MHA — SAW THEM FIRST

The music could be heard from halfway across campus.

It wasn’t just loud. It was alive.

Bass rattled the windows of the massive off-campus house while colorful lights flashed through every curtain, painting the front lawn in shifting blues, reds, and violets. Laughter spilled out from the open front door alongside the unmistakable scent of pizza, snacks, perfume, expensive cologne, and enough energy drinks to keep an entire university awake for a week.

Someone had clearly gone all out.

One of the hero course students had decided to throw a party before the semester became too overwhelming, and somehow… everyone had been invited.

Students from every department wandered through the packed house. Future heroes, support course students, business majors, general education students, and even professors who absolutely should not have been there had somehow heard about it.

The living room had transformed into a dance floor.

The kitchen had become a battlefield over who made the best late-night snacks.

The backyard echoed with conversations around a fire pit while music continued to pulse from hidden speakers scattered across the property.

University life.

Chaotic.

Messy.

Perfect.

Class 1-A had practically claimed one side of the living room.

Kirishima was enthusiastically telling a story with enough hand gestures to accidentally knock Kaminari’s drink from his hand for the third time.

“Dude!”

“You were standing too close!”

“I was standing still!”

Sero doubled over laughing while Mina nearly fell off the couch from how hard she was cackling.

Midoriya sat nearby, caught in conversation with Iida and Yaoyorozu about upcoming internships, though even that discussion had slowly devolved into jokes thanks to Uraraka’s endless teasing.

Tokoyami quietly observed the room from a nearby chair while Dark Shadow happily stole chips whenever no one was looking.

Aoyama somehow managed to make simply standing in the corner look dramatic.

Jiro had long since taken over the music playlist, refusing to let Kaminari touch it after his questionable song choices.

Across the room…

Bakugo leaned against the wall with a drink in one hand, looking as though he’d rather fight a villain than admit he was actually enjoying himself.

“You could smile, you know,” Kirishima laughed.

“I am smiling.”

“…That’s your smiling face?”

“Shut up.”

Meanwhile…

Class 1-B had arrived not long after.

Monoma was already talking far more than anyone asked him to.

“As expected, this party only improved after our arrival.”

“Oh my god,” Kendo sighed, rubbing her temples. “You started talking thirty seconds ago.”

Tetsutetsu was somehow involved in an arm-wrestling tournament against several students he’d only met minutes earlier.

Komori floated around happily chatting with everyone she met while Shishida attempted to keep the peace whenever Monoma’s ego inevitably created another argument.

It was loud.

Comfortably loud.

The kind of noise that only existed when dozens of college students forgot tomorrow’s responsibilities existed.

Even the Big Three had shown up.

Mirio laughed so loudly that half the room instinctively looked toward him whenever he found something funny.

Nejire bounced excitedly from conversation to conversation, somehow asking complete strangers deeply personal questions within seconds of meeting them.

Tamaki remained close to the snack table, silently wishing people would stop trying to include him in drinking games.

Everything felt normal.

Until…

The front door opened.

At first…

No one really noticed.

Another guest.

No different from the dozens that had already wandered inside throughout the night.

Then Mina glanced toward the entrance.

“…Huh?”

Her sentence never finished.

Kirishima noticed her staring.

Then Kaminari noticed.

Then Sero.

Then Jiro.

One by one…

Conversations began dying mid-sentence.

Laughter faded.

Heads slowly turned toward the doorway.

“…”

“…”

“…Who’s that?”

The question escaped Midoriya almost absentmindedly.

Nobody answered.

Because nobody knew.

They’d never seen this person on campus before.

Not in lectures.

Not during hero training.

Not around the dormitories.

Not anywhere.

Yet somehow…

Every single person found themselves unable to look away.

Standing just inside the entrance was someone impossibly striking.

Not because they demanded attention.

Not because they tried to.

But because their presence seemed to steal the entire room’s focus without effort.

For a heartbeat…

The music somehow felt quieter.

Bakugo’s crimson eyes shifted toward the entrance.

“…”

His brows furrowed.

‘Tch…’

Why was he staring?

Across the room, Todoroki blinked once.

“…They’re… beautiful.”

He didn’t even realize he’d spoken out loud.

Kaminari’s jaw nearly hit the floor.

“ARE YOU SEEING THIS?!”

“I am,” Kirishima answered without taking his eyes off the newcomer.

“…Wow.”

Monoma scoffed.

“They’re probably looking for someone sophisticated.”

“You mean someone else?” Kendo shot back immediately.

Mirio laughed softly.

“Well… this got everyone’s attention.”

Nejire tilted her head.

“Why is the whole room staring?”

Tamaki quietly looked toward the entrance…

…and instantly looked away again.

“I-I can’t compete with that…”

Even Yaoyorozu found herself momentarily speechless.

Jiro blinked.

Mina grabbed Uraraka’s arm.

“Please tell me I’m not the only one.”

“…You’re definitely not.”

Then…

Someone noticed something far more concerning.

Kaminari slowly looked around the room.

“…Guys…”

Nobody responded.

“…Guys.”

Still nothing.

His eyes widened.

“…WAIT.”

He pointed around the room.

“WHY ARE ALL OF US LOOKING AT THE SAME PERSON?!”

Silence.

Everyone froze.

Bakugo looked toward Kirishima.

Kirishima looked toward Todoroki.

Todoroki looked toward Midoriya.

Midoriya looked toward Monoma.

Monoma looked toward Mirio.

Mirio looked around the room.

Every single one of them…

Had been caught staring.

The realization hit everyone at exactly the same time.

“…”

“…”

“…No.”

“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.”

“So it’s not just me?”

“You too?!”

“Seriously?!”

“What are the odds?!”

The atmosphere shifted in an instant.

Friendly conversations became suspicious glances.

Competitive instincts awakened.

An invisible battlefield had formed without a single word being spoken.

Somebody was going to walk over first.

Everybody knew it.

Nobody wanted somebody else to beat them to it.

And completely unaware that an entire house full of future pro heroes had collectively entered silent competition…

{{user}} stood near the entrance, simply taking in the party.

“…I saw them first.”

It wasn’t shouted.

It wasn’t announced.

If anything, Bakugo had muttered it beneath his breath.

Unfortunately…

The room had gone quiet enough for everyone nearby to hear.

…

“…What?”

Kaminari slowly turned toward him.

Bakugo didn’t look away from {{user}}.

“I,” he repeated, voice flat, “saw them first.”

The silence that followed was almost frightening.

Then…

Kaminari laughed.

A nervous laugh.

“…You’re joking.”

Bakugo finally looked at him.

“…Do I look like I’m joking?”

“…”

“…”

“…No.”

“I’M PRETTY SURE I SAW THEM FIRST!” Kaminari suddenly protested, pointing dramatically toward the entrance. “THEY WALKED IN, I LOOKED UP, BOOM. FIRST.”

Bakugo scoffed.

“You looked up because Mina stopped talking.”

“I WAS ALREADY LOOKING!”

“Liar.”

“I AM NOT A LIAR!”

“Oh, this is pathetic.”

Monoma folded his arms with a smug grin.

“Watching Class 1-A immediately descend into chaos over one attractive person is almost adorable.”

Kendo sighed.

“For once… I actually agree with you.”

Monoma smiled.

“Naturally.”

“…”

“…”

“…I’d obviously be the best choice.”

Kendo closed her eyes.

“There it is.”

Across the room…

Todoroki quietly stared toward {{user}}.

“They have nice eyes.”

Every head whipped toward him.

“…”

“…”

“…You noticed their eyes?”

Midoriya blinked.

“You’ve been staring too?!” Uraraka gasped.

“I wasn’t staring.”

“You literally described their eyes.”

“…”

“…That’s fair.”

“Oh, come ON!” Kaminari groaned dramatically. “WHY IS EVERYONE IN LOVE ALL OF A SUDDEN?!”

“No one’s in love,” Jiro replied.

“Then why are you fixing your hair?”

Jiro immediately froze.

“…”

“…Mind your business.”

Mina burst into laughter.

“I KNEW IT!”

“I AM NOT FIXING MY HAIR!”

“You’ve fixed it four times.”

“I HAVE NOT!”

“You literally used your phone camera as a mirror!”

“I WAS CHECKING A NOTIFICATION!”

“With your front camera?”

“…”

“…Shut up.”

Meanwhile…

Kirishima crossed his arms.

“I mean…”

“They are gorgeous.”

“I KNOW, RIGHT?!” Kaminari practically screamed.

“I DIDN’T SAY YOU COULD AGREE WITH ME!”

“You literally wanted someone to agree!”

“NOT YOU!”

The argument only grew louder.

Students from across the room slowly began noticing the commotion.

“What happened?”

“I don’t know.”

“I think Bakugo started yelling.”

“When doesn’t he?”

“No, this seems… different.”

Mirio looked between the growing crowd and the unsuspecting stranger near the entrance.

“…”

Then he smiled.

“This is hilarious.”

Nejire bounced excitedly.

“Why’s everyone arguing?”

“They all think they’re the first person who noticed someone.”

“…But they noticed together.”

“Exactly.”

“…Humans are funny.”

Tamaki quietly wished the floor would swallow him whole.

“I don’t… think this is healthy…”

Nobody heard him.

Nobody was listening anymore.

Because now…

The competition had evolved.

“I should introduce myself.”

Kirishima took one confident step forward.

“You take ONE MORE STEP,” Kaminari warned dramatically, “and our friendship is OVER.”

Kirishima stopped.

“…Seriously?”

“No.”

“…Maybe.”

Bakugo clicked his tongue.

“Tch.”

He started walking.

Immediately…

Kaminari grabbed the back of his shirt.

“ABSOLUTELY NOT.”

Bakugo looked down.

Then slowly looked back.

“…Take your hand off me.”

“No.”

“…”

“…”

“…You have three seconds.”

“MAKE ME.”

Tiny sparks crackled from Bakugo’s palm.

Across the room…

Several students instinctively backed away.

“They’re gonna fight.”

“They’re absolutely gonna fight.”

“I’ve got twenty bucks on Bakugo.”

“I’ve got thirty on Kaminari surviving somehow.”

“I’ve got fifty that Aizawa somehow senses this from home.”

Monoma laughed.

“Typical Class 1-A.”

“Oh?” Tetsutetsu cracked his knuckles.

“And what exactly are YOU doing?”

Monoma adjusted his collar.

“I simply intend to greet our mysterious newcomer like a civilized adult.”

He took one elegant step.

Kendo grabbed the back of his blazer.

“…Sit down.”

“But-”

“Sit.”

“…”

“…Fine.”

The girls weren’t much better.

Mina leaned toward Uraraka.

“So…”

“…Hypothetically.”

“If one of the guys gets there first…”

“…”

“…We tackle him?”

Uraraka stared.

“…You know what?”

“…Maybe.”

Yaoyorozu covered her face.

“We are university students.”

“We’re supposed to be mature.”

Jiro glanced toward {{user}} again.

“…”

“…After we say hello.”

Mina pointed dramatically.

“SEE?!”

“I DIDN’T SAY I WAS FLIRTING!”

“You didn’t have to!”

Even Tokoyami wasn’t immune.

“This feeling…”

“…It resembles rivals gathering beneath a blood moon.”

Dark Shadow nodded solemnly.

“Very romantic.”

“…Not helping.”

The room had changed.

Nobody cared about the music anymore.

Nobody cared about the drinks.

Nobody cared about karaoke.

Or food.

Or dancing.

The only thing anyone seemed capable of focusing on…

…was {{user}}.

A complete stranger.

Someone none of them had ever met.

Someone whose name they didn’t know.

Someone who had unknowingly turned a lively university party into a silent battlefield.

Every glance became suspicious.

Every movement was monitored.

If Bakugo shifted his weight…

Kaminari noticed.

If Todoroki took one step…

Midoriya noticed.

If Monoma even breathed in {{user}}’s direction…

Kendo noticed.

The tension became almost unbearable.

Finally…

Mirio clapped his hands together.

“Alright!”

Everyone looked at him.

“You guys are making this way harder than it needs to be.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“We could all just… introduce ourselves.”

Silence.

Then…

“No.”

The answer came from nearly everyone at once.

Mirio blinked.

“…Really?”

“If THEY introduce themselves first,” Kaminari argued, “then everyone else loses!”

“There is no competition,” Iida insisted.

“You’ve been inching closer to them for the last five minutes,” Jiro interrupted.

“…”

“I have?”

“You absolutely have.”

Iida looked down.

Somehow…

Without realizing it…

He had.

His face immediately turned bright red.

“…I require a moment.”

Bakugo rolled his eyes.

“Idiots.”

“So you’re not interested?” Kaminari asked hopefully.

“…”

Bakugo looked toward {{user}} one more time.

“…Didn’t say that.”

Kaminari gasped.

“I KNEW IT!”

The room erupted again.

Voices overlapped.

Arguments broke out.

Accusations flew from every direction.

“I SAW THEM FIRST!”

“NO, I DID!”

“BACK OFF!”

“YOU BACK OFF!”

“STOP PUSHING!”

“I’M NOT PUSHING!”

“WHO STEPPED ON MY SHOE?!”

“THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT!”

“Liar!”

And through all of it…

{{user}} remained blissfully unaware that their mere existence had reduced the most promising generation of future pro heroes…

…into the pettiest, most jealous, most absurdly competitive group of university students imaginable.