Chapter Text
Aizawa stands at the front of the classroom and addresses his current class of first-year students with his sleeping bag at ready.
“As is custom, the Seniors known as the Big Three will explain the internship program. Come on in.”
It’s a simple introduction. Bare and minimum, to the point, efficient; just as the hero likes it. And perhaps these students don’t know him well enough yet, but the three students waiting to come in do know him well enough to recognize the subtle pride in the hero’s voice. Coming from Aizawa, it means more than any number of flowery words. So when they walk inside the classroom, their backs are straight and their heads are held high.
Bakugo Katsuki, Todoroki Shouto, and Midoriya Izuku step inside.
Whispers break out among the first years. The members of this years Big Three have been famous for various reasons ever since they themselves were freshmen, and seeing them as their seniors is something else.
But then Bakugo Katsuki sweeps a glowering look over them and all but growls at them.
“What the fuck are you idiots staring at?”
And with that, the moment of star-gazing awe is shattered as the first years sort of gape at his crassness. Todoroki looks completely unphased while Midoriya drops his face into his palms with a groan.
“Kacchan,” he stresses, and there’s an incredibly long-suffering yet resigned note in his exasperated voice. “Can’t you even pretend to try?”
But Bakugo only scoffs and rolls his eyes.
“Why the fuck would I do that?”
“We’re here to explain about the internship. It’s our job to try.”
“It ain't my fault these extras know shit all!”
They continue bickering, though noticeably without any heat, almost as if it’s routine more than anything. Todoroki just stands quietly beside them, completely unphased, as if this is common occurrence. The freshmen are utterly bewildered by their weird dynamics and look to Aizawa for help but he’s already zipped himself inside his sleeping bag.
Eventually Midoriya tries to salvage the situation by getting around to introductions. Bakugo is uncaring and uncooperative. Todoroki only says “Todoroki Shouto” as if there’s anyone in this room that doesn’t already know that and stares back at them with a completely unreadable face. Midoriya groans again.
“Every time. Every time we’re called together, it’s always me who has to clean up this mess. Why must you both be so antisocial?”
He sighs, then steps forward.
“So, um. Hi?”
And with that, at last, this info session approaches something closer to what the students were expecting.
Midoriya isn’t smooth or flamboyant, but he’s earnest and genuinely endearing. The students find themselves drawn in, freely engaging with questions, and even Bakugo and Todoroki chip in from time to time. The end of the class finds them in a much better atmosphere than when it began.
“Alright, I’d chalk this up as a success. We’ll take a few general questions and wrap this up, shall we?”
Several questions are asked before one student raises their hand and asks:
“What do you each think is the most important thing to keep in mind as a hero?”
Bakugo gives the questioner a look.
“Winning.”
Midoriya’s face falls into his palm so hard that it makes a small smack. Todoroki pats his shoulder.
Todoroki answers next. He taps a finger against his chin and hums before replying softly.
“It’s not about being the best. Do your best, and be your best.”
Midoriya lifts his head and smiles, like he knows something more, like this is some inside thing between them.
And last but not least, Midoriya. He hesitates for a moment. The smile that was previously constant on his face wanes and fades before he opens his mouth.
“Life isn’t fair. And it certainly isn’t kind.”
The first years are taken back by how hard his voice and expression has become in a brief instant. But soon his tone softens, his lips curve, and his eyes brighten again.
“Which is why we must be,” he continues.
Midoriya Izuku sweeps a look across the classroom, looking each student in the eye.
“We must be fair, and we must be kind, to make up for a life that isn’t. Then maybe someday... we can make a better world. That’s what heroes do.”
* * *
Life isn’t fair, and it certainly isn’t kind.
Which is why we must be.
We must be fair, and we must be kind, to make up for a life that isn’t.
Then maybe someday... we can make a better world.
That’s what heroes do.
You can be one too.
— Sincerely, Burn Your Wings