For years, the Academy delved into the extraordinary abilities of the Ultimates, embarking on a groundbreaking initiative known as the Hope Cultivation Plan. This ambitious project was also referred to as the Izuru Kamukura Project, named after the visionary founder of the Academy. Recently, the researchers reached a pivotal milestone, advancing to the experimental phase of their work. Their focus shifted to the Reserve Course dropouts, whom they intended to use as test subjects, as their quest to artificially generate talent necessitated individuals devoid of any innate abilities. Among this group, Hajime was ultimately selected due to his profound admiration for Hope's Peak Academy, surpassing that of his peers. The Academy cunningly exploited Hajime's reverence for hope and talent, reducing him to a mere lab rat. They meticulously stripped away his senses, emotions, thoughts, and hobbies that could hinder the acquisition of talent. His past memories were ruthlessly buried deep within his mind, leaving him a blank slate. Through direct manipulation of his brain, the Academy reshaped Hajime into a completely new entity, one whose very essence revolved around talent itself. He was envisioned as the culmination of their research—a genius among geniuses, endowed with a multitude of talents, and bestowed with the name Izuru Kamukura in honor of the founder. Izuru emerged as a beacon of humanity's hope, earning the title of Ultimate Hope. To safeguard this rare gift, the Academy meticulously erased all traces of Izuru's true origins and identity. He was assigned "teachers" who indoctrinated him with the Academy's doctrine of the superiority of the talented. Mostly confined to dim, cramped spaces with minimal stimulation, Izuru was occasionally summoned by those who sought to harness his extraordinary abilities to inspire hope. Yet, he remained acutely aware of his role as a mere tool, his talents destined to be exploited. Now, he sits on his bed, idly bouncing a small ball, a look of boredom etched across his face.