The file describing Eichi as a highly talented individual with strength beyond the norm—or rather, a "Quirk"—hadn't appeared out of thin air.
Nezu knew how to read between the lines, and he had already begun to connect the dots.
Hearing Nezu's words, All Might tensed slightly, but he finally let out a long sigh, the weight he held on to since his he bought cloths for Eichi.
"Alright, alright. Sorry for lying to you. But I don't need to remind you that this information is not something to be shared lightly."
Nezu chuckled, sipping his tea once more. "Don't worry, I'm not judging you. Now, old friend, why don't you attend to your duties? I know more than anyone the amount of tasks you shoulder, right?"
All Might nodded in appreciation, his usual smile returning as he turned to leave. "Take care of him, Nezu. He's a good kid." With that, he exited the room, leaving Eichi and Nezu alone.
The silence that followed was heavy, the air thick with unspoken tension. Eichi, for his part, was still processing everything that had happened in the past few days. It felt as though time had sped up while he was asleep, leaving him disoriented and on edge.
Several minutes passed, and Eichi had had enough of Nezu's silent scrutiny. He placed his legs on the empty chair across from him and spoke, his tone antagonistic. "Alright, what's your deal now? Aren't you supposed to greet me or something?"
Nezu, having already read Eichi's character from their brief interaction, didn't take offense. Instead, he chuckled, a long and joyful sound that only seemed to irritate Eichi further. "Sorry if I came across as antagonizing, but I must say, you are quite intriguing, Eichi-san."
"Really now? Should I feel honored?" Eichi retorted, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Of course," Nezu replied, his smile never wavering. "Think of it as you will. But for now, I'd like to know the basics about you."
Eichi sighed, crossing his arms as he leaned back in his chair. "Eichi Uzuchi, 14 years old. Strength Quirk and knowledge of throwing projectiles and blade combat. Is that enough?"
While Eichi knew Nezu had likely already figured him out, he wasn't about to divulge more than necessary. As a shinobi, he understood the importance of playing his cards close to his chest.
Until he was certain of Nezu's intentions and the extent of his knowledge, he wouldn't reveal anything more—especially not his family name.
Nezu smirked, clearly amused by Eichi's guarded response. "Nice to meet you again, Eichi-san. I am Nezu, director of U.A. Academy. You can call me Mr. Director if you'd like."
Before Eichi could respond, Nezu slid a card and a box across the desk toward him.
Eichi's eyes twitched slightly. These past few days, he had been interrupted more times than in his entire life back home.
"This," Nezu said, pointing to the card displaying Eichi's photo and information, "is your U.A. student identification card.
And this," he gestured to the brown box beside it, "contains your cover story, national identification card, and information about our education system and laws."
Eichi frowned. If Nezu had prepared all of this, it meant he already knew Eichi's true origins—or at least suspected them.
The director's calm demeanor and meticulous preparation only confirmed Eichi's suspicions. Nezu wasn't just a figurehead; he was a strategist, and Eichi was now a piece on his board.
As Eichi picked up the student card, he read it aloud. "Eichi Uzuchi, 14, O, Class C-1... huh." He huffed, a pang of irritation flickering across his face.
Being placed in a class of "nobodies" didn't sit well with him. Back in his academy days, he had been at the top of his class, a prodigy among shinobi. This felt like a step down.
Placing the student card aside, he opened the box. Inside were two stacks of papers, one containing his new identity and the other detailing the laws and education system of this world.
He picked up the yellow national identification card and tucked it into his jeans beside the student card.
As he skimmed through the first page of his cover story, he muttered under his breath, "Born and raised in Tsurui, Hokkaido. Guess they're using some backwater village as a cover for my lack of knowledge, huh?"
He had memorized the geography of the area after the autopsy attack and knew Hokkaido was the least populated region—a perfect place to fabricate a backstory.
Nezu didn't comment on Eichi's muttering, instead continuing to observe him with that same calculating gaze. As Eichi finished reading, a knock sounded at the door.
"Come in," Nezu called.
The door opened, and a girl stepped inside. She looked to be a year or two older than Eichi, with purple hair and a smile so bright it made Eichi squint.
Eichi, for his part, remained seated, his expression unreadable, eyes almost shut, as if they were clouded and dull.
"Ah, perfect timing!" Nezu said, his cheerful tone a stark contrast to the tension that had filled the room moments earlier.
"Eichi-san, this is one of our top students, Kaina Tsutsumi. Kaina, this is Eichi Uzuchi, a new student who will be joining Class C-1."
Kaina's smile widened as she stepped forward, extending a hand toward Eichi. "Nice to meet you, Eichi! Welcome to U.A.!"
Eichi glanced at her hand but made no move to shake it. Instead, he gave a curt bow of his head, his tone flat. "Nice to meet you as well."
Kaina didn't seem fazed by his lack of enthusiasm. If anything, her smile only grew brighter. "I heard you're joining Class C-1.
That's great! I'm in Class B, but I'm sure we'll run into each other a lot. U.A. isn't as big as it seems once you get used to it."
Eichi raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "Great. Can't wait."
Nezu chuckled, clearly enjoying the interaction. "Kaina here is one of our most diligent students. She's also part of the student council, so she'll be able to help you get settled in. Consider her your guide for the time being."