As I walked past Izumi, I could feel the tension between us like a thick fog. She caught my eye for just a second, her gaze pleading, but I didn't hesitate. Leaning in close so that no one else could hear, I whispered, my voice ice-cold.
Izuku:Let's make one thing clear
I said quietly, but firmly.
Izuku:I'm not your brother. We're not related. And I hope you don't share our real relationship with anyone. f you do, I swear... there will be war.
Her eyes widened, and I saw her lips tremble as she tried to respond, her voice shaky and full of regret.
Izumi:Izuku, please... I'm sorry for everything. I kn-
"Be quiet." My words sliced through the air, cold and sharp. Her voice faltered, and I could see the guilt swimming in her eyes. I didn't care. Not anymore.
Before I could turn away, Katsumi grabbed my hand, her grip tight, almost desperate. Her voice was trembling, caught somewhere between anger and... something else.
Katsumi:You have a lot of explaining to do, Izuku
she said, her voice cracking slightly.
Katsumi:Where the hell have you been? Don't you know you made everyone worried? And how do you have a quirk now?
She was almost in tears, and that's what threw me off. Katsumi the same Katsumi who used to treat me like I was nothing was standing here, almost crying because she cared. The irony wasn't lost on me.
I yanked my hand free from her grip, my face twisting into a sneer.
Me: Izumi I could've sworn you've been told to stay far away from me
I spat, my voice laced with venom. She wasn't used to me fighting back, not like this. I could see the shock in her eyes, the disbelief.
Before Katsumi could respond, Shiori came up, her face filled with concern, but her voice was softer, more pleading.
Shiori:Izuku, please... we just want to talk. We need to know what's going on. Please, just let us talk.
I clenched my fists, feeling the rage bubbling under the surface. My quirk was reacting to it, the energy starting to hum within me, threatening to lash out. I was this close to snapping.
Izuku:You have five seconds to leave
I said, my voice low, dangerously calm. My patience was wearing thin, and I could feel the power thrumming in my veins, begging to be unleashed.
Before I could lose control, though, I felt it. My quirk was being neutralized, the energy inside me starting to fade. I didn't even need to turn around to know it was Aizawa. His quirk was keeping mine in check. I shot a quick glance at him. His expression was neutral, but his eyes spoke volumes.
Calm down, Izuku.
It was written all over his face. He was giving me a chance to reel it in before I did something I'd regret.
Before anyone could say more, Shoto appeared, his voice calm and steady as always.
Shoto:Shiori, stop. We'll deal with this later
His tone left no room for argument, and though Shiori looked like she wanted to protest, she bit her lip and fell silent.
Katsuki came up next, stepping beside his twin sister. His eyes met hers, and his voice was gruff, as always.
Katsuki:That goes for you too, dumbass
he muttered, pulling Katsumi back. She looked like she wanted to say more, but she didn't.
And with that, the moment passed. The weight of their stares lingered, but I didn't care. They wouldn't understand. Not now. Not ever.
We moved on to the tests, Aizawa leading the way as we started the eight challenges he had mentioned. With each test, the tension in the air only grew stronger, but I kept my focus. One test at a time. One challenge at a time. This was my chance to show them that I wasn't weak anymore, that I wasn't the same Izuku they remembered.
The first test was a 50-meter dash. Aizawa explained the rules, and we all lined up, ready to go. As I stood at the starting line, I glanced around at my classmates. Katsumi, Shoto, and a few others were all watching me closely, probably wondering if my quirk would give me an edge.
When the whistle blew, I didn't hold back. I used 15% of One Above All, just enough to enhance my speed without drawing too much attention. My legs moved like lightning, my body blurring as I tore across the track. The wind whipped past me, the ground a blur beneath my feet. Within seconds, I crossed the finish line, well ahead of the others.
Aizawa:First place: Izuku
Aizawa announced, glancing at his stopwatch. "Time: 2.03 seconds."
The other students murmured, surprised by how fast I had moved. Katsumi narrowed her eyes but said nothing. Shoto simply watched, his expression unreadable.
Ochaco:That was fast
Ochaco mumbled from somewhere behind me.
Kaminari: Fast? He looked like he was flying!
Kaminari added, his voice full of awe.
The second test was grip strength. We each took turns squeezing the grip tester, and when it was my turn, I could feel the familiar hum of energy building in my arms. I squeezed the device, careful not to break it, and the numbers shot up rapidly.
Aizawa:First place: Izuku
Aizawa said again, almost bored.
Aizawa:Grip strength: 660 kilograms.
Kirishima:Are you kidding me?
Kirishima gasped.
Kirishima:That's insane! How can someone have that kind of grip strength?
Sero shook his head, clearly impressed.
Sero:Man, what kind of training did this guy do?
I shrugged, stepping aside as the others took their turns. It was starting to feel too easy.
The third test was a standing long jump. Once again, I launched myself high into the air. The ground beneath me blurred as I flew past the others, landing well beyond the designated area.
Aizawa:First place: Izuku
Aizawa called out, checking the distance.
Aizawa:Distance: 12.6 meters.
I could feel their eyes on me again, but I didn't care. I was winning, and that was all that mattered.
Kaminari:jeez, Midoriya's on fire!
Kaminari said, his voice full of admiration.
Jiro:Yeah, but what's his quirk?
Jiro asked, glancing at me.
Jiro: mean, we've seen all this power, but he hasn't really explained what it is.
The fourth test was the repeated side steps. It wasn't particularly difficult, but I still pushed myself, my body moving faster than anyone else's. When the test was over, I had completed more steps than anyone else.
Aizawa:First place: Izuku
Aizawa said, not even bothering to sound surprised anymore.
The murmurs grew louder, but I ignored them.
The fifth test was the ball throw, which I had already done earlier, so Aizawa simply confirmed my earlier result.
Aizawa:First place: Izuku . Distance: infinity or in other words he broke the machine
Aizawa said, glancing at his phone again.
"Infinity?" Mina gasped.
Mina:That's ridiculous!
Sero:How is that even possible?
Sero muttered, shaking his head.
Kaminari:That's crazy!
Kaminari added.
The sixth test was the sit-ups, and though I wasn't the fastest at first, I eventually pulled ahead, my endurance carrying me through. By the time the test was over, I had completed more sit-ups than anyone else.
"First place: Izuku."
The seventh test was the seated toe touch, and while it wasn't about strength or speed, I still managed to come out on top, my flexibility helping me once again.
"First place: Izuku."
Finally, the eighth test was the endurance run. I paced myself at first, letting the others tire themselves out. Then, with only my physical strength, I sprinted ahead, crossing the finish line far ahead of the rest.
Aizawa:First place: Izuku
Aizawa announced one last time.
When the tests were over, the top three were displayed on the screen. I was at the top, followed by Shoto in second place and Katsuki in third. The others all glanced at me, some in awe, others in disbelief.
Sero:How... How did he do that?
Sero whispered to Kirishima.
Kirishima:Yeah, I mean, that ball throw was crazy but this I guess this is a whole new level
Kirishima replied, scratching his head.
Katsumi looked frustrated, her eyes locked on me, but she didn't say anything same with Katsuki, izumi wanted to reach out to talk to me Shoto's expression remained neutral, but I could tell he was thinking, analyzing every move I had made.
Aizawa-sensei's voice dropped into a darker, more serious tone.
Aizawa:But that means one of you is going home today
he said, his gaze sweeping across the class. Everyone tensed up immediately, feeling the weight of his words.
Aizawa:And that person is Mineta, since you ranked last in everything.
Mineta:W-WHAAAAT?!
Mineta screeched, his face contorting into sheer panic.
Mineta:Please, no! I'm sorry! I'm really sorry! I really want to be a hero!
His voice trembled, tears already welling up in his eyes as he dropped to his knees, almost begging.
I couldn't help but feel a little bad for him. But then again, he did give me weird vibes. There was something about him that just felt... off. And I definitely didn't want him anywhere near Midnight for both his and her sake.
Aizawa-sensei sighed, clearly not moved by Mineta's pleading.
Aizawa:Calm down. I was just joking.
His tone was still blunt, but there was a hint of a smirk at the corner of his lips.
Aizawa:It was simply a logical ruse to get you all to perform at your best. But even though you ranked last, that doesn't mean you don't have room for improvement and personal growth.
Mineta collapsed to the ground, visibly relieved, his breathing returning to normal.
Mineta:Oh... thank god...
he muttered, wiping his forehead with the sleeve of his uniform.
Aizawa:Well then, that's it for now
Aizawa said.
Aizawa:Everyone, go back to class.
As we all started heading back, I noticed Ochaco walking next to me again. She had that same bright smile on her face, though this time there was a glimmer of admiration in her eyes.
Ochaco:Izuku, you're so strong! Maybe you should be in a higher class instead.
Her words caught me off guard. I scratched the back of my neck, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Izuku:So? I'm only strong because I was forced to be strong. I still have room for improvement so does everyone here. And besides, everyone's strong in their own ways. Don't use me as some sort of benchmark to measure yourself. Believe me, it doesn't work. In fact, it'll dampen your growth if you do.
I smiled at her, trying to sound as reassuring as possible. I didn't even realize I could talk that much in one go.
Ochaco blinked a few times, seemingly in awe.
Ochaco:Wow, Izuku. You're so wise! We've only known each other for a day, and you're already such a good friend! And... plus, you look cute when you smile.
The last part slipped out of her mouth before she could stop herself. Her face turned bright red, realizing what she just said.
"Uhm... thanks..." I stammered, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks as well. The word "friend" echoed in my mind. I hadn't really thought about that before. A friend. It felt... nice.
Ochaco waved her hands frantically in front of her.
Ochaco:No! I didn't mean it like that! I mean, uh well, I did, but not in a weird way uh, I mean-
I chuckled softly, cutting off her panicked rambling.
Izuku:It's okay, Ochaco. I understand. And thanks. I hope we get to know each other better.
The tension in the air eased, and we both continued walking towards the classroom. Once inside, the chatter resumed among the other students. I didn't even have time to sit down properly before Iida stood up in front of the class, raising his hand in a very formal manner.
Lida:Since we're going to be classmates, I think it's only right that we introduce ourselves and our quirks my name is Tenya Lida and my quirk is basically engine
he announced. His voice was loud and clear, as always.
The rest of the class murmured in agreement, and one by one, people started introducing themselves.
Kaminari was first.
Kaminari:Yo! I'm Denki Kaminari! My quirk's called Electrification. I can shoot electricity out of my body, but if I use too much, my brain kinda short-circuits.
He grinned sheepishly, scratching his head.
Izumi came up with a smile
Izumi: my name is Izumi my quirk is shockwave, I can generate shockwaves from different parts of my body, my goal is to be the greatest hero of all time
She said in a resolute tone
I came up next
Izuku: my name is izuku, I've already said my quirk already and I'll say it again, my quirk is energy generation and manipulation
Mina Ashido bounced forward next, full of energy.
Mina:I'm Mina Ashido! My quirk is Acid. I can produce a corrosive liquid from my skin and control how acidic it is. It's pretty awesome if I do say so myself!
Kirishima stepped up after her, giving everyone a confident thumbs up.
Kirishima:Eijiro Kirishima here! My quirk's Hardening! I can make my body super tough, and nothing can break through it! Manly, right?!
Tsuyu Asui, calm as always, followed.
Tsuyu:My name is Tsuyu Asui, but you can call me Tsu. My quirk is Frog. I can do pretty much anything a frog can do.
Next up was Tokoyami.
Tokoyami:I am Fumikage Tokoyami. My quirk is Dark Shadow. It allows me to control a sentient shadow that grows stronger in darkness but weaker in the light.
Mina grinned. "Isn't it, like, kinda scary though?
He shrugged.
Tokoyami:Only if I lose control.
Sero waved casually.
Sero:I'm Hanta Sero. My quirk's Tape. I can shoot tape from my elbows. It's super practical for capturing villains or tying things down. I guess I'm like a human roll of duct tape!
Jiro smirked as she followed up.
Jiro:Kyoka Jiro. My quirk's Earphone Jack. I can plug my earphone jacks into objects and channel sound waves through them. It's useful for both attacking and scouting.
Katsumi, who had been quiet for a while, finally spoke up.
Katsumi:Katsumi Bakugo. Quirk: flame ignition. I make stuff burst into flames . I'm the strongest here, so don't even try to compete.
Her brother followed up
Katsuki:my name is katsuki bakugo, quirk explosion, and unlike this wench I plan on being the real Strongest and the number 1 hero
Ochaco jumped in right after her.
Ochaco:Ochaco Uraraka! My quirk is Zero Gravity. I can make things float just by touching them. But if I use it too much, I get super nauseous!
She laughed, rubbing the back of her neck.
Shoto was next, standing coolly.
Shoto:Shoto Todoroki. My quirk is Half-Cold, Half-Hot. I can create ice with my right side and fire with my left.
Shiori basically doing the same as her brother
Shiori:my name is shiori todoroki my quirk is frost fire which you get the idea from the name
Momo stepped forward confidently, her presence demanding attention.
Momo:As you've heard, my name is Momo Yaoyorozu. My quirk is Creation. I can create any non-living object from my body as long as I understand its molecular structure.
She paused, looking directly at me.
Momo:It's obvious to everyone that you're probably the strongest student here, for now. I hope we can develop together, not just as classmates, but also as rivals.
Her hand extended towards me, offering a handshake. I hesitated for a split second, unsure of how to react. Part of me wanted to sniff her hand what kind of trap was this? But I shook her hand nonetheless.
"Okay," I said, trying to play it cool, even though I could feel multiple pairs of eyes on me. It seemed like several others wanted to talk to me as well.
That's when I realized... I hate talking to people.
After Momo introduced herself and our short exchange ended, the remaining students stepped up to introduce themselves one by one.
Koda timidly approached the front of the class, his large frame and silent demeanor making him seem out of place. He raised his hand slowly, and in a barely audible voice, he introduced himself.
Koda:I'm Koji Koda... My quirk is Anivoice... I can communicate with animals
He gave a small wave before retreating back to his seat, clearly uncomfortable with the attention.
Shoji stood up next, his towering, muscular form making him one of the more intimidating students.
Shoji:I'm Mezo Shoji. My quirk is Dupli-Arms. I can replicate parts of my body, like my arms, through the tentacles attached to my body. It's useful for scouting, offense, and defense.
Sato came up next, looking more cheerful than the previous two.
Sato:Hey, I'm Rikido Sato! My quirk is Sugar Rush. I can increase my strength by consuming sugar. But if I overdo it, I crash and get sleepy.
Aoyama followed with a dramatic flair, striking a pose and winking at everyone.
Aoyama:Bonjour, Class 1-A! I am Yuga Aoyama! My quirk is Navel Laser, and as the name suggests, I can shoot a laser from my belly button! But if I use it too much, I get a tummy ache.
He gave a proud bow, his sparkling demeanor standing out compared to everyone else's straightforward introductions.
Hagakure's introduction was... a little strange since no one could actually see her. She waved her invisible hand as she began.
Toru: I'm everyone! I'm Toru Hagakure, though you might not see me! My quirk is Invisibility. Obviously, I'm invisible all the time!
She giggled playfully, the air in front of us shimmering slightly as she moved.
Next, Mineta finally managed to regain his composure after the scare from Aizawa-sensei earlier. He walked up nervously, still shaken.
Mineta:Uh... H-Hey, I'm Minoru Mineta... My quirk is Pop Off. I can pull sticky balls from my head and use them to trap people or stick to surfaces. But if I use too many, I start bleeding from my scalp...
The last person to introduce themselves was Sero. He seemed pretty laid-back and gave us all a friendly smile.
The introductions continued, each person sharing a bit about themselves, but I could hardly focus. My thoughts drifted back to what Momo had said. Rivals? The strongest? I didn't want that kind of attention. I didn't want to be the person everyone was looking up to or comparing themselves against. I just wanted to do my part, stay in the background, and... survive. But this was UA. There was no staying in the background here.
After everyone had finished introducing themselves, the class began to settle down, but I couldn't shake the feeling of unease creeping over me. I glanced over at Ochaco, who gave me a quick thumbs-up and a smile. At least I had one friend. But still... I wasn't used to this. All these people... expecting things from me.
As I sat back in my seat, I couldn't help but think: This year is going to be way harder than I thought.