[After a bit, you walk towards your class grouped in front of All Might.]
["GOOD WORK, EVERYONE!" He hurriedly speaks, "We only had a few major injuries, but everything went well! You are truly becoming heroes! You all did great on your first training!"]
'On our schedules, there are special events called Training Days, where most of the other classes are shortened, and All Might's class can be extended. Otherwise, you wouldn't have had the time to do 1v2 battles. A training event goes till the end of the heroics class time, with a class or homeroom before going home.'
[Asui chimes, "It's nice to hear some encouraging words after our homeroom class. Mr. Aizawa was kind of a buzzkill."]
[Everyone nods.]
[All Might does a pose, "I'm happy to bring such staggering positivity to my alma mater! That's all for now, folks. I should go and check on Young Midoriya's progress! Student Dae, we can talk later!"]
[All Might turns around and flexes, "Now, watch how a pro exits. Like he's got somewhere to be!"]
["Change and return to the classroom!" He bolts with incredible force. A shockwave bursts and wind hollers as the tunnel displaces air.]
["All Might's amazing!"]
["Okay, you guys, that is a hero!"]
["Aw, I'll never be able to run that fast."]
["Why was he in such a hurry?"]
["So cool!"]
…
[After a getting changed, you return to the class with everyone inside.]
[Sensei Shouta is inside, standing.]
'Seems like this is his morning.'
[As you sit down, you notice a few classmates missing.]
'Midoriya, you bullied him a little, but he'll be back soon. Bakugo, he was unconscious. Ojiro, you punched him a lot, he'll be in the med bay for a bit. Although you were the hardest on Shoji, his quirk is really good at regenerating. He could probably cut off the bruised arm-tentacles and regrow new ones quick.'
[You have some small talk with classmates around you, until Shouta speaks up.]
["Alright, the class is here. I was told there may be some missing, so I won't expel them."]
[Everyone's mood goes down a little.]
["Today, we're ending with a small homeroom, I'm going to take another nap in the teacher's lounge, two of you go pick up your new textbook materials and lay them in the locker back there." He points to a metal grey locker in the back of the room.]
[He grumbles, "You and you, come with me, I'll lead you on the way." He points at Uraraka and Kaminari.]
[They get up and follow Shouta outside the classroom.]
["…"]
["…"]
["…Do we just stay here until school is over?"]
["…I guess so."]
["Everyone! We must stay in class until the bell rings!"]
["Okay."]
["Sure, man."]
[And so, the class just starts talking to each other.]
…
["Hey, Dae-chan, how are you feeling after all that?"]
["Mh? I think I'll be fine. I'd just need some rest tonight." You chuckle and continue another conversation.]
…
[After some time, Midoriya and Ojiro come out of the door. Instantly, everyone's attention is grabbed, and they walk over to them.]
["Good to see ya back, man!"]
["You did a great job against Dae-kun!"]
["Yeah! Your punch was insane!"]
["Ojiro you're really good at martial arts!"]
[Midoriya stammers and shyly bows and chuckles.]
["Hey, I'm Eijiro Kirishima. We've been goin' over training while you were in recovery."]
["Hi. I'm Hanta Sero."]
["More importantly, I'm Yuga Ao‐‐"]
["I'm Mina Ashido! And I just gotta say, your punch was awesome!"]
["Tsuyu Asui. But please, call me 'Tsu.'"]
["Hey. Sato."]
["Um. Hey, guys." Deku rubs the back of his head.]
[Springing from the floor, "And my name's Mineta!"]
["Where the heck did you pop out of?"]
["UA's shiniest star here‐"]
["You might sparkle, but you took so long to touch the bomb."]
[Midoriya's brain is overloaded.]
[You hear from Tokoyami next to you, "…So noisy." He's sitting on a desk.]
[From the other end of the room, "Tokoyami! Stop using that desk as a chair!" Iida waves his hands, "Get off of it this instant!"]
[Jiro comments, "Dude, you need to chill."]
["Uh‐‐"]
["You're carrying a lot of tension."]
["…No one understands." Iida dejected, but then springs in action, "I cannot condone actions that disrespect these desks. Not when great men and women, our upperclassmen, once used them!"]
["…Also, noisy."]
[You chuckle.]
[Suddenly, the other door opens, "So, Uraraka, wanna grab a bite sometime?" Kaminari holding some textbooks, walks inside, "What kinda stuff you like?"]
'You knew it.'
["Anything sweet, like mochi... Hey, Deku!" Uraraka ignores Kaminari and walks to Midoriya, "Why didn't she
heal your injuries?"]
["Oh. Uh... Well, it has to do with how much stamina I'm using."]
["Stamina?"]
[He nods, "Hm." He looks around the room, "Recovery Girl's quirk uses the patient's stamina to recover…" He then spots you.]
[You wave. He sweats a little but bows.]
[Kaminari walks over, "Yo, whaddup! Got these heavy books." He walks over to a locker and fumbles with the latch while holding the books.]
[You stand up and walk over, "Need help?" You open the locker.]
["Thanks man." He kneels and puts the textbooks inside.]
[You whisper, "C'mon man, it's the second day and you're trying to ask out Uraraka?" You tap on the cabinet, "It's against school rules, y'know?"]
[He freezes for a bit, then nervously chuckles, "Haha… you got me." He stands up.]
["I 'got' you the moment I saw you. Chill with it dude." You pat his shoulder and close the locker, "C'mon, talk with us." You lead Kaminari to your little group. Jiro, Tokoyami, and, previously, Kirishima, Ashido, and Tsu, but they went over to meet Deku.]
["You're Kaminari, right?" Jiro questions.]
["Yeah. I… you're Ji-" He pauses, interrupted, Deku comes over.]
'The other side of the class is busy talking with Uraraka and Ojiro.'
[Noticing the conversation stop, Deku apologizes, "Sorry!" He then looks at you, bowing, "I just wanted to say… Thank you Dae-kun! All Might told me your reasonings and… Thank you!"]
[You smile, "Oh! No problem Deku. I have your best interest in mind. Hah, I wouldn't normally beat someone up on the second day." You chuckle and hold Deku back up to stand tall, then looking into his eyes, "Your strong Deku." And then chuckle again, "Like… Really strong! You nearly blasted a hole through my chest!" You make a hole expanding hand gesture at your abdomen, "But I could tell you actually held back! It seems you have some control over your quirk, but the backlash is pretty rough."]
["Hmm… now that you mention it…" He goes into deep thought.]
[You take a glance at Kaminari and Tokoyami and shrug, so you pat Deku on the back.]
["Ah!" He startles and looks back at you.]
["Deku, I've set up a training date on Friday with most of the class, I'd like to invite you."]
[He smiles, "Yes! I'll definitely go!"]
[You nod, "Friday, after school, for about… 1-3 hours, depending on the person, we'll all be testing out our quirks."]
[He nods enthusiastically.]
*Door Slam*
[Bakugo burst through the doors, grumpy and seething.]
[Everyone stops, and stares, silent.]
["K-Kacchan!"]
[He's silent, stomping to his desk, grabbing his school bag and marching out the classroom.]
["…Kacchan." He looks at you, "Sorry, I'm going to follow! Thanks for the invitation, I'll be there." Deku runs off to follow.]
[Jiro questions, "Why'd he apologize?"]
[Kaminari shrugs, "Dunno."]
[Tokoyami utters, "He's strong. But his personality… is meek."]
[We all nod.]
…
[Over time, talking a little more, we gathering a group with the rest of the class, and time moves on.]
[The school bells ring and everyone starts to leave.]
[You stretch. Time to leave.]
…
*Swap*
☐SOCIOPATHY☐
'Today you did a lot, take a break. Decompress.'
[Biking away from U.A. Campus, you bike through the residential district.]
'Patches of orange light bleed through the tree's cover. The air slows and lowers its temperature. Time moves forward and the day goes on.'
'You bike around, observing. And, finally, you spot your target.'
[You spot a nice house, biking around the block, scouting the area, you decide to park into the bushes nearby.]
'No one's home, no children, no animals. The signs are clear, you're ready to enter.'
[Stepping closer, you walk to the front door and knock.]
[No response.]
[You ring the bell.]
[No response.]
[You try the doorknob.]
[It's locked.]
'Find a way in.'
[You walk around the house and spot an unused window. Stepping closer, you listen in through the glass.]
[Silence.]
'No one is home.'
[Touching the window frame, you push upwards. A slight creaking noise comes from the air seal, but it opens.]
'Wonderful. If it wasn't you, someone else would've.'
[You push open the window and lift yourself inside.]
'A living room. TV on a short table. A couch, and a rug. The lights are in the ceiling. But it's dark.'
[You take a gander and a deep breath, you're a little too tall.]
'Different. A sensation of a new smell, a human living a completely different existence. The hints of their life send signals in your mind.'
[You turn around and close the window.]
'You wouldn't want anyone to break in now.'
[Taking a few steps inside, you wander the empty house, stepping out of the living room, into the hallway.]
'The smell of wood, hair, and food. Detergent, seawater, and a cold sensation.'
'Blips of smooth cool air rub over your skin, elating your receptors. Hair rises and pushes against your clothes, feeling slightly itchy and aware.'
'Strange feelings of control wash over you. This is it. Your high.'
'You occasionally do this, breaking into things. You know why, it's desired, it's control. And everything just feels right. The shapes are clear, your mind is no longer warm, it's cool, bright, and focused.'
[You walk to the kitchen.]
'Smells of water, grain, and typical Asian cuisine.'
'The floor hardens as the carpet floors turn into panels.'
'Dim light fills the house, light only peering from outside.'
'Your thumb buzzes in pleasure. The cool air sparks your back.'
[You clench you fists and walk to the fridge.]
'A new model.'
[Opening the fridge, you look around.]
'The person that lives here has a family. They're health focused. Has children around 5-6. Husband and wife, the owners ages about 32, the other around 36. They have wealth, have a healthy relationship, and are living their daily lives.'
[You mainly spot some frozen salmon, carrots, tofu, and boxes of juice. There are also many assorted foods and drinks.]
'Take a yogurt drink? Why not.'
[You reach and rip out a singular small plastic yogurt drink. On the label it says it's a probiotic.]
'You've had these when you were younger.'
[Taking the drink, you close the fridge. And walk to the hallway again, then going to the front entrance, where stairs lead to the second floor.]
[Walking up to the second floor, stepping on the carpet stairs, you see, open, is a room with a small bed inside.]
'Probably a boy's room.'
[You step around and open a door. Inside, is a bathroom. You spot three toothbrushes in a cup.]
'A father, son, and daughter.'
[You close the bathroom door and walk to another one.]
'This one seems to be at the end of the hall.'
[Opening the door, you see a large white bed, with a cabinet to the side. There is also a desk with makeup and a large mirror attached.]
[You slowly walk into the room, an even fresher air washes over you.]
'Your thumb throbs, a sensation of elation buzzing.'
[Stepping deeper into the room, you spot a few pictures in a frame on a nightstand. And to the right, is another bathroom, inside, is a toothbrush and products for skincare.]
'That is mother's bathroom.'
[You take a deep breath. And sit on the bed.]
'The cold bed saps some of your heat and warms up.'
[You lay down, and rest on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Your legs dangle out a little.]
[You take a moment, then open the yogurt drink and take a sip lying down.]
'You wonder where the parents are. Why the children aren't home. It's quite late, they'd be home from school or work. Perhaps a club event, a celebration, eating out, or a walk in the park.'
[You think for a bit, sipping on the small drink and quickly finish.]
'The sweet milky flavor is nostalgic.'
[You hum a bit, smacking your lips. And get up.]
[You press the bed into its natural form.]
[You close the door.]
[You walk down the stairs.]
[You go into the living room.]
[You get out of the window and close it.]
[And leave with your bike.]
…
*Swap*
[The next day, it's now April 10th, Wednesday.]
'Lost echoes of long-gone cicadas. Songs of birds harmonize their ancient melodies. Clutter, chatter, noise. Gold rises, light beams, the new day begins.'
[Biking to school, you take note of the atmosphere.]
'Red-lights, Green-lights, Yellow-lights, White-lights, phones, reflections, and shapes of human. Dogs, lizards, and objects. Stop signs, crosswalks, horns. Billboards, TV's, windows. Coffee, pastries, breakfast. Blue, grey, and black. White and yellow.'
'The city is alive. Living with its little ecosystem, fumbling around in the organs.'
[This day feels nice. Biking further, you reach the U.A. Campus gates, inside, you spot reporter vans parked in the media parking spaces.]
'Has news of All Might been spread? Likely.'
'They want the scoop to get views. Social critters, media-stricken crawlers that fiend for attention. They want it, they get it. All because what they hold is greater than any individual, the mask of the people. They hold a disguise, cloak in shades of incandescent tones, they are the people, and they give what the people want. And the people want what they are told they want. An incestuous cycle of breeding resentment, love, or empathy. Emotions on a broadcast, words and pictures to influence the mind. They prey on the viewers, and the viewers love it. Ethical? Moral? Lawful? None of that matters. There are no rules, only perceived lines. Murder can be broadcasted, they will scoff, they will cry, they will move on. Desensitized, jaded, oblivious, naïve.'
'But something erks you. A wind of danger. Although All Might has been somehow revealed, over the past two days, the reporters were very few. But now the number of reporters are mildly too high. The logos on their outfits, the badges on their arms, the symbols they bear, it's all too spread out. Unknown stations, off county stations, mixed with big stations. The variety whispers a subtle off feeling.'
'Probable cause: Someone has tipped them off. Reason: Unknown. Possible Reason: Villains are gauging the U.A. Security.'
[You park your bike and walk to school. There, you spot outside the gates are a cluster of reporters preparing, some already trying to draw in students.]
[Walking forward you reach their peripheral, and they spot you, rushing over to ask questions.]
[A lady reporter starts, "Student! Is All Might a good teacher!?" A mic comes up. Many cameras and other mics held up.]
'Tackle some information from them. Bait and hook, then reel.'
[You smile, "Hello! All Might is a great teacher!" You do simple hand movements, "All Might taught a lot about being a hero, he even told us his experience in America."]
[Surrounding reporters murmur some excitement.]
["Really! What did All Might say?"]
["All Might talked about his time with David Shield, the importance of having a reliable friend."]
[They nod and ask for more. The interest picks up and more reporters start paying more attention.]
["Amazing! Anything else?"]
[You nod, "Yes, he also talked about his previous sidekick Sir Nighteye."]
[Bustling of noise emanate, interest is peaking.]
["Sir Nighteye! Student, what did All Might say about his previous sidekick!"]
[Another reporter chimes in, "Do you know why they dissolved their agency!"]
[Another yells, "Did they have a falling out!?"]
[More keep asking questions, cluttering the space with noise.]
[The reporter lady yells to the crowd, "EVERYONE WAIT FOR MY QUESTION!"]
[All the reporters shut up and look at you.]
{RHETORIC}
{DRAMA}
[You smile softly, and raise your hands up in surrender, "Can you tell me who told you to come to U.A. today?"]
["Student! We came here because of All Might, now answer the question!"]
[You take a look towards a reporter from an outskirts county, "You there sir, who told you to come here today."]
["Student, just ans-" You cut her off.]
["Sir, who told you to be here today?"]
[The reporter girl gets the hint and gets frustrated. The other reporters look towards the pointed-out reporter.]
[He speaks, "Uh, we were given an anonymous tip that All Might was a teacher at U.A."]
[You smile and clap your hand, "Anyone else? Who else had an anonymous tip?"]
[Many reporters raise their hands, confused.]
'Divert attention.'
[You clap and nod, "Okay, I'll tell you about Sir Nighteye."]
[They look with re-newed interest.]
["As you know, Sir Nighteye and All Might disbanded their cooperation six years ago."]
[They look with great anticipation.]
'Hold the tension. Act with grand subtle emotion. Then put murder in their mind.'
["Sir Nighteye managed all of All Might's paperwork… But All Might still disbanded because…"]
[They wait with bated breath.]
["Sir Nighteye…"]
["…"]
["…Was too much of a fanboy!"]
[Shock.]
["Yes… It was very hard to hear, but for all that All Might can give care to his fans, Sir Nighteye was simply too much, that to save him, All Might had to give them space." You fake tears, wiping it slowly.]
["…"]
["…"]
["…Student, can you verify that All Might said this?" Everyone is paused, stunned.]
[You smirk, "Hm? No. All Might's not my teacher. I'm a business student. HAHAHA!" You laugh and point, mocking them.]
["Grr! That's not funny! Lying is a serious offense young man!" They stomp and shuffle away, throwing curses at you.]
[The rest of the camera crew and reporters walk away.]
'Let's report this to Nezu before class starts.'
…
[Everyone greets each other, and class starts normally, though some students complain or are excited about the press.]
["Decent work on yesterday's combat training, you guys. I saw the video feeds and went over each of your team's results." Shouta looks around, then at Bakugo, "Bakugo. You're quirk is strong, but you're too headstrong. Don't sulk like a child about your beatdown, okay?"]
[Bakugo menacingly glares at Shouta.]
["And Midoriya." He looks at him, "You just let Dae attack you, you're a hero, you shouldn't be accepting of a villains demands. You saw that Dae still went after Uraraka, so the sacrifice you made was worse than useless. It was idiotic."]
[Midoriya lowers his head.]
[Shouta looks down at his papers, "Uh…" He looks over at Iida, "Iida, your pride blinded you from taking action getting the payload. Whatever Dae said, he was a villain and acted like one, his words and actions, no matter how agreeable, you should've gone for the bomb."]
[Iida nods, "All Might mentioned this during the class discussion. I'll never repeat this mistake."]
[Shouta sighs, "Everyone, get it through your heads, Dae controlled the battles from the start. He had no real authority, yet you let him dictate how the battle went. Your goal was simple, capture the villain, or touch the payload, yet there were duals, talking, and… a dance battle." He gets really serious, "A real villain won't be so merciful."]
[Everyone's blood runs cold.]
'Raw emotion. Real emotion. Anyone can sense it, that one piece of information, comes from real experience. Gut-wrenching experience.'
["You're future heroes. Behave like it."]
["…"]
[He coughs, "Let's get down to business. Our first task will decide your future."]
[After all that talk, everyone gets even more serious, paying closer attention.]
["You all need to pick a class representative."]
[A collective sigh from everyone.]
[Kirishima yells, "Pick me, guys! I wanna be class rep!"]
["Me too!"]
["I'll take it!"]
["Someone with style would be best."]
["I'm, like, totally the right pick!"]
[More claims come forward.]
["Silence, everyone, please!" Iida halts all talk, "The class representative's duty is to lead others. That's not something just anyone can do. You must first have the trust of every student in the classroom. Therefore, the most logical way to fill this position is democratically. We will hold an election to choose our leader!"]
["You just want us to pick you!"]
["Is this really the best idea? We've only known each other a few days, how do we know who we can trust?"]
["Besides, everyone'll just vote for themselves, right?"]
[Convincing, "Most people will. But that means whoever does receive multiple votes must truly be the most suitable person for the job."]
[Most of the class nods.]
["It's the best way, right, sir?"]
["…Do what you want, just decide before my nap's over."]
[Iida bows, "Thank you for your trust!"]
[You speak up, "Everyone. Put your trust towards me. I believe together we can rise above the standards of U.A.!"
[Over time, everyone is given a piece of paper and writes down their vote, and folds them, then put on Shouta's podium.]
[You vote… Yaoyorozu.]
'You know you'll win. From the start, this was your goal. Being a class representative is a big deal in Japan. The role gives minor authority over the class. And since this is the number one heroic studies high school, it actually is a big deal, leading to actual benefits. From All Might, after the Sports Festival, there are internships, so having the title of class representative will at least have your name checked on the top heroes list.'
[Shouta, slumps, then stands up, writing all names on the blackboard, then adding numerical marks.]
[Revealed, "Fuckers, you all voted for him!?"]
["What, did you honestly think anyone was gonna vote for you?"]
["What did you just say?!"]
[Iida sighs, "Zero votes... I feared this might happen, but I can't argue with the system I chose!"]
["So. you voted for someone else, huh?"]
["But you knew it was best to vote for yourself, right? What were you tryin' to prove here, Iida?"]
["But, Sato, you didn't vote for yourself either?"]
[Shouta announces, "All right, the class rep is Dae-Gon, and our deputy is Yaoyorozu.]
[You walk up with Yaoyorozu.]
[You have 17 votes, 2 votes for Yaoyorozu and 1 for Bakugo.]
["I think Bakugo and I, only voted for ourselves. And, well… I knew you would win, so I wanted to be vice representative."]
[Some people gasp, "Ohhh, that's really smart! I should've thought that."]
["This might be the best result."]
["Yeah, I can get behind Dae-kun, he is the strongest."]
["Yaoyorozu was totally awesome when it came to our training results!"]
[Shouta waves us away, "Alright, enough wasting time, let's begin class."]
…
[After English, Math, Literature, and History, Lunch begins.]
["Eating curry again, Dae-kun?"]
[You nod.]
[You sit with nearly the entire class, only Midoriya, Uraraka, Iida, Aoyama, and Bakugo are eating elsewhere.]
[Conversations come and go.]
[You smile, "Oh, Ashido. You like Natto, huh?"]
[She smile, "Yeah! It's totally my thing!"]
'Quirk thing? She produces a viscous acid, does she inherently like viscous things?'
[You look over to Shoji, "And you like squid?"]
[He nods and eats with a mouth appendage.]
'Another quirk thing. Interesting.'
["So! Dae-kun, you're from Korea right! What's it like?"]
["Kero~, Dae-chan, you're the only foreigner in our class…except for Ah…Aoyama?"]
'Your classmates look in interest.'
[You nod, "Yep, I'm from Korea, and Aoyama is from France."]
[They look in anticipation.]
["Korea… I occasionally visit, but I moved to Japan when I was 6, so I wasn't really too ingrained." You think for a bit, "The most different thing I'd say is the quirk and hero culture."]
["Eh? Really!"]
'Interest builds.'
["Yeah, Korea is sort of an open quirk country, so unlike here, they have people using their quirks all the time." You rub your chin, "As for the hero stuff, they're more interested in the entertainment industry, ya'know, K-Pop, Dramas, the like. And… they don't really care about Japan's hero system. I dunno, sort of a barrier from vision, the 'what I can't see, can't hurt me' kinda deal." You look around, "But one of the reasons I want to be a hero is because villains are a serious threat to the entire world."]
[Everyone nods.]
["Mh, I can see that."]
[Yaoyorozu nods, "I've also heard that other countries isolate themselves. It's most likely due to fear of hero poaching. Heroes are an important value to a country's influence and power."]
["Ohh."]
["Well, as long as we have All Might, Japan will be safe forever!"]
["Yeah, All Might's our-" Interrupted.]
'You sense a disturbance in the air.'
[Bells ring.]
["Warning. Level Three security breach."]
{LOGIC}
'Electrical signals are blooming. Calculating, your words are truth. The future is certain. Time is relative. The universe is laid bare. Nothing matters, the only being truly alive, you, matters. Logic is God. And you dictate, the alarms went off due to an intrusion, by whom? The reporters, you've already established that their purpose is to gauge the security systems, keep up. How did they get in? Most likely passage by a villain. Absolution: Civilians cannot come in, level three means they've intruded up to the front doors of the building. The gate would've closed, so sabotage is in play. Clarity: Nezu would not allow mistakes, you told him the circumstance. You're getting side-tracked, pay attention! This is merely a villain probing the security, but next time won't be the same. Swap, now.'
'Swap'
☐HM☐I☐WILL☐SACK☐FOUR☐FOR☐ONE☐
♻☐PYROMANIA+KLEPTOMANIA+LESSER PERVERSION*DEPERSONALIZATION☐
╰┈➤☐DISSOCIATIVE IDENTITY DISORDER☐
☐OH!☐GOLDEN☐LEGENDARY☐
☐NEW☐TOY☐HEHEHE☐
☐DISSOCIATIVE IDENTITY DISORDER☐
╰┈➤☐The Poet☐
{COMPOSURE}
{AUTHORITY}
'Sheep skinned, gently lain and nailed into a monster. A vessel that sails among the buoys, among the reeds, obscured by nature. Deep beneath, salt. Salt. Mineral and taste. Taste of gold and ire. Flakes of metal, scrapes, waste. What sails on the sea of peeling iron. What beast submerges within. Tearing its gaunt flesh, raw. Raw. Fresh, yet was always rotten, born rotten. Your mind is the beast, your flesh is the sea, your smile is the boat. Coalesced, you are the monster.'
[You stand immediately.]
{ESPRIT DE CORPS}
'Mask. Deceit. Face them with a reflection. Mirrors of every face you've seen. Be unnoticed. Be invisible to their reptile brains. If God made man in their image, you made your image from man, and you speak as one of them.'
[With boisterous expression and authority, "WAIT! The truth prefers a proper entrance!"]
{DRAMA}
'Dance, you're on stage. The audience claps and laughs, but you are not joking, you are not acting. Dance, this is you, you are the dancer. Fly high and float lower. Circle and spin. The audience watches, you watch back. You move, they can only watch.'
["Nothing hunts you here but your own breath. Realize your demeanor and reflect! Stirring the noise is but reporters!" You do a flair and swish your arms to avert their gaze to the windows.]
[While some panic as the noise of the alarm continues, most looking to the right, outside of the windows, they see the press at the front steps of the entrance.]
["Grasp with your sight! And don't advert your gaze! Your fear, is fear of the press!"]
[People start to realize, and simmer down. Now only the talking of the cafeteria fills the room, as alarms turn down.]
[The few that ran quickly, come back slowly in embarrassment.]
[You sit back down.]
["Whoa, Dae, you totally took the whole room!"]
["How did you notice?"]
[You smile, "Abashed, but willingly, I used my quirk!"]
{EMPATHY}
'Bubbles rise. Bubbles sink. Bubbles pop. Yellow. White. Blue? Bubble. Come and go, but always the same. Rise. Sink. Pop. Smile and smile wide. Grin to show. Show them. Bubble, and inside, is a reflection. Come and go, but always the same. Rise. Sink. Pop. Like your smile.'
["Kero, Dae-chan, I can tell you're speaking differently."]
'River. Gentle. Deep. Asui, is a calm force of heavy motion. The placement of stones, lining the shore, bear responsibility. The life they bring finds compassion. The calm sway, shows composure.'
[Ashido gasps in remembrance, "Oh, Yeah! Like, during the quirk assessment, I could, like, totally tell you were different!"]
'Ball. A white rubber ball. Pure. Eccentric. Excitement. A simple joy. A perfect design. A beauty in simplicity.'
[Kirishima nods, "Yeah, dude, this is part of your quirk right?"]
'Horn. Antler. Beak. Precious designs of nature, selections for practical function. Grow, toughen, and wear. This horn is only slightly scarred, facing only one battle. Many will come to challenge the strength, but the horn will grow as well.'
[Graceful, your head lowers and sways in elegance, "Yes, quite. I borrowed the breath of what sleeps within. It appears, I'm quite the poet, how fascinating."]
[Yaoyorozu nod, "Yes, I find it a particularly interesting quirk limitation,"]
'Leaf, trunk, roots. A tree. Sturdy. Wise. Composed. Ever patient. They will grow to be immense. This tree, though, is young, barely after the sapling stage. They need time, care, and to stay strong.'
[Shoji speaks from an appendage, "Is your personality all that changes?"]
'Cage. Chains. The speaker, Shoji, is a book. A book made of flesh, scars, and cancer. Pristine, milky pages fill the inside, contrasting the outer cover. How deceitful, poor boy.'
[Hands of your own sway and presents your face, "No, dear Shoji." Your eyes look with intense emotion, "Personality is but a singular word! I am more than a singular word. I am… Everything! Behavior, action, thought, and person! The poet I breathe is but my own breath! For I am a broken vessel." A small tear falls from your eye.]
'Embers singe your cornea, sclera bubbling. Fluid falls and what leaks is not emotion. Not fear. Not sadness. Utter existence. Scramble. Twist. Gone. Came, and went. Find wayward thoughts lost on hikes, starved of direction, death by longing. You have no emotions. The tear is nothing but a symbolic relic of your human form.'
[Everyone stares, a little weirdly.]
[Kaminari concerned, "Uh, dude, are you okay?"]
'Construct. Robot. Limited by it's power. The gears turn, and the legs move, but every actions takes their energy. Despite that, they run. They will run. Bit, by bit, the robot will learn, adapt, and improve, to run farther than the last.'
[You smile, "I am... I am but drama, and woe! …But yes, I am perfectly fine, dear Kaminari."]
'Mandela. Meridian. Miracle. Mercy. Lying behind your eyes. Mandela. Meridian. Miracle. Mercy. But deeper, there is no mercy, no miracles, no fairness. There is oblivion. What they see, is an angel of higher power. Nothing. Nothing, but computer parts. Hardware that ticks. Hardware that clicks. Electrical signals move your gears. You are still, calm, and unbroken.'
[With haste, you continue to eat your food, curry, your 'favorite'.]
[A little time passes.]
[Before lunch ends, silently, on the intercom, "... - ..- -.. . -. - / -.. .- . --..-- / .--. .-.. . .- ... . / -.-. --- -- . / - --- / - .... . / .--. .-. .. -. -.-. .. .--. .- .-.. ... / --- ..-. ..-. .. -.-. . .-.-.-"]
[Your ears pick up on it, it's pattern.]
'Translation: STUDENT DAE, PLEASE COME TO THE PRINCIPALS OFFICE.]
[Shoji mentions, "I hear an odd noise."]
["Hm? What'd you mean?"]
["I don't hear anything?"]
[You stand, "Dear Shoji, worry not about it. They seek my arrival. Await my return, in class." You take an elegant bow.]
…
[After placing away your dishes, you head towards the principal's office.]
[At the door, you knock.]
[After, you hear, "Come in."]
[Opening the door, you see Nezu in his chair and Midnight on the couch.]
["Greetings, Sir principal, and pleasure, beautiful Midnight." You do a flick of your wrist and do a gentlemanly bow.]
["Student Dae, are you currently under your quirk's influence?"]
[You look at Nezu.]
'Docile, cold, creature. On a white canvas, blots of black and grey. A sprinkle of red and white sparkles. Slow streaks of claws, movement. Sounds of machine humming. Slightly warm buzz. A single string of sound. From shadows, breaths of air slowly take in, and slowly take out. Behind the canvas is a figurine, a small, wooden human, and a small, wooden ball. The wooden ball circles around the stationary human. In the shadows are squiggly lines of light. Putting an ear to the soft concrete floor, your sense the thrumming of a slow and heavy machine's heart. The floor is not even, there are grooves and warping tiles.'
["Yes, Sir principal, that is the case… though am I the quirk or is he?" You chuckle softly.]
["Teacher Midnight, Student Dae is here for his input."]
[Midnight looks at you, "Hmm~ I don't mind. Quite the gentleman now, is he?" She licks her lips playfully.]
[You look at Midnight.]
'A light bulb draped in velvet cloth. Red light blooms out from the cloth. Radiating warm, ethereal hand pats of heat wiggle and caress your skin. Touches of the tips of a finger gently slide over your arms and chest. Arousal, but something more. A bite of your favorite food, the smell of your room, the clothes you always wear, seeing your old school, watching a classic film, lying on your bed.'
[You smile and gaze over her body, "Brava, Belle Midnight, there's danger in your grace… the kind that smiles before it devours."]
[She chuckles and similarly looks over you.]
[Nezu interrupts, "Ehem. Student Dae, I'd like to have your input on the recent event." He looks at Midnight, "Thank you for your help, I'd like to talk with Student Dae alone."]
[She nods and leaves.]
[You look back at Nezu, "Sir, I assume there was something more? Surely no mere reporter could best your security."]
[He nods, "Yes, after your warning this morning, I've assembled some extra security." He taps his tablet, and a part of the wall opens up, revealing a screen, "Quite the mess, this is what the front gate looks like." The gate is crumbled, and rubble scatters the floor, "We came up with the same conclusion, no reporter could've done this. Someone instigated, a declaration of war or warning."]
'Threads of taut strings, wool and wind through the elder's loom. Fate's wires lace every needle. Meaningless? Absolution? No. You are a puppet without strings. You are the doll without a speaker, yet you speak for yourself. Fiction realized. Fiction unbound. Reality is woven into fabrics. Fate's blade is looming above. You feel the causation of fate. Do something.'
[You have not seen the destruction till now, "Peculiar, Sir principal, it seems like our concerns are bearing omen. Be joyous we are the ready."]
[Nezu smiles and nods, "Yes, and ready we were! Behold, our perpetrator." The screen flickers to camera footage of a hand coming out of a small purple fog, then, from where the hand touches, the U.A. barrier starts to crumble and fall apart spreading outwards.]
[You grimace, "Villains."]
'Shatter, shimmer, lie. Oblivion ahead. Absolution forward. The end is near. The pale beyond awaits. The voices of the void, hollow. The waves of blood curdle in ears. Pulse. Fear. Death. Sweat. Cold. Tarnished silver. A sense of dread bathes you. Ahead is doom.'
[Nezu nods, "Yes. It appears to be villains working together." He takes a sip of tea, "The most troubling one, a portal quirk."]
[You nod, "Quite. Security is naught but our cage. Passage is free." You tilt your head, "But clues lead to conclusions. Sir principal, I'll be exhaling my breath for clarity."]
[He looks at you for a second then nods.]
[You close your eyes and breathe in.]
'Bronze love. Peaches overripe. The coating of paint requires one more. Skin, warm. Teeth, numb. An itch in the hand. A twinge of pain in a fingernail. Too tight in a shirt. A blurry spot in vision. Beeping noise outside. Silence too loud, yet loud is not silent. You don't feel well. Something is off. This moment requires help.'
[You hold the breath.]
'Red. Your brow lowers, eyes sharpen. Anger. Inflict fear, inflict pain. Make them cry, make them suffer. Torture them. Flay their scalps and hang their necks with sopping hair. Salivate. Elation. Inflict fear, inflict pain. Your blood flows for violence. Feed them. Feed your desires and let your blood flow.'
[Longer.]
'Pace follows death. Pre-murder, before murder. Guts. Blood. Viscera. Pain. Pain before death. Pain trumps death. Pain follows pace, pace follows death. Guts spill. Blood boils. Viscera explodes. Pain excruciating. Torment. Torment. Torment. Give them horrific pain. Blinding thoughts.'
[Then exhale.]
'Euphoria. Elation. Bliss. Consumed by pleasure. Nothing else matters. At this moment, you are content. You are happy.'
{LOGIC}
'Extinguish your flame. Keep this brief, it's quite simple. A portal quirk means they'll rely on it. Relying on a portal quirk means they will attack when the class is alone, and when they're prepared. Elementary work, to announce your presence this early. Confidence or stupidity. And why did they choose now? Think. Done. Plan. Done. Weigh the odds. Done. Continue, we're finished here.'
{LOGIC OVER}
[A second passes, and you open your eyes, "An idea has blown its kiss on my mind. It's yours to receive, but an unknown sender may be daunting."]
["I'm always willing to listen to a student's idea."]
…
[You finish talking and head to class.]
[Time passes, and civics/ethics class with Shouta starts.]
[During the class, Shouta asks the class some ethics questions, "To begin simple, what's right and wrong."]
[A few responses come out.]
["Right is justice! Wrong is villainy!"]
["Right and wrong depend on the situation."]
["I dunno, I just follow the law."]
["If it hurts someone, it's wrong!"]
[You bemoan, "Right and wrong are words we carved to name our fears. The world itself makes no such distinction. With, order as our song, it's only music when all can hear it."]
[Shouta's eyes squint, "Student Dae… what's up with you."]
'A tarnished metal ball suspended in shadow. Scars of existence show age. Around, the ball leaks oil that keeps its shine, but the grey metal cannot deceive, it is not shiny, not anymore. On the face of the ball, there is a large circle that goes into the ball, showing the inside is hollow. Inside the ball are weights, ropes, and spheres of dim light. The dim light reveals the wall's art of a cloudy night sky.'
[Before you can respond, Ashido yells, "Mr. Shouta! Dae-kun is having quirk backlash!"]
[Deku looks at you with curiosity.]
[You look back at Deku.]
'Dog. Young. Naïve. They can be kicked, hit, or starved, but will always have love in their heart. Pure love. Pitiful. Admirable. Scary. The gaze of white light, singes the shadows others emit. So bright and pure, it's a mirror. A reflection of what you should be like, should've been like. So loving and kind why couldn't you have done more. It makes one desire their warmth, to share or steal. Either way, they both know it's precious.'
[You look away.]
'Dust. Unfathered. Fearless. It scatters with motion. Fear the sound. Fear the steps. It accumulates and builds. Before you know it. It knows you. For dust to dust, ashes to ashes. Stars will fade like the Fae with your name. Blight, curse, rule, life. Death comes to all. Your name will be forgotten. A sense of regret singes your mind.'
…
*Swap*
[After the day, nothing particularly interesting happens to the next day, the only thing of note is Aoyama giving the villains class 1-A's calendar events. While most events are obscure, their locations are revealed, and the closest event, other than the Battle Trial, is the USJ, the Unforeseen Simulation Joint, next week on Wednesday.]
…
[Today is April 12th, Friday, afternoon.]
[After a short homeroom with Shouta, the bell rings and only Todoroki and Bakugo leave the classroom.]
[Time for the first, class training.]
[You stand and rub your hands, "Alright, with the principal's permission, we've been given access to the Gym Gamma and even… two teachers! With a bonus secret one there!" You announce excitedly.]
[Everyone perks up.]
[Kirishima excited, "Whoa, really?!"]
[Iida adjust his glasses, "This seems appropriate for the standards of U.A.."]
[Ashido smiling, "Who are they?"]
[Opening the door, Cementoss come through.]
[You smile and gesture, "Perfect timing, for our session, we will have sensei Shouta and teacher Cementoss."]
[Kaminari mentions, "Our literature teacher?"]
[Deku looks over, "Cementoss is an incredible hero! His quirk allows him to control concrete!"]
[The class hums in agreement.]
[Shouta sighs, "We will sometimes be supervising during your training, but we will not interfere, just help when asked."]
[Cementoss blankly looks at the class, "By request, I'll help set up any obstacles or arenas."]
[Kaminari surprised, looks over at you, "Dude, this is legit."]
[Kirishima makes a fist, "True, I thought this was going to be casual, but now this is interesting!"]
[You smile and head to the front of the class, "Let's get changed out of uniform and head to Gym Gamma and meet the other."]
…
[Leading the group to the gym doors, you notice the lights are on.]
[Opening the door, light beams out, and a figure reveals themselves.]
["Am I a mouse? A dog? A bear? My real identity is... the principal!"]
[The group behind you exclaims, "Principal Nezu!?" x17]
[You chuckle, "Haha, he invited himself when he saw what we were doing."]
[Nezu walks up, "Yes! In all my years of being principal, the hero course has not been allowed to join any clubs. But! As an exception, for exceptional times! You, class 1-A, will be the first Hero Club!" He claps and everyone gets excited.]
[Uraraka jumps, "Uwah! I can be in a club!"]
["I never thought I'd be in a club!"]
["Hooh? Interesting…"]
[Yaoyorozu raises her hand, "What are the rules of this club?"]
[Nezu looks over at you, "The Club President is Dae-Gon. He can decide."]
[They all look at you.]
[You smile, "I think this should be pretty lax, right? Well, I should explain… I don't think there needs to be any official members, anyone can join!" You nod, "And, that goes both ways, if you don't want to come, then you're not held to any obligations." You open your arms, "This should be an activity for fun and learning! So, welcome to the Hero Club!"]
[Some cheer, some nod.]
'This is an exciting moment as it means everyone gets to have fun and use their quirk more often. The laws restricting quirks is a problem that looms over everyone. Having a place where they can freely use their quirks is like a playground for rowdy kids.'
[You mention, "I'm sure you've heard of things like nap club, this will be similar, a place and time where you're allowed freedom." Then, you look towards Nezu, "Principal Nezu has even given our club some resources to do our activities." He does a thumbs up. So, you walk inside, "Alright, let's begin our first day of our club."]
'The gymnasium is where you did the grip test and written exams.'
'Gym Gamma is not the usual gymnasium. There are no benches or hoops, only a large flat concrete floor, where Cementoss can manipulate any part of the facility. With such a massive building, any forms of quirk practice is safe.'
[Inside with the class and the supervisors, you ask Cementoss to make a few things, "Mr. Cementoss, can you create 3 structures. First structure, in front, a square platform for combat; Second structure on the left side a long track with pillars on both sides, also add a few half-wall obstacles; Third structure on the right side a track with a few tall-wall obstacles."]
'You've already given him the plan, so he knows what you're looking for, this is just for the class.'
[He nods and starts shaping the ground.]
[While he's taking his time you look to the class, "Alright, since this is the first meeting, I'd like to start with quirk games so in the future, you can practice without me. Future meetings we can do fun activities, like maybe some basketball, volleyball, or dance sessions. Anyone can submit their own ideas, so just tell me whenever."]
[They nod enthusiastically.]
'They're interested in the future.'
[You also mention, "Also, there's food and drinks provided by Nezu."]
'Provided are an abnormal quality of food and drinks. It's like a fancy wedding's food catering, Sushi, Bentos, Yakitori, and Kaiseki. The drinks are in a special cooler with an assortment of juices, water, and soda.'
'Query: Yakitori, chicken cooked on a skewer. Kaiseki, a set menu of select food served on an individual tray.'
'Nezu insisted on handling the catering, so you obliged, since he's willing… and filthy rich.'
[They nod and drool, very excited.]
'They're interested in the food. Even Shouta is interested, already picking up a skewer and eating.'
[Addressing the class, "Everyone I'm going to assign 3 groups for training games and within, the pairs to synergize with." After a little pause, you assign the groups,
"Group one, pairs, Asui and Yaoyorozu; Sero and Uraraka; Iida and Ashido.
Group two, pairs, Hagakure and Aoyama; Kaminari and Mineta; Jiro will be referee and standby.
Group three, pairs, Kirishima and Ojiro; Sato and Shoji; Tokoyami on standby.
Deku will have some help with me and then will join a group."]
'This will be a semi-ice breaker and community building session. Today will be focusing on teamwork and synergy. Later dates can be either fun times, or full-on quirk strengthening. But, you know that sooner or later, they'll desire more power.'
'As you named the groups, they started moving and formed their pairs.'
[You clap, "Alright, I'll be giving practice instructions to each group and pair, then when you're ready, start your games. Deku, I'll talk with you about your quirk, afterwards I'll be giving some pointers to the groups, alright everyone?"]
[Everyone nods and accepts.]
'The aura of a warm-orange emanates.'
[Kirishima smiles, "Yep, no problem man!"]
[Hagakure gloves the air, "I'm excited!"]
[You look over Group One, "Group One will be on the Second Structure. The game will be a race. At the end of the track, Asui and Yaoyorozu. Yaoyorozu will use her quirk to create objects, preferably soft, that Asui will fling with her tongue. At the start of the track, Iida and Ashido will be practicing their quirk's mobility along the track while dodging the objects Asui flings. Also at the start, Sero and Uraraka. Uraraka will be using her quirk on Sero as he uses his tape quirk for mobility across pillars. He'll also be dodging any thrown objects. Your goal is to reach the end. After the game ends, with someone reaching the end, try swapping places and start again."
You look over Group Two, "Group Two will be on the Third Structure. The game is Red Light Green Light. At the end of the track, the referee is Jiro, who'll use her earjack and shockwave to stop moving players. She'll be saying the commands. Aoyama and Kaminari will be at the end, trying to stop their pair from reaching the end, though they can only use their quirk once after every light command, so don't try blasting every second. Aoyama can only target Hagakure, and Kaminari can only target Mineta. Kaminari will electrocute the floor as Mineta tries to get closer on his hair balls. And Hagakure will try to stealth and dodge Aoyama's lazers. Like the other group, swap places and try again, though, Hagakure will always be a player, but can be paired with Jiro instead of Aoyama, so in that case, Jiro can listen for her steps. Aoyama can be referee at that time, swapping with Jiro, and vice versa."
Over at Group Three, "Group Three will be on the First Structure. The game will be 1v1 and 2v2 spars. After a spar concludes, rotate and a different person will be on standby. So start with Kirishima vs. Ojiro, Sato vs. Shoji, Tokoyami on standby. Then start rotating players. Afterwards when accustomed to each other, try pair battles and do 2v2 spars. Just make sure you're not injured and use this for quirk and martial practice, not a fight to the death."
Now, looking at everyone, you clap one final time, "Don't worry if you have any questions, our supervisors will help. Alright! Let's begin, have fun using your quirks!"]
…
[While the groups get situated, helped by the supervisors, you speak with Deku.]
["So, Deku, I've noticed that your quirk can overload your body, right?"]
[He nods nervously, "Y-yeah… I- um, I just didn't know how to use my… quirk." He says with a little more confidence, "But, I now have a great quirk! I just need to get the hang of it."]
[You nod a few times, "Yes, yes." Then you whisper a bit, "You don't need to worry about me, I know about you and All Might."]
[His face is drenched in sweat, "W-w-what!? What are y-you, you talking about! Ha… I, uh… don't have anything to do with A-All Might!" He shakily smiles.]
["Nah, I know that you inherited All Might's quirk... uh, I forgot to ask the name… But he told me himself, y'know?"]
["r-really?"]
["Yup, he also showed me the scar on his body."]
[Deku sighs out of relief, "Phew, if All Might revealed that to you, then you must be telling the truth."]
[You nod, "So tell me about the quirk, I'm helping in the place of All Might since he doesn't have much free time."]
[Nodding, "Hm! He must be busy being the number one hero!" Then looking up at you, "The quirk is… too strong. I need a stronger body to use it, or…" His expression darkens, "I'll explode." Then he looks determined, "But I'll meet All Might's expectations, I'll use it to its fullest!"]
["Okay. I see… now, how does it work? Like, I saw how your finger bruised and broke, or when you bruised your arm on me."]
["Oh! Yes, now that you mention it, you were the first time I had any semblance of control!" He smiles, "I was fully prepared to break my entire arm doing a 'Detroit Smash' but it was just bruised!"]
["Yeah... It hurt like hell, but I could tell."]
["Oh, I'm sorry!"]
["No, no. Don't apologize, I'm fine. I'm the sorry one, I really hurt you then."]
["Oh…um, I don't mind, I know you had good intentions."]
["Thanks, Deku." Nodding, "So, your quirk seems to be capable of being localized into any place. Does it work with only muscles, or can it strengthen bones or veins, or even things like vision and thinking?"]
[He thinks for a bit, muttering a little, then speaks up, "Uh, I don't believe so, It's a combined area of a body part, so It would affect the skin, muscles, and bones together. And, um, I believe it's only a physical enhancer, since All Might didn't mention it. But the feeling is that of a rising pressure."]
["I see. Alright, let me use my quirk to come up with something."]
{LOGIC}
'Quite simple is it not? Countless concepts describe the same idea and can be applied to reality. A form of power that is too much for its vessel. Deku is a car, and the quirk is a jet engine, the car may move, but it'll be ripped to shreds in the process. Deku needs to be a jet for the jet engine… or he needs to make the jet engine a car engine. That's the first concept, but that would waste the potential of a jet engine. Instead, a greater idea would be to do small bursts of full power before impact, *No* that wouldn't work, his vessels and muscles would either still be damaged, or the resulting power would be non-powered. *You remember something* Yes, that may work. You yourself have faced this problem, your body is the result of that. While the vessel needs to be strong, the mind needs to be as well. From your own observations, emotions and mental thought can affect quirks, you, being able to alter emotions, having been able to exceed superhuman strength, with Physical Instrument, a mental system, can be used to alter your quirk factors into a purpose, for this case, you exceed the desire for strength, warping your quirk factor to bestow great power. This is why you're in peak fitness and tall, you need more mass and density to handle your quirk factors. So, Deku, while he can't control his body chemistry like you, he could affect his thinking. The best method currently is to: Strengthen the vessel, Teach martial techniques, and Mental training. Alright, think for methods. Done. Swap now.'
*Swap*
☐SCHIZOPHRENIA☐
'The world seems alive.'
[You look at Deku, "Alright, so I have some ideas."]
["Already?"]
"Hey, Dae-Gon."
[You turn around, to see nothing, then back to Deku, "So, have you given much thought on how you use your quirk? I believe the best method for you is to, one, build up your body; two, learn some martial arts, I can teach you that; and three, conceptualize and add emotion."]
["Conceptualize… and add emotion?"]
[You nod, "Yes, like… you know how heroes have their big power up when the situation is the most dire? Sort of like that."]
["Like when All Might saved more than a 100 people at once!"]
["Ehh, sort of. I'm more so saying the power ups that are 'unnatural' to the original quirk. For example, the Japanese hero, The Skycrawler."]
[He thinks for a bit, "Hm, yeah, that name sounds familiar, isn't he Captain Celebrity's sidekick?"]
["Uh yeah, he is, but more importantly, when researching him, I found out that his quirk had evolved."]
["Evolved!?"]
["Yes, very uncommon, but his original quirk was just able to attract and repel from his hands-"]
["Like my mother!?"]
["Uh, I don't know your mother, Deku."]
["S-sorry, continue."]
["…Able to attract and repel from his hands and feet, at only a short distance, his quirk evolved to shoot repulsion blasts, and form repulsion barriers."]
["Really?! Why haven't I heard about it?"]
["For one, the hero was a vigilante, so he couldn't stay in Japan, so he went to America with Captain Celebrity, and second, again, he was a vigilante, any favorable information about him was scrubbed by the authorities. I only caught wind of him through researching American heroes and following his trail since he was Japanese." You chuckle, "He says quite a bit, but they don't know what he's saying. Apparently he was part of some big incidents in Japan like when the Tokyo Sky Egg nearly fell."]
["The one All Might lifted?!"]
["It was that very event, yes."]
"Look at me."
["So, what do I need to do?"]
["You… need to be in a state of life or death."]
["…huh?"]
["But that isn't what I'd like for you today, I just wanted to let you know that quirks are dynamic, so don't worry, I have an idea for your quirk."]
'The lights from the ceiling are a little too bright.'
["What are they?"]
["Let's start with a basic. Say you use your quirk on your arm, try to use less power, like barely touching using it. You've tried it on me, and it worked, so try it again with purposeful thought." You point to your chest.]
["R-really?"]
["Yeah man, I was able to tank your full punch, a lesser one won't hurt."]
["O-okay." He backs up and prepares himself.]
["Just make sure your giving a lot of thought into the punch. Imagine clenching an egg in your hand and try not to let it break when you punch it… or actually, imagine a baby chick in your hand and don't kill it."]
[He coughs, "W-what!"]
["Yeah, imagine a small, innocent life is in your fist and punch me with your quirk. It'll do the job better."]
["Um.." He seems very conflicted, "Okay…"]
[Deku stays still for a bit, so you take a squint around the gym.]
'You think you have schizophrenia right now. It's manageable, but annoying.'
'Around, the groups are doing their games well, with Shouta, Cementoss, and Nezu supervising and helping the game along. You see them working as a group and having fun.'
'Quick, Deku is ready.'
"Who's Sarah?"
'Who said that? Sarah's not here, focus.'
{ENDURANCE}
[Deku steps forward with a punch, a gust of wind blows, and a heavy thud hits right on your chest.]
'Not bad, about as heavy as Ojiro's tail.'
[Deku drops his fist and does a clenching motion.]
[You smile, "Seems like it worked?"]
[He smiles, "Incredible! I really didn't think it would work… but it did!"]
["It was a good punch, enough to knock a villain over, I'd say, 5% of your 'Detroit Smash'."]
[He nods, "I didn't get hurt! Amazing!" He tears up a little, "I thought I'd be constantly hurting myself."]
["Pain, huh? Yeah, I wouldn't be envious of that."]
[He nods.]
["Alright, that's the first step. Second step is to do a full body enhancement. Use that feeling of low power and spread it like a… Meta-Magic Girl's outfit transformation sequence."]
[He stares blankly, "…like the girls tv show, Meta-Magic Girls?"]
[You nod.]
["…Dae, I didn't know you were interested in things like that."]
[You squint, "Shut up, you understand what I mean, right?"]
[He nods, "Like a gradual glow across the body?"]
["Yes, just imagine that it's not a violent thing, it's slow, rises, and coats your body. Try not to imagine bulking or anything too… stressful to the body."]
[He thinks and murmurs, "If your right…"]
"Hey, what's up Alex!"
[You glance around the room, nothing except for the blurry, bubble man in the corner.]
{COMPOSURE}
'He's not a threat. Calm down, your heart is racing. Focus on Deku.'
["You ready Deku?"]
[He snaps out of it, "…Yes, yeah, I'm ready."]
["Punch me again, I'll be alright."]
[In deep contemplation, Deku closes his eyes and calmly breathes.]
{EMPATHY}
'Fear, apprehension, worry, guilt, determination, hope, and resolve. Swirls of colors blot the canvas. Streaks of red and yellow create striking lines that overlap, dots of black, dark green splotches, and grey waves. Then, a brush starts painting white, cleaning the collage, shaping the chaos, and controlling it. The mess wains and crumbles into design. Lightly, pink and sky-blue pastels are swept across the canvas, the gradual mix of colors are muted into hues of pink and blue. And, suddenly, the entire canvas is a pair of two gradients, pink to red, red to blue, blue to cyan.'
[You see from Deku's face and hands, a slow glow of red veins and lines grow vibrant.]
[Deku opens his eyes, focused and calm.]
[You open your arms.]
{ENDURANCE}
[In a very swift motion, his legs bolt and kick up the concrete, and he quick draws a punch.]
[The punch carries the wind with a loud crackle from the impact on your chess causing you stumble back, the sound startling everyone in the room.]
'That punch hurt.'
{PAIN THRESHOLD}
'Should have prepared for something stronger, his 'controlled' Detroit Smash required four Endurance and Savoir Faire. Even though All Might's Detroit Smash is many levels higher than Deku, as Deku's Detroit Smash had probably around less than 5% of All Might's power.'
[You look at room, "…Don't worry about us, continue."]
[Deku snaps out of it lowers his fist, still in the quirk state.]
[Looking at Deku, "How do you feel? That punch was about, 30% your Detroit Smash."]
[He deeply breathes and strains to speak, "I feel… like… I'm in a tight suit… and the air… is heavy." He clenches his fist, "But… I can… control it."]
["Nice. I was expecting a weaker punch, but it seems like your state is stronger than the previous punch."]
[He tightly breathes, "…Sorry."]
["How long do you think you can hold this state?"]
["I think… I can hold… Full Cowling… indefinitely… as long as… I can hold… concentration." His veins lightly show.]
["Full Cowling, huh? Good name, it's like a hero's cape." You look at his form, "I feel like, the best training for you is to hold this state for as long as possible, try to reach a subconscious level of Full Cowling, then you'll be like All Might."]
[He smiles and deeply chuckles, "Ha… Ha… l-like All Might."]
[You nod, "Alright, let's go see our class's progress, walk with me and keep Full Cowling." He doesn't respond, but you can surmise he agrees.]
…
[Over the next few hours, walking around the groups games, you teach a few martial techniques, quirk usages, and conceptualizations.]
[Soon, the first Hero Club meeting ends and everyone leaves.]
[Left behind, you and Nezu conversate.]
…
[Outside the gymnasium.]
[Drinking tea, Nezu hums, "The future those kids face will be full of hardships."]
[You nod, drinking your own cup of tea, "Isn't that the fate of a hero?... But, yes, I understand what you mean. They're young but will deal with things pro heroes do."]
[He nods and gazes at the night sky.]
'A sense of kinship. Understanding.'
[You finish your cup, "Well, let's not be too worried. The fresh steel will be tempered under intense stress."]
[He chuckles, "You're not poetic anymore, right?"]
["Yes, but I felt like it was appropriate."]
[He goes silent.]
'A lingering question hold in both of your restless minds, "at what cost?".'
…