High school.

It felt kinda weird to say. Sometimes it was hard to believe I made it that far. Better yet, I got into UA, the prestigious academy for heroes. It was the same school that my favorite hero, Deku, used to go to.

It had been many, many years since I went to that pathetic hero camp. It's weird how I still remember it... remember her...

It's stupid, really.

"Kota!!" I heard Mandalay call my name from the entryway, "You don't want to be late for your first day!"

"I'll be there in a minute!"

I finished packing my bag, and looked into the mirror next to my bedroom door. My new uniform was clean and comfortable. I felt presentable, but... something was missing.

After a moment of thinking to myself, I realized it. I turned back and opened my closet, grabbing my red spiked cap. Of course, it wasn't the same one as my childhood, but as soon as my old one was worn out and small, I got an identical replacement that fit. It was my signature look after all, and my favorite hat.

After a quick glance in the mirror to make sure everything was okay, I grabbed my bag and rushed out of my room to meet up with Mandalay.

I put on my red shoes once I got to the doorway. After I stood upright, Mandalay smiled at me. It was a proud, motherly smile.

I stood there, awkwardly glancing at the door.

"I can't believe you're already so grown up." Mandalay sighed, "You'll be a great hero one day, Kota."

"Yeah, yeah, didn't you say we were gonna be late or something-?" Compliments always made me feel weird. I don't know why. Maybe it was because I didn't receive them very often. But whatever the reason, they've always seemed uncalled for and awkward to me, so I try to brush them off usually.

"Right." Mandalay wiped away a small tear with her finger, "Let's go, shall we?"

Mandalay opened the door for me, and as soon as she did-...

"CONGRATULATIONS KOTA!!"

Pixie-bob, Ragdoll, and Tiger were standing in front of Mandalay's car decked out in their hero costumes.

Embarrassed, I quickly looked around to make sure no one around could see this.

"Relax, Kota, they wanted to stop by to say hi before you leave. The school is going to set you up with dorms right away, it changed this year. We won't be seeing you in a while." Mandalay stepped next to me.

"But was this really necessary?" I mumble under my breath.

Ragdoll ran up to me and gave me a hug, "We're so proud of you! You're gonna do great!"

"Yeah thanks, but I'm gonna be late." I continued to glance around for any potential witnesses.

"Of course! This is a big day for you!" Ragdoll let go and allowed me into the passenger seat of the car.

As Mandalay sat down in the driver's seat, she asked, "Do you want to drive this time?"

"No."

"Suit yourself, eventually you'll need to drive on your own though." As we began to drive away, the others waved to us with fully extended arms in an obnoxious way. I sank into my seat in embarrassment, hoping no one saw.

As we pulled up to the school, I peered up at the magnificent building completely covered in windows. It's reflective surface made it glimmer in the morning's sun.

I got out of the car and Mandalay wished me good luck before driving away, then I approached the building.

I looked down at my phone to see where I was going. Class 1-A huh.

As I walked inside, I saw so many different students with unique quirks and appearances. My younger self definitely wouldn't have envisioned me ending up here.

Suddenly someone ran into me from behind. The impact pushed me forward, almost knocking me down.

"Hey, what's your deal??" I turned around, pissed.

"I'm sorry!" The boy bowed in apology, "I didn't see you! I was trying to get away from my sister... and then-"

"Katsuma!" A girl with the same caramel hair color as the boy approached him, "What did I say about running off? You're gonna get lost since you're only a first-year!"

The boy sighed, "Sorry... Mahoro..."

Then the girl noticed me. She put her hands on her hips, "Who the hell're you?"

I sighed and put my hands in my pockets, "Kota Izumi."

She looked me up and down with the look of digust on her face, "You're a first-year too?"

I nodded.

"Tch." The girl stuck her nose up in the air, "Just quit while you're ahead, loser."

Excuse me?? Who did she think she was?? Some idol??

"--The hell you say to me??" I slightly raised an eyebrow and glared at her in shock.

Ignoring me, she turned back to her brother, "Don't be late for class, idiot." Then she walked off.

What kind of stuck-up asshole was this chick??

I glared at her as she walked away.

"Sorry about her." The boy rubbed the back of his neck, "She can be a bit rude sometimes."

"Clearly." I rolled my eyes.

"My name's Katsuma, Katsuma Shimano." The caramel haired boy held out his hand.

I looked back at him. He was smiling. I glanced down at his hand before shaking it, "Kota."

Katsuma sighed in relief, "I didn't think I would make any friends-, so it's really nice to meet you." He smiled sheepishly.

"Yeah... sure..." I looked away, awkwardly.

"Where are you headed?"

"Class 1-A."

Katsuma's eyes lit up, "No way! Me too! That's so cool!"

"Yeah..." I continued to avoid eye contact.

"Do you wanna walk to class together?"

"Sure."

I don't know how Katsuma was so hyped about being my friend. I'm really not that great of a socializer, and I'm kind of boring to be honest.

Once we made it to the classroom, we walked inside. Several students had already gathered there and were talking amongst themselves. I guess we could pick our seats?

"Hey Kota," Katsuma got my attention, "Do you want to sit together?"

I looked around the room, it'd be better than sitting next to a bunch of randos I guess, "Yeah, sure."

We sat up near the front of the classroom.

That's when a strange man in a yellow sleeping bag appeared in the doorway. Everyone stopped talking and stared at him as he got up, out of the bag, and walked to the front of the room. He looked stern and sleep deprived.

Once he got to the podium he spoke, "Everyone to your seats."

Everyone scrambled to their seats, then the man spoke again, "My name is Shota Aizawa, I will be your homeroom professor."

He looked down at some papers he had rested on the podium and continued to speak in a tired tone, "Congratulations on passing the entrance exam and making it this far, but be warned that this is only the beginning of your road to becoming a hero. It's only downhill from here. If you work hard, you'll become strong heroes. But if you choose to mess around and not take the hero course seriously..." He looked up at us in a vile glare, his eyes glowing red, "You'll be expelled from UA."

Small gasps and mutters could be heard around the classroom. I don't think that was in the rules... Does he have the authority to do that??

"And you." He pointed at me, narrowing his eyes and sending a small shiver down my spine, "No hats in my class."

This is going to be a long year.