Wilted Bloom

The morning sun bathed UA High in a warm glow, signaling the start of a pivotal day. The students of Class 1-A stood near the school gates, their expressions a mix of nervousness and determination as they prepared to leave for their Provisional Hero License Exam. Shota Aizawa stood at the head of the group, his usual stoic demeanor firmly in place as his sharp eyes scanned over the class.

"Listen carefully," Shota began, his voice commanding their full attention. "This isn't just another training exercise. The Provisional Hero License Exam is your first real step toward becoming professional heroes. It's not just about showing off your quirks. It's about demonstrating control, strategy, and the ability to adapt under pressure. Stay calm, stay focused, and don't lose sight of the goal."

The students nodded in unison, their nerves momentarily steadied by the weight of their teacher's words. As they started filing onto the bus, a familiar voice called out, and all heads turned.

"Shota!" Maya jogged toward the group, her pink hair loosely tied back, wings shimmering faintly in the sunlight. She held a clipboard in one hand, her expression curious and faintly amused. "You weren't planning to leave without saying goodbye, were you?"

"Miss Maya?" Midoriya asked, his eyes widening. "Are you coming with us?"

Maya shook her head, her smile warm as she stopped beside Shota. "Not this time. I'd love to, but I've got some work to do here."

Shota glanced at her, his gaze briefly softening before addressing the class again. "She's staying here to help with the school's defense mechanisms. Power Loader needs the extra hands, and Principal Nezu wanted additional oversight in case of any... surprises."

Maya gave him a teasing smile. "So formal. You could just say you didn't want me tagging along."

He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Stay out of trouble, Maya."

She grinned and gave a small salute. "No promises."

As she turned to address the students, her expression grew earnest. "Good luck, everyone! You've got this. Just trust yourselves and remember what you've learned. You're all going to do amazing."

"Thanks, Miss Maya!" Uraraka called out, echoed by a chorus of similar sentiments from the others.

Shota gave her a final glance before leading the group toward the bus. Maya stood at the edge of the courtyard, watching them disappear down the road, her wings giving a faint flutter. As much as she wanted to see the students in action, she knew Shota was right—her place was here.

By the time she reached Power Loader's lab, the hum of machinery and faint scent of grease filled the air. Power Loader was already deep into his work, muttering to himself as he adjusted a set of cables. He glanced up as she approached, a faint look of surprise crossing his face.

"Didn't expect Aizawa's wife to be the one helping me out," he said, straightening and wiping his hands on his jumpsuit. "But I hear you're sharp."

Maya smirked, holding up her clipboard. "I used to work in cybersecurity. Systems like these are second nature to me. What do you need?"

The hum of machinery provided a steady rhythm as Maya sat in front of the primary console. Her clipboard was discarded to the side, replaced by a sleek laptop she had brought from her quarters. Screens flickered before her, lines of code cascading like a digital waterfall as her fingers danced across the keyboard with practiced precision.

"South perimeter needs a hard lock on its firewall," she muttered under her breath, her wings fluttering faintly as her mind raced. "Who wrote this code? It's so... outdated. This is asking to be breached. We're talking 256-bit encryption here, not the 1990s."