Aizawa POV
I'd watched her groups actions intently, and I didn't have to wonder for a second why her friends automatically defer to her. Or why a perfect stranger would do the same as well. Even though she sometimes gets shy and nervous in person, she excels under any kind of pressure- in and out of hero related situations. I mean, just look at the way she handles Bakugo. I don't think he's ever even blasted her. She's got a real eye for strategy, a load of determination, and even more consideration for others and their well being. That being said, we'll have to see how her plan for the upcoming event turns out.
Bakugo POV
Growling I glare at the boy on the screen, giving him the same death stare I'd given everyone who attacked Akira and her friends. They were alright, I'd give them that. But I'd still be the best, even better than all of them! Snarling I wish I could explode that guy's head, why would Akira want to work with some wannabe anyway?
Akira POV
The next exam takes place in a suburban area. Teams will be assigned hero or villain. The heroes will patrol and try to rescue an abducted CEO, or intercept the villains when they make their first move. We'll be watching each set of teams compete on the screens because the layout and location will be modified several times throughout the exam. The villains will know where they're going to strike, but we'll have to keep the whole area safe. Not to mention, there are tons of real civilians about. Specially trained for exams/training such as this. Alright, what's the best way to set up the teams? Each team needs someone who can act as a sensor... Tikara and I are the best bets, her quirk isn't as adept at locating things, but between her and Aniya's inherent sense for danger- that's the best bet. Especially since the second there's trouble- Tikara can get there and put it on hold. The villains might surrender the second they see her actually...
So, one team should have Aniya, Tikara... Holly- Aniya and Tikara are best at corraling her... Wilder tendencies. The best person to round them out would be Maiko, she's both good at defense and offense. Which means my team would be Kimiko- who's best at defense. Fumi who can suppress and control a situation easily. Haruto- our impromptu member, would be key in our physical defenses. I'd feel better if I could rearrange differently, but if we've got to divide it's best that Aniya and Fumi be on opposite teams. Maiko and Kimiko on opposite teams as well, and Holly shouldn't be on a team with someone not used to the thrall of her quirk. Which means that Tikara and I have to be on opposite teams by default. Having Tikara and Aniya on their team will almost guarantee their win. Our team will be strong as well, more well rounded even, but I know that there's a chance either myself or Haruto with his injured arm- will become a liability. No time to overthink it, I need to explain the plan to the others before time runs out.
Both of our teams were assigned hero, which guarantees we won't have to face each other. We can get pretty rough in spars... I'd hate to see what we'd through around at each other if we could get away with it. Teams are called continuously, the time limit being 15 minutes for each exam, with a 5-10 minute break between sessions- depending on the damage. One set of villains takes it so seriously it's almost scary. One of them using an earth quirk to sink a building (however, he was careful to make sure not to fill in the building or to injure anyone even though he was playing a villain. Better than a few of the fire users so far...)
Aniya's team is called first, with her being the undisputed leader. Once they've exited the screen displays their opponents, and I get a bad feeling. After a few minutes, it becomes clear why. Someone of them causes a huge disturbance on the outskirts of town, far away from civilians or anything that will limit their abilities. Another disturbance sounds in the center of the city. I can see the wheels turn in Aniya's head, logically speaking heroes are obligated to handle both situations if possible. She turns to Holly, I can't hear her, but I know what I'd be telling her. Get to the others, and keep the civilians in town safe.
I must be right because Aniya heads towards the outskirts of town, where her own quirk will be less limited. Holly heads towards town, where the same is true of her own. The more people around, the better her quirk can work against her enemies. She won't explain exactly why, but we have our theories...
The screen splits then, and I see that maybe that wasn't the best decision. They must have known which decision Aniya would make, or they just got really lucky. Two of their three heavy hitters are waiting for her... Which means only one heavy hitter and the user I couldn't place are waiting in town. Against Tikara... They stand no chance, but part of their challenge is to cause as much trouble for the heroes as possible. Aniya squares off, and I can practically hear her voice in my head.
"You're pretty loud, stand down now, because I know I'm louder." The kids laugh, and one of them stomps his foot. Splitting the earth in a controlled earthquake, but Aniya launches into the air using sound waves from the soles of her feet. The special shoes she wears allowing her to do so easily. Midair she blasts the earth user with a wave likely designed to create serious vertigo, based off the way the earth user sways on his feet, hits his knees, and then vomits. The other kid sends out a heavy blast of a pretty standard fire quirk, which is easily dodged. Instead of another sonic blast, Aniya maneuver's, still in the air, to land a solid right hook. The kid staggers back, swinging up a hand to blast her, but finds one of the cuffs the heroes were given fastened around his wrist. Taking him to the ground Aniya finishes handcuffing him, before moving on to the other kid, who's still suffering from the sonic blast. After cuffing him, presses a finger behind his ear- sending much more difficult to create soundwaves to neutralize the small amount of damage caused by her quirk. Every thoughtful that girl.
On the other screen, as far from Aniya as I think is possible, the others fight is just beginning. The two users they're facing are a bad match for them. Maiko is stuck covering Holly, while another fire user, who seems more smoke than fire really, has filled the area with heavy smoke. Tikara is dealing with a teleporter- the unknown quirk. Not well at that, why isn't she powered up...
Oh no, that's not smoke from the fire user. It's from some kind of smoke bomb. Probably something the teleporter carries, what does it do? Maiko is actually dodging the fire user... Holly is trying to stay out of the way because she's not used to combat... Tikara isn't powered up and is taking some painful-looking hits. Luckily for her, the teleporter seems pretty average at hand to hand combat, and she's gained a slight edge from combat training with the others. It's... Oh. My. Gods. That's selective quirk suppressant smoke! If you take the antidote prior to exposure, it won't affect you. It's completely illegal because it can affect civilians in the area, causing everything from delayed and involuntary quirk activation to severe respiratory damage. Why in the world does a student from a hero school have something like that?
I see Maiko, for the first time in my life, pull out her grandfather's dagger. Holly is coughing heavily now, trying to keep from inhaling the smoke anymore, but she's given her scarf to Maiko for her to wrap around her face. While Tikara is using her sleeves to do the same. Switching hands as quickly as possible as she dodges rapid-fire barrages. This is bad, this is so, so, so bad. Maiko finally lands a solid punch on the second fire user, but he just laughs. Until she sweeps his legs out from under him in her next move and slaps the cuffs on him. As she turns to help Tikara, she's met with a solid swing from the teleporter. It knocks her backward, and I realize what his plan was. He's snatched the scarf off of her face, and I see her begin to cough heavily as well. Tikara ducks another swing from him, and I for the first time notice that the smoke isn't traveling outside of a certain radius. She must still have some control over her quirk, containing the smoke to the area they're in to protect the bystanders. Who could be seriously injured by this smoke, with Maiko and Holly out of commission.. and the only person on the team who could easily and safely disperse the smoke too far away... I can't see a way around this. But Tikara's the one in the situation, she's the one with the adrenaline, and she's just as much of a strategist and Aniya and I are. Even if she doesn't have the personality switch to be a leader, that doesn't mean she can't make a plan. I ignore the buzz of students beginning to worry around me, and of the proctor making frantic calls over a walkie talkie and will Tikara to figure this out.
When I realize that she's actually waiting on something, my heart breathes a sigh of relief. I never would have noticed if not for the civilians pouring into the room. She's waiting for the volunteers to all be to safety. Then she's going to use her quirk to handle the situation. It makes perfect sense really, keep casualties to a minimum. A few more moments pass before suddenly Tikara begins to grown solid black, and the teleporter stops midair, the smoke sweeps away from them in a solid wave. Where it will start to disperse harmlessly on its own after 5-10 more minutes of exposure to oxygen. She's shaking pretty badly, she's probably pulling on the dredges of her quirk right now. Stopping a teleporter is a feat even for Tikara, and she levels a gaze at him, before snapping her wrist out and securing the last cuff onto him. She collapses weakly after that but smiles softly. It's around then that Aniya shows up, using a continuous cushion of sound to cart the two others behind her. Finally, the end of the round sounds, and we're all left to wonder, what just happened?
They announce a half-hour break, while they get things sorted out. My group is gathered by one of the people running the exam after the others have given their statements, they asked if they could see us. Haruto tries to stay behind, but if they didn't want him to come they would have said so.
When we get to the room, Holly is pacing restlessly, but the others are sitting quietly. Holly motions for us to sit.
"I want you to hear it from me first, because... It'll probably be all over the news soon enough. Those guys were sent to target us because of me. How they rigged it to be paired up with me... I have no idea. My parents... Before they got arrested they were the power villain duo... Unhappily Married. My mom's quirk was Thrall, she could convince people of anything, sway them to her side, and make them love her unconditionally. And that's just part of it. My dad's quirk was Foolproof, essentially he was human evidence erasing machine. No damage left behind, no fingerprints to be found, security footage that is too fuzzy to make out, heroes always got turned around trying to chase them, eyewitness were the only way to catch him. Except, my mother always convinced them they saw nothing or got them to help and made them take the fall for it. They teamed up with a couple of high-level thugs for a while, looking for extra muscle to help with some bigger plans I guess. They got arrested one day, All Might showed up and, took them all out. I was eight at the time, I barely ever saw them. Lived with my gram, just like I do now. They didn't have time to raise me. They're... They're the reason Akira got injured that day. That's why I promised you a long time ago, that even though I don't want to be a hero, I'd stand by you and keep you safe. I owe you that debt at least, I owe the world that debt. For the crimes they committed, it's the least I can do to dedicate myself to being a hero." Silent reigns for what seems like a long time, but slowly I form the words to make my point. My voice is soft, barely a whisper.
"I remember that day, we were kind of friends before that, but this was just after I got home from the hospital. Some kids were picking on you, you weren't like you are now. You were quiet, scared, and shy back then. Almost afraid of your own shadow. I stood up for you, and one of them pushed me down. It hurt, I wasn't fully healed yet. You were so angry, you were shaking and you yelled at them. Told them if they wanted to fight they could fight each other. And they did. You looked so scared then like I was gonna get mad at you for accidentally using your quirk, but I just asked you to help me up. You walked me home, and I asked about your quirk. You told me that when you told people to do things, they usually did them, and when you tried to do things- even if you wanted them to come out wrong- they didn't. You said you couldn't shut it off, you still can't, with your quirk it's all about watching what you say, and the intent behind what you do. That's the best control you have, you can turn it up and down, but never off. You asked what happened to me, and I told you, and I told you how I decided to become a hero after that. You got serious then. You said 'Then I'll stand by you as a hero too! I'll use my quirk for good, to keep you and others safe so I can make the world a better place by your side.' Then you got that same look as before and asked if I'd be okay with that. I made you a promise in return then. 'I'll stand by you too, through anything we encounter together or apart. I'll be a great hero and an even better friend. You have my word.' I don't make promises lightly, I remember the day every one of you agreed to be a hero alongside me, what you said to me, and what I said in return." I look up a Holly then, see the look on her face, and that she's near tears.
"And I remember what I said to you all day I introduced you to one another. 'We're a family now. That means we're in this together. We fight towards our goals together, even if at times that means competing with each other. In the end, the only thing that will matter is that we accepted one another, and grew better together.' "