_________
[MY HERO ACADEMIA]
[Midoriya's P.O.V]
I watched the blast tear through the Zero-Pointer. The shockwave rattled the air, and the hulking robot toppled backward. Its metal frame hit the ground with a thunderous crash, sending dust and debris flying in every direction.
For a moment, I hung in midair, suspended by the force of my leap. One thought crept into my mind:
These conditions... just like the day I tried to save Kacchan...
But it felt different this time, heavier, sharper. The weight of my actions pressed hard against my chest.
Present Mic's amplified voice slammed into my ears:
"ONE MINUTE LEFT!"
Reality hit me like a freight train. I was falling.
My stomach lurched. Wind clawed at my face as the ground rushed up far too fast. Panic spiked through me, every instinct screaming.
Calm down. One For All. If I can jump this high... I should be able to land...
Pain tore through my limbs. My right arm and both legs screamed in agony. Broken. Completely.
All Might's warning echoed in my head:
"You've become a proper vessel... but one made in a hurry."
Ten months of training wasn't enough. I had let the power slip through my control for just one moment, and now it almost killed me. Tears stung my eyes as the ground surged closer.
I can't die here... think... think!
A blur shot up from below.
Before I could react, a solid force collided with my side. The drop stopped. The terrifying freefall ended instantly. A calm, steady voice cut through the rush of wind.
"Are you okay?"
I tilted my head upward, stunned.
Short, light brown hair swayed gently. His pale, icy-blue eyes seemed to glow faintly, a jagged scar trailing down the left side of his face and neck. Yet his expression was calm, composed.
We weren't falling. We were floating.
Beneath his boots, the air rippled like liquid darkness, solid enough to hold him, and me. My mind froze.
W-What kind of Quirk...?
_____
[Third-Person POV]
The other examinees watched, mouths agape, as (Y/N) descended slowly, Midoriya cradled against his chest. The dark platform under his feet flickered, dissolving into wisps of smoke that vanished into the air. He landed softly, barely disturbing the dust beneath his boots, adjusting his hold on the green-haired boy.
Midoriya's eyes blinked toward the girl still trapped under a chunk of rubble, the same one who had saved him from falling at the U.A. entrance. Relief mixed with pain flickered across his face.
"S-she looks okay... n-not even hurt... thank goodness..."
His body trembled, battered and exhausted, but stubbornness burned in his gaze.
"Th-thank you! B-but I... I still need one point... just one...!"
He tried to wriggle free despite his broken limbs.
"Don't be stupid," (Y/N) said bluntly, tightening his hold just enough to stop him. "You can't even stand. Your legs are useless, and your right arm is broken."
Midoriya's desperation was palpable. Every second counted.
"I... I have to... please-"
Present Mic's voice thundered, cutting through his plea:
"TIME'S UP!"
The fragile resolve crumbled. Midoriya's consciousness slipped as his body sagged against (Y/N)'s chest.
Around them, the examinees froze, processing what they had just witnessed. Whispers spread quickly.
"Did you see that? He... jumped up there! Not to mention that the other guy flew up there to save the green-haired dude!"
"Not flew. Floated. And those darkness under him... what kind of Quirk uses and solidifies darkness? He was using a sword out of darkness too!"
"His eyes... they changed color. Multiple stages, maybe?"
"This guy is scary strong. Why is he even taking the exam?"
Iida's jaw clenched, observing silently. It's not about the spectacle... that green-haired person saved someone in danger, without hesitation. Even knowing the risks and the time limit...
Recovery Girl's cane tapped softly as she approached, authority radiating despite her small frame. The students quieted.
"My, my... youngsters these days really don't know when to stop pushing themselves," she murmured, stopping in front of (Y/N) and Midoriya.
"Bring him down here," she instructed. "I can't heal him like that."
(Y/N) lowered Midoriya.
"He couldn't control his Quirk," (Y/N) said simply. "He injured his body."
"I figured," Recovery Girl replied, inspecting Midoriya's swollen limbs. Her fingers glowed faintly as she placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. Warmth spread through his body, bones knitting and muscles repairing.
Midoriya twitched, a shiver of relief passing through him. Though sore and exhausted, he would live.
Recovery Girl pulled back, huffing softly. "There. He'll be fine. Though I swear, All Might's going to give me gray hairs at this rate... if I had any left to spare."
All Might? (Y/N) thought to himself, wondering she had brought up his name in this situation. Regardless, he simply nodded, expression unreadable.
"Thank you for saving him," she said.
"I did what I had to do," he replied.
...
[Kayama Residence, Saitama Prefecture]
A week passed since the exam ended. Some students were buzzing with excitement, waiting for U.A.'s results. (Y/N) spent the entire week training, keeping himself busy with routines and hobbies that kept his mind sharp.
Yet tonight, lying in bed, he couldn't shake one lingering question:
Why did I save that guy?
Was it instinct? A moment of weakness? A buried urge to protect someone? He didn't like it. He came to U.A. for one reason, strength, revenge, nothing noble. So why had he acted like a hero?
He pushed the thought aside and headed downstairs for dinner.
The living room was dark and empty when he reached it.
"She's not home yet... typical. Overworking again," he muttered, sighing as he stepped into the kitchen. He cooked a simple dinner, Japanese Pork Cutlet with gravy, and ate alone. Still, he made a second serving, just in case Midnight returned early.
He didn't expect to be right. The door opened at 10:30 PM.
"You're home late," he said, glancing at her blankly, hands in his pockets.
"Yeah... sorry. Had to stay for overtime at U.A.," Midnight sighed, dropping onto the couch still in her extremely revealing hero costume. Expected, considering she is the R-Rated Hero.
"It's fine," he said, shrugging. "I cooked two cutlets in case you came home around now. Guess my timing was right."
Midnight perked up almost instantly, digging through her purse before handing (Y/N) a sealed envelope. The U.A. crest was stamped across the front.
"It took a while, but here you go," she said with a bright smile.
(Y/N) took the letter, eyes narrowing slightly as he examined it. The weight of it felt heavier than it should.
"Thanks," he muttered. Then, glancing at her outfit, he added, "But you should probably get changed into something more proper now that you're home."
"Nope!" she declared. "Not until I eat that delicious food of yours! Your cooking is the best part of coming home. It's always so yummy!"
Before he could argue, she practically skipped to the fridge, already hunting for the cutlet he left her.
(Y/N) exhaled quietly and headed upstairs.
Back in his room, he sat at his desk in silence, the unopened U.A. letter resting in his hands. He stared at it, unsure whether he wanted to see what was inside... or delay it just a bit longer.
Eventually, he broke the tension and opened the envelope. Inside was a small round device. He set it on his desk, and the moment he did, a bright projection flickered to life.
All Might burst into view, larger than life.
"I AM HERE AS A PROJECTION!"
(Y/N)'s eyes widened slightly. So they use projections for results, he thought. What he didn't expect was for All Might himself to be the one delivering them.
Not that the answer surprised him. He already knew he'd passed, he scored well on the written exam and practically obliterated the practical one.
"YOUNG KAYAMA!" All Might laughed. "YOU HAVE EARNED YOUR SPOT IN U.A. HIGH! I MUST SAY, YOU COMPLETELY CRUSHED THE COMPETITION! YOU ACHIEVED THE HIGHEST SCORE IN THE TODAY'S EXAM!"
"AND YOUNG KAYAMA, YOUR RESULTS WERE OUTSTANDING! YOU EARNED EIGHTY-EIGHT VILLAIN POINTS THROUGH YOUR COMBAT RECORD ALONE, THE HIGHEST OF ANY EXAMINEE! BUT THAT'S NOT ALL! YOU ALSO RECEIVED FOURTEEN RESCUE POINTS FOR SAVING YOUNG MIDORIYA DURING THE EXAM!"
"Midoriya's his last name?" He muttered to himself.
The projection paused dramatically, as if letting the numbers echo in the room.
"IN TOTAL... ONE HUNDRED AND TWO POINTS! CONGRATULATIONS!"
"U.A IS GLAD TO HAVE YOU ABOARD WITH US SOON! LUCKILY FOR YOU, YOU WILL BE PLACED IN CLASS 1-A, WELCOME TO YOUR HERO ACADEMIA!" As the hologram faded, the room went silent.
'Damn... he's loud even in projections,' (Y/N) thought, resisting the urge to cover his ears. Still, the shock faded quickly, replaced by the cold realization settling in his chest.
He did it. He was officially in U.A.
(Y/N) stared at the darkened device, a slow, twisted grin curling up his face. His fingers tightened around the emptied envelope until it crumpled in his palm.
"So this is it..." he murmured. "The first step... to getting revenge."
For the first time in days, the fire in his chest didn't feel dull. It felt alive.
____
(Y/N)'s P.O.V
A few days slipped by, and before I knew it, April had arrived, the official start of the U.A. school year. My first class on the schedule was short homeroom at 8:25. Thankfully, it was only 7:30. Plenty of time.
I got ready without rushing, pulling on my uniform and double-checking everything before heading downstairs. Midnight offered to drive me, and with her car, the trip to U.A. was quick. We talked a little on the way, small, easy conversation that made the silence less heavy.
By the time we reached the gates, it was now 8:15. She pulled up to the entrance and stopped the car.
"Good luck," she said, giving me a small, warm smile. I gave her a nod before stepping out of the car, adjusting the strap of my bag. Midnight pulled away to look for a parking spot as I turned toward the massive school building ahead.
I started down the walkway, taking in my surroundings while keeping an eye out for any signs. After a bit of searching, I finally spotted it, CLASS 1-A, printed boldly across a surprisingly large door.
Just as I reached for the door, a voice called out behind me.
"K-Kayama!"
I turned to my right and immediately recognized him, the green-haired boy I'd saved from falling during the exam. Slowly, he approached me.
"Midoriya, right? All Might mentioned your name when he gave me the results."
"Y-Yeah!" he stammered, shoulders shrinking slightly. He looked like he wasn't used to starting conversations, but he still tried to smile. "B-But you can call me Izuku... if that's okay!"
"Sure. My name is (Y/N) Kayama, but you can call me (Y/N), I guess." I replied calmly.
I slid the door open with Midoriya by my side, and were immediately greeted by a sight straight out of a comedy sketch.
A blond, sharp-eyed brat sat with his feet propped arrogantly on his desk, looking like he owned the place. In front of him, the tall guy with glasses was practically vibrating with outrage, chopping the air like a malfunctioning robot as he scolded him about proper classroom etiquette.
I watched their argument unfold in front of me, expression flat and unreadable, my gaze cold and analytical as I took in the chaos of my new classmates. I left Midoriya to settle in and made my way to my assigned seat.
Sliding into the chair, I let my fingers brush against the scar on my face. The morning light caught my grey eyes, sharpening their cold gleam as a small, twisted grin formed on my lips.
Waiting for the homeroom teacher, I could feel the quiet thrill of what this new beginning meant
_____
[??? - Castle Gray]
Castle Gray stood in a frozen kingdom long abandoned by modern progress, surrounded by scattered villages and a vast forest.
Inside its halls walked a tall man with messy blond hair tied into a long ponytail. His cloudy blue eyes focused toward him.
He wore a dark gray weather‑breaker over a yellow shirt and beige pants, his friendly smile hiding the same cruel nature as his father.
He approached the massive throne room doors, the guards silently nodding him through.
Beyond the throne sat the ruler, his father, a gaunt man with dulling skin, deep eyebags, and an unsettling aura shaped by centuries of isolation.
His purple iris with yellow petal patterns around each pupil, stared down at his son. His coat and formal attire barely masked the deranged sociopath beneath: a man who saw his subjects not as people, but as test material.
None were allowed to leave Castle Gray; punishment for even minor defiance was brutal.
The ruler cultivated his people like a garden, forcing them into lethal trials so that only one "flower" might survive. Even his own family was not spared his experiments.
The son knelt before him. "Father, he has contacted us," he said calmly.
The ruler stared down coldly. "Him? So that wretch survived his loss to All Might... What does he want?"
"That man seeks our support for his newly formed organization, the League of Villains," the son replied, his polite tone never wavering despite the sick delight he felt discussing such schemes.
"Shall I head there, father?"
"Yes. Observe them. Report everything," the ruler ordered, unmoved. Disobedience meant death; the son understood this without needing to say it.
The son hesitated only to indulge his curiosity. "And the boy you found in Japan years ago... Should we find him and conduct the experiments?"
A twisted grin spread across the ruler's face, mirroring his son's hidden cruelty.
"He's nothing more than a young sprout for now. Once he fully blossoms, we'll claim him. His potential is ideal for the next phase of Project Yggdrasil. I've already sown the seed, now all that's left is for it to grow."
The son merely smiled, friendly on the surface, malicious beneath, already imagining the suffering to come.