Chapter 24: Too Often Too Late Comes Too SoonNotes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
In the locker rooms, Izuku has to keep himself from spiraling into a panic attack. He holds the UA gym uniform in his hands and wonders if he can get away with hiding out in here. While Aizawa-sensei seems focused on him, surely he wouldn't disrupt the whole lesson just to seek Izuku out if he never showed?
...He would. He totally would. Who is Izuku trying to fool?
"Midoriya-kun!" A voice calls out to him, a hand landing on his shoulder. "Are you alright? You are just standing there."
Izuku looks into Iida's worried eyes and clenches his fist around the fabric in his hands.
"I'm fine, Iida. I was just lost in thought."
The taller boy nods, although Izuku doesn't know if he believes him.
He's just going to have to do it. He knew he would confront Aizawa-sensei sooner or later and he already predicted that he might be recognized. It's a small price to pay for rescuing Eri. Now, he just needs to display that he deserves to be at UA. He hasn't been expelled yet!
The locker room is loud and Izuku takes comfort in the familiar buzz of excitement from his classmates. But, when he removes his uniform, the talking ceases. Izuku looks up at the sudden change of volume, only to be met with all eyes on him.
"Uh…" He says, trying to gauge what exact emotion is present on everyone's faces. Izuku also tracks their eyes to…
The gigantic scar on his right arm, as well as all the other scars that litter his arms and body. Oh. He kinda forgot about those.
"Duuuuuuude, what happened to you?" Kaminari asks him, and a few other people glance at him warily.
"That is extremely rude!" Iida interrupts, coming to Izuku's rescue. "You have no way of knowing whether Midoriya wants to discuss them or not! It is impolite to put him on the spot!"
"Sorry." Kaminari responds sheepishly. Izuku knows he didn't mean anything by it, but he still wishes he hadn't became the center of attention.
"It's alright. They are a little hard to ignore." Izuku smiles, quickly slipping his shirt over his chest. "But it's true I don't really want to talk about them. I hope that doesn't offend you."
Kaminari's eyes widen and he waves his hands frantically in front of him. "No no no! Of course not! That's my bad for asking!"
Izuku nods and goes back to changing, aware of the eyes that still watch him. His large scar peeks out from under the short sleeves and he sighs. He isn't sure how to feel about his scars attracting so much attention. Back in his own timeline, everyone had grown used to them. They knew that his injuries came from his quirk, and his own reckless disregard for his limbs. Izuku can't really explain that to his classmates presently. As far as anyone here is aware, Izuku's quirk doesn't break his bones. It does make Izuku wonder what conclusions they are drawing for themselves about his injuries, however.
All too soon, Izuku has donned his uniform and starts to walk out to the field. He can't say that it feels exactly like walking to his execution, but he imagines it's close. Something will happen for sure, and Izuku isn't ready for any of it.
He uses the same strategy as he did in the classroom, ducking behind his classmates, staying in the middle of groups. He's never been so grateful for his short height before now. But then they all line up on the pitch and Izuku finds himself in the front anyway, a few meters away from his teacher. Aizawa-sensei's eyes are on him once again as he explains their task. Izuku tries to ignore it.
Act natural. Act natural. Act natural.
His classmates around him listen raptly to Aizawa-sensei while Izuku can barely look at the pro before he has to fix his gaze elsewhere.
Act natural. Act natural. Act natural.
"Midoriya," His name from his teacher's lips makes him jump about a foot in the air. "How far could you pitch a softball in middle school?"
Izuku can't look at him. "Uh…" He tries to think back. "...46 meters?"
Aizawa-sensei throws a ball at him, one that he is woefully unprepared to catch. He flails about, the ball slipping from his hands multiple times before he finally manages to catch it. Izuku gives what he hopes is an innocent smile.
"Try using your quirk this time around. As long as you don't exit the circle, anything you do is fine." The pro continues lazily.
Izuku steps within the circle and stares at the ball in his hand as he thinks. Before, it was Kacchan that Aizawa-sensei asked to demonstrate. Why is it him this time? Is it because he placed first? Or is this Aizawa-sensei trying to see if he's 'Deku' or not? But his teacher shouldn't know Deku's quirk, Izuku hadn't shown it at all when he visited the pro's house. So, what is this?
"Midoriya, are you going to throw the ball, or are you just going to stand there and mumble to yourself?" His teacher drawls, breaking Izuku from his musings. Damn, was he mumbling? He could never get rid of that habit, could he?
"Uh, I'm going to throw the ball."
Aizawa-sensei makes a motion with his hands as if to say 'get on with it'. Izuku glances at his classmates and then turns back around.
He stares at the ball in his hands. This time, he doesn't plan on breaking anything. Not a single finger. The question is, should he throw it, or kick it? He could get more strength and momentum if he kicked it…
Izuku powers up One For All, electricity sparkling over his body. He channels a bit more into his legs, specifically the one he kicks with, until it's just to the threshold of power he can hold. After all, Aizawa-sensei wants them to give it their all and Izuku isn't one to do less than his absolute best.
'Go Beyond. Plus Ultra' is their motto.
Izuku tosses the ball up and then flips forward, using his foot and forward momentum to kick the ball as hard as he can.
While it isn't Kacchan's explosion quirk, the noise it makes is pretty similar- sort of like a sonic boom. Or multiple sonic booms. A gust of wind blows around him, kicking up a little cloud of dirt. Izuku watches the ball zoom into the atmosphere with satisfaction. He's really getting the hang of his quirk. That was way better than what he did last time.
The device in Aizawa-sensei's hand beeps and Izuku faces his teacher and classmates. He sees the number on the device: a whopping 2,008 meters. Wow, that is way better than last time. All of his classmates stand with open mouths and Izuku feels proud, until his eyes slide to Kacchan.
The blonde looks perhaps the most shocked of everyone and Izuku can see the anger gradually consume his face. Oh no.
Please don't say anything. Izuku thinks uselessly. Please don't say anything.
"What is this, Deku ?! Explain now, shitrag!" Kacchan screams, launching himself forward to explode Izuku to smithereens. Aizawa-sensei catches him in his capture weapon, but Izuku's not all too happy about it. If Kacchan killed him here, he wouldn't have to deal with his teacher who absolutely, positively knows he's Deku now, if he even had doubts before.
But maybe, maybe , Aizawa-sensei didn't catch it…?
He glances at his teacher. The hero's eyes are locked onto Kacchan to combat his quirk, but he seems to be fighting a grin. Izuku pales. Aizawa-sensei smiling? Never a good thing. At least for him.
His teacher schools his expression quickly. "Jeez, don't make me use my quirk so much...I've got dry eye, damnit!" The bonds tighten around Kacchan until he stops fighting them and slumps over.
"We're wasting time. Let's get this started."
Kacchan is released, looking no less murderous, but he doesn't attack again. Izuku breathes a small sigh of relief, one that is short lived.
"And you...Midoriya, or shall I say, Deku? Meet me once the quirk apprehension test is over."
Izuku gulps. He's going to get expelled, isn't he?
As if to herald in his departure from UA on his first day, Aizawa-sensei mentions how the person who performs the worst will be expelled. The others freak out, not knowing it's a logical ruse. Although, for Izuku specifically, he isn't sure he's clear just yet.
He participates in the other tests while his mind wanders elsewhere. His body runs on autopilot, literally going through the motions. He performs well, he thinks, or at least better than before, even with his internal freak out. He's not actually paying too much attention.
What will Aizawa-sensei say to him? What can Izuku say, that will convince the hero that he's not a villain, or a spy, or a-
Izuku pauses after hearing a snap. He looks at his hands. The gripping tool he was using is now broken in his palms. He stares at it, needing a second to process what just happened.
"Uh…" Kirishima, who is next in line to do the task, looks at him uneasily. "I'll ask sensei for another one?"
Izuku nods, gathering up the pieces and dumping them in a nearby trash can. He just stands there, even after he watches the pieces fall from his hand.
He can't help but feel a little stupid. He knew he'd confront Aizawa-sensei since the night he rescued Eri. He had so much time to think of why he was there, how he knew about Eri- answers to any of the questions his teacher is likely to ask him. Even at the entrance exam, he spared a thought for his cover story, and yet, Izuku still waited until the moment his teacher discovered him.
If he thought about it though, most of his plans tended to fall through. Maybe it's for the best that he's going to wing it. It's hard when he doesn't know what Aizawa-sensei knows, but not impossible. He doesn't know what Eri told him, or what he may have figured out on his own. Still, there's got to be a solution. Izuku doesn't want to lie to his teacher, but he sure as hell is not about to tell the truth.
That poses the question though, if he's not telling lies and he isn't telling the truth, then what is he going to say?
"Look!" Someone elbows him- Uraraka he notices- and points to the projection in Aizawa-sensei's hand. Izuku doesn't remember leaving the trash can, but he's been kinda distracted, so he doesn't think about it. He follows Uraraka's finger.
It's the rankings for their quirk assessment. Izuku's eyes naturally are drawn to the last place, but it's not his name that he sees there. Well, he did do better than last time. He tracks the names, from the bottom up, growing increasingly incredulous when he doesn't spot his.
That is, until he reaches the top.
"No way." He utters weakly as Uraraka squeals beside him. It was never his intention to stand out. First the entrance exam, and now this? Izuku really ought to find a way not to attract anymore attention.
"We did it!" Uraraka cheers for them. Izuku sees her own name in 11th place and smiles. They give each other congratulatory fist bumps. Iida walks up to praise him as well, which earns him another fist bump. He forgets about Aizawa-sensei, in that moment.
That is, until the man speaks.
"Oh, by the way, that whole 'expulsion' thing was a lie."
Seeing the reactions this time, he can almost understand why Aizawa-sensei did it. It's ridiculously funny to see everyone so shocked, and he stifles a laugh. He witnesses Mineta break down into tears of relief, and that does make him feel a bit bad. That should've been him. Was him, once. It doesn't matter though, since no one will be expelled.
Aizawa-sensei continues talking, telling them about how they can find the curriculum sheets back in the classroom.
"And Midoriya," He calls, making Izuku jump once again. "Once you get changed out of your P.E. uniform, meet me at the staff room. We have... much to discuss."
Izuku already feels the cold sweat breaking out across his skin. His classmates, especially Iida and Uraraka, give him strange looks.
"O-of course."
Aizawa-sensei narrows his eyes. "Good. You're all dismissed."
The others start to head back to the locker rooms. Izuku feels like his legs have suddenly stopped working. He would fall forward into the dirt if that wouldn't make him look completely ridiculous. And if Uraraka and Iida hadn't stayed behind with him.
"Are you okay Deku? You look pale."
"You couldn't be in trouble on your first day, could you? I wonder what sensei wants."
He chuckles a little at his friends. They both are worried for him, in their own ways.
"I'm fine." He answers Uraraka first. "And I might know why Aizawa-sensei wants to talk to me...it'll be fine…" He bites his lip. "Probably."
His friends share a look. Izuku has no idea why.
"Well, let's not keep him waiting!" Iida announces. He starts to push Izuku in the direction of the boy's locker rooms while Uraraka skips to her own. He watches her progress until she leaves his sight.
He hopes, he really hopes, that this isn't the last time he'll see her- or any of his classmates.
It's not like he would actually get expelled, right?
Notes:
Hey, would've posted this sooner but I've had a rough week, so sorry about that :/
As always, I appreciate all your comments and kudos. Getting your responses throughout the week made it a little more bearable. So thank you, really.
Anyways, next up: Aizawa and Izuku's conversation! Look forward to it!
Love y'all! <3