The written exam had been laughably easy – at least for someone who had spent years teaching himself advanced subjects out of necessity. While other students chewed their pencils and stared at questions about hero law and rescue protocols, Ryu methodically worked through each problem with the precision of a machine. Physics, mathematics, ethics, legal frameworks – all of it felt like child's play compared to the real-world challenges he'd faced.
*Too simple,* he thought, setting his pencil down with fifteen minutes still remaining on the clock. *They're testing for basic competency, not actual intelligence.*
The practical exam, however, would be a different story entirely.
---
"BEGIN!"
Present Mic's voice boomed across the mock city as massive gates swung open, releasing a flood of eager students into the urban battlefield. Three-pointer robots emerged from buildings like mechanical predators, their red sensors sweeping for targets as examinees rushed forward with Quirks blazing.
Ryu hung back for a moment, analyzing the chaos with cold calculation. While others charged headlong into combat, he studied the robots' movement patterns, noting weak points and behavioral algorithms. These machines were impressive, but they were still just machines – predictable, limited by their programming.
A two-pointer robot rounded the corner, its sensors locking onto him immediately. Instead of meeting it head-on like the other students, Ryu sprinted toward the nearest building, leaping and grabbing onto a fire escape ladder. The robot followed, its bulky frame struggling to navigate the narrow alley.
"Target acquired," the machine announced in its synthesized voice. "Initiating capture protocol."
Ryu climbed higher, the robot extending its arm mechanisms to reach him. At the precise moment it overextended, he dropped down behind it, landing silently on the machine's back. His fingers found the maintenance panel, and with a few quick movements, he exposed the primary control cables.
"Sorry about this," he muttered, yanking the cables free in a specific sequence. The robot froze mid-motion, its systems shutting down with a mechanical whine.
*One down.*
He repeated this process methodically – using the environment to his advantage, exploiting the robots' programming limitations, disabling them with surgical precision rather than brute force. While other students destroyed their targets in spectacular displays of power, Ryu dismantled his with the quiet efficiency of someone who understood that sometimes the best victories were the ones nobody noticed.
A scream caught his attention.
Across the street, he spotted Itsuka Kendo trapped beneath a collapsed section of building debris, a three-pointer robot advancing on her position. Her usual confident demeanor was replaced by genuine fear as she struggled to free herself.
"No, no, no!" she gasped, pushing against the concrete slab pinning her leg. "Come on, move!"
The robot's sensors locked onto her. "Target immobilized. Initiating capture sequence."
Ryu was moving before he'd consciously decided to act. He vaulted over a pile of rubble, sliding beneath the robot's first sweeping attack, and grabbed onto its rear maintenance panel. This time, instead of methodically disabling the machine, he simply ripped out every cable he could reach.
The robot collapsed in a shower of sparks.
"Kendo!" Ryu called, rushing to her side. "Are you hurt?"
"My leg's pinned, but I think it's just bruised," she replied, wincing as she tried to shift position. "I can't get enough leverage to lift this thing."
Ryu examined the concrete slab, calculating angles and weight distribution. "On three, I'm going to lift. You pull yourself out, okay?"
"But it's too heavy for one person—"
"Trust me. One... two... three!"
Using a combination of leverage and precise positioning, Ryu managed to shift the slab just enough for Itsuka to pull her leg free. She scrambled clear, testing her weight gingerly.
"You saved me," she said, looking at him with something approaching awe. "Thank you, Sato."
Before Ryu could respond, the ground began to tremble. A massive shadow fell across the mock city as something enormous emerged from the central building – a robot easily ten times the size of the others, with glowing red eyes and enough firepower to level city blocks.
"What the hell is that thing?!" someone screamed in the distance.
Students scattered in panic as the zero-pointer robot began its rampage, destroying everything in its path with casual indifference. Ryu watched the chaos unfold, noting how quickly the confident examinees became terrified children when faced with something beyond their ability to fight.
That's when he saw him – a green-haired boy charging directly at the massive robot, tears streaming down his face as he screamed something about someone named Uraraka. The kid was completely powerless, just like Ryu, but he was throwing himself into certain death anyway.
*Idiot,* Ryu thought. *Brave, self-sacrificing idiot.*
The boy's fist connected with the robot in an explosion of green energy that lit up the entire mock city. The zero-pointer's head crumpled like paper, its massive frame toppling backward as the boy who had destroyed it plummeted toward the concrete below.
Ryu was already running.
He leaped from building to building, using fire escapes and window ledges to gain altitude, calculating trajectory and timing with desperate precision. The green-haired boy was falling fast, unconscious and completely helpless.
At the last possible second, Ryu caught him.
They tumbled together across a rooftop, Ryu absorbing most of the impact as they rolled to a stop. The boy was breathing but unconscious, his right arm twisted at an unnatural angle.
"Holy shit," Itsuka's voice came from behind him. She had somehow climbed up to the rooftop, her face pale with shock. "You actually caught him. That was incredible!"
"Is he alive?" Ryu asked, checking the boy's pulse.
"Yeah, but his arm is definitely broken. Probably his legs too." She knelt beside them, her expression serious. "You know, saving people like this – it'll get you rescue points. The practical exam isn't just about destroying robots."
Ryu looked up at her, something resembling a genuine smile crossing his face for the first time all day. "Good to know."
---
Three hours later, the practical exam was officially over. Students streamed out of the mock city in various states of exhaustion, some celebrating their performances while others worried they hadn't done enough. Ryu waited until the crowd had thinned before making his move.
While the other examinees headed toward the main exit, he slipped away from the group, following maintenance corridors and service passages he'd memorized during his earlier reconnaissance. Security would be focused on the departing students, not on potential infiltrators moving deeper into the building.
The student records office was located on the third floor of the administrative wing. Ryu had studied the building's layout extensively, and he knew that most of the staff would be in meetings, discussing the day's results and preparing preliminary evaluations.
The hallway was empty when he reached it, just as he'd expected. The door to the records office was locked, but Ryu had anticipated that too. A few seconds with his homemade scanning device, and the electronic lock clicked open.
Inside, rows of computers hummed quietly, their screens displaying the U.A. logo screensaver. Ryu chose a terminal in the back corner, away from the windows, and settled into the chair with practiced calm.
"Let's see what they really think of me," he murmured, pulling out his phone and connecting it to the computer via a nearly invisible cable.
His custom software went to work immediately, bypassing security protocols and authentication systems with elegant efficiency. Within minutes, he had access to the preliminary exam results database.
His own file appeared on screen, and Ryu's eyes narrowed as he read through the details:
**APPLICANT: Sato, Ryu**
**WRITTEN EXAM SCORE: 98/100**
**PRACTICAL EXAM - Combat Points: 12**
**PRACTICAL EXAM - Rescue Points: 15**
**TOTAL SCORE: 125/200**
**STATUS: ACCEPTED**
**ASSIGNED CLASS: 1-C (General Studies)**
**NOTES: High academic performance. Unusual combat methodology. No registered Quirk. Recommend general studies placement pending further evaluation.**
"Class C?" Ryu said aloud, his voice tight with controlled anger. "General Studies?"
He'd passed the exam – that much was clear. His combined score was higher than many students who would be placed in the hero course. But because he didn't have a Quirk registered in the system, they were shuffling him off to the general studies track like some kind of consolation prize.
Before making any changes, curiosity got the better of him. He searched for another name in the database.
**APPLICANT: Kendo, Itsuka**
**WRITTEN EXAM SCORE: 85/100**
**PRACTICAL EXAM - Combat Points: 18**
**PRACTICAL EXAM - Rescue Points: 12**
**TOTAL SCORE: 115/200**
**STATUS: ACCEPTED**
**ASSIGNED CLASS: 1-B (Hero Course)**
**NOTES: Strong leadership potential. Effective use of enhancement-type Quirk. Recommended for hero course placement.**
"So she made it to the hero course," he murmured with genuine satisfaction. "Good for her."
Itsuka deserved her spot – she had the heart of a true hero and the skills to back it up. But it stung to see that even with a lower total score, her registered Quirk automatically qualified her for the hero track while his superior performance was dismissed.
*We'll see about that.*
His fingers flew across the keyboard, diving deeper into the system architecture. Class assignments were stored in a separate database, one with significantly more security measures. But Ryu had come prepared for exactly this scenario.
"Come on," he whispered, watching lines of code scroll past. "Every system has a weakness. Every wall has a crack."
Twenty minutes of careful work later, he found what he was looking for. The class assignment protocols were automated but could be overridden with proper authorization. And proper authorization was just another form of digital lock that could be picked by someone with the right tools and knowledge.
He pulled up the Class 1-A roster, studying the names and scores. Several students had lower total points than him but were assigned to the hero course because of their registered Quirks. The unfairness of it made his jaw clench, but anger wouldn't solve his problem – only action would.
With surgical precision, Ryu made his changes. One student with a relatively weak score and an underwhelming Quirk was reassigned to Class 1-C. In his place, Sato Ryu was now listed as a member of Class 1-A, Hero Course.
"Let's see them try to ignore me now," he said with satisfaction, covering his digital tracks as thoroughly as he'd made the changes.
The system would show that the reassignment had been made by a faculty member with proper clearance. By the time anyone noticed the discrepancy, if they ever did, Ryu would already be enrolled and attending classes. And once he was inside the hero course, he'd make damn sure they couldn't get rid of him.
He packed up his equipment and slipped out of the office as quietly as he'd entered, leaving no trace of his presence except for the subtle alterations buried deep in U.A.'s database.
Walking through the empty corridors toward the exit, Ryu allowed himself a small smile of triumph. They wanted to judge him based on genetics and paperwork? Fine. He'd show them that sometimes the most dangerous opponent was the one they never saw coming.
The real test was just beginning.
_______
First Day at U.A. High School
The cherry blossoms were in full bloom across Tokyo, their delicate pink petals drifting through the crisp April morning air like nature's confetti celebrating new beginnings. Ryu Sato walked through the impressive gates of U.A. High School, his dark uniform pristine and properly pressed, though the careful observer might notice the slight wear at the cuffs that spoke of secondhand clothing made to look presentable through meticulous care.
The massive school building loomed before him, its gleaming glass and steel architecture catching the early morning sunlight in brilliant flashes that seemed almost blinding. Students streamed through the entrance in excited clusters, their animated conversations filling the air with nervous energy and barely contained anticipation. This was it – the beginning of their journey toward becoming professional heroes, the culmination of years of dreaming and preparation.
Ryu's blue eyes swept across the crowd with analytical precision, cataloging faces and body language with the methodical attention of someone who had learned that information was survival. Some students walked with the confident swagger of those accustomed to success, their expensive accessories and perfect posture speaking of privileged backgrounds and inherited expectations. Others moved more hesitantly, their uncertain expressions betraying the weight of imposter syndrome and the fear that they didn't truly belong in such an elite institution.
The interior hallways were even more impressive than the exterior, with polished floors that reflected the overhead lighting like mirrors and walls lined with glass display cases showcasing the achievements of famous U.A. graduates. Photographs of legendary heroes smiled down from their frames, their costumes gleaming and their poses radiating the kind of confidence that came from knowing you were destined for greatness.
As Ryu navigated the bustling corridors, following the signs that would lead him to Class 1-A, he felt a familiar mixture of satisfaction and apprehension settling in his chest. He had made it this far through careful planning and calculated risks, but now came the real challenge – maintaining his position among students who had been born with abilities he could never possess.
"Sato!"
The cheerful voice cut through his thoughts like a warm ray of sunshine, and Ryu turned to see Itsuka Kendo approaching with her characteristic bright smile. Her orange hair caught the overhead lighting beautifully, and her green eyes sparkled with genuine happiness at seeing a familiar face in the sea of strangers. She was wearing the same standard U.A. uniform as everyone else, but somehow she managed to make it look both professional and approachable at the same time.
"Kendo," Ryu replied with a slight nod, allowing a small smile to cross his usually composed features. "Good to see you made it."
"I could say the same to you!" she laughed, her entire face lighting up with enthusiasm. "I was so nervous after the exam, but getting that acceptance letter was like... wow. I still can't quite believe we're actually here, you know?"
Ryu studied her expression, noting the genuine joy and excitement that radiated from her like warmth from a campfire. It was refreshing to encounter someone who approached this opportunity with such honest enthusiasm, without the calculated ambition or entitled assumption of success that seemed to characterize so many of their classmates.
"The feeling is mutual," he said, his tone carrying just a hint of the dry humor that occasionally surfaced when he was genuinely comfortable with someone. "Though I have to admit, I'm curious to see how they've divided everyone up. Which class did you end up in?"
"Class 1-B!" Itsuka replied proudly, her chest puffing out slightly with satisfaction. "I heard they try to balance the classes so that each one has a good mix of different Quirk types and personalities. What about you?"
"Class 1-A," Ryu answered simply, watching her reaction carefully.
Itsuka's eyebrows rose in surprise, and there was something that might have been impressed admiration in her expression. "1-A? That's supposed to be the top class, isn't it? I heard they usually put the highest-scoring students there. That's amazing, Sato!"
Ryu felt a flicker of something that might have been guilt at her praise, knowing as he did the artificial nature of his placement. But he pushed the feeling aside with practiced ease – he had earned his spot through intelligence and determination, even if the method hadn't been entirely conventional.
"We'll see how amazing it turns out to be," he replied with characteristic modesty. "I suspect the real test is just beginning."
"Hey, you know what?" Itsuka said suddenly, her face brightening with an idea. "We should have lunch together today! I mean, we might be in different classes, but that doesn't mean we can't still be friends, right? Besides, I'd love to hear how your first day goes."
Ryu considered the offer carefully, weighing the social benefits against the potential complications of maintaining close friendships while concealing his true nature. On one hand, Itsuka's genuine warmth and perceptive intelligence made her exactly the kind of ally he might need in this environment. On the other hand, the closer someone got to him, the more likely they were to notice inconsistencies in his story.
"I'll think about it," he said finally, his tone noncommittal but not unfriendly.
Itsuka's smile didn't dim at his cautious response – if anything, it seemed to grow warmer, as if she understood and respected his need for careful consideration. "That's fair. No pressure, Sato. Just know that the offer's open whenever you're ready."
She gave him a small wave and headed off down the hallway toward her own classroom, her orange hair bouncing slightly with each confident step. Ryu watched her go with something approaching fondness, recognizing in her the kind of person who made the world a little brighter simply by existing in it.
Turning his attention back to his own destination, Ryu located the door marked "1-A" and paused for a moment to collect himself. Beyond this threshold lay his future – either as a legitimate student earning his place through merit, or as an imposter whose deception would eventually be discovered. Either way, there was no turning back now.
The door slid open with a soft mechanical whisper, revealing a spacious classroom filled with state-of-the-art equipment and eighteen other students who would be his classmates for the foreseeable future. The room buzzed with nervous energy as introductions were made and tentative friendships began to form.
Ryu's analytical gaze swept across the assembled group, cataloging faces and matching them to his memories of the entrance exam. There was the explosive blonde boy who had been shouting at everyone during the practical test – Bakugo, if he remembered correctly. The elegant girl with the perfect posture and expensive accessories had to be from one of the wealthy hero families. And there, sitting near the window with his characteristic nervous energy...
"Hey!"
The green-haired boy had spotted him and was approaching with an expression of genuine gratitude mixed with lingering embarrassment. Izuku Midoriya – the same student who had thrown himself at the zero-pointer robot with nothing but determination and somehow emerged victorious, though at considerable cost to himself.
"You're the one who caught me during the practical exam," Midoriya continued, his voice earnest and slightly breathless with emotion. "I never got the chance to thank you properly. You probably saved my life that day."
Ryu studied the smaller boy's face, noting the sincerity in his large green eyes and the genuine warmth in his expression. There was something almost painfully honest about Midoriya, an openness that spoke of someone who hadn't yet learned to guard his emotions behind carefully constructed masks.
"It wasn't anything special," Ryu replied with a slight shrug, his tone deliberately casual. "You would have done the same for anyone else."
"But that's just it – not everyone would have put themselves at risk like that," Midoriya insisted, his hands gesturing animatedly as he spoke. "What you did was really heroic. I was completely helpless, and you didn't hesitate to help someone you barely knew."
The praise made Ryu uncomfortable in a way he couldn't quite articulate. He wasn't accustomed to being seen as heroic, and the genuine admiration in Midoriya's voice felt both flattering and somehow undeserved. Rather than continue the conversation, he simply nodded acknowledgment and moved away to find a seat.
His eyes swept across the classroom, evaluating the available options with the same careful consideration he applied to everything else. Most of the obvious social clusters had already formed – the confident students gravitating toward each other, the nervous ones seeking comfort in shared uncertainty. Ryu preferred to position himself where he could observe without being the center of attention.
He spotted an empty desk near the middle of the room, strategically positioned to provide good sight lines to both the front of the classroom and his fellow students. As he settled into the chair, adjusting his posture to project confident relaxation, he became aware of someone watching him from behind.
"I saw you during the entrance exam."
The voice was deep and measured, with an almost gothic quality that matched its owner's distinctive appearance. Ryu turned to see a boy with the head of a raven, his dark feathers catching the classroom lighting in subtle iridescent patterns. The combination of human body and bird head should have been startling, but something about the student's dignified bearing made it seem almost natural.
"You moved well out there," the raven-headed student continued, his tone analytical and thoughtful. "Very efficient, very controlled. Most of the other examinees were all flash and power, but you actually seemed to understand what you were doing. I found myself curious about your Quirk – you defeated several robots with apparent ease, but your methods weren't particularly... flashy."
Ryu regarded the speaker with cool assessment, noting the intelligence in the dark eyes and the careful way he phrased his observations. This was someone who paid attention to details, who analyzed rather than simply reacted. Potentially useful, but also potentially dangerous.
"I don't make a habit of discussing personal matters with strangers," Ryu replied, his tone polite but distant.
The raven-headed student seemed amused rather than offended by the rebuff. "A fair point. I am Fumikage Tokoyami. And you are?"
"Sato Ryu," came the measured response.
"Well then, Sato, now that we're no longer strangers, perhaps you'd be willing to satisfy my curiosity about your abilities?" Tokoyami's voice carried a hint of dry humor beneath its serious tone.
Ryu allowed a slight smile to cross his features, appreciating the other student's persistence despite himself. "If you're that curious about my Quirk, I suggest you check the official records. All that information should be readily available to my classmates."
Tokoyami's eyes narrowed slightly, and Ryu could practically see the mental gears turning as the other boy processed this response. Another arrogant one, Tokoyami thought to himself with mild irritation. This class seems to be full of students who think they're special.
"I apologize for interrupting."
The new voice was soft and cultured, with the kind of refined pronunciation that spoke of expensive private education and careful elocution lessons. Ryu turned to see an elegant girl with long black hair and intelligent dark eyes, her posture perfect and her expression pleasantly friendly despite the slight formality of her bearing.
"I'm Momo Yaoyorozu," she continued with a slight bow that managed to be both respectful and graceful. "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation, and I thought perhaps I should introduce myself as well."
"Tokoyami Fumikage," the raven-headed student replied with his own respectful nod. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Yaoyorozu."
Ryu studied the girl's face, noting the genuine friendliness in her expression and the way she seemed to effortlessly project both approachability and competence. There was something about her bearing that suggested she was accustomed to social situations and comfortable taking initiative in introducing herself to new people.
"Sato Ryu," he said, offering his own slight bow. "Though I have to say, Yaoyorozu is quite a mouthful for casual conversation. Would you mind if I simply called you Momo? It seems more... practical."
A faint blush colored Momo's cheeks at the casual use of her given name, and she seemed momentarily flustered by the unexpected familiarity. In her experience, most people maintained formal distance until specifically invited to do otherwise, and Ryu's direct approach was both surprising and somehow charming.
"I... that would be perfectly fine," she replied, her voice carrying just a hint of pleased embarrassment. "Most people prefer the formality of family names, but I don't mind at all if you find it easier."
Tokoyami observed this exchange with growing interest, noting the way Momo responded to Ryu's casual charm and the subtle confidence with which the dark-haired boy navigated social interactions. There was clearly more to Sato Ryu than met the eye, and Tokoyami found himself increasingly curious about what secrets his new classmate might be hiding.
Meanwhile, several floors above the bustling classroom activities, a very different kind of conversation was taking place in the principal's office. The room was spacious and elegantly appointed, with floor-to-ceiling windows that provided a commanding view of the school grounds and the Tokyo skyline beyond. Behind an imposing desk sat Principal Nezu, his small mammalian form somehow managing to project an aura of considerable authority despite his diminutive stature.
Across from him, sprawled in a chair with characteristic casual indifference, sat Shota Aizawa – known to the hero community as Eraser Head, and to his incoming students as their new homeroom teacher. His long black hair hung in unkempt strands around his face, and his expression carried the perpetual exhaustion of someone who found most human interactions to be more trouble than they were worth.
"There's an interesting student in your new class, Aizawa," Principal Nezu began, his high-pitched voice carrying undertones of amusement and curiosity. "Someone who managed to capture my attention in a rather unexpected way."
Aizawa's dark eyes sharpened slightly, though his posture remained unchanged. In his experience, when Principal Nezu described a student as "interesting," it usually meant they were either exceptionally gifted or exceptionally problematic – and sometimes both.
"Must be quite something to get your attention," Aizawa replied dryly. "You don't exactly have a reputation for being easily impressed by teenage dramatics."
"Indeed," Nezu chuckled, his small paws steepling as he leaned back in his oversized chair. "This particular student is named Ryu Sato. Ring any bells?"
Aizawa frowned, mentally reviewing the class roster he had studied earlier that morning. The name was familiar, but he couldn't immediately place why it might be significant enough to warrant this kind of special attention from the principal.
"What's his Quirk?" Aizawa asked, figuring that unusual abilities were the most likely explanation for Nezu's interest.
"That's the fascinating part," Principal Nezu replied, his expression becoming more animated with genuine intrigue. "He doesn't have one."
Aizawa's eyebrows shot up in surprise, and he straightened slightly in his chair. A Quirkless student in the hero course was virtually unheard of – the physical and practical demands of hero training made it nearly impossible for someone without superhuman abilities to keep pace with their enhanced classmates.
"Then why the hell is he in the hero course?" Aizawa demanded, his voice taking on the sharp edge that appeared whenever he suspected bureaucratic incompetence. "Did someone in admissions lose their mind?"
"Actually, his entrance exam scores were quite impressive," Nezu explained, pulling up a holographic display that showed Ryu's test results floating in the air between them. "High enough that they were impossible to ignore, really. Written exam near perfect, practical scores surprisingly strong despite his obvious physical limitations. I personally gave the order to place him in Class 1-C – the general studies track seemed more appropriate for someone with his academic strengths but physical limitations."
Aizawa studied the floating numbers with professional interest, noting the unusual distribution of scores and the detailed comments from the exam proctors. The written exam score was indeed exceptional, and the practical results suggested someone with considerable tactical intelligence and situational awareness.
"So what changed?" he asked, sensing that there was more to this story.
Principal Nezu's expression shifted to something that might have been impressed admiration mixed with mild exasperation. "Well, several weeks after the initial assignments were finalized, I happened to notice that young Sato's name had mysteriously appeared on the Class 1-A roster instead of his original placement."
"Administrative error?" Aizawa suggested, though his tone suggested he already suspected the truth was more complicated.
"That was my first assumption as well," Nezu admitted with a slight smile. "I was prepared to correct the mistake and transfer him to his proper placement. But then I decided to investigate exactly how such an error might have occurred."
The principal's expression became more animated as he continued, clearly enjoying the revelation he was about to share. "It turns out that young Sato took it upon himself to break into our computer systems and manually reassign himself to the hero course. The level of technical skill required was... considerable. He bypassed multiple layers of security, altered official records without leaving obvious traces, and even managed to make the changes appear as though they had been authorized by legitimate faculty credentials."
Aizawa was silent for a long moment, processing this information with the methodical attention he applied to all potential threats and opportunities. A student with the technical skills to hack U.A.'s security systems was definitely noteworthy, but the implications went far beyond simple computer proficiency.
"So why did you let him stay?" he asked finally.
"Because," Principal Nezu replied with evident satisfaction, "anyone with the intelligence, determination, and sheer audacity to hack their way into U.A.'s hero course deserves at least the opportunity to prove they belong there. Besides, I've always been curious about the potential of Quirkless individuals when given proper training and resources."
Aizawa stood up abruptly, his expression settling into the grim determination that his students would soon learn to recognize and fear. "Fine. I'll give him his chance. But if he can't keep up, if he becomes a liability to himself or his classmates, he'll be the first one I expel. I don't care how clever he thinks he is."
Principal Nezu's smile widened, and there was something almost paternal in his expression as he regarded his most famously strict teacher. "You never change, do you, Aizawa? Always so quick to assume the worst while secretly hoping to be proven wrong."
"I prefer to think of it as realistic expectations," Aizawa replied curtly, heading toward the door. "But you're right about one thing – this Sato kid is definitely going to be interesting."
As the door closed behind U.A.'s most notoriously difficult teacher, Principal Nezu settled back in his chair with evident satisfaction. The upcoming school year was shaping up to be quite entertaining indeed.
Back in Class 1-A, the morning introductions were beginning to wind down as students settled into their assigned seats and waited for their homeroom teacher to arrive. Ryu had positioned himself strategically in the middle of the room, close enough to participate when necessary but far enough from the center of attention to avoid unwanted scrutiny.
The classroom buzzed with nervous energy and excited chatter as his new classmates continued to get acquainted with each other. Ryu listened with half an ear to the various conversations flowing around him, cataloging personalities and potential alliances while maintaining his carefully constructed facade of polite disinterest.
Near the front of the room, the explosive blonde student – Bakugo – was holding court with characteristic volume and aggression, regaling anyone within earshot with detailed accounts of his entrance exam performance. His boasts were punctuated by small explosions from his palms, and his red eyes gleamed with the kind of competitive fire that suggested he viewed every interaction as a potential challenge to be won.
"Those robots were pathetic!" Bakugo declared loudly, his voice carrying easily across the classroom. "I could have taken down twice as many if they'd given me more time! None of you extras even came close to my score!"
Several students seemed intimidated by his aggressive posture and explosive demonstrations, while others appeared more annoyed than impressed. Ryu filed away this information for future reference – Bakugo was clearly powerful and confident, but his need to dominate every situation could potentially be exploited if necessary.
On the opposite side of the social spectrum, Midoriya was engaged in earnest conversation with a brown-haired girl whose cheerful demeanor and animated gestures suggested an optimistic personality. Their discussion seemed to center around their mutual nervousness about the upcoming challenges, and Ryu noted the way they seemed to draw comfort from shared anxiety.
"I still can't believe we actually made it," the girl was saying, her voice bright with excitement despite her obvious nerves. "U.A. has always seemed like such an impossible dream, you know? And now we're really here!"
"I know exactly what you mean," Midoriya replied earnestly, his green eyes shining with determination. "But we earned our places here, Uraraka. We just have to work hard and prove that we deserve this opportunity."
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of the classroom door sliding open with mechanical precision. The casual chatter died instantly as every student turned toward the entrance, expecting to see their new homeroom teacher for the first time.
Instead of walking through the doorway like a normal person, a yellow sleeping bag somehow slithered into the room under its own power. The bizarre sight left the entire class staring in stunned silence as the sleeping bag came to rest at the front of the classroom.
"It took you eight seconds to quiet down," came a muffled voice from within the yellow cocoon. "That's not going to cut it if you want to be heroes."
The sleeping bag began to unzip, revealing a man with long black hair, tired eyes, and the kind of perpetually exhausted expression that suggested he would rather be anywhere else in the world. He extracted himself from the sleeping bag with practiced efficiency, tossing it aside as he turned to face his new students.
"I'm Shota Aizawa, your homeroom teacher," he announced in a flat, disinterested tone that immediately conveyed his low expectations for teenage enthusiasm. "Now that we've wasted enough time on introductions and social niceties, it's time to get down to business."
Ryu studied their new teacher with sharp attention, noting the man's obvious competence beneath his deliberately casual demeanor. This was clearly someone who had seen real combat and survived to tell about it, and his attitude suggested he had little patience for the kind of naive heroic fantasies that most teenagers brought to U.A.
This should be interesting, Ryu thought to himself, settling back in his chair with anticipation. The real test of his abilities was about to begin, and he was curious to see exactly what challenges Aizawa had in store for them.
The game had officially started, and Ryu intended to win.