The moment the numbers lit up on the display—767.35 meters—the silence across the field shattered.
Gasps. Murmurs. Then—
"What the hell?!" Bakugo's voice sliced through the air like a drawn blade.
Izuku barely had time to lower his arm before Bakugo stormed toward him, fists clenched and eyes wide with fury.
"You had a Quirk this whole time?!" Bakugo roared, pointing at him. "You damn bastard! You think this changes things?!"
Everyone turned, unsure whether to step in or let it play out. Izuku stepped back, hands half-raised.
"It's complicated, Kacchan, I—"
Bakugo's palms sparked violently. "Don't call me that! You think you're better than me now, huh? That some Quirk you pulled outta nowhere makes you stronger and better than me?!"
Before he could continue, a deep whip of air echoed across the training ground.
A dark blue tendril of energy—semi-solid, shimmering faintly even in the sunlight—lashed out from Kael Ishiro's arm. It wrapped around Bakugo's wrist and stopped his charge cold, pulling his hand just inches from Izuku's face.
"That's enough," Kael said, stepping between them.
Everyone turned their attention to him now—Class 1-A's top scorer, calm and composed despite the tension. His tone was firm, but not angry.
Bakugo struggled, trying to wrench his arm free. "Get this shit off of me now, mop head!"
Kael didn't budge. "You're strong, Bakugo. Everyone here agrees. You've got raw power, talent and drive, and you're not wrong to feel frustrated or maybe even confused. I know I am."
Bakugo paused, gritting his teeth.
Kael released the bind with a flick of his wrist. "But that frustration—if you let it control you, you'll lose sight of what it means to be a Hero."
The field was quiet again. Izuku stared, stunned, while the rest of the class exchanged glances.
Bakugo turned slightly towards Kael. "I really am just as confused as you are about how Izuku got that power. But I do know this: he didn't come here to show off to any of us. He came here to prove that he belongs in Japan's top-rated Hero school. He came here to become a Hero even All Might himself would have to praise. Is there really anything wrong with that?"
Bakugo glared at him, breathing hard. "You don't know him like I do. He's lied this entire time. He..He..."
"Yeah, I don't know him like you do," Kael said. "But I know Hero material when I see it. And right now, Izuku's got more of it than anyone else in this class."
Bakugo scoffed at that statement and slowly turned away. Kael watched as he left towards the locker room before turning his gaze towards Izuku and giving him a small nod.
"You okay man? Don't let his words phase you. You're better than that."
Izuku could barely speak. "Y-Yeah… Thank you, Kael. It really means a lot knowing there's someone who truly believes in me..."
Kael smiled faintly. "You're my friend, and all I ever want to see is you succeed. So of course I believe in you." Kael held out his fist, and Izuku dabbed it.
They both laughed as Kael wrapped his right arm around Izuku's head and gave him a lighthearted noogie. Memories of the two sitting inside all day playing the game or going on vacations with each other's families resurfaced in their minds.
Those were the times right there. Nothing to worry about. Staying up all night discussing Hero vs Hero battles, how big Mt. Ladys…
Anyways, how could they forget that time together? They were best friends and yet because they didn't talk much over the last few months, they grew apart a little.
Kael considered Izuku to be family. Someone he cherishes and wants to get stronger together with. That was the sort of relationship they had.
…
Across the field, Aizawa had been watching quietly, his eyes narrowed. He said nothing but made a mental note.
'Top student. Level headed. Leadership Qualities.'
'He'd be the perfect person to have some one on one time with. He's up there with the third years in mastery over his Quirk. Maybe I should get them to lend a few pointers sooner or later.'
And as the day wound down, one thing became clear to everyone watching:
Kael Ishiro wasn't just number one in points during the entrance exam.
He was number one in presence, control over his Quirk, and all around Leadership Skills.
…
The apartment door clicked shut behind them, muffling the late-afternoon city sounds. Kael kicked off his shoes and let out a slow breath. "That was… a lot."
Yumi was already halfway through slipping out of her school jacket, tossing it on the back of the couch. "I don't think my legs have ever done that much sprinting in a school uniform before," she laughed, stretching her arms up toward the ceiling. "But—worth it."
Kael flopped down onto the couch beside her, his head leaning back against the cushions. "I mean we knew Aizawa wasn't serious about kicking us out but still. The pressure was intense! But hey guess what? We're officially U.A. students now. The best of the best."
Her eyes flicked over to him, and her lips curved into a smile. "Did you ever have doubts?"
"I knew we'd get in," he said, glancing sideways. "But I didn't expect to start off the year with Aizawa threatening to expel people on day one."
Yumi snorted. "Classic underground Pro Hero move. Gotta scare the kids first."
Their shoulders bumped as she leaned a little closer, enough to make Kael noticed the warmth. He didn't move away though. He didn't want to.
Yumi picked up her phone and sighed. "Do we cook, or do we admit defeat and order something? Im kinda feeling.."
"Pizza," Kael said immediately. "Victory pizza. We survived day one, stopped Bakugo from blowing Izuku up, and didn't get expelled. I say that deserves toppings."
Yumi grinned. "Ooooh, that's true. Let's go all out. Stuffed crust?"
Kael tapped into the delivery app with practiced ease. "You read my mind."
As the order was placed and the familiar "your order is on the way" chime pinged, Kael's phone buzzed again in his hand. He hesitated for a second, then opened his messages and tapped out a quick text.
[Kael]: Hey, how you feelin? Can you eat?
[Izuku]: I'm fine. Recovery Girl told me not to put too much strain on my hands though
[Kael]: That's good. Well, come on up if you feel like it. Me and Yumi ordered pizza. Don't think we can finish it all ourselves..
[Izuku]: With Yumi there it's definitely possible LOL. But sure, let me just tell my mom.
Kael sent the thumbs up emoji and the conversation ended.
"Is he coming?" Yumi asked, already pulling a throw blanket over her legs, curling into the corner of the couch like she'd been living there forever.
Kael leaned back beside her, his leg touching hers beneath the blanket. "I'm sure he will. He's always down to talk."
As if on cue, there was a knock at the door—soft, hesitant.
Yumi grinned. "That's our Midoriya."
Kael stood up and pulled the door open. Izuku stood there in his casual clothes, still looking like he hadn't fully processed the day. His eyes flicked from Kael to Yumi curled on the couch and then back again.
"Hey," Izuku said, managing a smile. "I wasn't interrupting, was I?"
"Only the ritual of choosing the best movie to watch," Kael said, gesturing him inside. "Come on in."
Izuku stepped in and exhaled. "Today was… wow."
Yumi patted the spot on the couch beside her. "Come decompress with us. Kael got stuffed crust."
"Oh man," Izuku said with wide eyes. "Stuffed crust? You guys really are celebrating."
They laughed, and the apartment filled with warmth—the glow of the city peeking through the blinds, the smell of pizza slowly sneaking through the hallway, and the soft sounds of friends recovering from their first day at the greatest Hero school in the world.
Kael leaned back, eyes half-lidded. "Here's to surviving Day One."
Yumi raised her soda can. "And to not getting expelled."
Izuku raised his own. "And beings friends!"
The cans clinked softly together. The laughter that followed was tired, but genuine.
And for a little while, with hot pizza in their hands and each other nearby, the weight of the world felt just a little lighter.
…