Disclaimer: The intellectual property rights to Hellsing belong to Kouta Hirano, as does the My Hero Academia series, with Kohei Horikoshi.

Author's Notes: I really appreciate all your feedback. Rest assured I'll give it my utmost to write an entertaining story. While I'm in no rush to unleash Alucard's true personality as the Prince of Darkness, I will be skimming over certain bits of MHA's canon to get there quicker. While those sections might help develop MHA's characters, they'll be less helpful here. If you really love those parts and want to see how Alucard would affect them, I'd be glad to add them in the form of short scenes after the fact. In response to kylemerlo77, a Nomu/Vampire hybrid was in mind but I wasn't sure how different it would be from a normal Nomu. Both possess superspeed, super strength, etc. So little would change if they were given vampiric powers. I'm trying to let Alucard start killing people, though I plan to do this in a way that sticks with the tone. For now, I'll stick with disregarding Schrodinger's powers. It's too early to, as G0dofParadox3s suggested, split Schrodinger from Alucard and add him to the main cast. Anyway, enjoy yourselves!

0.0

"Don't forget to say hello to Ander-san, dear."

"Alright! See you later, Okaa-san!" His mother's little pun put a grin on his face. Shutting the apartment door, Izuku Midoriya excitedly dashed down the corridor and flew down the stairwell. He wasn't in a rush like the week prior. Since those unfortunate occurrences, his collection of All Might paraphernalia had remained untouched and his backpack unmoved. Nothing unnatural had interrupted his morning routine since then, which should have made it more suspicious. But he wasn't worried about that, nor was he worried about arriving late to class.

He had plenty of time to make his morning commute. This was normally the case, since the enthusiastic Izuku adored U.A. and always left early. But now he had another reason to leave early. The newest arrival to their apartment complex, Alexander Anderson. After the events of that day, aptly dubbed the "USJ Incident" by the media, Izuku had grown much closer to Class 1-A's rising star. Alexander Anderson's leap in notability was nothing if not miraculous. The European transfer student had attended U.A for less than a week and had garnered a lot of attention from his classmates. And with the two of them living in the same building, it made talking to the wunderkind so much easier. Walking to school with Alex-san had become a part of his morning routine.

The tall, dark-haired boy felt like the older brother Izuku had always wished for. His crimson eyes were a little frightening, but besides that, his charming smile and kindheartedness always reassured the timid Izuku that there was nothing to be afraid of. Which was why he wanted to be near him, and hopefully follow up on their promise to train together. All Might would teach him how to use One For All, but Izuku felt he could learn more social skills from the amicable Alexander Anderson. When he reached the ground floor, he found Alex-san already standing outside his apartment, waiting for him.

"I see your legs have managed to recover after the ordeal you put them through." Alexander smiled, nuzzling Izuku's scalp. He wasn't sure how he felt about the head pats. Sure, he looked up to Alex-san, but he also didn't want it to come out that Alex-san was just looking down on him. And talking about legs… Izuku glanced down at Alex-san's. He hadn't forgotten what he'd seen that day. The sight of Alexander beating up the leader of the League of Villains had been forever embedded into his mind. He wasn't quite sure how he felt about Alex-san's rough treatment of his opponent, but one thing was certain. He was talented beyond measure, maybe even more than Todoroki or Kacchan. Izuku hadn't gotten all the details about his Quirk down, but there was enough evidence to back up his clear talent.

"Y-yeah… Recovery Girl did most of the work there." He stammered, rubbing the back of his head.

Alex-san chuckled. "Sadly, I haven't yet had the privilege of meeting her. She must be a considerate person if she's so willing to heal others for no extra cost." Class 1-A's newest superstar glanced down at his watch before motioning behind him. "Shall we get going?"

"Mmmh!" Izuku nodded in agreement.

By now, some of their other neighbors had come outside to go to work. They exchanged greetings as the two students casually walked past. As usual, Alexander was the definition of refinement. It was to such a degree that Izuku felt motivated to walk straighter and make longer strides, although he couldn't quite match up due to their difference in height. Alexander quickly caught on and held a hand up to hide a giggle.

"You needn't match me to such minor detail, Midoriya. Here..." Alex-san placed one hand on Izuku's back and another under his chin. "Back, straight. Neck, firm. The rest will come naturally." Izuku appreciated Alex-kun's advice, but he couldn't quite hold back the feelings of embarrassment from having to be taught how to walk properly.

He was the wielder of One For All, after all. If he couldn't even walk confidently, how was he ever going to fight with as much vigor as All Might? Everyone from Todoroki to Bakugo to even Mineta sometimes. They all had some sort of trait they took pride in, something that helped them carry themselves in a dignified manner. But Izuku just couldn't bring himself to act like that. He'd never known how it felt to have others look up to him, so how could he really act like that? As Alex-kun moved away, he noticed the expression on Izuku's face. "Is something wrong? Are you at all uncomfortable, Midoriya?"

"Nonono!" He quickly stuttered, waving his hands erratically. "You're perfect, Alex-san! It's just… just…" He struggled to come up with the words as his hands hung low. His voice grew shaky as he looped back into his old habits. Glumly, he was staring at the concrete again. "You're perfect… You're cool, creative, sophisticated, and intelligent. I can't even walk straight. How am I ever going to become a hero like this?" Depressed, he unleashed everything he'd been holding in since the USJ incident. "You've only been at U.A for a week, and you've already done so much. On your very first day, you saved me, Tsuyu and Mineta from that villain who was covered in hands. Then you beat him up in one-on-one combat. And Yaoyorozu told us about how you saved her, Jiro and Kaminari. What did I do? I just stood by, watching you and the pro heroes do all the work…"

The only thing that could be heard was the sound of their footsteps. As both students continued their trek to school, neither could really come up with anything to say. He'd come out with all the regrets he'd had since USJ. His self-deprecating personality had reared its head once more. It had made him think himself less than Bakugo when they were children, and now it was making him feel inferior to Alexander. And for the successor of All Might, for the future Symbol of Peace, such traits were obviously crippling the boy's potential.

Which was why Alucard decided to do something about it. And, of course, he began this process with laughter. As he chuckled audibly in front of Izuku, the green-haired boy could do nothing but look on in wonder at Alex-san's antics. Then, Alex-kun put one hand on his shoulder. His deep, enchanting voice immediately drew Izuku from his stupor.

"I'm grateful, Midoriya, that you think so highly of me." The European boy began, a cheeky smile still on his face. "I appreciate your praise and admiration for my skills." As he continued, Alexander's smile gave way to a more serious expression. The tone of his voice grew solemn, yet kind. "But this attitude of yours is simply unacceptable." Izuku looked at the ground ashamedly, but Alex-san wasn't about to let that happen again. With his free hand, he gently lifted his chin back up so they could meet eye to eye, a tender smile on his lips. "Have you already forgotten how you came up with your plan on that boat? While I may have flown you three away from it, it was you who gave me the opportunity. And being surrounded by hostiles is surely the greater challenge than facing down a single opponent, no matter how skilled they may be."

By now, Alexander had stopped propping him up and now stood in front of him, addressing him directly. "And who exactly put himself between a wounded All Might and a murderous sociopath? Dashing into the fray to put himself at risk for the sake of another?" Knowing who Alex-san was talking about, and knowing he wasn't allowed to look away, Izuku pointed at himself.

"Indeed." Alex-kun smiled contentedly. "Humans, when faced with impossible odds, can just as easily become an impossible force themselves. And regarding my 'perfection', you've hardly known me long enough to learn my most critical faults. So don't be so critical of yourself, Izuku. As you've demonstrated previously, you are capable of more than you realize. You need only learn to trust yourself. Trust in the strength you've earned, and in the mind you've grown."

His knees almost gave out as Alex-san stood before him, wearing an encouraging grin and warm eyes. The only one who'd ever spoken to him before like that had been All Might. They looked nothing alike, but Izuku could feel the same warmth he'd felt weeks prior. As he'd stood on that beach, clean and pristine after weeks of hard work. When All Might stood facing him much like Alex-kun was now. That had been where All Might had passed One For All down to him. When the path to being a hero had been opened to him. Where Izuku's journey to become a true symbol had begun. And now, he felt like another journey was about to begin for him.

"Okay, Alex-kun." He nodded slowly. "I will. I'll trust myself more." As he said this, Izuku felt moisture on his cheeks. Touching the area, he realized tears had begun to flow from his eyes. As the boy tried to hold back the choking feeling in his throat, Alexander smiled fondly.

"And you can trust that I'll help you get where you need to go."

Overwhelmed by his emotions, Izuku recalled what All Might had said to Detective Tsukauchi a few days ago, when the two of them had been sitting in the infirmary.

"If you three heroes hadn't put your lives on the line, the students wouldn't have made it out unscathed." Tsukauchi had commented.

The look on All Might's face was one of gratitude, although tinged with a hint of doubt.

"I see… but… you've got one thing wrong, Tsukauchi." Despite the plethora of injuries and bandages covering him, Toshinori Yagi still maintained an air of strength as he spoke. "In this fight, the students put their lives on the line too! To be thrown into a real battle so young… and survive. Now these first years know how scary the big bad world can be. Have you ever heard of such a class? Those foolish villains picked the wrong fight! Because the members of Class 1-A are going to be MIGHTY heroes indeed!"

Izuku knew he had so much more to do before he could consider himself a true hero like those he'd idolized as a child. But hopefully with All Might's guidance and Alex-san's steady hand, he'd eventually make it there.

As they waited for Izuku to recover from his emotions, the duo noticed they were no longer alone. A small crowd had formed around the two boys, watching the rollercoaster of emotions that Alexander had put him through. Some had taken their phones out, recording the event to undoubtedly be posted on social media. Some had even gotten a little teary-eyed themselves, wiping them away with handkerchiefs. As Izuku finally seemed to have stopped crying, Alex-san placed one hand on his back and leaned close, whispering into his ear. "But for now, I'll just help you get to class on time."

The duo speedily exited the circle, hurriedly jogging to U.A together.

0.0

That was step one off the list. Positioning himself as an essential figure in the eyes of Izuku Midoriya. Although the process of doing so had taken a toll on his sanity. Words Alucard had heard spouted from the mouths of humans for generations had been etched into his memory simply due to their never-ending mention. Now, Alucard had used those same happy-go-lucky clichés to convince All Might's successor to stop being such a pansy. The boy had talent. He possessed a tactical mind capable of reading his opponents movements and creating openings where seemingly none had existed. If only he allowed himself to use it. Often, Izuku Midoriya let his emotions get the better of him. Caring far more than he should for the wellbeing of those he was aiming his fists at.

His "inspirational" speech was drawn from decades of being subjected to similar rants. Novels, heroes, friends, acquaintances; all had said something similar at some point. And to draw this child out of his cocoon of self-loathing, he'd had to make use of those words he'd grown to so despise. Although, and he was remiss to admit this, he had to acknowledge the crumbs of truth in those dainty utterances. The boy did need to trust himself and One For All. And with that heartwarming speech, Alucard knew he'd placed himself in the perfect spot from which to mold the young Midoriya. Away from the sympathetic tomfoolery of All Might and more towards reality.

The subjects they chatted about were largely casual for the remainder of their commute. Izuku, it seemed, had spent most of his tears already and now behaved a bit more maturely. Not to say he didn't shy away from attention, but it was good to see him trying. As they entered the school gates, the friendly duo found themselves yet again surrounded. This time, though, it wasn't because of Izuku's tears or Alucard's mesmerizing voice.

Ever since the USJ incident, rumors of Alucard's manhandling of the villainous League's leader had spread like wildfire. The European transfer student had singlehandedly torn down a villain whom even Eraser Head had struggled to handle, a feat which drew just about everyone's attention. Hardly in line with his contract, but that was no concern. He was just playing his role as a talented newcomer. And if that meant stealing a bit of the spotlight from the professionals, so be it. The notoriety had garnered him a bit of a following. Not only was he strong, so the rumors went, but he was also attractive. Treading between feminine beauty and boyish charm, both male and female students found themselves drawn to him. He largely ignored them, of course. And given the hallways were normally packed with students anyways, very little seemed to have changed.

And what of those onlookers who had recorded their heartfelt exchange? At the moment, Alucard wasn't quite sure how such a video circulating across the internet would affect Nezu's plan. So rather than risk a major disruption, he'd deployed his familiars to hypnotize those civilians and make them delete the footage. And as for the rest of them, their ramblings would likely die off as mere rumors without evidence to support it.

At last they arrived to class. Izuku's earlier outburst had lasted a good while, so they were only a few minutes early instead of the twenty minute head start they normally had. Some of Alucard's admirers tried to enter the class with him, but a little hypnotic suggestion convinced them that it might be in their interest to head to their own classes rather than enter his. Not that it would make a difference in their education, but he'd at least be a bit more comfortable. He found their lessons relatively enjoyable. Largely just dumb fun, since all the material involving heroism could be summed up in "Be Good. Punch Evil."

Alucard nodded respectfully whilst making his way to his desk. "Good morning, everyone."

Yaoyorozu strolled over to greet them. "You aren't as early as usual, Alex-san. Did something happen on your way here?"

Ever since he'd helped her, Jiro and Kaminari at USJ, Yaoyorozu Momo had grown friendlier with him, the two frequently interacting. The rest of Class 1-A had largely followed her. Though they'd had some questions first, such as why Shigaraki's Quirk hadn't disintegrated his leg after he'd latched onto him. He shrugged that off as the villain having been disorientated after being kicked in the head. Kirishima, Tsuyu, Ashido and most others had quickly grown accustomed to him. His flexible personality made it easy to join in on any conversation in any of their groups, be it Bakugo's fists-for-brains or Yaoyorozu's scholars. He'd assigned them those names because that was what they essentially were. He was glad he didn't have to help Izuku in this regard, since it appeared he'd already made some friends and was at least familiar with each of his classmates. Though Bakugo and Todoroki remained aloof as ever, from both Alucard and Izuku. Bakugo made a show of hating Izuku and resenting Alucard, even pressing Alucard to fight him from time to time. Todoroki was just distant and introverted by principle, so his attitude made sense.

"No." Alucard chuckled. "Midoriya and I simply found a particularly engrossing topic for discussion."

"That's good to hear." Yaoyorozu smiled thoughtfully.

"EVERYONE! Homeroom's about to begin. To your seats!" Shouted Iida, even though by now everyone had already taken their seats, a fact Hanta Sero was quick to highlight.

"We're sitting. You're the only one up."

As Iida stoically sat down at his own desk, the door slid open and in entered their teacher, Shota Aizawa. Their mummified teacher. The man who'd had his face smashed through concrete, who should have been in a hospital bed, was now standing back in class.

"Morning." The man said as he casually sauntered behind his desk.

"YOU'RE BACK ALREADY, AIZAWA-SENSEI?!", most of Class 1-A exclaimed. "What an undeniable pro!", whispered some others.

Tenya Iida's hand shot into the air. "GLAD TO SEE YOU DOING WELL, SENSEI!"

"If you can call that doing well…" Uraraka added, a sentiment only further highlighted by Aizawa's legs almost collapsing beneath him. The man was in no condition to be standing here, yet there he was. He had to praise Aizawa's persistence, but the man had taken it to the point of foolhardiness. Any further than this and he'd just be a buffoon.

"My welfare isn't important." Aizawa spoke, still wobbling. "Because your fight is far from over."

Really? Though Nezu had already informed Alucard of upcoming events, he'd gotten the impression that the students would be given some sort of reprieve following the harrowing events they'd recently experienced. Admittedly, the incident had only involved Class 1-A. But it wouldn't have been unreasonable to make an exception after an ambush of that degree.

"Our fight?" Bakugo perked up at the mention of the word "fight".

"Don't tell me…", Izuku muttered.

"MORE VILLAINS?!", Mineta screeched, already pissing his metaphorical trousers. Aizawa paused for dramatic effect, before revealing his "big" announcement.

"U.A.'s Sports Festival is fast approaching!" Alucard could feel Aizawa smirk underneath his bandages as most of the class gasped in disappointment. The students of Class 1-A must have been expecting something more exuberant after what they'd gone through. A reasonable assumption, to be fair.

"Sports Festival? That's totally ordinary! Come on, we just had that villain attack! You sure about this?!"

"It's necessary." Aizawa retorted. "To demonstrate that U.A.'s crisis management protocols are sound. That's the thinking, apparently. Compared to past years, there'll be five times the police presence. Anyhow, our sports festival is… the greatest opportunity you'll get. It's not an event that can be canceled over a few villains." He might have been more active in his presentation were he not in such a mauled state. Maybe then, certain members of Class 1-A might have been more receptive to his message.

"You sure about that? It's just a stupid sports festival…" Mineta frowned.

"Mineta…" Izuku gasped in abject shock. "Are you telling me you've never seen U.A.'s Sports Festival?" To be fair, neither had Alucard.

The pervert scoffed timidly. "Of course I have. That's not what I mean…"

Aizawa chimed in before Izuku could go off on his own obsessive rant. "Our sports festival is one of Japan's biggest events! The Olympics were once the World's sports festival. The whole country would be whipped into a frenzy over them. But as you know, that tradition has shrunk in scale to a shell of its former self. And as far as Japan's concerned, what's taken the place of the Olympics is the U.A. Sports Festival!"

Cheering onlookers, loudspeakers, and ecstatic celebration of their country had defined the Olympics for Alucard. Never had he participated in them, though he had thrown in a wrench or two into a couple events. But if this sports festival was anything alike to the Olympics, it would make for an entertaining spectacle. Although he was unsure if he'd be participating. It might be an enjoyable venture, taking part in games and contests. However, so many eyes would be on him that it would be risky. Alucard could only hypnotize so many before they began to notice. Perhaps it would be better if he stayed out of U.A.'s Sports Festival?

"The nation's top heroes will all be watching, right?" Yaoyorozu added. "They'll be there as scouts!" In his seat in front of her, a bead of sweat rolled down Mineta's cheek. Was he nervous? Afraid that his perversion would be revealed for the entire country to see? Actually, if it meant he could manipulate events to cause such a debacle, Alucard considered playing despite the blatant risk.

"They'll be looking to hire us as sidekicks after we graduate. That's how it's done." Kaminari excitedly swung his fist, already imagining what it would be like to work under a famous hero.

"And a lot of those sidekicks never manage to go solo. They're sidekicks forever. That'll be you, Kaminari, you dunce." Jiro countered, much to Kaminari's chagrin. The sense of camaraderie that Class 1-A had developed following USJ was palpable. Though no one said it, almost everyone now had some form of trust in their fellow classmates. Almost everyone. The more stubborn personalities refused to alter their positions. But that was fine, at least for the moment. Alucard knew that an opportunity to change their minds would present itself eventually.

"Naturally, you'll gain valuable experience and popularity if you're picked up by a big-name hero. But your time is limited. Show the pros what you're made of here, and you'll make futures for yourselves. This happens once a year, so you've got three chances." The air grew tense as everyone homed in to what Aizawa was saying. They all knew how important this festival would be, both for U.A. and themselves. "If you're hoping to become a hero, this is an event you can't miss!"

As the bell rang, the expressions on everyone's faces revealed their eagerness and drive to succeed. Some more menacing than others, but no one could blame them for their attitudes. This was to be their proving grounds, and Alucard wanted to see how far his classmates were willing to go.

0.0

Located in another building in U.A. was the official conference room, where there currently sat several pro heroes, all of them intently listening to a single well-dressed man standing in the center of the room.

Rummaging through the bundle of papers in his grasp, Detective Tsukauchi resumed his report. "The one called Shigaraki … His Quirk allows him to disintegrate anything he touches. We've been through the list of men in their twenties and thirties in the Quirk registry … with no luck." Maintaining an air of professionalism, Tsukauch didn't let his frustration show at all, even though most of those present shared his feelings. "Nothing turned up on the 'Warp Gate' user, Kurogiri, either. Neither is registered, and both are using aliases. Their Quirks aren't on record, making them members of the underworld."

"Hah…", Snipe sighed. "So you're saying we know next to nothing? I reckon we oughta learn fast, or the leader of those varmints, Shigaraki … His wounds'll heal and he'll be back again."

From where he was sitting, Nezu had a good view of Toshinori's face. His malnourished physique gave the normally upbeat gentleman a rather somber resting facial expression. And that was even more the case under their current circumstances, as Toshinori appeared to be staring blankly at nothing, so absorbed was he by his thoughts.

"Leader, huh…", Toshinori whispered.

Trying to keep a positive outlook, Nezu made sure to keep his voice steady and cheerful. "What is it, All Might?" Nezu inquired.

Toshinori cautiously stroked his chin. "It's just that nothing about this feels normal. It was an especially daring attack. And not just in the meticulous planning. He started going on about some ridiculous ideology. And although he didn't say anything about his own Quirk … he was shooting his mouth off, bragging about that guy Nomu's Quirk. And when things didn't go his way? He started throwing a tantrum!" Toshinori Yagi observed, still deeply engrossed by his thoughts. "Well … I guess the business about the Quirks was meant to provoke me…"

"Even so, it seems especially foolish in a battle against heroes to reveal one's Quirks and waste the element of surprise." Nezu tried to ease the tension, despite the lingering worries hidden by his pure white coat of fur. Untrained and undisciplined to be sure. But the boy's tendencies… they brought back memories of another villain, one capable of far more destructive attacks.

"Spouting a plausible yet deluded ideology. Bragging about the toy he brought along. And simplemindedly thinking everything would go his way. If we think about how the attack was carried out, it seems clear that this Shigaraki character…" He pursed his lips, trying to come up with the right words.

"Is just a kid?" suggested Tsukauchi.

"Yeah." Toshinori pointed affirmatively back at him. "He couldn't quite hide his childish nature. That sense that he does whatever he wants. He's a man-child."

"A kid with too much power, you're saying?!" Asked Sekijiro Kan, otherwise known as Vlad King.

Midnight shrugged. "Maybe he never received general Quirk counseling in elementary school?"

Sekijiro scoffed angrily. "So?! What does that matter anyway?!"

"We apprehended a total of 72 thugs at USJ the other day." Sekijiro was taken aback by those numbers. "They were all just back-alley thugs, but … the question is why so many of them would agree to follow this 'man-child'. Nowadays, our society is saturated with heroes. Perhaps small-time villains like them, who always get kicked around, are drawn in by that sort of pure, unaffected evil."

Nezu felt uneasy over being confronted with all these issues after the deal he'd struck with Sir Integra Hellsing. He'd involved an arguably greater threat in order to ward off the current threat. And even though he'd spoken to Alucard enough times to adequately grasp his personality, Nezu was still uncertain as to how far the "Prince of Darkness" was from this "pure, unaffected evil" as Tsukauchi called it.

But from what he'd seen so far, Alucard understood his role. He had remained in the background for the most part, grown close to Izuku Midoriya, and seemed to be having a positive effect on the boy. Though "Alexander Anderson" had grown increasingly prominent as of late, following his actions at USJ. Singlehandedly fending off Shigaraki Tomura was bound to draw some attention, which was something Nezu had hoped to avoid. Now he'd need to come up with a good excuse to keep Alucard from participating in U.A.'s sports festival, since there was no doubt that Alucard would dominate the competition. he couldn't have All For One catching on to his plan before Izuku Midoriya had properly developed his abilities.

All that aside, the school year was progressing smoothly. Despite the most recent ambush which bore a significant resemblance to All For One's tactics, it didn't appear All For One had caught on to Alucard's presence at U.A. So long as that was the case, Nezu felt they held the advantage over All Might's archnemesis.

"Anyway, thanks to you heroes, we can focus on our investigation. We'll expand our search and devote our efforts to apprehending the perpetrators."

Finished making his report, Tsukauchi bowed respectfully before exiting the conference room.

Wearing his signature smile, Nezu tried to consolidate everything they had learnt. "A man-child, huh? In one way, he's a lot like our students. He has potential to grow … if only he had a proper mentor to follow." He sighed somberly, regretting that such a young, promising child was trying to slaughter those who might have, under different circumstances, been his friends. "It's difficult to think about these things."

"Yeah…" Snipe, cleaning his pistol, decided that now was a good time to talk about something he'd been holding onto for a few days. "Speakin' of difficult to think about, how 'bout that explosive round? I know for damn sure that wasn't one o' mine."

Nezu felt his throat clench. This was the last thing he wanted to talk about. He'd known from the beginning that eventually, he would have to unveil Alucard's presence to U.A.'s staff members. But it was too early at the moment. Even a tidbit being leaked might have lead to All Might charging into Class 1-A and starting a fight with Alucard, a fight which Nezu doubted Toshinori could win.

All Might, having been nearest to the event, offered his own input. "The angle where it came from…", he mumbled. "If it wasn't your bullet Snipe, then the shooter must have been somewhere above us. I didn't hear any glass breaking, so they must have also been somewhere inside USJ."

"So, what're you thinking, All Might?" Midnight asked. But All Might lacked any real information beyond what he'd seen. Nezu, hoping to keep their discussion away from mercenary organizations, butted in with his own ramblings.

"Well, it certainly couldn't have been a registered hero. Otherwise, they would have identified themselves following the battle's conclusion." All those present nodded, listening closely to U.A.'s principal as he seemingly offered his own insight. He was reputed for being one of the most intelligent heroes in Japan, and now he made sure to leverage that reputation to push his colleagues away from the truth. "Perhaps it was a vigilante? Firing a sniper rifle from within USJ, they were aiming to kill Shigaraki Tomura to cut the head off this League of Villains? Or maybe, as there are several different criminal organizations we are aware of, these were the actions of one of their agents?"

"Maybe…" Midnight mused. "But if it was a separate criminal organization, why would they shoot Shigaraki instead of All Might?"

A valid point. At the end of the day, All Might was the pillar that held up Japan's society. Strike him down, and these villainous groups would have free reign to do whatever they wanted for a time. However, these organizations were all separate, and often were at each other's throats. There were as many instances of villain-on-villain fights as there were hero-on-villain. So it wasn't too far-fetched for one of those organizations to actually wish for All Might's continued existence. "These villains all have different goals and aspirations. Perhaps they believed it was in their better interests to eliminate one of their 'competitors' instead of All Might?" Nezu suggested.

"And if it was a vigilante that shot Shigaraki?" Asked Sekijiro. "What the hell should we do about them? No ID, no pictures, no real idea who they are or what their motive is? How the fuck can we stop them?"

"We can't just sit by and do nothing." Said Snipe. "This vagrant's got aim, that's obvious. I ain't lettin' someone like that just waltz around town doing whatever they choose."

"What if we're dealing with another 'Stain' type of character? You know, someone who idolizes All Might and claims to be fighting for the betterment of society, all while using the worst methods conceivable?" Midnight leaned back in her chair, anxious lines on her pretty face.

They were all familiar with Stain. A vigilante with a track record for killing professional heroes, all while espousing the belief that those heroes had been corrupt and unworthy of the title. He clashed with villains a bit as well, so if there was another vigilante like that then they'd have a problem. Of course, Nezu knew that wasn't the case, but he knew that was what they were all thinking. The mood in the room had become grim as their conversation moved into such morbid topics. Even the wily Vlad King had grown weary of the situation. Wanting to diffuse the tension in the air, Nezu suggested they stop there for now. That discussion could wait. Seeing as there was a festival on the horizon, they had more cheerful things to work on and he didn't want to see anyone frowning during such an important occasion. And so, after the rest of the staff members had departed, Toshinori Yagi dragged Nezu back inside with a worried look on his face.

"Very well. But just one more, All Might. I have other duties as principal, you know." Nezu obliged.

"Don't worry, this won't take long." All Might replied. "Um…," he stammered. How serious could this question be? For a second, he was worried that All Might had deduced the truth behind the explosive bullet and wanted to confront him about it. Nezu briefly considered how best to respond to such an inquiry, before learning, much to his relief, that All Might was still the same heartwarming person he'd become familiar with.

"I think youngster Midoriya is making friends…"

He choked back a giggle at All Might's usual flighty personality. Nezu had learned over the past few weeks that All Might, courageous as he was in both mind and body, had no idea about how to teach his chosen successor. In fact, the most humiliating thing about it all was the book he was currently cradling. "Teaching For Dummies". He could tell that coaching young Izuku Midoriya wasn't going as smoothly as All Might may have been hoping. That had been the reason behind Nezu making that request of Alucard. He'd hoped that Alucard could help guide young Midoriya where All Might could not.

"Well frankly, I don't see the problem. You should be glad to see such a shy child finally coming out of his shell."

All Might reacted predictably, with frantic eyes and a clumsy dance of anxiety. "B-but… the new guy he's been hanging out with is so popular! What if Midoriya stops looking up to me?! I can't be his teacher if that happens!"

Nezu motioned slowly for All Might to calm down. This man, when he wasn't inspiring them with his sheer force of will and valiant acts of heroism, made it incredibly difficult to take him seriously.

"All Might, my friend… you shouldn't worry about something like that. You're the Symbol of Peace. Just because he's found someone else to talk to doesn't mean he'll ignore you or the burden you two share." Nezu had also spoken to Alucard about his newfound friendship with Izuku Midoriya, so he was doubly confident in the respect and belief young Midoriya held towards All Might. "The relationship between you and young Midoriya is built on trust. So, I think you should learn to trust your student a bit more. I'm sure making more friends will only benefit him."

"But what if-"

"That is all, Yagi." He interjected. "I think it's good to follow your gut instinct, but in this instance you're overreacting. Why not invite the young Midoriya for lunch or something, and give him some words of encouragement before the festival?"

At last, All Might relented. He rubbed his head awkwardly, surely aware of how silly he could look at times because of his inexperience with teaching. But he had to improve, if not for his own sake than for Izuku Midoriya's. As he left, Toshinori took a deep breath before a thin cloud of smoke burst out of him. As the smoke dissipated, he emerged in the familiar muscled form he always took in public. Once he was sure All Might had left, Nezu began his own march. Making his way back to his office, Nezu had already begun concocting the next part of his plan.

0.0

"This has got me so freaking pumped!"

Along with Fumikage Tokoyami, Hanta Sero and Rikido Sato, Kirishima was already bursting from the seams with excitement.

"If we show our stuff here, that's one big step towards going pro!" Sero concurred.

The excitement had yet to dissipate as fourth period came to an end. A palpable layer of enthusiasm had overtaken most of Class 1-A. Even the stern Tenya Iida couldn't help himself, frequently freezing in place from anticipation. For once, Izuku appeared to be the calmest person in Class 1-A as Alucard stood beside him, watching as everyone else formed their usual groups for lunch.

"Alex-san?" Izuku wondered. "Everyone's so excited…", said Izuku, staring at his classmates in awe. Some of them didn't seem at all concerned about their lunch break. Huddling together in small circles, they seemed more worried about their dreams of glory than their rumbling bellies.

"Indeed." Alucard replied coolly, chuckling quietly. "And here I thought you'd be the one most thrilled after that announcement."

Iida, still dancing, approached from their right and slid into their conversation. "This is our chance to add our names to the ranks of heroes. Of course we're in high spirits!" Alucard understood where the boy was coming from, but the manner in which he'd chosen to show it was still silly. Not that he minded, of course. He had to admire the boy's honesty.

Izuku, meanwhile, grappled with explaining himself. "I mean… of course I'm excited, but…"

"Deku. Iida. Alex…" Strangely, a dark shadow had appeared over Uraraka's normally modest and content features. "At this sports festival… let's do our best!" As he got a closer look at her, Alucard raised an eyebrow at what he saw, while chuckling inwardly. Her signature smile had been overtaken by an uncharacteristic look of solemn determination. And it looked like many of those present agreed with him.

"What happened to your face, Uraraka?!" was the general sentiment felt by Class 1-A.

"Maybe it's that ti-" before he could even finish his sentence, Mineta was thoroughly slapped upside his face by Tsuyu's tongue.

To be fair to the brainless pervert, even Alucard struggled to rationalize Uraraka's sudden metamorphosis. The cheery girl was usually the last person to charge into the fray, yet here she seemed more than eager to punch someone in the face.

"Everyone! I'm gonna crush this!" she loudly declared, thrusting her tightly clenched fist into the air for all to see. The other students joined her, albeit reluctantly. It was only a few minutes later that he'd learn Uraraka's background, and the reason behind her abrupt heel turn.

"You wanna be a hero for the money?!" In utter disbelief, Izuku couldn't help but overreact outrageously.

Why was that? Was it so unthinkable for a reasonably talented individual to pursue a path solely for the financial wealth it offered? Not everyone aspires to change the world. In fact, there are many who would prefer to lead peaceful, quiet lives. Undisturbed by crime and poverty. Riches and power. There are those whose greatest desire is a modest lifestyle. While still human, Alucard had held ambitions of conquering the world. When he'd forsaken God and become … this … he'd dreamt of toppling the heavens themselves. Yet it was now, following centuries of unimaginable struggles, that he'd come to respect such humble individuals. So for him, Uraraka's motivation was good enough.

"Sorry. I know it seems base… and really embarrassing, considering Iida's noble motivations and all." Cupping her red cheeks, Uraraka cowered in discomfort. Luckily, neither Iida nor Izuku had any intentions of ridiculing her.

Iida flapped his arms erratically, for reasons unknown to him. "But why?! There's really nothing wrong with seeking a more comfortable lifestyle!"

"Yeah…" Izuku added, his own face just as uncertain as Iida looked to be. "Just a little unexpected…"

Running her hands through her pink hair, Uraraka's cheeks grew scarlet as she divulged her background. "My family runs a construction company, but… business is bad. We're poorer than poor. Don't mention that to anyone, okay…?"

Even though he had yet to contribute to the conversation, Uraraka's gaze seemed to be drawn towards him. He quickly realized why. He'd passed himself off as a noble, after all. Holding a finger to his lips, he coyly smiled back at her. Bashfully, she spun around, still feeling humiliated after disclosing her personal background to them.

"If you got permission to use it, wouldn't your Quirk help cut costs, Uraraka?" Izuku suggested.

"RIGHT?!" She loudly yelled, instantly whirling back around. "That's what I said to dad way back! But… when I asked if I could help, he told me that he'd rather see me make my own dreams come true, and then one day I could take them on vacation to Hawaii." She had good parents. Parents willing to prioritize their progeny's happiness over their own are a dime a dozen. He found himself slightly envious, as he himself had been raised in… a less than ideal environment. "So I'm gonna be a hero. I'll make that money so that my mom and dad can have easier lives." The expression she wore now was preferable to the one from earlier. Now, instead of eager, she was resolved. Determined. Resolute on the path she'd set for herself.

"An admirable dream. I hope you attain all you desire, Uraraka." Alucard spoke. He would have tipped his hat for her, had he only been wearing his signature fedora.

"Uraraka…! Bravo!" Iida exclaimed, cheering her on.

Izuku, meanwhile, had been left stunned by his classmate's proclamation. From where he was standing, it looked to Alucard as if the boy had been … intimidated, by Uraraka's outpouring. He couldn't blame him. Though the speech had been nothing special, Alucard had heard far more meaningful and inspiring orations in the past, someone as easily manipulated as Izuku would undoubtedly be amazed by such an honest showing.

*SCREEEEEEECH*

"OHH! MIDORIYA, KID. FOUND YOU!"

Sliding around the corner of the hallway and skidding to a halt, All Might's arrival mucked up their quaint atmosphere. So intense was his entrance, Uraraka couldn't even muster the energy to turn to face him. As if she'd been shocked by a stun grenade, Uraraka was nervously wriggling from side to side where she stood. In fact, this reaction applied not only to her, but to Iida and Izuku as well.

"WANNA… EAT LUNCH WITH ME?" He meekly asked, holding up a dainty little lunch bag.

"PFFFTT!" Uraraka did a spit take at All Might's request, one wholly unbecoming of an individual with such stature. "Like a schoolgirl!"

On the other hand, Izuku himself seemed unfazed by All Might's sudden appearance. Perhaps as a result of his familiarity with the person in question.

"Sure…" he replied. "Um… see you guys later?" Izuku sputtered as he joined All Might. In a swift exchange of farewells, All Might speedily left with the vaguely confused Izuku in tow. Alucard wasn't worried about him since he did have the "Symbol of Peace" with him, after all. That and he could watch Izuku through the walls.

Although they were all curious about the abrupt nature of All Might's request, Alucard feigning ignorance, they just shrugged their shoulders and made for the mess hall without him. "Wonder what he wants with Deku." Said Uraraka.

"I heard Midoriya dashed in to help when All Might was attacked. Maybe it's about that?" As usual, Iida had kept a close eye on the circulating rumors about USJ. A calculated mind, that one. At least, when he wasn't flippantly giving orders without regard for others' input.

Alucard also noted Uraraka's nickname for Izuku. "Deku". If he remembered correctly, the Japanese symbol for "Deku" was in Izuku's written name, and that was why he'd been assigned that nickname from a young age by none other than Bakugo. As a derogatory term, however. But perhaps her usage of it was a sign that the boy wanted to turn that memory into something positive. Certainly a positive sentiment. He'd have to ask Izuku later if they were familiar enough for him to use that little sobriquet.

*BEEP*

The sound of the speakers being activated echoed across the halls as Principal Nezu's voice came through. "Good morning, students and heroes of U.A. To our new first-years, I'd like to begin by saying that I understand if you were at all put off by my odd appearance. I hope you can accept that this is who I am. And, in fact, my fur is well kempt and quite soft, so if touching it will make you more comfortable, you have my permission. I'd also like to make an announcement regarding U.A.'s upcoming annual sports festival. As you are all aware, security has been upped by a significant margin following the most recent incident at USJ. While I am sure many of you are perfectly comfortable with the change, there may be some who looked forward to a potential attack. To address this, I'd like to read an excerpt from my book on heroism and villainy…"

"I know he loves talking about this to help us feel comfortable with him, but he's started bringing it up a lot more than usual recently." Uraraka noted.

"With an influx of first-year students, it isn't guaranteed they are all listening to these broadcasts. He may simply be announcing it multiple times to see to it that the message gets through." Alucard replied, smiling softly at Uraraka.

Iida nodded affirmatively. "I have nothing but the utmost respect for him, going to such lengths to teach us acceptance."

That wasn't really what it was all about, but whatever. The class president of 1-A certainly did make a habit of reading too far into situations. As the trio were lining up in the ramen aisle, Alucard excused himself, citing a necessary trip to the restroom. That was a lie, of course. In reality, he was heading to Nezu's office. Why? Well, there was a reason behind the recent rise in Nezu's self-obsession with his outward appearance. This wasn't some psychological show of arrogance or narcissism. At their last meeting together, they had simply reached an agreement on how Nezu could best summon him when needed. The method they agreed upon was for Nezu to activate the broadcast and talk about his pristine coat of fur. It didn't make him look silly, since it was already an accepted fact that the Principal of U.A. characteristically introduced himself by pointing out how odd he looked. Finding an isolated corner, Alucard's body began passing through it before disappearing into the hard surface.

0.0

"Tell me, Alucard. How has your day been so far?" Asked Nezu, pouring himself a refreshing cup of tea.

Sitting over a wooden coffee table, the two sat opposite from one another in Nezu's dimly lit office. The principal had opted to close the blinds, just for some extra assurance that no one would be watching their interaction.

"Splendid, my dear Mr. Principal. In fact, I'd go so far as to dub it the most productive morning I've had since my arrival." Alucard contentedly declared, hands clasped together as he sat legs crossed on the sofa. They'd agreed to hold one of these one-to-one talks at least once a week. Not only to report on progress and comfort, but also so Nezu could keep tabs on Alucard and make sure he wasn't doing too out of line. And hearing him describe this as the "most productive morning" since his arrival, Nezu wasn't sure whether that was good or if there was a pile of bodies for him to clean up.

"I'm… glad to hear that, Alucard." Nezu responded nervously. He was thankful that after knowing him for a little over a week now, Nezu had grown much more accustomed to Alucard's mannerisms and the sheer force of his presence. He could at least maintain some level of composure now when in his presence, which was a big step up from how they'd initially started. "Has your relationship with young Midoriya grown at all?"

Alucard nodded slowly. "Naturally. I've dealt with brash young adolescents like him before. Although they never lasted long…" Alucard smirked maliciously, his blood red eyes flashing for a second. Nezu gulped. Alucard made no attempt at hiding his past, referencing it at least once each time they spoke. However, it was always in jest, thankfully. He'd clarified to Nezu that he never meant to imply that young Midoriya's time was on its way.

"That's good to hear." Nezu replied, recovered from the heart attack Alucard had given him. While clearing his throat, Nezu pulled out a tablet. On the screen was an image of a news article, one detailing the events at USJ. Of course, the headline was focused on All Might successfully protecting Class 1-A from a horde of criminals. But below that, there was a lengthy section of the article which elaborated on "Alexander Anderson" and how he'd singlehandedly fended off the leader of the League of Villains. Reading through the article, the corner of Alucard's lips turned up with glee. As always, public news outlets were at each other's throats, warring over the top spot.

Nezu coughed. "While this doesn't break the terms of our agreement, your presence in the public eye has grown much more than I anticipated. I don't want it to get to the point where All For One himself might begin keeping a close eye on you, be it out of a desire to recruit you or eliminate you."

Or maybe he'd simply recognize what lay behind this façade and begin making plans to counter him. In all honesty, Nezu couldn't really come up with a reliable means of killing Alucard so he imagined it would be the same for All For One. However, the Symbol of Evil had always been a crafty individual. He wouldn't be surprised if there was some tiny detail which might somehow give All For One the capability to kill Alucard.

"Wouldn't either one give me an opportunity to kill him, Mr. Principal?" Alucard wondered, sarcastically resting his chin on the palm of his hand.

"I'd like to operate under the assumption that All For One wouldn't be so direct if he knew you were involved, Alucard. In fact, I imagine he'd slink back into the shadows and only reemerge once he'd discovered some way to hurt you."

He chuckled at Nezu's request. "So, you'd like me to step away from the public eye?"

"It shouldn't take long for the citizens of Japan to move on from this buzz. But just to stay on the safe side of things, I'd like you to abstain from participating in U.A.'s sports festival."

Nezu went on to describe how he wouldn't leave Alucard high and dry with nothing to do. He could potentially take on a different form and watch the event from the sidelines, or scour the vicinity and monitor for any villainous presence. Although if he found no pleasure in doing that, he could potentially just fake an illness and spend the day out and about, exploring Japan. In other words, he'd be relegated to the role of spectator. And to him, that wasn't going to work. He hadn't come here to simply watch others play around. He'd seen these "heroes" working, and their litany of moral and societal restrictions made him want to vomit. Such restrictions must surely have led to countless civilian casualties, since they ultimately handed the initiative over to the criminals.

But Alucard did sympathize with Nezu. He could see where the fluffy little mammal was coming from. He was completely aware that were he to legitimately compete in the sports festival, he'd best the other students with ease. And winning the gold medal in each event would doubtlessly draw attention from all the criminals who'd be watching the live broadcast. The plan Nezu proposed carried its own ups and downs, but the downs were what put the plan at risk. For the recent wunderkind to not take part in the sports festival would spawn a good deal of intrigue. Why had this talented individual been excluded from the most prestigious event of the year? Was there some sort of hierarchy acting behind the scenes, one that had some sort of agenda against him? Keeping him away from the festival could just as easily enhance his fame as much as it could silence it.

As he relayed these thoughts to Nezu, the look on the white mammalian's face grew somber. There were very few good solutions for the problem they'd encountered. Did he really have no other choice but to let Alucard bask in his glory, thereby risking All For One realizing what he'd done and immediately launching an attack? As Nezu racked his brain for an all-encompassing answer for this issue, Alucard, still leaned leisurely back on his seat, wagged a single finger at him.

"Allow me, Nezu…" Alucard whispered, almost mockingly. And there in his office, Nezu listened closely to the Prince of Darkness as he lent him his wisdom.

0.0

"GATHER ROUND, MASS MEDIA! IT'S TIME ONCE AGAIN TO SEE THE HIGH SCHOOLERS YOU KNOW AND LOVE REVEL IN THEIR YOUTH! IT'S U.A.'S SPORTS FESTIVAL. EVERYBODY- ARE… YOU… READYYYYY?!"

The massive crowd unleashed a single, unified cheer. The earth beneath them seemed to quake; so momentous was their shout. Present Mic, now thoroughly ready for the broadcast, lined up his microphones. Outside of the arena, aisles upon aisles of food stands, games, and shops selling trinkets were all that separated the crowd as they lined up to enter the gargantuan stadium where the main event was to be held. And even beyond those fortunate enough to have already gained entry into the festival grounds, there still remained a line of people that stretched to the horizon. All of them clamoring to get inside yet were being bottlenecked by U.A.'s tight security measures. No criminals being allowed in also meant greater scrutiny on those whom suspicion was often unwarranted. But it was all for the sake of safety, and no one could really complain about that.

Tucked away in the corner of the stadium was Class 1-A's prep room where the students were all gathered in their training uniforms, preparing themselves for the trials they were about to face.

"IS EVERYONE GOOD AND READY?! THE EVENT'S ABOUT TO BEGIN!" Yelled Iida, vigilant as ever. By now, most if not all of his classmates had grown accustomed to his style of leadership and could largely ignore his volume. Not that they didn't care for what he had to say, but it was just that often what he was saying simply wasn't that important or interesting.

"Wish I coulda worn my costume." Tugging at the hem of his sleeve, Mezo Shoji tutted in disappointment. Alucard couldn't blame him. These uniforms certainly did lack the flair of their hero uniforms. He himself had yet to don a costume, mostly because he hadn't visited the department to design it yet.

"They're not allowed, in the interest of fairness." His tail wagging behind him, Mashirao Ojiro would have been better suited in his hero costume. It seemed he'd already come to terms with the hand they'd all been dealt, even though he probably stood as one of those who'd most benefit from the policy's removal.

While many of his classmates were seated in the center of the room where the tables were, Alucard had opted to maintain some distance and perform some rudimentary stretches, despite them having no effect on him. Izuku, or "Deku", as he'd asked he be referred to by, stood nearby him, sweating profusely and performing chest exercises in an effort to even out his breathing.

"Come now, Deku." The boy turned and looked back at him with a bemused look on his face. "Stop worrying about how you'll perform." As he finished his stretches, Alucard straightened his back before continuing. "Worry. Anxiety. Unease. Those emotions won't improve your results. All they can do is diminish them. Understand what you are capable of, where you are substandard, and how you can fix those flaws before the festival starts. We've trained for two weeks together, you and I. Remember what you promised?"

A beam of determination flared in Izuku's eyes. "That I'd trust myself…"

"Excellent." Alucard breathed a sigh of relief. "Now join me for some stretches. You could at least try to minimize the odds you'll break some bones today," he chuckled.

Jovially, the two "friends", at least in the eyes of everyone else, proceeded to perform a whole routine. The sound of Izuku straining his tendons was muffled by the stream of instructions coming from Alucard. Once they were finished with that exercise, Izuku sat on the floor and leaned against the wall, tired but now with a renewed sense of eagerness. Off to the side, however, Todoroki had been keeping an eye on them the whole time.

"Midoriya." The gloomy talent spoke loudly, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.

Izuku, clearly not expecting something like this to happen or for him to be so direct with it, looked right back at him. "Todoroki… what is it?"

"Objectively speaking… I'm stronger than you. More capable."

"Huh?" Izuku appeared uncertain about how he should respond. "Um, I mean…" Do not retreat, child. To Alucard, this was not a conversation between two classmates. This was a confrontation between the lion and the cub, with the cub striving to prove its mettle. If Izuku backed down here, there'd likely be no hope of him ever attaining the potential All Might may have seen dwelling within him.

"All Might's got his eye on you, doesn't he? Now I'm not about to pry into why that is, but…" As if they were already dueling each other, Todoroki sent out a wave of menace. "I will beat you." He proclaimed.

Kirishima, sitting at a table on the other side of the room, perked his eyes in amazement. "Ooh! A declaration of war from one of the strongest in class?!" Next to him sat Bakugo, angry eyed as ever, who looked just as shocked and irritated as Alucard expected him to be. The spiky haired boy seemed incapable of feeling anything besides anger and resentment.

"Hey man, why pick a fight now?! We're about to go on…"

"I really don't care." Interrupting Kirishima, Todoroki waved him off completely. "I'm not pretending to be anyone's friend here." Well, that wasn't a surprise. The boy had never tried to befriend anyone since the beginning, so this came off as more a statement of the obvious than some offensive rebuttal.

Wringing the hem of his shirt, Izuku could no longer seem to meet Todoroki's stern gaze with his own softer, more transparent eyes. "Todoroki," he stammered quietly. "I'm not sure why you felt the need… to tell me you'll beat me… You're clearly stronger, and I can't measure up to most of the others here in skill… objectively speaking, even…"

Goodness, thought Alucard. This was not what he'd hoped for after they'd practiced for two weeks together. He'd been hoping that by now, Izuku would have learnt how to accurately measure his own strengths to others and would have recognized that he wasn't necessarily at a disadvantage against Todoroki. Of course, he had a limited amount of time to be effective. But each shot he fired being capable of knocking out the stony-faced Todoroki made him a threat, at least. They'd developed his movement, how much control he possessed over the power of his attacks, what limbs he could use to fire said attacks, and had even devised creative ways for him to fight without using his Quirk. Now was not the time for Izuku to be so self-deprecating, not after all the work they had done. But as he looked closely at Izuku, he felt better the longer the discussion continued.

"Don't be so negative, Midoriya. No need…" Kirishima tried to console him, but there really was no point. Alucard, slightly concerned at first that Izuku was slipping back into bad habits, could discern the light in the boy's eyes.

"But…! Everyone… even the kids from the other courses are aiming for the top. And I'm… Well, lemme say this. I'm not gonna fall behind." And for an instant, Izuku looked very much like the future Symbol of Peace that All Might had chosen to be his successor. "I'm going for it too. With everything I've got!"

The fierce intensity of Izuku's determination could be felt from across the room. Some stood silent, mouths hanging ajar at what had transpired. Though most in Class 1-A knew Izuku and were generally favorable towards him, they all knew him as this timid, modest boy scout. But this performance was far from that impression, and Alucard was internally laughing at the sight.

"…Right." Todoroki muttered; his earlier confidence now overshadowed by astonishment.

He turned to leave but stopped to look back for just a second. Todoroki was still appalled by Izuku's sudden refusal to bend. From the corner of his ear, Alucard could hear a grinding noise behind him. Glancing at the source, he cracked a smile at what he saw. There was Bakugo, quietly gritting his teeth. From what little he knew about their relationship, Bakugo had always seen Izuku as nothing more than a pawn. Someone he could look down on and trust to be below him. Now that same miscreant was slowly but surely marching ahead of him, and he didn't like what he saw. But to Alucard, this was hilarious. Watching such hubris be torn down was always an enjoyable sight to behold. While he himself was just as arrogant as anyone could get, his swagger came from centuries of experience. Once you've fought gods and demons for a few decades and lived to tell the tale, you've probably earned the right to boast. But Bakugo had yet to live more than two decades. He'd never faced impossible odds. If he wanted to look down on Izuku, he'd need to earn that privilege.

Joining Izuku, Alucard checked that the boy was aware of where he was. He didn't want him to have somehow done this all while unconscious. "Well said." Alucard nodded approvingly, smiling warmly as he placed his hand on Izuku's shoulder.

"I-I just wanted to be honest…" Izuku meekly responded, shying away from Alucard's gaze.

Finally, the door opened, and the students of Class 1-A were informed that the festival was officially starting, and that they should begin making their way out to the field. Wishing good luck to one another before heading out, they turned into the long hallway as a group and watched the metal doors begin sliding open. Through the gates, they all could hear the crowd already cheering for their arrival. With a deafening *CRUNCH*, the gates opened completely, and they were given the signal to enter the stadium.

The loudspeakers were blaring as they exited the gates. "IT'S U.A.'S SPORTS FESTIVAL! THE ONE TIME EACH YEAR WHEN OUR FLEDGLING HEROES COMPETE IN A RUTHLESS GRAND BATTLE! FIRST UP… YOU KNOW WHO I'M TALKIN' ABOUT! THE MIRACULOUS RISING STARS WHO BRUSHED OFF A VILLAIN ATTACK WITH THEIR STEELY WILLPOWER!" The volume of the crowd's cheers rose ever higher as they walked closer to the center stage. "THE FIRST-YEARS OF THE HERO COURSE! IT'S CLASS 1-A!"

Izuku could contain neither his excitement nor his fear as they made their way past the crowd. Alucard swore he could hear the boy's heart beating from a meter away. "Whooooaaa… what a crowd…," Izuku groaned.

"And we're expected to put on the best performance we can in front of so many spectators… I suppose this is merely one more necessary skill if we hope to become heroes." He wasn't sure why, but Iida seemed the least tense among their class. Usually, he was the one shouting and crying out orders in an over-the-top manner. Now he was acting almost normal.

Frantically looking from side to side, Kirishima couldn't decide what he wanted to focus on. "They're really giving us too much credit… but we won't let it shake us, right, Bakugo?"

"Nope. Just gets me pumped up." Said the attention-whore. Well, if there was any place for the petulant man-child to earn his bragging rights, this was it.

As they walked, the other classes entered alongside them. But there was a noticeable difference in the presentation of their entrance when compared to the astounding reception Class 1-A had received upon their entrance.

"Following Class B, it's Classes C, D, and E of General Studies…! And here come the Support Course Classes, F, G, and H! And the Business Course…" The announcer wasn't doing a very good job of hiding his bias. The school was making it plainly obvious how they were essentially using the other classes to make 1-A look better. He felt a tinge of disappointment. It was only now that Alucard could see the factions dividing U.A. The rivalry between 1-A and all the other classes stood out when all the other students stared enviously at them. This was an issue he considered bringing up with Nezu at some point, even though he knew it would never change. Factions are inevitable, no matter how equal the institution claims to be.

Bakugo did little to alleviate that irritant. Instead, he escalated the rivalry from a moderate disliking to outright hatred when he openly proclaimed that he was going to take first place before the entire swarm. Why that idiot was allowed to give the Athlete's Oath, he would never know. Actually, he did, since it was Bakugo who'd placed first in the Hero Course Entrance Exam, but he'd never comprehend what human had been foolish enough to let him be the one to do it.

The R-Rated hero, Midnight, now stepped on stage, her revealing outfit unaltered despite the live broadcast. "Now, without any delay, let's get the first event started! These are the Qualifiers! It's in this stage that so many are sent home crying every year! And the fateful first event this year is… This!" On the gigantic display screen behind her now shone the words "OBSTACLE COURSE RACE".

"It's a race between every member of all eleven classes! The course is a four-kilometer lap around the stadium itself! Our school preaches freedom in all things! Heh heh heh… So as long as you don't go off the course, anything is fair game! Racers, to your positions!"

"Now then, how best can I execute my scheme?" Alucard wondered. He still had to consider his recent rise in publicity. He was already here, and he could sense some cameras already being aimed directly at him, scrutinizing his every move. He couldn't perform spectacularly well, otherwise he'd only increase the media's attention on him. If he openly threw the race, criticism would be thrown at U.A. But as he'd discussed already with Nezu, Alucard had a plan to achieve the best possible outcome.

"START!"

To thunderous applause, the narrow gates swung open before a torrent of U.A. students careened through them at blinding speed. This was meant to be an obstacle course and cleverly, the organizers had designed the opening gates to be the very first obstacle. The clamoring crowd gathering around the entrance acted as a bottleneck for most of the competitors. This only made it easier for bigshots like Todoroki and Bakugo to glide through the gateway and start building a substantial lead. Most of Class 1-A still managed to squeeze through, somehow. He was keeping pace with them, hanging near the middle of the pack.

So far into the race and the obstacle course had proven to be unimpressive. If this was going to be nothing more than a straight line to the finish, then there was little chance for an upset. That was his train of thought, until he saw Mineta get sent flying by a colossal robotic fist. A deep, moaning *HUMMM* reverberated throughout the stadium as multiple leviathan-sized mechs lumbered onto the racetrack.

"MULTIPLE TARGETS ACQUIRED."

"THE FAUX VILLAINS FROM THE ENTRANCE EXAM?!" some students realized.

Present Mic grinned. "EVERY OBSTACLE COURSE NEEDS OBSTACLES! STARTING WITH… THE FIRST BARRIER. ROBO INFERNO!"

A veritable ocean of these "Faux Villains" shook the ground as they slowly lurched towards them. A loud *BOOM* resounded in the arena. As he looked back, Alucard was impressed to find Yaoyorozu wielding the smoking barrel of a large cannon. That was her plan, then?

"So she can spawn such weapons? Interesting..." he thought as he dashed forward. Her process was far from ideal if it meant stopping to take down each opponent. While this was an obstacle course, it was still a race to the finish. Speed was the priority. From the corner of his eye, Alucard spotted Todoroki as the emo instantly froze two of the gargantuan machines, creating an easy path for himself. He shrewdly left cracks in the ice on purpose, thereby leading them to crack and break apart, immediately decimating the safe passageway he'd forged. That was no problem for him, however, as he was now running at a much faster pace and simply ran around the ice and between the mechs. Because for a split second after the ice broke and the mechs fell, the area around them was clear of any threats. He hadn't yet used any of his powers.

"SO THE FIRST BARRIER WAS A PIECE OF CAKE?! HOW ABOUT THE SECOND?! FALL AND YOU'RE OUT! YOU GOTTA CRAWL ACROSS IF YOU WANNA MAKE IT! THIS IS THE FALL!"

A ravine with ropes already tethered across the rocky platforms. This was nothing to worry about, as Alucard deftly dashed across the ropes and swiftly made his way to the other side. Todoroki and many others were still ahead of him, but that wasn't an issue. His plan didn't require he be in first, after all. So his classmates could have all the fun they liked.

"AND OUR LEADER HAS REACHED THE FINAL BARRIER! THAT IS TO SAY… THIS MINEFIELD! IT'S A DEADLY AFGHAN CARPET! A QUICK GLANCE IS ENOUGH TO REVEAL THE MINES' LOCATIONS! SO KEEP BOTH EYES OPEN AND WATCH YOUR STEP!"

0.0

"So wide!" He realized, noticing the gap between himself and Todoroki. At this rate, Izuku knew he'd never place well enough to distinguish himself and, as All Might had put it, declare to the world "I Am Here!". He didn't want to waste the two weeks he'd trained with Alex-kun. He wanted to show that he'd grown stronger as a result of everything he'd been through since coming to U.A. It couldn't end like this...

"But!" Upon entering the final barrier, an idea popped into his head that he knew he had to attempt. There was no other way. "I Can… Still Catch Up!" Rushing forward, he quickly began digging up the mines and carefully stacking them into a pile. It didn't take him long to gather a small bundle of them. Without hesitating, he positioned himself above a metal plate he'd excavated from one of the mechs back at the first stage. "Taking a page from your book, Kacchan!" was what he thought as the steel plate collided with the rough terrain.

*BOOOOOOMMMM*

An earsplitting crack broke through the cheers and applause of the crowd, shattering eardrums and decimating a good chunk of the racetrack. But that didn't matter, as the blast sent Izuku gliding over the rest of the competition.

"A GIANT EXPLOSION FROM BEHIND?! WHAT CAUSED SUCH A BLAST?! AN ACCIDENT? OR WAS IT INTENTIONAL? AND CLASS A'S MIDORIYA RIDES THE WAVE IN HOT PURSUIT!" Present Mic cried out.

"Yup… This is intense!" Wait… the landing! He hadn't thought this far ahead! At this angle, he'd probably end up with his face in the mud before he ever crossed the finish line.

"DEKKUUUUU!" Behind him, Izuku could hear Kacchan racing to catch up with him. "GET THE HELL… BACK HERE!"

He was losing momentum now. The two former leaders, upon realizing that they no longer had the lead, immediately halted their hostilities and were now gaining on him. But the finish line was so close… Thinking fast, Izuku twirled in the air, swinging the metal plate around himself until finally smashing it into the ground for a second time.

*CLICK* *BOOOMM*

A second, smaller explosion gave Izuku the momentum he needed to break off from Todoroki and Bakugo, launchng him past all his opponents and across the finish line.

"AND MIDORIYA BLOWS OFF THE COMPETITION WITH NO TIME TO LOSE! YOUR CLASS IS SOMETHING ELSE, ERASER HEAD! WHAT'RE YOU TEACHING THOSE KIDS?"

"This isn't my doing. They've been spurring each other on all on their own." Aizawa spitefully retorted, exhausted as ever.

"WELL WHO COULD HAVE PREDICTED SUCH AN INCREDIBLE TURN OF EVENTS SO EARLY ON?! THE ONE WHO MADE IT BACK TO THE STADIUM FIRST IS… NONE OTHER THAN IZUKU MIDORIYA!"

The plate now abandoned, a dazed but victorious Izuku Midoriya stumbled into the lower area. Bruised and beaten, he was glad to at least have avoided breaking any of his bones. Panting, he could barely muster the energy to stand on two legs as he processed everything that had just happened. Until it finally hit him, what he'd done and what his efforts had given him. He'd won the race, placing first above everyone else! He couldn't contain his excitement, thrusting his fist into the air, a wide grin on his face. Of course, he started crying too. But these weren't out of grief or anything like that. He'd done exactly what All Might had asked him and had taken that extra step to fully realizing his dream.

Gasping for breath, Bakugo wandered across the finish line beside Todoroki. "Haa… haa… Again… Dammit! That little…!" His wrists were quivering after the stress he'd put them through, all in an effort to surpass his hated rival. Surpass? Was he seriously considering Izuku his rival? That snot-nosed brat who'd only ever been chasing his back?

Todoroki, on the other hand, watched him from afar. His calculating gaze cold as ever. As everyone else made it past the finish line, most of them came to congratulate Izuku on his achievement.

"Deku…! That was awesome!" Cried Uraraka, sweat pouring down her face and dripping from the tips of her hair.

"To lose a race, of all things, with my Quirk… It's clear I still have a lot of progress to make…!" Iida said scathingly to himself.

"First place, though! Man, I'm jealous!" Uraraka blushed.

As he absorbed their praise and tried not to let it embarrass him, Izuku noticed the mysterious absence of one whose approval he'd hoped to hear. Where was Alex-kun? Hadn't he passed him at one point? He'd been too busy picking up mines and placing them into his little stack, but he was sure he'd caught sight of him at some point during the race. So, where was he now? Surely, he'd placed somewhere in the top ten. But for some reason, Alex-san wasn't here. No matter where he looked, his friend was nowhere to be found. Had something gone wrong during the race?

"Where did you go, Alex-san?" Izuku wondered.

0.0

*CRASH*

The sound of glass breaking was drowned out by the shout that followed.

"WHERE THE FUCK DID HE GO?!" Shigaraki Tomura screamed at the top of his lungs. For once in his life, he'd actually been looking forward to U.A.'s dumb Sports Festival. Not because of the event itself, or the worthless kids who were participating, but because he knew that "Alex" guy would probably be joining in. Shigaraki had wanted at least one of two things that day. Either one, he'd watch his newest and most hated rival be pummeled in the one-on-one tournament, or two, he'd watch him use his Quirk and learn more about his style so that next time, he'd be able to do the pummeling himself. Yet for some reason, neither of those had happened. Instead, it looked like "Alex" had just disappeared off the face of the earth! What, was he a slow runner or something? That was impossible! Although he was loathe to admit it, the guy's kicks had been utterly devastating. With that much power in his legs, there was no way he could have lost to those other kids. What even were their names? "Yosetsu Awase"? Who even was that guy? "Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu"? What the fuck was up with his name?

Shigaraki was confident that were he to fight any one of them, he'd absolutely annihilate them and leave nothing but dust behind. "Uuuuuuuuggghhhhh..." He sighed, falling back onto his chair with a loud *THUMP*. All For One had told him to watch the festival, since it'd be a good way for him to learn about the future "heroes" he'd have to kill. But when he looked at the top eight of the tournament, he didn't see the point in doing this. That Todoroki kid might prove to be a challenge, but the rest seemed reasonably below Shigaraki's skill level. Katsuki Bakugo looked like he'd be easily converted to the League of Villains, but besides that the rest of them would be easily dealt with in the future. What he'd really wanted to see was "Alex's" skills and to figure out a good way to deal with them. He still wasn't sure why, but the guy's leg didn't evaporate when he'd used his Quirk on him. He hadn't told All For One about that, because this was his target.

He groaned in his chair, tenderly holding his new hand. All For One had called some contacts and brought in a doctor who'd regenerated his wrist, but he was still getting used to it. Things were progressing smoothly, so he'd be back to normal by the time they recruited a new League. Kurogiri was busy mopping up the remains of the glass cup he'd thrown, but besides that and the television broadcast, the room had quieted down.

"Young Master, I've made contact with him." said Kurogiri.

"Tch. About time." he replied. Whatever. The sports festival wasn't worth his time anyway. For now, "Alex" would have to wait. There were more pressing matters. Ones like the "Hero Killer" who'd been in the headlines recently.

0.0

Author's Notes: Am I skipping the entire sports festival arc? Well, yes and no. As you can see, I've incorporated most of the beginning. But the sports festival offers little in terms of plot or character development for my story, which is why I'll be skimming through it to reach the more interesting plots faster. Again, if you want to see Alucard win the sports festival, I'd be happy to add it as a side story later on. For the next highlight event, I'll be taking a few pointers from one of the fanfic's that helped inspire this story. I'll leave it to you to guess which one and which event I'm referring to. I do feel comfortable with where this story is heading, and I do have enough plans to last me some time. Please give me all your constructive criticisms and feedback in the review section. Thank you for reading, and I'll see you in the next.