The walk toward the P.E. Grounds was far louder than the classroom had been.
Students talked amongst themselves in small groups while carrying their gym uniforms and bags through the massive hallways of U.A.
Some sounded excited.
Others nervous.
A few were already trying to size each other up.
Meanwhile, Aizawa walked ahead of the class inside his sleeping bag like a tired caterpillar dragging itself across the floor.
"...Does he always move like that?" Mina whispered.
"I hope not," Jiro muttered.
Izumi walked quietly beside Aoyama while nervously adjusting the sleeves of her gym uniform.
Even after changing, the pressure still hadn't left her chest.
If anything—
being surrounded by future heroes in training only made things feel more real.
Ahead of them, the enormous doors leading outside finally slid open.
Bright sunlight poured across the field.
Training Ground Gamma stretched out before them like a professional sports complex.
Massive running tracks.
Open concrete zones.
Throwing areas.
Obstacle equipment.
Everything looked built for Quirk usage on a ridiculous scale.
Several students stared openly.
"...This is all for first years?" someone muttered.
Aizawa finally stopped walking near the center of the field before slowly turning toward the class.
"Line up."
The tiredness in his voice somehow still carried authority.
Almost instantly, everyone obeyed.
Aizawa glanced across the group with half-lidded eyes.
"You all passed the entrance exam, but don't misunderstand something."
The field grew quiet.
"Getting accepted into U.A. doesn't make you special."
His gaze swept across the students.
"It just gives you the opportunity to prove whether you belong here."
Several students stiffened slightly.
Aizawa reached into his capture weapon scarf and pulled out a softball.
"When Japanese students enter middle school, they're restricted from using their Quirks during physical testing."
He casually tossed the ball once in his hand.
"At U.A., we don't do that."
His tired expression sharpened slightly.
"Suppressing your abilities is irrational."
That single word again.
Irrational.
It already sounded like one of his favorite things to say.
Aizawa looked toward Katsumi.
"Bakugo."
"Hah?"
"You placed third in the practical exam."
Several students immediately turned toward her.
Katsumi grinned.
Aizawa tossed her the softball.
"How far could you throw this in middle school without using your Quirk?"
"...Sixty-seven meters."
"Good."
Aizawa shoved one hand into his pocket.
"Now throw it with your Quirk."
The class stirred immediately.
"We're allowed to use our Quirks?!" Denka Kaminari blurted out.
"This is gonna be awesome!" Mina cheered.
Katsumi caught the ball one-handed before stepping toward the throwing circle.
A vicious grin spread across her face.
"Oh, now we're talking."
Tiny explosions crackled across her palm as she rolled her shoulder once.
The air around her hand began snapping violently with heat.
Izumi swallowed nervously.
Even Aoyama watched with mild curiosity.
Katsumi pulled her arm back—
BOOM!!
An explosion erupted from her palm like a cannon blast.
The force launched the softball high into the sky fast enough to vanish into the distance.
A second later, the digital screen nearby flashed the result.
705.2 meters.
The class exploded into noise.
"WHAT?!"
"No way!"
"That's insane!"
Katsumi smirked proudly while smoke curled from her hand.
"That's what I'm talking about."
She stared directly at Aoyama, pride burning in her crimson eyes.
That throw wasn't just showing off.
It was a challenge.
A silent demand for him to beat her score.
Aizawa didn't react to the crowd.
"If you're going to become heroes, then stop treating this like recess."
The excitement died instantly.
His exhausted eyes narrowed slightly.
"You'll now be participating in eight physical assessments."
He raised a finger while listing them off.
"Fifty-meter dash."
"Grip strength."
"Standing long jump."
"Repeated side steps."
"Ball throw."
"Distance run."
"Toe-touch flexibility."
"Sit-ups."
Several students straightened nervously.
Aizawa spoke again.
"And one more thing."
Something about his tone made the entire field go silent.
The wind itself seemed quieter.
Aizawa looked directly at them.
"The student who places last overall..."
"...will be expelled."
The students pause to process the words that were just said.
"...Huh?"
Someone laughed nervously.
"W-Wait, seriously?!"
Izumi's face went pale instantly.
Kaminari nearly choked.
Minette looked ready to collapse.
Even Momo's eyes widened slightly.
Only Katsumi grinned wider.
But Aizawa didn't look like he was joking.
Not even a little.
"This is U.A."
His scarf shifted lightly in the breeze.
"If you aren't prepared to compete at the highest level, then leave now."
The pressure across the field became suffocating.
And for the first time since arriving—
Class 1-A truly understood what kind of place they had entered.