The next morning in class, the usual hum of sleepy students and rustling papers filled the air. Aizawa shuffled in, looking as perpetually exhausted as ever. He leaned against the podium; his capture weapon draped around his neck like a tired scarf.
"Alright, listen up," Aizawa drawled, his voice cutting through the low murmur. "Despite… recent events," he paused, a flicker of something unreadable in his dark eyes, "the school year continues. And that means…"
A collective groan rippled through the class. More grueling training? Another surprise test?
"…the U.A. Sports Festival is fast approaching."
A beat of stunned silence hung in the air. Then, an explosion of excited chatter erupted.
"The Sports Festival? Already?" Kaminari exclaimed, practically buzzing with energy.
"But… after everything that happened…" Uraraka trailed off, her brow furrowed in surprise.
Aizawa's gaze sharpened slightly. "The attack yesterday was a serious matter. However," he continued, his tone firm, "U.A. is committed to demonstrating the strength and resilience of our students. The Sports Festival is a crucial opportunity for you to showcase your abilities to the hero world."
Midoriya's eyes widened, a spark of determination igniting within them. "It's… it's really happening?"
Yaoyorozu adjusted her posture, a thoughtful expression on her face. "It seems unconventional, but perhaps it is a way to show the public that we will not be deterred."
Bakugo smirked, a familiar competitive glint in his crimson eyes. "Hmph. Perfect. More fodder for me to crush on my way to the top."
Aizawa cleared his throat, cutting through the excited murmurs. "Furthermore," he added, his gaze becoming more serious, "in light of the increased threats we may face, the school will be implementing a new mandatory dorm system for all students, starting as soon as construction is complete. This will provide an added layer of security and allow for more focused training and supervision."
A fresh wave of reactions rippled through the class, a mixture of surprise and concern.
"Dorms?" Sero asked, leaning forward in his seat. "Like… living at school?"
"Indeed," Aizawa confirmed. "The safety of our students is paramount. This initiative will be offered to your families on a voluntary basis, meaning they can choose whether or not to reside in the provided family housing. However, for the students themselves, residing in the on-campus dormitories will be mandatory."
He paused, letting the information sink in. "All costs associated with the dormitories will be covered by the school."
Souta exchanged a quick glance with Shoto. The dorm program. It was happening. A tangible step towards the increased security he had hoped for. He felt a knot of anxiety loosen in his chest.
"This year's festival will be more closely monitored than ever," Aizawa continued, his gaze sweeping over the class. "Security will be significantly increased. But the fundamental purpose remains the same: to identify and nurture the next generation of heroes."
He went on to explain the purpose and the general structure of the festival, but Souta's mind was already racing. The dorms, his new costume, the training with All Might… it was all coming together, a new chapter unfolding.
Shoto nudged him gently. "Are you alright?" he murmured, his voice low.
Souta nodded, meeting his brother's gaze. "Yeah. Just… a lot to think about. But… it feels like things are finally moving in the right direction."
Shoto's eyes held a silent understanding. He knew Souta better than anyone.
As the class continued to buzz with the implications of the dorm announcement and the excitement of the upcoming Sports Festival, Souta felt a sense of cautious optimism bloom within him. The road ahead was still uncertain, fraught with potential dangers. But with increased security and the promise of focused training, he felt a flicker of genuine hope. The Sports Festival, and the new living arrangements, marked a significant shift, a chance to prove himself and build a stronger future alongside his classmates. And he wouldn't waste it.
---
The sun had begun its slow descent by the time the final lesson of the day rolled around. The training field behind U.A. gleamed under the afternoon light, the gentle breeze carrying the promise of a long, productive session.
Today's focus was different — no team battles, no structured drills. Instead, it was pure, unfiltered preparation. Everyone was expected to train how they saw fit, sharpening themselves for the Sports Festival.
All Might, standing proudly in front of the assembled students, his ever-present grin slightly more serious than usual, clapped his hands once.
"Alright, young heroes! This is your time! Test your skills, push your limits, and prepare yourselves for what's to come! You're free to use the grounds however you wish — but train wisely!"
The class cheered, the energy palpable. Immediately, students began splitting off into smaller groups, chatting excitedly about what they wanted to work on.
Kirishima clapped Souta on the shoulder with a grin. "Hey man, thanks again for the ideas you tossed my way!" he said, his teeth gleaming as brightly as his spirit. "You're right - just toughening up isn't enough. I'm gonna test out some new angles today. Gotta have a bit flexibility, y'know?"
Souta smirked. "No problem. Give it your all."
With a nod, Kirishima jogged off toward an open part of the field, already pumping himself up.
Soon enough, the training area became a lively storm of motion — Bakugo blasting apart training dummies with deafening explosions, Uraraka practicing her precision with floating objects, Yaoyorozu running mental simulations while crafting tools at rapid speed.
Even Shoto had already found a quiet corner to hone his ice techniques.
And yet, when Souta looked around again, there were only two students left standing near the starting point.
Midoriya… and himself.
All Might, noticing the two, strode forward. His piercing blue eyes softened slightly as he regarded them.
"Well, well, young Midoriya, young Todoroki!" he said, hands on his hips. "What are you two planning to work on today?"
Midoriya blinked rapidly, his face contorting into a wide-eyed expression of pure shock.
"M-M-Me… and Todoroki-kun?!"
Souta raised an eyebrow, folding his arms loosely. He hadn't expected Midoriya to react that strongly.
Seeing Midoriya's frozen state, All Might chuckled and scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"Ahh, right, right. I suppose I should explain a bit more, huh?"
He turned his full attention toward Midoriya, his voice softening.
"Young Midoriya - you see, in addition to your normal training, Souta will also be receiving guidance… regarding a certain shared matter."
Midoriya's jaw practically hit the floor.
"You mean- you mean-?!"
All Might smiled gently.
"Yes. Souta has been able to… how should I put it… copy our quirk One For All."
Midoriya staggered back half a step, gripping at the air as if searching for something to stabilize himself. "But- but- how?!" he sputtered. "That's- isn't that impossible?!"
All Might held up a hand. "Under normal circumstances, yes. However, young Souta's unique quirk allows him to copy quirks for a longer period of time - including… even One For All."
He paused, making sure Midoriya was following. "It may not have been the traditional way, but it's enough that I want to ensure both of you are trained properly."
Midoriya's hands clenched into fists at his sides, his eyes burning with a confusing mix of emotions - surprise, awe, and maybe a hint of nervousness.
Souta, meanwhile, felt oddly calm about the whole thing. This had been coming; he had already made peace with it.
All Might clapped both boys lightly on the shoulders. "So today, I'll be observing how you use your versions of One For All. Learn from each other. Push your limits, and go beyond. Plus Ultra."
Both nodded, the weight of the moment sinking in.
With that, All Might stepped back, giving them the space they needed.
Souta turned slightly toward Midoriya, a slight grin playing on his lips. "Well," he said casually, "guess we should get started, huh?"
Midoriya swallowed, then grinned back, determination blazing in his green eyes. "Y-Yeah! Let's do our best, Todoroki-kun!"
And with that, the two young heroes launched into their training – going with completely different approaches, and having different motivations.