"I believe I mentioned this yesterday, but for now, 1-A will be focusing on getting provisional licences. A hero licence bears with it the great responsibility of human life. Of course, the exam to receive one is very difficult. The provisional licence has only a 50% passing rate each year."
"Just the provisional licence is that hard?"
I need coffee. Why are we in class? Give me coffee.
"That's why today, we will have each of you come up with at least two ultimate moves."
The door opened and Cementoss, Midnight and Ectoplasm came in.
"Ultimate moves?!"
"It's like a real school thing and yet-"
"It's like a super normal hero thing!"
Please stop. You lot don't need to yell all the time.
"Ultimate. This means that this move will give you a sure win." I don't think I could ever get sick of hearing Ectoplasm talk. His voice sounds so echo-y.
"A move so ingrained into your body that others cannot copy it. Battle means seeing how much you can force what you're good at on your opponent."
"Your moves will represent you. These days, pro heroes without ultimate moves are an endangered species." Shut up, Midnight...
"We will tell you more as we go along. We want to proceed logically. Change into your costumes and meet in Gym Gamma."
...And where the hell is that?
"Gym Gamma, also known as the Training Dining Land, or TDL."
Well...That makes no sense...It's basically just a giant open, concrete space that's indoors...
"I came up with the idea for these facilities." Of course you did, Cementoss..."Terrain and other things can be prepared specifically for each student. That's what the 'dining' part refers too."
A hand went up and I was not surprised at all to hear Iida start speaking.
"Please allow me to ask a question! Why must we have ultimate moves for our provisional licence exam? Please tell me your reasoning!"
Iida. You have not moved that stick one inch from your ass since I've met you, huh?
"I'll tell you everything in order. Calm down. The job of a hero is to save people from danger, like crimes, accidents, natural disasters and man-made disasters. The exam to become one naturally looks at how well you are able to do that. Your ability to gather information, make decisions, move and fight, in addition to your ability to communicate, draw people to you, and lead. Every year, a different test is used to look at how well you are able to do those things."
"Of those, your ability to fight is especially important to your futures as heroes. If you are prepared, you won't have to worry. Whether or not you have an ultimate move will greatly affect whether or not you pass."
Well, that's just shit...
"Not being influenced by circumstances and being able to act consistently will make you a great asset on the front lines."
"Your ultimate moves do not necessarily have to be the attacking type. For example, Iida's Reciproburst. The temporary burst of speed is enough of a threat to be worth calling an ultimate move."
Oh hell. He's going to love that...
"So we need to find something that allows us to feel like 'As long as I can do this, I have the advantage. I can win'."
"Exactly." Midnight winked. Stop. Please stop. "Kamui Woods, who played a big part in the fight the other day, has a move called Lacquered Chain Prison that is the perfect example of an ultimate move. It restrains his opponents before they can do anything."
"The training camp was cancelled, but the training you did to develop your quirks was part of the process to create your ultimate moves. In other words, until the beginning of next semester, for the ten days or so until the end of summer vacation, you'll be working out your ultimate moves as you develop your quirks."
As Mr Aizawa spoke, Cementoss created a massive terrain, that basically looked like a concrete mountain. Ectoplasm created clones and they were all over the place. Welp. This is going to be hectic...
"You'll be doing intensive training! In addition, you should think about how you can improve your costumes to work better with your developing quirks. Get through this with a Plus Ultra mentality. Are you ready?"
Nope, but do we have a choice?
"Yes sir!"
"I'm getting excited!"
Had to have the last word, didn't you Kaminari... I closed my eyes slowly and opened them again. I had so much to work with, that I didn't think ten days would be enough for me. I'm going to have to work longer, possibly harder than almost everyone else. This will be the Hell Mr Aizawa spoke of at the camp. Dammit. Why couldn't I be normal?
The Ectoplasm clone I was working with was definitely not going easy on me. He'd already kicked me into oblivion over twenty times.
I flew backwards and crashed into the side of one of the pillars of this concrete mountain. I dropped, but my smoky wings slowed the fall. I stood up slowly and wiped the blood off my lip.
"Ouch. And here I was thinking you'd go easy on me."
"Did you really expect me too?"
I shook my head and created my naginata. "Nahh. I was just hoping. So, while you're kicking me to death, any ideas on what I should do as a an ultimate move, or whatever?"
I ducked and dodged as he tried to kick me in the stomach. Again. I couched against the side of the mountain and shot myself sideways as he came at me.
"You should be thinking about this, not getting someone else to do it for you."
I landed, sliding across the ground. "I just wanted an opinion, is all. I mean, I honestly have no clue. I'm terrible at things like that." I swung my naginata out so he couldn't get close.
I heard everyone else talking, but I decided to focus on what I was doing. Besides, they were only talking about Bakugo, like he was some kind of golden child. I tightened my grip remembering what the Master said about Tomura.
This is strength from a huge amount of practice and practical experience. I don't need yours. It's a quirk that doesn't go with Tomura's disposition.
You failed again, huh, Tomura? And where is your sister? She should have helped you with this. Never-mind, do not be discouraged. Just try again. I have brought your associates back as well. Even this child, because you have judged that he is an important piece. Do it over as many times as you need to. That is why I am here. It's all for you.
I bared my teeth. All for him. Always for him. I yelled and shot my arm out and swung the naginata again, cutting the clone in half.
"Shit. Ectoplasm! I accidentally killed it!"
He looked up at me from the ground. "Accidentally?"
I nodded. "Yea." I didn't feel explaining myself. The clone was kicking my ass, sure, but talking to it was helping me focus on different things.
Ectoplasm made another clone for me. I looked at it as it fully formed. "Do you know what we were talking about?"
The clone nodded. "It seems you are focusing more on your fighting style than your quirks. You need to start using your quirks more. Let's start using just your quirks, and only summon your weapons for close range attacks."
I frowned. "Ok, but..."
"But? You hesitate? Why?"
I shifted. "Well, honestly, I don't really use my quirks all that much. I'm not 100% sure on how to control them all. I only really use my Warrior quirk, my Heal and my Reveal. All the other quirks I don't even have names for let alone know how to use them." It was the first time I really admitted that out loud, and I knew how stupid it sounded. "It's just that with being different...It's just I try to be as normal as I can."
"Don't try to be normal."
I turned around. "All Might?"
"You're different, that's just how it is. Don't try and suppress yourself; just be yourself." He smiled and gave me a thumbs up.
I hesitated. "I don't know about this..."
"Just try it." He waved and then went over to Ojiro.
I sighed. "Alright. Let's try." I turned back to the clone. "Which one first?"
The clone grinned. "Let's just see what happens."
I headed up to the Development Studio to try out an idea I had while talking, and fighting, with Ectoplasm's clone. I have a Mapping quirk, but if I ever needed to show anyone, I couldn't. Then I had the idea if I ever dropped a weapon or lost it, for something that could bring it straight back. Of course I had my summoned weapons, but what if I couldn't use them against someone? Like if there was anyone in the world similar to Mr Aizawa, or myself with an Immunity quirk? I had decided to get myself a sword, so I needed to incorporate it into my costume. Mei Hatsume would love to play around with these ideas. I grinned at the thought.
I got to a large, iron door.
This must be it...Kind of intimidating...
I knocked and slid the door open. "Mr Power Loader...?" I blinked as I saw a familiar pink haired girl, and grinned. "Hey, Mei Hatsume, right?"
The girl turned and looked at me with a confused look. "Do you know me?"
"Sorry about her. She's already nearly killed three other students with her enthusiasm, so be careful." Power Loader said from his spot in front of some computers.
I smiled. "It's ok." I stepped in and closed the door, then shifted my eyes slightly to Mei Hatsume, who was already working again. "I was hoping that Mei Hatsume was here. I need a few tweaks-"
I clasped my hands behind my back as she appeared in front of me, her eyes shiny. "You wanted me specifically?!"
I grinned. "Of course! Who else would I trust with my costume, huh? Certainly nobody else is as good as you, right? I mean, I had first-hand experience with one of your flying babies, at the sports festival..."
Power Loader dropped his head. "Don't encourage her..."
Mei Hatsume was grinning from ear to ear at this point. "Oh yes! The canyon, right? I remember! What did you need?! Oh, let it be something interesting!"
I chuckled. "I hope it will be for you. But first, I need to tell you a secret. You can't tell anyone else. This is very important if you want to tinker some things for me, ok?"
She nodded frantically, grinning. "I won't tell a soul! Even no souls! I won't tell anyone with or without a soul!"
I nodded. "Good. I will tell you my secret, and when I do, you and you alone will be the only one able to tinker around with my costume and it's devices. As soon as I tell you, I will come to you for everything. You will have free reign. Do you understand?"
Mei Hatsume was grinning so hard, I thought she would faint. "Yes! Yes, I understand! Tell me, tell me!"
I lowered my head and grinned at her. "Well, it all started when my first quirk manifested..."
Mei Hatsume's eyes widened as I started my story.
"Hold still! How will I manage too fit these on you if you keep fidgeting!" Hatsume was almost shouting at me by this point.
"Sorry. Are you nearly done? Mr Aizawa will probably be mad at both of us if I don't turn up to intensive training."
"Training, shmaining! This is more important! Right, there! How does it feel?"
I shook my arms and twisted my back. She hadn't changed my costume, like I had originally thought she would. After hearing about all the quirks I knew I had, she went to work straight away on a pair of gloves that would be able to magnetize a dropped weapon. The gloves would also be able to project any map in my head. There was a small button on my wrist that I would have to press first. She explained the mechanics of it to me, but I didn't understand. Basically, once I pressed the button, my brain could send signals to my glove and project an image or map. Even Power Loader was impressed with those gloves.
Next was a sheath that was strapped to my back, under my cowl. Hatsume had used a dummy weapon as a base to work on, since I didn't actually have a sword of my own. The sheath was smaller than normal and supposedly able to digitize my weapon, so that it stayed hidden until I wanted it. That meant I could reach for it at any angle, and it would shift to my hands hilt first. I should ask Tokoyami if I could have his...I grinned at the thought. I could almost see the look on his face if I asked that.
I leapt onto a table and then leapt around the room a few times. The sheath moved with my body and wasn't heavy, and I didn't accidentally press the button. This time. The first time that I accidentally pressed the button, the image of Gang Orca with just his towel on that one time, was in my head. Hatsume nearly died from laughter and I threatened to smack her.
"It's great. I just need to find a sword now. How many weapons do you think would fit in there?"
She tapped her chin. "Just one for now, but I could try for more. Oh that would be fun! Let me try!"
I laughed. "Of course! The more that fit in there, the better! But how would I be able to switch up weapons?"
"Oh that's easy! I'll just program it into the gloves! Then all you'd have to worry about would be thinking about what weapon you want, then it will come when it's called! Oh this is fun!"
I grinned. "I knew I picked the right person for the job! Hey, I gotta go, but I'll be back later to give these to you. You wanna work on them more, don't you?"
Hatsume grinned and gave me a thumbs up. "Of course! I'll see you later!" She wandered off to her work bench and started tinkering again.
Power Loader stood next to me. "She likes you."
I nodded, still watching her. "Yea. I like her too. She's slightly eccentric, but I like her."
"Slightly?"
I laughed. "Anyway, I'm going. I'll see you guys later."
I walked out and quickly back to the Gym Gamma. I hated the name TDL. It still made no sense to me.
I got back to everyone else in the Gym just in time to see Midoriya kick apart a giant chuck of concrete. Cool. That was cool. I snuck around and towards the back, nabbing a clone on the way. I didn't feel like getting told off by Mr Aizawa today.
"You're late."
"I'm aware, but I was at the Development Studio, so does my lateness really count?"
"Yes."
I turned and scowled. "Shuddup, clone."
"Ouch. You want to start with your quirks, or fighting again?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Why are you asking? The last few days you've been all for tormenting me about my quirks..."
"1-A! Today, 1-B is scheduled to use this place in the afternoon."
I poked my head around a concrete slab and groaned. "Not that guy..."
"Vlad King?"
I shook my head and pointed. "No. That guy. Why is he wearing a suit with tails?"
"Eraser, hurry up and get out of the way."
"We still have ten minutes. You're not good at using time wisely, Vlad."
I face-palmed as Monoma started speaking. "Hey, did you know? The provisional licence exam has a 50% fail rate."
I pointed again. "That guy. I hate that guy."
"All of you should just fail."
I growled and wandered out of where I was standing.
"That's why 1-A and 1-B applied to different locations."
"The hero licencing exam takes place each June and September in three different locations at the same time. In order to avoid students from the same school fighting each other, all schools subscribe to the theory of splitting up their students by time or location."
"It's unfortunate that we will not be able to fight each other directly!"
I grinned. "Oh I don't know, Monoma. We always have here and now, right?" I laughed as he shut his mouth and paled.
"I wonder if there's a diagnosis for the type of mental state he has..."
I swear this kid could give Twice a run for his money...
"That's right, I didn't really think about it much, but we'll be fighting against other schools to pass."
"And in our case, we're accelerating the process of getting them..."
"In addition, there are very few first years in the country trying to get their provisional licences. In other words, the test will have those who've trained longer than you, with quirks you don't know about that they've polished up until now. The actual contents of the exam are unclear, but what is clear is that you all will have a hard time. It's not good to get hung up about it, but keep that in mind."
"Yes sir!"
I tapped my chin. So, I might actually have an advantage. They will think they know what my quirk is, but in reality, they have no idea. I grinned. This is going to be interesting.
Ashido slumped over the couch. "We're working so hard every day..."
I nodded and sat beside her. "I'm just having a break, then going outside again."
"Again?! Why?"
"I need to work on a few things, that's all."
"It's not called intensive training for nothing."
"Exactly."
"Even so, there's less than a week left before the provisional licencing exam."
"Momo, how is your ultimate move coming?"
"There's something I want to do, but my body can't keep up yet, so I need to develop my quirk a little more first."
"What about you, Tsu?"
"I've perfected a move even more frog-like than before. I'm sure even you'll be surprised, Tooru."
"What about you, Ochako?"
Ochako kept staring off into space. We looked at each other as Tsu poked her. "Ochako?"
Ochako jumped. "Huh?"
"You seem tired."
"Oh no. I'm not tired at all. I'm just getting started! At least, that's how it's supposed to be, but how do I put it...? Recently, my hearts been feeling all stirred up..."
I inwardly groaned as Ashido sat forward. "It's love!"
"What?! Glove? Shove? Dove? I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Is it Midoriya or Iida? You're always with them, aren't you?"
I started laughing at the thought of Ochako and Iida. Holy crap, that's hilarious!
"No, no, that's not it!" Ochako hid her face behind her hands and made herself float.
"She floated..."
"Who is it? Which one? Who is it?"
"Spit it out! You'll get a lighter sentence if you confess."
"That's not it! Really!"
"Liar."
"You can't talk, Kitia!"
I put my hands up and looked up at Ochako. "Hey, this ain't about me. This is all you, love."
"I really don't know anything about that stuff..."
"It's not good to force an investigation, you know."
"That's right. More importantly, we have an early start tomorrow, so we should turn in. You too, Kitia. Save your strength for tomorrow."
I hesitated. "If you think that's best, Momo."
"What? No way! I want to hear more! Even if we don't talk about anything important, I want to force it to be about romance!"
Gross, Ashido.
"Well, I'm going to bed. I'll see you guys tomorrow." I got up and headed up to my room.
When I got there, Kirishima and Bakugo were there. "What do you two want?"
"A rematch! You can't be that good all the time!"
I grinned. "Poor little Kirishima. Getting his ass handed to him by a girl. How do you feel?"
"Shuddup! I'll beat you this time!"
"I'm just here for what's in your fridge."
"And what's that, Go-Go?"
He looked straight at me and I sighed. "Fine. But you two tell anyone, and I'll kill you both."
Kirishima saluted, but Bakugo said nothing. I opened the door and we went in and started a Mortal Kombat tournament that lasted until late.
