The gates of U.A. High School loomed like a monument to heroism, tall and glinting in the morning sun. Tetsuya Goro stood quietly at the front walk, backpack slung over one shoulder, clad in the new U.A. school uniform—its blue blazer fitted a bit too tightly across his broad chest. His bronze eyes scanned the campus with quiet awe.
This is where it all begins…
He stepped through the gates.
As soon as he did, the buzz of energy hit him. Students flooded in from all sides—quirks flaring slightly from nerves, conversations full of dreams, excitement, and flexed egos. Some flew, others glided, a few teleported in short bursts. Tetsuya simply walked—each step like a drumbeat. Calm. Centered.
But not unnoticed.
"Yo, that's the guy from the entrance exam!"
"Iron arms over there flattened a zero-pointer like it was nothing!"
"Think he's the type to be chill or crush skulls for breakfast?"
Tetsuya ignored the murmurs, just like always. He found the building labeled "Class 1-A", and took a slow breath before opening the sliding door.
The room was filled with energy—familiar and foreign all at once.
One kid with a pair of insect-like wings was hovering near the ceiling, chatting up a girl with a floating backpack. Another was flexing small controlled explosions in his palm, clearly trying to show off. A boy with a long scarf and tactical goggles was seated in the back, observing everyone.
And near the front—an empty seat by the window. He moved for it immediately.
Classic protagonist spot… figures.
As he sat down, the chair groaned slightly under his weight. He adjusted his position carefully, not wanting to destroy school property on the first day.
A short boy with bushy red-orange hair plopped into the desk next to him.
"Yo! I saw you crush that zero-pointer during the exam. I thought the ground was gonna break in half!"
Tetsuya glanced over. The boy stuck out a hand.
"Name's Shun Takeru. Quirk's Torque. I build up power by rotating my joints, like a wind-up punch. You?"
Tetsuya shook his hand firmly but gently.
"Tetsuya Goro. Call me Ironclad."
"Quirk's Titan Core."
Shun whistled. "That explains the linebacker build. You look like you've been in a dozen street fights with buildings."
Tetsuya gave a rare smirk. "...Maybe just a few."
Before more chatter could break out, the door slid open again—this time with a cold swish.
In walked a familiar figure with long, scraggly hair and tired eyes.
"Quiet down. I'm your homeroom teacher—Aizawa Shota. Pro Hero: Eraser Head."
The room immediately settled.
Aizawa gave them all a sharp, unreadable glance.
"I hate long introductions. We'll skip the ceremony. Put on your training uniforms. You're heading straight to the combat field for a Quirk Assessment."
A few students gasped. One with bright pink hair raised a hand.
"W-Wait, shouldn't we go to orientation first—?"
"You think villains wait for you to finish an opening speech?" Aizawa interrupted.
"If you're here to play hero, go home. We're training real ones."
His eyes narrowed slightly toward Tetsuya.
"I expect a lot from those who already made waves in the exam."
"Don't disappoint me, Ironclad."
Tetsuya didn't react much—but inwardly, his heart thudded once.
They're watching me already.
Good. Let them.
He stood as Aizawa led them out.
Training Field Gamma – U.A. Campus
The students emerged into the wide-open terrain of Field Gamma, a vast expanse of testing zones, rubble, buildings, and battle simulations.
Aizawa held a small device in his hand.
"You'll each demonstrate how far you can push your quirk in basic tests. Strength. Speed. Mobility. Control."
"And remember…"
"Last place might be expelled."
Gasps again. One student practically fainted.
But Tetsuya's hands clenched at his sides.
Good. Let's push the limit.
He was about to show the world—
That Ironclad wasn't just unbreakable.
He was here to stand above them all.
The gates of U.A. High School loomed like a monument to heroism, tall and glinting in the morning sun. Tetsuya Goro stood quietly at the front walk, backpack slung over one shoulder, clad in the new U.A. school uniform—its blue blazer fitted a bit too tightly across his broad chest. His bronze eyes scanned the campus with quiet awe.
This is where it all begins…
He stepped through the gates.
As soon as he did, the buzz of energy hit him. Students flooded in from all sides—quirks flaring slightly from nerves, conversations full of dreams, excitement, and flexed egos. Some flew, others glided, a few teleported in short bursts. Tetsuya simply walked—each step like a drumbeat. Calm. Centered.
But not unnoticed.
"Yo, that's the guy from the entrance exam!"
"Iron arms over there flattened a zero-pointer like it was nothing!"
"Think he's the type to be chill or crush skulls for breakfast?"
Tetsuya ignored the murmurs, just like always. He found the building labeled "Class 1-A", and took a slow breath before opening the sliding door.
The room was filled with energy—familiar and foreign all at once.
One kid with a pair of insect-like wings was hovering near the ceiling, chatting up a girl with a floating backpack. Another was flexing small controlled explosions in his palm, clearly trying to show off. A boy with a long scarf and tactical goggles was seated in the back, observing everyone.
And near the front—an empty seat by the window. He moved for it immediately.
Classic protagonist spot… figures.
As he sat down, the chair groaned slightly under his weight. He adjusted his position carefully, not wanting to destroy school property on the first day.
A short boy with bushy red-orange hair plopped into the desk next to him.
"Yo! I saw you crush that zero-pointer during the exam. I thought the ground was gonna break in half!"
Tetsuya glanced over. The boy stuck out a hand.
"Name's Shun Takeru. Quirk's Torque. I build up power by rotating my joints, like a wind-up punch. You?"
Tetsuya shook his hand firmly but gently.
"Tetsuya Goro. Call me Ironclad."
"Quirk's Titan Core."
Shun whistled. "That explains the linebacker build. You look like you've been in a dozen street fights with buildings."
Tetsuya gave a rare smirk. "...Maybe just a few."
Before more chatter could break out, the door slid open again—this time with a cold swish.
In walked a familiar figure with long, scraggly hair and tired eyes.
"Quiet down. I'm your homeroom teacher—Aizawa Shota. Pro Hero: Eraser Head."
The room immediately settled.
Aizawa gave them all a sharp, unreadable glance.
"I hate long introductions. We'll skip the ceremony. Put on your training uniforms. You're heading straight to the combat field for a Quirk Assessment."
A few students gasped. One with bright pink hair raised a hand.
"W-Wait, shouldn't we go to orientation first—?"
"You think villains wait for you to finish an opening speech?" Aizawa interrupted.
"If you're here to play hero, go home. We're training real ones."
His eyes narrowed slightly toward Tetsuya.
"I expect a lot from those who already made waves in the exam."
"Don't disappoint me, Ironclad."
Tetsuya didn't react much—but inwardly, his heart thudded once.
They're watching me already.
Good. Let them.
He stood as Aizawa led them out.
Training Field Gamma – U.A. Campus
The students emerged into the wide-open terrain of Field Gamma, a vast expanse of testing zones, rubble, buildings, and battle simulations.
Aizawa held a small device in his hand.
"You'll each demonstrate how far you can push your quirk in basic tests. Strength. Speed. Mobility. Control."
"And remember…"
"Last place might be expelled."
Gasps again. One student practically fainted.
But Tetsuya's hands clenched at his sides.
Good. Let's push the limit.
He was about to show the world—
That Ironclad wasn't just unbreakable.
He was here to stand above them all.
The sun beat down over Field Gamma, glinting off reinforced concrete and synthetic terrain. The students of Class 1-Anow stood in a line, all dressed in their navy-blue and white U.A. training uniforms—each marked with a bold "1-A" on the chest.
Tetsuya adjusted the high collar of his shirt. The fabric was already snug against his frame, reinforced to survive Quirk-related stress, but even it felt tight around his powerful shoulders.
Aizawa stood in front of them, hands tucked lazily into his pockets, and dropped a soft ball into the dirt.
"Our first event—ball throw. Use your quirk to throw this as far as you can. Goro, you're up first."
Some murmurs rose.
"He's first?"
"Guess they wanna see what Ironclad can really do."
Tetsuya stepped forward, eyes fixed on the ball. Aizawa handed it to him, and his fingers closed around it like a vice.
"No limit on how you use your Quirk," Aizawa said. "Just don't destroy the field."
Tetsuya gave a small nod.
No overdrive… just enough power to make a statement.
He took a deep breath. The ground beneath him cracked faintly as he reared his arm back.
"Titan Core: Full Coil."
His ultra-dense muscle fibers compressed, tightening like coiled steel. His eyes glowed faintly bronze.
Whoosh—BOOM!
The ball launched like a cannon shell, punching through the air with a thunderous crack that echoed across the field. It vanished into the horizon.
A few students staggered from the shockwave.
Aizawa raised his device. His eyes blinked in visible surprise.
"...1,327 meters."
Silence. Then a burst of whispers.
"What?!"
"That's insane!"
"He basically threw it into another district!"
Tetsuya turned, expression calm as ever, and walked back to the line. Shun bumped him with a grin.
"Alright, Iron Arms, now you've set the bar way too high. Thanks for that."
The tests continued.
50-meter dash:
Tetsuya wasn't the fastest due to his weight, but his sheer explosive power gave him a shockingly solid time.
Grip strength:
He shattered the machine's limit. The display flickered and sparked.
Side-to-side agility:
His weight slowed him slightly, but he anchored every landing with precision.
Long jump:
He didn't jump—he launched. A small crater was left in his starting position.
One by one, his classmates revealed their own quirks:
Shun Takeru (Torque) wound up like a spring and launched himself across the course like a rocket.
Yume Takahashi, a girl with dreamlike telekinesis, floated objects around her in elegant spirals.
Riku Honen, a stoic boy with Friction Shift, skated across surfaces with blazing speed by manipulating kinetic resistance.
And Sora Ishimaru, a silent girl with smoke-warping abilities, vanished and reappeared mid-test, disorienting observers.
Each quirk was unique. Some flashy. Some subtle. All dangerous in the right hands.
But none had the same raw presence as Tetsuya's Titan Core.
By the final test, students were sweating, panting, and staring down the results. Aizawa held his clipboard.
"Here's your preliminary rankings. Keep in mind, this is not final—it simply gives you a sense of where you stand."
The screen projected a list.
Top Three:
Tetsuya Goro – "Ironclad"
Yume Takahashi – "Dreamweaver"
Riku Honen – "Slipstream"
Some gasped. Others nodded.
Tetsuya stared at the list, then at his hands.
Already, expectations were forming. He could feel it.
Number one… First day. Now I have to keep it.
Aizawa's voice cut in:
"No one's getting expelled… yet. But you're all far from ready."
"Some of you show promise. Some of you are dangerous liabilities. That's fine."
"You're here to learn. The world outside these walls doesn't care how 'promising' you are. It'll crush you if you're weak."
His eyes drifted back to Tetsuya.
"Especially those of you who think power alone is enough."
The words landed like a hammer.
Tetsuya said nothing.
But deep inside, he clenched his jaw.
I don't think that. I know it's not enough. That's why I'm here.
As the class filed back toward the dorms, Shun jogged up beside him.
"You really don't like the spotlight, huh?"
Tetsuya shrugged. "Don't need it."
"Well, like it or not, you've got it. First place on Day One? You've got a target on your back now."
"Just don't break us when we spar."
Tetsuya allowed himself a small chuckle.
"No promises."
The sun dipped low over U.A. High.
Day One was over.
And the unbreakable wall known as Ironclad had made his first impact.
The class gathered in a domed arena lined with combat-safe flooring and observation booths above. Reinforced steel pillars and barriers surrounded the field. High-tech cameras hovered in the air to capture every movement.
Aizawa stood at the edge of the platform, flanked by another hero—Snipe, the long-range pro, mask and all.
"Today," Aizawa began, "we're conducting your first sparring session. One-on-one battles. No weapons unless part of your quirk. You win by knockout, ring-out, or immobilization."
"We're watching your control, creativity, and decision-making—not just power."
Snipe tipped his hat.
"Y'all might be strong, but the battlefield ain't a schoolyard. We're lookin' for future pros, not reckless brawlers."
The students exchanged glances. Some cracked knuckles. Others flexed quirks already sparking to life.
Tetsuya's muscles tightened instinctively. His body always wanted to move when tension filled the air.
"First match," Aizawa called. "Tetsuya Goro… versus… Akari Hanazawa."
There were a few surprised murmurs.
Akari stepped forward—a lean, sharp-eyed girl with sleek black hair tied into a braid. Her U.A. uniform had a red stripe sewn across the shoulder.
"Quirk: Whip Thread. She can generate and control high-speed fiber strands from her fingertips. Razor sharp. High precision."
Tetsuya stepped onto the field across from her, cracking his knuckles as the cameras focused in. She gave him a half-smirk.
"They're putting me against the class muscle already? I thought they wanted a test, not a demolition."
Tetsuya's voice was steady.
"Depends on what you do with that string."
Akari arched a brow. "Careful, Ironclad. Threads are stronger than steel—if they're used right."
Aizawa raised a hand.
"Begin."
Akari moved fast—whipping five threads forward like lashes. They snapped toward Tetsuya's arms and legs, aiming to bind or cut.
He didn't move.
Clink—clink—snap!
The threads struck but bounced off his forearms, unable to pierce his ultra-dense skin. One coiled around his leg—but he flexed, and it snapped with a metallic twang.
"Tch…"
She pulled back and tried a mid-air trap—wires arcing overhead like a net. Tetsuya lunged forward—each step a quake—and Iron Slammed the ground.
BOOM!
The shockwave disrupted her threads mid-air, throwing her off balance.
She tried to retreat and reset—but that was the mistake.
He surged forward, closed the gap, and grabbed her by the arm before she could rebound with new strands.
Gently—but firmly—he set her down outside the ring.
"Ring out," he muttered.
Silence.
Then Aizawa called it:
"Winner: Tetsuya Goro."
Akari stood, brushing herself off. She looked up at him with a conflicted expression—equal parts impressed and frustrated.
"You're not just a wall," she muttered.
"You're a damn tank with a brain."
Tetsuya blinked, but didn't reply. He stepped back into the line as the next names were called.
Match after match followed:
Shun Takeru used his Torque quirk in a dizzying spinning barrage that overwhelmed a flame-user.
Yume Takahashi floated her opponent harmlessly into the air before gently subduing them.
Riku Honen slid around like ice on rails, too fast to hit, winning with a precise sweep to the legs.
But every time the students glanced back toward Tetsuya, a silent thought hovered in the air:
How do you beat someone who doesn't flinch?
After sparring ended, the students were dismissed, some bruised, others grinning.
Aizawa pulled Tetsuya aside briefly.
"You showed restraint. That's rare for someone with your build."
Tetsuya nodded.
"She was precise. I couldn't risk hurting her."
Aizawa gave a faint, rare approval with his eyes.
"Good. Just remember—someday, you won't be sparring. You'll be fighting someone who won't hold back."
"And when that day comes… I expect Ironclad to still be standing."
Tetsuya stared back with calm fire in his eyes.
"I will."
The moon hung low over U.A., casting long shadows across the quiet dormitory courtyard. Most of Class 1-A had finally fallen asleep after a grueling day of sparring—except for the few restless types still up, gaming or journaling.
Tetsuya was not one of them.
He sat cross-legged on his dorm floor, shirtless, bathed in the soft light of his desk lamp. Bandages wrapped around his wrists and ribs. In front of him lay a thick training log, pages filled with scribbled notes: angles, weaknesses, mistakes, moments of hesitation.
Too slow against whip-based quirks. Need to adapt footwork.
Overexerted in the jump—burned stamina faster than expected.
If I'd used Overdrive, would've ended it instantly. But at what cost?
He closed the book and exhaled through his nose.
And then—
BOOOOOOOM.
The building shook. His windows rattled. Lights flickered.
Alarms howled to life.
"WARNING. CAMPUS BREACH. TRAINING GROUNDS EXPLOSION DETECTED."
Tetsuya was on his feet instantly, throwing on his undersuit and sliding on his training boots. Students were already flooding the halls in panic and confusion.
Shun skidded into his doorway, wild-eyed and barefoot.
"Dude—what the hell was that?!"
Tetsuya's eyes were already glowing faintly.
"Let's find out."
Training Ground Omega – Minutes Later
The facility was wrecked. Smoke plumed from a massive crater in the center of the sparring dome. Chunks of steel support beams jutted out from collapsed walls. Emergency lights flashed in rhythm, painting the battlefield in shades of red.
Class 1-A stood together at the edge of the scene—some in pajamas, others fully suited up. Confusion and fear crackled in the air.
Then—through the smoke—three shadows emerged.
The first was a broad-shouldered, red-haired juggernaut with stone-like skin:
Red Riot.
The second was a smiling, green-haired figure cloaked in shadowy lightning:
Deku.
And the third… an explosion sparked at his feet, and his grin was pure chaos:
Bakugo.
Gasps filled the air.
"A-Aren't those… the Top Pro Heroes?"
"Deku and Bakugo?! What are they doing here?!"
Deku raised a hand and spoke, his tone calm—but with a hint of theatrical edge.
"This is your first emergency response test. You were told you were safe. You were wrong."
"Tonight, you fight villains."
Bakugo cracked his neck and exploded into the air.
"Hope you babies didn't forget your moves—'cause I ain't holdin' back!"
Red Riot slammed his fists together, his voice booming:
"We're not here to coddle you. You want to be heroes? Then stand your ground."
For a split second, no one moved.
Then—chaos.
The Simulated Villain Battle Begins
Deku vanished in a burst of green lightning, appearing behind two students and mock-trapping them in vines of energy.
Bakugo launched a mid-air explosion that scattered half the class, forcing them to split into teams.
Red Riot charged forward like a freight train, laughing heartily as he took on three students at once, tanking hits like nothing.
Tetsuya stood perfectly still, eyes locked onto the battlefield.
Shun yelled, "What do we do?! They're actual pros!"
Tetsuya stepped forward.
"We hold the line."
Shun blinked. "You're not serious—"
But Tetsuya was already moving.
He jumped straight into Red Riot's path.
"Titan Core… Fortress Stance."
His feet planted. His muscles tightened. And he caught Red Riot's punch head-on.
The ground cratered beneath him.
The shockwave blew nearby students off their feet.
But Tetsuya held his ground. Teeth clenched. Eyes burning bronze.
Red Riot grinned wide.
"You've got guts, kid. Just like I used to."
Tetsuya pushed forward and slammed into him with a shoulder charge that actually made the veteran pro skid backward.
"Not guts," Tetsuya growled.
"Responsibility."
Meanwhile, Bakugo zipped through the air, targeting students with perfectly controlled blasts. Tetsuya spotted Yume about to get hit from behind.
Without thinking, he threw himself in the way—taking the blast full-force against his side.
The explosion rocked him—but he didn't fall.
Bakugo landed a few feet away, sneering.
"Tough guy, huh? You the class tank or just too dumb to duck?"
Tetsuya didn't rise to the bait. He stood tall, smoke rising from his scorched arm.
"You're not getting past me."
Bakugo's grin widened. "Then let's test that."
The battle raged. Students coordinated, some failed, some succeeded. But more than anything, they learned.
And through it all—Ironclad stood like a wall. Absorbing hits. Protecting others. Driving forward like an unstoppable engine of will.
When the exercise finally ended, sirens ceased, and the dust settled… Red Riot, Deku, and Bakugo regrouped.
Deku smiled warmly.
"You all have a long way to go."
"But I see potential. Especially you, Tetsuya."
Red Riot stepped forward and placed a hand on Tetsuya's shoulder.
"You reminded me of myself. But more controlled. That's rare."
Bakugo scoffed. "He's solid, I'll give him that. Don't let it go to your head, though. Pros don't get days off."
Tetsuya nodded slowly, heart still pounding.
"I don't need days off. I just need to be ready when it counts."