Who You Are | MHA/BNHA

you take the man out of the city (not the city out of the man)

However, their moment of balance restoration was abruptly punctuated by a loud exclamation from behind. "I am so sorry!!" a male voice blurted out, filled with evident embarrassment. [Name] swiftly turned their attention to the source of the voice. There stood a young man, sporting unruly green hair that brought to mind the lush vibrancy of a broccoli. Nervous green eyes were locked onto [Name] with a mix of concern and unease.

With a reassuring smile, [Name] waved off the young man's worries. "Oh! It's fine," they chimed, their expression aiming to convey that no harm had been done. A visible sigh of relief washed over the green-haired stranger as he realized that they were unharmed.

With a slight stutter, the green-haired boy introduced himself, "I-I am Midoriya Izuku!" His apologetic demeanor was unmistakable as he bowed repeatedly, as though trying to convey the depth of his apology. [Name] took note of his name for future reference, silently considering the possibility of becoming classmates. They were determined not to forget his name; it would be awkward to meet someone again and not remember his name.

"I am [Last Name] [Name]," [Name] replied with a warm, reassuring smile. They took a moment to emphasize, "Please, use they and them pronouns." It had become second nature for [Name] to specify their preferred pronouns during introductions. The discomfort of being misgendered was something they wished to avoid or the apologies given by people once they found out themselves of their pronouns.

Midoriya's response was somewhat tentative, "O-oh okay. He and him for me." [Name] noticed the tension ease from his posture as they lightly chuckled, attempting to dispel any lingering awkwardness.

[Name] nodded at his statement. It seemed to work, as Midoriya's expression became more relaxed, and a faint smile began to replace his earlier nervousness.

"I wish you the best of luck on the exam!" [Name] waved at Midoriya as they continued their journey towards the exam venue. They were in a hurry to secure the best spot, which, for them, meant somewhere in the back to minimize the attention.

Midoriya replied with a polite, "Yeah, you too!" His voice was somewhat soft, almost a whisper, and he trailed behind [Name], clearly deep in thought and perhaps a bit anxious about the impending exam.

Once inside the auditorium, [Name] chose an empty seat beside a boy with striking yellow hair featuring a distinctive black streak. Though they were aware of the boy's presence, their anxiety made them hesitate to initiate small talk.

As the minutes passed, the auditorium started filling up to the brim with hopeful students, the chatter around them growing louder. [Name] couldn't help but notice how some students engaged in casual conversations right before a crucial examination that could determine their acceptance into U.A. It was puzzling to them how these candidates remained so composed and talkative in such a high-pressure environment. Couldn't be them.

After a few moments, the lights within the auditorium dimmed, creating an atmosphere that seemed to stretch endlessly for [Name]. Their mind snapped back to the present as they shifted their focus to the front of the auditorium, where a spotlight illuminated a man with striking, spiked-up blond hair. [Name] couldn't help but release a small gasp as they recognized him as Present Mic.

"To all the aspiring U.A. examinees, welcome to my live performance!" the hero exclaimed, his charismatic demeanor aimed at alleviating the palpable tension that weighed heavily on the students' shoulders. "Now, how about a big 'Hey' from everyone?"

However, the audience remained silent, except for the awkward rustling of a few. The students felt really nervous, which entered the atmosphere as a whole and it made Present Mic feel a bit awkward. [Name] slumped into their seat, sharing in the collective embarrassment that the hero was trying not to show.