[54] The Name of the Game

The next thing I know, there's a loud pounding on my door.

"Midoriya! Hey, Midoriya! Wake up, man!"

I jolt awake, momentarily disoriented. Nejire stirs beside me, her eyes blinking open.

"Wha-?"

The pounding continues. "Midoriya! We're gonna be late for class!"

I recognize Kirishima's voice and suddenly remember where I am and what day it is.

"Shit," I mutter, scrambling out of bed. "Just a second, Kirishima!"

I turn to Nejire, who's now sitting up, looking panicked. "What do we do?" she whispers.

"Okay, um... you hide in the bathroom. I'll get rid of Kirishima and then we can figure out how to sneak you out."

She nods, grabbing her clothes and darting into the bathroom. I quickly throw on some pants and a shirt, running a hand through my messy hair in a futile attempt to tame it.

I open the door, trying to look as casual as possible. "Hey, Kirishima. What's up?"

Kirishima raises an eyebrow, taking in my disheveled appearance. "Dude, did you just wake up? We've got like, fifteen minutes before class starts!"

"Shit, really?" I check the time on my phone, realizing he's right. "Thanks for waking me up. I must've slept through my alarm."

Kirishima grins. "No problem, man. That's what friends are for! But seriously, hurry up. You know how Aizawa-sensei gets when we're late."

"Thanks for the wake-up call, Kirishima. I'll be down in a minute," I say, closing the door before he can ask any more questions.

That was close. Too close.

Nejire emerges from the bathroom. "Nice save, hero," she teases.

I grab my uniform, hurriedly putting it on. "We got lucky. If Kirishima had shown up five minutes earlier..."

Nejire sneaks up behind me as I'm buttoning my shirt. Without warning, she gives my ass a smack. I yelp, more from surprise than pain.

"Hey!" I protest, but I can't keep the grin off my face. Two can play at that game. I return the favor, earning a squeal from Nejire.

She pulls me in for a kiss, and suddenly I forget all about class and Kirishima and being late. Her lips are soft, insistent. I lose myself in the moment, my hands finding their way to her waist.

After what feels like both an eternity and not nearly long enough, Nejire breaks away. "As much as I'd love to continue this," she says, breathless, "we really do need to get to class."

"Right. Okay, how are we going to get you out of here without anyone seeing?"

Nejire grins, pointing to the open window. "I can fly, remember?"

"Oh. Right. That... that works."

She gives me one last quick peck on the lips before heading to the window. "See you later, hero," she says with a wink, then launches herself into the air.

I watch her fly off towards her dorm, shaking my head.

I quickly straighten my uniform, making sure everything's in place. Can't have anyone suspecting what just happened. I check my reflection in the mirror, running a hand through my hair one last time. It'll have to do.

Grabbing my backpack, I dash out of my room, closing the door behind me. The hallway's empty - everyone else must already be in class. I take a deep breath, focusing on One For All. A familiar tingle of energy courses through my body as I channel 3% of its power.

The world seems to slow down around me as I sprint through the dorms and across the U.A. grounds. My enhanced speed turns the scenery into a blur. Wind whips past my face as I dodge around corners and leap over obstacles.

I reach the main building in record time, barely breaking a sweat. Slowing down, I release my hold on One For All as I approach Class 1-A. I can hear Aizawa's voice from inside. Damn, he's already started.

Taking a moment to compose myself, I knock on the door before sliding it open.

"Sorry I'm late, Aizawa-sensei," I say, bowing apologetically.

Aizawa fixes me with his usual tired glare. "Midoriya. How unlike you to be tardy. Take your seat and see me after school."

I nod, feeling the eyes of my classmates on me as I make my way to my desk. Uraraka gives me a questioning look, while Iida seems disappointed in my lack of punctuality. Bakugo just scoffs.

As I sit down, I catch Momo's gaze. There's a mix of concern and something else in her eyes - hurt, maybe? I give her a small smile, hoping to reassure her, but she quickly looks away.

Aizawa-sensei's tired eyes scan the classroom, his gaze lingering on me for a moment before he speaks. "Alright, It's time to pick your hero identities."

The class erupts in excitement. Kaminari pumps his fist in the air. "Yes! Finally!"

"Oh man, I've been waiting for this!" Kirishima grins, showing off his sharp teeth.

Aizawa's eyes narrow, and the temperature in the room seems to drop a few degrees. The chatter dies down immediately.

"As I was saying," he continues, his voice flat, "choosing your hero name is an important step in your journey. It's not just about picking something that sounds cool."

I already picked out my hero name, thankfully.

"This is related to the pro hero draft picks I mentioned last time," Aizawa explains. "Normally, you wouldn't need to worry about this until your second or third year. But this class is different."

He pauses, his gaze sweeping across the room. "By extending offers to first years like you, the pros are essentially investing in your potential. However, keep in mind that these offers can be rescinded if their interest in you dies down before graduation."

The projector screen flickers to life behind him, displaying a list of names and numbers.

MIDORIYA IZUKU - 5,728

TODOROKI SHOTO - 4,123

BAKUGO KATSUKI - 3,556

"Holy shit, Midoriya!" Kaminari exclaims from behind me. "You're like a celebrity now!"

"Quiet," Aizawa says, his voice barely above a whisper but somehow more effective than a shout. The class falls silent again. "Despite these results, all of you will be interning."

He picks up a stack of papers from his desk. "You'll be choosing your hero names today. They are temporary, but if you don't take it seriously…"

As Aizawa-sensei finishes speaking, the classroom door bursts open. Midnight saunters in, her hero costume leaving little to the imagination as always.

"You'll have hell to pay later," she purrs, fixing us with a mischievous grin. "What you pick now could be what the world knows you as for the rest of your life. So think carefully before you're stuck with something totally indecent."

I raise an eyebrow. Coming from Midnight, that's rich.

Aizawa-sensei sighs, reaching for his yellow sleeping bag. "She's got a point. Midnight will have final say on your hero names. It's not my forte." He pauses, his tired eyes scanning the room. "But the name you give yourself is important. It helps reinforce your image of what type of hero you represent. Take All Might for example."

I nod, thinking of my mentor. All Might. The Symbol of Peace. A name that embodies hope and strength.

Aizawa and Midnight start handing out blank cards for us to write our hero names on. I already know what I'm going to put down, but I take a moment to consider it one last time.

Viridian. The Evergreen Hero.

It's perfect. A nod to my hair color, sure, but more than that. It represents growth, renewal, endurance. Everything I want to embody as a hero.

I glance around the room. Kacchan's scowling at his paper like it personally offended him. Todoroki stares blankly at his, deep in thought. Uraraka's practically bouncing in her seat with excitement.

"Alright!" Midnight calls out, clapping her hands together. "Who wants to share first?"

Aoyama stands up immediately, flashing his signature sparkle. "Behold! I am the Shining Hero: I Cannot Stop Twinkling!"

I blink. That's... certainly a name.

Midnight taps her chin thoughtfully. "Hmm, maybe we can shorten that to Can't Stop Twinkling?"

Aoyama nods enthusiastically. "Magnifique!"

One by one, my classmates reveal their chosen names. Some are met with approval, others with suggestions for improvement. I listen with interest, noting each name and how it reflects my classmates' quirks and personalities.

Finally, it's my turn. I stand up, holding my card in front of me.

"I am... the Evergreen Hero: Viridian."

The room falls silent for a moment. Then Midnight grins. "Oh, I like that! It's unique, memorable, and it suits you perfectly. Well done, Midoriya!"

Kacchan stands up, a cocky grin plastered on his face. He holds up his card, revealing the name "Lord Explosion Murder" scrawled across it in his messy handwriting.

Midnight's eyes widen. "Absolutely not! That's way too violent for a hero name."

Kacchan's grin morphs into a scowl. "What? It's badass!"

"It's inappropriate," Midnight says firmly. "Try again."

Kacchan slumps back into his seat, muttering under his breath.

As the rest of the class continues presenting their names, I lean over to Kacchan's desk. "Hey, want some help brainstorming?"

He glares at me for a moment, then sighs. "Fine. But nothing lame, got it?"

I nod, pulling out a fresh sheet of paper. "Okay, let's start with the basics. What image do you want to project as a hero?"

"Strong. Powerful. Someone villains will piss themselves just hearing about."

I roll my eyes. "Okay, but maybe we can tone it down a bit. How about... Nitro?"

Kacchan wrinkles his nose. "Sounds like a cheap energy drink."

"Fair enough. What about... Detonator?"

He considers it for a moment, then shakes his head. "Nah, too generic."

We spend the next few minutes tossing ideas back and forth. Kacchan shoots down most of them, but I can tell he's actually considering a few.

"Blast Zone?"

"Meh."

"Ignition?"

"Sounds like a car part."

"Dynamight?"

Kacchan pauses, his brow furrowing. "Huh. That's... not terrible."

I grin. "It's a play on 'dynamite,' but with 'might' instead. You know, because you're strong."

He nods slowly. "Yeah, I get it, nerd. It's... pretty good, actually."

"Want to go with that one?"

Kacchan hesitates for a moment, then nods. "Yeah, fuck it. Let's do it."

He scribbles "Dynamight" on a new card and stands up. "Oi, Midnight! I've got a new one."

Midnight raises an eyebrow. "Oh? Let's hear it."

"The Explosion Hero: Dynamight," Kacchan announces, holding up his card.

Midnight's face lights up. "Now that's more like it! Creative, powerful, and not likely to give parents nightmares. Well done!"

Kacchan sits back down, looking pleased with himself. He glances at me, and mumbles "Thanks," so quietly I almost miss it.

I smile. "Anytime, Kacchan."