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The Hero Public Safety Commission finally bowed to Nezu and gave control over UA, its staffing, and its curriculum. Now, however, he would need time to fix every wrong they’ve done so far.
First was creating his own circle of confidants. Hero’s that don’t bend to the Commissions will have been hard to come by but he has at least Recovery Girl and Power Loader he can rely on as non-combat hero’s. His recent graduates were known to be outspoken against the Commission and would likely feel the pressure of the Commission to bend. Perhaps he can collect them before they fall.
Second would be creating an actual highschool. UA was currently registered, but does not act as such. An appointment with the board to create a “finishing school” for advanced or specialized hero classes and offer remedial classes could help sway the Commission when everything starts shifting. They have it on contract that any necessary changes can be decided on by the acting principal with caveats that stipulate the Hero Standards set by the HPSC themselves.
Those standards are something Nezu will tackle after he has the school in a proper form. The contract also continues in a separate section that they can require his retirement if standards are not met. Nezu thought it was an interesting threat. They currently have the ability to change those standards at will if they need to, but he would make sure that changes too.
The third step would be hiding the true point of the construction. He will be putting forward plans for a high school to be built- something less grand and more inclusive than the main campus building- but will need to identify it as the finishing school. This step should be simple with presentation alone.
* ~ *
Two years later marks the first breaking of ground for the “finishing school”. A week after that is a department head meeting to make sure the staff is all on the same page.
“Good morning all!” Nezu begins and takes in his department heads.
Shūzenji Chiyo, aka Recovery Girl, as head of Wellness.
Kurose Anan, aka Thirteen, as head of Rescue Heroics.
Aizawa Shōta, aka Eraser Head, as head of Combat Heroics.
Maijima Higari, aka Power Loader, as head of Support.
Komuro Mamoru, aka Nezu’s go-to ex-lawyer, as head of Business.
Yoshino Takuboku as head of General Education.
No one responded to the Principle, and he didn’t expect them to. “Does everyone here have the briefing pack that was sent out before construction began?” Some nods and shifting of said pack led him to continue, “This is the same pack I presented to the Commission last year and provides an estimated completion time of 4 years. Recent discovery on the construction site is pushing it 2 years farther.”
Nezu pauses to check they were still giving the topic attention and noticed suspicious looks from Yoshino and Aizawa. That is something he could have acknowledged via email, he supposed.
“This gives me, and hopefully all in this room, 5 years to create a proper high school curriculum and turn the current UA heroics classes into the finishing school, or college, that I promised the Commission. Please hold your questions or concerns until I finish clearing up what I’ve really been working on.”
Nezu had all the attention on him and he could see the fury, concern, disbelief, and some validation between his staff.
“To start, I do not wish to spread this to all the staff right away. You may share it with your most trusted, but until we all agree on multiple points through the planning phases it would be best not to let the Commission in on these plans.
“They currently have the ability to forcibly retire me within a week’s notice by changing some of the Hero Standard verbiage or policies. Komuro-San I’d like for you to help me push to amend the policies that allow them to change it at a drop of a hat. That will secure my space here for long enough to sway public opinion in our favor.
“Is anyone here against tuning out current heroics course into a finishing school course and having our high school students go through an actual highschool course before beginning on internships and combat training?”
“What real difference would we see? What’s your end goal?” Aizawa question him, straight to the point.
“I believe all high school students deserve the chance to change their minds and find what really suits-“
“Do not give us the speech you’ll give the public,” Yoshino was the one to interrupt. “Tell us really.”
“Very well. We are currently one of the Commissions biggest assets when turning out child soldiers and it needs to stop. Children 15 years old should not be able to decide that they will spend their life risking it for public glory. I want our high school aged students to discover all facets of heroism.
“Let intro to support be an extra curricular. Business can be a required class. Martial arts, weapons training, or quirk training will be offered as prerequisites for the finishing school. Support design in third year to assist with making their first hero costumes that they will not wear, not once, until they pass the Provisional License exam and the Finishing school exam.
“The finishing school will act as what our hero student go through currently but with a better background. They will understand the basics of combat and will then be able to implement it. Internships will start after first semester and be a requirement throughout.”
“You’re trying to give these kids until they’re eighteen to back out of heroics with no consequences and more options to choose from.” Shūzenji states softly.
Maijima picks up from there, a little more firm, “if we manage this, hero agencies will have more people to fill the little roles. More kids will realize fighting in the streets isn’t the only job to look at. There could be a course on running an agency and not just pass off the duty to teach it on other hero’s.”
“We could change the Hero Standard completely if this works,” Komuro was writing notes and passing through the pack slowly.
They were all finally reading between the lines of what he was trying to create. “UA would no longer be a hero school,” Aizawa cut through the start of the murmurs. “The high school could be catered as Hero Prep or Assistance. The finishing school though. You need to sell it better than finishing school.”
Yoshino smiled at Nezu, catching on slowly, “UA Hero University. The first of its kind. Studies already show the older a student is that goes into heroics, the longer the lifespan. We could conduct questionnaires for top hero’s to get opinions and have internships for any student under 17 canceled. My students have already done some light questions for interview projects.”
“We have 5 years to pass this off, change the rules of the game, gain public support, and build a curriculum from scratch. A curriculum that will become standard across the country if it goes our way.” Kurose stated, looking directly at Nezu.
He responded with a smile that flashed just enough of his teeth to be almost threatening, “Not to mention keep our current students alive in the process and brace for backlash when curriculum and standards do change.”
The next question was simple, and Nezu couldn’t tell who asked, “How do we start?”