At Ground Beta, the students of Class 1-A began appearing one by one, stepping out from the shadows. They wore costumes crafted by the academy according to each student's requests, designed to match and maximize their quirks. There was Ochaco Uraraka in her futuristic yet slightly tight pink astronaut suit, Tenya Iida encased in white armor like a mechanical knight, and Tsuyu Asui in her green frog costume.
All Might, the Symbol of Peace, stood in the center of the field like a towering lighthouse. His red cape billowed in the wind, and his smile shone brighter than the midday sun.
"These costumes are an important part of your identity, young ones!" he boomed, his voice thundering through the air, filled with the pride of a father watching his children grow.
He spread his arms wide, as if to embrace the entire future standing before him.
"Realize that…" All Might paused dramatically, his blue eyes blazing as they met each student's face in turn. "…starting today… you are heroes!"
Restrained cheers and whispers of awe filled the air. The students looked at one another, admiring each other's designs.
Yet in the midst of the euphoria, All Might suddenly fell silent. His smile did not fade, but his gaze shifted past the students' shoulders toward the still-yawning darkness of the tunnel behind them.
His ears caught something. Tap. Tap. Tap. Heavy, rhythmic footsteps full of cold authority. The sound of metal striking concrete. A resonant clang echoed off the tunnel walls, heralding the arrival of its owner.
Slowly, the figure emerged from the darkness. At first only a sharp black silhouette, but as he stepped into the light, the details revealed themselves, stealing the breath from the students' throats.
It was Fuse Yasushi.
He wore a white-gray exoskeleton armor. Hard panels fused with mechanical framing covered his shoulders and arms. His jacket—predominantly pale white with sharp asymmetrical cuts—featured a high collar. Deep black accents and small contrasting indicators flickered faintly like data readouts.
Above his head circled a pointed white metal crown.
But what drew every eye was what lay on his back.
A spiked, layered metal structure resembling the sharp blades of a fallen angel's wings was mounted there. Hard white panels blended with pitch-black outer sections, connected by precision joints and gleaming small bolts. Each metal segment quivered faintly, moving independently as though alive, ready to unfold, close, or spin into deadly weapons in an instant.
Mechanical wings!
Fuse walked slowly, chin slightly raised. Wind whipped across his face, partially obscured by a transparent visor, yet his glowing red eyes remained visible, staring straight ahead with terrifying calm. Before him loomed the mock city of Ground Beta, but to Fuse it was merely the backdrop for his debut.
A heavy silence blanketed the field. All eyes were fixed on him. Some gaped, some instinctively stepped back in intimidation, and some stared with pure admiration.
"Woah, Fuse!"
Denki Kaminari's voice broke the silence, a mix of fear and excitement. "That looks… dangerous. Like an unbeatable final boss from a video game!"
Fuse stopped walking. He turned slowly toward Kaminari, the motion accompanied by a soft hydraulic hiss from his suit. The corner of his mouth lifted into a thin, confident smile, pleased by their awestruck gazes.
He had expected his costume to freeze every student in stunned admiration. After all, he had designed it with full devotion, drawing on precious memories from his past life.
He had watched countless mecha series and admired every design. During the design process he had often dreamed of piloting a giant robot—and secretly fantasized about using one to rule the world.
Now, in this technologically advanced world, he had finally been given the chance.
How could he possibly waste it when he could pour all those references into his dream costume?
"Not a final boss," he corrected, his voice slightly distorted by the vocal module at his collar, giving it a deeper, metallic edge. "But the hero who will save the world… in the most dazzling and absolute way possible."
From the corner of his eye, Fuse caught movement. Katsuki Bakugo, clad in his massive grenade-themed costume, was staring at him from head to toe. Bakugo's red eyes narrowed, assessing the new threat. He clicked his tongue sharply.
Bakugo turned his face away roughly, though his fists clenched tighter.
All Might, realizing his stage was being stolen by one of his students, deliberately cleared his throat loudly. "Ahem!"
The sound snapped everyone's attention back. All Might grinned wide, masking slight surprise at Fuse's strikingly aggressive design.
"You all look amazing!" he praised, spreading his arms again. "So cool! Seeing you like this makes me feel like I'm looking at a bright future!"
He clapped once—CLAP—the sharp sound echoing.
"Now, let's get started, young heroes! No time to stand around admiring mirrors!"
All Might's expression grew slightly more serious, though his smile remained.
"Very well, it's time for combat training!" he declared.
"The class will be divided into villains and heroes, fighting 2-on-2 inside the building!"
He pointed to one of the concrete structures behind him.
"This is real combat so you can learn the fundamentals! But this time," All Might raised his index finger, "there are no robots for you to defeat. Your opponents are your own classmates!"
Instantly, worried murmurs spread among the students. Fighting robots was one thing; facing classmates was an entirely different mental challenge.
"Listen to the scenario!" All Might continued, his voice growing heavier. "The villains have hidden a nuclear weapon in their headquarters. The heroes are trying to stop them! Heroes can win by capturing the villains." He paused briefly before adding, "or by touching and securing the nuclear weapon within the time limit!"
"Villains must guard the weapon the entire time, or capture the heroes before time runs out!"
All Might paused again, letting the weight of the mission sink in. Then he produced a bright yellow box labeled 'LOTS'.
"Teams and opponents will be drawn randomly!"
In quick succession, lottery balls were pulled. Tension rose as unexpected pairings formed.
"Team A…" All Might announced, reading the ball in his hand. "Izuku Midoriya and… Fuse Yasushi!"
Fuse froze for a moment. His brow arched beneath his visor.
Midoriya? he thought. The canon protagonist and I—the true protagonist—on the same team? This is… interesting. Is the universe trying to merge two storylines into one? Or is this a test to see who truly deserves the title of 'main character'? Heh, the answer is obvious—why does the world even need to prove it?
He turned toward Midoriya. The green-haired boy looked shocked, eyes wide, then stared at Fuse with a mix of respect and faint fear. His rabbit-themed green costume looked absurdly comical next to Fuse's advanced combat armor.
Fuse walked over, his footsteps heavy and steady. He stopped in front of Midoriya, looking down from his heightened vantage.
"Midoriya… sorry, but I won't be handing the spotlight to you," Fuse said, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. He extended his metal-gloved hand.
"But in exchange…" He paused and nodded. "As long as you're on my team, victory is guaranteed. And I'll make sure you shine in my protagonist glow. Perfect for a supporting character who aids the lead, right? Win-win."
Midoriya swallowed hard. He understood Fuse's words… yet somehow felt Fuse was too strange to respond to normally—like a full-blown chuunibyou. How should he reply? Laugh?
Lost in thought, he simply nodded quickly and shook Fuse's hand nervously. "R-right, Fuse-kun! Please take care of me!"
Next, All Might drew the final ball to determine their first opponents.
"And their first opponents are…" All Might glanced at the ball, then looked at the crowd with a slightly stiff smile. "Team D! Katsuki Bakugo and Tenya Iida!"
Instant silence enveloped the field; even the wind seemed to stop.
"Team A as HEROES, Team D as VILLAINS!"
Midoriya's eyes widened in horror. His body tensed as he whipped his head toward Bakugo. "Kacchan…"
On the other side, Bakugo was also startled—but the shock lasted only a fraction of a second before it twisted into a wide, feral grin that looked almost painful.
At first he glared at Midoriya with his usual contempt. Then his eyes shifted. His red pupils locked onto the white-armored figure beside Midoriya.
Fuse Yasushi. His true target. Bakugo laughed—a low, rough, trembling sound born of dark excitement. "Hah… hahahaha!"
He raised his hand, palm open toward Fuse. Small sparks began crackling there—crackle-crackle—growing more intense.
"Finally…" Bakugo growled. "I get to crush you, you bastard."
Fuse, feeling the murderous stare, merely sighed. He tilted his head slightly, his visor reflecting sunlight directly into Bakugo's eyes.
"You look happy, Toddler," Fuse said softly, audible only to those nearby. "Enjoy your laughter while it lasts. Because soon you'll learn that your explosions are just tiny sparks unworthy of my notice."
Behind Fuse's back, his mechanical wings shifted slightly—click-click—their blades parting as if responding to the incoming threat, ready to shred anyone who dared approach.
…
The building loomed before them—a tall, gray concrete structure deliberately designed to look rundown, dirty, and neglected. Shattered windows, cracked walls, and the thick scent of cement dust filled the air.
Fuse smiled confidently as he surveyed the structure. He could sense them. The rebar embedded in the walls, the water pipes snaking like veins, the hidden copper wiring. Combined with his current incredible costume… he knew he would shine. He was king in this iron castle.
"Nervous, Midoriya?" Fuse asked without turning.
Beside him, Izuku Midoriya jolted as though woken from a nightmare. His rabbit costume—what Fuse thought looked like a giant baby onesie—trembled faintly.
"Uh—uh," Midoriya stammered, hands clutching his pants. "A little, Fuse-kun. I mean… this is our first time fighting classmates in a serious simulation."
Fuse chuckled softly, then placed his heavy metal hand on Midoriya's shoulder.
"It's because of the Toddler—I mean, Bakugo, right?"
"No! Why would you say that?" Midoriya's eyes widened in panic as Fuse hit the mark perfectly. "Kacchan is just… really enthusiastic."
Fuse held back a loud snort. Enthusiastic? He wants to kill you, he thought. Well, that's obvious—I've seen the recap of your life when you were still a 2D character on my laptop screen!
Outwardly, he smiled. "I've noticed, Midoriya. And as a man with extremely sharp sixth sense—call it protagonist intuition—I have a hunch you two share a long, complicated history. The way the Toddler glares at you like you're a germ, and how you look away every time he breathes—it's not hard to conclude."
Midoriya looked ready to faint. His face paled, cold sweat beading at his temples.
Why does he look like he'll pass out just because I stated facts? Fuse wondered. Old-school shonen protagonist mentality is such a hassle. Always too emotional. And we're about to fight—don't faint now! I need a witness to my greatness!
Fuse patted Midoriya's shoulder harder, channeling confidence through the touch.
"Bottom line: don't worry. I'll protect you if he gets aggressive. That's a hero's duty, isn't it?"
Without waiting for Midoriya to protest or deny his "burden" status, Fuse strode forward. His footsteps thudded on the asphalt.
KLANG. KLANG.
He felt slightly heavier because of the armor… still adjusting to his new center of gravity, especially with the massive wings on his back. But with his magnetism subtly supporting the costume's weight, he managed. He looked like an elegant walking tank.
He entered the building through a large hole in the ground-floor wall. The dark interior greeted him. Midoriya followed cautiously, eyes scanning every direction.
"Let's see what you extras can do," Fuse muttered. He glanced briefly at Midoriya. "Stay behind me if you don't want to get hurt. I'll be shield and sword. You… be the cheerleader or whatever."
Midoriya protested, voice squeaking slightly. "That's not how it works, Fuse-kun! We're a team. We protect each other and work together to achieve the goal!"
"Whatever," Fuse said with an indifferent nod.
Well, Midoriya was a protagonist in the original anime. Right now he's still in his weak caterpillar phase, but he's still a protagonist. Let him keep his idealism.
They began climbing the dim concrete stairs to the second floor. Fuse didn't need a map. He closed his eyes briefly, letting his quirk spread like radar.
Invisible waves swept the building. He sensed nails in the walls. Door handles. And then… he grinned wide.
Two foreign metal sources were moving. One on the upper floor—large, rigid, shaped like full armor. Iida. And another… smaller, dense, approaching fast from the second floor. Bakugo's grenade gauntlets.
They must be idiots, Fuse thought with amusement. Absolute idiots for not removing that metal when facing Fuse, the Magnet Master. I literally showed off my power in class this morning. This is pure plot armor for me. Or maybe their arrogance makes them think they can beat physics?
They were underestimating him. Classic cliché where villains underestimate the hero in the first act.
"Careful—they're coming," Fuse whispered, halting on the stair landing.
Midoriya's eyes widened as he assumed a stiff fighting stance. "Who? Where?"
"It's definitely the Toddler. He's charging impatiently from the right corridor above. Heavy, angry footsteps. How does he expect to be a hero with patience thinner than toilet paper?"
"You… you can detect them, Fuse-kun?" Midoriya asked with genuine awe.
Fuse nearly puffed out his chest in pride, ego stroked, but restrained himself to stay cool.
"Of course. I control metal. They're idiots for wearing it against me. It's like handing themselves to a crocodile while slathered in BBQ sauce!"
Fuse continued forward, deliberately slowing his steps. Relaxed. Intimidating.
"Get ready—he's almost here. Three… two… one…"
Midoriya nodded, swallowing hard. Here, Fuse was the captain! On the final count, a shadow burst from the dark corner of the corridor. Rapid, aggressive footsteps echoed, followed by a very familiar shout.
"FOUND YOU, YOU BASTARDS!"
There he was—Katsuki Bakugo, grinning like a maniac, eyes blazing with savage glee beneath his black mask. His hands were raised, ready to explode anything.
Fuse stopped, folding his arms across his thick armored chest.
"Found us? I've been waiting for you, idiot! I could feel you running like a lunatic from a kilometer away. You have zero element of surprise." Fuse laughed, voice echoing in the narrow hall.
Midoriya looked deeply worried, body trembling. "Kacchan…"
"SHUT UP, DEKU!" Bakugo yelled without glancing at Midoriya. His eyes were locked on Fuse. "I've been waiting for this moment to knock out those smug teeth of yours! We're not allowed to fight in class, but who'd have thought fate would make it easier! Here, in this simulation, I can kill you without getting expelled!"
"Really? You don't look like a killer. You look like a kid throwing a tantrum because he didn't get candy," Fuse mocked, shaking his head. "I'm not even shaking. You need to practice acting harder. I hear the villains across town are hiring clowns—you should apply! Your talent would be appreciated."
Midoriya sweated harder. "Fuse-kun, please don't provoke him…"
"I'LL MAKE YOU REGRET THOSE WORDS!"
Bakugo charged. Not a normal run—he used explosions in his palms to propel himself forward at high speed. BOOM!
He reached Fuse in the blink of an eye. His right hand crackled with sparks, primed for a point-blank blast to Fuse's face.
"DIE!"
But Fuse didn't flinch.
Just before Bakugo's palm touched his face, Fuse flicked his wrist slightly.
He seized control of Bakugo's grenade gauntlets.
WHOOSH!
Bakugo's arm jerked violently sideways as though struck by an invisible hand, causing the explosion to miss and scorch the wall beside Fuse's ear.
Bakugo's eyes widened in shock. His momentum ruined. He was wide open.
Fuse didn't waste the opening.
"Too slow."
Fuse's thick metal-gauntleted hand swung—not a full punch, just a casual yet powerful backhand.
THWACK!
The iron backhand slammed into Bakugo's chest.
"Guh!"
Bakugo flew backward, boots screeching across the floor as he slid several meters before tumbling.
Fuse yawned, deliberately exaggerating the sound.
"You should learn to hit properly before dreaming of being a hero. That was pathetic. Even the grannies in morning cartoons are scarier."
"Wow! You made him miss and countered, Fuse-kun! Incredible reflexes!" Midoriya said, eyes sparkling, momentarily forgetting his childhood friend had just been effortlessly sent flying. His hero worship overrode his fear.
"Of course," Fuse replied arrogantly. "I could handle him blindfolded! It's like fighting a level-1 NPC in the tutorial zone."
"YOU BASTARD!"
Bakugo sprang up, fueled by pure rage. He clutched his aching chest, then glared at his gauntlets with hatred. He realized it—the metal. Fuse was controlling it.
With rough motions, Bakugo yanked the release levers on his gauntlets.
He discarded both massive grenade gauntlets, letting them clatter heavily to the floor. Not stopping there, he also removed his metal knee pads and tossed them aside.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Fuse exclaimed in mock shock. "That's indecent! The whole class is watching from the monitor room! Don't strip here, Toddler! Save your striptease for later!"
Bakugo growled, ignoring the taunt. He was lighter now—and, in his mind, free from Fuse's control.
Fuse glanced at Midoriya.
"Midoriya, this is about to get noisy and rough. You should go deal with Iida upstairs. Secure the nuke. Let me teach this naughty kid some manners."
Midoriya hesitated, looking at Bakugo, then at Fuse. He saw absolute confidence in Fuse's red eyes.
"O-okay! Be careful, Fuse-kun!"
Midoriya ran toward the stairs, leaving the two alone. Bakugo started to chase Midoriya, but Fuse stepped sideways, blocking his path.
"Nope—your opponent is me, Extra."
Bakugo didn't reply. He only grinned ferally, veins bulging on his forehead. Without the metal weight, he felt faster.
Fuse snorted. He rolled his shoulders.
The mechanical wings on his back unfurled wide. The metal blades extended and separated, floating behind him like funnel weapons from a mecha anime. They hovered, sharp tips aimed at Bakugo.
Around them, the corridor was full of metal. Broken chairs, iron racks, detached doors, and of course Bakugo's discarded gauntlets on the floor.
"Come on, Toddler. I don't have much time to entertain you before lunch," Fuse said with a condescending smile.
"DIE!"
Bakugo charged again. This time faster. He used small explosions in both palms alternately to maneuver mid-air, zigzagging to confuse Fuse.
Fuse didn't move from his spot. He merely snapped his fingers.
Two wing blades shot forward, merging into a square shield before him.
BOOM!
Bakugo's explosion slammed into the shield. Fire and smoke filled the corridor. Hot air swept across Fuse's face.
Bakugo didn't stop. He used the smoke for cover, leaping upward to attack from above Fuse's head.
"FROM ABOVE, YOU BASTARD!"
Fuse looked up lazily.
"Predictable."
With a quick thought, the shield shattered and flew upward, forming an iron umbrella over Fuse's head.
BOOM!
Bakugo's attack was blocked again. He landed back on the floor, breathing harder.
"Is that all you've got?!" Bakugo shouted in frustration. "Just dodging and blocking?! Pathetic! Fight me, coward!"
"Hey, relax," Fuse said, tone slightly annoyed like a tired parent dealing with a tantrum. He met Bakugo's eyes. "I was just checking if you were worth seeing my offensive capabilities. But after watching… nope. You're boring. Your patterns are too easy to read."
"YOU ABSOLUTE BASTARD!"
Bakugo lost all reason. He charged again, this time without strategy—just pure rage. He attacked relentlessly, unleashing explosion after explosion toward Fuse.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Fuse's wings danced around him, blocking every strike with absolute precision. To Fuse, it felt like a slow rhythm game. He merely chuckled softly behind his shield, laughter that drove Bakugo further insane.
"BASTARD!"
Bakugo gathered sweat in his palms, preparing a massive blast that would collapse the corridor.
"DIE!"
He unleashed it. The building shook violently. Thick smoke filled the entire hallway.
For a moment, silence.
Then Fuse's voice emerged from the smoke, calm and bored.
"Sigh, I'll end this. It's getting dull. I have more important things than playing with fireworks."
The smoke suddenly swirled.
Fuse raised his hand. His eyes flashed.
"Rise."
The entire corridor trembled—not from explosions, but from magnetic resonance.
Pipes inside the walls screamed. The concrete framework groaned. And Bakugo's discarded grenade gauntlets on the floor… lifted.
Bakugo's eyes widened as he looked around.
Scraps of iron, bolts, and metal debris floated into the air, all aimed at him.
"What the…"
Fuse swung his hand downward. All the metal hurtled toward Bakugo like bullets. Bakugo tried to dodge, leap, and blast some away. But there were too many.
A pipe slammed into his shoulder. An iron plate struck his leg.
Finally, Fuse crooked his index finger.
Bakugo's own grenade gauntlets shot from behind.
BAM!
The heavy metal smashed into Bakugo's back, sending him sprawling to the floor, breath knocked out.
Before Bakugo could rise, Fuse clenched his fist.
Water pipes burst from the walls, coiling like snakes around Bakugo's body. Rebar he pulled from the floor pinned Bakugo's arms and legs to the ground.
Bakugo thrashed, limbs straining against the iron bindings. "LET ME GO!"
Fuse walked closer, footsteps echoing. His wings folded neatly back onto his back.
He crouched in front of the helpless, bound Bakugo. Smiling.
"Too bad. You really thought you'd win just by removing your costume? How naive."
Fuse pulled the Capture Tape from his waist.
"I warned you you're just an NPC in my story. But you're so stubborn. You think this world belongs to you? No, Bakugo. You're only renting it from me."
Fuse wrapped the tape around Bakugo's already iron-restrained body, securing legal victory under the exam rules.
"Enjoy your temporary prison. Reflect on how small you truly are."
"YOU BASTARD! LET ME GO! I'LL KILL YOU!" Bakugo roared, saliva dripping from his mouth in rage.
"Idiot," Fuse muttered, standing and turning away.
He left Bakugo screaming alone in the dark corridor, walking casually toward the stairs as though he'd just taken out the trash.
Fuse climbed the stairs two at a time, feeling refreshed. From the upper floor came the sounds of combat.
…
A/N: I'm not sure what to say, so… here's chapter 9. As I mentioned in chapter 8, I'll be scheduling updates from now on. Please enjoy :)
…
A/N: It's been a long time... I'm not sure what to say, so… here's chapter 9. As I mentioned in chapter 8, I'll be scheduling updates from now on. And as I said before, this chapter may be the last time Fuse clashes with Bakugo... that doesn't mean there won't be any interaction, but as much as possible, interaction between the two of them will be minimised. Why? Because it's repetitive. Btw, I've already written the next chapter on my Patreon (I have updated 3 chapters there!), so please check it out if you're interested! I'll be writing faster there than on this platform!
You can see the next chapter sooner on my patreon whose link is below:
https://www.pâtreon.com/Junxt
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