Mailin's POV

The dorms are alive with excitement as Shoto and Katsuki return, the Provisional Hero Licenses now in their possession. The air crackles with energy as everyone gathers around them, offering congratulations. Shoto, as always, is calm and composed, while Katsuki, well... his temper is on full display as usual. It’s all part of their charm.

Standing next to Shota, I feel a sense of pride watching our students celebrate. It’s been a long journey for all of them, and even though we know the real challenges are yet to come, it’s moments like this that remind me why we do what we do.

"Think he'll survive the media training tomorrow?" I ask, glancing up at Shota with a playful grin, referring to Katsuki. I already know his answer, but it’s fun to tease him.

Shota snorts, folding his arms over his chest. "Bakugo? Barely."

His deadpan delivery makes me laugh, the sound of it drowned out by the noise of the room. I lean in closer, resting my head lightly on his shoulder, feeling the warmth radiating from him. Even in the chaos of these moments, he’s a steady force, grounding me.

"You’re too hard on him," I say, half-joking. "Maybe he just needs a softer touch... though that would probably make him explode."

Shota turns his gaze to me, his expression unreadable as always, but I catch the faintest hint of a smile. "You try giving him a ‘softer touch.’ See how well that works."

I laugh again, but before I can respond, we’re interrupted by the return of the TV broadcast. The interview with Shoto and Katsuki has just aired, and the entire room falls silent as we watch.

Shota’s POV

As expected, the interview starts off well with Shoto, ever the professional, answering the questions without issue. Then comes Katsuki—brash, loud, and unapologetically himself. His shouting fills the room, and I can feel the collective wince from his classmates. I’ve spent enough time with him to know he means well, but it’s clear he’s going to need more than a little help in the media department.

By the time the broadcast cuts back, leaving out most of Katsuki’s footage, the students are in stitches. Denki and Hanta are practically rolling on the floor with laughter, while Katsuki fumes in the corner, muttering something about ‘stupid editors.’

Mailin leans in, her shoulder brushing against mine, and I can feel the smile on her lips without even looking at her. "Told you," she murmurs.

I grunt in response. "He’ll learn eventually. Hopefully."

After a while, the broadcast shifts to the news, and the room quiets again. The headlines are sobering. The Deika City Incident... an entire city nearly brought to its knees in less than an hour.

I glance around the room, noticing the shift in the students' demeanor. Gone are the smiles and laughter, replaced with the heavy weight of reality sinking back in. We’re heroes in training, yes—but the real dangers we’re preparing for are no longer distant or theoretical. They’re happening right now, out there in the world.

Mailin must notice it too. She steps a little closer, her hand brushing mine for the briefest moment, a silent show of solidarity. I look down at her, and for a moment, it’s just us in the room.

"We’ll prepare them," I murmur. "No matter what comes."

She looks up at me, her blue eyes reflecting the same resolve I feel in my chest. "We will."

---

Mailin’s POV

Later that evening, the common room clears out, and we head back to the teachers’ lounge. The snow outside has turned into a soft, gentle fall, blanketing the grounds in white. I pause by the window, watching the snowflakes flutter lazily down to the earth. It’s peaceful... but my mind is far from calm.

The news about Deika City, the pressure from the Hero Public Safety Commission—it all weighs heavily on my thoughts. Our students are growing stronger every day, but the world they’re stepping into... it’s changing faster than we can keep up with.

I don’t hear Shota come up behind me until I feel his arms wrap around my waist, pulling me back into his warmth. His chin rests lightly on my shoulder, and I lean into him, closing my eyes for just a moment.

"We’ll get through it," he murmurs against my ear, his voice low and steady. "Whatever happens."

I sigh, letting the tension drain from my body as I place my hands over his. "I know... it just feels like everything’s happening all at once. The students, the world, everything is changing so fast."

His hold on me tightens slightly, his presence a grounding force. "That’s the way it is. We adapt. We fight. And we win."

A small smile tugs at my lips. He’s always been the calm in the storm, the steady rock that I can lean on when my worries feel overwhelming. I turn in his arms, resting my hands on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my fingers.

"You always know what to say," I whisper, looking up at him.

He quirks an eyebrow, his usual smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "I know what you need to hear."

---

Shota’s POV

There’s something grounding about these quiet moments with Mailin. The world is always spinning, our responsibilities never-ending, but here, with her in my arms, it’s easier to let go of the weight that usually hangs on my shoulders.

Her blue eyes meet mine, and for a moment, it’s just us. The snow falls outside, the dorms are quiet, and everything else fades into the background.

"You know," she says, a teasing lilt in her voice, "I think I like you even more when your hair’s like this."

I raise an eyebrow, smirking. "Is that so?"

She nods, biting her lip in that way that makes my heart race. "Very much."

I can’t help the chuckle that escapes my lips. Leaning down, I press a kiss to her forehead. "I’ll keep that in mind," I murmur against her skin, savoring the warmth of her close.

But the moment isn’t destined to last. The world calls us back soon enough. Mt. Lady’s arrival tomorrow, the media training for the students, the weight of the Hero Public Safety Commission’s demands—it’s all waiting for us just outside this bubble we’ve created.

Still, for now, we have this. I press my lips to hers in a slow, lingering kiss, one that speaks of promises and shared strength, and when we finally pull apart, I see the same determination reflected in her eyes.

Whatever comes, we’ll face it together.

---

Mailin’s POV

The next day arrives, and with it, the whirlwind of media training. I stand beside Shota, watching as Mt. Lady takes center stage, her vibrant personality filling the room. The students hang on her every word, even if some, like Katsuki, still seem a little too stubborn to embrace the lessons.

I glance up at Shota, catching his eye. We exchange a knowing look. This is just the beginning, for all of us.

---

The conference room at U.A. felt colder than usual. It wasn’t the physical temperature, but the weight of the news we were about to receive. Everyone knew something big was coming, something that couldn’t be ignored. Sitting between Shota and Present Mic, I shifted in my seat, the tension making my muscles stiffen. Across the table, Nezu sat calmly, his paws folded neatly, but there was a seriousness in his small eyes that sent a ripple of unease through the room.

“Thank you all for coming,” Nezu began, his voice steady. “The Hero Public Safety Commission has made a formal request.”

I exchanged a glance with Shota, who sat with his arms crossed, his face unreadable as always, but I could see the slight narrowing of his eyes—a sign that he wasn’t liking where this was headed.

Nezu continued, “From this point forward, every student in the hero course will be required to attend Hero Work-Studies.”

Hero Work-Studies? My thoughts immediately shifted to the students—young, bright, full of potential but not ready for what might be coming. These weren’t simple internships anymore. They were going to be thrown into something much bigger. Something dangerous.

“The Commission suspects that the League of Villains was involved in the Deika City Incident,” Nezu went on, his voice cutting through the thick atmosphere. “Twenty individuals managed to bring the city to the brink of destruction in fifty minutes. They expect a crisis of some kind… something we all need to prepare for.”

I felt a shiver run down my spine. Deika City… I’d seen the footage on the news. It was worse than Kamino, the scale of destruction unimaginable. And now, they were dragging the students into this? I clenched my fists under the table, my protective instinct flaring up. The thought of sending Class 1-A out into that kind of danger made my stomach churn.

Beside me, Shota was as still as ever, his gaze fixed on Nezu. But I knew him well enough to sense the slight tension in his shoulders. He felt it too—this wasn’t just another task. This was something far worse. Something we might not be able to shield them from.

“Although the Commission is being ambiguous with their requests,” Nezu continued, “it is clear they expect us to train our students for the worst.”

I swallowed hard, my mind racing with scenarios. If the League of Villains was involved… then this crisis was going to be bigger than anything we’ve faced before.

Shota’s POV

Nezu’s words settled like a heavy weight in the room. Hero Work-Studies… dragging the kids into this mess. My eyes narrowed as I glanced around the room. Every teacher looked tense, and rightly so. This was more than training—it was sending them into the storm. I thought about my students, about Midoriya and Bakugou. They’d proven themselves time and time again, but this? This was different.

I glanced to my left, where Mailin sat, her jaw tight, fists clenched beneath the table. I could feel the same frustration radiating off her as I felt myself. She wouldn’t admit it aloud—too proud, too strong—but she was worried. Hell, I was too.

“They’re just kids,” I muttered under my breath, so low only she could hear.

She glanced at me, her lips pressed into a thin line. “I know,” she whispered back, her voice tight with worry. “But what can we do? We can’t hold them back forever.”

She was right, of course. The kids had chosen this path, knowing the risks. But still, that didn’t make it easier. I shifted in my seat, trying to push down the anger building in my chest. I hated this—sending them into a fight they weren’t ready for.

Nezu’s small voice broke through my thoughts. “Being prepared is the norm of every hero. I urge you all to contact the most accomplished heroes and ensure your students get the best training possible.”

Mailin’s POV

Nezu’s words echoed in my mind. The most accomplished heroes… The first name that came to my mind was Mirko. She was fierce, fearless. She’d push our students hard, but she’d also protect them with everything she had. I knew I could trust her.

I glanced at Shota again, noticing the slight furrow in his brow. He didn’t like this any more than I did, but I knew he was already thinking ahead, planning how to keep the students safe while giving them the experience they needed.

“We need to prepare them for what’s coming,” I murmured to him. “Whether we like it or not.”

He nodded, his eyes dark. “We’ll make sure they’re ready.”

I leaned back in my chair, exhaling slowly. The room buzzed with low conversations as the other teachers began to discuss who they’d contact for the Work-Studies. But all I could think about was the students—their faces, their smiles, their potential. And the danger that was lurking just around the corner.

As the meeting wrapped up, Shota stood and motioned for me to follow him. We slipped out of the room, the cold hallway air hitting us like a wake-up call. Once we were alone, he glanced over at me, his usual stoic expression softening just a bit.

“Don’t worry too much,” he said, his voice low. “We’ll protect them.”

I nodded, trying to believe it. But I knew that no matter how much we prepared them, no matter how strong they were, nothing could fully shield them from what was coming.

Shota stepped closer, his hand brushing against mine. It was a small gesture, but it grounded me. I turned to face him, my gaze meeting his.

“I know,” I said quietly. “I just—”

Before I could finish, he leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. The warmth of his touch eased some of the tension coiling in my chest.

“We’ll do everything we can,” he murmured, his lips brushing against my skin. “That’s all we can do.”

I looked up at him, feeling the familiar flutter in my stomach that always accompanied moments like this. Despite the weight of the situation, despite everything, I knew we had each other. And that was enough to keep me grounded.

“Together?” I asked, a small smile tugging at my lips.

“Together,” he replied, his voice steady, his hand tightening around mine.

For now, that was enough.