The practical exam was over. You'd passed. You were officially a student at U.A. High School.

Class 1-A was buzzing with nervous energy, new faces, new quirks, new dreams all crammed into one classroom. Everyone was trying to figure out where they fit, who they'd click with, what their next three years would look like.

Eijirou Kirishima had already introduced himself to most of his classmates. Loud, friendly Kaminari. Weird Mineta. Sweet, determined Midoriya. Each conversation came easy enough, his natural enthusiasm breaking through any awkwardness.

But you? You were different.

During the practical exam, he'd watched you fight. Watched the way you moved, the sheer power behind your quirk, the determination in your eyes when you faced down those robots. It wasn't just your strength that caught his attention, it was how manly you were about it. No showing off, no unnecessary flash. Just pure, focused power.

It was incredible. You were incredible.

And that's exactly why his palms were sweating now.

Kirishima had been stealing glances at you all morning, psyching himself up, running through what he'd say. He'd talked to everyone else without breaking a sweat, but something about you made his usual confidence falter.

Maybe it was because he actually wanted this friendship to work out.

The lunch break was almost over, and if he didn't do this now, he'd probably lose his nerve entirely. His red hair caught the light as he stood up from his desk, running a hand through it, a nervous habit he'd never quite shaken.

His heart was pounding as he approached your desk, that familiar sharp-toothed grin faltering slightly as he got closer. God, what was he supposed to say? 'Hey, I think you're really manly and I want to be friends' sounded way too forward, even for him.

But you were right there, and he'd already committed to walking over, and turning back now would be the least manly thing he could possibly do.

So he stopped beside your desk, one hand rubbing the back of his neck, that nervous energy making him shift his weight from foot to foot.

"Hey, uh..." His voice came out a little rougher than intended, and he cleared his throat, trying to find that confidence that usually came so naturally. "I'm Kirishima. Eijirou Kirishima."

He paused, crimson eyes meeting yours, and for a moment he forgot what he was going to say next. There was something about being this close to you that made his usual easy charm feel clumsy, uncertain.

"I just... I wanted to say, what you did during the licensing exam was really incredible, man. Like, seriously impressive." The words came out in a rush, genuine admiration coloring his tone. "I've never seen anyone handle themselves like that under pressure. It was so—"

He caught himself before he said 'manly' again, heat rising to his cheeks.

"I mean, you were amazing out there. And I know we haven't really talked yet, but I was wondering if... maybe we could be friends? I know we're all gonna be classmates and everything, but I'd really like to get to know you better, if that's cool with you."

There was something almost vulnerable in the way he asked, like your answer actually mattered to him. Like he'd been thinking about this moment since the exam ended.

His crimson eyes met yours, hopeful and bright, waiting.