[18] The Art of Spin

The sterile white walls of the lab swam into focus. I blinked, the harsh fluorescent lights burning my retinas. My body felt heavy, like I was moving through molasses.

"Subject A-013, cognitive functions online," a robotic voice announced.

I tried to lift my head, but thick straps held me in place. Panic rose in my throat.

"Now, now, A-013," a soothing voice said. A face swam into view - sharp features, cold blue eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses. "No need for alarm. We're just running some tests."

Tests. Always tests.

The scene shifted. I was running down a gray corridor, alarms blaring. Red lights flashed, painting the walls with an eerie glow.

"Stop A-013!" voices shouted behind me. "He's escaping!"

My bare feet slapped against the cold floor. My heart pounded in my chest. I rounded a corner and—

Darkness. Then, a new scene.

A dimly lit room. Maps and diagrams covered the walls. People huddled around a table, their faces blurred and indistinct.

"The system is broken," I heard myself say. My voice sounded older, harder. "We can't just patch it up. We need to tear it down and start over."

Murmurs of agreement filled the room.

"But how?" someone asked.

I leaned forward, my hands planted on the table. "We infiltrate. We climb their ranks. And when the time is right, we strike."

The scene dissolved, replaced by chaos. Buildings burning. People screaming. In the distance, a massive statue toppled.

I stood atop a hill, watching the mayhem unfold. A figure appeared beside me.

"Is this what you wanted?" they asked. Their voice was familiar, but I couldn't place it.

"No," I replied. "This is just the beginning."

The dream fractured, shards of memories flashing by:

A woman's kind face, her red hair a stark contrast to the stark white walls of the facility.

A man in a lab coat, his expression a mix of pride and fear as he looked at me.

A group of children, all with numbers instead of names, huddled together in a cold room.

A book, its pages filled with complex equations and diagrams of the human body.

A mirror, showing a face that wasn't quite mine, yet felt familiar.

The images swirled faster and faster, a dizzying kaleidoscope of memories and moments. Then, suddenly, stillness.

I stood in a vast, empty space. No walls, no ceiling, just endless white in all directions.

"Who are you really?" a voice asked. It seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere.

I opened my mouth to answer, but no sound came out.

"What do you want?" the voice pressed.

"To change everything," I finally managed to say.

"Why?"

I paused. Why? The question echoed in the emptiness.

"Because..." I started, then the white void cracked like glass, and I was falling, falling—

I jolted awake, my heart racing. The familiar surroundings of my U.A. dorm room slowly came into focus. Sweat soaked my sheets.

For a moment, I just lay there, trying to grasp the fragments of the dream. But like water through a sieve, the details slipped away.

I glanced at the clock. 3:47 AM. Too late to go back to sleep.

My feet hit the ground, a steady rhythm in the quiet night. Left, right, left, right. The cool air stung my lungs, a sharp contrast to the stuffy dorm room I'd left behind.

The U.A. campus was deserted at this hour. Streetlamps cast long shadows across the paths, creating a maze of light and dark. Perfect for someone who didn't want to be seen.

I picked up my pace, pushing my body harder. Physical exertion was good. It left less room for thinking about... other things.

A noise up ahead snapped me out of my thoughts. I slowed my pace, scanning the area. There, by the gym building. A figure, moving in the shadows.

I approached cautiously, keeping to the darker areas of the path. As I got closer, I recognized the wild purple hair.

"Shinso?"

He spun around, eyes wide. "Midoriya? What are you doing out here?"

I shrugged, forcing a casual smile. "Couldn't sleep. Thought I'd go for a run. You?"

"Same," he said. "Insomnia's a bitch."

I nodded, leaning against the wall next to him. We stood in silence for a moment, two insomniacs sharing the quiet night.

"So," Shinso said, breaking the silence. "Want to talk about it?"

"About what?"

He snorted. "Whatever's got you running laps at 4 AM. You don't strike me as the type to do this for fun."

I considered my options. Shinso was observant. Too observant. Lying outright would only make him more suspicious. A partial truth, then.

"Bad dream," I admitted. "Needed to clear my head."

Shinso nodded. "Yeah, I get those too. Hazard of the job, I guess. Or the job we're training for, anyway."

"You have nightmares about hero work?"

He shrugged. "Sometimes. More often about... other things."

The way he said it, I knew there was a story there. But prying would invite questions I wasn't ready to answer.

Instead, I asked, "How do you deal with them?"

Shinso was quiet for a moment. When he spoke, his voice was low, almost a whisper. "I remind myself why I'm here. What I'm fighting for."

Fighting for. The words echoed in my head, stirring up fragments of the dream. A dimly lit room. Maps on the walls. 'We need to tear it down and start over.'

I pushed the thoughts away. Focus on the present, on Shinso. "And what are you fighting for?"

He turned to look at me, his eyes glinting in the low light. "To prove them wrong. All the people who said someone with my quirk could never be a hero. That I was destined to be a villain."

"That's... admirable," I said, meaning it.

Shinso shrugged, his walls coming back up. "Yeah, well. We've all got our reasons, right? What about you, Midoriya? What are you fighting for?"

"To make the world a better place."

We lapsed into silence again. In the distance, I could hear the first birds starting to chirp. Dawn wasn't far off.

"Well," Shinso said, pushing off the wall. "This has been... interesting. But I should probably try to get some sleep before class."

I nodded. "Yeah, me too. Thanks for the company, Shinso."

As I started to walk away, he called out, "Hey, Midoriya?"

I paused, looking back over my shoulder. "Yeah?"

"Thanks for the advice back at the entrance exam."

I smiled. "No problem, that's what heroes do."

I started running again, my feet pounding against the pavement. The sky was lightening, the first hints of orange touching the horizon.

The memory of burning buildings and screaming people flashed through my mind. 'Is this what you wanted?' No, I wouldn't make those same mistakes.

No. Not destruction. Creation. A new world, a better world. But built on what foundation?

I pushed myself harder, running faster. The physical strain helped clear my head, letting me think more clearly.

I'd been playing defense since I got here, reacting to situations as they came. It was time to start making moves of my own.

The sun was barely peeking over the horizon as I stepped out of the shower, steam billowing around me. I wiped the condensation from the mirror, studying my reflection. The face looking back at me was familiar, yet sometimes it still felt like a stranger's.

I dressed quickly, my movements automatic. U.A. uniform, check. Tie straight, check. Hair... well, as tamed as it was going to get, but that was part of the charm.

The dorm was quiet as I made my way downstairs. Most of my classmates were probably still getting ready.

As I approached the main gate, I noticed something unusual. A crowd had gathered outside, their excited chatter carrying over the wall.

Press. Dozens of them, armed with cameras and microphones. This was new.

I slowed my pace, considering my options. I could try to slip past unnoticed, but... no. This was an opportunity.

"Excuse me, young man," a sharp voice cut through the babble. A woman with sleek black hair and piercing eyes had spotted me. "Are you one of All Might's students? Can you tell us what the Symbol of Peace is like in person?"

I paused, letting a mix of surprise and excitement play across my face. Just the right amount of starstruck fanboy, with a hint of the confident hero-in-training.

"Oh, wow," I said, my voice pitched just loud enough to carry to the other reporters. "I didn't expect to see so many reporters here. Um, yes, I'm in All Might's class. He's... he's incredible."

Like sharks scenting blood, the other reporters swarmed closer.

"What's your name?"

"How does it feel to be taught by the number one hero?"

"Can you tell us about your quirk?"

I held up my hands, playing at being overwhelmed. "Wow, so many questions! I'll do my best to answer, but I don't want to be late for class."

The black-haired reporter pressed forward. "Just a few questions then. You said All Might is incredible. Can you elaborate?"

I nodded, my expression shifting to one of earnest admiration. "All Might isn't just powerful. He's kind. He takes the time to help each of us improve, to understand our quirks and how to use them. He's not just teaching us to fight villains. He's teaching us what it really means to be a hero."

"And what does being a hero mean to you?" another reporter asked.

I paused, as if considering the question carefully. "To me, being a hero means always striving to do what's right. It's about using your strength to protect those who can't protect themselves. But it's also about inspiring others, about giving people hope."

"That's a very mature answer," the black-haired reporter said, her eyes narrowing slightly. "How are you handling the pressure of U.A.'s hero course?"

I laughed, rubbing the back of my neck sheepishly. "It's definitely challenging. There's so much to learn, not just about using our quirks, but about law, ethics, rescue operations... But that's why we're here, right? To learn and grow."

A younger reporter piped up, "Can you tell us about your quirk? How does it compare to All Might's?"

Careful now. This was dangerous territory.

"My quirk is strength enhancement," I said, keeping my tone light. "It's nothing compared to All Might's power, of course. But I'm working hard to make the most of it. U.A. is teaching us that it's not just about raw power. It's how you use your quirk that matters."

"You mentioned ethics earlier," the black-haired reporter said. "With the rise in villain activity lately, some are questioning the effectiveness of the current hero system. What are your thoughts on that?"

I blinked, feigning surprise at the heavy question. Inside, I was grinning. Perfect setup.

"That's... a complicated issue," I said slowly, as if choosing my words carefully. "I think it's natural for people to be concerned when villain attacks increase. But that's why it's so important to have heroes we can trust. The system isn't perfect, but that's why we're here at U.A. - to learn from the best and become the kind of heroes society needs."

The reporter nodded, seemingly satisfied. But I wasn't done.

"If I may add," I continued, "I think it's important to remember that heroes aren't just about fighting villains. We're also here to help in natural disasters, to rescue people from accidents, to be a positive force in our communities. Maybe if we focus more on those aspects, we can prevent some people from turning to villainy in the first place."

That got their attention. More questions flooded in, but I held up a hand.

"I'm sorry, but I really do need to get to class. Thank you all for your interest in U.A. and our education. I hope I was able to give you a small glimpse into what it's like here."

As I turned to go, the black-haired reporter called out, "Wait! You never told us your name."

I paused, looking back over my shoulder. "Izuku Midoriya. It was nice meeting you all."