Foresight: The Knowing Hero
Chapter Twenty-Three: Should have known!
After everything that happened in the first half of the semester, the second half of our first term at U.A. felt docile in comparison.
There were still sprained ankles and bruised egos during our hero training. But time seemed to breeze by, and it felt like many of our troubles were behind us.
My relationship with Shoto continued to grow as we spent more time together. He grew more open with both me and the rest of the class. In fact, it was Shoto who informed our peers about the change in our relationship on the day we returned from our hero internships.
Despite everyone still riding the high of adrenaline from our internships, our mornings classes slowly drained anyone of their residual enthusiasm. By the time hero training rolled around, the class had returned to its normal state.
All Might had organized for us to run rescue races, with our goal to save him. He changed the setting slightly for each group to keep it interesting. When Shoto, Yaoyorozu, Asui, Aoyama and Bakugo ran, they had to compete with the city slowly collapsing as they ran out of time. When I ran, All Might kept his location hidden and forced us to find him on our own.
For that scenario, I competed with Jiro, Tokoyami, Shoji and Koda. All reconnaissance experts. I had my work cut out for me, and I gracefully accepted defeat when Shoji won.
Jiro and I discussed our session on the way to the locker rooms. The area hadn't been cleared after the round before, and apparently she'd had difficulty finding All Might due to the residual creaking of metal and cracking of Shoto's ice. My excuse was that I had the sneaking suspicion All Might had been moving throughout to throw us off, and I'd had trouble locking on to him.
The other girls joined our conversation once we arrived at the locker room, discussing their own attempts and memorable moments. Hagakure was part way through explaining her decision to follow Kirishima secretly in their session when Jiro hissed at us to be quiet.
We all stopped, turning to look at her where she stood. She was hunched by the wall we shared with the boys locker room. Partially dressed, Jiro was listening for something. The rest of us - also in various states of dressing - tilted our heads in question.
"Kyoka-chan?"
Jiro inserted one of her earphone jacks into the wall. It was then that we noticed the distant sound of conversation coming through the wall.
"-definitely a criminal act!"
Was that Iida?
"My little Mineta is already a criminal act!" A voice shrieked. Uraraka and Hagakure gasped loudly. That was when I noticed the small hole their voices echoed through.
"Yaoyorozu's ample yaoyorozu-boobs! Ashido's slender waist! Hagakure's floating underwear!"
"Oh my god." I hissed, walking towards the wall to get a closer look. I kept clear of the hole's line of sight. The last thing I wanted was someone like Mineta peeping at me.
How long had that hole been there? I'd never noticed it before... Was this the first time he'd found the hole, or had he seen us before? My jaw clenched with anger.
Jiro's second earphone jack rose as she leaned in to the wall, thinking.
"Uraraka's fine uraraka-body! Himori's toned thighs and-!"
Two things occurred at the same moment. Jiro's second earphone jack shot through the hole like a bullet - I hoped it found its target of the peeping perv - and the wall shuddered as a loud noise erupted from next door.
"AHHHHHH!"
"Hey! That's cold!"
"I don't have enough clothes on for this, it's like a freezer in here!"
The girls room went silent as we listened.
"Todoroki-kun! Defrost him at once!"
"No."
"Jiro-san's earphone jack! With its brutal combination of precision and surprise attack abilities, it's super strong!"
"Oi, oi! It's way to cold in here! Hey, Bakugo! Defrost it!"
"Like hell I'm touching the pervert!"
"Not Mineta! Just my locker! I can't get my clothes and it's too cold-"
The voices continued, along with Mineta's shrieking. Silence prevailed in the women's locker room for a little longer, before a giggle burst past my throat.
Looks like we don't have to worry about Mineta anymore.
Uraraka laughed uncomfortably as well, while the others stared at the wall.
"Thanks, Kyoka-chan." Hagakure spoke up.
"How despicable. Let us close this up right away!" Yaoyorozu started and Ashido nodded aggressively, glaring at the wall.
"I don't think Mineta-kun will try again with Todoroki-kun and Kyoka-chan. But I don't want that hole there either way." Asui mentioned and I nodded.
Mineta's shrieks of pain continued well after we'd plugged the hole and changed into our uniforms. When we entered the hallway, Shoto was standing with Tokoyami and Shoji, inspecting his hand like nothing had happened.
"Thank you, Todoroki-kun!" Uraraka approached him, giving him a firm nod and Shoto looked up.
"Yeah. Don't mention it." He looked like he wasn't bothered as his attention turned to me for a moment. I smiled at him.
The class was suspiciously silent as we returned to our classroom. Aizawa, upon noticing Mineta's forming black eye and shivering, said nothing.
"Remember you have to submit your reflections on your internships by the end of the week. Don't hand them in late. That's all." He gave us a wave, retreating to his sleeping bag, and the class returned to chatter.
"Were you wanting to check out that store this afternoon? I hear they have new manga in stock."
"I haven't even started my reflection! I don't know what I'll write about, we didn't do anything!"
"Deku-kun! Iida-kun! The store at the station is doing half price mochi!"
"Oi Mirai, Todoroki sure is protective of you now. Not that I blame him, Mineta's a scumbag." I turned to find Sero and Kirishima approaching me with grins.
"Yeah, I would have done something but Jiro and Todoroki beat me to it!" Kirishima added and I smiled.
I glanced at Shoto, who was searching through his bag, apparently indifferent to the conversation. I wondered what he was doing before I noticed his internship reflection sat on his desk, already filled out. He seemed to be looking for a pen so he could finalize it.
"I'm sure you would have, Eijiro-kun. Either way, Mineta had it coming." I eyed the purple-haired boy, who was slouched over his desk still. Ojiro seemed to be tentatively, reluctantly, checking on him.
"Yeah, but still, he usually ignores Mineta, rather than doing anything. It's almost like somethings changed, huh, Todoroki-kun?" Sero continued to egg and I rolled my eyes.
"We're dating." Shoto spoke up calmly and the room stuttered into silence.
Oh my g-
"WHAT?"
"The next episode in the saga!"
"Wow, Mirai-chan! Why didn't you say?"
The class erupted all at once and I felt a sense of deja vu.
This time, it wasn't me who started it and I glanced at the culprit. Shoto had finally found his pen and was placing his bag back on the ground calmly. He looked around, noticing everyone's attention on us. He turned to me and shrugged.
What does it matter if we tell them? His face said, a clear distinction from the last time this happened in the classroom. My lips twisted into a smile, amused despite everything.
I shrugged at the class as well. "It just happened. We've been spending a lot of time together and..." I shrugged again, holding my hands out in an 'ehh, I don't know' gesture to show my inability to communicate. The whole thing was so fresh, I hadn't had time to consider how I felt about sharing it.
Hagakure and Ashido both squealed.
"How cute!"
"Wow, I'm happy for you Mirai-san, Todoroki-san." Yaoyorozu said from the other side of Shoto. She smiled at me and I couldn't help grinning.
Yeah, I'm pretty happy for myself too.
Shoto stood up at that point, making his way towards the teacher's desk with his reflection in hand. When he returned, he slowly shrugged his school jacket on and caught my eye. With a nod towards the door, I translated his silent communication as a request to leave.
Finishing up our - or my - conversations, we left the room, heading for the park like we did every week. I could hear the girls behind us still talking excitedly while the boys complained about their own lack of relationships. It was amusing and I smiled fondly.
I'm happy.
From then on, the class made several comments about our relationship. But generally it didn't come up at school, so it eventually faded.
Our interactions barely shifted while in the classroom, or at lunch. All that changed was Shoto became more open to conversation and generally happier. However, his growing friendship with Midoriya and Iida was also extending throughout the classroom. Shoto's shift in attitude had moved past just our relationship and to the rest of Class 1A.
Granted, he was still quiet, and more open with me than the others. But it was nice to watch. The only thing that was significantly different was we now spent multiple afternoons together.
Since the sports carnival, Shoto told me he'd been spending a lot of time visiting his mother. Since he now also spent extra time with me, I wondered how he had time to train. Then again, I'd made it work with my own schedule.
Generally, on our afternoons together we still stayed at the park, but sometimes we went elsewhere. Occasionally, our classmates would join us as well. It was nice to hangout in a setting where we let school be forgotten. Shoto remained mostly quiet around people, but he seemed content.
It was a few weeks later that class 1A finally faced our next dilemma in an unexpected form.
When I walked to school on a clear Wednesday, I was distracted by my thoughts. For the previous few weeks, I'd been having odd, vivid dreams. I knew they were dreams though, based on what they contained.
Class 1A walking along a beach at sunset with Aizawa. Standing on a platform of an electricity tower, watching Midoriya and Bakugo get along. A fantasy world, where Shoto was a prince and I was a Seer.
The most recent one, somehow felt the most odd. Class 1A, walking around as pale zombies in the forest. Aizawa watched on, indifferent.
I shook my head from the memories, smiling in amusement.
What an odd concept.
"Why are you smiling like that?" A voice spoke next to me. I turned and found Shoto walking beside me. I wasn't sure when he turned up, but it hardly mattered.
"I've been having odd dreams," I started vaguely. Noticing the slight tension on Shoto's face, I immediately continued. "They're not visions. They're too... weird. It makes no sense."
"You've said that about visions before, though." Shoto pointed out as we climbed the steps of the school and I hummed.
"Yeah I know. But unless you think Aizawa-sensei watching us roam around as zombies and not reacting is normal... I think we're safe."
Shoto raised his eyebrow at that, an amused smile pulled at the edge of his features. "Yeah, probably safe then."
Class continued as normal that day, although I tried to pay more attention than I usually did. I winced at the memory of receiving our midterm results back.
Academic study was still not my forte.
By the time our afternoon classes arrived, I wanted to fall asleep. Wednesday was international food day and Lunch Rush's Mexican Burrito Bar was well renowned as one of the best options. I was worried I'd slip into a food coma in the few minutes I sat down before class started.
"I'm stuffed!" Kirishima proclaimed loudly in the hallway on the way back to our room. I watched him rub his belly where he walked ahead of me and laughed.
"I hope we don't have to use our Quirks a lot in hero training. I might throw up." Uraraka commented, also looking sleepy and slightly nauseous.
"Why'd you eat so much then, Ochaco-chan?" Asui queried and Uraraka puffed out her cheeks.
"Because it was yummy! The pulled pork was..."
Their conversation continued as we made our way back to class. I only vaguely paid attention, busy wondering if my mother would be home from work early, or not.
Maybe I could just text her. Do I need to make dinner tonight? I don't want to think about food right now. Too full.
The sound of my classmates conversation died off as we arrived at the classroom. I turned my attention to them again, confused. Generally, our teacher's didn't care if we spoke with each other between classes. Just as long as we shut up once class began.
As I turned into the doorway, I found what had caught their attention and froze.
Oh shit, not again.
Midoriya - who hwas walking behind me - collided with my back when I stopped abruptly. I barely registered the force though.
"Ack! I'm so sorry, Himori-san. I... Himori-san?"
I hummed subconsciously in response to Midoriya. The four new faces in our classroom were drawing most of my focus.
Two boys and two girls stood crowded together near Aizawa. A girl with grey hair and an authoritative attitude was discussing something with the homeroom teacher. The second girl was cowering behind her nervously. Another boy also looked very nervous while the last person was scowling openly at the room.
"Oi, Mirai, you alright?" I turned and found Shoto had joined Midoriya. They both stood behind me, watching me. Shoto frowned at the look on my face, and peered over me into the classroom, searching for the cause.
The grey-haired boy cackled. Class 1A stumbled around, mindless zombies.
What the-!
I took Shoto's hand, all but yanking him out further into the hallway. He followed easily, although his face grew more confused. Midoriya seemed stuck for what to do, before he eventually decided to just leave it alone and entered the classroom.
"What's wrong?" Shoto asked. We stood on the other side of the hallway from the door and I glanced out the window, down into the courtyard.
Asui hugged one of the students as the sun set. Nearby, Iida and Yaoyorozu bid farewell to the rest of them.
"Do you remember that dream I had? About the class as zombies?"
By normal standards, Shoto barely reacted to the comment. But I watched as a single eyebrow rose and his eyes grew amused at the thought.
"Yeah."
I bit my lip. Screw it.
"It's them! Those students in the classroom, I saw them! I know I sound ridiculous, but they're going to turn us into zombies."
Shoto frowned. "How do you know they're the ones who do it?"
"Well I-..."
I don't...
I frowned, a frown that was almost a pout as I thought. Shoto watched me, before the amusement in his eyes spread to his face. His lips twitched upwards.
Does he not believe me? Looking at his face though, I could tell he was taking me seriously.
"I doubt Aizawa-sensei would allow us to compete against students with ill intentions. He also is likely aware of their Quirks already."
That was all true, I had to admit. "But that doesn't change what I saw..."
Shoto hummed and we were silent for a moment. My frown remained as I considered it. The dream hadn't scared me as much as I thought it might.
What if it was just a coincidence? Two separate visions - zombies and students from another school - in the same dream? I hadn't seen any clear indication that the two were completely involved... but...
"Why would I see it if it wasn't true? My visions have never been wrong like that..."
Shoto turned to look out the window as he contemplated it and I huffed as I thought. "Maybe your Quirk is adapting in different ways as you grow more control over it? Either way, I think it's fine. Aizawa-sensei and All Might would intervene if we were in danger."
That's assuming All Might can intervene.
I didn't say that out loud though. Instead I frowned, staring in the general vicinity of Shoto's chest."I still feel like I should say something though."
Shoto shrugged. "If you want. This might be a part of their plan though, like what occurred when we first returned to USJ after the League of Villains attack. "
Despite myself, I huffed a laugh at the reminder. I'd forgotten about All Might's ill-fated plan to get 1A to work together. I hadn't been involved with the fight against him - playing the role of victim - but it had been interesting to watch.
This felt different though.
"That didn't go well last time, remember. I doubt they'd try and do it again..."
Shoto hummed as he considered it. He didn't seem overly bothered anyway.
"I just told you our class is going to be turned into zombies, and you don't care."
Shoto shrugged, watching me. "If this was a life or death situation, you would be a lot more stressed or insistent. Even if what you saw was true, we should be fine."
I stayed silent as I considered it, staring at my hands.
"I guess that's true..." I huffed. "Alright, we'll just wait and see for now. But if this goes wrong now, I'm blaming you."
Shoto's eyebrows raised at that. His eyes grew amused again and I looked away, feeling slightly ridiculous myself.
"Alright. But can't you just check? That way you don't need to worry."
I bit my lip, thinking it over. I hadn't used my Quirk at school for anything outside hero training in weeks. But there was no reason for me to not just see what was happening in this afternoon's session.
I closed my eyes, searching forward.
Asui hugged one of the students. Bakugo and another student butted heads against each other with vicious grins. Midoriya bounced from tree to tree at me and I dodged. Bakugo stood over the squirming bodies of Kaminari, Jiro, Aoyama and Mineta, who were clearly defeated. Bakugo and the grey haired boy-
A throat nervously cleared and I pulled myself out of my visions. Shoto and I both turned to find Midoriya in the doorway, looking anxious.
"Uhh... Um... Ai-Aizawa-sensei asked me to tell you your t-teenage hormones can wait! I'm sorry!"
Midoriya ducked back into the classroom and I vaguely heard the sound of several classmates laughing.
I flushed as all thoughts of the afternoons training vanished before glancing at Shoto. He seemed confused, staring after Midoriya with a frown on his face. The class continued to laugh and I wished my face would cool down as Shoto turned back to look at me.
We weren't doing anything!
"Yeah, we should go." I said abruptly. Maybe if we get in there now, no one can say anything more embarrassing.
Our conversation had lasted longer than I expected. Technically we still had a minute before class started, but that hardly mattered.
Shoto hummed and walked into the room. I paused, hoping my face had returned to normal before entering myself.
It wasn't like anything was happening. We were just talking.
I glanced at the new students again. Two weren't paying attention - too preoccupied with their own nervousness - while the two grey haired students watched us enter. The boy was scowling and I watched him for a moment more.
He doesn't seem evil... he just looks like someone with an attitude like Bakugo.
I glanced at Aizawa and gave him a nod of apology which he ignored. He still looked like he hardly cared, although I felt that he'd noticed my lingering glance at the visiting students. He began speaking before Shoto and I sat down.
"It's a little sudden, but for our next hero exercise, four hero-class students from Isami High School will be joining us as special guests."
I felt everyone's eye's turn to me when he mentioned the suddenness of it but I ignored it. Maybe if I'd checked at lunch time, I could have told everyone what was happening. But it hardly mattered.
Class was boring if I knew what we were doing every time.
From the visions I'd seen in the hallway, I didn't see any zombies, which was all I cared about. Relief rose in me but I moved on as the class grew excited about training.
"Oooh! I wonder what Quirks they have?" Uraraka pondered beside me. Kaminari tried to get one of the girls numbers, only for Jiro to shock him with her earphone jack.
The rowdy nature of the classroom immediately had Aizawa irritated and he activated his Quirk, glaring at us frostily. I watched as Kaminari slowly shank back into his chair and Jiro's earphone jack went limp. Even Mineta's excitement of new girls died down.
"Introduce yourselves." Aizawa instructed the new students. The grey-haired girl, who I now assumed was in charge, nodded as she turned to us.
"O-of course. We'll be running the exercise with you today. Isami High School, Hero Class. I'm Sekigai Kashiko."
She smiled nervously and everyone reacted again.
I didn't understand why the boys were so fascinated with two temporary girls visiting. I glanced at the two boys and felt nothing. Maybe it was just a male thing...
I looked at Shoto beside me. He had his head resting on his hand, staring forwards with a bored look. He barely seemed to have noticed the girl at the front. He must have seen me move out of the corner of his eye because Shoto turned to me, raising an eyebrow in question.
I smiled. Nope, not just a male thing.
"Same class, I'm Tadan Dadan. Pleasure to meet you." The nervous boy introduced himself.
The grey-haired boy scowled at the room. "I'm Fujimi."
"We're supposed to have one more..." Aizawa started, obviously hinting for the last student to introduce themselves. The nervous girl who had hidden behind the other girl - Sekigai - eventually popped her head out of hiding.
A croaky gasp resounded through the room and I turned in the direction of it. All I saw was an empty desk though as Asui had rushed to the front of the room and was hugging the final student.
"Tsuyu-chan!"
"Habuko-chan!"
The girls hugged in pure joy as the class watched on in confusion. Well, there goes one part of my vision. I smiled at Asui's clear joy.
"Tsuyu-chan's friend?" Uraraka questioned and I shrugged. It definitely seemed that way.
"Mongoose!" The grey-haired boy - Fujimi, I recalled - scolded. "Don't get all friendly with these U.A. guys!"
"What did you just say you Isami-shit baby!" Bakugo shouted, standing from his seat. I jumped at the sudden noise and the class watched as Midoriya tried to calm him down.
"Stop it, Kacchan."
"Shut up Shit Nerd!"
"Why don't you shut up first." Aizawa started flatly, staring at Bakugo. Tokoyami and I both snorted. I saw Sero trying to hold in laughter as Bakugo clenched his jaw quiet. "Alright, introduce yourselves in seat order."
The class slowly introduced themselves and I noticed Bakugo and Fujimi continued to glare at each other. Asui was also clearly anxious for introductions to be done so that she could talk to her friend.
"It's time to go." Aizawa said after we'd finally finished introductions. "Change into your costumes and make your way to Ground Omega. Iida, guide the Isami students."
I - and most of class 1A - watched silently as Asui jumped up to rejoin her friend, taking her hands. Bakugo and Fujimi now stood face to face in some kind of stand off.
I doubt they're going to need the guide to Ground Omega if this continues.
I glanced at Shoto, who shrugged. I wasn't sure why Bakugo was so riled up by this student. Maybe they were too similar and it grated on him.
"He seems annoying. But not dangerous." Shoto said and I nodded in agreement.
Maybe my Quirk was just growing... providing me with multiple visions in the one dream.
That doesn't seem like an improvement. What a way to make it difficult for me.
With that said, we all left for the locker rooms. Asui and Mongoose continued to reunite happily. Apparently they were friends from middle school, which made me smile. I hadn't retained my own friendships from middle school, it was nice to see that Asui had.
Although there didn't seem to be much actual catching up. The two girls stood there, holding hands and staring at each other. I shook my head slightly in confusion and turned away to resume putting my utility belt on.
It didn't take us long to make our way out to Ground Omega. On our trek to the outskirts of the school, Kirishima informed me that Bakugo and Fujimi had almost gotten in a fight in the change rooms and I shook my head in confusion.
Why is Bakugo so riled up?
"Alright, is everyone here?" Aizawa asked when we all finally stood in front of the gate to Ground Omega.
The huge forest training area was great for some, less great for others. I had no particular issue with it, but a lot of the 'obstacles' were things I couldn't deal with. Sero and Bakugo might have no issue crossing a canyon, I was not the same.
"Today's hero exercise will be observed by me and one more person."
"I have-!" A voice shouted from above us and I looked up. A shadow blocking the sun was approaching us fast. What is he doing?
The ground shook as the shadow landed in front of us. All Might.
"Like a special guest...! Arrived!"
The Isami High School students reacted in awe to the arrival of All Might. I noticed Bakugo with a vicious grin on his face that looked smug. He was staring at Fujimi in challenge.
When I looked at Fujimi though, I noticed he was completely oblivious. He gazed at All Might in just as much awe as the rest of the Isami students. That small fear that I hadn't been able to let go of released as I observed how he watched the number one hero.
It was clear he was a huge All Might fan.
"So! About our little exercise... We're going to have you all go through some Survival training!"
Shoto, who stood near Bakugo, turned to glance at me. Realizing I hadn't told him what I saw when I looked forward outside the classroom, I shook my head at him. A silent 'no, he doesn't mean zombie survival'. He nodded, turning forward again and Sero glanced at me curiously.
"Let me explain!" All Might continued. He brought up a projector on the outside of Ground Omega's wall and I took a moment to marvel at the technology.
Plus ultra, no holds barred.
"With four students per team, and six teams overall, you will start at the predetermined positions that we have chosen! There is but one objective! To survive! To run or to fight, anything goes! Victory will go to the last surviving team!"
"If you run into another team and manage to bind your opponents with this Capture Tape, you can make them combat ineffective. This should be a familiar item." Aizawa input, holding up the tape we'd used in countless training exercises now.
"Now! Let us announce the teams!"
All Might struck a pose, grinning widely at us before pointing his remote at the screen. Our teams immediately popped up and I glanced at it.
Iida Tenya.
Sero Hanta.
Himori Mirai.
Tokoyami Fumikage.
I turned to Sero and Iida standing near me and grinned. Sero grinned back and Iida nodded solemnly.
"All teams, move to your start areas. The exercise will begin without warning in five minutes."
I returned to staring at the screen, which indicated which teams were supposed to start where. Our starting point was deep in the forest, not far from the cliffs. I was glad to note it was in an area that wasn't going to be difficult for me to move in.
"Make sure you survive!" All Might called out and we gave our agreement, moving into our teams. Tokoyami joined us and I smiled at him before we headed off.
I felt eyes on me as we jogged towards our starting point and turned to find Shoto and his team running nearby. I gave him a nod and a smile, distracted by planning. His eyes watched me for a second, before he nodded in turn and veered off towards his own starting location.
What was that look about? Oh, probably the zombie dreams...
I resisted the temptation to smile at it. Now that I was out in the field - adrenaline beginning to pump - the idea seemed ridiculous. My normal mindset for training kicked in and instead I was focused on planning.
Planning...
Planning?
'There is but one objective! To survive!'
What are we supposed to do?
"I don't understand the point of this. 'Just survive.' So what, we just sit here for the next few hours contemplating life?"
I slowed to a walk as we approached our starting point and the others followed suit.
"Ahh, but you're forgetting one thing, Mirai-chan." Sero popped up beside me, a huge grin on his face as he pulled his helmet off. He tucked it under his arm and waved a finger at me. "Bakugo."
"Ahh."
Yeah, this won't stay boring for long. Bakugo isn't going to spend this training session counting flowers.
"It's true. Bakugo is unlikely to wait around. His teams starting point is on the other side of the mountain. We should be ready for him the moment the round starts."
"Tokoyami-kun, Himori-kun. Please keep an eye out for Bakugo-kun so we can be prepared!"
I nodded. "So what's the plan then? If we're waiting for Bakugo we need a way to defeat him."
"Well, the longer he goes, the stronger he gets right?" Sero asked as we arrived at a clearing. "So if we want to stand any chance, we need to get him before he's too warmed up."
"Who's on his team?" I asked, trying to recall. Bakugo was tough already, if he merged well with his teammates though...
"Yaoyorozu-kun, Kirishima-kun and Shoji-kun." Iida listed.
Well, shit.
Sero whistled. "Well, I don't like our chances of finding a weak link..."
"Maybe if they're divided already... Bakugo is unlikely to work well with his team. He may even separate from them." Tokoyami stared up at the cliff-face nearby. On the other side of that mountain stood Bakugo's team, along with Shoto's and Midoriya's.
We stopped walking and Sero perched himself on a rock. I took the moment to search forward and see if I could find anything.
From previous experiences I knew that Bakugo would be difficult to track. I almost laughed though when I saw the visions pop up.
"I can't do maths well... but I know the likelihood of Bakugo staying with his team and not heading ahead is close to zero percent."
"Ha! So we wait?"
"What makes you think he'll come here, Sero-kun?"
"He might go after Todoroki or Midoriya's group's first."
"Yeah, but you guys saw him in the locker room with that Isami student." Sero grinned. "He's definitely after him."
"If he's going after him, he'll have to get by us first."
"Kaminari's team is on the mountain. They'll face him first and we'll hear him coming."
"Then we need to be ready."
"Everyone! While we need to watch for Bakugo-kun, we must also be wary of the other teams."
I frowned as I thought. "Denki-kun's team is focusing on Bakugo. The Isami students are also waiting to see what we do. They want more data before they engage. The others are too far away."
We were silent for a moment before Sero checked his watch. He stood up. "We have less than a minute until start. What's the plan?"
"Could we rig a trap? Himori can identify when and where he's coming from. Dark Shadow can lure Bakugo in. Sero can capture him and Iida can do the leg work."
"Works for me," I gave Tokoyami a nod.
"Yeah. But any trap in this clearing, he'll see it a mile away. We need denser forest."
"There's a thicker section of foliage over there, Sero-kun." Iida gestured in the direction and we all nodded.
"Good. We need to hurry then."
The sound of explosions and shrieks were the only sign so far of the round having started.
It had been thirty seconds.
Iida looked grim as we watched smoke rise through the thick canopy above us. Sero's trap lay behind us and the man himself was perched in a tree above it, finishing it off. Tokoyami stood nearby, waiting to send Dark Shadow out once we had an idea. I crouched on the ground concentrating.
"Denki-kun's team is down."
"Whoa! So fast!"
"Bakugo must be eager to take down that Isami student."
"He's tied them up... kinda. He'll be here in a few minutes. The others are too far behind at the moment."
"So, we take Bakugo-kun out and then take on the others?"
"Shoji will hear us fight Bakugo and they'll be prepared for us."
"Yeah, but right now we need to defeat Bakugo." If we can, I thought to myself. Bakugo really was on his game today. "Stay alert. Coming from the north-east in a minute."
"Alright. Do we all know the plan?" Iida asked and Tokoyami and I nodded. Sero gave a lazy salute from his position in the trees, before he leapt down next to us. Iida walked further into the trees as Sero made his way behind his man-made spiderweb.
We all knew the plan. Tokoyami would bring Bakugo in with Dark Shadow. Bakugo would likely weaken Dark Shadow, but it was a price we'd have to pay to bring him in. The narrow path of shrubbery lead directly to the capture tape trap. I would (hopefully) distract Bakugo for Iida to attack. Iida's attack would leave him unbalanced and unprepared for Sero to launch tape through the trap and yank him back into it.
Tokoyami and I would need to act quickly with the capture tape to stop Bakugo. The plan was risky, with a lot of room for error. But it worked.
On my signal, Tokoyami released Dark Shadow, who swept forward through the forest and roared. The sound of Bakugo's rapidly approaching footsteps followed and I braced myself for his appearance.
An explosion was the first we saw of the blond boy.
"Didn't I say-". A bright flash lit the forest as Dark Shadow cringed and fell back towards us. Bakugo followed him, small explosions occurring in his hands the whole way. "-that you're nothing to me!?"
Tokoyami shrank away as Dark Shadow cowered. The boy grinned at us and I ignored it, running at him.
After training and the previous sports festival, I knew using my visions when fighting Bakugo was a bad decision. But I still distracted myself taking note of them.
I dove under Bakugo's swing at me and barely rolled out of the way. He used an explosion to turn himself quickly and launch at me again. I dodged again, aiming a kick at him. Bakugo caught my leg in his hand, twisting it and yanking me off balance. I stumbled to right myself, backing away from him.
But I wasn't backing up in the right direction. We were heading further into the dense forest, not towards the net. Iida can't move well with the trees this thick.
I tried to shift away, back in the direction I wanted, but Bakugo blocked my movement, grinning. Shit.
It could still work, he's distracted.
"Iida-kun!"
Iida charged out from the bushes nearby. He launched himself towards Bakugo with a shout.
But the area was too narrow. He couldn't get enough speed and Bakugo ducked easily under Iida. As Iida passed over him, Bakugo grabbed his leg, using Iida's own speed to throw him into a tree.
"Dammit!" Iida cried out before he crashed into the trunk.
"Oh shit! Iida!" Sero called out.
I ran at Bakugo again, hoping to take his legs out. Dark Shadow overtook me though. He roared at Bakugo's distraction, cutting my view of him off.
"Dammit. Dark Shadow, right!" Tokoyami called out.
I skidded to a halt, just in time for Bakugo to send another explosion at Dark Shadow. Dark Shadow took the brunt of it but I grunted as I was thrown backwards by the force.
A hand grabbed my arm and I was wrenched upwards. For a moment I thought it was one of my teammates, before I realised Bakugo stood over me with a vicious grin. He threw me to the side, and I stumbled, trying to catch my balance before something sticky enveloped me.
Sero's tape trap.
Shit.
"Ack, Mirai!" Sero shouted out. He was halfway around the tape barrier at this point, having moved when the plan started going awry.
The black-haired boy shot tape at Bakugo, hoping to catch him and pull him off balance. Bakugo caught the tape though, swinging Sero around.
I'd almost untangled myself from the tape when Sero crashed into me, creating a twisted mess and we both cursed.
It was over.
Tokoyami was helpless against Bakugo without Dark Shadow, and Iida was looking dazed from his collision with the tree.
In moments we were all caught.
Bakugo tossed Iida and Tokoyami on top of Sero and me, as the trap pulled shut. The ground dangled a meter in front of my face and I grunted from the pressure of Iida's weight above me. I was pretty sure my utility belt was digging painfully into Sero's thigh next to me, and his own elbow sat inches from my face. He struggled against the tape and I narrowly avoided a black eye.
Bakugo laughed, dusting off his hands as he examined us, before turning away. Embarrassment burned within me, and I knew the others felt the same.
Four against one, and we still lost.
Sero grumbled what sounded like a colourful description of Bakugo next to me. Thankfully, the explosive boy didn't hear as the sound of rapid footsteps grew closer. I kept my eyes downwards, too humiliated to look at the approaching team.
"Bakugo-san! You're advancing too quickly!" Yaoyorozu called out as the team approached the clearing.
Advancing too quickly, indeed. Stupid prodigy.
"Where's the enemy?" Kirishima called out, before he noticed us behind Bakugo. The team skidded to a halt.
"I'm already done." Bakugo stated, gesturing to us.
"How shameful." I heard Tokoyami announce quietly from somewhere above my head. I grimaced.
Yeah.
"He defeated eight people alone?" Yaoyorozu questioned in disbelief.
"You're too good as an ally!" Kirishima shouted.
"Where's the Isamishits?" Bakugo replied, ignoring their responses.
"What?"
"I'm talking about the Isami students!" Bakugo stalked away from us and the team glanced at us.
"Are you okay, Mirai-san?" Yaoyorozu questioned, noticing my precarious spot at the bottom of the pile.
"Yeah... I'm alright." I told her with a pained smile. It was difficult to breathe with the weight on top of me but I'd be fine. The weight of the loss felt heavier.
Yaoyorozu nodded, looking concerned before she followed her team. Kirishima sent us an apologetic look and a thumbs up before he left as well.
We listened to their voices fade as they discussed finding the Isami students. Eventually the noise disappeared and we were left in silence.
"Well... that sucked."
"Yeah..."
"I'm sorry everyone! I slipped when I tried to take Bakugo-kun out and it cost us time while Himori-kun distracted him."
"Don't worry, Iida. Bakugo was in peak form today. All we were supposed to do was survive out here and he made it another battle challenge."
We were silent for a moment. I grunted, trying to shift from the weight of Iida's knee-pad on top of my back. I was definitely going to have bruises tomorrow.
"Technically, we are still alive." I pointed out optimistically.
Nobody responded.
We settled into silence again. What else could we say? We lost.
A whistling sound pulled me from my thoughts. I frowned. What is that?
"Do you guys hear that?"
"What is it?"
Iida shifted above me, hoping to glance up through the trees above and I grit my teeth against the movement.
"I can't see anything."
A series of loud explosions answered our questions as the ground shook slightly. Smoke slowly filtered across form the direction Bakugo and his team had moved.
"Explosions. Was that Bakugo?!"
"No... It sounded too wide spread. Even Bakugo can't move that fast." Tokoyami responded slowly. "Perhaps one of the Isami students Quirks."
"Man, I hope they don't come back this way. Oi, Mirai, can you check?"
I hummed in response, already trying to figure out what was occurring. It was difficult though. I wasn't exactly able to move from my current position, so I couldn't see what was occurring with the two teams. All I could answer was if they were going to head this way.
"I can't see what's going on. But I don't think we'll be caught in the middle..."
I trailed off as I focused, shifting through the visions. The team was silent as I thought and I tried to shift my leg from where it was jammed up against Tokoyami's.
I can feel a leg cramp coming.
The visions started shifting and I assumed Bakugo's team and the Isami students were battling.
Asui's friend ran by, Bakugo in pursuit. Smoke filled the air from more explosions. Bakugo's team walked by, discussing finding Midoriya and Todoroki's teams. Pink smoke filled the air - different from before - Sero inhaled next to me and-.
No. Uh, oh. No, no, no.
I felt the visions shift, the pink smoke becoming more consistent. It was like watching a seedling sprout into an oak tree as the future grew more certain.
"Shit! We should get out of here!"
"Wait what? Why?"
"Zombie smoke!"
"WHAT?!"
"I know it sounds ridiculous, but zombie smoke! One of the Isami students, I think their Quirk turns you into a zombie! I saw them producing the smoke in a dream and we were zombies."
There was silence for a moment.
"Why didn't you say something?!"
"I was going to! But then I wasn't sure if what I'd seen was right... Aizawa didn't care in my vision and Shoto pointed out the teachers wouldn't put us at risk!"
"Of course Todoroki wouldn't be worried though, he'd get out before the smoke reached him!"
"U.A.'s teachers aren't always in control of the situations we end up in." Tokoyami mentioned and I ignored it.
"The visions didn't scare me though! Usually I can feel the emotions in my dreams. It'll be fine. We'll get out of here, and even if we don't, we won't stay zombies. I know it."
"I don't care if it'll be fine, Mirai! I don't want to be a zombie!" Sero argued.
Yeah, that's a good point.
I didn't want to be a zombie either.
Damn it Shoto, why did I just let your calmness convince me it would be fine.
Stupid feelings.
Tokoyami seemed to be thinking. Iida was freaking out.
"Keep calm everyone! Just stay calm!"
"I am calm, Iida. Shut up."
"I'm not calm!" Sero objected. He wrenched his elbow away from me, hitting my temple in the process. His goal was achieved though as it was pointed out of the net. "We're getting out of here."
Sero shot tape out of his elbow and it hit a tree. I wasn't sure how strong it's attachment was but at the moment it was better than nothing. Sero yanked his elbow back and I ducked away.
The net jostled slightly as the tape caught and pulled. Sero repeated the motion, rocking us.
Above us, Tokoyami had settled on a plan, twisting his leg around in the hopes of getting it out and kicking the net tape lose. Iida moved above me to do the same, before his armor dug in to my back and I cried out in pain.
"Dammit, sorry!"
"It's fine. Just get us out of here."
I could barely move in my position... only enough to keep my head out of range of Sero's motions. My mind raced as I thought.
I was right, I knew I was right that everything would be fine. Even while we faced this dilemma, I knew if I searched forward, I could see myself having dinner tonight.
The state I was in during that dinner varied though...
Shit. I don't want to be a zombie.
The net continued to rock and I heard the tree above us creak. Tokoyami apparently managed to get his leg free, but it did nothing to help us.
What can I do... I can't move. I can't help. All I can do is offer suggestions. My visions told me it was decided. The gas cloud was approaching us.
If only I was carrying something that could help...
My visor!
I'd added a collapsible gas mask that extended from the bottom of my visor last time we could update our costumes. If I could extend the mask, I'd - hopefully - be safe from the smoke.
Iida's elbow jabbing my ribs made me realize how pointless that was. It could only save me, and even then, it wouldn't work.
Smoke surrounded us. Sero, Tokoyami and Iida gasped in breaths. Their skin paled. Sero bit me on my forearm. My mind faded.
"Mirai..." Shoto gasped, staring at... me. He took a step towards me. I lunged at him and he jumped back, still gaping at me in shock. "Mirai!"
Uraraka and Ashido screamed.
Iida's bruising weight shifting above me broke me from my thoughts. Shit. Our struggles to get out renewed as the forest near us grew cloudy.
The net rocked further from Sero's efforts to swing and break the net. I heard a ripping sound before my stomach dropped out and we crashed to the ground.
I groaned, receiving a face full of dirt. Sero was much the same next to me, cursing up a storm.
But we were still stuck. The sticky tape net had detached from the tree, but we were still enclosed in it from all sides.
Iida shouted in despair, telling us to not breath in and I ignored him, glancing out into the forest. The ominous pink cloud crept forward, tendrils reaching for us.
In the last few moments, it felt like the smoke rushed forward, engulfing us.
Damn it. This is definitely Shoto's fault. I'm going to kill him.
The smoke tasted sickly sweet as I inhaled it. I heard Iida and Tokoyami coughing above me while Sero groaned in frustration.
It felt like my brain was solidifying. Like everything circulating through it was slowing, coming to a halt. The ability to think faded.
Everything went white.
Fog.
Darkness.
Nothing but white.
A colour. A shade of green. Red and white, clashing together.
Blackness. Whiteness. A milky gray.
A milky gray that faded, cleared, like condensation on a screen disappearing.
Colours emerged, blurry. Shapes formed. Muffled sound began to clear, like a radio being tuned.
Everything snapped into focus.
Wait, what?
I glanced around me, noticing my classmates. Kirishima stood beside me, looking confused. Bakugo stood in front of me, before he turned, looking around.
"Oi! You!" He shouted, glaring at the Isami student - Fujimi. Bakugo ran at him and Fujimi swore, cowering.
Ice crackled and I turned back around, surveying my surroundings further. We were on a cliff-face, next to a cave that was completely blocked in by ice.
My mind raced, trying to piece the puzzle together.
I don't know how I got here. But I was a zombie. And now I'm not. Were we all zombies? Why is the cave entrance covered in Shoto's ice?
I crept closer to the ice wall, placing a hand against it. It had holes from where people had punched into it, but the ice was melting rapidly. Over Bakugo's shouts and explosions behind me, I could hear voices coming from within.
I realized what was going on.
"Shit, look out!"
Taking a step back, I turned to run from the cave entrance. Too late. With a huge explosion, the ice cracked, shards shooting out as a shock wave threw us all into the air.
People screamed as the wind rushed in my ears and I climbed higher.
Uh oh. Uh oh, uh oh.
The tumbling in my stomach shifted, and suddenly I wasn't going up anymore, I was falling.
Over the cliff-face.
It was a long way to the bottom.
I screamed, my voice drowned out by the wind rushing in my ears and the screams of my peers.
"What's going on?!" Iida yelled.
"I'm sorry!" Midoriya shouted.
"What is happening?"
"Ahhhhh!"
"Mirai!"
The ground rushed up towards us rapidly as my peers fell around me. Kirishima hardened his skin where he fell near me. He tried to reach for me, but he was too far away.
Over my own screaming and pounding heart, I heard a cracking sound. Blue-white filled the corner of my vision and suddenly there were arms around me as I was roughly caught mid-air.
Shoto.
My shoulder collided with his chest as he grabbed me, yanking me into his arms roughly. Ice continued to crack and build as we slid across it. My hair whipped around my face and I screamed again, clutching at Shoto as my movement abruptly changed directions.
What is going on?
The movement settled and I finally gathered my bearings. Shoto was rapidly sliding across his ice that continued to form in front of us. We curved around, spiraling dizzyingly fast, before rocketing towards the forest floor.
Dust clouds formed where my classmates hit the ground. I winced as Shoto's ramp of ice slowed to a stop and he stepped off like nothing had happened.
Groans surrounded us as my classmates shifted, surveying their injuries. I lifted my head from where I'd tucked it against Shoto's neck, glancing around. Our eyes met and he scanned me for injuries, arms still holding me to him.
My heart pounded from the fall as I slowly stepped back, mind still racing.
I was fine, and glancing at my classmates I could see they were okay, if a bit worse for wear. Jiro appeared to be clutching an injured arm while Kirishima hovered over her in concern. Ojiro had a large cut on his head and Kaminari was slowly returning from his short-circuited phase, intelligence springing back into his eyes.
Everyone appeared to have scrapes and bruises. Except me, luckily.
"What happened?" I asked Shoto and he frowned. "I mean... I know what happened, but how long? What did we do?"
Shoto finally looked away from me, turning to look at our classmates. "The annoying one - Fujimi. His Quirk turned you into zombies. You chased us around, trying to bite us for half an hour. The Quirk gave you guys super strength, because we couldn't trap you or hold you back. I-we didn't know how long it would last, so Midoriya didn't realize escaping from the cave would hurt you."
I hummed, processing everything. "I don't remember anything. Just vague flashes of colour..."
Shoto paused, considering something. "You tried to attack me. Asui's friend recognised her... I figured you were mad at me."
Despite myself, I laughed. It only lasted a moment, before I noticed Yaoroyozu bandaging Hagakure's invisible arm as the girl whimpered. My smile faded and my thoughts sobered.
"I'm sorry. I think I was mad. I told myself it was your fault that this happened because I didn't say anything... Because you weren't worried so why should I be. But it's not your place to tell me what to do. I should have made that decision myself."
I frowned, staring at my classmates in silence as guilt rose. Shoto stared at me.
Was this my fault? I wasn't the one who used the Quirk, and people got injured in hero training all the time. It wasn't my responsibility to protect my classmates from everything.
But I still could have prevented it.
Sero groaning roused me from my thoughts. "Man, this sucks! I think I injured my elbow trying to slow down." He glanced over at me. "Oi, Mirai, you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." I told him with a small smile.
"Mirai-chan, you don't look injured at all." Asui spoke up and I glanced at where she sat next to her friend - Mongoose. "How did you land safely?"
"Oh, Todoroki caught her!" Kirishima interjected, gesturing with his arm how Shoto swooped in. "I watched him grab her. Nice job, man!"
"What?! Where was my help?" Kaminari interjected. He seemed to have returned to mostly full functioning, rubbing at his wrist. "I could have used a softer landing, my back hurts, I feel like my old man!"
"Ah," Shoto paused, for the first time contemplating whether he would have been able to catch everyone - or at least, more than just me. "Sorry."
Kaminari waved him off, not appearing that bothered. The arrival of Aizawa derailed any further conversation.
"Sensei!"
"You took your time, what the hell!"
"Aizawa-sensei! Jiro-kun and Ojiro-kun require medical attention. I'm unsure about those who remain on top of the cliff."
"Yes, don't worry, Midoriya and Fujimi are already on their way to the nurse's office. All Might is attending to those up there."
Aizawa surveyed the class. Overall, everyone was fine, but it was clear that there were more than a few injuries after today's lesson.
"Everyone - I mean all of you - report to Recovery Girl. Those of you who can walk, take yourselves there and help your classmates. People who have any severe injuries, inform me immediately. Get going."
Aizawa approached where Ojiro stood. Shoji was next to him, pressing a bandage Yaoyorozu had given him to the cut on his head. I glanced at Shoto who met my eyes evenly, before we turned and made our way back to the school.
The recovery process was long that afternoon. Aizawa decided that we all were to receive treatment from Recovery Girl unless she assessed we didn't need any. Since I was hardly injured, I was one of the last people Recovery Girl checked in on.
When I returned to the classroom long after the day had ended, I found most of my classmates still there. Apparently everyone had decided to hang around and make sure no one was too hurt. I smiled at how much my peers cared about me, and I, them.
I'd barely been sitting at my own desk for a few minutes when I noticed a small crowd forming around Sero's desk. Giggles and comments were being made and, curious, I stood up and approached. Ashido and Kirishima shifted to make room for me, both grinning sharply in amusement as they looked at me and I frowned.
What's going on?
I found my answer on the paper on Sero's desk.
Obviously, Sero was bored while waiting for our other classmates to return, and he'd decided to take up drawing as a hobby. On his desk sat a crude drawing. A stick figure of a girl with long blue hair (obviously me), was connected to a sign saying 'Danger'. Finally, an explosion of ice and fire was shown at the end and Hagakure giggled from her position on the other side of Sero.
Sero had drawn a nice neat descriptor above the drawing to ensure the message wasn't lost in translation.
Todoroki Reaction Equation:
Mirai + Danger! = BOOM!
My cheeks turned red as my classmates burst out laughing. I didn't know how to respond to the drawing.
Thankfully, a presence behind me cut off my classmates laughter and for a moment, Sero almost looked scared. I didn't have to turn around to recognise it was Shoto behind me as he leaned over my head to take a look in a surprisingly curious gesture.
The circle of students held their breath as Shoto examined the drawing. I was glad he was here, hoping he'd have something to say to them as my creative remarks had run dry for the day.
Shoto hummed.
"Mirai's hair isn't that long anymore." He left the table, returning to the back of the room.
Silence remained for a moment, before the rest of the class burst out laughing.
"He knows it's true!"
"How cute!"
"Man, who would have thought Todoroki would be so whipped."
"Yeah, alright, bye-bye." I muttered, face flaming as I moved back to my desk. My classmates continued to laugh behind me while Sero commented on framing the drawing and placing it on the wall of the classroom.
When I arrived at my desk, Shoto glanced at me and smiled softly. It didn't help that my heart squeezed tightly at the look on his face.
I couldn't not smile back at him. Soon enough, I found my face stretching into a grin as we looked at each other.
The last of our classmates trickled into the classroom and eventually everyone started leaving, discussing evening plans and homework that was due the next day. Shoto walked next to me as we left the school, silently, like usual. When we'd left U.A. behind though, I held my hand out to him and Shoto took it, winding his fingers through mine.
My heart pounded happily. It always did when I was near him. I wondered how my constantly increased heart rate was effecting my lifespan. It was worth it, I decided.
The sun was beginning to set after a long day, as we walked to the station in silence, together.
I've had a long week and did my final edit of this after coming home slightly drunk, so there's a chance I've made small grammatical/conversational changes for the worse, sorry about that lol.
Mirais internal 'what is going on?!" occurring repeatedly was me trying to make this story reasonable and not as outlandish as the OVA definitely is (still love it).
Some of the things I've written have been weirdly difficult because I look at certain scenes and I'm like 'WHY AREN'T YOU SOCIAL DISTANCING?!'. And then I remember this is a fanfiction for an animated shows about super-powered high school and not real life.
I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter!
Next up: Exam time? Exam time! (Out 26/09/2020)