"So, Sister Kaina! I took first place! First! Place!"
"Regrettably, I was second... I must strive even harder next time."
"Indeed. You both did well. You worked hard. I am proud of you both."
Kaina sat up in her bed and patted the heads of Momo and Himiko, who were showing off their acceptance notices for the top two spots. Himiko had taken the overall first place, with Momo coming in a close second.
Though Momo looked slightly dejected about missing the top spot, Kaina comforted her, telling her that being second in a pool of thousands was a magnificent achievement.
"Still... it‘s strange to think of Michikatsu as a teacher," Kaina mused.
"We‘re used to him teaching us, but having him in a formal school setting as a faculty member is a bit jarring," Momo agreed.
"And Brother mentioned he intends to be strictly professional. He won't allow any blurring of public and private lines," Himiko added.
Kaina nodded. Even before they became lovers, she had collaborated with Michikatsu on various Hero missions. She knew that when it came to official business, he drew a firm line regardless of whether he was dealing with colleagues, friends, or family.
It was a trait Kaina respected, though it made her slightly anxious for the girls.
"Do not worry, Sister Kaina," Momo said. "Michikatsu wants to treat us naturally, but if he did, others would assume we received preferential treatment. Besides... separating work from home is the proper thing to do."
As the daughter of the Yaoyorozu family and the woman of Michikatsu, Momo expected no special favors—and neither did Himiko.
Hidden behind the door, Michikatsu overheard their conversation. A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips before he turned and headed back to his own quarters.
"Are you truly going to the classroom looking like that, Aizawa?"
"You're one to talk. Have you looked in a mirror lately?"
Michikatsu let out a sigh at Aizawa Shota‘s retort. Watching Aizawa crawl toward the classroom inside a bright yellow sleeping bag while effectively erasing his presence was an absurd sight.
As homeroom drew near, Michikatsu headed toward the faculty office to grab the attendance registry. Along the way, he collided with a student turning a corner.
"Ah!"
".....Are you unharmed? My apologies."
"No, no, it was my fau— Hieeeek?!"
The girl jumped back, startled by Michikatsu‘s face. He didn't take it personally; he was used to it. However, he found her appearance familiar.
"S-Sorry! I was just... curious! You look so unique!"
"Is that so...? Are you not Hado, the third-year student?"
"You know me? That‘s so neat!"
She had periwinkle hair twisted into a style that looked like a Mobius strip, with locks framing her ears and long hair flowing down her back. Her eyes were deep violet, glowing with curiosity. This was Nejire Hado—one of UA‘s Big Three, currently interning under the Dragon Hero, Ryukyu. Her provisional Hero Name was Nejire-chan.
"I am a teacher here... It would be a failure of duty... if I did not recognize the school‘s top students."
While he knew her from his memories of the original story, Nejire simply tilted her head, fascinated.
"So you‘re a teacher! Is today your first day?"
"Indeed... I am Michikatsu Tsugikuni. Hero Name: Kokushibo."
"Hmm... sorry, I don't recognize the name."
"Do not let it trouble you. I have worked... mostly in the underground."
"Hey, hey! If you have six eyes, how do you see things? What are those marks on your face? There‘s kanji in your eyes! That‘s so cool! How does it work?"
Faced with Nejire‘s legendary storm of questions, Michikatsu felt a cold sweat prickle his neck, but he maintained his stoic demeanor.
"One question... at a time."
"Ah! Sorry, I just got excited!"
Nejire realized her mistake but continued to orbit him like a moon around a planet, humming in wonder.
"Hado... homeroom begins soon. Return to your class."
"Psh... Teacher, you‘re no fun. Can I come find you later, Tsugikuni-sensei?"
"I have no objection."
Even at his blunt response, Nejire gave him a bright smile and waved goodbye as she skipped back to the third-year hallway. Michikatsu exhaled a breath he didn't know he was holding, exhausted by her energy.
"It took eight seconds for you to quiet down. Time is finite, and you all seem to be lacking in rationality."
When Michikatsu entered Class 1-A with the attendance sheets, he saw Aizawa in his signature sleeping bag, delivering his opening lines.
Aizawa turned toward the door and gestured for Michikatsu to enter. With a sigh, the man stepped in front of the students.
"""A VILLAIN?!!"""
The students—excluding Momo and Himiko—shrieked in terror, immediately mistaking his appearance for an intruder.
"Silence!! This is not a villain. He is the Assistant Homeroom Teacher for Class 1-A. Tsugikuni... introduce yourself."
"Kokushibo, Michikatsu Tsugikuni. Assistant Homeroom Teacher and Physical Education instructor. I expect your cooperation."
"""A TEACHER?!"""
The students stared in disbelief. However, a boy with messy green hair and freckles—Izuku Midoriya—snapped his fingers as a realization hit him.
"Wait... are you the Moon Hero, Kokushibo?!"
The others looked confused. Since Michikatsu worked primarily in the shadows—dealing with the Commission or underground criminals—only a handful of rescue victims and specialized agents knew him. But Izuku, a legendary Hero fanatic, possessed a near-manic knowledge of even the most obscure underground figures.
"You know him, Deku?" Katsuki Bakugo, the boy with ash-blonde hair and a visible temper, asked with a scowl.
Izuku shook his head. "I only know the name and some rumors... He doesn't show up on any official rankings. He's a true underground specialist."
Bakugo clicked his tongue. "Spent all that time nerd-stalking heroes and you don't even know what he does? Pathetic, Deku."
Izuku offered a weak, sheepish smile.
"Sigh... this irrational chatter is a waste of time." Aizawa pulled a set of UA PE uniforms from his sleeping bag. "Go to the lockers. There are uniforms for everyone. Change and gather on the grounds immediately. Move rationally... and move fast."
Without looking back, Aizawa began to walk away. The students stood stunned, struggling to process the sudden intensity of their first day.
"Go... change and assemble," Michikatsu instructed.
As he turned to head to the field, his eyes met Himiko‘s and Momo‘s. They gave him playful, knowing smiles. He offered a slight, subtle curve of his lips in return before heading out to the training ground.