Hey guys, sorry for the delay, October was a really shitty month for me...

But, I've moved past it, and am working hard to continue this. The chapter after this one is already finished and will go up in 2 days, by then I should have the next chapter done as well. So hopefully things can move through this season much faster and we won't have anymore delays...

Season Two, Episode XIII

Quirk Reinforcement Training

. . .

Kaiji Adachi

. . .

After the festival, social media was buzzing with the events that took place. Not just our mess of a half-time show, but the Class 1-A students as well and the fantastic show they put it. Still, every news outlet squared away a little time to talk about our performance. Some thought it was staged, others scolded the school for allowing someone as unstable as Ryoko to even be allowed at UA. Especially when the extent of Mako's injuries was leaked.

I told my mother the details, and she was supportive. Assuring me that I did a good job and what happened wasn't my fault but... I don't know, there is still this gnawing sensation in my gut. Like, I should had done something differently, even if it was after the fact. Anything would have been better than silence right? But I was so angry at the time, I didn't care about what Ryoko might be feeling. And I didn't even want to think about Mako, he was going to be in recovery for some time, and I wasn't even sure we'd hear from him again any time soon with the changes to his course.

I thought about calling Ryoko, we had exchanged numbers after all, but I lost my nerve every time. Looking back, I couldn't imagine what it must have felt like. To have a pro hero tell you to your face that you've failed and you wouldn't make it? After all the hard work we put in together...

Still, I had to keep moving forward. Another day, our first day back, and I had to make the most of it. I'd passed the evaluation, sort of, so that meant I'd secured my spot for the time being. But I had to keep going.

Stepping through the doors into our classroom, while the late afternoon sun shined through it's windows, "Hey." I greeted the figures of Suru and Sen, the duo hanging around a few desks further back. "You're looking better Sen." I added, smiling faintly. After the immense power she released during the Festival, her body had looked emaciated, and lost much of her muscle definition but... Well, she looked totally fine now.

"I guess I bounced back pretty quickly," She replied with a small chuckle. "I slept through half the weekend, and ate too much food the second half." The martial arts hero added, "It seems my quirk burned out my body pretty hard, I'll have to be more careful going forward."

Suru teleported into a chair, just as the doors to the room opened behind me. "Afternoon, teach!" She greeted, as Aizawa stepped through.

I quickly made my way to a chair, sliding into it and setting my bag aside. Noting that his bandages were gone now, "So I guess Recovery Girl finished fixing you up?"

To which he nodded, "Went a little overboard with the treatment, but we've got important matters to discuss before class starts."

"Is it about the Festival?" Sen questioned nervously.

"Yes and no." He replied simply, filing through a few papers on his podium. "As it stands, the Hero Course students are preparing to enter week-long internships with Pro Hero Agencies, as part of a field training program." Aizawa explained, "During this time, I'll be free while the hero students work at these Agencies, so we'll be undertaking a special change in our classes."

What like earlier days? Sounds good to me, "Alright, what else?" I asked, considering he hadn't spoken about the festival itself yet.

"Heroes who watched the festival are scouting for talent, as I explained before," He continued, "And if any of you were worried about your performance, let me assure you that despite our warning that none of you would be available in the draft, you each got at least one offer." Aizawa stated, smirking faintly, "But don't let it go to your head, as far as I'm concerned that half time show was a PR nightmare."

Couldn't exactly argue with that. "So what's the next phase of our training?" Suru questioned curiously, leaning back in her chair

"Our plan, is to go camping." Aizawa answered casually, before bringing over a few papers. "I told you we'd be making a change, and after discussing how to best handle your new developments... Well, to put it bluntly you're going to be moved around a bit, somewhere out of the media's eyes and away from UA."

"Wait," I blinked, "What? Why?"

"Because right now our school is red hot," Aizawa explained, "With All Might starting work here, the USJ attack, and the events of the Sports Festival, the media is looking at every chance they can to knock us down a peg or get some answers." You'd almost think they didn't like us, "Class 1-Z is under specific scrutiny, because details about you were deliberately kept secret from the public, meaning they only want to know about you more."

"Makes sense," Suru shrugged, "We're super mysterious~ or whatever."

He nodded, "Right... So rather than expose you to unwanted attention, we're going to remove you from the equation for a short while." We were each given a single paper, listing various items and clothes we'd need for camping and other outdoor activities. "We'll be heading to a facility in the mountains, to a Hero Agency compound that has agreed to take you on for training, we're breaking up this new training regime into two segments," This was getting really complicated, "Two weeks starting on Wednesday, after the first week I'll be handing you off to a friend of mine, they'll handle your training for the remainder of segment one and all of segment two, you'll meet them when we arrive."

"Why the hand off?" Sen questioned curiously, "Is the camp that far away?"

"Yes, but also because the Principal wants me to focus more so on the Class 1-A students."

"Makes sense," Suru shrugged, "They are the stars of the show after all..."

"No, that isn't why," Aizawa shook his head, "He's made this decision, because he believes they need more oversight than you three... And I agree."

I looked back at him in surprise, "R-Really?"

"The three of you," He looked between us all, "You're all strongly independent, you've shown critical thinking skills and maturity that some of my other students... Don't." Aizawa shifted, rubbing the back of his neck as he returned to the front of the class. "So I trust you to use good judgement... Besides, my friend can handle three kids, as can our Hero Agency associates."

I suppose I should feel proud that he put so much faith in us, but is just made me nervous. Really, it was this entire situation that worried me. "So we'll be living in the mountains for like, what, a total of 4 weeks?"

"Not all at once, there will be a week-long break between segment one and two," Aizawa shrugged, "And you'll be undergoing intense training, unlike anything you've done so far, to expand on both your fighting styles and improve your Quirks." Stuffing both hands into his pockets, "It's not exactly conventional to push you along so quickly, but then again this isn't exactly a conventional class."

"Heh, you got that right," Suru chuckled in amusement, "So who is this friend you'll have watching over us? Another Pro Hero?"

"Yes actually," Aizawa nodded, "But their work is mostly in the dark, like my own, so you won't find them on any rankings."

I quirked an eyebrow at that, "Cool, what's the hero name?"

"I'd be surprised if you've heard of them," He nervously rubbed the back of his neck once more. "But, they goes by... Actually, no, I'd rather not ruin the surprise."

Great, I just love surprises...

. . .

The Beast

. . .

I wasn't allowed to meet the others, not yet. When I stepped through the black haze, I was delivered to some kind of medical ward. A creepy doctor hooked me up to some machines to restore my physical strength. Feeding me the nutrients I'd denied myself in starvation, making sure I was healthy. I slipped in and out on consciousness during that time, I couldn't tell if it was because of my own exhaustion or if I'd been drugged through the IVs. Not that I really cared much either way...

I faintly remember him, the Doctor, asking me questions. What they were, I'm not sure. They were vague, like he was trying to learn more about me. Not about my Quirk, or my capabilities, but the kind of person I was. He was prodding my brain, my personality. It was annoying, but in my mentally drained state, I couldn't just tell him to screw off like I would anyone else.

It was days before it felt like I had full control over myself again. My body returned to perfect health, as I sat in that stupid ward. The door at the far end opened, and the masked man entered. Walking forward to meet me, sharing a small greeting with the Doctor.

"He informs me you're finally back in good health," He said simply, sounding elated. "It is good to see you recovered."

I nodded slowly, "Yeah, I'm back to full strength, ready for whatever you've got planned." I still had some anger to work out, so if I could just get a target-

"No, not yet," He chuckled in amusement, "But I appreciate that you are eager... I plan to save your talents for a very specific kind of mission, one that we are still in the works of preparing for." He explained casually. "And, when you next show the world what you can do... I promise you will be stronger than anyone else."

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously, "So what? You're going to train me?"

Earning a laugh from the doctor, "Train? Please, there is only so far you can go through such a menial form of improvement."

But the boss silenced him with a look, "Training you would only benefit your already formidable skills, what I intend to do will make you exponentially more powerful," He stated, putting his hands together behind his back. "Through my years of study, I have learned the ways Quirks can improve, evolve even... And if what my associate here says about your power cells is to be believed... All it will take for you, is one good breakthrough, to reach a level you've never even dreamed of."

I looked down at my hands briefly, remembering the Sports Festival, and how Sen so effortlessly threw me aside once she really unleashed her power. "What will it take?" I demanded, angered by the memory, at how helpless I was. At how helpless I'd let myself be for my entire life.

"It may break you, destroy your mind or cripple your body," The Doctor warned, "It will take a will of fire, and a body of steel to survive unscathed... And even then, the trauma the procedure may cause could drive you mad." He almost sounded excited by the prospect, the sick bastard.

But I'd gone too far to back down so easily. "I can take it."

The Doctor looked to his boss, "Well? What do you think?"

To which he chuckled in response, "Oh yes, I think so... And we lose nothing if she fails," He shrugged simply, making it clear where we stood. "Begin preparations... I'll pick out the Quirks I believe she could best utilize."

I quirked an eyebrow, confused by those words. "What do you mean?"

"All in due time, my dear... All in due time..."