Chapter 34: Enemy Attack
"Damn it, this type of bus ruins everything!"
Tenya Iida had envisioned a proper school bus with two rows of seats on each side, but U.A.'s bus was a city-style public transit one—two rows of seats along the walls, with a big open space for standing passengers.
Yoshikage Kira sat next to Izuku Midoriya, across from Iida, who was kneeling on the floor, tears streaming down his face.
Mina Ashido delivered a playful blow. "All that enthusiasm for nothing, huh?"
Tsuyu Asui suddenly turned to Midoriya, sitting beside her. "I'm the type who says whatever's on my mind, Midoriya-chan."
"Huh? Asui-san?!" Midoriya flustered at her casual address.
"Call me Tsu," she said, throwing a straight pitch. "Your Quirk's a lot like All Might's."
"I-Is that so?" Midoriya stammered. "But I… uh…"
"Wait, Tsu-chan, All Might doesn't get injured, right? It's only kinda similar," Eijiro Kirishima interjected, easing Midoriya's panic. He continued, "But a straightforward power-up Quirk like that's awesome. You can do some flashy stuff."
Kirishima flexed, activating his Hardening Quirk to make his arm rock-solid. "My Hardening's great against people, but it's kinda plain-looking."
"No way, I think it's cool!" Midoriya's eyes sparkled. "It's super popular even among pro heroes!"
Popular, huh?
Kira thought of a student from the entrance exam whose Quirk turned their body steel-like—probably from Class 1-B. He'd seen them in the cafeteria, getting scolded by a girl. Honestly, a Quirk like that was unremarkable. As a pro hero, it'd be relegated to grunt work—too weak for strong foes, overkill for small ones. Useful, but stuck as a lifelong laborer.
Kira didn't voice these harsh realities. Let society teach Kirishima that lesson when he stepped into the real world.
There were exceptions, though. Making a name as a student with heroic deeds could lead to fame as a pro… like Katsuki Bakugo.
Somehow, Bakugo and Denki Kaminari had started bickering. Though it was mutual, Kaminari's internet-honed snark left Bakugo on the defensive.
"Your personality's like dog crap in a gutter—everyone sees it before they even know you. Impressive."
"You bastard, what kind of metaphor is that? I'll kill you!" Bakugo roared.
Iida glanced at Kira, silently asking if they should intervene.
Kira shook his head. Even Aizawa, sitting up front, ignored them. Let them squabble. Besides, seeing the usually domineering Bakugo verbally pummeled was entertaining for Ochaco Uraraka and others. Why ruin their fun?
"You jerk!"
Just as Bakugo was about to explode, Aizawa stood.
"We're here. Get off."
Bakugo swallowed his anger. "If we're fighting later, you're dead!"
Kaminari didn't back down. "You think I care about your pathetic villain-style threats?"
Kira grabbed his bulky firefighter helmet and quietly distanced himself.
Enough already… stupidity's contagious.
"Wow, this is USJ?!"
At the entrance, the excited class gasped.
The Unforeseen Simulation Joint (USJ) was like a massive ecological park, the size of an amusement park. It housed six training zones: "Storm/Rain Zone," "Flood Zone," "Fire Zone," "Mountain Zone," "Landslide Zone," and "Collapse Zone"—a Utopian Shogai Jikoba for disaster simulations, nicknamed USJ.
"This is my training facility, designed for every possible accident and disaster," said a teacher in a bulky spacesuit, their voice crackling through a helmet's intercom, gender indistinguishable.
"Whoa, it's Space Hero: Thirteen, the super-active rescue hero!"
"My favorite, Thirteen!"
Thirteen was a crowd favorite. Uraraka nodded frantically, starstruck.
The number 13 was taboo in the West, symbolizing disaster and betrayal—Judas, who betrayed Jesus, was the 13th at the Last Supper. Yet this teacher chose it as their hero name, vowing to absorb all misfortune and disaster. Kira deeply respected them for it.
"All Might had a last-minute issue and might arrive later. Before we start…" Thirteen whispered with Aizawa, confirming details, then began the lesson.
"You've probably heard of me. My Quirk, Black Hole, can suck in and crush anything," they said. "It's invaluable for rescue, but it could easily kill someone. Some of you have Quirks like that, too."
The class fell silent, listening intently.
"In our 'superhuman' society, Quirk use is tightly regulated by licensing, but one misstep can kill. Many of you have such dangerous Quirks. Keep that in mind.
"From Aizawa's fitness tests, you've learned your power's potential. From All Might's combat training, you've felt how dangerous it can be against others.
"Today, shift your mindset. Learn to use your Quirks to save, not harm. Your powers exist to help others, not hurt them. I hope you'll understand that by the end of this lesson.
"Thank you for listening."
Thirteen gave a gentlemanly bow, concluding their speech.
The class erupted in awe. This was a pro hero's mindset—leagues above the irresponsible Aizawa! Some even thought about swapping teachers.
"Amazing!"
"Thirteen's the best!"
Kira stayed quiet. Though Thirteen's words weren't aimed at him, they weighed heavily. His firefighter suit, light as it was, felt crushing.
He'd chosen it for rescue, but his Quirks—Hamon and Killer Queen, borrowed from the murderer Yoshikage Kira—were made for killing. He hid them instinctively, fearing police questioning over every missing person case. All he wanted was a normal life, being a hero out of interest, not duty.
"I really don't deserve to be a hero…"
Aizawa, leaning against the wall, spoke up as Thirteen finished. "Alright, let's start with—"
His words cut off as the ceiling lights dimmed.
"Is Sensei doing a magic trick?!"
Kira, initially impressed, noticed Aizawa's grim expression. Following his gaze, Kira's sharp eyes caught a black, circular shadow at the central fountain, twisting like a portal to space.
A hand emerged. Then, a face appeared through the black mist, obscured by a hand covering it.
"Group up! Don't move!" Aizawa stepped in front, shielding the class. "Thirteen, protect the students!"
The black mist expanded into a wall-like portal, blocking the fountain.
One by one, figures emerged, dressed in bizarre outfits—not civilians, but… enemies!
"What's that?" Kirishima shaded his eyes like a monkey, peering at the group. "Another surprise test like the entrance exam?"
"Don't move!" Midoriya started forward, but Aizawa's shout stopped him. Unusually grave, Aizawa donned his goggles. "They're villains."