Running Solo

Chapter 27 - Nezu, Man or Mouse? Neither.

-Uraraka's Perspective-

"Hey Shio-kun!" I called to Itamie, who had just arrived back to the classroom after changing. Everyone else had already left the classroom eager to either get home or wanting to take advantage of the nice weather while they chatted.

"Hello, Ako-san." he said as he made his way to the front to grab a syllabus.

"If I use 'kun', you can use 'chan' It's only fair." I told him with a stifled giggle. So formal and polite.

"Alright, Ako-chan. If you insist." Itamie said with a shrug.

"I was wondering if you wanted to walk with me? Either to the train station or until we have to go different directions?"

"I can't today, but maybe tomorrow? I take the train, so we could walk to the station together. If that's alright with you, of course."

"Sure! I wouldn't have asked if it wasn't okay." I reassured with a smile. "Is it alright if my friend joins us? I'm staying with her so..."

"Yeah. That's fine. I'm assuming this is the friend you mentioned during the exam?"

"Yup! That's her! She's in our class, too! She's in seat twenty-three. Well, she used to be. I imagine that the seat numbers will probably change a little with two of our classmates expelled."

"Probably." Itamie agreed. An awkward silence stretched on for a few minutes before my eye caught sight of the sun out the window.

"Oh! I have to go, or I'm going to miss my train!" I cried out.

"Go ahead, Ako-chan. I'll see you tomorrow." Itamie said, his head motioning once towards the classroom door.

"See you tomorrow, Shio-kun!" I called with a big grin as I made my way quickly out the door.

What an interesting guy. I thought as I ran through the empty halls and across the deserted courtyard. He reminds me a little bit of Fai-chan. So closed off and mysterious, yet easy to talk to. I hope he's doing okay.

-Izuku's Perspective-

After Uraraka left, I couldn't help the anxiety that flooded me. I had talked with Kurogiri the past few days about Nezu's offer. He and I both agreed that it would be in my best interest to take the principal's offer, but that I would have to be careful. Kurogiri and I needed someone to know, but they had to be capable of doing something with the information. I also couldn't tell them, or Sensei would know the next time he went digging around in my head. Nezu was one of the smartest beings in the world, if not the smartest. Whether animal or human, there were very few that could even come close to reaching Nezu's omniscient-level intelligence. This could also backfire on us, though, if Nezu learned the truth too quickly. Before he got to know me as a person and came to trust me as his student. It was a fine line, but it was one I was ready to dance across like an acrobat on a tightrope, especially if it meant that I could help the people who had come to mean so much to me. Taking steps to getting rid of that monster  was just an added bonus.

Right now, though. Not even Sensei's brutal training could completely numb the fear and anxiety I felt creeping up at even the mere thought of meeting Nezu. I could only continue to push my feet forward as I made my way through the halls, guided by nothing but the map that had been included in my acceptance letter. Seemingly seconds later, I stood in front of a rather intimidating sized door, though that just seemed to be a thing with UA. I only got one short knock in before a small voice called out for me to come in. I gulped nervously as the door slid open by itself. I walked into the room, trying not to seem cautious, though I let some of my nerves show. Anyone would have been nervous to meet the principal of UA and it wouldn't be good if the hybrid thought that I wasn't nervous, or worse, was hiding something. I only got a quick glimpse around the room, and boy did that make me anxious, before I forced myself into a bow.