"Today's training will be a little different."
The simple announcement immediately stirred the classroom. Low murmurs spread from desk to desk as students glanced around at one another, trying to guess what Aizawa meant this time. A few leaned back in their chairs, whispering theories, while others looked toward the front with cautious curiosity.
Aizawa stood at the front of the room, arms folded inside his capture weapon scarf, his usual tired gaze sweeping across the class.
"There will be three faculty members supervising today," he continued. "Me, All Might, and a third teacher."
The reaction was immediate.
The quiet whispers turned into louder chatter, several students straightening in surprise. Three teachers? That alone meant this wasn't going to be a normal exercise.
One voice managed to rise clearly above the noise.
"Sir, what kind of training is this?" Hanta Sero asked, raising his hand.
Aizawa looked at him for a moment before answering plainly.
"Rescue training."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It turned out to be exactly what it sounded like.
Natural disasters. Flooded areas. Mountains, rivers, shipwrecks—simulated environments designed to test how well heroes could adapt when civilians were in danger.
In other words, situations where raw combat ability wasn't enough.
A sharp whistle suddenly cut through the buzz of conversation.
"Everyone! Use your student numbers to form two neat lines so we can board the bus efficiently and quickly!"
Rei glanced toward the source of the voice and immediately spotted Iida near the front of the bus, standing straight with his usual rigid posture. His arms moved in quick, precise chops as he directed the flow of students like a traffic officer.
'Back at it again,' Rei thought, watching the orderly chaos unfold.
Even though Iida technically wasn't the class representative, he still carried himself like one.
'Not that I'm complaining,' Rei admitted silently. 'That leaves me with fewer things to worry about.'
Some students groaned, others rolled their eyes, but they followed the instructions anyway. The class slowly organized itself into two lines, shuffling forward toward the waiting bus outside.
One by one, they climbed aboard, the quiet hum of anticipation building as the doors finally closed behind them.
"There's something I've been meaning to say," Tsuyu began suddenly, her calm voice cutting through the quiet chatter of the bus. "About you, actually."
She turned her head slightly, looking at Midoriya in the seat beside her.
"Me!?" Midoriya nearly jumped. "What is it, Asui?"
Tsuyu's eyes half-lidded as usual. "I told you to call me Tsu."
She didn't dwell on it long, continuing in the same matter-of-fact tone.
"About your power… it's a lot like All Might's."
Midoriya froze.
For a split second his brain seemed to shut down completely before panic flooded in all at once.
"Wha—!? N-no, that's crazy!" he blurted, face instantly turning red. "I mean— I've never really thought about that! Not at all! Totally different, probably! Haha!"
He laughed nervously, words tumbling over each other as he waved his hands in frantic denial.
Across the aisle, Rei leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the seat in front of him.
"I'd figure Deku would be the first person to think that," he said thoughtfully.
Midoriya looked seconds away from mentally collapsing on the spot, but before he could spiral any further, Kirishima leaned into the conversation.
"But hold on, Tsu," he said, raising a hand. "Did you forget that All Might doesn't hurt himself when he uses his power? That's a pretty big difference."
"There can also be a lot of quirks based around the same concept," Rei added calmly. "Different mechanics, same idea."
"Yeah!" Kaminari chimed in from nearby. "There are like a hundred heroes with fire quirks."
"Still," Kirishima continued, smiling as he raised his hand. His skin hardened instantly, the rocky texture spreading over his arm. "It's kinda cool having a simple enhancement-type quirk, Midoriya. You can do a lot of flashy stuff with it."
He flexed his hardened fingers slightly.
"My hardening quirk is great for beating up bad guys, sure, but it doesn't really look all that flashy…"
Midoriya immediately brightened, leaning forward with excitement.
"Are you kidding!? Your quirk is amazing, Kirishima! The durability, the close-combat potential—"
As Midoriya launched into enthusiastic praise, Rei leaned back into his seat, letting the conversation continue around him.
His gaze drifted upward to the bus ceiling.
'Flashy, huh…'
Ghostly hands flickered briefly in his mind. Striking, grabbing, shattering targets during training.
'Is Ghost Hands even that flashy?'
Sure, the quirk could look impressive. Multiple spectral arms appearing out of nowhere would definitely turn heads.
But compared to explosions… or a half-building of ice…
'It's still not enough… yet.'
"If anyone here has a real pro-material quirk," Kirishima said, gesturing toward the back of the bus, "it's probably Todoroki and Bakugo."
He nodded toward the two.
Bakugo let out a sharp tch, looking away toward the window while Todoroki remained as unreadable as ever.
"Sure," Tsuyu said calmly, "but Bakugo's always angry, so he'll never be that popular."
There was a brief pause.
Then Bakugo exploded out of his seat.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" he roared, sparks crackling in his palm. "I'LL KICK YOUR ASS!"
"You know," Kaminari added with a smug grin, "we basically just met you, so it's telling that we all know your personality is flaming crap mixed with hot garbage."
Bakugo's head snapped toward him instantly.
"I'LL MAKE YOU REGRET THE DAY YOU APPLIED TO THIS SCHOOL, YOU LOSER!!"
After a moment-too-long of shouting, arguing, and threats flying across the bus, a gruff voice finally cut through the chaos.
"Stop messing around, everyone. We're here."
The entire bus quieted almost instantly.
Through the windows, the students could see the massive structure looming outside. The facility looked enormous even from a distance — a huge metal dome lined with tall windows and a wide, reinforced entrance that made the building feel more like a stadium than a training center.
Rei leaned slightly toward the window, resting his elbow against the seat as he looked out.
That's… bigger than I expected.
The bus doors hissed open and the class began filing out.
Waiting for them near the entrance stood someone in a bulky white spacesuit, big gloves and a glass helmet with big white pupils. It was a strange sight under the bright daylight.
"Hello everyone! I've been waiting for you," the suited figure greeted them warmly.
Even with the helmet, several students immediately recognized them.
"It's the chivalrous pro hero who's rescued countless people!"
"Thirteen!"
"Thirteen's one of my favorite heroes!"
Excited chatter spread through the group as they gathered in front of the facility. Rei folded his arms loosely as he listened, watching the enthusiastic reactions around him.
'The Space Hero…'
He'd heard about them before, of course. A rescue specialist with one of the most dangerous quirks in the world, who used it almost entirely to save people instead of fight.
'Fitting teacher for rescue training.'
Thirteen gestured toward the massive structure behind them.
"This facility is called the Unforeseen Simulation Joint, or USJ for short. Inside, we've created many different environments meant to simulate real disaster scenarios."
As the doors opened and the class stepped inside, several students immediately gasped.
The inside was even larger than it looked from outside.
Artificial cities, rivers, mountains, and ruined structures stretched across the enormous interior space, each zone carefully constructed to mimic different emergency situations.
"Classic U.A.," Rei murmured, his eyes slowly scanning across the sprawling training grounds. "The scale of this place is impressive."
"I know, right?"
Rei blinked and turned his head.
Mina Ashido stood beside him, practically glowing with excitement as she looked out across the massive facility.
"It must've taken forever to build something like this!"
Rei rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "I didn't realize I was talking out loud."
Mina giggled before stepping past him, eager to get closer to the front where Thirteen and Aizawa stood.
Rei followed at a slower pace, his attention shifting toward the two pro heroes. They appeared to be in a quiet discussion, though it didn't last long.
Still, something caught his eye.
Aizawa's expression.
Or more specifically, his lack of one. But there was a subtle tension in his posture, something just slightly off.
'He's not happy…'
Rei glanced around briefly, 'All Might isn't here yet… that's probably why.' He shrugged internally.
Aizawa eventually stepped aside, allowing Thirteen to address the class again.
The Space Hero lifted a gloved hand slightly as they began speaking about the true nature of quirks. Not just their heroic uses, but their potential dangers and how easily powers meant to help could also harm or even kill if used carelessly.
Rei listened quietly, arms folded.
It was definitely a speech that felt heavier than most.
Finally, Thirteen finished.
"That's all I have to say. Thank you so much for listening."
The class responded with cheerful applause and excited chatter.
Right on cue, Aizawa stepped forward again.
"Right, now that that's over-"
Suddenly-
Every light inside the USJ shut off at once.
Rows upon rows of bright lamps lining the walls flickered out simultaneously, plunging the enormous facility into an uneasy dimness.
The cheers died instantly. Students looked around, confusion quickly giving way to nervous murmurs.
Rei's eyes narrowed slightly as he scanned the suddenly dim interior.
"Is this… part of the simulation?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Something about the situation didn't feel right.
As Aizawa turned toward the plaza below, his gaze caught something that immediately set off alarms in his mind.
Something that definitely wasn't part of the lesson plan.
Right in front of the large fountain at the center of the plaza, space itself seemed to twist and swirl inward, forming a dense purple vortex.
A portal.
Before anyone could properly process what they were seeing, the vortex suddenly expanded, spreading outward like a flame catching dry wood. Within the swirling darkness, two faint yellow eyes flickered into view for a brief moment.
Then figures began stepping through, one after another.
Villains.
Aizawa's eyes widened for only a fraction of a second before he spun back toward the class.
"Everyone, stay together and don't move!"
His voice cut sharply through the rising panic.
"Thirteen, protect the students," he added, already pulling on his yellow goggles.
Below them, the villains continued emerging from the portal, their silhouettes spreading across the plaza.
Kirishima squinted down at the scene, confusion written all over his face.
"Wait… has the training already started?" he asked. "I thought this was supposed to be rescue practice…"
Midoriya instinctively took half a step forward, trying to see better-
"Stay back!"
Aizawa's voice snapped like a whip.
He adjusted his goggles, his posture shifting into that familiar combat-ready stance.
"This is real," he said firmly. "Those are villains."
The words hit the class like a shockwave.
Expressions across the group shifted from curiosity… to disbelief… to outright shock.
"Villains? Here?" Rei blinked, staring down toward the plaza.
'No way… this isn't some exercise…'
Below them, one of the figures stepped forward slightly.
The villain's body looked warped, like living fog. His voice echoed strangely as he spoke.
"Perplexing… according to the schedule we received from U.A., All Might should be here as well."
Rei's eyes narrowed.
'Schedule…? They knew about this training?'
'Maybe that voice is coming from… the portal itself…?'
Aizawa took a step forward, his capture weapon scarf beginning to unwind around his shoulders.
"So you scumbags used the press as a cover to sneak onto campus."
Another villain stepped forward from the group.
This one was far more unsettling.
A young man with pale blue hair… and hands. Pale, gray hands attached everywhere—one covering his entire face, others gripping his neck, shoulders, and arms like grotesque decorations.
He tilted his head slightly as he walked.
"Where is he…?" the man muttered, his voice scratching at the air like dry paper.
"I even went through all the trouble of bringing along so many friends eager to meet him."
He spread his arms slightly toward the dozens of villains now pouring into the plaza.
"The Symbol of Peace."
Behind him, tens of villains began advancing toward the stairs.
Some looked like ordinary thugs.
Others… far worse.
Kirishima stared in disbelief.
"Villains? No way… How could this many break into a place like U.A.?"
"Shouldn't the alarms be going off?" Momo asked, stepping forward anxiously.
Aizawa didn't turn back.
"Thirteen, get them out of here," he said as he began walking toward the stairway.
"And alert the main campus."
Rei pondered for a moment, "But if the alarms aren't going off, then they're probably also jamming the signal."
"Kaminari," Aizawa turned, "Try using your quirk to contact them."
"Yes, sir."
Kaminari gave a firm nod and reached for the device covering his ear, but before anyone could move, Midoriya suddenly spoke up.
"Wait!" he blurted, stepping forward slightly. "What are you going to do? You can't fight them on your own! Your fighting style isn't suited for that kind of combat and there are too many of them!"
Aizawa didn't stop walking.
He simply glanced back over his shoulder as he continued toward the stairs leading down to the plaza.
"You can't be a pro hero if you only have one trick," he said flatly.
His capture scarf coiled loosely around his neck as he descended.
"I'll leave the rest to you, Thirteen."
Then, without hesitation, he leapt.
Aizawa dropped down into the plaza below, landing among the approaching villains as his scarf snapped outward like a living weapon.
"Everyone, let's go," Thirteen urged, motioning the class toward the exit route. "If Aizawa can hold them back, then we can-"
The students suddenly froze.
Right in front of them-
The same swirling purple mist from earlier began to gather again, twisting into a humanoid shape.
The fog condensed slowly, until that warped figure stood directly in their path.
"There is no escape for you…" the distorted voice echoed.
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
"We are the League of Villains."
Thirteen immediately stepped in front of several students, raising a gloved hand defensively.
The mist-creature tilted its head slightly.
"I know it's impolite," it continued, "but we decided to invite ourselves into this haven of justice to say hello."
The dark purple fog drifted closer, creeping along the ground like living smoke.
"I do believe All Might, the Symbol of Peace, was supposed to be here?"
Rei's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the strange figure.
'All Might… out of all the reasons… you chose him?'
His arms folded instinctively.
'These people have a death wish…'
A brief pause.
'Unless… they have some sort of trump card against him.'
"Ah, well," the villain continued calmly, "I suppose in the end it doesn't matter."
The mist spread outward from its arms, expanding like a dark cloud.
"I still have a role to fulfill."
Before anyone could react-
Two figures shot forward.
"Let's smash through him!" Kirishima shouted.
"Move!" Bakugo barked.
Bakugo's palm ignited with a massive explosion, the blast ripping straight into the purple fog where the villain had been standing.
The shockwave echoed through the chamber.
Students leaned forward instinctively, eyes locked on the dissipating smoke.
"Did you think we were just gonna sit back and watch you tear this place to shreds?" Kirishima grinned confidently.
For a moment, it looked like their attack might have worked.
Then the smoke parted.
And the purple mist reformed.
"You live up to your school's reputation…" the villain's voice echoed again.
Before anyone could react, the mist suddenly surged outward.
It swallowed the group instantly.
Cold, thick fog wrapped around them, filling their vision.
Rei barely had time to react before the world disappeared into darkness.
For a moment...
Everything went black.