Ren turned off his phone and looked up. Uraraka Ochaco was still blushing as she introduced herself.
She clutched her schoolbag tightly in her arms, clearly very protective of what was inside.
"Ren. Just call me Ren..."
He replied with a faint smile.
After all, he wasn't someone who kept to himself, and Uraraka had a genuinely good personality. Her Quirk was also quite useful.
She would likely be a strong support ally in the future.
Noticing Ren's gaze, the girl—who had never been very confident—quickly lowered her head.
Her face grew even warmer.
Aside from childhood, she had barely interacted with boys. This was the first time she had introduced herself to a stranger.
But then—
Uraraka paused.
Wasn't it rude to lower her head like that?
She looked up.
Ren was gazing out the window, watching the passing scenery—mostly rural landscapes.
From this angle...
He wore a black coat over a white shirt, with subtle patterns. His short hair was neat, and his profile looked calm and refined.
Ren...
Uraraka found herself staring.
Just then, Ren turned his head—
Why does she look so spaced out?
A slight smile formed at the corner of his lips as he spoke.
"Hey... you okay?"
...
His voice snapped Uraraka back to reality.
She jolted, quickly lowering her head and patting her cheeks.
What was I thinking?!
No, focus!
After calming down, she rummaged through her bag, pulled out two bottles of water, and handed one to Ren.
"Um... Ren, are you also preparing for the U.A. High entrance exam?" she asked.
Ren accepted it without hesitation. Though he already knew about the exam, he pretended to be unsure and shook his head slightly.
"Huh?!"
Uraraka's eyes widened.
"Ren, you don't even know about the exam? This is a really important time for choosing a high school!
"Not really. My parents handle most things," Ren replied casually, shifting the topic.
But Uraraka became serious. Thinking about her own situation, her expression hardened.
"Ren, I don't think that's a good idea. If your parents decide everything, your future will always follow their path. We're about to enter high school—we should make our own choices!"
"Right..."
Ren paused for a moment at her sudden seriousness, then smiled.
"What about you, Uraraka? What are your plans?"
Her family used to work in construction, but with the rise of Quirks, many heroes with construction-related abilities had taken over the industry.
As a result, her family's business had declined sharply.
And not just that—
With more Quirks appearing, only heroes could properly deal with Quirk-related crimes. Ordinary police were no longer enough.
So—
"I..."
After a brief hesitation, Uraraka's expression became firm.
"I want to get into U.A. High... and become a real hero. If I can earn money, I can help my family. It might sound selfish, but I'll do my best to achieve it!"
After saying that, she lowered her head again, biting her lip slightly.
She wasn't sure—
Would Ren laugh at her for that reason?
After all, many classmates in the past had looked down on her for it.
Seeing her like this, something flickered in Ren's eyes.
A lack of confidence doesn't come from nowhere.
Bullying, isolation—those things build up over time.
Once someone loses confidence in themselves, it becomes difficult to move forward.
At that moment, Ren thought of Gran Torino...
And All Might.
When he first arrived in this world, his Quirk was weak and difficult to control.
It had potential—but was extremely hard to use.
Back then, All Might didn't care whether he agreed or not.
He would smack him on the head and say—
"You can do it! Keep going!"
Even if part of that was because of One For All, it was still genuine encouragement.
So now—
Ren reached out and placed his hand on Uraraka's head.
He felt her body tremble slightly.
She slowly raised her head, their eyes meeting.
Ren smiled.
"That's a good goal. Even if it's for a personal reason, being clear about what you want is important. Pro Heroes need to make a living, too."
"Just like in 'Super Seminary'—everyone fights for their own goals."
"That's not something to be ashamed of."
...
...
A/N: Support Via Powerstone And Collections