Morning sunlight spills across the wide campus as students filter through the front gates of U.A. once more. Among them, Class 1-A makes its way toward the classroom. The nerves from yesterday have dulled, replaced by curiosity, excitement, and a cautious sense of belonging.
"Man, my legs are still sore," Mina groans dramatically, stretching her arms high above her head. "That fitness test was straight-up evil."
Ayaka chuckles lightly beside her. "You say that, but you were smiling through half of it."
"That's because pain builds character!" Kirishima declares from a few steps ahead, pumping a fist. "Right, Bakugo?"
"Tch. Don't lump me in with extras," Bakugo snaps, hands shoved into his pockets as he walks faster, clearly uninterested in the conversation.
"Well, most of you were smiling through the test anyway—since you got to use your quirks in a physical fitness assessment," Izumi adds calmly, walking a little ahead alongside Yaoyorozu and Ayaka.
Midoriya trails nearby with Uraraka and Iida, already animated. "I-I mean, when you think about it, the assessment was actually really efficient! It tested multiple quirk applications under pressure—"
"That's… not really how people describe 'efficient,' Midoriya," Uraraka says, smiling as she tries not to laugh.
Iida adjusts his glasses sharply. "Still, Midoriya makes a valid point! U.A.'s methodology prioritises real-world hero demands and practical application!"
Soon enough, the bell rings, and the chatter funnels into classrooms.
The first class of the day is English.
Present Mic greets Class 1-A with his unmistakable energy.
"GOOOOOOOD MORNING, YOUNG SCHOLARS OF SYMBOLISM!" he booms, his voice echoing off the walls. "Welcome to English! Where your vocabulary goes PLUS ULTRA!"
Several students visibly flinch.
Jiro presses a finger to her ear. "Does he have to be that loud?"
"Yes," Aizawa answers flatly from the doorway. "Unfortunately for you." He steps out and slides the door shut behind him.
Present Mic launches straight into the lesson with theatrical flair, pacing the room as he covers sentence structure, pronunciation drills, and the importance of clear communication for heroes in the field.
"Remember!" he points dramatically at the class. "A hero who can't communicate is just a guy punching things badly!"
"Oi!" Bakugo scowls.
Yaoyorozu takes notes diligently. Izumi follows along without issue, but his thoughts drift.
'These general classes are going to be a headache. Repeating material like this is a waste of time. I could be training right now.'
His gaze shifts briefly to Ayaka, who for some reason matches Present Mic's enthusiasm beat for beat. Izumi exhales through his nose, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
'I suppose I can treat this as a slowdown. A forced pause.'
The morning continues with standard subjects—math, history—taught one after another. Nothing remarkable, nothing dramatic. By the time the bell rings, most of the class looks both overwhelmed by Present Mic's energy and oddly energised for what comes next.
The bell signals the end of the morning period, and the classroom slowly empties as students gather their things. Conversations overlap as they filter into the halls, voices bouncing off the walls as they head toward the cafeteria.
The cafeteria buzzes with noise and motion, the smell of freshly prepared food filling the air. Trays slide along counters piled high with gourmet-level meals that look more like restaurant dishes than school lunch.
Midoriya freezes mid-step, eyes going wide.
"T-That's Lunch Rush! He's actually cooking!"
As if on cue, Lunch Rush—still in his chef's uniform—passes by their table. He stops short when he hears his name, turning just enough to acknowledge Midoriya. He gives a thumbs-up.
"White rice is great comfort food, isn't it?"
Ochako nods eagerly. "Yeah!"
Iida adjusts his glasses, glancing at Midoriya, who looks seconds away from combusting from excitement.
"Whoa… this is hero school luxury," Kaminari says, staring down at his tray like it might disappear if he blinks.
They settle into loose groups across the cafeteria.
Midoriya, Uraraka, and Iida sit together. Midoriya barely touches his food, whispering excitedly as he watches Lunch Rush work from across the room.
"He prepared that entire meal in under ten seconds," Midoriya marvels. "The efficiency, the precision—his Quirk application must be incredible."
Uraraka laughs. "You're fangirling again."
Nearby, Kirishima, Kaminari, and Sero are already digging in.
"This is amazing," Sero says through a mouthful. "If this is school food, I'm never leaving."
At another table, Ayaka sits with Mina, Yaoyorozu, and Izumi.
"This place really doesn't do anything halfway," Mina says, poking at her food. "Even lunch feels intense."
Her attention shifts when Izumi, Momo, and Ayaka begin opening their lunchboxes—stacked neatly in multiple tiers.
"You guys have a really intense lunch setup," Mina says, glancing down at her own single-tier box with partitions.
Izumi shrugs as he opens his boxes. "We use our Quirks a lot. It burns through energy fast. If we don't keep up with our intake, it catches up to us."
Ayaka nods, picks up her chopsticks, and murmurs a quiet, "Thank you for the food," before digging in.
As they eat, Yaoyorozu speaks up after finishing a bite. "My Quirk converts the lipids in my body into objects. To maintain effectiveness, I need to consume large amounts of food regularly."
Mina grins. "Hey, that's kind of awesome. You get to eat a ton and stay in shape. That's the dream."
Yaoyorozu blushes slightly but smiles, nodding as she resumes eating.
Around them, other tables are just as lively—Bakugo eating in aggressive silence, Todoroki calmly working through his tray, Tsuyu observing everything with quiet interest.
Eventually, the lunch period winds down, and the students file back toward the classroom, energy high and conversations still going as they take their seats.
Everyone settles into their assigned spots, anticipation building.
"I'm pumped for Hero Basic Training!" Kaminari says, leaning back in his chair. "This is where the real hero stuff starts!"
"I wonder who will be teaching us," Tsuyu says calmly. "Ribbit."
Before anyone can respond, a booming voice echoes from outside the door.
"I AM—"
The door swings open as All Might steps into the doorway, hands braced against the frame in an exaggerated pose.
"—COMING THROUGH THE DOOR LIKE A NORMAL PERSON!"
The room erupts instantly.
"It's All Might!"
"He's really teaching here?!"
"Wow!" Kaminari says. "Seeing him up close hits different!"
"That costume… it looks like something from the Silver Age," Tsuyu observes.
"It's so different," Mina says, shivering slightly. "It's giving me goosebumps."
All Might strides to the podium, and the room slowly quiets.
"Good afternoon, everyone!" he says brightly. "I will be teaching you Hero Basic Training—a subject designed to build the foundation of what it truly means to be a hero."
The class leans forward.
"You'll be taking more units of this subject than almost any other."
Excited murmurs ripple through the room.
"So let's not waste time!" All Might says, pulling a card from his pocket and holding it up for everyone to see.
"Today's lesson—Combat Training!"
Some students brighten instantly, others tense, a few remain calm and unreadable.
All Might grins. "Let's get started."
"COMBAT!"
Bakugo's shout cuts through the room, sharp and explosive, his grin feral.
Before anyone else can voice their excitement—or concern—All Might barrels on.
"And to go with that," he says, pointing dramatically toward one of the classroom walls, "are these!"
With a mechanical hum, sections of the wall slide outward. Panels shift and unfold into recessed shelves, each holding neatly arranged cases marked with student numbers.
"These are your hero costumes," All Might announces proudly. "They were designed based on your Quirk registrations and the requests you submitted before the school year began. For those of you who already had costumes prepared—fear not! Your existing costumes have been accepted as they are."
The room explodes.
"Costumes?!"
"No way!"
"This is happening already?!"
All Might raises a hand. "Change into them immediately. Once you're ready—gather at Ground Beta!"
He turns and strides out of the classroom with purpose.
***
Ground Beta looms ahead, the wide concrete space framed by tall structures and open sky.
All Might stands at the entrance tunnel, arms crossed, waiting.
One by one, Class 1-A emerges from the tunnel—each student stepping out in their hero costume for the first time.
All Might smiles broadly as he watches them assemble.
"They say the clothes make the man—or woman," he says. "Be fully aware. From this moment forward… you are no longer just students."
His voice carries weight.
"You are heroes in training."
He scans the group, nodding appreciatively. "Excellent! You all look fantastic!"
Then, with a grin, he adds, "Now then—shall we begin, young heroes?"
Nearby, students murmur excitedly as they take in one another's outfits.
"O-Oh, Deku?"
Uraraka steps closer, eyes lighting up as she looks him over. "That looks really cool!"
Midoriya's costume is simple but sturdy—a green hero suit reinforced with black padding at the joints, clearly built for protection rather than flash. A red utility belt sits at his waist, matching the heavy red boots and clean white gloves. The design feels earnest, almost understated, like it's meant for someone still growing into the role rather than someone already confident in it.
Midoriya freezes, face instantly turning red. "T-Thank you!"
He barely manages to keep his composure as his eyes flick—unintentionally—toward Uraraka.
Her suit is a snug, streamlined bodysuit designed for mobility, accented with practical elements rather than decoration.
She notices his stare and flusters immediately, scratching the back of her head. "I-I should've written more specific requests. It kinda… turned into this. It's a little embarrassing."
Midoriya shakes his head quickly. "N-No! It—it really suits you!"
Before the awkwardness can grow, Uraraka's attention shifts past him.
"Huh…?"
Midoriya turns just in time to see Yaoyorozu step out of the tunnel.
She wears a fitted red hero suit with white detailing along the sides, clearly designed to allow unrestricted movement for both combat and creation. The sleeveless design and reinforced gloves emphasize precision, while a black utility belt provides practical storage. The outfit is clean, efficient, and unmistakably professional.
"That looks amazing," Uraraka says without hesitation.
Yaoyorozu smiles politely. "Thank you. I wanted something functional above all else."
Midoriya nods rapidly. "Y-Yeah! It—it makes a lot of sense for your Quirk!"
Before they can say more, another figure emerges from the tunnel.
Izumi Adachi.
His suit is dark and tactical, built for durability and direct engagement. Interlocking grey armour plates reinforce the torso, forming a rigid chest and abdominal guard that protects vital areas without breaking the suit's streamlined profile. The plating gives it a hardened, almost exoskeletal look.
A fitted black jacket hangs open over the armour, adding an extra layer without restricting movement. Reinforced gloves and knee guards hint at close-quarters combat, while a utility belt secures essential equipment. The design is imposing, utilitarian, and unmistakably combat-focused.
Uraraka blinks. "Whoa…"
Midoriya stares, eyes wide. "T-That looks… really intense."
Izumi exhales softly, glancing down at himself. "I designed it before joining U.A."
Yaoyorozu nods approvingly. "It suits your fighting style. Very practical."
Izumi looks at Midoriya, then Uraraka. "Both of yours turned out well too. Balanced. Easy to move in."
Uraraka smiles. "Thanks!"
A few more students drift over.
Mina circles Izumi once, eyes gleaming. "Okay, that's cool. Super intimidating. Love the dark vibe."
Tokoyami gives a solemn nod. "It resonates with the abyss. A fitting shell for battle."
Izumi pauses, then inclines his head slightly. "I'll take that as a compliment."
Tsuyu tilts her head. "You all look ready. Ribbit."
Around them, more voices rise—students laughing, boasting, quietly assessing one another. The air buzzes with excitement and nerves alike.
At the centre of it all, All Might watches with a satisfied grin.
'The first real step has begun.'
After a moment, All Might claps his hands once, the sharp sound cutting through the chatter.
"Alright!" he says, sweeping his gaze across the class, counting quietly. His brow furrows. "Huh… Where's Ayak—"
"I AM HERE, ALL MIGHT!"
***