"The wound lies deep, like the ocean floor. The sin is red, growing paler in death."
_______
[U.A HIGH]
"He also broke seven hundred meters?!" Kaminari shouted, nearly dropping his jaw. "What kind of monster is this class?!"
"Yes!" Uraraka pumped her fists, bouncing on her toes. "That's amazing! That's finally a real hero-like record!"
Iida adjusted his glasses, the lenses flashing as his mind raced. "His finger is swollen. Considering the entrance exam as well... his Quirk truly defies conventional logic. To think he could achieve that level of output with such limited control, remarkable."
Aoyama tilted his head, hand resting dramatically over his chest. "Hmm... it lacks a certain je ne sais quoi. Power alone does not always equal style, you know."
The murmurs around them grew louder, surprise, disbelief, and curiosity mixing together as more eyes turned toward Midoriya, especially (Y/N). Bakugo was the one who reacted the most.
His eyes were wide, jaw hanging open just a fraction as his mind struggled to catch up with what he'd just seen.
'Wh–what the hell was that power?! Quirks manifest by the age of four... everyone knows that.'
'This shouldn't even be possible!'
His hands trembled, fingers curling into fists as his thoughts spiraled.
'But... if that's true... then...'
A memory surged up uninvited.
"Someone once told me I could become a hero. That it was because of my own strength... my own effort..."
Bakugo's teeth ground together. Small explosions crackled from his right palm, sharp pops of irritation leaking through his control.
"That bastard—!"
Before anyone could react, Bakugo lunged forward, boots digging into the dirt as he charged straight toward Midoriya.
From the sidelines, (Y/N)'s gaze snapped to him, one eyebrow lifting slightly.
"Hey!" Bakugo roared. "Tell me what's going on, Deku, you bastard!"
He barely made it halfway before a blur shot past him.
The next instant, rough fabric snapped tight around his torso and arms, yanking him off balance and slamming him to a halt mid-stride.
"What the—?!" Bakugo snarled, struggling violently. "These damn rags—why won't they break?!"
He tried to break free, but to no avail. Aizawa's voice cut through the tension, flat and irritated.
"They're capture weapons. Carbon fiber cloth woven with metal wire made from a special alloy."
(Y/N) let out a quiet hum, eyes tracing the scarf with interest. 'Carbon fiber and alloy wire... practical. Interesting choice.'
Several students flinched at the sight of Bakugo restrained so effortlessly, the mood shifting from excitement to unease. Aizawa didn't even look impressed. His eyes were red, glowing faintly as he sighed.
"Seriously... don't make me use my Quirk over and over," he said. "I've got dry eyes."
'It's such a waste, since his Quirk is so amazing!' The others thought at the same time, including Midoriya.
Eventually, Bakugo was freed by Aizawa as Midoriya scaredly walked over to Uraraka and the rest of the students. Even so, Bakugo couldn't say anything anymore and he just stopped off as (Y/N) eyed Izuku, intrigued about what Bakugo meant.
'I was right. Those two really have some history together.' He thought to himself, inserting his hands inside his pockets.
_________
(Y/N)'s P.O.V
After that, we pushed through the rest of the fitness tests without much incident. Just like before, my results stayed consistently high across the test, nothing spectacularly off the charts, but solid enough to keep me near the top every time.
Well... except for the seated toe-touch. That one was annoying.
Still stiff, I noted quietly, clicking my tongue in my head. Guess flexibility isn't something I can magically fix somehow.
Still, it wasn't discouraging. If anything, it just reminded me that there was always room to grow. After all, once I become more stronger with U.A High. Hunting down that villain will prove to be useful.
Eventually, Aizawa called us all back together.
"Alright. I'll give you the results," he said, already sounding bored. "The total score is just the sum of each test. Explaining it verbally would be a waste of time, so I'll show you everything at once."
He tapped his device.
A translucent hologram flickered to life in front of us, rows of names and numbers hovering in the air. A wave of murmurs rippled through the class as everyone searched for their own ranking.
My eyes moved immediately.
...First place. I didn't feel anything in particular about it. What did catch my attention was the very bottom of the list. Midoriya Izuku, last place.
I glanced over instinctively.
He was frozen, shoulders stiff, staring at the display like it might vanish if he blinked. His hands were clenched at his sides, knuckles pale, and his eyes trembled as they slowly lifted toward Aizawa.
Yeah... I thought so, I mused. That hit hard.
Then Aizawa spoke again, casually dropping a bomb.
"By the way," he said, tone flat, "I was lying about the expulsion."
For a split second, the field was silent.
Then—
"HUH?!"
"WHAT?!"
"YOU WERE LYING?!"
The reactions exploded all at once. Panic flipped instantly into disbelief, some students shouting, others sagging in visible relief. A few, myself included, didn't react much at all.
Called it, I thought calmly.
Aizawa continued, unfazed by the chaos. "It was a rational decision. Threatening expulsion is an effective way to draw out the upper limits of your Quirks."
Several students looked like they were seconds away from collapsing.
"What kind of logic is that?!" someone yelled.
Before Mr. Aizawa could even respond, a girl spoke up, confused.
"Obviously that was a lie," she said. "If you'd just thought about it for a second, it didn't make any sense."
She wasn't wrong. I let my gaze drift back to the rankings, then to Midoriya. The relief hadn't reached him yet, his expression was still tight, like he wasn't sure whether to believe it or not.
Fear is a powerful motivator, I reflected. But it cuts both ways.
"Well, that was a little nerve-wracking , huh?" I heard someone speak behind me.
"I'll take the challenge anytime!'
Aizawa scratched his neck lazily. "Anyway. That's all for today. There are handouts with the curriculum and such in the classroom, so when you get back, look over them."
I watched as Aizawa walked away before stopping in front of Midoriya, handing him a slip to the nurse.
"Have the old lady fix you in the nurse's office. Tomorrow will be packed with even more rigorous tests. Prepare yourself."
I turned away from the rest rand started back toward the school building, slipping my hands into my pockets as if the entire ordeal had been nothing more than routine. Behind me, I could feel it again, the weight of curious stares boring into my back.
The tension from earlier still lingered in the air, but I moved through it without slowing, my footsteps steady and unhurried.
Midoriya was still standing near the field, surrounded by noise and emotion, while the pomeranian guy simmered somewhere behind me. Aizawa had already lost interest, walking off like he hadn't just shaken the entire class to its core.
Class 1-A... I thought. Interesting bunch.
I exhaled softly, gaze fixed ahead as the building drew closer.
Guess it's time to go home.
. . .
Just like the day before, Nemuri drove me to school. Thanks to her, again, I managed to arrive early, the city still quiet enough to breathe in. I stepped out of the car as she tried to find a parking spot, and made my way down the walkway, letting my eyes wander over the campus as students slowly filtered in.
Somewhere along the path, I passed a familiar flash of orange hair.
I glanced over my shoulder, pausing for half a second. 'Was that...?'
No. Probably not. I dismissed the thought and kept walking.
By the time I entered Class 1-A, the room was still settling. I slipped into my assigned seat without ceremony, just like yesterday. No one said anything. A few people looked. I ignored them.
Classes began soon after, and honestly, it was exactly what you'd expect from a normal high school. The U.A. Hero Course curriculum still had its share of ordinary subjects. English in the morning. Math. Basic academics. It's nothing flashy.
"Which of these English sentences is grammatically incorrect?"
Our English teacher was Present Mic, of course, loud, energetic, and entirely incapable of speaking at a reasonable volume. Still, despite the theatrics, the class itself wasn't much different from any other school. Notes, questions, the occasional groan from the back of the room.
But the mood shifted the moment afternoon rolled around. Hero Basic Training.
The atmosphere in the classroom changed immediately. Excitement buzzed through the air, barely contained. This was the class everyone had been waiting for.
Then...
"I... am..."
The voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked toward the door just as it continued.
"...coming through the door like a normal person."
All Might stepped inside. The room exploded.
Gasps, murmurs, barely restrained cheers, everyone stared in awe as the Symbol of Peace himself stood before us, clad in his old-school hero costume straight out of the Silver Age. Even I had to admit, the presence was overwhelming.
So he's teaching this class... I noted quietly.
All Might marched toward the desk with exaggerated enthusiasm, lifting his knees high and swinging his arms like a man possessed, striking pose after pose. The class ate it up.
"I will be teaching Hero Basic Training!" he declared proudly. "A subject where you train in various ways to learn the fundamentals of being a hero!"
He struck another dramatic stance, muscles flexing as he showed a card with a flourish. that says 'BATTLE CARD!'
"Combat training!" He exclaimed
The excitement in the room spiked instantly. I leaned back slightly in my seat, eyes narrowing just a fraction.
Battle training, huh...
I let out a quiet breath, a faint, almost imperceptible smirk tugging at my lips. Maybe attending U.A. High wasn't such a waste after all.
"And to go with that... are these!"
All Might struck yet another over-the-top pose, spinning on his heel and pointing dramatically toward the wall. With a mechanical hum, concealed panels slid open, revealing rows upon rows of sleek display shelves.
On them sat briefcases that contained their hero costumes.
For a moment, the entire class froze, then it erupted.
Chairs scraping against the floor as students leaned forward, eyes sparkling. Some of them looked like they were about to vibrate out of their seats.
"...Costumes made according to your Quirk registrations," All Might continued proudly, "and the requests you submitted before school began!"
The room roared with excitement. I, on the other hand, stayed seated.
A costume... I thought, gaze flicking briefly toward the displays. At the end of the day, it's just equipment. Useful, sure, but nothing worth getting worked up over. Power itself don't come from fabric or flashy designs. It comes from training, hellish training
Still... I couldn't deny the timing. This place really does intend to push us forward, I admitted silently. That is good.
"After you change, gather in Ground Beta." All Might said.
"Yes, sir!"
. . .
I raised an eyebrow as we moved through the dim tunnel, my gaze drifting down to Midoriya's costume. The bright colors, the bulky gloves, the obvious symbolism... it all screamed one thing.
"Your costume..." I said calmly, studying him. "Do you idolize All Might that much, Midoriya?"
He stiffened for a second, then glanced back at me. His eyes flicked over my own outfit, a long, dark trench coat worn over a black shirt, paired with black slacks and polished black combat shoes. Hardly flashy.
"I could say the same to you, Kayama," he replied, scratching the back of his head beneath the mask. "Yours looks more like... regular clothes, doesn't it?"
I considered that for a moment.
"...That's a fair point," I admitted.
We stepped out of the tunnel and rejoined the others, the vast indoor training facility opening up before us. Almost immediately, Uraraka hurried over to Midoriya, striking up an animated conversation. He turned red in record time, fumbling over his words while she smiled brightly.
I looked away, then paused.
Her costume caught my attention. A skintight bodysuit... That was... an interesting design choice. Practical, maybe, but still odd.
"The Hero Course really is the best..." a small voice muttered beside me.
I glanced down just long enough to register Mineta, then ignored him entirely and moved into line with the rest of the class, Midoriya falling in just behind me.
I found myself standing between the armored student and Midoriya. There was only a few centimeters(four cm) difference between my height with the armored student.
All Might clapped his hands together, booming voice echoing throughout the place. "Now, it's time for combat training!"
"Sir!"
The student beside me snapped his arm up with military precision. Midoriya and I both turned at the same time. Ah, so it was Iida.
"This facility resembles the Battle Center from the entrance exam," he said quickly. "Will we be conducting urban combat once again?"
"No!" All Might declared, holding up two fingers dramatically. "We're moving two steps ahead! Most villain fights happen outdoors, but statistically speaking, the most heinous villains appear indoors!"
"Imprisonment. House arrest. Backroom deals—"
My eyes twitched slightly at the phrasing.
"In a society overflowing with heroes," All Might continued, clearing his throat, "the truly intelligent villains hide in the shadows!"
He pointed toward us.
"For this lesson, you'll be divided into heroes and villains, two-on-two indoor combat!"
"Without prior training?" Tsuyu asked calmly.
"This is the training!" All Might replied enthusiastically. "To understand the basics, you must face a real battle! However, this time, there are no robots to mindlessly defeat!"
More hands went up. Questions flew. Bakugo barked something aggressive. Uraraka raised a concern. Iida followed up immediately.
All Might's smile twitched. ...Yeah, I thought dryly. He's terrible at handling questions.
Even I could tell he was getting overwhelmed. Still, despite the chaos, my focus sharpened. Villains and heroes. Two-on-two. Indoors. How interesting. I wonder who will be partnered with me.
"I'll answer all of your questions!" All Might said, snapping me out of my thought as he pulled out a script from his pocket.
I see, a script.
"Now listen up!" All Might announced, clapping his hands together to draw everyone's attention. "Here's the scenario: the villains have hidden a nuclear weapon somewhere inside their hideout."
A nuclear weapon... I thought dryly. That escalated fast.
"The heroes' objective," he continued, pacing as he spoke, "is to either capture the villains or successfully retrieve the weapon within the allotted time!"
He turned sharply, pointing to the other side.
"The villains, on the other hand, must defend the weapon until time runs out—or defeat the heroes!"
I resisted the urge to comment. This feels strangely... American.
All Might then hoisted up a large box filled with cards, each bearing our names. It didn't take much to see what he was about to do. He was trying to replicate real-world hero work, pros often collaborated with people they'd never worked with before, thrown together by circumstance rather than choice.
"They're being decided so randomly?" Iida asked, clearly confused.
Midoriya spoke up beside me, thoughtful as always. "Professional heroes often have to form temporary teams with members from other agencies... so maybe that's the point?"
I nodded, glancing at Iida. "Midoriya's right. it is part of the job of being a hero."
Midoriya looked up at me, surprised for a moment before offering a small, relieved smile and nodding back.
"I see!" Iida exclaimed, straightening instantly. "The discernment to look ahead... please forgive my rudeness earlier!" He bowed deeply, then snapped back to attention.
"It's fine," I said calmly. "Let's just get this over with."
"All right!" All Might shouted, pumping his fist into the air. "Let's begin!"
____
Third Person's P.O.V
After that, the entire class received a sheet of paper, each one listing the teams for combat training. A low murmur spread through Class 1-A as everyone scanned their assignments.
Team A: Izuku Midoriya & Ochaco Uraraka
Team B: Shoto Todoroki & Shoji Mezou
Team C: Momo Yaoyorozu & Minoru Mineta
Team D: Katsuki Bakugo & Tenya Iida
Team E: Mina Ashido & Yuga Aoyama
Team F: Fumikage Tokoyami & Tsuyu Asui
Team G: Denki Kaminari & Kyoka Jiro
Team H: (Y/N) Kayama & Koji Koda
Team I: Toru Hagakure & Mashirao Ojiro
Team J: Rikido Sato & Eijiro Kirishima & Hanta Sero
The moment Uraraka saw her paper, her face lit up.
"Wow! It must be fate!" she said brightly, bouncing on her heels as she leaned closer to Midoriya. "I'm counting on you!"
Midoriya turned red instantly, shoulders tensing as steam practically rose from his ears. (Y/N) caught the interaction out of the corner of his eye, noting Midoriya's flustered reaction before calmly shifting his attention back to All Might.
"All right!" All Might boomed, shaking a box filled with colored balls. He drew two, holding them up dramatically. "The first teams to fight will be—"
He revealed the letters.
"Team A and Team D!"
A ripple of surprise moved through the class, especially the two team that were assigned against each other.
"Team A will be the heroes," All Might continued, "and Team D will be the villains! Everyone else, head to the monitor room!"
"YES, SIR!" the class responded in unison.
(Y/N) paused briefly, his gaze flicking between Midoriya and Bakugo.
Bakugo was already glaring, teeth clenched, his fury unmistakable. Midoriya hesitated, then forced himself to meet Bakugo's eyes. The tension between them was thick enough to cut.
'So they're being thrown against each other right away,' (Y/N) thought, intrigued. 'This might finally explain whatever history those two share.
"They must be childhood friends," he muttered under his breath, his thoughts briefly drifting to a certain orange-haired girl before he shook it off and headed toward the monitor room, hands tucked neatly into the pockets of his trench coat.
"Villain team, head inside first and set up!" All Might called out. "In five minutes, the hero team will breach the building and the battle will begin!"
"Yes, sir!" Midoriya answered, voice firm despite the tension in his chest, as he moved toward the entrance alongside Iida and Bakugo.
All Might leaned down slightly, addressing them seriously. "Young Iida, Young Bakugo, learn to think from the villains' perspective. This is very close to a real battle."
He straightened, smiling fiercely. "Go all out. Don't be afraid to get hurt."
"Yes, sir!" Iida replied immediately, standing tall.
Bakugo, meanwhile, barely seemed to hear him. His attention was locked onto Midoriya, fingers flexing as restrained anger simmered beneath his skin.
. . .
Iida stood near the mock nuclear weapon after finishing their setup, adjusting his glasses as he examined it.
"Even if this is only training, it troubles me to take on the role of a villain," he said stiffly. "So our objective is to protect this device, correct?"
He rapped his knuckles against the casing. It made a dull, hollow sound.
"...Papier-mâché," he concluded.
"Hey."
Bakugo's sharp voice cut in from behind him. Iida turned around at once.
"Deku has a Quirk now, right?" Bakugo asked, his back still turned, fists clenched at his sides. "You saw it during the test. That ridiculous strength... though it looks like it comes with a ton of risk."
Iida hesitated, studying him. "Still," he said carefully, "you seem particularly hostile toward Midoriya."
Bakugo didn't respond. His jaw tightened, muscles twitching as his thoughts spiraled.
'Did he trick me?' Bakugo snarled internally. 'That damn... nerd.' His fingers crackled faintly as he ground his teeth together.
Elsewhere, Midoriya and Uraraka were preparing to breach the building, crouched over the floor plan while committing every detail to memory.
"There's so much to remember," Uraraka said, squinting at the layout. "But wow... All Might really is just like he is on TV."
She smiled lightly, then added, "Unlike Mr. Aizawa, it doesn't seem like there's any punishment here, so we can relax and—"
She stopped herself, glancing at Midoriya's stiff posture.
"...You're not relaxed at all, are you?"
Midoriya flinched, fingers curling nervously. His eyes drifted toward the building ahead, his thoughts clearly elsewhere.
"Well... it's because we're up against Kacchan," he admitted quietly. "And Iida's with him too. I feel like I have to stay on guard."
Uraraka's expression softened. "I see... Bakugo's the one who picks on you, right?"
Midoriya nodded, memories flashing through his mind, Bakugo standing tall, declaring he'd surpass All Might and become the number one hero.
"He's amazing," Midoriya said honestly. "His confidence, his drive, his strength... his Quirk. Everything about him feels so far ahead of me."
He straightened, pushing himself off the railing. His hands trembled slightly as he reached up and pulled his mask back on.
"But that's exactly why... right now," he said, eyes burning with resolve, "I don't want to lose to him."
Uraraka blinked, then smiled wide. "A fated battle between men, huh?"
Midoriya sputtered instantly. "W-Wait—! I mean—! S-Sorry, this isn't really your problem!"
"It is!"Uraraka said firmly, pumping her fist. "We're a team, aren't we? Let's do our best!"
Midoriya relaxed, a small but genuine smile forming as he nodded. "Yeah... let's—"
The intercom crackled to life.
"Now, let us begin the indoor person-to-person combat training!" All Might's booming voice echoed through the facility. "Team A versus Team D!"
In the monitor room, five camera feeds lit up across the large screen.
"Everyone watching," All Might said, turning slightly to address the remaining students, "don't just spectate, learn from this experience."
Behind his confident tone, his thoughts were sharp. 'Young Midoriya... here, you are simply one student among many. I will judge you strictly, no favoritism.'
(Y/N) stood silently near the back, eyes fixed on the screens as his focus narrowed.
On-screen, Midoriya climbed carefully through an open window, Uraraka following close behind. They landed without a sound inside the building.
"We're in," Uraraka whispered.
Midoriya scanned their surroundings, taking in the dim corridors and countless blind spots before giving a careful nod.
"There are a lot of places someone could be hiding," he murmured. "Let's move slowly... and stay alert."
They moved deeper into the building, footsteps light as they advanced down the dim corridor, carefully searching for any sign of the mock nuclear device. Midoriya raised a hand, signaling for Uraraka to stop as he peeked around the corner first, eyes scanning every shadow and angle. After a brief pause, he nodded, and they proceeded.
Midoriya's senses were razor-sharp, every creak of the structure and shift in air setting his nerves on edge. A step behind him, Uraraka slowed for a moment, glancing over her shoulder before quickly catching back up.
'I still can't control One For All, Midoriya thought, his jaw tightening. I can't use it on anyone... If I hit someone with that power, I could kill them.'
His mind flashed back to the entrance exam, the Zero Pointer's massive head shattering beneath his blow.
'So we'll do this with what I have now.... and Uraraka's Zero Gravity. I have to think. Use my head. Indoor combat... narrow spaces... blind spots... remember the notes...'
His thoughts were cut off instantly.
Bakugo dropped into view in a sudden blur of motion, eyes locking onto them as he launched himself forward without hesitation.
"—!"
Midoriya reacted on instinct, throwing himself aside just as Bakugo detonated the spot where he'd been standing.
The explosion tore through the corridor, dust and debris filling the air as the shockwave slammed both Midoriya and Uraraka to the ground. Midoriya twisted mid-fall, shielding Uraraka with his body as they hit the floor.
He pushed himself up immediately. "Uraraka, are you okay?!"
"Y-Yeah..." she replied, coughing slightly. Then her eyes widened. "Deku?!"
"It's just a scratch," he said, though part of his mask was torn away, the edge singed from the blast.
The smoke cleared as Bakugo swiped the dust aside, standing over them.
"Come on, Deku," he sneered. "Don't dodge."
"I figured you'd come for me first," Midoriya shot back, gritting his teeth as he rose to his feet.
In the monitoring room, murmurs broke out.
"A surprise attack right from the start?" someone said.
Kirishima slammed his fists together. "Bakugo! That's cheating! A surprise attack isn't manly at all!"
(Y/N) glanced at him, unimpressed. 'Manly? That's combat. Bakugo did exactly what he should've. A surprise attack is the fastest way to put an opponent down.'
All Might folded his arms, eyes fixed on the screen. "A surprise attack is a valid strategy. They're in the middle of a real battle."
"Midori dodged it!" Mina cheered.
"There goes Bakugo!" Kaminari added.
On-screen, Bakugo surged forward again, palms erupting with rapid, controlled blasts.
"I won't hit hard enough to end the match," he snarled, "but I'm getting in close!"
The moment Bakugo prepared another explosion, Midoriya moved. He grabbed Bakugo's arm, twisting his body and spinning with the motion. Bakugo's eyes widened in shock as his balance was stolen.
'A shoulder throw?' (Y/N)'s eyes widened slightly, his interest sharpening.
'What the hell?!' Bakugo thought, instinctively thrusting his left hand forward. Small explosions burst from his palm as he tried to counter.
'Did he read my move?!'
Midoriya yelled, using Bakugo's momentum to hurl him cleanly over his shoulder. Bakugo slammed into the ground.
The monitoring room erupted in shock.
'I analyzed every hero I admired, Midoriya thought. 'I wrote it all down. In the notebook you blew up and threw away.'
Bakugo pushed himself upright, teeth clenched as he glared at Midoriya. Midoriya stood firm, settling into a stance despite the tremor in his limbs. It was clear—he was fighting more than just Bakugo. He was fighting years of fear.
He lifted his head, a single bead of sweat sliding down his cheek.
"My 'Deku'..." he said firmly, voice shaking but strong, "isn't always going to mean 'useless!'"
"Kacchan!" Midoriya shouted, eyes blazing. "My 'Deku' means you can do it!"
Uraraka gasped, the memory hitting her instantly.
"But Deku sounds like the Japanese word for "You can do it," so I kind of like it."
Bakugo rose to his feet, small explosions crackling in his palms. His mind flashed back to the past, to Midoriya stepping in to protect a kid from him, even while trembling.
"Deku..." Bakugo growled, eyes burning. "Even when you're scared... that's what I hate about you!"