I could hear Present Mic, even from our classes waiting room. I didn't really want to see the fights. Because I knew I wouldn't understand them. And it would only bring bad memories into my mind.

Despite his faint voice, it's quiet. I hardly ever have quiet moments at school anymore. It's different.

No, this entire school is different. The school, the teachers, the students. I'm not use to an environment like this. I just don't get it.

Why are they all so passionate about this? What's the big hype on becoming a Hero? Heroes are nothing special. It's just another title. A pointless roll on the endless cycle of our life.

Yet everyone here puts it on such a high pedestal. When it was just Izu in Kacchan it was easier to understand, to comprehend. Because they were the only two I knew who had such passion on the career.

Everyone else liked it, but they didn't have the motivation nor the heart for it.

But . . . Images of Uraraka, Iida, Kirishima, Shinso, the students who were in the competition. They all had high desires to become Heroes. On their own terms. With their own power.

It's stupid.

Why? Why do they want to be Heroes?

The door to the room cracked open. "Huh? Oh, Kiri. Your fights up next." Uraraka rushed out. I sat up on the table and immediately noticed her tension.

Oh, that's right. "You have a battle with Kacchan coming up, huh?"

She jumped slightly and forced a smile. "Yeah." Another unfair looking match. Well, it shouldn't be. Since they are both very passionate.

I hopped off the table and walked towards the door. Once I was by her, I patted her head briefly before leaving. "Good luck." With that said I exited the room and headed down to ground level, where I am supposed to be with my match coming up.

As I walked towards the entrance, I see Tokoyami head my way, his name moving up on the bracket.

He won. Well, I kinda saw it coming. Yaoyorozu has an amazing Quirk, but her combat skills are lacking.

We passed each other and I headed out for the arena, my opponent did as well. This is the metal guy. Really like Kirishima. If he wins the two will battle.

I stood on the opposite side of him, staring at him, my eyes holding no emotion. "Manly and passionate steel! From the Hero Course, it's Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu!" Huh?

His whole name is Tetsu? What were his parents thinking? "All right!" He let out a battle cry.

He's riled up. "Cool and quick! Stealthy as a ninja and merciless as a warrior! From Hero Course, it's Nozomi Kiriya!" Mic introduced.

So lame.

"Go Tetsutetsu! Win like Ibara! Kiri! Do your best!" Itsuka cheered from her class area. "Go Kiri! Give it all you got!" Kirishima cheered loudly. Obnoxiously loud. Red headed idiots.

"Let's start the ninth match!" Tetsutetsu ran at me, his body turning to metal. I didn't move.

Soon he was in front of me and threw a punch. I easily moved my head away, avoiding his hit. He continued to throw punches but I stepped, ducked, and dodged with ease.

"Hey! It's not manly to dodge!" He shouted, throwing another punch. I brought one leg up as my upper body dropped, dodging his punch and swung it back around so I'm rightside up again. "I'm not a man." I stated, jumping back from his attack.

He shouted in anger and continued trying to hit me.

I avoided it and swiftly turned around so I was behind him. He tried to turn to hit, but everytime he did I just moved along side, moving my body with ease to stick to his back.

He was growing irritated with my evasive actions. "What's this? Nozomi is only avoiding! She's dodging effortlessly!" Idiot announcer.

He kicked back, but I just jumped up and over his leg and landed with ease. He turned quickly and punched. I back flipped away a bit and out of his range.

"You! Is this what A-Class students are like?! Are you too afraid to fight me?!" He demanded loudly.

Hm? "Not at all." I deadpanned, making his temple throb in annoyance.

"Then why won't you fight?!" He shouted. "I don't feel like it." I answered with ease. This only made him angrier. His body trembled with rage. "How come someone with an attitude like yours made it into Hero Course 1-A?! Do you not have any Hero spirit within you?!"

Hah? "No, I don't." I answered. This just confused him.

"What do you mean? Didn't you enroll here to become a Hero?" He asked loudly. I just continued to stare at him, showing no emotions. "No, I didn't."

This shocked him, the classes, and the spectators.

This is a strange place. Everything and everyone here is weird. I don't understand them. I don't understand! What's so great about being a Hero? What is with them?

"Do you know what the definition for Hero is?" I asked.

His eyebrows furrowed together in confusion. "What?" He is completely baffled. "Hero. A legendary figure with great strength and ability. A Hero is of the purest and most noble intentions. They are all that is good in the world. That's what our dictionary says about them."

He nodded, not understanding where I was going with this. I looked at the stands where the Heroes who are viewing stared at us, me, with confusion.

Heroes are nothing special. They're nothing. I don't understand why they're so loved. Why?! Why are they?! "I don't see anyone here that matches that description."

This baffled him and those watching. "In fact, I have yet to see such a figure based on the definition. There is none. That's why I don't believe in Heroes." I spoke calm, loud, and clear.

Everyone went silent, shocked by my words. Not a sound was heard, only the flickering of the flames around.

"You . . . don't believe in Heroes? How can you say that?! Look around us! We're surrounded by wonderful Heroes!" He questioned loudly.

I just stared at him. Idiot. You are an idiot. Look carefully. These are not Heroes! "No, we're not."

Why? Why can't they all see how foolish they are?! "Heroes are supposed to save people for the sole reason they want to help everyone around them. They do what they do for the people. They don't do it for any selfish desires."

I looked up at the Heroes with cold eyes. They are not Heroes.

I turned my gaze back to Tetsutetsu. You are blinded with rose colored glasses.

"Those who are around us are just fakes. These Heroes save people for selfish gain. Fame. Money. Adoration. Power. They do their work for these reasons. Because they want money to waste away on bad habits. Because they want to be known, they want the people to love them. They want to be famous, adored by everyone they're suppose to serve. They do it for themselves. They act like such high and mighty beings yet they starve for the attention and glory."

It sickens me. These are not Heroes! They are selfish humans being worshipped like Gods.

Tetsutetsu stared at me with wide eyes. It seems my words have rocked his mind.

"Those who call themselves Heroes don't even bother to save everyone. They abandon those they deem unworthy. They're either not enough credit worthy or they don't want to die. They only do what they think gives them the right amount of attention."

That's right. There are so many out there they have not saved. Those they turn a blind eye to.

Sometimes they just don't save us. And when they do, it's far too late. "If you believe that, then are you trying to become the definition of a Hero?" He asked, wanting to understand my thoughts, my feelings.

"No. Make no mistake about that. I have no intention of living up to that definition." I told him.

I was careful not to hold any emotions in my voice.

He stared at me a bit as the crowd murmured in disapproval as they looked at me with disgust in their eyes. I expected him to lash out at me.

A Hero worshipping idiot like himself would naturally do so. "That's sad." He finally answered quietly, pity in his eyes.

Pity? He's pitying me? Pitying me, the person who actually sees our sick and twisted world?! He's the one who is blinded! He's ignorant! I don't need his pity! I don't need anyone's pity!

I felt my Quirk activate. My other Quirk.

I felt my aura expand intensely, and I knew by the look of surprise in his eyes, that my red eyes are glowing a brighter red.

Ah.

Calm down. Calm down. CALM DOWN! I closed my eyes and took a discreet deep breath. Soon I felt it deactivate.

This is a hereditary Quirk I share with my family. We all have our own original Quirks, and if we have the gems of other Quirks, we can use it until it runs out, but there is our second one that is passed down to everyone in our bloodline.

And it can only ever activate with emotions. We can never activate it willingly. It is embedded with our emotions.

After making sure I am calm enough, I reopened my eyes. "No. It's just life." I said.

He stared at me a bit more. "Then why are you here?" He asked.

Persistent. He's very persistent to know what I'm thinking. My motives. "I'm bored."

The crowds disapproval is easy to hear. But I paid no attention to it. His gaze hardened and he took a fighting stance. Then he launched at me.

I didn't move. His fist went for my face, but I remained standing.

When his fist was inches from my face, I brought my hand up and smacked his arm away, making him fall to the side I hit. It was just a light hit, not even a hit. It is just simple misdirection.

He got up and continued to try and hit me. But his moves are easy to read, easy to dodge. I effortlessly avoided it like it was nothing.

He's tiring out quickly. But despite that, he kept attacking again. No matter how tired out he got, he didn't stop.

Even without lifting a finger to fight back, I can easily win by simply exhausting him. He should be too exhausted to fight. Yet he's not giving up. Why?

I bent backwards, almost doing a backbend, to avoid a kick. I jumped away and landed with ease.

I don't understand this. "Why are you trying so hard? I haven't even fought back and you're already covered in sweat."

He looked up at me, as if the answer should be obvious. "I will never give up. Because unlike you, I want to become a Hero. I will become one!" I studied him a bit.

I just told him the truth about Heroes. Yet he still idolizes them.

"Why do you want to become a Hero?" I finally asked. I had to. I couldn't help myself. Why do any of them want to be Heroes? I want to understand.

I can't handle not understanding. "Because I want to help people. If I have the power to save those who can't defend themselves, then I should use it for them, right?"

My eyes widened slightly. Those words . . . they're exactly like hers.

"Why do I want to become a Hero? Well, it's simple. I have a strong power. Everyone expected me to want to become a Hero. I actually hated that. It wasn't fair. But everyday I see people getting bullied and harassed by people who are stronger than them and they don't have the power to defend themselves. That's when I realized something. They don't have the power to defend themselves, but I do. If I have the power to fight for those who can't, then I should use it for them, right?"

This guy . . . he reminds me of her.

Tetsutetsu stared at me with unfathomable determination. Ah-ah. I give up. "I see. Well then, work hard." I turned and walked away and out of the ring.

"Eh? EH?! Nozomi Kiriya has walked out of bounds! The gloomy girl has forfeited!" Mic shouted through the speakers.

I felt the heated glares of people around me. Their anger and hatred almost palpable.

But I don't care. This is normal. I have no intention of becoming liked by people who cannot face reality.

"Eh? Hey! Nozomi!" Tetsutetsu called, but I ignored him and left the arena, heading straight for my classes waiting area.

The room is empty. Perfect.

I laid across the table and looked up at the ceiling, Tetsutetsu and her words playing through my mind on loop.

"Optimism like that is what gets you killed."