Chapter 27: Clouds (Introduction and Sex Ed)
Izuku sighed as he sat down in his dorm. Moving in had taken some time, but his space ended up looking perfect.
A green throw carpet had been set up beneath his bed, and it matched his bedsheets and comforter. The desk provided by UA was perfect to host some of his analysis notebooks, while also leaving space for a single All Might figure on its overhead shelf. Currently, it was set up with a large sketchbook and his sketching supplies, which was perfect for him. He had never bought one of the large poster-sized sketchbooks, but he had always wanted one. The idea of making a custom piece of one of his favorite heroes?
How much time did he have until dinner again?
The far corner of his room, taking up the space at the foot of his bed, held a rack of dumbbells that Mr. Yagi had purchased for him. It was a bit of a surprise to walk in and see the weights already set up, but the man had left a note saying it was another gift, and reminding Izuku not to overdo any workouts.
That left quite a bit of space. UA definitely didn't skimp on dormitories. He even had his own bathroom!
Luckily, he could take up that space with two bookshelves, which he set up alongside his wardrobe and the door to his dorm closet. It was on those shelves that he set up his class notebooks, along with some of his favorite works of literature and a few volumes of Manga.
The time was four ten, so he figured he had about an hour to work in his sketchbook before joining everyone for dinner.
Unfortunately, that didn't go as planned, as Izuku spent a full hour and fifteen minutes deciding what hero to draw. He didn't even reach a verdict before there was a knock at his door, and Uraraka opened it just a crack.
"Hey. Dinner is in a few minutes. I'm about to head to the common area."
"I'll join you." He smiled, putting down his pencil and getting up to follow his friend.
The common area was rather quiet, with only a few murmurs of conversation between students. Izuku recognized Bakugo from his hair, but other than that, everyone else was a stranger.
In the connected (and rather large) kitchen, the dorm advisor was standing in a pink frilly apron with his black hair pulled back, tossing rice in a massive wok as he seared meat in two large cast-iron pans.
As everyone slowly looked around and saw each other, the man tossed three hot pads onto a nearby table and moved the pans over.
"Come on over. Tonight you've got a veggie fried rice with beef and broccoli- or pork and onions. Take your pick."
The seven students sat down at the table as the man portioned out rice into eight bowls, passing them out before putting some beef into his dish and sitting down.
Everyone took turns adding meat to their own dishes, and they all ate in silence.
Until the advisor broke it.
"I'm all for quiet, but this is just uncomfortable."
A floating set of clothes giggled a bit before taking another bite of her(?) food. The man rolled his eyes and finished off his bowl.
"How about we start with me. I'm Shota Aizawa, and I am to be your dorm advisor. I also teach second-year psychology as well as heroics here at UA. Before I explain all of the rules here, I'd like to get to know you all. Let's go around clockwise, introducing ourselves and something we like. I like coffee. Next?"
A young man with blue hair nodded rigidly. "My name is Tenya Iida, and I personally enjoy researching motorcycle mechanics."
"Thank you, Iida." Aizawa nodded. "Next?"
"I am Toru Hagakure, and I like glowsticks." The invisible student exclaimed, prompting nods from around the table. Next came Ochako.
"Oh! Erm. Hi. I'm Ochako Uraraka." She smiled. "And I like astronauts."
That meant it was his turn next.
"I'm Izuku Midoriya, and I really like researching quirks."
Bakugo snickered before shaking his head. Izuku rolled his eyes at the blonde. Yeah, so he was quirk-obsessed. But everyone had their hobbies.
"Greetings. I am Fumikage Tokoyami, and I like theater."
"And I'm dark shadow! I like haunted houses!"
"Dark shadow!"
Aizawa gave a soft smile. "Thank you. Dark shadow? I presume that you are part of Tokoyami's quirk."
"That's right! We're best buddies!"
Tokoyami slumped. "My apologies. My quirk has a mind of its own."
"It is quite alright, Tokoyami." Auzawa nodded. "A sentient quirk is a partner. It is important for them to be included."
Tokoyami nodded and remained silent. The next to speak was a young man with mid-length two-toned hair.
"Shoto Todoroki," he spoke flatly. "And I like the character 'Scrat' from 'Ice Age'."
That prompted quite a few laughs from around the table, and it seemed like Todoroki was quite appreciative of those laughs as he gave a small smile himself.
Finally, it was time for-
"Katsuki Bakugo. And I like… heroes…"
Izuku was caught off guard as Aizawa nodded. Bakugo not yelling? And admitting that he was a hero fan?
Sure, everyone was a fan of some hero, but saying you liked heroes in general was like saying your favorite genre of television was isekai anime.
"Now that we've all gotten to know one thing about everyone, I would like to go over your stay here. You are to be students of this academy who train to be heroes. Because of that, you will be judged on everything you do. This building is to be your safe space, where each of you have friends and comrades in arms. It is where you will rest. It is where you will live, and so that comes with rules. Number one, while squabbles and bickering are commonplace, fist fights aren't. If I see anyone lay hands on a fellow student outside of training, you will be punished, is that understood?"
The students nodded and Aizawa continued.
"Number two. Your courses here will see you encounter a multitude of intense situations, including murder scenes, trafficking rings, and even war zones. Because of that, you are required to see our mental health specialist once a month. He will be here in the mornings to meet students and determine a proper schedule. Should you fail to attend appointments, your class schedule will be restricted and you will be unable to attend heroics classes. Is that understood?"
"Sir, what if we already attend regular counseling sessions?"
Aizawa nodded. "I understand that a few of you might. All we require is a signature from your current therapist or counselor certifying that you've been attending regular sessions. You can have them send it to my email. I will still need this signature once a month."
"Okay. Thank you."
"Of course. Now. Rule number three has to deal with substance consumption. After the formation of hero commissions, the age of alcohol consumption was rolled back to eighteen. My request is that you remain responsible with any drinks in the dorms. Next is smoking. When it comes to tobacco, it may surprise you that cigarettes can help with certain quirks. Despite that, cigarettes are not allowed on campus. Marijuana. If you have a prescription, it is allowed. Many here may have chronic pain due to their quirks, and smoking cannabis has been shown to help with that. If you do not have a prescription, and you harass a classmate who does with the intention of shaming them, or with the intention of getting high by using their medication, you will be punished. Are there any questions?"
Nobody said anything, so Aizawa continued.
"Those are the mainstream rules. Get along, work together, and don't be a douchebag. I want all of us to act almost like a family while here at UA, so please follow them. Next, this is a note, but also a rule. Romantic relationships. They are allowed, but I ask you to be careful. We're all adults here. Please make sure to practice safe sex. I don't need to know if you're active, I don't need to know details. I just need you all to be careful. College baby scandals have killed many a career and led to many issues due to poor planning and parenting. Many villains have been born in homes where parents just wanted to get laid. It's a tragedy for the child and to the world. That also is not meant to exclude the numerous diseases that can be transmitted via intercourse. One of our professors will be here momentarily to lead a seminar in sexual education. As I said when you checked in, this is mandatory. Are there any questions?"
A chorus of 'no's' went up around the table, prompting a nod from the man. "Very well. We have about an hour until Professor Kayama gets here, so how about a few board games?"
It took almost no time at all for the seven students to form two groups. Tokoyami led Bakugo, Todoroki, and Hagakure in a game of 'Betrayal' while he and Uraraka got to know Iida over a game of English Scrabble.
"So, you're one of the members of team Idaten?" Izuku asked.
"Oh no. My brother is. But it is my family that founded the last three generations of the group agency."
"Wow! That's really cool Iida!" Uraraka smiled, placing her letters on the board. "Levitate."
"On a triple word score and using all of your letters?"
Izuku giggled as Iida looked at the board in shock. "Don't let it get to you. Here. Photosynthesize."
The young man's jaw dropped lower as Uraraka groaned. "Midoriya! Every time!"
"It's not my fault that I'm good at Scrabble. Now, how many points does that put me at?"
"It puts you on the board with me." A voice purred in his ear. Izuku yelped as Iida and Uraraka turned white.
"W-wait. I know you-" Uraraka stammered.
"Y-you're the R-rated Heroine!" Iida shouted.
"M-MIDNIGHT???" Izuku's face began to steam as his body burned through his chair.
"Nemuri. Stop flustering my charges."
"Oh Shota! You are here!" The woman smiled, sauntering over to the tired man in her hero suit. "You know I like a man that's good with words."
"You're here to teach sex ed, not to give a hands-on experience with sexual harassment. Now, why don't you have some rice while they finish up their games?"
"It might put us back a half hour or so~ but who am I to say no to your cooking?"
The students sweatdropped as the woman began to dig into a bowl of fried rice. Iida sighed, bringing Izuku's attention back to the Scrabble board.
"Revolution." He nodded, placing his letters on the board. "It won't catch me up to you, but it's a good first step."
Uraraka hummed, holding the last full hand of letters. "I could do… Quixotry? Man, this is a really stacked board. Too bad I was right next to that triple…"
Izuku smiled, placing his last letter next to Uraraka's 'Q'. "Qi. And thank you kindly for that triple word score."
Uraraka blew a raspberry at her friend. "It's not like you needed it."
Iida deflated a bit as he tallied up their totals. "Yeah… Midoriya wins."
"MURDER!"
The three jumped and turned to see Tokoyami's quirk circling their board game. It seemed that the duo had won.
"Alright then. If you're all finished, I'd like to introduce one of my colleagues here at UA." Aizawa stood and walked beside Midnight. "This is Nemuri Kayama. Atop teaching sexual education courses with Recovery Girl, she is a qualified pro hero, holding over four hundred villain captures under her belt. Professor Kayama teaches public relations here at UA, as well as History and the Arts. Would you like to take it from here?"
The woman smiled, setting her now-empty bowl to the side. "I would love to! Now, despite my reputation on the hero scene, I am not a truly obscene individual. I forged a hero persona that revolves around my body due to my quirk. So! Sex Ed. Unlike what many of you may think, this course isn't to teach you about how to have sex. It's a course that covers the dangers of sex and how to prevent them. So, how about we start here. What exactly is sex?"
Todoroki raised his hand. "It's what parents do to make a child. Sex is a physical act between two partners with the goal of procreation."
"Almost." Midnight smiled. "While it's true that sex can lead to the conception of a child, that's not all that sex is for. Mmmm? It seems that this pretty little thing has an answer for me?"
Ochako blushed. "While Todoroki was correct in sex being a physical act between partners, it doesn't have to be just to have a child. Sex is also a physically pleasurable act, and should be enjoyable for all parties even if there isn't procreation involved. I say 'parties' since sex doesn't just have to be between two people…"
"I couldn't have said it better!" Midnight smiled. "It has been a misconception that the act of sex is purely for procreation for over four hundred years! When done properly, sex can be an incredibly enjoyable experience. However, that doesn't mean you should get carried away."
The seven students remained quiet as Professor Kayama slung a bag from her shoulder and pulled out a number of small booklets.
"Each of you gets to keep one of these. They outline the numerous sexually transmitted diseases and infections that you need to watch out for, and how to protect against them. Now, starting us off on the protection part. What is the best way to protect against STDs? Iida, right?"
The young man nodded. "Condoms are one way, ma'am."
"Excellent. Yes, a condom does protect against some sexually transmitted diseases, as it acts as a barrier between the genitals, and can prevent diseases that are transmitted via bodily fluids. However, they are not one hundred percent effective." The professor spoke. "They do not prevent the transfer of diseases through skin-to-skin contact, such as Herpes or HPV. Can anyone tell me the best way to prevent the transfer of STDs?"
Izuku shakily raised a hand. "Communication…"
"Elaborate, Mr. Midoriya." The professor smiled.
"Well, certain precautions-such as condoms-should always take place in an intimate setting- Erm…unless one wants a baby... . The best way to stay safe is to get tested and to be open with your partner as you prepare for intercourse. It can help to determine what steps are necessary before and after intercourse to best avoid contracting a sexually transmitted disease or infection."
Professor Kayama smiled. "Perfect! That is the correct answer. Now for a history lesson. Years ago, classrooms took an abstinence-centered approach to sexual education, telling students that the best way to prevent STDs was to not have sex at all. Can anyone tell me why that approach might not work?"
It was Bakugo who answered that question. "It might work with middle schoolers and some high schoolers. But college kids and adults get horny. Added to the fact, some diseases on the list can be transmitted without intercourse. Though the chance is small, one could contract a disease from a public bathroom. Midoriya is right. The best way to be safe is to have an exam done."
Izuku blinked. ' He didn't call me Deku…'
He would have to put that behind him for the time being as Bakugo continued.
"The old approach is the one we all know from middle school. If you have sex before marriage, you'll die. If you have sex in general, you'll die. Don't have sex. It's a band-aid put over a broken dam, especially since classes never cover safe sex beyond telling you what a condom is and how to put one on."
Professor Kayama nodded. "A temporary solution to a much greater problem, though that is a problem as old as the pre-quirk education system. I am also glad you mentioned that diseases in this booklet can be transmitted via other ways than intercourse. Just a reminder that there is no downside to getting tested. Now, with that being said, we will be reviewing how to properly put on a condom. Aizawa is already being a dear and passing everything out, what a good advisor!"
"Nemuri."
Izuku could already feel the steam rising from his face as they were guided through the exercise.
"Now remember. Pinch the top of the condom and roll it down. There should be some space left, but not too much. Make sure that there is a proper seal between the rubber and the skin of your… model." Nemuri smiled as she went around and checked. "You all did well! I might have to keep one or two of these for examples! Now, we have a few more things to cover, but the most important one is Consent. As we have covered, sex can be a pleasurable act for those involved. However, it is important to specify that it occurs between consenting individuals. Sex without mutual consent is classified as rape. Make no mistake, rape is not a funny word to throw around. It is a major act of violence against a victim. It is dehumanizing. It is extremely harmful. It is one of the worst crimes that can be committed. You are all hero students. I expect you to remain mindful of boundaries should you have a partner, though we should also remember that this doesn't just take place between persons in a romantic relationship. What are some examples of villains that have been arrested for sexual violence?"
Hagakure was the one to answer this time. "Daichi Watanabe. They called him the heat lasher. He could manipulate heat whips that he generated from his hands, which he used to restrain victims."
Midnight nodded. "Watanabe holds a count of twenty-three murders to his name. Each one of them showed signs of sexual assault when they were found. Can anyone give me another example? Tokoyami?"
The bird-headed man nodded. "An American villain. Sarah Camp. Descended from the patriarchal side of the Campbell family after they split two hundred years ago. She was given the name 'Haze'. Her quirk let her block the memory of her targets, so they never remembered anything. She was caught when a man with a photographic memory quirk had a bad reaction to her own quirk and ended up dying."
"Sarah Camp assaulted seventy-three men before she was caught." Midnight nodded. "Which goes to show you that this is not just a woman's issue. Anyone can be the victim of an assault. Our question is, how do we prevent it?"
Ochako raised her hand. "We make harsher punishments? I know that before the age of quirks, many rapists would only get jail time before being released."
"Harsher punishments. Yes. The threat of life in prison could dissuade one from assaulting someone. However, there's also a downside. Rapists will kill their victims in order to avoid being caught. So while harsher punishments are a start, they aren't a final solution."
The students were quiet for some time before Professor Kayama smiled. "It's okay. The fact of the matter is that there is no real final solution. The best we can do is educate one another on the problem, know when to spot the signs, and stamp out this behavior when and where we can. It is a slow process, but the road to a world without sexual violence starts with ourselves. One day, the number of sexual crimes will dwindle to a monthly occurrence, and then a yearly occurrence, before finally being stamped out. But today, over fifty assaults happen daily around the world. So we come back to consent."
The professor took out another set of booklets and passed them out.
"When you and another are interested in one another and reach that threshold, remember to communicate clearly. Ask flat out if the two of you want to have sex. Anything less than a firm 'Yes' means no. If your partner or partners are quiet. If they do not sound sure. You do not pursue the moment. If they say no, you don't try to persuade them. That goes for both boys and girls. Consent goes both ways. At the end of the day, it boils down to firm communication. Now, I hate to cut this short tonight, but Aizawa made me run a bit behind with that fried rice. I will be back each night for the next five days. I hope you join me for at least one more seminar, and I do hope you take advantage of the medical wing of UA for any needs, such as testing or protection."
Aizawa was snoring on his chair when the woman walked by and tapped him on the shoulder.
"The stage is yours, Sho. I'll see you tomorrow."
And with that, the R-rated Heroine left the group A dormitories.
Shota Aizawa yawned and turned to his students. "You all did really well. I hope you join her seminar tomorrow. Curfew is eleven until classes start. You're free to mingle until bedtime. Oh, and could one of you take care of the dishes for me? Thanks."
Izuku chuckled a bit as the man fell asleep again. Uraraka sneakily covered the man with a blanket before walking to the kitchen.
"Anyone want to help me?"
Izuku hopped up as the rest started a game of Monopoly.
"Of course. I'll wash and you dry."
"You know me too well."
Chapter 28: Combust (Looking up at where you were)
"Nana dear, could you get me the flour?"
"Of course, Mama!" She was already hopping with excitement at helping her mom to make cookies. Being asked to float too?
Best birthday ever!
Her hops got bigger and bigger as her head got fuzzy, and soon she was above her mom's waist, going up up up.
"Which cupboard is the flour in, Mama?"
"It's up in that one, dear!" The woman smiled. "WOW! You're so tall!"
She giggled as she slowly drifted to the cupboard her mom had pointed to. "No no Mama! I'm floating!"
Her mother giggled as she brought down the flour. "You're right! You must be a little superhero!"
"I'm super! Hahahaha!"
"It's a bird! It's a plane! It's super Nana!"
'Ochako…'
'I want this to be forever…'
"Ochako…"
'Momma, I wanna be a hero.'
" Ochako!"
Her eyes flew open to greet the smiling face of Mina Ashido.
"Rise and shine, sleepyhead!"
"HOW DID YOU GET INTO MY ROOOOOM!"
->*<-
The week had passed quickly, with new students arriving every day. The dormitories had slowly filled up to almost full capacity.
Izuku had greeted Kirishima warmly when he arrived, and as they went to work out in one of UA's nearby fitness buildings, Mina had taken the opportunity to befriend Ochako.
And so it was the last day before classes started. Everyone had double checked their supplies, prepared their uniforms, and otherwise spent the time getting to know their classmates.
"So, you can generate anything from your skin, so long as you know it's chemical composition?"
The black haired woman at the table giggled. "Oh yes. I can also reabsorb creations. Though recently I've been focusing on atomic structures, so it's more of synthesis."
Izuku's eyes sparkled. "How does that even work? Can you generate any state of matter? Can you layer organic and inorganic compounds? If you know the atomic structure, does that mean that you can make theoretical materials?"
"I must say, I've never had anyone so interested in my quirk." The girl smiled. "Well, that's a lie. I've had a lot of people interested in my quirk for money."
"For money?" Izuku blinked.
"Oh yes. See?" She flicked her hand, making a gold coin appear with a tiny twinkle. "Sorry for the theatrics. I've gotten really good at sleight of hand."
Izuku looked like a kid in a candy store as he felt the metal coin in his hands. Turning it over and over, he inspected every angle. "This is real gold!"
Yaoyorozu nodded. "Yes it is."
"How-" Izuku looked at the coin. "You must be either drawing in molecules from the surrounding area or utilizing stores of matter in your body to generate solid forms as you picture the-"
"Wow! I'm impressed you got it that quick!"
Izuku turned to the girl. "Eh?"
"My quirk consumes lipids from my body in order to generate the molecules that I think of, while my body arranges them and puts them together. I can draw from other stores of molecules via skin contact."
"Can you show me?"
The woman smirked and took the coin. Izuku watched as it turned into water in her hands, before evaporating and becoming steam. Steam became cotton and cotton became snow, before becoming gold once more and being reabsorbed into her body.
"So long as I maintain skin contact, I can manipulate the molecular structures of objects and substances. I can move protons, neutrons, and electrons to make other elements, and combine elements to make creations without the consumption of lipids in my body. Of course, it can give me a headache if I push myself too far. I once gave myself a concussion by accidentally turning my father's limousine into solid gold!"
Izuku felt his chest squeeze. Turning an entire limousine into gold? That was- that was-
"I don't think I remembered to ask your name."
She smiled. "Momo Yaoyorozu."
"Yaoyorozu. Your quirk is amazing. Thank you for sharing so much with me!"
"Tch. It's not like she could get you to shut up after you saw her make a hairbrush." A girl with purple hair snorted.
"Sorry…" Izuku blushed. "M-my name is Izuku Midoriya. It was nice to meet you!"
"Likewise Midoriya. Aizawa said to join you all at dinner, correct?"
"Yes! Everyone will introduce themselves then, and Professor Kayama will be here for the sex ed seminar."
"Ah… so there is a-"
Izuku nodded. "Don't worry. Professor Kayama is very kind and covers everything without making it embarrassing. Now, I have to run. I promised my friend Kirishima that I'd look at his quirk, so-"
"It's okay. Don't let us hold you back."
Izuku smiled and gave a bow. "Thank you Yaoyorozu. I will see you at dinner. You as well, Jiro."
As the young man left, Momo Yaoyorozu couldn't help but smirk at her close friend. "So, you've already become acquainted?"
"Shush!"
->*<-
Life is… different, when you're not at the top. When you don't have to crane your neck to look down on others. You start to see that they might have something in them worth keeping…
Like the guy with six arms.
Bakugo immediately recognized him from the entrance exam, and it seemed the same was true for the other student. And so Bakugo. Well, Bakugo found himself helping the guy to move in.
It wasn't like it was necessary. The guy was built for moving shit. His mom probably loved having him for bringing in groceries.
But… it was nice. He couldn't remember the last time he'd actually reached out to interact with someone as an equal. He had been so caught up in being at the top,he hadn't even realized he was just crossing the starting line.
Thank goodness Shoji was there.
That was the guy's name. Shoji. He was tall and muscular. Had a hell of a quirk too. Bakugo remembered how the man held up a whole building to keep him safe.
After moving him in, the two got to sit down and talk more. Bakugo learned a lot about Shoji, how he was big and yet also gentle. Strong, but caring. He grew up being shunned for his mutation, and Bakugo- well… he had been a bully. He couldn't help but feel bad.
But they talked. They talked and talked. He never even remembered telling Shoji about how much of an asshole he was, but he did.
And it was that night that he realized that yeah, he really was an asshole. Because at UA, he wasn't special. He was just another kid to the professors.
And he was alone because of it.
' I have a lot of work to do…'
So now, he was sitting at the table with everyone. Giving introductions for the last day. Going around the table with all of these… these… what was he supposed to call people who weren't extras?
Iida, the guy with engines. He had actually gotten up one morning and seen him run. He was fast.
Aoyama. He arrived on the second day. Always had this sparkle to him.
Ashido. Pink-skinned and downright dangerous. He caught her making bleach for her laundry on the third night. That and her friend.
Kirishima. He was huge. As tall as All Might. Sure, there were tall students. But the only one who compared to the guy was Shoji (who still sat next to him even after learning that he was an asshole.) Bakugo didn't think he wanted to fight that guy until he got his own head on straight.
Then there was Dek- Midoriya. He had no right to call him Izuku. Somehow, the nerd looked… strong. And he had Kirishima's respect too. He remembered the scoreboard for the practical. Midoriya was one of the top scorers.
' What changed?'
Then there was doughb- Uraraka. She was a bit chubby on the face, but her exam scores spoke for itself. She was no pushover.
But seeing her and Deku dance around each other so awkwardly was still sickening.
' Just fucking kiss already!'
It was a bit ironic that he had shifted from hating them to waiting for them to get together, but he had to admit (begrudgingly) that the two were kinda cute. Maybe it was his mother bombarding him with pictures of the two while he recovered from the entrance exam. Maybe it was realizing how much of a dick he was.
Either way.
Next to her were Yaoyorozu and Jiro. Two more that he was wary of, for obvious reasons. Jiro was at the top of the scoreboard for the entrance exam, and Yaoyorozu got in on recommendation. The Yaoyorozu family was a well known family. Rich beyond reason. But the recommendation didn't come from old money. It came from a hero.
She had caught someone's eye.
Next, the shortest in the class. Mineta. He was… interesting. Always doing his best to be super friendly. Though he clearly struggled a few times with his words. He scored lower than Bakugo in the exam, but he had the highest infrastructure score. It was a clear reminder that everyone here was here for a reason.
Koji Koda. Quiet, but confident. One of the other big guys in the class. He was gentle, with a rabbit perched on his shoulder wherever he walked. Rumor had it that he had assisted with the birth of a cow in the middle of the exam. Bakugo respected him for that rumor alone.
Hagakure had moved over between Koda and a girl with a frog face. She was always loud, but he understood why. When one is invisible, attention must be hard to find.
The frog girl was Asui, though she asked everyone to call her Tsu. Midoriya and Kirishima knew her, which meant that they probably worked together during the exam. That meant she kept up with Kirishima and whatever cracked-out bullshit Midoriya was running with. She had a lot of points too, scoring in the top five examinees. Three slots above Bakugo himself.
Tokoyami was still next to Todoroki. Both seemed to be quieter people. But they both had to have crazy power. Tokoyami was so powerful that his shadow was literally another person. Not to mention, they were really good at murdering their friends in board games.
Todoroki was the child of Endeavor who was clearly in a rebellious phase. What, with mid-length hair and a subtle ear piercing. Though if that scar on his face was anything to go by, he was rebellious for a reason.
Rikido Sato was next. Big and built, but man could he bake. Bakugo didn't want to cross him purely because he didn't want to miss out on the guys chocolate chip cookies.
Denki Kaminari was the one to go to for anything electronic. He had practically turned his dorm into a computer workshop. He could be annoying with some of the memes he liked to look through, but he was pretty cool.
Hanta Sero and Mashirao Ojiro sat next to each other. Both had decent scores on the exam. Bakugo knew to be wary of Sero after seeing him doing acrobatics in the nearby gym.
Ojiro was also on his list. He had walked into the gym to work his arms on Thursday just to have a punching bag impact the wall next to him. The guy had punched it off of the chain.
They were dangerous.
Lastly was him and Shoji. The guy stayed by his side as introductions came to an end. And then it was time for Aizawa's notes.
"Welcome everyone. Tomorrow is the start of classes and I am incredibly happy that you are all here. It makes everything a lot easier." The man stood up and passed out a few packets of paper to everyone. "This class is the most promising in hero history. Your quirks, your drive, your backgrounds. You each have a spark that has pushed you to be here. You each have the spark needed to be great heroes. You've all introduced yourselves these past five days, with something you like. I'm going to introduce you with what we saw in each of you."
Each of the students froze as they looked at the packets, eyes running over their very own student profiles.
"Each of you has something to be proud of. The papers in your hands show what your classmates have done to earn their spot here."
Bakugo looked at the papers. ' Kirishima saved a girl from being hit by a car… Midoriya spent his college fund on a playground? Shoji… he's got a seat on the meta-human rights board!?'
Compared to everyone else, the notes of contributions to heroics from the HSPC on his file seemed laughable.
What contributions? What did he do to deserve being here with everyone?
"I'd like to point out those among you who have gone above and beyond. Katsuki Bakugo received a full scholarship from the Hero Public Safety Commission and moved everyone with his sacrifice during the entrance exam."
Shoji nodded at him and gave him a nudge to stand.
"Ochako Uraraka scored the highest in the practical, and has been awarded the promising future scholarship from UA. Izuku Midoriya scored the highest on the written exams on both general and recommended fronts, and caught the eye of All Might, who has sponsored his enrollment here."
' NO FUCKING WAY!'
Aizawa nodded to each of them. All of you here in this class are to be equals, but that doesn't mean you cannot inspire one another. Let these three show you exactly what can be done with hard work. Use their successes as fuel to go beyond, Plus Ultra."
The students all clapped as Midoriya, Uraraka, and Bakugo sat down. Aizawa looked at his watch before nodding. "Professor Kayama will be here soon to teach the final sex ed seminar. Tomorrow morning, we will be running a free-for-all spar at ground theta. Bring your gym clothes. We're going to test your limits."
And with that, the man turned control over to Midnight, who had just walked in. Bakugo flexed his fingers as he walked up to his dorm room.
' Sponsored by All Might?'
Looking down the hallway, he caught the eye of Midoriya. A boy who used to be his best friend. The young man gave him a nod before walking into his dorm room, leaving Bakugo alone in the hall.
' When did you get so far ahead?'
Chapter 29: Galaxy (Peers)
"Alright, spread out. This is going to get chaotic."
The twenty students of year one: group A spilled out into ground Theta, a large air hangar that had been repurposed for hero training. The floors were a mix of materials, from a sand pit to grassy turf, while the walls were covered in ladder bars and rock wall holds.
"This is Ground Theta. It's perfect for any manner of quirk training, so it will be our arena for today."
The students gazed around at the facility as Aizawa continued.
"Today we'll be staging a free-for-all battle-royale-type spar. This is meant for you to become better acquainted with your peers. Their fighting styles, their quirks, and how well they can analyze and adapt to what you can do. Go all out, but do not shoot to kill. Injury will be expected. The last one standing will be considered the winner. Now, you might want to separate before we begin. I already told you to spread out."
The students each got the memo and quickly scattered across the training area. A few climbed up onto the walls and up into the ceiling, while others picked their preferred terrain.
"On the count of three, begin. One. Two. Three-"
He was cut off by the roar of an engine. Tenya Iida's face hardened as his chest rippled, his gym shirt bouncing along with the loud noise that echoed from his body. The young man brought his hands up and flexed his fingers, causing two thrusters to pop out from his palms.
The rest of the class quickly sprung into action as Tenya threw his hands down, leaping into the air as his thrusters fired. He rocketed upwards, towards Hanta Sero, who quickly swung out of the way, trailing tape behind him in hopes that he could snag his opponent.
Iida, however, spun out of the way as two thrusters on the backs of his legs flared with blue and purple heat. The momentum he had gained swung back as he jetted towards the ground, his feet making contact and lifting as he broke into a supersonic run.
' He's amazing at maintaining his momentum.'
Though that didn't mean that the others weren't amazing either. Iida was headed straight for Shoto Todoroki when Eijiro Kirishima jumped forward and caught him.
"You're pretty fast!" The boy grinned as his jagged, hardened skin began to crack and steam. "And wow… whatever is powering those thrusters is giving off a hell of a lot of vibrations. Hold on-"
The juggernaut turned and punched, a blast of heat ripping out of his fist and melting a wave of ice that Todoroki had sent at him and Iida.
"I'm already storing up more force from that! What say you and I team up against this guy?"
Iida spun around in Kirishima's grip and delivered a kick to the other man's head, which threw him off just enough to lose hold of his catch. Iida hit the ground and took off again, leaving Kirishima to fight Todoroki alone.
Meanwhile, Momo Yaoyorozu was back-to-back with Kyoka Jiro, using a pair of paintball guns to fend off Mashirao Ojiro and Tsuyu Asui. As she ran out of paintball rounds, the guns glowed in her hands before melting down and twisting out into a training glaive. The girl's arms rippled with muscle as she stepped away from Jiro, spinning the long-bladed weapon around so fast that it became a blur of black and silver.
Jiro herself was using simple hand-to-hand against Rikido Sato, though every so often she would add a burst of sound to a punch or kick, sending the larger man stumbling backwards.
' She's probably putting a lot of effort into muting the sound of Iida's engines. Still, she's holding her own.'
An explosion drew Aizawa's attention upwards, where Ochako Uraraka was busy fighting Katsuki Bakugo. Strangely, the boy wasn't floating with his explosions like he had been in the entrance exam, but was instead setting off explosions to disorient Uraraka every time she got close enough to swing at him.
Aizawa could have paid a lot more attention to his other students. But at that moment, there was a dramatic shift in the room. Everything was… warmer.
Turning around, he saw the culprit. Izuku Midoriya stood with his fists up, hopping back and forth on the balls of his feet. His hands were glowing as he stared down his very own army of rivals.
Minoru Mineta in particular, used his quirk to create a long whip. The purple spheres of his quirk ripped through the air as Midoriya hopped back onto one foot, stepped forward with his left, and swung .
The whip didn't even make contact. Half of it simply melted from the combination of force and heat, though fighting in such a manner wasn't great for Midoriya.
' His quirk is a combination heat emitter and body enhancement. During the entrance exam, he was able to destroy multiple giant robots with ease, but the only reason was because he was using his entire body."
Midoriya gritted his teeth as he reached up and forcefully popped his newly dislocated shoulder back in place.
' He also used it on just his knuckles, but since he dispersed the force through a heavyweight robot, the recoil didn't hit him as badly. Right there… he dislocated his shoulder because he used too much force for an unenhanced arm.'
"I've had enough of this!"
Aizawa turned to see Uraraka land another hit on Bakugo, who snarled and popped his palms alight.
Katsuki Bakugo roared, his palms rippling with explosions as he jumped into the air. "I'm gonna take you all out at once!"
As he began to spin, Uraraka splayed her fingers across her temples and activated her quirk, rendering herself weightless and kicking off from the ground. Even as she built up speed, ping ponging around Bakugo, every other student responded.
Kaminari drew his hands around him, gathering electricity into a lightning bolt as the lights in the training area began to flicker.
Todoroki surrounded himself with white fire, burning hot enough to turn the stone beneath him cherry red. The air hissed around him as all of the heat condensed into a spark that sat at the end of his finger.
Yaoyorozu touched the floor, pulling a chunk of soil up and transmuting it into a three-barreled minigun, with a pipe that fed into the woman's shoulder. The three large barrels began to spin and glow red as a smile of wicked glee spread across Yaoyorozu's face
Jiro grunted and stumbled back, clutching her ears as Iida whizzed by. Aizawa watched her face twist into one of anger as she brought her hands forward and opened her mouth to scream. There was no sound, just a growing distortion in the woman's hands that made Aizawa shudder.
Ashido began mixing liquids to make toxic gases, which fluffed up into deadly pink and yellow clouds that surrounded her body. She truly looked like a goddess, wreathed in ethereal clouds that could easily kill.
Ojiro jumped back and forth, cracking the ground more and more as his muscles bulged. Aizawa could see him picking up speed as he slowly transitioned from bipedal movement to all fours.
Sato's arms swelled with pink muscle, which reminded Aizawa of what he had done during the entrance exam.
' Shrimp.'
Asui's body bulged as her head became more pointed. Black scales grew under her eyes as her tongue receded and became forked. Her transformation granted her an extra meter of height as her legs stretched and became dense. "Reptilia: Komodo"
Sero struck out hundreds of lines of tape shooting around the training area. Every kind of tape one could find, threading together into thick braided ropes and knitting together into chains.
Mineta swung around and began to spin rapidly, launching purple spheres in every direction. Some stuck while others bounced, a growing storm of projectiles waiting for a victim.
Aoyama's lasers covered his body and grew into an impressive avatar of light, coating crystal-covered skin. He looked like a Templar knight in magic armor.
Hagakure fed off the energy of everyone giving off light, duplicating into seven multicolored clones, which took to the ground in a spectacular show of advanced acrobatics, cartwheeling and leaping in sync as they each gathered light on their palms.
Iida began to run up the wall, moving so fast around the hangar that high-speed winds began to blow, buffeting the class and kicking up clouds of dust.
Koda gripped a bracelet around his wrist and let out a roar as his body gained the features of a Bengal Tiger. Fangs jutted from his mouth as white fur grew across his face. Aizawa thought he was done once his hands became massive paws, but a secondary transformation started, with a pair of massive eagle wings ripping through his training uniform.
Tokoyami dove into the shadows and rose from the floor as a massive raven made of inky darkness. The scream he let out vibrated inside Aizawa's head, and he watched as the six white eyes of his student's transformation leveled with the class.
Kirishima steamed, his body practically vibrating with pent-up energy. The skin on his arms cracked and became jagged as he pulled back a fist.
Mezo Shoji expanded, his arms multiplying and curling outwards, spinning around and around, targeting each student and bulging with enough power to pulverize a city block.
Midoriya became light, rising from the floor as heat poured from his skin. Heat spilled outwards and began to melt the wall behind him.
' Not good. I can't target all of them like this!'
Aizawa ran to the wall to hit the emergency quirk suppression system, but it was too late.
"ATOMIC RAIN!" Scatters of sweat ignited, spreading explosions through the air.
"TORINO'S WELL!" Uraraka disabled her quirk and put her hands together, coming down on Bakugo with earth-shattering force.
"BLACKOUT BOLT!" The lightning in Kaminari's hands exploded outwards in a violent storm of energy that carved scorched lines onto the ground.
"FLASHFIRE FIST: CREMATION!" The spark in Todoroki's hand exploded outwards, countering Kaminari's lightning storm and gathering the other attacks together.
"GIGAFLARE GATTLING!" Yaoyorozu began to fire off full mortar fireworks, which hit the explosions of Bakugo's storm.
"BASS BOOST BOMB!" Jiro hurled the rippling ball of sound into the fray, which exploded with a scream so loud that it cracked the glass on the emergency quirk suppression coils button.
"APOCALYPSE STORM!" Clouds of combustible gases furled out, catching on the sharks if fireworks and ignited sweat.
"STAFF OF WUKONG!" Ojiro struck the ground with his tail, shattering the entire floor of Ground Theta.
"MANTIS SHRIMP STRAIGHT!" Sato punched, the force tearing a hole across the side of the training ground.
"KOMODO KILLER!" Asui reared back her head before spewing out a geyser of acid and foul-smelling rot that ate away at even the plastic rock wall holds on the ceiling.
"CELLOPHANE CELL!" ropes of tape surrounded everyone, locking them in place as Mineta's storm grew to fill the room.
"GRAPE HAILSTORM!" Purple spheres pelted everyone on the training ground. As they met explosions, they popped, scattering bonding solution across the gym.
"LUX MAXIME!" Aoyama's armor of light exploded into a shower of laser casts, peppering the class with rays of plasma.
"PRISMATIC ARMY!" Hagakure's clones each caught onto lasers from Aoyama's blast and bounced them around the training ground, multiplying the laser storm by a factor of seven.
"RECIPRO TAKEOFF!" Iida fully stopped in the center of the floor, his momentum becoming a Shockwave that blasted through the area.
"BENGAL BRUTALITY!" Koda roared, the sound joining Jiro's sonic blast and causing the walls to crack.
"NOCTUM MANTLE!" The living shadow cried, every shadow in the room expanding and blacking out the light from outside.
"TECTONIC ERUPTION!" Kirishima threw his arms forward, chunks of superheated shrapnel ripping off of him and screaming through the air.
"HECATON CANNON!" All of Shoji's fists fell at once, striking chunks of rubble from the aura and sending them at every student.
"STARBURST SKYLINE!" Midoriya's voice sang in a brilliant chorus, heat overtaking everything as the entire training ground glowed.
The suppression coils activated at the same moment every move went off, uniting in a brilliant explosion that reduced the hangar of ground Theta to dust. Each of Aizawa's students was on the ground panting. Some were burned, some scratched, some with broken limbs, but all were conscious.
' I'm starting to regret picking out these idiots.'
The professor sighed as burned flecks of what used to be ground Theta drifted down, piling up like snow on the scorched crater that had once been a proper training location.
' Still. They're all conscious… that says a lot about how much they'll be able to handle. Twenty quirks at max output? Haven't seen something like that in years.'
"This is partially my fault for telling you to go all out." He spoke, pulling water bottles from what was left of the training ground storage. "Still, try to take it easier next time. We don't need any of you dying."
"Yes sensei." The students responded weakly. One by one, they began to stand up, slowly walking over to their teacher while cradling arms or holding their hands over wounds.
We'll move over to the medical wing to be healed before your next class. Do try to stay awake, it's an important one, no matter what you picked."
Aizawa turned and began leading his class back to UA's main building, thinking hard about what he'd say to Nezu to explain the loss of ground theta.
->*<-
Hero Profile- The Erasure Hero- Eraserhead
Civilian name: Shota Aizawa
Time Active: Twenty-One Years
Total Cases Resolved: three hundred seventy two
Total villains apprehended: four thousand eight hundred sixty-three
Quirk: Erasure
Notes: Aizawa can cancel out the quirk of anyone he looks at, with the stipulation of mutation-type quirks. While it is an impressive power, it has severe limitations. Erasure can only be active on one target at a time. Additionally, prolonged use of Erasure can lead to severe irritation of the eyes or even temporary blindness.
Support Items:
Utility Scarf- A multithread weave of carbon fibers, Kevlar, Silk, and Graphene. Strong enough to resist most blades and even deflect bullets, while doubling as a nearby inescapable capturing device.
Blockade Lenses- A pair of tinted goggles with optional prismatic lenses. These goggles allow Eraserhead to remain unpredictable with his quirk, or weakening multiple villains at once with their prismatic lenses, though doing so partially reflects erasure back at Aizawa, leading to increased quirk strain and risk of temporary blindness.
Hero Ranking: sixty-third (underground hero)
->*<-
Izuku rubbed his wrists as he sat down in the classroom. The morning's training had been rough. From dislocating an arm with a punch to watching everyone go all out. Even with one percent active, he needed some help from Recovery Girl.
Now, a handful of them were sitting down in a small classroom, waiting patiently as Nemuri Kayama spoke with Aizawa.
"So there are no pictures?"
"Kayama, there's no training ground. All of it went poof."
The woman laughed. "Well, I hope you have fun explaining that to the Dean!"
"Laugh all you want, at least I have something to show off about my class."
"I'll have plenty to show off when this is done. Now, leave me be. I'll see what's left of you after my classes are over for the day."
Professor Kayama walked into the room and closed the door behind her. Taking out her phone, she strutted up to the front of the room before turning.
"Public Relations. One of the most important jobs of a limelight hero." She grinned. "I'm happy that you chose to join me. We've got a lot to cover by the end of the year. But I think we should start out with something fun."
The R-rated Heroine ran her nails across her desk before picking up a remote and turning on an overhead projector.
At the front of the classroom, the projector screen lit up with a PowerPoint
-[SOCIAL MEDIA]-
"In this day and age, social media is a great way to publish your accomplishments in the field. It's an open resume for anyone to read. And every limelight hero has one. Hell, even undergrounders will use socials to bust internet groomers."
The woman clicked her remote, switching to the next slide.
"By the end of today's class, you will all have your official hero accounts up and running, and your first posts will put your faces up for heroes around the world to see. But first…"
Izuku blinked as the woman pulled out her hero license.
"Your provisional licenses! You're sworn in now, with your own hero names and everything. So let's introduce ourselves with our names, and why we want to be heroes, yeah?"
The students all grinned. Hero names. Their drive. Their origins.
This was going to be a class to remember.
Chapter 30: Sparks (Names)
Izuku tapped his pencil against his lip. Public Relations. A course he both looked forward to, and simultaneously dreaded. It was here he'd really start to gain renown, along with the other members of his class. But, at the same time, with his quirk, he was certain his followers would be slim to none.
Thankfully, Miss Kayama had a solution. Something for everyone, to break the ice and create a firm foundation for their hero persona's.
"Introduce yourselves with your hero names, and tell us all why you want to be a hero."
Easier said than done.
Of course, he had put a lot of time and effort into his name. Weeks had gone into the idea of who he could become. There was just the small issue of not really being able to stop with comparisons to All Might.
In the end, his mother had offered the best solution. But that was only half the problem.
Izuku sighed and looked down at his provisional license. When he was little, he had wanted to be a hero because it's what All Might inspired him to be. A fearless symbol that could bring a smile to anyone's face.
But over the years, that dream had just become twisted. After a while, he didn't even think he'd make it to a hero course. But now, with Mr. Yagi's help…
Izuku stopped tapping his pencil. Mr. Yagi. Of course, it was All Might that would always give the best inspiration, but this was something else.
Both he and All Might had very similar backgrounds, and with All Might now healed, there wasn't a need for a second symbol of peace. But there was a need for something else.
"If anyone would like to go first?"
Izuku looked up as Miss Kayama called on the first raised hand. Momo Yaoyorozu stepped up and cleared her throat.
"As a short backstory. I never really had a hard life. Actually, almost everything was handed to me, and my quirk just made my life that much easier."
The class was quiet as Yaoyorozu bowed. "I want to be a hero, so that I can share my good fortune with the world. Those who have nowhere to go. The children who want a mother. Those who are in need of safety. I will create a place that they can call home. I will be the Heartwarming Hero, Hestia."
The class applauded and Izuku found himself slowly clapping along as well. He knew that the Yaoyorozu Family was well off from their shares in the support industry, and knowing that the heiress wished to use her position to help others was as honorable as any other.
Midnight nodded and gave the class a few minutes to continue to develop their speeches, before the next student stood up.
"I'm a lot different from you, Yaoyorozu." Mezo Shoji spoke. "I grew up with practically nothing. Being a mutant isn't easy. My friend Koda can attest to that… After surfing between foster homes, I wound up on the street, at the tender age of twelve. I made do for a few years, before Koda's family found me and took me in. After recovering, I went back to school. I became engrossed in the Meta Human Rights movement. I published articles under a pen name, and gained a decent following. Two years ago, everything paid off. I became the youngest member on the Board for Meta Human Rights in Kanto. I've spoken with important figures, including heroes like Gang Orca and Burnin. Through our summits, and meetings between organizations from other regions, we realized that what the world has missed is a symbol for meta humans. And so, I will become that symbol."
"Your ideology runs parallel to that of the Meta Liberation Army. Your message could be difficult to spread based on that fact alone."
"Criticism is a fact of life, ma'am." Shoji bowed his head. "The line between an activist and a terrorist is one that is not always seen. We hope that my place will signify that we are not the latter. I am the Benevolent Hero, Prometheus."
The class applauded as Shoji returned to his seat. Midnight nodded and paced the front of the class. "Two excellent examples so far. Who will our next hero be?"
Next up was Denki Kaminari.
"My quirk used to be pretty dangerous. It still is, but I mean for me, personally. I want to reach out to kids that have a quirk that may or may not put their own lives in danger. To show them that even volatile superpowers can be worked through. I want to advocate for the kids stranded by violent quirk manifestations, the kids that are turned on, because it could have easily been that way for me. I'll be the Lights Up Hero, Raijin."
"An excellent speech. There is always a need for those who can reach more young and stranded audiences. Currently, I believe only thirty four heroes exist worldwide who make it their mission to help those kids." Midnight smiled. "You'll have your work cut out for you."
"Don't I know it."
Kaminari smiled and sat down. Midnight walked between the desks and spoke to the three presenters and gave them another sheet of paper.
"Alright. These three will be working on their first social media posts, so they will be the first to present those as well. Let's continue the introductions!"
Uraraka grinned as she stood up. "I believe I'm ready. I come from a relatively average background. My original hope in life was to actually use my quirk to help at my family's construction company. But… someone helped them out before I could get to that point."
Izuku blushed and ducked his head down. 'Really? Why be embarrassed at that?'
"So I had to reevaluate." She smiled. "Luckily, I had a lot of options, but one came along in the form of a mentor. A retired hero who held onto a legacy of protecting others. We trained for months, and I got the snot kicked out of me a lot. On our last day of training, he told me about what he fought for. A single family member, who had died in the line of duty, as a hero. He fought so that nobody would watch their friends die, as he had. He fought to protect everyone he could, and even now, he returns to the hero track now and again, to give assistance to the allies he made. That man is in his late seventies… and he still finds a way."
Ochako bowed her head. "I want to be like him. A hero that saves as many as possible. Who knows what calls to make even when a solution seems impossible. I'll be a satellite, watching over everything and making sure that any who need a guardian can find one. I will be the Orbital Hero, Astraea."
Izuku clapped as hard as he could, and was thankfully not the only one as a majority of the class erupted into whistles and cheers.
"Well spoken. It will be hard, living in the shadow of a predecessor, you know."
Uraraka smiled. "I like a good challenge."
"Then we'll be watching you closely. Would anyone else like to go?"
They made their way through the class, and Izuku found himself chuckling as he recognized a common theme between each hero name.
"I'll protect the last undeveloped forests and coastlines as the Nature Hero, Pan!" Koji Koda smiled.
"My light will warm the hearts of those in need. I am Baldr!" Aoyama sparkled.
"I will weave a better fate for those forgotten by the public, as the tapestry hero, Moirai!" Sero gave a thumbs up.
"I want to save those who have known the pain of abuse. I will be the comforting hero, Horae." Todoroki spoke softly.
"I'll serve as a good example to the public, and show that any kind of public service can be heroic! I'm the Well Aged Hero, Dionysus!" Minoru Mineta grinned.
"Those who see me will remember the legends of China, and will know that they are protected from all evil. I am the Sage Hero, Monkey King!" Ojiro bowed.
"I'll run faster than light to reach anyone in need. I am Mercury!" Iida nodded curtly.
"I'm going to stick to the shadows, protecting the late night wanderers from buggers, kidnappers, and predators. I am Heqet." Asui gave a ribbit.
"I'll hold the sky on my shoulders, and remain unbreakable! I am the tectonic hero, Atlas!" Kirishima shouted with gusto.
"I'll spread color through everyone's dreams, as the Prismatic Hero, Iris!" Hagakure cheered.
"I want to encourage kids to stand up to bullies, as the alien heroine, Venus!" Ashido winked.
"Everyone deserves to eat. I'll work towards ending world hunger as the Michelin Hero, Jun!" Sato boomed.
"I want to spread joy through music, as the Inspiring Hero, Muse!"
"Your names all make me less self conscious of my own. I will be a walker of the night, keeping the innocent out of harm's way. I am the shadow hero, Erebus." Tokoyami spoke.
"Guh… if I had known all of you were this needy, I would have picked something else." Bakugo grit his teeth. "But all my other names had some iteration of 'murder' involved. Compared to that, this is a whole lot less edgy."
He held up his license. "I'm the reformed hero, Vulcan."
Izuku smiled as Bakugo returned to his seat.
"You're the last one, Midoriya. Need more time?" Midnight asked.
"No. I know exactly who I am."
Everyone stared as Izuku ran a hand through his white curls. "I had a rough time growing up, and it helps me to see just how much strength lies in each of my peers. I have found ways to relate to all of you."
The class was quiet. Kaminari set his phone down from finishing his social media posts. Ochako smiled and gave an encouraging nod.
"I was never super well off, but I had money for some things now and again. It made me feel empathy for the less fortunate, Yaoyorozu. Shoji, I didn't awaken a quirk until a few months ago, and while my experience may not be the same, I understand discrimination. Asido, I really resonate with your goal of stomping down on bullying. Sato, I never once lacked proper nutrition, but I have seen those who have, and still do. Koda, your wish to protect nature is one I find incredible. The undergrounders who want no recognition, you truly embody a hero's spirit. The limelighters, I have to say, your bravery to jump right in and stand out astounds me. Kaminari… my quirk is dangerous too. If I don't learn control, I could possibly eradicate the entire human race. But I don't want to do that. Much like Uraraka, I have a mentor, and a legacy placed upon my shoulders. I'm reminded of you, Mineta, who shows us that no matter what, humility can always make us better."
The class was watching with rapt attention now, as Izuku smiled widely.
"You're all so incredible! It's so hard to show what kind of hero I want to be without looking like a copycat! So I thought about it, and I came to a conclusion." He stood up straight. "I want to advocate for the quirkless population of the world. I want to become a great hero, who saves everyone with a smile. A hero that others look up to. A hero that people turn to. I want to be the one that ushers in a new day. A new world of peace and hope. Abd when someone asks if they can be a hero, I'll turn and tell them that yes, no matter what quirk they may or may not have, no matter how old, sick, or tired. I will reach my hand out and say 'you can do it!'" Izuku held up his license.
"I am-"
->*<-
Hero Profile- The R-rated Heroine- Midnight
Civilian Name- Nemuri Kayama
Time Active- Twenty One Years
Total Cases Resolved- Two Hundred Thirty Three
Total Villains Apprehended- Five Thousand Two Hundred Eighty One
Quirk- Somnabulist
Notes- Kayama's sweat evaporates upon meeting air. The gas produced can put any target within range to sleep, though the gas does take longer to work on women than it does on men. At maximum strength, she can spread a cloud of this sleeping gas up to fifty meters! Talk about tucking someone in! Unfortunately, as it is, Kayama's quirk requires some support gear to function at a large scale on the regular, and the lesser effect it has on women can be a disadvantage when she faces a strong villainess.
Support Items:
Regenerating Suit- A skin tight body suit that will sew itself back together after being ripped open. The suit keeps Nemuri's sweat in liquid form, so she may release it on command.
Feather Fan- Kayama keeps two hand fans with her hero suit in order to increase her quirks range, effectively delivering blasts of sleep gas over one hundred meters away.
Hero Ranking- Seventeen (Limelight Hero)
->*<-
Inko smiled as the front door of the Bakugo Household opened. Her old friend, Mitsuki, looked at her nervously, as if watching a tiger and waiting for it to pounce.
"Mitsuki! It's good to see you."
"I-Inko. Good to see you as well. I wasn't sure if you'd be accepting the dinner invitation."
The green haired woman smiled and handed Mitsuki her purse. "Why don't you take this for me. We can talk over dinner."
"Right."
Mitsuki hung the purse up as Inko strolled in. 'She's lost quite a bit of weight…'
"Honey, the sandwiches are almost done, who was at the- Inko! How nice to see you!"
"Hello Masaru." The woman smiled. "I figured since both of our children are at university, we could enjoy a dinner together?"
"Of course. And once again, I am so sorry for what our child did. We did not raise him that way." Masaru bowed. "I don't know where he gets it from!"
"I think it's plain to see where he gets it." Inko pursed her lips. "You said something about sandwiches?"
"Oh! Yes. We always make a different sandwich from around the world once a week. Today, we're trying our hand at Italian Beef."
"It sounds lovely." Inko clapped her hands together. "Do you need any help?"
A beep came from the kitchen, causing Mitsuki to jump. 'Damn this tension!'
"That's the timer. Don't worry, the table is already set. Why don't you two find a seat?"
"Thank you Masaru." Inko bowed, before making her way to the dining room. Mitsuki sat down in one of the chairs as Madaru entered with a platter that held three incredible sandwiches.
"Thank you for the food." Inko bowed her head, before they began to eat.
It was silent for most of dinner. Inko found that she was dissatisfied with her friends attempts to make up. Dinner invitations that she had refused, gifts that she had sent back. Their issues needed discussion.
'Though it doesn't seem that she's quite ready.'
"So Inko, have you heard from Izuku yet? First day of classes you know!"
Inko chuckled as she dabbed her face with a napkin. "Oh he's sent a few texts and pictures. It seems like he's having a good time."
Masaru nodded. "Katsuki hasn't sent us anything yet,but I expect a call this Wednesday."
"Ungrateful brat…" Mitsuki huffed.
"Don't act like you haven't had your own issues, Mitsuki." Inko chuckled. "Remember high school?"
The woman blanched and went back to eating silently, causing Inko to sigh.
"Kiki, I'm not going to try anymore if we can't talk like adults."
"Ko, I'm not good at being on the receiving end of your scoldings-"
Inko chuckled. "There's a lot I want to say, but today isn't the day for arguing. We should celebrate our kids, together."
Masaru smiled. "You are far too gracious, Inko."
"If you say so Masaru. May I be excused to take my plate?"
"Of course."
'Maybe giving them a bit of time will help.'
Inko set her plate down in the kitchen sink. Years ago, she would have washed it herself, but she was feeling like being petty.
Taking her time in the kitchen, Inko drowned out the soft conversation between Masaru and Mitsuki. Her eyes were drawn to their refrigerator, where a picture of the family and their son was placed. They were standing on a beach, the sun kissing Mitsuki's skin as Masaru built a sand castle. Katsuki stood in the surf, looking out at the sky as the water covered his feet.
Beneath that picture was a copy of Katsuki's exam results, along with a letter about Masaru's job, and inviting him to a summit overseas.
The rest of the fridge was less put together. Sticky note grocery lists, a few random word magnets surrounding a put together 'It's just science'. And two damaged crayon drawings from when Katsuki and Izuku had been little.
'Guess they never brought themselves to take them down.'
"OH INKO!"
Inko blinked as Mitsuki shouted from the dining room. She quickly stepped in to see her and her husband staring at their phone.
"What's wron-"
"THE UA SOCIALS JUST WENT OUT! I can't believe I forgot that it was today!" Mitsuki groaned. "No wonder Katsuki's not responding…"
Masaru nodded. "Their class looks tough. Woah, they've even got their individual accounts!"
Inko walked over to her purse and pulled out her phone. "Which app?"
"All of them. But people are really paying a lot of attention on 'Supernote'."
Inko nodded. She still preferred older apps like the properly renamed 'Twitter'. Supernote was a lot more hectic as hero fans constantly screwed over everyone's posts.
Opening the app, Inko navigated to the UA profile page, blinking as she saw the latest post.
UA_Official* @PLS_ULTRA • 2h
Let's give a warm welcome to one of our new hero classes, Group A! They're ready to jump right in! From little samaritans to big hitters, the future looks bright!
Make sure to check out the "@'s" below. You'll find your favorite new heroes with their official accounts! Each has given their own introduction, but for your viewing pleasure, we've compiled a video of each of these wonderful students introducing themselves and what they are fighting for!
[Link.HeroTube.UAnet/Class-A/P4N73On]
@Hestia_Official, @Prometheus_Official, @Raijin_Official, @Vulcan_Official, @Dionysus_Official, @Heqet_Official, @Jun_Official, @Real_Atlas, @Venus_Of_Mars, @Orbital_Astraea, @TheRealIris, @Mercury_Official, @EqualTo_Heaven, @Horaea, @Moirai_Weaver, @TheRealMuse, @Erebus, @Pan_Official, @Shining_Baldr, @Rising_Sun
#UA #NewClass #Hero #HeroCourse #Group-A #FYP #NewFans #NextGeneration …
274.3k Likes 173.2k Comments 60.5k Reposts 19kDownloads
Inko blinked as she clicked on the video link, her eyes watering as the video went over each of the students and their stories.
"I am the youngest member of the Meta Human rights Board"
"I have a legacy to live up to"
"I want to help victims of abuse"
On and on they went, noble children who had grown into hero hopefuls. Inko smiled as each held up their license.
"I am Atlas!"
"Raijin Here!"
"I will be the Monkey King!"
It made her heart warm to see all of them with their provisional licenses, grinning and beaming at their accomplishments. It reminded her of Hisashi finally earning his permanent license.
Speaking of Hisashi.
"I want each of you to look forward to tomorrow. I am the Starlight Hero, Invictus!"
She found herself giggling as tears ran down her cheeks. He chose the name. The name she had remembered from her husband.
"Inko? Are you alright?"
Wiping her nose, she nodded. "It was Hisashi's first idea when he got his license. He thought it didn't fit him."
Mitsuki's eyes widened as she watched her friend dab her eyes. "Ko…"
"I'm okay. I'm okay." She smiled. "Thank you for dinner. I think I should be heading home now."
"Alright. Thank you for coming." Masaru smiled. "Will you be by next week?"
Inko sighed. "I'll think about it."
"Please."
The green haired woman looked at her friend, who was staring at her with pleading eyes. "Please come back."
Inko shouldered her purse. "Let me check my schedule, and I'll give you a call. Goodnight Masaru, Kiki."
With that, Inko left the Bakugo household and began walking back to her apartment. Mitsuki watched her go, her heart aching.
"Goodnight…"