After our battle over who had the crappier naming sense was forcibly de-escalated, we spent the next several minutes insulting each other via hand signals.
Kacchan had the audacity to throw a "motherfucker" sign my way. Just you try it, you jerk. My mom is way stronger than you. Moron.
"Stop it, Midoriya, Bakugo. Enough," Aizawa sighed. "Anyway, despite the distractions from these idiots, today you'll be choosing your hero code names. Even though these are temporary..."
"If you pick something lame, you'll be living in hell!!"
A cheerful voice cut through the air, interrupting the Mummy-teacher just as my frustration was reaching Mach speed. I called a temporary truce and looked toward the front of the room. There stood my soul sister, Midnight-sensei.
"Many of these names get recognized by the public and end up becoming your official pro names!" she declared.
As usual, her outfit was... adventurous. Midnight was really "on" today. If she was bringing her A-game, I had to do the same. I quickly threw on my cat poncho and raised my hands to make my presence known.
Midnight noticed me immediately. "Oh, how precious!" she cheered, giving me a thumbs-up.
See? A mature woman of culture knows quality when she sees it! I shot a smug look at Kacchan, but he completely ignored me this time. I will never forgive you for this, Katsuki Bakugo.
"Midoriya, I get that you're cute. Now sit down and be quiet," Aizawa muttered.
"Yes, sir!"
I sat back down properly. I'm a very well-behaved student when I want to be.
"As I was saying," Aizawa continued, "Midnight will be assessing your sense of style. I'm not suited for this kind of thing. For those of you whose future path is still a bit vague, giving yourself a name can help solidify your image and bring your actions and mindset in line with your goal. Even if it's temporary, don't pick anything ridiculous."
Aizawa held up an index finger.
"'A name reveals the nature.' All Might is a perfect example. Put your goals and aspirations into your name. That's all. Midnight, she's all yours."
"Alrighty! Leave it to me! Though," Midnight smirked toward the sleeping bag, "that's rich coming from a guy who had someone else pick his name. I heard all about it from Mic, you know."
"Mine... well, it fit, so it's fine," Aizawa grumbled from inside his yellow cocoon.
Midnight took the podium, and our "Hero Naming Workshop" began. She gave us examples of old-school names, talked about modern trends, and shared tips on how to craft something memorable.
It was helpful for me, but looking around, it seemed like most of the class already had ideas they'd been sitting on for years. I mean, everyone here wants to be a hero, so I guess it makes sense.
But what about me?
I didn't want just any name. I wanted something that screamed "Greatness." Something that captured my beauty, cuteness, lovability, and majesty all at once.
"Deliciously Cute Nico," I whispered.
"Midoriya, try a little harder than that," Sero whispered back with a strained laugh.
"Shut up, 'Don't Mind' Sero."
"Don't call me that like it's my name! That hurts!"
Naming things is hard.
"Beautiful Nico the Perfect."
"Midoriya, I think it needs more flair," the Grape-head chimed in from behind me. "Maybe add some numbers. Numbers are classy."
"Numbers?"
"Yeah! People put numbers in front or at the end of their names all the time. For you, maybe... your three-sizes?"
"Shut your mouth if you don't want to be turned into fertilizer, Grape."
"I'll kill you, you shitty Grape," Kacchan added, his palms popping.
"Wh-whoa! Bakugo, don't take her side!"
Hmm. Still not right.
"Goddess Nico."
"What exactly are you planning to become, Midoriya?" Jiro asked from the seat in front of me. Seriously, is everyone just bored? Stop judging my process!
"Fine, you give me a suggestion then!"
"The whole point is that you think of it yourself. Isn't there anything related to your Quirk? Like, a play on words?"
"My Quirk?"
Pulling Quirk... Pulling-Nico? No.
It needs to be... wait! I've got it!
"The Pulling Hero: Inko!!"
"Huh? I don't really get it, but it sounds okay? What's an Inko? Like 'Inryoku' for gravity?"
"No, that's my mom's name."
"WHY WOULD YOU PICK THAT?!"
"What? My Pulling Quirk is my mom's Quirk! It makes sense!"
"Even so, WHY?! No! Absolutely not! Rejecting it immediately!"
Jiro shot me down. And I thought it fit so well, too.
"This is hard... I really liked 'Inko'."
"Think about the stress your mother would go through and just stop!" Jiro snapped. She's such a killjoy.
As I was agonizing over my options, Midnight-sensei drifted over to my desk.
"Still struggling? Don't you have any preferences, Midoriya-chan?"
"Majesty... elegance... beauty... I want a name that makes people realize I'm the ultimate adorable package the moment they hear it."
"My, how ambitious! But if you pack all of that into one name, it'll be too crowded. Why not narrow it down to one or two themes?"
One or two?
"Maybe... Majesty and Cuteness?"
"In that case, why not look at the names of great historical figures for inspiration? If you put your own spin on them, you can bring out that cuteness you're looking for."
"Oh! I see!"
"I have some reference materials here. Take your time and look through them."
She handed me a packet full of names of famous people from history. There were a few that looked promising.
"I'll give it a look!"
"Good luck!"
Alright, time to get serious!
"Nico is being played like a fiddle..." Ochaco whispered.
"Midnight is incredible," Tsuyu agreed.
"I've been meaning to say this for a while," Iida muttered from between them, "but have you both forgotten that I'm sitting right here?"
"Alright, that's enough chatting! Everyone who's finished, double-check your choices. Even if it's temporary, this name is going out to the world!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
I spent the next several minutes brainstorming and finally settled on a name. I filled the presentation board with as many decorations as possible. I drew stars to represent my star power, cats to represent my cuteness, and a dragon coiling around the letters to symbolize my majesty.
As I was adding the finishing touches, Kacchan leaned over to peek. "What now?"
"...Are you seriously going with that?"
"It's a hundred times better than 'Lord Explosion Murder'."
I expected him to blow up, but he just furrowed his brow. He didn't look like he approved, but he didn't seem to be judging me as hard as usual.
Finally, Midnight announced that it was time for the presentations.
The first one up was that mystery blonde kid I didn't recognize.
"The Shining Hero: I Can Not Stop Twinkling."
He's a foreigner?! And his name is a whole sentence?! Wait, is that a hero name or just a statement? What's his real name? John? Michael?
"IT'S A SENTENCE!!!" the class shouted.
Yep, I wasn't the only one thinking it. Midnight gave him some advice (in Japanese, though I doubt he understood it) and sent him back.
Ashido went next with "Alien Queen," but Midnight shot that one down immediately. I thought it was cool, personally.
After Ashido came Tsuyu. Her hero name: "Froppy."
Midnight and the whole class loved it. I thought it was cute too, but I still don't get why Alien Queen was a no-go.
Then came Kirishima: "Red Riot."
Apparently, it's a tribute to a hero he admires. Sounds manly enough, I guess.
Then came the flood:
Jiro: "Earphone Jack."
Shoji: "Tentacole."
Sero: "Cellophane." (I ignored him).
"It's Cellophane! Midoriya! Look at me! Look at the board!!"
"..."
"STOP IGNORING ME!!"
Ojiro: "Tailman."
The snack-guy (Sato): "Sugarman."
Ashido's second attempt: "Pinky."
Kaminari: I missed his, so I have no idea. Probably "Zappy-Boy" or something.
Hagakure: "Invisible Girl." A bit on the nose, don't you think?
Momo: "Creati."
Todoroki: "Shoto." His own name? Boring.
I missed Tokoyami, the Grape, and the quiet guy because I was busy fixing a smudge on my board. Sorry, guys.
Ochaco stepped up next, so I stopped my work to listen. "Uravity," she announced. It had a nice ring to it. Midnight called it "stylish," which made Ochaco beam. Good for you, Ochaco!
Including me, only three people were left. I wanted to be the grand finale, so I let Kacchan and Iida go first. Kacchan stomped up to the front.
"Lord Explosion Murder."
...Even after I told him it was lame, he didn't change a single letter. That level of sheer, idiotic confidence... I don't hate it. In fact, that's one of the things I like about him.
"You should probably rethink that one," Midnight said, shooting him down instantly.
"WHY THE HELL SHOULD I?!"
As Kacchan stomped back to his seat to "rethink," I looked at Four-Eyes. He looked like he was in another world, lost in thought. Why was he so stressed? It's just a name.
Eventually, he stood up and presented his board: "Tenya."
Midnight noted that it was just his name.
I glanced over at Ochaco; she was looking at Iida with a worried expression. Hmm. Something was definitely up. I'd felt a weird vibe from him since this morning. Is it a boy-girl drama thing?! ...Probably not.
Putting Four-Eyes out of my mind, I stepped up to the podium for the main event.
"How about you, Midoriya-chan? Did you find something good?"
"Mwahaha! Of course I did!"
I placed my board on the podium with a flourish.
"The Ultimate of Cat-Princess Heroes!! Last Elegant Nico the Cute!!"
"I have a lot of things I could say... but rejected."
WHAT?! WHY?!
Kacchan and I spent the next ten minutes in a fierce competition to get our names approved. After he tried "Lord Explosion Murder" for the third time, I finally managed to secure a victory.
My official Hero Name: Nico.
I'll take the win! Kacchan tried to suggest "Lord Explosion" at the last second, but failed.
What's wrong, Kacchan? You look frustrated. Are you mad? Hmm? Why don't you say something, "Hero-Who-Just-Used-His-Real-Name"?!
"WHOA!! STOP!! DON'T BLAST ME!! HEY!!"
***
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