The cafeteria was busy as usual. Every table was packed with students from every department and year, a blur of uniforms crammed together with overlapping voices.
I'd just paid for my lunch, a grilled chicken rice bowl with extra eggs and a side of steamed veggies.
I spotted Midoriya sitting near the middle of the room with his usual trio, Uraraka and Iida. There were a couple of empty spots around them. Perfect. I had something I wanted to talk to him about. And with Uraraka there too, it was the ideal setup for what I had planned later.
As I approached, I caught snippets of their conversation.
"I voted for you, Midoriya," Iida said earnestly. "You showed excellent judgment and valor yesterday!"
Uraraka nodded with a smile. "Me too! You were really cool during the combat training."
Funny, considering he didn't even win the match this time.
Midoriya gave them both a bashful smile. "T-thanks, you guys... I really didn't expect that."
"Hey there," I said, stepping up to their table. "Mind if I join you guys today?"
Midoriya looked up, his expression brightening. "Of course not! Please, have a seat."
Iida stood up abruptly, giving an overly formal bow. "Ah! Class Representative Henshin, what an honor it is to share a meal with you!"
I chuckled, waving a hand dismissively. "Ease up there, Iida. No need for titles, just call me by my name, alright?"
He blinked, then corrected himself with a nod. "Understood, Henshin."
I dropped my tray and took a seat beside Midoriya. A minute later, Mina, Momo, and Kirishima joined us, filling out the rest of the table.
"Hey dude!" Kirishima greeted, flashing me a grin. "Congrats on becoming Class Rep."
Momo offered a polite smile. "You secured the most votes by a significant margin."
I gave them a polite smile. "I expected to get a few votes, sure. But that big of a lead? Couldn't even imagine something like that."
"You totally earned it, Class Prez," Mina cheered with a wink, nudging me with her elbow.
As we dug into our meals, I turned to Midoriya. "Your arm's looking better. Have you given any thought to my offer from yesterday?"
He nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! If it's alright with you, I'd love to join you guys at the gym."
"Of course it's okay. I was the one who asked, remember?" I looked across the table. "You should come too, Yaoyorozu. Kirishima, Mina, and I were all there yesterday."
Iida raised a hand. "I was also present at the gym yesterday, for the record."
Kirishima snapped his fingers in recognition. "Oh, right! I thought I saw you there. You looked locked in, man! Didn't wanna throw you off your grind."
Iida blinked. "My... grind?" He tilted his head slightly. "If you mean my training regimen, then yes, I was fully engaged. But you wouldn't have disrupted me. I'm always open to peer engagement!"
Mina nudged Momo lightly with her elbow. "Yaomomo, you have to come with us next time. The gym is stacked with super high-tech gear and fancy machines. And the best part? It's all free! Like, why wouldn't we take advantage of that?"
Uraraka gasped. "Free?! Deku, we have to go there too!"
Before Midoriya could answer, a shrill alarm blared overhead, sharp enough to freeze forks halfway to mouths. The speakers crackled once, and then a mechanical voice followed:
"WARNING. LEVEL THREE SECURITY BREACH. ALL STUDENTS, PLEASE EVACUATE IN AN ORDERLY FASHION."
And just like that, the room exploded into chaos.
Chairs scraped against the tile, trays clattered to the ground, voices rising in confusion and fear as waves of students surged toward the exits in a panic.
"What's going on?!" Uraraka shouted, grabbing hold of Midoriya's sleeve as the mob pushed in tighter around us.
"A level three breach means someone got past the school barrier!" a nearby upperclassman yelled as they passed. "This hasn't happened once in my three years enrolled here, we should move!"
I didn't hesitate. I reached out and grabbed both Momo and Uraraka by their wrists. Their arms tensed under my grip, but neither of them resisted as I pulled them closer.
"Stay close, we'll get separated if we don't stick together." I said, keeping my voice low but firm. Their bodies pressed tightly against mine as the crowd surged around us.
With Momo and Uraraka still in hand, I started pushing our way through the crowd, carving a path toward the window with my shoulders. The flood of bodies was intense, but I kept us moving steadily.
When we reached the glass, I glanced toward the nearest window—just to confirm what I already knew. Sure enough, I saw exactly what I was expecting. Flashing cameras and a cluster of reporters marching their way to the building we were in.
I tightened my grip slightly on the girls' wrists. "Yaoyorzu, make me a megaphone. Uraraka, use your quirk to get me in the air."
To their credit, neither of them questioned me.
Momo rolled up her sleeve in one swift motion, and a soft glow shimmered along her arm as a megaphone emerged from her skin. She handed it over to me without hesitation.
Uraraka reached out, tapping my forearm with the pads on her fingertips. Once her quirk activated, my body lightened.
I launched myself upward with a single leap, rising above the flood of students until I landed on an empty table near the center of the room.
From here, I could see everything—the panicked faces, the tight shoulders, the wide eyes scanning for exits.
I switched the megaphone on and brought it to my mouth.
"SILENCE!!"
My voice, magnified through the megaphone, cracked across the cafeteria like a thunderclap.
Hundreds of students flinched in unison. The roar of panic dulled to a hum of confusion. Their heads turned my way, eyes locking on me, and just like that, uncertainty replaced fear.
"Everyone, listen," I spoke with an even tone now. "We're not in danger. Look outside."
I pointed toward the windows. Students followed my gesture.
"It's reporters. That's all. They triggered the alarm when they forced their way through the front gate. There's no threat."
The tension in the air began to ease as realization crept in. A few students at the windows were already confirming it out loud.
I scanned the room one more time.
"We are U.A. students," I said, firmer now. "We don't panic like children. Whether you're General Studies, Business, Support Course, or Hero Track—whatever department, whatever year—you hold yourself to a higher standard."
I took a breath.
"If there's no threat, there's no reason to evacuate. Stay calm and return to your seats."
The silence held for a second longer, then scattered nods began to ripple through the crowd. The panic turned into quiet footsteps, and those who had been rushing for the doors now trickled back to their tables.
I hopped down from the table, letting Uraraka cancel her quirk mid-descent, then handed the megaphone back to Momo as I rejoined the group. She looked mildly stunned, and Uraraka had stars in her eyes.
Both Midoriya and Iida stared, frozen in place.
Kirishima let out a low whistle. "Dude. That was… manly as hell."
I smirked a little.
Damn right it was, I nailed that shit. My rep just went through the roof.