Max: I do hope that's a good wow XD

Deku: Yep! Many changes this time around, so many changes... And we haven't even gotten to the big things yet, or no... Not yet...

Season One, Episode V

Combat Training

. . .

Kaiji Adachi

. . .

Things were... Weird, around UA after the attack. The media had torn the school a new one for letting the villains get inside, despite the fact that no students were really injured in the event. Everyone was thanking All Might too, but word was still getting around fast about the Hero Course class that faced a villain attack so early. When I arrived at our class after the day was over, I was surprised to find that Mr. Aizawa was still gone.

"Still no sign of him huh?" I asked, setting my bag aside.

"Nnnnope!" Suru replied, kicking up her feet on the desk. "I think its safe to say he's dead, or just forgot about us."

"Still," Sen chimed in, "You'd think they would send another teacher to at least tell us what's going-"

Her words were cut off as the door burst open, drawing all our eyes to it. My own lighting up with awe, and disbelief, as the Number One Hero, All Might stood in the entrance. Wearing his hero costume, and wearing that massive, unfaltering smile.

"I am here!" He greeted, sending a chill down my spine with his catchphrase. "To be your substitute teacher!"

We were all staring back at him, completely dumbfounded by his presence. Our silence only broken when Suru finally replied, "No F-ing way."

"M-Mr. All Might, sir." Sen found her nerve, stepping forward and bowing her head respectfully. "It is an honor to meet you in person."

"Y-Yeah what she said," Mako added with a nervous laugh. "But, where is Mr. Aizawa?"

"Hmm?" All Might quirked an eyebrow, "I assumed someone had told you, but Eraserhead was injured during the USJ attack yesterday," He explained. "The injuries he suffered were severe, he's been going through treatment and managed to make it through his classes earlier," All Might quickly added, "But decided he was much too tired to go through with your lessons today."

Was it okay to be happy that Aizawa was injured? Probably not, but whatever. "So we get All Might as our substitute? That is so cool!" I was beaming in his presence.

"About time we got a proper teacher." Ryoko smirked, rising from her own seat. "So what's on the agenda? It better be something cool, I don't wanna waste the opportunity."

Earning a hearty laugh from the Number One Hero, "Hahahaha! Oh but this lesson will certainly be a change from what you've experienced so far! As per Eraserhead's orders, today we'll be doing Combat Training!"

What? "Really? So soon?" I questioned, "I figured we'd get more training first." I wonder if the villain attack had anything to do with this...

"So who are we fighting?" Ryoko questioned, a bit too eagerly. "Each other?" Oh no.

"That is correct!" All Might assured with a nod, making his way over to the teachers desk where some boxes were stacked. "And you've been provided with some gym uniforms so you don't have to worry about ruining your clothes!" That's good, these form fitting shirts aren't exactly cheap. "So everyone get changed, and we'll make our way to the field!"

. . .

Even as we all stood before the Number One Hero, now dressed in the blue UA athletic uniforms, I could hardly believe it was really happening. I knew All Might was a teacher here, but I never imagined he would actually teach our class. I mean, who better to learn about being a hero than from the guy sitting firmly at the top? It wasn't even close, the gap between All Might and Endeavor the Number Two Hero was massive. And now we got to learn from his experience...

"You'll be facing off in one on one mock battles, " He explained, holding a few notes that looked comically small in his massive hands. "No special scenarios, the rules are simply to incapacitate your opponent, force them out of the ring, or make them admit defeat."

I guess that explained the painted battle circles on the ground, "But sir, we have an odd number of students, does that mean some of us will be going twice?" I questioned, looking down the line.

"That is correct," All Might nodded, "Each of you will face at least two opponents, selected by myself of course!" He added with a laugh. "But before I draw any names, do we have any two contenders that would like to kick things-"

"I'm in." Ryoko cut him off, stepping forward. "I'll fight first."

Why was I not surprised? "Oh ho! So eager!" All Might laughed, before looking to the rest of us. "Any brave challengers?"

I swallowed my fears, and stepped forward. "I'll go first." Let's be honest, Ryoko would probably tear anyone else apart right?

"That's what I like to see, eager contenders!" All Might was a beacon of positivity, why couldn't we just keep him as our teacher? "Take your places in the ring, and we'll begin on my mark!"

I nodded, before looking to Ryoko. To my surprise, she was staring back at me intently, "Hey, good luck and no hard feelings?" I offered, giving a faint smile.

"Heh, sure if you say so." Well that sounded genuine, not sure what I was expecting though.

We both took our places at opposite edges of the ring, it was roughly thirty feet in diameter so we had plenty of room to move around. As I measured up my opponent, I was already thinking strategy. Knowing that Ryoko had me beat in terms of combat skill, my best bet would probably just be to try and brute force her out of the ring right? So I braced myself and prepared to transform.

"Ryoko! Are you ready?" All Might asked.

"Hell yeah!" She answered with a wicked, toothy grin.

"Adachi! Are you ready?"

"Hnnngh!" I clenched up, growing in size rapidly to my croc form. "Ready!"

"BEGIN!"

"HRAAAAH!" I charged at Ryoko head on, attempting to catch her off guard as I picked up what little speed I could. If I could just back her into a corner, and force her out fast, I might have this in the bag.

But she didn't even transform, eyes narrowing sharply as I closed the distance. "Tch, how pathetic." As she crouched down, letting me get closer and closer, before she sprung up into the air. I was hardly expecting her to launch directly over me, spinning through the air while I tried to stop.

Realizing all too late that now I was the one on the edge of the ring, my momentum carrying me dangerously- "Gah!" I yelped as I felt a powerful kick to the back of my neck, forcing me to stumble forward while I was already off balance. I stepped right over the line, out of the ring.

"And Adachi is out!" All Might sounded, "Whew, I wasn't expecting the first match to go so quickly, but excellent work letting your opponent get in close Ryoko."

"Excellent work is the only kind I do." She answered smugly, "Still, would have appreciated a real fight..."

Now was yet another time I had to be grateful that lizards can't blush. Because I was drowning with embarrassment, outplayed by a single move in front of the Number One Hero. My quirk timing out, I made my way back to the others as I changed back to normal. "I can't believe I fell for that, I'm so stupid!" I kicked myself, sighing heavily.

"Worry not young Adachi!" All Might offered, "With every defeat, comes the chance to grow! Think about why you lost," Because I'm a big stupid idiot? "And strive for improvement!"

"Right... Thank you, All Might."

"Alright, for our next two contenders..." All Might looked over the student names, "Lets go with... Suru, vs... MAKO!"

"Nice." The short warping girl vanished and appeared in her place. "Alright angel-boy let's see what you're made of!"

To which Mako sighed, "Is it weird she is the one I was most afraid of fighting?"

"No," I shook my head, "No it is not."

Once Mako took his position opposite Suru, All Might gave the signal. "You may begin!"

"Alright Angel Boy," Suru called him out immediately, "Wanna see what's faster? My teleportation or your wings?"

"That seems kind of obvious," He answered earnestly, "You can literally teleport across the distance between us in an instant."

"Well aren't you a buzzkill," She chuckled in response, as Mako spread his wings. "Oh well, I guess if you're gonna be like that, I'll just-" She vanished in an instant, but at the same time Mako took off into the air. When she reappeared directly in front of where he'd been, she actually looked surprised.

"He outran her teleport?" I blinked in surprise.

"You sneaky little bird brain," Suru replied with a grin, "You kept me talking so you had time to prepare for take off!"

"What can I say?" Mako shrugged, remaining in the air above her. "Your biggest weakness is that mouth of yours."

"Ha! You've got that right," Ryoko added, smirking as she watched. Her interest clearly piqued by now. "Kick her ass bird boy!" She sounded... Excited? Not just at the prospect of seeing Suru get beaten, but the fight in general.

"So you like fighting huh?" I asked, quirking an eyebrow.

She looked almost embarrassed for a second, quickly deflecting. "Who wouldn't want to see that runt get smacked around?"

"So what, you're just gonna sit up there the whole time?" Suru asked, tilting her head.

"Yes, out of your reach." He nodded, before spreading his wings wider and giving one powerful wing beat. Much to everyone's surprise, it actually released a pretty powerful gust of wind onto the ring, Suru had to visibly brace herself. "You've got a pretty small body, which means your light and easy to push around!" He explained, generating gust after gust. To the point Suru had to start teleporting around the ring to avoid getting blown off her feet. "And I remember how you exhausted yourself during our evaluation, if I make you teleport too much you'll burn out your Quirk!"

"I didn't realize Mako had such a strategic mind," Sen voiced my own thoughts, as we waited to see just how Suru would react. At this distance, it wouldn't matter even if she time skipped either! What was one second going to do when Mako was so far away? "I wonder how Suru will reply..."

"Very perceptive bird brain!" Suru called out, bouncing around the ring with teleports like a pinball. "One small problem, you are missing the part that actually tired me out!" Before she vanished once again.

"Huh?" Mako blinked, slowing his wing beats.

"It wasn't just teleporting, I can do that all day," Of course, right behind him. "It was teleporting so high up, and moving two objects with me that burned out my Quirk!" She declared, slapping a hand down onto his back. "Bye bye!"

They both disappeared, before reappearing at the edge of the ring. Mako just on the outside, while Suru remained within the painted circle. "Mako is out! Suru is the winner!" All Might declared, "An excellent battle of wits! Mako you created a sound strategy based on what you knew about her Quirk, but Suru was also careful not to reveal she still had the upper hand until you'd lowered your guard!" He sounded like a child, raising a fist as he beamed. "Such capable young Heroes! I wish I'd visited this class sooner!"

Mako sighed, shaking his head with a small smile. "Well, its hard to be mad with praise like that, good fight." He added, looking to Suru.

"Yeah, it was," She nodded, "Better luck next time." Before walking back over to the rest of us together.

"Lets see, who hasn't gone yet?" All Might quickly looked back over the list, "Alright, Sen! You will have your first match against... Adachi!"

So my round two was already here, I suppose that was to be expected. With only five students I don't think anyone was going to get much break time. I nodded and made my way into the ring, weighing my chances while Sen took her position across from me. I couldn't use my transformation again... Well, maybe I could, but it would be painful. Besides its not like I'd want to use that on Sen anyways, she could get seriously hurt.

"You may begin when ready!" All Might called out.

But as I prepared to fight, Sen bowed her head. "Good luck, do not hold back." She said, before rising up and assuming her fighting stance.

Right, her martial arts... This was going to hurt, wasn't it? "Right, you'd better not hold back either!" And I just made it worse for myself, probably.

But she nodded in response, smirking faintly. "Then lets go."

She charged at me, full speed. I barely had time to raise my arm to block her attack, as she jumped and spun into a roundhouse kick. The blow slammed into my forearm, the impact hurt but it gave me an opening. Pushing her leg away, I stepped forward threw my own punch. It was heavy handed and inexperienced, but Sen knew that despite being clumsy I could hit hard so she backed off to avoid it.

The distance between us didn't remain for long, as she landed on the backfoot and lunged for me once again. I tried to defend by spinning around and swinging at her with my tail. "Ngh!" I yelped, as she caught it with both hands.

"Nice try," Sen offered, keeping a firm grip, "But I figured you would try t- Agh!"

While she was talking, I yanked her towards me as hard as I could with my tail. Taking her off guard before cocking back one arm, and close-lining her with my forearm. Knocking her flat out on the ground, "Less talk, more fight!" I said with a toothy grin, reaching down to try and grab her. But Sen recovered quicker than I thought, rolling across the ground to avoid me before springing back to her feet. "Get back here!" I lunged at her once more, knowing my best chance to get her out of the ring was to grab on tight and give her a good throw.

Unfortunately, my desperation was my downfall. As Sen planted her feet, and ducked low. She moved faster than I thought possible without a Quirk, and rather than dodge like she'd been doing, leaned in beneath my outstretched arm. "HYAAGH!"

"GAH!" Driving her elbow into my ribs with all the force she could muster, I had the wind knocked out of me. My lunch nearly following, before she pulled back and jumped. Spinning around in the air before me, and slamming the heel of her shoe into the side of my jaw. The combo attack had me reeling, and before I had the chance to recover, Sen attacked with a flying knee.

The attack hitting me right below the jaw, an uppercut that rung my bell hard. It was more than enough to knock me senseless, as I fell flat on my back just outside the circle. "Adachi is out! Sen is the winner!"

While the victor landed gracefully on her feet, and bowed once again. "It was an honor to fight you." She offered, before approaching to give me a hand.

I was still getting my senses back, and felt sore about the loss. "Right... Thanks." I mean, she didn't even use her Quirk right? I just got my ass kicked. I let her help me up, rubbing my sore snout, "Did you have to hit my jaw so hard?" I asked, groaning in pain.

"Sorry about that," Sen chuckled nervously. "After feeling the toughness of your outer hide, I realized your underside was less protected... And you left it wide open." Oh great, I've got weak spots, good to know.

"Excellent technique, Sen." All Might congratulated, "Adachi, you put up a good fight but your fighting style could use some work." He added with a nod, before looking to the others. "Alright, I'll draw names for the next match... With only two matches left, next we'll have... Suru, up against... Ryoko!"

Uh oh.

"Good," The four armed firebrand smirked, quickly making her way into the ring. "You should put up a good fight."

"I don't know," Suru shrugged, taking her position as well. "Maybe I'm too worn out from all that teleporting~"

"We all know this isn't going to end well right?" I pointed out, looking to Sen and Mako. "I'm not crazy, right?"

"Begin!"

"HRAAAGH!" Ryoko charged at Suru like a wild animal, wearing an excited grin as she transformed mid charge. Growing in size, lunging for Suru who teleported out of the way.

"Ease up will ya?" She asked, appearing behind her a safe distance away. But Ryoko was already on the attack again, taking swings at her as Suru frantically tried to dodge. "What the heck is your deal!?"

"Such ruthless aggression..." I heard All Might mutter as he watched.

What the hell was this? I'm not crazy right? This is completely different than how she fought me. Instead of waiting for an opening, she is just attacking and attacking over and over again. There didn't appear to be any kind of strategy here just... Aggression. Wait, why wasn't Suru teleporting?

"Now take THIS!" Ryoko had Suru on the backfoot with her constant attacks, and reached out with one clawed hand aiming for her face.

Suru was desperate, and had to use a timeskip to get clear of the attack. Vanishing and appearing at the opposite side of the ring, panting heavily for breath. "Wh-What... The hell, Ryoko?" She gasped out.

The much larger, four armed brute chuckled as she approached her. "Watching you bounce around so much, I had plenty of time to study your Quirk... You might say you can teleport yourself whenever you want, but I think there are certain conditions you need for that to happen." Ryoko explained, coming to a stop a few feet from the exhausted girl. "Something simple, like a second to focus or... Both feet on the ground, I'm not sure, so I attacked relentlessly to see what would happen."

And lucky her, she got the desired result.

"Damn," Suru sighed heavily, lowering her head. "You got me figured out, forced me to use my timeskip... Guess you aren't as dumb as I thought."

"That's what you get for underestimating me," She scoffed, slowly shifting back to normal. Before she smirked wickedly, "But there is something else-"

"Oh really?" Suru replied, before lifting her head with a big grin, before vanishing. "You'll have to tell me after the-"

I physically cringed as Ryoko turned on the teleporting girl, laying into her face with two fists at once and catching her just as she appeared. The impact sent Suru flying clear from the ring, where she tumbled to a stop in the grass. "You shouldn't interrupt people," Ryoko sneered, "I was going to say, you're predictable, always attacking from behind like a coward."

"Match over!" All Might called out, "Ryoko is the victor, are you alright Suru?" He added, quickly making his way over.

The girl sat up slowly, wincing in pain and holding her face. Though, because of its lack of definition it was impossible to tell what the damage was. "Tsst! Owe owe owe... Yeah, yeah I'm okay..." Before looking back at Ryoko, "You seriously changed back to normal, just to make me think you lowered your guard?"

The four armed beast of a girl nodded, chest puffed out and proud of her victory. "That's right, did you really think your own tactic couldn't be used against you?"

I had to give it to her, that was smart. And seeing Suru lose was a nice change of pace too I guess...

All Might cleared his throat, "Alright, well... With that, our last match with be Sen versus Mako, and afterwards we'll go back to the class to discuss results." He assured with a nod.

I had a feeling this match would be much less antagonistic. But I had a hard time paying attention, seeing how Ryoko proudly took her place on the sidelines. It wasn't just that she beat Suru that made her so happy, it was winning both matches or... Just winning in general. I couldn't be sure, but I think...

I think Ryoko has something to prove, whether it be to herself or someone else... I'm not sure.