After break, the rest of the day passed in a blur of regular classes—English, history, math—nothing particularly exciting after the adrenaline rush of the morning's Quirk tests. By the time the final bell rang, students were more than ready to go home.

Aizawa leaned back in his chair, giving them his usual tired stare.

"Also, remember—whatever happened today was just a glimpse of the hardships you'll be facing in this school. So, get some rest… because tomorrow, you all might just die."

Nobody even flinched. After his little "expulsion threat" lie earlier, the class had learned to filter out his attempts at intimidation. They packed their bags and began filing out, chatting amongst themselves.

Izuku slung his bag over his shoulder, telling Uraraka and Mina, "I've got to head out first. I'll see you tomorrow."

As he stepped out into the warm afternoon, he glanced at his phone, pulling up a map.

' I wonder if there are any good food spots nearby… better make a mental list for after-school meetups. My place isn't exactly next door, ' he thought.

A light tap on his shoulder pulled him from his thoughts. Turning, he found himself face-to-face with Momo Yaoyorozu, her posture poised yet approachable.

"Hey," she greeted softly. "What's up?"

"Not much," Izuku replied, lowering his phone. "Just checking for places to eat around here."

"That's a good idea," she said with a small smile. "I haven't explored much either."

He tilted his head. "Are you waiting for someone to pick you up?"

"I am, technically… though I haven't called them yet," she admitted.

Izuku's lips quirked into a faint smile. "Well, if you're not in a rush, we could grab something together. Just to get to know each other a bit. I'm interested in learning more about my classmates."

"That's funny," Momo said with a light laugh. "My dream is to have study sessions with everyone in class someday. I'd love for you to be part of that. And yes—grabbing a bite sounds nice."

As they crossed the street into a small shopping district, Momo found herself sneaking curious glances at him.

' I looked over the results earlier… number one in the tests. But I've never even heard of him before. No connections, no records, no media mentions. How does someone like that just… appear?' She thought

"So," Izuku began casually, "you're the daughter of the Yaoyorozu family, right? Must be a lot of pressure."

"It has its moments," she admitted. "Especially since I'm the sole heiress to all our businesses. But honestly? I'm not really focused on that. I want to make my own path. Being a Pro Hero is my first priority."

"That's admirable," Izuku said, his tone genuine. "Puts my goal to shame, though."

"And what's your goal?" she asked, curious.

"To become the best hero the world's ever seen," he said with a faint shrug. "It's selfish, I know. A very selfish goal."

"I don't think it's selfish at all," she said with an earnest smile. "Especially with the state of the world right now. All Might will have to retire one day… and when that happens, someone will have to step into that role. With the right training and guidance, I could see you doing it."

He blinked, a bit surprised at how matter-of-factly she'd said it. "…You think so?"

"Absolutely."

A slow grin spread across his face. "Well, that does encourage me. I guess I'll try even harder now. I hope you do the same. I can't wait for the day we go on patrol together."

That earned a soft laugh from her. "Neither can I."

They wandered through the shopping district until the savory smell of fresh food pulled them toward a small, stylish café tucked between a bookstore and a flower shop. It wasn't flashy, but it looked clean and cozy—big windows letting in warm afternoon light, with small potted plants lining the counter.

"This place looks nice," Momo said, glancing inside.

"Yeah," Izuku agreed. "Not too crowded either. Let's try it."

A waitress greeted them with a smile and led them to a small booth by the window. Momo slid in gracefully, setting her bag beside her, while Izuku took the seat across from her, scanning the menu.

They ordered quickly—Momo went for a light pasta with tea, while Izuku chose a chicken sandwich with fries and a large soda.

As they waited, Izuku rested his chin on his hand. "So… you mentioned wanting to do study sessions with the class. Is that something you've always done?"

"Yes," Momo nodded. "I think teamwork and understanding your peers is important. In middle school, I used to host sessions for my friends, and they always told me it helped them improve. I guess I want to keep that tradition alive here."

Izuku smirked. "Sounds like you're already acting like a class rep."

She raised an eyebrow with a small smile. "And what about you? You don't seem like someone who stays in the background. I can tell you've… well, lived a little."

Sharp, Izuku thought, amused. "Let's just say I've seen and done a few things outside of the classroom. It helps me understand people better."

"Like what?" she asked, leaning forward slightly.

"Helping people in my own way," he said vaguely, stirring his drink. "It's not something I talk about much. But helping people—whether it's on a big scale or just someone who needs a hand—always feels worth it."

Momo studied him for a moment, her expression unreadable. She didn't push for more details, but her curiosity only deepened.

Their food arrived, breaking the moment.

Halfway through their meal, she asked, "You were holding back at first, during the 50-meter dash, weren't you?"

Izuku raised an eyebrow, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "Yeah I was"

"You moved like someone who knows exactly how fast they can go," she said simply. "But you were… pacing yourself. It was deliberate."

Izuku chuckled. "Maybe I just didn't want to ruin anyone's confidence on the first day."

Momo tilted her head, smiling faintly. "Or maybe you're just waiting for the right time to show what you're capable of. But you went ahead and out shined everyone in the end with your retake."

He didn't answer, only taking another bite of his sandwich.

They talked about lighter things after that—favorite foods, their opinions on the school layout, and even a bit about the quirks of some of their classmates.

When they finally stepped back out into the fading sunlight, Momo glanced at her phone. "My driver's a few minutes away."

"Cool. I'll wait with you," Izuku said.

They stood near the curb, the warm breeze carrying the smell of fresh flowers from the nearby shop. Momo glanced at him one last time before her car pulled up.

"You're… interesting, Midoriya," she said. "I'll figure you out one day."

Izuku smirked. "Looking forward to it."

She got into the car, and as it drove off, he watched it disappear into the distance before turning and heading for home.

' She's sharp. I think she's the only person who can possibly understand me intellectually, ' he thought, the faintest grin tugging at his lips.

He had only taken a few steps when a sharp, panicked scream tore through the air. It came from a narrow, dimly lit alley just a block away. The sound was raw, desperate—definitely not the kind you could ignore.

Izuku's expression hardened instantly. Without hesitation, he turned on his heel and walked quickly back toward the café, pushing the door open as the bell chimed above him.

"Bathroom?" he asked casually, masking his urgency.

"Down the hall to the left," the barista replied without looking up from the register.

He slipped inside, locking the door behind him. In seconds, his uniform shirt was off, replaced by the familiar black hoodie and matching pants. Tonight, he added a sleek black mask, covering his lower face entirely. The hood came up, and he pulled the drawstrings tight until his face was shadowed, his eyes glinting faintly beneath the fabric.

He flexed his hands once, rolling his shoulders. Everything felt right.

A single glance at the small window confirmed it was just wide enough. He slid it open, the cool evening air rushing in, carrying the faint echoes of the scream again—this time weaker, as if the victim's voice was giving out.

His grip tightened on the sill.

In one smooth motion, he vaulted through the window, the soles of his shoes barely making a sound on the rooftop. Then, with a sharp burst of force, he blasted himself into the air, the city blurring beneath him as he arrowed toward the source of the cry.

TO BE CONTINUED