The next day, the atmosphere in Class 1-A was electric, a stark contrast to their usual pre-class calm. Students milled about, not yet in their seats, voices buzzing with excited chatter. Unsurprisingly, the main topic of conversation was still the U.A. Sports Festival – the incredible fights, the surprising outcomes, and the sheer display of power.
"Man, Todoroki, your ice attacks were insane!" Kaminari, sporting a few lingering bandages but otherwise recovered, exclaimed, his voice still a bit crackly. "And yours too, Souta! You guys practically turned the stadium into a winter wonderland!"
Midoriya, nearby, nodded vigorously. "Todoroki-kun was just… on another level. And Souta-kun's strategy against Kacchan was something else entirely." He was animatedly discussing the final matches with Uraraka, who added, "Your fight with Todoroki was incredible too, Deku-kun! You were both so amazing!"
Midoriya flushed slightly. "Thanks, Uraraka-san!" He then noticed Shoto Todoroki lingering by the window, ostensibly gazing out but with his attention seemingly angled towards their group. Shoto's expression was thoughtful, the usual iciness tinged with a new layer of contemplation following his bouts and the festival's revelations.
Across the room, Souta Todoroki was at his desk, appearing to review some notes, though his usual air of calm observation was subtly different. The unusual addition to his vicinity was Katsuki Bakugo, who sat slumped in his own chair a desk away, uncharacteristically quiet. The explosive arrogance was still there, simmering beneath the surface, but his decisive, almost humiliating defeat by Souta's ice strategy had clearly subdued his volume and bluster, at least for the moment. He occasionally shot a frustrated, sidelong glance at Souta, who remained pointedly focused on his notes.
"Alright everyone, settle down! Aizawa-sensei will be here any moment!" Yaoyorozu's clear voice cut through the chatter just a minute before the bell. Students quickly scrambled to their seats.
Moments later, the classroom door slid open and Shota Aizawa entered, looking even more tired than usual, if that was possible. He carried a huge stack of papers, which he deposited unceremoniously on his desk. "Look alive," he said, his voice a low monotone, before uttering another word. He took the top sheet from a smaller pile within the stack and pinned it to the large bulletin board at the front of the class.
He finally addressed them again. "Morning. As you can see, these are the nomination totals from the Pro Heroes for internships. These numbers dictate your immediate future, for better or worse."
All eyes shot to the board. At the top, with a staggering number of offers that dwarfed everyone else's, was Souta Todoroki. Below him, still with an impressive count, was Shoto Todoroki, followed closely by Katsuki Bakugo, whose jaw tightened at seeing himself third. Further down the list were names like Tokoyami, Kirishima, and Iida, each with respectable numbers, and then a smattering of offers for most of the other students who had made it to the tournament rounds.
Aizawa then began handing out the stacks of papers he'd brought in. "Each of you will find a personalized list. If you received direct nominations, those will be detailed. If you didn't receive direct offers, you've been provided with a list of roughly fifty Pro Heroes, mostly lower-ranked but all reputable, who have agreed to take on U.A. first-years for internships. This period," he gestured vaguely at the clock, "will be spent choosing the agency where you wish to intern for one week. Make your decisions carefully. This is your first real taste of hero work."
A rustle of paper filled the room. Souta found a thick sheaf placed on his desk. He picked up the uppermost page, noting with approval that whoever compiled it had sorted by agency ranking. The first page alone was a veritable who's who of the top fifty Pro Heroes in Japan, with the notable exception of All Might.
He scanned the names. Predictable, he thought, flipping past an offer from Endeavor, which had several conspicuous "!!!" next to it. He snorted softly. And still so loud, even on paper. A surprising offer came from Hawks, the Number Three Hero. Souta wasn't a fan; Hawks' perpetually laid-back attitude always felt like a carefully constructed mask.
He considered Edgeshot briefly, another master of finesse. Honestly, only two truly sparked his interest: Best Jeanist, for his meticulousness and Quirk mastery, and Mirko, the Rabbit Hero. Her raw power and close-combat style were fascinating. While he had martial arts training, it wasn't optimized for fighting with Full Cowling's enhanced strength. Mirko, relying almost purely on physical prowess, seemed ideal. The chance to learn truly effective super-powered melee combat was too good to pass up. With a decisive nod, he circled her name.
Around him, Shoto stared at his own list, his expression conflicted. Ultimately, with a sigh, he circled 'Endeavor Hero Agency'. This is a means to an end, he thought, his gaze flickering towards his brother. Nothing more. If I want answers, I have to win.
Midoriya, found Gran Torino's name on a special list All Might had apparently provided. Uraraka beamed. "Gunhead! He's so cool!" Kirishima let out a manly whoop. "Yeah! Fat Gum! So manly!" Most students found themselves aligning with choices that felt right.
---
Later that day, the classroom buzzed with a different kind of energy. The internships decided, a new, equally significant task lay before them. Midnight stood at the podium, whip in hand, a playful smirk on her face.
"Now that your first steps into the practical world of heroism are set with your internships," she announced, her voice carrying a theatrical lilt, "it's time for another crucial part of your journey! It's time to choose... your Hero Names!"
A wave of excited murmurs went through the class. Midnight passed out small whiteboards and markers. "These names will be how the world knows you! They should be inspiring, memorable, and reflective of who you are and what you aspire to be! So, put some thought into it, darlings! You have fifteen minutes, then we present!"
The room filled with the squeak of markers and thoughtful hums.
Aoyama, naturally, was first to finish, proudly displaying "I Can't Stop Twinkling." Midnight clapped. "Marvelous, darling! It has flair!"
Mina Ashido bounced up next, grinning. "I was thinking Pinky!"
Souta, from his seat near the back, commented coolly without looking up from his own board, "A bit on the nose, and seems relatively childish, isn't it? How about something like 'Xenolithe'? It implies alien origin but sounds more… formidable. More heroic."
Mina paused, tapping her chin. "Xenolithe… Kinda rocky, but it sounds cool! Powerful! I like it! Okay, Xenolithe it is!" she chirped, amending her board.
Tsuyu Asui calmly presented "Rainy Season Hero: Froppy." Midnight cooed. "Adorable and fitting, Tsuyu-chan!"
When Kyoka Jiro went up, she looked a bit hesitant. "Um… I was thinking 'Earphone Jack'?"
"Direct, certainly," Midnight mused.
Souta offered another suggestion, his voice even. "Consider 'Soundwave.' It's broader, encompasses a fuller spectrum of your abilities, not just purely your jacks. It is also catchier, and therefore easier to repeat and remember."
Jiro flushed slightly, twirling one of her jacks. "Soundwave… It's… not bad, actually. Definitely more impactful than just listing my Quirk." She gave a small, almost imperceptible nod towards Souta. "Yeah, okay. Soundwave."
Toru Hagakure presented her board with a flourish, though only the marker strokes were visible. "The Stealth Hero: Invisible Girl!"
"A classic!" Midnight approved.
"Though," Souta interjected mildly, "perhaps 'Mirage'? It implies more than just invisibility – illusions, elusiveness. A bit more mystique."
Hagakure gasped audibly. "Ooh, Mirage! That sounds so cool and mysterious! Yes, please! Mirage it is!"
Bakugo eventually stomped up, slamming his board down. "Lord Explosion Murder!"
Midnight sighed dramatically. "As always, Bakugo-kun, your enthusiasm is… explosive. But perhaps something a little less… murdery?" He snarled but eventually, went back to his seat and began thinking about new names.
Midoriya, after some encouragement from Uraraka regarding the positive connotations, presented "Deku."
When it was Momo Yaoyorozu's turn, she stood gracefully. "I've decided on 'Everything Hero: Creati'."
Souta, sitting a couple of seats over from her, finally looked up, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Creati is functional, Yaoyorozu," he said, his voice carrying easily in the quiet classroom. "But it feels… somewhat passive for the sheer scale of your Quirk. You don't just create; you can basically bring forth possibilities from nothing. Have you considered something like 'Genesis'? Or perhaps 'Daedalus,' after the great inventor?"
Momo paused, her fingers tapping her lips. The class was silent, watching the interaction. "Genesis..." she murmured, a new light in her eyes. "The beginning… the origin of creation. Daedalus… a master craftsman of incredible ingenuity… Souta-kun, those are… remarkably insightful suggestions." She looked at her board, then back at him with a grateful smile. "Thank you. I believe 'Genesis' resonates more deeply."
One by one, the students presented. Finally, Midnight smiled. "And last, but certainly not least, with the most internship offers… Souta Todoroki! What heroic moniker have you chosen for yourself?"
Souta rose smoothly, picking up his whiteboard. The classroom quieted, all eyes on him. He walked to the front, his expression unreadable. He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over his classmates, before slowly turning his board to face them…