By the time evening approached, the backlash against UA had reached the furthest corners of the country.
In the hospital's lounge area, Class 1-A students gathered at a corner, waiting for Midoriya and Momo, as they had already been discharged.
Along with other people, they were watching the news, which showed nationwide protests against Luke, Todoroki, and Monoma's suspension by UA, with people, mainly teens and young adults, marching out onto the roads, carrying boards.
"… This is insane…" Kirishima gawked at the TV. "Luke and Todoroki have this many followers?"
"That's not it," Tenya nudged his glasses, narrowing his eyes. "These people aren't just protesting against UA. They are protesting against the System. They are protesting against all episodes of injustice where heroic efforts are rewarded with penalties and punishments."
"Whoa…" a voice rang behind them. "That's Tenya for you…"
The students turned around and saw Midoriya and Momo approaching them.
Tenya blushed. "I am just guessing here," he said.
"No," Momo shook her head. "You are absolutely right. It's just… if even we can guess this much, then it seems impossible that UA didn't. I am shocked at how this sensitive matter could have even gotten out…"
Suddenly, the moment Momo mentioned UA, the TV screen stopped displaying the protests.
"… And now we will broadcast UA's Press Conference," the anchor said, the words 'UA High School Emergency Press Conference' flashing under her. "This is the first time UA has agreed to talk to reporters after the Villains and Suspension incident."
All the students' eyes popped out as they saw who was doing the press conference on UA's behalf.
Nezu, Vlad King, and… the man who hated to be in media the most… Erasure Head.
"We deeply apologize for the incident that allowed the Villains to harm the first-year graduates of the Hero Course because of our unpreparedness. We also deeply apologize for the unease this matter has created in society due to our negligence. We are truly sorry."
The three teachers bent their waists as low as they could, the flashes of cameras turning the screen white.
A heaviness settled in the students' hearts as they saw the three teachers sit down, waiting for the journalists to ask questions.
"There is a steep increase in Villain-related incidents surrounding UA in the last year," one journalist asked. "This time, many children have been hospitalized. How are you explaining all this to the families?"
The students in the lounge shared worried glances.
Before the teachers on the screen even replied, though, people around the students, family members and friends of the patients at the hospital, began whispering.
"What the hell are they even talking about?!" one man said angrily. "Didn't the Heroes and students beat the shit out of those Villains?!"
"… Yeah!" another woman agreed, hesitatingly. "I read that the hospitalized children are just under the effect of some sleeping gas. None of them is in serious condition."
"When my older one failed to join UA a few years ago, he cried," another woman gossiped merrily. "Now I know why. The training UA gives to their students is just that great…"
"And what, explaining to families?!" an old man grumbled loudly. "Should they explain why their children aren't getting medals for kicking Villains' asses?!"
That brought out a few chuckles from here and there.
Far into the corner, the Class 1-A students gaped at that sight.
In that moment, all of them suddenly realized a sweet and bitter truth.
No matter how things played out at the Training Camp, people… didn't care about anything but the results.
As Nezu finished answering the first question, a mean-looking journalist stood up and came to the front.
"You talked about the unease you caused to society, Erasure," the journalist asked, barely able to hide his smirk. "Were you referring to the suspension of three boys, who disobeyed you to go out? Also, is it true that the only reason Pros and students aren't heavily injured is that these students had healed them on the field? I have also heard that you allowed the students in the forest to use their Quirks. Then, why did you prevent those three students from going out, knowing that you could save more lives with their help?"
For the first time, a silence lingered not only on TV, but also in the lounge.
Seeing the lack of whispers and frowns on all faces, the students could tell that the feelings against this injustice weren't just limited to young protesters.
"I allowed the students to use their Quirks not to let them confront the Villains on their own, but to let them avoid the Villains and find the Pros," Aizawa said, carrying a stoic expression. "The three students you mentioned were not in the forest, but at a secure location. At that time, seeing the seriousness of the situation, I denied their requests to go out in the field.
"UA's top priority is to think of the best interests of its students. With the number and nature of the Villains in question, I felt it was a gross violation of morals and procedures to let students go on their own, even if they could help in a meaningful way. And, as such, when the students disobeyed direct orders, putting their lives on the line, when it is the Heroes' job to do that, UA decided to suspend them to discourage such blatant acts of indiscipline."
The people in the lounge shared glances, seeing some meaning in Aizawa's comments.
Still, they carried frowns on their faces, the same way the mean journalist carried the smirk.
"So…" the journalist asked smugly. "… are you saying that people's opinions don't matter to UA, even if these students did your job?"
The Class 1-A students gasped.
Knowing Aizawa, he would surely lash out at the journalist.
But, to their immense surprise, Erasure Head maintained his stoic expression.
"No," he began, looking at the screen. "From the mass protests across the country, we have indeed found that UA's rules and regulations are a touch behind the times. We need to amend our operational procedures regarding extraordinary circumstances that include extraordinary students. In light of this, UA has decided to reverse its decision to suspend the three students. An alternate punishment will be decided for them later…"
The journalist's jaw dropped.
Flashes of cameras again blinded all eyes.
The people seated and standing in the hospital's lounge cheered, congratulating each other, as if they had won some great battle.
And, in a corner, the Class 1-A students looked at the three teachers, gobsmacked.
"Oi…" Kirishima said.
"… do you feel…" Tenya gulped.
"It was UA…" Uraraka gasped, putting a hand over her mouth.
"Yeah…" Midoriya nodded, barely holding back a smile. "It was our teachers who purposefully let the matter slip out…"
Then, smiling, he looked at Momo to ask her opinion.
And what he saw murdered the budding smile on his face brutally.
Momo's eyes were watering, and her hands were wrapped tightly around her neck… with a viscous, black liquid coming out of her mouth.
In the next moment, just as other students picked up on the oddity —
— the black liquid engulfed Momo and… vanished.
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