As the sun dipped lower in the sky, the exhaustion from the Quirk Assessment Test started to take its toll on the students of Class 1-A. Their muscles were sore, their minds were racing, and Aizawa's earlier threat of expulsion loomed over them like a shadow. For many, the fear of being cut from UA before their hero journeys even began was paralyzing. But for a few, the intensity of the test had only further fueled their competitive spirits.
"Alright, that's the last test," Aizawa declared, his voice monotonous as ever. "The results will be tallied and posted shortly. Don't get too comfortable, though."
The class collectively exhaled, many of them collapsing to the ground in fatigue. Mina dramatically fell backward onto the grass, her pink hair sticking to her forehead. "Oh my God, I thought I was gonna die!" she groaned, throwing an arm over her eyes.
"I'm pretty sure you would've if you weren't so flexible," Kaminari joked as he fell into the grass beside her, utterly exhausted from his own trial.
"That was not fun at all," Uraraka huffed as she sat down, rubbing her arms. "Aizawa-sensei wasn't kidding when he said being a hero's not a game."
"But he didn't really expel anyone, did he?" Kirishima asked, looking up at the sky thoughtfully. "I mean, that was one heck of a test, but no one actually failed."
Aizawa, still holding his tablet, walked past them, barely sparing a glance. "You assume too much," he said, his voice casual but dripping with finality.
"This test wasn't just about winning or losing. It was about pushing yourselves to the limits, understanding your quirks, and seeing how you react under pressure. The hero world is brutal. Fail to adapt, and you're done. That's reality. Keep that in mind."
There was a pause, the weight of Aizawa's words sinking in. The room seemed to darken a bit, and the fatigue felt heavier as the gravity of the situation hit them all over again.
Mina groaned. "This guy really doesn't hold back, huh?"
Shota Todoroki, still icy and reserved as always, stood off to the side, not engaging much with the rest of the class. She had completed the assessment with her usual precision, using only her ice quirk, as expected. But despite her control, she couldn't shake the memory of her sensei's earlier response.
"I still see you're holding back.."
It was a question she had been asked more times than she could count, and every time, it sent a pang of frustration through her. She hated her fire quirk, hated what it represented. Endeavor's obsession, his expectations, and the burden of being his 'perfect creation.'
Shota's eyes flicked over to her best friend, Izumi Midoriya, who was quietly stretching, still calming herself from the final exercise. Izumi always seemed to have it all together, even though Shota knew better. Behind Izumi's calm demeanor was a storm of self-doubt, and yet she managed to carry the weight of being the Princess of Japan with grace.
"Hey," Izumi's voice broke through her thoughts, "You did great out there, Shota."
Shota blinked, then gave a faint smile. "Thanks."
Izumi's eyes softened as she nudged her best friend playfully. "One of these days, you'll have to show off your fire side. You've got more power than you think, you know."
Shota's smile faded slightly, and she shook her head. "Not today," she muttered, brushing a hand through her two-toned hair. "I'm not ready."
Izumi frowned but didn't press further. She knew Shota well enough to understand that pushing her would only make things worse. "Whenever you are ready," she said quietly, her green eyes full of warmth. "I'll be here."
Shota stiffened slightly at the mention of her fire quirk but said nothing, the walls around her growing higher with every word. Izumi sighed inwardly, knowing this conversation wouldn't go anywhere today.
As they made their way inside, a loud and familiar voice broke through the tension.
"Oi!!"
Bakugou Katsuki's rough voice rang out, cutting through the chatter. He approached the pair, scowling as usual, his eyes fixed on Izumi.
"You better not be slacking off! I expect you to keep up."
Izumi smiled, unbothered by the sharpness of his tone. "I'm fine, Kacchan. Just tired from all the tests."
Bakugou's scowl softened ever so slightly as he crossed his arms, clearly worried despite his tough exterior. "Tch. Well, don't get used to taking it easy. I'm not carrying you through everything, princess."
He always called her that when he was being sarcastic, but even so, Izumi could see the concern in his fiery crimson eyes. Despite his usual brashness, Bakugou had a soft spot for her that he tried to hide from everyone else. He was only ever truly gentle when they were alone, but even in front of the others, his tone toward her was noticeably different.
Izumi's smile widened, and she gave him a light punch on the arm. "I'll be fine. You did great today too."
Bakugou's cheeks flushed slightly, though he immediately masked it with a loud "Tch," looking away as if embarrassed by the praise. "Of course I did. I'm not some weakling."
Shota watched the two of them, her usual indifferent expression unchanging, though she had grown used to their dynamic. Bakugou was gruff and explosive, but Izumi always knew how to handle him. Their relationship had surprised many, but anyone who truly knew them could see how much Bakugou cared for her, even if he struggled to express it.
As the Quirk Assessment Test ended, the class gathered anxiously around Aizawa, who stood with his usual uninterested expression. The students, still panting from the physical strain, were eager and nervous to see the final results.
Aizawa looked at the group and sighed. "I've tallied your scores from each part of the assessment," he began, his voice as dry and flat as ever. "Based on both your strength and endurance in the tests, here are the rankings."
With a tap on the remote, a digital screen lit up, displaying the rankings from first to last. The entire class stared, wide-eyed, at the names.
1. Izuku Yagi
2. Bakugou Katsuki
3. Shota Todoroki
4. Izumi Midoriya
5. Momo Yaoyorozu
6. Fumikage Tokoyami
7. Tenya Iida
8. Ochako Uraraka
9. Kirishima Eijiro
10. Mina Ashido
11. Tsuyu Asui
12. Denki Kaminari
.
.
.
.
.
20. Minoru Mineta
Everyone gasped when they saw the results.
"Izuku… Yagi?" Momo Yaoyorozu muttered, squinting at the screen. "Who is that? He wasn't even trying the whole time, and yet… he's first?" Her lips tightened as she struggled to process how someone so aloof had outperformed everyone.
Bakugou stared at the board, his explosive temper bubbling beneath the surface. "What the hell?!" he growled, glaring daggers at the screen. He clenched his fists tight. "How did that bastard beat me?"
Izumi stood nearby, gazing at the name of her twin brother. Her heart pounded in her chest, unease creeping up her spine. She couldn't recognize the boy in front of her, nor understand how he had such overwhelming power.
Shota Todoroki frowned, her cool gaze flicking between the board and Izuku. "Impressive," she whispered, though her mind briefly wandered to her father, Endeavor, and the weight of expectations that still lingered over her.
Aizawa's voice cut through the murmurs. "Yagi, your control and use of your Quirk were impressive. It's not just raw power that wins a fight. Your ability to integrate your elements in a creative manner shows flexibility, which is key to becoming a hero."
Izuku stood there, unmoved. His cold crimson eyes fixed on the screen for a second before averting his gaze as though it didn't concern him. Inside, though, rage simmered, especially at the sight of his former best friend, Bakugou, and his twin sister, Izumi.
He could feel their eyes on him — a mix of curiosity, confusion, and perhaps even admiration. But he didn't care. His heart was filled with too much hatred and betrayal to feel anything else. But he knew deep down he want something more.
Bakugou, refusing to be outdone, stepped forward, his fists crackling with sparks. "Oi! Don't think this is over, Yagi! I'll blow your ass to pieces next time!"
Izuku didn't even spare him a glance.
"Whatever," he muttered, his voice low and emotionless as he turned to walk away, leaving Bakugou fuming.
The tension in the air was palpable as the class stared at the first-ranked student who showed no interest in his victory. The divide between them was as clear as day, and the mystery surrounding Izuku Yagi deepened further.
The students stared at the scoreboard, their minds racing, a thick tension hung in the air. They were still processing the rankings, some in disbelief, others frustrated, when Aizawa cleared his throat, gathering their attention once more.
"Now," Aizawa said, his tired eyes scanning the group, "about what I said earlier."
The students immediately perked up, remembering the terrifying threat of expulsion. Kaminari's face was still pale, Mina and Uraraka looked like they were about to protest again, and Bakugou was still simmering from being placed second.
Aizawa's lips curled into a rare, almost imperceptible smirk. "It was a lie."
"Eh?!" nearly the entire class shouted in unison, jaws dropping. Their confusion and shock were palpable.
"I wanted to see how you'd perform under pressure," Aizawa continued, unbothered by their reactions. "Being a hero isn't just about raw power or using your quirk. It's about keeping calm and pushing yourself to the limit, even when the stakes are high."
He paused, his gaze lingering on some of the students who seemed particularly rattled. "You can't afford to lose your cool when people's lives are at stake."
Mina slumped, dramatically wiping imaginary sweat from her brow. "I seriously thought I was gonna get expelled for a second!" she said, still in disbelief. Uraraka nodded furiously next to her, her wide eyes filled with relief.
"You had us all scared there, sensei!" Kaminari added, scratching the back of his head with a nervous laugh. "Good one, though."
However, amidst the collective sighs of relief, one person remained unaffected: Izuku Yagi.
He stood in the back, arms crossed, his silver hair slightly rustling in the breeze. His crimson eyes narrowed slightly at Aizawa, who made that announcement so casually, as though none of it really mattered.
The whole "it was a lie" bit didn't sit well with him. It wasn't that he was afraid of expulsion — no, he didn't care much for that. But what struck him was the ease with which people manipulated emotions, twisted reality, and played with others' hopes and fears.
Izuku clenched his jaw.
Life doesn't give second chances.
He knew that from experience.
To him, Aizawa's threat of expulsion wasn't just a clever trick to test their resolve. It was a harsh truth disguised as a joke. He had learned the hard way that the world was unforgiving, cruel even. He had been banished, treated as nothing more than an afterthought by the people who should have cared for him most — his own parents and twin sister, Izumi.
Izumi, oblivious to his inner turmoil, was still reeling from the surprise announcement. "Wow, so… it was all just a test?" she muttered, glancing over at Bakugou, who was still simmering from his second-place ranking.
"Guess so," Bakugou huffed, crossing his arms. He was annoyed by Aizawa's trick but more focused on the fact that Izuku, of all people, had beaten him. His gaze flicked toward Izuku, and his eyes narrowed. The tension between them, though unspoken, crackled like one of Bakugou's explosions.
"That was a dirty move, sensei!" Mina chimed in, a mischievous grin on her face. "You're like a villain in disguise!" She struck a mock pose, causing Kirishima to chuckle.
"Yeah, man," Kirishima added, "I was this close to thinking I'd have to say goodbye to UA!" He gestured with his thumb and forefinger nearly touching, trying to lighten the mood.
Aizawa, unfazed by the complaints and jokes, simply stuffed his hands into his pockets. "The hero world isn't fair. You don't get warnings, and you don't get mercy. It's better you learn that now." His voice had a hard edge to it, reminding the students that behind his gruff exterior, Aizawa was preparing them for a reality far harsher than they realized.
Izuku turned away, his heart heavy with the weight of his own reality. Unlike the rest of them, he had already learned that lesson.
No warnings. No mercy.
He had been cast out, rejected, and left to fend for himself. And now, as he stood among people who didn't even recognize him, who didn't know the pain and anger that simmered inside him, Izuku Yagi understood that this was only the beginning.
The class laughed and joked, easing the tension that had been building. They didn't notice Izuku's cold demeanor or the way his eyes flickered with barely concealed rage.
But Izumi did.
She glanced over at her twin brother, a small frown tugging at her lips. She had been trying to figure him out ever since the assessment began. There was something familiar about him, yet completely different at the same time. His demeanor, his strength… and those eyes. Something about them made her uneasy.
Still, she couldn't put her finger on it.
"Hey," Izumi called out to him softly, stepping forward, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Are you okay? You were amazing during the test…"
Izuku's crimson eyes met hers briefly, but he said nothing. He simply turned and walked away, his cold expression never wavering.
"Wait—" Izumi took a step forward, but Bakugou grabbed her arm, his expression serious.
"Leave him," Bakugou muttered. "If he doesn't want to talk, he doesn't want to talk."
Izumi hesitated, her eyes lingering on her brother's retreating form. Something inside her twisted uncomfortably, but she let it go, for now.
Aizawa looked over at the class, his eyes narrowing. "Alright. You all survived this time. But don't think this was the end. If you want to stay here, you'll need to keep proving yourselves every day. UA won't tolerate laziness or weakness. You're dismissed."
As the students began to leave, still chatting and recovering from the shock of the assessment, Izuku stayed back, watching them from a distance. His gaze landed on Bakugou, then on Izumi.
They would know the truth soon enough.
And when they did, there would be no more jokes. Only the harsh reality of what they had done to him.
He watched from the shadows as Izumi, Bakugou, and Shota laughed and talked as if nothing had ever gone wrong. His heart twisted with a mix of hatred and sorrow.
"Enjoy your happiness while it lasts, Izumi," he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible. "It won't be long before I take it all away."