The imposing heavy doors of Class 1-A stood before them, their polished metal reflecting the warm, golden light that filtered through the academy's grand windows. Kael Ishiro stood tall and composed, his keen eyes scanning the intricate gold lettering on the nameplate before him.
He wore the standard U.A. school uniform, but with a few subtle adjustments. His blazer was neatly buttoned over his crisp white shirt, the red tie knotted precisely. His pants were tailored to fit him perfectly—trim enough to allow for easy movement, yet not overly flashy.
A slim black wristband rested on his left arm, and his black dress shoes shone under the light. Even in his uniform, Kael exuded a quiet, composed demeanor.
Beside him stood Yumi Hoshino, arms casually crossed and her sharp gaze fixed forward. She wore her uniform with a slightly looser tie and exuded her signature confident energy. Her relaxed posture belied the strength in her stance. Her dark hair shimmered faintly, a subtle reminder of her Quirk—cosmic energy always seemed to be emitting from her.
"You ready?" Yumi asked, flicking her gaze toward Kael.
He gave a small nod. "Yeah. Let's go."
With a light push, the door creaked open.
The classroom buzzed with low chatter as students mingled and made acquaintances. It was the first day of their U.A. journey, and a mix of nerves and excitement filled the air. The two newcomers entered the classroom, and a few heads turned at once.
Kael's eyes briefly scanned the room. Bakugo, leaning back in his chair near the windows, arms crossed, remained expressionless. Midoriya, one seat back, still bore the faint scars of the exam, but his eyes shone with newfound energy as the school year officially commenced. Uraraka, already engrossed in a lively conversation with Tenya Iida and Kirishima, exuded an infectious cheerfulness.
Their arrival hadn't gone unnoticed.
Yumi, with a graceful wave, effortlessly blended into the crowd as she made her way to her seat, yet still standing out. Kael, on the other hand, remained silent as he approached an empty desk in the back middle of the room, sitting just behind Yumi. His composed demeanor, neither arrogant nor boastful, earned him a few curious glances. A few students, clearly recognizing him, exchanged whispers.
"He's the top scorer from the entrance exam, right?" someone murmured.
"No way… That guy? He looks so.."
Before anything else could stir, the door at the front of the classroom slid open.
"Settle down," came a dry voice.
Everyone turned to see a tired-looking man in a black capturing weapon and long dark hair step in, unzipping a yellow sleeping bag as he stood. His eyes were half-lidded, uninterested, but sharp.
"I'm Shota Aizawa. Your homeroom teacher," he said flatly. "It took you eight seconds to quiet down. That's not going to cut it."
Kael sat straighter. So this was their teacher. Not flashy, not loud—but there was a presence to him. One that made Kael instinctively pay attention.
"You've all been accepted into the hero course, but that doesn't mean anything yet," Aizawa continued, dropping a stack of uniforms in front of the class. "Get dressed and meet me outside. You're doing a Quirk Assessment Test."
Someone at the back—Mineta—gasped. "Wait, aren't we supposed to have orientation or something?"
Aizawa didn't blink. "If you're here for fun, transfer to the General Studies course. Heroes don't get to waste time."
Kael felt something flicker in his chest. Not pressure, not panic—excitement.
As Aizawa motioned toward the locker rooms, the rest of the class scrambled up. Kael and Yumi followed the others, silent but alert. There was no doubt about it now: U.A. wasn't going to ease them into anything.
…
The sound of metal lockers slamming, sneakers scuffing on the tile, and distant shower steam filled the space. Class 1-A's male students were halfway through changing into their P.E. uniforms, preparing for the Quirk Assessment Test Aizawa had just warned them about.
Kael Ishiro sat on the bench near the center of the room, calmly pulling his shirt over his toned frame. His uniform fit well, neat and simple, and his posture was upright but relaxed—unshaken, as if this were just another part of his daily routine.
"Top scorer, huh?" Kirishima said from across the aisle, slinging his shirt over his shoulder. "Gotta admit, man—you earned it. You kicked serious butt."
Kael gave him a short nod. "Thanks."
"Villain points and rescue points," said Sero. "That's crazy. I didn't even think someone could hit the 90s."
Kaminari, already half in his gym shirt, added, "I mean, Bakugo got the most villain points, yeah, but Kael still took the top with his total. That's nuts."
Bakugo, who had been silent up to this point, let out a scoff under his breath.
Everyone heard it.
Kael, still tying his shoes, didn't look up.
"Seventy-seven villain points with zero rescue points," Iida remarked from his locker, adjusting his glasses. "Versus Kael's seventy villain and twenty-one rescue. A balanced score. Impressive judgment on the field."
Bakugo stood from the bench, cracking his neck. "Impressive doesn't mean better."
A quiet tension swept the room.
Kael straightened, finally meeting Bakugo's sharp glare. He didn't return the hostility—only a steady gaze, grounded and unreadable.
"I'm not here to compare numbers," Kael said calmly.
Bakugo tilted his head slightly. "No?" His tone was dry, edged. "Then don't get used to the top. I'm coming for it."
Kael maintained eye contact for an extended period before responding. "Good luck. Because as long as I'm here, you'll need it."
That response pulled a few looks from the others—not aggressive, but confident. Assured.
Bakugo smirked faintly. "Tch. Damn mop head."
The atmosphere shifted, competitive tension hanging just beneath the surface.
Kirishima clapped his hands once, trying to diffuse it. "Well, at least we know who the heavy hitters are now. Gonna make for a wild year."
"No kidding," Kaminari said, chuckling. "And we haven't even gotten to the first test yet."
As the students finished changing and filed out, Kael lingered for a second, glancing once more toward Bakugo before turning toward the exit. Neither of them said anything else.
But everyone could feel it.
The top ranks weren't just numbers.
They were invitations to a challenge.
…
The buzz in the girls' locker room was already starting to pick up, giggles echoing as uniforms were swapped for gym clothes and hair was tossed up into ponytails and buns. Excitement and nerves mixed in the air, a blend Yumi Hoshino found absolutely electrifying.
"Can you believe we're actually here?" Mina Ashido beamed, practically bouncing in place.
"I still haven't stopped smiling since I got the letter," Kyoka Jiro said, trying (and failing) to act aloof as she adjusted her boots.
Yumi, halfway into tying her gym jacket around her waist, laughed and added, "U.A. High School, Class 1-A, baby! First day of training, and I didn't even have to bribe anyone to be here!"
A few girls chuckled at that.
Momo Yaoyorozu turned toward her, brushing back a strand of hair. "You were ranked third in the entrance exam, right? Impressive."
"Oh—yeah!" Yumi gave her a proud grin and mockingly flexed her arm. "Sixty villain points and sixteen rescue points. Honestly, I thought I'd place lower with how chaotic the exam got towards the end."
Tsuyu Asui blinked calmly. "You looked calm during the fight, though. Like it was all routine."
"I try to keep things chill," Yumi shrugged, but there was a glint in her eye. "Plus, I had to show off a little. Cosmic Energy Manipulation isn't exactly a subtle quirk."
Kyoka tilted her head. "That was you with the glowing whip things?"
"Mmhmm!" Yumi spun dramatically before pointing both index fingers upward like guns. "Shooting stars, orbit bursts, radiant flares—my signature moves. I've got a whole theme going on here!"
Mina giggled. "I love it! You should give me a space-themed makeover sometime!"
"I'm game!" Yumi said with a grin, twirling a strand of her black lucious hair. "You'd look great with some star freckles."
As everyone kept chatting, Mina leaned in and whispered playfully, "So, Yumi… what's the deal with you and Kael? You two were pretty close during the exam and during class.
Yumi blinked innocently, then gave a teasing smirk. "Kael? Oh, we're best friends! Known him since we were little. He's strong, serious, dramatic… and totally hopeless with fashion. But don't worry—I'll fix all of that."
That earned a round of laughter.
Momo raised an eyebrow. "He did rank first, didn't he? Seventy villain points, twenty-one rescue points. The strongest students in our class no doubt."
Yumi nodded with a soft smile, arms folded. "He's worked hard for it. I've seen it myself. He deserved nothing less than that score."
There was a moment of quiet as they absorbed that, and then Mina clapped her hands. "Okay, we're going to be the flashiest class ever. It's decided now!"
"No doubt," Yumi said, slinging her jacket fully on and spinning toward the exit. "Let's go show Class 1-A what we're made of."
With the girls hyped up and spirits high, they headed out of the locker room together—Yumi grinning like a comet streaking across the sky.
…