Culture shock. That was the only way to describe what Izuku was feeling right now. He hadn't really known what to expect when he arrived in America, but it certainly wasn't this. All Might had told him the States could be a very profit-driven place, but his words could never do it justice! Seriously, this airport had more stores in one hallway than the entire Musutafu Shopping District!

Not that Izuku was complaining, since it meant that there was no shortage of tasty snacks in between his flights. He'd somehow managed to spend half the trip from Los Angeles to Providence just taking in the different flavors. Now that he was finally here, however, he had a new problem: finding his escort.

Ashton had told him that a school faculty member would meet him at the gate to escort him to the school, but he hadn't given any information on who would be meeting him, which seemed strange to him. Looking around the gate area, there was no one but other passengers waiting to board their own flights.

As he turned the corner, looking down the terminal halls, he still didn't see anyone who- "Izuku Midoriya?" The boy jumped in fear, almost letting out a shriek as he jolted around to see the man standing behind him. A quick look revealed him to be dressed in a soldier's uniform, with a phoenix logo branding the shoulders.

The soldier let out a chuckle. "Sorry. Didn't mean to scare ya. I'm with the Phoenix Institute. The other students are already waiting for ya." Izuku breathed a sigh of relief, before grabbing his bags and following the soldier through the terminal. Eventually, the two came to a large room, where a variety of people were waiting, some soldiers, others clearly students.

"Commander, the last student has arrived." the soldier addressed his surperior. Said surperior stood taller than all the other soldiers dressed in a suit of heavy combat armor, with a massive riot shield strapped to his back. The man turned around, revealing a gray canine head with orange eyes.

The wolf soldier towered over Izuku, causing the young boy to shiver in fear slightly. "So, you're Izuku Midoriya, huh?" The boy nodded silently. The wolfman smirked. "Well, congratulations. You're the first non-American student ever accepted by the Phoenix Institute." He then turned to the students and soldiers behind him. "Alright, grab your stuff, we're heading out."

The soldiers led the students out of the terminal, to a different section of the airfield. Upon arrival, three tiltrotor aircraft, all bearing the Phoenix Institute logo, were waiting. The students were sorted into three groups of 10, each on a different aircraft. After taking off, they flew for about an hour or so, giving the students a wonderful view of the Rhode Island countryside.

Finally, their destination came into view: the Phoenix Institute. A massive campus surrounded on all sides by thick woodlands, sheltered behind a thick concrete wall. Several buildings of different shapes and sizes all dotted the campus, separated into different sectors in corners of the area.

As the three aircraft touched down on the helipads, the wolf soldier, who was in Izuku's tiltrotor, entered the cabin. "Alright, kiddos, this is it! Welcome to your home away from home. The headmaster's gonna say a few words to ya, then we'll send you off to your dorms to get unpacked." he explained as the aircraft doors opened, allowing the passengers to disembark.

Beyond the miniature airport, a group of faculty members stood waiting for the 3 student groups. At the front was Ashton Fawkes himself. To his left, was a young woman with flowing blonde hair, dressed in a black and blue suit with a gold tie. Three other figures stood behind the pair. One was a tall, black man with white hair, dressed a black bodysuit that transitioned to white along the limbs. His lower right leg appeared to be made completely of ice, possibly explaining the cane he also used.

Next to him was a woman with long red hair, dressed in a flowing white dress. Gorgeous white angel wings sprouted from her back. The third was a man with a white buzzcut wearing purple glasses and a matching bodysuit, though it was a bit difficult to see under the metal exoskeleton he wore.

"Welcome, young heroes and heroines, to the Phoenix Institute for Heroic Development!" Ashton called out to the students. "As you know, this facility is entirely dedicated to ensuring the safe and effective development of our nation's next generation of great protectors! Each of you has taken a different path to get here, yet all of you are here for the same reason." He glanced at Izuku's group. "To learn to use your powers to protect those who cannot protect themselves."

He then turned to the next group. "To provide a beacon of light to those trapped in darkness." And then he turned to the final group. "And to ensure that those who serve justice have the tools necessary to enforce it. I will not lie to you. The path ahead will NOT be an easy one. Many of you will break, perhaps multiple times."

"But, remember this: Each time you feel the odds are against you, when it feels like it would be better to simply give up and let someone else be the hero. Close your eyes and remember why you chose to take up this fight, for it will give you the strength to carry on. Remember, it is not the one fallen in front of you that makes you a hero. It is the ones you shelter behind you. That is why you are here to learn. To fight, to defend, to save."

The students gave a round of applause, as Ashton smiled. "Now, then. On to business. Each of you has been sorted into one of three groups, based on past performances, and the data on your applications." He raised his hand to Izuku's group. "Those who wish to fight against those who would harm and rob the innocent have been appointed to Team Claymore!" The group nodded with murmurs of approval as Ashton gestured to the next group.

"Those who wish to save those who have been trapped by disasters beyond their control have been appointed to Team Chariot!" Again, the group seemed like the idea. Ashton gestured to the last group. "And those who wish to hone their skills in support item engineering and maintenance have been appointed to Team Crossbow!" A similar reaction fell upon the group.

"But make no mistake, your teams are NOT competing against each other for any reason. For the next 4 years, each of you will work tightly with the members of your team, as well as the other teams, to forge yourself into powerful heroes." The students of the groups all shared glances with each other.

"Now, you will travel to your dorm rooms. Feel free to customize them to suit your needs, for they will be your home for the next 4 years. First classes will begin the day after tomorrow, 7:00 A.M. sharp. Use that time to familiarize yourself with the campus. You are dismissed. And once more, welcome to the Phoenix Institute."