The white hallway had that cold disinfectant smell that always made little Ryo feel like he was in a place where nobody truly breathed. He sat on a metal bench far too cold for a six-year-old, his tiny legs swinging without rhythm, his eyes fixed on the floor as if he could open a hole in it and disappear.
His fingers gripped the fabric of his short pants, and his face—already at that age—held an emptiness that didn't belong to a child. Tired. Lifeless. And dull.
On the other side of the door, the head doctor argued with the parents of another kid. Ryo's mother had gone to take care of some paperwork in another ward. He stayed there alone… like he always did.
And then—knock knock knock—light, almost bouncing steps approached.
Ryo only noticed when something slipped into his peripheral vision: a small ash-blonde head with two messy buns, several loose strands, and a smile that looked far too big for such a tiny face.
The little girl stopped right beside him on the bench, so close that Ryo went stiff like a sheet of iron.
She tilted her head, her yellow eyes gleaming with a disarming—and slightly unsettling—curiosity.
"Hi!" she said suddenly. "You look sad. Why are you sad?"
Ryo didn't even lift his eyes.
"I-I'm not…" he muttered nervously, uncomfortable with the sudden encounter.
She giggled softly.
"Yes, you are."
He pressed his lips together.
The girl leaned closer—too close—and rested her elbows on her knees, her face only a few centimeters from his as she tried to peek into his eyes.
"What's your name? Mine is Toga! But the people here call me…" she tilted her head, thinking for a moment, "29-something… It's kinda ugly, right?"
Ryo swallowed hard. He didn't want to talk. Didn't want anyone near him.
"Don't come close to me…" he murmured, finally lifting his gaze. His eyes were empty, opaque in a way no child's should ever be.
But the little girl… smiled even wider. As if he had just invited her to play.
"Why not?" she asked, tilting her head again, her buns bobbing.
Ryo hesitated for a second. He didn't want to scare her, didn't want to hurt her, didn't want to talk, didn't want anything.
"...I'm dangerous." he whispered.
He expected her to pull back. To make a face. To leave like the others.
But she just let out a little… cute… giggle?
"Ohh… me too!" she chirped, clapping her hands lightly. "Look, the lady in there said my quirk is kind of… 'scary'. But I think it's cool!" She pouted. "They don't let me play with the other kids because I get… urges."
Ryo blinked slowly.
"…urges for what?"
She opened a smile that was sweet… and wrong.
"To bite."
He froze instantly, his shoulders shrinking subtly.
"D-Don't bite me."
"I won't!" she said quickly, raising her hands. "You don't look tasty."
"…Thanks?"
She stared at him with her head tilted, studying every tiny detail of him in a way that made the boy uncomfortable. Suddenly, she leaned forward again—too fast—and Ryo almost held his breath.
"Your eyes are pretty." she whispered.
"They're not pretty…"
"Yes, they are," she insisted. "You look… sad. Scary… But strong. I like that."
Ryo didn't know how to respond to that. So he simply turned his face away.
Toga swung her legs on the bench, her shoes tapping lightly on the metal. She watched him as if he were a new animal in a zoo, without judgment—only pure fascination.
"Are you alone here too?" she asked.
"My mom's busy."
"So is mine." She sighed, then smiled again. "So… we can wait together."
"I don't want to talk."
"That's fine," she said cheerfully. "I'll talk for both of us."
Ryo let out a heavy sigh, defeated.
"Great…" he muttered, absolutely unenthusiastic.
She giggled, pleased to have "won."
"Hey…" she called again, turning toward him. "Can we be friends?"
Ryo's eyes widened for an instant—a microsecond of genuine surprise slipping through his apathetic mask before tension took over again.
N-no, we can't...." he murmured, trying to dodge the subject in fear.
"Yes we can," she said simply, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "I decided I want to be your friend, so I'm your friend now."
He frowned.
"B-But that's not how it works…"
"Yes, it is!" she insisted. "You're not scared of me like the others, but you are scared of scarying me."
"You'll won't like being near me…"
"But I want to," she replied, smiling as if that solved everything.
Silence settled. Tense on his side, comfortable on hers.
Toga swung her legs again, humming softly. Then she tilted her head.
"You're really nice. Even if you're trying hard to pretend you're not."
Ryo looked away to the floor, unsure of what to do with that… but strangely, he didn't tell her to leave again.
And Toga, noticing that, smiled in a way that was half adorable, half unsettling—remaining seated right beside him.
But then…
RIIIING… RIIIING… RIIIING…
The shrill sound cut through the silence of the small apartment like a blade.
Ryo opened his eyes slowly, his pupils still heavy, clinging to a dream that felt more real than the stuffy room around him.
The alarm kept beeping on the nightstand until he reached over and shut it off with a quick tap.
For a few seconds—long, deep, silent—he remained lying on his back, simply breathing. The peeling ceiling looked the same as always, but the feeling inside him… that belonged to another time.
A time he never revisited willingly.
But that sometimes his brain insisted on shoving back at him.
He brought a hand to his forehead, his fingers pressing lightly against his skin as the echo of the memory still vibrated in his mind:
The white hallway,
The cold bench,
And that little girl with golden eyes and a crooked smile far too big to be normal.
Ryo exhaled slowly.
"…It's been a long time since I last saw her." he murmured, his voice hoarse from sleep and from the weight of the thought.
The apartment was too quiet, so quiet his own voice sounded strange in it.
"I wonder…" he began in a whisper that almost broke, "…if she's holding up better than I am."
----------------------------------------
Ryo arrived at U.A.'s gate with the same energy as a salaryman in a rough week.
It was only his second day at this school, yet it already felt like an eternity.
His steps were heavy, his body still remembering the tension from the day before. The hallway leading to Class 1-A felt longer than it should. When he finally walked in, no one was there yet — just the smell of a freshly cleaned classroom and the distant echo of footsteps in the corridor.
"…Finally," he muttered, dragging himself to his desk.
He shoved his backpack under it without much ceremony and slumped into the chair, resting his face on his arm. His eyes stayed fixed on the blackboard without actually seeing it. Just emptiness. A comfortable emptiness he welcomed.
Little by little, students started entering… but to his surprise, they kept a respectful distance. After yesterday's social chaos, it seemed the entire class had decided to treat him like a wild animal that shouldn't be provoked.
Perfect.
A wonderful gift from the heavens for him.
"Now this is nice… no one bothering me, no one breathing down my neck… If it stays like this, I'll get through this course in peace."
But it only took about ten minutes for that peace to evaporate as quickly as it had appeared.
He turned his eyes to the right, where he could hear an irritating chorus of voices.
Dash was completely surrounded.
Kirishima, Ashido, Kaminari, Sero, Uraraka, Tsuyu, and practically half the class were around the American like a swarm. Questions in Japanese flew from every direction.
"What's the name of your quirk?"
"Have you ever participated in a tournament?"
"Do Americans really eat pancakes for breakfast?"
Poor Dash tried to keep up, his eyes darting from one face to another. He was sweating.
"Uhh— sorry? One at a time? I… I can't— I don't— what???"
It was friendly chaos… but chaos nonetheless.
Momo, sitting nearby, was already out of breath from translating.
"Calm down, one at a time!" she begged, raising her hands. "What Kaminari meant was—wait, Dash, he's asking about your quirk! And—Kirishima, you asked about tournaments, right? Ah—Ashido, pancakes? Really?"
"What?" Ashido laughed. "I'm curious!"
Momo sighed deeply and continued translating as best she could, turning her head from side to side like an automatic machine.
Dash tried to keep up with a polite smile, but his shoulders were tense.
"Everyone is so loud…" he murmured, almost pleading. "Guys, guys—slow down, please!"
The worst part was that some of them tried to help. Tried.
Kaminari leaned in and said:
"HELLO, DASHO! DO YOU LIKE… A-Ah… JAPANESE FOOD???"
Kirishima tried:
"UH… YOU FAST! VERY FAST! MANLY!"
Ryo closed his eyes for a moment, defeated by association.
Peace was dead. Buried. No chance of resurrection.
"For God's sake…" he muttered, lifting his head and staring at the ceiling. "Noise first thing in the morning…"
He even considered getting up and going to the hallway just to get some air… but before any movement was possible, the classroom door slid open with a dry clack.
And that was enough.
A dragged, sleepy, zero-tolerance voice echoed:
"Sit down."
In an instant, the entire class froze.
The next, everyone rushed to their desks as if the chairs were lifeboats.
Dash practically jumped onto his own desk, as if he had just escaped an earthquake.
Aizawa entered with his usual "I didn't sleep and I won't pretend I'm fine" face, holding a coffee in one hand and dragging his feet.
The entire room went silent.
Marvelously, perfectly, deliciously silent for Ryo.
Ryo closed his eyes for a moment, finally relaxing since he arrived.
"…Thank you, Aizawa."
----------------------------------------
After the regular classes followed by lunch, noon arrived, and the class that almost everyone had been waiting for would begin.
𝑭𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒐 𝑺𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒔.
Class 1-A was alive with murmurs and whispers about what was to come. Some students couldn't stop staring at the door, anxious, until a familiar voice cut through the chatter.
"Coming through the door like a normal person!"
All Might stepped in, towering, with that exaggerated smile and overly heroic stance. His blue cape swayed behind him, and the entire class's eyes went wide.
"All Might!"
"Wow! It really is him!"
"That's the Silver Age uniform, isn't it?!"
"Oh my God, it gives me chills just to look!"
Dash almost lost his breath, eyes shining with excitement. He had never seen All Might up close and was utterly impressed.
"He's real… I'm actually seeing All Might!" he murmured, nearly out of breath. "Jack-Jack is going to be so jealous when I tell him!"
All Might's booming voice echoed through the room:
"Hahaha! Well, class, I know you're all excited, but today I'm not here as a famous hero—today I'm your teacher! And let's get straight to the point: today we're having a Combat Training!"
The room exploded with energy. Everyone stood up, laughing and chatting, Bakugo showing a confident grin, Izuku practically vibrating with excitement, Todoroki keeping his usual serious expression, and Dash almost trembling with anticipation.
"And to match your first training session, we've prepared the hero costumes you designed to complement your quirks! Your Hero Costumes!"
Metallic boxes began to open along the back walls, making pops and creaks that drew everyone's attention.
"I can't believe we're going to wear our hero costumes!"
"This is going to be amazing!"
Most of the students rushed to grab their boxes and get ready, but Ryo remained seated, quietly watching the commotion. He didn't have a box. In fact, he didn't even have a hero costume.
When All Might noticed that Ryo hadn't stood up yet, he called out:
"Hey, young Takeda! Not grabbing your hero outfit?"
Ryo looked at him with a calm, slightly bored expression.
"I don't have one yet. Kind of haven't filled out the Hero Costume Subsidy form."
All Might raised an eyebrow, surprised, but laughed with his loud, energetic laugh:
"Hahaha! That's fine! But you do have a two-month deadline if I recall—better hurry up and unleash your creativity, young man! Make something that will become your new identity in society!"
Ryo made a quick grimace, saying nothing, but inwardly accepted the words. He knew he had no choice.
"Understood," he murmured to himself, calmly standing and leaving the room, not joining the class's excitement.
All Might turned his attention back to the class, ignoring Ryo's quiet exit:
"So, everyone ready? Meet at Field Beta after you change. Today, you'll learn firsthand what it truly means to be a hero!"
----------------------------------------
After about half an hour, almost the entire Class 1-A had gathered at Ground Beta. The wind blew through the fake streets of the urban training field, and the sun reflected off the metallic facades of the simulated buildings. The environment looked like a small, quiet town, about to awaken.
The students chatted excitedly, comparing their newly debuted outfits.
"I love your outfit, Mina! You look so cute in it!" Toru commented, her voice bright as always. Mina brought a hand to her face, blushing.
"Hehe~ thanks."
"Toru-chan, why are you only wearing gloves and boots? Ribbit?" asked Tsuyu, joining the conversation.
"Well… since I'm invisible, I can only use my quirk to the fullest this way," Hagakure replied, a faint blush floating in the air in front of her.
Meanwhile, Ryo finally appeared at the end of the field path. Unlike most of the others, he wore only the standard UA gym uniform. The sun lightly hit his short black hair, his icy green-tinged eyes observing the field ahead with indifference.
Some classmates noticed him from afar and exchanged glances, murmuring quietly:
"Huh… he really came like that?" Sero murmured.
"Weird guy…" Kaminari muttered under his breath, too curious to admit it aloud.
Meanwhile, Dash was in the center of the group, excited and waving at his classmates. Some of them, curious, started complimenting him:
"Man, it totally suits you. It's simple and won't get in the way of anything, just you and your power!" Kirishima said enthusiastically.
"And it even looks super comfortable. No excess fabric to hinder movement," Ojiro commented, examining the outfit with a critical yet respectful eye.
Ryo walked to a corner of the field, moving with silent, purposeful steps, as if silently saying he didn't want to be disturbed, and even the curious kept a certain distance, watching from afar.
The general chatter continued, though curious glances occasionally flicked toward him.
"Come on, everyone! Now is the time to start your combat training!"
All Might's thunderous voice cut across the field, making everyone straighten up instantly. Murmurs and giggles vanished, and the class's attention turned fully toward him.
The hero took a deep breath, adjusting his overly heroic posture before beginning to explain what was next.
"Today, we're going to test not only your strength but also your strategy, teamwork, and quick thinking. This training exercise will be a simulated battle between heroes and villains. Each team will be tasked with achieving specific objectives, and your success will depend on your ability to cooperate and adapt under pressure!"
The entire group listened attentively, though Ryo remained seated with a relaxed posture, arms crossed over his chest, only occasionally glancing at the field ahead.
"All right, listen carefully," All Might continued. "Heroes will aim to capture the villains or recover the nuclear device hidden somewhere within the training area before time runs out. Conversely, villains will win if they can hold onto the nuclear device for the entire time or if they manage to neutralize the hero team. Keep in mind, strategy and cooperation are as important as raw power. If you act recklessly, you may fail regardless of your individual strength!"
He walked across the field as he explained, gesturing grandly. "Remember: this is a simulation, so there's no actual danger—but you must treat it as if it were real. Think, plan, and act decisively. Use your quirks wisely, and don't underestimate your opponent."
The class exchanged glances, some murmuring to each other, discussing possible strategy combinations, while others looked eagerly at All Might. Dash was practically trembling with excitement, barely able to contain his urge to start running and test his abilities.
"All right!" All Might clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention. "Now, let's form the teams. I'll assign you so that each team has a fair balance of quirks and abilities. Pay attention!"
He began announcing the teams, one by one, as the students looked at each other, smiling and quickly commenting. Ryo merely tilted his head slightly when he heard his name, praying that he gets paired with someone who isn't one of those three certain people.
"As you will be facing off in pairs or small groups, here are the teams for today's exercise!"
Team A: Denki Kaminari & Mezo Shoji
Team B: Fumikage Tokoyami & Dash Parr
Team C: Hanta Sero & Yuga Aoyama
Team D: Katsuki Bakugo & Ochaco Uraraka
Team E: Kyoka Jiro & Tenya Iida
Team F: Toru Hagakure & Mina Ashido
Team G: Mashirao Ojiro & Eijiro Kirishima
Team H: Momo Yaoyorozu & Shoto Todoroki
Team I: Rito Takeda & Izuku Midoriya
Team J: Rikido Sato & Tsuyu Asui
Ryo felt a slight knot in his throat when he realized who his partner would be. He looked at Midoriya, who for some reason was staring back at him. The green-haired boy flinched slightly, raised his hand hesitantly, and waved nervously.
Ryo sighed inwardly, wishing—almost begging the universe—to spare him from this situation.
Before he could react, All Might announced the opponents for their team. Ryo didn't need to hear the names of the teams to feel the tension rise:
Heroes of Team I vs. Villains of Team D
Heroes of Team A vs. Villains of Team G
Heroes of Team C vs. Villains of Team B
Heroes of Team H vs. Villains of Team E
Heroes of Team J vs. Villains of Team F
It was as if the universe had landed a direct blow to his stomach.
They would go first. Midoriya beside him took a deep breath, trying to look confident, but it was clear he was nervous. Ryo just stood still, staring at the table in front of him, his blank expression saying everything about his inner state.
"You've to be kidding me…"