Originally posted: 27/08/21
Updated: 29/08/21 – Grammar/Spelling errors, extras added & other changes. Affects the story, so recommended to read again. 26/09/21: Grammar and spelling.

My Dear Copycat
Chapter 3
Provisional Hero Licence

May blinked and flinched when she realised who had bumped into her, and then stopped her from falling. She was leaning back, the only thing stopping her from falling on her butt was Bakugo's tight grip on her arm. "What are you even doing here?" he growled as he roughly pulled her up but away from him, the force causing her to stagger. She still had on her training gear, so she hadn't gone to get washed and changed yet. The tiny girl pulled her long ponytail over her shoulder and fiddled with it, clearly nervous. He couldn't help noticing how effortlessly her fingers went through it. It looks so silky…I wonder what it feels like- what, no.

"I had to speak with the teachers first…about what happened," her words were quiet and slow, and she refused to look him in the eye.

He scoffed, what a waste of time. "That's not what I meant. Watch where you're going next time," without missing a beat Bakugo continued his path, hands deep in his pockets and gritting his teeth to keep from yelling profanities at her. She's so annoying! Stupid girl.

"You walked into me!" she meekly called after him, holding her arms close to her chest but her head held high and glaring at him with very fragile confidence. It's like I'm trying to get him to kill me, she thought. Not knowing whether she was being brave, or foolish. Perhaps the latter.

He stopped and spoke over his shoulder, "what did you say?"

May could feel his burning gaze and recoiled a shaky step back, but the words came out even weaker than before and she cursed herself for even saying them. "You...you walked into m-me," she furrowed her brow and tried to look determined when in actuality she felt like she was going to faint. He is such a scary dude. She gripped tightly on her ponytail and hoped that someone, anyone at all would enter the empty hallway to save her from his impending wrath. Where are the teachers?! He's going to murder me!

"Oh, sorry," and he continued walking away again. His voice was actually…calm? May released a great sigh of relief, she hadn't even noticed she was holding her breath. She watched after him with a raised brow as he walked away, his head hanging a little lower. So, he doesn't just have the two modes, zero and a hundred. There is some in-between. But she knew that she unquestionably didn't want to be at the receiving end of his temper ever again, despite not meaning to in the first place. She gave a silent vow to stay out of his way and to definitely not imitate his quirk again – no matter how useful it may be.

What is with that guy?

What is with her?

A few days later comes the morning of the Provisional Hero Licence exam and the Class of 1-A stuck close together, waiting outside the test centre all dressed in their hero costumes and new upgrades from the Department of Support. This included May Hata, who had only just got her new costume and gear this morning and her classmates, particularly the girls and Midoriya were still excited about it. She had a fitting jumpsuit made from a mirror-effect fabric with black accents. It included a full head covering with cat ears and characterised face around the breathing gear. She opted to utilise the face covering, so only her eyes were visible through the mono-lens, and her dark high ponytail hung out the back of it through a hole that was also requested. She had no intention of being a hero whose identity was known, she preferred to stay hidden – this was one of the few requirements she had given the designers. "I think we have the same designers Midoriya," she pointed out, gesturing to the breathing gear that looked like a mouth.

"Yours is a lot more streamlined though…"

"-and monochromatic!" Mina appeared out of nowhere, "and I loooove your gloves!" May flexed her hands out, getting a good look at her black gloves with nailed tips.

"Do you not think the cat look is a bit much? I mean…I got cat ears?" She laughed, she felt so embarrassed.

"Did you not request this?" Ochaco leaned in, getting a good look.

"Nooo, I gave them creative freedom. They knew my hero name and my quirk, so now I am mirror cat!" she gave a quick cat-like pose and laughed at herself. Idiot. "I feel ridiculous looking like a cat, I think I am going to request a change…"

"Just make sure they don't change that shape…it fits perfectly…" purred Mineta who tried to cling to her leg, both hands out squeezing the air and going straight to her plump rear end. She hid behind Midoriya with a confused smile, not knowing how to take the weird situation. This certainly is a class full of interesting characters. I have Bakugo who I'm sure wants to kill me and now Mineta can't keep his hands to himself. Brilliant.

Mineta was suddenly picked up by his yellow scarf by an angry Bakugo, "will you knock it off!" Mineta looked as scared as May was in the training area the other day, that was until Bakugo roughly put him back down again and the small, purple-haired student made a claim that stunned everyone and one that he would soon regret.

With sudden confidence, Mineta jutted out an accusing finger at the fiery blonde whose eyes twitched the more he spoke. "Why? You just want her for yourself! You've been flirting with her since day one with your bad-boy aggressive tactics…I can tell," he seemed so sure, arms crossed and nodding to himself. Everyone else looked terrified on his behalf, but no one more than May, who thought she could see smoke coming out of Bakugo's ears. Was there truth behind what he was saying? Could that be why he is so angry with me all the time? He…likes me?

Bakugo's yelling was completely inaudible as he yanked Mineta off the ground again, shaking him violently with a fist raised threatening to strike down. It was only when they received an announcement to head into the centre did the angry explosion pro-hero-to-be dropped the latest victim to his temper. Bakugo couldn't stop himself from acting, he loathed Mineta perving on the girls anyway but when May was at the receiving end of it…it made him boil, and then when May hid behind Deku, something flipped inside him. He had felt a strong crushing sensation in his chest and a seething hatred towards the two, but mostly Deku. Deku of all people! If I had just been a few steps ahead she could've... Why do I even care…? What Mineta said…? No! That little runt is wrong! Shaking his head, Bakugo marched inside along with everyone else.

"Okay, that was all very weird," said Midoriya. He shifted the focus back to May as he was curious about an element of Copycats new hero costume. "What is that thing on your back? If you don't mind me asking." Ochaco joined May on the other side, adding to Midoriya's curiosity.

On May's back was a metal contraption that was strapped around her torso, waist and shoulders due to the weight. It had thin cables jutting from it, attached to the black accents on her suit and travelled down her arms, ending at little switches on her wrists. "Oh, this is something that Mei was able to conjure up. I haven't given it a real go yet and I am not too sure how it really works. But… it should allow me to extend the number of quirks I can use. You see, I can only store about five different quirks naturally and I can only use them a few times before I need to draw in their energy again. This box…works as storage, I think? I can draw in the energy and store it in the different compartments. The switch on my hands allows me to change which one I can use. Pretty clever stuff huh?"

Midoriya and Ochaco's eyes had stars in as they 'fangirled' over the technology. Until Midoriya stopped, "wait…energy? You draw in quirks energy?"

"Oh yes, everyone's quirks has an energy signature that is unique to them, kinda like fingerprints. I can draw in small amounts and use it to recreate the quirk. Even if it is just a weaker version of it. But this thing…" eagerly gesturing to the contraption on her back, "will allow me to hold more. Which will come in handy on relief missions!"

"Woooow that's so cool!" Midoriya and Ochaco squealed in unison. Causing Bakugo to grimace from the noise and scowl at them. "Don't you think that's cool Kacchan? A very unique quirk, her costume matches well with the mirror look and all, don't you think?" Oh Midoriya, always trying to include Bakugo despite the constant fallout. Very noble.

"How can copying other people's quirks be unique Deku? You idiot…" he looked May up and down, she was so glad for the full face covering as she felt her cheeks burn red, "you look like a tinfoil gimp," he responded very nonchalantly. Without another word, Bakugo stepped away from them and stood at the front of his class, he thought he heard her breathe out 'brutal' as he left them. He thought back to previous interactions between him and May and felt a pang of guilt. He never felt guilty, so why would he feel guilty now over a weakling like her? He was just trying to make her see she doesn't belong. Not for any other reason, certainly not what Mineta insinuated. Shaking his head, he pushed it to the back of his mind. He was determined to be at the top, to become the number one Pro Hero just like All Might and he had no time for pursuing girls or relationships. Becoming a Pro Hero is his number priority, his only priority and it starts here, at the Provisional Hero Licence exam. He smirked as Kirishima and Kaminari pumped him up, forgetting his previous thoughts completely. He was getting excited to show off again and hoped for battle scenarios so he could let loose. He wanted to really hurt something.

"Kacchan…" Midoriya shook his head.

"He can be so mean, just ignore him," Ochaco stuck her tongue out in Bakugo general direction in retaliation for making May look so defeated. She couldn't work out why he was being so unrelenting towards May, he was rough with everyone sure, but he didn't treat the other girls this badly. Maybe? Could Mineta be right? Ochaco held her breath at her realisation that turned her face pink and eyes wide, he likes her!

"Uraraka, are you okay?" May quizzed, but only got waving hands as a response before the hosts of the exam spoke up. They were crammed into a room with roughly fifteen hundred students, all fighting for the same one hundred spaces to Pass.

The first portion of the exam was chaotic, it was a battle royale type of scenario and May was lost as fighting was not her strength. She had stayed with her class, sure the sticking together tactic of Midoriya's would be best until an opponent destroyed the ground beneath them – causing the group to split up. She had hidden in the rubble until she was found by Mina and Koda, so she stuck with them. She was convinced she would fail until her classmates in the last moments pulled something crazy in true Class 1-A fashion. Thanks to Aoyama's naval laser pointing the way, allowing the remaining Class 1-A students to find each other and trap enough opponents for them all to pass. She was so thankful, but she could not help but feel completely useless. She made a mental note that she would need more combat training, that she cannot just rely on her current strengths.

Before she knew it, they were all in the waiting room again removing the magnetic targets. She spotted that Bakugo had watched the remaining group stroll on in virtually unharmed. His fierce red eyes had settled on her, making her shiver. She could feel that glare in her soul.

While everyone was still running on adrenaline and pumped, May still felt incredibly nervous for what was to come, she doubted she would get lucky twice. She knew she wasn't a fighter, her skills and her knowledge aligned elsewhere. So, when the room yelled out in protest over the damage being done to the arena and them being informed, they had to rescue people from the rubble she was ecstatic, "yes! Finally, something I can do!" Most of Class 1-A had very little training on relief hero work and was still very new to it, May on the other hand had tons of experience thanks to her father who was a relief hero, Mellow. It was the type of hero she wanted to be, what she needed to be.

The walls came apart again revealing the damaged terrain and the one hundred students that passed the first exam rushed out to begin their work. Some students from other schools excelled in the task, almost taking over the whole scenario by setting up emergency first aid stations and an evacuation zone. May couldn't argue, they were doing the same thing she would have done. She had watched Bakugo, Kirishima and Kaminari run off again, to which Bakugo yelled at them for following him and calling them extras. May found this hilarious, extras! It wasn't long until May realised she was alone, everyone had gone off to do something proactive. She sighed, knowing she would need a team she used Ectoplasm's quirk that she had stored and created four clones of herself. During her training, she was able to get strong enough to create an extra one and make them more stable, so she could use more of her quirk and energy without losing control of the clones.

May and her four Copycat clones ran off in another direction to provide relief where needed. She gave it her all and was able to rescue about five victims before explosions ran out again. She had administered first aid to a couple but they were only minor injuries, so she had escorted them to the evacuation station – updating the first aid team set up there of the nature of the civilians' injuries and what she had already done for them. But with the explosion going off, she was concerned that it was Bakugo doing his usual Bakugo stuff and not realising that his regular tactic won't work here. She dissipated her clones to conserve her energy and ran in the direction she could hear his yelling as fast as she could. What the hell is he doing? If he carries on like this, he will fail! I have to help him. Bloody idiot. She found the three friends arguing over a couple of civilians who appeared to only have minor injuries. Bakugo was yelling at them to get off their asses and move which made her mentally facepalm. He's ridiculous! She skidded to a halt a few metres away, "everything okay over here? Do you need assistance?"

"WHAT DO YOU WANT?" Bakugo snapped, practically roaring and the actors below looking both terrified of him and relieved that someone else was here to help them. Before May could say anything else the ground rumbled again with more explosions and henchmen in black leotards came charging towards them. So, it wasn't him this time. Villains, great.

"We have to provide relief to the citizens and fight the villains, all while protecting the victims. Bakugo, Kaminari – keep them off us-" despite being in her element and sounding exactly like she knows what she is doing, Bakugo still did what he does best and cut her off with his loudmouth.

"DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!"

"Pack it in Bakugo! Now is no time to lose it!" she bit back. He looked like he was going to continue with her, but in a sudden flash she was gone and before he could react with a popping fist to the figure that appeared next to him, she grabbed the patch of bare skin on his arm, causing him to instantly calm down. After a few blinks, he shook his head all confused, the anger completely gone and silent hands slowly falling to his sides. His mind felt so clear like he could finally think straight.

May sighed, glad that her imitation of her father's quirk worked. It didn't always thanks to her limited abilities. She used this calm moment to dish out her commands, she had to take lead if any of these guys were going to pass. "Bakugo and Kaminari, keep those bad guys off us while Kirishima and I get the victims out of here…" Kirishima looked disappointed to not be fighting, so she provided backup information, "I need your hardening abilities to help me get these people from under the rubble and to safety. The evacuation station is over there, the victims may be hurt and need urgent attention. Understand?" the three wannabe heroes nodded and followed her lead. The two rushed off to confront the villains while Kirishima and she focused on getting the victims out from under the piled rubble. May felt empowered, they were listening to her, and she could finally prove herself. She couldn't help but watch the blonde boy rush straight into the villains with his usual tact of loud bangs and threats of death. At least it wasn't aimed at me this time. She noticed that there was actually some strategy to his movements and didn't just shoot wildly. She was impressed, he was a great fighter unlike her.

May and Kirishima approached the original two victims that seemed to only have minor injuries, "follow my lead," she gestured to Kirishima, she knew that he would need to do some of this himself to gain points. "Are you both okay? We are Copycat and Red Riot, we are here to assist you," she examined the two administered basic first aid while asking questions to see if they were worse than they seemed. They answered the basic questions just fine so they informed them that their injuries were only minor and that they needed to help others who may be in worse condition. "Do you know if anyone else is down here?"

"Yes…I heard a voice calling from over there. But it stopped about ten minutes ago."

"Thank you, Red Riot will direct you to the evacuation station…wait," she looked over to see more henchmen and Gang Orca fighting Midoriya and other students close to the station. "The station has been compromised; it will be safer if you both remained close by. Don't stay under the rubble but try your best to hide from the villains. Our colleagues are fighting out there to protect you. You should be safe."

"Yeah and we are here too!" she looked to Kirishima with a smile, he had been mucking in with her the whole time. He was doing very well at this if a little rough around the edges.

The two civilians made their way into a safer area while May and Kirishima focused on finding whoever was under the rubble. They found another civilian, who was a tiny old man dressed up as a child and was pretending to be unconscious. May checked him over and concluded that they needed to get him a stretcher right away. But the rubble was unstable, so they had to risk carrying him out carefully. They did this together and as soon as the "kid" left the shelter of the rubble a loud bell rang out. Ending the exam.

"Were we the last ones?" the examiner made a comment making the end being anti-climatic which made her scoff.

Before long, the participating students were before the board searching for their names to see whether they passed or failed. May searched for her name but came across Bakugo's first, he had failed. She looked around but couldn't see him straight away, so she looked for hers again and was relieved to see that she had passed. She didn't know why, but she knew she needed to find Bakugo before he did anything reckless like blow up the board or something. What can I do? She takes a deep breath to settle her nerves, what if I become his outlet? Will I just get in the way? -no, I can stop him. She pushes her way through the crowd, going on her tiptoes to try and see above people's heads to no avail. So she jumped, she felt ridiculous but if meant he didn't do something to hurt himself or anyone else, so be it! She caught sight of the spikey bits on his costume before anything else and without thinking about it anymore and the ramifications of her actions she forced her way through the gleeful crowd to a ticking timebomb.

She could see his face, contorted in a fiery rage glaring at the board with ferocious eyes and gritted teeth, oh no…his hands were twitching. He takes a step forward, sparks in his hand and then nothing. May was able to meet the bare skin on his arm again, taking the rage from him. "Bakugo…I'm sorry to use that on you again without your permission. But you can't just act without thinking," she actually seemed worried about him.

He picked up on this, just like he noticed how she acted during this exam and how well she led them to save the last few victims – so it turns out that she was especially good at something. But just a moment ago he had a seething hatred boiling inside of him that just had to come out through his fists and now…he was calm. He never felt so centred, so at peace, and she was the one that had done this, "what did do you do?" he breathed, his voice sound scratchy and low.

"I'll tell you all about it later. Let's finish here first…" she gave him a warm smile and a reassuring hand on his arm. This made his stomach flutter; she was looking back to the board to see how the rest of them had done and was informing him about the others who also did not pass. But he couldn't hear her, sounds were muffled out as he gazed at her face that had since become free of its covering. He blinked and stared at her, just realising now how pretty she was and how much he wanted to touch those soft pale cheeks. He came too, shaking his head with a sharp intake of breath and looking at her hand still on his arm. Fuck.