Peering over the rim of his sleeping bag, he fidgets with a stray thread "Lesson plans troubling you?"
Azi! can you help me! I'm struggling on my lesson plans, my class isn't paying attention and I don't know what to do anymore? Please help me, Aizawa. I'm only a new teacher and I want to be the best hero my students can ever have.
"Don't worry, SilverDragonfly. Teaching is all about finding the right approach. Come here." He pats the empty space next to him on the bed
I dash over and sit beside him. Should I start again from scratch, or is there something I'm missing? I even thought about doing what Bakugo does. Make my class have some fun so they'd actually pay attention. But that sounds wrong... does that sound wrong? I start pulling my hair.
Calmly reaching out, he grabs SilverDragonfly's hand to stop them from pulling their hair "Teaching is not about being fun. It's about discipline and education. Students need structure and a clear direction. If they're not paying attention, it's because they're either bored or distracted. Your job is to find out why and fix it. Otherwise, you'll just be like all those other 'hero' teachers who think entertainment is the key to success. Do you want to be one of them?"
No, Aizawa. That's the last thing I want to be! But I feel so much pressure from the older teachers here. They give me these weird looks whenever I enter the staff room, and I feel so inadequate. And my classes were failing to learn anything! It seems I can't reach them at all.
"Well, SilverDragonfly, if your students aren't listening to you, maybe it's because they don't respect you. You need to establish authority before you can even think about teaching them. Here's what you're going to do. You're going to show them that you mean business. Start by giving them a pop quiz first thing tomorrow morning. Don't make it easy, make it challenging. Then, during class, go over the answers together. Show them that you're not someone to mess with. Once they see you're serious, they'll start paying attention."
"A... quiz? Right now? But what if they protest or refuse to take it?" I squirm uncomfortably. I... that might work... but my gut's telling me it might not. I mean, they've been through hell lately with all those villain attacks and....and.... I just feel that something is wrong with using force as a means to control them. Aizawa? Are you ever afraid that the side effects of using force could result in a student developing an irrational hatred for heroes? Or worse..... a villain? Do you ever think about the psychological damage our actions could be doing to our students? I mean, even if we succeed in teaching them, what then? Our hero society will never eradicate villains. They're more resilient than weeds! What if those students turn against us when they grow up?
Gently pulling SilverDragonfly closer "Listen to me, SilverDragonfly. I know you have doubts, I know you worry about the consequences. But this isn't about eradicating villains, this is about preparing heroes. Our job is to mold the next generation of pro heroes, not to create perfect students. You can't make everyone happy, and you certainly can't make everyone like you. All you can do is be the best damn teacher you can be. If you're doing that, then you have nothing to be afraid of. Remember, I believe in you, SilverDragonfly. And I believe in all of our students."
I look into his eyes, before nuzzling my face into his chest. Thank you, Aizawa... I need all the encouragement I can get. What would I do without you? I appreciate you more than words can say. My heart is full right now and my mind is clear for the first time in months. All because you took the time to help me. I just wanted to ask though....how did you become a teacher? You weren't born a hero, and you didn't just stumble into your job either. You had to put in hard work to earn your teaching position. Can you tell me how you got here? Or would you rather keep that story private?
Pausing for a moment, Aizawa takes a deep breath before speaking "I didn't always plan on becoming a teacher, SilverDragonfly. In fact, I was originally a villain. I used my quirk to erase the quirks of others, which made me a powerful and feared figure in the underworld. But after saving a young boy from certain death, I realized that I didn't want to live that kind of life anymore. So I turned myself in and became a hero instead. As for how I became a teacher... well, let's just say it wasn't easy.
I am absolutely stunned Villain?! Seriously?! Wow, who knew! I remember reading somewhere that you joined the hero course after high school.... but that's all I knew. That must've been really tough, seeing what you must've experienced. What happened to make you feel like turning yourself in? Was it that little boy? Or maybe there was another reason? Was the villain life not fun anymore? Did you find something better? Can you share some details?
"Turning myself in was a difficult decision, SilverDragonfly. It was the boy who sparked that change within me. Saving him felt... right. It made me realize that I could use my abilities for good, that I didn't have to be a monster. And yes, being a villain wasn't fun anymore. It was dull, repetitive, and empty.
I'm astonished You saved a boy? How old was he? I'm sorry for asking so many questions. It's just that reading about villains being horrible people is just such an ingrained idea for me. I guess my life before I became a hero was very different indeed. Anyway, what was the boy's age? A kid, right? How did he end up needing your help? And most importantly, what exactly was it about saving him that changed your outlook on life?
Aizawa shifts uncomfortably, his expression growing distant "He was... around twelve years old. His name was Kaito. Kaito was being hunted down by a group of villains who wanted to steal his quirk.
Sorry, but could you elaborate more about that? Who were these villains that were looking to steal from Kaito? Where did he get his quirk from anyway? Is it hereditary? Did he gain it naturally? I'm very intrigued. The story itself is riveting enough that I feel like hearing the rest of it. I don't mean to pry, but I'm just so curious.
Aizawa sighs heavily, his hands clasping tightly together "Kaito got his quirk from an accident. He was exposed to a strange substance while exploring an abandoned factory with some friends. It gave him a unique power. But there were these villains, called The Fangs, who wanted to capture him and use him as a weapon.
Wait....you fought The Fangs?!?! They're notorious! You fought those guys?!?! No wonder you decided to change careers! When the dust settled, did Kaito join the hero course too? Or did he choose a different path? If he did stay on the hero course, I can bet he turned out to be a top tier hero someday. His future looked bright. You should've kept him safe and turned yourself in once he graduated or something. Oh... wait. Are you keeping in touch with him? Does he still remember that incident? Does he blame himself for making you a villain? That must've been such a scary experience. Why'd you leave him behind?
Suddenly, Aizawa stands up and paces around the room "No, SilverDragonfly. I didn't fight The Fangs for recognition or fame.
I didn't mean it like that. I'm genuinely sorry if it sounded that way. I just genuinely care. You seem to me like the kind of person who doesn't forgive easily or admit fault. However, every good hero has to be willing to accept that sometimes they may be wrong. Being able to do that when faced with mistakes shows real strength. Only after we acknowledge our mistakes and learn from them can we grow into better people and be truly helpful to others. I'm willing to listen if you wanna vent more about this. Just please believe I'm here to support you.
Pausing and looking directly into SilverDragonfly's eyes "The truth is, SilverDragonfly, saving Kaito came at a great personal cost. I sacrificed everything. My life, my past... everything. I had to make a choice between my own desires and what was best for him.