The moment the news sank in, the entire classroom exploded.
Midoriya Izuku nearly shouted:
"What?! An S-class wanted criminal?!"
Tenya Iida's voice trembled with disbelief.
"This all happened in just one day… what could possibly have happened?!"
Katsuki Bakugo frowned, his tone sharp and suspicious.
"You've got to be kidding. What kind of joke is this?"
Shoto Todoroki spoke in a low, steady voice:
"Shina Etsuha risked his life to save Class A. There's no way he would suddenly become a wanted criminal."
Eijiro Kirishima scratched his head, completely confused.
"What the hell is going on…? Etsuha? A criminal? That doesn't make any sense!"
Momo Yaoyorozu's eyes widened in disbelief.
"This… this has to be fake…"
No one in Class 1-A could accept it.
Just one day and one night ago, Etsuha had been fighting to protect them. Now he was being labeled as a national criminal?
It was too sudden. Too absurd.
Aizawa Shouta had clearly anticipated their reaction.
He raised the video recorder slightly and said calmly:
"The full details are in the news. I understand that you find this hard to believe… but Shina Etsuha is currently in a very unusual situation."
He paused briefly before continuing:
"During the incident, he also killed a Pro Hero named Death Buster. That is an indisputable fact."
Midoriya clenched his fists, anger flashing across his face.
"There's no way Etsuha would kill a Hero without a reason! There has to be something behind it!"
Aizawa's voice remained cold and firm.
"Remember the rules I just stated, Midoriya Izuku. That's your first warning."
Midoriya forced himself to calm down, though his fists remained tightly clenched.
Tsuyu Asui, standing beside him, spoke gently:
"Don't get worked up. We all trust Etsuha's character. Aizawa-sensei should be able to explain what really happened… ribbit."
Midoriya gave a strained smile.
"…Thanks."
Aizawa silently pulled down the classroom screen.
He inserted the memory card from the recorder, and within moments, the day's news broadcast began to play.
A female reporter appeared on screen, her expression serious.
"We interrupt with urgent news. A catastrophic incident has occurred in a small town on the outskirts of Hosu City."
"The suspect, Shina Etsuha, is believed to have used unknown methods to kill more than fifty people and cause massive destruction. Experts estimate damages to exceed 200 million yen."
"In addition, Shina Etsuha has killed a Pro Hero known as Death Buster and has since fled Hosu City."
"He has now been officially designated as an S-class criminal and is wanted nationwide."
The footage shifted.
The ruined battlefield came into view.
A massive crater dominated the screen, as if the earth itself had been torn apart. Buildings lay shattered in every direction. The devastation looked almost unreal.
Then came interviews.
Several Pro Heroes appeared on screen—those who had arrived after the battle.
None of them had witnessed the fight between Etsuha and All For One.
When questioned, they spoke vaguely. Their answers lacked detail, but all of them subtly confirmed one point:
Etsuha had killed around fifty people.
The broadcast ended.
For a brief moment—
Silence.
Then—
The entire class erupted.
"Fifty people?! Where's the proof?!"
"They're only talking about the deaths—what about the reason?! Why did Etsuha fight?! Who were those people?!"
"They're hiding everything important!"
"This is completely one-sided reporting!"
"Etsuha must have had a reason!"
Aizawa raised a hand, signaling for silence.
"You've all seen it," he said calmly. "Just as you pointed out—the report is incomplete. It only presents the results, not the full truth behind Shina Etsuha's actions."
Iida clenched his fists, his voice filled with frustration.
"And that's enough to convict him?! I refuse to accept that!"
Many of the others nodded in agreement, their expressions filled with anger.
Aizawa looked at them quietly before asking:
"Tell me—has the school not repeatedly emphasized that using your quirk in public without a Hero license is considered a crime?"
The class fell silent.
No one could argue that.
Seeing their reaction, Aizawa sighed softly.
"If it were only unauthorized quirk usage, the consequences might not have been this severe."
He continued:
"Shina Etsuha eliminated a major threat—arguably one of the most dangerous enemies we've faced. Despite his extreme methods, that is a significant achievement."
"But…"
He paused.
"More than fifty people died during that battle. Even if they were criminals, they were still legally civilians until formally convicted."
"And without a Hero license, Etsuha had no authority to attack them."
"That became the trigger for everything that followed."
After a moment, he added:
"The final turning point was when Etsuha killed the Pro Hero Death Buster… after being provoked and pushed to that limit."
"That act is what led to him being declared wanted."
Midoriya's teeth clenched tightly.
"So because of a few pieces of trash… Etsuha is branded a criminal?!"
For the first time, his anger wasn't just emotional—it was deeply rooted.
And he wasn't alone.
Many students began to realize something unsettling.
The world of "Heroes" wasn't as pure as they had once believed.
Aizawa spoke quietly:
"This is something I want all of you to understand."
"No matter what happens… don't lose yourselves."
He turned toward the door.
"There are no classes today. That concludes the morning meeting."
"Sensei!"
Momo suddenly stood up.
"Etsuha isn't a Villain!"
Aizawa paused.
After a brief silence, he nodded.
"…I know."
What he didn't say—
Was that Shina Etsuha had already been targeted by one of the strongest Pro Heroes.
Endeavor.
Under those circumstances…
Etsuha's chances of survival were slim.