It was dark…I didn't see the need to rack up a bunch of charges while I was staying here. The lights were off, AC off, power breakers tripped for only one outlet, and plugged into it, was my headphones, and phone charger. I was reclining on the bed, relaxing in the dark space. I wasn't really one to stew on issues, but now felt like a good time to just sit down, relax, and have a long good think.

The Villains want me…ok. That's not too unheard of.

I am now being held on campus for the foreseeable future.

I'm being asked to complete a task that runs opposite to my own interests at the current time…the investment in tutoring Kate might benefit me in the long run, but I won't get to survive till payday if I can't strengthen myself first.

…and to do that, I need to train.

Can I train her alongside me?

How?

Why?

She'll be attacked too, probably taken by them as well as me for her ability.

Should I invest in her, if possible, and rely on her, should I try and split my time both ways, or should commit wholly to myself, and try and protect both of us?

Does it matter even? They might not be even able to get me down here, at which point she would be safe. She only needs protection if she's attacked after all.

What to do…

I clenched my fist tightly, anger spiraling as I grit my teeth, my fists clenched audibly as the tension picked up immediately. What do I do!? Why am I responsible!?

…or am I not?

Is it a Hero's job to coddle?

…but isn't it a Hero's job to protect everyone?

And to do that, I need to get stronger.

And to do that…I need her.

But if I'm dead before that, then what was the whole fuckin point?

…what would my mother do…?

I suppose I knew that answer…but I wasn't her.

This simply wasn't advantageous to me, it just wasn't. I have to train someone else in the HOPES that one day they are capable of helping me.

Objectively, there were two variables, her growth, and her limit. Limits can be expanded with time, sure, but expansion on your limit takes more than a month, this aint a movie. Even if she grows fast, even if, by some miracle, she manages to rapidly surpass expectations, and shoot forward…then what? What if she falls just short? What if she can't help me?

Is that risk worth this?

Considering it all together, is the chance of my outcome worth the risk against the chances of the other outcomes?

…no.

It's not.

But the fact is that I shouldn't stop her either. She wont continue to progress with those hammers. They don't train combat, they don't train speed, and they sure as hell don't train battle sense other than the obvious "MOVE" instinct, which is born in everyone.

She does need an external source…I would be the most apt. But is that time worth expending against my own schedule?

I let out a low, long, dry sigh. My fists slowly unclenched, and I rolled my shoulders. It had been a few days since that incident…maybe I had been thinking about this the wrong way. In a rather vicious fact, it depended on her. Both variables depended on her. My own control couldn't even be focused on until she was quite powerful. I cant trust Nezu to push her if I choose not to either, that scheming Runt probably thinks that I will help her out of desperation or some kind of distant hope.

I stood up, opening my door with a swift push, and stepped out into the hallway. She would probably be back at her little training arena right? I walked at a steady pace, my steps quiet thuds as I shoved my hands in my pockets in mental examination.

Perhaps the answers to those variables will prove useful.

I stepped out into the massive room, and it quieted almost immediately. I ignored it, my careless nonchalance continued on its path to Kate's segment. I idly glanced around, seeing the children stare at me with apprehension, and the adults in slight disapproval and dislike.

As if I give a shit.

I walked up to the door, and, instead of knocking, kicked it down with a loud clang.

That outta get her attention.

The training room was silent, its occupants sitting in the center in a meditative position. Nezu was in front of her, mirroring her action. I snorted.

"I didn't think religious practices were allowed on an unbiased educational facility."

Nezu turned, and sly smile on his face, "I see you have come back, have you made your decision?"

I stopped, staring at Kate, who remained intentionally ignorant of my presence. Ignoring a guy who got stronger with increasing anger is not a smart play.

"That depends on the answers to my questions, and the agreeance to my conditions. Forgive my rant, but it's important you have all the facts, as well as Kate."

One of Kate's eyes opened slowly to glance at my feet, and it closed again, ignoring me.

I kinda liked that stubbornness though; it's a good quality to have considering it'll be the only thing picking her back up after I knock her around like a piñata in a birthday party.

"Here's the deal. I'm stronger than you. You know this, I know this, Nezu knows this. I stand to lose the MOST out of this three way arrangement."

"I gain nothing." Nezu said blankly, and I turned to him with a glare, "Except the worlds next #1 Hero if I train her to fight me, someone who basically equals All Might in physical prowess."

Nezu stared at me, Kate opening her eyes to look at me, then at Nezu in shock.

The Rat smiled, "Interesting."

"I told you before, I'm not stupid. I am sacrificing my safety, time, and self to cultivate your future asset, not necessarily mine."

"Go on."

Motherfucker I was still speaking.

"Basically, I have to get her up to snuff before she graduates if she is going to be of any use to me before you send her off. However…if I can get what I want, I have no issue with training her to be the best."

Kate whipped back to look at me, and I continued as if she wasn't there.

She might as well not have been, she hasn't said anything.

"My…proposal." I said carefully, and Nezu leaned in, "Is that I will train her for a set period of time, and depending on the results, nothing else, I will continue, or quit. It's true, you have me in the sense that she can help me, but her help is limited, and I know you'll do your best to push her forward as All Might's Second Coming or whatever."

"How long?" Nezu asked curiously.

Not denying a single thing I said…at least he is honest when caught.

"I decide." I said bluntly, and he wrinkled his nose, "The ball isnt in your court Nezu, its in mine. I don't like you, I'm doing this for me, and exclusively me. If you don't like it, tough, Ill just find another Hero Academy."

"What's the conditions." He said monotonously, and I tilted my head.

"This will depend on her, primarily her rate of growth and her limit. If she grows quick, but discovers a block, im gone. If she's slow, I'm gone. If you cant accept these terms…well, I'm gone."

"Depends on Kate hmm…" Nezu said, turning and examining Kate closely…not the kind you'd expect a friend to give…but like a scientist examining a horse for stats.

"Depends on her" I said simply, "I'm going to use her to better myself, as she is me. I will put her in the medical ward, more than once, and by the end of it, she will either owe me one, be dead, or be my arch nemeses."

"And the fourth?" she suddenly asked, and I stared at her impassively, "Was there one?"

"…or you're dead." She said, her eyes opening with a confident glare.

…I cant tell if she is just really determined, really stupid, or just bull-headed in nature.

I found myself smile dangerously, a smile that definitely didn't belong on the face of a hero. "See if you can back up your words. If you got stuff, best grow fast, or its meaningless. Nezu, I'm not doing anything until I have your word, right here right now…deal?"

Nezu stared at Kate, before looking at me, sizing me up, before he walked away, his little shoes clicking.

"I'd like to add a condition."

"I recall saying this wasn't up to you."

"…you have a bad habit of taking things by storm."

"I'm sick of your games." I said, before I glared at him more powerfully, and I let off some heat as I kicked up a notch, and my skin reddened as steam started to hiss against the cool floor.

"Deal, or am I taking my leave?"

We had a good, long, stare. The silence itself was intense, the little rodent holding up well under my gaze. I couldn't tell if he was just confident I wouldn't do anything, or had some sort of defense against me if I just charged at him.

He stared at my unwavering angry eye, before he just…smiled.

Nezu's smile grew larger, before it erupted with laughs, happily giggling as if my death stare was amusing. He clapped his hands together, and replied, "Whatever it takes!"

"Then it sounds like we are a go." I said, before waving him off like a pest, "Nezu, get lost, and while waddling outta here, open your check book. Recovery Girl is gonna need a raise too."

He left without a word…I could tell, he liked me as little as I liked him. The difference? It wasn't within his power to contain me. he simply does not have the measures, within the confines of the law, to criminally incapacitate me, and that is about the only way you could stop me.

Kate stood up, and entered a stance, her hands glowing a strange yellow orange, like when you show a light and pressed your thumb against it.

"We'll start at stage One, and work our way up." I said, smile still in place, and I tossed my jacket to the side as I rolled my neck, "don't wimp out on me ok? 110% starting right now."

She glared in anger and offense at my statement, and her hands flared, "Cmon!"

I rushed forward, her face lighting up with shock as I sped in her guard before she even had a chance to shift stances.

BOOM

…

…

The idiot didn't even more her arms. What kind of opponent will aim for your block?

Or was I too fast?...this is going to take a while.

"Nezu! Just bring Recovery Girl Down here!"

XXX

"U.A. Sports Festival?"

I was, in a word, concerned. Aizawa was still in bandages, definitely crippled beyond imaginable levels, and far from a joking mood.

I am not exactly fond of being a public tool for entertainment.

The rest of the class shared my surprise, but their follow up reactions were more positive.

"This is your chance to demonstrate your abilities. Most new Heroes intern and current Pro Hero businesses, or participate in their exercises to gain public favor as well as experience, this is not something to skip out on." He said blandly, and I could tell that was aimed at me somehow.

Jokes on him, I'm not out to impress anyone.

In fact I probably won't even be participating, the whole issue with the League of Villains and that.

I twiddled my pencil on my thumb like a propeller, catching it and spinning it again intermittently as the class conversed with themselves on what this meant for them. In terms of my priorities, this kinda…brought questions more than answers. I was working with Kate now, made good progress these last few…days? weeks? I don't really remember.

Either way, she could handle stage 2 real well. Something that only Pro Heroes might have had a chance of doing. In terms of finding gaining their approval, over raising my own partner…dunno.

Weird thing to ponder.

Class ended after that rather swiftly, probably because I was little caught up in thought. I headed out first, as per usual custom, though it was something that caught me off guard when I sawa nearly thirty plus people standing outside our door.

"Umm…Hi?" I said in mild confusion, staring at all of them. I was taller than nearly everyone in the crowd, and no doubt imposing as the first few kids in my vicinity backed away instinctively. I pushed the door wider open, and stepped aside.

"Probably a classroom activity or something, Good luck I guess." I said with a wave over my shoulder, and made to walk off.

"WHAT THE HECK!?" I heard Ururaka exclaim, and I figured it was the door coming back to whack her in the face, "sorry!" I called deftly, but my ears listened in a little more.

"Their crowding the exit! What are they here for?"

"They're scoping out the competition retard, they wanna see the gang who came through the villain ambush. They're checking us out before the big battle…fucking idiot."

Bakugo, that is actually sound logic. Your profanity almost made it memorable.

Bakugo walked right to the front of the group, standing right in their eyes, and glared, "It's pointless to try, so why don't you just Fuck Off, ya god damn mob."

"DON'T GO CALLING PEOPLE YOU DON'T KNOW A MOB RIGHT OFF THE BAT!" Broomstick exclaimed from the back, and…for some reason still standing here, rolled my eyes.

"I came to see what you guys are made of, true, but I didn't think you'd be this arrogant." A voice said from the middle of the pack, walking forward.

"Are all the kids enrolled at the Department of Heroics this way?" he continued, coming forward. Midoriya and Tenya- Ahem Broomstick were about to lose their shit over the sudden panic that swiped their hands side to side, and I frowned, speaking up.

"Don't be fooled, this guy is just stupid competitive by default, he's got an inferiority complex a mile wide and a borderline psychotic desire to bully." I said flatly, and Bakugo, who was already looking ready to blow up the mob, turned on me, "TEME! GO DIE AFTER I BEAT YOU TO A CRISP!"

I blinked, before pointing at him, "See?"

"I'm a bit disillusioned. So that's it huh? There's lots of kids who wind up in the General Ed. Or Other departments because they failed the heroics one…did you know?"

I shrugged, "We all took the same test."

"And based on the results of the Sports Festival, People can be re-evalutated, and transferred to the Heroics, and the reverse is also a possible outcome….Scoping out the competition? If nothing else, a General Ed kid like me is thinking…"

He stepped right into Bakugo's face, speaking dully, "Hey, why don't I try pulling the rug out from under those heroic's kids while they're on their high horses?...consider it a declaration of war."

I tilted my head to the side…he was angry, but not at us…I wonder just who it's directed towards.

"HEY! You! I'm from the B Class!" I heard a battle cry directed at us, and I turned, staring him with rather concentrated intensity, "Declaration of war right? nifty…move."

I turned to all of them, and I picked up the tempo as heat started to pour out, "All of you…Move."

They leapt aside like grasshoppers, and I walked through, making it quick.

"And you…you're the worst."

I stopped, turning questioningly, looks like he was done staring at Bakugo from a few inches away. "Having a go at me now? No offense, but I'm not the type of person you want to upset."

"Is that a threat?"

I shook my head, "No no, it's just how my Quirk works…what's up?"

He walked forward, standing a few feet away, "You're a loose cannon at best. I saw the recordings of your training exercise…its hardly proper heroic conduct."

He winded up for another speech, and I stopped him, a finger right in front of his nose, "Look kid, I get your all bent out of shape, totally awful, you've got a pair of balls and nobody doubts it. Go pitch your bitch to Aizawa or the Principal, I'll even set you up on a date, ok?"

Silence.

The kid…looked really angry, "I guess all of you really ARE arrogant beyond belief. Don't think one battle changes-"

I shot straight to the Awakened state, and the pressure everyone felt tripled. The kiddie with the balls staggered back suddenly in shock, and I looked him dead in the eye. It disappeared just like that, everyone glued their eyes on me.

"One battle doesn't change anything." I said bluntly, "I myself have been through many. I only came here for the formalities and assistance in mastering my destructive power. If you're trying to flex or host a pity party, do me a favor and get yourself a person who gives a fuck instead of me. I don't care how badass you are, or how big your balls are, or how mistreated and unfortunate you are…it's just as you said. Prove it at the festival. If you're up to par, step up, if you're not, work harder. I ain't your nanny, and I ain't your rival. Put your big boy pants on and get your shit together. We are all peers, this hierarchy crap gives me a damn headache."

I pointed at the kid who shouted at me earlier, "And you too! It shouldn't fucking matter if you're in A or B; the goal is to be a HERO. If you're so caught up in the letter on the front of your classroom door I really don't think you should be here to start with."

I looked back at the guy whom I first started with, and he regarded me slowly. I took that chance to break the moment and flick the dude right in the nose lightly, making him recoil in shock and small pain.

"Later Mr. Anon."

I turned and walked away, putting my earbuds in to mute whatever rebuttal he had to that, and mused as to what I could steal from the cafeteria. Nezu was paying for my meals after all, maybe I should just buy my class lunch.

Nah, don't like em that much.

I could a drink at a vending machine…

Perfect.