Koi-Koi

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D/C: I own nothing.

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Shikamaru through his box that contained all of his school work, personal files, and progress reports, it was one of the few items that survived Pain's Assault. His home did not make it, but at least the forest still stands and that's all his family needs at this moment. Right now, he's salvaging whatever he could to take with him for the move out of the village to continue his studies. The box only seemed to taunt him as memories of his mother always reprimanding him for getting low grades for things they both clearly knew has full knowledge of.

It was all there in black and white… along with red. A lot of red.

"I expect you to not slack off while you're out there, Shikamaru. We both expect high marks from you."

'Both…?' Shikamaru looked up to see his mother and Temari glaring down at them. They were towering over him, which gave them a good view of his progress reports… which mainly contained just barely passing grades. "Crap…"

-.-

Katsuki glared up at the ceiling as he laid across on a bench with his arms crossed over his chest, demanding it to give him some sort of answer. He got partnered up with the biggest Dweeb in the class, the mere name just sends waves of anger through him. The problem was that he has no clue how to proceed forward. This was a fight that he cannot fight alone but his pride prevents him from working with others. Especially with someone who clearly hiding what they are fully capable of doing like that fucking Deku…

If that blond mind controller follows Dweeb command to a T, then the Dweeb is most likely holding back. Even going as far to look up to him as if he's some sort of leader when she's the one that always took the lead in everything she does.

It wasn't that he was terrified or intimidated, it was the fact the Dweeb always showed the bare minimum and always seemed to come out on top, even if he does end up losing, he just a win for him. Only using his quirk when it pleases him, and this just pisses off Katsuki to no end.

The entire Nara Clan pisses Katsuki off to no end. Renowned for their high intelligence and their darkness/shadow manipulation quirk, but more so towards their views on Quirkless losers. Even going as far to fully accept those within their clan to become heroes even without a quirk. It disg-

"We need to think up a strategy to get through this exam."

Katsuki rolled his eyes. "I don't need yo-"

Coldness, a familiar sense of dread washed over Katsuki, reminding him when he was captured by that sludge villain. "Fu-"

"You're going to get yourself or someone else killed off one day with that troublesome attitude of yours." Shikamaru deadpanned, staring down at Katsuki while he used his quirk to subdue him.

"Fucker-" Katsuki managed to say before Shikamaru moved his shadow to cover his mouth.

"There are several troublesome women in my life that will beat my ass if I don't pass this exam. I don't pass, I don't get to go home for the break."

-.-

"He's trapping us in!" Ino called out as she avoided being crushed by falling debris. She pulled out some ninja wire from her person and launched it out towards Izuku to pull him out of the way before he got crushed. "You're going to have to carry me out of here. It's too dangerous for me to scale around using my tools."

"Got it." Izuku regained his momentum after Ino untangled him from her metal wires. He ran over towards her and carried her bridal style, up towards the roof tops using his cowl.

"There! An opening. HE'S USING A FLIPPING WRECKING BALL!"

Izuku eyes widened when he felt Ino jiggle in his arms, nearly slipping out of his grasp. "In-Ino! Careful!"

"Ah-ha!" Ino pulled out a compact mirror from her person. "This will do the trick!"

Ino began to pull at Izuku's hair. "Move in closer! I have an idea to distract him long enough for us to escape!"

-.-

Recovery Girl sweat drop when she saw Ino pull out a mirror from her person, wondering what the girl is planning. It all started to make sense when the teen reflected light into Nezu's eyes, causing the principal to go momentarily blind. This caused just enough of an opening for Ino to switch bodies with the principal, waving their hand in the air for Izuku to approach who is still holding onto Ino's body and the cuffs. The intercom announced their win when Ino, who is still possessing Nezu's body, cuffed themselves, announcing the end of their final exam with a win.

Ino Yamanaka and Izuku Midoriya Passed!

Recover Girl had to give it to them, the reason for this paring mainly had to do with clash of personalities. It was either partnering them up or switch Ino with Katsuki, this was the better choice considering that Katsuki needed to learn his own lesson with his own partner for the Exam.

"Next time, Izuku. You need to be more sure of yourself, stop doubting yourself. I know I still need to work on my own self-doubts but at least I know what I need to work on my own self."

"I-I'm sorry?"

"You need to be confident in yourself, otherwise one moment of hesitation will be your downfall. In the same time, you need to learn to take the lead like you did today even if you were terrified of speaking up, you still have a lot of work ahead of your before you turn Pro like All Might one day."

Recovery Girl listened into the conversation through radio, nodding along to Ino's words. This is exactly what Izuku needed to hear and learn.

-.-

Dressed in the U.A. gym tracksuit, Hitoshi wrapped around his capture weapon around his neck as he got prepared for the final exam. When it was announced on who he was partnered up with for the exam, he knew there was going to be trouble and he knew it was his fault. He doesn't even know how to approach Mashiaro about his past actions.

"Hey man, you ready?" Mashiaro slapped his hand on top of Hitoshi's shoulder, giving the other teen a grin.

Hitoshi could sense no hint of malice or annoyance. Of anything, the other guy is… being friendly. Giving Mashiaro his typical tired smile, Hitoshi replied. "Ready."

Oh no… he's making friends…

-.-

"Ahhhh!" Tenya yelled out as he tightly gripped onto Choji as the Akimichi grew to the size of a five-story building. "A warning would be much apricated next time!"

"Sorry! I knew we had to get to higher ground!" Choji replied, he looked down to see the area below by his ankles suddenly be filed with pink mist. "Midnight just released her quirk. It's similar to what Ino does…"

"Do you have an idea in mind?"

"Heh, you could say that…" Choji reached over and plucked Tenya off his shoulder, then proceeded to move towards their primary goal. "Hide in my sleeves and try not to breath in the poison mist."

-.-

Choji Akimichi and Tenya Iida Passed!

Shikamaru lifted his head up at the announcement of Choji passing the exam. Good. His friend got a good partner for the exam, he'll have to get a copy of the fight to analyze the fight. Looking at his own respective partner for this exam, who's currently glaring at him with an utmost vengeance. Unfortunately for Katsuki, Shikamaru had stared down monsters and watched as they perished right in front of his eyes. "You got the plan?"

"It's a fucking stupid plan."

"That's why it's going to work."

"Tsk… Whatever. Let's get this fucking over with, Dweeb."

"What a drag… whatever you say, Sparky Sparky Boom Pants."

"I will kill you!"

"You do that, Ino will have you strip in front of the entire school."

-.-

Izuku couldn't help but gulp down nervously as he watched Kacchan and Shikamaru through the screens to see them argue. Okay, it was severely one-sided and Shikamaru didn't even raise his voice to make his own point. It appears to be a very volatile partnership, perhaps just as volatile as his own with Kacchan…

However… Izuku took in Kacchan's body language, taking note at how Kacchan kept inching around Shikamaru. What is going on?

"No, no, no! That idiot!" Ino snarled, slamming her hands against the railings. Her attention entirely focused on the screens.

"Wh-what's wrong Ino?"

"I know that tactic anywhere! I created that tactic those two idiots are going to use!" Ino pointed at the screen to emphasize his point. Izuku looked back at the screen but he couldn't see what Ino is saying. It just looked like Kacchan and Shikamaru having a one-sided argument while All Might stood their awkwardly. His eyes suddenly widen when he saw how Shikamaru kept inching towards the shadows of the buildings surrounding them and how Kacchan's hands would occasional flare up through the use of his quirk.

"What is are they planning?"

"You know how InoShikaCho have a long history of working together. Our quirks are designed to use each member's abilities in the best way possible to complement the others. Usually done in flawless accuracy…" Ino gave a brief backstory to her family's history connected to InoShikaCho. "Look at it this way… we all are skilled at stalling opponents. Right now, Shikamaru is dealing with someone that doesn't fully trust him and putting your trust into someone that dangerous."

Ino growled under her breath when she saw Shikamaru began the second step of the plan. "He's going to sacrifice himself, baka!"

Izuku couldn't help but remember that night back in that alley. Shikamaru had fought in a way that put in at a greater risk than the others. Even going as far to demand the others to run away with Native, even going as far to put him in trouble to ensure they do not get the grunt of the attack.

Right now, Shikamaru is doing th-

Shikamaru Nara and Katsuki Bakugo Pass!

"Huh?" Izuku and Ino yelled out, as they attempted to figure out what just happened. "WHAT!"

-.-

All Might twitched, he can't believe he was just played. He walked into that trap, severely so. They were playing with him the entire time and… "Young Nara! Are you alright?"

"N-n-no… I-I think yo-you bro-broke a-a-a ri-rib is b-broken… T-two ribs…"

"Hah! I told you it was a fucking stupid idea!"

To be continued…

R/R!