The U.A. observation room looked like a war council two weeks after the battle. Empty coffee cups formed defensive positions around scattered tablets and holographic displays. The air tasted of exhaustion and the kind of tension that came from too many important decisions crammed into too little time.
Present Mic stood at the center of it all, his blonde hair somehow still defying gravity despite the late hour. His usual manic energy had been dialed down to merely caffeinated, but his grin remained sharp enough to cut glass.
"ALRIGHT, LISTENERS! Welcome to the most exciting show in education—the Annual First-Year Student Draft!" He gestured to the massive holographic display behind him, where hundreds of student profiles floated in neat rows. "We've got the scores, we've got the footage, and we've got some VERY interesting conversations ahead of us!"
Shota Aizawa slouched in his chair like he was actively trying to become one with the furniture. His sleeping bag remained conspicuously within arm's reach, and his bloodshot eyes suggested he'd been surviving on spite and caffeine for the better part of a week. When he spoke, his voice carried the enthusiasm of someone reading a grocery list.
"Can we skip the theatrics and get to the problem children?"
Vlad King shifted in his seat, his massive frame making the reinforced chair creak in protest. "Eager to claim the best talent for yourself Aizawa?"
"I'm eager to finish this before sunrise."
Principal Nezu sat perched on his custom chair, a delicate teacup balanced in his paws. His small, dark eyes held the kind of calculating intelligence that made even the most seasoned heroes nervous. When he smiled, it was the expression of someone who'd already seen every move in the game before it started.
"Indeed. While we could spend hours discussing the exemplary students, I believe our time is better spent on the more... contentious cases." Nezu gestured, and five holographic profiles separated from the main display, floating in the center of the room like wanted posters. "Our five most controversial non-recommendation applicants."
Midnight leaned back in her chair, her costume somehow managing to look professional in the sterile conference room. Her blue eyes scanned the floating profiles with the interest of someone appraising valuable artwork. "My, my. What an interesting collection."
The first profile showed a blonde boy with crimson eyes that seemed to burn even in holographic form. BAKUGO, KATSUKI floated beneath his scowling face, along with test scores that made several teachers whistle in appreciation.
"Practical exam score: 77 points," Present Mic announced. "Written exam: 98th percentile. Quirk assessment: Overwhelming offensive potential. Psychological evaluation: Anger management issues, superiority complex, potential for—"
"He's mine."
Every head in the room turned toward the underground hero, who hadn't even bothered to sit up straighter.
"Just like that?" Vlad King's voice carried a dangerous edge. "No discussion? No consideration for what Class 1-B might offer him?"
"Class 1-B would coddle him. Bakugo doesn't need encouragement." Aizawa's eyes opened slightly, revealing the red glow of his active Quirk. "His potential is undeniable. His attitude is fixable. But only if he's afraid of the consequences."
The second profile materialized—a girl with cat ears and violet hair. YUZURIHA appeared beneath her image, though notably without a family name. Her test scores were impressive, but the notation [HPSC ASSET - CLASSIFIED] made several teachers shift uncomfortably.
"Ah," Nezu's voice carried a note of genuine interest. "Our little kunoichi. Practical exam: 64 points, but that hardly tells the story. She eliminated 47 robots without being detected by a single camera until the final two minutes."
"She's HPSC," Vlad King said, his distaste clear. "A government spy in training. Do we really want that kind of influence in our classrooms?"
"We want that kind of talent." Midnight's purr carried a note of professional appreciation. "A girl who can move like that, think like that... she's going to be special."
Tae Takemi looked up from her tablet, her dark eyes sharp behind her glasses. "Special is one word for it. Another word is 'dangerous.' Her psychological profile suggests severe emotional compartmentalization and a concerning lack of empathy."
"Which is exactly why she belongs in my class."
Again, Aizawa's statement cut through the debate. This time, even Nezu's eyebrows rose slightly.
"Your class, Eraser Head?"
"She's a stealth operative. An infiltration specialist. Putting her in a frontline combat class would be like using a scalpel as a sledgehammer." Aizawa finally sat up, his attention focused on the floating profile. "I'm the only underground hero on this faculty. I'm the only one who understands how to train someone for psychological warfare and information gathering. She needs a teacher who won't try to make her more 'heroic.' She needs someone who'll teach her to be effective."
Midnight's smile turned predatory. "How deliciously practical of you, Shota."
"It's logical." Aizawa's tone suggested he found Midnight's approval mildly irritating. "Wasting her potential on conventional hero training would be criminal negligence."
The third profile appeared before Vlad King could mount another objection. This one showed a boy with green hair and wide, nervous eyes. MIDORIYA, IZUKU floated beneath his image, along with scores that told a story of extremes.
"Practical exam: 60 points," Present Mic continued. "But here's where it gets interesting—he scored zero points for the first nineteen minutes of the exam, then earned all 60 in the final minute by destroying a single Zero-Pointer."
"One punch," Toshinori whispered from his corner, his skeletal form hunched over a steaming cup of tea. "The boy destroyed a sixty-meter robot with one punch."
"And broke every bone in his arm doing it," Tae added dryly. "His medical file reads like a casualty report. Multiple compound fractures, severe Quirk backlash, signs of recent similar injuries. Either he's the unluckiest student in Japan, or he has no idea how to control his own power."
The fourth profile materialized—a short boy with purple hair and an expression that suggested he'd rather be anywhere else. MINETA, MINORU appeared beneath his image, along with scores that were respectable but unremarkable.
"Practical exam: 52 points," Present Mic announced. "Written exam: 85th percentile. Quirk assessment: Highly versatile for capture and area denial. Psychological evaluation: Concerning obsession with female classmates, possible signs of—"
"He's a pervert," Midnight interrupted, her professional demeanor cooling noticeably. "His essay responses were... creative in their interpretation of heroic motivation."
"He's also brilliant," Nezu pointed out. "His strategic thinking during the practical exam was exceptional. He used environmental manipulation and trap-setting to achieve maximum efficiency with minimal physical confrontation."
The final profile appeared, and the room's energy shifted noticeably. The holographic boy had white hair and violet eyes that seemed to hold secrets. MURANO, YUKIO floated beneath his image, along with scores that made even Aizawa's eyebrows rise.
"Practical exam: 103 points," Present Mic announced, his voice carrying a note of genuine excitement. "But that's not the impressive part. He achieved those points while coordinating a three-person team, providing tactical support to multiple other examinees, and executing precision strikes that our analysis suggests required mathematical calculations performed in real-time during combat."
"Show them the footage," Midnight suggested, her voice carrying a note of professional interest.
The holographic display shifted, showing Yukio's performance during the Zero-Pointer encounter. The room watched in silence as he identified weak points, coordinated attacks, and managed battlefield positioning while maintaining perfect composure.
"He saw the real test immediately," Nezu observed. "While other students focused on accumulating points, he recognized that the Zero-Pointer was a test of character, not combat ability."
"He's calculating," Vlad King said, though his tone suggested grudging respect. "Everything he did, even his heroic moment was strategically sound."
"He's a natural leader," Toshinoshi added quietly. "The way he brought those other students together, made them more effective... that's not something you can teach."
"He's also arrogant," Tae pointed out. "His body language, his speech patterns, the way he positions himself in relation to others—he sees himself as superior to his peers."
"Which brings us to the question," Nezu said, his small hands steepled in front of him. "Where do these five belong?"
Aizawa stood slowly, his capture weapon shifting around his shoulders like a living thing. When he spoke, his voice carried the weight of absolute conviction.
"Bakugo and Murano are mine."
The room erupted.
"You can't just claim the two highest scorers!" Vlad King's voice rose to match his temper. "Class 1-B deserves—"
"Class 1-B deserves students who will benefit from your teaching style," Aizawa interrupted. "Bakugo needs someone who won't be impressed by his tantrums. Murano needs someone who won't fall for his manipulation. They're both too smart and too dangerous for conventional motivation."
"And what makes you think you can handle them?" Midnight asked, her tone carrying genuine curiosity.
"Because I don't care about their potential. I care about their results." Aizawa's red eyes swept the room. "Bakugo will either learn to control his temper or he'll be expelled. Murano will either learn to use his talents for something beyond personal gain or he'll be expelled. Simple."
"That's your solution to everything," Vlad King muttered. "Threaten to expel them."
"It works."
Present Mic raised his hands for silence. "Okay, okay! So Aizawa wants the blonde bomber and the white-haired strategist. What about our little shadow cat?"
"Also mine."
This time, even Midnight looked surprised. "Three of the five, Shota? That seems... greedy."
Aizawa didn't even blink. "She's a stealth operative. Putting her in a class focused on flashy, public heroics would be like teaching a sniper to fight with a megaphone."
"She's also HPSC," Vlad King pointed out again. "Having a government asset in your class raises questions about autonomy and—"
"The HPSC trained her to be an instrument. I'll teach her to be a professional." Aizawa's voice carried a note of finality. "She needs someone who understands the difference between being effective and being moral. Someone who won't try to change her nature, just refine it."
Midnight's smile turned sharp. "How deliciously dark of you, Shota. I approve."
Tae made a sound of disgust. "Of course you do."
"Ladies," Nezu interrupted smoothly. "While your philosophical differences are fascinating, we still have two students to place."
The room's attention turned back to the floating profiles of Izuku and Mineta. Both boys looked impossibly young compared to the three students Aizawa had claimed.
"The green-haired boy is interesting," Vlad King said, his tone thoughtful. "Raw power, genuine heroic instincts, but clearly needs guidance on control and strategy."
"He needs medical supervision," Tae added. "His Quirk is going to kill him if he doesn't learn moderation."
"And the purple one?" Present Mic asked.
"Brilliant but problematic," Nezu observed. "His tactical thinking is exceptional, but his motivations are... questionable."
Aizawa settled back into his chair, his three claimed students floating beside him like trophies. "They're your problem now. I have what I need."
Vlad King's eyes narrowed. "You think you're so clever, don't you? Taking the three most dangerous students and claiming it's for their own good."
"I'm taking the three students who will either become extraordinary heroes or spectacular failures. There's no middle ground with any of them." Aizawa's voice carried no emotion. "That's exactly the kind of high-stakes education I specialize in."
"And if you're wrong?" Midnight asked. "If your methods break them instead of making them stronger?"
"Then they weren't strong enough to be heroes in the first place."