Third person pov

Somei Private Academy is the best of the best. It's by far one of the top ten Middle Schools in the nation of Japan, and though the price to attend is rather steep, it's well worth it. It's a great way to jump start your child's education. The school hired only the best teachers for its staff, and the food the cafeteria provided was always fresh to ensure the student's remained in peak health. 

They aimed to push students in their education and challenge them in an attempt to help them grow mentally and physically. For those attending who wished to be heroes, there were certain gym classes they could be signed up for that would help keep them in tip-top shape for high school. They focused primarily on stamina, thought some touched base on some tips and tricks that generally worked for those with bodies enhanced by a quirk or mutation.

 Like his brother before him, Tenya Iida was in attendance at Somei Academy in hopes of being prepared by the time he was old enough to take the prestigious UA high's entrance exam. There was no question that it would be tough, as it was the top hero school in Japan, and possibly even the world. The hero course accepted a total of forty students: twenty for 1-A, and twenty for 1-B. Tenya would not only have to be at the apex of physical health, but he'd need to be ready for the written portion the exam.

Tenya had always dreamed of becoming a hero. He couldn't remember a time when he hadn't looked up to his brother and his fellow pros who fought against villains in an attempt to keep Japan as safe and danger-free as possible. His brother was someone who defended civilians and helped to track down evil-doers! He was honorable, and Tenya admired that. Tensei was someone he strove to be like.

While Somei was, without a shadow of a doubt, a great school, it was still no stranger to unsavory types. Of course Tenya had expected this. There wasn't a place in the world you could go where everyone was nice. There'd always be someone trying to stomp down others around them. The only issue was that here, the school refused to believe that bullying existed amongst the student body. They claimed proudly that they were an incident-free zone fifty years in a row, and they were hesitant to let that go.

A lot of the top schools were like this. While the ones at the top were alright with admitting they had flaws and did damage control as issues came along, Somei was an academy constantly fighting for its place in the top ten. It had to work hard to stay up there with the elites. While it was amazing, it was almost a little corrupt in that way. 

Well into his second year, Tenya found himself getting used to bullying. Were he ever attacked physically, he wouldn't hesitate to defend himself, as anyone might. He ignored any verbal quips, however. He wasn't particularly here to make friends, so it didn't bother him much. While he wouldn't mind having maybe... someone on his side, the fact that he didn't hadn't really kept him up at night or anything of that sort. He was the sticks and stones could break your bones type. Words didn't hurt him much. Not when they were coming from someone he didn't even like.

His first year was the worst, he thought. He'd learned to let their words roll off his back, because if they weren't going to value his opinion, he certainly wasn't going to value there's. It did hurt a little when he earned the title 'robot' for not only his quirk, but for the odd arm motions he couldn't help but do when talking. It wasn't like he could help himself, and he knew they were odd. They were just... a part of who he was, and as much as he tried to change that, he couldn't. Sometimes his excitement caused him to make odd arm motions, that's all!

The bullying wasn't as bad as it could be. Tenya was a big guy, so they weren't too keen on attacking him outright. However, they had figured out that he wouldn't do much in retaliation if all they did was use words. He'd seldom ever reply. It was his facial expressions that gave away he was listening, and that jeered them on. The twitch of his eye, or the smallest flinch sent them spiraling into a fresh spiel of taunts. It was exhausting.

Today was proving to be more bothersome than most. It was time for lunch and the door to the classroom was being blocked, preventing him from exiting and marching off to the cafeteria like everyone else. He wasn't about to try and move the people doing it. They were his usual tormentors, Akinori and Hito. They'd been on him since the first day of school about his dream to be a hero, and hadn't let up since. They were nuisances, but not impossible to deal with.

He'd asked them rather politely to move around three times now, but it was to no avail. They didn't budge. They simply continued on trying to get a reaction out of them. Tenya prided himself in his ability to stay relatively calm in most situations, but he found himself getting rather annoyed with them. How could his patience not run thin after weeks upon weeks of their merciless provocation?

"You'd make a decent rent-a-cop with a quirk like that, I guess." Akinori scoffed, folding his arms over his chest to try and seem bigger. Considering Tenya was already 5'9" and still growing, only fifteen, it didn't do much. The blue haired boy simply stared flatly. "How do you expect to be a hero? Your brother at least has engines in his arms that help him pack somewhat of a punch. But you? Just your legs?"

"Speed is a great tool for a hero to have." Tenya said in a simple and level tone.

"Yeah, Robot? What're you going to do? Dodge the enemy to death?" Hito scoffed, mimicking Akinori's pose by crossing his arms over his chest. To say Tenya was unamused was an understatement. He had absolutely no idea why he was still here. This whole thing was dumb, and he didn't feel he should have to deal with it. He didn't want to deal with it. He was getting fed up with them constantly trying to beat him down. What was so wrong with the way he looked and acted? Why was his dream to be a hero so impossible in their eyes?

"Even if he did become a hero, he'd never be popular." Akinori shrugged, moving to put his hands in his pockets. Hito moved to copy him in suit. Akinori continued, "Especially not with hair like that. And what's up with your eyebrows anyway, Robot? Are you trying to scare little kids off?"

Tenya recoiled slightly, opening his mouth to retort, but quickly snapping it shut when he realized that was exactly what they wanted. He didn't want to give them the satisfaction. He just wanted to go eat lunch like everyone else. Was that really so much of an issue? Why target him, of all people? That's not to say that Tenya wanted them to go find someone new, of course. He'd just prefer they stop with the foulness all around!

Bullying didn't much make sense in Tenya's mind. What was the point? Did it achieve something? Tenya understood the need to feel stronger, and he such of the like. Beating others doesn't just... didn't seem like the best way to make yourself feel good. Why not better yourself instead of trying to worsen everyone else? 

Before any of the three boys could get another word in, the door was pulled open to reveal a student Tenya didn't know the name of, but vaguely recognized. He was short, around 5'2" or so, with deep brown hair, tan skin, and muddy scarlet eyes that had an irritated glint to them. He looked severely irked, and that was before his path was blocked.

"The hell?" He cocked his head to the side, face shifting into a scowl. "Move."

Hito seemed severely taken aback by his tone and lack of hesitance in his demand. Tenya didn't blame them; he was rather surprised as well. Akinori came from a famous family and had a formidable quirk, and it was the same with Hito. They were two of the school's top dogs, and people never dared to cross them for fear of angering either them, or worse, their families. This kid's brashness may cost him.

"Why should we?" Akinori spat back, pulling his hands back out of his pockets and folding them over his chest. Hito rushed to follow, just as he had the time before. Tenya couldn't help but think that was just the slightest bit sad. He couldn't imagine ever wanting to fit in so badly that he tried to change himself and how he acted just to do so. He didn't think he'd ever be able to.

"Because I want into the damn room? Why else?" The kid asked in a rather vulgar manner. Tenya winced a little. He didn't know who this boy was, but he clearly had quite the temper on him despite being so... well, he was rather short. That was definitely a disadvantage in many ways. The bruises and scars the boy was sporting told Iida he was no stranger to a brawl. That made Tenya a little uneasy. How easy would it me to get this brunette angry enough to lash out?

"We shouldn't fight. It would be unbecoming of us, as students of such a prestigious school." Tenya intervened, hoping to diffuse the situation. By the glares he was shot, it hadn't worked in the least. He felt panic swell within him when he realized he couldn't escape the situation to find a teacher so they could bring this down before it got bad. Things weren't looking good. Today simply wasn't Tenya's day, was it?

"Shut up, Robot." Akinori spat venomously, stepping closer to the short brunette in an attempt to intimidate him. The boy didn't even flinch, but something very clearly changed in his expression. What, Tenya didn't know, but there was a clear difference.

"Robot?" Muddy red eyes shifted to Tenya, and the boy's lips stretched into a wry smile. "Wow, I didn't know his name was Robot. Whatever were his parents thinking? Probably the same thing yours were when they gave you a dumbass name like Robert." 

The use of his first name made Akinori flinch and flush, eyes going wide with rage. Tenya was taken aback to realize that... whoever this brown-haired boy was, he'd just... defended him. He was short, angry, and clearly annoyed, but he'd just stood up for Tenya. And to Akinori no less. Nobody had ever done that for him before, and it... well, it warmed Tenya up a little on the inside. Even if a fight was about to break out right before his very eyes.

"Call me that again, I dare you." Akinori hissed, grabbing the brunette by the front of his shirt and pulling at it threateningly. It was the first time Tenya had ever seen him provoke someone physically. He suddenly wished he had his phone with him. He'd left it in his locker, as he always did. He'd never regretted it until this moment. Then, he could take pictures to prove who'd made the first move. He wouldn't want the boy who'd just defended him thrown under the bus.

"Alright, Robert." The brunette hissed, smiling in a wild manner. "Why don't you tell me what his name really is? I really don't think Robot suits him. Not like Robert suits you and your... well, your face. If you could call it that."

"What did you say, you quirkless brat?!" Akinori howled. Hito stood by awkwardly, clearly conflicted about what to do. So far, the brunette hadn't raised a hand against his attacker. The brunette who was apparently quirkless. It was quite shocking, considering the amount of confidence he had. Maybe it was a mistake, or just something to try and get under the boy's skin? Tenya didn't know, but he was oddly intrigued to say the least.

"I must ask that you stop this at once." Tenya requested, though he was definitely flattered. Nobody had ever really cared enough to try and stop Akinori in his taunting. Not so outwardly, anyway. He'd seen people attempt to divert the bully's attention onto something else, but they'd never called him out on his wrongdoings. It made Tenya's heart swell with pride and something else akin to thankfulness. 

"Shut the hell up." Akinori snapped back at him. 

"Aw, now what gives you the right to tell him to shut up?" The boy tilted his head, still grinning. "I'm not asking much, Robert. I just want to know his name! No need to get violent!" 

The brunette had made no moves, but Tenya somehow knew that he was still dangerous. Maybe it was the scars on his forearms, or perhaps the bruise on his cheek. It could also be his smile, or the lack of fear in his eyes despite probably knowing Akinori's quirk. The teen flaunted it so much, it was hard not to. He could channel intense heat into his fingertips, and make them searing hot. So hot they could melt through metal and other strong substances.

"And what are you going to do if I don't say his name, huh? You're just a quirkless little punk who thinks he's hot shit." Akinori growled. Tenya jolted when he realized the brunette's shirt was beginning to smoke as Akinori's temper rose, and with it, the temperature in the tips of his fingers. He tensed, ready to intervene. The boy's uniform shirt was already ruined no doubt, but he didn't seem hurt. Tenya was glad even if he knew it wouldn't last. 

"Funny how you think I need a quirk to break your fucking bones, asshole." The brunette's smile dropped into a dark glower before he ripped Akinori's hand from his shirt, twisting him around and slamming his face into a desk. A squeak left Hito, and a gasp from the now wide-eyed Tenya. Akinori shrieked in surprise. "I just asked you to tell me his name, because I know it isn't Robot, you piece of shit. You're really ticking me off. You think you're so high and mighty, don't you? It's time for a reality check."

Akinori hissed out in pain as his arm was tugged on, the brunette clearly threatening to dislocate it from his shoulder. "So I'll ask again, Robert. You can call me quirkless and useless all you damn well please, but tell me, what's his name?"

There was no response for a moment, only a tense, suffocating silence that made Tenya feel like he was being crushed alive. The brunette tugged harshly on Akinori's arm a moment later, eliciting a sharp cry from the immobilized boy. The desk was beginning to smoke, his other hand being pressed onto it as he made a futile attempt to push himself up. He wasn't saying anything in protest. Tenya assumed he wasn't too keen on the idea of begging to be let up, or having to ask.

"This has gone too far. Please, while I appreciate the gesture-" Tenya was cut off when the boy turned towards him, his smile both pleasant and menacing at the same time. How, Tenya wasn't sure. A shiver shot down his spine. Who was this kid?

"Oh, innocent bystander, what are you doing here? You really shouldn't get involved." The brunette tugged at the arm again for emphasis, earning another shriek for his troubles as Akinori began to sputter out demands to be let go. "Robert here is just dandy! He's just a little confused. I don't recall anyone named 'Robot' being enrolled in our class. Do you?"

Tenya felt his cheeks flare with embarrassment, and he hesitated. "Well... no, there isn't-" He was cut off.

"Right, exactly! So poor Robert must be having some pretty bad trouble with that damn memory of his." The brunette tipped his head to the side. He would have looked like the picture of innocence if not for the fact that he had someone's arm twisted around behind their back and was threatening to rip it from its socket.

"Y-You let go of him!" Hito stepped forward. "We'll be telling the teachers about this! This isn't... you can't just..."

"Shut the fuck up, Hito! I can handle this!" Akinori hissed, very clearly in pain. The brunette's controlled smile dropped again, revealing the scowl he'd been hiding underneath as he turned back towards the boy. The desk was smoking even more now, and the grey smog on the ceiling was beginning to thicken more and more. Tenya felt his heart rate increase. This needed to stop. Now.

"Name." The brunette tugged on the arm harder than he ever had before, and Akinori screamed. Tenya jolted forward.

"Okay, okay! His name is Tenya Iida! It's Iida! Let me go!" He shrieked, beginning to writhe wildly. The desk caught on fire next to him, earning a small scream from Hito, who ran for the door the second the flames sparked to life. The brunette stepped back as the fire alarms began to blare from the copious amounts of smoke the desk was giving off, releasing Akinori with a wide and satisfied smile on his face.

"I'm glad you finally remembered. Hopefully you won't forget again." The brunette said to the pale boy, who stared with wide eyes and an agape mouth as he shakily rubbed his shoulder. Tenya pressed his lips together. Should he have intervened sooner? It was rather satisfying to watch, in an odd and twisted way. It had been wrong, but...

"Y-You're crazy! You were really going to dislocate my arm! Y-You... You'll pay for this!" He backed up towards the door. "Both of you! You'll both pay for this!"

"I look forward to it." The brunette said, seemingly unconcerned by the growing fire next to him. Akinori gave one last glare, tears filling his fearful eyes as he turned tail and ran out the door after Hito. The brunette immediately turned towards the shell-shocked Tenya, who was really too surprised to move. The fire alarm was nearly deafening in his ears. The brown-haired boy didn't seem to notice.

"Well, it's a damn pleasure to meet you, Tenya Iida." The boy grinned wildly, the flames next to him reflecting in his eyes as he offered a hand. "I'm Kittrick Suzuko, but I prefer Kit." 

"Y...Yeah..." Tenya blinked rapidly, offering his hand despite the inferno growing ever taller next to them. "It's... It's a pleasure to meet you too."