Morning sunlight poured through the tall windows of U.A. High's Class 1-A classroom, casting warm streaks across desks and notebooks. Shin Karasuma leaned back in his chair, arms folded behind his head, watching his classmates file in one by one.
Yuki Takamine kicked the door open with her usual flair, practically bouncing in. "Mornin', nerds!" she called.
"Too loud, Yuki…" Toma mumbled, dragging his feet behind her. His shirt was only halfway tucked in, steel-blue eyes barely open. "Sun's too bright…"
Shiro Hanabusa was already in his seat, back straight, hands neatly folded on the desk. He offered Shin a slight nod as he entered.
"Good morning," Midoriya greeted, smiling brightly as he entered, notebook in hand. "Today's going to be fun! I think we're doing more than just lectures!"
"Oh?" Shin arched a brow, already guessing what was coming next.
Sure enough, Aizawa entered the room, burrito-wrapped in his sleeping bag and grumbling as usual. "Settle down. We have an announcement before today's practical."
The class quickly quieted, eyes forward.
Aizawa blinked lazily at them. "We need to choose a class president."
Excited murmurs filled the air immediately.
"A class prez, huh?" Kaminari said, tapping his chin. "Kinda a big deal!"
"I'd be a great pick!" Mina declared, throwing up peace signs. "I've got style and spirit!"
"You need someone with a strong moral compass!" Iida stood, hand raised dramatically. "Someone who can lead with honor and justice!"
"Someone who won't yell across the room first thing in the morning," muttered Shoji.
Yuki threw up her hand. "I vote for myself!"
"You can't vote yet," Sero said with a laugh. "We haven't even started!"
Aizawa let out a sigh. "Each of you will vote for two people. Democracy. Just do it quickly—I want a nap."
A few minutes later, after lots of scribbling and side-glances…
Aizawa announced the results. "Midoriya… three votes. Momo Yaoyorozu… two votes. They're the top two."
"W-Wait, me?!" Midoriya stammered, blinking. "Why would—"
"I voted for you," Shin said simply, giving him a small smile.
"Same here!" Yuki added cheerfully. "You'd be a great class nerd-leader!"
"I didn't vote," Toma muttered. "But if I had, maybe I would've."
"You're calm under pressure," Shiro added from his seat. "It makes sense."
Midoriya's ears turned a little pink.
Yaoyorozu stood with grace. "If we're to have a vice president as well, I'll do my best."
Aizawa mumbled, "Fine. Midoriya's president, Yaoyorozu's vice. Don't let it go to your head."
Class soon resumed as normal, but Shin noticed Midoriya's nervous energy. He leaned over during a lull.
"You alright?" he asked quietly.
Midoriya rubbed the back of his neck. "I just… don't know if I'm cut out to lead. I mean, I'm still working on controlling—"
"You're doing great," Shin interrupted firmly. "You've got more control than you think. And you're stronger than most already."
Midoriya gave him a small smile, more genuine now. "Thanks, Shin."
---
Later – U.A. Cafeteria
The cafeteria buzzed with energy—lunch trays clattered, conversations bounced between students, and food vanished at light speed. Shin, Yuki, Toma, Shiro, and Midoriya sat around a corner table.
"Have you guys tried the melon bread?" Yuki asked, mouth full. "This is criminally good."
"Could use more caffeine," Toma yawned, nursing a tall iced coffee like it was life-saving medicine.
Shiro quietly ate his soba, watching the room with his usual calm.
Midoriya was mid-bite when suddenly—
BWAAA! BWAAA! BWAAA!
A loud, blaring alarm cut through the cafeteria, followed by flashing red lights. Screams and shouts erupted almost instantly.
"Emergency alert!" someone cried. "Something's happening at the gate!"
Students rushed toward the exits in a panic, chairs scraping, trays flying.
Shin stood immediately, eyes narrowing. "Everyone, calm down. We don't even know what it is yet."
Yuki grabbed her lunch tray. "Should I weaponize the bread?!"
"No," Shiro said softly, already slipping toward the wall to avoid the crowd.
"Midoriya, stay close," Shin said as the class tried to move as a group.
But the crowd was too thick, the panic spreading like wildfire.
"Move! Get out of the way!" Kaminari shouted as people pushed and shoved.
"This is chaos!" Iida barked. "We need order!"
Shin planted his feet near the door, holding an arm out to keep his friends from getting pulled into the tide of bodies.
"Let me try something," Iida said, face determined. "If I can get to the front, I can calm them down!"
Midoriya nodded. "I'll go too. You'll need backup."
Shin gave them a look—searching, thoughtful—then nodded. "Be careful."
---
Minutes Later
Eventually, the crowd began to settle.
The truth filtered back quickly: it wasn't a villain attack. It was the press. A swarm of reporters had somehow breached the front gate.
Shin stood near a window, watching as security herded them back.
"That's it?" Yuki huffed. "The press?! I was ready to throw down."
Toma flopped into a chair. "They nearly caused a stampede. For a headline…"
Shiro returned from his scouting. "No threats. But the school's security isn't flawless."
Midoriya returned, slightly out of breath. "We're good. Iida helped calm everyone down."
Iida came in behind him, nodding with pride.
"You might've just earned that class rep spot after all," Shin said with a smirk.
Midoriya laughed sheepishly. "You think so?"
Yaoyorozu smiled. "Your calm helped. Iida's presence too. It was a good team effort."
Aizawa finally appeared, scowling. "Good reflexes, class. But don't let your guard down again. You're U.A. students now. Act like it."
As they filed back to class, Shin glanced out the window again, the image of the press burned into his mind.
One For All is still a secret… but the world is watching. And it's only going to get harder from here.
*******
Evening fell gently over Musutafu, the sun casting long shadows over rooftops and school grounds. The city lights blinked on one by one as students made their way home from U.A., the chaos of the cafeteria incident now fading into tired chatter and clinking train doors.
Shin Karasuma walked alone, hands in his pockets, his thoughts louder than the traffic around him. Yuki had sprinted off for snacks, Toma had likely passed out on the train, and Shiro... well, he vanished like usual. Midoriya waved goodbye a few blocks back, still flustered from the unexpected attention.
But Shin's mind wasn't on the election, or the press, or even Midoriya's rising confidence.
It was on what was coming next.
The USJ attack.
He knew it was close.
---
Home was quiet. Cozy. Familiar.
"Welcome back!" his mom called from the kitchen, her voice bright as ever.
"Hey, Mom," Shin replied, forcing a smile as he dropped his bag by the door. "Smells good."
"Dinner's almost ready," his dad called from the living room, remote in hand. "How was school? Did you punch any walls again?"
Shin snorted. "Just one. It was made of ice."
"Atta boy."
He gave them a small wave and headed upstairs to his room. He wasn't in the mood to talk much—not yet.
---
Shin collapsed onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. His room was neat, organized, his weights in the corner, a few old All Might posters still stuck to the wall. The electric buzz of the city filtered in through his open window, but it was quiet here. Too quiet for what he was thinking.
He exhaled.
"I know the USJ attack is close. The League of Villains… Shigaraki… Kurogiri. It's not just a training exercise. It's a battlefield."
He turned on his side, staring at the faint reflection of himself in the window.
"This isn't fiction anymore. I can't just sit back and let canon happen. If I do nothing… people will get hurt. Yuki could get hurt. Aizawa, Thirteen—this could go bad fast."
The faint hum of lightning began to crackle at his fingertips. He quickly closed his hand into a fist and pressed it against his chest, grounding himself.
His mind drifted to the quiet promise he made not too long ago—one he hadn't even spoken aloud to anyone but himself.
"I told them… I told my parents I'd become the strongest hero. Not for the fame. Not for the glory. But so I could protect everything. Them. My friends. My classmates. This world."
He sat up slowly, the soft glow of the city casting long shadows across his desk. A photo rested near his books—him, in his U.A. uniform, smiling with his parents on orientation day.
His mom, always supportive, always proud. His dad, teasing but serious when it counted.
They believe in me.
And Shin clenched his fist tighter.
"I'm not just going to watch history repeat itself. I'll protect my class. I'll protect Yuki, I'll protect my friends. I'll fight with everything I've got. Even if no one else knows what's coming, I do."
He walked to the window and let the night air hit his face. Below, the city was still awake—buzzing, unaware of the storm looming on the horizon.
Blue sparks flickered up his arm, buzzing against his skin.
"I'll change the story. I'll become the strongest hero in this world. For them."
And with that thought, he turned back toward his bed, his eyes sharper than before.
Tomorrow, whatever it brought—he'd be ready.