"Ah… so that's why you asked me to bring people along." All Might said awkwardly.
At first, he had assumed Shina Etsuha wanted witnesses to demonstrate his medical abilities—so he specifically brought Aizawa Shouta, whose chronic dry eye condition made him an ideal test case. But he hadn't expected things to turn out like this.
Aizawa Shouta was still breathing heavily. After taking a sip of the vegetable drink Etsuha had prepared, he exhaled slowly and said, "Shina's right. You're the Symbol of Peace—you can't afford to take risks when it comes to your safety. Let's postpone your treatment for today."
"That makes sense," Etsuha agreed with a nod. "In that case, Mr. Aizawa, Mr. All Might, you can head back. I still have manga work to finish—"
"But!" Aizawa Shouta interrupted him, a faintly triumphant smile appearing on his face. "The special program for recommended students is about to begin. I came here not only to see your medical quirk, but also to inform you of that."
He paused, then added,
"So instead of us leaving alone, Shina—you'll be coming with us."
"It's Aizawa!" All Might slapped his forehead, suddenly realizing the plan. No wonder Aizawa had agreed so quickly—he'd been thinking ahead the whole time.
If it wasn't safe to perform the treatment outside… then why not return to U.A. High School, where security was absolute?
"But if I remember correctly, there are still three days before the recommended student program begins," Etsuha said, frowning slightly.
"As a student, the sooner you arrive at U.A., the better," Aizawa replied, clearly pleased with himself.
"Oh, I see." Etsuha nodded casually. "I don't mind."
Then, as if it were an afterthought, he added,
"Although, during this period, my treatment fees may be doubled."
Aizawa Shouta: "…"
All Might: "…"
This black-hearted doctor was even more terrifying than Mt. Lady.
Aizawa felt a lump in his throat but couldn't argue. After all, both he and All Might were now patients.
And just like that, the decision was made.
The so-called "recommended student program" was essentially a preparatory course—an early introduction to U.A.'s curriculum for those who had already secured admission through recommendations.
It wasn't mandatory, but hardly anyone would turn it down.
After quickly packing his belongings, Etsuha followed Aizawa Shouta and All Might to U.A.
Fortunately, the journey was uneventful. By the time they arrived, it was already afternoon.
To Etsuha's slight disappointment, only one of the four recommended students had arrived so far. The others had yet to come.
"It feels like I've been tricked… maybe I should increase the consultation fee again," Etsuha muttered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Aizawa and All Might's expressions turned pale.
"They've already been notified!" Aizawa said quickly. "You'll meet them in a few days. And don't worry—this is the top hero academy in the country. It's far more interesting than you imagine."
"Alright, I'll take your word for it," Etsuha replied with a nod.
Aizawa finally let out a breath of relief, though he couldn't shake a strange feeling.
U.A. was supposed to be a dream school—people fought tooth and nail just for a chance to get in.
And yet, in front of Etsuha… it almost felt like the academy was trying to recruit him.
But there was no helping it.
A talent like his was simply too extraordinary. U.A. had to treat him with the utmost importance. If someone like Etsuha were ever drawn into villain forces, the consequences for humanity would be unimaginable.
When they arrived at the infirmary, Etsuha noticed two unexpected figures waiting inside.
A mouse… and an elderly woman.
"Let me introduce them," Aizawa said. "This is Principal Nezu of U.A., and this is the renowned Recovery Girl."
"Nice to meet you, Shina," Principal Nezu said, extending a small paw toward him. Despite his appearance, there was nothing comical about his presence.
Etsuha nodded politely in return.
Recovery Girl gave him a brief nod before getting straight to the point.
"Student Shina, be honest—how confident are you in treating All Might?" she asked seriously. "Let me make one thing clear: if you're not absolutely certain, we will not allow this treatment to proceed."
The atmosphere instantly grew tense.
Etsuha understood immediately.
They didn't trust him.
"Yes," Principal Nezu added calmly. "If your confidence is anything less than absolute certainty, we cannot approve this."
"Principal!" All Might spoke urgently. "This has nothing to do with Shina—I was the one who sought him out—"
"And what if it fails?" Nezu cut him off, turning to look at him directly. "Do you intend to place the fate of the Symbol of Peace in the hands of a young man?"
His tone remained calm, but the weight of his words was undeniable.
"If this genetic modification fails, the consequences won't affect just you—it will impact society as a whole. Humanity itself. You understand your role. Don't let desperation cloud your judgment."
"…!"
All Might fell silent.
Nezu was right.
If the Symbol of Peace were to fall, society itself could collapse.
Faced with that reality, even All Might hesitated.
At that moment, Etsuha—who had been silent until now—finally spoke.
"One hundred percent."
Recovery Girl blinked in surprise. "What did you say?"
"The success rate," Etsuha repeated calmly, "is one hundred percent."