I do not own My Hero Academia.
This story was written with the help of another writer who wishes to remain anonymous, but has done most of the work and wishes for it to be posted here on fanfiction.
It was the day of the USJ, or Unforeseen Simulation Joint. Technically, that place alone was a marvel of technology. A massive dome which could offer multiple scenarios to train heroes. However, what Izuku truly wanted was to start learning how to rescue people. Although he wanted to beat villains as much as the next guy, it was the thought of saving people just like All Might did during his debut that truly motivated Izuku.
Izuku wasn't just excited for himself, but rather because he knew Ochaco had been looking forward to this day. It was the day, after all, in which Ochaco would meet her idol, Pro-Hero Thirteen, who supervised the USJ.
So yeah, it was an eager Izuku who woke up, a smile in place. He didn't forget to move to the mirror and check himself. Much to his dismay, there hadn't been any changes as of late. In fact, he hadn't managed to actually change anything the previous evening. Izuku wondered how much of his latest changes had been mere adjustments that happened as a result of a newly manifesting power at such a late age.
Such thoughts didn't sour Izuku's mood, though. It was a cheerful Izumi who left the bedroom, happily hopping towards the elevator. Her life might have been a real turmoil of twists, but Izumi remained steadfast. She had a good friend to rely on, after all.
As she had expected, Izumi couldn't help but giggle as she noticed Ochaco at the tables, who sat with a frenzy that screamed excitement. She sure was looking forward to the USJ.
"Hey, Infinity Girl!"
"Hey, Izumi!" Ochaco almost shouted. "Today is the day! We are meeting Thirteen!"
Izumi laughed as she sat next to her friend.
"Ease down, Infinity Girl. Save some of that excitement for after lunch," said Izumi.
"Sorry!" Said a sheepish Ochaco. "It's just… I've always wanted to meet her."
"I know how you feel," remarked Izumi. "I remember the first time I met All Might…"
"Aren't you related?" teased Ochaco.
"Har-har-har," Izumi deadpanned, only to share a grin with her friend.
The two chuckled at the joke before taking a few bites of their breakfast. Sadly, before they could enjoy a quiet uneventful meal, none other than Ashido appeared in front of them, grinning. Izumi didn't need to guess that the excited look on her face had nothing to do about the USJ.
"Hello girls, what a beautiful day!" Ashido started.
Izumi and Ochaco didn't say anything, merely nodding at the pink-skinned demonette. Ashido, in turn, bit her lip and sat there, glancing at the two. Someone was barely containing herself.
"Oh come on, girls, will you throw a bone at me?!" Ashido exclaimed, pulling her hair in exasperation.
"Eh…?" Izumi and Ochaco exchanged confused faces.
"Did something happen, Ashido?" Izumi wondered.
"Not to me, apparently," muttered Ashido. "Come on, Izumi, spill it. Give me the juicy bits."
"Juicy bits?" Izumi frowned. "Mina, what are you talking about?"
Ochaco, however, had a strong gut feeling about what Ashido wanted the two girls to talk about… probably relating to some theory that Izumi and Ochaco might have made out at the rooftops. The mere thought about such… ludicrous… idea made the brunette's face lit up like a burning charcoal.
"So, girls, do you have any secrets to share? You know I won't tell anyone!" Ashido insisted.
Izumi scratched her head, still unsure what Ashido meant. In fact, she was a bit tense and looking worried. Differently from Ochaco, Izumi was more worried that Ashido was trying to get Izumi to confess about her other form.
"I am not sure what you mean," mumbled Izumi, averting her eyes.
"Oh, come on, I can keep any secret just tell me!" Said a near desperate Ashido.
"Oy, Mina!"
Ashido snapped her head and scowled as Jiro hurried over to her table. Izumi and Ochaco stared, dumbfounded, as Jiro aimed a sprayer over the demonette.
"What did we say about pestering Izumi?" Jiro growled.
She proceeded to proceeded to spray Ashido, who comically whined and protested.
"I am just trying to help!" Said Ashido. "Come on, Izumi, just tell-"
"Down girl, down!" Jiro exclaimed.
"Hey! Stop it!" Ashido whined, covering her face with her arms.
Jiro, however, kept spraying Ashido with water, forcing the pink-skinned girl to retreat.
"I'll be back! You haven't seen the last of me, you hear me?!" Ashido swore, before leaving the table.
"Seriously, that girl sure is persistent," muttered Jiro.
Izumi raised an eyebrow.
"Do you know what she expects me to tell her?" Izumi asked.
"Eh… kind of?" Jiro said, making it a point to avoid looking at Izumi in the eye. "Well, if she comes back again just spray her until she leaves."
"Hey, Jiro," called Ochaco, but Jiro didn't listen and kept walking away.
"What was all that about?" Izumi wondered.
Ochaco sighed.
"It's like I said yesterday. They must think we are an item and that we… ehm… when I went to the rooftop that we…" Ochaco said, blushing by the end.
"I think there's more to it," Izumi muttered, squinting at Jiro's retreating back. "Do you think that…?"
"They know about your secret?" Ochaco finished. She bit her lip, unsure. "I don't know. Wouldn't they just say it or throw a fit?"
Izumi grimaced. She sure hope the girls wouldn't try to kick her out. Just the fact Yaoyorozu wasn't trying to squeeze the life out of Izumi at every turn worried Izumi. Something was definitely up.
"Hey, it's fine!" Ochaco said, grabbing her hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. "No matter what, I'll be at your side."
"I know," said Izumi.
The two remained like that, holding hands, and staring at each other. Seconds passed, lost in each other's gazes, until all of a sudden they realized their position. Within an instant, they were blushing and looking away, hands separated and well away from the other, trying to act as if they hadn't just been acting like a pair of girls in love… which wasn't that far from the truth unbeknownst to either of them.
"Don't worry, Izumi," Ochaco said. "I have a good feeling about today."
"If you say so…" Izumi sighed.
"Just wait and see! Today is going to be a great day!" Proclaimed Ochaco.
-.-
That stupid rabbit… She was all that Katsuki Bakugo had been thinking for a while now. Ever since that god-damn article spread like wildfire across the country, and their little spat, Bakugo had gone over what he knew about her over and over again.
There was a connection between the damn bunny and Deku, that useless nerd. He knew it. There had to be. It made sense, in a way. Everything appeared to lead to the obvious idea that Izumi was the stupid nerd. She reeked of the nerd, and not just regarding her knowledge about Katsuki. The way she sometimes behaved and acted around others screamed Deku to him. And yet… she was so damn different at times it was infuriating! Deku would have never dared to retort, much less reply with anger. Yet that was what the stupid bunny had done!
Katsuki wouldn't usually care about useless extras in his class, but there was something about that damn bunny that grated him to no end… clearly the connection with Deku he had yet to figure out.
All in all, he was not enjoying his breakfast in the kitchen. It was clearly a poor way to start his day, but it had become commonplace in the Bakugo household.
"What's keeping you in a foul mood, son?" Asked his father. "You've been kind of grumpy all weekend."
"Nothing," muttered Katsuki.
He silently kept eating his breakfast, lost in his own thoughts. Katsuki scowled and braced himself for the obvious teasing of his mother and instead angrily munched his cereal. Oddly enough, the teasing never came. Both his father and he slowly turned to Mitsuki Bakugo. She was rather subdued, and staring straight ahead, lost in thought.
Alright, now that isn't normal, thought father and son.
"Eh, honey?" Masaru called, worried.
"Huh? What's that?" said Mitsuki, broken out of her reverie.
"You sure you are alright? You look out of it," remarked Masaru.
"Nah, I'm fine. It's just that…"
"Did something happen to Auntie Inko?" Katsuki wondered.
Mitsuki bit her lip.
Shit, it probably has to do with the freaking nerd, Katsuki realized. What a useless idiot…
"You've been really quiet since yesterday," Masaru pointed out, folding arms.
Mitsuki appeared to consider what to say, something that made Katsuki even more curious. Since when did his mother shut up about anything?
"I don't know where to start. It is so screwed up…" Mitsuki shook her head.
"Hold on, did something actually happen? Is Inko alright?" Masaru wondered.
"Oh, yes, she's fine. More than fine… or maybe not," Mitsuki muttered. "She just got to learn something messed up about her family. Well, a lot of weird stuff went down in her family."
"Messed up? Weird?" Katsuki repeated, unsure how to even feel about it all.
Could it be about the damned bunny?
"Yeah," Mitsuki nodded. "Inko apparently… well…"
Masaru and Katsuki exchanged raised eyebrows. Since when did she ever hesitate to share any news? That only rose alarms in their heads.
"She apparently had another biological father all this time," Mitsuki confessed.
"Huh?" Spluttered both men.
"Because as it so happens her parents actually got this one guy drunk to get their way with him, all because he was apparently super cute or something," continued Mitsuki, turning around and shaking her head. Behind her, her husband and son stared with mouths agape.
"Huh?!"
"And now she learned that she is actually related to Miruko! Hell, Inko is Miruko's aunt! It's- it's crazy!" Mitsuki said.
"HUH?!"
"But that isn't all," Mitsuki sighed.
"It isn't?" Katsuki and Masaru chorused in disbelief.
Just how crazier could it actually get? Wait, Miruko? The bunny hero? Katsuki's mind went in overdrive, all pieces falling together. It suddenly all clicked. Of course! The actual connection between the Nerd and the damned bunny was…
"Oh no," sighed Mitsuki. "Little Izuku has a quirk! Can you believe it? Little Izu-Kun! Ha, and what a quirk! It allows him to switch between his normal self and into a little cute bunny girl."
Katsuki blinked, his mind coming to a halt.
"That rabbit you have a crush on? She's actually Izu-kun!" Mitsuki said.
That was not how he thought it all fit together. He had kind of expected to learn that the damned bunny was related to the nerd, maybe close cousins. Katsuki definitely did not expect his first crazy theory, about Deku being some sex-changing weirdo, to be correct. Thus, Katsuki could only react in one way:
"I fucking knew it!" Katsuki exclaimed.
"Oy, watch the language!" Shouted Mitsuki, swatting her son in the head.
Katsuki glared at his mother but said nothing. He should have known better.
"You better don't go tattling, you hear me?" Mitsuki warned. "The whole Izumi-Izuku thing is supposed to be secret."
Katsuki scowled. He had finally learned the god-damn truth and he was supposed to keep a secret? What the hell! This was Deku they were talking about, the blasted useless and creepy nerd, going all transsexual to join U.A.! Heck, he was living with the girls! That's absolutely perverted and sick!
Leave it to fucking Deku to choose to be a girl, mentally growled Katsuki.
"Look, I know you have a crush on Izumi, so don't let the truth change things," stated Mitsuki.
"Blurgh! It's De- that's disgusting!" Katsuki nearly barfed. "And I don't have a crush on that damn bunny!"
"There's nothing wrong with having a crush on a cute little bunny," Mitsuki said, smirking. "And hey, it is your childhood friend!"
"Dear," sighed an amused Masaru. "Don't push Katsuki."
"But they would be so cute together!" Cooed Mitsuki.
"What the hell?! That's sick!" spat Katsuki.
"You can deny it all you want, but a mother knows," Mitsuki with a smug look on her face.
Katsuki grinded his teeth. Clearly, his mother didn't know a thing.
"Mitsuki," warned Masaru.
Mitsuki pouted, but thankfully dropped the subject nonetheless. Instead, they went on to talk about that day's visit to the USJ. Katsuki didn't pay much attention to them, nodding here and there to make it look as if he was following the conversation. However, deep down he was seething.
That god damn nerd… hiding a quirk from me, Katsuki thought, only to scowl.
As much as he wanted to teach the bloody useless nerd a lesson, he was not going to go against his mother's wishes. Mitsuki Bakugo might not have Katsuki's power, but she sure knew how to make her punishments hurt.
It didn't matter. Katsuki would find a way to get his frustration on the nerd. If he had to, he would do so on the stupid bunny.
In any case, he got the distinct feeling that it was going to be a god-awful day.
-.-
Tuesday morning was a rather dull affair. With the growing excitement about leaving the school premises and heading to one of U.A.'s most famous training facility, their departure couldn't come soon enough.
Roll call with Aizawa was as painful and scary as always, with the sleep-deprived teacher being particularly irritable that day. Perhaps he reacted badly to any surrounding happiness and felt the need to squash it. Regardless, after their short time with the homeroom teacher, they had the same boring classes as always.
Truly, it felt like pretty much any other day, were it not for what was in store for Class 1-A.
Eventually, it was time to put on their costumes and were led out of the school by All Might and Miruko. Although they had all expected to find a bus as a means of transportation to the USJ, they were all a bit surprised when they spotted their homeroom teacher of all people waiting for them. Worse, he appeared to be in a foul mood, worse than that morning's.
"You took too long," Aizawa said, squinting at his students.
They all gulped.
"Oh, cut it with that crap," scoffed Miruko. She clasped her hands together, grinning. "Let us get a move on, shall we?"
"Indeed, for time is of the essence!" Exclaimed All Might.
Aizawa sighed, already exasperated by his fellow teachers.
"Just get into the bus…" grumbled the homeroom teacher.
Izumi took a deep breath and addressed her peers. She puffed her chest and, embracing her Izumi persona, grinned at them.
"Alright everyone, let's try to be orderly here," Izumi said.
"Yes, ma'am!" The boys said with playful salutes.
Izumi didn't fail to notice the way Bakugo was glaring at her. She would have claimed he just didn't like having someone ordering him around, but Bakugo had been acting weird that morning. She wasn't sure why. Luckily, he remained quiet and probably wouldn't start barking any time soon.
One by one, 1-A filed into the bus, caught in their own chatter and excitement. Izumi and Yaoyorozu, as class representatives, were the last to head into the vehicle, followed by Aizawa. Izumi stopped halfway up when she realized a certain pair was just standing outside.
"Aren't you coming with us, All Might?" Izumi asked before turning to the Rabbit Hero. "Miruko?"
All Might responded with a boisterous laugh while Miruko smirked.
"Have no fear, for I just prefer to go my own way!" All Might said.
"That's his way of saying he's too big and heavy for a bus," joked Miruko.
"Preposterous!" Squawked All Might. "And I'll have you know, I have lost weight."
"Don't worry guys. We'll go with our feet and get ahead of you," said Miruko.
"Indeed! We still need to discuss a few things with Thirteen," All Might said.
"I do hope it is that and not just last minute paperwork you forgot to fill," Aizawa muttered, glaring at the two.
All Might and Miruko averted their eyes and gave innocent smiles. An eyebrow twitched on Aizawa's forehead, ridden with annoyance.
"See you soon then!" Izumi said, waving at the two Pro-Heroes outside.
She quickly found a spot reserved by Ochaco.
Meanwhile, outside the bus, Aizawa turned around. He was about to enter the bus, only to notice just how noisy it was inside. The teenagers were all laughing and chatting, rising their voices more and more in order to keep their conversations going. It looked rather lively, actually.
From one glance, it was easy to tell no one would be able to catch a nap in the bus to the USJ.
Aizawa sent a murderous glare at the two Pro-Heroes, who casually stood there, smiling innocently. He took a deep breath and ventured into the bus, grumbling all the way about hormonal teenagers.
No sooner had the bus left, both pro-Hero exchanged glances before bursting out laughing.
"Oh, man, did you see the look on his face?" Cackled Miruko.
All Might was laughing too much to answer.
"As much as I like the twerps, I don't think I could be stuck in an enclosed space with the lot of them," remarked Miruko once they stopped laughing.
"Me neither," chuckled All Might. "Now then, shall we head over to the USJ?"
"Hey, how about a race?" Miruko asked with a smirk.
All Might raised an eyebrow before smugly smiling at his colleague.
"You do know who you are talking to, don't you?" All Might asked.
Miruko was about to reply, before she froze and her ears perked up. All Might stiffened.
"What is it?" He asked.
"An emergency! I think there has been an accident over there!" Miruko exclaimed.
She pointed somewhere behind All Might. All Might turned around, and tried to focus. He didn't have super hearing, but he prided himself in being able to hear any person in need within a rather large radius. Thus, he was a bit confused when he heard nothing. All Might listened for a while before scratching his head, confused.
"I do not hear-" All Might said, turning towards Miruko. Or rather, where she had just been standing. "Eh, Miruko, where did-?"
Then it clicked.
"That's cheating!" Exclaimed All Might.
Back in the bus, the teenagers of Class 1-A were up to their usual antics. There was a group of the calmer kids on their own, enjoying their own little bubble of peace, all while surrounded by loud chaos. Tokoyami, Shoji and Koda seemed rather at home in the seats far back in the bus.
Hagakure and Ashido were chatting with Yaoyorozu and Jiro about this or that. Meanwhile, Mineta, Sero and Kaminari whispered to each other, no doubt talking about videos games… or something else. Ochaco hoped the boys were talking about video games. She rather not think about the alternative. Aoyoma, as usual, was just sparkling.
Sato and Ojiro were perhaps the most normal of the bunch, plainly chatting, perhaps about ordinary things. Todoroki sat on his own, staring out the window with his usual stoic face, while Bakugo kept glaring at Izumi. Ochaco wasn't sure what his problem was, but he seemed to have gotten worse that day, glaring even during classes.
Izumi and Ochaco faced Asui and Kirishima, all while they talked about their quirks and how they could be used for rescue missions.
"Man, your quirk really is great for a whole lot of scenarios," Kirishima told Asui. "Look at you: you are a good swimmer, you have mobility over ground and you can reach people with your tongue. You are perfect for rescue missions. What do I have, though?"
He stretched an arm in front of him, and suddenly it shifted into a strange jagged hardened form. It had a rocky appearance.
"Harden," said the redhead. "That's all I can do."
"I guess it depends on the situation and your imagination. There are many scenarios were it is good to harden like you do," Izumi pointed out. "Still, I guess not all quirks have the same capabilities."
"Yeah," Kirishima sighed. "Speaking of quirks, look at yours! You are like a cute All Might."
"Please don't… don't call me cute" mumbled Izumi.
"Sorry!" Kirishima hastily said, only to add. "But I am right, you are like a mini-All Might, with that super speed and power."
"Izumi isn't able to punch like All Might however, ribbit," Asui pointed out.
"She's right," Izumi said with a smile. "If I tried punching I would probably break an arm…"
If only I could draw upon more of Izuku's physique, Izumi thought. I might not punch at full power as Izuku, but in Full Cowl I'm sure I could deliver a lot of damage.
Her musings were cut short by the redhead.
"You know, it really crazy how you have a power that really looks like All Might and you aren't related. What are the odds?" Kirishima commented.
"Is it really that crazy? Quirks rarely make sense, don't they?" countered Ochaco.
"I don't know about that. They tend to all follow rules… the problem is that they can have a few logical leaps at times," said Izumi.
"Your quirk is very similar to All Might's, ribbit," stated Asui. "Are you perhaps related to him other than as his daughter?"
"No, Asui," said Izumi. "There is no blood relationship between us."
"Call me Tsu, and I believe you, ribbit," Asui asked. She looked up and placed a finger over her chin in what was Asui's thinking face. "It is still strange to see you with a power so similar to All Might's, ribbit."
Izumi could only smile and shrug. What in the world was she supposed to say to that?
"Well, I think it's a good thing," interceded Ochaco. "All Might is going to retire eventually, right? And who better to replace him as the Number One Hero than someone with a power like his?"
Kirishima laughed, earning a glare from Ochaco.
"Ha, I'm sorry Izumi, but I just can't see you as the next All Might," chuckled Kirishima, sending an apologetic look to the rabbit girl. "He's way too big, muscular and manly. You're too cute."
The redhead's eyes widened and he panicked, realizing his error.
"Adorable! I meant adorable!" Kirishima corrected himself.
Izumi might have been flustered by being called adorable, but considering that it was a boy, she felt a bit put out instead. However, she quickly found herself smirking as an idea came into mind.
"So you find me adorable, Kirishima?" Izumi teased. "Anything you wish to confess?"
Kirishima spluttered, face exploding into a bright shade of red. The girls laughed at the poor boy's predicament.
All of a sudden, Izumi stopped laughing and her ears perked up. She frowned at Bakugo and Sero's group. Had someone said her name? Apparently, they had. Sero stood over Bakugo, a teasing smile in place. Kaminari and Mineta were behind Bakugo's seat, smug and with a look that promised a lot of annoyance and frustration. Oh boy, that's not going to end well.
I wonder what they are talking about, Izumi thought.
"You've been staring at Izumi for a while now," chuckled Sero.
On second thought, I rather not know, Izumi mentally muttered.
"Yeah, what's that about?" Added Kaminari.
"Do you have a crush on our Class Rep?" Teased Sero.
Bakugo gave a murderous glare at the two boys, but neither was intimidated. The blond raised his hands, ready to burn them, only to realize that his quirk wasn't working. He snapped his head at the front and scowled.
"No quirks allowed in the bus," said Aizawa, his eyes glowing a bright red and his hair standing up straight.
"Yeah, Bakugo, no quirks," snickered Sero.
Ochaco winced as Bakugo bared his teeth, grinding them with ill-intent. Those idiots… didn't they realize that all Bakugo had to do was wait after school or whenever Aizawa wasn't around? Apparently, they didn't.
"There's nothing wrong about little cute girls," Mineta said, barely hiding his smirk.
They were truly trying to grate on Bakugo's rather short temper. Didn't they know he had a short fuse?
"It's a crush, isn't it?" Teased Kaminari. "Damn, who would have guessed."
"Izumi and Bakugo… now that is something I didn't see coming," added Sero.
The boy snickered as Bakugo's face turned into a furious puce. For some reason, he was really holding his tongue. Even Izumi was somewhat dumbfounded by that.
"Come on, Bakugo, spill it," Mineta said, poking at Bakugo. "Admit you have a crush on the Class Rep."
"I – Don't – Have – a – crush on that stupid bunny," growled Bakugo.
And yet, the three boys kept pestering the explosive blond. Izumi might have felt some pity for Bakugo, but at the moment she was more annoyed at being paired up with her childhood bully. That was just gross.
Sadly, the boys really managed to make Bakugo snap. All of a sudden, Bakugo appeared to explode (figuratively) and drew everyone's attention as he stood up, red-faced and murderous.
"I don't have a fucking crush on that god damn Gender-bending nerd!" Shouted Bakugo.
He immediately froze and scowled.
Silence. Everyone in the bus blinked at the explosive blond, confused.
"Wait, gender-bending…?" Mineta said, only to gasp. He snapped his head towards Izumi. "It was YOU. You can turn into a boy?"
"Do not be preposterous!" Iida exclaimed, jumping to his feet. "We are all aware Izumi has a strengthening quirk and no one has two quirks!"
"What about Todoroki?" Asked Ojiro.
"That's actually the same quirk but with two related yet opposed facets," stated Yaoyorozu. "Take Asui-" ("Call me Tsu") "-for example, her one quirk gives her a wide range of abilities that could individually count as a quirk such as tongue extension, sticky skin and stronger hind legs to name a few."
"Yeah, come on guys," laughed Kirishima. "Izumi having a gender-bending ability? Really? Where did that come from, am I right Izumi?"
Unfortunately, that got the opposite effect than he might have intended for everyone turned towards Izumi, who froze under the scrutiny of all of her classmates. She might have been good at misleading or just hiding the truth, but Ochaco could already see her squirming.
"I… eh…" Izumi said, growing more nervous.
It was a down-spiraling circle of self-indictment: the more she panicked because she wasn't saying anything, the less she was able to utter a word and the more she panicked.
"I…" Izuku mumbled, her ears dropping more and more. She actually looked like a cornered animal.
"So it's true?" Ojiro gasped.
"I knew it!" Mineta shouted.
"Enough."
Everyone fell silent and slowly looked upfront.
"You are being too loud," growled the teacher.
"But, sir," Ojiro was saying, only to be stopped by Aizawa's scathing glare.
"Enough," Aizawa said. "You'll keep quiet and stop being so annoying. Am I clear?"
Everyone remained obediently seated and silent. Glaring at them one last time, Aizawa went back to his seat. Izumi, on her part, felt her heart sink. She ignored the curious and questioning looks from everyone around.
Of all the days and moments for her secret to start spilling out, it had to be in that moment. That day sure wasn't looking up for Izumi.
-.-
The USJ could be seen from a far distance. Looking like a gigantic stadium, it was a large seamless steel dome with purple high walls. Everyone at the windows stared at it with amazement. This was it, another step towards their future careers. It was in that moment that they started to understand just how fortunate they were to be part of U.A.'s Hero Course.
The bus stopped right in front the main gate, or rather at the feet of the stairway that led to the main gate. Slowly, the students filed out the bus. They didn't say a thing, mostly due to Aizawa's rather harsh glare over them.
No sooner had they stepped outside, they gazes went to the three people waiting for them. The teenagers were familiar with two of them. Miruko was scowling at a laughing All Might.
"One of these days…" muttered Miruko.
"Keep dreaming, Miruko!" laughed All Might with an air of triumph.
"Enough of that," mused a figure next them.
Ochaco felt her breath hitch. It was her, Pro-Hero Thirteen. Ochaco was by no means a fan girl, but she did see the Pro-Hero as an idol and thus couldn't help but stare and relish on every single live detail. Pro-Hero Thirteen wore what looked like a white space suit-looking puffy jacket, a black helmet with white eyes, and a pair of yellow boots. Ochaco had seen her multiple times through various media, yet nothing compared to the real thing.
"Welcome everyone! It is a pleasure to finally meet another batch of prospective heroes," Thirteen proclaimed with a joyous voice. "Come everyone, let's venture into the USJ."
After making sure everyone was accounted for, Thirteen led the group into the facility. Everyone stared with wide amazed eyes. Ochaco was no different: the place of absolutely massive, and they had yet to enter. The main gate was a tad intimidating up close, not to mention imposing.
Inside, they all gasped in awe. If the USJ looked gigantic from the outside, inside it looked like its own world. From near the main gate and atop a large descending stairway, the students could see the many training zones of the USJ. To a side, there was a map displaying where every zone was at. All in all, the USJ had more of the look of an amusement park than a training facility. Even the central area appeared as more of a tourist park than anything.
"Welcome everyone, to the USJ, the Unforeseen Simulation Joint, sometimes confused for Universal Studios Japan!" Announced Thirteen.
Everyone chuckled at the joke. They stopped walking and Thirteen went to the edge of the stairway.
"As you can see, this place has everything you'll need to learn and prepare for various scenarios. In the next years, up until graduation, you'll have the opportunity to experience and witness all zones," Thirteen explained.
"What zones are there?" Someone asked in the back.
Thirteen stretched an arm and pointed at each individual area. Some were plain obvious to Ochaco. Others, not so much.
"There's the Ruins' zone, which simulates a destroyed urban environment," she explained.
The heavily cushioned Hero pointed to their left where there was a small neighborhood worth of ruined skyscrapers and tall buildings. It looked extremely realistic from afar and it made Ochaco curious how they achieved such authenticity. Did they hire someone to trash the area?
"Next to it is Landslide Zone," Thirteen carried on, gesturing to a sloped hill with different debris. She then indicated towards a mountainous rocky area. "That's the Mountain Zone," she pointed at a large dome, "the conflagration zone, a simulation of a burning city if you will…"
Thirteen then described the Flood zone, that was little more than an artificial lake with a waterslide and a boat in its center.
"And finally, the Downpour zone," Thirteen finished.
That zone, like the conflagration zone, consisted of a large dome but instead of being painted red it was covered in blue color.
"Don't worry, you'll get a good look today," Thirteen said.
"What are we going to do, ma'am?" Asked Kirishima.
"Huh, they sure are polite," Thirteen mused. Aizawa merely smirked at that. "For starters you'll have a short tour and see the zones up close. Then, we'll divide you into two groups and give demonstrations on how you are supposed to respond in each scenario."
"We won't do anything then?" Wondered a disappointed Ojiro.
"You'll have your chance to have fun later on," said Miruko.
"Yes. Today will be a first glance of rescue training," All Might added. "Have no fear, for we have a lot to teach you in regards to rescuing civilians."
Ochaco glanced at Izumi and grinned. The bunny girl was lost on the Number One Hero. Even so, Ochaco could pretty much read what Izumi was thinking. Izumi had already shown the one video that had inspired Izuku (and by extension Izumi) to be Pro-Heros. It had been a recording of All Might's debut, saving dozens upon dozens of people nonstop from a terrible accident. Admittedly, it had been quite a thing to watch. All Might, for all of his goofiness, could be a really inspiring and comforting figure.
"Eh… is that a gift-shop?" Kaminari asked, dumbfounded.
And indeed, to a side, they saw what appeared to be a gift shop. Aizawa sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, while Pro-Hero thirteen sheepishly chuckled.
"That was the Principal's idea," replied the rescue hero. "Why don't we begin the tour?"
All the teenagers forgot about the ludicrous gift shop and smiled with excitement at the hero. Even if they weren't going to do anything, thus far this was as close as they could get to living the hero life and experiencing what it would be like to work in all sorts of harsh conditions. It was thus with certain apprehension and nerves that they followed Thirteen down the flight stairs to the central Plaza.
Differently from her peers, Izumi's attention was elsewhere, mostly lost in her own thoughts. Her classmates kept glancing at her, especially the boys, and it hurt. She could already picture what they would say. Izumi hoped her fellow prospective heroes were far better people than her former classmates of Aldera, yet she worried nonetheless.
Useless… creep… pathetic… words started echoing back in Izumi's mind.
A gentle squeeze of her hand broke her out of her stupor. She looked to the source, only to find a smiling Ochaco. Izumi smiled back. There was hope still, after all.
Taking a deep breath, Izumi pushed the thoughts of her classmates and puffed up her chest. She pulled a brave smile and, with some effort, soldiered on. Izumi would not allow the opinion of others to affect her. She just couldn't allow it. A lot of people had put their trust on her, after all: her parents, All Might, Miruko… even Ochaco.
Izumi clenched her fists. Perhaps it was time to come out and finally confess the truth. Perhaps it has been delayed too long. With such notions, she nodded to herself with a resolute face. Yes, after they returned, she would tell them all the truth, no matter the reaction.
I am no longer the same person that suffered in middle school, Izumi thought.
As Izumi finally got her attention back on her teachers, she realized that Pro-Hero Thirteen had been talking. Izumi blushed, feeling rather ashamed for having missed most of what appeared to be a passionate speech.
To a side, All Might stood with his trademarked smile next to a bored looking Miruko. Aizawa looked ready to materialize a sleeping bag and just get a much needed nap. Class 1-A attentively listened to Thirteen, none daring to do anything other than pay attention.
That was when it all went to hell.
All of a sudden, a massive vortex of pitch black mist formed in the Central Plaza, fifty feet away from Thriteen's back. The students all gasped and stepped back, while the Pro-Heroes immediately turned towards the threat and stared in shock. Before they could react, people – no, monsters - started pouring out of the swirling darkness.
"Villains!" Declared All Might.
The teenagers didn't respond, too shocked to say or do anything.
"Everyone, head back to the stairs," Aizawa hissed. "Now!"
Ochaco, who had remained frozen, felt a furred hand squeeze her own. She blinked, only to find a smiling Izumi. She too was afraid, but kept that reassuring smile regardless.
"Follow me!" Thirteen called, taking the lead back towards the stairs.
"Come on guys, you heard Aizawa!" Izumi called.
They didn't need to be told twice. They all hurried back to where they came, glancing back as the large vortex of black mist rippled with each new villain marching out. Although they were a wide variety of them, she couldn't stop glancing to the first villain to walk out of the black mist.
Gigantic, perhaps as tall as All Might, and maybe just as muscular, he looked like some kind of dark-skinned man with a beak filled with serrated teeth… and an exposed brain. His eyes lacked any intelligence to them, yet the thing exuded an air of danger that made her shiver. From a glance, Ochaco could tell he was perhaps the most dangerous of the villain horde.
"Hurry!" Thirteen called as they started climbing up the stairs.
Behind them, All Might, Miruko and Aizawa slowly stepped back. More villains marched out of the black mist in what appeared to be a near endless army. They came in all shapes and forms: from average looking thug, to the ugly looking mutant-types. They all shared one thing, however: a distinct hateful look on their faces and a glint of vindictiveness in their eyes. The Pro-Heroes, however, were far more concerned by the big one that had appeared first. There was something about that one villain that had them all in alert, more so than the horde of villains surrounding them.
"So… you take the hundred to the left and I take the hundred to the right, All Might?" Miruko asked. "Eraserhead gets to do the clean-up."
"I don't think it will be that easy," Aizawa muttered, squinting at bird-man in the middle.
Finally, villains stopped walking out of the vortex and the dark void closed, right as a man, clad with a mask in the form of a white hand over his face, stepped out. Red-eyed, white-haired and outright creepy looking, he had a barely hidden nasty toothy grin that screamed of mentally unstable.
"Ah, All Might, so good you could join us!" Cackled the man.
"And who might you be?" Asked All Might.
"It doesn't matter who I am. All that matters is that today, you'll die!" Laughed the weirdo.
Behind him, the black mist coalesced into the shape of a man, clad in a strange bartender-looking attire and with golden glowing eyes.
"All you need to know that we are the League of Villains and we are here to kill you, All Might," the shadow-man said.
"Oh? I think I have heard that a few times," All Might cheekily replied.
Aizawa glanced at the students climbing up the stairs.
"They appear to be about to make it out," he whispered to his fellow heroes.
"Kurogiri, why don't you take care about our secondary quests?" The white-haired weirdo said.
"It will be done," the mist-man, Kurogiri, replied, bowing his head.
Aizawa stepped forward, between All Might and Miruko.
"Not so fast," Aizawa spat.
His eyes shone and his hair stood up on end. Kurogiri and the leader of the so-called League of Villains merely watched the Eraser hero.
"How annoying," sighed the weirdo in charge with his raspy voice. "Nomu, get rid of that nuisance."
A massive shadow suddenly blocked Aizawa's path. The Pro-Hero barely had time to look up before he realized the giant bird-man was standing before him, an arm rearing back for what without doubt a powerful punch. Aizawa knew he wouldn't survive the attack.
Luckily, All Might intervened, blocking the punch and pushing Aizawa backwards.
"No!" Aizawa hissed, realizing what had just happened.
The leader of the League of Villains giggled maliciously as Kurogiri vanished.
"Take this, villain!" All Might shouted and delivered a mighty punch of his own against Nomu.
Miruko and Aizawa, as well as the surrounding villains, had to cover their faces as a strong gust of wind blew out from the mere shockwave produced by the punch. All Might smiled, already expecting the results of his attack. His smile fell, however, as he noticed that the Nomu thing hadn't moved an inch.
"What the-?"
PUNCH.
All Might gasped for air, a hand moving to his old injury, just as he was sent flying towards the stairway. He crashed into it, burying deep into the stonework. Lying there, he wheezed in pain and felt a familiar metallic taste in his mouth. Aizawa and Miruko watched, momentarily confused, before their faces were replaced with looks of dawning horror.
"I told you, All Might!" Laughed the weirdo in charge. "Today you die!"
Miruko and Aizawa both retreated to All Might's side, their eyes set on Nomu. The creature remained standing, hand outstretched from the punch. He kept that empty smile of his and looked untroubled. There was something just wrong with that guy.
"Did that thing-?" Miruko asked.
"Apparently," Aizawa said. He looked up the stairway where, unfortunately, the students could still be seen.
"You alright old man?" Miruko asked.
"Yes," lied All Might.
He stood up and brushed his shoulder, acting as if his old injury wasn't flaring and he wasn't in pain. Just how did that Nomu thing know where to hit?
"I have a bad feeling about this," All Might told them.
"Well shit," Miruko said. She grinned, sadistic eyes focused on the villains. "I guess today will be loads of fun after all."
-.-
"Hurry!" Thirteen shouted.
The students didn't need to be pushed. They were all rushing up the stairs. However, the teenagers couldn't help but glance back and slow down as they saw what was happening down below.
"That bird thing… he actually stopped All Might's punch!" Someone exclaimed.
And that did it. Immediately, everyone stopped sprinting and snapped their heads back to the Central Plaza. To their horror, it was worse than what they had imagine. All Might hadn't just been blocked, he had been punched back.
"Don't stop!" Thirteen said, snapping them out of their shock. "Do not worry about them! They are professionals and will deal with the situation. It will take a lot more than that to beat the likes of All Might."
"Ma'am, shouldn't there be emergency protocols?" Yaoyorozu immediately asked.
"First we need to evacuate you!" Thriteen said. "So let's hurry!"
No one protested and instead followed after the Pro-Hero. They managed to make it up the long way to the main gate. At first, they were relieved. They had made it after all. Then, there was a loud alarm, and the massive entrance roared. Class 1-A froze dead on their feet as thick and near impregnable blast doors dropped down, blocking their path.
"No!" Thirteen exclaimed.
Izumi and the others stared in disbelief. The very same mechanisms installed to keep villains out had now trapped them in. And of course, just when things looked bad, the situation worsened.
The black void from before materialized right in front of the main gate. This time around, only the mist man walked out. Even so, the students stared with apprehension. The villain's eyes swept before them, before he spoke.
"Good, you are all accounted for," said the mist-man.
"Everyone, stand behind me!" Shouted Thirteen.
She stepped in front of the class and aimed her fingers towards the mist man. The fingertips of her suit snapped open and, in the matter of an instant, a powerful gust of wind started sucking the air in front. It was Thirteen's quirk in action: Black Hole.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," mused Kurogiri, raising a hand.
From his limb, a shield of black void formed. Before anyone could react, a powerful wind started to drag the students behind them. They all looked back and, to their horror, a small black hole promised to swallow them whole.
"Damn it," swore Thirteen as she deactivated her quirk.
"I suggest you surrender peacefully," Kurogiri said. "There is no need to-"
BOOM.
Everyone shuddered just as a blur of something shot towards Kurogiri. It was none other than Bakugo. Kurogiri didn't flinch and raised a hand. Before he did anything, Bakugo raised a hand and produced a bright light, which monetarily blinded the villain. Taking his opportunity, Bakugo exploded forward and punched Kurogiri… or at least, the black mist that used to be the villain.
"What the…?" Bakugo mumbled, only to be swallowed inside a black void.
"Bakugo!" Shouted Izumi in horror.
But there was no time to worry about Bakugo as he vanished. Kurogiri's form exploded outwards and dropped onto the ground. He looked like one large shadow for a moment. In an instant, there was black mist at their feet… and they were falling.
"Shit!" Someone shouted.
Izumi watched as a feeling of free fall took over. Like the others, she was falling… only to feel her weight disappear and float. She snapped her head to a side just to see a terrified Ochaco using her quirk to keep Izumi and Iida floating upwards. The look of fear awoke something within Izumi.
"Ochaco!" Izumi shouted.
She tried to roll midair towards her friend. A hand reached out. Ochaco raised a hand, her brown eyes filled with desperation as her lower half sunk into the darkness. Their fingers touched, hope swelled in Izumi's gut and… Ochaco was swallowed by the pitch blackness.
Izumi felt gravity return. Her body dropped down, but instead of the void of the villain, it was firm ground. Next to him, Iida dropped on his knees, staring at where Ochaco had been.
"No…" whispered Izumi.
Kurogiri reformed back in front of the main gate.
"As I was saying, there was no need to make this more difficult," said the villain. "Now, I suggest you-"
SLAM.
It came as lighting, and punched ten times as hard. Kurogiri felt a wave of pain take over as his body broke in multiple parts. He couldn't comprehend what had happened. One moment he had been standing, the next there was a bright of light and…
"Where did you take the others?" Izumi shouted, standing over the injured villain.
How? Thought Kurogiri, his body unresponsive.
His attention was drawn to the rabbit girl's eyes. They were no longer purple. Instead, they were twin glowing green suns of unlimited fury and, for once, Kurogiri worried about his master's plan.
Izumi raised Kurogiri with her hand, lighting bolts racing around her glowing body. The air almost cracked with Izumi's rage.
"Where did you send them?!" She roared.
Kurogiri groaned as Izumi slammed him against the ground and shouted once again.
"Where did you send Ochaco?!"
