It's now or never, Izuku said to himself, walking up to the front of the worn building alongside Uraraka. It's now or never!
Up ahead was his tormentor, his childhood friend turned nightmare, Bakugo, waiting to collide fists with him. Or more accurately, to beat the shit out of him.
But despite all fear present, the green hero had no choice but to throw away all his doubts and worries. It was time that he proved how much of a hero he can be, how fearless he can appear to save others with a smile, just like All Might.
It's now or never!
Meanwhile, the rest of the class was watching on a separate building, monitoring what the teams were doing through different screens, each one showing live footage.
"Remember, Young Yaoyorozu, your job is to identify the key events of each fight, including the strengths and weaknesses of each team, the most important player, and etc.", explained the number one hero, the girl nodding in response.
"So I won't be participating in the test?", asked the creation hero.
"Well, you won't be fighting, but there's more to heroism than just beating up criminals", All Might explained. "There's also the need to analyze the situation and recognize someone's strengths and weaknesses, whether it be a hero or a villain. We've heard about your impressive analytical skills, and this test will serve as proof of that. That will be your exam for today."
"Ah, I see", mused the raven-haired girl, now understanding the buff hero's words.
"And who do you think is going to win?", asked Sero at his red-haired friend.
"Well, I haven't seen much of Uraraka or Midoriya, but I know that the green-haired's quirk does come with self-harm", Kirishima said. "So I think Bakugo's team is going to win. They just have to endlessly pound Izuku's team until they can't fight anymore!"
"But what if Deku and Ochaco already know that?", asked Asui, everyone else turning to face her. "They might be trying to find a way to win without fighting."
"Which is, of course, an excellent idea!", joined in All Might. "But we've yet to see what everyone does."
"Then the only thing we can do now is just see", noted Sato, the rest of the class agreeing with his words. Meanwhile, Giorno watched the screen silently, intending to see how true Deku stayed to his words.
"But this will simply motivate me to train harder, All Might", Izuku spoke up, balling up his left first with newfound determination. Tears began falling into his cheeks as he continued, "I'll prove you that I'm just as capable of being a hero as Giorno, possibly even more than him!"
The Italian wasn't sure if he could consider back then a rivalry of some sort, but he welcomed Izuku's approach at wanting to surpass everyone as a hero, including him.
He just hoped that Bakugo wouldn't ruin that.
"So what's the plan, Deku?", asked Ochaco, looking at the pensive green mop. Despite her partner looking much better now, the gravity user could still detect a nervous aura around him.
"Well, if I were to know Kacchan...", Izuku trailed off, this time not descending into a muttering frenzy. "We'll have to split up. There should be a window of some sort that leads into the room where the nuclear weapon is, what you'll do is try to float up to it and get inside."
"Okay... but what are you going to do?", asked Uraraka.
"Kacchan would only want to fight me, so I'll have to hold him off while you capture the weapon", Izuku responded.
"You're crazy!", the gravity girl spoke up. "You can't be planning to just fight him on your own!"
"I really don't want to do it either, but I'll have no choice", the green bean countered. "He's powerful, but he can be a little predictable. I'll be fine, don't worry."
Despite Ochaco looking hesitant, she eventually agreed to his plan and started floating away, trying to ignore the slight sensation of nausea. Deku, meanwhile, made his way inside the run-down building, not looking forward at all to seeing his childhood friend again.
"You sure are an annoying pest", spoke up a black-haired man with burn scars and an indifferent attitude. "The only thing you're doing is dodging my flames. Do something else for once."
The man in question only used his green tentacles to keep dodging the blue flames, shooting a single gem-like projectile towards his enemy at a time. Of course, the black-haired man only kept deflecting it, always hitting the projectile away somewhere else.
Suddenly, the red-haired man changed tactics and completely ensnared his enemy with his tentacles, catching the burnt man off guard.
"So you finally did something...", mused the pyromaniac.
"Jesus, I only wanted to ask where I was", spoke up the tentacle user. "I should have asked someone else."
"If you knew better, then you'd know not to ask that here, much less wander around like a moron", responded the burnt man, the scarf-wearer only looking at him. "This area is the most criminal part of the state, where people can be free to do whatever they want. Didn't the old buildings give away that?"
"If you're not going to answer my question, then I have no reason to be here anymore", finished the red-haired man, leaping away with the help of his ability. Eventually, the tentacles that tied the burnt man disappeared, leaving the pyromaniac on his own.
"...dumbass", muttered the burnt man.
Izuku kept hiding as he trekked the endless hallways, always turning around slightly to look around the corner. If he didn't know better, he would probably assume that this building was a maze.
Eventually, he came across his old friend, the explosive blonde looking back at him in fervor.
"I finally found you, Deku", Bakugo spoke up, starting up a series of mini explosions on his right palm. "Now I finally get to beat you up without that idiot friend of yours butting in."
"Don't talk to Giorno like that!", spoke up Izuku.
"SHUT UP!", screamed back the explosion user. "This isn't about him! This is about us now, you hear!?". He then lunged towards the green mop, preparing to launch a right hook right at him. But Deku didn't show fear. Not this time.
The broccoli-haired hero suddenly grabbed Katsuki's right arm and swung him right into the floor, creating a small crater of impact. He then made distance from the blonde hero, only looking back with a determined stare.
The class, meanwhile, gasped momentarily at the fight between both people, much more at Izuku's response.
"Wow, I didn't expect that", started Kirishima.
"Why aren't we hearing anything, by the way?", asked Koda, turning to face the number one hero. "Did something happen with the audio?"
"Well, the cameras they provided us weren't the best, since we considered the possibility of them going to waste eventually from the old building", All Might admitted. "But that isn't important right now!"
Satisfied with the hero's answer, the animal caller looked back at the screen, everyone else doing the same. Meanwhile, Bakugo only stood up to face his rival and asked, "You... how did you do that?"
"I've studied how you work from all these years, Kacchan", Deku responded, "Since you've been a hero to me in a sort of way, I decided to study you, even putting you up there with the other Pro Heroes in my notebook. I know that you always start with a right hook!"
"So I was some sort of lab rat to you, eh?", asked the explosive user, Izuku momentarily shocked at his twisted answer. "But that won't help any longer, shithead". The blonde then raised his left arm at the green bean, stretching his palm wide. His smile had the same width, forcing an oppressive aura down Izuku's throat.
"...What are you doing, Kacchan?", asked the green bean at his rival.
"There you go again, hiding behind that fake fear just to make me doubt", responded the explosive user, his palm beginning to glow a bright orange. "But I won't allow that anymore. Not with this new gadget."
"Young Bakugo, don't use that!", spoke up All Might into the commutation device. "We still aren't sure if that's safe enough!"
But the explosive blonde didn't stop. He instead pulled the trigger, commencing a fiery blast that pierced the building's wall. He would finally shut up that stupid liar for good.
But Izuku simply rolled off to the side, quick enough to have only the right side of his mask burnt off. The explosion's aftershock shook the entire building, both Ochaco and Tenya confused at the sudden movement. It was a miracle that the building was still standing.
"Young Bakugo!", said All Might in Bakugo's communication device, shouting loudly this time. "Do not use that gadget again or I'll immediately eliminate your team!"
"...Fine", Bakugo agreed, deciding to change things up a little. Instead, the explosive user lunged at Izuku with another glowing palm, this time Izuku dodging to the right. Bakugo countered by creating an explosion to the left, boosting himself so that he was facing Izuku. Once in front of him, he created another explosion at his face, sending the green bean flying.
Uraraka managed to eventually float into the window, giving a small peek into the room. She found Tenya marching dutifully around the entrance, backs and forth between left and right. She started floating towards the fake weapon (which looked like a big rocket, might I add), until Tenya suddenly rocketed towards her, giving her a kick at her side, sending her away from the window.
The engine-wearer then landed on the floor and stated, "I apologize for the sudden action, but I cannot allow you heroes to win!"
Is he really playing the part of the villain?, Uraraka asked herself. She then turned around to face Iida and floated towards him. He really is playing the part of the villain.
"That's where I won't allow you proceed any further!", Tenya added, speeding directly in front of Uraraka with capture tape.
Uh oh!, panicked the gravity girl, floating away from the engine wearer. Now she couldn't get close without a sort of distraction.
"So you were hiding a quirk the entire time, huh?", asked Bakugo, Izuku struggling to stand up from the explosion. "That won't matter at all. I'll still be the number one hero!"
"Kacchan...", trailed off Izuku, wanting to say that he was seeing everything wrong, that he was misunderstanding everything.
Of course, that obviously wouldn't happen.
"DON'T 'KACCHAN' ME, YOU PIECE OF SHIT!", roared the explosive blonde, lunging toward the hero with sparking hands. "If you're still hiding that quirk, then bring it out already!"
"...Fine!", Izuku complied, understanding that his rival only wanted to fight against him. He had no choice but to counter-attack.
Remember about the egg in the microwave!
"5 percent...!", The hero began, suddenly interrupted by the collapsing ceiling above him. The 4th floor gave in from the impact, completely crushing the green-haired hero.
The entire exchange went silent, even Bakugo stopped his movement in shock. The fifth floor, in turn, started shaking slightly, almost close to the point of collapse.
Bakugo didn't make a single movement, the thought of Izuku dead approaching his mind.
THE EGG IN THE MICROWAVE!
"5 PERCENT!"
Suddenly, the rubble exploded everywhere, an enraged Izuku jumping towards the explosive user with green lightning in his body. Bakugo looked right at a charging Izuku preparing to uppercut him with a One For All-infused fist, the green hero's face shifted into a determined expression, only set on winning. But that wasn't what caught him off guard.
He saw the student's left arm completely gone, only leaving behind blood and burnt tissue.
"...What the?"
"DETROIT SMAAAAAAAAASH!", Izuku landed a hit on the surprised Bakugo, sending the explosive user flying towards the ceiling. He managed to land yet another impact on him, creating a massive hole where Iida was.
Izuku, standing there silently with his eyes distant, suddenly began crying in pain. He covered his bleeding opening with his right right hand, which looked beyond recognition with broken tissue and purple hue.
The rest of the class looked completely horrified at what they saw. One of their classmate's arms was gone.
"YOUNG MIDORIYA!", shouted All Might, suddenly leaving the room by breaking through the ceiling. The rest of the class only stood there in shock.
"...What just happened?", asked Sero with a paled expression.
"Midoriya's arm was ripped off...", responded Kirishima. The other students showed the same expression of horror.
Well, with the exception of one student.
The 5th floor, meanwhile, was exploding with rubber shooting upwards, leaving Tenya suddenly overwhelmed. Ochaco used the opportunity to touch the fake weapon and win the first match.
"Deku, I did it!", Uraraka said into the communication device, "I touched the weapon, we won the match!". Upon receiving silence as an answer, the gravity girl was momentarily confused that her partner wasn't responding. She then looked down to see the reason behind the green bean's silence.
She saw her partner on the floor, his left arm completely torn out.
"...Deku?", the gravity girl asked, suddenly fainting into the floor. Fortunately, she was caught by Iida, who too was horrified of the scene unfolding before him.
Deku, meanwhile, stood on his knees and faced at the recovering explosive user and said, "You had it all wrong...the notes in the notebook...you in them... I never considered you a lab rat!"
"Then what...", Bakugo stood up with a mix between shock and anger on his face, "THEN WHAT WAS ALL THE NOTES FOR!?"
"YOU STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND!?", The green hero shouted, bringing his mutilated arm to his chest. Tears continued falling. "I ALWAYS CONSIDERED YOU A HERO!"
"...What?", asked the blonde explosive, not knowing how to react. Soon enough, tears began subconsciously welling up in his eyes. "Are you still lying...?"
The green bean could only look hurt by his answer before losing consciousness, the pain from OFA overuse and his missing arm finally getting to him. He fainted into the floor face-first, leaving only Bakugo standing.
"YOUNG MIDORIYA!", landed All Might, carrying the green-haired student. "Stay strong, Young Midoriya!", said the hero with a faltering smile, "You'll be okay, just keep holding on!". All Might then grabbed Midoriya in his arms and immediately began jumping away across buildings, headed straight for the nurse's office.
Meanwhile, back at the other building, the students could only stand by themselves in shock.
"Recovery girl can't bring back severed limbs, can she?", spoke up Sato.
"No, her quirk is not that powerful", answered Momo with diluted eyes.
"...What do you think they were talking about?", asked Denki.
"I have no idea", answered Kirishima, his tone as lackadaisical as the rest. "Maybe Giorno knows something, he's always with them". The class then turned to the back only to see that he was gone.
"Wait, where's Giorno?", asked the electric user.
"Guys...", Koda asked, getting everyone's attention. They all then looked up to see a giant set of vines stretching all the way to the sky and towards All Might. "Wasn't Giorno's Quirk the ability to create living things?"
They all then turned to the screen to see the Italian approach the number one hero.
"Young Giorno, what are you here for?", asked All Might, already well on his way to Recovery Girl's office. "You should be with the rest of the class until given instruction!"
"There's no need to fret anymore", Giorno answered, running across the branches alongside the hero. "Now that I'm here, at the very least."
"Young Giorno, what are talking about?", asked the buff hero, suddenly losing feeling of Izuku in his arms. He looked down to see that the injured student was gone, only to then see the Italian carrying him.
"When did you-"
"I'm an expert at pickpocketing", Giorno answered, placing the bleeding hero on the branches. The remaining class ran outside to see a large amount of vines stretch across the sky.
"You were too reckless, Izuku", Giorno spoke up, placing a brooch next to the student's arm. "You put yourself at risk for something that could've been handled better". The Italian's stand then manifested and began transforming the brooch into tissues, skin, and bones, All Might looking shocked at the action. He was too bewildered to talk, the rest of the class sharing the same feeling. The vines Giorno and All Moght were on being slowly lowering and lowering towards the floor.
"But you kept true to your word", the Italian continued. "You didn't let your childhood friend instill fear in you anymore". Izuku then opened his eyes, turning to see his recovering arm. He felt pain, but he felt too weak to shout or cry. He could only see the Italian in front of him, recognizing that he indeed made him proud.
"Giorno...", Izuku trailed off weakly.
"You're a true hero, Deku", Giorno softly smiled, eventually finishing the burnt arm. He then carried Deku and gave him to All Might. "I apologize for not talking about this earlier", the Italian began. "I just didn't expect that I would use my healing abilities to this extent this soon."
"Young Giorno...", began the number one hero, a proud smile creeping across his face. The vines hey were in we're now completely in the ground, the rest of the class now being able to see them closely.
"I'll go see who else is injured", responded the gangster, heading towards the building across his branches. The rest of the class could only stand there in silence.
"What the fuck just happened?"
Author's Note: Chapter 8 done! Yep, I've decided to leave things on a suspenseful note! I thank everyone for reading the story up to now!
Also, here are a few responses:
• Guest01: Your ideas about GER are definitely something worth considering and might implement in the story! Also, don't worry, I'll make sure GER doesn't become too influential in the story! Thanks for the ideas!
• Guest: Alright, I'll be honest, I've definitely wanted to add Diego Brando into the story in some way or another. There's another JOJO x MHA fanfiction somewhere called, 'Bizzare Academia', which has already implemented that idea. Pretty good story, might I add.
I'll leave that up to everyone to decide, though. If you want Diego in the story, don't hesitate to comment! Also, the question about GER's ability still stands! Fanmade ability (A) or Canon ability (B)? I thank everyone who has answered so far! Keep the answers coming!
Again, thanks everyone for the feedback, theories, and questions! Until the next entry, I'll see everyone later!