Chapter 8: Chapter 8: The Unseen Bonds
The next morning came with the usual buzz of excitement that flowed through the halls of U.A. High School. Though they had just come off their first real combat exercises, the first-years in Class 1-A felt the adrenaline still pulsing through their veins. Everyone had their eyes on the horizon, eager to learn and push their quirks to new levels.
Gojo Satoru strolled in, late as usual, with his carefree swagger and white blindfold hiding his "Six Eyes." His classmates were already chatting away at their desks. As he slid into his seat next to Tamaki Amajiki, he gave a casual wave to the others. His presence immediately drew attention, as always.
Keiko Nakamura was standing near Aiko Fujimoto, and they exchanged glances before Keiko rolled her eyes playfully at Gojo. "Fashionably late again, Gojo?"
"You know me," Gojo grinned, leaning back in his chair. "A day without making an entrance is a day wasted."
Tamaki shifted nervously in his seat, as he often did in the presence of so many eyes. He mumbled something inaudible, but Gojo gave him a nudge on the shoulder. "Loosen up, Tamaki. Yesterday's win is still fresh. You did great."
Before Tamaki could muster a response, Daichi Hayashi and Haru Suzuki entered the classroom, still discussing their strategies from yesterday's combat exercise.
"I told you we needed more coordination," Haru was saying, his laid-back tone offset by the slight tension in his words.
"Come on, we weren't that bad," Daichi replied with a shrug, his stone-like skin slowly reverting to its normal appearance as he relaxed. "Midnight even said we were doing fine."
Aiko, with her usual playful grin, chimed in. "You two were good, but not as flashy as me. I totally blinded Midnight with my quirk."
Keiko laughed. "Aiko, you and your flashiness. Some of us prefer subtlety."
Gojo leaned forward, clearly amused by the banter. "Subtle or flashy, what matters is results. Speaking of results—"
Suddenly, the door slammed open, and Present Mic burst in, microphone in hand, his voice booming as always. "ARE YOU READY, CLASS 1-A?!"
The classroom erupted with mixed reactions. Most students covered their ears, trying to brace themselves against the noise. However, Gojo and Nejire Hado, who happened to be passing by outside, both answered with enthusiasm at the same time, their voices rising above the rest.
"YEAH!"
Present Mic blinked, looking surprised and slightly amused. "Well, looks like we've got some spirit today! Let's see if you can bring that energy into the lesson!"
Gojo smirked, his enthusiasm a bit of an act, but he liked messing around with Present Mic. Nejire, meanwhile, gave Gojo a wave through the door, her cheerful aura as vibrant as ever. Gojo returned the gesture, though his mind was already on other things—particularly the workings of his quirk and how to unlock its full potential.
Present Mic launched into their lesson for the day, teaching English in his usual over-the-top style. As expected, Gojo barely paid attention, lost in his own thoughts. But when the class ended and students began to file out, something caught Gojo's attention. He overheard Keiko, Aiko, and Haru discussing their quirks in relation to yesterday's combat trials.
Keiko was frowning. "I still think I need more range on my magnetic control. I mean, if we get into real combat situations, I can't rely on nearby metal objects to work effectively."
Haru nodded. "True. Barriers are great for defense, but if I can't cover a wide enough area, it won't matter in bigger battles."
Daichi, who had joined them by now, added, "And me? I'm just the tank. But if we're in a fight with more mobility-based quirks, I'll be too slow to react."
Gojo, intrigued, drifted over and inserted himself into the conversation. "Sounds like you guys are thinking way too hard about this. You've got solid quirks, but you just need to use them more creatively."
Keiko raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what about you, Gojo? With all your arrogance, are you saying you don't have weaknesses?"
Gojo chuckled. "Weaknesses? Me? I've got Infinity and Blue—the best combo you could ask for."
Aiko rolled her eyes. "Here we go again with your overconfidence. Sure, you've got that infinity quirk that makes you untouchable in close combat, and Blue lets you manipulate attraction forces. But have you even tested the limits of your power?"
Gojo's grin faltered for a second. He had, of course, tested his quirk—but he still couldn't get Red to work. Every time he tried, it failed, leaving him frustrated.
Aiko noticed his hesitation and nudged him playfully. "See? Even the great Gojo has things to work on."
Gojo scoffed, but inside, he knew she was right. He had mastered Infinity and Blue, but without unlocking the full potential of his quirk, he couldn't claim to be invincible. And what's more, only he knew that his quirk ran on something far darker than anyone else's. Cursed Energy—a power fueled by negative emotions, hatred, and fear—was the true source of his abilities. But that was his secret for now.
Later that afternoon, after all the lessons were done for the day, the students were preparing to head home when Principal Nezu called for an urgent meeting with the staff.
Inside the staff room, Nezu sat at the head of the table, his small, rodent-like frame giving him an unassuming presence, but his intelligence far surpassed everyone in the room. Around him sat Aizawa, Midnight, Present Mic, Snipe, and Caitlin Yamaguchi. They had gathered to discuss the progress of this year's first-years, particularly Class 1-A.
"It's been a while since we've seen a group with this much potential," Nezu began, folding his small hands on the table. "Their quirks are versatile, and their teamwork is showing steady improvement."
Aizawa, ever the realist, nodded but remained stoic. "They're good. Some of them are too reliant on their quirks, though. Especially Gojo."
Midnight leaned forward with a grin. "Ah, Gojo. He's definitely confident, but you can't deny his skills. Even without fully understanding his quirk, he's dangerous in the field."
Present Mic, ever the optimist, chimed in, "Yeah! He's got energy and drive! And don't forget the rest of 1-A—Keiko's magnetism and Haru's barrier combo was pretty slick."
Nezu's eyes twinkled. "Yes, and they'll only grow stronger with time. We must be careful, though. With great power comes great responsibility. We've already seen how overconfidence can lead to mistakes."
Aizawa sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'll keep working on that with them. But what's most important now is to keep them focused. There's been some disturbing reports about villain activity outside of U.A.'s walls."
Midnight raised an eyebrow. "Already? They're still first years."
Nezu nodded grimly. "Yes, but we can't afford to underestimate the dangers they might face. Their potential will attract attention. And we need to prepare them for anything."
Back in the dorms, Gojo sat on his bed, staring at his hands. The thought of Red not working gnawed at him. How could he call himself the strongest if he couldn't even access his full power?
Tamaki walked past his door, peeking in. "You, uh, okay, Gojo?"
Gojo looked up and flashed his usual arrogant smile. "Of course. Just thinking about how much stronger I'll get."
Tamaki nodded awkwardly. "Right. Well, uh, goodnight then."
As Tamaki left, Gojo's smile faded. He knew he was strong, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was missing something crucial. And with the growing intensity at U.A., he knew it wouldn't be long before he was truly tested.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
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Sovereign_Doa Hope you enjoy the chapter.
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