Chapter Text
The class was both nervous and excited. It had been a week since their last project and they were due for another. The days since had been filled mostly with tiring physical training that didn't leave them with much time or energy to work on other things. But it had been a week and it was Monday and everyone could feel that Aizawa-sensei was planning something.
They’d been with him for a year and a half by now, and especially with living in the dorms they’d learned how to tell when their teacher was up to something. Combined with the side glances and subtle smirks from over the weekend, it meant they probably weren’t going to like whatever he’d come up with.
Sure enough, come Monday their teacher walked through the door with a barely noticeable spring in his lethargic step and a frankly terrifying smirk on his face. All of them waited on the edge of their seats for the announcement.
It went like this: “For the next week we’ll be focusing on the Underground and what it’s like for heroes who work there. Most of you have no interest in being an underground hero and this isn’t meant to convince you to be one. What I expect you to learn from this week is subtlety , for when you need it, and respect , for the work underground heroes do,” Aizawa introduced seriously.
“The Underground is complex with its own set of rules, standards and morality,” he continued. “For the next week I want everyone to be thinking critically about why it is like that and what type of people live there, because as much as others like to ignore it, they are people too . Not everyone needs handcuffs- some just need help.”
Aizawa paused for dramatic effect, giving time for the words to sink in. “Today we’ll be running stealth drills and then the basics of crowd concealment. The drills will be different everyday this week. Don’t bother asking me what they are- you’ll see when we do them,” he said, glaring at a select few warningly.
“Lastly, the week's project will be due next Monday and to give you time to focus, it will be your only homework from me this week.”
Murmurs of excitement and worry run through the class. Aizawa was never one to take it easy on them, so this project had to be difficult- it was just a question of normal-difficult or impossible-Aizawa-difficult. The class had an uncomfortable feeling it would be the latter.
Aizawa grinned. “Over the next week you will be creating an alternate identity for yourself.”
The class erupted into noise.
It took a solid ten minutes to get the class to calm down enough to start answering questions. Although, honestly, Aizawa didn't try too hard to calm them down, sometimes it was easier to let the mania run its course. It certainly left him with fewer stupid questions to answer.
It was Iida who finally got everyone to be quite long enough to raise his hand, practically yelling out his question. “Sensei! I’m afraid I do not understand the parameters for this project!” he announced, accenting his words with choppy hand gestures.
Aizawa raised an eyebrow at him. “You’ll do exactly what I said. In the next week, create a false identity as real and convincing as you can, to be presented to me and the class on Monday. You will each be given 10,000 yen [~$100] to use as you see fit. You are not required to keep any record of your transactions and they will not be monitored. Spend all the money on fizzy drinks for all I care.”
“However, a reminder, that you cannot do anything that puts yourself or others in immediate danger. All normal school safety rules apply. If you need to leave campus for something, ask and I can give you permission as long as you take your school emergency phone with you.”
The class shifted around at the loose requirement. Before, finally, it was Midoriya that poked at it. “So,” he asked cautiously, tapping the end of his pencil on the table, a notebook already out with a page newly filled, “If you do something that does not put yourself or others in immediate danger but still might be a little illegal, then it's fine?”
Aizawa couldn’t help the smirk that formed at the kid’s hesitant questioning. “Heroes are on the side of the law, but they should also know when and how to bend it as necessary. While a full hero license gives you more leeway, a provisional license still gives you some, particularly as part of a training exercise like this,” he explained.
“I said you don’t need to keep a record of any of your spending's or how you acquired anything you use for this project, the only thing that will be graded is your final presentation. You should use any and all the resources available to you. This includes, but is not limited to, personal contacts and wealth.”
At some of their worried looks he added, “As much as this is a test of your skills, it is also a test of how well you can use your resources. Not a test of the resources themselves. All financial and family circumstances will be taken into consideration when grading and you will not be docked points for using resources you don't have, but we will notice if you don’t use ones you do,” Aizawa finished.
Iida looked absolutely scandalized and yeah, Aizawa was pretty excited to see which one of the kid’s desires won out. His uptight moral nature or the need to do well on an assignment. He was honestly curious. Though, who knew, with careful planning the speedy hero just might make it out with both fully intact. Still, he was looking forward to seeing if Tensei could get him to loosen up a bit more. Iida had certainly shown he was willing to break the rules in more dire circumstances after all.
As for the rest of the class, the majority looked on dubiously while another handful looked thoughtful. Shinsou was looking at him with a deadpan stare that said “this is too perfect for me, what's the trick?” And yeah…. Aizawa was probably going to have to apologize to a few brainwashed public service workers after Shinsou went up and made himself new IDs. But hey, all’s fair in the name of learning.
It was Midoriya, however, that he was the most curious about. Aizawa wasn’t sure what was going on in his problem child’s head, but he’d come to recognize the look of rapid planning and concentration. He hadn’t even tried to call the kid’s attention back when he switched topics, instead allowing him to continue writing rapidly in his notebook. At least the muttering was kept to a minimum, Aizawa thought, as he explained the day’s physical exercise. Midoriya would pick it up as they went.
For once, Aizawa was actually excited to see what trouble the problem child would cause.
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Not All Men Are Created Equal
Quirkless…
Useless…
Deku…
Mom, can I still be a hero?
I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry
I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry
I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry
Hero Forum Discussions: All Might’s Quirk- discussions, theories, ideas, opinions
Logging on…..
MightY_boY121
Edge_life74: Did anyone else notice how his eyes glow when he looks at the camera!!!???!!!???? Like is that the camera flare or part of his quirk?
Thatonedude: I know right! New Theory- All Might’s power comes from light and he’s actually really fast and strong because he is light except he also has mass so he’s like super fast and strong. #LightMight #memebutreallycouldbetrue
BoomBoomLightningMan: It looks more like electricity. Like in the video you can see it arch from his eyes and leave a trail, that’s lightning shit.
Sparky_8746: If it’s lighting, shouldn’t he be shocking everyone? I’ve got a lightning quirk but it’s always shocking people… :(
MightY_boY121: You have a lightning quirk that’s soooo awesome!!!! Do you have more electricity when there’s a thunderstorm? If you shuffle your feet on carpet can you recharge with static electricity? Are you compatible with technology? like can you charge phones and stuff??!!???
Sparky_8746: …. ummm I don’t know? I just have a bunch of electricity all the time and I can’t touch anyone or like tech and stuff because I’ll just shock it really bad.
MightY_boY121 : Oh, so it’s like your quirk is on all the time? Most people instinctively think of their quirks like a switch that they can turn on and off, but maybe yours isn’t about turning off making electricity but rather releasing it.
Like maybe you can’t turn off your ability to create electricity but you can stop it from coming out. The brain is made of electricity too so maybe think of it like creating a block in your head that the electricity can’t get out of, then every once in a while release it all at once in a controlled environment where no one will get hurt and then you won’t have to go around shocking people all the time.
MightY_boY121: Ahh I mean it’s just a thought! I’m sure you know your quirk better than I do! Sorry if that was rude… :(
Sparky_8746: No man that’s cool! You think that would work?
MightY_boY121: Well... I don’t know? You’d have to try it. Also, like, sorry to ask but…. how are you typing right now?
Sparky_8746: Rubber gloves.
MightY_boY121: Oh um ok, well you should try it, if it works you wouldn't have to wear gloves anymore!
Sparky_8746: K, what should I think of.
MightY_boY121: Like umm… picture a generator inside of you making a lot of electricity all the time and there’s a wire that goes from the generator to your skin, which is a light bulb. Right now the power goes straight from the generator through the wire to the light bulb so it’s always on, now you just have to think of putting a switch between the wire and the light bulb that way you can turn the light bulb off.
Sparky_8746: A switch huh… I’ll try my best.
MightY_boY121: Good Luck! :)
Sparky_8746: Dude, I think I did it. I'm typing now without gloves and it’s working!! I totally got it!!!!! This is amazing!!!!!**&!! It’s Soo 88ioooo Coo092323l1lll!!!!lkjsdaf..,oiyasdotoyjh9876ehjsdc
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MightY_boY121: are you ok?
Sparky_8746: Yeah….
Sparky_8746: So… I kind of got excited and fried my computer, this is my phone now….
MightY_boY121: Ah, well sorry… But- but it did work for a second right? So don’t worry about it! That was your first try! I’m sure you’ll be able to get it with practice!
Sparky_8746: Yeah, you’re right. Thanks man, you’re my hero!!
MightY_boY121: O--oh n-no problem!