The air in the office is tight with nerves and anticipation. The lighting is harsh in the middle and casting shadows in the far corner.
Sumie Rei sits on the office chair, faced by the Principal and surrounded by two teachers, her agent standing behind her shoulder. This is the moment she's been waiting for, the moment all her efforts come together for the big decision.
If Sumie Rei can enter into UA High School's Hero Course… mid-year.
"Thank you for coming, Miss Rei." Principal Nezu's cheerful voice and smile welcomes her.
"Thank you for having me!" She responds, trying not to fidget with the hem of her long shirt in her lap. It feels weird, Sumie isn't normally nervous. She tries to shake it off.
Her agent, Aoi Kobayashi, speaks up from behind. "Thank you, Principal Nezu. Have you come to a decision about Miss Rei's admission?"
Principal Nezu interlocks his paws on the desk. "We have a few questions and concerns that we would like to discuss with you both before coming to a final decision."
Sumie nods, almost expecting it.
"You've done well, Miss Rei, you've passed all of the entrance exams and testing, both academic and physical tests put to you, with flying colours! We would love for you to attend UA. However, we currently have two full classes in the heroics department, and we cannot see an opening for Miss Rei to join either class at the time being. And secondly, Miss Rei will need to pass a test with her classmates."
"Another test?" Ms Kobayashi asks, a delicately hidden tone of annoyance slips through. Sumie doesn't mind. She will do as many tests as it takes. She will take every test they throw at her, and succeed.
"I know it can't be easy," Principal Nezu replies, "but we must ensure that both Miss Rei and her prospective classmates are able to handle her transition into the heroics department. Normally I would not consider such a request and I am finding the balance difficult. The need for heroes is on the rise, but taking on more students into one class is not the answer. Nor do I want to turn Miss Rei away, I have seen how capable she is and how much potential she has."
One of the teachers asks to contribute. Which Principal Nezu allows.
"The potential for being a hero aside, it is important that every student in the heroics department has the opportunity to learn and their teachers have the ability to cater to each individual. 20 students in a class is already a challenge for teachers. Adding in another student is problematic."
He looks tired and disheveled, clad in black with a long scarf around his neck, too long for it just to be an accessory, but there's a look in his eye that Sumie knows. It's the look of someone paying attention, defined focus, despite the rest of his appearance. Probably a home room teacher. Definitely a pro.
"Of course," Ms Kobayashi agrees. "We do understand what a predicament it is for you."
"And it is only by the government's and the commission's request that we consider this at all," Principal Nezu finishes.
"Frankly, I'm against it." The same teacher says.
The other teacher has yet to speak up, but his appearance screams pro-hero in complete contrast to the other teacher.
"What about you, Miss Rei? What do you think?" Principal Nezu asks.
Sumie takes a breath. It all comes down to this. The government was willing to help, but at the end of the day. This is all on her.
"I understand your concerns and I appreciate them, it means the world to me. Because there is no other place I want to be. I don't know how much of my story you know, but I am determined to become a pro-hero. And if I can't get into UA, it'll suck, but maybe I can try to transfer in the new year or something. Or I can enter into the general studies and move up into the heroics department. I understand your hesitation to allow me to join with already full classes and I accept that. But don't think I won't stop trying."
The other teacher speaks up, his voice rough, louder than everyone else. "I don't know why you were not able to partake in the entrance exam like everyone else?"
Principal Nezu actually answers for her. "Miss Rei was not cleared for entry at the time when the entrance exam took place in February."
"Cleared for entry?" The disheveled teacher asks, a hitch in his voice.
"Yes," Principal Nezu hesitates, "Miss Rei has been recovering from her time spent captured by villains. Her psychologist cleared her for entry into the hero studies in March."
"Hero studies in general though? So why UA?"
"This is the best school." Sumie answers, happy to move on from a discussion on her past. She gets enough of that at therapy. "And I know that the teachers here will help me to become the best hero I can be. I know I have a lot to learn, not just with combat and my quirk, but within my mentality as well. I will continue going through my therapy and all that, but I know there's a difference between talking about it and living it out."
"Well," Principal Nezu abruptly stands and disappears behind his desk before walking around in front. "I say that we allow Miss Rei to take the test with her prospective classmates to decide whether they would be happy to have her. As well as the term final exams, both academic and a physical test, alongside the other test that we will be conducting next term for our general education student that wishes to move up into the heroic department as well. I suggest that Miss Rei also attends the summer training camp to get a good sense of where she is at with her quirk. If her classmates accept her and she passes the remaining exams. And then I think we can find room for her in the general studies for now. Is this acceptable?"
Sumie smiles despite knowing there is still a long road to becoming a hero yet. "Yes, sir! Thank you so much, Principal Nezu!"
Ms Kobayashi responds in like as well. Sumie gets up from the chair and the teachers are watching. The disheveled teacher has a weird look that Sumie isn't really sure what it is. Caution, maybe? But the other teacher looks like he didn't really mind either way. And Principal Nezu hasn't lost his smile the whole while. They're all a difficult read for Sumie in just what this means for her and her future.
But she's in. Three more tests, a training camp, and she's in. Nine months in general education before two years in hero studies. What's a few more tests in the face of her future?
Shota Aizawa has seen a lot and as a teacher, had to deal with a few issues. He's been under the guidance of Nezu since he began teaching and he's never known him to lose his cool in any kind of talking or meeting situations. But even he has to think that this is pushing the limits of the principal's tolerance—and his patience. Even if he hasn't shown any signs of that being the case. Maybe Shota is projecting.
Principal Nezu sits on Shota's left and Vlad King, Class 1-B's home room teacher, sits on the principal's left. The three of them are facing high position government officials on their right side of the long meeting room, and Hero Public Safety Commission high standing members on the left side of the room.
What is it about this one girl that can bring all these people to the table?
So far, all they've done is talk without saying anything. Shota's not even sure he's been listening—he has, though.
All he's got is that these people all agree on one thing. Sumie Rei attends UA's Hero Course. But why?
"I'm sorry," Principal Nezu interrupts some long winded 'explanation'. "I understand that you want Miss Rei to attend UA, but I still don't understand why or your interest in the education of one girl."
The head woman of the safety commission nods to the note taker, who quietly and smoothly closes her laptop and puts her hands on top. They don't want people to know something.
"We found her during a raid on a major gang's hideout. It turns out that Miss Rei was kidnapped by villains at the age of four and was raised by them. But it's not her upbringing that drew us to wanting the best for her education and her becoming a hero. No, it's her quirk that we want. I doubt even she knows the true potential of her quirk."
One of the other commission people adds, "Indeed, normally, we would train her ourselves, which we have. But it was decided, with the help of her psychologist, that she should enter into a normal school and socialise with people her own age. It helps that she wants to go to UA and she wants to be a hero. But the main reason for us to push so hard for this is, simply, so she doesn't become a villain."
"You think that if this young woman doesn't get into UA that she would become a villain?" Luckily Principal Nezu spoke up first, because if it was Shota, he doubts he would've said it that calmly.
"Not precisely," the head woman of the commission answers. "She seems to have a strong sense of justice, but we are worried that if she perceives us as… the bad guys, that she wouldn't have a problem turning to more… villainous actions. She hasn't had a snap since March of last year, if that helps."
Shota isn't liking this conversation. "Do you have any, I don't know, interviews with her?"
The woman nods to the note taker, who accesses her laptop once again to pull something onto the screen.
"This was taken in March when her psychologist cleared her for entry into the hero studies."
The video plays.
"Can I tape you for our interview, Miss Rei?" An off screen woman asks the girl with bright orange hair hanging over her shoulders on the screen. She looks to be in some kind of doctor's office, with books and awards behind the couch.
"Sure."
"How do you feel about going back into society? Back to school?"
"I'm so excited!" She beams. "I can't wait to make friends and hang out and train and become heroes together! I hope my hero class has some other girls. I think it'll be really good for me to have some girl friends that are also trying to become heroes."
"Why do you want to become a hero?"
Her smile flickers but doesn't disappear. "I want… to be a hero, to stand up for what is right, to say that enough is enough and fight for people who can't fight for themselves. I want to be a hero that is really cool to watch and inspire others to stand up for the people around them, who will stand up for the people around them and so on. We can't just fight for ourselves but also… we also can't just rely on heroes to save us. I… I know that. Probably better than most, but I was saved by heroes. I'm one of the lucky ones."
"So you would say that you have a strong moral compass? What about your time with the villains? How did that affect your judgement?"
She pauses with a small frown. "I did a lot of… bad stuff with the villains, and a part of me knew it was bad, even though they were my family and everyone else was doing it, and my… the villain who raised me, asked me to, I wanted to be a good, I wanted to do what they asked, but…I never enjoyed it. I never liked it. I know some of the others liked the feeling of having power over someone else, but I never did. And then he saved me, I don't know why he saved me, he could have arrested me like everyone else. But he saved me instead."
"What about what happened last March? No villain asked you to act that way, how do you feel about the incident?"
Sumie Rei's hands are obviously clenched beneath the frame of video, due to the sudden flexing of her arms and the tense muscles in her neck, but her face and voice remain almost the same as it was, if not a little strained.
"I am very sorry for my actions that day," she bows awkwardly in seat. "I know that my actions were inappropriate for the situation. I apologise."
"For the sake of the recording, Miss Rei, would you explain what happened that day, in your own words?"
"My trainer and supervisor asked me to do something and I said no. He said it wasn't appropriate to reject the instruction and I didn't accept that. He warned me there would be consequences for not doing as asked, but I didn't think that the outcome would result in a 12 month probation period. I know that is no excuse, I understand that what I did was unacceptable." Sumie Rei had yet to look up, yet to change her posture or her tone. To Shota, it didn't sound like an acceptable outcome. Maybe it was just the way she told her story. But suddenly, it seems like it'll be better for her with UA than with these people.
Shota leans to the principal, the video still playing in front of them. "I'll take her."
It is a week after their interview when Ms Kobayashi leads Sumie through the front gate of UA High once again.
'I'll never get tired of this view', Sumie thinks to herself. The building soars up and reflects glaring sunlight off the glass.
Ms Kobayashi stops at the reception area. "I can't go any further than the faculty and administration areas of the huge building, security is too tight, someone is coming to meet you and take you to the test area. Is that okay?"
Sumie nods and looks around, trying to guess who it might be.
She's here again! Getting ready for another test. But this time, she gets to meet her prospective new classmates!
"I AM HERE!"
Sumie jumps before a broad smile is instantly on her face.
"ALL MIGHT!" Sumie yells back.
The greatest hero in the world! Right in front of her! All Might might not be her all time favourite hero, but she cannot deny that hearing his voice, seeing him in one of his hero outfits, standing blazingly tall in front of her, is awe inspiring, breathtaking, a beacon of hope and joy. The Symbol of Peace himself. Her heart is going to burst! All Might himself! Is here!
Sumie thinks he's really cool. Especially for all the fear he's put into the criminal underworld, she knows how much it really helps to keep them in check. But because of this, she also knows the danger to society if anything suddenly happens to All Might, the single person, the only person, holding back the dam of criminality itself.
Sumie tries to shake those thoughts out for now.
"Miss Sumie Rei?" All Might asks.
"Yes!" Sumie says maybe a little too quickly and a little too loud. She tries again. "Yes, that's me."
"Brilliant! Let's be off!" All Might turns and briskly walks back the way he came. Sumie follows slightly beside him, slightly behind. She never thought she was particularly short before, but compared to All Might her legs are significantly shorter and she keeps jogging a little so she doesn't get left behind.
"I hear you're trying to enter the heroics department mid year." All Might starts the conversation as they walk, at a much less volume than his greeting, softer too. Probably means he heard a little about her past too. She wonders how much. But not enough to ask.
"I am! I know it's a big deal but this is what I've wanted since—for three years," she tries again.
"I heard it was because your therapist didn't clear you for entry until March. Why couldn't you get cleared before the entrance exam? What happened in March?" All Might asks softly.
Sumie doesn't want to answer. It's frustrating. But it's All Might. And Sumie can't help but feel the instant trust, the aura around him that says, 'it's okay, you're safe. I won't hurt you, I won't judge you, I'll protect you.'
And yet, the words still don't come.
"I—I don't really want to talk about it, All Might. I'm just grateful that both the government and UA are still willing for me to try." Sumie rubs her arm and looks to the ground in front of her, unable to look for All Might's reaction. She wonders what he's thinking.
There is a moment before he replies. "I understand, young Rei. Life is made up of all types of experiences and some are left better in the past. But I will say this— this will be a question you hear again in the future. Especially if you're allowed into the hero course. It might be best to have an answer ready for them." All Might warns softly.
Sumie nods. "Okay, thank you, All Might."
The buildings disappear and all that's left is a massive wall encasing a city in the middle of a forest. It's huge. Bigger than she ever thought a training area could ever be.
All Might takes her into the maze that he calls Field Gamma, and they wait at the bottom of a staircase. She can hear voices up the top but can't hear what they're saying.
This is it. She gets to meet her potential new classmates, and gets to see them in action. She gets to stretch her legs, so to speak, and jump back into combat after way too long of careful trainers and severely controlled environments and proper protocols and procedures that take the challenge and fun out of it.
She looks back to All Might.
He's waiting, probably for some kind of cue.
"Any last minute advice?" Sumie asks softly, as to not disrupt their silence.
All Might looks back at her. "Just do your best. This test is to see if your classmates would be happy—not only to have you in their class with them, but as a colleague and fellow future pro-hero. The results don't really matter, it's your character that is being tested. Good luck. It's time."
All Might's almost stern voice is enough for Sumie to take this a lot more seriously. She will not fail, and if she's proving she has what it takes to be a hero, that's what she's going to do.
All Might leads the way up the stairs, with Sumie three steps behind.
Class 1-A has returned to school after their week-long internships yesterday, and the air in the classroom that was buzzing with excitement and sharing stories yesterday, has turned into a dark and nervous atmosphere in the face of the stressful term final exams. And the secretive physical exams.
Shota Aizawa enters the classroom to see the class rep trying to get the remaining students still out of their seats to find them, two seconds before the bell goes and class starts.
"I saw the report on how you went yesterday afternoon with All Might's class. You've all shown improvement from your first day. And for today's hero studies this afternoon, there will be a test being put forward. Prepare yourselves."
The class gives off different responses, some groans, some nerves and others seemingly ready or bored. Some of them are nervous about what the afternoon will be like. Others are ready for the challenge. Let's see how they handle this particular challenge. And hopefully it doesn't disrupt their preparation time for the following week of exams.
After lunch, Shota stands in front of his class, all of them are suited up in their hero costumes, anxiously waiting at the top of a huge metal roof within Field Gamma, where they were yesterday.
"I told you this morning that this would be a test. But it isn't for you." Shota crosses his arms across his body, his capture scarf always around his neck. "Rather, this is a test where you are deciding whether they pass or fail."
The class looked confused and a little unsettled.
"There is someone who wishes to enroll in UA's Hero Course, which, frankly, I'm not happy about. But it has been decided that you are going to have a say. I've already voiced my concerns about adding in another student to an already full class. The principal will have the final say," Shota removes his hands and puts them in his pockets.
"Your only criteria is to test whether, A, you would be happy to have them as a classmate and B, you think that they will be a good hero. Whether they win or not is not the aim of this test, but for you to judge their character. Do you understand?"
Most of them look to their friends or people closest to them, probably gauging everyone else's reactions, some still look a little confused. But none of them seem to be completely lost, so Shota continues.
"They, upon being accepted, would either join the class at the beginning of next term, as well as attending the summer training camp with you, or join a general education class with the intention of moving up next year. We want to ensure that they will not intrude on your education more than they already have, as such, they have already undergone multiple different tests, and they will also be completing the term final exams and physical exam, the same as you, to ensure that they are prepared and ready to enter straight into the hero course, right where you're up to."
"Mr Aizawa," Momo Yaoyorozu raises her hand and asks. "This does not sound like a common occurrence, for what reason is UA even entertaining the idea of someone transferring into a full Hero Course class at the beginning of term 2?"
"I don't think I know all of the principal's reasons for allowing them to try, but I do know that they come in high regard, and the need for heroes is on the rise. Although it might not be the answer. Take what you will and decide for yourself if they should be allowed to join you. Because it will affect our class. Yourselves most of all."
"Sensei, do you believe that the first three months we have on them in training would be unfair to them?" Iida asks, chopping the air.
Shota actually smiles at that. "Not at all. Although I don't expect them to win all the rounds today, I wouldn't be surprised if they did. You'll be in groups of five, with four rounds in total. Each round will have a time limit of 10 minutes. Does this sound good to you?"
A few people gasp.
"Five on one, sensei?" Jiro gapes.
"Indeed. Don't hold back." Shota nods over to where he can see All Might climbing the stairs, knowing a fiery orange haired girl will not be far behind.
Sure enough, before long, she walks confidently over to where Shota was standing in front of the class, not a hint of nerves anywhere on her.
"Please," Shota waves towards the class. "Introduce yourself."
"Hi," she smiles broadly. "I'm Sumie Rei! It's nice to meet you all!"