, what's wrong?" Izuku stepped out of his room. Dabi sniffed and rubbed his nose. "Fuck, I hate that guy."
Izuku, confused and a little worried, walked towards Dabi's room to check inside. He wondered what could've made the guy cry. It wasn't that Dabi wasn't emotional, but he very rarely cried. Once Izuku peeked inside, and gasped quietly. While, Dabi's room was comparatively smaller to his own, there was a freaking indoor garden made in the balcony. Izuku had missed it the first time, because the balcony was on the other side and out of his sight.
"You don't like gardening though." Izuku mumbled.
"You idiot." Dabi grumbled with a wet voice. Then, clearing his throat, he whistled. Quiet pitter patter followed, and a squirrel popped out of the indoor garden. Another popped its head out of the leaves. A third peeked its head out of one of the holes in the branches.
Oh.
Oh.
Izuku turned to Dabi once again.
"...Endeavor never let me keep a pet," Dabi mumbled, sniffling. "If I tried to secretly keep one while he trained me, he would have it taken care of. Said I didn't need distractions like that. After that I was too scared to try again."
Izuku was about to speak when something came gliding and landed on his head.
"Huh?" Izuku looked up, and found himself staring into beady black eyes and chubby, silvery cheek. "Is that… a flying squirrel?"
"Yep." Dabi answered, "If I'm not wrong, I found that one injured one day, and took it to the vet…. How did he find out about that one?"
"Dad has his ways." Izuku shrugged. "If you like something, he'll probably know about it."
Dabi sniffed, and whistled once again. The squirrel hopped off Izuku's head and glided over to Dabi before landing on his shoulder. Izuku watched as the squirrel climbed down, and situated itself cozily in the pocket of Dabi's shirt.
"I think you're a squirrel whisperer." Izuku commented.
Dabi snorted. "Get out. I wanna spend time with my squirrels."
"Fine. Fine." Izuku said. Although he couldn't help but smile as Dabi coddled the squirrel in the pocket.
"How did you get the garden done within a week?" Izuku asked his Dad after he closed the door to Dabi's room. Shouta who had been heading downstairs looked up at him, "Hmm? Oh, Nemuri helped. She has an indoor garden as well so she knew some people. Dabi's been whining about squirrels anyways. It's better than him trying to sneak every squirrel he comes across on the road."
"Where did you even get the squirrels from?" Izuku asked, heading for the stairs.
"Pet shelter." His Dad answered.
"Pet shelters keep squirrels?" Izuku asked, surprised.
"Nope. They just had those with them. Apparently they found a box of babies on the roadside." Dabi answered.
"...why can't I bring pets?" Izuku pouted.
His Dad looked at him with an unimpressed look. "Brat."
And as if on cue, Milkway meowed, and appeared out of the corner. Izuku grinned sheepishly and skittered away after gently picking the meowing kitten.
***
"I have brought snacks!" Hawks declared as soon as Izuku opened the doors.
"Hawks!" Izuku greeted him eagerly. Hawks chuckled as Izuku tackled him into a hug, before stepping aside to let him come in. Hawks, indeed brought snacks with him, all of his favorite ones as well. He stuck close by to inspect the items inside of the bag and also to…
Izuku looked up, and just as he expected, Dabi came out of his room and was standing on the staircase watching them. Izuku narrowed his eyes at him with a smug look on his face. Heh. Dabi's eyebrow shot up as he mimed, 'I will ki-'. He stopped abruptly when Hawks looked up, sensing his presence.
"Hey, hot stuff~" He chirped, purring his voice slightly. Izuku, already having enough, moved away while he faked gagging.
Shouta peeked his head out into the corridor from the living room. A slight frown rested on his face as he asked, "How did you find the new address? I haven't even told you about it. And Dabi didn't even know about this place until today."
"Hehe, that's a secret, Eraserhead." Hawks replied smugly, "But don't worry, no one apart from me knows you guys live here. At least from my side, that is."
Shouta narrowed his eyes, before he shrugged and mumbled, "Impressed."
Hawks preened.
The doorbell rang once again. Hawks, being the one closest to the door, reached out and opened it. This time, it was Nemuri on the other side.
"Hey boys," She purred, waving with her fingers, "I'm here to pick up my milady."
"Huh?" Izuku looked to his Dad for elaboration.
"She offered to take Inko for… what was it that you called it? Ah, a girl's day out 'cause it's the weekend." Shouta answered. Then, he looked at Nemuri with a stern gaze, "Do not get into trouble. If I have to bail you out of jail, you're living on the streets."
"Nemuri faked a gasp, "Shouta!"
"She amuses me everytime," Hawks murmured quietly before heading to the kitchen to put away the snacks. Dabi, of course followed after him, promptly ignoring the looks Izuku was sending him.
"'Zuku, go call your mom." His Dad said tiredly, "I want her," he pointed to Nemuri, "away from here as quickly as possible!"
"Shouta, do you hate me?" Nemuri asked with a slight whiny intonation ot her voice.
"Now, what makes you think that?" Shouta replied flatly. Izuku snickered quietly before he went to his mom's room on the ground floor. He knocked on the door twice, "Mom, Aunt Nemmi's here for you!"
"Coming!" His mother's voice came from the inside. A few seconds later, he heard the door click open and-
"Wow, mom, you look great." Izuku said. Judging from her dress, and Nemuri waiting near the door, Izuku assumed they were going out for a girl's night. It's something Nemuri introduced to his mother too after they became a part of his family. And Izuku was so glad that she did. His mom always came back home looking so much more relaxed and stress-free. He wished he could do something for her, but he knows there is nothing he could do at home without making his mother worry even more about him.
"Aww, thank you, baby." His mother replied with her usual kind smile.
"Oh wow, Aunty, you look amazing." Hawks said when she walked out of the room. Seemingly fighting Dabi over a packet of chips.
"Oh look, you do have some sense in you." Dabi muttered dryly, snatching the packet away from Hawks when he wasn't looking.
"Hey!"
"Don't fight!" His mother chided with a sigh as he walked towards the corridor.
"Hello darling, you look absolutely delectable." Nemuri grinned.
Izuku watched as her mother playfully rolled her eyes, and gave her a look that said, 'enough with your teasing' as she knelt down to put on her shoes. Shouta, happy to be relieved from Nemuri's clutches, took the chance to trudge to the living room.
"If Nemuri bothers you too much, let me know." His Dad said as he disappeared beyond the door.
"Rude!" Nemuri said out loud in response. Then she looked at his Mom and smiled, "Let's go, Inko~"
"Yes, yes." Inko said, tapping her heels to lodge her shoe in place before walking out of the door. Izuku waved her goodbye until the door closed. But right before it completely shut, something red zoomed past him and out of the door.
Ah, Hawks' feathers.
Whenever Hawks came over during weekends, or days his mom would be going out for 'day out' with Nemuri, he would send one of his feathers with them. Just in case there was an unprecedented villain attack, Nemuri needed help.
After hearing the click of the lock, Izuku rushed back inside with hopes to get a share of the snacks.
Or steal them, if necessary. He'll ask his Dad for protection after that.
***
"Ooh!" Izuku exclaimed as he wandered into the kitchen. He noticed something in the shape of a bowl, covered entirely with foil. Over it was a note that said, 'if you're hungry eat this, not junk food'. The note was obviously from his note, though to whom it was directed to was unknown. Carefully, he removed the foil, and found a still hot pie underneath it.
"Ah! Strawberry pie!" Izuku chirped. And like it was some kind of magic word for summoning, Hawks appeared out of seemingly nowhere. Standing on the other side of the counter. And on his face was an expression Izuku's never seen before. Hawks looked in his direction (or direction of the pie, maybe) with an expectant but hesitant look on his face. It was one of those rare moments when there were no hidden emotions in his eyes, just pure eagerness. He looked subdued. Which, when considering Hawks, is a big deal.
"Do you want some?" Izuku asked plesantantly. It was nice to see the Number Three Hero look so disclosed. It's something he did rarely, but he always looked happier when he did.
"I can have some?" Hawks asked with genuine surprise on his face.
Izuku blinked in surprise. Huh? He quickly suppressed his surprise and replied without faltering, "Sure!"
Mentally, he cataloged this as one of the things 'Hawks didn't have the chance to experience'. And Izuku could never be cruel enough to starve someone of his mother's delicacy. (His mom is an amazing baker, and he will fight anyone who says otherwise.)
"I heard food." Dabi shouted while he ran down the stairs.
"What- How-" Izuku spluttered.
"Mhmm?" Dabi held up a phone to show him ending a call to Hawks, "I sent him down to bring me food."
"Wow…" Izuku heard his Dad mutter from…somewhere. Curiously he glanced around the living but his Dad was nowhere to be seen. Is he napping on the couch again?
Shrugging it off, Izuku went to gate four plates, and a pie slicer. His mother, an absolutely amazing woman and Izuku isn't going to accept otherwise, already predicted that he won't be able to find it anywhere and prepared everything beforehand. He grabbed the pie slicer, and sat down on the stools next to the counter.
"Make sure it's even or I'll scream." Dabi warned as Izuku mentally imagined the lines to slice.
"Okay Mr. I can't draw a straight line even with a ruler." Izuku muttered as he started cutting the pie into even pieces. Mentally thanking his quirk for it, otherwise there was no way he could do it properly.
Hawks snickered hearing his reply. While Dabi drawled, "You know I can't do straight stuff." Izuku didn't even have to look to know Dabi's comment was followed by a wink directed to Hawks.
"You're lame." Hawks and Izuku chorused.
Izuku carefully put the slices on each plate, before passing them onto Dabi, and Hawks. Then, he took one for himself, before putting away the rest for the moment. He clapped his hands together, murmuring a quiet 'thank you for the meal' before grabbing a fork. Izuku almost dug into his pie when he noticed something.
Next to him, Hawks was eyeing the pie as if it was something precious. Hawks wasn't a person with sharp edges, but anyone with a good sense could tell that he wasn't a soft person either. He maintained a perfect balance of sharp and soft edges. But, right now, sitting next to him, was perhaps the softest Izuku had ever seen him.
Even his wings projected his feelings by puffing up slightly and looking smoother and softer than ever.
He loves strawberry pie…
Izuku didn't think he would ever find any of Hawks' favorites. The Number Three Hero was always 'I'm okay with', 'Sure, I don't mind' with everything. He picked, or chose anything for himself.
Hawks finished his share of the pie within a second. Licking onto whatever strawberry filling was left on his place and fork. Then he let the fork dangle from his mouth, before turning his attention in his direction.
He stared but didn't say a word. Izuku didn't have to be a genius to know that Hawks wanted some more but was hesitant to ask for it. Wordlessly, Izuku pushed his plate towards him. "Here, have mine."
"What- No, I'm-" Hawks started, but Izuku wasn't having any of it. He wasn't a big fan of strawberries anyway, but his mom was. And he had no idea how to break it to her without making her feel bad.
"It's fine." Izuku assured, "I don't like strawberries anyway."
Hawks looked at him expectantly, "Are you sure?"
"Yep!"
The Winged Hero's eyes positively sparkled as he nodded slightly and took his plate. Another plate was pushed towards him. Izuku looked up to find Dabi watching the hero while resting his cheek over his palm.
"Here, you can have mine as well." Dabi said, sounding serious for reasons Izuku didn't understand.
"I-" Hawks tried to refuse, but Dabi waved his free hand dismissively, "You look really cute right now, and I wanna see you like that more."
Hawks blushed, pouting slightly as he dragged the third plate towards himself. "Thanks," he mumbled softly.
Dabi gave a soft smile, before leaning completely over the counter and watching Hawks with pure adoration in his eyes.
"Dad!" Izuku called, "Dabi and Hawks are being gross again."
"Kick'em out!" His Dad replied.
Izuku snickered as he slid off his seat, and walked to the living room. His Dad was definitely on the couch napping, and he decided to do the same.
***
On Monday, things started out a bit differently. This time, instead of Katsuki, Izuku was the one who did the waiting. Mostly because Izuku had completely disregarded the fact that his new house is much closer to UA, so he doesn't need to leave his house from 7 am. He met up with Katsuki at the metro station. His friend, however, was grumpy and irritated as ever. Even more so than normal because he had left home after bickering with his mom.
"Goddamned that old hag, always nagging." Izuku heard Katsuki mumble.
"Kacchan, you shouldn't talk about Auntie like that." Izuku said with a slight frown.
"Shut up!" Katsuki barked. "Her cooking fucking sucks, and you know it."
Izuku let out a breath, and slumped his shoulders. He couldn't argue with that. Katsuki's mother's cooking was… well, it definitely wasn't the best.
Even more surprising was the huge crowd in front of their school gate. Izuku winced when he heard the loud commotion. He looked at the bustling crowd, spotting the several cameras that were being carried.
"What the fuck is the press doing here?" Katsuki grumbled.
Izuku listened closely to their endless chatter before speaking, "I think they are asking about All Might."
"Ugh, that musclehead." Katsuki rolled his eyes.
"Kacchan, you asked for his autograph the moment you met him." Izuku reminded him. Even though his friend had been cursing the Symbol of Peace left and right after that incident three years ago, he still whipped out a pen and paper out of nowhere to get his autograph.
"Okay and?" Katsuki challenged.
"Nothing.", Izuku raised his hand in mock surrender, as they walked towards the crowd, "Guess they don't know abut Hawks yet."
Just like Izuku had been expecting, they were hounded on by the press people the moment they noticed them with UA school uniforms. Katsuki, being Katsuki, cursed them out loudly before forcing his way past him. Izuku, however, unable to do the same, was assaulted by several questions.
Their voices overlapped each other to the point it was hard to understand anything. And their loud voices, flashing from the cameras, combined with the lack of personal space was making Izuku feel suffocated. His ears were hurting, and he could feel the tell-tale signs of an oncoming migraine.
Izuku tried very hard to answer their questions as politely as possible without screaming at them to back off, but it was getting harder and harder with each second. The smell from the crowd, the perfumes, the sweat, all the odors were ravaging his nose. Izuku felt like he was going to throw up any second.
"Huh? Oh, aren't you the kid from the Sludge Incident." Izuku heard someone say, and he froze. The Sludge Incident was something he actively tried to ignore. Katsuki could've died that day. He had died that day.
I need to get out of there.
"Oi, buzz off, all of you!" He heard Katsuki yell from somewhere behind the crowd.
Izuku bit his lip and lowered his head. Hunching his shoulders up in a vain attempt to block all the overwhelming sounds. He felt a sturdy presence behind him. One that he recognized immediately. But in this bustling crowd, it was of little help.
"How does All Might- wait, who are you?" Someone asked.
"He's off today, you're interrupting our class. Please leave." He heard Shouta say. Then, he felt him nudge him forward, guiding him through the crowd until he could finally breathe again.
"You good?" He heard him ask in a quiet voice.
"Mhmm." Izuku replied, rubbing his nose and eyes.
"Damned press people." Katsuki grumbled.
"Come on, it's time for class." Shouta said in his usual monotone voice. Izuku let out a tired sigh, rubbing his eyes as his head throbbed slightly. He was definitely getting a migraine later on, or at least a headache.
Izuku ignored the chatter from the press, until-
"Who is that? He's so sloppy. Are you sure he belongs here?" "He doesn't look like a hero."
Now, Izuku has a lot of patience. He is friends with Katsuki after all. But the moment someone has anything remotely insulting about his parents, he snaps.
Izuku dropped his head and let out a sigh. And then, in a split of a second, he spun around on his heels, ready to fight whoever said that about his Dad. From the corner of his eyes, he noticed Katsuki right by his side, looking equally enraged.
But before Izuku could do so much as activate Dominance, something wrapped around his body and stopped in his tracks.
"Stop. Both of you." He heard Shouta order.
"I just want to talk, Dad." Izuku said. How dare you insult my Dad.
"I don't. I wanna fucking beat the shit out of them." Katsuki said, sounding almost like a maniac.
The Capture Weapon around them tightened and Izuku felt himself being dragged back. "That's enough. Let it go, or you're both going straight to detention."
Izuku considered it the scales. Eh…seems worth it.
" Izuku. Katsuki. " Shouta called in a clear warning tone. Both of them froze. No matter how much they wanted to argue with the people in front of them, angering Shouta Aizawa wasn't worth it.
He might tell Mom as well. Izuku thought.
Shouta loosened his Capture Weapon around them, like he knew they won't take another step towards the crowd. And it was true. Izuku wouldn't risk it. And neither would Katsuki risk Shouta sending a complaint to Uncle Masaru.
Huffing and grumbling, Katsuki stuffed his hand in his pocket and turned around. Izuku sent one last offended glare to the crowd (still oblivious to the attack they were very close to getting) before turning around trudging to the classroom with a pout on his face. His Dad stayed behind to make sure the rest of the students could get in without much problem.
***
"Alright class, today we're going to do something important." Shouta sighed out as he placed a thick stack of paper on the table. Hearing that, everyone was on the edge of their seat. Because in UA, something important could be anything. It could be another brutal pop quiz, a test, a fight, or something even more incredible. Any point could be a turning moment in their life and-
"You will be electing your Class President and Vice President."
…Or it could be something mundane and normal (but also important because they are in UA) like selecting class representatives.
For a moment there was a shocked silence. Everyone had been expecting a lot of things but electing class representatives definitely hadn't been one of them. But as soon as they snapped out of their stupor everyone was screaming to be selected. Because the role of class representative in normal school would mean mundane things like distributing handouts and what not. In UA, it meant leading a group of superpowered children.
Even Izuku meekly raised his hand although he actively avoided being the center of attention. Even Katsuki, sitting in front of him, was fuming with anticipation (how that was possible was beyond Izuku, but Katsuki was.) while raising his hand.
"Quiet down everyone!" A voice shouted, gaining everyone's attention.
All the students whipped their heads around to look at… Iida.
"Leading the many is a task of heavy responsibility. But ambition does not equate to ability. This scared office demands the trust of its constitution. If this is a democracy then I put forward the motion that a true leader be chosen by election!"
Izuku pressed his free hand over his mouth to keep himself bursting out into giggles. Iida's serious speech combined with the serious face was a stark contrast against his hand that was trembling with how far it was stretched. He took a look at his Dad, and found him staring very intently at the table.
[Telempathy is now in effect!]
'Pfft- hahahahaha.' He heard his Dad laugh the moment the telepathetic connection was established.
Do you think he had that speech prepared?
His Dad flinched slightly and immediately the laugh disappeared. 'Shh. focus in you class.'
But Dad, that was hilarious.
'Stop.'
Hai, hai.
Izuku cut off the connection, and counted to ten to calm himself down. But the moment he heard Kirishima deadpan, "This is a classroom, not the congress.', he came very close to losing his calm once again.
"But Iida, we haven't known each other long enough to build any trust." Asui pointed out, rational as ever.
"And everyone will just vote for themselves!" Kirishima cried.
"That's precisely why any one who manages to gain multiple votes will be the most suited to become the class representative." Iida explained.
"Huh." Izuku muttered, "That was smart."
"Will you allow this sensei?" Iida asked.
His Dad, having conjured his sleeping bag out of thin air, and already halfway in it, shrugged, "Do whatever you want, just make it quick."
And so, like that, it was decided. Yaoyorozu produced a ballot box with her quick, and pieces of cards write the names on. Despite the initial chaos, the voting part and calculating part was easily done.
Izuku voted for Asui, being the most level headed and rational person he has seen so far. And, she is someone who receives and gives criticisms calmly. Izuku wasn't sure how well she'll lead, but he thought with her personality it won't be too hard.
Even if not the class president, she would do well as the vice-president. However-
"I got six votes?!" Izuku exclaimed once Shouta finished writing the results on the board. Right behind him, with four votes was Yaoyorozu, and Iida. And the rest on the board got one vote each.
"Well, it's decided then." Shouta said monotonously just as the bell rang. "If you have any questions related to your position, then feel free to ask me."
Izuku stared at the board. Four votes… Yaoyorozu and Iida got four votes.
Wait… the flag hunt!
Each ground had five people. It was the perfect occasion to showcase one's leadership skills.
…wait, then who gave the two extra votes?
The rest of the class passed by normally. Except for the English class when Hizashi took a quick pop quiz to gauge everyone's skill in English and structure his class depending on that.
During lunch, Izuku was dragged to an empty table by Uraraka, Iida quiet on their tail. Shinso too joined them. Along with Sero and Krisishima. And one by one, everyone sat together (Katsuki obviously tried to refuse. But Izuku easily dragged him towards their table ignoring all of Katsuki's very graphic threats.)
Like any normal high school students, everyone started discussing who voted for who. And just as Izuku had been suspecting, Yayorozu's and Iida's team voted for them.
"I seriously don't get how I got six votes." Izuku mumbled, still shocked by the result.
"Well, it's like Iida said. It isn't just about ambition but also skills and during the Heroics class, you played that part pretty well." Asui replied.
"Yeah man, you're amazing at leading!" Sero added.
"I didn't think about that." Shinso muttered with a slight frown, "I was thinking about the Entrance Exam."
"Me too!" Uraraka chirped, "When the zero pointer appeared, everyone was running away because they were scared, and even then, you helped me while I was stuck."
Izuku sheepishly scratched his cheek as he let out an awkward laugh. That hadn't been his initial intention of heading towards the zero pointer though. So, she's one of the other two votes. Then, who's the sixth vote from?
"True," Iida nodded, while he chewed his rice, "Your grit and decisiveness in a pinch makes you the perfect person to lead us. That's why I voted for you."
Ah… so it was him.
"What's the Zero pointer?" Yaoyorozu asked.
"You don't know?" Mina asked, leaning forward. She's always excited, isn't she?
Yaoyorozu shook her head, "I gave the test for the recommended students. So, it was different."
"Oh!" Uraraka put down her chopsticks, clearly interested in the story.
"Ah, yes." Iida nodded. "The test for the recommended students includes an obstacle course, and an interview with Principal Nedzu." He shuddered, "That was terrifying."
Yaoyorozu chuckled, "It was, wasn't it?"
"You gave the recommendation test too?" Kaminari asked curiously.
"Yes, I certainly do. However, compared to the rest of the amazing recommended students, I wasn't good enough. So, I had to give the Entrance Exam as well."
Uraraku turned her towards him, and narrowed her eyes slightly, "Hmm… Iida, I've always wondered from the way you speak, but are you a rich kid?"
Izuku choked on his drink (a choco milkshake from his favorite brand) slightly upon hearing the question.
"... I don't like people knowing so I try to hide it but…" Iida mumbled.
"Oh quit the acting," Katsuki grumbled, picking out all the fish bones with precision, "Just say you're Igneniums' brother and be done with it."
At that, all the student who were curiously whipped their head collectively towards a (now) confused looking Iida. "Um, yes, I am indeed the second son of a renowned family but… Bakugo, how did you know about it?"
"Urk." Katsuki faltered. His eyes flickered up to meet Izuku's unamused look.
Amazing Kacchan. Way to go.
Really.
Katsuki looked away and grumbled, "My dad's working for a big designing company. He's met him a few times."
"Oh, could it be Masaru Bakugo?" Iida asked.
Katsuki rolled his eyes as Iida bought his flawless lie, "Yeah, now shut up."
"Woah, you're Ingenium's brother, then you must be rich." Mina said with awe in her voice.
"Yes however…" Iida looked to Yaoyorozu who seemed like she wanted to disappear, "there is someone way richer than me here."
"Really? Who?"
Izuku could get from the way Yaoyorozu was refusing to meet anyone's eye, it was her. And also, the way Iida looked more than happy to throw her under the bus was uncharacteristically hilarious. Yaoyorozu was saved by the sound of alarm blaring through the lunch room.
"What's going on?" Izuku asked.
"Security Level Three has been broken, all students please evacuate in an orderly fashion!" A robotic voice announced.
"Level 3?" Kaminari asked, confused and alarmed.
"What is Level 3 security?" Iida asked one of the students rushing out of the room.
"It means someone has infiltrated the building! Hasn't happened in three years!" One of them answered. "Anyway, hurry up and run out of here!"
This is bad. Izuku thought as he watched the crowd of students rushing out of the doors. From the way everyone's rushing to the same place, it's going to be too crowded. Someone could get hurt!
The hallways were horribly packed. It was hard to breathe, much less move.
Izuku grunted as he managed to squeeze through with his small structure, aiming for the windowed walls. Who got in?
He cried out as the crowd suddenly moved as one, pressing him harshly against the cold window. However, he achieved his goal and took the chance to look outside.
"...It's the press corps!" Izuku exclaimed. He whipped his head around, looking for his friends. Anyone to pass the message onto. He noticed uraraka and Iida being painfully squished in the crowd. Reaching out, he grabbed them by their called and pulled them towards himself.
"Woah!"
"Who- Midoriya!" Iida exclaimed.
"Guys, it's a false alarm!" Izuku yelled so that they could hear him over the noise from the crowd. "It's just the press!"
"What…" Iida looked over his head, spotting the crowd of press people in the distance. "How disrespectful of them!"
***
Outside, Shouta and Hizashi were in charge of dealing with the crowd that got in. And honestly Hizashi was rapidly losing his cool.
"Give us All Might!" They shouted, "He's in there, right?"
"He's out today!" Hizashi replied using his quirk to make sure he was heard. But it was all in vain as the crowd kept yelling.
"We just want a comment!"
"If we give you an inch, you'll ask for a mile." Shouta mumbled.
Hizashi felt his patience snap from when he was pushed back for the umteenth time. "This is completely illegal. Villainous even. Can we kill them?"
"Lay it off, Mic. They'll write what they want either way. Just wait till the cops get here."
"Are you completely sure we can't blow them away?" Hizashi asked.
"Yes, I am completely sure."
"Dammit."
***
"This is bad." Izuku heard Kirishima's voice from somewhere in the crowd.
"Where are the teachers…" Iida looked around, "Someone needs to calm them down."
"Uraraka!" Izuku yelled. "Make us float!"
"Huh?" Uraraka looked at them confused, trying to keep herself from getting squashed flat against the glass.
"We need to draw their attention!" Iida said, quickly catching on.
Izuku nodded. "There's exits on either side. Iida you take the front, I'll take the back."
"Got it!" Iida nodded.
Uraraka, although not fully on page with them, did as she was asked and made them float. While Iida used his turbo engines, Izuku pulled himself towards the exit sign. He met eyes of Iida, and nodded.
"Everyone! Please calm down! Everything is fine!" Iida yelled.
Hearing his sudden loud voice, everyone felt quiet, Izuku took his chance to add, "It is just the press! There is nothing to panic about!"
"This is UA! Act in a manner befitting such a great institution!" Iida added.
After that, some of the teachers—Snipe and Midnight— rushed, and lined everyone till they left the area in a peaceful manner. All the students were asked to return to their classes since there weren't any intruders.
Once they were back in the class, they were soon joined by Shouta. Izuku noticed the disgruntled expression on his face. He looked both alarmed and tired. Which Izuku thought made sense. He was curious how the media had been able to get in. He remembered the huge shutters blocking off all entrances.
For the rest of the day there weren't any more complications. They choose the rest of the council members for their class, while finalizing the decision on Izuku as the president and Iida and Yaoyorozu as the vice-president. Despite Izuku's protests. His Dad was of no help either, rushing them to be done with it so he could go for a meeting.
Chapter 20 Dangerous? I Am Danger