Chapter 6
A WEEK LATER…
A week had passed since the entrance exam, and Izuku could no longer avoid what the envelope in his hands might contain. This was probably the end of the life he imagined in his dreams, and a rude awakening to the real life - that of a regular joe - he should live.
He remembered coming home after the exams, his mother's face pale with shock at his injuries. Even now, he couldn't help but smile slightly at the memory - how she'd alternated between scolding him and fussing over his arm, how she'd cried when she saw the extent of the damage. The doctors had been baffled by the injury pattern, as if his entire arm had tried to tear itself apart from the inside.
The bandage around his right arm felt tight as he walked toward Gran Torino's apartment. His promise to All Might echoed in his mind: they would face the results together, whatever they might be.
The UA logo gleamed on the envelope's surface, catching the late afternoon sun. Izuku's thumb still fiddled with the embossed logo, baffled at the strangeness of where he'd been now compared to where he was months before.
He almost brought a smile to his face. Strange truly was the term to use.
Strange, how much his life had changed in just a few months. Meeting All Might had seemed impossible enough, but discovering the truth behind the Symbol of Peace - that he was actually Toshinori, a man fighting his own private battle against time.
Then came the awakening of Izuku's own Quirk, that crimson power that sharpened his mind to a deadly point. And finally, One For All itself, passed down through generations to end up in his unworthy hands.
Maybe I could give it back, he thought, the envelope crinkling slightly in his grip.
There must be someone else at UA better suited to be All Might's successor.
The thought stirred something in that deep well of crimson inside him. The ancient presence rippled with possessive intent, like a dragon guarding its hoard.
The power was his now, it seemed to say.
All of it.
Izuku pushed the feeling aside, trying to focus on what he'd gained, regardless of the outcome. Meeting All Might, training with Gran Torino, learning to stand up for himself and others - maybe that was enough. Maybe-
The thought died unfinished as Gran Torino's apartment came into view. Behind that door waited All Might, ready to face whatever future the envelope contained.
When the door opened, Izuku found his rehearsed speech dying in his throat. Toshinori sat at Gran Torino's small table, somehow looking both frail and imposing in his skeletal form. The sight made Izuku's chest tighten - this man had believed in him, given him a chance, passed down his power.
And Izuku had managed only three points.
"I'm sorry," he started, the words tasting like ash. "I know you chose me to be your successor, but I-"
"Let's open it together first, young Midoriya." Toshinori's smile was gentle, lacking its usual bombastic energy. There was something in his eyes though - a glimmer that Izuku couldn't quite read.
"If you two are done with the dramatics," Gran Torino grumbled from his seat by the window, "some of us would like to know the results too."
The old hero's foot tapped impatiently against the floor, betraying his own tension.
"Been waiting all morning for this. Even missed my taiyaki break."
Izuku's hands trembled as he examined the envelope.
The paper felt expensive, heavy with possibility. But when he finally worked up the courage to open it, what slid out wasn't paper at all, but a sleek holographic plate.
"Is this...?"
"Ah, yes." Toshinori's skeletal face flushed slightly, color rising in his hollow cheeks.
"I had to record different messages for acceptance and rejection. Rather embarrassing, actually. The studio made me do several takes for each. Apparently, I kept slipping into my public voice even for the rejections."
A small laugh escaped Izuku despite his nerves. The mental image of All Might, Symbol of Peace, having to repeat his lines over and over, probably getting feedback from a director... it was almost surreal enough to make him forget what was at stake.
"Well?" Gran Torino's voice cut through his amusement like a knife. "Are you going to stare at it all day? Some of us aren't getting any younger here. And I'd like to know if all that training was worth missing my afternoon naps."
Taking a deep breath, Izuku placed the plate on the table. His bandaged arm ached as he pressed the activation button, a reminder of everything that had led to this moment. Light burst forth, coalescing into the massive figure of All Might in his hero form, his signature smile blazing.
"YOUNG MIDORIYA!" The hologram boomed, making everyone in the small apartment lean back slightly.
"I AM HERE TO TELL YOU…"
Izuku braced for the moment. He almost flinched.
Here it comes.
"YOU HAVE PASSED!"
Time seemed to stop. Izuku's mind refused to process the words, as if they were in a foreign language.
The plate slipped from his suddenly numb fingers, rescued only by Toshinori's quick catch.
Passed?
The word echoed in his head, bouncing off memories of the exam - his desperate dodging, his inability to defeat even the smallest robots, the final gamble that had left his arm in bandages. It didn't make sense. None of it made sense.
"But... how?" Izuku managed, still trying to process the news. "I was actually coming here to ask how to return One For All to you. So you could find a better successor…"
The room went suddenly, awkwardly quiet.
"Ah, about that..." Toshinori coughed into his hand.
"One For All... it's permanent, young Midoriya. Once transferred, it can't be given back to its previous user."
Izuku stared at him. Even the ancient presence in that crimson well seemed to stir with dark amusement, as if laughing at the cosmic joke.
All that worry about being unworthy, about returning the power, and it wasn't even possible?
"Wait."
Izuku's brain caught up with the implications.
"Then wouldn't it have been more practical to wait for someone to pass the UA entrance exam first? Before giving them an irreversible power?"
The silence that followed was deafening. Gran Torino slowly turned to look at Toshinori, who seemed to be trying to sink into his chair.
"I... that is..." The Symbol of Peace, defeater of All For One, actually squirmed under their combined stares.
"In retrospect..."
Gran Torino's palm met his forehead with an audible smack.
"Perhaps we should focus on the results?" Toshinori quickly pulled out another holographic plate, his movements almost desperate. "There's something you need to see."
The second recording flickered to life, casting the apartment in a gentle blue glow. A familiar round face appeared - Uraraka, still dusty from the exam. The hologram showed Uraraka in simple jogging pants and a sweatshirt, her hair slightly disheveled as if she'd rushed to record this. She sat on the edge of an infirmary bed, determination written across her features despite her obvious discomfort..
"Excuse me," hologram-Uraraka said, bowing slightly. "About that boy with the green hair..."
Izuku quickly recognized the description. She was going to talk about him.
"During the exam," she began, her voice steady but earnest, "I was pinned by debris. The three-pointer was approaching, and I couldn't free myself." She gestured to her bandaged foot, wincing slightly at the movement. "Everyone else ran. It was the logical thing to do - we were all competing for points, after all."
She leaned forward, her eyes intense. "But Midoriya-kun... he didn't even hesitate. He could have used that time to score points, to ensure his own success. Instead, he chose to help someone he barely knew. Someone he'd just met that morning."
Izuku stared at the recording, stunned. He hadn't even realized she'd noticed all that - he'd been so focused on the moment, on the need to help.
The memory of their first meeting flashed through his mind, both of them laughing about setting their alarms too early. Had that really been the same day?
"He risked everything," Uraraka continued, her eyes bright with conviction. "His own chance at UA, his safety... He ended up injured protecting me. If that's not what being a hero means, then I don't understand what we're all doing here. Points shouldn't matter more than saving lives."
"If heroism is measured only in points," she concluded, bowing deeply, "then maybe we need to reconsider what it means to be a hero."
The recording ended, leaving the room in thoughtful silence.
"She sent this appeal to the entire faculty," All Might said softly. "Not just to me. When they called me in to weigh in on your case, I remembered my promise not to interfere with the results."
A smile broke across his gaunt face.
"But how could I not be moved? This, young Midoriya, is exactly what I hoped for when I chose you."
Izuku glanced at his idol.
"What do you mean?"
"A hero isn't just someone who saves others. A true Symbol of Peace inspires people to be better, to help each other, to stand up for what's right. Young Uraraka could have stayed silent, accepted the results. Instead, she chose to speak up for someone else." Toshinori's eyes gleamed with pride. "That's the kind of influence I want my successor to have."
"So I really..." Izuku's voice cracked. "I really passed?"
"Welcome to UA, young Midoriya."
Izuku barely remembered the journey home, the holographic plates clutched protectively against his chest. He found his mother in the kitchen and practically dragged her to the living room, words spilling out in an excited jumble as he set up the recordings.
They watched together, mother and son, as All Might's massive form filled their small living room. Inko's tears started before the first recording finished, and by the time Uraraka's earnest plea ended, both Midoriyas were openly crying. "My baby," was all Inko could manage between sobs, pulling her son into a careful embrace that avoided his injured arm.
That night, their small apartment filled with the aroma of celebration. Inko prepared dish after dish, as if trying to make up for every moment she'd ever doubted her son's dreams with food. Izuku couldn't begin to remember the food he'd eaten, he just knew they weren't part of Toshinori's meal plan. At some point he thought he'd be scolded if Toshinori learned of this, but he laughed at the idea. All Might would probably want Izuku to celebrate. The feast was excessive, unnecessary, and perfect - much like the joy that threatened to burst from Izuku's chest.
His phone buzzed periodically throughout the evening - All Might's enthusiasm transmitted through exclamation points, Gran Torino's gruff pride conveyed in minimal text.
But the best messages needed no words at all - they were written in his mother's smile, in her eyes that wouldn't stop glistening with happy tears, in the way she kept reaching out to touch his shoulder as if making sure this wasn't all a dream.
As he lay in bed that night, staring at his All Might posters, Izuku felt something he hadn't experienced in years: pure, unrestrained hope.
Today, he'd walked to Gran Torino's apartment expecting his dreams to die. Instead, they were just beginning.
His life - his real life - was finally starting.
TWO WEEKS LATER…
Spring sunlight painted UA's gates in morning gold as Izuku approached, each step measured and purposeful. His breath came in steady rhythms - in through the nose, out through the mouth - a technique Gran Torino had taught him to manage pre-battle nerves. Though this wasn't a battle, his heart thundered as if it were.
He passed through the gate almost in a daze, the reality still not quite settling in. The weight of UA's uniform felt foreign yet right on his shoulders, and his hand unconsciously brushed the backpack where his gym uniform waited - that iconic blue-red-white combination he'd seen in so many sports festival broadcasts.
Soon, I'd be wearing it myself.
The bandage on his right arm was more precaution than a necessity now, though phantom pain still echoed when he thought too hard about One For All. Izuku closed his eyes, reaching for that familiar well of power inside him. The ancient presence stirred, and his vision shifted to crimson before clearing again. The Quirk responded to his will now, no longer requiring rage as fuel.
He caught his reflection in a window and almost didn't recognize himself. Gone was the timid slouch, replaced by straight shoulders and lifted chin.
Months of training had reshaped more than his mindset - his arms showed definition where once they'd been soft, his stance solid where it had been uncertain. Even his voice, when he spoke, carried weight it never had before.
Everything's different now, he thought, watching other students stream through the gates. Everything he'd worked for, every sacrifice and struggle, had led to this moment. The pain, the doubt, the countless hours of training - it was all paying off.
Izuku Midoriya wasn't just the Quirkless kid anymore. He was a UA student, successor to All Might, carrier of two incredible powers.
And this was just the beginning.
"Midoriya-kun!"
The call broke through his reverie. Izuku turned to see a familiar tall figure striding toward him, glasses gleaming in the morning sun. Iida's movements were as precise as ever, each step measured as if he were still in the entrance exam.
"I'm glad to see you made it," Iida said, adjusting his glasses with that characteristic chopping motion of his hand. "After witnessing your performance against the three-pointer, I had hopes we'd be seeing each other again. Though I must admit, your strategy was quite reckless."
A few months ago, such criticism would have made Izuku shrink into himself. Now, he found himself smiling. "Sometimes the right choice isn't the safe one."
"Indeed!" Iida's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "That's precisely what I realized watching you. It made me question my own approach to the exam. Which class were you assigned?"
"1-A," Izuku replied, still adjusting to how steady his own voice sounded these days.
"Excellent! We'll be classmates then. I was hoping-"
A blur of movement caught Izuku's peripheral vision. Before his conscious mind could process it, his body was already moving. The crimson flickered in his vision for just a split second, time seeming to slow as his enhanced perception kicked in.
He saw everything at once - Uraraka's stumbling form, the angle of her fall, the precise point where gravity would take over. For a split-second, his mind remembered this exact instance when they first met just a few weeks ago. Uraraka tripping on her right foot, the backpack falling at a particular angle because of the way she walks, her body tilting as she fell on the ground. These memories turned into puzzle pieces that rearranged into place, and all that's left was for Izuku's limbs to put them in the right position.
Izuku's body moved with a fluidity that surprised even him. One hand caught Uraraka's arm while his other hand snatched the girl's falling backpack from the air. He twisted, using the momentum to help Uraraka regain her balance rather than just catching her weight. The movement felt natural, as if he'd practiced it a hundred times, though he knew it was his enhanced perception guiding his muscles.
The whole sequence took less than two seconds.
"That was impressive!" Iida's eyebrows rose above his glasses. "Your reflexes have improved significantly since the entrance exam. Have you been training?"
Izuku blinked, the crimson fading from his vision. He hadn't even meant to use his Quirk - it had activated on its own, as if recognizing a need before he did.
"Yeah, I've been working with... a mentor."
"Thank you, Izuku-kun!" Uraraka beamed at him, a slight blush coloring her cheeks.
She knew his name?
The young adult in question nearly blushed in realization.
Ochako's eyes widened as she recognized him fully. "Oh! And I'm so glad you passed! Though after what you did in the exam-" She caught herself, suddenly looking embarrassed. "I mean..."
"I should be thanking you," Izuku started, remembering the hologram recording. "What you said to the faculty-"
"No, no!" Her blush deepened, hands waving frantically in front of her. "You earned it all on your own. What you did... saving me instead of getting points..." She looked down, fidgeting with her uniform's sleeve. "That was real heroism. I just... I just made sure they understood what actually happened out there."
"Still," Izuku said softly, "not everyone would have spoken up."
"Not everyone would have saved a stranger either," she countered, meeting his eyes with unexpected intensity.
The moment between them lingered, charged with something Izuku couldn't quite name. But then he felt it - that familiar presence, that spike of hostility that made the ancient force within him stir. Even before he heard the distinctive tch, he knew who was approaching. His body tensed instinctively, muscle memory from years of being prey.
Bakugo walked with the same arrogant swagger he'd always had, one hand casually draped over his shoulder holding his backpack. His free hand opened and closed rhythmically, small sparks dancing between his fingers like angry fireflies.
Each tiny explosion seemed to punctuate his steps, a reminder of the power he'd used to dominate their childhood.
Bakugo's expression was impossible to read - somewhere between a sneer and a snarl, as if he couldn't decide whether to be amused or enraged at finding Izuku here.
The sight triggered a memory with painful clarity: standing before their class at Aldera Junior High, trembling but determined as he announced his intention to apply to UA. The laughter that had followed. Bakugo's face that day had been pure fury, molecules of sweat already igniting around his hands. "If I see you anywhere near UA," he'd growled, "I'll kill you."
But Izuku wasn't that powerless kid anymore. The presence in his crimson well stirred, reminding him of the strength that now coursed through his veins. Before Bakugo could spit out his usual insult, Izuku straightened his spine and met those crimson eyes directly.
"Good morning, Kacchan."
Bakugo's steps faltered for just a fraction of a second, caught off guard by the direct greeting. His face twisted into something uglier, more primal. Izuku knew Bakugo was just annoyed that he called him Kacchan as much as he hated being called Deku.
"Well, well. Look who actually showed up." His voice dripped with venom, each word calculated to wound. "Did mommy have to write another special note for you?" His eyes flicked to Izuku's bandaged arm. "One lucky shot with your fancy new Quirk and suddenly you think you belong here? Where was that power all those years I was putting you in your place, huh?"
Beside him, Izuku heard Iida's sharp intake of breath, and felt Uraraka stiffen in shock. The temperature seemed to drop several degrees as they processed the implications of Bakugo's words.
"Midoriya-kun," Iida started, his voice tight with barely contained outrage, "did he just say-"
His hands curled into fists at his sides, and that ancient presence surged up like a tide of blood, whispering of vengeance long overdue.
It would be so easy to show Bakugo exactly what he could do now, to make him understand what it felt like to be powerless. His vision started to tint red at the edges, that familiar burn building behind his eyes.
But Izuku forced his fingers to relax. He was better than that now. Had to be better than that. All Might hadn't chosen him to seek revenge - he'd chosen him to become a hero.
Then again, All Might didn't say I couldn't fight back with words.
The thought came suddenly, and before Izuku could second-guess himself, the words were already leaving his mouth.
"Pretty bold talk from someone who couldn't even free himself from the Sludge Villain."
His voice was steady, almost casual. "I wonder if everyone in the entrance exam saw that footage? You know, the one where you needed saving?"
The silence that followed was deafening. Iida and Uraraka stood frozen, as if afraid any movement might trigger an explosion.
Bakugo's face went through several shades of red, his hands completely still for the first time since he'd approached.
"I-I'm kidding!" Izuku forced a nervous laugh, but inside, he purred with satisfaction at finally saying what he'd held back for years. At watching Bakugo taste even a fraction of the humiliation he'd dealt out so freely.
Bakugo's whole body tensed, sparks crackling around his palms as he started forward - but the sharp ring of the morning bell cut through the tension like a knife.
As they headed toward their classroom, Izuku committed this moment to memory. The look on Bakugo's face, the feeling of finally standing his ground. This was his dream school, his chance at becoming a hero. He wasn't about to let anyone - not even Bakugo - bully him into submission here.
AN HOUR LATER…
Classroom 1-A buzzed with first-day energy, and Izuku found himself falling into his old habit of mental note-taking. Each classmate was a study in unique abilities and personalities, future heroes in the making.
"Get your feet off that desk this instant!" Iida's voice cut through the chatter. "Such behavior is disrespectful to our upperclassmen who used this desk before us!"
"Hah?" Bakugo's sneer was audible. "What crawled up your ass, four-eyes? Did the stick get stuck?"
A red-haired boy nearby burst out laughing. "Come on, guys, let's all be friends here! I'm Kirishima, by the way!"
Uraraka had already found her social circle, settling easily into conversation. "The robots were really scary, weren't they?"
"Kero, they weren't so bad once you figured out their weak points," the frog-girl responded. "I'm Tsuyu Asui, but please call me Tsu."
"Jirou Kyouka," the earphone jack girl introduced herself, twirling one of her jacks absently. "Those things were pretty loud though. Made them easy to track with my Quirk."
Near the window, the ponytailed girl maintained her elegant distance, though Izuku caught her watching the class interactions with careful attention. The boy with dual-colored hair beside her seemed content in their shared silence.
"Hey! You're the guy who took down the three-pointer, right?"
Izuku turned to find two boys at his desk. The shorter one bounced excitedly.
"I'm Mineta! Man, that was incredible! How did you even-"
"I'm Sero," tape-boy interrupted with an easy grin. "Don't mind him, he gets excited. But seriously, that was some move you pulled in the exam."
"Oh, uh, thank you," Izuku managed. "I'm Midoriya Izuku."
"No need to be so formal!" Mineta insisted. "We're all going to be heroes together, right?"
The bell rang for first period, but no teacher appeared. Minutes ticked by in growing uncertainty.
"Where's our homeroom teacher?" the boy with multiple arms wondered aloud, each hand fidgeting nervously.
"Perhaps they're running late?" suggested the bird-headed student, though he didn't sound convinced.
"A teacher being late on the first day?" Iida looked scandalized, glasses glinting as he checked his watch for the third time. "Surely not at UA-"
A sharp yelp cut through the classroom as someone near the front stepped on what appeared to be a yellow sleeping bag. The bundle moved.
"Did... did that just move?" Uraraka whispered, gripping her desk.
"A caterpillar?" Tsuyu tilted her head, tongue slightly protruding in confusion.
"Oh no," Mineta's voice trembled as he leaned closer to Izuku's desk.
"I've heard about this. It's him - Erasure. My buddy in general studies said he failed his entire class last year. Just expelled them all on the first day!"
Izuku felt his stomach drop. What kind of teacher would-
The thought died as the figure emerged from the sleeping bag with fluid, predatory grace. Dark hair hung in unkempt strands over eyes that suddenly blazed crimson, the capture weapon around his neck rising like awakened serpents. The temperature in the room seemed to plummet as his irritated gaze swept over them.
The class collectively held its breath. Someone's pencil dropped, the sound deafening in the silence.
"If you're all done with the meaningless chatter," Erasure drawled, his voice carrying a deadly sort of boredom, "maybe we can begin. Though I'm already unimpressed with your awareness levels. A Pro Hero was in the room for ten minutes and none of you noticed."
The silence deepened. Even Bakugo's feet found their way to the floor, his usual bravado momentarily dampened by those glowing red eyes. Izuku felt a bead of sweat roll down his neck. What had he gotten himself into?
"Now then," Erasure continued, stepping fully out of his sleeping bag with calculated indifference, "let's not waste any more time. My name is Aizawa Shouta. I'll be your homeroom teacher." His eyes narrowed, scanning each face as if already deciding their fates. "Assuming any of you make it past today."
Make it past today? Izuku's mind raced. The ancient presence stirred within him, sensing danger, but even it seemed wary of the man before them.
"Let's begin our lesson."
MINUTES LATER…
The spring air felt cool against their faces as Class 1-A gathered at the sports field, now dressed in their PE uniforms. Izuku's fingers tightened around his worn notebook as Erasure explained the assessment.
"You'll be taking eight physical fitness tests," their teacher drawled, dark eyes scanning the group. "The difference is, you're free to use your Quirks however you see fit." A pause. "Though some of you might want to keep your abilities... private. For now."
Something in his tone made Izuku's spine tingle.
As the tests began, Izuku's pencil flew across the page. Bakugo's explosions propelled him to a stunning fifty-meter dash time. Uraraka made the softball throw look trivial by eliminating gravity entirely. Iida's engines carried him through every speed-based challenge with mechanical precision.
"What's with that ratty notebook, Deku?" Bakugo's voice carried its usual edge. "Still playing hero analyst?"
Before Izuku could respond, Kirishima had already bounded over, sharp teeth gleaming in curiosity. "Hey, what's that? You're writing pretty intensely!"
"Oh, um..." Izuku clutched his Hero Journal closer, years of having it mocked or destroyed making him instinctively protective. But the faces around him showed genuine interest, not the derision he was used to. "It's my Hero Journal. I've been analyzing Quirks and hero techniques since I was little..."
"Can we see?" Ashido bounced over, her black and gold eyes wide with excitement.
Izuku hesitantly opened the worn notebook, revealing pages dense with observations, diagrams, and detailed analysis. His latest entries were already filling with notes about his classmates - Yaoyorozu's creation process, the precise angle of Iida's engine exhausts, the chemical composition theories behind Bakugo's explosions.
"Whoa," Kaminari leaned in, whistling. "This is like pro-level analysis!"
"You've documented all of our Quirks already?" Yaoyorozu asked, genuine impression in her voice. "The technical detail is remarkable."
Even Erasure seemed to pause in his note-taking, his eyes flickering briefly to the gathering around Izuku's notebook. The corner of his mouth twitched in what might have been amusement.
"Make sure you write down all our good points!" Ashido called out, performing a particularly acrobatic side-step during the agility test. "When we're famous Pro Heroes, historians will want to know about our humble beginnings!"
"Yeah!" Sero added, using his tape to swing through the obstacle course. "Document my journey to becoming the best mobility hero!"
"Tch." Bakugo turned away, but Izuku caught the way his next explosion was slightly bigger.
Throughout the tests, Izuku watched his classmates shine. Todoroki created ice paths to glide through challenges effortlessly. Tsuyu's frog-like abilities made the flexibility tests look trivial. Tokoyami's Dark Shadow carried him through strength challenges, while Uraraka's zero gravity gave her an edge in anything involving weight or distance.
Izuku's own performance remained stubbornly average. His grip strength, while improved from training, couldn't compare to Shoji's multiple arms. His running speed, though better than before, was nothing next to Iida's Engine. Even the side-step test, where he tried to apply Gran Torino's movement techniques, only earned him a middle-range score.
The electronic scoreboard updated mercilessly after each event. Bakugo and Todoroki traded the top position, while Yaoyorozu's versatile Quirk kept her consistently high. Izuku watched his own name slide steadily downward, each test pushing him further from safety.
"Don't worry, Midoriya-kun." Iida's hand landed on his shoulder as they waited for the next test. "Many Quirks take time to manifest properly in new environments. I'm sure yours is just... adjusting to UA's prestigious atmosphere!"
Ojiro nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and your physical form is solid. You've clearly trained hard."
Izuku managed a weak smile, wondering what they'd think if they knew the truth - that one of his powers could shatter his bones, while the other... He felt the ancient presence stir restlessly, like a caged beast watching prey from behind bars.
From across the field, Erasure's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. He asked the students to line up where he stood.
AN HOUR LATER…
"For the final test," Erasure held up a softball, his expression unreadable, "you'll demonstrate your throwing capacity." His eyes swept across the gathered students before landing on Izuku.
"Oh, and one more thing. The student who scores lowest in total points will be expelled. Immediately."
"For the final test," Erasure held up a softball, his expression unreadable, "you'll demonstrate your throwing capacity." His eyes swept across the gathered students before landing on Izuku. "Oh, and one more thing. The student who scores lowest in total points will be expelled. Immediately."
The announcement hit like a bucket of ice water. Izuku felt his stomach drop as he glanced at the scoreboard where his name hovered dangerously close to the bottom.
"That's not fair!" Uraraka protested. "It's only the first day!"
"Fair?" Erasure's capture weapon writhed slightly.
"Natural disasters aren't fair. Villain attacks aren't fair. If you're looking for fair, the door's right there."
The atmosphere shifted dramatically after Erasure's announcement. What had been friendly competition transformed into a battle for survival.
Bakugo's throw was like watching contained warfare, his explosion creating a sonic boom that made several students cover their ears. "Die!" he roared as the ball vanished into the distance. 705.2 meters.
Todoroki's approach was coldly efficient - a path of ice launching the ball skyward. 711.6 meters. Yaoyorozu's custom-designed cannon sent her ball flying in a perfect arc. 698.3 meters. Uraraka's infinity score - evidently gravity-powered - still dominated the board, but everyone was giving everything they had.
When Izuku stepped up to throw, the field fell oddly quiet. He could feel their eyes on him - some curious, some pitying, all waiting. They'd seen glimpses of his analytical skills, heard about his feat with the three-pointer. Surely there was more to him than these mediocre scores?
The ball felt like lead in his hand. Izuku closed his eyes, reaching for that familiar burn. His vision tinted crimson as he analyzed every angle, every possible technique. He thought of the rage that had driven him for so long - rage at being helpless, at being dismissed. The ancient presence stirred, eager to show its power.
No. Not that way.
Instead, he remembered his training. All those months at Takoba Beach, learning to lift and throw with proper form. The way different objects required different approaches, how leverage could maximize force. Gran Torino's lessons about using his whole body, not just his arms.
Izuku took his stance, implementing everything he'd learned. His form was perfect - the twist of his torso, the follow-through of his arm, the timing of his release. Without enhancement from either Quirk, it was technically flawless.
The ball sailed through the air in a clean arc.
46.5 meters.
Someone exhaled sharply. He heard Uraraka's small "oh" of disappointment. Even Bakugo laughed.
"Line up," Erasure called, his tone giving nothing away.
As they formed their line, Izuku felt numb. All that training, all that analysis, and in the end... was this where his dream died?
Not with a bang, but with a perfectly executed throw that simply wasn't enough?
Izuku's mind raced with possibilities. Would he have to leave UA? What would he tell his mother? The ancient presence churned restlessly within him, angry at being held back, at being made to look weak-
"Now then," Erasure's voice cut through his spiral of thoughts. Iida's hand landed on Izuku's shoulder, meant to be reassuring, but Izuku could feel the tension in his grip.
The whole class held its breath.
"About that expulsion rule..." Erasure's face stayed perfectly neutral.
"It was a logical ruse."
The silence that followed was deafening.
"What?" The class erupted in a mixture of relief and disbelief.
"A rational deception to draw out your best performances," Erasure added, looking almost bored.
Nervous laughter broke out among the students. "Man, I was really worried!" Kaminari clutched his chest dramatically.
"See? I told you it had to be a test!" Yaoyorozu nodded sagely, though color was returning to her cheeks.
"Midoriya!" Uraraka bounced over, beaming. "Isn't it great? We were all so worried-"
But Erasure's voice cut through the celebrations like a blade. "Consider this Lesson One at UA," he commanded their attention. The chatter ceased almost immediately. Erasure spoke without so much as a pause.
"Every day here could be your last. Pro Heroes risk everything every time they step into action. They put their lives, their futures, their everything on the line each time they face a villain."
The statement echoed in Izuku's mind. It was exactly the same speech Toshinori had given him in the rooftop where they first met. When Toshinori revealed he was All Might, and everything that entailed.
He saw Erasure's eyes swept across the group. "The world isn't fair, so don't expect UA to be fair either. We're here to prepare you for that reality."
As the class dispersed, still chattering with relief, Erasure's voice stopped Izuku. "A moment, Midoriya."
The others filtered away, leaving Izuku alone with their teacher. Erasure's eyes seemed to pierce right through him, calculating and cold.
"I saw the entrance exam footage," he said without preamble. "That three-pointer incident. One impressive display and a classmate's plea got you through the door. But what I saw today..." His capture weapon shifted slightly, like restless snakes. "Your physical form is decent. You've clearly trained. But you're holding back, and not out of strategy."
He stepped closer, and Izuku felt the weight of those analytical eyes.
"You can't control your Quirk. It's written all over your performance. The way you hesitate, the way you compensate with physical ability alone."
His voice carried no judgment, just cold fact.
"Even if I don't expel you, something at UA will. The training here is intense, designed to push you past your limits. Students who can't control their powers?"
He gestured to the sports field. He pointed at the vastness of the field, but his eyes seem to focus on the scoreboard that have yet to clear their scores. Izuku glanced and saw his name at the very bottom. Aizawa continued.
"They break."
Erasure's capture weapon settled.
"This isn't a place for people who can't use their power properly. Your analytical skills are impressive, your determination is clear, but that won't be enough. Not here." His eyes narrowed. "Start working on that Quirk, Midoriya. The next test won't be a logical ruse."
The warning hung in the air between them, equal parts threat and challenge. Something in Erasure's tone suggested he knew more than he was saying about Izuku's situation.
"Yes, sir," Izuku managed, his throat dry.
Erasure turned away.
"Welcome to UA. Try to survive it."
MINUTES LATER…
When Izuku returned to the classroom, his classmates' animated chatter about Erasure died down. Their eyes turned to him, a mixture of curiosity and concern.
"What, did he actually decide to kick you out after all?" Bakugo's mocking tone cut through the silence. "Finally came to his senses?"
"N-no," Izuku replied weakly, bracing for the usual ridicule. But it never came.
"Of course not!" Mineta bounded over, purple balls bouncing. "Hey, show us more of those notes you took! The way you broke down everyone's Quirks was amazing!"
"Indeed!" Iida's hand chopped through the air enthusiastically. "Your analytical capabilities could be invaluable for our collective growth as heroes!"
The rest of the day passed in a blur of new experiences, each hour bringing something Izuku had only seen in UA promotional materials or dreamed about in his room.
This was the first day, so each hour with the teachers should've been just about an introduction to their courses. Instead, each introduction with their teachers included a glimpse into the lessons they were going to experience. With each rundown of the things they will learn throughout the year came with the encouragement to ask them anything they could think of at the moment, so the teachers would also know what the students would be expecting of them.
What an innovative way of teaching, thought Izuku, his own Quirk seemingly stirring with excitement. His mind already started racing across things he wanted to ask.
Present Mic burst into their English class with his signature "YEAH!", the volume making several students jump. His introductory lesson on hero communication wasn't just about grammar - it was about quick, clear instructions during crisis situations, about understanding international rescue protocols.
Midnight's summary of Modern Hero Art History turned out to be far more intense than anyone expected. She traced the evolution of hero costume design through the ages, explaining how each era's fashion reflected its approach to heroism. "Your costume isn't just for looks," she'd said, cracking her whip for emphasis. "It's a statement about what kind of hero you want to be."
Cementoss's Mathematics overview wasn't about simple equations either. He presented them with structural integrity problems, teaching them to calculate force distribution and impact angles. "Heroes need to know exactly how much force they can apply," he explained, demonstrating with his own Quirk. "One miscalculation could bring down an entire building."
Between classes, Izuku found himself surrounded by curious classmates - all impressed with ideas Izuku had come up with in his notes after just seeing them use their abilities in the physical exams that morning. Kaminari wanted to know more about his analysis of electrical Quirks. Jirou was impressed by his understanding of power output calculations.
Even Yaoyorozu stopped by his desk between classes, her usually composed demeanor showing genuine interest as she leaned over to study his notes.
"Your ideas about what other things I could create in mid-combat..." she mused, dark eyes scanning his diagrams. "I hadn't considered approaching it from that angle." A slight smile crossed her face. "Perhaps we could compare notes sometime?"
Izuku felt his face heat up at her proximity, very aware of her leaning over his desk. From the corner of his eye, he caught Uraraka watching them, her usual bright expression dimming slightly before Tsuyu drew her attention away with a quiet "Kero."
But none of these interactions carried the weight of that morning's assessment. The memory of Erasure's warning lingered beneath every moment, every new lesson. Izuku caught himself taking extra notes about control techniques, about precision and restraint. His Hero Journal gained new sections focused on Quirk regulation and safety protocols.
When the final bell rang, Izuku packed his bag in a daze. For the first time in years, he wasn't rushing to leave before Bakugo could catch him at the gate.
Izuku's phone buzzed just as students began filtering out of the classroom. Recognizing the caller ID, he quickly excused himself from his classmates as he talked to his mentor on his way down the main academy doors.
Izuku passed fellow students rushing to their evening classes or also about to go home. The young man relished the walk outside the building, as this was the very halls his idol walked during his younger years.
"Young Midoriya," Toshinori's voice carried its usual warmth. "How was your first day?"
"All Might!" Izuku lowered his voice, checking that no one was nearby. "It was... intense. Especially Aizawa-sensei. He threatened to expel the lowest scorer in our Quirk assessment test."
A wheezing laugh came through the phone. "Ah yes, his famous 'logical ruse.' He got me with that one too, back when I first started teaching here."
"You too?" Izuku couldn't help but smile, imagining even the Symbol of Peace falling for Erasure's trick.
"Don't let his demeanor fool you," Toshinori's voice grew more serious. "Aizawa may seem harsh, but he's one of the best teachers you could have for learning Quirk control. You're in good hands."
Izuku fidgeted with his bandaged arm. "When... when do we get to have you as a teacher?"
"Soon enough," Toshinori chuckled. "But for now, focus on surviving Aizawa's class. And Young Midoriya?"
"Yes?"
"I'm proud of you."
The warmth in those words stayed with Izuku long after he'd hung up.
"Midoriya-kun," Iida called as Midoriya headed toward the exit. "I noticed we take the same train line. Perhaps we could walk to the station together? It would be more efficient to establish a routine early in the semester."
"Oh! Yes, that would be nice," Izuku found himself saying, the words feeling foreign but right.
Bakugo passed them without a word, his usual aggressive stride carrying him ahead. Something in Izuku wanted to call out, to try one more time to bridge that childhood gap. But the ancient presence stirred, reminding him of years of torment, of pushed-down rage and helplessness.
No, Izuku realized. He's just a classmate now. Nothing more.
The setting sun painted the sky in shades of crimson, reflecting in the windows of UA's massive building. As Izuku watched, that familiar presence stirred within him, but differently this time.
Instead of the usual rage that burned like fire, he felt something wave through him - like a great paper fan pushing him up from his pit of despair.
This feeling... Izuku closed his eyes, letting the sensation wash over him. Like that fan - uchiwa... no, Uchiha...
The word echoed in his mind, and something ancient stirred in recognition, like a sleeping tiger shifting in its cave.
Uchiha.
"Midoriya-kun?" Iida's voice cut through his thoughts. "About the station?"
"Oh! Yes, sorry," Izuku shook off the strange moment, though the warmth lingered.
As they walked away from UA, Izuku felt that deep well of power pulse in response to the crimson sky, hungry and eager. But for once, he understood the feeling. Not a desire for vengeance or raw power, but something else - a burning need to prove himself, to grow stronger, to finally live the life he'd only dreamed of.
He was walking home as a UA student, as a future hero.
Not as Deku, but as Izuku. As himself.