𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗦 ⌈𝐈⌔𝐌 ✗ 𝔽!𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫𝑬𝑹⌋

Chapter 003

CHAPTER 03: The Beginning of a Hero's Journey

The sun hung low in the morning sky as you stood in front of U.A. High School’s towering gates. The place looked even more imposing up close. You stared at it for a moment, your fingers tightening around the strap of your bag. This was it—the start of everything. The start of your future as a hero.

Despite the quiet confidence you’d felt after passing the entrance exam, doubt still lingered in the back of your mind. What if this was a mistake? What if your quirk wasn’t strong enough, or if you couldn’t keep up with the others? You had been barely managing your water manipulation during the exam—there was no telling how much tougher things would get from here on out.

You adjusted the sleeves of your school uniform, the fabric soft against your skin. The standard U.A. uniform suited you well enough, the dark green jacket and skirt fitting snugly. The tie was a bit tight around your neck, but that might have had more to do with your growing anxiety than the fit itself.

As you took a deep breath and pushed open the gate, a voice called out to you.

"Hey! Mizushima, right?"

You blinked and turned to see a familiar face walking up toward you—Izuku Midoriya. His bright, nervous smile greeted you, and you could feel some of the tension in your chest ease. You had only spoken briefly during the exam, but you remembered his determination well. He had been the one to take down the zero-pointer with that insane punch.

"Yeah, that’s me," you replied, managing a small smile in return. "You’re Midoriya, right?"

He nodded eagerly. "I’m glad to see a familiar face. I was really nervous about today, but knowing someone else from the exam is here helps a little."

You shared a glance, a moment of mutual understanding passing between the two of you. The anxious energy you both radiated was almost tangible. "Yeah... it feels pretty surreal being here."

Together, you walked through the entrance, your shoes clicking lightly against the polished floors of the school building. The hallways were wide and filled with students, all wearing the same uniform as you. Some were chatting excitedly, others walking in groups. Everyone seemed to have this quiet confidence that left you feeling a little out of place.

You glanced at Midoriya. "You know what class you’re in?"

"Class 1-A," he answered, his voice a little quieter than before.

Your heart leapt. "Me too."

Midoriya gave you an encouraging grin. "Looks like we’ll be in the same class!"

---

The door to Class 1-A slid open, revealing rows of neatly arranged desks, sunlight streaming in through the large windows. You stepped in with Midoriya by your side, taking in the sight of your new classroom. A few students were already seated, some glancing up as you entered. You recognized a couple from the entrance exam, but there were plenty of new faces as well.

Your eyes drifted to a boy with blonde hair and a sharp glare—Katsuki Bakugo. His presence seemed to fill the room with a sense of intensity, and you could tell immediately he was the type who took things seriously. He shot a glance at Midoriya, his scowl deepening. You couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy at the tension between them.

You took a seat toward the middle of the room, near the windows. As you settled in, more students began to file into the room, each bringing their own unique energy. Ochaco Uraraka bounced in with a bright smile, Shoto Todoroki entered with a cool, unreadable expression, and Tenya Iida marched in with disciplined precision. It was a whirlwind of personalities, and you could feel the weight of the competition already starting to build.

Midoriya sat next to you, glancing around nervously. "I heard the teachers here are pretty strict. I wonder who we’ll get."

Your answer came moments later when the door slid open, and a man with disheveled hair and a tired expression stepped into the room. He wore a black scarf wrapped around his neck and dark bags under his eyes, as though he hadn’t slept in days.

"Quiet down," he muttered, his voice low but commanding. "I’m your homeroom teacher, Shota Aizawa."

You exchanged a quick glance with Midoriya. So this was your teacher? He didn’t exactly exude the heroic energy you expected from U.A., but there was something about his demeanor that told you not to underestimate him.

Aizawa scanned the room, his gaze sharp despite his tired appearance. "Let’s skip the introductions and get straight to business. You’re here to become heroes, not to make friends."

You straightened in your seat, feeling the pressure in the room rise. This wasn’t going to be easy.

---

As the day went on, the initial excitement and tension gradually faded into the rhythm of classes. Aizawa’s teaching style was tough and no-nonsense, and it was clear from the start that U.A. wasn’t just about training you to use your quirk. It was about pushing you to your limits—mentally, emotionally, and physically.

For now, your quirk remained your biggest challenge. You could manipulate water to a basic degree, but you struggled with control. Sometimes the water responded too quickly, slipping out of your grasp. Other times, it hardly moved at all. It was frustrating, and the other students seemed so much more confident with their quirks.

At lunch, you sat with Midoriya, Uraraka, and Iida. They were friendly and welcoming, especially Uraraka, who seemed to have a natural warmth that made you feel more at ease. As you chatted with them, you couldn’t help but glance at the other students from time to time, wondering if they were judging you based on how you had performed in class earlier.

Midoriya caught you looking and offered you a reassuring smile. "Don’t worry too much about today. We’re all still learning. It’s only the beginning."

You nodded, though the words did little to calm the nagging doubts in the back of your mind. You had made it this far, but you still felt like you were on shaky ground. If you were going to become a hero, you needed to push yourself harder. And you needed to understand your quirk better.

---

The school day ended with Aizawa assigning homework and warning everyone that tomorrow’s training session would be "no joke." As you packed your things and prepared to leave, you couldn’t shake the feeling of anticipation building inside you. This was only the start.

Stepping out into the fresh afternoon air, you felt a rush of excitement and anxiety swirl together in your chest. The path ahead was going to be challenging. But as you glanced back at the school, you knew that this was where you belonged. Where you would grow. Where you would forge your future.

Tomorrow would be another step in your journey, and no matter how tough it got, you weren’t backing down.

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A/N: Word Count: 1250, Next chapter we'll finally begin the Quirk Apprehension Test arc. I will be playing around with it, changing some bits to incorporate Y/N presence in there, this is just a friendly reminder for people who prefer for a story to go plot-by-plot but obviously there are bound to be some changes made with Y/N playing a part in them. See you on the next chapter.

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