The sun was shining brightly over the training grounds of U.A. High School, where a rather unusual event was about to take place. A group of Pro Heroes had gathered with a singular mission: to make Endeavor, the stoic and seemingly humorless No. 1 Hero, laugh.
The heroes—Present Mic, Ms. Joke, Mirko, Midnight, and Hawks—were assembled in a loose circle, all of them buzzing with excitement and anticipation. They knew they were up against an almost impossible challenge. Endeavor was notorious for his unyielding seriousness; the only recorded time he had laughed was during an unfortunate encounter with a villain named Mr. Smiley, whose Quirk forced uncontrollable laughter. Even then, the experience had been more terrifying than amusing for everyone involved, especially since Endeavor’s flames had reacted violently to his uncontrollable laughter, melting through floors and causing quite the commotion.
But today was different. Today, these heroes were determined to crack the uncrackable.
The event had drawn a small audience as well. Eraserhead, leaning casually against a tree with his usual disinterested expression, was watching alongside a skinny but smiling All Might, who had come out of retirement to witness this peculiar spectacle.
"Think they have a chance?" All Might asked, his voice laced with amusement.
Eraserhead shrugged. "I doubt it. But it'll be fun to watch them try."
Endeavor stood at the center of the training field, arms crossed, his face as stern as ever. His flames were subdued, but the tension in the air hinted that they could flare up at any moment. He had reluctantly agreed to this challenge after some persistent nagging from Hawks, who had framed it as a ‘training exercise’—a way to build camaraderie among the heroes. But deep down, Endeavor suspected Hawks just wanted to see if anyone could actually make him laugh.
"Alright, let's get this party started!" Present Mic shouted, his enthusiasm as loud as his voice. He struck a ridiculous pose, dramatically pointing at Endeavor. "Are you ready to have your stone-cold heart melted by the power of laughter?"
Endeavor didn’t respond, only raising an eyebrow in response.
First up was Ms. Joke, the hero whose Quirk literally caused uncontrollable laughter in those around her. She approached Endeavor with her usual bubbly energy, her smile wide. "Endeavor, you’ve got the best poker face in the business, but let’s see how you handle this one!"
She activated her Quirk, aiming it squarely at Endeavor. Usually, people would be doubled over in laughter within seconds of encountering her, but Endeavor remained stoic. There was a slight twitch in his eyebrow, but nothing more.
"Come on, don’t you feel it? Not even a giggle?" Ms. Joke teased, but she could see her Quirk was having no effect. "Tough crowd!"
Next up was Hawks, who had come prepared with a different approach. “Alright, Endeavor, I know you’re a serious guy, but even you’ve got to appreciate some good old-fashioned slapstick!” With a mischievous grin, Hawks took off into the sky, only to dive-bomb back down in a series of absurd and exaggerated mid-air somersaults. As he landed, he pretended to trip over his own feet, crashing into the ground in a comical heap.
Endeavor watched, unblinking. Hawks groaned dramatically, dusting himself off. “Tough crowd,” he muttered under his breath.
Midnight was next, trying a different tactic entirely. She walked up to Endeavor, her voice sultry. "Oh, Endeavor," she purred, "let’s see if we can’t get a smile out of you." She began an over-the-top impression of a villain from a popular comedy film, complete with exaggerated mannerisms and a ridiculous accent.
But Endeavor's expression remained unchanged, his patience seemingly endless. Midnight finally sighed, giving up. "You’re impossible!"
The next attempt came from Mirko, who decided to go for physical humor. "Alright, enough of the fancy stuff," she said, cracking her knuckles. "Let’s see if some good old-fashioned strength can get you to crack."
