Takeru had barely settled into his seat when Mina twisted around in front of him, chin propped on her palm, eyes bright with interest.
His mind had still been racing from the mission scheduled for next week. Someone with a radiation-based quirk had gone rogue, and the Meta Liberation Front was attempting to use them as a weapon—potentially holding an entire city hostage. The threat level was far higher than the cleanup assassinations he usually handled. The HSPC had chosen him because he was the only operative whose durability made such an assassination mission possible. The radiation user was also of foreign origin, making it nearly impossible to learn the specifics of his quirk. Because of Japan's history with nuclear radiation, Takeru had been assigned to eliminate the threat with extreme prejudice.
Most missions lasted no longer than a few hours, but the preparation always drained him: the research, the contingencies, the reconnaissance, the tedious briefings. Everything had to be perfect.
He was pulled out of his thoughts by Mina's bright voice.
"Takeru-kun, I asked you a question!"
"Ah—sorry, Mina-chan," he said, offering a small grin. "I forgot to listen. That pretty smile of yours is… distracting."
Mina flushed a vivid pink."You liar…" she muttered, though she was smiling as she slapped his forearm lightly. "You can't just say things like that first thing in the morning!"
Takeru chuckled. "I only speak the truth."
Mina tried to hide her fluster by clearing her throat."I was asking who you think would win in a fight—me or Sero. Be honest."
"You would," Takeru answered. "Your acid can burn through his tape, although he's physically stronger than you. But you could still melt his bindings if you chose to."
Mina flinched. "I'm a hero. I'm not melting someone with my acid… but yes, I'd win!"
"If you want me to train you, all you have to do is ask," Takeru said.
Mina smiled mischievously.
Toru interrupted eagerly. "Please train me, Takeru-kun! I want to learn!"
"Sure, Toru-chan" Takeru replied.
Mineta was watching him with barely restrained envy. Takeru decided to include him.
"Mineta-kun, could you tell me about your quirk? I've always found it fascinating."
Mineta's mouth opened like a fish. He clearly hadn't expected the strongest student in the class to speak to him seriously.
"My quirk is Pop-Off! I can take these sticky balls off my head and throw them at people. Everyone sticks to them except me. I can also bounce off them. If I take out too many balls, I bleed from my scalp. The stickiness depends on how healthy my bowel movements are!"
Mina and Toru stared before bursting into laughter.
"Sticky balls," Mina choked, wiping tears from her eyes.
Mineta's face turned red. "You can all laugh now, but I'm going to be a super cool hero and have a harem! Then you'll see!"
Takeru looked at him seriously. Despite Mineta being a perverted little gremlin, at least he was honest about wanting a harem—something Takeru could strangely respect.
"That's actually an excellent support ability, Mineta-kun. I saw your balls restraining robots in the entrance exam. But I noticed you don't use any support items. If there was a way to liquefy your Pop-Off balls and launch them—maybe through a gun or a wrist device—it would be even more effective."
Mineta blinked. "I… never thought of that."
"It's worth asking Power Loader-sensei," Takeru said with a shrug. "And ambition is the sign of a great soul, Mineta-kun."
He said it with a winning smile.
Mina huffed. "Ehhh? How do I improve my quirk? I want to too!"
Before Takeru could answer—
"I AM… COMING THROUGH THE DOOR LIKE A NORMAL PERSON!"
All Might's booming voice shook the windows. Students gasped in excitement; chairs scraped, whispers echoed through the room, and Mina even squealed under her breath.
Takeru didn't move. His eyes locked onto the man he had been trained his entire life to replace.
Up close, All Might was a mountain—broad, towering, a couple of inches taller than Takeru, built like a god. For the first time since understanding his own strength, Takeru met someone whose physical presence eclipsed even his.
A flicker of thrill pulsed through his chest.
So this is the peak the HSPC wants me to surpass. The hero they want me to replace.Takeru knew only All Might exceeded him in pure strength, based on the feats he had observed. And that was All Might holding back to prevent collateral damage.
Takeru, despite his immense ability, had plateaued long ago. Physical training did nothing—every weight the HSPC owned felt feather-light. His training instead focused on precision, restraint, micro-analysis, and total mission discipline. They could not exhaust him physically, so they exhausted his mind, drilling tactical thought until it happened in microseconds.
All Might struck a heroic pose, cape billowing."WELCOME, STUDENTS! TODAY, WE BEGIN… THE HEROES VS. VILLAINS EXERCISE!"
Mina and Toru leaned closer.
"This is so cool," Mina whispered."He's even larger in person," Toru added.
Takeru watched All Might carefully—not starstruck, but analyzing with the mindset of a soldier. He needed to understand what made the Symbol of Peace the strongest. More importantly, he wanted to understand the biggest mystery of all—his quirk. All Might never spoke about it in interviews, dodging the question with laughter. Speculation online was endless. Even the HSPC lacked concrete data.
All Might finished his explanation."Now THEN! Go change into your HERO COSTUMES and meet me at Ground Beta!"
The class erupted into motion.
In the locker room, Takeru put on his suit—a variation of the one he wore for HSPC missions, though the colors differed: bright red with bold white contours, plus a matching cape. A sleek utility belt rested against his waist, filled with gadgets—fire-retardant foam pellets, smoke capsules, anesthetic gas, clotting agents, and other essentials. His forearm compartments held communication screens, and his visor completed the look, allowing x-ray, night vision, and thermal scans.
Kirishima gawked. "Super manly, bro. And expensive."
"You look like a pro already," Sero added. "But that costume is way above the U.A. budget. How did you get it?"
Takeru shrugged. "I brought my own. My guardian is well-off. Sero, you look great too—the design is sleek."
"Aww, gee, thanks man!"
Bakugo walked in wearing his grenade gauntlets and black-orange gear. Takeru genuinely admired the design.
"Nice costume, Hanabi-chan. Those grenade gauntlets suit your peaceful temperament."
The boys laughed. Bakugo snarled.
"YOU WANT TO DIE, MEATHEAD?!"
He gave Takeru one last murderous glare before storming off.
The class gathered as All Might finished explaining the mission—a standard heroes-versus-villains scenario involving securing a mock bomb in a civilian building.
Ground Beta buzzed with energy as the class gathered in their costumes. Takeru adjusted the angle of his visor, letting it rest in its neutral mode while he analyzed All Might's instructions. The air thrummed with anticipation as the first match was announced: Izuku Midoriya and Ochaco Uraraka versus Katsuki Bakugo and Tenya Iida.
Takeru crossed his arms and observed from the sidelines.
When Midoriya stepped forward, Takeru noticed the boy's hands trembling and his shoulders tight with anxiety. Bakugo, on the other hand, carried himself like a bomb with a lit fuse, practically vibrating with the desire to detonate.
All Might shouted for the match to begin.
Bakugo lunged with a ferocious blast, and Takeru immediately felt something shift All Might leaned forward in a way that was too personal, too invested. The Symbol of Peace was trying to appear neutral, but his eyes tracked every move of Midoriya.
Shun's voice echoed in Takeru's mind.
"The registration for that boy's quirk was processed under unusual conditions. Someone very influential pushed it through. I dont belive All For One lives . But All Might on the other hand...."
Takeru had dismissed the idea at the time. But seeing the raw emotion flicker behind All Might's grin as Midoriya struggled… seeing how the man subtly clenched his fists whenever Bakugo went too far…
The possibility lodged itself deeper.
Then Midoriya leapt—reckless, determined, and screaming in defiance of something only he understood.
The punch that followed rippled through the building like a shockwave. Air warped, dust exploded outward, and for the briefest moment the boy radiated a glow that sent a chill down Takeru's spine. That punch could rival his own. That power… why does it look like All Might's? He even said smash. It wasnt me All Might was spying on during the Quirk examination it was Midoriya.
When Midoriya plummeted with his arm mangled but their team had won. Bakugo should have been expelled for almost killing a student. "Hanabi chan is really crossing a line he almost killed Izuku_kun" he said out loud. A wave of assent passed the room .
The video of the match replayed showing Uraraka's clever maneuver and Midoriya's sacrifice, earning All Might's booming praise. But beneath that radiant smile, Takeru saw nerves. Worry. Guilt.
A Crazy Theory was forming in Takeru's mind. All Might was joining U.A to train the next generation of Heroes Shun had told him. Takeru-kun he felt Toru tugging his cape we are next she squeaked her voice full of anxiety. Takeru gave her broad smile "Let's show them how its done! "
All Might announced the next match Takeru Kurogane and Toru Hagakure as Villains versus Shoto Todoroki and Momo Yaoyorozu as Heroes.
Before the groups split apart, Takeru stepped toward Momo and Todoroki as everyone moved toward their designated starting points. His mind drifted briefly to the profiles Shun had given him, and he decided to unsettle them before the match even began. Toru trailed a few steps behind him, her hands fidgeting at her sides, each nervous movement betraying her growing anxiety. Takeru offered her a small, reassuring smile before turning his attention fully to the two recommendation students.
"Try to make the fight interesting for me," he said, his tone light but edged with challenge. "The whole class has high expectations for the recommendation students."
Momo stiffened almost immediately. His confident, assessing gaze made her shoulders tighten, and she seemed to withdraw slightly, as if the weight of expectation had doubled on the spot.
Takeru shifted his focus to Todoroki, allowing a slow, deliberate grin to form. "And I'm eager to see what the great Endeavor has taught his son."
Todoroki's reaction was immediate. The boy's already frosty glare grew sharper, as though a thin layer of ice had settled over his expression. Takeru held the stare for a moment and then turned to Toru.
"Come along, Toru-chan."
Before she could respond, he swept her into his arms, earning a startled squeal, and launched into the air. They ascended swiftly and landed on the top floor of the building where the villain team was meant to defend the bomb.
Once her feet touched the ground, Toru looked up at him, still flustered from the sudden flight. "Takeru-kun… why did you antagonize them like that?"
"We're playing villains today," he replied with an easy shrug. "Villains use whatever tactics they want. We don't have to worry about civilian casualties or public opinion. Psychological warfare is part of the job."
Toru clasped her hands together, her posture tight with worry. "You're strong, Takeru-kun… but I'm not sure I can help. Todoroki-kun and Yaoyorozu are both recommendation students. They're probably the strongest in the class. I don't know what someone like me can do against them."
Takeru stepped closer, lowering his voice just enough to steady her thoughts. "You are useful, Toru-chan. Maybe not in a straightforward brawl, but invisibility is invaluable for infiltration, reconnaissance, hostage rescue—everything that requires precision. Your quirk isn't weak; it's specialized."
She hesitated, still unconvinced, but his confidence began to calm her.
"This time I'll handle the heavy work," he continued, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "You just follow my plan. If you can't believe in yourself yet, then believe in me."
Her breath caught at the touch, but she nodded.
They stood beside the bomb, its bright casing glowing faintly under the lights of the abandoned floor. Takeru crossed the room, grabbed a length of metal piping from the wall, and pulled until it tore free with a shriek of stressed steel. He bent it casually, shaping it into a crude crowbar before handing it to her.
"This will be your weapon," he said.
Toru swallowed hard and accepted it, the metal warm from his hands.
"Remember," Takeru added as he glanced toward the stairwell and allowed a sharp, villainous smile to form, "today we're the bad guys."