———

Cementoss. What are you doing here?"

Aizawa raised an eyebrow at the sudden appearance of the man that was supposed to be working on an overseas project. The man gave a hum, deep voice rumbling in his throat as he gave a short reply of "I was just curious about Midoriya."

No.

Not logical.

He wouldn't stop his work just because he was curious about Midoriya Izuku. Cementoss is a man who doesn't like distractions, and Izuku was one of them. Aizawa narrowed his eyes but said nothing.

"So, this is the child?"

Endeavor sneered, flames noticeably burning brighter. He was in his usual power stance with his arms crossed over his chest as he towered almost everyone.

Well, everyone except All Might that is.

All Might chuckled lightheartedly, but Midoriya and Shouta could tell it was strained, as if he was trying to keep himself from making something slip. The Number one Hero stood beside Gang Orca, who was between him and the flame Hero.

"A curious little thing, hm?"

The Orca grunted, eyeing little Izuku with a critical eye. It wasn't full of distaste, just pure concentration as if he were trying to decipher what Izuku was exactly; causing an uneasy feeling stir in Aizawa's chest.

This isn't right.

They're treating him as if he was foreign; they're treating him as if he were a test subject.

Izuku's grip tightened around Aizawa's hand as he meekly stepped back, obviously intimidated by Pro Heroes eyeing him as if he were an alien.

Shouta's parental instincts went haywire, but he kept his own mouth shut and put his hand on Izuku's head in a reassuring manner. He didn't know how to comfort a child, and this was the best he could do for now.

He didn't blame them for reacting that way, due to what happened at USJ, but the way Endeavor was eyeing him started to really, really piss him off. He already knows why they were here, but seriously? Bringing Endeavor was the worst idea ever.

Nedzu obviously wanted to push Izuku's limits, Quirk wise. So he gathered Pro Heroes just in case things became too tough to handle. After all, who knows what the child could be capable of? Hell, he might even accidentally summon a hoard of unstable Demons, and due to Shouta's last encounter, they might be a little bit hard to control.

"Let's get to it!" Nedzu's voice broke the stare down between the Number two Pro Hero and Aizawa, who didn't realize he was putting his scrutiny on the man.

A heavy scowl rested on the man with stupid fucking fire eyebrows, looking at Shouta with renewed distaste as if he grew two heads. But before Shouta could effectively pummel the guy into liquid, Gang Orca pivoted his heel and turned around, making his way into the open arena first without a word.

He had probably sensed the growing tension between the two heroes, and a fight is the last thing that they need right now.

———

The Pro Heroes stood by the sidelines, supervising Izuku, who stood alone with Principal Nedzu in the middle.

The arena was similar to where the "Quirk Olympics" (otherwise known as Sports Festival) was held.

But it was slightly larger, meant for a training ground for inexperienced first and second years, and the occasional sparring between third years.

It was covered in cement, for easy access to the Pro Hero Cementoss, since it will be easier to repair that way, along with the fact that fights usually break out whenever students spar. You know, when they can't control their emotions and a match gets to heated.
And that's where Cementoss steps in, since his quirk is to manipulate, well, Cement.

The other Pro Heroes stand by just in case Cementoss won't be able to stop the occasional fights, and since they do have very promising first years, it will probably take more than one Pro Hero to stop them.

"I would like you to summon everything you've got, okay?" Nedzu was slightly smaller than Izuku, who had to look down at the principal for better view.

Izuku's right hand twitched, green eyes glancing at Shouta again and again, as if longing to have contact with the man.
Nedzu noticed this, beady eyes narrowing.

It seems like Izuku is a tad bit too attached to the Hero, and Nedzu guesses that the kid thought of Shouta as a close guardian; a backbone to fall onto. And judging by the way Aizawa fidgeted (his fist was closing and opening again and again, as if he were grabbing onto something at thin air) the Pro Hero felt the same.

Aizawa looked a bit blank, but if you look hard enough under the bandages, he was clearly agitated. And the rest of the Pro Heroes hasn't picked on his distracted aura yet.

"Midoriya Izuku," Nedzu caught the attention of the kid, who snapped his attention to him that he almost raised an eyebrow at the sudden look of what seems to he a blank slate in his eyes. "Do you know what I'm requesting?" His cheery voice softened to a degree, but still had the underlying firmness, instructing Izuku to listen to him.

"I'm dangerous."

The kid stated plainly, head tilted to the side in an innocent manner. But something in his eyes didn't match the childish demeanor, a dark, sinister aura overlapping that. "That's why I'm here, right? You're testing me?"

He spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, as if he knew and understood what situation he was in.

"Of course. With a power like that, you are exceptionally a threat." Nedzu danced and treaded lightly and Carefully on his words, knowing that one slip up may cost him his life. "But we are here to teach you how to control it. To guide you in the right direction."

That seemed to strike a cord in the kid, whose eyes gleamed with something; an expression Nedzu can't pinpoint.

But, it disturbed him.

"I really hope you know what you're doing, Principal Nedzu," Izuku mused, green eyes taking over the creature's form as if searching for something. "I'll comply. But I want to know.."

He looked at Aizawa, who seemingly tended under the kid's gaze.

"When I get to control my power, I'll be able to stay with that human, right?"

Nedzu caught onto what he was implying.

"Human".

Something that Midoriya Izuku isn't.

From the sentence, Nedzu solidified the fact that he, a Demon child, an abomination, considered Aizawa Shouta, homeroom teacher of the most promising class, a friend.

A parental figure.

"But of course," he smoothly agreed, to which the child responded to with a grin.

"Very well then, Principal," Izuku continued.

Suddenly, the unnerving feeling swallowed the Pro Heroes and Nedzu up, surges of power sending powerful shockwaves, beating, pulsing, with incredible energy.

Nedzu was pushed back, almost sent tumbling as the Pro Heroes tensed and stumbled, Cementoss' hands already on the ground with alerted eyes. He was waiting for the Principal's orders, while Endeavor almost looked like he wasn't going to wait for instructions and just pounce on Izuku to apprehend him.

Shouta was ready to activate his quirk, while Gang Orca stood his ground, the cement cracking against his soles as he tried to not collapse.

That's when Nedzu sees it.

The atmosphere literally rippled from the waves as the child's eyes gleamed with such burning intensity that he felt like he was being skinned alive, Nedzu experienced the power firsthand.

And it was absolutely breathtaking.