The damn ropes course was freaking impossible. I had a hard time not screaming at Gang Orca that this was completely pointless.
First a sheer wall climb with barely any traction or foot space. Most everyone just stood there looking at it with their jaws open.
How the hell does anyone manage without a quirk? Well, Deku did. Hell, he doesn't even use his quirk half the time. And if Deku can do this I can too. No point in anything if you can't outdo that damn nerd.
It took me five tries to get higher than a few feet before I ran out of spaces and hit the floor. The temptation to use my explosion to brace the fall was insane, but I held back . Nope. No quirks.
Keep focused. Keep climbing. I was glad to see I was at least doing better than IcyHot, who seemed to be ready to set something on fire any minute with frustration.
"Not so cool without your quirk, are ya?" I yelled back at him. And inexplicably he smiled at me. "Guess I have to catch up."
Weirdo. I focused back on making it to the top. Metaphor, I guess. Remember your goal, who you have to surpass. No quirks. Just training.
One foothold after the other. No looking down now, no falling. Another - another - just keep going. Don't give up. Hold on.
At long last, I hit the top. I was the third person to make it - dammit - but at least I'd made it before Todoroki. Next up were ropes, strung from the climbing wall across an abyss the length of the gym. Ropes course. I hadn't done this very often. Best to get started. I leaned over and took hold of the rope, locked my knees and legs. I'd seen Deku do this at the Sports Festival while carrying a metal robot door on his back.
I took a breath and began going. It was a strain on every muscle in my body, somehow. A completely unfamiliar direction. Not that I wasn't used to working out, or putting a strain on myself, but I was used to using explosions to propel myself, all from my wrists, arms and hands. This was a new way to use my body. Shimmying on, and stay focused.
Todoroki was actually trying to balance on the rope like a tightrope walker, I noticed out of the corner of my eye. Like that'd work. I kept moving. One hand in front of the other, stay balanced, stay focused.
"How do you avoid the vertigo?" Todoroki called at me. "Being this high up?"
"You serious right now?" I barked back at him.
"Really. I don't generally go this high. Your quirk lets you."
"Why the hell should I tell you?"
"I'm a little dizzy..."
I looked back at him He sure did look pale. Dammit. Why should I help you?
Whatever. "Being high up makes you cooler than other losers who can't get off the damn ground. It's cool, not some freakout zone."
"I keep thinking I'm gonna fall."
"Then you'll fall, dumbass. Think you'll make it to the end instead."
I wasn't sure why I was giving IcyHot advice all of a sudden, but whatever. Best get back to my own task. I focused myself on it. The end of the rope. The end of this obstacle course. A provisional hero license and the chance to beat Deku. One hand in front of the other.
"Bakugou?"
"What?"
Todoroki was even with me now and looking less pale. "Thanks."
"Don't think you'll beat me."
"Race you, then."
Faster now, faster - beating Todoroki by an annoyingly short margin, but still beating him. "Last time I help you out, Icyhot."
"Sorry. But thanks anyway."
"You bottom feeders getting full of yourselves?" called Gang Orca. "You're not even halfway through yet."
The whole damn thing took nearly the rest of the day, and by the end I was aching all over. An entire day doing menial tasks with no quirk. Hell of a punishment, really.
"Make sure to craft your partner's assignment list. We will continue to do quirkless exercises until I'm satisfied. Be here tomorrow and no excuses!"
Damn. All this on top of hero training. No damn break.
All Might drove us back to school and asked casually how it went. I huffed and Todoroki said, "OK."
"Well, I'm sure you're learning valuable things about what it takes to be a true hero. And I'm very impressed with you boys for trying. Even showing up to try again means something great."
Yeah. I guess. Sure feels like a waste of time.
And my classmates were still asking me to pick up around the building, as if my house arrest wasn't over. I headed back towards my room immediately, and noticed Todoroki was headed for the elevator with me, bypassing the common area.
"What're you doing?"
"They're all talking about work studies," he muttered. "Doing interviews this weekend."
I said nothing. Then it came out. "Deku too?"
"Yeah. With Sir Nighteye."
Oh dammit. All Might's former sidekick, no less. Nothing but the best for you. We got into the elevator.
"All Might's former sidekick...Bakugou, do you know anything about that?"
"Everyone knows Nighteye's All Might's sidekick."
"I meant Midoriya and All Might. It seems like they know each other or have some sort of connection. You've known him your whole life - any idea what that's about?"
You really are the worst at keeping secrets, Deku. "Nope. Deku's just a major All Might fanboy. That's all. And it's none of your damn business anyway."
"Bakugou..." He was looking at me funny. "I told you today why I'm interested. You do remember, right?"
Oh, crap. I can't pretend I don't know about his family drama anymore. "Yeah."
"But if you can't say anything either, I'm not going to ask you to. It's fine."
"ER..." To my relief, the elevator doors opened and I got out on the fourth floor. Todoroki gave me another weird smile. "Give me something challenging tomorrow. I'd like to get better."
I had no answer for him as the doors slid shut.
