The first few days at U.A. felt like living in a strange fever dream. Reality blurred, mixing with the remnants of memories from a world I once knew as fiction. Sitting in English class taught by the Voice Hero, Present Mic, was a profoundly surreal experience. His overflowing energy and radio DJ-like delivery were completely unsuited for teaching grammar, yet somehow, it worked. Most of the students seemed either captivated or slightly overwhelmed. I, on the other hand, was simply amused. Next to me, Toru—or rather, her floating uniform—giggled quietly as Present Mic shouted, "WHO CAN GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF A PASSIVE SENTENCE?! EVERYBODY SAY HEEEEY!"
The atmosphere in Class 1-A was beginning to take shape. After the shock of Aizawa's Quirk test, the students started to find their footing, forming small cliques. Tenya Iida, with his rigid hand gestures and fiery spirit, naturally drew Izuku Midoriya and Ochaco Uraraka into his orbit, forming an earnest and enthusiastic trio. On the other side of the room, Katsuki Bakugo radiated an aura of hostility so thick that no one dared approach, except for Eijiro Kirishima, who seemed to have a mental fortitude as tough as his hardening Quirk. I remained an observer, a loner by choice. I would chat with Toru, exchange occasional nods with the quiet Tokoyami or the normal Ojiro, but I spent most of my time watching, learning, and waiting.
Lunchtime was a spectacle in itself. The U.A. cafeteria was a culinary paradise run by the Pro Hero, Lunch Rush. The food served here could easily rival a five-star restaurant, and the prices were incredibly affordable for students. It was one of the many luxuries of being a student at the top hero school. As I sat with Toru at a somewhat secluded table, enjoying a delicious bowl of katsudon, I sensed an approaching presence.
"Excuse me, Tatsumi-san. Is this seat taken?"
I looked up to meet the calm gaze of Momo Yaoyorozu. She stood there, her lunch tray held with perfect posture, completely unfazed by the cafeteria's noise. Behind her, a few other girls from our class, like Kyoka Jiro and Mina Ashido, watched with curiosity. Toru, who was sipping her juice, nearly choked.
"Not at all," I replied, gesturing to the seat across from me. "Be my guest."
She sat down gracefully, placing her tray down with care. For a moment, we ate in silence. I could feel the curious stares from other tables. The mysterious first-ranked student and the brilliant Class Vice-President sitting together. It must have looked strange. Toru tried to break the ice with some small talk, but it was clear that Momo hadn't come for pleasantries.
After a moment, she set down her chopsticks. "I've been thinking about the Quirk Apprehension Test from the other day," she said, getting straight to the point. Her voice was low and calculated. "Your scores in each individual test, when analyzed separately, place you in the bottom quartile. However, you beat my own middle school softball record by over twenty meters with physical strength alone. That indicates a baseline fitness level far above average. But it still doesn't explain the destructive power you displayed in the entrance exam."
I stopped eating, looking at her. She wasn't accusing; she was presenting a puzzle.
"You didn't use your Quirk at all, did you?" she continued. "You deliberately held back, even at the risk of expulsion. The question is, why? Is it because your Quirk has a debilitating drawback? Or is it that you cannot control it? Based on your expression when you threw the ball, I'm leaning towards the second hypothesis."
I was impressed. Her analysis was spot-on. She had seen through my actions and arrived at the most logical conclusion. Toru looked back and forth between us, clearly feeling the tension.
I decided to give her a little bait. "That's an interesting hypothesis, Yaoyorozu," I said calmly. "Tell me, what's your take on Bakugo's Quirk?"
Her eyes lit up, pleased by the change of topic that led to further analysis. "His explosive power is incredible, perhaps the most destructive in our class in terms of instant output. But it's heavily reliant on aggression and direct assault. He leaves many openings. A fast opponent with a counter-heavy fighting style like Ojiro-san, or someone who could limit his mobility, would give him significant trouble."
"Precisely," I said, picking up a piece of meat. "And Iida? His speed is unmatched in a straight line, but his Quirk is essentially a jet engine in his legs. He can't make sharp turns without losing significant momentum. A cramped, winding environment would be his nightmare."
We continued like that for the rest of the lunch period, completely ignoring our cooling food. We dissected our classmates' Quirks as if they were pieces on a chessboard. We talked about the limited range of Tokoyami's Dark Shadow in bright light, how Ashido's acid Quirk could be both offense and defense, the limitless potential of Uraraka's Zero Gravity if used creatively. Toru, after getting over her initial nervousness, occasionally chimed in with surprisingly astute observations, pointing out how her invisibility Quirk gave her a unique perspective on how people moved and reacted unconsciously.
By the end of our conversation, I realized I was smiling. It was the first time I'd had a conversation between intellectual equals since coming to this world. Momo seemed pleased as well. A rare, small smile touched her lips. "You truly are an interesting anomaly, Tatsumi-san," she said as she stood up. "I look forward to seeing how you will solve the next problem presented to us." With a brief nod, she was gone. I felt as if I had just gained a rival, not in terms of power, but in terms of intellect.
That afternoon, the anticipation in the classroom was so thick you could cut it with a knife. It was time for Hero Basic Training. Everyone was wondering who our teacher would be. The door slammed open, and a familiar voice boomed through the room.
"I AM... COMING THROUGH THE DOOR LIKE A NORMAL PERSON!"
All Might, in his magnificent hero form, stood in the doorway, his iconic smile plastered on his face. The entire class erupted in cheers and awe. They saw their idol, the greatest living hero. I saw something more. I saw a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, a man who bled and suffered in silence to maintain that smile. I felt the aura of his power—not just the physical might, but its symbolic force. It was an overwhelming pressure, a presence so strong it felt like it was sucking all the air out of the room. For the first time, the myth felt completely real, and it sent a shiver down my spine.
"Welcome to Hero Basic Training!" he said, striding forward with confident steps. "In this class, we will build your hero foundation through all sorts of training! And for our first exercise... we'll be doing this!" He held up a card with the word "BATTLE" on it. "BATTLE TRAINING!"
The excitement in the class reached a fever pitch. "And to make sure you feel like real heroes," he continued, pressing a button, "we've had these prepared based on your Quirk registrations and design requests before school started!" A section of the wall slid away, revealing rows of numbered briefcases. "Your Hero Costumes!"
We all headed for the changing rooms, adrenaline beginning to pump. I found the briefcase with my number and opened it. My costume was exactly as I had designed it: pragmatic and no-frills. It was a tactical suit of charcoal black, made from a durable, fire-resistant polymer. There was no cape, no flashy logo. Just reinforced plating on the chest, shoulders, and knees, and plenty of currently empty utility pouches. The design was deliberately simple and anonymous. I didn't need a flashy costume. My real costume was still sleeping beneath my skin.
As we walked out to Training Ground Beta, I saw my classmates' costumes. Some were incredibly flashy, like Iida's medieval-style armor or Bakugo's giant grenade gauntlets. Others were more practical, like Uraraka's puffy suit designed to reduce nausea. Midoriya's costume, with its long ears clearly inspired by All Might, made him look like an eager green rabbit. It was a strange and wonderful sight, twenty fledgling heroes ready for their first trial.
All Might explained the rules of the indoor battle training: a hero team versus a villain team, two-on-two. The goal was for the heroes to secure a mock nuclear weapon or capture the villain team. The villains won if they protected the weapon until time ran out or captured the heroes. "Your teams will be decided by lottery!" he boomed, holding up a lottery box.
One by one, the teams were announced. Midoriya was paired with Uraraka, a fated coincidence. Bakugo was paired with Iida, an explosive combination. I waited patiently.
"Next up, Hero Team D!" All Might called out. He pulled two names. His eyes widened slightly as he read the result. "This is an interesting pairing! Tatsumi Shonen... and Yaoyorozu Shonen!"
I turned my head and met Momo's gaze. She looked as surprised as I was, but her expression quickly shifted to one of calm analysis. She gave me a small nod, as if to say, 'Alright, let's see if your theories are as good as your practice.'
"And their opponents will be... Villain Team I! Ojiro Shonen and Hagakure Shonen!"
I froze for a second. I had to fight Toru. My only friend. Across the grounds, I couldn't see her, but I could feel her nervousness. This was going to be complicated. All Might then announced the first match-up: Team A (Midoriya & Uraraka) as Heroes versus Team D (Bakugo & Iida) as Villains.
I let out a breath. Of course. The first fight was the most important one in this story arc. As they prepared, I found a spot to watch in the observation room. This would be a valuable lesson, not just in hero strategy, but in how far I was willing to let destiny run its course. I stared at the screen, my focus as sharp as a knife. A new chapter had begun.