Please be sure to read the author's note at the end of the chapter. Enjoy!
*******
Sunday morning at U.A. was supposed to be quiet.
The hallways were empty, the training fields silent, and most of the faculty had taken the day off to recover from another week of classes. That's exactly why Shota Aizawa found it deeply suspicious that he'd been summoned to the principal's office at eight in the morning on his only day off.
He opened the door without knocking and found Nemuri already seated in one of the leather chairs in front of Nezu's desk. She was dressed casually in jeans and a tight black t-shirt.
"Shota!" she greeted him with a wave. "Did you get the mysterious summons too?"
"Obviously," Aizawa muttered as he dropped into the chair next to her. "Any idea what this is about?"
"Not a clue," Nemuri admitted, crossing one leg over the other. "But Nezu wouldn't call us in on a Sunday unless something interesting had happened."
Nezu sat behind his desk with his paws neatly folded in front of him, looking entirely too cheerful. A freshly brewed coffee pot steamed on the desk beside four empty cups.
"Good morning, Aizawa-kun, Midnight-kun," Nezu said in his perpetually pleasant voice. "Thank you both for coming on such short notice. Please, help yourselves to coffee while we wait for our last attendee."
Aizawa reached for the coffee pot without a word and poured himself a cup. The door opened again before he could take his first sip.
Toshinori Yagi shuffled in in his skeletal form, slightly hunched over and wearing an oversized sweater that hung off his thin frame. He scratched the back of his neck with one hand and offered everyone a sheepish smile.
"Good morning, everyone!" His voice was raspy but kind. "Sorry I'm late."
"No apology necessary, All Might-kun," Nezu said, gesturing to the empty chair. "Please, have a seat."
Toshinori settled into the chair and accepted the cup Nezu slid across the desk toward him. He took a sip before speaking again.
"So, Principal Nezu, what's this about? I have to admit, when I got your message this morning, I was a little confused about why you'd need me here on a Sunday."
"Yeah," Aizawa added dryly. "What's going on, Nezu? I had plans to sleep until noon."
Nezu took a delicate sip from his own cup and set it down with a satisfied sound.
"Haaa... Tell me, Aizawa-kun, have you had a chance to review the footage from Class 1-A's combat training that I sent you?"
Aizawa frowned slightly.
"I got the file, but I haven't watched it yet. Between planning my classes and dealing with last week's incident reports, I haven't had the time. I was planning to go through it this afternoon."
"Perfect timing, then," Nezu said as his smile widened just a fraction. "That's precisely what I wanted to discuss with all of you today."
Nemuri uncrossed her legs and leaned forward with interest.
"Wait, you called us in to talk about a training exercise? Nezu, what does that have to do with me?"
"Ah, Midnight-kun, your presence is especially needed," Nezu said, turning his attention to her. "Your expertise in heroic aesthetics and professional etiquette is unmatched among our faculty. No one understands better than you how to handle the scandals that can arise during a hero's professional career, and more importantly, how to mitigate them before they become public incidents."
Nemuri blinked once, and then a slow, delighted smile spread across her face.
"Hmmm... Well, well," she purred. "Now you have my full attention."
Nezu pressed a button on his desk. A large screen descended from the ceiling behind him and turned on automatically, showing a frozen frame of someone in a red combat suit mid flight through a shattered window.
Aizawa narrowed his eyes as he studied the image.
"Wait," he said slowly. "Isn't that... Izuku Midoriya?"
He leaned forward slightly, examining the details of the suit. He remembered approving the support application form that had come across his desk. The design matched what he recalled from the specifications.
All Might, who had just taken another sip of coffee, suddenly choked.
COUGH! COUGH!
He coughed violently into his hand and wiped his mouth with the back of his wrist.
Wait! Hold on a second! Why...?! That scene shouldn't be shown! his brain screamed in panic.
"All Might-kun, are you all right?" Nezu asked with mild concern.
All Might waved his free hand dismissively while he continued to cough.
"I'm fine, I'm fine! Just... please, continue."
Nezu nodded and looked back at the screen.
"As principal of U.A., it is my responsibility to oversee how our classes are conducted to ensure we maintain the highest standards of professional ethics and preserve the prestige this institution has built over decades. Part of that responsibility includes occasionally reviewing student progress during Quirk training exercises."
"Get to the point, Nezu," Aizawa said, rubbing his eyes.
"Of course," Nezu replied amiably.
He pressed another button. The video began to play.
The footage showed the interior of a room on the fifth floor of Training Field Beta. Two students stood near a simulated weapon, in the middle of an argument. Then the window exploded inward in a shower of glittering glass fragments.
A boy in a red suit dropped through the opening, spun in the air, and landed in a perfect crouch. His hand shot up, and the nunchaku that had shattered the window flew back into his palm. With a gentle press of his thumb, the weapon locked together and extended into a scythe.
The weapon swept in a horizontal arc toward the legs of one of the two boys. The armored student tried to dodge, but the scythe hooked between his ankles mid stride, and his own momentum sent him crashing face first into the floor.
Nemuri gasped and leaned toward the screen with her hands clasped together.
"Oh my!" she exclaimed. "Look at that! That entrance was absolutely stunning! He used the visual impact to freeze the enemy for a critical second. And throwing the nunchaku during the fall to create a follow up angle of attack... what exquisite coordination!"
She turned to Aizawa with a smile.
"Shota, you've gotta admit that had style."
Aizawa watched the screen with his arms crossed and an unreadable expression.
"Style's irrelevant if it doesn't produce results," he said calmly. "But I'll admit the execution was clean. Using the momentum of the fall to increase the force of the strike while simultaneously neutralizing a second target with mid range weaponry is rational. He moved with the intent to end the fight on the first exchange."
He paused, then added:
"That's what I expect from my students."
Nemuri shook her head with an exasperated smile.
"You're such a killjoy, Shota. The kid's putting in real effort and showing promising combat instincts. That deserves recognition, not just cold tactical analysis."
All Might laughed nervously from his seat.
"Well, that was... certainly impressive!" He started to stand. "If that's all you needed to show us, I really should be going. I've got some... paperwork to finish before class tomorrow, and..."
"Please remain seated, All Might-kun," Nezu said without taking his eyes off the screen. "We haven't reached the point that interests me yet."
All Might froze halfway out of his chair, then slowly sat back down. His smile had taken on a distinctly pained quality.
Aizawa looked at the screen again, then at Nezu.
"It's true, that was a clever entrance," he said. "But that can't be the only reason you called us in on a Sunday morning. What's really going on, Nezu?"
Nezu's smile widened a bit more.
"The truth is, Aizawa-kun, the reason I asked all of you to come in today is to discuss how we're going to handle this particular situation."
He pressed another button on the remote.
The video rewound quickly, jumping to the beginning of the match. The camera angle showed Izuku and Ochako standing at the entrance of the building. Izuku leaned in to whisper something in her ear. Her face turned red, but she nodded.
Then Izuku's hands closed firmly around Ochako's breasts.
All Might's eyes shot wide open. He sprayed coffee across the desk in a spectacular arc.
NO! NOT THAT PART! WHY IS HE SHOWING THAT PART?!
Nemuri's proud smile froze on her face. Her mouth fell open slightly as she stared at the screen.
Aizawa covered his face with one hand and let out a long, exhausted sigh. He pinched the bridge of his nose with two fingers.
Damn it, Midoriya, he thought as he fought the urge to bang his head against the desk. One second you're the perfect hero candidate, the next you're a walking disaster. Now I'm gonna have to mediate between him and Uraraka, give a lecture on professional conduct, and put up with Midnight's teasing for at least a month.
He looked at the screen with his hand still covering half his face.
"Midoriya," he said out loud. "You're an idiot. That was completely irrational and unnecessary. You could've grabbed her by the shoulder."
Nemuri had recovered from her initial shock. She brought a hand to her cheek, with a faint blush tinting her skin, and her mischievous smile returned.
"Well, well!" she said with delight. "That boy is bold without a shred of hesitation! That maneuver was... unexpectedly daring! Using his partner's body for tactical positioning during flight... that's living right on the edge of the R rating!"
She laughed and leaned back in her chair.
"Kids these days don't waste any time, not even in the middle of combat!"
Nezu turned his attention to All Might, who was still staring at the screen.
"All Might-kun," Nezu said pleasantly. "Is there any particular reason you didn't report this... unexpected development?"
All Might gave a small start, then pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his face with frantic movements.
"I... uhmm... well... I considered it part of his strategy!" he said quickly. "Young Uraraka's Quirk was perfect for a surprise entry, and in the heat of combat, I didn't think it was significant enough to include in my formal report!"
Nezu nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful.
"Hmmm... I see. Well, you're a new teacher, All Might-kun, so it's understandable that you aren't familiar with how to handle this type of situation. That's precisely why I called Midnight-kun and Aizawa-kun in today."
He folded his paws over the desk again and looked at the three of them.
"We need to prepare for the possibility of a formal complaint or, better yet, find a way to prevent one from being filed in the first place."
Aizawa groaned and sank deeper into his chair.
"Let me guess," he said dryly. "You want me to handle it because I'm Class 1-A's homeroom teacher."
"Precisely," Nezu confirmed.
This means more paperwork, Aizawa thought with growing irritation. I'm gonna have to file incident reports, schedule meetings with both students, probably call their parents in, keep a closer eye on that pair during future training exercises...
He opened his mouth to protest.
Nemuri's hand shot up before he could say a word.
"Oh, Shota!" she said cheerfully. "Before you start complaining, let me make a suggestion."
Aizawa closed his mouth and looked at her suspiciously.
"What?"
Nemuri stood up from her chair and planted both hands on her hips, her smile widening until it looked predatory.
"I'll handle this one," she announced. "Consider it a personal favor, one colleague to another."
Aizawa raised his eyebrows slightly.
"You're volunteering to take on Midoriya's disciplinary action?"
"Absolutely!" Nemuri said enthusiastically. "This situation calls for someone with expertise in professional boundaries and public image management. I propose we implement a very specific form of corrective training."
She turned to Nezu and pointed at the screen.
"I'll require young Midoriya to attend mandatory extracurricular sessions on 'Professional Conduct in Close Range Rescue Scenarios.' We'll cover appropriate physical contact protocols, media perception management, and how to maintain heroic dignity even when the situation demands... unprofessional methods."
Nezu's smile returned to its usual pleasant breadth.
"That sounds like an excellent solution, Midnight-kun. How many sessions do you think would be appropriate?"
"Oh, at least six," Nemuri said as she tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Maybe more, depending on how quickly he absorbs the material. These lessons require practical demonstrations and real world application exercises. I'll need to evaluate his progress carefully before I can sign off on his certificate of completion."
Aizawa stared at her for a long moment with a completely flat expression.
Then he shrugged.
"Fine. He's all yours."
One less problem to deal with.
"Wait," All Might said weakly from his seat. "Shouldn't we at least ask young Uraraka if she felt uncomfortable during the exercise? The footage shows she knew the plan ahead of time, so maybe..."
"Of course we'll speak with young Uraraka as well," Nezu interrupted smoothly. "But given that she participated voluntarily and the maneuver was successful, I suspect she won't file a formal complaint. However, we still need to address the broader implications of such behavior becoming normalized in our training environment."
He glanced at Nemuri.
"Will you include young Uraraka in these sessions as well, Midnight-kun?"
Nemuri considered this for a moment, then shook her head.
"No, I think a one on one approach would be more effective for young Midoriya. The boy clearly needs guidance on how to maintain professional boundaries, and frankly, having his partner present during the lessons might just encourage him to keep pushing those limits as part of his 'strategy.'"
She made the air quotes on that last word with a knowing smile.
Aizawa had already pulled out his phone and was typing notes.
"I'll tell Midoriya to report to your office after classes. You can explain the situation to him then."
"Perfect," Nemuri purred. "I'm already looking forward to it."
All Might had gone very quiet in his chair, his skeletal hands gripping his coffee cup tightly.
YOUNG MIDORIYA, he thought sympathetically, I'M SO SORRY. I TRIED TO PROTECT YOU FROM THIS, BUT THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO NOW. I HOPE YOU SURVIVE MIDNIGHT-SAN'S TRAINING WITH YOUR DIGNITY INTACT.
Nezu stood up behind his desk and clasped his paws together.
"Excellent! I'm glad we could resolve this matter so efficiently. Aizawa-kun, please inform young Midoriya of his new extracurricular requirement. Midnight-kun, I leave the curriculum design entirely in your capable hands. All Might-kun..."
He paused and looked at the skeletal hero sympathetically.
"In the future, please include all unusual incidents in your training reports, regardless of whether you consider them strategically justified. It helps us address potential issues before they escalate."
All Might nodded quickly.
"Of course, Principal Nezu. It won't happen again."
"Good." Nezu rounded his desk toward the door. "Now, if there's nothing else, I believe we've all earned the rest of our Sunday morning. Thank you for coming on such short notice."
Aizawa was already halfway to the door before Nezu finished speaking. Nemuri followed at a more leisurely pace.
All Might remained seated a moment longer, staring at the frozen image of Izuku and Ochako on the screen.
"All Might-kun?" Nezu's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "Was there something else you wanted to discuss?"
"No, no," All Might said quickly as he stood up. "I was just... thinking about tomorrow's lesson plans."
"Of course," Nezu said amiably. "Have a good rest of your day."
All Might left the office and closed the door behind him. The hallway was empty except for Aizawa, who was leaning against the wall with his phone out, typing rapidly.
"Are you already messaging young Midoriya?" All Might asked.
"No," Aizawa said without looking up. "I'm updating my incident log and setting a reminder to tell him tomorrow after homeroom. The message can wait until then."
He glanced up at All Might with an unreadable expression.
"You knew this was gonna be a problem when it happened, didn't you?"
All Might scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
"I... may have suspected it could get complicated."
"Then why didn't you say something during the training session?"
"Because young Midoriya's strategy worked," All Might admitted. "The hero team won decisively, and young Uraraka demonstrated remarkable growth of her Quirk under pressure. In the moment, I prioritized their success over the possibility of administrative headaches."
Aizawa stared at him for a long moment, then sighed and pushed off the wall.
"That's surprisingly rational coming from you," he said. "But next time, just file the damn report. It saves everyone time in the long run."
He walked off without waiting for a response, leaving All Might alone in the empty hallway.
The skeletal hero stood there for a moment, then let out a long, tired sigh.
Young Midoriya, he thought again, you're about to learn a very important lesson about the consequences of pushing limits.
Back in the principal's office, Nezu sat alone at his desk with his paws neatly folded. The screen still showed the frozen image of Izuku's hands on Ochako's chest.
He pressed a button and the screen went dark, then retracted into the ceiling.
"Well," he said to the empty room with a satisfied smile, "that went exactly as planned."
He took another sip of his coffee and opened a file on his computer labeled "Student Development Observations, Class 1-A."
He opened a new entry and began to type.
Izuku Midoriya has demonstrated exceptional tactical thinking and adaptability under pressure. However... his Quirk requires further observation in combat situations; possible reassessment needed.
He saved the file and closed his laptop.
"Now then," he murmured to himself, "let's see how young Midoriya handles his first real challenge at U.A."
His smile widened just a fraction.
"This should be educational for everyone involved."
********
AUTHOR'S NOTE — Sunday Bonus Drop
Hey, you beautiful degenerates.
Yes, I'm talking to you — the ones who've been here since the beginning, reading this cursed little fanfic and somehow keeping it alive chapter by chapter. You're the reason this story still exists, and I genuinely mean that.
I've been reading through the comments, and I noticed something: a lot of you mentioned how frustrating it is to watch the Power Stone goals almost get reached every week without quite making it. You've been putting in real effort, and I see that. So today, as a Sunday gift, I'm dropping a free bonus chapter — no conditions, no goals, just because you've earned it.
But now let's talk about this week's challenge, because I might have lost my mind a little.
Every 150 Power Stones this week = 1 extra chapter released next Sunday.
Read that again. For every 150 stones, I release another chapter. Am I scared of running out of advance chapters? Honestly, a little. But I built a comfortable stockpile exactly for moments like this one, so let's find out together how far we can push it.
We have over 1,000 collections on this story. If every reader who collected this novel voted just once this week, we'd hit that goal without breaking a sweat. One vote. That's it.
For those of you who can't wait — who read today's cliffhanger and immediately thought "there's no way I'm waiting seven days" — the next chapters are already live over at patreon.com/itszeroo. Every chapter comes with a custom cover. Early access or the weekly schedule: that choice is yours.
One last thing. This novel hit Top 1 in the Power Rankings before. I'd love to do it again, and the only way that happens is if you help this story reach new readers. Share it. Drop it in a Discord server, send it to a friend who reads fanfic, post it wherever. Every new reader is another person who might fall down this same rabbit hole we're all in together.
Thank you for being here. Now go vote.
150 PS = 1 extra chapter.
— Zero