Chapter 5: The Symbol of Peace and the Silent Lunch
The morning following the Quirk Apprehension Test was a jarring return to academic normalcy, or at least, UA's version of it.
The high-stakes adrenaline of potential expulsion was replaced by the high-volume assault of Present Mic.
● English with a Bang!
The hero Present Mic, a living sound system with gravity-defying blond hair, burst into the classroom.
"YEAH! Welcome to the English language! Get ready to SCREAM into your textbooks! WHO'S READY TO LEARN SOME VERB TENSES?!"
Sherlock, already nursing a headache from the sheer audacity of the morning sun, slumped further into his seat. His vocal frequency is peaking at 120 decibels, with an intermittent sound pressure level of 0.02 pascals, Sherlock calculated, his eyes half-closed.
Prolonged exposure will result in permanent ear drum damage for 60% of the class. My father would sue.
Present Mic slammed his hands on the desk. "Alright, listener! Let's get down to some hard-hitting grammar! You know what time it is? It's time for... 'Which English Sentence is Wrong?!' YEAHHH!"A sentence flashed on the smartboard: "The dog ran fastly."
"Who can tell me what's wrong with this sentence?! Don't be shy, let your voices SOAR!"
A few hands tentatively went up. Sherlock just stared at the board, the answer obvious.
"Young Iida!Tell us what's up!"
"Present Mic-sensei!" Iida chopped the air.
"The adverb 'fastly' is grammatically incorrect! The correct form should be 'The dog ran fast,' as 'fast' serves as both an adjective and an adverb!"
"BINGO! Give it up for Young Iida! He knows his adverbs like I know my decibels! YEAH!"
Sherlock sighed. He preferred silent observations. This was just... loud.
The rest of the period was a chaotic mix of Present Mic shouting English phrases, students timidly answering, and Sherlock meticulously documenting the exact decibel levels of each "YEAH!"
● The World-Class Buffet and the Quiet Corner
When the lunch bell finally rang, the atmosphere changed from academic dread to pure, unadulterated gluttony.
The UA cafeteria wasn't a room; it was a cathedral of cuisine presided over by the hero Lunch Rush.
Sherlock maneuvered through the crowd with the ghost-like efficiency of someone who hated being touched.
He bypassed the ramen station and the sushi bar, his eyes landing on a specialized Italian station. He picked up a tray, receiving a steaming bowl of Tagliatelle al Ragu.
The wide, flat ribbons of pasta were coated in a rich, slow-cooked meat sauce that smelled of rosemary and imported tomatoes. Beside it, he grabbed a chilled, condensation-slicked can of black-cherry soda.
He scanned the room for the "Blind Spot"—the one place where the sunlight didn't hit and the social energy was at its lowest.
He found it in the far north corner, tucked behind a massive concrete pillar.
He sat down, twirling a perfect nest of noodles onto his fork with surgical precision. He took a slow, methodical bite.
The richness of the sauce was incredible, but it was the silence he craved. He reached for the soda, the sharp hiss-crack of the tab echoing slightly in the quiet alcove. He took a sip, the cold carbonation stinging his throat, grounding him in the moment.
"Is this seat available?" a soft, resonant voice asked.
Sherlock looked up. Fumikage Tokoyami and Mezo Shoji stood there.
"Yes," Sherlock said simply. "Sit."
Tokoyami took the seat opposite him. "The shadows here are comforting. The abyss of the main hall is far too loud for a soul seeking clarity."
Shoji nodded, his six eyes scanning the perimeter. "The clamor can be... distracting for those with heightened senses."
Sherlock took another sip of his soda, feeling a rare sense of peace. The quiet ones, he thought. I've found my people.
They ate in a comfortable, heavy silence, a small island of calm in the chaotic sea of UA.
● A Brief Interlude with Purposes
As Sherlock finished his meal, a familiar, graceful shadow fell over the table.
"There you are, Sherlock! I should have known I'd find you in the quietest corner of the school."
"Momo," Sherlock acknowledged, taking a sip of water. "I find the ambient noise levels here to be... challenging for optimal digestion."
Momo Yaoyorozu stood there, her tray filled with an assortment of vibrant, healthy dishes. She looked at the trio of "silent types" and smiled warmly.
"Tokoyami-san, Shoji-san. I hope you don't mind if I join you? The girls' table is a bit... energetic today."
Please," Tokoyami rumbled softly. "The company is welcomed, as long as the volume is not excessive."
Momo sat down next to Sherlock. "Are you ready for this afternoon? All Might mentioned 'Battle Training.'
The tactical possibilities are endless!"
Sherlock finished his soda, the can clicking onto the tray.
"Tactics are only as good as the materials, Momo. I just hope the 'Battle' doesn't involve more sit-ups."
"You're so cynical," she teased. "But I suppose that's what makes you a recommendation student."
Momo smiled. "Well, I suppose we'll find out soon enough. I'd better go prepare. Good luck this afternoon, all of you.
" With a final, graceful nod, she departed, leaving the trio in their quiet corner once more.
Sherlock watched her go. She's too eager to be the best. Too much a target.
• The Entry of the Legend
The afternoon arrived, and the air in the classroom felt pressurized. Suddenly, a heavy, rhythmic thumping echoed from the hallway. Thud. Thud.
Thud.
It sounded like a giant was approaching.
"I am... COMING THROUGH THE DOOR LIKE A NORMAL PERSON!"
The door didn't just open; it felt like the very concept of a door was being redefined.
All Might burst into the room, wearing his Silver Age costume, his iconic silhouette casting a long, heroic shadow that seemed to swallow the front desks whole.
"It's All Might!" Kaminari cheered, leaping from his seat. "He's really here! Look at those muscles! He looks even bigger than on TV!"
"That costume... it's so classic," Kirishima added, his eyes wide with awe. "This is the coolest thing that's ever happened to me!"
The entire class was a sea of vibrating excitement, a collective gasp of "wow" echoing through the room. Sherlock, however, watched the Symbol of Peace with the cold eye of an engineer.
The air displacement in the room just spiked by 15%, Sherlock noted. He's exerting enough passive pressure to alter the room's microclimate.
But that smile... it's held at a perfect 110-degree angle. It's not a smile. It's a structural support for his public image.
"I teach Hero Basic Training!" All Might boomed, his voice vibrating in the students' chests like a subwoofer.
"It is a subject where you train in different ways to learn the basics of being a hero! Today's lesson is... BATTLE TRAINING!"
Bakugo's grin became jagged and predatory. Midoriya looked like he was about to vibrate out of his seat.
"And to go with that are these!" All Might pointed to the wall, where several numbered cases slid out.
"Costumes made based on your Quirk registrations and requests you sent in before school started. After you change, gather in Training Ground Beta!"
● The Costume Reveal: The Dealer's Armor
In the tunnels of the training ground, the class emerged like a pantheon of modern gods.
Uraraka in her sleek suit, Iida looking like a jet-engine knight, and Bakugo looking like a walking disaster zone.
Then, Sherlock stepped out.
His "Grand Illusion" Mark-II costume was a masterpiece of black and red. The floor-length, high-collared trench coat was a deep, matte black that seemed to absorb the light, while the inner lining flashed a brilliant crimson with every step. The red buttons on his tactical vest stood out like warning lights.
On his right thigh, the Mark-IV Deck Holster sat ready, loaded with his 52-card deck. On his forearms, the silver-trimmed metallic gauntlets gleamed, ready to dispense "Pulse Pulp" sheets at a moment's notice.
"Whoa, Sherlock!" Kirishima shouted, his own costume leaving his chest bare. "You look like you're about to perform at the Tokyo Dome! That coat is so manly and mysterious!"
Sherlock adjusted his high collar, his crimson eyes peering out from the shadows of his coat. "It's comfortable," he muttered. "The fabric is a 400-thread count aramid fiber. It breathes well."
"Now, it's time for combat training!" All Might announced, his voice booming over the sound of the wind. "The rules are simple! A 'Villain' team will guard a nuclear weapon, and a 'Hero' team will attempt to recover it! The lots have been drawn!"
● The Battle Trial Draws
All Might stood before the class. "The teams and matchups have been decided by lot!"
Team J (Heroes): Sheets Sherlock & Kirishima Eijiro
Team E (Villains): Ashido Mina & Kaminari Denki
"The matches will proceed in order! Match 5 will be the final showdown: Team J versus Team E!"
● Observation: The Analyst in the Rear
As the students watched Match 1, Sherlock stood at the back. Midoriya and Bakugo were leveling the building.
"He's moving with a 0.3-second delay on his left side," Sherlock whispered.
"What was that?" Momo Yaoyorozu asked, stepping closer.
"Bakugo," Sherlock said. "The recoil from his right hand creates a momentary imbalance.
If Midoriya noticed it, he could exploit that gap."
All Might, standing nearby, overheard. Young
Sheets... he's looking at the mechanics, not the show.
● Feedback of the Great
When Match 1 ended, All Might asked for the MVP. Momo's hand shot up. "It was Iida-kun! He was the only one who truly adapted to the 'Villain' role. Midoriya-san and Bakugo-san were too caught up in a personal grudge. Their combat was irrational."
All Might nodded. "Excellent, Young Yaoyorozu! Bakugo, Midoriya... you both lacked the 'Rationality' required for a hero mission."
● Match 3: The Creation Strategist
Next, Sherlock watched Momo's match. She was paired with Jiro against Aoyama and Ashido.
Momo immediately created a series of acoustic shields to block Aoyama's laser and used Jiro's heartbeat to track their movements through the floor.
Momo is playing a game of chess, Sherlock analyzed. She's visualizing the entire building as a grid. But she's over-creating. She's burning through her lipid stores too fast for a simulation.
All Might noticed Sherlock's focused gaze. "Young Yaoyorozu! A brilliant display of tactical planning! However, remember that speed is the essence of wa
r! If you take too long to create the perfect tool, the villain might already be gone!"
Finally, the screen lit up with
Match 5: Team J (Heroes) vs. Team E (Villains).