23

Chapter 23: Chapter #23 | The Viper in the Midst

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Throughout Saturday, each and every one of the students trickled their way into the dorms. Each with their own quirks, both personality and otherwise, to bring to the dorm. For the most part, they all quickly relegated themselves to their rooms to unbox and adjust to the housing that they would be sharing for the next four years. That was, of course, if they could survive the classes.

Izuku had smiled as each trailed into the dorm with their belongings and had made sure to pay special attention to several. While each of the students currently knew him by the bogus name Iwasaki Hiroki, and oh boy, Aizawa's reaction to his body shifting in front of him had been golden, Izuku had been very careful to lay inconsistencies in the ones he introduced himself to. This was a test of their perception skills, not a fake identity that he needed to integrate with for a long time.

One moment, the boy was nervous, stuttering, scared of his own shadow. The next, he was the kind gentleman that made chests pound and hearts yearn. He'd been trained as a ghost, and that training came in handy here. Himiko and Kyoka had recognized him for a fake very rapidly, and that pleased him as much as it would Aizawa. Izuku got to see his training pay off, and Aizawa got to have at least two students that paid attention to details. All the same, though, they wouldn't give up the game after he gestured for them to keep it quiet.

Izuku stood at one of the many mirrors in the men's showers, the blue-bronze sun barely having crested the horizon, and smiled at the reflection in the mirror. Silver eyes and hair stared back from a face not of his own, and he knew he had one day before classes began and the ruse was revealed. It was going to be a fun day.

…

Unsurprising for Izuku, the first one to filter into the common area for the day for Shinso. The boy had spoken with Izuku about his insomnia over the week he had been waiting for his results. Hitoshi had found it strange that he was able to reach Izuku at pretty much any time of the day, and they'd gotten on the topic from there.

While Izuku wasn't all that surprised, Shinso was very surprised to find someone up and moving around in the kitchen when he wandered down. He was even more surprised when he found that it was a silver-haired pretty boy bouncing around the kitchen, cooking what looked like a mountain of bacon and oh god that's coffee isn't it?

Out of the corner of his eye, Izuku watched as Shinso beelined straight for the french press and its fresh coffee, smirking in his head. That's one guard down. "O-Oh hello, good morning. Did you sleep well? I-I'm Iwasaki Hiroki. I-I hope the coffee is to your l-liking, I-I just m-made it and hadn't been expecting c-company."

Hitoshi looked up from where he had just poured a pot of the liquid gold to the doe-eyed boy that was now staring at him and his mug. Shinso looked back down to his cup before taking a sip. He barely kept his mug upright as his legs gave out from under him, and he let out a moan that would have given anyone outside the kitchen the wrong idea entirely. "That. Is. Amazing."

Hitoshi could have sworn that if the word euphoria had a flavor, then he had just found it. When he told Iwasaki as much, he was blessed with a smile so bright and happy that it dulled the sun and an exuberant hug. Shinso tensed under the sudden grip, doing his best not to offend the happy boy when he extricated himself from his grasp. Nope, too early for this. After being told breakfast was to soon follow, Shinso squirreled away several pieces of already completed bacon and the coffee before escaping back out into the common room.

…

It was barely half an hour before the early risers of the dorm were drawn down to the common room by the fragrance of food wafting through the building. Iida Tenda was the first into the common area, though he wasn't alone. Most of the dorm was up and awake, so once they caught the scent, everyone started trickling down and into the common room slowly, confused as to where the smell was coming from.

A smile came easily to Izuku's face. He'd had to fake them for years, even before he had become responsible for a unit of soldiers. Then, once he had, morale was important to consider, so the skill only got refined further. Iida had been surprisingly helpful. Once the man had learnt Iwasaki was cooking for everyone, he had volunteered to gather everyone up. Izuku had desperately wanted to laugh when Iida began to look more like a robot than a human as he spoke and jerked his hands around. "One of our classmates has been kind enough to go through the effort of cooking us a meal. As such, we should all eat it, and it is a perfect time to introduce ourselves!"

Perhaps he's not the ass he came off as. By the time Izuku placed the final platter on the kitchen island and stepped out into the common area, Iida had managed to gather the entirety of class 1-A into the common area, albeit some were far more awake than others. Izuku made sure to take note of several that were basically asleep on their feet.

"Thanks for getting everyone together, Iida." Izuku stepped up beside the tall man, sliding his fingernail across the side of Iida's neck before settling on his shoulder. Iida made another series of robotic gestures with a short speech on the benefits of camaraderie. Izuku beamed a smile at him as he turned to address the class, only to get cut off by the one person he'd prefer to not deal with at all.

"The fuck did you have four eyes get us all up for, huh? It's fucking Sunday and we have classes starting tomorrow, asshole." The room gaped at Bakugo Katsuki as if he'd just grown a second, and then a third, head. They were all adults here, of course, but when the first two sentences out of his mouth had three curses in it, well, it had startled them. Even Izuku was momentarily caught off guard. He had expected even Katsuki to show a little more decorum.

Iida wasted no time in beginning a stern lecture on his language, while Izuku couldn't help but glare coldly at the manchild that he'd once had the pleasure of calling a friend. How to deal with him. Hmm. No one was paying attention to Izuku, due to the now yelling powder keg in the middle of the common room. He let a cold, sharp smile ghost over his lips, because he knew exactly what he could do here to throw up red flags. If none of them act on this, they are probably doomed in this test.

Katsuki was getting into Iida's face now, yelling profane insults as Iida cited regulations and rules. Yaoyorozu was trying to get in between them and defuse the situation, while most of the class watched with a variety of emotions, from amusement to unease. Several were worried that the scuffle was going to escalate further when the air itself seemed to freeze. Momo was going to look over to Todoroki and see what was happening when the atmosphere shifted again and it was like the air was sucked out of everyone's lungs.

Oppressive didn't even begin to describe what it was. The air itself was suddenly unfit for consumption. It prickled the skin with needles and was frigid on the membrane. Each labored, hitching breath felt like it was trying to flay their lungs from the inside. They could see it on each other's faces, the sudden abject terror that came with their own bodies rejecting their commands in favor of freezing like statues. Then, as quickly as it had come, it was gone, leaving everyone gasping for air, as if they had never had anything so sweet.

"U-Um, p-please don't a-argue guys. We're l-letting the food get cold. T-There is plenty f-for everyone. P-Please go ahead h-help yourselves." The room was still on edge from whatever that had been, but the mention of food got them moving again. The moment quickly passed once people began filtering through the kitchen and back out to the large, class-sized dining table that rested to one side of the room. Izuku narrowed his eyes once again and sucked on his teeth, because nobody outside of his trainees and two others seemed to question what they'd just experienced.

…

It wasn't long before breakfast was winding down. Initially, there had been some talking between people seated next to one another and, occasionally, someone sitting across would break in with a comment or two. But that quickly died once the class started to taste the food in front of them. Izuku had prepared something of a continental breakfast that morning, as he didn't know all of their preferences.

Izuku was a little concerned when Kaminari started crying, but the compliments he was paying Iwasaki in between bites made Izuku decide that it wasn't a bad thing. Izuku scanned everyone as they ate their food, looking for any signs of suspicion or question, but outside of his two trainees, seemingly no one was suspicious of the banquet that had been provided to them. Even when Izuku went around running his hand across their necks and shoulders, asking if everything was satisfactory.

Appreciative, grateful, joyous, indebted, and obliged were all emotions he spotted, but no negative responses outside of Bakugo's plate being more tabasco sauce than egg, but he was doing his best to ignore that.

They've been at peace for a very long time. Izuku forced himself to remember. This world has been peaceful, as far as they know, since the third world war. They have no reason to look for danger everywhere. No reason to check for poison in their food. Even with the reminder, Izuku had to force back the whispers in his head, telling him that it wouldn't last. That the peace was just a farce to cover the next move.

Momo placed her utensils down and stood before turning to Izuku. "Iwasaki, I have to say thank you for the meal. It was incredible, and despite what you had to work with, it was on par with the chefs at my home." A real, sunny smile came to Izuku's face now, and this time it was easy. He had learnt from the best, his mother, and any compliments for his cooking were inextricably tied back to her.

Kyoka stifled a snort as she caught a muttered lucky bitch from Kaminari before Yaoyorozu continued. "I do believe now would be a fantastic time for everyone to introduce themselves. Since we have everyone here."

Katsuki let out a short, barking laugh before pushing away from the table and beginning to stalk off. "I have no need for knowing you damn extras. You're all stepping stones for me anyway. Thanks for the food I guess though. It wasn't shit."

The table was stunned, but Momo, simply glad the situation hadn't devolved again, snapped back and continued with her own introduction. She cleared her throat, drawing attention back to her. "My name is Yaoyorozu Momo, and my quirk is Creation. It allows me to create anything nonliving, as long as I understand the atomic configuration of it." The class was quick to ignore the departure of Bakugo, several already pegging him as an unpleasant mess. Izuku's eyes narrowed in on Momo though. Kyoka and I had to leave before she told us her quirk. That is beyond useful, and not just for hero work.

The pink girl, who had been bouncing in her seat since she'd stolen a bit of the coffee from Shinso, jumped up now. "I'm Ashido Mina, and my quirk is Acid! It was great in the exam because I didn't have to worry about hurting someone!" She twirled in place for everyone to get a good look at her. Several people laughed, and the atmosphere eased with the energetic pink girl's bouncing and comedy.

The introductions eased out after that, and Izuku had to do his best to keep his character for now. As much as he wanted to play twenty questions with some of their quirks, it would have to wait. Iida Tenya: Quirk Engine, Asui Tsuyu: Quirk Frog, Ojiro Mashijiao: Quirk Tail, Koji Koda: Quirk Anivoice, Shoji Mezo: Quirk Dupliarms, Jiro Kyoka: Quirk Earjack, Sero Hanta: Quirk Tape, Kaminari Denki: Quirk Electrification, Kirishima Eijiro: Quirk Hardening.

Izuku filed away the quirks under interesting but not anything out of the ordinary. He already knew everyone's names. He wasn't about to sleep in the same building without knowing that much, at least. Uraraka Ochako: Quirk Zero Gravity, Hagakure Toru: Quirk Invisibility. Izuku filed those two away. He'd had the thought at the entrance exam that something wasn't right with Uraraka's quirk. Not that he thought she was hiding something, nothing was indicating that, but it was like she didn't know her own quirk. Hagakure, in the meantime, could be the key to solving the issue he and Mei had been having with the cloaking tech. It worked as a stationary field, but a moving one? They couldn't get it to hold its integrity.

Hagakure poked the girl sitting next to her, only to jolt back when the girl jumped up, looking startled. "Ah, I sorry. It is still middle of night where I from. I having hard time with. Je- Jet La-" Izuku chuckled a bit and threw her a bone.

"*Jet Lag Right?*" The girl's eyes lit up with recognition and excitement when Izuku spoke English.

"*You speak English! I'm sorry, I'm still trying to fully learn Japanese.*" Momo stared at Iwasaki, because when had he learnt English? He'd been struggling with English last night when they were talking about their class schedule. How is he speaking it so well now?!

"*It's alright, just do your best. Either Yaoyorozu or I can help you if you need it.*" Pony nodded rapidly before turning back to the class at large.

"I Tsunotori Pony, can just call me Pony. I from America and Quirk is Horn Cannon. I detach my horns. Use as projectile." Pony looked now to Iwasaki and Momo and, getting a nod from them, sat down with a smile.

Himiko stood next with a nervous expression. "My name is Toga Himiko, and my quirk is Transform." The class looked at her carefully and, after a confused question from Sero, I don't see anything odd though, she sighed. "I guess I might as well get this out of the way. I can transform into anyone if I've recently drank their blood." It honestly hurt when she saw several of the class stiffen, but others were nodding. Tsu, as she'd told everyone to call her, was the first to croak out a response to it.

"Honestly kero, that would be amazing for stealth operations." Himiko gave her a smile and decided that she was going to befriend the hell out of the frog.

Shinso stood right after Himiko sat down, rushing out his introduction, emboldened by the positive response to Himiko's quirk. "My name is Shinso Hitoshi, and my quirk allows me to control anyone that responds to me."

He waited, eyes clenched shut for the disgust, the murmurs, the jeering he was used to. Instead, he was startled when he heard a seat scape and his eyes snapped open to find Kirishima standing with his fists in the air. "That's so cool! You could take down even All Might with that if he responded!" Hitoshi couldn't help but blush. He still wasn't used to positive feedback and sat down muttering thanks.

"Truly, the darker the shadow, the harder it is to control." Hitoshi looked to his side and found the bird kid now standing. "My name is Tokoyami Fumikage, and my quirk is-"

"His quirk is me!" From underneath his shirt, another bird popped out, this one made entirely of shadow. "I'm Dark Shadow, and Fumi was going to sit down without introducing me!"

Tokoyami sighed, pushing Dark Shadow out of the way so he could see the rest of the class. "Yes, this beast of the darkness is my eternal companion. We truly thrive in the shadows."

"Damn, Fumi. Why do you have to be so edgy all the time?" Izuku chuckled a little as he watched the two go back and forth. Even as he laughed, though, Izuku filed away a note to check into Dark Shadow. It seemed like they acted less as companions and more as master and servant. That likely wouldn't work well as they moved forward. If there was something to convince him to see Dark Shadow differently, it would help.

That leaves Todoroki and me. Abruptly, said man stood, introducing himself in soft, clipped tones. "My name is Todoroki Shoto. My quirk is Half-Cold, Half-Hot. I can produce fire and ice from my body. I will never use my fire side." Well, that's concerning. Not that I don't know the reason for that hesitance, but that mentality is poisonous.

Izuku realized everyone was staring at him and internally smiled. Alright, let's see if anyone catches the issue here. He stood and, making sure to shake a little, began to introduce himself. "M-My name i-is I-Iwasaki Hiroki. I c-can produce magnesium f-fires from the magnesium s-stored in my body." Izuku flicked his wrists, letting some of the magnesium powder he'd been clutching poof up into the air, and set off a light electrical discharge from his hands.

Once again, Izuku was left sucking on his teeth when everyone simply accepted that at face value. The sparks in the air had distracted them from what he'd done, and Izuku hid his hands in his lap. His fried nerve endings screamed as charred skin from the electrical current regenerated. Momo had been staring at him like he was strange for a while, but had been doing so since he spoke English, so he doubted that she'd caught what he'd just done.

…

"Who are you?" Izuku turned to where he had heard the voice and couldn't keep the smile off his face. Todoroki Shoto stood glaring at him.

"Wh-What d-do you m-mean, Todoroki? I-I already in-introduced myself earlier."

Shoto narrowed his eyes at him and got closer. "I know what bloodlust feels like. I know a lie when I hear one, when I see one. You can either answer or I can take it to the faculty. Who. Are. You." Midoriya couldn't help the cold smile that came to his face now. His eyes glared back into Todoroki's.

"Congratulations, Todoroki. You pass. Though, next time you suspect something like this," Izuku whipped his hand up faster than Shoto could register, nail dragging across Todoroki's neck, "go to the faculty first. You aren't a hero yet. Confronting a potential security threat could get you killed without anyone any the wiser." Izuku patted Todoroki on the shoulder. "But again, congrats. Be sure not to tell anyone else. The reveal will be tomorrow when class begins."

Shoto stared, confused now, as the silver-haired man walked away, once again the nervous, stuttering wreck they were used to, while rubbing his throat in consternation.

…

The next morning when Pony's alarm went off, she groaned and wanted to curl up into a little ball. Why didn't I come to Japan earlier and avoid this issue? Groaning, she dragged herself from her bed and began to get ready, pulling her uniform from its hanger and turning to her mirror. The first thing she noticed was the sweet scent of dark roast coffee. The second thing she noticed was the fresh cup of it sitting on the shelf next to her mirror with a little note.

Pony, I figured you might need a wake-up call this morning, all things considered. So drink this, you should be good for the rest of the day. ~Iwasaki Hiroki

Pony smiled as she read the note, though she was confused as to when he had come in and placed the coffee there. It hadn't been there when she woke up. She took a sip and immediately had to fight back the gag as her spine ramrodded itself straight. Holy- that's strong. Wow, I'm awake now. That's some good shit.

…

One by one, Izuku watched as the students of class 1-A trickled into the classroom. He'd left that morning early so that he could report to Aizawa regarding his class' inattention to detail. Pony's coffee that morning was only the tip of the iceberg. He'd spent several hours the previous day simply testing their individual awareness.

He'd moved things around on Yaoyorozu without her ever noticing his presence. Bakugo had nearly exploded when his curtains kept getting folded and placed on his bed, with him in the room. And Mina, Kaminari, and Sero had somehow managed to not notice that he cheated in their boardgames six ways from Sunday, some of which he didn't even bother trying to hide.

Everyone had found their seats in the classroom and immediately began speaking with each other. Izuku had the unfortunate displeasure of being seated directly behind the ticking time bomb that was Bakugo. Luckily, while Katsuki was a bully and a jackass, he was a massive quirkist, so he hadn't begun tormenting anyone as of yet. As far as he knew, Iwasaki Hiroki had a quirk.

Iida spotted him shortly after yelling at Bakugo about his legs being up on the desk. "Iwasaki! I believed you were better than this! We are students of this fine establishment. As such, we must act like it! Where is your proper uniform?" Izuku glanced down and back at Iida. The thought of dropping the act now and telling him to pull the rod out of his ass occurred, but that would ruin Aizawa's surprise.

What Midoriya was wearing was the proper uniform provided to him by the president for his class. Its pants and suit jacket were pitch black with gold detailing. Where one would expect the tassels for the hero course, you could instead find a bright silver UA resting atop a golden star. "Wh- B-But. T-This is the proper uniform, I-Iida? T-This is t-the one I was p-provided by the faculty."

"Then I am very sorry!" Iida bowed to Midoriya, and over his left shoulder, he could see the yellow caterpillar that was Aizawa inching his way across the ground towards his podium. He could also see that, outside of himself, only Yaoyorozu and Todoroki had noticed it. Oh hell.

"If you are all here to socialize rather than learn, get out and don't come back." The class whipped their heads around to find the rather terse and very annoyed voice at the front of the room. "Eleven seconds to quiet down. Almost all of you are already disappointing me. That needs to stop. My name is Aizawa Shota, and I'll be your homeroom professor while you're here at U.A."

Kaminari was the first to speak up after that, indignation thick in his voice. "Sir, it's the first day, and we didn't even know you were there. How could we have disappointed you already?" Several of the students nodded, seemingly agreeing with the sentiment.

"Who said that it's your first day? You've been part of a test since you arrived, and so far, you are all lacking. Midoriya, go ahead." Momo couldn't help but whip her head around. Midoriya?! Where is he? Iwasaki stood and spoke now with a voice that made a vast majority of the class stiffen in their seats. His voice was deeper now, richer, more confident than they had heard from him before.

"Oh, I'll gladly do so, sir." He stepped towards the front of the room, and it was as if their entire perception of him shifted. He carried himself with absolute certainty now, and as he ran his hand through his hair, the silver shifted and darkened, returning to a verdant green while the hair itself elongated. Izuku turned, pulling his hair back into the ponytail he was used to having. The class watched as the silver in his eyes melted like spring snow and fell into a deep viridian that glowed with the shift.

"Allow me to reintroduce myself. I apologize for deceiving you all, but it was a necessary test. My name is Midoriya Izuku, and I'm quirkless." He gave a small stage bow with a blankly courteous smile. Bakugo practically exploded in his seat, snarling.

"I should also note." The lights clicked and the room was bathed in the purple violet light Yaoyorozu recognized as Ultraviolet. They all had crimson marks and streaks across their skin. She could feel the blood leach from her, her skin growing cold and clammy, as she realized that each of them ran over vital locations. Across throats, nicking jugulars, across eyes, and across their spines.

"You are all currently failing."

Notes:

Bonus points to anyone who knows what substance is blood red under UV light.