So I just realized most of these needed to be redone so lets go!
The adrenaline was slowly fading, replaced by a bone-deep fatigue. Today had been a whirlwind, the USJ attack a chaotic brawl that we somehow managed to survive. As the rest of Class 1-A began to disperse, heading home, Diamond tugged my arm, a bright grin splitting her face.
"You were amazing, Anos!" she exclaimed, her blue lightning streak practically crackling with energy. "That pep talk really did the trick. We rocked that entire fight!"
I couldn't help the small smile that tugged at the corner of my mouth. "We all did great, Diamond. Teamwork kept us going."
"We sure did, but you led us so well! Anyways the principal needs to talk to us and some pro heroes before we can go home." Diamond stated which I nodded in response too.
I pulled Izuku aside before he could join the exodus. "Hey, Izu, you head on home. Get some rest, okay?"
He nodded, his green eyes wide. "Okay, Anos, you too." He looked exhausted, the strain of today etched on his face. "See you at home," he said before waving and heading towards the exit.
"Alright, everyone," I called out, my voice echoing across the emptying school grounds. "Class dismissed! Go home and get some rest." I watched as the remaining students headed towards the gates to leave. I felt a small tug on wrist, I turned to see Momo, her dark eyes shining with admiration.
"Anos, you were incredible today," she said, her cheeks tinged pink "Your pep talk inspired me to push beyond my limits. I felt so confident today."
My heart did a little flip. "You were amazing too, Momo. You always are, we all were! Don't down play yourself. Now go on home and rest, you deserve it."
Momo blushed slightly before she nodded and headed out. I took a deep breath and turned towards Diamond.
"Alright, it looks like it's just us. Let's gather the crew," I said before we set off to gather the others.
We soon located Anix, Alex, Riley, Ryan, Marcus, Eliza, Katsume, and Hannah. With the group of us in tow, we headed towards the principal's office. The room was filled when we arrived. Principal Nezu sat at the head of the table, his sharp gaze taking in everything. Beside him were the top five pro heroes; All Might, Endeavor, Hawks, my own dad, and Best Jeanist. Each radiated a powerful presence, but their faces were grim. I knew this was serious.
We sat, settling into the chairs arranged around the room, a hush falling over us. Nezu, with his usual polite yet unsettling demeanor, began the debriefing. The tension was thick as we recounted the events at the USJ. I explained how Diamond and I had faced Shigaraki and Spinner, our coordinated attacks barely holding them back. Katsume and Eliza detailed their battle against Twice, the unpredictable villain a frightening opponent. Hannah described how she and Alex had dealt with Toga, their fight against the blood-obsessed villain a chilling experience. Anix and Marcus explained how they were watching over Class 1A and made sure the students were okay and out of harms way. Riley and Ryan spoke of their fight against Dabi the fight was long but definitely tested their abilities to push themselves. The silence after we finished our accounts was deafening.
The pros were in shock, their expressions a mixture of horror and awe. All Might looked particularly disturbed, his shoulders slumped. Nezu, however, maintained his calm façade, his sharp eyes assessing our every word. He thanked us for our bravery for stepping up to the plate like we did. He also said that Aizawa was fine and is recovering and they will update us when they have more information. It was a relief to hear that Aizawa was going to be okay. It was then they said we were free to go home and rest.
As we started to leave my dad called me back. He gave me a tight hug and said "Anos you did an amazing job today. Thank you for taking charge and making sure the students were safe. I am so proud of the hero you are becoming." I smiled and nodded, a wave of warmth washing over me at his words.
I met back up with my friends outside the office, laughter echoing around us. All the tension of the day seemed to melt away as we relived the moments, joking and teasing each other with our different battles. They were my family, the people I trusted most, and the group we would go to the ends of the earth for.
We all walked home together, our laughter mixing with the sounds of the city. The weight of the day still pressed upon us, but we had each other. And as the setting sun painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, I knew that we would face whatever challenges came next, together. We always had.