This time when the purple one and green one entered Gym Gamma, Shouta was ready for them. He watched the two first years from the rafters as they started to train. Midoriya led Shinsou through a series of stretches to loosen up.

While their backs were turned to the Erasure Hero, Shouta expertly and silently lowered himself to the floor of the gym. He wanted to see how long it would take them to notice him. The man expected it would take a few minutes but as soon as his foot touched the ground, the green one froze.

Slowly, Midoriya turned around, his green eyes widening as he took in the sight of the dark and intimidating figure of the Underground Hero before him. Interesting. Good situational awareness. It wasn't long that Shinsou, noticing his friend's reaction, also turned and cursed under his breath in surprise.

"E-Eraserhead?!" the green one squeaked.

So, he can recognize me on sight, Shouta thought, one eyebrow raised. Though I shouldn't be too surprised with those notes of his.

"Eraserhead? The one you talked about yesterday?" the purple one questioned, looking between the other two. Midoriya could only nod in reply unable to look away from the Hero.

"Eraserhead is my Hero designation," the man drawled out. "My name is Aizawa Shouta. On UA campus, call me Aizawa."

"A-Aizawa? As in Class 1-A's expelled-two-students-on-the-first-day Aizawa?!" Midoriya exclaimed, his eyes somehow opened even wider. Shinsou's face paled at that comment.

"Correct," the man confirmed, taking a step closer to the pair. He noticed Shinsou was only slightly shorter than himself, but he towered over Midoriya. "They had shown no potential. I take my job as a Pro Hero and as a teacher very seriously. UA is one of the top schools for a reason and anyone who is hoping to coast through their time here has no right to walk these halls."

"I get what you're saying," Midoriya said, tilting his head in confusion. "But it doesn't explain what you're doing here. We're not in 1-A."

Yet, Shouta thought to himself. He already saw the potential in these two students that slipped through the cracks. And he did conveniently have two open spots in his class after all.

"Yesterday, I happened to be taking a nap in here when it was interrupted by two students," Shouta explained, scratching the scruff on his chin absentmindedly. "Turns out they were two first years training for the coming Sports Festival. I had planned to leave them to it, that is until this one…"

He pointed a finger at Midoriya, who blushed.

"…started talking about a certain Underground Hero…"

He pointed at himself.

"…in a level of detail that should have been impossible. Considering the amount of effort I put into avoiding the media, it came as a surprise finding out someone, a first year no less, knew not only my Hero name but also my Quirk and how it works."

The two students were too intimidated to interrupt the man. Even if they weren't, they wouldn't know what to say.

"Not only that, but they knew about how I was able to transfer into the Hero Course," Shouta continued. "Planning to follow in my foot steps and try to take the Sports Festival by storm. No easy task, I can assure you from experience. The chances are slim and the likelihood of failure is high. However…"

The Underground Hero's black eyes pierced through green and purple ones, slowly switching from one to the other and back again.

"…I want to help you."

"WHAT?!" Midoriya shrieked while Shinsou let out, "Holy shit!"

"I agree with you that both the Hero Practical and the Sports Festival are skewed to favor physical and flashy Quirks," Shouta stated, as the green one sputtered nonsense words until the purple one flicked his arm. "I know firsthand that mental and non-combative Quirks are no match against robots. I have voiced for years how irrational it is to hold the practical the same way for all students. Differentiation is key to proper education and assessment."

Who knows how many potential Heroes were lost because of a biased test. But, if these two could show that any Quirk, or lack thereof, could become a Heroic one, maybe something could finally be done to fix it.

"By training you, I hope to help you succeed in your goal of using the festival to prove your worth. In doing so, if you are able to place high enough and catch the principal's eye, perhaps we can use it as a stepping stone. Proof that the current system is flawed and needs an overhaul to be more effective in finding those with the potential to be a Hero."

"No pressure, then," Shinsou snarked to break the tension in the room, drawing a snort from his friend.

"If you are going to help us," Midoriya said, though he still couldn't believe that the Eraserhead wanted to work with them. "What do you plan to do?"

"Like you said yesterday, Quirks are merely tools," Shouta replied. "Take that away and what are you left with. For Shinsou…"

Purple eyes shot up to black ones in shock of the man knowing his name.

"…I agree with training you using your Quirk as well as without. Brainwashing can be a useful skill and has a lot of flexibility if you use it right. We can experiment with it to figure out what does and doesn't work. But if you are up against an opponent that knows about it already, knowing how to fight without it will increase your chances. I can oversee your training when he is in the Support studio. As for you, Midoriya…"

The green one knew it was coming but he still flinched slightly in surprise.

"…you have a solid foundation already in hand-to-hand. Although you don't have a Quirk, I have a feeling you plan to use those Quirk Replicating Support Items you talked about in your interview. It's bold and has never been done before. I hope you're prepared for the attention you'll be getting, whether you succeed or not. I will help you refine your fighting technique as well as assist you or find another teacher to help practice with whatever Support Items you come up with."

I'm sure Hizashi would be more than happy to help as well.

"I'm dreaming. Hitoshi-kun, am I dreaming? I must be because this can't be real," Midoriya rambled, not used to teachers wanting to help him.

"You're not dreaming, Izuku," Shinsou replied, flicking his friend's arm again. "But we may have entered into a parallel universe that actually likes us for once."

"If that were so, then it would have to be one where Katsuki acts more like a puppy rather than a feral cat."

"Ha! Can you imagine? Him with a sappy smile on his face. Oh god, it feels wrong. You would have to counterbalance it by being as gloomy as possible. Complete with moody bangs."

"What would that make you then?"

"Well, I would…"

Shouta watched the banter go back and forth between the two, becoming more exasperated by the second. Why? Why did I have to see potential in children who acted like this? It seemed it was his lot in life to be surrounded by annoying people.

"Problem children," Shouta interrupted, eyes glowing red and black hair raising as he activated his Quirk.

"Eh? P-problem children?" Midoriya asked, tilting his head. "What do you mean?"

"You two, you're going to be problem children. I just know it," the tired man replied, his hair falling as he released his Quirk.

"You're the one who offered to help us!" the green one exclaimed.

"I know and I'm sure I'll regret it in one way or another," the Hero stated. "But my offer still stands. Would you allow me to help train you? Both of you? I've already been through what you plan to do, so it only makes sense."

"Can't argue with that, Aizawa-sensei," Midoriya said with a smirk.

Shouta raised a brow at the odd tonal emphasis on the honorific.

"It would be senseless to refuse," Shinsou interjected, also smirking.

The man looked at them slightly confused. What are they…?

"His presence alone would be good for us," Midoriya retorted.

They aren't really…

"He could show us the essence of being a Hero," Shinsou shot back.

Of course they are. Shouta groaned in annoyance as he realized they were making puns. Really, really bad ones.

"I don't think he appreciates our sense of humor," the green one shot back, making Shouta groan again at the continued puns.

"Do you want my help or not, problem children?" Shouta asked, running his hand down his face in annoyance.

"Yes, Aizawa-sensei!" the pair answered, though Midoriya with more energy and a brighter smile than Shinsou.

"Very well, let's begin," the Hero said, removing his capture weapon and goggles.

For next couple of hours, Shouta did his own tests to check their skills and limits. He had them spar with him as well so he could assess where to start. Shinsou's face met the mat quickly but the taller teen kept getting back up which was good. Giving up so easily is not what a Hero does. Midoriya held his own for a longer time, deflecting and dodging while getting in some good hits and kicks. But eventually he too found himself faceplanted on the mat.

By the end of the training session, the students were exhausted with sore muscles and covered in bruises. But they were smiling as they lay on the mats working on catching their breathe while the man sat beside them. Shouta produced some water bottle for them to drink.

"Good work today, problem children," the man said as he put his goggles and capture weapon back on. "I'll work on a plan for your training and provide suggestions on what foods to eat. A proper diet is essential when training your body. I will guide you as best I can, but in the end, it's up to you to achieve your goal."

"Yes, Aizawa-sensei," his new non-Hero students said in unison.

"Alright, with that, we'll call it a day," Shouta said, standing up from the mat. "Let's clean up and I'll walk you out."

It didn't take long with three people to put the mats away, clean up any mess they had made, and for the students to change back into their uniforms. The students collected their bags and the trio left Gym Gamma. The man walked the pair to the gate, asking questions about Shinsou's Quirk and Midoriya's previous training. As they approached the gate, the group stood around for few minutes talking.

"Oh, Midoriya, I almost forgot," Shouta said once he finished asking all his questions. "Maijima gave me the goggles you made for me. I will have to test them before using them professional, but thank you."

"You're welcome!" the green one chirped, smiling brightly causing the other two to squint. "If you have any questions or issues with them, please let me know!"

"Too bright," Shinsou commented, pulling out a pair of sunglasses and putting them on.

"Agreed," Shouta concurred, thinking he should keep a pair on him as well. "Now go home, problem children. I have some paper work to finish up before returning home myself. I don't want to keep my couch waiting."

Or my cats and the cockatoo I call a husband.

"Thank you for your help today, Aizawa-sensei," Midoriya said cheerfully, bowing in thanks. "I look forward to working with you."

"Ditto," Shinsou tacked on with a nod before turning to walk through the gate.

The man moved to head towards the main building but stopped when the green one called out to him.

"Oh, um, Aizawa-sensei?"

"Tie your hair up or something. It gives your Quirk away."

With that, the boy left with his friend as they made their way to their respective homes. Leaving behind a stunned Hero watching their retreating backs.

Problem child