[U.A. Academy Institute – Open Sports Field]
"Q-Quirk Apprehension Test?!"
Everyone's shock echoed across the wide, open field of U.A.
Dressed in their U.A.'s official gym uniforms, the students stood confused—uncertain, even—as all of them had almost no clue what the purpose of this sudden test...
"B-but Sensei—!" Ochako called out, stepping forward with her hand raised. "W-what about the entrance ceremony...? O-or even the orientation...?!"
It finally hit them: they weren't going to attend either.
Innitially, they were to wait for their homeroom teacher's arrival, who would then escort them to U.A.'s auditorium for the scheduled event.
But Aizawa-sensei had shown up late—so late, it felt deliberate...
As if he'd purposely avoided the whole thing altogether.
"If you aspire to become a hero," Aizawa-sensei answered flatly, "you don't have time to waste on leisurely events."
Ochako and a few others were taken aback by his bluntness; his words brought uncertainty to all of them...!
"One of U.A.'s biggest selling points is its 'unrestricted' education system," he continued, giving them a disinterested glance, "and that principle also applies to how each teacher runs their class."
He then rummaged through his jacket... before pulling out his phone.
"You've all done these tests since elementary school, right?"
He held out his phone's screen, displaying a familiar set of activities:
o 50-Meter Dash
o Standing Long Jump
o Repeated Side Steps
o Grip Strength
o Seated Toe-Touch
o Upper Body Training
o Softball Throwing
o Endurance Run
"...The standard 'No-Quirks Allowed' gym tests."
The students exchanged glances, somewhat dumbfounded. A few still managed a weak nod, though even then, they weren't exactly sure what his intention was.
"Our country still uses averages based on results taken without Quirks' factor—and frankly? It's not rational," he complained, letting out a tired sigh, "well... it's pretty clear our Department of Education's just procrastinating their job."
He then directed his exhausted gaze toward Katsuki.
"Oi, Bakugou."
"...What?"
"You were ranked first in the practical exam, right?"
"Yeah, I was..."
That revelation stirred a small wave of surprise among the group.
No one really expected the brash, violent-looking blonde to have come out on top in that infamous faux villain-bot hunting.
"In that case... you're going to demonstrate for the rest of the class," Aizawa-sensei decided, before pulling out what looked like a softball—
Except it was a bit bulkier and even mechanical in design...
He tossed it toward Katsuki, which she caught with ease.
"How far was your softball throw back in high school?"
"...70 meters."
"Without Quirk, right?"
"Yeah?"
"Then now... try throwing it using your Quirk."
At that moment, the class finally began to piece it together—a glimpse of the bigger picture.
Katsuki let out a short chortle; a small grin formed on her lips as she stepped out into the designated throwing zone.
She rolled her shoulders once, then again... stretching her right arm and trying to get a good feeling for it...
"Well, then..."
Her hand sparked...! A low, sharp crack of ignition echoed as she pulled her arm back...!
And with one explosive twist of her hips, she hurled the ball forward—!
BOOM—!
Explosion erupted from her hand as she threw the ball—!
The softball was rocketed through the air like a cannon shell—! Streaking across the sky before landing at the far end of U.A.'s massive field...!
"Whoah—!!!"
Chorus of collective gasp exploded from her classmates!
It was an eye-opening sight for many of them—witnessing just what could be achieved with these tests when you were allowed to use Quirks...!
"Wow~! That was awesome!" Izuku cheered, waving his arms in excitement at his childhood friend's feat. "Way to go, Kacchan~!"
Katsuki turned toward him, a satisfied smile on her face… with faint streaks of blush creeping across her cheeks.
"Heh, I'm the best after all, Izuku~," she shot back, her smile curling into a prideful grin.
But unbeknownst to her...
"...Woah..."
"...Is that her real character?"
"She's not as scary as I thought…"
Her genuine happiness—accompanied with a surprisingly beautiful expression—shifted how the class saw her.
From villainous-looking delinquent...
'...Cute!'
To tomboyish maiden (in love).
But of course, they weren't here to witness a romcom—
"Don't get distracted, you darn irrational brats. You're not here to just gawk," Aizawa-sensei caught their attention again with a sharp tone, "you're here to test your mettle."
He turned toward them, holding out his phone's screen—
'705.2 m.'
The distance of her Quirk-powered softball throw...!
"Woah!!!"
"That much?!
Even if their teacher warned them to stay focused, they couldn't help but gape at the absurd number.
"Allowing the usage of your Quirk and finding out your maximum limit..." Aizawa muttered, tucking the phone back into his pocket, "this is the most rational way to form the foundation of a hero."
The weight of his words finally settled into them... but they all realized that this...
This was the freedom they could finally indulge as aspiring heroes...!
"700 meters...? Seriously...?" One blonde male student commented in astonishment.
"What's this? It looks fun~!" Another student—a young woman that was wholly pink from her hair to her skin—bounced in excitement.
"We can really use our Quirks as much as we want...?" Another black-haired male student remarked with a grin, "As expected from the Hero Major!"
Their sudden shift in attitude was clear as day—their excitement now brimming with overconfidence!
But...
It was a foolish confidence.
"'It looks fun,' huh?" Aizawa echoed flatly, his tone cutting through the buzz like a cold wind...!
He let out another sigh...
However, it was the kind of sigh that sounded less tired and more...
Disappointed.
"You're not here to enjoy leisure time as 'fresh out of high school kids'..."
His dull gaze swept across them, sharp in its disinterest.
"...Nor are you 'out-of-control college freshmen' just looking for a wild ride."
His reminder cast a heavier silence over their halted excitement... and he wasn't over yet.
"You have three years to become pro-heroes... three years to prove you're not just wasting space in this institute."
That thought alone was even more sobering than the scolding itself.
"So, I wonder..." he continued regardless, his voice lowering. "...Will you still hold that same attitude when it's all over?"
A beat of silence.
No one could answer him—they stood not only in stunned silence, but some even in shame.
"...Alright, here's the deal."
Aizawa-sensei reclaimed their attention once more... his eyes held a hidden glee—
"Whoever comes in last place across all eight tests... will be judged to have 'no potential' as a hero, and thus—"
And his mouth... turned into a grin.
"—They will be expelled."
"WHAAAA—?!"
Eyes widened and mouths hung agape—they were all shocked to the core...!
Their reactions, however... only made his grin widen.
"Like I said before: we U.A. teachers are given unrestricted authority in how we run our classes. Which means... we're free to take any measure we deem necessary to nurture a proper hero."
"W-w-wait!" Ochako suddenly blurted, trembling in fear! "S-sensei! It's only our first day! Isn't that... like, totally unfair?!?"
Aizawa's eyes narrowed, startling the poor girl...!
"Unfair, huh? Natural disasters, big accidents... rampaging villains—calamity is always just around the corner."
His tone was ever sharp, cutting through the air once more...!
"The world is full of unfairness, kid. You think villains are going to give you a handicap because you're new? Heroes are the ones who correct that imbalance—heroes are the ones who stand tall... no matter how unfair the world is."
He let the words hang... letting them suffocate in this undeniable truth.
"...That's why here, at U.A., we'll throw you into the ringer. Again and again. Break you down, force you to rise, until you either make it as heroes..." he continued, pausing to make them understand, "...or you don't make it at all."
And with a final decree, his grin returned as feral and sharp as before—
"So... 'Go beyond. Plus Ultra.' Overcome it all... with everything you've got~."