Chapter Thirteen: The Genius, The Gear, and The Glare of Aizawa
(Momo Yaoyorozu) was a genius girl.
Not just a genius girl, but intelligent enough to understand molecular composition at a young age.
Her Quirk, [Creation], allowed her to create any non-living material or even devices, as long as she understood their atomic structure.
Financially, if she wanted, she could produce gold or any material she desired.
It was easy to know these things.
But in the end, she was the daughter of a wealthy family, so she had no need to worry about money.
At this moment, however, a single, persistent thought was circling in her mind like a curious bird.
"That support gear... it seems to have been made from scrap."
How could anyone know that at a single glance, even from a distance?
True, she had spoken softly earlier about the prohibition of using support gear—even though she herself had used her Quirk to create a device to launch the ball.
But technically, she had used her Quirk to create the tool she used to throw.
As for the boy in front of her, he had used gear he brought with him. So, the matters were different.
As for how she knew it was made in an archaic way... that also came from the appearance of those gauntlets.
True, their design was very precise, and it had surprised her.
She could see the electrical sparks.
Does it enhance strength? Or does it use a compression mechanism to increase kinetic energy at a specific moment? Or perhaps not...
She shook her head quickly, a slight rustle of her dark ponytail, trying to deduce the operating principle of the device that granted the user such power.
Old parts, but the effect was remarkably good.
The throwing strength could reach the level of a peak human, not an average human level.
So, was it linked to his Quirk? Did he possess an enhancement-type Quirk?
Or was his Quirk similar to hers—an ability to build things in a different way?
---
On the other side, (Suzuki), after finishing his throw, returned to his spot.
(Aizawa) had looked at him for a single moment.
His eyes were simply a hidden test.
But (Suzuki) had correctly interpreted this test.
Use your tools. Prove to me you can pass this exam.
He had used his gauntlet. But had he succeeded in the test?
"Not really. This device seems powerful from a human perspective, but compared to a throw exceeding 700 meters, the level was laughably weak."
But this wasn't something to be ashamed of.
(Suzuki) was still at the beginning.
Furthermore, this gear—the objective enhancement device in the gauntlet—worked by using neural stimulation to increase the body's reflexive ability to unleash maximum possible force.
But in the end, the materials the device was made from were old and worn-out, easy to notice.
Their shapes looked as if they came from several different things or were homemade appliances.
True, he had tried to make them look decent, but in the end, he valued functionality more than aesthetic beauty.
And this gauntlet didn't look like it came from a famous support company.
It looked like it had been cobbled together in a desperate, brilliant, and slightly sad garage.
---
The second test was the speed dash.
The students' morale was very high. It seemed they trusted their abilities.
This is what (Suzuki) observed.
(Midoriya) was the worst off physically.
True, he had trained, but in the end, there were people he couldn't surpass, especially since they had trained all their lives and possessed a kind of physical trait.
Even if it wasn't glaringly obvious, a Quirk could affect the body beyond just increasing strength; it could also provide biological support, especially if the person had a Quirk like secreting substances or something similar.
That could increase biological capacity significantly, as long as they trained.
But in the end, (Midoriya) had done well.
Then he also noticed the son of the number two hero, (Shoto Todoroki).
This boy was astounding in terms of propulsion.
He was using ice as a platform to launch himself at speed, even increasing his velocity by banking turns.
All these distinguished abilities from just one of his two Quirks, and he was only using the ice half.
This clarified the difference between his starting point and the rest of the individuals.
Perhaps he was, solidly, the best in the class at this moment.
---
"(Saito)-kun?"
(Mina) turned, approaching him after the dash race finished.
She looked at him and seemed relaxed, as if she hadn't exerted much effort. Well, in the end, she was an enthusiastic girl.
She returned to him to see what he would say.
In the end, there was no friendship between us, and honestly, I didn't have much to say, especially since my mind was always working on thinking about something else.
The weaknesses of those present in the class. I was trying to identify them.
I felt as if I was trying to transform into Batman.
I know my enemies' capabilities and my allies' capabilities. It seemed I was trying to be someone else.
But at the same time, I realized that a Batman-like approach was the most suitable for me to prove myself in this field to become a hero.
I couldn't rely on great strength or gear alone, but on understanding the capabilities of the people around me.
"You seem to be thinking about a lot of things. Why not relax a little? You put in great effort, senpai."
She was talking about me.
She had seen me using the skate device, or as I called it, the Acceleration Boots.
A simple name, but it clarified its great benefit.
With these boots equipped with retractable skates, I could accelerate at high speed, as if I were on a low-powered motorcycle.
True, it was from the lower end, but it was still very good speed for the beginning of the exam.
It had earned me some... looks.
True, they had talked about the reason for my using support gear.
But certainly, most of them thought I was using some kind of Quirk to create this gear.
And honestly, I hadn't yet told them all that I was Quirkless.
The only one who knew was (Mina), who was in front of me now.
(Suzuki) looked at her, then said with his red eyes, his voice flat:
"What I'm doing is nothing."
And I said that truthfully.
Literally, compared to the things I wanted to do in the future, everything I was doing now might be very silly and unimportant.
But it was just the beginning.
I had to exert more effort if I wanted to keep up with this group of monsters.
"Well, of course we'll all improve, won't we?"
She wanted to be nice. That's what I deduced in a single moment, and it also suited her personality.
But I didn't want to work with anyone at the beginning.
Upon rethinking, however, I found that behavior foolish.
Even Batman wouldn't work alone if he wanted to defeat someone like Darkseid; he had to work with another group of people, like the Justice League.
Therefore, he needed to form friendships, even if on a superficial level, as long as they listened to him.
"You're right, (Mina)-san."
As he said that, the girl smiled at his response.
He wasn't stupid.
He was capable of simply analyzing her movements.
She was worried.
She was showing some concern for him.
If he went back to his previous behavior and she spoke as if trying to start a conversation with him, she was just trying to make him a little more social.
It seemed she thought he was uninterested in forming friendships.
And that was true, honestly.
For him, he didn't want to make friends.
But when he thought about it again, he needed them.
---
The test ended.
On the way toward the locker rooms, the teacher (Aizawa) approached him.
The sound of his worn-out boots on the concrete was a soft scuff-scuff.
"Your level is not good. Are you sure you want to be a hero?"
His voice didn't carry disappointment.
It only carried quiet advice from a wise person.
His black eyes, weary from many sleepless nights, looked as if he hadn't slept.
But I didn't say anything.
I looked at him for a moment, then placed my belongings in my personal locker with a metallic clang.
Then I turned to him.
"I don't think I can become a hero in the way you imagine, sensei. But this is just the beginning. I am confident I can become a hero different from any other hero in this world."
The atmosphere in the locker room grew colder.
But (Shota Aizawa)'s eyes were even colder.
Not because he was looking at this boy with disdain, but because he felt as if he was looking at a younger version of himself.
In the end, his Quirk was just erasing others' Quirks, which made him physically weak from the start compared to various other heroes.
He had needed a lot of work on using support gear before he even began to think about becoming a hero.
But he had wanted to become one.
This boy, however, had nothing except effort, diligence, and a mind intelligent enough to analyze the situations he was in.
But was that enough to become a hero?
(Shota Aizawa) sighed, a low, weary sound.
"It seems you won't give up easily. But if you want to remain in this class, you must exert your effort constantly. If I see any slacking off from you, I will expel you without the slightest hesitation."
Then the teacher turned and left, his capture scarf rustling with a dry whisper.
I remained, looking at his back.
I clenched my fist, the leather of my half-removed gauntlet creaking.
I looked at him as if looking at an enemy, not a teacher.
"What is your Quirk anyway, huh? It's just erasing Quirks."
I just wanted to scream that. To tell him there was no difference between him and me.
I use gear, while he just uses a Quirk that makes fights more fair.
Each of us uses our capabilities in a way that can make combat more equitable.
But for him to look at me as if I were a glass cup about to shatter... that was too much.
But I didn't scream.
I didn't hit anything.
I just looked at his retreating back with determination.
I said to him before he left, my voice low but clear in the tiled room:
"It's still the beginning. I will become a hero. I won't allow anyone to doubt me ever again."
The teacher didn't stop.
He just left.
But I noticed his head shook slightly, as if he was thinking about something before leaving.
I didn't know what he thought, and I didn't care.
All I cared about now was going to the Support Department.
There, I would be able to develop my gear further.
The path of the scrap-metal hero was paved with cold assessments, silent challenges, and the relentless, grinding need to improve.
One bolt, one circuit, one stubborn refusal to quit at a time.
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End of Chapter.
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📝 Honorable Readers,
The gauntlet is thrown, both literally and metaphorically. Aizawa's chilling warning, Momo's analytical curiosity, Mina's persistent outreach, and Suzuki's simmering resolve—the dynamics of Class 1-A are crystallizing. What are your thoughts on Suzuki's Batman-esque strategy? Will his pilgrimage to the Support Department yield the upgrades he desperately needs? And what of that loaded, almost mirror-like interaction with Aizawa? Your esteemed insights and predictions are eagerly awaited. Please grace us with your commentary below.