The classroom buzzed with excitement as Midnight stood at the front, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "All right, everyone! This is your moment to choose the name that defines you as a hero. Make it count," she said with a mischievous grin.
One by one, the students stood up and presented their names. Reiko stepped up confidently, her green eyes glinting with determination. "My hero name is Kitsune," she declared. A ripple of approval swept through the room; it suited her perfectly, embodying both her cleverness and her powers.
Deku shot Reiko a proud smile, and she returned it with an encouraging nod. He stepped forward, holding a sign that said "Deku" in bold letters. The room fell quiet with a mix of confusion and surprise.
Midnight tilted her head. "Deku? Are you sure, Midoriya?"
Before Deku could respond, Reiko's voice cut through the silence. "It's perfect!" she called, beaming. "Because Deku isn't just a name. It's proof that he turns what's meant to break him into his strength."
Deku's eyes met Reiko's, gratitude sparking in their green depths. "Yes," he said, more confidently now. "Deku. It's who I am, and I'll be proud to be a hero under that name."
A few murmurs of approval echoed through the room, and Midnight's smile widened. "Deku it is, then."
As the presentations continued, Kuri sat next to Bakugo, watching as his expression darkened with each passing name. Finally, it was her turn, and she stood up, holding her sign close. The name "Birdy" was scrawled across it in bold, confident letters.
"My hero name is Birdy," Kuri said, her voice clear. She shot Bakugo a quick, teasing glance, a playful sparkle in her eyes.
A hush fell over the room, and all eyes turned to Bakugo. His eyes widened, and a flush crept up his neck to his ears. The usual fiery defiance in his expression softened for a moment, replaced by surprise and an awkward, almost shy shift of his gaze. He looked away quickly, clenching his jaw as if trying to suppress the redness that betrayed him.
Reiko, watching from her seat, stifled a giggle, and Deku's brows lifted in silent amusement. Even Midnight raised an eyebrow with an amused smirk but chose not to comment.
When the attention shifted back to the next student, Kuri sat down beside Bakugo, whose fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles were white. "Birdy?" he muttered, side-eyeing her with an expression torn between embarrassment and fondness.
She leaned closer, a knowing smile playing at her lips. "It's because that's what you call me, Katsuki."
Bakugo's flush deepened, and he let out a frustrated huff. "Tch. You're ridiculous." But there was no venom in his voice, only a gruffness that masked the way his heart thudded against his ribs.
"Do you like it?" she whispered, her voice teasing but hopeful.
He glanced at her, his eyes softening despite the stubborn scowl. "Yeah… Birdy suits you," he mumbled, looking away quickly as if the admission had cost him something.
The hero names continued, but Kuri and Bakugo were caught in their own world. When the final few students presented their names, Bakugo's tension returned. He sat forward, eyes fixed on the paper in his hands that read Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight. The boldness of the name felt heavy, almost mocking, as if daring him to be worthy of it.
Kuri noticed and placed a gentle hand on his forearm. "Katsuki?" she asked softly.
His jaw clenched before he spoke, voice rough and low. "I want to be called Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight, but… I don't think I've earned it yet. Not until I'm strong enough to carry it and All Might's name with it."
Kuri's gaze softened, and she squeezed his arm. "You're already stronger than you think, Katsuki. You'll get there. I believe in you."
He turned to her, eyes meeting hers with a rare vulnerability. For a moment, he forgot the rest of the room, the pressure, the insecurities gnawing at him. "You really think so, Birdy?" he whispered, the nickname sounding different now—softer, more intimate.
She smiled and leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek. "I know so, Dynamight."
Bakugo's eyes widened again, his blush returning full force as he sputtered, "Tch—stop doing that!" But even as he scowled, a tiny smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Reiko, watching from a few seats away, elbowed Deku with a grin. "Looks like Bakugo's got more than one battle going on," she whispered, and Deku chuckled softly.
Amidst the excitement and chatter of hero names, Kuri and Bakugo found a moment of quiet reassurance, where the future and all its challenges felt just a bit more manageable.