[5] The Reckoning
The screen flickered to black, plunging the faculty room into silence. Principal Nezu hopped onto the table, his small form commanding attention.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he began, his voice eerily cheerful, "what you've just witnessed is the handiwork of one Akira Sakamoto, age 17."
Midnight leaned forward, a predatory gleam in her eye. "That kid's got moves. And not bad to look at, either."
Present Mic snorted. "Yeah, if you're into the whole 'teenage criminal' thing."
Nezu cleared his throat. "Mr. Sakamoto lost his parents in an incident six years ago. Since then, he's been under the care of his older sister, Noel. His academic record is... inconsistent. High test scores when he applies himself, but frequent disciplinary issues."
"So, a troublemaker with a sob story," Vlad King rumbled. "What makes him special?"
Aizawa, who'd been leaning against the wall, spoke up. "His quirk, for one. He can absorb and redirect kinetic energy. But it's more than that. The kid's smart. Strategic. He's been running circles around the local police for months."
All Might, uncharacteristically quiet until now, leaned forward. "Those sparks when he uses his quirk..."
The room fell silent, all eyes turning to the Symbol of Peace. All Might's hand drifted to his stomach, to the scar hidden beneath his shirt.
Nezu's beady eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.
Recovery Girl broke the silence. "So, what are we proposing here? To turn him over to the authorities?"
"That would be the proper procedure," Ectoplasm nodded.
"And waste all that potential?" Midnight countered. "The kid's got skills. With the right guidance..."
Vlad King slammed his fist on the table. "Are you suggesting we reward criminal behavior? He's a thief, plain and simple."
"He's a kid who's been dealt a bad hand," Present Mic argued. "Maybe all he needs is a chance."
The room erupted into arguments, voices overlapping.
"He's dangerous!"
"He's misguided!"
"Think of the example it would set!"
"Think of the good he could do!"
Nezu let the debate rage for a moment before raising a paw. The room fell silent.
"Aizawa," he said, "you brought this to our attention. What's your take?"
All eyes turned to Eraserhead. He sighed, running a hand through his messy hair.
"The kid's got potential, I'll give him that. But he's reckless, arrogant. Thinks he's invincible."
"Sounds like someone else we know," Midnight smirked, glancing at All Might.
Aizawa ignored her. "But... I've seen kids like him before. Push them away, and they fall deeper into villainy. Give them a chance..."
He trailed off, his eyes distant.
All Might spoke up, his voice grave. "We have a responsibility. Not just to uphold the law, but to guide the next generation. If we turn our backs on troubled youth, are we any better than the villains who would recruit them?"
The room fell silent, considering his words.
Nezu hopped down from the table, pacing. "Here's what I propose. We set up a test. A controlled scenario to assess young Sakamoto's skills and decision-making. If he shows promise, we offer him a choice: join U.A.'s hero course or face the legal consequences of his actions."
Vlad King frowned. "And if he chooses U.A.?"
"Then he'll be on strict probation," Nezu replied. "One toe out of line, and it's straight to the authorities."
The faculty exchanged glances, a mix of uncertainty and intrigue on their faces.
"It's risky," Ectoplasm said slowly. "But... it could pay off."
Midnight grinned. "I'm in. This ought to be fun."
One by one, the other teachers nodded their agreement. All except Vlad King, who crossed his arms with a scowl.
"I still think this is a mistake," he grumbled. "But I'm outvoted. Just don't expect me to go easy on the brat."
Nezu clapped his paws together. "Excellent! Then it's settled. Aizawa, you'll take point on this operation. Set up the scenario, gather the necessary personnel. We'll give young Sakamoto the chance of a lifetime... whether he realizes it or not."
As the meeting dispersed, All Might lingered, his eyes fixed on the paused image of Akira on the screen. Those eyes… those black and red sparks... why did they seem so familiar?
Nezu watched him, a calculating look in his eyes. "Something on your mind, All Might?"
All Might startled, as if waking from a dream. "Ah, no. Just... thinking about the responsibility we're taking on."
Nezu nodded, but his gaze remained sharp. "Indeed. This could be the beginning of something quite interesting."
Outside the faculty room, Aizawa leaned against the wall, lost in thought. This Akira kid... he reminded him of someone. Someone from long ago, someone he'd failed to save.
"You better not make me regret this, problem child," he muttered.
Midnight sauntered up, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Aw, Eraser. Don't tell me you're going soft on us."
Aizawa scowled. "Hardly. I'm just making sure we don't create a bigger problem than we're solving."
"Sure, sure," Midnight smirked. "Just admit it. You see something in the kid."
Aizawa pushed off the wall, heading down the hallway. "What I see is a headache waiting to happen. But if it keeps him from becoming a full-fledged villain... I guess it's worth the migraine."
As the teachers dispersed, each lost in their own thoughts about the upcoming "test," the image of Akira Sakamoto lingered in their minds. A wild card, a potential asset, a possible threat.
Back in his office, Nezu pulled up Akira's file once more. His eyes lingered on a detail he hadn't shared with the others: a genetic quirk analysis, showing an anomaly. An anomaly that, if his suspicions were correct, could change everything.
"Well, young Sakamoto," he mused, "you might be even more special than you realize."
[Present Day]
Principal Nezu's voice droned on, outlining the terms of my... let's call it "conditional enrollment." April. First year. Probation. One strike and I'm out. The usual stuff you'd expect when a school decides to reform a teenage criminal instead of tossing him to the cops.
But I barely heard any of it. My attention was fixed on Noel, sitting ramrod straight beside me. To anyone else, she might have looked calm, collected. But I knew better. The slight tightness around her eyes, the barely perceptible clench of her jaw – Noel was pissed. Beyond pissed.
"...and that concludes our agreement," Nezu chirped, his beady eyes gleaming. "Any questions, Ms. Sakamoto?"
Noel stood, bowing deeply. Her voice was steady, betraying none of the anger I knew was boiling just beneath the surface. "No, Principal Nezu. Thank you for giving my brother this opportunity. We're deeply grateful."
I winced internally at the 'we.' Yeah, right.
As we left the office, I snuck glances at Noel. Still nothing. Not a word, not a look. Just silence. Somehow, that was worse than if she'd started yelling.
We walked through the halls of U.A., and despite the situation, I couldn't help but look around in awe. The place was massive, way bigger than my current school. State-of-the-art facilities peeked out from behind partially open doors. In one room, I glimpsed what looked like a training ground, maybe?
For a brief moment, I let myself imagine what it would be like to train here, to be a real hero-in-training. It was... not entirely awful.
But then I remembered the cost. The lies, the theft, the disappointment etched into every line of Noel's face. The fantasy crumbled.
We stepped out of the main building, the afternoon sun warm on my face. I took one last look at U.A., this towering symbol of heroism that was somehow giving a screw-up like me a second chance.
As soon as we cleared the school gates, Noel stopped. I nearly ran into her, caught off guard by the sudden halt.
She turned to face me, her blue eyes boring into mine. When she spoke, her voice was quiet, controlled. But that one word carried the weight of every emotion she'd been holding back.
"Why?"
I opened my mouth, a quip on the tip of my tongue. Some joke about career changes or falling in with the wrong crowd. Anything to lighten the mood, to avoid the real conversation.
But the look in Noel's eyes stopped me cold. This wasn't the time for deflection or humor. She deserved the truth. Even if it hurt.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I... I don't know, Noel. It just... happened."
"It just happened? Seven months of theft and vigilantism just... happened?"
Put like that, it did sound pretty lame. "Okay, that's not... I mean..."
"You lied to me," Noel said, her voice cracking slightly. "For months. You put yourself in danger, broke the law, and for what? Money?"
I felt a flare of defensiveness. "Hey, that money helped pay the bills, didn't it? All those extra shifts you didn't have to take, the groceries that mysteriously appeared in the fridge..."
As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew I'd screwed up. Noel's eyes widened, then narrowed dangerously.
"You used stolen money to... to what? Take care of me?" Her voice was low, dangerous. "Did you think I wouldn't notice? That I'd just accept mystery money without question?"
I looked away, unable to meet her gaze. "I just... I wanted to help. You work so hard, Noel. You've given up so much for me. I thought if I could take some of the burden off..."
"By becoming a criminal?" Noel's voice rose, drawing looks from passersby. She took a deep breath, visibly calming herself. "Akira, I never asked you to do that. I never wanted you to risk your future, your safety, for me."
I felt a lump forming in my throat. "I know. I just... I couldn't stand seeing you work yourself to the bone. And then, when I started... it felt good, you know? To be in control, to outsmart the system. I got carried away."
Noel was quiet for a long moment, processing. When she spoke again, her voice was softer, tinged with sadness. "Why didn't you talk to me? If things were that bad, we could have figured something out together."
I laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Right. Because you would have been totally cool with your little brother moonlighting as a thief."
"Of course not," Noel snapped. "But I would have listened. We could have found another way. Instead, you lied. You snuck around. You..." She trailed off, shaking her head. "Do you have any idea how worried I've been? The late nights, the mysterious bruises, the secretive behavior... I thought you were mixed up in something dangerous. I guess I was right.
Guilt crashed over me like a wave. All this time, I'd thought I was protecting Noel. But I'd just been causing her more pain.
"I'm sorry," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I never meant to hurt you. I just... I wanted to make things better. I wanted to be more than just a burden."
Noel's expression softened. She reached out, pulling me into a tight hug. "You idiot," she murmured. "You've never been a burden. You're my brother. My family. That's all that matters."
I hugged her back, feeling like a kid again. For a moment, we just stood there, holding each other. All the lies, all the secrets... they didn't matter. We were still family.
Finally, Noel pulled back, wiping at her eyes. "So," she said, her voice steadier. "U.A. Huh?"
"Yeah, well. Apparently, my 'youthful indiscretions' translate well to hero work. Who knew?"
"Only you could turn a life of crime into a scholarship to the top hero school in the country."
"What can I say? I'm talented."
She smacked my arm, but there was a hint of a smile on her face. "Don't push it, brat. You're still in huge trouble."
I nodded, sobering. "I know. I've got a lot to make up for. But I promise, Noel. I'm going to do this right. No more lies, no more secrets. I'm going to become a hero you can be proud of."
Noel's eyes softened. "I've always been proud of you, Akira. Even when you drive me crazy. Just... promise me you'll be careful. This hero thing... it's dangerous."
I grinned. "Hey, if I can handle seven months of vigilante work, I think I can handle a few training exercises."
She rolled her eyes. "That's not as reassuring as you think it is."
We started walking again, heading towards the train station. As we walked, Noel asked questions about U.A., about the agreement, about what this all meant for my future. I answered as best I could, still processing it all myself.
"So," Noel said as we waited for our train. "What made you decide to accept their offer? I mean, hero work... that's never been your thing."
I thought about it, trying to put into words the jumble of emotions and thoughts that had led me to this point.
"I guess... I saw a chance. A chance to do something good, you know? To use these skills I've got for something more than just lining my own pockets." I paused, then added quietly, "A chance to make Mom and Dad proud."
Noel's hand found mine, squeezing gently. "They would be proud of you, Akira. For owning up to your mistakes, for choosing to do better."
I squeezed back, grateful for her support. "Yeah, well. Don't celebrate too much yet. I've still got to make it through U.A. without getting expelled. Or arrested."
Noel laughed. "True. But if anyone can turn a life of crime into a heroic career, it's you."
As we boarded the train, I felt a mix of emotions swirling in my chest. Fear, excitement, uncertainty... but also hope. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was on the right path.
"Hey, Noel?" I said as the train pulled away from the station.
"Hmm?"
"Thanks. For everything. For not giving up on me."
She smiled, ruffling my hair like she used to when I was little. "Never gonna happen, little brother. We're in this together, remember?"
I nodded, feeling a warmth in my chest that had nothing to do with my quirk. "Together. I like the sound of that."
As the city sped by outside the window, I let myself imagine the future.
It wasn't going to be easy. But then again, nothing worth doing ever is.