BNHA: I am Reiji Toga

The sound of her alarm woke Reiji.

Yesterday, after the events in the subway, she returned home quietly and submitted a brief report to the Commission. She slept only four hours, but for her regenerative body, that was more than enough.

She sat up without a trace of fatigue, changed quietly, and went down to the kitchen. The house was quiet. The smell of freshly brewed coffee betrayed that Himiko was already awake.

"You slept about fifteen minutes less than yesterday," she said, sitting at the table, already wearing her hero course combat uniform. Her hair was tied back with a maroon ribbon she never wore.

"I don't keep track," he replied, pouring himself cereal without looking at her.

"I do."

Silence.

"So? How was your first day at the official U.A.?"

"You could say I'm the sensation of the class..."

She smiled with amusement, although her eyes showed a certain degree of insecurity, guardedness, or just plain jealousy.

"What do you mean?" she said through gritted teeth as she leaned dangerously close to him.

Reiji slowly placed his spoon in the bowl. Himiko leaned on the table with both hands, leaning toward him. Her breath had a faint aroma of coffee, but what stood out most was that gaze of hers: fixed, intense, eager for an answer she wasn't sure she wanted to hear.

"Nothing special," he murmured, not moving, not backing down. "Just that I came in first in the tests, don't get any ideas..." He said as he tapped his fingers against his older sister's forehead, who stepped back with a sullen expression.

She frowned at the tap on her forehead and moved back a step, but not enough to break the closeness.

"What if I get ideas?" She whispered, tilting her head slightly. Her eyes remained fixed on his, and a hand slid down to rest on his shoulder. She didn't squeeze. She just touched.

Reiji didn't respond immediately. He looked at her silently, feeling the heat radiating from her body, too close for what should have been a morning chat. Her breathing was subtle, but heavy. She wasn't joking. Not entirely.

"There's nothing to imagine," he said, though his voice wasn't as steady as it had been at the beginning.

Himiko circled the table slowly, still staring at him, until she was behind him. She ran her fingertips down his neck, brushing the exposed skin with an almost imperceptible softness.

"I wasn't there to see you..." She murmured near his ear. "I didn't see how you moved, or how the others looked at you... But I can imagine it."

Reiji closed his eyes for a moment. Her instinct told her to back away, to distance herself. But her body didn't move. That closeness felt as uncomfortable as it was familiar.

"There's no point in you getting all worked up," he said softly. "I didn't come to U.A. to fall in love. Or to play with anyone."

"What if someone else does that with you?" she asked, almost in the tone of a wounded child disguised as irony. His hand moved down, sliding over her collarbone to the base of her chest. It stopped right there; it didn't cross the line. But it wasn't necessary.

"Then she'll have bad luck," Reiji replied with a sigh, and finally turned to face her.

Their faces were inches apart. Himiko looked at him, her lips parted, as if she were about to say something... or do something. But nothing happened.

Reiji raised a hand and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Then he took a step back.

"Don't start the day like this," he said, returning for his cup.

She said nothing, but looked at him with a mixture of anger, tenderness, and suppressed desire.

"Idiot," she muttered. And left the kitchen.

Reiji watched her disappear down the hall. Then he rubbed his face with both hands, as if he needed to reset his mind.

He had learned to resist torture. Drugs. Pressure. But not Himiko.

Never Himiko.

***

The classroom was beginning to fill with the typical morning bustle. Some were talking about the previous day's physical tests, others were still analyzing their own performances. Reiji entered with his usual rhythm: relaxed, silent, without needing to announce himself. His uniform was neatly arranged, his hair tucked just behind his ears, and that serene expression that made him always seem one step ahead.

"Reiji!" Mina called energetically when she saw him walk through the door. "We were just talking about you! Come, come!"

The boy raised an eyebrow at the mention of himself as he headed to his seat. Ironically, it was the only free seat, right in the middle of the entire group staring at him.

He had arrived a couple of minutes before the scheduled arrival time, so it was normal for almost everyone to be in their seats.

"What a welcome..." He murmured. Upon reaching his desk, he gently put down his backpack and turned slightly toward the group.

"Were you talking about me? That can't be good."

"What do you think?" Mina replied with a broad smile. She was sitting on top of her own chair, legs crossed and elbow on the back, striking a casual pose. "Mysterious new kid, first place in the exam, straight face all the time... you don't leave us much of a choice."

"I thought that was my charm," Reiji replied, sitting down and leaning an arm on the table. His posture was relaxed, and his tone, almost lazy.

"More like he's scary," Jiro joked from his spot, adjusting his headphones.

"Fear or respect?" Camie said with a mischievous smile. "Because that's what I felt yesterday. When he moved during the exam, it was like... wow, this guy really isn't improvising."

Melissa, more demure, turned from her desk to join the conversation in a different mood than the day before.

"That's true. You moved too well to be just a U.A. student... Not to mention how you saved that boy." Melissa pointed at Katsuki, who quickly became fooled and started shouting things that no one cared about.

Reiji lowered his gaze slightly with a half-smile, neither denying nor confirming.

"Maybe I trained a little more than recommended."

"Just a little?" Momo muttered quietly, as if to herself, but audible enough.

Reiji looked at her.

"Was that a critical comment or...?"

Momo blinked, realizing her thought had been spoken out loud.

"Huh? N-no, just... a technical observation." She looked down at her folder, trying to compose herself. A slight pink blush of pure embarrassment rose to her cheeks.

"Relax, I'll take that as a compliment."

Soft laughter rippled down the row. Even Iida, from his position, seemed to relax his rigidity a bit upon seeing the group dynamic.

"You have an interesting ability to generate conversation without saying much," Tokoyami commented, his voice somber.

"Well... I learned it from my sister, I guess," Reiji replied, without explaining what he meant. Meanwhile, some others immediately sparked curiosity.

"You have a sister?" Kaminari asked, tilting his head with an expression of interest.

Mina narrowed her eyes, as if trying to connect the dots.

"Don't tell me she goes to U.A. too?"

"Hero Department, Senior Generation?" He clarified a bit, helping the quicker ones connect immediately.

Melissa snapped her fingers.

"Himiko Toga! Right? The girl with the Blood Transformation Quirk. The one who was in the generals' class. I heard they transferred her to the hero class."

The murmur spread through the class like a small wave. Momo watched it with renewed interest.

"Is your sister... Himiko Toga?"

Reiji shrugged, as if it didn't matter.

"Yes. But outside the house, we don't usually mix that..." He paused slightly, remembering his encounter with Nejire and how she told him that Himiko couldn't stop talking about him. "At least, I don't. She's got her thing going, and I... well, I'm just starting out."

"That's amazing," Camie said, her voice a little lower, as if she'd processed it a second too late. "And it explains quite a few things."

"Like what?"

"Well, the way you move. Your technique, control, and all that," Camie said, turning to him with that lopsided smile of hers. "I don't know... it's like you're already a hero."

Reiji just smiled calmly. If they knew he was actually the one who taught Himiko, they wouldn't believe him anyway. Meanwhile, Shidoroki, though distant from everyone, was also listening attentively to the conversation.

"And is that a good thing or something I should deny?"

"It depends on how much you want to keep attracting attention," Mina mentioned with a laugh. "Although I think it's too late for that."

"You'd better get used to it," Momo added elegantly, but with a knowing look. "Most people here don't usually go unnoticed for long."

"Maybe it's genetics," Kirishima pointed out from his spot, amused. "Having a sister like Himiko Toga must bring a lot of attention by default. She did a great job at the festival! Now that I think about it, she even transformed into you!"

"And that's precisely why she lost," Reiji joked with a relaxed smile.

Everyone laughed, even Melissa, who just looked down to hide a smile.

But just when it seemed they were about to start asking more questions, Reiji casually diverted the focus.

"By the way... Is it normal that they sell curry bread so cheaply at the vending machine in aisle B? I mean, ten yen a pop sounds illegal."

"What?! Really?!" Denki exclaimed, immediately turning around. "I swear it was twenty yesterday!"

"I saw it on the cafeteria app," Sero said. "Today is a promotion!"

"Let's go during break!" Mina shouted, raising her hand as if asking for permission.

By that time, the atmosphere had completely shifted toward trivialities and jokes. Even Iida, though trying to maintain his composure, was smiling helplessly.

Reiji rested his chin on his hand, watching everyone join in the conversation. Domestic chaos. A class that seemed, at least until now, normal.

And then—

BAM!

The door slammed open.

"I'm walking through the door like a normal person!"

The unmistakable voice echoed throughout the classroom.

All Might appeared with a grand pose and his signature bright smile, as if gravity didn't apply to him. His presence overshadowed everything.

"I'm here... to lead your FIRST TEAM COMBAT TRAINING!"

The entire class roared with excitement. Some stood up without realizing it. Even Bakugo seemed excited, though he only grunted under his breath.

Reiji just looked at him, showing no surprise or resemblance to him. He just analyzed him.

'First time I've seen him... I can feel that aura he conveys from the manga, though nothing too impressive. He's definitely coming to an end.'

***

The training area gradually filled up as students emerged from the locker room in their respective outfits. Some with striking designs, others more modest but functional.

When Reiji finally walked through the door, several eyes turned toward him.

His suit was simple, designed and manufactured entirely by Mei Hatsume, who had constructed it with surgical precision from the support workshop to which she now had full access.

A dark fabric covered part of his neck and wrapped the lower half of his face like a tactical scarf, with a detachable system. His official mask, made of an alloy mixed with his own solidified blood, was hooked to a support at his waist, ready to be used if needed.

The tactical belt included three sealed compartments with stabilizing syringes, short blades made of porous metal filaments that allowed blood to be channeled into fixed structures, and an emergency kit with two capsules of anti-famine serum for extreme cases.

But the most notable were the torso sensors: integrated with microcircuits developed by Mei, they monitored her pulse, temperature, and chemical variations in her blood flow in real time. If an overload was detected, the system automatically activated a localized electrostatic field that blocked the impulse for up to an hour, depending on the intensity level.

"Wow, even your suit looks like a pro," Mina mentioned the moment she saw it, approaching him. Reiji just looked at her; her suit's sole purpose was to be comfortable and pleasant for her. Other than that, it had no noticeable features. Most were like that...

"It's functional. My friend Mei custom-made it," Reiji replied calmly, adjusting one of the straps on his glove. "Besides, yours looks pretty good too. Although, given how your Quirk works... haven't you considered making acid bombs?" Reiji suggested, the thought having not yet occurred to him. Her past life was where she devised various types of enhancements for each person in her class, adding to her current worldview.

"Acid... bombs?" Mina repeated, blinking. Clearly she hadn't thought of that.

"Your Quirk, wrapped in a flexible sphere. If you can regulate your concentration, you could throw them from a distance without having to get too close. It would be useful in closed areas or to keep enemies with a range advantage at bay."

Mina was silent for a second. Then she smiled, completely delighted with this new discovery.

"Wow... I hadn't thought of that. You... How did you come up with something only after seeing my Quirk and my suit?"

"It's a mental exercise," Reiji said, looking ahead. "It helps me understand how Quirks fit into a group strategy."

"Interesting way of thinking," Melissa murmured suddenly, standing next to them with a folder in hand and a discreet smile. He'd joined the conversation effortlessly, as if he were already part of the group.

His outfit was simple but elegant: a white jumpsuit with thin gold lines running down his arms and torso, accompanied by a visor attached to his left ear. It didn't look like a combat suit, but Reiji noticed multiple devices on all his limbs, identical to those used in yesterday's test.

"They probably only manifest when needed."

"Quirks are one part of the equation," Melissa added confidently. "But thinking about how to strategically complement them... that's something few people do so early on."

Reiji nodded slightly. "It's not that difficult if you get used to reading patterns. Besides... there's a lot one can infer just by observing."

"So you're the kind of person who observes first, acts later," Melissa commented with interest, crossing her arms. "That explains why you noticed the function of my glove."

"Yes, but it also depends on the context," he replied, not arrogantly but with conviction. "If someone like Kaminari rushes in without thinking, someone has to calculate first."

"Hey!" Kaminari's voice sounded from a few steps behind, feigning offense. "That was unnecessarily specific!"

Soft laughter spread among those who heard him. Even Momo let out a small laugh, covering her mouth with her hand.

"Relax, I meant it as an example," Reiji murmured without turning around, but with a subtle curve to his lips.

Melissa glanced at him. "I don't know if you're a prodigy... Or just a strange guy."

"Can't you be both?" Mina said playfully.

Before he could respond, All Might raised his voice from the courtyard, gesturing toward the practice building.

"All right, young heroes! Gather in front of me! It's time to put your skills to the test!"

The group began walking toward him. Reiji, without losing his composure, stepped forward slightly, and both Mina and Melissa followed him without hesitation.

They walked toward the central courtyard, where the students in their respective costumes were already gathered. Some were practicing moves, others were talking among themselves.

All Might was already waiting for them in front of the entrance gate. With his typical dramatic pose, he raised his arm and, in a powerful voice, exclaimed:

"Future heroes! Your first real challenge begins now!"

The group gathered in front of him. Reiji took a neutral position, not seeking attention but clearly the center of several curious glances.

Mina, beside him, still wore a faint smile. She didn't say anything else, but the atmosphere between them was already different.

All Might took a step forward and extended his arm toward the building.

"We're starting with a combat simulation! Team battles... and a bomb you must capture!"

"Some things remain the same..."

===

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