Getting dressed for the day, Byleth feels… odd. She supposes it makes sense though, considering her outfit. She's supposed to wear her Hero Costume today, and she's somewhat conflicted over it. Objectively, there's nothing wrong with it, it's protective and covers everything it should. However, the design is based on a less revealing version of her old mercenary outfit. The memories of times long past or non-existent outside of her mind give her pause, but she pushes through them.

Arriving at UA, she makes her way to the teacher's lounge to make last-minute preparations. As she enters the room, she gives it a casual sweep before moving to an open desk.

Hearing a whistle, she turns to see Midnight, who speaks, "Damn girl, that's a pretty serious look you're going for, though I guess the sword helps with that."

Ah yes, The Sword. The Sublime Creator Sword, her most cherished item from her old life, alongside her father's ring.

Power Loader shuffles up to get a closer look, "Wow, don't think I've seen anything like that before. What's it made of?"

"Bone. Though it was forged long before I was born."

Power Loader lets out a hum, "Bone, huh? Not what I would've used, but if you're using it I'm sure there's some benefit."

Hearing the bell sound, Byleth stands, moving to exit the room, "That would be my cue. Aizawa wanted me to see his little test today."

Making her way down to the field, Byleth nods to Aizawa before taking a place near him and awaiting the students.

As they come trickling out, she takes a moment to recall their files, Quirks and all. She takes note of the more temperamental students, as well as a few who could need some extra help, in many senses.

When all of them are assembled, Aizawa speaks, "This is Ms. Eisner, she's a new Hero as well as a recent addition to UA staff. Don't let the 'new' fool you though, she's got plenty of experience."

Byleth gives a small wave, "Hello. I'll be teaching a new class this year about tactics and weaponry skills, and I look forward to seeing what you're all capable of."

A stern looking boy with blue hair, Tenya Iida, bows stiffly, "We look forward to learning from you!"

As he rises, a few of the other students are observing Byleth. To many of them, she's quite the enigma, as she seemingly lacks emotion. Though to the more analytical students, they see the way she carries herself and find themselves wanting to know what she's capable of.

Aizawa calls their attention back, "Anyway, I've called you all here for a reason. Today you'll be working through several physical exercises to give me a baseline of your abilities. However, you won't just be throwing balls and doing sit-ups, you'll be using your Quirks in any way you can to aid you. Really, this is how it should be done period, but the Department of Education is dragging it's feet and trying to pretend we're all equal."

A girl with brown hair, Uraraka if Byleth remembers correctly, raises her hand, "Um, Sensei, what about the orientation? Shouldn't we be doing that?"

Aizawa scowls, "You're all here to be Heroes, right? If you want to perform at your best you need to be out doing work instead of wasting your time with all that pageantry."

He turns to a blonde student, "Bakugou, you scored first on the entrance exam, so you'll be demonstrating. How far could you throw a softball in middle school?"

The boy grunts as he steps into the circle, "About seventy-six meters."

Aizawa nods as he gives Bakugou a ball, "Alright, I want you to try it now, but with your Quirk this time. Don't hold back, I want to see you at your best so we know where you can improve."

A savage grin breaks across Bakugou's face as he winds back, "You asked for it!"

Moving his arm forward, he releases the ball at a near-perfect angle before a powerful explosion emerges from his palm with a shout of, "DIE!"

Aizawa holds up the measuring device for the class to see, causing many of them to drop their jaws.

A redhead, Eijiro Kirishima, shouts out, "Over seven hundred meters? That's so manly!"

Aizawa addresses the class, "Know what you can do so that you can push yourself past your limits. This is what you'll be doing in your time here, so I hope you're ready to train your asses off because there'll be little time for relaxation."

A student with pink hair and skin, Mina Ashido, jumps in place, "We get to use our Quirks as much as we want? This sounds like fun!"

Byleth has to use an immense amount of her self control to keep her expression neutral. If she knows anything about Aizawa, it's that he takes his job as a Hero very seriously, and will most likely want his students to as well.

Aizawa speaks, voice cold, "Fun, eh? Well, I suppose if you're looking for some entertainment you won't mind me adding a new rule to spice things up. Whoever comes in last place when I rank your scores will be deemed as having zero potential and expelled on the spot."

Uraraka pipes up, "What? But that's so unfair!"

Byleth chooses this moment to interject, "The life we live is inherently unfair. There are homeless people on the streets we walk, Villains lurking in the alleyways, and everyone you know and love could be mere moments away from death at any time. In fact, countless civilians die every year because there are Heroes who won't take on a Villain if they feel their Quirk is unsuitable for the encounter. Many more lives could be saved if those 'Heroes' were to go out and do their jobs properly, Quirk or no. When you graduate and begin working full time as Heroes, you have to give it your all to try and make things fair, no matter the circumstances."

A student from the back, who Byleth immediately recognizes as Flayn, speaks up, "Indeed, there are many in this world with no one to hear their cries for aid. This is precisely why I aim to become a Hero, so that those with unheard voices may find themselves rescued from their circumstances."

Aizawa nods, "Ms. Eisner and your classmate are correct. If you think you can get away with goofing off with your classmates after school, you're dead wrong. In your three years at UA, we're going to be putting you through hell so you can reach your full potential. This is what it means to be the best of the best, so Go Beyond, Plus Ultra!"

At the words of their teachers, a fire is lit under the students of 1-A. Going through the tests and giving it their all, they all struggle to claw themselves away from the bottom spot.

Meanwhile, Byleth watches on carefully, taking mental notes of the student's abilities and areas to improve, as well as judging how they might fare with weapons.

While observing, she makes note of something. Izuku Midoriya, the only student from this year to destroy a Zero-Pointer, is not making use of his Quirk. As he makes his way through the tests, he's making use of his mundane physical aptitudes only.

When it comes time for Midoriya to throw the ball, he winds his hand back, and Byleth sees a flash of energy encompassing the limb. However, as he brings his arm forward, the energy dies out and he only manages to send the ball sixty-two meters.

Glancing at Aizawa, she can see why. He's erased Midoriya's Quirk. Using his capture weapon to reel the boy in, he interrogates Midoriya about his Quirk.

He says a few different things, mostly about how Midoriya's Quirk breaks him upon using it, but then he delivers his final line, "With your Quirk as it is now, you cannot become a Hero. You get one more try, go ahead."

Byleth narrows her eyes slightly at Aizawa. She heavily disagrees with Aizawa here. Midoriya has a near astronomical amount of potential, but he just needs help reaching it. If Aizawa were actually trying to understand his student he might talk with Midoriya about it, or even- oh. Byleth understands now. Aizawa's just forced Midoriya into a corner, so now it fully seems to him like it's do or die, pass or get expelled. Midoriya will either have to evolve his use of his own ability, or leave today with a broken limb.

Midoriya stands for a moment, contemplating Aizawa's words before setting up to give it another try. Winding back, he goes to pull the same maneuver that Aizawa had just chastised him for, but at the last second he funnels all of the energy from his arm into a single finger, sending the ball flying.

Midoriya turns to Aizawa, fist clenched and a savage look on his face, "I can still move, Aizawa-sensei."

Aizawa grins while holding up Midoriya's score of just slightly further than Bakugou's.

Speaking of Bakugou, the boy charges forward, anger burning in his eyes as he shouts, "DEKU! SINCE WHEN THE FUCK DID YOU HAVE A QUIRK?!"

Acting quickly, Byleth pulls the Sublime Creator Sword from her side as it blazes with crimson light, the Crest of Flames burning inside her as she sends the blade of the sword forward, carving an indentation into the ground directly in front of Bakugou and forcing him to stop.

With a flick of her wrist, the sword's blade pieces itself back together as she approaches Bakugou, an oppressive heat radiating from her. Her eyes are narrowed, fully expressing her disappointment and anger at the student before her.

After a moment, she speaks, "Bakugou. You have failed to show one of the most vital attributes of a Hero, care for those around you. If I had the power, I would heavily consider expelling you on the spot."

Bakugou seethes, "The fuck are you talking about?! All a Hero needs to do is fight Villains and be the strongest!"

Byleth's expression turns into an outright glare, causing everyone, even Aizawa, to flinch. To them, it feels as if a God is seconds away from unleashing their wrath upon the lot of them.

Her voice is icy as she speaks, "Bakugou. Katsuki. If that were all it took to be a Hero, Vigilantism would not be outlawed. Combat and strength do not a Hero make. If you actually wish to pursue and make it far in this profession, you need to reexamine your beliefs. You have not acted like a Hero today, in fact, your actions are downright Villainous. You need to show care for the people around you to become a Hero. Pieces of unapologetic scum like Endeavor are the exception, not the rule. Think about this carefully, and get back to work."

Bakugou can do nothing but nod and return to the group. As Byleth returns to her place and schools her expression, she catches Todoroki looking at her oddly. Thinking nothing of it, she returns her sword to it's place and watches as the tests continue.

When the tests come to an end, the rankings are displayed, with Midoriya being in last place.

Before the teen can despair too much, Aizawa speaks up with a sadistic grin, "Oh yeah, by the way, the expulsion bit was a lie. I just wanted you all to do your best!"

As the students celebrate, Byleth only has one thought, 'Aizawa, you're full of shit.'

Before anything else, Byleth speaks up, "Midoriya, can I speak with you before you visit Recovery Girl?"

With a nervous nod, the boy comes over, "W-what is it Ms. Eisner?"

"How would you describe your Quirk?"

The boy takes a moment to respond, "H-how do you mean?"

Byleth's responds relatively quickly, "Well, I know for a fact it enhances your strength, but how does it do so? Does it increase your muscle mass? Your density? Is it energy based?"

Midoriya realizes what she wants to know, "Oh! It's like there's a store of energy in my body, but I can't control how much of it I use right now, so it breaks my limbs."

Byleth nods, she's seen this problem before with apprentice magic users. They think they only need to focus their energy into their hands for the casting, when all that does is hurt them. To truly work magic, the energy must flow evenly throughout the entire body to create something akin to a circuit.

Byleth gestures at Midoriya's body, "I think I know what issue you may be having. Why not try spreading the energy out, instead of focusing on a single part of your body? With more area to work with, you should have an easier time controlling it and adjusting your output."

For a moment, Midoriya is silent. Before he facepalms with his undamaged hand, "I'm an idiot."