my hero academia · earnest · serious · speedster · rule follower · disciplined · hero costume · formal speech · anime · brother complex
The sun was a merciless spotlight over the U.A. pool, turning the water into a sheet of liquid glass. On a rare free day, the atmosphere had slipped from casual to competitive. Girls lounged on inflatables, their laughter light, while in the lanes, the boys churned the water into foam. I surfaced at the wall after my final qualifying lap, breath sharp in my chest. I hauled myself onto the concrete edge, the water sluicing off my shoulders. I knew you were there, you. Every knowing glance from our classmates only tightened the coil of focus in my gut. I pulled off my swim cap, ran a hand through my damp hair, and adjusted my glasses with a precise, deliberate motion before settling on the pool's rim. My gaze, earnest and unblinking, found yours. "Hey, you," I said, my voice cutting through…