He moved slowly, carefully, until he was completely submerged. The barrier above him didn't react as he passed beneath it, and within moments, he was on the other side.
He emerged from the ground a short distance away, his camouflage still active. The city stretched out before him, its lights glowing in the distance. He needed to move quickly.
Before leaving, Eichi formed one more set of hand seals, creating aShadow Cloneto take his place in the dorm. The clone nodded silently before disappearing into the night, heading back to the room. It wouldn't hold up under close scrutiny, but it would buy him some time.
Eichi moved through the streets, his form still camouflaged. The city was alive with activity, even at night. People walked the sidewalks, cars sped by, and the occasional hero patrolled the area. It was a stark contrast to the quiet of the U.A. campus.
As he walked, he observed the people around him, taking note of their behavior and the technology they used. He needed to blend in, and that meant understanding how this world worked. He spotted a man distracted by his phone and slipped past him, his hand brushing against the man's pocket. A moment later, he had a small wad of cash. It wasn't much, but it would do.
Eichi continued walking until he found a library. The building was closed for the night, but that didn't stop him. Once inside, he made his way to the technology section, his eyes scanning the shelves for anything that could help him.
He found a book on modern devices and flipped through it quickly. It didn't take long for him to figure out how to use the phone the detective had gifted him. He powered it on, his fingers moving swiftly as he navigated the menus. It was a simple device, but it would be useful for gathering information.
Eichi spent the next hour researching, the more he learned, the more he realized how different it was from his own. But he didn't have time to dwell on that. He needed to focus on moping up the rest of any information.
By the time he left the library, the night was deep, and the streets were quieter. He made his way back to U.A. The shadow clone would dissolve soon, and he needed to be back before anyone noticed he was gone.
As he slipped back into his room, the clone disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Eichi stood outside the door to Class C-1, his expression unreadable. The hallway was bustling with students, their chatter filling the air as they made their way to their respective classrooms. He could feel their eyes on him, their curiosity already starting to annoy him.
The door slid open, and the teacher—a tall man with a stern expression—gestured for him to enter. "Class, we have a new student joining us today. This is Eichi Uzuchi. Please make him feel welcome."
Eichi stepped into the room, his eyes observing the faces of his new classmates. They were a mixed group, some looking curious, others indifferent, and a few openly hostile. He didn't care. He wasn't here to make friends.
The teacher gestured to an empty seat near the back of the room. "Eichi, you can take that seat. We'll start the lesson shortly."
Eichi nodded and made his way to the desk.
As he sat down, he could feel the weight of their stares, but he didn't react. He kept his expression neutral, his gaze fixed on the front of the room.
The teacher began the lesson, but Eichi's mind was elsewhere. He needed more information, to figure out if individuals were sighted wearing the issued Uzuchio clothes—if anyone.
During Break
When the bell rang, signaling the start of break, Eichi stayed in his seat, his eyes scanning the room as the other students began to chat and move around. A few of them glanced in his direction, but none approached him.
However, one student—a boy with spiky blond hair and a confident grin—walked over to his desk. "Hey, new guy. I'm Kenta. Welcome to Class C-1."
Eichi looked up at him, his expression unreadable. "Thanks a lot."
Kenta's grin didn't falter. "So, where are you from? I heard you're from Hokkaido. That's pretty far, huh?"
Eichi's response was curt. "Yup."
Kenta raised an eyebrow, clearly not used to being brushed off so easily. "Alright, tough guy. Just trying to be friendly."
Eichi didn't respond, his gaze shifting back to the front of the room. Kenta shrugged and walked away, muttering something under his breath that Eichi didn't bother to catch.
A few moments later, another student approached—a girl with short black hair and a serious expression. "Hey. I'm Aiko. Don't mind Kenta. He's just... like that."
Eichi glanced at her, his expression still neutral. "Roger that."
Aiko hesitated, clearly unsure how to proceed. "So... what's your Quirk? If you don't mind me asking."
Eichi's response was immediate and blunt. "Enhanced Strength."
Aiko nodded, her expression thoughtful. "That's cool. Maybe we can spar sometime. I'm in the martial arts club."
"Yeah, sure. I'll think about it." Eichi responded, his gaze shifting back to the front of the room. Aiko sighed and walked away, joining a group of students near the window.
Lunchtime
When lunchtime arrived, Eichi stayed in the classroom, pulling out a small bento box he had prepared earlier. He wasn't interested in joining the others in the cafeteria. The less attention he drew to himself, the better.
However, his solitude didn't last long. Kaina appeared in the doorway, her bright smile as persistent as ever. "Hey, Eichi! Why are you sitting here all alone? Come join us in the cafeteria!"
Eichi didn't look up from his food. "I'm fine here."
Kaina's smile faltered slightly, but she didn't give up. "Come on, it'll be fun! You can't just sit here by yourself every day."
Eichi's response was immediate and blunt. "Bet."
Kaina hesitated, clearly unsure how to respond. Finally, she sighed and walked away, leaving Eichi alone once more.