The day had finally ended, but the tension in Izuku's chest remained. As the students gathered their things and prepared to head back to the class, conversations buzzed all around him—talks of the quirk assessment, complaints about Aizawa's brutal methods, and excited murmurs about what awaited them tomorrow.
Izuku stood near the back of the crowd, silent. He had performed perfectly, ranking first in the assessment, but he didn't care about their recognition. If anything, their clueless faces only fueled the quiet storm inside him.
He wasn't here to make friends. He wasn't here to bond with classmates or play the role of a hero. He had a goal, and nothing—no one—would stop him.
Yet, there was one problem.
Izumi.
His twin sister, the so-called princess of Japan, had been watching him ever since Aizawa revealed the rankings. He could feel her curious eyes on him even now, like she was trying to piece together something just out of her grasp.
Izuku clenched his fists. She didn't recognize him. Both her and Bakugou didn't.
The thought should have reassured him, yet it only made his rage twist deeper.
"Yo, you heading back to the class?" Kirishima's voice broke through his thoughts. The red-haired boy had an easygoing grin, his sharp teeth flashing.
Izuku barely spared him a glance. "Yeah." His voice was cold, detached.
Kirishima blinked, a bit thrown off by the lack of enthusiasm but shrugged it off. "Man, I still can't believe sensei was messing with us about the expulsion. Thought my heart was gonna stop."
Mina, walking beside him, groaned. "Right?! Aizawa-sensei is ruthless. I get that we need to be strong, but jeez, let us breathe a little."
Behind them, Bakugou scoffed. "Tch. Quit whining. If you can't handle pressure, you shouldn't be here."
Mina rolled her eyes. "Not everyone is a walking time bomb like you, Bakugou."
Bakugou shot her a glare but didn't reply. Instead, his crimson eyes flickered to Izuku. A strange, unsettling feeling stirred inside him. Something about this guy felt off. Like he should recognize him, but the thought kept slipping away before he could grasp it.
His fists clenched.
"Why do I care? I don't even know this guy."
Izuku noticed the stare and returned it with an unreadable gaze.
Bakugou's scowl deepened." What the hell is his deal?"
"Hey."
Izumi's voice cut through the conversation. She had stopped walking, her gaze fixed on Izuku with a mix of curiosity and something else.
Izuku tensed.
She took a hesitant step forward. "I never got your name."
The group went quiet. Even Bakugou's glare softened slightly as he turned toward Izuku, waiting for his response.
For a moment, Izuku said nothing. His mind raced.
Did he lie? Did he tell her some fake name and move on? No—too risky. She was already suspicious. If he tried to evade her now, she would never let it go.
So, he chose the path that hurt the most.
"…Izuku."
The second the name left his lips, a flicker of recognition flashed in Izumi's eyes.
But it was gone just as quickly.
"Izuku…?" she repeated, almost testing the name on her tongue. "Huh." She frowned slightly but then gave him a soft smile. "Well, nice to officially meet you! I'm Izumi—"
"I know."
The way he said it—so flat, so cold—made her pause.
Izuku forced a small, empty smile. "Everyone knows who you are, Princess of Japan."
Izumi winced slightly at the title. It wasn't said with admiration or respect. It was laced with something sharp, something bitter.
Bakugou stiffened beside her.
Mina and Kirishima exchanged glances.
"Right…" Izumi's voice was quieter now, uncertain.
Izuku could see the confusion in her eyes, like she was trying to understand why his words felt personal.
Good. Let her wonder.
Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked away.
The group stood there, watching him go.
"…What's up with that guy?" Kaminari muttered, rubbing the back of his head.
"I don't know," Izumi admitted, her gaze lingering on his retreating figure. "But I feel like I've met him before…"
Bakugou said nothing, but his gut twisted. Something wasn't right.
Something about Izuku wasn't right.
And he was going to find out what.
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Sorry for the delay, still working on it
(719 words 😅)