Hero Name: Quake

The class erupted again.

"The exciting part is here!"

Midnight stood at the front of the classroom with a stack of boards.

"Time's up. Anyone who's decided can present first."

Kirishima stiffened. "We have to announce them in front of everyone?"

Mineta turned pale. "That takes courage."

Midoriya sweated over his board. "I still haven't decided."

Momo looked toward Yuto. "Have you chosen yours?" Yuto nodded. "Of course."

Ochaco leaned closer, eyes bright. "I want to hear yours, Yuu-kun."

"Wait for it."

Aoyama presented first, shining with his usual confidence.

Then Mina stepped up with an idea Midnight immediately rejected for sounding too much like a villain name.

Mina sighed and changed it to Pinky.

Tsuyu presented Rainy Season Hero: Froppy, a name she had apparently liked since elementary school.

Midnight approved with visible delight.

Sero chose Taping Hero: Cellophane.

Ojiro chose Martial Arts Hero: Tailman.

Kirishima chose Sturdy Hero: Red Riot.

Tokoyami chose Jet-Black Hero: Tsukuyomi.

Momo chose Everything Hero: Creati.

Hagakure chose Stealth Hero: Invisible Girl.

One by one, Class 1-A's future identities took shape.

Finally, Midnight looked at Yuto. "Yuto, you are the last one. If you are ready, come up and announce your hero name."

Yuto rose and walked to the front.

He turned the board around.

Quake.

The room went quiet for a second.

Then several students reacted at once. "That fits him way too well."

"Short and strong."

"It sounds like him."

Ochaco smiled. "Quake." Midnight studied the board. "Why that name?"

Yuto answered calmly. "Because a quake is something the world can't ignore."

The classroom went quiet again.

"If All Might is the Symbol of Peace, then I will become a hero no one can ignore."

Kirishima's eyes shone. "That's so manly."

Tokoyami folded his arms. "A name with weight."

Midnight smiled. "Then Quake it is. Make sure you become worthy of it." Yuto answered without hesitation.

"I will."

After class ended, a visitor from Class 1-B appeared at the door.

Ibara Shiozaki stood there with her green hair falling around her like vines.

"Class 1-B has been discussing something," she said. "After the Sports Festival, we believe Class 1-A and Class 1-B should hold a small get-together. Let old grudges fade before they grow into something ugly."

Several boys immediately brightened for reasons that had little to do with class unity.

Momo nodded. "That sounds nice. We're all U.A. Hero Course students."

Iida chopped the air. "Improving relations between classmates is a meaningful activity."

Mineta raised a thumb. "Wonderful idea."

Ibara looked at Yuto. "You will come too, won't you?"

Yuto shrugged. "If everyone is going, I will."

Ibara gave him a faint smile.

"Quake is a good hero name."

Then she left. That night, far from U.A.'s cheerful classrooms, Tomura Shigaraki sat in a dark room.

Across from him stood the man known as the Hero Killer.

Stain.

Shigaraki scratched at his neck. "So you're the criminal hero society still can't catch."

Stain looked at him with cold disdain. "You want me to join you?"

Shigaraki smiled lazily. "That's the idea. Come on, Hero Killer."

"What's your purpose?"

"Kill All Might. Destroy what I hate. And kill one brat who keeps ruining my plans."

Stain's eyes narrowed.

"You have no conviction."

His hand moved to his blade.

"Killing without belief has no meaning."

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