Chapter Text
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Shirakumo softly drummed his fingers against his thigh. He was watching the seconds tick past on the clock, counting down until homeroom started. Every new year came with the same nervous anticipation.
What would this year bring?
What was his new class going to be like?
Would they have any potential?
Would they last a week at UA?
Would they be prepared for the harsh reality of hero work?
So many questions, that he would only have to wait another 10 minutes to find the answers to.
Shirakumo knew that he had the highest expulsion rates, compared to any of the other teachers, but don't get him wrong, he absolutely loved the kids. Every single student that he ever taught, whether it have been for a week or for three years, found a special place in his heart. It's just, not all of them would be suitable to become hero's. Many tended to underestimate the danger and commitment included in becoming hero's.
Too caught up in society's views and seeing big flashy fights on TV. Many developed the belief that being a hero was about how much fame you had.
"YO, OBORO!"
Shirakumo startled. Catching his foot on a table leg and falling. From his position, sprawled out on the floor, he glared up at his best friend.
"Too loud Hizashi."
Hizashi smiled sheepishly, but didn't offer an apology.
"You should probably get a move on, homeroom starts soon."
"Yeah, sure, see ya later," Shirakumo flashed a small grin at the energetic blonde, before exiting the teachers lounge, walking down the halls, towards his classroom.
As he walked, he passed a small group of students, clearly first years, identifiable by their starstruck expressions, as they tried to take everything around them in.
Shirakumo remembered being in their shoes. The first time he had walked down UA's hallways, completely amazed by the shear size of the school.
That was when he met Hizashi.
One problem with such a large building was that it was pretty easy to get lost in. Shirakumo had been desperately searching for his class, mindful of the clock ticking down to the start of lesson. Showing up late on the first day was definitely not a good first impression. He had rounded a corner too fast, and collided with the loud blonde, as he came from the opposite direction. After apologising profusely, they had started to talk and realised they were in the same class and agreed to help each other find it.
That had been the beginning of a legendary, but incomplete friendship. It had only been completed a few months later, shortly after their first sports festival, when a Gen Ed student had been transferred to the hero course.
Silently he slipped through the door and observed the scene infront of him. He had yet to be noticed. He instantly recognised Tenya Iida. His brother, Tensei had been in his year, though not his class, so they hadn't been particularly close.
He was talking to a green haired boy and a brunette. Izuku Midoriya and Ochako Uraraka if he wasn't mistaken.
"Quiet down, everybody." Shirakumo announced his presence.
Multiple of the students jumped. Clearly having not realising he had entered the room.
"My name is Oboro Shirakumo, your teacher." He walked over and stood in front of the podium.
"AHHHHHHHHH!"
What he had been about to say next was cut off by a high pitched squeal, coming from the green haired boy.
"You're Loud Cloud, the cloud hero. Your quirk lets you create clouds, tha-"
"You all have ten minutes to get changed into your gym uniforms, now go." Shirakumo cut him off, having a feeling that if he didn't, then he would be there awhile.
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All of his students let out sounds of astonishment.
"WHAT? A quirk assessment test?"
"What about orientation?" One of his students asked, the brunette from before, Uraraka.
Shirakumo had to suppress an eye roll. Of course they would care about something as useless as orientation.
"If you want to make the big leagues, then you can't afford to waste time on pointless ceremonies."
After explaining why standardized tests were irrational, he called Bakugou up to use as a demonstration. Shirakumo told him to throw the ball as far as possible whilst using his quirk.
"All of you need to know your maximum capabilities, it's the easiest way of figuring out your potential as pro's" he smiled slightly.
Upon seeing Bakugou's score, the other student got excited, letting out exclamations of how fun this was going to be. At that, Shirakumo smiled wider.
"Fun? You have three years at UA to learn how to be hero's, I can guarantee that it isn't going to be all fun and games. Today you will compete in 8 physical test to gauge your potential." By this point he was flat out grinning. "Whoever comes in last has none and will be expelled immediately."
Hizashi used to make comments about how his personality was so deceiving. He used to wonder how he could look so cheerful whilst crushing children's dreams.
Apparently, based on their reactions, his students were thinking something similar now. Quite a few of them wore panicked expressions.
"You can't send one of us home, we only just got here. Even if it wasn't the first day. That isn't fair." Uraraka exclaimed.
Shirakumo sighed internally, first years were always so naïve.
"And what? Natural disasters are? Power hungry villains? Catastrophic accidents that wipeout whole cities? No. The world is full of unfairness, it's a hero's job to combat that unfairness. If you want to be pros then you have to push yourselves to the brink. For the next three years, UA will throw one terrible hardship after another at you. So go beyond. PLUS ULTRA." Shirakumo glanced at each of his students. "Prove to me that it is no mistake that each of you are here. Let's begin."
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Shirakumo watched as each of the students completed the tests. They all had lots of room for improvement, but most of them were doing well. There was one student that stood out in particular. Izuku Midoriya. He was currently in last place and had yet to use his quirk. Normally Shirakumo would be surprised, a strength quirk like that would be very helpful in these tests, but he had seen what it had done to him at the entrance exam. Yet he still seemed extremely determined to succeed. Though he appeared to be becoming desperate, he obviously knew that he was currently in last place. He was going to try using his quirk.
"Wait" Midoriya turned to him, in surprise, "You're going to use your quirk, aren't you?" Midoriya nodded hesitantly. "And what, were you planning on breaking your bones again? Counting on someone else to save your useless body?" He ignored the boy's protests at that. "No matter your intentions, you would be nothing more than a liability in battle, unless you learn to control your quirk." Midoriya looked down in shame. "Go on, take your final throw."
Shirakumo was curious about what he was going to do now, not use his quirk and accept last place, or use his quirk and forfeit the rest of the events.
Midoriya had a look of determination on his face. He raised his arm and swung it forwards, channeling his quirk into his finger.
Interesting. He had exceeded Shirakumo's expectations, that was for sure, but that still wouldn't be enough if he wanted to become a hero. He would have to learn to use his quirk without causing any harm to his own body. Still he had proven that he was more than willing to learn.
"Shirakumo-sensei," Shirakumo looked towards the boy. "You see, I'm still standing," he said triumphantly.
Before anyone could do anything else, Bakugou ran forwards shouting at Midoriya. Rushing forward, Shirakumo grabbed the angry Pomeranian's arm.
"Calm down, Bakugou, now." He said sternly.
The student grumbled, but didn't move to rush at Midoriya again. Though, he was still glaring at him.
That was slightly concerning. From what Shirakumo could remember, they went to the same school before attending UA. There was no room in the hero world for petty feuds, they were going to have to sort it out sooner or later.
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After that, the rest of the fitness tests passed without incident. Soon enough it was time to announce the results. They should have a rough understanding of where they placed, so instead of reading out each of their scores, he simply displayed them on the board.
"And I was lying, no one's going home."
Shirakumo would be lying if he said that he didn't find their faces at that amusing.
"That was just a logical ruse to ensure that you all did your best."
Though apparently, Yaoyorozu had already figured it out. It wouldn't surprise him, she had after all gotten in on recommendations.
With the lesson ending, he dismissed the class and handed Midoriya a slip to give to Recovery Girl, before leaving.
"Shirakumo, that was a rotten move."
Great, just the person he wanted to see. Of course All Might had been spying on the lesson. "A rational deception? That's cute, but you're not exactly known for being light-hearted. I read your file, last year you expelled an entire class of freshmen students, you have no problems kicking people out, anyone you deem unworthy. That can only mean, you see the same potential in young Midoriya that I do."
"What is this all about? It seems like you've been in his corner the whole time. Isn't it a bit early to be playing favourites yet?"
Shirakumo started to walk away, before calling over his shoulder.
" He doesn't have zero potential I admit, if that were the case I would have sent him straight home after class without hesitation. It's cruel to let a kid keep dreaming of something that will never come true."
It annoyed Shirakumo how everyone acted as if heroics was easy and safe. It wasn't, it was dangerous, people died all the time, children died all the time. Shirakumo knew this first hand. Letting someone who didn't have potential continue on the road to becoming a hero would be letting them go to their death. Best to cut it off early.