Chapter Text
By the time Izuku entered the conference room for the second time that week, all of the heroics teaching staff were present, and milling about.
Mic perked up at his entrance. “Hey, the green bean’s here!”
Izuku waved as other greetings were sent his way, and moved to an open seat, prompting the teachers to do the same, albeit at a slower pace.
Izuku smiled as his dad approached and took the spot next to him, not at the front of the room this time.
Shota smiled back warmly.
“Hey, kid. Was everything all right? All Might let me know what happened.”
Izuku knew he probably looked like a bit of a mess, so he was grateful that his dad simply kept his expression warm and inviting instead of calculating.
He beamed tearfully at the man. “It actually went really well. He didn’t even look like he wanted to fight!”
Shota raised a brow in amusement.
Izuku ducked his head slightly, and his dad bent to meet his expression in slight worry. “Izuku?”
“He… he called me that. Izuku, I mean.” He admitted, in slight disbelief.
His dad’s eyes widened, but his expression softened at Izuku’s continued smile. He smiled in turn, and rested his palm on his son’s forehead as he tenderly brushed his curls away from his eyes.
“I’m glad it worked out. You’ve wanted him to call you that for a while now, haven’t you?”
Izuku leaned into the palm resting on his head. “Deku didn’t bother me. But… now that he’s said my given name…” He sighed, unable to find the words. “It’s fine if he keeps calling me Deku, but.. it…” He trailed off frustratedly.
“It made you feel like he saw past his own version of you to a deeper part?” Shota guessed.
“Yeah. If I had to describe how I felt earlier, it would be seen. I think he got to that point before the End too but he never…”
Silence fell over the two as they considered what could have been and what was happening now. As they registered the last teacher sitting, they were pulled out of their little bubble to focus on Nezu, who was now the sole head of the table, the other end empty this time with the different seating arrangement.
Izuku looked to his right to see that he was flanked by All Might, who gave him a beaming smile and a gentle hair ruffle. Shota was on the end of the table, but Hizashi and Nemuri beamed at him from the space across.
Izuku peered around the room at the empty seats. “Are they not here yet?” All Might’s eyes looked comically pained while Shota shook his head.
“Detective Tsukauchi and Gran Torino met up to come, but ran into some traffic. They’ll be here soon.” Izuku nodded.
“All right staff. And student.” Everyone turned to face Nezu who had shuffled and placed papers down on the table. “Thank you for staying back after hours again!” He smiled genially. “We will be joined by Pro Hero Gran Torino and Detective Tsukauchi shortly, but it would be best if we didn’t wait much longer. As you all know, we are here to formally strategize against the looming threat. As for our first order of business… we need to get Midoriya-kun a provisional license!” He cheered.
Izuku blinked, then sighed at his own forgetfulness. Right, laws still had to be upheld here.
Nezu gave an amused chuff at the reaction. “Technically you need to be a license holder for formal strategy meetings, but due to the confidential nature, everything will be off-record. That’s something for everyone to keep in mind.”
Ah. So basically, this whole thing was illegal. He hoped the detective wouldn’t have a problem with that. He eyed All Might warily. They were friends so… probably not.
Snipe leaned forward on his arms. “How’re we going to achieve that? The commission is usually very strict on the young'uns only taking the exam on the set dates.”
Nezu’s tail swung, seemingly enjoying the challenge the notion had posed. “There are a couple of options. The easiest route would be for All Might to go straight to the commission, and throw his influence around and get an individual exam. The only problem is, that would draw unnecessary attention to Midoriya.”
Vlad raised a brow. “Wouldn’t a private provisional licensing exam taken by a single first year UA student draw attention anyway?”
Mic piped in. “They also might wonder why we can’t wait just over three months to take the public exam, and press for details we can’t give.”
Nezu nodded. “Yes, quite right. That led me to consider the smaller public exam occurring in two weeks that was part of a vigilante reform program. It’s out in Fukuoka, and would cause the commission to ask questions. We could, however, simply inform them that we have an excelling first year who has been requested for a timely raid. UA does love supporting educational activities after all.” Nezu’s nose twitched. “Of course, this explanation works for the first scenario, but the commission would be too interested in an All Might recommended first year to accept that explanation.”
The staff sat contemplatively before Izuku spoke up. “I think the choice really depends on how soon we want me to get it? If we’re going to abide by the initial timeline in our plans, it works out fine, but if we want to avoid the attack on the training camp and Kacchan’s kidnapping, we may need to operate much sooner.”
As an afterthought, Izuku added. “I’m also comfortable with vigilantism if it comes down to it.”
Aizawa smothered a laugh behind his hand, and All Might wheezed. “My boy-”
Without even looking at All Might, Izuku dealt an unexpected blow. “You really can’t talk here.” He sputtered while the other teachers lost it.
“Ooh, does All Might have a dark past?” Midnight drawled teasingly.
Mic taunted him similarly. “Vigilantism, Mr. Number One Hero, hey?”
“It was only once!” All Might defended. Izuku faked a cough, and All Might looked over in betrayal.
“Twice.” He conceded, only a little bit desperate.
Izuku coughed again.
“Okay, maybe it was a… few times… but we’re getting off track!” He gestured between Nezu and Izuku. “Let’s stop what is already happening from getting more illegal.” He nearly begged.
“I hate these meetings.” Muttered Powerloader.
Nezu cackled delightedly. “We’ll keep that in mind, Midoriya-kun.” He ploughed ahead, ignoring All-Might’s pained sound. “The final option is to get what is essentially a temporary provisional license, until you can properly acquire one at the official licensing exam. Myself and a few of your teachers would sign off on your abilities and send a request to the commission for permission to act as a licensee.”
“The downside here is, one wrong move as a temporary license holder could damage your chances of ever receiving a proper provisional, and full-fledged license later down the track.”
Izuku shook his head. “I’m not too worried about future prospects right now. A mistake, even as a temporary license holder, may have worse consequences than me not being able to get a proper license.” He closed his fist. “Our focus must be All for One. Becoming a pro hero means nothing if he’s still around anyway.”
The teachers looked on sadly at their student.
“That will be taken into consideration, thank you Midoriya.” Nezu said, uncharacteristically soft. The air of a broken dream haunted the room for another moment, before Nezu shuffled his papers and regained the initial pep in his voice.
“Well, I suppose our choice in the matter can wait until we make more important decisions.”
The staff nodded.
Nezu sighed. “As Aizawa-kun implied yesterday, we are faced with a dilemma.” He caught the eyes of his staff and student, who were watching him with serious expressions. “Where is the line between preserving the timeline to keep events predictable, and protecting our students from harm we know for a fact they will be subject to?”
A gruff voice suddenly rang across the room.
“Preserving the timeline? What kind of mess have you got us into now, Toshinori?”
All Might went rigid in his seat, and Izuku turned in his chair excitedly to face the door. There stood a plain man in a trenchcoat, and a much shorter, aged man in a bright yellow hero costume. “Gran Torino!”
Gran Torino grunted in acknowledgement. “Wasn’t expecting to see you again so soon, you zygote.”
“Welcome, welcome! Please, sit.” Nezu gestured for the two men at the door to take the two empty seats at the table, Gran Torino sitting by All Might, and Tsukauchi on Gran’s opposite side. Tsukauchi nodded at the teachers.
“Sorry we’re late.” He said, as he placed his hat on the table. “Got caught up in a bit of traffic.”
Nezu waved off the apology as Tsukauchi smiled tiredly at All Might in greeting.
“You two came at just the right time. We’re going to take down All for One with the help of our time travellers!” He gestured towards Aizawa and Midoriya cheerfully.
Tsukauchi and Gran Torino’s bewildered gaze landed on the two.
Shota groaned at Nezu’s penchant for chaos while Izuku laughed nervously.
“We… might have to fill you in on some things.”
Tsukauchi held his forehead, feeling the future headaches that he was sure to have. Gran Torino scowled. “I’m too old for this crap.” He muttered.
“Let the meeting officially begin!” Nezu cheered, popping suddenly out from Aizawa’s capture weapon.
Aizawa, resigned to his fate, looked onward unfeelingly as Izuku began to explain the abridged events of the past two years of their lives. Nezu stayed gleefully perched on his shoulder. It would be another long meeting.