I do not own My Hero Academia, it is owned by Horikoshi
I also do not own K-9, the character was originally created for Doctor Who, the iteration of the character seen in this story is more based off the one seen in the 2009 series.
Chapter 35 - Katsuki Bakugo Falls
Takoba National Stadium - Stands
"So Kota, what do you think so far?" asked Hawks.
"I really don't get why it is just a game of dodge-ball," commented the small boy.
"Uh well..." Aizawa was seriously enjoying Hawks trying to come up with an answer.
"You know I'm not sure why either," commented Midoriya, "And it runs counter to people like Tetsutetsu and Kirishima's quirks who want to be an immovable wall to protect people. Or someone like Fat Gum whom relies on being a damage sponge." Tokoyami nodded in agreement.
Rocky sighed, deciding to bail out his boss whom likely didn't have to go through this form of an exam, "This is only the first stage, to weed out the general masses for the main portion of the exam."
"Still..."
"You ever see the U.A. Sports Festival?"
"Yeah, bunch of people showing off..."
"Anyways, the first and second round are to weed people out, otherwise the event would take weeks to complete," said Rocky cutting off Kota's rant, "Think of the hitting the targets with those rubber balls as a qualifier testing one's situational awareness and teamwork in a combat setting while trying to minimize injuries."
"That makes sense I guess," said Kota, "looks like all of 1-A has passed the first round then."
"That's highly unusual for first years," replied Rocky, "I was actually the only one in my Class to get my Provisional License in the first year. My class, didn't have much in the way of comradery, and I was kind of the social outcast, being only half-Japanese."
"Wait what? I thought that kind of discrimination... Wait one of your parents was from?"
"My father is an American, and Japan has always had a tendency to view people of mixed nationalities or foreigners with suspicion, at least the first generation; sometimes with good reason, sometimes innocent people get caught up in it. Anyways, the Squirrel traits comes from my father's side, my mother is actually quirkless," he caught Midoriya's sudden reaction to what he just said an gave one of his Squirrel-grins, "I have 1 sister and two younger brothers, whom are also twins, only they got more of a tree-squirrel quirk, though both of them are incredibly strong for their age, but I digress."
"As interesting as your family drama is, can you get back to the point?" asked Aizawa in annoyance.
"Okay my class really was very fractured Ms. Kayama was often frustrated with the lot of us, we were competitive, couldn't work together and they all had their core groups of friends. I was kinda considered the trouble-maker, I really didn't have any friends in the class. I kinda split off from everyone else, but the class fractured even further in the first exam and everyone got knocked out of the 1st part of the exam but me, and truth be told I got really lucky that the students from the other schools really under-estimated me in that round."
"I remember that," Ms. Joke jumped into the conversation, "I had just started teaching at Ketsubutsu, you managed to eliminate a few members of Shiketsu High from that exam, assisting some of my class in the process. So, my class teamed up with little Keito Kurinsumi here, and he passed with my class."
"Yeah, it annoyed the heck out of the rest of my class cause they had to wait for me to complete the next phase. Then for the results, then for my picture to be taken. Boy my classmates were furious of having to wait that long."
"It's their own fault," commented Aizawa, "Understanding the second portion of the exam would be important intel for their next run-through."
"Ms. Kayama was also really upset with me for not staying with my class, until Ms. Joke really lit into her," Rocky admitted.
"It was her own fault for not realizing how the rest of her class had isolated you. Teamwork is a two-way street, and you integrated with my class in the exam like a glove," replied Ms. Joke, being serious for once, "Principal Nezu was taken aback when he received a letter from me asking if you could be transfered to Ketsubutsu as a 2nd year, even though you were a first year."
"I guess that's what perked Mr. Nezu's interest in me," said Rocky, "Given my rankings and inability to connect with my classmates, Ms. Kayama was going to see about me being dropped from the Hero Program. However, with the fact I was the only member in the class to pass the License Exam and I'm guessing the letter caused Principal Nezu to take a look at me."
"I think you're doing a disservice to Midnight, she's an excellent teacher," admonished Tokoyami who looked as though he was going to take offense to Midoriya not voicing his support, but stopped when he remembered that given his fellow disciple of Hawk's childhood, he would be rather wary of teachers.
"She's not a bad teacher... It's just..."
"She wasn't a good fit for having someone like you as a student, it happens sometimes," Ms. Joke shrugged, "I could see you'd excel at Ketsubutsu, or if Cementoss was your home room teacher, since he is more laid back. Honestly, if Midnight had you as a student today, there wouldn't be that friction, but back then..."
"Yeah..."
"Looks like the first part is about to end," said Midoriya hesitantly listening to man on the loud speaker announcing how many slots remained, since he didn't have anyone to root for at this point he started to zone out, it had been a long night.
Flashback:
Izuku woke up hearing a knocking on his door, 'Who could it be at this time of night?' He rubbed his eyes and got out of bed, "Okay, I'm coming." He walked to the door and opened it, "Kota?"
"Izzy," the boy looked terrified, he seemed to be panting and he was sweat drenched, off to the side his robot dog was floating near him, "I-I c-can I sleep here?"
"Young Master, I can assure you, that you are in no danger," said K9 sounding more than a little indignant at the idea he couldn't protect his young charge.
Midoriya looked at his shaking younger adoptive sibling, "Okay, but first you need to change into some dry pajamas, the ones you're wearing are soaked," he said, he watched Kota scamper back to his own room, and sighed, 'This is going to be a long night.' He eyed the robot dog, "How long has this been going on?"
"Since he first got here," K9 begrudgingly admitted, "The young master hasn't slept through the night at all. Is this common for children his age, 'Night Terrors' perhaps?"
Izuku Midoriya shook his head, "He should have outgrown those, no this due to what happened to him, it's not your fault. Anyways, K9 could you come in also, I'd feel better if you were here since you have the ability to sense warping quirks." He'd said that partially to placate the robot, but also to try to get Kota to feel more secure with the robot dog being there.
After Kota got back and they had both climbed into bed, Midoriya held him as Kota started to fall asleep listening to Midoriya's heartbeat. 'Okay, I hope this isn't going to be a repeating event. I can't tell him to buzz off though, he's terrified and I can't blame him. Kota, what did they do to you to make you so timid? ... I better talk to Mineta, Asui, Kirishima, or Tokoyami... No Tokoyami won't work, cause if I'm having to sleep at Hawks' agency so would Tokoyami, not to mention Dark Shadow... Kaminari maybe, no they'd stay up playing video-games, then again Kaminari might not cause he'd want to be responsible and set a good example. Only other two I could think of is Momo and Kacchan.' Though truth be told those would both be a disaster, for the former, he'd never hear the end of it from Minoru and the latter's sweat, well prolonged exposure could cause health problems even though it evaporates fairly quickly.
"Master Izuku?" inquired K9 quietly.
"What?"
"Is this because the young master has no confidence in me?"
"No, I think he trusts you, but kids generally go to their older siblings or parents when they have really bad nightmares for comfort, I guess it has to do with our scent, heartbeat or something, and thus a kid subconsciously feels more secure... Also, given what he went through, he came to me, cause he knows I...well it's something I don't want to talk about."
"Does Mr. Aizawa know about..."
"Yes, so does All Might. Anyways, K9?"
"Yes Master Izuku?"
"Thanks for staying, I actually do feel safer, knowing you're right here."
Present:
A loud rumble shook the boy back to focusing on the present, as Izuku Midoriya looked on in shock, the zones collapsed for the rescue portion of the exam, "This is nuts! I've got to..." He felt a hand on his shoulder holding him in place.
"We should trust our classmates," said Tokoyami.
"Truthfully, I have concerns about two of your classmates, the first is Bakugo and the second is Todoroki," said Hawks shocking his two apprentices.
"I can understand Bakugo, but why Todoroki?" asked Tokoyami.
"The look that Shiketsu High Student shot Todoroki, he may get caught up in that kid's personal angst."
"I'm guessing they are simulating a villain attack in this, if so depending on how Kacchan reacts, he could still pass, but it'll be close," said Midoriya, 'Please Kacchan, don't screw this up."
"He'll pass," said Kota, "H-he promised he'd pass."
"Even if he passes, it's likely he won't and even if he does, they'll likely want him in a special course," Rocky finally spoke up.
"Huh, why's that?"
"His tendency for foul language and his lack of social skills, he also has a tendency of having anger management issues..." commented Tokoyami who shot Midoriya a look as he started to open his mouth, "Don't Midoriya, the way he acted towards you on the first day as well as how he's acted towards Ida is something that really needs to be corrected. What I don't understand is why you defend him?"
Midoriya grimaced trying to dodge the issue. 'He's hiding something,' thought Hawks, Rocky, and Tokoyami. Kota also opened his mouth to protest, though internally the young boy wasn't blind to Bakugo's shortcomings. In fact, if it wasn't for Aizawa forcing his 'big brother' to tell him about something that quite frankly Izuku didn't want to relive, he'd be thinking his brother was crazy.
"That's enough," said Aizawa, saving Midoriya from having to answer, "while I agree with you that Bakugo needs to learn to control his temper better, badgering Midoriya about this is a little out of line." He shot Tokoyami a look.
"So I take it you know what Midoriya doesn't want to talk about?" asked Hawks quietly so that Midoriya and Tokoyami couldn't hear him, though he suspected Rocky could.
"I do, and in my view is something that is his decision as to who he wants to talk about it with," replied Aizawa quietly, "though I will be bringing it to Hound Dog's attention before his next therapy session with Midoriya."
'Great more childhood trauma,' thought Hawks, 'Jeez this poor kid really couldn't catch a break, and the scary part is he'd probably be considered one of the lucky ones.'
Arena Floor:
"Mineta, use your quirk to reinforce those walls so we can pull those people out without everything collapsing," Yaoyorozu ordered.
"Got it," Mineta threw a series of his hairballs at the cracks where he judged things were in the most danger of further collapse, though he winced as he moved too suddenly at one point and was breathing heavily.
"Don't overdo it, you may say you've completely healed after being stabbed, but it's clear you aren't," Yaoyorozu ordered.
'Good call on her part,' thought the Help Us Company pro-Rescuee, 'Managing things while making sure her injured classmate doesn't overdo things. A good pro-hero is also supposed to be able to power through their injuries in an emergency, they also should not overdo things where they end up in need of rescuing if it can be avoided.'
"Okay Uraraka, it should be good to go," called out Mineta, "Use your quirk on the people, we don't know if there are internal injuries and if they're weightless it will allow them to be moved without making the injuries worse. I still don't like the structural condition of this building. I was only able to use my quirk to temporarily reinforce areas that obviously looked like they were about to collapse, but all it would take is one more tremor..."
"I understand Mineta," replied Uraraka, touching various rescuees while activating her quirk so they started to float.
'Good he's staying on task,' thought Yaoyorozu, 'it's a good thing this didn't take place at the beginning of the school year, he's matured quite a bit so he can work with others. His quirk is fairly useful in this situation. That said I really don't think he should be in the exam given his condition, though a good portion of our class may have been eliminated.' While she wasn't one to brag, she knew she was the smartest member of the class in raw intelligence, however there were key niches where certain people were far ahead of her. She knew at least three members of the class were better at analyzing quirks on the fly than she was. 'I have to keep improving.'
'Damn it, I should have stayed with Broom-head and Pikachu,' thought Bakugo carrying the midget dressed as a little kid, 'If this wasn't for some damn test I would have throttled this annoying asshole.'
"You really suck at this!"
"You know it's tough to believe you're actually that injured when you're not acting the part very well," Bakugo replied evenly, "A real injured kid would either be moaning or yelling about what part of them hurt. Not insulting the guy that was carrying them!"
'Touche,' thought the HUC employee, 'but still.' He took a breath, "You're getting dinged for your attitude!"
'Remember, I can't launch this annoying ass into the stratosphere... Damn-it Deku was never quite this annoying!' He finally made it up to the rescue station set up by some of the examinees with healing quirks. "Yo, I got this rugrat that needs medical attention, from what I can tell he has a head injury though he seems to be aware of what's going on."
"Okay I'll take him off your hands..."
That's when there was a loud explosion.
"The Villains have shown up and are on the move. You hero candidates on the scene will need to suppress the villain incursion," came a voice over the stadium loud speakers.
'Finally, now this is something more up my wheelhouse! Now I can really cut loose,' thought Bakugo excitedly, "Okay you guys evacuate the civies, I'll hold fish-sticks and his lame-ass extras off."
"Hold on, I'll attack first, then you charge in after I knock them off their feet!"
Bakugo was about to backtalk the Ketsubutsu student, but thought the better of it, because the plan made sense, "Got it!"
"In three, two..."
Stands:
Kota watched as Gang Orca's group blasted through an arena wall. "Unreal... How're they supposed to..."
"Is it just me or is Gang Orca taking a flair for the dramatic a little far..." commented Rocky.
"He had to enter the field somehow..." shrugged Hawks.
"Still, did he have to pull a 'Koolaid Man?' He could have caused part of the stadium to collapse," muttered Rocky.
"Well there goes that Ketsubutsu kid," commented Tokoyami shaking his head, "He took out quite a few underlings before Gang Orca took him down. Now Bakugo's trying to take on Gang Orca and his sidekicks all on his own."
"This is bad, Kacchan's good but he can't take them all by himself," commented Midoriya, "There's just too many for him."
Suddenly an ice wall appeared, "Well look who decided to show up," smirked Hawks only for his face to turn into shock as Bakugo got blown into the ice wall a from a sudden intense gust of wind, the wall collapsed from the impact, seemingly burying him under the ice.
"KACCHAN!"
Notes:
Sorry it took so long for me to come out with an update, there were several reasons as to why:
1. Family Drama and dad having health problems kind of put a damper on me writing.
2. Digimon Survive came out which is actually a rather interesting game from a story standpoint.
3. Kind of had writer's block for this chapter as to how I wanted things to go down. Originally, I was going to throw in some scenes from Tartarus, but it just seemed too creepy.
