Payback (Hiatus)

Chapter 23 (EDITED)

"All right. Whoever comes in last place in all eight tests will be judged to have no potential and will face expulsion," Aizawa announced.

"HUH?!"

"We're free to do what we want about the circumstances of our students," Aizawa stated, pulling his hair back and smiling. "Welcome to U.A.'s hero course!"

Izuku observed the rest of the class. Bakugo appeared excited, Todoroki seemed indifferent, and the others looked serious and determined.

Just as had happened in his first life, Uraraka argued with Aizawa about the expulsion rule. She couldn't believe that simply being in last place would lead to expulsion, especially on the first day of school. She called it unfair, to which Aizawa provided his response.

"Natural disasters, major accidents, and selfish villains," Aizawa explained, "calamities whose timing and location can't be predicted. Japan is riddled with unfairness. Heroes are the ones who reverse those situations."

"For the next three years, U.A. will do everything it can to subject you to one hardship after another. Go beyond. Plus Ultra. Overcome it with all you've got," Aizawa emphasized.

Izuku couldn't help but feel tired of hearing that catchphrase.

"This is too serious to be hazing," Iida remarked, taking out a drink and sipping it. "However, this is the best of the best. There's no choice but to do it."

"This isn't all I've got," Bakugo thought to himself.

"All right, demonstration's over. The real thing starts now," Aizawa concluded.

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The results were out, and Izuku had obviously secured the first place. Todoroki, Bakugo, Iida, Tokoyami, and the others followed suit in the rankings. It wasn't much of a surprise to Izuku that Mineta had placed so low. He couldn't help but wonder how Mineta had even managed to get into the hero course. While his quirk was useful and he surprisingly intelligent, his unruly behavior was hard to ignore. Then again, the teachers hadn't done much to address Bakugo's attitude either.

Izuku looked at Mineta, who appeared as if his soul had left his body. He couldn't blame him, as he'd had a similar reaction.

"By the way, I was lying about the expulsion," Aizawa announced.

Izuku simply stared at him, knowing that it wasn't the whole truth. All Might had told him about the time Aizawa had expelled his entire class, which made him grateful that Aizawa hadn't done the same to him before. Aizawa must have believed that Izuku had potential, which was why he spared him.

The class stared at Aizawa in disbelief.

"It was a rational deception to draw out the upper limits of your quirks," Aizawa explained.

"WHAT?!"

"Of course, that was a lie. It should've been obvious if you just thought it through," Momo pointed out.

"Oh, Momo, if only you knew the truth. You'd be shocked as well," Izuku thought.

"I didn't notice," Jirou, Mineta, and Kaminari admitted to themselves.

"That was a little nerve-wracking, huh," Sero remarked, and Kirishima sighed in relief.

"I'll take up the challenge anytime!" Kirishima exclaimed, clenching his fist.

"With that, we're done here," Aizawa concluded and walked away. "There are handouts with the curriculum and such in the classroom, so when you get back, look over them."