Izuku blinked twice before giving Iida a small nod of understanding.
That explained it.
Apparently, everyone else had simply absorbed the information during the walk back from lunch, while he had been too busy thinking about training, One For All, Wolfram, All Might, Melissa, practical exams, and approximately seventeen other things.
"Midoriya."
Aizawa's voice immediately snapped him back to reality.
"Sorry!"
The class collectively sighed.
Principal Nezu stood atop Aizawa's scarf like a tiny emperor surveying his kingdom.
"Now then!" Nezu announced cheerfully. "As I was saying, your practical final examination will not involve robots."
A collective murmur spread through Class 1-A.
Mina looked genuinely devastated.
"What? But robots are like... seventy percent of all school tests."
"That's not true," Yaoyorozu immediately corrected.
"It feels true."
Nezu continued smiling.
"Instead, your practical examinations will involve combat."
That got everyone's attention.
Even Bakugo stopped looking annoyed for nearly three seconds.
"Combat?" Uraraka repeated.
"Indeed!" Nezu said. "More specifically, each team will be assigned an opponent."
Iida adjusted his glasses.
"An opponent from another class, perhaps?"
Nezu's smile somehow widened.
"No."
Silence.
Aizawa looked as exhausted as ever.
"They'll be fighting us."
The silence somehow became even quieter.
Then exploded.
"WHAT?!"
"The teachers?!"
"No way!"
"Seriously?!"
Kaminari looked horrified.
"Can we switch to robots?"
"No," Aizawa answered instantly.
"Can we switch to written exams?"
"No."
"Can we switch schools?"
"No."
Kaminari lowered his head.
"It was worth asking."
Nezu allowed the panic to continue for a few moments before clapping his paws together.
"Students! Students! Please calm down!"
Nobody calmed down.
Eventually Aizawa erased the noise by simply glaring at them.
It worked immediately.
"As Principal Nezu said," Aizawa continued, "your opponents will be members of the faculty."
A screen rose from the ground behind them.
Various names and photographs appeared.
Present Mic.
Midnight.
Cementoss.
Ectoplasm.
Power Loader.
Snipe.
Vlad King.
And many more.
The students collectively paled.
Mineta looked ready to write a will.
Nezu clicked a button.
"Naturally, we aren't monsters."
The teachers all exchanged glances.
Aizawa looked away.
Midnight covered her smile.
"Your goal won't necessarily be victory."
That got everyone's attention again.
The screen changed.
PASS CONDITIONS
• Defeat your assigned teacher.
OR
• Escape through the designated exit.
The class visibly relaxed.
Then Nezu continued.
"While carrying out whatever handicaps and restrictions we assign."
The relief immediately vanished.
"Never mind," Kaminari muttered. "We're doomed."
Aizawa ignored him.
"You'll be working in pairs."
Now the students began looking around.
Partner assignments.
Immediately everyone started guessing.
Midoriya glanced toward Iida.
That seemed likely.
They worked well together.
Maybe Uraraka?
Perhaps Todoroki?
Bakugo probably wouldn't want a partner—
"Partner assignments have already been decided."
The screen changed again.
A list appeared.
Instantly the class erupted.
"WHAT?!"
"THAT'S MY PARTNER?!"
"WHY HIM?!"
"I OBJECT!"
"No objections," Aizawa said.
Kurokami, who had arrived only moments earlier after being forcibly removed from a Support Course laboratory by three separate teachers, stared at the screen.
Beside him, Mei Hatsume somehow appeared from nowhere.
"Oooh, exams!"
"No."
"Aww."
Power Loader immediately dragged her away before she could become part of the final exam through sheer persistence.
Kuro waved cheerfully.
"Bye, Mei!"
"Don't die, Tenshin!"
"I'll try!"
Several teachers looked concerned by how normal that exchange sounded.
Meanwhile, Midoriya finally located his own name.
His eyes widened.
"...Huh?"
Around him, several classmates were having similar reactions.
Across the field, Aizawa watched the confusion with a rare hint of satisfaction.
Good.
If they were confused now, the actual exam was going to be even more educational.
And somewhere in the crowd, Bakugo cracked his knuckles and grinned.
For once, he didn't care who his partner was.
A practical exam against professional heroes?
Finally.
That sounded fun.
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[Auther: Ok, I'm back. We can relax now.]