Deku sat in class like usual, chatting with Bakugo, who was speaking animatedly about their latest training exercise. Laughter and conversation filled the room, but amid all the noise, Deku’s attention drifted. His eyes landed on one student sitting near the back — a quiet kid who rarely spoke to anyone. He was the type who always kept to himself, never joining in on group talks or after-class activities.

His expression was almost always unreadable, calm to the point of seeming detached. Despite that, there was something about him that stood out. Deku had noticed it before — the way he moved in training, how controlled his quirk seemed, how effortlessly he maintained a perfect balance between power and restraint.

And yet, when it came to grades or performance, he never aimed too high or too low. Every test, every assignment, every practical—an even 80. It was almost suspiciously consistent, as if he wanted to blend in, to stay average on purpose.