The Class 3-A common area fell into an expectant silence as Aizawa entered, his usual tired expression somehow more serious than normal.
Ryuu exchanged glances with Mina and Momo from across the room, wondering if this meeting had anything to do with them.
"Listen up," Aizawa began without preamble. "We're getting a transfer student."
Murmurs of surprise rippled through the gathered students.
Transfer students were rare at any point in the year, but especially unusual for third-years so close to graduation.
"A transfer student?" Iida asked, his hand shooting up automatically. "At this stage in our education? What are the circumstances?"
"It's a Special case," Aizawa replied curtly. "He's been receiving private hero training but needs experience working with peers his own age. The student will be joining us starting today."
"Today?" Mina leaned forward in her seat. "That's pretty sudden, isn't it?"
Aizawa's gaze swept across the room. "Sometimes opportunities arise that require immediate action. This student has shown remarkable growth and needs an environment that can challenge him appropriately."
Ryuu found himself curious despite the vague explanation.
Something about Aizawa's tone suggested this wasn't a typical academic transfer. There was an undercurrent of something more significant happening.
Private hero training? That was extremely rare.
Most hero hopefuls went through established schools or agencies. The idea of someone receiving one-on-one instruction raised questions about who was doing the training and why.
"Is it someone from another hero school?" Jirou asked. "Or someone who was homeschooled?"
"You'll meet him soon enough," Aizawa said, effectively shutting down the speculation. "He's eighteen, so he's age-appropriate for this class. His combat skills are solid, but his teamwork experience is limited. I expect you all to help him adjust."
"Of course, sensei!" Iida declared, already standing. "We'll ensure he receives proper support and guidance!"
Kaminari leaned over to Kirishima. "Private training though? That's pretty intense. Wonder who was teaching him."
"Has to be someone seriously high-level," Kirishima whispered back. "You don't skip the normal school route unless you've got connections or crazy talent."
Ryuu tuned out the whispered conversations around him, his mind already working through the implications.
Private hero training meant resources, dedication, and probably some kind of special circumstance that prevented normal schooling.
Injury recovery?
Late quirk manifestation?
Or something else entirely?
"The transfer student will arrive during our next class period," Aizawa continued. "Until then, focus on your regular studies. And try not to overwhelm him with questions right away."
That last comment was clearly directed at certain students, though Aizawa's gaze didn't single anyone out specifically.
As the meeting broke up and students began heading to their first class, Ryuu felt Momo move to his side.
"Interesting development," she said quietly. "Private training is extremely unusual."
"Yeah," Ryuu agreed. "Makes you wonder what kind of quirk or circumstances would require that kind of specialized attention."
"Perhaps we'll find out soon enough," Momo replied, her mind clearly working through the same questions as his.
Mina bounced over to join them, her with curiosity written all over her face. "A mystery transfer student! This is so exciting! Do you think he'll be cute?"
"Mina," Momo said with fond exasperation, "that's hardly the most important consideration."
"I didn't say it was the most important," Mina protested with a grin. "Just a relevant question!"
Ryuu shook his head with amusement. "Come on, we should get to class before Aizawa marks us late."
---
The morning classes passed with an undercurrent of anticipation.
Even during Present Mic's English lesson....usually engaging enough to hold everyone's attention....students kept glancing toward the door, waiting for the mysterious transfer student to arrive.
It wasn't until their afternoon combat theory class that things finally happened.
The classroom door opened with more force than necessary, and an unmistakable booming voice filled the room.
"I AM HERE!"
All Might entered in his muscular form, his presence immediately commanding every bit of attention in the room.
But what caught everyone off guard was the nervous-looking green-haired young man following behind him.
"All Might?" Todoroki straightened in his seat, clearly as surprised as everyone else.
The Symbol of Peace beamed at the class with his signature smile, one hand resting encouragingly on the newcomer's shoulder.
"Young heroes! I have the honor of introducing your new classmate!"
The green-haired guy stepped forward, his nervous energy practically radiating from him despite clearly being their age.
He had freckles scattered across his face and wide green eyes that seemed to take in everything at once.
His hero costume....or what looked like a prototype of one.....was primarily green and black with red accents, practical but clearly still being refined.
"Um, hello everyone," he said, bowing formally. "My name is Midoriya Izuku. I'm eighteen years old, and I'll be joining Class 3-A starting today. Please take care of me!"
His voice was steady despite his obvious nervousness, suggesting someone who'd learned to push through anxiety rather than let it control him.
"Midoriya has been receiving specialized hero training," All Might announced, his voice full of pride. "He's shown exceptional progress, but hero work isn't just about individual skill. It's about teamwork, coordination, and learning from your peers."
Ryuu studied the newcomer with growing interest.
There was something about Midoriya that he couldn't quite put his finger on....
The young man's emotional state was a swirling mix of excitement, determination, and something else... something that felt almost overwhelming in its magnitude.
It was like standing near someone carrying an enormous weight they were barely managing to control.
"So you've been getting private lessons?" Kaminari asked, unable to contain his curiosity. "From who?"
Midoriya's eyes flicked to All Might before he answered. "I've been fortunate enough to receive guidance from All Might himself."
That caused a ripple of surprise through the class.
"All Might's been training you personally?" Kirishima's eyes went wide. "That's insane! What did you do to earn that?"
"Young Midoriya showed exceptional heroic spirit during a villain attack," All Might said, smoothly deflecting the question. "His selfless actions and potential convinced me he deserved specialized attention."
It was an answer that revealed almost nothing, Ryuu noted.
All Might was clearly protecting some aspect of Midoriya's history or circumstances.
"What's your quirk?" Ashido asked with her typical directness.
Midoriya seemed to hesitate for just a moment before answering. "It's a power-type quirk. Strength and speed enhancement, primarily. But the control aspects have been... challenging."
"Challenging how?" Yaoyorozu asked, her mind clearly engaged.
"I used to injure myself every time I used it," Midoriya admitted, his expression turning somewhat sheepish. "My body couldn't handle the output. All Might has been helping me learn proper control and technique so I can use my power without destroying myself in the process."
That explained the private training, Ryuu thought.
A quirk that damaged its user would require careful, specialized instruction to overcome.
But there was still something about the explanation that felt incomplete.
"How's your control now?" Sero asked.
"Much better!" Midoriya's face brightened with genuine pride. "I can use about forty-five percent of my power consistently without injury now. Full Cowling technique lets me distribute the energy throughout my body instead of concentrating it all in single points."
"Forty-five percent?" Tokoyami repeated. "That implies significant power at full strength."
"Young Midoriya's quirk is indeed formidable when fully manifested," All Might confirmed. "Which is why proper training and peer interaction are so crucial. Raw power means nothing without wisdom and teamwork to guide it."
Iida stood abruptly, his hand chopping through the air in his characteristic manner. "Midoriya-kun, as class representative, I want to officially welcome you to Class 3-A! We'll do everything we can to support your integration and growth!"
"Thank you!" Midoriya bowed again, clearly touched by the warm reception. "I know I have a lot to learn about working with others. I've been training mostly solo, so this is... this is really important to me."
"We'll make sure you feel at home here," Mina said cheerfully. "Class 3-A takes care of our own!"
As the initial introductions continued, Ryuu noticed All Might's gaze sweep across the room before landing on him specifically.
There was something pointed about the look....a clear message that they needed to talk privately.
Ryuu gave a subtle nod of acknowledgment.
"Now then," All Might said, clapping his hands together. "Young Midoriya will be joining you for all regular classes and training exercises starting tomorrow. Today, I'll be helping him get oriented with the campus and the dorm arrangements."
"He's staying in the dorms?" Jirou asked.
"Of course! All Class 3-A students reside in the dormitory," Iida explained. "It's safer and allows for better camaraderie building!"
"We'll get him set up this afternoon," All Might confirmed. "But first, I need to borrow Kazama for a moment. The rest of you, continue with your studies."
Ryuu stood, aware of the curious glances from his classmates.
He caught Momo's questioning look and gave her a small shrug....he had no idea what this was about either.
They walked in silence through the hallways until they reached an empty classroom in a quieter section of the building.
All Might closed the door behind them and, after a moment's consideration, deflated into his thin form with a puff of steam.
"Sorry about the secrecy," Toshinori said, his voice much quieter now. "But I wanted to speak with you privately about young Midoriya."
"Is something wrong?" Ryuu asked, concerned.
"Not wrong, exactly." Toshinori moved to lean against one of the desks. "I've been watching your development over the past year, Kazama. Your quirk, your maturity, the way you handle responsibility and complex situations. Aizawa speaks very highly of your judgment."
Ryuu shifted uncomfortably. "I appreciate that, but I'm not sure what this has to do with—"
"Young Midoriya is special," Toshinori interrupted gently. "His potential is extraordinary, but he's spent so much time training alone that he lacks experience with teamwork and peer relationships. He needs someone who can help guide him through that adjustment."
"You want me to mentor him?"
"I want you to be his friend," Toshinori corrected. "Show him what it means to work as part of a team. Help him understand that being a hero isn't just about individual strength."
There was something in Toshinori's eyes....a weight that suggested there was much more to this story than he was sharing.
But Ryuu could sense the genuine concern and hope radiating from the man.
"There's something else, isn't there?" Ryuu asked carefully. "Something about his quirk that makes you specifically want me involved."
Toshinori smiled slightly. "You're perceptive. Yes, there is. Your quirk...Resonance—works through emotional connection and amplification. I believe it might help young Midoriya in ways traditional training methods cannot."
"How so?"
"His quirk is powerful but volatile," Toshinori explained. "Control has always been his greatest challenge. But control isn't just physical....it's mental and emotional as well. Your ability to amplify and share sensations, to create deep connections... that might give him insights into his own power that he couldn't achieve alone."
Ryuu considered this. "You're saying my quirk might help him understand his quirk better?"
"Exactly." Toshinori straightened. "But more than that, I think you two could learn from each other. Young Midoriya has incredible analytical skills and strategic thinking....and I heard you have emotional intelligence and relationship-building abilities....which he lacks. It's a complementary dynamic."
"But I'm sure there are others who can help him...so why me...?"
"Because I trust you," Toshinori said simply. "You've proven you can handle the responsibility of a powerful quirk. You understand the weight that comes with abilities that affect others. Young Midoriya needs someone who gets that kind of burden."
Ryuu thought about his own journey....the childhood trauma, the years of therapy, learning to trust his quirk and himself.
If he could help someone else avoid some of that struggle, wasn't that worth doing?
"I'll look out for him," Ryuu said finally. "Be his friend, help him adjust. But I'm not going to force anything with my quirk unless he wants to explore that."
"Of course not," Toshinori agreed quickly. "That's exactly why I'm asking you. You understand consent and choice when it comes to quirk usage."
They talked for a few more minutes about Midoriya's personality, his tendencies to overthink and push himself too hard, his genuine desire to help people.
By the time Ryuu left the classroom, he had a much clearer picture of who Midoriya Izuku was....and why All Might was so invested in his success.
---
Ryuu found Midoriya in the common area later that afternoon, sitting somewhat awkwardly on one of the couches while other students moved around him.
He had a notebook out and was scribbling frantically, completely absorbed in whatever he was writing.
"Hey, Midoriya," Ryuu said, approaching with a friendly smile. "Mind if I sit?"
The green-haired young man looked up, and his entire face lit up with excitement.
"Kazama-senpai! Of course, please!" He quickly moved his notebook aside to make room.
"Just Ryuu is fine," he said, settling onto the couch. "We're classmates now."
"Right! Sorry!" Midoriya's enthusiasm was almost palpable. "I just—I've read so much about Class 3-A and all of you. Your quirk especially is fascinating from both a practical and theoretical standpoint!"
"Oh?" Ryuu couldn't help but smile at the genuine interest.
"Resonance, right? Amplification through emotional connection and skin contact. The applications for team-based hero work must be incredible! And the way you've learned to control the amplification levels shows remarkable quirk mastery. I read about your performance in the Sports Festival last year—the way you coordinated with multiple teammates simultaneously was amazing!"
Midoriya spoke rapidly, his words tumbling over each other in his excitement.
It was clear this wasn't just polite conversation....he genuinely loved analyzing quirks and hero tactics.
"You really do your research," Ryuu said, impressed despite himself.
"It's kind of a hobby," Midoriya admitted, his cheeks reddening slightly. "Hero analysis...if you may call it that. I've been keeping detailed notes on pro heroes and their techniques since I was a kid. Now I'm adding information about my classmates too—not in a creepy way!" he added quickly. "Just... tactical analysis. Understanding how different quirks work together."
"That's actually really useful for team coordination," Ryuu said. "Having someone who can analyze the whole battlefield and see how different abilities complement each other."
"That's what All Might says too!" Midoriya's expression turned thoughtful. "He thinks my analytical skills are one of my strongest assets. Even more important than raw power sometimes."
"All Might's not wrong." Ryuu leaned back against the couch. "Power's meaningless if you don't know when and how to use it. Want to grab some lunch? I can tell you about the other teachers' testing styles and what to expect from training exercises."
"Really? That would be amazing! Thank you so much!"
As they headed toward the kitchen area, Ryuu extended his hand in a simple gesture of friendship.
"Welcome to Class 3-A, Midoriya."
Midoriya smiled and took his hand. "Thank you for—"
The moment their skin made contact, Ryuu felt something extraordinary.
It shouldn't be possible....because...he wasn't using his quirk.
But there was a resonance happening anyway, like his ability was reacting to something massive just beneath Midoriya's surface.
For a split second, Ryuu sensed it....an enormous wellspring of power, far greater than anything he'd felt from any of his classmates.
It felt ancient somehow, layered and complex, like multiple generations of strength compressed into a single source.
And beneath that power, he felt Midoriya's emotions with startling clarity....determination that bordered on obsession, a desperate desire to prove himself worthy of something, fear of failure so intense it was almost crippling, and above all else, an overwhelming need to help people no matter the cost to himself.
Midoriya seemed to feel the connection too, because his eyes widened and he pulled back slightly.
"That was..." Midoriya started, then shook his head. "Your quirk reacted. I felt it."
"Yeah," Ryuu said carefully, trying to process what he'd just experienced. "Sorry, sometimes it activates on its own when I meet someone with a particularly strong quirk signature. Yours is... intense."
"It's gotten stronger recently," Midoriya said, which wasn't really an explanation. "All Might says I'm finally starting to make it fully my own."
There was something odd about the phrasing....'make it my own'....but Ryuu didn't push.
Everyone had quirk secrets, aspects of their abilities they didn't share publicly.
"Well, if you ever want to explore how our quirks might work together, let me know," Ryuu offered. "Amplification plus your power type could be interesting."
"I'd really like that!" Midoriya's enthusiasm returned. "I've been wondering how enhancement quirks interact with amplification abilities. There could be some really fascinating synergies!"
As they moved into the kitchen and started preparing lunch, Ryuu found himself genuinely liking Midoriya.
The younger man—no, his peer now....was earnest, with a deep passion for heroics that reminded Ryuu why he'd chosen this path in the first place.
But he couldn't shake the memory of that brief contact, the sense of something vast and powerful residing within Midoriya Izuku.
Whatever All Might had been training him for, whatever that quirk really was, Ryuu had a feeling it was going to change everything.
And somehow, he was looking forward to finding out how.
---
Later that evening, after Midoriya had been shown to his new room and the initial excitement had died down, Ryuu found himself on the balcony with Momo and Mina.
"So," Mina said, sprawling across one of the outdoor chairs, "what did All Might want to talk to you about?"
"He asked me to look out for Midoriya," Ryuu replied honestly. "Help him adjust to working with a team."
"Makes sense," Momo said thoughtfully. "Private training would create social gaps. Having a peer mentor would smooth the transition."
"There's more to it though," Ryuu said slowly. "Something about Midoriya's quirk that All Might thinks my Resonance could help with. But he was vague about the details."
"You felt something when you shook his hand," Momo observed. "I saw your expression change."
"You noticed huh..."
"Heh, of course I noticed"
Ryuu sighed. "*Sigh*...His quirk is... massive. Way bigger than he's letting on. And there's something strange about it, like it's not quite—" He struggled to find the right words. "—like it's not quite settled yet. Does that make sense?"
"A quirk still developing at eighteen?" Mina frowned. "That's unusual."
"Maybe it's a late bloomer quirk," Momo suggested. "Or one with multiple stages of development."
"Maybe," Ryuu agreed, though that didn't quite fit what he'd sensed.
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, watching the stars appear in the darkening sky.
"Well," Mina said finally, "mystery quirk or not, he seems nice. And it'll be good to have someone new to shake things up."
"Agreed," Momo said. "Though I suspect there's much more to Midoriya Izuku than we're seeing on the surface."
Ryuu thought about All Might's careful words, Midoriya's nervous enthusiasm, and that overwhelming sense of power he'd felt during their handshake.
"Yeah," he said quietly. "I think you're right about that."
---
Author's Note: *sigh*....seems my laziness won't let me keep the 2nd spot.