A hoard of journalists had gathered in front of the UA High School.
"What's going on?" Aina asked, standing next to Luke.
Rikuya looked at her sister. "All Might's coming back today," he told her. "They must be here to get his statement on the Jaku Incident."
Standing on Aina's other side, Luke stared as Midoriya flustered when a female journalist shoved a mic in his face. Uraraka did a mildly better job, though.
"Move… freaking tower…"
Bakugo shoved Luke away, giving him a mean eye.
It had been bad before, but, after knocking him out during the first day of the Hand-to-Hand Combat Training, things had become worse between Bakugo and Luke.
It's been two weeks since then.
What truly shocked Luke was how well and fast the children were tuning themselves to this training, absorbing everything that Sand taught them.
Of course, Sand wasn't teaching them the real deal.
However, what he did teach was nothing to be scoffed at, either.
"You again stole my mobile?!" Aina gasped, pouting at Luke.
Blankly, Luke looked down and found himself fiddling with Aina's mobile, rolling it between his fingers. He was getting good at it, he realized. Very good.
Stealing had become more than a desire to him now.
It felt like an instinct; an urge.
Smiling, he returned the mobile. "Was just checking if you are alert or not?"
"Tch!" Rikuya narrowed his eyes. "No matter where you go, and how you grow up, a thief will remain a thief, I guess."
"Rikuya!" Aina hissed.
Contrary to Aina, Luke's pupils shook.
He felt a strange sensation coursing through his body.
He had already digested the Marauder's Potion, but Rikuya's loathing approval was like smoothing the topmost layer of cream on the cake.
It felt — right.
"Thank you," Luke said, shocking the twins.
…
[
Congratulations, Luke!
You are now ready to consume another Potion!
]
…
Yes, to Luke's surprise, Momo had accepted his request to create not one, but all three Inorganic Ingredients after losing a bet against him.
He knew Momo was just too smart to not pick up on these compositions.
However, he had no choice, either. All he could do was direct her thoughts toward the Saionji Group for now.
One day she would figure it out, Luke thought, walking away from his stepbrother and stepsister. Let's hope she won't hate me as much as I am expecting her to be…
Suddenly, just as Luke entered the school's main door, following Erasure Head, his Danger Intuition went haywire.
Luke snapped his head back, his blue eyes glowing beastly. What was that? It was so… different…
However, one of the journalists must have stepped in, triggering the UA Barrier defense system that barricaded the school if anyone without an ID or permit entered the school premises.
Luke shared a glance with Nyx but decided not to send her to see who was it.
Without him, she wouldn't be able to tell who it was anyway.
Outside the school, a black-wearing figure grinned.
…
Shoto Aizawa, the homeroom teacher of Class 1-A at UA High School, stared at the students in front of him with fascination.
He couldn't believe these were the same students from the Quirk Apprehension Test on their first day.
Aizawa had never believed the sudden appearance of this Dust Hero: Sand in the school.
He also didn't buy Mr. Principal's half-baked lie about Sand's background, either.
And all of it because Aizawa had met Sand before when he wasn't a teacher.
In those days, he was more of a loner, patrolling the dark alleys.
He had seen Sand in action, then, remembering the fighting style.
After losing Sand while pursuing him, Aizawa searched him extensively, finding nothing.
So, he knew this Dust Hero matter was just bullshit to cover up something much bigger.
Aizawa briefly eyed Luke and looked away.
For now, he couldn't help but accept that whatever this shady Dust Hero was doing, was in the favor of his students.
"Decent work on the Combat Training, you guys," Aizawa said after taking the roll call. "I saw the videos and results…
"You must remember that you need not become an expert in it. Learn how to infuse this training to make your control of your Quirk better. So, even if you all are learning the same thing, how it ends up should be different for all of you."
As the students contemplated his words, Aizawa stared at Bakugo.
"Bakugo, you are talented," he said. "You have improved a lot in these two weeks, but stop acting like a child. This sulking over a loss won't help you."
Bakugo tsked, looking away.
"And Midoriya," Aizawa continued, jolting the boy. "Good work on not using Quirk for this training. But the end goal should be to put the training into practice without losing your arms.
"The excuse of not being able to control your Quirk isn't enough."
Midoriya gulped. "… Yes, Sir!"
Aizawa scanned everyone again, his eyes finally resting on Luke.
"You lack consistency, Luke," he said. "One time you use excessive force. At the other time, you barely put any effort. If you don't keep improving, both physically and mentally, then your classmates will leave you behind.
"It doesn't matter how fast or stronger than you are from them right now.
"The world of Pro Heroes can't afford an inconsistent personality."
Luke matched Aizawa's eyes. He just couldn't tell his homeroom teacher that these inconsistencies stemmed from a secluded life full of traumatizing events.
However, Luke also knew that would only be an excuse.
"I will work on it, Sir," he said, nodding.
Aizawa let out a breath. "You will continue this training for the rest of the semester," he told them. "We will plan a special Combat Training under All Might next month."
"Alright!" Aizawa put the silly grin off the students' faces with a shout. "Let's get down to some serious business. This will decide your future…"
All the students focused on the homeroom teacher, remembering the Quirk Apprehension Test.
"You all need to pick a Class Representative," Aizawa said flatly.
Everyone's shoulders relaxed, finding it to be a normal school activity.
Then, of course, everyone began shouting to take responsibility.
Unlike normal schools, a Class Representative's position at UA High School made a student stand out more to the Hero Agencies, affecting their future.
"Silence!" Tenya shot to his feet. "This is a serious task. Leading others shouldn't be taken so lightly. I recommend deciding it with votes."
"Whatever," Aizawa said, sliding down in his sleeping bag. "Let me know when you are finished."
"Let's add that you cannot vote for yourself…" Luke suggested, making others nod at him.
By now, the students had interacted enough to have a good idea about each other.
When they were done, Tenya Ida counted the votes and put them on the board.
The results were as expected by everyone, but came out to be a shock to Luke.
…
Luke — 4
Momo — 3
Tenya — 2
Midoriya — 2
…
…
Wait… Luke suddenly recalled Momo mentioning it. Isn't this the day when someone broke into UA?
Then he remembered his Danger Intuition triggering this morning, a chill running down his spine.
**************
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