MHA Paragon

"Hey, is that Monarch?" 

"What are you talking about? There's no way...holy shit, I think that's monarch." 

"Both of you are seeing things Monarch wouldn't just be walking around....wait, is that Nebula!" 

"I can't believe the both of them are here, but who are they standing next to?" 

"Is that seriously their costume, some old tattered robe? I mean, the fabric looks cool, but it's a little plain, don't you think." 

Kenji frowned and was tempted to address the increasing amount of onlookers when Toga reached over and took Kenji's hand, "Don't worry about them. They know better than to cause a scene." 

"Are they holding hands?" 

"N-no, it can't be...I still haven't told Monarch how I feel!" 

"I thought she said she didn't date in that one interview?" 

Kenji felt a sudden shift in the crowd around them, and before he realized it, their way forward was blocked by a wall of onlookers. The steady noise of their chatter started to crescendo, and before long, Kenji found it hard to hear himself think, "I thought you said they knew better than to cause a scene." 

"Toga's fans are somewhat eccentric...but I think the hand-holding sent them over the edge," Uraraka muttered as she scanned the crowd, looking for a way out. 

Just then, a small swarm of metallic black spheres the size of tennis balls rose from the crowd and hovered over Kenji, Toga, and Uraraka, making the latter two let out an annoyed groan. 

"What's wrong," Kenji asked as he watched the black sphere wearily. 

"Black Pearls, they're are a type of flying camera used by reporters...this is going to all over the tabloids," Toga muttered, but she didn't let go of Kenji's hand, "I hope you wouldn't see them for some time, but I guess life's a bitch." 

Before Kenji could respond, questions started flying out from the sea of onlookers. 

"Monarch, who is that person standing next to you." 

"Is there any truth to the rumors behind your return from clearing yesterday?" 

"Nebula, many have speculated that you might have grown tired of playing second fiddle to Monarch. Would you like to comment?" 

Kenji's eyes panned back and forth across the crowd, trying to pick out those asking the questions, but the crowd was seemingly growing by the second as more people jostled to see Toga and Uraraka. 

Just when things seemed to reach a tipping point, a heavy pressure blanketed the area, causing everyone to fall silent and the Pearls flying through the air to freeze mid-flight. 

"You know, when I accepted this position, I thought my days of dealing with unruly children were over," A voice echoed through the silence accompanied by silent shuffling footsteps, "But seeing as you can't control yourselves, I guess I'll have to interfere." 

The pressure in the area vanished, but no one dared utter a word as a path opened in the crowd for a single man to walk forward. "And don't think you two aren't in trouble either. You know better than to walk around in public. You should have contacted your agents if you were coming to the Tower; they could have arranged things so all of this would have been avoided." 

"Considering the extenuating circumstances, we thought this could be handled without them," Toga replied, "Besides, maybe instead of chastising us, you should say hello to your long-lost student?" 

Aizawa stopped as he entered the small moat the crowd had formed around the trio, and his singular eye immediately focused on Kenji. The other was covered by a strapless leather eyepatch that fit Kenji's impression of the stoic, no-nonsense man. 

"So you finally decided to show up after all these months?" Aizawa asked Kenji as his eye scanned him up and down before grunting, "We'll talk in my office." 

Then, without another word, Aizawa turned back around, and the crowd scrambled to get out of his way. Before Kenji could process what had happened, Toga started to pull him forward, "Come on now, you don't want to keep Guild Master waiting." 

'Guild Master?' 

---

Kenji stared at the Dread Beast horn standing on Aizawa's desk. The words 'Guild Master' were etched into the ivory and inlaid with gold, "How did you go from being a teacher to the head of the most powerful organization in the country?" 

Aizawa shrugged in his massive chair in an equally massive office decorated with hardwood and countless Dread Beast pelts, skulls, and teeth, "Bureaucracy." 

Kenji waited for a further explanation, but when Aizawa offered none, Kenji sighed, "Well, I'm glad to see you haven't changed much." 

"We've all changed, Kenji, just not as visually as you have," Aizawa responded, "Though I am happy to hear you survived. It's never easy when a teacher loses a promising student." 

"Was that an actual compliment?" Toga asked in surprise as she slapped her cheeks dramatically, "And here I thought you didn't have a heart?" 

"You be quiet," Aizawa said with a frown as he fixed Toga with a disapproving glare. I'm already getting a headache imagining the calls I'm going to get after the stunt you pulled in front of the tower. Now, what was so important that you felt the need to come down in person?" 

"I want to be put on clearing duty," Kenji responded and Aizawa's gaze focused back on him, "You almost died once in the line of duty...and you want another go at it?" 

Kenji shook his head, "I didn't almost die. I did. Right now, I'm different; I'm not human, Senei. I don't eat or sleep, and I doubt I'll ever be able to again. I'm practically a dead man walking." 

Aizawa was silent as he listened to Kenji and peered into the seemingly empty hood, "Well, that's a convincing argument, and as much as I would like to say, have at it. I can't give you clearance, especially when your old quirk is gone, and I have no idea what you're capable or incapable of." 

"So what? I'm stuck as a civilian?" Kenji asked defensively 

Aizawa snorted as he stood up from his seat, "I never said that; I just need to know that sending you outside the wall isn't an immediate death sentence for you. Now, follow me." 

Aizawa led them out of his office and into an elevator, which he unlocked after scanning his palm, retina, and passkey. The four of them stepped inside, and as the elevator started to descend, warning lights started to flash, bathing the inside in a dark red color. 

"Sensei, where are you taking us?" Kenji asked as the lights continued to strobe. 

"I'm taking you to what I like to call the zoo," Aizawa responded just before an alarm blared out in the elevator. 

"Warning, you are now entering Containment Unit Alpha 5 Delta 6. Ignoring this warning is considered a legal waiver, and the Hero's Guild will not be responsible for any damages."