**Chapter 5: The End of the First Day**
The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the UA training field as the students completed their final three tests following the baseball throw. The air was thick with tension, each student acutely aware of the weight of their performance. Aizawa-sensei stood at the forefront, his usual disheveled appearance and tired eyes belying the sharp intensity of his gaze as it swept over the class. His presence alone was enough to silence the murmurs and restless energy that had been building throughout the day.
"Alright," Aizawa began, his voice calm but carrying an edge that demanded attention. "I've compiled the final results. Rather than showing each score individually, I've combined all the tests into one final ranking."
The students exchanged uneasy glances, their breaths held in anticipation. Izuku Midoriya stood among them, his hands trembling slightly at his sides. His heart pounded in his chest, a storm of dread and hope battling within him. Despite his relentless effort, he couldn't shake the sinking feeling that he had fallen short.
Suddenly, a large screen illuminated before them, displaying the rankings in bold, unyielding text. The silence was shattered as Natsu Dragneel, his fiery hair catching the last rays of sunlight, leapt into the air with a triumphant shout.
"First place! Hell yeah!" he roared, his voice echoing across the field. His grin was wide and uncontainable, his excitement radiating like a burst of flame.
Beside him, Happy, his blue-furred feline companion, floated effortlessly in the air, his tiny wings fluttering. "As expected of Natsu!" Happy chimed in, his high-pitched voice filled with pride.
But not everyone shared in the celebration. Katsuki Bakugo stood rigid, his crimson eyes locked on the screen. His name glared back at him from third place, a mere one point behind Natsu. His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and a low growl escaped his lips.
"One point again? Just like in the entrance exam?" Bakugo muttered under his breath, his voice dripping with barely restrained fury. "Is this one-point curse haunting me or something? That damn bastard..."
A few steps away, Shoto Todoroki stood with his usual calm demeanor, his heterochromatic eyes scanning the rankings. He had secured fourth place, four points behind Bakugo, while Yaoyorozu Momo trailed closely behind him in fifth. The cool breeze tousled his dual-toned hair, but his expression remained unreadable, a mask of quiet determination.
Further down the list, the reactions varied. Some students exhaled in relief, their shoulders relaxing as they realized they had avoided the bottom. Others, however, wore expressions of frustration, their jaws tightening as they silently vowed to improve.
And then there was Midoriya. His name sat at the very bottom of the list, a stark reminder of his struggle. His face paled, his green eyes wide with shock and disbelief. The memory of his broken finger, the pain he had endured to unleash his Quirk, now felt like a cruel joke. His chest tightened, and for a moment, he felt as though the ground might swallow him whole.
Before the weight of the moment could fully settle, Aizawa's lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
"Oh, by the way," he said casually, his tone light but cutting through the tension like a knife, "that thing about expelling the student in last place? That was just a lie to motivate you all."
The field erupted in a chorus of disbelief and outrage.
"Wait, seriously?!" Kaminari Denki exclaimed, his voice cracking with frustration as he threw his hands in the air.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Kirishima Eijiro added, his sharp teeth gritted in exasperation.
Yaoyorozu, ever the voice of reason, crossed her arms and sighed. "It was obviously a trick. If you'd thought about it for a moment, you would've realized that."
Kirishima blinked, scratching the back of his head. "Now that you mention it, I've never heard of someone being expelled on their first day."
"Does that mean all the stress we went through was for nothing?" Kaminari groaned, slumping forward dramatically.
Mina Ashido, ever the optimist, chimed in with a bright smile. "At least none of us are getting expelled! That's a win, right?"
Uraraka Ochaco, standing near Midoriya, turned to him with a wide grin. "Isn't that great, Midoriya? You're not getting expelled after all!"
Midoriya let out a shaky breath, his shoulders relaxing as a small, relieved smile spread across his face. "Yeah, you're right. That's... a relief."
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As the school day drew to a close, the students of Class 1-A began to make their way out of UA Academy, their crisp uniforms a stark contrast to the exhaustion and exhilaration etched on their faces. The campus, bathed in the warm hues of the setting sun, seemed to hum with the energy of their collective potential.
Natsu, as always, was a whirlwind of energy, his presence drawing others to him like moths to a flame. Walking alongside him were Kirishima, Kaminari, Mineta, Mina, and Yaoyorozu. Despite having known each other for only a day, their camaraderie was already palpable, their laughter and banter filling the air.
Mina and Yaoyorozu had taken a particular liking to Happy, with Mina cradling the floating cat in her arms as they walked. Happy, ever the charmer, purred contentedly, his tail swishing lazily in the air. Kaminari and Mineta, however, watched with barely concealed envy, their eyes narrowing as they muttered under their breaths.
Meanwhile, Natsu and Kirishima were deep in conversation, their voices rising with excitement as they compared their Quirks and shared stories of their training. Their enthusiasm was infectious, and even the usually reserved Yaoyorozu found herself smiling at their antics.
As the group turned a corner, they nearly collided with Midoriya, who was walking with Uraraka and Iida. Midoriya's bandaged finger, a stark reminder of his earlier struggle, caught Natsu's attention immediately.
"Yo, how's the finger?" Natsu asked, his grin as bright as ever.
Midoriya smiled back, though his voice was still tinged with exhaustion. "It's feeling better, thanks."
The boys fell into step with one another, their conversation flowing easily despite the day's challenges. Behind them, Uraraka and the girls chatted animatedly, their laughter ringing out like music.
Mineta, however, couldn't resist making a comment. "Man, your Quirk is terrifying," he said to Midoriya, his tone a mix of awe and disbelief. "If I had to go through that much pain every time I used mine, I'd never want to be a hero."
Kirishima gave Midoriya a thumbs-up, his sharp-toothed grin wide and encouraging. "The fact that you still push through it just shows how manly you are, Midoriya!"
Natsu nodded in agreement, his fiery gaze locking onto Midoriya's. "You've really got to figure out how to control that power of yours. I want to fight you at your full strength, but it'll be boring if you can't keep up."
Iida, ever the voice of reason, adjusted his glasses and raised an eyebrow at Natsu. "Is fighting all you ever think about?"
Midoriya chuckled nervously, but before he could respond, he noticed something was amiss. "By the way, Natsu-kun, are you going home without Happy?"
Natsu's eyes widened in panic as he frantically looked around. "Wait—where is he?!"
"If you're looking for the cat, he's with us," Mineta said smugly. He and Kaminari stood a few steps away, with Mineta holding Happy in his arms. The cat, however, had one of Mineta's sticky purple balls stuck to his mouth, rendering him temporarily mute.
Natsu blinked, then burst into laughter. "Hah! Looks like you made some friends, Happy!"
Happy, despite his predicament, wiggled his tail in response, though his muffled protests were clear. Kaminari and Mineta exchanged guilty glances, their earlier jealousy evident in their sheepish expressions.
And so, the first day at UA Academy came to an end, leaving behind a trail of excitement, exhaustion, and anticipation for what was to come. As Natsu walked away, his broad smile illuminated by the fading sunlight, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement for the challenges that awaited them. Tomorrow promised new trials, new victories, and new opportunities to prove themselves. And Natsu, ever the fiery spirit, was ready to face it all head-on.
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