"Hyah! Grah! Teeyaaahhhh!"

Ryuusuke was trading blows with Ryuko as the two Tatsumas were sparring in an open field outside their house. The former was focusing on increasing his agility and precision while the latter was forced on the defensive.

"Very good", Ryuko jumped back from a rather forceful leg sweep before raising her hand, urging Ryuusuke to stop. "But your technique is a little sloppy", she approached her brother. "Your sweep is effective but you apply too much force", she said. "Try swinging your leg with a little less force, let the air move with you as you strike, it gives you just enough stopping power to trip an opponent and doesn't cause you to recoil as much."

Taking his sister's advice, Ryuusuke went for another leg sweep, this time not using too much force. In that instance, his leg gracefully glided across the ground and settled back into a crouch position with smooth recovery. "Hey it works", he smiled, "Thanks"

*BEEP*

"Huh?", Ryuusuke looked down at his phone.

The class is gonna be training at the pool wanna come?- Deku

"It's Deku", Ryuusuke told his sister, "He wants to know if I'm coming to the pool for some training with the rest of the class".

"I'd say go for it", Ryuko stretched, "It wouldn't hurt for you to get in some extra training with your Quirk."

"Heh, alright.", he chuckled.

Let me grab my stuff before I leave. I'll meet you guys there- Ryuusuke Tatsuma

U.A. School Pool

"So this is the school pool huh?", Tatsuma looked on in awe, "It's a lot smaller than I thought".

Kaminari, Mineta and Midoriya suddenly barged in through the front doors, the latter having expressions akin to rabid dogs.

"There you are slowpokes", Iida announced.

"What the heck are you guys doing here?!", Mineta complained, staring at the group of boys.

"Since we're doing endurance training at the pool", Midoriya said, "I messaged everyone to see if they wanted to come with us."

"You did what?!", Kaminari groaned, "Now all of our plans are ruined."

"Don't lose hope yet", Mineta whispered in his ear, "There will definitely still be girls splashing around the water."

The two boys nodded in affirmation before turning to where the girls would most likely be located. Much to their disappointment, the girls all wore leotards that covered much of their body from the neck down to their thighs.

"Oh hey Mineta", Asui greeted.

"I didn't know you guys would be here.", Jiro said.

"I can't believe there's not a single bikini. Foiled again", Kaminari thought in defeat.

"You know school suits are pretty hot.", Mineta drooled.

"Have some standards dude."

"Kaminari. Mineta Nice work for suggesting more training", Iida approached the two horrified boys.

"Don't just sit there, time to come sweat with us.' he dragged the two with the group.

"THIS WASN'T THE PLAN!"

A couple hours passed as Class 1-A took the time in to build up their endurance or in the case of the girls of the group, have fun.

"All right let's take a 15 minute breather", Iida told the boys, "I brought these for everyone. Please, drink up", he handed the group a cooler full of orange flavored soda.

"Nice!", Sato grinned.

"Thanks alot class rep", Ojiro thanked the spectacled teen.

"Just what I needed", Sero exhaled in joy.

"How come the girls get to goof off?", Kaminari grumbled.

"They asked for permission to use the pool, don't you remember?", Mineta asked.

"Then how come you told Mr. Aizawa that we were using it for endurance training?!"

"Oh sure blame me! I didn't see you make any decisions!"

"Looks like you've been working out", Shoji stared at Ojiro, complimenting the tailed boy's physique.

"Yeah, I've been practically living at the gym"

"We must all stay focused", Tokoyami told the two.

"Ahhh", Tatsuma sighed as he floated in the middle of the pool, "This is just what my scales needed."

"Tatsuma!", Midoriya waved at the leviathan while Iida held up a can of soda, "Come over here. You look like you need a break."

Tatsuma complied, swimming over to the two boys before shifting back to normal. Iida handed him the soda and then took a massive gulp as the orange flavored soft drink flowed down his mouth.

"It's kind of funny", Tenya began. "I never would've imagined that after the Entrance Exams, that we would've gotten along. Much less become good friends."

"True", Ryuusuke shrugged. "I honestly thought you were petty while Deku was just some weird fan boy until I saw him take out that 0 pointer with little effort while trying to save Uraraka."

"I was so happy.", Izuku responded. "I never thought that I would attend All Might's alma mater despite my desire to become a hero. And then when Mr. Aizawa said the person in last place for the fitness test would be expelled, I was sure I'd be going home."

"You may have thought that, but you never gave up", Tenya argued. "Not during combat training either. You weren't perfect and your methods were reckless, but I could feel the tenacity and drive you brought to each test. I believe that's why me and Bakugo lost that training round against you."

"There's also the fact that when the villains attacked the U.S.J. your first and foremost concern was everyone else's safety at your own expense", Ryuusuke added. "Heck you even stood up against that Shigaraki creep to protect All Might even though you were about to die. I called you a moron when you pulled that stunt, but really I was a moron for letting my fear get the best of me."

"Thanks guys", Izuku told the two boys. "But I'm only here because so many have helped me get here. That's why I'll work harder from now on!"

"You'd better!", a voice said.

"Oh great...", Ryuusuke rolled his eyes.

"The next time I beat you", Katsuki growled as he approached Izuku. "I WANT YOU TO BE AT YOUR STRONGEST YOU DAMN NERD!"

"Eep, Kacchan!", he shrieked.

"Hey I got your message, sorry we're late", Eijiro slid in between the two boys, "Took a while to convince Bakugo to come out."

"So Deku, you wanna settle who's the best between us right now? Huh?", Katsuki sneered.

"No that's not it...", Midoriya raised his hands up defensively.

"Actually, you know what?", Iida began, "We could make this a training contest."

"You're kidding...", Tatsuma's jaw dropped, "Hello? Do you not know that my Quirk is like 10 times stronger in water? And you're ignoring me..."

"Hey everyone!", Iida announced, "I propose that we see which of the boys can swim 50 meters the fastest. A friendly race."

"Yeah!", Kaminari cheered.

"That sounds like fun.", Sero grinned.

"Let's do it", Sato agreed

"Iida", Yaoyorozu and the rest of the girls approached him. "Why don't you let us help you out with this?"

"Yes please."

"How about Quirks? Can we use them?", Ojiro asked.

"We're at school, so there shouldn't be a problem with that. However! You can't cause damage to the other swimmers"

"I'm gonna annihilate you Deku!", Bakugo glared at Midoriya before turning to Todoroki and Tatsuma. "And you too Icy Hot and Snake Eyes!"

"..."

"I'd like to see you try"

Race 1: Katsuki Bakugo vs Hanta Sero vs Denki Kaminari vs Eijiro Kirishima

"All right now everyone, on your marks!", Yaoyorozu started.

"Get set!"

And as soon as she blew the whistle, Bakugo jumped into the air before using his explosions to jettison himself across the pool.

"How was that, you sidekicks!", He arrogantly grinned.

"What do you think you're doing?", Sero complained.

"You didn't even touch the water!", Kirishima argued.

"It's called freestyle swimming!"

Race 2: Shoto Todoroki vs Hanta Sero vs Yuga Aoyama vs Eijiro Kirishima

"Everyone on your marks. Get set!"

As soon as the whistle blew, Aoyama blasted himself into the air with his Navel Laser as Sero used his tapes to fly himself across. However Aoyama started to suffer side effects of his Quirk before crashing into Sero as Todoroki bypassed the two sliding across the water, freezing it as he slid.

"You're supposed to be swimming!", Kaminari and Mineta yelled

Race 3: Ryuusuke Tatsuma vs Koji Koda vs Fumikage Tokoyami vs Shigen Obihiro

"On your marks. Get set!"

When the whistle blew, Tatsuma shifted into Leviathan form and sped through his lane with relative ease before jumping out of the water. As he landed, he shook himself off of any excess water in his system.

"I warned you", Tatsuma bellowed.

"Aw come on that's not even fair!", Kirishima yelled, "It was like your Quirk was made for this!"

Race 4: Izuku Midoriya vs Tenya Iida vs Mashirao Ojiro vs Mezo Shoji

"Last group on your marks. Get set!"

When the whistle blew, Midoriya, Ojiro and Shoji all jumped into the water while Iida slid on the cord separating the lanes with his Engines.

"You too Iida?", Kaminari asked.

Suddenly, Midoriya's body shined with a green glow as his swimming increased rapidly, gaining on Iida until the former overtook the latter and reached the edge of the pool by a mere sliver of hair.

"Nice one Midoriya", Sero cheered.

"Iida was so close", Ashido added.

"You beat me, good work", Iida congratulated Midoriya as the latter pulled him out of the water.

"You were amazing out there too Iida!", he countered.

"Midoriya...", Todoroki mumbled.

"Not bad...", Tatsuma held a thumbs up.

Both Iida and Midoriya turned to the two boys, their memories of previous encounters surfacing within.

Todoroki reminisced about his original desire to surpass Midoriya and Tatsuma without using his father's Quirk only for the former to inspire him into using his fire, stating that it was his own Quirk rather than his father's.

Iida remembered his thirst for revenge against the Hero Killer Stain after he injured his brother, only to be easily bested and considered a false hero. Even when the other three boys arrived to save him, he was frustrated as to why they were interfering with his revenge.

Tatsuma was reminded of his false desire to be a hero and how he sought to become one in order to prove his existence to those long dead. From seeing Midoriya in action, time and time again fighting even when all the odds were against him as well as Todoroki calling him out on the dark path he took, it opened his eyes to realize that he had no true motivation to become a hero. His encounter with Stain proved his lack of direction and so he began to find a new reason to become a hero.

Todoroki, Iida and Tatsuma were all inexplicably linked to one another, each experiencing each other's lowest points in their quest to become heroes.

And it was all thanks to Izuku Midoriya. The one who connected them all together with his unyielding spirit and ambition.

"Todoroki, I vow once more to become a hero like my older brother."

"I will become a hero, but the kind I want to be"

"I will become a hero that serves as the pillar of hope for society."

"I swear I'll become a hero. A great one like All Might."

A few minutes later...

"It's time for the final race", Tenya announced, "Bakugo. Todoroki. Tatsuma. Midoriya. As the winners of each heat, you'll fight for first place. Understand?"

"Got it"

"Yes."

"Hmph."

"Listen up, Scarface.", Katsuki turned to Shoto. "Don't you dare hold back like you did at the sports festival. Bring everything you got!"

"I will"

"You too Deku. Fight to win."

"Yeah! I will. I Promise."

"Am I clear Snake Eyes?!"

"What a pain...if you insist."

"Then the 50-meter freestyle final race will now begin!", Tenya announced.

The rest of Class 1-A cheered for the four boys.

"Blow em' away Bakugo!"

"Don't kill the other swimmers!"

"You've got this Todoroki!"

"You can do it Deku!"

"Crush them Tatsuma!"

"Do your best everyone!"

"Now on your marks", Tenya started.

"A single blast is all it'll take", small explosions erupted from Katsuki's hands.

"I'll slide past them", Shoto's right arm was engulfed in ice.

"I'll be number one by going full Leviathan", Ryuusuke's body slowly shifted into Leviathan form.

"I can win this with One for All", Izuku's body emitted a green glow.

"Get set!"

Just as the whistle blew, all four boys suddenly slipped and fell into the water.

"What happened?"

"Why aren't they using their Quirks?"

"It's 5 pm", a monotone voice said.

Aizawa approached Class 1-A, his eyes glowing red, signifying he erased the four boys' Quirks.

"Your authorized pool time is over. Hurry up and go home", he ordered.

"Come on just one second!"

"We were finally getting to the good part!"

"Are you questioning me?", Aizawa glared.

"Not at all Mr. Aizawa!", the class nervously said.

After School

"DAMMIT!", Bakugo snarled as he kicked a rock, "I can't believe he stopped the race like that."

"Yeah I know how you feel but cool your blasters man", Kirishima said, "Those three aren't just opponents, they're our friends."

"Shut up! I don't care if they're my classmates or not. I won't let them get ahead of me. Isn't that what it means to be number one? To be the best, I'll have to be stronger than All Might. It's only a matter of time."

Dagoba Municipal Beach Park

Midoriya overlooked the beach as All Might's words echoed into his mind. Soon enough he was approached by man with an unusually thin figure.

Psychiatric Ward

Todoroki approached a white haired woman who sat at the edge of her bed, looking out the window in deep contemplation.

"Mother"

Tatsuma Estate

"Well you're home early", Ryuko chuckled as her younger brother approached the front of the house.

"Today's training was exhausting...", he groaned, "But it was all worth it."

"That's good to hear. How about we have some dinner? I made us the stuff you like."

"Really? All right!"

Villain Hideout

Tomura Shigaraki held a phone closely to the side of his head, positioning his fingers carefully to avoid disintegrating it.

"There's something I like you to prepare for me.", he said."That's right."

A sinister smiled curved in his lips.

"We're about to start playing a brand new game."