Arthur sat near the window of the bus, watching the city slide past as they traveled to the Unforeseen Simulation Joint. The morning had been standard academics, mostly review material he'd already mastered through independent study. His classmates were in high spirits, the weekend having recharged their energy after the intense first week at U.A.
"I wonder what kind of disaster scenarios they'll have," Midoriya said from across the aisle, notebook already open. "Thirteen is famous for rescue work in space-related incidents, but the USJ is supposed to simulate all kinds of environments."
"Earthquakes, probably," Asui, "call me Tsu," said with her usual directness. "Floods, fires, building collapses. The standard disaster array. Ribbit."
"Man, I hope there's something with my hardening can actually help with," Kirishima said, leaning forward in his seat. "Battle training was awesome, but I want to see how my quirk works for actual hero stuff, you know? Saving people, not just fighting."
Arthur turned from the window. "Your quirk is versatile for rescue work. You can shield civilians from falling debris, create safe paths through fire, even serve as an anchor point for evacuation lines."
"Oh! I hadn't thought about the anchor thing!" Kirishima's face lit up. "That's so cool! See, this is why you got first in the assessment. You think about everything."
"It's just tactics," Arthur said. "Analyzing available resources and matching them to needs."
"Just tactics, he says," Kaminari laughed from the back. "Dude, most of us are still figuring out how to not blow ourselves up with our own quirks. You're out here planning military operations."
"My quirk is fairly straightforward," Arthur replied. "Lightning and energy manipulation. Yours has more variables to consider. Electrical current, voltage, transmission, your body's capacitance limits."
Kaminari blinked. "I... yeah. Those are definitely words."
"He's saying you need to study more, dunce face," Bakugo muttered from his seat, arms crossed, staring out the opposite window.
"Hey! I study!"
"You mean you copy off Yaomomo's homework," Jirou said, not looking up from her phone.
"That's called collaborative learning!"
Arthur found himself almost smiling at the banter. It reminded him of Camelot's Round Table in quieter moments, when his knights would joke and argue before missions. The camaraderie was similar, though these students were younger, less burdened by the weight of war.
For now, something whispered in his mind.
"Himura, what about your quirk?" Uraraka asked, turning around in her seat. "You said lightning and energy, but during battle training you made those sword constructs. Can you make other shapes?"
"Theoretically, yes. Blades are simply the most efficient shape for focused energy projection. But I could create shields, spears, or other forms if needed."
"That's so versatile!" Midoriya was writing frantically now. "And your lightning, is it true electricity or is it energy that mimics electrical properties? Because during the assessment, I noticed it seemed to have different characteristics than Kaminari's..."
"Observant," Arthur acknowledged. "It's closer to pure energy that expresses as electricity. More focused, more controlled, but requires active management."
"So you can't just blast it everywhere like I do," Kaminari said. "That's actually kind of limiting, isn't it?"
"Quality over quantity," Arthur replied. "A precise strike defeats an enemy. An imprecise one just makes them angry."
"Speaking of precise," Todoroki's quiet voice cut through the conversation. He was sitting alone, as usual, but he'd been listening. "Your fighting style is very... refined. Formal, almost. Where did you train?"
The question carried weight. Arthur could feel multiple sets of eyes turning toward him, curiosity mixing with speculation. Todoroki was asking something deeper than simple training history.
"Various dojos," Arthur said carefully. "I began studying swordsmanship young. My father believed physical discipline built character."
Not technically a lie.
"It shows," Todoroki said, then turned back to the window, conversation apparently complete.
"Your old man sounds intense," Sero said. "Mine just wanted me to take over the family restaurant."
"My parents wanted me to be a doctor," Iida announced, adjusting his glasses with practiced precision. "But I come from a hero family. My older brother, Ingenium, is a well-respected pro. Following in his footsteps is both an honor and a responsibility."
"Your brother's agency is supposed to be really good, right?" Uraraka said. "I read they have excellent intern programs."
"Indeed! Ingenium believes strongly in proper mentorship and systematic training. His agency maintains a 94% approval rating in its operational zone, with response times averaging under three minutes for emergency calls."
"Three minutes is crazy fast," Kirishima said admiringly. "That's like, villain shows up, hero's already there."
"Speed is essential for rescue work," Iida agreed, his hand gestures becoming more animated. "Every second counts in disaster response. Lives can be lost in the time it takes to hesitate or second-guess!"
Arthur listened to Iida's passionate speech about response protocols and efficiency metrics. The boy was earnest, dedicated, following in his brother's footsteps with genuine devotion. It reminded Arthur of young knights swearing their oaths, determined to live up to legendary predecessors.
But he doesn't see the burden yet, Arthur thought. The weight of being someone's legacy. How it can crush you if you let it.
"What about you, Himura?" Ashido leaned over the seat, her pink skin catching the morning light. "Why'd you want to be a hero? You seem kind of... I don't know, too serious for it? No offense!"
The question caught him off guard. Not the content, but the casualness of it. Ashido asked it like she was asking his favorite food, not his fundamental motivation for existence.
"I want to help people," Arthur said simply. "I've seen what happens when power is used carelessly, when leaders prioritize glory over responsibility. Heroes should be better than that."
"Wow, that got deep," Kaminari said. "I mostly just think hero work looks cool."
"Nothing wrong with that," Ashido said. "Heroes should look cool! It's part of the job, inspiring people and stuff."
"But what Himura said matters too," Asui croaked thoughtfully. "Heroes with power need to be responsible. Too many pros care more about rankings and brand deals than actual hero work."
"That's not fair," Hagakure's invisible voice protested. "Heroes need to make money too! Can't save people if you can't pay rent."
"There's a difference between making a living and making a spectacle," Arthur said. "Some heroes treat civilians like an audience rather than people to protect."
"He's got a point," Tokoyami spoke from the shadows of his seat. "The darkness of vanity can consume even the most well-intentioned soul. True heroism requires... depth."
"Why do you always talk like that?" Kaminari asked. "Like, it's cool, but also, dude."
"Some truths are best expressed through shadow," Tokoyami replied gravely.
"See, this is what I'm talking about!"
Arthur caught Bakugo watching him in the window's reflection. The blonde had been quiet since battle training, his usual aggressive energy subdued. The loss to Midoriya had shaken something in him, forced him to confront limitations he'd never acknowledged before.
Pride is a double-edged sword, Arthur thought. It can drive you to greatness or cut you down. He'll either learn to temper it or let it destroy him.
"We're here!" the bus driver announced, pulling up to an enormous domed structure.
The Unforeseen Simulation Joint rose before them like a massive stadium, its white exterior gleaming in the morning sun. The building was huge, easily the size of several city blocks, with no windows but multiple reinforced entrances.
"Whoa," Kaminari breathed. "That thing is massive."
"Of course it is!" Iida declared. "It must contain multiple full-scale disaster environments! The engineering alone must be extraordinary!"
Arthur stepped off the bus last, taking a moment to survey the facility with tactical eyes. Multiple entrances meant multiple potential breach points. The size meant complex interior layouts, lots of places for threats to hide or civilians to be trapped. The isolated location, far from the city proper, meant response time from outside help would be delayed.
It's designed for training, he reminded himself. Not combat.
But old instincts died hard.
"Alright, everyone, look alive!" Aizawa called, already sounding tired despite the early hour. His capture weapon draped around his neck like a scarf, his dark eyes scanning the class with professional paranoia. "When we enter, you'll meet the Space Hero, Thirteen. Listen to what they say. Rescue training is just as important as combat, maybe more so. Most hero work is disaster response, not villain fights."
"Plus Thirteen is super cool!" Uraraka said excitedly. "Their black hole quirk is amazing!"
"Their quirk is also incredibly dangerous," Aizawa said flatly. "Which is why they're one of the best at teaching quirk control and situational awareness. Pay attention, don't fool around, and maybe you'll learn something."
They filed into the facility, and Arthur felt his breath catch slightly.
The interior was beyond impressive. From their entrance point, they could see down into a massive central plaza, with various disaster zones spreading out like sections of a wheel. There was a flood zone with partially submerged buildings, a landslide zone with collapsed structures and loose debris, a conflagration zone with buildings on fire, a storm zone with visible wind turbines and rain systems, and more, each one a perfect simulation of real disaster conditions.
"Welcome!" A figure in a bulky space suit, complete with helmet, approached them with arms spread wide. "Welcome to the Unforeseen Simulation Joint! I've been waiting for you!"
"It's Thirteen!" Midoriya's eyes were practically sparkling. "In person!"
"Hello, everyone!" Thirteen's voice was warm and friendly despite the electronic filter from the helmet. "I'm so excited to teach you about rescue work today! Before we begin, I want to say a few words. Well, maybe more than a few!"
The space hero paused, and Arthur could sense the shift in their demeanor, from friendly to serious.
"I'm sure you're all aware that my quirk, Black Hole, is incredibly powerful. I can suck in and disintegrate anything, turning it to dust. It's very useful for disaster cleanup and debris removal."
"But a quirk like mine can also very easily kill people," Thirteen continued, and the levity drained from the air. "I've spent my entire career learning control, learning restraint, learning how to use this destructive power for good instead of harm. And that's what I want to teach you today."
Thirteen looked across all of them, and even through the helmet's visor, Arthur could feel the weight of that gaze.
"Each of you has a quirk that can hurt or kill someone if used carelessly. Bakugo, your explosions. Todoroki, your ice and fire. Himura, your lightning. Even quirks that seem harmless can be dangerous in the wrong circumstances or with the wrong application. You're all here to learn how to be heroes, and that means learning that your power exists to save people, not hurt them."
The plaza seemed quieter now, the ambient sound of the disaster simulations fading into white noise.
"In this society, we use the word 'quirk' to describe our superhuman abilities," Thirteen said. "It sounds fun, harmless, special. But the truth is, we all carry weapons inside our bodies. The only difference between a hero and a villain is how we choose to use them."
Yes, he thought. Power without purpose is just destruction. Power without restraint is tyranny.
He'd learned that lesson in blood and fire, watching Camelot tear itself apart. Watching noble knights become monsters, watching his own ideals warp and crack under the weight of impossible choices.
"So today," Thirteen continued, their voice warm again, "we're going to practice using your quirks to help people. To save lives, to minimize damage, to be the heroes this world needs. Are you ready?"
"YES!" the class chorused, energy restored.
"Aizawa, shall we get started?" Thirteen asked.
But before he could reply a dark portal was opening in the middle of the plaza, purple and black mist swirling like a wound in reality.
"Stay back!" Aizawa barked, his tired demeanor vanishing instantly, replaced by pure pro hero focus.
Figures stepped through the portal. Dozens of them, then more. People with various quirks, various builds, all of them radiating hostility.
And at the center, a man with hands covering his entire body, pale blue hair, scratching at his neck.
"Well, well," the hand-covered man said, his voice carrying unnaturally across the space. "Where's All Might? We've come all this way to kill him. It'd be rude if he didn't show up."
To be continued...
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