Chapter 2 — "Six Years Later"
Six years had passed since the night Devon Jackson first tapped the watch and watched his sneakers transform into blazing red Jordans.
In that time, the world changed.
And so did he.
No longer a small, unsure kid—Devon had grown into a lean, athletic 16-year-old, taller, sharper, and stronger. His hair was clean-cut, his confidence real, and his step carried a quiet purpose.
But one thing hadn't changed:
He still trained every night.
Alleyways. Empty tracks. Rooftops.
He pushed the speed of Crimson Rush, tested the limits of Volt Step, and learned a critical truth:
Every form had strengths… and weaknesses.
Red Jordans overheated.
Blue Jordans drained his stamina.
And switching forms too fast made his legs lock up.
He kept all of this secret.
Because secrets were safer.
And heroes had to be ready.
---
The Registration That Defined Him
Devon's mom insisted he make it official before applying to hero schools. So on a warm spring afternoon, he walked into the Musutafu Quirk Registration Center, shoulders squared, heart steady.
A technician scanned his wrist device, frowning slightly.
"Strange… there's still no biological Quirk Factor." She pressed a few keys. "But the device appears permanently bonded to your nervous system. Its activation triggers Quirk-like energy signatures."
Devon swallowed. "So… is it a Quirk or not?"
She smiled.
"If it's fused to you and grants unique abilities, then yes. Congratulations."
She printed the card and slid it across the counter.
Name: Devon Jackson
Age: 16
Quirk: Sole Shift
Type: Transformation / Gear-Linked
Status: Approved
Devon stared at it for a long moment.
Not Quirkless.
Not forgotten.
Official.
His mom hugged him tight. "You earned this."
For the first time, Devon believed that fully.
---
The U.A. Dream
From that day on, Devon devoted every waking hour to one goal:
U.A. High — Hero Course.
He studied online lectures, analyzed pro heroes' footwork, memorized battle tactics, and built insane speed endurance. He even saved up to buy a training mask to force his lungs to work harder.
And every night, after the city went quiet…
CLICK. FLASH.
He'd hit the watch and run.
Red streaks across rooftops.
Blue sparks down alleyways.
Echoes of footsteps like thunder.
Not running away from who he was.
Running toward who he wanted to be.
---
The Morning of the Exam
At 6:12 AM, Devon stood in front of the mirror—taller, steady-eyed, wearing clean black sneakers and a simple jacket. Six years of work behind him. One chance ahead.
He took a breath.
"This is it."
He grabbed his U.A. application papers, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and stepped out into the rising sun.
The streets of Musutafu buzzed with life.
Students. Dreams. Futures.
And among them—Devon Jackson walked with purpose.
Not the Quirkless boy who watched from the sidelines.
The young man ready to take his place on the field.
---
A Promise Fulfilled
As U.A.'s massive gates came into view, his watch pulsed softly—almost like a heartbeat.
AVAILABLE FORMS: 2/12.
Devon smiled.
"Then let's unlock the rest."
And somewhere deep inside U.A., a blinking signal caught Principal Nezu's eye.
"The Sole Shift Watch… finally resurfaced."
The game had changed.
And Devon's journey had only just begun.