The Harbinger (My Hero Academia OC)

Chapter 8

"Welcome to Class 1-A," Iida, the class representative, offered as Jack entered his new classroom the next morning. "I hope you will strive to deserve the honor being bestowed upon you by the teachers and Principal. UA is the finest Hero academy, and we must all do our best to maintain that tradition of excellence!" The tall boy was chopping with his stiffened hand to emphasize his points.

"Don't let the class rep frighten you, brother," Yuga said from behind the golden teen. "He's very enthusiastic, but he means well. Everybody!" the French boy raised his voice to get the whole class' attention. "This is my brother, Kagayaku Jack. Isn't he sparkly!"

Jack groaned as he facepalmed.

"Don't be like that, Jack-kun," Yuga tugged at his arm. "They'll think you're shy."

"Great," Bakugo barked from his desk. "Another extra who thinks he can be a hero. Let's get this straight, Goldie. I'm the number one in this class. Try to get in my way and I'll crush you."

"Kacchan!" Midoriya protested.

"Congratulations, kero," Asui offered. "I'd heard you were to only applicant who passed the assessment."

"Yeah, good job," Sato echoed with a nod.

"Everyone should take your seats," The class deputy said from the back of the room. "It's almost time."

"Your seat is right in front of Momo-chan's," Yuga said, pointing to the girl who had just spoken. "Talk with you after class."

"Yeah," Jack said squeezing the other boy's arm in acknowledgement. "Thanks."

He made his way to the designated place, finding himself in front of Yaoyorozu and behind Midoriya. The bird-headed Tokoyami was to his right. He had been hoping to be seated next to a window, but the classroom had none.

Aizawa-sensei entered just as Jack took his seat.

"Sensei, your bandages are gone," Asui said. "I'm glad."

"The old lady went overboard with her treatment," the taciturn teacher replied. He glanced towards Jack. "I'm sure you've all noticed we have a new student in the class – Kagayaku Jack, formerly of Class 1-J. He has been selected to fill our vacancy. Make sure you introduce yourself on your own time. This should serve as a reminder that none of your places in the Hero course are guaranteed. There are many others working hard to take your place should you fail to progress."

The class stirred nervously, a few glancing in Jack's direction. He moaned inwardly at the teacher setting him up as an enemy.

"More importantly, we're having a special hero informatics class today." Aizawa-sensei paused dramatically. The tension in the room, already tweaked by the teacher's reminder of their precarious position in the school, ratcheted up significantly. "Code names. You'll be coming up with hero names."

The class erupted in cheers. That angered the stoic instructor as his eyes flashed red and his hair stood on end. The class instantly silenced.

"This is related to the Pro Hero draft picks I mentioned the other day," he continued. "The drafts begin in earnest in the second and third years – when the students are closer to becoming pros. For them to extend offers to first years shows they are interested in your future potential. These offers should not be taken as a certainty of a position after graduation. Much can change between now and then."

"So, we'll have to prove ourselves once we get picked, neh?" Hagakure suggested.

"That's right," Aizawa-sensei confirmed. He then displayed a chart with the total number of offers for those students who had done particularly well in the Sports Festival. Bakugo and Todoroki, the finalists, had offers in the thousands. Jack had not been aware there were that many Hero agencies in Japan. Several other students had offers in the hundreds. Only what Jack assumed were the top nine students were presented. His name was not on the list, but that was no surprise. While he had done well, he had not been a Hero student in the Festival so had not been eligible for the draft.