[The next day, 12:00 PM]
"For today's basic training exercise… it has been decided that you'll be split into tjhree teams, each led by myself, All Might, and one other individual," my father announced casually.
One student eagerly raised their hand high in the air.
"Sensei! What exactly are we going to be doing?" they asked, voicing the curiosity shared by many of us.
"You'll be learning how to become the kind of hero the world needs—always ready in the face of floods or other disasters. This will be a rescue training exercise," Father replied, embedding the purpose into our minds.
"Rescue training? This sounds like it's going to be tough…" one student mumbled, looking visibly discouraged.
Ashido turned sharply, pumping her fist beside her with fiery enthusiasm.
"Exactly!" she said.
"C'mon, dummy! That's what being a hero's all about, right?! I'm fired up just thinking about it!" Kirishima chimed in behind her.
Meanwhile, Father stood in silence, his expression unreadable—calm, yet cold. Then, in a single breath...
"Don't get cocky."
His words struck like a thunderclap, cutting through the chatter and instantly silencing the room. All eyes snapped back to him, tension thick in the air.
"As I've said before, everything depends on whether or not you're wearing your costumes. Some of them may not be suited for the task or the environment you'll face this time."
No one spoke. We simply listened, nodding quietly.
"The training area is quite a distance away," he added after a moment. "We'll be taking a bus there. Get ready quickly."
***
Now… I walked toward the bus, wearing my hero costume. My pace was relaxed, hands casually resting behind my neck.
"Still wearing that ancient thing, huh?"
I turned toward the voice and saw Yaoyorozu walking beside me, shooting me a smug, disdainful look.
"Hey, this is my signature style, you know? Better than your outfit, which is just an excuse to show off your chest."
Yaoyorozu's eyes widened instantly, her face flushing a deep red as she quickly crossed her arms over her chest.
"Y-you pervert! I didn't think you were this shameless! Besides, this costume was designed to work with my Quirk—not just to look cool like yours!"
I chuckled, not even trying to hide it.
"Still better than a walking wardrobe malfunction."
Her face turned even redder, but now there was a clear edge of irritation in her expression.
"Stop saying that! Just you wait—I'll crush you in this training session, no matter how powerful your Quirk is! You'll see!!!" she snapped, storming off toward the bus in a flustered fury.
"…Jeez. I was only joking," I muttered to myself.
Now… all of us sat inside the bus, facing each other with smiles on our faces.
"So this is what the bus looks like?!" Ashido exclaimed cheerfully, her voice full of energy.
A few students let out soft chuckles, clearly lifted by her excitement. Her mood was infectious.
"Hey… Midoriya, I always say what's on my mind, no matter what."
The voice came from a girl in a frog-themed costume—Tsuyu Asui.
"Ah?! H-hi, Asui!" Midoriya stammered, clearly caught off guard and flustered.
Tsuyu turned to face him with her usual calm, expressionless gaze.
"Your Quirk… it reminds me of All Might's," she said, completely straightforward and unapologetic.
Midoriya jolted, almost shouting in surprise.
"R-really? B-but actually, my Quirk isn't—"
Before he could finish, Kirishima cut in, his tone loud and spirited.
"Hold on, Asui! All Might never gets hurt! That's the difference!" he grinned, baring his sharp teeth as he turned to Midoriya.
"To be honest, I'm a little jealous. My Hardening ability is solid in battle, sure, but it's not exactly flashy."
I glanced around, quietly listening to their conversation flow freely.
"If we're talking flashy and powerful, you can't leave out Bakugo, Todoroki, or Aizawa, right?" Asui added without hesitation.
I turned gently and offered a small, sincere smile.
"Flashy, huh? I think Todoroki and Bakugo are way more impressive than me."
Kirishima squinted, clearly annoyed.
"Yeah, right. Says the guy who traumatized Present Mic," he muttered.
A wave of laughter rippled through the bus, while Bakugo just clicked his tongue and turned away, scowling.
"Well, if we're being honest, Aizawa's Quirk is still the strongest here," Ashido chirped brightly.
"I've said it before—it's not exactly efficient," I replied.
Midoriya chuckled under his breath.
"How could we not think that way, when none of your explanations ever make any logical sense?"
Off to the side, Yaoyorozu sat quietly, covering her mouth with a hand. She muttered softly to herself,
"What a vulgar conversation…"