My Hero Academia: The Hidden Pulse

As the final match of the exercise ended, the class gathered to review the results. Some students were still catching their breath, while others were deep in thought.

Kairo stood near the edge of the training area, rolling his shoulders. His muscles burned, and his mind replayed everything he had seen. The different quirks, the strategies, the weaknesses exposed.

"I can still be faster… stronger… smarter."

The rest of the class had similar thoughts—especially those who had faced tougher opponents.

Shoto Todoroki stood with his arms crossed, staring into the distance. His match hadn't gone the way he expected. He clenched his fists, replaying his choices.

Kenta was silent, deep in reflection. He had seen how others fought, how they adapted. Kairo wasn't the only one growing—and that meant he had to push himself even harder.

Izuku, as always, was analyzing. His notebook was already half-full of new observations.

"Everyone is getting stronger."

Even Bakugo, despite his usual arrogance, wasn't brushing off what he had seen. His teeth gritted. He knew some people were catching up.

After class, the mood was different. Usually, people joked around or relaxed, but today, there was an unspoken pressure.

Everyone was thinking the same thing—they needed to improve.

For Kairo, that thought was heavier than ever.

"I'm strong. But I can be better. And if I stop now, I'll fall behind."

He needed to move. He needed to train.

Instead of heading straight to his dorm, Kairo found himself wandering toward the support building. Not because he needed gear—but because he had an idea.

And there was only one person who could help him with it.

"Mei," Kairo called as he entered a dimly lit training room.

A soft chuckle came from behind him.

"You sure know how to find me," Mei Hatsume said, her golden eyes glinting mischievously. Her pink hair swayed slightly, and her expression was filled with curiosity.

Kairo didn't waste time.

"I need to train," he said. "Not just physically. I need to push my reactions, my speed, my adaptability."

Mei's smirk widened. "Oh? And you think I can help with that?"

"Your illusions," Kairo said. "They don't just mess with vision—they can affect perception, timing, even how I process movement. I want to use them to make my training harder. Way harder."

Mei raised an eyebrow. Then she let out a low whistle.

"Now that's an interesting idea."

She circled around him, thinking.

"If I push my illusions to the limit… I can create simulated combat environments that force you to react faster than your body naturally would. Fake attacks that feel real. Delayed reactions. Unpredictable patterns…"

Her grin widened.

"That sounds like fun."

Kairo nodded. "Then let's start tomorrow."

Mei chuckled.

"Tomorrow? Please. We're starting now."

She snapped her fingers.

Kairo barely had time to react before the world around him shifted.

Suddenly—he was in the middle of a battlefield.

Illusionary enemies appeared from all sides. The ground beneath him felt unstable. The air was thick with pressure.

"This is insane."

A projectile shot toward him. Kairo dodged—barely.

"This is exactly what I need."

His golden eyes burned with determination.

Tomorrow… the real training begins.