Ch.62: USJ

The bus rolled to a gentle stop, its brakes hissing as the students of Class 1-A peered out the wide windows. A massive domed facility stood before them, unlike anything most of them had ever seen. It gleamed with a soft blue tint under the overcast sky—clean, clinical, and entirely out of place amid the otherwise wooded, private lands surrounding U.A. High.

"Whoa…" Kaminari leaned forward, forehead pressed to the glass. "This place looks like a theme park."

"It's huge," Yaoyorozu commented as she stepped off the bus with the others, her eyes drawn upward. "They really built this whole place for training simulations?"

Beside her, Jirou gave a small whistle. "Can't believe we're actually doing rescue training this early in the year."

Kael stepped off last, his expression unreadable, as usual. He took a moment to glance around. Yumi walked beside him, silent but alert, her hero costume shimmering faintly in the light. The past few days had weighed heavily on both of them. Voidflare had left for Brazil the morning prior, and the air around them still felt stretched thin with uncertainty. But neither said anything about it.

Aizawa stood ahead, his arms wrapped in his ever-present binding scarf, his tired eyes scanning his students with disinterest—or perhaps, a sliver of pride he didn't voice. "Get in line and quiet down."

The students obeyed, forming up in a loose group at the foot of the domed facility's stairway. From the entrance, a figure emerged—slender, clad in a space-themed hero suit, their helmet reflecting the cloudy sky. The words RESCUE HERO: THIRTEEN were printed in bold letters on the upper chest of the suit.

"That's Thirteen!" Mina whispered excitedly, elbowing Kaminari. "The Space Hero!"

"She's saved tons of people from disasters," Iida said, eyes lighting up with admiration. "She's a legend when it comes to non-combat Quirk applications."

"Correct," Thirteen said, raising one gloved hand in greeting. Her voice was gentle, mechanical through the voice modulator of her helmet, but oddly warm. "It's an honor to meet U.A.'s newest batch of future heroes. I've heard much about your class already."

Kael gave a subtle nod. He'd heard of her—many had. But her reputation as a pacifist intrigued him more than her power ever had. A hero who saved lives rather than ended fights.

"Today," Thirteen continued, gesturing toward the towering entrance behind her, "you'll be learning how to apply your Quirks in disaster relief and rescue situations. This facility, the Unforeseen Simulation Joint, or USJ, was designed to replicate every kind of calamity—from floods and fires to landslides and collapsed buildings. You'll be working in teams, guided by your instincts and your growing knowledge."

"Sounds intense," Kirishima muttered with a grin. "Man, I've been looking forward to this."

Thirteen turned back to the group, arms behind her back. "Remember: your Quirks are not weapons alone. They are tools. Tools that can bring hope, safety, and protection. Today, I want you to think less about power and more about responsibility."

Yumi smiled softly at those words, glancing sideways at Kael. He didn't say anything, but she could tell the words settled inside him like a stone dropped into still water.

"Where's All Might?" Midoriya asked, stepping forward. "Wasn't he supposed to be here too?"

"He's currently dealing with some other matters," Aizawa answered. "I'll be watching from the control room along with Thirteen. You'll be divided into pairs—"

Before he could finish, the lights flickered. A subtle hush fell over the group. The central plaza of the USJ—the large, open area just past the front doors—dimmed slightly, despite no one having stepped foot into the actual training grounds yet.

"What's going on?" Yaoyorozu asked, brows furrowed.

From the center of the domed room, something stirred. A crackle of unnatural energy slithered through the air, distorting the space in front of the central fountain.

And then—shkrrrk. A swirling black mist tore through reality, expanding outward in a pulsing circle. At its center, a hand emerged—long fingers clad in blue. Then another. A figure stepped out of the swirling vortex. And then another. And another.

"What is that?" Kaminari whispered.

The mist expanded, revealing more figures in strange, patchwork clothes. Dozens of them. And they weren't here for training.

"Those aren't training actors," Kael muttered, voice low and sharp.

Thirteen stiffened beside Aizawa. "No… those are real villains."

As if to confirm it, a low, cold voice echoed across the wide space.

"So this is U.A.'s finest?" said a tall man with hands covering his face, scratching at his neck in an almost obsessive rhythm. "Where's All Might?"

A shiver rippled through the students. The black mist churned wider, more figures stepping out—some dragging strange weapons, others smiling like they already knew how this would end.

Yumi moved instinctively closer to Kael. Even he had shifted into a tenser stance now, eyes narrowing as he slowly stepped forward—protectively.

Aizawa's usual stern calm had faltered. His scarf hung loosely at his sides, but his fingers twitched in preparation. His eyes scanned the scene, narrowing, calculating, his jaw tightening.

"This wasn't supposed to happen," he muttered under his breath.

Thirteen looked over at him. "What do we do?"

He didn't respond immediately. His eyes locked onto the group of villains forming near the fountain. Too many. Too coordinated. This wasn't just a scare tactic—this was an ambush.

He took a single step forward, shielding the students slightly behind him.

"Stay behind me," he said—low, serious. "All of you."

His gaze flicked toward Kael for just a fraction of a second—there was a weight behind that glance. Not suspicion. Trust. A silent message passed between them. Keep them safe.

"They knew we'd be here," he said grimly. "They planned this."

And though his tone remained steady, something behind his eyes finally cracked.

Worry.

Real, unfiltered worry. For his students. For what was coming.

For the fact that, just maybe—this was only the beginning.

…

Kael's body tensed the moment the black mist expanded. His instincts kicked in like a switch flipped. He barely registered the distorted voice over the sound of his heart pounding in anticipation, not fear.

"My name is Kurogiri." The man made of mist bowed slightly. "And we are the League of Villains. Pardon our intrusion… but we've come with a very specific purpose."

Kael's eyes narrowed. Purpose. That meant this really wasn't a random assault. They knew exactly what they were after.

Aizawa moved in front of the students, scarf uncoiling like a viper.

Kael stepped forward, voice low. "This was coordinated."

Aizawa's eyes flicked toward him. "Exactly. Which is why you're going to stay back and keep the others calm."

Kael gave a single nod. "Understood."

But before either could act further, the black mist surged violently across the floor, sweeping toward them like a living storm.

"Scatter them," Kurogiri's voice boomed.

Kael eyes widened and he instinctively reached toward Yumi, shadows flickering along his arms. Her hand was nearly in his grasp when the mist yanked him away.

"Kael!"

"Stay together!" he shouted, but it was too late.

Everything disappeared.

Darkness.

Kael's boots hit ground hard, knees bending to absorb the landing. He rose smoothly, eyes already adjusting. Around him stretched rocky terrain and steep forest ridges—the mountain zone.

He exhaled through his nose, slow and sharp. Alone.

'So that was their strategy.'

Not chaos—control.

He activated his Quirk without a word. The familiar weight of shadows gathered around his limbs, tendrils snaking outward to feel the terrain.

"Separate and isolate," he murmured, assessing the environment with quick, efficient glances. "Pick us off one by one. Tactically smart. But overconfident."

He scanned the tree line, listening.

No movement. No voices. Just wind.

He didn't call out.

Calling for help would give away his position. He didn't know who else might be listening or watching. Villains could already be on their way.

Kael rolled his shoulder once and adjusted the collar of his Hero suit. His face remained steady—expression unreadable. He checked the slope behind him, then picked a direction and moved. Fast. Silent. Intent.

He knew Yumi could handle herself. So could most of the class—if they stayed smart.

But if this really was a coordinated strike, then someone needed to start working the problem from the inside.

Kael moved deeper into the terrain without hesitation, shadow tendrils coiling tightly against his forearms like armor. Whatever plan the villains had, they made a mistake dragging him into it.

Because now he was part of the equation.

And Kael Ishiro never played defense.

…