Nova crept into her foster home through the back door. Sighing as she slipped off her shoes. Not wanting to make too much noise.

While her guardian, miss Karon did know she was invited to go to the UA exams she scoffed at the idea. Refusing to believe it was more than just a prank or a publicity stunt. So Nova figured the best course of action was to draw as little attention to it as possible until she heard back.

She took off her jacket and untied her bun. Letting her stiff hair fall out. Sticky from the amount of gel she used on it to keep it in the bun. She crept up the stairs and quickly gathered her things to take a shower.

She lived with a foster mom and one other sibling who was also in foster care. Nova had been in several homes before, hopping from place to place trying to find one where she "fit". Often in foster care a child would remain in custody until their parents were able to have them back. After they fixed things about themselves or their homes and were once again deemed fit.

That would never happen for Nova. She knew that. Her father was dead, that much was obvious. He'd never come back for her. He died in prison.

Given the death penalty via drop hanging. Which was the most common method of execution in Japan at the time.

Now the death penalty was banned completely. Deemed 'inhumane'. Even the most evil prisoners had to live out life sentences instead. Nova wondered if her life would be different now if her father had been given an average life sentence instead of the death penalty.

Would she visit him? Still?

When he was a prisoner. She did see him once, a few weeks before his execution. She couldn't ever forget that day... Everything was in vivid detail.

On the other hand her mother was also dead. At least that's what her father had told her. Died in childbirth, not with Nova... With a child after her. Who died also. Leaving her and her father... Alone.

A long while after that Nova was left alone completely.

She got into the bathroom and stripped off her uniform entirely. Locking the simple chain lock they had on the door. Turning on the cold water. There wasn't any hot, Miss Karon probably used it all earlier in the morning. Trying to get over a possible hangover.

Nova got in, quickly washing out her hair and using lots of bubbly shampoo and conditioner. Scrunching it in her hands to try and reform her curls. Her poor hair sustained lots of abuse while she was in Junshi. But her natural curls were as resilient as she was. After a good wash and proper drying they popped right back up.

She took in a few careful breaths as she stepped out. Looking at herself in the mirror as she pulled on a tank top and jean shorts.

She feared that... She looked exactly like what people expected when hearing her name.

Not only did she have the eyes and hair of her father, but she had the appearance of an overall delinquent. She had at least five piercings on each ear. But that wasn't necessarily to make her look cool... They served a purpose.

Holding metal.

No one saw earrings as weapons. But they made Nova feel safer. Knowing she had enough metal on her person to at very least craft a knife to defend herself.

She also had a ring through the side of her right nostril. Silver like most of her other jewelry, serving the same purpose.

However the tattoo on her left shoulder was utterly purposeless. Something Nova sincerely regretted. Two birds flying on her upper arm. They were pretty, and fairly well done. But she had gotten them as result of a dare from upperclassmen. A group she had wanted to fit in with.

It got her expelled from Nabu Jr high.

She hated herself for constantly slipping into people's expectations of her. Sometimes it almost seemed like she was doomed to fill her father's shoes. Small screw ups like those made it obvious what she was destined to be.

No matter how hard she fought it... In the end she was always... Villainous.

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

"So? What did you think?" Nezu asked, kicking his feet as he sat at his desk.

"Huh?" Aizawa asked in confusion, it had been days since the exams. He has almost forgotten about red, and his assessment of her performance.

"The girl? Examinee number 902? What did you think?" He asked, pouring a cup of tea for Aizawa. Pushing it towards him.

Aizawa sighed and picked it up. "Why are you so interested anyways?" He asked. "She seemed like a normal kid for the most part."

"Humor me." Nezu hummed.

"Well." Aizawa cleared his throat. "Her quirk is strong. She shows good restraint and reaction time."

"...but?" Nezu asked. Hearing the doubt in Aizawa's tone.

"You said I get to decide if she gets into the hero course right?" Aizawa questioned. Nezu nodded.

"Yes I did say that."

"My answer is no. There's no place for her in the hero course. Especially not my class."

"Oh?" Nezu put down his tea cup. "Why not?" He asked. Though he didn't see all that shocked.

"The entire time she was holding back. She never actually gave it a hundred percent. Never gave it full effort whatsoever. She basically stopped attacking halfway through the exam. She barely did enough to pass." He explained. He seemed a little aggravated by that fact. "There's no place for anyone that doesn't give full effort in my class. Let alone UA. Our whole motto is going beyond plus ultra."

"Hm... Interesting perspective." Nezu nodded. "I suppose you are right. She didn't try nearly enough to get into the hero course."

"Right." Aizawa nodded.

"Although... She also showed great selflessness. When she rescued examinee 270, Kyoka Jirou..." Nezu added with a hum. "She earned enough rescue points to get herself into the hero course."

"Yes but still. She obviously doesn't even want to get in that badly." Aizawa argued.

"Does that mean she's less worthy?"

"I think so. I think you have to work to get what you want. Especially for something like this. It wouldn't be fair to hand it to her." Aizawa crossed his arms.

"It wouldn't be handing it if she did win it. Even Though she didn't give it full effort..." Nezu sighed. "In reality I think she just doesn't believe she deserves it. That's what I picked up when I interviewed her."

"You interviewed her?" Aizawa raised an eyebrow.

"Oh of course. She's a part of our scholarship program. I interview all of them to decide who's the best fit." Nezu smiled. "She's a very humble young lady, kept thanking me for the opportunity."

"Are you going to at least tell me who she is?" Aizawa asked with a glare.

"Hm of course. I just thought it would be wise to keep it secret so I could know your genuine opinion." Nezu smiled. "She's Nova Kurayami."

Aizawa paused at the mention of the name.

To put it in perspective, hearing or saying 'Kurayami' in Japan was like casually mentioning 9/11 in America in the early 2000s. Depending on who was around, the villain could be a very touchy subject. And held a lot of weight behind the name.

"As in... Rikko Kurayami?" Aizawa clarified.

"The very one. She's his daughter." Nezu smiled. "Isn't that deliciously scandalous?"

"My God Nezu... You are insane." Aizawa rubbed his eyes. He didn't have any personal vendetta against Kurayami. Simply because of her name and her father. But it was still crazy of Nezu to be doing all of this. For what appeared to be his own sick amusement. "My opinion still stands. She doesn't belong in the hero course."

"A pity." Nezu pouted.

"Right. A pity."

"For you. Because I am absolutely putting her in the hero course." Nezu smiled up at him.

"Why would you even give me the option then?!" Aizawa asked with a groan.

"I wanted your opinion! And in all honesty I thought you'd surely say yes... You've grown ornery in your old age Aizawa." Nezu sighed. "It was a small ruse, I hope you'll forgive me."

"You're insane Nezu."

"Quite." Nezu smiled. "She's Also going to be in your class. I hope you don't mind."

Aizawa groaned. "Fine. She can't be any worse than the other shits you put in my classes. Just know I won't treat her any different. I'll work her just as hard as everyone else."

"Oh Aizawa... I'm counting on that. Why else would I put her in your class?"

A/N: the tattoos