I'm back! This one will be sped up through the beginning but slowed down towards the end. I apologize. I want to get us set up in the good stuff, y'know? Sorry for the Hiatus. School, army, and work has kept me clapped.

Also, this chapter is pretty garbage, BUT it's mostly a transitional chapter to get us into the main storyline. So don't worry. I'm working on the next one now and trust, it's gonna be a hundred times better.

Chapter 3: Shiketsu High

Izuku coughs aggressively, clutching at his chest as his lungs desperately pull at the air. He is circled by a black smoke, and fire is cackling at his ears. There are screams, desperate screams. He doesn't know from whom, nor from where- he can't pinpoint them. One might sound as if it's behind him, while another sounds off in front of him. They're everywhere?

The crying. It's pure agony. A pleading for help.

He can't see. His eyes sting and water from the hot smoke around him.

It's scorching. He's sweating profusely.

He can't move. His feet are melted onto the scalding, dry, barren ground beneath him.

Where is he? What is happening? Is his house on fire? Is his mother ok? Is Nikasa still there? Why can't he call out to her? Where has his voice gone? Fear begins to grip at his mind, and he finds himself panicking internally. Wherever he is, he doesn't feel safe. In fact, he feels unwelcome, as if he were an intruder. He feels hated, as if he were begrudged by someone. It feels as though he is being overpowered by a desperate, clinging force.

The screaming and crying, it's getting louder by the second. He can just barely make out certain words: 'help-' 'let -go' 'hurt- 'repent'. The voices are horrific, and dry. It is as if the carriers of the voices had been dehydrated for centuries. He can't see them, yet he knows they're getting closer. It's a matter of time before he starts feeling the voices by his neck and ears, practically in his own head. There are painful sensations that ripple through his ankles, and he internally lets out a sharp cry of agony. The sensations creep up, growing stronger and wider as they go. He knows he is being grabbed, hands grabbing at his arms and legs, and the voices- they're so loud

So damn loud- Quiet! Stop, please! Somebody help!

'-help'

Let me go-

'Let- go'

It hurts!

'Hurt-'

'Hurt-'

'Hurt-'

'REPENT'

I'M SO-

With a helpless gasp, Izuku shoots up in his bed, panting panickedly and gripping at his bed sheets. There are tears running down his cheeks, but if anyone were to look at him, it would not be noticeable among the various beads of sweat all over his face. He coughs, and sniffs, looking ahead into the darkness of his room. His heart had never beat so fast. He almost preferred the stillness of it in death over its frantic, chest breaking thumps.

"Izuku?" A soft feminine voice whispers from behind him

He can't see her, but he remembers the voice of Nikasa. He struggles to make a sound, regardless of how clenched and tight his throat feels. Only a gurgle of unswallowed mucus could escape.

"It's okay, don't say anything."

He doesn't. He remains there, sitting and sobbing. There is a phantom pain on his limbs, in the exact spots that he was grabbed. It felt so real. All of it felt so real. He could just faintly hear their cries and condemnations echoing in his mind.

A brief fluttering sound broke through his head, followed by a small pressure on his thigh. Croak

Izuku huffs a small laugh. "You're still h-hhere" he manages.

Croak, he hears the raven respond.

He can feel the stiffness of his body begin to subside, and takes the opportunity to look around the room through watery eyes. His clock is on his bed stand: it reads, 8:17. No point in going back to sleep. Izuku blinks away the rest of the tears in his eyes and shakily shifts off of his bed. The sheets practically peel off of him with how drenched they are in his sweat.

"Do you want help?" Nikasa offers

"N-no, I'll be f-fine." Not that she could, anyway. He stands to his feet, wobbling only a little bit as he makes his way to his door. A shower should help him calm his nerves. The water is cold, and his mind is too distracted by the temperature to focus on the earlier heat of that- place…

He can hear a small fluttering outside the bathroom door, followed by a quiet croak. A smirk makes its way to his face as he thinks about how similar to a dog this bird is acting.

He makes his way to the kitchen after dressing. He can hear the clinging and clanging of pots and pans from down the hallway. His mother is cooking breakfast and humming innocently to herself. He breathes, pleased by her blissful peace. To think he had almost left her behind, it makes him sick now. "Ohayō, Okasaan."

Inko Midoriya turns around and locks eyes with her son. She smiles, placing down the utensils in her hands, turning off the stove, and interlocking her fingers in front of her chest. "Izuku, I was planning to surprise you, but you're awake early."

"It just happened," He walks over to her. "And I figured I should just stay awake."

She nods, "Well, breakfast is almost ready for you. I am making your favorite: Tamagoyaki."

Izuku smiles and glances over at the rolled eggs on the stove. He doesn't deserve this… "Arigato."

Inko catches his lack of excitement, and grabs at his chin gently. "You don't seem happy. Do you not want it?"

"N-no I do, I'm sorry." Izuku waves her off with an apology. He turns to grab a plate and place it on the table so as to contradict her concern.

She doesn't say anything. Instead, she lets him scurry along the kitchen to set the table up. But her eyes never leave him, and he can feel them lingering on him for an uncomfortable amount of time. He doesn't react immediately. Only when he finishes his task does he turn to face her. "Is something wrong?"

"Izuku, you- uh…" She points at the side of him, "your arm."

He knows what she's talking about, and it would be stupid of him to try and play dumb. "What arm?"

Jeez.

Inko blinks, unsure what to make of his response. "The one on your body, dear. The left one."

"Oh, haha." He scratches the back of his head with the other hand. "That arm."

"I wanted to ask you yesterday but it didn't seem like the best time. Did you get a tattoo before you…" She trails, unsure of whether or not to finish that thought. Izuku knows what she is going to say.

"No, actually. It came right after. A man- my quirk, gave it to me as a symbol I guess."

"But it is permanent, right?"

Izuku snorts, "yes mom, it's permanent. At least it's necessary for my powers, and not some choice I made on a whim, yeah?"

"I suppose." She frowns. "And the bird? Is that also a product of your quirk?"

"No she-" Wait. WAIT. "Wait, mom, you're a genius!"

"How else would you have been born so smart." She smirks as Izuku runs off down the hallway toward his room. He reappears within a minute, the now whiplashed raven in his hands.

"No wonder she hasn't left me alone! What if she's some sort of companion? Or a tool? Or an extension of my quirk?" He places the raven on the counter, ignoring his mother's gasp of disapproval. He releases her, "Okay, show me what you do."

The raven blinks, croaks, and scratches under its wing with her beak. Izuku huffs, poking her in the side, resorting in a nip at his fingers. "Can you understand me?"

A head tilt, and a croak. He couldn't tell if that was a yes or a no if he tried. He sighs, looking back at his mother. "I'll have to investigate this at a later time."

Inko stiffly nods, pointing at the bird, "Now can you get her off my counter?"

He obliges, and goes a step further to start setting up their plates. They eat their breakfast, and his mother is silent throughout the meal. It isn't anything new, she doesn't have to talk, but he can see in her face that she's thinking about something. He prepares himself for a question or a statement. "Okasaan? Daijoubu desu ka?"

She glances up, locking eyes with him for only a moment before she nods. "Yes, I'm okay. I just…" She trails off. "I know you've been through all of this because of getting rejected by U.A."

"It's fine, I can always reapply next year-"

"But you'll be behind, Izuku. I don't want that for you. I know you. It will always bother you how far behind you are and where you could have been."

She's right, it will. Especially knowing that Bakugou would be a year ahead of him, constantly looking down on him while being a superior. Izuku wouldn't be able to take it.

"That's why I've been meaning to ask you something." Inko looks down at her hands.

"What is it?"

"It isn't U.A., but it's very close to it, and in constant competition: so you'll be able to talk to your friend Katsuki!" She smiles nervously. "What about… w-what about Shiketsu High?"

Izuku blinks. Shiketsu high? The second place highschool. They say people go here when they aren't good enough to be the best, and he wanted to be the best. Not to mention how far from home it is. It's on the far west side of Japan. He won't be able to see his mother as much. Could his pride handle it? Izuku has always been a pretty humble person, but even he has his limits. It's either he goes to the second place highschool, or is inferior to Kacchan for three years.

It's bothersome, to say the least. Neither option is the most appealing. He wants to be the hero who rises to the top after falling so far down. But you can only get your way so much in this world. He has a quirk now; should he really be so picky about the school? Would he have rather gotten into U.A. without one? Izuku sighs. Shiketsu is better than nothing, he supposes.

"I… I guess it wouldn't hurt to give it a shot."

Inko smiles. "Oh Izuku! I was hoping you'd say yes!"

He isn't smiling like she is. His face is disappointed. She can see it.

Inko clears her throat. "If anything, you could always transfer in your second year…?"

This brings the light back to his eyes. She's right, he could. Shiketsu could get him where he needs to be, and then he can join U.A. and fulfill his real dream. This means he's going to have to work excessively hard, so that when he does join; he'd be the best coming in. He can make them regret looking over him so easily.

Although, he can't argue with the fact that their rejection is technically the reason he has his quirk to begin with…

No. That's no excuse- who's to say he wouldn't have died in the exams or in training? He could have gotten his powers then.

But why would they want him to die at all? They couldn't anticipate that he would be revived by some quirk triggered by death.

It doesn't matter. They rejected him, and they will regret it.

That's so irrational and angry…

When did he become so irrationally angry?

"-Izuku?"

He startles before coming to recognize his mother's voice. "I'm sorry, yes? I didn't catch that."

She purses her lips, concerned, but says nothing of it; in lieu, she repeats herself. "I was saying, their entrance exams are still open. They have a second one for students who, I assume, failed to get into U.A.. Makes sense for a rivalry school. You can try out for that one? But I think it's coming rather soon, as in- two days."

"Two days!?" Izuku jumps to his feet.

"I'm sorry, I would've told you sooner but you were gone last night and I-"

"No, no it's okay mom, it isn't your fault. I just-" He runs his hands through his hair. "I should have had a backup plan to begin with. I'm the one who put all my focus into one school. Thank you, really."

She nods, opting to finish her food rather than respond. A croak sounds off from behind her, making her stiffen a little. Izuku choffs.

He has very little time to prepare for this second chance. If he wants to make it into this school, he is going to need to work hard at mastering his abilities, but keeping in mind what Shinō told him yesterday. As long as he can get his physical body used to them in the real world, and strengthen himself physically, then it shouldn't be too hard, right? Well, first he needs to try his powers and see how they affect his body. There's no telling how training in Kosei Shin impacted him here.

"I'm going to go and work out." He says to his mother, finishing the last of his food and making his way to the doorway. The raven croaks again and flutters over to him, landing on the typical shoulder. In that time he notices the absence of another companion's presence, but doesn't make any move to look around; not wanting to draw his mother's attention. She doesn't need to know about his relations to the dead just yet. It would surely freak her out.

He turns and makes his way out the door. There's a beach near the city, Musutafu beach. It's covered in trash and abandoned. That might be the best place to go. Very few people visit the place due to its gross appearance, and trash is something that he won't be punished for damaging. Though there is a bit of discomfort in him, knowing that Nikasa had taken her life there…. Where is she?

~~000~~

Izuku falls to the ground, letting exhaustion take its course. Surrounding him are piles of broken boxes, shattered old vehicles, and various battered abandoned items. The fact that he had been able to keep up such a workout for a whole eight hours straight is mind boggling, although he certainly slowed down towards the end. He knows that Kosei Shin is timeless, and that the labor had little effect on his stamina; but he hadn't considered how well that hard work would pay off in the real world. If he can do this training for this long, he can only wonder how much 'time' had passed in the void. He would like to believe these eight hours would translate to months there, or hopefully even years- or maybe he's over exaggerating. Either way, now he can rest assured that there is nothing to worry about come the exams.

Shinō has really helped him. Way more than Izuku imagined. The king of death had every right to call Izuku out for his impatience to learn more. What he has now is more than enough. In fact, the greenette could feel his body begin to burn and tire around the sixth hour; if he had pushed himself past the eighth, who knows what would have happened. Currently, everything is throbbing. His legs are so weak, he can't even feel them. His arms are so sore, flexing a finger sets every muscle on fire. He can barely move his neck, and breathing makes him feel as though he has hot coil springs for lungs.

This was only a trial to run through everything he knows, and the very moment he started- he could feel the weight of his power on his body. Yet he still managed to last so long.

A smile creeps onto his face. He glances behind him, the best he can without painfully lifting his head. "See that, girl? I'm so strong already. I'm gonna pass these exams, no problem."

The raven behind him croaks and flaps her wings.

"You did great."

Izuku jolts stiffly, straining his head to get a glimpse of where the voice had come from. He recognized it; soft and feminine. "Nikasa?"

The ghostly girl starts, sighs in what seems like relief, and then smiles gently. She is sitting cross legged to the side of him, and she looks oddly more transparent than usual. There's an expression of discomfort on her face, covered by a smile forcefully printed onto her cheeks. "Hi, Izuku."

The boy still can't find it in him to move much, but he manages to painfully roll his body onto his right side, facing his friend completely. "Hey… what's up? Where have you been?"

"Nowhere." Nikasa mumbles quietly. "I remember this place…"

"Yeah, I'm sorry. Had I known you'd show up later, I might've chosen another spot. What do you mean nowhere?"

"It's fine, it's pretty. And, I don't know."

His face scrunches in confusion as he tries to read her white, lifeless eyes. Something in her tone doesn't seem right. "Why do you look so different?"

"I don't know."

Izuku sighs, growing tired of the short and blunt responses. "Why are you acting so strange? I mean, I know we only met yesterday- so I can't possibly know you that well. But I feel like I do- or at least enough to see through the lie that you're telling."

There's a twitch in Nikasa's eyes, and Izuku catches it. "I saw that. What are you lying to me about?" He struggles to sit up onto his butt. He fails.

"I'm not trying to lie, I just- I don't want you to worry."

"You not telling me is going to make me worry." Izuku counters. "What's going on?"

Nikasa hesitates, picking at ghostly nails as she tries to avoid eye contact. "I disappeared." She whispers.

Izuku can faintly understand what she's saying. "What do you mean you 'disappeared'."

"I mean I- well, I-" She inhales. "When you left your room this morning, I called out to you. You didn't hear me."

His brows begin to furrow in confusion. He spoke to her the second he woke from his nightmare, now she's telling him that she had disappeared just shortly after that?

"When you went to eat," she continues. "You didn't hear me cheering you on, and congratulating you on Shiketsu High."

The greenette, finally finding a little more strength in his body to move, props himself up on his arm. His heart begins to sink.

"When you left to train, you didn't hear me calling out to you."

Wasn't he supposed to be able to see the dead? Why is she suddenly invisible to him?

"You didn't even hear me cheer you on while you used your new quirk for the first time. You really did do great, by the way." She looks solemn. Izuku can see no joy nor hope in her dead eyes. "But it's also kinda creepy…"

"I don't get it. Why are you going away? Is there something I have to do to continue to see you? Again, I know we only just met but…" She's his friend now. His very first friend since Bakugou.

"I don't know. I guess there's a time limit?"

"Until I can see you? Or before you disappear again?"

Nikasa exhales. "Hopefully the former."

There's silence, and Izuku takes the time to fully sit up. The sun will begin to set soon. It's almost evening. Neither of them say much for a moment. Even the raven sits silently beside them. He doesn't really know what to do, or where to go from here; so he opts to say nothing. Instead, he stands to his feet with a few wobbles here and there, and changes the topic to one more exciting. "After tomorrow, I have the exams. Maybe I should go into town early and meet some of the other aspiring students? It might help me understand a bit more about what this exam will look like, don't you think?"

Nikasa brightens at that, warming Izuku's heart. "Yeah! And you'll be a lot closer, so you won't be late to the exam!"

"Psh, I wouldn't be late regardless. I have too much anxiety for that." He chuckles as he turns to head back to the main street. He takes a moment to turn and click his teeth, tapping his forefinger on his left shoulder. The raven croaks and flutters over to him, perching perfectly on its new mount.

"You're really warming up to her." Nikasa giggles, catching up to him.

"If I can't get rid of her, I might as well get used to her." Izuku sighs playfully, "Besides, my mother brought up a good point earlier. There might be a chance that she's a product of my quirk. If she is, I'm determined to know how."

Nikasa frowns. "I know Izuku, I was there."

"Oh."

And there it is again. The silence.

"Izuku?"

"Yes, Nikasa?"

"What if I disappear again tonight?"

"Then I'll find you again tomorrow." He smiles.

This makes Nikasa snort, looking away from him as she tries to compose herself. "That was corny."

Izuku chuckles. "Yeah, but it's true. I will."

"Okay."

It doesn't take them long at all to return home. His mother is waiting for him there, in the kitchen. Almost as if he is repeating the morning, she has dinner prepared for him. He hadn't realized how hungry he was until now. Maybe if he had packed a lunch, it would've given him more energy throughout training. He might've been able to push further? No. In a real life situation, he won't have time for food. He's going to be a hero soon, so he needs to think realistically.

He thanks his mother and scoffs down his dinner, and opts to inform her about his plan for tomorrow. She doesn't show any hesitancy towards his choice, and actually asks to help him pack in the morning.

A food coma starts setting in as he places his items in the sink and bids his mother an early good night. It's only just the evening, but he is exhausted from the workout. After a nice hot shower and brushing his teeth, he gleefully leaps into his bed, drowning himself into his blankets. He got a second chance. He can't believe he got a second chance, and it might even lead him to where he wanted to be in the first place.

~~000~~

No no NO

Please not again

Fire. Fire everywhere. Smoke suffocates him. He's running. From them. Them? Who are they? What's going on? They're chasing him. Chasing? Why? What's happening?

Karito, where are they?

Karito- who is Karito? What is happening?

Karito, where am I?

They're calling again.

'Repent'

I will not.

Okay, I will.

Come at me

Leave me be, please

Karito, help

A bird, a black bird. Big and trailing shadows behind its body like a wave of ribbons are attached to it. It's with me. Karito. You are Karito.

The bird opens its wings and engulfs Izunō. It is no longer hot. It is no longer suffocating.

Only darkness exists now

~~000~~

Izuku wakes up, body stiffened and dampened with sweat. He swallows, allowing himself to loosen and catch his breath before he sits up in his bed. There's a knock at his door, and he mutters something- probably permission for the person to enter. His ears are still tuning into the world around him and his eyes are adjusting to the sunlight streaming through his window.

His room door opens and his mother is standing at the entrance with a wide smile on her face and a suitcase in her right hand. Upon seeing her son, her smile fades almost instantly, and transforms to a frown of worry. "Izuku? Are you okay?"

A shuddering breath escapes his lips. "Yes. I'm sorry, yes I am, I just- a scary dream, is all."

"Oh, honey…" She places the suitcase against the door frame and makes her way over to his bed. She sits beside him, gently rubbing her hand around his back. Izuku silently prays she doesn't feel how sweaty his shirt is. "Want to talk about it?"

"Not really, no." He wipes his damp palms across his pants. "Are you here to help me pack?"

Her smile returns, and she goes back to grab the suitcase. "I've already gotten the hotel booked for you and everything! Right down the street from campus. And I even heard that there might be other potential students there!"

Good, that's kind of what he was hoping for. He needs to know who he's going to be competing against to get into the school, and someone is likely to know what sort of exams they're facing.

Izuku stands unsteadily to his feet, flapping his shirt to get some airflow around his now drying torso. "Hai, thank you mom."

It doesn't take them long to pack. Because he will be returning home after the exams, they only need so many clothes. He silently notes the lack of Nikasa's presence once more, and as he and his mother set out to the western side of Japan, he doesn't neglect to keep an eye out for her- or at least try to.

Shifu Hotel is where they arrive, and Izuku's room is surely a sight for a city boy who's been stuck in an apartment all his life. The bed is large, queen sized; and there's a 20 inch tv on the wall at the foot of it. The wall across the room is completely made of glass- one giant window. Through it, he can not only see the entire city around him, but the campus to Shiketsu high as well.

And boy does it look intimidatingly big.

"Okaasan, how did you afford this?"

Inko giggles, "Izuku, I have money. Besides, there was a discount on this place. With all the aspiring heroes trying to get into the school, the hotel offered lower prices for people on the applicant list."

From his left shoulder, an excited croak strikes his ear, and the raven that had found its way on the journey with him leaps from its perch and flutters around the room.

There were tears that streamed from Inko's eyes when she bid her son goodbye. "Izuku, the last time you left…"

"I will not make that mistake again." He promises, sternly.

She nods hesitantly, and after a few more hugs and kisses, begins making her way back to their apartment while he settles into his room. Izuku was unsure of what to do with himself at that point. Now he sits here on his bed, staring at his hands while an animal flies around his room out of curiosity.

Nikasa, by what she was saying, is likely still somewhere in this room. Even if he can't see her, she can see him, as well as hear him. "Hey, Nikasa. I know you're here."

No response, as expected. "Just know, I haven't forgotten you. I'll figure out how this works, and I'll see you again." He imagines, and hopes, that she is smiling.

He sighs as the large bird perches on the ground, pecking down at the tile floor. After a minute of investigation, it flutters up and above the tv, looking down on Izuku from its superior ground. The sight triggers something in Izuku's mind. Before he's aware, a word slips out from his lips, "Karito…"

A sheen of bright green light slithers across the raven's eyes, and there is a sudden familiarity that Izuku feels between them. It croaks, and flaps its wings rapidly. It's reacting, and urging him… perhaps to say it again? To use it in some way?

There is a knock on the door, before he can.

Izuku is pulled out of the trance he didn't know he was in. "Hello?" He calls.

"Hello?" A feminine voice responds. "Hello neighbor!"

He blinks and glances back at the raven in confusion before standing to open the door. In front of him stands a light brunette girl, about two inches shorter than him with long lashes and very glistening lips-

Not that he was staring at her lips, they just stood out and he couldn't have helped but to notice it- standing out isn't a bad thing either, it can be a good thing and it is a good thing that her lips stand out- not for any personal preferences or-

"Hi! I'm Camie Utsushimi, but you can call me Utsushimi. I saw you move in here and wanted to come introduce myself!" She smiles. It's a very seductive smile. Izuku isn't sure he likes it. "You're here for the exams right?"

"I…" he swallows. "Yes, I am. Are you?"

"Of course." She steps into his room. He doesn't get the chance to stop her. "So what's your quirk?"

"Uh… Necromancy." He's still holding the door. He really wants her out.

She pauses, spinning on her heels to face him. Her eyes lift and fall upon his figure, gears are turning in her head. "Do you, like… raise puppies from the dead?"

Huh? "Huh?"

"You don't look like you deal with dark arts, love. That tattoo is the only thing saving you. Aren't you a bit young-" A fluttering sound draws her attention. She gasps. "Oh my gosh! You have a pet crow?"

"Raven. Please don't touch her."

Utsushimi isn't listening. She reaches up and gives the bird a stroke on the head with her finger. The bird hops down from the TV and comfortably rests on her extended arm. "She's so cute! What's her name?"

… He never named her. There's a hesitation that leadsUtsushimi to glance up at him. "U-uh… Kari-to…"

"Hi Karito!" She squeals. "Such a creepy name for such a cute crow-"

"-raven."

"Why would you name your bird 'Reaper'?" She looks at him disappointedly.

"I… didn't think…about it." How did he not notice that? Reaper. This bird definitely is a part of his quirk. It's certainly the one from the dream. Now the question is, what can she do? What is her purpose?

"Hm. Well," She turns to face him, keeping Karito close to her chest. "I'm going to get some food with my friend, you should come. You're with us now."

"I'm good." Izuku declines quietly. "I'm not really hungry."

"When did you last eat?"

"Breakfast."

"So six hours ago?"

"...I have a slow metabolism-"

Utsushimi pushes past him and marches out the room, not forgetting to grab his hand in the process. He feels himself being yanked out of the door frame, and the hand he had on the door knob pulls it shut. "W-wait! My key card!"

"You can get another one!"

They arrive at a nearby restaurant, Ryu's Ramen. They're sitting at a table, awaiting Utsushimi's other friend. Izuku feels uncomfortable. Not simply because of how quickly he got abducted by a strange and seductive girl, but because of the many eyes on him and Karito being in the room. Perhaps they should've found a pet friendly place.

There's a flutter on Izuku's shoulder, and he's pulled out of his head. His attention is caught by a massive approaching figure. Before him is a man, definitely over six feet, with buzzed black hair and a smile painted over his face. He stands towering over their table, eyes locked on the poor greenette. "Wow! Another friend! Hi, I'm Inasa Yoarashi, what's your name? Cool tattoo!"

"U-um, Midoriya… Izuku…and thanks."

"Don't scare the guy." Utsushimi frowns. "You're being too much."

As if she wasn't? "I-it's fine. I'm fine." Izuku nervously assures her.

"Sorry!" Inasa laughs, "I can't help but to get excited when meeting new people!"

He gives Inasa a small smile. "Oh, it's nice to meet you then."

"Yeah!"

…

Nothing really follows after that. Inasa seems cruelly comfortable with leaving them on that awkward note and taking a seat between the two school applicants, and he doesn't hesitate to wave over a waiter and get his order ready.

Izuku decides to make a move and escape the silence that is apparently only 'suffocating' to him. "S-so uh, Cami-"

"Utsushimi." She scolds.

"S-sorry. Uh, Utsushimi. You never told me what your quirk is." He's gripping on to the end of the table. Hopefully, they can't see his knuckles turning white.

"Oh, I can create smoke with my mouth that forms illusions for a little while."

"And I can manipulate the wind!" Inasa exclaims without request.

He's so loud. "Thats, cool-"

"What can you do!?' Inasa exclaims once more.

… "Necromancy."

"Wow!"

…

"You don't look like your quirk-" Utsushimi elbows her friend, interrupting his third brazen thought of the hour.

"Sorry about him." She apologizes as a waiter arrives.

The three of them place their orders. As the waiter leaves to deliver them, Utsushimi leans onto her propped up arms, analyzing the greenette across from her. "So, what exactly can you do, Midoriya?"

"Quirk wise?" He clarifies. "Well um, necromantic…stuff… You'll just have to see at the exams."

She frowns at this. "What if there's no combat at the exams?"

Inasa laughs, "There's definitely going to be combat at the exams!"

"I agree," Izuku smiles, "What else could they possibly want to examine besides our quirks?"

"Well, I heard that we're going to be tested on our knowledge and mental skill during the exam; puzzles, mazes, and analytics." Utsushimi raises her hand to greet the waiter who had arrived with their food. The meals are splayed across the table for them to eat. The waiter bows and turns to leave once his job is finished.

Inasa wastes no time digging into his plate of Okonomiyaki, while also wasting no time voicing more opinions, "putheth!? Matheth!? Analytith!? How thothes thith make me a good hewo?"

"It makes you a good hero because sometimes, heroes need to figure out hard cases to find their enemy." Izuku can barely answer his interpretation of Inasa's question. "Can't beat a villain you can't find, can you?"

Inasa blesses the table by swallowing his mouthful and neglecting to take another bite before talking again. "That's fair! But I heard there was going to be person versus person combat," -he stabs at his plate again. Izuku prays he finishes before he bites it.- "and that's what I'm most excited for!"

If that's true, Izuku doesn't want to end up against these two, especially Inasa. A wind quirk will be insanely powerful. There is a wide range of possibilities with such a vague ability; tornadoes, dust storms, tsunamis, flying, controlling the items around you- all are very probable with simple wind manipulation.

Utsushimi's quirk might cause a mental lag for him. He will need time to find a teller for her illusions, and he will only have that time tomorrow when they are on the battlefield, IF they run across one another. She will lead him astray from whatever the goal of the exams will be. Which, now that he thinks about it, "What exactly is the purpose of all this, if either of you know?"

"I think it's a point system, similar to UA exams. Maybe we need to gather or find something, and they'll use us to be our own distractions."

That's an interesting idea. It certainly makes the exams a lot harder than UA. If he's correct, UA had students fighting robots of certain points to determine their combat and evading abilities, while secretly examining other qualities for heroic evaluation. However, if most students have no opportunity to save or perform heroic tasks, then it makes that point system moot, and only useful for lucky students who find an opportunity, or might need the extra points. At least, that's what he gathered from this year's students talking about it online.

Shiketsu is putting people against each other, but they aren't likely going to forbid helping one another. This makes the opportunity for heroism a lot more likely, and the combat a lot more realistic. Not to mention, by adding an actual villain or goal, it reveals the student's prioritization skills. Will they go for combat points, or mission points? Assuming that's how the system will work. It's unlikely that the school will say this, as the students must have this basic comprehension to be worth the enrollment.

He has a lot to think about, and he's excited to see what tomorrow has in store for him. He's glad he didn't tell either of them what his actual skills were, in case they ran into each other. He has time now to prepare for them, but they won't know what to expect from him…

This is going to be fun.

They spend what seems like an hour and a half actually having pleasant conversation. They're laughing and joking, telling stories and giving testimonies. Izuku learns that Utsushimi's drive to be a hero is purely for the fun of it. She's such a nonchalant person, yet so cheery and carefree. She even allowed him to call her Utsu as a nickname; and in turn, she wants to call him Izzy.

He denied.

But she wants nicknames really bad, so she agrees to being called Utsu anyway.

Inasa turns out to be a very good hero candidate. His passion for being a hero is unbelievable, and his love for passion in itself is admirable. He and Izuku hit it off really well because of this. Izuku's passion for being a hero is also strong, and Utsu comments on how they both look like giggling school girls when they relate.

They comment on his appearance a lot. Utsu says his hair needs a bit of 'reform'. That it's too shaggy and unkempt. That he would be more "attractive" if he looked less like a 'traumatized hell boy' and more like a 'sexy edgy boy'. Inasa calls him scrawny, and excites the idea of working out together. He doesn't like this part of the conversation at all, and really doesn't like how aware it has made him of his appearance.

Izuku releases his chopsticks into his now empty ramen bowl. Karito croaks happily from across the table where she received her own bread plate, courtesy of Utsushimi. "Well, this was nice, but it's getting real late and I want to get a nice workout before bed."

He slides his chair away from the table and begins to stand, clicking his teeth to get Karito's attention. The raven flutters over to him, perching herself on his left shoulder. He had barely noticed before, but she always perched herself above his tattooed arm. It still shocks him that he never considered her a product of his quirk, now that he sees all the signs.

The nightmares that he has had the past two nights clearly have importance. He wouldn't have known what he assumes is the bird's name if it weren't. There's a chance that he is going to have a third one. If he is, then he wants to be ready to try and interpret it this time. Especially if it can tell him more about Karito and his quirk. He needs to get to bed as soon as possible.

"Oh, wait!" Utsu stands, "Before you go, we should totally meet up before the exam tomorrow!"

Inasa agrees with a cheer, and Izuku shrugs. "Sure, why not."

She smiles, "Great! I'll even have a little gift planned for you if you get in!"

"Ha," Izuku turns to make his way back to his room. "Then I'll be waiting for it."

As he exits the restaurant, he can't help but to feel a wave of excitement pour over him. It seems like everything is working out just fine, and he really didn't have anything to worry about. He might have already made some quick allies, possibly even friends. He has a decent understanding of what he can expect tomorrow, and knows what he's going to be up against.

And if his eyes are not deceiving him, he notices a blinking of what looks like a feminine figure nearby. Nikasa seems to be coming back, though it is a lot later than what he expected. He can't wait to spend the night with her and get himself ready for tomorrow.

This is going to be the beginning of something incredible.

And if he wants to be accepted

He's going to bring as much darkness to that arena as possible.

BROTHER that was a lot. Hope you guys enjoyed it, the next chapter is already being written. So don't worry. We're back baby.