Chereads / The Great Saiyaman, Plus Ultra!!(an Mha X DBZ story) / Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Numbers, Noodles, and New Friends

Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Numbers, Noodles, and New Friends

The afternoon bell chimed, signaling the start of Algebra. Gohan trudged into the classroom with the rest of Class 1-A, his limbs still aching from the Quirk Apprehension Test. He slid into his seat near the middle, grateful for the chance to sit and rest for a while. The chatter around him was a comforting hum, a sign that most of the students were already adjusting to the rhythm of U.A. High.Kyoka Jiro dropped into the seat beside him, her earphone jacks coiled lazily on her desk. She gave him a sidelong glance, one brow raised. "You surviving, champ? Or are you about to pass out right here?"Gohan chuckled softly. "Barely hanging on. My stamina's a work in progress.""Not bad for a first day," Jiro said with a shrug. "At least you didn't blow yourself up like Kaminari during the long jump."At the front of the room, the teacher—a stern-looking woman with sharp glasses—rapped the desk with a ruler. "Settle down, Class 1-A. Today, we'll review quadratic equations. Open your textbooks to page 45."The groan that followed was almost unanimous. Gohan flipped his textbook open, trying to focus, but his head swam with numbers. Quadratic equations? He scratched his head. Math wasn't his worst subject, but it wasn't his favorite either. After all, Ki blasts didn't require factoring.Midway through the lesson, Jiro leaned over and poked his arm with her earphone jack. "You lost yet?"Gohan glanced at her and grinned sheepishly. "A little. You?""I'm hanging in there. Barely."Before either of them could say more, the teacher's sharp gaze zeroed in on them. "Is something amusing, Ms. Jiro? Mr. Gohan?"Jiro leaned back, holding her hands up in mock surrender. "No, ma'am. Just discussing how much wwe love math.lThe class snickered, and the teacher's glare softened slightly as she moved on. Gohan exchanged a quick smile with Jiro before returning to his book. At least I'm not the only one struggling.By the time lunch rolled around, Gohan was famished. He followed the steady stream of students into the cafeteria, where the smell of food filled the air. As he grabbed a tray and piled it with rice, noodles, and steamed vegetables, he spotted Izuku Midoriya waving him over to a table. Sitting with him were Ochaco Uraraka and Tenya Iida."Hey, Gohan!" Midoriya greeted, scooting over to make room. "Come join us."Gohan smiled and nodded. "Thanks." As he slid into the seat, Jiro appeared behind him, her tray balanced in one hand. She gestured to the seat beside Gohan. "This spot taken?""Nope," Gohan said, scooting to the side. "Go ahead."The five of them settled in, and for a moment, the table was filled with the sound of eating. Gohan glanced around, taking in the group's easy camaraderie. It felt nice—almost normal—to sit and talk with people his own age."So, Gohan," Uraraka said between bites. "Your throw earlier was amazing! How'd you get so strong?"Gohan hesitated, debating how much to share. "Uh, lots of training. My dad's really into martial arts, so I've been practicing since I was a kid.""That makes sense," Midoriya said, his eyes lighting up. "Your energy reminded me of some of the pro heroes I've studied. It's not like a normal quirk. It feels... different.""Yeah, it's more like a technique," Gohan explained. "It's called Ki. Everyone has it, but not everyone can control it. I've been working on it for years, but I'm still learning.""Fascinating!" Iida said, adjusting his glasses. "A technique that's universal yet requires mastery to use effectively. That could revolutionize how Quirks are utilized in combat.""Yeah, but it's exhausting," Gohan admitted. "If I push too hard, I burn out fast.""Sounds like Kaminari," Jiro quipped, earning a round of laughter.As the group talked, Gohan reached for his drink. In his eagerness to join the conversation, he accidentally knocked the glass over, sending its contents splashing onto Jiro's uniform shirt."Oh no!" Gohan exclaimed, grabbing napkins. "I'm so sorry!"Jiro flinched at the cold liquid but waved him off. "It's fine. Don't freak out.""No, really, I didn't mean to—" Gohan stopped mid-sentence, his face reddening as he realized the extent of the spill. "Here," he said, quickly shrugging off his vest and handing it to her. "Use this to cover up."Jiro stared at the vest for a moment before taking it with a smirk. "Thanks, hero. You didn't have to do that.""I kind of did," Gohan muttered, still looking embarrassed. The rest of the table chuckled, and Jiro slipped the vest on, the oversized garment hanging loosely over her frame."Well, how do I look?" she asked, striking a mock pose."Like you just saved the world," Uraraka joked.The group erupted into laughter, and even Gohan managed a small smile, though his face was still red. For the rest of lunch, the awkwardness melted away as they joked and shared stories, their bond as classmates growing stronger.As the day wound to a close, Gohan found himself walking alongside Jiro as they headed back to the dorms."Thanks for the vest," she said, her tone casual. "I'll get it back to you tomorrow.""Take your time," Gohan said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry again about the spill."Jiro shrugged. "It's just a shirt. Besides, you handled it like a pro."Gohan smiled, grateful for her easygoing attitude. "Still, thanks for not being mad.""Mad?" Jiro said, grinning. "Nah. If anything, I owe you one for making algebra class less boring."As they reached the dorms, Gohan felt a sense of relief. His first day at U.A. had been a whirlwind, but it had also been rewarding. He had started building friendships, found new challenges, and taken one more step toward his dream.As he turned in for the night, he couldn't help but smile. Tomorrow was another day, and he was ready for whatever came next.