Chapitre 12: [12] Class 1-A: Gotta Catch 'Em All!
For beating the powerstone goal here is your bonus chapter!
I collapsed into one of my beanbag chairs, exhausted after helping Todo arrange his room for the fifth time. The guy had strong opinions about feng shui that kept changing every thirty minutes.
"Your room next!" Todo declared, already heading for my door.
"We literally just finished unpacking it," I said, but followed him anyway. No point arguing when he got like this.
Todo burst into my room like he owned the place, spinning in a slow circle to take everything in. "As expected of my rival! Such refined taste!"
I'd kept things simple - king bed against the far wall, TV and surround sound mounted opposite, and my triple monitor setup tucked into the corner with two beanbag chairs for gaming sessions. Mom had insisted on some "sophisticated touches" like the abstract art prints and fancy light fixtures, but it still felt like my space.
"The acoustics in here are perfect," Todo noted, clapping his hands to test the sound. "We must have a movie night soon!"
"Sure, just don't pick anything with-"
"And this closet!" He slid open my walk-in before I could stop him. "So organized!"
Designer clothes lined the left wall - another of Mom's "suggestions." Five pristine U.A. uniforms hung on the right. Below them, my shoe collection filled custom-built shelves.
Todo crouched down, examining each pair with surprising reverence. He picked up a silver sneaker, turning it over in his hands. "I've never seen this design before."
My breath caught. The Lotus 1's - the prototype Mom and I had been developing for months. The silver silhouette looked almost alien among the other shoes, its geometric patterns catching the light.
"That's because they don't exist yet," I said. "It's a prototype."
Todo's eyes widened. "You designed these?"
"Mom and I did. They're supposed to be my signature shoe eventually. That's the 'Infinity' colorway - first and only pair right now."
"Signature shoe?" Todo looked up from the sneaker. "Like a pro hero merchandise line?"
I nodded, though that wasn't entirely true. The design had come to me in fragments - memories of another life, another world where these shoes were iconic. But trying to explain that would lead to questions I couldn't answer.
"The patterns are inspired by my quirk," I explained instead. "See how the lines create infinite loops?"
"Magnificent!" Todo carefully set the shoe back in its spot. "When can I buy them?"
"You can't. Those are one of one right now. Just a concept piece."
"But-"
"No."
"But what if-"
"Still no."
"Please? I'll trade you my limited edition All Might figurine!"
"The one you said you'd die protecting?"
"Yes! See how serious I am?"
I laughed. "Still no."
"You're cruel, Besto Friendo. Showing me perfection then denying me its embrace."
"You'll live." I stood up, stretching. "Want to grab food? I'm starving."
"Yes! The kitchen should be empty by now. We can discuss your shoe designs over a nutritionally balanced meal!"
"We're really not discussing my shoes."
"But-"
"No."
I led Todo down the stairs, hoping he'd forgotten about the shoes. No such luck - he was still listing reasons why he deserved a pair, each more dramatic than the last.
"And fifthly, as your destined rival, it's only right that I-"
I pushed open the kitchen door and stopped short. So much for it being empty. Six students clustered around the island counter, demolishing what looked like three family-size pizzas.
A guy with spiky red hair noticed us first. "Hey! Come grab some pizza before Kaminari inhales it all!"
I recognized a few faces from earlier. The green-haired guy who'd been muttering during orientation. The girl with the earphone jacks who'd given me directions. The brunette who'd been on the train.
And there she was again - the dark-haired girl who'd caught my eye during the practical. She sat perched on a counter, watching the chaos with barely concealed amusement.
"BESTO FRIENDO!" Todo's voice boomed through my thoughts. "We must join this feast!"
The green-haired guy's head snapped up at Todo's voice. His eyes went wide when they landed on me.
"You're- from the sludge incident!" he blurted out.
The room went quiet. Great.
"Sludge incident?" the red-haired guy asked.
"It's not important," I said quickly.
"But you saved kacchan! And then All Might-"
"Really not important."
The earphone jack girl tilted her head. "Wait, weren't you also the guy who got lost in Hosu?"
"I have a terrible sense of direction," I admitted. "And apparently an unfortunately memorable face."
"Well yeah, with those eyes-" the blonde - Kaminari? - started, but the brunette elbowed him.
Todo, bless him, chose that moment to change the subject. "Is that supreme pizza? Excellent choice! Though it would be better with pineapple..."
"Pineapple?" Red-hair guy looked horrified. "On pizza?"
"A truly refined topping!"
"Dude, no way!"
And just like that, the tension broke. Todo launched into an impassioned defense of Hawaiian pizza while red-hair guy - who introduced himself as Kirishima - argued back just as intensely.
I grabbed a slice and found myself next to green-hair guy, who was still stealing glances at me.
"So," I said. "You were there that day?"
He nodded. "I'm Midoriya Izuku. I, uh, actually ran in first. Before you showed up. Not that I did much good..."
"You ran in to help. That's pretty impressive."
His eyes went wide. "T-thank you I just did what anyone would have."
The brunette - Uraraka, she'd said - joined our conversation. "What exactly happened? If you don't mind talking about it!"
"Some villain made of sludge attacked a girl," I said, keeping it vague. "A few of us helped out until the pros arrived. That's all."
Midoriya opened his mouth, probably to add more details, but I caught his eye and shook my head slightly. He seemed to get the message.
"Speaking of pros," Kaminari said through another mouthful of pizza, "did you guys see the news about that vigilante in Kyoto? The one calling himself Ghost?"
The dark-haired girl - I still hadn't caught her name - shifted slightly on her counter.
"I heard he took down three villains last week," Jiro said. "No one even saw him do it."
"The heroes aren't happy," Kirishima added. "Especially since he keeps leaving them tied up with notes listing their crimes."
"Very unprofessional," Todo declared. "A true hero faces their opponents head-on! With proper technique and-" he struck a pose "-style!"
"I don't know," the dark-haired girl said softly. "Sometimes the direct approach isn't always best."
"Anyone want the last slice?" Uraraka asked.
"DIBS!" Kaminari and Kirishima shouted simultaneously.
What followed was an intense game of rock-paper-scissors, with Todo acting as official referee. He took the role very seriously, insisting on proper form and calling fouls for "insufficient spirit."
I drifted to the edge of the group, content to watch. The dark-haired girl had done the same, ending up next to me.
"I'm Sakurada," she said quietly. "Kaori."
"Nakamura Yoichi. Though you probably figured that out from all the earlier introductions."
I turned to face Sakurada properly and nearly forgot how to breathe. The kitchen's warm lighting caught her features in ways the harsh fluorescents of the practical exam hadn't - the slight upward tilt of her eyes, the way her black hair framed her face in perfect waves. She carried herself with a quiet grace that made everyone else in the room seem clumsy by comparison.
"You're staring," she said.
"Sorry." I scratched the back of my head. "It's just- you look different up close."
"Different good or different bad?"
"Definitely good." The words slipped out before I could stop them.
She laughed softly, and the sound did weird things to my chest. "You're not so bad yourself, Nakamura-kun." Her eyes fixed on mine. "Do they always spin like that?"
"What?"
"Your eyes. The lotus pattern - it's rotating."
"Oh." I blinked. "Yeah, it spins faster when I use my quirk. Slower when I'm just existing."
"It's almost hypnotic," she said, leaning closer. "The way it draws you in... is that part of your quirk too?"
"Not that I know of. Just a weird side effect." I paused. "Though maybe that's why people keep remembering my face."
"Mm, I don't think it's just the eyes." That smirk again.
Behind us, Todo's voice rose above the others: "The integrity of rock-paper-scissors demands a best of seven!"
"Dude, it's just pizza!" Kirishima protested.
"Just pizza? JUST PIZZA?"
I glanced back at Sakurada. "Want to escape before this turns into a full tournament?"
She nodded, sliding off the counter with fluid grace. We slipped out while Todo was explaining the ancient origins of rock-paper-scissors to an increasingly confused Kaminari.
The common room was empty. Sakurada settled into one of the oversized armchairs, tucking her legs under her. I took the chair opposite.
"So," she said. "Lost in Hosu?"
"You try navigating that maze of alleys."
"I manage just fine."
"Local?"
"Something like that." She tilted her head. "You never did explain what you were doing there."
"Would you believe I was sightseeing?"
"In the industrial district?"
"I told you - terrible sense of direction."
She studied me for a moment. "You're very good at deflecting questions, Nakamura-kun."
"And you're very good at asking them, Sakurada-san."
"Kaori."
"What?"
"Call me Kaori. Sakurada-san makes me feel old."
"Then call me Yoichi."
"Alright, Yoichi-kun." She stretched, catlike. "Tell me about the sludge incident."
"Not much to tell. Wrong place, right time."
"According to Midoriya-kun, you saved someone."
"According to Midoriya-kun, he ran in first." I met her gaze. "Funny how you left that part out."
From the kitchen came the sound of Todo declaring himself the "Supreme Champion of Rock-Paper-Scissors" followed by multiple groans.
"Your friend is... interesting," Kaori said.
"That's one word for it."
"How long have you known each other?"
"About six hours in total."
She blinked. "Really? The way he talks..."
"Yeah, he decided we were 'Besto Friendos' about ten minutes after meeting. Something about having refined taste in women?"
"And do you?"
"Do I what?"
"Have refined taste in women?"
I opened my mouth. Closed it. Tried again: "I feel like there's no right answer to that question."
"Smart boy."
"I try."
A comfortable silence fell between us. In the kitchen, the others had started arguing about game choices for their planned marathon.
"You should join them," I said.
"So should you."
"I meant-"
"I know what you meant." She uncurled from her chair. "But I think I'll call it a night. Early start tomorrow."
"Alright."
She took a step toward the stairs, then paused. "This was fun, Yoichi-kun."
"Yeah, it was."
"We should do it again sometime." Another step. "Maybe somewhere quieter."
"I'd like that."
She smiled over her shoulder - that real smile again. "Goodnight, then."
"Goodnight, Kaori."
I watched her climb the stairs, moving with that same impossible grace. Only when she'd disappeared from view did I let out the breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.
I was in trouble.
Big trouble.
The fun kind.
==========
[Next time on "My Hero Academia: Limitless"]
"Hey everyone, Yoichi here at the recording studio." I adjusted my headphones, leaning toward the mic. "The author wanted me to apologize for not introducing everyone properly today. Something about pacing and character development."
Behind the glass, the producer gave me a thumbs up.
"Next chapter we'll meet the rest of Class 1-A, including our resident ice queen who should really be half hot - seriously, what's up with that genetics situation?" I scrolled through the comment section on my tablet. "Oh, here's a good one: 'Men don't choose. Men take them all.(pssss Harem tag)'"
I tilted my head, considering. "I don't know, all might be a bit too much. Seven is the perfect number in my opinion. One for each day of the week... that's just efficient time management."
Todo burst into the recording booth. "BESTO FRIENDO! Are you reading fan comments without me?"
"You're supposed to wait for your cue-"
"The fans must know about my epic victory in rock-paper-scissors!"
"We covered that already-"
"But not my revolutionary throwing technique!"
I turned back to the mic. "Before he starts demonstrating, don't forget to drop those power stones and add us to your library. Next time on My Hero Academia: Limitless - 'First Impressions and Bad Decisions.'"
"Speaking of bad decisions," Todo grinned, "shall we tell them about Sakurada-san's-"
I yanked off my headphones. "And we're done here."
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone