章節 2: The New Arrival

Class 1-A buzzed with the usual morning energy. Students were eagerly discussing their plans for the day, the recent events, and how to improve their various quirks. The room was filled with the chatter of excitement and camaraderie. Aizawa's voice cut through the noise with its usual authoritative tone. "Quiet down. We have a new student joining us today."

The room fell silent, and curiosity was etched on every face. The door to the classroom opened, and Kazuo Kuroda entered with a deliberate, measured pace. His jet-black hair fell in slightly disheveled waves, and his eyes, a striking pinkish-purple, scanned the room with an aloofness that set him apart from the rest. He wore the standard U.A. uniform, but his calm detachment gave him an almost otherworldly presence.

Aizawa's introduction was short and clipped. "This is Kazuo Kuroda. He's from the Hero Public Safety Commission and will be joining us for an indefinite period. Treat him with respect."

Kazuo moved to the extra desk at the back of the room. The desk, though somewhat isolated, provided a clear view of the entire class. Aizawa's gaze lingered on Kazuo for a moment longer than necessary before shifting back to the rest of the class. "Kazuo will be observing and learning. Follow the usual procedures."

Kaminari, sitting near the front, couldn't help but notice the way Kazuo's presence seemed to cast a shadow over the room. The empty desk at the back felt almost symbolic, as if it was intentionally set apart from the rest. Kazuo's posture was relaxed but carried an air of quiet solitude.

As the class resumed, Aizawa dove into the day's lesson with his usual intensity. His interaction with Kazuo was minimal, almost mechanical. When Kazuo raised his hand to ask a question about the syllabus, Aizawa's response was brief. "We'll cover that later." There was an unmistakable undercurrent of avoidance in Aizawa's tone, though Kaminari couldn't quite understand its source.

The lesson continued, and Aizawa's focus remained on the rest of the class. He didn't call on Kazuo, nor did he involve him in any of the ongoing discussions. The students, already used to Aizawa's gruff demeanor, noted the unusual coldness in his treatment of Kazuo but attributed it to the new student's status. The boy himself didn't seem to care.

During the first break, Kaminari decided to approach Kazuo. "Hey, Kazuo, right? I'm Kaminari. How's your first day going?"

Kazuo looked up from his notebook, his expression neutral. "Yeah, it's going fine."

Kaminari, determined to break the ice, continued. "If you need anything or just want to hang out, let me know. We're all pretty friendly here."

Kazuo gave a slight nod. "Thanks, but I think I'll manage."

Kaminari was slightly taken aback by Kazuo's reserved response but didn't let it deter him. "Well, if you change your mind, I'm usually around."

Kazuo's gaze returned to his notes, signaling the end of their conversation. Kaminari felt a bit awkward but shrugged it off, heading back to his group of friends. The rest of the break was filled with the usual banter and laughter, though Kazuo remained an enigmatic figure at the back of the room.

It looked lonely to Kaminari.

When the next class began, it was practical training. Aizawa divided the class into pairs and assigned them various exercises to strengthen their abilities. Rather predictably, he skipped over Kazuo. Kazuo observed instead, watching intently as his classmates performed. Despite his passive stance, there was an air of sharp focus about him.

Kirishima, with his usual enthusiasm, approached Kazuo. "Hey, Kazuo! How about coming over and join us with our training? We're doing some cool stuff with strength and endurance."

Kazuo glanced up, his eyes reflecting a hint of curiosity. "I'm good for now, thanks. Besides, I'm sure teach will get mad if I do." He then casts his gaze to the far right, where Aizawa is glaring at their interaction.

Kirishima's smile faltered slightly in both confusion and disappointment, but remained friendly. "Alright, if you want to join us later, feel free to."

As Kirishima rejoined his group, Kaminari watched Kazuo with growing intrigue. He dully noted Bakugo's glare in Kazuo's direction when Kirishima comes back without the boy. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to Kazuo's demeanor than mere aloofness. He was sharp. More than sharp. His eyes twitched with every motion presented to them, observing, observing, observing. The mystery surrounding him only deepened with each passing moment.

The day continued with a series of classes, each providing a glimpse into Kazuo's interactions. In hero studies, Aizawa presented various scenarios and challenges. Kazuo listened attentively, though he remained quiet, offering no hints about his own abilities. That's another thing Kaminari couldnt help but notice. His presence was a stark contrast to the usual dynamic of the class.

Perhaps, it's just an HPSC thing.

After all, he recalled Hawks being somewhat similar.

At lunch, Kirishima tried again to include Kazuo in their plans. "Hey, Kazuo, we're heading out for lunch. Want to come with us?"

Kazuo looked up, his eyes thoughtful. Kaminari joined him this time. He realized the boys eyes looked like they were almost glowing when he thought. "Thanks, but Aizawa-sensei told me to meet him in the teacher's lounge for lunch." Kaminari tried not to wince. Aizawa-sensei won't even let him have lunch?

Cruel.

Aizawa really, really, had something against the HPSC.But it's not as if that's the boys fault, right?

Kirishima's offer was met with polite refusal, though he didn't seem discouraged. "Alright, if you need anything or change your mind, we'll be down in the lunch room!"

As Kazuo remained in the classroom, Kaminari and his friends discussed their new classmate. "What do you think his quirk is?" Kaminari asked, genuinely curious.

"Not sure," replied Kirishima. "He's been really quiet about it."

"He's kinda dark. It's sort of hot, don't you think?" Ashido, ever the romantic, fluttered her eyelashes. "Maybe that's his quirk?"

Sero snorts in vague amusement. "I'm not sure about that. Why would he be connected to the HPSC if that were the case. Its gotta be something cool!"

Ashido rolls her eyes. "Not all quirks have to be cool Sero. I mean, look at you!"

"Hey! I take offense to that!"

"Well, whatever it is, he's pretty impressive," Kaminari added. "I mean, he's here from the HPSC. That's gotta mean something." Bakugo only grunted.

"Well, reagrdless of that, dude is just guaranteeing himself a future with no friends at this rate." Sero was still frowning from Ashido's taunt, though there was no hostility in his words.

Throughout the day, Kazuo maintained his reserved demeanor. In the afternoon class, Aizawa assigned a group project. Kazuo was placed in a group with Kaminari, Kirishima, and Ojiro. Kaminari was silently thankful that Bakugo wasn't in this group. He had a feeling he would've caused a ruckus with the new kid. As the students gathered to discuss their project, Kazuo's presence remained subdued.

Kaminari tried to engage Kazuo in the group discussion. "So, Kazuo, what's your take on the project? Any ideas?"

Kazuo glanced up briefly. "I think we should focus on practical applications."

"Sounds good," Kirishima replied, trying to gauge Kazuo's level of involvement. "Do you have any specific suggestions?"

Kazuo's response was minimal. "Not at the moment. I'll think it over."

The group continued to work on the project, with Kazuo participating but remaining somewhat detached. His contributions were brief but insightful, adding a layer of depth to the project. Despite his aloofness, it was clear that Kazuo was highly capable.

As the day drew to a close, All Might made his customary visit to check on the students. His cheerful demeanor and bright personality lit the room up with joy, despite his sickly appearance. His worsened condition after Kamino Ward did nothing to stop him from checking in on his students. "Good afternoon, Class 1-A! How's everyone holding up?"

The students responded with enthusiasm, though Kazuo's acknowledgment was a subtle nod. All Might's energy filled the room, but Kazuo remained a calm, composed presence in the background.

As the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Kazuo packed up his things with deliberate efficiency. Kaminari watched as Kazuo made his way to the door, his movements calm and measured.

"Hey, Kazuo, see you tomorrow!" Kaminari called out, hoping to establish some semblance of friendship.

Kazuo turned slightly, offering a brief nod. "See you."

Kaminari and his friends headed out, discussing their day and their new classmate.

The mystery surrounding Kazuo Kuroda remained unsolved.

The next few days followed a similar pattern. Kazuo's interactions were minimal, though he consistently demonstrated a keen intellect and impressive skills during practical exercises. His presence continued to spark curiosity among the students.

As the days passed, Aizawa's coldness toward Kazuo persisted, though the reason remained unclear to the rest of the class. Kazuo's ability to maintain his distance and the subtle tension between him and Aizawa added to the classes sense of intrigue.

Nobody noticed the braclet around his wrist, a line of glowing blue circling its entirety.