The next day, we were all back at school.

I wasn't entirely sure how I felt about the whole thing. The USJ was a decent distance from campus, sure, but it was still school property. Bringing everyone back onto campus was potentially inviting another attack, even after the villains' crushing defeat. I knew for a fact that villains wouldn't attack the main campus with all the teachers and upperclassmen, but it still didn't sit right with me.

As I unloaded my backpack, I was still mulling over what happened, and almost didn't realize that everyone in 1-A was buzzing. Apparently, we'd been featured on the news.

Well, the attack had, anyway.

Hagakure was touting a screenshot of a news report, excitedly showing off a crappy picture of us outside of the USJ. She seemed a bit disillusioned, and I could tell why.

She couldn't be seen in the shot of the class.

"You're invisible, honey. It's pretty hard to see a floating pair of gloves."

"I know, but it still sucks!"

She whined and flopped back in her chair.

… At least, I think she did.

I sat down and stretched my wings around the seat back, wiggling to get comfortable.

Iida was yelling at someone, but I mostly tuned him out, yawning and picking at my nails.

My class was talking about who they thought was going to teach homeroom, since Aizawa was still in the hospital. Most of us were still sore and achy from the fight, but he'd been injured pretty badly.

Shock jolted through the class as Aizawa moped in, wrapped like a mummy in bandages.

"Morning, class."

"He's up!" I said under my breath. Murmurs of surprise and shock drifted around the room.

Aizawa's bloodshot eyes peeped out through the bandages on his face. "My pain isn't important."

I frowned at that.

"The most important thing is that your fight isn't over yet."

My feathers prickled. Not more fighting!

"The UA sports festival is about to start."

I let my breath out in a windy gust, ruffling Aizawa's hair. "That's a hell of a relief!"

I heard Kirishima shout, "Yes!" behind me. Mina squeaked, "Why would you scare us like that?!"

Kirishima continued his mini-celebration until Kaminari planted a hand on his face.

"Hang on."

Jiro picked up his train of thought (Minorly interesting. They'd been doing that a lot lately.), "Yeah, why would they hold the festival so soon after the attack on the USJ?"

I turned in my chair to meet her gaze. "I catch your drift. Couldn't they attack pretty efficiently with all of us in one place?"

Aizawa tilted his bandaged head.

"This is the faculty's way of showing that the threat has been neutralized and our school is safer than ever. They will also be beefing up security. This event is a huge opportunity for all students of UA. It's not something we can cancel."

I heard Mineta sniveling in the corner. He would probably have a tough time going against some of the tanks (myself included) with wicked powerful Quirks. I ran through a quick assessment of his skills. Nope. Hopeless. I was actually kind of curious how he managed to pass the entrance test. No one really liked him, and his Quirk wasn't really up to snuff.

Momo snapped me out of my thoughts with, "This is where you get scouted."

Apparently Mineta had no clue what the festival was for, either.

"That means you better not slack off when you're training," Aizawa finished.

My dad had gone to UA, once. He'd only gone to the Sidekick level, and he was satisfied with that. I'd always thought that he could do more, but if he was happy, I was happy.

At lunchtime, most of the class decided to remain in the classroom after Pro Hero Cementoss left after math. I'd plopped down on the desk next to Bakugo's, listening in on everyone's conversations.

Everyone was super excited and nervous, hoping to get scouted.

However, I was most interested in Uraraka's conversation, watching as she steeled her shoulders.

"Let's go, guys! We'll win the sports festival!" she nearly growled. Her gaze was dark and intense, and the air around her buzzed.

I made a face. "Geez, Uraraka. That was intense."

Mina echoed, "Yeah, usually you're so laid back!"

Uraraka pumped her fist into the air, flexing her Quirk. "Everyone, I'm gonna do my best!" My clothes drifted upward as I whooped and mimicked her pose. Everyone else's hair was standing on end.

"Whoops," she said, back to her bubbly self, "My bad!" She deactivated her Quirk and everything fell down limply, but everyone still laughed and talked among themselves.

When we finally migrated to the cafeteria, I sat with my usual crowd, which now included Sero and Tokoyami.

Bakugo was sitting silently, stabbing his food repeatedly.

"I'm really happy for you, sparkles," I said around a mouthful of rice. "You've finally assembled quite a nice little clique for yourself."

He growled and continued to stab his food.

I looked up and saw Momo and Todoroki wandering around. I grabbed them with some wind and blew them over, doing the same to two chairs.

Bakugo scowled at Todoroki's startled expression and muttered, "Why'd you have to bring the half-'n'-half bastard and the 3D printer? I never asked for any of this."

Momo blushed, and I flicked a piece of beef at Bakugo's head. "Stop being a jerk, Bakugo. You have me, you have them. Enjoy it. Or it won't last."

He grumbled something under his breath and went back to his food.

"So," I said with a sly smile, "Who's ready to kick some ass at the sports festival?"

Everyone whooped and smiled. Even Todoroki's lips pulled up.

Everyone wanted to show off at the sports festival. We'd show our stuff and impress a Hero, and that would begin our career. I was looking forward to finally letting loose.

Back in class, the day flew by. English, Writing, Classical Japanese, History.

But finally, we were done. And I was ready to go home.

I was still sore from the USJ, and I was starting to get a splitting headache. Putting my backpack on was an ordeal, because my wing and back still smarted with every movement.

On my way to open the door, I heard a weird shuffling outside. I yanked it open to find a crowd of like fifty students in other classes blocking the door. They roiled away as pissed, tall me stared them down. I heard my classmates mumbling behind me, but Bakugo shoved past me.

A spark of lightning appeared at the corner of my eye. "You really intend to piss me off even more, sparkles?"

He huffed, "They're just checking out the competition."

"Obviously. They could be cooler about it, though."

Bakugo lowered his head and marched forward, snapping, "Out of the way, extras!"

I kept pace with him, then readied my elbow to jab him.

Before I could, someone piped up from the crowd.

"I came to see what the infamous Class A was really like, but you seem pretty arrogant."

I sheathed my elbow and straightened. That was a statement that could go over very badly very quickly.

A tall guy with purple hair and massive dark circles under his eyes was shoving through the crowd toward our door.

"Are all the students in the Hero course this egotistical?"

Bakugo bristled and began to retort, but I interrupted him with, "Nah, that's just Bakugo. He's kind of an ass."

Purple hair rolled his eyes. "Even so, seeing this whole thing makes me disillusioned."

This guy was starting to piss me off, but I figured trying to extend an olive branch might be the best option from there. Bakugo was burning bridges, which would make life difficult for the rest of us.

I planted my feet. "Hey, I recognize you! You're in the General Studies course, right?"

I shook the lightning out of my hair, sticking out my hand and saying as amicably as I could manage, "Haruto Arashi, at your service."

Purple hair stared at my hand.

"Do you know how many of us are only enrolled in the general studies course or other courses because we didn't make it into the Hero course?"

I glared back. I had been recommended, sure, but I still passed a test just like everyone behind me. I'd earned my spot.

"Despite that, the school has given us a chance. Depending on the results of the sports festival, we could transfer into the Hero course. As a result, they may also force some of you to transfer out."

My class began to move, talking quietly.

I stepped forward.

"Let's keep everything civil, yeah?"

Purple hair looked past me to my class.

"I came to say that even if you're in the Hero course, if you get too carried away, I'll sweep your feet out from under you."

He looked back up at me, meeting my gaze with cool indifference.

"I came with a declaration of war."

I blinked and bristled.

"Alright, smartass, we're in the Hero course because we fought for it. I fought for it. If you think I'm going to roll over and let a purple-haired dick like you take my spot, you are dead fucking wrong."

I began to walk forward. My wings were slightly prickly, and I glared down my nose at purple hair.

"You ought to watch how you use the word 'egotistical.' That seems pretty hypocritical to me. I'm tired and I'm going home. Nice meeting you, General!"

I shoved past him and saluted over my shoulder, stomping away through the crowd. And I thought Bakugo was an ass.

It took me a minute to clear the crowd. Someone else was yelling at my class behind me, but all I wanted was to go home.

I had almost made it out of the building when I heard another set of footsteps behind me.

With a hefty sigh, I stopped in my tracks.

"What do you want?"

Bakugo was standing behind me, hands in his pockets.

"Why do you want to be a Hero?"

"Why does it matter?"

I turned to face him fully, crossing my arms.

His lip curled.

"Because I'm not going to let any old extra follow me around. Why are you here?"

I scoffed, "First of all, I am your friend, not an extra. Stop calling people that. It's weird."

My backpack was sliding off my wing, so I adjusted it before continuing.

"I have a pretty hefty legacy to uphold. You wouldn't know my family's name. They're not from here, but from Okinawa. My grandparents were a pretty big deal, and so were my dad and uncle, and now my cousins. Three generations of my family have been big shot Pro Heroes, and the same is expected of me."

I rolled my shoulders, finally settling my backpack where it belonged, then leveled my gaze at Bakugo.

"To be honest, I couldn't give less of a shit about my legacy. I want to be the best. I want to keep people safe. I want to be someone that a little kid can look up to."

I turned and began to walk toward the door, pausing when I had it propped halfway open.

"I'm going to be number one some day. And I, for one, can't wait."

The door closed softly behind me, and I took off. The sun was in my eyes as I flew home, but I couldn't care less.

I was going to be the best.

And nothing could stop me.

So. Um. Hello. I am not dead.

I did, however, move continents and transfer universities. So. I've been a little bit busy.

I'm so glad that people have been reading and enjoying Thunderbird while I've been gone. Now I'm back, I've written literally 300 pages of Thunderbird, and I'm ready to share it. Thank you so much, and I hope you enjoy!

Let me know what you think!