The training that had given most of the students their first taste of battle using their Quirks was nothing out of the ordinary for Kirishima.
He had first used his Quirk in combat at the age of five, and it hadn’t even been a year since he nabbed a Villain at Disneyland.
For him, today’s training was less about a new experience and more about assessing the students and establishing his presence before them.
By that measure, Kirishima wrapped up the day successfully—dined with Ashido—and then headed home.
He tapped his desk lightly as his mind wandered.
It had been fifteen years since Kirishima embarked on this new life.
His memories of the world from his previous life had faded considerably; now it felt as though he were trying to decipher a letter whose ink had bled through with tears.
After all, when he used to read manga, he’d often skip past anything that didn’t immediately grab his attention.
Still, even in those hazy recollections, he recalled the early chapters of an attack with surprising clarity.
"The first time I read it, I thought, 'How can real combat not kick in until volume two?'"
The wait had been worthwhile, and now the event that had propelled him to devour every subsequent volume was fast approaching.
Watching the story unfold as an observer had been fun enough, but the thought of it happening to him was an altogether different feeling.
As an individual, he was, if anything, rather excited.
This wasn’t a sentiment a normal person would harbor—but Kirishima was far from ordinary.
A man built for battle, he had no qualms about scenarios involving torn throats and spilled blood.
Yet the real problem was that Kirishima was no longer just acting as an individual.
From his recollections, the ones likely to be seriously hurt in the coming incident were Aizawa and the guy in the spacesuit.
But since being reborn into this life had subtly altered those around him, he couldn’t afford to relax.
Even if the same event unfolded, the outcome could vary drastically depending on who was involved.
Whether those changes would turn out for better or worse, he couldn’t be sure.
Still, Kirishima believed it was his duty to brace for the worst.
"That said, there’s hardly anything I can do."
Knowing what was coming, Kirishima had spent time pondering what being a U.A. student would demand of him.
But realistically, there was almost nothing a mere student could do.
Even if he tried to warn them about an impending Villain attack, he couldn’t divulge his source. And if they chose to ignore him, that was as good as it got—while if the attack did occur, he might just be branded a spy.
Besides, going solo to preemptively strike the Villains was out of the question, not least because he didn’t even know where they were.
Bound by school routines, time was another enemy he couldn’t overcome.
Ultimately, the only measures he could take were to boost the students’ strength a little more before the incident and then confront the enemy directly once it began.
Having reached the conclusion he had mulled over time and again, Kirishima sighed and went to sleep.
He couldn’t let the foreknowledge of an attack disrupt his established routine.
In fact, precisely because of that, he needed to stick to his meticulous preparations.
And so, as always, the day ended and morning broke.
Kirishima did some light exercise, freshened up, roused Ashido, had breakfast with her, and then set off for school.
Despite the early hour—thanks to Kirishima’s habit of beating everyone else—the school gate was already teeming with people.
The media had swarmed the entrance after hearing that All Might had taken up a teaching position at U.A.
The reporters, looking as if they intended to bar entry by any means necessary, made Kirishima click his tongue before instructing Ashido.
"I’ll go ahead and draw their attention; you keep an eye out for an opening and dash in when it appears."
"Are you sure you’ll be okay, Eijiro? They seem pretty relentless."
"I’ll just give them a measured response. Once I’m inside the gate, they won’t be able to follow—thanks to U.A.’s barrier, right?"
Even though it felt a bit awkward to mention, knowing that the barrier would eventually fall, he offered this reassurance to Ashido.
As soon as he finished speaking, he strode toward the cluster of reporters.
Even from a distance, his two-meter-tall figure in full school uniform was unmistakable, and as soon as they caught sight of him, their eyes sparkled while they surged forward.
"Have you ever taken All Might’s class before? Wait—aren’t you the student from Disneyland...?"
"Yes. I caught a Villain at Disneyland last year, and I also take All Might’s class."
With his bag slung casually over one shoulder and an unmistakably composed demeanor, Kirishima managed to soothe the visibly anxious reporters.
It remained to be seen, but from his calm stance, it certainly didn’t look like he was about to bolt.
"I’ll answer you at a relaxed pace—so please, calm down and ask your questions one by one. In fact, if you could raise your hands when you have a question, that’d be even better."
In true Kirishima style, his handling of the situation transformed the gate into a makeshift press conference—a remnant skill from his previous life.
Despite cameras and camcorders being thrust his way from every direction, he remained unruffled and affable, and soon the questions began to roll in.
"Let me start with the person at the front, since you were the first to ask."
"Ah, thank you. So, what’s All Might’s class like?"
"I’ve only been in All Might’s class once, so I can’t say for sure. But if I were to describe the vibe, it seemed both cautious and daring—a blend of a novice teacher’s carefulness and a veteran Hero’s seasoned confidence. That’s the overall feeling I got."
"And what about the Symbol of Peace in the classroom?"
"Just as you’d expect, he’s reliable and reassuring. Sure, he might make rookie mistakes at times or even show a human side reminiscent of a storybook hero, but people trust him because of the long history he’s built as a Hero. Anyone aspiring to be one would likely feel the same."
Kirishima continued fielding the reporters’ questions one by one, gradually clearing the way.
When a path through the crowd finally emerged, Ashido squeezed through it.
Seeing her dart in, Kirishima hesitated for a moment—tempted to follow immediately—but then decided to stick around with the reporters just a bit longer.
Old habits died hard; even in his previous life, tangling with reporters was never a wise move.
The majority were the kind to dig up scandal at the slightest hint of a story, though every now and then one might prove useful if you got to know them.
As Kirishima continued to placate the reporters, he caught sight of Midoriya making his way over.
He beckoned him over with a wave, clapping a hand on his shoulder, and said,
"Alright. Listening to just one voice might get dull—so next, pay attention to what this guy has to say."
"Eek!"
Startled by his own reaction, Midoriya’s eyes widened, prompting Kirishima to lean in and whisper,
"Just answer their questions normally. You’re bound to face this more than once, so treat it as practice."
Originally, he’d planned to use Midoriya as a shield and then slip inside on his own—but seeing the panic on his friend’s face, Kirishima opted to stay with him instead.
After watching Midoriya stammer through his answers, Kirishima, citing his need to prepare for class, excused himself and headed into the school.
The reporters, having extracted a satisfactory interview, left him to his own devices.
"Kirishima-chan! What was that all about? You really caught me off guard."
"What else? You know how reporters are. If I hadn’t intervened, you’d have been cornered and grilled to death."
"Maybe so, but… no. Without you, I probably would’ve just claimed a trip to the nurse’s office and slipped in unnoticed."
"Hmm. Perhaps. But in the end, you got in with just a few words, right? That’s what really matters."
"I was really surprised, though."
Patting the grumbling Midoriya on the shoulder, Kirishima led him toward class, where they ran into Aizawa, who was making his slow exit.
"Oh. Good morning."
"Good morning."
"I heard the media had set up camp outside. Was it really that bad?"
"They were swarming the entrance, stopping everyone to ask about All Might. We even got interviewed on our way in."
"Hmph. The media is always a nuisance. I’ll clear this area up, so you two carry on to class."
"Yes. Thank you."
Seeing Aizawa’s tired state—and the palpable aura of annoyance radiating from him—Kirishima escorted Midoriya into class.
After exchanging greetings with Ashido, who had already arrived, the rest of the students trickled in.
Once everyone was settled and familiar faces exchanged pleasantries, Aizawa appeared at the lectern.
In his characteristically flat tone, he began,
"Good work in yesterday’s training. I reviewed the VTR and the results. Bakugo, cut out the childish behavior. You have the talent, so act like it."
"I know..."
Bakugo muttered his reluctant agreement as Aizawa continued.
"And Midoriya—have you finally sorted out breaking your arm again? Control your Quirk. If you persist in thinking nothing will work out, I can’t pass you."
Midoriya flinched and dropped his gaze.
Aizawa’s words weighed heavily on him.
"I don’t like repeating myself. Sort out that one issue and you can do plenty more. Get a grip, Midoriya."
"Yes!"
Brightly responding, Midoriya earned a brief nod from Aizawa before the teacher turned his attention to the rest of the class.
"Now, for today’s homeroom agenda—you’ll be choosing your class representative."
"This is a school thing, right?"
The students erupted in cheers as shouts to become class rep filled the room.
"I want to be class rep!"
"I want to do it too!"
"Count me in..."
"I wanna lead! I wanna lead!"
In an ordinary school, the prospect of class rep might be unpopular due to the associated chores, but in a Hero course it was seen as a prime opportunity to hone leadership skills.
Almost every student wanted the position.
At this point, both Kirishima and Aizawa—who despised the ensuing chaos—sighed in unison.
Then Iida sprang to his feet and declared,
"Silence! Leading the majority is a weighty responsibility—it isn’t something just anyone can handle. It’s a duty earned through trust from those around you! If we’re to choose true leadership by democracy, then this must be decided by vote!"
Despite his serious tone, the hand Iida raised high in the air spurred the class into a unified outcry.
"Your hand is already raised!"
"Then why even propose it?"
"We hardly know each other—trust isn’t built overnight, Iida-chan."
"If that were the case, everyone would simply vote for themselves."
In response to Tsuyu’s and Sho’s remarks that a free-for-all vote would be meaningless, Iida gestured emphatically and said,
"Precisely for that reason! The one who earns the most votes here is the one best suited for the role, wouldn’t you agree, teacher?"
"As long as you decide within the time limit, I don’t mind what the decision is."
Aizawa’s casual dismissal spurred the vote, and the outcome was nothing short of startling.
In shock at the results, Midoriya cried out,
"I got three votes?!"
Meanwhile, Iida wore an unreadable expression over the single vote he’d received.
"One vote... I never expected that, but I can’t help feeling a pang of guilt toward whoever voted for me!"
"You must have given your vote somewhere else..."
"You wanted it badly enough—what exactly was your plan, Iida?"
Watching the exchange, Kirishima mused to himself,
'There’s no need to feel guilty; I voted for you because I figured you’d be perfect as class rep anyway.'
Having no ambitions of his own for the rep spot, Kirishima deliberately cast his vote for someone else—the very person who, in the original story, ended up as class rep: Iida.
If someone was destined to be class rep, he might as well grab the vote.
That was his logic.
Yet when he noticed that one vote had come his way, a chill ran down his spine.
If he had voted for himself, he’d have ended up with nothing more than vice rep or another minor committee position for sure.
With a discomforting feeling, Kirishima shot a glance at Ashido.
She flashed a bright grin and gave him a thumbs-up.
"It was you..."
Realizing exactly who was responsible, Kirishima muttered, pressing a hand against his forehead.
Meanwhile, Aizawa swiftly wrapped things up by calling Midoriya and Yaoyorozu forward.
Midoriya, garnering three votes, was declared class rep, while Yaoyorozu, with two votes, was appointed vice representative.
"So, Midoriya is class rep and Yaoyorozu is the vice rep."
"R-r-r-really? For real?"
"Ugh. So unfair..."
At the sight of Midoriya trembling like a leaf, Kirishima sighed.
Midoriya was undoubtedly bright, and in a crisis he managed to exude a certain charisma.
The issue was that, both in terms of his Quirk and his fighting style, he bore a striking resemblance to Kirishima.
For someone like Kirishima, who was often at the forefront charging into battle, and for Midoriya as well, the role of commander didn’t quite fit.
Granted, this was merely about choosing a class rep for a group of students, so overthinking it wasn’t necessary—but knowing what challenges this class might face, Kirishima couldn’t help but wonder.
"Isn’t that alright?"
"Midoriya does have some pretty intense moments."
"And Yaoyorozu looked impressive during the evaluation."
Leaving Bakugo to stew silently with a scowl etched on his face, the rest of the class generally reacted positively.
It was all thanks to the displays of strength during yesterday’s combat training.
Once the class rep was chosen, the morning proceeded as usual.
At lunchtime, Kirishima joined the others at the table with his tray in hand.
After taking a bite of rice, Uraraka beamed happily and said,
"This rice is delicious!"
Midoriya glanced at her before adding uncertainly,
"Now that I'm class rep, I'm really worried I won't be able to handle it..."
"You can do it."
"You'll be fine."
Uraraka and Iida both assured him with unwavering confidence.
Kirishima didn’t say anything, but inwardly he believed Midoriya was up to the task.
Truthfully, if you considered the role from a battlefield commander's viewpoint, Midoriya wouldn’t be ideal—but when it came down to the actual duties of a class rep, he was more than capable.
Iida lifted his spoon, scooped up some curry, and said,
"Midoriya-kun’s courage and quick judgment in critical moments are enough to guide the majority. That’s the reason I voted for you."
'It was you!'
Midoriya’s expression said it all, but Iida pressed on, addressing Uraraka.
"But didn’t Iida-kun also want to be class rep? You’re even sporting glasses."
"Wanting it and being cut out for it are two different things—I simply made the decision I knew was right. I do feel sorry for whoever gave me their vote, though..."
"That was me."
At Kirishima’s sudden interjection, all eyes turned to him.
"Huh? But Kirishima-kun got one vote, didn’t he? Wasn’t that your own vote?"
"I voted for Iida. The one vote I received must have been from her."
Kirishima gestured toward Ashido, seated beside him, as he explained.
Ashido, looking a bit sheepish, clasped her hands and replied,
"Hehe. Yup. I really do think Eijiro was the perfect choice for class rep."
"So, where exactly do I look like rep material?"
Even amidst their lighthearted banter, Iida’s expression grew contrite as he murmured to Kirishima,
"I’m sorry! I completely wasted the vote you gave me!"
"No, I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about it."
"And what about me—'boku' and all that?"
"I figured that was part of it. Iida-kun, are you from a well-to-do family?"
"A well-to-do family... I switched my first-person pronoun because I didn’t like being labeled that way, but..."
Iida sighed before confessing,
"Yes. My family has been in the Hero business for generations. I’m the second son."
"Wow, amazing!"
"Have you heard of Turbo Hero Ingenium?"
At Iida’s mention, Midoriya—ever the Hero aficionado—blushed and exclaimed,
"Of course! He’s that enormously popular Hero who employs sixty-five sidekicks at his Tokyo office! Wait, don’t tell me..."
"He’s my older brother!"
With shoulders back and a proud tone, Iida’s revelation made Kirishima chuckle as the other students looked on in awe.
"That makes perfect sense!"
"Incredible!"
"A disciplined, charismatic Hero who leads by example—I’ve always admired my brother. But I still think I’m not cut out for leading others. Unlike me, Midoriya-kun has already caught onto the structure of the practical exam, so it just makes sense for someone a notch above me to take the reins."
"I think... that might be the first time I've seen you smile, Iida-kun!"
"Huh? Really? I smile plenty!"
As Iida’s smile widened, Midoriya returned it with a quiet one of his own while thinking,
'For me, All Might is to Iida-kun as Ingenium is—though still...'
Just as Midoriya’s thoughts began to wander, a sound—sharp and jarring as if it were slashing at everyone’s nerves—shook the entire building.
It was an ominous, unsettling sound.
Amid the ensuing chaos, a premonition of disaster cast its shadow over the previously peaceful lunch hour.
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