Eleven years had passed since Izuku Midoriya had obtained his new quirk.
Despite being only fifteen years old, he had changed too much. He was no longer that little boy who went unnoticed.
Now, he was impossible to ignore.
Standing at six feet tall, he towered over almost everyone in his class. His blonde hair fell in a messy fashion, and his blue eyes remained as cold and indifferent as ever.
His body was defined thanks to the workouts he did at home. His muscles were visible even under his school uniform.
The girls in his class adored him.
And they constantly tried to talk to him, left notes in his locker; some even confessed their feelings to him directly.
But Izuku ignored them all. Not because they were unpleasant, he simply didn't care.
In the classroom, Izuku remained in his seat near the back by the window.
Staring outside without paying attention to his surroundings.
Many of his female classmates looked at him with lovestruck eyes while whispering among themselves.
"Midoriya is so handsome."
"I wish he would look at me just once..."
"Do you think he has a girlfriend?"
Izuku didn't even pay attention; in fact, he didn't even hear them.
Bakugo, sitting several seats in front of him, gritted his teeth in fury. During these eleven years, he had tried countless times to humiliate Deku, to put him in his place, as he put it.
But it always ended up being him who was humiliated.
'Damn Deku...'
The classroom door swung open abruptly, and the teacher walked in—a middle-aged man with a tired appearance.
"Alright, settle down everyone. I have something important to talk about."
The classroom fell into relative silence, though some continued to mutter.
The teacher could only sigh as he looked over some papers in his hands. Then, with a dramatic gesture, he tossed them into the air.
"Whatever. In the end, all of you want to be heroes."
The class exploded into shouts and celebrations; several students even activated their quirks in excitement, others high-fived each other.
Only two people remained indifferent.
Izuku and Bakugo.
Izuku kept staring out the window and Bakugo had an expression of absolute annoyance.
"HEY!" Bakugo suddenly shouted, causing small explosions in his hands. "Don't compare me to these extras! I'm going to be the number 1 hero!"
Several classmates were instantly offended by the comment, but none dared to respond. Because Bakugo was strong, and everyone knew it.
The teacher smiled sarcastically. "Ah yes, Bakugo, it was mentioned that you want to enter UA."
The murmuring in the classroom increased significantly.
"UA? Seriously?"
"WOW, Bakugo is going to try to get in there."
"It's the best hero academy in the country."
Bakugo smiled with superiority, arms crossed, as his ego grew with every comment.
"Of course I'm getting in. No one here is on my level."
The teacher nodded, checking another sheet. "True, there is another one in this class who also plans to go to UA."
The silence was instantaneous.
Everyone already knew who it was.
"Izuku Midoriya is also on the list."
The classroom went completely silent; some girls stifled gasps of excitement, others simply nodded as if it were obvious.
"Obviously Midoriya would go..."
"He's the strongest in the class."
"And the quietest, too."
Bakugo felt his blood boil; unable to take it any longer, he stood up from his seat, causing the chair to fall backward with a dull thud.
"WHAT?! Deku, you piece of shit!"
Izuku did not react; he didn't even move his head to look at him.
That further infuriated the blonde, who began walking toward him with his hands crackling with small explosions.
"I'm talking to you, you damn—!"
"Bakugo, sit down," the teacher interrupted with a firm voice.
"Shut up! I'm going to—!"
"Sit down now! Or I'll put a mark on your record so UA sees you're a problem student."
Bakugo stopped in his tracks; his body trembled with rage, but he knew such a mark would ruin his chances.
Without another word, he gritted his teeth so hard it almost hurt. 'Damn Deku… one day I'll tear you apart.'
With heavy steps, Bakugo returned to his seat, slamming into the chair while glaring at the teacher, who didn't even flinch.
The teacher just sighed. "Fine. As I was saying, both Bakugo and Midoriya will attempt to enter UA. I wish you both luck."
Izuku finally spoke, without taking his eyes off the window.
"I don't need luck."
His voice was cold, as if what he said was the pure truth and no one could say otherwise.
The classroom fell back into an awkward silence.
No one dared to respond, as everyone knew that Izuku didn't speak out of arrogance.
He always told the truth.
Bakugo clenched his fists under his desk, biting his lower lip until he almost drew blood.
'I hate you… I hate you so much, Deku.'
The class continued normally after that. The teacher explained some details about the UA entrance exam, but Izuku paid no attention.
He already knew everything he needed to know.
When the bell rang indicating the end of classes, everyone began picking up their things.
Several girls shyly approached Izuku's desk.
"M-Midoriya… would you like to study together for the exam?"
"Midoriya, if you need help with anything…"
But Izuku ignored them completely, packing his things in silence and standing up from his seat. Walking straight toward the door without looking at anyone.
Bakugo, from his spot, watched him with pure hatred while gritting his teeth.
'One day… one day I'm going to show you who's the best.'
Izuku left the classroom without saying a word, leaving behind the admiring glances of his female classmates and Bakugo's simmering hate.
But to him, it was all equally insignificant.
UA was just the next step toward the luxurious life he wanted so much. Nothing more.
***
Izuku walked through the streets of Musutafu toward his house, hands in his pockets and eyes lost in thought.
The people around him watched him pass; some older women commented on how handsome he was, some men observed him with envy.
Izuku didn't care about any of those looks, because every day was the same.
'How annoying...'
He thought as he picked up his pace to get home faster.
At least there he could be without being the center of attention, reading his books.
Without insignificant people around him.