Chapter 4: Shadows in Motion
The morning after the practical exam, the U.A. instructors gathered the candidates for a debriefing. Most students were still buzzing with excitement—or nursing small bruises from yesterday's chaos—but Midoriya stood silently at the back, notebook in hand. He didn't need praise or attention; observation was always more valuable than applause.
Momo approached him quietly, glancing around to ensure no one was listening. "You're analyzing everyone again, aren't you?" she asked, her tone calm, almost teasing.
Midoriya didn't look up. "Always. Every reaction, every hesitation, every choice—they're all pieces of a puzzle. The strongest candidate isn't always the one with the most flashy quirk. It's the one who understands the people around them."
A few candidates glanced his way, curious about the quiet boy who had dominated the exam without making a show of it. None could see the calculation behind his green eyes—the subtle way he cataloged personalities, weaknesses, and tendencies.
The instructors began to speak, praising certain students for quick thinking and cooperation, while noting failures in judgment and control. Midoriya noted every comment, not for the sake of ego, but for the information it revealed. "Notice how they value public performance over private capability," he whispered to Momo. "That's society's first lesson: appearances matter more than reality."
As the class dispersed, Midoriya observed a small group of students whispering and laughing nearby. One of them, confident and brash, seemed to be organizing the others. Midoriya's mind mapped every personality, noting potential manipulators and the easily swayed. With a small, controlled movement of his quirk, he adjusted a nearby bench so it subtly shifted under the brash student's foot. The stumble was minor, almost imperceptible, but the boy's confident façade cracked for a moment—a tiny insight into how he handled setbacks.
Momo watched, intrigued. "You're testing them…without them knowing?"
Midoriya nodded. "Every action tells a story. Every misstep is a reflection of character. I don't need to fight them to understand them—I just need to watch." He closed his notebook, eyes following the other students as they left. "The real exam isn't in the course or the cityscape. It's in how people behave when they think no one is paying attention."
By midday, Midoriya and Momo found a quiet rooftop, high above the academy grounds. The wind tugged at their uniforms, carrying the faint sounds of the city beyond. "You move like a shadow," Momo said softly, almost in awe. "Watching, predicting, guiding…you're already steps ahead of everyone else."
He looked at her, and for a moment, the cunning strategist vanished, replaced by a rare hint of sincerity. "Shadows are useful, but they can't survive without light. That's why I need allies I can trust. You understand me, Momo…in a way no one else does."
She smiled faintly. "Then we continue together. Strategically. But…personally, too." Her words hung in the air like a fragile promise. Midoriya felt a flicker of warmth in his chest, a rare human connection that didn't interfere with his calculations but somehow strengthened them.
The afternoon passed with more observation, small tests, and quiet manipulations. Midoriya subtly influenced interactions between students, revealing strengths and weaknesses, guiding some toward cooperation and others toward failure—all without making it obvious. He was laying the groundwork, establishing the patterns of behavior that would later be essential when real danger came to U.A.
As the sun dipped low, casting long shadows across the academy, Midoriya knew the path ahead was more complex than any obstacle course. Villains, heroes, and hidden corruption all awaited—but he was ready. The game had begun, and he had already positioned himself at the center, with Momo by his side. Together, they were a force unseen but undeniable, shadows moving quietly through a world that believed it was safe.