Bakugo stepped into the throwing circle like a storm bottled in human shape. Sparks snapped at his palms. His teeth were grinding.
I have to beat that fucker…
His glare flicked toward Ren. If I just—
A manic grin stretched over his face.
—make the entire ball explode! Yeah… that'll do it.
He twisted his torso, muscles coiling like a spring, and hurled the ball with a violent blast.
"DIE!!"
Midoriya flinched just watching him.
H-Huh? Die?
Bakugo's ball streaked through the air engulfed in a trail of fire, spiraling upward like a miniature meteor.
Midoriya's hands tightened. He looked uneasy.
Ren noticed immediately.
"Midoriya," he said softly. "When it's your turn, don't overthink it. Just do your best."
Midoriya blinked up at him—then momentarily forgot how to breathe.
Ren… for some reason… seemed even happier the past few days. Lighter. Brighter.
The flaming ball finally dropped.
Aizawa checked the result and held up his phone.
[835 meters]
"Good," he said flatly.
"I want to try again!" Bakugo snapped immediately, veins bulging. The idea that Ren had outdone him—by miles—was unbearable. He would become the Number One Hero. Stronger than All Might. He had to be.
Aizawa didn't even bother looking at him.
"Bakugo… this isn't a kindergarten. I'm not indulging your tantrums."
Bakugo's fists trembled hard enough to bleed. His fury was volcanic.
He stalked past Ren.
"Good throw, Bakugo," Ren said casually. "But you wasted too much energy on that explosion. If you focused it all into a single point on the ball, you could've hit at least three thousand mete—"
Bakugo grabbed him by the collar and yanked him forward.
"Oi, fucker! Who the hell do you think you're talking down to?! I don't need your shitty advi—"
Ren simply caught Bakugo's wrist mid-sentence.
His smile faded.
"This happened already, didn't it?" Ren said calmly. "I was trying to be friendly. I was even in a good mood today."
His voice dropped to something colder, deeper.
"Do you want a taste of the grip strength that broke the testing machine?"
He squeezed.
Bakugo's eyes widened as pain shot up his arm.
"Argh!"
"Enough. Both of you." Aizawa's voice cut in sharply.
Ren released him instantly and stepped back, putting on a harmless smile.
"Sorry, Aizawa-sensei."
Aizawa narrowed his eyes.
This kid… he's terrifying.
Bakugo retreated to the back of the group, clutching his wrist, shaking with fury.
Aizawa checked his clipboard.
"Izuku Midoriya. You're next."
Midoriya swallowed hard. He closed his hand into a fist—Ren's words echoing:
Do your best.
He stepped into the circle.
"You can become a hero too."
All Might's voice rang in his memory.
Midoriya inhaled sharply and wound up for the throw. Lightning crackled under his skin as he summoned One For All.
'I'll become a hero!'
He threw—
—and his power vanished instantly.
"Eh?!"
The ball plopped into the sand pathetically.
[46 meters]
"I… but… I used it!" Midoriya sputtered.
Aizawa's eyes glowed red.
"I erased your Quirk," he said. His hair floated upward, and the cloth around his neck writhed like a living creature.
The class went silent.
Some whispered: "Erasure Head…"
Others murmured that they'd heard the name only through rumors. They didn't know much about him.
Ren, however, watched Aizawa with interest.
Erasure…
It was one of the quirks on his wishlist. The ability to shut down any ability—only he would remain operational. A perfect power for countering any opponent.
And now the owner of that quirk was his homeroom teacher.
Aizawa-sensei… I'll be getting that quirk sooner than expected, Ren thought with a sly grin.
Aizawa stared Midoriya down.
"You can't control your Quirk, huh?" he said coldly.
Midoriya felt the words like a punch.
"Do you plan on making yourself useless and having someone save you again?"
"N-No! Absolutely not—!"
The cloth shot forward, wrapped around Midoriya's torso, and yanked him forward until their faces were inches apart.
"Whatever intentions you have," Aizawa said, voice low, "your presence forces others to save you."
Midoriya froze.
"A hero once saved a thousand people during a massive disaster," Aizawa continued—clearly referring to All Might. "You have the same reckless spirit."
"But if you try that, you'll end up as a lifeless rag."
He released Midoriya. His hair dropped. The cloth settled back around his neck.
"Your Quirk's back. Try again."
Aizawa returned to his spot.
"Let's finish this quickly."
Midoriya stepped back into the circle. His mind spun in panic.
What should I do? What?
Aizawa watched with half-lidded eyes.
'Are you preparing for an honorable loss? Or giving up entirely?'
Midoriya gritted his teeth.
No.
He wasn't giving up.
The signal sounded.
He threw again.
The force exploded outward—
—and the ball shot through the sky with unbelievable force.
The air bent around it.
A shockwave burst out.
For a split second, it looked like Ren's throw. No... it looked even stronger.
Gasps erupted around the field.
Ren's lips curled into a grin.
Bakugo stared, eyes wide, breath caught in his throat.
Aizawa's eyes narrowed.
Midoriya had put everything into just one finger. Only that finger broke.
Aizawa showed the screen.
[859 meters]
The class erupted.
Ren smirked.
Behind them, Bakugo bit his lip so hard it bled.
Iwas beaten again... and by Deku?!
That fucking Deku?! And he has a Quirk?!
Midoriya looked down at his broken finger… then clenched his fist.
"I… can still move!" he shouted.
Aizawa, against all expectations, smiled.
To be continued...
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How was this chapter? Liked it?
Also, are you finding strange this mood swing of Ren? Like I have a reason for it that I wanted to bring out in the next chapter, but I don't know... tell me what you think.