"YESSS! I'm not getting expelled!" Mineta sobbed, his voice cracking. "My harem dream lives on!"
Izuku glanced nervously at Aizawa, whose cold, unsympathetic gaze swept over the students. Izuku gulped, anxiety pooling in his stomach.
"Y-Yaoyorozu, I think you should know Mr. Aizawa expelled his entire class last year," Izuku said, his voice barely above a whisper. A tense silence fell over the group.
Pale faces turned toward Midoriya, who quickly covered his mouth, realizing the weight of his words. Yaoyorozu's eyes widened in alarm, taking a step back from Aizawa, whose gaze sent shivers down everyone's spines. He then turned his attention to Bakugou, and with a flick of his wrist, his capture scarf wrapped around Bakugou like a snake, pulling him closer.
"Now, if I recall, I said I would expel you if you scored lower than Midoriya," Aizawa said, his voice steady but filled with unsettling authority. Bakugou's eyes widened in realization, and he quickly glanced at the scoreboard, dread washing over him as he saw he was below the "worthless" nerd. He tried to mask his fear with bravado, clenching his fists.
"You wouldn't..." Bakugou scoffed, a scowl plastered on his face, but sweat dripped down his brow.
"In my time at U.A., I have expelled a total of 152 students," Aizawa replied flatly. "Don't think I'm bluffing, boy."
A chill spread through the group, and everyone instinctively stepped back, eyes darting nervously.
"I know the type of student you are, and I have a pretty good record of expelling arrogant students like you. Big fish in a small pond-now you're realizing the world doesn't revolve around you," Aizawa continued, his gaze unyielding.
Bakugou clenched his jaw, anger boiling beneath the surface. He felt humiliated and trapped, but he remained silent, the heat of his frustration radiating from him like a furnace.
"Students like you can't let go of their pride and ego. Instead, you cling to foolish assumptions to live in your delusions," Aizawa added, his voice unwavering.
Bakugou's heart raced as he glared at Izuku, his contempt evident. The idea of having to apologize to someone he considered worthless made his skin crawl. But he knew he had no choice. Izuku flinched, instinctively taking a step back from Bakugou's fury.
"Hey," Aizawa forced Bakugou to look him in the eye. "Don't look at him. Look at me. The only person you can blame is yourself. You lost to him. You couldn't let go of your damn pride and threw a tantrum like a child."
Izuku decided to interject. "Mr. Aizawa, you don't have to-"
"Midoriya, head back in line. I'll discipline my student as I see fit," Aizawa snapped, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"You do have potential, Bakugou Katsuki. If you can prove that you can let go of that pride of yours, I won't expel you," Aizawa stated. Bakugou didn't respond; he simply nodded, the weight of Aizawa's words settling heavily on his shoulders.
"You will bow your head and give me, and the rest of the class, a formal apology," Aizawa commanded. Bakugou's eyes flared with disbelief at the idea of having to apologize, the thought of lowering himself to that level sickening him.
"And lastly, you will apologize to Izuku Midoriya," Aizawa added, his icy tone leaving no room for negotiation. Bakugou's heart raced as he felt a wave of humiliation wash over him; the very thought of acknowledging Izuku as anything other than useless felt like poison.
"There's no way I'm apologizing to that damn-" Bakugou began, but Aizawa's glare cut through his protest like a knife.
"Then you can walk out of these school gates right now," Aizawa said, his voice cold and final.
Bakugou fell silent, his head drooping as the weight of his situation sank in. He knew he had to comply. "You will apologize and admit that he beat you and congratulate him on his first-place placement. If you want to throw tantrums like a child, you will be treated as such," Aizawa said, his authority unyielding.
Bakugou felt frozen, struggling to muster the strength to comply. The gaze of his classmates felt like daggers, and the idea of admitting defeat to Midoriya was suffocating. After a moment, Aizawa released him, and Bakugou took a deep breath, steeling himself.
With a heavy heart and a boiling rage, he bowed his head. The shame was suffocating. "I-I am sorry for taking up your time and accusing the school of bribery," he mumbled, the words tasting bitter on his tongue. Aizawa nodded, indicating he should continue.
Bakugou straightened and faced Class 1-A. "I am sorry for wasting your time," he said, but his tone was laced with insincerity. Everyone sensed his disdain, and a few snickers erupted among the students.
"Oh man, this is so embarrassing," Sero said, barely holding back laughter.
"He talked a big game about being first, but he couldn't even make top three," Kaminari chimed in, snickering.
Jirou held a hand over her mouth, trying not to laugh. "Sorry, could you speak up? We didn't hear," said the girl with super hearing prompting Bakugou to grit his teeth in frustration.
"I AM SORRY!" he yelled, his anger bubbling over, drawing more laughter from the group.
Bakugou's gaze burned as he lifted his head, his expression dark and full of fury as he approached Izuku, who looked uncomfortable. His face flushed red, veins bulging on his forehead.
"I am sorry, Deku, for accusing you of cheating..." Bakugou inhaled sharply, his fists clenched so tightly that blood dripped from his palms. Every word felt like a dagger in his chest, a painful admission of defeat to someone he considered beneath him.
"You beat me... You earned your first-place congratulations." The words felt like poison in his mouth, the admission nearly suffocating him as his anger and resentment simmered just beneath the surface.
Aizawa surveyed the scene, his voice cutting through the tension. "Deku, did you get that?" he said, looking around. "Deku?" Aizawa glanced back at Bakugou, whose face was twisted with a mixture of anger and humiliation.
"Huh? Weird-seems there's no Deku here," Aizawa remarked, his tone matter-of-fact.
Bakugou's expression shifted from rage to horror, realizing the implication. He had to address Izuku by his name? The thought of acknowledging him as anything more than a worthless loser made him feel sick.
"Izuku Midoriya..." Bakugou bit his lip hard enough to draw blood, the taste of iron mingling with the humiliation. "I am sorry for accusing you of cheating. Congratulations on your first-place placement." The admission felt like swallowing glass, the weight of it nearly crushing him as he forced the words out through clenched teeth.
Bakugou raised his head glaring at Izuku before heading back Ochako placed a comforting hand to his shoulder
"You okay?"
"Y-Yeah is just a teacher has never stood up for me like that..."Izuku said giving a small smile Aizawa hearing this felt a red flag.
He sighed putting the thought in the back of his mind and addressing the class.
"The students I expelled showed no potential whatsoever. I expelled them so they wouldn't get themselves killed," Aizawa stated, his voice flat but authoritative.
The class widened their eyes in shock, gulping audibly at the weight of his words.
"And that goes for the rest of you. If I think you're not taking your position here seriously, I won't hesitate to kick you out. Now, good day, students. Please introduce yourselves and get to know each other better," he added before turning to walk away.
Iida, ever the diligent one, suddenly perked up. "Wait, if you aren't expelling any of us, then you must see great potential in all of us!"
"Wait, even Mineta?" someone chimed in.
"Hey!" Mineta protested, indignant.
Aizawa remained silent, the corners of his mouth barely twitching. "Pick up your syllabus and read it before tomorrow morning. Have a good day exploring the campus, and make sure to introduce yourselves," he instructed, his tone serious. Just as he was about to leave, he paused.
Before anyone could relax, his scarf began to float ominously in the air. "You will not break the rules. You will leave it to the pros when someone's in danger. You will be model students."
Confusion rippled through the group, except for Izuku, who felt a chill run down his spine. He slowly began to back away from Aizawa, anxiety creeping in.
"Sir, are you suggesting we would break the rules?! That is unbecoming-" Iida started, only to be cut off.
"I wasn't talking to the class. Midoriya. Did you hear me?" Aizawa interjected, his gaze sharp.
Izuku's eyes widened as he let out a small "eep!" before getting ensnared in the scarf, pulled closer to Aizawa.
"You know, I've been hearing reports lately of a Four Arms titan fighting in an underground arena, a black and blue streak speeding through the city, and a crazy teenager riding a giant bird," Aizawa said, his tone almost casual, though the implications hung heavy in the air.
Izuku gulped, sweat beading on his forehead. "U-Understood, sir."
"Good," Aizawa replied, releasing him with a flick of his wrist.
Izuku managed to slip away when Kaminari and Mineta began to talk and awkwardly hit on the girls, trying to get their numbers. Some of the guys stayed behind, comparing performances, but Izuku had no interest in sticking around
He originally wanted to walk back with Uraraka and Jirou, but as he glanced over, he noticed they were preoccupied with the group. Mineta was clearly pushing his luck, and Kaminari wasn't far behind. Jirou had an annoyed expression, her patience visibly wearing thin, while Ochako looked confused, her laughter growing increasingly uncomfortable as she tried to be polite.
Sighing, Izuku slipped away unnoticed, glad to have avoided the awkwardness. Now back in his uniform and heading to class, he looked down at his palms, noticing the bandages wrapped tightly around them.
"I must have torn some of the skin during the Thunderclap," Izuku muttered to himself, flexing his fingers slightly. "It'll probably heal in a day or so... No need to bother Recovery Girl for something this minor."
As he made his way down the hallway, Izuku's attention was caught when he saw Momo Yaoyorozu approaching, also dressed in her uniform. She seemed deep in thought, her steps measured and purposeful as she walked towards class. He raised a hand slightly to catch her attention.
"Yaoyorozu?" Izuku called out. The girl stopped and turned, surprised to see him.
"Oh, Midoriya," she greeted with a polite smile. "I assumed you had already left."
"I was just heading to grab the syllabus and any other stuff we need before lunch," Izuku explained with a slight shrug. "You too?"
Momo let out a soft sigh, her expression shifting ever so slightly. "Yes, but... well, I needed to step away from the others for a bit."
Izuku raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong?"
Momo glanced around briefly before giving him a knowing look. "I'm not as oblivious as some people might think when it comes to boys, Midoriya. During the quirk assessment, I noticed that boy with the purple hair balls-Mineta, right? And that blonde one-Kaminari? They were ogling me the entire time."
She rolled her eyes slightly, clearly exasperated. "I could tell they were going to try something, so to avoid being asked out, I figured I'd slip away early."
Izuku blinked, feeling a bit awkward. "That... must get annoying," he said, chuckling nervously. "So, I'm guessing you have to avoid stuff like that pretty often?"
Momo sighed again, her tone more frustrated this time. "Unfortunately, yes. It's not uncommon for me to have to deal with unwanted attention or suitors, as some might call them."
She waved it off quickly, clearly wanting to move on from the subject. "But enough about that. I'd much rather discuss something more interesting."
"Like what?" Izuku asked, still feeling a bit caught off guard by the conversation.
"If you wouldn't mind, I was hoping to talk more about your quirk." Momo's tone became more inquisitive, her eyes brightening with curiosity.
Izuku looked surprised for a moment before feeling a bit of anxiety creeping in. Before he could respond, the voices of Ochako, Jirou, and Iida came from down the hallway, drawing both of their attention.
"Honestly, those two... Do they not have any class?" Tenya Iida grumbled, adjusting his glasses and shaking his head in disapproval.
"Don't worry about it, Iida," Ochako said with a reassuring smile. "It's fine."
"Still, thanks for scaring them off earlier," Jirou added, clearly relieved as she approached. Her eyes fell on Izuku and Momo, and she raised an eyebrow as they walked over.
"Oh, you guys are still here?" Ochako said cheerfully, her smile widening when she saw them.
"I thought you had already left, Dekiru," she said, using his new hero name.
"Nah, I'm just grabbing the syllabus and curriculum," Izuku said with a sheepish grin.
"I'm glad I caught up with you before you left, Midoriya," Iida chimed in, his serious expression returning. "I was hoping to ask you about those forms you used earlier."
"You and everybody else," Jirou added with a smirk. "What was up with that green electricity during the assessment? I didn't know you could do that."
"Yeah, that was crazy," Ochako added, laughing softly. "I didn't expect to see that when you were in my apartment either."
Izuku rubbed the back of his neck, feeling sheepish under their collective gaze. "It's... It's just another part of my quirk," he explained, looking down at his hands. He activated One For All, the green electricity crackling around his fingers as the others watched in awe.
"I can essentially enhance my body with this, increasing my strength and speed," Izuku explained, feeling a bit more confident as he spoke. Ochako reached out, touching his arm and feeling a faint spark of the energy, her eyes widening in amazement.
"And the transformations?" Momo asked, her analytical mind kicking in. "I've never seen someone with multiple abilities quite like yours."
Izuku looked a bit hesitant. "W-Well, it's pretty simple, actually. I just activate the Omnitrix-"
"The Omnitrix?" Momo, Jirou, and Iida asked in unison, their curiosity piqued.
"T-That's the name of my support item," Izuku said quickly, trying to cover his slip-up.
Momo tilted her head, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Omni... from the Greek word for 'all,' correct?"
Izuku blinked, caught off guard. "Wait... is that what it means?!" He asked, eyes wide in surprise.
Momo chuckled softly. "Yes, that's what it means. How interesting."
Izuku shook his head, refocusing. "Anyway, yeah... with the Omnitrix, I can transform into multiple forms." He demonstrated by pressing the button on the watch, the faceplate popping up to reveal a holographic figure of Fasttrack.
"When the dial pops up, I just turn it to select a form," he explained, rotating the dial to show some of the various alien forms available.
"And then he slams it down, and-boom!" Ochako said excitedly, finishing the explanation with a grin. "He's one of ten cool superhero aliens!" She beamed, clearly enthusiastic about the whole thing.
"P-Pretty much..." Izuku admitted, blushing at her energy.
"Ten forms?" Momo and Iida asked in awe.
Jirou looked skeptical, her eyes narrowing slightly as she glanced at the watch. "Wait, wasn't there another one you used during the assessment? I don't remember that in your notebook."
Izuku hesitated before nodding. "Well, it was originally ten, but a couple of months ago, I got nine new forms added to the Omnitrix."
He turned the dial again, passing through a few of the newer forms as the others looked on in amazement. They soon arrived at their classroom, where two stacks of papers sat on the front desk. One was a packet detailing the U.A. curriculum for the year, and the other was a single sheet listing their daily schedules. Each of them grabbed a copy, and as Izuku packed his away, he made his way to the door.
Just as he opened it, he came face-to-face with Mina Ashido, who flashed him a bright grin.
"Oh, there you are, Midoriya! Hey, hey, hey, don't leave yet! Everyone wants to meet you, and we were hoping to introduce ourselves!" Mina exclaimed, stepping into Izuku's path to block his exit.
"Hey, everyone! Midoriya's in here!" she called out, her voice echoing through the room. Izuku's anxiety spiked, his mind racing. He wasn't exactly thrilled by the idea of being the center of attention.
"Holy crap, man! You killed it out there! Dude, I have to spar with that Four Arms guy! Watching you fight Rappa was insane! I thought you two were gonna tear each other apart!" Kirishima said, his voice brimming with excitement as he joined the growing crowd around Izuku.
'He's not wrong... Rappa was trying to kill me,' Izuku thought to himself as more students swarmed in.
"I gotta admit, your quirk outmatches mine in every way! The speed you showed, even without transforming-that was amazing!" Ojiro added, tail swishing behind him as he introduced himself. "Oh, I'm Ojiro, by the way."
Before Izuku could reply, Aoyama cut in, with his usual flair. "Your support item isn't as flashy as mine, but-"
Mina interrupted, practically bouncing with energy as she leaned in close to Izuku. "I thought you could only transform into that bug guy, but seeing all those different forms... It's unbelievable! I've never seen anything like it! Your quirk is so...alien, but in the coolest way!" she exclaimed.
The entire class, minus Bakugou and Todoroki, gathered around, throwing compliments and introducing themselves to Izuku. The sudden attention felt overwhelming, but Izuku tried his best to put names to faces, his mind scrambling to process everything.
From the side, Jirou noticed Izuku's discomfort, his awkward smiles barely masking his anxiety. 'He's probably drowning in all this attention. Poor guy,' she thought, glancing at Iida, who seemed to be pondering the scene as well.
"Hey, Iida," Jirou leaned over, twirling her earphone jacks. "I have an idea. How about we do formal introductions? Y'know, like everyone goes up front, says their name, and gives a quick explanation of their quirk? Something tells me our homeroom teacher won't be bothered to do it."
"Please refrain from calling our teacher a hobo," Iida responded in his usual stern tone, giving a swift karate chop through the air.
"Would you prefer 'bum'?" Jirou teased with a smirk.
"I..." Iida paused, exhaling in defeat before clearing his throat. "Attention, Class 1-A!" Iida's voice boomed as he got everyone's attention. The excited chatter around Izuku died down, and they turned to listen.
"Let's formally introduce ourselves!" Iida announced, hands chopping through the air enthusiastically. "Each of us should state our name and give a brief explanation of our quirk!" he said, his leadership kicking in.
Mina beamed at the suggestion, and the rest of the class buzzed with excitement, agreeing with Iida's plan. As everyone got ready for the introductions, Izuku seized the chance to quietly slip out from the center of the crowd. He caught Jirou's eye from across the room, mouthing a quick "Thank you."
Jirou smirked and mouthed back, "You're welcome."
But while most of the class was eager to introduce themselves, one student wasn't sharing in their excitement. Bakugou sat in his seat, fists clenched, his glare fixated on Izuku. The thought of learning more about Izuku's quirk burned in his mind, fueling his frustration.
Meanwhile, Todoroki had just grabbed his bag, heading toward the door, when he was stopped by the bubbly voices of Yaoyorozu and Toru.
"Hey, Todoroki! Wanna join us for introductions?" Toru asked, bouncing with excitement.
"No," he responded, his tone icy as he reached for the door handle.
Momo quickly chimed in, her voice softer but equally hopeful. "It could be a great opportunity to get to know each other, Todoroki."
Todoroki paused, his hand still on the door. His thoughts drifted back to the quirk assessment test, remembering Midoriya's power when he transformed into Four Arms. The sheer wind pressure, the overwhelming strength-it was...unsettling.
His left side flickered briefly with flame, a reminder of his own power. After a moment, he extinguished it with a quiet sigh and turned back toward the room, walking inside again.
Momo and Toru exchanged a small smile, thinking they'd convinced him.
...
"Hai! My name's Tenya Iida, and my Quirk is Engine! Pleased to meet you all!" he said, performing rapid hand-chopping motions.
"Bonjour~. My name is Yuga Aoyama, and my Quirk is Naval Laser, and it's very sparkling~," he declared, sparkles fluttering around him like confetti.
"Hai! I'm Tooru Hagakure, and my Quirk is invisibility!" she chimed, grinning brightly, even though no one could see it. "That should be obvious, heh."
"The name's Katsuki Bakugo, and I'm gonna crush you extras!" he boasted, his arrogance echoing in the room.
Midoriya scribbled furiously in his notebook, immersed in his classmates' quirks and pondering how he might incorporate them into his forms.
"Midoriya."
He snapped out of his thoughts, realizing everyone was staring at him.
"It's your turn," Iida prompted, gesturing for him to go up. Clumsily, he made his way to the front. "H-Hello! I-I'm Izuku M-Midoriya!" He coughed nervously.
Before he could explain, a barrage of questions erupted.
"How exactly does your quirk work?!"
"How many monsters can you transform into?!"
"What was that green lightning?!"
"Uh..."
"I know you're all curious, but please allow Midoriya to explain!" Iida interjected.
"Th-Thanks! My quirk is known as Omni, or also another word for all. It connects with my support item. Without it, I'd be changing from form to form. It appeared pretty recently."
"So without it, you'd change from monster to monster?" Mineta asked, the term "monster" hanging awkwardly in the air. The word didn't sit well with those who had mutant quirks; they often faced the harsh judgment that came with it.
Ashido shifted uncomfortably. While her appearance wasn't a mutation, she'd faced her share of hurtful comments. The word "monster" stung, a painful reminder of the bullying she endured.
"They're not monsters, they're aliens!" he asserted, his eyes wide.
"Alien?" Momo questioned, her curiosity piqued. Izuku flinched slightly at the question.
"Th-That's what I like to call them. I-I don't like the word monster. It makes them sound bad. If anything, I prefer calling them alien heroes because they look like aliens and kinda have their own thing going on, like different pro heroes."
"Is that why you give them names?" Uraraka asked, tilting her head.
"Yep! It gives them their own identity. They're awesome! And during battles, it's good for my partner or someone I'm with to tell me which alien would help out in the situation."
"Alien meaning different," Tenya concluded, hand to his chin in thought. "A great way of looking at it, Midoriya."
"T-thanks," Izuku replied, a shy smile breaking through.
Mina sat unusually silent, her mind racing. He doesn't like to call them monsters? Growing up, she'd received strange looks, often bullied and labeled as a freak. Though she didn't have a mutation quirk, she often felt like an outsider. But here was Midoriya, with a simple change of phrase that shifted her perspective.
He's really thoughtful, she mused, a small smile forming on her lips. The way he stood there, so earnest and passionate, made her heart flutter unexpectedly.
"So how many forms do you have?" Sero asked, leaning forward in anticipation.
Midoriya pondered for a moment, then replied, "N-Nineteen right now."
Gasps filled the room as everyone's eyes widened. "N-Nineteen?!" they echoed in disbelief.
Bakugo's expression shifted to incredulity. "N-Nineteen?! That f*cking many?!"
"It used to be ten," Izuku explained, scratching the back of his head nervously, "but it seems I can get more through time and training."
"Woah! That sounds OP!"Mina Ashido exclaimed, her excitement palpable.
"Indeed! What abilities do you have?" Momo asked, leaning in with genuine curiosity.
"It varies from pyrokinesis to super speed, but naming them all would take forever," Midoriya said, trying to keep it concise.
"Wait, do you have invisibility?!" Tooru Hagakure asked, her voice rising in panic.
Izuku hesitated, feeling the pressure of their expectations. "Uh... yes."
"Electrical abilities?!" Kaminari jumped in, eyes wide with anticipation.
Izuku nodded reluctantly. He noticed the way Kaminari's enthusiasm dimmed, a hint of disappointment crossing his face. "Great, I feel irrelevant," he muttered, his shoulders slumping.
"Can you shoot tapes?!" Sero asked, clearly hopeful.
"No," Izuku replied, feeling a mix of relief and guilt.
Sero sighed in relief but quickly turned his attention back to Midoriya. "Wait, what about Spidermonkey? He can shoot webs?"
Ochako chimed in, not realizing how much Izuku was trying to keep his classmates from feeling upset.
Izuku could sense Sero's growing inadequacy. "Um, not really," he said, trying to soften the blow.
"Acid?!" Mina exclaimed, her eyes lighting up.
"Yep, I can turn my whole body into acid," Izuku confirmed, feeling a bit more confident. Mina's face beamed at his answer, her enthusiasm infectious.
"I suddenly feel inadequate," Kaminari said, crossing his arms in defeat.
"Right? How am I supposed to stand next to someone who basically has every quirk?" Sero added, his voice tinged with frustration.
Midoriya felt guilt wash over him at their comments. He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, Kirishima, a red-haired boy, slammed his fist into his hand. "Guys, he may have most of his abilities, but that just means he can help us get stronger!"
Tsuyu nodded, her calm voice cutting through the tension. "And that means his quirk can complement any of ours."
This made some students brighten up. "If you over-short-circuit my brain, he can just pump me up with electricity!" Kaminari joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Mina's eyes sparkled as she exclaimed, "We can totally be an acid team!"
"Sparring with Four Arms would be awesome!" Kirishima shouted, grinning widely.
Midoriya's eyes widened. He had never thought of the Omnitrix like that before. A smile crept onto his face at the thought of being able to help his classmates improve their quirks. "That would be nice," he said, feeling a warmth spread through him.
"Wait, what about that green electricity?!" Bakugo interjected, his brow furrowing in suspicion.
"Huh? Oh, that. Uh, well... all my transformations have some sort of superpower, so it makes sense I would have one too, right?" Izuku said, his voice shaky as sweat began to bead on his forehead. 'P-Please believe me!"
The class fell silent, each person deep in thought. Todoroki, sitting off to the side, contemplated. "Nineteen forms? I've only seen the speedster, the bug, and the strength one. That means he has sixteen more, each with their own powers. He could be a worthy opponent."
After everyone finished their introductions, Todoroki stood up and quickly made his way toward the door. However, he was stopped by Toru and Momo, who approached him.
"Todoroki, thank you for participating with us," Momo said warmly, hoping to bridge a connection.
Toru chimed in, "Yeah! It really meant a lot to us. Some of us, including the girls and maybe even the guys, are planning on swinging onto-"
Her words were abruptly cut off by Todoroki's icy tone. "Let me make this clear." A chill swept through the room, causing everyone to turn their attention to him. "I am not here to make friends."
Momo felt a pang in her heart at his words, a sense of disappointment washing over her.
Todoroki's gaze shifted to Izuku, his glare sharp and piercing. Izuku instinctively flinched, suddenly feeling like a target under Todoroki's intense scrutiny.
'That power... it's just like what that bastard described,'Todoroki thought bitterly before turning and walking out of the classroom, leaving a heavy silence in his wake.
...
After the rest of the class introduced themselves, they eagerly set off to explore the U.A. campus.
As Midoriya entered the vast quirk gym, he couldn't help but marvel at its enormity. The gym was renowned throughout Japan for its state-of-the-art facilities designed to enhance quirks in a safe environment. His eyes widened as he spotted a girl sprinting along the track, her speed impressive as she hit a staggering 195 miles per hour.
"U.A. is amazing! Look at this place!" Midoriya exclaimed, his excitement palpable.
"I think they have a gym for any quirk training," Yaoyorozu replied, glancing toward a nearby food stall where students eagerly devoured their meals.
"They have every type of quirk training available," she added, her voice filled with enthusiasm.
"Even for strength quirks," Uraraka chimed in, pointing to a group of muscular teenagers lifting weights that seemed impossibly heavy.
Suddenly, a lanky teenager with glasses stepped up and effortlessly hoisted the largest weight with one hand. Gasps echoed around the gym as everyone's eyes bulged in disbelief.
"WOAH?!" the other teenagers exclaimed, astonished by the display of strength.
"That's U.A. for you," Iida commented, his admiration evident as he watched the seemingly frail teen demonstrate incredible power.
"Talk about not judging a book by its cover," Jirou added, her awe palpable.
As they continued to wander through the gym, they stumbled upon a small shooting range-like room where a machine gun stood ominously. A girl stepped inside, and with a loud clack, the gun cocked before unleashing a barrage of bullets. The girl stood her ground, and the bullets ricocheted off her, sparking wildly as they met her quirk's defenses.
Kirishima's eyes lit up. "So cool! I can do hardening training here!"
Midoriya's mind raced with possibilities. "I can practice bullet dodging!" he declared, excitement bubbling over.
"BULLET DODGING?!" Uraraka and Jirou echoed, their voices filled with concern.
Midoriya turned to them, a confident grin on his face. "What? Some supervillains carry guns, so it'll help improve my reaction time and push me to go faster."
"And what if you're not fast enough?" Uraraka pressed, worry etched on her face.
"I-I'll have a bullet wound, obviously," he replied nonchalantly, as if that were a perfectly acceptable outcome.
"I'm surprised U.A. can have such a dangerous facility. How do they make sure the students stay safe?" Jirou asked, still apprehensive.
"Oh, that? Look above," he said, gesturing upward.
Floating above them were small, watchful eyeballs darting through the air, surveying the students below. They moved with a precision that indicated they were more than mere decoration. The eyes had the ability to create energy shields or even disable machines if a student appeared to be in danger.
"Wh-What are those?!" Ashido exclaimed, clearly unnerved by the hovering eyes.
"They're known as U.A. eyes, or better known as All-Seer Eyes," Momo explained. "The pro hero is the All-Seer. He can create up to 100 eyes to monitor the students and ensure their safety."
Izuku finished, "It's incredible how they look out for us."
They wandered further and discovered a quiet room designated for students with hearing quirks to practice. The silence within was a stark contrast to the chaos outside, and Jirou found the tranquility exciting, as it would allow her to focus on honing her hearing abilities. Shoji also seemed to appreciate the peaceful atmosphere.
Next, they found the Elemental Training Room, a specialized space where students could unleash their quirks without the risk of harming others. Midoriya's excitement soared at the prospect of practicing with Heatblast in a controlled setting; his previous opportunities had been limited to the beach.
Kaminari, pressing his face against the electricity-proof windows, exclaimed, "Cool! I can go all out! Maybe if the girls want to watch me train, I wouldn't mind!" He winked, but the girls didn't seem particularly interested.
"Awesome! I can use Brainstorm to practice lifting stuff and see how many jolts I can let out!" he continued, eyes gleaming with enthusiasm.
Next, they arrived at the swimming pool, a state-of-the-art facility perfect for students who excelled in aquatic activities. Midoriya noted how Tsuyu's eyes lit up with excitement at the sight of the shimmering water.
As Midoriya jotted down notes on which facilities would be best for training his forms, he suddenly felt a growl in his stomach. "Ah, man. Guys, I'm gonna head to the lunchroom."
"Bye, Midoriya! I'll try to catch up with you later. I want to see more of the facility!" Iida waved as he swung his arms.
"I'm gonna check out the hearing training rooms. It looks kinda fun," Jirou added, a grin on her face.
"Me too. I still want to see more," Yaoyorozu replied thoughtfully.
"I don't mind coming with you, Dekiru. I'm kinda hungry. I heard Lunch Rush serves the best food!" Uraraka chimed in, her stomach rumbling in agreement.
As Midoriya settled into the bustling cafeteria, most of his classmates were either at the gym or engaged in various activities around the campus. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement and chatter, but he found a moment of calm as he prepared to grab a bite to eat.
"Oh, before I forget, thank you," Midoriya said to the girl who had just joined him.
"No problem," she replied, a hint of confusion in her voice. "Uh, for what exactly?"
"For flipping Kacchan when he was about to attack me. Aside from Kevin, you're the first person who defended me, so, uh, thanks."
The girl's cheeks flushed pink as she smiled. "Dekiru, it was nothing! We're friends. That's what friends do, y'know? Kendo offered to teach me some moves-nothing too flashy-but I think I'm getting pretty good. I could probably pin you if I tried hard enough."
Midoriya's eyes widened in surprise, but before he could respond, Uraraka's face turned crimson, her cheeks matching Kirishima's vibrant hair.
"U-Uh, I mean, I wouldn't try to pin you! I mean, if it was necessary-wait, uh, I wouldn't do anything perverted! I just-GOTTA GO TO THE BATHROOM, BYE!"
With that, she dashed away, leaving Midoriya staring after her, a mix of amusement and confusion on his face. He blushed remembering how she ran away similar when they kissed.
Shaking his head with a smile, he grabbed some food and found a seat at a table, enjoying a sub while jotting down notes in his notebook.
But as he focused on his writing, he couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching him. He looked up, scanning the cafeteria, curious about the pair of eyes he sensed on him.
Izuku looked up and saw a girl with shoulder-length, bob-shaped hair swept to her right, the shorter strands framing her face. He recognized her from the day he had kissed Ochako-she had been hiding behind a corner, watching him.
"H-H-Hi," he stammered, feeling a rush of nervousness.
The girl seemed to shake a bit before her voice came out, soft and hesitant. "Hello."
An awkward silence stretched between them, and Izuku fidgeted in his seat, unsure of what to say next.
"Er... Hate to ask, but were you following me the other day? Uhm, during the entrance exam?" he inquired, half-expecting her to shake her head and call him crazy.
"Uhm... Yes," she replied, her voice surprisingly soft.
"Eh?" Izuku's eyes widened in surprise as the girl's face turned a shade of red.
He offered a closed-eye smile, thinking he must have misheard her. "Sorry, can you repeat that? I think I misheard you."
"I said yes," she confirmed, her gaze steady despite the blush on her cheeks.
"Oh, I see..." Izuku nodded, but a moment of silence hung between them before he suddenly shot up his hands, slamming them on the table as his eyes bulged.
"What?! Why?!" he exclaimed, incredulous. Why on earth would this beautiful girl be following him? In fact, why was she talking to him? She looked like one of those popular girls, the kind who usually wouldn't even glance in his direction.
The girl shifted in her seat, clearly uncomfortable under his intense gaze.
"Why do you look so different?" she asked bluntly, her expression neutral, though Izuku could sense a flicker of curiosity in her eyes.
"Different?" he echoed, tilting his head as he tried to gauge her reaction.
"I-I was on the train... near Kiyashi Mall... and well..." She trailed off, her expression thoughtful, and then it hit him like a train.
"Y-You're that girl!" Izuku exclaimed, recognition dawning on him.
She nodded. "So you are that cat super-speed man who saved my life," she said. "How come you look so different? You're not blue or have any cat features. Did I get the wrong person?"
"Oh, it's my quirk," he explained quickly. "It allows me to transform into different forms. That was one of them. Uh, his name is Fasttrack. Wait! How did you know it was me? I mean, I-I don't exactly look like Fasttrack!" he asked, genuinely baffled by her ability to recognize him.
The girl fell silent, her gaze fixed on Izuku. "Your eyes," she said softly. He widened his eyes in surprise as she continued to look into his emerald irises-there was no mistaking them; they were the same as on that day.
"On that day you saved me, they felt so warm. I looked into your eyes, and I felt so safe. When I saw you again, I immediately recognized you," she explained, her neutral expression breaking into a small smile.
Izuku stared at her, completely stunned. As they locked eyes, he felt a strange connection, but then her expression returned to its neutral state.
"Now," she said, a hint of fear creeping into her voice as she shook slightly, "why do you look so different?"
He blushed a little, realizing how drastic his transformation could seem. "Oh, um, it's my quirk! I'm Izuku Midoriya, by the way!" he introduced himself, trying to lighten the mood.
"Yui Kodai," she replied, slightly surprised. This was the first time a boy hadn't started blushing uncontrollably and then run away, leaving her feeling confused.
"So you are that cat man from before?" Yui asked, her curiosity piqued.
He nodded, feeling a mix of pride and embarrassment.
"T-Thank you for saving my life," she said shyly, her cheeks reddening.
"N-No problem!" Izuku stammered. "So, um... what course are you in?"
"Hero course," she answered bluntly.
"Me too!" he exclaimed.
"Yeah, that's obvious. You got first place and broke All Might's record. I'm pretty sure everyone knows about you at this point," she said matter-of-factly. Izuku slumped a bit, feeling the weight of her words.
"So, you must be in the other hero course-Class 1-B, right?" he asked. "Do you know Itsuka Kendo? She has orange hair and teal eyes."
The girl tilted her head, considering his question. "Yes, I know her. She's really nice," Yui replied.
Izuku smiled, glad to hear that.
"But she can be scary sometimes. Apparently, some guy promised to walk with her to school and then stood her up, which made her almost late," Yui continued, a hint of concern in her voice.
Izuku's face went pale as he realized the "dumbass" who stood her up was him.
"Are you the guy?" Yui asked, narrowing her eyes slightly.
He nodded, feeling sheepish.
"Hm. You want some advice?" she offered.
"Sure," Izuku replied, curious about what she would say.
"Close casket is your only option," she said, her tone serious.
Izuku blinked in surprise before chuckling. "I'll keep that in mind."
Midoriya flinched before slapping himself on the forehead. "I really need to apologize; she's totally going to kick my butt!" he exclaimed.
"Probably," Yui agreed, a hint of amusement in her voice.
"By the way, how come you were following me?" Izuku asked, noticing Yui flinch slightly at the question.
"I noticed you in the auditorium when the boy with glasses called you out," she said.
Izuku blushed at the memory.
"I hoped we would be in the same city center, but we weren't, and I got sad. I thought I wouldn't get my chance to thank you," Yui explained.
"Then I heard a boy with green hair and freckles destroyed the zero-pointer and was taken to Recovery Girl. I went there, but you were with a girl, and I got nervous. Vigilantism is illegal, and I didn't want to expose you in front of others," Yui added.
"Oh," Izuku said, absorbing her words.
"Then I followed you. I hoped to catch you alone, but then you were kissing that brown-haired girl. I didn't want to interrupt your moment; I thought that would be rude."
Izuku's face turned crimson at the memory.
"And then I got too flustered to talk to you and ended up running away. I'm sorry," Yui finished, looking a bit embarrassed.
Izuku smiled reassuringly. "No, don't worry about it," he said. "I get shy around people too." Yui beamed at him, her expression brightening.
"Oh, um... so what's your quirk?" she asked.
Yui touched the sub he was eating, and it suddenly grew larger. Izuku's eyes widened. "Cool!"
He began to mutter excitedly about her quirk and all the possibilities it offered. Normally, he would be interrupted at this point, but Yui seemed fascinated and listened intently.
Before he realized it, he had been talking for five minutes straight and suddenly began to apologize profusely. "S-Sorry, I do that sometimes."
"It's kinda cute," Yui said with a smile.
He blushed again. "R-Really? You don't think it's kinda creepy?"
She shook her head, indicating no. "Though some of your ideas about my quirk are pretty cool. Mind explaining your quirk?"
As they continued talking, Yui didn't speak much, but she clearly enjoyed listening to him. Her expression remained neutral, but Izuku could tell she was having just as much fun as he was.
"Dekiru. It looks like you're having fun."
The unmistakable voice of Ochako Uraraka cut through the air, and Izuku turned to find her standing nearby. She wore a closed-eye smile, but an edge of jealousy lurked beneath her cheerful facade.
"Huh? Oh, Uraraka. I, um... This is Yui Kodai," Izuku stammered, gesturing to the girl beside him.
"It looks like you're having fun," Ochako repeated, a teasing lilt in her voice.
Both teens exchanged confused glances, unsure how to interpret her words.
"Does your girlfriend always repeat her words?" Yui asked, her tone flat, but her eyes showed a flicker of curiosity.
Izuku opened his mouth to respond, but before he could clarify, both he and Ochako froze, their expressions suddenly alarmed as they simultaneously rejected the notion.
"N-No! We're not dating!" they exclaimed in unison, their voices rising with panic.
"But you kissed," Yui pointed out, her face remaining composed while a hint of intrigue danced in her eyes.
Heat rushed to their cheeks, and they couldn't bring themselves to look at each other. In the midst of their embarrassment, Yui's expression softened just slightly as she reached into her bag. She pulled out a small piece of paper and quickly scribbled her number, handing it to Izuku with a calm demeanor.
"Here. My number. Text me," Yui said, her voice steady and almost emotionless.
Izuku accepted the paper with a smile, feeling a mix of excitement and confusion as she waved goodbye and walked away. However, when he turned back to Ochako, he noticed her smile had shifted. It still held a semblance of warmth, but now it was tinged with something sharper-a glint of possessiveness.
"You okay? You seem... on edge," he asked, concern creeping into his voice.
Uraraka simply smiled, yet there was a strange intensity in her eyes that sent a chill down his spine. It was the kind of smile that hinted at unspoken thoughts, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he was in over his head.
From a distance, Jirou and Ashido watched the interaction, their expressions dangerously amused. Both girls wore jealous smiles that sent a shiver down Izuku's spine. Jirou's lips curled into a smirk, while Ashido's eyes sparkled with a fierce protectiveness, clearly displeased at the sight of him talking to another girl.
Momo Yaoyorozu stood off to the side, observing Izuku with a small, genuine smile that contrasted sharply with the others.
Izuku took a deep breath, trying to shake off the unease. He began to walk with her and Iida, Izuku didn't know why but he felt like the time he broke his mother's favourite vase. He gulped.
...
Meanwhile, in the Teacher's Lounge
All Might was sitting down as he stared at his Hero costume.
"You don't have time to relax, young man. The real fights start tomorrow."
...
Momo waved goodbye to her friends, a bright smile spreading across her face as she began her walk home. Even though she hadn't yet formed a friendship with Todoroki, her thoughts kept drifting back to Midoriya. She couldn't shake the smile tugging at her lips, his familiar forest-green hair and freckles swirling in her mind, making her feel warm inside.
As she reached the large gate of her home, Momo stepped inside, where her servants quickly took her bag. She made her way toward her room, but as she passed her mother in the hallway, her mother noticed the smile on Momo's face, prompting her to ask, "How was school today?"
Momo felt her cheeks heat up, and she looked down, nervously twisting a strand of her hair around her finger. The thought of Midoriya brought a pleasant flutter to her stomach.
"I... I made my first friend," Momo said, her voice barely above a whisper, but the happiness in her tone was clear.