"Hey, Hijiri." Izuku whispers as they change in the locker rooms.
"What's up?" Hijiri whispers back. He pulls his school shirt on and starts to button it up. Izuku glances around to make sure no-one was listening before continuing.
"I'm going to talk with Mr Yagi after class today, he said he has something to tell me." Izuku tells him quietly. "I think it has something to do with my Quirk."
"Okay, I'll wait for you then." Hijiri responds casually. "I'll be by the gate for whenever you finish."
"Hey, guys!" Kaminari exclaims excitedly. "Look what I found!" Everyone turns to look at Kaminari, who was lifting a poster up to reveal a hole in the wall between their locker room and the girls' locker room. "I made the find of the century- ergh!"
Kaminari leaps away from the the hole as green and blue fire crashes against the wall where it was and turns to stare at Hijiri's outstretched hand in betrayal. Hijiri condenses the fire to increase its heat to melt the concrete over the hole. Kaminari stares at the newly created covering and slumps in defeat.
"I didn't even get to take a peek." Kaminari sighs sadly.
"Pervert." Hijiri says before pulling on his blazer and exiting the locker room, followed by Izuku as Iida starts berating Kaminari about morals.
Hijiri looks up as Izuku walks towards him in deep thought, mumbling at a quick speed into his hand. Hijiri stands up from the wall and falls into pace with Izuku and listens to his mumbling as they walk home.
"All Might said that I might have to fight against All for One some day, so I might have to pick up my training a bit to make sure I can use the full might of One for All when that day comes-" Izuku's muttering is stopped when Hijiri hits him over the back of his head. "WH-WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!"
"You are not going to increase your training again, you're barely managing as is." Hijiri retorts. "You're also improving at an insane speed. You'll be fine, and even if you aren't at 100% when you have to fight this All for One dude, you'll have people there to help you." Hijiri claps his hands. Izuku nods after a seconds thought and smiles at Hijiri. "Now then, anything else I need to know about the meeting with Mr Yagi?"
"Oh, um, no. Not really, the rest can wait for a bit, I've got to wrap my own head around it also." Izuku says, putting a hand to his chin. "I'll tell you if there's anything."
"Cool, then we should head home. Mom said she's making katsudon."
The Next Day
"Now, summer vacation is fast approaching. It makes no sense for all of you to take a month off." Aizawa says, finishing up homeroom. The class starts whispering in anticipation for his announcement. "So, we'll be doing a summer training camp in the woods."
"Truth or dare!" Ashido exclaims, throwing a fist up.
"Fireworks." Tsuyu says thoughtfully.
"Curry, yes!" Iida robotically calls.
"Bonfire!" Hijiri grins.
"Since we'll be out in nature out training activities will probably be different, too." Izuku says thoughtfully.
"So we'll have to make the correct decisions in any environment!" Sero realises.
"However..." Aizawa says, silencing the class instantly. "Anyone who doesn't pass their final exams, will be staying here for summer school hell."
"Do your best, guys!" Kaminari and Kirishima yell together, both turning to face the rest of the class. Aizawa sighs before starting with the first lesson of the day.
One Week before Finals
"I DIDN'T STUDY AT ALL!" Kaminari yells, his eyes bulging as he realises his mistake. "Between the Sports Festival and the Internship it totally slipped my mind!" Kmainari ranked 20th in the class Mid-term rankings, Ashido closely following him at 19th.
"Indeed." Tokoyami grumbles, having only ranked at 14th.
"I'm excited for the practical portion. I wonder what we're gonna do for it." Hijiri says, ranked 7th with the help of Izuku, who ranked 4th.
"Kaminari, Ashido, let's do the best we can!" Izuku says, trying to cheer them up. "It'd be great if everyone could go to the training camp!"
"YES!" Iida exclaims, swinging his arm like a robot, ranked 2nd.
"How can you fail if you were in class?" Todoroki asks blankly in confusion, ranked 5th.
"Words hurt, y'know!" Kaminari yells, clenching his shirt above where his heart would be.
"You two... If it's academics you need help with, I can be of assistance." Momo offers softly. "Though you should ask someone else for help with the practical, I still need to improve in that area also."
"I'm not as bad as those two, I still need help with quadratic functions." Jirou says, moving to Momo's table, she was ranked 8th.
"Can you help me out, too? I'm really struggling with kanji." Sero, ranked 17th, asks with clasped hands.
"I could help with the practical if some of you want? Or you could just ask Aizawa-sensei where he thinks you can improve?" Hijiri offers them. "I'm helping Izuku anyway."
"If it is not too much trouble." Momo nods, smiling at Hijiri. "We can do both at my house! Oh~! Which type of tea are you all partial to? I have Earl Gray, Silver Needle, or maybe you like Sench Green tea?" Momo then claps happily. "We can practice in my family's indoor pool, or in our private forest, the garden would be best if we want lots of space! So many options!"
'She flaunts her wealth in such a bubbly manner, I'm not even mad.' The group listening to Momo speak happily can't help but think.
"Sounds like a plan!" Ashido exclaims, looking slightly ditzy.
Cafeteria
"The academic exams should be manageable, since those just draw on what we learnt from class. And we can get help from Yaoyorozu." Izuku says, as they sit down with their food. "But the practical will be scarier because we have no clue what those entail."
"Can't imagine it will be anything unusual or dangerous." Iida says, using his chopsticks to grab some of his food.
"About the academic exams being manageable..." Uraraka asks quietly, she ranked 13th in the Mid-terms.
"Aizawa told us it was a comprehensive test of everything from the first semester." Tsuyu says, ignoring Uraraka's comment, she ranked 6th.
"There was Battle Training, Rescue Training, and Basic Training, right?" Uraraka says, counting on her fingers.
"But we didn't actually complete Rescue Training due to the Villains attacking." Hijiri points out. "So, it'll probably be a mix of Battle and Basic training in some way with a twist."
"Which means in addition to our studies and classes we've also got to keep in top physical- ouch!" Izuku exclaims as an elbow crashes into his head.
"Sorry, but my tray couldn't get around that big head of yours." The blond from the Sports Festival says smugly. Hijiri stands up to look down at the slightly shorter boy. "Oh? What do you want?"
"Apologize to my brother." Hijiri demands, fire licking through his hair as he glares at the blond boy, Neito Monoma from 1-B if he recalled correctly.
"And if I don't?" Monoma asks. "Jeez, just because you fought the Hero Killer you are so much better than the rest of us. Always looking for attention."
"Stain would have killed you in a second." Hijiri declares. "And you better apologize, because you won't like what happens when you don't."
"Oh~ scary, scary. Is this another attempt to get attention or are you- ergh!" Monoma grunts as a hand chops the back of his neck, knocking him out before Hijiri could use the fire that was burning in his hand. Hijiri looks up to find the ginger who beat Iida in the Sports Festival and fellow class president, Itsuka Kendo.
"Sorry about him, he's got a nasty heart." Kendo apologizes for the unconscious blond. "I can't let him out of my sight or he causes trouble. As an apology, I'll tell you what I've heard from an upper year about the practical. Apparently, its a battle against robots, like in the Entrance Exam."
"Thanks for the information. But next time he attacks our class like that, permission to do something about it?" Hijiri asks. "One class president to another."
"Sure, but only if I'm not nearby to do it myself. Just don't hurt him too much." Kendo agrees easily. "Okay, I've got to get this one back to our class, have a good day."
"Have a good day." The 1-A group reply as she walks away.
"What are you doing Kendo? Fraternizing with the enemy?! Argh!" Monoma growls before Kendo chops the back of his neck again.
"They aren't the enemy." Kendo says simply, dragging his unconscious body away.
"Robots, seriously? That makes this so much easier!" Ashido exclaims, flopping onto the table in relief.
"We don't need to hold back against robots!" Kmainari sighs happily.
"That's right! Ordinarily against human opponents you two have to control your your Quirks! But against robots you may, as people say, go wild!" Iida says, chopping his hands quickly.
"And we're gonna get tutored on everything else!" Ashido chirps. "Watch out summer camp, here we come!"
"We should probably do the study sessions after school for the next week and on Saturday, with a self-study session on Sunday." Momo says when their study group had gathered at the end of school. "I'll message you the location. We should all also make sure to bring training clothes so that we may train for the practical after the study session, feel no need to bring your own equipment, for my family has its own gym!"
"Cool, then we just need to finalize times, and I'll make a group for us so we don't accidently not message someone." Hijiri says, pulling up his phone and quickly adding everyone to the Study Group. "I think from 4pm to 7pm should be enough time for the week days, then on Saturday we can make a full day thing of it."
"Perfect! Then we shall all gather at my home tomorrow at 4pm!" Momo chirps happily, clapping her hands lightly.
"Yeah!" The group exclaims together, before separating to go home.
The next week was a struggle for everyone in class 1-A, a mix of everything they were still doing at UA, then their studies after that and on top of even that was their harsh training to be in the best shape possible for the coming exams. The study group consisting of Momo, Kaminari, Ashido, Sero, Jirou, Hijiri, Izuku, Uraraka and Iida were pulling through the week at what felt like a snails pace.
Momo, Izuku and Iida lead the academic part of their sessions, being the ones who had the highest scores there and all of them being in the top 5 rankings, where they drilled knowledge into the rest of their minds while still finding time to challenge each other on the topics and studying. Hijiri and Momo lead the practical portion of the sessions, Momo with the theoretical and tactical ideas and plans, and Hijiri with the physical and Quirk training.
This system left everyone exhausted and ready to collapse as they finish the three hours of near non-stop practice, or torture depending on who you asked, that would prepare them for the exams, and that was before they had the full day session on Saturday. Sero, Jirou and Kaminari seemed convinced that Hijiri was trying to kill them after the Saturday physical training which consisted of rigorous exercise that had even Izuku, Iida and Hijiri struggling to finish followed by nearly two hours of combat training after a short break.
The exams started the following week, and as they write more and more of the academic exams they discovered that all of their harsh preparations were worth it as they finished each exam with confidence. Then as they finish the last exam, Mathematics, Kaminari and and Ashido jump up and yell in joy and swarm Momo with praises of joy.
Then came the day of their Practical Exam.
All of Class 1-A, clad in their Hero Costumes, was gathered in front of their teachers, also fully prepared in their Hero Gear. Aizawa steps forward and addresses the class.
"Let's begin your Practical." Aizawa says seriously, his dark eyes sliding over the class as they fidget slightly in anticipation. "Of course, you can fail this exam, like you could have failed your academic exams. If you want to attend the summer training camp, you can't fail in either. And knowing you all, you asked around and think you have a good idea on what is going to happen."
"What we think...?" Hijiri mumbles.
"It's a robot rumble, like the Entrance Exam!" Kaminari yells excitedly.
"NOT QUITE!" A voice answers, as what appears to be a white stoat in a suit hops out of Aizawa's capture scarf. "Circumstances have demanded for a change in this year's exam!"
"The principal?" Momo questions, taking a step forward.
"A revision?" Hijiri mutters. "Then it could be anything."
"You see, because of the Villain attack at the USJ, we have decided to make your practical exams will be against real flesh-and-blood opponents! This will simulate practical experience as closely as possible in a safe learning environment!" Nedzu says, climbing down from Aizawa's shoulder. "As such! You students will be pairing up, and facing one of the teachers here!"
"Against a teacher...?" Uraraka asks uncertainly.
"Your pairings and assigned teacher have already been chosen!" Nedzu says happily. "Your battle moves, your grades, your friendships, all of these and more has been considered. So, without further ado!"
"First, Todoroki is with Yaoyorozu, against me." Aizawa announces, grinning widely at the two. "Then, it's Fire-Midoriya with Bakugo..."
"Fire-Face?!"
"Pomeranian?!"
"And, your opponent..." Aizawa continues lazily as something crashes into the ground behind Hijiri and Bakugo.
"Shall be Me!" All Might's rumbling voice echoes out of the settling dust, a lone blue eye glinting dangerously at the two students. "You will have to work together to win, so come at me with all you've got!" The dust clears to reveal All Might standing in all his glory, his gigantic muscular form towering over the two as he watches there reaches with his iconic smile.
'Well... shit.' Hijiri thinks, staring into All Might's shadowy eyes. 'I'm screwed.' Hijiri's eye twitches. 'Why is Izuku praying for me?!'
"Then, we have Kaminari and Ashido, versus the Principal." Aizawa draws the attention back to himself. "After them is Aoyama and Uraraka against Thirteen." These two pairings group together with their teacher. "Followed by Kouda and Jirou versus Present Mic."
"YEAH!" Present Mic yells, thrusting his fingers into the air.
"Please be quiet." Aizawa grumbles. "Then Strength-Midoriya and Tokoyami versus Ectoplasm." Izuku and Tokoyami exchange a nod. "Then, Asui and Sero will be against Midnight." The students shudder as Midnight cracks her whip and licks her lips. "Hagakure and Shoji are against Snipe. Satou and Kirishima will face Cementoss." Aizawa lists off quickly. "Finally, Iida and Ojiro will be against Power Loader."
"There are ten stages set up, and all exams will begin simultaneously." Aizawa says gruffly. "The rules will be explained by your respective opponents. None of the areas are off of school grounds, so let's not waste anymore time here. Get going." And with that he turns and leaves, forcing Todoroki and Yaoyorozu to tail after him."
"You heard the man! Let us be off!" All Might says, turning to climb onto a waiting bus. Bakugo barges on after All Might and claims a seat as far back as he could. Hijiri climbs up after that, glares at Bakugo before sitting right behind All Might and turning to look out the window, pointedly ignoring Bakugo's glares. 'This tension is quite something, huh? Guess Aizawa was right after all.'
All Might thinks back to the discussion about this class's teams and opponents where Aizawa brought up two alternate listings of the teams, both of which had strengths and weaknesses. Aizawa had said the most important team to get out of the way, would be the one which included Bakugo and one of the Midoriya's.
"Either, we put Izuku Midoriya with Bakugo, and try to get them to regard each other as equals and help Midoriya stand up for himself, which leaves us with a tough choice on where to put Hijiri Midoriya. Or, we put Hijiri Midoriya and Bakugo on the same team to try and sort out the animosity between the two, then place Izuku Midoriya in another team." Aizawa lays out the two options. "I would personally advise the use of the latter, as this is the more dangerous of the two situations if left by itself."
"I agree." Nedzu speaks up. "Izuku Midoriya is gaining confidence slowly as he grows, but the dislike between Hijiri Midoriya and Katsuki Bakugo hasn't changed since they've been attending UA. If left alone, it would hamper future dealings between the two and may lead to easily avoided mistakes."
"Can't we just have a teacher they trust or respect talk to them, get them to settle their differences?" Midnight asks. "I've seen how Izuku reacts to Bakugo, and it isn't healthy, which then leads to confrontations between Bakugo and Hijiri."
"I agree." Cementoss adds. "The problems between Izuku and Bakugo lead to conflict between Hijiri and Bakugo."
"I have to disagree with you two, Cementoss, Midnight." Ectoplasm says, nodding to Aizawa. "I've seen how aggressive Hijiri becomes in regards to Bakugo, and it does not seem completely based on protecting his brother. It seems like he has his own issues with Bakugo, on top of defending Izuku."
"I see." Nedzu says, thinking over what the teacher's have said. "We will place Hijiri Midoriya and Katsuki Bakugo on the same team, the rest will follow the list under that choice. All Might." The skeleton of a man looks up at Nedzu. "I hope you are willing to be their opponent."
"I am." All Might says, looking down at the details of the two he will be facing. 'Is this the right call?'
"So, this is where we will fight!" All Might says, gesturing to the giant city behind him. "You get 30 minutes to either get these handcuffs on me, or one of you escape the arena." All Might reveals two pairs of handcuffs, then hands one pair each to Hijiri and Bakugo. "This test is trying to be as close to reality as possible, so you should go all out when coming at me or trying to evade me, and think of me as a Villain."
"Fight and win, or run and win." Hijiri mutters to himself. "Not as simple as it sounds."
"Yes! Decision making is being tested! But, given the rules and circumstances, you two probably think running is the only option, but that is where you are wrong!" All Might pulls out eight bands and holds them up for the students to see. "We had the Support Course whip these up for us! Ultra Compressed Weights! This will act as a handicap and weigh me down by about 50% of my total weight! It's a successful method of draining stamina and limiting strength!" All Might clips two of the bands to each arm and leg. 'Heavier than I thought!'
"We held a competition to design them, and a girl by the name of Hatsume won." All Might mentions casually, making Hijiri shudder subconsciously.
'Ah, her... She was really touchy-feely and in my face when I went to get my Costume updated.' Hijiri grimaces mentally as he remembers that incident, and the energetic pink haired girl that had no concept of personal space.
"Trying to bring this down to our level? That's insulting." Bakugo growls.
"Wow, and I thought you couldn't be more arrogant." Hijiri retorts, deadpanning at Bakugo's incensed face. "Each of us could take out a building if we aim properly. All Might could wipe out a city if he aimed properly. Don't be stupid."
"Oh? Fighting already? We'll have to see how you do then." All Might rumbles, his eyes glowing with withheld might.