"...and, as those of you with any social media presence will have realised in the last five minutes, 1A is also home to the adopted brother of Number Three Pro Hero Hawks. Though they may not be biologically related, the talent shows regardless. This is the kid that's held the entrance exam record for a decade, taking the test when he was five years old!"
Tomura's teeth grind together, the can in his hands (thankfully empty) crumbling to dust. He's watching the screen, gathering intelligence and assessing his opponents. Their little spy had failed to mention that one, hadn't they? Did they not think that a brat known to the UA staff as 'wonderboy' was important?
Ah, the idiot.
Scratching at the column of his neck, Tomura scowls over at the television screen, watching the gaggle of brats troop out. Ah, it's awful, why are they so blatantly celebrated in their false roles? They're a purge on society, ruining everything by following in All Might's stupidly large footsteps, not caring in the least who they put down.
'This thing is supposed to take down All Might… Maa, I guess I have no choice.'
That fucking brat. Hatake Kakashi. Urgh. What a bastard. Some asshole that's got the cheatcode sheet, using and abusing it against others.
No, he can't end up falling down that hole anymore; they've lost one Nomu because he underestimated the kid (because he didn't have any fucking information). Not again. He's going to learn everything about this little fucker and then…
Then he's dust.
.
.
Stretching his arms above his head, Shouto twists his head to better look to Hatake who walks calmly along beside him. The other had taken one look at the regular PE uniform and ripped the sleeves from the top, done so neatly that it almost looks as if it was designed that way. Shouto squints at the other but Hatake just grins. Well, Shouto assumes by the curves of his eyes that he's grinning. Though they'd allowed him to keep the mask, the judges had insisted on the removal of anything that could classify as a weapon, which include his metal headguard, the one that usually covered his eyes with the almost leaf-life design on it. Without it, his shaggy hair falls even more explosively to a side.
Huh, come to think of it, Bakugo's hair was similarly styled… though that's nowhere near as suspicious as Midoriya's relations to All Might.
"-representing the First Years, Hatake Kakashi." Well, that makes sense.
After hearing about it in class, Shouto had looked up the information UA had on record, that which his father had clearly ignored, if only because Shouto's potential rivals within UA hadn't been relevant 10 years ago when Hatake stormed the entrance exam.
Hatake climbs the stairs at his usual sedated pace, stopping by the microphone. With the way his head tilts back, hands digging deeper into his pockets, he's the picture of nonchalance.
"Ah, I wasn't aware I had to give a speech. I'm a little embarrassed I have nothing really prepared."
Now, as far as Shouto can remember from watching a handful of these things back… back before his life had fallen apart, it wasn't a speech, just a few choice words. Clearly Hatake has been given the wrong impression but, by this point, he's removed the microphone from its cradle and actually sat himself down on the stage, scratching at his head.
"Hello. My name is Hatake Kakashi. I have some things I like, some dislikes, and, as for dreams… hmmm," he trails off, rubbing at his masked chin in thought and Shouto waits patiently for whatever pearls of wisdom the other will impart; he's not quite sure why everyone is staring so blatantly at Hatake though. Kirishima's mouth is even hanging open.
"My hobbies are none of your business. And, well, in lieu of anything substantial to say, I'll provide an extract from my favourite book." Ah, now that will be a problem. Midnight hosting this is probably already pushing it for the watershed levels of acceptability. Shouto couldn't get through reading a handful of lines of that particular book just looking over Hatake's shoulder. Out loud on national television?
Present Mic's voice roars to life in the same instant Hatake's is cut off, their student representative slapping his palm on the mic a few times before seemingly giving up the ghost.
And then it's announced that the first trial will be an obstacle course.
.
As he acquires is position by the starting line, Shouto stretches his calves one last time, brain whirling. His main competition in a flat-out race is Iida, though Yaoyorozu will be problematic if she's given the time to create something. But this isn't a normal race. There'll be obstacles, problems to take down and, while Shouto doesn't doubt his own firepower, the unknown can be relatively unsettling.
He will get through to the one-to-one fights; that'll be the point where he can pitch himself against Midoriya. Against Hatake for a rematch. And he'll be ready for the other's tricks this time.
The doorway is the first obstacle and Shouto feels no shame is freezing the vast majority of the competition to the floor.
He's not surprised in the least to look to his left and find Hatake jogging along, no worse for wear and with not the slightest hint of frost along his legs.
Tch. At least he knows who the main competition is in all of this. After all, dear old Dad is watching and, as delightful as it'd been to watch Hatake go head to head with the man, he can't afford to show any deference to the other right now.
.
.
"Er, Aizawa? When is Wonderboy gonna do… well, anything?"
So far, it's been Todoroki out of the starting line first, Todoroki taking down the robots, Todoroki tearing into the lead. And… and all Hatake has done is jog solidly along. Though, admitted, the rope bridges between the canyons hadn't slowed him down in the slightest. His balance is exceptional, that much is clear.
"Hah. You could at least explain where his name has come from so it doesn't seem as if we're playing favourites."
"Right right right! For those not in the know, Hatake has been on roll for UA since the age of five, when he dominated the entrance exam in his pint-sized form! For all that he's hanging back now, this is the kid whose held the overall record of the UA entrance exam for a solid decade unchallenged! Is it any surprise that the UA staff have been calling him Wonderboy ever since?!" Mic pauses, seemingly basking in all the chatter he's caused and Aizawa rolls his eyes, planting one elbow on the table and fist in his cheek.
"Well, Eraserhead, a little insider information if you will?!"
"Fine. Hatake's perhaps the most talented UA student we've had since All Might himself. Even I don't know the full extent of his powers; he keeps his secrets locked up tighter than Midnight's costume."
"Woah woah woah! Those are some serious secrets!"
Aizawa hums in agreement; it's true, after all. Hatake's got a shit tone of secrets, the least of which is what he actually looks like under that thrice-cursed mask of his. Though he's nowhere near as invested as the students, Aizawa's wondered, has watched every so often when he's been passing by the cafeteria, but even he's failed to get a single glimpse. The kid has to be using his quirk to hide it. He's not yet to the point where he tries activating Erasure to stop him but... perhaps in a few weeks.
"Now, Hatake's quirk is on the registration as 'Chakra'-"
"Give. Me. That." Aizawa snatches the paper from Mic's hands, staring down at it. Nope, it still says chakra. On his registration form from a decade ago (the one Aizawa has in front of him) it'd been 'energy manipulation'. But, the one he'd had printed from the quirk registry says 'Rebirth Recall'.
That little shit. If he's fucking with the actual registry, Aizawa doesn't care how much he loves his secrets. He'll drag him before a truth detecting police officer himself.
"Oooooh! I have no idea what he's done, but Wonderboy seems to be in trouble with his homeroom teacher! Ye-ouch!"
.
.
Kakashi jogs into fifth place with remarkable ease. The minefield had been a piece of cake for one used to looking 'underneath the underneath'. Noticing the upturned earth was a hell of a lot easier for him than any of the others. While he'd been hoping to place somewhere a bit lower, well, he'd take it.
He's also eyeing up Midoriya because that had been some remarkable creativity there. The kind that'd have taken him far as a ninja.
Pulling at the hem of the mask, Kakashi twists towards the cameras that're documenting them for the big screen, pulling his best cutesy pose. Hawks wants to make the media a problem for him? Yeah, Kakashi can fire back. He'll play it up for them, maybe even make himself the media's little darling for a bit.
He won't be beat, not in a 'who can fuck with the other best' contest.
"What the fuck, swirly eye?!" Ah, and there's the explosive one.
Kakashi's reminded remarkably of a particularly vicious puppy, what with all the pale, fluffy hair topping Bakugo's head. He reaches out and pats it, easily stepping back and away from the other's furious grab. A quick (and totally unnecessary backflip later) has his standing on the side of the stadium wall, scratching at the back of his head.
"Maa, what's the matter, 'Splosion-kun?"
"You fucker! Where was your shitty quirk in all of that, you bastard!"
"Ah, my quirk is energy based, so I only have a set amount to use a day. I wanted to save it, and not use it unnecessarily."
"YOU'RE USING IT RIGHT NOW FOR NO REASON AT ALL, YOU PRETENTIOUS SHIT!"
Kakashi knows this looks particularly impressive to those with no ninja training, but it's always funny to wind them up. And Bakugo just makes it so damningly easy.
"Oi! You two, over there! Gather around!" Midnight's whip cracks through the air and Kakashi takes a moment to pray for Jiraiya. The man would probably weep if he knew there was a woman running around like that in another dimension. Kakashi could see the potential Icha Icha spin off series already.
Slinking back towards the crowd, Kakashi looks for the distinctive two-tones of Shouto's hair, sliding up beside his cute little kohai. The other glances questioningly to him before returning his gaze back to the billboard, eyes narrowed. Ah, he came in second because of Midoriya's stroke of genius. The fires of competitive spirit are up and being fanned.
Man, he's so, so glad Gai hadn't been reborn too. There's only so much rivalry one can take before the heart comes under strain, after all.
Then, the match, the headband points, it's all announced.
And Kakashi, well, Kakashi has an idea.
.
.
His team… well, his team is solid. He's got Tokoyami as their front, Uraraka and the support girl, Hatsume. While he'd have liked to have snatched up Iida… His eyes glide over to look at the other standing by Todoroki's side. That's… that's one team he's worried about. Todoroki is strong, Iida quick and knows him well, while Yaoyorozu has an incredibly versatile quirk.
But it's Hatake he's worried about.
He'd have expected Todoroki to be the rider but it appears the other is going to act as the horse with Hatake on top.
Now, he's the one Izuku's worried about. His quirk… Izuku doesn't know what his quirk is. There's lightning manipulation, there's the standing on the side of walls, and that's not mentioning his hand to hand capabilities. He'd gotten through the first round without even using it! Not that Izuku has much to say on that end.
The countdown hits zero and Izuku gulps, feeling Tokoyami adjust his grip on his legs.
"Begin!" Midnight bellows, whip cracking and Izuku snaps his head towards the majority of the others. Already there's something coming towards his face and Izuku flinches back, trying to kick Hatsume's… babies into gear.
Only, it's not the sticky ball of the General Ed student he'd seen piggy-backing off of Yaoyorozu in the race. It's… it's a cloth ball? Almost, almost the same colour as their uniform sleeves?
What?
.
Izuku blinks at the sudden puff of smoke and then it's not a ball of cloth in front of him at all, but Hatake himself.