When Izuku Midoriya woke up that morning, his head no longer felt dizzy. In fact, he felt sharper than ever—clearer than before.
"What's going on? Could smashing into a telephone pole actually help brain development?" Izuku muttered to himself. "What am I even thinking… I should get running."
He shook his head, changed into his sportswear, and headed out for his morning run.
At seven o'clock sharp, Izuku was the first to arrive in the classroom. It was completely empty. He sat down at his desk and began previewing the day's lessons.
"So there's Hero Basics again today," he murmured. "I wonder what the teacher's going to teach us this time. I'm kind of looking forward to it."
He stacked all the textbooks for the day onto his desk and flipped through them one by one.
By seven-thirty, students began filing into the classroom.
"I really can't believe so many people confessed to Midoriya yesterday. I'm still shocked."
"Hey, Hagakure, do you still have those kinds of photos? Hurry up and send me a few."
"Shhh… keep it down. The person himself is right there."
The first to enter were Uraraka Ochaco and Hagakure Toru, whispering about Izuku's photos.
Next came Kaminari Denki and Kirishima Eijiro.
"I'm screwed—my homework isn't done yet! Midoriya, did you finish yours?"
"I did… barely."
"Then let me copy it real quick!"
Before Izuku could even react, Kaminari snatched his notebook away.
At eight o'clock, after the first period ended, Uraraka took a few deep breaths and walked up to Izuku.
"Midoriya."
"Yes? What is it?"
"Well… um… could you bring a few photos of yourself from when you were a kid?"
"Why?" Izuku asked, completely confused. Why would Uraraka suddenly want childhood photos?
"It's just… um… people online are saying that if you're this cute now, you must have been even cuter as a kid. So we were thinking about posting some childhood photos of you…"
By the time she finished speaking, Uraraka's face was bright red.
"I see," Izuku said slowly.
"I think you should give it a try, Midoriya," Tenya Iida added. He had originally intended to talk to Izuku about something else but had overheard the request. "It would do more good than harm."
"Deku, if you dare post your childhood photos, I swear I'll beat you half to death!"
Bakugo Katsuki, who had just passed by, had clearly heard everything. He flatly ordered Izuku not to share any childhood photos.
"Huh? Why? It's just showing them some pictures from when I was little."
"I said no!" Bakugo glared fiercely at Izuku. Deku's childhood belongs to me.
"O-okay… I won't," Izuku replied helplessly.
He looked at Bakugo, who seemed unusually irritable today.
What's with Kacchan today? Why is he so angry? Did he take the wrong medicine or something?
As noon approached, Hero Basics class began. This time, it was taught by their homeroom teacher, Shota Aizawa.
"Alright, everyone. Today's Hero Basics class will be conducted by me, All Might, and another instructor."
Three people? Is today special? Izuku thought.
Seated next to him, Sero Hanta raised his hand.
"What kind of lesson will it be?"
"This training exercise will be a rescue mission during a flood disaster."
"Rescue…""That sounds rough.""Yeah…""Idiot! That's what heroes are really supposed to do! I'm already fired up!""For water disasters, I'm pretty good at that, ribbit."
"Hey! I'm not done talking yet!" Aizawa snapped, instantly silencing the class.
"This time, you may choose your combat suits as needed. Some limited-use gear will be available. The training facility is far away, so we'll be taking a bus. That's all. Start preparing."
Rescue training… Izuku clenched his fist.
Training to become the greatest hero I admire!!! I can do this!!!
Everyone changed into their training gear. Izuku discreetly transferred the belt stored in his suit onto his mechanical support horse—there was no way he could carry that much equipment himself.
As they walked toward the buses, Uraraka noticed what Izuku was wearing.
"Midoriya, you're just wearing a gym uniform. Where's your hero costume?"
"My last combat training wrecked it pretty badly," Izuku explained. "It's being repaired by a support company. The mask needs replacing too, so I just put something simple together."
"I see."
The students boarded the bus, chatting and laughing along the way—unaware that they were about to face their first real battle against villains.
The bus stopped in front of a massive, egg-shaped structure.
"This is the simulated disaster facility built by the Space Hero Thirteen, also known as the USJ."
Thirteen was already waiting for them.
"Whoa, this place is huge!"
"That's Thirteen! My favorite hero!" Uraraka exclaimed excitedly, staring at the figure in the white space suit.
"Hey, Thirteen, where's All Might?" Aizawa asked. "Wasn't he supposed to meet us here?"
"Well… it seems All Might overexerted himself while working earlier and is currently resting in the lounge."
"That makes no sense!" Aizawa clicked his tongue. Well, he was only meant to provide backup anyway. "Fine. Let's begin."
"Before we start, I have one or two things to remind you all… three things… four things…"
It just keeps increasing…
"This training is meant to shift your mindset. You'll be using the power you normally apply against villains to save lives instead. That concludes my speech. Thank you for listening."
"That was great!" Izuku and Uraraka nodded enthusiastically.
"Now, first—"
Before Aizawa could assign tasks, a strange black hole crackling with static suddenly appeared above the central fountain of the training facility.
It rapidly expanded, and a human face emerged from within.
"Everyone, regroup! Don't move! Thirteen, protect the students!"
The black hole grew larger, and numerous figures burst out.
"What is that? Is this like the entrance exam?" Kirishima asked in confusion.
"Don't move! Those are villains!" Aizawa shouted, putting on his combat goggles as he charged forward.
"So Eraser Head and Thirteen… where's All Might?" the shadowy figure asked. After releasing the villains, it solidified into human form, standing beside a man whose body was covered entirely in hands.
"Where is he? We went through all this trouble to bring everyone here… and the Symbol of Peace isn't even present…""…In that case, maybe we'll just kill the students."
"Bastard," Kirishima muttered. "Try it and see."
"Everyone, listen to me for now," Izuku said quietly but urgently."Iida, you're the fastest—and we're closest to the exit. Run outside as fast as you can and call for help. They got in without triggering the school alarm, so they must have some advantage. Iida, just run forward. Don't look back. That's our only chance."
Izuku tugged lightly on Hagakure Toru's glove.
"Hagakure, go with Iida. Take off your gloves and shoes while running so you won't be detected. If needed, activate the alarm immediately."
"Got it."
Iida immediately sprinted toward the gate, while Hagakure stripped off her gloves and shoes as she ran.
"Yaoyorozu, create as many communication devices as possible. If we get separated, we need to stay in contact."
"Yes!"
"Jiro, prepare wide-range ultrasonic attacks. Be ready to fire at any moment. Koda, call in nearby insects and monitor our surroundings."
"Understood!"
"Mineta, Tokoyami—be ready to activate your abilities in case of a sneak attack."
"Leave it to me!""Dark Shadow—Feast!"
"The rest of you, protect those with assigned tasks. Form a perimeter around the teachers and block frontal attacks."
"Got it.""I'll be careful.""This is so intense!""Elegance above all else.""Deku…"
"Hoh~ already forming ranks?" the shadowy man sneered."Nice to meet you. We are the League of Villains. Forgive our intrusion into the heroes' stronghold—U.A. High School. We came here to completely erase the Symbol of Peace, All Might. He should have been here… was there a change of plans? Well… it doesn't matter."
The shadow appeared behind them—near the entrance.
"Die!!"
"Take this!!"
Bakugo Katsuki and Kirishima Eijiro blasted straight through the shadow—but it instantly regenerated.
"Close one… yes… even though they're students, they're promising material."
"Danger—scatter!" Izuku shouted, tossing two communicators to Bakugo and Kirishima.
In the next instant, the shadow split apart, surrounding everyone.