Archive of Our Own ^beta

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So, I know that the anime Children of the Whales (Which will be the world you, the reader, are from,) is extremely underrated so let me sum it up for you (and also some simple world foundation).

(Slight spoilers!)

"The story focuses on a boy called Chakuro, who lives on a giant vessel called a Mud Whale that drifts over the sea of sand. In the Mud Whale, society is divided into two kinds of people: the Marked, who can move objects with their minds using a strange power called "thymia", at the expense of shortened lifespans, and the Unmarked, people who lack thymia but enjoy longer lifespans.

Chakuro and his friends have never seen anyone from the outside world, and they spend their days yearning to explore and learn about it. In year 93 of the vessel's exile, the Mud Whale encounters a lonely island and Chakuro finds a girl inside, starting an adventure that changes the lives of everyone." - Children of the Whales Wikipedia page.

Thymia - Marked people can use thymia. When thymia is activated,  it creates marks on the body and above the head, as shown below. These marks are called aura, and can be many different colors and patterns. The more area the aura covers, the more powerful the thymia.

I'll keep the storyline and base of the plot simple - The Mud Whale is home to 'criminals' that, unlike the Motherland, had emotions.

Marked people outside of the Mud Whale traded their emotions to fuel the Nous, the 'engine' of the ships in the sea of sand.

Marked ones on the Mud Whale, however, have emotions.

I won't say anything about how the Mud Whale is fueled, just to avoid spoilers.

The girl that Chakuro find is from the Motherland, and is devoid of any emotions. Because of this, the Motherland finds Failana (The Mud Whale) and kills many people in the process.

You are sent into the MHA world during the last battle with the Motherland.

It is an amazing anime and manga, I would recommend it to everyone.

You can find the anime on Netflix or find the manga at your local Barnes & Noble.

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Name: [Name]

Age: 15 (As of canon)

Gender: Unspecified

'Quirk': Thymia

Appearance: All traits are up to you :)

Extra/Fun facts:

Commonly, during your time of the Mud Whale, you could be found in "The Belly", an underground prison where people who broke rules or caused trouble on the Mud Whale. Confusingly enough, Thymia doesn't work there.

You are the younger sibling of Ouni, who was one of the strongest, if not THE strongest marked person on the Mud Whale.

You were the 'second-in-command' of the Moles, a group of people who were nearly always in The Belly, and led by Ouni.

Your affinity for thymia rivaled that of your brother's, which caused many people to fight over who was the strongest. Spoiler alert: You were stronger.

Your aura nearly covers your entire body, with just your left arm and your face being spared the marks.

You hate clowns.

-

A/n

I hope this story is good but idk if I'll keep up w it lowkey

We'll just have to see ig-

I'll see you in the next chapter,

Ryoko

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The blood of your enemies and comrades alike fill your nose.

Although, your blood was not spared from the bloodbath. Your clothes were soaked in the blood of everyone.

It burns, You think. It burns so bad that I could just collapse here. The pain was unbearable, yet here you stood.

The sound of faraway singing fills your ears, while more of the Motherland's goons  make their way towards you.

You gather the weapons of the fallen. Raising them for battle, your aura envelops your body.

Ruuuuuumble...

"What was that noise?" You mumble.

Ruuuumble...

It sounded like a large object was being rolled in your direction.

And then gunshots were fired.

And after that, more rumbling.

Then the thing came.

A large, bowl-like machine is pulled up, the soldiers suddenly stopping their gunfire.

And you stop too. This was strange, even for the Motherland.

" FIRE!"

And the last thing you saw during your life in the Sea of Sand was a bright, ephemeral glow.

-

A/n

All I can say is: Children of the Whales is an amazing anime and manga. It literally had some of the best, most amazingly well-written characters and stories ever.

I'll see you in the next chapter,

Ryoko

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Your eyes shoot open and next thing you know, you're grasping at grains of sand, greedily taking in the air. 

You try to regain your stability, to no avail as your muscles spasm and your eyes blur.

• ••

What feels like minutes that last hours pass while you sit there on the beach, sun blazing down on you.

The pain had finally subsided and your tears finally dried.

You were mindlessly drawing tiny circles in the sand as you took in the air. It was heavy, damp, and salty, nothing like the dry and arid one of the Mud Whale.
You barely had the energy to lift your head up when you heard a voice call to you.

Wait. A voice?

You look up, being met by sharp eyes and golden locks, and something red behind the person. 

“Yo! You alright kiddo?” The man asked in a chipper tone.

“ What the fuck. ” You deadpan stare back at him. And then the wings attached to his back. 

He only laughs at you, to your dismay. “Calm down.”

You frown. “I’m calm as can be.”

“So…” He looks down at you. “Are you lost, or just being dramatic and moping around?” His carefree attitude was starting to piss you off.

You send a sharp look his way. 

Hawks observed you as you lay on the shore.

Your clothes were strangely layered and definitely weren’t modern. Your skin was rough to the touch and yet you seemed completely fine; as if you grew up in a dryer region unlike Musutafu.

“I’m gonna guess you’re lost.” He smirks. “Why don’t we get you to a hospital? Those injuries look nasty.” He gestures to the gash in your torso.

“Oh… Yeah.” You mumble coldly, looking down at the dried blood on your body.

• ••

The people here were strange.

Some had animal-like features, and others had disconfigured bodies.

Just where were you?

After all the strange tests they ran on you, they put you in a white, depressing room. A room even more depressing than the infirmary room where the marked on the Mud Whale commonly carried out the rest of their short lives. 

After a few minutes of contemplation, you deemed this place safe, and fell into a light slumber.

Only for it to be disturbed by a grating, irritating voice belonging to a certain bird-man.

“Yo!”

“Great…”

–

A/n

Yayyyy new fic! I’m super excited for this one :)

I’ll see you in the next chapter,

Ryoko

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“Aaaalright. Get up, kid!” He grabs your arm and gently tugs your arm. 

“Don’t–” You grumble as you yank your arm out of his hold and slide out of the bed. Everything started to hurt the moment you moved again.

“You want food?” He asks, seemingly unwavering even when faced by your coldness.

• ••

You stare at the weird thing on your plate (it’s a mille cake)  as the bird-man sits across from you, garnering looks from everyone in the cafe.

You place down your fork, giving up on figuring out what was on your plate. “So what are you?” 

He laughs again.

“I’m a hero , kid. Name’s Hawks.” He smiles cheekily, leaning back in his chair.

“Hero…” You mumble. “You have an… interesting name.” You remark.

“Ouch.” He mumbles. “Sharp, are we? Well, why don’t we start simple. What’s your name?”

“[Name].”

“No last name?”

“…”

Hawks sighs. “Fine, be like that then. Where are you from, [Name]?” Hawks hums, and you only coldly look back at him in response.

“The Mud Whale.” You reply.

“Never heard of it.” You sweatdrop at his dismissiveness. “Well, next question– Where are your parents?” He inquires.

“Dead.” You shrug, taking a sip of water. It was metallic, nothing like the fresh rainwater on the Mud Whale.

“Ok… Dark.” He laughs it off. “Eat some of your food, will ya?” He asks, pushing your plate with the sweet, layered crepe dessert closer to you.

“What is it.” You poke at it with your fork. 

Ok, now Hawks was just confused. First, you didn’t know who he was, the No. 3 hero in Japan, and now you don’t know something as common as a mille cake? You were a peculiar one for sure. “It’s a dessert. They’re pretty good, try it.” He says with a small smile. 

And hesitantly, you take a tiny bite, scrunching your nose. “It’s very sweet.” You comment. “… But it’s alright, I guess…” You add, continuing to eat the sweet treat. He chuckles at your behavior. 

“Damn, you act like you grew up on an isolated island in the middle of the sea.” He remarks. 

You freeze, looking up at him with your emotionless eyes. “…” 

Did he know you were from the Sea of Sand? Or was it just a wild guess? A comment made to be dismissed with the wave of a hand?

Or… 

Is he from the motherland? Is he trying to get closer to you so that you can lead him to the Mud Whale and kill your people?

You push away the thought. Sure, there was something off about him, but there was no way he was some kind of spy. After all, you’ve never heard of a ship called Musutafu, and all the structures and people here are Greek to you. 

Well, no matter the reason, you can’t trust this man.

—

A/n

I’m actually so excited for this fic RAHHHHHH 

Also, since [Name] doesn’t know that they aren't in the Sea of Sand anymore, they assumed Musutafu was a stray ship separate from the Motherland, kind of like the Mud Whale. 

I’ll see you in the next chapter,

Ryoko

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CRUNCH!

A nearby dumpster got crushed up into a ball in the monstrous man’s hands. 

You and Hawks were walking down a slightly emptier street to avoid his fans on your way back to the hospital where you had to stay, since you had no home as far as anyone knew. 

It was fairly peaceful until this little bugger got in your way. 

According to Hawks, this was a villain. 

And this “villain” seemed to harbor superhuman strength and had a crazed look on his face. 

Just lovely. 

“Kid, stay back! This is too dangerous for you to—“ Hawks outstretched a wing to shield you as a precaution, but you just sigh, annoyed. 

But before he could even finish his sentence, your aura snaked up your body, making intricate spiral-like patterns on your body as you raise an arm, using your thymia to take hold of the crushed up dumpster and lift it into the air. “Using thymia to enhance strength? That’s quite an interesting use… but your aura is weak.” After all, there was no marks on this villain’s body.

“Kid, wait—“

You slammed the large ball of metal into the villain, making sure to hold back so as to not kill him. 

Apparently, laws on murder were quite strict here, and you didn’t want to go to prison. The concept reminded you of The Belly. 

Your aura fades away and you click your tongue. “Damn. I must be out of practice already…” You had nearly lost hold of the dumpster while you fought. 

Hawks turns to face you, concern riddling his features. 

“ [Name] , you can’t use your quirk violently. It’s against the law—“

“Then just take credit for defeating this villain. It’s your job, no?” You glare at him. 

“I…” Hawks was speechless. “Yeah, you’re right.” He frowns. How the heck did you not know what a dessert was, but somehow figured out how laws and policies work in Japan already?

You had pretty much gotten a hold of what this ship was like. 

As long as you aren’t held accountable, you can’t get in trouble. 

It’s even better when there are little to no witnesses. It can help strengthen your alibis and claims in legal situations. 

It was definitely different from the Mud Whale, where you either get exiled or thrown in The Belly for a few days. Then again, it was a pretty small place, with a population of a measly 500.

Well, that number was for sure lower now.

But it was still your home. And you wanted to get back. 

Your fists clench. 

What about your brother, Ouni? Or your friend, Chakuro? Or the foreign girl, Lykos?

It was all too much to be separated from them, helpless since you can’t fight by their sides. 

Hawks sighs. “Let’s get you back to the hospital, huh?” He gently places a hand on your shoulder. “I called for a cleanup crew already. Don’t worry about this guy.” And his shitty grin suddenly appears again. “Also, you didn’t tell me you had such a cool quirk! You would make a badass hero.”

You roll your eyes as you dust off your shirt. “I’m not “hero” material.” 

—

A/n

I literally had the best time writing this. 

Nothing is proofread so if you can point out any typos/mistakes I made please do so! It’s a huge help to me and to any future readers. 

I’ll see you in the next chapter,

Ryoko

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“Join the Vigilante Corps?!” You exclaim. “Are you crazy, Shuan?” You hiss. 

The one-eyed man only gives you his usual cryptic smile. “Come on, you’d be perfect as the commander. After all, I trained you.” His eye cracks open a bit, revealing that striking blue he kept hidden. “I’m turning 26 next year. I won’t be able to use my thymia for much longer, and I think you’d be the best successor.”

“Well, you’re wrong.” You glare at him. “My brother would kill me if I joined you guys. Not to mention, I’m not “commander” material.”

He chuckles. “Not with what attitude you aren’t.”

You scowl. “Why not Miss Ginshu? She’s worked hard. Harder than I ever have.”

“Yes, but you have something Ginshu doesn’t have.” He points to you. 

“And what would that be?” You hiss out. 

“You’re—“

You snap awake. 

“A dream…” you mumble, knitting your brows. “Just what did he say after that?” You sigh, placing a hand over your face. 

“Why can’t I remember, damn it…”

•••

A few days have passed since the whole villain thing. You’re about to be discharged, but before the hospital will be able to do that they need your information. 

Which, by the way, didn’t exist. 

You sigh. Great. Now not only do you need to fill out your paperwork, but also need to find a legal guardian. 

Speaking of guardians…

It seems your “angel” was here. 

“Yo, [Name]!” Hawks comes in bursting through the door, a more scruffy, tired man in tow behind him. 

You look up from your blank documents. “What.” You flatly inquire, glancing at the stranger. 

“Well, I found you a guardian!” He chirps. 

“Oh hell naw…” You look back at the tired man. “Him?”

He looked disheveled and unkempt. Even as a delinquent-type person yourself, this was too much. 

At least you kept up appearances. 

“Watch it.” The tired guy grumbles, his voice gravelly. 

“Damn.” You mumble under your breath. “Hawks, are you really sure about this guy?” Your head snaps back to Hawks. 

He only smiles and nods. “You’ll be in good hands with Aizawa, kid.” He says as he hands you adoption papers.

“Aizawa..?” You glance down at the document. His name was–

“Aizawa Shouta. I work as a hero. And a teacher at UA.”

Great. Another hero. 

Thanks to the TV provided to you by the hospital, you were able to collect more information about this ship.

Actually, you weren’t even sure if Musutafu is a ship anymore. 

So far, what you know is this:

There are these things called quirks. Quirks are essentially superhuman powers unique to each person. For example, Hawks has his wings and All Might (who you found out about through the news) has… actually, you don’t know the answer to that. 

You don’t have a quirk. You know that for sure. The Mud Whale gives you thymia.

So what are quirks from, you ask?

They are something called a genetic mutation, something that was slowly appearing in humans over the generations.

Oh, and UA?

It’s the most prestigious school for heroes in Japan, and Hawks had mentioned it a few times.

“UA, huh?” You mumble. “So… Aizawa… You will be my guardian?” You inquire.

He nods. “Don’t get your hopes up though, kid. This is a temporary patch while we get you fully situated and a proper family who can take care of you..”

Family.

You would never have a proper family.

Not after Nibi died.

Not after your brother nearly sacrificed himself.

You sigh. All your life, you wanted to see what was outside the Mud Whale.

But now you aren’t so sure.

“Fine then. And what about… a home?” You ask blankly.

“You’ll be going to the nearby middle school, and situated in an apartment for the time being.” Aizawa answers.

“An apartment?” You repeat. “... And school. Right.” Aw shit. You didn’t focus in school– well, it was more of little lessons for the younger kids. But actually, you were nearly always in The Belly, missing those stupid classes.

Hawks grins as he hears the plan “Hey, at least you get to live alone!” He chirps. “I checked it out already– the place is nice, cozy. Your neighbors seem like kind folk as well! Plus, school’s not that bad, right?” 

You look back down at the papers Hawks were handed you.

As much as you hate to admit it, you nearly didn’t want to be left alone.

Why couldn’t Hawks take you in, and not this stranger?

Sure, Hawks wasn’t the best option, but he’s grown on you.

You don’t try to argue, though. You’re sure there’s some kind of logical reason behind this.

But you still couldn’t shake off that heavy feeling in your chest. 

Meeting new people?

Going to school?

Living alone?

You’d be lying if you said you weren’t scared.

A sigh falls from the tired man’s mouth. “Well, here’s some clothes for you to change into. A… colleague helped me pick these out.” He drops a bag on your lap.

“And here’s the keys!” Hawks adds on, tossing the keys to you. You catch them out of reflex. “Once you’re ready, we’ll get you to your new home.”

•••

You stand in front of your apartment, Aizawa and Hawks following behind you.

Aizawa is the first to break the silence. “I’ve got better things to do right now. Like sleep…” He mumbles as he starts to lazily saunter off.

You glance at Hawks. He looked bothered by something.

“What is it.” You ask.

“... Oh. Nothing, really. I was just thinking.”

“About?” 

“You’re 14 right now, right? Next year, you get to go to high school.”

You sigh, exasperated. “What are you getting at?”

“I think you should go to UA and become a hero.” He blurts out.

You swiftly turn to fully face him. “What!?” You snap. “Just because I happen to have a powerful q-quirk doesn’t mean I’m cut out to be a hero.” You hiss.

You didn’t want the stress, or the responsibility of being a hero.

Not after everything that’s happened to you already.

A huff leaves your lips. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to…” You start, looking away from him. It wasn’t like you to lash out like that.

He chuckles. “It’s alright. You still have, like, 7 months to decide.”
And then, something shocking happens.

Yes, even more shocking than Hawks asking you to go to UA.

His hand reaches out, and you brace yourself.

Then… He ruffles your hair.

You clench your hands and your eyes fall to your feet.

The cold metal ridges of the key in your palm press against your skin.

That cold feeling against your skin, the humid air, the salty scent on the breeze; It all reminded you that you weren’t on the Mud Whale anymore.

And there may be no going back.

–

A/n

I’m gonna try and make the chapters longer from now on as I have more content to jam into each chapter. 

Eh, we’ll see!

I’ll see you in the next chapter,

Ryoko

Chapter Text

The sound of ringing fills your apartment as you wake up, slamming a fist down on the stop button.

It’s a Sunday morning, and you promised yourself you’d take a walk outside. 

Throwing on some clothes and pocketing the wallet Hawks gifted you (He gifted you many things over the past week of living in this small flat), and set off.

As you open the door to exit your flat, you look over to the right to see a bushy, green-haired boy leave his home as well.

You both stare at each other for a good few seconds, standing on the platform of your apartment building together. 

“Er…” You felt too awkward to say anything, so you just rigidly turned the other way and walked.

Yeah, until you realized he was walking the same way as you, to the exit. 

“…”

“…”

You both walk in silence, not saying a word to each other as you both leave your floor. 

Finally, after an awkward walk down the stairs, you both part ways, you to the cafe Hawks treated you to once, and him the opposite direction. 

You found that their drinks are good, so you just went there each morning, buying a [drink pref.] each morning and a sandwich to go. 

Of course, money wasn’t too much of  a problem. You were given weekly allowances to make sure you can live comfortably. 

You also have been saving up for a phone, a nifty device that you discovered through news and TV. 

As you were ordering your usual, your ears pick up a chime as the front door opens.

You take a quick glance, and it’s your neighbor again.

You quickly finish up your order and take a seat in the back, hoping he wouldn’t try and strike up a conversation. 

You watch the green-haired boy order his things, then search for a seat, green eyes meeting your [e/c] ones. 

Well, shit. 

He walks over to you, “Uh… Hi.” He clears his throat, “Mind if I sit here? It’s kind of crowded…” He asks, a light blush dusting his cheeks. 

After a moment of contemplation, you answer. “Knock yourself out.” You shrug, not looking up at him. 

“T-Thanks.” He sits down across from you. 

“You’re my neighbor, right? I saw you earlier.” He asks you, to which you only nod. 

“Ah, I see… well, are you going to the local school then?” What was this, an interrogation?

You nod again. 

“If you need any help, you can knock on my door anytime…” He mumbles, looking a bit embarrassed. 

You knit your brows as you observe the boy. 

Was he being for real right now?  

His earnestness was almost disarming. 

Almost. 

“Yeah, thanks.” You take a sip of your drink, “But… I don’t even know your name.” You add. 

“Ah! I’m M-Midoriya Izuku. It’s nice to meet you, uh…”

“[Name]. Aizawa [Name].” The last name felt weird on your lips. 

“Right. Aizawa-san.” He mumbles. 

You take another bite of your sandwich, “You're strange.” You remark bluntly. 

He blushes, looking away. “Yeah… I come off that way to most people.” He replies. 

You sigh. “It’s fine, just… don’t expect me to be all buddy-buddy.” You mumble. 

“O-Of course, no pressure.” He looks down at his lap. 

You hate to admit it, but his offer to help you if you needed it actually touched you a bit. 

Back on the Mud Whale, you never had anyone to rely on, besides Ouni, but he wasn’t really good at emotional stuff. 

You could feel a slight warmth creep up on your cheeks. 

How embarrassing…

“…”

“…”

Another awkward silence. 

“So what’s your deal?” You ask suddenly, surprising even yourself. 

“My deal?”

You nod, “You’re not exactly what I expected when I moved here.”

He tilts his head to the side. “What do you mean?”

You lean back in your chair, looking away. “Never mind. Just forget it.” You run a hand through your hair.

• ••

You and Midoriya ended up chatting a little longer, though it was mainly one-sided. 

He asked you about your quirk at one point, to which you didn’t reply. 

You felt a little bad since he looked genuinely disappointed when you refused to answer. 

Now you were taking a walk down the busy streets of Musutafu, with no exact destination in mind. 

You should probably turn back around, but…

You take in your surroundings. 

Yep, that was definitely it. 

You were lost.  

How motherfucking lovely . 

You sigh, knowing it would take you a while to find your way back. 

Well, you can call this day ruined. 

Or is it?

A pretty blonde boy with red eyes, accompanying his mom seemingly begrudgingly, catches your eye. 

You see him around the park you take afternoon runs near. 

He always looks kind of grumpy, which you found kind of cute. Maybe he can help you get back?

You walk over to him.

“You.” You say sharply. “You live near the public park, right?”

“Hah? What do you want?” He snaps at you, earning a smack on the head from his mother.

Alright, this might’ve been a mistake. But you’re committed now.

“Katsuki! Be nice to the girl.” She scolds. You can only sweatdrop in response to her violence.

“It’s ok, really…” You mumble. “I was just wondering, I’m a bit lost, and I don’t have a phone. Can you please give me directions back to [address]?” You ask her.

She beams. “Yes, of course! That’s in Inko’s apartment complex, isn’t it? How lovely.” She smiles, but it drops once she turns to her son. “Brat. Walk this kind girl home. It’s not like you were doing anything important anyways.” She says sternly.

“ Important?! ” Bakugou’s voice cracks, and you nearly laugh at the pitch change. “I was—ugh, fine!” He glares at you, clearly irritated. “Let’s get this over with.”

You blink, taken aback by how easily his mom shut him down. “Uh… thanks, I guess.”

“Don’t thank me,” Bakugou snaps, shoving his hands into his pockets. “This is a waste of time.”

His mom crosses her arms, giving him a pointed look. “Walk them home, Katsuki. And be nice .”

Bakugou mutters something under his breath but doesn’t argue further. He jerks his head in the direction of the sidewalk. “Come on.”

You follow, keeping a safe distance as he stomps ahead. His frustration is almost comical, though you wisely decide not to comment on it.

“So… you live around here?” you ask, trying to break the silence.

“Yeah,” he replies curtly, not looking back.

“Cool.” You nod, unsure what else to say. This guy wasn’t exactly a conversationalist. But neither were you.

The two of you walk in silence for a while, the bustling streets of Musutafu filling the awkward gaps. You glance at Bakugou occasionally, curious despite his prickly demeanor. There’s something about him—his intensity, maybe—that reminds you of a certain someone from the Mud Whale.

Finally, you reach your apartment building. Bakugou stops at the entrance to the complex, turning to face you with an annoyed expression.

“There. Happy now?”

“Ecstatic,” you reply dryly.

He rolls his eyes. “Whatever. Don’t get lost again, idiot.”

Before you can respond, he turns and starts walking away, his hands still shoved deep in his pockets.

“Thanks, by the way,” you call after him.

He pauses for a split second, his shoulders tensing, but he doesn’t look back. “Tch. Whatever.”

You watch him disappear down the street, the corners of your lips threatening to twitch into a smile. For all his grumpiness, you kind of liked the guy.

It reminded you of home somehow.

Shaking your head, you go inside. Today didn’t go as planned, but maybe it wasn’t so bad after all.

–

A/n 

This is the end of the first arc I have planned. Up next: Canon!

I have a lot planned out, and I’m hoping to figure out a way to end this work within 10 arcs, with 5-6 chapters each! 

I’ll see you in the next chapter,

Ryoko

Chapter Text

A month.

It’s been a month since you arrived in this world—one full of quirks, heroes, and villains. And somehow, against all odds, you’ve started to adapt. You still feel out of place, but at least you’ve managed to find a rhythm.

Midoriya is... surprisingly easy to talk to. He rambles, sure, but it’s endearing in a weird way. And Bakugou? That’s another story. Somehow, amidst all the yelling and insults, you’ve managed to carve out a tentative understanding with him. You’re not sure how that happened, but you’re not complaining.

Not that you’d ever admit it out loud.

You sit in the back of class, staring at the career planning sheet you just turned in. It’s out of your hands now, but the choices you wrote down—Policeman and Hero—linger in your mind like a bad aftertaste.

What were you thinking?

You lean back in your chair, tapping your foot against the dusty floor. Hawks’ suggestion— and his insistence— that you aim for UA looms over you. He means well, but he doesn’t understand. None of them do.

You’re not from here. This isn’t your home.

The Mud Whale feels like a distant memory, but the longing to return gnaws at you every day.

 Voice interrupts your thoughts, “Well, class, I would pass out career apprehension tests, but who am I kidding? We all know every one of you wants to be a hero!” Your lanky teacher says with a grin, making a sour taste in your mouth.

The class cheers, all of them using quirks. They all mess around while the teacher tries to get them to calm down.

You watch with an annoyed glance as Bakugou raises his feet to his desk, leaning back, 

“Oh, come on, teach! Don’t lump me in with these losers. You extras all know you’ll be sidekicks to some D-list heroes at best,” He jabs a thumb as himself. “But me? I’m gonna go to UA, and I’m gonna be number one.” He declares loudly, making some classmates protest, but they all knew better than to pick an actual fight with the Bakugou Katsuki.

“Oh, Midoriya and Aizawa, you are also applying for UA, correct?” Your teacher calls out to you both, and you nearly wince as everyone in the class turned to you both.

“Haha, the quirkless loser and the quiet kid? What a match!”

“Don’t even try to apply, you guys are too weak!”

Midoriya bows his head. “Actually, they changed the rules. Quirkless people are allowed to apply…” He mumbles.

Damn. You nearly felt bad for him. 

“...” You only cross your arms, staying silent. Hopefully this class will be over soon.

•••

Everyone was filing out of class, excited for their downtime after school. You and Bakugou were assigned to clean the classroom today.

As you start to wipe off the chalk from the blackboard, you can hear the sounds of Bakugou harassing Midoriya from behind you.

“Hey, Deku,” The nickname grates your ears, “You seriously think you’re better than me, huh? You quirkless loser.” Bakugou grabs Midoriya’s hero analysis book and burns up the cover. The popping noise stabbed at your ears.

“What is this? Hero Analysis Book for the Future? Are you studying to be a hero, fanboy?”

You grit your teeth and continue to watch.

“You know, there’s a better way to guarantee your admission into UA,” a student– one of Bakugou’s lackeys– starts, “Why don’t you take a swan dive off the roof of a building, and pray you have a quirk in the next life?” The student mocks, the whole posse laughing. You could feel your anger building up by the second.

And then, the final straw.

Bakugou tried to throw Midoriya’s book out the window.

Before you could even think, the marks of your thymia appeared and caught it midair, pulling it in closer to you. 

“I’d rather not have my ears poisoned by your vulgar words.” You snap. “Dickheads.” You add on below your breath.

The classroom goes silent and you sigh. “Bakugou-san, sweep the floor.” You roughly push the broom to him using your thymia as the rest of the group grumbles, walking off. You give a knowing glance to Midoriya as you pass him his notebook, telling him to go home.

•••

A little disgruntled, you took a walk around the city, winding through the streets and looking for a nice place to grab a snack.

“I hope Midoriya’s doing alright…” You mumble.

Scanning the city, you could only click your tongue and shake your head in disappointment as you watch a few people take puffs of cigarettes, passing them around in a small circle.

Why did people enjoy putting smoke and ash into their lungs? You’d never understand it.

Then, you catch Bakugou and his gang loitering in an alleyway.

Then, your eyes dart to the ground not too far from the group of teenage boys. A manhole cover rattles, and an ominous green sludge begins to ooze out, bubbling and twisting into a grotesque form.

“What the hell is that?” you whisper, stepping back instinctively.

Before you can process what’s happening, the sludge villain lunges toward Bakugou, engulfing him in a swirling mass. His screams of anger and panic cut through the air as he thrashes against the grip of the villain.

Civilians and heroes alike form a crowd, nobody with a quirk suitable for the job of defeating the sludge monster. 

For a moment, you thought about stepping in, but then— 

“Kacchan!!!” Midoriya yells, rushing forward without thinking, throwing his bag at the sludge villain and clawing at it, trying to break Bakugou free.

Your heart races as you watch the scene unfold. Just what were these idiots thinking!?

Just as you take a hesitant step forward, a powerful gust of wind tears through the area. You shield your face as a booming voice fills the air.

“Fear not, citizens! For I AM HERE!”

All Might lands with a thunderous impact, his towering figure radiating confidence and power. In a blur of motion, he launches himself at the sludge villain, delivering a devastating punch that scatters the creature and frees Bakugou.

You exhale a shaky breath, relief washing over you as Bakugou collapses to the ground, coughing and gasping for air.

Midoriya stands there, frozen, eyes wide with awe.

You stand there, frozen as well, as All Might turns to address the crowd before dashing off to who knows where. His presence is overwhelming, a reminder of the kind of world you’ve found yourself in.

As the situation settles, you glance at Bakugou, who’s being tended to by his friends. He catches your eye and scowls, as if daring you to say something.

You don’t.

Instead, you turn and walk away, your mind racing.

•••

Back at your apartment that evening, you sit by the window, staring out at the city lights. The events of the day replay in your mind—the sludge villain, All Might, and the raw fear you felt in that moment.

You grip the windowsill tightly.

This world is dangerous. You’ve known that since you arrived, but today was a harsh reminder.

If you’re going to survive here, you need to make a choice.

Will you become a hero?

The words you wrote on your career planning paper flash in your mind. For the first time, they don’t feel like some side quest or joke.

You laugh bitterly.

“I think I’m starting to see the ideal of smoking…” 

–

A/n

We’ve officially entered season 1! I’m so excited! I’m trying to take a different approach with this compared to other fics I’ve read where the main character is immediately glued to Midoriya or some other character without knowing them for too long since I don’t think [Name]’s characterization would allow them to get attached to someone they met like, a month ago. Especially since they are not aware of the plot of MHA. Friendships don’t come easily to someone who just got thrown into a new whole-ass world.

I’ll see you in the next chapter,

Ryoko

Chapter Text

You weren’t one for gifts and festivity.

The common room buzzes with holiday energy, laughter echoing off the walls as everyone waits for the gift exchange to begin. You sit with a small, brightly wrapped box in your lap, feeling a strange warmth in your chest as people laugh and cheer around you. 

Bakugou, on the other hand, stands off to the side, eyes narrowed as he glares at the long box in his hands. Wrapped plainly in dark paper, it holds his gift to you—something he spent far more time thinking about than he’d ever admit.

•••

A few days earlier...

When Bakugou pulled your name from the bowl, his first reaction was irritation.

“Why’d it have to be them?” he muttered, crumpling the slip of paper in his fist. Yet, even with his grumbling, he found himself thinking. You weren’t just anyone. You were complicated—quiet, observant, and carried an air of mystery that piqued his interest more than he cared to acknowledge.

One evening, when Kirishima invited him to browse some shops, Bakugou caught sight of a wooden stand displaying hand-carved weapons. Among them was a battle staff, the kind used by warriors of old, but with intricate carvings etched along its length. It reminded him of the marks that painted your skin when you fought.

“Tch. This’ll do,” he said, picking it up and pretending not to notice the raised brow Kirishima gave him.

•••

“Mina!” you call, presenting your gift to her with a small smile.

Her eyes light up as she tears into the wrapping. “Oh my gosh, [Name], this is perfect!” she exclaims, showing off the nail polishes and earrings to the others. “You totally get me!”

You nod, genuinely glad she likes it. But then, before you can get too comfortable, Bakugou approaches. His expression is as sour as ever as he shoves the box into your hands.

“Take it,” he mutters. “Before I change my mind.”

You blink in surprise and slowly unwrap the paper. Your breath catches in your throat as you see what’s inside—a beautifully carved battle staff, polished to a warm sheen, with delicate, swirling patterns running along its length. It invoked something deep inside you, a feeling that you had shoved deep down in the depths of your mind when you first appeared in Musutafu. The intricate patterns on the staff brought back memories rushing back in a tide you hadn’t expected. Your mind, momentarily, was brought back to a hot and dry summer way that you spent with a teenage Shuan, your hands tracing the long-forgotten inscriptions on the Mud Whale’s mossy walls.

Your fingers brush over the carvings, tracing the patterns. You’re stunned. “How did you…?” You start, the words sticking in your throat. You clasp your hands together tightly, an old tradition on the Mud Whale you promised never to use.

Bakugou shifts uncomfortably, avoiding your eyes. “Just saw it and thought it looked like something you’d use. It’s not a big deal.”

Kirishima whistles low. “Dude, that’s actually really thoughtful. You made a good pick!”

“Shut it!” Bakugou snaps, ears turning red. “It’s just a piece of wood.”

“It’s perfect,” You say softly, meeting Bakugou’s eyes for a brief moment. Your gaze is filled with gratitude that makes his face flush even more. “Thank you.”

The room goes quiet for a moment, everyone glancing between the two of you with varying degrees of surprise and amusement. Mina leans over with a sly smile. “Wow, Bakugou, didn’t know you had a soft side.”

“Can it, Pinky!” He barks, turning on his heel and storming off.

You hold the battle staff close, a warmth spreading through your body. The room’s noise fades into the background as you take in the weight of the gift in your hands. 

You were never one for gifts and festivity.

But as you watched everyone, laughter and cheer surrounding you…

Maybe, just maybe you could find it in yourself to enjoy it for once.

–

A/n

Happy holidays, dear readers!

I thought I might as well write something nice and heartwarming for the holidays.

Maybe it’s just me, but imagining this chapter brought me some kind of happiness. 

I’ll see you in the next chapter,

Ryoko 🎄

Chapter Text

You skid against the padded floor of the dojo, your aura snaking your skin.

You were in the middle of training with Hawks for UA, which you agreed to do only once he promised to treat you to breakfast for the next few days. 

You push against Hawks’ feathers with your thymia, creating a resistance.

It wasn’t that hard for you to push him back, but you were still lacking in hand-to-hand combat without a staff (just like the Vigilante Corps’ weapons), so you need to try and keep your distance till he gives up.

Hawks smirks, his golden eyes glinting with amusement as he flaps his wings, sending another flurry of feathers your way.

“C’mon, kid. You’re gonna have to do better than that if you want to survive out there.”

You grit your teeth, focusing your thymia to form a barrier against the incoming feathers. The translucent aura flickers briefly but holds strong. Hawks barely seems to be breaking a sweat, his movements as effortless as a breeze, which pissed you off a little.

“You think I’m not trying?” you snap, darting to the side to avoid a larger feather aimed at your legs. “Why don’t you stop messing around and fight me for real?”

“Oh? You’re saying I’m going easy on you?” Hawks tilts his head, his grin widening. “Alright, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

In a blur of motion, Hawks closes the gap between you two, his feathers retracting as he prepares to engage in close combat. You throw up your arms to block his strike, but his speed is dizzying. You barely manage to deflect a hit aimed at your side when his knee connects lightly with your stomach, sending you stumbling back, the wind knocked out of you.

Damn it.

You push further with your thymia, the familiar warmth pooling in your chest as the aura around you intensifies. You launch a wave of force toward him, but this time, something feels… wrong. The energy surges out of you, darker and heavier than before, and the room seems to grow colder.

Hawks’ eyes widen, and he immediately takes to the air, his wings flaring as a precaution.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa—hold up!” he shouts, watching your “quirk” morph into something different. Something dark. “What the hell is that?”

You freeze, staring at your own hands in horror as the blackened thymia twists around your fingers like smoke. It’s not the soft, fluid energy you’ve always known— this feels wild, oppressive, and apathetic.

“I… I…” you stammer, your voice trembling as you suppress the black thymia. You quickly drop your hold on Hawks’ feathers the moment you see that terrifying, inky black aura. You collapse to your knees while Hawks lands a few feet away, his expression a mix of concern and caution. 

The way your eyes changed… It sent chills down his spine.

“Alright, that’s enough for today,” he says, folding his wings tightly against his back. His usually playful tone is serious now. “We’re calling this off before you end up damaging something—or yourself.”

You nod numbly, still shaken by the familiar power of black thymia. The fact you were able to harness the power that the Apátheia used to massacre your people… It terrified you.

•••

You and Hawks sit on a bench in the park near your home, eating some snacks he got for the both of you at the konbini.

“So… What was that?” Hawks breaks the silence. “While we were sparring. Your quirk was… different.”

You felt something heavy wrap around your heart as you took a deep breath. What do you do? Tell this guy the truth? That you had no fucking clue what a quirk was, that you were from the Sea of Sand?

No. Don’t be dumb.

As much as you wished to lift the weight on your shoulders, explaining everything would only make things worse for you. After all, you still don’t know if you can trust anyone here.

You finally speak, “It’s a drawback of my…. Quirk.” You start slowly. “If I overuse my power, it turns into that, and… I lose control of my emotions.” A simple lie, but it’d do the trick. “Trust me, I don’t enjoy it either.”

Hawks glances at you, his gaze softening. “Hey, don’t beat yourself up. Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out. But you gotta tell me if you feel something like that coming on again, alright? No hiding it.”

You nod silently, unsure of what else to say.

Hawks hops up from the bench. “Welp! Onto the next line of business! You wanted to visit that kid who got attacked by the sludge villain, right? Let’s go.” He grins, pulling you up as you sweatdrop.

“Y-Yeah. Let’s go…”

•••
It was a quick walk, and you were allowed a visit since Bakugou’s condition wasn’t that bad.

In fact, the nurse said he would be discharged by tomorrow morning at the latest. That puts a slight amount of ease on you, at least.

You knock on the room’s door lightly before letting yourself in. “Bakugou-san?” You call out.

“Eh? What are you doing here, extra?” He immediately snaps. Well, he was surely bristly as ever.

“Checking on you, dumbass.” You quip, only getting a click of the tongue from him. You sigh.

“And also… I wanted to address something.” You add uneasily. You weren’t good at emotional stuff, but here goes. “When your friend told Midoriya-san to kill himself… I won’t lie, it pissed me off.” You look into his eyes, “It’s not ok to joke about shit like that, and honestly? You got exactly what was coming at you after all those years of bullying Midoriya-san.” 

Your words stab at Bakugou, each articulation twisting at his gut.

“What the hell do you know, huh?” Bakugou scowls. “You don’t know shit about me or Deku, Kaonashi.” (1)

You blink. Kaonashi? He just called you No-Face? Really? 

Whatever.

 “You’re right. I don’t know shit about you. I just randomly barged into your life a month ago.” You continue, “And I hate to brag, but I’m pretty damn good at observing. You treat Midoriya-san like dirt under your heel. And for what? A few laughs?” You clench your fists, “It pisses me off.”

Bakugou glares at you again, but it lacks the heat from before. He looks more frustrated than angry. "Shut up. You don’t get it."

"Maybe I don’t," you admit, shrugging. "But I do know this: you’re wasting your energy trying to keep him down when you could be using it to push yourself forward. If you really want to prove you’re the best, then stop acting like a petty brat and start acting like a real hero."

The room falls into an awkward silence, the only sound the faint hum of the hospital equipment. Bakugou doesn’t respond, but his expression is unreadable. You sigh, realizing you might’ve said too much.

"Anyway," you mumble, rubbing the back of your neck, "Just... think about it, okay? I’m not saying you have to be best friends with him or anything, but maybe stop being such a jerk."

As you turn to leave, Bakugou’s voice stops you in your tracks.

"Tch. Fine," he mutters, barely loud enough for you to hear. "I’ll think about it. But don’t expect me to change overnight, dumbass."

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” You say sarcastically as you exit.

Hopefully you were able to talk some sense into your hot-headed classmate.

–

A/n

 (1) For those who don’t know, Kaonashi is the wandering spirit in Spirited Away, also known as No-Face in the English version, if I recall correctly. Kaonashi’s name literally means “faceless”, which I thought fit [Name]’s personality through the lens of Bakugou, who has only really seen the cold and indifferent side of them. According to Screen Rant, Kaonashi represents loneliness & abandonment, which also, to me, added another layer of meaning to this nickname given to [Name].

Honestly, I’m not very proud of this chapter. It’s a bit rushed, don’t you think?

Yeah.

I’ll see you in the next chapter,

Ryoko

Chapter Text

It’s a bit of a routine you’ve set up. 

Both You and Midoriya exit your apartments at 6:00 AM on the weekends. 

You both don’t utter a word, just walk in comfortable silence as you both go your separate ways; you to your usual cafe and him to the beach. 

You were awfully curious as to what he did there each morning. 

So you continue with your morning routine, but this time, you had some time before you had to get to the cafe. 

So this time… you went to the beach.

You follow Midoriya at a distance, making sure to keep your footsteps light on the pavement. Curiosity has been gnawing at you for weeks—what exactly does he do here every morning? It’s not as if the beach is some tourist hotspot. In fact, it’s the opposite; the place is littered with junk, a veritable graveyard for old appliances, rusty bikes, and debris.

You peek from behind a weathered fence, watching as Midoriya reaches the sand. He sets down his backpack and immediately starts stretching, a look of determination on his face. Your brows furrowed in confusion. Why is he acting like he’s gearing up for a workout?

Before you can figure it out, a tall, blond man steps into view. You blink in surprise. Wait a minute… is that—?

“All Might,” you whisper to yourself, recognizing the unmistakable silhouette of the No. 1 Hero. The man’s larger presence is hard to miss. You hunch lower behind the fence, your heart racing. What is he doing here with Midoriya?

The two begin talking, though you can’t make out their words over the sound of the waves. Then Midoriya nods and starts moving debris, dragging a massive chunk of metal across the sand. You watch, astonished, as he keeps at it, sweat pouring down his face. All Might occasionally steps in, giving guidance or encouragement, though his voice is too distant to decipher.

“Training,” you mutter under your breath. “He’s training for something.”

Your mind races. Why would All Might be training him? From what little you know of Midoriya, he’s quirkless—though you haven’t asked directly. You’ve been careful not to bring up anything too personal with him, respecting the unspoken boundaries of your tentative… friendship. But this? This raises more questions than you have answers.

You glance at the time on the phone you recently bought with your allowance. The thing isn’t fancy, but it works for calls, texts, and keeping track of time. Hawks teased you about your “retro taste,” but you didn’t mind. The phone was functional, and for now, that’s all you needed.

Ding! And suddenly, you’re snapped out of your daze and you quickly check your phone.

You scowl as you see that obnoxious unknown contact message you again.

(Sent 06:25 AM) [XXX] You can’t run away forever. 

You didn’t even know what that meant! It infuriated you to no end. Also, how did this mystery person find your number!? You shut your phone off. 

Still, you can’t help but feel the pull of curiosity. Should you confront Midoriya about this? Or let him keep his secrets?

Before you can decide, you hear All Might’s booming voice, startling you out of your thoughts. He’s back in his iconic, muscular form, pointing dramatically toward Midoriya, who looks ready to collapse.

“DO IT AGAIN, YOUNG MIDORIYA! A TRUE HERO DOES NOT QUIT!”

Midoriya groans but nods, picking up yet another piece of heavy junk. Your chest tightens at the sight. He looks like he’s on the verge of breaking, yet he keeps going. You can’t tell if it’s admirable or insane.

Well, now you should go on with your morning run.

•••
As you enter the cafe at 7:30 on the dot, you see him.

Your guardian, Aizawa. You both decided on a biweekly meetup to make sure you were alive, at the least.

You take a seat across from the tired hero. “Aizawa.” You greet.

“[Name]. You look tired.” He comments, seeing your tired form. It was like looking into a mirror. Almost. “Something happen?”

“Nothing,” you lie, shrugging. “Just… tired.”

He doesn’t buy it, of course, but he doesn’t press either. Instead, he pulls out a folder and hands it to you. “Well, Hawks went ahead and recommended you for UA. You don’t have to go, of course, but that bird brain wanted me to go over some details with you.”

You nod absentmindedly, flipping through the papers as he explains something about the entrance exams and the hero course. You were aware of a few things you’d need to do if you went through with this, one of which was publicity.

Ah yes, the one thing that you wanted to avoid. If the Apátheia found you because you were on national TV for a stupid sports festival… Well, you’d never forgive yourself.

Your fists clench. 

“Kid. Don’t doze off now.” He snaps you out of your daze.

“Right…” You mumble.

After what felt like an eternity, Aizawa finally finished going over each part of the UA entrance exam for recommended students.

“Now that that’s all out of the way, how’s… everything going, I guess?” The tired man asks, and you only give him an indifferent shrug.

“School’s easier than I expected. I met some people who’re tolerable.” You reply nonchalantly.

“That’s good.”  He nods.

“...”

“...”

Well, you knew your adoptive father-not-father was going to be awkward, but you didn’t expect it to go downhill so quickly.

You clear your throat. “So this is the part where you try to guilt-trip me into going to UA?” 

He raises a brow. “I don’t do guilt-tripping. Only rational deceptions.” 

“That’s a strange way of saying guilt-tripping.” You comment.

He sighs. “I’m not going to try and convince you to go to UA. Having you there might just make my job all the more tiring and inefficient.” He crosses his arms, leaning back in his seat. “Listen, I know Hawks wants you to become a hero. I couldn’t care less why. I won’t try to push you to do something that you don’t want to do.” He explains.

“... Oh. That’s nice, I guess.” Was your only reply to his somewhat heartfelt words.

Aizawa studies you quietly for a moment. “I get it. It’s a big decision. But I’ll say this—doing nothing won’t help you figure things out.”

You flinch slightly at the accuracy of his words, though you try to cover it with an eye roll. “Yeah, yeah. You sound just like Masoh.”

Aizawa doesn’t exactly know who Masoh is, but he shrugs it off for now. “I’ll pretend I know who that is. Seriously, though. If you’re this stressed about it, then maybe it’s worth considering. It’s not like you’re committing your life to it right now.”

You sigh, drumming your fingers on the table. “It’s not just the decision,” you admit, albeit reluctantly. “It’s… what happens after. What if…” You trail off, biting your lip. You don’t finish the thought, and you know he won’t understand. What if going to UA puts everything at risk?

“What if what?” Aizawa presses.

You shake your head. “It’s nothing. I was just lost in thought.”

“Alright…” He runs a hand through his unruly hair. “Well, if you need any help, I guess, you can just message me.” He grumbles. 

His words settle a little of the unease in your chest, though you still feel the weight of everything looming over you. “I’ll… keep that in mind,” you say at last.

Aizawa nods, leaning back in his chair like that was all he needed to hear. “Good. That’s all I have to say.”

The conversation shifts to mundane topics—school, your adjustment to life here, and a few snide remarks about Hawks being a nuisance. By the time you leave the cafe, the folder tucked under your arm, your mind feels a little less clouded.

As you walk home, the thought lingers. Maybe UA wasn’t just Hawks trying to shove ”the hero agenda” shit down your throat. Maybe it could be a step toward finding some answers— or at least a sense of direction.

By the time you reach your apartment door, you’ve made your decision. You glance at the folder again, clutching it tightly.

“Fine,” you mutter to yourself. 

“I’ll give this hero thing a shot.”

–

A/n

I think this is my longest chapter yet! Though it was a little bit of a filler, I think it was a good chapter nonetheless :)

4 chapters left till the USJ arc!

I’ll see you in the next chapter,

Ryoko

Chapter Text

You wake up early today. 

It was time for you to take the UA entrance exam. 

After a grueling 6 months of training with Hawks, who was truly a formidable opponent, he deemed you ready and sent you off on your way. 

You vividly remember his words, they were along the lines of  “It’s time for you to leave the nest, chick!” Or something even dumber. It was probably one of the worst jokes he’s made so far. 

Your phone is flooded with affirmations from Hawks, and they wouldn't stop going as you ignored his messages. 

Aizawa, on the other hand, just gave you a dry “Good luck kid.”, which was nice. 

As you hop on the train to UA, you finally decide to respond to Hawks.

(07:30)

[Hawks] Hey kiido!

Food lock!

Food luck**

GOOD**

LUCK**

It’s hard to type and fly at the aame time! ٩( ᐛ )و

Good luck again!!!

J believe in ypu!

[Name] Thanks.

 (Seen)

You click your tongue as you see his atrocious typing skills. Did he have the autocorrect feature turned off or something?

•••

After a quick walk from the station, you arrive at the UA gates. It was larger than you expected…

There were a few others here already. The few that caught your eyes seemed to be powerful. 

First, a tall boy who exuded a charismatic vibe. He was well-toned, as you could see from the shape of his arms under his athletic wear. 

Second, a girl with jet-black hair and an approachable look to her. She was chowing down on… were those candies?

And third, a boy with red and white hair, the colors perfectly divided in the middle of his head. There was a large burn scar on one side of his face.

You walk past them all as you go to place your belongings in a locker, then to the lockers to change. 

It didn’t take long for you to prepare, and soon you were issued a number and told to wait with the others.

Anxiety-filled minutes pass, some students flipping through notes, some warming up their quirks, and others simply trying to calm down. 

You, on the other hand, couldn’t help but feel nothing. For you, it didn’t matter if you got into UA or not. You're only going because Hawks begged you to.

The first part of the exam was the written portion. You aced all the practice tests Hawks shoved down your throat, so you were confident. 

•••

As you expected, the written test was simple. It was just a few questions about the law, then simple academic questions.

Now was when it got real. 

The practical exam. 

You didn’t know what to expect for this, if you were being honest. All you knew is that you’d be forced to use your quirk. 

You walk over to the field that everyone else was going to, and as you enter you stare in awe. 

The field could barely even be called a field. It had everything from natural terrain to bridges and even large stone walls. 

“AAAALRIGHT! THAT’S ALL FOR THE WRITTEN PORTION!! WHO’S READY FOR THE PRACTICAL EXAM?? YEAH!!!” A very, oh so very loud voice booms, making you and a few others flinch out of their thoughts. 

Ah. Aizawa warned you about this guy. Present Mic, a hero teaching at UA. He’s a walking megaphone, and an even larger walking annoyance. 

“In this portion of the exam, you will all be undergoing a 3 kilometer marathon in groups of six! Feel free to make use of your quirks to get there the fastest! Your numbers will be called at random! YEAH!!!” Mic explains. 

You sigh. Lovely. Just lovely. 

You look at the field. It seemed pretty straight-forward, but how the hell were you going to get through this thing before anyone else?

And then it hit you like a baseball bat to the back of the head. 

Yes, it was easy. You would just—

You snap out of your thoughts as you hear your number called. 

You sigh and take your place at the starting line, standing right between the tall boy and the multicolor-haired boy. 

And the moment you hear “GO!”, everyone dashes, a flurry of ice and wind whipping your face. 

Immediately, you activate your thymia, allowing your aura to glow on your skin. 

You slash at a nearby boulder, creating a slightly curved slab of stone and hop onto it, controlling the rock with your thymia as you use it as a makeshift sled.

The idea came to you when you remembered how recon teams would maneuver small boats when we went scrapping at abandoned ships and islands. 

Of course, you weren’t the fastest. Those two boys you were next to were far ahead of you. But everyone else was eating your dust as you picked up the pace. 

You felt like everything went by in a flash (probably because it did), and before you knew it you were at the finish line, right at the tail of the two guys. 

You reached for the finish line, and—

“It’s a photo finish! Number 41 comes in first, with 23 second and 77 third!” Present Mic announces. 

You sigh. Third wasn’t the worst, but it wasn’t that good either. Now all you had going for you was the interview. 

“I won! Yeah!!!” Number 41 (you didn’t know his name yet,) cheers, “Now that I think of it, aren’t you Endeavor’s kid?! You were amazing!” He says passionately. 

Number 23 scowls and says something under his breath, causing Number 41 to lose his bright smile. 

You felt a vein pulse on your forehead. This was surely going to escalate. 

You lightly use a puff of force to put some space between the two. “Cut it out. The exam isn't over yet.” You chide. 

With a slightly exasperated look, you leave the two boys grumbling to themselves as you walk off. 

•••

You know, a rat was the last thing you expected to see when you entered the interview. 

You stare down at it. “A rat..?” You mumble, to which the white fluffy creature chuckles. 

“Am I a rat? Am I a bear? A mouse? A dog? I've gotten those before. But no! I am Nezu, UA’s principal.” The rat— Nezu, says, making you jump back a little. “Please, take a seat. Would you care for some tea?” Nezu asks as he pours himself a glass. 

“Uh…” You sit down across from him. “I’m good, thanks.” You say curtly. “I’d rather not waste any more time. Shall we start the interview?”

Nezu beams and nods. “I see. No beating around the bush with you! I can see why you got two heroes vouching for you.” He says as he pulls out some papers. 

You raise a brow. “Two? I’m aware of Hawks, but who is this second one?” You ask.

“Ahaha, I’m sure you’re smart enough to figure that out on your own. Now then…” He clears his throat. “I’m aware of your strange situation, Aizawa [Name]. You mysteriously showed up one day on the beach with severe injuries, and you were in none of Japan’s databases. You’re a peculiar one for sure. So, let me ask you this… Why do you want to become a hero?”

You freeze in place. “…” Shit, why didn’t you think about your answer to this?! You knew they would ask this, damn it!

You look down at your clasped hands and take a breath. Just say whatever sounds right…

“I can’t really say. I just do. I want to save people.” You look up at Nezu with resolve in your eyes. “I know it’s a lousy story, but it’s only normal to want to save people, right?”

He writes down some things on a notepad. “I see. Well, next question! Do you believe you belong here?”

The question, just as the first one did, takes you by surprise. But you’re ready this time. “Honestly, no. But I don’t belong anywhere to begin with, do I?” You pause. “If I don’t belong, then I’ll make myself belong.” You sharply answer. This stupid rat didn’t seem to be that stupid. 

You could tell; Nezu was looking straight through your thin veil of lies. He knew you weren’t one of them. He knew you didn’t have a quirk. He knew you didn’t come form this land. And if you were being honest, you’d say it scared you. 

You and Nezu go back and forth for a while, and he asks you some simple questions, scribbling down things on his notepad. You managed to get a peek, and he just wrote one sentence, which you couldn’t quite read in time, and a ton of doodles of… himself? Weird. 

“Hm… alright, that is all I have for you, Aizawa-san. Please have a good day!” He closes his notepad and you stand up. 

“Thank you, Principal Nezu.” You say as you exit. The moment you close the door behind you, you take a deep breath. 

You take a seat next to the boy with the scar on his right side— Number 23. It seems like he was also done with his interview. 

The both of you share a glance, and you both seem to convey the same message to each other: “Please, for the love of god, don’t talk to me.” 

You both look back to the blank wall, enjoying a moment of silence with each other as you wait for the exam to be completely over so you could go home. 

•••

After about an hour, the exam was finally over. Everyone had done their interviews and now it was time to go home. 

As you and Number 23 stand, you both start to speak at the same time to each other. 

“I’m Todoro—“

“I’m Aizawa—“

You both stop to stare at each other. 

“Todoroki—“

“Aizawa [Na—“

Another pause. 

“You first.” You offer. 

“I’m Todoroki Shoto. Pleased to make your acquaintance.” He says in a formal tone. 

“Ah. I’m Aizawa [Name]. Likewise.” You reply. 

And without another word, you both head to the exit. 

As you were about the leave the large campus, you get stopped by the tall boy; Number 41.

“Ah! You're the one that placed third!” He calls to you, beaming. “You were so cool! You control over your telekinesis really shows your passion! I’m Yoarashi Inasa! Please call me Inasa!” He bows down to you ground, making you sweat drop. 

“Er… alright, Yoarashi-san.” You mutter. “I should probably go—“ You’re cut off by a tap on your shoulder. It was the kind-looking girl. 

“Hey, are you ready to go? We don’t want to keep our friends waiting.” She says. 

You stare at her for a moment, the gears in your brain whirring. 

Oh!

She thought Yoarashi was harassing you. That was kinda cute of her to step in. 

“R-Right. Let’s go.” You say quickly, not wanting to embarrass her. You quickly say a goodbye to Yoarashi as you walk off with the girl. 

After you're a good distance away from the school, she sighs. “Sorry. Are you ok? You just looked really uncomfortable while that guy was talking to you…” She starts.

You stare at her for a few moments before a little breath of air leaves your mouth, and you slowly burst into small bubbles of laughter. 

You let your laughter die down. “I’m sorry, you just…” A smile lingers on your lips as you see her face bloom into a deep red. 

“Oh my god! Did I overstep? I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to—“ She was about to bow to you before you stopped her. 

“I don’t mind, really. You gave me a good excuse to get out of there quickly.” You assure her. “Thanks.” You clear your throat, slowly returning to your usual demeanor. “I’m Aizawa [Name]. And you are..?”

“Oh! I’m Yaoyorozu Momo. Nice to meet you Aizawa-san!” She chirps. “Sorry if this is too direct, but may I… get your number, maybe?” She asks, her cheeks cooling down slowly while she opens up a new contact, wanting you to put in your contact info. 

“Oh. Sure.” You take the phone from her, putting in your number. “I should probably go now. I’ll message you when I’m home.” You say, waving goodbye to her. 

•••

When you get home, you’re greeted by a few messages you missed this morning, and one from Yaoyorozu.

Specifically, a good luck from Midoriya. The other 30 messages from Hawks could wait. 

You sigh. 

“Sorry Midoriya.” You mumble, shutting off your phone. 

—

A/n

Next chapter, [Name] will be meeting 1-A! I’m so excited to finally introduce more characters!

3 more chapters till the USJ arc!

I’ll see you in the next chapter,

Ryoko

Chapter Text

“Congratulations, Aizawa [Name]! You have been accepted into UA High!” 

You grit your teeth as you watch the sinister, beady eyes of the rat on the projection. It was like the principal was taunting you. 

“From the moment I saw you, I just knew you would be perfect for our school.”

Damn liar.

You stare down at the box that came with the letter. It was your uniform. 

“We look forward to seeing you in Class 1-A this upcoming school year! And remember: Always aim for plus ultra! ” 

•••

You lean against the railing of the complex, waiting for Midoriya to get ready. 

You sigh. Just how slow was this kid? It couldn’t be that hard to put on some clothes! And you thought women were supposed to be the slow ones…

A few more moments pass, and you hear the clatter of shoes at the door. Finally, Midoriya emerges. “S-Sorry Aizawa-san! I’m ready now! I’m just so anxious, I spent too much time in the mirror making sure I look my best…”

“Hmf. Took you long enough.” You say, but your words carry a bit less of a bite than usual. You hated to admit it, but you were pretty anxious too.

Then, the both of you set off for UA. 

The commute wasn’t that bad with Midoriya, though your uniforms definitely caught eyes. 

“Wow… UA! I can’t believe I’m finally here! And with you, Aizawa-san!” Midoriya exclaims. 

“Yeah…” You mumble, a bit less enthusiastic. 

You both navigate the large building, your eyes landing on the large door labeled “1-A”. You both reach for the door at the same time, his hand landing on top of yours, to which you jerk your hand away, moving it to the back of your neck where a deep scar from when you first entered this world. 

You had a lot of scars from that battle. They served as phantom reminders of your goal to get home. 

You avoid eye contact with Midoriya as he opens the door, and you're greeted with a rigid voice. 

“Don’t put your feet up on the desk! That is very unbecoming of a UA student! Not to mention disrespectful!” A blue-haired boy with glasses does little hand-chops in the air. 

“Haah? I don’t think I will! Just what middle school did you go to anyways, you two-bit extra?!” The annoying blond snaps. 

“I went to a private sch- Ahem. I am from Soumei Junior High School. My name is Iida Tenya.” He says. 

“Hah, Soumei? So you think youre some kind of elite, that’s it? Looks like I got a reason to beat you after all!” Bakugou barks. 

“Why you— EH?!” Iida jumps back as you shoot a piece of chalk right at Bakugou’s forehead. 

“Bah— Kaonashi! What was that for?!” 

You only glare at him in response.

In all honesty, if you weren’t so pent up from repeated defeats while sparring Hawks and trying to figure out who that mystery contact is, you wouldn’t have hit him at all. 

“Kao… nashi?” Iida mumbles, staring at you dumbfounded. He quickly collects himself. “I’m Iida Tenya of Soumei Junior High! It’s nice to meet you, Kaonashi-san! And, uh…”

“Midoriya Izuku. We heard you earlier…” He smiles sheepishly. 

“Midoriya-san… I must admit, I completely misread you! You saw that there was more to the exam, and I was blind to it!” Iida starts to rant. 

“Oh, it’s you! The curly haired boy!” A new voice joins in the mix. What was this, overstimulation station?! “I’m glad we’re in the same class!” She gives a small grin. 

You slowly start to slink back into a corner while Midoriya (barely) manages to hold a conversation with the girl, nearing Todoroki, until a flash of yellow catches your attention. 

Ah yes, you knew that shade of yellow very well. 

It was Aizawa Shota, your adoptive father. 

You sigh, knowing this would be a handful of a class. 

“This is the department…” He pulls a jelly drink packet from his sleeping bag. You can only think about how distasteful the lukewarm jelly must be. “… Of heroics!!” He sucks in the jelly.

“I’m Aizawa Shota. I’ll be your sensei for your time here at UA.” He says, his voice borderline annoyed. 

You sigh with exasperation, the entire class going rigid as they watch the man on the floor. 

“Hm… It took you 8 seconds to quiet down. Life is short, kids. You’re all lacking some common sense.” You can only scoff at his words, earning you a glare and a raised brow. “Got a problem?” He questions. 

You shake your head. “No sir.”

Aizawa shakes his head and continues with his little lecture, pulling out PE uniforms. “Put these on. Immediately. Don’t waste time.” He hands each person a uniform as everyone rushes to the locker rooms. 

•••

“Quirk apprehension test?!” A girl with pink skin exclaims loudly, everyone else following along with her shock. 

“What about orientation? Or the guidance counselor meeting?!” The brown-haired girl who approached Midoriya asked. 

“If you want to be heroes, we don’t have time for frilly niceties.” Is the only thing your sensei says in response. “You all understand UA is known for its freedom on campus.” Actually, you didn’t know that. But you’ll put that info to good use in the future. “Well, that freedom goes for us senseis too.” He grumbles. 

“You all know the drill for physical activities from middle school. But now… I’ll let you use your quirks.” He continues. “Bakugou.” He throws a softball to the hotheaded boy, “How far could you pitch a softball in middle school?”

“67 meters.” Damn. It was like that was his greatest achievement in life so he memorized the number. 

“Try using your quirk this time around. As long as you don’t leave the circle, I’ll allow it.” Aizawa says.

 Bakugou takes a deep breath.

“DIE!!” 

He pitches the ball, explosions going off. 

Bakugou’s smirk was downright feral when  he activated his quirk, launching the ball into the sky with an explosive bang. When the result pops up on the screen: 705.2 meters. The class erupts in awe.

You cross your arms, unimpressed. “Show-off,” you mutter.

“Woah!”

“705?! That’s so manly!”

“Cool!”

“This is gonna be so fun!”

Aizawa’s eyes snap to the onlooking class. “Fun, you say? You plan to spend three years here, and use them goofing off?” His eyes send shivers down the spines of your classmates. “Fine then. I’ll throw a new rule into the mix: You’ll all be ranked. Whoever ranks lowest will be immediately expelled. It’ll give me a good excuse to even out our number of students.”

Even you wince at that. You knew he was being deadass right now. 

Your classmates start to mutter with worry, their excitement nowhere to be found now. 

As the test progresses, you do your best to keep up. Some events, like the 50-meter dash, are a breeze thanks to your training with Hawks (And Shuan, of course). Others, like the sustained sideways jump, remind you that thymia isn’t omnipotent.

Then comes the ball throw. Aizawa hands you the ball, his gaze sharp. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Taking a deep breath, you let your thymia flow through your body, feeling the familiar energy wrap around your arms. You hurl the ball with everything you’ve got, watching as it soars into the distance.

The screen flashes your result: 412.8 meters. Not bad, but not Bakugou-level.

“Not terrible,” Aizawa remarks, though his tone is as dry as ever. “But you’ve got room for improvement.” You could only glare at your father for that one. 

Everyone takes their merry time pitching the softball, one girl getting infinity as her distance, which was quite admirable, and the others get fairly good results. 

Then, it came to Midoriya’s turn. You could feel his anxiety seeping out of him and sticking to you. 

You watch as he reels his arm back, his veins glowing as his… wait, since when did he have a quirk?!

Beep!

“46 meters.” Aizawa reveals the number. “I erased your quirk.” He sighs. “It defies reason. Just how did someone like you get into this academy?” Aizawa tugs at his scarf. 

“W-Wait!” Midoriya exclaims. “You erased it?! And those goggles— oh my god!” You dryly chuckle as he starts to fanboy. “You're The Erasure hero: Eraserhead!”

The crowd starts to murmur again. Some saying that they’ve head his name before, others completely confused on who this guy is. 

“From what I’ve seen, you cripple yourself each time you use your quirk, meaning you can’t use it efficiently at all.” Aizawa says strictly. “Do you seriously expect to get one hit in, then have someone come and save you? Preposterous.” He spits out. “Nobody will come to your aid in a real battle.”

Your teacher sighs. “Let’s get this over with. I gave you back your quirk.”

Midoriya goes to pitch the ball again, and—

“See, sensei..? I’m still standing!” He says shakily, gently cradling his broken finger, which made Aizawa grin. 

Beep!

“705.3 meters.” 

Even Bakugou stares in shock, but quickly snaps out of it as he stomps to the greenette. 

“Damn you, Deku!! Explain this now!” Crackles go off on his palms, speeding him up. 

You quickly step up, grabbing Bakugou by the back of his collar to hold him back. 

You freeze there, waiting for explosions to pop in your face, but they never do. 

“Jeez… Don’t make me use my quirk so much. I’ve got dry eye, damn it!” Aizawa scowls. 

Oh. Of course, how could you forget? 

You scoff. “Sensei, you shouldn’t overexert yourself. Or should I call you Eraserhead?” You give him a look mixed with mirth and something colder. 

You facepalm, still keeping a strong grip on Bakugou.

•••

“It’s time to reveal your scores.”

A projection flashes up beside Aizawa. 

You click your tongue as you see you got 3rd, right behind Yaoyorozu and Todoroki. Sure, it was good, but you knew you could’ve done better.

Then, your eyes fall down to 21st place. 

Midoriya Izuku. 

You give the scruffy and tired man a warning look, as if telling him not to expel your friend. 

Aizawa, luckily, seems to give you a reassuring look. “Oh, and I lied about the whole expulsion thing. It was just a logical ruse so you all did your best.” He says nonchalantly. 

A few students express their shock and annoyance, while Yaoyorozu speaks up. 

“I knew from the start there was no way a teacher would expel a student on their first day.” She says matter-of-factly. 

In truth, you knew about Aizawa’s track record of expelling students classes at a time. Luckily, Midoriya proved himself, and therefore didn’t get expelled. 

•••

After the quirk apprehension test, it was time for lunch. Everyone quickly changed out of the PE uniforms and rushed to get into the lunch line, while you and a few others went back to the classroom to get home-packed meals. 

However, you didn’t have one of those. 

You glare at Aizawa, you was picking up his sleeping bag while students filed out. 

“Aizawa-sensei.” You say sharply. “You were going to expel him, weren’t you?” You ask. 

He stares at you for a few seconds. “Yeah. I was. But he proved his potential. Why do you ask, kid?” He grumbles. 

You sigh. “Promise me you won’t expel him. It’s not like I like him or whatever, it’s just… he’s worked hard. Harder than I ever have.”

He chuckles. “Don’t worry, [Name]. I’m not gonna expel anyone. I can tell this class has potential.”

You give him a relieved look. “Thanks, da— A-Aizawa…” You say quickly, leaving Aizawa in shock as your face starts to suddenly heat at your slip-up. 

“Wait—“ he calls to you, but you were already gone. 

•••

The fact you nearly called Aizawa “dad” hit you hard once you were walking down the hallway. You facepalm, your face red. 

“I’m such a dumbass…” You mutter softly. 

A deep, rough voice sounds from behind you. “I’m sure that’s not true.”

You look back to see a boy with unruly purple hair and tired eyes holding a lunch tray. 

“… And you are?” You raise a brow. 

“Shinsou Hitoshi,” he replies. “Class 1-C, general studies. I… I think I heard some people talking about you in the cafeteria, a few kids were calling some weird loner Kaonashi?  I dunno, I ditched the place because it was too loud. But honestly, you fit the bill.” He chuckles, looking you up and down. 

“My name’s not Kaonashi. I just haven’t corrected them yet.” You clear your throat, slightly embarrassed with how he was looking at you. 

“Ah. Then your name is..?”

“Aizawa [Name].”

“I’m Shinsou Hitoshi.”

“You told me that already.”

“Oh— my bad.” Shinsou looks away, a bit embarrassed. “So, uh… you wanna find a quiet place to sit?” He asks. 

You examine him carefully. Why would this random guy just randomly ask you to sit with him? You didn’t know him, did you? But you guess he seems like a chill guy, so… “Sure, why not.”

You both find a small secluded spot in the campus courtyard, sitting down under a tree.  

“So… I never asked, but what class are you in?” Shinsou asked. 

“1-A…” you groan. 

“Oh.” He seemed to carry a slight animosity in his tone. “Hero course? Lucky.” He chuckles bitterly. 

You scoff. “Please. Our teacher is a hardass and made us miss orientation and all those niceties.”

“Damn…” he mumbles. “Well, you still must’ve gotten a pretty good score in the villain attack sim to get in, yeah?”

You shrug. “I was recommended. They made us race against each other. It was kind of dumb.”

“By who? I mean, who recommended you?” He quickly asks. 

You look away from him. “A pretty good hero, in my opinion…” you mumble.

He chuckles. “Lemme guess? A family member? Or maybe some kind of family friend?”

You shake your head. “No, not really…”

“Oh come on, who was it?” He smirks, nudging you. 

“Not telling.” You don’t budge. “E-Enough about me, what about you? Are you planning on transferring to the hero course?”

He nods. “Yeah, I’m hoping I can do well in the sports festival and be able to snag a spot in 1-A or 1-B.”

“Good luck. I’m sure you’d be a better hero than most people in my class.” You mutter. 

“Speaking of being a hero… I didn’t ask, but what’s your quirk?” He asks curiously. 

“…” you pause for a moment. “Thy— Telekinesis. It’s Telekinesis. And yours?”

He gives you a suspicious look, but shrugs it off. “… Right. My quirk is brainwashing. When someone answers a question I ask, I can take over their mind and control them.” He says, avoiding eye contact. 

“Oh.” You breathe out, and Shinsou can feel his stomach drop. “That’s quite a powerful ability to have, Shinsou-san.” You look down at your lap. “I mean, just think about how easy it would be to defeat enemies with a quirk like that?”

“… Yeah, I guess.” He mutters. “But don’t you think it’s villainous? Aren’t you scared I’ll brainwash you and make you do something against your will?” He asks you. 

You blink. “I never understood all this hero versus villain nonsense, I just find it unnecessary to put labels on people based on stereotypes.” You shrug. “That’s just my opinion.”

He stares at you, only looking away to cough as he realizes he’s been staring for too long. “I like that opinion.” He mumbles. “I’ll prove that opinion right by getting into the hero course.” He says, a resolve in his tired eyes. 

“Ah, lunch is nearly over. I’ll see you around, I guess?” He says. 

You nod. “Yeah, see you, Shinsou-san.” You say as you stand up. 

“See you, Aizawa-san…”

—

A/n

And with that, [Name] is officially in UA!

“He’s worked hard. Harder than I ever have.” Is a reference to chapter 4, where [Name] complains to Shuan about how Ginshu was more fit to be a commander than them. 

[Name]’s opinion on “labeling” in MHA’s society roots from the time they were called a “Criminal of Falaina” by The Empire. After all, who could be called a criminal if they’ve committed no crime? They were only labeled as such because of the ingrained discrimination and animosity towards the Mud Whale’s original inhabitants. 

And if that’s too confusing, think of it like this: 

Your family member or relative is a criminal. And because of that, everyone hates you. 

Isn’t that too extreme? Being related to a criminal doesn’t make you a criminal.

That’s how I’ve been thinking of it. 

I’ll see you in the next chapter,

Ryoko

Chapter Text

Screams.

Screams fill the air outside.

Nibi and Kicha bang on the wooden bars of the cell you shared in The Belly.

“Hey! What’s happening out there!?” Nibi yells.

The vigilantes were gone.

“Damn it…” Nibi mutters.

“Step back.” Ouni commands the two, approaching the bars.

BANG!

Your brother kicks down the cell door.

Immediately, you pick up the pace and file out of The Belly.

The moment you all get outside, you’re greeted with a sticky, deep red substance, a metallic scent in the air.

Clink! Clink!

Your eyes snap to a strange, clown-looking person standing over the dead body of a vigilante. A young one at that.

You grit your teeth. “Did you do this?” 

“...” No answer.

The strange person points a weapon at you, and you immediately feel the familiar warmth of your thymia envelop you. “That was… damn it.” You mutter, grabbing a dropped wooden staff.

In the blink of an eye, you swing at the person with the staff, knocking their mask off then pushing them back with a puff of thymia.

Once they fell to the ground, you dug your heel into their abdomen. Their mask fell with a clang. Beneath the mask was a man around Shuan’s age, and he looked completely unfazed by all the hits he had just taken.

Click!

The weapon the man was holding makes a noise.

“Oh my, what do we have here?” A sly voice rings out as a hand tugs at the back of your shirt, pulling you off of the emotionless man right before the weapon fires, making a loud noise.

“Shuan…” You mumble, dusting yourself off. 

The emotionless man starts to get up, but Ouni quickly steps in and kicks him back down.

You nod to your brother, silently telling him to deal with the man, and to pry information out of him. You turn back to face Shuan, but he was gone.

You furrow your brows. It’s been a while since you spoke to him. In fact, you stopped talking once he offered to give you a position in the Vigilante Corps.

“Now then…” You twirl back to face the strange man you captured. “ Just what are you? ”

You gasp as your eyes shoot open. “Another dream…” 

Dreams about the Mud Whale have happened even more often than not recently. It really made you homesick for a place that was barely a home to you. 

But you loved it the same anyways. 

You stare at the ceiling of your apartment. The sun wasn’t even up yet, but you were told to come in early for… something, according to Aizawa.

You get up slowly, groaning groggily as you lazily slip on your uniform.

•••

You get to UA a whole-ass hour before classes start, and you make your way to the teacher’s lounge to meet up with Aizawa.

You knock on the door before entering, and when you finally shut the door behind you, you catch a glimpse of blond in your vision.

“All Might..? What are you doing here?” You stare at him like he’s an alien, all hunched on the couch.

“Er… I was waiting for you, young Aizawa!” He says peppily, especially for someone awake so early in the morning.

“Where is Aizawa-sensei.” You ask bluntly.

All Might sweat drops. “He’s probably off sleeping somewhere, that man is quite the lazy one, you know…” He clears his throat. “But! It’s ok! This meeting can continue without Aizawa! I am here with you to discuss today’s hero training lesson.”

You nod, signaling you were listening. “Alright? Is there a reason why I was called here then?”

“Yes! Because there is an uneven amount of students, and today’s training will be done in pairs, I found it unfair for one party to be a group of three. Because of that, I have a surprise guest coming in that I have chosen for you to spar with instead!” He grins. Well, his grin was kind of superimposed before, but you swore you saw it stretch just a smidge more.

“Why me?” You ask.

“Well, I’m aware of your high praise coming from Hawks and Eraserhead, so I have to admit, I have high hopes for you, young Aizawa!” He laughs heartily.

You stare at him. “Alright.” You stand up. “If that’s all, I’ll be going now.” 

You quickly make your exit, not really wanting to spend another minute in that awkward meeting with All Might.

•••

You scrolled on your phone for a while until students started filing in, filling the class with chatter and laughter.

Your first period class was boring, but at least it was mainly taking in info then regurgitating it onto tests and quizzes.

Then, came second period.

“I AM…” A voice booms. “COMING IN THE DOOR LIKE A NORMAL PERSON!” All Might yells, entering like an abnormal person.

The class bursts into excited chatter.

“Is that seriously All Might!?”

“He’s going to teach us?”

“Is that his Silver Age costume?”

You just slunk in your seat, glancing to Todoroki who also kept silent.

“EVERYONE, CHANGE INTO YOUR HERO COSTUMES AND MEET ME OUT AT THE TRAINING ZONE!”

Everyone hurried to get their costumes and change as quickly as possible.

•••

Your hero costume was simple. 

It was a modified version of your usual clothing from back at the Mud Whale, but with more durable materials and in the same black that the Vigilante Corps wore. 

However, you requested a support item. It wasn’t much of one, but it counted as so. 

A staff. Specifically, one that was retractable and stayed as a keychain on the sash around your waist. 

Everyone else looked so… flashy. It was strange seeing people in such wear strange clothing. 

“Well, are you ready, you embryos?!” All Might cheers. “Today, we will be conducting team training in an indoor battlefield! You will all be paired into groups of two, and one of you will be up against our special guest—“

All Might is cut off by a gust of wind and a flash of red and Hawks makes a swift entrance. “Yo!” He gives a wink to the group of girls, to which they all swoon. A few of the boys murmur with excitement as well. 

Meanwhile, you stand there dumbfounded. All Might wanted you to fight Hawks?! Well, it wouldn't be the first time, but still! People have got to stop throwing curveballs at you. 

After a bit of chatter, everyone drew their peppers from the lottery box besides you, as All Might discreetly handed you a sleep of paper. 

“All right, are we ready for this training? Give it plus ultra!” He booms, but you pay him no mind. You're staring Hawks dead on, giving him a major stink eye as he smirks at you. 

•••

The first few rounds of battle go fairly quickly, but you find yourself focusing a bit harder on Midoriya and Uraraka versus Bakugou and Iida. This was quite the matchup, huh?

You couldn’t hear anything through the monitors, but it looked like Bakugou and Midoriya were having quite the heated talk as they destroyed the building. 

Then… there was Iida. He held his own against Uraraka, but ultimately failed to stop her from getting the faux weapon. You had to applaud his performance, though. It was a very “Iida” thing to do. 

Now, it was the most anticipated battle: You vs. the pro hero Hawks. You clench your fists as you step out into the training ground, with you playing as the “hero” and Hawks the “villain”. 

You had no clue how to do this on your own, but you’d make do. Your best bet, honestly, was to sneak around and try to capture the weapon without him noticing. 

Setting off into the building, you try your best to get around quietly. 

Swish!!

You catch the sound of a feather heading your way, and quickly diverted it with thymia. 

“It’s not that easy to catch me off guard, Hawks.” You grumble. 

Above, the faint flutter of wings sent a chill down your spine.

“Miss me?” Hawks called, descending gracefully. His grin was maddening, cocky as ever.

You scowled. “Not in the slightest.”

He feigns feeling hurt. “Oh, come on! Don’t be like that, kid.” He sends more feathers your way, to which you only block. 

You don’t reply, instead pushing forward, trying to close the distance. 

Hawks pushes back as well, but inevitably your thymia is stronger than his own control over his feathers. 

Once you were close enough, you let go of your hold on the feathers and let them go flying in random directions, some getting embedded in the walls. 

Good. This is what you wanted. You take out the staff, imbuing it with your thymia as you take a swing at Hawks, which he masterfully dodges. 

He grins. “Oho? Since when did you use weapons?”

You roll your eyes and take your stance, thymia imbuing your staff. You click your tongue as you keep on pushing him back, trying to get at least one hit that could get him down for just enough time so you could capture him. 

What feels like ages pass of you trying to catch him, he yawns. 

“Ugh, this is boring! Why don’t we spice things up?” He grins, all his feathers retracting. 

He drew a razor-sharp feather, twirling it lazily in his hand. “Blade against blade. Let’s have some fun, yeah?”

Without warning, he lunged.

The first clash was blindingly fast—feather against staff, sparks flying as your thymia flared. Hawks was relentless, every movement precise, as if he were toying with you.

You gritted your teeth, forcing him back with a burst of energy. “You don’t take anything seriously, do you?”

He chuckled. “What can I say? I like to keep things light.” But his attacks grew sharper, faster. He wasn’t holding back anymore. The sound of feathers slicing through the air was deafening.

Finally, you saw an opening. With a burst of speed, you closed the gap, slamming the staff against his blade. For a moment, it felt like you had the upper hand— until the black aura began creeping up your arms. You feel that cold dread spread into you again, the inky black aura snaking up your skin as your marks turn a murky black color, becoming even stronger than before. 

You parry his blade easily and kick him back, knocking the air out of him. But the moment you realized what was happening, you let your aura retreat and in that moment, Hawks took a chance. He swept your feet with his blade and made you fall onto your back, and from there restrained you easily with his feathers. 

“Game over, kiddo! You’ve got exactly 1 minute to escape, but I doubt you can.” He grins, but it turns into something a bit softer. “You good? I saw… that again.”

You sigh, letting your head rest on the cold concrete as you take your defeat. “Yeah, just…” You knew you couldn’t beat him, but you tried your best. “Tired, I guess.”

•••

The battle ended quickly, and when you returned to your classmates’ side, they all were discussing your battle, and how well you held up against Hawks. 

“Aizawa-san, that was so cool!”

“You didn’t tell us your quirk was so powerful!”

“You did so well against Hawks!”

You cough, covering up your embarrassment. “It’s… nothing.” You mumble. 

“Well, young Aizawa! You gave Hawks a run for his money! You know, for a student going solo against the No. 3 pro hero in the country, you did magnificently! It was truly plus ultra!” All Might praises you. 

“Thank you, All Might-sensei.” You nod. 

As the excitement from the class died down, you caught Hawks leaning casually against a nearby wall, his sharp eyes watching you. He gave you a small nod, his usual smirk replaced by something almost… thoughtful? Damn, you didn’t know that bird-brain got thoughts.

You didn’t know what to make of it.

Before you could approach him, Todoroki stepped closer, his quiet presence breaking through the chatter. “Your quirk,” he said softly. “It’s… different. Powerful.”

You glanced away, your hand going back to that scar on your neck. “It’s not as great as it looks.”

“Still,” he continued, his tone calm but sincere, “you handled yourself well.”

You blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected compliment. “Thanks, Todoroki-san.”

It looked like he was about to say something else, but then the bell cut him off. 

What perfect timing. 

•••

Later that day, you found yourself staring out at the window of your room again. 

You sigh. “Even the stars here are different…” You mumble as the breeze gently caresses your face. 

You kept on thinking about the battle training at school today. It felt like that black thymia kept on coming back, becoming more frequent each time you use your thymia. 

Ding!

You get a message from Hawks. 

(Sent now) 

[Hawks] Hey kid! You did super good today! 

You really didn’t hold back, j apprciate that :)

[Name] I guess. You’re still too strong for me to beat, though. 

[Hawks] Haha! I’m number 3 in the country for a reason!

Hey, actually…

Are you free to call rn or like what?

Just a thought!

[Name] Uh… sure, why not

You then get a video call request on your phone. You press accept, and you’re greeted by Hawks wearing the most ridiculous pajamas ever; Endeavor-themed PJs. You really wanted to laugh at him. 

“Hey Shu— H-Hawks.” You greet through the phone, catching yourself before you say Shuan. You knew he wasn’t here anymore, but you still find similarities. 

Hawks seemed to notice the slip-up, but paid it no mind. “Yo! Just wanted to check up on you real quick.” He says through the screen. “That flare-up you had earlier today… have they been happening more often? I’m a bit worried, since, you know, it creeps me out when your quirk gets all dark and stuff.” He chuckles. 

You stiffen up. “I guess. I’ve been trying to keep it under control, but it’s hard…”

Hawks sighs, giving you a concerned look. “Don’t overdo it, ok? That type of shit can eat you up if you’re not careful.”

You nod. “I’m aware.”

“Good,” he said, his wings fluttering slightly. “Because we’re going to spar again soon, and next time, I expect you to beat me.”

You roll your eyes. “Don’t hold your breath.”

“Too late,” he quipped, grinning. “Catch you later, kiddo.”

—

A/n

I literally love writing scenes with Hawks aughhhfhh

I think it’s because I always enjoy writing the energetic/mopey dynamic. If you look at my super old stuff (which I have never posted) from when I was like 10, even then I would enjoy writing that type of stuff with my friends!

Well, anyways, the next chapter marks the start of the USJ arc! I’m so pumped to start it!

I’ll see you in the next chapter,

Ryoko 

Chapter Text

As you near the school, you see a large crowd of people. They were yelling all sorts of things, but one thing stood out to you: “What is it like to have All Might as a teacher?”

You stay silent, trying to get through them. Press coverage was the very last thing you needed right now. 

“Let me through- ugh!!” 

You hear a smooth yet grungy voice, one you recognize as a classmate’s. She was just a few paces ahead of you. You couldn't help but feel bad for her.

You couldn’t remember her name, but she was quite recognizable. She had short and stylish purple hair and quite striking eyes. Not to mention, her quirk gave her earphone jacks on her ear lobes.

You put a bit of pep in your step, pushing through microphones and cameras. Your classmate was obviously getting annoyed now, as she was starting to push harder against the crowd as well.

“Move.” You manage to scare someone off as you continue to blaze a path to your classmate.

One of the reporters, a tall man with a mic, tries to brush past you. “Are you a student here? What’s it like being taught by All Might—”

“I said move,” you snap, your gaze sharp and unwavering. The reporter hesitates, clearly not expecting resistance.

You just ignore him and get to the girl. “Excuse me,” you call out sharply, your voice cutting through the commotion. 

You step forward. “May I?” You offer her your hand.

Jirou glances at you, her eyes wide with surprise. “Thanks,” she mutters under her breath, taking your hand, to which you grip tightly.

Using a bit more force than necessary, you pull the two of you till you find your way to a peaceful hall, devoid of reporters.

“Ugh, that was the worst.” Jirou groans as she brushes a hand through her hair. “Who even let those guys get so close?”

You shrug, walking alongside her as you head toward the school building. “No idea. It’s not like they’re subtle about it.” You glance at her. “You okay?”

“Yeah, just annoyed.” She slings her bag higher on her shoulder. “Thanks for the save back there. I didn’t think I’d make it out of that alive.”

“It was nothing.” You assure her. “It really wasn’t that bad.”

She raises a brow at you. “Easy for you to say.”

You sigh, crossing your arms. “They should know better than to invade people’s privacy.”

Jirou huffs out a laugh. “Fair enough. Still, I owe you one.”

“You don’t owe me anything,” you reply nonchalantly. After a pause, you glance at her again. “Ah, I nearly forgot to ask, you’re…?”

She gives you a sideways look, clearly amused. “Oh, right. Jirou. Jirou Kyouka. And you’re—”

“Aizawa [Name],” you finish for her. “We’re in the same class.”

“I know that,” Jirou replies with a small smirk. “It’s just hard keeping track of everyone when there’s so many of us.”

You hum in agreement as the two of you reach the main hallway, your footsteps echoing slightly against the polished floors.

“So…” Jirou says, breaking the silence. “Do you always jump into the middle of a crowd like that? Or was today just my lucky day?”

You glance over, quirking a brow. “I don’t make a habit of it. I just… didn’t like seeing someone get swarmed like that.”

Jirou seems to study you for a moment, then nods. “Well, that’s pretty cool of you. Guess you’re not as scary as you looked back there.”

“Scary?” You ask, feigning offense.

She nods. “Yeah. You had that reporter shaking. I almost felt bad for the guy.” She chuckles then adds, “You looked like you were about to send him into retirement.”

You roll your eyes playfully. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Good, because it was,” she replies with a grin.

The two of you reach the classroom door, and Jirou pauses, turning to you before you go in. “Hey, seriously—thanks again. I mean it.”

“... It was really nothing.” Was all you could muster, not meeting her eyes as you both entered the classroom, which was surprisingly still empty. You blame the reporters.

• ••

The day goes by, classes as boring as usual. Your mind lingered on the reporters. You couldn’t shake off that feeling that something was off. Really off. In fact, in the crowd of reporters, you could’ve sworn you saw that familiar long silver hair and crimson eyes of the man who set your home ablaze.

Right before lunch, your teacher announces something.

“I’ve gotten your evaluations back from yesterday’s training. Good work.” He drawls, placing a stack of papers on his podium.

“Bakugou-san.” The blond looks up at the mention of his name. “Grow up already. Stop wasting your potential.”

“Midoriya-san.” Aizawa continues his onslaught, “Stop breaking your bones. Learn to control your quirk. You have potential, you just got to overcome this.”

His eyes land on you. “And Aizawa-san. You held up well against Hawks, but you hesitated in the middle of an attack. Don’t make that mistake again.”

His words cut deep. If only you could control that strange black thymia. And actually, it would be nice to even figure out how you obtained it.

“And sorry for the sudden announcement today…” A twist in your gut could be felt. What was it now?  

“... But it’s time to choose class reps. I don’t care how, just don’t annoy me…” Even before your lazy guardian finished his sentence, he was already in his sleeping bag.

“Shouldn’t we vote for the person with the best grades?” Someone suggests.

“No way, it should be the strongest!” Another counters.

“I nominate myself!” Kaminari says with a grin, raising his hand high.

You stay quiet, watching the scene unfold. The idea of being a leader didn’t particularly appeal to you—too much responsibility and too many eyes watching your every move.

“ SILENCE!! ” The uptight Iida manages to step in. “Our leader should be chosen by election! ”

Multiple protests sounded.

“But then everyone will just vote for themselves! We haven’t known each other long enough to build any trust!”

Iida pushes up his glasses with a finger. “That’s exactly why whoever gets the most votes would be the best fit!”

After the mini election was over, the scores were written on the board.

You, of course, voted for yourself. You didn’t expect anyone to vote for you, and honestly? You didn’t think anyone here was fit for leadership. 

Maybe it was just from your fucked up experience on the Mud Whale, with essentially raising yourself alongside your older brother, maybe mixed with the trauma from fighting on the battleship Skyros and being transported to a foreign land, but yeah. You didn’t want to trust someone who you didn’t respect first. 

So why the hell…

“Haah!? How did Kaonashi get 2 votes!?” Bakugou’s grating voice somewhat voiced your own thoughts.

You were right up there with Midoriya, who got 3 votes, and Yaoyorozu, who you tied with 2 votes.

“W-Wait, me?!” Midoriya stammers, his face turning bright red.

“It makes sense,” Tokoyami, the bird boy, says simply. “You have a good head on your shoulders.”

Momo nods. “I agree.”

You wanted to merge with your seat right now as all eyes turned to you and Yaoyorozu.

“I’d rather not take a leadership role…” You mumble in the most unconfident voice you can muster. “Let Yaoyorozu-san take it.”

• ••

Lunch was good, as it always was.  

You sat in the courtyard with Shinsou, the boy from your first day.

It was peaceful out there. Maybe too peaceful for your liking. Everyone seemed to be sitting in the cafeteria.

“So, that’s the whole story of Five Nights at Freddy’s .” Shinsou finally finishes his rant on this video game he’s been into.

“That’s… Interesting.” You say blandly. “And complicated. Who did you say figured all of this stuff out again?”

“Oh, it was—“

RIIIIIIING!!!

You slap your hand over your ears. “W-What is that?!” You glance over at the cafeteria through the windows and see students rushing to evacuate. 

Shinsou grabs your wrist. “C’mon! We should go!” He tugs you up. 

As you got up, you swore you saw a flash of long silver hair . 

Before your own mind could react, you yanked your wrist out of Shinsou’s hands (which he thought was kind of rude), and ran. 

You ran as fast as you could, getting into the building and trying to track down what you had just seen.

“There’s no way…” You mutter, slowly accelerating until you’re near running down the empty halls, the alarms still blaring in your ears, pounding stress into your tensor tympani. 

As the alarms blare louder, you round a corner, your breath quickening with every step. The empty halls seem to stretch endlessly, the red lights flashing in sync with the pounding in your head.

You thought you saw something—or someone. That silver hair. It had to be a trick of the light. And yet, you can’t shake the feeling of being watched, of being hunted.

You slow your pace as you turn into another hallway, the noise of the alarm ringing endlessly in your ears. And then, you see him.

At first, it doesn’t seem real. A man stands at the far end of the corridor, his posture slouched yet eerily composed. His light bluish hair is disheveled, falling around his face like a cloud, and his crimson eyes are locked on you with an intensity that makes your stomach twist.

You freeze. He’s a stranger—someone you’ve never seen before—but the sheer presence he carries feels overwhelming. Dangerous .

The man tilts his head slightly, his lips curling into a crooked grin. It was near perfect timing how the alarms abruptly stopped, leaving a tense silence to follow. “What’s this? A little stray wandering into the lion’s den?” His voice is low and raspy.

You take a cautious step back, your fists instinctively clenching. “Who are you?”

The man chuckles, the sound dry and almost amused. “Oh, nobody important.” He takes a slow step forward, his hands tucked casually into the pockets of his tattered jacket. “But you, however… you’re quite the catch, Mx. Diamonas. ” 

Every instinct in you screams to run, but your legs feel frozen in place. The fact he said that word— daimonas— made red flags pop up in your head. That word, that stupid word . You recognized it from somewhere. And no, not just from Liontári or General Orca.

“Y-You didn’t answer my question.” you say, trying to keep your voice steady. “What are you doing here?”

The man stops a few paces away, his eyes narrowing as he studies you. “Me? I’m just… curious.” He pulls one hand out of his pocket, holding it up to examine his gloved fingers. “About you.”

You flinch as he takes another step closer. “Stay back,” you warn, your voice sharper this time.

His grin widens, and he lowers his hand, the leather of his glove (Which had two fingers uncovered, curiously,) creaking faintly as he flexes his fingers. “What’s the matter? You’re not afraid of me, are you?”

You grit your teeth. Something about him feels off—like he’s a predator circling his prey. But more than that, the way he looks at you… it’s not just curiosity. It was something else, something far more dark.

“I don’t know who you are,” you say, keeping your guard up, “but you shouldn’t be here.”

He laughs again, softer this time. “Heh. How cute.” He tilts his head again, his crimson eyes gleaming. “Tell me, what’s your name?” He drawls.

You don’t answer.

The man sighs dramatically, as if disappointed. “Oh, [Name]… all I wanted to hear was you introducing yourself to me. But fine, be like that. We’ll meet again soon…”

“What..? No! How did you know my–” You raise your voice, tone laced with agitation and anger and all these other pent-up emotions that you couldn’t name. 

And then, a black cloud, like a void, appears and engulfs him whole, leaving an empty space in its wake. 

“ Jesus Christ, [Name]! You scared the living daylights out of me!” You hear someone behind you. Probably Shinsou.

He gently placed a hand on your shoulder. “Are you ok? Why did you run off like that?” He sighs. “The alarm was nothing. It was just the reporters. They were just a bit too eager to ask about All Might, it seems.”

“Shinsou…” You mumble, a troubled look glimmering in your eyes. “Lunch is over. You should get to class…” With a tired look, you just start to turn on your heel and walk towards him. 

He stares at you, a little scared and confused. “R-Right. Are you sure you’re…” He shakes his head. “Never mind. We’re gonna be late if we lag here.” 

• ••

Well, you definitely missed something while on your escapade.

You enter the classroom and the first thing you hear is people calling your uptight classmate “Exit Sign Iida”.

How peculiar.

Then, Midoriya proceeded to give up his title as class president to Iida.

Somehow, it felt right.

But what didn’t feel right was what you had just witnessed.

Too burnt out to interact with anyone, you just sit at your seat and let the day pass you by.

—

A/n

I’m literally bouncing off the walls. I’m so excited to finally write the USJ arc!

Normally, when reading fics, my 3 least favorite arcs are the Sports Festival, Hero Killer, and USJ arcs.

So now, I’m taking matters into my own hands by writing what I hope can be a compelling twist to these normally mundane arcs.

I’ll see you in the next chapter,

Ryoko

Chapter Text

It’s Wednesday, 12:50 PM.

“Now for today’s basic hero training…” Aizawa starts, “We will be having All Might and another teacher supervising alongside me.”

Sero Hanta raises his hand. “Sir, what will we be doing today?”

Your tired teacher just holds up a card that says “RESCUE” on it. 

“You’ll be conditioned on relief from disasters and other events.” He drawls. 

He was definitely the laziest teacher you’d ever had (that being, you’ve only had a handful in your lifetime) yet he’s also one of the best. Nothing beats Shuan, though.

“Get ready and meet me at the gate. It’s up to you whether or not you decide to wear your costume today. The training site is a bit remote, so we’ll be getting there by bus.”

•••

You quickly changed into your hero attire. In fact, you were second to the bus, right behind Iida. 

You fiddled with the necklace around your neck, the same one you always wore. It reminded you of home. 

You couldn’t really remember when or where you got it, but it’s been with you for as far back as your memory could stretch. 

You’re snapped out of your daze when Iida calls for everyone to line up by the order of your ID numbers and file into the bus accordingly. 

Your ID was number 21. So you were at the very back. You weren’t thrilled, definitely. 

Well, that was until you saw the layout of the bus. 

You sigh with relief as you see you end up sitting between Midoriya and Asui.  

“God, I’m tired…” You mumble, to which Asui responds. 

“Rest. It’s a 45 minute drive, isn’t it? We need our energy for the training.” She ribbits. 

Midoriya nods in agreement. “You’ve been looking tired this whole day! Rest!” With puppy dog eyes like that, who could say no?

Muttering a “Fine”, you slowly drifted into sleep…

“Join the Vigilante Corps?!” You exclaim. “Are you crazy, Shuan?” You hiss. 

This dream again. 

The one-eyed man only gives you his usual cryptic smile. “Come on, you’d be perfect as the commander. After all, I trained you.” His eye cracks open a bit, revealing that striking blue he kept hidden. “I’m turning 26 next year. I won’t be able to use my thymia for much longer, and I think you’d be the best successor.”

“Well, you’re wrong.” You glare at him. “My brother would kill me if I joined you guys. Not to mention, I’m not “commander” material.”

He chuckles. “Not with what attitude you aren’t.”

Ok, wow. You never truly realized how sassy this guy was. 

You scowl. “Why not Miss Ginshu? She’s worked hard. Harder than I ever have.”

“Yes, but you have something Ginshu doesn’t have.” He points to you. 

“And what would that be?” You hiss out. 

“You’re—“

You prepare yourself to jolt awake again, like you always did, but it never came. 

“— a force of nature. A powerful being. A daimonas, [Name].”

What?

“… What? A daimonas? What does that mean?” You furrow your brows. 

Your dream-self voiced confusion as well. 

This dream is so vivid. It can’t be fake, right? Is this… is this a memory you’ve forgotten?

“A daimonas, dear student, is a doll.” Shuan circles you, stopping right behind you as he gently places a hand on your shoulder. “A doll made from the lives of humans.”

You freeze. 

Shuan chuckles. “Dear [Name]… did you really think you were born a human, with all that power you and your brother hold?” He grins. “No. You were created by the Mud Whale itself to serve as a living weapon.”

No. That can’t be true. You’re human, right? You have to be. You have to be human. You have to be.

You scoff and cross your arms. “Shuan, has your wife’s death finally thrown you into mania? If I was this “daimonas”, if I was not human, then wouldn't I look like a beast? Would I even have emotions?”

The more you think about it, the more you realize. 

Shuan just laughs. It’s a hearty chuckle, as if he’d never heard something more hilarious in his life. “Trust me.”

“And if I don’t trust you?” 

You aren’t human.

“Then the truth will reveal itself to you in my stead.”

You never were. 

“… hmph.”

You’re such an idiot.

You’re a daimonas, huh? What a fitting fate for you.

You slowly wake up. 

“… ame]?”

Whose voice was that?

“[Name]!” Midoriya shakes you awake. 

“Huh.”

“Are you alright? You were barely resting for 10 minutes, and you started crying in your sleep…” Midoriya’s voice was laced with worry. 

You delicately raise a finger to your cheek. Sure enough, there was a tear. “I must’ve had a bad dream.” You mumble. 

“You look even more tired than you were before…” He seems to trail off once he realizes his concerns will be wasted on you.

You stare through the window, your fists clenched. “I’ll be fine.” You whisper. 

“Kero. Hey Midoriya-san, I tend to say what’s on my mind, so here it is.” Asui starts, catching the attention of the people around her, not including you. 

“W-What is it, Asui-san?”

“Call me Tsu.” She “kero”s back. 

“Right…”

“Your quirk resembles All Might’s.” 

Now that— that got you hooked. 

This seems to send Midoriya into a flustered stress. “R-R-R-R-Really?! I never noticed, haha..! I mean—” 

Kirishima raises his hand. “Hold up, Tsu. All Might doesn’t break all his bones when he uses his quirk, right? Midoriya-san’s quirk is super destructive compared to the No. 1’s.” And Midoriya seems to visibly relax at that. 

“But still, that sort of simple enhancement quirk is super flashy! You can do a lot of cool stuff with it, and it’s quite cool in action.” The redhead continues. “It’s nothing like my hardening. It may be useful, but it’s not that cool.” He says, hardening his arm as he speaks. 

If it were up to you, you’d say it was very flashy. But then again, you come from a world where powers like this are unheard of. 

“Ah, don’t forget about popularity! You gotta have a good personality to pair with a flashy quirk for true success!” A classmate of yours chirps.

“You wanna talk strong and cool? It’s  gotta be Todoroki-san and Bakugou-san.” Another chimes in. 

“Yeah, but with Bakugou-san’s attitude, he’ll never be popular.” Asui says, quite bluntly. 

“HAAAH?! WHAT’D YOU SAY FROG FACE?!” Bakugou says as he jumps from his seat to rudely point at her. 

After a bit of Bakugou bullying, his outburst fizzled out.  

“I’m not done, kero.” Asui ribbits, apparently wanting to say one last thing. “Aizawa-san. Are you… related to our sensei?” She sends a curious look your way.

You freeze and rigidly turn to her. You open your mouth to speak, but Aizawa beats you to it. 

“Yeah. We’re related.” Your tired teacher says, looking like a savior angel in your eyes right now. 

You let out a breath. “Yeah.”

And then the bus breaks out in chaos, questions spilling towards you like a tsunami. You can feel a light heat on your cheeks as all attention is on you now. 

“Really?! What’s it like being related to a hero?!”

“Wait, I see the resemblance! I think…”

“You guys totally have the same eyes!”

“How is he related to you?”

To that, you could only sink into your seat until Bakugou shut them all up for being too loud. 

•••

After a grueling bus ride, you’re finally there.

“Woah! What is this place, Universal Studios Japan?”

An unknown voice chuckles. “No. I built this place myself!” They chirp. “I call this the Unforeseen Simulation Joint!”

Huh. So it is USJ. 

“Woah, it’s the space hero, Thirteen!” Midoriya beams. 

“Oh, Thirteen’s my favorite!” Uraraka dog piles on the excitement. 

You see Aizawa walk up to Thirteen and they mutter about something for a moment before returning to the crowd. 

“Ahem! Before we start, I have one or two points. Or three.” Thirteen says. 

“As you may or may not know, my quirk is black hole. It can suck or tear up anything that gets inside of it.” They start. “However, this quirk could easily be used to kill as well.”

You internally wince. This sounded a lot like your own power, and there was no doubt that this struck a chord with a few of your peers as well. 

“Well, this class will show you a new perspective compared to your previous classes!” They say, and you swear there’s a smile under that helmet. “You’ll be learning how to utilize your quirks to save lives! Your powers are not meant to inflict harm. I hope you can leave this class with a new understanding of being a hero.”

And with a bow and light applause, the points were over. You think. 

You can’t help but feel uneasy, as if you were being watched. And of course, you were right. 

A black swirl appears in the center of the dome, and you’re already activating your thymia. 

“Huh? Aizawa-san, what’s—“ Midoriya cuts himself off with a sharp gasp. 

“Wait, are those part of the training?” Someone points to the shifting black mist. 

Aizawa immediately pulls down his goggles. “No. Those are real villains.” He scowls as villains start to pour out of the misty warp gates. 

Your eyes scan the soon-to-be battlefield, and before your own mind could react, you were already seeing red. 

“Orca!!!” You say with an anger that is foreign to even yourself. That stupid silver hair, that stupid scar on his face, all those stupid, stupid apátheia— 

You could feel the world closing in on you. Your vision blurs, only focusing on General Orca.

Your hearing was next. All you could hear was your heart furiously pounding. 

Then your taste. All you tasted was the metallic tang of blood. So, so much blood. 

And before you knew it, your world turned black. 

Albeit, it was an ephemeral moment as you found yourself surrounded by Empire soldiers in a clear patch of forest, with the cunning grin of that damned bastard in the middle. 

“[Name].” He drawls. 

“It’s been a while, little daimonas.”

—

A/n

Ehehhe 😈

My plans are going accordingly…

I’ll see you in the next chapter,

Ryoko

Chapter Text

[WARNING: SLIGHT SPOILERS FOR COTW MANGA]

When Midoriya heard you say that name– with such conviction, he saw a side of you that didn’t feel like you.

You were angry. It was as if all your emotions had suddenly burst when the villains creeped out of those misty gates.

Midoriya wasn’t the type to shy away from emotion; in fact, he often admired the passion and drive in others. But the way you glared at that villain with such venom— it didn’t feel like the you he’d come to know. It was almost as though the villains creeping out of those misty gates had triggered something deeper, something buried beneath the calm, composed exterior you always showed to the class.

And for the first time, he felt like there was a part of you he didn’t understand.

The way your voice cracked when you snapped made his chest ache. He wanted to reach out, to pull you back into the group’s orbit, but he knew better. Your focus was locked on the villains in the center of the USJ, and nothing— not him, not the chaos around you— could break it.

Bakugou, on the other hand, wasn’t the type to sit back and analyze. He was pissed. Not because you were ignoring the dangers at hand and yelling out the name of a fish—that was in character for you. No, he was pissed because of the lookin your eyes.

“What the hell is wrong with you!?” He snaps at you as he turns to face the misty villain that blocked the exit. “Damn it..!” He mutters, his hands popping and crackling with explosions.

It was as if something inhuman, something far too powerful for its own good had possessed you.

•••

“Orca.” The name comes out of your mouth as bitter as bile. 

The silver-haired man only smiles. “Don’t be a stranger. I’ve come to bring you back.”

You glare at him. “Why would I go back with you?” You snap back, your fingers curling around your staff. 

He sighs, his disappointed gaze sharp enough to cut the grass beneath your feet. “I should’ve known… Kýma.” 

The world around you seems to swirl and shift, turning into a land of rolling hills and thistles. 

“What the…” you clench your staff like it’s your lifeline. “What did you do?”

“Daimonas, I want to propose something to you.” He holds up a clump of dirt. “But first… I must ask you a question.”

“Let’s say this lump of dirt gets made into a doll.” You felt paralyzed in place, watching as Orca molds the dirt into a clay doll. “A god gives this doll form. When it sees a beautiful flower, it blushes brightly. If one of its peers were to melt back into the earth, it would cry preciously.”

“Crying is considered a human emotion. This clump of dirt, can you say it is a human? That its emotions are the same as a human’s?” The clay doll seems to dance around, in sync with the narrative. “The form evolves and becomes more complex. It expressions emotions such as fear, and experiences the complexity of happiness, despair, defeat… guilt and love.” 

“What are you getting at h–”

“But there is no way to tell if the doll is actually feeling these emotions, because it is an artificially created thing.” He crushes the clay doll in his hands, the clumps of it falling through his fingers. “So tell me, does this clump of dirt have a heart? Can you identify it in the same way as a human?” He gives you an unreadable look.

You clench your staff. “... It-” The words seem to hitch themselves on your throat. “It does not have a heart.”

“Interesting.” He smiles. “[Name], I’m sure you’re familiar with how a nous works.” You nod. “It eats your emotions in return for thymia.”

“I don’t get what you’re trying to do here, Orca.” You say, finishing your sentence this time. You prepare to attack him.

Orca chuckles. “I have been secretly in contact with someone closely tied to the nouses. He gave me an order. On the surface, I am the one in charge.”

He grabs a thistle flower out of seemingly nowhere. “But this mission I was given will change our world as we know it.” He flaunts the flower in your face. “Kataklysmós, the reformation of the world.”

You could feel a shudder down your spine. “Y-You’re kidding. You seriously believe–” 

“I need you and your brother’s help to create a better world. Don’t you want to see all your friends happy, without ever having to experience despair and tragedy again? Don’t you want a world where suffering doesn’t exist?” Branches with small orbs split off, and inside them you could see those parallel worlds Orca spoke of. In one of them, you saw yourself, walking with your friends along a road. There was a happy smile on your face as Nibi cracked a joke, making your brother and the other moles laugh. Everyone was so happy. Nobody was dead. It was perfect.

“Stop…”

“I can create that with your help. With your power, I can access the parallel worlds that live inside of the nouses, created from the emotions they took from us. I will not let the nouses have their way.” His grin looks crazed. 

He offers you the flower. 

“Join me, [Name]. Kataklysmós will be our freedom. Help me create a perfect paradise.”

Something in you snapped at that moment, and everything went dark. 

“STOP!!!”

•••

When you wake from what felt like a fever dream, your body feels heavy, your hands sticky with something warm.

Blood.

So much blood.

Your hero costume is splattered with the blood of apátheia, yet you’re miraculously unscathed. You stagger to your feet, your mind reeling as you take in the sight of the empty field. The Empire, Orca, and the monstrous presence from earlier… gone.

All that remains is the crimson ground beneath your feet.

You glance down at your trembling hands, the crimson staining your skin. “What… what have I done?” you whisper, the words trembling on your lips.

The USJ dome looms in the distance, its broken structure a grim reminder of where this nightmare began. You trudge back toward it, your movements sluggish as if weighed down by the burden of what just transpired.

As you step back inside the dome-like structure, your heart sinks at the sight before you.

Your adoptive father is pinned beneath the crushing weight of an inhuman beast, his usually calm and calculating demeanor replaced with a pained grimace.

The world around you seems to slow, the sounds of battle fading into a dull roar.

And as the beast raises its fist to strike, something inside you ignites once more.

–

A/n

Am I cooking??? We’ll see…

I know, I know, Aizawa has not, in fact, been a character I dwelled on a lot, mainly because I enjoy writing Hawks. But there’s a lot more of him in the future, just you wait!!!

Also, I have now renamed Thymia to Pareidolia, which I thought fit the work better and also was a more original name as well. 

I’ll see you in the next chapter,

Ryoko

Chapter Text

At that moment, dread and despair filled your heart.

Yes, dread and despair in your inhuman heart, for someone you barely knew.

You felt memories flow into you, from the day you first met 6 months ago to the little cafe meetups, the dry texting, even when he threatened to expel Midoriya–

All of it, in the end, mattered to you.

You never thought you would be able to care for something that wasn’t the Mud Whale.

But maybe, just maybe…

This place has become a home for you.

You reach out your hand, the inky black marks of thymia feel like they’ve burned themselves into your skin as you shape the force into blades, piercing them straight into the weird, thick-skinned monster.

It screeches, and you take its suffering as a window of opportunity to snatch a beaten and bloody Aizawa out of its hands. You skid against the ground harshly with him in your hands.

“Oh? A mini-boss has appeared before the final boss? How unfair. This game must be rigged. It’s so, so rigged…” A raspy voice, the same one you remember from that day seems to direct themselves at you. “It seems you’re my mini boss, daimonas.”

“You again. So this is why you infiltrated UA.” You hold Aizawa– no, your father tightly.

Shigaraki's raspy laugh echoes in the chaos of the USJ. He takes a few languid steps toward you, dragging his nails across his neck in that unsettling way he does. Behind him, the misty figure of Kurogiri looms, silently observing, while the Nomu, though wounded, begins to recover.

“Daimonas, daimonas, daimonas.” Shigaraki’s grin stretches unnervingly wide beneath his hand-covered face. “You. Orca said he’d take care of you. Where is he now?”

You tighten your grip on Aizawa, feeling the rise and fall of his shallow breaths. He’s alive, but barely. The blood pooling around him stains your already bloodied hero costume, but it’s the least of your concerns. The words he said to you so many times—lectures, advice, snarky comments—flood your mind. And now, he’s in this state, all because you weren’t fast enough.

“You shouldn’t have associated with him.” you snap, standing up slowly, keeping Aizawa cradled in one arm. “This world will never– never interfere with my world.”

“Oh, how noble,” Shigaraki drawls, his voice dripping with mockery. “But let me guess… you’re already losing hope. Your “world”, is it that Falaina Orca is going to destroy?”

Your skin prickles with anger, your thymia pulsing.“Shut it.” You say with rage. “What would you know?”

With a flick of your wrist, the inky blades materialize once more, dancing around you like shadows given life. They hum with energy, each one sharp enough to slice through the monstrous Nomu’s thick hide.

Shigaraki gestures lazily toward you, and the Nomu barrels forward with terrifying speed. You barely have time to leap back, twisting your body to avoid its fist. The ground beneath you cracks from the sheer force of its attack, debris flying everywhere.

But you don’t back down.

“Stay back,” you mutter to Aizawa’s unconscious form as you place him gently against a crumbled piece of wall. Turning back to the battle, you summon more blades, sending them hurtling toward the Nomu’s exposed side. They pierce deep into its flesh, eliciting another guttural screech.

Shigaraki tilts his head, seemingly impressed but bored all the same. “Tch. You really are annoying.”

Before you can retort, Nomu's wounds were vanishing as quickly as they appeared. Your heart sinks. Regeneration. Of course, it would have something like that.

“Not so tough now, huh?” Shigaraki taunts, his fingers twitching in anticipation.

But you don’t give him the satisfaction of fear.

Your mind races with thoughts. Regeneration? If it followed the rules of this world, it must have a limit or a drawback. You can do this. With focus, channeling every ounce of rage, fear, and love into your thymia. The blades shift, merging into a singular, massive spear of darkness.

The Nomu charges again, but this time, you’re ready.

With a shout, you hurl the spear forward. It collides with the Nomu, the force so immense that it knocks the beast off its feet and slams it into a far wall. Dust and rubble explode everywhere, obscuring your view.

“Damn monster…” you mutter under your breath, chest heaving.

“Look in a mirror sometime,” Shigaraki says, his voice too close for comfort.

“[NAME]!!!” A shrill voice shrieks. You glance over to see Midoriya, Mineta, and Tsu hiding in a bush nearby.

You barely react in time (And you make a mental note to thank Midoriya for the heads up later) as he lunges toward you, fingers splayed wide. Ducking low, you sweep your staff toward his legs, forcing him to jump back.

“You’re a real pain, you know that?” he growls, and  there’s a glimmer of frustration in his voice.

“And you’re a coward,” you fire back, wiping the sweat from your brow. “Using a monster to do your dirty work? You’re weak.”

Before he can respond, the rubble where the Nomu had fallen begins to stir. Its massive form rises again, entirely unscathed. You plant your feet firmly on the ground despite the dread in your stomach.

“I may be a coward, but I’m not weak.” Shigaraki sneers. “The Nomu was designed to destroy All Might. What chance do you think you have?”

You grip your staff tighter, feeling the burn of thymia coursing through your veins. “I don’t think All Might could defeat something like me.” You mutter, readying yourself to battle again.

The battle is far from over, but something inside you burns brighter than ever before. This place, these people—they’re worth fighting for. And no matter how powerful the Nomu or Shigaraki may be, you refuse to let them take away your new paradise.

The Nomu roars again, shaking the very air around you. Its beady, empty eyes lock onto yours, and it charges with renewed ferocity. You leap into action, summoning another set of inky black blades. They swirl around you like a storm, slicing through the air as you maneuver to avoid its powerful strikes.

The ground shatters beneath its feet as it lunges forward, fists clenched. You sidestep, slamming your staff into its arm and sending a pulse of thymia through the impact. The energy ripples outward, causing its arm to twitch uncontrollably, but it’s not enough to stop it.

“Why won’t you just stay down?!” you yell, frustration building.

Behind you, Shigaraki’s laughter cuts through the chaos like nails on a chalkboard. “Nomu's not just a monster—it’s perfection. You can’t break it. You can’t outlast it. It’s essentially a better you, daimonas.”

“Perfect, huh?” you mutter through gritted teeth. “Let’s see how perfect it is when I cut it down again.”

Focusing instead on the hulking creature in front of you. You jump back as it swings its massive arm, narrowly avoiding being crushed. Channeling your energy, you craft a shield, using it to block its next attack. The impact of its punch reverberates through your entire body, and you slide back several feet. You could feel something inside your body break, the pain burning your chest and core. “Damn it..!” You ready yourself to attack once more.

You pour every ounce of your remaining energy into a series of attacks, blades slicing into the Nomu’s thick hide. This time, you focus on its joints, aiming to disable its limbs. The beast screeches, and for a moment, it seems to falter. You press the advantage, leaping onto its back and driving your staff into the base of its neck. Thymia surges through the weapon, and the Nomu collapses.

“Stay down!” you shout, slamming the staff again.

But just as before, its wounds begin to heal. You can feel your energy draining, your vision blurring slightly from overexertion.

“See? Pointless,” Shigaraki says, stepping closer. His fingers twitch, and you know he’s waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

You glance back at Aizawa, still unconscious against the rubble. You can’t let this monster—or Shigaraki—get to him or your classmates. Summoning what little energy you have left, you prepare for another attack.

The Nomu rises again, its regeneration complete. It charges at you with a terrifying speed, but before it can reach you—

A sudden burst of wind and a resounding BOOM shakes the entire area. The Nomu is sent flying across the battlefield, crashing into a distant wall with enough force to leave a crater.

“All Might…” you breathe, turning to see the familiar towering figure standing at the entrance to the scene.

The Symbol of Peace steps forward, his expression grim, a stark difference to the grin he always wore. “Sorry I’m late,” he says, his voice booming. “Do not fear, I am here now.”

His eyes flicker to Aizawa’s injured form before landing on you. “You’ve done well holding the line.”

“All Might!” Shigaraki’s voice turns shrill with frustration. “The final boss is finally here! Yes, this is all according to plan…”

All Might doesn’t respond to him. Instead, he glances at you. “Can you still fight?”

Your limbs feel like lead, and your head feels light. “I… can still…” You cough, a little blood spilling from your lips. “Fuck.”

He gives you a small nod. “You did well. Rest.” He then turns to Nomu and Shigaraki. “Let’s end this.”

The battle takes on a new energy as All Might charges toward the Nomu. This time,  you feel a surge of hope as your body gives out.

–

A/n 

As someone who couldn’t be bothered to rewrite scenes from the anime/manga that wouldn’t diverge from canon, this is the end of [Name]’s battle with Nomu! I’m quite proud of it :)

I’ll see you in the next chapter,

Ryoko

Chapter Text

When you wake up, there’s yelling and clamor all around you. 

“Qui… …someone g… …Era… …ead!!”

The voices are close by, but they sound so faint. You slowly open your eyes, being met by the familiar sterile white of a hospital ceiling. Suddenly, you can hear all the crashing and banging. But more importantly, as you look down at your hands, there it is, staring at you. The marks of your thymia.

And then warm hands wrap around your wrists, making you come to your senses. 

Your eyes snap up and meet with the tired ones of Aizawa. Your thymia deactivates, leaving you with a pit in your stomach. Looking around the room, there’s clutter and destruction.

“Did I…” Your voice comes out dry and hoarse, “did I do this?” You ask, looking back at your father, who only stares back at you with shock, which you reciprocate. His face was covered in bandages, and his eyes were tinged red.

“Kid…” He starts, but then just sighs. “I’m glad you’re alright. Your quirk was running rampant while you were unconscious.” He tightens his hold on your wrists, but not in an uncomfortable way. It was more like he was afraid you would slip through his fingers like grains of sand if he didn’t anchor you.

SLAM!

You looked over to the door and were met with a winded and ruffled Hawks. He must’ve been worried about you.

“I-I heard what happened. I came as soon as I could–” Hawks freezes mid-sentence as his sharp gaze sweeps over the room—the shattered glass, overturned chairs, and the faint gashes of your thymia etched into the walls. His golden eyes land on you, and for the first time, you see something uncharacteristic in them, something you can’t place.

“Kid,” Hawks says, his voice softer now. “What the hell happened here?”

You’re not sure how to respond. The weight of it all sinks in—the messy state of your hospital room, the way Aizawa still holds your wrists like you might disappear if he lets go. Your mouth opens to say something, anything, but no words come out.

“Calm down, Hawks,” Aizawa mutters, his grip loosening slightly. “They just woke up. Let them process.”

“Process?” Hawks’ wings rustle in agitation as he steps closer, his eyes darting between you and the destruction. “This isn’t some minor outburst, Eraser. This is—”

“Enough,” Aizawa snaps, his tone leaving no room for argument. “I’ll handle it.”

Hawks hesitates, clearly torn, but eventually nods and backs off. He runs a hand through his hair, ruffling it even more, before leaning against the wall with a deep sigh.

You glance at the mess again, guilt gnawing at your insides like a relentless parasite. “I…” you can’t even get your own words anymore.

Aizawa’s gaze softens, but there’s a tension in his expression that he’s trying—and failing—to hide. “It’s alright,” he says carefully. “But we need to talk about this, [Name].”

You know what’s coming. You can feel it in the heavy silence that follows, in the way Aizawa’s grip on your wrists becomes just a bit firmer again.

“How?” he finally asks, his voice quieter now, almost hesitant. “How is it that my erasure doesn’t work on you?”

The question cuts through the air like a knife, and for a moment, it feels like everything stops.

Your stomach twists into knots, and you look away, unable to meet his gaze. You knew this would happen sooner or later, but you still dreaded the day.

“I…” You swallow hard, your throat dry and constricted. “I don’t…”

You’re hesitant to answer, wondering if you should just tell the truth or lie through your teeth, and the way Aizawa’s eyes narrow tells you he knows it.

“You’re hiding something,” he says, his tone low but not accusatory. “And I get it. You’re scared. But if we’re going to help you, I need to know what’s going on.”

“I…” You wet your lips, “I don’t need your help!” The words burst out of you before you can stop them, sharp and raw. You yank your wrists free from his grasp and stand, ripping off the IV needle stuck in your arm. “I don’t need any of this—your pity, your concern, your questions!”

“[Name], we get you’re stressed—” Hawks starts, but you cut him off.

“No! You don’t get it! No one will ever get it!” Your voice cracks, and you hate how weak you sound, how vulnerable. “I didn’t ask to be here! I didn’t ask for this power, this… this curse! Everyone I know, everyone just—” you stop.

The room is silent, save for the sound of your ragged breathing. Hawks and Aizawa exchange a glance, but neither says anything. They’re giving you space to speak, to vent, but it only makes you feel more cornered.

“I’ll cause more harm than good if I stay here.” You try to stabilize your voice as you go on. “It’s been fun, feeling like I belong for once, but I think it’s time for this to end.”

“Kid, what are you saying–” You quickly shut down Hawks’ concerned voice.

“I’m dropping out of UA.” You clench your fists. “It’s for the better. I’ll just ruin more things if I stay here.”

The two pro heroes stand there, stunned at your words. What do you mean drop out? To them, you were just some kid who was lost and confused in a foreign land.

Aizawa takes a step closer, his voice softer now. “You haven’t ruined anything. Please, kid, just tell us what’s on your mind.”

“No, it’s not,” you snap, wiping at your eyes furiously. “I’m a danger to everyone around me. I should’ve—”

“Don’t you dare finish that sentence,” Aizawa cuts in, his tone sharp and unyielding. “You’re not a danger. You’re a kid who’s been through too much, too fast. And you’re allowed to feel this way, but don’t you ever think for a second that you don’t belong here.”

“No!” You snap back, running out of arguments.

“[Name].” Aizawa raises his voice. “I’m not letting you go through this alone, got it?

His words hang heavy in the air, firm and resolute, grounding you in a way you don’t want to admit. You clench your jaw, your fists trembling as your emotions boil over.

“Why?” you demand, your voice breaking. “Why can’t you just let me go? I’m dangerous to everyone! I’m not—”

“As a teacher, you’re my responsibility,” Aizawa cuts in, his tone steady but carrying an edge of frustration. “But more than that, you’re my kid now. I don’t care how dangerous or broken you think you are. I’m not giving up on you, [Name].”

The words hit you harder than you expect, like a punch to the gut. You want to fight back, to yell at him, but all that comes out is a shaky exhale. You sink back onto the hospital bed, your legs feeling too weak to hold you up anymore.

Hawks steps forward cautiously this time, his wings folding tight against his back. “Look, kid,” he says softly, crouching slightly to meet your eye level. “I get it. You think you’re protecting everyone by pushing us away. But that’s not how this works. You’re not alone in this, okay? Let us help you.”

“I’ll just make more problems.” you whisper, barely audible.

Hawks shakes his head, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “You don’t get to decide that, squirt. That’s our call. And we’ve already decided you’re stuck with us.”

You let out a bitter laugh, the sound hollow in your chest. “You make it sound so easy.”

“It’s not,” Aizawa says, stepping closer. “None of this is easy. But we don’t do this because it’s easy. We do it because it’s right. We care for you.”

Tears spill over before you can stop them, and you hate it—hate how vulnerable you feel, hate how much their words are starting to seep past the walls you’ve built.

“You don’t have to be alone,” Aizawa says, his voice softening. He places a hand on your shoulder, steadying you. “You just have to let us help you.”

For a moment, you just sit there, letting the words sink in.

“Then…” Your lip quivers. “I guess I should tell you the truth.”

–

A/n

I’m not good at writing angst (despite the fact I actually enjoy writing it)… sorry :P

We’ll have a special guest next chapter… you'll never guess who 😈

I’ll see you in the next chapter,

Ryoko

Chapter Text

The room is uncomfortably quiet, the air heavy with the weight of your confession.

Aizawa sits in a chair, arms crossed and brow furrowed as he processes everything you’ve just told him. Hawks leans against the wall, his usual playful demeanor stripped away, replaced by a seriousness you’ve never seen before.

You can feel their eyes on you, searching for something—answers, understanding, reassurance—but you’ve got nothing left to give.

“And that’s everything,” you murmur, your voice barely above a whisper. “So many people died because of me, whether by my own hands, or…” You look down at your knees. 

“... Another world.” Hawks murmurs. “That feels preposterous, but… it makes sense.” He says, and Aizawa nods in agreement.

“That man at the USJ, Orca… he’s planning something, and I’m afraid I’ll lose my home a second time.” You look up. “I have to get back. I’ll kill that man with my own two hands if I have to–”

“You’re strictly prohibited from killing.” Aizawa cuts you off with a fatherly glare, making you sweatdrop. His comment definitely lightened the mood.

“... Right.” You mumble, looking back to your knees.

“Oh..?!” The three of you look over to see a shocked nurse standing in the doorway, staring at the state of the room and the ripped IV.

“...Shit.” You all say in unison.

•••

The cool night air hits your face as you step outside, and for a moment, it feels like you can finally breathe. Your hospital gown flows gently in the breeze as you wander aimlessly, your mind racing with everything you’ve just revealed.

The truth is out now, and it terrifies you. What if they see you differently? What if they regret taking you in?

The thoughts swirl and twist, growing louder with each passing moment. Your chest tightens, and your breathing becomes shallow.

You’re spiraling again.

You duck into a nearby alley, leaning against the wall and slowly sliding down it till you’re curled up in a ball. Your hands shake as you press them to your temples, willing the panic to stop.

“Get it together,” you whisper to yourself, your voice trembling. “Just breathe.”

But the panic doesn’t listen. It wraps around you like a vice, pulling you deeper into its grip.

A flicker of light catches your eye, pulling you from your spiraling thoughts. At first, you think it’s a streetlamp, but the glow is too erratic, too alive. You blink and realize it’s a flame— blue and dancing, eerily beautiful in the darkness.

“Hm? It seems I’ve stumbled upon a ghost. What’s with the get-up?”

You look up with your stinging eyes to see a man covered in frankenstein-type skin grafts all over him, some of the skin looking nearly rotten. He smelled like ash, flesh, and death.

“You’re one to talk about ghosts.” you retort, “What…” you start, voice shaky, but he raises a hand to cut you off.

“Relax, I’m not here to cause trouble,” he says, his tone almost lazy. “Just saw you looking like you were about to keel over and figured I’d say hi.”

You narrow your eyes at him, your guard immediately up. “Who are you?”

He smirks, the flames at his fingertips flickering before extinguishing with a faint hiss. “Just a guy out for a walk. You?”

You hesitate, unsure how to respond. There’s something unsettling about him, but also strangely disarming. “Just… someone,” you say cautiously.

“Uh-huh,” he says, amused. He steps closer, and you instinctively tense. He notices and chuckles softly, raising his hands in mock surrender. “Easy, kid. I’m not gonna bite.”

There’s a moment of silence as he studies you, his sharp eyes flicking over your tense posture and trembling hands.

“Panic attack?” he asks bluntly.

You glare at him. “What’s it to you?”

“Nothing,” he says with a shrug. “Just looks familiar. I was a kid once as well, that’s all.”

His nonchalance irritates you, but there’s something in his tone—a hint of understanding, maybe—that keeps you from snapping back. Instead, you sigh defeatedly, your head in your hands.

The man doesn’t leave. Instead, he leans against the wall again, crossing his arms as he watches you.

“You know,” he says after a moment, his voice quieter now, “trying to handle it all on your own doesn’t usually end well.”

You glance up at him, frowning. “And what would you know about it?”

He huffs a laugh, but there’s no humor in it. “More than I’d like to.”

You’re not sure why, but his words make you pause. There’s something about him— something in the way his eyes shine— that feels… familiar.

“Bad night?” he asks, his tone almost casual, like he’s commenting on the weather.

You sigh, leaning back against the wall behind you. “More like bad year.”

He nods, like he expected that answer. “Yeah, I get it. The world’s got a funny way of kicking you when you’re already down.”

You don’t respond, but his words strike a chord.

“What’s your deal, anyway?” you ask after a moment, glancing at him.

He raises an eyebrow, smirking again. “What, you want my life story now?”

You roll your eyes, but there’s no real sass behind it. “Forget it.”

He chuckles, pushing off the wall and stepping closer. He crouches down a few feet away from you, resting his arms on his knees.

“Look,” he says, his voice softer now. “I don’t know what you’re dealing with, and I’m not gonna pretend I do. But I know what it’s like to feel like.. that.”

His words catch you off guard, and you glance at him, really looking at him for the first time. The scars on his face, the way his shoulders weigh down— he’s definitely been through some tough times as well.

“What did you do?” you ask quietly.

He tilts his head, his smirk fading slightly. “What do you mean?”

“When it got too much,” you clarify. “How did you… handle it?”

He’s quiet for a moment, his gaze distant. Then he lets out a dry laugh, shaking his head. “I didn’t.”

You frown, his answer not exactly reassuring. “That doesn’t help.”

He shrugs, his smirk returning. “Hey, you asked.”

There’s another stretch of silence, and for some reason, it doesn’t feel uncomfortable.

“Listen,” he says finally, standing and brushing off his coat. “I’m not gonna tell you how to live your life. But whatever it is you’re dealing with… don’t let it eat you alive.”

You chuckle. “If it doesn’t eat me, it’ll eat other people.”

“That makes zero sense.” He gives you a look. “Honestly, I don’t even know why I’m doing this right now…” he sighs, turning around.

“Wait,” you call out.

He pauses, glancing back over his shoulder.

“[Name]. Don’t forget it.” You say, standing up. “And you… your name?” you ask, your curiosity getting the better of you.

He smirks, the blue flames sparking to life at his fingertips once more. “Dabi,” he says simply.

–

A/n

Hahahaha just pretend I didn’t write Dabi so badly hahaha this is fanfiction I’m gonna do whatever I want ahahahahah…

The next arc is… ugh… Sports Festival. I have no clue how I’m gonna make this less mundane. It is, in my opinion, the worst arc in MHA. (Yes, I’ve been saying this for the ENTIRE usj arc. Shush.)

I am NOT excited. If anyone has any ideas that can help me make this an enjoyable arc, please help me 😭

Also, thank you all for the amount of support I’ve received here! It always makes me happy to see comments and kudos and really keeps me motivated:)

I’ll see you in the next chapter,

Ryoko

Chapter Text

The morning sun shines brightly as you walk alongside Midoriya, the faint hum of distant city noise blending with the rhythmic scuff of your shoes against the pavement. The weekend air feels lighter somehow, as if even the city itself is taking a rare break.

You were discharged from the hospital just yesterday, since you didn’t actually get any serious injuries (cough cough shattered ribs cough cough).

“It’s nice out,” Midoriya comments, his voice soft as he looks up at the clear blue sky.

“Yeah,” you reply, stuffing your hands into your jacket pockets. “Good day for a market.”

He hesitates for a moment, then turns his head toward you. “Um, Aizawa-san… can I ask you something?”

You glance at him from the corner of your eye. “What’s up?”

“Well, uh, it’s about the USJ,” he starts, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. “I know it’s probably not something you want to talk about, but… what happened when you were alone? I got so worried when you were all bloody and injured—”

You stiffen slightly, the memory of those moments creeping back in like a shadow. “I wasn’t injured,” you interject, voice steady. “It was nothing exciting on my part. Just fighting. That’s all.”

Midoriya doesn’t seem convinced, his brows knitting together as he looks down at the sidewalk. “But… your quirk,” he says carefully. “It didn’t seem like you could control it. I mean, if you don’t want to explain, I understand, but—”

“Midoriya,” you interrupt, stopping in your tracks to face him. “Not now, okay?”

His eyes widen slightly, but he quickly nods, stepping back and clutching his bag strap tightly. “Sorry,” he mutters. “I didn’t mean to push.”

You sigh, resuming your pace. “It’s fine. Just… later.”

The conversation shifts to lighter topics as you approach the market, the vibrant sounds of vendors and the scent of fresh produce signaling that you’re close.

• ••

“There they are!” Mina’s unmistakable cheer rings out. She’s standing with the rest of the group, waving frantically. “Took you two long enough!”

You and Midoriya exchange a glance before heading over.

“Geez,” Mina continues as you approach. “You two walked here together? That’s, like, couple behavior.”

“Wha—?” Midoriya’s face immediately turns a deep shade of red. “N-No! It’s not like that at all! We just live next door to each other, so it made sense to—”

“Relax, Midoriya-san,” you shrug off Mina’s reading, entirely unfazed. “We just live in the same building. Mina’s just being Mina-san.”

Midoriya sputters, clearly struggling to regain his composure. “Y-Yeah! Exactly! Just neighbors! Nothing more!”

Mina grins mischievously, her hands on her hips. “Okay, okay, no need to get so defensive, Midoriya-kun! I was just teasing.”

Denki leans against a nearby stall, a sly smirk on his face. “Aw, it’s cute, though, isn’t it?”

“I swear…” you mutter, pinching the bridge of your nose. “Are we here to shop or play matchmaker?”

“Both,” Mina replies without missing a beat, grabbing your wrist and pulling you toward the nearest stall. “But mostly shop! Let’s go!”

As the group begins to split off and explore the market, Midoriya stays close, still a little flustered but thankful for the distraction.

The market is buzzing with life—vendors shouting out their wares, children running between the stands, the smell of fresh bread and sizzling skewers filling the air. You wander with the group, chatting casually, laughing at Denki’s antics, and enjoying the simple atmosphere of being out with your friends.

Midoriya, still red-faced but doing his best to seem composed, sticks close to your side. He glances at you every so often, but every time you catch his eye, he quickly looks away, his face turning even more beet red.

“So, Aizawa-san,” Tsuyu chirps, her tongue darting out as she picks up a delicate-looking trinket from one of the stalls. “How are things going with the whole… USJ situation? I mean, it must be pretty intense, right?”

You hesitate, glancing at Midoriya for a brief moment. It’s clear the topic’s still weighing on your mind, but you don’t want to ruin the vibe. “Yeah, it’s been… overwhelming, I guess.” You force a stoic look, brushing it off. “But I’m alright. Just trying to get back to normal.”

“I can’t believe you handled it all on your own,” Uraraka says, eyes wide in admiration. “You’re so strong, Aizawa-san. I don’t think I could’ve done it.”

“You probably would’ve done just as well,” you say, trying to shift the attention away from you. But Mina, of course, isn’t having any of it.

“So,” she says, suddenly all smug, “you and Midoriya-san walking here together, huh? That’s basically the start of a rom-com.”

“Again with this?” Midoriya laughs nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. “We’re really not dating!”

“It’s fine,” you reply, keeping your tone casual as you glance over to Mina with mirth glimmering in your eyes. “If you’re gonna make up rumors, at least make it something good.”

The group laughs, and it’s nice to feel this lighthearted, if only for a few moments. The world outside of the market still feels heavy, and while you’re surrounded by friends, you can’t help but feel that nagging emptiness creeping at the edges of your mind.

“Anyway,” you say, trying to pull yourself back into the moment, “let’s actually check out some of the stalls. I want to see what they have here.”

The group moves deeper into the market, splitting up to check out different areas. You and Midoriya fall behind, talking more casually now, but still a little tense. Eventually, the crowd ahead of you begins to thin, and before you know it, you’re standing alone in a quieter section of the market.

“Well, looks like we’ve lost everyone,” you say, glancing around. The sounds of the bustling market seem distant now, and you realize you’re not sure where anyone went.

Midoriya glances around too, his brow furrowing. “Yeah, I think they must’ve gone ahead. We should probably catch up—”

But before you can respond, you hear the familiar rustle of fabric and the soft sound of footsteps behind you.

Turning around, you find yourself face to face with someone you hadn’t expected to see.

Dabi .

Honestly, it’s barely been 3 days and you feel like you’re being haunted. 

He’s standing in the shadows of a nearby stall, the flickering light from the lamps catching the sharp lines of his face. His eyes lock onto yours, and for a moment, it feels like everything around you falls away.

“Well, well,” he drawls, his voice low and smooth. “Didn’t expect to run into you again, [Name]-chan. ”

The fact he called you that irked you to no end. “Likewise, Frankenstein .” You quip, invoking a chuckle. 

Midoriya immediately tenses up, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. “Who are you?” he demands, standing a little taller, his voice firm but cautious.

Dabi’s lips curl into a faint smirk, his gaze flicking to Midoriya before returning to you. “Just someone passing by,” he replies cryptically. “But it looks like you’ve got quite the interesting crowd around you, huh?”

You can feel the weight of Midoriya’s stare, the suspicion radiating off him. His posture becomes even more guarded, and you can tell he’s not thrilled to be facing down someone like Dabi.

You exhale slowly, knowing what’s coming. “Midoriya-san,” you start quietly, “I think it’s better if you go find the others. I’ll be fine.”

“Huh?” Midoriya blinks at you in confusion. “But—”

“Seriously, it’s okay. This guy’s… a friend ,” you insist, cutting him off. “Go. I’ll catch up with you later.”

Midoriya hesitates, glancing from you to Dabi. His eyes narrow, clearly not trusting the situation, but after a long beat, he nods and mutters, “I’ll be around.” He gives Dabi one last wary look before turning and walking off into the crowd.

Once Midoriya is out of sight, Dabi steps a little closer, his presence still as unnerving as ever. You glance at him but don’t flinch, the tension thick between you two.

“So I’m your friend?” He remarks teasingly the moment Midoriya’s out of earshot.

“You’re lucky he didn’t think you were a villain, you villain.” You cross your arms.

Dabi’s lips twitch upward. “I’m not worried about him. I’m more interested in you.” He leans against the stall casually, his eyes never leaving yours. “You’ve got a lot of weight on your shoulders, don’t you?”

You don’t respond immediately, the heaviness of his gaze making you feel exposed. Instead, you just nod slowly, not trusting your voice.

Dabi lets out a soft chuckle, one that’s laced with something dangerous, yet strangely comforting. “I can see it. I’ve been around long enough to recognize someone who’s been through it. You’re not as untouchable as you think.”

“I haven’t made a purposeful effort to be untouchable.” You bristle slightly, but Dabi doesn’t seem to care, his eyes flicking to your hands and back to your face. The silence stretches between you for a beat, and then he pulls out a slip of paper from his jacket pocket. He holds it out to you without a word, and you take it cautiously.

“There’s my number,” he says nonchalantly, his smirk still in place. “If you ever need someone to talk to— or if you just need something… anything— don’t hesitate. It’s not like you’ve got a lot of other options.”

You hesitantly take the slip of paper from him. “Why do you even care?” You ask. 

He chuckles and shakes his head. “I just don’t want to see a young soul end up like me.”

You scoff. “Why don’t you try and help yourself before others?”

He smiles. “It’s too late for me.”

Your hand tightens around the slip of paper, your mind racing. You didn’t expect this… and you didn’t know what to make of it.

You want to refuse, but for some reason, the weight of his words pulls at you, like a thread that you can’t quite ignore.

“I’ll… keep it— the number— in mind,” you murmur, slipping the paper into your pocket.

Dabi’s grin widens, but there’s no warmth to it. “I’m sure you will.” He pushes off the stall and starts to walk away. “Take care of yourself, kid.”

And just like that, he’s gone, blending back into the shadows of the market, leaving you standing there with his number, and some confusion as well.

You take a deep breath, shaking off the lingering unease from your conversation with Dabi, and turn to find the rest of the group. It doesn’t take long to catch up, as they’re all gathered around a stall selling handmade accessories. Denki is already picking out a neon-colored bracelet with a wide grin, while Mina is holding up a keychain, inspecting it closely.

“Hey, Aizawa-san!” Kirishima greets you, waving his hand enthusiastically. “You finally caught up with us! We were starting to think you’d gone off to another adventure.”

You chuckle lightly, brushing off the strange encounter. “Yeah, just had to take care of something. What’d I miss?”

Tsuyu, always the voice of reason, shrugs as she adjusts her backpack. “Not much, really. We were just talking about the sports festival. A lot of people think it’ll be postponed because of what happened at USJ. Honestly, I’m not sure how they’d even do it, given everything that’s going on.”

“Yeah,” Uraraka adds, looking pensive, “With the attacks and all the damage, I can see why it would be delayed. But on the other hand, it feels weird to just… cancel something we’ve been looking forward to since we enrolled, you know?”

Izuku nods, pushing up his glasses. “I agree. The whole thing’s been such a huge part of our motivation, but we can’t ignore the safety of everyone. I bet the teachers and the higher-ups are going to have a tough time figuring out the right decision.”

You slip into the group, listening as they continue to discuss the possible fallout from the USJ incident. Kirishima crosses his arms, his usual cheerful expression a little more serious than usual.

“I can’t believe that guy who attacked us was actually working with the League of Villains,” he says, a grim edge to his voice. “It makes everything feel even more dangerous. But, uh… I guess we have to keep moving forward, right? Can’t let it shake us up too much.”

“You’re right,” you agree, trying to focus on the conversation to distract yourself from everything else. “We all still have to train and keep improving. I mean, no matter what happens with the festival, we’re not going to stop working on ourselves, right?”

Mina grins. “Exactly! We’re heroes in training, after all!” She holds up a hand, high-fiving Denki, who promptly misses and ends up smacking his own face instead. The group laughs, the mood lightening as the tension starts to ease.

“We’re all in this together,” you say, glancing around at everyone. “Whether the sports festival happens or not, we’re all going to keep pushing ourselves.”

“True,” Tsuyu says thoughtfully, “but it’ll still be nice to have something to look forward to. A chance to show what we’ve been working on.”

“Yeah, if it happens,” Izuku mutters under his breath, eyes downcast. His usual anxiety is creeping back in, his thoughts clearly turning toward the potential delay.

“Don’t sweat it, man,” Kirishima claps him on the back. “Even if it gets pushed back, we’ll be ready. And when it happens? You’ll be ready too.”

You look back and forth between everyone, feeling the familiar warmth of camaraderie settle over you. It’s moments like this that help ground you in the reality of it all—the reality where you’re not alone, even in the chaos.

As the conversation continues, you slip into a more relaxed state, walking with the group as they browse the stalls. Midoriya lingers nearby, catching up with some of the others as they discuss the festival, but you can’t help but notice his occasional glances in your direction. You wonder if he’s still thinking about Dabi, or if he’s simply being his usual timid self.

It’s not long before your group decides to grab a bite to eat, finding a cozy food stall offering steaming bowls of ramen. As everyone digs in, the chatter continues—lighter now, but still filled with the subtle undercurrent of uncertainty.

“You think they’ll cancel it, though?” Denki asks, slurping his noodles loudly.

“I hope not,” Kirishima says between bites, “but it’s a tough call. We’ll just have to wait and see what the teachers say.”

You feel a pang of unease again, remembering the hushed conversations you overheard earlier—the uncertainty of everything. 

But right now, surrounded by your friends, you decide to push that anxiety aside, at least for the moment. The day was supposed to be about fun, not worry.

“I don’t know about you guys,” you say, “but I’m just happy to be out here, away from all the chaos.”

Izuku laughs. “Yeah, it’s nice to just have a break.”

You smile as you dig into your own food. It’s not much, but for now, it’s enough.

“Say, Aizawa-san…” Kirishima starts, “are you excited to have a substitute teacher? Since sensei’s your uncle and all…”

You nearly choke on your food, looking away while covering your mouth. 

“Eh? Aizawa-san, are you alright?” Midoriya asks you. 

You snort, and you slowly bubble into laughter. 

Everyone around you stares at you like you’re insane. 

“Huh?! Aizawa-san is… laughing?!” Kirishima, Mina, and Midoriya speak in unison. 

Once your laughter dies down, you speak. 

“Call me [Name].”

—

A/n

Therapist Dabi is real⁉️⁉️⁉️

I needed to heal my soul by writing this. 

I’ll see you in the next chapter,

Ryoko

Chapter Text

The sound of bustling students filled the halls of UA as you made your way toward the classroom. Despite the attack on USJ just a week prior, the school seemed to hum with a renewed energy, almost as if everyone was determined to shake off the weight of the incident.

Sliding the door open, you were met with the familiar chatter of Class 1-A. Mina was leaning over Denki’s desk, animatedly gesturing about something, while Iida was correcting Kaminari on proper classroom etiquette—not that the latter seemed to care. Midoriya, ever the diligent student, was already seated, scribbling furiously into his notebook.

“Morning, [Name],” Tsuyu greeted, her tone as calm as ever.

“Morning,” you replied, heading toward your seat.

Before you could settle in, Aizawa stepped into the room. He was practically mummified, and murmurs of shock and disappointment (They had prayed for a substitute) ripple through the classroom.

"Quiet down," he said, voice as monotone as ever. The class immediately fell silent, all eyes on him.

“As you’re all aware, we recently had an incident that could have disrupted the flow of the school year.” He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room. “However, U.A. is committed to maintaining normalcy for its students. That being said...” Aizawa’s voice shifted slightly, taking on a more formal tone. “The UA Sports Festival will proceed as scheduled.”

The classroom erupted into chatter, the news catching everyone off guard.

“Wait, seriously?!” Kirishima exclaimed, his sharp teeth flashing in an excited grin. “I thought they’d postpone it for sure!”

“Doesn’t this feel... a little soon?” Uraraka asked, her brows knitting together in concern.

Midoriya, who had frozen mid-scribble, looked up with wide eyes. “The sports festival is one of the biggest events at UA. It’s probably important to show we’re not backing down after what happened.”

"He's right," Iida said, adjusting his glasses. "The sports festival is an opportunity to demonstrate UA's resilience and our own determination as heroes in training!"

“Still...” Tsuyu murmured, tilting her head. “It feels weird, doesn’t it? After what happened?”

Aizawa, clearly done with the side conversations, cleared his throat. “For those of you concerned, know that security will be heightened to an unprecedented level. The school has already taken measures to ensure the safety of all participants and spectators.” His tone left no room for argument. “This is a chance to show the world what you’re made of. Don’t waste it.”

His words hung in the air as the room settled into a contemplative silence. For some, it was a source of excitement—a chance to shine. For others, it was a daunting reminder of the responsibilities they’d chosen to shoulder. 

•••

Later that day, once lunch had started, you found yourself wandering the courtyard. The announcement had left you with a lot to think about, and the weight of the upcoming festival was pressing heavily on your mind.

“Aizawa-san.”

You turned at the sound of a familiar voice, finding Shinsou standing a few feet away. His hands were stuffed into the pockets of his uniform pants, his ever-present tired expression softened by a flicker of concern in his eyes.

“Shinsou,” you greeted. “What are you doing here?”

“I was looking for you,” he admitted, stepping closer. “I heard about what happened at USJ.”

Ah. Of course. You’d forgotten how easily news like that traveled through the school.

“I’m fine,” you said quickly, hoping to ease his concern. “Really. The teachers handled it before things got too out of control.”

Shinsou’s frown deepened. “That doesn’t mean it wasn’t dangerous.” He paused, his gaze steady. “I saw the news. Two students were injured, and Aizawa-sensei and one other were hospitalized. You know, I got an itching feeling you were hurt.”

The sincerity in his voice caught you off guard, and for a moment, you didn’t know how to respond.

“I was fine,” you said finally, shrugging. “But it’s not like I was alone. Everyone was looking out for each other.”

“Still,” he muttered, his expression darkening. “You shouldn’t have had to go through that.”

There was a moment of silence between you, the weight of his words settling over you like a blanket. You hadn’t realized how much you needed someone to acknowledge what you’d been through—how much you needed someone to care.

“Thanks,” you said softly.

Shinsou looked at you, his usual stoicism cracking just enough to reveal the faintest hint of a smile. “Just... don’t do anything reckless, okay? I’d rather not have to worry about you more than I already do.”

You blinked, startled by his bluntness, before a small laugh escaped you. “You… worry about me?” 

He blushes bashfully and looks away. “Hey, don’t laugh.” He mutters.

You shake your head. “You’re funny.”

Shinsou raised an eyebrow, feigning offense. “Funny? Is that the best you’ve got? I pour my heart out, and you call me funny?”

You grinned, the weight of the day lifting slightly. “It’s a compliment, Shinsou-san. Take it.”

He rolled his eyes but didn’t press further, the faint blush on his cheeks still lingering. “Anyway,” he said, steering the conversation back to safer ground, “are you ready for this sports festival? I imagine you’ll have to deal with more attention than usual, especially after the USJ incident.”

You tilted your head thoughtfully. “I guess.”

Shinsou regarded you for a moment, his gaze unreadable. “You say that, but I bet you’ll have every pro hero in the audience keeping an eye on you. People love a good comeback story.”

You blinked at his words, caught off guard by the idea. “A comeback story? I wasn’t exactly out of commission.”

He shrugged nonchalantly. “Still. Surviving an attack like that and then stepping into the spotlight? People eat that kind of thing up.”

“Uh huh.” You roll your eyes. “You know what else people eat up?” You lean in closer.

“W-What are you doing-”

“A classic underdog story.” You laughed, the sound light and genuine. 

“Ah… yeah, I guess,” He sighs, calming down. Was he really that socially awkward to the point where he got flustered from close proximity?

The two of you lingered in the courtyard a little longer, chatting about the festival and your respective classes. Shinsou mentioned his interest in transferring into the hero course, and you found yourself rooting for him internally.

Eventually, the lunch period came to an end, and you both headed back to your respective classrooms. As you walked away, you couldn’t help but glance over your shoulder, catching Shinsou’s small wave before he disappeared around the corner.

–

A/n

Next few chapters are gonna be boring… 😭

I’ll see you in the next chapter,

Ryoko

Chapter Text

You lean back in your seat, waiting for the dismissal bell.

“So, this is Class 1-A. The shining stars of the hero course,” a tired voice said, loud enough for everyone to hear. His tone wasn’t mocking, but there was a weight to his words that made the group pause. “Hah. Is this really all the hype? I expected something… more.” He glances at you for a second before looking back to your classmates. 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Kirishima asked, frowning.

“I’m a little disappointed,” Shinsou continued, his eyes narrowing slightly, “… You know, those of us who didn’t make it into the hero course are stuck in the general studies. There’s a ton of us.”

He sighs, putting a hand to his (likely tense) neck. “Depending on the results of the sports festival, they might end up transferring us into the hero course.”

The hallway fell silent. Even Bakugou, who had been glaring at his phone moments ago, looked up with a raised brow.

“So, scoping out the competition? Perfect for a general studies student like me.” His eyes seem to carry a sharper gleam you weren’t accustomed to, “This is the perfect chance to knock you off your high horses. So…”

“Consider this a declaration of war.”

Silence follows, your classmates all trying to figure out how to respond to that, because the author doesn’t know how to transition the story from this.   

“War?” Kaminari echoed.

“You heard me.” Shinsou’s gaze swept across the group, lingering for a moment on you before moving on. “The Sports Festival is my chance to show everyone that General Studies students aren’t just extras in your story. So, don’t underestimate me. Any of you.”

You stared at him, caught off guard by the sheer confidence radiating from him. This wasn’t the Shinsou you were used to— the quiet, occasionally sarcastic friend who kept to himself. This Shinsou was bold, unflinching, and unapologetic.

Bakugo scoffed, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Tch. Like I care about some extra. You’ll lose before you even get to me.”

“Big talk,” Shinsou shot back, his voice as calm as ever. “We’ll see how far that gets you.”

Before anyone could respond, Shinsou turned on his heel and walked away, leaving the group in stunned silence.

“What’s his problem?” Kaminari muttered, scratching the back of his head.

You sigh and shake your head. You were wondering why he avoided you this lunch period. As the crowd slowly dissipates, you take the moment to leave the classroom with Midoriya in tow.

•••

You let out a relaxed breath, feeling calmer than you usually were. Since Midoriya had to run some errands for his mom, you were left alone on your walk to your apartment today. It was nice, being able to exist without the pressure of eyes on you.

You turned down a quieter street, away from the main roads, the rhythmic click of your shoes against pavement filling the silence. It’s peaceful. Or at least, it was.

You slowed your steps. The alley to your left was dim, lit only by the flickering glow of a faulty street lamp, but you could still see her. You could feel a sickness brewing in your stomach.

A blonde girl wearing a high school uniform, crouched down on the ground.

But that wasn’t the sickening part. She was crouched over something— someone— her back facing you. Blonde hair tied in loose, messy pigtails, the tips of her strands damp with something dark. She tilted her head, humming softly as she wiped the back of her hand across her mouth. It came away stained red.

Your breath hitched.

The body beneath her twitched—still alive, but weak. The person groaned, barely conscious.

Your foot shifted instinctively, a step backward. Of course, it’s just your luck that you end up kicking an empty aluminum can. The sound wasn’t loud, but it was enough. The girl’s shoulders stiffened before she turned her head toward you, revealing wide, golden eyes and a smile that was just a little too sharp to be friendly.

She stands up, the motion fluid like a dancer’s. Her steps were light and her hair bounced gently with each step. If it weren’t for the blood, it would’ve been a deeply enchanting scene.

“My my~ And who might you be, cutie?” Her voice was delicate. She took a few more steps forward, but then she stopped, her face morphing into disgust.

“Eugh,” She scrunches her nose up and takes a step back. “That’s gross.” As if to ward away whatever it was, she wafted the air back in your direction.

You blinked. “I’m… gross?” How rude of this girl– well, murderer. You had just showered yesterday!

“Yes, you!” She scowls. “Ugh, just what are you supposed to be? Your scent isn’t human.” She scrunched her nose again, shaking her head. “I hate it. You smell all wrong.”

You stare at her for a moment. “How can you tell by my scent?” You ask softly, curiosity taking hold of you. After all, this girl probably wasn’t going to siphon your blood if you were so “gross”.

“I know the scent of delicious human blood when I smell it.” She licks her lips, looking you up and down suspiciously. She sighed, stepping back looking disappointed. “Guess I’ll go find someone normal to drink from.” She gave you a cheerful smile, the contrast between her expression and her bloodstained mouth making your stomach twist. “But I’ll remember you, cute mystery person~”

And with that, she spun on her heel and disappeared into the darkness, humming as if she hadn’t just left a half-drained body in the alley.

You stood there for a long moment, heart pounding.

Then, finally, you grab your phone out and call the police.

What the hell was that?

And why did you feel insecure over her not wanting to drink your blood?

–

A/n

You know, I’ve introduced so many villains already, why not one more? :>

I’ll see you in the next chapter,

Ryoko

Chapter Text

The first thing you hear when you enter the stadium is cheering. Then, the light spills into your vision. 

The UA Sports Festival, the event that the whole world gathers at their TVs to see. 

It stressed you the fucking hell out. 

You weren’t Midoriya, who was probably running strategies through his head at this very moment, or Bakugou, who thrived off competition like it was oxygen. You weren’t even Todoroki, who carried himself with that suffocating, unshakable composure. You were just trying to make it through this without humiliating yourself on live television.

To make things worse, you’d been told that pro heroes, including Hawks and a few others, were watching the event in person. Watching you.

Yeah. No pressure.

You’re snapped out of your thoughts when a hero who seriously shouldn’t be hosting a high school event appears: Midnight. She turned toward the competitors, a microphone in her hand, "as per tradition, the student who performed best in the entrance exams gets to give an athlete’s oath!!"

The crowd cheered as all eyes turned to Bakugou, who stood at the front with his arms crossed.

Midnight held out the microphone. "So, Bakugou, do you have anything to say to your fellow competitors?"

Bakugou snatched the mic without hesitation.

"I'm gonna win."

A heavy silence followed.

Midnight blinked. "…That's it?"

Bakugou let out an annoyed click of his tongue before turning his glare toward the competitors behind him. His red eyes burned with barely restrained aggression (It was nice of him to put in some effort to at least try and hold back, though).

"I don’t care who I'm up against," he growled, voice sharp enough to cut through the noise. "It doesn't matter if you’re from General Studies, the Support Course, or even my classmates—" his gaze flickered between Todoroki and Midoriya, "—I’ll crush every single one of you and take first place."

A chorus of boos and other annoyed sounds erupted from the other students, but Bakugou ignored them. He tossed the microphone back toward Midnight, who caught it with an amused chuckle.

"Well, well! Looks like our top contender is feeling confident!" she purred, clearly entertained. "Now, onto the first event!"

You exhaled slowly.

This was only the beginning.

"Now then," Midnight called out, her whip cracking against the ground. "Let the first event... BEGIN!"

The moment the signal was given, chaos erupted.

A massive bottleneck formed at the starting gate as students shoved past each other, trying to squeeze through the narrow passage. The entire front of the crowd was stuck—until a chill ran down your spine, and suddenly, the air froze.

Todoroki had encased the ground in ice, freezing dozens of students in place. He easily slid past them, taking an early lead.

"Tch, bastard!" Bakugou snarled before launching himself into the air with a burst of explosions, propelling past the frozen competitors.

You didn’t hesitate. While others struggled to move, you kept your footing, skirting around the frozen masses before breaking into a sprint. You weren’t the fastest, but you knew how to navigate chaos.

Ahead, the First Obstacle loomed—the Giant Robots.

Three of U.A.’s massive training bots stood in the way, their eyes glowing as they locked onto approaching students. The moment someone got too close, they attacked.

Most students backed off immediately, forced to find another way around. But Todoroki? He wasn’t fazed.

With a simple motion, ice surged from his feet, freezing two entire robots in place before he shattered it completely. The wreckage gave him an easy path forward, and he didn’t waste a second moving on.

Bakugou, of course, took a different approach—blowing one of the robots' heads clean off as he blasted through the sky.

Midoriya, however, wasn’t as lucky. He hesitated for a second too long, and one of the bots turned its attention toward him.

You saw the gears turning in his head as he analyzed the situation—then he moved. Grabbing a discarded metal plate from the frozen wreckage, he used it as a shield, waiting for the perfect moment before sprinting past.

Smart.

You didn’t have Todoroki’s raw power or Bakugou’s firepower, but you could think on your feet. Keeping low, you avoided direct attention from the robots, zigzagging through the chaos until you found an opening to slip past them.

One obstacle down.

Next was the Second Obstacle—the Fall.

The ground dropped into a massive, jagged ravine, with nothing but rope bridges and narrow platforms connecting the other side. One misstep meant falling into the depths below.

Todoroki was already halfway across, balancing with ease, while Bakugou flew over the whole damn thing. You didn’t have that luxury.

Steeling yourself, you leaped onto the nearest platform, using your thymia to carry you forward. A few students miscalculated and tumbled below, forced to climb their way back up. You barely spared them a glance, pushing yourself to keep going.

The Final Obstacle—the Minefield.

You skidded to a stop at the edge, scanning the field. The entire ground was littered with mines—one wrong step, and you'd be sent flying.

You didn’t really have any other choice, so like an idiot, you just went full throttle, running as fast as you could while your thymia pushed you further. You imagined yourself in a sand boat with your thymia being the propeller, sending you at high speeds.

Most students hesitated, trying to navigate carefully, but then—

A massive explosion.

Midoriya shot past the crowd, using a mine explosion to propel himself forward at a ridiculous speed.

You had to admit—that was actually pretty clever.

With the finish line in sight, you sprinted forward, dodging the worst of the mines and ignoring the constant blasts behind you. Then, in a shocking turn, Midoriya landed right before Todoroki and Bakugou, who were in front of you this whole time, just barely claiming first.

And you?

Fourth place.

Your chest rose and fell as you steadied your breathing, glancing back at the competitors still scrambling through the minefield. The stadium erupted into cheers, but all you could feel was the dull ache of adrenaline settling into exhaustion.

The first round was over. You had survived.

But the festival wasn’t done with you yet.

“Woah!!! Eraserhead, what are you teaching your students!?” The obnoxious voice of a certain blond man– who you have been trying your best to ignore this entire race– resounds through the whole stadium.

“This was their own doing. I didn’t do anything.” Your teacher responds in a bored tone.

“Well, who could’ve expected such a craaaaazy turn of events!?”

“Are you ignoring me–”

“The one who made it out on top is…!!!”

The crowd waits with bated breath.

“MIDORIYA IZUKU OF CLASS 1-A!!!’

You heave, trying to catch your breath. “So damn loud…” You mumble.

You hear the tired laugh of a certain Trolls™ looking friend of yours. “You know, I’ve realized you get irritated easily.” He comments, to which you roll your eyes to.

You don’t bother responding to Shinsou’s observation, mostly because he’s right, and you don’t have the energy to argue. Instead, you watch Midoriya from a distance. He’s still panting, staring at his own hands like he can’t quite believe what he just pulled off.

The roar of the stadium drowns out anything else. Some students are celebrating their placement, while others are sulking from their loss. You glance at Todoroki, who stands stiffly, his expression unreadable. Bakugo, on the other hand—

"You damn nerd!!!"

Yep, there it is.

Bakugou storms toward Midoriya, looking two seconds away from combusting on the spot. "What the hell was that!?" he snarls. "You—!"

Midoriya flinches, but to his credit, he doesn’t immediately crumble under the pressure of Bakugo’s fury. Instead, he shifts on his feet, glancing between him and the stadium screen replaying his minefield stunt.

"Uh—" he starts weakly, "I beat… you…?"

Well that’s not the right answer.

“DAMN IT!!!”

"Whoa there, man! Save that energy for the next round!" Kirishima grins, though even he looks a little nervous trying to keep Bakugou from committing murder on live TV.

You snort, shaking your head as you listen to them bicker. Whatever. Not your problem.

A whistle blows, silencing the chatter.

"Alright, settle down, settle down!" Midnight’s sultry voice cuts through the noise. She swings her whip once, snapping the attention back to her. "Now that the first round is over, it’s time for the next event!"

The stadium screen flickers to life, displaying a blank canvas.

You exhale slowly. Whatever happens next, you’ll deal with it.

"The Cavalry Battle!" Midnight announces with a dramatic flair.

A murmur spreads through the crowd. You tense.

You know exactly what this means.

"The rules are simple," Midnight continues. "Each participant will form a team of up to five, working together to collect points from their opponents! The higher you placed in the last event, the more points you’re worth!"

Your stomach sinks.

"Of course," she adds, smiling wickedly, "our first-place winner will have the highest value of all—ten million points!"

Silence.

Then—

"WHAT!?" Midoriya chokes, his face draining of color. You could’ve sworn you saw little tears in his eyes, too.

You grimace. You may not have placed first, but fourth wasn’t exactly subtle either (195 points, you think). This was about to get messy.

Students were already murmuring amongst themselves, glancing at Midoriya like he was fresh prey. Even Bakugou looked like he was foaming at the mouth, already plotting how to rip those ten million points from Midoriya’s hands.

Yeah. This was gonna suck.

Midnight claps her hands together. "You all have fifteen minutes to form your teams! Good luck!"

And just like that, the stadium explodes into chaos again.

People immediately start scrambling, forming groups and locking in teammates. You’re left standing in the middle of it all, debating whether you should approach someone or wait to be approached.

You take a breath. You weren’t Midoriya, Todoroki, or Bakugou—but you weren’t going to let this festival chew you up and spit you out, either.

Time to move.

—

A/n

Hopefully the next chapter is a bit better, I feel like I stuck to the script too much with this one :( However, I still tried my best to make the interactions (though there are basically none because my ass is lazy asf) as fun as possible!

Since [Name] offset the leaderboard a little bit, Aoyama no longer will proceed to the bracket fights.

Also, I’m not even sure if people read my notes anymore, but just a quick announcement! I've prewritten everything up to chapter 24, and then after that, I’ll be going on a short hiatus so I can focus on my studies, since final exam season is coming up soon and I can’t be caught lacking 😭 fuck APs bro

I’ll see you in the next chapter,

Ryoko

Chapter Text

Fifteen minutes. That was all the time you had to form a team, and yet, here you were, standing in the middle of the chaos with no plan.

Teams were forming fast, and you could feel the pressure settling in your chest. Midoriya was struggling—unsurprising, given that he had a ten-million-point target painted on his back. Bakugou had already secured his allies, Kirishima standing proudly beside him. And Todoroki?

Todoroki was looking at you.

“I want you on my team.” His voice was even, composed, like he had already made up his mind.

You blinked. “Huh?”

“Replace Kaminari.”

Your gaze flickered toward the electrified blond, who had been mid-sentence before freezing at Todoroki’s blunt statement. “Uh—?” Kaminari blinked, pointing at himself. “Wait, what?”

“I need someone faster,” Todoroki continued. “You’re the better choice.”

Kaminari made a wounded noise. “Dude—ouch.”

Todoroki ignored him, his mismatched gaze locked on you. “Well?”

You glanced around. Most teams had already formed, and while you weren’t particularly thrilled about the idea of being dragged into Todoroki’s personal war against Midoriya and Bakugou, you weren’t exactly swimming in other options.

“…Fine.” You sighed, stepping forward.

Kaminari groaned, muttering something about being unceremoniously dumped before slinking off to find another team. You spared him a pitying glance as Todoroki quickly explained the plan. Iida and Yaoyorozu rounded out the team, their strategies forming with quick, calculated precision.

Then, Midnight cracked her whip.

“BEGIN!”

The arena erupted into movement.

Immediately, Midoriya’s team became the prime target. The ten-million-point headband practically screamed “come and get me,” and Bakugou wasted no time launching himself straight toward it.

You kept pace with Todoroki’s orders, skirting around the battlefield while Iida’s sheer speed kept you out of immediate danger. Your job wasn’t to attack—it was to defend, keep your team moving, and make sure no one snatched your points.

Midoriya, though? He was barely holding it together. His team was a frantic mess, dodging and weaving through attacks while protecting their precious headband.

Your fingers barely brushed against the fabric of Midoriya’s headband before—

BOOM.

An explosion shattered the ice barrier.

Bakugou shot through the air like a bullet, his palm crackling with heat. His eyes burned with fury as he made a beeline for Midoriya, caring more for strategy than action.

The battlefield was spiraling into madness.

Your job wasn’t to attack—it was to defend, keep your team moving, and make sure no one snatched your points. Todoroki’s orders were crisp, strategic. Iida’s sheer speed allowed your team to evade immediate danger, while Yaoyorozu created shields and barriers on the fly, blocking off attackers.

Bakugou, however, was relentless. You heard the telltale boom before you saw him, his wild red eyes locked onto your team like a predator.

“TODOROKI! YOU DAMN ICE BASTARD—”

Todoroki’s expression didn’t change. The moment Bakugou got too close, a sheet of ice erupted beneath him, threatening to freeze him midair. But Bakugou twisted, blasting the ice apart before it could trap him.

“Nice try!” he snarled, propelling forward with another explosion.

You gritted your teeth. This was going to be a pain.

Meanwhile, Midoriya was fighting for his life. His team barely dodged another attempt to steal his headband, frantically maneuvering through the chaos. His face was drawn tight with concentration, clearly working through a hundred different strategies at once.

Todoroki watched. Calculated.

“Now.”

The moment he gave the signal, ice surged forward. A massive wall erupted between Midoriya’s team and the others, boxing them in. The space was too tight to maneuver properly—Midoriya realized too late what was about to happen—

Students scrambled to claim any remaining points while Midoriya’s team barely managed to stay standing. You didn’t have time to focus on the chaos behind you—you had secured the ten-million-point headband.

Todoroki’s team surged ahead, Iida’s Recipro Burst launching your team across the arena in a flash of speed. 

“Just a few more seconds—”

A gust of wind slammed into you, nearly knocking the team off balance.

Midoriya.

You barely caught a glimpse of his determined expression before he jumped, throwing himself forward in one final, desperate attempt—

But it wasn’t enough.

The buzzer blared.

First place: Team Todoroki.

You exhaled, heart hammering in your chest. Your hands shaked subtly, the thrill of actually winning for once pumping through your veins.

The break between events was supposed to give you time to breathe. Instead, it dumped you straight into a different kind of chaos.

The intermission games were in full swing, and the stadium buzzed with energy. Students scattered across the field, either participating in the ridiculous mini-games U.A. had set up, buying food in the stalls right outside, or using the break to strategize for the next round. You weren’t sure which camp you belonged to yet—hiding in a quiet corner sounded really tempting, but knowing your luck, someone would drag you into this mess whether you liked it or not.

And, of course, that was when someone called out to you.

“Hey, hey! You’re from the cavalry battle, right?”

You turned at the unfamiliar voice and were immediately met with the blindingly bright grin of a blond upperclassman.

“Uh—?”

“Yep, I knew I recognized you! You were in that Todoroki guy’s team, right? Super cool teamwork!” His grin didn’t waver for even a second. “Oh, man, you first-years are something else this year!”

Before you could even process what was happening, a girl with periwinkle hair popped up out of nowhere, practically vibrating with excitement. “Wait, wait, wait—Togata, don’t hog them all to yourself! You—” she pointed straight at you, eyes shining, “—were so cool back there! What’s your Quirk? Oh! Wait! No, let me guess! I love guessing!”

What.

“Uh.”

“I bet it’s something super unique, right? Right!?”

You had no idea what to do with this information.

“Nejire, you’re overwhelming them,” a third voice mumbled from somewhere behind the other two. A dark-haired boy, looking about five seconds away from bolting, shifted uncomfortably in place. “...” He mumbled something incoherent and most definitely anxious.

You stared. Who the fuck were these people.

The blond one—Togata?—laughed, scratching the back of his head. “C’mon, Amajiki, don’t be like that! It’s good to get to know our underclassmen!” He turned back to you, still grinning. “We haven’t introduced ourselves, huh? I’m Mirio Togata! This is Nejire Hado, and that guy over there—” he gestured toward the dark-haired one, “—is Tamaki Amajiki! We’re in our third year!”

You’d heard of them before—U.A.’s top students, said to be on the same level as pro heroes. They were legends around here.

And they were talking to you.

“I—uh—” you started, but Nejire was already circling around you with fascination.

“Your Quirk feels different! I can tell! What’s it called? How does it work? Oh! What’s your favorite food?”

“I—what?”

“Nejire,” Mirio laughed, “let them breathe!”

Nejire pouted but didn’t push further.

Before you could recover from the sheer whiplash of this interaction, the stadium speakers crackled to life. Present Mic was saying some bullshit about cheerleaders from… America? You’ve heard of that place before. It sounds like an unhealthy place according to Japan. His voice gave you headaches.

Just then, throughout the noise and the overwhelming presence of… well, everything, you saw something that left you breathless.

“I-I’m sorry, but I really have to prepare for the upcoming game.” You say quickly, not waiting to hear the purple-haired girl’s whining or that Amajiki guy’s sigh of relief.

And your breath hitched.

No.

No way.

Messy brown hair. Wide, curious eyes. A hesitant but familiar smile.

Your entire body locked up.

“Chakuro?”

You could hear your voice crack. It was pathetic. You fought the crowd, trying to reach him. 

“Cha—“ 

Your eyes meet. 

“[Name]?” He whispers, an unforgettable shine in his eyes that never seemed to disappear.

You grab him by the wrist and quickly pull him into a tight yet quick embrace. “Why are you here? Did something happen? Is Shuan doing well? Is— is by brother—“

He chuckles, snapping you out of it. “Still the same [Name], huh? You’ve grown a little, though.” His smile fades. “I… I need to talk to you.”

You nod, still holding him tightly, as if he would disappear the moment you let go. 

“Come with me,” you tug him along, leading him through the crowd suddenly. You need to get him to Aizawa. 

You pass by multiple classmates and heroes wandering the halls, but you pay them no mind (yes, even Endeavor). 

You find Aizawa in the commentary stand, at the very top of the stadium. 

You take a deep breath. “If you want to talk, at least let me introduce you to someone.” Chakuro wasn’t just a beaming light of hope. He was proof. Proof that you weren’t insane, that all of this was your reality.

You give a light knock to the door, to which Present Mic opened the door. “Eh? Hey Aizawa, your kid’s here.” He beckons over the tired man, who seems nearly grateful for a distraction from Mic. 

“… and who is this?” Aizawa raises a brow as he shuts the door behind him. 

“This is Chakuro, the archivist of the Mud Whale.” You introduce. It felt a little awkward, honestly, but the look of shock on Aizawa’s face was real.

“The Mud Whale?” He repeats, dumbfounded. “Wait. How—“

“With the power of the Nouses, I was able to get here.” Chakuro interjects. “I know how to get [Name] back to the Mud Whale.”

“When [Name] was transported into this world, a fragment of Nous Skyros came with them,” he begins, his tone measured yet carrying an undeniable urgency. “It’s the only remaining piece of Skyros— that fragment holds the key to returning to the Mud Whale.”

Your breath catches. The Mud Whale… home. Memories and longing swirl in your chest as you force yourself to focus on his words.

Chakuro continues, “I asked Kýma to help me find them.” 

“Wait. Kýma? As in the Nous that was with Orca?” You ask. Just what happened when you were gone?

“It’s a long story.” He looks down, something like sadness in his eyes as he recalled past events. “I’ve actually written exact copies of all my records. Wait-“ he pulls out a giant stack of papers from his overalls and plops them in your hands. “Here.” He gives you a proud puppy look. 

You chuckle. “I’ll look over these well, Archivist.” Its weight seems both physical and symbolic—a promise of a path back to everything you once knew.

You clutch the stack of papers which were neatly tied in twine, a pit of dread forming in your stomach quite suddenly. 

“Do you know where I can find Skyros?” You ask softly, to which Chakuro shakes his head solemnly. 

Aizawa places a firm, reassuring hand on your shoulder. “Take your time, [Name]. We’re here for you, no matter what you decide.” You nod in response.  

“[Name]. I’ll leave you with a small fraction of Kýma. It can’t get you home, but she can sense Skyros. If you even find a trace, she’ll tell you.” A small piece of the necklace Kýma resided in morphed into an amorphous blob, breaking off and shaping into a mini Kýma. It looked like a chibi. It became a small pendant and found itself a home on your neck. 

And just like that, as tears prick at your eyes, Chakuro disappears before your eyes, fading to light before returning to nothingness. 

Your knees buckle and you descend to the floor, clutching the records tightly. 

Aizawa crouches down, gently rubbing your back comfortingly. “The last part of the Sports Festival is starting soon. Go get ready, kid.” He whispers softly, gently helping you up. 

He leaves you alone, going back to the commentary stand. You’re left standing there, the weight of Chakuro’s revelation pressing down on you. The roar of the stadium swells again as the final event of the Sports Festival begins. You had time, you weren’t up for a while. 

The bright lights and clamor of the crowd remind you that, despite everything, life here continues unabated, and your hardships are truly yours alone. 

—

A/n

The plot thickens! I feel like I’ve left the actual crossover aspects of this work in the corner for too long. That plot point was the only thing I really had planned for this chapter, but I wanted to balance it with lightheartedness and actual story building and I think I did pretty well! I’m super proud of myself for this since I came up with the idea of the Nouses being gateways (since they are canonically gods) to other worlds. 

I’ll see you in the next chapter,

Ryoko

Chapter Text

Ashido Mina. 

She’s a formidable opponent. Well, she could be if she would just exert her full potential. 

You couldn’t understand her. She didn’t seem to have a reason for becoming a hero, she had no drive, so why? The answer’s simple. Society pushed itself on her, saying her quirk was flashy and powerful enough. You always thought she could be a good hero if she tried instead of being complacent with being a support hero. 

The crowd roared as your name flashed on the screen next to Ashido’s. You exhaled slowly, stepping onto the stage. Mina bounced on her feet, grinning, her golden eyes glimmering with excitement.

“You ready, [Name]?” She called out, shaking her hands loose. “Let’s make this fun, yeah?”

You frowned slightly. Fun? That wasn’t what this was about.

“Ashido.” Your voice was calm but firm. “Are you really going to treat this as a game?”

She blinked, tilting her head. “Huh?”

You took a step forward. “I’ve seen how strong you are. You’re fast, agile, and your Acid is powerful. You could be one of the best fighters here, but you’re holding back.”

Mina’s grin faltered for a second before she waved a hand dismissively. “Ah, c’mon, it’s just a school tournament! No need to go all out, right?”

You narrowed your eyes. “If you really want to be a good hero, you have to do your best. Every. Single. Time.” Your words were sharper than you intended, but you meant them. “Being a hero isn’t about looking cool or having a flashy Quirk. If you don’t take your own strength seriously, how can anyone else?”

Mina’s mouth opened, then closed. She looked away for a second, rubbing the back of her neck.

“…It’s not that easy,” she muttered.

You took another step closer, lowering your voice so only she could hear. “Then prove it. Right now. Show me what you can really do.”

Mina’s gaze snapped back to you, and for the first time, there was something different in her eyes—something uncertain, something conflicted.

The buzzer sounded.

Mina moved first, but her attack was half-hearted, only aiming a small splash of acid your way. You frown as you dodge it easily. “This won’t be fun for either of us.”

You didn’t wait for her next move—you rushed her, forcing her to react. She yelped, eyes widening as you feinted left before spinning to the right. She barely dodged, hopping backward as another splash of acid coated the floor between you.

You felt your muscle memory kick in as your thymia forms itself into the shape of a staff. It wasn’t going to feel the same as using a real one, but it’d do.

You’ve memorized the steps and the stance, as if it was a dance. Your moves were smooth and light, just strong enough to give bruises, but nothing more.

You land three hits: her left arm, right leg, and right shoulder.

She staggers back, “Whoa, whoa—okay, you’re coming in hot!” she laughed, trying to play it off. “Guess I gotta step it up a bit, huh?”

But she still wasn’t taking this seriously.

“Your movements are sluggish.” You pressed forward, relentless. You weren’t giving her a chance to dance around anymore. If she wasn’t going to fight properly, you’d force her to. “You’re a dancer, aren’t you? Move like one.” Your words are so sharp, you nearly feel guilty.

She dodged, ducked, and deflected, but you could see it—she was coasting. Reacting instead of attacking. Avoiding the real fight. 

“And your use of your quirk,” You scoff. “It has the potential to be so powerful. Why won’t you just use it to its full potential?” You swing once more at her, but this time she skillfully evades it, aiming for your open side.

“It’s shameful,” You hiss, “Why are you so scared?”

You blocked her next attack and grabbed her wrist before she could land her hit. You felt your palm burn with the acid on her skin. Her eyes widened.

“You’re still holding back,” you said, voice cold.

Mina tensed. “Uh—?”

“If you really want to be a good hero, then act like one,” you continued, grip tightening for just a second before you let her go. “Or you might as well drop out now.” You push her away from you.

Something flickered in her gaze—something uncertain, something conflicted.

The buzzer sounded again, signaling one minute left of the match.

Then, finally, she moved.

You barely had time to react before she spun low, launching a spray of acid toward the floor, making the battlefield unstable. Smart. You leaped back, dodging the initial splash, but she was already closing the gap.

She wasn’t hesitating anymore.

Mina twisted midair, landing with impossible balance as she slid across the acid-coated floor. You braced yourself, countering with a well-timed dodge, barely missing a hit. She was using her full agility now, her speed and unpredictability forcing you onto the defensive.

But then, just as you saw an opening, you stopped.

“Ah… I see now.” You breathe out.

You let out a slow breath, lowering your stance. Mina’s acid-laced fist stopped inches from your face, her breathing ragged from exertion.

You nearly grinned. “I forfeit.”

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Midnight hesitated before announcing the result, but you didn’t waver.

Mina took a step back, staring at you in confusion. “What…? Why?”

“I got what I wanted.” You dust yourself off.

“…You’re really weird, [Name].”

You shrugged. “Took you this long to figure that out?”

She laughed, breathless but lighter. “Guess I should start taking things a little more seriously, huh?”

You patted her shoulder as you stepped off the stage. “Only if you really mean it.”

As you walked away, you heard her whisper, “Yeah… I think I do.”

—

A/n

Bare with me I have a lot of thoughts to jam into this afternote…

I just love Mina, she deserves more love 😭 (I totally wasn’t just lazy and didn’t want to alter the battle brackets shhhhhh)

This reddit post gave me the inspiration for this fight as well as characterization for our Pink Queen: reddit.com/r/BokuNoHeroAcademia/comments/1ao4ap9/theory_about_minas_reasoning_to_become_a_hero/

Also erm. If you like genshin impact and other stuff like that one of my favorite friends (I picked them up off the street /j) finally got an ao3 account!!! They’re literally like my little itty bitty child I love them sm, their handle is little_raindrop :)

Side note: Has anyone realized that Todoroki’s quirk probably gives him a lot of fevers? Randomly freezing then immediately heating up… NOT good on your body. 

I’ll see you in the next chapter,

Ryoko

Chapter Text

You were feeling lighter lately, as if you had slept better (you didn’t). Maybe it was because of Mina, or maybe the ease off your shoulders from Chakuro. Speaking of, you need to read those records he sent you. The class was chattering, excited to see how many internship offers they got from their performances in the Sports Festival.  You stared at the blackboard. Scanning for your name. You expected to be at the bottom of the board this time around.

So why did you have the most internship offers in the class?

You look down at your detailed report paper. It was organized by hero ranking. You recognized a few names from the news, like Kamui Woods and Edgeshot. Damn, some really popular heroes had their eye on you after you purposefully failed in the bracket tournament? You held back the urge to roll your eyes when you saw Endeavor’s name. No thanks.

Then, a name catches your eye. Your hold on the paper tightens as you read it. Looks like you found your choice.

• ••

It’s more wise to focus on classes. You could hear the groan of Kaminari complaining, 

 “Ugh! Just how much longer is Aizawa-sensei gonna—“

SLAM. 

A hero comes bursting through the door! But… it’s not your home room teacher. Who is it, you ask? Well of course, it’s Midnight. 

“Today, you’ll be choosing your hero name!” Wow. What happened to good morning? Hello? How are you? Your classroom erupts into excitement which you find yourself unable to match. What’s the point anymore? But it was still worth considering. After all, you didn't know how much longer you’d be here exactly. It could be another year, maybe three, for all you know. 

But what would be a good hero name? You sure as hell weren’t going to call yourself “Daimonas”. Not only does it paint a red target on the back of your head, it also leaves a sour taste in your mouth, the type that made you want to revolt. You could go with your name, maybe? No. That’s boring, and you don’t think you’re very boring. You needed something. Anything. A reminder of where you came from. What about… “Falaina”? You always found the word pretty, but… that’s also what the Empire calls the Mud Whale. 

Well, what’s one thing you do best? And then it hit you. You wrote down the word first in the old tongue, the one you grew up reading and writing, then quickly erased it and tried your best to write it in katakana, which was harder than you thought it would be.

You watch as each of your friends go up, one by one, everyone has such witty and creative names. Your favorite was probably Asui’s. And then there’s… Shoto. That was definitely a choice.

Then, Midoriya walks up, shyly placing his white board onto the lectern. It read “deku”. It was a word you had become accustomed to, but it lacked the positive context of a hero name for you. He really did have bravery, trying to turn that name into something he could be proud of.

Maybe you should do the same. You walk up to the lectern, being the last person to announce your hero name. “Apollumi.” You let the word roll over your tongue, the word leaving without letting your mind contemplate first. “… the Destruction Hero.”

• ••

You found yourself aimlessly walking the city streets later that day. You didn’t know why you thought of that word. Maybe it was because of…

“Yo, [Name]!” A certain blond calls your name, the dry grass crunching over his heavy boots. The breeze was light, the whistling of the wind whispering long forgotten secrets right into your ear. The dry mud wall of the crumbling Fourth Tower scratched against your clothes, hitching the occasional thread on the rough texture.

“I heard from a little sandfish that you got into another fight? Did you wi–” He stops in front of you, his expression softening. You really got yourself beat up badly this time, huh… 

Your cheek’s a horrible shade of purple, and your lip has little flakes of dried blood on it. You feel ashamed. Could you seriously not fight on your own without your brother or friends? Are you seriously that weak?

“You should see the other guy…” You grumble, trying to put on a strong facade. To be fair, you did send the kid to the infirmary.

Shuan lets out a hearty chuckle. “I saw. Should I start calling you Destroyer? ” He jokes, ruffling your hair just a tad too roughly.

“That’s the archivist’s nickname, no?” You reply, swatting his hand away.

“Then… Destroyer 2? ” He pitches.

“Definitely not,” You groan.

A comfortable silence falls between you two.

“ Apollumi. ” He finally says. You turn your head to face him and quirk a brow. “You’d be Apollumi. ” He repeats.

You sigh. Thinking about the past was rough, especially with Chakuro…

BAM!

You stumble back. Someone had just collided into you, and… spilled their drink onto your white shirt. White. Shirt.

“Ah! I’m so sorry!”

—

A/n

IM FINALLY DONE WITH FINALS IM FREEEEEEEE

To be honest, I put this off for too long. I don’t know why. The next chapter will also be kinda short because my ass is lazy. But the one after that will be so cool your brain will explode.

See you in the next chapter,

Ryoko

Chapter Text

Not a chapter, but just a quick thing I wanted to say.

First: I'm rewriting the first few chapters because OH MY GOD THEY ARE SO BAD. How tf did anyone read this like thank you all so much.

Second: New chapter tomorrow.

Third: I do have a spinoff of this fic, and... I'm just gonna mix it into this work because I feel like it's lowk important if you want more insight on COTW characters?? They'll be added wherever I feel fits.