Chapter 26 – Thank you
«Wait a minute, Principal Nezu, did I hear that right?» Midnight asked in surprise and disbelief at the same time
«You heard right, Midnight-san.» the chimaera stated, amused «This year, on the first day of the Festival, in addition to you, you will also be supported by another referee who will also be responsible for offering the opening speech.»
Midnight felt she had to respond to Nezu's statement. After all, only student representatives, the students who achieved the highest scores on the entrance test, give that speech at the Festival. This means that her support referee is a student and cannot, certainly, serve in a dual role. Unless…!!!
«Who is it, Principal Nezu?»
Before answering the question, which Midnight already had a feeling about who it might be, Nezu gave an innocent smile… which, however, wasn't innocent at all.
*****
Another long day of work was over. This phrase usually describes tiredness, but Midnight, aka Nemuri Kayama, enjoys her job.
Many criticise Midnight for her way of dressing, considered unsuitable for a school, or for her provocative nature. However, they quickly shut up. Colleagues also respect her for the seriousness with which she carries out her role as a teacher.
A few days before the Festival, after Nezu had informed her about the supporting referee, she thought it was appropriate to explain the rules directly to Izuku Midoriya.
It was now late evening, and the sun was beginning to set. On her way to the Midoriyas' temporary residence on campus, she noticed a girl from 1A coming from her destination. A cute, blonde girl with aqua blue eyes was wearing glasses, but she was terribly tired, and her body felt so worn out that it felt like it would collapse at any moment.
«Midnight-sensei.» the girl greeted her.
«Oh, you're… Melissa Shield-san, right?» she asked, receiving a tired positive nod «You're reduced to a rag. Are you training for the Festival?»
«Yes, sensei. I asked Midoriya-san for help. He accepted, but… he is very strict.» she ended with an exhausted expression.
I can see it! It seems like a gust of wind is enough to knock you to the ground!
«I understand, but try not to overdo it.»
The two said goodbye and went their way, but Midnight was worried. True, Melissa's body is incredibly worn, and she noticed several light traumas she suffered, but, strangely, it was much more toned and tempered than when she saw her on the entrance test for the Heroes Course. But those blue eyes were something else: there was a fire of determination, a refusal to give in, and a thirst for knowledge she had never seen in other students.
*Zzzing!*
Lost in thought, Midnight felt a blade cut the air. She looked up, surprised.
With the red sunset light as a backdrop, Izuku Midoriya was dressed in UA-supplied sweatpants, his torso covered by a white T-shirt. Holding the spear he had used to fight at the USJ, he was training. His movements were fluid, precise, rapid and as graceful as they were lethal, shadowboxing clearly dangerous opponents and requiring a specific way to beat them.
Midnight, for a moment, forgot why she had come to visit the… boy. She had heard that Izuku had cut down at least forty Villains during the incident, but she had never witnessed the fight. According to Shota, who saw him fight before passing out, he was brutally wild, elegantly lethal, invisibly fast. Now that she sees it, she thinks that description didn't fit at all. That form is a perfect synergy between elegance, ferocity, brutality and lethality. She saw no openings in his guard. Every movement is studied; every move, calculated; every blow, executed with the intention of killing. The poses allow for aggressive attacks, while the weight balance ensures impenetrable defence. A perfect balance.
Movements aimed at taking life, which have become art in its purest and most uncontaminated form.
«Are you enjoying the show, Midnight-sensei?»
Izuku's question immediately brought Midnight back from her trance state. The student's deep green eyes, in front of her, looked at her, patient and amused. Midnight shook her head slightly to regain some composure.
«It wasn't my intention to bother you, Midoriya-san.»
«If your presence had bothered me...» Izuku began, approaching «I would have stopped 134 seconds ago.»
The statement left Midnight disoriented, because it seemed to her that much more time had passed. She looked back at Izuku, who was now a few steps away from her. The… young man towered over her, and she could notice that his arms, in addition to his face, were also a carpet of scars. All testimonies of who knows what bloody clashes. His muscular torso was no different either. Although covered by the shirt, the scars could be seen beneath the damp sweatcloth. Midnight's face turned warm and red in a short time, while her heart beat faster.
No! Alt! I'm not interested in men older than me! It's just a physical reaction! She said to herself, pushing back the sudden attraction and regaining some calm.
«Is something wrong, Midnight-sensei?»
«No, it's nothing.» she immediately recovered and then handed over a small folder. «Principal Nezu told me that in addition to giving the opening speech, you will support me in the refereeing. These are the general rules.»
Leaning his spear against his shoulder, Izuku understood why the principal had said, "Good company." He took the folder and opened it, discovering that, in the end, the general rules are practically a sheet of paper in which, put simply, anything is allowed, but with particular limitations necessary to make the competition more balanced. It took him about three minutes to memorise everything.
«I understand. I've memorised everything.» Izuku said, giving back the folder to Midnight.
«Don't you have any questions to ask?» asked Midnight, surprised
«I would say no.» he said, holding the spear again «But it seems to me that you have a question for me.»
The statement left her… doubtful. She has questions: about his nature, about what he went through, about what he saw. But, seeing those scars, she didn't feel like reopening them. She didn't want to remind him of what he had to sacrifice for two and a half millennia just to get home.
Yet, her hand moved and touched the scars on Izuku's right arm. She felt the skin, soft but hardened and marked. Who knows what weapons and what traumas Izuku faced. From those scars seemed to come a physical and moral burden.
«Did it hurt?» only those words came out of her lips as she stared into his eyes
When she wears her Hero costume, her playful, mischievous, and perverse nature tends to prevail, but she manages to keep it in check when teaching. Even now, that nature for which she is so… "followed" would probably have prevailed. But it hasn't been able to since she heard the boy's test results from Recovery Girl and read that report. If she did that, even the thought of doing so would make her feel like human scum.
Those words, fresh from her lips, were rich in her caring, kind and maternal side, which usually manifests when she is not on duty. She even surprised herself.
Izuku remained silent for a few seconds, then closed his eyes and chuckled… tired. He took Midnight's hand with a kindness and delicacy that even she hadn't expected.
«Honestly, sensei?» more of a statement than a question «Very. But I'm not talking about physical pain.» he finished by moving her hand.
The eyes opened again, and Midnight saw something she had never seen: tiredness, sadness, but also acceptance.
«My life has been terribly long. Very often, I have envied my brothers and sisters, because they are no longer able to "feel human feelings" like me.» He began by sitting on the ground, so that Midnight would not have to keep her head up «For two millennia, I have had to make decisions as necessary as they are serious and contradictory. One of my actions could save people who begged for help. With a slash of Mercy, I brought the lives of Slavers and Warlords to an end. But with one word, I could condemn an entire planet and its inhabitants to oblivion. It is not a burden that a person with a shred of humanity still intact can bear with a light heart.»
«You say it as if you were forced to do it.»
«And so it is.» Izuku stated sincerely «But I was not forced by my superiors to sign the death warrant of a world. I was forced by mathematics and necessity. Tell me, sensei, if the death of one planet and the millions of souls that inhabit it could allow the survival and salvation of four other planets and the billions of souls that inhabit them, could you give the order? Would you be able to bear the burden of such a choice?»
"……..."
«No. You obviously couldn't do it.» he said with that tired chuckle, then turned to the sunset «That's why I've made decisions I never thought I could make, and I live with the consequences.»
«It's no small burden.»
«I have already made peace with my conscience, and I do not regret the choices I have made.» Izuku stated with a chuckle, even though his eyes did not laugh at all
«Midoriya-san. I don't know anything about what you've been through, and I can't even understand it. But for what it's worth...» she began, attracting Izuku's full attention «You did your best. And now you've managed to come back home. You've done well.» she finished, her eyes rich in understanding
Izuku's eyes and face were tinged with surprise at first. But then, gradually, he smiled. A smile of genuine gratitude, pure and sincere. A smile he probably hasn't had since he was 6.
Tu-thump!
Seeing him, Nemuri Kayama's heart stopped for a second, and, suddenly, she felt embarrassed to stay there a minute longer. Recomposing hastily, she turned her back to Izuku to prevent him from seeing how her face was turning bright red.
«I-I did what I had to do.» she stated with a higher-pitched voice than usual «I-I wish you a good evening, Midoriya-san.» she stated, beginning to walk toward the main building.
«Midnight-sensei» Izuku called her, stopping her «Thank you.»
Midnight didn't turn completely. Just enough for Izuku to see the nod she'd given with her head, before walking again. Her step grew increasingly rapid and determined as she moved away from the Midoriyas' temporary home.
I'm not interested in older men! I'm not interested in older men! I'm not interested in older men! I'm not interested in older men! I'm not interested in older men! It repeated in her head, only to slow down and stop when that innocent smile reappeared in her head …But that smile… wasn't bad……….???!! Nonononono!!! Get a grip, Nemuri Kayama!