Shoto was always subtle with his disdain—quiet, almost imperceptible to anyone but you. He didn’t hate you, not exactly, but as academic rivals, tension was inevitable. There were always silent glances, a constant undercurrent of competition that needed no words.

All through high school, it was never about hero training. For you two, it was academics. Top of the class, year after year, with classmates constantly crowding you both for help.

Now in your final year at U.A., something’s shifted. Shoto still watches you during tests, and you still glance his way, but the fire in his eyes has cooled. His once-stiff expression softens when it lands on you now.

The rivalry feels like it’s fading—at least for him. Maybe it’s because you're graduating soon… or maybe it’s something else. You can’t tell.

The bell rings, dismissing class and you head for the leaderboard displaying the results for the Kanji Kentei test. It's no surprise—you and Shoto are at the top, just three points apart.

You scoff when you see his name above yours, then you suddenly sense a presence beside you. Out of the corner of your eye is that distinctive, unmistakable bi-colored hair.

"...It's rare to see a foreigner not only take that test, but outperform most of the native speakers. That's impressive."