"The commander assigned you a new recruit."A doctor with vibrant red tail feathers tapped the courtyard wall lightly."He said you're in charge of training them."
"Nope."A black-haired, silver-eyed girl around thirteen didn't even look up from her fashion magazine."I'm busy studying fashion."
"They say the newbie's really strong."
"So what?"
"He said you're responsible."
She buried her face back in the magazine. "Still not interested."
The doctor scratched his head and turned to the figure behind him."She's your senior. You'll be under her from now on. Ask her anything you need."Without waiting for a reply, the doctor turned and left, leaving behind an awkward silence.
The newcomer hesitated for a moment before stepping forward."Wow, reading a fashion magazine? You really don't seem like a reliable senior."
The girl looked up slowly, eyeing the black-haired young man whose skin was mottled with deep purple burns along his neck, arms, and face."And you're not exactly a charming junior."
She closed her magazine, stood up, and held out her hand."I'm the vice commander of the Fenrir Mercenary Corps. Codename: Dabi. I'll be your senior. Pleased to meet you."
The young man gave her a once-over.Something about this tiny thirteen-year-old gave him a sense of deep dissonance.
"Ah, I got it!"He slammed a fist into his open palm. "You're wearing way too much jewelry."
Indeed, she wore silver earrings on each ear, two layered necklaces, multiple rings, and even metal ornaments on her boots. She looked like a die-hard silver-accessory fanatic.
"Wearing that much bling won't make you cute, no matter how many fashion mags you read. You're just a wannabe trying too hard."
"Tch."
She pulled a coin from her pocket and slapped it against the ground.Instantly, the coin melted into a silvery liquid, spreading across the entire courtyard, transforming the area into a gleaming silver world.
With zero emotion, she picked him up and flung him out of the courtyard like garbage."You lost. You're exactly what you look like—a useless junior."
The youth sprang up effortlessly, brushing dust off his clothes like nothing happened."Seriously? What a violent quirk. Kids these days are so not cute."
"You threw him out?"The doctor, now holding a tray of tea, raised an eyebrow."The commander said he's got a great quirk and solid combat instincts. That's why we recruited him."
She sipped her tea."Good potential, sure. But unreliable."
"Since when do you care about reliability? Isn't that your job?"The doctor sighed, twirling a lock of his bright red hair."He's just the right age to marry, too. There goes my shot. When am I, a radiant young lady, going to find a husband?"
"In your next life."
A pink twin-tailed girl strolled by, snatching the third teacup off the tray."Oh~ so that extra cup wasn't for me? I'm heartbroken. You're so disloyal, Yomi!"
"It wasn't for you. Go cry. And stop calling me Yomi—use my codename: Miss Phoenix."She glared at the girl. "Enoshima Junko."
"But Yomi sounds so cute~ Shieldy loves it."Junko offered the tea to someone behind her."Actually, it's too cringe. You're thirty now. Maybe we should go with Granny Yomi? What do you think, Mukuro?"
"Mm."The girl behind her accepted the cup with a blank stare.
"Die, Junko."Phoenix muttered without emotion.
Junko ignored her and proudly pointed at the fashion magazine on the ground."Hey hey, the cover girl of that fashion mag is right here in front of you! If you need styling tips, just ask me. I'll answer anything, Gin!"
Gin, the silver-eyed girl who had thrown out the boy, turned her head and asked seriously,"How can I wear as many accessories as possible and still look classy?"
"Maybe... pierce more holes in your ears?"
"Get lost."
Scene Transition – UA High School Gates
Izuku Midoriya stared up at the gates of U.A. High, steeling himself."I'm not the same as before... This is my first step toward becoming a real hero!"
Then he promptly tripped over his own feet and fell face-first onto the pavement.
"Ah!"Two female voices gasped.
"Sorry."The black-haired, silver-eyed girl gently helped him float up and back on his feet.She bowed slightly to both Izuku and the girl next to him.
"N-no, thank you! Thank you so much for helping me!"Izuku stammered, flailing nervously."M-my name is Izuku Midoriya! P-pleased to meet you!"
"Gin Kameshou. Likewise."
"I'm Ochako Uraraka. Thank you too!"Uraraka smiled warmly."Sorry for using my quirk on you without permission—tripping before an exam is super unlucky!"
"Yes. There's such a saying."Gin nodded seriously.
"Huh?"
"Hehe, that's right!"Uraraka glanced at her watch."It's almost time to head in. See you inside, Gin, Midoriya!"
"See you."Gin waved calmly, then turned and walked toward U.A.
"I... I just talked to a girl for the first time...!"
Gin ignored Midoriya's dramatic reaction.She was too annoyed by the constraints of pretending to be a student.Students couldn't wear her normal gear—metal-ornamented boots and silver accessories.
She wasn't fond of jewelry for style. Since she had been a mercenary from age eight, she preferred function over fashion. But her quirk relied on accessories—especially her specialized coin—for full power.
That was what made her feel vulnerable today.
Why was she at U.A.?For a mission, of course.
As vice commander of the Fenrir Mercenary Corps—codename: Dabi—she had come to infiltrate U.A.
A mercenary doing a hero infiltration mission? How ridiculous.
If the commander hadn't personally assigned it and sent three agents total, she'd have refused.
Her and Mukuro's goal: pass U.A.'s Hero Course.Junko's job: infiltrate the General Course.
"This sucks..."Gin sighed internally."Becoming a hero is the most frustrating job I've ever taken."
Mercenaries and heroes had completely different mindsets.Heroes prioritized others.Mercenaries prioritized the mission, credibility, personal gain, group survival, and teammates—in that order.
There was no way a mercenary could understand how a hero thinks.
There was no way a mercenary could pass a hero exam—
"Sorry, but you have to pass it this time."Junko, now in glasses and holding a pointer, was giving them a crash course.
"I studied the hero system and exams. Just follow these rules:— Help with small tasks when possible.— During the practical, save a few people.— Grade yourself accurately on the written portion.— Once you're in, keep a low profile.— Say you like a few generic hobbies on day one.— Don't get too close with anyone or befriend the whole class.Just form a small group.That's all it takes. You'll be withdrawn in four months anyway."
This was the worst.
Every cell in Gin's body resisted this mission.
Maybe it was the stress.Maybe it was the lack of accessories.Maybe it was insomnia.
Wait—why did she lose sleep last night again?