Izuku cringed as he checked his blood reserves, feeling them dwindling far too low to keep flying for much longer. He took a slow breath, trying to calm himself as he looked down into the dark alleys below, his nose twitching at the mixture of fresh blood and smoke that filled the air. He felt the emergency beacon sitting heavily in his pocket as he swooped low over the buildings.

A strong scent of blood caught his nose, making him gag for a moment. This wasn't fresh blood. Quite the opposite, in fact. He stopped, closing his eyes and focusing on the putrid smell, turning to face its source. He flinched as he smelt a wave of fresh blood mix with the smell the rotting old, he eyes snapping open. It was a smell he recognized.

Tenya screamed as the blade cut into his side, staggering back as the Hero Killer chuckled, lifting the blade to his face. The teen winced as the man ran his tongue over the edge of the sword, the appendage darting back into his mouth a moment later.

"Enough," the man growled as Tenya tried to step forwards, a shiver running through his body as he suddenly went numb. Stain smiled as the teen crumpled to the floor, a grim look on his face.

"What do we have here?" the man chuckled as he approached, using the tip of his sword to lift Tenya's head, his smirk vanishing a moment later, "What? A child? What are you doing here? Trying to die?"

"You…I've been searching for you! You bastard!" Tenya growled, desperately trying to will his body to move, "I am Ingenium! And I am here to defeat you!"

"Ingenium, huh? Another fake. If you were a real Hero you would have taken that one and run," the seriel killer growled, glancing back at the paralyzed Native further down the alley, raising his sword, point aimed down at the prone teen, "Die!"

Stain blinked, flipping the blade in his hand and swinging upwards, the sound of metal on metal ringing through the alleyway as the red blades slammed into his sword. The man scowled as they pressed powerfully against his weapon, then suddenly seemed to melt, flowing around the blade, and slashing at him again, forcing him to jump back.

"Iida!" the stranger shouted as he dropped into the alley, his breathing heavy as he fiddled with something behind his back, before pulling a small object from behind him and slipping it into his mouth, biting down and swallowing, "Are you okay?"

"M-Midoriya? What are you doing here?" Iida shouted, desperately trying to move, "Leave! This isn't your fight!"

"I can't do that!" Izuku said as he watched the lanky man in front of him, "I'm going to be a Hero! It's our job to save people!"

Stain grinned at the green-haired teen's words, watching the two tendrils of red that slid out from his sleeves. He had smelt the unmistakable scent of iron on that first attack, making him grin as he raised his sword to his mouth, inspecting it.

"What?" he growled, glaring at the clean metal, "How?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Izuku growled, sliding into a combat stance as the tendrils of blood curved back over his arms, their shape changing to curved blades, "But I won't let you hurt anyone anymore!"

"Then try and stop me," Stain growled, sliding a foot forward.

Izuku blinked as the man suddenly vanished, crying out as he felt the blade slam into his chest, its ragged edge catching on the tough fabric of his costume. He felt the tip nick his chin as the killer finished the slash, instantly healing the cut as he was flung back, flipping in the air to land on the far wall. He glared at Stain as the Hero Killer loomed over Iida, Izuku's arm shooting forwards even as he jumped. Stain hopped back, easily avoiding the tendrils of blood that slammed into the ground around the teen, Izuku sliding to a halt over the boy.

"You have quite the troublesome quirk," the man grumbled as he inspected the sword again, seeing that it was still clean, "I can't get any blood from you."

"What? Blood?" Izuku gasped, stepping back as the killer let a smirk inch onto his face.

"Oh? Is that a weakness? How strange," he muttered as Izuku stepped forwards again, placing himself squarely between Iida and Stain.

"I won't let you hurt them!" he shouted, the tendrils on blood reforming into the blades, "I will protect them!"

"Well then, little Hero," Stain gave a throaty chuckle, pointing his sword at the teen, "Let's see you try."

Izuku cried out as the sword slammed into him again, tearing at his costume, a spiked boot digging into his knee at the same time, a sickening crack reverberating through the air. He stumbled to the side, barely able to raise his arm in time to block the next strike, the force of the blow throwing him against the wall. He screamed as he felt the combat knife dig into his shoulder, the sheer force behind the attack going straight through the reinforced armor of his costume. Stain just laughed, jumping back as Izuku tried to clumsily attack, eyes glancing down at the clean blade in his hand before darting forwards again a moment later to land a devastating kick to his side, throwing him back towards Iida. The teen tried to grab one of his blood pods, shrieking as the knife embedded itself in the back of his hand, sending the packet of blood flying to the floor.

"So, you need these for your quirk to function," Stain growled as he scooped the object up, popping it easily in his hand, "Oh? You need to drink blood as well?"

"As well?" Izuku muttered, as he tried to get to his feet, his knee almost healed even as he felt his blood reserves getting dangerously low, "Your quirk needs you to drink blood?"

"Huh, let that one slip," Stain chuckled as he watched Izuku slide into a combat stance again, eyeing the knee he'd broken earlier, "That doesn't matter. I'll just have to kill you to keep it secret."

"S-sorry," Izuku managed to force through the slowly dulling pain, pulling the throwing knife out of his hand and tossing it away, "But I don't die easily."

"That doesn't matter," Stain growled, lowering himself again, blade pointing towards Izuku, "I'll do it anyway."

The two leapt forwards, red blade meeting silver an instant later, Izuku crying out as Stain punched him in the side, flipping his sword around and slamming the blade down on the teen's shoulder. A booted foot met his stomach, launching Izuku back down the alley, tumbling head over heels until he fell beside Iida.

"Midoriya!" Iida shouted as the green-haired teen struggled to get up, his wounds not closing as quickly as they should, the tendrils of blood starting to droop, "Run! Get out of here! This is my fight!"

"I can't," Izuku groaned as he staggered to his knees, "You're my friend. I can't let him hurt you!"

"Izuku…" Iida breathed, looking up as the other teen hunched over him, protecting Iida with his own body. Iida's voice was a whisper as he spoke again, "You need blood…"

"Y-yes," Izuku started, staring down at his friend.

"Then use mine!" Iida shouted, looking up at Izuku as the teen flinched, "Don't hesitate! Just…just drink!"

"What are you doing?" Stain growled as he stalked towards the two, his sword raised, "It doesn't matter, anyway."

He watched in interest as the green-haired boy suddenly lowered his mouth to the others neck, his jaws opening wide. Stains eyes went wide as the fangs sank into flesh, the sound of sucking echoing through the alleyway.

"ENOUGH!" he roared, leaping forwards, his sword flying over him in a wide arc.

The blade slammed into concrete, the killer blinking at the empty space in front of him.

"What?"

"You're finished, Stain," he heard a voice behind him, turning to see the green-haired teen and the young Ingenium clone further down the alley, the blood-drinker propping his friend up against the wall, "I won't let you escape!"

"Escape?" the man cackled, "What can you d-?"

He was cut off as the teen vanished in front of him, a movement to his side giving him just enough time to turn his head before the foot slammed into his side. He swung his sword, the trainee Hero just barely managing to duck under it, vanishing the moment his feet touched the ground. A punch met the back of the Hero Killer's head, sending him staggering forwards.

"What?" he growled, turning to see the teen standing comfortably behind him, his pose too relaxed for a fight, "How?"

"You don't need to know," Izuku growled, his form seeming to flicker slightly before it vanished, Stain spotting something out of the corner of his eye.

Blade met blade as the two clashed, Izuku being flung back as Stain skidded slightly down the alley.

"I see," the man growled, "You can only move in short bursts, about 10 meters at most, and you can't attack at the same time. You also need time to recover between movements."

A wicked grin slid across his face as he raised his sword.

"I've won this fight, little Hero!"

"I wouldn't say so," Izuku growled, his form flickering again. Stain spun around, checking his sides for the point of attack, only a soft click above him giving him the time to look up, Izuku perched on the wall just above him, steadying himself as his fingers dug into the brick work.

Stain couldn't see what hit him, only that the boy's leg seemed to vanish for an instant before it slammed into his face, launching him down the alleyway and into a pile of trash. Stain growled as he staggered to his feet, blinking as the child sprinted down the alley, the serial killer's breath shooting from his body as a punch smashed into his gut a second later. He snatched at his stomach, feeling the ash slip between his fingers just as the teen drew close. He swung his sword just in time to block the blades of blood that fell on him, leaping back as they flowed around his sword and stabbed into the ground where he had stood.

Stain grimaced as he barely dodged the next attack, eyes meeting the young Hero's, a shiver running down his spine as he felt a smile twist across his face.

"That look, I know that look," he cackled as he took a punch to the chest, sliding on his back down the alley, "I see it everyday boy! Reflected in the eyes of the Fake Heroes! In the broken windows and stagnant puddles of the holes I'm forced to squat in! That is the look of a killer!"

"Shut up!" Izuku growled as he slammed another kick into the man, sending him careening into the wall, "You know nothing about me! You're just a common murderer."

"Harsh words for one so young," Stain cackled as he slid backwards down the alley, eyes shining as he glared at Izuku, "I know what I am! What I have had to become to fix this rotten world!"

"Oh?" Izuku hummed, his gaze darting behind the Hero Killer, "And what's that?"

"A monster!" the man cackled, stalking forwards as Izuku gave him an unimpressed look, "A monster that haunts the dreams of those Fake Heroes! That sits in the back of their minds, ever present! I am a monster for Heroes to fear!"

"Is that it?" Izuku asked, a light chuckle in his throat, startling the Villain, "Just a monster? Another in the list? You aren't as ambitious as I thought, Stain."

The teen visibly relaxed, the killer watching him closely as he raised a hand to his chin, tapping his lip as if in thought.

"Well then, if that's all you are, then I wonder... What does that make me?" Izuku grinned at Stain, the Killer finding himself grinning back with the same hungry expression, Izuku spreading his arms theatrically as he stepped forwards, "How about...THE Monster Villains Fear! Now, Sensei!"

Stain blinked, glancing behind him just as the wave of blood wrapped around his body, solidifying an instant later, trapping him in a bright red crystalline jail. Stain's tongue lashed out, catching just a tiny amount of the sanguine liquid before it hardened, swallowing it as he waited for his quirk to activate, looking around when nothing happened. He stared at the man standing behind red suited Hero that had him trapped, his eyes glowing red as black hair floated around his head.

"What?" he shouted, struggling against the hardened blood, "No! I will not fall here!"

"𝕊𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕖," he felt his throat close as he stared into emerald green eyes, an alien sense of calm threatening to overtake his mind.

"No!" he spat, fighting against the feeling, "I will not be silenced by the likes of you!"

"Too late," Eraserhead grumbled as his capture scarf suddenly wrapped around the Villain's head, tying his mouth shut, "We win, Stain."

Izuku watched as the two men descended on the Hero Killer, first pinning him to the floor with Vlad King's blood, before freeing his hands just enough to get the quirk suppressing handcuffs on him. The moment Stain was chained, Aizawa rushed to Iida's side, his student sobbing quietly as his teacher admonished him for his actions, all the while pulling out a small packet and pouring its contents over the deep wound in his side.

"Sensei, this Hero needs help too," Izuku called as he headed over to Native, helping the man to his feet as he suddenly seemed able to move again.

"He's a professional, he can handle himself," the Pro growled back, lifting Iida onto his back with surprising ease, "Iida, tell me when you can move again."

"Yes, Sensei," the teen muttered as they began to leave the alley, Stain now silent as he watched them, Vlad King standing behind him with a hard grip on his wrists.

"You, boy," he growled to Izuku as they neared the street, "It seems we are quite similar, you and I."

"I doubt it," Izuku growled, not looking back.

"Oh, but we are," Stain cackled, Eraserhead giving him a glare over his shoulder as he raised his capture scarf again, "Our quirks make us both monsters to this world, to this society. Do you really think you'll be accepted for what you are? What you have to do just to gain strength?"

"Shut up, Villain," Aizawa growled, Stain darting his head out of the way of the thrown capture weapon.

"We are the same," Stain continued, "You'll see. You'll be rejected by society, just like I was! You'll come to understand how unfair it all is! How corrupt-!"

He was cut off as the capture weapon snapped around his mouth again, the six of them making their way out onto the street, ambulances and police cars already gathered in the street as they stepped out.

"Eraserhead, Vlad King!" a plain looking man in a trench coat called as he ran over, his eyes going wide in disbelief as he saw the captured Villain, "You actually caught the Hero Killer!"

"We barely did anything, Tsukauchi," Aizawa grumbled as he walked past, nodding back at Izuku, "That one held Stain off long enough for us to get there."

"Oh, wow," the man said, looking at Izuku in surprise, "Well, well done, kid! You really-,"

The rest of his sentence was cut off as a screech echoed through the air, a dark form swooping low to the ground, its talons wrapping around the first person it could grab as blood splashed on the floor around it.

"Move!" A familiar voice rung out through the air, Endeavor, Shoto close behind him, racing after the monster.

Izuku cried out as the claws dug into his flesh, the skin on his palms splitting open as he drove a pair of blood blades straight up. The Nomu let out a wailing cry, the red spikes twisting around behind it's back, stabbing forwards into its brain, throwing the two of them into a spin. Izuku growled as they crashed into the ground, flipping them over so the Nomu landed under him, letting out a roar as he slammed another tendril of blood through the still twitching creature's head, a second decapitating it a moment later.

"What?!" Endeavor growled, sliding to a halt and looking around, his eyes falling on Stain for a moment, before they shot back to Izuku, his hands flaring up. Behind him, Shoto froze as he saw who his father was glaring at. Izuku turned to face them with a snarl, tendrils of blood whipping around him as he seemed to hunt for the next threat.

"Endeavor!" Eraserhead shouted, the No. 2's flames suddenly extinguishing as the Pro used his quirk, "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

"What am I doing? That…thing could lose control at any moment! You saw what it did in the Sports Festival!" he roared, trying to reignite his fire as the other Pro glared at him.

"That boy just helped capture the Hero Killer: Stain, Endeavor," the teacher growled, grabbing the man by the arm, his eyes aching as he forced his quirk to work longer than it should, "If you even think of hurting him, you will answer to me!"

Endeavor glared at the other Pro, before lowering his arms, his flames bursting back to life as Aizawa finally blinked. The police and paramedics started to approach as the Heroes talked, watching the No. 2 carefully.

"How does it feel, Endeavor?" Stain's voice startled them all as the Hero Killer laughed, "How does it feel? To know that a monster did what you could not? That a monster is a better Hero than you could ever hope to be?!"

"Silence, Villain!" the Pro growled, turning to face him.

"I refuse," Stain cackled, head bowed, "You are a failure! Already exposed for your crimes and arrogance! Fighting like a dog against the very Justice you claim to uphold! So obsessed with your own glory that you would abuse your own kin for power! Pathetic! You are truly a Fake in the greatest of ways!"

The officials around them paused, looking between the now enraged Endeavor and the Hero Killer.

"But if I'm going to be taken in, I'll at least do this world one more favor before I do. BY KILLING YOU!"

The spiked boot shot up, aimed directly for the startled Endeavor's temple. The Pro blinked as the blood splashed against his face, Stain crying out in pain as he toppled backwards, his severed foot skittering across the street behind them. Endeavor turned his blood-soaked head slowly, looking down the length of the blood blade that had just saved his life. At the end stood Izuku, his teeth bared in a grimace of determination, his fangs reflecting the street lights.

"Endeavor!" Vlad King shouted even as the paramedics rushed towards them, "Stop spacing out, dammit! We need your help to cauterize the wound! Now!"

Stain cackled as the Pro knelt beside him, his hand flaring up as he gripped the stump, "How low you've fallen, Endeavor! First saved by a monster! Now being forced to save a monster!"

"Silence!" the pro growled, the flames flaring brighter as the Villain let out a scream.

"Endeavor! We're cauterizing the wound, not burning the rest of his leg off!" Vlad King shouted, the No. 2 releasing the slightly charred stump as he got back to his feet.

"I'm not done," Stain wheezed from the floor, letting a dry chuckle rumble in his throat as he forced himself upright, "I'll never be done. Not for you Fake Heroes! I'm not just a man! I'm an idea! A movement! A revolution! I will live on!"

The wave of malice that rose from the man as he laughed froze the Heroes for a moment, their breath catching in their lungs as Stain howled with laughter. The madness in his voice echoed off the buildings, reaching into their very souls as he lent forwards. His mask slipped from his face, revealing the twisted scars that had once been his nose as he continued to cackle. Slowly, he rose to his one remaining foot, eyes wide as he stared down the Pros.

"You are what I fight against, Endeavor," Stain cackled, "The corruption that has seeped into society as they praise their false idols like GODS! It doesn't matter that I've failed here. That I was captured. Because it was done by one with the potential to be a True Hero. Yes, a True Hero, like All Might!"

Stain turned his gaze onto Izuku, the teen not reacting.

"He may be a monster, but perhaps that is what is needed by this rotten world," Stain sighed, "A monster that will purge the corruption. Someone that will show the world that a monster with a noble heart is more Just than a false Hero begging for glory. Instead of a Symbol of Hope to blind the people, rather a Symbol of Fear to silence the criminals, Villains and Heroes both."

The serial killer went silent for a moment, his shoulders heaving. He let out a wheezing laugh as he raised his head, staring up at the sky as a single word rang out.

"𝔖𝔦𝔩𝔢𝔫𝔠𝔢."

Stain seemed to choke for a moment, his eyes shooting down to stare at Izuku, the teen walking forwards slowly. The Heroes shuddered, they could feel the waves of intent coming off the teen, even as Stain continued to pulse with malice, his smile twisting as the boy approached, the two engaged in some kind of war of wills.

"You have lost, Stain," Izuku growled, his emerald eyes cold as he stared directly into Stain's, the older man shivering slightly, "So I tell you now, be 𝔖ℑ𝔏𝔈𝔑𝔗!"

Stain twitched, opening his mouth to say something, nothing but a quiet growl echoing in his throat as his eyes suddenly rolled back in his head, the Hero Killer letting out a final shudder as he toppled backwards, unconscious.

Standing atop a water tower, the two figures looked out over the destruction below them. A news helicopter flew through the air nearby, the reporter inside pointing them out to her camera man.

"That bastard Stain," the pale-haired young man scratched at his neck with one hand, the other holding a crutch tightly, his pinky carefully lifted to avoid destroying it, "I hope he dies from that."

"It may benefit us if he does," the mass of swirling black mist beside him sighed, adjusting his bartender's outfit, "Having him be a martyr could be just as, if not more effective for our goals."

"Whatever, we got the video?" The young man spat, turning away as he looked up at the news helicopter, their spotlight turning to focus on the two Villains, "Let's get out of here, Kurogiri."

"Yes, Shigaraki," the mist-like Villain said, raising a hand as a portal opened behind them, blocking them from the light.

It vanished a moment later, both men long gone.

"Twelve minutes."

The words hung in the air between them as Izuku sat opposite Aizawa in the police station interrogation room.

"You activated the distress beacon after twelve minutes," the older man repeated, "When I specifically told you to head back after ten."

"I…I was…" Izuku mumbled, "I just…I planned my route to go over some other areas on my way back."

"And that's when you found them?" Aizawa growled, leaning back in the uncomfortable plastic chair, "Do you really expect me to believe that?"

"It's the truth!" Izuku said, looking up at his teacher, determination flaring in his eyes, "Would you have preferred I left Iida to die?!"

"No," Aizawa cut the teen off before he could continue, "It was a smart decision. You did well."

Izuku sat in silence for a moment, staring at his teacher as the man leaned his head back, squeezing a small bottle of eye-drops into his eyes.

"Oh. Thank you, Sensei."

"No need to thank me, Midoriya. You did good work tonight. Though your methods still need some work," the Pro sighed.

"M-my methods?"

"The public doesn't tend to be too fond of Heroes who regularly dismember people," Aizawa growled, "Even if those people are Villains."

"I…I had no choice!" Izuku gasped, shifting uncomfortably under his teacher's gaze, "He was…he was going to kill Endeavor!"

"I know," the man sighed, reaching across the metal table to place a comforting hand on Izuku's shoulder, "Just next time…try to do something less violent."

"I…okay, Sensei."

"But in other news," the man sighed, surprising Izuku as he spoke, "You'll be receiving a commendation for assisting in the capture of Stain. That's a pretty big deal for a student like you. Obviously, we can't let the press know that you were basically fighting him alone, so we'll have a cover story for you. One that doesn't involve Iida at all. Understood?"

"Y-yes, Sensei!" Izuku gasped, nodding his head excitedly.

"Good, you'll be having an emergency lesson on press etiquette with Midnight tomorrow morning before the press conference," he chuckled as the green-haired teen suddenly froze, staring at him in shock and fear, "Make sure you wake up early."

"P-p-press conference?!"

"Okay, so if they ask you what happened, what do you say?" Midnight quizzed the nervous teen as they stood backstage of the press conference, the chatter of the journalists on the other side of the thin board making Izuku sweat.

"That…that I was assisting Vlad King and Aizawa with searching for injured civilians. I-I ran in to check the back alleys for anyone who may be hiding, and found Stain standing over Native. I alerted Vlad King, and he and Eraserhead fought with Stain, with me providing back up and helping the injured Native to safety. I returned to the fight just as they captured him," Izuku rattled off the answer they had spent the last three hours practicing, Midnight nodding in approval.

"As for the…leg incident?" she asked.

"I…I reacted before I could think. It was a mistake that I regret, and will work on never making again," Izuku stammered through the sentence as he saw his teachers step out onto the small platform, knowing that soon he would have to go out as well.

"Okay, kid," Midnight said encouragingly, "I think that's everything. Just stay calm, and you'll nail it, okay?"

"Yeah…calm," Izuku muttered, glancing down at his phone, the object still vibrating madly with messages from his friends and class, he caught the reflection of his eyes in the screen, "I wonder if I can use my Influence on myself?"

"You're up, kid," Midnight said as she pushed him towards the stage, the teen hurriedly slipping his phone back into his pocket.

The camera flashes blinded him for a moment as he stepped out onto the stage, swallowing nervously as he looked out over the sea of unfamiliar faces. He looked over to his teachers, seeing the empty seat for them just beside Vlad King, the teen walking hurriedly towards it. The questions started coming the moment he sat down. They ranged from ones he had prepared for, like "What was it like to see the Hero Killer up close?" or "What did you actually do in this event?" to the ones he wasn't, to which he gave a polite "No comment," just as Midnight had taught him. The press conference went on for almost an hour longer before Eraserhead finally seemed to have enough and just walked off the stage, Vlad King and Shinku following him, ignoring the clamoring journalists as they continued to throw questions their way.

"Good job, kid! You're a natural!" Midnight cried as he stepped off the stage, grinning as he crouched low to the floor and tried not to have a panic attack.

"That was natural?" He squeaked, trying to calm his beating heart, "I thought I was going to die!"

"I hate press conferences," Aizawa grumbled as he poured himself a cup of coffee, downing the steaming liquid in one go without adding milk or sugar, "Bunch of vultures. And they don't help with Underground Heroics at all."

"They're a necessary evil," Kan laughed as he picked up a donut, offering one to Izuku, the teen taking it gratefully, "We could do without so many of them, but they have to happen eventually."

Aizawa just growled as he poured himself another cup.

"Oh, uhm…speaking of Underground Heroics, Sensei," Izuku almost chuckled as both Aizawa and Kan turned to look at him, "Has Principal Nedzu said anything to you about my proposal?"

"Celerity," the older man said with a confident nod.

"Pardon?"

"That is the power you have gained," Sire hummed as he handed Izuku a glass of blood, "And I must say, that you have gained another power that is identical to one of my own is, for lack of a better word, comforting."

"S-Sire?"

"Excuse my words, young one," the man sighed, waving his hand, "You have been growing in ways I had never dreamed. It seems as though we will need to advance your training accordingly."

"IT'S A RESCUE RACE!" All Might shouted as the class gathered at the industrial styled field Gamma, "The premise is very simple!"

Izuku couldn't help the wide grin that was one his face as his Idol explained the days exercise to them, his eyes darting towards Bakugo as the blond slouched at the edge of the group, trying to ignore Kirishima's pestering. The two of them hadn't spoken at all since that one greeting after the Sports Festival, Bakugo always coming into class at the last second and leaving as soon as the lesson ended. He would also vanish somewhere after school was done, no trace of him to be found anywhere. Izuku had even gone to his home, Mitsuki Bakugo explaining that he had special after-school meetings he had to attend.

Izuku readjusted his waistcoat, feeling strangely naked without the heavy suit jacket that usually sat over it. Unfortunately, after his clash with Stain, the item had been badly damaged, and was currently being repaired. Not that that would matter soon, according to what Powerloader had told him when he went to drop the item off. Apparently, a large number the Support Department students had been inspired by the clothes they'd "borrowed" from him and were in the process of making him a plethora of outfits to wear as costumes. Hatsume apparently had three separate ones almost finished alone. Izuku glanced over at Iida, his friend in the UA tracksuit, as his costume was also in for repairs, namely the large gash in the side where Stain had cut him.

"And that is all! Here are the groups!" All Might said brightly, revealing a board.

Izuku was unsurprised to see that he and Bakugo were in different groups, Izuku's going first and Bakugo's last. He wasn't sure, but the teen suspected that the teachers were purposefully keeping them apart, with the latest training exercises either being individual or with pre-picked groups. Honestly, Izuku wouldn't have minded if he didn't want to have some time to be able to talk to Bakugo. He didn't know why, but he felt it was important.

"First group, ready yourselves! I'll be activating the distress beacon in a moment! Make sure your trackers are securely fastened!" All Might shouted as he leapt off, sailing through the air and into the mess of industrial buildings and pipes.

"Aw man," Mina groaned as they lined up in front of the entrance, "This is gonna suck! Mido can just fly straight there!"

"Uhm…actually flying takes a lot of blood," Izuku chuckled, "I can only fly for a maximum of about twenty minutes at the moment, and no faster than I can run without enhancing myself. Which uses more blood."

"And you pass out if you run out of blood, right?" Iida asked, stretching his legs.

"Oh? So, we actually have a chance?" Ojiro asked, a grin on his face.

"I wouldn't say that," Izuku gave his friend a smirk, "I learnt a few things on the internship."

"Hey, so did we," Sero laughed, slapping Izuku's shoulder.

"Distress Signal Detected!" the devices on their wrists suddenly chimed in unison, "Finding Co-Ordinates."

Four of the five students leapt into action, Izuku seeming to remain frozen on the spot as the dust settled.

"Izuku?" Ochako called, blinking as he suddenly seemed to fade away.

"Was…was that an after image?" Jiro gasped.

Izuku let out a whooping shout as he sailed through the air, hopping easily between the pipes like it was second nature. He darted towards a straight alley leading directly towards the source of the distress signal, placing his feet firmly against a wall as he looked down it. The image on the screen spun as the camera drone was flung away by the burst of air caused by the teen's movement, the rest of the class watching the bank of screens in amazement as he seemed to appear from nowhere on another camera.

"Holy shit," Kaminari breathed, "When did he get super-speed?"

"I would suspect a sanguine drought," Tokoyami mused, Dark Shadow popping out and cackling, "You mean he drank someone else's blood?"

Ochako and Tsuyu stiffened, both turning slowly to stare at the shadow creature, Dark Shadow quickly retreating back inside Tokoyami with a quiet "Eep!".

"It's not a problem," Ochako said, her tone flat as she turned back to the bank of screens, "He needs to get stronger, after all."

"It's the only way he can get new powers," Tsuyu mimicked Ochako's tone, also staring at the screens, "Perfectly fine, kero."

The rest of the class shivered slightly at their tones, all looking back at the screen as Izuku sent another camera drone spinning.

Izuku grinned as he launched himself into the air, using a small amount of blood to steer himself closer towards the massive silo that All Might was obviously standing on top of. He looked around, spotting Sero a short distance off, the tape-wielder swinging easily between the buildings. The other teen glanced over at him, his smile widening behind his visor as Izuku grinned back, before dropping back into the mess of pipes and metal.

He let his feet get a good grip as he saw Sero zip ahead, letting loose a stream of tape that actually managed to wrap around the safety rail at the top of the silo. Focusing power into his legs, Izuku activated his new power, feeling the world slow down around him. He kicked off the pipe he was standing on, watching as Sero seemed to move in slow motion through the air, his usual wide grin still plastered across his face. Izuku looked around, he was going to come out of Celerity in midair, the momentum from his jump hopefully carrying him most of the way up the side of the silo. Sero just had to reel himself in.

The world seemed to come back all at once, the rushing of air buffeting the young Vampire as he sailed towards the metal tube, losing a bit of height as his path arced down. He slammed into he metal, not even pausing as he latched onto a thing ledge, pumping energy into his arms to fling himself upwards. He could see Sero above him, almost to the top. He could do it. He could make it. He could win! Izuku's hand slapped against the railing just as Sero slid to a halt in front of All Might, the Hero laughing loudly as Izuku gave a defeated sigh.

"Excellent showing, young Sero, young Midoriya!" The massive man laughed, patting them both on the back as he handed Sero a winner's sash, "I am thoroughly impressed!"

"Yeah!" Sero laughed as he grinned at Izuku, "Damn, you nearly had me there, Midoriya! But I beat you in the end. Maybe we should start calling me the "Vampire Slayer"?"

"Maybe," Izuku chuckled, shaking the other teen's hand.

Ojiro jumped over the railing soon after, looking out of breath, Iida following quickly behind, shooting up the stairs that surrounded the Silo. Mina eventually managed to clamber up the side of the building, breathing heavily and stamping her foot as she saw the rest of the group waiting for her.

"Hey, at least Midoriya didn't win!" Sero chuckled, the green-haired teen giving him a look of mock-insult, pressing a hand daintily to his chest.

"Excuse me? How rude!"

The group burst into laughter a moment later, All Might joining them before leaping away to his next hiding spot.

"So, who did you drink from?"

"Huh?" Izuku said through a mouthful of food as his usual group of friends sat on the roof together for lunch.

"You have a new power," Ochako repeated, "Who did you drink from?"

"Oh! Uhm..well…" Izuku swallowed heavily, eyes going wide as he started choking, Iida quickly handing him a can of juice as the teen struggled to breath.

"I'd also like to know, kero," Tsuyu croaked, the two girls seemingly unconcerned about Izuku's choking.

He finally managed to swallow the mouthful, letting out a relieved sigh, before glancing over at Iida.

"Well, the thing is that…technically, I'm not allowed to say," Izuku muttered.

"Why?" both girls asked in sync, their heads snapping around in unison to stare at him.

"Well, it has to do with…that thing that happened…" Izuku tried.

"A thing?" Ochako asked, "What kind of thing? A girl kind of thing?"

"N-no! I told her to leave me alone! I swear!" Izuku slapped his hands over his mouth as he spoke, the regret clear in his eyes as he turned to look at Iida and Ojiro, both boys turning away and becoming very interested in their lunches.

"So, there was a girl," Izuku shivered as he felt Ochako and Tsuyu staring at his back, the green-haired teen turning mechanically as he stared into their blank eyes. He blinked, certain that for a moment he could see an Oni and a Dragon floating in the air above the two girls. Taking a deep breath, Izuku followed the instructions Midnight had given him to help deal with his nerves in front of the media. The first being "always, and only, tell as much of the truth as is necessary!"

"Early on in my Internship, I met some…fans," Izuku said flatly, trying to keep his voice level as the two girls continued to glare at him, "One of them was a girl who…who asked me to drink her blood. More specifically, she asked me to make her my…my "bride". I refused."

Izuku flinched as the Oni and Dragon seemed to appear over the two again, until he assured them that he'd said no.

"The thing is…the way I told her was…well…" Izuku swallowed, hoping this would work, shutting his eyes as he spoke quickly, "I t-told her that I already had two brides!"

The two girls froze, Iida and Ojiro turning to look at Izuku as the teen blushed furiously, his eyes screwed up tight as he waited for the inevitable explosion. When it didn't come, he cracked open his eyes, surprised to see Ochako and Tsuyu just staring at him in shock, their faces bright red.

"Y-y-y-y-y-you said we were your….?" Ochako trailed off, her eyes going swirly as she started to sway.

"Oh…wow," Tsuyu managed, pressing her hands to her cheeks as she looked away in embarrassment, "Just…wow…"

"Uhm…yeah?" Izuku asked, swallowing nervously as the two girls slowly went back to eating their lunch, not saying anything else for the rest of the break.

"And that is the final group for 1-A's end of term practical exam decided," Nedzu chuckled as he sipped from his cup of tea.

"Ya chose some real int'resting groups this time 'round, Eraser," Snipe drawled as he looked over the sheet of paper again, " 'Specially the pair that'll be facing All Might."

"Those two have an antagonistic relationship at best," the man grumbled, "If they want to be Heroes in the future, they'll need to sort out their differences."