MHA Universe, Earth, Japan, Musutafu.
While Toshinori read the paper in his hand that explained the rules for the Battle Trial, the students stared at him, some of their gazes blank. However, no one said anything about it. Instead, they tried their best to take in the rules for today's class.
The rules for the Battle Trial boiled down to this.
Battles will take place between two teams of students inside one of the designated buildings in Ground Beta, each match lasting no longer than 10 minutes. Teams will each consist of two students drawn randomly by lots. Opposing teams will also be chosen by random draw. Of the two teams, one will be designated as Heroes while the other will be designated as Villains. The Villain team's objective will be to protect an artificial nuclear bomb until the time limit has been reached. The Hero team's objective is to find and disable (touch) the bomb before the time limit is reached. The Villain team's victory conditions are to defeat the Hero team and detain them with the specially provided capture tape or defend the bomb until time runs out. The Hero team's victory conditions are to defeat the Villain team and detain them with the specially provided capture tape or disable the bomb. Before each match, both teams will have 5 minutes to strategize while the Villain team may use this time to position the bomb, as well.
"So, are there any questions?" Toshinori asked after reading the rules for the Battle Trial. After all the students shook their heads, signifying that there were no questions, he continued. "Well then, let's start the process of selecting teams. Everyone, follow me to the observation room."
With that, Toshinori started walking towards a particular building with the students following closely. After entering the building, Toshinori made his way to a room filled with monitors. Clearly, each monitor showed surveillance from a different point in each of the buildings that would be used for today's class.
And as the students entered the room, they all noticed a box sitting on the control console that was positioned below all the monitors. Undoubtedly, that was the box with the lots that would be used for team selection.
"Okay, to minimize the time taken, I will be choosing the lots for everyone." Toshinori said as he arrived next to the box. "So, pay attention to which team you belong to."
Team selection did not take long, as Toshinori read from the class roster and quickly pulled balls marked from "A" to "J". And by the time the last ball was pulled from the box, the teams looked like this.
Team A: Sato Rikido and Uraraka Ochaco
Team B: Kirishima Eijiro and Tokoyami Fumikage
Team C: Matou Sakura and Yaoyorozu Momo
Team D: Midoriya Izuku and Bakugo Katsuki
Team E: Hanekura Shizuka and Ida Tenya
Team F: Shoji Mezo and Hagakure Toru
Team G: Todoroki Shoto and Ashido Mina
Team H: Kaminari Denki and Asui Tsuyu
Team I: Soramoto Tatsuo and Jiro Kyoka
Team J: Aoyama Yuga and Sero Hanta
While most of the students did not mind their pairings, Katsuki was clearly unhappy about being paired with Izuku, the glare he shot the green-haired boy's way saying more than any of his aggressive jabs ever could.
"Now, before we get started..." Toshinori said after marking down the last team assignment. "Do any of you understand why the teams were chosen randomly instead of allowing you all to choose your own teams?"
"It's because as Heroes, we never know who we'll have to work with when the need arises." Momo replied quickly while raising her hand.
"Young Yaoyorozu is correct." Toshinori replied with a nod while smiling proudly. "You won't always end up working with someone who you know well, or at all for that matter. So, a Hero has to be flexible and ready for any situation."
Hearing that, everyone nodded in both understanding and agreement. Then, they all turned to look at Izuku and Katsuki, the only ones who were clearly not going to be quite as harmonious as the other teams.
In fact, the discontent aura Katsuki was emitting was so thick that even Toshinori was wondering if it might be a better idea to redo the team selection to put Izuku and Katsuki on different teams. But after a moment, he shook off that thought and returned to facilitating the trial.
"Alright, I'll put one of each ball back into the box and begin choosing the match up for the first trial." Toshinori said as he did just as he said. He then pulled out two random balls and continued. "The first match will be between Team C and Team E, with Team E acting as the Heroes."
"Seriously?" Akatsuki groaned. "Facing Sakura will be bad enough. But we have to face her while she's on defense, too? This sucks."
"Not to worry." Ida said in his usual strait-laced manner. "I'm sure that if we put our heads together and cooperate, we will be just fine."
"I hope you can still say that once we're on the battlefield." Akatsuki said while shaking her head. She then turned towards Sakura with a fearless grin on her face. "Either way, we'll give it all we have. So, you better not let your guard down, Sakura, Yaoyorozu-San."
While Momo wore a determined expression that hid her insecurities, Sakura only smiled at Akatsuki's provocation. Then, she turned to Momo without losing her smile.
"Lets' do our best, Yaoyorozu-San." Sakura said in her usual gentle tone.
Amazingly, when Momo heard Sakura's tone, she felt herself relax. She could not understand why, though. Still, she found herself looking at Sakura gratefully, nonetheless.
"Yes." Momo replied with a firm nod. "We will do our best. Though, I'm not sure how to act now that we are playing the role of villains."
That was a topic that Sakura had some insight into. Her adopted family was filled with villain-types. However, she figured that taking her act to the level of her adopted brother and grandfather would be a bit too much.
"I'm sure we'll figure it out." Sakura said while shaking off the memory of her former family.
"You're right." Momo replied with another nod.
"Well then, the four of you, please proceed to Building A." Toshinori said, bringing an end to the pre-match chatter. He then pointed towards a small case on the console and continued. "Oh, and before you go, each of you, take one of these transceivers. You'll be able to communicate with your teammates, even if you have to separate."
"Yes, All Might-Sensei." The four combatants replied in unison as they stepped forward to take the transceivers.
Immediately afterwards, the four combatants exchanged glances. Then, they all left the monitoring room. Meanwhile, Toshinori and the remaining students all turned their attention to the monitors. And as they did, they saw the two teams making their way through the streets of the artificial cityscape.
"So… Who do you think is going to win, Soramoto-Kun?" Izuku, after making his way to Tatsuo's side, asked curiously.
"It will probably be more balanced than Akatsuki made it out to be." Tatsuo replied after thinking for a while. "The key will be how well Akatsuki and Ida can work together. At the same time, if Yaoyorozu-San can put her [Quirk] to good use."
"I see." Izuku relpied before lowering his head in thought.
At the same time, because the other students had already realized that Tatsuo and Izuku seemed to know Akatsuki and Sakura better than the they did, they listened in to the conversation to get some insights into the upcoming fight.
Not long later, the two teams reached Building A. Like the other two buildings that would be used during the trial, Building A was a five-story office building. However, the differences in each building lay in their floor plans, as each building had a different interior.
"Villain Team, please head inside." Toshinori said into an active microphone after pressing a button on the monitoring room console. "The five-minute planning period will begin once the Villain Team reaches the bomb on the fifth floor."
Despite the fact Toshinori just announced that the bomb was on the fifth floor, neither Sakura nor Momo showed any signs of distress. It had already been explained that the Villain Team was free to relocate the bomb as they pleased.
The students watched Sakura and Momo quickly make their way to the bomb's location. When they arrived, Toshinori announced the beginning of the planning period.
"There's no sound." Hanta pointed out. "How are we supposed to hear their plans?"
"If I had to guess, only All Might-Sensei can hear them." Tatsuo replied casually. "While each team's transceivers are probably only connected to each other, All Might-Sensei's is probably connected to all of them."
"Good deductive reasoning, Young Soramoto." Toshinori replied with a nod. "Remember, even when surveilling your targets, the chances of being able to overhear their plans generally won't happen unless you are within earshot. This is a simulation of such situations."
The students nodded in understanding as they chatted about what they thought would happen while watching the screens.
Meanwhile, on the top floor of Building A, Sakura and Momo were discussing their plans for the match.
"Can you make adhesive solutions with your [Quirk], Yaoyorozu-San?" Sakura asked as she checked the bomb, which was made from papier-mâché. "It would really come in handy when dealing with Ida's speed."
"I can." Momo replied with a nod. "By the way, you can call me Momo, if you like. In return, would you mind if I called you Sakura?"
Hearing Momo's response, Sakura turned to glance at her. When she did, she noticed the nervous anticipation in Momo's eyes.
'Hmm...? What's with that look?' Sakura asked herself. 'She seems really hopeful that I'll accept. Could it be that she doesn't have many friends? Well, she's from a wealthy family. So, I guess that makes sense. She probably only meets people that suck up to her or want to use her for something.'
After a few moments spent considering the reason for Momo's request, moments that saw Momo growing more and more nervous as time went by. Even so, Sakura continued to think quietly.
'But I've seen the way Tatsuo-Kun interacts with her.' Sakura continued thinking to herself. 'And they seem more or less like friends. So, why? Wait... Is it because I'm a girl? She wants a female friend... That must be it.'
With the light of enlightenment shining in her eyes, Sakura's internal thought process came to an end. She then turned around fully to make eye contact with Momo.
"I don't mind, Momo-San." Sakura said while smiling gently.
Hearing that, Momo's expression visibly brightened. A moment later, however, she pressed down the excitement she was feeling.
"Thank you, Sakura-San." Momo said, doing her best to keep her tone even. "But I don't think adhesive will be enough. We need to do something about Hanekura-San's stealth. If we can't find her, she could just sneak to wear the bomb is and touch it with none of us the wiser."
"*Giggle* You don't have to worry about Akatsuki-San." Sakura said with a small giggle. "I have a way around her stealth. We'll just have to cut the electricity to the building for that. So, you'll probably have to make a pair of night vision goggles to go along with the adhesive."
Meanwhile, at Building A's entrance, Akatsuki and Ida were also discussing their plans for the battle.
"Ida-Kun, are you confident in dealing with adhesive on the floor?" Akatsuki asked.
"It looks like we were both thinking along the same lines." Tenya replied. "But for the most part, yes. As long as I rev my [Engines] high enough, I should be able to disregard most adhesives. But if they are too strong, that could be in question. More important than that, would be if they make hazards such as caltrops."
Akatsuki could not help looking at Tenya strangely when she heard that.
"What's the matter?" Tenya asked while stepping half a step backwards.
"Your boots...?" Akatsuki asked. "Aren't they reinforced?"
"Ah! Now I understand why you were looking at me like that." Tenya replied, regaining his composure as he did so. "All though I have reinforced soles, they are not as sturdy as they could be. The extra weight affects my speed. So, I had to sacrifice some durability."
"I see." Akatsuki replied, understanding Tenya's explanation. "Well, we'll just have to be careful then. One more thing. Do you think you're strong enough to carry me on your back at the beginning of the match?"
"More than likely, but why?" Tenya asked in a curious tone.
*Bang!*
At that moment, the sound of all the lights in the building going off simultaneously could be heard, drawing both Akatsuki's and Tenya's attention to the entrance.
"They turned off the lights." Tenya said with a slightly furrowed brow.
"I expected as much." Akatsuki said while shaking her head. "Sakura is trying to maximize the area that her shadows can cover. Making it impossible for me to stay out of her range. Because as long as I step on a shadow she is connected to, no matter if I'm using [Sneak] or not, she'll be able to detect my location."
"I see." Tenya replied in an enlightened tone. "That is why you wanted me to carry you. It makes perfect sense."
{"The five-minute planning period has come to an end."} Toshinori's voice sounded through the transceivers. {"The first match of the Battle Trial begins.... Now!"}
With that, all the students, both in the trial arena and the monitoring room, turned serious as they focused on the upcoming battle.