In every superhero narrative structure, the costume is the most fundamental visual exposition. The costume tells who the character is, what their powers are, and how big their ego is, even before they utter a single line of dialogue.
For Nabiel, that concept was extremely troublesome.
Standing in the male changing room of Class 1-A, Nabiel stared at his reflection in the long mirror. While his classmates were busy putting on armor, robes, and various eye-catching equipment, Nabiel looked like someone who had wandered into the wrong room.
His hero costume consisted of black tactical cargo pants, silent rubber-soled combat boots, and, of course, an oversized white long-sleeved shirt whose sleeves dangled past his fingertips. The only difference from his everyday clothes was the material. This shirt was made of high-grade aramid fibers that were cut-resistant and bulletproof, with several hidden pockets tucked behind its folds to store his tactical knives.
No mask. No cape. No logo.
"Hey, Nabiel! Did you forget to bring your costume case?" Kirishima Eijiro called out, his appearance half-naked with sharp teeth and some kind of gear on his shoulder.
"This is my costume," Nabiel replied flatly, slipping both hands covered by the shirt sleeves into his pants pockets. "Maximum mobility, minimum visibility. And most importantly, very comfortable to sleep in if the mission is quiet."
Kirishima laughed awkwardly, unsure whether Nabiel was joking or serious. Nabiel did not care. He turned around and walked with a lazy gait toward the exit corridor.
At the end of the corridor, sunlight illuminated Ground Beta, a replica urban area that would serve as the stage for their test today. Standing there, with a smile that was too wide and muscles that defied anatomical laws, was All Might.
As an Outer, Nabiel's eyes caught something the other students could not see. Behind the giant silhouette of the Number One Hero, Nabiel could see a fading glow of energy, a flickering flame being blown by the winds of time. All Might was the classic archetype: the mentor destined to fall so the protagonist could rise.
Nabiel yawned softly. Such a cliché destiny, yet proven always effective at harvesting readers' emotions.
"Everyone looks so cool! You all really look like heroes!" All Might's booming voice greeted them.
As the students gathered, Nabiel sought the rearmost position, leaning against the concrete wall so he would not have to bother standing straight. His attention was diverted when Yaoyorozu Momo walked over to him.
Nabiel looked his friend up and down. Momo's costume was very revealing. Considering her Creation Quirk required exposed skin to produce objects, the design was perfectly logical. However, from a meta-narrative perspective, Nabiel knew exactly that this was a deliberate fan-service trophy from the entity that designed this world.
"What do you think, Nabiel?" Momo asked, slightly pressing her arms together because of the rather chilly spring breeze. A faint red blush was visible on her cheeks, a sign that she herself had not fully gotten used to the outfit.
"Very functional," Nabiel answered honestly. He then raised his right arm, letting the oversized fabric of his shirt fall to cover Momo's exposed shoulder. "But if you feel cold before the test starts, stand near me. My shirt sleeves are wide enough to serve as an emergency tent."
Momo smiled gently, appreciating that very Nabiel-like small gesture. "Thank you. Your costume is consistent with your personality."
"I consider that the highest compliment," Nabiel murmured.
All Might began explaining the rules of the Combat Training. The class was divided into teams of two acting as Heroes or Villains. Because there were twenty-one students in the class, thanks to Nabiel sneaking into the narrative, one team would have three members.
The draw was held. Nabiel put his hand into the box and drew a ball.
Team B.
"All right! Team B consists of Todoroki Shoto, Shoji Mezo, and Nabiel!" All Might announced. "You will be the three-member Hero team!"
Nabiel glanced toward Todoroki, the young man with half-white and half-red hair whose face was as cold as ice. Nabiel smiled faintly behind his shirt collar. Perfect. Someone who is too competent and solitary. I do not need to do anything.
The first match was soon announced. Team A (Midoriya and Uraraka) as Heroes against Team D (Bakugo and Iida) as Villains.
The entire class moved to the monitor room. Nabiel took a spot in the darkest corner of the room, sitting cross-legged on the floor while the others stood around the large screen.
When the match began, Nabiel switched to Observer mode. He did not see two teenagers fighting; he saw two narrative ideologies clashing. Bakugo with his fragile superiority complex, and Midoriya with his newly blooming underdog determination.
When Bakugo unleashed a massive explosion from his grenade gauntlet that destroyed half the building, the entire monitor room held its breath. Kirishima and Ashido shouted in panic. All Might gripped the microphone with a trembling hand, torn between stopping the match or letting his students grow.
In the corner of the room, Nabiel did not even blink. His dark eyes reflected the light from the monitor screen.
Good drama, Nabiel thought, evaluating the scene cosmically. Tension built perfectly. The protagonist uses his brain to turn the situation around at the last second. A satisfying execution.
The match ended with Midoriya and Uraraka's victory, although Midoriya ended up physically destroyed. The monitor room was filled with heated discussions about the match evaluation, led by Momo's sharp analysis that made Nabiel nod slowly with pride from his corner.
"Next! Team B as Heroes against Team I as Villains!"
Team I consisted of Hagakure Toru and Ojiro Mashirao.
Nabiel stood up slowly, stretching his stiff neck from sitting too long, then walked after Todoroki and Shoji toward the building where the fake bomb was hidden.
Upon arriving in front of the building, Shoji used his Quirk to listen for the enemies' positions. "They are on the upper floor. Ojiro is on guard, and Hagakure seems to be preparing to ambush."
Todoroki stepped forward, the air around him suddenly dropping drastically until their breaths turned into white vapor.
"Come out. You two will only freeze if you come in with me," Todoroki said coldly, without turning to Shoji or Nabiel.
Shoji looked a little hesitant, but Nabiel immediately turned around without wasting a single second.
"A very brilliant idea, Todoroki-san. Please let me know when you are done. I will wait outside your freezing radius," Nabiel said casually, walking away and leaning against a street lamp pole that was safe from the building's range.
Todoroki pressed his right hand against the building wall. Within seconds, giant ice spread at a terrifying speed, freezing the entire structure from the ground floor to the roof. The temperature in Ground Beta plummeted.
From outside, Nabiel watched the ice sparkle, reflecting the sunlight. He reached into his pants pocket, took out a lollipop, unwrapped it, and put it in his mouth.
Through the earpiece, Todoroki's flat voice sounded. "I have frozen both of them. The weapon is secure."
"Hero Team… VICTORY!" All Might announced over the loudspeaker, his tone sounding slightly surprised at how quickly and one-sided the match had ended.
Todoroki walked out of the building, exhaling warm breath from his left side to melt the ice blocking the path. Shoji stared in amazement.
Meanwhile, Nabiel walked casually over to them, chewing his lollipop. His shirt sleeves waved in the cold wind left by the ice.
"Good work, team," Nabiel said in a monotonous tone, patting Todoroki's shoulder with the dangling end of his shirt sleeve. "Outstanding teamwork. You froze the building, and I successfully guarded the street lamp outside so the villains would not steal it."
Todoroki turned, staring at Nabiel with an expression as flat as the Observer's. "You did nothing."
"That is exactly the art of it, Todoroki," Nabiel replied without the slightest guilt. "In a team, knowing when to let more competent people work is a skill. You saved my energy, and I did not get in your way. Mutual symbiosis."
Todoroki fell silent, seemingly trying to process the absurd logic he had just heard, before finally deciding to ignore it and walk back to the monitor room.
Nabiel smiled faintly, following from behind. Being an Outer in this world full of hot-blooded heroes turned out to have its own advantages. As long as there were characters obsessed with becoming number one, Nabiel could always find a way to be the most comfortable background extra.
Today, Nabiel noted in his mind for his journal tonight, was a very productive day for my laziness.