33: Principal Nezu

After the last team's battle wrapped up, the remaining classmates paired up to face off in the various other Capture the Flag matches.

Each match brought its own mix of strategy and unique abilities, but none as flashy as Aiden's earlier display.

Team 4 Heroes: Jiro and Shoji battled Ojiro and Mineta.

Jiro's keen hearing and Shoji's enhanced body gave them an advantage in tracking the villains' movements, and despite Mineta's tricky sticky balls, Jiro's sonic attacks cleared the path to victory.

Team 6 Heroes: Toru and Sato faced off against Koda and Aoyama. Toru's agility and Sato's brute strength helped them manoeuvre through Koda's animal summons and Aoyama's lasers.

With Toru's stealth and Sato's power, they quickly retrieved the flag.

-

-

After the final battle, All Might gathered everyone in the observation room. He stood tall, his usual dramatic flair toned down but still present.

"Well, young heroes, you've all done an impressive job today!" All Might announced, his booming voice echoing through the room.

"Each of you demonstrated great teamwork, creativity, and use of your quirks. But remember, battles aren't just about brute strength or flashy moves—it's about using your abilities wisely and knowing when to rely on your teammates!"

He paused, glancing at a few of the more notable performances.

"For Team 1, Midoriya and Bakugo, you both worked well, though Bakugo—" he gave Bakugo a stern look—"you need to work on your teamwork. It's not just about charging ahead. Midoriya, good job keeping calm under pressure."

Bakugo just scoffed, while Midoriya smiled nervously.

"For Team 2, Iida and Uraraka, your speed and mobility were top-notch! But remember to keep your surroundings in mind at all times.

Uraraka, you did well using the environment to your advantage."

Uraraka beamed, and Iida gave a sharp nod of agreement.

"For Team 3, Aiden and Yaoyorozu, your coordination was excellent! Aiden, you brought incredible power to the fight, but remember—subtlety is sometimes just as important.

Yaoyorozu, your adaptability helped secure the victory."

Momo smiled at the praise, while Aiden gave a sly grin.

"As for the rest of you, every battle was a learning experience! Take today's lessons to heart—especially about working together and adapting to unexpected challenges."

All Might looked over the class, his voice softening. "Remember, heroes, it's not always the strongest who win, but the smartest and the most determined. Never underestimate your opponents, and never forget to rely on your allies. You'll all grow stronger together!"

With that, the class buzzed with excitement, discussing their matches and All Might's feedback as they headed back to the locker rooms to change, already thinking about their next challenge.

-

-

-

As the students made their way back to the locker rooms, the atmosphere was buzzing with post-battle excitement and chatter.

In the boys' locker room, **Kirishima** was the first to break the silence, grinning widely as he stretched his arms. "Man, that was intense! Everyone's quirks are getting crazier by the day."

Bakugo grunted, pulling off his hero suit, still annoyed at how his match with Midoriya had gone. "Tch, whatever. Just means I've got more explosions to throw around next time."

Midoriya, still slightly nervous from Bakugo's frustration, laughed awkwardly. "Y-Yeah, it was definitely a good learning experience."

Kaminari, shaking off his gear, looked over at Aiden with wide eyes. "Yo, Aiden, you've got to spill! That move back there with the reality shift? Freaking awesome, dude! What's your quirk actually called?"

Aiden, who had been taking his time, letting the rest of the guys change, chuckled as he glanced over. "It's called Royal Reality. You could say it lets me… bend things to my will," he explained with a smirk, still being a bit vague, but letting on more than before.

Sero whistled in admiration. "Bend things? Sounds like you've got some serious firepower there."

"Yeah," Kirishima chimed in, looking impressed. "You've got that whole king vibe going on too, especially with that fancy costume. You really looked like a hero out there!"

Aiden ran a hand through his dreadlocks, tying them back into a small ponytail again. "Appreciate it, but trust me, it's all about the teamwork," he said, though his playful grin hinted that he enjoyed the praise.

Mineta, of course, tried to jump in with his usual antics, nudging Kaminari. "I'm more curious about those royal guards of yours. Man, what I wouldn't give to have them pick me up in a car!"

Before Mineta could say any more, Aiden shot him a warning look, which was enough to make the grape-headed boy back off immediately, knowing better than to push his luck after the near-death glare from Aiden's guards earlier.

Iida, ever serious, adjusted his glasses, chiming in with a more thoughtful tone. "Aiden, your quirk is certainly impressive, but it's clear you have a refined sense of control. I'd be interested to know how long you've been training with it."

Aiden gave a nonchalant shrug as he began changing into his school uniform. "Let's just say I've been at it for a while, but I've still got a lot to learn."

Before the conversation could go on, All Might appeared in the locker room doorway, his larger-than-life presence causing everyone to straighten up. "Young men, excellent work out there! But don't linger too long—tomorrow's a new day, and we've got more training ahead."

With that, the boys began wrapping up, gathering their belongings, still talking about the day's battles and Aiden's mysterious abilities. 

---

Meanwhile, in the girls' locker room, the atmosphere was just as lively.

Mina, as always, was full of energy, still buzzing from the earlier matches. "Wow, Aiden was amazing! Did you guys see that reality-warping stuff he pulled? I mean, I knew he was hiding something cool, but that was next-level!"

Jiro, more reserved, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it was definitely unexpected. He's holding back though, I can tell."

Momo, who had been Aiden's partner in the match, smiled thoughtfully as she removed her hero costume. "He's definitely skilled, but he's also got a strategic mind. I think we're going to learn a lot from him."

Ochaco, floating on a cloud of excitement (and literal gravity control), chimed in. "I think Aiden's quirk is really interesting! I wonder what else he can do... he hasn't really explained it in full, has he?"

Tsuyu, always the calm voice of reason, added, "He's probably keeping some things to himself for now. But that's okay. We'll figure it out in time, ribbit."

As they changed and prepared to leave, Mina couldn't help but bring up one last thing, leaning over to Momo. "So... Aiden. He's, like, super mysterious, right? You teamed up with him—what's he like up close?"

Momo blushed slightly but kept her composure. "He's a bit vague about his abilities, but he's confident... and a gentleman."

Mina grinned, wiggling her eyebrows. "Ooh, a gentleman, huh?"

Momo quickly shook her head. "It's not like that!"

The conversation continued to flow as the girls finished changing, excited for what tomorrow's training would bring and what more they might learn about their new classmate.

-

In the dimly lit principal's office, Toshinori Yagi, known to most as All Might, sat across from the desk of Principal Nezu, the small yet brilliant head of U.A. High School.

The office, adorned with various academic accolades and trinkets from Nezu's past investigations, had a calm air about it, though the conversation was anything but casual.

Toshinori leaned back slightly, resting his hand on his chin as he reviewed his notes from the day's training session. "The students performed admirably, as expected," he began.

"Most of them are adapting well to their quirks, growing in both control and strategy."

Nezu, ever curious, sat with his paws folded on his desk. His dark, beady eyes scanned Toshinori's face with interest, though his tone remained calm and neutral.

"That's good to hear. And what about our new student?" He leaned forward slightly. "Aiden Wilhelm Fritz. He seems... quite different."

Toshinori exhaled slowly, considering his words carefully. "Yes. He's an interesting one, to say the least. His quirk, from what I've seen, is extraordinarily versatile. The way he manipulated reality during the battle... it wasn't just raw power.

It was calculated. He's got a keen sense of control and situational awareness, more than you'd expect from someone new to the class."

Nezu nodded, his small ears twitching. "I see. Did he reveal the full extent of his abilities? Or was he holding back?"

Toshinori shook his head. "I believe he's still holding back. He's clever, and I get the sense he doesn't want to show all his cards just yet. He calls his quirk Royal Reality, and from the glimpses I've seen, it seems to be more than just reality manipulation.

He can manipulate matter, even energy... I wouldn't be surprised if his quirk was broader than that."

Nezu leaned back in his chair, his small frame looking deceptively relaxed. "A quirk like that would make him a formidable asset—or threat—depending on his control and intentions."

His voice carried an undercurrent of contemplation. "What about his temperament? How is he interacting with the other students?"

Toshinori smiled slightly. "He's... enigmatic. Aiden's got a laid-back attitude, almost carefree. But it's not arrogance. It's more like... he knows he can handle any situation that comes his way. He's already made an impression on the class, though he's keeping much of his past to himself.

He seems cautious about revealing too much, but he's not unfriendly. The students seem to like him."

Nezu chuckled softly, his beady eyes shining with amusement. "A student who's both reserved and captivating. It's not often we get someone who draws such attention so quickly." He paused for a moment, pondering.

"And his guards?"

Toshinori laughed lightly at the memory. "Oh, they're a sight to behold. Fierce, to say the least. They take their duty seriously, and I'd bet they're no pushovers in combat.

But they're protective of him—overprotective, even. They caused quite a commotion earlier with the media outside the gates. They're not used to blending in."

Nezu nodded. "We'll have to manage that carefully. This isn't Paradis, after all. But if Aiden's as capable as you say, we'll want to guide him just like the others."

Toshinori leaned forward slightly, his face more serious now. "He's going to be one to watch closely, Principal. I'm not sure what his motivations are, but if he's the future ruler of his kingdom, there's no telling what impact that'll have here. We'll need to ensure he's learning to use his power responsibly—just like we do with all our students."

Nezu smiled, his eyes gleaming with curiosity and purpose. "Indeed. We'll monitor his progress, but I trust that U.A. will be the perfect place for him to grow. I'm sure we'll learn more about his background and abilities in due time."

Toshinori stood, tucking his report under his arm. "I'll continue keeping an eye on him. He'll either be a great hero... or something else entirely."

Nezu nodded sagely. "We'll be ready either way. Thank you, Toshinori. Your insight is invaluable as always."

With that, All Might exited the office, leaving Nezu to ponder in silence, his mind already turning with plans on how to guide this mysterious new student.

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[A/N: I'll update my other book tmrw. Was too tired to write anything decent]