Izuku imagines that in another life, he'd probably be more nervous than he is right now. It's his first day of high school after all. Most people would be a little anxious.

However, standing here, in front of class 1-A's intimidating door, he only feels calm. If not slightly curious as to what he'll encounter on the other side of that particular threshold.

If SAO taught him one thing, it was to always remain calm and cool in the face of uncertainty. Getting scared meant getting sloppy and getting sloppy meant getting killed. It's just the way that things worked. It was either, get emotional and make a mistake, or reign it in and stay focused. Survival at it's finest.

These days, he just had to remind himself that there were no monsters on the other side of these doors. There were only teenagers, and possibly one slightly angry homeroom teacher.

After the entrance exam, he'd gotten a long lecture from Recovery Girl about his reckless and dangerous behavior. Therefore, when he'd gotten a glimpse of the two pro heroes coming towards him in angry strides. He just made a run for it. Successfully managing to avoid them since then. Mic was used to his lack of self-preservation by now. However, Aizawa was not.

Izuku didn't want to go through that particular lecture. He shuddered at the thought. Aizawa could be scary when he wanted to. The man reminded him of Lizbeth when she got worked up about her equipment.

Shaking that thought away, he finally pushed the door open. Familiar voices immediately reaching his ears as he stepped into the room.

With a small sigh, he noted that Aizawa wasn't there yet. However, his momentary relief was cut short as Bakugou's voice rang through the room.

That was another interaction he wasn't looking forward to.

Nodding towards the occupants of the room, he made his way towards the desk adorning his name. He could practically feel the pair of eyes that were burning a hole through his retreating back.

Still, some people shot him a couple of glances. Some of them were even smiling at him or waving. He supposed that's what normal students did to make friends.

He couldn't bring himself to wave back though. He was a solo player and he always will be.

Everyone who got close to him ended up dead. He wasn't going to make that mistake again.

His mind wandered to his other friends. Yui hadn't been able to track them down without their real names. He figured it was for the best.

Yet, he couldn't help the slight sinking feeling that pooled in his stomach. The thought of never seeing them again made his heart ache. They were the only ones who understood. They lost him too.

His musing was interrupted as the blue-haired boy from the entrance exam entered his field of vision. The teen was as rigid as a board as he stood in front of him.

"Hello! My name is Iida Tenya! I must apologize for my actions before the exam! Your selfless actions that day proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that I had deeply misjudged you!" The boy- Iida then proceeded to bow to him, his posture displayed the perfect picture of respect and remorse.

"I- uh- " He fumbled slightly with his words. His bewilderment barely concealed behind his practiced poker face. "Sure..." Doing his best to smile back at the taller teen, he continued. "I'm Ki- Izuku Midoriya. It's nice to meet you Iida." The beaming smile he got in response made the whole interaction worth it.

Iida opened his mouth to say something, but whatever he was about to say was promptly overlapped by the bubbly voice that resounded from behind him.

"You're the ninja kid!" Iida moved to the side, the now visible girl gladly taking his place in front of Izuku's desk. It seemed trying to keep to himself wasn't going to work with these people. "You saved me from that giant robot! It was so cool! You were all like 'it's okay. You're safe now.'" Her hand cupped her cheeks as she squealed in excitement trying her harder to mimic his voice. Her movements vaguely reminding him of Komi when he spoke about Pina. "I'm Uraraka by the way!"

His introduction was once again interrupted as a familiar gruff voice spoke from the doorway.

"If you came here to make friends, I suggest you drop out. This is the hero course. You better take it seriously or leave." Tired eyes scanned the room, only lingering on Izuku for a couple of seconds. Satisfied with the student's attention, he continued. "My name is Aizawa Shouta and I'll be your homeroom teacher for the rest of your high school carreers." He drawled on, sounding bored and uninterested. His gaze, however, spoke of vigilance and keen eyes. "Hope you survive the experience." He finished ominously. The deranged grin he shot the class, made them gulp collectively. Everyone except Izuku, that is.

The swordsman was used to Aizawa's dark humor. It was actually quite endearing once you got to know the man. "Now, here are your gym uniforms" He pulled out two bags worth of clothes out of nowhere. Izuku vaguely noting the sleeping bag lying at the teacher's feet. "You have 5 minutes to put these on and meet me outside."

His classmates didn't need to be told twice. Most of them already out the door by the time Izuku got up from his seat.

He could feel Aizawa's eyes on him as he walked up to the teacher's desk.

"Hey, Eraser." He tried to come off as nonchalant, but Aizawa seemed to see right through him.

"Midoriya." Came the curt response. The man's eyes bore through him. His gaze meaningful, as he waited for him to say whatever it was he wanted to say.

"Look, I know I'm supposed to act like I don't know you, but I just wanted to say I'm sorry. For... you know... avoiding you after the exam and everything." He didn't break eye contact as he waited for Aizawa's response. The man had become something of a big brother to him in the short time they had known each other. The hero's relationship with Yashi making it easier for him to open up.

Aizawa held his gaze for a while longer. Intent on making him squirm. Izuku wasn't about to give him that satisfaction though. These sorts of reactions were beaten out of him a long time ago.

After a moment, the man seemed to sigh heavily, exasperation clear in his posture. "Just stop being reckless Problem child. The stunt you pulled in the entrance exam was dangerous. Zashi was about to go down there himself if it continued any longer than it had."

"Do my ears deceive me or were you worried about me?" He couldn't help teasing the man. This was the only time he could act familiar with him, after all. Soon, they'd have to act like they were complete strangers. A wall would be formed between them under the professional guise of student and teacher.

Aizawa scoffed at that, looking as irritated as ever. Izuku could only smile harder in response.

"Go away, problem child. If I get there and you're not ready with the rest, you're going to have detention." To an untrained eye, Aizawa seemed to be angry. However, Izuku spotted the barely concealed smirk from a mile away, the man unsuccessfully attempting to hide it behind his capture weapon.

With a parting salute, Izuku grabbed his gym uniform and dashed behind the rest of his classmates. He wanted to see Aizawa's reaction when he got to the training ground before the rest of his classmates.

____________________________

The long sleeves of his gym uniform did wonders in covering his brand. The wrist band he wore safely concealed from prying eyes. If he wanted to have a normal high school experience, he'd have to hide his past.

For once, maybe he could be normal.

Shooting one last glance across the teen-filled room, he ran down to meet his teacher. None of them paid him any mind while he changed. Given that he was tucked in the far corner of the room.

If Aizawa was impressed with his changing time, he didn't show it. But Izuku knew the man well enough to notice the tiniest bit of change in his expression.

A few minutes later, the whole class had arrived. All of them showing different signs of apprehension and excitement for the exercise that awaited them.

"Now that you're all here, we can get started," Aizawa announced, his eyes raking through the crowd of students in front of him. "Today, you'll be having a quirk assessment test. This test will help determine your potential in terms of control and ability. You all will be doing various exercises, ranging from a fifty-meter dash, sidesteps, push-up to many other different physical exercises. You will be permitted the use of your quirks throughout the whole exercise as long as you don't interfere with the other participants." He drawled on, his eyes once again wandering over each student until they finally settled on Izuku's own. "Izuku Midoriya, you scored the highest on the entrance exam. Please step forward."

This came as surprise to Izuku. He'd gotten his acceptance letter a few weeks ago. All Might himself informed him that he'd passed with 60 rescue points and 65 combat points. However, what the number one hero hadn't told him was his ranking in the exams.

Ignoring the whispers that spread amongst his peers and the cursing of one particular blond-haired teen. He stepped forward.

"Now, Midoriya, do you remember your PE marks for the ball throw in middle school?" Aizawa seemed to realize his mistake a second later.

"No, sir. I don't remember." At that Aizawa just nodded his head.

"Well, this won't work then." He muttered slightly under his breath. "Bakugou, since you were ranked second. Please take Midoriya's place."

The blonde scoffed slightly, but followed through nonetheless. "Sixty-five meters Sir." He spoke without prompt.

"At your old schools, the use of quirks wasn't allowed to give students an equal chance at succeeding. However, you are in the hero course now. Being fair is irrelevant. Bakugou, take this." He proceeded to hand the teen a metered ball. "Step into the circle and throw this as far as you can. You can use your quirk however you see fit as long as you stay in the circle."

Bakugou seems to perk up at that. A smirk forming on his features as he stepped into place and got into a proper stance.

Retracting his hand back, he proceeded to launch the ball into the sky. Explosions propelling the ball further away. The display of firepower shocking the class into silence as they watched the ball soar through the sky. A trail of smoke following closely behind it.

Aizawa broke the silence by announcing the distance. A precise 705.2 m. "Knowing the full extent of your powers will help monitor your improvement and further your growth." He continued, completely ignoring the smirk adorning Bakugou's face as he stepped back into the crowd of students. "Either rise to your full potential or quit now. In fact, the person who scores last will be expelled."

The panic and fear was palpable now. The previous excitement that had settled between them was gone in an instant.

Izuku knew Aizawa well enough to know that he wasn't bluffing.

The first test was the fifty-meter dash.

Most of the class was in relatively good shape. Although a few of them had the advantage of suitable quirks. Iida's quirk, in particular, was meant for this kind of test. The engines on his legs boosting him into the finish line at approximately 3.04 seconds.

When his turn came, it was against Bakugou.

_____________________

Now, Aizawa knew, from what Yamada told him that Kirito was a powerful player in SAO. If not the most powerful.

He'd already gotten a glimpse of that strength during their training. However, today, he'd be able to actually get a semi-clear measurement of his powers. At the least, an idea of the power that the teen before him held.

He watched as Izuku stretched before the race. He saw him narrow his eyes in determination. Watched as his limbs seemed to tense for a moment.

If he hadn't already tried to erase Midoriya's powers before, he'd think that the slight, almost imperceptible glow that surrounded his body was a result of a normal quirk.

Yet, he knew better. Izuku was activating a skill. Something that normally shouldn't be possible outside of a video game. In their day and age, it wasn't so far fetched though.

The buzzer sounded for the start. Instantly, leaving a cloud of smoke behind him, Izuku's body blurred across the distance. The teen could be seen crossing the finish line only a few seconds later. 2.1 seconds. A new record.

Not wanting to acknowledge the slack-jawed expressions on his other student's faces. He quickly gestured for them to move onto the next test. Bakugou seemed to be holding himself back for some reason. As if he was physically willing himself not to confront the green-haired teen.

Making a note of that particular fact, he moved on too.

The next tests went similarly. Midoriya's powers were versatile enough to cover most of the hurdles in his way.

He wasn't classing first in every test, but he wasn't slacking either.

Shoji Mezo, the kid with the Dupli-arms quirk got the highest in the grip test. His strengths surpassing Midoriya's by a couple of kilograms.

It was Yaoyorozu Momo, however, who got first in the endurance running. Her creation quirk allowing her to wiz across the field in a literal motorcycle.

The standing long jump also had many students clearing the distance provided. Giving them a tied chance at first for the test.

Slowly but surely, he was beginning to see the potential held by this year's class. All of them had a strong grip on their powers. Most of them knew how to use them to their benefit in a versatile and clever way.

By the end, Aizawa had a fairly good picture of their futures. He'd never actually admit it out loud, but maybe this year's batch of students was different.

Finally, the last test came. The ball throw. Bakugou, having already taken it was standing aside as the rest gave it their shot.

Aizawa was pleasantly surprised as he watched Uraraka float the ball into the sky. The measuring device in his hand instantly marking a bold infinity as the score.

He was curious, however, to see what Midoriya planned to do for this particular test. From what he knew, his powers weren't going to give him more than a boost for his throw. For the key to this test was distance and not strengths.

Izuku took the ball and stood in the middle of the circle.

The kid seemed to take a moment to gather his wits as his gaze fixed itself on the object in his grip.

He watched in quiet fascination as a fire lit up in those usually blank green eyes. Determination once again set in the teen's features as he got ready to throw the ball.

However, instead of throwing his shoulder back to get a good distance in his throw. The kid proceeded to toss the ball in the air, right above his head.

It happened in an instance. As if you'd blink and it would be over. The ball flew high above their heads. But instead of falling back onto the ground. The boy flipped his body so that a fully powered and well-aimed kick propelled the ball into the sky once more. This time, sending it soaring through the clouds as he covered more than enough distance.

A beeping sound got him out of his shocked reverie as he gazed down and into the device in his hand. 690 meters.

This kid...

_________________________

The class huddled in front of the projection screen. Anticipation and anxiousness practically oozing out of them. The atmosphere was just as tense as it was when Aizawa first threatened them with expulsion. If not more.

Clicking the red button on his device, Aizawa watched as the screen lit up. Displaying the outcome to the students.

First on the list was Yaoyorozu. Followed closely Todoroki Shoto in second place. Both recommendation students were looking calmly at the screen. Aware of their skill and not at all perturbed by the outcome.

Third was Midoriya Izuku. Followed by Bakugou Katsuki in fourth place.

However, what most of the students were focused on was the last place ranking student.

All eyes were trained on the short purple-haired boy who looked on the verge of tears as he gazed at the screen in shock.

"I was lying. No one is going to be expelled today." He spoke before any real panic could ensue. "It was all a logical ruse to make sure that you give it your all in these tests." He grinned in satisfaction as he saw the shock and relief washing over the students standing before him. Mineta, the purple-headed boy, seemed on the verge of fainting. Tears running down his face as he shouted in relief.

He was about to take his leave, but hesitated as he watched the explosive blonde make his way towards Midoriya.

An angry scowl twisting his features as he stomped his feet.

_____________________

"Deku!" The growl of his nickname behind him didn't really come as a surprise to Izuku. In fact, he'd be more surprised if Katsuki didn't react to his sudden show of power. "Care to explain what the fuck just happened?"

It was moments like these that Izuku noticed the change in his childhood friend. Noticed the subtle differences in the explosive blonde's behavior.

The old Kacchan would already be on him by now. Trying to beat the answer out of him.

Gesturing for Uraraka and Iida to go on ahead without him, Izuku turned to face the angry teen.

He made sure that none of the other students around were listening before he answered. His voice calm and leveled.

"My personality wasn't the only thing that the game changed Kacchan." He replied slowly. Knowing fully well that this vague answer wasn't going to satisfy the fiery teen. "However, I don't see how this is any of your concern, so I'll be going now. See you later Kacchan" He made sure to use the nickname to show that he wasn't looking to rile the teen up. However, cold and vague was his signature reaction to everything these days.

Instead of the explosive reaction he'd been expecting. The blonde seemed to scoff at his response. Hesitating a moment before cursing and stepping aside to let him pass.

Maybe, just maybe, Bakugou really did change while he was in the games.