My Hero Pokedamia

by Zayden StormVoid

Izuku realized at a young age that all men are not created equal. They aren't treated equal either. Some people have more power over others. The same can be said for the wondrous, mysterious creatures that inhabited the world before Quirks: Pokemon. This is the story of Izuku Midoriya, in this world of Quirks and Pokemon, and his path to become the Very Best, like No One Ever Was.

33. Chapter 33

Chapter 33

KONNICHIWA, READER-SAN, AND WELCOME TO ANOTHER CHAPTER OF MY HERO POKEDAMIA, WRITTEN BY THE ONE, THE ONLY, ZAYDEN STORMVOID!

Last time, we had another original break/transitional chapter with Izuku Midoriya, Shoto Todoroki, Toru Hagakure, and Professor Tengoku Taishi traveling across half of Hokkaido to reach the fabled Lake Acuity, home to the Legendary Pokémon of Wisdom, Uxie, the perpetrator behind the psychic interference of Shoto and Toru. A campfire with all four included strengthening bonds between Izuku and his newest Pokémon, Shelgon, traumas shared between Todoroki's and Hagakure's childhoods, and the truth of their circumstances revealed, including Izuku's psychic interference to come from Mesprit, Being of Emotion. Taishi tells a tale of Creation, Myth, and Legend, and delivers ominous warnings about the power and prestige of the Legendary Pokémon, including the potential consequences of disturbing and catching one. The group reached the Lake and confronted Uxie, bearing their traumas and feelings toward the Legendary, from praying to pleading, and even threatening the deity-like Pokémon, who eventually appeared and granted their requests. Izuku sees visions of the past, present, and future, Todoroki's mind is clear and fully remembers the past, Hagakure's Quirk has returned to normal, and her true visage is finally seen.

Where will our characters go from here? How will Class 1-A handle this new Hagakure? How will Hagakure handle her new lease on life? Will Todoroki ever achieve the redemption he seeks? How far will Bakugou spiral? And what future awaits Izuku Midoriya with his cryptic professor? Let us see what questions will be answered in this latest chapter. But first, the Index:

"Zayden," -Normal Dialogue

'Zayden,' -Mental or Internal Dialogue

"Zayden," -Flashback, Pokémon, Letter, and Story Dialogue

"Zayden," -Buff Might, Dark Shadow, Kurogiri, and Izuku Ultimate Move Dialogue

"Zayden," -Flashback Buff Might, Spiritomb, Legendary Pokémon, and Shadow Pokémon Dialogue

"Zayden," -T.V., Phone, and Article Dialogue

"Zayden," -Pokedex Dialogue

[Zayden,] -Present Mic Quirk Reveal Dialogue

Finally, I do not own My Hero Academia or Pokémon. The former belongs to Horikoshi and is animated by Bones Studios, and the latter is a property of Gamefreak and Nintendo.

P.S.: By Jove's great beard, we finally got it, boys and girls! Legends: Z-A news! With what I saw, I was fairly pleased. No new regional forms or Megas was a bit disappointing, but we've got a year of trailers to find out more. I was genuinely surprised with the choices of the Starters, two of them being from the same Gen but here's hoping Kalosian Meganium, Mega Meganium, or whatever they do to Meganium can change this poor Grass Starter's bad reputation as the worst Starter Pokémon ever, like how Chikorita now has Disarming voice. The best design I've seen for a Kalosian Meganium was in a video from Lockstin & Gnoggin, with Meganium as a combo mix of dinosaur, flower knight, and flute. He actually predicted two of the three starters so there's also a design for Kalosian Emboar as a Fire/Fairy chief. Also, do you guys believe this guy exists in the past like in the previous Legend game, in the present, or the future? I'm mostly confused because AZ is with his Eternal Flower Floette, something that didn't happen until after beating Diantha in X & Y in the present. I don't know, maybe we will figure it out more when we're presented with more characters and world-building info.

P.P.S: I also have been made aware of several issues revolving around my story where certain chapters are inexplicably unable to be read, the most frequent occurrences being Chapters 17 and, the latest, Chapter 32. I have no idea this was an issue or how it is since all attempts, on my part, to check the chapters out are left with no problems at all. My only recommendation so far is just to reload the chapter over and over if you need to until it works, and that doesn't work... then I don't know, I'm stumped. However, if you guys have problems here, you can always check my AO3 version of this story, under the same pen and story name, until whatever issue is happening is resolved. If you face the same problem with this story, I'll likely mention in my AO3 version to follow the same advice: reload till it works or wait a few minutes before reloading.

With that all said, Let the Battle-oops, sorry, I mean, let the Chapter Begin!

---

Identity

Third POV

It was a rainy day in Musutafu Prefecture. The clouds were grey and occasionally thundering, and raindrops fell ceaselessly. Three figures were seen walking down the wet sidewalk toward the U.A. gates, their bodies shielded from the rain with their differently colored umbrellas- or at least most of them.

"Gah! Pikachu!" Izuku sputtered and wiped his face as his Electric Type Pokémon shook his body, sending wet droplets everywhere, including the green-haired boy's face right next to him. "If I wanted to get wet, I would not have my umbrella!" Izuku lifted his emerald green umbrella higher with emphasis.

"Some umbrella, Boss," Pikachu huffed, continuing to shake and dry his wet fur. "I have an appearance to maintain among your class and wet fur will not cut it."

"Yeah? Which part of my class are you trying to impress? My classmates or their Pokémon?" Izuku cheekily grinned as he asked.

"Oh, don't you there go there!" Pikachu growled, a tiny jolt of yellow electricity sparking from his red cheek pouches. "Rain plus Thunderbolt will equal a very toasty Boss!"

'Then I suppose we can go there instead?' Eevee's voice projected to them telepathically, yet Izuku could practically feel the shit-eating grin on Eevee's that matched his. 'I wonder which of your classmates' Pokémon Pikachu is trying to impress?' Eevee's tone was too sarcastic to come off as a question they didn't know the answer to.

'Pray tell, it couldn't happen to be that fellow Pikachu of Kaminari's?' Froakie joined in, the humor in his telepathic voice evident. 'The one desperate to rub cheeks with the likes of our resident rodent?'

'No, perhaps it has to do with that Buneary of Koda's,' Combusken snickered. 'Those two have been practically mating with their eyes.'

'If this is true, then I suppose the rodent has my respect,' Shelgon's gruff voice admitted. 'Multiple interested females means the greatest chance to continue his lineage with strong offspring.'

"OH, EAT A BAG OF SPARKING SHIT, THE LOT OF YOU!" Pikachu raged, the red of his cheeks spreading to the rest of his face. Pikachu huffed and turned away from Izuku, pouting. "I hope a lightning bolt vaporizes you all to a crisp."

Izuku rolled his eyes, chuckling. Pikachu's threats were always a welcome change compared to Bakugou and his classmates from Aldera; the main difference was that Pikachu's threats were never serious and were always in good fun-unless the threats were directed toward someone antagonistic to him or Eevee.

Izuku heard giggling, turning to see Serena, covered by her blue, white, and red umbrella, the one giggling with her hand over her smirking mouth. "What?" Izuku asked with a chuckle and a small grin.

Serena smiled as her cheeks grew pink. "It's just always adorable to see you guys bickering and bantering with each other," Serena admitted. "Even if I can't understand what Pikachu is saying."

"She's got a point, Green," Izuku turned to his left to face Jiro, who had coincidentally joined the two during their walk to school. She had a violet-purple umbrella. "The two of you look like a comedy duo, the better when your other Pokémon join in."

"Who says they haven't already?" Izuku asked. Upon the girls' confusion, Izuku chuckled embarrassedly. "Sorry, forgot I didn't mention it, but my link with my Pokémon, the one through my Quirk that allows me to understand them, extends telepathically even when they are in their Pokeballs."

"You're kidding?" Jiro sputtered, her face taking on a flabbergasted appearance.

"Nope, I'm not," Izuku chuckled, finding Jiro's expressions quite cute. "Eevee, Combusken, and Froakie are teasing Pikachu about being attracted to a certain Pokémon of classmates and Shelgon thinks he should go for it to 'continue his lineage'."

"HEY! THE HELL ARE YOU TELLING THEM FOR?!" Pikachu exclaimed, cheeks sparking.

Serena and Jiro blushed red at the implications of 'continuing lineage', gazing away from the boy between them. "H-Heh, you know for all my Quirk helps me hear things better, I gotta say I'm jealous you and Koda can understand your Pokémon," Jiro admitted, twirling one of her jacks with her unoccupied hand.

"Agreed. I'd do anything to understand Piplup and the others," Serena sighed wistfully.

"Oh, come on, girls, it's not like understanding them makes bonding with them normally any less meaningful," Izuku countered, passively. "I'm no expert in talking to other Pokémon like Koda, but I think you two share a great bond with your Pokémon."

Serena and Jiro smiled. "Thanks, Izu," Serena smiled, warmly.

"Yeah, same," Jiro smirked. "But the second you somehow figure out how to talk to other Pokémon, I'm so using you as my personal Poke-Translator."

"You want me to speak in a Siri voice, too?" Izuku snarked back, the three devolving into a fit of laughter.

While the three joked with each other, Pikachu couldn't help but smirk amidst his pouting, nor could Eevee and the others not smile from within their Pokeballs. While they were still wary and unsure of how beneficial Mesprit's Blessings would be to their Trainer in the long run, they couldn't argue with the current results. Eevee and Pikachu sighed forlornly, remembering a time when Izuku joking and bantering with two girls would be a near impossibility, much less speak or walk alongside them without tripping, blushing, and muttering like a complete buffoon. He did occasionally, but it was nowhere near as bad as before.

As the three students laughed, a car came hurling down the street. The tires screeched while it struck the puddles of water by the sidewalk. As it passed, a wave of water rose to splash them, only for Serena to act quickly. The strawberry-blonde girl thrust her hand forward and the wave of water froze mid-air before slacking down lifelessly.

"Nice save, Serena," Izuku gasped, relieved. "Your reflexes are as sharp as always."

"My Queen! My Goddess! Thank you for your divine protection from cursed street water!" Pikachu praised Serena, genuflecting on his Trainer's shoulder in near worship of their savior.

"Hehehe, as I always say, no need to worry," Serena giggled while scratching Pikachu's forehead. "Pretty sure Aizawa-sensei wouldn't like us making a mess out of the classroom."

"Got to ask though, Mariella, how come you even bother with the umbrella?" Jiro asked, her jack pointing to Serena's umbrella. "With your Quirk as strong and versatile as it is, you'd think you could make an umbrella out of water, too."

"No, I can," Serena answered, demonstrating as such by waving her hand and turning the falling raindrops into a watery barrier, further raindrops splashing and falling onto the veil of water before sliding off like it was made of glass or absorbing into it. "Though keeping one up is more of a hassle, really. I have to concentrate a bit to make the surface slippery enough for raindrops to slide off or they may absorb into the barrier and make it heavier quickly. Plus, I'm not really in the mood to run afoul of a very strict Hero chastising me about-"

"Mariella! I must insist you cease any unlawful Quirk usage unless we are authorized or have a license," A voice yelled at them from behind. The three turned to see that it came from none other than Tenya Iida, running toward them while draped in a grassy green raincoat.

"Woah, Iida!" Izuku exclaimed, surprised.

"Huh, looks like you really went all out on the rain gear there, Iida," Serena smiled, mischievously. "Hope no large raindrops fall onto you." As Iida passed them, Serena let go of the water veil, the accumulated water splashing directly onto Iida. The amount of water gave Iida pause and stop in his tracks. Jiro and Pikachu clasped a hand, or paws in the Pokémon's case, over their mouths to keep them from laughing out loud. Izuku raised an eyebrow at Serena's smug face, yet even he couldn't help the small tug on the edges of his lips from curling upward.

"Gah! Enough of this! Why on Earth are you all walking so slowly?! We'll be late!" Iida began to run once more toward the U.A. gates.

"Hey! Wait up!" Izuku took off running after Iida. Serena and Jiro sighed, finding their moment with the green-haired boy ruined before taking off after them.

"Did your mother ever teach you it's dangerous to run in the rain?!" Jiro yelled out to Iida.

"Proper attendance takes priority over motherly lectures," Iida yelled back.

"Whatever you say, but there's still like 5 minutes before the first bell!" Serena yelled, too.

"U.A. students should always arrive ten minutes early," Iida responded. "Class Representatives like Midoriya and I doubly so, don't you think?"

Iida's run to the school quickened leaving them in the dust. As the three slowed, Izuku's face flashed with realization, a worrisome look taking center stage.

The three joined Iida inside, all four discarding their wet running shoes, rain boots in Iida's case, and the rest of their rain gear. As Izuku began drying off his umbrella, Izuku looked to Iida, unsurely. "So, Iida um-" Izuku said before the teen cut Izuku off.

"If it's about my brother, please, don't be concerned," Iida said, respectfully, pulling down his hood to reveal his neutral face to the three and Pikachu. "I apologize if I made you all worried. Everything will be fine."

With that, Iida turned and walked away, leaving the rest. Izuku and Serena looked worryingly at their classmate, unconvinced by Iida's words. Pikachu's ears and Jiro's jacks wiggled while the two frowned. "He's lying," Jiro muttered. Pikachu nodded his head in confirmation.

Izuku looked at the two before switching toward Iida's retreating form and frowned.

---

Later, Izuku sat by his desk while the entire class excitedly talked to each other.

"Guys, it was so weird and exciting!" Mina exclaimed, jumping for joy. "Everywhere I went, people recognized me and wanted to talk. Even on my way here."

"Yeah, me too!" Kirishima mimicked Mina's enthusiasm before faltering. "But uh, maybe you should ease up, Mina? It's only been a few days after the Festival, and-"

"Oh, don't worry, Kiri, it's all fine," Mina waved off his concern with a warm smile while twirling her arm around. "See? Good as new! Plus, I don't see you walking stiffly either."

"Y-Yeah, you're right about that," Kirishima scratched at his cheek, embarrassed.

Izuku smiled, glad to see Mina and Kirishima acting better, now free of their bandages or the depressing moods they had during the heavier moments of the Sports Festival.

"People on the street were staring at me!" Hagakure exclaimed, rubbing her invisible hands together. "It was kind of embarrassing."

Izuku's smile faltered when seeing Hagakure's features still invisible, but Izuku could tell that Hagakure was extra bubbly and active today. Izuku could see it from the way she was hopping from foot to foot and her body shivering.

"Yeah, but isn't that pretty normal for you?" Ojiro sweatdropped.

"Hmm, maybe. Or maybe things are looking different from here on out," Hagakure replied cheekily.

While the class didn't know what she meant, Izuku smiled warmly, memories of their trip to Lake Acuity flashing in his mind, and her excited whisper to him when he entered class refueling the warmth his smile had. Izuku looked to where Todoroki sat and noticed he wasn't as cold or brooding as he once was. Well, he did look like he was still brooding, but he didn't look like he would freeze your face off if you bothered him. 'I wonder if he's seen his mom again afterward,' Izuku thought. 'He said he wouldn't talk about the specifics about what happened at the Lake, especially Uxie, but I can tell he must have told her about remembering everything.'

"What about you, 'Zuku?" Momo asked; her smile as sweet and warm as the day they ended her arranged engagement. "Did you have any admirers on your way here, Mr. Sports Festival Champion?"

"U-Uh, k-kinda," Izuku stuttered, rubbing the back of his head while blushing. Before he met up with Serena, and later Jiro, Izuku was spotted almost instantly on the train. Adults kept congratulating, other teens and kids wanted a selfie or to pet Pikachu; the Electric Type was far more receptive and smugger about the recognition and praise than his Trainer. At some point, Izuku thought he would hyperventilate from how red he was.

"Kinda? Izu looked half-close to passing out when he got off the train," Serena snickered. The class snickered and chuckled while Izuku's blush only furthered.

"But that's so cool! You're getting famous out there, Midoriya-kun!" Ochaco exclaimed, pumping her fist into the air.

Izuku's embarrassment was behind him instantly, his mood shifting to concern. "Ochaco, I said you don't have to stop calling me-"

"No," Ochaco cut Izuku off, her firm tone demanding silence and attentiveness from Izuku, their friends, and their nearby classmates. Ochaco looked at him with a serious, no-nonsense frown. "I told you once, and I'll say it a hundred times if I need to, I'm not calling you that name. Not now, not ever again."

Izuku held a small frown as he stared back at the pink-cheeked girl. Ever since he revealed to his group of friends the origins of the name 'Deku' and everything Bakugou did to him, Ochaco had been vehement about calling Midoriya anything other than that cursed name. No matter how many times Izuku tried to convince her that 'Deku' didn't mean anything bad when she said it, how she made the name something more positive than it normally was, Ochaco wouldn't give up her stance on the matter.

"Calling you 'Deku', now after everything, I can't help but feel like I'm keeping your painful past alive when I say it," Izuku remembered the last time he and Ochaco left that discussion. "Bakugou already did so much to you. I won't help him keep that name alive while I breathe."

Izuku sighed, knowing there was no use convincing her otherwise, especially when Serena and the others would back her at every turn. Reluctantly, he nodded, to Uraraka's satisfaction.

That satisfaction wouldn't last as a certain blonde finally entered the room. Bakugou entered the room to find everyone's eyes on him, ranging from tense and nervous, scared and uneasy, or downright hateful glares, most of which came from Izuku's group. Bakugou scoffed, paying the looks of the extras to be 'as insignificant as they were'.

The blonde's gaze met with Izuku's, Bakugou's eyes instantly morphing into raging, hateful glares, only further incensed when Deku's response was cold indifference. Bakugou wanted nothing more then and there to wipe that dismissive look off Deku's face, and make him stop looking down on him, but the blonde knew he was treading on thin enough ice as it was, and attacking a classmate unprovoked would send him packing. With an angry huff, Bakugou stomped his way to his seat, practically slamming his bookbag onto the ground and sitting down grumbling.

"What an ass," Sero muttered, bitter still about teaming up and helping the class asshole go any further in the Festival and hurt his former teammates.

"Forget him, he isn't worth it," Jiro blew air upwards, lifting her purple bangs for a moment. "Though, I'm surprised he's still even here after his performance at the Festival." Jiro looked at Mina and Kirishima.

"For as detestable as he was, and still is, U.A. cannot simply expel a student without probable cause," Momo answered.

"I think you forget Serena's seat belonged to someone else on the first day," Kaminari pointed out.

"Mineta was only expelled from the Hero Course and demoted to General Studies," Momo noted. "And the Sports Festival is no stranger to injuries and rough battles. As far as the public and the Heroic Public Safety Commission are concerned, Bakugo didn't do anything worse than we did to each other."

"Oh, that's some bullshit!" Mina pouted.

"Need I remind you how Explosivo got that nasty new scar on his cheek?" Jiro asked. Sure enough, when looking at the silently fuming Bakugou, too busy within his thoughts to notice or care what they were saying, Bakugou's left cheek now held a bright red scar similar to Todoroki's, shaped in a nasty red splotch that stretched out in three lines like a claw. "Not saying the prick didn't deserve it, but you kinda gave anyone defending the turd an easy excuse."

Mina pouted further but there was a sense of shame littered on her face.

"Hey," Izuku placed a supportive hand on her shoulder, gaining the girl's attention. "I'm not any better here. When I cracked and strained his hand, or even when I punched him down under-" That earned some snickers and giggles from the group. "-I felt proud of what I did, a sort of vindictive pleasure, but that isn't who I am. I didn't have to stoop to his level to win but I did it anyway and left some scars on him, too." He spoke truthfully, for when he noticed Bakugou enter the class, he saw something Bakugou was trying to make sure wasn't noticed, even more than Mina's burn scar: a jagged scar across his left hand, no different than the ones that decorated Izuku's right hand. It was a scar he delivered onto Bakugou when he crushed his hand in his grip. "Whether he deserves it or not, whether we should feel proud or guilty for it, let's strive to be better than we were before. Okay?"

Mina gazed at Izuku with a lilac blush on her cheeks. She smiled lovingly. "Sure thing, Midori!" Mina grinned wide, holding out her fist. Izuku smiled and blushed back, lifting his fist and tapping hers. Mina pulled her hand back and wiggled her fingers while hissing, mimicking burning acid. Izuku chuckled and copied her.

The guys watched with proud and happy smiles; Kirishima was especially pleased to see Mina feeling better and getting closer to the guy she obviously liked. 'Huh, maybe that's how I can make things right?' Kirishima thought, a lightbulb turning on inside his brain. If he could get Mina to confess and win over her crush, that would sure make things right between them. 'Plus, it would also make things right with Midobro after I spent so long as Bakugou's stooge. Win-Win for everybody!'

The girls watched the interaction with mixed feelings. Of course, they were glad to see Izuku and Mina get better and not feel as guilty as they did about what they did to Bakugou, but watching the two get closer together, blushing, and smiling at each other wasn't any easier to see.

Momo clenched her hand over her heart while remembering how Izuku stood up against her parents, spoke on her behalf, and when she kissed his cheek. Ochaco recalled her and Izuku's talk after her victory against Sero, her pink blush burning red at the memory of his arms around her as they hugged or how she kissed his cheek. Tsu croaked while her mind replayed all her and Izuku's moments together from saving her at the USJ, their trip to Lake Verity where they talked and bonded with each other, her nickname for him, and when he comforted and warmed her during Todoroki's matches, the warmth of the last one flowing across her body, making her cheeks burn red. Serena's eyes glossed over as she thought of their time together before U.A., their first meeting, their trip to the mall, their signature promise, and their talk and kiss on the cheek before her match with Todoroki, the act still burning her cheeks to this day.

Jiro felt her cheeks grow warmer and her heartbeat faster, but not enough that she missed how the other girls reacted. Not too long ago, whenever she spotted the girls gushing and blushing over Midoriya, she couldn't help but scoff. They looked like a bunch of lovesick Lillipups and thought acting like this was beneath them, beneath her. However, there was something different now from when she first scoffed at how the girls reacted to Midoriya: she was feeling something similar.

Jiro wanted to dismiss the thought as immediately as it came but it persisted stubbornly. Her mind took her back to every moment Midoriya looked cool and made her heart stir, how it ached when Midoriya laid his past bare for her and the others, and how it drummed heavily when Midoriya persisted still with his aim to face Bakugou... and how it grew worse when he grabbed her by shoulders, called her a genius, and had his infuriatingly, adorable, smiling face so close to hers.

'...Yeah, I get it now,' Jiro admitted, cursing her prior judgment on the girls for feeling the way they felt around Midoriya. Jiro's cheeks burned crimson as startling realization clicked in her mind and she looked away. 'B-B-B-But i-i-it isn't like I l-l-l-like him or anything!'

As Jiro began warring with her inner emotions, she failed to notice Toru's lack of reaction. Granted, her invisibility made catching her reactions harder when not implicit, but Toru would have some physical ticks, from shaking to an aggravated tone to her voice. Now, Toru was silent and unmoving, staring at Izuku and Mina with an unknown look beneath her invisibility, something calculative and pondering.

Finally, the room door opened again, and the students quickly fled to their seats when they realized who it was.

"Good morning, Mr. Aizawa!" Most of the class announced with the dutifulness one would find with a platoon of soldiers and their commanding officer.

Aizawa noticed this, but rather than feel pleased as he normally would, he felt unsure what to make of it. Regardless, he didn't wish to waste any time. "Morning," Aizawa greeted back, making his way to the podium.

"Ribbit? Mr. Aizawa, you don't have bandages anymore," Asui noticed, a finger to her chin. "That's good news."

"The old lady went a little overboard on her treatment," Aizawa admitted, lifting his left hand to scratch at the area near his eye. The act made the most observant of the class notice the bandages still wrapped on his wrist, hidden beneath his black arm sleeve, while even the least observant saw the new scar just below their teacher's right eye.

"Anyway, before I get started, there's an announcement we must address first," Aizawa informed, his gaze shifting rightward. "Hagakure, you're up."

"Huh?" Most of the class voiced as they looked at their invisible classmate as she sat up and walked up to the front of the class. While the class gave confused looks, Izuku and Todoroki held knowing ones instead, a small smile on both.

"Toru? What's going on?" Mina asked, confused.

"Sorry Mina, but the old Toru Hagakure... is Dead!" Hagakure announced her arm spread wide.

"EEEHHHH?!" Most of the class once more voice, this time with clearer shock and worry mixed with their confusion. Meanwhile, Izuku did his best to keep a snicker from breaking out of his mouth, clasping his hand over his mouth, an action not unnoticed by Serena and Momo behind him, or Bakugou in front of him. Todoroki was doing a better job not reacting, though many assumed that was just his default look.

Before Hagakure could continue whatever charade she was having fun with, Aizawa cut her off. "Just get on with it already, before I do it myself," the tired teacher ordered impatiently.

"Fine, fine," Toru said, muttering about her teacher being a party pooper. Instantly, the invisible parts of Toru's body began shimmering, and visible skin appeared where her hands and legs were, exposing their paleness. Eyes throughout the class widened with shock, with even Bakugou's constant glare replaced with admitted surprise. In no time, Toru's chartreuse and pink-splotched hair and teal and yellow eyes were revealed. "Tada!" Toru Hagakure exclaimed, bringing two peace signs next to her eyes, one winking while she stuck her tongue out.

"EEEEEHHHHHHH?!" The class burst out in surprise.

"T-Toru?! I-Is that-" Mina stuttered, completely flabbergasted.

"The real me?" Toru finished Mina's question, grinning. "Yup, it sure is! This is 100%, Bonafide Toru Hagakure, guaranteed!"

"W-Woah, she's gorgeous," Ojiro muttered, cheeks bright red.

"Such grace and beauty hidden within a most unfortunate fate of irony," Tokoyami sagely put, with a slight blush on his black feathers.

"Goddamn," Kaminari muttered, awestruck by the true beauty of Toru Hagakure, one that rivaled even Momo's and Mina's. Kaminari drifted his gaze over to Midoriya. 'That lucky bastard. Scoring a touchdown beyond all touchdowns without even knowing. I'd respect so much more if I weren't jealous as fuck!'

"H-How did this happen?" Shoji questioned, shocked. "I was under the assumption you couldn't undo your invisibility."

"Agreed," Momo nodded, stunned by Hagakure's revelation. "It was such a problem that your Hero suit was only gloves and boots."

"You knew, didn't you, Izu?" Serena declared, eyes darting over to a blushing Izuku as he rubbed his neck.

"The specifics of Hagakure's condition are not clear for the whole class to know, only those of Hagakure's complete trust are privy to know about it," Aizawa informed.

"Mr. Aizawa! You didn't have to say it like that!" Hagakure pouted, her puffed-up cheeks and wailing arms making her more adorably beautiful to the class. "It makes me sound rude and mean!"

"Um...*Ahem*, y-you're right, apologies," Aizawa apologized, an uncharacteristic show of remorse on display. "The only thing I am supposed to inform you all is that Hagakure's recent excursion with Midoriya, Todoroki, and Professor Taishi caused this new development with her Quirk."

"Yep, and with a little visit to the Quirk doctor, it turns out Invisibility is not my Quirk at all," Toru said, posing again.

[Present Mic: Toru Hagakure! Quirk: Light Refraction! Hagakure's real Quirk was the ability to bend light waves around her to turn herself invisible, and with a visit from Uxie, her Quirk is complete once again! What other secrets does this hidden beauty have in store for us?!]

"I warn you, however, don't attempt to wrangle information out of either of the three or Professor Taishi without Hagakure's permission," Aizawa's eyes glowed red. "Clear?"

"Crystal!" The class said, nearly unanimously.

"Good. Additionally, Bakugou," Aizawa looked to the surprised explosive blonde. "As of now, you will switch seats with Hagakure and your Class number will likewise change to reflect that. A new ID card will be ready for you by the end of the day."

"Huh?! Why the hell do I gotta-" Aizawa's angry red glare cut anymore complaining that Bakugou was about to comment. Bakugou huffed. "Fine! Whatever!" Bakugou finally accepted and moved himself and his stuff onto Toru's old seat, muttering about if any seat he should have switched with should have been 'Sparkle Turd's': the Number 1 seat.

At the same time, Toru sat down in her new seat, turning her head to smile brightly at Izuku. The green-haired teen smiled back already looking like a heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulders with Bakugou now at least a seat away from him.

"Anyway, don't get too cozy in those new seats, because we're taking this class to the auditorium," Aizawa informed, walking to the door. "Don't fall behind."

The class barely had a moment to ponder what Aizawa was planning before bolting for the door to follow their teacher before he got mad. With Izuku and Momo in the front, they suddenly frowned, looking at each other as they felt something was missing. Izuku looked behind him to see that Iida was trailing at the back of the line, and not to organize the group like he would usually do. Instead, the blue-haired teen was uncharacteristically silent and inactive, only following along with the group and keeping to himself and his thoughts.

Izuku and Momo frowned worriedly, knowing exactly what was wrong with their Chief Class Officer.

'Ingenium,' Izuku thought as his mind recalled all he knew about Iida's Hero sibling. 'From what little the HPSC and the Ingenium Agency would detail, Ingenium would survive but faced potential permanent injuries. His Pokémon too would recover, but his Beedrill's wing would never function as it did, and Corviknight and others could potentially face other injuries that would keep them from operating at maximum efficiency. If Ingenium's condition is anything similar to his Pokémon...' Izuku shut his thoughts, the horrible conclusion not something he wanted to manifest into the world, if it hadn't already.

The group walked in relative quiet with the only conversation occurring silently with Toru and the other girls gushing over her new visibility. Finally, Eraserhead and Class 1-A arrived at the U.A. auditorium. Because of Aizawa's Quirk Apprehension Test, none of the class were present for Orientation which was in the auditorium, so this was the first time Izuku and his class found themselves in the large room since the Entrance Exams, besides Momo, Serena, and Todoroki, the resident Recommendation Students. As the class entered and progressed toward the front rows of seats, they found another group waiting for them.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't our rival class of arrogant upstarts!" Neito Monoma declared as he and Class 1-B were already sitting down.

'Oh great, this guy again,' Class 1-A thought in unison, their annoyance already rising with the blonde's smug face bordering on maniac.

Izuku perked as he noticed Setsuna, Pony, and Tetsutetsu waving in more ecstatic greetings of their class than most of theirs. It was easy to see Tetsutetsu was mostly greeting Kirishima, though Setsuna and Pony had their gazes locked onto him, the former more interested than Pony's Hagakure-like bubbliness. Izuku smiled and waved back at them, though he also noticed another person staring pointedly at him.

The girl had fair skin and a slightly athletic build beneath her U.A. uniform, her black hair in a shoulder-length, bob-shaped style, with her bangs side-swept to her right. Looking at her, Izuku almost blinked at how similar the hairstyle was to Uraraka's, a near mirror reflection of the auburn-haired girl, aside from the hair color. That was where the similarities ended because when looking at her face, she was nearly a 180 of Ochaco's demeanor. Her cerulean eyes were slightly narrower, her features sharper than Ochaco's roundness, and she had an almost permanent, neutral expression. It didn't scream cold and angry, but rather emotionless and blank. These didn't stop her from easily standing out as one of the most beautiful girls he had ever seen.

The girl's eyes were locked onto him like she was using the move Lock-On. The calculating intensity combined with her narrow eyes made Izuku feel like she was picking apart his entire person, analyzing every detail, inconsistency, and attribute that described Izuku Midoriya. The greenette himself couldn't help but feel like it was so entirely like him, yet her neutral expression made it seem more intimidating. Izuku waved cautiously at her, a nervous yet inviting and warm smile. The girl didn't react at first but after a few tense seconds, she gave a short, almost imperceptible nod and a slight raise of her perfectly trimmed eyebrows.

Izuku was snapped of his admiring of the girl by Monoma once more greeting them with this trademark rival hostility. "It appears our class is the better organized, quicker one!" Monoma boasted arrogantly. "Not that I'm surprised by your class of narcissists and-"

A chop to the back of the head ceased Monoma's taunting. "Can you go one day without spousing some antagonistic rivalry about Class 1-A?" A girl with orange hair, spiky on one end and tied into a side ponytail on the other, scoffed. Izuku realized it was Itsuka Kendo, the Class 1-B Representative. "Sorry about him. We think he might have been dropped on his head as a kid."

"That would certainly explain a lot," Jiro muttered, sweatdropping.

"Ah, Aizawa, welcome," The class turned their attention to the tall, heavily muscled man standing on the auditorium's stage. He was clearly another Pro Hero with his blood-red and white costume. He wore white knee-length boots, elbow-length heavy vambraces, and a gleaming three-piece belt on his waist. His thighs, crotch, arms, and chest were clothed in red, black stripes adorned his shoulders to his pecs while lining his deep V-cut, showing off his impressive pectorals ended just above his abdomen with a black line, making the V-cut look more like an elongated Y. A single white tub connected from one of the three protrusions at the ends of his gauntlet to a white piece of oval-shaped armor with four tubes sticking out. The man had an orange mask over his narrow, dark red eyes and the upper half of his face, upward, spiky gray hair, a wide mouth with two prominent lower canines sticking out, a thin scar on the left side of his thick neck, and an x-shaped scar on his left cheek.

"Oh my god, it's the Blood Hero: Vlad King!" Izuku gasped fanboyishly while he pulled out a notebook and began writing on it. 'He's known as one of the most intimidating Heroes with his appearance and Blood Control Quirk, yet that charm is what makes him popular among Heteromorph Quirk users despite it being an Emitter Quirk... *mutter, mutter, mutter*"

'There he goes again,' Most of Class 1-A's students sighed fondly, except for Iida's continued silence, Todoroki's blase attitude, and Bakugou's irritation.

'Where did he pull out that notebook?' Class 1-B all thought, though most of the class's students gained a respectable smirk or smile at their teacher being recognized and fanboyed by one of their rival class, especially their Class President and Sports Festival Champion... even if that muttering was getting a little uncomfortable.

"Midoriya," Aizawa groaned annoyed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You can ask for his autograph after class."

"S-Sorry, Aizawa-sensei!" Izuku snapped out of his muttering and apologized.

"Hahaha! No, please, don't stop the kid just yet, Eraser. Let him spend a few more minutes gassing me up!" Vlad King laughed boisterously with his arms crossed.

Aizawa rolled his eyes. "Alright, sit down at this side. Don't spread out too much," Aizawa ordered, gesturing to the left centermost row of seats, while Class 1-B sat on the right centermost seats. "Midoriya, Yaoyorozu, Iida, as the Class Representatives, you sit closest to 1-B's representatives."

Following Aizawa's instruction, Izuku, Momo, and Iida sat in the front three right seats, with the first's friend group sitting around the three while the rest of the class spread among the other seats. Bakugou could be heard grumbling about not being sat front and center like Deku but decided to sit in the leftmost seat of the front row, as far as he could be from the nerd while at the front.

"Welcome, Midoriya, Yaoyorozu, Iida," Itsuka greeted the three with an inviting smile. "Name's Itsuka Kendo, Class Rep of Class 1-B." Itsuka extended her arm as her hand grew larger. "It's nice formally meeting you. You know, other than trying to go after your team in the 2nd event."

[Present Mic: Itsuka Kendo, Class 1-B's Lead Representative. Quirk: Big Fist. She can enlarge her hands to enormous sizes giving her greater reach and strength. Talk about quite the 'handy' power!]

"N-Nice to meet you, too. I guess I don't need any introduction, do I?" Izuku greeted back shaking the enlarged hand. "Your team gave mine quite the scare with Tokage. Was worried she would discover the true flag's location."

"Thanks for the praise, Parsley! Quite the compliment coming from Mr. Sports Festival Champion!" Setsuna joined in, her head and hand levitating over for the three representatives to shake. "But what did I say about what you call me?"

"R-Right, sorry, S-Setsuna," Izuku apologized and shook her hand. "W-Wait, Parsley?"

"Hey, I heard Greenie was kind of taken by Jiro here, so might as well come up with something original," Setsuna replied, shrugging her shoulders from her main body. "You mind?"

"S-Sure. U-Uh I mean I don't mind at all!" Izuku clarified while blushing at the close proximity of Setsuna's beautiful, sharp-toothed face and grin. "I think it's fair if I can call you Setsuna."

"How can you go from suave Casanova to classic stuttering idiot instantly?" Pikachu sighed.

"Huh, so this is your infamous Pikachu you disguised Uraraka's as," Setsuna grinned and rubbed her detached hand's finger on the side of Pikachu's chin, to the Pokémon's delight. "Though why is he out? I thought we couldn't have our Pokémon out without permission."

"Pikachu's an exception," Izuku scratched his cheek. "Hates staying in his Pokeball so it's better just letting him stay out, as long as he doesn't hurt anyone."

"Ah, of course, the Golden Class 1-A would have exceptions made that ours cannot," Monoma, recovered from Kendo's chop, boasted dramatically. "Why do I detect a hint of favoritism?" Monoma's sarcasm was as plain and obvious as a Fire Type with flames on its body.

Pikachu spoke out his name with a threatening tone to the ears of both Class 1-A and 1-B while glaring menacingly at the arrogant blonde. Izuku rolled his eyes and said, "Translation: He has a problem with arrogant, narcissistic assholes with inferiority complexes, and if you try to force within that 'death trap' we call a Pokeball or mock me again, exception or not, he'll fry your brain until you're living in a retirement home pissing your diapers. His words, not mine."

Class 1-B's students had surprised, wide eyes while Setsuna and those of Izuku's class who knew of Pikachu's attitude looked close to bursting out in laughter. Bakugou growled as he glared hatefully at the Pokémon that rejected him for the nerd, scoffing and looking away. Monoma meanwhile was left gaping like a fish at Pikachu and Midoriya, before his face grew red with anger and embarrassment, scowling angrily. Pikachu's cheeks sparked with electricity forcing Monoma to back off.

"Wait, you can understand him?" Kosei Tsuburaba, a brown-haired, wide-eyed student, Izuku recalled, asked.

"Thanks to my Quirk, it helps me connect with my Pokémon through my Aura, my life force, allowing me to understand, talk, and communicate telepathically with them," Izuku answered, scratching Pikachu's chin.

"Lucky," Honenuki, a 1-B student with a skull for a face and white hair, muttered.

"Oh, before I forget, I would like to introduce you guys formally to our Chief Class Officer, Nirengeki Shoda," Kendo declared, her hand on the ice-blue-haired student as he waved nervously at them.

"Chief Class Officer?" Momo repeated, surprised.

"During the Sports Festival's 3rd rounds, Kendo heard about Midoriya making a third position for Iida, and thought Class 1-B should follow your example," Nirengeki explained.

"Shoda showed great courage and honor giving up his spot in the finals for fair, honest play, so, I thought giving him this position would be a just reward," Itsuka continued. "Plus, the guy's a real wiz with numbers."

"That sounds wonderful," Momo praised, smiling.

"I agree," Ojiro said, smiling and nodding at Nirengeki. "You didn't need to follow my lead, but you showed great honor in your choice. You deserve the position."

"Thanks, Ojiro-san," Shoda smiled and nodded back.

Iida stood up and made his way to Shoda. His silence was at first off-putting to both classes and Shoda, but Iida would smile kindly at his fellow 3rd Class Representative. "I agree with Yaoyorozu and Ojiro. Such courage, honor, and skills deserve recognition," Iida congratulated Shoda, extending a hand. "I'm honored to share such a title with you."

"Likewise," Shoda nodded, shaking Iida's hand.

"Alright, enough class bonding," Aizawa spoke, gaining both class's attention. "Let's get this over with so I can sleep."

"Hah! Grumpy and sleepy as always, Eraser," Vlad King laughed and patted Aizawa's back with some force, the insomniac teacher swiveling back and forth like a human Wobbuffet.

"Hmph," Aizawa growled, the students unsure what he disliked more about Vlad King, the forceful pat or the loud voice. "Anyway, we brought both classes together for a big session on Hero Informatics."

'Oh no!' Students from Class 1-A and 1-B shuddered in horror.

'Informatics?! What's this? A pop quiz where our results will be compared to 1-B's?!' Kaminari thought worriedly.

'Shit! I don't need my poor grades shown off to 1-A!' Tsuburaba panicked internally.

'I bet it's about Hero laws, I suck at those,' Kirishima and Tetsutetsu thought similarly, before blinking. 'Why do I feel like someone is thinking exactly like me?'

With an air of suspenseful silence that held for a few seconds, Aizawa continued. "You need Code names," Aizawa revealed. "Time to pick your Hero Identities."

"...THIS IS GOING TO BE TOTALLY AWESOME!" Class 1-A and 1-B students exclaimed with unified enthusiasm.

"This is so cool! We finally get to pick our Hero names!" Sero exclaimed, excited.

"Finally! I've been antsy to get this done!" Kamakiri grinned.

"Ah, and I suppose our classes have been gathered together to see which class has the better code names?" Monoma guessed, arrogantly. "Why bother? Ours will have the greater imagination!"

"Is all you do brag and talk shit about our class?!" Kaminari yelled, already getting tired of Monoma's attitude.

"Depends. Is all you can do fire off electricity in one shot?" Monoma questioned back. "Are you sure that isn't the only thing about you that's one shot?!"

Ibara frowned, staring distastefully at her class's walking sin of pride and insecurity.

"Enough!" Aizawa and Vlad King shouted with their respective intensity. Eraserhead's eyes glowed red, his hair standing up while Vlad King's roar was full of growling might and ferocity. Instantly, both classes sat down in silence while quietly hushing one another.

"This concerns the Pro Hero Internship offers both classes were told about before and after the Sports Festival," Aizawa continued, his Quirk deactivating.

"Usually, this isn't something that students in the 1st Year courses would have to worry about," Vlad King said. "2nd and 3rd Years are when Hero Internships are normally given out, but your year is different. Certain events have caused greater attention to be placed on you all."

'The USJ attack,' The students unanimously figured.

"It was decided carefully that with increasing threats and greater public awareness of your year, Pros would extend Internship Offers to the first years," Aizawa informed. "In essence, Pro Heroes are investing in your potential. However, any offers made can be rescinded if interest in you dies down before Graduation."

"So, you mean we'll have to prove ourselves even after we're recruited?" Hagakure inquired.

"Correct," Vlad King nodded. "Let this be a warning to you all. Slacking off or growing complacent will have its consequences. You are to go Plus Ultra on everything, or you will be left behind or forgotten. And in this highly competitive profession, that can be a death sentence on your career."

"Now, here are the totals for those of you who got offers," Aizawa said, pulling out a remote, pointing, and clicking on a projector. The projector came alive and placed the results on the large tarp behind the teachers. As he did, bars appeared alongside certain names from both classes with a total number at the end:

"Class A and B No. of Offers"

Midoriya: 4208

Todoroki: 4123

Bakugou: 2500

Tokoyami: 360

Iida: 301

Shiozaki: 277

Tokage: 250

Kaminari: 245

Mariella: 200

Yaoyorozu: 108

Honenuki: 102

Ashido: 96

Kirishima: 69

Tetsutetsu: 69

Uraraka: 45

Shoda: 40

Kuroiro: 13

Awase: 11

Kendo: 10

Kaibara: 8

Tsunotori: 7

Monoma: 5

"In past years, it's been more spread out, but, as you can see, there is a pretty big gap this time," Aizawa gestured.

Multiple exclaims of shock and murmuring were heard from both classes.

"Gah! That's not fair!' Kaminari slumped in his seat.

"Speak for yourself, man!" Kaibara exclaimed, eyes white with anger, thrusting his fist into the air. "At least you got a large helping of offers compared to us!"

"What about the real star? Moi's tragic misfortune at the hands of that cretin?" Aoyama pouted yet retained his constant smile, comical puffs of steam fumed from his head while thinking about Shinsou.

"S-So many offers for 1-A!" Monoma growled through gritted teeth.

"Gee, I wonder why the Pros did not send offers to most of our class who blew the 1st round because of some idiot's stupid plan?" Itsuka exclaimed sarcastically, the tone a hammer of shame slamming down on said 1-B students who followed Monoma's scheme. "Let that be a lesson to think for yourselves and not follow a fool blindly."

"Yes, Big Sis," The 1-B students muttered shamefully, while Monoma fumed.

"Woah, Todoroki got more offers than Bakugou despite only making it to the semi-finals," Asui noted, a finger to her chin.

"Heh, probably didn't want to work with the guy who not only acted like a brute throughout the 3rd round, much less had to be chained up at the end," Sero figured.

"IF I SCARED THEM OFF, THEY WERE JUST WEAK!" Bakugou roared out, yet despite his words, his forehead veins throbbing with anger that Deku and Icy Hot had nearly twice as many offers as him.

"*Cough*Cope*Cough*," Kamakiri fake coughed.

"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU SAY, YOU B-CLASS EXTRA?!" Bakugou yelled.

Vlad King's eye twitched. "You're right about him," The offended Class 1-B teacher grumbled. "He's quite the problematic one. Is Nezu serious about not expelling him? Or at least demoting him to General Studies?"

"It's only his second strike, and the rat said to wait," Aizawa replied, staring at Bakugou steadily, in case he needed to cancel and tie the boy down. "There may still be a chance to turn him around."

"And if not?" Vlad King questioned.

"Then we'll be glad when he digs up the right dirt," Aizawa stated.

"Look, Iida! People want us!" Uraraka exclaimed, eyes teary while she shook Iida's body back and forth. The blue-haired teen's only response was the occasional grunt at how fast his friend shook him.

Yaoyorozu sighed, slightly disappointed to have received so few offers compared to Izuku and Todoroki. "Congrats, 'Zuku, you must feel proud," Momo stated.

"I-I guess," Izuku ruffled his hair, taking in slowly the gravity of how many Pro Heroes had sent him so many offers. "I figured breaking my fingers and limbs would have turned away a lot of them."

"No way, you earned them, Izu," Serena said, coming up from the seat behind him, her hands on his shoulders supportively. "If anything, your resilience and fortitude to fight despite your injuries probably convinced them."

"Agreed," Momo nodded. "Compared to your skill and courage, it's a wonder we had any attention with our performances." Momo looked down sadly as she remembered her quick loss to Tokoyami. Serena nodded, surprised she got any offers after willingly throwing the match against Todoroki at the moment of victory.

"Thanks, Serena, Momo, but the two of you were also amazing," Izuku smiled, placing a hand over one of Serena's hands and the other on Momo's. "You managed to hold your ground against Todoroki and practically beat him, Serena, and he almost took me down. The Pros would have to be idiots to turn you away."

"Izu," Serena said, eyes dazzling with warmth and love.

"And remember what we talked about before, Momo?" Izuku turned to the now-engagement-free heiress.

Momo blushed, embarrassed for nearly forgetting Izuku's touching words after her loss and his claims of her greater success to her father if she hadn't been distracted by her arrangement. "Of course," Momo nodded. "How silly of me. I must take pride in the offers I obtained, rather than be envious of what could be."

"Now, there's the Deputy Rep we all know and love," Jiro grinned while Momo's face grew red as her Hero costume.

"Huh, surprised I got so many offers," Setsuna rubbed the back of her neck, shocked. "Only thing I did was rank high in the 1st and blow my chance to snag Parsley's flag in the 2nd."

"But that's why you got so many, Setsuna," Izuku voiced, smiling. "I mean, you were the student that forced the future Sports Festival Champion to face you personally and shrug off a blast of my Aura. If I were them that would be reason enough to send you a boatload of offers."

Setsuna blinked repeatedly in surprise at Izuku's assessment, a flush of pink forming in her cheeks. "U-Um, thanks for the vote of confidence, Parsley," Setsuna said, before shifting back to teasing mode. "So, me facing off against the future Champion gave me those brownie points? A little arrogant don't you think?"

"W-W-Well, n-no, t-that isn't what I meant," Izuku stuttered as he tried and failed to defend himself. "I-I just think you were so cool back then, the pros would be crazy not to send you offers and-"

"Relax, Parsley, I'm just yanking your chain," Setsuna chuckled, her cheeks only growing pinker at the stuttered praise from her fellow greenette. To her, it made Midoriya sound honest and kinda cute. "Thanks for blowing me up and blessing me with a buttload of offers."

"I'd hardly call it a blessing," Ibara muttered, slightly peeved at Tokage equating Midoriya to be capable of giving blessings like her Lord.

Meanwhile, the girls stared deadpanning as Izuku talked with Setsuna.

"He's so good at seeing the bright side of things for us but not himself, huh," Ochaco muttered, noting how easy it was for Izuku to sing their praises rather than accept any for himself.

"That humbleness is both adorable and infuriating," Mina agreed.

"Ribbit, adds to his charm, though," Asui nodded.

"That's Izu for you," Serena sighed, fondly.

From her seat, Yui likewise noticed this and many more features of Midoriya's personality, ranging from unwavering kindness and support for his friends to a humble meekness when receiving his own attention. Combined with what she saw in the Festival, his sheer courage, fortitude, and inhuman tolerance to pain, Izuku Midoriya painted quite a contradictory yet fascinating portrait.

As Yui stared at Midoriya blushing under Tokage's relentless teasing, one she noticed was actively different compared to how she acted with her class's boys, and the black-haired girl found this state of Midoriya as charming as his prior caring warmth and his heart-stirring battle confidence. 'Cute,' Yui thought.

"Make no mistake, despite these results, you'll all be interning with Pros, even those who didn't get offers. With only a couple of exceptions," Aizawa continued; his gaze thrifting pointedly toward two certain students in his class.

Izuku followed his teacher's gaze, landing on Todoroki and Bakugou. The former scarred one looked down with shameful acceptance and the latter constantly angry one scoffed and huffingly looked away.

"Indeed," Vlad King nodded. "With recent situations demanding you all be better trained and prepared, interning under active Pros, up close and personal, will give both classes the experience you need."

"So, that's why we need our Hero Names," Manga Fukidashi, the teen with the text bubble for a head, said.

"These Hero Names will likely be temporary as you grow with experience and your Quirks," Aizawa informed. "But take them seriously or-"

"YOU'LL HAVE HELL TO PAY LATER!" A woman's voice shouted as she entered the auditorium.

The students turned to see the newly approaching figure, blushes and grins appearing on most of the guys' faces, including Kaminari, Sero, and Tsuburaba.

"What you picked today could become your code name for life," The woman strode up the auditorium, her sultry swaying accenting her wide, child-bearing hips and large breasts in her skin-tight black and red suit and white rippable cloth. The female Pro's hands were raised behind her head, displaying her slightly muscular arms that detracted nothing from her seductive, alluring figure, wild dark purple hair, and dazzling face. "You better be careful or you'll be stuck with something utterly indecent."

"It's Midnight!" The students exclaimed, some of the boys' tones wavering with lustful amazement.

Izuku paused as he stared at the former Sports Festival umpire as she swayed alluringly. He didn't have much time to think about her given the stressful circumstances of the Festival; however, Izuku couldn't help but gawk at one of the most beautiful women in the world, an icon among female pros, and the subject of many men's, and sometimes women's, fantasies, and Izuku growing up was no exception. If he had to pick his top three childhood female Pro Hero crushes, Midnight would be a close second, only beaten by Rabbit Hero: Miruko in his later teen years. His third was... something he didn't want to think about for now.

Izuku blinked when he realized Midnight's gaze landed on him. The R-Rated Hero's smirk became mischievous, purposefully licking her lips while winking at him. Izuku could pose as an Occa Berry by how red and steaming his face burned, especially as he vaguely remembered the touch of Midnight's sinful figure pressed against his body -his face mostly- when he passed out from her Quirk. Izuku was burning so hot that Pikachu had to move his paw away from his Trainer's face.

Midnight chuckled quietly, finding Midoriya's reaction so adorable she could almost eat him up. 'Too bad he's far too young for me. Nerdy buff guys are quite my type,' Midnight playfully wooed to herself. Midnight's gaze landed on the girls of both classes, with all of Class 1-A glaring venomously, a few gazes darting between Midoriya and her giving away why they were so jealous. Nemuri even spotted Tokage's eye twitching, barely keeping her razor-sharp grin up, and Kodai's normally neutral look clouded by a menacing shade. 'Oh, these girls are so easy to tease, it's almost criminal enough to lock myself up.'

"Yeah, she's got a good point," Aizawa admitted. "Midnight, here, will have final approval on your names. It's not my forte." Aizawa received an infuriating, and painful, flashback to his 2nd Year at U.A. when he wrote down his Hero name, one of his classmates at the time, Hizashi Yamada aka Present Mic, suggested to his annoyance in retrospect.

"The name you give yourself is important," Vlad King nodded. "It helps reinforce your image and tells the world the kind of Hero you want to be in the future and what you represent."

Aizawa nodded. "If you want, take All Might's for example," The insomniac teacher suggested.

'All Might,' Izuku thought for a second before being snapped out of it by Midnight handing him a small stack of whiteboards and markers to give out, while Aizawa informed them that they would have 10 minutes to brainstorm one. As Izuku helped pass along the whiteboards, the greenette was lost in his thoughts on what to call himself. 'My Hero Name. The Identity that represents the kind of Hero I want to be. It's finally here.' Izuku smiled fondly as his mind took him briefly to the past.

---

Flashback...

"Oh, you want me to help pick out your Hero Name?" A younger Inko Midoriya asked, pausing from washing the dishes with Mr. Mime.

"Yeah! I can't decide which one I like more!" Izuku Midoriya, back before he was 4 years old, bounced from foot to foot, holding up the written names on his sketchbook while wearing his All Might onesie. Eevee shared in his young Trainer's enthusiasm, running in circles around Midoriya.

"Let's see here. We got Mighty-All Man and Mighty Boy. Oh, All Might Jr.," Inko read out the list of names with motherly amusement while Izuku bounced with childlike excitement on the couch. Mr. Mime and Eevee were snickering at Izuku's enthusiasm and names.

"That's Me!" Mini-Izuku exclaimed, pumping his fist into the air with a proud smile.

"Mighty Man, or Captain All Might," Inko continued, her smile growing at Izuku's boundless energy that had her bouncing with the couch with his jumping. "Ooh, I like Super All Might."

"SUPER!" Tiny Midoriya exclaimed, pumping his fist again.

"SUPER!" Inko exclaimed as she picked up her giggling son into the air.

"Mr. MIME! / EEVEEEE!" Both Pokémon exclaimed, Mr. Mime lifting Eevee mimicking the two, while Eevee squirmed and laughed.

Flashback over...

---

'I love coming up with those names. They always put a smile on my face,' Izuku thought as the memories flew by. Izuku's fond smile turned to a frown. 'But...'

"...Your admiration for All Might is a shackle," Gran Torino's words repeated with his signature truthful bluntness. "You and All Might are too different people..."

'He was right, more than how he and I fight,' Izuku sat back down and looked at the small whiteboard, marker in hand. 'I started the Festival trying to win and live up to him, to win so I could make him proud and adhere to his wishes to proclaim me as his successor, the next Symbol of Peace. But then everything else happened.'

"I know this might come off as selfish and maybe prideful, but I want for everything that I did, everything that I achieved because I worked for it," He remembered his words to All Might before the Award Ceremony. "...I want to be seen as more than just your successor, All Might."

'Soon after winning the Festival to be All Might's proclaimed successor meant little in the face of everything else,' Izuku wrote down a name before immediately scrubbing it out. 'Saving Momo and Vulpix, smacking some sense into Todoroki, deal with Bakugou once and for all, they were all that mattered to me. Being my own Hero, I have to keep walking my own path, not the one All Might envisioned for me. I can't do that if I riff off his name.' Izuku's frown became further stressed. 'But... what else do I have to go on?'

Several minutes passed by as students from both classes thought over their code names, either in silence or occasionally asking for a hint or review from one of their peers, all the while Aizawa slept in the corner while Vlad King and Midnight sweatdropped at the teacher's antics.

Eventually, Midnight announced, "Now, students, who among you is ready to share?"

'Oh shit, I forgot we were presenting these?!' Kirishima internally panicked.

'Great! Who's got the stones to go first?!' Sero cringed.

'M-Maybe I should go first? You know, to represent 1-B's pride?' Tsuburaba thought yet his shaking was evidence of his hesitancy.

Monoma smirked as he saw Kirishima and Sero's faces. "Well, now, if 1-A is too scared to step up, I suppose I will-" Monoma began to get up.

"Ah, Aoyama, how daring of you to go first," Midnight's words made Monoma face plant while Yuga Aoyama was already on the podium.

"It would be a shame to deny everyone such a dazzling superb code name like Moi," Aoyama commented, smugly.

'Oh great,' Class 1-A sweatdropped, almost everyone regretting not going first and letting the class's resident blonde narcissist -okay, one of their blonde narcissists- step up.

"I shall be The Shining Hero: I Can Not Stop Twinkling!" Aoyama declared while lifting his board for the whole auditorium, little stars drawn alongside the name. "Fitting, non?"

'You gotta be shitting me?!' Their unified thoughts and aghast expressions Class 1-A's response.

"BAHAHAHAHA! What kind of name is that?!" Kamakiri cackled, holding his sides.

"That's not a name, but a narcissistic brag," Shishida sweatdropped as he fixed his glasses.

"Oh, fitting, it is. Fitting for a class of arrogant upstarts," Monoma laughed.

"Okay, if he keeps going with this, I'm frying his brains out," Pikachu grumbled, his patience teetering.

'Please don't,' Izuku sighed.

"It would be better if you remove the 'I' and shorten 'Can Not' to 'Can't'," Midnight rewrote the name to 'Can't Stop Twinkling'.

"Stunning, mademoiselle," Aoyama agreed.

'She liked it?!' The class again thought in unison, shocked.

'Okay, this guy's got to stop with the whole French act,' Serena groaned as he rubbed her forehead in second-hand embarrassment. 'I mean, I'm half-French too but I don't make that my Entire personality.'

"Okay, my turn!" Mina stepped up to the podium, flipping over her board with a wide smile. "My Code Name: Alien Queen!"

'Okay, that's better-' The class thought before Midnight intervened.

"Wait, you mean that horrible monster with the acid blood?!" Midnight gasped, horrified, imagining Mina as a certain Pre-Quirk era horror icon. "I Think Not!"

"Aww, dang it!" Mina whined as she made her way back to her seat, disappointed.

"Wait, why not That name?" Kirishima questioned in defense of his friend. "That name's cool! It makes her Mutant looks stand out as a proud trait! It sounds so Manly!"

"Yes, while I agree with such an enthusiastic viewpoint; however, the name is likewise shared with another," Vlad King pointed out. "Even if issues like copyright or its fictional origins weren't an issue, the name would easily have people conjure up its previous villainous origins. Such a name sadly would be unfitting for the kind of Hero I believe she wishes to represent."

'Says the guy named after a rumored vampire?' Izuku thought bitterly, yet stomach down his intrusive thought.

"Hah! First a sentence for a name and then a Villainous one?! It's clear for all your star power, it has gone and made your heads into mush inside," Monoma taunted.

"Alright, that's it! Why don't you put your money where your mouth is?!" Toru raged comically.

While the rest of Class 1-B blinked and stared at Toru, unsure who the unfamiliar girl was, Monoma smirked. "As you wish," Monoma sauntered onto the stage's podium, presenting his board while posing. "The Copycat Hero: Phantom Thief!"

While Class 1-A paused, worrying they would have to admit the name was actually pretty cool, Kaminari blinked. "Hold on, isn't that name already taken, too?" Denki inquired, confused while ponderingly cupping his chin.

"A-Ah, I don't possibly know what you are referring to," Monoma's arrogant smirk faltered uneasily. "It is an entirely original Hero name!"

"No, no, no, I had that name before!" Kaminari shook his head before a metaphorical lightbulb lit above his head. "Aha! I got it! Persona 5! That's where that's from!" In his head, the censored faces of a certain group of teenage crimefighters and a darker-furred Alolan Meowth looking more like a bandit.

"Wait, you mean that Pre-Quirk era video game?" Kosei questioned before Sen smacked a hand over his blabbermouth.

"Exactly!" Kaminari grinned, pointing accusingly at Monoma. "The Phantom Thieves were the name of the game's protagonists! And you call us unoriginal!"

Monoma's haughty expression collapsed like fine China, his smirk and eyes twitching, angrily embarrassment.

"Alright enough," Vlad King raised his hand to stop the situation before it escalated. "Despite the similarity, it does appear like a valid name. Right, Midnight?"

"Agreed," Midnight nodded. "For one, it's a singular name instead of a group identity and its origins aren't entirely problematic. So, it's approved."

Monoma nodded and walked back to his seat, yet an irked march replaced the swagger in his step. Kaminari grinned triumphantly, though paused as he looked to Ibara. The holy vine-haired girl smiled and giggled beautifully at him. Kaminari's face turned red, feeling like he had reached Cloud Nine. The blonde with the black lightning bolt stripe sat back down immensely pleased.

"Gotta hand it to you, Sparkplug, who knew filling whatever space your brain has on video games would come in handy," Jiro smirked.

"Why thank you Ji-HEY!" Kaminari exclaimed.

"Okay, how about I go next?" Setsuna raised her disembodied hand for all to see. "Someone's got to rub Monoma's stink off our class." The comment furthered Monoma's grumbling.

"Sure thing!" Midnight welcomed the reptile-like girl to the stage.

Setsuna easily reached the podium, splitting her pieces apart and telekinetically moving them to the stage without taking the stairs. Izuku stared at the sight fascinated. 'To break her body apart and control every bit of it so smoothly is incredible. No wonder she got in on Recommendations,' Izuku thought, inching to put out his notebook to take notes. However, Izuku froze, his eyes catching one of Setsuna's hands brushing against the skirt of her lower half, the movement lifting the skirt ever so slightly, enough for Izuku to catch a glimpse of her ample backside hugged by emerald, green panties. Izuku's face exploded red as he swiftly looked down, subtly moving his board closer to his nether regions.

"I've gone with The Lizard Hero: Reptilla!" Setsuna announced, flashing her sharp teeth.

"Hmm, catchy and fits with Quirk and theme. I like it!" Midnight declared with a thumbs up.

"Yay, Setsuna!" Pony clapped for her friend alongside the rest of Class 1-B and the impressed ones of 1-A.

'If I remember right, her Quirk is Lizard Tail Splitter,' Izuku analyzed while Setsuna playfully bowed like an actress finishing a number. 'The name and function are similar to a Pokémon move, Shed Tail, learned by reptile-based Pokémon like Cyclizar and Sceptile. Even the Japanese name, Shippokiri, and its expression contains Tokage's surname. The name Reptilla by itself as a group term for all manner of reptile-class Pokémon sounds simple enough but if you actually look into it with her Quirk, it's quite deep.' Izuku stared at Tokage as she levitated her parts before reattaching. 'Did she think that all through?'

Setsuna's eyes met Izuku's, the boy blushing at her attention. Her eyes narrowed, and her grin grew mischievously while her hand brushed the end of her skirt upward. Izuku's face burned crimson at what that action meant: 'She did that flashing on purpose!' Izuku tore his gaze away and frantically looked back to his board while Setsuna returned to her seat satisfied.

The girls of Class 1-A noticed this slight interaction. While not aware of the full context for why Izuku's face was as red as a Cheri Berry's or why Setsuna looked so satisfied, what little they had was enough to get their blood boiling while a dark shade appeared over their wide, murderous eyes.

Asui, too, noticed but did not feel the same murderous intent as the other girls. Instead, what burned in her was a more reasonable competitive fire for Zu's attention. That fire helped her raise her hand. "I think I have one Ribbit. Can I go next?" Asui asked. With Midnight's permission, the frog-like girl went up the stage, deciding to take the stairs rather than jump. 'As much as I want to impress Zu, it would be too hard and risky to try flashing him without the other guys noticing.'

As she took the podium, Asui looked at the board with one last determined nod. "I've had this mind in mind since grade school," Asui presented her board. "Rainy Season Hero: Froppy!"

"That's delightful! Makes you sound approachable!" Midnight praised. "Well done!"

The members of Class 1-A, once struggling with stress from Mina's rejected name, Aoyama's ridiculous one, and Monoma's taunting, were eased, smiles growing on their faces. "Froppy! Froppy! Froppy!" The newly dubbed Rainy Season Hero's class congratulated her, silently thanking her for a normal, inspiring name.

Izuku was among those cheering, brushing his nose with his thumb and giving her a thumbs-up. Asui's cheeks grew pink, and she smiled satisfied.

'Damn, that is a really good one!' Class 1-B's students admitted to themselves, the spark of friendly rivalry surging in their veins. 'We won't get left in the dust.'

'I saw that.' The girls of 1-A noticed Asui's and Izuku's moment. While jealousy irked their hearts, they instead smiled fiercely, a similar competitive fire fueling their drive for their crush's attention. 'I won't fall behind you, Tsu!'

Even Jiro, still denying whatever growing affection or crush or whatever she had for Midoriya, felt determined to one-up Asui.

Setsuna's perceptive eyes caught the moment between Parsley and Froppy. Setsuna grinned. 'Ooh, looks there're others who have a craving for Parsley. I do like a challenge,' Setsuna thought, unaware that underneath her thoughts, a tinge of something more envious sparked inside her.

Yui perked an eyebrow while Asui went back to her seat. Yui raised her hand.

"Ah, Yui Kodai, you wish to go next?" Midnight asked.

Yui nodded and began walking to the stage.

'Yui Kodai, huh,' Izuku repeated the mystery beauty girl's name. 'I didn't see a lot of her at the Festival. I think she was on the only team with three members, yet they were one of the last to get their flags stolen by Shinsou. I don't even know what her Quirk is, so, hers could be anything.'

Kodai stepped up to the podium and flipped the board to show her Hero name: Size-Shifting Hero: MinMax. Though, Yui didn't proclaim or say anything.

"Ooh, what an intriguing name," Midnight cupped her chin delicately. "A playoff your Quirk and the term minimize loss in a worst-case scenario. Or the Mix-Max lifestyle to put maximum effort on what matters most while using as little possible for what doesn't?"

Yui nodded, not clarifying which question she was responding to.

"Catchy, plays off your Quirk, and not too cryptic enough. The name gets the Midnight Stamp of Approval!" Midnight gave a thumbs up.

Yui nodded, accepting the applause from her classmates and walking back to her seat.

"Not much of a conversationalist, huh?" Uraraka muttered.

"Yeah, Yui's not much for talking," Setsuna shrugged. "But don't let that fool you, she's a great listener and conversationalist."

'Size-Shifting Hero: MinMax,' Izuku analyzed the name. 'Given Midnight says it plays off her Quirk, it must revolve around an ability to do with size. Maybe it's like Mount Lady's and allows her to grow or shrink in size? Or maybe it has to do with changing the size of others? If it's the latter, can she do so to organic, living people and objects or non-organic? If it's the former, how can she bypass the Square Cube Law?'

Izuku paused his analysis when Yui spotted him staring at her. He slightly paled, worried she might think he was creepy for staring, but Yui gave a small, barely perceivable smile and waved at him. Izuku blinked in surprise but quickly got over his relief and waved and smiled back.

"Alright, I got mine too!" Kirishima yelled as he rushed to the podium and slammed his board down for all to see. "I'm the Sturdy Hero: Red Riot!" Kirishima declared.

"Red Riot? Interesting," Midnight smirked. "You're paying homage to the Chivalrous Hero: Crimson Riot, yes?"

"Yeah, that's right," Kirishima grinned, imagining the Hero with his shadowed-over eyes, black mask over his lower face, crimson, ragged cape, and pointy red hair shaped almost like horns or spikes. "He may be kind of old school, but he's my favorite Hero and idol, and I want to be just like him!"

"Hmm. If you are bearing the name of someone you admire, especially a former Hero, you'll have even more to live up to," Midnight warned.

"I accept the challenge!" Kirishima confidently said, his clenched fist raised to his heart.

Izuku smiled, proud and in awe of Kirishima. 'He's just like me with All Might, though Crimson Riot has been gone for a long while and Kirishima did change it enough for his own spin on the name,' Izuku thought.

'Do you wish to do the same with All Might's moniker?' Froakie asked. 'Perhaps Emerald Might?'

'A bit too on the nose, I fear,' Combusken commented.

'Plus, it lacks a bit of pizzazz, you know?' Pikachu brought up. 'Ooh! Boss, go for Parselknight! Use that Tokage girl's name to your advantage?'

'I will not have my Trainer's Hero Name be associated with a vegetable,' Shelgon denied the name.

Izuku toned down his Pokémon arguing in his head as he once more tried figuring out what name to use, while everyone else went on and presented.

"That was so Manly! I'm going next!" Tetsutetsu proclaimed, rushing up to the podium and presenting his name loudly. "The Hardy Hero: Real Steel!"

"Ooh, how robust!" Midnight praised.

"Spooky Hero: Spectress," Reiko Yanagi presented, adding a bit of flair by lifting the board telekinetically with her Quirk.

"Spooky indeed!" Midnight commented.

Tokoyami blinked as he watched Reiko present finding her presence familiar. Emboldened, Tokoyami went up next. "Jet-Black Hero: Tsukuyomi," The avian-headed teen said.

"The God of the Night. How bold!" Midnight cheered.

"Revelry in the Dark," Tokoyami muttered. He noticed Reiko Yanagi and another student sitting behind her, Shihai Kuroiro, nod their heads and mouth the same proclamation. Tokoyami nodded to them, inwardly pleased to have found fellow worshippers and enjoyers of darkness. As he stepped down, Kuroiro was the next to ask to go.

"Darkness Hero: Vantablack," Kuroiro muttered sinisterly.

"Quite the dark trend we got going," Midnight giggled. "Approved!"

"Ooh Ooh! Can I go next please?!" A short girl with brown hair that nearly covered her whole face, Kinoko Komori, asked, bouncing in her seat. Upon Midnight's approval, Kinoko, in her enthusiasm, accidentally ended up in Kuroiro's way. The two blinked in recognition, trying to step aside for the other but accidentally mirroring the others.

Eventually, Kuroiro phased into the dark ground and circled Kinoko before popping back up behind her. "S-Sorry, Komori-san," Kuroiro muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

"N-No, it's okay. I-I'm sorry, too," Kinoko apologized, as well. "Guess I was too excited."

Kuroiro nodded and returned to his seat while Kinoko continued to the podium, the two with notable blushes on their cheeks.

"Ooh! I smell a ship sailing!" Mina squealed quietly.

"Maybe you should focus on your own Hero name instead of romance drama?" Kyoka said as she wrote down her name and Kinoko presented hers as the Mushroom Hero: Shemage.

"I know, I know! But it sucks!" Mina whined, slumping in her seat. "I really liked Alien Queen, and I don't have much else. I think I'll probably settle for, I don't know, Pinky?"

"I think that sounds great, Mina," Izuku smiled at her. "Still uses your unique looks to your advantage. It sounds cuter than my suggestion."

"Oh? You got a name for me, Midori?" Mina asked, interested.

"For a lot of you, really," Izuku revealed, pulling out his earlier notebook, and scratching his pinkening cheeks with embarrassment. "I kinda thought them up when I was writing down your Quirks. S-Sorry."

"What are you saying sorry for, dude? These sound awesome! Like Meltdown! That sounds so cool!" Mina looked over the list, pausing at one in particular. "What about this one?"

"Oh, I thought about that because of your Quirk, Acid," Izuku explained. "I thought that with the way you control your acid, I wonder if there were other ways you could use it rather than burn or slide. With the right mindset, you could be something of an Alchemist."

Mina's brain lit up and her smile went smile and dazzling. "Oh, Midori, you're the best!" Mina hugged Izuku tightly, but with their position, his rapidly blushing face was pressed into her cleavage, earning looks of shock from those around.

"Mina!" Ochaco and Momo exclaimed.

"Oops, sorry about that Midori," Mina let go and apologized, a lilac blush growing on her face, realizing her actions. "I guess I got too excited."

"D-Don't worry about it," Midori's eyes were practically as dizzy-looking as a Spinda with how much blood was rushing to his face...and downward.

"Hey, Midnight! I think I got a good one!" Mina raised her hand as she finished writing down her new name.

"Heh, let's see if she gets rejected again," Monoma snickered, watching with his class as she went up again. "I hear she's got one of the lowest grades in her class. Her acid must also eat her brain!"

The 1-B girls all gained irritated tick marks on their heads.

"Monoma, seriously, just shut the Hell up," Kendo threatened, her patience finally running thin with him. "You have done nothing but bad mouth and make our class look like idiots not only to 1-A, who we should have a friendly rivalry with but also to the world and Pros, lessening our potential offers. So, either copy Bondo's Quirk and paste your mouth shut for the rest of the class or I will do it for you!" Itsuka raised her enlarged hand threateningly.

Monoma paled considerably, his dread only doubling with the glares from the six other female members of his class. He looked to his male classmates for backup, but they all wisely ignored him. Seeing no way out, Monoma swallowed his pride and nodded meekly.

"Behold! The P.H. Hero: Alchemina!" Mina declared with a dazzling smile.

"Oooh! I love that way better!" Midnight gushed. "It even plays on your name!"

Mina grinned, proud that she had added that on top of Midori's suggestion. "Well, I can't take all the credit," Mina shifted her gaze to Midoriya, her smile turning warm. "I had good help from a friend." Izuku smiled back, proud.

Midnight noticed the two and smiled teasingly. "Alright, this one gets my seal of approval. Well done, Alchemina," Midnight clapped, both classes clapping alongside the R-Rated Hero.

From then on more of the students presented Hero Names of varying intrigue. Sato went with the Sweets Hero: Sugar Man, Ojiro with the Martial Arts Hero: Tail Man, Juzo Honenuki was Softening Hero: Mudman, and Manga Fukidashi was Standup Hero: Comicman. Aside from the various special-trait-plus-'Man' names, there were more interesting ones like Togaru Kamakiri as Shape Blade Hero: Jack Mantis, Sero went for Taping Hero: Cellophane, Koda, after much time building up his confidence, silently presented his name as the Petting Hero: Anima, Tsunotori named herself as Horn Hero: Valkyrie, Kojiro Bondo as the Paste Hero: Plamo, and Hiryu Rin, who Izuku found out was a foreigner from China, much like Tsunotori was from America, dubbed himself Scale Hero: Long Weizi.

"Damn, I still don't know a good one that's cool enough," Kaminari cursed.

"Hey, I got one," Jiro tapped Kaminari's shoulder, gaining his attention. "How's Jamming-Yay sound?"

"Huh, Jamming like too much electricity jamming electronics and sounds like Heming-Way who wrote 'A Farewell to Arms'. Real clever. I like it!"

"No, it's because even though your Quirk's powerful, you always jam your brain," Jiro covered her mouth to keep her laughter from exploding, remembering Kaminari's dubbed 'Dunce' face.

"Oh, come on, Jiro! Quit messing with me!" Kaminari yelled, annoyed with Jiro's mocking as she went up to present her name. Ibara noticed the interaction, frowning before huffing.

"The Hearing Hero: Earphone Jack!" Jiro revealed.

"Ooh, I like that one!" Midnight exclaimed, enthusiastic. "Naming yourself after your Quirk is unique and helps distinguish you."

'Oh yeah, I could do that!' Izuku thought, his inner lightbulb lighting up.

'Uh, Izuku, are you sure about that?' Eevee questioned. 'Aura Force sounds a bit too generic, and I don't think calling yourself One For All would be a smart move for anyone who might know about the Quirk.'

Just as easily as it lit, Izuku's metaphorical lightbulb flickered and was extinguished.

"Tentacle Hero: Tentacole!" Shoji went up next, one of his formed mouths speaking for him.

"Ooh, I like what you're doing with that! A nice portmanteau!" Midnight commented, thinking about the word tentacle and octopus, one of many common names classifying certain similar Pokémon, whether related species or not.

"The Gyrate Hero: Spiral!" Sen Kaibara presented.

"Hehehe, if you say so," Midnight masked her giggles behind her hand, choosing this time not to point out the unintentional innuendo in the boy's name.

"For my Hero name, it'll be the Force Hero: Mines," Shoda presented, slightly nervous.

"How unique and forceful!" Midnight teased, much to Shoda's embarrassment.

"Battle Hero: Battle Fist!" Itsuka presented with an enlarged hand on her board and her other fist pumped into the air.

"I think I know a certain someone who would say that's-"

"POWWWEEEERRRR!" The group distinctly heard a voice scream out, comical question marks on their heads while the students in another classroom looked at their smiling blonde classmate with confusion.

Hagakure eventually raised her hand, nervously. "Um, I think I got one," Hagakure announced.

"Ah, Hagakure, please, come on up!" Midnight waved for the formerly invisible girl to come forward. "And may I say, darling, you look fabulous! Absolutely stunning! It was a crime a Greek tragedy that your looks were masked by your Quirk!"

'Wait, That's Hagakure!' Class 1-B thought with unified shock. Most of the guys blushed as they took a good look at Hagakure's formerly obscured beauty, while some of the girls, like Pony, Kinoko, and even Itsuka felt self-conscious about their looks in comparison to hers.

As Hagakure made her way to the stage, nervousness and fear bit at her as she could feel everyone's stares at her. Hagakure was used to this, for most of her life, she was always looked at funny for her invisible looks, something she eventually got used to despite longing for people to see her for who she was. Now, she had her wish, and feeling the stares of the less familiar Hero Course class staring at her made her feel regretful for her wish.

Where she once saw and felt either indifference or curiosity, she could practically feel the lecherous gazes of 1-B's boys and even the judging stares from the girls. This wasn't like how she revealed herself in Class 1-A, filled with the friends and acquaintances she felt comfortable revealing to, these were more like strangers to her, strangers now looking at her like they were dissecting every part about her that was once hidden. It made her feel so vulnerable, and terrified; she almost froze with each step up the stage and wanted to disappear again.

Hagakure turned her gaze back to where she previously sat, cursing herself for giving in to her nerves and wanting to go next to get it over with. Toru was regretting it now as her heart heaved with pressure. Toru wanted to return to her seat and hide there, turn invisible again, and go back to the status quo she felt comfortable in.

Then her eyes caught his, Izuku's, honest, supportive, and caring. Izuku smiled, and Toru felt her mind drawn back to the recent past, at the Lake.

---

Flashback...

Toru blinked again, and then again, and then for another in what felt like the umpteenth time. She couldn't help it; her eyes couldn't believe the hand that appeared out of her sleeve, the fingers that flexed and wiggled at her mental commands, and moved back and forth as she waved it around her, feeling the cold breeze that licked its skin... her skin.

"Toru," Toru heard Izuku's voice, more forceful and clearer than how he previously registered to her overwhelmed mind. The girl's teal and yellow eyes locked onto Izuku's wide emerald eyes, his jaw slacked and cheeks burning red. "Y-You're Quirk! I-It's gone. You're-"

"Visible," Todoroki finished for Izuku, equally as shocked, and even a trace bit of pink lit his cheeks at seeing her.

"I-I'm visible?" Toru repeated. Hagakure looked at Loki, her Zorua, gazing at her with wide eyes, her jaw open yet the sides stretched, slowly forming a smile. Toru itched her visible fingers slowly and hesitantly to Loki, her fingers finally brushing Loki's black and red fur before placing her hand fully on the Tricky Fox Pokémon's head, petting her lifelong partner. The Dark Type purred happily, pushing her head closer to Hagakure's hand as she instinctively would. "Y-You all can... see me?"

"What has been locked away has returned," Taishi stated, making his presence known to the stunned teens once more. "Your pleas have been answered, and Uxie's Blessing has been revoked. You, Toru Hagakure, have had your Quirk restored to its former full function."

Hagakure's body moved on auto-pilot, standing up and shuffling toward Lake Acuity's waters, ignoring the looks from all present. As she reached the waters, Toru looked down, her eyes widening in unison with the ones that met her. Toru saw her eyes, teal with an inner ring of yellow, staring back at her from the water's reflection. Toru saw her hair blowing in the wind, the strands brushing her face like they did before but now visible to her.

Her legs gave, Toru falling to her knees, barely registering the cold wetness of the lake water or Izuku's cry of concern. Swiftly, Hagakure looked to her remaining gloved hand, shaking under the weight of everything happening to her. Hesitantly, Toru gently pulled the glove off, the shaking hand that came out a mirror sibling to the one who revealed it from its gloved confines. Toru looked back to the water and faced the newly bare palm toward the lake, her reflection mirroring her movements.

"T-This... is me?" Toru squeaked, vulnerably, tears welling and falling from her eyes, landing in the water and rippling her reflection.

"Toru," Izuku's voice registered near her. Toru turned to see Izuku kneeling beside her. "EEEP!" Toru squeaked, pulling on a dormant yet familiar switch and once more her body was invisible, only her clothes remaining visible. "W-What?!" Toru gasped as she gazed back at her invisible hands yet again.

"She's invisible again!" Shoto gasped, standing to his feet. Shoto looked to Taishi. "Did it not work?"

"No, Uxie did restore her knowledge on how to activate her Quirk," Taishi denied, his gaze steadied on Hagakure. "What she did was use it to turn herself invisible again by choice. The choice to remain so or not is now hers."

Toru stilled at what her professor said and looked at her hands. Toru looked within, trying to find that switch she pulled before, finding and pulling on it again, like pulling on the cord of a lamp. As she did, her hands shimmered again and reappeared as before. When she looked at her reflection in the water, her face was there once more. Toru breathed a sigh of relief.

"Toru," Izuku's voice said again, Hagakure looking up to meet his gaze.

"Izi," Toru breathed out.

Izuku chuckled, his agape mouth stretching to form a flabbergasted smile. "So, that's how you look when you say my name," Izuku gasped, marveled.

Registering his words, Toru's face burned red, only getting brighter when she realized it was no longer hidden under the invisibility she thankfully used to keep her flustered side hidden from her crush. Toru's swift gaze to the water and seeing how red she was confirmed that.

"D-Don't look at me, Izi!" Toru yelped, hands blocking her face before her invisibility was reapplied.

"Toru?" Izuku blinked, confused.

"I-I mean, please, don't look! M-M-My hair isn't ready! I-It's too messy and ugly!" Hagakure stuttered, tossing out explanation after excuse while her invisible hands frantically worked on fixing the loose strands of hair she normally didn't mind because no one could see them. But now someone is seeing them. Her crush, Izi, is seeing them, and that mortified her. "I-I-I'm too pale! My nails aren't done right! I-I don't know if my teeth are fully clean! I-I'm not ready! I-I-"

Toru's stuttered and panicked responses ceased when her hand met with another's. Not hers, it was rougher, more uneven, and crooked, and yet it felt so soft and warm. Toru looked to see her hand was held onto by Izuku's right scarred hand, holding what looked like empty air but he held and brushed the fingers like he could instinctively tell how they were shaped, even while invisible.

Toru turned his gaze back to Izuku, her breath hitching as her eyes met with Izuku's perfectly. He didn't look like he was staring at empty air or guessing approximately where her eyes were, he was staring directly at her face, her eyes, Her.

"Ugly? Messy? Not Right? Never say that about yourself, Toru," Izuku said, his cold breath brushing her invisible face. His scarred hand tangled and moved her hand till they were palm to palm perfectly.

'D-Did he figure out how I looked while invisible just from one look at the real me?!' Hagakure thought, shocked beyond belief.

"You are the furthest thing from ugly, messy, or not right, Toru Hagakure," Izuku declared. "You were perfect as you were when you were invisible, you are as perfect as always while visible." Hagakure's heart ached a strangled choke releasing from her throat, her vision wavering from her tears, yet she could still see Izuku's adorkable face now smiling handsomely at her, looking at her fully and truly. "I'm honored to see you without your Quirk, but I was always more honored to be your friend as you were now, to be friends with one of the two that saved me. You are my friend, Toru Hagakure, that hasn't changed no matter how you look."

Toru's Quirk seemed to work on its own. Her form shimmered and reappeared, revealing her tearful, lip-whimpering face. Her eyes were exactly where he knew they were.

Toru tackled Izuku's body with a hug that could put a Bewear to shame, tears rolling down his winter gear while crying her lungs out. Izuku's arms wrapped around her, pressing her closer to him. "It's okay, Toru. Let it all out," Izuku's caring voice whispered in her ears. "That's why I am Here."

Toru shook and cried harder, her voice carrying all across Lake Acuity, but she, Izuku, everyone, even a listening Legendary Pokémon knew those cries, those tears, they were happy.

Flashback over...

---

'He's here. All my friends are here. Looking at me, too,' Hagakure thought with heartfelt realization, her feet, her entire body, carrying her on its own to the podium. 'My friends before, and my friends still. If I have their support, their light shining on me, then no one's gazes matter. Look all they want! I'm me, Toru Hagakure, and I'll show them who I am, that I'm Here, and that I will shine my light, and my friends, onto everyone.'

Hagakure set down her board, her teeth flashing a brilliant smile. "Lightwave Hero: Prism! That's my Hero Name!" Toru declared.

"Oh! How dazzlingly marvelous!" Midnight declared passionately. "Simple, mysterious, and especially distinct for you! That's an amazing Hero name!"

Izuku's smile matched Hagakure's, brimming with pride. "Prism! Prism! Prism!" Izuku led his friends and class in cheering on the newly dubbed Prism as they did with Froppy, with Asui this time cheering for Toru. Even Class 1-B joined in rooting for Prism.

Hagakure wiped away the tears from her eyes before they could become noticeable. "Thank you, everyone!" Hagakure smiled. "I'll be sure to do my best!"

While Hagakure basked in the recognition and boost to her self-esteem, Bakugou's teeth gnarled and ground together. It was one thing that Invisi-Bitch, another of Deku's dick-sucking lackeys, was actually a dang beauty that belonged better around his arms than Shitty Deku's, it was another when that she finally got the stones to be someone worth noticing, but it was something altogether infuriatingly annoying hearing Deku lead their class of extras in a cheer for the arguably attractive extra. It slapped in Bakugou's face, the blonde's fury building as his mind twisted Deku's cheer as a taunt in his ears.

'Like I'll let Shitty Deku and his gang of extras show me up!' Bakugou growled inwardly, rising swiftly off his chair with his board and marching angrily onto the stage, ignoring Dunce-Spark whining about wanting to go next.

"King Explosion Murder!" Bakugou declared to the classes.

"Absolutely Not!" Midnight denied, crossing her arms in an X-shape.

"Huh?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN, LADY?!" Bakugou shouted.

'Seriously?' Class 1-A thought unified, most of their faces deadpanned.

"I know we talk like he's a Villain in all but name for what he did to Izu, but was he seriously trying to rectify that?" Serena muttered while Bakugou argued with Midnight, Vlad King, and an awakened Aizawa.

"Delusion plagues his mind ceaselessly," Tokoyami sagely replied.

"BAHAHAHA! As if he wasn't already enough of a Villain in the Festival!" Monoma laughed, tauntingly.

"You know, for once, you're actually right about that, Monoma," Setsuna said.

Monoma and the rest of his class did a double-take as they looked at Setsuna as she stared seriously at Bakugou whining and raging like an entitled child who had just been told 'no' for the first time.

"D-Did you just agree with Monoma?" Tetsutetsu questioned, incredulous. "No offense, man, but you aren't exactly the poster boy for non-biased rationality."

Monoma just numbly nodded while still staring shell-shocked at one of the most frequent voices in his class that stood against his 1-A rivalry rants.

"Is this about whatever you heard during Midoriya's and Bakugou's fight?" Yui spoke for the first time today.

"Yep," Setsuna nodded, her gaze narrowing, disgusted as her ears recalled all the bullshit Bakugou espoused.

"You're still not going to tell us?" Yui inquired further.

"Nope," Setsuna shook her head, bringing extra emphasis at the end.

"...Hmm," Yui hummed and nodded, before staring back at Bakugou, stomping furiously back to his seat, and Midoriya, trying to use his whiteboard to pretend Bakugou wasn't associated with his class. 'There are other ways for me to find out.'

While Bakugou raged like a child, Shoto was deep in thought after Toru presented her Hero name. The scarred teen approved of the name, as well as how important it was to Hagakure to present it to the classes. Shoto could tell the previously invisible girl was struggling with accepting this new reality of hers after their trip to Lake Acuity and how the name she chose was indicative of finding identity. To this effect, Shoto was jealous of Hagakure.

'She's already striving to find who she is, and yet I'm falling behind,' Shoto thought sadly. 'My memories are all back, I know everything that happened, Uxie's influence has no hold on me anymore... but the person I want to be, the Hero I'm striving to become, I haven't found him yet.' Shoto looked at his whiteboard, the light of the stage shining on it enough to see his reflection. 'Maybe now's not the right time.'

Shoto went up to the stage and presented the name on his board.

"Shoto?" Midnight raised an eyebrow, curious. "You're using your first name?"

"Yeah," Shoto nodded, staring at the board with a thousand-yard stare. "Recent events have shown me a new perspective. I'm far from the Hero I want to be, and I don't even know who he is. So, for now, until I can find out who I'm supposed to be, this is enough."

Izuku and Momo blinked, staring at each other. "Wow, h-he's acting so open and remorseful. Just what on Earth happened on you guys' trip with Professor Taishi?" Momo asked, bewildered.

"You know I can't say, Momo, even if I wanted to," Izuku answered, staring pensively at Todoroki. "I will say Todoroki took a good long look at his past. Whatever he saw, he's changing, I can admit that much, and as his Class Representative, and the dumbass who's already gone this far in, I have to see that change be for the better."

Momo stared incredulously at Izuku and Todoroki, unsure what had changed with Todoroki on their trip, or how she should feel about her former fiancé. Still, Izuku was an expert at seeing the good in people, even when others didn't see it. 'Including myself,' Momo thought, looking at her current name choice. Her eyes steeled determinedly.

"He's so dreamy!" Pony Tsunotori squealed while her large blue eyes held sparkles and her cheeks blushed red.

'Ooh, my shipping senses of tingling!' Setsuna grinned, her teeth hissing out between her teeth as she chuckled.

Mina perked up, looking over toward Class 1-B. 'Why do I feel like I've found my long-lost sister?' Mina questioned herself.

"I'm the Stun Gun Hero: Chargebolt!" Kaminari presented next with a confident smirk. "Electric, don't you think?!"

"Ooh, makes me feel tingly!" Midnight praised.

Kaminari blushed and rubbed his head, pleased about the compliment by the attractive hero.

Ibara frowned slightly before raising her hand to go next. "Divine Nature Hero: Vine," she announced, her board held up by her vine hair while she prayed.

"Nice rhyming!" Midnight gave a thumbs-up.

"I hope I can live up to this name," Momo went next, presenting her choice. "The Everything Hero: Creati."

"Creative~!" Midnight swooned dramatically.

Izuku smiled proudly, clapping with the rest of his class. However, that smile fell with the next presentation.

"Huh? You're using your first name too?" Midnight questioned Iida, who only put his name, Tenya, as his choice.

Iida only nodded but didn't say anything more, his thoughts still stuck on his last visit to the hospital.

---

Flashback...

"I wasn't sure if I wanted to say it yesterday. Hell, I thought maybe denying it would make it so, but...but I can't feel my legs, Tenya," Tensei Iida said to his little brother, sitting on the chair beside his hospital bed. The now-paralyzed Pro Hero was a husk of his former strength, his head bandaged, breathing tubes attached to his nostrils, bandages littering his body and his lifeless legs covered in the hospital bed sheets.

"W-What?!" Tenya exclaimed, his voice muffled by his face mask. "N-No way!"

"Yeah way, little brother, my legs are useless," Tensei continued, a pained chuckle coughed out. "The Hero Ingenium is finished, at least for me."

"No! You can't say that brother!" Tenya sat up, leaning closer while his hand clasped desperately at the bars of the hospital bed. "The world still needs Ingenium. They're still so many people counting on you to save and inspire them!"

"...Maybe you're right. The world might need Ingenium, but not me," Tensei peeked one pained eye open. "Which is why... will you take up the name? Will carry on the name Ingenium for me, Tenya?"

Flashback over...

---

'I'm sorry, brother, but I...' Iida didn't let the thought finish.

Seeing the pain clear on his face, and sympathizing herself with how she knew his brother, Midnight sighed sadly. "Very well," Midnight nodded. "Just remember. If ever you feel like changing it, you have the next few years to decide."

Iida nodded before returning to his seat, ignoring the concerned stares of his friends and classmates.

Uraraka sighed, concerned for her friend but she felt helpless, unsure what to do to help. 'Maybe I'll just go, and help everyone move on,' Uraraka decided, raising her hand to go next.

"This is the name I thought of," Uraraka said nervously, setting down her board. "Zero Gravity Hero: Uravity."

"Oh, I love it! It sounds so adorable!" Midnight praised. Uraraka sighed with relief as the classes clapped in.

"Beast Hero: Gevaudan!" Jurota Shishida declared, going next.

"Ooh, based on the Legend of the Beast of Gevaudan," Midnight noted. "Dangerous to call yourself after a man-eating beast."

"I would prefer to keep my reasons hidden, for they are deep and personal," Jurota confessed, sincerely.

"Hmm," Midnight looked at the boy pensively before shrugging. "Oh well, it isn't my place to pry. If you are so sure about it, then go for it!"

"Thank you, Miss Midnight," Jurota bowed and returned to his seat.

Izuku frowned slightly, pondering what could be the reason for Jurota choosing such a name, but he shook his head, deciding it wasn't his place either to question the furry-haired student's decision. Instead, Izuku focused on what Jurota said. 'Deep and Personal, huh,' Izuku looked at his board while thinking about a certain name he's always been called.

"From Now on, DEKU IS THE NAME OF A HERO!" Izuku remembered his declaration to Bakugou during their first Battle Trial exercise.

'I did say that then, but do I really want that name to be my Hero name?' Izuku pondered, barely paying attention as Tsuburaba declared himself The Solid Air Hero: Airwalk. 'Admittedly, I said it to stoke Bakugou's anger so he would come after me and not Ochaco, but she was the one who made that name something more than the insult Bakugou made it out to be. Now, though...' Izuku recalled Uraraka's disturbed face and her refusal to ever use the very name she gave new meaning to. If even Ochaco couldn't accept the name after hearing everything tied down to it, was there any point in keeping it alive? 'If I'm not Deku, then what am I?'

Izuku's thoughts were snapped away as he realized Serena had gone next. "I chose this name because a special person helped me see myself and the world clearly," Serena smiled as she stepped up to the podium. "They helped me change myself for the better and now I want my name to reflect that and what I want to do with others. Sea Fair Hero: Aquamarine!"

"Oooh, how sweet~!" Midnight cooed, comical hearts around her. "Me suspects it has to do with a boy, right?!"

Serena blushed, yet steeled herself with a huff. "Believe what you want, Miss Midnight, but that's the honest truth," Serena replied.

'You are so obvious,' The female population in the room thought.

Meanwhile, Izuku blushed, catching who Serena referenced. 'S-She's talking about me?!' Izuku thought with realization.

Pikachu gaped shocked. 'Oh, shit! I-Is he really gonna-'

'Shhhh, let him figure it out!' Eevee shushed Pikachu, though he and the rest of Izuku's Pokémon were on the edge of their metamorphical seats.

'Wow, Serena, you really are amazing!' Izuku smiled warmly at his closest friend. 'I'm humbled that you used our friendship as the basis for your Hero name!'

'...Mother-Gah!' Pikachu forced back the curse from escaping his throat and instead face-palmed so heavily he fell off Izuku's shoulder and onto the floor.

'...Is our Trainer really this dense in the ways of women and romance?' Shelgon questioned.

'Unfortunately,' Combusken sighed, exasperated.

'Well, if your best interactions with women for the past 11 years before Serena have been indifference and pity, what do you think would happen?' Eevee asked defensively about his Trainer... even if also wanted to use Take Down on a stone pillar repeatedly.

'Fair enough, but I'd thought that Mesprit's Blessing would get him to realize his feelings sooner,' Froakie argued.

'Only our Trainer could go so slow even with aid from a Legendary Pokémon,' Combusken shook her head from within her Pokeball.

Suddenly, realization jolted in Midoriya's mind. 'Wait, that's it,' Izuku thought, his eyes widening. 'Hero Names are supposed to reflect the kind of Hero you want to be. Whether they be jovial and lighthearted.' Ochaco's and Asui's names came up as examples. 'To inspire strength and courage.' Kirishima's, Kendo's, and Tetsutetsu's came to mind. 'Or reflect their life and values.' Serena's, Jurota's, and even Monoma's flashed in his mind. 'And Deku, Uraraka may have helped make me see it differently, for a time, but that name will always represent my past. All the pain, sadness, loneliness, and hate.'

'And... I don't want my Hero name to continue it. I don't want all that pain to remain a part of my life,' Izuku raised his marker and began writing down his choice. 'I want my name to do what I said I would do at the Sports Festival. A name that inspires courage, strength, and, most importantly, Hope.' Izuku began walking up to the stage, his mind flashing back to when he talked with Uraraka about the name 'Deku' and what it meant. But more importantly, what she thought it sounded like.

Izuku set the board down, smiling confidently. "Hero of Hope: Dekiru!" Izuku declared.

"Hmm, interesting," Midnight cupped her chin. "'To be able to'. Bold words that will come with a lot of expectation."

"I understand," Izuku nodded, looking down briefly. "Before I wanted to pick something else. A name I've been called my entire life." Bakugou and Serena tensed, realizing quickly what Izuku's first choice must have been. "I thought by choosing it I could take that name and make it mean something more, something good, heroic even." Izuku's grip on his whiteboard increased before raising his determined stare back at the classes. "But I realized I don't have to accept it like I'm nothing else. This name, a friend suggested it for how similar it sounded, but it meant something different. I realized that's the kind of name I want, a name that means whatever challenge comes my way, I can do it. A name that means 'You can do it,' too."

Uraraka gasped, eyes widening. "I just thought that it sounded cool like the word 'Dekiru' like 'You can do it!' or 'You can'!" Uraraka remembered when she first walked out of school with Izuku, when he allowed her to call him Deku, because of those words. Now, those words are what inspired his name. Her words that he remembered.

Uraraka's tears watered, her smile whimpering, and the pink-cheeked girl did everything she could to bite it all down before she started bawling. Sniffling down her tears, Uraraka jumped from her seat, pumping her fist into the air. "Yeah! Way to go, Dekiru! You sure can do it!" Uraraka cheered.

"Yeah, that name sounds so Manly, it makes me want to cry!" Kirishima furiously swiped his tearing eyes.

"Do it, Man! It's okay for guys to cry!" Tetsutetsu cried out, copying his similar hardening rival. "It's a Manly thing to cry!"

"Alright, Let's hear it for Dekiru!" Mina cheered, joining Uraraka in pumping her fist into the air.

"Dekiru! Dekiru! Dekiru!" Both classes cheered, Class 1-A taking the lead, with only the most reserved members either pumping their fists or remaining still.

Todoroki gave a small smile. 'I may not know what Deku means or what baggage it holds for you, Midoriya, but you chose to let it go and move on to the kind of Hero you want to be known,' Todoroki registered, feeling inspired by Midoriya's example, inspired that whatever name and Hero he wanted to be he could do it, too. 'Plus, it does sound similar in concept to All Might, his secret father.'

'Tch, still sounds arrogant,' Monoma scoffed, jealously. 'Just you wait, Midoriya, I'll show make you eat those words you said before, and prove I'm the better Hero through my actions!'

Serena's tears almost flowed freely as she cheered for her best friend. 'I was worried you would have chosen that name to try and prove something to Bakugou, but you proved me wrong again, Izu,' Serena thought. 'You don't need to prove yourself to him. You never did. Do your best, Dekiru, and I'll be there, working hard enough so that I can stand beside you.'

Bakugou gaped wide-mouthed and stunned. His eyes twitched as he barely recognized the green-haired kid he beat into the dirt. Those determined eyes, that confident posture, that goddamn familiar smile, it didn't belong on him. It didn't belong on the useless, Quirkless nerd who always got in his way, always looking down on him, thinking he could stand beside or in front of him!

'Deku!' Bakugou growled inwardly, hate brimming in his bloodshot eyes. 'I'll show you! I'll prove you're nothing more than a worthless, stupid Deku, and that is all you'll ever be!' Bakugou rose from his seat and stomped his way back to the stand. 'You're not the Hero of this Story! I Am! And I'll put you back in your place under my heel!'

"LORD EXPLOSION MURDER!" Bakugou announced.

"That's basically the same thing," Midnight sweatdropped, shaking her head. 'Seriously, why couldn't Nezu just expel this Villain-wannabe and be done with it.'

---

Meanwhile...

Nezu kept a steady gaze on the screen while he typed with one hand and clicked on each folder and tab he selected, carefully analyzing everything he saw.

'Interesting,' Nezu's thought held the same curious tone he would normally have when speaking, but how his tail shifted and bristled showed a different story. 'Inaccurate misconduct reports, camera footage and estimated walking distance directly contradictory to tardy reports, the Midoriya they paint is not the one teachers and students here speak of.' Nezu looked over all the files Aldera Junior High had on Izuku Midoriya, ones they didn't even try to bury. Nezu almost felt like calling what he did hacking an insult to how easy the effort was. 'There's enough incriminating evidence that could warrant an investigation. And that's only Midoriya's file.'

Reviewing Bakugou's files, Nezu's rising temper started cracking through his twitching eyes and stuck-up tail. 'They tried, I can admit that much, but these grades, reports, and behavior are all too perfect from the one U.A. has had the unfortunate displeasure of tolerating,' Nezu scoffed, rolling his eyes at the blatant stupidity of these so-called teachers for easily connecting Bakugou's and Midoriya's conduct reports in a way that made the inaccuracies all the clearer. 'At least, give me a challenge.'

An alert perked up Nezu's ears as he switched over to security cam footage of Aldera Junior High's principal through his own computer screen, and the principal was looking mighty worried. Nezu smirked. 'Ah, and what has gotten you so frightened?' Nezu questioned. The alert was from a program he had set up as he was scrubbing through and downloading all the files they had on Mr. Midoriya and Bakugou. It would alert Nezu when the Aldera principal attempted to access the very same files he had stolen and copied to leave no trace of his involvement. And it seems like the principal was trying to cover up his own involvement in this educational misconduct.

'Trying to erase and change Midoriya's and Bakugou's files. In all likelihood to better reflect the rising star Midoriya has been since becoming Festival Champion. Wouldn't want people to start finding out what Midoriya meant in his opening speech, now would we?' Nezu chuckled, amused as the footage and activity were being recorded for use later. 'Please, keep adding more charges of fraud, sir. I so do love when humans dig deeper graves than even a lousy beast would do.' Nezu also loved it when he could prove ignorant and dismissive humans wrong, time and time again.

'Ah, but what's this?' Nezu perked an eyebrow as he noticed the principal moving from his computer and reaching into a drawer on his desk. Switching feeds to the camera in the principal's room showed a different angle where he could see what the principal was pulling out... of a hidden drawer beneath his desk. Nezu's curious stare became more hardened as he noticed the type of book inside: a red-covered book with splotches of black in the shape of a mask, the kanji reading, Meta Liberation War.

'...It appears this goes deeper than simple favoritism and coattail riding,' Nezu grimly thought. 'I'll have to contact Detective Tsukauchi immediately. If this means what I think it does, and I'm hardly wrong, then-'

What Nezu was about to think was cut short by a knock on his door. For once, the Principal of U.A. was startled out of his musings. Quickly, Nezu switched his monitor off, pinning this discovery for later. "Yes?" Nezu questioned.

"It's us," Taishi's voice came through the other side of the door.

"Ah, yes, please, come in," Nezu said, pressing a button on his desk to unlock the door. As he did, Professor Tengoku Taishi and All Might, currently in his debuffed civilian persona, Toshinori Yagi, entered the room. "Ah, gentlemen, welcome. I'm ashamed to admit you startled me for a moment."

"You? Startled?" All Might raised a surprised eyebrow. "That's a first."

"Unfortunately, even the best and brightest minds can be distracted at times," Nezu replied, deciding not to inform Toshinori about the situation currently. While well-intentioned he might be, Yagi tended to let his fists do the talking, especially concerning delicate situations involving those he cared for, like his precious successor. "Now, what can I do for you two?"

"It's time, Nezu," Taishi spoke, his gaze serious and determined.

"...I see," Nezu tensed, clasping his paws together, looking at both men. "Are you sure this is the right moment?"

"Positive," Taishi nodded, a storm blue shine reflecting off his eyes and onto his glasses. Taishi glanced sideways at Toshinori. The Symbol of Peace had conflict in his eyes but he nodded as well. "He has been kept in the dark long enough. The time has come to reveal to Izuku Midoriya the truth of what he is, and the dangers he'll likely face if he is to survive."

---

AAAAANNNNNDDDD SCENE! Wow, that took longer than expected! I blame curious reading! Though on the bright side, check out Dekiru 10: The Symbol of Peace and The Protector of Earth, such a great MHA/Ben 10 story, I'm actually almost intimidated enough to give up on my own MHA/Ben 10 project... Almost.

Anyway, I hope you guys liked this chapter! It actually ran longer than I intended, and what I mean is that I wanted this chapter to include more than the students picking out their Hero identities, but with my decision to include Class 1-B into this process, share more insight into the thoughts and mindsets of both classes, including flashbacks to what happened immediately after the last chapter with Hagakure, Yui's and Setsuna's growing interest and respective flirting with Midoriya, and my classic 'setting up of future plot points, mysteries, and evolving connections with characters, this one part of the chapter ran long enough, I had to section this all off as its own chapter and save the rest for later. But uh, don't expect the next chapter to come out too soon, I've got MHA watches Death Battle next to catch up on.

Moving on, I hope you like the Hero Names and how I had the students present them in their own way and reveal more about their characters, especially Class 1-B. Update your shipping lists people because we got Kinoko/Kuroiro, more Kaminari/Shiozaki, some light sprinkles of Pony/Shoto, and even Izuku/Yui. Oh, and to those wondering if there will be Izuku/Midnight... let's just say nothing is concrete, but the doors of possibilities are open for later consideration.

Also, I hope Monoma wasn't too aggravating for you guys, I knew the dangers of Class 1-B being brought into this Dual Class Presentation would bring; but hopefully, the characters taking Monoma down a peg was enough to shut him up and ease the annoyance for you guys. And for those of you wondering, yes, the Alien and Persona franchise do exist as a movie and video game series in the world of My Hero Pokedamia, respectively, yes, Morgana is an Alolan Meowth, and yes, I did add it in just for Kaminari to call Monoma out for the similarities and make Ibara giggle... just let Kaminair have this, he's already been put in the friend-zone by Jiro in canon, Izuku's Pika Bro needs some di-'vine' company before he gets led too far astray into the ways the Purple One.

Next, the ones I hope you guys appreciate the most were Toru's and Serena's Hero Names. I've got a lot of positive feedback on Toru's Hero name and shout-outs to Gandalf42 for inspiring the name in his fic on AO3 known as Carrion, an amazing fic, go check it out if you want some classic Villain Deku, but not really, action and if you wish to see stupid characters like Bakugou, Aizawa, and Shinsou get taken down a peg. Anyway, Prism I felt was such a good name for Toru, especially with all the stuff I have planned for her and her Quirk to further evolve throughout the series, as well as, how she put it, reflecting the same light of compassion, friendship, and love she experiences from Izuku and her friends onto others.

And then with Serena, I painstakingly worked hard on this, and even if it might be a mouthful, Aquamarine, I feel it is the best name for this Serena as the gemstone by the same name fits Serena to a 'T' in a way I didn't even account or plan in retrospect. From the spiritual meanings connecting her and Izuku with themes like trust, truth, clarity, and hope, its connection to water, the Sea, and a certain necklace and Pokémon, as well as signifying her future struggles and challenges, and I will be very disappointed if the name isn't received well-doesn't mean I'll change it if that happens but just saying.

Additionally, Mina was another hard challenge as I didn't want to have her be Pinky and if I'm to go all the way with my MHA/Ben 10 fic, I'd imagine Alien Queen would be redundant with this fic. I had another option, P.H. Amina Acid, but the Dekiru 10: Symbol of Peace & Protector of Earth story already used the name, and while the author doesn't have dibs or copyright of the name, I wanted to be more original and think outside of the box. Alchemina still fits within the same concept as Amina Acid, integrating Mina's name into her Hero Identity, but in this case, using Izuku's first suggestion and adding her own spin on things but injecting her name allows for Mina to express herself in her Codename beyond Izuku and thus not forcing Mina to rely solely on him and have a bit of agency in her choices.

Finally, I hope you guys like Dekiru as Izuku's Hero Name. I know I got a lot of comments begging me not to make it Deku again, and I hope Izuku's hesitancy was enough to put you guys on edge, but Dekiru is the best name for this version of Izuku who has stated he wants to be a Symbol of Hope, to inspire such hope not just when he shows up to save the day, but any Hero, and themselves, that they 'can do it' and persevere with whatever struggles and challenges might weigh them down.

And now, let's wrap things up with another character update! Firstly, let's update Toru's:

Toru Hagakure:

-Quirk: Light Refraction

And, for the next character, let's go with Kyoka Jiro:

Kyoka Jiro:

-Height: 5'1"

-Age: 15

-Birthday: August 1st

-Quirk: Earphone Jack

-Moves: Heartbeat Distortion

Pokémon:

1. Loudred:

-Gender: Male

-Type: Normal

-Ability: Soundproof

-Moves: Echoed Voice, Boomburst, Stomp, Bite, Rest, Sleep Talk

2. Noibat:

-Gender: Male

-Type: Flying/Dragon

-Ability: Infiltrator

-Moves: Supersonic, Air Cutter, Gust, Bite, Double Team, Wing Attack

3. Jigglypuff:

-Gender: Female

-Type: Normal/Fairy

-Ability: Cute Charm

-Moves: Sing, Disarming Voice, Rest, Echoed Voice, Disable, Covet

4. Toxel: (Low Key)

-Gender: Female

-Type: Electric/Poison

-Ability: Static

-Moves: Tearful Look, Nuzzle, Growl, Acid, Flail

With that all said, I hope guys liked the chapter, comment your thoughts and Pokémon predictions in the reviews, and check out my other stories here and on AO3 if you haven't already and are interested. Also, be nice and chill with each other in the comments, and know I am doing my best to attend to all my stories.

This has been Zayden StormVoid with another chapter of-

*Triumphant music plays as 'My Hero Pokedamia' is shown in bold red colors before blood splatters on the title*

...Ahem, um... ignore that... See ya next time!