A/N: Don't own MHA.

A Queen Among Women: Did you mean it was chiller as in not as bad or chiller as in a lot colder than you expected? Also, at least I'm not alone in that aspect of the story. And yes to Dadzawa.

trollzor69, Dreadknight12, and Pirohiko-Baltazar: Wow, you guys are really interested in ships. Honestly, I don't know if I'll go too far with a ship other than a few moments here and there, but if I had to choose for Izuku, it'd probably izuchaco.

Also Pirohiko-Baltazar: I'm not sure. If I had to guess, I'd say something related to stealth like soundproofing himself or a more offensive quirk like a speed/perception enhancement. I don't plan on giving him one, but I feel like if I did, it would go along with his already existing skills.

"Congratulations, Midoriya," Todoroki offered at the green-haired teenager's return.

"Thanks. Same to you."

"I still can't believe they brought in Stain for a final exam," Kirishima muttered.

"Man, that was so intense!"

"I couldn't take my eyes off the screen!"

"Midoriya, you left these in the arena." Aizawa and Midnight stood behind Izuku and held out the gear he had discarded before the fight.

"He also told us to give you this," Midnight said. She held out the sword, still smeared with his dried blood.

Something clicked in Midoriya's mind when he took the blade. His blood had been on it since early on in the fight, and he had given Stain multiple opportunities to lick it. Yet he didn't; he fought Izuku head on, not once using his ability to paralyze his foe.

Was there a reason? Did Aizawa instruct him not to? Or did he choose not to of his own volition?

"Deku? Are you okay?"

Izuku snapped back to reality and placed the weapon on the ground.

"I'm fine. I just didn't understand something," he replied as he clipped the belt back around his waist and put the gear back on his uniform.

"Everyone, on the bus. We're heading back to the main campus," Aizawa ordered. The students and extra teachers found seats on the vehicle, which took off to UA.

"Well, I guess you'll have to fill us in when you all get back from camp," Kaminari disappointedly sighed.

"Yeah. Have fun," Mina said with a sad thumbs up.

"About that," Aizawa started, then stood up at the front of the bus. "Everyone was going to go, pass or fail. We just needed you to give it your all so we could get a better idea of your upper limits and capabilities. However, the five who failed will have to take extra lessons alongside the training camp."

The bus was silent for a brief moment, but everyone knew what was coming.

"Yeah! We get to go with you guys!"

"Awesome! I'm so pumped!"

"This's gonna be great!"

"Hey everyone! What if we meet up at the mall tomorrow and go shopping? We're free, after all!" Hagakure suggested.

By the time they got back to the room, everyone in the class was making a list of what to get at the mall and what they would need to pack for the week in the woods.

Yet again, Izuku needed to send his costume to be repaired and have the blood stains removed. He also requested an extra layer of armor to be added to his upper arms in a way that wouldn't limit his flexibility.

Anything not directly part of his costume was shoved into his bag, which he slung over his back and walked out with. On the way home, he picked up a small can of blonde hair spray and brown contact lenses.

Early in the next afternoon, sixteen students from UA had gathered by the main entrance of Kiyashi Ward mall.

"Who else is coming?" Yaoyorozu asked.

"Let's see, Todoroki said he wasn't going to make it, Deku isn't here, and Kirishima said he'd try to get Bakugo to change his mind about not coming."

"Hey, you're all that 1-A class, right?" a blonde boy excitedly asked as he approached the group.

"Yeah! It's nice to meet you," Jiro offered as the teen came face to face with some of the students.

"Wait, a few are missing. There's that kid with the pointy red hair, Bakugo as well, if I remember correctly and Todoroki and the green haired one. Where're they?"

"We're not entirely sure. But do we know you? You seem familiar?" Iida asked as he inspected the newcomer.

"More than you would expect." His voice changed to a tone they all knew, and he brushed a few locks of his hair, revealing an emerald green under a yellow coating.

"Midoriya?" Tokoyami asked at the reveal.

"Shh. I already get enough attention as is. I just want to go about freely for a day," he said as he wiped the spray off his fingers.

"Oi! Guess who I got?" Kirishima called from the doors. Bakugo trailed not too far behind him, looking rather irritated.

"Shut up. Let's just get this over with." His eyes met the teen he had seen once before in the streets, and glared.

"You again?"

"What do you mean 'again'? You see me pretty much every day."

"Wait, Deku?"

"Yep. Didn't expect that last time, did you?"

"Guys, can you not start something in here?" Kaminari insisted as he and Kirishima dragged Bakugo away from the disguised Izuku.

"So, what're you guys looking to buy?" the blonde Midoriya asked.

"Well, I might get some sunscreen and outdoor shoes," Ochaco listed off.

"I need to grab some items as well," Iida declared.

Slowly the group dispersed, leaving Izuku and Iida alone.

"You and me again, huh?" Izuku asked as he made his way to an outdoors based shop.

"Yes, that does seem to be a recurring theme thus far." The two browsed the store, drifting from aisle to aisle.

"Hey Iida, look at-" he started before noticing his friend was nowhere to be seen. "this? Oh well."

Now free to go on his own, he found a map and took note of the stores he should visit.

"Excuse me, but did you happen to see any of the UA students earlier? My son's a huge fan, and I was hoping to get some autographs," a raspy voice asked from behind.

Izuku looked over his shoulder and saw tufts of blue hair and a wrinkled face hidden under a black hood. But what he recognized most were the evil, red eyes that stared down into his.

"Shigaraki. Never a dull day around here," he replied. "What do you want?"

"Ah, I thought it was you, but I didn't get a chance to make sure until now." Four fingers grabbed Izuku's wrist, with the middle finger dangling just above the skin.

"No sudden moves. The moment my fifth finger touches your skin, it's goodbye to this arm. Now, let's chat, shall we?"

"Save your threats, Tomura. I would have humored you just for asking. Especially in a busy place like this," Izuku replied.

"Possibly. But you can never be too sure, regarding Stain's apprentice and all. Are you thirsty? I hear there are some good tea vendors in this mall."

"Let's just find a place to sit down and have that talk you oh so dearly want to have."

The two found a quiet, inconspicuous place to sit and share a private chat.

"So tell me, what did Stain see in you that he didn't see in me? He trained you, took you in as his own. Yet when I asked him to join us, I got stabbed."

"For starters, you might want to take a look at our current situation. You're holding a fifteen-year-old boy hostage because you're upset someone didn't want to play with you."

"Watch your mouth. I'm still in control here. But I suppose I can see where you're coming from. Still, what's the difference between us? What did he do that got him so much credit?" Shigaraki demanded, getting more and more angry by the minute.

"Before I answer, let me ask you something. When's the last time Stain just quit because things didn't go his way? When was the last time he didn't see something through to the end, or kept fighting even though he knew he could lose?"

Tomura was silent, contemplative. His fingers tightened around Midoriya's wrist, then let go of him.

"Never. He always lives up to his ideals."

"Exactly. You ran and hid when things didn't go your way at the USJ. You watched from afar when you sent the Nomus to do your dirty work in Hosu City. He doesn't run, and he takes things into his own hands. That's the difference between you."

Suddenly, the hand that had let go of Izuku's wrist clamped down on his throat. Tight enough to make breathing hard, but not enough to thoroughly strangle him.

"You're right. You're right. And you're just like him; you'll do everything in your power to see your goals through the end. You stood up to him in Hosu and stopped me in the USJ. But if I kill you here and now, it's almost like I'm killing him. It won't be the exact same, but I bet it'll feel pretty good."

His eyes, which were already crazed, only deepened in insanity as his voice filled with panicked excitement, like the feeling you get just before going on a dangerous looking rollercoaster.

"And I'll be seeing it through to the end, just like him!"

Neither of them moved for what felt like an eternity. Tomura had yet to lower his fifth finger, and Izuku waited to see how far Shigaraki was willing to go. The hand dropped from his throat, finally allowing him to breathe.

"But not here and now. It's too busy. Sure, I could easily kill anyone who sees and tries to stop me, but I don't need the kind of attention that would attract. Not yet, at least. We'll meet again, Midoriya. Next time, you may not be so lucky."

The man in the hoodie stood up and walked away, effortlessly disappearing into the crowds of the midday rush.

Once he caught his breath, Izuku got up and left for the nearest store. There was no point in calling the police, as Shigaraki would undoubtedly be back in hiding by the time they arrived. Not to mention all the media that would be shoving cameras in his face. He didn't need anyone recognizing him at the time. So, he let Tomura get away scot-free.

He didn't tell his friends or mother either. Only he and Tomura would know what happened that day.

The following day he spent at one of the UA pools. He figured he should get himself refamiliarized with swimming, and used his time to get himself back in the swing of the various strokes.

After half an hour of laps, he pulled himself up to the edge and opened a fresh bottle of water, which he pounded half of in one go.

"Hey! Deku!" Ochaco ran up to him. She was also with the other girls from 1-A, all of whom were in the school swimsuits.

"I didn't know you requested to use the pool today too. How long have you been here?" she asked as the others glanced at his scarred torso.

It was odd realizing this was the first time the girls had seen him shirtless.

"About an hour and a half. I've been swimming laps for the past thirty minutes or so. The rest was just... swimming."

"Well, we're going to be playing volleyball over there," she said with a point to a farther lane. "We won't bother you, will we?"

"Nope. Have fun," he replied, then got back in and swam more laps.

"Man, he's really marked, isn't he?" Mina rhetorically asked the next time he got out of the water.

"Yeah. Just imagine the training he was put through to receive those large ones," said Asui.

"How many scars do you think there are total?" Jiro questioned as she bumped the volleyball.

"At least twelve," Hagakure answered.

"Technically you're not wrong, but still..." Mina replied. She spiked the ball and celebrated with a quick victory dance.

"Should we really be talking about him behind his back? He already deals with that a lot for being Stain's student. And we're supposed to be his friends," Ochaco cautiously asked with a glance at him.

"Do you really think I care?" he asked loudly. "And seventy-four last time I counted."

A few of the boys from the class came out of the changing room, and walked up to Izuku and the group.

"Hey, didn't expect to see you all here," Kirishima offered.

"Same to you," Izuku replied. He caught a glance of purple behind the redhead, and a quick look revealed Mineta and Kaminari with the rest of the class.

"Did Mineta and Kaminari invite you?" the green-haired teen asked with a nod towards the two.

"Actually, yeah. They just showed up at my place and asked if I wanted to tag along for endurance training at the pool," Kirishima replied.

"Figures."

"Huh?"

"Nothing."

The girls quickly went back to playing volleyball while the boys began the "endurance training" Mineta and Kaminari had used as a ruse.

"Hey guys! Who wants to have a race?" Kaminari asked aloud, which was met with cheers from most of the boys.

"I'll pass this one time," Izuku replied.

"What's the matter, Deku? Afraid you'll get crushed?" Bakugo asked with an advance towards his classmate.

"Not exactly afraid. More like I know I will, so there's no point in trying. After all, fighting and swimming are two very different things."

"Whatever. Hey! Half-and-Half! Get your ass over here!"

"You're really not going to compete?" Ochaco asked from behind Izuku.

"Nah. Just don't feel like it right now, anyway." He finished off his water bottle and waited for whatever she was going to say next.

"Well, do you think you could give me another fighting lesson? It's been a while, but you don't have to if you don't want to."

Izuku thought it over quickly, and gave a shrug.

"Sure. Let's head over there," he replied with a point to an unoccupied area.

"Before I begin, what did you learn from your internship with Gunhead?"

"He showed me a few basics, like defending myself against someone with a knife and simple takedowns."

"Okay. Why don't you show me what he taught you? Just, pretend this is a knife," he instructed with a shake of his bottle. Uraraka nodded and moved into a combat stance.

"Three...two...one." After the countdown, Izuku rushed at his friend and waved the bottle like he would a knife. He saw Uraraka go for his wrist, which he let her grab along with the back of his neck before getting pushed to the ground. The onlookers just gasped at the fact that Izuku had been taken down by someone with far less experience.

"Not bad. But Gunhead's not perfect. He may have a lot of general experience, but I doubt he's ever gone up against someone like Stain. You come at me this time, and I'll show you what I was taught." He brushed himself off and handed the bottle to Ochaco and let her attack him.

Following another countdown, Izuku went on the defense. After ducking under two wide swings, he caught her wrist and twisted her so she was forced into leaning forward with her arm pinned upwards.

"See, this position actually gives your opponent a better chance to attack, as their other arm is free. However, doing so risks a dislocated shoulder or worse, given the pressure that's already applied." He let go, and she rolled her shoulder.

"I see. Can you teach me some of those more offensive moves?"

So he did. Izuku showed her which pressure points to go for in a fight and how to correctly maintain an offensive without giving the opponent too many chances to counter.

"Alright everyone. It's 5 p.m., so your pool use is up," Aizawa declared as he entered the pool area. The teenagers quickly gathered their things and left, lest they incur the wrath of the homeroom teacher.

The next day was the beginning of their week in the woods. Everyone was packed and waited to get on the bus.

"Before we leave, I'll get straight to the point. This isn't going to be your everyday camping trip with your family. You will be pushed farther than you ever have so you can reach a new 'Plus Ultra'."

Excitement enveloped the group, and many factions started celebrating in their own ways.

"Wait, so Class A students have to take the extra classes? Aren't you supposed to be better than us? We only have one student needing to take the extra classes!"

He was promptly shut up by a karate chop to the neck by Kendo, who apologized for his behavior once again and dragged him on 1-B's bus.

"He never changes..." one of the class B students muttered.

"Hey, it's nice to actually meet you, 1-A. Guess we'll meet again at the camp."

Both classes boarded their respective busses, important luggage in hand.

"The bus will stop in an hour. Aside from that, there'll-" Aizawa started before blaring music cut him off. 'Whatever,' he thought to himself, then took a nap.

"Hey Deku, when'd you bring that?" Ochaco questioned with a point to a long sheath under Izuku's seat.

"Oh, I asked Aizawa to get it on for me. I can't really carry a sword around campus without getting in trouble. At least, not unless it's part of my costume."

"But...you already have your chains on you," Asui pointed out.

"It's been a while since I've used a longer blade, so I figured I'd use the training camp as a chance to practice with it."

After an hour, the bus finally came to a stop at a clearing that overlooked a vast forest. Mineta was the first one off the bus, eager for a bathroom.

As Izuku passed by Aizawa, he felt a tap on his shoulder. Aizawa just mouthed "Bring it" and stepped off the bus. After everyone else was off, Midoriya went back for his sword and returned to join his classmates.

By the time he got off, a black car had pulled up beside the bus and let off the passengers; two women dressed as cats and a boy.

"Hello Pussycats. It's been a awhile."

"My, what a fine crop you have this year. Ok students. See this stretch of land? We own all of it, and the place you'll be staying at is at the base of the mountain," the one in the red explained, getting right to the point.

"But if we stopped here..."

"That can only mean...?"

Izuku walked up to the wooden fence and peered down, getting a good, long look at the drop to the ground.

"I take it this is the way to the base?" he asked.

"Yep. It's about 9:30 now. If you're fast, you can make it in time for lunch. To sweeten the deal, we'll allow you to use your quirks."

"Well, good luck with getting the others to go along with this," he said, then hopped the fence and skied down the steep path all the way to the bottom. From there he disappeared into the forest.

The others, who attempted to get back on the bus, were violently thrown into the forest by a sudden uplift in the very platform they were standing on.

"Good luck getting through the Beast's Forest!" the red dressed woman offered.

"Say Aizawa, that one with the green hair. Was he...?"

"Yes, but don't make a big deal of it."

As they spoke, the boy watched the guests from the fence, disappointed and disproving.

"Well, let's get started," Kirishima advised.

"I'd say to keep an eye out for this beast, but I have a feeling we'll know it when we see it."

"How far do you think Midoriya is? After all, he got a head start and-" Sato asked when a loud crashing came from deeper in the forest, but approached quickly.

"Everyone! Get ready!"

A large creature broke through the trees and flailed about.

"Woah! Woah!" Up top, Izuku had wrapped one of his chains around the creature's neck and tried using it as a lead, with little to no success from the looks of things. The front left leg had been severed just above the giant clawed hand, and the sword stuck out of the thing's back right behind Izuku's feet.

Two more trampled through the thick foliage. On had tusks longer than the students were tall, and the other had a set of wings folded on its back.

"Looks like the fun's already started."

With nowhere to go but forward, Class A joined in the fray and fought their way through the forest.