Hey guys, this is part of a double chapter upload, and it was written before the break. The author notes for both chapters will be in part two. Hope you all enjoy.
Two days after the USJ Incident.
Usually, Ichigo wouldn't of been happy that classes had been canceled, but he was relieved to hear that they were the previous day, as he would've missed them either way.
He finished changing out of his hospital gown, replacing them with the UA school uniform, lazily buttoning it before walking out of the nurses bathroom.
"So the old lady's finally letting you out?" Isshin said lightheartedly to his son as he walked into the room.
"Yeah. Chiyo said that I'll be left with some pretty bad scars, but other than that I'm completely fine." Ichigo responded.
"Well, that's some good news. If you're all healed up, then you probably should head to class. Aizawa won't be too happy with you showing up to his class late." He warned.
"Wait, he's still gonna teach today? Jeez, and you all call me stubborn." Came Ichigo's playful reply.
"I know. We all told him he probably shouldn't, but he completely ignored us." He informed.
"Sounds like Aizawa. Anyway, I better get to class. Who knows what he might do if I'm late, especially after I disobeyed him at the USJ. I'll see you tonight." Ichigo said, walking out of the nurses office.
"See you then son, and say hi to my step-daughter for me!" Isshin teased, getting a middle finger as a reply.
"Man, those news channels really made a big deal over the USJ didn't they." Kaminari said, leaning back in his chair lazily.
"I know, right! I was really surprised when I turned on the news yesterday." Kirishima agreed.
"I kinda of expected it. The hero course that constantly pumps out pro heroes got attacked, so of course they would latch onto a story like that." Jirou commented, fiddling with one of her earlobes.
"Yeah, who knows what might have happened it the teachers hadn't shown up when they did." Sero said, crossing his arms on his desk and laying down.
"Shut up Sero! Just thinking about it makes me want to wet myself!" Mineta yelled, flailing about as the door slid open.
"Well, at least not much has changed even after having a near death experience." Ichigo analyzed as he entered the room.
"Kurosaki! You're already out of recovery girls office!" Kirishima said, Ichigo taking his seat next to him and behind Kaminari.
"I guess I heal really fast? I dunno. My body's covered in scars now though." Ichigo stated, lifting up his sleeve and showing where his arm had been impaled by a metal pipe.
"Ouch. That's gotta hurt, but scars are manly as hell." He said, looking at the bright side of things.
"I guess they do look pretty cool huh." Ichigo replied, Izumi entering the room.
"H-Hey everyone, Sorry I'm late. I kinda forgot to set my alarm last night, and I woke up fifteen minutes late. I apologize for any inconveniences. " She said, bowing before taking her seat to the right of Ichigo.
"It's good to see you, Izumi-chan." Ichigo whispered, remembering that she had wanted to keep their new relationship hidden.
"I missed you, I-Ichigo-kun." She replied, still getting used to calling her boyfriend by his first name casually.
Then, as soon as the clock struck 8:24, Iida entered the classroom. "Everyone! Class is about to start, so please take your seats!" He ordered.
"We're all seated already. You're the only one who isn't." Tsuyu pointed out, the rest of the class laughing as Iida stomped to his seat.
"Shoot." He said, shaking in his seat.
"Hey, Tsu. Who's gonna teach homeroom today?" Mina asked, leaning to far back in her seat as Tsuyu caught her.
"I dunno. Aizawa-sensei is still recovering in the hospital, so I doubt he'll be the one teaching today." She guessed, Aizawa walking into the room a second later.
"Good morning everyone." He said, arms and face wrapped in bandages.
"You're bad so soon too!" The class exclaimed, Aizawa having the worst of the injuries other than maybe Ichigo.
"Aizawa-sensei, does this mean you're alright?" Iida asked, as his teacher limped to the podium.
"I wouldn't call that alright." Ichigo commented, sweat-dropping as he did. 'I really do heal fast compared to others. I wonder why, because I don't think my dad ever did.' He thought silently.
"My well-being doesn't matter at this point. What matters is that the fight is not over yet." He said, dread filling the room.
"D-D-Don't t-tell me it's the villains again?" Mineta whined, shivering in his seat.
The class grew stiff with anticipation as they waited for Aizawa to say what was coming next.
"The UA Sports Festival is drawing near." He stated simply, acting like he hadn't built up the situation.
"THAT"S JUST A NORMAL SCHOOL EVENT!" They all yelled, deflating moments after.
"But wait, isn't it a bit early to have the event so soon after the villains attacked us?" Jirou asked, most off the class agreeing with her.
"Apparently, the higher ups think of it as showing the world that we are strong as ever and that our crisis management is solid as a rock. I don't know, something like that anyway. It helps that security is going to be strengthened five times that of the previous years."
The class nodded in acknowledgement, but still open to the fact that the villains could crash the event.
"Either-way, the sports festival is also a huge opportunity to show the world the you have the skill and quirks needed to be a pro. It's not something to be cancelled because of a villain attack."
"What do you mean? A villain attack like that should be plenty for UA to shut down the festival for the year. I mean, its just a sports competition." Mineta shivered, showing how great his cowardice had grown.
"Wait, Mineta. Have you seen the UA Sports Festival, because someone who has couldn't call it that." Ichigo questioned.
"Of course I have, but that doesn't mean I'm willing to risk my life to participate in it!"
"Our sports festival is one of Japan's biggest televised events. Once, the Olympics were called a festival of sports and the whole country when wild over them. Now, with reductions in scale and popularity, they are now a shell compared to what they used to be. And now, for Japan and many other countries, what has taken place of the Olympics is the UA Sports Festival." Aizawa explained, though it did little to calm the paranoid Mineta.
"As he said, many of the Top Heroes will be watching for scouting!" Momo claimed.
"I know that, but still!"
"After we graduating, it's typical to join agencies as side-kicks!" Kaminari said, attempting to impress Jirou with his knowledge of the steps after college.
"It's true, but most miss their chance at becoming independent after that and end up being a side-kick forever. I have a feeling you'll be one of them, since your dumb enough to not take the opportunities provided to you." She said, causing his attitude to change from smug to dreary.
"Of course, joining these large agencies will give you more popularity and experience compared to the smaller ones. If you expect to go pro, the the path to your future starts with this event, and at once chance a year, that leaves a total of three chances throughout. No aspiring hero can afford miss this event! Understand that, and don't slack off on your preparations." He finished, the class giving a collective "Yes sir!" In response.
"Good. Homeroom is dismissed."
"And that is why I have assigned this paper to you all." Cementoss said, the bell ringing subsequently after. "Alright! Make sure the paper is done by Monday! I'll see you all next week."
"Man, even after those villain attacks, I can't help but be super excited about this!" Kirishima beamed, bursting up from his desk in elation.
"I know! If we put on a good show, we'll have taken the next step to becoming a pro!" Sero replied, bumping his shorter friend with his oddly-shaped elbow.
"We will only have a few chances however, so we can't afford to mess this up." Tokoyami said, getting down from his desk .
"Aww, ruining the good mood is so unmanly."
"Oh my. What'll I do? I stand out just by standing still!" Aoyoma bragged, his enthusiasm scaring the nearby Koji.
"While confidence isn't necessarily bad, you usually have to have the power to back it up." Ichigo teased, before focusing on his girlfriend.
"Man everyone's so into it!" Izumi commented to him.
"I'm surprised you aren't. This is a really big step in the right direction."
"I am, it just feels, I dunno a bit off." She replied.
"I guess I see what you mean. There's only one hero internship I'm looking for." He said.
Getting up from his desk, he stretched, body stiff from sitting in one spot for to long.
"Anyway, I'm going to get something to eat. You coming Izumi, Ochako?" He asked.
"We're right behind you!" Ochako said gladly, dragging her friend with her, face shrouded in a black shadow.
"Um, Ochako, are you alright?" Ichigo questioned, wondering if her sanity was intact.
"I'm fine. I just want everyone to know that I'm gonna do my best!" She said, striking a pose with her fist in the air, forgetting she was holding onto her friend.
"Ochako! Quit waving Izumi around like a balloon. You're gonna make her sick!"
"Uraraka-chan? I never asked you why you wanted to become a hero." Izumi asked, as Uraraka, Ichigo, Iida, Shouko and herself walked through the halls towards the cafeteria.
"Well, it's kinda selfish, but I want to become a Pro hero for the money they earn." She explained sheepishly.
"Wait, you said for money?"
"Boiling it down to its bare minimum yes." She said, rapidly rubbing the back of her head. "Sorry for it being so unwholesome compared to yours and... I actually don't know why Kurosaki-kun wants to be a hero, but that doesn't matter!" She said, looking away even more embarrassed than before.
"Why? How is goal to support your livelihood dishonorable?" Iida said, hands moving rapidly in different directions as he spoke.
"He's right, it was just unexpected." Izumi agreed.
"Plus, she said boiling it down to the bare minimum, so their's also other reasons too." Ichigo pointed out.
"Yeah, I said boiling it down to the bare minimum because the money isn't for me. My parents own a construction company, but they haven't gotten any work so we're flat out broke. I really should put my problems on you all though."
"Construction, Huh?" Ichigo muttered, thinking out loud.
"Wait! If she got licensed, then the costs would plummet!" Izumi exclaimed.
"Right! I told my dad that when I was little, but...
Flashback
"You want to work for us?" Ochako's father said, kneeling down to be face to face with his daughter.
"Yeah. When I get big, I'll help you and mommy!" She said, running towards her father before stopping a foot away.
Placing his hand on her head, he ruffled her hair.
"I appreciate the thought, Ochako. But as your dad, I'd be happier if you achieved your dream. When that happens, you can take us to Hawaii!"
End Flashback
A stray tear started to roll down her cheek as she gripped her school skirt tightly.
"I'll definitely become a hero and make money so that my parents can live easier!" She claimed, wiping the tear off her face.
There was a long pause before anyone spoke, Iida breaking the silence by clapping.
"Bravo! Bravo Uraraka! Bravo!" He yelled, bringing attention to himself and the others in their group.
'Not only is she aspiring to be a hero, she's taken reality into account as well. I really do have quite some distance to go before I catch up, don't I.' She thought, pondering heavily on the topic as Iida continued to clap.
"Young Midoriya is here!" All-Might boomed, giving a small twist to his iconic catchphrase.
"All-Might-sensei? What's the matter?" Izumi asked worriedly.
"Do you want to have lunch with me? Young Kurosaki, I would like you to come to if you don't mind." He said, peaking around the corner with a lunch box.
'He's like a maiden!' Ochako thought, spit-taking at the absurdity of the scene in-front of her.
The both of them looked to their friends for confirmation, getting a nod as a go ahead.
"Yeah, we would love to." Ichigo said, before he and Izumi followed the giant man through the halls.
"Why do you think he needed the two of them?" Ochako asked Iida as they got in line for Lunch Rush's Eatery.
"Well, for Kurosaki-san, I have the feeling it was about his fight with that Nomu creature. I couldn't tell you why he needed Midoriya, unless it's about how they have similar quirks." Iida guessed, Ochako nodding in agreement with his speculations.
'All-Might...and Izumi Midoriya...I have my eye on the both of you."
"Only fifty minutes!" Izumi cried as Toshinori poured a cup of tea.
"Sadly, yes. That is what this old-man has been reduced to. I over did it one to many times. That Nomu was a tough opponent, and I'm surprised you held it off as long as you did." He said regretfully, turning his gaze over to Ichigo.
"There's a small problem with that actually. I need to talk to my trainer about this sometime in the next two weeks, because during my second fight with him, It wasn't all me. It was like a more primal part of me took over, and I could barely affect what my body did. Another thing is, I ran out of spirit energy during that fight, which has never happened before. It's like my body blasted through my reserves at a highly increased rate for that burst in power." Ichigo explained.
"That does sound serious." Toshinori commented, knowing the basics about spirit energy was thanks to Isshin.
"Anyway, how long can you hold your buff form now?"
"About an hour and a half, two if I really push myself." He said.
"About that...I'm so sor-."
"AHAHAHA!" Toshinori laughed, cutting Izumi off as he spat blood into a napkin. "There's nothing to apologize for. We really are alike aren't we!"
She blushed, embarrassed over her habit of apologizing when it wasn't needed.
"Anyway more importantly you two, the sports festival. Midoriya, you can't regulate All-For-One yet can you." She shook her head. "Then what's the plan?" He asked.
"We still have two weeks until the festival, so I'll be training my body to see if I can use All-For-One at any level. If that doesn't work, I will most likely have to do most of the events quirkless and use All-For-One as a last resort." She explained.
"I see. To be frank, this Sports Festival will be more important than most. Since I don't have much time left as the Symbol of Peace, I need you to announce to the world, you, the fledgling of the All-Might, need to tell them all that 'I am here!'" He said, his eyes glowing the bright blue that shines when he uses All-For-One.
"Well, that was all I needed to say. You two can go ahead and finish lunch in here if you want. I have to go talk to Nezu about the security at the sports festival. I don't know how the hell he plans to multiply the security by five." Toshinori griped, walking out of the room.
Frozen in fear and shock, Izumi continued to look forward, staring out the window at nothing.
"You know, it's okay to breathe." Ichigo said.
"O-Oh. Sorry about that I-Ichigo."
"He was right, you do apologize way to much." He said, placing a kiss on her nose.
Blushing bright red, she mumbled something incoherent before looking away.
"Say that again please? I couldn't quite hear you." He asked.
"Y-You m-missed. My l-lips are below m-my nose." She mumbled, Ichigo understanding this time.
"Oh, I see. Alright then, allow me to make it up to you."
Gently grabbing her chin, he tilted her head upwards before leaning his head down and planting his lips onto her own.
His hand lifted from her chin before finding a resting place on her waist as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
They separated slowly, neither one of them wanting to stop, but knowing they should.
"W-Well, we should probably get back to class now. There's five minutes before it starts." Ichigo informed, both fixing their uniforms before walking out of the teachers lounge.
"Man, after the beginning of the school day, the rest was super boring in comparison." Kirishima said, lay back in his chair.
"Yeah, you're right. I was total snooze-fest after having the Sports Festival announced." Kaminari agreed.
"Alright well, I'm gonna get my training started as soon as possible. I'll see you all on Monday." Ichigo said, heading for the door.
Opening it, he revealed a large group of students huddling at the door. "Eh? Do you all need something?" He asked, ignoring Izumi and Ochako's surprised faces.
After no-one answered and they continued muttering, he got annoyed.
"Oi! If you don't have any business with us, get out of the way please. Some of us have training to do."
Groaning after no one moved, he went to talk again before being interrupted.
"Kurosaki. Their just scouting out the competition. We survived the villain attack, so of course they're gonna line up to see what their up against." Bakugo said, before walking up beside him. "Move the hell out of the way, extra's!"
"I came to see the famous class 1-A, but you two seem pretty arrogant. Are all you 1-A students like this?" A man with messy purple haired asked, yawning afterwards.
Most of the class shook their heads in denial, but Ichigo and Bakugo stayed stone faced, their normal frowns adorning their features.
"Seeing something like this makes me disillusioned. Many of the people here enrolled in general studies or the other courses because they didn't make the hero course. Did you two know that?" He asked rhetorically.
"Anyway, the school left us a chance to get into the hero course depending on the results of the Sports Festival. If we do well, they will consider our transfer into the hero course, which means they must also transfer someone out." He continued, the class stiffening at his claim.
"I didn't come to scout you out, I came to make a declaration of war. Even if you are in the hero course, I might sweep your spot from under you." He finished.
"Wow. And a round of applause to you. You know, you can declare whatever the he'll you want, but it doesn't mean anything. If you think you can make it in here, then prove it in the sports festival. I didn't open this door to here your bullshit, I opened it to leave, so move the hell out of my way!" Ichigo said firmly, getting surprised looks from the crowd outside the door.
He and Bakugo pushed through the crowd before getting stopped by another person.
"Hey, I'm from class B, the hero course class next door. I heard you all fought villains so I came to hear about it! Don't get so full of yourselves!" He said. "It'll be especially embarrassing when you bark this much and you fail!"
They both ignored him before walking past, not giving him any attention.
"Hey you two! What are you gonna do about the situation? You got them all mad at us!" Kirishima asked.
"It doesn't matter if they're mad as long as you make it to the top." Bakugo replied.
"Wow. Couldn't of said it better myself." Ichigo complimented as they walked out of earshot.
"So simple, yet some manly!" Kirishima said, a tear falling out of his eye.
"Guys! Don't fall for their tricks! They just made a lot of unnecessary enemies!" Kaminari and Mineta yelled.
The following day.
"Oi, Bakugo! I know you're in there!" Ichigo called from outside Bakugo's house.
"What the hell do you want Kurosaki? I'm training here!" He called out from his window, voice holding no real malice.
"I just wanted to know if you would like to train with me. My teacher only teaches me sword on sword, so I kinda need some practice with hand to hand!" He replied.
"Tsk. Whatever. I'll be down in five minutes."
"Old hag! I'm going out for a while!" Bakugo yelled into his home, exiting the house through the front door.
"Alright, you ready then?" Ichigo asked.
"Yeah. So where we going carrot-top."
"Well, I was thinking that the forests on UA grounds would be best since we can use our quirks freely there, but if you have a better spot be my guest." Ichigo responded dryly.
"Your plans fine. Let's just get there quick. We're wasting time."
"This looks like a good spot. We'll go ahead and practice here." Ichigo said, setting his backpack down on the edge of the medium sized clearing.
"So, you got some shit you need to do or can we just start?" Bakugo said crudely, setting down his own bag.
"Nope, I'm ready to start whenever. You gotta give some tips as we go on though. I'm not being your punching bag for free here." He joked.
"Yeah yeah, I know. Lets just fucking start already. Ready, set, go!"
Launching himself with medium sized explosions, Bakugo maneuvered through the air sporadically before sending himself at Ichigo. Watching him brace for impact in his chest, he timed and explosion to blind Ichigo as well as get behind him, similar to what he did to Izumi in the combat training. His face lit up in surprise when his 'friend' ducked under the explosion and grabbed him by the wrist.
"You didn't think I was gonna fall for the trick you pulled on Izumi, did you?" Ichigo said, delivering a kick to Bakugo's chest and knocking him away. Growling he charged again, using a new attack pattern he hadn't shown anyone before, tripping Ichigo with a explosion powered kick. While he was airborne, he brought both his hands together, bringing them down onto Ichigo's chest and slamming him onto the hard dirt ground.
He laid on the ground for a second before forcing himself upright, a coughing fit wreaking through his body. "Shit, no holding back huh. I guess I can't be too surprised." He said weakly, standing up a second later. "Lets go again!"
Thirteen day's later. The beginning of the UA Sports Festival.
"Dad! I'm headed out now!" Ichigo called out, voice muffled lightly by the piece of toast in his mouth.
"Alright Ichigo! I'll be watching from the crowd!" He called out from another room.
"See you there!"
After opening the door, he jumped off their porch before running through the streets trying to get to the train station. Scanning his membership card, he entered the building just before his train left, getting in last second as it lifted off the ground. Hanging on the edge of the train, he watched the city fly by him one building at a time, the one or two oddly shaped buildings always catching his attention for a few moments before leaving his sight. When the train slowed to a halt, he hopped off and walked out of the station, crossing the street quickly before entering UA grounds.
Today was the day that he had been anticipating for weeks, the day he had been Katsuki's punching bag for, the day he showed the world his potential.