One week later, the letter from UA finally arrived. It was a crisp, white envelope with the UA emblem stamped proudly on the front. My mother handed it to me with a smile, her eyes shining with anticipation. My father stood beside her, his arms crossed but his expression equally eager. Even though I'd told myself I had this in the bag, my hands trembled slightly as I took the envelope. Confidence was one thing, but this? This was the moment that could change everything.
After dinner, I sat at the table, the crisp envelope cool against my fingertips. I slid a finger under the seal, peeling it open with deliberate slowness. The faint rustle of paper filled the quiet room as I pulled out the contents, my breath catching slightly. Inside, there were a couple of letters. The first one was short and to the point: Congratulations on your acceptance into UA High School's Hero Course. The second letter listed the things I'd need for school—uniforms, supplies, and other essentials.
The third letter was the quirk registration form where we need to describe our quirk and also choose from the support companies affiliated with the school for costumes. But the most exciting part was the small hologram disc tucked inside.
I placed the disc on the table, and with a press of a button, a holographic projection of All Might sprang to life. His booming voice filled the room, making my parents jump slightly.
"CONGRATULATIONS, YOUNG KURODA!" All Might's hologram declared, his signature grin as wide as ever. "YOUNG KURODA! YOU DIDN'T JUST FIGHT WELL—YOU SHOWED THE HEART OF A TRUE HERO! MANY CAN THROW A PUNCH, BUT FEW CHOOSE TO RISK EVERYTHING TO SAVE OTHERS. AND THAT… THAT is what makes a real hero! I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT UA—TRAIN HARD, AND NEVER FORGET WHY YOU STARTED THIS JOURNEY!"
The hologram flickered out, leaving the room in stunned silence. My parents were the first to react.
"All Might is going to be your teacher?" my father asked, his voice tinged with awe. "That's incredible!"
My mother clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling. "I can't believe it! Our son, taught by All Might himself!"
I couldn't help but smile at their excitement. It was hard not to get caught up in their enthusiasm. The letter also included my exam scores: 62 combat points and 30 rescue points, totaling 92 points overall. I'd expected to do well, but this was beyond my expectations. UA didn't emphasize the written exam much for the Hero Course, so my practical performance had clearly sealed the deal.
Not long after, the System chimed in with its own rewards. I leveled up twice and received 10,000 gold—more than I'd anticipated. As my level increased, I realized I'd need to rely more on missions like these to keep progressing. The thought was both exciting and daunting.
Just as I was processing everything, my phone buzzed. It was Kendo.
The second I answered, Kendo practically shouted, "I GOT IN!"
I chuckled. "I figured. No way UA would pass up on you."
"Damn right," she said, laughing. "And you! I heard you crushed the exam."
"Eh, just barely scraped by," I teased.
"Uh-huh. Sure. Next thing you'll tell me is that All Might personally invited you to be his sidekick."
There was a brief pause on the other end before Kendo spoke again, her tone shifting to something more competitive. "Actually, I just checked my letter again. I'm going to be in Class 1-B. What about you?"
"Class 1-A," I said, feeling a mix of surprise and amusement. "Guess we won't be in the same class after all."
Kendo laughed, but there was a playful edge to it. "Well, that just means we'll have to compete against each other. I'm not going to let you show me up, Kuroda."
I smirked, even though she couldn't see it. "You're on, Kendo. But don't blame me when I come out on top."
"Confident, aren't you?" she shot back, her tone teasing. "We'll see about that. Class 1-B is going to give Class 1-A a run for their money."
"I'll believe it when I see it," I said, matching her playful tone. "But seriously, congrats. We've both worked hard for this."
"Yeah," she agreed, her voice softening. "It's going to be interesting, though. Competing against you, I mean. You've got that weird energy thing going on, but I'm not going to back down."
"I wouldn't expect anything less," I said. "Just don't cry when I win."
Kendo snorted. "Keep dreaming, Kuroda. Anyway, I'll see you at UA. Don't slack off before school starts."
"You either," I replied. "Good luck, Kendo."
We chatted for a few more minutes before hanging up. It was comforting to know that at least one familiar face would be at UA with me.
The next day, my father came home with more good news. He'd been promoted at work, and his salary had nearly doubled. But that wasn't all—the support company he worked for had offered to sponsor my hero costume and cover my tuition at UA. The company, one of the top in the industry, saw this as an investment. Sponsoring me didn't cost them much, but it could lead to a valuable connection—or even a future client—if I became a successful hero.
"They promoted me to make sure you'd stick with them," my father explained, his tone a mix of pride and amusement. "It's a bit cunning, but it's a good deal for us. The company's reputable, and I'll be able to oversee your costume and support tech in the future."
I nodded, considering the offer. It made sense, and I trusted my father to look out for my best interests. "I'm fine with it," I said. "As long as the costume meets my needs, I don't mind working with them."
With that settled, the three of us began discussing what my hero costume should look like. As a martial artist, my requirements were simple.
"It should be comfortable to move around in," I said, ticking off points on my fingers. "Sturdy enough to withstand my energy techniques, and not too flashy—no capes or anything like that. I don't need much support gear right now, just good gloves and shoes."
My parents nodded, already brainstorming ideas. I trusted them to handle the details—they knew me better than anyone, after all.
With one month left before school started, I threw myself into training. My regular school had already finished, so I had no distractions. From dawn to dusk, I worked on improving my level and refining my skills. Every day was a step closer to becoming the hero I wanted to be.