After confirming his acceptance, Kirishima set off for Mustafu with his parents a few days later.
Commuting from Chiba to Mustafu was simply not feasible, so they needed to find a new home.
Since Ashido’s family was also in search of housing after her acceptance, the two families coordinated their move.
After touring several houses, both families went out to enjoy a meal together.
At Ashido’s insistent suggestion, they headed to an Italian restaurant where everyone ordered their own dishes.
As Kirishima was choosing his main course, he noticed Ashido’s lingering gaze on him.
"What? Got something to say?"
"Nope. You’re just too handsome. Heehee."
"With your parents here, what are you even rambling about?"
The adults exchanged amused smiles as they watched the two banter.
"Eiji really is handsome, isn’t he? Tall, well-built, and smart—almost like the son of a close family friend," one remarked.
"From a fashion standpoint, though, isn’t he a bit too tall? Sure, his build is great, but his head’s not exactly full of brilliance."
"Oh my, if someone who got into U.A. said that, people would call it modesty in disguise."
"That may be true, but..."
Ashido’s mother, who could practically level up with her spirited commentary, added her two cents.
Having long since accepted that arguing was futile, Kirishima deftly changed the subject.
"Honestly, I’ve never thought of myself as a brainiac. I mean, if it comes to physical prowess, I suppose I might be considered a genius."
"Ha-ha, Eiji, are you turning into a narcissist?"
"Well, you’d have to admit I’m a genius, right?"
"If someone else overheard that, they’d say you’re insufferable."
"If I get called conceited when I deny it and unbearable when I admit it, what am I supposed to do?"
"If you’re going to get flak either way, might as well stick to the facts."
"Fair enough. Yeah, I’m a genius."
While the two continued their playful bickering, a basket of whole-wheat appetizer bread was brought out.
Kirishima reached for a round bocconcini.
"By the way, did you happen to notice anyone memorable during the exam?"
"Huh? Oh, right—I never told you. Remember that girl who sat beside me at the practical briefing? The one with her orange hair tied up, really pretty?"
"Yeah, I know who you mean."
"We got to talking, and I made friends with her. I’ll introduce you later—I have a feeling you’ll like her, Eiji."
"Really? Me? Why?"
"She practices martial arts too. Her Quirk is perfectly suited for close combat, apparently."
"Is that so? Anyone into martial arts is always welcome. Is there a dojo in Chiba I haven’t heard about?"
Thinking of the girl Ashido mentioned, Kirishima mused to himself.
The auditorium where the briefing was held had arranged seating by region and school. Judging by her seat, she was likely from the same area.
"Oh, she’s from Sakura City, apparently."
"Then I might not know her after all. Funny—I’ve searched all over Japan for good martial arts, yet in our own prefecture I’ve only really looked in Chiba City. Did she pass?"
"Yeah. We even exchanged numbers that day, so we keep in touch. She made it through."
"Then I’ll be able to see her at school. Not sure if we’ll be classmates, though."
Before they could continue their conversation, the appetizers were served.
The platter, laden with olives, salami, mushrooms, and various cheeses, was a classic Italian starter.
As everyone began to pick up their food, a hush fell over the table, the savory saltiness heightening their appetite.
The meal turned out to be thoroughly satisfying.
When the meal ended, everyone departed the restaurant with pleased expressions.
"Wow, that was delicious. Right, Eiji?"
"Yeah. It’s been ages since I had authentic Italian food—it exceeded my expectations."
"Have we ever gone to an Italian place with Eijiro?"
Kirishima, speaking offhandedly with memories from his previous life, nearly got caught before he covered by saying he’d sampled similar food while traveling.
On the way home, they debated their housing options.
One option after another was dismissed until only a mansion remained.
They had considered a more affordable apartment, but for safety’s sake the mansion proved the better choice.
Kirishima wasn’t overly troubled by security—he was the type to make burglars and robbers feel sorry for themselves—but he still took Ashido’s situation into account.
In the end, Kirishima and Ashido ended up moving into adjacent units.
Three days before enrollment, Kirishima moved into the mansion they had leased. Over the following days, he would occasionally meet up with Midoriya and Bakugo, and play with Ashido whenever she barged in.
Because there wasn’t a proper space to train, he spent most of his time researching new techniques. Unfortunately, without any measuring equipment, he could only estimate his own strength—one he suspected was far greater than expected.
Before long, the three days passed, and the day of enrollment arrived.
Rising at dawn, Kirishima lightly exercised, washed, ate, and prepared for the day, though Ashido remained stubbornly quiet. After waiting about ten minutes, he burst into her room, roused her from her half-asleep stupor, washed her up, fed her, and only then were they able to leave for school.
Even though she had overslept, Ashido carried herself with confidence as she strolled across U.A.’s campus, stifling a yawn.
"Ugh, I was so excited yesterday I couldn’t sleep," she mumbled.
"You really didn’t need to lose sleep over it... Still, you should take better care of yourself. Without me, you’d have been late on your very first day."
"Heehee, as long as you're here, it’s all good."
"Do I look like your personal alarm clock?"
They should have arrived much earlier, but they weren’t truly late.
Walking down the hallway, the duo spotted Midoriya nervously gulping in front of a massive door.
"Oh? Midoriya!"
"That voice... And there’s Mina. And Kirishima too."
"Good morning. What are you doing standing here instead of going inside?"
"I’m a bit nervous."
Inwardly, Kirishima mused that Midoriya was probably worried about encountering some intimidating figures in there, yet even now he looked as unchanged as ever.
It was astonishing how such a seemingly meek exterior could conceal a fanatical sense of altruism.
"If you're not going in, should we head inside?"
"Huh? No, I’ll come too."
Kirishima pushed open the huge door.
The automatic door slid open silently and smoothly.
As he found himself once again marveling at U.A.’s resources—even in something as trivial as a door—he frowned at the scene inside.
There, Bakugo had his feet up on a desk while a square-faced student was busy lecturing him.
"Don't put your feet on the desk!"
"Huh?"
"Don't you feel any remorse for U.A.'s upperclassmen or for the person who made this desk?"
"Not in the slightest. What middle school did you attend? You’re nothing but a background extra!"
"I—I am Tenya Iida, from the private Soma Middle School."
"Soma, huh? Typical elite snob. Makes you almost worth killing!"
"Worth killing? You're awful! Are you really cut out to be a hero?"
Kirishima pressed a hand to his forehead in exasperation.
It was Bakugo—hissing like a stray cat in an unfamiliar place—that had caught him off guard.
For someone whose performance was supposedly far improved from the original, Bakugo was one of the few who still managed to genuinely surprise him.
Then Iida turned toward the group, approached them, and greeted, "I’m from private Soma Middle School..."
"I heard you! I’m Midoriya. Nice to meet you, Iida," replied the cheerful boy.
"I’m Kirishima Eijiro," he introduced himself.
"And I'm Ashido Mina!" came the bright interjection.
"Great, nice to meet you all! By the way, Midoriya—did you notice the structure of that practical exam?"
"Huh?"
"I didn’t catch on at first—I underestimated you. Frustrating as it is, it seems you were more perceptive than I thought!"
Internally, Midoriya cringed at the thought, "Sorry, I had no idea..."
Noticing the look on Midoriya’s face—like his thoughts were on full display—Kirishima clicked his tongue.
The memory of all the trouble he’d gone through on exam day just to cheer up a dejected Midoriya made his chest tighten.
Though everyone here was clearly more improved than in the original, somehow it felt as if they were collectively making Kirishima’s life an endless challenge.
"That Deku guy..."
"Watch your mouth, you punk. And why are you already sabotaging your first impression by putting your feet on the desk?"
Leaving Midoriya and Iida to their conversation, Kirishima marched over to Bakugo and began his scolding.
"Shut up. What I do is none of your business!"
"Oh, your mom asked me to keep an eye on you. In other words, I’ve been given the right by your legal guardian to guide you properly. If you understand that, get your feet down. I don’t expect you to look especially kind, but at least don’t act like a thug. If you don’t like it, should I lower them for you?"
"Tch! Just wait until later, you bastard."
"Really, what’s with that third-rate villain talk?"
"Ha, Bakugo got another dressing down from Eijiro, didn’t he?"
"Quiet! Black Eyes!"
The other students watched in astonishment at how casually Kirishima and Ashido conversed with Bakugo.
They seemed taken aback that such a formidable-looking delinquent could be so friendly.
Kirishima, though large in stature, had a pleasant face, and Ashido was charming in her own unique way.
Just then, a girl appeared behind Midoriya—the same girl who had nearly tripped the day before and whom Midoriya had helped up.
"Ah! That tousled hair—such a humble style!"
Midoriya turned around, his face flushing with embarrassment.
The very girl who had rescued him during the exam was standing right before him.
'Wow, what a great person! In a school uniform, and so cool!' he thought, heart racing.
Undeterred by Midoriya’s reddened face, she continued energetically, "So you passed just like Present Mic said! Of course you did—your punch was incredible!"
"N-no, um… I only made it through because of your decisive help. I..."
As she waved animatedly and Midoriya turned beet-red, Bakugo’s eyebrow twitched in quiet irritation.
To be honest, Bakugo wasn’t particularly fond of Deku.
But he’d learned something from enduring the brutal training Deku had stubbornly followed since childhood—despite being outmatched, Deku never gave up.
At first, Bakugo had merely seen it as a test of endurance, wondering how long Deku could bear such strenuous training.
Days turned into weeks, weeks into years, and eventually, after ten years had passed, Bakugo had to admit the truth.
Deku deserved a chance to become a hero too. Of course, the number one spot was still his.
In that sense, it wasn’t Deku who mattered—it was the burly kid standing right before him.
Bakugo still wasn’t sure how he would beat him, but this was no longer a simple contest of physical strength; now it was a competition that would see Quirks unleashed, making it utterly different from before.
He resolved then and there to crush that giant and claim the top spot.
There was no doubt that no one his age could surpass him, so if he could just take this one down, victory would be his.
Lost in thought, Kirishima noticed a piercing gaze fixed on him and wondered if the other boy was on the brink of another outburst.
The girl continued to chat with Midoriya, "So, is today just the entrance ceremony and orientation? I wonder what kind of teacher we’ll get?"
"If you want to play around like kids, go somewhere else. This is the Hero Course," replied a voice from the back of the classroom—a man half-buried in a yellow sleeping bag.
Everyone, except for Kirishima—whose aerial awareness had already registered the man's presence—looked on in surprise.
At the sight of his bloodshot eyes, scruffy beard, and unkempt hair, Kirishima couldn’t help but smile in recognition.
He remembered this man.
'So he is the teacher—the one who cares more for his students than I expected,' Kirishima thought.
"Alright, quiet down in eight seconds. Time is limited, and you lot are utterly irrational," the teacher announced in a measured tone.
Midoriya was clearly taken aback by the sight of a hero in teacher form—he had never seen a Pro Hero look so drained.
Nevertheless, the man continued calmly, "I’m your homeroom teacher, Shota Aizawa. Nice to meet you."
"Homeroom teacher!"
"It’s abrupt, but put this on and come out to the field immediately."
Ignoring the murmurs of the students, Aizawa retrieved gym clothes from his sleeping bag.
At that, Kirishima couldn’t help but ask, "That outfit you just showed seems a bit small for me."
"And you are?"
"Kirishima Eijiro—obviously, I'm a big guy."
"I prepared sizes based on everyone’s measurements, so there should be one that fits you perfectly."
Pointing toward a box at the back of the classroom, he added, "They’re over there, so get changed and come out immediately."
Unfazed by the sudden change of plans, Kirishima opened the box, went to the locker room to change, and then headed out to the field.
After waiting a while, the other students began arriving.
Once everyone was gathered, Aizawa addressed them, "Alright, though it’s sudden, we’re starting the Quirk assessment test immediately."
"A Quirk assessment... test?"
"What about the entrance ceremony? The orientation?"
"If you want to become heroes, there’s no time for childish events."
In a languid tone, he continued, "U.A.'s motto is all about a free-spirited school culture, and that applies to the teachers as well. You all did similar tests in middle school, right? Physical tests where Quirks were forbidden. The state has been averaging records using uniform standards all this time—utterly irrational. Blame it on the Ministry if you will. And the top of the practical entrance exam was Kirishima, wasn’t it?"
"Yes."
"In middle school, how far did you throw the softball?"
"100 meters. I did throw it farther, but the field was only 100 meters long."
"Then use your Quirk and try again. As long as you stay within the circle, do whatever you like. Go ahead."
Stepping into the white-lined circle, Kirishima asked, "Should I give it everything I've got?"
"Didn’t you hear? This is a test. Of course you must go all out."
"Understood."
Meeting Aizawa’s indifferent gaze, Kirishima replied. Though he appeared cold and unyielding on the outside, he knew that this man was a true teacher—one who would risk his life for his students.
After all, everyone here would eventually become an ally.
Out of respect, Kirishima decided it was time to reveal the power he’d been keeping hidden.
Steeling himself, he closed his eyes and focused.
He could feel a deep power coursing through him.
The Quirk factor—an organ that had never existed in the human body of his previous life—responded to his will.
As intense energy surged through every cell, a transformation began.
His skin hardened as clear hexagonal patterns spread across his entire body.
Fingertips, elbows, and knees sharpened into pointed edges that jutted out.
Even his hair and eyebrows took on a sharper, more angular form, clumping together into defined lines.
The skin over his whole body turned a vivid crimson, like freshly surged blood.
A fierce aura radiated outward in every direction.
The new technique he had developed after confronting giants and realizing his own shortcomings was now making its debut.
There, standing before them, was a figure that looked like a demon freshly emerged from the depths of hell.
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