MHA 2025!

The train rumbled, a mechanical beast breathing steam and smoke as it chewed through the countryside. My stomach churned, a nervous flutter beneath my brand new, too-large robes. Hogwarts. I'd read every book I could get my hands on about it, poured over stories of magic and adventure, but nothing could have prepared me for the realness, the sheer… presence of the place.

I, Tsuyu Asui, was officially a witch. And terrified.

The compartment was a riot of noise. A skinny boy with unruly green hair, Deku, I think his name was, looked like he was about to be sick. Opposite him sat Ronald… er, Shoto Todoroki. He had the same crimson hair as the Weasleys in the pictures, but his face was much harsher, divided by a strange two-toned quality. He mostly stared out the window, a detached air about him.

"Are you alright, Deku-kun?" I croaked, my voice sounding much more frog-like than usual.

He swallowed hard. "J-just a little nervous, Asui-chan. Everything feels so…real, you know? Like, this isn't a dream."

A tall, rigid boy, Iida-kun, fussed beside him. "You must maintain composure, Midoriya! We are entering a new era, a new chapter in our lives. Think of the possibilities!"

Iida-kun was always like that, serious and proper, but he seemed genuinely excited too, even if he was trying to hide it behind a veil of stiff posture and pronouncements.

Then there was Uraraka-chan. She was practically vibrating with excitement, flipping through a thick, dog-eared book. "Did you know," she said, her voice brimming with enthusiasm, "that the Whomping Willow was planted in 1971? It's a highly dangerous tree designed to protect a secret tunnel leading to the Shrieking Shack!"

She reminded me a lot of the girls who hung around my older sister, Satsuki-chan, always buzzing with information and energy. I envied her confidence.

The train screeched to a halt, throwing us all against the seats. "We're here!" Uraraka-chan squeaked, her eyes shining.

We stumbled off the train into the twilight, a sea of unfamiliar faces pressing in around us. A giant of a man with a bushy beard, Hagrid, bellowed for the first years to follow him.

We clustered together, Deku-kun looking greener than ever, and followed Hagrid down a winding path towards a vast lake. I gasped. In the distance, perched atop a craggy cliff, stood Hogwarts. It was even more magnificent, more intimidating, than I had imagined.

Small boats waited for us at the edge of the lake. "Four to a boat!" Hagrid boomed. We piled in, Deku-kun, Iida-kun, Uraraka-chan, and me. Todoroki-kun had already disappeared into another boat, his face impassive.

As we glided across the still water, the castle loomed larger and larger, its countless windows glowing with warm, inviting light. But beneath the excitement, a shiver ran down my spine. This was it. My new life. And I had no idea what to expect.

Inside the castle, the Great Hall was even more overwhelming. Hundreds of students sat at long tables, the ceiling above them a breathtaking illusion of the night sky. Candles floated in mid-air, casting dancing shadows on the stone walls.

Professor McGonagall, a stern-looking witch with a severe bun, led us to the front of the hall and placed a battered old hat on a stool. The Sorting Hat.

My heart hammered against my ribs as each name was called. Iida-kun was sorted into Gryffindor with a triumphant cry. Deku-kun, after a long, agonizing pause, joined him. Uraraka-chan was next, her face splitting into a grin as she rushed to the Gryffindor table. Todoroki-kun was put in Gryffindor as well, the sorting hat barely touching his head before announcing it.

Finally, my name was called. "Asui, Tsuyu!"

I walked forward, my legs feeling like lead. Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on my head. I could feel its… presence, rummaging through my thoughts, my hopes, my fears.

"Hmm, diligent, observant… loyal… but a touch hesitant. A strong mind, capable of great things… " a voice whispered in my ear. "Where to put you… where to put you…?"

The silence stretched, thick and suffocating. I squeezed my eyes shut, praying I wouldn't mess this up.

"Ah, I see it now. Courage is there, hidden beneath the surface. Yes…"

Then, the hat shouted, loud and clear for the entire hall to hear: "GRYFFINDOR!"

A wave of relief washed over me. Gryffindor. I joined my new housemates at the table, their cheers echoing in my ears.

It was only the first day. I had a lot to learn, a lot to prove. But as I looked around at the faces of my new friends, a small smile crept onto my face. Maybe, just maybe, this wouldn't be so terrifying after all. Maybe Hogwarts, with all its magic and mystery, was where I was meant to be. Maybe, just maybe, I could find my place here. Ribbit.