Chapter 14: Battle Trial: True Start Of Hero School.
Izuku woke up quite peacefully, the soft morning light barely peeking through his curtains. He yawned, stretching out his arms with a quiet groan before getting ready for school. After a quick breakfast and a refreshing shower, he went through his usual morning routine, his mind already wandering toward the day ahead.
Last night had been... interesting. After exchanging numbers with Yui Kodai, he had discovered just how talkative she was online. His face had been burning the entire time, his hands fumbling as he texted her back and forth until he eventually fell asleep, phone still in hand.
Now, standing before the massive U.A. gates once more, Izuku felt his heart pound with nervous excitement. His hand absently moved to the Omnitrix on his wrist, his fingers tracing its smooth surface.
"I still can't believe I'm here. A year ago, I was quirkless, barely had any friends, and was a target for the whole school. Now... I'm standing at U.A. with so many quirks. The old me would go ballistic!"
He shook his head, chuckling at the thought, and started walking through the gates. As he scanned the area, his eyes landed on a familiar figure sitting on a bench. The girl had long, vine-like hair and was dressed in her U.A. uniform, quietly reading a Bible in the soft morning light.
"Hey, that's the girl with the vines," Izuku thought, stopping in his tracks. He felt a sudden rush of nerves wash over him, his face quickly turning red.
"M-Maybe I should say hi?" His eyes darted toward her, then down to the ground. The thought of introducing himself had his heart racing.
Before he could decide what to do, the girl lifted her head, her bright green eyes locking onto his. She tilted her head slightly, a look of mild confusion crossing her face before she gave him a small, polite wave of acknowledgment.
Izuku panicked, his feet moving forward before his brain could catch up. "Okay, Izuku, don't stutter. Just be yourself. No stuttering!" He clenched his fists at his sides as he approached her, his shoulders a little too stiff, but he pushed through.
"Hello," Izuku managed to say, his voice a little higher than usual. He was stiff, but at least he didn't stutter.
The girl smiled politely, closing her Bible and resting it in her lap. "Hello. You're the boy who was with Ingenium, correct?"
Izuku nodded, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "Y-Yeah, I thought you wouldn't remember me."
Her gaze softened. "I remember you. You were quite heroic during that incident. By the way, what are you doing with your vines? I mean... your hair? Or... is it your quirk?" His words tumbled out awkwardly as he gestured toward her hair, his fingers twitching slightly from nerves.
The girl didn't seem bothered by his awkwardness. She smiled serenely. "My vines require sunlight and water to grow, so I'm allowing them to soak in the sunlight to prepare for our first hero class today. I wish to be at my strongest."
"Wait, first?" Izuku blinked, surprised. "You're a first-year hero course student too?"
She nodded gracefully. "Yes. And I take it you're from our sister class, Class A?"
Izuku nodded, feeling a little less tense now. "Yeah."
"I see. May I know your name?" She leaned forward slightly, her expression warm but curious. "You were kind enough to retrieve my undergarments months ago, and we're both in the hero course. Perhaps this will help ease any tension between our classes."
"Izuku Midoriya!" He managed to say, his voice a bit high.
Ibara blinked in disbelief, eyes widening a little as she began to study the boy before her.'This is Izuku Midoriya? He managed to obtain an incredible 450 villain points during the exam. He must be incredibly powerful. And on top of that, 150 rescue points, he must be remarkably selfless.' Ibara gazed at him in awe, far more impressed by his rescue points than his villain points.
Izuku feeling bit nervous especially how the girl seemed to fall silent after he told her of his name."Ahem." Izuku said he's cheeks a tint of red.
The girl was broken from her thoughts as Izuku spoke.
"May... I know your name?" Izuku asked.
Ibara chuckled softly, her smile kind. "I am Ibara Shiozaki." She gave a respectful bow. "It is a pleasure to meet you properly, Midoriya. I have heard of your impressive score during the entrance exam—450 villain points, was it? That is quite remarkable."
Izuku blinked, his cheeks flushing. "O-Oh, I was just trying to help out... But you scored 5th place, right? That's incredible!"
Ibara smiled humbly, lowering her gaze. "I was merely doing what I could with the abilities I've been blessed with. My quirk, Vines, allows me to manipulate my hair as if it were an extension of myself. I can use it to defend or strike from a distance, ensuring that I can protect those in need with grace."
Izuku's eyes lit up, his excitement bubbling over. "Wow, that's an amazing quirk! It could be super effective for restraining villains, especially ones with electricity-based quirks. If you wrap them up quickly, it could prevent the electricity from traveling through the vines, keeping you safe while subduing them!" He started muttering rapidly, his hands waving animatedly as he went on and on about potential applications for her quirk.
Ibara blinked, tilting her head as she watched him. "Does he ever pause for breath?" she wondered, a small smile tugging at her lips.
Finally, Izuku stopped, his face turning red. "S-Sorry! I started rambling again."
Ibara shook her head, her expression still gentle. "It's quite alright. Your enthusiasm is admirable." She folded her hands neatly in her lap. "As for your earlier question, I restrained most of the villain bots during the exam, but my quirk requires me to stay grounded, so maneuvering was a bit difficult."
Izuku nodded thoughtfully. "Oh, I see. That makes sense." His gaze softened as he looked at her. "Even with those limits, your quirk is amazing."
"Thank you," Ibara said, bringing her hands together in a prayer-like gesture. "I consider my quirk a blessing from God, something I'm eternally grateful for. With it, I hope to guide others toward righteousness and save those in need."
Izuku's eyes softened at her words. "I... I feel blessed too," he said quietly, glancing down at the Omnitrix on his wrist. "And with this, I'm going to become a hero who saves people—just like All Might."
Ibara studied him for a moment, noticing the sincerity and determination in his eyes. She gave a small nod. "I believe your path is blessed, Midoriya. May you continue to spread light to those in need."
Izuku smiled, the tension in his shoulders easing. "Thanks. You too." He waved goodbye as he started walking away, feeling a surge of pride. "I managed to talk to a girl without stuttering! Yes!" He threw a small fist into the air in triumph.
Before he got too far, he paused and turned back to Ibara. "Oh, by the way, for maneuverability, you could try swinging like Kamui Woods. You might need to do some upper-body exercises, though!"
Ibara blinked, watching him walk off. "Like Kamui Woods?" she murmured to herself, taking out her phone to look up the hero he mentioned, her curiosity piqued.
...
Izuku glanced nervously ahead. "Okay, you managed not to stutter while talking to a pretty girl, that's a win. N-now, we have our first Heroics training..." He gulped. "And All Might is going to be my teacher..."
As he stared at the imposing U.A. building, a few knots twisted in his stomach.
"Midoriya." A familiar, elegant voice called out, and Izuku turned to see Momo Yaoyorozu approaching with a light jog.
"Morning." She greeted him with a polite bow, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"M-Morning," Izuku stammered before mentally facepalming. 'You were doing so well!'
Momo tried to stifle a small giggle, causing Izuku's cheeks to flush, but their moment was interrupted by a loud voice.
"Oh, Midoriya! What's up, dude?" Kirishima greeted with his trademark toothy grin as he caught up to them.
The three began walking toward class, Kirishima still brimming with excitement. "I still can't believe we're actually here—in the top school in the country!"
Izuku couldn't help but smile at Kirishima's enthusiasm. "Yeah, U.A.'s been my dream since it's All Might's alma mater. He's the reason I became a hero. Being here feels unreal."
Momo tilted her head, intrigued. "So, you came to U.A. because it's All Might's alma mater?"
Izuku flinched, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, kinda."
Momo smiled softly. "You must really admire him."
"I-I do—"
"DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO, YOU ROUND-FACED BITCH!"
All three flinched at the unmistakable roar of Katsuki Bakugou. They turned to see him stomping past, veins bulging from his forehead, his face red with fury.
His gaze shot toward Izuku, full of contempt. "You'll always be a stupid Deku. Quirk or no quirk, you're just a Deku!" he spat.
Izuku recoiled, while Momo scowled at Bakugou. It was clear to anyone that the name "Deku" was an insult.
As Bakugou stormed off, Izuku noticed Uraraka standing nearby, her expression tense and frustrated.
"Uh, Uraraka, what was that about?" Izuku asked cautiously.
Ochako flinched, clearly feeling guilty. "W-Well..."
[Flashback]
"Huh?" Bakugou's red eyes snapped toward Ochako, narrowing dangerously as veins bulged from his forehead, rage radiating off of him.
"I said, stop calling Dekiru—I mean, Midoriya by that name." Ochako's voice was firm, unwavering.
Bakugou's scowl deepened, his anger only escalating. "Why the hell would I do that? You call shit, shit. You call a book a book. You call someone useless, worthless—a Deku."
Ochako's glare hardened. "He hates it when you call him that."
"What he likes doesn't fucking matter," Bakugou spat. "He's a Deku—someone useless, someone who will never make it as a hero."
Ochako's hands balled into fists, her frustration finally breaking through. "Won't make it as a hero? He's beaten you twice already! What's your problem?!"
Her voice rose, filled with anger. "You keep screaming that he's useless and worthless, but can't you, I don't know, just mind your own business for once?"
Bakugou's expression twisted in rage, but Ochako wasn't done.
"What is it with you? You're always tearing him down, even when he's proven himself again and again! How can you not see it?" Her voice cracked with frustration. "You treat him like dirt, and for what? Just because you can't handle the fact that maybe, just maybe, he's better than you think?"
For a moment, it seemed like Ochako's words hung in the air. Bakugou's fists clenched tighter, his whole body shaking with fury.
"DON'T FUCKING TELL ME WHAT TO DO, YOU ROUND-FACED BITCH!" Bakugou roared, his voice filled with pure rage before he stormed off, leaving Ochako standing there, her chest heaving with pent-up frustration.
[Flashback over]
"And that's pretty much what happened..." Ochako slumped, looking a bit defeated.
"S-Sorry, Dekiru, I couldn't convince him to stop calling you 'Deku.'" Ochako apologized, her voice tinged with guilt. As she spoke, Jirou and Iida approached from the classroom.
Izuku blushed, scratching his head awkwardly. "N-No problem... Plus, it's not like you would've convinced him anyway."
Jirou raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms as she quipped, "Woah, who pissed in explosive asshole's cereal today?"
Ochako looked down, clearly still feeling guilty. "That was me... I asked him to stop calling Dekiru by that nickname."
"And let me guess, he told you to shove it?" Jirou asked with a smirk.
"Yeah," Ochako sighed dejectedly, slumping her shoulders even more.
Momo sighed in disapproval, shaking her head. "Does he have to use such vulgar language? Honestly." Her brow furrowed as she crossed her arms.
Ochako, still looking frustrated, turned to Izuku. "What's his problem with you anyway?"
"I'm honestly curious too," Jirou chimed in, raising an eyebrow. "When you first told us about him, I didn't think he was that bad, but after yesterday… yeesh! A nope on wheels!"
Izuku shifted nervously, a small smile tugging at his lips. "N-Not sure. He's always seemed to hate my guts... But in a way, I respect him."
Momo blinked, her eyebrows drawing together in confusion. Jirou shot him a skeptical look, waiting for an explanation but not interrupting.
Izuku rubbed the back of his neck. "I mean, his ambitions, his strength, even his quirk... they're awesome. I honestly think he's going to be an amazing hero. But even though he calls me Deku... I still want to beat him."
Ochako furrowed her brow, clearly confused by his reasoning. "...So then... this must be one of those 'fated rivals' or something," she said, almost unsure.
Momo and Jirou exchanged glances, both of them clearly thinking that was far from the case.
"So you think he's going to be an amazing hero because of his quirk and... ambitions?" Jirou asked, her tone flat, eyes narrowing.
"Y-Yeah, kind of..." Izuku responded, unsure of where this was going.
"No." Jirou shook her head firmly, making Izuku blink in confusion. "Just no."
Jirou sighed heavily, placing her hands on her hips. "No offense, green, but I don't care if he's as powerful as All Might or as ambitious as the first guys to land on the moon—anyone, and I mean anyone, who screams at everyone like they're extras, calls someone worthless, and attacks people without provocation just to soothe his ego, in my eyes, isn't a hero."
Iida nodded solemnly in agreement, his arms crossed as he watched Jirou continue with a serious expression.
Izuku looked at her, stunned, while Momo and Ochako silently nodded in agreement. Jirou's words hit harder than he expected.
"Let alone someone who deserves any kind of respect, especially from you," Jirou continued, her tone sharp. "In my opinion, it doesn't matter how strong someone is or how powerful their quirk is. A true hero stands up for what's right."
Iida adjusted his glasses, nodding once more. "Indeed. A true hero should inspire hope and unity, not division and fear."
She stared directly at Izuku, her gaze unwavering. "A hero doesn't put down others or call them worthless. Because if you see someone as worthless... does that mean their life isn't worth saving?"
Everyone went silent. Momo's eyes widened in realization, while Ochako's expression softened as she processed Jirou's words. Izuku swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her statement.
Jirou sighed, breaking the silence. "And that's why I think you and All Might are so amazing." Her voice softened slightly, sending a shiver down Izuku's spine as his face turned bright red.
"You both have incredible power, yet you don't flaunt it like you're trying to show off your... well, you know," she blushed slightly, recalling how Izuku had once complimented her quirk. "You always see the best in people. You're always telling us how amazing our quirks are, even when they're not as flashy as others."
Izuku blinked in surprise, his heart racing as he saw the sincerity in her eyes. Jirou's ears turned red as she looked away, her usual cool demeanor cracking just a bit.
"And you've helped people, even without a license," she added. "You and All Might have used your power to help others, not to boost your own ego."
The group fell quiet, each of them thinking back to all the times they'd seen Izuku go out of his way to help others. Momo and Ochako exchanged glances, both of them nodding in silent agreement with Jirou.
"But Bakugou?" Jirou shook her head. "All he does is use his quirk to threaten people, to show he's better than everyone else. I have no idea how you can respect someone like that."
Izuku opened his mouth to respond, but the words caught in his throat.
Jirou crossed her arms again, finishing her thought. "Power and ambition don't make a great hero. It's how you use those abilities that shows what kind of hero you really are."
Everyone stared at her in awe. Iida, visibly moved, suddenly started clapping, his eyes glistening with emotion.
"Bravo, bravo, bravo!" Iida cried, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye.
Momo beamed, giving Jirou an approving smile. "That was splendid."
Jirou's face turned bright red, and she quickly covered her ears in embarrassment. "Ugh, stop looking at me like that, you dorks."
Momo giggled softly. "That was truly a beautiful speech."
Jirou grumbled, clearly uncomfortable with all the attention. "I swear, my friends are all nerds. I'm gonna find new friends."
"You don't have to be embarrassed," Momo said with a warm smile. "That was truly inspiring."
"Ugh!" Jirou said with a small smile and blush creeping onto her face.
Izuku looked down, he couldn't find the words to defend Bakugou as his mind drifted to Kevin.'That's what he used to tell me...'
...
[Homeroom]
"Make sure to take your academic classes seriously. U.A. will not tolerate anyone slacking off," Aizawa warned his Class 1-A students, his tone flat and uncompromising.
"Also—" he glanced pointedly at Bakugo, "be sure to behave yourselves in all of your classes, including your hero lesson today."
Bakugo, sporting his signature scowl, felt a familiar tension rise.
Cross veins appeared on his forehead, and the room braced for whatever he might say next.
[English]
Everyone sat in bored silence as Present Mic, the English teacher who had also overseen their practical exam, wrote four sentences on the board.
"Now, which one of these sentences is incorrect?" he asked, his tone a mix of excitement and disinterest.
"So boring..." was the collective thought running through the class.
[Mathematics]
"And that is how you solve for X," Momo Yaoyorozu explained, having used nearly the entire board to work through a complicated math problem.
"That is correct; good job," praised Ectoplasm, the math teacher, his clones diligently taking notes alongside him.
Izuku Midoriya stared at the board, his eyes wide with admiration. "She's amazing!" he thought, feeling a hint of envy. "Too bad I can't use Brainstorm to tackle my schoolwork. Though, honestly, I doubt it would be a challenge if I could."
A heavy panting broke his concentration, and he turned slightly to see the short, purple-haired boy behind him, drooling and staring at Momo with wide eyes. "She's... amazing..." he echoed, clearly captivated for different reasons.
Izuku shivered in disgust, his imagination running wild with what the boy might be thinking.
[Modern Literature]
"You'll need this book for our first few assignments," announced Cementoss, the cement hero, holding up a hefty time expected for the class.
"AH! Reading!" both the pink-skinned girl and the invisible girl exclaimed in dismay, hands clutching their heads as if the very thought of reading was torturous.
Meanwhile, Yaoyorozu and Iida had already begun poring over their copies of the book.
"How did she get it already?!" Izuku wondered in confusion, glancing at their eager expressions.
"One should always be prepared to dedicate themselves to studying," Yaoyorozu said, her voice calm and focused as she flipped through the pages.
"I hope the book is cheap..." Ochako muttered under her breath, peeking into her wallet with a worried frown.
[Modern Hero Art History]
"And that is a brief introduction to the 'Regulations for Exposed Skin in Costumes' bill," Midnight said with a smile, her whip gesturing animatedly to the information she had written on the board. "This bill restricted the styles that female heroes could adopt for their costumes."
As she spoke, a few boys in the class blushed, clearly distracted by Midnight's provocative outfit.
"Some of you, boys or girls, may be affected by these regulations. Clothing can be quite restrictive for those of us who need to expose skin," she continued, her tone both playful and serious.
"If you ask me, they should've let youth shine in the way they wanted! You gotta express yourself in any way you can—show the world the power of your youth!" Midnight exclaimed, breathing heavily as she flashed a bright smile.
"Stupid regulations! We want more skin, not less!" Mineta shouted, disappointment evident in his voice.
"Now, now, certain people just can't handle the blooming that we youthful folks possess. Don't you agree?" Midnight winked at the class, her enthusiasm infectious.
"Yes!" several boys shouted in unison, their excitement palpable.
"Are you implying that you're still in your youthful phase?" Bakugo interjected, clicking his pen with a challenging glare.
The classroom fell silent, and Midnight's demeanor shifted, the grip on her whip tightening as a menacing purple aura began to swirl around her.
"What do you mean by that?" she asked, her voice laced with an ominous tone.
The class shivered, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife.
"Nothing..." Bakugo replied, his voice low, a hint of fear creeping in. His past experiences with his mother had taught him that this situation could only end badly.
Midnight's smile returned, though it was edged with danger. "Good! Moving on!"
[Lunch]
The lunch arrived, bringing with it students from various departments: General Education, Business, and Hero Courses. Midoriya sat with Uraraka, Jirou, Iida, and Yaoyorozu when he suddenly felt a flick to his forehead.
"Kendo!" he exclaimed, looking up to see Itsuka Kendo standing above him.
The girl shook her head with a small smile. "No, I'm not mad anymore. It's fine."
Uraraka chuckled, "I'm surprised you didn't flip him to the floor, Kendo."
"Oh, I plan to," she replied playfully, a mischievous glint in her eye. Midoriya flinched in mock terror, which earned a laugh from the group.
Kendo straightened her posture and addressed everyone. "I'm Itsuka Kendo, by the way."
"Kyouka Jirou," Jirou said.
"Momo Yaoyorozu," Momo introduced herself warmly, giving the girl with green hair a friendly wave. The green haired girl returned the gesture with a bright grin.
"Tenya Iida," he added, adjusting his glasses earnestly.
As the group settled in, three other girls approached their table. Midoriya's gaze landed on one of them. "Oh, hey, Kodai!"
Kodai offered a small nod, her expression neutral but friendly.
Kendo's brow furrowed slightly, concern creeping into her voice. "Wait, you know her?"
"Yeah, we met yesterday—well, formally met, anyway. We exchanged numbers and have been texting. She's surprisingly a good conversationalist," Midoriya explained, his cheeks tinged with pink.
Kendo's grip on her lunch tightened as she processed this. "Oh... you already exchanged numbers," she said, her tone revealing a hint of jealousy before she quickly composed herself.
The other two girls stepped forward. "Setsuna Tokage," said the girl with a toothy grin, extending her hand toward Izuku. He blushed, startled by her enthusiasm.
"I-Izuku Midoriya," he stammered, reaching out. As soon as he said his name, Setsuna's grip tightened, and her eyes widened.
"Midoriya? The top scorer in the entrance exam?" Setsuna leaned in closer, excitement evident in her voice. The girls at the table shifted, some narrowing their eyes in annoyance.
"You really showed everyone who took the entrance exam, managing to beat a score that hasn't even been touched in nearly forty years!" she continued, causing Izuku to force a smile, flattered but feeling a bit overwhelmed.
"Y-Yup! That's me! C-Can you please let go?" he asked, trying not to squirm under her grip.
"Oh, right! Sorry!" Tokage quickly loosened her grip, bringing her hand behind her head and laughing awkwardly. "Guess I kinda got awe-struck, y'know? Didn't expect the guy that Kendo's been gushing over to be the Izuku Midoriya."
"N-No…" The realization hit the table like a thunderclap. Izuku's face turned beet red, and Kendo's cheeks matched the color of his hair.
"H-Huh?!" they both exclaimed, eyes wide with disbelief.
"I-It's not like that!" Kendo protested, her face flaming as the girl with green hair laughed, clearly enjoying the moment. Itsuka seemed ready to knock Setsuna out, her embarrassment barely contained, while Izuku struggled to meet her gaze.
Reiko Yanagi. Pleasure," the third girl said, attempting to defuse the tension.
The rest of the group introduced themselves, and the conversation soon shifted to their first-day experiences.
"So, I heard you guys had a pretty stressful first day?" Setsuna said, her expression playful. "Unlike us, our day was pretty much a snoozefest."
Everyone shivered at the memory. "Yes, I didn't think our teacher was serious about expelling us, but when I learned he expelled his entire class, I was more than surprised," Momo said, her tone a mix of disbelief and fear.
"It was absolutely terrifying!" Jirou added, shivering again at the thought.
"Yes, knowing he has the power to expel any of us at will does give me quite the anxiety," Iida remarked, his brow furrowed seriously.
"Wow, your teacher sounds scary," Yanagi said, her eyes wide.
"So, who got the boot?" Setsuna asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Oh, no one. Our teacher said he saw great potential in all of us, and that's why none of us got expelled, luckily," Momo replied.
"Though I really hoped Mineta would get booted," Jirou said, her tone devoid of empathy.
"Jirou!" Iida exclaimed, his voice incredulous. "He's our classmate!"
"He's a pervert who openly and shamelessly looks at the girls in his class, and the things he said under his breath…" Jirou shivered, recalling some of the crass remarks she'd overheard.
The girls from Class B looked terrified. "Kinda makes me glad we don't have any perverts in our class," Setsuna said with a sigh of relief.
"Wait, you guys don't have any pervs? Damn it! How the hell did we get stuck with the only pervert?!" Jirou said in frustration, throwing her hands up in exasperation.
"Mhm, no... Every guy in our class seems to be normal," Yanagi said, shrugging. "Except Monoma.
Monoma?" Izuku inquired, her brow furrowing.
"Yeah, I almost forgot to tell you—Monoma really seems to have it out for your class," Kendo explained, her expression a mix of confusion and concern.
"Really? Why?" Iida asked, leaning forward, genuinely interested.
"Well, he thinks we need to prove that we're the superior class. With your class having the top two spots in the entrance exam, he wants to prove himself," Setsuna explained, taking a bite of her sandwich.
"Especially you, Midoriya. He really wants a piece of you," Kendo added, her eyes narrowing playfully.
Midoriya slumped in his seat, a look of defeat washing over his face. "Great, another blonde guy wants to pick a fight with me."
"You seem to have a really bad track record with blondes—first Bakugou, and now Monoma," Yaoyorozu said, patting him comfortingly on the back.
"By the way, I'm not sure if it's only for Class B, but for Hero Basic Training, why is it the only class where we don't know our teacher's name?" Kendo asked, annoyance creeping into her tone as she fiddled with her sandwich.
Everyone exchanged looks before nodding in agreement. "Same for us. They seem to be pretty hush-hush about the situation," Iida replied.
"I asked Mr. Aizawa, and he just told me we'd find out in Hero Basic Training. Don't worry about it," Yaoyorozu said, her tone reassuring.
"Maybe there's a typo in the syllabus?" Setsuna suggested, shrugging casually.
Iida suddenly shot up from his seat, eyes wide with indignation as he began chopping the air with his hands. "If that's the case, then it's unacceptable for a top hero school to allow such mistakes in the great halls we walk!"
Midoriya took another bite of his lunch, trying to stifle a laugh at Iida's over-the-top response. "Maybe they wanted to surprise you, like in the entrance exam with the zero pointers. Remember?"
Everyone shivered again at the thought of the giant robots.
"I suppose so, but if that's the case, try not to put yourself in more danger." Iida said, still fuming. "Oh, and after learning what your quirk does, I was curious about something?"
"Oh? What's up?" Midoriya asked, intrigued.
"You can turn into multiple forms, each with their own powers and abilities," Iida noted, his tone serious.
"Wait, hold up—that's your quirk?!" Setsuna exclaimed, disbelief written all over her face.
"Yup! He's got 19 aliens with multiple quirks!" Ochako chimed in, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Woah, you really hit the genetic jackpot!' Setsuna said, her tone impressed. "Never seen a quirk like that, but from the rumors about you, it kinda begins to make a little more sense."
Midoriya chuckled nervously, thinking, 'You have no idea how wrong that statement is.'
'Yeah... I guess."
'Kinda thought he was quirkless with him wearing the quirkless reds,' Setsuna mused before shrugging. 'Must be a similar pair.'
"Yes, out of your forms, how come you didn't use Fasttrack and get everyone out? You would've gotten your rescue points without engaging the zero pointer," Iida asked, genuinely curious.
Midoriya froze mid-bite, a moment of realization dawning on the group.
"..."
"...Why didn't I think of that?!" He shot up from his seat, grabbing his head in frustration as laughter erupted from the group.
Kendo patted him on the back, trying to stifle her own giggles. "Don't worry, we all make mistakes," she said, her tone comforting as she hid her laughter behind a smile.
"Ah, man," he mumbled, blushing in embarrassment.
[Hero Basic Training]
Class 1-A buzzed with chatter as the students waited in anticipation for their teacher. Izuku sat quietly, fiddling with the Omnitrix while making notes in his notebook, titled Alien Heroes #1.
"Ever since I figured out how to use Full Cowl with my aliens, I haven't had much time to test how it'll affect them," he thought, scribbling theories. "Heatblast's flames might burn hotter and brighter, Four Arms could get a boost in strength and speed—maybe around 20%, turning him into a pseudo-100%? Not sure about Goop or Diamondhead though, I'm curious to see the effects."
Across the room, Hagakure Tooru animatedly chatted with her classmates, while Momo and Jirou engaged in their own conversation. Momo made an attempt to talk to Todoroki, but to her disappointment, he brushed her off politely.
On the opposite side of the classroom, Ashido Mina and Kirishima Eijirou kept the energy high with their lively discussion, occasionally joined by the eccentric Aoyama Yuuga, who threw in a few flamboyant remarks.
Suddenly, Kyouka's sensitive hearing picked up something unusual. She paused mid-conversation, her head tilting slightly.
"Wait, that laugh... it can't be..." she trailed off, her attention fully focused on the door.
The class fell into a hush as they too began to hear the unmistakable sound of heavy footsteps approaching.
The door burst open with a loud thud.
"I AM HERE!" All Might's booming voice echoed as he made a grand entrance, posing dramatically. "And I'm coming through the door like a normal person!"
Excitement rippled through the room. Even though Izuku saw All Might often, it still felt surreal every time the #1 hero stood before him.
"I can't believe it's All Might!" Kaminari exclaimed, eyes wide with excitement.
"So he really is a teacher here. Man, this year's gonna be awesome!" Kirishima added, punching the air enthusiastically.
"Hey, isn't that his Silver Age costume?" Tsuyu observed, tilting her head as All Might made his way to the podium with his usual larger-than-life energy.
"Wow, that's so retro," Ojiro, the boy with the long tail, commented, clearly impressed.
All Might struck a new pose at the front of the room. "Welcome to the most important class at U.A. High: Hero 101!" he announced. "Here, you'll learn the fundamentals of being a Pro Hero and fighting in the name of good. Let's get into it!"
The class leaned forward, fully invested.
"Today's lesson is... Combat Training!" All Might shouted, dramatically pulling out a card with the word BATTLE written on it in bold letters.
"Finally, the real stuff!" Bakugou growled, eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Real... combat?" Izuku muttered, feeling his nerves kick in. He gulped. "I've been in real combat before, but... I'm still nervous. At least this time, my life won't be in mortal danger..." He cast a glance at Bakugou, remembering their history. "...Probably."
All Might's voice snapped him back to attention. "And to go with that, are these!" he said, pressing a button on a small remote.
From the walls, large drawers slid out, revealing rows of numbered cases.
"These are the costumes you designed based on your quirks, which you requested before school started! Get suited up and meet me at Ground Beta!" All Might struck yet another heroic pose.
"Yes, sir!" the class responded in unison, their excitement palpable.
As the students filed out, Izuku lingered at the back, his eyes catching something on the floor near All Might's desk. Bending down, he picked up a book that had fallen and widened his eyes in disbelief. Teaching for Dummies?! he thought, unable to hide his shock.
"Midoriya, you don't want to be late!" Momo called from the doorway.
Izuku quickly shoved the book back into the desk and gave her a nod. "Coming!" he replied, rushing after the others.
Izuku stood in the boys' locker room as the rest of the class changed into their hero costumes. He opened his suitcase and smiled as he pulled out a familiar green hoodie.
The hoodie was the same shade of green as his hair and eyes, with a hood that featured bunny-like ears, reminiscent of All Might's hairstyle. Two white stripes ran down the arms, and the number 10 was boldly printed on the chest.
Flashback: Three Weeks Ago
"I need to go to City Hall to update my Quirk registration for the clothing allowance," Izuku muttered, sitting on the couch, papers scattered across the table. Between his training with All Might and schoolwork, he'd forgotten to submit his costume request in time, leaving it until the last minute.
"Oh wait, but I'm already registered as Quirkless... Oh crap, what do I do?" Panic crept into his voice as he realized the potential complication. He quickly decided to call All Might for advice.
"Quirk registration? Oh yeah, you can update that," All Might said casually from the teacher's lounge, his tone nonchalant.
"Wait, really? Just like that?" Izuku asked, surprised.
All Might chuckled. "Yep. When you enter elementary or junior high, everyone gets examined and registered, right? But sometimes people find out later that their Quirk isn't quite what they thought it was. You're allowed to update it once or twice. As long as it's not an outrageous change, you'll be fine. Especially since you were registered as Quirkless before."
Suddenly, Izuku heard the front door open.
"I'm home!" Inko called out.
Panicking at the thought of his mom overhearing the conversation, Izuku accidentally hung up the phone in a hurry. "Damn it, I hung up by mistake. I'll apologize to All Might later."
"Welcome back!" Izuku greeted, walking over to see her.
"Hey, Izuku," Inko smiled as she pulled something out of her bag. "Congrats on getting into U.A.!" She placed an old, dusty box on the table. "Your father made this before he passed. He said, 'When Izuku gets into U.A., give this to him.'"
Izuku looked puzzled as he opened the box, revealing a green hoodie inside.
"A hoodie?" Izuku repeated, inspecting it closely.
"It's not much, but your father worked hard to make it," Inko explained. "It still has his scent."
"Dad made this?" Izuku murmured, holding the hoodie. To him, it seemed like an ordinary piece of clothing, but the sentiment behind it made it special.
Suddenly, Inko's expression shifted. She looked sad, her voice dropping as she spoke. "I've been thinking about something for a while now. The terrible thing I said when you were younger... when I told you that you couldn't be a hero. I gave up back then, but you didn't. You kept chasing your dream, even after your father passed. And I... I just let go of mine."
Tears welled up in her eyes. "But now look at you. You're at the top of your class, pushing forward like a real champ." Her smile returned, though her eyes remained teary.
"Mom..." Izuku smiled softly. "I'll make this my hero costume. I'll carry Dad and you with me, wherever I go."
Inko broke down in tears, rushing to hug her son. "Oh, my baby!"
"Mom!" Izuku protested as she squeezed him tightly. "The neighbors will complain again! And I don't want to get the new hoodie wet! If you start crying, I'm gonna start crying too!"
The two stood in the embrace for a moment longer, both crying and laughing.
Flashback Over
Izuku jogged through the tunnel leading to Ground Beta, a little behind the others. It had taken him longer to get ready, having been caught up in his memories of the hoodie. He finally emerged at Ground Beta, looking around at the training site.
His costume consisted of fingerless gloves, the green hoodie with bunny-like ears, knee and elbow pads, and his signature red shoes.
"This is it. My hero costume!" Izuku thought, a surge of pride swelling in his chest as he prepared for his first official combat training.
Uraraka, Ashido, Jirou, and a few others turned as they noticed Izuku approaching.
"Hey, Dekiru," Ochako greeted with a bright smile, walking up to him. "Cool costume! Makes sense your clothes disappear when you transform."
"U-Uraraka..." Izuku stammered, his face heating up at the sight of her hero outfit. Her skin-tight costume hugged her body, accentuating her figure in a way that made his heart race. Her helmet sat perched on her head, completing the look.
"I-Is that your costume?" he asked, nervously glancing away.
"Yeah," Ochako replied with a shy smile, her cheeks reddening slightly. "I guess I should have been more specific about what I wanted when I filled out the form."
Izuku's face went even redder as he tried to stay composed. "U-Uh, yeah! I-It looks great!" he said, his voice cracking a little.
"Thanks, Dekiru," she replied, her pink blush deepening.
Before Izuku could fully recover, Mina appeared in her hero costume. Her pink skin stood out in the camo-patterned bodysuit that clung tightly to her, the confidence in her stride only enhancing her curves.
With a playful, cheshire grin, Mina caught him staring and quickly closed the distance between them. Izuku's breath hitched as she stood in front of him.
"Like what you see?" she teased, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "So, what do you think of my costume?" she asked, batting her eyelashes.
Izuku's face turned beet red. "I-I-I uhh..."
Mina giggled at his flustered response. "Tehehe, I love teasing you, Midori," she said with a grin, though her tone softened as she added, "But you look really nice too. I like your bunny ears."
Izuku blinked, trying to regain his composure. "Y-Yours is... uh, loud," he managed to say, causing Mina to raise an eyebrow. He quickly followed up, "B-But it suits you! I-I like it!"
Mina's face turned a light shade of lilac as she struggled not to get flustered. Smirking, she leaned closer. "Wow, Midori, you're a bit of a flirt, huh?"
Izuku's blush intensified, and he waved his arms defensively. "I-I-I wasn't trying to flirt! I just think your costume looks really good! It suits you!" His stammered defense only made Mina giggle more.
Realizing she was teasing him, Izuku's blush slowly faded, but then something hit him. "W-Wait... M-Midori?" he asked, confused.
"Oh, well, since Jirou and Uraraka call you by a nickname, I thought it'd be cool if I gave you one too," Mina explained, her teasing grin faltering slightly. "You don't like it?"
Internally, Mina began to worry. Oh no, was I being too forward? Does he think I'm creepy?
Izuku quickly shook his head. "N-No, I'm just not used to getting nicknames..." He paused before adding quietly, "Well, nicknames that aren't degrading..."
Before Mina could respond, they both heard the voice of Momo approaching.
"Hello, Midoriya," Momo greeted, her voice calm and polite. Izuku turned around, but the moment his eyes landed on her, his breath caught in his throat. His mind went completely blank as his gaze fell on Momo in her hero costume.
She wore a tight red leotard that clung to her curves in all the right places, accentuating her figure. But what really caught his attention was the vertical split in the front, revealing a generous amount of skin, all the way down to her navel. His eyes lingered on the exposed area a little longer than he intended, and Momo, noticing his stare, felt a strange flutter in her chest as a blush crept onto her face.
Izuku quickly looked away, his cheeks burning with embarrassment. "H-Hey, Y-Yaoyorozu... Y-You look great in y-your costume!" he stuttered, trying to push the image of her revealing outfit out of his mind. He was grateful for the gloves on his hands—he was sure his palms were sweaty.
"She did mention needing exposed skin for her Quirk," Izuku thought, trying to rationalize his reaction. But the sight of her kept replaying in his head.
Momo, meanwhile, glanced at him thoughtfully. 'His costume is pretty simplistic... but he probably doesn't need much protection with those transformations. From what I saw yesterday, his clothes don't seem to stay on during the shift anyway. Her eyes drifted to his shoes, and she blinked in surprise. Wait, are those Quirkless Reds? But why would he have those? He's clearly not Quirkless... maybe I'm mistaken?' She frowned slightly, recalling how she'd misjudged their teacher earlier. Perhaps I've misunderstood him as well...
As Izuku noticed Momo staring at him, his blush deepened, his awkwardness evident. Her intense gaze hadn't gone unnoticed by some of the others either. Kaminari and Mineta, standing nearby, exchanged furious looks, clearly jealous.
Before the tension could build further, Jirou stepped into his line of sight. Her costume featured a sleek black leather jacket, a ripped salmon-colored shirt, and boots with built-in stereo speakers. Izuku's eyes lit up at the sight of her practical yet stylish hero costume. "Cool..." he muttered under his breath, though Jirou, with her enhanced hearing, picked up on it and immediately blushed.
She hadn't expected him to comment on her costume—it was pretty plain compared to the more form-fitting ones the other girls wore, which highlighted their figures. "U-Uh, thanks," Jirou replied, fidgeting slightly. "Yours is pretty cool too, though. That 10 on your suit's a bit misleading, though. You've got more than ten forms now, right?"
Izuku scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Yeah, I guess it is a bit outdated," he admitted, feeling a bit embarrassed by the oversight.
Meanwhile, Mineta, who had been ogling the girls' outfits the entire time, grinned and gave a thumbs up. "I love this school."
...
Hagakure walked up to Ashido, catching Midoriya's attention. His face flushed as he noticed her "costume" consisted solely of a pair of gloves and boots, the rest of her body completely invisible. The boys nearby were equally flustered, trying not to stare.
"H-Hagakure, your costume is..." Kaminari trailed off, clearly unsure how to phrase his thoughts without sounding rude.
The invisible girl scratched behind her head, a faint blush on her cheeks. "Yeah, it's super embarrassing, but I can't really wear much else. My Quirk doesn't turn off, so regular clothes wouldn't make any sense."
Midoriya, still processing the situation, chimed in. "But what about DNA-coated costumes? You know, the ones made with your hair, so they work with your Quirk?"
Hagakure sighed and shook her head, the sound of her exasperation palpable. "Those only work for people whose Quirks can turn off or change. My Quirk's always on, so the fabric wouldn't sync up right."
Yaoyorozu nodded in agreement, stepping in to clarify. "That's right. I looked into it too. DNA-coated costumes work for some emitter-type Quirks or those that can be deactivated, but in Hagakure's case, it wouldn't make a difference. Even if we could make the fabric invisible, there's no technology to make it work properly."
Midoriya's eyes widened in realization. "Oh, so it's not just about the Quirk... the technology doesn't even exist yet."
"Exactly," Yaoyorozu confirmed, her voice steady and informative. "It's not merely a matter of making the clothes invisible. That kind of tech doesn't exist for clothing, and even if it did, it would raise bigger concerns. If you could create invisible clothing, what's next? Invisible armor? Weapons? Machinery? It's a complex issue that we aren't ready to tackle."
Midoriya nodded thoughtfully, his mind racing with possibilities. "That makes sense... even with Midnight, she still needs specific materials because her costume has to allow her Quirk to function."
"Right," Yaoyorozu added, her gaze shifting to Hagakure. "Even DNA-coated costumes have their limits. For some Quirks, like Hagakure's or Midnight's, the fabric has to adhere to certain rules. We can't just create fully invisible, indestructible clothes on demand."
"Yeah," Hagakure interjected, her voice filled with determination. "Until the tech exists to make something better, I'll just stick with what I have. I might not have the best protection, but I'm still going to be a hero!" She straightened her back, exuding confidence.
The group smiled at her unwavering spirit, Kirishima in particular tearing up. "So manly!" he shouted, clearly moved by her resolve.
"Yeah, it's impressive," Ojiro added, nodding appreciatively. "I knew a guy with indestructible skin. No matter what materials they used, his clothes would still tear in battle. Sometimes, the tech just isn't there yet."
...
All Might, noticing the costume of his protégé, felt a twinge of nervousness. 'Hisashi, please tell me you didn't make that hoodie out of alien technology! For the love of all that's good, right? Yeah, it's probably fine. Yep. Totally A.O.K. But I know Hisashi put a lot of effort into making that for you.'
As he looked around and noticed everyone was present, he shifted his focus to the group. "Now, it's time for combat training!"
"Sir! This is the battle center from the Entrance Exam, so will we be conducting urban battles again?" Tenya asked, his voice and animated hand movements immediately recognizable to Izuku. Tenya looked impressive in his knight-like Hero costume, and Izuku had to admit it suited his personality perfectly.
"No, we're moving ahead two steps. Most of the time, fighting villains takes place outside, but if you look at the total numbers, heinous villains tend to appear indoors more frequently. Imprisonment, house arrest, backroom deals—this society filled with Heroes also has truly cunning villains lurking in the shadows! For this class, you'll be split into teams of heroes and villains to fight 2-on-2 indoor battles."
"Without basic training?" Tsuyu asked, her tone skeptical as she assessed their readiness for such a challenge.
"This is a real battle to help you grasp those basics! However, this time, there won't be any robots to beat up."
"How will wins and losses be determined?" Momo inquired, her brow furrowing in thought.
"Can we beat them up anyway?" Bakugo chimed in, clearly hoping to take down whoever his opponent was—preferably Izuku.
"Will the punishment be expulsion like with Mr. Aizawa?" Ochaco asked, recalling the pressure of their last experience.
"How shall we be split up?' Tenya pressed, his organizational mindset kicking in.
"Isn't this cape crazy?" Aoyama said randomly, drawing puzzled glances from his classmates.
All Might felt overwhelmed, not used to handling so many questions at once. Teaching was still a new experience for him. "I'll answer all of your questions! Now, listen up!" He pulled out his teaching notes.
"A script?" Izuku thought, suppressing a sweat drop as he found amusement in his mentor's antics.
"The situation is as follows: the villains have hidden a nuclear weapon in their hideout. The heroes are tasked with disposing of it. The heroes need to either catch the villains or retrieve the nuclear weapon within the allotted time. The villains, on the other hand, must protect the weapon or capture the heroes," All Might explained.
"This situation feels very American," Izuku commented, his analytical mind already assessing the scenario.
All Might then produced a yellow box. "Teams and opponents will be determined by drawing lots!"
"They're being decided so haphazardly?" Tenya questioned, surprised by the lack of organization.
"Pros often have to create makeshift teams with Heroes from other agencies, so this is part of the learning experience. We always need to be prepared to team up with another Hero if the situation calls for it." Izuku pointed out, and All Might smiled at his successor's keen insights.
Tenya nodded, understanding Izuku's reasoning. "I see. The discernment to look ahead... Please excuse my rudeness!" he said, bowing respectfully.
"It's fine! Let's hurry up and get this done!" All Might bellowed as the students moved forward to draw their lots and discover their partners.
...
Team A- Izuku Midoriya and Minoru Mineta
Team B- Tenya Iida and Ochaco Uraraka
Team C- Momo Yaoyorozu and Mezo Shoji
Team D- Katsuki Bakugo and Shoto Todoroki
Team E- Mina Ashido and Yuga Aoyama
Team F- Rikido Sato and Koji Koda
Team G- Denki Kaminari and Kyoka Jiro
Team H- Fumikage Tokoyami and Tsuyu Asui
Team I- Hanta Sero and Toru Hagakure
Team J- Eijirou Kirishima and Mashirao Ojiro
"Damn it, why didn't I get any girls?!" screamed the perverted midget, causing Midoriya to sweat drop, his face turning a shade of crimson.
Kaminari, grinning like he'd just won the lottery, sauntered over to Jirou. "Hey, Jirou, guess we're teammates!" he said, his enthusiasm palpable.
Jirou raised an eyebrow, her unimpressed expression making it clear she wasn't impressed.
"Maybe after class, if you're not busy, we could grab some lunch?" Kaminari asked, but Jirou's deadpan response cut him off.
'Didn't this guy ask out Ashido and Toru yesterday?' Jirou thought, barely hiding her disdain.
"Yeah, no thanks," she replied flatly, watching Kaminari's expression fall as if he'd just taken a direct hit. She turned to Midoriya. "Sorry, you got stuck with the perv, Green. We would have made an awesome team."
"Uraraka, I hope we'll work efficiently and effectively!" Tenya declared, adjusting his glasses with determination gleaming in his eyes.
Uraraka nodded rapidly, her energy contagious. "I was hoping to be with Dekiru, but Iida is just as good! With your speed, I know we'll crush it!"
"Bakugou," Todoroki stated in his usual monotone, his eyes glancing over to the blonde. Bakugou's surprise quickly morphed into a smug grin when he saw who his teammate was.
"Wait, the son of Endeavor and the second place are both on a team?!" Ashido exclaimed, her voice laced with awe and a hint of fear.
"The most capable boy in class," Momo remarked, her gaze lingering on Todoroki with a mix of admiration and concern.
"The most handsome boy in class," Toru chimed in, a light blush spreading across her cheeks as she gazed at him dreamily.
"With the most violent person in class?" Sato added, glancing nervously at Bakugou, who was cracking his knuckles in anticipation.
"And you saw him yesterday; that guy has a garbage personality, but his quirk is powerful as heck," Kaminari commented, crossing his arms with a cocky smile.
"Feel bad for whoever's going against them," Mineta said.
Yaoyorozu looked at the assembled teams, a worried frown crossing her face. 'I hope Midoriya doesn't go against them. Bakugou seems to have a serious grudge, and Todoroki is a prodigy. I couldn't take them on myself.' Her eyes flicked to the dual-haired boy. 'He's far more powerful and capable than people realize. Trained by the number two hero, going up against him will likely lead to failure for most of the class.'
All Might, standing between two boxes—one white labeled "HERO" and one black labeled "VILLAIN"—prepared to announce the matchups with theatrical flair. "The first teams to fight will be..." He dramatically pulled out two balls, one black labeled "D" and the other white labeled "A." "These guys! Team A will be the Heroes, and Team D will be the..." He paused realizing who the teams are. "..Villains."
Midoriya and Mineta's eyes widened in horror, their bodies tensing up like a coiled spring. Mineta began to tremble like a leaf caught in a storm, while Izuku's heart raced as he processed the names. All Might quickly noticed their distress.
'I'm sorry, Young Midoriya, but it seems that fate has other plans for you today,' All Might thought, recalling how tumultuous the relationship between these two was. With Todoroki trained by his father, this would surely be a daunting challenge for Izuku.
Both Izuku and Bakugou gasped in shock. They hadn't expected to be thrust into battle so soon. Slowly, Izuku turned to Bakugou, who wore a twisted grin that sent chills down his spine, explosions crackling in his palms.
"PERFECT! I finally get to crush Deku with my own hands and show him he's just a pebble in my way!" Bakugou thought, relishing the prospect of their impending showdown.
'Hmm... Midoriya? Rumor has it he has flames with a heat similar to Endeavor's...' Todoroki mused, stealing a glance at Izuku. 'Yesterday's test showcased his raw power; the wind pressure he generated was incredible. But he has no control. If his forms are as powerful as this, at best he'll take down the whole building. My victory is assured. I have power and was trained by that bastard. We're on different levels. He may have raw strength, but I have the training and control.'
The others exchanged pitying glances, concern evident as they regarded Midoriya and Mineta. With one trembling and the other clearly outmatched, faith in the Hero Team was waning fast. Izuku summed up the entire situation in two words, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Ah, man."
...
"This is going to be... a massacre," Kaminari said, wincing as he was jabbed in the side by Jirou's ear jack.
"Hey! We're all thinking it!" Kaminari retorted. "Todoroki is the son of Endeavor, and the guy is no joke," he added, glancing at Todoroki, who seemed oblivious to the commotion around him.
"And Bakugou? I saw him during the entrance exam—he's a beast! No offense to Midoriya, but I don't think he'll win. These are two of the strongest students," Kaminari continued, earning sympathetic looks from their classmates.
"Everyone else, head toward the monitor room!" All Might instructed.
"Yes, sir!" the students responded, though concern hung heavy in the air. Neither Midoriya nor Mineta came off as warriors; if anything, Midoriya seemed gentle and averse to conflict, even with his powers. As they made their way through the hall, the boys headed toward the monitor room.
'Hopefully, All Might will stop the match before it gets out of hand,' Yaoyorozu thought anxiously.
"You know, there's no shame in giving up, heroes," Kaminari said, trying to lighten the mood.
"Yeah, totally backing down from a fight won't make us think less of you," Ashido added, her worry palpable, especially considering how the two interacted. She didn't want her new friend to back down.
Midoriya slumped, feeling the weight of expectations. Even though he had demonstrated his abilities, people already believed Todoroki would come out on top.
"Dekiru," Ochako called out, breaking his thoughts.
"Huh?"
"Kick their butts!" she said with a wide smile and a thumbs-up.
"Y-You actually think I can win this?" Izuku asked, surprise etched on his face.
"That's why I call you Dekiru, because you can do it!" Ochako beamed at him, her encouragement flooding him with warmth.
Izuku looked at her, determination igniting within him. He cracked his knuckles, feeling a surge of confidence. Seeing this side of him made her heart race, her cheeks reddening.
"It is so Hero Time," Izuku declared, his spirit lifting.
Ochako blushed before shaking it off, quickly running back to catch up with the rest of the girls. Momo turned to her, curiosity in her eyes.
"You seem confident Midoriya's going to succeed," she remarked.
Ochako and Jirou exchanged smiles.
"I... I don't know. I've known for a while, and he always seems to surprise us..." Ochako confessed, her voice soft but earnest.
"I know he can be scared and timid, and that doesn't exactly scream 'warrior'... but from what I've seen, doubting him only ends up backfiring!" Jirou chimed in, her smirk growing. "You're all going to be eating your words pretty soon. Just don't get all mad at Greenie when he beats up Todoroki."
Momo and Toru blushed heavily.
"I-It's not like that!" Momo stammered, flustered.
Jirou rolled her eyes playfully. "I know you two are crushing on him, but don't let that lovestruck heart blind you. Greenie is going to win!" she declared confidently, her voice unwavering.
Ochako nodded, her expression brightening. "Yeah! Dekiru can do anything when he puts his mind to it. He always manages to pull through!"
All Might leaned in close to Midoriya, his voice low and conspiratorial. "Young Midoriya, remember when I said you have terrible luck?"
"Yes?" Izuku replied, a hint of dread creeping into his voice.
"I think my point has just been proven," All Might said, a teasing grin spreading across his face.
Midoriya sweat-dropped, feeling a mix of anxiety and determination. "Y-yeah, b-but I'm not going to lose."
All Might handed out communicators to the group and explained the prep phase before ushering them toward the building, leading the rest of the students to the observation room.
Meanwhile, Bakugou leaned against a wall, his eyes slightly opening as he addressed Todoroki. "Hey, do you think Deku actually has a quirk?"
Todoroki regarded him for a moment, his expression blank. "I'm not going to answer such a stupid question," he replied in a monotone voice.
"But from what I overheard, you two have known each other for a while," Bakugou said, frustration building. "But judging from your question, you don't even know his range of abilities."
Bakugou gritted his teeth, fury boiling within him. "Did he dare to trick me for so long? That damn nerd lied to me! He's just a damn pebble; he shouldn't be here—so... why is he here?! He doesn't deserve it!"
Blood-red veins pulsed in his eyes as he clenched his fists. "I'll show him... I'll show him not to make a fool out of me!"
"Whatever that nerd's stupid, worthless powers are, I'll beat him regardless! You guard the bomb."
"No," Todoroki said flatly, turning away.
"What?" Bakugou snapped, annoyance evident as he stepped closer to Todoroki, glaring fiercely.
"You stay back. You'll only be in my way," Todoroki replied, unfazed by Bakugou's anger.
"The nerd's mine! You stay here and guard the bomb, you icy nobody! Just because your dad is number two doesn't mean shit to me; you're nothing!" Bakugou shot back, the tension in the room rising sharply.
Their glares intensified, each boy refusing to back down. The mention of Todoroki's father struck a nerve, causing his anger to simmer just below the surface. As the prep phase came to a close, Todoroki shoved Bakugou aside before leaning against the bomb. "Don't blame me for what happens next. I'm going to win this."
"Tch," Bakugou scoffed, turning away with a sinister grin creeping across his face. "I'm gonna roast that little fuck today!"
[Outside the building]
Izuku stood outside the building, his body shaking with a mix of nerves and determination. "Okay, Mineta, I think I have a plan."
Mineta trembled beside him, fear evident in his voice. "Y-Yeah, I-I'm not fighting those two!" He shivered, eyes wide. "I could feel the intensity, and Bakugou seems violent! And besides, I don't want to be humiliated in front of the girls getting destroyed! That would be so embarrassing!"
Midoriya sweat-dropped. "You're not wrong about that. Kacchan can be really violent."
Mineta nodded vigorously, anxiety spilling over. "A hero should know when they can't win and make a tactical retreat. Let someone else handle it!"
Memories of the sludge villain flashed through Izuku's mind, recalling how he had hesitated and waited for someone with the "right quirk" to deal with the situation. He closed his eyes, releasing a heavy sigh.
"I'm not going to force you to come with me," he said, his voice steady. "But if you're not going to help, then just stay out of the building." As he began dialing the Omnitrix, Mineta jolted in shock.
"Wait, you're actually going to fight those two by yourself?!" he exclaimed, disbelief written all over his face.
"We're heroes, Mineta. It's part of the job to face danger," Izuku replied, meeting his friend's wide-eyed stare.
"Huh?"
Izuku pressed on, determination rising within him. "Someone once told me—it was a long time ago—that it's a hero's occupational hazard to run into danger. That's one of the qualities of being a hero. So, if you want to stay here, I'm not going to stop you. But I'm also not going to give up..." His voice took on a firmer tone.
"And... I'm not going to lose." He tightened his gloves, his eyes glowing with a toxic green light as his demeanor shifted. Standing tall, he clenched his fists, heart pounding in his chest.
Izuku's gaze locked onto the building ahead, where his opponents awaited. "Kacchan... I'll show you that I've surpassed you!" he declared, lifting his arm with newfound resolve. Mineta looked on, curiosity piqued.
With a sharp press of the button, the Omnitrix dial popped up, green light spilling forth as the aliens appeared before him in rapid succession. Izuku quickly spun the dial, his mind racing. "I'm fighting both Bakugou and Todoroki... so maybe I shouldn't take them on at once. How about Ghostfreak?" He hesitated, remembering the murderous urge that surfaced when Ghostfreak confronted Bakugou.
'Definitely not Ghostfreak,' he thought, scrolling past the spectral alien and continuing his search. Finally, he landed on the form he needed. "Diamondhead," he said, a smirk breaking across his face. He slammed the Omnitrix down, the world around him bursting into a brilliant green flash.
...
"I can't wait to see what Midoriya will turn into this time!" Sato exclaimed, excitement evident in his voice. "Do you think he'll bring out the guy who took down the zero pointer? I really want to see how his flames compare to Endeavor's son."
"Oh, maybe it will be that small white alien from the exams?" Toru chimed in, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"I hope he brings out something different! Maybe a cute, small one! That would be nice," Ashido added, her enthusiasm infectious.
Jirou crossed her arms, her tone flat. "Weren't you guys just saying how screwed they were?" The group flinched at her words.
"Y-Yeah, I mean, you can't help but wonder what he'll turn into," Ashido said, her confidence wavering.
"Perhaps he will reveal something new. This is the perfect time to do so; his opponents won't know what to expect," Tokoyami said, rustling his limbs under his cloak while focusing on the screen.
"Regardless of what Midoriya turns into, it seems he's going at this alone," Shoji observed.
"Yes." Tenya nodded in agreement. "It appears Mineta isn't inclined to fight what he believes to be a losing battle."
"I can't blame the little guy; I wouldn't want to get spanked by Bakugou and Todoroki either," Kaminari added, chuckling nervously.
Jirou's eye twitched. "Shush. Instead of praising the wuss for being a coward, you should keep your mouth shut and talk your smack after it's over."
"Midoriya does have Four Arms, and I doubt Todoroki and Bakugou could take a punch from that red hulk," Kirishima said with a grin, trying to stay optimistic.
"True, but look at the building," Momo pointed out, her brow furrowed. "Four Arms is a twelve-foot giant with strength comparable to All Might." She paused, concern evident in her voice. "Unless Midoriya wants to bring the whole building down, Four Arms is a terrible option. The halls are too narrow, and he'd probably bring the foundation down every time he moved to attack."
"This is going to be difficult, to say the least," Jirou admitted to herself, watching as her friend scrolled through the Omnitrix.
"Why don't you think he can win this?" Uraraka asked, a hint of determination in her tone. "Dekiru has the power; I'm sure he's got this!"
"Oh, no, I don't doubt that Midoriya could take them on," Jirou replied, her expression serious. "The problem is, I've read what some of his forms can do. In terms of raw power, the green patch has this without breaking a sweat, but this is a building. He can't go all out without literally bringing the house down."
"Maybe Amfibian would work?" Jirou mused, considering the options.
"Good point. The form Heatblast could be quite damaging to the building," Iida added, recalling firsthand the destruction the flaming alien could cause.
"What about Fasttrack? He could get in pretty quickly and touch the bomb," Ojiro suggested.
"Yes, but Todoroki is the main problem. He doesn't know Midoriya's range, and Fasttrack could become a liability. Speedsters aren't always the best when fighting people with ice abilities," Tenya replied, his analytical mind at work.
"Probably the best option is Diamondhead. According to Midoriya, he's basically indestructible, with skin harder than diamond," Jirou added. "Plus, he can turn the battlefield to his advantage anytime. He could probably tank Bakugou's explosions, and Todoroki wouldn't be able to do anything against him."
"Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration?" Yaoyorozu questioned, raising an eyebrow.
Jirou just shrugged, a confident smile on her face.
Momo clutched her chest, a determined glint in her eyes. "Regardless, I have faith in Todoroki. I know he has a well-planned strategy to win this battle. Despite Midoriya's abilities, Todoroki has far more battle experience than any of us."
Toru nodded in agreement. "He was trained by Endeavor."
All Might nodded solemnly, unable to deny that Endeavor was an excellent teacher from what he had seen of Todoroki.
Everyone watched intently as Midoriya slammed down on the Omnitrix, the monitor engulfed in a brilliant green flash.
...
"DITTO!?"
Izuku blinked as he swore he heard a chorus of high-pitched squeals echoing through the hall. He shook his head vigorously, glancing around in confusion. "Did you hear that?" he asked.
Mineta, beside him, gave a nervous nod. "Y-Yeah..."
[In the Monitor Room]
The girls were gathered, eyes glued to the screen, practically vibrating with excitement. Mina Ashido, Hagakure, and Uraraka were jumping up and down, squealing in delight.
"That adorable fuzzball is going against those monsters?!"
"I wanna keep him! He's so cute!" Hagakure shouted, clapping her invisible hands.
"That's adorable," Tsuyu added, pressing a finger thoughtfully to her chin, though a small smile played at her lips.
[Back to the Training Exercise]
"Ditto?!" Ditto blinked, staring at his reflection in a nearby window. "I was aiming for Diamondhead! What am I—" His expression shifted into a mischievous grin. "Okay, Ditto it is."
He examined his alien form—compact yet flexible, his rubbery skin gleaming slightly under the fluorescent lights. "Alright, first off, Ditto has some rubbery properties. With One For All, I should..."
He moved to the entrance of the building, getting down on one knee. Planting his fist against the ground, he inhaled deeply, letting out a slow, controlled breath. "One For All... Alien Full Cowling!" Green electricity surged across his small, black-and-white frame, crackling with power.
"As I suspected, I can use about 8% of One For All with Ditto. Some forms can handle more, but Recovery Girl and All Might told me not to push it too far. A few of my forms can't handle One For All at all—like with Crashhopper. I can only channel it through my legs, otherwise my limbs feel like they're going to explode."
He stood up straight, inhaling once more. "Alright, let's see what Ditto and One For All combined can do!"
Without hesitation, he launched himself forward at high speed. He hit the side of the building with a loud smack, bouncing off it like a rubber ball before landing face-first into the ground.
"Ow..." Izuku groaned, rubbing his head as he staggered to his feet.
Meanwhile, inside, Bakugou and Todoroki paused, alerted by the noise. Bakugou narrowed his eyes, his fists already crackling with tiny explosions. "That came from the entrance... I bet it's that damn nerd!"
Izuku—now Ditto—shook off the impact, assessing the cracked wall behind him. "Okay, so my body is pretty bouncy. I've got increased speed, strength, and durability in this form too." He nodded to himself before breaking into a grin. "Alright, time to make a plan."
Ditto paused for a moment, thinking. His grin grew wider. "It's Hero Time!"
In a flash, he split into multiple clones, each one identical to the original. The sudden duplication caused a wave of excitement back in the monitor room, the girls practically squealing in unison.
"Alright, Dittos, let's get down to business!" Izuku called out, his clones gathering around him.
"Kacchan's coming for us," one of the Ditto clones muttered, nervously scratching his head. "And judging by our history, he's probably looking to beat us into a bloody pulp."
All the clones shivered at the thought. But they quickly clenched their fists in determination.
"We all know the plan, right?" one Ditto said, standing tall like a commander rallying his troops.
Another Ditto nodded. "We let him find one of us and keep him away from the bomb."
"Lure him away and keep him busy!" another echoed.
"And the rest of us will find Todoroki and the bomb! Engage the enemy, take the bomb!" a third one chimed in.
A Ditto clone rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Yeah, but how will we let the others know we found Kacchan? Unless..."
They all collectively winced, as if sharing the same dreaded idea. "We'll figure that out later..."
One Ditto raised a hand. "What about Todoroki?"
Another clone answered, "With this form, we can bounce around like Gran Torino. We'll make as much noise as possible, and the others will come help. Just, uh... avoid getting hit by Kacchan's explosions." He smiled sheepishly.
A third Ditto clapped his hands together. "Alright, boys, let's go win this!"
"Yeah! Like Uraraka said, we can do this!" another chimed in enthusiastically.
One of the Ditto clones raised his fist nervously. "I-I'm still worried about Kacchan, but yeah, l-let's do this!"
They all gathered their hands together in a circle, smirking as they shared a glance of nervous excitement. "Alright, boys... what time is it?!"
Their grins widened.
"Hero Time!"
In unison, they activated One For All, green electricity crackling across their small, agile forms. The clones exploded into motion, moving in all directions, bouncing off walls with impossible speed. Black, white, and neon green streaks zigzagged through the air, the building filling with the sounds of their rapid movements as they prepared for the battle ahead.