The heavy tick of the clock on the classroom wall dragged on like a slow, inevitable death march. Jason Lax twirled his pen between his fingers, pretending to focus as the teacher droned on about basic hero laws. His mind wandered — not to the lesson, but to the way sunlight caught on the glass window, how the breeze stirred loose papers, and how the guy two rows over was seconds away from dozing off completely.
It was just another day at North Shizuoka Junior High. Ordinary. Predictable.
And boring as hell.
Jason stifled a yawn, leaning back in his chair until it precariously balanced on two legs. His body language screamed casual laziness, but his sharp gray eyes missed nothing — the subtle smirk of the class clown two seats away, the way the girl near the window kept tapping her pencil in Morse code patterns without realizing it, the tense shoulder of the new kid faking confidence.
He noticed everything.
He just chose to act like he didn't.
No Quirk, huh? Must be rough, Jason thought mockingly, remembering the look on their faces when his file had come in — "quirkless," it said, bold and pitiful. Their sympathy, their patronizing smiles, the way they lowered their expectations for him without even realizing it. It was all so predictable it almost made him laugh.
He glanced sideways.
Momo Yaoyorozu sat a few desks over, her posture perfect, her notes organized, her focus absolute. A model student in every way — smart, disciplined, rich... and somehow, still incredibly awkward.
Jason smirked.
The bell rang, cutting through the stale air like a blade.
Chairs scraped, students groaned, and in seconds, the room descended into happy chaos as kids packed up and raced for the door.
Jason took his time, sauntering over to Momo's desk with all the lazy confidence of a cat who owned the entire neighborhood.
"Hey, Princess," he drawled, tapping her notebook lightly. "Taking notes on how to be the world's most perfect student again?"
Momo jumped slightly, her cheeks tinging pink.
"I— I was just reviewing today's lesson," she said, voice a touch too high. "You could benefit from taking notes, you know."
Jason leaned in conspiratorially, lowering his voice like he was sharing a dark secret.
"Notes are for people planning to pass the normal way. I prefer the creative route."
She frowned, lips pursing slightly in that way she always did when trying not to smile.
"You mean failing creatively?"
"Exactly," Jason said with a wink, straightening up. "Gotta keep the teachers guessing."
Momo shook her head, muttering something about bad influences. Jason just chuckled, tossing his bag over his shoulder with a casual roll of his wrist.
The two of them fell into step as they exited the classroom, moving through the bustling hallways. Jason bumped her shoulder lightly with his own as they walked, just enough to make her stumble half a step.
"You should loosen up more," he said. "Smile. Laugh. Maybe pull a prank or two."
"I don't think pranks are part of a future hero's curriculum," Momo huffed, adjusting her bag.
Jason gave her a mock-serious nod.
"Exactly why it's so important. Gotta keep the hero world on its toes."
Momo glanced at him sideways, her face still faintly pink. Jason caught the look and flashed a grin, deliberately ruffling her perfectly combed hair just to see her sputter in protest.
He loved how easy she was to tease — the way she got flustered, the way she tried so hard to maintain composure even when he knew she was dying inside.
It wasn't cruel.
Not really.
It was just... fun.
And harmless.
Mostly.
As they stepped outside into the warm afternoon sun, Jason stretched his arms high above his head, letting out a loud, exaggerated yawn.
"Freedom!" he declared, startling a few passing students.
Momo just shook her head in exasperation, though a tiny laugh escaped her before she could stop it.
Jason grinned wider. Progress.