Standing outside the school gates, Kaito can't help but dread what's to come.
"Sigh... Let's just get this over with."
Picking up Zorua so she doesn't get lost in the crowd, he makes his way toward the gymnasium for the inauguration. Hatenna spectates from the space within his eyes Kaito labeled the "Inner World."
Quickly inspecting the seating chart outside the gym, he sees that he's listed last among the 30 students in his class.
Making it to his assigned seat, he puts Zorua on his lap and promptly falls asleep, still quite tired from the shenanigans with 'Tiger Bunny' and summoning Hatenna.
Meanwhile, Zorua sets up a simple illusion to make it seem as if he is paying attention.
After a while, Kaito feels a sting on his hand. Waking up, he sees Zorua nipping at his hand as she quickly explains herself.
'You weren't waking up, Kaito...'
Petting her head to show he doesn't mind, Kaito stands up while stretching.
"I guess I was more tired than I thought..."
Glancing at his soon-to-be classmates, he takes in their appearances — mainly noting their Quirks — as the few who meet his gaze quickly look away. His sharp stare, combined with his unusual eyes and above-average height, gives off an intimidating vibe.
'That kid's arms look like they're made of bark… I wonder if they'd grow back? His hair's producing bubbles — gives him kind of a funny look. Whoa, her skin's pink — and so is her hair… and does she have horns? Neat.'
Eventually, a middle-aged woman approaches their group.
'I guess she's our homeroom teacher. Looks friendly enough.'
Following the woman, their group makes their way into their classroom. Unsurprisingly, Kaito's seat is in the back row next to the window.
Sitting down, he tells Zorua:
"I'm counting on you."
He pets her head before going back to sleep.
She only scoffs in reply and remakes the illusion.
"Graves!"
He's woken up shortly before the teacher finishes explaining the rules.
Sitting up, he wipes a bit of drool from his mouth as a red mark is present on his forehead from where he was sleeping on the desk.
"...Yeah?"
The teacher shakes her head at him.
"Sigh... I was warned about your... wilful nature, but please pay attention."
The class snickers at him.
Kaito nods his head absentmindedly as he wonders how they realized he was sleeping. Glancing at the culprit sitting on the desk, he sees her smirking at him.
'Why you little...'
Leaning down toward Zorua, he whispers in her ear:
"We're increasing our training today."
This wipes the smirk off her mouth and plants a wide grin on Kaito's face.
Eventually, the teacher dismisses them — as it's the first day, there are no lessons.
The children form their little groups to get to know each other better. Kaito takes advantage of the fact they're on the first floor and opens the window, quickly jumping out of the classroom as his classmates look on in astonishment.
'I guess I'm adopting the 'bad boy' persona...'
Picking up Zorua from the ground, he starts running back toward the orphanage.
"We're reaching level 16 today! Hahaha!"
Zorua can only whine in protest.
Some time later...
Instead of heading through the front door, Kaito sneaks around toward the back, making his way into the usual training spot first.
"I need to test if I can fight with multiple Pokémon at the same time."
Releasing Hatenna, Kaito picks her up and holds her in front of him as she swings her feet in the air.
A small smile finds its way onto his face at the cute action.
"We'll catch up some more later. For now, let's do some testing."
After half an hour, he makes the conclusion:
"Moves only consume stamina when they're actually used, and having multiple Pokémon active doesn't drain me directly — it just means more moves being used, which uses more stamina overall."
Overall, Kaito is quite satisfied with his 'Quirk' so far. Compared to most people, it's well above average in utility and strength.
"Of course, it's nowhere near the level of All Might, but I'm still only level 15... So who knows what's in store for the future."
"There you are."
Turning around, he sees the caretaker with constantly changing eye color walking toward him.
"Miss Kirameki... What are you doing here?"
Over the two years he's spent in the orphanage, he's picked up on many strange things — especially how the director and caretaker treat him. They're far too lenient, letting him, a six-year-old, get away with things no other child could. And whenever he questions it, they dodge the topic entirely, making his suspicions grow by the day.
"Knowing you, I was confused you didn't rush back, so I figured you were already here. And it seems my guess was correct."
Kaito nods as Zorua and Hatenna continue training in the background, making him sweat at the nearly doubled training efficiency.
The caretaker glances at Hatenna and nods her head.
Kaito raises an eyebrow at the action, finding it completely out of character.
'Why does she seem so familiar with Hatenna...?'
"Anyway, come back when dinner is ready."
He doesn't respond and stares at her retreating back.
'Suspicious... Just you wait, I will figure you out.'
An excited grin finds its way onto his face.
Some time later...
As Kaito is eating his dinner along with Zorua and Hatenna, Miss Kirameki approaches him once again.
"You were curious about the sponsor of this orphanage, right?"
He nods and continues eating.
"He's supposed to arrive in twenty minutes. Now's your chance to meet him."
Done with what she wanted to say, she turns and leaves.
The children remain seated in the cafeteria, waiting for this person. As the twenty minutes pass, a boisterous laugh is heard on the other side of the door. As the door slams open, the owner of the voice presents himself.
"I am here! And I brought gifts!"
"All Might!" the children collectively shout as Kaito analyzes the number one hero.
"He looks even bigger in person... or is that because I'm just short?"
As All Might hands out the various gifts, he realizes he still has one left — yet everyone around him has already received theirs. Glancing around the cafeteria, he spots Kaito sitting alone at one of the back tables, with Zorua and Hatenna perched casually on the tabletop.
At All Might's approach, Hatenna quickly retreats into the Inner World, overwhelmed by his sheer charisma.
All Might greets him.
"Hello there, young Kaito! How are you doing?"
"You know me, sir?"
"Of course I do! I remember the names of everyone here."
Kaito smirks in amusement.
"That's a lot more than me."
"Haha! You jest, young Kaito!"
He gets up and bows toward All Might.
"Thank you for paying for my arm."
"You're very welcome. I'm glad it's treating you well!"
All Might lightly pats Kaito on the shoulder, making him sweat slightly.
'What kind of grip is that? I'd be pulverized from a single hit!'
"Here, this is for you."
The hero hands him a colorful gift box.
Opening it up, inside is a sports water bottle with an All Might design.
Kaito can't help but deadpan at the appearance.
"I've heard of your training from the director. It's important to stay hydrated!"
Even with the ridiculous design, he still likes the gift, so he bows his head.
"Thank you, sir."
All Might nods and shortly after takes his leave, as the children continue raving about meeting the number one hero.
Meanwhile, Kaito takes his new water bottle to the kitchen, where the staff fill it up for him, and makes his way outside to continue training.
The next morning...
Kaito, having arrived at the classroom early, is found sleeping at his desk — the result of slightly overdoing it. But his efforts weren't without merit: he'd reached level 16, and Zorua had learned the move Curse. After testing the move on himself, he realized it broke the current understanding of his Quirk.
Unlike the moves he'd used so far, Curse doesn't draw from both his and the Pokémon's stamina. Instead, it uses a significant amount of the Pokémon's energy alone, inflicting symptoms like headaches, vertigo, and full-body weakness on the target — something he very much did not enjoy.
Hatenna remains in the Inner World, shy as always, while Zorua sleeps beside him on the desk — just as tired.
He can't sleep for too long — the world has different plans for him. Waking him from his sleep is a cheerful voice next to him.
"Hey, I saw how you jumped out of the window yesterday! That was hilarious!"
Grumbling, Kaito turns his head and looks at the one who woke him, finding it to be the girl with pink skin and equally pink hair, out of which two yellow horns peek out — also noting how her sclera are completely black.
Keeping the annoyed expression on his face, he can't help but think:
'I wonder what her actual Quirk is?'
"Uhh... Thanks?"
Not minding his annoyed expression — or perhaps ignoring it completely — the girl continues.
"What's your name? Wanna be friends?"
Kaito feels a sense of déjà vu.
'It's like a second Itsuka... Their cheerfulness is certainly similar.'
"...Kaito. Kaito Graves."
Nodding her head, the girl reveals hers.
"I'm Mina Ashido! Do you want to be friends?"
He stares at her eyes for a while, hoping she'll get uncomfortable and walk away, but it doesn't get the desired result. Unwillingly, he answers.
"Sigh... Fine. Just let me sleep."
"Haha, you're funny, Kaito!"
Mina slaps his shoulder a few times before walking away.
Kaito watches her walk across the room to the seat closest to the front door, diagonally opposite his own, before laying his head back down on the desk.
He thinks back on Itsuka and the recently met 'Tiger Bunny.'
'Who knew I was so weak to headstrong individuals...?'
As the classroom fills up, he wakes up and rests his chin on his palm when the teacher walks in.
The teacher introduces himself and shortly after says what their first lesson will be.
"All right, students. Today we're going to learn how to write up to 10."
As the teacher finishes speaking, there's a loud bang at the back of the class. Everyone turns and sees Kaito's head planted on the desk, his arm still raised from where he was resting his chin on his palm.
'This is torture...'
The teacher checks their seating orders and reprimands him.
"Graves, pay attention!"
Knowing it's best to just get used to it, he reluctantly raises his head and replies.
"...I'm listening, teach."
The class chuckles.
The teacher shakes his head and turns to the board. Kaito turns as well, now looking out the window.
"Nine more years of this..."
Time seems to slow down as he ignores most of what's being said, answering only when called on.
Eventually, it's time for P.E.
"I guess this one's not so bad..."
The P.E. teacher seems to be a woman in her thirties, her Quirk giving her four arms — the extra two starting just below the original pair.
Kaito deadpans, not even bothering to make the obvious comparison.
Standing off to the side, he hears the teacher is organizing a game of tag or something. As the other children move to the football pitch, he approaches her.
"Excuse me, miss. Can I run laps instead?"
Turning back, she looks at him in confusion, before a hint of realization appears in her expression.
"You're Kaito, right? I was warned about you..."
The familiar words are starting to irritate him.
'Am I some gangster? Why is everyone getting 'warned' about me?'
Nodding his head, he confirms with a neutral expression.
"Yeah. So can I?"
After a bit of contemplation, she nods.
While the children play tag, he runs laps around the pitch on the running track. After a full lap, a familiar girl joins him.
"Hey! What are you doing?"
He gives Mina a sideways glance, before turning forward.
"I'm training."
"For what?"
"To become a hero."
"Really? Let me join you!"
Kaito glances at her once again.
'It really is Itsuka 2.0...'