Flashback, A Week Ago
Dagobah Municipal Beach Park
Musutafu, Japan
"Gosh, you suck."
Izuku was groaning on the ground, holding his aching back before rolling to the side, facing towards the sky. Gran Torino was face-to-face with him, giving him a disappointed stare.
"But, then again, what can I expect from a zygote? You're lucky that you ain't a villain." Gran Torino pointed out.
"Are you supposed to teach me, or are you planning to keep lashing out insults like water leaking out of an old pipe?" Izuku retorted before he got smacked on his head.
"Teenagers these days have no respect!" Gra Torino barked. "Besides, you're suck at utilizing Ryou!"
"Well, forgive me if I find a pomeranian yapping is more understandable than your 'advice!'" Izuku rolled away as Gran Torino tried to stab his head with his cane.
"I thought you're supposed to be a meek, geeky brat with little to no self-confidence, based on what Toshi describes you." Gran Torino commented. "But, all I see is a whiny brat with little to no control over his temper."
"Well, I would be less 'whiny' if you teach me shits instead of trying to get my goddamn hide!" Izuku rushes towards Gran Torino and tries to kick him, but Torino merely jumps and delivers his right on Izuku's gut, which thankfully was protected by Izuku's wrist. The blow was enough to send him tumbling across the sand a few feet.
"You won't properly utilize your Ryou if you keep losing control over your anger!" Gran Torino exclaimed.
"Geez, and now you decided to teach me?" Izuku asks sarcastically before getting bonked on his head.
"Where did you find this kid again, Toshinori?" Gran Torino asks. "This kid looks like he needs to be put down on a peg or two! You should've done it a long time ago!"
"Pot, meet kettle," Izuku mutters. "Your head is so big, all I can see in the sky is nothing but white hairs."
"Hah!" Gran Torino cackled before he tried to slam down the staff on Izuku's head, which he managed to dodge again. "Never mind, I'll do it myself."
Meanwhile, Yagi could only stand at a distance while watching the entire conversation with his jaw on the floor. One thing that comes into his mind is that Gran Torino succeeded in corrupting his successor and slowly shaving off his sanity. There is no other explanation for how Izuku could casually diss his mentor without an ounce of fear.
It didn't help that Gran Torino's cackle slowly grew louder while Izuku's insult grew more creative over time.
Present
U.A. High
Musutafu, Japan
Izuku can be seen walking into the field where Aizawa is waiting for everyone. He notices Izuku's presence before giving him a small approving nod.
"Good," Aizawa states. "You know how not to waste my time."
"T-thanks, I guess...?" Izuku says while rubbing his head as Aizawa narrows his eyes. "Uhm, I hope you don't mind if I ask, but you're Eraserhead, right? The underground hero who could nullify quirk activations?"
"...you know your stuff, kid," Aizawa says with a grunt. "I'm glad that you at least have a good head on your shoulder to compliment with your strength."
"..." Izuku could only sweatdrop at the guy's words. "I have a feeling you're not referring to my current action, but something else."
"I do," Aizawa nonchalantly admits, making Izuku sweatdrop even more. Not long after, Izuku's group of friends start to walk into the field. Aizawa looks at them with an unreadable expression.
"Not fast enough, but it could be worse..." Aizawa mutters as Izuku sweatdrops again.
'I swear, how did a lot of people seem to approve of this man as a teacher?' Izuku thought.
'Toshi is a far better teacher, and he has zero idea what he's doing!' Nana exclaims.
'Are you supposed to compliment Eighth or insult him?' Banjo asks with a sweatdrop.
'Yes.' Nana answers. It took a while, but everyone finally walked out of the building in their gym uniform. Izuku can't help but take a glance at two particular figures, one blue/pink-haired girl and a grey-haired boy. The girl seems to focus on talking to Todoroki of all people while the boy staring at him, silently observes him.
'So, I wasn't the only one who observes other people, huh?' Izuku thought as Aizawa cleared his throat to gain their attention.
"I hope you all have a good reason to take things slow because with each second you waste, more lives are taken," Aizawa says bluntly, causing everyone to flinch.
'There are lines between giving a good dose of fear and just being an asshole!' Izuku screams in his mind.
'...we're...not that harsh, right?' Kudo asks, strangely uncomfortable at Aizawa's choice of words.
'Seriously, I get these kids to learn to be a hero, but this is the first year!' Bruce exclaims. 'It's not a war, and it's not a training camp! It's school, school!!!'
"U-um, sir?" Izuku turns to see a girl with pink hair and skin along with a pair of horns raising her hand. Izuku can't blame for her being scared, given what Aizawa did earlier. "A-aren't we supposed to have an orientation?"
"The staff of U.A. were given freedom on how'll they teach their students and as such, I would rather we jump straight to business as the orientation is irrelevant," Aizawa says before grabbing his phone and showing a list of activities on the screen. "We're going to do physical tests here. Most of these were done in middle school, but unlike them, you are all required to use your quirks for this."
1. 50-meter Dash
2. Grip Strength
3. Standing Long Jump
4. Repeated Side Steps
5. Ball Throw
6. Distance Run
7. Seated Toe-Touch
8. Sit Ups
'So, nothing's changed...' Izuku thought.
'Well, besides the results, nothing has changed.' Banjo says.
"Midoriya," Izuku perks up before he feels some people staring at him. "You've gotten first in the entrance exam, what was your distance when you did your ball throw?"
"W-well, I didn't do very well back then because I was very scrawny, s-so...25 meters..." Izuku says in a slight embarrassment and now he feels everyone staring at him. Izuku curses himself for saying it out loud, feeling he wants to bury himself under the ground.
"..." Aizawa decides to toss the ball towards Izuku, which he catches in reflexes before snapping out of his embarrassment. "Right...now, do it with your quirk."
Izuku can hear a snicker from Bakugou and a small twitch on the blue/pink-haired girl's lip. The last one made Izuku furrowed his eyebrow before walking to the center of the circle. He takes a deep breath before he lets the energy in him flow through his body.
'It's only for a second, but let's test it here.' As green lightning starts to flow out of his body wildly, he feels his right hand being reinforced, and the lightning around his hands turns blue.
Taking a stance, he throws his ball with all his might, creating a sonic boom as everyone is hit by a powerful gust of wind and blue lightning starts to spread around the ball's trails. Everyone stares at the display of power in shock as Izuku looks at the ball before he stops OFA as the reinforced feeling around his hand disappears.
'Taking hits after hits from Gran ironically allows me to access it.' Izuku thought. 'I ain't ever admit it or even thank him, he'll just brag how 'good' of a teacher he is.'
Izuku turned around and saw everyone looking at him in shock, some were in awe. And Bakugou, he seems in utter disbelief and he looks like he has popped multiple blood vessels. To his surprise, two other people share the same disbelief as Bakugou.
'Wait, why are they in disbelief? Like 'you weren't supposed to do that' type of disbelief!?' Izuku thought frantically, confused by their expressions. But, before he could think more about it, Aizawa got their attention.
"Here, you will all push beyond your limit on each test." Aizawa says as he shows the result on the screen, displaying '1,031 m' on the screen.
"Holy shit, 1,031 meters!? That's a whole new record!" A boy with blonde hair and a black streak in his hair (Denki Kaminari) exclaims in shock.
"How are we supposed to beat that!?" A guy with black hair and weird elbows (Hanta Sero) asks in utter disbelief.
"This looks fun!" A pink-haired and pink-skinned girl (Mina Ashido) exclaims. The last one causes the entire vestiges to facepalmed in Izuku's head.
'Why, just why?!' Banjo exclaims. Before anything could happen, Bakugou had already launched himself toward Izuku.
"Deku!! You'll tell me how you have a quirk!?!" Bakugou roars as Izuku flinches a bit before he moves. Before Bakugou could reach Izuku, he was tied by a bandage-like scarf.
"W-why can't I move!? And why is my quirk not activated!?" Bakugou growls as he struggles to move.
"I erased your quirk," Aizawa says as he grabs his scarf and his eyes glow red. "U.A. has a zero policy on bullying. Do it again and you can kiss your career goodbye." Bakugou flinched at that. "Also, be grateful I stopped you." Bakugou looks confused before looking back and his eyes widen in shock. Izuku's fist almost reaches his face, but that's not the shocking part. Izuku shows a cold expression, a fury written on his face.
'Damn it...' Bakugou growls. 'He's making that face again...'
Flashback, two weeks ago
Aldera Junior High
Musutafu, Japan
"Congratulations, out of all the students in this school, you two managed to get into the U.A.!" A middle-aged man exclaimed in excitement. "Especially you, Midoriya! It's quite shocking you got first! Haha, who would've thought!"
"Y-yeah..." Izuku mutters as a vein bulges out of his forehead as his fist grips tightly. Bakugou was too focused on being angry at Izuku, gnashing his teeth as his eyes were bloodshot.
Later
"Damn you, Deku!" Bakugou roars as he pushes Izuku into the wall. "How the fuck did you get first place!? Did you goddamn cheat or bribe into the Hero Course!? There's no way you get first in her course! I told you to not get into the U.A.!"
"...are you truly that fucking dumb to believe such things? Me, cheat, or bribe U.A.? You know me for years and that's the goddamn conclusion you made!?" Izuku says coldly before shoving his hands away from Bakugou, shocking him. "For your information, I met people who believed in my dream. I did my best to not disappoint them by going beyond what they expect from me. If you can't accept that as my answer, then do whatever the fuck you want." Izuku walks away before turning back to face him.
"Also, I refuse to be your fucking doormat ever again. Don't think I'll just take the punishment you plan to dish out next time we've met." With that, Izuku walks away. Bakugou remains on the ground, still in shock at Izuku's change of personality.
Flashback End
"..." Bakugou stops struggling before huffing. Aizawa lets him go as he walks away while Izuku pulls his fist back.
"Also...fun, you say? You all have three years to be a hero while having that kind of attitude?" Aizawa says as he looks at everyone. Izuku feels a slight chill in his spine. "Fine then, let's up the stakes. Whoever comes in the last place in all eight tests will be expelled from the Hero Course."
It was quiet until everyone started to panic.
"Huh!?"
"Expelled!?!"
"When I said we're given the freedom, that also includes what we do about the circumstances of our students," Aizawa says as a creepy grin forms on his face. "Welcome to the Hero Course."
'No, seriously. How does everyone approve of this hobo as a teacher?!' Izuku though, his old personality slips into his mind once more.
"Y-you can't expel us! This is the first day of school! Even if it wasn't, this is too unfair!" Uraraka exclaims in shock.
"And do natural disasters and villain attacks also fair?" Aizawa asks in a harsh tone, silencing everyone. "This world is full of unfairness, and heroes are the ones who can overcome this unfairness. If you simply want to hang out with friends at McDonalds after school or go to the arcades, too bad. For the next three years, the U.A. will do everything it can to give you all one hardship after another. There are reasons why the U.A.'s motto is Go Beyond, Plus Ultra. Try to overcome all of them with everything you got."
'I get that he wants people to take heroic course seriously, but isn't this a bit much?' Izuku sweatdrops before looking at his friends, noticing Uraraka, Hagakure, and Koda get nervous.
"S-sensei," Izuku says, getting his attention. "We fought tooth and nail to get ourselves in the hero course! Don't expect us to leave here without fighting."
Aizawa raises his eyebrow when he hears Izuku's words, but he notices that his little speech is enough to light a fire of determination in the majority of the students here. All of their nervousness disappeared. He even hears 'So manly' from the red-haired boy next to him and tries to ignore the sheer surprise and disbelief from other students.
Later
If it wasn't for the threat of getting expelled, Izuku would admit that these tests are quite fun and a way to start rivalries between students, each trying to push each other beyond the limit to outdid everyone. Sadly, all of them were so focused on not getting expelled that the entire field was buried with nothing but tensions that were so thick that they could be cut with a knife.
Thankfully, it didn't stop some people who try to befriend others. Izuku and Iida meet each other again and he manages to apologize for what happened during the exam, but not without a misunderstanding where Iida misunderstands that Izuku knows the secret behind the test.
Well, he wasn't lying in this timeline, but he does truly want to save those people in the exams. His current life's personality made him unable to ignore people who needed help.
Kirishima once admits to Izuku that he tried to befriend Bakugou after seeing him interact with Iida, who he mistook as a stick in the mud after what he did to Izuku during the exam. But, after seeing him attacking Izuku for no reason, he decides to avoid him. He also apologizes to Iida after gaining more context of what happened in the exam.
To Izuku's surprise, the girls dragged others into the group, more specifically, a black-haired girl named Yaoyorozu and a girl with a frog mutation named Asui (It's Tsu, Ribbit./ What the fuck!?). Izuku had truly not expected Yaoyoruzu to interact with him at all, but she did as she was quite curious at my quirk, stating that she had never seen a strength-enhancing quirk like his.
As for Tsuyu, she is as blunt as her manga/anime counterpart and immediately points out how his strength is similar to All Might. Izuku immediately dismissed it by saying All Might didn't emit lightning from his body, which Tsuyu and Yaoyorozu agreed with.
For the test, Izuku can't help but notice how it's a bit unfair for some students, especially when some students are at a disadvantage on some of the tests. For example, Iida, Izuku, Yaoyorozu, Todoroki, and Bakugou dominated the 50-meter dash, with each of them reaching the finish line at 3.04 secs, 2.91 secs, 3.89 secs, 3.57 secs, and 4.13 secs.
As for Grip Strength, Yaoyorozu, Shoji, Todoroki, the grey-haired boy named Hanzo, and Izuku dominated the test, with Yaoyorozu destroying the grip machine with an industrial clamp, Shoji gains 540kg, Todoroki breaks the machine by freezing it, Hanzo, who has a quirk to consumes literal iron (Is that why his teeth was like Kirishima?) and turns into chains, wraps it around the grip machine and gain 281kg, and Izuku gains 309kg.
For the standing long jump, Bakugou, Aoyama, and Izuku managed to clear the box. For Repeated Side Steps, no one dominated as they all did it normally. During the Ball Throw, Bakugou, Uraraka, Yaoyorozu, and Momo managed to perform well as they got 705.2 m, Infinity, 1,078.67 m, and 609.1 m respectively.
And it continues as they all collapse to the ground, completely exhausted. The only ones who remain standing up are Yaoyorozu, Todoroki, Iida, Hanzo, Bakugou, Izuku, and to Izuku's surprise, the blue-haired girl named Harumi. For someone who has an unknown quirk, something that Izuku can't even figure out and he found out that she didn't use them at all in the test.
To make it even more strange is that for some reason, Izuku's Observation of the girl always results in 'annoyance', 'anger', and 'frustration' towards him. He never meets this girl in his life and she already hates him for no reason!? It's Bakugou all over again. It didn't help that the girl seemed to 'infatuated' with Todoroki, like what!? Izuku wouldn't catch on to how she feels if it wasn't for Observation, given how well she fakes her facial expression.
"We'll be spending the whole time in this field if we're going through each one of the test's ranks, so I would just show you all your overall ranking," Aizawa says before his phone displays a holographic screen with all the rankings.
1.Momo Yaoyorozu
2. Shoto Todoroki
3. Izuku Midoriya
4. Hanzo Hasashi
5. Katsuki Bakugou
6. Tenya Iida
7. Fumikage Tokoyami
8. Mesou Shoji
9. Harumi Minobe
10. Mashirao Ojiro
11. Eijirou Kirishima
12. Mina Ashido
13. Ochako Uraraka
14. Koji Koda
15. Tsuyu Asui
16. Yuga Aoyama
17. Hanta Sero
18. Denki Kaminari
19. Kyoka Jirou
20. Toru Hagakure
Izuku looks at the ranking and realizes who's the missing person who's supposed to be in this class but was replaced by two unknown figures. He then looks at his friend as she starts to sob out of fear while everyone looks at her in pity, except Todoroki who looks apathetic, Bakugou who's too angry at his ranking (Typical...) and Harumi, who seems to show a sign of smugness. Izuku, out of anger, sends her a death glare. She seems to notice it as she flinches in shock.
"Oh, no one's going expelled," Aizawa exclaims as Izuku swore he heard a loud record scratch in the distance. "It was a logical ruse to help you all push beyond your limit."
"Eh!?!" Everyone exclaims in shock.
"I mean, it was obvious that it's a lie if you simply thought it through." Yaoyorozu decides to speak up. "I'm sorry, was I supposed to say it?"
"It would've been nice!" Everyone sans Todoroki, Bakugou, Hanzo, Harumi, Iida, and Izuku yells in unison.
"A lie!? But, didn't you expel the entire class last year!?" Izuku blurts out in disbelief. This fact causes everyone to shut up out of shock while colors drain out of Yaoyorozu's body.
"...what else do you even know about me?" Aizawa deadpans.
"...you like cats?" At Aizawa's death glare, Izuku wisely shut up.
"...the problem child's right," Izuku's eyes twitched at the nickname. "I'll come clean, I didn't expel you all because you all show potential. I would rather crush people's dreams rather than give them false hope and send them to an early grave. And I hope none of you were slacking off because if so, then you don't deserve to be in the hero course."
Everyone remains silent as Aizawa walks away from them before everyone lets out a sigh of relief.
"...it's only the first day and it's been this intense!" Hagakure collapses into the ground, relief in her voice.
"I know, right!?" Uraraka exclaims.
"I...thought it was a lie..." Yaoyorozu mutters in disbelief. "H-how did you know, Midoriya-san?"
"It was one of the U.A.'s scandals as those expelled students received black marks due to the expulsions," Izuku says before showing the news article on his phone. "Principal Nedzu had no choice but to make a public apology. He states that the homeroom teacher shall never expel anyone unless there's a good reason."
"Wait, then why do you have to scare all of us!?" Mina, who overhears this, accuses Izuku.
"I...rather if you guys were not in the dark regarding things like this." Izuku rubs his head. "Besides, I...kinda want to call him out since he's being nothing but terrible to some of you guys, unintentionally pitting us against each other with his threat. We're going to be classmates for 3 years, so I think the tensions were simply unnecessary."
"Geez...not only do you help us to overcome our fear, but you also choose to prevent us from being enemies? I respect that!" Mina exclaims with a grin. Izuku was relieved as he felt the tension slowly loosen up around them.
Meanwhile
"So, how does it feel for unable to hide things from your students?" All Might, who has been hiding in the corner, teased Aizawa with a hint of edge in his voice.
"Don't tease me, All Might." Aizawa grunts.
"I would, but given you almost got U.A. into a scandal with the stunt you pulled, I say nah." Aizawa could only glare at All Might.
"So, what are you even doing here? Wondering how's your protegee doing?" As All Might silently flinched, Aizawa knew he hit the mark. "The Midoriya kid, isn't it? Favoritism much?"
"...I don't trust leaving the students under your care." All Might says as Aizawa snorts.
"This school won't tolerate such things, just a reminder," Aizawa says as he walks away.
"...I'm sorry, young Midoriya. I may have put a target on your back..."
Later
"I'm glad that it was all over..."
Izuku can be seen walking out of the school as he lets out a sigh before rubbing his forehead. Things have gotten too much for him to handle and he was hoping the quirk apprehension test could distract him a bit, but alas, everything crashes like a truck once it is over.
'I can't believe he's a teacher!' Nana exclaims. 'I get that anything's possible in the superhero world, but this takes things too far!'
'Nana, please...let's talk about something else...' Izuku tiredly replied.
'Fine...' Nana sighs. 'So...those kids...'
'...I have no idea who they are...' Izuku sighs. 'One of them is cool, but another is suck. She somehow hates me just for existing.'
'So, she may be another Bakugou...' En points out.
'Yeah...' Izuku replies.
"Hey." Izuku snaps out of his mental conversation as Uraraka gets his attention. "You're okay?"
"Y-yeah..." Izuku says before he notices everyone is beside him. He can't help but be surprised at the changes. First is Kirishima, then Hagakure and Koda, and then Yaoyorozu and Tsuyu.
"So...Midoriya, why is that crazy guy calling him 'Deku'?" Uraraka asks as Izuku can't help but flinch, which everyone notices. "S-sorry, sorry. You don't have to tell me."
"I-it's fine. He calls me as a way to mock me, as it was shorts for dekunobou, which means wooden puppet. To Bakugou, he sees it as a useless item." Izuku says as he rubs the back of his head.
"T-that's terrible," Uraraka exclaims.
"I'm so glad I didn't try to befriend him," Kirishima mutters.
"Wow, ribbit, what a jerk..." Tsuyu states.
"How did that guy get into the U.A. heroic course in the first place!?" Iida exclaims in disbelief.
"Bribery. But, given how he got 5th in the test, it's mostly due to his skills." Yaoyorozu states. Koda was saddened by the story and tried to pat Izuku's back, and Izuku smiled at him gratefully.
"Thanks, but I didn't let him bother him anymore. I mean, I just prove him wrong by getting to U.A.'s heroic course as he always says it's impossible for me." Izuku exclaims.
"That's great. You didn't let him get into you." Iida exclaims.
"Yeah, proving that jerk wrong is one way to get him back, ribbit," Tsuyu states.
"I'm glad that I asked. I thought 'Deku' was a nice nickname because it screams 'do your best' feeling, but I guess I was too ignorant. It didn't help that a bully is the one who comes up with a nickname." Ochako says as a pang of guilt visible on her face.
"Don't apologize, Uraraka," Izuku says as he pats her shoulder. "Besides, I'm glad that you helped me to see that nickname in a positive light. And thanks to you, I can easily see Bakugou as an ignorant idiot who constantly tells me to 'do your best'." This works as Uraraka can't help but laugh as everyone joins in.
Before they could talk more, Izuku sensed another figure before turning around to see Miles in the distance. Izuku perks up before waving at him.
"Heya, Miles!" Izuku shouts, getting his attention. "So glad to see you."
"H-heya, Izuku-san." Miles waves back before slowly approaching him. Izuku can't help but be amused as he looks at the girls seemingly holding themselves from squealing.
"Guys, this is Miles Prower, a Support course student." Izuku introduces the little boy to everyone.
"No offense, Prower-san. But, aren't you too young to be a student here?" Iida asks curiously.
"W-well, I managed to skip several grades and I passed the U.A. Support Entrance Exam." Miles says while rubbing the back of his head.
"You must be very smart if you manage to do that," Kirishima exclaims as Miles blushes a bit. The girls couldn't hold anymore as they squealed and pulled the boy into a hug, much to his surprise.
Izuku can't help but chuckle at the interaction. He was glad that he managed to befriend them, and he hoped he could remain as their friend.
To be continued