Chapter 39

"Good morning class," the monotone voice of our teacher, Shota Aizawa, droned into the room, an unmistakable aura of disinterest accompanying it.

My attention was drawn as Shoto Todoroki shifted his gaze towards a small group of three students – Iida, Uraraka, and someone I recognized as Tsuyu Asui.

Aizawa's voice continued, still carrying that deadened tone.

"If you're searching for friends to hang out with, do it elsewhere."

His words seemed to startle the trio, and I couldn't help but find amusement in their surprised expressions.

But that amusement was short-lived as Aizawa emerged from what appeared to be a sleeping bag, fully clad in black attire, and with what looked like a bandage wrapped around his neck.

Aizawa's eyes fell on the trio as he addressed them again, his tired voice carrying a sense of authority.

"This is the hero course."

His words cut through the air, a reminder that we were here to train and prepare for a life of heroics. I couldn't help but appreciate the seriousness that permeated his demeanor.

"It took you guys ten seconds to calm down,"

Aizawa continued, his critical gaze sweeping over the room.

"Time is limited. You all need to be more rational."

The lecture was unrelenting, a reminder that this wasn't a game but a path towards becoming true heroes.

Aizawa's tired gaze swept across the room, his eyes holding a perpetual weariness that seemed to match his deadpan voice.

"I am your homeroom teacher, Aizawa Shota. Nice to meet you,"

he continued with the same uninterested tone that seemed to be his trademark.

UA Academy was known for having pro heroes as part of its teaching staff, but it was evident that Aizawa wasn't one to embrace the pomp and show of heroism.

Aizawa produced a tracksuit from the podium, displaying it to the class. "Put these on and head out to the field,"

he instructed, handing out tracksuits to everyone. The comfort of the fabric wasn't lost on me – it was well-designed and clearly crafted with careful consideration.

The reputation of UA as the premier hero training school didn't seem like an exaggeration.

As we geared up, we finally made our way to the field, the whole class now adorned in the tracksuits.

I found my place beside lida, who appeared to be engaged in a conversation with a girl named Mina Ashido, known for her vibrant pink hair.

Their chatter ceased abruptly as Aizawa's gaze settled on us, an indication that Momo was, at last, expanding her social circle.

"Today will be your Quirk apprehension test," Aizawa's voice cut through the air, and he turned away from us. His back faced the class as he continued, his posture reflecting his disinterest.

"A quirk apprehension? What happened to the orientation?" Ochako Uraraka piped up, curiosity evident in her round face.

Orientation? This is the hero course. We don't have time for unnecessary ceremonies,"

Aizawa's response was as lackluster as ever.

"We aren't like other schools. Here, you'll be training to improve your quirks. That's where our focus lies, not in those ceremonies,"

he stated, his tone unaffected by the expectations of formalities.

Following the canon, Aizawa called upon Katsuki Bakugo to demonstrate his Quirk's utilization by throwing a ball with explosive force, complete with his customary villain-esque battle cry of "DIE."

The display was met with the expected mix of shock and amazement from the students, who were witnessing their classmates' unique abilities for the first time.

Aizawa then deactivated Katsuki's Quirk to underline the contrast between regular individuals and those of us with Quirks.

It was at this juncture that Aizawa added an unexpected twist, proclaiming,

"The student who comes in last will be expelled."

Panic rippled through the class, but I remained unruffled.

Glancing to my side, I noticed that Momo Yaoyorozu also appeared unaffected.

The first challenge was the 50-meter dash, an activity that wasn't exactly my forte.

Recalling my approach in the UA High recommendation exam, I held back my power.

The 50-meter dash yielded a respectable 4th place for me – a result I considered quite decent. a gaze met mine, and I turned to find Shota Aizawa observing me.

He must have discerned that I was holding back, but I wasn't concerned.

The old man couldn't fault me for it, especially considering my performance mirrored that of the UA High Recommendation Exam.

Following the dash, it was time for the grip strength assessment.

Mezo Shoji displayed impressive strength.

I could have easily shattered the machine if I'd desired, but I questioned the merit.

In this test of grip strength, I secured 5th place. Not a standout performance, but that was exactly what I aimed for.

But there might be those who'd label me a scaredy-cat or speculate that the FBI had its eyes on me due to my power concealment.

Honestly, why would I exert myself to clinch first place in a test that ultimately held no substantive value in the grand scheme of things?

I preferred to strategically utilize my performance, allowing me to maintain a low profile until the USJ incident, where my abilities would truly come into play.

Regardless of any offers or opportunities that came my way, my sights were firmly set on securing an internship with my focus.. hmh o-on momo

The standing long jump was up next. Momo surprisingly secured the first place in this one, followed by Bakugo.

Momo's clever use of some spring-like objects helped her clear the sandbox effortlessly. I didn't recall her performance being showcased in the anime, but no matter.

As for me, well, I managed to land myself within the designated box, though I didn't concern myself too much with my ranking. I occupied the7th spot, not that it held any significance for me.

Following that came the repeated side steps. I couldn't help but think of a certain bald-headed hero in a yellow suit who would've excelled at this.

But alas, I wasn't him, and neither were my fellow students.

That's precisely why I ended up snagging the 2nd position.

I had a vague recollection that the purple-haired, perverted midget from the anime performed exceptionally in this one.

Anyway, 1st place went to Iida, and I managed to secure 2nd.

I couldn't help but attribute my proficiency to Carmine's little exercise – if he hadn't given it to me, I probably wouldn't have performed so well.

And Momo claimed the 3rd spot

The grand finale was upon us – the ball throw. I figured I should put in a decent effort here. Observing Ochako launching the ball into the stratosphere with her zero-gravity Quirk, I couldn't help but ponder the creative possibilities it offered in various situations... like, well, never mind that.

As the ball landed in my hands, I couldn't resist the urge to give it a little extra oomph, thanks to my newfound powers.

I pulled my arm back, utilizing my abilities to their fullest. Upon release, the ball not only shattered the sound barrier but sailed off into the distance with remarkable speed.

I glanced around at the startled expressions of my fellow students and Aizawa. Some gazed at me in admiration, which was exactly what I had hoped to avoid.

Attention from both the emo half-half brooder and the aspiring villain? Not exactly on my to-do list.

My result came in at a whopping 1,275 meters. Pretty impressive, I supposed – likely enough for me to clinch the second position in this test.

With the ball throw completed, it seemed the day's tests had come to an end.

Aizawa's voice broke the lingering tension as he announced,

"We're done for today. Don't forget to collect your curriculum handouts from the classroom before you leave."