Coco: Hey, guys, I know it's been a while. Sorry. It took me a while to try and figure out how I wanted to do the match of Ayumi and Momo vs. Hound Dog. I felt like I screwed myself over there for a while. Like, "How in the world am I going to give Yao-Momo her confidence back? What weakness am I exploiting of Ayumi's by pitting her against Hound Dog? Thirteen would have been better because Ayumi's super speed would definitely be hindered with Black Hole being used against it. Like, why didn't I think of that sooner?" But I think I finally worked it out to something I'm happy with. And it gave me a chance to show some bonding between classmates. I feel like that I don't show too much of that. Like, showing them grow stronger together and become closer. It's the little things, ya know? XD

But yeah, finally got it finished, and I'm going to try hard to have season 2 and the first BnHA movie done before mid July if possible, so we can start season 3. Love that season, but season 4 totally ended up trumping it...while also ripping my heart out at the same time. But for those of us who read the manga, we all know it's only going to get worse from there...so yeah. I've actually fallen a bit behind on the manga, and need to catch up...I've heard some crazy-ish rumors about what I've missed, so I'm a little scared to jump back in, but I also miss reading it.

Now, one more thing before we get started if you don't mind, as most of you know I have a second BnHA story that I haven't updated in a while either. It's because I'm a little stuck, and I need your help. If you go on my profile, you'll see I posted a poll asking you who I think Santana should fight against in the upcoming chapter. Which team should she thrown down with? What are your opinions on the matter? So, please do go take that poll and even message me explaining why you think Santana should face a certain team. I'd love to hear from you. I might not respond right away because I'm usually very busy juggling a lot of work especially now with all that's going on in the world-I picked a great time to graduate school and join a doctor's office part time on top of working full time at my other job, let me tell ya- But I will respond as soon as I can XD Stay safe out there, my friends.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Ayumi snapped as she once again slid on the ice underneath her.

She sat there for a moment with her eyes twitching in annoyance. Momo stood behind her shivering as the two girls were struggling with their exam and they haven't even faced their opponent yet.

"When are we going to do hero-work in the freaking artic?!" Ayumi questioned. "This isn't realistic at all!"

It was true. While the other tests so far have been placed in areas you'd find around anywhere like suburbs, parking lots, construction sites, other rural areas, etc, Ayumi and Momo were in a freezing hell zone. It was like they were back at the USJ in one of the many simulation platforms designed to teach the students how to rescue in certain conditions and climates. But still, this seemed like a bit much.

"Jinsoku, you're not hurt, are you?" Momo asked in concern.

Momo knew she couldn't do this alone. Let alone with her teammate being hurt.

"I'm fine," Ayumi said as she carefully got back up. "I just can't get any damn traction around here."

As soon as she said that, she fell right back over when her feet hit another patch of ice. Ayumi cursed underneath her breath before stiffening when she heard what sounded like growling nearby. Momo heard it as well with the taller girl feeling her heart jump in panic.

"Well, that's not good." Ayumi said.

"Have I missed Momo and Ayumi's match?!" Ochaco asked as she came hurrying into the room.

The others turned to look at her as Ochaco, who had just finished her match and passed, jogged over to them to look at the screens.

"Not a lot of it," Izuku assured her. "Though it isn't looking like things are going well for them. It seems like the teachers are exploiting Jinsoku's weakness to running across ice and also using heavy weather to slow her down."

Ochaco frowned while feeling worried for the two girls as she looked up at the screen to see them both looking around restlessly.

"But Yaoyorozu should be fine, correct?" Tenya asked. "Though the conditions aren't ideal, her quirk shouldn't be hindered."

"That's true, but Jinsoku did point out that she's been acting a bit odd." Izuku reminded the taller boy. "What if the teachers noticed something we haven't, and this test to meant to see if she can overcome it?"

The others tilted their heads curiously. That was certainly a thought and it could be possible. Maybe this test was harder than they all had been previously thinking. Recovery Girl didn't comment as she continued to watch the screens. She knew what these two girls were truly being tested on, and she was curiously to see how they'd handle this situation.

—FLASHBACK—

"With Yaoyorozu and Jinsoku it'll be a test on their confidence," Aizawa said to his fellow instructors. "A test to see if they can overcome their self-doubt. We'll put them in conditions that render Jinsoku nearly useless, which will undoubtedly trigger Jinsoku's anger. If there's one thing she hates more than anything it's to feel useless. This could cause conflict between the pair and cause more distress on Yaoyorozu who will be unsure on what to do. I'm sure many of you have noticed her lack of confidence since the Sports Festival."

There were nods and murmurs of agreement as the teachers had noticed that Momo had lost some of the spark in her eyes. It was like she was completely unsure of herself now.

"Jinsoku has such a can-do attitude though," Present Mic said. "It's hard for me to picture her as the has-no-confidence-type."

"It's just a façade." Aizawa said. "Something she uses in front of others."

Present Mic just seemed confused by Aizawa's words, but All Might understood. He's seen in a few of the students' classes with him that Ayumi puts on a smile and laughs even her failures off, but that doesn't hide how her fists tighten at her side or how her jaw seems to turn rigid. All Might could see how much Ayumi hates to fail and how much weight it seems to add to the girl's shoulders every time even the smallest mistakes happen on her part.

"She has a lot to live up to with Warp as her father," Aizawa said. "And as many know, the two have a very strained relationship. It seems like Jinsoku wants to show him up at every turn, but when that falls through, it just doubles her self-doubt and self-anger. She wants to do things on her own to try and prove herself, which is another flaw. Let's see if she'll put aside her own feelings to work with Yaoyorozu as a team to overcome the test before them."

—END OF FLASHBACK—

It was still early in the test to know for certain how things would go, but the two girls were certainly off to a rocky start. Recovery Girl wasn't sure if these two could overcome everything Aizawa mentioned working on in a single match. But if they couldn't do something, they'd fail for certain.

"Where the hell is he?" Ayumi, who was running alongside Momo, demanded. "I can't see a damn thing because of all the snow."

She then gasped as a dark shape came barreling towards them. Ayumi barely had time to gain her footing as she grabbed Momo and spun them out of the way at rapid pace. However, another patch of ice was hit and the two girls went sliding a bit out of control. They were stopped when they hit one of the trees on the stage they were in. Ayumi then blinked through the rapidly falling snow to see the blur had been Hound Dog and right now he was facing them and not looking too happy as he shook the snow out of his fur.

"He doesn't look happy." Ayumi, who crouched down, commented as she glanced up at Momo. "So…any ideas since using my quirk is obviously a no go? At least until I get a better handle on the terrain."

Ayumi so far has memorized every spot she has fallen on her ass so far. There were obviously some places where ice wasn't an issue, but with all the snow covering the ground she just couldn't see the ice and then avoid it.

"I…I don't know." Momo said as she looked down at the ground in despair. "What can we do? Hound Dog-sensei doesn't seem the least bit bothered by the terrain and we're both at a disadvantage."

Ayumi looked at the girl as if she was crazy before she shoved Momo out of the way when Hound Dog came charging at them again. Ayumi kicked her feet out at the man while rapidly kicking him a few times to daze him before she put distance between them.

"You're kidding me, right?!" Ayumi shouted over to Momo. "Yeah, sure it's hard for me to run around at the moment, and yeah, it's cold, but last time I checked, that shouldn't affect your quirk at all! Let alone your brain! You're the smart one here, so come on!"

Momo looked at Ayumi with wide eyes before gasping when Ayumi, who had been distracted when she took a moment to yell at Momo, got hit head on by Hound Dog. Ayumi hissed in slight pain as the man's claws managed to cause a few deep scratches in her arms. She then had to roll away when he came at her again.

'He doesn't seem that concerned with Yao-Momo,' Ayumi realized as she dodged him once more. 'Is it because she isn't making a move to fight back? Or is this part of the test?'

Ayumi flipped over Hound Dog as she looked over at her teammate. Momo was standing there as if paralyzed in fear. She watched on looking scared and unsure, which wasn't like the Momo she knew at all. When those villains had attacked their class at the USJ, the girl had been so calm. She hadn't even seemed ruffled even after Ayumi had come to save Denki from the grip of that one villain. And Momo and her group had obviously fought many villains before Ayumi ever arrived.

From what Denki and Kyoka had said about their fight with the villains, Momo had contributed the most. It was her quick thinking and calm demeanor that got them through it. Momo has always come off as confident. Sure of her path, and always prepared with some kind of strategy to whatever obstacle lay before her. What happened to that girl?

'But then she lost,' Ayumi realized as she remembered how easily she lost against Fumikage in the Sports Festival.

Ayumi sighed understanding now why Momo has been acting so funny since the exams started. She then grunted in pain when Hound Dog's fist came crashing against her face. She went rolling across the ground with Momo gasping.

"Jinsoku!" Momo called out in worry for her teammate.

Ayumi just rolled back into a crouched position as she faced Hound Dog who snarled at her.

"I get it," Ayumi said confusing Momo who blinked. "Your confidence has been shattered."

Momo flinched at Ayumi's blunt statement, but it wasn't like the dark-haired girl could deny it. She had no confidence in herself. Not anymore. She wasn't as amazing as her classmates. She didn't even hold a candle to them.

"But so, what if you failed once?!" Ayumi continued as she dodged Hound Dog's attack. "I know failing sucks—take it from someone who does it all the time. Every time I turn around, I'm messing something up and making things harder on others. I just want to help others, but all my life I only seemed to cause more trouble even with the best intentions. You're not like that! You're going to fail from time to time. It's to be expected, but that doesn't mean you're no good."

Momo continued to listen to Ayumi as she watched the silverette keep Hound Dog at bay as best she can.

"You came to U.A. on recommendations. You're one of the top students in our class," Ayumi said. "You're not a failure, Yao-Momo! You have talent and you're smart! And I'm not the only one who thinks so. Why do you think Shoto voted for you to be class rep?"

Momo's eyes widened at that news as she had no idea Shoto had voted for her. She never questioned where that second vote came from.

"Besides, Fumikage and Hachiro, who voted for Ayano, he's the only other person who didn't have a vote!" Ayumi said. "That's because he believed you to be the best option to lead our class. So, get it together, co-deputy, because I'm counting on you to help us pass—ack!"

Ayumi cried out as Hound Dog finally managed to catch her in one of his swings when she had faltered in her footing again. She rolled across the ground as Momo looked down at the ground. Momo grit her teeth before she quickly made a canister of something with her quirk.

"Jinsoku, keep your head down and try not to breath this in!" Momo warned before pulling the pin off the canister and throwing it at Hound Dog.

Ayumi did as told as the canister exploded in Hound Dog's face. The man with the dog-like quirk howled while rearing back as an awful stench filled his sensitive nose. Momo hurried over to Ayumi while pulling the girl to her feet to pull her along.

"Eww, what was that?" Ayumi said as she picked up lingering smells from the small bomb Momo had thrown.

"Stink bomb." Momo explained as they ran. "Hound Dog-sensei's biggest advantage is his sense of smell, which is why he can easily pinpoint us even in these snowy conditions. It's how he found us so quickly. Now that his sense of smell is thrown off, we can hopefully get to the gate before he catches up. If not, well, I have a plan for that too!"

Ayumi smiled liking the sound of that. They were running out of time though, and it sucked that Ayumi just couldn't run them to the exit as quickly as possible. Though she supposed she could give it a shot.

"Okay then, partner, hop on," Ayumi said as she pulled Momo to a stop. "You did your part now let me handle the rest. I'll get us to the exit in no time."

"But the ice," Momo protested.

"It'll be fine," Ayumi said. "I can't let some ice slow me down. I did say I was going to conquer running across it after my little mock battle against Shoto and Ayano. Well, now's a better chance than any to try and do just that. Now, come on, we're running out of time."

Momo nodded her head then climbed onto Ayumi's back when the girl crouched down.

"You might want to tuck your head in," Ayumi warned as she got ready to run. "Don't want you throwing up on me or getting whiplash."

Momo did as told then squealed in shock when Ayumi took off at top speeds. If she slipped going this fast then coming to a stop definitely wasn't going to be a pleasant one.

"Ah! There they go!" Ochaco said. "Looks like they'll be okay after all."

Izuku nodded in agreement while looking relieved. Things had been looking really dicey there for them for a second.

"Those two are amazing," Tsuyu said.

Of course, as soon as she said that Ayumi slips right at the exit and sends them both sliding through the exit and crashing into a wall. Though despite the less than stellar finish, the two were declared to have passed, which had Ayumi giving a cheer as she slung her arm over Momo's shoulders. The dark-haired girl seemed to be crying but she seemed happy none the less as Ayumi continued celebrating their victory.

"Looks like they passed," Ayano commented as she came into the room. "Though that ending was a bit…uncool, wasn't it?"

Izuku turned towards his friend with his grin widening at the sight of her. He hurried over to her side.

"You did great in your match, Ayano!" Izuku said. "You've really developed your quirk during the internships, huh?"

"Yeah, Sir, definitely wasn't going to let me leave his office without something to show for it," Ayano said with a nod. "I'm grateful for all the time he put into my training."

Izuku nodded. He still couldn't believe that Ayano had gotten to work with Sir Nighteye of all people. The one and only sidekick All Might had ever had.

"And you get to go back later, huh?" Izuku asked. "Like are you going to be a sidekick of his after graduation?"

"Don't know," Ayano said. "I'll make that kind of decision once I'm farther along into work studies, I guess."

Izuku blinked unsure of what Ayano meant by a work study. However, before he could ask the buzzard for the next exam sounded to tell those who would be participating to go to the designated stage.

"Looks like it's time for Ashido-chan and Nida-kun's exam." Ayano said she walked forward to look at the screens. "Who are they facing again?"

"Principal Nezu," Ochaco replied. "I wonder how it's going to go. The Principal is so tiny!"

"Perhaps, but I believe he'll make a tough opponent," Ayano said.

"Really?" Ochaco asked blinking.

As the two girls discussed the match about to begin, Izuku continued to look at Ayano curiously. He still didn't know what a work study was. Did Ayano know something the rest of them didn't?

Ayumi let out a happy hum as she walked with Momo through the corridors to take them back to where Recovery Girl was watching the matches with some of their classmates. She had a grin on her face as she walked as she was pleased with their results.

"Hey, Jinsoku," Momo broke the silence between them.

Ayumi looked to the taller girl as Momo, who still had slightly puffy eyes from where she cried, was looking back at her.

"I just wanted to thank you." Momo said. "For what you said. I know I was being really pathetic, but you snapped me out of it, so thank you."

Ayumi shrugged her shoulders modestly as she looked back forward. She placed her hands behind her head as they kept walking as she let out a sigh.

"It was nothing," Ayumi said. "I know how crushing doubt can be. It can ruin even the best of people, and you have a lot of potential, Yao-Momo. Don't forget that, kay?"

Momo nodded silently though her expression turned a bit concerned when seeing the somber look in Ayumi's eyes. It replaced the happy spark she had been wearing earlier and Momo felt a bit guilty for taking it away.

"You're amazing yourself, Jinsoku." Momo praised the girl. "You are one of the top students in our class, after all."

Ayumi snorted at that with a shake of her head. An action that slightly surprised Momo.

"I'm not that great," Ayumi said. "I was just born with a good quirk. Sure, I have a pretty good handle on it, but that doesn't make me exceptional or anything. And if you really think about it, I'm not at the top of the class. There's plenty of you in our class more extraordinary than me. You, Shoto, Ayano, Tenya, and Katsuki for example. And that' just a few of you. Compared to all of you, I'm second rate."

Momo didn't say anything at first as she listened to Ayumi. She never knew the girl felt that way. She always seemed so sure of herself and of her abilities. She never seemed to show any sign of struggling.

"But I'm working on it," Ayumi continued as she looked up and dropped her hands to her side. "I want to become someone dependable. Someone who doesn't ruin things for others or put others in danger because of my own incompetence."

Momo looked at Ayumi with an unreadable expression before reaching out to grab her hand. She held it tightly in both of hers with Ayumi looking at Momo curiously.

"You are dependable, Jinsoku." Momo said with a firm nod. "And you helped me greatly in the exam. I hope to depend on you in the future and know you can depend on me as well as we work to become heroes."

Ayumi didn't reply at first, but she soon smiled as she used her other hand to clasp it over Momo's hands to give them a friendly squeeze."

"Looking forward to working with you," Ayumi said with a nod. "Now, let's go. I want to see the next exam. I hear it's Hachiro and Mina against Principal Nezu. I wonder how it'll go. I mean, he's like super tiny!"

Momo laughed at Ayumi's words before the two of them continued on their way.

"…you were right, Ayano… Principal Nezu was quite the opponent," Ochaco said after the buzzard sounded to end Hachiro and Mina's match.

The two looked completely crushed at their loss. They had never stood a chance. Nezu didn't even let them close enough to him to attack properly. Nezu had taken Hachiro, who had used his spider abilities to get over the buildings to get near Nezu, down first with a large hit from the crane he had been using. Even with his more durable body, Hachiro had gone down for several minutes. While he had been dazed, Nezu used the crane to cause chain reactions of destruction to start pinning Mina, who had started panicking at Hachiro's easy defeat, in. Even after Hachiro had recovered, they couldn't get the upper hand and overcome Nezu's flawless strategy.

"He is the Principal of Japan's top hero school after all." Tenya said. "So, I suppose we shouldn't be that surprised."

Momo, who had joined them half-way through the match, and Ayano hummed in agreement. It sadly wasn't surprising that Nezu had won. Though they certainly felt bad for their two classmates.

"I can't believe they lost like that." Ayumi, who had also joined them, said. "Though I also can't believe how scary the principal is."

There were nods of agreement from the others as they had no idea Nezu could be so frightening.

"Anyway, who's next?" Ayumi asked.

"Koda and Jiro." Izuku replied. "They're up against Present Mic."

These matches were going much quicker than he anticipated. Soon it'd be his turn to face All Might and alongside Katsuki of all people. He wasn't sure how it'd go except that it would probably be very, very hard.

'All you can do is try to get Katsuki to work with you, Izuku,' Ayano said inside his mind.

Izuku looked to his friend as she kept her eyes on the screen in front of them while Koji and Kyoka readied for their match.

'I know Katsuki doesn't like being around you,' Ayano said. 'But he hates losing even more than he does anything else. Make him realize that working together is the only way to win. Show to him that he can't do it on his own.'

Izuku lightly frowned because that was easier said than done, but Ayano was right. No matter how Katsuki feels about him, he hates losing to his very core. Izuku doesn't want to lose either.

'You both will be fine,' Ayano assured him. 'You both just keep pulling off these crazy stunts, and I'm sure you'll do it again this time.'

Izuku's frown went away slowly before he gave Ayano a smile and a nod. If she had faith in them, he felt surer about his match.

'Thanks, Ayano,' He thought back at her.

'Anytime,' Ayano said with her lips twitching up. 'After all, what are friends for? But if you do somehow manage to fail, I will never let you forget it.'

She turned to look at her friend mischievously as she thought this to him, which had Izuku sweat-dropping at her words, but the smile didn't leave his face. Despite her teasing, most of his worries had gone due to her kind words. He was ready to give it his all in his match. He would pass and go to the training camp with everyone. He wouldn't be left behind.