The morning sun had barely climbed over the city skyline when students began trickling into the classroom. A few were wide awake, energized and ready for another day. Most were just barely functional.
Kirishima was one of the first, chatting animatedly with Sato and Shoji by the window. The topic, unsurprisingly, had to do with protein intake, recovery reps, and "manly" training routines.
Souta had barely stepped through the door when Kirishima spotted him.
"Yo! Souta!" Kirishima waved him over like they were old gym buddies. "C'mere, man! We were just talking about your grip strength from yesterday. That throw was insane! What do you bench?"
Souta blinked. "You have way too much energy for this time. And uh... I don't really measure it."
Sato laughed. "That means it's a lot. Only people who lift serious weight say that."
Shoji nodded silently, his arms folded like a bouncer, though the corners of his mouth twitched upward.
"You train a lot?" Kirishima asked, eyes bright.
"Yeah. Nearly every day," Souta said simply, slipping into their little circle before he even realized it. "Mostly for endurance and explosive power."
"See, that's what I'm talking about!" Kirishima clapped him on the shoulder. "We gotta train together sometime."
Souta gave a half-smile. "Sure."
From across the room, Shoto slid quietly into his seat without saying a word to anyone. His expression unreadable as always. A few students glanced at him, but none approached. They'd already pegged him as distant.
Midoriya lingered near his desk, clearly interested in the conversation the guys were having but too hesitant to butt in. Eventually, Kirishima noticed.
"Oi, Midoriya! You lift too, right?"
Midoriya startled. "Uh - kinda! Not like you guys though. Mostly bodyweight stuff. Core work. Just some conditioning."
"Still counts!" Sato grinned.
They talked for a bit longer until the bell rang, and the day officially began.
---
The cafeteria was a whirlwind of clinking trays and overlapping voices. Souta and Shoto walked in together, trays in hand, scanning for an empty spot.
Before they could decide, a voice called out.
"Hey! Over here!" Kaminari waved from a table near the windows.
Jirou, Mina, Sero, and Kirishima were already seated around it, mid-conversation and halfway through their food.
"Come sit!" Mina added brightly.
Souta hesitated, glancing toward his brother.
Shoto shrugged. "Up to you."
So they sat. Souta next to Kirishima, Shoto at the far end beside Jirou, who looked faintly surprised but said nothing.
"Okay, serious question," Kaminari said, pointing a chopstick at Souta. "Are you two just born that calm, or is that, like, extra training or something?"
Souta paused mid-bite. "No. I just don't waste energy unless I need to. As for him," Souta says, while gesturing to his brother, "well he is just like that."
"Whoa," Sero grinned. "You sound like Aizawa."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Laughter bubbled around the table, and slowly, the ice began to melt. Even Shoto spoke once or twice - short, dry comments that made Jirou snort into her drink.
It was oddly normal. For a bunch of kids training to be heroes.
---
Later that day.
The classroom buzzed with low conversation as students trickled back from lunch. Everyone knew what class was next.
The moment the bell rang, the door slammed open with enough force to make half the room jump.
Then came the voice:
"I… AM HERE. Coming through the door like a normal person!"
Standing tall - massive, really - in the doorway was none other than the Number One Hero himself, All Might. Dressed in a sharp, dark suit that somehow didn't lessen his impossible presence in the slightest.
The room exploded with energy.
"Wha—he's teaching us, for real?!" Mina whispered, stunned.
"Didn't think he'd look this... office-ready," Kaminari muttered.
All Might strode to the front of the room, every step with theatrical gusto. His smile gleamed.
"Welcome, Class 1-A! I will be your Hero Studies teacher this semester! We'll be learning what it takes to become true heroes. Not just in strength, but in spirit as well!"
Souta watched him quietly. He had known about this, but seeing the number one hero, the symbol of peace of Japan so close was still a special experience.
He sat up straighter, attention sharp now. Whatever came next - this was going to matter.
All Might's voice boomed:
"Now then! Let's get started! Today, we're going to start with battle training. So," he began while taking out a remote, before tapping a button on it, which promptly opened the lockers in the back of the classroom, revealing their individual hero costumes, "get changed and meat me at training ground Beta."
The class was hyped up, hearing this, and everyone rushed towards the back to get their hero costume. They were all made by the school and given to the students free of charge, after every accepted student sent in their individual designs.
---
The walk to Ground Beta was buzzing with energy - half the class chatting excitedly, the other half keeping to themselves but clearly fired up. The sharp sound of boots, heels, and even some armor parts clinked against the pavement as they moved together like a squad of rookies marching into their first operation.
Souta walked beside Shoto, both silent for the most part, though their presence alone seemed to keep others from getting too rowdy nearby. Souta's hero costume fit perfectly - practical, sleek, and dark with sharp edges and reinforced joints. It hugged his frame without restricting motion, clearly designed for someone who valued flexibility and control over flash.
"You planning to hold back today too?" Shoto asked quietly, not looking at him.
"No," Souta replied. "Well, not by much at least."
The twin nodded, just once.
They arrived.
Ground Beta stretched before them like a mini-city, complete with buildings, streets, and alleys—all built for simulated urban combat. All Might stood before them, cape fluttering slightly in the breeze, arms crossed and posture impossibly tall.
"Excellent!" he boomed. "Now that everyone's suited up, let's go over today's exercise!"
He paced with flair as he spoke. "Today we'll begin our battle training with a simple scenario: Heroes vs. Villains."
There were gasps, and even a few excited fist pumps.
"In each match," he continued, "two members will play the role of villains and hide a 'nuclear weapon' - a dummy device, of course - inside a designated building. The heroes must locate and either capture the villains or secure the weapon. You win if you capture the opposing team or reach the objective within the time limit."
He smiled wide, radiating pride.
"These matches will test teamwork, strategy, and your ability to adapt under pressure. Real hero work often doesn't give second chances - so take this seriously!"
As he spoke, a holographic screen lit up beside him, displaying randomized names.
"We've randomized the teams. Pay attention!"
The pairings and matchups appeared:
Match 1
Team A (Heroes): Midoriya & Tsuyu
Team B (Villains): Bakugo & Tokoyami
Match 2
Team C (Heroes): Kirishima & Jirou
Team D (Villains): Sero & Shoji
Match 3
Team E (Heroes): Iida & Uraraka
Team F (Villains): Aoyama & Kaminari
Match 4
Team G (Heroes): Mina & Souta
Team H (Villains): Shoto & Sato
Match 5
Team I (Heroes): Hagakure & Ojiro
Team J (Villains): Yaoyorozu & Kouda
All Might clapped his hands. "First up - Team A vs. Team B! Everyone else, please observe from the viewing room above. We'll rotate quickly. Each match will be timed!"
Midoriya froze where he stood, eyes wide.
Souta watched quietly as Bakugo took one look at the pairing and scowled, teeth grit.
"You've gotta be kidding me," Bakugo muttered. "This damn nerd again?"
Midoriya flinched, but nodded slowly, forcing his voice steady. "I'm ready."
All Might clapped a heavy hand on Midoriya's shoulder. "Remember, Young Midoriya - use your head. You don't need to destroy yourself to be strong."
Midoriya looked up and nodded with more conviction. "Yes, sir."
As the first team walked off toward their designated building, the rest of the class made their way to the observation deck, lined with screens, mics, and angles that let them watch everything in real time.
Souta leaned against the railing, eyes on Midoriya and Bakugo as they moved into position.
Shoto stood behind him, arms crossed. "Think he'll win?"
Souta's eyes didn't leave the screen. "Honestly? No chance. But I think this match might change something."
Shoto tilted his head slightly. "For the better?"
"We'll see."
Below, the match began.
And the game was on.