Chapter Text
The Gray Side
Arc III: UA High
Chapter: 28
Prologue
NARRATOR'S POV
'From this moment on, my hero life begins!'
Izuku Midoriya stood at the gates of UA High, the iconic school he had dreamed of going to since childhood. Dressed in the crisp UA uniform and his beloved red sneakers, he felt an exhilarating rush of excitement pulse through him. The path to becoming the greatest hero ever was daunting, yet Izuku was ready to tackle any challenge with resolute courage and determination.
And he wasn’t alone on this journey.
"H-hey, do you think I’ll f-fit in?" Hikari, his sister in all but blood, asked hesitantly, her delicate features marred by worry as she glanced at Izuku.
She wore her UA uniform too, her shoulder-length hair carefully styled to conceal the faint scar that traced her neck. Despite the painful marks of her past, the scars had healed into mere reminders—there was now only a vertical line below her eyes and a small horizontal one above her nose.
Izuku smiled reassuringly, saying, "Don't worry. No matter what, we'll face it together." He said that to encourage her for what lies ahead, and it worked, as she looked less concerned. But no matter how much he could act, he couldn't hide the fact that he also felt the pressure of standing at the gates alone.
Drawing in a steadying breath, he turned back to the imposing gates. "It’s like a dream to be here," he murmured, a mixture of awe and disbelief washing over him.
Just then, a voice chimed in from behind, cutting through his reverie. "Then take a good look because this isn’t a dream; it’s the reward for all your hard work."
Surprised by the familiar voice, Izuku and Hikari turned to see Shinso, Kaminari, Reiko, Jiro, and Tsubaki standing there, sporting their own UA uniforms and grinning broadly.
"It’s not just my accomplishment; it’s ours," Izuku replied, his heart swelling with camaraderie.
Before they could delve deeper into conversation, Tsubaki urged, "Let’s talk as we walk; I don’t want to be late on my first day!"
"True," Shinso agreed, and they began moving forward.
"Anyone know where our classes are?" Kaminari asked, scanning the unfamiliar surroundings.
As they searched for directions, a lively voice broke the air. "Hey there!" They turned to see an energetic older girl with flowing blue hair gliding toward them. "Are you first years?" She glanced at Shinso and quizzically asked, "Are you related to Aizawa-sensei?" Then, she grabbed Izuku’s hands, her bright eyes sparkling with curiosity. "And you! Are you the kid who broke your legs and arms during the entrance exam? What are your quirks?"
Her royal blue eyes sparkled with endless questions, but just then, two older boys stepped in, one muscular with striking blonde hair and the other slender with black hair and pointed ears.
"Hey, Nejire, chill. You’re making them uncomfortable," the blonde student advised, his muscular frame and beady eyes striking a notable figure in the crowd.
"Sorry! I get a bit carried away," she confessed, visibly embarrassed.
"Are you looking for your class? We can show you the way," the blonde offered, making it easy for the group to join him and his friends. As they walked, the older students introduced themselves.
"I’m Togata Mirio from Class 3A. Hero name: Lemillion."
Izuku’s eyes widened in recognition. "You won last year’s sports festival, right? Your quirk lets you phase through objects!"
"Glad to know I’m not forgotten," Mirio chuckled.
The blue-haired girl chimed in, "I’m Nejire Hado, also from Class 3A. My hero name is Nejire-chan!" She pointed to the shy-looking boy beside her. "This is Tamaki Amajiki, and his hero name is Suneater." Tamaki merely raised his hand in greeting, a sweet but timid gesture.
Izuku's group introduced themselves next. "Izuku Midoriya, Class 1A."
"Hikari Midoriya, Class 1A."
"Hitoshi Shinso, Class 1B." [1]
"Reiko Yanagi, Class 1B."
"Kyouka Jirou, Class 1A."
"Denki Kaminari, Class 1A."
"Tsubaki Kunieda, Class 1C."
As the crowd reached a fork in the hallway, the older students guided them. "The right hallway is for Hero and General Course classes, while the left is for Business and Support Courses. Second and third-year classes are on the higher floors."
With heartfelt farewells, the two groups parted, setting off toward their new future.
"So, how’s Saito doing?" Kaminari asked, glancing back at the rest of the group. "He’s the only one of us starting at a different school."
Tsubaki smiled knowingly. "We talked last night. He admitted he’s super nervous, but given everything we went through, I’m sure he’ll adjust just fine."
Jiro nodded in agreement. "It won’t take him long to fit in—Saito’s a sociable guy. He’ll be making friends in no time."
Soon, it was time for a short farewell.
(Class 1-B)
Shinso and Reiko entered 1 B's classroom.
Class 1-B was much more energetic popular belief. Everyone expected that they wouldn't be too happy to be in class 1-B. But getting into the UA High hero course itself was a significant accomplishment. And it's not like Class 1B was inferior to Class 1A in any way; both classes had students distributed equally to balance out the strength. It's just the public belief that 'A' stands for 'Ace'.
As Shinso and Reiko silently walked, they noticed a variety of students talking.
One boy with long black hair, spiked in a zigzag pattern, chatted with a group of students.
"Hey, have you heard that almost all the highest-scoring, whether academic or practical, were all transferred to 1-A?" The headband boy said. He also added, "It's really kind of discouraging."
"Like being thought of as a second choice and a backup, am I right, Awase?" Another boy with shaggy black hair responded.
"Yeah, it's definitely not the best feeling." Awase replied with a sigh.
"Guys, please stop creating this depressing atmosphere." A girl with long orange hair tied in a ponytail said they had had enough of their discouraging talk. "It's not like we don't have students in the top 10."
Another girl who had vines in place of hair spoke softly in a praying gesture, "I agree with Kendo-san; we should thank the heavens for gracing us with the opportunity to attend this prestigious institution and not just see the negatives."
"I agree, but this seems so hypocritical. They say that both are given the same opportunities and that both have a chance to become successful, but more than half of the top scorers are in class 1A, like the top 2 highest achievers, Midoriya and Bakugo, who got more than 100 points." Awase said.
"He is right. 4 of the top 5 are in Class 1A." Sen said.
Kendo sighed, "You're not seeing the full picture." Awase and Sen got confused, and seeing their confusion, she said, "Yes, it's true that 1-A got some of the highest scorers, but to balance both classes, they also put some of the lowest scorers too. Meanwhile, our class is completely balanced."
Then one obnoxious, loud blond boy erupted in annoying laughter, which caught everyone's attention, even those who weren't chatting. "YES, LOOK CAREFULLY. WE ARE SUPERIOR TO THOSE IN 1-A. HAHA—" A quick chop on the head from the Kendo was all it took to silence him.
As soon as he was silenced, everyone returned to what they were doing before.
Just then, when she was placing the unconscious obnoxious blonde in his seat, she noticed someone sitting on the previously empty seat beside him. Also, the seat beside her was occupied, and she didn't notice. Not just her, but no one in the class noticed that the two empty seats got occupied.
"Um, may I know your name?" She asked Shinso, who had dark circles around his eyes.
"Hitoshi Shinso." Like a whisper, he answered his name and nothing else, but that was enough to silence the class. All eyes darted at him, and everyone left their seats and surrounded him in an instant. They were all enthusiastically asking him questions.
"Are you the one who ranked third with 85 points?"
"What's your quirk?"
He cursed himself for attracting attention.
They were all too energetic and happy until a loud voice echoed throughout the whole class.
"SILENCE, YOU NUMBSKULLS!"
"Before I beat the shit out of all of you maggots, get seated in your seats." Everyone was shocked to do anything. "Do you understand or not?" He asked again, but not as a question but as a threat to try out defying him.
This was the voice of a man who would put you in the deepest pits of hell if it meant training you. The only one who can go toe-to-toe with Aizawa in teaching the students and who acknowledges Aizawa's teaching methods.
He was none other than Blood Hero: Vlad King.
Everyone complied and was seated. If you want to make an impression as someone no one should mess with, then bring Aizawa and Vlad, who won't even need a full day to make the students respect (fear) them.
Vlad took out his register and said, "Let me introduce myself. The name is Vlad King, your homeroom teacher for this whole school year. Let's start attendance first before the orientation."
"Itsuka Kendo!"
"Here!"
"Yui Kodai!"
"Here!"
"Neito Monoma!"
"Here!"
"Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu!"
"Here!"
"Juzo Honenuki!"
"Here!"
"Ibara Shiozaki!"
"Here!"
"Setsuna Tokage!"
"Here!"
"Jurota Shishida"
"Here!"
"Shihai Kuroiro!"
"Here!"
"Kinoko Komori!"
"Here!"
"Pony Tsunotori!"
"Here!"
"Kojiro Bondo!"
"Here!"
"Sen Kaibara!"
"Here!"
"Yosetsu Awase!"
"Here!"
"Kosei Tsuburaba!"
"Here!"
"Hitoshi Shinso!"
"Here!"
"Hiryu Rin!"
"Here!"
"Togaru Kamakiri!"
"Here!"
"Reiko Okumo!"
"Here!"
"Nirengaki Shoda!"
"Here!"
"Now that the attendance is taken, let's start orientation."
...
(Class 1-C)
Tsubaki entered the class, which was quite a depressing contrast to class 1-B. It was obvious that most or all of them were in the general course because they didn't get selected for the Hero Course.
This class was just a way for them to have a chance to enter the Hero Course in the sports festival.
Tsubaki silently sat in her seat. No one noticed her as she sealed her presence to not draw any kind of unwanted attention, just like Reiko and Shinso did.
The bell rang, and someone who should have taken proper lessons on what to wear in a school full of teenagers came. That person was the one who always created fountains of nose blood of her enemies and heroes alike, none other than the R-rated Hero: Midnight.
"Hello, students. How are you?" She said in a very seductive tone.
Some who entered the general course out of genuine interest in academics gave a response with their nosebleeds. Some depressed students also responded with the same. But many didn't even care which consisted of girls.
"What is it? Why do you have such down faces? You're in UA High! Be excited!" She said, dropping her seduction just a little.
"Sensei, you know clearly why our faces are down." A student shot back, frustration creeping into his voice.
"This is not what we wanted. This course is just a backup for us, nothing more." Another student added as a chorus of agreement rippled through the room.
At that moment, Tsubaki felt a fire ignite within her. She had worked herself to the bone, and their discontent felt like a slap in the face.
'Those who failed the practical exam for the Hero Course can give a second exam for the General Course and the Business Course. That's why there are 3 classes for the General and Business Courses instead of 2 for each, but that doesn't give them any right to demean us.'
But she controlled herself and, with a calm voice, said, "If you wanted to get into the hero course so badly, then you should have put in much more effort rather than whining here."
"What did you just say?" A girl snapped back, eyes narrowing.
Tsubaki smirked, her voice dripping with mockery. "I said you should put in more effort and hard work to reach your dreams instead of wallowing in self-pity."
A blue-haired girl with a monocle, perched like a noble on her chair, replied smugly, "Look at you, talking big—didn't you fail the exam for Hero Course too?"
Tsubaki shot back. "I didn't get into the hero course because I didn't try to get in. My aim was to get into the general course for my academics from the start."
"Ah, meaning you didn't even try. You don't know what that test was and how hard we tried, not like you or those who didn't try giving the hero exam." The same blue-haired girl sneered.
Some who entered the General Course genuinely for academics
Her name was Saiko Intelli, who couldn't pass the practical exam because her quirk was not suitable for fighting robots, but if it were humans, she might have a chance because of her quirk. Unwillingly, she had to give an exam for those who wanted to enter the general course after failing the hero course exam. That's why business courses and general courses have 3-3 classes instead of two, respectively, to accommodate those who give the second exam. [2]
Tsubaki released a minimal bit of bloodlust before saying. "You think only hero training requires effort, huh? You don't know how much labor and effort I put in to get what I wanted."
Tsubaki, who had to constantly work day and night as a quirkless to earn her place in this quirk-favored society, had a weak point for anyone who mocked her or anyone else's hard work.
"Also, I am not saying you didn't put in your effort; it's just you didn't put in the amount of effort needed to pass the exam."
"What do you know about the effort needed for the exam?" Another girl who seemed like a follower of Saiko Intelli said angrily, trying to grab her collar.
But in a flash, Tsubaki grabbed her wrist and interlocked both of her attacker's hands in the back.
Tsubaki then, not releasing her hold, said with a smirk, "I know more than you because all of my friends got into the hero course, and in front of the blood, sweat and tears they put in their hard work, I can clearly say you stand nowhere near them."
She then released her and addressed the whole class. "And you all think that sports festival is your big chance? Then you all are much bigger fools than I thought."
"What do you mean?" Saiko asked.
Tsubaki smirked and replied, "I called you fools because you all are so convinced that the Hero Course students will not get stronger. The sports festival is approximately in a month; that means the hero course students have more than enough time to get exponentially stronger than they already are, leaving a massive gap between you and them, understood?"
Her words cut deep, sending waves of despondency washing over the classroom.
Midnight, who had been watching Tsubaki speak with an intrigued heart, quietly approached her. "Did you really have to go that hard?"
Tsubaki replied, "A harsh reality check is what they need the most rather than the delusion that this time will be different."
With a resigned sigh, Midnight turned to the students. "Tsubaki has a point. If you want to get into the Hero course, then think carefully and prepare on your own for the festival because here in this course students are trained academically, understood?"
The classroom atmosphere was heavy with disappointment, the students’ voices tinged with a shared sense of defeat. In stark contrast, nestled in the farthest corner, a short boy with a peculiar head adorned with vibrant purple balls instead of hair was snickering to himself, his laughter unsettling and a bit creepy. This boy was Minoru Mineta.
'Midnight is our homeroom teacher, and just look at all the stunning girls in this class!' he thought gleefully, a sly grin spreading across his face. 'My dream is already shaping up without even needing to enroll in the hero course! If that demon incarnate hadn’t been running rampant, exploding robots left and right, I might have actually passed the exam! But once the sports festival rolls around and I finally showcase my talent, not only will I gain the recognition I deserve, but I’ll also win the admiration of these beautiful girls. This is my moment to shine, and Minoru Mineta won’t waste it!' [3]
...
(Class 1-A)
As Hikari, Kaminari, and Jiro sauntered into the classroom, Izuku Midoriya hesitated at the door, halted by a voice that rang out with unyielding authority.
"It’s utterly disrespectful to prop your legs on the desk of a prestigious school like UA. You should be ashamed!" A tall, muscular boy with glasses admonished, gesturing emphatically.
The boy lounging on the desk shot back, a smirk dancing on his lips. "Did someone shove a stick up your ass? Which middle school did you crawl out of?"
"GASP How dare you! For your information, I am Tenya Iida, a proud alumnus of Somei Private Middle School!" Iida retorted, indignation blazing in his eyes.
"Oh, a private school boy, huh? Were you always this uptight?" Bakugo mocked.
Before Iida could retaliate, something out of the corner of his eye drew his attention. Without a second thought, he dashed toward the entrance.
Izuku’s jaw dropped as Iida suddenly bowed deeply before them. "I apologize for my behavior at the entrance exam! I mistook you for an arrogant fool oblivious to UA's worth, but you proved many of us wrong by decoding the rescue point system. You were amazing!"
"Hey, Midoriya-kun!" A sweet, cheerful voice broke through Izuku’s surprised thoughts—it was Ochaco Uraraka, and his face flushed as he turned to her.
"Oh, U-Uraraka-san!" He stammered, his cheeks heating up in sync with hers.
Inside the classroom, whispers and giggles erupted among Midoriya's group, watching the adorable exchange between Uraraka and blushing and stammering Izuku.
"Thank you for saving me, Midoriya-kun! You were so cool back there, like, ‘Hee yaa!’" She exclaimed, enthusiastically mimicking Izuku’s punch.
Izuku, his face a bright red, waved away the compliment. "Oh, it was nothing special," he murmured.
Then, glancing at Iida, she continued, "And thank you, too! You also helped me a lot back then."
Iida, overhearing her gratitude, chimed in, "I’m glad I could help too."
Just then, Izuku's gaze fell on something behind them that jolted him back to reality. "Wait, we should let our teacher in!" He pointed over his shoulder, revealing a giant yellow caterpillar preparing to rise. Both Uraraka and Iida gasped.
This giant caterpillar was actually the one with whom even the greatest of heroes could not argue back, who was scared of only one creature and no one else, who drank more coffee than water in a day, and whose blood composition primarily consisted of caffeine more than anything else.
As the creature uncoiled from its sleeping bag, Eraserhead mused, 'So he noticed me, huh? Impressive.'
"Get into class before the bell rings. There will be plenty of time for chit-chat afterward," he ordered, his voice unwavering.
Obeying his command, the trio hurried to their seats, and Aizawa stood before them at the podium, his demeanor as indifferent as ever.
"Hello. Good morning, afternoon, or whatever time it is; I don’t know, nor do I care. I’m your homeroom teacher, Shota Aizawa. Just call me Aizawa-sensei."
In unison, the students thought, 'SO LAME!'
"I know that the intro is lame, but I really don’t care," Aizawa continued, pressing a button. Instantly, each desk transformed, producing a P.E. uniform briefcase. "Change into these immediately and head to the ground."
"But what about the orientation?" Uraraka protested.
"If you have time for orientation, maybe you should consider transferring to a school that fits your fancy. Here at UA, freedom is given to us all, including teachers. We can do as we please—unless it interferes with your goal of becoming a hero."
With no further argument, the students shuffled into the changing room, excitement and nervousness buzzing in the air.
...
(Male Changing Room)
As the students opened their briefcases, excitement buzzed in the air. They meticulously examined the contents, analyzing every detail, but a few didn't waste a moment; they swiftly changed into their PE uniforms.
"Hey, what's the rush? We still have time!" Called out a boy with spiky red hair.
"If you've heard of Aizawa-sensei's reputation, you wouldn't question us." Kaminari shot back as he hurriedly swapped uniforms.
In just 2 minutes, they quickly changed and headed straight towards the ground, joined shortly by Jiro and Hikari, who came sprinting up behind them.
Aizawa had also just arrived there. He thought that it would take them at least five minutes.
"You made it on time. Feel free to do whatever you want until the others arrive," he said coolly, and they immediately began stretching, muscles warming up.
Five minutes later, the rest of the class came in.
Aizawa took out a timer and said, "It took you 8 minutes to come here. It's not very productive in hero works. In Heroics, a single second can decide someone's life and death."
He continued, "Today we will do a quirk assessment test."
""A quirk assessment test?"" They all said it in unison.
"You all have given physical tests in your middle schools where you were barred from using quirks. The government has still not gotten around to standardizing those test records or keeping track of average performance levels. One day they will realize their mistake."
He then took out a softball from his pocket and called out, "Midoriya."
""Yes?"" Both Hikari and Izuku replied in unison.
In the back, a familiar blonde shot them a confused glance. 'What the…? Why did she respond when he called for Deku?'
"I meant Izuku Midoriya." Aizawa clarified.
Izuku approached, accepting the ball from Aizawa.
"You got the highest score in the practical portion of the exam, right?" To which Izuku nodded in affirmation.
"WHAT THE FUCK? HOW CAN THIS DEKU GET THE HIGHEST SCORE?" A loud Pomeranian yelled.
But Izuku and Aizawa ignored him like he was some mad animal, which made Bakugo all the more angry.
"How far did you throw it last before?"
Izuku hesitated, "I... I actually didn't throw it last year."
"Really?" A boy with weird ankles—Hanta Sero—asked.
Kaminari, in place of Izuku, replied, "Yeah, we never used softball."
Ignoring their chatter, Aizawa continued, "Then this will be your first time. Throw it as far away as you can. You are free to use your quirk."
Taking a steady stance, Izuku drew a deep breath. Little did anyone know, Aizawa was using his quirk in the background. With immense force, Izuku hurled the ball, launching it with a strength that would leave most eyes unable to follow.
Aizawa blinked in shock; without using his quirk, Izuku had managed an impressive 100-meter throw.
'He can throw this far away even without his quirk? There's immense potential in him,'' Aizawa pondered quietly.
"WHAT THE…? YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T THROW A SOFTBALL LAST YEAR?" They all exclaimed it in unison.
"Yeah, we didn't use softballs; instead, we used special balls, which can increase their weights. Starting from 1 kg."
"WHAT!?" Everyone gasped in unison, eyes wider than saucers.
"See, using all of your skills, you can get such results." Aizawa said.
"Wow, we can use our quirks. This is so much fun." Someone said, a grin spreading across their face.
But then an ominous aura spread throughout the ground.
'He can use Bloodlust too?' Izuku thought, feeling the pressure he felt from Nagisa and Karma during battle training.
"You think this is fun, huh? Then here's a new rule: anyone who comes last will be deemed hopeless and expelled immediately!" He said, mixing his words with sinister venom.
"What? You cannot do this! We worked so hard to get here. This is so unfair." Uraraka said, complaining.
"Unfair?" Aizawa retorted with a steady intensity. "Then what about natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and floods? Do you think any of this is fair? Nothing is fair in this damn world. It's cruel, but it's the truth, and you have to accept it. So get the hang of such unfair treatment. From now on, you will face one hardship after another in order to break whatever limit you have; that's what it means, 'Plus Ultra.'"
With that, the class has no choice but to brace for the challenge ahead.
Throughout the assessments, Midoriya’s group consistently dominated the top spots. Even without fully unleashing his power, Izuku achieved impressive results, leaving everyone amazed and eager for what was to come.
...
Softball Throw Challenge
"Bakugo, you’re up first," Aizawa declared, his tone leaving no room for argument.
With a growl that hinted at an impending explosion, Bakugo snatched the ball from Aizawa's hands, gripping it so fiercely that it seemed on the verge of disintegration.
He took his stance and, with a thunderous shout that echoed like a battle cry, bellowed, "DIE!" Launching the ball with a fierce blast, it flew into the distance, landing an astonishing 705.2 meters away.
Midoriya chuckled to himself as the explosive display calmed Bakugo’s volcanic rage, thinking, 'He doesn't even know what it truly means to face death.'
Suddenly calmer, Bakugo relished his moment of triumph, 'Feeling better now. No way these extras will ever outshine me!'
"Ochaco Uraraka, you’re next!"
Uraraka stepped up, a hint of nervous excitement dancing in her eyes. Using her quirk, she reduced the ball’s gravity—not just a throw, but a gravity-defying spectacle. The ball soared until it vanished from sight, prompting gasps from everyone around. The reading displayed… infinity.
"INFINITY!!" they all gasped in unison, eyes wide with disbelief.
"What the fuck?!" someone exclaimed, earning a sharp glare from Aizawa that silenced the crowd.
"Great job, Uraraka-san!" Izuku said, genuinely impressed.
"Oh, it’s nothing compared to what you can do!" Uraraka replied, a sheepish smile gracing her face as she rubbed the back of her head, flattered by the praise.
As students took their turns, the showcase of quirks unfolded, but the spotlight quickly shifted back to the assassin team. Kaminari hurled the ball like a projectile, scoring 300 meters, only for the device to malfunction mid-read, sparks flying. Meanwhile, Jiro, opting not to use her quirk, managed a solid 60 meters, while Hikari claimed 100 meters.
Just when they thought the tests were finished, Aizawa’s voice cut through the chatter. "Izuku Midoriya, it’s your turn to throw the ball."
Izuku’s brow furrowed in confusion. "But sir, I already threw it."
"I meant using your quirk," he emphasized, his eyes narrowing.
"WHAT?! THIS DEKU DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A QUIRK!" Bakugo shouted, indignant.
Ignoring him, Kaminari chimed in, "But his quirk is unstable, Aizawa. You read the file, right?"
"Wait, let me give it a shot," Izuku interjected, determination simmering beneath the surface. "Can you tell me why you want me to do this, knowing the risks involved?"
"I said throw the ball," Aizawa repeated, unyielding.
"It’s not your body on the line," Izuku replied, unwavering under Aizawa’s fierce gaze. To him, it felt like nothing compared to the fears he’d faced.
Aizawa’s glare faltered momentarily, his interest piqued. He relinquished the ball, saying, "No need to do it. You’ve passed."
But Izuku wasn’t ready to back down. "But I want to do it, sir."
Aizawa arched an eyebrow, his voice laced with curiosity. "Why?"
"Just to show someone," Izuku replied, glancing at Bakugo defiantly.
"Knowing the consequences?"
"Don’t worry; I know exactly what I’m doing."
Aizawa pondered for a moment before tossing the ball back to Izuku.
"Thanks," Izuku said, his mind racing with possibilities as he took a deep breath and got into position.
…
As Izuku readied himself to throw, a worried observer lurked in the shadows, questioning, "What are you trying to prove, young Midoriya?"
…
'I reviewed his file—his quirk is an accumulation subtype, capable of storing energy over time. For years he was storing energy without realizing and now when he overdischarges, his body suffers. I wanted to see if he would blindly obey me or stand firm against a threat of expulsion.' Aizawa took out his phone to call Recovery Girl, thinking it wise to get a bed prepared. Just then, a powerful gust of wind swept through, forcing him to shield his eyes. He turned in horror to see Midoriya, who had only fractured a finger.
The force of One For All propelled the ball skyward, an incredible display of power, with just a single finger sacrificed.
'Did he just concentrate the energy into his finger instead of his entire body?' A rare smile crept onto Aizawa’s face, impressed by the unexpected brilliance of Midoriya’s decision.
"See, Sensei? I didn’t break myself!" Izuku exclaimed, clutching his injured finger tightly to minimize the pain.
'This kid is… out of his mind!' Aizawa thought, awed. 'He balanced risk and potential in a way I didn’t anticipate.'
"WHAT THE FUCK! YOU, A DEKU, HAVE BEEN HIDING THIS POWER ALL ALONG!?" Bakugo erupted, his volcano of frustration erupting once more. "I’M GOING TO KILL YOU!"
As Bakugo prepared to unleash his pent-up rage, he suddenly halted, staring down at his palm in disbelief. "What the hell is going on?!"
"My quirk erased it," Aizawa said, his voice flat as bands of cloth snaked around Bakugo's shoulders, dragging him back. "This isn't how I wanted to start my morning." He sighed, glancing at the irate explosion boy. "And I already have dry eye."
Izuku seized a rare opportunity to showcase his hero knowledge, leaning forward with enthusiasm. "Erasurehead is an underground hero renowned for his quirk, which allows him to erase others' quirks—except for those that are mutant-based. He doesn’t bother with the press, so nobody really knows what he looks like or how he operates."
For a brief moment, Aizawa’s eyes widened in surprise. "There’s a reason I’m called an underground hero. How on earth do you know so much about me?"
"Uh… it’s kind of a hobby of mine to keep up with heroes and their quirks," Izuku stammered. "Plus, my friend Shinso from Class 1B is a huge fan of yours, Erasurehead-sensei!"
"Just call me Aizawa-sensei," he replied, a hint of approval sneaking into his tone. "Hero names are for the field. Now, Bakugo," he continued, releasing the explosive student from his capture tool and fixing him with a fierce glare, even as Bakugo's quirk faded. "Consider this your final warning—if you harm another student, I will not hesitate to expel you. Is that clear?"
Bakugo, taken aback, stared at Aizawa in shock. In all his previous schools, teachers had merely turned a blind eye to his antics, particularly when it came to Deku. His impeccable grades and potential as a future Pro Hero had afforded him an unusual degree of freedom. Yet here, the teachers at UA displayed a strength he hadn’t expected, and begrudging respect began to stir within him.
"Understood, Aizawa-sensei." With a grunt, Bakugo turned away, plopping himself down as far from the rest of the class as possible, still managing to remain technically present.
"Now that we’ve dealt with that," Aizawa said, tapping a button that conjured a hologram into existence, illuminating the results of their recent exercise. As everybody looked on, it was clear the top ten slots were dominated by Izuku’s team, along with Yaoyorozu, the boy with two-toned hair, Uraraka, Bakugo, and Iida. A collective sigh of relief swept through the room—except for one, the invisible girl Tooru Hagakure, who was visibly trembling from nerves.
Aizawa’s lips curled into a rare smile. "Oh, and one last thing about that expulsion threat—it was just a strategic ruse to bring out your best performance. So no one is going home today."
"WHAT?!" The class erupted in protest, voices mingling in disbelief.
"Also, Midoriya, you need to head over to Recovery Girl’s office now," he added, to which Izuku nodded dutifully.
"It was so obvious," Yaoyorozu Momo remarked, her disappointment palpable. The tall girl with her elegantly pulled-back ponytail leaned back, casting a disapproving glance at her classmates. "There’s no way they’d expel us that easily."
Aizawa arched an eyebrow, as if considering expelling at least one of them just to make a point, but opted to let it slide.
However, someone wasn’t ready to let it go.
"You’re mistaken. He wasn’t joking at all. He meant every word," Izuku said, drawing the class’s attention, and Aizawa simply chuckled as he started to walk away, leaving everyone in stunned silence.
"How can you be so sure?" Kirishima asked, genuinely curious.
"Last year, he expelled his entire class," Izuku explained, eyes shining with the weight of his knowledge. "Though they were lucky enough to be re-enrolled after a week, it made headlines for a full week? Remember we told you that you don't know about his reputation? His reputation is that he holds the record for the most expulsions in UA history—154 in total. Who knows how many he took back in?" [4]
The room fell into a hushed awe, mouths agape as the reality of their near expulsion sank in. They had been teetering on the edge of a cliff, and Izuku had just pulled them back from the brink.
…
As Aizawa strolled towards the teacher's lounge, he was suddenly intercepted by All Might.
"Aizawa, you liar!" All Might exclaimed.
"Oh, hey, All Might, what were you doing here? Spying on kids?" Aizawa asked in his 'no care for the world' attitude. "I should quickly hand you over to the police."
All Might retorted. "Hey, you make me sound like some kind of stalker or, worse, a predator."
"Is there a difference between those two? If someone, even a teacher, were doing what you are doing, anyone in my place would have come to the same conclusion." Aizawa replied, justifying his speculation. "By the way, what are you doing here anyway besides peeping?"
All Might, in his defense, said, "First of all, I am not peeping. When I found out you were the 1-A's teacher, I had to come to see if you didn't expel any of them like last year."
"It's your fault for neglecting your duties; you should have come to the meeting when the class was being assigned."
"I know, I know, please, I am sorry." All Might apologized in his comic way. "I was called by my agency for important work. But I am pleased; what you did there is a complete 180 from what you usually do. A ruse, huh? Are you taking comedy classes?"
Aizawa's eyes narrowed. "Those I expelled before were simply because they were not cut out to be heroes, and they should look out for other opportunities. I just can't let them die in the field." Aizawa said with a pang of guilt.
"Your aim is noble, but your execution is cruel. Yet, who am I to judge? But what led you to reconsider this batch of students?" All Might asked.
"They have just a little bit more potential than the kids I expelled. Just a little bit above zero." Aizawa stated firmly. "But if they start slipping or I see no improvement, I won't hesitate to expel them."
All Might nodded, understanding Aizawa's dedication. "True, a great sword is forged under pressure, heat, and countless beatings. But excessive pressure from the start can also break the sword before."
"If they can break just by that much, then they won't be able to survive long." Aizawa countered, unwavering in his stance.
"Is that why you releazed your Bloodlust there? To give them an idea of what to expect?" All Might proved, his brow furrowing in concern. "You know that every year, many heroes-in-training get traumatized just because of encountering bloodlust?"
"Bloodlust is lethal if releazed unrestricted." Aizawa nodded in silence. "It's better to experience bloodlust here than outside from those villains or, worst of all, assassins, who can kill by releasing their bloodlust alone."
"But you hated using that on kids. What changed?"
"Nothing changed. I just came to the understanding that bloodlust is also a skill of mine, and what I hate is not the skill but the person who taught me that skill."
…
(End of School)
As the school day wrapped up, Iida made his way out, scanning the area for Izuku to check on him. Just then, he spotted Izuku’s friends gathered at the gates. Kaminari, Jirou, Uraraka, and three others from different classes formed a small huddle, waiting expectantly.
He was about to ask them about Izuku when Uraraka called him first.
"Iida-kun! Over here!"
Iida approached the group and formally introduced himself with his iconic air chop.
"Hello, my name is Tenya Iida. Nice to meet you!"
Jirou, on behalf of the group, introduced everyone.
"You already know me, Kaminari, and Uraraka-san. These are our friends from different classes: Shinso and Reiko from Class 1B and Tsubaki from Class 1C."
They all greeted Iida warmly. Curious, he asked, "Have you been friends for a long time?"
"No, we’ve stuck together since last year, when we were in middle school together for our final year," Kaminari explained, a nostalgic grin on his face.
"You all look like you're childhood friends, actually. Also, it's amazing that so many of your friends from the same middle school could go to UA High with you."
"Yeah, it's amazing, but not everyone is from the same school." Uraraka said. "I am from their rival school."
Just then, Izuku appeared, looking tired, exhausted, and sleepy.
"Iida-kun? You are here too?" He mumbled, sleepiness creeping into his voice.
Iida, in response, said, "I wanted to ask how you are doing now."
"Sleepy, actually. Recovery Girl warned me that I shouldn't injure myself just because she can heal me."
"That's a fair warning from her. A hero recklessly injuring themself sets a bad example for others," Iida replied, nodding in agreement.
Izuku chuckled tiredly, "I'll try to be more careful next time."
He let out a huge yawn, prompting Shinso to say, "You don't look fine to me. Can you safely make it back home?"
"I'm fi~ne." he replied, followed by another yawn, but that did little to convince them.
"If you want, one of us can drop you off first," Kaminari offered.
Tsubaki, Jirou, Reiko, and Shinso all agreed. As friends, they wanted to help him, but unbeknownst to them, their real reason for offering was a lack of trust in Hikari, which she could clearly see. She understood why they felt this way and couldn't blame them, but herself. But she wanted to change their perception and earn their trust.
"D-Don't worry, I'll help him," Hikari said with determination, surprising everyone.
Izuku smiled at her and said, "Guys, I have my sister, you know? You can relax." He meant to show them that he trusted her.
Deep down, they realized that they still struggled to trust her fully. They wanted to trust her because if she had wanted, they all knew they would have been in danger, but they were safe because she didn't want to kill them. But that night was a nightmare etched into their brain that cannot be erased easily.
"We only offered help, thinking she was also tired," Jiro said, hoping that one day they could forget what happened that Christmas night and become friends who trust each other.
"Hey, Midoriya-kun?" Uraraka called out to Izuku.
"Hm? What is it, Uraraka-san?"
"What does 'Deku' mean? You know what that blonde guy kept calling you."
"Erm… it's actually… 'Deku' is what he calls me as an insult." Izuku explained with a sheepish smile and a bit of embarrassment.
"Oh, sorry! But I kind of like the name 'Deku'; it gives off a sort of 'never give up' vibe, you know?"
She said that with a warm smile and didn't know what happened to Izuku at that time, when he abruptly said, "You can call me Deku then."
"MIDORIYA!!" Both Iida and Izuku's friends exclaimed in unison.
...
To be continued...
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