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Chapter One
Izuku Midoriya really did like to think he was a patient person. He knew how overwhelming he could be when he got excited about a quirk while talking to someone, so he tried to show understanding when others got carried away.
He really really tried. But…
“Ha! Imagine only being a third of the way finished! Teamwork obviously falters when so many egos are forced to work together it seems! Couldn't be my class of course. Class 1b works together so well we put some agencies to shame! Wouldn't you agree?” Laughed one Monoma Neito of said class. He was currently guiding his class through a team building exercise the teachers thought would be fun to put together.
The idea wasn't a bad one, Izuku thought. Each class voted one person to be the leader. They would then be in a booth above one of two trap filled mazes. The rest of the class would then have to follow the leader's orders to get through before the other class, and without losing any members.
There were only three problems.
One was that there were one way walls above the maze. Meaning for the students in the maze it was only a bit above completely dark. Meaning they had to rely on their leader all the more.
The second problem, of course, was that izuky was said leader. The teachers told them they couldn't vote on their class presidents, so they voted for him almost unanimously. He didn't understand it but he couldn't really say he was surprised either. They did vote him class president originally, before he gave it to Iida, to be fair. So he should have seen it coming. That didn't stop him from silently pouting about it of course.
But then there was the third and, arguably, worst problem. In a last second twist the teachers decided to really focus on following orders from someone you didn't know as well, they put Izuku in charge of class 1b and Neito in charge of 1a.
Again izuku could maybe see the good idea there. Maybe. The problem was who 1b voted in.
“Ah! There seems to be a trap coming up, lesser class.” Monoma said as he sneered at the class below him. “Since you're sooo much better, I'm sure you'll be able to dodge it without my help quite easily! Hopefully more so than the previous few at least.” He couldn't stop a manic laugh escaping his lips.
Izuku really really tried to always be patient. But…
Monoma tsked into the mic “arguing with your leader, sparky? I guess i should've expected as much of you wannabes. But I'm not surprised you can't handle something as easy as this. Maybe you're more fit in general education? No offense to them of course. Just figured they could take a turn babysitting you is all” he said.
Izuku swore he could hear the resulting explosion from here. He sighed and gave his team directions on the next opstical. Itsuka was proving to be a great help in all this. And Izuku had to admit 1b showed remarkable team work. He was so impressed he could almost ignore Monoma.
Almost.
Izuku looked over at his compettitor for today. He could honestly ignore his taunts, annoying as they could be. He assumed it's how he hyped himself up. But him putting his friends in danger over a petty grudge was a bit too far.
After he looked to see if his direction was immediately needed or not, he moved a bit closer to Monoma.
“Hey, um Monoma?” He said. He tried sounding friendly but he still wasn't amazing at confronting others socially. “I can understand the taunts and insults I guess. But is there a reason you're trying to make sure my class fails?”
Monoma scoffed. “I'm doing no such thing! If they can't succeed without me holding their hand then I guess they aren't all they’re hyped up to be, huh?” He said while grinning at Izuku smugly.
Izuku couldn't help the small glare he wore. “It's not hand holding. It's the assignment. I'm doing all I can to help your class. Are you saying you're too proud to even do that?” He didn't mean to be sassy. He felt slightly guilty about it even. But he really didn't want his friends falling or getting hurt.
Monoma quickly got in Izuku's face. “Proud!? I am not proud. Proud would be me doing this because of arrogance. It's not arrogant to make sure my class has a fighting chance after your class took all the attention like base animals who couldn't survive without the spotlight!” He stuck his finger in Izuku's chest. “Our class is just as good as yours! Hell, even better. A few flashy one note quirks cant compete with 1bs diverse and actually useful ones.” He said rather smugly.
Izuku was caught of guard but before he could respond he heard his com go off. He panicked quickly going to check on his team and started to give directions. They were okay but he couldn't get careless. Once they were okay he looked over at Monoma still smirking at him while pointedly ignoring his com.
Izuku took a breath before saying anything. “Any personal feelings can not get in the way of making sure both civilians and your teammates are safe Monoma. What would you do if someone got injured down there?” He said.
To Monomas credit he did hesitate at that. He looked almost something nearing guilty before going back to his base smugness. “They can use their one note quirks to solve it. That's what they're good at right? Hit now, talk later?” He responded.
That was the second time he talked about his classes quirks. It was no secret Izuku was a quirk nerd. And he took offense to anyone talking bad about someone's quirk. His class or not. But him already being in defense mode for his friends didnt help things.
He scoffed, something that even surprised him, and crossed his arms. “No one's quirk is “one note” and anyone who says otherwise obviously has taken no time to really appreciate how amazing they are.” he said.
Monoma looked positively scandalized. “Excuse me!? Ill have you know I know more about quirks than any student here! Especially some all might wanna be who just recently learned what kicking was!” He said while getting back in Izuku's face.
Izuku met his intensity head on. Missing his com going off behind him. “I'll have you know i've forgotten more about quirks than you even know! Ive been studying them since I was five!” He said bringing out his most recent quirk notebook. This one being in 1bs class. Monoma briefly wondered where he had it but had more pressing matters.
“HA! I'd be surprised if you even knew my class's quirks! They might be too complicated for your brawny brain.” Monoma said. He was however caught off guard by the glint in Izuku's eyes.
Izuku stepped forward forcing Monoma back a step. “Quirk: Copy. Allowing the user to touch a person and hold their quirk. Has a five minute time limit and can only hold three at a time” Izuku spouted off. As if trying to prove a point.
“Bah! Amature hour much?” Monoma mocked. “Anyone can guess mine. How about something a 4 year old could get? Something like…” he thought then snapped his fingers. “Quirk: Earphone jack. User has a jack attached to each earlobe. It extends a good distance and can jack into almost any surface. It can then be used to hear more accurately or to push vibrations based on the user's heartbeat to attack people or objects. It also gives a passive bonus to hearing at all times that can be used against them to overwhelm them.” He said proudly, looking up in his snobbiest manner. He knew he had Midoriya beat. His whole thing is using other quirks. This shorty couldn't compete. He was confident.
He was confident. That was until he looked midoriya in the eyes again. Something changed in Midoriya’s eyes. He went from just a spark of challenge with a mix of annoyance to full blown excitement. And not the happy excitement. The kind that explosive boy Bakugo got when he fought someone tough. He had that same smile too. That smile that someone got when they could go all out in a fight.
Monoma should probally be slightly scared about that. He really should just end this conversation and move on.
But he just couldn't stop that look from overtaking his face as well. He didn't just want to prove his knowledge was above this wannabe.
He needed to.
Izuku opened his notebook quickly. “Right. Of course. People were near every day is no real test. As you said, “amature hour”, so let's go a bit deeper then. Todoroki has a ice and fire quirk. Taking out the weaknesses of botg. So how would you beat him?” Izuku said, looking over at his notebook where he's wrote about this himself
Monoma met his ethusiasm. “Well of course the best options would either take him out quick or just plainly outlast him. Youd have to be able to withstand his heat and be strong enough to break his ice. Gasses wouldnt work as he could push them away with fire or dilute them with smoke. Keeping your attacks on the fire side would make him move more to defend with the ice” they were both so entraped they failed to notice the coms both going off non stop. “But that would prevent getting close to him. He also has the obvious reach advantage but he has to be carefull around buildings. So!” Monoma clapped suddenly. “Your best bet would be either a surprise attack or going somewhere he can't use full power. Like inside a building.” He finished, quite proud of himself.
Izuku nodded along but looked up towards the end. “Wrong. You might be able to get a surprise attack in but he has shown great ice control in buildings. Unless you could melt the ice you'd be better off in a more open area but still near things that could block his vision.” He responded like a teacher scolding a child. Monoma was taken aback but rebounded quickly.
“Well then, how about we try someone you dont have a obvious advantage with hmm?” He said, slightly annoyed “having class with said quirk seems a tad unfair.” He started pacing back and forth. The fact that the exercise was ending eluded them completely. “How about Setsunas “Lizard Tail Splitter”. How would you handle it?” Monoma asked.
Izuku thought for a moment before joining Monoma in pacing the control room. Almost entering a mumbling state. “Well first obviously is aiming for the head or any vital organ. But assuming she hides or protects thos when in combat the next best bet would be just taking out each part one by one. It's a slow idea but a steady one.” He thought aloud.
“Ah but you seem to forget she can regenerate her parts. You'd be just hitting endless waves. Not a terrible idea by someone of your level I suppose. But a full hardy one.” Monoma said. Smirking at Izuku. His smile then dropped when Izuku gave him a look that made him feel as if he just fell into a trap.
“So youd think!” Izuku quickly responded. Neither noticing the opening of the control room door. “But like everyone, she has a stamina limit!” He said
“Uhhh guys?” Someone by the door responded. Immediately ignored by the two.
Izuku continued. “So if you just keep taking parts out you'll eventually make her too tired to continue! It's a battle of stamina.”
“Guys!” Someone else said.
“I don't know if i should be flattered or scared…” a slightly paler Satsuna said off to the side.
“Ah but you'd have to endure her attacks too!” Monoma shot back. “Certainly you don't expect her to just sit and take your attacks quietly!?” He said, thinking he took the upper hand.
But izuku wasn't done. “Of course, but you have to imagine-”
A loud explosion finally got both their attentions as they, for the first time in a while, looked around the room.
In the doorway stood both the students, very beat up, and very angry, classmates. Along with their teachers behind them. Looking just as annoyed, if slightly confused.
The culprit of the explosion, one Bakugo Katsuki, looked about ready to murder them both. “Weve been calling” he said through gritted teeth “for a whole fucking HOUR! And we get here to see you two debating like fucking online dashboards!?”
The two boys had the decency to at least look embarressed. Kendo stood forward next.
“I can expect this from Neito” she said. Making Neito wince then grumble to himself “but midoriya? What the hell happened?? We got ambushed like five times!” She asked exasperated.
Before izuku could stumble out a response both teachers took center stage.
Aizawa, looking more tired than normal, said “well its obvious you both fail. But since you seem so interested in thinking up battle stratagies, you can both join me and vlad the next week in detention studying and writing multiple essays on former hero raids and the importance of teamwork.” He said. Using his quirk to enhance his glare at them. He then turned around to leave. “ All but these two go to recovery girl. We'll discuss your individual performances monday. Class dismissed.
The two boys took one last look over at each other. Both sharing a look that said the same thing.
This isn't over.