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The moon sits high in the sky and all is quiet save the scritch scritch of a pencil scrawling across a notebook and the occasional scribbling to cross something out.
The silence is again broken by the slide of a pen across a fresh sheet of paper.
Tetsu,
Your strength and optimism made our class a place we could all feel safe.
Your smile lifted us when we were down.
Your hugs made everything feel like…
Like we could do anything, overcome anything because nothing could be stronger than your faith in us.
Not a day went by where we didn’t hear the call ‘You got this!’ from somewhere in the dorms and we all knew that beyond your care for us all, lay the deepest belief that we would be great heroes.
And we could believe it too.
Because you made us feel that it must be true.
We’ll miss you Tetsu.
You made Class B proud, always.
Go off and be great Real Steel.
You're already a hero.
The note is left unsigned as it is carefully folded and sealed in the ready labeled envelope.
A small sigh.
A glance at the clock.
The pencil and pen dance resumes.
Awase,
What can be said that hasn’t already been?
Spotlight Heroes the world over celebrate your going underground knowing that your skill, technique and amazing drive would overshadow them and dethrone them in the rankings.
You're going to break records Welder and you’re going to look badass doing it.
Villains will tremble in their hideouts knowing that they’ll never see you coming because your quirk might be amazing but you didn’t let that get to your head.
Your stealth training has shone through in every single training exercise we’ve had and your dedication to getting the job done continuously blew everyone away.
You’re going to be amazing.
Even more than you already are.
This note too is placed in the envelope and gently set on the slowly growing pile.
Sixteen more to go.
Tenya sighs, closing the book with frustration. It’s an old English textbook; one he thought would exhaust him to breaking point and allow him to sleep.
In any other situation, Tenya would be proud to be so well-read, but it’s nearly midnight and he just wants to sleep. He wants to be running on all cylinders for his last day of class. His last day at the school that he’s called home for the past three years.
Another five minutes pass.
Tenya gives in and pulls on his running shoes. It’s past curfew, which would be troublesome for any other, but Aizawa-sensei gave Tenya permission ages ago. He’d had trouble sleeping in the dorms at first, away from family for the first time. He went running, Sensei caught him, and they had a nice, long discussion about what to do in the future.
Tenya sends a quick text to Aizawa-sensei, as per usual, and heads out. He doesn’t use his quirk as he jogs, instead running on manpower alone. His feet carry him across the UA grounds, through the forest, and looping around the school.
As he passes Class B’s room for the second time, Tenya slows to a stop. Though the shades are drawn, the lights are on, and the shadows make it clear that someone is in there. Tenya can’t tell who it is, but they’re sitting down, and calm. Surely, it is fine if he checks it out himself?
Normally, he’d alert someone right away. Better to send out a false alarm than let his classmates perish.
But from what Tenya can see, the person is merely seated and writing, and his gut says they’re safe.
He jogs to the nearest entrance and makes his way to the hero course hallway. As Tenya nears Class B, he hears the faint sound of pencil on paper. He slows to a walk and creeps nearer. Remembering Aizawa-sensei’s stealth lessons, Tenya cracks the door open and peers inside.
Seated in the back of the classroom where two desks have been pushed together to make more space, is the class representative of class B, Kendou. She’s scribbling feverishly in a notebook, grip so tight on the pencil in her hand that Tenya is almost surprised it hasn’t snapped. A stack of fancy cream colored stationery sits to her right and a small pile of sealed envelopes is at her left. She’s mumbling to herself and Tenya has to focus to make out what she’s saying.
“Feral maybe? No it’s not exactly a compliment… Though you never know with Monoma, maybe he’d take it as one? No, I'll have to think of something else. Maybe if I phrase it… not afraid to go feral on behalf of your friends? Yeah that’s good. You hide your heart beneath your finely tailored clothes but those of us lucky to catch a glimpse know there's no place safer than by your side… yeah. I think that works. And I could add a bit here about loyalty?” She sighs and puts the pencil down to flex out her fingers and rotate her wrist. “His is already the longest by far but I’m sure that’ll just make him stupidly happy.”
A soft smile graces her lips at the thought and then she’s looking up at the wall clock to check the time and Tenya cannot back up and close the door fast enough to escape her gaze.
Silence falls, heavy and oppressive, as the two class reps stare at each other.
The clock’s ticking is overly loud in the quiet and Tenya is just about to bow in apology and explain himself when Kendou stands and approaches him. “You can’t sleep either huh?” She's still smiling at him, coming to a stop near the door and leaning against the wall. “Thanks for coming to check on me, the lights probably tipped you off right? I haven’t taken a break in a bit so I’m gonna go get a drink from the vending machine…” she chews her lip for a second before looking back up at him suddenly. “You wanna come?”
It takes Tenya but a moment to recover from his shock, and he answers, simply, “Yes.”
Kendou grins. “Come on, then.” Tenya follows closely behind, pausing briefly to rummage through his pockets.
As they round another corner, he voices his concern. “I’m afraid I left my wallet in the dorms, Kendou-san.”
“It’s okay, Iida! I’ve got it covered,” she says kindly. “And don’t be so formal! We’re friends, right?”
Tenya nods crisply, unsure of where she is going with this line of thought.
“Well, friends,” here, she pauses, offering her hand to Tenya, “use each other’s first names.”
Tenya blinks. “Are you quite sure? This is a big–”
“I’m sure,” Kendou says confidently. Then her expression shifts– a slight change, one that several of his classmates wouldn’t notice. But Tenya can tell she’s disappointed when she says, “If you don’t want to, of course, then that’s a different matter altogether…”
“Oh, but of course I would be happy to,” Tenya exclaims, clasping his hands together. “I simply didn’t want you to feel pressured into becoming closer!”
“How would I– nevermind,” she says, laughing a bit. “In that case, I would be honored to call you by your first name.”
“And I you,” Tenya says grandly. A moment later, he adds, “Itsuka,” and she laughs.
“Tenya.” She offers her arm. “Shall we, then?”
“I believe we shall!” Tenya loops his arm through hers, and they walk the length of the hallway. Itsuka has to drop his hand to fidget with the vending machine– kindly purchasing a bag of chips for both, as well as an orange juice for Tenya. Once she’s done, though, Tenya tucks the snacks into his abnormally large pockets, and they return to 3-B’s classroom. Once they’re inside and seated– Itsuka at her own desk, and Tenya in Awase’s– he takes note of the stationery on her desk once more.
“Ah, has your birthday recently passed?” Tenya asks curiously. Itsuka cocks her head, and he clarifies, “Are those thank-you notes?”
“Of a sort,” she says, glancing away. “It’s– they’re for my classmates.”
Tenya’s eyes widen.
Ken- Itsuka’s fingers fidget together and she keeps her eyes on the envelopes, the top one Tenya notes, bears a printed label with the name Ibara on it. “I just can’t believe it’s almost over, you know?” Her voice is hushed as she all but whispers. “They’ve been my responsibility for three whole years and now… we’re parting ways and carving out paths and I almost don’t know who I am without them. Who I’ll be. So I just. Thought I’d do one last thing for them. While I’m still the Class Rep.” She peeks up at him through her bangs and the look on her face is almost shy as she asks “Do you think I’m being stupid?”
And Tenya. Tenya thinks of his own inability to sleep and for the first time thinks maybe there was a reason behind it after all. A reason he simply couldn’t put into words until now. And as he glances down at Itsuka’s open notebook where the drafts of letters to Monoma and Tokage are visible, he finds himself struggling to speak over the lump in his throat.
“No Ke- Itsuka. I do not think you are stupid at all.”
There must be something on his face or in his voice because she stares at him wide eyed and before he can second guess himself he continues with “your efforts are admirable. Awe inspiring. I would be honored if I could join you in this endeavor.”
The silence returns, save the tick tick tick of the ever going clock and then Itsuka breaks it with a hushed, “Yes of course.”
She slides him a spare pen and pencil and roots in her bag for more scrap paper and Tenya pretends he doesn’t see her tears.
She passes him the paper wordlessly, and Tenya accepts it with a simple nod. There is a time to be bold and brash, he is well aware, but there is also a time for silence. Now, as the room fills with the quiet hum of pen against paper, it is the most natural thing in the world. The silence.
It’s… peaceful.
Itsuka can’t help glancing over at Tenya. He’s engrossed in his work, his pen seeming to churn words out as fast as he can think of them. His handwriting is unfairly good. Itsuka doesn’t think she’s ever seen kanji so neat, if she’s being frank. She shakes her head, sighing to herself.
‘Now’s not the time to get distracted,’ she admonishes herself. She’s working on Tsunotori’s letter, and her American friend deserves her full attention.
Tsunotori
My dear friend,
I admire you greatly. You’ve overcome so many barriers
Trained for dozens and hundreds of hours
To “be on everyone else’s level.”
But here’s a secret, my friend
I was always trying to catch up to you.
You, who learned another language and made it seem effortless,
you, who dominated in class from the very beginning.
I admire you greatly.
Thank you for pouring your effort into Class 1-B
It has been an honor to work with you.
I can’t wait to see you in action.
Itsuka sighs. It’s a nice letter, but she can’t help feeling as if it deserves something… something more. She puts her head in her hands, and thus is caught off guard when Tenya makes an inquiring hum.
“Are you okay, Kend– Itsuka?” he asks diplomatically.
“Yep,” she says, forcing a smile onto her face. “I’m just fine.”
“I’m sorry,” he says apologetically, “But you do not seem fine. Would you like to talk about it?”
Itsuka hesitates. She’s class president– the first one people see when they look at Class 3-B, if Monoma isn’t around. She has to be strong, to be perfect, but… that isn’t true.
Itsuka knows , logically, that she can’t be perfect all the time, despite how she tries.
But Tenya is another class president. And out of everyone, Itsuka thinks he’ll understand her… her exhaustion the best.
“I. I don’t think I really understood what I was getting into.” she whispers, fingertip pressing into the desk. “Being class rep, I mean. It was just an opportunity and everyone wanted it, I mean, leading a hero class? It’s both a position of authority as well as training to lead heroes in the real world. And I knew it would be more work than being class rep anywhere else but… we were all so focused on what it could do for us , how it would boost our careers. No one talked about what it would take .”
Tenya doesn’t speak but Itsuka knows he’s listening and the rest comes out in a whoosh. “I didn’t know it would mean life or death. That there’d be a moment where a real villain was in front of me before I was ready and I had the responsibility to save my classmates just because of a title. We beat him. But we almost didn’t and I couldn’t help but think that anyone else would have had an easier time than me. I only even became class rep because… because…” she bites her lip and covers her leaking eyes with her hands. “Neito showed up on the first day screaming about being superior to your class and going absolutely feral and I just wanted him to shut up because I was nervous enough at it being my first day and he was blocking the door so I couldn’t get in and I.” she moans embarrassed into her hands. “I knocked him out. And then when we had to elect a rep he started doing it again and he was right there in front of me cackling like a madman with one foot on his seat and the other on his desk and I just. I couldn't help myself. And then someone, I don't even remember who, said that if he was gonna be like this all year they may as well let me handle it. And just like that I became class rep.” she keeps her head down as shame courses through her. “What a joke.”
For a moment, the air is silent, as Tenya takes this in. Itsuka can’t bear to look at him.
“I find that rather admirable, actually,” he says finally.
Itsuka pauses. “I— what?”
“I used to feel the same as you,” Tenya admits. “My classmates didn’t even choose me; a friend stepped down, and nominated me after an incident in the hallway, during which I halted a massive commotion caused by what was thought to be a media break-in.”
“I remember that,” Itsuka says faintly. “You flew into a wall didn’t you?”
“Well, yes,” Tenya says, “but that’s not my point. At first, I too felt unworthy to be class rep. After all, what had I done that no one else could do? What could I truly bring to the table? Especially because none of our classmates voted me in. But as time went on, the role grew to suit me, and I to it.
“Itsuka, you may not feel so, but you are an amazing class president. I’ve admired you greatly for the duration of our acquaintance, and I’m sure your classmates feel the same.” He smiles, small and soft. “And just because you’re Class President doesn’t mean you can't rely on your friends. Teamwork is one of the cornerstones of heroism, my friend!”
Itsuka feels herself soften. “I’m…You’re right, Tenya. Thank you. I think I needed to hear that.”
“I’m glad to be of assistance!” Tenya decrees. “I’m aware that at this point our roles are shifting, but should you ever feel such doubt in the future, do not hesitate to let me know! I am always ready to help a friend out, and just because we are not technically class presidents doesn’t mean we cannot support each other.”
Itsuka smiles, so wide her cheeks hurt. “Yeah. I think I’d like that.”
They have long returned to their work when she finds the courage to add, “Same to you.”
She finishes Tsunotori’s letter, sealing it in the prepared envelope with relish. She’s not accomplishing any faster but somehow the work seems less taxing now that she isn’t alone. Tenya asks if he can put on some music from his phone and she nods without looking at him. She doesn’t regret what all she’s shared with him tonight but somehow she’s feeling a bit shy now that it’s all sunk in.
Classical music starts playing and it’s slightly tinny from the small speaker but somehow it feels perfect.
Emboldened by the shift in mood and the fact that she’s made good progress so far Itsuka takes a break from composing letters to her own classmates and flips to a new page. She angles her notebook slightly and covers the top with her arm and then, satisfied that Tenya can’t see it she begins to write.
Tenya puts his pen down and stretches. It is most unhealthy to be sitting in a desk like this so late at night, especially after so many hours spent sitting there earlier in the day but he cannot deny that it is for a worthy cause.
He reads over his completed letter with a smile.
Ochako
You are a powerhouse,
a force of nature,
a tempest swirling in the mist.
You blow me away
As well as all who stand to oppose you
and
your sense of justice is second only to your loyalty and love.
I was gifted a treasure the day you called me friend and I eagerly await to see just how high Uravity will soar.
He takes a moment to shake out his hand and then jumps into the next one.
Yuuga
Your confidence astounds and your
Tenya hums. What else is there to say? Grace? Elegance? This is harder than Itsuka made it look. Speaking of Itsuka… he glances over but she is engrossed in her next letter, head bent low over her arm as if she is having difficulty keeping it up. He frowns hoping she isn’t pushing herself too hard and makes a mental note to call for another break soon.
Never stop twinkling
Perfect.
Now he just needs more words.
Tenya wants each and every letter to be perfect, of course, but he knows that Yuuga desires a certain je ne sais quoi in everything he does. There’s a reason his hero name is Can’t Stop Twinkling, after all.
Tenya puts pen to paper and tries to put as much flair in as he knows how.
You waltzed into this classroom
Bringing grace and elegance
And the most magnificent of cheeses
(Yuuga is quite proud of his cheese collection, Tenya knows.)
Without your presence
This class would simply not be the same
Without your eye for fashion
I would be left floundering, adrift at sea in tacky suit after tacky suit
You are already a beacon to our class
And you are soon to be a magnificent beacon to the world
I know you’ll go on to do great things
I know you won’t ever stop twinkling.
Tenya can’t help but smile. He couldn’t help but feel a bit foolish while writing, but he knows that Yuuga will adore it.
He turns to Itsuka, debating whether to ask her opinion on his level of flair, then pauses. She’s still hunched over her letter from earlier, and the lines of her face are scrunched up with anticipation.
‘ Hard at work, as I should be!’ Tenya reflects. ‘ Truly, her dedication is admirable!’
Inspiration hits him like a bolt of lightning. Why, he’s been composing letters to his classmates all night, boasting of their talent and perseverance, and yet ignoring his kind-hearted companion! Tenya can't quite believe he didn’t think of it sooner; he absolutely must write a letter for Itsuka. Whether he’ll sneak it into Class B’s room before she arrives to deliver her letters, or slip it under her door, or perhaps even deliver it himself, he isn’t quite sure.
But Tenya knows that anything worth doing is worth doing well, and he knows Itsuka deserves only the best letter. Quick as he can he transcribes his draft for Yuuga onto the stationary, folding it thrice and slipping it into its waiting envelope. He scrawls Yuuga’s name on the outside with his left hand to hopefully maintain the air of mystery as long as possible, and then he is ready.
He flips to a new page, tallies up who he has already written for and which classmates therefore remain and then flips the page once more. It is imperative that Itsuka not catch on to what he is doing and so he skillfully maneuvers his free arm to block the majority of the page. It is not quite the same way Itsuka herself is working but he cannot deny that it was her own pose that inspired his, in the sense that he couldn’t help but notice that it seemed to cover her words from his line of sight and therefore suited his purposes perfectly.
He notes down keywords first for ease of sentence crafting after.
Words and phrases like: gifted, respected, awe inspiring, strategist, commanding presence, aura of power, all fill the top lines of his paper. Then with the keys he needs at the ready, Tenya gets to work, pen gliding across the page in neat strokes with a special care. He folds the finished product carefully and tucks it into an unlabeled envelope.
And then, when Itsuka has ducked down to get something from her bag, he carefully slips it into her stack of already sealed letters.
The rush of accomplishment is immediate and Tenya eagerly returns to his own classmates.
Another half hour passes in this vein when Itsuka’s pencil somehow rolls off her desk and hits the floor with a clatter. Tenya doesn’t hesitate and bends over to retrieve it for her.
“Thanks.” She grins, looking remarkably happy at his simple gesture.
Tenya smiles back as he hands it over. She must simply be very grateful.
Itsuka completes the remainder of her letters in the next half hour, and ends up cheering Tenya on as he finishes his final few. Even though she started a good deal earlier than him, his speedy handwriting allowed him to nearly catch up.
When Tenya sets his pen down for the last time and turns to Itsuka with a proud, weary smile she returns it with ease and raises her hand for a fist bump.
“Great job, class prez,” she says.
“And you as well,” Tenya agrees, raising his hand emphatically. “Thank you for this night, Itsuka. You gave me an opportunity to express my admiration to my classmates,” ‘ and you,’ he mentally adds. “Your hard work is much appreciated!”
Itsuka’s grin softens. “Same to you, Tenya. You’re— you’re really amazing, you know?”
Tenya blinks, then nods. “Thank you for the compliment, my friend!”
Itsuka laughs, bright and bubbly, and presses the stack of letters into his hands. “You’re welcome. Now come on, let’s head back to the dorms. I’m dead tired.”
Tenya nods sharply and loops his arm in hers. They make their way back to the dorms, bidding a short farewell at their respective doors.
“Goodnight, Itsuka.”
“Goodnight, Tenya.”
He’s asleep the second his head hits the pillow.
Half an hour before the rest of her class wakes up, Itsuka sneaks out of the dorms, stack of letters in hand.
She would’ve preferred to wait closer to the start of class, rather than waking up early, but it’s the last day of school, and she wants to be there with her class for their last morning at the dorms. Besides, this way there’s less chance of anyone catching her.
They’ll know it’s her soon enough, whether because of her handwriting or her soon-to-be empty hands, but she’d like the surprise to last as long as possible
The building is silent, the lights still off as Itsuka makes her way up to her classroom. She stands for a moment gazing up at the large door that is somehow less gigantic now than it had seemed on her first day.
She’s taller and older and a hero now and she wonders if the Itsuka of three years ago ever imagined she’d make it this far.
With a final smile and a pat to the door she slides it open and makes her way inside. There’s enough light from the windows that she doesn’t touch the switch on the wall, leaving the room as she found it. It’s only half so her class won’t see the light on from afar through the windows and mostly because her mood is pensive.
She puts her pile down and stretches before slowly making her way up and down the aisles, slipping envelopes into desks as she goes. She really should have written them in order of seating so she wouldn’t have to keep circling the room like this but oh well. It's too late now.
She’s about halfway through the stack when she reaches a letter with no name. Strange. She could have sworn she labeled them all, but no matter. She shuffles it to the bottom of her dwindling pile, content in the knowledge that she won’t need to unseal it to check if she just waits to see who is left at the end.
Except…
Itsuka places the last letter in Tsuburaba’s desk and stares down at the blank envelope. Everything she’d written is already in a desk and yet this one is still here. Is it an extra she forgot to put away? No that can’t be, it wouldn’t be sealed and anyway it definitely feels like there’s something in there. Did she accidentally seal a blank one before Tenya had joined her? That doesn’t make sense either.
Slowly Itsuka sits down at her desk, white envelope twirling in her fingers as she thinks. Well. There really is only one way to find out.
She unfurls the envelope, pulls out the letter, and begins to read.
Next door, Tenya is doing the exact same thing.
~~~
Itsuka,
I commend you greatly
And admire your dedication and passion
Your commanding presence is something to be revered
And your friendship something to be treasured
~~~
Tenya,
My friend
There is no other like you
Your leadership inspires me greatly
While striking fear into the hearts of the dastardliest villains
~~~
Working with you is as easy as running
Once you fall into the motion
it’s simple and effective
~~~
I still smile, remembering battles shared
During training exercises and real life battles
Equal partners
Sharing in victory
~~~
Without you pushing me to be better at every turn
I would not be half the hero I am today
~~~
Every time you chased me down during training exercises
Only pushed me to run faster
~~~
I would not be as compassionate
As kind or as eager to help
~~~
I wouldn’t be as confident
As sure of myself
And ready to fight
~~~
I had much to learn when I came to UA
How to think of others and not only myself
How to be an example for my classmates
You taught me
~~~
It’s because of you that I know my classmates so well
You taught me to listen to their problems
To keep a keen ear out
~~~
You are an invaluable friend
Soon to be a top ranking Pro
~~~
Some of my favorite moments at UA are from
Our paired training exercises
I can’t wait to replicate them on the field
~~~
Thank you, Battle Fist
~~~
Thank you, Ingenium
~~~
Tenya does not move. He can’t. Itsuka… this mysterious letter is her doing! How she had snuck it in with his letters, Tenya does not know, and at the moment he doesn’t particularly care. He pushes back from the desk, where he had momentarily sat, to go search for her, only for the door to burst open.
Itsuka stands at the threshold, letter in hand, eyes wide. “Tenya, this— you wrote this?”
“I— yes,” Tenya says, and picks up his own letter. “You wrote this?”
“Yes,” she says. She falls against the doorframe. “Yes, I wrote that.”
Silence falls, weighty with a tension that pulls taught enough to snap. Neither of them move, staring at each other with eyes that brim with emotion.
All at once the moment breaks and the two move as one to meet in the middle of the room in an embrace.
“Thank you.” Itsuka murmurs, arms reaching up to wrap around Tenya’s shoulders.
“Thank you.” He whispers back, holding her as close as he can.
In a few minutes Momo Yaoyorozu will arrive, pausing in the doorway as a noise of surprise leaves her, causing the two presidents to spring apart with matching flushes in their cheeks.
But for now, Itsuka and Tenya revel in the warmth of the person that understands them the most.