The training field behind U.A. High School had never felt so tense.
Students from several classes had gathered along the observation area balconies, whispering to each other.
Word had spread quickly.
Ren Calder was doing quirk testing again.
And after everything that had happened recently — the scientist attack, the rampage, the teleportation incidents — everyone wanted to see what would happen.
Standing in the center of the field, Ren lazily shuffled his deck of cards.
Behind the control glass sat Nezu, watching with glowing curiosity while typing notes rapidly into a tablet.
Beside him, looking ten seconds away from a migraine, was Shota Aizawa.
Down on the field, Aizawa spoke through the loudspeaker.
"Ren. First test. Teleportation."
Ren looked up.
"…You sure?" he asked.
Aizawa's tired voice answered immediately.
"No."
Pause.
"But we're doing it anyway."
Ren sighed dramatically.
"Great. If I accidentally end up in someone's bathroom again, that's on you."
From the balcony, Eijiro Kirishima leaned over the railing.
"WAIT WHAT?!"
Next to him, Denki Kaminari choked on his drink.
"You WHAT AGAIN??"
Ren waved them off.
"Long story."
Aizawa continued.
"Focus on a location inside the training zone. Clear your mind. Then activate the quirk."
Ren cracked his knuckles.
"Alright… let's try."
He closed his eyes.
The wind slowed.
For a moment… nothing happened.
Then—
POP
Ren vanished.
Everyone looked around.
Three seconds passed.
Five seconds.
Ten seconds.
Kirishima blinked.
"…Uh."
Denki scratched his head.
"…Did we lose him?"
Then—
POP
Ren reappeared.
Except he wasn't standing.
He was upside down.
Dangling from the training field light pole.
"…Well," Ren said calmly, still holding his deck of cards. "This is new."
The students burst into laughter.
Aizawa rubbed his face.
"…Get down."
Ren teleported again.
POP
This time he appeared…
Directly behind Aizawa.
"Hey."
Aizawa didn't even turn around.
"…I'm confiscating the cards."
Ren gasped dramatically.
"You monster."
Nezu's voice came through the speaker.
"Fascinating! Ren, can you attempt multiple teleports in succession?"
Ren grinned.
"Oh, that sounds fun."
Before Aizawa could object—
POP
Ren vanished again.
Then chaos began.
POP
He appeared sitting on top of the observation balcony railing.
"Hi guys."
Denki screamed.
POP
Ren appeared behind Kirishima.
"Nice hair today."
Kirishima jumped three feet.
POP
Ren appeared halfway inside a training robot.
"…Uh oh."
POP
Now he was sitting in Nezu's chair inside the control room.
Nezu stared up at him.
Ren slowly waved.
"Hi."
Aizawa's voice crackled through the speaker again.
"…Ren."
POP
Ren returned to the field.
Breathing heavily now.
"Okay… wow… that takes energy."
Nezu scribbled notes faster.
"His spatial manipulation is becoming more stable!"
Aizawa walked out onto the field.
"Ren."
Ren straightened.
"Yes sir?"
Aizawa held out his hand.
"The cards."
Ren clutched the deck protectively.
"…No."
Aizawa stared.
Ren sighed dramatically and handed them over.
"…You're no fun."
Aizawa slid the cards into his capture weapon pouch.
"For the safety of the school."
Ren looked devastated.
"My emotional support cards…"
From the balcony, Denki yelled down.
"DUDE YOU TELEPORTED INTO A ROBOT."
Ren pointed at him.
"And I got out!"
Kirishima grinned.
"That was manly though!"
Ren smiled.
But suddenly—
A strange pulse of dark energy flickered around him.
Just for a second.
Aizawa noticed.
His eyes narrowed.
"…Ren."
Ren blinked.
"Yeah?"
"Did you feel that?"
Ren looked down at his hands.
"…Feel what?"
Inside the control room, Nezu slowly stopped writing.
His expression had changed.
Something in Ren's quirk output had just appeared on the sensors.
Something new.
Something… familiar.
And far away…
In a dark hideout…
Someone felt it too.
A slow voice echoed in the shadows.
"...Interesting."
To be continued.