Chapter 21: First Day at U.A.
Izuku gazed into the mirror on his dressing table, his reflection capturing a whirlwind of emotions just beneath the surface. Dressed in the official uniform of U.A. High School, which had finally arrived a week ago, he felt both excitement and nervousness bubble inside him. The outfit featured a crisp, long-sleeve white shirt tucked neatly under a gray blazer accented with bluish-green stripes that framed the collar and adorned the hems of the sleeves. A bold red tie completed the ensemble, while one button gleamed on each shoulder of his blazer. Below, dark-green pants rounded out his look.
The uniform hugged him just right, but it was those dark sunglasses perched on his nose that gave him an oddly edgy vibe—something he wasn't sure if he liked or not. He paused for a moment, contemplating whether to ditch the shades for something more laid-back.
It still felt surreal to Izuku that he was actually going to U.A. High School. He, who had once relinquished his dream of becoming a Hero, was now on the path toward achieving it at one of the most prestigious Hero schools in the world. Turning his head to glance at the bedside table, he spotted the picture of his mother framed with care. He walked over and gently lifted the frame, tracing his thumb over her beaming smile as warmth filled him from within.
"I am one step closer to being a great Hero, Mom," he whispered into the quiet room. "Just like you wanted me to be."
Just then, a knock echoed against his door, pulling Izuku back from his thoughts. The door swung open to reveal Nemuri standing confidently in her Hero Costume. She leaned casually against the doorframe, arms crossed.
"You look fantastic in that," she said, her eyes sparkling with appreciation as a teasing grin spread across her face. "Very handsome, indeed. I can already picture all the girls swooning over you."
Izuku rolled his eyes dramatically. "Yeah, right. As if they don't have anything better to do," he replied, exasperation creeping into his tone.
Nemuri burst into hearty laughter at his response. "You really overestimate girls your age," she managed to say between chuckles before her mirth softened into a gentle smile. "Have you got everything? ID card?"
"Right here," he replied, lifting the ID card that dangled from around his neck for her to see.
"Books?"
"In the bag."
"Pencil box?"
"In the bag."
"Notebooks?"
"Also in the bag."
"Good. Ready to go then?"
Determination flared in Izuku's eyes as he met Nemuri's gaze with confidence and said, "As ready as I can be."
Iida stood rigidly before the imposing gates of U.A., his gaze fixed on the massive twin buildings that stretched skyward. His eyes shone with a mixture of wonder and pride. This was it. The culmination of years of striving, the hallowed halls where his brother had realized his own aspirations. This was where the nation's greatest heroes were forged: U.A. High School. The moment felt surreal like a dream made tangible.
"Did we really have to come this early?" Izuku's voice cut through the quiet, pulling Iida back to the present. Izuku, too, was looking at the building, though his expression lacked Iida's reverence. He'd clearly accepted this reality much faster.
Iida adjusted his glasses, pushing them up the bridge of his nose with his right middle finger. "Punctuality is the key to success, Midoriya," he stated, his tone adopting the firm cadence of a seasoned lecturer.
"I know that," Izuku replied, an annoyed frown creasing his face. He crossed his arms, looking to the side with a slight pout. "But there is still an hour and a half until we were asked to be at the class."
"As I've said before," Iida's voice was low and thoughtful, carrying neither threat nor weakness, "If we aim to be exemplary heroes, we must always strive to be ahead of time." Without waiting for Izuku's response, he marched purposefully toward the school entrance, his back straight and determined.
Izuku scratched at his forehead, a worried expression settling on his features. If Iida continued to be this uptight, he'd probably end up alone. Shaking his head in exasperation, he followed.
Earlier that morning, Nemuri had given him a lift to Musutafu station on her way to U.A. While most teachers were provided on-campus accommodation, Nemuri had declined, primarily because of him. She had mentioned that U.A. was planning to extend that same accommodation to its students starting this year, though she was unsure when Nezu would give the official go-ahead.
He'd met Iida at Musutafu Station, and together they'd made their way to U.A. They entered the ground floor of Block A, the building situated to the left of the entrance. The ground floor was expansive, adorned with some of the most exquisite furniture Izuku had ever laid eyes on. Potted plants were strategically placed throughout the area, injecting vibrant splashes of green into the polished interior. The walls were composed almost entirely of enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing natural light to flood the space.
A large digital board immediately caught their attention. It displayed a comprehensive map of the building, indicating the locations of various classes and rooms. Izuku and Iida quickly located their homeroom on the 12th floor. It appeared the floors were organized by department, with each department's classes occupying specific levels.
Opting for convenience, Izuku and Iida decided to take the elevator. They stepped into one already occupied by students from other departments. Izuku felt a prickling sensation on his back, as if he was being watched. He discreetly glanced over his shoulder, his eyes narrowing slightly as he met the gaze of an indigo-blue-haired boy. The boy's hair flared out in large tufts around his head, framing a face that was staring intently at both him and Iida. The intensity of the stare made Izuku wonder if this student harbored some resentment towards them. He knew he had pissed off a good number of students during Inter-school sports events but he had no idea where the animosity towards Iida could be coming from.
The lift ascended, stopping at various floors as students disembarked. Most of them exited on the 9th floor, which, if Izuku recalled correctly, was designated for General Studies. The blue-haired boy, who had been staring daggers at them, also got off on this floor. The elevator continued its climb, finally reaching the 12th floor, the location of Class 1-A.
They walked down the hallway, eventually stopping before the tallest door Iida had ever seen. Izuku let out a low whistle, clearly impressed by the door's imposing size.
"It must be for those with giant mutant quirks," he commented, earning a nod of agreement from Iida. Izuku remembered reading that in Iran, such large doors were commonplace due to the higher prevalence of giant mutant-type Quirks.
Slipping his hand into the slit in the door, Izuku slid it open quite easily, revealing an empty classroom. It seemed they were the first to arrive. He sighed, it was to be expected. Who else would show up a full hour and a half early?
"See, the class is empty," Izuku pointed out, gesturing towards the vacant classroom with his left hand.
"So?" Iida questioned, fixing him with a stern look.
"So?" Izuku groaned, throwing his hands up. "Who the hell comes one and a half hours before class time?" Just then, Izuku sensed a presence materializing nearby. A few seconds later, a feminine voice called out from behind them.
"Excuse me."
Both Izuku and Iida turned around, and Izuku's eyes widened behind his glasses. Standing before him was a strikingly beautiful girl. She was an inch or two taller than him, with long, raven-black hair tied into a high, spiky ponytail. A large, deliberate strand hung down the right side of her face, framing her features. Her eyes were large, sharp, and dark, possessing a captivating, innocent quality.
Izuku couldn't help but think how stunning she looked in the uniform.
She held her bag by its strap, clutching it in front of her with both hands.
"Are you two in Class 1-A too?" the girl inquired, gentle and curious.
Unfortunately, Izuku found himself tongue-tied, unable to form a coherent response as he stared at the girl. She seemed strikingly familiar, like a face he'd seen somewhere before but he could not place where. Thankfully, Iida stepped in to salvage the situation.
"Yes," Iida replied, nodding his head with a somewhat mechanical stiffness. "Are you in Class 1-A?"
The girl's lips curved into a radiant smile, and Izuku felt a sharp pang in his chest, his breath momentarily stolen by her captivating beauty. "Yes, I am in Class 1-A as well," she confirmed, offering them a small, polite bow. "My name is Momo Yaoyorozu. It's nice to meet you."
"Tenya Iida," Iida introduced himself, returning her bow with equal formality.
Momo turned her attention to Izuku, who was still staring at her with wide, unblinking eyes. Concerned by his prolonged silence, she asked, "Are you alright?"
"Huh?" Momo's question jolted Izuku from his trance, causing him to blink rapidly.
"Introduce yourself Midoriya," Iida urged lightly.
Izuku opened and closed his mouth several times, like a fish out of water, struggling to articulate any words. "You... I... I am...beautiful," he stammered, then shook his head violently, trying to regain control, but failing miserably. "I mean... I am... You're... I don't...." What the fuck was he saying? Come on, brain, form some coherent words, Izuku pleaded inwardly, but his brain seemed to have taken a sudden vacation.
"I apologize for my friend," Iida interjected smoothly, diverting Momo's attention away from Izuku's flustered state. "He gets like this sometimes."
"Is he going to be alright?" Momo asked, voice laced with genuine concern as she shot a worried glance towards Izuku.
"Probably," Iida replied with a nonchalant shrug. "He usually snaps out of it eventually. He's Izuku Midoriya, by the way."
Five minutes later, Izuku finally snapped out of his trance-like state. By then, Iida had already guided him to one of the vacant seats near the window, gently placing him there before taking a seat in front of him, mirroring their usual arrangement back in Somei.
Izuku blinked, his eyes focusing, and he noticed the girl was now seated at the front. Yaoyorozu, Izuku recalled. Her name surfaced in his thoughts, and the recognition clicked almost immediately.
No wonder she seemed so familiar.
It was her, the girl from five years ago, the first one other than Nemuri and his mother to tell him that he, too, could be a hero. And if she was at U.A., she must have been on the cusp of fulfilling her parents' dreams too.
Iida and Izuku engaged in hushed conversation, their quiet chatter soon joined by the sounds of other students filing into the classroom. The first to arrive was a guy with a bird-like head, adorned with hair that looked like feathers and a bright yellow beak. His eyes were wide and white. Izuku's eyes informed him that the boy possessed some form of mutant-type quirk.
The next arrival was a girl who would have been invisible to the naked eye and a ghost in the room, if not for the uniform she was wearing. But not to Izuku. His vision pierced through her invisibility, revealing her form, and to say that he saw everything was an understatement. She was undeniably beautiful though not as much as Momo Yaoyorozu. For a fleeting moment, Izuku noted a similarity: her hair, too, was green, albeit a lighter shade than his own.
Sometime after the invisible girl's entrance, another, shorter girl appeared. Her dark, sea-green hair was styled in an oversized bow shape, knotted around her waist. She possessed a wider mouth and noticeably large hands, which, combined with her wide-eyed expression, gave her a somewhat frog-like appearance. To Izuku's surprise, the girl spotted Iida and offered a stiff wave. Iida, unexpectedly, waved back. A flicker of confusion crossed Izuku's mind. When had Iida become acquainted with her?
Shortly after the frog-like girl, a boy entered the classroom, with an oddly stoic demeanor. His hair was strikingly divided into two distinct colors: vibrant red on one side, pure white on the other. Even his eyes were heterochromatic, each pupil a different hue. However, it was the scar on the right side of his face, encircling his eye, that truly captured Izuku's attention. He wondered if it was the result of a quirk-related accident. Such occurrences weren't uncommon; numerous reports detailed children suffering injuries when their nascent quirks spiraled out of control. A subtle analysis by his eyes revealed a fascinating detail: the boy possessed two quirks, distinctly localized on either side of his body.
More students continued to stream in, gradually filling the classroom. Among them, a girl with vibrant pink hair and skin stood out, further distinguished by a pair of curvy, yellow horns emerging from the top of her head. Once again, Izuku's eyes briefly analyzed her, confirming his suspicion: she possessed an acid-based quirk. He mused whether the accumulation of acid within her body was responsible for her unique pink coloration.
The more he observed his future classmates, the more he appreciated the sheer diversity among them. Each possessed unique and remarkable quirks, undoubtedly paving the way for promising futures. He felt a sense of privilege, a genuine honor, to be sharing a classroom with such a varied and talented group.
His thoughts were abruptly diverted when a purple-haired girl strode into the class. Her eyes scanned the room, eventually landing on him and Iida. "Yo! Green! Engines!" she called out playfully as she raised her right hand in a boisterous greeting.
A warm smile spread across Izuku's face, and he waved back. "Jirou," he greeted with a friendly tone.
Jirou approached them with quick strides, and despite her seemingly neutral expression, Izuku detected a spark of excitement in her eyes. "So, you two ended up in my class, huh?" she acknowledged with a subtle nod. "Good, good. Gives me a prime opportunity to keep an eye on your reckless ass," she added, her words aimed more pointedly at Izuku than Iida.
Izuku chuckled, a hint of embarrassment in his laughter, and he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Hey, I took down that giant robot," he protested, attempting a lighthearted defense.
A stern frown creased the girl's face, and she planted her hands on her hips, striking a pose reminiscent of a mother scolding her child. "That doesn't make it any less dangerous," she retorted. "You could've been seriously hurt out there. I thought you died when that robot's hand came crashing down on you."
Izuku playfully rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes, mom," he grumbled, feigning annoyance. "I'll be sure to exercise more caution in the future."
Jirou's lips curled into a victorious grin, and she patted Izuku's head in approval. "Well done, son. I knew you'd come to your senses." With that, she headed towards the only remaining suitable seat, the one directly behind Yaoyorozu, and settled in.
Iida leaned back, his voice barely a whisper as he addressed Izuku, "Does she know what you can do?"
"She does," Izuku replied with a shrug.
Denki arrived shortly after, greeting Izuku and Iida with boisterous enthusiasm. He and Izuku shared a special handshake, a complex sequence of movements and even though Izuku had never practiced them, he executed the handshake perfectly thanks to his lightning fast reflexes. However, when Denki attempted the same intricate greeting with Iida, the poor boy fumbled, resulting in an awkward, comical mess.
The final student to enter was a brown-haired girl, her cheeks adorned with a permanent, rosy blush. Initially, she appeared uncomfortable, perhaps overwhelmed by the number of unfamiliar faces. But the moment her gaze landed on Iida, her eyes brightened considerably. She jogged towards the blue-haired boy, her voice filled with a mix of relief and excitement. "Hey! You're the blue-haired boy from the Entrance Exam! You made it too?"
"Indeed," Iida replied, a small, polite nod accompanying his words. "And I see you've also been accepted."
"Thank goodness! I was so worried I wouldn't pass," Uraraka said, her eyes squinting shut as a wide smile spread across her face. "I'm so relieved you're here too. I just knew you'd get in. You were incredible during the Entrance Exam. Oh—" She paused, her tongue poking out slightly as if she had just remembered something crucial. "How rude of me! I haven't even introduced myself." Her smile returned, warm and genuine. "I'm Ochako Uraraka. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"I am Tenya Iida," Iida introduced himself with a polite smile, then gestured towards Izuku with his left hand. "And this is Izuku Midoriya. My best friend. We've been friends from school."
Izuku offered a small, mischievous smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Nice to meet you," he said, then added with a playful tone, "And I apologize for interrupting your moment."
His words were met with a sudden, resounding slam of Iida's hand on the desk. "Midoriya!" he exclaimed sternly. "Control yourself!"
Izuku snickered, clearly enjoying Iida's flustered reaction.
"Wow~" Uraraka awed. "It must be wonderful to have friends from your old school here with you."
"Believe me, it's not always as it seems," Iida commented, his tone unwavering in its seriousness.
"Oh, come on~ I know you secretly adore me, dear Iida," Izuku teased, a barely concealed smirk playing on his lips. "We were this close to eloping and getting married."
Uraraka giggled at his outrageous statement, while Iida shot up from his seat, his cheeks burning a furious shade of red.
"For god's sake, Midoriya! Can you please stop acting like this?"
Izuku was about to continue his playful torment of Iida when a sudden presence registered within his sensory range. He swiveled his head towards the doorway, but found it empty, causing his eyebrows to furrow in a perplexed frown. That was odd. He was about to resume his banter with Iida when a subtle movement caught his attention from the corner of his eye, something shifting that he noticed through the legs of the desks in the classroom. A wave of unease washed over him, and he rose from his seat, moving towards the front to get a clearer view of the area outside the door.
His actions didn't go unnoticed; his new classmates, previously engaged in their own conversations, quieted down, their attention now focused on him. The moment Izuku reached the front and peered through the doorway, his frown melted away, replaced by a look of recognition, which was then overtaken by an exasperated look. There, on the floor, lay a familiar, bright yellow sleeping bag, with a very familiar, tired-looking face peeking out from within.
"So, you picked up on my presence, huh," the man in the sleeping bag remarked in a raspy manner. He wriggled his hands free and unzipped the bag, extricating himself from the flexible confines. With a surprising grace, he rose to his feet, stepping out of the sleeping bag. Gathering the yellow fabric in his arms, the man entered the classroom, moving towards the front with a lanky, almost slouching posture. Dark circles ringed his eyes, a clear indication to his perpetually tired state.
"You noticed me remarkably fast," the man said, his gaze fixed on Izuku. "Faster than I anticipated. Impressive. I trust you'll maintain this level of awareness throughout your time at this academy, Midoriya. Now, return to your seat."
"Yes, sir," Izuku replied, offering a mock salute before jogging back to his place.
Aizawa turned his attention to the class, his eyes methodically scanning the faces of each student. "Welcome to U.A. High. I am your homeroom teacher, Shota Aizawa, and for the duration of your stay here, you will address me as either Mr. Aizawa or Aizawa-sensei." He then raised his right hand, which, seemingly out of nowhere, held a neatly folded, blue-colored jumpsuit. "Now, the changing rooms are located at the end of this corridor, to the left. Go and change into these. We'll be conducting a physical assessment."
Yaoyorozu hesitantly raised her hand, seeking permission to speak.
"Yes, Yaoyorozu?" Aizawa addressed her tiredly, suggesting he'd rather be anywhere else than here.
"Mr. Aizawa, what about the Orientation Program?" Momo inquired, a worried expression settling onto her delicate features.
Aizawa's tired gaze remained unchanged as he regarded her. "I'm disappointed that you would even consider such a triviality," he stated, voice dripping with a laziness that made most of the class visibly wince. Yaoyorozu seemed to shrink in on herself, and Izuku felt a pang of sympathy for her. Aizawa's disdain for teenagers was well-known, a sentiment he never bothered to conceal.
"You're all aspiring to be Heroes," continued Aizawa, "There's no time for pointless ceremonies. If that's what you desire, transfer to a different department. Now, get changed. Your gym clothes are in the lockers there," he pointed to the corner to his right where 20 lockers were present. "The locker with the first two digits of your Student ID number are also your personal locker. You have fifteen minutes to reach the field. Anyone late by even a single second will face expulsion."
With that declaration, the classroom erupted into a frenzy of hurried students, all scrambling to make their way to the changing rooms. Amidst the chaos, Aizawa vanished from the room like a phantom, his departure unnoticed by most. But not by Izuku. He was tracking Aizawa's movements closely, a nagging feeling of unease persisting. Something about the man felt off. He seemed unusually forceful, even by his own demanding standards.
"Midnight."
Midnight glanced up from the papers she was meticulously grading, her gaze landing on Present Mic standing near the doorway of her office. Her bare, pasties-covered breasts heaved with a soft sigh of relief. "Mic? What is it?"
"Eraser Head's overseeing your nephew's class," Mic informed her, his expression a blend of curiosity and concern. "Aren't you worried?"
Midnight raised a delicate eyebrow, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Why would I be worried?"
"You know how Aizawa is," Mic reiterated, his tone hushed, tinged with worry. "He has a habit of expelling students simply because they don't align with his specific ideals. He won't grant Izuku any special treatment, regardless of his connection to you."
Midnight offered the man a grateful smile, appreciating his concern for her 'unofficial' nephew. When she had initially informed him and Aizawa about Izuku, Hizashi had been the first to embrace the boy with open arms, very quickly establishing himself as the fun-loving, cool uncle who insisted on being present for every milestone in his nephew's life.
"Don't worry, Mic," Midnight reassured him. "Izuku will be absolutely fine. He always is."
Izuku was the first to show up on the training field, already decked out in the U.A. P.E. uniform. The outfit was sharp: a dark blue short-sleeve shirt emblazoned with the latter half of a "U" and "A", matched with dark blue pants. White lines streaked up each leg, merging smoothly with the "A" on the shirt.
Aizawa was already there, hands stuffed in his pockets, slouched with that perpetually tired look on his face. With his wild hair and messy facial hair, he looked like he'd just crawled out of a dumpster.
Aizawa gave him a slow once-over before checking his watch. "Six minutes. Could have been better," he drawled.
"Hey, now," Izuku murmured, his eyebrows knitting together in exasperation. "I came here as fast as possible, Mr. Aizawa. I know you can cut me some slack."
"Midoriya," Aizawa's voice hardened, ditching the lazy drawl from seconds before, "keep it professional with me inside U.A. Don't want anyone thinking I'm playing favorites."
"Oh..." Izuku nodded, getting it. "I understand, Mr. Aizawa. I'll do my best." He got a nod of acknowledgment in return.
Soon, more students trickled onto the ground. Izuku spotted the red-haired kid from the Entrance Exam—good, he seemed like a decent guy from what little Izuku had seen. Five minutes later, the whole class was finally assembled before Aizawa. Izuku's mind, treacherous and slightly perverted, couldn't help but notice how the tight uniforms accentuated the girls' curves.
"Eleven minutes," Aizawa muttered, just loud enough for everyone to catch. "I expect better."
Was this guy ever satisfied with anything? The thought rippled through the majority of the students.
Uraraka raised her hand, snagging Aizawa's attention. "Yes, Uraraka." Aizawa addressed.
"What are we going to do, Mr. Aizawa?"
Aizawa hummed lowly before answering curtly, "I'm testing your quirks to see where you need improvement."
Iida was next up. "How are we going to do that, Mr. Aizawa?"
Aizawa fished around in his pocket and pulled out a phone, its screen as big as a flagship model, displaying it to the class. The screen flashed, showing:
Middle-School Physical Examination
"Middle-school physical examination?" thre red-haired boy muttered loud enough for others to hear. The whole class was just as baffled, even Izuku, and waited for Aizawa to explain.
"It's very simple," Aizawa began with his usual drawl. "You're going to run through the same physical exam you did in your middle school. Softball throwing, standing long jumps, 50-meter dash, endurance running, grip strength, side-to-side stepping, upper body training, and seated toe touch. You've all done these in Middle School, right? But for some insane reason, our education system bans schools from letting kids use their quirks during these tests."
The Pro-Hero turned to Izuku. "Midoriya. You topped the Entrance Exam, right? How far could you throw a softball in middle school?"
Izuku scratched his chin, trying to recall the last time he'd chucked a softball. "200 meters," he answered casually.
"200 meters?!" The class, except for Iida, blurted out in shock. Even the boy with two-toned hair was staring at Izuku, eyes wide. How the hell did he manage that without a quirk? And why was he so damn casual about it?
Aizawa pointed to a circle drawn on the ground to his left. "Get in the circle. Let's see you throw that softball with your quirk."
Izuku nodded, walking over and stepping into the circle. Aizawa tossed him the ball, which he caught easily in his right hand. He bounced it three times, gauging its weight. He glanced forward, debating if he should go full throttle. A second later, he scrapped the idea. No need to make his classmates think he was just showing off.
"Whenever you're ready," Aizawa said patiently.
Izuku took a deep breath and shifted into a baseball pitcher's stance, dragging his left foot forward, his right hand cocked back with the ball. Cursed energy coursed through his entire arm, making his muscles bulge with amplified power. His left leg lifted, and he crouched lower, his ball-carrying hand now dangerously close to the ground.
And then he exploded into motion.
His left foot slammed down, and his right hand whipped forward at a blinding speed, a movement his classmates completely missed. The ball was released at the peak of the arc, and without much fuss, it shot forward like a bullet ripping from a barrel. It vanished into the distance almost instantly.
Everyone, even Aizawa, stared at the spot where the ball had disappeared. While the students were gawking, eyes wide with awe at the raw power, Aizawa just stared blankly into the distance.
About three seconds later, a clicking sound came from Aizawa's right hand. He raised it, looking at the device clutched in his grip. After staring at it for a few seconds, he showed it to the class.
"1000 meters!!!" The pink-haired, pink-skinned girl yelled, her voice booming across the field.
"How the hell do you top that?" Kaminari asked, stunned.
Izuku was suddenly the center of attention. Everyone was staring…at him. He didn't react outwardly, but inside, he sighed. He hadn't meant to show off, but even a fraction of his power had done just that. Still, if he hadn't used his cursed energy, Aizawa would've known he wasn't using his quirk. So, his hands were tied, unfortunately. He just hoped his new classmates wouldn't think he was some arrogant showboat.
"As you can see," Aizawa drawled, "using his quirk, Midoriya's range increased fivefold. This is what you can achieve with your quirk, and the education system has only stunted your growth for years. You'll all go through the same tests. So, gear up and use your quirks to their full potential."
"Whoa! We get to use our quirks?" the pink girl exclaimed joyfully. "Woohoo~ This is gonna be fun!"
Bright smiles lit up everyone's faces, mirroring the girl's excitement.
"Fun, you say?" Aizawa's voice turned sharp, losing its lazy tone. "Well, why don't we make it a bit more fun for me too?" His eyes narrowed, his hair and the scarf of capture tape whipping around wildly. His lips stretched into a toothy, almost sinister grin. "How about this? Whoever comes last gets expelled from U.A. completely."
The class barely had time to process his words before a massive chorus of "WHHAAATTT!!!" erupted across the field. Only four people remained quiet: Izuku, Iida, Yaoyorozu, and the boy with the two-toned hair. Iida and Yaoyorozu stared at Aizawa with wide, worried eyes, while Izuku and the dual-color-haired boy looked on in disbelief.
"But Mr. Aizawa!" Ochako cried out desperately. "That's not fair! We all passed the Entrance Exam and earned our spot here."
"Unfair?" Aizawa murmured, disdain evident. "Tell that to some villain tearing up a city. What about the salesman who just got his legs crushed by a heartless villain? What about the son who lost his mother in a villain attack? There are way, way more unfair things in this world. I'm just getting you ready for what's out there. Just because you got into U.A. doesn't mean you'll magically become Pro-Heroes. If that's what you thought, sorry to burst your bubble, but you've got a long road ahead."
Aizawa turned and started walking towards the first obstacle. "Use those 'fun' quirks of yours to get past my 'fun' hurdles. Isn't that what plus ultra is all about?"
"Guess this is what they call a trial by fire," Iida whispered to Izuku, who nodded in agreement.
Midnight stood with her arms crossed staring out the window of her office. Sadly, it didn't offer a view of the field where Izuku's class was undergoing their physical assessment. She knew in her heart that Izuku would be fine, but she couldn't shake this nagging feeling that something was about to go wrong. Knowing Aizawa, he was going to crank up the difficulty of this year's test way beyond anything previous years had seen, all thanks to the exceptional results of this year's candidates.
And that worried her a little.
Oh well, she trusted Izuku to somehow find a way out of any obstacle Aizawa threw at him.
The first event was a 50-Meter Dash.
Izuku was impressed by his classmates.
Iida was called up first, paired against the girl with the frog-type mutation quirk. He blazed across the finish line in 3.25 seconds. It was clear Iida had been pushing his quirk to the limits. The girl, proving her own prowess, finished in an impressive 5.58 seconds.
Ochako, using her quirk to lighten her clothes, shoes, and herself, clocked in at 7 seconds. A pale silver-haired girl, who Izuku hadn't met yet, and Jirou, performed better than anyone expected, especially given their quirks weren't exactly suited for a sprint. They both finished in under 7 seconds, showcasing their remarkable fitness.
But the most impressive was Yaoyorozu. He was initially taken aback when she turned around and unbuttoned her jacket. Any surprise turned to appreciation as she produced a pair of skates. That brief moment when she used her quirk gave Izuku a chance to scan her with his eyes, revealing her power to manipulate the atoms of her fat, shaping them into anything she desired.
But to create something by altering atoms at that level demanded a profound understanding of that object's atomic structure. This realization made him respect the girl even more.
Finally, it was his turn.
His opponent was the two-tone-haired boy. His face was stoic, but his eyes burned with a fierce determination.
Izuku took his position beside the boy, doing a few stretches to loosen his leg muscles. Both adopted an Olympic runner's stance. As soon as Aizawa blew the whistle, Izuku bolted.
The machine at the end beeped, displaying: 2 seconds.
The dual-haired boy's eyes were wide with shock as he slid to the finish line on a path of ice. Izuku walked back to Iida, chuckling sheepishly at their stunned faces. Iida, however, cried out, vowing to surpass him next time.
The only one unfazed was Aizawa. The Pro-Hero had witnessed Izuku's blistering speed during the Entrance Exam, so he wasn't as surprised. Nevertheless, he was eyeing Izuku with a narrowed, scrutinizing gaze.
Next up was the grip strength test.
On raw power alone, the most impressive was Mezo Shoji, who crushed the measuring device with a score of 540 kg.
Yaoyorozu, once again displaying her quirk's adaptability and her own ingenuity, had designed a pair of gloves with hydraulic pistons attached. This boosted her grip strength, allowing her to hit 400 kg.
The pale silver-haired girl, Uraraka, and Jirou didn't fare as well in grip strength. The silver-haired girl scored 77 kg, Ochako 75 kg, and Jirou 76 kg. Iida managed to hit 100 kg, impressive in its own right.
When Izuku's turn came, he decided to go easy on the device. He gripped it between his fingers, applying just enough pressure. The device beeped, displaying "500 kg".
This time, at least, no one was shocked, considering someone had actually outperformed him.
The next few events went pretty much like the earlier ones, with Izuku practically coasting through, despite barely tapping into his potential.
During the Endurance running test, Izuku outlasted everyone in the class by a solid ten minutes. Momo Yaoyorozu came in second, having crafted a kick scooter for the test. The dual-haired boy slid into third place on his ice, with Iida in fourth and Shoji close behind. The frog-like girl had outperformed the silver-haired girl, Jirou, and Ochako.
In the Side-to-side stepping, a boy with dark purple balls on his head used them to bounce himself back and forth. Yaoyorozu had come up with literal springs for the test, managing an impressive second place. Izuku, doing it the old-fashioned way, came in third.
Next was the standing long jump. Uraraka showed off her ingenuity by making herself practically weightless and clearing the entire sand pit in a single leap. Another standout was a blonde boy shooting a beam from his navel. When it was Izuku's turn, he channeled cursed energy to the soles of his feet, easily clearing the sand pit.
The class was called for the softball throw again. Uraraka blew everyone away again by using her quirk to send the ball into orbit. The device even flashed the 'infinity' symbol. Momo crafted a cannon with her quirk, launching the ball a staggering 2019 meters. The silver-haired girl's quirk finally proved ideal for a test, and she used it to hurl the ball 500 meters. In fifth place was the dual-haired boy, and in sixth was the boy with octopus arms.
Finally, the assessment ended. The class gathered around Aizawa, the score-announcing robot standing beside him.
"These tests were to gauge your familiarity with your quirks, and I must say, I'm impressed with most of you," Aizawa said. "You've all done well. And as for the standings..."
The robot's head glowed, and a holographic screen materialized above it, displaying the rankings.
1. Izuku Midoriya
2. Momo Yaoyorozu
3. Shoto Todoroki
4. Tenya Iida
5. Mezo Shoji
6. Fumikage Tokoyami
7. Mashirao Ojiro
8. Ejiro Kirishima
9. Mina Ashido
10. Ochako Uraraka
11. Koji Koda
12. Rikirdo Sato
13. Tsuyu Asui
14. Kyoka Jirou
15. Reiko Yanagi
16. Yuga Aoyama
17. Hanta Sero
18. Denki Kaminari
19. Toru Hagakure
20. Minoru Mineta
The boy with grape-like, dark purple balls on his head collapsed, wailing loudly, tears streaming down his face. "WAH~ I'm getting expelled! I don't wanna get expelled! What about all the girls that need me!"
Izuku wasn't sure whether to pity the guy or burst out laughing.
"As I said," Aizawa spoke up, turning to the class. "Most of you performed well, especially you, Yaoyorozu." The girl visibly brightened at the praise. "I never expected this level of creativity and resourcefulness, especially given your upbringing. Good work. I expect more from you. Because of your performance, I've decided not to expel anyone."
The class's eyes widened in surprise before everyone erupted in cheers. The poor boy—Mineta—brightened considerably, joining the others in their celebration. Izuku and Iida watched from a distance as their classmates surrounded Yaoyorozu, patting her on the back and thanking her for her outstanding performance. The girl blushed scarlet at the praise, but Izuku could see her posture straighten, her confidence visibly growing. He was happy for her. His eyes drifted to the only other student not participating in the celebration: the dual-color-haired boy, who Izuku guessed was Shoto Todoroki.
"However," Aizawa said suddenly, cutting the ongoing celebration short. Everyone turned to face the teacher, and when Izuku did, he found the Pro-Hero staring directly at him. "Midoriya. Come forward," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Izuku suddenly felt the weight of everyone's gaze as he was singled out. He wordlessly obeyed, stepping closer to the Pro-Hero. Aizawa pointed his right hand at the circle where the softball throw had taken place.
"Get in there," Aizawa commanded. Again, Izuku complied without a word, without protest. Once he was in position, Aizawa handed him another softball and stepped back. He raised a single finger, pointing skyward, and said, "You have one chance. Just one." His voice was low and menacing. "Use the full power of your quirk, or they," he pointed at the rest of the class, "get expelled."
Cries of outrage erupted from the students, protesting this sudden shift of decision. But Aizawa ignored them, his intense gaze fixed on Izuku.
Izuku, feeling the pressure, chuckled nervously. "H-Hey, Mr. Aizawa," he stammered. "I think you're overestimating me. I really did my best during the tests."
"Your time is running out," was all Aizawa said, continuing to stare daggers at him.
Uncomfortably, Izuku turned on his heels and stared at the ball in his hand. His mind raced. Why was Aizawa doing this? Why single him out? What was he trying to prove? There was no way Aizawa would actually expel the others, right? Should he just botch the throw again like he had done before?
He glanced at the rest of the class from the corner of his eye, and fear clenched his heart. His classmates, even Iida, wore worried expressions. Izuku's grip on the ball tightened. He couldn't risk doing that again. If Aizawa caught on, it would spell disaster for his new classmates, and Iida. He couldn't risk their futures for his own selfish reasons.
Decision made, Izuku prepped his quirk. He removed his fingers from the ball, and it began to float above his right palm, as if held by an invisible, taut string. He looked up at the sky, channeling his negative energy into his infinity.
Invisible to the naked eye, four bluish spheres materialized behind Izuku before he directed them forward. The four invisible spheres of compressed negative space formed a 45-degree slope pointing skyward. Izuku took a deep breath, pulling his hand back into a pitcher's stance...again.
Then, with all his might, he hurled the ball, aiming it directly at the nearest sphere.
His plan worked flawlessly.
The first sphere pulled the ball in, boosting its speed. Just as the ball neared the sphere, Izuku dispelled it, sending the ball hurtling towards the second sphere.
The second sphere, like the first, yanked the ball in, accelerating it even further. Just as the ball approached, Izuku dispelled it, right on cue.
The ball shot towards the third sphere, its speed now far exceeding its initial velocity. The third sphere did its job, adding even more speed. When Izuku dispelled the third sphere, the ball had already shattered the sound barrier, a thunderous boom echoing across the field, kicking up a cloud of dust.
As the ball approached the fourth sphere, Izuku dispelled it just in time to send the ball rocketing it into the distance.
To the observing students, it all happened in a flash. Izuku had thrown the ball, and for reasons they couldn't fathom, the ball had accelerated at four distinct points in its flight, once breaking the sound barrier. They had to shield their eyes from the dust cloud kicked up by the sonic booms.
11.3 seconds.
That's how long it took for the device in Aizawa's hand to beep, signaling it had tracked the ball's distance. He stared at it, his expression unreadable.
Then, he started to chuckle.
It began slowly, then escalated into a full-blown, maniacal laugh, unnerving everyone present. His laughter went on for a few seconds, though to the students it felt like an eternity. When he finally regained control, he turned to the students and showed them the recording device.
4,284 meters.
That's what the device displayed. Everyone's eyes widened slowly, the realization sinking in. Izuku Midoriya had been holding back this entire time.
"Well, well, well. Ladies and gentlemen. It seems Mr. Izuku Midoriya," Aizawa began, addressing the class, his tone laced with glee, soft chuckles escaping his throat, "the Entrance Exam top scorer, the record holder, doesn't even consider any of you worthy enough for him to use his actual power."
"Mr. Aizawa!" Izuku protested. "That's not what I—"
"Shut up!" Aizawa roared, completely out of character. He spun around and took three long strides, closing the distance between himself and Izuku. He towered over the boy, forcing him to look down, his glaring eyes drilling into Izuku's wide, astonished ones.
"Tell me, Midoriya," Aizawa growled, "is any of this a joke to you? Is U.A. a joke to you?"
"N-No, Mr. Aizawa. I—" Before Izuku could even finish, Aizawa cut him off sharply.
"Are they a joke to you?" He pointed back at the students. "Are their efforts a joke to you? Every single one of them poured their sweat and blood, giving their absolute best to prove themselves. And this is how you show respect? By giving them false hope! Is that your goal, Midoriya?!"
"No! Mr. Aizawa, you—"
"Stop," Aizawa said, raising his right hand in a halting gesture. "I've seen enough." He turned and walked a few steps, putting himself closer to the rest of the class. "You all have potential, and I truly believed I'd found a gem of a class after four years of teaching." He glanced back at Izuku over his shoulder. "But I guess I was mistaken." His tone was soft, filled with regret. He turned back to the class, his expression sorrowful. "I can't have even one student in a class acting so arrogant and self-important. When you were all sorted into classes, you were meant to become a family. But the lack of teamwork from even a single student can lead to devastating consequences." He shook his head slowly. "I'm sorry to do this, but for your own good, you're all expelled."
Izuku could only stare, wide-eyed with horror, at Mr. Aizawa's back. This couldn't be happening. It wasn't possible. What did Aizawa mean by 'you're all expelled'? It was his fault for not revealing his true power. Why was he punishing the others? Aizawa should be punishing him, not them.
"M-Mr. A-Aizawa," Ochako called out weakly, voice cracking with emotion, tears welling up in her eyes. Many in the class reacted similarly to the news of expulsion. "Y-You... P-Please... Please..." She couldn't go on, breaking down in tears and falling to her knees, sobbing. The silver-haired girl immediately knelt beside her, trying to comfort the heartbroken girl.
Aizawa looked at the class, his previously stern expression now softened, melancholic. After a few seconds, he sighed. "Alright," he said wearily. "I'll give you all one more chance."
Those words sparked a flicker of hope in everyone.
"I like you all," Aizawa admitted. "So, it's either you guys or no one. I'll give you one opportunity, one single chance." He extended his hand, pointing at Izuku. "You fight him."
Confusion rippled through the entire class; what did Aizawa mean by having to fight Izuku?
"He's the one who wronged you, right?" Aizawa began to explain. "So, I believe it's only fair that you get your justice from him. You all fight Izuku Midoriya. And if you defeat him, you all stay and learn at U.A., and Izuku Midoriya gets expelled. But... if Izuku Midoriya wins, he stays and studies under a different teacher, and all of you are expelled."
Silence.
Absolute silence filled the field.
Everyone stared at Aizawa, eyes wide with disbelief and astonishment.
"Anyone who backs out of the fight will be expelled too," Aizawa informed them before turning. "I'll call all of you at the end of the day. We'll have the battle then. Go back to your classes and change into your school uniforms."
And just like that, he left a class full of shattered students alone on the field.