In homeroom the next morning, Sensei told us "Summer break is fast approaching. Of course, we can't just let you relax an entire month. We'll be going to a summer break forest lodge."

Everyone started cheering, me included.

"TRUTH OUR DARE!" squealed Mina, fist pumping. Tsuyu added "Fireworks, and Iida "Curry." So much fun!

"However," Sensei silenced us with a glare, "Should any of you fall short of a passing grade for the end of term test, then you're stuck in remedial hell.'

"Let's do our best, everyone!" Kirishima called out.

Our summer training camp - another opportunity to get better, to surpass our limits…if I could just scrape by the practical, somehow.

CHAPTER

We had reached the final week of June, with only a single week remaining before our final exams.

"I haven't studied AT ALLLL!" cried poor Ashido and Kaminari, who both looked nearly in tears.

"With the sports Festival and internships, I didn't have time to study," moaned Kaminari, clutching his head while Ashido laughed rather manically.

"Sucks that there's a practical portion too," sighed Mineta, who had been - 9th out of 20?!

"I thought you were one of us!" cried Ashido.

"Guys like you are only likable when they're morons!" added Kaminnari. "Who's gonna love you now?"

"The world, I guess," Mineta replied.

"Ashido, Kaminari!" piped in Midoriya. "Let's do our best! It'd be great if we could all go to the lodge, right?"

"Yes!" added Iida

"If you just attend classes, it's hard to fail," Todoroki added.

"Words can hurt, you know!" cried Kaminari, who was now clutching his chest in a real panic.

"Hey, you two," I intervened, as a thought occurred. "I might be able to help you with the classroom stuff."

"Yaomomo!" they cried out. Under my breath, I murmured, "the practical, not so much." I'd hoped nobody would hear me, though through the corner of my eyes I thought i could sense Todoroki watching me.

Jirou's soothing voice piped in as she approached my desk. "I'm not as bad off as either of them, but how about helping me too? I'm having trouble with quadtratic functions."

"Me too?" asked Sero. "I'm struggling with classical lit."

"Me too?" added Ojiro.

"This is wonderful!" I cried, deeply touched by all their requests for help. "Yes, let's do it! We'll hold a study session at my residence over the weekend! I'll call mother and have her prepare the great hall to set up, it'll be the perfect spot! What kind of tea does everyone like, I'll have her make sure we're stocked. In my family, we always drink Harrod's or wedgwood, so if you have any other preference let me know. When we're finished, you'll all be model students!"

They looked a little unsure, but I just knew I'd be able to show them how helpful I could be - with the academic part, at least.

Our study sessions commenced that weekend. They were grueling and challenging, but by the time they were finished I felt I'd been of some real assistance to my classmates. AShido and Kaminari gave me a thumbs up once they were over, feeling they had most likely passed.

At last, it was the day of the practical exam.

"Right, the text exercise will begin shortly," said Sensei, who was standing around with…every one of our sensei? All the teachers?

"Obviously you can fail this test, too, so if you want to head to the first lodge, don't make any mistakes."

"Why are all the teachers here?" Jirou asked, with a raised eyebrow.

"I've no doubt you've all learned what information you could about the test beforehand," said Sensei, "so I think you already hold a vague notion of what you are to do."

"Just like the entrance exam, it will be robots!" cried Kaminari.

"I can just see the fireworks, the curry, truth or dare!" cheered Ashido.

"I'm afraid - nOT!" cried a strange voice from inside of Sensei's scarf. Principal Nezu jumped out. "Due to various reasons, we're changing the test this year."

"What do you mean?" I asked, trying to stay calm.

"Well," the principal explained, climbing down from Mr. Aizawa's scarf…

It seemed they were afraid of a villain revival, so our sensei summarized, "From now on, e'll focus our tests more on person-to-person battles, emphasizing a teaching environment as close as possible to a real battle. Which means, that from here on you will all form pairs and engage in one-on-one combat with one of these teachers!"

"Against a teacher?!" gasped Uraraka.

"Additionally, your partners and opponents have already been chosen. They were chosen at my discretion, baed on a combination of grades, familiarity, and skills. Here are the teacups. To begin with, Todoroki is with Yaoyorozu. Against me."

I tried not to gasp out loud. Todoroki as a teammate, against Mr. Aizawa?

I could barely hear the other matches; I was so consumed with nerves. Teaming up with Todoroki would be good for passing the exam, but - but if I messed up, that would mean I had messed up…

"The ten teams will be starting in their respective stages simultaneously. The general outline of the test will be explained by teach of the teachers you'll be battling. You're t be transported by the campus bus. Time is precious, so get in them promptly."

We were bussed over to a small fake city; Todoroki and I sat awkwardly in silence the whole time. When we got out, Sensei paused to explain the rules. 30 minutes to either handcuff Sensei, or run to safety.

"If you find yourself overwhelmed by my power, running and calling for help may be your best option," Sensei told us. "Todoroki, you of all people should know that. The other two as well."

Other two? I wondered, glancing at Todoroki, who looked rather regretful. Something had certainly happened, it seemed, with himself, Midoriya and Iida during the Hosu incident that we didn't know about.

But it wasn't time to worry about that.