SIDE Deku
"Today's Hero Basic Training... will be conducted by me, All Might, and one more person — it'll be a three-teacher system."
"Okaaay! What are we doing!?"
It was time for Hero Basic Training after the morning classes had ended. Mr. Aizawa made the announcement, and Sero-kun responded right away.
Mr. Shota Aizawa, homeroom teacher of Class 1-A, is also the Erasure Hero: Eraser Head.All the teachers at U.A. High are professional heroes.We call him "Mr. Aizawa" because he introduced himself that way, but most of the other teachers are referred to by their hero names—like Present Mic, the English teacher, and Cementoss, the literature teacher. They're all well-known, top-ranked heroes....But to be honest, when I first met Mr. Aizawa, I didn't realize he was Eraser Head. I mean, the guy looked too worn-out to be a hero... well, yeah...
Back to the topic.
This is Class 1-A, a class of 25 boys and girls training to become heroes.The one who spoke earlier, Sero-kun, is one of them. His Quirk is "Tape."He can fire detachable tape from his arms. That might not sound impressive at first, but it's great for capturing villains or building barricades. I think it's a really useful Quirk.
"Be it disasters, water rescues, or anything in between—today's training is rescue operations!!"
"Rescue, huh? This is gonna be tough...""Rescue training again… Looks like another hard one.""Riiight?""Idiot! This is exactly what being a hero is about! My arms are tingling!!""If it's water rescue, then I've got this. Ribbit."
"...Mr. Aizawa."
Amid the chatter of the class mood-makers, a single hand went up quietly.That calm movement made one student, then another, notice something was off, and the class slowly fell silent.
"Since we're doing rescue training during a disaster scenario, does that mean we won't be simulating any villain involvement?""You mean like handling cases involving kidnapping or hostages?""Yes."
The one who asked was Yukinoshita-san from yesterday.She looked a bit intense, and a few others also wore tense expressions…
"Not this time. This is purely a disaster scenario. …But don't let your guard down.""...Understood.""…Though with you, I doubt that'll be an issue."
...Huh?What does that mean? Do they know each other?
"Yukinoshita… You're kind of on edge, huh?"
"…I don't know what you're talking about, Kawasaki-san."
"You seriously don't realize it? Yeah right."
The one confronting Yukinoshita-san was a girl with a dark bluish ponytail. Apparently, her name is Kawasaki. I don't know her Quirk.During our combat training two days ago, I passed out in the first round, so I couldn't see the others' Quirks.That day after class, some of us gathered and chatted, so I got to know a few Quirks, but I never got the chance with her.Shame… Like Kacchan, she left quickly.
"Why don't you just say it clearly? I'll respond however you like.""Heh… That's a challenge, huh?"
"Hey, you two! Cut it out!"
Whoa… things got tense fast!Iida-kun jumped in to mediate.He recently became the class rep and seems to be taking it seriously.
"It's fine, it's fine, Glasses-kun! And hey, just look at these two!"
"!? What are you talking about all of a sudden!?""Hilarious, right?""What part of this is funny!!?""Look at Yukinoshita-san.""Hmm.""Now look at Saki-chan.""Hmm.""Hilarious, right!!?""I don't get it at all!!"
The one laughing out of nowhere was Orimoto-san, if I'm not mistaken.Along with Yuigahama-san, she gives off a "gyaru" vibe.She's in the Hero Course, so she must want to be a hero… but it's hard to picture.As for her Quirk..."Ehh? Well, y'know! Yeah!"—was all she said when I asked. I never got a straight answer.I think she dodged the question…
"I wouldn't worry too much. Yukinoshita-san and Kawasaki-san are always like this.""Ugh… But still, Totsuka-kun. As class rep, I can't just ignore disputes! That's why you two! Please calm yourselves!"
Trying to gently soothe Iida-kun was Ayaka Totsuka.He's short, has a small head, a delicate face, and big eyes—most people would think he's a girl at first glance.That's a complex for him.On the first day, Kaminari-kun—he has a flashy personality and a lightning Quirk—went up to him saying:"You're super cute~! I'm Kaminari! So like, why are you crossdressing—uh… never mind…"His voice trailed off when Totsuka-kun looked like he was about to cry and Yuigahama-san scolded him fiercely, yelling:"Mistaking someone's gender is totally NOT okay!! And once is more than enough!!"
"You should be the one to calm down.""As class rep, you should maintain composure."
"Yikes… Yukinoshita-san and Kawasaki-san are scary…""But that glare… I kinda like it. I wanna be looked down on too.""Right? Those two are seriously cute though…"
"Hey, we're not done here yet…"
With a piercing voice that felt like it came with a glare, Mr. Aizawa brought the class back in line.Everyone instantly straightened up and faced forward.He sighed and continued the explanation.
"Whether or not to wear your costumes will be left to your judgment. Some costumes may restrict your movement. The training area is a bit far, so we'll take the bus. That's all—start getting ready."
He operated the remote to bring out our costumes while giving a quick rundown.In my head, I was replaying that video—the one I'd watched thousands, tens of thousands of times.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!"
Flames consuming rubble, buildings collapsing…
"You're safe now! Why? Because…"
Carrying a dozen people on his back, he smiled—so unlike those being carried.
"I am here!!"
I admired him.
I will become a hero like All Might.I can become one.Because I've inherited All Might's Quirk—because I've been deemed worthy.
"Yuigahama-san, did you bring your costume?""Yep!""Good. Then let's get going.""Yukinon, Yui-chan, let's go together!""…Sure.""Sai-chan, Saki-saki, let's go!""Ah, okay.""…Rescue training, huh."
The five who had been a bit noisy earlier left the classroom together.
"Those five seem unusually close.""Yukinon and Yuigahama are with them too… maybe they're from the same middle school—Soubu?""Hmm, they all seem like pretty unique personalities. Can they really get along…?"
"Nope, I'm not from there, mop-head!""Whoa!?""Stop that~"
Orimoto-san!! Dazzling, dazzling, dazzling daaaazzling!!
"Hmm? What's wrong, mop-head?""Please give him some space, Orimoto-kun…""A-Are you okay, Deku-kun?""Y-Yeah… I'm okay. I'm okay…"
"So, when you say you're not, you mean you're the only one not from there?""Ah, pretty much. I had the chance to meet Yukinoshita-san and the others back in middle school. We trained together to become heroes since then."
I couldn't hide my surprise when Orimoto-san mentioned they had been training with their Quirks since middle school.All Might had said something similar recently.Soubu Middle School, which is located within U.A.'s grounds, conducts Hero Course training starting from middle school.That kind of student is extremely rare. Most go through General Studies.Those few who do get Hero training early are top-tier—doing what we only start in high school one or two years ahead of us.They're way ahead.And there are only a handful of such middle schools across the country.Most can't meet the safety and ethical standards needed for Quirk training at that age.
"Well, I'm not from there, but… it's true that Yukinoshita-san and the others went to Soubu Middle."
"Yukinoshita, huh… I have to agree with Kawasaki-san. She clearly seems anxious.""Well… I guess she would be.""Why's that, Orimoto-chan?""Call me Kaori, Ochako-chan! …You see, Yukinoshita-san and the others are tracking a certain villain.""A villain!?""Wait… could it be… a man covered in black mist?""…Huh?"
The moment I mentioned "the man in black mist," Orimoto-san's expression changed.Her already large eyes widened even more. She gasped—and her hand twitched slightly.
"…How do you know about that?"
"Th-the other day… Yukinoshita-san told me directly…"
"…Haaah. She really doesn't care about holding anything back, does she?""…Though I guess that's the right call."
With a sigh, her face returned to normal.
"That villain stole something important from us. That's why we're looking for him—trying to get it back."
"Something… important?"
"If you ever see him, report it immediately. No questions asked. I think… whatever he took is something the pros and the police are also desperately looking for."
"Ah… yeah, okay."
Orimoto-san quickly left and ran off to rejoin the group of four.
"…I guess Orimoto-san is involved in it too…""Probably.""…They're the kind of people who already have something they must protect."
Something they must protect.Uraraka-san's words stuck in my ears.
…Could it be…?That incident two years ago, with the man in black mist—Was it… kidnapping?
Yukinon surely can't choose.Even knowing that, I declared it to both Hikky and Yukinon: "I'll take everything."I didn't think Hikky would try to stop me.And from that moment, a small but genuine wish was born in Yukinon's heart.
"I… no. I want to stay with Hikigaya-kun and Yuigahama-san. As friends… with Yuigahama-san."
Then, there were two requests—one from me, one from Yukinon—and a request from Hikky himself.He accepted both of ours, and though he struggled with the answer, he gave us one.We were finally able to take our first steps forward.
…But… back then…
"…Huh?""Ooh? What's wrong, Yuigahama? Don't tell me you're still not ready to settle this or something. Like, hey, maybe don't rush it just yet—""Something… black…""That's not a cloud… It's too close. Could it be… from a Quirk…?""…!! You all, get back!! We have to run!!""Eh!?""There's no hero with a Quirk like that! No doubt about it—it's a villain!!"
"Your instincts are impressive… Black Nova."
"Eh!? They've flanked us—!""Yuigahama!!""Hikigaya-kun, from behind too…!!""Damn it!!!"
"Nice to meet you, Hachiman Hikigaya. We've come to collect you."
"Huh…""What did you just say!?"
"…!! I see. So you have no intention of letting us go quietly, then."
"N-no way…""…What are you thinking right now?"
"!! I won't let you do this!"
"Come on… at least let me do this much!!"
"H-Hikky!!!""Stop it, put him down right now!! Hikigaya-kun!!!"
"It's a warp-type Quirk. What's impossible is impossible. I'll go quietly and let them finish what they came for. Yukinoshita, get to a hero agency. From here, Endeavor's office is the closest."
"Wait!! Stop! Please stop!!!!""!! No… No!! No, Hikkyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!"
The ground rippled and shifted. Yukinon and I couldn't move.Drifting farther away—four disgusting large men, the black mist villain… and Hikky's back.As we saw the explosions and black smoke rise from the coastal park facilities,Yukinon and I ran to Endeavor's office in tears.