The moment Aizawa-sensei introduced himself as our homeroom teacher, the entire class was stunned. The air in the room grew heavy with disbelief as everyone exchanged confused glances. His disheveled appearance—unkempt hair, a scruffy beard, and tired eyes—was a far cry from the image of a pro hero. He looked more like someone who had just rolled out of bed than a teacher at the most prestigious hero academy in the country.
"Is he really a pro hero?" someone whispered, their voice barely audible.
"I've never heard of him," another muttered, their tone skeptical.
Aizawa ignored the murmurs, his expression as bored as ever. He reached into his yellow sleeping bag and pulled out a stack of gym uniforms. "Put these on and head to the grounds," he said, his voice monotone but carrying an undeniable authority. "Don't waste my time."
As we filed out of the classroom and into the changing rooms, I couldn't help but notice that one familiar face was missing from the class—Mineta Minoru. I wasn't surprised, though. His absence was probably for the best.
Meanwhile, in the teachers' lounge, All Might was sat down nervously. His massive frame seemed to fill the room as he muttered to himself, his voice low and anxious. "Aizawa's methods are… unconventional," he said, running a hand through his blond hair. "I hope young Midoriya can handle it."
UA wasn't like other schools. Teachers had the freedom to run their classes however they saw fit, and Aizawa was known for his brutal, no-nonsense approach. All Might could only hope that Midoriya's determination would see him through.
We gathered on the UA sports grounds, a sprawling, state-of-the-art facility that seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction. The track was a vivid shade of red, its surface pristine and unmarked. The grass was a lush green, perfectly manicured, and the equipment looked brand new, gleaming under the morning sun. The sheer scale of the place was overwhelming, and it was easy to feel small standing there.
Aizawa stood in front of us, his hands in his pockets and his posture slouched. His dark eyes scanned the class, and for a moment, I felt like he was looking straight through me. "You've been taking standardized tests your whole lives, right?" he began, his voice cutting through the crisp morning air. "But today, we're going to take the same tests—using your Quirks."
The class erupted in excited murmurs. Finally, a chance to show off what we could do! The energy in the air was electric, and I could feel the anticipation building.
Aizawa continued, his voice sharp and unyielding. "You've never been allowed to use your Quirks for anything other than training before, have you? I guess the Ministry of Education will learn something today. Anyway, it's better to show you than explain."
He turned to me, his dark eyes locking onto mine. "Kuroda, you scored the highest on the entrance exam, right?"
I nodded, stepping forward. "Yes, sir."
He tossed me a softball, its white surface gleaming in the sunlight. "What was your best score in the softball throw in middle school?"
"Around 65 meters," I replied, catching the ball with ease.
Aizawa gestured to the circle painted on the ground. "Now throw it using your Quirk. Do whatever you want, as long as you stay in the circle."
As I stepped into the circle, a notification from the System popped up in my mind:
Mission: Pass Aizawa's Test
Rewards: Determined by your ranking in the test.
Punishment: Expulsion from UA.
I gripped the softball tightly, my mind racing. This was my chance to make an impression, but I couldn't go all out. There were more tests coming, and I needed to conserve my energy. I focused on channeling a controlled amount of Ki into the ball, letting it flow through my fingers as I swung my arm.
The moment I released the ball, a faint white energy trailed from my fingertips, visible to everyone watching. The ball shot through the air like a rocket, climbing higher and higher until it disappeared from sight. A few seconds later, it landed with a distant thud.
Aizawa checked the measurement on his phone and held it up for everyone to see. "450 meters."
The class erupted in cheers and excited chatter. "That's insane!" Kirishima shouted, his spiky red hair bouncing as he pumped his fist in the air.
"I didn't even see the ball after a while!" Kaminari added, his eyes wide with amazement.
I stepped back, feeling a small sense of satisfaction. My Strength stat (35) combined with my Ki had achieved that result. Not bad for a warm-up.
Aizawa's voice cut through the excitement, his tone sharp and serious. "You think this is fun?" he said, a smirk playing on his lips. "Today, we'll conduct a series of eight tests to determine your potential. The student with the lowest combined score will be expelled from UA."
The class fell silent, the excitement replaced by tension and disbelief. Uraraka was the first to speak up, her voice trembling with indignation. "That's not fair! We worked hard to get into UA. You can't just expel us!"
Aizawa's eyes narrowed, and his voice took on a steely edge. "UA doesn't follow a standard curriculum. Teachers have the freedom to run their classes however they see fit. More importantly, the world is full of unfairness. It's a hero's job to combat that unfairness. Show me what you've got, and prove you deserve to be here."
No one could argue with that. Some students, like Bakugo, looked confident, and their competitive spirits ignited. Others seemed excited, eager to show off their Quirks. But I noticed Midoriya standing off to the side, his face pale and his hands trembling. I knew why—his Quirk was still unstable, and the pressure was getting to him.
Aizawa's test had begun.