I listened—curious, interested, and stripped of the comfort of going unnoticed. Around me, Aizawa's words were lost, lacking the value the rest of the class seemed to give them at other times.
No one was making an effort, eagerly revealing how much they wanted to hear their own words and not those of the man they called their teacher. It was uncomfortable to witness such blatant disrespect.
Oh, and I wasn't ignoring the obvious fact of the matter... Aoyama never showed up.
It seems someone heard what was said a few days ago.
The worst part? That's going to fall on me, I grimaced. Aizawa must hate me, and with good reason. I was ruining his instructions for how we were all meant to live together for the next three years.
-They don't respect their own hierarchy enough. That's never good,- Second's voice resonated, stating the obvious yet unsaid comment of the moment. -They recognize your strength, which is a positive thing... But it also brings a negative side...
Am I responsible for their potential future actions? One For All flowed harmoniously, a clear way of answering yes. So this is the famous 'leader's dilemma'?
The fact that they saw greater authority based solely on power was dangerous, especially considering it was impossible for me to watch over all of them. I didn't have enough power yet; the task of protecting each and every one of them from any active flaw was out of my league.
No one was even capable of hiding it; their gazes pierced through my body like needles. And I didn't appreciate it!
"...You will have to request special permits when leaving the institution on days other than designated rest days." Aizawa, however, continued explaining. If he was bothered by such a lack of respect, he was hiding it well. "Although you all seem to know that already, don't you think so, Midoriya?"
Ah... he was annoyed.
"Perhaps? As far as I understand, it's one's own responsibility to know the rules. I hope they can all recite them from beginning to end." Of course, I wasn't just going to take the hit; they had to take responsibility for their childish behavior.
Yes, I understand how complicated it is to have a famous classmate whose words everyone wants to hear. I accepted the consequences of exposing my existence on that scale, but I wouldn't trade that for the fair and equal treatment we all deserve.
I'd had enough of that with Nezu, and I didn't enjoy it.
"So you could recite my own words verbatim?" He didn't let up, escalating our verbal exchange. A slight annoyance seeped into his threat, and I understood where it came from.
I... had really screwed up his role as a teacher. I had broken several direct orders, acted with knowledge of undisclosed details, and, in a way, I had surpassed the rank he held.
I would be annoyed too. No, worse, I would be furious.
I never saw him as a teacher, not with so many other specialists around, and I never understood how little value the information I was learning in lectures truly had. Because in the end, once you're in the practical field, no one questions anything, no one demands anything from you as long as you do your job well.
No one will care if, as a hero, you know the applicable laws for natural disasters, robberies, kidnappings, or drug trafficking. As long as the civilians are safe, the bad guys are down, and your Quirk is amazing, you'll be fine.
That's how the system works, that's how they want it to work. And that won't change; they've manipulated the ignorant masses enough. Any changes you make will have no effect if the average citizen is already accustomed to the "normalcy of thought" you've offered them.
In the end, it's the result of manipulating the concept of the hero, mixing it with politics, and offering a result with no apparent changes.
"Of course I could. Unlike the rest, I've listened to your orders," I answered confidently. He could question anything I said, and the answers would be instantaneous.
"You seem confident." Aizawa had no qualms about doubting me; he was unimpressed by my quick reply. How many students had already tried to fool him with that same excuse?
Of course, it wasn't an excuse. The passive use of One For All, even at just one percent, was enough to achieve a faster mental processing speed. And because of that, superior learning capabilities.
Along with other cognitive and sensory abilities, though they weren't needed now. Their true magic shone in the constant conflict of battle; in moments of peace, they only served as a poorly implemented paranoia simulator.
"I can doubt what I don't know, but never the knowledge I've already obtained." I shrugged. If he wanted to question me, he could; I had nothing to lose.
He recognized the truth in my comment, opting to ignore the problem and resume what he had been explaining moments before. This time, a significant portion of the class listened half-heartedly, fearful of being questioned later.
And with good reason, because Aizawa never disappointed.
"I expect a report on the expected attitudes for living together. You must submit it no later than two business days from today." A collective sigh followed the comment. Deep down, they all knew something like this would happen. "Now go inside and get to know your living space for the next few years. Don't waste time."
Defeated, one by one, they walked towards the interior of the building, speaking in whispers to avoid further punishment. I was thinking of following them, but a quick thought stopped me.
I needed to talk to Aizawa.
I waited in silence, watching as the man himself walked over to where I was standing. I supposed that, perhaps, we both wanted to have a word with each other.
"I see you understand, right, Midoriya?" He didn't elaborate; he even seemed annoyed to try. "Always attentive to detail, a great quality. Did All Might notice that in you too?"
I closed my eyes for a moment. Once again, One For All. Everything stemmed from there before anything else. What a loop. Even after changing things, I always returned to the starting point.
"I wasn't a good student... Hell, I'll be honest with you, I was never even interested. You deserve an apology for that." I was sincere when I said it, and I looked the man in the eyes. Whether it's a big deal or not, no one appreciates having their authority undermined so blatantly. "And I'm offering it to you. There was little to no clarity in my actions. I created problems for you that even I didn't understand how to solve. I'm very sorry."
Whether he accepted it or not didn't matter. People with superior rank decided what I would do and where I would go; Aizawa had lost any authority over me.
So, although I offered an honest apology, his response didn't matter. A bit unsympathetic, perhaps, but I wouldn't offer him more. Things of greater value overshadowed what I considered "Important."
"Of course I deserve an apology, and even more. You are the ideal representation of everything a student shouldn't do." He showed no mercy when he spoke, nor care in his choice of words. He was annoyed. Very annoyed. "You should be expelled, and in fact, I submitted your expulsion myself."
I raised both eyebrows. Wow, he really tried to expel me. Amazing. I had angered him to a gigantic degree.
Now comes his 'but.' I felt calm. The Commission was many things, and excessive control was on their list. I had armor against expulsions; I had nefariously surpassed the man in authority. Repugnant method, useful results.
Oblivious to my thoughts, Aizawa maintained a cold indifference in his gaze, perfectly hiding the internal hatred he kept to himself. Again, I didn't blame him, but I wouldn't back down either.
No, not when I've finally managed to perfectly understand the world I'm in. Not when the dangers seem to intensify to unreal levels. Not when... for the first time, I have enough resolve to turn to in times of need.
The man can talk as much as he wants; nothing will be altered. I will save this world, or I will die trying. I don't know. I have to find out the hard way.
By fighting.
"...But I can't." A bit of frustration crossed his expression, showing just how resigned he was to the attempt. "You've entered a horrible world, Midoriya. One that will eat you alive... or you'll do the same to it while trying..."
I lowered my gaze slightly. Another person pointing out the same thing.
"...And if I'm being honest... I fear both outcomes equally," he finished, sighing, his gaze drifting across the extensive campus of U.A. He massaged his temple, trying to find some peace—a curious image for the usually bitter man. "I don't trust you. You're impulsive, manipulative, powerful. None of the positive characteristics of a hero..."
I didn't even try to object. He could think whatever he wanted; it was my own fault for not explaining in detail how problematic the current situation was.
"...But I believe you have genuine empathy. Perhaps it's weak compared to others, but it's there, struggling to coexist alongside more powerful emotions and thoughts." He raised a hand, lightly tapping my shoulder. The naturalness of the movement was strange, alien to the hatred expressed in his words. "One For All, your secret, you can rest easy. It will die with me, no problem."
Seconds passed—silent, calm, filled with a tacit mutual pause. We both processed what we had heard from the other, looking for the right place to rest our minds.
"Thank you," I responded sixty seconds after his last comment. Honest, brief. Many descriptions for such a short response.
"Don't thank me. After all, if I'm being honest with you... I think you carry the greatest curse of all." Again, I understood, perhaps on a grand scale. Aware of the power like no one else. "And that makes me feel pity for you. You're alone, dealing with something so big without being able to express it in words. It must be sad... For the good of all of us... I wish you luck, Midoriya."
And with that, he began to walk away, after perhaps the longest speech I had ever heard from him.
He... wanted to show empathy? Understanding? I couldn't understand it exactly. I thought he was very annoyed, but he showed a certain understanding, then he revealed pity, and... finally...
"...I don't get it." I sighed to myself, looking at the clear sky as a brief distraction. Nezu made a mistake—that was the primary thought that came to me after hearing everything. "And I don't want to, either. There are more important things right now."
With my head in a jumble, I walked towards the entrance of the building. I didn't want to go in; I wanted to release stress by hitting training objects until I felt exhaustion claim my body.
So, when I had the chance to turn the doorknob... I hesitated, long enough to know that if I entered, I would do or say things I would later regret.
But again, there was no more room for cowardly acts. Facing things was the right path... and the only one.
Overcoming my doubt, I crossed the threshold, entering the short hallway that led directly to the nice common area. As soon as my footsteps echoed, an incredible number of eyes were on me, attentive to my next move.
The whole damn class... waiting.
No sarcastic comments. You'll just drag out the inevitable. I would ask for my room and then go to it. Simple, right? "Can someone, please, tell me where the..."
"Dude! You're so damn famous!" Kaminari Denki, true to his boisterous honesty, broke the group's silence.
And with that, the dam broke...
"You're so strong! You're in another league, Mido-bro!"
"I couldn't even see your movements! Did you take some kind of martial arts class!?"
"What does it feel like to be on television on that scale!? It must have been stressful! Wasn't it!?"
"The new Number One! What does a title of that magnitude feel like!?"
Question after question. Each one more intense than the last.
"I don't really want to..."
"Did All Might give you any useful advice you can share!?"
"...talk about this..."
"Are you graduating early!? Are we graduating early!?"
"What the hell are you talking about, spiky-hair!?"
"You broke a lot of rules, Midoriya! Even more than us! And we were already risking a lot!"
Little by little, it became difficult not to respond with more force.
"How strong are you!?"
They didn't understand. It wasn't their fault. I should have been more discreet. I have to put up with...
"Personally... I feel you made a horrible mistake, Midoriya."
And Yaoyorozu's quiet comment, though audible to an ear slightly enhanced by One For All, was enough.
Enough of this stupidity.
"Alright!" Tired and annoyed, I raised my voice, using One For All as a catalyst for my vocal cords. The sound was loud, shrill, and powerful.
Instantly, everyone fell silent.
"You want to know how strong I am? You want to know what league I'm in now?" I smiled, baring my teeth at the anger their pure naivety caused. They weren't guilty of anything, but they were about to take some hits from on high. "I'll see you in Gym Gamma. You have twenty minutes."
Perhaps... I could get some training in after all.
Getting permission was easy, too easy considering I was a "simple" first-year student. Nezu gave the green light on the simple condition that he could witness the two-sided combat. According to him, it would be a good way to measure how strong their own students had become.
Aizawa was behind him, annoyed and very unwilling to cooperate. He had expected a different response to the speech he'd given me, but if I were being honest, I had long since forgotten what he said.
It was easy to calm down, to think about the stupidity of my anger and how I had found a solution by filtering out unbridled rage. I had let something silly get to me, a mistake I had avoided even against All For One.
I was going to cancel the fight, apologize, and move on. However, once Nezu got involved, that solution died.
"Sorry for the delay! I had forms to complete!" All Might interrupted suddenly, bursting into the gym as if he were bringing vital news. A disheveled office suit covered his skeletal body, corroborating the new, boring life he now led.
Being a hero was a thing of the past; he would dedicate everything to the development of the next generation of heroes, exerting direct influence on the heroes of tomorrow.
Or at least, that was the complex speech he gave to the television cameras. He always enjoyed appearing symbolic to the world that watched him.
"...There are still five minutes left, sir," I commented in the absence of a response, amused by the strange mistakes that only pure clumsiness could cause. "Does normal life offer too many breaks?"
I asked with a grin, pointing out how poorly arranged his suit was. The more I thought about it, the more sense it made. For a person accustomed to constant adrenaline, stopping suddenly is strange. You find more freedom, and yet, you still feel inhibited by some greater force.
It's not some kind of stress, far from it. It's just... it feels like things are out of place, and adjusting to a new routine is difficult.
"Oh, I got the times mixed up." All Might began to laugh, hiding his inner embarrassment. He tried to fix his hair in a vain attempt to forget what had happened.
"I'm glad to see your newfound importance in the academic world, Toshinori," Nezu opined, approaching the man and offering his paw as a greeting between... animals of different species? "We always appreciate the help you offer to the place that saw you grow."
They exchanged words, maintaining a friendly chat about political issues and the changing educational system—something uninteresting that I decided to ignore.
Recognizing the passage of time, I began to stretch my muscles, warming up my body slowly and patiently. If fighting the class was inevitable, I wasn't afraid to do it.
I knew the potential that each of my classmates could demonstrate in brief moments, and at the same time, they understood each other well enough to work as a group. That represented an interesting challenge. How many tactics would they execute before losing their synchrony?
Katsuki Bakugo and Shoto Todoroki used brute force as their base. In a perfect scenario, I would eliminate both of them as soon as the fight began. Then, I would reduce Yaoyorozu's versatility, eliminating any potential unexpected creations capable of affecting my advantage.
The long-range fighters would fall too. Denki Kaminari, Kyoka Jiro, and Mezo Shoji would harass me from a distance. Bringing them into close-quarters combat was ideal.
Kirishima, Iida, Sato, Ojiro, Tokoyami—they were all physical attackers. I could test their reaction and response times to form a leveled system. I would work better by understanding the capacity of those who surpassed the rest in that area.
People like Mineta, Uraraka, Tsuyu, or even Koda didn't have a specific range, but I shouldn't overlook them either.
When war breaks out, even the weakest private can influence the outcome. I was forbidden from losing due to overconfidence.
Understanding the plan of action... I decided not to follow it.
"This will be fun," I murmured, reaching with each hand to the tips of my feet. A weak current of energy moved without stopping; One For All already possessed such masterful control. -It's mutual learning. I can engage in less risky fights, and they can learn the crushing force of the real world.-
Everyone wins.
-Know your limits, and it will be so. Play rough, and you'll only cause more problems.-
Hikage Shinomori, Fourth User of One For All, predecessor of Daigoro Banjo, and whose Quirk is Danger Sense.
Apart from the Second, I hadn't conversed with other users in this way. It was novel.
-So, no destroying their fighting spirit then? A shame, I was looking forward to it,- I responded playfully, a humor not shared by the source of the words I had heard.
He pointed to my head, wordlessly indicating hundreds of possibilities that were difficult to comprehend.
Was he talking about the Quirk? The strategy?
-You use a lot of your transmigrant's power. You demonstrate strength through destruction and fear with the same coin. You resort to a common, primitive state of the human being.-
I began to frown. Nothing new was being explained. I understood from a distance the methods used in heroic work. I would love not to need so much destructive power, but the world offers enemies of a giant caliber.
-But keep in mind that, sometimes, only fine delicacy is needed to obtain the same result. Guide the body through those misused senses, and you will respond like no one else.-
Following the speech, he disappeared as if he had never been there. It took him less than a minute to offer that long piece of advice, and yet... his words resonated quite a bit.
-Thanks, Mr. Miyagi. You always know how to speak in riddles,- Although I was being sarcastic, I began to work with what I had heard. If this new world had taught me anything, it's that it never leaves things to chance; eventually, everything serves a purpose, for better or for worse.
A lot of destruction, greater delicacy. The Fourth wanted a purer understanding of combat, returning to the state where only the level of mastery defines who should and deserves to win.
But... guiding the body? That was no easy task. It required a physical and mental connection that only years of meditative refinement could achieve.
I didn't want to have gray hairs before seeing the results.
"Alright! They're here!" Nezu's voice cut through my thoughts as he observed the group of students ready for combat. "The future heroes!"
Lifting my gaze, I witnessed the group I would face in the coming moments. Each student wore the standard U.A. physical training uniform. In their walk, I could see a reflection of the society they considered themselves to be; they had a good sense of confidence among themselves.
But a certain part of them seemed anxious, distrustful of their ability to defeat the lone rival present. Perhaps the televised spectacle was too much. Now that they knew the full capabilities of One For All, facing it didn't seem so tempting.
I understood. I felt the same when All For One attacked Kamino; pure fear materialized in every action I took. However, once understanding arrived, I felt the veil fall from my face.
Where was the logic when it came to dying?
When the brain reaches such a crossroads, it inevitably reaches a determined stance. Only then could I release the unbearable fear I carried with me.
"Alright! Explain the rules, Aizawa!" The tired professor walked to stand between both sides. It seemed unfair, eighteen people against a single fighter.
Heh...
"All of you against me..." I clenched both fists. Faint, quick flashes crossed to my forearms, a firm resolution from One For All to fight.
"The rules are simple and concise. I don't want any heavy blows or blows intended to leave long-term injuries. Avoid damaging the gym and... respect each other. Fight on par as equals."
With the rules given, our teacher stepped back to lean against the nearby wall, crossing his arms in boredom and fatigue.
"How do you think this will end, Aizawa?" I heard All Might's light whisper, doubtful as to whether it was correct to place odds on a fixed winner.
"I have a responsibility to be impartial. Encouraging a determined outcome would go against the role of a teacher that I hold." There was no hesitation or doubt; he never looked at either side. The Eraser Hero was sure of the mantra he expressed.
I approved of the thought, although I recognized the gigantic gap between them and the power of One For All. There is simply no way in the world that would offer them a plausible victory. I would have to let my guard down like an idiot to see an event of that magnitude.
"So... can we begin?" I stepped back, one, two, three, until I had given enough distance to the rival group. The echo of my footsteps filled every corner, absorbing the enigmatic silence.
I didn't smile, I didn't close my eyes, nothing. Any expression disappeared into a simple and practical calm. However, I was excited; opportunities for practice rarely left room for combat against large masses.
"...I don't want to..." Mineta muttered, losing relevance even before he opened his mouth.
Pure energy began to surge from within me—controlled, powerful, and refined. It was barely touching a simple five percent, a value I had mastered a long, long time ago.
"This is a manly fight!" Kirishima slammed his fists together, generating friction by using the natural hardening he possessed. He smiled, just as eager to begin the fight.
Dull flashes pulsed from my chest, protecting my arms and legs with greater energy. They were wild, uncontrolled, unlike the previous value.
"Make sure you follow the plan. Only then can we measure Midoriya's full capacity," Yaoyorozu articulated meticulously, beginning the recurrent creation process capable of giving shape to new objects.
A vivid color covered the powerful cluster of rays that now flowed without apparent limit, a faithful representation of the even greater release of pure energy.
"Screw you all! I'll crush him myself!" Bakugo, as anyone would expect, unleashed small but powerful explosions from his palms, wanting to expand their range and release his anger. Beside him, Shoto maintained a silent agreement; he also wanted an individual combat.
Like chains, Blackwhips flowed from my fingers to the cold ground, sharing the pure power that emanated as a natural filter for the body to distribute energy.
"You may..."
Pure anticipation filled Aizawa's unfinished words, generating a natural feeling of anxiety in anyone witnessing the upcoming fight.
-(Full Cowl: 25%)-
"Class 1-A...!"
Simple moments...
"...Begin!"
He didn't consider himself a coward. He would fight as much as necessary, lose what he had to lose, and suffer eternally. But he would never bow his head in cowardice.
At least, that's how he had felt since that promise. The one he made after seeing someone else show the bravery he himself did not possess.
So, when Midoriya gave the green light to a free-for-all, he couldn't have felt more excitement! He would prove how strong he had become after all his hard work!
The idea itself seemed fantastic, but...
He was terrified.
He didn't understand it. The environment was safe, his rival wouldn't kill anyone... everything would work as a purely positive learning experience.
Perhaps... therein lay the problem. Nothing was programmed to surpass the limits that U.A. imparted. He had expected so much excitement... and instead, he received pure brute power.
A flash. His vision was still capturing the same image. The faint green fragment, in the process of disappearing—nothing terrifying, nothing dangerous.
However, behind him, he could still hear the heavy blows, the agonized scream that followed, and... the defeated fall of his comrades.
Who were supposed to work together!
His body refused to move, not out of fear. In fact, the real reason was time.
Yes, time.
Because in less than ten seconds...
The entire mid-range squad had fallen.
Author's Note:
Hey.
So... how's September treating you?
Alright, instead of explaining why the chapter went the way it did, I want to do something different. I want to explain the reason for the long period between updates here.
MHA, its community, the fics they produce, the work itself. It's all boring, it's all repetitive, and honestly, nothing is original. It's no longer enjoyable to read the manga or the fics people write about it. There's a vicious cycle with a pattern you see in crap like DXD.
And... I'm not interested in being part of that world.
Am I the exception to the rule? Do I have a much more original fic than the rest? No to both questions, and that's precisely why I want to give my opinion with firsthand knowledge.
I started this work in February 2022. Tell me something. How many Izuku Midoriya isekai fics did you know of back then? Better yet, how many made it past five chapters?
I'll give you time to think about it...
Ready?
Good.
You can count them on one hand and still have fingers left over.
I was just the first. I beat others who might have wanted to try, and in turn, many used my work as a base. That's perfect. I'm not one to criticize for copying ideas or concepts; after all, everyone is responsible for their own limited imaginative process.
Am I good at this? Of course I am. I'm not going to deny it with false humility.
But what I'm getting at is that I'm distinguished for being one of the first to try it, nothing more and nothing less.
You want to make a Deku with complex, nonsensical powers? Go for it, you're not doing anything new. Want to give him extravagant pairings? Go for it, just see how many Kyoka, Mirko, Nejire, or Kendo fics there are on this platform.
Send him to another world? Isekai him in his own? Crossover with other works?
It all exists. Nothing is surprising anymore. And of course, your work won't be either.
This has led to the obvious: few new works in the same franchise and little interest in them. It's incredible, considering this doesn't happen with stories from other publishers.
To that, you have to add the disgusting and, of course, horny... very horny community of MHA.
Congratulations, bro. You're attracted to characters who are barely reaching the legal age limit. Now go look at them wearing other heroines' costumes on Rule 34.
I detest the non-positive evolution that MHA has been having and will continue to have. I detest that the most recurring question in this fic is: "Who will be the protagonist's love interest?"
Dude, do you need that much romance in your life? Have you ever considered that maybe, just maybe, I'm trying to create something different, something better? Something. Not. So. Fucking. Cliché. About senseless teenage romance?
Do you need to see teenage characters together that badly? Is your love life that bad? Do you have that little self-respect?
Because you'll never have a Kyoka, or a Momo, or much less a Mirko. Not as long as your tastes and desires are limited to the shit I've been describing.
You want romance? Go out and live a fucking real life.
I've dedicated 61 chapters to this work, almost a year of my life, and now a letter to vent my frustrations at anyone who feels offended by this message.
Yes, I want you to feel as offended as you do right now. You deserve it.
No fic, whether of this kind (Isekai) or any other, will get far unless it has a harem in the middle. Because guess what...! That's how this beautiful community works!
Yes, that's the fate that awaits your work. Go and thank the fandom for it.
This doesn't mean I've said everything. I prefer to keep my much more personal opinions to myself. We wouldn't want to make the hormonal teenager who needs to read about Izuku and his unobtainable romantic life feel bad.
Or being betrayed. Yes, sir, it's beautiful to hate fictional characters written by another user whose personalities differ from the originals. Beautiful, isn't it?
I don't expect to apologize for this in the future, because the man who forgave died on the cross. I didn't.
With all that said... What did you think of the chapter?
I don't hate Aizawa, but I paved the way for him to hate the MC. God-tier, right?
The Fourth User is a whole topic, and I find him to be the most philosophical along with the First, so I'm going to exploit that belief and give shape to a character whose lore is very poor in the canon.
And yes, the Eraser Hero's speech incited the protagonist's annoyance. Why? I don't really want to elaborate much, but basically, it's due to the process he's been going through.
As he enters that "soldier" stage, he still has to refine his actions and behaviors, which is logical. No one goes from zero to a hundred without a process behind it.
Like this, there will be similar moments in the future. It's called "Sustained and Logical Development."
Anyway, the next chapter is the full challenge against 1-A. And yes, the last POV was Kirishima's.
See you (soon, I hope).