Minato's POV
The shock of Aizawa-sensei's "logical ruse" slowly dissipated as we all made our way back to the changing rooms. The air was still thick with lingering adrenaline and a fresh sense of camaraderie born from shared terror and relief. We peeled off our U.A. tracksuits, the exertion of the Quirk Apprehension Test leaving our muscles pleasantly tired.
As I slipped back into my school uniform, I could hear the animated chatter around me. Everyone was discussing the test, their own performances, and, of course, the sheer audacity of our homeroom teacher. There was also a fair amount of excited chatter about my own performance, particularly the ball throw and the 50-meter dash. I just smiled, letting the buzz wash over me.
Once dressed, we headed for the cafeteria, a sprawling, vibrant space already bustling with students from various departments. The aroma of various cuisines filled the air, promising a much-needed refuel after the intense morning.
Mina, Kirishima, and I easily found a vacant table. We grabbed our trays, loaded with steaming bowls of rice, crisp tempura, and fresh salads, and settled in.
"Man, that was something else!" Kirishima exclaimed, digging into his food with gusto. "I still can't believe Aizawa-sensei pulled that expulsion stunt!"
"I totally fell for it!" Mina giggled, then gasped dramatically. "My life flashed before my eyes! But seriously, Minato-kun, your Quirk is insane! 750 meters! And that dash, you were practically a blur!"
"It's just years of practice," I replied, taking a bite of my tempura. I always deflected direct praise, keeping my true power under wraps.
Just then, a voice called out, "Hey, Minato-kun! Mind if we join you?"
I looked up to see Denki Kaminari, his spiky blonde hair looking a bit singed from his own Quirk use, and Toru Hagakure, the invisible girl, waving cheerfully beside him. Toru's uniform floated eerily, giving away her position. She still seemed a little dejected from her last-place ranking on the apprehension test.
"Not at all," I replied, gesturing to the empty seats. "Pull up a couple of chairs."
Kaminari and Toru quickly sat down, adding their trays to the table.
"Hey, Minato-kun!" Kaminari grinned, looking a little star-struck. "Big fan of your music! 'Hall of Fame' is awesome!"
"Seriously!" Toru's disembodied voice chimed in excitedly. "My whole family loves your albums!"
I chuckled, genuinely pleased. "Thanks, guys. I appreciate that."
"The test was wild, right?" Kaminari continued, steering the conversation. "Aizawa-sensei is something else. My Quirk drained me pretty good on those dashes."
"Tell me about it," Toru sighed, her uniform deflating slightly. "Last place, me! I nearly cried when I saw the results."
"Don't worry about it, Hagakure-chan," Mina said kindly. "It was a total trick! And you still made it into U.A.!"
"Yeah, plus, it was the first day!" Kirishima added. "We've got plenty of time to improve!"
Toru sighed again, a more profound sound this time. "It's not just that, though. My Quirk... it's just invisibility. What good is that, really? I can't hit anyone, I can't defend myself. I just... disappear. It feels so useless compared to everyone else's amazing Quirks." Her voice held a deep vein of frustration and insecurity.
I looked at her, or rather, at where I knew her face to be. "Toru," I said, my voice calm but firm. "I don't believe your Quirk is 'just invisibility.' Every Quirk has untapped potential, often beyond what's immediately apparent."
She seemed surprised, her uniform tilting slightly as if she'd cocked her head. "Really? But... it only makes me invisible."
"Think about it," I encouraged. "Invisibility is about light. It's about how your body interacts with light waves to make them bend around you. What if your Quirk isn't just about not being seen, but about how you manipulate light itself? Perhaps there are other ways your body interacts with light that you haven't discovered yet. Maybe you could refract it in different ways, or even emit it."
Toru was silent for a moment, absorbing my words. "Light manipulation..." she whispered, her voice filled with a nascent wonder. "I never thought of it like that. I always just thought... I'm invisible."
"That's often the first step to unlocking a Quirk's full potential," I continued. "To stop thinking of it as a single, static ability, and start thinking about the underlying mechanics. How does it work? What does it do at a fundamental level? I think you should spend some time studying the physics of light, how your body specifically influences it. Experiment with it." I offered her a reassuring smile. "If you want, I can help you brainstorm some ideas, or even look into resources for Quirk theory and light manipulation. It took me a while to really understand my own Quirk's full capabilities."
Toru's entire posture seemed to lift. "You... you'd really help me, Minato-kun?" Her voice was filled with a sudden, overwhelming hope. "That would be... amazing! Thank you!"
"Of course," I said, glad to see her spirits lift. I know she can reflect light from the anime.
Kaminari then turned his attention back to me, a curious glint in his eyes. "Hey, Minato-kun, I've gotta ask. When you ran that 50-meter dash, you had that blue aura, crackling stuff around you, right? Like lightning? How do you do that?"
I paused, carefully choosing my words. This was a good opportunity to give him an idea about how to use his quirk effectively.
"Yeah," I confirmed. "It's part of my Quirk. I essentially use the lightning-like energy generated by my body to pass through my entire cellular system."
Kaminari leaned in, fascinated. "Whoa. So, like, your own electricity?
"Something like that," I replied. "By passing it through my body, I can dramatically enhance my physical capabilities. It supercharges my muscles, speeds up my nervous system for faster reactions, and even toughens my skin for defense." I omitted the healing and sensory aspects for now, keeping it simple. "It's basically an all-encompassing physical enhancement."
Kaminari's eyes widened, a spark of understanding igniting in them. "So it's not just about zapping stuff, but, like, supercharging yourself?" He looked thoughtful, rubbing his chin. "You think... you think I could do something like that with my Quirk? Channel my electricity through my body for enhancement?"
I acted as I was considering it. I know Kaminari's Quirk was powerful, but he tended to release it outwardly, often short-circuiting himself if he overused it. Using it internally, for precise enhancement, would be a much more advanced application. It was similar in concept to how the Fourth Raikage used his Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
"You can definitely try," I told him, offering a genuine smile. "It took me quite a bit of dedicated training and precise control to get a hang of it. You have to be careful not to overload yourself. But if you can master internalizing and channeling your electricity, your Quirk could become incredibly versatile."
Kaminari's face lit up. "Seriously? You think so?! That's... that's amazing! It makes so much sense! All I've ever done is blast stuff outwards!"
"I can help you with some basics if you want," I offered. "We could work on it during training exercises, once we settle in. It requires a lot of focus and fine-tuning."
"Yes! Please, Minato-kun! That would be awesome!" Kaminari beamed, his excitement palpable. "You're the best!"
Toru also seemed intrigued, though perhaps less directly applicable to her invisibility Quirk. "Wow, you really understand Quirks so well, Minato-kun! Like a scientist!"
"Just practice and observation," I said modestly, keeping my background as a shinobi strategist to myself.
We spent the rest of lunch discussing the day's events, the upcoming classes, and our aspirations for the Hero Course. Kaminari was buzzing with new ideas for his Quirk, and Toru seemed a little more upbeat, her initial dejection fading as she felt included and encouraged.
After lunch, the bell rang, signaling the end of our break. We all gathered our trays and headed towards our respective classrooms.
The afternoon classes began with a continuation of Aizawa-sensei's homeroom. He reviewed the Quirk Apprehension Test results more formally, displaying the overall rankings again, but this time adding constructive feedback for each student. He didn't dwell on the expulsion ruse, simply stating, "You all showed your mettle. Now, we move forward." He outlined the basic rules of the Hero Course, emphasizing discipline, responsibility, and the unforgiving nature of hero work. His tired eyes, however, seemed to hold a keen understanding of each of our potentials.
Following homeroom, we transitioned into our first core academic subjects. Our "Modern Literature" class was taught by a surprisingly energetic, elderly woman with a booming voice, who spoke passionately about hero-themed fiction and the importance of storytelling in a hero society. It was a stark contrast to Aizawa-sensei's dry delivery, and many students seemed to relax, enjoying the more conventional classroom setting.
Next, we had "Heroics History," taught by a solemn, bespectacled man who delved into the origins of Quirks, the rise of heroes, and the major conflicts that shaped the current world. It was fascinating to hear the history from this world's perspective, comparing it to the vague historical records I'd gathered since my arrival. I took mental notes, cross-referencing information and filling in gaps in my understanding.
"Math," surprisingly, was taught by Cementoss, the proctor from the entrance exam. He used his Quirk to rapidly construct and deconstruct geometric shapes as he explained complex equations, making the usually dry subject surprisingly engaging. I found myself easily following along, my mind appreciating the logical precision of the calculations.
The pace was rigorous, but structured. It was clear that U.A. balanced its practical hero training with a comprehensive academic curriculum, aiming to produce well-rounded individuals capable of both combat and critical thinking. The hours after lunch passed quickly, filled with new information, new faces, and the steady rhythm of a truly elite educational institution.
As the final bell rang, signifying the end of the first day, a wave of exhaustion and exhilaration washed over me. I walked out of the U.A. gates, the setting sun casting long shadows. My mind was already replaying the day's events – the intense test, Aizawa-sensei's ruse, the nascent friendships forming, and the foundation being laid for my future as a hero. The world of heroes was certainly a dynamic one, and I was excited for what tomorrow would bring.