The week we were given to recover from what happened at the U.S.J. is over.
I find myself heading to UA in the usual way I've grown accustomed to.
I never thought about how useful trains are for life.
They are extremely efficient!
The transportation in my old life was useful, but trains make it look pathetic.
The system is very well organized and comfortable.
Anyway, long live the trains.
The views that Musutafu offers are also amazing; it's a perfect mix between modern civilization and protected natural areas.
Plus, you can see UA from a distance. It reminds me of the Teen Titans' base, to be honest.
It's a shame that all of this will go to hell in less than a year.
...
Upon arriving at the UA classroom, I noticed how the atmosphere had become more... subdued? If you can call it that.
Mina isn't having her conversations about the latest magazines with Hagakure.
Mineta and Kaminari aren't being embarrassingly cringey.
Bakugo isn't screaming at everything that moves.
And Kirishima doesn't have that "manly spirit" he always shows.
I reached my seat without saying a word and sat down to wait for Aizawa to enter.
Uraraka smiled at me when she saw me, and I returned the gesture.
Iida greeted me in his own way, with a strange mix of a military salute and a concerned friend. Since I didn't understand what he was trying to do, I just awkwardly waved back at him.
I saw Todoroki looking colder than usual... what a great pun.
He received a tremendous beating from the Nomu; I don't blame him, although his way of channeling anger is very different from mine.
And finally, I gave Aoyama a sideways glance. He is a traitor, after all.
I still don't know what to do with him. From the last I saw of the manga, he seemed genuinely regretful and appeared to be important in the two-pronged strategy they had planned.
But I have nothing concrete since I can't keep up with what's happening in the story.
Was it too much to ask to let me transmigrate once Horikoshi finished the manga?
But if there's one thing that bothers me.
The way Aoyama pretends like nothing is wrong is infuriating. He's a really good bastard at this.
I was going to continue analyzing things, but Aizawa entered the classroom.
Fortunately for me, the Nomu didn't destroy Aizawa as much this time. He fractured an arm along with some ribs and his skull.
But hey! At least he's not a mummy!
"Alright, I know no one here is in the mood for a normal class. Not after what happened a week ago, but if it's any consolation, you all did what would be expected of a group of heroes in training." Which translates to: You weren't experts, but no one can ask for more.
His gaze lingered on me for a brief second, and now I'm remembering that my attitude wasn't the best at that moment.
In my defense, I was blinded by adrenaline and excitement.
I had been planning and training like a psychopath just for that moment, and when it all happened, I couldn't help but release all that accumulated stress I had.
Besides, it was my first "fight" in this world, aside from what happened with Bakugo, of course.
That had me a bit out of my element.
"Still, don't relax. The battle isn't over yet." Here it comes.
"More villains?!"
"No, Mineta, but soon. The UA Sports Festival is approaching." Everyone literally let out a sigh of relief at the same time, how crazy. "It will be in two weeks, and many professionals will be there to watch."
"Is it safe to hold the Festival? We were attacked. What if they attack us again?" I think, without fear of being wrong, this is the only time Kaminari has said and asked something coherent and useful.
"That's precisely why UA wants to hold the Festival: to show that despite what happened, we are holding our heads high and are not afraid of the villains." Good logic, that's what I'm doing to keep All For One at bay. "You must show society that everything will be fine with you here." That sounded eerily similar to All Might, and for Aizawa to be the one saying it is terrifying.
But it makes sense.
The Sports Festival is both a good and a bad thing at the same time.
On the positive side, you'll give the population the security that they are safe with the next generation of heroes.
On the negative side, you'll be letting villains know their potential future enemies, or worse, kill them before they can improve.
It's dangerous but useful at the same time.
The Olympic Games in this world are a mere memory for people.
Games where Quirks aren't allowed? To them, that's unheard of.
If you want to capture the attention of the masses and there are no Quirks involved, you're destined to fail.
That's why people without Quirks are so discriminated against. They have nothing that makes them interesting.
Things like racism no longer exist here, not with Quirks and the differences they create among people.
What's the point of hating a black person but not a person with wings or an animal face?
Maybe that's what was missing in my previous life: a drastic change on a global scale.
"Anyway. From now on, your classes will be reduced so you have time to prepare." Just what I needed. With two weeks, I'll have One For All at 15% with ease.
"Class is over." It's over? It only lasted 15 minutes... Better for me.
"Midoriya, Iida." Huh? Uraraka? "Let's do our best!" I had forgotten about this. Her face is terrifying.
"I agree with you, Uraraka!" Iida exclaimed, waving his arms frantically, which made me cringe more than I expected.
"Of course, Uraraka. I expect nothing less from all of you." The Festival will be fun. I'm going to humiliate them all.
(Isn't this the moment where the other classes harass ours?) And sure enough, when Bakugo opened the door, it was full of students from other classes.
(Did I change what's about to happen? It's just a dialogue, after all).
Although I enjoy changing the story in my favor, I also enjoy seeing how some events unfold continuously, just as I saw them in my other life.
And this moment isn't very influential, to be honest.
Hey, that's Shinso, now that I get a good look at him.
He should get some sleep; he's on the verge of dropping dead.
"This is my declaration of war, Class A." The famous declaration of war. Well, not that famous. In the end, Shinso wasn't important for a long time.
But that doesn't give him the right to come here and pretend to be important and powerful.
"Really? A declaration of war?" His gaze is on me now. I must be careful so his Quirk isn't used right now. "I accept your declaration. But I'll warn you of something." Now I just need to make a small dramatic pause... "In war, anything goes. Don't forget it, Hitoshi Shinso."
And with those words, I walked away from the class.
I saw how his gaze sharpened when he found out I knew his name. Now he's not as confident as before.
If I know his name, he'll also assume I know his Quirk, and that ruins his plans.
I'm curious to see how he'll act knowing that.
...
I didn't get too far in my walk through the UA hallways.
All Might appeared and asked to speak with me... in private.
Does he really not know how ill-intentioned his words can sound?
As I followed him, I vaguely remembered that a conversation with Iida and Uraraka was supposed to happen around this time.
Where Uraraka explains she wants to be a hero for money.
Well... it doesn't really matter. I know those details, so does it even matter?
We arrived at the teachers' lounge, although literally only All Might comes here. He offered me some tea.
I personally prefer coffee, but it's free tea, and I don't bite the hand that offers me free food.
"Thanks, Toshinori," I thanked him as I tasted the tea. "What did you want to discuss with me?"
"Straight to the point, huh?" What else does he want to talk about? Besides being my teacher and me his successor, we have nothing in common.
"It's always a good time to train, sir, and this is no exception." My flames of youth burn like a thousand suns in this new life.
"I'm proud to see you so determined, Young Midoriya." I'm proud of myself and my progress too. "I just wanted to talk about the Sports Festival."
Oh, here comes the whole "I am here" speech.
"This is your best opportunity to announce to the world that you are here!" I'll do it, but in my own way. "My time is running out more each day. Right now, I can only be All Might for an hour and a half."
His time limit is still the same as in the canon. What a shame. I thought I could give him some extra power for when he faces All For One.
"I will have to retire soon, Young Midoriya. You are my successor. You must show the world that despite everything, there is a new All Might to smile for them." His intentions are noble, but not correct.
"All Might... I understand your reasoning, but I won't do that."
"But Young Midoriya! You...!"
"Enough!" My shout managed to silence him. "I will be my own hero, Toshinori. I won't be the second coming of All Might or anything like that. I aim to surpass you, not be the same as you."
"All Might is the Symbol of Peace, and that is something that can never be replaced. You are unique, and I respect you for that. That's why I will forge my own path based on your teachings and Gran Torino's. I will be a hero who gives security and hope to this society, but with my own legacy."
"I respect and admire you, All Might, but I am not you, and I never will be." I will be what this world needs, even before it needs it.
"...Young Midoriya, that was very deep and heroic." He's smiling. I managed to make him see who I want to be, even before the original Izuku did. "Then all I can do is wish you the best of luck, young man, because a long and complicated path awaits you."
"Who said I expected to take the easy path? I am a future hero, and above all, I am your successor. If I wanted things to be easy, I would have studied something else. It is the duty of the strong to nurture and help the weaker, so that they can then become strong and train the rest."
"I couldn't have said it better myself, Young Midoriya." I know, after all, those animes and their messages have their uses. "I won't bother you any longer, young man. I thought you might have doubts, but I was mistaken. You may leave, Young Midoriya."
"As you say, Toshinori." I left the room after that.
I have two full weeks to train and further master my abilities.
Reaching 15% of One For All is a must.
Controlling more than one whip is another.
Trying to awaken a third Quirk is optional, but I haven't lost hope yet.
Things just keep getting more exciting.
Author's Note:
Hey.
What did you think of the chapter?
Once this is finished, I'll move directly to the start of the Sports Festival.
I think I've done too many training montages already and don't want to make them monotonous and boring for you.
As the Festival unfolds, I'll show the protagonist's improvements.
At the beginning of the chapter, I mentioned the topic of MHA society and its way of thinking and acting regarding Quirks. I just want to say that I love delving into the fictional society that Horikoshi created, and it won't be the last time I touch on that subject.
I'll do it from time to time and in various ways, but it will be there.
See you.