24 Names and choices

'Today we get to create our hero names and choose our apprenticeships. I wonder if I can ever meet Crimson Riot. How to use my future knowledge is something I need to think about.

I think it should be alright to drop things anonymously through the Hero Helpline. Hmm, I'll need to learn about computers and stuff so I won't fall into the light.

I don't know why, but I feel it'll be bad if I say, "I think I lived a life where this was an anime and know a lot about the future." Yeah, that would not be the best for me, Eijiro thought, walking out of his house.

The name Red riot felt right to him, and he hoped that Crimson was still on hero duty to get his consent, though he didn't need to. He wanted to talk to his hero.

'I can always send a letter as a fan... I should do that. Oddly, it isn't raining like it is in the anime. Guess not everything is the same.'

Eiji shook the thought away as he waited at the stop lights for Mina. Seeing her run towards him, he smiled.

Eijiro, "Hey Mina!" smiled.

Mina giggled, not slowing down. "Catch me!" She ran faster towards him and jumped.

"Woah! Wait," he caught her in time, "please tell me you will not do that every time?"

Smiling, she giggled and kissed his cheek. "Morning."

"Good morning to you, too."

Placing her down, the two went off to UA together. Talking about lesser things, from heroes to homework and lessons. They had to stop a few times to be recognised. Eiji found it fun interacting with people and even got a smooch from a grandmother.

"Uh." He shivered as they walked away.

Mina, however, was laughing at the picture she took: "Hihi, hahaha, oh, this is amazing!" She laughed at the picture, 'and saved and sent it for another time.'

Eijiro pouted slightly.

"Aw, don't be upset, Eiji. Do you want me to kiss you instead?" She said this, getting up close to his face.

Wiping his cheek, he rolled his eyes. "That's not the point. The point is that you are laughing. Anyway, I'm sure Crimson Riot must've seen the Hero Festival as well. Hopefully, it makes it easier to contact him."

'I also realised it now, but I was as strong as I am right now against Todoroki. I'm pretty sure I could wipe the floor with him. I might be the strongest in the class right now,' the thought bubbled to the surface as he clenched his fists.

"Are you going to contact your hero?" Mina asked, remembering that he was his favourite hero from a previous conversation.

Grinning, he nodded and said, "Yeah, I'm going to send him a fan letter. Hopefully, he reads it and responds. If not, I can see if Mr Aizawa sensei can help," Eiji said with hopeful laughter.

The thought of a nervous Eiji trying to write a personal letter entered her mind and made her giggle. "I hope it turns out well."

...

[Class 1A]

"Guys, you won't believe it, but a grandmother kissed Eijiro for winning the tournament. Haha, it was hilarious. Look, I took a picture!"

Sero sighed in his seat. "Now I don't feel so bad being told, "Nice try," by those kids. I still feel pretty bad."

Mineta, hearing kissing, asked, "Did any babies kiss you for coming in the first place?"

"No," Eiji answered flatly.

"Tch, zero game," Mineta sulked, turning his head.

As the class filled up, everyone talked about how, for one day, they became the centre of attention. The moment Aizawa entered, they shut up.

He greeted the class and explained there was something special planned for today. Everyone was curious; Kaminari was mostly worried that it was a surprise quiz.

"Today you'll be creating your hero names." He said soon the class erupted with excitement before his glare shut them up.

"This is related to the draught nominations by pro heroes; it is more of a measure of interest for your future. It'll only be important when your abilities are judged during your senior years. And it's not common for interest to dry up and nominations to be revoked," he said, pressing a remote as a grid appeared behind him.

He said that usually, they were more balanced, but "this year most of the attention is on you two."

[Todoroki]-[4,560] [Kirishima]-[4,132]

"Damn," Mina said, surprised.

Eijiro was also expecting a large number, but this was a surprise. Bakugo seethed, "Why the fuck do I only have three thousand!?"

"Because you came in third place?" Eiji answered him.

"Also, maybe because they put you in a straight jacket," Sero added, "If I were a pro, I'd think twice before bringing you in."

"Those pros clearly cannot see that I am the most dazzling," Aoyama said.

"Yeah, that's why," Mina said behind him, "though I didn't think I'd catch the eye of any hero, 103? I'm pretty proud."

Those whose names didn't appear on the board expressed worry, but Aizawa added that regardless of the nominations, they would place everyone in "work experience."

"You've already experienced what it's like to face villains, but you'll gain better experience by seeing a pro in action, which is why the names. Of course, placeholder names are fine too, but of course, they have to be something appropriate."

"Otherwise!" A feminine voice cut him off, and everyone turned to the door and said, "It'll be hell from here on out!"

The voice belonged to none other than "midnight!" Mineta shouted in shock.

"The names you pick now will cement your place in the world. Most times, they stay that way after becoming pros." She winked at the class before walking in.

'... I need to get strong quickly enough to fight Gigantomachia and save her, but I've already changed the future. Whether it's enough to save her from that fate doesn't change the fact I need to get stronger,' Eijiro's spirit shined as the class continued.

Aizawa left with his sleeping bag. The class now belonged to Midnight. Everyone thought about it and wrote their names on their boards. Eijiro's was the same. He smiled at the name.

'Red riot, the unbreakable and unstoppable will hero, a pillar, like Allmight,' he nodded to himself.

One by one, everyone came up to write and reveal their hero names. Of course, some people have unique ideas.

"I cannot stop twinkling!" Aoyama was the first.

"My mind immediately went to I cannot stop twerking," Mineta said aloud, his words stabbing at Aoyama's heart.

And then Mina said, "Mine's the alien queen!"

"Why am I not surprised?" Eiji chuckled as she sat back down. 'Maybe she loved the idea.'

Next was Tsuyu and her hero named Froppy," who got a pass from Midnight, giving everyone more confidence.

Then it was him. His name got positive remarks from everyone. "Red riot, huh? I see you're paying homage to Crimson Riot?" Midnight asked.

"Yep, I'm planning to send him a letter to see if I can get his consent, although I don't need it. I want to meet him," he said with a smile.

"Well then, I'm sure he'll be proud to know someone is inheriting his hero name. You better be prepared for the pressure that comes along with it." She said with an approving smile, 'I'm pretty sure I can call Crimson Rift for him. It'll be a pleasant surprise.'

Like that, everyone went up with their names. It was honestly all fun, "Pinky!" Mina went with the obvious, which worked for her, but the biggest surprise was

"KING EXPLOSION MURDER!"

Yeah, Bakugo, it took a while of convincing, but he used his name as a placeholder after mashing every violent word in the dictionary together for his hero name.

Almost everyone was ready, leaving only Midoriya, who went with Deku, and Iida, who used his name as a placeholder.

Aizawa returned from his brief nap with a list for everyone, a specialised list for those nominated, and another for those who weren't.

"Pick one. All these places offer good work. Your field training will be one week long. Make sure the choice you've made is one you are content with."

"Man, this is a lot," Eiji said, feeling the thick list. A hundred and fourteen sheets. Thankfully, they were split into categories by Aizawa, making it easier for him.

"Turn them back in by the end of the week," Aizawa said, leaving class.

As he did, he glanced at Iida. 'Finding the right words is going to be hard.'

...

The time flew by pretty quickly. By the time school finished, those with only forty choices had made their decision about her experience. Eijiro was currently going through all the combat-related opportunities.

From low-income urban locations with high violent activity to cities with high crime rates, he had a lot of options, but he knew where he might end up.

If what he plans to do doesn't pay out, but if it does, then he could easily change. That's why he hadn't handed his sheet in yet. There were several high-ranking heroes on the list. One that he wanted to learn from.

As everyone got up to leave, he went to Mina. Hey, Mina, I need to do something, and I could use your help," he said, looking to Iida, who was packing up.

After a few moments of explaining, Mina nodded, knowing what she had to do. "Alright," she smiled and pulled out her phone.

As that time flew by, Eijiro was waiting by the academy gates. He looked at the falling sun, enjoying the view. Footsteps reached his ears, and he turned to face Iida. "Hey Iida," he said with a comforting smile.

Standing in front of him with a surprised face, Iida replied, "Kirishima?"

This was going to be heavy.