Author's Notes: Chapter edited and corrected by Vongrak.
September 11 - Izumi Pov.
The weekend arrived and passed quickly, especially since everyone was excited about Hero Work Studies. Somehow, everyone had managed to get a job offer last week, so most were starting today or later in the week, but we were all officially hired by different hero agencies. There was even a small celebration last night for that reason. Except for Bakugou and Todoroki, who had to do their remedial classes.
But all the rest of us were starting Hero Work Studies, and it was noticeable in the atmosphere; everyone was in a mixture of nervousness and excitement, which was to be expected, they were practically about to act as heroes, well, as helpers and all that, but it was the closest we would get for the moment, so the excitement was to be expected.
Many of them ended up choosing the agencies and heroes they remembered from the canon, like Uraraka and Tsuyu had achieved Ryukyu, or Kyoka with Gang Orca, or Momo with Majestic, and I could continue with the examples.
Even Izuku had managed to sign with Nighteye yesterday, and his internship was starting today. That meant only one thing: Shie Hassakai and Overhaul were getting closer. I frowned deeply; that would be trouble. Overhaul was dangerous, and I was sure Midoriya would be able to handle him, especially now that he was several steps ahead of canon with his handling of One For All.
But even so, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling in my head. I'd learned to recognize that feeling as a warning from my Haki, but… I didn't really know what the hell it was warning me about. I only knew it wasn't directed at me; it was a general sense of danger, which wasn't helping much.
We'd all be scattering across the country, Taylor was even going to the other side of the world, so it was even worse. Luckily, the little twinge is weak for now. I'll give everyone a little warning before it becomes impossible to ignore. Hopefully, I can figure out where this annoying twinge is coming from.
"Alright, class, before we begin, I have an announcement." Aizawa said dully, then glanced toward the door. "Come in." He grunted. I could hear a click of his tongue as the door opened and a woman with white hair and red eyes entered with a sullen expression, wearing the UA uniform. She stood next to Aizawa and glared at us. I froze, as did everyone else.
"Sensei!?" more than one of them yelled at the same time, Aizawa just glared at them.
"Silence." Aizawa grunted. "I won't repeat what you all already know; you're all aware of the situation. So, putting that aside, it has finally been decided that it is too dangerous for her to leave UA completely alone for the time being, and she needs to be closely monitored, both for her protection and as part of her probation. Even though most of the crimes she committed can be attributed to All For One's manipulation, she will still have to complete many hours of community service."
"And that will include serving as a hero for at least 5 years with reduced pay after graduation as part of their rehabilitation program," Aizawa said seriously.
"I hope they die." The woman growled, glaring at him. Aizawa barely glanced at her as he grabbed his teacher's folder and slammed it against her head.
"And before I forget, her official name is now Tenko Shirakumo, don't forget it." Aizawa said without missing a beat. My eyes widened, and at the same time, the entire classroom erupted in a loud commotion that I ignored.
Tenko Shirakumo? No, Tenko Shimura, or Tomura Shigaraki, no, they took her first name, her birth name, and gave her the surname Oboro?!
"Silence! Unless you have important questions, don't speak! Yes, this is serious, yes, it's legal, Nezu was the one who negotiated her punishment with the judge, and yes, she'll be part of this class until they graduate! " Aizawa growled angrily. I raised my hand and he glared at me. "What?" he snarled.
" Shirakumo... Kurogiri regained her memories?" I asked with a frown, both Aizawa and Tenko tensing up completely.
"No," Aizawa said bitterly, "but it was decided that it was best to change her name. Kurogiri was affiliated with the League of Villains and All For One, Oboro Shirakumo... she wasn't, so her birth name was restored and her deceased status was legally reversed. Just like Shirakumo, Oboro cannot be convicted for what she did while being mind-controlled by All For One, but she will still have to complete the same number of community service hours by working as a UA staff member."
"Oboro has also grown very fond of Tenko, whether by AFO design or her own choice, and she has decided... to legally adopt Tenko, so, at this time, she is legally considered her adoptive mother." Aizawa sighed, and I blinked several times.
"Oh... I guess that's good..." I said easily, and Aizawa nodded. "Another question," I said immediately. Aizawa looked at me and raised an eyebrow. "Considering that you and... Oboro Shirakumo dated when you both attended UA and all, and I don't think you're giving up on her now that she's back, is Tenko your stepdaughter?" I asked with genuine curiosity, only to be greeted with Aizawa's folder pressed directly against my forehead and an eraser courtesy of Tenko.
"Shut your mouth, Miyamura!" "I'm going to kill you, Miyamura!!" they growled at the same time, I just grabbed both objects in the air.
"Rude, it's a completely rational question." I mocked them both, and they both glared at me.
"One more word, Miyamura, and you're grounded." Aizawa growled, blushing slightly more. "And you, go sit down." He snarled at Tenko, who glared at him before turning on me. Everyone else in the class eyed Tenko warily, except for Midoriya, who wore a goofy grin as he greeted her.
"Yes, Yaoyorozu?" Aizawa grunted as his eyebrows trembled. I turned to look at Momo who had her hand raised shyly.
"I-I'm sorry, sensei, I just wanted to know if... Shirakumo-san will be participating in the Hero Work Studies or in the tutoring sessions with Bakugou and Todoroki, and also, if she'll have a room in our dorm." Yaoyorozu asked timidly. Aizawa sighed as he calmed down.
"No, no, and yes," Aizawa grumbled. "Shirakumo won't be participating in the Work Studies; she has a lot to catch up on. We teachers will take advantage of the fact that you're all busy with your own internships to give her refresher classes, and then we'll see if she's prepared enough to get her provisional license."
"And yes, she will have a room inside the Class 1-A dormitories, so I expect EVERYONE to behave. Midnight will be watching you all, so I don't want to hear about any fighting of any kind, understood?" Aizawa growled, glaring at us.
"Yes, Sensei!" we all said at the same time.
"Alright, let's begin class." Aizawa finally grunted. I hummed softly. Now, this is really impressive. I had several questions to ask. The last time I'd seen Tenko was weeks ago in the infirmary, and we had our late-night chat.
I hadn't heard a word from anyone about what had happened to her, and now suddenly she's here? To be a heroine, no less? I was really getting curious to know exactly what had happened, and if this was Tenko's own idea, or if someone like All Might and the others were involved.
The classes couldn't go by fast enough. And I wasn't the only one fidgeting; most of the class kept glancing at Tenko, and it was obvious that it seemed to annoy her more and more. I laughed, amused.
The moment the lunch bell rang, Tenko practically ran out of the room, and I took the time to go join the girls as usual.
"I really didn't expect Shirakumo to become a student with us," Ruby said with a hum.
"Is that weird?" Taylor asked, tilting her head. "I was researching the PRT and the Protectorate to catch up on my internship, but it seems like it's normal to 'rehabilitate' villains? There's a rebranding, they transfer them to another part of the country, they participate in accelerated heroism courses, and they turn them into heroes." Taylor said, wrinkling her nose.
"Huh? Is it really that easy to become a hero in the United States? " Ruby asked, surprised.
"I don't think just anyone can do that," Azula said with a shrug. "I don't think they'd give those options to a mass murderer or something like that, maybe if their crimes are minor enough to be ignored or swept under the rug." She said it almost dismissively.
"Well, I mean, Sophia was on probation when she was forced to join the Ward program? Although she was a vigilante who used lethal force, not a villain," Taylor said with a grimace of disgust.
"Yeah, I guess I couldn't stand the thought of giving any Nazis a chance," Azula said dryly. I hummed softly.
"I mean... if her quirk is strong enough or important enough, I could see PRT doing it. They're pushing Taylor back on their side, very insistently. I wouldn't see them being able to resist, say, E88's Othala power, her ability to grant powers, especially invincibility and regeneration. Both are truly incredible enhancers." I pointed easily, and the three of them grimaced.
"Yeah, they probably would," Taylor said bitterly. We finally entered the cafeteria, and my eyes immediately focused on Tenko, who was in a corner glaring at her food. A few tables away, I could see Midoriya looking at her as if she'd kicked his puppy.
I sighed heavily, approached the line, ordered my food before going up to Tenko's table, who saw me coming.
"Don't you dare." Tenko growled. I just ignored her, placed my tray in front of her, and sat down.
"Wow, now we're sitting with people who tried to kill us? Cool." Ruby said playfully as she sat down next to me.
"What she did barely qualifies as an attempt, I've done worse." Azula snorted, also taking a seat.
"I mean, you had military training and all that, whereas she... I'm not even sure she finished elementary school." Taylor said dryly. Ruby laughed discreetly as she sat down next to Tenko, who slammed her fist on the table and growled at Taylor. Taylor ignored her and simply used an insect that landed on Tenko's eye, making her squeal.
"Damned daughter of-"
"So, a heroine, Tenko?" I interrupted Tenko's angry rant. Tenko took a deep breath, completely furious. "I really thought you'd go for something else, like a comic. I was sure you'd choose that option." I shrugged, before my eyes widened in mock surprise. "Don't you know how to draw?" I asked in very exaggerated mock shock. I could see Tenko's eye twitching.
"Shut up the f-"
"Izumi!" Darkness interrupted Tenko as she approached me with her tray. She was about to greet me when she stopped to look at Tenko, frowning slightly, confused, before sighing at her expression. "Really? A new girl? And are you bothering her? " Darkness asked in a repressive tone. "I'm so jealous!" Darkness writhed with pleasure.
"Cool down, Dustiness, you haven't even sat down yet." Mai snorted as she sat down next to Tenko, glancing sideways at her and pointing her fork at her. "And who's this? Looks like she desperately needs some TLC, those chapped lips look like they're about to fall off any minute." Mai snorted as she started eating, then after the first bite she grimaced and held out my tray to me. I just lightly touched her food as I activated my quirk.
"Tenko Shirakumo, former villain, is on probation, has to do community service, newly enrolled in class 1-A, niece of All Might." I quickly introduced her.
"I don't-"
"Enrolled in class 1-A without expelling anyone? That's nepotism at its finest." Mai said curtly, interrupting Tenko again. I could actually see the veins starting to bulge on her forehead, and I chuckled.
"Oh, definitely, All Might is even watching us." I said, pointing towards one of the windows. All the girls turned to look at All Might, who was indeed there, in a corner, very poorly hidden, looking at Tenko with a proud expression while giving a thumbs-up and wiping a tear from his eye like a very proud father who had just sent his child to kindergarten and was watching her make friends for the first time. Too specific, but All Might was being very expressive.
Tenko's chopsticks broke in her hand.
"I'll kill him, somehow I'll find a way to kill him." Tenko growled through gritted teeth.
"It's cute." Ruby said playfully. Tenko glared at her, slumped back into her seat, saw her broken chopsticks, threw them aside before snatching mine from me, and smiled petulantly. I just raised an eyebrow and pulled a pair of chopsticks out of my shadow. Her expression immediately darkened.
"So, a heroine?" I asked again with an amused smile. "I thought you'd become a professional gamer, or a streamer, and be terrible at it," I said with a crooked smile. Tenko closed her eyes before glaring at me with pure hatred.
"Has anyone told you how annoying you are?" Tenko grumbled.
"Yes, I am." "Of course we are, everyone told him." "The villains told us too." "The teachers did too." "It's their default state." "I love it!" We all said at the same time. Tenko's eye twitched slightly.
"Just shut up and mind your own business." Tenko grumbled, and I laughed.
"Someday I'll take the answer away from you." I said easily before starting to eat my lunch and begin talking to the others. Tenko remained silent throughout lunch, but the fact that she didn't make any effort to get up and leave, I consider a victory.