OP 1 - Deal With The Devil by TiA

"Oh, how the sun shines down upon you. How my eyes will always remember your face, and how my hands will always crave your touch." Shimmering blue eyes looked upon her olive toned face, absorbing every inch of her appearance. "I will spend every day fighting for you, and I will wonder every morning what I have done to deserve a miracle such as you."

Laughs escaped her mouth. That soft laugh, that felt like silk on his ears. "Stop it, you're doing too much."

"I could deliver the stars to you and still be in debt to the gift of your glory. I will raise us up from this place in the world, and I will make it better for both of us." He promised, sincerity filled words that refused to tell anything but the truth.

She pulled his hands to her stomach, loving eyes that matched the deepest forests staring back at him. "I think you mean all three of us."


Melodic hums filled the screen-filled room, a single individual standing among the center ring of desks.

Twenty seven years. Twenty seven years had Uchu been holding entrance exams. Their school had been gifting such amazing heroes upon the world. The day that they no longer wished to see new applicants would be the day they wished to die. They were attached to every student that managed to make it into the school. Every student that applied, they already knew the history of and every innate detail available in their reports.

Suddenly, a door let out a pleasant chime as it gracefully slid open, revealing an odd looking man. Taller than most, his wild mauve hair that seemed to stick out in spikes only added to his height. Bloodshot scarlet eyes were veiled behind a pair of garish amber glasses. As he approached the individual in the center of the room, they took a deep breath at the sight of his frightening skin. If his sickly green-tinged pale skin wasn't bad enough, the shrivelled patches of dark discoloured skin easily added to the worry.

"Jinzou-san, it appears that there are still about..." He paused for a moment, pulling a bright pink notepad from the pockets of his silky yellow pants. "One hundred and thirteen participants remaining after Iten-san announced the nature of the school. We'll have to do a recount when they return for the exam explanation."

Slowly, he crumpled the paper into a ball before shoving it back into his pockets. "Seimei-kun, would you please stay for a moment and entertain my thoughts?" Jinzou asked, turning to face the man. As strange as Seimei Hiru could be, Jinzou would always catch more second glances. This was primarily due to the fact that, to the surprise of many, Jinzou seemed to be entirely robotic. Angelically human in all but composition, their matter entirely machinery rather than flesh.

"Of course, Jinzou-san. What's on your mind?" Hiru asked, folding his arms behind his back as he stood beside the headmaster of Uchu Academy, watching as examinee portraits appeared on the holograms in the center of the ring.

"You never feel that we are unnecessary in this world, do you?" Their words were simple, but the actual depth of the question was vast. "So much of the world criticizes what I have made here, what we as an academy produce every year. They don't seem to understand how crucial we are."

Hiru sucked in a deep breath. Clicking his tongue momentarily, he nodded. "I believe it is more so that they see us as villains producing child soldiers. They don't seem to understand that we are still very similar to other hero schools."

"That is exactly it. Society will remain complacent by nature until a single spark ignites their dormant outrage, even if it is unwarranted. When I created Uchu, when I pitched the concept of LAEF Heroes to the Hero Commission, this world was finally experiencing something they had not in a long time." Jinzou spoke uninterrupted as Hiru watched them in awe. "The shock of Deku killing Shigaraki. That was the spark they needed. That was the spark that split the world into fractures."

Hiru knew all too well the fractures they spoke of. When the secret of One For All was revealed to the general public, it made so many question just how much they trusted so many amazing heroes from ages ago despite how much they adored them beforehand. When Shigaraki was, for lack of better words, executed for what he had done, it only made the question of how trustworthy Deku was grow more prominent.

The Deku Trials were far more important than simply being one of the reasons for the creation of LAEF heroes. They opened a new hole in the world that had resulted in possibly the largest influx of villains and overall anarchy since the collapse of society following the first Quirks appearing.

There were relatively few LAEF Hero supporters amidst the waves of protestors who believed them to be villains in disguise attempting to invade the 'Hero Society'.

"Times have gotten better since then, haven't they..." Hiru spoke in a hushed tone. "It almost brings a tear to my eye to see these kids able walk onto the grounds without being swarmed by rioters and protestors like we were."

Jinzou sighed, steel grey eyes almost glazing over. "If that ever happens, I will protect them just as I protected you all then." There was a harshness present within their voice, that Hiru had learned to respect. "You know, Seimei-kun, you were always interesting to me."

"Oh?" The slightest hint of warmth raced through Hiru's body.

Jinzou nodded solemnly. "You will always be the strongest student I will ever have the pleasure of teaching, and now the honor of working with. There isn't a soul that has lived on this planet who has experienced what you have and come out as sane as you."

"I'm a far cry from sane, if we are being honest." Hiru quickly interjected, which earned Jinzou placing their hands on his shoulders.

"You're right, you may not be sane. But you are still here, you are still willing to do so much for others despite what it does to you. That's more than so many others could even dream of pulling off." Jinzou warmly spoke.

Feeling tears prick at his eyes, Hiru quickly wiped them away. "Th-thank you, Jinzou-san. I should go prepare for the worst while I still can." Quickly, he rushed off, leaving Jinzou alone within the room.

Watching the different faces on the holograms, a slight smile stretched across their cheeks.

They knew every examinee that applied. They knew every examinee that got accepted.

They knew the students who were doing poorly, and those that were surpassing everyone around them.

They knew the students that left for internships, and those who never came back.

They knew every face.

And as unprofessional as some may call it...

They loved every student that attended Uchu like they were their very own children. So those that dared to hurt their students, hurt their children...

Would have to be dealt with accordingly.


The smell of rotten tomatoes stained within Odori Utau's hair was more than enough to earn her distance from several examinees during the opening speech, and even now people were keeping away from the pink haired girl.

There were whispers from many, pointing at her and confirming things with their friends, but her glare kept them at bay with ease.

Humming lightly, a bundle of pink particles began to shape themselves into a deep-toothed comb. Gritting her teeth as she thought of what caused it, she raked the comb through her long twin-tails, pulling thick pulp from the silky hair, her vibrant pink eyes alight with a burning rage.

"Excuse me," A soft voice called from behind her, causing Utau to slightly wince as she hoped that it wasn't a fan asking for an autograph. However, as she turned around, she saw no paper in the girl's hand, no unbuttoned shirt for chest autographs, just a petite, cutesy girl. For a moment, she almost reminded her of her Utayo. "would you like some help with that? I know it can be difficult to get in the harder spaces where you can't see."

Utau's eyes widened for a moment. Slowly, she held out the erratic brush to the girl. "Thank you, the sooner I can stop smelling like a rotting fruit stand, the better." Her phone continued to ring in the pocket of her frilled fuschia dress, causing her to forcefully shut it off with a scowl. She suddenly froze as the girl began to comb through her hair with such grace and delicacy that she couldn't recall ever feeling before.

Even the countless make-up artists and hairdressers she had encountered in her career had never been so...gentle with her. They yanked her around, and pulled her whichever way they please with little regard for her cries of pain. "You're amazing at this... What's your name? My name is Odori Utau."

The girl hummed ever so lightly, almost as if she was lost in what she was doing. "Akane really enjoys when I'm gentle with her, so I figured you would as well. I am Hijikata Meika, it's a pleasure to meet you, Odori-san."

Utau felt a sigh escape from her chest as it seemed a weight was beginning to lighten. She could begin to push aside the stresses that she would have to confront later for now. "So, why are you trying to go to Uchu? I... feel like that's a good question to ask anyone going here, all things considering."

Meika continued to hum as her baby blue eyes tracked each stroke of Utau's hair with affection. "It really spoke to me above all others! Plus, Acchan really thought it was a good place for us!" She paused for a moment, before gasping. "I never introduced you two!" A rustling quickly emerged, which almost made Utau expect to see a dog or cat in a few moments. Instead, though…

Meika held a doll in front of Utau. Flaming red locks of hair fell in thick locks, contrasting the doll's black and red dress that seemed to match Uchu's academy that Utau had (secretly) adored.

All in all, it wasn't the strangest thing Utau had seen someone have on their person. She had seen so many grown men with body pillows of her, she wanted to vomit at the thought of it.

"Oh, she's cute! I...don't really remember the dolls I had if I am being honest?" She gave a short chuckle, rubbing the nape of her neck before snatching her hand away out of instinct of hairdressers smacking it away. "At least you aren't here because you're bloodthirsty and just really want to kill people though, I...really hope we don't have too many of those."

Meika couldn't help but let out a laugh. "I personally see that having interesting characters like that could add some spice to our time here." She paused for a moment, eyes scanning the pink ocean that was Utau's hair, a smile slowly appearing on her face. "All better now. Hopefully the smell will start to go away without any of the gunk left in there."

She handed the comb back to Utau, but it seemed to disperse into midair as soon as she grabbed hold of it. "Thank you so much, you're a real lifesaver. If being a hero doesn't pan out, you could always do something in cosmetics!"

A thin blush appeared across Meika's cheeks. "Oh, I don't think so. People are so demanding and fidgety with things, I don't think I could ever put up with them. If anything, I would end up making dolls like my parents, if all else fails." As she looked at the small pile of rotten fruit pulp on the ground, she furrowed her eyebrows ever so slightly.

"Odori-san, if you don't mind me asking, how did you get all of this stuff in your hair?"

(A certain giddiness seemed to rise within Utau's soul as she flattened out the creases of her pink dress, bouncing idly in her spot as she sent texts to her friends for luck on her exam at Uchu.

She was being left alone for the most part, which she was thankful for. She wanted to focus on her potential hero career, not her days as an idol at the moment. There were watching eyes, of course, but she had grown accustomed to that. All too accustomed.

"Excuse me?" A dry, hoarse voice came from her right. Fighting back the immediate desire to sneer, she turned. The man was just like so many she had come to deal with. Shirts stained with some condiment, clear lack of caring for their hygiene, and a worn wedding ring. Those three traits were almost universal among them. The men who had stolen the spot as family obsessor from their daughter who were younger than she was.

Giving a strained smile, there was a clear venom in her tone. "Yes, is something wrong?"

The man's stubble covered face split open into a grin. "I was just wondering if I could get an autograph from the beautiful, the melodic, the enchanting siren that is Sonet Pink."

Utau could no longer resist the intense cringe that shot through her body as she reeled in disgust. But, nonetheless, considering what she knew her mother would do if there were blasts on the internet about the beloved 'Sonet Pink' outwardly turning a fan away, she went for the next best thing. "I'm sorry, but I actually don't have a pen on me. I was actually headed to a very impo-"

Before she could finish, the man pulled out a thick black marker and a portrait of his family. Disturbingly enough, the spaces above and below his wife's head had been slightly torn. Almost as if...a photo had been taped over her face several times. She hesitantly grabbed the materials, uncapping the pen and holding it over the photo with shaking hands.

Every time she began to attempt to write her signature, her mind seemed to flash with the tape marks on the photo, the heaving breaths of the man, the desperate look in his eyes.

"Attention, we will be arriving at Ibaraki shortly. I repeat, we will be arriving at Ibaraki shortly."

"Apologies, sir, but I really must be going. My stop is coming up and I have a friend in another car to get to."

As she handed the materials back, the man's creepy smile turned to a foul look of disgust and disdain. "You think that you can just drop us all like we didn't make you who you were?!"

Utau quickly stood up, beginning to head for the door, when they suddenly swung open on either end of the cart, a large number of men just like the one who had been pressuring her stepping through.

"You don't get to just walk away from this. I don't know what fucking fairy tale you live in, but you wouldn't last a fucking day as a hero. All you'll ever be is some idol for people to watch and listen to."

The tossing of rotten, moldy fruits within their hands suddenly became clear. "I will call the cops on you all." She immediately threatened, but to little avail as they only approached closer.

As she prepared to use her Quirk to push them all away, the man with the photograph shoved a rotten apple into her mouth.

From there, the pelting began.

Fruits of all sorts exploded in horrendous chunks, staining her outfit and marking her with their scent. Some were far less rotten than others, given by the fact that the miniature watermelon that was thrown at her head easily knocked her to the ground, feeling blood beginning to leak through her gums at the impact as her chin slammed against the ground.

With tears in her eyes, she wanted to scream at anyone for help. But everyone who wasn't currently assaulting her...was busy recording what was occurring.

Ten minutes seemed to feel like hours, but eventually, the men began to leave and disperse from the area. She felt no sadness as she slowly stood up, flinging the largest chunks of fruit from her clothes and body, shaking like a wet dog and staining the walls in splatters of juice.

She did not feel numb as she ignored the aggressive text messages and persistent calls from her parents that were undoubtedly blaming her for what had just occurred now that it was on the internet.

Odori Utau felt only one thing since then, feeling it fester within herself even as she walked through the gates of the glorious Uchu Academy.

She felt boiling rage.)

"I, unfortunately, attract the worst kind of people." Utau heaved in a deep breath, not wanting to unload the entirety of her hatred for the majority of her fanbase. "They did this to me right before I got off the train, so I didn't have time to change or clean up."

Meika slowly sat down beside Utau, leaning back and crossing her legs while avoiding any potential scuffs to her simplistic lolita style dress. "It's a shame, your dress is really pretty! If I had a spare on me, I would have given it to you." She slowly picked up Akane and positioned her to be comfortably resting against her torso in a similar position to herself. "By the way, why are you trying to get into Uchu?"

Utau couldn't help the smirk that split through her face as she pushed a laugh through her nose. "I wanted to change my life around, and be in control of my own choices for once. Plus, I wanted to be able to reach people and help them in ways the singing never could."

"Wouldn't any sort of hero school have worked then?" Meika was quick to interject, blonde eyebrows raised.

"Yeah, I guess they could have. But Uchu...Uchu is the pinnacle of freedom as a hero, it seems." Utau almost seemed to be at peace speaking these words, her eyes closed and her features soft. The anger that was festering within...was absent for the moment.

Meika nodded solemnly, smiling at the pinkette. "Well, I'm sure we will end up being amazing heroes if we make it into this school."

"That's if we don't die like Iten-san just talked about." Utau chuckled as she continued to lean further back, laying flat on the bench at this point. "As much as I want to think that it's just a fear tactic they use to scare off those who aren't actually serious..."

"There's too much that goes on in the world now for it to be a lie." Meika grimly finished Utau's sentence, an.. unusual undertone present within her voice.

Taking a deep breath, Utau's eyes snapped open as she looked Meika in the eyes. "Well! If we're possibly going to be classmates, we should get to know each other as soon as possible!"

"You're right!" Meika's tone was restored to its original cutesy tone. "Well then, let's start off with the most basic things. Tell me about your Quirk?"


Sighing to himself, Genshi slowly climbed up the hill on the Uchu grounds. He had been here from time to time with his father, often when the man had to meet with Jinzou for some occasion, and he had always come to this exact same spot. He thought it was beautiful.

From the top of the hill, underneath one of Uchu's Sousaku trees, one could see so much of the Uchu scenery. The forest of surrounding Sousaku trees, the crystalline beauty that was the academy, the students transferring between buildings for classes. It felt...peaceful. The last feeling one would expect considering the nature of the school.

Standing on the bench underneath the tree, he felt the wind blow through his shaggy undercut. The sun sat higher in the sky, causing the sharp pain to flare within his head. Gritting his teeth, he began to climb into the thick lower branches of the tree.

"Oi, Genshi, what the fuck are you doing up here?" Rasayoro's husky voice began to approach as she made the climb up the hill.

Genshi felt the slightest hints of a smile prick at his face. "I was just trying to look for you. Considering how badly you wanted in here, you sure were late."

Scoffing, Rasayoro roughly shoved him aside while climbing up. "I wasn't that late! At least I actually dressed as if I was going to be fighting, you're here looking like a closeted gay kid's doll."

"Have a lot of experience with that?" Genshi retorted, throwing a playful glare her way before turning back to the view. "You're here, that's what counts." He paused for a moment before sighing. "You know, I could sit up here every day of my life, and I don't think I would get tired of it."

Rasayoro let out a slight chuckle before shaking her head. "That makes one of us. I don't think there's anything I could stand every day of my life."

"I've got to pay attention to these things. These small things...they make existing easier." Genshi's voice was laced with an air of melancholy as his eyes seemed to glaze over. Before long though, life returned to his eyes.

"Oh yeah, I just wanted to let you know," He paused, holding his hand out for a moment before an apple was suddenly created in his glowing palm. Taking a bite from it, he rested his back against the trunk of the tree. "If I don't see you in the top ten, I'll consider myself a failure as a sparring partner."

Rasayoro's jaw dropped for a moment before smacking the fruit out of his hand, earning a quiet 'My apple...' from the dishevelled boy. "If anything, you'll be the one who's at the bottom of the list!"

Creating another apple, Genshi continued to fill his stomach. "We'll see about that." Turning to look at all the applicants, he let out a light huff. "Quite a few people trying to get in. Only forty of us are going to get chosen."

"Genshi, you and I both know that you're going to get in without a single problem." Rubbing the side of her head while tossling the green highlights within her midnight hair, Rasayoro couldn't help the laughs that began to escape her. "I had to really put those limp dick assholes who call themselves bullies in their place in order to store enough energy for this, so I'm hoping I won't run out."

Turning sly eyes to the hillside, Genshi saw another person approaching. Black hair, bleeding into hot pink ends, mocha-toned skin, and fairly high end dress wear. As she approached closer, Genshi's suspicions were secured.

Letting out a huff, the girl looked at the two in the tree. "Hello, my name is Hatsuka Niikura. What are your names?" As she looked at the two, her pink eyes began to gleam with a yellow light as she almost appeared to scan them. Suddenly, she began to look disgusted, as if she had just eaten a sour lemon.

"Genshi, isn't she the-"

"Hatsuka Niikura, daughter of the leaders of Hatsuka Inc." Genshi didn't look up, or look directly at Niikura, as he took a harsh bite from his apple. Finally, he turned to look at the girl. "Joutai Genshi. I'd say it's a pleasure to meet you, but lying makes my head hurt."

Rasayoro leaned forward as she looked at the scowl on Niikura's face. "Yo, why are you mad dogging us right now? You got a problem?" She hopped down from her spot on the branch, the lightest bit of green mist beginning to wisp from her body.

Without missing a beat, Niikura turned to look at the girl. "What, are you going to try and roast me?" She seemed nonchalant as she stared at Rasayoro with half-lidded eyes.

"Oh, trust me, bitch, I don't need to roast your scrawny ass to beat you into the ground." Rasayoro gritted her teeth, before Genshi suddenly jumped down beside her.

Absorbing the apple, he let out a rough sigh. "Rasa-chan, take a lap and cool down, you don't need to get into it before the exam." As his friend almost let out a puff of steam while walking away, Genshi turned to Niikura. "I know my reasons for not particularly liking you, what's your problem with us?"

"You're really asking questions when you've got some creepy stalking thing going on?" Niikura scoffed. "How about you tell me why you have some sort of vendetta against me?"

Genshi shrugged. "You're part of a rich family. The rich run the world and don't run each other. Sure, you can make your donations to charities, and run your little pity projects, but you sure let others get away with all sorts of shit." Taking a seat, he popped his knuckles. "I just hate that sort of thing, is all. So, I take it upon myself to always be in the know."

"You don't understand how it is trying to deal with other wealthy people then. They don't give a damn about what you have to say to them, they'll do whatever the hell they want. I'm sure you've seen that people protest on the doorsteps of billionaires, and all they do is send a robotic butler out to get the newspaper instead of doing it themselves." She paused. "As for me, I hate people like you." Niikura's venom laced tone was clear, causing Genshi to raise his eyebrows.

"Poor..people?" Genshi spoke slowly, making sure he was reading what she said right.

"NO!" Niikura growled, chest heaving up and down at what seemed like a purposeful attempt to anger her. "People who just think they can slide in here and become heroes without doing jack SHIT!"

Genshi couldn't help but chuckle. "I'm sorry, what?" A chuckle turned into full bouts of laughter. "Who here isn't working to get in?"

"Ones with big Quirks like you. People that can blow up towns without a second thought." She sneered, standing rigid as the wind blew her hair into her face. For a moment, both her and the boy she was berating had to mimic each other in brushing their locks out of their eyes. "I bet you came to this school because you wanted to make it big and get to show off all the brutality you can pull off with your Quirk."

Stepping closer to him, she bent down to eye-level with the sitting boy. "Let me tell you though, if you get in my way, I'll show you really quick just how little you fucking know how to do." Standing straight, she almost seemed to look down at the boy. "I've worked myself to the bone to get here, and I'd be damned if I let some flashy playboy swoop in and make me seem like chopped liver."

Ignoring the urge to call her out on calling him a playboy, Genshi cocked his head to the side as he stood up. "Humor my thoughts then for a second."

Holding out his hands, he created miniature figurines of himself and Niikura. "So, you think because of my Quirk," He held up his right hand, raising his figurine higher. "I am going to take all the attention away from you and always be elevated over you. You," He then raised his left hand containing her figurine while lowering his other. "who has had access to whatever form of tutors, training, or equipment you would ever need because you were born into that right."

He paused for a moment, roughly shushing her before she could retort. "Meanwhile, someone like me has had to scrape by and scrounge for any possible trainer with a Quirk like mine." He raised his eyebrows as he shrugged for a moment. "Now, I will admit. There are people like, say, the hero Shoto or Creati who are blessed with the best of both of our worlds. Powerful Quirks, any resources needed are provided, I can easily see how people like that can just skate in here."

"You can continue to live in the world you're in right now where you don't think you're already at an advantage to me, but I'm going to advise you to watch your back. Otherwise, people like me are going to sneak up on you and surpass you before you even know what happens." She stood her ground with the boy, turning the scene into an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object. "You may end up more popular in people's eyes, but we'll know who had to put in more work in the end."

"But those like you end up garnering the most popularity, don't they?" Genshi slyly smiled. "Look at Eraserhead, after all. He was said to be a pointless Hero while first starting out because no one saw his Quirk as flashy or performative. But give it a few years, and he ended up being one of the most popular and widely loved Heroes, despite many questioning his ways." He began stretching his back, feeling several pops in his spine.

"Eraserhead was still lower in the rankings because of the fact that he had to be an underground Hero because of his Quirk, and because of the still relatively weak nature of his Quirk compared to people like All Might, Endeavor, or Best Jeanist. Heroes like Mirko and Hawks deserved the spots they had with ease, but because they didn't have all powerful quirks, they ended up getting shelved behind others despite all the work they put in." Niikura quickly retorted, her own nonchalant tone countering Genshi's seemingly calm aura. "Like I said, you may end up more popular in the end, but you can live in the guilt of knowing that there are so many behind you that have worked harder than you ever have to get where they are."

Niikura shook her head. "So, you keep going with your dream world, Joutai. When it comes crashing down for you in the future, I would love to see it happen."

Genshi began to feel the pain intensify in his head as he attempted to hold on to one of his first good days in weeks. Finally, he turned his neck to the side until a harsh pop finally came, bringing him to reality. "Fine, maybe I don't understand. I hope you do get into my class, because I must say, you sure have some fire to you."

A false calm settling in, he sat back down, silent for a moment as Niikura stood still. Slowly, he patted the seat beside him. "Why don't you sit? Standing all day won't help your back in the exam."

Slowly exhaling, she sat at the opposite end of the bench.

"You know, Hatsuka-san, when you were down in that crowd, I wouldn't have been able to pick you out by wealth or where you stand in society." He gestured to the majority of the students who stayed around the perimeter of the auditorium. "And I'm willing to bet that you wouldn't have been able to pick me out by my Quirk as well."

Niikura quickly stood up. "I'm not going to sit around for you trying to talk about some preachy crap."

"Don't forget this then!" Genshi tossed something her way, which she instinctively caught.

As she turned to walk away, she looked at whatever it was. And within her hands...sat the miniature figurine he had made for the demonstration.

Meanwhile, Genshi continued to calmly watch the crowd of students as she walked away, the ever persistent pain in his head growing like a festering tumour.

Today was a mostly good day.


Rasayoro's steel-toed boots flattened the neatly cut grass as she walked further away from the hill. That Niikura girl wasn't getting to her, she just tended to have the same emotion towards people as they have when first approaching.

Plus, what the fuck had she done to earn some dumb ass glare? She was just sitting there, was she not allowed to sit anymore?!

Lightly slapping her cheeks, she shook her head as if visibly ridding herself of the subject. She could only imagine how Genshi was tearing into her at the moment. Sure, he wouldn't be anywhere as good at it as she was, but she fit into the higher ups that gave him an initial...distaste.

Reaching into the distressed black denim vest, she pulled a bright orange bandana from the inner pocket before tying it around her head. Someone could call her a Ms. Joke copycat all they wanted, but they would find out really fast just how different the two were.

Wouldn't that be fun though? To get a little fire in her blood before the exam. She could've gotten it with that rich bitch, but she could very easily get it with someone else. Just let someone, anyone, try her, that's all she needed.

Little did Rasayoro realize, however, there were a pair of animalistic mottled eyes watching from the cover of a nearby Sousaku tree. And as the girl's eagerness began to grow all the greater, these eyes became filled with a sense of...mischievousness.

Upon passing the tree, the figure pounced at Rasayoro. Before she could react, she was pinned to the ground, and looking into the eyes of her predator. Smooth caramel skin complimenting her uneven and dishevelled brown hair that seemed to give way to occasional glimpses of a far lighter colour within the thick mass. Her mottled eyes matching her hair seemed to fill with glee as she grabbed Rasayoro by the shoulders and repeatedly shook her, slamming her into the pavement several times.

"Kurutta likes you! You remind Kurutta of Mama!" She suddenly began to bite Rasayoro harshly, causing the pinned girl to shove the animalistic girl off of her.

"What the fuck are you talking about?!" As she attempted to stand up, Kurutta pounced at her again, causing the two to begin wrestling for control of the situation.

Kurutta, however, seemed to be having the time of her life as she laughed gleefully, yanking Rasayoro by her hair to the ground. "Kurutta thinks you make good fighter!"

'Why the fuck is this bitch so tough?!' Rasayoro sneered as she continued trying to pin Kurutta. Admittedly, though, she was getting the thrill that she had been looking for. Beginning to use her quirk, the green mist emanating from her body began to intensify. Wrenching Kurutta's hand from her hair, Rasayoro immediately turned and momentarily pinned her to the ground by her wrists. "Damn, do you do this to everyone you meet?!"

Kurutta's lips curled into a wicked smile. "Just those Kurutta thinks are pretty~ But you hit hard! I love that~" Catching Rasayoro off guard, she flipped her around yet again, fully pinning her down to the ground. "Kurutta wins~" Poking Rasayoro in the head, Kurutta let the girl stand up finally.

Resisting the urge to keep the train going and hit the girl when she wasn't suspecting it, Rasayoro took the better route. "You only win because you got me off guard."

"Not being alert means death~!" Kurutta happily chirped, causing Rasayoro to roll her eyes. "What's your name~ Kurutta likes you, Kurutta really likes you!"

Hesitating for a moment, Rasayoro let out a deep breath. "Against better judgement, I guess it's only right to tell you. Okamora Rasayoro. I'm guessing your name is Kurutta? Unless you have the weirdest catchphrase in the world, which considering everything about you," She traced the girl with her finger to further emphasise her point. "I wouldn't be too surprised."

"Kurutta doesn't understand~ But Kurutta's name is Sakakibara Kurutta~" Kurutta gave a heart-warming smile to the taller girl.

Mentally facepalming, Rasayoro shook her head again. "So, Sakakib-"

"Noooo~ Kurutta~" Kurutta playfully interrupted. She pointed to her mouth where she slowly began enunciating. "Like this! Kuuuuu-ruuuu-ttaaaaa~!" Shaking her head, she lightly smacked Rasayoro's forehead. "Silly humans always calling Kurutta different things~"

Rasayoro had to pause for a second. "Oh fuck, are you one of those kids that's so into their roleplay they don't leave it? That's sad if so."

"Role..play?" Kurutta tilted her head in wonder. "Kurutta doesn't know any roleplay?"

"Of course you don't." Rasayoro pinched her brow. "So you wanna tell me why you fucking jumped on me like a monkey?"

Kurutta lightly purred in response, grabbing hold of Rasayoro's shoulders again. "Rasayoro wanted to roughhouse! Kurutta could tell!" Suddenly, without warning, the seemingly feral girl spun around, grabbing the neck of an approaching individual. "Kurutta smelled blueberries~"

Shocked within her grasp was a boy of similar height, his pure white hair styled into a spiky bun atop his head while a few bangs still fell above his eyes. Baby blue eyes stared into Kurutta's, before looking down to her arm. Pointing at it, she slowly let go, causing him to gasp for air. "I was just checking to make sure you were okay, Okamora-san. I saw you two start to fight and I didn't know if there was something brewing."

Rasayoro shook her head. "Don't worry, Takamori. I can handle myself if anything comes up." While she wouldn't outright say it to the boy, it was still a nice gesture on his part. Takamori Hakuryu, the third member in the triad of Kabukicho friends. He and Genshi were friends before she came along, but the both of them quickly adapted and welcomed her in when she had freshly moved to the district.

Hakuryu nodded slowly, before slightly jumping back as Kurutta seemed to get closer to sniff him. "You smell sweet~ Very sweet~" She seemed to nod approvingly as Hakuryu slowly backed away without turning around, only beginning to resume a normal pace after being a decent distance from the girls.

As Kurutta turned to smile at Rasayoro, the girl couldn't help but crack a smile of her own. "It almost looked like you scared the piss out of him."

"Sweet smelling boy is very cute~" Kurutta cooed, before shaking her head. "He did not smell of urine~" She playfully stuck her tongue out in disgust.

Rasayoro paused as she seemed to try to get a read on Kurutta. "So, you said I reminded you of your mom earlier?" Tightening the orange bandana around her head, she let out a sigh. "Given...everything about you, I don't know if I should take that as a compliment or an insult."

"Mama was strong and brave! She was even scarier than Papa!" Kurutta's face seemed to radiate warmth with her wide smile as she seemed to look back on fond memories, before suddenly being replaced by a strange cold. "Kurutta thinks so, at least."

Rasayoro gave a small chuckle under her breath while shaking her head. "More power to her then. Always down to put someone in their place." Taking a deep breath, she continued. "So why are you trying to go here?"

"Uchu makes Kurutta excited! Other schools are boring, but I am myself here!" Kurutta bounced happily, her short tail bouncing with her. "Why is Rasa-chan going?"

Rasayoro's chuckle began to grow louder as she leaned against a tree. "Surprisingly, for the same reason as you for the most part. Plus, what good would it do me to be at UA where they are all just normal and controlled when I can go here and make a bastard regret waking up?"

"You get excited when wanting to hurt people, that's why Kurutta likes you~" Kurutta chirped.

"You keep saying you like me, are you really so desperate that you'd fall for the first piece of ass you see? Man, you really might be an animal." Rasayoro quickly took a step away from Kurutta while still walking alongside her.

Kurutta let out a gleeful laugh at the taller girl. "Kurutta thought that was funny~"

"What the hell…" Rasayoro paused, her dark green eyes still scanning the girl in front of her. "None of this hits anywhere in you, does it? That would've gotten something out of most people…"

Kurutta tilted her head. "Rasa-chan made Kurutta laugh, that is something! You have jokes that make me laugh, that makes me very happy~"

Rasayoro took a deep breath. "Alright, whatever, I don't really have the time for this." As she began walking away, Kurutta quickly stuck to her side, earning an exaggerated groan from the raven haired girl. "You really gonna follow me everywhere for right now?"

"Kurutta wants to be by Rasa-chan's side to keep her safe! Rasa-chan is in my pack!" Kurutta excitedly said, pumping her fist into the air.

Dragging her hand down her face, she let loose a puff of steam. "Okay, fuck it, whatever, all I can just say is whatever here. Come on then, you furry reject."


Huffing lightly, Hakuryu's cheeks puffed as he began to walk in silence towards the crowd of students. His hands idly reached to his neck, tracing the marks left from her hand.

'She's just as bad as Okamora-san…' Hakuryu shook his head, pure white bangs shaking along. As he looked down to the ground, he couldn't help but fixate on his shirt for a moment. The cutesy, somewhat poorly drawn version of his smiling face on the white shirt stared back at him like a vision of a better past. It had started getting small for him, but he didn't care all too much. Even if the shirt eventually became a crop-top, he would never get rid of it.

Breaking him from his thoughts, a sly whistle came from a nearby wall. Looking over, he saw a fairly...interesting boy. His head of wavy purple hair was pulled into a small ponytail, a velvet sangria scrunchie holding it together, and his deep blue irises seemed to hold an air of...intrigue to them. But the most eye-catching part was easily the clothing he wore. A bright orange faux-snakeskin jacket(At least, Hakuryu hoped it was fake), a shirt that he couldn't quite tell if it was only a tank-top or short sleeved, but nonetheless just as loud with bright blue covering the clothing save for a single wide band of black.

He had seen eye-catching, but this boy was easily the loudest eye-catcher he had encountered.

"Phew, that was something. I've seen my fair share of crash and burns, but we may as well call you a comet for that one." The boy teased, flipping a penny nonchalantly as he leaned against the wall. "Although, to be fair, it probably would have gone better if you had said something instead."

Hakuryu rolled his eyes before coming closer. "Yeah, yeah, I knoooow." He let out a sigh, pinching his brow. "I didn't expect her to grab me like that though."

"Hey, you can never be too careful. Here," Flipping the penny upwards, it suddenly began to rotate around his body before flinging towards the white haired boy. As he instinctively caught it, he looked at it with a faint smile on his face. Heads up. "A little bit of good luck. The name's Hoshiko Suisei." He held out his hand, thick eyebrows raised in anticipation for Hakuryu's.

Slowly taking it, he was drawn to the jingling of the, for lack of better description, bedazzled bracelets. "Takamori Hakuryu, it's a pleasure to meet you, Hoshiko-san."

"Well, pleasure always is an amazing feeling to give." Suisei's smirk almost brought a blush to Hakuryu's face. As his arm dropped back to his side, Hakuryu noticed the faintest bit of crimson drip from his hand.

"Hold on a second!" Hakuryu quickly said, grabbing hold of Suisei's arm and flipping it over to reveal fairly thin scratches that still seemed to give the faintest amount of blood. "Hoshiko-san, what happened?!"

Suisei awkwardly laughed for a moment, rubbing the back of his neck. "This little alley cat near my house can be a real bastard when he wants to be."

Pulling a pocket-sized medkit from the back pocket of his white jeans, he immediately began tending to the wound. "It's not safe to leave a wound, no matter how small, untended! It could lead to infection!"

"I'm normally the one doing the worrying, guess my priorities aren't as high for something like this." Suisei shrugged, earning a cry of disapproval from Hakuryu as he tried to fix the placement of the bandage on his arm.

Finishing up the general care for the wound, Hakuryu shook his head. "Honestly, people think they can just ignore an injury and they'll be okay! Cats can have tons of nasty stuff under their claws, and then that's in your skin and in your blood, and boom! You're dead."

"I mean, I suppose that's true." Suisei nodded blankly. "I just figured that we're going to be doing some sort of fighting considering, well, everything about this school, so a cat scratch was the least of my worries."

Hakuryu sighed. "I guess I can't fault you for that…" Humming lightly, he pinched his chin in thought. "I wonder what the exam will end up being, now that I think about it? Apparently, they change it every year. Last year, if I remember correctly, they used these really cool robots and stuff that almost killed some kids."

"Did I remember to lock the top deadbolts…" Suisei seemed to become momentarily lost, his deep blue eyes becoming increasingly worried before he appeared to have reassured himself. "Oh...I doubt they would ever actually kill anyone during the entrance exam. But I don't doubt that it would happen if we get accepted. We'll be doing things that makes people cry themselves to sleep at night, I can only wonder-"

"How they are going to prepare teenagers to kill for a living." Hakuryu dully finished his sentence. "Well, I mean! We'll still be normal heroes for the most part! Just when the going gets tough, or the going is impossible from the get-go, we'll be who the hope lands on. We'll each be like our own Symbol of Peace when the time comes!"

'This guy..' Suisei couldn't help the faint smile that began to stretch across his face. "Well, it's obvious that not everyone is cut out to be that symbol in dire times. I mean, there were at least a hundred people who left when they found out the truth."

Hakuryu bounced idly in place as he began to grow slightly excited the more he thought about the upcoming exam. "Hey, that means less competition for us! Less competition, more chances of the teachers personally praising us afterwards!"

"If that happens, honestly, I'll be impressed. They'll probably be more focused on making our next few years a living hell if we get accepted." Suisei lulled, before his attention began to gravitate towards Hakuryu's attire. "You know, all white clothes are going to get ruined doing something like this. You must have an amazing washer...or just don't care what happens."

Hakuryu stopped bouncing as he shrugged. "For the most part, I don't really care. I normally have a hoodie or something on, but really, I felt like it would just get in the way here."

"Hold on, hold on," Suisei desperately attempted to hold in laughter as he pointed to the drawing on the shirt. "what is that?"

Hakuryu pinched the shirt and held it out. "It's me! My brother drew it on here a loooong time ago, and somehow the shirt still fits me."

"You're lucky then, I get a shirt that looks good on me and it is too small in three months time. There was this one shirt that my mom got me, and she was so excited to see me wear it!" Suisei's tone gradually grew excited. "But then...I guess I must have washed it wrong, and it shrunk…" Rather quickly, an excitable voice began to grow heavy with melancholy. "My mom said it was fine and that it could have happened to anyone, but I actually felt really bad…"

Hakuryu's smile slowly fell as he looked on with worry. "Hey, she's right though! It could have happened to anyone, and I'm sure you were younger! Plus, let's be honest! Washing clothes is like playing roulette! You're just gambling on if your stuff will come out properly. The folks at the laundromat helped me learn the ropes though!"

Excitedly patting Suisei's shoulder, he gave him an enthusiastic thumbs up. "So, let's not dwell on it when we can think of the matters at hand!"

For a moment, everything seemed to go silent. The careful whispers of the passing wind spoke soft secrets to the ears of those listening, creating a miracle of unspoken connection between each contestant. They may have been competing with each other, but they were in for an endeavor together.

But that moment passed, replaced by the bustling buzz of banter between teenagers.

"You never answered my question, by the way! What do you think the exam this year will be like?" Hakuryu chimed, baby-blue eyes wide with curiosity.

Suisei hummed lightly, bouncing his head from side to side. "Well, I really hope there won't be any killer robots this year. Just because I don't want to be a copycat to UA. As long as it's something that doesn't make me hold back, I'll be fine with it. Let's just hope it's not some psychological trick though." He paused for a moment, eyes seeming to lull around. "It'd be a mess if they made us do something fucked up like...beat up really realistic things that look like dogs but are supposed to represent hidden evil villains or something."

"Why would you make me think of that?! I would never want to have to do that!" Hakuryu cried, ruffling his hair as if to try and scramble the thought from his head. "Ugh, now I'm going to think about hurting cute puppies the entire time!"

"Hey, I was just trying to mention the extreme possibilities!"


The words fresh in the minds of so many students were the very cause of fear and uncertainty festering within the soul of so many. How could they possibly intend to take the burden of something so...amazing? So free? If one was uncertain now with only the thought of having to change the lives of so many by taking another, how would they handle the actual situation?

It was a power to be the judge, the jury, and the executioner. To be at the highest pinnacle of the hero world, even those such as Deku below you in terms of authority. How could anyone not want that power? That utter freedom to surpass whatever godly judgement there may be? It was almost infuriating.

LAEF Heroes...they held the very balance of life and death within their hands. What could be greater?

Mori sat idly on the swing that hung from one of the trees on Uchu's grounds. They were apparently created by the headmaster of Uchu, Jinzou. Sousaku trees were their apparent name, and some claimed that each one planted was for a villain they killed.

But he didn't believe in that. That much arrogance and unnecessary boasting of their abilities would feel...unfitting of the headmaster of an academy of such...grand proportions.

With every swing forward, the fishtail braid hanging over his left shoulder patted softly against his body. It was an odd sight, that much could be seen. Tiffany blue hair gradually transitioned into a myriad of pigments and shades, matching the boy's equally strange eyes. Entirely white irises, drowned in the sea of colour that were his sclera.

His multicoloured fingers gripped the ropes of the swing with an unspoken ferocity as he scanned every passing examinee. So many of them...oblivious to just what they were getting into.

'Deku did it, how hard could it be?!' Mori feigned what he could only imagine were the thoughts of so many others in his head. 'How wrong can they be…'

Giving a short sigh, Mori shook his head while stopping his swinging. Stretching as soon as he was standing, several joints popped and even a few worrying cracks snapped through his body, but to his relief, nothing was truly injured.

As he continued glossing over various teenagers, eyes widening at a massive boy who seemed more creature than human, his interests were piqued at the navy blue haired boy that was currently approaching him.

Wait, he was approaching him?

"Hello! My name is Katsura Kaito! It's a pleasure to meet you!" Without hesitation, the taller boy thrusted his open hand out, a wide smile on his face.

With the slightest hint of disgust, Mori gave a short nod. "Pleasure." Taking his hand, he continued. "I am Yoo Mori. You can trust that when I get accepted into Uchu, I will undoubtedly be one of the top students."

The look on Kaito's face was a mixture of shock and respect at the utter ambitious attitude coming from this small kid in front of him. "Well, I can't say that I don't enjoy the can-do attitude. But, I can tell you now that I'm going to be trying my best to take that spot from you if you are ahead of me."

The grandiose laughter that almost escaped Mori bubbled within his chest as his thin lips curled into a smirk. "I would love to see that happen." Gesturing with his hands, he slyly shrugged. "Allow me to ask though, how do you believe that you can reach such a pinnacle?"

"Huh?" Kaito's eyes widened for a moment. Scratching the side of his cheek, his eyebrows raised for a moment. "Well, my family always said that I work myself to the bone when I set myself to something."

This time, he couldn't keep it down. Covering his mouth with his hand, Mori let out chuckles ever so slowly. "Working to the bone is a normalcy of a hero school. With my Quirk, I can alter the foundations of reality to my whim. My art can do whatever my will dictates, there's no way I couldn't be in the upper echelon of this school."

"Well, you're pretty scrawny even with that kind of attitude." Kaito deadpanned, looking Mori up and down. "That'll get worked on though, I'm sure. But, you know, since we're critiquing each other."

Mori's eye twitched ever so slightly. Did this second rate subordinate just speak to him like that? "Well, I just must say that your lovely hair truly takes away how lopsided your smile is." Venom dripped from his words as his lips curled into a sickly smile.

Waving his hands up, Kaito slowly laid down on the grass. "Hey, now, anything but my smile, you're killing me." He was obviously sarcastic as he lightly snickered. "Listen, Yoo-san, the fact is...neither of us know who will be at the top of the classes. For all you know, a literal god could be attending this school. Do you believe yourself to be greater than a god?"

"I could be."

"Nevermind then." Kaito shook his head before resting it on his crossed arms. "I will work the best I can, and I will aim to succeed as much as possible, but I won't outright place myself at the top from the start."

Mori looked down on Kaito, multihued eyes glaring ever so slightly. "What I aim to do will be true in the future. I do not make mistakes in my judgement, I can assure that. When I am undoubtedly your superior, I will graciously accept any apologies and statements on how wrong you were."

Blowing a strand of hair from his eyes, a wide smile flitted across Kaito's face. "I'll be sure to start writing it up. Let's take it one step at a time though, okay? I'm just trying to save you from yourself." Orange eyes filled with pure intentions met the standing boy's. Suddenly, realization flooded his face. "I know what you remind me of now! Do you have like...a Victorian clown thing going on?"

"A clown?" The daggers Mori spit could have cut the threads of souls. "You are likening me to a clown?"

"I don't know, it was all the colour in the eyes and the hair and all the pale skin. I figure it's probably from your Quirk, but I couldn't be too sure." Kaito said. Suddenly, the excitable boy jumped to his feet.

"I have an offer for you, Yoo-san!" Grabbing the shoulders of the smaller boy, he lightly shook him back and forth. "Until we are officially in a place to be competing, how about you and I help each other out!? If we cross each other's path in the exam, we could give each other a leg up to make sure that we'll be able to fight for the spot at the top!"

Mori's eyes pondered the thought for a second. "It would allow an easier opponent for the spot than if someone else managed to get into the class that could take the position."

'Did this guy just say that I would be easy to beat down?' Kaito gritted his teeth as he waited for a response.

"Very well then, Katsura-san. I will take you up on your offer. Just know though that I will undoubtedly destroy any form of competition between us as soon as our camaraderie is finished."

Shaking his head yet again, Kaito let out a sigh. "If that's what you want to do, then I wish us the best of luck in this exam, whatever it may be."

"Katsura-san, if you don't mind asking, what is your Quirk that makes you believe yourself so capable of possibly being superior to me?"

Mori's question was unexpected, but it wasn't inherently difficult to answer.

"Oh, well, my Quirk just…"


"My, my, that truly was a spectacle." Her smooth tone startled the young man who attempted to shelter himself in the shadows. "I mean, collapsing an entire bank in a sinkhole is…" Little could be seen behind her mask of decaying foliage. "different, to say the least."

The man's lips sneered, sharp canines barking through whispers. "Who the fuck are you to question what I'm doing?"

"Now, now, I'm not here to argue. Rather...I am here to nudge you in the right direction." She gestured for him to calm down. "Something as destructive as that definitely sends a message, which I assume you're trying to do considering the lack of...anything taken away from there. But, it's not going to do much in the end. They'll get all the insurance money in the world, and it'll be a gift to them in the end."

The man's murky blue eyes settled into hesitance. "And what makes you so sure you can "nudge" me in any direction?"

"Because I share the same goal as you, Ripple." Her words alone allowed Ripple to know the sickly smile that sat behind her mask. "Join me. When I amass everyone I see fit, we can truly be what is needed…"

"And that is?" Ripple's eyebrows raised in slight curiosity.

"A hope for the poor man."

ED 1- Shiawase no Shanana by BRADIO


Hey, Hey! So, I know I took well over a month to get that out, but I promise that it's not going to take that long to get them out every time, I will definitely pick up on speed! I'll just keep it real with y'all and say that my depression got the better of me for a solid chunk of time and gathering the motivation to write became difficult. But this is here now, and I truly hope that you all enjoy it! Next chapter, the final moments before the Uchu Exam is explained and officially commenced! See you all then!

By the way, the full cast list is now available on my profile for everyone to see!

Ciao~

Lu.