Chapter Ten: A Team Competition!

The next couple of days, the first year students of U.A High were adjusting to their new schedules.

In the morning, 1-H had their core classes, which rotated daily— Mathematics with the Clone Hero Ectoplasm, English with the Voice Hero Present Mic, Modern Literature with Cement Hero Cementoss, and Health with Cook Hero Lunch Rush were a few of them.

"Alright everyone! Let's hear those cheers for Dr. Frankenstein!"

Present Mic held a hand to his ear, waiting with excitement, but nobody in Class 1-H budged, silence following his loud words.

"Come on! It's an exciting classic! Don't be afraid to get loud!"

Izuku chuckled softly. At first, seeing the Heroes up close that he had admired was too much of a shock, but now he at least got to see more of a normal side to them, well, as normal as they could get.

The fourth day of school had come to lunchtime. Izuku was approaching a table where Mei was fiddling with a device, when someone pushed past him aggressively, making him nearly drop his tray.

"Outta my way!" The familiar angry voice made Izuku tense up.

It was Bakugo who had pushed past him, not sparing him a glance. Another boy moved past, much more polite as he excused himself as he passed Izuku up. He was tall with neat black hair and glasses. Izuku took note of the metal pieces protruding from the back of the boy's legs, like exhaust pipes of an engine.

"Bakugo, we should discuss how our teamwork faired in the Heroes vs. Villains test," the boy exclaimed as he followed Bakugo.

"Get away from me you four-eyed nerd!"

Izuku watched them go, realizing he was holding his breath and letting it out. Kacchan didn't seem to notice me…

He had been worried about the first encounter, knowing he wouldn't be able to keep it a secret forever. There was a certain time and place he wanted it to come out, however, so he was aiming for then:

The U.A Sports Festival.

As Izuku sat beside Mei, she didn't seem to pay him much mind as she focused on her work. Izuku looked down at his tray, lost in thought.

Every year the Sports Festival has eyes from all over the country watching and judging… That'll be my best place to shine, Izuku thought.

"-once at the Sports Festival, I'll be able to finally confront Kacchan and use my skills and the babies I've created to prove myself to him and everyone else. I'm the only quirkless student at this school apparently, so I have to make sure that nobody thinks to look down on me—"

A tray was dropped onto the table, making Izuku panic and stop muttering his thoughts out loud. He looked over to see it was Yuki.

"You get lost in thought too much, you know," the boy pointed out.

"S-Sorry," Izuku said with a nervous chuckle.

Across from him, Mei finally looked up from the device she was fiddling with, blinking at them.

"Oh, Midoriya, you finally made it," the girl said.

"I-I've been here for a while now… You know you haven't touched your food, right?"

Mei looked down at the tray in front of herself and then looked away, pouting a bit.

"I'll do what I want," she mumbles.

Yuki watched the two bicker, before he noticed Shiro sitting down with them. She smirked to Yuki and thumbed to Mei and Izuku.

"They're already like an old married couple huh?"

Izuku coughed at this, nearly choking on his food while Mei didn't seem to hear the comment.

That afternoon, Power Loader had them meet up in the large workshop they had taken part of their Entrance Exam in.

"The third year Support students utilize this workshop mostly, so take a gander and realize what you can hope to create in the future."

Power Loader activated a console, and the empty-looking workshop began to change. The walls began to flip around, and various panels moved up from the ground and out from the walls, revealing a plethora of devices.

Class 1-H looked in awe all around them. There were things on a scale they had never seen before. The workshop was as big as a military aircraft hangar, allowing for huge creations to be made there.

Behind Power Loader were large robots, the size of multiple-story buildings. Their hulking designs were sleek and emanated a sort of powerful aura to them.

"These robots were used in the Hero entrance exam," their teacher explained. "U.A's Support department is unmatched in the entire world, so this is the minimum we expect from our students by their third year."

T-These are… Izuku gulped. The robots seemed like an impossible size, something he could only see in a fictional movie before attending the prestigious U.A. Now it was something nonchalantly being shown as the goals for their curriculum.

"Today we'll be attempting something like this on a smaller scale," Power Loader said. "I want you all to see the gap in your abilities now, so you have something to strive for."

A hand shot up. Power Loader pointed at them.

"Sensei! I wanna—"

"No, Wakata, we won't be having any game challenges today," Power Loader interrupted the girl.

Hirari Wakata huffed, looking away. The darker-skinned girl had been trying hard to force any sort of physical competition into the Support class ever since Yuki and Izuku's challenge, but Power Loader continued to deny it, knowing her intentions weren't for a legitimate challenge.

"Now I'll be putting you in teams of two— Except one team will have three due to the odd number of students—-"

"Team #1 - Hatsume Mei and Minami Shiro!"

The two girls looked to each other and gave a thumbs up. Izuku was surprised to see that Shiro wasn't as cold-shouldered to Mei now, though he knew Shiro had been inspired by Mei's reckless creations.

"Team #2 - Soga Ninsei and Adatari Yuki!"

Yuki and Ninsei looked to each other, a tension between them. Ninsei had been reprimanded by Paper Mache during the entrance exam, and embarrassed by Yuki a few days prior in the ping pong incident— He wanted nothing to do with him.

"Team #3 - Urushima Taro and Sakura Sae!"

The very motherly girl named Sae smiled gently at the red-haired Taro, who blushed slightly and waved nervously over at her, smoke rising from her hair a bit.

"Team #4 - Izuku Midoriya and Ryuken Takana!"

Izuku looked over to the boy who had always sat at the back of the class, often seeming like he was daydreaming or uninterested. He had black hair with gray streaks in it, his gray eyes slouching and looking tired most of the time.

"Ken will do," the boy said with a yawn. "I don't know how many times I gotta say that."

He seems like he slacks off, but he made it into U.A so he must have amazing aspects! Izuku thought.

"Team #5 - Sunada Kichi and Hirari Wakata!"

Wakata looked to the tall, thin girl and gave her a thumbs up and a smirk. Kichi, a girl who always looked worn out and pale, snickered a bit at her very hyper partner, knowing the fit would be very interesting.

"Team #6 - Sasaki Risako and Tokoi Konoda!"

The boy named Konoda who stood out the most in the class, due to his mutation-type Quirk making his head take the shape of a hammer tool, looked over to his chosen partner, Sasaki Risako. They both looked away from each other quickly with a huff, not impressed at all.

"And Team #7 - Yamanishi Kiyotaka, Koyama Shuzo, and Miiko Ishimoto!"

This was the most excited group of them all. Kiyotaka, a very short and chubby boy, was already excitedly spouting ideas to Shuzo, a guy who looked like he was in his twenties. Their other partner Ishimoto, stood by politely and smiled and nodded when they acknowledged her, giggling occasionally at their antics.

Everyone had moved to their partner now, so Izuku did the same, approaching Ken with a friendly smile.

"Yeah yeah, Midoriya, the quirkless guy," Ken said, with a dismissive wave. "I'm sure I'll do all the work for us like I usually end up doing."

"W-What do you mean? I'll definitely be helping," Izuku retorted.

Ken shrugged and yawned. "You'll just end up relying on my Quirk like everyone else."

Before Izuku could ask what he meant, Power Loader got their attention back on him.

"The goal is to create functioning robots smaller than a person, to try and replicate the larger ones I showed before," Power Loader explained. "At the end of the day, we will see which of them stands at the top!"

"Nice! So we'll get to crush the other people's robot huh," the girl named Risako spoke up with a grin, cracking her knuckles. She was a very intimidating looking girl with a large jaw and sharp teeth visible as she smiled.

"Precisely. Some of these robots were heavily damaged during the Hero entrance exam," their teacher pointed out. "U.A is always in need of these sorts of things for training and security! So show everyone what you've got!"

Izuku noticed that one of the large robots was missing an arm, its metal plating and now-exposed wires seemingly burnt off. He clenched his fists tightly.

That could've been from Kacchan… So this is what they faced during their exam? Then this should be the bare minimum I have to handle if I want to become a Hero student!

Ken was watching Izuku with slight interest. Now that everyone knew he was quirkless, nothing had seemed to change, with everyone respecting each other on an equal level. Ken also didn't believe in being an elitist about Quirks and those who lacked one, but from experience, he knew how cruel the world could be to the rare few without a Quirk.

Midoriya… I hope you don't think your lack of a Quirk is a curse, because I definitely wish I didn't have this Quirk of mine, Ken thought.

As the groups were separated and went to different parts of the workshop, they began to truly grasp just how much was at their disposal at U.A.

"I've never seen so much stuff! So much potential for babies! I'll never stop creating," Mei exclaimed excitedly, her voice carrying through the entire complex as she began to ravage the parts in one of the closets.

"Energetic as always," Izuku said with a smile. The class always looked so dreary in comparison to Mei's constant excited nature.

"Midoriya," came Ken's voice. He turned to the boy, who lifted his arm. "Time to show you my Quirk."

"Your Quirk?" Izuku watched, a bit surprised at Ken's suddenness.

Ken took a deep breath, and after a second, something bulged and popped out of his skin at his elbow.

"A-A screwdriver?" Izuku got a bit closer, but suddenly something came out of Ken's forearm— A hammer. "Y-You can create tools, or…?"

"My Quirk allows me to have any object I can vividly imagine protrude from my skin," Ken explained nonchalantly. "And I mean vividly— I have to feel, taste, and look at an object for hours to days to truly be able to create it."

T-Taste?!

The tools slipped back into Ken's arm, vanishing. He held up his other hand, opening it and making a pencil appear. He began to spin it in his fingers.

"The object can never leave my skin however, it's impossible," Ken continued. "So I'm useless for creating anything big."

"I see… I think that's an amazing useful Quirk!"

"Tch… Yeah, you and everyone else," Ken griped, before stopping the pencil and pointing it at Izuku. "Well, now you see why I'll be doing all the hard work."

I get it, I'm sure because of his Quirk's potential, he's been made to do a lot things for his peers, Izuku thought, imagining what it must've been like. Having a great Quirk can really have its downsides I guess…

"Actually, Ken, I have a proposal," Izuku began."

"Huh?"

Izuku smirked. "Let's try and do this without your Quirk!"

~Mid- Chapter Break~

Name: Ryuken "Ken" Takana

Age: 15

Quirk: Protrusion Creation - Can make any object(s) he can very vividly imagine protrude from his skin, but it cannot leave his body.

Personality: Bored, a daydreamer, dislikes hotheaded people, can snap easily if tempted.

Power 1 / 5 E- Speed 2/ 5 D- Technique 5 / 5 A - Intelligence 4 / 5 B- Cooperativeness 3 / 5 C

Halfway through the afternoon, everyone was busy creating their robots, most done with planning and executing their designs and the creation process.

"Sensei, is it always so hot in here?" The redhead Taro had asked.

"You have to get used to it in this field ya know," Power Loader commented. "But you can open the main door to help out for now."

Mei, who was nearby, hopped up and did the honors, pressing the button and allowing the large door on the side of the workshop slide open. Before she could turn back to continue working, she noticed something that caught her attention.

The school's main building was ahead through the trees. Mei zoomed in with her Quirk, getting a closer look at what she had seen.

Bingo!

"I'll be rightttt back," she told Shiro as she left her without letting her question it.

Izuku and Ken were working on their project when Mei suddenly jumped in.

"Midoriya!" Her shout startled the boy, as it always did, as she threw an arm around him and began to whisper. "I saw All Might in the school building~"

Izuku's eyes widened and he dropped the tool in his hand.

"A-All Might…?" They all knew that he was teaching at the school— After all, the press had been trying for ages to get a word with him about the news.

"Yup! If he's wandering the school building then this might be your shot to talk to him!"

Izuku gulped and looked over to Ken, who was hard at work welding metal plating together, the sparks reflecting off of the welding mask he was wearing/

"But how can we get to him? Were in the middle of something," Izuku whispered.

Mei smirked and moved away, waving to Power Loader and shouting to him.

"Mei, what is it?" The Hero approached, a bit confused by her presence at the table.

"Midoriya brought up a super cool idea! There was something in the workshop that could completely change the quality of our babies!"

Izuku looked at Mei in shock at the term she had used, then at Power Loader, who didn't seem fazed at all by the use of the word 'babies'.

"And what is that exactly?"

"Well it was, you see uh…" Mei turned away, not trying to show that she was thinking, before turning back to him with a big grin. "Those arcade machines! You said they were for scrapping right? They have parts we need!"

"The arcade machines that slacker class made years ago? I guess they're better off being utilized for something actually useful," Power Loader said in thought.

Mei nodded enthusiastically. "Yup! And they're bif and heavy! So I'll go to help him out!" She slapped Midoriya on the back hard for emphasis, making him yell out in pain.

Power Loader scratched his cheek, then shrugged. "Well, you've got fifteen minutes. Should be plenty of time to get to the workshop and get back," he told them.

"Perfect!" With that exclamation, Mei forced Izuku up and pushed him out of the workshop.

Ken, who hadn't noticed the commotion, lifted his welding mask, which then got absorbed back into his head, vanishing. He looked around, then at Power Loader.

"Uh…. Where did Midoriya go?"

Mei quickly led Izuku to the school building. Once inside, they did their best to act casual so they don't draw any ire their way.

"I saw him heading for the teacher's break room I think," Mei said as they walked. "So we'll intercept him— Here!"

They rounded the corner as she made that loud exclamation, and Izuku gasped loudly as they were now face to face with who they were looking for.

All Might was in a yellow suit that fit his large, buff figure very well. He looked down at them, his usual big smile appearing, as he gave a sort of salute to them.

"Oh! Excuse me," All Might said. He took a step to go around them, before he did a double-take. "Wait a second… I've seen you both before."

"Yup! I'm Hatsume Mei! You totally obliterated that sludge villain for us," Mei said, making an explosion gesture with her hands. "I told you I'd make it into U.A!"

All Might let out a laugh. "That you did! I'm still awaiting an amazing creation!"

Mei laughed, puffing her chest out as if paying homage to him. "Of course of course! I'll have prototypes for you by the end of the semester!"

Izuku, who had been completely quiet due to his nervousness, panicked a bit as All Might turned his attention to him.

"Sorry, and you were…?"

His mind in a daze, Izuku managed to make himself look up at the man who was his lifelong Hero, the one who was inspiring him to do everything he was doing.

"I-Izuku… Midoriya…"

That was all he could manage with a shaky voice. All Might let out another hearty laugh and patted Izuku's shoulder.

"I remember you that day as well! Glad to see you are as driven as the girl beside you," he spoke. "Anyways I—"

Blood suddenly burst from All Might's mouth, making Izuku yell in surprise. The man wiped it away with his handkerchief and laughed it off.

"J-Just a joke! Haha! But I really really must be going then!"

All Might stepped around them and hurried off. Mei nudged Izuku in the side, making him look over at her.

"Isn't this your chance? Weren't you waiting for this like, your whole life?"

Izuku's eyes widened. She was right; this was everything he had ever wanted, to be able to speak to the #1 Hero and ask the one question that had plagued him since his youth.

Turning around, Izuku watched All Might leaving, every step he took seeming like he was going miles and miles away from him…

"A-All Might!"

The large man paused and looked back as Izuku spoke. The boy was now facing him completely, his legs trembling a bit but his face fully determined.

"I-I have to ask you something…" Izuku paused to gulp, taking a step forward, trying to stop the shakiness in his legs. "Can s-someone become a Hero… without a Quirk?"

Izuku had practically blurted out that last part without meaning to. He looked down at the floor, his heart pounding, sweating nervously.

"Oh, I see," All Might said after a few moments. "You must be the one I've heard of— The first student at U.A without a Quirk, after the Quirk requirement was lifted."

Izuku looked up at All Might in surprise. H-He's heard of me?!

"While my thoughts before might have been that you should pursue a career in police work," All Might said, lifting a finger, "I'd say coming here was a step in the right direction. But it won't be easy for you, not at all. While this school will guide you and teach you the semantics—"

"Only you can decide now if you can become a Hero."

With that, All Might nodded to them and turned, quickly heading off.

Izuku was left speechless. Finally, he had heard what he wanted all along, something not even his own Mother could tell him when he needed it most.

I can become a Hero too… If I keep working at it!

He smiled, clenching his fists as his shaking finally subsided.

"There ya go! You finally did it," Mei exclaimed. "But were not done yet!"

"H-Huh? We have to get back or Power Loader-sensei will—"

"No way! You saw how weird All Might was being, right? And the totally real blood! I wanna see what was up with that, don't you?!"

Izuku gulped, thinking for a moment. All Might's the #1 Hero… He might just have a really busy schedule, and we shouldn't disturb that.

Before Izuku could object, Mei was dragging him along.

"Come on Midoriya! Let's see what's going on with him!~"

To Be Continued

Next Chapter: A Hero's Secret