Chapter 18: Katsuki's first day at UA
Bakugo's first day at UA unfolded with an air of anticipation and tension. The bustling atmosphere of the academy's corridors surrounded him as he made his way to the classroom. The eclectic mix of students from various backgrounds and quirks filled the room with a vibrant energy.
Upon entering, Bakugo couldn't help but cast a discerning gaze over his new classmates. His prideful demeanor clashed with the diverse personalities present, but he paid little attention to their existence, focusing solely on his own path.
As the class commenced, the quirk apprehension test loomed ahead. Bakugo's competitive spirit ignited as he aimed to showcase the explosive power he possessed. In the testing ground, he seized a ball and launched it with unbridled force, the fiery determination etched across his features.
"Die!" he bellowed, the intensity of his throw propelling the ball with astonishing speed and distance, disappearing from sight. His ambitious attempt drew the attention of Shota Aizawa, the enigmatic homeroom teacher.
"575 meters. Impressive, but not out of the ordinary," Aizawa commented with his characteristic stoicism, a statement that briefly pierced through Bakugo's veneer of arrogance. The acknowledgment of his prowess was expected, yet the unspoken challenge lingered in the air.
The subsequent interactions with his classmates unveiled a spectrum of quirks, each with its unique flair. Bakugo's demeanor remained brash, a living embodiment of explosive potential. However, a subtle realization began to dawn on him as he observed the eclectic abilities on display — perhaps the journey ahead would demand more than sheer power.
The quirk apprehension test continued, revealing the multifaceted nature of UA's student body. Bakugo grappled with a revelation that transcended the superficial realm of strength, a realization that echoed through the halls of UA on his first day — the pursuit of greatness would require more than just raw power.
Bakugo's return to the line of students was met with a bubbly expression from a pink-skinned girl with horns. Her excitement about using quirks echoed through the room, but their homeroom teacher, Shota Aizawa, wore a subtle, unnerving smirk in response.
"Wow! So we get to use our quirks, huh? So much fun," the girl gleefully exclaimed, oblivious to the tension that lurked beneath the surface. Aizawa's smirk, however, hinted at a different sentiment.
"Fun, huh?" Aizawa's deadpan delivery resonated through the class, casting a momentary shadow over the students. The atmosphere grew heavy as if preparing for an impending storm. "How about this, the last one on the test. Gets expelled."
The announcement landed like a bombshell, detonating a mix of shock and apprehension among the students. The cheerful ambiance shifted, replaced by a newfound gravity. Bakugo, unyielding in his determination, felt the weight of the challenge intensify.
The realization that expulsion loomed over the test added an extra layer of urgency. The dynamics of the assessment were transformed from a simple showcase of quirks into a high-stakes endeavor. As the quirk apprehension test continued, each student grappled not only with the pursuit of excellence but also the looming threat of expulsion — a stark reminder that UA demanded not only power but strategic prowess and agility.
The brown-haired girl with pink cheeks dared to challenge the seemingly arbitrary rule, voicing her concerns about fairness. Her words hung in the air, challenging the established norm. However, the response she received was not one of sympathy.
"Sensei! That's unfair to the ones that tried their hardest to get in!" she exclaimed.
As if triggered by the challenge, Shota Aizawa's eyes turned a fiery crimson, and the ends of his hair rose slightly, signaling the activation of his quirk. The telltale signs left no room for doubt—this was Eraserhead, a hero renowned for his ability to nullify quirks.
"Not fair, huh?" Aizawa's tone was cold and unyielding, a stark contrast to the girl's plea. "Are disasters fair? Villain attacks? What about a woman getting mugged? Is that fair?" The rhetorical questions were punctuated by the reality of a hero's world—unforgiving and unpredictable.
"In this world, everything is unfair," he continued, his gaze piercing through the class. "Learn to deal with it, or pack your bags because people like that end up dead in a week of becoming a hero."
The gravity of his words settled over the students, underscoring the harsh truth that heroes faced daily. In this crucible of challenges, resilience and adaptability would be the keys to survival. The quirk apprehension test was not just an evaluation of powers; it was a trial that would sift through the resilient from the fragile, setting the stage for the demanding journey that awaited these aspiring heroes.
The quirk apprehension test continued, and Bakugo's frustration grew with each passing moment. In the ranking, he found himself in third place. It wasn't last, but for someone as fiercely competitive as Bakugo, anything less than first was unacceptable.
In second place was a girl named Yaoyorozu Momo, showcasing her quirk with precision and skill. However, it was the one in first place that truly irked Bakugo—Todoroki Shoto. The boy's calm and composed demeanor only fueled Bakugo's internal fire.
As the test unfolded, Bakugo's explosive temperament simmered beneath the surface. The realization that he wasn't effortlessly dominating the competition fueled his determination. The fiery drive to surpass others, particularly Todoroki, burned brighter within him. The competitive spirit that defined Bakugo Katsuki was only intensifying, setting the stage for the challenges that awaited him at UA.
As the tension of the test subsided, Bakugo found himself reflecting on his performance. Placing third wasn't ideal, but it wasn't the end of the world either. His competitive spirit flared as he glanced at the bottom of the ranking, where Hagakure Toru's name lingered as the last entry. Bakugo's competitive edge compelled him to dismiss her as having a weak quirk, a thought he quickly pushed aside.
However, amidst his competitive musings, a deeper, more contemplative part of Bakugo recognized the implications of his own thoughts. It was a fleeting moment of introspection, quickly overshadowed by his relentless drive to excel.
In the midst of his self-assurance, Bakugo's thoughts strayed to his long-time rival, Midoriya. The absence of the one he deemed his primary rival sparked a mixture of disdain and contemptuous amusement. Perhaps, Bakugo mused, Midoriya was indeed wallowing in failure, as he often predicted.
As the test concluded and the students gathered on the field, their homeroom teacher's voice cut through the air, dispelling the tension with a simple revelation. The threat of expulsion had been nothing more than a strategic ploy—an exercise in testing their resolve and adaptability. The revelation brought a mix of relief and renewed determination among the students, signaling the beginning of their journey at UA.