Later that day, Midnight and Aizawa entered the classroom together, carrying a stack of forms. Midnight's energetic stride contrasted heavily with Aizawa's sluggish shuffle, but both stood at the front with authority.
"Listen up, class," Aizawa said in his usual monotone. "Today's exercise is one of the more important ones. You'll be working on your hero aliases. The names you choose here might just stick for the rest of your careers."
The moment he said that, the entire room erupted with chatter.
"Finally!" Mina squealed, bouncing in her chair.
"I've been waiting for this!" Kirishima added, his grin wide.
"Time to show the world the greatness of me!" Kaminari declared dramatically.
Even the usually calm students were buzzing with anticipation. Only Aizawa looked unaffected, pulling his capture scarf around his shoulders like he'd rather be anywhere else.
"To think the day would come," Mineta said, puffing out his chest. "I already have a whole list of what names I'll call myself. Which include Pimp, Angel Shot, and many more."
The room collectively ignored him, Mina rolling her eyes while Sero muttered, "Yeah, no one's taking that seriously."
Izuku leaned back in his chair, a quiet smile on his face as he thought.
' Maybe Krypton or something…' he mused. ' Since that is my home planet, though nobody knows that. Superman's already taken, and I don't plan on becoming him fully. I'll pave my own path, instead of just staying in his shadow.'
Midnight clapped her hands, reclaiming the attention of the room. "Alright, settle down, my lovelies! Each of you will come up here and present your chosen name to the class. Remember, it should be impactful, memorable, and say something about you as a hero!"
The first few students went up, proudly announcing their choices. Mina twirled and announced
"Alien Queen!" with sparkling flair.
Kaminari enthusiastically shouted "Chargebolt!" before striking a dramatic pose, earning laughter.
Kirishima slammed his fist into his palm and declared "Red Riot," his voice full of conviction.
Izuku watched each of them, taking mental notes, his hand resting casually on his chin. He wasn't nervous—just thoughtful.
"Midoriya, you'll be up soon," Midnight said, glancing at her list. "So I hope you've got something good in mind. After all, with your sports festival performance, the whole country's waiting to hear what kind of name you choose."
The class turned to look at him, murmurs rising.
"Yeah, what's he gonna pick?" Kaminari whispered.
"Bet it's something totally overpowered sounding," Jirou said, tapping her desk with a smirk.
Katsuki scowled from his seat, muttering, "Whatever he picks, mine'll be better."
Izuku just gave a small smile, leaning back. ' Guess I'd better not disappoint them.'
One by one, more of his classmates presented their names. Ochaco walked up nervously but with determination.
"My name will be… Uravity!" she said, clasping her hands together. "It represents gravity, but also keeping things light and hopeful."
The class clapped warmly, Mina squealed about how cute it was, and even Aizawa nodded approvingly.
Then came Tokoyami, his voice dramatic as he raised one hand. "I am… Tsukuyomi. The moon god of darkness." His words made Jirou shiver in delight.
Finally, Midnight looked at her list again and gave a teasing smile. "And next up, our rising star of the sports festival, Izuku Midoriya. Step right up!"
The whole class turned toward him, anticipation heavy in the air. Whispers filled the room:
"What's he gonna call himself?"
"No way he picks something simple…"
Izuku stood calmly, sliding his hands into his pockets as he walked to the front. His emerald eyes scanned the room, then he glanced at Midnight, who grinned at him.
"So, Izuku," she said playfully, "what will the world know you by?"
He paused for a moment, as if carefully weighing his words, then smiled.
"My hero name will be… Sentinel."
The room went quiet for a beat.
"It means guardian, protector," Izuku continued, his voice steady but carrying weight. "Someone who stands watch to make sure no one has to suffer. It's not about being the strongest—it's about being the shield for those who can't fight for themselves."
The silence broke instantly.
"Whoa, that's so cool!" Mina shouted.
"It fits him perfectly," Momo said with a nod.
"Sentinel…" Jirou repeated softly. "Yeah, I can see it."
Even Aizawa raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "Hn. Not bad, problem child."
Katsuki, however, clicked his tongue loudly, scowling. "Tch. Fancy words won't make you better than me, Deku." But even he couldn't completely mask the irritation that his rival had picked such a solid, powerful name.
Midnight beamed. "I like it! Strong, noble, and very marketable. Congratulations, Sentinel. From now on, that's who you'll be on the hero charts."
Izuku gave a small smile, but inside, his thoughts were calm and determined. ' Sentinel. A name I'll live up to—not because the world expects it, but because it's the path I've chosen for myself. Or whatever a main character would say. '
TO BE CONTINUED