Chapter 146: Parent's Day Aftermath
~Third POV~
[UA Highschool, Mock City, Japan]
Their eyes popped. While the students of 1-A tried to digest this revelation, Aizawa approached the parents as nonchalantly as if they hadn't just raced across a sea of fire, "Excellent work, everyone. Quite the convincing performance."
Oacho's father, with a beaming smile, said happily, "You're making me blush! It's all thanks to your coaching, sensei!"
Nearby, Yaoyorozu's mother sighed, glad to be done with her duty in a calm tone, "That was nerve-racking, I daresay."
Asui's father is speaking with Mitsuki Bakugo as he says bluntly, "Didn't know what to think when you almost broke character, Mrs. Bakugo. Croak."
Mitsuki looked embarrassed as she waved her hand, replying sheepishly, "So sorry! Couldn't help it…"
Cowering in fear one minute and chatting like old friends the next. Aizawa turned to his dumbfounded class and bluntly said, "Still don't get it yet? Let me spell it out for you. This was all a setup."
"Huh?!"
Their 'huh' in unison echoed throughout the mock cityscape as Yui said, "Th-the villain, too…?"
Ren cheekily nodded his head, tilting it slightly, almost sheepishly removing the mask, explaining himself, "Yup! Aizawa-Sensei asked me to play the villain, missing the hero rescue and restricting myself. Thankfully, this also helped out testing the Microbots for action."
Bakugo clicked his teeth, clearly annoyed, as he spoke up, glaring at him and saying, "No wonder the mook went down so easily- just some backup player, huh?"
It was when Momo spoke up in protest of the exercise being extreme, using their parents as hostages, "Now just a minute! Wasn't this a bit much…? One wrong move and somebody could have gotten hurt or worse!"
Yaoyorozu felt compelled to protest, but Aizawa's answer was as blasé as ever, "We were prepared for the worst, so no, it wasn't a bit much. Besides, pros are no strangers to danger, so an exercise with lower stakes wouldn't do you much good."
Hearing his point, Momo could only nod, mumbling to herself, "I suppose that's true…"
Aizawa stared at the girl and spoke again slowly, "Were you scared? Scared for your mother?"
Momo came with a meek answer, replying, "Yes. Quite."
Aizawa closed his eyes as he opened them again and said in a serious tone, glancing from student to student, "Words alone can't express your love for your families. When faced with losing them, however… this provided that valuable experience. A proper rescue demands strength, skill, knowledge, and decisiveness, but emotion can easily cloud judgment. Anyone hoping to become a hero can't very well be flustered by a family member in danger. This exercise, under the guise of 'Parent's Day,' was meant to teach you all just that."
The class nodded as they said, "Yes, Sensei."
Aizawa nodded as he continued to explain, scolding his students in a serious tone, gaining attention as they listened, "One more thing. It's not just about keeping a level head. The people you aim to save their lives are more than just their own, as they too have families waiting for them to come home. Take that to heart."
A humble chorus arose from the students, "Yes, Sensei!"
Aizawa nodded, but his expression turned stern as he said, "Now, though every hostage was rescued, this could've gone better."
The students all said, "Huh?"
Aizawa began to scold his students harshly with a cheeky grin on his face at the student's actions as he said, "You struggled too much against this single opponent. Wasted too much time. Choosing to distract the villain by talking to him was an unrefined approach, and it meant putting your eggs in one basket. I've got plenty more to say, but for now… you all passed by a slim margin. I want one page on what you've learned from this, due tomorrow."
The sense of relief from the class was visible. But when he said written paper amidst the instant wave of grumbles, Ida's hand shot up as he asked, "And what of our letters of appreciation…? Another of your 'rational deceptions' to disguise the true intent of this exercise, Sensei?"
Aizawa simply replied stoically with a raised eyebrow at Ida's question, "Well, didn't writing that letter get you thinking about your family more than usual?"
Ida's eyes widened, taking Aizawa's answer wholeheartedly, saying, "Indeed, it did!"
*Ring*
The dodged Ida was instantly persuaded, and the end of the period bell rang out as Aizawa said to everyone, "We're done for today. Parents, thank you all for your assistance."
With that done, each student drifted towards his or her mother or father, discussing some topics with proud expressions on their faces. Ren and Toga took it as their cue to leave, already preparing to leave.
"Tenya, that final dash was incredible."
"Only thanks to the orange juice you squeezed for me, mother."
"You good, Ochaco?"
"Relieved, mostly… blegh!"
"You did great, honey!"
Meanwhile, the Bakugos engaged in a war of words. Things seemed to be intensifying.
"Why's your mouth so goddamned foul, boy?"
"Learned from the best, hag!"
"I got it from you, though!"
At a distance, Fuyumi Shoto's older sister came and spoke to her little brother, "We're lucky it was me here at Parent's Day… Mom might've fainted right off the bat, having to play a hostage."
Shoto replied stoically, "Yeah. Probably."
Aizawa approached the two, and Fuyumi gave him a small bow as he spoke to them softly, "Excuse me, miss. Here at UA, most of our basic hero training classes are recorded, and this one was no exception. If you want, I could give you a copy of the footage tomorrow."
Fuyumi was surprised since Aizawa said there was no video recording during Parent's Day she said, stunned, "Could you, really?"
Aizawa nodded his head, having no issues with doing this request for her, "Mhm. There's no harm in having the rest of your family view it."
Fuyumi, bowing again, thanked Aizawa as he walked away, "Thank you so much!"
Some of the tension left Todoroki's face. A few paces away, Inko Midoriya apologized to her son in a kind tone, "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you! Your teacher said it was all part of a larger lesson, so I only wanted to help however possible."
Midoriya, with a shake of his head, replied kindly, holding his mother's hand, "It's okay, Mom. Really."
He glanced at her navy blue outfit and noticed it was caked with dirt and soot. Izuku thought in an ashamed tone, 'That's why she mentioned it getting stained. Boy, can't believe I didn't pick up on that.'
He sighed, a little disappointed with himself, as Inko, with a wide smile and tear-filled eyes, said proudly to her boy, "But you were so heroic out there, Izuku; you were the spitting image of a real hero!"
Midoriya felt a powerful warmth welling up within himself as he thought, 'Maybe I actually managed to be reassuring…?'
His embarrassment, joy, and pride coalesced into a smile of his own, but then he remembered his letter, now destroyed during the battle with Microbots, 'Letter or no letter, I've gotta try to tell her.'
Taking in a deep breath, Izuku tried to form words as he spoke to his mother nervously, "So, um, sorry that I'm always making you worry, but I gotta keep trying… harder and harder…"
Trying to form his words, Inko stopped him as her eyes filled up with a fresh batch of tears, and Midoriya knew that behind her smile and reassurance lay concern and fear as she said to him, "Of course. And your mom's watching over you."
Holding back tears of his own, he said, "Thanks."
Inko offered the chance to cook for her boy, as she said, clasping their hands together in a happy tone, "How about I cook you some nice Katsudon? I've heard that your dormitory has a kitchen?"
Once, the entire group began walking back to the bus stop. Izuku wanted to look the part of the hero as the sought-after smile crept onto the boy's face, a sign of all his heroics to come as he thought in a determined tone, 'Someday… Someday, I'll hold back the tears and be a hero who saves people with nothing but a smile!'
Ren watched his classmates and saw how they interacted with their parents. He merely hummed to himself as he thought happily, 'They all look so happy with their parents, huh? I hope they can keep that emotion when spring comes around…'
//////
[Later, UA Highschool – Entrance Gate, Japan]
A man in an obvious hurry approached the front gate of UA. With bulging muscles, an intrepid scowl, and a beard of fire, Flame Hero: Endeavor was unmistakable.
He also happened to be Todoroki's father. But as he approached the gate, the thick automatic door slammed shut, "What…?"
*THUD*
No, not even a parent, famous hero, or alum could bypass UA's security system without a Student ID or an authorized guest. But it didn't stop Endeavor as he yelled, "Open up! I'm missing Parents' Day!"
Knowing time was short, Endeavor pounded his fists against the door. In one balled hand, he held a crumpled paper that read, 'PARENTS' DAY NOTICE.' He'd only just discovered the notice, which must have fluttered under his desk when it popped out of his agency's fax machine.
Given the family's dark history, Shoto Todoroki generally had as little to do with Endeavor as possible, so the father saw Parents' Day as an invaluable opportunity to check on the progress his creation was making.
*BAM*
Still pounding at the gate, Endeavor had a thought, 'Maybe he could get me in…'
He is the eternal thorn in Endeavor's side and UA's newest educator, All Might. The top hero would have no trouble getting the gate open, but Endeavor's brow furrowed at the thought, 'That buffoon left me the strangest voicemail a few days back…'
*Clang*
He'd deleted the messages immediately, of course. No, Endeavor wasn't about to go begging his hated rival for help, but there was soon no need because the gate opened as if to his prayers as a voice was heard, "Well, if it isn't Endeavor. How long has it been?"
It was UA's school nurse, Youthful Hero: Recovery Girl. Contrary to her title, the elderly healer walked with a syringe-shaped cane and her hair tied up in a neat bun. Endeavor, managing to mind his manners for someone he'd known nearly all his life, said, "Recovery Girl! Good to see you."
Recovery Girl nodded as she asked bluntly at his appearance, "What brings you to us today?"
Endeavor began to open his mouth to reply, "It's Par – "
He stopped himself. The Number Two Hero couldn't very well admit that he'd taken time off to attend Parents' Day for his son. Wouldn't want anyone mistaking the ambitious, prideful Endeavor for a doting father.
To start with, it simply wasn't true. In his mind, a hero had to project strength and nothing but. Especially not the image of a sensitive family man.
Endeavor cleared his throat a little more than necessary and corrected himself, answering Recovery Girl's question, "Ahem… I just happened to be passing by. Thought I might drop in my old alma mater…"
Raising an eyebrow followed by a hum, she replied, "Is that so?"
Endeavor was still anxious to catch the tail end of Parents' Day, but Recovery Girl seemed not to notice how antsy he was as she said, "Come to think of it, your boy's in the Hero Course, isn't he?"
Throwing him a cue, he responded loudly, "Right you are, Recovery Girl!"
Throwing him the cue he needed, she went on with a light grin, discussing the event with him, "Today is Parents' Day, you know? I hear class 1-A was fooled into thinking their mothers and fathers were taken hostage as a trial of sorts. The children had to figure out how to save them."
Listening, Endeavor muttered at UA's exercise, curiously rubbing his beard, "Sounds like an elaborate setup…"
Endeavor imagined his son performing admirably. His progeny, with Endeavor's superior genes and the ultimate Quirk, was sure to prove his mettle.
The father had a sudden change of heart; observing those superior genetics in action was, in fact, his duty. Wanting to be here didn't necessarily make him a soft, dotting father. Having a reason, he then asked, "Since I'm here, I might as well see how they're doing…"
But Recovery Girl bluntly interrupted, "Oh, they're already done."
Stunned, Endeavor spat, "What…?"
Recovery Girl grinned lightly as she explained to him in a caring tone, "It sounded like they had quite a tumultuous time."
Endeavor gritted his teeth, seething rage as he yelled, clenching his fist, "If only I hadn't found out so late!"
Recovery Girl grinned at Endeavor, who'd accidentally spilled the beans as she said smugly, catching his slipup, "Just passing by, were you? No need to lie. Besides, I spotted the notice in your hand."
*Brr*
Endeavor ignited the paper in a flash, destroying all evidence as Recovery Girl scolds him lightly, "Tut, tut. A hero mustn't use his Quirk for personal reasons, Endeavor."
Endeavor turned his back to leave as he replied, his face looking pissed off, "No clue what you're talking about, Recovery Girl. You sure you don't need glasses at your age?"
Recovery Girl was taken aback, and Endeavor's face stiffened as he thought angrily, 'Damn it all! If only that fax hadn't ended up under the desk!'