"The student with the lowest total score will be deemed unfit... and expelled."
---
Dear Mother,
You saw me off with a smile today, but I might end up as a middle school dropout by tomorrow.
On the bright and shining day of my enrollment, Takumi Kurata could only smile through his tears.
---
He still couldn't believe it. That he was actually wearing this uniform, standing at the entrance, ready to go to school. His mother, Sako, was also overcome with emotion, tears welling up as she burned the sight of her son into her memory.
"Do your best. You don't have to be number one… Just become a fine hero."
"Yes, Mom… I'm off."
With his mother's words in his heart, he took his first step forward.
Takumi Kurata, who had finally achieved his long-held dream of enrolling at V.G. High School, was about to face yet another challenge.
On his very first day, the moment arrived—he was about to step into his classroom.
If—if the two people from that video had also passed the exam, he had to thank them properly. No, they must have passed. Convincing himself of this, he pushed open the door to Class Golden…
---
"Get your feet off the desk! Do you have no respect for the V.G. seniors and the people who made these desks!?"
"I don't care! Who the hell are you, some background extra!?"
There they were.
And Ozawa was already arguing with someone.
It was the first day, Ozawa. Come on, you're here to learn how to become a hero. That's not the kind of attitude you should have.
Seeing that neither of them had noticed him yet, Kurata quietly moved behind Ren Akishima and placed a hand on his head.
"Hyu——!?"
That alone was enough to make Akishima tumble off his desk, falling flat on his butt as he scrambled away, looking up at Kurata in a panic.
"That's not good, Ozawa. You need to put your feet down, okay?"
"Y-you damn villain!!"
Flustered, blushing, and clearly rattled, Akishima spat out an insult as he put distance between them.
The reactions from the rest of the class varied—some were confused, others whispered, "That was lame."
"Ah, it's you! You got in! I'm glad we'll be studying together."
A spiked hair boy stepped forward, grabbing Kurata's hand and shaking it firmly.
"Haha, thanks. I'm Takumi Kurata."
"I am Koshi Itoda. Your selflessness during the exam was truly inspiring… I look forward to learning with you."
Selflessness… That word felt heavy. Kurata smiled wryly.
"Tch! So you really managed to fool everyone, huh, you damn villain? This school's done for."
"Hey, you—!"
"It's fine, Itoda. He's not wrong."
Hearing that, Itoda flinched but did not let go of Kurata's hand.
It was better to get this over with quickly. They were going to find out anyway, so Kurata decided to reveal his quirk.
"My quirk is—"
...
...
...
"I see. A quirk rooted in darkness. That is why he calls you a villain."
Kurata's explanation was cut short by a student who stood up and approached.
A boy who looked like a shadow, with a deep, resonant voice.
"A quirk of darkness, one that often spirals out of control and affects those around you. So to keep others away, he mocks you as a villain… Yet you still choose to walk toward the light, seeking to be a hero. That is why you entered V.G., correct?"
"Uh… well… I mean, that's not exactly it, but you're not entirely wrong either…"
Darkness? More like the abyss. He wasn't spot-on, but he had come close.
Kurata knew he had to speak properly before misunderstandings piled up. He opened his mouth to clarify.
"To put it simply, my quirk isn't exactly darkness, but—"
"Ah! You, with the cool hair! You got in too!"
"Who'd call this guy, a cool hair?!" Akishima thought, as he looked towards Kurata, who was actually looking cool with his hair today...
And just like that, Kurata's explanation was cut off once again.