Episode 7. Part VIII.

"Niren, could I ask you to go somewhere with me after classes?"

I looked up from one of the reports about the recent lockdown in Naruhata, a district of Tokyo, which I was reading on my phone.

I don't understand anything.

It seems like they took down a villain there, even several, and a few well-known professional heroes were involved, including Eraserhead (who didn't appear among the widely recognized heroes, just showed up among others, but I know who this future instructor of mine is and what he is capable of), and a terrorist threat was eliminated, but…

The pieces just don't add up.

I couldn't understand the causes of the conflict, nor how such monsters could have remained out of my sight, nor how it was ultimately resolved. I understand that the report is from someone else's perspective, maybe even a reporter's fabrication or just a rumor, but damn, I need to be in control of all such information!

Moreover, the central figure in the events—a vigilante named Koichi Haimawari, who, due to some complicated political maneuvers, quickly immigrated to America as Captain Celebrity's sidekick (another monster)—left a very ambiguous impression…

On the one hand, I read the report and, moreover, saw how the guy, on his own, caught and stopped A PLANE.

A plane, damn it.

A falling one. Big. White.

Well, good for him, of course, and I'm happy for those who survived the averted catastrophe, but…

I doubt I'll ever be capable of such a feat… like most of the U.A. students, except perhaps Midoriya himself, the story's protagonist, and even then—only thanks to his additional quirks, of which he has plenty. Catching planes like Superman did in the movies from my past world is impossible, any student who slept through their strength of materials classes will explain that clearly.

However: all of them, the U.A. students, will be studying there. And I probably will, too. At least my much less prepared alter ego from World A studied there.

And at the same time, we have a true quirk genius, who, judging by the information from interviews, several reports, and heated discussions on a couple of forums, is not only capable of flying, catching planes, and landing them successfully, but also creates long-range attacks, possesses a powerful barrier-type defense, accelerated reflexes, unmatched speed, and so on and so forth…

You get it, right?

It's like another protagonist of the story, even cooler than Midoriya. Surrounded by invincible plot armor from all sides.

And yet, he couldn't become a professional hero in his homeland!

Interpreting his recent vigilantism in any other way is just impossible. Come on, they take anyone into heroism whose guardians sign liability waivers. You can be honest with yourself in private.

So, this Koichi tried—and couldn't make it.

But how?! How could government services, the Commission, the army, and the hero academy agents miss such a gem? He didn't become such a monster overnight!

That doesn't happen.

So, it must be someone's scheme. I just can't figure out whose. Maybe Japan and the U.S. are once again highlighting their friendship on the political stage? But why then? Our strongest hero (also the strongest hero in the world) goes on extended business trips there almost every year, and their strongest hero, an American, is a pupil and comrade of All Might. I'm talking about "Star and Stripe," by the way. A real warrior woman, seriously.

However! On the other hand! As I said, I saw an interview with this guy, right after he saved the plane. He doesn't speak English very well, that's a fact. But even accounting for that…

He seemed a bit of an idiot, to be honest.

In some sense—a typical shounen hero.

Still, this aligns well with the forum's hypothesis about his quirk's subconscious nature. A real "genius." Maybe he didn't become a hero simply because he failed the written exams at U.A.? I have no other explanations.

And finally, what added to my irritation was that a genius like Skycrawler—a genius impossible to miss—was not in my memories. Not a single mention.

…or was he, just briefly?

How would I even remember now?! Sometimes, I even question whether that anime existed at all and if I'm really living a second life. It's not just the events of my past life I've started to forget, but my native language itself. If it weren't for the decade-old notebooks filled with my notes…

In short, I don't understand anything.

The last time I was this perplexed was when one of my favorite heroines, Lady Nagant, was suddenly sentenced to a long-term imprisonment in Tartarus—Japan's "anti-quirk" prison for particularly dangerous criminals.

Not that I didn't understand that a professional, high-class hero, capable of literally creating an armor-piercing rifle from her body, murdering several heroes and some "high-ranking individuals," could lead to any other outcome… but damn.

Anything could have happened to her… damn. The excuses sound pathetic, and yet…

Given her quirk, I wouldn't be surprised if some covert spy organizations used Nagant as a hitman. And then, having made her the scapegoat, they buried all traces.

But I didn't like her because of that—not because of her quirk, nor her appearance (though I should note she was very much my type).

I liked her because, in the few interviews with her, she demonstrated exactly the same personality traits that I cultivate in myself: meticulousness, critical thinking, attentiveness, calmness… using every advantage and preparing in advance for any opponent.

So why do the idiots get lucky, and the cold, rational minds end up behind bars?

Could something similar be awaiting me at some point?

"Earth to Niren, come in!"

I blinked a few times and shook my head, shaking off the thoughts and trying to remember what I had been asked:

"Sorry, Matryoshka. Got lost in thought. So… where do you want to go? If it's important, I can skip my training," I'm really glad we can talk without any honorifics.

"I wouldn't say it's important, but for us, it's useful, honestly. Maybe for you, too. What exactly—it's a secret," Kodai smiled slightly and got up from the edge of my desk, where she had sat while trying to get my attention. "Just dress in sportswear."

***

And you know what?

It turned out that Yui had been attending unofficial parkour meetups for six months!

Impossible woman.

Right now, since it was winter, we were at an indoor "training ground," specially equipped for workouts and freerunning. But she said they also have several outdoor spots in the city, and even an approved route with the authorities.

A really cool idea, honestly. Firstly, though not for all of us, but for many future heroes who need to move quickly across urban, uneven terrain, it will be a valuable aid. And secondly, for the previous reason, it's a great place to make useful connections!

It goes without saying that Yui, with her method of moving through the city using whatever was at hand, would find it relevant. For me? Not so much. I already have great control over my body, my speed is decent, my agility is top-notch, and I don't need any auxiliary devices. I'll manage; besides, I don't have any free time, and I'm just training to maintain my form out of habit. There's not much left to learn, and the rest should be taught at U.A. As for Setsuna? The answer is obvious.

My thoughts were interrupted by someone shouting rudely in the distance. I looked…

What a coincidence!

Guess who I saw there?

A blonde guy, not particularly Asian-looking, with an afro hairstyle, spiky explosion type, about 1.6 meters with a cap, in a black tank top, doesn't drink but is wiry and angry as a devil from the underworld or a drunkard from the doorway.

Oh, and he also throws everything he dislikes into the air with his quirk, which creates explosions.

And he dislikes just about everything.

Hmm… I wonder if the blonde likes himself since he's trying to fly with those explosions? Maybe he secretly hates himself, and every flight is a hidden act of masochism and self-humiliation?

Never mind. That guy is Katsuki Bakugo, and let's hope he's my future classmate. By the way, the interview about the school hostage mentioned him specifically.

Despite his character and rejection of the values of modern civilized society, which focuses on a positive marketing image, he also aspires to become a professional hero…

And he's doing a lot for that, by the way: for example, he's last year's regional parkour champion, as Yui told me. She's been gathering information about all possible competitors for the U.A. entrance exam recently.

I don't interfere. I know what the entrance test will be like, but that's just me… and how can I be sure it will be exactly as I remember? I can't. Besides, her initiative is quite reasonable.

"Useful," I nodded in response to Yui's questioning look.

She inclined her head in satisfaction and returned to watching the performance attentively.

For the past year and a half, I replaced my usual morning run with moving through rough terrain using my quirk. Breaking the law, alas… so it was also training in not only speed and agility but stealth. The rare police officers weren't a threat, nor was the crime, which had calmed down considerably in my prefecture since All Might's return. However, hero sidekicks patrolling the city, as well as the police themselves, occasionally forced me to disappear off the radar by jumping into an alley.

Or just switching to a regular run.

I don't think I've been noticed yet, nor have I attracted anyone's attention.

So I decided not to draw any eyes at the meetup either. It seems the habit of being cautious has ingrained itself in my personality.

I completed a few courses, nothing too difficult.

In principle, all of this was familiar to me and not particularly strenuous—I had a bit of parkour experience in my previous life, thanks to plenty of free time in university, the abundance of typical buildings, parks, and abandoned spots in the surrounding post-Soviet environment, and the Frenchman David Belle's philosophy of "Natural Method" always held a romantic allure for the youth.

And after nearly thirty combined years of practicing various martial arts, athletics, and gymnastics, you just see that parkour is based on the same principles and logic.

But there was a catch. Not using my quirk—and using it in public places without a license was still not allowed (there were even a couple of professional heroes at the meetup as observers)—was an interesting experience. Due to the mechanics of my ability, this bothered me very little, as I generally moved using my own muscular strength, with the only noticeable effect being on speed.

But for Bakugo, or Yui, or that ice guy—it was a big deal. At least that's what it seemed like from a distance when the top ten (or bravest) parkour practitioners were competing on the main course.

Katsuki moved really well. I don't know if someone trained him, or if he's naturally talented, but his coordination and motor skills—my respect. He finished… second. First place went to some half-gecko guy who was using his tail to its fullest and freely sticking to any surface. I wouldn't have liked such disregard for the competition rules.

Blondie didn't like it either, so he knocked the gecko off with an explosion, and the white-haired devil got a reprimand from the alarmed heroes.

Yui came in about sixth, which was quite a decent result, by the way. I'm not even sure I could have finished faster.

I wonder how Mashirao would have done? I need to drag him here next time, maybe we'll have a new champion, especially since mutations are allowed…

In summary, I was pleased with the trip. Yui doesn't suggest pointless things, I broke up the routine, and I got food for thought.

It's just a pity that I couldn't evaluate Bakugo's movements together with his quirk. I have a suspicion that he and I are similar in that regard, meaning I might have been able to pick up something useful from this "natural talent."

But it's not a big deal. I'll have time…

***

A week before the critical moment—the final exams, after which the countdown would begin to the entrance exams—Setsuna called me and asked me to come to her school.

The "official" reason for her request was that it was her turn to clean the classroom (to my reasonable question, "What kind of problems could you possibly have with quickly tidying up a classroom?" she responded with, "Oh, please, Niren," and after glancing at my schedule, I agreed again. After all, it's not often my friends ask me for anything). The real reason was a bit of a mystery, although I had a few ideas.

This all took place in early February—final exams, like the graduation itself, were practically around the corner, and most students were more excited, noisy, and boisterous than usual.

It was easy to spot those planning to apply for the hero course: they were deeply engrossed in preparing for the entrance exams (like the one at U.A., which takes place on the twenty-sixth of February, for example), hastily improving their physical condition with resistance bands and dumbbells, not participating in the general chaos, and often realizing with surprise (and horror) that school was almost over.

And yes, at my insistence, my friends had to skip celebrating my birthday on the second of February. We had no time for that.

As for the birthday of the calm brunette with a bob, which was in mid-December, it went about the same—we barely managed to spend some time together at a pizzeria, just the four of us with Akari.

But for the birthday celebration of the lively brunette with long, thick hair, which—who would have guessed!—falls on the thirteenth of October, we went to the movies to see another horror film. A typical American one that I only remember because of a creepy scene with night vision and a lawn mower.

Well, just a side note.

Neither my school nor Tsuna's was an exception to the "pre-graduation frenzy," which I confirmed for myself as I walked through the cheerful hustle and bustle that filled them after most of the classes had ended. The students from the other school eyed me a bit because of my different uniform, but it wasn't a private school, and this wasn't my first visit to Setsuna's school, so everything was okay.

I found Setsuna in the designated room; she was casually sitting on a desk (and hadn't started cleaning yet, the shameless one!), but with her back to the entrance, staring blankly out the window and clenching her fists. Just by the way her posture was so straight, I knew some serious conversation was awaiting me.

I tactfully knocked on the doorframe, though I doubted she could have missed me.

"Oh, there you are… Niren. Sorry for dragging you here. I wanted to talk. In private."

"Go ahead," I answered briefly, entering the room and closing the door behind me.

I assumed the topic of conversation would be worthwhile, genuinely serious, and wouldn't involve any of those relationship things. Setsuna already knows me well and knows I prefer to avoid hints, lengthy preambles, and intrigues: if there's something to say, say it directly.

So, there must be a reason.

After waiting for me to lean against the windowsill, she tiredly looked me straight in the eyes—I don't remember the last time I saw her looking so worn out, with bags under her eyes and all—and said bluntly (there you go):

"I declined the recommendation to U.A."

I slowly nodded, silently and without breaking eye contact.

Taking a deep breath, Setsuna Tokage turned back to the window. The sunlight played beautifully on her dark green hair, turning the girl, with the interplay of light and shadow, into a mosaic without any quirk.

"Mom was shocked. I thought long and hard, didn't sleep almost all night, and then in the morning, I argued with her… but, I stood my ground for once!" she lowered her head, making an indistinct sound, half a chuckle, half a sob. Her thick hair hid her face for a moment, but when she tossed her bangs back, Setsuna was already smiling:

"To be honest, I only made it into the recommended students' list by some miracle. Remember when I lost my head during our sparring match and used everything I knew, and then some? I'm sorry, I… I snapped not just because… well, you remember. But also because at that time, the exam for the recommended students was happening. Did you know about it? Of course you did… but I didn't. Written test, somehow passed it, interview—of course I aced that—and the practical… A stupid, primitive race, can you believe it? The top four with the best results pass. And I… I came in fifth, can you believe that?"

Setsuna spread her hands and then threw them up in a gesture of triumph:

"But I got lucky! Lucky that some weird guy, that wind user I told you about… Inasa, I think, declined his spot. Just imagine," she exclaimed and, unable to contain herself, jumped off the desk and started pacing around the classroom, "coming in first place among ALL the recommended students! We are the best in academics, quirks, and physically... oh, whatever. Not us, Niren... there are monsters like you among them. And yet, I... I made it through. Me! I definitely should have been studying at U.A.! I was holding in my hands the proof of my future career as a professional hero, the proof of my... uniqueness. And it felt like a wonderful dream. That's how lucky I was!"

After a pause, she stopped and pointed a finger in my direction:

"You know, when I met you after my disgraceful 'performance,' I initially thought about how fortunate I was that you… that you and Yui didn't want to apply through recommendations for some reason. Not everyone applying to U.A. can be monsters like you, right? I just got unlucky meeting you… but otherwise, I'm also cool… strong…"

Setsuna chuckled bitterly and sank back onto the desk, exhausted:

"But then, after the exam… that's when it finally hit me. They can. And they will be. And at that moment, I thought: what kind of strength do I have if I'm always relying on luck?"

I nodded again and felt imaginary paternal tears well up in my eyes. They grow up so fast!

Meanwhile, the girl got fired up again and jumped off the desk:

"No. No! I want to be truly strong. And confident! Strong and confident enough so that luck doesn't decide everything for me! And for that, I need a foundation. As you said, I need concrete achievements. And victories."

She stopped again next to me and looked me in the eyes once more:

"That's why I declined… to get in on equal terms and prove to myself and everyone else that I'm cooler than a hard-boiled egg, that's what! – and here she for some reason glanced around and lowered her voice, asking: "I didn't do something stupid, did I? Niren, please, dear, tell me I didn't do something stupid…"

I smiled and silently shook my head.

Let's just feel sorry for the robots at the exam.