A few hours later, the classroom door slid open with a soft hiss, and Aizawa stepped inside. His capture weapon hung loosely around his neck, his unkempt hair tied back just enough to keep it out of his half-lidded, perpetually tired eyes.
He paused for a moment, gaze slowly sweeping across the room as if silently taking attendance—and silently judging.
"Alright," he said at last, voice flat and dry. "For today's Hero Basic Training, All Might and I will be supervising."
That alone was enough to spark murmurs throughout the class. Some students straightened in their seats, others grinned with excitement, and a few—Bakugo included—cracked their knuckles in anticipation.
"We'll be focusing on Natural Disaster Training," Aizawa continued, completely unfazed by the reaction. "Floods. Fires. Earthquakes. Collapsed structures. Situations where brute force alone won't save lives."
He adjusted the scarf around his shoulders.
"Hero work isn't just about beating villains. It's about rescuing civilians in chaos—often when everything is going wrong at once. You'll be evaluated on judgment, teamwork, and efficiency."
Then, with a lazy gesture toward the back of the room, he added, "Go change and meet me outside. You have five minutes."
Before anyone could complain, the classroom responded first.
With a low, mechanical hum, the entire back wall of the room split into clean, precise segments. Panels slid apart seamlessly, revealing hidden compartments as sleek metallic arms extended forward. Each arm carried a reinforced, numbered storage case, stopping perfectly in front of its assigned student.
The room filled with the soft clinks and whirs of advanced machinery.
Izuku rose from his seat, heart beating a little faster than usual. He walked toward his case, fingers brushing over the smooth surface before it popped open. Inside lay his hero costume—neatly folded, familiar, yet still awe-inspiring every time he saw it.
In the changing area, he moved carefully, almost reverently.
Piece by piece, he put it on.
The reinforced boots felt solid and dependable as he tightened them. The suit itself fit snugly against his frame, flexible yet protective, like it was designed to move with him rather than restrict him. The gloves slid into place, responsive and light, and when he pulled the mask up and settled it properly, something clicked inside his chest.
Confidence.
When he was finished, Izuku stood still for a moment, then slowly looked up at his reflection in the mirror.
Green eyes stared back—focused, determined, no longer uncertain.
A small smile crept onto his face.
'Perfect!' he thought.
Soon, the class filtered outside, boots crunching softly against the gravel as they stepped onto the massive training field. The afternoon sun hung high in the sky, warm but not oppressive, casting long shadows across the artificial terrain.
Students gathered in loose clusters, some stretching, others chatting excitedly, the hum of anticipation thick in the air.
Mina Ashido practically skipped over to Izuku, her energy impossible to miss. She stopped just a little too close for comfort, hands clasped behind her back as she leaned forward slightly, pink eyes sparkling with mischief.
"You know," she said, tilting her head as she looked him up and down, a playful grin spreading across her face, "I never really paid much attention before… but you're really muscular, Izuku."
Izuku blinked, momentarily caught off guard. A faint heat crept up his neck as he instinctively rubbed the back of his head, laughing awkwardly.
"You think? Uh—thanks for noticing, I guess," he replied, trying to sound casual despite his racing heart.
Mina giggled, sharp little fangs flashing as she straightened up. Then she stepped half a pace closer, hands now resting on her hips.
"Well?" she said teasingly. "What about me, huh? What have you noticed about me?"
Her gaze locked onto his—curious, expectant, and carrying just a hint of something more than simple teasing.
Izuku met her eyes for a second longer than usual before chuckling, his smile turning a bit more confident.
"Hmm… not sure," he said thoughtfully. "I guess we'll have to hang out more so I can notice something."
For a split second, Mina froze.
Then her cheeks darkened to a deeper shade of pink, almost blending into her skin.
She looked away quickly, scratching her cheek with one finger, suddenly far less bold than before.
"Y-yeah," she said, laughing a little too fast. "Guess we should."
They filed onto the bus in a loose line, the metal steps clanking softly beneath their boots.
The interior quickly filled with noise—Kaminari leaning over seats to crack jokes, his laughter loud and contagious; Mina laughing a little too hard at everything he said; and Iida, already standing in the aisle, chopping the air with his hands as he lectured everyone about proper seating and safety regulations.
"Please remain seated while the bus is in motion!" he barked, glasses flashing. "This is a school-sanctioned activity!"
Naturally, no one listened.
The doors slid shut with a pneumatic hiss, and moments later the bus rumbled to life. The steady vibration of the engine blended with the chatter of Class 1-A as the vehicle pulled away from the school grounds.
Izuku quietly made his way toward the back and slid into a window seat. He rested his elbow against the cool glass, chin propped in his palm, watching buildings drift past.
Tall city blocks gradually gave way to wider roads, open stretches of land, and distant structures that hinted at something far more industrial.
His thoughts drifted—about training, about disasters, about whether he was really ready for what awaited them.
The seat beside him shifted.
Tsuyu Asui slipped in without a word, smooth and unhurried, her presence calm like still water.
She buckled her seatbelt and sat back, eyes forward, hands resting neatly in her lap.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
The bus rocked gently as it picked up speed, sunlight flashing across the windows in rhythmic bursts.
The noise from the rest of the class faded into a distant hum, leaving behind a quiet bubble that felt oddly comfortable.
Then Tsuyu tilted her head slightly toward him, unblinking eyes studying his profile.
"You know," she said suddenly, voice even and thoughtful, "your quirk really reminds me of All Might's."
Izuku blinked, pulled from his thoughts. He turned toward her, surprised.
"Y-you think?" he asked, then smiled faintly. "I guess… yeah. There are some similarities, now that I think about it."
"Yeah," Tsuyu continued, resting her chin on her palm. "So what is your quirk again?OP, right?"
"Yep—," Izuku said, a touch of pride slipping into his voice. "I can do anything a man can do, but… powered. Overpowered. Strength, speed, jumping—and a lot more."
Tsuyu let out a small, soft chuckle. "That sounds like a pretty awesome quirk," she said honestly. "Compared to mine, at least."
Izuku shook his head immediately, turning fully toward her.
"Nah. I think yours is awesome," he said without hesitation. "And honestly… without it, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't be this cute."
The words slipped out naturally—unfiltered.
Tsuyu froze for half a second.
A faint pink dusted her cheeks, barely visible but unmistakable. She blinked once, then smiled lightly, her eyes softening as her heart gave a small, unexpected flutter.
"Thanks," she said simply.
The bus continued forward, carrying them closer to the USJ facility—while something quiet and warm lingered between them, unspoken but very real.
TO BE CONTINUED