U.A.—the next morning.
Present Mic stood at the front of the classroom, sunglasses gleaming, shouting in English with his usual dramatic flair.
"COME ON! WHICH ONE OF THESE IS CORRECT?!"
He tapped the board, where three English sentences were written.
Students whispered, confused.
Momo raised her hand, poised to answer.
Meanwhile, Ren sat motionless at his desk.
His eyes were hollow.
Blank.
Lifeless.
His mind wasn't in the classroom.
Not even close.
I… I need to become stronger…
His fists clenched so violently his knuckles whitened.
While I sit here listening to useless lessons… they're out there doing who knows what to my mom…
His teeth almost cracked from how hard he gritted them.
His hair flickered—white lightning trying to escape him.
His rage simmered under his skin, ready to explode.
Present Mic paused mid-sentence.
"Takeda," he called out—not loud, not flashy, but gently, concerned. "We already asked you. If you need more time—"
"I'm fine."
Ren's voice was flat, empty.
He stood up.
Every student watched as crackles of electricity crawled through his hair.
He didn't wait for permission.
He didn't ask for it.
He simply walked out of class.
Midoriya and Momo had a worried look.
Ren…
...
Lunchtime
Everyone else went to the cafeteria.
Ren sat outside, alone, staring at nothing.
His stomach was empty—but he didn't care.
He didn't feel hunger.
He didn't feel anything except—
"...I'm still so weak," he whispered.
He stared at his hand, the hand that couldn't save her.
"I'm disgusting… I have all this power… yet I'm still so damn weak—"
Someone sat beside him.
Quietly.
Momo.
"Ren…" she began softly.
Ren immediately stood up.
"What do you want?"
His voice was cold enough to freeze the air.
"I'm not in the mood for chit-chat."
He turned to leave.
"Wait, Ren!" Momo called, standing up.
Ren stopped.
He looked over his shoulder.
Those white eyes—
She felt her breath catch.
A suffocating pressure weighed on her chest.
Ren…
Before she could speak again—
Midoriya arrived, nervous but determined.
"Ren, I—!"
He didn't finish.
Ren's foot smashed into his stomach.
"GHH—!"
Midoriya hit the ground, choking for air.
Momo gasped. "Ren—!"
Ren stared down at Midoriya with eyes like burning ice.
"Did you come to pity me?" he asked, voice dripping with venom.
"N-No, Ren, I—" Midoriya coughed, using his elbows to sit up—
Ren punched him in the nose.
Blood spurted instantly.
"You disgust me, Midoriya."
Ren grabbed him by the hair and yanked his face upward.
Midoriya froze.
Ren's eyes…
They were pure white.
Even the pupils.
Something primal in Midoriya's brain screamed in fear.
"You have one of the strongest Quirks in the world," Ren said calmly, almost emotionlessly, "and all you do is whine… cry… and whine more."
"Ren… w-what are you—" Midoriya trembled.
Ren's grip tightened.
"You don't deserve that Quirk."
Then—
He let go.
Midoriya collapsed back to the ground, shaking.
Ren turned his back on him and walked away without another word.
Only the faint crackle of electricity followed him.
Momo and Midoriya watched him go, both speechless.
Ren…
...
The mood in the classroom had changed.
Lunch was over.
Everyone returned, buzzing, energized—except two people.
Momo.
Midoriya.
Both kept glancing at Ren… who sat silently, staring at the wall as if it were the only thing that existed.
His expression was empty.
His shadow unmoving.
His posture stiff with barely restrained tension.
Normally, Midoriya would be shaking with excitement, biting his pencil, muttering theories—but right now, even he kept his head lowered, a faint bruise still visible on his nose.
And then...
Suddenly—
SLAM!
The door slid open.
"I AM NOW HERE…"
The familiar booming voice filled the room.
"…AND I NORMALLY ENTER BY THE DOOR!!"
All Might strode inside in his Silver Age costume, towering and glowing like the sun.
The room erupted.
"It's ALL MIGHT!!" Denki Kaminari yelled, practically vibrating, his orange-yellow hair sparking.
"So cool! He's really teaching at U.A.!" Kirishima Eijiro added, his spiky red hair bristling with excitement.
Beside him, Asui Tsuyu blinked slowly. "That costume… ribbit… that's the Silver Age version."
Ojiro Mashirao nodded, tail flicking. "His whole aura is insane. It gives me chills."
All Might reached the front desk, crossed his arms, and lifted his chest proudly.
"My subject is… THE FUNDAMENTALS OF HEROISM!!"
The class leaned forward as one.
Except Ren.
Ren didn't move.
"During this course," All Might continued, "I will put you through countless simulated trials, real enough to challenge the very core of your heroic spirit!"
Students whispered excitedly.
Midoriya's eyes lit up despite the pain.
Momo tried to smile, though she kept checking Ren's condition from the corner of her eye.
"This course also gives the highest number of credits!" All Might declared.
The class gasped.
"But let's not waste any more time…"
He struck a dramatic pose, cape fluttering.
"Because today, we begin with… a SIMULATED BATTLE!!"
"WHOOOO!!" the class erupted.
It felt like a festival.
"And now…" All Might turned, raising a single finger. "GET READY FOR THESE!!"
He pointed at the wall.
KSSSHHHK—
Panels slid open, revealing rows of sleek metal cases, each marked with a student's number.
"Our custom hero suits!" Kirishima shouted.
"The ones made from your Quirk certificates!" All Might added proudly. "Crafted to match your abilities and descriptions!"
The class roared with joy.
Dozens of students rushed excitedly toward the cases.
Ren didn't move.
To be continued...
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Have I made Ren too gloomy?