Chapter Text
The second day of school had begun!
Technically it was the first real day of school...
This time, Izuku and Himiko had arrived to school on time. Himiko hadn't starved because their mom made breakfast so they went straight to UA from home.
Izuku came in prepare to learn everything he could to become the best hero possible. On the other hand, Himiko was crushed when she found out that UA would still have them learning regular school subjects. Fortunately for her, she was placed in the far end of her row.
To her left sat a quiet tall boy with silver hair and a mask over his arms, she didn't know his name at all, to her right, was the boy with weird elbows and a white smile. It was a shame she wasn't sat with Tsu, she'd like to talk to her more often.
Still, she didn't complain, she could've ended up like Izuku, who was all the way up front and in the center. The teachers would only be about a few feet away from him so he wouldn't be able to slack off. Not like he did anyways.
The strict Aizawa only stayed with them for homeroom before Present Mic swapped out for him for his English class, which was too loud.
So... tired... Himiko groaned in her seat as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. It was only the second day they woke up this early and she was already hating it. She missed her bed, she missed her mom spoiling her, she missed her birthday costume!
What made it worse was that they'd be moving into the dorms in the next week! None of the staff members had told them anything about it yet so she and everyone else were still in the dark about it. The only thing she knew was that the second and third year students were already settled in their own dorms.
Whatever... I'll just daydream the day by...
But she didn't get a chance to do so as someone burst through the door, waking her up on the spot.
Clad in a shiny red outfit with silver linings, the huge figure hit a pose as his blue cape flew behind him.
"I AM HERE WALKING THROUGH THE DOOR LIKE A HERO!"
Ah... here he is, All MIght! She thought, unable to stop the frown from forming on her face. The other students had similar reactions of awe and amazement, even Tsu showed some emotion. But nothing could top Izuku's reaction as he had passed out from awe with tears streaming down his face after meeting his idol.
All Might did his iconic laugh while everyone else calmed down. Engine calves, or Iida, was trying to help Izuku wake up from his coma and managed to do so right as All Might finished laughing. Himiko could no longer fall asleep now that the hero was here, she was probably the second biggest All Might fan here beside Izuku but she was better at hiding her excitement. She figured she'd ask for an autograph when the time was right, and if it were true that he would be working here starting today, then she had a bunch of time.
"HA HA HA! Settle down young ones! I am here to help you all become the best heroes possible!" He started, hitting another pose that emphasized his muscular frame.
"He's wearing his Silver Age costume," Tsuyu commented from her seat. "That's the best version, ribbit!"
"Midobro was right! He is a teacher here, so cool!" Kirishima said from the seat in front of her. "He's so manly!"
"He's totes the muscle chad!" Camie said, although Himiko didn't understand what she meant at all. "I need a selfie with him for my fans!"
"Ha, your friend was correct! Greetings Class 1-A! I am your Foundation Hero Studies and Training teacher, All Might!" He greeted them again, posing with his hands to his sides and his head held high. Before continuing, he cleared his throat so the class knew to settle down again. "As your teacher, I'll be teaching you all the Hero Basic Training you'll need! This means I'll be training you all in different ways to learn the basics of heroism! I can see you're all eager to get started, so lets get right to it! Today's lesson is... COMBAT TRAINING!" All Might pressed a button from the remote in hand and a screen lowered itself before everyone. On it, it read BATTLE!
"Combat?!" The ash blonde idiot said, irking Himiko. She also noticed Izuku look nervous when the blonde yelled but he quickly recovered.
His excited expression annoyed her more than anything. She was the only one who had some suspicion that someone was going on between him and Izuku. She first got suspicious from how they acted around each other. Izuku was probably the person who was the slowest to anger but whenever he was around Bakugou, his eyes would get completely cold and calculating. It was the same way he looked when he was calculating Quirks, rather, Izuku looked prepared to fight Bakugou at anytime.
She just wished he'd talk to her about what else was going on, maybe she'd be able to help, maybe she'd shove a stick down Bakugou's throat to shut him up.
"Even better, you'll all get the choice to participate in your prepared Hero Costumes! These costumes were made based on your Quirk registrations and request you sent in before school started!" All Might pressed another button on the remote and pointed to the walls. Then, the walls slid open with multiple shelves with suitcases on them, each one with a number that corresponded with each students seat number.
"Our costumes!" The class said in excitement, many at the edge of their seats.
Himiko paid close attention to the number 10 briefcase. She felt butterflies in her stomach at the thought of her costume being inside, she couldn't wait!
"If you chose not to use them, change into your gym uniform. After you're changed, gather in Ground Beta!"
"Yes, sir!" The class collectively shouted, all standing up from their desks and reaching for their briefcases.
"Here we go, my first class!" All Might stood tall at the entrance to Ground Beta, exuding confidence despite the quiet nerves simmering under his iconic grin. This was a significant moment for him—not just as a teacher but as a hero tasked with helping shape the next generation.
Yet, he had a personal mission too: finding a worthy successor to carry the mantle of the Symbol of Peace. Among the students, one stood out already—Izuku Midoriya, the green-haired boy who's courage and determination he'd witness firsthand. Though he resolved to avoid favoritism, he couldn't help but feel a sense of hope whenever the boy was around.
The rest of Class 1-A remained a mystery to him, though some faces brought back memories. Shoto Todoroki, Endeavor's son, caught his attention with his composed demeanor and exceptional performance in the entrance exam. Though, the boy's closed-off attitude might seem like a challenge to him. From the looks of it, he didn't try conversing with any of his classmates at all. Maybe he'd open up in time.
One other student he recognized, although barely, was Momo Yaoyorozu. Her last name triggered small recollections of formal galas and business meetings attended by her father, Satoru Yaoyorozu. The last time All Might had seen her, she was just a child with a rather lonely environment, but now, she stood among her classmates who shared the same goal in mind. He couldn't help but notice the slight closeness that she and Izuku Midoriya had during the Quirk Assessment Test but that was something that Midnight would enjoy.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the metal sliding open. The students filed into Ground Beta, their hero costumes showing off parts of her personalities and aspirations. All Might's smile grew even larger as he took in the sight. These young heroes-in-training were ready to take their first step and he was glad he was there to help them.
We're going to be late if you don't hurry, Venom rushed him.
"I- I know! It's just that these knee pads are hard to put on!" Izuku argued back, fumbling on the locker room bench. The rest of the guys had already left, leaving him the last to arrive.
Finally managing to secure his red boots and golden gloves, Izuku sprinted toward toward the exit, his heart racing. His hero costume—drawn up by Himiko and crafted with care care by his mom—was a gift like no other. It featured a handmade green full-body jumpsuit with gray outlines, a red belt, and his signature red boots. The mask, with its dark ear-like protrusions resembling All Might's iconic hairstyle, paired with a respirator echoing the hero's smile, made the look completely his.
Arriving at Ground Beta, Izuku's awe was immediate. The towering presence of All Might, in his Silver Age costume, had him clutching his chest in excitement. The cape, the iconic smile—it was almost too much for Izuku to handle. He almost fainted again but Venom kept him awake.
"D-don't embarrass yourself, Izuku! First impressions are everything!" he thought to himself.
"There you are, Izu!" Himiko's familiar voice snapped him out of his daze. She placed a hand on his shoulder, causing him to jump slightly. "Woah, mom really nailed your size. What do you think of the suit?"
Izuku turned to her, his face lighting up that he forgot to answer her. "Wow, you look amazing!"
Himiko's costume was both functional and stylish, a modified version of her birthday gift. The baggy coat had been recolored to soft tones of pink and her skin-tight bodysuit had gained a darker gray color, while sharp teeth-like patterns adorned her dark green hoodie which hid a mask that had tubes running into it that were hidden behind the coat. The additional fighting gloves, knife pockets, and two tanks strapped to her back gave her a fierce, battle-ready edge that was sure to intimidate the enemies.
She had chosen to keep the original dark blue boots that reached up to her thigh. Finally, she had added her own red ribbon that was wrapped around her neck.
Now that he thought about it, he looked around to see everyone else's costumes and quickly realized that he was the only one who wore a homemade costume. Even Himiko had requested a complete replica of her gift to keep it from getting damaged. Now he wished he would've thought of that sooner.
"Thanks, I look like Bane now, mwahaha!" She joked, causing them to laugh quietly before someone else caught Izuku's eye.
At first, he was a little nervous to see how her costume would turn out but now that he's looking at it, the nerves died down.
That was until he realized how skintight it was.
"I-I'm glad It's n-not l-l-like before b-b-but it's still t-too much for m-me!"
"Your costumes look great! Though, mines a little uncomfortable but Jirou told me that I shouldn't reveal too much skin so I was provided DNA fused costume," Momo said as she approached the Midoriya's. "Auntie Nem was even surprised to see the design. Though... I sensed she felt disappointed in it."
"Ah right, the 'Midnight Debut,' Mom never let me watch it completely."
Momo's hero costume was a bright red skin-tight suit that suited her Quirk. She had requested it to be DNA fused so that her creations would pass right through the clothes instead of ripping it. The costume covered the majority of her body except for small windows in the outer calves and in her hips but the hips were mostly covered by a yellow belt, another small part was a diamond shaped hole in her upper chest and her upper back was also exposed. Izuku noticed that she had also swapped out her heels for white boots. That was probably for the best, who could run in heels for hours?
Izuku let out a sigh of relief and he swore that Jirou would've done the same if she were nearby.
"Are you all right, Izuku? Your face looks red," Momo asked with concern, stepping closer to place the back of her hand to his forehead. "You should ask All Might to let you see Recovery Girl."
Himiko then slid her hand over his shoulder, he shuddered at the grin on her face. "Oh, trust me, Yaomomo. This boy right here is better than okay, see, come closer!"
Momo did as she was told and started stepping up to him, her face inches away, prompting him to leap back, stammering, "I-I'm fine! Let's see what All Might is about to say!"
Fortunately for him, Momo had taken interest in what Himiko had called her. "Himiko, did you call me Yaomomo?"
"Yeah," Himiko answered casually. "Your name's kinda hard to pronounce, so I figured a nickname would work."
Momo beamed. "A nickname between friends! I love it! Thank you, Himiko!" She extended her hand for a handshake, which Himiko awkwardly accepted, hiding a soft smile behind her mask.
Meanwhile, Izuku took a moment to absorb the sight of his classmates in their hero costumes. Each outfit reflected their unique personalities and Quirks, standing as symbols of their dreams and aspirations.
However, no matter how much Izuku tried to focus on analyzing the functionality of the costumes, his gaze kept wandering to the bold designs of the girls’ skin-tight outfits. He swallowed hard, his face growing increasingly red.
There were many colorful costumes that made his classmates stand out but no matter how much he tried to analyze them, his eyes always landed back to the beautiful girls in his class who were wearing skin-tight costumes.
Ochaco's hero outfit was a black and pink skin-tight costume that reminded him of space. It was hard to keep analyzing her when the costume emphasized her curves very well but he managed to see the clear helmet she wore on her head, presumably to help her with her Quirk.
Tsuyu's, or Tsu's, outfit was another skin-tight suit that was practical, resembling a frog suit with goggles resting on top of her head. The snug fit emphasized her athletic build, perfectly meant for swimming. Then there was Mina, who also wore a skin-tight suit. It had a purple and turquoise pattern on it that revealed a surprising amount of skin. He would have to ask her what it was made of if it was able to handle her acid.
Then there was Camie, whose black catsuit seemed almost custom-designed to grab attention. The zipper running down the center was left partially undone, exposing a daring amount of cleavage. Their gaze met for a second which caused Izuku to immediately avert his gaze.
And then there was Toru—or rather, a pair of floating gloves and boots. Her invisibility left her costume design a total mystery and for a brief moment, Izuku thought she must've been completely nude! He quickly shook that thought away before it could get worse.
Finally, it was Kyoka's outfit. Her outfit offered a change of pace from what the rest of the girls had been wearing. Her outfit featured a black leather jacket and ripped jeans, paired with boots modified specifically for her earphone jacks to help her amplify sound. It was stylish, practical, and most importantly, not skin-tight.
He would need to fight off his dirty thoughts for now.
"You all look incredible! I can't believe I'm really teaching the next generation of heroes!" All Might exclaimed with a microphone in hand. All of the students turned to him, awaiting their next order. "Now, let us begin with the combat training!"
"Sensei!" Someone in a full metal suit raised their hand.
"Is that Iida? Woah, I didn't even recognize him. His costume looks a lot like Ingenium's!" Izuku thought, analyzing Iida's costume with a keen eye.
"This looks like the same mock city where the entrance exam took place, so does this mean we will be conducting urban battles again?" Tenya asked.
"Good question, but not at all! We're jumping straight into it with combat! On average, fighting villains will take place outside. But, there's an increase in heinous villains that decide to stay indoors instead of outdoors!" All MIght raised a finger as he explained. "House arrest, imprisonment, secret bases! In this society filled with heroes, only the truly intelligent villains hide in the shadows where no one can notice them, especially when we heroes are distracted by what's happening outside! Now, for today, you'll be splitting into teams of 2 and will have to go against one another as 'Heroes' or 'Villains' in an indoor 2-on-2 battle!"
"Just like that? Isn't this a little advanced?" Tsuyu stepped up to ask, placing a finger to her chin.
"The best training is what you get on the battlefield! Remember, you can't just punch a robot and call it a day now! You'll be going against actual people!"
Momo raised her hand, "Sir, will you be the one deciding who wins?"
"How much can we hurt the others?" Katsuki asked.
"Do we have to be worried about getting expelled if we fail?" Ochaco asked, her question reminding the class of their homeroom teacher.
"How will the teams be decided, Sensei?" Tenya asked.
"So, like, can we hold me for a quick selfie?" Camie pulled out her phone. "My fans are dying to see more of me!"
Izuku was getting a bit confused from all of the questions. But when he looked at All Might, he realized the hero wasn't doing any better than him. To be fair, he did say this was his first time teacher and they were his first class ever! Izuku couldn't even imagine what he was feeling.
"S-so many questions! Please, one at a time! It's 20 against 1 here!" All Might held up his hands defensively. "I have just the thing you need to answer all your questions! Except the phone one, please put it away."
All Might pulled out a folded up paper and opened it up.
"A script?!"
The old man's a lost cause of a teacher. Venom spat out.
All Might cleared his throat right before reading it out loud. "Here's the gist of the situation! The villains have hidden a nuclear missile somewhere in their hideout. The heroes must try to foil their plans. To do that, the Hero team must apprehend the evildoers or recover the weapon. Likewise, the evildoers can succeed if they managed to secure their payload or apprehend the heroes."
The setup is like a video game, Venom commented, earning a nod from Izuku.
"It's pretty much like an action movie setup."
"Time's limited and you'll be assigned teams by drawing lots!" All Might held out a yellow box that read 'Lots' on it.
"But isn't there a better way to choose our teams?" Tenya asked.
"There could be but think about it," Izuku spoke up. "Pros often have to team up with other heroes on the spot. Most crimes are random so you'll almost never have the chance pick out which hero you're most compatible with."
"I see... your answer makes perfect sense," Tenya raised his hand high again. "Please excuse my rudeness, Sensei!" He said before bowing.
"Don't worry about it, Young Iida! You'll all have plenty of questions in the future and now's the best time to ask them! Now, if you all understand what's going on, let's get right to it!" All Might seemed to have rebounded and was more upbeat than before.
The class took their turn drawing lots from the box to set up their teams.
TEAMS
TEAM A: Izuku Midoriya and Himiko Midoriya
TEAM B: Ochaco Uraraka and Fumikage Tokoyami
TEAM C: Sero Hanta and Eijiro Kirishima
TEAM D: Mina Ashido and Tsuyu Asui
TEAM E: Momo Yaoyorozu and Hitoshi Shinso
TEAM F: Katsuki Bakugou and Tenya Iida
TEAM G: Kyoka Jiro and Denki Kaminari
TEAM H: Mashirao Ojiro and Sato Rikido
TEAM I: Camie Utsushimi and Toru Hagakure
TEAM J: Shoto Todoroki and Mezo Shoji
Both Izuku and Himiko turned to one another, their expressions shifting in unison. Izuku wore a determined smile while Himiko's lips turned into a more sinister grin. It didn't take even a second for Izuku to mimic her mischevious look, and soon, the siblings were sharing a laugh between themselves.
They paired up the most dangerous duo, no one stands a chance! Even Venom started celebrating in Izuku's mind.
It was almost hilarious how Izuku had talked about heroes almost never being able to pick the perfect team up, only to end up with the most ideal teammate for himself. For the past few months, those two had been practicing and honing their abilities together, to the point where they could fight side-by-side without speaking a single word. Their synchronization was practically flawless.
Still, Izuku reminded himself not to get cocky. He didn't know who they would be going up against, and not everyone had used their Quirks during yesterday's Quirk Assessment Test. While he had crafted countermeasures for Jirou, Momo, and even Bakugou, he didn't have enough information on the rest of his classmates.
His thoughts briefly lingered on Camie—he didn't see her use her Quirk at all. Maybe her abilites weren't suited for the test. Yet another reason why the tests wasn't the best way to measure a person's abilities.
Many of their classmates were looking towards them now. They quickly picked up on the idea that they were family and had the best synergy out of the entire class so they were miles ahead when it came to teamwork. Izuku couldn't lie, it felt good that people were wary of him and his sister.
"Whoever have to face those two will surely be cursed to fail..." Fumikage muttered from far, lowering his head dramatically.
"Green and his sis? There's no way in hell I'd go up against them..." Kyoka nervously whispered to Momo.
"I agree, Izuku has improved so much in such a short amount of time. Not to mention... he's written novels upon novels of my Quirk. Who knows what he has planned..." Momo was another voice he picked up.
"Even Momo and Jiro are concerned?!"
He caught Tsuyu's natural gaze, though her words betrayed her worry. "Aren't they siblings? I hope we don't get put up against them, ribbit."
"Right on, girl," Mina added, hiding behind Tsuyu. "Midori’s been going to the gym with Kirishima for a while now. His power makes him a total monster!"
While part of the class was drowning in panic, Ochaco decided to make the best of the situation and went to meet her teammate with a big smile
"Looks like we're on the same team, Tokoyami! Nice to meet you!" she said, bouncing lightly on her feet as she extended her hand.
The student with a bird head, Fumikage, revealed a hand from his cloak and shook hers in return, nodding. "Likewise, let's do our best to succeed."
Meanwhile, Bakugou stared blankly at his assigned teammate.
"Who the hell are you?" he grumbled.
Tenya visible tensed up. "You can't have forgotten my name already!? I am your classmate!"
"Tch, I got paired up with some Idiot," Bakugou spat out.
"To use such foul language towards one of your peers! This is unacceptable!" Tenya said as he chopped the air with his hand. "If we are able to communicate properly, I'm sure we can succeed. But... the Midoriya team can cause us a little bit of trouble."
"Shut up! That damn nerd and his pricky girl ain't got shit on me! I'll blast them straight to hell!" Bakugou snapped, sparks crackling in his hands.
"Now! Let's see the two teams who will be participating in the first fight!?" All Might reached into the hero box and pulled out a white ball and did the same with the villain box.
Team F - Villains VS Team D - Heroes
"Nooo! Dammit!" Mina fell to her knees with exaggerated despair.
"This doesn't look too good for us, ribbit." Tsuyu added, though her voice remained calm.
The rest of the class had mixed reactions. While some were relieved they wouldn't have to face Bakugou, they were now more worried about the possibility of going up against the Midoriyas in a future round.
Bakugou shot the two girls a sharp glare behind his black mask, already forming a deadly plan to finish them. The look made Mina whimper audible, while Tsuyu blinked calmly.
"It's settled! Team F will play the role of villains and D will play the role of heroes! If your team was not picked, please make your way to the monitor room!" All Might explained.
As the class dispersed, Izuku took note of Bakugou’s sharp, predatory aura. That murderous intent was something only Izuku understood all too well. He knew Bakugou was furious that he wasn't put up against him. Out of instinct, he approached Mina and Tsuyu before they left for the villains’ base.
"Hey, Asui, Ashido," Izuku called out softly, stopping the two in their tracks.
Mina perked up at his voice, though her body language still screamed defeat. "Here to wish us luck, Midori?" she asked weakly.
“I told you to call me Tsu,” Tsuyu corrected, eyeing him curiously.
"R-right, sorry!" He cleared his throat, his usual nervousness creeping in. "I just came by to help you prepare for this match."
Mina’s eyes widened in surprise, a spark of hope lighting up her face. "Really?! You’re a lifesaver, Midori!"
"How do you know what could help us here?" Asked Tsuyu. "I mean, I'm willing to hear you out but I'm also curious."
"You could say I've known Bakugou for a while. I've seen how he... fights to the point where his style is predictable."
"Ah! Thank you!" Mina clapped her hands together, her bubbly personality returning in full force. "You’re the best, Midori! Now spill the beans!"
Izuku nodded and motioned for them to huddle closer. Once he was sure no one else could hear, he began sharing what he knew.
"Villain team, is your bomb hidden!?" All Might's voice peered through the speakers and into the building.
"Tch, yeah, yeah. The shits taken care of All Might!" Bakugou said into his ear piece.
"You shouldn't use that tone towards a teacher!" Tenya warned him from behind. "Still, now that we're here we should think of a plan."
"Remember, young Iida, young bakugou, the key to being successful in this exercise is to think from the perspective of an evildoer. If things go too far, I'll step in." All Might advised from the earpiece.
"Even though this is training, it pains me to be aligned with criminal behavior," Iida said before stepping up to the bomb and lightly tapping it. "Fake of course."
"Hey," Bakugou snapped at him. "You really think that Deku has a Quirk?"
Tenya only sighed, already giving up on stopping his classmates foul language. "I've only know Midoriya for two days, but you did see how he threw that ball yesterday. His sister did cause a disturbance during the entrance exam but I fail to understand why you're so focused on them. Now that I think about it, you were very aggressive towards him in yesterday's test."
"Tch. If that bastard's been lying to me for the last few years... I'll roast him alive the minute I get the chance!"
"Both teams, your time starts now!" All Might's booming voice announced as the challenge began.
Mina and Tsuyu quietly entered the building through an open window in the far side. With the provided floorplan in hand, they navigated the dimly lit building quietly.
"If I were an angry pomeranian, where would I hide a bomb, hmmm," Mina mused playfully, her tone light despite the tension.
"I think he'd leave Iida to guard it while he went looking for us," Tsuyu replied thoughtfully, her frog-like eyes scanning their surroundings. "Let's use the information Midoriya gave us and try to avoid him if possible."
Tsuyu led the way, her movements quiet and deliberate. "The floorplan says this is a five story building. I doubt there's any teamwork between Iida and Bakugou. We just have to clear out each floor as quietly as possible."
Mina nodded and gave a low hum of agreement. "I'll have my acid ready incase we need a quick escape. Still, it feels so cool to finally be doing something hero-related!"
"All Might's just as cool in person as he is on television, ribbit," Tsuyu added, her tone slightly more animated than usual. "I'll try to get him to sign something for little brother after this."
Before they could continue chatting, Bakugou suddenly appeared from around the corner like a coiled spring, his green gauntlet raised and ready to fire. "Die!" he roared, his voice reverberating through the hallway.
Both girls reacted on instinct. Tsuyu leaped over Bakugou's head with her powerful frog-like legs, while Mina dropped to the ground, using a slick trail of acid to slide beneath him.
A deafening explosion filled the hallway, sending a cloud of smoke and debris bellowing through the air. The force rattled the walls, but neither girl faltered. As the smoke obscured their figures, the two exchanged a quick glance, silently communicating their next phase of their plan.
"I'll start looking for the bomb, be careful, Ashido," Tsuyu croaked quietly as she prepared to hop away.
"Leave it to me!" Mina replied, striking a playful pose like a dancer warming up. "I'll try to tame this wild pomeranian with what Midori said!"
When the smoke cleared, Bakugou's sneer twisted into a scowl. His fiery eyes darted around the halls, searching for his prey. Spotting Mina standing alone, he barked angrily. "Where's the damn toad?! You better hope she's nearby, because if she's not, I'll hurt you just enough before they can stop the match!"
Mina's grin didn't waver. She gracefully sidestepped as Bakugou lunged at her with another explosive swing. The sheer force of the blast sent another gust of wind down the hallway, but Mina danced through it, her movements as fluid as her acid.
"Jeez! Why do you have to be so violent?!" Mina teased, pretending to be exhausted as she dodged another attack.
Back in the monitoring room, the remaining students and teacher watched the screens in shock.
"A sneak attack isn't very manly, Bakugou!" Eijiro said as he pumped his fists together.
"It's a viable strategy. He's acting like how a true villain would," All Might explained to them.
"But they both managed to dodge him!" Toru shouted.
Izuku kept quiet as he looked on the screen. Thankfully the girls seemed to be listening to his advice on dealing with Bakugou.
'He's most likely going to start with a sneak attack. I think Ashido should be the one to face him.'
He didn't give them any plans but just the information alone. Izuku would have to wait and see what would happen next.
Bakugou charged Mina with both his arms primed for an explosion, his body and palms brimming with raw aggression. Mina, however, stayed calm and used his momentum to her advantage, with a quick sidestep and a swift grab, she managed to lift him over her shoulders and slam him down into the solid ground, the impact reverberating through the hallway and eliciting a guttural grunt from Bakugou.
Mina panted, catching her breath after the sudden burst of energy. Her eyes stayed locked on Bakugou's form, watching him rise from the ground with a fiery glare that only promised more pain.
"Bakugou always starts with a right hook," Mina muttered under her breath, recalling the critical advice she received from Izuku. She allowed herself a small smile. "Thanks for the advice Midori!"
She stretched her arms briefly and rolled her shoulders to relieve the strain. "You're really heavy, Bakugou! I don't think I'll be able to do that again."
The insult only seemed to pour gasoline on the raging inferno that was Bakugou's temper. His teeth ground together so fiercely that it was audible, and a few veins bulge in his forehead. He practically radiated fury as he barked out, "Now you're asking for it, Raccoon Eyes!"
Mina bristled at the nickname, stomping her foot dramatically. "'Raccoon Eyes'!? Oh, now you're asking for it!"
"Finally gonna fight me for real?!" Bakugou snarled, his hands already beginning to spark.
"Nope!" Mina retorted before spinning on her heels and bolting down a different hallway.
She could hear the explosions coming from behind her, each one getting louder and louder with the heat of them nipping at her heels. She felt like a mouse being chased by an enraged predator. All she could do now was hope to buy Tsuyu time to find the bomb and possibly deal with Tenya.
As she darted around corners, her mind raced. "What did Midori say? Avoid faints—he can redirect himself too easily. Prolonging a fight only gives him more opportunities to sweat, and with it, more ammo for explosions."
"Crap!" she exclaimed aloud, realizing that she had been doing just that. She had been letting him push her to her limits while he was only building up more and more sweat. She quickly glanced at those twin gauntlets strapped to his arms. If he used those, she didn't even want to imagine the kind of destructive power they'd unleash.
"Think, Mina, think! What else did Midori say? Tsuyu goes for the bomb—check. Mina distracts the pomeranian—check again. But what else... what else?"
As she rounded another corner, Mina felt her legs begin to ache. The acid she'd been producing to help her slid and evade Bakugou's explosions began to take a toll on her. She could already feel herself reaching her limit and her bad memory wasn't helping.
"What can my acid do again?!" She mumbled in frustration. "Okay, Bakugou sweats nitro- whatever... and my acid..." Her eyes lit up the moment the realization hit her. "It can block his sweat glands!"
A sly grin fell on Mina's face as she formulated a plan. Ahead of her, the hallway came to an abrupt end, leaving her with nowhere to run. But instead of panicking like anyone else, she slowed her pace slightly, letting Bakugou close the distance.
"Nowhere to run, Raccoon Eyes!" Bakugou growled, his voice dripping with menace. He blasted himself into the air, hovering just above her. Crossing his arms in front of him, he prepared to unleash a massive explosion. His palms lit up with a brilliant, burning yellow glow, the heat radiating off him in waves.
"Perfect," Mina muttered, her grin widening.
Tsuyu hopped around the second floor, her sharp eyes carefully looking for the bomb.
After splitting up from Mina, she took responsibility to thoroughly look for the bomb in the remaining four floors. Her instincts told her that the bomb wouldn't be in the first floor—Tenya wasn't present, and Bakugou didn't seem to be too keen on defending anything.
It didn't take a few seconds before she went on to the next two floors. The floorplan of the building showed her how little space there was on the lower floors. This meant that if the bomb as being guarded, it had to be by Tenya, and he wasn't anywhere near the ground floor.
As she ascended the floors, she kept her movements light and quiet, her frog-like abilities making her nearly impossible to detect. Even in the third and fourth floors, she could still hear the distant echoes of Bakugou's relentless explosions and Mina's frantic yelling. A pang of concern hit her. Mina seemed to be doing her best to distract Bakugou, but Tsuyu had just met her. Trusting that she could pull off her part of the plan was a gamble, though the plan Izuku had laid out for them gave her some reassurance.
She finally reached the stairs to the fifth floor, pausing at a landing to listen for any sounds. If Tenya was guarding the bomb, there was a chance he'd give his position away.
She didn't need to wait for long.
"Bakugou's fully embracing a villainous side in this test, and All Might said that that's exactly what we need to succeed in this mission," Tenya pondered in the middle of the room.
From her position, Tsuyu could see Tenya pacing back and forth beside the bomb. "In that case, I must embrace evil to become a great hero! I am the embodiment of pure evil, bwa-ha-ha! No, the laugh doesn't feel right, maybe... 'mwa-ha-ha!' Yes! That's more like it!"
"Looks like Iida's really getting into character," Tsuyu thought.
She clung to the walls, using her sticky hands and feet to crawl into position. It seemed Tenya was too immersed in his 'performance' that he didn't notice Tsuyu sneaking in. Quietly, she moved from shadow to shadow, staying out of his field of view. With him so distracted, the bomb would be an easy grab. Mina's suffering at the hands of Bakugou would soon end.
Finally, Tsuyu clung to the pillar nearest to the bomb, positioning herself to strike. She coiled her tongue back, aiming to touch the bomb and claim the victory for her team.
But just as she was about to act—
BOOM!
A massive explosion echoed loudly throughout the building, shaking it violently. It was far louder and stronger than anything Bakugou had unleashed so far, and the shockwave traveled all the way up to the fifth floor. Tsuyu barely had time to react as the force of the explosion cracked the floor beneath her and caused several pillars, including the one she was on, to collapse.
"Ribbit!" She whined as she hit the floor, rubble and dust raining down on her.
Tenya spun around at the commotion, his eyes locking onto her. "Asui! So, you've made it here!"
Tsuyu pushed herself off of the rubble, wincing slightly. She tried to leap forward to touch the bomb, but Tenya's reflexes and engines proved too fast. His thrusters roared to life, propelling him forward in a blur. In the blink of an eye, he snatched the bomb away, pulling it out of her reach.
"Nice try, Hero! But I won't let you succeed that easily!" Tenya declared, holding the bomb triumphantly as he skidded to a stop.
Tsuyu had crashed into the wall where the bomb had been, leaving her momentarily dazed. Her mind raced as she tried to think of a new strategy. The plan was falling apart on her end.
Earlier, while Tsuyu was still searching the third and fourth floors, Mina found herself cornered in a dead end by Bakugou.
Bakugou stood poised to finish the chase for good. His palms hovered inches away from Mina's pink face, glowing faintly from the heat of his Quirk. All Might's frantic voice echoed through Bakugou's earpiece, warning him to stand down, but Bakugou only smirked, ignoring the hero's orders.
But before Bakugou could act, Mina reacted. She rushed in, interlocking their fingers, her palms pressing firmly against his.
The action looked bizarre from the monitoring room, earning murmurs of confusion from her classmates. But Izuku, watching intently, immediately understood what she was doing.
Bakugou's eyes narrowed in surprise, but before he could pull away, Mina's palms already started secreting acid. The acid quickly melted through his gloves and some of his gauntlet. Though the acid wasn't strong enough to hurt him too badly, it left his hands red and itchy.
"Damn it, what the fuck is this gross shit?!" Bakugou barked, managing to break free from her grip and created some distance. He inspected his hands, rubbing them furiously to in an attempt to stop the itching. "You freak, you ruined my costume!"
Mina, panting hard but grinning triumphantly, raised her fist. "Midori coming in with the clutch! Why didn't I think of this sooner?"
While Bakugou was distracted, Mina ran past him. She needed to get out of the fight and go help Tsuyu with Tenya.
"Hey, get back here!" Bakugou yelled. "What the hell did you put on me?!"
Bakugou kept rubbing his hands and when he tried to shoot out explosions, his palms stayed dry. He kept trying a couple more times only to fail.
"What did you do to me?!"
That question rose Mina's spirits, knowing that her plan had worked. Now she just needed to find the stairs to go up and help her teammate.
Bakugou started running after her again but at a much slower pace since he couldn't push himself with his explosions.
"Phase two, complete!" Mina thought.
'Mina, I have a theory that your acid could be used against Bakugou. If I'm right, it could be able to clog up his sweat pores for a while. This is why you're the better match-up and not Asu- Tsu. If we take everything about a frog into consideration, she can only stick to walls as long as she has some moisture on her skin. Bakugou would quickly figure that out and use his explosions to dry her up, slowing her down significantly.'
"Damn, I feel so cool doing this! Hope Eiji saw how cool it was!"
Bakugou started roaring behind her like an anime with rage.
Mina had been able to find the stairs but Bakugou wasn't too far behind as he kept following her to the third floor. As she ran, she heard an audible Beep coming from Bakugou and she turned for a quick second to see him smiling.
"Looks like they're all filled up, why don't I try them out on you?" His eerie smile gave Mina the creeps, putting all her hairs on edge. How could anyone look so bad when smiling?
As if her luck had run out, the staircase Mina was at was nearly unusable. She cursed under her breath, spinning around to meet Bakugou. His gauntlet was raised, and his other hand gripped the safety pin. It didn't take a genius to know what was about to happen.
"Young Bakugou, you'll kill her if you let that explosion loose!" All Might warned from Bakugou's earpiece.
"She'll be fine!" Bakugou yelled back. "She won't die as long as dodges!"
Mina's instincts screamed at her to move. The second Bakugou pulled the pin, she dove to the side, narrowing avoiding the force of the explosion. The blast tore through the upper floors, sending chunks of concrete and debris raining down.
The heat from the explosion scorched Mina's thigh, and she stumbled as she landed. Even though her ears rang, and her vision was dazed, she forced herself to rise to her feet.
"Tsu!" She shouted into her earpiece, her voice shaking with urgency. "Watch out! He's got another one of those blasts ready!"
The comms cracked with static, and Mina thought that she could hear Tsuyu on the other end trying to talk but Mina could barely hear her own thoughts at the moment.
Bakugou advanced through the smoke, his hand now missing the gauntlet. Despite the itching redness on his palms, his grin was as wide as ever. "What's wrong, Raccoon Eyes? Thought that shitty trick could stop me?"
Mina bit her lip, forcing herself to stay calm. "Okay, Plan B... Augh, I don't even have a plan B! Okay, Focus! If I can just focus on getting him to use his other explosion...
She stood tall and called out, "Is that all you got, Bakugou?! I know kids who put up better fights than that!"
Her taunt seemed to have hit its mark. Bakugou's face twisted into a mask of pure fury, and he charged after her, barking insults and threats. Mina turned to the second staircase at the other side and bolted to the fourth floor, using the last of her acid to help her slide as her turned thigh still hurt.
Behind her, Bakugou roared like a rabid animal. "I'll blow you to pieces, you pink freak!"
"Let's hope this works out!"
The audience in the monitoring room was chaotic to say the least.
"That explosion... are you going to stop the match, sir?!" Denki asked with concern on his face.
Many others were also voicing their concerns. "Mina's really hurt!" Toru commented, her gloves shaking.
"You don't think Bakugou would keep hurting a girl, would you?" Ochaco held her hands together as she watched the screens with fear.
"He would," Izuku answered, receiving surprised looks from everyone in the room. "Bakugou would never hold back against anyone, but... Ashido and Asui aren't making it easy for him to win. They've already disabled his Quirk."
"But that means that all he has left is his other gauntlet..." Momo finished.
Eijiro bumped his hardened fist together, "Bakugou's being unmanly right now... but I know Mina can do this!"
"If that boy lets out another explosion that big... Aizawa truly has his work cut out for him." All Might muttered.
Tsuyu scratched her ear, taking out her earpiece in the process. The massive explosion earlier had rattled both her and Tenya, and the resulting tumble had damaged her comm device. Luckily she managed to catch one final important message from her teammate before it broke.
"Tsu! Watch out! He's got another one of those blasts ready!" was what Mina had told her before it broke.
"Seriously, is Bakugou this reckless?" Tenya commented under his helmet, clearly frustrated. "Letting out an explosion that big would have destroyed the building."
Currently, Tsuyu was in her own face off against Tenya in the fifth floor. They both stood at different ends of the room, with Tsuyu clinging to the wall and Tenya guarding the bomb. The middle of the room noticeable cracks in it from Bakugou's explosion. Some of the pillars in the room were destroyed.
Tsuyu started to wonder what was going on with Mina and Bakugou. She remembered Izuku's plan and how Mina's acid could stop Bakugou from producing anymore sweat. Of course, Mina must've accomplished her part. Izuku said that Bakugou was the type to go all out if needed. Without being able to use his palms, he would result to using his gauntlets which was the likely explanation for the explosion earlier.
This also brought up Mina's message from before. The pink girl was most likely going to try to make Bakugou use his other gauntlet to finish off the fifth floor. If the ground was removed, Tenya wouldn't be able to run, leaving the bomb unattended.
"Would that even work—
BOOM!
"Already?"
Not even a second after guessing the plan, it had been put into action. Tsuyu quickly clung to the ceiling and watched the floor break upwards, sending debris in all directions.
Tenya screamed at the chaos and fell into the huge crater, just barely hanging on.
Now with the floor open, Tsuyu heard Mina scream, "Now!"
Tsuyu understood and hopped across the room and placed a single hand on the bomb, ending the match.
"No, the weapon!" Tenya yelled.
"T-The Hero team... WIIIIIIINNSSS!!!!" All Might exclaimed in the speakers with the sound of horns blaring.
And with that, the first match is concluded