It's already been a month since I joined U.A.
In that short time, things changed more than I expected. I became good friends with Shoto, Hagakure talks to me almost every day, and honestly… the whole Class 1-A is filled with genuinely good kids. Their presence grew on me—I realized I'd become quite fond of them.Kacchan is still the same explosive dumbass he's always been, but that familiarity is almost comforting in this world.
Even Fuyumi-san texts me once in a while too.
It's not like I was a loner in my previous life—I had plenty of friends back in college. But this feels… different. These people… their emotions, their habits, the way they laugh, argue, get embarrassed… they all feel too real to just call them "anime characters."
Maybe I stopped thinking that way a long time ago.
Although I still don't fully understand the power I used against Shoto, my training is going well. I'm steadily pushing One For All to around 16%. It's not much, but it's progress. The real issue is… I'm just not a natural fighter like Kacchan or Shoto. Even canon Izuku fought more naturally than me.
To catch up to them—to save this world—I'll have to work ten times harder.
There's only one path forward: train, fight, and keep moving until the fight becomes part of who I am.
I wished having more quirks would make it easier, but the only one I can use besides OFA is Danger Sense. The vestiges keep insisting I'm "not ready." I don't have time for that. If All For One attacks now… Japan will fall into chaos again, just like canon.
I can't let that happen.
"What are you thinking so hard about?" Nana floated beside me, arms crossed.
"Nothing. Just… how to become stronger," I answered.
"Then go fight villains. Experience builds strength," Nana shrugged.
"Let me at least get my provisional license first," I deadpanned.
Suddenly, Aizawa slid into class with his sleeping bag like a burrito ghost.
"Aizawa shuffled into the classroom wrapped in his sleeping bag, looking as done with life as ever.
"Oi, brats. We're going to USJ."
My heart tightened.
Already…? The USJ. The Nomu… that thing nearly killed All Might. And Shigaraki… he'll be there too.
If I kill him now, everything changes. The future, the villains, the war… all of it. One blow, and the world might be safer.
But when I think of him… I don't see a villain. I see a shattered kid wearing the mask of a monster. A boy who was abandoned, manipulated, broken until the only thing left was hatred.
He's one of the most miserable characters I've ever known. A tragedy wearing human skin.
Can someone like that still be saved? Or is he already too far gone for even hope to reach him…?
"What is USJ?" Iida asked, hand raised even in panic.
"Unforeseen Simulation Joint. It's where you'll fight against simulated villains to see where you currently stand."
"Hell yeah! I've been waiting for this!" Bakugo grinned.
"If you fail, you're expelled," Aizawa added flatly.
"I'm starting to think I've been going too easy on you."
You're not, the entire class thought at once.
"It's happening tomorrow. Be prepared."
---
After school…
Bakugo, Shoto, and I walked home together.
"Oi, half-and-half bastard, why are you coming with us?" Bakugo barked.
"I'm coming with Izuku, not you," Shoto replied coolly.
"Teme! I'll kill you!"
"You're right, Izuku. He's quite the tsundere," Shoto remarked.
"Yeah…" I sighed.
"Oi, Deku. You look weird today. Don't tell me you pissed yourself over USJ."
"No, Kacchan."
"Then what's with the gloomy look? It's just a school exercise." Bakugo slung an arm around me.
"We still should be careful… It's called the Unforeseen Simulation Joint. Something unexpected might happen. Like the zero-pointer going wild," I said.
"Izuku's right. If you slack off, I'll be getting first tomorrow," Shoto added.
"Hah!? I'll kill you!"
"…Guys," I called.
They both stopped.
"Hypothetically… if you had to save someone, but saving them would destroy the world… what would you do?"
"What the hell kind of question is that?" Bakugo frowned.
"Just answer it."
"That's a tough one…" Shoto murmured.
"Isn't it obvious?" Bakugo said. "First, we save that person. Then we beat the crap out of whatever's trying to destroy the world."
"I'd do the same," Shoto nodded.
I stared at them for a second, honestly stunned.
Save them… and destroy the threat, huh?
Kacchan squinted. "Why the hell did you ask that?"
"It's from a light novel. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Girl's Panties."
"…You're still reading shit like that?" Bakugo snapped.
"Interesting. Tell me about it," Shoto said.
Bro… I literally made that name up. Why is he buying this?
"You're a pervert," Nana snorted. "Change your hero name to Eroman."
Shit. I forgot she was here. I'll never hear the end of this.
Suddenly, a trash bin clattered behind us.
Someone? Danger Sense didn't activate…
"Who's there?"
A man stepped out, hands shaped into blades.
"Alright, kids. Leave your bags and walk away."
"Huh?" Bakugo stared.
"You really wanna do this?" Shoto asked.
"My quirk sharpens my hands—"
Bro, that's it? You're so dead. Anyone else, maybe. But us? You picked the wrong trio.
"Finally, a good punching bag," Bakugo cracked his knuckles.
"Don't be too hard on him," Shoto warned. "Even if it's self-defense."
"Let's finish this fast. I'm hungry," I muttered.
The thief immediately realized he fucked up.
Minutes later we disarmed him, waited for the police, then headed home.
Good… they forgot about the book.
But something bothered me.
Why didn't Danger Sense activate?
As I approached my house—
"See you tomorrow, Midoriya-kun."
A girl's voice whispered behind me… and the presence vanished into thin air. Might be my imagination..
---
The next day… USJ.
I clenched my fist.
I'll save Shigaraki. For Nana-san… I don't want her to suffer again. Maybe… it's not too late for Shigariki.
But the moment the villains warped in—
"Eh? What the fuck is this?" I muttered, stunned beyond belief.