The next day, the atmosphere in Class 1-A had changed significantly. My and Momo's strategic victory, a stark contrast to the destruction caused by Midoriya and Bakugo's fight, had sent ripples through the class. I was no longer just the "mysterious first-ranked student"; I was now the "mysterious strategist." Some students looked at me with newfound curiosity, while others, like Bakugo, watched me with a darker, more intense glare. He sat slumped in his chair, radiating an aura of controlled rage. He couldn't comprehend how such a clean victory, devoid of any flashy power, was possible. To him, it was an anomaly, and Katsuki Bakugo hated anomalies.
Izuku Midoriya returned to class with his arm in a sling, looking exhausted but with a new fire in his eyes. As I walked past him, he bowed his head slightly. "That was a great victory yesterday, Tatsumi-kun," he mumbled, still a bit shy. "It was so clever."
"You're the one who showed true courage, Midoriya," I replied sincerely. "Winning a fight by sacrificing yourself for the greater goal… not many people can do that." The respect between us was palpable, a silent acknowledgment between two people fighting in their own unconventional ways.
Eijiro Kirishima approached me with his toothy grin. "I saw your fight yesterday!" he exclaimed. "Taking down your opponents without breaking anything, that's super manly in its own way! So tactical!" I just nodded in response, appreciating his straightforward honesty. Slowly, I was beginning to find my place, not as the center of attention, but as a calm, reliable entity on the periphery of our class's chaos.
Inside me, however, that composure was far from the truth. The victory in the Combat Training felt hollow. I won with my brain, not with my power. I won because Momo could perfectly manifest my plan. It proved I could be an asset, but it also highlighted my most fundamental weakness: I was a general without an army, a king without a kingdom. Incursio remained silent, unresponsive to my call. I was walking a very thin tightrope, maintaining a facade of control and competence while internally hiding a chaotic power I couldn't command. I knew I couldn't rely on intellect forever. Sooner or later, I would be faced with a situation where strategy wasn't enough. I had to find a way to train this dragon, even if it meant getting burned in the process.
That day, Aizawa-sensei entered the class with his usual disheveled appearance, looking as though he'd just rolled out of bed. "Good work yesterday," he said in his flat tone. "But don't let it go to your heads. The real trouble has just begun." He paused, letting his words sink in. "Today, we have to do some normal high school business. We have to… pick a class president."
Instantly, the room exploded. Nearly everyone raised their hands, shouting about why they should be the top choice. I could only sigh at the spectacle. Iida suggested a democratic voting process, and we were all given a slip of paper. As I held my pen, I considered my options. Midoriya had unparalleled heroic spirit. Iida had integrity and a powerful sense of responsibility. Both were good choices. But my mind went back to the conversation in the cafeteria and our teamwork during the exercise. Someone who could remain calm under pressure, analyze a situation objectively, and had the ability to lead through intelligence, not just passion. Without hesitation, I wrote one name on my paper: Yaoyorozu Momo. She might not see herself as a leader yet, but I could see the potential clearly.
The results, however, followed canonical destiny. Izuku Midoriya won the election with three votes, and Momo came in second with two. One of those votes must have been mine. Midoriya, of course, looked like he was about to faint from panic. "M-me?! Class President?!" he stammered, his whole body trembling. I almost laughed at his reaction. He might have the heart of the greatest hero, but he was still an awkward, timid boy.
The relative peace of our school life was shattered at lunch. As I was heading to the cafeteria with Toru, a deafening siren suddenly blared throughout the school, accompanied by a cold, automated announcement: "WARNING. LEVEL 3 SECURITY BREACH. ALL STUDENTS PLEASE EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY."
Chaos erupted instantly. Hundreds of students from different classes spilled into the hallways, creating a panicked, crushing wave of bodies. Everyone was screaming, trying to escape an unknown threat. I immediately pulled Toru close so we wouldn't be separated. With my height, I could see over the crowd and toward the windows. There, at the front gates of U.A., I saw a sea of journalists and reporters, their cameras like hungry insect eyes, all pushing to get in.
"It's just the press," I told Toru, trying to calm her. "There are no villains." But as I said it, I saw something else. Something that made my blood run cold. The main security gate of U.A., a massive metal fortress, had disintegrated into dust as if it were made of sand. That wasn't the work of reporters. Someone had let them in. Someone had sent a message.
In the midst of the mass panic, I witnessed a remarkable sight. Tenya Iida, driven by his sense of responsibility, launched himself into the air with his engine Quirk, flying over the crowd and landing awkwardly but effectively above the exit door. "EVERYONE, CALM DOWN!" he shouted, his authoritative voice cutting through the panic. "IT'S JUST THE MEDIA! THERE IS NO DANGER! WE ARE STUDENTS OF U.A.! LET'S ACT IN A MANNER BEFITTING OUR GREAT SCHOOL!" His passionate speech worked. The crowd slowly settled down. I looked at Iida with a new level of respect. He truly was born to lead.
In Principal Nezu's office, several teachers stared at the security monitors with grim expressions. "This wasn't just a simple breach," Aizawa said, his eyes fixed on the image of the disintegrated gate. "That barrier is designed to withstand a much stronger assault. It crumbled from the inside out, as if it underwent rapid material decay. Someone with a very specific Quirk destroyed it to create this diversion."
Nezu stared at the pile of dust on the screen, his claws tapping on the desk. "A test," he murmured, his beady eyes narrowing. "They are testing our defenses. They want to know our schedules. They want to know how quickly we respond. This is no longer a threat, Aizawa-kun. This is the prelude to an attack." His usual cheerful expression was gone, replaced by a cold seriousness. "We must be vigilant."
Of course, after the incident, Midoriya wisely handed over the position of class president to Iida, who proudly accepted. It was the most logical outcome, and our class returned to its normal routine, unaware of the shadow that had just passed through our gates.
The next day, Aizawa-sensei came in and made another announcement. "Today, we'll be doing a special exercise. You'll be going to an off-campus facility for rescue training."
The room was immediately filled with excited whispers. Rescue training? Off-campus? It sounded like real hero work. We were all instructed to change into our hero costumes and gather in front of the school bus. As we boarded, the atmosphere felt like a field trip. Kirishima and Kaminari were joking loudly, while Tsuyu Asui began a frank and blunt conversation with Midoriya about his Quirk's similarities to All Might's.
I chose a seat by the window, with Toru next to me. I watched the city scenery pass by, but my mind was elsewhere. Rescue training… at a remote facility… I knew exactly what this meant. The Unforeseen Simulation Joint. The USJ. The place where the League of Villains would make their first attack. My stomach felt like it was tied in knots. I glanced at my classmates. They were laughing, chatting, completely unaware that they were heading into an ambush.
"Tatsumi-san." A calm voice called my name. Momo had taken the seat across the aisle from me. "You seem tense. Is something bothering you?"
I shook my head. "Just thinking about the upcoming training," I replied, a partial lie. "Rescue training is a completely different discipline. It's not about defeating an opponent, but about disaster mitigation, environmental control, and victim triage. Far more complex than a one-on-one fight."
Momo nodded, her analytical eyes shining. "You're right. It will test our ability to think under pressure in a new way. Physical strength alone won't be enough. It will be a test of intellect and adaptability." She looked at me. "I'm curious how you would handle a situation that requires immense strength to clear rubble, for example." She was still probing, still trying to understand the limits of my 'Quirk.'
"I'll find a way," I said quietly, more to myself than to her.
As the bus drove on, I felt the heat in my chest begin to pulse gently, a sensation I hadn't felt in a long time. It was a faint throb, like a distant alarm. It was as if the dragon inside me, which had been dormant since the entrance exam, sensed the approaching threat in the air. It smelled blood and danger.
The bus finally pulled up to a giant glass dome that looked like a futuristic exhibition center. The USJ. The Space Hero, Thirteen, was standing by the entrance to greet us, their astronaut-like appearance exactly as I remembered. Everything seemed normal. Everything was going according to plan. But I knew better. I gripped the seat in front of me, my knuckles turning white. The laughter and chatter of my classmates felt like sounds from another world. They were walking into a viper's nest. And I, the only one who knew, had to get ready. The real fight was about to begin.