The next few days passed… normally.
Which, considering everything that had happened, felt strange.
Classes at U.A. weren't immediately heroic. No explosions, no villains crashing through walls. Just classrooms, schedules, teachers rotating in and out like any other high school—except every student in the room could bend reality in their own way.
Math was math. History was history. Japanese literature was still painfully dense.
Ren sat through it all quietly, taking notes, answering when called on, blending in without trying to. It was easy enough. School, at its core, hadn't changed just because the building had.
The atmosphere shifted the moment the announcement came.
"Next period is Basic Hero activities ."
That was all it took.
The classroom buzzed instantly. Chairs scraped. Voices rose. Bakugo cracked his knuckles like he was about to start a fight. Midoriya stiffened, notebook already halfway out of his bag. Uraraka leaned forward, eyes bright.
Ren felt it too—not excitement exactly, but anticipation. This was the first step into what actually mattered here.
The door opened.
"I am here!"
The reaction was immediate.
Half the class erupted into cheers. A few students shouted his name outright. Even those trying to act calm couldn't quite hide the tension in their shoulders.
All Might stood there in his hero form, hands on his hips, cape flowing dramatically behind him.
"We'll be starting Basic Combat Training today!" he announced. "But first—"
He raised a finger.
"You'll need your hero costumes."
That landed harder than his entrance.
Ren didn't react outwardly, but internally, he paused.
So it was today.
The locker rooms were chaos.
Students rushed to find their assigned lockers, voices overlapping as costume cases slid open. Some designs were flashy. Others practical. A few were… questionable.
Ren moved calmly, opening his case without rush.
Inside was his costume.
Simple. Clean. Purpose-built.
He stepped into it piece by piece.
The base layer was a dark graphite bodysuit, matte rather than glossy, made of a flexible but reinforced material that hugged close without restricting movement. The joints—knees, elbows, shoulders—were subtly reinforced, not bulky but clearly designed to take impact.
The inner lining felt cool at first, then adjusted, regulating temperature almost immediately.
Good.
The gloves came next.
They looked unassuming—black, slim-profile—but along the thumb and middle finger of each glove were thin metallic plates, almost invisible unless you were looking for them.
Snap-ignition.
Minimal effort. Minimal output. Reliable.
No flames. No heat bloom. Just a spark when needed.
The utility belt sat snug at his waist. Two small cylindrical canisters were mounted at the sides, each heavily insulated.
Liquid nitrogen.
Not much. Just enough to matter.
The half-mask covered his mouth and nose, leaving the rest of his face visible. The goggles slid into place easily, lenses clear but alive with faint internal readouts—range estimation, thermal contrast, energy feedback that only he could see.
Hero-coded. Professional.
The boots finished it.
Cryo-grip soles, reinforced with adjustable vents. When activated, they could create suction against surfaces, letting him stick to walls or ceilings briefly. In emergencies, they could release a controlled burst of nitrogen for traction—or a sudden shift in momentum.
Nothing flashy.
Everything intentional.
Ren looked at his reflection once.
Then turned away.
The class assembled at Ground Gamma.
All Might stood at the center, hands clasped behind his back, smiling broadly as he looked over them.
"Splendid costumes!" he said. "Each one reflects your individuality and combat style."
Bakugo scoffed loudly.
Midoriya stared at his gloves like they might explode on their own.
Ren stood comfortably, posture relaxed.
"All right!" All Might continued. "Combat training is not just about power. It's about judgment, teamwork, and knowing when—and how—to act."
He gestured to the structures around them.
"Today's exercise will be a mock battle scenario. Heroes versus villains."
The class stiffened.
"You'll be working in pairs," All Might said. "Victory conditions vary. Adaptability is key!"
Ren listened carefully, eyes scanning the terrain.
Buildings. Cover. Verticality.
Good.
He rolled his shoulders once, feeling the suit respond naturally.
This wasn't secret practice anymore.
This was allowed.
Supervised.
And for the first time since arriving at U.A., Ren felt something loosen in his chest.
Not excitement.
Relief.