The third day at U.A. started relatively calmly, but the aftertaste of yesterday's combat training was still in the air. As I walked down the hallway, other students from adjacent classes pointed at me and whispered to each other. News of how "that white-haired boy from Europe" had demolished Todoroki's ice in a matter of seconds and captured the entire team spread like wildfire.
I sat down in my seat by the window. In my peripheral vision, I watched Bakugou, who was sitting with his fists clenched and staring at his desk. The door opened and Aizawa entered the classroom in his usual sleeping bag, which he emerged from with a tired sigh.
"For this morning's program, the basics of heroism..." Aizawa began, and the entire class fell tensely silent in anticipation of another harsh test. "...you must elect a class president."
Everyone was relieved. "Finally, a normal school activity!" almost everyone exclaimed in unison.
Chaos ensued immediately. Kirishima, Kaminari, Ashido, and everyone else started shouting and raising their hands to claim the role. The only one who took the situation with complete, almost exaggerated, seriousness was Tenya Iida, who suggested that a democratic secret election be held.
"My lord, do you not wish to take charge of this human poultry farm?"Agron's amused voice rang in my head."Leadership is in your blood."
"I'm not interested, Agron",I answered him in my mind."Being president means paperwork, responsibility for a bunch of teenagers, and constant attention from teachers. I want peace and quiet to strengthen my Ether Core."
I wrote a random name on a piece of paper and dropped it into the mailbox. When Aizawa wearily counted the votes a few minutes later and wrote the results on the board, the entire class gasped in shock.
Izuku Midoriya – 3 votes
Mephisto Darkness – 3 votes
Katsuki Bakugo – 1 vote
"What?! Who voted for Deku?! And why does that horned guy still have points?!" Bakugo jumped off the bench and things started exploding around his palms.
While Midoriya was shaking like a rock at the blackboard and almost shedding tears from sheer stress, I sat there with my arms crossed over my chest. I did a quick count. I gave one vote to someone else. Who gave me the three? Peripherally, I caught Toru Hagakure bouncing happily on his chair and Kirishima winking at me appreciatively. The third vote... surprisingly, based on a quick glance, could have been from Momo, who had appreciated my tactical coolness yesterday.
"We have a tie for first place," Aizawa announced, clearly not caring. "Midoriya and Darkness. How do you decide?"
I stood up from my desk, immediately drawing the attention of the entire class. "I'm giving up the position in favor of Midoriya," I said in a calm, deep voice. "I'm not interested in administrative duties. And I'm nominating Iida for vice president. His sense of order and organization is exactly what this class needs."
Midoriya looked at me with immense gratitude in his eyes, while Iida bowed deeply, nearly cracking his glasses. "Thank you, Darkness-kun! Your judgment is extremely mature! I promise I won't disappoint!"
Aizawa just nodded. "Okay. So the chairman is Midoriya, the vice chairman is Iida. Let's go to lunch."
The huge U.A. cafeteria was full. I sat at a table near the window and ate slowly. At the next table, Midoriya, Uraraka, and Iida were discussing something.
Suddenly, a shrill, red alarm rang out throughout the building.
"SECURITY BREACH. LEVEL 3. ALL STUDENTS ARE REQUESTED TO EVACUATE THE BUILDING IMMEDIATELY."
A massive panic immediately erupted in the cafeteria. Hundreds of students from all grades began screaming, overturning tables, and headlong dashing toward the narrow escape door. A dangerous crush formed, where weaker students threatened to be trampled by the crowd.
I stood up from the table. My Ether Core pulsed slightly and I activatedDivine Bodyto easily withstand the pressure of the bodies rolling around me. I looked out the giant dining room window down at the school gate.
"My lord, there are no villains there,"Agron pointed out coldly."It's just those annoying people with cameras. Journalists."
"Exactly," I muttered.
At that moment, I saw Iida trying to calm the crowd, but no one heard him. However, Uraraka lifted him into the air with her Quirk. Iida used his leg motors, shot forward, did a perfect somersault, and caught his feet on the wall directly above the emergency exit, right next to the green emergency exit sign.
"EVERYONE CALM!" Iida shouted at the top of his lungs, his arms swinging like traffic lights. "LOOK OUT! THEY'RE JUST JOURNALISTS! WE'RE U.A. STUDENTS, SO LET'S ACT LIKE IT!"
His voice and iconic pose as a puppet on the emergency exit immediately calmed the crowd. Students stopped, looked out the windows, and were relieved to see that they were in no danger. The police were already chasing away the journalists.
When the situation was resolved and we returned to class, Midoriya officially handed over the role of class president to Iida, which everyone, including me, completely agreed with. Iida was perfect for the job.
The highlight of the afternoon was waiting for us. Aizawa entered the classroom in his morning suit, but holding a tablet in his hand.
"We'll have three instructors for today's rescue training. Me, All Might, and one other hero," Aizawa said. "It'll be a disaster simulation ranging from floods to landslides. We'll take a bus to an off-site facility called USJ. Costumes are optional, but I recommend wearing them."
As I changed into my matte black suit, I knew very well from the canon what was going to happen today. The Alliance of Villains would attack for the first time. Shigaraki Tomura and Kurogiri would try to kill All Might.
As I boarded the bus, Iida tried to organize his seating by number, but the architecture of the bus thwarted his plan, which deeply depressed him. I sat all the way back, closed my eyes, and rested my head.
"Darkness-kun," Asui Tsuyu, who was sitting a short distance away, addressed me. "I always say what I think. Your Quirk... your energy... it looks scary. And yesterday you defeated Todoroki with such ease... What is the true nature of your power?"
The whole bus went silent that morning. Even Bakugo stopped growling for a moment and pricked up his ears. Everyone wanted to know who I was.
I opened my eyes. The purple lines on my armor glowed faintly. "My power comes from my inner core, Tsuyu. It is raw energy that can create and destroy. But what it looks like doesn't determine whether I am a hero or a villain. What matters is how I use it."
"That was profound!" Kirishima said, nodding his head in appreciation. "And you're right! Appearances don't matter, it's the heart that counts!"
"Shh, nonsense!" Bakugo snapped. "I don't care who you are, you horned bastard! I'll cut you to pieces in USJ and show everyone that you're just a blown-up bubble!"
"Good luck, Bakugo," I replied with complete disinterest and closed my eyes again. This made him even more angry, until Kaminari had to calm him down, saying that with his personality, people would think of him as a villain rather than a hero.
The bus finally stopped in front of a giant domed building. USJ.
When we entered, we were greeted by space hero No. 13 in his spacesuit. The space was gigantic – divided into different zones: mountain, flood, fire, landslide zone...
No. 13 was just finishing his speech about how dangerous Quirky can be if not used properly when the lights throughout the building flickered dangerously.
In the middle of the central square, right by the fountain, space began to twist. The air split, forming a massive, black-purple mist.
Aizawa immediately perked up, his scarf rising into the air. "Stay back! Don't gather! No. 13, protect the students!"
Dozens of silhouettes of figures, criminals and villains, began to emerge from Kurogiri's purple portal. And in the middle of them walked a pale man with blue hair and severed hands all over his body. Shigaraki Tomura. And right behind him stood a giant, muscular creature with an exposed brain and a bird's beak. Nomu.
"Where is...?" Shigaraki hissed, looking around. "According to the schedule, All Might should be here... Well, maybe if we kill a few of those kids, he'll show up."
"My lord,"Agron spoke in my mind, and this time there was no hint of amusement in his voice. It was cold, sharp, and hungry for battle."That thing with the brain exposed... I sense an artificial, twisted power from it. Do you want us to exterminate them?"
I looked down at the army of villains. My armor lit up a bright, aggressive red for the first time since arriving at USJ, and thick bolts of lightning began to dance around my shoulders.
Monitor the situation, Agron,I answered him in my mind and took a step forward.Today we'll show them what happens when they disturb our peace.