A break and an offer of a lifetime.

Aizawa-sensei put all the kids in their place with the first lesson, instilling fear of being kicked out of the academy before even starting their studies. It was nerve-wracking, but Chris was able to calm down once again, watching the story unfold exactly as he remembered. No dangerous deviations from the anime plot.

The break after the third lesson from Present Mic began. Time to take action.

Chris approached Ashido and Kirishima, who were standing by the window and chatting animatedly. He needed someone with energy to start with — and this pair was perfect. He wanted to create a friendly atmosphere among his classmates, and he felt that Mina especially, with her ability to liven up any group, would be the perfect catalyst.

— Hi! — Chris greeted them with a warm smile. — I'm Chris Miller. I guess you’ve already seen me — Aizawa almost kicked me out of the academy just for making a joke about him looking like a caterpillar in his sleeping bag. He said heroes don’t joke and that it’s "not rational." Anyway! Let’s get to know each other better, shall we?

— Hello, Miller-senpai! — Mina immediately beamed at him, her big eyes sparkling with joy. — I'm Mina Ashido! It’s really nice to meet you! Ah! You even brought up Miss Joke back then! His look of rage was legendary — it should’ve been captured forever, hahahaha!

Her bright tone, slightly mischievous and full of energy, effortlessly removed any awkwardness. Her cheer was contagious.

— I'm Eijiro Kirishima! — the redhead chimed in with a wide, toothy “shark” grin. — Nice to meet you, Miller-san! Yeah, I remember your joke. I almost laughed right in front of him when I pictured a grumpy gray caterpillar with his face. Hahaha! But I don’t think laughing at a teacher is very manly… — he added, sounding slightly guilty.

Chris chuckled, looking from Mina to Kirishima.

— Huh. Yeah, I guess you're right. And just call me Chris, okay? I'm not from around here, so I’m more used to first names. — He paused, then clapped his hands lightly. — Actually, I had an idea! What if we all went out for a bit? A little walk, hang out at the mall, have some fun, and get to know each other better? Feels like a good way to bond. Like a real team!

— Oooh! What a great idea, Mil—erm, Chris-kun! — Mina’s face lit up, and she clapped her hands in delight. — Let’s tell the others! This is gonna be SO COOL!!

She spun around, raising her voice to address the classroom with bubbling energy.

— Hey, guys! Let’s meet at the mall tonight! Around six or seven? It’s the perfect chance to chill and talk! We’ll be tired anyway after today — time to relax! Who’s coming with us? Chris and Eijiro are already in!

The class was instantly filled with excited chatter. The wave of interest rippled through the room.

— That suggestion is quite reasonable! — Tenya Iida raised his hand sharply, then began chopping the air up and down in his usual robotic way. — We must take opportunities to strengthen class understanding and unity. I fully support this!

— I think it’s a great idea, — Momo Yaoyorozu added with a soft, calm nod. Her elegant presence made her words feel all the more reassuring. — It’s the right moment to connect as a class and develop teamwork. Count me in.

— What kind of crap is this?! — Bakugou’s voice exploded from the other side of the room. His expression was already twisting in annoyance. — Hanging out at some damn shopping mall? What a waste of time! I’m out!! Like hell I’m spending time with a bunch of extras…

— _W-_well, maybe it’s _n-not so bad... — Izuku Midoriya, standing next to him, tried to calm the situation. His voice trembled but his intent was clear. — It’s just a way to get to know each other better... I’m in_!

— I like it, — said Kyoka Jiro quietly, standing next to him. Her tone was calm and reserved, but firm. — Better to hang out in company than sit alone.

— Cool! This is gonna be so fun, right?! — Kaminari Denki grinned brightly, nearly bouncing in place from excitement.

— Ribbit. — Tsuyu Asui, ever calm and observant, nodded. — I think it’s a good idea. It’ll be nice to see everyone outside of class. And there’s lots of places to hang out at the mall. She smiled slightly, if that change in her expression could be taken for a smile.

As the class continued to discuss the idea and rejoice in their new connections, Chris watched with satisfaction. Everything was going smoothly. He could see the sense of camaraderie and unity beginning to develop among his classmates, and he knew that this evening stroll would only strengthen those bonds. Strengthen them in a special way…

With a smile on his face that could be mistaken for a grin upon closer inspection, he looked forward to seeing how each student in Class 1-A would change in particular.

"And remember! The Empire cares about you!"