[3rd POV]
Bakugo frowned. "That bastard thinks he's hot shit because he's strong, always putting minimal effort and looks cool. Tch."
"But strength isn't the only thing, the efficient use of his abilities are also important and I think he's doing a damn great job of it," Momo spoke out, telling her observations.
Iida nodded, adjusting his glasses. "Indeed. It's rare to see someone with such a tactical approach at this age. Many fighters rely on instinct or brute force, but Kaito's method is… unsettlingly precise."
Ochako looked between them, then at Kaito. "I dunno… he's strong, but do you think he actually cares about this? About being a hero?"
"I don't think he does, as far as I've seen. Coming here is not fun for him, too; seems like he's trying to prove something."
Todoroki, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up. "If he's trying to prove something, then to who?"
The room fell into a brief silence as everyone turned their attention back to Kaito. He stood near the monitors, hands still casually tucked in his pockets, watching the next match without a hint of excitement. It was like none of this mattered to him. Like he was just waiting.
"OKAY NOW! Why did the topic shift to why I came here? I came here just to be a hero. Nothing else, not proving anything to someone for sure, and I swear, if someone says that I'm getting defensive..." He sat down.
The group stared at Kaito, his sudden interruption catching them off guard.
Bakugo clicked his tongue. "Tch. You are getting defensive, dumbass."
Kaito exhaled sharply, closing his eyes for a brief moment. "And there it is," he muttered.
"Maybe. Even a random dog on the streets or a certain breed called 'Pomeranian might get defensive occasionally. '"
"SHUT UP, DUNCE FACE!" Bakugo exploded—literally, sparks crackling from his palms.
Kaito didn't even look at him, his smirk lingering. "Proving my point. What kind of an insult is 'Dunce Face'?"
All Might let out a deep sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Kaito, enough with the antagonizing. And Bakugo, control yourself."
"Sorry, sir. My bad." Kaito raised his hands, surrendering. I watched as Toru slowly approached me.
[1st POV]
"What now?" I asked her.
Toru hesitated for a moment before leaning in slightly. "Are you okay? You don't need to get angry. They are just words, right?"
I blinked, momentarily caught off guard by her words. "Me? Angry? You gotta be God to make me mad."
"Oh really?" She asked me.
"Yeah," I responded just moments before she pinched me.
"Ow!" I winced as she laughed.
"Are you mad now?"
I gave her an unimpressed look, rubbing the spot where she pinched me. "Silver star for that, but that was clearly pain. Not anger."
Toru giggled, clearly enjoying herself. "Suuure it was. Looked a little like frustration to me."
I rolled my eyes. "If that counts as frustration, then you must be mad all the time whenever someone bumps into you in the hallways."
She waved a hand. "Eh, maybe. But you act like nothing bothers you, so I had to test my theory."
I sighed, shaking my head. "And what's your conclusion, genius?"
She hummed, tilting her head. "You're definitely not as chill as you pretend to be."
I smirked. "Or maybe you just suck at reading people."
"I am just a chill guy," I told her, wearing a stupid grin as I put my hands in my pocket.
"You say that, but I bet I could find a way to actually make you mad."
I arched a brow. "Oh? Is that a challenge?"
"Maybe."
I scoffed. "Good luck with that."
She hummed in amusement. "Oh, I'm gonna enjoy this."
Before I could retort, a loud boom echoed through the training area, drawing everyone's attention. Bakugo was still fuming, sparks crackling aggressively from his hands.
"You damn extras done whispering over there?" he barked, glaring at us.
I waved a hand lazily. "Relax, Pomeranian. No one's plotting against you."
Bakugo twitched violently. "CALL ME THAT AGAIN, I SWEAR—"
All Might cleared his throat loudly. "That's enough. Focus on the evaluations, all of you." His tone was stern yet patient—probably used to dealing with Bakugo's temper tantrums.
With a huff, Bakugo dropped back into his seat, still grumbling under his breath.
Toru, meanwhile, nudged my arm. I put a shush sign on my mouth.
The rest of the evaluations continued, the room shifting back into a more focused atmosphere. But even as the others analyzed combat techniques and strategies, I could feel eyes on me—Todoroki, Iida, and even Momo stealing occasional glances.
They were still thinking about what I said earlier.
"You're making that face," she told me.
"What face?" I asked her.
"The face that you make while you're making a type of evil sketch or something." She told me.
"When did you notice that?"
Toru giggled. "Oh, I've been watching you for a while now. You do this thing where you look totally uninterested, but the second something catches your attention, you get this... look. Like you're plotting something."
I raised a brow. "And what exactly do you think I'm plotting?"
"World domination."
...
...
"Yeah, you should just shut up."
"Maybe I should or maybe I shouldn't." She giggled.
Toru hummed, clearly enjoying herself far too much. "But seriously, you look like you're up to something. Or maybe just waiting for the right moment to make your move."
I rolled my eyes. "You're reading too much into it. I just have a naturally scheming face, I guess."
She wiggled her fingers dramatically. "Ooooh, so mysterious. Kaito Arakawa, the brooding enigma of U.A."
"Please, I prefer 'the guy who minds his own business.'" I smirked, leaning back against the chair.
"STUDENTS! The trials are complete!" All Might announced.
Yeah, mine was the first, so I couldn't care to see the other matches. But I heard the Todoroki is doing pretty well. Maybe, he-
"Let us analyze the matches! Shall we?"
The first match being analyzed wasn't mine, which meant I could tune out for a bit. I wasn't particularly interested in the breakdowns unless they had something actually useful to say. But as I half-listened, I caught Todoroki's match being played on the screen.
He was efficient. Precise. Brutal, even. Ice covered the battlefield, his opponent barely able to move before Todoroki ended it. The match was over in seconds.
Momo crossed her arms. "Todoroki's quirk usage is incredible. His control over the battlefield is a major advantage, forcing opponents into a defensive position before they can even act."
Iida nodded. "Indeed. His strategic thinking is remarkable, ensuring victory without unnecessary effort."
Bakugo scoffed. "Tch. He didn't even use his left side. He's holding back."
Todoroki, who had been quiet up until now, glanced at Bakugo but said nothing. His expression was unreadable, though there was the faintest flicker of something in his eyes—annoyance, maybe?
"Still, a win is a win," Kaminari chimed in. "Not all of us can end a fight in two seconds."
I sighed, watching the footage. I already knew Todoroki was strong, but Bakugo had a point—he was holding back. That kind of restraint wasn't something I could afford in a fight, not if I wanted to win.
"Hey," Toru nudged me again, leaning in. "If you and Todoroki fought, who do you think would win?"
I smirked. "What, are we taking bets now?"
"Maybe," she said playfully. "Come on, answer."
"I'd win," I told her.
Toru blinked, then let out a surprised laugh. "Oh? Just like that? No hesitation?"
I shrugged, keeping my smirk. "Why would I hesitate? If I didn't think I could win, what's the point?"
"Now, shut up."
Toru pouted dramatically. "Aww, come on, at least give me some reasoning! What makes you so sure?"
"If I disable the law of thermodynamics, what's he gonna do?"
"Yeah, that's fair."
Now, my match was being displayed. Now, they had nothing to say as they had already said before. I was good, blah blah blah.
"Now that we've watched all the matches, who do you think had the most efficient use of their quirk?" All Might asked us.
I was the undisputed winner.
The screen played my match again, and even I had to admit—watching it from the outside made it look almost unfair.
No wasted energy. No unnecessary risks. Just control.
All Might cleared his throat, snapping everyone's attention back to the front. "It's clear that Kaito displayed the most efficient use of his quirk in these trials. His control over the pace of the battle was extraordinary—his ability to force his opponent into a losing position without expending unnecessary effort is something even professional heroes struggle with."
"Okay, that's enough about me. I personally think that Todoroki did a really great job, and I think he should be appreciated." I announced.
All Might nodded. "Todoroki did indeed display exceptional control, but remember—true efficiency isn't just about overwhelming power. It's about using your abilities in a way that maximizes your strengths while minimizing risks."
I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "Exactly why I think Todoroki deserves more appreciation. Dude wiped the floor with his opponent, and we're just glossing over it?" I waved a hand. "Nah, give credit where it's due."
Todoroki finally looked at me directly, his expression still unreadable. But there was something there—something almost like curiosity.
"...I appreciate that," he said simply.
"No problem." I smiled.
RING RING RING
The bell rang as the class came to an end. I had to attend the other classes as well now. Damn!
"Well, let's go now, okay?" I asked Toru. I was suddenly called by someone. It was Mineta, the purple guy.
"Kaito, thanks for back there. You gave me a lot of confidence."
"Yeah, no problem, Thanos. Just remember, perverts are gay." I told him as he nodded.
As we walked toward the next class, I felt another pair of eyes on me. Glancing over, I saw Todoroki staring again, his expression unreadable.
"What?" I asked.
He paused for a moment before speaking. "You meant what you said earlier?"
I blinked. "About what?"
"Giving credit where it's due."
I shrugged. "Yeah. You fought well. That should be acknowledged."
Todoroki studied me for a moment before nodding. "Thank you."
I waved him off. "No big deal."
The moment passed, and soon, we were seated in the next class, ready for another long day.
It's nice that we have maths now. Yeah, no one cares, or do they?
[Sorry, I had to pump out filler. But don't worry, we're getting payoffs to the second chapter in the next chapter.]