[Musutafu]
[Point of view: Third Person]
The sun was just beginning to illuminate the Midoriya apartment when Hades, completely oblivious to the chaos that was about to break out, was sleeping peacefully on the couch.
His expression, for the first time in a long time, was one of absolute peace.
In his dreams, the underworld stretched out at his feet, imposing and vast.
Millions of souls floated in the air like shadowy fireflies, whispering their devotion to the great god who ruled them.
Hades sat atop an obsidian throne, watching with satisfaction as his kingdom prospered under his rule.
"Ah... this is where I belong," he murmured in his sleep, with an arrogant smile.
Everything was perfect, until...
Suddenly, a whirlwind of chaos and destruction erupted in their underworld, hurling souls in all directions like mere leaves in the wind.
—What the hell is going on!
But before he could react, a mass of green hair appeared high in the sky of his kingdom.
—Good morning!
Hades felt a chill run down his spine.
Akemi had invaded his dream as if it were her damn house.
—Get out of here, you insolent mortal! This is my re—!
But he didn't get a chance to finish his sentence.
Because, in reality, a glass of ice water crashed into his face.
Hades's eyes shot open, gasping in shock as water streamed down his face and hair.
In front of him, holding the glass with a smile that screamed pure mischief, Akemi looked at him with feigned innocence.
—Time to get up, sleepyhead!
Hades blinked a couple of times, still trying to process what had just happened.
His divine mind needed at least a few seconds to process the information.
And then, his expression changed.
His anger became palpable.
—It's very early!—
But before he could launch his complaint with a speech worthy of a god, Akemi grabbed him by the arm and, with a strength that didn't seem to come from someone so small, pulled him mercilessly from her comfortable sofa.
—There's no time, we're going to be late!
—W-What? Let me go, you crazy woman!
But there was no escape.
Akemi dragged him like a sack of potatoes toward the bathroom. Hades, still half asleep, could barely resist.
As they passed through the kitchen, Inko looked at them with a tender smile as she served breakfast on the table.
—Good morning, guys.
"There's no time for greetings, Mom, we're in crisis!" Akemi shouted as she continued to pull Hades along.
"What crisis? I should be sleeping!" Hades complained, though he was already resigning himself to his fate.
Arriving at the bathroom, Akemi pushed the door and shoved him inside.
—Take a bath now! I put your UA uniform on you right now. Take a bath quickly!
And with that, he closed the door without giving her a chance to reply.
Hades stood there, water still dripping from his hair and a look of pure disbelief.
—What the hell just happened?
Resigned and still looking like a dead man, he began to undress to get into the shower.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Akemi was running around trying to finish getting ready.
"Argh, damn it, this tie is all wrong!" he grunted, trying to adjust it with one hand and grabbing a piece of toast with the other.
Inko looked at her with a mixture of amusement and tenderness.
—Calm down, Akemi-chan, you still have time if you hurry a little.
—I don't know, Mom, have you seen Hades? That kid can take ages to do anything if you leave him at his own pace!
"Well, he claims to be a god, so maybe five minutes is like five thousand years to him," Inko commented with an amused smile as she poured juice into a glass.
Akemi swallowed the toast in one bite and drank her coffee like it was a shot of tequila.
—Ugh, it burns!
Inko shook her head and sighed.
—That's why I'm telling you to eat calmly.
—I don't have time to be calm!
At that moment, from the bathroom, the sound of water turning off and a grunt was heard.
—Who the hell thought this uniform was a good idea!
Akemi smiled with pure malice.
—Oh, it's out now.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hades walked up to the table with a sour face.
He was wearing the UA uniform, which in his opinion was ridiculously formal and tight.
But the worst.
The worst of all.
It was the damn tie.
The knot was a mess, twisted and loose.
Hades looked visibly uncomfortable at the loss against a simple piece of cloth.
Akemi looked him up and down and, with a big smile, slapped him firmly on the back.
—Wow, Hades, you look so adorable!
Hades glared at her.
-I hate you...
—You say that, but I know you love me, deep down in your bitter little bipolar stone heart~
Inko covered her mouth to keep from laughing too loudly.
—Okay, okay, enough joking. If you don't finish breakfast, you'll really be late!
They both rushed to eat what was left of their breakfast.
Akemi devoured her food as if she were in a speed tournament, while Hades ate more calmly, but with the obvious urgency of someone who had been dragged into the Midoriyas' morning chaos.
Finally, Inko stood up and picked up her bag.
—Akemi-chan, Hades-kun, I'm going to work. Don't leave any crumbs!
"Thanks, Mom!" Akemi shouted, her mouth full.
"Thanks, Inko..." Hades murmured, still sleepy.
Inko looked at them with a warm smile before walking out the door.
Now, there were only the two of them left in the apartment.
Hades was enjoying his last bite of toast.
It was crispy, had the perfect amount of butter, and for once in his mortal life, he wasn't experiencing any suffering.
But his peace of mind did not last.
Because Akemi, the green hurricane with legs, pulled him by the arm without warning.
—Come on, come on, come on!
The sudden movement caused his bite to go out of control and...
—Ugh, my tongue!
Hades brought his hand to his mouth, his eyes watering with pain.
—Crazy woman, you made me bite my tongue!
—Ayy, stop complaining and walk —Akemi ignored her suffering, quickly grabbing the spare keys to the apartment and slamming the door.
Hades growled, still holding his tongue, but he didn't get a chance to reply because, once again, he was dragged by Akemi's superhuman strength in the direction of the elevator.
—Can you stop treating me like a sack of potatoes!
—Not until you learn to move faster!
—I'm a god, not your puppet, damn it!
—Well, move like one then.
Hades snorted, crossing his arms as they reached the elevator.
Akemi frantically pressed the button, as if that would make it go down faster.
"How long do we have left for you to be in such a hurry?" Hades asked, rolling his eyes.
Akemi looked at him out of the corner of her eye and answered calmly:
—We have about an hour.
Hades blinked in disbelief, and a vein began to throb on his forehead.
—Are you kidding me?
—No, but seriously, get moving, I don't want to risk being late on the first day!
Hades was about to give a speech about mortals' absurd obsession with punctuality when, without warning, Akemi pulled him by the tie and began to adjust it.
—You've made a mess of this.
—Hey, hey, let me go!
—Stay still, you look like a child who doesn't know how to dress.
—I know how to dress!
—Yeah, sure, then explain to me why your tie looks like it was tied by a blind monkey.
—What did you say!
Before he could complain further, Akemi tightened the knot of his tie.
Hades immediately felt the pressure on his neck and his complaint was choked with a strangled sound.
—Gah—!
"There," Akemi said with satisfaction.
Hades brought his hands to his neck, feeling the fabric tighten around him.
—You're trying to strangle me!
—Oh, stop complaining, you look much better like this.
—"Better"? I look like those sad, middle-aged mortals!
The elevator reached the ground floor and the doors opened.
Akemi looked at him with a big smile.
—Time to run!
-That-?
Before he could finish his sentence, Akemi grabbed his arm and started running at full speed.
Hades felt his body being pulled like a rag doll.
—Woman, let me go!
—Shut up and run!
—We don't need to run!
—You always have to run!
Hades tried to resist, but Akemi dragged him so hard that his feet barely touched the ground.
—They're looking at us strangely!
—Let them look at whatever they want, the important thing is that we get to the station!
As they ran, Akemi's mouth remained open, still sore from the hot coffee she had swallowed minutes before.
"Ugh, it's still burning!" he complained as he ran.
—So why did you drink it boiling hot, idiot!
—Because we're running late!
—We have one damn hour!
—Shut up and run!
Hades rolled his eyes, knowing that fighting her was pointless.
So, with a resigned grunt, he quickened his pace.
Because, apparently, his destiny as a fallen god was not to rule the Underworld.
But to be Akemi Midoriya's damn personal racing dog
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The frantic race continued to the train station, where Akemi, still clinging to Hades's arm like a lifeline, stopped abruptly in front of the automatic doors.
"Come on, come on, come on... where are you?" she murmured, desperately searching her skirt pockets.
Hades, still recovering from the brutality with which he had been dragged, raised an eyebrow.
—What the hell is going on now?
He got no response.
Akemi kept searching for her transportation card, checking one pocket, then the other, then the first one again as if the card would magically appear if she tried hard enough.
"Akemi?" Hades insisted, starting to get impatient.
But before she could say anything else, Akemi let out a cry of excitement.
—Here you are, you little devil!
With a triumphant smile, he pulled out a rectangular card of two colors: half light green and the other white, with the word "Suica" printed on it along with the image of a small penguin.
Hades narrowed his eyes.
—All that drama over that thing?
Akemi ignored him completely, too busy swiping her card on the screen next to the entrance doors.
"Come on, the train's leaving!" he shouted, cutting off any possible complaints from Hades as his gaze darted from side to side, searching for the train.
And there it was.
In front of them, with the doors open, waiting for a few more seconds before closing and leaving.
Akemi clenched her fists.
—This time you're not leaving, damn train.
Without waiting another second, she ran towards the door, pulling Hades with her.
—Hey, let me go, damn it!
But it was too late to argue.
With one last stride, they both entered just as the doors began to close behind them.
Akemi leaned back on her knees, catching her breath, and then, with absolute satisfaction, looked around.
—Yes... yes... I did it!
Hades, for his part, was too busy trying to regain his dignity.
—Explain yourself for once, Akemi.
The veins in his forehead throbbed as he gritted his teeth, his patience hanging by a very, very thin thread.
Akemi, for her part, let out a nervous laugh.
—Oh... hahaha... It's just that, in my previous life, this train missed me and I was late...
Hades stared at her, saying nothing, not even blinking.
Akemi swallowed.
—Hades...?
The boy took a deep breath, filling his lungs, and then let it out slowly, trying to calm himself.
Meanwhile, the train had already started moving.
Only then did Hades notice something: the car was practically empty.
"There's not a soul here," he commented, looking around.
—Better for us, so we don't have to fight over seats.
Without waiting any longer, Akemi plopped down onto one of the seats, letting out a long sigh of relief.
Hades looked at her, then looked at the empty seat next to her.
With a low grunt, he sat down.
There was a brief silence between them, the only sound being the soft rattle of the moving train.
Finally, Hades sighed, bringing his hands to his neck to loosen his tie a little.
—You know what? I don't care. If this makes you happy, so be it.
Akemi smiled at him.
—See? It wasn't that bad.
—Say it after my lungs recover from all your madness.
Akemi laughed, leaning back a little in her seat.
—Well, Hades... get ready, because this is just the beginning.
Hades closed his eyes for a moment, before slowly opening them and giving her a resigned look.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The train moved forward with a rhythmic clatter as Akemi and Hades enjoyed, for the first time all morning, a moment of peace.
Akemi leaned back in her seat, watching the city buildings flash by through the window.
"Hey, Hades," he said suddenly, his tone lighter. "How are you feeling on your first day of school?"
Hades, who had been fiddling with his tie (now half undone again), frowned at her.
—How do I feel? Like a damn god trapped in a child's body, forced to attend a school with brats playing at being heroes.
Akemi giggled.
—Oh, come on, it can't be that bad, look at me, we're practically in the same situation.
—We'll see.
They remained silent for a few seconds, until Akemi sighed heavily.
—I hope this day is different from the last one...
—Are you talking about your past life?
—Uh-huh.
Hades tilted his head, curious.
—Was it so terrible?
"Well, for starters, I overslept, ran like crazy to catch the train, missed it, and was late the first day," Akemi said with a pout. "But not this time."
—So all this mess this morning was just because you wanted to get on the same train you missed last time.
-Exactly.
Hades blinked slowly.
—You're incredibly weird, did you know that?
Akemi stuck out her tongue at him.
—I prefer "meticulous."
Before Hades could respond, an announcement blared over the train's loudspeakers.
—Next stop: Musutafu Station. Connection to UA High School.
Akemi straightened, her eyes shining with determination.
—Time to move.
The train slowed and finally stopped with a soft screech.
The doors slid open and, to Hades's surprise, he didn't feel the usual tug on his arm.
Instead, Akemi calmly stood up, stretched her arms a little, and started walking toward the exit.
Hades blinked, surprised.
—I'm surprised you didn't pull me this time.
Akemi gave him a mysterious smile as she walked down the steps.
—We have plenty of time. I just wanted to get on the train that got away from me earlier.
Hades snorted.
—So this was all on a whim.
-Exact!
The former god of the Underworld rubbed his temples.
—Irrational mortal...
They continued walking at a moderate pace through the streets of Musutafu, with the AU visible in the distance.
For a few minutes, the silence was comfortable, but then Hades decided to break it with a question that had been nagging at him.
"Tell me, Akemi..." His voice was casual, but his eyes reflected genuine interest. "Do you have a list of people who will die soon?"
Akemi faltered slightly in her gait, but her gaze remained fixed on the sky.
—Yes, I have it.
Hades smirked, unsurprised.
—So tell me, are you going to save them all or something?
Akemi clenched her fists tightly.
—We'll do our best to do so. They're essential to saving the future.
Hades watched her out of the corner of his eye.
There was something in his tone, in his posture... An unshakeable conviction, but also something more. He wasn't just talking about saving lives.
He spoke of avoiding a fate he had already experienced.
—Am I also added to that game of yours?
Akemi smiled mischievously, turning to him.
—Of course! After all, you owe me so much for letting you live in my house, giving you clothes, food... It's the least you could do.
Hades clicked his tongue.
—I wouldn't put it that way...
—Oh, of course.
Finally, after a few more minutes of walking, the silhouette of the UA rose imposingly before them.
Akemi's eyes sparkled with excitement.
—Let's go, Hades-kun! Here begins our journey at the hero academy.
"Why are you so excited about this?" Hades asked, adjusting his tie again. "It's not like this is your first time here."
"But it is for you!" Akemi replied with a big smile. "And I want to see your reaction when you enter the prestigious UA High School for the first time."
Hades snorted, crossing his arms.
—I would be more surprised if I had the option not to enter.
But before Akemi could respond with a witty retort, a whirlwind of pink hair burst onto the scene.
—Out of my way!
Before Hades could even blink, something (or rather, someone) violently collided with him, pushing him forward.
It was an unexpected blow and quite powerful.
Hades was about to kiss the ground if not for Akemi, in a reflex action, stretching out one of her Black Whips and holding it before his dignity suffered a fatal blow.
Hades felt his heart beat furiously as he processed what had just happened.
First, he felt the impact; second, he saw the ground coming dangerously close. Third, Akemi humiliatingly saving him. Fourth... anger.
-Damn!
He turned sharply, ready to curse whoever had dared to push him like that, but his words died in his throat when he finally saw the person responsible.
She was a girl with pink hair and messy dreadlocks, strange red glasses with gold frames, and a work suit covered in small tools and devices.
He was holding what looked like a device in his right hand and frowning in obvious annoyance.
"Damn it!" the girl growled as she took off her glasses and hung them on her forehead. "Why didn't you move?"
Hades blinked.
Something strange happened in his chest when his eyes met the girl's.
Golden as gold.
No, more than gold... They were eyes that had targeting patterns on their sclera.
For a moment, he felt like he himself was caught in a crosshairs.
His anger dissipated completely in a second.
On the other hand, Akemi, who until that moment was busy making sure Hades didn't fall to his death, was completely speechless upon seeing the girl.
His mind went blank.
Standing in front of them with his hands on his hips was the person at the top of their priority list.
"Mei..." Akemi whispered, feeling her breathing stop for a moment.
The three remained in an awkward silence, as if the universe itself had paused for a few seconds.
Mei watched Hades intently, analyzing every detail of his face as if it were a new project to work on.
Hades, for his part, felt his heart rate abnormally accelerated and could not look away from those golden eyes.
Finally, Hades was the first to break the silence with a complaint:
—You, you crashed into me mortal!
Mei, who had been silently examining the boy, frowned and responded with the same intensity.
—It's your fault for not moving away, blind man!
Hades felt his heart thump in his chest with an uncomfortable force.
Something inside him reacted to the way she looked at him, with that overwhelming certainty, as if he were nothing more than an insignificant obstacle in her path.
Before he could say anything else, Akemi, recovering from her initial shock, decided to intervene with a nervous smile.
—Hahaha... Sorry. We're new to the hero class and we're a little nervous.
Mei, who until then had only been focused on Hades, turned her attention to Akemi.
His initial annoyance immediately vanished.
"Really?" Her face lit up. "I'll be in the support class!"
Suddenly, his energy surged to dangerous levels. He pounded his chest with one hand and smiled determinedly.
—My name is Mei Hatsume and I will be the best support inventor in the world!
Akemi smiled softly, nodding.
—My name is Akemi Midoriya, and the grump you bumped into is named Hades.
Mei nodded quickly, but instead of looking at Akemi, she turned her attention back to Hades, tilting her head curiously.
—Hmmm... Hades, huh? You have an interesting name.
He felt a chill run down his spine and his pupils dilated slightly.
—Tch... I don't need a mortal to analyze me.
Mei smiled in amusement before turning sharply on her heels.
—I hope to see you in the support room soon! See you then!
And with that, he resumed his mad dash, leaving a faint scent of oil and metal in the air.
Hades watched Mei disappear into the building. His heart was still beating fast, though he didn't understand why.
Akemi, at his side, looked at him with a knowing smile.
—Ohhh... I see.
Hades clicked his tongue, crossing his arms in obvious annoyance.
-Be quiet!
Akemi laughed softly and started walking towards UA.
Hades looked at her for a second before huffing and following her.
They walked in silence for a moment.
The UA loomed before them, with its modernist design and grand entrance, but Hades cared little for architecture at the moment.
Finally, he broke the silence.
-Hey.
Akemi turned her head curiously.
—Hmm?
"I heard you whisper something when you saw that girl," he said, keeping his gaze fixed on her. "Do you know her?"
Akemi's face went expressionless for a moment. Then, she sighed deeply, turning her gaze back to the front.
"Yes... she..." his voice sounded more serious than usual. "She's the person at the top of the list of people to save."
Hades raised an eyebrow.
—List of people to save?
He quickened his pace until he was equal to her, his interest piqued.
—Is it that important?
Akemi did not respond immediately.
His hands clenched into fists as he took a deep breath.
"Yes," he murmured at last. "She... must have been the best support team builder there ever was."
—What happened to him?
Akemi stopped abruptly.
He looked down. His shoulders tensed.
"She was murdered..." he whispered, his voice thick with suppressed emotion. "The same day Mineta betrayed us."
Hades frowned.
The very day of the betrayal...
"Why?" he asked, although deep down he already knew.
"Her intellect was too valuable," Akemi said bitterly. "They didn't want her creating equipment for the heroes."
Hades did not stop his walk.
-I see.
Akemi looked at him for a second, waiting for him to say something else. But he didn't.
She understood perfectly what that "I see" meant.
He understood. And even though he pretended not to care, he cared enough to listen.
He shook his head, returning his gaze to the front.
—How much time do we have?
Akemi blinked, surprised.
But then, he gave a small smile.
—We have plenty of time, besides... I've already finished with that dirty traitor.
Hades growled, sensing the mocking tone in her voice.
—What will you do with her in the meantime?
Akemi narrowed her eyes, a mischievous sparkle shining in them.
"Well... it never hurts to meet the best inventor beforehand," she said, smiling. "We can get her equipment for free."
Hades exhaled with a heavy sigh.
—Hah... Do what you want.
Akemi smiled even wider, enjoying his nonchalant attitude.
—I might drag you down with me.
Hades snarled, frowning.
But... a small smile played on her lips.
He won't admit it out loud, but the idea didn't seem so bad to him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After walking a while longer, they finally reached their destination.
A large door with the letters "1-A" in bright red.
Hades looked at her with disinterest before frowning.
—Why is this door so...?
"For students who are bigger than average," Akemi replied automatically.
Hades tilted his head.
—Is that a joke?
"No. Look at us. Not all of us are..." He paused, looking down at his own thin, flat body. "Well, I'm not big, but many here are."
Hades snorted.
-Pathetic.
But Akemi wasn't listening to him.
He stared at the door.
His hand slowly reached for the handle.
But the moment he touched her, his fingers trembled, his shoulders tensed.
His legs also began to shake.
He couldn't move.
His breathing became irregular.
A second before, she was calm.
But now... now she felt like an invisible weight was crushing her.
His thoughts began to spiral out of control.
—What if something goes wrong?
—What if I change too much?
—What if we fail?
—What if I lose them again?
-And if...?
Before he could get any further lost in his thoughts, a warm hand fell on his shoulder.
Akemi froze.
There were no words, they simply weren't necessary.
Hades placed his other hand on top of hers and pushed the door.
Akemi felt as if the warmth of his hand conveyed something more to her.
Something I couldn't describe.
But somehow, it made her feel like she wasn't alone.
He took a deep breath.
And when the door opened, she smiled, taking her new first steps into the classroom.
The first thing they saw was a tall boy with blue hair and thick glasses, gesturing vigorously and speaking with a firm voice.
—We must ensure that every student respects order and discipline! We will be the pillars of society!
In front of him, a black-haired girl with a sleek ponytail seemed to be nodding with a polite expression, although it was clear from her gaze that she was dealing with too much information at once.
Akemi and Hades looked at each other.
Hades leaned slightly towards her.
—Will that clown be our partner?
Akemi had to hold back a laugh.
—Get ready, Hades. This class is going to be... interesting.
Hades nodded slightly, expectant of the girl's words.
But then...
The moment his eyes fell on the black-haired girl, he felt a cold sweat surfacing on his back.
His body tensed, his eyes wide open, as he felt something primal and visceral awakening inside him.
Haruto froze, his soul trembled as he remembered the past, he felt fear and doubt at the sight.
Hades, for his part, felt nothing but pure, burning, corrosive rage.
His blood boiled, his muscles tensed, his breathing became thick.
I didn't understand why.
I didn't understand how.
But both he and Haruto felt and thought the same thing.
—That girl...
—That damn mortal.
The air around him became heavy.
His jaw clenched so tightly that a soft crunch escaped his teeth.
His breathing became slow and deep.
But then, an irritating voice broke the moment.
—Good morning! It's a pleasure to meet such punctual people on prime—!
The boy with glasses could barely react when Hades shoved him with his shoulder, pushing him out of the way as if he were an insignificant obstacle.
"Hey!" the boy protested, indignantly readjusting his glasses. "That was rude!"
But Hades didn't even look at him.
I only had one thing on my mind.
A person.
He stopped in front of the black-haired girl.
His eyes burned with a deep red glow.
The air in the room turned icy, the girl felt a chill run down her spine.
While her mind wandered with hundreds of thoughts: Who was this boy? Why was he looking at her like that? Does he know me?
He wanted to say something.
Ask something.
But Hades spoke first, his voice echoing throughout the room.
-You!
The scream was so sudden, so full of rage, that Momo flinched instinctively.
The boy with glasses turned his head, frowning.
Midoriya opened his eyes in surprise.
—What the hell is going on?
Hades took another step forward.
—You! You damn bitch!
The aura around him became suffocating.
Momo parted her lips, completely confused.
—W-What...?
"Are you Princess Momo Yaoyorozu?" he spat, with rage and resentment, throwing those words out as if they tasted like poison.
Momo had a bad feeling, her hands trembled slightly.
I didn't know why.
I didn't understand why.
But something inside her told her to stay away from that boy.
However, he forced himself to maintain his composure.
—Y-Yes... my name is Momo Yao—
He didn't finish the sentence.
Because Hades brutally grabbed her by the collar of her shirt and lifted her from her seat.
"You remember me, damned mortal!" he roared, echoing in the hall.
Momo felt a lurch in her stomach, her breathing becoming labored.
Her fingers tried to grab the boy's arm, but he didn't let go.
Hades's eyes burned with uncontrolled, primal rage.
"H-Hey!" the bespectacled boy shouted, running toward them. "Let her go!"
Midoriya reacted instantly.
Black whips sprouted from his arm and coiled around Hades's.
"Hades, what the hell is wrong with you?" he said, pulling hard.
But he didn't let go, his gaze remained fixed on Momo.
—I still remember you... I still remember every damn blow!
His voice was a burning poison.
Every word carried pure hatred.
Momo felt her throat close.
—W-What are you TALKING ABOUT?
—You almost killed me! Your lackeys beat me until my damn bones almost broke!
Momo paled.
That...?
What was he saying?
"Calm down, Hades!" Midoriya shouted, boosting his whip's power to 3% of One For All as his muscles tensed under the pressure.
The boy with glasses also intervened, holding Hades's arm.
But he kept resisting, he kept squeezing the fabric of Momo's shirt.
—Your men kicked me in the head. They spit on me, they humiliated me! They treated me like garbage just for existing!
Momo's eyes trembled.
His body reacted before his mind.
She tried to get away, but Hades wouldn't let go.
His breathing became erratic.
—I almost got killed! And you just enjoyed it!
His voice was a mixture of hatred, pain and resentment.
"Let her go, idiot!" the boy with glasses shouted, pulling him along.
But Hades was still lost in his fury.
In his uncontrollable rage.
In his pain buried for years.
And then...
Hades's red eyes changed.
The intensity of his gaze softened.
The pressure on his hands eased, his breathing became unsteady, and his lips trembled.
—Ah...
The hatred disappeared.
The fingers loosened their grip.
His body posture slumped.
His face changed.
His expression became more... innocent, more lost.
-Me too...
His voice was completely different.
Momo blinked, her heart still pounding.
The fear was still there, but something... Something in his voice had changed.
-Very sorry.
The aura of rage crumbled, as Haruto took control.
Midoriya wasted no time.
With a strong tug, he separated Hades from Momo.
The boy with glasses did not hesitate to catch him.
He grabbed him by the collar of his uniform and pushed him against the wall.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" he asked with latent fury.
Haruto, for his part, did not resist and lowered his gaze.
"She..." he whispered. "She almost killed me, years ago..."
The boy with glasses loosened his grip.
His eyes widened as he released the boy, taking a step back.
He was confused, his gaze shifted and looked at Momo, then looked at Hades.
Midoriya, who was standing to the side, narrowed his eyes.
"What the hell are you talking about?" he demanded, glancing at the trembling girl.
Haruto closed his eyes and exhaled heavily.
And when he opened them...
His hatred returned, but unlike before... it was contained.
"It's none of your business," he said, as he walked toward the exit.
Midoriya clicked his tongue and crossed his arms.
The classroom fell into an awkward silence as Hades walked out, leaving only the icy sensation of his suppressed fury.
Midoriya sighed heavily before crouching down next to Momo, who was still sitting on the floor, her arms shaking and her breathing ragged.
"Are you okay?" Akemi asked, carefully helping her sit up.
The Yaozorozu heiress's fingers clenched tightly on her own skirt, her chest rising and falling unevenly.
His mind was still processing what had just happened.
That boy...
Those eyes full of hate.
Those words impregnated with poison.
She didn't remember what the boy had claimed, but if that was the case, how did he know the nickname she had held so proudly as a child?
Her mind wandered, her breathing quickened with fear, and she involuntarily held her breath.
But, when she felt the warmth of Midoriya's hand on her shoulder, she was finally able to exhale with more control.
"I-I'm sorry..." Momo whispered, trying to regain her composure. "I don't know what happened... I've never seen him before in my life..."
Akemi watched her silently, analyzing her every action.
She had learned to detect lies easily through the various interrogations in which she was the guest.
Momo didn't seem to be lying, but...
I wasn't sure I was telling the truth either.
"Hades doesn't usually react like this," he said in a low but firm voice. "Not without reason."
Momo gulped.
She didn't want to admit it, but something about Midoriya's gaze intimidated her.
—Was what he said true?
Momo shook her head almost instantly.
"No... I've never seen it before," she replied more confidently this time, although the tension in her voice was still noticeable.
Midoriya watched her for a few more seconds before letting out a sigh and gently caressing her cheek, in an unexpectedly warm gesture.
Momo was slightly startled by the proximity, but the warmth in Akemi's touch managed to relax her.
"I'll talk to him about getting him back," he said calmly.
Momo tensed again, a small shiver running through her body, while her mind monopolized a single question.
—Would that boy come back?
"I'll be more attentive to him this time," Midoriya added with a reassuring smile.
Despite everything, his presence managed to calm her.
Without saying anything else, Akemi turned and walked towards the door.
[Meanwhile, in the hallway]
Hades was standing, leaning against the wall with his eyes closed and his arms crossed.
On the outside, he seemed calm.
But inside his mind...
It was chaos.
"Why the fuck did you stop me?" Hades roared inside his mind.
Haruto appeared in her subconscious, his expression was hard, but not full of hatred.
—Because things aren't resolved like that!
Hades gritted his teeth.
—Don't they solve it like that? He almost killed us, idiot!
Haruto lowered his gaze slightly, but did not give in.
—I know... but I don't want to hurt him.
Hades let out a dry, bitter laugh.
—You're a damn naive person.
Haruto faced it with determination.
—I don't want revenge. Not like this.
His words carried weight.
They had conviction.
And that only irritated Hades more.
—Oh, really? And what will you do when I decide to take control and break his neck!
Haruto raised his chin.
—When you want to hurt him, I'll switch with you to avoid it.
A deep silence fell between them.
Hades felt anger suffocate him.
But there was nothing I could do.
Because Haruto had control over his body if he so desired.
Damn.
—Fine... do what you want, asshole... —he growled in frustration.
Before he could continue arguing with his other half, a touch on his cheek brought him out of his thoughts.
He opened his eyes and found himself staring into Midoriya's face, who was watching him with a mixture of curiosity and caution.
His fingers were soft on her skin.
But her gaze...
His gaze was something else.
He didn't just ask questions, he also analyzed every inch of her face.
—Hades... what happened there?
His voice was low, calm.
But it wasn't just out of concern.
It was because I wanted clear answers, but I also didn't want to fight with him by demanding things.
Hades sighed heavily.
He wanted to pull his hand away, but he knew if he did, Haruto might take control.
And that irritated him even more.
"I don't remember when..." he murmured, closing his eyes for a moment, "but when I was a child, I met that mortal in a park."
The tone of his voice lowered a little.
—He was with two guys dressed in black, and he ordered them to attack me just because I was homeless.
Midoriya didn't react immediately.
He just listened and stroked the boy's cheek.
Hades felt his cheek warm from the touch of her hand and his eyes closed involuntarily.
It irritated him, it calmed him, it bothered him that it calmed him.
"Are you sure it was her?" Akemi finally asked.
Hades opened his eyes and looked at her with a sardonic expression.
—How many black-haired girls with ponytails and the name Momo Yaoyorozu do you think exist?
Midoriya narrowed his eyes, but then shook his head.
"She's important for the future," he said calmly. "We must protect her."
Hades felt his hatred roaring inside him.
His muscles tensed.
—Protection... for her, for that damn woman? For the same person who almost killed him?
He had to restrain himself from growling out loud.
He gritted his teeth, feeling an intense rage he never thought he would feel.
But instead of exploding...
He snorted.
"I'll think about it," he growled.
Midoriya smiled slightly.
Without saying anything else, he took him by the wrist and gently pulled him back into the classroom.
Midoriya didn't let go of Hades's wrist as he dragged him back into the classroom. His grip was firm, almost painful, but he didn't give in without a fight.
"I told you not to pull me like I'm a damn kid!" he growled, trying to struggle.
"And I told you to calm down," Midoriya replied coldly, without letting go.
Iida and Momo watched them in silence, the tension in the air almost palpable. Hades glared at Midoriya, but she only smiled at him with feigned sweetness.
—Sit down, Hades.
—You don't order me around, Akemi.
Midoriya didn't even blink. His smile faded, and with a simple squeeze of his wrist, he ground the boy's teeth.
"Fuck..." Hades barely managed to mutter before his expression changed.
Haruto blinked several times, now with a more submissive and embarrassed look, and without complaint sat down in the chair next to Momo.
"I... I'm sorry..." she murmured, feeling Hades' gaze piercing her conscience.
Midoriya nodded in satisfaction and stood behind Hades, gently placing his hands on his shoulders.
—Okay, now let's talk.
Iida crossed his arms and looked at Hades seriously.
—You say Yaoyorozu attacked you when you were a kid, right?
Haruto, still with his gaze lowered, nodded slowly.
-Yeah...
"Do you remember exactly what happened?" Midoriya asked, his tone soft but inquisitive.
Hades, in the back of his mind, roared with fury.
—Don't say it! Don't curse our history with your stupid weakness, Haruto!
But Haruto took a deep breath and began to speak.
"I was a kid... a homeless boy," he said softly, feeling each word burn in his throat. "I lived on the streets, scavenging for food... And one day, I saw her."
He looked up, his eyes meeting Momo's, who shrank slightly.
—She was in the park with two men dressed in black. I was just looking for something to eat, not bothering anyone... But she saw me, frowned, and said something to the guys.
He clenched his fists tightly on his knees.
—And then they hit me. They kicked me until I couldn't move.
Momo opened her mouth, her face pale.
—B-But...
Hades—or rather, Haruto—continued, his voice trembling.
—They left me on the ground, bleeding... and you just watched. You didn't even blink while you mocked me.
The classroom fell deathly silent. Iida frowned at Momo, not knowing what to say.
Momo, trembling, took a deep breath and finally spoke.
—I-I... I don't...
He put his hands to his head, as if trying to remember. His body shook as a blurry image crossed his mind.
—B-But... that child...
Everyone looked at her expectantly.
—She had blonde hair and blue eyes!
The air seemed to become heavier.
Midoriya didn't react immediately, Iida frowned in confusion.
Hades, on the other hand, felt his mind explode.
—What the hell are you saying!
Haruto blinked, feeling his consciousness tremble.
—W-What...?
"I..." Momo gulped. "I was seven... There was a boy in the park, a homeless guy with blond hair and blue eyes... And... and I remember my dad telling me not to talk to strangers."
He brought a hand to his mouth, feeling it was hard to breathe.
—I don't remember giving the order, but... but... I did...
Midoriya narrowed his eyes, analyzing the information.
Hades, inside, was on the verge of madness.
Her nails dug into the wood of the chair.
"And that... gave you the right to attack me?" His voice darkened.
Momo shuddered.
—N-No... I never wanted—
"Then you wouldn't have said anything!" Hades roared, control returning to him in a flash. His red gaze burned with hatred.
Momo lowered her head, her body trembling.
—S-Sorry...
—I'm not interested in your apology.
Hades jumped up, but Midoriya wouldn't let him leave. His grip on Hades's shoulders tightened.
—Apologize too.
Hades looked at her in disbelief.
—What! Are you crazy or what the hell?
Hades struggled against Midoriya's grip, his red eyes glowing with suppressed fury.
"You're crazy if you think I'm going to apologize to that mortal!" he growled, trying to get away.
Midoriya tightened his grip, his fingers digging into Hades's shoulders. Her expression was hard, no trace of the cheerful, bubbly girl she usually displayed.
"I'm not asking you, Hades," he said in a low but firm voice. "I'm telling you to do it."
Hades gritted his teeth, feeling rage build up in his chest like boiling lava.
He wanted to scream at her, insult her, tear her hand off him. But something in Midoriya's gaze paralyzed him. It wasn't just coldness. It was an absolute order.
Haruto took advantage of her hesitation to take control, his expression changing to one of nervousness and embarrassment. He looked down and muttered:
—S-Sorry...
Momo looked up, surprised by the sudden apology. Her mouth opened, but she didn't know what to say.
"Harder," Midoriya ordered.
"I'm sorry!" Haruto repeated, now with more conviction.
Momo blinked several times before nodding slowly.
—I-I'm sorry too... I have no excuses, but... I didn't mean to hurt you...
Hades felt his insides burn with rage. Haruto was handling the situation, but he, trapped in the back of his own mind, felt the urge to scream.
But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't take control.
Iida, who had remained silent until then, crossed his arms with a serious expression.
—If this is true... then what happened was an act of injustice. Yaoyorozu, even if you don't remember what you did, your actions that day left their mark on Hades. You should do more than just apologize.
Momo gulped, clearly uncomfortable.
—II don't know what else to say...
"It's not the words that matter," Midoriya chimed in, his tone softer but still firm. "It's the actions that matter. Prove you're better than you were before."
Momo nodded, her determination returning to her eyes.
—Yes... I'll do what I can to make it up to you.
Hades sensed that Haruto wanted to say something else, but before he could speak, his body tensed and control was suddenly returned to him.
His red eyes darkened again with rage.
"I don't want your damn compensation," he snapped. "Just stay away from me."
He stood up abruptly, moving away from the table.
Midoriya didn't try to stop him this time, just watched him as he walked out of the classroom with heavy steps.
Iida sighed and adjusted his glasses.
—What a situation... I didn't expect something like that on the first day of school.
Momo, still trembling, looked at Midoriya with some desperation.
—Do you think he'll ever forgive me?
Midoriya watched her silently for a moment before answering:
"That's up to you," she said, looking at Iida and Momo, who looked just as confused as she was, though for different reasons.
Iida was the first to speak.
—What do you mean, his hair and eyes were a different color?
Momo swallowed, feeling increasingly unsure of her own memories.
"That's… That's what I remember, really," he said, his voice shaking a little. "In my memory, that boy had blond hair and blue eyes."
Midoriya narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms.
Then, with a slow movement, he lifted a finger and gently pressed it against his own forehead.
"I'm not surprised," he said thoughtfully. "With the awakening of his Quirk, his appearance must have changed."
Iida frowned, clearly intrigued by the explanation.
—You mean his Gift affected his physical appearance?
-Exactly.
"And what's his Quirk?" Iida asked, adjusting his glasses with interest.
Midoriya let out a light laugh.
—Well... he has two Quirks.
Iida and Momo were speechless.
—T-Two? —Momo blinked in surprise.
Iida crossed his arms with a skeptical expression, but waited for Midoriya to continue.
—His first Quirk is healing.
They both nodded, processing the information.
"And his second Quirk allows him to summon skeletons and use them in different ways," he added calmly.
Silence reigned for a moment as Iida and Momo absorbed the information.
"That explains a lot..." Momo murmured, still looking down.
Iida, on the other hand, seemed to notice another detail.
"His personality is a little... erratic," he commented cautiously. "Do you think his Quirks influence that?"
Midoriya tilted his head, considering the question.
"Yes, I've thought about it a lot," he admitted. "From the time I've been with him, I've noticed a strong parallel between his two sides."
Momo looked up, curious.
-What are you talking about?
Midoriya smiled, enjoying the attention he had at that moment.
"My theory is that his 'kind' personality, that more innocent and considerate side, comes from his healing Quirk," he said calmly. "While 'Hades' comes from his skeleton Quirk."
Iida frowned, clearly intrigued.
"That sounds... plausible," he said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "If both Quirks have such distinct natures, they could have influenced his psyche in separate ways."
Momo, on the other hand, didn't know what to say.
His thoughts were still trapped in the memory of that blond, blue-eyed boy who had somehow changed so much.
The silence stretched until Iida broke the tension with another question.
—You said you've lived with him... what exactly do you mean?
Midoriya chuckled and shrugged.
—Ah, haha, I picked him up from the street and brought him home after he almost died.
Iida's eyes widened, and Momo brought a hand to her mouth in shock.
"W-What!" Iida exclaimed. "That's incredibly dangerous, Midoriya-san!"
"Well, yes, but I couldn't just leave it there, could I?" he replied with a carefree smile.
Iida seemed about to launch into a speech about safety and common sense, but stopped at the last moment.
Talking about that topic now would be in bad taste.
Momo, for her part, just nodded slowly.
Before they could continue speaking, the classroom door swung open and several students began pouring in, talking and laughing excitedly.
Midoriya looked at Momo one last time and patted her on the shoulder.
—We'll talk more when we have free time, Momo.
Momo nodded absentmindedly, but soon looked away when a brown-haired girl entered the classroom, pulling someone along.
Meanwhile, at the door...
Hades stood, frowning, watching disapprovingly as the students slowly filed in. He felt out of place.
Among the new faces, her eyes met those of a red-eyed blond man who was also frowning.
They both measured each other up in silence for a few seconds, without bothering to greet each other or look at each other more than necessary.
For them, it was not worth wasting energy.
But then, a lively voice interrupted his thoughts.
—Hi! You're that guy who saved me during the entrance exam, right?
Hades turned his head and saw the same brown-haired girl who had risked her life to save him.
Hades blinked, surprised that she recognized him so quickly. His frown softened a little.
"I remember you," he said in his trademark tone. "You're the mortal I saved from that giant thing... even though you rescued me later."
Ochako laughed sweetly.
—My name is Ochako Uraraka.
Hades bowed his head condescendingly.
—Mine is Hades, mortal.
Ochako puffed out her cheeks, crossing her arms in annoyance.
—Don't call me that! I told you last time!
Hades smirked, enjoying her reaction.
—I don't see why not. After all, that's what you are.
Ochako sighed in exasperation, but couldn't help but smile.
—Well, whatever. The important thing is that we're in the same class now.
Hades raised an eyebrow, feigning disinterest.
—Yes, I guess so.
"Let's get along!" she said enthusiastically, holding out a hand.
Hades looked at the outstretched hand skeptically before finally shaking it.
—I'll do what I can... as long as you're not unbearable.
Ochako laughed heartily.
—Wow! You're a tough case, huh!
Hades rolled his eyes, but deep down, something inside him felt... strangely warm. As if, for the first time in a long time, he was having a genuine conversation.
And he couldn't help thinking that maybe this place wouldn't be so terrible after all.
—Come on, let's go into the classroom.
"I don't want to," he said curtly, turning his head away.
Ochako turned her head slightly, surprised by this.
But, without caring much, he grabbed the boy's wrist and began to pull him.
"I'm tired of being pulled..." Hades thought as he let himself be carried away.
Midoriya was walking towards the door when he saw Ochako pulling Hades into the room, holding him by the wrist as if he were a small child.
Hades shuffled his feet, frowning, clearly tired of the situation.
"Mortal... let go of my sleeve," he growled, not bothering to hide his annoyance.
"No, I bet you'll come back if I do!" Ochako smiled, ignoring his bad mood.
Hades sighed heavily, as if dealing with divine punishment, but he didn't let go.
It was then that Ochako's gaze met Midoriya's, who was watching her from the doorway.
Surprise crossed the brunette's face.
"You... you're the green-haired boy who destroyed the Zero Point with Hades, but..." He lowered his voice as if sharing a secret. "I didn't know you were a girl."
Midoriya blinked before laughing somewhat uncomfortably.
—Haha... the tracksuit was a little loose on me.
Out of the corner of his eye, Midoriya caught a slight tremble in Hades's lips.
Ochako also noticed.
Curious, she looked down.
Her eyes fell on Midoriya's flat chest.
Then she looked back at Hades, whose expression had tightened in an obvious effort to hold something back.
A chill ran down Ochako's spine.
Midoriya, still smiling gently, tilted his head.
"Did anything seem funny to you, Hades-kun?" she asked sweetly.
Hades felt a pressure on the back of his neck.
There were two pairs of eyes on him.
A warm one but one that burned with a silent fire.
The other, bright and curious, but with a dangerous flash.
He looked away and muttered with apparent indifference:
—I remembered the story of Chrysippus of Soli.
Silence.
Midoriya narrowed his eyes.
Ochako frowned, confused by what he just said.
-Hey...?
Hades crossed his arms with a satisfied smirk.
—Nothing, forget it.
Midoriya felt a twitch in his eye.
Ochako let out an awkward chuckle.
But they both knew that Hades had just thought about someone's flatness.
Meanwhile...
From her seat, Momo watched the scene with her body tense.
I understood Hades less and less.
At first I had seen him as an aggressive creature, ready to attack anyone.
But now... now she saw him give in with just one look from Midoriya.
It was like she was a wild animal on an invisible leash, and that confused her even more.
"Can I do the same...?" he whispered, looking away from the three of them for a moment.
Then, through the still open door, a yellow sack peeked out.
Hades, noticing this, watched with fascination as the sack slowly dragged along the ground.
He didn't look like a person.
He didn't act like a person.
Rather, it was like a huge caterpillar that slithered along without a care in the world, moving forward with exasperating calm.
The entire classroom was silent, watching the strange scene with a mixture of bewilderment and anticipation.
But unlike the others, Hades felt no confusion or discomfort.
I was curious.
Like a cat seeing something it doesn't understand but wants to understand.
Slowly, without a second's hesitation, he crouched down.
Midoriya, who was still standing next to Ochako, felt his stomach sink as he recognized that caterpillar.
"Hades..." she whispered, alarmed.
But he didn't listen to her.
With an expression of total interest, he extended a finger and poked the yellow sack.
The lump did not react.
Hades blinked and poked him again.
Midoriya took Ochako's wrist, who looked just as intrigued as Hades and was ready to imitate his action.
—We have to sit down.
Ochako tilted her head slightly but nodded and followed the girl, curiosity still gnawing at her.
Absolute silence fell over the classroom as both girls sat down.
The students exchanged nervous glances, unsure whether to intervene or let the little lunatic do his thing.
But Hades did not stop.
With the patience of a predator playing with its prey, he went from pecking it to petting it.
He slid his hand slowly over the yellow surface, as if he were feeling the texture of a strange animal.
"Hmm..." he murmured, completely absorbed in his tactile analysis. "It's rougher than I expected."
Iida opened his mouth to say something, but couldn't find the right words.
Midoriya felt a twitch in his eye.
But then, the lump moved.
The bag's zipper slowly lowered with a rasping sound, and a human figure emerged from the yellow cloth.
A man with long, untidy hair, a beard that had grown several days old, dark circles under his eyes, and an expression of existential exhaustion.
He was wearing a wrinkled black suit and his gaze was completely apathetic.
Hades's voice broke the silence.
—Ah. It's the tramp.
Midoriya felt his soul leave his body for a moment.
Momo covered her mouth with both hands.
Ochako went completely rigid.
The rest of the class held their breath.
Aizawa, without changing his expression, looked down at the black-haired boy who was still crouching in front of him.
His eyebrow twitched slightly.
—The only bum here is you, you troublemaking brat.
Hades, far from being offended, smiled with amusement and stood up, still looking at Aizawa with intrigued eyes.
But his fun was cut short when the man spoke again.
—Go sit down before I kick you out.
The air froze.
Hades blinked.
Then he tilted his head with a thoughtful look.
As if she didn't know if the man was serious or not.
Midoriya saw the conflict on her face and knew she was going to challenge him.
So he did the only thing he could do to avoid disaster.
He pulled him by the collar of his shirt with his black whip and dragged him to his seat.
Hades offered no resistance as he was led before everyone's eyes.
Hades, now sitting, tried to settle into the chair he was in, but as he did so, he noticed her.
Yaoyorozu Momo.
Sitting right next to him.
His chest tightened in suppressed anger.
The woman who had humiliated him when they were children.
The woman who almost beat him to death.
Hades stared at her with a neutral expression, but his eyes didn't hide the darkness that burned behind them.
Momo felt a chill run down her spine.
His body tensed, his breathing stopped for a second.
Her hands clutched at the fabric of her skirt, feeling the piercing gaze of the boy now sitting next to her.
He hated her.
Hades tilted his head slightly, sizing her up.
His face showed nothing but mild amusement at the discomfort on the girl's face.
Momo gulped.
And then...
Aizawa coughed, drawing everyone's attention.
"My name is Shota Aizawa and I will be your homeroom teacher," he said in a raspy voice, his tone monotonous and tired, as if the very thought of being there was a waste of energy.
The class murmured among themselves, some with excitement, others with uncertainty.
Hades stopped looking at Momo and focused his attention on the man with gigantic dark circles under his eyes who was holding a blue uniform.
Aizawa, without any preamble, threw the uniform on his desk.
—Go to the locker room and put on your sports uniform.
There was a pause.
Then, several hands went up.
Aizawa looked at them with boredom and nodded slowly, giving the floor to Ochako.
"Excuse me... Aizawa-sensei," she said, somewhat shyly, "shouldn't we have a class to train and introduce ourselves first?"
Aizawa watched her for a moment, then looked at the rest of the class.
—Do the rest have the same question?
There was a silence, but soon several heads nodded.
Aizawa sighed.
"The UA gives complete freedom when it comes to teaching and learning on campus," he explained, his tone dry. "That's why I won't dwell on unimportant matters."
The class fell silent.
The tension was felt in the air.
Ochako lowered her hand slowly, a little surprised by the response.
Midoriya, who had been watching everything closely, felt that the man's attitude was fatally familiar.
Rigid.
Practical.
Tired of trivialities.
The silence was interrupted by the sound of the door sliding open.
Aizawa was already leaving the classroom.
—You have 15 minutes because it's the first day. Hurry up.
And with that, he disappeared down the hall.
There was a moment of hesitation among the students, but soon everyone began to get up and head to the locker room.
Midoriya felt something pulling her arm.
It was Ochako, with a radiant smile.
—Let's go together, Midoriya-san~
Midoriya nodded, smiling as well.
But as the girls began to file out of the classroom, Hades sat for a few more seconds.
His eyes rested one last time on Momo.
She was getting up, her movements tense, as if she were waiting for something.
And Hades felt the urge to say something.
Something poisonous.
Something that made him feel even a fragment of what he felt in the past.
But instead, he just smiled.
Haruto had prevented his words from being spoken.
But, Momo felt her skin crawl, she couldn't help it.
But before he could process it further, Hades got up from his seat and followed the boys.
He had no idea how to get to the locker room, but that didn't worry him.
Hades walked calmly out of the classroom, his hands buried in the pockets of his school uniform.
I was lost.
I had no idea where I was supposed to go.
I wanted to follow Midoriya, but his green head had disappeared into the crowd of students.
He grunted under his breath, feeling slightly annoyed.
—Where the hell is it?
He looked around and, amidst the sea of students, saw the boy with glasses walking confidently down one of the hallways.
His back was straight, his posture rigid, and every step he took was firm and confident, as if he already knew exactly where to go.
Hades shrugged.
—If I follow him, at least I won't end up in another strange place.
With light, silent steps, she began to walk behind him.
At first, I just followed him at a safe distance.
But then, Iida noticed his presence.
The boy with glasses turned his head slightly, his blue eyes capturing the black-haired man walking beside him.
For a moment, he seemed at a loss for words.
But finally, he glanced sideways down the hall, making sure there weren't too many prying ears nearby.
Then, he spoke.
—Your name is Hades, right?
Hades raised an eyebrow.
He tried to remember the guy's name, but he had no idea.
"Yes," he replied simply, without altering his walking pace.
Iida adjusted his glasses with two fingers before continuing.
—My name is Tenya Iida. I can't say it's been a pleasure meeting you because of what happened recently, but still... we could talk about it later.
Hades snorted softly, looking away in disinterest.
"I don't need your attention," he said dryly. "My past, my problem."
Iida didn't seem to take offense.
In fact, he seemed to think about it for a moment.
Finally, he sighed and spoke seriously.
—Sometimes it's good to talk about something to get over it yourself, Hades-san.
Hades clicked his tongue, but didn't respond.
The subject did not interest him.
He didn't even know why Iida was getting involved in something that didn't concern him.
But before he could make a sarcastic comment, they had arrived.
Iida pushed open the doors to the men's locker room and walked in confidently.
Hades followed him, but without the same energy.
Inside, the atmosphere was full of noise.
The boys were already looking for their lockers, some chatting among themselves, others simply focused on changing as quickly as possible.
The sound of metal doors opening and closing echoed throughout the room.
Hades narrowed his eyes, scanning the space.
I had no fucking idea where his locker was.
Iida, as always, already had an answer ready.
"We should look for our names so we can dress appropriately," he said in a leadership tone, walking toward the lockers.
Hades sighed softly.
—Yeah, yeah, whatever...
He started walking, his eyes scanning the names engraved on the metal tags.
It didn't take long for him to find his.
It was impossible to miss.
Because unlike the rest of the lockers, his didn't have a last name.
It just said, in big, bold letters:
"HADES"
The black-haired man tilted his head.
-Dramatic.
He reached out and opened his locker with a slight metallic squeak.
Inside was his sports uniform, neatly folded.
Hades took out the shirt and looked at it for a moment.
I've never used anything like this before.
Not that it bothered him, but...
—Do I really have to wear this thing?
He rolled his eyes and began unbuttoning his school uniform shirt with relaxed movements.
Beside him, Iida was already changing quickly and disciplinedly, as if he were undergoing some kind of military training.
But every now and then, I looked at Hades with curiosity.
Finally, he couldn't help it any longer.
—Hades-san...
The black-haired man looked up while still unbuttoning his shirt.
-That?
Iida hesitated for a moment.
But then he crossed his arms, with a serious expression.
—Will you be able to bury your hatred for Yaoyorozu-san?
Hades froze for a split second.
But then, a sly smile appeared on his face.
Ah.
So I had noticed that.
Hades finished taking off his shirt and threw it over his shoulder, before answering in an amused tone.
—Who said I hate her?
Iida adjusted his glasses.
—You don't have to be a genius to realize that.
Hades clicked his tongue with slight tiredness.
Iida watched him closely.
It seemed like he really wanted to understand.
"If there's a problem between you, you should resolve it peacefully," he said sincerely. "We're partners now, after all."
Hades gave a low laugh.
—Oh, sure, sure... everything can be solved with words, right?
Iida frowned.
—I'm not saying it's easy, but—
"Leave it alone, Square," Hades interrupted, smiling crookedly. "It's not your problem."
He put on his sports uniform shirt and adjusted it calmly.
Iida pressed his lips together, but didn't press the issue further.
Hades exhaled a slight sigh, finishing adjusting the pants of the blue sports uniform with the white letters of the UA
He recorded in his mind what he saw in the full-length mirror inside his locker before slamming it shut.
Around him, the other kids were already ready, some stretching calmly, others chatting in small groups. But what caught his attention most was the ash-blond boy, leaning against the door frame with a frown, as if waiting for someone.
Hades ignored it and turned around when Iida called him.
—Well, we should hurry to the PE field. Aizawa-sensei doesn't seem like a patient person.
Hades nodded disinterestedly, ready to follow the tide of students leaving the locker room, but just as he was about to cross the door, a voice stopped him.
—Hey, extra.
Hades felt a nervous twitch in his eyebrow and turned his face slightly, looking at the ash-blond out of the corner of his eye.
—What do you want, mortal?
Bakugou frowned further, a nervous tic appearing as he swallowed the urge to growl at the strange-looking boy in front of him.
—Have you seen the moss hair?
Hades tilted his head thoughtfully.
—Mmm... no. I lost sight of her when she left with the round-faced girl.
Bakugou clicked his tongue, muttering under his breath.
—Tch... I think I saw her wearing a skirt...
"What does that matter?" Hades asked with genuine curiosity.
Bakugou looked at him with a grimace of annoyance.
—Because it's not normal, idiot.
—Huh... —Hades shrugged. —Maybe he likes it.
—As if that nerd cares about how she looks.
Iida, who had remained silent until now, looked from side to side with an uncomfortable expression.
—Um, if they've already finished talking, we should hurry up.
Bakugou snorted and stepped away from the door, letting the others pass. Hades gave him one last look before continuing to walk alongside Iida.
As they walked through the halls of UA, they could hear small snatches of conversation between their classmates.
—Did you see what Aizawa-sensei did? He didn't even introduce us.
—I heard it has a very high expulsion rate...
—Oh, man, I hope this isn't too difficult.
—I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of test it will be!
Hades walked with his hands in his pockets, following Iida's steps without paying much attention to the background noises.
Upon arriving at the physical education field, they met the group of girls who were also wearing their sports uniforms.
Midoriya was among them, his cheeks a little flushed, possibly from his conversation with Uraraka.
Hades noticed Ochako whispering something in his ear, and Midoriya covering his mouth with his hand, clearly embarrassed.
Momo, on the other hand, was noticeably more tense. When her eyes accidentally met Hades's, the girl visibly tensed and immediately looked away.
Hades smirked, amused by her reaction.
"Something funny?" Iida asked, noticing Hades's expression.
—Nothing, nothing... just a scared worm.
Iida blinked, not understanding, but chose not to ask.
The group of students finished gathering in the field, waiting for the teacher's instructions.
Aizawa stood in the middle of the PE field, holding a notebook in his hand.
His sleepy gaze swept over the students gathered in front of him, some still murmuring to each other, but most maintaining a more or less attentive posture.
When he made sure everyone had arrived, he sighed and spoke in his characteristic monotone:
—They took longer than usual, but I'll let it go this time.
The knot in the stomachs of several students was present.
Aizawa didn't raise his voice or seem angry, but there was something about his listless expression that made his judgment seem final. As if a hidden warning lay within his words.
Hades watched the man curiously.
He didn't have the commanding energy of the gods of old, nor the majesty of a seasoned warrior, but his posture and manner of speaking conveyed something that others seemed to understand: he was not a man who tolerated incompetence.
Before the students could react further, Aizawa continued speaking:
"Softball throwing, body strengthening, long jumps, 50-meter dashes, strength training, touching your toes while sitting..." he listed, almost mechanically. "These are all activities you've been familiar with since high school. Physical exams where the use of the Gift was prohibited by the MEXT."
His voice paused for a moment, as if bothered by what he had just said.
—The UA gives complete freedom to the campus, including the teachers. And from the moment they arrive here, we'll exploit them and retool their bodies until they're polished to the max.
The tension in the group increased. Some students exchanged anxious glances, others seemed excited.
Hades felt a shiver of excitement run down his spine. Not because of the words themselves, but because of what they implied. Something inside him, an old spark of war, stirred with eagerness.
Then, Aizawa looked up and spoke again.
—Bakugou.
The ash-blond stopped crossing his arms and raised an eyebrow, attentive.
—What was your softball pitching record in high school?
Bakugou frowned a little thoughtfully before answering disinterestedly:
—Around 67 meters.
"Good," Aizawa nodded slightly and then pointed to a white circle painted on the ground. "Now, try using your Quirk. As long as you don't leave the circle, you can do whatever you want."
Aizawa's words caught everyone's attention. A murmur ran through the students.
—Can we use our Gifts in a physical test?
—Are you really going to let him do that?
—That sounds incredible...
Hades crossed his arms, watching with a flash of interest.
Bakugou walked confidently toward the white circle. He took the softball in his hand and rolled it between his fingers, testing its weight.
"Whatever you want, huh?" he repeated with a confident, wild smile.
Some students gulped.
—Hey, hey, I hope the field doesn't explode or something...
—That would be awesome if he did.
Bakugou stretched out his arm, flexing his fingers before squeezing the ball tightly. His red eyes lit up with determination.
—Die!
With a ferocious cry, he spun around and threw the ball with brutal force.
Just as he let go, an explosion resonated from his palm, generating a shockwave that made the air vibrate and kick up a cloud of dust.
The ball shot out at an impossible speed, as if it had been launched from a cannon.
The students followed its trajectory with their eyes until it disappeared into the sky.
The field fell completely silent.
Momo gaped.
—I-incredible...
"That could be an Olympic throw!" someone shouted excitedly.
—That was manly!
Even Iida, who was trying to remain serious, blinked in surprise.
Meanwhile, Bakugou slowly lowered his hand, breathing heavily and with a proud smile on his lips.
Aizawa looked at his notebook and, without flinching, showed the screen of the device he had in his other hand.
705.2 meters
More astonished murmurs ran through the group.
—G-God, almost a kilometer...
—What madness!
—That power... is incredible...
Murmurs of excitement spread through the training ground.
Many students were talking among themselves, still amazed by Bakugou's demonstration. Some smiled excitedly, others had expressions of determination etched on their faces.
Akemi, however, observed everything with a calmer, almost nostalgic gaze. Her green eyes shone with a different hue as she analyzed the situation.
This moment... felt so familiar.
She walked with a firm step until she was next to Hades, who noticed her immediately.
"We'll crush this test," she declared confidently, glancing at him.
Hades gave a low laugh and tilted his head in amusement.
—Take it for granted, Akemi.
The atmosphere was charged with emotion until a voice, full of energy, resonated among the group.
—Will we be able to use our Quirks? This will be fun!
The words, so innocent and full of emotion, made the smile on Akemi's face disappear. Her body tensed, her fingers twitching subtly. She'd been waiting for it. Those damned words...
At the same time, Aizawa, who seemed to be in his own world, took in the phrase with hidden satisfaction.
Without raising his head, he let out a slow, almost disappointed sigh, and then, in a serious voice, he said:
—"This will be fun," you say?
As if time had stopped, the murmurs ceased immediately.
The air became heavy.
Even Hades, who was not easily impressed, felt an involuntary shudder run down his spine.
Aizawa raised his head, his gaze now carrying a different weight.
—So you were planning to spend your three years here having a good time while becoming heroes?
He brought a hand to his forehead and, with a slow gesture, brushed back his long hair, clearly revealing his tired but intense eyes. A latent threat lay dormant within them.
"Let's make this fun, then," he continued, his tone dropping to a whisper before turning into a deadly announcement. "Whoever finishes last will be expelled from the hero class!"
The impact of his words was immediate.
Expressions of emotion turned into pure panic.
"What?" someone shouted.
—That's ridiculous!
—You can't do that!
But the murmurs of complaint died in the students' throats when their eyes met Aizawa's.
I wasn't joking.
His expression turned mocking, the corner of his lips raised in an asymmetrical smile as he showed his white teeth.
"Our 'freedom' allows us to control the students as we please," he declared, his tone somewhere between amusement and cruelty. "Welcome to the UA Hero Department!"
TO BE CONTINUED.