Malika presses her palm against the cool glass of UA High’s entrance, her reflection caught between the school’s bold crest and Pony’s expectant gaze. Behind them, the campus buzzes with students in gleaming uniforms, a riot of voices and vibrant quirks on display. Pony taps her shoulder.
“C’mon, Mal, don’t just stand there gawkin’. We ain’t in Texas anymore.”
Malika draws a breath, shoulders squared beneath the unfamiliar blazer. The inside of the school is even louder: students spar in the courtyard, and a faculty member floats past, clipboard in hand. She catches a glimpse of All Might’s smiling portrait and feels her stomach twist, a mixture of nerves and excitement. Pony nudges her again, practically trotting ahead.
“Let’s find homeroom before someone mistakes us for tourists.”
A group of upperclassmen blocks their path, one with spiky red hair grinning wide.
“First years, huh? Think you’ll last?”
Malika meets his eyes, her voice steady.
“We’re here to become heroes.”
The hall’s electric tension wraps around her as she steps forward, Pony just behind. Somewhere, a bell rings, and the day begins.