Within the conference chamber of the esteemed U.A. Hero Academy, numerous elegantly attired individuals were seated around a lengthy, gleaming table. At its head presided a distinctive, enigmatic creature—part mouse, part hedgehog, part dog; its precise species remained an enigma to all save itself: Nezu, the current Principal of U.A.
"Very well, I presume you are all curious as to the purpose of your gathering today?" Nezu chirped with an air of amusement, his gaze sweeping across the room.
Around the extensive table were seated the Pro Heroes Power Loader, Cementoss, Eraser Head, Recovery Girl, Midnight, Snipe, Vlad King, Present Mic, and Ectoplasm. Each possessed formidable capabilities, some widely celebrated for their heroic deeds, others silently feared in the criminal underworld, and a few... known for their particular flair in engaging with their fan base.
"Cut to the chase, Nezu. If you've summoned us all here, it cannot be a routine announcement," Eraser Head grumbled, his eyes heavy with fatigue and his face bearing a perpetually tired expression. "My time is not infinite."
"There's no need to be so sour, dearest, and aren't you quite occupied? You've dismissed all the students from your class... fufufu, what are you implying, my love? Just you and I, alone in a classroom? Fufufu," Midnight purred seductively, her thoughts drifting into various romantic scenarios. "Perhaps we might even acquire an exceptionally talented student, hehe..."
The others simply rolled their eyes at Midnight's theatrical display before redirecting their attention to Nezu.
"Indeed, Aizawa, your observation is correct; I am about to deliver a significant announcement," Nezu affirmed calmly, taking a sip of his tea. "In fact, I believe this may well be the most pivotal announcement ever made in the annals of U.A.'s history."
Eraser Head merely muttered under his breath. He harbored a strong dislike for Nezu's penchant for shrouding matters in secrecy for his own entertainment. Nezu, naturally, was acutely aware of Aizawa's aversion to such theatrics, which was precisely why he indulged in them.
"It is with immense pleasure that I inform you: All Might has been appointed as the new Professor of Heroism at U.A.!" Nezu finally disclosed to the assembled faculty. "He will officially commence teaching duties in the upcoming academic cycle!"
At this revelation, the teachers' eyes immediately widened in astonishment at the unexpected news. The majority expressed keen excitement at the prospect of collaborating with the preeminent hero their nation had ever produced. Then there were Eraser Head and Recovery Girl, who exhibited scant enthusiasm, appearing instead rather vexed by the news.
"Tomorrow, after classes conclude, All Might will arrive at the academy to make his acquaintance. However, I must remind you that he possesses no prior teaching experience, hence his proficiency in the pedagogical field is limited," Nezu elaborated, addressing the entire staff and preemptively dispelling the doubts that undoubtedly arose in Eraser Head's mind.
Eraser Head sighed, then reached for a bottle of eye drops. "What an inconvenience..."
"Now, transitioning to other matters: the forthcoming entrance examination..."
"One!" Thwack! "Two!" Thwack! "Three!" Thwack!
Lena was vigorously striking a sandbag with her legs, meticulously refining her Taekwondo maneuvers. High school had recently concluded, leaving a span of several months until the U.A. entrance examination. She recognized the imperative to prepare as thoroughly as possible. Contrary to her initial expectations, her Quirk's developmental trajectory was not as rapid as she had envisioned. While her progress was far from negligible, she had anticipated a somewhat quicker advancement.
Thwack!
Concentrating intently, she recommenced her practice with the training dummy. It was a widely acknowledged principle that Quirks functioned much like musculature: their strength progressively augmented with consistent use, provided it was tempered with moderation and proper care.
Thwack!
After a period of dedicated training, she perceived that her primary Quirk had indeed gained potency. Lena now sensed a considerably larger reservoir of Entropic Energy within her, feeling it pulsate throughout her body, a portion of it intricately linked to the Slipstream device she wore.
Thwack!
While this newfound capacity implied she could now execute more "Accelerations" and "Recoil" abilities...
Thwack!
...Lena remained unwilling to exceed three "Accelerations," primarily driven by an intense dread of once again becoming a phantom lost within the currents of time.
Thwack!
Concurrently, her Secondary Quirks had also evolved alongside her physical training. Lena felt both stronger and swifter, though she couldn't definitively ascertain whether this was purely a consequence of her rigorous workouts or if her Secondary Quirks had intrinsically improved.
"Haa... Haa... Haa... Haa," Lena exhaled laboriously. Approximately four hours had passed since she initiated her practice routine. Having finally regained her breath, she resolved to take a respite. She approached the bench where her towel lay, seated herself, and took a substantial drink of water from her bottle.
"Are you well?" Winston's voice abruptly inquired from beside her.
"KYAAA!!!" Lena shrieked in surprise, executing a dramatic leap backward to confront her father's unexpected presence.
Lena drew a deep breath to calm her racing heart before fixing her father with an indignant stare. "DO NOT DO THAT! YOU NEARLY FRIGHTENED ME TO DEATH!!!" Lena exclaimed at the top of her lungs, pouting at her father's mischievous grin.
"HAHAHA!" Winston erupted in laughter, evidently pleased that his little prank had succeeded perfectly.
Lena sighed, clutching her chest, her heart still thrumming as if poised to burst. "Goodness, I feel like my heart is about to escape my body..."
"You don't handle sudden scares particularly well, do you?" Winston observed with a smile, noting Lena's flustered state.
"If you attempt that again, I vow to move in with Uncle David," Lena retorted with a smile of her own, before reseating herself on the bench. "And that is my final word."
This pronouncement momentarily froze Winston. He then scratched the back of his neck, offering an apology to Lena, though a faint smile still played on his lips.
"Well, I merely came to observe your training progress," Winston explained, settling onto the floor since the bench was drenched with perspiration. "Remember to allocate time for your studies as well; U.A. consistently administers written examinations in addition to a surprising practical test."
Lena shrugged with a slight chuckle. "I know, I know, don't fret; my grades are consistently top-notch."
"I am aware, but as your father, it is my duty to reiterate this until it is ingrained in your memory," Winston clarified with a chuckle of his own. "Beyond your academic performance, however, my concern lies with your social interactions."
Lena simply averted her gaze.
Winston sighed. "You cannot persistently avoid social engagement, my dear. In the Hero profession, you will be required to collaborate with unfamiliar individuals, and establishing a rapport with them can be crucial. The fact that you possess no companions is itself a cause for worry, wouldn't you agree?"
"...I have one friend... I believe..." Lena murmured under her breath, yet Winston overheard it nonetheless.
Winston was concerned about Lena's social life, not because she was shy, but because she made no effort to converse with anyone unless absolutely necessary. However, Lena's assertion of having a friend now captured Winston's attention, as she had never previously mentioned such a thing.
'She must have encountered her during the final days of school,' Winston conjectured.
"Well, I'm not entirely certain if she'd be considered a friend. Anyway, I typically frequented the rooftop because its silence was so calming, but one day I was surprised to discover another girl already there. Apparently, she was engrossed in music, utilizing her Quirk," Lena explained, scratching her head, seemingly embarrassed for some reason as she recounted this to her father.
"Her Quirk?"
"It's like... one of those headphone wires. Apparently, she can perceive sounds through them, so she employs them as earphones. Regardless, it seemed she hadn't noticed my presence, so I retreated to the opposite side of the rooftop and sat down to eat in silence. After a few minutes, she became aware of me and asked what I was doing there. I simply responded that I appreciated the rooftop's tranquility. Since then, we've only exchanged brief greetings... and that's the extent of it." Lena concluded, inexplicably flustered. Even she wondered why she felt this way... perhaps it was due to her father's expression of astonishment and pride.
She turned her head to look at her father.
Indeed, it was unequivocally the look of a proud father.
Without a word, Winston embraced Lena, despite her being sweaty from training. Lena was initially surprised by her father's hug but simply reciprocated the embrace. After a few long minutes, they finally separated.
"Hehe, it seems my little girl is growing up," Winston remarked cheerfully as he rose from the bench and headed towards the basement stairs. These words caused Lena to feel a slight blush and, for some reason, a touch of annoyance.
"I'm not a child anymore..." Lena muttered, not quite daring to say it aloud.
As Winston was about to ascend the stairs, he turned his head back toward Lena and inquired, "By the way, there are seven months remaining until the U.A. entrance examinations. Have you created the prototype for your Hero costume yet?"
"Ah..." Lena had completely forgotten about it...