Yeah, more and more readers! Here's the fifth chapter for you guys, hope you enjoy it!
Warning: Kira's language, Kira's lateness and Kira's fire.
Enjoy!
Kira ran down the stairs leading to the beach, before seeing her best friend standing there with All Might. Unable to stop herself, she dashed through the last few meters before jumping onto the boy's back, sending the both of them rolling in the sand.
"IZUKU!"
"K-KICCHAN!?"
She started laughing at his startled expression, letting him go and getting back on her feet before helping him up. Then, she hugged him tightly.
"We did it, Izuku! We really did it!"
He laughed too, hugging her back. When they separated, she turned to All Might, grinning from ear to ear.
"Thank you, for helping us! Also, I had no idea you'd be a teacher! Is that why you came here in the first place? So that you could choose a new host for One For All amongst the students?"
"A truly bright young lady!" laughed the hero, ruffling her hair.
"Still, you arrived in second place, didn't you?" recalled Izuku. "And we heard the explosion from when you destroyed the obstacle too…"
"Well, you passed in the top eights with only rescue points, so I guess that's even cooler," she replied, rubbing her knuckles against his head. "So cool, Izuku!"
He blushed deeply at that, and started stammering, which only made her laugh even more.
Things are looking up for us. We've only just started the journey, but I know all of the difficulties we'll face will be worth it.
When April came, the both of them headed to the school for the first day together. The two teens were extremely excited, and Kira could barely contain her awe at the imposing school.
"Class 1-A… Class 1-A…" muttered Izuku as they ran down an hallway. "This place is too big!"
"Wait, there!"
They finally found their classroom. For a moment, Kira hesitated.
::
"Transferred? What do you mean?"
The Headmaster at the other side of the phone chuckled lightly.
"Well, at first, you were supposed to be in Class 1-B. However, we decided to transfer you in Class 1-A. Seeing as it wasn't written on the documents you received…"
"I understand, thank you for warning me," the ginger smiled.
::
Still, I wonder why they changed my place with another student.
She shook her head, before shrugging. It didn't really matter, in the end. She was in Izuku's class, and she really couldn't ask for more.
"The door's huge…"
Kira whistled lowly in agreement.
"Well, we better get going, or else we'll be late- shit!"
"W-what!? What is it?" startled the green-haired boy.
"I forgot to change my shoes!" the ginger gaped at her rollerblades. "Go in, I'll be back in a sec!"
"W-wait! Kicchan!"
But she was already disappearing into the next hallway, running back to the locker room. The boy sweatdropped for a second –she was going to be late again-, before gulping slightly as he faced the door once more.
As Kira quickly changed to everyday shoes, her thoughts wandered back to her last day at junior school.
::
"I can't believe we have three students from our school matriculating into U.A.!" beamed the Principal. "Especially you, Midoriya. It's a miracle!"
The ginger scowled, easily reading the man's hidden words.
What trick did you pull to end up in the elite?
Instantly, she forced herself to calm down as a familiar warmth spread in her veins. Getting worked up over such an idiot would bring nothing but trouble, and she wasn't about to throw away her dream before it even began.
Bowing, the three students left the office and headed away. School was finally over, and they would be starting U.A. soon enough. It was calling for a celebration, and Kira was going to eat with her best friend. However, as they made their way outside, she realized she forgot her bag.
"I'll be right back, wait for me!" the teen ran back inside.
She offered an apologetic grin at the teacher when she entered the classroom. The man simply shook his head with a sigh, way too used to her antics by then, and waved her goodbye. She thanked him for the year, and then returned to Izuku.
Only to find him cornered by Katsuki.
"Oi, what the hell do you think you're doing?" she snapped, drawing the boy's attention.
He turned a scathing glare her way, not letting go of her friend. Instantly, her fists lit up with flames. Wariness seeped in his hateful gaze. No matter how he hated to admit it, the stupid Carrot was a threat to be reckoned with, and knew very well that an all-out fight wouldn't end with him unscathed.
With a scoff, he released the green-eyed boy. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he then stomped away, though not before bumping roughly into her on the way.
"He probably got in just because of you," he spat. "And once I find out how, you'll both be kicked out, and I'll be laughing all along."
Unable to stop herself, she snorted.
"We didn't do anything but work. You know, something you should start on. I mean, relying on your Quirk will only get you this far. And you know what? When it finally fails you, I'll be the one laughing," she retorted.
They glared at each other for a moment, before the both of them looked away with a sneer.
The blond boy left without another look behind, and Kira let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. While she knew she could take him on, his Quirk was tricky, and very dangerous. Had they fought for real, she had no doubt she would have been seriously injured.
"Come on, Izuku," she finally said, snapping the boy out of his frozen state. "I don't want to be late for your mother's pancakes. They're the best!"
"That's probably the only thing you're not late for," he agreed, somewhat cheekily.
"Hey!"
::
They hadn't encountered Katsuki since, but Kira had a sinking feeling that the boy would be in their class. After all, her luck was worth shit. There was no way they wouldn't end up together again, and who knew what would happen now that Quirks were allowed more freedom of use?
We'll probably end up exploding the building, she sweatdropped.
"RIIIIIIIING!"
"Fuck!"
Dawdling in her thoughts, she had completely forgotten about class. Not bothering with tying her laces, she started running back as fast as she could to the classroom, hoping she would make it in time. The first bell was a warning, to announce three minutes were left.
I can make it! She accelerated the pace.
I… didn't make it.
Getting lost on the way, the second bell had rang before she could reach her classroom. Gulping, she was about to gently push the door open, before having a second thought.
I'm already late. I can at least make an entrance.
Grinning, she didn't waste another second and kicked the door wide open.
"Sorry I'm late~!"
There was a moment of silence as she entered, and she stiffened as unfamiliar faces blinked at her sudden appearance.
Wait… where's Izuku…?
Oh, damn it.
On the door was written in gigantic letters '1-B'. Chuckling nervously, she rubbed the back of her head and offered a sheepish grin to the teacher.
"Oops, wrong class. Sorry for the disturbance!"
Embarrassed, she slammed the door closed, and flushed a deep red as the class on the other side burst in laughter.
Well, at least I made their day a little more interesting, she finally shrugged, deciding not to care. Now to find my real class…
It wasn't difficult, it being on the other side. Crossing the hallway, she thought for a second about knocking, before returning to her earlier resolve.
Great Entrance 2.0!
And with that, she kicked the door open, waltzing in with a grin.
"Sorry I'm late~!"
Already, all the students were in their seat. She could see Katsuki scowling at her, Kirishima dying of silent laughter on his desk, Kaminari sweatdropping at the sight, and Izuku hitting his head on his desk repetitively in despair. There was also a black-haired boy who seemed horrified at her appearance, the brunet girl she remembered from the first day stuck between amusement and confusion, and the rest of the class pretty much stunned in heavy silence.
There was a deep, long sigh from the teacher's desk.
"… Suttoki Kira, I presume?"
Surprised, the teen glanced to where the voice was coming from, only to find who seemed to be their teacher lying in a yellow sleeping bag, dark rings under his eyes.
"Present, sir!" she saluted.
"You're late."
"I got lost," she admitted with a shrug. "Sorry about that, it won't happen again."
There was the distinct 'I wouldn't count on this' from both her best friend and her greatest rival who, for once, seemed able to agree. She puffed her cheeks in indignation. She wasn't always late, was she?
…
Okay, nevermind.
"Just get to your seat, Suttoki," grunted the teacher, getting up. "Class is starting."
"Aye, aye."
Flashing a peace sign to Kirishima whom she was now sitting next to, she then offered a smile to the boy on her left, whom had red and white hair, neatly divided in the middle.
That's kind of cool.
"Alright, now that we're passed the interruption…" the teacher freed himself from the sleeping bag, facing everyone. "I'm your homeroom teacher, Shota Aizawa. Nice to meet you."
Well, that seemed genuine.
Note the sarcasm.
"It's kind of sudden, but put this on and go out onto the field," he then instructed, pulling out a sport uniform from the sleeping bag.
And he told me to sit down not a minute ago, the jerk.
"A Quirk assessment test!?"
Kira would have been amused at the synchronization of her classmates had it not been for the fact that they were having a test on the fricking first day.
"What about the entrance ceremony? The orientation?" exclaimed the brown-haired girl.
"If you're going to become a hero, you don't have time for such leisurely events," retorted tiredly Aizawa-sensei. "U.A.'s selling point is how unrestricted its school traditions are. That's also how the teachers run their classes."
Everyone glanced at each other, unsure of this turn of event.
"You kids have been doing these since junior high, too, right?" then wondered the pro hero. "Physical fitness tests where you weren't allowed to use your Quirks. The country still uses averages taken from results from students not using their Quirks. It's not rational. Well, the ministry of Education is procrastinating. Bakugo, you finished at the top of the practical exam, right?"
The blond nodded, for once lacking his confident, smug, arrogant or all-three smirk. He too seemed to wonder where this was going.
"In junior high, what was your best result for the softball throw?" inquired the teacher.
"67 meters," he answered, growing somewhat on the defensive.
Always ready for a fight, no matter what, groaned internally Kira.
"Then, try doing it with your Quirk."
Surprised, the teen however took place in the spot indicated by the teacher, grabbing a ball on the way. Kira placed an hand on her hip, curious as to how it'd end up. If Katsuki used his Quirk to launch it, then he was sure to beat his previous record. Herself had never been too good with this test, because of her under-average strength, but if she could use her flames to propel the ball…
"You can do whatever you want as long as you stay in the circle," informed Aizawa-sensei. "Hurry up. Give it all you've got"
"Well, then…"
Katsuki stretched a little. Then, his calm façade broke into a crazed snarl as he threw the ball, adding an explosion on the way.
"DIE!"
"… did he just yelled 'die' to a ball?" blinked Kira.
"I think he did," sweatdropped Izuku.
"Know your own limits first," said the pro hero, recording the teen's new record. "That is the most rational way to form the foundation of a hero."
He then showed them the results, and Kira felt a chill run down her spine.
750 meters!? What the hell!?
If he ever punched someone with that kind of strength, and adding the harmful blast of an explosion…
Yup, not getting hit by that.
"750 meters? Seriously?" Kaminari gulped.
"What's this? It looks fun!" A pink girl clapped her hands together.
"We can use our Quirks as much as we want! As expected from the Hero Course!" grinned a black-haired boy.
"'It looks fun', uh?" echoed the teacher.
Okay, that wasn't the thing to say.
Kira instinctively took a step back. While he looked worst than she did on a Monday morning –and that was a hard look to beat-, and seemed like a real sloth, this man was no less a pro hero, and thus dangerous. While she knew he wouldn't harm them –he was still a hero, after all-, one was never too careful.
"You have three years to become a hero," he pursued, and Kira calmed down, understanding it was only a lecture. "Will you have an attitude like that the whole time?"
A sadistic smirk suddenly stretched on his lips, breaking the uncaring façade he had harbored up until now.
I've got a bad feeling about this.
"All right. Whoever comes in last place in all eight tests will be judged to have no potential and will be punished with expulsion," he announced.
"WHAT!?"
Kira glanced worriedly at her best friend, whom she knew was internally panicking in the very moment. After all, he didn't have control of his Quirk just yet. But then again, as long as he wasn't last for all eight tests, he'd be fine, right?
And if worst came to worst, then I can just let him get ahead of me in one of the tests and take the last position. It's not a big deal.
"We're free to do what we want about the circumstances of our students," the man now had his eyes wide open in sick glee. "Welcome to U.A.'s Hero Course!"
Everyone tensed at that, none expecting such drastic consequences for such a simple test –and still on the first day!-.
"Last place will be expelled?" repeated the brown-haired girl. "But it's the first day of school! No, even if it wasn't, this is too unfair!"
"Natural disasters, big accidents, and selfish Villains," named the teacher. "Calamities whose time or place can't be predicted. Japan is covered with unfairness. Heroes are the ones who reverse those situations. If you wanted to go talk with your friends at Mickey D's after school, too bad. For the next three years, U.A. will do all it can to give you one hardship after another. Go beyond. Plus Ultra. Overcome it with all you've got. Now, demonstration's over. The real thing starts now."
Unable to hide it, Kira grinned, before turning to Izuku and holding her fist to him.
"We've got this in the bag. Do your best!"
He gaped for a second, before bumping his fist to hers with resolve hardening his eyes. The ginger liked that look. He was determined, and she knew his spirit could, would, get him far.
As long as he doesn't give up. And now… let's get this party started!
Test 1: 50-meter dash
::
"On your mark… get set…"
There was the gunshot signaling the start, and Kira instantly propelled herself forward with flames sprouting under her feet. She had taken off her sport shoes so as not to burn them, and the lighter in her hands assured her a constant source of power.
She crossed the line.
"4,01 seconds"
My last record was 8,6, she recalled with satisfaction. I already had an advantage because of my constant training, so its almost too easy with Quirks allowed.
She watched as the rest of the students passed with more or less the same kind of results. All did better than back in junior school, that much was obvious if their awe was anything to go by. However, while Izuku himself did much better thanks to his training with All Might and his own running sessions with herself, he still ended in last place.
The ginger patter his back in comfort.
"There are still seven tests," she remarked with a smile. "Don't worry. You'll figure something out."
"Right!"
Test 2: Grip strength
::
"Wow, 540 kg!? What are you, a gorilla?"
Kira gaped at the strength displayed by one of the boys, before understanding it was more because he had actually three left hands rather than anything else. Biting her lower lip, herself grabbed the machine, before pressing as hard as she could.
And…
"57? You've got the strength of a mosquito!" snorted Eijiro.
"Hey, I can't be amazing at everything, can I?" she replied, crossing her arms over her chest.
Well, at least that's one test Izuku won't end up as last. And I didn't even had to cheat!
Which… is kind of pathetic, when you think about it.
Test 3: Standing long jump
::
At the signal, she sent a new burst of flames that propelled her in the air. In one swift motion, she landed back on her feet way out of the limits of the sand box, beating her old record once again.
Glancing back, she saw Izuku falling in the sand box, and hid a wince. She knew that he couldn't use One For All, but maybe trying once wouldn't hurt… would it?
Test 4: Repeated side steps
::
She couldn't use her Quirk for that one, or else she'd end up flying. So, taking the old fashioned way, she simply did the steps as fast as she could. She remembered it being part of her training in her Judo classes once and, while it certainly wasn't her favorite or forte, she managed.
Still better than Izuku, though.
Well, guess I'll have to loose another test after all. The grip strength one won't be enough to save him from expulsion.
Test 5: Long-distance run
::
Kira took pride in the fact that she ended up with the best score in the class. Then again, she had always enjoyed running, and she had been doing it for years. Plus, boosted by her fire? Please, almost too easy.
Since Izuku started running with her ten months ago, he also wasn't that bad. He probably would have ended at least in the top ten… had it not been for him tripping over his own feet.
She groaned as he face-planted on the ground, both in sympathy and in slight despair.
We'll have to work on his balance too.
Test 7: Sit-ups
::
Those were part of the girl's usual training regime in her judo class. She didn't exactly like it, but she wasn't bad either. She did try to do worst than Izuku… but it was simply impossible. At his first sit, he hit his head on the wall and lightly knocked himself out.
This… is proving to be more difficult than planned.
Test 8: Toe-touch
::
I… won't even comment on it.
Test 9: Ball throw
::
The brown-haired girl, whom she had learned to be Uraraka, threw her ball. A minute pass, without it ever falling back onto the ground. Then, Aizawa-sensei showed them the result, and Kira had to pinch herself to confirm that it wasn't actually a dream.
"I-infinity!?"
"That's amazing! She got infinity!" exclaimed Kaminari, in awe.
"Suttoki, you're up."
"H-hai!"
Uraraka smiled at her, passing her a new ball. Kira smiled back, before taking place in the circle and thinking about what she could do. Simply throwing it wouldn't do, obviously. However, if she wasn't careful, she'd end up burning the ball to a crisp instead of launching it. She needed to find balance.
Taking a deep breath, she tuned out the murmurs of her classmates, concentrating on the warmth spreading in her veins. Falling in position, she counted to three before shifting her weight forward and throwing the ball, transferring the energy she had just accumulated into it. The projectile flew high, burning bright, and disappeared into the clouds above.
There was a moment of silence, as all waited for it to fall back down. Shielding her eyes from the sun, Kira narrowed her sight until she finally noticed the ball hitting the ground much farther away.
Or at least, the few ashes that were left of it.
"… oops?"
"340 meters. Not bad, but not good either," simply replied Aizawa. "Midoriya, you're next."
"H-hai!"
Kira patted his shoulder as they changed places, and went to stand between Kirishima and Kaminari, noticing how both boys were kind of pale when she approached.
They gulped not-so-subtly when she stopped next to them.
"What?" her eye twitched.
"Just… thinking?"
"The day you start thinking is the day I'll wear my glasses," deadpanned the girl.
"Hey!" whined the red-haired boy.
"Wait, you have glasses?" blinked the blond.
"Not the point!"
"Right, right… anyway, we were just thinking that we really don't want to end up at the receiving end of your punch. Just saying," finally answered Denki.
"Hey, it's not like it was supposed to do that!" she protested.
Before any of them could add anything, though, the boy she remembered having introduced himself as Lida Tenya spoke.
"It doesn't look good for Midoriya-kun if he continues like this," he pointed out thoughtfully.
"Uh? Of course not," Katsuki made a face. "He's a Quirkless small fry, ya know."
"Quirkless!?" echoed the bespectacled boy, surprised. "Are you not aware of what he did in the entrance exam?"
Shit, I forgot Katsuki was in the same area as I was, so he doesn't actually know about Izuku's Quirk, suddenly remembered Kira. He won't take it well, that's for sure.
"Uh?"
"This… is not going to end well," she mumbled, hiding her face in her hands.
At the same moment, though, Izuku fell into a stance. She instantly noticed the power surging through his veins, and narrowed her eyes at the sight. It was the first time she'd see him use his Quirk but, deep down, she could feel that something was about to go wrong.
He threw it.
…
"46 meters!"
Kira gaped. That couldn't be right. He was about to use his Quirk, and he had control over it or else he wouldn't have passed the exams, so why-
"I erased your Quirk."
"No way…" She stared at their teacher. His weird scarf was now floating around him in ribbons, and his eyes were red. "He's…"
"That entrance exam was definitely not rational enough," he added, apparently angry. "Even a kid like you was accepted…"
"You erased my Quirk…" Izuku locked eyes with her for a a second, and she nodded in confirmation. He had come to the same understanding she had. "Those goggles… I see! You can erase other people's Quirks with your own just by looking at them! The Erasure Hero, Eraser Head!"
The rest of the class was confused, at best.
"Eraser?"
"Never heard of him."
"He's an underground Hero, right?"
"From what I can tell, you can't control your Quirk, right?" Aizawa-sensei then remarked, annoyance lacing his voice. "Do you intend to become incapacitated again and have someone save you?"
"Tha-that's not my intention- gah!"
He was suddenly caught by one of the strips and brought closer to the teacher. Kira clenched her fists, about to intervene, but Kirishima held her back.
"But-"
"No." His grip tightened a little.
Gritting her teeth, she simply settled for watching what was about to happen. If he threatened seriously her friend, though…
No holding back.
"Whatever your intention, I'm saying that's what those around you will be forced to do," pointed out the teacher. "In the past, there was en oppressively passionate Hero who saved over a thousand people by himself and created a legend. Even if you have the same reckless valor, though, you'll just be decked and turned into a useless doll after saving one person. Midoriya Izuku, with your power… you can't become a Hero."
Why that fucking ass, I'll erase his fricking face and see if he likes it damn it!
Before she could move, though, Kaminari had taken a hold of her other shoulder. She glared at him, and he offered a sheepish smile, though didn't let her go.
"I've returned your Quirk," then announced Aizawa-sensei. He freed Izuku, whose eyes were downcast. "You have two turns for the ball throw. Hurry up and get it over with."
With that, the teacher stepped away. The girl took a deep breath, calming down. Getting angry and loosing control wouldn't help Izuku in the slightest.
"It looks like he received some advice," mused Tenya.
"Probably just telling him he's expelled," snorted Katsuki.
"As if!" She couldn't stop herself, baring her teeth at the blond. "Izuku has the potential, the motivation and the heart of a true Hero! He won't let go of his dreams so easily, not when he got so far already!"
"You wanna go, Carrot?" he spat, tensing.
"Bring it on, Spikey!"
"No fighting between the students!" however intervened Tenya Lida.
Understanding they wouldn't be able to fight here, they simply settled for glaring. The ginger looked away first when she realized Izuku was about to try and throw again. He hadn't heard a word of what had just happened, too focused on his own situation.
Come on, Izuku… show everyone what you can do!
And then, he threw it.
And he nailed it.
So, things are still going smoothly, and Kira is still trying to figure out her balance. Don't worry, the promised spice will come! Or at least, once we get to the USJ part. See you guys around!
Plus Ultra!