At one of the Class 1-B tables, Monoma Neito was in his element.
"Have you seen Class 1-A?" he scoffed, waving his fork dramatically. "So loud, so arrogant—and yet so painfully mediocre. Honestly, I don't know how U.A. let them—"
An arm suddenly hooked around his neck.
Not tight enough to choke.
Just enough to remind him of its presence.
"Long time no see, cousin."
The voice was calm.
Too calm.
Monoma froze.
Every muscle in his body locked up as recognition hit him like a hammer.
"T-Takeda… Ren?" An orange-haired girl sitting beside him muttered, eyes widening as she stared at the silver-haired boy standing behind Monoma.
The others at the table followed her gaze.
The tall boy with sharp features—the one Ren had copied Weld from during the entrance exam—stopped mid-bite.
And the girl with vine-like hair, who Ren had seen just before the entrance exam started, stiffened slightly.
"…Wait," the Weld-user started slowly.
His eyes snapped to Monoma.
"Monoma… Takeda Ren is your cousin?"
Monoma didn't answer.
His fingers tightened around his fork.
Harder.
Ren smiled faintly, resting his chin casually near Monoma's head, as if they were old friends.
"Yeah," he said lightly. "Monoma's my cute little cousin."
Monoma's jaw clenched.
"He's a bit strange," Ren continued, tone pleasant, almost fond, "but please treat him well."
The table went silent.
"Y-Yeah…" The orange haired girl said after a moment, forcing a polite smile.
"Of course…" the others echoed, still trying to process the revelation.
Takeda Ren.
The prodigy.
The monster.
Monoma's cousin.
Monoma said nothing.
His fork bent slightly under the pressure of his grip.
Ren noticed.
He sighed quietly, released his arm, and straightened.
"Anyway," he said, stepping back. "Sorry for interrupting your lunch."
"You didn't disturb us at all!" Kendo replied quickly.
Ren gave a small nod and turned away.
Behind him, Monoma remained seated.
He didn't resume gesturing.
Didn't resume mocking.
He simply stared down at his tray, appetite gone.
...
Ren returned to his table.
Momo looked up at him immediately.
"Do you know that guy?" she asked.
Ren sat down and exhaled softly.
"Yeah," he replied. "He's my cousin."
"He...," Momo started, watching Monoma's expression carefully. "… doesn't seem to like you very much."
Then—
She pinched his forearm.
Hard.
"Ahi!" Ren jerked his arm away. "What was that for?!"
She leaned closer, eyes narrowed.
"Tell me. Did you bully him?"
Ren stared at her in disbelief.
"Do I look like that kind of guy?"
"…No," Momo admitted, then smiled. "Sorry. I just wanted an excuse to pinch you again."
Ren sighed, rubbing the reddened spot.
"We first met in middle school," he said. "As soon as he saw me, he started competing with me in everything."
Momo blinked. "Everything?"
"Academics. Sports. Even at who walked faster when we happened to be side by side," Ren continued evenly. "He tried to beat me at all of it."
"And…?" she asked quietly, already sensing the answer.
"He never did," Ren said. "Not even once."
"That's why he hates me," Ren added. "I think."
She hesitated. "But… you said you're cousins. How did you only meet in middle school?"
"His mother hates mine," he said simply. "I've never even met my aunt."
Momo fell silent.
Ren picked up his chopsticks again and took another bite of his meal.
Momo drew in a breath, about to say something—
DRING! DRING! DRING!
The sharp blare of the emergency alarm tore through the cafeteria.
For a split second, there was stunned silence.
Then—
Chaos.
"W-What's happening?!" Momo cried out as the crowd surged all at once.
Students bolted from their seats, trays clattering to the floor, bodies pressing together as everyone rushed toward the exits.
Ren felt himself shoved forward, an elbow digging into his side.
"I don't know!" he answered, instinctively placing an arm in front of Momo to keep her from getting crushed as best he could.
The noise was overwhelming—shouting, panicked footsteps, scraping chairs—
And then—
"—GUYS!"
A voice boomed over the chaos.
Ren looked up just in time to see a familiar figure flying above the crowd.
Iida Tenya.
His Engine Quirk roared to life, calves spinning at full power as he shot forward—
Only to slam face-first into the wall above the exit.
THUD.
"…Ow."
Despite the impact, Iida twisted mid-air, planting his feet against the doorframe. He wobbled dangerously, legs vibrating as he struggled to keep his balance.
"E-Everyone!" he shouted, arms windmilling for stability. "C-Calm down!"
The crowd hesitated.
"It's alright!" Iida continued, voice strained but loud. "There is no emergency!"
The students slowly stopped pushing.
Breathing steadied.
"It's only the mass media!" Iida announced. "There is no danger!"
His legs shook harder, threatening to give out.
"There is no need for panic!" he declared. "This is U.A. High School!"
He took a deep breath.
"Let us maintain behavior worthy of the nation's finest hero academy!"
Silence followed.
Then relief washed through the crowd.
Students sighed, some laughing nervously, others rubbing their temples.
A few turned toward the windows.
Sure enough—outside the school gates, reporters and camera crews clustered together, flashes going off like fireworks.
"…Just the press," someone muttered.
Ren relaxed, lowering his arm.
Momo exhaled, brushing her hair back into place. "That scared me half to death…"
Ren chuckled softly, eyes still on Iida—who was very slowly trying to step down without falling.
Midoriya, Ren thought with amusement.
You really did pick a great class president.
Behind them, Iida finally lost his balance and tumbled backward—
—but somehow landed on his feet.
"…I MEANT TO DO THAT!" he shouted.
The cafeteria erupted in laughter.
To be continued...
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How was this chapter? Liked it?
Also, remember the crazy quirk combo I thought told you about? It just got even crazier. Maybe it's the pain after the surgery, but ideas just keep spawning in my head.