"So fast?"
Shina Etsuha couldn't help but feel surprised. His sister had only just brought back the information, and yet U.A.'s representatives had already arrived at their doorstep.
After quickly tidying up the clutter on his desk, he followed the young woman downstairs. The moment he stepped into the lobby, his eyes landed on a man who looked… completely exhausted.
"This is Shina Etsuha," the young woman introduced, gesturing toward him. Then she turned to Etsuha. "And this is U.A.'s teacher—uh… Eraser Head…"
"Eraser Head is my Hero name," the man interrupted calmly. "My real name is Aizawa Shouta. You can just call me Aizawa-sensei."
He glanced at Etsuha as he spoke.
It was hard to believe that this man was a teacher at U.A.
Aizawa Shouta looked… disheveled, to say the least. His long hair hung loosely, framing a pair of perpetually tired eyes. His posture was slouched, his expression dull, and the stubble on his chin made him look like he hadn't bothered shaving in days.
Even though Etsuha had heard of him before, his first impression inevitably took a hit.
Still, he greeted him properly.
"Nice to meet you, Aizawa-sensei."
"Mm."
Aizawa didn't seem like someone who enjoyed small talk. After studying Etsuha for a moment, he spoke again.
"I heard your quirk is ice-based. Then you should already know—among the recommended applicants, there's someone else with a similar ability."
Etsuha nodded.
Aizawa continued, "When two quirks overlap, one will naturally be considered superior. You've probably heard of that concept. The school sent me ahead to inform you—there will be a one-on-one match between you and Shoto Todoroki. I'll explain the rules in detail later. For now, come with me."
So it was confirmed.
He really was going to face Shoto Todoroki.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Etsuha's lips.
He had expected something like this ever since he chose to extract Esdeath's power—but he hadn't thought it would happen this soon.
More importantly…
Was Teigu stronger—or Todoroki's quirk?
That question genuinely interested him.
"Wait!"
Yu Takeyama hurried downstairs and called out to Aizawa.
"Will their match be open to the public?"
Aizawa turned slightly and replied, "Sorry, Mt. Lady. The recommendation exam is considered private. Outside visitors aren't allowed. As for the rest, I already explained the details over the phone. Don't worry."
"I see…"
Yu Takeyama sighed, then turned to Etsuha and raised a fist in encouragement.
"Do your best, Etsuha! Your big sister's rooting for you!"
The young woman beside her also smiled as she watched Etsuha leave with Aizawa.
Following him outside, Etsuha soon spotted U.A.'s bus waiting nearby. It looked like Aizawa hadn't come just for him—there were likely other candidates already on board.
Just before stepping onto the bus, Etsuha suddenly spoke up.
"Aizawa-sensei."
"Hm?" Aizawa turned back, slightly puzzled.
"Will there be restrictions on quirks during the match?" Etsuha asked seriously. "For example… what if I use my strongest technique and cause major damage to U.A.? What happens then?"
Aizawa's eyes flickered with interest.
At his age, he's already thinking about finishing moves?
He considered the question briefly before answering, "There will be teachers present to intervene if necessary."
Etsuha hesitated, then added earnestly, "And what if they're too late? My strongest techniques are… a bit dangerous. It might be hard for others to control the situation."
In truth, he was giving Aizawa a warning in advance.
The power he had extracted from Esdeath wasn't just strong—it was absurd. From massive ice pillars spanning dozens of meters to wide-area freezing techniques, even his "basic" abilities carried immense destructive potential.
If he went all out, freezing an entire battlefield—or more—wouldn't be difficult.
And if that happened…
Who would be responsible for the damage?
However, Aizawa simply assumed the boy was being overly confident.
He shook his head slightly.
"You're underestimating Pro Heroes," he said. "Just fight without holding back. Any damage caused during the exam will be covered by U.A. The school will take full responsibility."
Etsuha's eyes lit up instantly.
That was exactly what he wanted to hear.
Without another word, he stepped onto the bus.
Watching his back, Aizawa couldn't help but feel amused.
Confident kid, he thought. Looks like Mt. Lady has protected him a bit too well…
A technique that even Pro Heroes can't stop? That's a stretch…
But then—
His gaze shifted to a newspaper lying on one of the seats.
The bold headline immediately caught his attention:
"The Strongest Ice Quirk Emerges?! Death Arms Publicly Admits Inferiority to Shina Etsuha!"
Aizawa Shouta fell silent.
And for the first time—
He began to think more seriously about the boy in front of him.