15 - The leader learns

Chapter 15: Class president?

Bakugou and Todoroki walked side by side toward the infirmary to get their injuries treated. All Might had noticed the early signs of a panic attack in Bakugou and decided the boy needed a moment to regroup. The way Bakugou had reacted the previous day had been alarming, to say the least.

'Deku... beat me... He beat me...' Bakugou's thoughts spiraled as he replayed the loss over and over in his mind while walking with Todoroki and All Might.

Todoroki, on the other hand, was feeling guilty despite his own defeat. "I went overboard with my ice attack. He managed to break through, but I could've seriously hurt him. I need to apologize," Todoroki reflected. Then, another thought struck him. "He's had training. I can tell by the way he used his quirk. Could he be like me? Either way, this just proves I need to train harder. I will defeat you, Midoriya."

All Might, observing Todoroki, couldn't get a clear read on the boy. His stoic face gave little away, leaving All Might unsure of how he was processing things. "Don't let this loss define you, young heroes. Heroes sometimes have to fall before they can fly. It's part of the journey. What matters is getting back up when you stumble."

Todoroki listened closely, taking All Might's words to heart, while Bakugou remained lost in his own thoughts, still in a near catatonic state as he walked beside them.

All Might glanced at the two boys. 'I should give them space to cool off. Those who are used to being at the top often take losses the hardest. For Todoroki, it seems he's handling it well enough. But my concern is Bakugou. One loss, and he's on the verge of a panic attack? With Midoriya improving at this rate, this could end up being very damaging for him,' All Might thought as they finally reached Recovery Girl's office.

[Back with the class]

Izuku Midoriya stood in the middle of the room, the silence heavy as everyone stared at him. He was sweating profusely, unsure how to handle the attention.

"A-Ain't that something, huh?" he stammered, trying to lighten the mood.

This only made the flood of questions worse.

'What the heck is going on?' Izuku screamed internally.

"Where did you get that hoodie, bro?!"

"Who made it?!"

"This could revolutionize hero costumes! Imagine if they could adapt to any body type, regardless of quirks!"

"Wait—are you secretly a billionaire?!"

Midoriya felt overwhelmed, question after question coming at him like a barrage of punches. Before he could think of a response, a firm voice cut through the noise.

"Enough!" Iida's authoritative voice snapped everyone to attention. The room fell silent as they turned to face him.

"We all have questions, but let's ask Midoriya one at a time. All Might is taking Bakugou and Todoroki to Recovery Girl, so we have a little time. Once All Might returns, though, we focus back on today's lesson. Understood?"

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Alright, Midoriya, would you mind answering a few questions?" Iida asked, looking at him encouragingly.

"Uh... well, it's just that... uhm... I had no idea it could do that," Midoriya said sheepishly, tugging at the hoodie. "I'm just as surprised as you guys, honestly. Sorry."

Everyone stared at him in disbelief, trying to process his words. Yaoyorozu, who was wearing a similar hoodie, spoke up, still amazed by how perfectly it fit her and how warm it kept her.

"Okay, but who made it? I don't recognize the material. The manufacturer must know more about this technology," Yaoyorozu said, inspecting her own hoodie.

"Yeah, seriously, why would someone give such an advanced hoodie to Midoriya? This thing looks like it could make someone super rich!" Kaminari added, his curiosity growing.

Midoriya scratched his head, blushing as he tried to explain. "My mom told me... my dad made it. She said he worked himself to the bone designing it. It was supposed to be a gift for me once I got into U.A."

Everyone stared at him, wide-eyed.

"Woah, your dad must've been some kind of genius!" Ashido exclaimed.

"Wait—is your dad David Shield or something?" Kirishima asked, half-joking.

"I'd love to meet him. He sounds like an incredible guy," Sero added, clearly impressed.

Midoriya's face fell slightly. "Uhm, that's... not going to be possible. He passed away a while ago."

The room grew quiet, the excitement replaced by a somber tone. Everyone suddenly felt guilty for prying.

"Oh..." they murmured, their voices softer now, feeling the weight of the revelation.

Midoriya quickly waved his hands in the air, trying to dispel the gloomy mood. "It's okay, really! He passed six years ago. But if his work can help you in any way, I'd be more than happy to share. Besides, I'm kind of curious how the hoodie works myself."

Everyone smiled warmly at him, appreciating his kindness. Just then, the door flew open with a bang, and a booming voice filled the room.

"WE HAVE RETURNED FROM RECOVERY GIRL!" All Might announced as he strode in.

Everyone turned to face the pro hero, and All Might's eyes landed on Yaoyorozu, who was still wearing Midoriya's hoodie. He raised an eyebrow in surprise but quickly shook off his confusion. "ANYWAY, BACK TO THE LESSON!"

Bakugou and Todoroki entered the room behind him, their injuries healed, though Bakugou's distant expression didn't go unnoticed. However, everyone tactfully chose to ignore it, gathering around All Might for the lesson.

Before they could get too far, Yaoyorozu realized she still had Midoriya's hoodie on. Her heartbeat quickened for a moment as she politely pulled him aside. With a soft smile, she handed it back. "Thank you, Midoriya. It's… really comfortable."

Midoriya, now holding the hoodie, was struck by a sudden realization.

'A-A-A g-g-girl w-was w-wearing m-m-my hoodie!' he stammered, his face turning bright red.

Then, an even more shocking thought hit him. 'A-A-A n-n-naked g-g-girl w-w-was wearing m-m-my hoodie!'

His face flushed an even deeper shade of crimson as a blissful, dazed look overtook his expression.

"Young Midoriya?" All Might's voice cut through the haze, bringing him back to reality.

Midoriya snapped out of his thoughts, his face still burning with embarrassment. "S-Sorry!" he mumbled before quickly joining the group, desperately trying to hide his flustered state as they prepared to continue the lesson.

Meanwhile, Yaoyorozu rejoined the others but still felt the lingering warmth of Midoriya's hoodie against her skin. It was just a faint sensation, but it made her feel oddly comforted. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, her heart fluttering just a little.

...

"ALRIGHT! FOR THIS EXERCISE, WHO CAN TELL ME THE MVP?" All Might's voice boomed across the room. The answer was obvious.

"Midoriya," came the collective voices of the class, causing Izuku to blush furiously.

All Might nodded. "Now, can anyone explain why it's Young Midoriya?"

Momo raised her hand confidently, and All Might pointed towards her. "Go right ahead, Young Yaoyorozu!"

"Let's start with the villain team. First, they had absolutely no teamwork, which Midoriya easily exploited." Momo began, her voice clear and steady. Everyone was listening intently.

"This was especially clear with Bakugou, who had a personal grudge against Midoriya. Midoriya took full advantage of that." At this, Bakugou's head jerked towards her, his eyes glaring daggers.

"He baited Bakugou into a one-on-one fight, which Bakugou fell for. In doing so, he completely abandoned his teammate, leaving him vulnerable. Even though Midoriya was alone, he anticipated the villains' moves and managed to outmaneuver them both."

Momo continued, gaining more confidence as she went. "Both teams allowed their emotions to cloud their judgment, which led to large-scale attacks indoors that ended up damaging the building."

She shifted gears, focusing on Midoriya's side of the battle. "On the other hand, the hero team, particularly Midoriya, adapted quickly to the situation. Mineta let his cowardice get the better of him," Momo pointed out, causing everyone to glance at Mineta with disappointment.

"Yeah, dude, the heck? Leaving your teammate like that?" Kaminari muttered.

"For someone with literal balls for hair, you sure lack the ones that count," Jirou quipped, earning snickers from the class.

Mineta's face turned bright red in embarrassment. "Shut up, flatty!" he retorted, glaring at Jirou.

Jirou's eyes shot open as her head jerked towards the imp. "H-Huh?! What did you just call me?!" she growled, ready to snap.

Before things could escalate, All Might stepped in, placing a hand on Jirou's shoulder. "Calm down, Young Jirou. Let's stay focused," he said gently. Jirou huffed and crossed her arms, but her eyes shot daggers at Mineta.

"Young Yaoyorozu, please continue," All Might said, gesturing for Momo to go on.

Momo nodded, refocusing. "Midoriya adapted when Mineta abandoned him. He turned a disadvantage into an advantage, using the environment and his quick thinking to secure the win."

Midoriya blinked, feeling a bit overwhelmed by her praise. He hadn't realized just how much Momo was paying attention to his strategies. He admired how composed and articulate she was as she spoke.

"As a hero, Midoriya caused no additional damage to the building and maintained full control of the situation, something the villain team failed to do."

"In the end, Midoriya formulated and executed a plan that resulted in minimal damage and successfully secured the bomb," Momo concluded, standing confidently.

'Whoa, she said all of that without stuttering,' Midoriya thought, watching her with admiration.

"Well said, Young Yaoyorozu," All Might praised. He then turned to Mineta, his expression becoming more serious. "Mineta, let's address something important. It's true that not every quirk is suited for every situation, and in some cases, it's wise to let another hero take the lead. However," All Might paused, his voice growing firmer, "you should never abandon your teammate."

Mineta's shoulders slumped, and his head hung low. "Yes, sir," he muttered, clearly feeling guilty.

All Might softened his tone. "There's no shame in recognizing a battle you can't win and retreating. But leaving a fellow hero behind, that is something you should never do. Always look for ways to support your team, even if it's just by providing backup or helping minimize damage."

Mineta nodded, clearly reflecting on the lesson. "Understood," he said quietly.

Momo, curious, turned to Midoriya. "Midoriya, out of curiosity, why didn't you use a form with enhanced speed, like Fasttrack?"

Midoriya scratched his head. "Oh? You mean Fasttrack?"

Momo nodded. "With your speed, you could have reached the bomb without needing to fight Bakugou or Todoroki."

"But that wouldn't have been manly at all!" Kirishima chimed in, grinning. "A hero should take challenges head-on, every time!"

"Yeah, I thought you'd go with Diamondhead or maybe AmFibian," Jirou said, twirling her jacks. "They seem more suited for taking on Bakugou and Todoroki."

"Dekiru, Ditto wasn't the safest choice either," Uraraka added, tilting her head. "Since all the clones share the same pain, one good explosion from Bakugou and you'd have been in serious trouble."

The rest of the class widened their eyes in shock.

"T-They all feel the same pain?!" Kaminari and Sero shouted in unison.

Midoriya nodded sheepishly. "Y-Yeah, they do."

"Seriously? That's a huge risk! If Bakugou had landed a solid hit, you'd have been down for the count!" Ojiro exclaimed.

"Whoa, for real? I mean, that's like putting all your eggs in one basket! If one clone goes down, you all feel it?" Mina added, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Iida adjusted his glasses, his expression serious. "Midoriya, you chose Ditto, knowing all the clones feel the same pain? That's a massive gamble. One solid hit from Bakugou and the villains could have won."

"It does seem impractical," Momo added, thinking it over. "Considering your versatility, a more strategic form might have been better suited for the situation."

Midoriya rubbed the back of his neck, looking embarrassed. "Well… if we're being honest, the form I wanted to use was Ghostfreak."

"Ghostfreak?" the class echoed in confusion.

"Yeah, he's got ghost powers, like invisibility and phasing through objects," Midoriya explained, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"Ghost powers?" Toru's invisible eyes lit up with interest.

"Ghostfreak's phasing and invisibility would've been perfect," Iida pointed out. "You could have avoided their attacks entirely and secured the bomb without engaging directly."

"I agree with Iida," Momo added. "With Ghostfreak's abilities, you could've moved through walls, scouted their positions without being seen, and avoided damage altogether. It would have been a more efficient choice."

"Exactly! You could've just gone invisible, phased through the floor, and grabbed the bomb without anyone noticing," Toru said excitedly. "That form would've been perfect!"

Midoriya chuckled nervously. "Y-Yeah, that would've been ideal… but…" He glanced down at the Omnitrix on his wrist with a sheepish smile. "The Omnitrix doesn't always give me the form I want."

The entire class stared at him in shock.

"Wait… you don't get to pick your form?!" Kaminari shouted, his jaw practically hitting the floor.

"Not all the time," Midoriya admitted, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "Sometimes, it just gives me what it wants."

...

"When I turn into the wrong alien, I find it better to just adapt to the situation instead of trying to go with the alien I wanted," Izuku explained. "And... Ghostfreak has his own issues..." he added, trailing off slightly.

"So I used what I had and turned it into an advantage. First, I realized that my... uh, quirk can boost strength and speed, which let Ditto's rubbery body bounce around more easily."

"Ooh, like Luffy's Gear 2!" Mina piped up, her eyes sparkling. "You were bouncing off the walls like crazy!"

Izuku blushed, scratching his cheek nervously. "Y-Yeah," he stammered before clearing his throat. "Anyway, I knew all I had to do was touch the bomb. So, I split myself into several clones, expecting Bakugou to come for me. When I finally ran into him, I let the rest of my clones know I'd found him."

Momo's eyes widened in realization. "So... when you first encountered Bakugou and he attacked, you let him hit you on purpose?" she asked.

Everyone stared at Izuku in shock. Bakugou snapped out of his stupor, replaying the opening moments in his head. Slowly, he came to the same realization. Izuku had played him.

"The moment Bakugou attacked me," Izuku continued, "all my clones knew I was in combat and immediately went to look for the bomb. I think one decided to stick around and help out, though," he added with a chuckle.

The class stared at him in awe.

"Taking a hit like that on purpose is so manly!" Kirishima cried, tears streaming down his face.

"So, you provoked Bakugou to draw his attention while your clones scouted for the bomb?" Momo asked, clearly impressed.

Izuku nodded, causing Bakugou to growl in frustration.

'Dammit! Ponytail's right! I let Deku get in my head, and he played me like a fool! How could I be so stupid?' Bakugou clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white.

"Now, Young Midoriya, could you explain how exactly your clones were able to find Todoroki so quickly?" All Might asked, drawing the class's attention back to Izuku.

"Oh, right," Sero added, nodding. "After Todoroki's opening move, your clones suddenly knew where the bomb was. What was that all about?"

Izuku smiled sheepishly. "Actually, Todoroki's opening move gave me a massive advantage."

The class looked confused. "Wait... how does him freezing the entire building give you an advantage?" Sato asked, scratching his head.

"Yeah, that ice attack was insane!" Sero added in disbelief.

"Super manly!" Kirishima chimed in.

Izuku shook his head. "First off, Bakugou's quirk relies on sweat. The cold room slowed him down a lot, which helped me out. That's why he hates the rain," Izuku explained.

"Ahh, I see," Momo mused, connecting the dots. "When Todoroki froze the building, he actually handicapped his own teammate." She paused.

'Midoriya... he adapts to every situation, even when things don't go his way. He turns an obstacle into an opportunity,' she thought, feeling a spark of admiration. The way he quickly analyzed the situation and turned a bad moment into a good one struck a chord with her. She didn't think she could think as fast as he could, not in the middle of chaos. Her gaze lingered on Izuku, her mind wandering, until she realized she'd been staring at him longer than she'd meant to. With a small blush, she quickly cleared her throat.

"But that still doesn't explain how your clones found Todoroki. Do you have telepathic contact?" Momo asked, her usual elegance returning as she tried to hide her momentary fluster.

"Nope, no telepathy," Izuku said with a grin. "But I do have cold powers too."

Everyone blinked in surprise.

"Oh!" Momo said, realization dawning on her.

"Yeah, one of my other forms, Big Chill, also has ice abilities. So, when Todoroki froze the building, I used my experience with cold-based powers to figure out where the freezing originated. It helped me narrow down where Todoroki was standing," Izuku explained.

Momo couldn't help but feel even more impressed. 'He really does adapt to any situation, no matter how impossible it seems... He's thoughtful, quick on his feet, and never loses sight of the goal.' She found herself smiling softly, her heart unexpectedly fluttering as her gaze lingered on Midoriya for just a moment longer than usual.

...

Everyone nodded in surprise and awe as Momo continued. "So you planned your first contact with Bakugou. You knew he would come after you, and when your clone found him, you let him blast you so all your clones would know he was in combat. The rest of your clones could then focus on finding the bomb and locating Todoroki. You aimed to distract them instead of winning the fight! When you found Todoroki, you sent a clone outside to climb the wall of the building. You waited for the perfect opportunity to touch the bomb while Todoroki had his guard down, but when he sent that massive glacier, you were forced to blast him through the floor."

Everyone blinked in surprise at her analysis. Midoriya looked at her in awe, his thoughts racing. Wow, she really broke down my entire plan!

"Huh? She really dissected my strategy! I don't know if I should be impressed or jealous..." he mused.

"Uh... yeah. Basically," Izuku replied, a bit sheepishly.

Momo, feeling a mix of pride and fluster, kept her composure. "Now, Midoriya, with your plan, you've earned MVP. Good work!" she said, giving him a thumbs up. Izuku's smile widened, feeling a warm sense of accomplishment.

"Wow, praise from the number one hero!" Kirishima exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Luckily..." Ochako chimed in, grabbing his shoulders and shaking him.

"Before you go on, though," Tokoyami interjected, his tone serious, "you mentioned that your form, Ghostfreak, has issues."

Izuku's expression shifted to discomfort. "Yeah, Ghostfreak has somewhat... uh, violent tendencies. He probably would've lost sight of the objective and gone after Kacchan—uh, the villain team," Izuku admitted, his voice trailing off.

"I see you also struggle with your abilities that could put others in danger," Tokoyami replied. "I can relate to your struggle. We need to be careful not to let our emotions get in the way, or others will suffer the consequences. But we shouldn't let those feelings dictate our actions."

Midoriya nodded, reflecting on Tokoyami's words. He glanced down at the Omntrix, his mind racing. Yeah, but it's only when it comes to Kacchan that I feel that murderous rage. Why do I suddenly get so angry when he's involved? he thought, unease settling in his stomach. The anger, the overwhelming desire to hurt him, to break him, to beat him until he was a bloody mess... Is it just the form? he pondered, not liking the way those thoughts made him feel. It's just the transformation...

As the group congratulated Midoriya, Bakugou remained in an almost catatonic state, his usual fiery demeanor replaced by shock.

All Might clapped his hands to gather everyone's attention. "Alright, everyone! Now that we've wrapped up this exercise, let's move on to the next group!"

As the next set of students prepared for their turn, Momo caught herself glancing at Midoriya once more. There was something about his determination, his adaptability, that tugged at her heart. 'He really is incredible...' she thought, feeling a warmth spread through her chest as she admired him from across the room.

...

The next group was Team G, consisting of Ochako Uraraka and Tenya Iida as the villains, facing off against Team H, which included Tsuyu Asui and Fumikage Tokoyami as the heroes.

Izuku stood between Momo and Kyouka, watching intently as the teams prepared. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation, and everyone began discussing their predictions for the match.

"This seems like a pretty balanced set of teams," Ojiro commented, leaning forward with interest.

"Iida scored the highest out of the four of them in the quirk apprehension test," Ashido added, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "His speed is crazy!"

"True, but from the entrance exams, he struggles with turning corners," Izuku pointed out. "He has speed but lacks flexibility and maneuverability. On the other hand, Uraraka's quirk could be extremely useful against Asui. Tsuyu has incredible mobility, but she'll need to get in close to take down her opponent. If Ochako manages to touch her, Tsuyu's quirk essentially becomes useless. It's kind of like Spider Monkey—wait, but Tsuyu could still shoot her tongue out, and the weightlessness could quickly become an advantage..."

Izuku continued to mutter, his thoughts racing, and everyone around him wore blank expressions. All Might observed with an amused smile.

Like father, like son, he thought to himself.

Bakugou's frustration bubbled over as he fumed. Not only had he lost, but now he had to listen to the "damn nerd" ramble on. Just as he opened his mouth to tell Izuku to shut up, Momo placed a hand on his shoulder, bringing him back to reality.

"Oh s-sorry..." Midoriya said, catching himself. "I-I was muttering again? I'll try to stop." He glanced at Momo, who waved her arms dismissively.

"No, it's just that we couldn't understand most of it," Momo replied, making Izuku look surprised.

"Oh, I was just saying that the hero team has great mobility, and I can't really see a weakness in their strategy," Izuku clarified.

"Well, Iida's speed can still get him close to Tokoyami. From the quirk apprehension test, he may not be physically built, so I doubt Tokoyami could withstand a hit from Iida," Momo pointed out, and Izuku's eyes widened in shock.

"Oh yeah, that's a really good point," he said, pulling out a notebook to jot down her insight.

Momo's eyes shot open in surprise. Where did that come from!? she thought, taken aback by how quickly Izuku had switched to analytical mode.

As the exercise began, they watched Iida, who seemed to laugh like a supervillain while Ochako giggled alongside him.

"Why is he laughing like some sort of supervillain?" Jirou wondered, raising an eyebrow.

"Ironically, villains do actually laugh like that..." Izuku replied, recalling the eccentric Doctor Animo from their entrance exams.

Suddenly, Tsuyu came through a window, pulling Tokoyami up with her long tongue. They quickly engaged the villains. Ochako negated the gravity of some boxes and other debris, and with swift kicks, Iida launched them toward the hero team. Tsuyu and Tokoyami dodged expertly, but in the chaos, Ochako managed to sneak away, wrapping capture tape around Tokoyami.

"Tokoyami has been captured!" All Might announced.

Tsuyu was caught off guard by Ochako's quick thinking. Just then, Ochako pressed her fingertips together, and the remaining debris began to plummet back to the ground. Tsuyu, using her exceptional agility, dodged the falling boxes, leaping off them as she aimed for the bomb. But before she could reach it, Iida grabbed the bomb and ran away, while Ochako made herself weightless, before releasing her quirk as she dropped onto Tsuyu surprising Tsuyu and wrapping capture tape around her too.

"Tsuyu Asui has been captured!" All Might declared.

As the match ended, Ojiro commented, "That was a well-executed strategy by the hero team. I didn't expect them to turn the tables so quickly!"

Mina nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! They really worked together seamlessly. Iida's speed was impressive, but Ochako's quirk really made the difference!"

Sato chimed in, "They all showed such great teamwork!" clenching his fist.

"That was incredible," Izuku stated, his eyes wide with admiration. He pulled out another notebook—this one with the Omnitrix symbol—and quickly began scribbling notes.

Momo glanced at him in confusion and curiosity.'Where does he keep all those notebooks?!' she wondered.

"Tsuyu's mobility and reflexes are remarkable," Izuku muttered aloud, barely noticing Momo's gaze. "We both have animal-like abilities. She and Spidermonkey share a common attribute—sticking to walls, leaping prowess. Though Spidermonkey has enhanced strength, I wonder if Tsuyu possesses the same?" He suddenly cupped his mouth, realizing he was rambling.

Momo chuckled softly at his enthusiasm, shaking her head. "The teams were well-balanced, but I think the villain team had the upper hand due to their position. They didn't need to search for the bomb like the heroes did."

Izuku nodded, the wheels clearly turning in his head. "And none of the heroes have sensory-type quirks, which made finding the bomb even harder."

"Exactly," Momo agreed, her eyes meeting his. "That ended up taking a lot of time, and even though they weren't captured, they still would've lost by the time the clock ran out."

Izuku leaned in slightly, his energy contagious. "And with the extra time, Uraraka and Iida set up the battlefield exactly the way they wanted. Uraraka's zero gravity was crucial in slowing down the hero team, allowing them to secure the capture."

Their conversation had a natural rhythm, and for a moment, they were lost in their shared analysis. All Might, watching the exchange, smiled with amusement but also a hint of pride.

"How about we wait for them to return before reviewing the hero team?" he asked, snapping them both out of their thoughts.

Izuku and Momo blinked, realizing how caught up they'd been, and blushed slightly, avoiding each other's gaze for a moment. Momo tucked her black strand behind her, feeling a weird feeling in her stomach to which she pushed down.

As the class continued discussing the match, Izuku pulled out a notebook with an Omnitrix symbol on the cover. Bakugou scowled, remembering the green-haired boy's obsession with jotting things down.

"Hey, Midori, what's that notebook?" Mina asked, leaning over his shoulder to peek at the pages. She caught a glimpse of a sketch combining a creature with a spider, though she couldn't make out the writing surrounding it.

Izuku's face turned red, especially with her hand resting on his shoulder. "Oh... uh..." He hesitated before showing the notebook to everyone. Though curious, none of them could make sense of the symbols scattered around the sketches.

"It's my alien notebook," Izuku explained as Momo, Toru, and Jirou leaned in closer. He flipped through the pages. "I keep track of my forms, their abilities, powers, all of it. I've got about 19 forms now, so writing everything down helps me visualize my moves."

Todoroki glanced over, intrigued, but paused when Momo spoke up. "Midoriya, I can't read any of this."

Izuku scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, well... I've also listed each form's weaknesses. I try to come up with counters for them, but I haven't figured them all out yet." He pointed to a page featuring Diamondhead, with "Weakness: ?" scribbled underneath.

"Brainstorm actually told me that having all my weaknesses written down like this could come back to bite me, so it's... uh, pretty encrypted."

Momo squinted at the page, unable to decipher any of it. The writing looked like a bunch of gibberish. Kaminari sparked slightly, his brain straining as he tried to understand it.

Momo's attention turned to the alien labeled "Brainstorm." Jirou's eye twitched when she noticed above the sketch, it simply read, "I'm smarter than you."

"Uraraka was right. Brainstorm is a jerk," Jirou muttered. "But didn't she also mention that you predicted the entrance exam?"

Izuku chuckled nervously. "Y-Yeah... I used Brainstorm's intelligence to help me study for the mock exams, and... well, I accidentally predicted the entire thing."

"The whole thing?!" they all exclaimed.

Momo's eyes widened in realization. "Wait—you're the one who scored 100%!"

She leaned in closer, her excitement evident, which made Kaminari and Mineta visibly jealous. Izuku stuttered, his face flushing from how near Momo was.

"Y-Yeah," he managed to say, his heart racing.

Momo smiled eagerly, clearly brimming with questions for him. Jirou noticed that same excited look on Momo's face that Izuku often had when asking people about their quirks.

Kaminari and Mineta glared daggers at Izuku, frustrated at how the boy was getting cozy with Momo, who, in their eyes, was the sexiest girl in class—especially in her hero costume.

...

Next up were Momo Yaoyorozu and Mezo Shoji as the villain team versus Eijiro Kirishima and Mashirao Ojiro on the heroes' side.

"So, who do you think is going to win this one?" Mina asked, glancing around.

Izuku cupped his chin thoughtfully. "Shoji has enhanced hearing, though I'm not sure what his exact range is. And Yaoyorozu's versatility is amazing—I really want to see her Quirk in action."

Mineta, however, was already drooling. "Yeah, I really want to see her in action," he muttered, not hiding his excitement.

Jirou's eye twitched. Without a word, she jabbed one of her earphone jacks into his ear, sending a small sonic blast that made him yelp in pain.

"I'm rooting for the villain team," Jirou said with a smirk, twirling her other jack around her finger.

Izuku tilted his head, curious. "Why's that?"

Ochako leaned in too. "Yeah, what makes you think they'll win?"

Jirou shrugged. "No offense, but Kirishima seems like the type to charge in headfirst without thinking. He probably wants to show off his 'manliness.'" She made air quotes around the word 'manliness.'

Tsuyu nodded. "And Yaoyorozu seems like she can come up with a solid plan."

"When it comes to brains versus brawn, I'm betting on brains," Jirou said confidently. "Especially when Shoji can scout while Yaoyorozu handles the strategy."

Ochako gave it some thought. "I dunno... Kirishima's super tough, and Ojiro's got some great combat sense. I think the heroes might pull through."

Mina grinned. "I'm with Jirou on this one. Yaoyorozu's Quirk is crazy versatile, and Shoji's no slouch either."

As the match unfolded, Jirou's prediction quickly came true. Kirishima charged ahead, with Ojiro trying to hold him back. The two barged into the building, only to trip one of Yaoyorozu's traps—smoke bombs filled the room, forcing the heroes to retreat as their eyes became red and irritated.

The hero team scrambled, following voices to a room downstairs, only to find a recording device. Another trap was triggered, setting off electrical trip wires that shocked both Kirishima and Ojiro, leaving them momentarily stunned.

As they stumbled out, still twitching from the shock, Momo appeared at the end of the hallway, aiming a cannon. She fired a grenade-like device that exploded into expanding sticky foam, trapping the two heroes. They struggled, trying to free themselves, but before they could make any headway, Shoji dropped down from behind and swiftly wrapped the capture tape around them.

"The hero team has been captured! Villain team wins!" All Might announced.

Jirou smirked, nudging Izuku. "Told you brains would win."

...

"Whoa… Not even six minutes in…" Izuku said in shock, eyes wide as he stared at the screen.

"See? Brains versus brawn—brains always win," Jirou said smugly, as Kirishima and Ojiro returned looking frustrated by their loss. The heroes reassembled for the review session, and All Might stepped forward.

"Now, who can tell me who the M.V.P. was?" he asked.

Izuku raised his hand shakily. "Yaoyorozu." He cleared his throat, feeling a bit nervous but determined to speak confidently. He tried to recall how Momo had presented herself earlier without stuttering.

"Yaoyorozu managed to take down the heroes quickly. She formulated a solid plan, neutralized the hero team without needing to engage directly, and they never even saw the bomb," Izuku explained.

Bakugou scoffed. "She didn't fight anyone—she just used cheap tricks," he growled, throwing a sharp glare in Momo's direction, still bitter about her comment the day before.

"Yeah, we didn't even see you guys. It was kinda... unmanly, using sneak attacks," Kirishima said, folding his arms in frustration.

A collective deadpan look spread across the class, making it clear they weren't buying the argument.

Momo sighed, about to respond, but Izuku beat her to it. "Uh, sure, but why should she need to fight? Villains don't care about fighting fair—they'll do whatever it takes to win. Just because you want a head-to-head battle doesn't mean a villain will want the same."

Bakugou glared at him. "A hero always wins by beating the villain down."

Izuku, without thinking, blurted out, "Yeah, well, she won her battle trial while you lost, so…"

The room went silent as everyone stared wide-eyed at Izuku. Moments later, the class erupted into snickers, struggling to hold back their laughter. Izuku flinched under Bakugou's icy glare.

"Midoriya is right," All Might interjected, offering a thumbs-up. "Fighting the villain isn't the goal. Ideally, a hero should aim for a situation where no punches are thrown. My best days are when I don't have to hit anyone."

All Might continued with a more serious tone. "When arriving at a scene, a hero's first thought should be 'How can I ensure everyone is safe?' Not 'Where are the villains?' Villains won't share your sense of honor or morals—they'll do whatever it takes to meet their goals. The method you use to stop them doesn't matter as long as lives are protected. If you can manage that without throwing a punch, even better."

The class applauded All Might's words, and Izuku felt a small sense of pride as Momo smiled gratefully at him.

Momo found herself smiling at Izuku, feeling a warm sense of appreciation for how he had defended her, especially in front of Bakugou. It was clear to anyone that Izuku was usually terrified of him—or at least, that's what she had always thought. But after the battle trial, she wasn't so sure anymore. One thing she was sure of, however, was the blush creeping up her cheeks as she glanced at him.

...

Next up was the hero team consisting of Kyouka Jirou and Denki Kaminari versus the villain team of Hanta Sero and Toru Hagakure.

Though no one could see Hagakure, Jirou's keen hearing allowed her to avoid detection. She sent Kaminari ahead as a distraction, though he tried to flirt with her one last time before she firmly told him to knock it off and focus. Kaminari complied, using his quirk to take out the lights under her instruction while Jirou used her ear jacks to sneak around, tracking Hagakure's movements as she approached.

Eventually, Toru ran into Kaminari on the second floor. Seeing the faint outline of her shadow, Kaminari smirked before releasing a surge of electricity into the room.

"AAAAHHH!" Toru screamed as a thud was heard, indicating she had hit the floor.

Kaminari approached, unrolling the capture tape. "Now, don't take this personally, but... I need to tie you up. And, uh, I can't see you, so I'll have to feel around for your body... This doesn't make me a pervert, I swear!" he said with a perverted grin.

...

The entire class watching the monitors had deadpanned expressions as they saw Kaminari's lecherous face.

"What a creep," several of the girls muttered.

...

Back in the match, Toru, despite being invisible, glared at Kaminari. With surprising force, she delivered a swift kick to his groin. "Get away from me, you pervert!" she yelled.

Kaminari doubled over in pain, clutching his groin. The boys watching winced in sympathy as they saw him fall to his knees. Even though Toru was invisible, it was clear she was choking him out before finally knocking him unconscious. "Pervert," she muttered before wrapping him up in capture tape.

Meanwhile, Jirou had managed to find the bomb, using a powerful sonic blast to disorient Sero, who was left clutching his ears in pain. With him incapacitated, Jirou swiftly ran up and touched the bomb.

"Hero team wins!" All Might announced.

...

As the two teams walked back, Kaminari coughed a bit but decided to shoot his shot.

"So, uh... Hagakure? What do you like to eat?" he asked, feeling the cold wave of a deadpan expression from her direction.

"You tried to grope me," Toru said bluntly. "No." With that, she walked away from the blonde without another word.

Beside him, Jirou shot Kaminari a look of disbelief. "You tried to grope her?"

Sero only facepalmed while Jirou walked off with a disgusted expression, muttering under her breath. The rest of the girls gave Kaminari similar deadpanned and disgusted looks, collectively muttering, "Creep."

Toru sighed, clearly disappointed by another loss. Izuku, noticing the slight slouch in her invisible figure, approached her cautiously.

"Hey," Izuku greeted gently.

"Hi," Toru replied, her voice sounding a little downcast.

"You know, you might have lost the match, but that was only because your teammate lost. You managed to take down the guy with one of the most powerful quirks in class," Izuku said, offering a smile despite not being able to see her.

Though he couldn't see it, Toru felt a smile creep onto her face at his words. "Thanks," she said softly, her tone noticeably brighter.

...

The final match featured Team E, with Mina Ashido and Yuga Aoyama as the villains, against Team F, which consisted of Rikido Sato and Koji Koda as the heroes.

Mina bounced on her feet, clearly excited and ready for the challenge.

"I think Team E's biggest advantage is versatility," Jirou commented thoughtfully.

"Yeah, Ashido scored pretty high in the quirk apprehension test—one of the fastest in class," Izuku added.

"And her acid can be used both offensively and defensively, while Aoyama can attack from a distance with his laser," Momo chimed in.

Ochako looked a bit sympathetic. "Yeah, they probably could take on the hero team but..." she trailed off, glancing at the screen.

On the monitor, Aoyama was too busy admiring his reflection in a window, completely ignoring Mina, who was clearly trying to get his attention to form a plan.

Everyone watching had a similar thought. "What a tool."

Mina, visibly frustrated, slid around using her acid, sending a few droplets flying, one of which landed on Aoyama's cape. The boy immediately started whining and complaining about the damage to his cape, tears forming as he fussed over the fabric.

Mina sighed in exasperation, forced to stay behind since her partner was too busy mourning his cape to scout ahead.

"Okay, but Mina's speed could still be their biggest asset," Izuku said, trying to remain optimistic. "Does anyone know what Koda's quirk is?"

Everyone exchanged blank looks, shrugging in confusion.

Jirou crossed her arms. "Doesn't matter. The match is about to start."

The timer hit zero, and the building suddenly rumbled.

"Uh... what's that?" Izuku asked, looking around.

Jirou quickly focused, her eyes widening in horror. "No way..." she muttered.

Everyone in the room stared in shock as an army of rats swarmed into the building on the monitors.

Inside the building, Mina felt the rumble and her eyes went wide when she saw the swarm of rats heading toward her. Screaming, she melted a hole in the wall with her acid, grabbed Aoyama (who was still sobbing about his cape), and fled the scene as fast as she could.

Meanwhile, Koda stood calmly at the entrance, bowing respectfully to the rats as they cleared the way for him. He approached the bomb and placed his hand on it with no resistance.

"Uh... Hero Team wins!" All Might announced, still processing what just happened.

The entire class sat in stunned silence, staring at the screen, horrified. Ochako shivered beside Izuku, who looked equally unsettled by what they had just witnessed.

Kaminari gulped."I thought Todoroki was scary but that...that was just terrifying."

Jirou nodded scared as she wrapped an ear jack around Izuku's arm.

"Th-They say it's the quiet one you gotta watch out for," Mineta said, also terrified.

Momo even looked a bit scared unblinking from the rats.

Soon the teams returned Ashido shoulders were slumped dejected first her teammate wouldn't corporate with her then she ran away from an army of rats.

As All Might and everyone began to discuss what happened Izuku seeing Ashido's dejected look snuck his way towards her.

"Aw man." Ashido said.

Izuku blushed before swallowing his nerves."Y-You k-know I think anyone facing an army of rats would probably be scared as well."

Mina smiled."What so if you were in my position you would have fought of those rats?" She teased.

Izuku shivered a little."I-I mean I don't like the idea of fighting so many rats but I-I think that's pretty terrifying."

Mina chuckled.

Izuku blushed before pulling the nerves to ask her."S-So Ashido... I was kinda wondering if you could tell me more about your quirk and the acid part

Mina blushed turning lilac."Sure..." She softly said.

The girls turned lilac, which to All Might began to realize. "Oh no... Why am I getting flashbacks to that war." He shivered in fear. "Damn it, Hisashi, the boy inherited your luck with women! Relax All Might it probably won't get as bad as..."

Shivers in fear of being traumatized by the whole ordeal.

...

As everyone watched, All Might dashed across the training ground at super speed, eliciting a chorus of "oohs" and "aahs" from the students, along with a hint of envy.

"Whoa, how fast do you think he is?" Kirishima exclaimed, eyes wide with admiration.

"Aw, man, I'm never going to be that fast," Ojiro sighed, deflated.

Jirou nudged Midoriya in the ribs, leaning in to whisper, "I bet you're faster."

"Oh, I am," Midoriya replied confidently, which earned him a smirk and an eyebrow raise from Jirou. "Oh? You sound pretty sure of yourself, Green."

Midoriya scratched the back of his head, a bit shy. "Well, Fasttrack doesn't have the crazy strength that All Might does."

Just then, a new voice interrupted them.

"Hello, Class 1-A!"

The entire class jumped, startled, and turned to see Principal Nezu smiling at them.

"Principal Nezu!?" they exclaimed in unison.

"Wait, our principal is a mouse?" Ashido asked, incredulous.

"No, he's clearly a bear," Kaminari replied as if it were obvious.

"Guys, he's obviously a hamster," Sato chimed in.

Nezu chuckled, "One of the greatest mysteries—am I a bear? A dog? A mouse? Who knows... Anyway..."

"He's not even going to address it!" the whole class thought, exchanging bewildered glances.

"Well, today my instincts told me to oversee the first year's training exercise, and when I spotted Midoriya in his hoodie, my interest was piqued."

The class collectively gulped and turned to Midoriya.

"Now, I bet you all have questions, and I have all the answers!" Nezu announced. "But first... Yaoyorozu, can you tell me what material this is?"

With that, he tossed a green crystal to her, which Midoriya and Uraraka immediately recognized.

"Whoa, a diamond!" Uraraka exclaimed.

Yaoyorozu inspected it closely and created a magnifying glass, her expression shifting to confusion. "Th-This material doesn't exist."

The class leaned in closer to examine the crystal. "It looks like a diamond, but its properties are... different. It's far more durable," Yaoyorozu observed.

"Midoriya, can you tell us what it is?" Nezu asked, directing his attention back to him.

"Oh, that's my skin. Technically," Midoriya admitted, a hint of embarrassment in his voice.

"Now, my best explanation is that when you transform, your clothes are destroyed and rebuilt to fit your new form, which is why some of your forms still have clothing."

"Some?!" the class gasped in shock, concern washing over their faces.

"When you revert back, the clothes are somewhat reconstructed. This has led to an interesting reaction; instead of your clothing transforming into some adaptable material, you get… well, this." He gestured to the crystal. "Hope that clears things up."

The class absorbed this information, nodding in understanding but not daring to ask any follow-up questions.

"But Midoriya, I would advise taking it to a professional. All Might is acquainted with David Shield; perhaps he can assist you in making some suitable costumes for your female classmates."

Excited smiles spread across the faces of some Class 1-A girls at the prospect. Midoriya simply nodded, feeling a mix of pride and embarrassment at the attention.

Nezu walked away, he sighed.'Hopefully the hoodie won't bring to much attention we can say it's because of Midoriya's quirk, the Plumbers may throw a fit but at least a few students will have protection in the costumes.'

As the school day came to a close, Midoriya quickly finished his notes from the last lesson, reflecting on the quirks of his classmates. Throughout the day, he had noticed a peculiar, almost lifeless look in his own eyes, but he pushed the thought aside as the school bell rang.

Momo eagerly approached him as he stood to leave, taking the seat that Bakugou had just vacated. Her excitement was palpable as she looked up at him.

"Y-Yaoyorozu..." Izuku stammered, feeling a bit flustered. "Uh, did you need something?"

"Well, when I completed the tests, I was told that I almost scored 100% on the written exam. Then I heard through the grapevine that someone actually scored 100%. I wasn't sure who, but I was told they would be in Class 1-A," Momo explained, her eyes shining with curiosity.

"It turns out I wrote the wrong answer for a certain equation in the science section," she continued. "I was hoping to meet with you to figure out what I did wrong. Science is usually my best subject, but I was stumped on this one and couldn't find the answer at home. If it's alright with you, could we discuss it?"

Izuku cupped his chin in thought. "Sure... though I'm not some genius. Most of the answers I got were just because I used Brainstorm to study and understand the subject better."

"That's fine," Momo replied with a smile.

"It was this problem here." She pulled out a piece of paper with the problem written on it and laid it on his desk.

"Oh, this was a tricky one. Brainstorm managed to figure it out and left some notes," Izuku said as he reached for a pen.

"At first, the wording makes you think you should solve it one way, but in actuality, you do it this way." He scribbled down the solution, circling the wording that indicated the correct approach. "When I checked my answers, I noticed this too. I almost got it wrong. Brainstorm labeled it 'Foolish trick,' which helped me remember."

"That makes so much sense! Thank you, Midoriya," Momo said, bowing her head gratefully as she began working on the problem.

"N-not a problem," Izuku replied, but he was cut off.

"Midoriya." The monotone voice of Todoroki echoed across the classroom, drawing the attention of everyone present. All eyes turned to the two, intrigued by the sudden interaction.

Midoriya turned to Todoroki, surprised to see the boy bowing slightly. "I'm sorry for my attack. I let my emotions get the best of me. The move was excessive, to say the least."

Izuku blinked in astonishment before waving his arms in a dismissive gesture. "Oh, uh, no problem! You really had me going, though. I had to keep moving so I wouldn't end up cold," he replied.

Todoroki nodded, acknowledging Midoriya's words, before turning to leave. The other students exchanged glances, somewhat impressed that Todoroki had apologized after such an intense encounter.

"Guess he's a decent guy," Ojiro remarked, a sweat drop forming on his brow. "Though I still think he's pretty terrifying."

"Unlike some people... who had to be forced into it," Mina snickered, prompting everyone to recall the chaotic Bakugou situation from the previous day.

"Tch," Bakugou grumbled as he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

'Huh. He apologized. That barely ever happens when someone tries to hurt me. It's probably a bad thing, though,' Izuku thought, surprised that he hadn't noticed Bakugou leaving.

Just then, Kaminari and Uraraka returned, carrying a couple of books.

"Um, well, I like mochi. Oh, hey guys!" Ochako exclaimed, spotting her friends and promptly forgetting about Kaminari.

Jirou couldn't help but snicker at the situation, realizing that Ochako had unknowingly rejected Kaminari's earlier attempt to ask her out. She shook her head in disappointment. "I think he's asked out every girl in class. But at least he's bold... I wish someone else was that bold," she said, glancing over at Midoriya with a faint blush before shaking her head.

"School is almost over, so do you guys want to walk to the station together?" Ochako suggested.

"Wait, school is over already?" Izuku looked around the classroom, realizing that only one person was missing. "Then where's Kacchan?"

"He left a few moments ago. I think you can still catch up to him," Kirishima replied.

Midoriya's eyes widened, and he began to run. "Damn it! I need to apologize for what I said. I was just so angry..."

As he dashed out of the classroom, Ashido caught sight of him leaving. "Midori, wait!" she called out, wanting to thank him for saving her life and also hoping to ask for his phone number.

Midoriya raced down the stairs, his thoughts consumed with regret. "Damn it, I wanted to apologize for what I said... and explain that I wasn't hiding my quirk from him."

But as he continued to run, his pace soon slowed to a jog. "But..."

The words of Kevin echoed in Midoriya's mind, a reminder of their conversations over the past five years. "Why do you call him Kacchan? He insults you and puts you down at every chance he gets. That's not someone to whom you owe your respect..."

As Midoriya's jog slowed to a walk, Kevin's words replayed like a haunting melody. Memories flooded back, each more painful than the last.

"How many times has he made you feel bad about yourself when you were only trying your best? Remember when you beat him in the finals, and your name was at the top? That jerk went ballistic, spouting insults like, 'No way a quirkless loser beat me; he must have cheated.'

He made it sound like your success was a fluke because you're quirkless. He thinks you're supposed to be an idiot."

Izuku's heart tightened as he recalled all the times Bakugou had accused him of cheating whenever he outperformed him in class. Each time he received a good grade—especially when it was better than Bakugou's—had led to an explosion of rage directed at him.

"No way your worthless ass could have gotten a better score!" Bakugou would shout, leaving Izuku to wonder if his efforts meant anything at all.

Then he remembered yesterday, how Bakugou had called him a cheater in front of everyone, simply because he had beaten him in the entrance exam. The sting of those words still burned in his chest.

The realization hit him hard: "I don't owe him anything..." Midoriya said to himself, clenching his fist in anger. The weight of Bakugou's toxic behavior settled heavily on his shoulders.

He stopped, watching Bakugou walk out of the school gate, and frustration boiled within him. He took a deep breath, his heart heavy, and finally turned around. With a sigh, he made his way back to class, the truth of Kevin's words lingering in his mind.

"I earned my place... I didn't cheat," he muttered under his breath, a wave of resentment rising for the blonde ash boy. "And I already told you, Kacchan, I'm not going to be your punching bag anymore." With each step back to class, he felt a little stronger.

[In Class]

Uraraka pressed her face against the window alongside Tsuyu, Yaoyorozu, Jirou, and Ashido, all waiting in anticipation.

"Huh? I wonder what's taking Dekiru so long," Uraraka mused as she noticed Bakugou leaving the campus.

"I don't get why he needs to talk to that guy anyway," Jirou said, scowling.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Uraraka asked, confused.

"The guy treats him like trash. Every time they interact, Bakugou accuses him of cheating, tells him he doesn't belong here, and when Dekiru beats him, he gets all pissy about it," Jirou explained, crossing her arms.

"I thought they were friends at first, but I really doubt it," Hagakure added with a frown.

Momo joined the conversation, her tone tinged with concern. "If someone accuses you of cheating, it undermines everything you've accomplished. That kind of doubt can be really hurtful," she said, a hint of pain evident in her voice as she recalled her own experiences. She paused before adding, "Midoriya doesn't owe him anything."

When they realized Midoriya wasn't heading toward Bakugou, Mina suddenly bolted out of the classroom.

"Midori!" she called, her voice echoing in the hallway.

"Huh?! Oh, Ashido. What's up?" he replied, surprised to see her.

Mina scratched the back of her head, her usual confidence wavering. "Well, I was kind of hoping to catch you alone. I wanted to talk to you, but I never got the chance."

Midoriya raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What about?"

Mina took a deep breath, her nerves palpable. "Remember a few months ago when we were at the mall? I got grabbed by that bird... and, um..." Her voice trailed off, and she looked a bit embarrassed.

"Oh, y-yeah! I remember. I wasn't sure it was you at first, and I didn't want to assume," he said, recalling the chaos.

"I... uh, never really got to thank you for saving my life," she said, her cheeks turning a light shade of lilac. "And despite the fact you smelled like hot garbage..."

Midoriya slumped slightly, another reminder of how awful Stinkfly had smelled.

"But I really enjoyed flying with you," she continued, her face now a deeper shade of lilac. Midoriya smiled back at her.

"It was no problem. I just thought you could use some help," he replied.

Mina grinned widely. "Since we're heroes, us aliens should stick together!" she declared, her smile infectious.

"Y-Yeah. You kind of remind me of that scary alien from the movies, the one with the acid. I-I mean, your quirk! I'm not saying you look like it, you're cute, and that alien was—"

Ashido's eyes lit up. "You think I'm cute?"

Midoriya suddenly realized what he had said, his face turning bright red and resembling a ripe strawberry. "Uh... y-yeah, you're pretty cute," he mumbled, almost too softly to hear.

She looked down, her cheeks lilac as she coughed to clear her throat. "I think you're pretty cute too."

Midoriya felt like he might faint from embarrassment, but then Ashido's grin returned. "Not as cute as Ditto, though."

Still blushing, he chuckled as they began walking back to class. "I don't think I can compete with him."

"Nope, but you were awesome in the battle trial! Your moves were so cool, and the way you dodged was impressive! Maybe we can train together sometime," Ashido suggested, her smile brightening even more.

"Huh. I guess that would be cool. You can show me some acid moves!" Midoriya replied, matching her enthusiasm.

"Only if you show me yours."

"Deal!"

"Oh, and by the way..." Ashido suddenly moved closer, slipping an arm around Midoriya's shoulders in a side hug, causing him to blush profusely.

"S-S-So c-close," he stammered, taken by surprise.

She pulled out her phone and snapped a quick photo of them, giving a peace sign behind his head. "My hero!"

Midoriya's face felt like it was on fire as she swiped his phone and took a selfie, continuing to type quickly.

"You have my number now," Ashido said with a shy smile.

"Now you can text me or whatever. I mean, if you don't want to, you're not obligated or anything," she added, avoiding eye contact and fidgeting with her hands.

"Y-Yeah, that would be fun," Midoriya replied as they started walking and chatting.

Meanwhile, from the rooftop of a building miles away, a figure watched them intently. "Well, Hisashi's son," he muttered, lowering his advanced binoculars. A sinister grin spread across his face. "We'll meet soon, you bastard!"

Just then, Midoriya was hit with a sudden splitting headache, as if warning him of something approaching. He clutched his head, wincing at the pain.

"Midoriya, you okay?" came the concerned voice of Yaoyorozu, who had caught up with him.

"Y-Yeah, just a headache," he replied, trying to shake it off. He glanced in the direction of the pain but quickly dismissed it. "It's nothing. Don't worry about it."

...

Izuku walked back to class, chatting with Ashido, who was smiling at him. Her energy was contagious, and he couldn't help but smile back.

"So, uh, what do you like to eat?" Kaminari's voice cut through as he tried to flirt with a nearby girl. Izuku barely noticed as his face lit up upon seeing Kendo, who stood nearby, arms folded and foot tapping impatiently. She raised an eyebrow at him.

"Kendo?" Izuku called, surprised.

She turned around, a smile replacing her stern expression as she walked over. "Hey, Midoriya," she greeted, quickly dismissing Kaminari. "Thanks, Kaminari. Anyways, bye," she said, waving him off.

Kendo glanced at the two girls standing behind him—Momo and Mina. "Do you mind if I steal Midoriya for a bit? We need to catch up," she asked, scratching behind her head.

Momo and Mina exchanged glances, surprised, but eventually nodded and moved aside, letting Kendo and Izuku walk off together.

"So, how was your first battle trial?" Kendo asked, genuinely curious.

Izuku put his hands behind his back, his smile fading slightly. "I was up against Bakugou and Todoroki."

Kendo's eyes widened. "Wait, you were up against the guy who came second in the entrance exam and the son of the number two hero? That's... kind of ironic now that I think about it," she remarked.

"Yeah, and my teammates ended up abandoning me during the trial," Izuku added with a chuckle, trying to downplay the memory.

Kendo's eyes widened in shock. "What? They ditched you? On your first battle trial?!" Her disbelief was obvious.

"Oh, I'm fine," Izuku quickly reassured her. "Though... losing my first trial isn't so bad," he added with a grin.

Kendo gave him a questioning look. "Wait, who said you lost?"

Izuku smirked, a little more confidently.

Kendo blinked in surprise. "Hold up—you're telling me you were outnumbered, your teammate abandoned you, and you were up against two of the strongest students... and you won?!"

He nodded with a small smile.

"Dude, that's awesome!" Kendo exclaimed, giving him a friendly punch on the shoulder. Izuku rubbed the spot, a small blush creeping up on his cheeks as he looked at her.

"I... I couldn't have done it without you," Izuku admitted quietly.

Kendo raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"

"I-I mean, the moves you taught me helped a lot. Kacchan couldn't read my movements, and even Todoroki struggled. You taught me so much... I was thinking about that the whole time during the fight, and I just wanted to say thanks," Izuku explained, scratching his head nervously. "I guess I owe you a lot."

Kendo's face flushed red, a little taken aback by his words. "W-Well, I should be thanking you too..." she mumbled.

Izuku tilted his head in confusion. "Thanking me?"

Kendo took a step closer, her face inches from his. "I couldn't have won my own battle trial either. I-I kept thinking about how you analyze quirks so thoroughly, and it helped me figure out my opponent's weaknesses." Her sudden proximity made Izuku blush even harder.

Their eyes met, and for a moment, both were frozen, blushing furiously before looking away, Kendo rubbing her arm awkwardly.

"So... thanks," Kendo said, her voice a little quieter now.

"No... problem," Izuku replied, equally shy.

From a distance, Ochako watched the exchange. She felt a strange twinge in her chest, something tightening inside her as she blinked at the sight of the two talking.

Kendo broke the brief silence, trying to change the subject. "By the way, how come you didn't meet up with me and Uraraka on our first day?" she asked, curious.

"O-Oh..." Izuku's blush returned as he remembered the incident. He told her about how he accidentally groped Yaoyorozu, his face growing redder as he explained.

Kendo burst out laughing. "Pfft! You're kidding me, right?!" She tried to hold back her laughter but failed miserably.

"Hey, it's not funny!" Izuku protested, clearly embarrassed.

She stifled her giggles. "Oh, come on! You were probably like, 'I-I-I-I-I a-am s-sorry!' right?" she teased, doing a surprisingly good impression of his stammering.

Izuku's face burned even brighter. "It's not funny! She got really mad at me," he muttered.

Kendo shook her head, still smirking. "You're lucky it wasn't me. I would've knocked you out cold," she said, playfully raising her fist, making him shiver slightly.

He laughed nervously, still rubbing his shoulder where she had playfully punched him earlier.

The next morning, Midoriya got up early and headed to school, the excitement of seeing Kendo pushing him to step a little faster. They hadn't had much time together lately, so he nervously decided to ask her if she'd like to walk to school with him. When he did, a rosy blush crept onto her cheeks, but she agreed, sending a wave of relief and joy washing over him.

As he walked, lost in thought about his day ahead, he suddenly felt a poke on his shoulder. He turned around, scanning the area, but saw no one. Just as he was about to dismiss it, he turned back and was met with the floating head of Setsuna Tokage.

"Sup?" she said, her sharp-toothed grin wide and mischievous. Midoriya's eyes widened in shock, his expression a mix of confusion and fear.

"Wh-Where... wha-what—Are—am I...?" he stammered, his voice barely a whisper.

Setsuna burst into laughter, the sound ringing through the air. "Pfft! HAHAHA!" Her head rolled playfully in the air, and from a corner, her body came running to catch up, plopping back down seamlessly.

Wiping a tear of laughter from her eye, she continued, "Oh, man, you were like, 'Wha-what where?' Oh my gosh!" She made a mocking impression of him, her laughter infectious.

Midoriya clutched his head, overwhelmed. "I thought I was in a horror movie..."

With a finger to her chin, Setsuna teased, "And I'm the totally sexy serial killer on the loose!"

"More like the victim," Midoriya muttered, half-smirking.

Setsuna snorted and began skipping down the path. "Kendo and I were supposed to meet up, but she canceled. Now I know why!" She shot him a knowing smirk.

Midoriya blushed fiercely and started walking alongside her toward Kendo. "I-I-I d-don't k-know wha-what you're talking about..."

"Really? You didn't make arrangements to walk with Kendo to school every day?" Setsuna asked, her tone teasing.

Midoriya's face turned crimson. "W-We don't see each other as much now that we're in different classes, so I thought we could walk together. That's all—nothing more to it."

"Keep telling yourself that, Casanova," Setsuna said, her voice light with mischief. "Don't worry, I won't interrupt you guys next time... But I can't say the same for Kodai. She seems really interested in you."

"Really? We text a lot, but I don't think it means anything. She just isn't much of a talker," Midoriya replied, scratching the back of his head.

"Oh, you poor dense boy," Setsuna said, shaking her head as they approached Kendo.

"Hey, Kendo!" Setsuna called out, her cheerful tone cutting through the morning air.

Kendo looked up from her phone, a smile spreading across her face when she saw Setsuna. But as she noticed Midoriya beside her, her expression softened, and a blush crept up her cheeks.

She awkwardly waved, inwardly smacking herself for the sudden rush of feelings. "I bet that looked really awkward," she muttered to herself.

"Hi, Kendo," Midoriya said, his heart racing a bit at the sight of her smile.

"Hey, Midoriya," Kendo replied, trying to hide her fluster as they began walking together.

"So, how was your first hero class?" Kendo asked, her curiosity piqued as they strolled. "We usually have hero class after you guys. You must have been so thrilled to have All Might as your teacher!"

Midoriya scratched the back of his head again, a shy smile forming. "Y-Yeah, honestly, it feels almost surreal."

"Yeah, it would be like having Ryukyu as a teacher!" Setsuna chimed in, her eyes sparkling at the thought. "Having her as a mentor would be a dream!"

"Yeah, but doesn't she usually have interns that are girls?" Kendo asked, raising an eyebrow.

Midoriya shrugged. "Maybe it's just a coincidence. But she's an incredible hero—humble and responsible. Making it to the top 10 can't be easy. Plus, her quirk is super strong and transformation-type. I wonder if I could learn a few things from her."

"Well, if we're talking about strong female pros, it would have to be Miriko!" Setsuna added, her excitement palpable.

Midoriya shivered at the mention of the bunny girl. He recalled their first encounter, the way she had towered over him in her hero form. "Y-Yeah, but I really doubt she'd ever take the time to teach someone like me."

Kendo slumped her shoulders. "Yeah, she doesn't even have sidekicks because they'd only slow her down."

"Wait, then who does all her paperwork?! She's number 6; the pile of paperwork must be massive!" Midoriya exclaimed, his eyes wide with the realization.

Setsuna rolled her eyes, chuckling. "Who knows? Maybe she has a secret intern hidden somewhere."

Midoriya shook his head, trying to process the thought. "Though meeting her in person is terrifying..."

"..."

Suddenly, Kendo grabbed Midoriya by the shoulder, her eyes wide with excitement. "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME YOU MET MIRUKO!?"

...

"Aaah!" He was shaken back and forth, confusion swirling in his eyes. "K-Kendo, s-stop it!"

She plopped him down, adjusted his tie, and cleared her throat. "Sorry about that."

"Anyway, uh... remember that fighting tournament I was in?" Midoriya said, embarrassment creeping into his voice.

"Yeah."

"Uh... after I won, Miruko asked me to train with her."

Kendo and Setsuna exchanged surprised glances. "Sh-She asked you out?!"

"Well, I'm not really sure about that. I think she just wanted a new punching bag, but then when I turned back into me, she kinda got... I don't know how to say it. She thought my fights were cool and wanted to see how I'd do against her."

Kendo sighed in relief. "Speaking of which, you should probably clarify that Four Arms is just a high school student."

Midoriya tilted his head, confused, while Setsuna wore a teasing smile. "What do you mean?"

"Uh... well, Four Arms is, um... pretty impressive, and some pro heroes—mostly girls—find his fighting style and, uh, physique kind of attractive."

Midoriya's face turned bright red. Setsuna burst into laughter. "Wha-What do you mean by that?"

"..." Kendo shot him a knowing look, her expression saying it all.

"Oh."

"That's right, stud! Seriously, you need to clear this up before people start making, uh... some accusations," Setsuna said, still giggling.

...

They continued walking and chatting when they suddenly noticed a horde of reporters gathered around, questioning their classmates.

"All Might is now a teacher here. Of course, the reporters are swarming!" Setsuna said, his eyes widening.

"How are we going to get past them?" Kendo asked, glancing nervously at the crowd.

"I've got an idea. Just follow my lead," Setsuna replied with a toothy grin.

Kendo and Midoriya exchanged shrugs before following her as the reporters descended upon them, microphones thrust forward.

"You're a U.A. student! How does it feel to have All Might as your teacher?"

"Can you give us insight into who he is beyond that smile?"

"How does All Might feel about the student who broke his record?"

Setsuna cut through the noise, "Oh my gosh, guys! It's reporters! Hi, I'm Setsuna Tokage, and we're from the business course—"

To their surprise, every reporter pulled back their microphones and cameras, shifting their attention elsewhere.

"Huh. I can't believe that actually worked," Setsuna said, a look of shock on her face.

"Though I feel bad for any of the business kids," Midoriya added, glancing back at the reporters.

"Looks like the support course is having it rough too. There's a pink-haired girl trying to catch their attention. I think she keeps saying something about 'babies'?" Kendo pointed out, watching the girl flit from reporter to reporter, showing them something in her notebook.

"'Babies'? That can't be right. You probably heard her wrong," Setsuna said as they entered the school premises.

Midoriya suddenly stopped, feeling a familiar stab in his brain. It was like a sharp pressure directing him, though it wasn't painful. Turning away from the crowd of reporters, he spotted someone standing in the distance.

He wore a long-sleeve black shirt, black pants, and striking red shoes. His bushy blue hair framed his face, but it was his intense red eyes that immediately caught Izuku's attention.

"Hey, Midoriya!" Setsuna shouted, snapping him from his thoughts.

Suddenly, the familiar sting returned, though this time it was less intense. It emanated from the crowd, and as he glanced around, he noticed that the reporters had fallen silent, their hungry gazes fixed on him like lions eyeing a gazelle.

"Izuku Midoriya? The top scorer of U.A., who broke the record held by All Might for nearly 40 years?"

"He beat All Might's record by three times the value?"

"They say he has a quirk never seen before."

"He's also the manager of Four Arms!"

Izuku gulped, the pressure building in his chest as he felt their scrutiny.

Setsuna, now safely within the school premises, winced. "Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned his name."

"I-I need to go..." Izuku stammered, his instincts kicking in.

Before he could think twice, he dashed inside, the reporters quickly shifting their focus and chasing after him like a pack of ravenous lions.

"How does it feel to achieve a score of 600 points?!"

"Are you being taught by All Might himself?! You broke his record—does he have animosity towards you?!"

"What's your quirk?!"

Drawing on his Full Cowl, Izuku propelled himself forward, making a beeline for the iconic U.A. entrance. He pushed through the doors just in time, slamming them shut behind him and creating a barrier between him and the relentless swarm of reporters.

...

Kendo and Setsuna waved goodbye to Midoriya as he entered his classroom. As they continued walking, Setsuna glanced sideways at Kendo, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "So... when are you going to ask him out?"

Kendo nearly stumbled, her feet catching on the uneven pavement. If she had been drinking something, it would have surely ended up all over the ground. Her face flushed crimson as Setsuna crossed her arms, a teasing smirk spreading across her lips.

"Wha-What are you talking about?!" Kendo stuttered, her cheeks burning. She fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, trying to hide her embarrassment. "I, uh..."

She let out a resigned sigh, her shoulders slumping in defeat. "Is it that obvious?"

Setsuna shrugged, a playful grin still on her face. "Not to him, but to be fair, he's kind of a dense idiot."

Kendo let out a small groan, dropping her gaze. "He doesn't even like me that way."

"Oh, come on! He blushes and smiles whenever he's around you," Setsuna countered, nudging Kendo playfully with her elbow.

Kendo shook her head, crossing her arms defensively. "He blushes and smiles around every girl," she pointed out, her brow furrowed in frustration.

Setsuna leaned in closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "But you're one of the few girls he feels comfortable around." She raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile playing at her lips.

Kendo hesitated, biting her lower lip. "And I'm pretty sure he's into girlie girls like Uraraka. I'm kind of a tomboy."

Setsuna chuckled, leaning back with a teasing sparkle in her eyes. "And he's kind of a softie, you would be perfect together! Although, I'm pretty sure you'd be wearing the pants in that relationship."

Kendo's blush deepened, and she huffed, turning on her heel as she rushed back toward her classroom. "You know it's true!" she called over her shoulder, her heart racing.

...

"Decent work on combat training yesterday, everyone. I reviewed the video feeds and analyzed each team's results," Aizawa began, his eyes scanning the students. He paused as his gaze lingered on Aoyama, Todoroki, Bakugou, and Mineta, holding their attention for a beat before continuing.

"For the most part, some of you showed solid potential. But several of you need to seriously check your egos and teamwork. There were pitiful performances yesterday, and you know exactly who you are." His voice hardened, and his eyes glowed red as they settled on Bakugou. "There's a line between being confident and being reckless."

He crossed his arms. "And don't think because there was no audio during the matches that the faculty wasn't listening. We heard everything." Aizawa's glare intensified as he spoke, cutting through the silence.

"Bakugou!" he barked suddenly, causing the room to tense. "You nearly killed Midoriya. Do you understand what that means? From what I heard, that's grounds for attempted murder."

The class froze, stunned. Bakugou muttered under his breath, "The damn nerd dodged."

Aizawa sighed, his frustration palpable. He closed his eyes briefly, recalling how Hisashi, one of the more level-headed teachers from his past, would handle difficult students. Hisashi always stressed getting to the root of the problem with blunt honesty, never sugarcoating things. Opening his eyes, Aizawa continued, channeling that approach.

"Whether Midoriya dodged or not is irrelevant. What matters are your intentions. And from what I've seen in these past two days, Bakugou, you're nothing but a violent, arrogant, self-centered child. You've given me no reason to believe otherwise."

The room was utterly still as Aizawa delivered his judgment. Izuku's eyes widened in shock, while Bakugou stood rigid, disbelief flickering in his eyes.

"You've shown potential in combat, but that's not enough. You lack every quality it takes to be a hero," Aizawa continued coldly. "I'll say what your teachers, and whatever sorry excuse for adults kissed your ass, didn't: You have no potential to be a hero."

The weight of those words crashed down on Bakugou, like a blow he wasn't prepared to take. His fists clenched, but he didn't explode in anger. No one had ever told him this before. No one had ever dared.

"You may be strong, but being a hero is about more than that. You think the world revolves around you? It doesn't. I don't care what your problem with Midoriya is, or if it's some petty, pathetic grudge. What I do care about is that you grow up. Start acting like a decent human being. Then, and only then, might you make something close to a hero."

For the first time, Bakugou's face showed restraint. His usual rage was burning low, simmering. Finally, after a long silence, he spoke. "Won't happen again."

"Good. See that it doesn't," Aizawa replied sharply. "Because the next time you pull a stunt like that, you can forget ever stepping foot in another hero course again." He gave Bakugou a hard look. "Attempt murder again, and the best you'll hope for is expulsion. The worst? Prison. With the villains you think you're above."

Bakugou's eyes shot up, incredulous at the severity. But Aizawa didn't flinch. "You'll serve detention for the next month, where you'll learn what not to do with excessive force. And you're banned from the U.A. facilities for that same period."

Aizawa's gaze shifted to Todoroki, who had been quietly waiting. "As for you, Todoroki, I was prepared to lecture you as well. But yesterday, you admitted your mistakes and recognized you were in the wrong—a level of maturity I don't see often. Especially from someone whose father is a top pro hero." Aizawa's tone softened slightly, though still firm. "You'll share Bakugou's punishment, but yours will last two weeks."

Todoroki nodded, accepting the decision without protest.

Aizawa scanned the room one last time, his eyes a warning to anyone else who thought they could get away with recklessness. "This is your only warning. Start acting like heroes, or you won't get another chance."

...

Aizawa's eyes bore into Mineta with an icy intensity as he approached his desk. "You've been nothing but a disgrace these past two days."

Mineta visibly shrank, but Aizawa wasn't going to ease up. "The first day, you couldn't stop ogling the girls. I didn't expel you then because I foolishly thought there might be some potential buried in you. But from what I've seen, you're not just a pervert—you're a coward."

He paused, his tone darkening. "During the battle trial, you didn't even try to face Bakugou or Todoroki. You gave up before the fight even started, decided they were too strong, and let Midoriya handle everything alone. Not because you couldn't help, but because you didn't want to risk it. You were more concerned with saving face than being a hero."

Mineta's face drained of color, but Aizawa was relentless. "And let's not forget your disgusting behavior during lessons. The sexual comments, the lewd remarks—none of it has gone unnoticed. Instead of focusing on how to be a hero, you're too busy making inappropriate jokes and staring at your classmates. That ends now."

Aizawa leaned in closer, his voice as cold as steel. "I don't care about your excuses. If I see one more sign of cowardice, or hear another disgusting comment from you, I will expel you without a second thought. You're not here to leer at your classmates or run when things get hard. You're here to become a hero. If you can't handle that, then get the hell out of my class."

Mineta's whole body shook as he managed to squeak out, "Y-Yes, sir!"

"Good," Aizawa snapped, standing straight again. "Show me you deserve to be here, or you'll be gone faster than you can run away."

"And now that we've addressed the more egregious offenders," Aizawa continued, sweeping his gaze across the room, "Kirishima, less brawn and more brain. You can't punch your way out of every situation. Midoriya, good job continuing the exercise despite your partner's... cowardice. Tokoyami, focus on your surroundings, not just what's in front of you. Koda... impressive work."

Aizawa took a moment before finishing. "I can't go through each of you in detail, but overall, for your first hero exercise, you all did well. Not all of you won, and that's a good thing. It means there's room for improvement. Those of you who won, don't take this victory lightly. Work harder."

"Yes, sir!" the class responded in unison.

Aizawa's expression remained neutral as he addressed them again. "Today, you'll be making a decision that will change the course of your school lives forever."

The students immediately straightened up, the weight of his words settling in. Everyone's anticipation was palpable.

"Is it another quirk test?" many of them thought, bracing for something intense.

"You all need to pick a class representative," Aizawa announced with a heavy sigh.

The entire class let out a collective breath, visibly relaxing in their seats.

"Oh, good. Just normal school stuff," they sighed, relieved.

Before anyone could dwell on the relief, Kirishima shot up with excitement. "Ohh! Ohh! I wanna be class president! Pick me!" he shouted, grinning from ear to ear, eager to prove himself as the manliest class rep.

Aoyama, ever the dramatist, put a hand on his chest and declared, "Oh, you mean the position that's destined for me," with a dramatic wink, seemingly directed at no one.

"That's like, a leadership role, right?! I'll do it! Me, me!" Mina yelled, bouncing on her toes to make herself more noticeable.

Kyoka raised her hand with much less fanfare. "I wanna do it too," she said, quieter than the others.

But then Mineta leaped onto his desk, arms raised high. "My manifesto as president: All girls must expose 30 centimeters of thigh! Vote for me!"

Before he could revel in his audacity, Tsuyu's tongue snapped out and slapped him hard, knocking him straight off his desk and onto the floor, groaning in pain.

"I'm the only one with the spine to lead this class of extras! I'll do it!" Bakugou growled, his voice booming as he glared at the others, clearly seeing himself as the only viable candidate.

The class exploded into more chaos as the shouts and debates continued. Aizawa, as usual, seemed entirely uninterested in reining them in, already rolling himself back into his yellow sleeping bag to nap as the students sorted things out themselves.

Chapter 190 - 15