A/N: This by far was one of the hardest Chapters to make. I'm sorry it took so long to create, but I hope it was worth it. I've had an awful lot going on personally and for my mental health, I've taken to playing games online with my close friends to stop the strong feelings of isolation I've been feeling with.

I would also like to apologise for this short chapter, as I feel, for the time you've waited, you deserve more than this. However, I thought of a new mini-plot I'd like to put into this story, to make it even more unique, so I really hope you'll enjoy it.

Thank you for your patients~.

Izuku ran as quickly as he could, firing the occasional glance over his shoulder to make sure the rest of his group was keeping up. They were getting nearer and nearer their original parting point from the rest of the class, and any second now, he was hoping to see the group around the next corner.

"Midori! This way! Mina's voice hollered. Izuku skidded to a halt and looked to his left. The remaining members of the Class were there; Iida, Aoyama, Mina, Mineta and Tokoyami, locked in an intense battle with another, slightly smaller class. Either that or they'd already begun wiping out the students who'd attacked them.

"Behind us Midoriya!" Ojiro called out now, leading Uraraka and the others past Izuku, who noticed a handful of other classes students giving chase.

"Keep moving, I'll handle them!" Izuku called, taking a deep breath and getting into a fighting stance as a handful of balls flew in their direction. This was what his Shoot-Style was made for. He could use the sheer force of his new move to redirect the balls back to their senders. It wouldn't be a very precise method, but it would definitely hit a handful of targets.

Izuku slid his right foot back before shifting his entire upper body into the kick, throwing his foot around a quickly as he could. He caught one of the balls in the inside edge of his boot and sent it firing back towards the opposing class.

One For All, Full Cowling! Shoot-style! He called to himself, putting as much force into his kick as he could, and with the added momentum from the steel toe-caps, the sheer air pressure from the kick sent all the other projectile careening towards their senders.

The wind thundered as the balls fired through the air, small orange blurs that impacted a few of the opposing class members, sending them to the floor. A few of them hit the targets out of sheer luck, but it hit enough of them to severely decrease their forces.

He landed quite heavily, before elegantly turning to the rest of his class, the occasional teal bolt of power jumping from his body.

"Nice Midoriya, that means you've passed right? You can go take a break." Mineta panted, trying to sound happy, but instead sounding like he was only moments from tears, a small trickle of blood running down his face.

"Oh... I suppose it does..." Izuku muttered, watching as Mina and Tokoyami eliminated the last two targets they'd been fighting since the groups split off.

"You should get moving to the safe zone. Staying here isn't safe, you could still get eliminated." Iida said sternly, although he was smiling.

"Alright, I'll see you guys soon..." Izuku said before the voice of the Chairman echoed out over him.

"Eight passing positions remain." He announced. Izuku hadn't noticed it before over the noise and stress of trying to keep himself from getting eliminated, but the number of positions left for passing students was being announced after every elimination. Things were getting incredibly tight for the remaining three Class 1-A students, and as much as it hurt Izuku, how he'd passed himself, he was unable to interfere.

"Come on, everyone, I'll have Dark Shadow keep watch as we head back," Tokoyami spoke up, pulling Izuku's thoughts away from Iida, Aoyama and Mineta, following the Dark Shadow Quirk user, Mina and the ones in his group following close behind.

Annoyingly, even though he'd secured his pass through the First Phase of the exam, Izuku's nerves still felt as strong as they had when the exam had begun. However, this was probably because he was just as anxious to hear if the rest of his Classmates would pass as he was to hear if he would. All of them were deserving of their licenses, but unfortunately, he wasn't the one to decide that.

"Good job on your passes guys," Mina commented with a smile, trying to make some form of conversation to break the awkward silence they were walking in.

"Thank you. I'm surprised I passed as soon as I have." Tokoyami responded, his eyes sparkling with pride, although his expression, as usual, never changed.

"You'd think Aizawa would've told us we'd be targetted. I was so scared." Uraraka complained, her hands pressed against her face.

"Well, it isn't the first time Aizawa's glossed over important details like that, so..." Ojiro said, looking over to Uraraka and shrugging.

"Besides," He continued. "The second phase will be much tamer than this one, if anyone decides to start fights over getting more rescues, then they'll fail almost instantly." He explained.

"But-... Why would they do that? The Chairman made it pretty clear that points are deducted based on efficiency and poor methods... Fighting will basically auto-fail you..." Mina said, a stupefied expression on her pink-skinned face.

"'Cause not everyone is as good at listening as most. There's almost definitely gonna be someone who tries to do that." Sero chimed in now.

"My money's on Bakugo." He chuckled.

"No," Izuku cut in.

"Kacchan might act that way, but this exam is really important to him, as it is to all of us. He might not have the best methods, but I know he'll do his best to pass with the most points remaining." He smiled to himself. No one said anything in response, because no one was really sure what to say, but it was nice to see Izuku still viewing Bakugo in such a positive light after all the crap he'd put the greenette through.

"Speaking of which, when did he pass?" Izuku asked, looking to his pink-skinned girlfriend, who thought for a moment before responding.

"Pretty early on, from what I remember."

Izuku nodded in acknowledgement of what she'd said but didn't reply with anything else. As expected of Bakugo.

He wasn't quite sure why, but part of Izuku wanted to have one more bout against Bakugo. He wanted to test how far the two of them had come. After everything that Bakugo had put Izuku through, he wanted to treat the blonde-haired Explosion Quirk user like a true rival. He couldn't have Bakugo keeping as far ahead of him as he always was. He was the next Symbol Of Piece, after all. He had to be number one.

"I still feel so nervous." Uraraka perked up suddenly, startling the greenette from his thoughts

"'Bout what? The second phase of the exam?" Mina asked, looking over to her brunette friend with a curious expression.

Uraraka hummed a sound of agreement.

"Yeah... This is going to be the first time I've ever had to act like a real hero in front of what would be members of the public. I don't know what I'm meant to say or-." She started, before Mina put her hand up.

"You do realise," She cut in. "That none of us, maybe accept Midori, Todoroki and Iida, have ever had an experience like that either?"She asked rhetorically. Uraraka opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out, so she closed it again.

"I don't blame you for being worried." Mina continued. "I'm nervous too, but we've got good people skills, and I'd like to think I can bring comfort to those who're afraid." Mina explained with a smile. Uraraka stayed quiet, but a little smile came across her face.

"We're all going to do great." She smiled, now turning her attention to her greenette boyfriend, who was beaming over his shoulder at her. Once this day was over, they were all going to have their provisional licences, and after that, they'd all be one step closer to being pros.

It made her feel slightly topsy-turvy, thinking on how far they'd come in such a short amount of time. It felt like she'd come leaps and bounds since arriving at U.A, and yet there was still so much more for them to do.

Sometimes, she couldn't help but wonder what kind of hero she would be in a few years. Where on the ranking would she stand? Would she be popular? Would her and Izuku ever become a Hero-Team? If they did, how strong would they be?

As these thoughts circulated in her mind, she let out a little giggle. Dating Izuku really had started to rub off on her, not that she minded. Sure, there were times where she wouldn't sweat most little things, but when it came to her future, she often found herself doing what he did; running through different scenarios and how they could affect her career.

However, it wasn't just Izuku rubbing off on her, but also her rubbing off on him. Of course, he was maturing anyway, and with One For All and All Might so heavily involved in his life now, it was no wonder he'd changed a lot over the past few months, but she could also see parts of her in him now.

He seemed slightly more confident, and playful, even if it was only slightly. He seemed more comfortable with Kirishima, Kaminari, Tokoyami and the other boys he'd been involved within the course, and it made her happy to see.

In the early days, when Mina first spoke to him, he came across as an anxious loner, who had no Quirk control and mood swings. However, after becoming so close to him, and learning the secrets of his life, Mina had a lot more respect for the person he was, and for the person, he was becoming, and it made her love him even more.

Meeting his mother was incredibly exciting to her, and part of her wondered if she dares to ask to stay the night too. It had been roughly two- almost three months, since they'd started dating, and they still had yet to meet each other's parents, or in his case, parent. Mina was still quite on edge about bringing Izuku to her house to meet her parents and little brother.

Yes, Izuku had developed a slightly thicker skin, and he was a person who got along with basically everyone, but her parents had a nasty habit of being a little bit... Rambunctious.

When she first became good friends with Kirishima, Kaminari and Tsuyu, she invited them to come to her house to watch some movies and have a good laugh together, since they were the first proper friends she'd made at U.A. However, that idea quickly went out the window when her mother and father decided they were going to get involved too, since her brother wasn't home at the time.

Needless to say, Mina was terrified that, if anything were to happen between her and Izuku, or even if the two of them were just trying to be slightly intimate, even if it was only kissing, the last thing she wanted was her mum or dad barging in unannounced just to get a reaction out of her jumpy boyfriend.

Mina shook herself, letting out a sigh. None of this mattered. What mattered right now, was the exam they were currently in. Even if they had a little time to relax and get their energy back, she didn't want to let herself get too distracted.

Meeting each other's parents was something the two of them could discuss tomorrow morning. There was no doubt that, if they both did pass, it was a time they'd want to spend with their families, and with his entire situation, Mina actively promoted that Izuku did that very thing.

If his dad wasn't such a dirtbag, then he'd be chewing his own socks right now. Abandoning his wife and child because he was Quirkless, was pathetic. If he could see Izuku now, not that Mina wanted him to, then he'd take back all he said. Izuku was working towards being the next Symbol of Peace, and she couldn't wait to see that.

Toga had never really been one for working in teams, and it was one of the reasons she'd decided against following Shigaraki Tomura's orders directly. Sure, she knew better than to go against what he'd asked her to do, but having to do it with others was something she simply wasn't going to settle with.

Ever since she'd started down the road of villainy, she'd worked alone, and just because she was part of a group, didn't mean she was going to change her methods and start working with others. That just wasn't how she rolled.

So, instead of going to the League of Villains hideout as the others had, Toga wanted to make the most of her name not being public yet, by taking a walk around the city. She'd tried putting a little effort into her hair and clothing; brushing her blonde locks into neat ponytails, and dressing in a black, long-sleeve shirt and red flannel, pleated skirt. This way, she could enjoy this small taste of normal life without exposing her identity.

It felt strange, taking a small step back into normal life again, but it didn't have the same buzz as villain life. This wasn't the first time in months she'd been out in public like this, unlike others in the groups. In fact, she was out and about like this quite often, always giving herself a breather from her life of darkness.

There was a reason, however, for her outing today, although so very quickly realised she wasn't going to be able to do as she wished. She'd heard through recent talk amongst the public that Hero School Provisional Licence Exams were happening, and her curiosity was too strong to ignore.

It wasn't to size up the competition, but rather to go and see someone who had caught her eye back during their attack on the Training Camp.

Izuku Midoriya.

That greenette had been stuck in her mind ever since she briefly laid eyes on him when the Vanguard Action Squad began their retreat. Although he was beaten up and bloodied, she'd never set her eyes on a boy who had such peculiar charm. She'd never really had any interest in boys before now, probably because she'd never really been around guys her own age.

She liked his hair, his stern expressions, his build, his voice. All of these things she'd only had briefly witnessed, but something inside her felt super stirred up when she set eyes on him, and she'd never felt anything like that before.

She almost skipped through the sunny streets, her pigtails bouncing as she did. Oh, how she wanted to see Izuku again. What she wanted, more than anything, was to see his raw power in action. Muscular had been completely floored by a teen half his size and age and had been discharged from the Leauge so he could recover. Toga wasn't complaining though. She hated him; he was all bark and no bite.

Izu-ku Mido-riya, Izu-ku Mido-riya. She sang over and over in her head to the rhythm of her skipping. Maybe there would be a way for her to meet him, somehow. Would she get recognised though? She distinctly remembered her run-in with a bob-cut brunette and a girl who seemed to have a Frog-like Quirk. She had to make sure they weren't there if she did ever have a chance to meet him face to face.

There's no way he would know who she was because there was no point through the night of the attack where they'd seen each other-, or that he'd seen her. She couldn't get him out of her head! Why! He was a Trainee-Hero, she was a Villain. They were forbidden... Then again, the thought of a double life like that was incredibly exciting to the blonde-haired girl.

Who could she talk to about this though? She didn't have any friends or family, and she didn't feel like she could confide in anyone at the League of Villains. The closest person she had to a friend there was Magne, but it was clear he'd never understood.

Kurogiri was someone she felt she could rely on too, but again, he was more of an advisor than a friend. Even if she did feel friendly with them, they were a villain team, not a school friend group, and they didn't deserve to know about her private life.

Then, she stopped skipping as she reached a train crossing, the barriers slowly lowering as the lights in her head blinked to life. What if, just maybe, she waited until the exam was over, and the students were heading back to U.A. It was no secret that they were all staying there now, so maybe she'd be able to catch Izuku before he re-entered school grounds.

A sharp-toothed grin came across her beautifully mischievous face as the train clattered past, pulling the wind behind it, her hair and skirt flapping as it went. He looked caring and warm-hearted. If she could open up to him and have him sympathise with her situation, which wasn't fabricated, then maybe she could earn herself the double life boyfriend she'd always wanted.

As the train disappeared, speeding down the line, and the barriers began ascending again, she felt a small twinge of pain in her heart, and she looked down at the floor, her face falling as she crossed with the crowd.

Maybe she'd finally have someone to confide in when she needed them. Being a villain was fun, and she could put her ideals into action after what'd happened in her past. But, the life of a villain was an incredibly lonely one. One pattern she'd noticed in most villains, which she hated, was that they were selfish, egotistical scum bags. Their ideals were pathetic, and they often killed just for fun.

Toga had a reason to be in this position, unlike them, but that didn't mean that she really enjoyed this situation. She wanted a normal life, and she wanted to have friends, and help others. But, the world simply wasn't like that, and unfortunately, it was the hard truth that not enough people were aware of.

She never made it into U.A as she wanted. Her quirk was violent, and would only give her a sour reputation as a hero. But it wasn't like she asked for this sort of quirk. The parents she never knew were the reason she had a quirk like this. Maybe, after the two years that'd passed since she applied last, the guidelines for getting into the hero school would've changed.

She still remembered the letter so clearly...

Dear, Himiko Toga

First off, I would like to thank you for your efforts in the Entrance Exam. However, we are unable to accept you into our Hero Academy due to the violent basis of your Quirk.

In the future, I implore you to retry the exam, but with your current methods, it wouldn't be appropriate to accept you onto the Hero Course. I apologise, but I hope to see you next year.

Sincerely, Principal Nezu.

"Tch-." Toga scoffed as she reread the letter in her mind. He wanted her to try again? Like hell she would after he said the reason she couldn't join the course was the only reason she'd be able to join it at all. It's not like she wanted her Quirk to be this violent, but at the time, the only method she had of using it, was to cut the other examinees and take a little of their blood that way.

Admittedly, looking back on it, she wished she'd waited until later on until she had developed more appropriate methods of using her Quirk, but at the time, the desperation to become one of the greats was too strong.

She acted on impulse after that, with a hunger to prove that her Quirk was still powerful, and would be a valuable asset.

Sometimes, she felt like two people in her head. One part of her regretted the path she'd taken. If only she'd had more supportive parents at the time. Parents that wouldn't scold her for something she couldn't avoid. If anything, they were the ones to blame for her situation. She wished she'd see the good nature of the letter.

However, the other half of her saw what Nezu had said, as an insult. Her Quirk; the thing that made her who she was, was too violent for her to become a Hero. That's how it'd seemed to her, and even now she still felt that...

The damage had already been done now, however. She had started down her path of evil, and she wanted to prove to all of those who'd wronged her, that even with her quirk, she was a force to be reckoned with. Her Quirk was manipulative, sly, and deceitful, and although they were traits that her personality didn't possess, she worked well with them.

It was just so frustrating. Parts of her hated this life of villainy, but parts of her loved it. It was fun, going against the rules, and being part of a scheme that was like nothing this city had seen before, but she often found herself wondering what her life would be like if things had gone differently for her. What if she had made it into U.A? Would she have done well?

Whatever, it didn't matter. Right now, she wanted to meet this Midoriya boy face to face, and see just what he really was like. The excitement of having a friend who was a hero, whilst she was a villain, was more exciting than anything.

So, after pushing the needless thoughts of her past from her mind, she began making her way towards U.A, her stomach knotted with nerves. She wasn't one-hundred percent sure where the school was located, since, after getting turned away by them, she didn't have a reason to. However, almost every other person did know its whereabouts, so it wouldn't be very hard to find.

She would always be able to find some things to do on her way there, just to buy time until the exam was over. Maybe she could get waffles or maybe visit the doughnut shop. Just thinking about it was making the child in her heart get all excited. She'd been craving something sweet all day today too, so to finally satiate that craving would make this day even better than it already was.

Letting out a little sigh, the Transform Quirk user regained the spring in her step and began skipping in the direction of one of her favourite bakeries in the city, which was roughly on the same route as the one to U.A, at least from where she was now.

As she turned a corner and headed back towards the city centre, Toga's mind began wandering back to Izuku, or more specifically, how she'd go about conversation with him. Up until this point, she just quite foolishly realised, she hadn't actually thought out a sound way into the U.A grounds, or even what she was going to say to the greenette when... Or if, she actually managed to find him.

All she knew of him, were the minute details that had been shared in the briefing before their attack on the Forest Camp. All she knew, was that he was very powerful but self-destructive. Other than that, she knew nothing of him personally. She didn't know the kind of person he was, the way he treated people or anything about what made him tick. Then again, wasn't that the excitement of meeting someone new.

There was only one way for sure that she could pick his person apart, and that was to just get him alone. He seemed like someone who'd always be on their toes even when you'd expect them not to be. Then again, he also, from what she'd seen of him at the Training Camp, seemed like someone who would never act hostile to anyone unless they seemed to pose a real threat to him.

All she had to do, was play nice and try not to scare him off, which would be easy enough. It wasn't like she was going to bite, at least, not very much. Toga giggled to herself again, shimmying her shoulders as a chill of excitement came over her. Play nice. Oh, she was going to play alright.