Chapter 242

Nezu and the U.A. staff weigh what it means to restart the Hero Work-Studies this quickly. The Hero Public Safety Commission wants every student hero in practical field training, and Midnight reads the demand for what it is: despite record hero numbers, they are short-handed. The Commission clearly doubts the official account of Deika City and suspects the League behind it, which points to an enormous crisis even if the requests stay vague. Readiness is simply what heroes do, Nezu says, and he asks the teachers to reach out to the top pros.

Days later, Nezu holds a video call with detective Naomasa Tsukauchi and All Might. Four months of watching the students since they moved into Heights Alliance has produced nothing, which suggests the traitor is not among them. All Might insists every student in the Hero course is genuine. Asked whether he will be back at U.A. later, he doubts it unless something happens to Izuku, and Nezu reminds him what the date is.

Class 1-A sets up for Christmas. Ochaco and Tsuyu are returning to Ryukyu, but Izuku has nowhere to go: the Nighteye Agency is buried in paperwork under Centipeder, and Gran Torino is out too. Katsuki, remembering the news of Best Jeanist's disappearance, does not know either. He recalls his internship, where the pro asked about his hero name, heard every option had been rejected, and told him an alias stands for what you want to be and ought to be, so come back as a second-year with a provisional license and say it then. Eijiro points out how many agencies remain open. Katsuki wants none of them.

Minoru complains that they came to celebrate, and Rikido carries in a roasted turkey. Shota turns up with Eri in a Santa Claus outfit. Izuku notices her horn has grown, and Shota reports she has become far more positive, having taken Izuku's encouragement to heart. The party runs its course with a surprise gift exchange. As cleanup starts, Shoto pulls Izuku and Katsuki aside: neither has anywhere to go, so would they intern alongside him at his father's agency.

The abrupt return of the work-studies leaves the faculty suspicious about what actually happened at Deika City. Christmas passes with Eri among Class 1-A, Ochaco's feelings for Izuku persist, visible in her blush over his present, and the chapter ends on Shoto's invitation.

Chapter 242, by Kohei Horikoshi, runs seventeen pages in volume 25 within the Endeavor Agency arc, published September 9, 2019 in issue 41, with Class 1-A on the cover and Episode 101 adapting it. My Hero Academia: Heroes: Rising slots into the timeline after the faculty meeting and before the party.