Chapter 47 is up! Luckily, this chapter didn't come after a six or seven month gap, but instead a more comfortable but still somewhat agonizing month and a half. Fortunately, this chapter is one of the longer ones, so you'll have plenty to read. Enjoy!

Several days had passed. For the students at U.A. High, each day felt longer than the last. They had all done their best to pour their efforts into their training and hone their ultimate moves. But without Kageyama by their side, many couldn't help feeling it was a pointless task. Could there be any real fulfillment, even if they all managed to pass the license exam when Kageyama wasn't there?

However, the students no longer had time to dwell on this, as the time had finally come for the provisional license exam. Their devotion to their training had pushed them very far, but now would be the day they would see what the fruits of their labor would bear.

Class 1-A had packed into a bus heading to the facility where the exam would take place. The last time the class had gathered on a bus was to go to the training camp, where the students were full of energy and excitement about this next step toward being heroes. Now, the students were silent, and the energy in the atmosphere had dropped to an absolute low. One aspect of it was the nervousness of this momentous day, having to fight against multiple schools with more experience and unknown Quirks. But for several of them, something far greater was weighing on their minds. Now that the day was here and they were on the bus, several were reminded that Kageyama wasn't there with them. Knowing him, he'd probably go through this entire exam with a deadpan expression and breeze through it as he'd always breezed through all these challenges. But it was both that strength and his kindness that many of the students had come to enjoy and rely upon. The knowledge that he'd be there to stand firm while serving as the moral compass that guided them. But now, instead of standing alongside them in this huge moment, Kageyama was still locked up in a maximum security prison. It was just wrong.

Kageyama's absence likewise impacted Mr. Aizawa on this crucial day. It was a reminder of his failure to properly handle the situation and his rash decision to expel the class. Not only that, but he'd already heard from Principal Nezu that Hawks had uncovered holes in Kageyama's backstory, forcing Nezu to reveal the esper's secret. If All Might didn't wake up soon, he couldn't imagine how bad things would get. This thought had been eating at him these past two days, only worsening his dour disposition.

"Get your things ready. We're almost there." The teacher instructed his students as they approached the arena. The class could see that several buses had already parked outside, and the students from the other schools were exiting. Once the bus pulled up, the students of Class 1-A followed suit and made their way out individually. Now, standing in front of the stadium, they felt themselves collectively shrink. They couldn't help but feel small in front of such a monumental challenge.

"I'm getting kind of nervous," said Jirou.

Mineta was nervously shuffling in his place. "I wonder what they're gonna make us do."

Aizawa knelt to look his student in the eyes. "Mineta, don't ask if you can. Say you will."

"Right. Sure. I've got this," Mineta replied.

"If you pass this test and get your provisional licenses, novice eggs will hatch into chicks. I expect your best."

The students of Class 1-A heeded their teacher's words but still found little reason for enthusiasm. However, enthusiasm was waiting right around the corner.

"U.A. HIGH!" From the right, a boisterous voice broke through the silence. The class turned to see who'd spoken just now. It was a student from another school. He was a tall, well-built young man with buzzed dark brown hair and black eyes. He wore a school uniform consisting of a white collared shirt, dark pants, and a blue and orange hat. "Man, it's so cool to finally meet you guys!"

From behind him, a group of students wearing the same uniform approached. One was a male of average height with short, purple hair. Another was a female student with wavy blonde hair and a feminine figure. The third was a much taller, more muscular student with hair covering his entire face and arms, the rest hidden underneath his uniform. "You know, it's pretty rude to so boldly interject like that, Inasa," the purple-haired student said.

"What? Oh, pardon me." Inasa clapped his hands against his waist and bowed, his head lowering enough to slam into the pavement. "I'm so, very, extremely sorry!"

"Who is this guy?" Kaminari said, "I don't trust his enthusiasm."

"Hey, look at their uniforms," Sero noted. "They're from that famous school on the other side of Japan."

"U.A. in the east... Shiketsu in the west..." Bakugo muttered. This revelation floored Izuku. He was well aware of Shiketu High's reputation, which was rivaled only by U.A. High School. He hadn't considered that such high-caliber schools would compete in the Provisional License Exams.

"It's an honor to compete against such incredible students." Inasa's jubilant expression briefly disappeared, and the excited smile across his face quickly dialed down to a neutral expression. "But it looks like Kageyama isn't here to compete with the rest of us."

The mere mention of Kageyama's name dampened the already dolorous students' spirits. Rather than have his students respond, Aizawa decided to speak on their behalf: "Unfortunately, Kageyama is still in the hospital."

"Yeah, I know. But man, his fight with All For One was unbelievable. I can remember exactly where I was when it was broadcast." Inasa's smile returned as the memory of the fight returned to him. "But more than anything, it was that passion of his. Even when the guy could barely stand, he didn't give in. He spoke from the heart, fought to the bitter end, and beat the biggest baddie our country's ever seen. I was really hopin' he'd be here today so I could tell him myself how awesome he was."

Several U.A. students couldn't help but smile witnessing others speaking so highly of Kageyama. It was a reminder of how his impact went far beyond the confines of their class.

"I'll be sure to let him know," Kirishima remarked.

"Enough, Inasa. Let's go." This time, Inasa heeded his classmate's requests and joined them into the stadium.

"Inasa Yoarashi," Aizawa said.

"Do you know that guy, Mr. Aizawa?" Hagakure asked.

"I do. He's the same year as you all and received the top score for students admitted through recommendations. But for some unknown reason, he turned down his acceptance to U.A. and went to Shiketsu."

"Wait, he's our age?" exclaimed Izuku. He glanced over to Shoto, who remained stoic as ever. If Inasa had been the top-scoring student among those with recommendations, he must have been even better than Todoroki. But if he was the top student, how come he turned down his acceptance to U.A. High, especially if he loved the school so much? It seemed like an odd contradiction.

"Eraser? I know that scowl anywhere!" When one group left, another joined. Eraserhead clenched his body at the sound of that voice. He knew it all too well. The students turned and saw a young woman with long, green hair waving to them.

"I saw you on TV and at the Sports Festival, but it's been a while since we were this close in person!" Several Class 1-A students were drawing a blank on who she was. Izuku felt she was familiar, but couldn't quite place his finger on it.

"Let's get married," the woman said. Aizawa gave a scowl before replying curtly, "No."

Rather than be discouraged, she let out a hearty chorus of laughter. "You're a real laugh-riot, buddy!"

Izuku finally understood who she was. "Oh, I recognize her," he said in a neutral tone. "She's Ms. Joke, the Smile Hero. Her Quirk is Outburst. It forces people to laugh, which affects their ability to think and prevents them from being able to move."

Tsu was surprised at the casualness with which Ms. Joke spoke to Mr. Aizawa. "It seems like you two are close," she remarked.

"Our agencies were near each other a while back," Ms. Joke replied, a light blush staining her cheeks. "As heroes striving to make a difference in the world, a mutual love bloomed!"

"No, it didn't."

"I do miss your quick retorts!"

Despite her attempts to lighten the mood, Eraserhead was having none of it. "Look, Joke, if you only came to make your little cracks, find someone else for your material."

"Whoa..." The heroine's smile quickly faded. Where did such an inimical attitude come from? "That was a bit cold, even for you. Matter of fact..." Ms. Joke perched her head to the side to get a look at Class 1-A. Practically all of them had deadpan expressions, each with their eyes staring off into different places as if they were in deep thought about a harrowing event.

"Looks like your entire class is down in the dumps..."

"Whoa, is that Class 1-A?" Before Ms. Joke could comment further, a group of students came walking from behind her. They all wore identical uniforms consisting of plain gray polo shirts and dark brown trousers. One of the students walking in front was a tall, muscular young man with shaggy black hair that stuck up in all directions around his head. Walking next to him was a young girl with short, ash blonde hair styled with two clumps spiking outwards on both sides of her head.

"That's them! It's so amazing! I've seen them on TV before!" the blonde-haired girl said.

Ms. Joke put aside her previous comment and decided to extend common courtesy. "Let me introduce my class. These're 2nd-years from Ketsubutsu Academy, Class 2."

The student with unkempt black hair approached the U.A. students and, to Izuku's surprise, grabbed his hands. "Hey, I'm Yo Shindo. With everything I've seen on the news, U.A.'s had it tough this year. It must've been rough for you guys, especially after Kageyama's huge fight." Shindo repeated his gesture to Jirou and Kaminari as he continued talking. "But even so, you're all still aiming to become pro heroes despite those hardships. It's wonderful."

Shindo stepped back, winking at the students while exuding an aura of jubilance. "Hearts full of fortitude! I believe that's what every hero in the world should have!"

"Enough with the act." While Shindo's kind demeanor surprised the other students of Class 1-A, Bakugo could see right through the persona he'd been using. "The look in your eyes doesn't match what you say."

The U.A. students expected Shindo to respond with a gasp or a pained expression. Instead, he smirked at Bakugo with a cold gaze. "Huh, you're not bad at reading people."

The students of Class 1-A looked at each other with confused expressions. So he wasn't a nice guy after all? Exactly what was this student trying to gain by playing nice and putting on an act? As they pondered this, Shindo decided to express his thoughts about things on his mind since the League of Villains attacked the training camp.

"I'm kinda glad that Kageyama's not here. Don't get me wrong, his fight was something else. But with him still in the hospital, it'll make this exam a whole lot easier. Guess the rest of the schools competing today all got lucky."

Several students, such as Izuku, Momo, Tenya, and Shoto, scowled at Shindo while staring daggers at him. Where did he get the gall to speak about Kageyama that way? Even if he didn't know Mob was in Tartarus, Shindo saw Mob's bravery and the pain he endured to win his fight against All For One. And now he was treating Kageyama's absence as some godsend?

Ms. Joke heard her student's comments and was irritated by Shindo's complete lack of class or consideration. "Hey, lay off, Shindo. Kageyama's a freaking hero. Don't talk about him like that."

"Hey, I'm just stating the facts." Shindo put his hands up as if he'd simply made an innocent comment. "It's not like he's gonna miss his chance to get a provisional hero license. I'm sure as soon as he gets out of the hospital, they're just gonna give him his provisional hero license right off the bat. They'd have to after watching his legendary battle."

Having said everything he wished to say, Shindo casually strolled back to the rest of his class, his smug expression still plastered on his face. Ms. Joke, however, felt it was wrong to leave the conversation on such a sour note, seeing that the U.A. students were visibly hurt by the mere mention of Kageyama's name.

"So you're all bummed that Kageyama's still in the hospital, huh. I get it: it must've been hard to watch him hurt so badly and not even get the chance to talk to him. But try not to let it get to all of you too much. He's gotta get outta the hospital sometime, and if you're lucky, maybe you'll get to show him all of your provisional licenses once he gets back to U.A. Now turn those frowns upside down, or I'll be forced to use my Quirk on you guys!"

The heroine's words soothed part of the ache within the U.A. students' hearts. She was correct: Shigeo had to get out of Tartarus eventually. There was no way the authorities could keep a lid on this forever without raising suspicions. And what better reward than to see all his classmates pushing forward and obtaining their provisional licenses?

Eraserhead paid little attention to Ms. Joke's words and reminded the students of their task. "Alright, enough. Get your costumes and head to orientation. There's no time to waste."

"Yes, sir," the class unanimously replied. Gathering their bags and any other belongings they needed, the students of Class 1-A marched into the arena. As they did, Kaminari and Jirou remarked on their class' popularity from the Sports Festival. Ms. Joke overheard this comment and came to a realization: Eraserhead hadn't told his class about their disadvantage. The heroine forced back a scowl: not telling his class was a rookie mistake. If U.A. High wasn't ready, their efforts in coming to this Provisional License Exam would all go to waste.

Marching toward the challenge ahead, Class 1-A made it to the stadium entrance. As they were walking, they saw several students from different schools, all wearing different uniforms and each carrying a different demeanor. A few students had already changed into their hero costumes and casually conversed with one another. It was another reminder of their competition in this provisional license exam.

Once they entered the stadium, the students marveled at the size of the stadium before them. The halls spanned as far as the eye could see, stretching around the stadium like an outer layer of protection. Inside the halls, many more students conversed with one another, this time with far more of those in hero costumes. Unlike many of the U.A. students, none appeared nervous or frantic for this exam, as if they'd been preparing for months to obtain their provisional licenses. Within only a week's training to improve the power of their Quirks, could they stand up to all these students?

Near the entrance, a receptionist pointed them toward the changing rooms and where the students would gather for orientation. But while the group was heading to the changing room, one member decided to separate from the others.

"You guys go on ahead. I need to purchase some snacks to stock up on extra lipids for the exam." The one to splinter from the rest was Momo Yaoyorozu. Seeing no issue with this, Mr. Aizawa allowed her to go while reminding her that the clock was ticking. Momo was grateful that no one else was accompanying her because she needed this brief time alone to sort through her influx of emotions.

Though she had tried to keep her feelings at bay, the mention of Kageyama by the others caused these emotions to resurface. It was now a week since Kageyama had gone on a rampage and been put into Tartarus. Endeavor had told Shoto that he'd try his best to get Kageyama out of prison, but given that a week had passed without any updates from Todoroki, it appeared Endeavor was limited in what he could do. That meant Kageyama had been deep inside a maximum security prison for an entire week when he should've been taking this exam alongside the rest of the class.

Momo went through her bag and grabbed her wallet. Inside it, she took out a picture of her and Shigeo in a photo booth. When the two of them had gone to the mall together, Yaoyorozu insisted they get some photos together in one of the photo booths stationed throughout the mall. It was something she'd never gotten the chance to try, given her upbringing, and she felt it was something people in their age group would typically do. After a significant bit of persuasion, Kageyama conceded and took the pictures. Momo's mouth curved into a smile: in this picture, Kageyama barely looked like he could crack a smile, and his entire face was flushed. Momo wasn't sure why Kageyama would get so bashful whenever the two were alone, but it was a trait that had eventually endeared her.

But when things got rough and it was time to take action, Kageyama always took the initiative. When the villains attacked the camp, All For One nearly killed her and the rest of the rescue group, but he didn't waver and stood tall against the challenge. It was that strength, both of body and mind, which Yaoyorozu came to admire and depend upon. But now it was her turn to show that determination in the face of this next obstacle. But could she do it? Would she be able to do this without him?

"My, you seem lost in thought." So focused on her thoughts and staring at her picture, Momo failed to notice the girl standing before her. She was a pale-skinned girl of a similar height to Momo. She had long hair that went down to her waist, with a color that mixed between lavender, baby blue, and pale gray. She wore a white, double-breasted blazer with a high collar and a gold trim that reached halfway down her thighs, along with a large pink bow at her neck, a dark blue long-sleeved shirt with matching dress pants, white gloves, and boots, as well as a white beret-style hat. Momo was unsure whether this was a school uniform or a hero costume; this was clearly a fellow student partaking in the provisional license exam. And the look in her bluish-lilac irises showed she meant business.

"You're Momo Yaoyorozu. For such an important event as this, someone of your abilities can't allow themselves to have their mind wander."

"Yes, I suppose that's true..."

"And what pray tell has got you so distracted?" Paying no heed to her privacy or personal space, the female student peered her head over to see the image that Momo was currently looking at.

"A picture with you and Kageyama? To take a picture like this must mean you're close. So you're daydreaming about your time together with Kageyama just before the provisional license exam?"

"I–" Momo struggled momentarily to find the words to respond with. She did not care for her attitude or any insinuations she had made. "It's irrelevant. Who are you, anyway?"

The teenager gave Momo a sly smirk. "My name is Saiko Intelli. I'm a second-year student at Seiai Academy. The rest of my peers have already gathered in preparation, but I thought I'd scout the area and get a good look at the competition our school is facing today."

The smirk across Saiko's face widened. "It's quite unfortunate that Kageyama can't be here to join the rest of us in this exam. I was looking forward to meeting him."

"Several others here have expressed the same sentiment," Yaoyorozu replied.

"And why wouldn't they? His performance against All For One was unreal." Saiko's eyes began to wander, reminiscing on the battle and its highlights. "His foe was a menace of unfathomable strength. But even when such a villain brought him to the brink of death, he refused to yield. He persevered, fighting with those brilliant, crimson eyes..." The heat on Saiko's cheeks began to rise ever-so-slightly, and it took a second or two to regain her focus.

"After seeing his heroism, I've become enamored with him." Momo felt her entire body tense up. Her grip on the photo tightened, inadvertently crumpling the paper. Did she hear this girl right? "Though I'd usually never focus on such emotions, given my Quirk and my school's reputation, I must admit seeing him in action stirred up something in me. I'd actually hoped to exchange contact information with him today, possibly arrange a date."

"Excuse me?" She finally found the voice she'd been struggling to find, and it was laced with an overwhelming sense of shock and confusion. "You're suggesting you want to begin a relationship with Kageyama?"

"And what if I am? Does he already have a girlfriend?"

"No, of course he doesn't!"

"Then I fail to see the harm. Since he isn't here and you're his close friend, would you happen to have his phone number that you could give me?"

A small pit of anger began to flare up inside her. She couldn't explain it, but seeing a random girl so casually come up and express the intent to ask Kageyama out frustrated her to no end. "I can't give you Kageyama's contact information. There's no way you could date him."

"Is that so..." Saiko observed how Yaoyorozu reacted to this line of questioning. It seemed Kageyama was a particular sore spot for her as if the mere thought of a girl attempting to court him enraged her. What could've triggered such a response from her? In an instant, the obvious answer came to her mind.

"Could it be that you're interested in him as well?"

"What?" A wave of heat flashed across Momo's cheeks, and she let out a squeamish yelp. Saiko's smug grin widened: it seemed her assumption had merit.

"So you'd hoped to tell him how you felt after witnessing his battle against All For One, too, I take it?"

"No!" Momo shook her head in fervent disagreement. Saiko was extrapolating far too much and making baseless assumptions about her complex relationship with Kageyama. "I harbor no feelings for him. I just believe as the Vice President of Class 1-A, I have a responsibility to my classmates. I don't think Kageyama is in the right space for a girlfriend after everything that's happened to our class."

"It's quite a stretch for the vice president of a class to make decisions about the emotional states of their peers," Saiko replied, clearly unconvinced by Yaoyorozu's line of reasoning. "Though even if you were interested in him, I think you would face quite a challenge in competition." Saiko widened her stance, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear while staring at Momo with cold, confident eyes.

"Whereas you're merely a vice president of your class, my classmates unanimously voted me as their class president. I stand as one of the top students at my academy with an IQ of 150 and a Quirk with unlimited potential. It's only logical that Kageyama would consider someone of my standing as a potential partner, wouldn't you agree?"

Momo refused to answer Saiko and merely returned her gaze with a look of frustration. Saiko wasn't sure what kind of relationship Yaoyorozu had with Kageyama, but it was clear that he was a weak point for the heroine. Perhaps there was a way to play that to her advantage...

"How about we make a friendly wager then?" Saiko took a step forward until the two were only three feet apart. Standing so close, one could feel the tension in the atmosphere, two top students of prestigious academies staring at each other face-to-face.

"If I manage to score more points than you on this exam, you give me Kageyama's contact information so I can ask him out on a date. If you manage to score higher than me or defeat me, I won't press on the issue, and you can press your luck to try a relationship with Kageyama." Saiko's last comment elicited another whimper from Yaoyorozu while her cheeks blushed again.

"Do we have a deal? If not, I could always ask some of your classmates for his phone number. Is that what you prefer?"

"No! I'll accept your offer!" The realization that Saiko could get Kageyama's contact information from someone else spurred this uncharacteristic response. Momo instantly covered her mouth with her hands, while Saiko let out an amused chuckle.

"Excellent. I'll see you on the battlefield." With a toss of her hair, Saiko turned her back to Momo and made her way back to the rest of her class. As she did, Saiko's confident smile appeared. This encounter had gone far better than she'd expected. Not only did she have the chance to get in touch with Shigeo Kageyama, but she also learned a great deal about Momo Yaoyorozu. She shared a deep connection with Kageyama, and his absence seriously weighed on her mind. Now that she'd introduced this wager and made her question herself about the true nature of that relationship, it would throw Yaoyorozu off her game. This would be child's play...

While Saiko bemusedly pondered the interaction and her overall strategy, Momo was still frozen, struggling to return to her usual self. What had happened just now? This was a key moment in her journey towards becoming a hero, where she needed to be at her top game. And yet when Saiko suggested getting Shigeo's phone number, she reflexively responded and accepted her proposal. What caused her to react so hastily?

Saiko misunderstood Momo's relationship with Kageyama, just as her friends had misunderstood during the slumber party back at the training camp. Kageyama was nothing more than a close friend. She was being honest when she said Kageyama wasn't in the right space for a relationship and merely wanted to offer him emotional support. It's what drove her to try and rescue him, to be there for him when he was alone and terrified. So what was the explanation for that pit of fire she felt deep in her stomach at the thought of Saiko wanting to ask Kageyama out on a date?

Momo shook her head. She didn't have time to dwell on her thoughts or her relationship with Kageyama. She needed to find a vending machine and grab whatever snacks she could to consume before the exam began. Momo had to remember what was important: passing this exam so that when Kageyama returned to U.A. High, he could see her and the class stayed strong and persevered just as he would've wanted.

The time for the exam had come. Now changed into their hero costumes, the students from across Japan were all gathered within a large room where the introductions would take place. Unlike previous years, there were far more applicants from multiple school districts. Many of the hero classes within the school districts had been inspired by Kageyama's bravery. Witnessing him prevail against such a powerful opponent at such a young age made several hero students believe they could make their mark in the pages of history.

Many in the room had a simultaneous sense of excitement and anticipation. They each exchanged glances with one another, trying to get a sense of whether they were alone in their feeling or if this uneasiness gripped the hearts of every student in the room. This was a very large step for them. For some, it was the last chance they had to get their provisional licenses. To make it worse, with so many students participating, it was likely that a large chunk of them wouldn't be passing this exam. That only put greater pressure on them, feeding into their anxiety and creating a loop they found difficult to break.

Sitting at a wide desk at the end of the room were workers from the Hero Public Safety Commission (HPSC). Above the desk was a large television monitor that would be used to help explain the provisional license exam. At the center of the desk was the HPSC worker who was in charge of managing this exam. He wore a formal black shirt with a white undershirt and black pants, and had short, beige hair that barely reached his chin. His most obvious feature was the large bags underneath his eyes. With the few officials in his division, he was forced to work overtime and had practically no chance for sleep. Even now, he was running on fumes and felt close to passing out.

"Ok then, let's do this exam thing. I'm from, uh... the Hero's Public Safety Commission. Name's Mera..." His head drooped down, his tiredness threatening to overcome him. "My circadian rhythm's all messed up. Might have to call a worker and ask them to grab me a cappuccino..." Several in the audience let out short, nervous chuckles. Maybe they should've had someone else handle the Provisional License Exam...

Mera shook his head and did his best to fight against the drowsiness, hard as it was. "So, about the content of this license thing. Basically, 1540 examinees compete in a free-for-all exercise or whatever we're calling it this year. See, we've got a lot of pros around, and since Stain was arrested, many have expressed doubts about the status of heroes in our society. But when you think about it, why shouldn't you ask for compensation if you're risking your life for someone? Regardless of whether they're in it for compensation or out of a sense of duty, we've got too many heroes working together in the streets. Then there's the new star of hero society, Shigeo Kageyama."

Hearing his name elicited a wave of whispers in the room. They weren't sure whether Kageyama would be mentioned, but now that he was, they were all curious to hear what the HPSC had to say about him. Those close enough to Mera could see that his eyes had widened, his expression more serious as if what he would say next was critical. "As I'm sure you're all aware, Kageyama was kidnapped by the League of Villains and fought a battle against their leader, which he won. He's gonna make a big difference in our society, and I'd bet a lot of you are here today cuz you wanted to follow his example. But that's easier said than done. Honestly, the time between when an incident begins and when it's resolved is ridiculously low. With Kageyama stepping up, that time frame is going to be even shorter, and you all will get swept up in it. That means the people here who don't have the speed or the skill to keep up frankly just won't cut it, which is why that's what you'll be tested on."

The monitor changed images, showing the number of contestants who would pass the first exam, and the students felt their bodies collectively tense up.

"The first hundred students to fulfill the requirements will move on to the second round," Mera said.

Many members of Class 1-A furrowed their eyebrows in fear. Mr. Aizawa told them that about half of the students today would pass. However, with 1,540 and only 100 spots open, less than 10% of the students would make it to the second round. Class 1-A was competing with 19 students; were they skilled enough to make it into that 10%?

"Like I said, a lot's happened out there in the world, so standards are rising. Anyway, I'll explain the requirements." Mera grabbed an orange ball about the size of a baseball and a target. On the screen, an image of a stick figure was displayed. "The examinee will put three of these targets on his or her body. They can be placed anywhere as long as it's an exposed area. That means you can't put them on the soles of your feet or in your armpits. You will also have six of these balls. The targets will only light up if they're hit by these balls. If all three targets are hit, you're out. Someone who lights up an opponent's third target will have it count as a defeat. You get through this round by defeating two people. That's about it for the rules."

Listening to the rules, Izuku leaned over and spoke to Kirishima, Uraraka, and Yaoyorozu. "These rules sound similar to the Entrance Exam, though I guess going up against people is a lot different than robots."

"I'd argue this is far harder than the Entrance Exam," Yaoyorozu replied, "We only have six balls, just enough to pass. But it also means you can't afford to make any mistakes when you throw the balls."

Kirishima let out a harsh chuckle. "With Kageyama's telekinesis, that wouldn't be an issue. It'd probably only take him five seconds to hit all six targets."

Uraraka nodded. "No question about it," she replied. All four briefly lowered their heads. While his powers would make this section of the exam a cakewalk, they knew this was a challenge for them and them alone. Members of the HPSC came from the desk carrying boxes with the targets and the balls.

"After we open, we'll pass out the targets and balls. Then, we'll start one minute after everyone's gotten their equipment."

Many in the room gave Mera a puzzled look. What did he mean by open? To answer their question, the walls and the ceiling began to open up. It was like they were in a box that was being unfolded. With the walls and the ceiling now down, the unobstructed view allowed them to see where they would be conducting the exam.

It was far beyond anything they had been expecting. The stadium had a plethora of different landscapes, including a forest with a waterfall, two miniature mountains, an urban city, a highway bridge, and an industrial factory. Deku noted that it was very similar to the U.S.J. but found it rather excessive for this exam.

"Yes, I know, it makes for a great reveal. But for what?" Mera placed his hand over his forehead in exasperation. "So much sleep loss... Anyway, use your Quirks, do your best, all that stuff... I'm going to rest my eyes for a bit."

While Mera's tone was one of tired indifference, the students knew they only had a minute left to spread out and make a formation. With lightning speed, all the schools sprinted out of the room and into different zones within the arena. As the students were doing this, their homeroom teachers were all watching them from the stands. Eraserhead and Ms. Joke were seated beside each other, with just two seats separating them. But as they sat together, Eraserhead noted Ms. Joke's neutral expression. Whenever the two of them reunited, she would always be making obnoxious jokes and irritating him to no end. But now, there was only silence and a look of concern.

"You're awfully quiet," Aizawa said, "Aren't you going to make a ridiculous pun to tick me off?"

"Normally, I would, but like I said, you seem even more gloomy than your usual self. Even a comedian like me's got standards for when I use my material." The heroine continued gazing at her fellow hero and pondered the cause of his pain. "Is the aftermath of Kageyama's battle impacting you that much? You looked fine, or at least more like your usual self, during the U.A. press conference. So what was so bad about Kageyama having to fight? I mean, I get it must suck seeing a star student like him get beaten up so badly after having given himself up to the League of Villains, but come on, the kid was incredible. He won cuz he knew his friends and homeroom teacher were out there rooting for him. He literally quoted you during his big speech. You oughta feel proud knowing he lived cuz of your guidance."

Aizawa's gaze went to Fukukado. Her eyes and words expressed a sincere earnestness that he never expected from her. Aizawa sighed, leaning his body forward while gazing at the ground. "With everything that's been going on, I'm worried that Kageyama might not get out of the hospital as his usual self. Like I said at the press conference, Kageyama's had to endure pain you'd never imagine to make it to U.A. High. Eventually, the kid's gotta reach a breaking point, and I'm worried he might've reached it after that battle with All For One."

"Oh..." Eraserhead's words were a harsh reminder of the trauma those kids must have experienced after all the League of Villains had done this year, and unfortunately, her power could do nothing to remedy that.

"Is that..." While the two homeroom teachers were conversing with each other, another pro hero was coming in from the stairway. The HPSC members stationed in the stands felt themselves jolt backwards as this man walked in front of them. Eraserhead and Ms. Joke picked up the faint scent of flames and quickly turned to see its source. To their shock, it was the number two hero descending the stairs.

"Endeavor?" Fukukado gasped.

"Good afternoon." Rather than standing in a corner and silently watching as usual, Endeavor decided to sit in the row about Aizawa and Fukukado.

"I didn't expect you to come to an event like this," Eraserhead said. "Isn't your schedule always busy?"

"Well, I decided to move some things around to come here."

"Oh, I getcha. You wanted to watch your kid."

The old Endeavor would have tried to angrily deny her statement or make some other excuse to explain his presence. But here, the hero merely nodded in confirmation. This was another one of his attempts to support Shoto. From the parenting books he had been reading and his conversation with Kageyama, he realized the best way to mend his relationship with his family, or at the very least Shoto, was to be there for them during their big moments. For Shoto, this was a large step in his path towards becoming a hero, and Endeavor wanted to show his son he supported him. Hopefully, his presence wouldn't hinder his son's performance.

"Well, you made it in the nick of time," Ms. Joke continued. "The students all have one minute before the exam officially starts. Most of the other classes have already run off, but it looks like U.A. High is still staying in the center."

In the arena, Deku analyzed the format of this exam and the best strategy for it. If the first people to finish win, no one would go after their classmates. That meant the best strategy was to team up with people whose Quirks they were already familiar with.

"Everyone, stick close together! We'll fight them as a group!" Deku yelled.

"Yeah, right!" As usual, Bakugo fiercely rejected Izuku's suggestion and the idea of relying on a team of people to help him. "This isn't a field trip!" Bakugo turned and made his way to the urban district.

"Idiot! Wait up!" Kirishima, perhaps Bakugo's only friend in Class 1-A, decided to accompany the fiery teenager and ensure he didn't get himself into trouble. Kaminari, who was close friends with Kirishima, acted on impulse and decided to join the two.

"Kacchan!"

"I'm going on my own, too." Deku had somewhat anticipated that Bakugo would be resistant to a plan and stick to his own strategy, but he couldn't believe Shoto was following Bakugo's lead. "It's hard for me to use my powers safely when a big group's around."

"Todoroki!" Izuku tried to reach out and stop Shoto from parting with the group, but Mineta insisted otherwise.

"Midoriya, there's no time! Let's go!" Deku knew that Mineta was right. Trying to get through to them or explain his reasoning for sticking together as a group would only give their enemies more chances to sneak up on them. So, leading Class 1-A, Izuku began his sprint into the arena, bracing themselves for whatever lay in store.

As the majority of Class 1-A sprinted into the heart of the enemy territory, Shoto Todoroki was trying to figure out the best sector for him to enter. For now, he would need an area with plenty of cover to allow him to hide, wait for other schools to arrive, and then take them by surprise. That also meant he couldn't allow himself to be taken by surprise. So he constantly kept his eyes peeled, turning his head to every corner. But his eyes quickly caught sight of something bright orange in the stands, like a flame. Shoto immediately stopped in his place. Did that mean...

Shoto turned to the source of the flames, and while it was a bit far away, he could tell it was his father. Of the many things he'd been preparing for today, his father being there wasn't one of them. Endeavor always expressed disinterest in being there for his activities. The Sports Festival was the exception, and even then, it was out of his selfish desire to see Shoto stand at the top and use his flames. So why was he here now?

The number two hero saw his son stop to stare in his direction. Endeavor made a short leap to the front of the stands to get as close as possible to Shoto. Enji needed to let his son know that he'd come to support him, to show he cared about his future and not just the future Endeavor had planned for him. Standing at the edge of the stands, Endeavor reached his hand out and gave his son a thumbs-up.

Squinting his eyes to see what his father was doing, Shoto's eyes immediately widened once he saw his father's thumbs up. That gesture... never once in his life had Endeavor given it to him. It was always training, reprimands, and reminders of his purpose of surpassing Endeavor to become the top hero. Here, he sensed none of that. His father had truly come to this exam to be there for Shoto.

Without realizing it, a smile split across Shoto's face. Feeling the smile helped bring the teenager back to his senses. As nice as his father's gesture was, he couldn't afford to stand there and reflect on Endeavor's behavior. He needed to focus on passing the first stage of this exam. Then perhaps he could show his Endeavor his provisional hero license in person. That didn't sound too bad...

Once Shoto continued his sprint through the arena, Endeavor jumped back to his seat to patiently observe the rest of the exam. Seeing his display of affection, Ms. Joke couldn't help but chuckle.

"Never expected that outta you," she said. "It's a way different tune than the one you sang at the Sports Festival."

"I was... a different man back then," Endeavor replied. "Now I will do my best to support Shoto and help him pass this trial."

"Well, it might be easier said than done," Ms. Joke replied. "Even with your son's awesome Quirk, he and the rest of Class 1-A come at a pretty big disadvantage."

While the female hero was speaking, Izuku and the rest of the class were heading into the mountainous region of the stadium. While running, Izuku began expressing his concerns, for he had already realized the disadvantage Ms. Joke was speaking of.

"I don't think it's a good idea for them to go off on their own," he said.

"How come?" Mineta asked.

"Think about it: everyone already knows what powers we have."

Uraraka was listening but was a bit slow to see where Izuku was going with this. "They did research?"

Iida, on the other hand, was aware of what his friend was talking about. "I see. The Sports Festival."

Back in the stands, Ms. Joke was continuing her explanation, a confident and nominally condescending attitude in her voice. "Most students who compete in the exam have pretty equal footing, except for one school. U.A. comes in at a severe disadvantage. Because the top school's sports festival is broadcast across the country, showing off not just their Quirks, but their fighting styles and weaknesses, too." The heroine let out a brief chuckle. "If Kageyama were competing, that wouldn't make a difference since his Quirk is ridiculously overpowered. But the rest of your class is in for a big uphill battle."

An alarm blared across the arena, and the announcement everyone in the arena had been waiting for was given. "The first test will now begin."

Ms. Joke's smirk widened. Now that the first part of the exam had begun, she was about to watch U.A. High go down in flames. "You should've told your class about this, Eraser. We've seen it time and time again in this exam: U.A. gets crushed."

In the arena, an army of students from Ketsubutsu Academy High jumped out of hiding from within the rocky terrain. As Ms. Joke had predicted, the students were lying in wait, preparing for Class 1-A to strike and take them all out at once. Leading the pack of these students were Shindo and Nakagame, with the balls in their hands and their targets set.

Shindo's target was the person he believed to be the weakest link of Class 1-A. "I saw you on T.V.!" he yelled. "That power of yours also destroys your body. Well, can't say I'm above taking advantage of that!" Shindo threw the ball, serving as the first of dozens of balls thrown from the many students who'd prepared for Class 1-A's arrival.

Ms. Joke, Eraserhead, and Endeavor all watched as Class 1-A was ambushed with this volley of attacks. One would expect Eraserhead or Endeavor to show at least some nervousness after Ms. Joke spelled out this disadvantage and fear that Class 1-A was on the precipice of defeat. That's how any normal citizen would react if they were watching the Provisional License Exam. But for the two seasoned, veteran heroes, neither of their faces changed an inch.

"You believe so?" Endeavor remarked. "I wouldn't count Class 1-A out just yet."

Izuku Midoriya saw this barrage of rounds launched at him. But rather than cower in fear and uncertainty as he did during the Entrance Exam, he steeled his nerves and activated One For All. The green energy flowed throughout his body and crackled to life around him.

"One For All: Full Cowling!"

Midoriya leaped into the air. Craning his foot back, the teenager unleashed a powerful kick that struck the ball at his shin.

"Shoot Style!"

A gust of air pressure was generated, sending more than a dozen of the balls heading his way flying out in random directions. On the ground, the students of Class 1-A were equally prepared. Yaoyorozu generated multiple shields to protect her and some classmates from the balls. Tokoyami formed Dark Shadow around his upper body and used its claws to catch the balls before they could reach him. Sero unleashed a volley of tape that caught the balls midair.

"So you think we'll be taken out?" Eraserhead said. "I don't really see a reason why I should've warned them. I doubt anything would've changed if I had. They'll still have to overcome this either way."

"He's correct," said Endeavor, deciding to chime in on the conversation. "Besides, practically all the villains I've fought throughout my career were already aware of my Quirk. So long as a hero's mind is adept and their Quirks honed, the weakness you're speaking of is practically irrelevant. From what I can see, those children have done extensive training with their Quirks to prepare for this exam."

"Exactly. They've taken all their training and the experiences they've gathered this year to apply them in combat. At U.A., we look a little further ahead than other schools." Aizawa's stoic and assured attitude reflected his faith in both his class and U.A. High. But underneath this collected attitude, there was a small sprout of uncertainty that had been there ever since Kageyama was imprisoned in Tartarus.

"Though I have to admit, I'm a bit relieved to see they're managing to stay strong." Endeavor and Ms. Joke's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. First, he expressed the utmost confidence in his class, and now there was doubt?

"Since Kageyama's been in the hospital, the class hasn't been the same. It's like a cloud is hovering above them, dampening their spirits. Though neither of you has seen it, Kageyama's had a huge impact on Class 1-A. Even though he's not the leader, his presence and willpower have served as a guiding force that raises the standards for the entire class. With him in the hospital, I was worried that they wouldn't have the mindset to fight today. But it looks like I was wrong."

Despite not seeing Kageyama's interactions with Class 1-A, Endeavor knew full well what Eraserhead was talking about. Kageyama had that same effect on himself and Shoto, an ability to inspire and push others to be better and fight. Lucky for Class 1-A, it seemed Kageyama could generate that effect even if he weren't there in person. Endeavor could only pray it was enough for Shoto to pass this exam.

"Man, just when I think I've got an idea of what kinda stuff Kageyama can do, you guys throw me this curveball. I swear, is there anything that kid can't do?"

The three heroes continued watching the exam in silence, waiting to see how this battle would play out and what kind of tricks the students from all the schools had in store. But fate had other plans.

Aizawa's phone began to ring from his pocket. He grabbed it and was surprised to see Principal Nezu calling him. What could the principal want at a time like this?

"Hello? What is it?" Aizawa's expression was initially neutral, but it morphed into shock within seconds. "Wait, are you sure?" Endeavor and Ms. Joke immediately noted Eraserhead's change in attitude and tuned in to see what was going on.

"I'll be there as quickly as I can. And don't worry about calling Endeavor. He's here with me." The mention of his name caused Endeavor to stand up. From the tone of his voice, this was an unbelievably urgent matter. But what sort of urgent matter required both Eraserhead and Endeavor? Could it be...

Once the hero hung up the phone, he jumped to the row where Endeavor was seated. "The two of us need to go right now."

"Wait, hold up. What's going on? Do you really plan to bail in the middle of the Provisional License Exam? What about your class?"

"It's an emergency."

"Is it a villain or something? Cuz if it is, I could help."

"It's not a villain. Look, I don't have time to explain the situation. Come on, Endeavor. Let's go!"

"Understood." Without any hesitation, Endeavor followed the eraser hero out of the stands. Ms. Joke scratched her head in confusion and concern. What sort of emergency needed Eraserhead and the number two hero?

As they were running, Endeavor decided to clarify the burgeoning question on his mind. "Is this about Kageyama?" he asked.

"It's All Might. He finally woke up."

The past week had been a week of uncertainty and despair. The public was coming to terms with the new power of the League of Villains, the reality that their symbol of peace wasn't as invincible as he seemed, and the fear that another large-scale attack was imminent. But amidst this fear, the nation and the world were able to take solace in the fact that there was a new hero with the power and the charisma to take his place. Shigeo Kageyama had shown the world his true potential when he defeated All For One at the warehouse. It was a sign that the next generation could place this young boy as its new beacon to continue shining light upon Japan and the world, just as All Might had done.

But that idea was tainted by a dark secret: the secret that Kageyama lost control of his powers and destroyed Yavin Forest. Completely unsure of what this power was, why it awakened, or what to do if it ever manifested again, the Hero Commission put the esper in Tartarus and waited until they could fully understand the situation. They had used their top agent, Hawks, to try to sort through the mystery of Kageyama's origins, but even he could not understand the whole picture. No, the only way they'd have any chance of sorting through this mystery was if All Might shed some light on the questions that needed answering.

Unfortunately for Hawks and the Commission, All Might had been unconscious for seven days. Principal Nezu had come many times to visit All Might and check on his condition, but it hurt him to see his friend in such a critical condition. The once mighty number one hero was lying on a bed, a ventilator maintaining his breathing, while the hospital treated his injuries. The doctors had given him the best care in the country with the most cutting-edge technology, and even then, the road to recovery was difficult. The symbol of peace could not muster the strength to escape his unconsciousness, leaving Hawks and the other heroes alone to try in vain to sort this mess out. Every day, they prayed that All Might would wake up and give the desperately needed answers. The doctors had given Nezu some much-needed good news: All Might would be waking up within the week. Still, Nezu prayed that All Might would wake up sooner rather than later and that the number one hero would give them help when they now needed it most. And today, those prayers were finally heard.

In the hospital, the symbol of peace began turning in his bed. The doctors in the room all gathered around him. From outside the room, Principal Nezu, Gran Torino and Hawks heard the commotion and decided to come in. All three wanted to be at the hospital when All Might woke up, for this was no longer a matter they could delay.

"What's going on?" Hawks said, "Is it happening? Is he waking up?"

"Y-Yes!" a doctor replied. "Look!"

Hawks and Nezu instantly gathered around the hospital bed. Sure enough, the symbol of peace finally escaped his coma. All Might's eyes slowly flickered open. It took his eyes a moment to readjust to his surroundings and make sense of where he was. Once his senses started returning, he could see the form of three doctors, Hawks, Gran Torino, and Nezu, all standing around him.

"P-Principal Nezu?"

"Do not worry, friend. You are safe."

"What's–" All Might looked down and saw the breathing mask that had been put over his mouth. Not only that, but he could feel his chest covered with several electrodes, hidden underneath a hospital gown.

"Where am I?" he asked, removing the breathing mask and the electrodes.

"You're in a hospital," one of the doctors replied, "Try to relax and control your breathing. Your respiratory system still hasn't fully recovered."

"My respiratory..." How did his respiratory system get damaged a second time? How did he end up in the hospital in the first place? And who were these doctors who were looking at his weakened form? The memories of his battle with Shigeo answered these questions, but with it came even more concerning questions that desperately needed answers.

Hawks could tell that All Might's memory of recent events was beginning to catch up, but knew that the doctors in the room couldn't discover what had really happened in Yavin Forest. "Hey, could you give us a minute?" Hawks asked the doctors.

Though exchanging quizzical looks with one another, none of them wanted to say no to the number three hero, so they scuttled to the exit.

"Oh, and also, don't tell anyone yet that All Might's woken up. I get it's a big deal, but it'd be better to wait a bit before the public knows. Sound good?"

"Y-Yes, Hawks. We understand." With a brisk pace, the doctors hurried out of the room and closed the door behind them, leaving the three heroes to talk about the elephant in the room.

"Where's Kageyama? Were you able to calm him down? What's the situation looking like?"

Deep in his heart, All Might held on to the naive hope that Nezu would smile and tell him Kageyama had calmed down shortly after All Might had been taken out. That, while Yavin Forest may have been damaged, ultimately no one else was hurt, and after an explanation from U.A. High, Kageyama had reunited with his class while being given the praise he rightfully deserved for his bravery against All For One. But in an instant, those hopes were dashed when Nezu and Hawks averted their gaze.

It took a few seconds before Principal Nezu spoke, for he knew the news would be unfathomably difficult for All Might to hear. "I'm afraid the situation is incredibly dire. While you didn't ask, after Kageyama knocked you out, some hikers discovered your unconscious body in the mountains and posted them on the Internet. Your secret is out."

A soft gasp escaped All Might's lips. The hero gazed at his empty palms: so the whole world knew now. All Might had done his best to keep the world in the dark about this form, for he did not know how they would react to the knowledge that their shining symbol of peace was becoming a frail, withering man with most of his major organs gone. But it seemed like, despite his best efforts, he couldn't run from the inevitability of this secret being exposed. It was a somber fact to accept, but so long as Kageyama was alright, it was a fact he could learn to live with. Alas, the worst news was yet to come.

"53 people were killed during Kageyama's rampage, and 103 were seriously wounded," said Nezu.

"WHAT?!"

What was once somber acceptance instantly morphed into unparalleled shock. The hero instantly shot up, his light blue eyes tainted with horror. Both Hawks and Nezu flinched at All Might's reaction, but knew they couldn't expect anything less after hearing such horrendous news.

"Unfortunately, Mob's power kept growing after you got knocked out. The earthquakes he was generating spread throughout the city and ended up destroying a lot of buildings. We tried our best to limit the casualties and save who we could, but it wasn't enough to save everybody. Whatever it was that happened to Mob happened cuz he heard Eraserhead expelled Class 1-A. So I went to U.A. High and brought him to Mob. Once he reversed his decision, Mob finally came back to his senses..."

All Might could barely hear what Hawks was saying. The shock of this news was preventing him from registering anything else. In fact, it was causing his already weakened body to start failing on him. His ears began to ring, his heartbeat was beating out of control, and his sight was blurring. It couldn't be true. There's no way people could have been killed in that accident. He was the Symbol of Peace: he was supposed to be able to handle everything, protect everyone he could reach, and tackle any problem he faced. People didn't die when he was on hero work. And they most certainly didn't die from an accident caused by a star pupil's powers going out of control. This couldn't be happening... This COULDN'T BE HAPPENING...

"-All Might? All Might?"

So disoriented from shock, Hawks had to grab All Might by the shoulder and shake him to get his attention. "Did you hear me?"

"N-No. What'd you say, Hawks?"

"I said after Mob's rampage, the heads of the Hero Commission put him in Tartarus."

"Tartarus?" Now the shock All Might experienced was being replaced by a righteous indignation. "They put Kageyama in Tartarus? How dare they-" The number one hero immediately shot out of his bed and onto his feet. There was absolutely no way that All Might would allow Kageyama to stay stuck in a maximum security prison like Tartarus. He was going to talk to the Hero Commission and force them to get Kageyama out, right now!

"Ghah!" Standing up, the hero felt a searing pain in his chest and stomach. He fell to the ground, clutching his chest in agony. Hawks caught the hero before he touched the floor and gently guided him back onto the bed.

"Hold on there, big guy. You're still not up to code yet. Based on what the doctors told me, you already had some pretty bad damage to your lungs and stomach. Mob, or whatever it was that took him over, seemed to know that and hit you right in the same spot. So take it easy. Your breathing already sounds erratic." Hawks grabbed the mask from the ventilator and handed it to All Might. Hawks was right: he felt terrible, about as bad as the pain in the wake of his battle with All For One. The hero took the mask and began taking deep breaths.

"How long have I been unconscious?" All Might asked.

"It's been seven days," Gran Torino replied.

"The other heroes and I who were present when Kageyama was arrested have done our best to convince the Hero Commission to release him," said Nezu. "However, until they have a complete understanding of the situation and Kageyama's powers, they refuse."

All Might felt his blood run cold. He was unconscious for seven days? Did that mean Kageyama was kept in Tartarus for just as long? As if that wasn't bad enough, seven days was enough time for the Hero Commission to look into Kageyama's powers and history. If they opened up an investigation, how much would they discover?

Unfortunately for All Might, Hawks was about to answer that question. "Listen, All Might. The jig is up. The Hero Commission assigned me to investigate Mob, and I found all the holes in his story. All of his identification records were faked, and he never lived at the orphanage in Saitama, either. Far as I can tell, he doesn't exist. I grilled Nezu here about it, and he spilled the beans about the little secret you've been keeping, that Mob's from another world."

All Might's eyes went to Nezu, who frowned with a shame that had lingered since revealing the truth to Hawks. "I am sorry I revealed the truth about Kageyama while you were in a coma, All Might, but Hawks knew too much for me to keep it a secret anymore."

"Don't apologize, Principal Nezu," Gran Torino replied. "The one who oughta be apologizing is Toshi." The elderly hero lifted his cane and whacked it against the bed frame. "How could you keep such a big secret from your mentor? You didn't think it was worth mentioning in your letter?"

While Nezu, Hawks, and Gran Torino were waiting in the hospital, Hawks and Gran Torino became acquainted with each other. Gran Torino revealed his status as All Might's mentor, while Hawks mentioned interning Kageyama after the Sports Festival. The elderly hero had questioned why Hawks was there with them, considering Hawks didn't have any personal connection with All Might. Nezu had noted the lack of communication from Gran Torino after the disaster in Yavin Forest, but assumed it could have been out of grief for All Might. But with this, Nezu was able to discern with his remarkable intellect that Gran Torino had been kept out of the loop regarding Kageyama. Seeing that he had already revealed the truth to Hawks, Nezu decided it was best to disclose the truth to Gran Torino. Initially, Hawks fiercely rejected Nezu's idea, believing it unwise to share Kageyama's secrets with anyone outside the heroes present at the esper's rampage. But after Nezu revealed that Gran Torino was entrusted with the truth about All Might's weakened form, he realized this may have been someone who needed to know. So the three of them went into an isolated room where Nezu told Gran Torino everything: from Kageyama's rampage in Yavin Forest to his identity as a visitor from another world.

As expected, Gran Torino was blown away by this revelation. The hero was already baffled when he'd discovered Kageyama had convinced Stain to surrender and give up his crusade, but then his bravery against All For One showed Gran Torino a side of the teenager the hero never imagined he had. To think that someone as compassionate and brave as Kageyama could lose control and cause such a rampage was unbelievable. Learning that Kageyama was from another world was a similarly mind-blowing revelation. Suddenly, it began to make sense why Mob was so unbelievably strong and had such a multifaceted power beyond anything normal Quirks were capable of. But among this massive revelation, one thing that stood out was that All Might knew all of this and chose not to tell him. Given Gran Torino was one of the only people who knew about All Might's true form and One For All, he figured his pupil could trust him to spill this secret. If he'd known, maybe he could have helped stop this mess from happening. But now, it looked like they couldn't keep the lid on this secret anymore, and it threatened to make this mess even worse than before.

"I still haven't told them about my meeting with Nezu two days ago, but they already know about Mob's fake records. I can't keep this info from the Commission forever." The number three hero leaned forward, placing his hand on the bed rails.

"You gotta come clean with everything. Even after Nezu told me Mob's secret, I only got a basic reading of the whole situation cuz you didn't really lay it on thick with details with him. If we want any chance of getting Mob outta Tartarus, the Hero Commission has gotta know the whole truth. Trying to bullshit me or them is only gonna make things worse than they already are."

"He's right, All Might," Nezu added. "With everything that has transpired, attempting to concoct another elaborate web of lies would be pointless. The best way to have Kageyama freed from Tartarus and ensure another accident like this doesn't happen again is to disclose everything you know about him."

The symbol of peace sank into his bed. So that was it: the cat was out of the bag, and there was nothing they could do to put it back in. If they had already discovered Mob's fake documents and the orphanage he never lived in, then there was no way All Might could spin this story in another light. All Might had done his best to keep Kageyama's secrets and protect him from anyone who might use this information against him. But now, that point was moot. It was time to dispense with the lies and shed some light on this monumental secret.

"Alright. I'll tell you everything."

Hawks pulled out his phone. "I'm gonna call the heads of the Commission and tell them to come down here so we can all talk."

"I have already contacted every hero who was present at the disaster: Eraserhead, Endeavor, Best Jeanist, and Edgeshot. They are on their way and should arrive here shortly."

"Ok then. I'll wait until everyone's here to tell you everything I know about Kageyama." The number one hero slapped his hand over his eyes. It hadn't even been five minutes since he woke up, and a part of him already wished he was back in his coma. All Might was supposed to protect Kageyama. It was his responsibility as a hero, his teacher, and his guardian. But just as he had failed at the hideout, he had now failed in the forest. Because of his incompetence, more than 50 people were dead, his pupil was locked in Tartarus, and he was now being forced to tell the heads of the Hero Commission, a group of total strangers, about Kageyama's origins. It was like a sadistic joke, and All Might was the punch line. What a pathetic hero he was...

It's happening, folks. All of Mob's secrets are going to be exposed in full force, all while the provisional license exam begins in earnest. How're the Hero Commission and the heroes gonna react to the truth? Are they gonna use it against Mob? Unfortunately, you'll have to speculate until Chapter 48! Until then!

Also, for those unaware, I have been making several updates to past chapters, ranging from grammatical errors to changes in dialogue. One of the bigger changes I've made is that I've modified the final event of the Sports Festival. Whereas before I had the first rounds be Uraraka vs. Iida, Kirishima vs. Tetsutetsu, and Kageyama vs. Bakugo, it is now Iida vs. Tetsutetsu, Kageyama vs. Kirishima, and Uraraka vs. Bakugo. I realized that taking away Uraraka's big moment in the Sports Festival wasn't worth keeping the battle with Kirishima and Tetsutetsu considering I didn't really add or expand on that dynamic in the first place. To clarify, Kageyama vs. Bakugo still happens, but it's just in the second round after Mob beats Kirishima and Bakugo beats Uraraka. I also added some characterization for Mob in the battle between Bakugo and Uraraka. In Chapter 26, I added a scene where Mob talks with Yaoyorozu and Kendo while he's in the hospital after his run-in with Stain. Feel free to leave any reviews to let me know what you think of the changes.