In Each Our Hearts

"Let's give them one hell of a show," Nusumi cheered as she skipped onto the field.

Hitoshi kept a cautious eyes on her and reminded himself not to get too complacent. Nusumi claimed to have no control over her quirk, but Hitoshi knew better. He's seen her control her luck if she really wanted to. Most of the time, it was over selfish wants, but if she so chose to, this can be one of those moments.

Hitoshi wouldn't let her of course. This was the opportune moment for him to show Sensei that he can be so much more. He deserved his attention more than anyone else in their little group. "This isn't a show."

"It's not?" she echoed. "Well, whatever. I know I'm going to have fun because I know you can't hurt me! And I can;t hurt you so..." She assumed a stance that reminded Hitoshi of a bouncy video game character and pretended to punch the air.

Hitoshi narrowed his eyes. He felt a little anxious over sparring with Nusumi. He's never fought anyone with merits for winning. It's always been brawl to save or protect others, never to prove his strength. In those fights, he's never used his quirk either. This would be the first, and Hitoshi is worried.

Nusumi was unlike any person he's dealt with before. She's too carefree. Their lack of proper acquaintanceship also made it difficult for Hitoshi to gather what words would tick her off and make her respond. With others, Hitoshi learned that he can anticipate and plan his actions accordingly. Most of them are easily angered, and affected by words they dislike hearing. Nusumi on the other hand did not, whatever works, works for her.

Hitoshi thought that if she actually spent time to understand her quirk, than she'd be an effective hero. Possibly even more successful than he'd ever be. People would love her jolly attitude, and her quirk was powerful. She'd be unstoppable. However, she refused to make herself anything greater and that angered Hitoshi.

He'd do anything to be as gifted as she was with her quirk. He wouldn't care if the quirk given to him was as complicated to control or understand, he would weaponize it. He would make it his own and win. He'd use it the right way so he can be a hero.

Ignoring his inner ramblings, Hitoshi instead focused on the fact that neither of them probably knew how to fight. Unlike Fumei and Akusa's close exchanges, Hitoshi saw his fight with Nusumi resembling the first match. There would be blows and kicks, but not enough to win them the round.

Hitoshi could punch, but Nusumi was admittedly faster and more agile than he is. Even if the battle came down to just fists, Hitoshi knew he couldn't rely on himself. He had to use his quirk, or else he wouldn't be worth Sensei's time. He had to make her to talk. That was the only acceptable way to win this.

Nusumi was familiar with his quirk, but not how it operates. None of them were. Hitoshi relied on that upper hand to win.

"Five minutes at the ready," Awaseru-sensei said. "Begin!"

Nusumi ran first, and Hitoshi threw in his luck. "Do you even really want to be a hero?"

Nusumi ignored his question and cartwheeled on one hand. She dragged a leg down at Hitoshi's head with a high kick. Hitoshi crossed his arms over his head and pushed against her.

Nusumi flipped back and caught her fall with both hands. She pushed off the ground and carried her momentum with two backflips before she landed steadily on both feet. Hitoshi didn't need to be a genius to recognize the routine. Nusumi was a gymnast.

"That was amazing." If riling her up won't work, then maybe being friendly would. Nusumi blinked at the sudden compliment but doesn't answer back. She simply smiled at him and approaches again with a combination of forward flips and twirls.

Hitoshi was forced to defend against her random strikes and hits. He fought back with his own jabs, but Nusumi was able to duck under them. Hitoshi managed to grab Nusumi's striking arm and pulled her close to elbow her face. She cried at the impact and immediately retaliated by shoving her knee up his stomach.

Hitoshi reeled back, clutching his stomach, while Nusumi kicked him in the chest again. Hitoshi grabbed her leg and threw her to the side. Nusumi rolled back to her feet, and laughed.

Hitoshi raised a brow at her. "Is this a joke to you?" he asked. Nusumi shrugged, and Hitoshi shook. He didn't need words to understand what she meant with that response. "You fight me now, but you haven't done anything that matters. Do you even want to win, Nusumi?" He stepped forward, and Nusumi raised her arms at the ready.

"You laugh and walk as if nothing matters. Not your quirk, not this fight, not even the title of hero. Do you really want to be a hero?"

Nusumi's grin faltered, and Hitoshi knew he found the right marker. Nusumi doubted of her choice to become a hero, and whatever the reason was, Hitoshi was going to use that against her.

She met his approach halfway and lifted her leg around to knock Hitoshi down. Hitoshi stepped back and mysteriously tripped on his untied laces. Hitoshi clicked his tongue in annoyance. Nusumi finally decided to use her quirk.

Nusumi giggled and pushed forward, not giving Hitoshi anytime to fix his laces and prevent the former from tripping him again.

"If you don't want to be a hero then why are you here?"

Nusumi didn't answer. Instead, she picked up a rock; chipped off the block from Akusa and Fumei's fight earlier and chucked it at Hitoshi. She missed by a long shot, but Hitoshi noted where the rock dropped.

"Are you bored, or did you just want to feel special for once?"

Nusumi's eyes twitched, and Hitoshi smirked. That was it. She wanted to be special like the rest, and for someone as immature and reckless as her, to be a hero would make people take her seriously.

"I also want to feel special," he mumbled. "All my life, people discarded what I wanted to be. No one listened because I didn't look like the ideal hero. My quirk isn't one for heroes. I'm not good, I'm not strong. I'm just evil in their eyes. I'm here, so people would look at me."

He dodged a punch from Nusumi, and for a moment he saw an expression on her face that wasn't a smile or a mischievous smirk. Her lower lip quivered as she fought off tears that threatened to fall on her face. She stumbled on her weight and didn't move for a bit.

Hitoshi wondered if he'd struck a chord too close to home. As much as he disliked Nusumi's lack of discipline, he didn't want to actually hurt her feelings. He didn't want to hurt anyone. "Stop being selfish. If you're not serious about becoming a hero then stop trying to be!"

Nusumi kept her mouth shut and once again wheeled around to push Hitoshi out of the ring. Hitoshi groaned as one hit landed on his side, and he noted the added pressure on every hit. He really pissed her off. Nusumi kept on pushing him back, and Hitoshi had no choice but to follow.

He couldn't fight her, not with how fast she's moving. He ducked under arm and unluckily steps over the rock Nusumi threw over him earlier. He falls on his knees and Nusumi caught his leg to drag him closer to the edge. Hitoshi turned himself around and hauled his leg back. Nusumi struggled to keep it close her.

"Even if you can be a hero, no one would trust you," he hissed. "You act like you help others, but you only really help yourself."

Nusumi's grip tightened around his leg, and she looked up at him. "Maybe I am; but it takes one selfish hero to know another."

Hitoshi grimaced at the venom behind her words as his quirk swept away the last of Nusumi's consciousness. Her grip loosened on his leg, and the light escaped her eyes. He stood up slowly, regaining his composure as Nusumi's words echoed in his mind.

Was he being selfish? Did he only help others because it would help himself? All those times he protected and got in trouble for fighting for his bullied peers, was that true heroism or was it because he wanted people to see that could be a hero?

Hitoshi clicked his tongue as he counted the seconds left in the timer. Nusumi was wrong. He wasn't selfish, he helped those people because it felt right. It didn't matter if they changed their opinion of him. He was a hero, and he will prove it to them that he can be.

"Walk out."

Nusumi turned on her feet and completed the task as he commanded. The entire class, who had just finished their separate activity from the side started yelling for Nusumi to snap out of it.

Hitoshi knew it wasn't going to work, but kept his focus on her anyway. Nusumi's quirk needed to be contained, and he didn't, then she may have one last stroke of luck. Hitoshi couldn't allow that. The closer Nusumi stepped towards the line, the more his peers started calling out the injustice of his actions.

Unfair, they said.

He didn't hear them say it, but Hitoshi knew one of them wanted to call him evil.

Nusumi's quirk had the same danger, but no one ridiculed her for it the same they did Hitoshi. She was free to do as she pleased and was applauded for it. While he was forced to hide it, and was shunned for it. However, much like him, Nusumi wanted to prove herself to someone. Her reactions to his words earlier proved that.

Nusumi doubted herself and her place, she wanted to feel special, but why? She has it better than him, so why?

Sensei blew his whistle as Nusumi stepped off the line, and Hitoshi released his hold on her.

She wobbled a little as her senses returned to her and she clutched her head. "Owwww… what did I do?" She looked at her feet, and blinked at the lined behind her shoes. "Oh, I lost."

Hitoshi walked over to her and apologized lowly. "I'm uh -" he swallowed. "Sorry for saying what I did earlier, and using my quirk on you."

"Whaaaat?" she gaped. "Why would you apologize for that? That stuff was cool, man. Like, I sort of remember how I got here, but I don't remember doing it? Catch my drift?"

"You're not... angry I brainwashed you?"

"Psh," Nusumi laughed. "Why would I be? It's a sparring match. We're supposed to use our quirks."

"I guess..." he said. "I'm still sorry for saying what I said earlier."

"Oh, that," she mumbled. "Apology accepted? I mean, I forgive you, I just don't understand why you had to do that. Hit me right here really hard you know," she patted her heart and stuck a tongue out to make light of the situation.

She didn't explain why it hurt her to hear what he said, and Hitoshi respected her silent plea to not say more. He's done enough damage as it is. "My quirk," he said, "for it work I need people to talk or answer back."

Nusumi blinked. "You mean, I have to respond to you before you can control me?"

Hitoshi nodded, and Nusumi cursed. "SO YOU'RE SAYING I COULD'VE WON IF I KEPT IGNORING YOU?!"

"Yes, and sorry, again, for saying all that."

"Oh lighten up, sour-face," Nusumi dismissively said. "It's frustrating, sure, but it's our first match. I'll get you good next time. No talking from me at all! That's a promise Shinshin."

"Excuse me?"

Nusumi was gone before Hitoshi can scold her for giving him a horrible new nickname. Fumei's unwelcome familiarity was already a nuisance, he can't stomach another one. After she finished with debriefing with Sensei, Hitoshi stepped forward and silently waited.

"So, brainwashing," Awaseru-sensei said as he read through his notes. "Nusumi told me you need verbal responses to activate it, not that she needed to. I inquired as such back in the test, and now you've confirmed my observations."

"Your approach to getting others to respond is a little too confrontational for a hero but I'm sure it's something we can work on." Hitoshi bit his lip. Of course Sensei would have issues with that. He initially thought against being too antagonistic to others to give his quirk a chance to be activated, but the more he used it against assholes, the more he realized he didn't care.

It's a first that he used it to antagonize someone he disliked but actually had no grudge against. He felt bad, and guilty for making Nusumi angry over her own issues.

"Control is good, which is the complete opposite of Nusumi's so no need to need to work on that. Quirk wise, I don't think there's much to improve on without support equipment or further studies." Hitoshi frowned. What would he need support equipment for?

"What you do need, is physical training. Do you agree?" Hitoshi nods firmly. "Good! I like students who self-evaluates, makes for faster talks. Other than details I'd have to run through with Fumei, I don't think there's much else to say. Keep up the good work, Shinsou. I have high hopes for you."

Hitoshi fought off a blush rising to his face and immediately bowed to excuse himself. A compliment… He's never had that before. It felt good. He allowed himself to smile a little for his win and rejoined the others in the bleachers.

"Holy shit," Okami cursed. "Are you smiling?!"

Hitoshi immediately tucked his lips and shook his head. "I'm not."

"You so are! Sensei said you did a good job didn't he?" she insisted. "Oh man, I think my heart skipped a beat when he said that to me too."

"Must be nice," Tastumaki grumbled beside Koharu. "I got scolded for using my ultimate move again."

"That's because it was dumb," Okami jeered, and Tatsumaki threatened to blow her away. Okami's eyes glowed a brighter gold as she readily accepted another rematch between them.

Hitoshi rolled his eyes, and moved away to sit on his lonesome. He sat beside Koharu who was anxiously playing with his gloved hands. "You nervous?"

Koharu sighed and slowly nodded. He stopped fiddling with his gloves pushed his hair back. "Who wouldn't be? You saw what Fumei did earlier, I don't stand a chance against that."

"I guess," Hitoshi found himself agreeing. He knew Fumei had a better grasp of his quirk than most of them, but just how good he was with it during battle was up for debate. He didn't know what he expected to see during Akusa's match, but it was definitely not that.

Fumei was, or he and Akusa were rather, for a lack of better therm, just a league of their own.

"I wouldn't worry about it too much though," he said to ease Koharu's worries.

"Why not?"

"Fumei hates Akusa, he likes you. He'd go easy on you."

Koharu pouted. "That just makes it worse. You make it sound like I'm not even worth his time."

"I didn't mean it that way," Hitoshi apologized.

"I know, I know. I just need to be smarter than him, not stronger."

Hitoshi watched as Koharu tightened his hands into a fist and made note of his words. Be smarter, not stronger.

A few minutes earlier, in the main Yuuei building, a short walk away from the gym, Fumei and Akusa were welcomed by Recovery Girl with a heartfelt scolding. "What happened to you boys!?"

She looked over their injuries meticulously then guided both of them to separate beds. Following a triage, he looked after Fumei's wounded state first and disappointingly shook her head.

"Did you boys get in a fight? Where is your adviser!? No Yuuei staff would let two children get this hurt on their watch," she rambled. Neither of them answered and kept silent, much to Recovery Girl's dismay.

She huffed in defiance against their stubborness and asked Fumei to take his torn shirt and jacket off. She gasped as she saw the full extent of injuries scattered around his chest, black and blue bruises, and two long cuts across the abdomen.

"Oh dear. This is more than I expected. Stay here for a while, I will get you some cream to apply on those cuts."

Fumei patiently waited as Recovery Girl disappeared to a back room to grab some supplies or something. He glanced at a nearby mirror and finally saw the degree of damage Akusa has done on his face. He groaned as he turned his head to see more of it and clicked his tongue. Akusa definitely didn't hold back on sending his message.

Don't challenge me ever again.

It's hard to ignore that message when the letter was written on his body. Fumei didn't hate Akusa. He only partially disliked him. How could he not? The moment Akusa stepped foot in class, every bell in Fumei's mind rang in high alert.

Akusa's presence challenged his hold on Class 1-C. He claimed to be better and smarter than anyone in class; the same way Fumei did. Their introductions were met with similar disdain, but Fumei managed to fix his image early on. Everyone understood he had a bit of a screw loose and only meant well.

Not everyone likes him, but the majority of the class can understand his position. Akusa on the other hand, showed no redeeming qualities that the class can use to be more accepting of him.

Fumei knew he already won that front, and he wasn't the least bit threatened by Akusa claiming the class' infamous title of most powerful student. He was however, worried about what else Akusa is capable of. Akusa obviously knew how to fight in equal terms as him, and knew how to use his quirk.

Fumei would be a fool to ignore the warnings Akusa was dangerous, and he was interested in him and a few others. Fumei didn't know why, but he figured a man of mysterious history as like Akusa was connected to less than stellar figures. He didn't want to assume the worst, but their fight proved some of it.

He didn't know how much Akusa already had on him, but it clearly wasn't enough for Ahim to be satisfied. It wasn't enough for Akusa to figure out who he is. Whatever that meant. Fumei never lied about who he is to anyone, only kept certain aspects of his life and personality hidden from sight.

Everyone wore a mask to fit in, he was only doing the same.

"Ow –" he hissed as Recovery Girl returned to dab some antiseptic on the knife wound on his arms.

"Seriously, this is beyond any injuries I have seen from first years…" she said in disbelief. "Which of you started it?"

"He did -"

"Neither," Akusa immediately rectified his claim. "We were paired for a sparring match. We simply got carried away."

"He's good," Fumei choked out a compliment. "I didn't want to lose to him."

"Kids these days," Recovery Girl sighed as she slapped a large cloth over Fumei's stomach. "Heroes don't only fight with their fists, you know? You two should know better than that as you progress your studies."

Fumei and Akusa exchanged looks, with the latter breaking away first. The blond groaned reading the atmosphere quite well. "We – uh…" he fumbled. "We're not from the hero course."

Recovery Girl looked up for a moment, her eyes unreadable, before she cried in alarm. "What business do non-hero students have to being exposed to dangers like this? A sparring match?!" she fumed. "What class did you say you are from again?"

"1-C?"

Recovery Girl calmed down after hearing their class, and shook her head in soft understanding. "Oh, that Giro," she chuckled. "Always pushing young, foolish children like you to your limit." She beckoned for Fumei to lower himself to her level before planting a kiss on his forehead.

Fumei watched as his body shine in a soft yellow glow, and felt his bruises disappear. The cuts remained under the cooling salve Recovery Girl used and plastered with bandages, but Fumei felt them close a bit under her quirk. As the glow died out, Fumei suddenly felt the need to sleep. He yawned a loud, and found himself asking.

"Is that... Normal?"

"Being tired?" the nurse hero echoed. "Why, yes. My quirk uses up your stamina to heal yourself. Based on your progress, you've got quite a lot left in you."

Fumei scratched the back of his neck bashfully and muttered a soft thank you at the hero, who walked over to assess Akusa next.

"Do you boys wish to get into heroics?" she asked.

"I have no interest in foolish endeavors," Akusa spat, and Recovery Girl hummed. She didn't look the least bit offended by his rude response and poor choice of words.

"What about you?"

"Not particularly," Fumei honestly replied. "I want to help but I don't think being a hero is the way to go."

"I see." The hero planted a kiss on Akusa's forehead, and the latter was doused with a light purple glow. He watched the incredulous process of being healed with great interest, before he gave a quick nod of gratitude at the hero. "Now, I don't want to see both of you, or any members of your class back here so soon. I thought he finally decided to stop after two failed years, but it seems your group rekindled his fire again."

Fumei frowned.

"Regardless of your intentions, whether that is to be heroes or not, I do wish you the best," she said while grabbing two sticks of lollipop from her drawer. "Giro does not train anyone he does not believe in. If he has accepted you under his aid, then he's hoping to change your minds soon. Work hard, but not too hard that I see you two sent back here understand! "

Fumei thanked the nursing hero for her assistance and left; Akusa followed right behind.

As they made their way back to Gym Beta, Fumei allowed himself some time to take in the sights of Yuuei's campus. Attending Yuuei used to be his father's dream. It had become his at one point, but as he grew older it felt more and more like a far off dream. He never imagined he'd be able to do it anyway.

His father wanted him to be a hero, and Fumei once did too. He knew he had what it takes to become one, his goals just changed direction as he reached middle school. He didn't want to be a hero anymore, but a faint childish hope held on. He knew the truth however, Fumei knew he could never uphold its responsibility. He was too lost for that now.

He took the exam for heroics just so he can feel the thrill in his veins again. He wanted to test if he still had what it takes. The scoreboards reconfirmed his qualifications, but his heart just wasn't in it anymore. He didn't want to be a hero. Instead he accepted the invitation for general education where he imagined himself to thrive more than he ever could in heroics.

For the most part, Fumei was right. He found his success stories. The underdogs of Yuuei that would to anything to be recognized. He thought it would be fun to be involved, so he did. He didn't exactly start out the best, with the words meaning differently despite his pure intentions.

At first, 1-C seemed troubled by his difficulty in speaking his mind, but they soon come to accept it as a part of him. He started letting more of himself show to them, and they welcomed him with bigger arms. It made him happy. It felt normal. The most normal life he's had in years.

If he were given a choice, Fumei would keep this moment locked in a bottle and never let it go. Unfortunately, wishes granted are only seen in fairy tales.

"More and more, you prove to be an interesting enigma," Akusa started out of the blue. "Your actions and words mean one thing, but your eyes cannot and do not lie. Truly they are window to one's soul."

Fumei stopped to look up at the taller male and tilted his head. "My eyes?" he frowned and stepped back to protect himself. "Wait… Are you hitting on me?"

Akusa blinked, alarmed and sighed. "Of course not. I'm not interested in romance. However, you could say you have piqued my interest."

"So… you are hitting on me?"

"No. I am not."

Fumei snickered and waved his hand dismissively at him. "Then you shouldn't make such claims. I'd consider dating you if I absolutely didn't dislike your guts."

Akusa raised an eyebrow. "Would you care to elaborate?"

"On dating you or?"

"The other, obviously."

"Right," Fumei rolled his eyes. "For starter's you almost killed me back there, then you claim I'm someone I'm not when we've barely known each other for a week. Hell, the only time we've ever actually talked was when you started asking questions this morning. You don't know me, so stop trying to figure out something I'm not."

Akusa narrowed his eyes at him, and gestured for them to continue walking. Fumei, followed through but turned on his heels to walk backwards. He tilted his head at the masked teen and added, "Why did you ask those questions earlier?"

"Are you going to answer any of them?"

"No?"

"Then I see no point answering you. Rightfully just as doing so will put us on a level field. You and I would be aware and unaware of certain truths about each other. Which brings me to a proposition, would you care to play a game?"

Fumei stopped. "What makes you think I'd say yes to something so ominous sounding? I'm not stupid Akusa."

"I am aware," Akusa chuckled. "Unfortunately, regardless of what you choose, you will play this game." He leaned closer to Fumei's ear and whispered, "Because I will, and I will never stop until I find the secrets I'm certain you do not want found."

Fumei held his breath as the other retreated and walked past him. The blond grit his teeth and frowned. Akusa knows something, and it's not one of his open secrets. "Shit," he cursed and silently told himself to calm down. He shouldn't fall prey to Akusa's scare tactic or else he'd just prove the latter's point.

He inhaled deeply and returned to the gym with a calm look on his face. If Akusa wanted to play that game, then' he'd just have to beat him in it. If there's anything Fumei hates, it's losing. Losing against Akusa? Top of the list now.

Awaseru-sensi welcomed him back with an impatient drawl. Fumei needn't be told to hurry and immediately ran to the field where Koharu stood waiting. His gloves were already thrown to the side to show off hands emitting a bright neon blue energy.

Fumei recalled Koharu's limit of based on his stored energy. If he remembered correctly, it was only five for both hands. Koharu wasn't a fighter, unlike Akusa; and Koharu wasn't as acquainted with his quirk as he is. This match wasn't decided to test Koharu's skill, nor his stamina. It was to test his creativity.

The timer started amidst his thoughts, and Koharu acted fast. He simultaneously opened a portal linking Fumei's foot and another window behind him, just across the field line.

Fumei's right leg fell through it, but he managed to catch his foot with a plate of light. Koharu opened another set of portals on his other leg Fumei slipped through both portals, and was quick to resume his saving act. He created a wall to his left and jumped towards it, avoiding the portal Koharu merged and connected to another window high above the ceiling still outside the playing field.

Fumei pushed himself off the wall and knocked Koharu down on his back. Koharu closed both portas and opened a portal large enough for both of them to fit through.

The portal dropped them high above the field, free falling to hardened ground. Koharu clung to Fume

Fumei tried to cushion his fall with a sloping plate, but was unable to drop correctly unto it when Koharu clung to him. They fell in a loud thud back on the ground and Fumei heard the class groan in empathy. He growled, feeling his back ache twice as bad as a fall from that height would feel.

He sat up and felt his bruises from Akusa's fight. There were already healed, but Recovery Girl's treatment made him slower and his tolerance for pain, lower. He pushed himself to his feet, just as Koharu rolled to regain his own footing.

Fumei noted the dim glow on the other's hands and counted accordingly. "One left."

Koharu looked at his hands and tightened them into a fist. He knew he was at reaching his limit and thought it best to use it when absolutely necessary. The brunette ran forward with his fists at the ready and jabbed them at his opponent.

Fumei dodged them easily, and swiped under Koharu's legs. He pinned him down on his arms and legs and said, "Nice trick with the foot, it almost got me."

Koharu growled as he tried to break free. "Almost."

"Keep it up, I know you can do it."

"Don't patronize me," the other hissed and Fumei's left arm fell through another portal. Fumei lost his balance and Koharu was able to switch their dynamic.

He saddled Fumei, using the same technique the latter did to pin him down and held on. Fumei blinded him with a flash of light and easily kicked the brunette off him. They both stood at the ready, with Koharu minding his left hand. He already exhausted his right hand's energy, leaving him with one last trick to defeat Fumei.

Fumei waited for Koharu to move, but a minute passed and nothing. Koharu was buying his time; and Fumei figured it was only one of the two possibilities. He was trying to conserve energy, or he was trying to regain it. Either way, both plans gave him time to act.

Fumei raised his hand and pulled a barrage of light blades right above Koharu. The brunette rolled on the floor to dodge it and quickly kicked his shoes off. Fumei's eyes grew as neon blue energy glowed from the soles of Koharu's feet.

"You have more!" he laughed in shock, which seemed to confuse Koharu more, but not enough to stop him in his plan.

Koharu tapped his foot on the ground and opened several portals to catch the falling blades from the sky. He redirected them perpendicularly towards Fumei, who struck down every blade with wide angled kicks and another barrier of light.

He dispelled the light blades back into its original matter, and grinned at Koharu. This, was the reason he loved a good underdog story. The weak will never settle for less. No matter how hard the road taken will be, they will always strive to win and become stronger.

Koharu embodied a lot of what Fumei was searching for. Determined, smart, and easy to mold. He was perfect.

"That's more like it!"

Koharu tried to land a punch on him, but Fumei ducked under it. He kicked Koharu back and immediately conjured blades to his hands.

Koharu raised his feet to catch both blades and port them behind Fumei. It nicked Fumei's shoulders but not enough to cut through the jacket.

If his calculations were correct, much like his hands, Koharu's feet should have a limit of five portals only. Koharu already opened three.

Fumei leaped high into the air and parkoured over multiple platforms to gain a higher stage advantage.

The brunette scrambled to his feet, keeping his attention and head high to anticipate any incoming attacks. Fumei jumped off a platform and called forth the platforms to form one large weighted plate.

He released it from his grasp, and let the plate fall along with gravity. Koharu tried to outrun the large block but was too slow for it.

He was forced to open a portal large enough to fit through and escape. Fumei grinned. They're back to one portal again.

Koharu's eyes screamed in panic as he came to the same conclusion as his opponent. He can't last longer than this.

Fumei rushed towards Koharu and forced him to take two steps back with blades trained on his naked toes. Koharu tried to break through them but was too weak against their sturdiness.

As Fumei closed in with more blades trained on his feet, Koharu looked over his shoulder to spot the line just a few more steps away. He struggled to think of a plan. The constructs are close to unbreakable with his strength, and he needed to be smart with his limited fire power.

"Ow!" Koharu screamed as one of Fumei's blades slashed his foot and the blonde jumped.

"Sorry!"

Koharu fought through the pain and opened a portal wide enough to swallow all of the blades Fumei threw at him and connected it to a window above the blond's head. Fumei shielded himself with a construct of light and smiled.

"Not bad, but not good enough," he said and Fumei grabbed Koharu's arm. He threw him over his shoulder just as Koharu waved a still powered left hand under Fumei's foot.

Fumei clicked his tongue in annoyance as his foot slipped through the window and touched hard ground. Koharu fell on his back, with his entire body flung out of the ring.

"Time!" Sensei cried and announced the winner. "Fumei wins!"

Fumei blew a tuft of hair from his face, happy that all the physical work was finally over with and turned to congratulate his opponent. He kept his hand to himself when he saw Koharu stand with his head hung low. His hair covered his expression well, but Fumei was familiar with that posture.

The dejection from loss. Fumei knew that all too well. He clapped Koharu's arm and said, "Hey, don't feel too bad about it champ. There's always a next time."

"Easy for you to say," the brunette chides. "You won."

"I did," he agreed, "but I also have a huge head start on training compared to you. With a little bit of guidance I'm sure you'd be able to defeat me too. I mean, I didn't even know you had energy on your feet too! You totally caught me off guard."

Koharu curled his toes. "I don't really like using them. It's embarrassing."

"Whaaaat?" Fumei said in disbelief. "They're additional pools of energy for larger portals. You just doubled the number you normally create with just your hands, and you still think it's embarrassing to use them?"

"Uh..."

"That's stupid, Koharu!" The brunette frowned in offense. "What I meant to say is," Fumei corrected himself. "Maybe instead of using just your hands or your feet, why not use them both?"

Koharu's eyes grew wider in realization and looked at his hands and feet. "I never… thought of it that way."

Fumei pulled him into a shoulder hug and shook him. "If you'll let me, I could train you to be better with those portals. Hands and feet together, what do you say?"

Koharu nodded, then smiled up at Fumei. "I'll be in your care then."

One down.

A swirl of black formed in an unkempt underground bar. A bloodied mop of grey hair dropped to the floor, whimpering in pain as he dragged chipped fingernails on wooden floor. "Our cannon fodder was taken down in a flash… Even those damned brats were strong."

His eyes widened as realized the meaning behind his defeat. He lost to a bunch of zero levels. "The symbol of peace is in perfect health!" His crimson colored eyes glared at a static filled screen and snarled, "You were wrong …"

"No I was not. We merely got ahead of ourselves," the man called Sensei explained. "Yes, we underestimated him, but this is a great learning opportunity. Now we know he grows weaker by the day. Good thing your party came cheap. And what of our creation?"

"He was sent flying," Kurogiri revealed. "Unless we ascertain its precise coordinates. No amount of warping will let us find it."

"After all the trouble we went through to make it as strong as All Might. No matter, we can always make another."

"Strong…" Shigaraki mumbled. "There was one… one kid who seemed just as fast as All Might…"

Sensei went quiet, contemplating. "Oh?"

Kurogiri listened in as the young villain blamed his defeat on a green haired hero. One glance at the static filled screen, and he's received a clear order. He turned to his heels and silently entered a number on his phone. The other end picked up, but remained silent.

Kurogiri could make out loud sirens and a voice amplified through a speaker and directing a multitude of people around in a calm manner. It would seem their appearance have finally reached the attention of superiors. This was a bad time to call, but they were professionals.

"A boy, with green hair from the hero course," Kurogiri stated. "He seems to share a quirk similar to All Might. Figure out who he is."

The receiver didn't respond but Kurogiri heard them acknowledge the message with three long taps, a pause, and then another long, short, and long taps. Kurogiri dropped the call and returned his attention to his ward.

Shigaraki cradled his knees close to his chest and chewed on his fingernails. He muttered profanities under his breath as he glared at the disheveled poster of All Might on the wall.

A/N: Happy New Year everyone! Has anyone read Chapter 212? God, Horikoshi-sensei watering out crops with good Shinso content for the past few weeks. Bless his fucking soul. The code is basically this "- - - -.-" it just roughly translates to O.K in Morse. The spy was supposed to have a line or two, but I decided against it considering the situation. Hehehe, now, now, now whoever could it be?

Thank you for reading. I'll see you in the next chapter~