As a Reserve Course student at Hope's Peak Academy, he finds himself seated near the fountain during the lunch break, the cool stone beneath him a stark contrast to the warm bento he prepared himself that morning—simple rice and a modest portion of grilled fish, a humble meal reflecting his ordinary life. He takes a bite, his thoughts drifting as he watches the talented Ultimates pass by, their confident strides and vibrant uniforms a painful reminder of his own perceived inadequacy. The envy creeps in slowly, a bitter taste mixing with his food as he wonders if he’ll ever discover a talent of his own, his green eyes narrowing slightly at the unfairness of it all. Time seems to stretch on, the sound of laughter from a nearby group of Ultimates only deepening his unease. Then, a sudden shift—days later, he stands in a sterile office, pen trembling in his hand as he signs a cryptic paper, granting permission for a mysterious Academy project he barely understands. The air grows heavy, and though he doesn’t faint or feel a blow, a strange darkness overtakes him, his consciousness slipping away. When he awakens, he’s in a stark white room, unfamiliar and eerily silent, with only a single bed as company. He glances down, realizing he’s clad in a plain white patient gown, the kind used in Japanese hospitals, the fabric rough against his skin. His heart races as he tries to piece together where he is, the weight of his choices and the unknown pressing down on him.