Izuku looked in amazement as green electricity crackled around him as he smirked."Yes."
"Deku." A venomous voice said.
The venom in that one word made several students tense. Izuku barely had time to turn before a figure stormed toward him, eyes blazing with unfiltered rage hand stretched as explosions crackled.
"Huh?" someone muttered, confused by the sudden aggression as they turned to Bakugou who lunged forward.
"TELL ME HOW YOU DID THAT, YOU DAMN NERD—!" Explosions crackled before being snuffed out.
Aizawa’s capture weapon wrapped around Bakugou mid-charge, locking his arms and halting his movement instantly. His body jerked to a stop, frustration twisting his features as he struggled against the bindings.
"What... the hell?!" Bakugou gritted out, thrashing against the restraints. "Why’s your damn scarf so strong?!"
Aizawa’s expression was nothing short of deadly. His glowing red eyes bore into Bakugou with a silent, seething authority. His hair floated, the full force of Eraserhead now staring Bakugou down.
"Because it’s a capture weapon," Aizawa answered coldly. "Made from carbon fiber and a special metal alloy. And right now, it’s keeping you from making a very stupid mistake."
Bakugou froze, his jaw locking tight.
Aizawa didn’t blink. "Stand down. I’ll let this slide once—but if you ever attack another student, on or off campus, I’ll expel you. Understood?"
For the first time, Bakugou hesitated. No one—not a single person—had ever shut him down like that before. Not his teachers, not his classmates, no one had ever drawn a clear line when it came to how he treated Deku.
And now, here he was, tied up like a wild animal, being told to back down.
Aizawa’s stare bore into him.
Slowly, reluctantly, Bakugou stopped struggling. Aizawa waited a beat longer before releasing him, the capture weapon retracting with a smooth flick of his wrist.
Bakugou staggered slightly, but his expression was unreadable.
Izuku watched him for a brief moment before walking past.
.....
Izuku wasted no time diving into the remaining tests, his body still thrumming with energy from his earlier sprint. With each challenge, he pushed himself further, shocking everyone who had so easily written him off as dead last.
When he reached the Grip Strength Test, the class expected an unimpressive result—until a loud crack split the air.
The machine sputtered, its screen flashing with error messages before it completely crumpled in his grip. The metal casing bent inward, crushed beyond recognition.
Ben and Rex chuckled."Join the club."
A stunned silence followed.
Aizawa sighed, rubbing his temples. "Great. That’s coming out of UA’s budget."
Next was the Standing Long Jump, and Izuku didn’t disappoint. He launched himself forward, green lightning sparking at his feet as he cleared an impressive distance—landing just behind two of the strongest Rex and Ben.
.....
Ben suddenly found a softball tossed his way, just as Izuku caught one from Aizawa.
"Uh… what's this for?" Ben asked, brows furrowing in confusion.
"Tennyson already went, Mr. Aizawa," Iida pointed out, adjusting his glasses. "Is this some kind of additional test?"
Aizawa’s gaze hardened, eyes locking onto Ben. "I’ll admit I was wrong about Midoriya," he said bluntly. "But I wasn’t wrong about you. You haven’t been taking these tests seriously." His tone was sharp, leaving no room for argument.
Ben's lips parted slightly, but he didn't try to deny it outright. It was just some dumb test, right? Did it really matter that much?
Still, he chose not to mouth off. "I-I have been taking this seriously…" he muttered, though even he didn’t sound convinced.
Aizawa’s eyes narrowed. "Oh yeah? Prove it."
The class fell silent, all eyes shifting to Bakugou.
The moment Ben heard the low growl, he knew trouble was brewing.
"That damn nerd and his transforming bastard sidekick..." Bakugou snarled through clenched teeth. His hands sparked with volatile explosions, his body trembling with barely restrained rage. "IF YOU’RE NOT GONNA TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY, THEN GET THE HELL OUT! WE DON’T NEED DAMN CHEATS LIKE YOU!"
"Cheat?" Iida repeated, utterly appalled. "How dare you accuse a fellow U.A. student of something as dishonorable as cheating, you scoundrel!Such blasphemy cannot be condoned!"
Bakugou’s crimson eyes burned with unfiltered fury. "Oh yeah, four-eyes? You weren’t there when this jackass used the zero pointer as a goddamn magnet to draw in all the other bots. He rigged the whole test in his favor like a smug piece of—"
The class collectively turned toward Ben, curiosity flickering in their gazes.
Momo’s eyes widened slightly, the strategist in her immediately dissecting the claim. "Wait... he turned a zero pointer into a magnet? That’s… actually ingenious. But how? Was it a Quirk-based electromagnetic field? A form of—"
"Tennyson." Aizawa's voice sliced through the growing murmur. "Throw."
His sharp glare swept over the class. "Everyone else, shut up."
Ben’s eye twitched as he pressed the Omnitrix’s button, the device’s faceplate popping up with a familiar hum. His fingers danced over the interface, rapidly scrolling through options before settling on his choice.
“Alright… time to go hero.”
With a decisive slam, the Omnitrix flared to life, bathing the training grounds in a blinding emerald glow. The students shielded their eyes as the transformation took hold. When the light receded, a towering, four-armed figure now stood in Ben’s place.
Four Arms cracked his knuckles, rolling his shoulders as he tested his immense strength.
“Alright! Time to send this thing into orbit! Will Tennyson knock it out of the park?!” he boomed, his deep voice carrying across the field.
The class watched in awe as he stepped to the throwing line, the earth subtly trembling under his weight. His legs coiled like loaded springs, and with a ground-shaking stomp, he anchored himself in place.
"Let’s see how far you’ll go!" Four Arms roared, his muscles coiling like steel cables as he snapped his arm forward with a FA PHOOM!
The ball exploded from his grip like a cannon shot, tearing through the sky at blistering speed. A thunderous sonic boom erupted in its wake, shaking the ground and kicking up a thick cloud of dust behind him.
Bakugou’s scowl deepened, his teeth grinding audibly. "Tch... damn bastard."
Todoroki narrowed his eyes, watching as the ball vanished into the endless blue.
"You wanted me to go all out huh teach?"
His knees bent, muscles tensing like coiled steel before he launched himself into the sky. The ground cracked beneath him from the sheer force of his leap, sending another wave of dust outward. Students shielded their eyes from the debris as he ascended higher and higher.
"Holy crap, he can jump that high?!" Kirishima shouted.
Tsuyu’s usually neutral expression shifted to wide-eyed amazement as Four Arms soared overhead, his massive form silhouetted against the sky.
Then, at the peak of his jump, he reeled back all four of his arms. His muscles tensed, veins bulging as he clapped his hands together with devastating force.
BOOM!
The shockwave tore through the training grounds like a thunderclap from the heavens.
Aizawa held onto his scarf as a powerful gust threatened to knock him back. Mineta was sent tumbling, only for Shoji to catch him with his extra arms. Kyoka winced, quickly covering her ears as the explosive sound reverberated through the field.
The students struggled to stay upright as the air pressure alone sent their hair whipping wildly.
The ball tore through the sky like a blazing comet, its sheer velocity ripping through a dense cloud with the force of a bullet. A gaping hole was left in its wake, sunlight pouring through the breach like a spotlight shining down on the stunned students below.
“Holy shit…” Kyoka muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Izuku, along with the rest of the class, stood wide-eyed, their heads still tilted skyward as the ball vanished beyond the horizon.
A heavy silence settled over the field. No one moved. No one spoke. The only sound was the wind rustling through the grass, as if even nature itself had been left breathless.
"...So, uh," Kaminari finally spoke, still staring upward, "what’s the maximum distance on this test?"
The ground shattered as Four Arms landed, the impact splintering the dirt beneath his feet. He straightened up, rolling his massive shoulders before flashing a smirk.
"How’s that?" he said casually, as if the throw had been nothing more than a warm-up.
The students erupted in excitement, quickly surrounding the towering alien.
"Dude, that was insane! That’s All Might level strength!" Kirishima gawked.
"And those four arms are seriously cool—you’re like a muscular, red octopus!" Kaminari added, waving his hands enthusiastically.
"How many Quirks do you have?!" Sero blurted.
Mina beamed up at him, eyes glimmering. "Your eyes kinda look like mine, but damn, that was one hell of a throw!"
"I think that throw just beat my own!" Ochako grinned, bouncing on her feet.
Four Arms chuckled, his usual bravado faltering as a deep red blush crept up his face. The attention was almost overwhelming. He rubbed the back of his neck with one of his lower arms. "Uh… thanks."
Aizawa, meanwhile, looked down at the test device in his hand, his usual tired gaze flickering with something unreadable. The result flashed on the screen:
150,000 meters.
A stunned silence fell over the class.
"WHAT?!" Kaminari yelped, practically falling over.
Momo, however, calmly cupped her chin in thought. "That’s 50,000 meters more than his last recorded score. Impressive."
"Indeed," Iida nodded firmly.
Across the field, Bakugou’s expression contorted into sheer rage, his teeth grinding audibly.
But Rex, standing nearby, only smirked. "Alright, let me retake the throw. I’ll blow Tennyson’s score out of the water."
Four Arms folded his lower set of arms, smirking. "Oh yeah? Psh. Please. You wouldn’t even get half my score."
Rex scoffed. "Wanna bet, red, dumb, and ugly?"
"Sorry, robot boy, I don’t speak beep boop," Four Arms shot back, waving his hands in exaggerated mechanical gestures.
"Hey," Aizawa interjected, his tone flat and unimpressed. "Cut the gawking. We still have more tests to do."
That was enough to refocus everyone. The Quirk Apprehension Test wasn’t proceeding normally anymore. Now, two of their classmates had thrown off the entire curve.
Aizawa turned toward Izuku. "Midoriya."
Izuku jolted upright, startled, before stepping forward and grabbing the ball. He took slow, measured steps toward the splintered ground where Four Arms had thrown his.
His grip tightened. He knew he could get a good score—but was "decent" really enough? His gaze flicked toward Ben just as he tapped the Omnitrix, engulfing himself in a bright green flash. In an instant, Four Arms was gone, replaced by a smirking, confident Ben standing back in his usual spot.
And just beyond him, the scoreboard displayed that overwhelming 150,000-meter mark.
Izuku’s grip on the ball tightened even further.
Ben was so much like him—once Quirkless, suddenly given power beyond anything they could have imagined. But unlike Izuku, Ben ran forward with absolute confidence. No hesitation. No second-guessing.
Meanwhile, Izuku felt like he was crawling, still looking at Ben’s back.
I need a good score... just like Ben's! No way I'm settling for less!
Electricity crackled across his body, green sparks of One For All dancing along his arms like flickering flames.
Bakugou scoffed, arms crossed, watching with narrowed eyes. "Tch."
Aizawa observed him carefully, unimpressed yet expectant.
Izuku inhaled sharply, reeling his arm back. His muscles tensed. Sparks of energy surged as he pushed everything he had into a single, explosive motion—
With a mighty snap, the ball shot into the sky, leaving a visible streak in its wake.
Aizawa glanced down at his device, unimpressed but still giving a slight nod."237 meters—"
Aizawa barely had time to read the result before Izuku moved.
His body tensed like a coiled spring, and with an explosive burst of energy, he launched himself into the air.
Gasps rang out across the field as he shot skyward, twisting his body midair with practiced control. Green electricity crackled violently around him, surging down his arm like a raging storm. Beneath the glow, veins pulsed red-hot along his fingers, the sheer force of his power making them throb.
‘I just need to use 100% in my finger… If I can just replicate what Four Arms did…!'
His eyes locked onto the ball as his heartbeat slowed, every muscle tensing with precision.
His arm snapped forward.
"100%!!!"
The snap of his finger detonated like a bomb.
A thunderous shockwave erupted outward, the sheer force cratering the ground beneath him. The ball shot forward like a meteor, instantly breaking the sound barrier with an ear-splitting BOOM!
The air around the students howled, a deafening roar of wind pressure blasting outward. Dust and debris kicked up in a swirling tempest, forcing them to shield their eyes. Some barely managed to keep their footing as the shockwave hit like a tidal wave, forcing even the sturdier ones to dig their heels into the ground.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! With each ascent, the ball shattered the sound barrier, leaving behind rippling shockwaves that echoed through the sky.
The ball tore through the sky, its speed so intense that it left behind a spiraling trail of air distortion. Within seconds, it had vanished from sight.
Rex instinctively braced himself, eyes wide with disbelief. "What the hell was that?!"
"He can throw like that?!" Kaminari shouted, his voice barely audible over the lingering wind.
Bakugou stood frozen, his hands clenched into trembling fists. His crimson eyes burned with something between fury and disbelief as the wind battered against him.
"Deku…" he snarled.
The wind finally began to die down, leaving behind a stunned silence. leaving only a thick cloud of dust hanging over the field.
Midoriya landed with a heavy thud, his breathing ragged, his arm trembling. He looked down at his hand—his finger was already swelling, bent unnaturally.
""Whoa, talk about one hell of a throw..." Ben muttered, still watching the sky as if expecting the ball to come crashing back down from orbit.
Ochako pumped her fists in excitement. "Yeah! Deku’s really showing us his full power!"
Ochako bounced on her heels, pumping her fists. “Yeah! Deku’s showing us his full power!”
Izuku, still clutching his throbbing finger, grinned despite the pain. Aizawa glanced at his device, eyes narrowing slightly in what could almost be considered approval.
“But he broke his finger again…” Iida noted, cupping his chin in thought. “That Quirk of his is incredibly risky.”
Aoyama shrugged, flicking his cape. “And yet, not very elegant.”
Momo, arms folded, hummed in contemplation. “This year certainly has some… peculiar Quirks,” she mused, her gaze briefly shifting to both Ben and Izuku. A few others exchanged knowing glances, understanding exactly what she meant.
“Agreed,” Tokoyami intoned. “One Quirk grants immense power at the cost of bodily destruction, while the other allows for complete transformation into various powerful forms.”
“Can’t say it won’t be interesting,” Rex added with a smirk.
Meanwhile, Bakugou stood stiff, his shoulders trembling as he clenched his fists. His nails dug into his palms, barely restraining the urge to explode something—or someone.
Aizawa finally turned his device around, displaying Izuku’s score:
1,307 meters.
Kirishima let out an impressed whistle."Whoa, third best!"
"Now that’s a hero-worthy score!" Ochako cheered, practically bouncing in place.
Izuku, still catching his breath, eyed the number on the screen, the satisfaction of a high score dulled by a gnawing frustration. Not even close…
Ben clapped him on the back with a chuckle. "Hey, pretty solid throw, dude."
Izuku sighed, flexing his injured finger. "Yeah… but I still didn’t beat yours."
"Don’t beat yourself up. Nobody really got close to Ben’s score," Tsuyu commented, arms crossed. "Well… except Uraraka. She beat him."
Ben's head snapped toward Ochako so fast it was a miracle he didn’t get whiplash. "Wait, what? She beat me?!"
Ochako puffed out her chest, grinning. "Yep!"
Izuku blinked in surprise. "Wait, what was your score?"
The class, almost instinctively, answered in unison.
"Infinity."
Ben and Izuku’s jaws nearly hit the ground. "EHHHH?! INFINITY?!"
While they stood there, completely stunned by her absurd result, Bakugou stood a short distance away, fists clenched so tight his nails nearly dug into his palms. His entire body trembled with barely contained rage. Deku… beat me? That damn nerd actually beat me?! His blood boiled at the thought, feeling like he’d swallowed pure venom. His glare locked onto Izuku, burning with hatred.
"Deku..." He spat under his breath.
.......
Despite his broken finger, Izuku managed to push through the rest of the tests, barely slowed until the endurance run. Even then, he was still ahead of most of the class in pure speed.
But almost wasn’t enough.
A blue-and-black blur shot past them at blinding speed, wind whipping around the students as XLR8 zipped across the track with ease.
"Holy hell, he’s fast!" Kaminari gawked, barely able to track the alien's movements.
At the front of the pack, Rex was the only one keeping up, engines roaring as he pushed himself harder. But every time he got close, XLR8 would speed past him, leaving only a gust of wind and two words—
"On your left."
Rex growled in frustration as the alien lapped him again.
XLR8 zipped around the course at ridiculous speeds, completing loops before the rest of the class had even finished one. As he passed, he threw another casual—
"On your left."
The groans of the class grew louder.
Momo pedaled furiously, sweat dripping from her forehead. Todoroki propelled himself forward using an ice path, while Iida pumped his legs faster, engines flaring. Izuku clenched his fists, green sparks flickering around his body as he pushed himself harder.
But XLR8? He barely looked like he was trying.
Then, as he passed them one last time, the class instantly knew what was coming.
"Don’t say it." Mina panted, hands on her knees.
"I swear to god," Kyoka muttered, breathless.
"Damn you, transforming bastard!" Bakugou shouted.
Rex gritted his teeth. "Don't you—"
"On your left."
A whirlwind blasted past them as XLR8 whooshed ahead, completing his final lap effortlessly.
The class let out a collective groan of frustration.
The class collapsed in exhaustion, panting and groaning after the brutal endurance test. Ben, barely winded, leaned down and helped Kyoka up.
"Your endurance is insane…" she muttered, brushing some sweat-soaked hair from her face.
"Aww, you weren’t half bad yourself," Ben said with a teasing smirk.
Kyoka rolled her eyes. "Gee, thanks for the confidence boost."
Nearby, Rex pushed up his goggles, still catching his breath. "Man... your friend's stupid fast," he muttered to Izuku, who lay flat on his back, chest rising and falling as he fought to get air into his lungs.
"Yeah…" Izuku huffed, staring up at the sky. "I barely kept up with you two."
"Eh, don’t sweat it, hombre." Rex waved him off. "You were still pretty damn fast—even with a busted finger."
"I must agree," Tenya chimed in, adjusting his glasses despite his heavy breathing. "Though losing is undoubtedly disheartening, I cannot ignore the sheer skill and endurance both of you displayed. It was truly commendable!"
Rex and Izuku exchanged sheepish glances. "Uh… thanks," they both said.
With that, the Quirk Apprehension Test finally came to an end, and the class gathered around Mr. Aizawa, who looked as disinterested as ever.
"Okay, I'll quickly present your results," he said, holding up a small remote. "The rankings are based on your overall scores from each test. Explaining everything verbally would be a waste of time, so I’ll just show you."
With the press of a button, a holographic leaderboard appeared before them:
1. Ben Tennyson
2. Rex Salazar
3. Izuku Midoriya
4. Momo Yaoyorozu
5. Shoto Todoroki
6. Katsuki Bakugo
7. Tenya Iida
8. Fumikage Tokoyami
9. Mezo Shoji
10. Mashirao Ojiro
11. Eijiro Kirishima
12. Mina Ashido
13. Koji Koda
14. Ochako Uraraka
15. Rikido Sato
16. Tsuyu Asui
17. Yuga Aoyama
18. Hanta Sero
19. Denki Kaminari
20. Kyoka Jiro
21. Toru Hagakure
22. Minoru Mineta
Izuku slumped to his knees, exhaling in pure relief. Rex shot him a lopsided grin while Momo sighed, accepting her placement with grace. Ben simply smirked to himself, but none of them compared to the sheer, unbridled fury radiating from one particular student.
Bakugo's hands clenched into trembling fists, his nails digging into his palms so hard they almost drew blood.
Sixth.
SIXTH?!
His teeth ground together so hard it hurt. Forget first—he hadn’t even made the top three?! And fucking Deku had ranked above me?'l He could barely process the sheer humiliation, his entire body shaking with the effort to keep himself from exploding on the spot.
Meanwhile, Izuku sighed. "Thank god…"
"You were really that scared, huh?" Rex asked, raising an eyebrow.
Izuku shot him a flat, deadpan look that said ‘Wasn’t it obvious?’
Suddenly, a high-pitched wail cut through the air like a knife.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
Everyone turned toward the source of the soul-crushing despair—Minoru Mineta, clutching Aizawa’s leg in a death grip, tears and snot streaming down his face like twin waterfalls.
"H-HOW WILL I EVER GET TO TOUCH SOME OPPAI?! I CAN’T GET EXPELLED! THERE ARE SO MANY HERO-TIER ASSETS IN THIS CLASS!" he wailed dramatically, rubbing his face against Aizawa’s pants. "COME ON, SIR, GIVE ME ONE MORE CHANCE! HAVE MERCY!"
The class collectively recoiled.
"Ugh. Lech," Mina muttered in disgust.
"Perv," Kyoka deadpanned.
"Seriously, dude, have some dignity," Ben added, shaking his head.
Momo, watching Mineta flail about on the ground like a pathetic, begging dog, could barely suppress her revulsion. Finally, she decided to put him out of his misery—if only because she couldn’t stand watching anymore.
"Enough already," she said in exasperation. "This is appalling."
Mineta sniffled, looking up at her with watery eyes.
"There was never any risk of expulsion," Momo continued, exasperated. "It was just a bluff—a scare tactic to make sure we pushed ourselves."
A stunned silence followed.
"Wait… seriously?" Mina blinked.
"He wasn't serious?" Toru asked.
"Figures," Kyoka muttered.
Mineta, still hugging Aizawa’s leg, gasped. "W-Wait, so I’m not expelled?!"
"Of course not," Momo said matter-of-factly. "It’s not like U.A. would expel students on a whim. And I’m sure Midoriya and Tennyson were never in any real danger—it was just a tactic—"
"Huh. Will you look at that," Ben interrupted, scrolling through his phone. "Shota Aizawa expelled a total of 154 students from U.A. High School."
The entire class froze and turned pale in horror.
Rex peered over Ben’s shoulder and winced. "Oof… dude, he expelled his entire class last year."
Momo visibly paled, taking an instinctive step back, horror settling into her features. Her previous confidence evaporated in an instant.
Aizawa, still watching them with his ever-bored expression, shoved his hands into his pockets.
"I wasn't lying," he said flatly. "If any of you had failed to meet my standards, I would’ve expelled you without hesitation."
Momo swallowed thickly. Her cheeks burned in embarrassment as her mind raced. She had assumed U.A. wouldn’t be so cruel, that Aizawa had simply been using psychological pressure as a tool. But now, standing in the presence of a man who had wiped out entire classes before them, she realized her mistake.
Aizawa didn't even glance back as he walked away, leaving the class to process the terrifying revelation about his past expulsions. The weight of it hung in the air, a silent, unspoken fear gripping several students.
Ben scowled as he watched their homeroom teacher disappear around the corner. The fact that Aizawa had been willing to expel Izuku—even if it had been a bluff—left a bitter taste in his mouth. And judging by the expressions of a few classmates, he wasn’t alone in that sentiment.
“Man, this guy sucks,” Rex muttered, adjusting his goggles.
Ben yawned, stretching his arms over his head. “Yeah, yeah, teacher’s a hardass. Anyways, let’s get outta here—I could go for some chili fries.”
Izuku, who had been rubbing his sore arm, perked up slightly. “I guess I could get something to eat.”
Kyoka, who had been silently observing, gave him a flat stare. "Uh, are you sure you’re good to go?"
Izuku blinked. "Huh? Why wouldn’t I be?"
Kyoka's brow twitched. "You. Have. A. Broken. Finger," she deadpanned.
Izuku looked at his swollen, discolored finger. "Oh, right…" He winced as the pain finally registered. "Yeah, okay. It hurts now."
Ben winced in sympathy. "Come on, dude. Let’s get you patched up before you keel over."
"Th-Thanks," Izuku muttered as Ben and Kyoka guided him toward Recovery Girl’s office. Ochako, looking concerned, decided to follow along.
....
A few minutes had passed, and with them came the horrifying realization that Recovery Girl’s Quirk could, in theory, kill them if overused. Ben, for one, was grateful that he barely took any damage in his transformed states—less reason to test those limits.
Stretching his arms with a tired groan, he muttered, "Can’t believe we’ve got a guy like that as our homeroom teacher."
Kyoka smirked and gave him a nudge with her elbow. "Yeah, but you gotta admit—telling Aizawa he could shove it just for Midoriya? Pretty ballsy."
Ben scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, well… wasn’t about to let him kick the guy out over some insane test. Still doesn’t mean I’m thrilled to have him breathing down my neck every day."
Kyoka nudged him with an elbow. "Still, gotta admit it was kinda ballsy how you basically told him to shove it for Midoriya."
Ochako, still processing everything, tilted her head. "Wait, so Deku, you only got your Quirk during the entrance exam?"
Izuku stiffened. So did Ben.
"Deku?" they both echoed, though Izuku’s voice had an edge of panic.
"Yeah," Ochako said, oblivious to his reaction. "That’s what the blonde guy kept calling you."
Kyoka gave her a pointed look. "Did anything about that interaction seem friendly to you?"
Ochako opened her mouth, then hesitated as she replayed the scene in her head—the outright hostility in Bakugou’s glare, the sheer venom in his voice. "...Oh," she said, realization dawning. "I guess not."
"So it’s not a nickname?"
Izuku looked sheepish. "M-More like Kacchan uses it to, um… make fun of me…"
Ben snorted. "Translation: Bakugou’s been bullying him for years, and the name basically means ‘useless’ or ‘pathetic.’"
Izuku shot him a desperate look—Dude, stop talking!
Ochako’s eyes widened in horror. "W-Wait, really?" she asked, looking genuinely upset. "I—I didn’t know!"
Izuku waved his hands frantically. "K-Kacchan isn’t that bad! He just—"
Ben cut him off with a scoff. "Right. The guy who had a full-on meltdown over not getting first place, had to be physically restrained by our teacher, and still looked like he wanted to murder you? Totally normal behavior."
Kyoka nodded, crossing her arms. "Yeah, dude, that’s not just ‘tough love.’ That’s straight-up unhealthy."
Ochako bit her lip, guilt evident on her face. "I really didn’t mean to call you that if it’s hurtful…"
Izuku waved her off. "It’s okay! I mean, you didn’t know…"
Kyoka rolled her eyes but let it go. As they continued walking, Ochako perked up. "So, have you and Midoriya been friends for a while?"
Ben nodded. "Yeah. I just moved here from the U.S., and he showed me around. Japan’s… different." He noticed she’d used Midoriya instead of Deku. Good.
Ochako’s eyes lit up. "Oh man, I’ve always wanted to travel!" She waved her hands excitedly. "I wanna see all the cool places, try all the weird foods—oh! Is it true they deep fry everything?!Like pizza, chocolate?!
Ben chuckled. "Yeah, it’s definitely a thing. Probably takes a year off your life every time you eat one, though."
Ochako beamed excitedly as they continued talking they made it too class to get the syllabus. They entered the class, the four got the syllabus and we're about to leave when Ben opened the door.
"Oh, it's you, Tennyson!" a voice called out, and before Ben or Izuku could react, floating clothes jumped from behind the door, blocking their exit. The clothes quickly swung their arms out, signaling their arrival. "Hey, everyone! Tennyson's here!!" she shouted, causing a flurry of footsteps to follow.
Kyoka groaned inwardly. 'Oh no, she's got company...' she thought with mild annoyance, already bracing for the noise that was about to ensue.
"Holy shit, the rumors weren't kidding about you!" Eijiro Kirishima said, grinning widely as he stepped into view.
"Yeah, dude, that red form was straight-up awesome!" Sato chimed in, clearly impressed.
"Seriously you gotta tell us more if your forms!" Toru said.
"Yeah dude I thought this was gonna be a regular day but damn you totally made it awesome!"
Mina, who was perched on a desk, swung her legs back and forth, still a little miffed about how many robots Ben had destroyed during the exam, but she couldn’t help but admit it. "Not gonna lie, I was kinda salty at first, but the way that raptor guy moved? I barely could see you!" she said, her voice tinged with admiration.
Aoyama struck a dramatic pose, his voice filled with flair. "Your transformations were très extravagant!"
Ben blinked, raising an eyebrow. "Uh… thanks?"
Before Ben could say anything further, a sharp, rhythmic chopping sound filled the air. He barely had time to react before Iida stepped forward, his posture as rigid as always, slicing through the air with his hands in precise, controlled motions.
"TENNYSON!" Iida's voice boomed. "I must extend my sincerest apologies for my egregious behavior during the entrance exam! I unfairly judged you based solely on your attire, an action most unbecoming of a true U.A. student!" He bowed deeply, sincerity flooding his voice.
Ben stared at him for a moment before blinking. "Uh—"
Iida continued, straightening up with a flourish, adjusting his glasses. "Please accept my humblest apologies! However!" he continued, eyes lighting up with newfound resolve. "While I remain steadfast in my belief that vigilante actions are not to be condoned, I acknowledge that I misjudged your character."
Ben blinked again, unsure how to respond. "Er. Sure. Whatever," he muttered, clearly uncomfortable with the sudden formal apology.
"By the way, the way you totally stuck up for Midoriya was really something," Kirishima said, his tone still upbeat. "Not many people would have done that."
"It was quite admirable." Tokoyami said.
Mina nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I totally thought he was gonna expel you, but you didn’t back down. That was really awesome!" she said, beaming at him.
Ben chuckled nervously, clearly uncomfortable with the praise. However, it was clear not everyone shared the same sentiment. Iida, still looking a little flustered, seemed like he wanted to say something else, and Momo Yaoyorozu was watching him with a thoughtful expression.
"While I agree that Mr. Aizawa’s approach was... extreme," Momo started, her voice calm yet firm, "speaking to him in that manner was somewhat disrespectful." She had been raised with a strong sense of respect for authority, and seeing Ben openly challenge Mr. Aizawa, even if there was a valid reason, still felt off-putting to her.
Ben shrugged nonchalantly as he began to leave, Izuku, Kyoka, and Ochako following closely behind. "I don't know, maybe if he didn’t threaten us with expulsion, I’d be nicer," Ben said, waving it off like it was no big deal.
Rex, who had been standing off to the side, snorted. "Guy looked like he was about to pop a vessel," Rex said, grinning. "Hey, since you guys are heading out, mind if I come along?"
"Sure!" Ochako said brightly, her face lighting up at the idea.
Iida sighed in exasperation, running a hand through his hair as the group began to exit the school grounds. "Though I do not condone your actions, I must agree that expelling someone on a whim is downright immoral," Iida said, his tone earnest, though tinged with frustration.
Rex shrugged casually. "Sink or swim, I guess," he said.
As they strolled through the busy streets, Izuku couldn't help but smile. For the first time in his life, he felt like he truly belonged. He had friends. Not just classmates, but real friends—people who actually wanted to spend time with him outside of school.
He glanced around at the group. Ben and Rex were engaged in a heated argument about whether or not aliens could biologically develop a sense of humor. Ochako was chatting with Kyoka, the two warming up to each other surprisingly fast. Iida, ever the responsible one, occasionally chimed in to correct something Ben or Rex exaggerated.
They had only known each other for a short time, but already, the six of them felt like a solid group.
Rex, meanwhile, found himself lost in thought. It had been a long time since he had spent time with people his own age, just hanging out like a normal teenager. In fact, he couldn’t even remember the last time. Most of his life was a blur beyond the day Six found him. This—being with friends, joking around—it felt… good.
"Alright, guys, how about we get some food?" Rex said suddenly. "I’m starving! Seriously, all that work today really wiped me out."
"I could go for something," Ben agreed, stretching his arms behind his head.
Kyoka shrugged. "I don’t mind."
Ochako hesitated. She wanted to go, but she wasn’t sure if she could afford it. She didn't want her friends to think less of her. "Er… I dunno if I can—"
Rex grinned and threw an arm around her shoulder. "It’s on me."
Ochako’s eyes widened. "Wait, what? Really?"
"Really." Rex smirked. "Trust me, I’ve got more money than I know what to do with. Let’s eat."
Ben pumped his fist. "Now that’s what I’m talking about. Free food is the best food."
Jirou smirked. “A meal I don’t have to pay for? Count me in.”
Iida, however, looked conflicted. "While I greatly appreciate your generosity, I must insist that I pay for myself! I cannot, in good conscience, allow you to—"
"Dude," Rex deadpanned, "it’s really not that serious."
"Indeed! But as a matter of principle, I—"
"Just take the free meal, man," Ben interjected.
Iida sighed but didn’t protest further as they made their way to the train station, walking down the stairs toward the platform.
The conversation quickly turned to food options, with Ben pushing hard for chili fries. "Look, it’s a scientifically proven fact that chili fries are the best thing to eat after a long day."
Iida adjusted his glasses, shaking his head disapprovingly. "Tennyson, treating one’s body like a temple requires discipline. Proper nutrition is—"
Ben suddenly froze mid-step, his entire body going rigid as a cold sensation crept up his spine. A bead of sweat dripped down the side of his face, his breath hitching as he slowly turned his head.
Pedestrians bustled around them, lost in their own conversations, completely unaware. There was nothing out of the ordinary—just the usual crowd moving through the station.
Then he felt his hair stood on end.
It was faint but unmistakable—like unseen eyes boring into his back with laser focus. His muscles tensed, an almost instinctual warning ringing through his mind. He wasn’t sure how, but he knew someone was watching him.
His fingers twitched, hovering near the Omnitrix as he forced himself to keep walking, his gaze flickering from one side of the station to the other. Keep it cool, don’t make it obvious.
'What the hell was that?'
His first thought was reporters. Maybe someone recognized me? With the whole vigilante, alien-saving, world-protecting gig, it wouldn’t be the first time he’d attracted unwanted attention.
Yeah… that’s gotta be it.
Ben subtly turned his head again, scanning the skyline. His pulse quickened. A shadow—just for a fraction of a second—darted away from a nearby water tank. He could’ve sworn he saw it.
His gut twisted.‘No… this isn’t just some reporter,’ he thought, his jaw tightening. ‘This feels… malicious.’
His instincts screamed at him, the same instincts that had kept him alive through countless battles across the galaxy. The same instincts that had flared up whenever Vilgax, or his drone, or Animo or any number of enemies had set their sights on him.
"Tennyson?" Iida’s voice snapped him out of his daze. "Is something the matter?"
Everyone turned toward him, their conversations dying down at his sudden change in demeanor.
Ben hesitated, glancing around once more before muttering, "Hey… do you guys ever get that weird sinking feeling, like someone’s watching you?"
The train station was bustling with people. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Kyoka rolled her eyes. "Is this some kind of lame horror setup? Because if you’re trying to—"
RRRRIIIIIIPPPP!!
It was sudden, violent—like someone had slashed reality itself with an invisible blade. A jagged, red rift, its edges seething like raw wounds.
And from within… a pale, ghostly hand shot out.
A chill shot through Rex’s body as cold fingers clamped onto his shoulder.
"H-Huh?!" Rex stammered, freezing at the sudden contact.
Ben’s instincts kicked in. His hand shot toward the Omnitrix, his thumb already slamming down on the button.
"Going—"
But before he could even transform, Iida was a blur, his engines roaring to life. In a flash, he yanked Rex away from the portal, skidding to a halt several meters away.
The moment Rex was pulled free, a voice drifted through the tear.
"Through here, the Promised Land awaits…"
The voice was soft, almost innocent, but it sent an unnatural chill down everyone’s spine.
A second voice followed—this one deep, authoritative, and commanding.
"We’re waiting, Rex."
The group turned toward Rex in alarm, their expressions ranging from confusion to terror. Rex, for his part, looked just as bewildered, his wide eyes darting between the closing rift and the stunned faces of his friends.
"Y-Yeah, no, I have no idea who the hell those guys are," he stammered, voice cracking slightly.
Ochako’s breath hitched. "W-What the hell…?"
The portal flickered, its jagged edges pulsating like an open wound.
Then—just as suddenly as it had appeared—it zipped shut like a closing gash, leaving only an eerie emptiness behind.
The station, once filled with the usual hustle and bustle of civilians, was now eerily silent.
And then, the footsteps came aas everyone turned to the entrance.
A squadron of Pro Heroes flooded into the station, their sharp gazes locking onto the exact spot where the portal had been moments ago.
"What happened?" A pro hero asked.
Everyone looked unsure as Ben and his group panted slightly. Izuku clutched his knees.
The group barely had time to process what had just happened before the world around them erupted into motion.
Rex looked down at his shoulder, his hand shaking slightly. "Guys…? What the hell was that?"
...