The sun had begun its descent, painting the sky over Musutafu in deep shades of bruised purple and burning orange. It was the kind of sunset that usually signaled the end of a triumphant day, but for Natsu Dragneel, he was just hungry.
He dragged his feet along the pavement, his hands stuffed deep into the pockets of his track pants.
He reached his front door and sighed, the sound heavy with exhaustion.
"I'm starving..." he groaned, turning the handle.
He pushed the door open. The house was warm, smelling faintly of roasted fish and miso, but before Natsu could announce his arrival, he paused.
Voices were drifting from the living room. A hushed, excited whispering.
"We can't just abandon him, dear," his mother's voice said, sounding soft and cooing. "Look at him. He's absolutely adorable."
"I know, I know," his father replied, sounding amused but hesitant. "But let's wait for Natsu. I want to see his reaction first. It might cheer him up after the exam."
Natsu kicked off his sneakers, leaving them in a messy pile in the genkan. He tossed his bag onto the floor with a thud and walked down the hallway, putting his hand on the wall. His stomach gave a loud, protesting growl.
"What are you two whispering about?" Natsu asked, his voice rough. "Is dinner ready?"
He rounded the corner into the living room.
His mother turned immediately, her face lighting up with a gentle smile. "Natsu! You're back? Welcome home, honey."
"Welcome back, son," his father said, turning around from the sofa.
Natsu blinked. His fatigue momentarily forgotten, his eyes locked onto the bundle in his father's hands.
It wasn't a newspaper, and it wasn't a gift box.
It was a small, blue creature.
"A cat?" Natsu frowned, stepping closer. "I'm starving to death here, but... what is that? That's a weird-looking cat."
It was definitely feline, but the color was bizarre—a vibrant, sky-blue fur covered its body, with a stark white belly. It had large, oval eyes and sat comfortably in his father's large hands, looking around the room with an innocence that seemed almost practiced.
"Your father found him in a cardboard box right in front of his office building," his mother explained, clasping her hands together. "It had a sign that said 'Please Adopt Me.' Isn't he just the cutest little thing?"
"I brought him home specifically for you, Natsu," his father added, grinning. "I thought a companion might be good for you now that you're aiming for high school."
Natsu walked right up to his father. He leaned in, bringing his face inches away from the blue cat's face.
The cat blinked. It tilted its head, letting out a soft, high-pitched "Mew?" It curled its tail, trying to look as endearing as possible.
But Natsu didn't buy it. He narrowed his onyx eyes, staring intensely into the cat's pupils. He didn't blink. He just stared, searching for something, his dragon-like instincts tingling.
The cat's smile faltered. A bead of sweat seemed to appear on the animal's forehead. The cat looked left, then right, then back at Natsu. The intense scrutiny was becoming awkward.
Finally, the cat's patience snapped.
With a speed that defied biology, the blue cat raised its hind leg.
WHACK!
He kicked Natsu square on the nose.
"Ow!" Natsu recoiled, stumbling back from the surprise.
The cat crossed its small arms over its chest, its expression shifting from 'cute pet' to 'annoyed middle-aged man'.
"What's wrong with you?!" the cat snapped, its voice distinct, slightly high-pitched, and undeniably human. "Staring at me like that... give me some space, man! You're creeping me out!"
Time stopped.
The living room fell into a silence so profound it felt heavy.
Natsu stood frozen, rubbing his nose.
His mother stood frozen, her hands covering her mouth.
His father stood frozen, looking down at the creature in his hands.
One second passed.
Two seconds passed.
Then, pure chaos erupted.
"WAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
The scream was collective. It was a harmonious trio of sheer terror.
"IT TALKED!" Natsu screamed, pointing a trembling finger. "THE CAT JUST TALKED!"
"GAAAAH!" His father, reacting on pure instinct and panic, reflexively threw the cat away from him as if it were a burning coal.
"Oh my goodness!" his mother shrieked, hiding behind the sofa.
The blue cat spun through the air. "Hey! Watch it!"
Just before hitting the floor, a soft white light enveloped the cat's back. Two feathered white wings sprouted from his shoulder blades.
FLAP. FLAP.
The cat stabilized himself in mid-air, hovering effortlessly above the coffee table. He dusted off his fur, looking indignant. "Careful! I almost fell! What is the matter with you people?"
The screaming intensified.
"HE FLIES!!"
Natsu's eyes were popping out of his skull. "IT HAS WINGS! DAD! YOU BROUGHT HOME A MONSTER!"
"I DIDN'T KNOW!" his father yelled back, backing away until he hit the wall. "IT WAS IN A BOX! IT LOOKED NORMAL!"
"There is nothing normal about a talking cat!" his mother cried.
The cat hovered there, looking at the three terrified humans. He sighed deeply, a long, exasperated sound, and placed a paw on his forehead.
"Aye..." the cat groaned, shaking his head. "Can you guys stop screaming? My ears are ringing. Seriously, keep it down."
.
.
.
The screaming in the Dragneel household eventually subsided, replaced by a tense, inquisitive circle formed around the coffee table.
In the center sat the blue creature, munching on a raw fish that Natsu's mother had hesitantly provided as a peace offering. He ate with surprising manners, wiping his mouth with a paw when he wants to speak.
"So," Natsu's father started, adjusting his glasses and leaning forward. "Let's get this straight. You are a cat?"
"Aye," the creature replied, nodding sagely.
"But you talk," Natsu pointed out, poking the creature's cheek. "And you fly."
"I'm a talented cat," the creature said through a mouthful of fish. He swallowed and looked up at them with big, round eyes. "My name is Happy."
"Happy?" Natsu's mother smiled involuntarily. "That's a lovely name."
"And how old are you, Happy?" Natsu asked, crossing his arms.
"I am three months old!" Happy declared proudly, puffed out his small white chest.
Natsu blinked. "Three months? You're just a baby! You're basically a kitten."
Happy's eyebrow twitched. He pointed a paw at Natsu. "I am not a baby! I am a full-grown three-month-old! This boy is weird."
"Actually," The father interrupted. "In this room, I think you are definitely the weirdest one, Happy."
"Aye..." Happy slumped slightly.
"But why are you like this?" Natsu pressed, leaning in. "Is it a Quirk? Did you come from a lab? Or maybe... another dimension?"
Happy stared at him blankly. He tilted his head to the side, his expression completely vacant. "I don't get what you're saying. I'm just a cat. Why do you guys ask so many questions?"
Natsu stared at him. His parents stared at him. The logic—or lack thereof—was baffling. But in a world where people had engines in their legs and could turn into cement, perhaps a blue talking cat wasn't the strangest thing to happen on a Tuesday.
"Well," Natsu's mother said, clapping her hands together decisively. "He has nowhere else to go. And he seems... polite enough. We can't just throw him back out on the street."
"He's staying?" Natsu asked, looking at Happy.
"He was a gift for you, wasn't he?" his father chuckled. "Consider him your first sidekick."
Natsu looked at the blue cat. Happy looked back at Natsu.
"Nice to meet you, Natsu!" Happy chirped.
"Yeah," Natsu grinned, a genuine smile forming. "Nice to meet you, Happy."
Several hours later, the house was dark.
Natsu lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling. His body was exhausted from the U.A. exam. The adrenaline had finally worn off, leaving him desperate for sleep.
"And then," a high-pitched voice droned on from the pillow next to him, "I saw a really big fish in the river, but I couldn't catch it because my paws were slippery, and then I thought, maybe fish are slippery on purpose?"
Natsu's eye twitched.
"Hey, Natsu, do you like fish? I like fish. Raw is best. But cooked is okay too. Do you eat fire because you cook the food in your stomach? That sounds convenient. Hey, Natsu. Natsu? Are you listening?"
"Shut up..." Natsu groaned, pulling the blanket over his head.
"But I'm not tired yet!" Happy complained, hopping onto Natsu's stomach. "Let's talk about tomorrow. Are you going to be a Hero? Can I be a Hero? Is there a Hero costume for cats?"
The vein on Natsu's forehead pulsed. He couldn't take it anymore.
In one fluid motion, Natsu sat up, grabbed Happy by the tail, and marched to the bedroom door.
"Hey! What are you doing?! Put me down!" Happy flailed.
Natsu opened the door, tossed the blue cat into the hallway, and slammed the door shut.
"Go sleep in the hallway!" Natsu shouted. He dove back into bed, burying his face in the pillow. "Finally. Silence."
He closed his eyes. Peace at last.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Natsu opened one eye. The sound was coming from the window.
Creak.
The window slid open. Happy flew in, hovering in the center of the room with his arms crossed and a look of deep betrayal on his face.
"Is that how you treat a friend?" Happy demanded.
Natsu sat up, rubbing his messy pink hair. "We're friends?"
"Aren't we?" Happy asked, tilting his head.
"I thought you were a pet," Natsu replied bluntly. "You know, an animal I own."
Happy gasped. The look of betrayal turned into one of shock, then one of anger. He flew over to the bed, landed on Natsu's arm, and—
CHOMP.
"OWWW!" Natsu yelped, shaking his arm. "Why did you bite me?!"
Happy released his arm, looking at him with judgment. "Don't look at me with those perverted eyes, Natsu!"
"Perverted?!" Natsu shouted, nursing the bite mark. "Where is the perversion in calling you a pet?! That's normal!"
"It's a twisted way of thinking about our relationship!" Happy argued. "I am not a possession! I am a partner!"
"Okay, okay! Fine! Partner! Just stop biting me!" Natsu sighed, defeated. He looked at the small cat. "So, what do partners do, then?"
Happy's expression brightened instantly. "We help each other! Come here."
Happy flew toward the open window, gesturing with his paw. "Come to the window."
"Why?" Natsu asked, suspicious.
"Just trust me!"
Natsu sighed, climbed out of bed, and walked to the window. The cool night air hit his face. Below, the neighborhood was sleeping, the streetlights casting long shadows.
"Okay, I'm here. Now what?"
"Hold on tight!" Happy said.
Before Natsu could react, Happy flew behind him. The cat grabbed the back of Natsu's t-shirt collar with his small paws.
"Max Speed!"
"Whoa!"
Natsu's feet left the floor. He was lifted out of the window, dangling in the air.
"Happy! Wait! I'm gonna get sick!" Natsu panicked, squeezing his eyes shut. Whenever he was on a vehicle—a bus, a train, a car—he got motion sick. Being carried through the air should be the same. He braced himself for the nausea.
He waited.
And waited.
... Nothing happened.
"Huh?" Natsu opened his eyes.
He was floating fifty feet above the ground. The wind rushed past his ears. The moon was big and bright above them. He looked down at the rooftops of his neighbors' houses.
"I... I don't feel sick," Natsu whispered, stunned.
"Aye!" Happy chirped, straining slightly under the weight but holding firm. "That's because I'm not a vehicle, Natsu. I'm a friend!"
Natsu looked up at the small blue cat flapping his wings with all his might. A vehicle was a machine, a cold object of transportation. But Happy was living, breathing... a comrade.
For the first time in his life, Natsu Dragneel was flying, and he felt nothing but freedom.
"This is amazing, Happy!" Natsu laughed, swinging his legs in the air. "Look! I can see the whole town! It's incredible!"
"I told you!" Happy grunted. "I'm... pretty... strong... right?"
They glided over the street, the bond of friendship forming in the quiet of the night. It was a perfect moment.
Until physics intervened.
"Natsu..." Happy's voice strained.
"Yeah?"
"You... you've put on a lot of muscle..."
"Thanks! I've been training hard!"
"No... that's not a compliment right now..." Happy's wings began to tremble. "My energy... running low..."
"Happy?" Natsu looked up. The flapping was getting slower.
"I can't... hold... it..."
"Happy! Don't let go!"
"Oops."
Happy's paws slipped.
"WAAAAAAAAAH!"
The duo plummeted from the sky. They fell past a tree, crashing through the branches—snap, crack, thud—and landed heavily in the soft grass of a backyard three houses down.
Natsu groaned, sitting up and rubbing his head. "That was a rough landing."
Happy fell out of the tree and landed on Natsu's head. "Aye..."
Suddenly, a low, menacing growl emerged from the darkness of a doghouse a few feet away.
Two glowing eyes appeared.
A massive, muscular Bulldog with a spiked collar stepped into the moonlight. It bared its teeth, drool dripping from its jowls. It did not look happy to have intruders.
Natsu and Happy froze.
"Happy..." Natsu whispered.
"Aye..."
"On the count of three."
"ONE!" Happy screamed.
"HEY! YOU SKIPPED TWO NUMBERS!"
The dog barked—a loud, thunderous sound—and charged.
"RUN!!" Natsu yelled.
"WAIT FOR ME!" Happy cried, flying frantically after him but too tired to gain altitude.
They scrambled over the fence, the snapping jaws of the dog inches from Natsu's rear, running into the night, united by fear, flight, and the beginning of a beautiful, chaotic friendship.
Chapter 6
Two weeks had passed since the entrance exam, a period of time that felt like an eternity of silence. The spring air had grown warmer, and the cherry blossoms were beginning to scatter, carpeting the streets of Musutafu in pale pink.
It was late evening. The streetlights flickered on, casting long, amber shadows across the quiet residential neighborhood.
A delivery truck, marked with the logo of a high-priority courier service, pulled up to the curb with a soft hum of an electric engine. The driver, a middle-aged man in a crisp blue uniform and a cap pulled low over his eyes, stepped out. He checked his handheld device, then looked up at the house numbers.
"Dragneel..." he muttered, squinting at the nameplate on the gate. "This should be the place."
He reached into the back of the truck and retrieved a heavy, thick envelope. It wasn't just any mail. It was sealed with heavy wax, and the letters U.A. were stamped in shimmering gold on the front. Even the paper felt expensive.
The courier held it with a sense of reverence. He looked at the modest house and smiled to himself. "Another hopeful," he whispered. "Who knows? The kid living here might be a top hero in the future. Just delivering this could be a highlight of my career."
He walked up the path and pressed the doorbell. Ding-dong.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, a high-pitched, cheerful voice echoed from inside.
"I'll get it!"
The door handle turned, and the heavy door swung open.
The courier prepared his professional smile. "Good evenin—"
The words died in his throat.
Standing in the doorway—or rather, hovering at eye level—was a blue cat. It had white wings flapping softly from its back, keeping it suspended in mid-air.
"Aye!" the cat chirped, raising a paw in greeting.
The courier stood frozen. His brain tried to process the image. A cat. Blue. Floating. Talking. He blinked once. Twice.
Happy's smile faded into a frown. He crossed his small arms. "What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?"
The courier shook his head, snapping back to reality. "E-excuse me... Is this the Dragneel residence? And... specifically, are you a talking cat?"
Before Happy could answer, a blur of pink rushed down the hallway.
"Out of the way!"
Natsu Dragneel slid into the entryway in his socks. He reached out and placed his hand firmly on top of Happy's head.
"Down you go!"
With a playful shove, Natsu pushed Happy down to the floor. The cat landed on his feet with a soft thud, looking indignant.
"Don't race me to the door, Happy!" Natsu said, leaning against the doorframe. "Answering the door is my only job in this house! Don't steal it!"
"You're just mean!" Happy complained, rubbing his head. "I was being polite!"
The courier watched the interaction with wide eyes. He cleared his throat. "Uh... are you Natsu Dragneel?"
Natsu turned, his grin wide and easy. "That's me!"
His eyes dropped to the package in the man's hands. He saw the gold U.A. letters. "Oh! It finally came!"
"Yes," the courier said, regaining his composure. He held out a digital pad and a stylus. "I just need a signature here, please."
"Sure thing!"
Natsu grabbed the stylus. He didn't write his name. Instead, with rapid, jerky movements, he drew a circle, added a jagged line for a horn, and two dots for eyes. It looked like a very rudimentary, very silly dragon.
He handed it back. "There!"
The courier looked at the screen. He looked at Natsu. "Is... is this your official signature?"
"Is there a problem?" Natsu asked, tilting his head innocently.
"No... no problem at all," the courier said, sweating slightly. He handed over the package. "Good luck. I hope it's good news."
"Thanks, mister!"
Natsu closed the door.
He stood in the genkan, holding the heavy package. Happy flew up again, circling Natsu's head like a blue satellite.
"That's from the Academy, right?" Happy asked, his tail twitching with excitement. "The one you said you'd go to if you passed? Aren't you nervous?"
"Nervous?" Natsu scoffed. He walked into the living room and threw the package onto the table. "Why should I be nervous?"
He ripped the seal open.
Inside was a holographic projector disc and a folded letter. Natsu ignored the disc. He pulled out the letter first. It was thick, formal stationery.
EXAM RESULTS: NATSU DRAGNEEL.
Natsu glanced at it for exactly one second. His eyes glazed over at the sight of small text.
"Boring," he muttered, tossing the letter over his shoulder. It fluttered through the air and landed on the floor behind him.
"Hey!" Happy cried, diving to catch it but missing. "Isn't that the most important part?!"
"Nope!" Natsu dug his hand back into the box. "This is the important part!"
He pulled out a plastic-wrapped bundle. He ripped the plastic open and shook out the fabric. It was the U.A. standard male uniform: a grey blazer with green trimmings and dark green trousers.
Natsu held the pants up against his legs, inspecting them critically.
"It looks... eh, it's okay, I guess," Natsu said, frowning slightly. "But dark green? Seriously? Can't I request a color that looks more like fire? Or maybe orange? Green doesn't really scream 'Dragon', does it?"
While Natsu critiqued the fashion choices of the most prestigious school in the country, Happy had landed on the floor and picked up the discarded letter. His large eyes scanned the text.
"Natsu..." Happy whispered. Then he grinned, holding the paper up. "Natsu! It says you're accepted! You got in!"
"Huh?" Natsu looked over, still holding the blazer. "Of course they accepted me. I beat those robots into scrap metal! Well... except for that giant one. Wait can you really read??"
"Your confidence is completely overboard," Happy deadpanned. Then, a soft smile spread across his face. "But... I think that's awesome."
Creak.
The door to the master bedroom opened slowly. Natsu's mother stepped out, wearing a soft robe. She rubbed her sleepy eyes, blinking in the hallway light.
"What is all this noise?" she murmured, her voice thick with sleep. "Natsu? Happy? It's already ten o'clock. It's time for bed."
"Only chickens sleep at this hour!" Happy declared boldly, floating over to her.
He hovered near her face, drool suddenly forming at the corner of his mouth. "Speaking of chickens... since Natsu passed, shouldn't we have a feast? Maybe some roast chicken? Or fish? Or chicken and fish?"
"You only think with your stomach, don't you?" Natsu teased.
"Natsu..." his mother said softly.
She looked at the uniform on his hands, then at the letter in Happy's paw. The sleepiness vanished from her eyes, replaced by a warm, shimmering light. Her lips curved into a proud, gentle smile.
"You passed," she whispered.
Natsu looked at her. Seeing that look on her face—the pure, unadulterated pride—made him pause. The arrogance faded, replaced by a softer, more genuine expression. He rubbed the back of his neck.
"Yeah," Natsu said, grinning. "I did it. The exam wasn't that hard after all."
"Your father is going to be so happy," she said, clutching her hands to her chest. "I'll tell him first thing in the morning."
Click.
The bedroom door opened wider one more time.
Natsu's father stepped out. He was wearing mismatched striped pajamas and his hair was a mess, standing up in every direction. He yawned loudly, stretching his arms.
"Why wait until I wake up?" he grumbled playfully, walking toward them. "This is a big day for my son."
He looked at Natsu, his eyes twinkling behind his glasses.
"Let's celebrate properly," his father announced, clapping his hands. "I think Happy has the right idea. Let's have that feast!"
Happy's jaw dropped. Tears of joy instantly welled up in his big eyes. He vibrated in the air.
"POPS!!" Happy screamed.
He flew across the room like a blue bullet and slammed into Natsu's father, hugging his face.
"You're the best, Pops!"
Natsu and his mother burst into laughter as the father tried to peel the emotional, crying cat off his face.
"Okay, okay! Get off me.." the father laughed, though he hugged Happy back. "Let's eat!"
Chapter 7
Monday morning arrived with the inevitability of a tidal wave.
In the Dragneel household, the sun streamed through the bedroom window, illuminating a scene of struggle. Natsu Dragneel stood before his full-length mirror, engaged in a fierce battle. His opponent wasn't a villain or a robot, but a strip of red fabric.
"Gah!" Natsu choked, pulling at the collar of his white dress shirt. "Is this thing really necessary?! It feels like a snake trying to strangle me!"
He tugged at the red tie, which was currently knotted in a shape that defied geometry. It looked less like a Windsor knot and more like a ball of yarn after a kitten had played with it.
Floating beside him at shoulder height was Happy. The blue cat had his arms crossed over his chest, nodding with an air of sophisticated approval.
"Mmm, mmm," Happy hummed, closing his eyes sagely. "You look sharp, Natsu. Very dapper. Like a true gentleman."
"I look like I'm suffocating!" Natsu grumbled, finally giving up and leaving the tie loose and messy. He grabbed the grey blazer and threw it on, not bothering to button it. He snatched his yellow backpack from the floor. "I'm heading out!"
He stormed out of his room and down the stairs.
"Natsu!" his mother called from the kitchen, holding a spatula. "What about breakfast? I made omelets!"
"I'll buy something on the way! I'm gonna be late!" Natsu shouted back, hopping on one foot as he shoved his sneakers on.
SLAM.
He burst out the front door, the morning air hitting his face. He didn't walk; he bolted. He took off down the street, his new shoes slapping against the pavement.
"Hey! Wait up!"
Happy flew after him, flapping his wings furiously to keep up with Natsu's sprint. "Natsu! You passed the bus stop! We need to wait there!"
Natsu didn't slow down. He turned a corner sharply, banking off a telephone pole. "No way! I am not going through that transportation hell again."
He grinned, looking ahead. "I'm running to the Academy!"
Happy's jaw dropped. He almost forgot to flap his wings. "Hah?! Are you serious?! That's miles away! My wings are going to kill me, man!"
"Why did you even come?!" Natsu retorted, glancing back. "You should have stayed home and slept on the rug!"
"You must be joking!" Happy cried, flying closer and grabbing onto the strap of Natsu's backpack to hitch a ride. "It's my first day at the Academy too! I can't be late for my debut!"
"Since when are you enrolled?!" Natsu laughed, but he didn't shake the cat off. "Alright then! Hang on tight, Happy! We're going top speed!"
"Aye!"
Natsu accelerated. He pushed his legs harder, his stamina burning bright. He wove through pedestrians, jumped over hydrants, and treated the morning commute like an obstacle course.
Fifteen minutes later.
The entrance to U.A. High School was a picture of serenity. The massive glass barrier gleamed in the sunlight. Cherry blossom trees lined the path, shedding soft pink petals that danced in the gentle breeze. Students from the General, Support, and Hero courses walked in groups, laughing, chatting, and enjoying the crisp spring weather. It was a scene of perfect academic harmony.
HAAAAAH... HAAAAAAH...
The beautiful silence was shattered by a rasping, heavy panting that sounded like a dying engine.
Heads turned.
Natsu Dragneel burst through the gate. He was a mess. Sweat drenched his forehead, plastering his spiky pink hair to his skin. His shirt was untucked, his tie was a disaster, and he was gasping for air so loudly it echoed off the school walls.
"Why..." one student whispered to another. "Why is he running like that?"
"He looks like he just ran a marathon," another girl giggled. "He's in a terrible state."
Walking quietly near the gate was Kyoka Jiro. She wore the female uniform with a cool, detached vibe, listening to music through her earphone jacks. She noticed the commotion and looked up.
Her eyes widened slightly as the pink blur stumbled past her.
It's that boy... she thought, recognizing the chaotic energy and the unique hair color. The one who almost threw up on the bus. He's causing a scene on the very first day. Figures.
She shook her head and kept walking, increasing the volume of her music.
A few meters away, Katsuki Bakugo was walking with his hands shoved deep into his pockets, his posture slouched and aggressive. He heard the heavy breathing and looked to his side just as Natsu jogged past him.
Bakugo's red eyes narrowed instantly. He clicked his tongue.
"The Girl-colored hair bastard..." he muttered under his breath, watching Natsu run toward the main building.
Natsu reached the main entrance doors. A security guard stood by the frame, checking IDs.
"Hey! Student!" the guard called out, raising a hand. "No running in the hallwa—"
WHOOSH.
Natsu didn't even hear him. He zipped past the guard and skid into the polished linoleum hallway of the main building.
He ran for another ten meters before his legs finally protested. He skidded to a halt, bent over, and grabbed his knees, wheezing. Sweat dripped from his chin onto the shiny floor.
"Yeah..." Natsu gasped, a triumphant grin breaking through his exhaustion. "Made it... on time."
"Ooh! We're finally here!"
Happy released his grip on the backpack strap and fluttered into the air. He stretched his small limbs, looking completely fresh, clean, and energetic.
"Yay! Good job, partner!" Happy cheered, hovering in front of Natsu's sweating face.
Natsu looked up, his eye twitching. "Why..." he panted. "Why didn't you fly... the whole way? That's not fair..."
"I'm not an idiot like you, Natsu," Happy said, placing his paws on his hips and shaking his head disapprovingly. "Who in their right mind wants to smell like a locker room on their first day of high school? Didn't you think about the impression you'd leave on people? You stink of sweat!"
Natsu wiped his chin with his forearm and stood up straight, his breathing slowly returning to normal.
"Whatever," Natsu dismissed the criticism. "Forget that. Where is our class?"
Happy flew a bit higher, scanning the surroundings. He pointed a blue paw toward a large digital bulletin board on the wall where a small crowd of freshmen had gathered.
"Over there! Let's find your name."
They walked over to the board. Natsu squinted at the list for the Hero Course.
Class 1-A
Yuga Aoyama
...
Mashirao Ojiro
11. Natsu Dragneel
...
"There it is!" Happy pointed. "Number 11. Class 1-A."
Natsu grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Class 1-A, huh? Alright. All we have to do is find the door that says 1-A. Easy mission."
Fifteen minutes later.
Natsu and Happy stood in a random corridor on the second floor, staring out of a large glass window that overlooked a courtyard they didn't recognize.
They were completely, hopelessly lost.
Natsu pressed his forehead against the cool glass, sliding down slowly in despair.
"WHY IS THIS PLACE SO BIG?!!" Natsu yelled, his voice echoing down the empty hallway.
Happy floated beside him, looking equally confused. "I think we passed the cafeteria three times, Natsu. This school is a labyrinth."
"I'm gonna be late..." Natsu groaned, sliding all the way to the floor. "I ran all the way here just to get lost indoors..."
A polite, refined voice cut through their wall of misery.
"Excuse me?"
Natsu looked up. Walking down the hallway with the grace of a runway model was a girl with a tall ponytail and a pristine uniform. It was Momo Yaoyorozu. She paused, looking down at the heap of pink hair and blue fur with mild concern.
"Is something wrong?" she asked, tilting her head. "You two seem quite... distressed."
Natsu scrambled to his knees, tears of relief streaming down his face in comically thick waterfalls. "We're lost! This school is a dungeon! We can't find the class!"
"We're gonna be expelled for lateness!" Happy wailed, clutching his head.
Momo blinked, then offered a small, reassuring smile. "Oh, is that all? Please, there is no need for tears. I can ensure you reach your destination."
Natsu's eyes sparkled as if he had just seen an angel. "Thank you!!"
Happy, equally relieved, flew straight toward her. "You're a lifesaver!"
He attempted to hug her face in gratitude, but Momo gently caught him in her hands before he could make contact. She held him at arm's length, her expression turning slightly apologetic.
"However," she noted, looking at the blue creature. "I believe there is a strict rule against bringing pets onto school grounds. You might get in trouble if a teacher sees him."
CRACK.
The sound of Happy's heart breaking was audible. He turned grey, a dark cloud of depression instantly raining over his head.
"Pet..." Happy whispered, curling into a ball. "She called me a pet..."
Natsu stood up, dusting off his pants. He looked at Momo
"Happy isn't a pet," Natsu said firmly, placing a hand on his hip. "He's my partner. We're a team."
The rain cloud vanished. Life returned to Happy's eyes.
"NATSUUUUU!!" Happy screamed, crying tears of joy this time. He flew over and slammed into Natsu's face, hugging him tight. "You really do care!!"
Momo watched the interaction, surprised. "I see. My apologies for the assumption." She bowed slightly. "I am Momo Yaoyorozu. I am in Class 1-A."
"I'm Natsu Dragneel!" Natsu said, prying Happy off his face. "Same class!"
"And I'm Happy!" the cat chirped, floating proudly. "Also Class 1-A!"
"Then we are classmates," Momo nodded to Natsu. "In that case, please follow me."
"But I'm in the class too..." Happy muttered.
Momo didn't respond to the cat directly, turning on her heel to lead the way. Happy slumped in the air, feeling ignored. Natsu reached up and patted the cat's head gently.
"Don't worry about it," Natsu whispered. "Maybe she just doesn't like cats. Don't let it get to you."
They began to walk. Natsu and Happy trailed behind Momo, unable to see her face.
If they could, they would have been shocked.
Momo's cheeks were flushed a deep, rosy pink. Her eyes were shimmering with suppressed excitement. Her internal monologue was screaming at a volume that betrayed her cool exterior.
KAWAII!!!!
It's so cute! It's so incredibly, undeniably cute! It flies! It talks! And it has little paws! Where can I get a talking blue cat like that?! I am so lucky! Natsu-kun and his adorable little friend are in my class! I must pet him later. I must!
"We have arrived," Momo announced, composing herself as she stopped.
Natsu and Happy froze. They looked at the location. It was literally the first door around the corner from where they had been crying.
"IT WAS RIGHT HERE?!" Natsu and Happy shouted in unison, their jaws hitting the floor.
They stood before a massive door, easily ten feet tall, with a giant 1-A painted on it in red.
"Why is the door so big?" Natsu wondered aloud. "Is it for giants?"
The door was already open. Momo walked in gracefully, while Natsu followed, stepping into the classroom that would change his life.
The room was buzzing with activity. Most of the seats were already filled with unique-looking students. Near the podium, a chaotic scene was unfolding. A boy with green curly hair—Izuku Midoriya—looked like a ripe tomato, flustered as he spoke to a tall boy with glasses (Tenya Iida) and a bubbly girl with brown hair (Ochaco Uraraka).
Natsu scanned the room. He didn't recognize anyone.
Sitting near the middle of the room, leaning her cheek against her palm, was a girl with pink skin, black sclera, and yellow horns. Mina Ashido.
She sighed, tapping her fingers on her desk. She was already bored.
First day, she thought, blowing a strand of pink hair out of her face. I have to start a talk with my classmates.
Her eyes drifted lazily toward the door as the new students walked in. She saw the tall girl with the ponytail. Then she saw the blue cat.
Then, she saw the spiky, salmon-pink hair.
Time seemed to slow down. Her eyes widened. The boredom evaporated instantly, replaced by a spark of pure, chaotic recognition.
No way.
Mina shot up from her chair, kicking it back with a loud screech.
"NATSUUUUU!!" she squealed.
Natsu flinched. The tone of voice triggered a primal "fight or flight" response in his brain. It was the sound of childhood memories—some good, some painful. A chill ran down his spine.
He turned his head just in time to see a pink missile launching itself at him.
"Mi—"
He didn't get to finish her name.
Mina had intended to tackle him in a hug, but in her excitement, she miscalculated the angle. She dove headfirst.
THWACK!
Her hard, bone-like horns slammed directly into Natsu's forehead.
"GAH!"
The impact was brutal. The force sent both of them crashing to the floor in a tangled heap of limbs. The entire class fell silent, staring at the sudden violence at the doorway.
"Ow, ow, ow!" Natsu rolled away, clutching his forehead. He kicked his legs against the floor in childish agony. "That hurt! Are you trying to kill me?!"
Mina sat up, rubbing her own head. "Ouch... sorry, sorry! I was aiming for a hug, but I came in too low!"
Natsu scrambled to his feet. In a classic cartoonish fashion, a large, red, steaming bump swelled up on his forehead instantly. He pointed an accusing finger at her.
"You did that on purpose!" Natsu shouted. "You horned lizard!"
The air in the room dropped a few degrees.
Mina stopped rubbing her head. Her smile vanished. A vein popped on her temple. She slowly stood up, her fists clenching at her sides.
"Hah?" Mina growled, stepping into his personal space. "Who are you calling a lizard... you overgrown Salamander?!"
POW!
Before Natsu could retort, Mina buried her fist into his stomach with a perfectly executed gut punch.
"GURK..."
Natsu's eyes rolled back into his head, turning completely white. He froze for a second, then crumpled to his knees, clutching his stomach.
Standing a few feet away, Momo Yaoyorozu stared with wide eyes, her hand covering her mouth. Hovering beside her, Happy looked equally shocked.
Chapter 8
The classroom was suspended in a state of stunned silence. All eyes were glued to the floor where Natsu Dragneel was currently clutching his stomach, his soul seemingly trying to escape through his mouth.
Stepping out from the crowd of students, Eijiro Kirishima rubbed the back of his neck, looking between the pink-skinned girl and the pink-haired boy.
"Whoa," Kirishima muttered, impressed by the sheer force of the blow. He recognized Mina from their middle school days, though they hadn't been close. "You know him, Ashido? That was intense."
Mina crossed her arms, blowing a strand of hair out of her face with a huff. "Know him? Unfortunately. We went to the same elementary school." She pointed a thumb at the groaning boy. "This is Salamander. I mean, Natsu Dragneel."
"Salamander?" Kirishima raised an eyebrow. "Sounds cool."
Natsu, demonstrating a resilience that defied medical science, popped back up to his feet. He dusted off his knees, his grin returned almost immediately.
"Heh," Natsu chuckled, looking at Mina. "You haven't changed a bit, Mina. That punch was super manly!"
Mina's eyebrow twitched violently. A shadow cast over her eyes.
"Hah?!" she snapped, her voice rising an octave. "Who are you calling manly, you fire-breathing idiot?"
"Manly is a compliment." Natsu argued.
"Not for a girl in high school!"
Before the argument could devolve into round two, a sound came from the doorway. It wasn't footsteps, but a soft, sliding friction against the floor tiles.
"You lot..."
The voice was low, tired, and utterly devoid of enthusiasm.
The students turned toward the door. There, lying on the floor, was a yellow sleeping bag. It looked like a giant, sluggish caterpillar had wandered into the hero course. A face, framed by messy black hair and tired eyes, peered out from the opening of the bag.
"...are far too noisy for your first day," the caterpillar drawled.
The class froze. Natsu tilted his head. Happy floated closer, squinting.
"What is that?" Natsu whispered. "A giant worm?"
The yellow caterpillar rolled over and stood up. Slowly, the zipper descended. The sleeping bag shed from his shoulders like a molted skin, revealing a man dressed in slouchy black clothing, a grey capture scarf wrapped around his neck, and bloodshot eyes that looked like they hadn't seen sleep in a decade.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a juice pouch, taking a sip.
"I'm Shota Aizawa," he stated flatly, scanning the room with a bored expression. "Your homeroom teacher."
"TEACHER?!" the class shouted in unison, their eyes wide.
"He doesn't look like a teacher..." Happy whispered to Momo, who looked equally confused.
Aizawa ignored the reaction. He reached into his sleeping bag and pulled out a blue gym uniform. He tossed it onto the podium.
"I know you have a mountain of questions about the ceremony and guidance counseling," Aizawa said, cutting off Iida who had raised his hand. "But we don't have time for that irrational logic. U.A. is unrestrained in its traditions. That applies to the teachers as well."
He pointed a finger toward the hallway.
"Put these P.E. uniforms on. They are in the locker rooms down the hall. Meet me at the athletic grounds immediately."
The class stood there, hesitant. The suddenness of it all was jarring. They had just arrived, and now they were leaving?
"Well?" Aizawa stared at them. "Why are you not moving?"
"Hold on a minute!"
A small, high-pitched voice broke the tension.
Happy floated forward, hovering right in front of the podium. He placed his paws on his hips, his face scrunched up in suspicion.
"You can't just order us around without proof!" Happy declared, pointing a paw at Aizawa. "Show us some ID first! You look way more like a hobo than a teacher! Are you sure you didn't just wander in from the park?"
The class gasped. He said it! The cat actually said it!
Aizawa stopped moving. He slowly turned his head to look at the blue cat hovering at his eye level.
Suddenly, the air in the room grew heavy. Aizawa's long black hair defied gravity, shooting straight up into the air. His tired, black eyes snapped open, glowing a piercing, terrifying crimson.
"Erasure."
POOF.
In an instant, the white, feathery wings on Happy's back vanished into thin air.
"Aye?" Happy looked behind him. "My wings?"
Gravity, realizing it had been ignored, took hold.
THUD.
Happy fell straight down like a baseball, hitting the linoleum floor with a pathetic splat.
"Ouch..." Happy groaned, lying flat on his face.
The difference in perspective was instant and intimidating. A moment ago, Happy was face-to-face with the teacher. Now, he was a tiny, blue speck on the floor, overshadowed by the towering, dark figure of Aizawa.
Aizawa looked down at the creature with cold indifference. His hair fell back down, and his eyes returned to black.
"What are you even supposed to be?" Aizawa asked, his voice dripping with disdain. "A pet? Who is the fool that brought a house pet to a hero academy?"
The room was silent. Students shifted uncomfortably.
Then, the crowd parted.
Natsu Dragneel stepped forward. His face was no longer smiling. His brows were furrowed, and his eyes held a serious, protective glint. He walked up to where Happy lay and stood over him.
"Excuse me, Sensei," Natsu said, his voice firm. He didn't shout, but the weight in his tone was clear. "Happy isn't a pet. He's my partner."
Aizawa looked from the boy to the cat, then back to the boy. He narrowed his eyes.
"Call him whatever you want," Aizawa deadpanned. "But this is a school, not a daycare. I don't bring my wife to class just because she's my wife."
The class blinked.
Natsu blinked.
Momo tilted her head.
They stared at their teacher, trying to process the image of this disheveled, exhausted man having a spouse. The silence stretched out, awkward and confusing. Nobody understood the point he was making.
Aizawa stared back at their blank faces. He sighed, scratching his stubble.
"That was a joke," Aizawa muttered dryly. "I'm single."
A collective sweat-drop appeared on the back of everyone's head. He's bad at jokes...
Aizawa turned his back on them, grabbing his sleeping bag.
"Anyway. It's irrational to waste more time. Meet me at the grounds in fifteen minutes. Don't be late."
He walked out the door, leaving a stunned Class 1-A behind.
Natsu bent down and scooped Happy up. "You okay, buddy?"
Happy rubbed his nose, looking at the door where Aizawa had vanished. "That guy... he's scary, Natsu. He took my wings away just by looking at me!"
"Yeah," Natsu said, clutching his gym uniform. A competitive fire lit up in his eyes. "He's strong. This is gonna be interesting!"
The walk to the changing rooms was a lively procession of color and chatter. The tension from Aizawa's sudden appearance had dissipated slightly, replaced by the awkward but eager energy of teenagers trying to figure out who was who.
Mina Ashido marched next to Natsu, measuring him with her eyes. She placed a flat hand on top of her own head and moved it horizontally toward his.
"Wow," she admitted, sounding begrudgingly impressed. "You really have gotten taller than me. That's annoying."
Natsu grinned, walking with his hands behind his head. "What do you mean 'gotten'? I was always taller than you! You were just standing on your tiptoes back then."
"Liar," Mina poked his side. "You were a shrimp!"
Walking slightly behind them, Momo Yaoyorozu watched the bickering with a gentle smile. "Childhood friends..." she mused softly. "It must be wonderful to have someone you've known for so long in the same class. It's quite reassuring, isn't it?"
A few feet away, Izuku Midoriya heard her comment. He stiffened slightly. His green eyes darted toward the back of the group, where Katsuki Bakugo was stomping along, radiating an aura of pure murder and arrogance.
Reassuring... Midoriya thought, a drop of sweat sliding down his temple. Yeah... not exactly the word I'd use for my childhood friend.
Happy, who had been floating silently between the students, decided to chime in. He flew closer to Mina.
"It's strange, though," Happy said, looking at the pink girl. "I didn't know anything about you, Mina. I honestly thought Natsu was a loner who had no friends before me."
"Hey!" Natsu snapped, turning around. "Who told you I was a loner?! I'm popular!"
The class erupted into light laughter.
"This creature really is cute," Ochaco Uraraka beamed, clasping her hands together as she looked at Happy. "What's his name again?"
"It's a winged cat, kero," Tsuyu Asui added, placing a finger on her chin. "Very unique."
"He wasn't with you at the entrance exam, right?" Kyoka Jiro asked, twirling one of her earphone jacks around her finger. "I would have remembered a flying blue cat."
"Yeah," Natsu explained. "I wasn't planning on bringing him today either, but he's stubborn. My dad brought him home about two weeks ago. He was a gift for finishing the exam."
Denki Kaminari grinned, looking at the cat. "Two weeks? So he's basically a baby?"
"I am not a baby!" Happy protested. "I am a mature—"
THWIP.
Suddenly, a purple, sticky sphere shot out from the crowd. It attached itself to the top of Happy's head.
"Gah?!" Happy yelped.
The sphere was attached to a string of pure stickiness. On the other end was Minoru Mineta. With a triumphant yank, Mineta pulled the string down, dragging Happy out of the air until they were face-to-face.
Mineta stood there, trembling with excitement. He pointed a shaking finger at Happy.
"Look at this!" Mineta shouted to the rest of the boys, a manic grin on his face. "Look at this height difference! Observe it well!"
He stood as tall as he could, puffing out his chest next to the standing cat.
"YEAAAHHH!" Mineta cheered, throwing his arms up. "I'm not the shortest one in the class this year! Take that, genetics! Hahaha!"
Happy's face darkened. He swiped the sticky ball off his head with significant effort, even though it has now stuck to his paws. He glared at the boy with the grape-hair.
"What is your problem?!" Happy snapped. "I'm still in my growth phase, you dwarf! I'm going to be huge one day!"
"You're the only dwarf here, Hahaha!" Mineta laughed.
The group reached the end of the hall.
"Alright, girls this way," Momo directed, pointing to the door marked 'Women'.
"See you on the field, Salamander," Mina waved, disappearing into the room.
Natsu waved back and followed the boys into the 'Men's' locker room.
The room smelled of cleaning products and new beginnings. Rows of grey metal lockers lined the walls. The boys began to disperse, finding their assigned numbers.
"Let's see... Dragneel... Dragneel..." Natsu scanned the names. He found his locker near the corner. "Awesome."
He opened it up. Inside was a fresh, folded U.A. gym uniform—dark blue with white geometric lines forming the letters U and A.
Natsu quickly stripped off his blazer and shirt. He pulled on the tracksuit pants and the shirt. The fabric was breathable and high-quality.
"Not bad," Natsu said, zipping the jacket halfway up. He re-tied Igneel's white scarf around his neck, tucking the ends in so they wouldn't get in the way.
Across the room, Kaminari was checking himself out in the full-length mirror, adjusting his blonde hair.
"Man, this uniform is pretty slick," Kaminari said, posing. He looked at the boy next to him—Shoto Todoroki. "Do I look handsome or what?"
Todoroki, who had already finished changing with silent efficiency, didn't even glance at him. He closed his locker with a soft click and walked past Kaminari toward the exit without saying a single word.
"So cold..." Kaminari slumped.
Natsu slammed his locker shut. "Yosh! I'm ready! Let's go fire it up!"
He turned to leave, but stopped.
Floating in front of him was Happy. But unlike Natsu, Happy was not ready. His big eyes were shimmering with wet, unshed tears. His bottom lip was quivering.
"Natsu..." Happy sniffled.
"What's wrong?" Natsu asked.
"There..." Happy pointed a trembling paw at the wall. "There is no locker for me. And... and there is no uniform for me either!"
The realization hit Natsu. "Oh. Right. You're not technically a student."
"I'm naked!" Happy wailed, throwing his paws over his eyes.
Aren't you always naked? The male students wondered to themselves.
Natsu scratched his head, looking around for a solution. His eyes landed on Mineta, who was struggling to pull his pants up nearby.
"Hey," Natsu said, snapping his fingers. "Why don't you ask Mineta for his spare uniform? Or maybe we can use his shirt as a full body suit for you?"
Mineta smiled. He looked at Natsu, then at the small cat. He pulled his pants up with a snap of elastic and puffed out his chest with immense, unearned pride.
"Unfortunately. I'm a titan comparing to him."
He walked away with a strut, convinced he had just won an argument about masculinity.
The rest of the boys in the locker room paused. They looked at the tiny grape boy walking away, then at the small blue cat floating in the air.
A collective thought resonated in everyone's mind at the exact same frequency:
Actually... you're both basically Smurfs.
Chapter 9
The mid-morning sun hung high in the azure sky, casting harsh, defined shadows across the expansive P.E. grounds of U.A. High. The air was still, filled with the scent of dry earth and the nervous perspiration of twenty teenagers standing in a loose formation.
Shota Aizawa stood before them, his posture slouched, looking less like a prestigious educator and more like a man who had just rolled out of a gutter. In his hand, he held a standard white baseball.
"The Department of Education has been procrastinating," Aizawa muttered, tossing the ball up and catching it lazily. "In this country, students are banned from using their Quirks during physical fitness tests. It's irrational. It creates a dataset that doesn't reflect your actual capabilities."
He looked at the class with his dark, tired eyes.
"Here at U.A., we don't follow those outdated protocols. Today, you will undergo a Quirk Apprehension Test. Eight physical events. You are free to use your Quirks to achieve the highest possible result."
"A test on the first day?" Minoru Mineta squeaked, clutching his head. "I knew U.A. was going to be intense, but this is straight into the fire!"
Aizawa ignored the complaint. He pulled a digital device from his pocket.
"Usually, the representative would be the one with the highest entrance exam score. If we combine the written and practical exams, that would be Bakugo. I'm not talking about the class representative, just looking for who will throw this ball."
Katsuki Bakugo straightened his spine, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"However," Aizawa continued, his eyes sliding over to the boy with the pink hair. "If we are speaking strictly about the Practical Exam scores... the top rank belongs to Natsu Dragneel."
The class turned to look at Natsu. Even Bakugo's smirk faltered, replaced by a sharp scowl. Natsu just grinned, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Dragneel," Aizawa called out. "In junior high, what was your record for the softball throw?"
Natsu blinked. He crossed his arms and tilted his head. "Softball? I don't know. We didn't have that in my curriculum. I mostly just... ran around and climbed stuff."
Aizawa sighed. "Irrational. What about the rest of you? Who has thrown a ball for maximum distance without a Quirk?"
"Sixty-five meters," Bakugo stated confidently.
"Are you a monster?" Denki Kaminari whispered, eyes wide. "That's huge for a normal throw."
"I did about eighty meters," Mezo Shoji, the student with multiple arms, rumbled quietly.
"Hah?!" Bakugo whipped around, veins popping on his forehead. "Eighty?! You cheating octopus, that's because you have six arms!"
"I didn't use them for leverage," Shoji replied calmly. "It was a standard throw. We weren't allowed to use our Quirks."
"That is exactly the point," Aizawa interrupted, silencing them. "The system fails to account for your true potential. It limits you to 'normal' standards. But here, you are not normal. You are heroes in training."
He tossed the ball toward Natsu.
"Step into the circle, Dragneel," Aizawa commanded. "Don't leave the perimeter. Other than that, do whatever you need to do."
Natsu caught the ball. It felt light in his hand. He walked to the white painted circle in the center of the field.
Happy floated faithfully by his side, stopping just outside the line. "Show them what you got, Natsu!"
"Heh," Natsu smirked. "Alright. Let's see how far this thing can fly."
Natsu stood in the center of the circle. He took a deep breath, planting his left foot firmly into the dirt. The atmosphere around him shifted. The air grew warmer.
Then, he moved.
It was a display of flexibility that made several students wince in sympathy. Natsu kicked his right leg up—straight up. His body formed a perfect vertical line, his right foot pointing at the zenith of the sky while his left remained rooted. It was a stance of absolute balance and stored kinetic energy.
"Whoa..." Kirishima muttered. "What a flexible."
Natsu pulled his right arm back.
FWOOSH.
A sphere of intense, roaring orange flame ignited around his fist, engulfing the baseball. The heat was palpable, radiating out in waves that distorted the air.
In the crowd, Shoto Todoroki's heterochromatic eyes narrowed sharply. He stared at the flames, his expression unreadable, but his attention completely locked on Natsu.
Natsu's leg snapped down like a whip. He pivoted his waist, channeling every ounce of torque and caloric energy into his arm.
"FIRE DRAGON'S... IRON THROW!!"
BOOM!
He released the ball.
It didn't just fly; it screamed. The sound was like a cannon firing. The ball tore through the air, wrapped in a comet-like tail of fire. A shockwave of warm wind blasted back toward the students, fluttering their gym uniforms.
They watched in awe as the burning projectile ascended, turning into a streak of light against the blue sky. It went higher, and higher, resembling a meteor traveling in reverse.
Aizawa looked down at his handheld measuring device. The numbers climbed rapidly.
200m... 400m... 600m...
Suddenly, at the 620-meter mark, the blip on the screen vanished.
Aizawa tapped the screen. "Hmm."
Up in the sky, the ball had ceased to be a ball. The friction of the speed combined with the intense heat of Natsu's flames had been too much. The leather burned away, the rubber core melted, and the stitching disintegrated. The ball turned into a cloud of ash and smoke, scattering in the wind.
"The ball incinerated in mid-air," Aizawa announced flatly, turning the screen to face the students. "I can't track dust. So, we will cap the record at the last recorded point."
620.0 Meters.
The silence on the field broke instantly.
"620 meters?!!" Kaminari grabbed his head, his jaw practically unhinged. "Are you serious?! That's insane!"
"It's like something out of a comic book!" Toru Hagakure, the Invisible Girl, squealed.
"Fantastic.." Yuga Aoyama struck a pose. "It lacks my sparkle, but it certainly has heat and passion!"
"That looked like so much fun!" Mina Ashido cheered, jumping up and down. "It's like fireworks!"
"I want to try too!" Happy shouted, floating in circles. "Let me throw one! I bet I can get at least ten meters!"
Natsu walked back to the group, grinning and wiping soot from his hand. "Man, that felt good! But I put too much heat into it. I need to control the output next time."
"It looks like these tests are going to be really fun!" Mina laughed again.
"Fun..."
The word hung in the air, heavy and cold.
Aizawa, who had been putting his phone away, froze. His shoulders stiffened. He slowly turned to face the class. The bored, tired expression was gone, replaced by a smile that didn't reach his eyes—a smile that was wide, creepy, and promised nothing but despair.
"Fun, you say?" Aizawa whispered.
The cheering died down. Mina stopped jumping. Happy hid behind Natsu's leg.
"You have three years here to become heroes," Aizawa said, his voice low and raspy. "Three years of grueling training, life-or-death simulations, and hardships. And you think it's going to be 'fun'?"
He glared at them, his dark hair falling over his face.
"Right then. Let's make this interesting. Since you think this is a game..."
He pointed a finger at the group.
"The student who ranks last in total points after all eight events will be judged as having no potential..."
Aizawa's grin widened, revealing a sadistic delight.
"...and will be instantly expelled."
"EH?!!"
The collective scream of Class 1-A echoed across the campus. The excitement vanished, instantly replaced by the cold, hard reality of U.A. High.
"Expelled?!" Ochaco Uraraka cried out, her face pale. "But it's the first day! That's... that's too unreasonable!"
"Natural disasters, villain attacks, catastrophic accidents..." Aizawa listed off, ignoring her plea. "The world is full of unreasonable things. Heroes are the ones who overturn those situations. If you wanted a fun hang-out with friends, you went to the wrong school."
He turned back to the field.
"Welcome to the Department of Heroics."
.
.
.
Aizawa turned on his heel, the heavy fabric of his capture scarf rustling as he prepared to instruct the students on the first event. He had successfully instilled fear, crushed their optimism, and set the tone for a brutal academic year. Or so he thought.
FWOOOSH.
The sound was unmistakable—like a gas main rupturing and igniting instantly. A wave of dry, searing heat washed over the class, causing the air to shimmer.
Aizawa froze. He stopped mid-step, his eyes twitching, and slowly looked over his shoulder.
Natsu Dragneel was not trembling in fear. He was not despairing over the threat of expulsion. Instead, his entire body was engulfed in a roaring, chaotic aura of magical-looking fire. He stood with his legs apart, fists clenched, looking at his classmates with a grin that threatened to split his face in two.
"WOOOOOOAH!!" Natsu screamed, the fire rising higher with his voice. "I'M ALL FIRED UP!!!!"
"Too hot! Too hot!" Mina Ashido yelped, hopping away from him and shielding her face with her arms. She looked at him with utter disbelief. "Are you crazy?! We just got threatened with expulsion! How are you excited about getting kicked out?!"
Hanta Sero, a boy with plain looks and strange cylindrical protrusions on his elbows, sighed. He held his hands up in a gesture of resignation.
"Well, look at the stats," Sero said, shrugging. "He got the top score in the practical exam. He just threw a ball over 600 meters. He knows the 'last place' rule won't apply to him. He's safe, so he will never understand us."
Zip.
The flames around Natsu vanished instantly.
"I heard that!"
Natsu marched over to Sero. The sudden proximity made Sero flinch, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple.
"W-what now?" Sero stammered, leaning back.
"You..." Natsu grabbed Sero's arms, lifting them up and inspecting them with rude curiosity. "Your arms are weirdly long! They're longer than my legs! And you're complaining?!"
He poked the tape dispenser on Sero's elbow. "And what are these? Do they shoot bullets? You got weird elbows, man!"
"Hey! Quit poking me!" Sero protested.
Natsu's expression suddenly turned serious. He released Sero's arms and grabbed the front of his blue gym tracksuit, lifting the lanky boy onto his toes.
"Listen up, Elbow-Guy!" Natsu barked, staring straight into Sero's eyes. "Don't you dare slack off! Just because you think you might be safe doesn't mean you stop trying! Only a lazy bum takes the last seat without a fight!"
Sero looked at the intense fire in Natsu's onyx eyes. He raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay! Dude, you're way too intense! Just... let go of my shirt first, alright?"
Mina sighed loudly, placing a hand on her hip. "And there it is. That's Natsu for you." She shook her head. "This is exactly why he got into so many fights in elementary school. He never knows when to shut up and just let people be."
Natsu dropped Sero and spun around to face her. "That's not true, they loved me back then!"
"That was entirely in your imagination," Mina deadpanned. "They were terrified of you."
"Enough."
Aizawa's voice cut through the bickering like a knife. He walked toward the starting line of the track, holding a tablet.
"If you have enough energy to argue and manhandle your classmates, Dragneel, then you have enough energy to run."
Aizawa pointed a finger at Natsu, then shifted it to point at a tall, bespectacled student who looked like he was made of engines and discipline.
"First event: 50-Meter Dash," Aizawa announced. "Dragneel. You're up."
He looked at the tall boy.
"And running alongside you will be Tenya Iida."
Iida adjusted his glasses, the sunlight glinting off the lenses. He stepped forward, the engines in his calves gleaming.
"Understood, Sensei!" Iida shouted, chopping his hand through the air. He looked at Natsu with intense competitive spirit. "I will not lose, even to the top ranker!"
Natsu grinned, cracking his knuckles as fire sparked around his fingers. "Bring it on, Engine-Legs!"
Chapter 10
The atmosphere on the track was electric.
On one side of the starting line stood Tenya Iida. He was the picture of aerodynamic discipline. He crouched low in a runner's stance, his fingers splayed on the white line, his calves gleaming metallic in the sunlight. The engines embedded in his legs let out a low, vibrating hum, like a sports car idling at a red light, waiting for the signal to tear up the asphalt.
On the other side stood Natsu Dragneel. He didn't crouch. He stood with his knees slightly bent, his fists clenched at his sides, bouncing on the balls of his feet. He looked less like a runner and more like a boxer waiting for the bell.
"On your mark," Aizawa droned, raising the starting pistol toward the sky. His finger hovered over the trigger, his expression bored.
"Get set."
The hum in Iida's legs pitched higher.
Natsu took a deep breath, his chest expanding.
BANG!
The gunshot cracked through the silence.
"I GOT THIS!!" Natsu roared.
He exploded off the line using pure physical muscle. His start was explosive, his arms pumping furiously as he dashed forward, kicking up dust. For a split second, he felt fast. He felt powerful. He was already thinking about his victory pose.
VROOOOOOM!
A sound like a jet engine tore past his right ear.
Natsu's eyes widened. In a blink, the space beside him was empty.
Tenya Iida was already five meters ahead. Blue exhaust flames shot from his exhaust pipes, propelling him forward with mechanical perfection. He was a blur of blue and silver, tearing through the air resistance like it didn't exist.
"Hah?!!" Natsu's jaw dropped as he watched Iida's back getting smaller. "He's fast!!"
The finish line was approaching rapidly. At this rate, Natsu would be left eating dust.
A vein popped on Natsu's forehead. His competitive spirit, a beast that refused to be tamed, snapped its leash.
"LIKE I'M GONNA LOSE!!" Natsu screamed.
He didn't care about form. He didn't care about the rules of track and field.
He stomped his feet down hard.
FWOOOSH!
A massive, concentrated blast of fire erupted from the soles of his gym sneakers. Unlike his reinforced street shoes, these were standard-issue U.A. gym shoes. The rubber soles instantly hissed, smoking under the intense thermal output, but they held just long enough.
"FIRE DRAGON'S... ROCKET!!"
BOOM!
Natsu didn't run anymore. He launched.
His body became a horizontal missile. He flew parallel to the ground, inches above the track, propelled by the continuous jet of flames shooting from his feet. The acceleration was violent. The wind pressure flattened his spiky pink hair against his skull.
Iida, focused entirely on the finish line, heard the roar of the fire behind him. He glanced back, his eyes widening behind his glasses.
What the—?!
Natsu tore through the space between them. He closed the gap in a heartbeat, his scarf flapping wildly in the wind.
"I'M PASSING YOU!" Natsu yelled over the roar of his own flames.
"I won't allow it!" Iida shouted back, shifting into his highest gear, his engines screaming.
They were neck and neck. Engine vs. Fire. Machine vs. Dragon.
The finish line was right there.
Both students leaned forward, pushing their Quirks to the absolute breaking point.
BEEP!
The sensor robot at the finish line flashed.
3.04 Seconds.
3.05 Seconds.
Natsu Dragneel skidded across the ground, tumbling and rolling as he killed his momentum, finally stopping in a cloud of dust. Smoke rose from his heels, and the smell of burnt rubber filled the air.
Iida decelerated gracefully, his engines winding down with a whir, coming to a precise stop.
The robot announced the results in a monotone voice.
"Winner: Natsu Dragneel. Time: 3.04 seconds."
"Runner-up: Tenya Iida. Time: 3.05 seconds."
A difference of 0.01 seconds.
Natsu sat up on the sand, panting. He looked at the board, then pumped his fist in the air.
"YEAH!!" Natsu cheered. "I won! By a hair!"
Iida stared at the board, stunned. He adjusted his glasses, looking at Natsu with a mix of frustration and genuine professional admiration.
"Incredible," Iida muttered, walking over. "To think you could generate enough propulsion to overtake my Engines in such a short distance... Your explosive power is formidable, Dragneel-kun."
"Heh," Natsu grinned, standing up. He looked down at his shoes. The soles were black and partially melted, sticking slightly to the sand. "Though I think I owe the school a new pair of shoes. These didn't like the heat."
The rest of the class watched in awe.
"That was fast, Kero..." Tsuyu Asui croaked, her finger on her chin. "They were both like cars."
"3.04 seconds?" Momo Yaoyorozu whispered, writing it down mentally. "That is Olympic level speed. And Natsu-san achieved it through pure propulsion. His raw power is frightening."
Even Bakugo, standing with his arms crossed, didn't make a snarky comment. He just stared at Natsu, his red eyes narrowing as he recalculated his assessment of the "Salamander."
Aizawa looked at the time, then at Natsu's ruined shoes.
"Dragneel," Aizawa called out, marking something on his tablet. "Good time. But if you burn through a pair of shoes every time you move, you'll be bankrupt before you graduate. Learn to control your output."
"Aye, sir!" Natsu saluted, ignoring the warning and basking in the victory.
"Next pair," Aizawa announced. "Uraraka and Ashido. Step up."
.
.
The Physical Fitness Test continued, and with each event, Natsu Dragneel seemed determined to turn the athletic grounds into a disaster zone of comedy and chaos.
Event 2: Grip Strength
The students lined up, holding digital hand dynamometers. Mezo Shoji, the tall student with the multiple arms, stepped up. He clamped the device with a massive, combined grip from three of his tentacles.
BEEP.
540 kg.
"Whoa!" Mineta gasped, staring at the screen. "He's a monster! An octopus-gorilla hybrid!"
Natsu Dragneel stared at the number, his jaw tight. A vein throbbed on his temple.
"540...?" Natsu muttered, looking down at the device in his own hand. "I can beat that. I just need to squeeze, right?"
He took a deep breath, planted his feet, and squeezed with raw, physical strength. His arm muscles bulged, veins popping out as he strained.
BEEP.
70 kg.
Natsu froze. He stared at the screen. The number mocked him. It was a perfectly respectable score for an athletic teenager, but compared to Shoji's monstrous result, it was pathetic.
"SEVENTY?!" Natsu yelled at the machine. "Is this thing broken?! I'm way stronger than that!"
Denki Kaminari, who was standing next to him, patted Natsu's shoulder sympathetically.
"Hey, don't worry about it, man," Kaminari said with a laid-back grin. "70 is pretty good! We can't all be gorillas like Shoji. Everyone has their own specialty, you know?"
Natsu's head snapped toward Kaminari. His eyes were burning with irrational competitive fury.
"I don't accept this!" Natsu growled. "I'm not losing that guy. Watch this!"
"Wait, dude, calm down—"
"HAAAAAAH!"
Natsu didn't calm down. Instead, flames erupted around his forearm. He channeled his magical heat directly into his palm, trying to use the thermal expansion to force the machine to register a higher number.
"GRIP OF THE FIRE DRAGON!"
The machine didn't register a higher number. Instead, the plastic casing began to whine. Inside the digital display, electricity started to arc.
Bzzzt... Crackle.
Bright blue sparks shot out of the device's seams.
Natsu blinked.
Kaminari blinked.
They looked at each other for a split second.
"Uh oh," Kaminari whispered.
BOOM!
The dynamometer exploded in a small but violent cloud of black smoke and shrapnel.
"GAAAAH!" Natsu and Kaminari were blown backward. When the smoke cleared, Natsu's face was covered in soot, his hair standing up in a frizzy mess, holding nothing but a charred handle.
"NATSU!!" Happy screamed from the sidelines, clutching his head. "You broke it!!"
"My eyes..." Kaminari coughed, waving smoke away.
Suddenly, a grey, ribbon-like material shot through the air.
THWIP. SWISH. TIGHTEN.
Before Natsu could wipe the soot from his eyes, Aizawa's capture weapon wrapped around him. It coiled around his torso, pinning his arms to his sides and lifting him a few inches off the ground like a dangling worm.
"Ack!" Natsu choked, struggling against the binding cloth.
Aizawa stood there, his hair floating menacingly, his eyes glowing red. He looked absolutely done with this day.
"That is U.A. property, Dragneel," Aizawa growled, reeling Natsu in closer until they were face-to-face. "Stop destroying my equipment because of your childish temper tantrums. Do it again, and I'll expel you before the tests are even over."
"S-Sorry..." Natsu squeaked, hanging limply in the scarf.
"Good grief," Happy sighed, covering his face with his paws. "He's a destruction magnet."
Event 3: Standing Long Jump
Bakugo blasted himself across the sandpit with a terrifying explosion, clearing the distance easily. Aoyama used his navel laser to propel himself backward, landing gracefully.
Then came Natsu.
"I'm gonna fly!" Natsu announced.
He stood at the edge of the pit. He wound up his arms. Fire erupted from his elbows and feet simultaneously.
"FIRE DRAGON'S... WING ATTACK!"
He launched himself forward with tremendous force. But he miscalculated the angle of his elbow jets. Instead of going forward in an arc, he spun uncontrollably in mid-air like a fiery pinwheel.
"Waaaaah!" Natsu screamed as he rotated.
FWUMP.
He face-planted directly into the sand at the far end of the pit, burying his head like an ostrich. His legs kicked in the air for a moment before he fell silent.
Ochaco Uraraka covered her mouth to hide a giggle. "He cleared the distance... but he looks so silly doing it."
Natsu pulled his head out of the sand, spitting out grains. "I meant to do that! It's a tactical landing! Ahahahaha"
Sero lifted one eyebrow, murmuring, "How reckless.."
Event 4: Repeated Side Steps
This was Mineta's domain. The small boy bounced back and forth between the lines using the purple spheres on his head, moving with incredible speed.
"Side-side-side-side!" Mineta chanted.
Natsu stepped up. "I can do that! I just need speed!"
He tried to use small bursts of fire from his feet to strafe sideways.
Burst. Step. Burst. Step.
Natsu began leaping from side to side, using bursts of his flames to propel himself back across, pushing his body to its limits as he tried to match Mineta's skill in this test.
Suddenly, the sound of explosions echoed through the air.
His eyes shifted—and there was Bakugo.
"Die!!" Bakugo roared, blasting himself from one side to the other, rebounding violently with his explosions and forcing his way into the second-best score, just behind Mineta.
Natsu finally dropped to the ground, a bead of sweat sliding down his forehead.
Third place.
That was where he stood in this test.
The sun climbed higher. The class moved through the sit-ups and the seated toe-touch. Finally, they looped back to the event that had started it all: The Ball Throw.
Most of the class had finished. Only one student remained.
Izuku Midoriya.
The green-haired boy walked to the circle. He looked terrified. He was shaking, clutching the ball to his chest.
"Midoriya hasn't shown us anything yet," Kirishima whispered to Natsu. "He's the only one with zero impressive scores so far."
"Quirkless loser," Bakugo scoffed, looking away.
Natsu didn't say anything. He stood with his arms crossed, watching Midoriya's back. He saw the trembling. But he also saw how tight the kid was gripping the ball.
He's scared, Natsu thought. But he's stepping up.
Midoriya stood in the center. He gripped the ball tight, mumbling to himself. He took a stance, winding up his arm.
I have to do it, Midoriya thought. Even if it breaks my arm... I have to stay!
"SMASH!!" he screamed internally.
He threw the ball with everything he had.
Flop.
The ball flew pathetically through the air and landed with a soft thud on the grass.
46 Meters.
Midoriya froze, his hand still extended. "Huh?" He stared at his trembling fingers. "I... I definitely tried to use it just now..."
"I erased it."
A cold, dry voice cut through the confusion.
Midoriya turned around.
Shota Aizawa was standing there, but he looked different. The tired, slouching man was gone. In his place was a figure of intimidation. His long, messy black hair was floating straight up, defying gravity. His capture scarf defied physics, swirling around him like a living snake. And beneath his bangs, his eyes were glowing a piercing, blood-red.
"That stupid stunt you were about to pull," Aizawa said, stepping closer. "Did you intend to break your arm again?"
"My... my arm?" Midoriya stammered.
"I watched the entrance exam footage," Aizawa continued, his voice harsh. "You can't control your Quirk, can you? Do you intend to become incapacitated again and force someone else to save you?"
Midoriya flinched. "T-That's not what I intended—!"
SWISH.
Before Midoriya could finish, Aizawa's capture cloth shot out. It wrapped around Midoriya, pulling him close until they were inches apart. Aizawa glared down at him.
"Whatever your intentions," Aizawa whispered, "if you break your bones, you become a liability. A hero who needs saving every time they save someone else... isn't a hero at all."
The students on the sidelines watched in confusion.
"What is he talking about?" Natsu asked, tilting his head.
"I think this is the teacher's Quirk," Happy whispered, hiding behind Natsu's leg. "Those red eyes gave me the chills earlier!"
"Wait..." one student murmured, pointing at Aizawa's distinctive yellow goggles hanging around his neck. "Those goggles... and that style... Isn't he the Underground Hero: Eraser Head?"
"Eraser Head?" Natsu frowned. "Sounds like stationary."
"He's an underground hero," Tsuyu Asui explained, placing a finger on her chin. "He hates media attention, so he's not famous. But his Quirk can nullify the Quirk of anyone he looks at."
"Scary," Happy shivered. "That's why I couldn't fly in the class.."
Back in the circle, Aizawa leaned back, his eyes narrowing.
"You are not a hero," Aizawa said brutally. "You cannot save anyone with that reckless power."
He held the stare for another second, letting the reality sink in, crushing Midoriya's hope. Then, abruptly, Aizawa blinked. His hair fell back down. The red glow vanished from his eyes.
He released the capture cloth, letting Midoriya stagger back.
"I returned your Quirk," Aizawa said, looking bored again. He turned away, checking his phone. "Hurry up and get it over with."
Midoriya stood there, panting, clutching the ball. The harsh words echoed in his mind. But instead of breaking him, a flicker of something else appeared in his eyes.
He didn't give up.
"He's still gonna try?" Natsu observed, his expression turning serious. He watched Midoriya wipe the sweat from his forehead. "You can do it bro!"
Midoriya took a deep breath. He wound up again.
I can't use 100%... I can't break my arm...
"Smash..." Midoriya whispered.
At the very last micro-second of the throw, he channeled all his power—not into his arm—but into the tip of his right index finger.
BOOM!
The air cracked. A shockwave blasted outward, kicking up dust and wind that ruffled Natsu's scarf. The ball vanished into the sky, soaring with a force that overwhelmed Natsu's throw.
705.3 Meters.
The class gasped.
"He got over 700 meters?!"
"Finally, a hero-like record!"
Midoriya turned to face Aizawa. His right index finger was broken, swollen, and purple. He clutched his fist, tears of pain in his eyes, but he smiled—a fierce, defiant smile.
"Sensei..." Midoriya panted, holding up his fist. "I can... still move!"
Aizawa's eyes widened slightly. A small, almost invisible smile touched the corners of his lips.
He focused the power to a single point to minimize the damage... Aizawa thought. This kid...
"Did you see his finger?!" Iida exclaimed. "It snapped!"
"That was gross," Mineta shivered.
But Natsu remained silent. He stared at Midoriya. He looked at the broken finger, then at the fire in the boy's eyes. Natsu's grin faded, replaced by a look of intense seriousness.
"He hurt himself to get that score," Natsu whispered.
"Aye," Happy nodded, looking solemn. "He's got guts."
The Final Results
The sun began to dip, casting long orange shadows across the field. The eight tests were concluded. The students gathered around Aizawa, exhausted, bruised, and anxious.
"All right," Aizawa said, putting his phone away. "I'll simply project the results. It's a waste of time to read them out."
He pressed a button. A hologram appeared in the air, listing the names from top to bottom.
Natsu squinted at the list.
1. Natsu Dragneel
2. Momo Yaoyorozu
3. Shoto Todoroki
4. Katsuki Bakugo
5. Tenya Iida
...
20. Izuku Midoriya
Natsu blinked. "Number one?"
"YEAH!" Happy cheered from the ground, throwing his paws up. "We're number one!!"
Bakugo stared at the board, his teeth grinding together. Fourth? I lost to that half-and-half bastard, the ponytail girl... and the salamander bastard?
But the eyes of the class were drawn to the bottom of the list.
Izuku Midoriya stood frozen, staring at his name in the 21st spot. The silence was deafening.
"Midoriya..." Uraraka whispered, looking sad.
"By the way," Aizawa spoke up, turning off the hologram. He looked at the terrified faces of the students, and then at Midoriya, who looked ready to vomit.
"The expulsion rule was a lie."
The wind blew across the field. A dead leaf skittered by.
"Huh?" Natsu said.
Aizawa grinned, a wide, shit-eating grin.
"It was a logical ruse to draw out the upper limits of your potential."
"WHAAAAAAAAT?!!!!"
The class screamed in unison. Their jaws hit the floor.
"A LIE?!" Iida shouted, chopping the air. "But that is so... so..."
"It was pretty obvious if you thought about it," Momo Yaoyorozu said calmly, her hand on her chest. "I figured it was a deception from the start."
"Wait, you knew?!" Sero and Kaminari yelled at her. "You should have told us!"
Natsu stood there, processing the information. He looked at Aizawa's smug face. He looked at the relieved (and sobbing) Midoriya.
Slowly, Natsu's face turned red. Steam shot out of his ears.
"YOU LIAR!" Natsu shouted, pointing an accusing finger at his teacher. "You made me worry for nothing! I thought I was gonna lose my school lunch privileges or something!"
"School lunch wasn't on the line, expulsion was," Happy corrected him.
"Same thing!" Natsu yelled.
Aizawa turned to walk away. "Whatever. Your syllabuses are back in the classroom. Give them a look."
He paused and glanced back at Midoriya. "Midoriya. Go to the nurse's office and get that finger fixed."
As Aizawa walked away, dragging his feet, he muttered to himself.
That was close... I actually intended to expel someone today. But...
He glanced back one last time at the group—at the boy with the broken finger and the boy with the pink hair screaming at the sky.
...it seems this batch has potential.