Hello! A faster update this time! It is a little shorter then other chapters but the next one shouldn't take that long. Thank you for your continued support and reviews - Enjoy! Also this picks up after the festival.
Left - Right - Left - Right - Izuku bounced back and forth on the balls of his feet, as Todoroki, who stood across him, moved into a sparring stance. He cracked his fingers, and moved into his own, before shooting forward. The boys body swiftly skirted across the combat mat of the Heights Alliance gymnasium. His feet stopped abruptly in front of his opponent, throwing Todoroki off his balance.
A quick jab came towards Shoto's head, it was briskly evaded by a side step. In response, he went to grab Izuku's wrist, but was knocked back by a firm kick to the center of his abdomen.
Shaking it off, Shoto sprung back into action. He lunged forward - a large flurry of strikes and blocks followed, before Izuku tried a leg sweep. Big mistake.
Jumping over the low attack, he immediately regained his footing - a small lunge towards Izuku was enough to push him back on his heels. Here was his opportunity, he leaped over his unbalanced opponent and gripped his arm, a desperate attempt at blocking the obvious blow. Izuku couldn't have done much better however.
With a firm lock on his forearm - Shoto slammed Izuku's body to the ground. His right hand came to hold his torso in place as he kneeled over his sparring partner.
The pinned boy took a deep breathe, "Nice Todoroki, I can tell you've been practicing your hand to hand combat. That was our fastest match yet."
He stood up and offered his hand to Midoriya, "I can't always rely on my quirk - if I wanna be better then my father, I need to better myself in every aspect."
With a smile, Izuku took the boys hand and hoisted himself up. He cracked his neck, and stretched out his right arm, "You really have a good grip man."
Shoto shrugged, and then formed an ice disk - placing it over the large bruise forming on his abdomen, "You got one hell of a kick as well."
Brushing the damp hair out of his face, Izuku chuckled at the boys compliments, "Thanks Todoroki. I'd say let's go one more round but-"
"Midoriya!"
The two teens turned to face the door to Heights Alliance gym. They recognized that voice. It was none other then one Iida Tenya - standing as robotic as ever.
"Iida? What's up?" Izuku replied picking up his small towel and wiping the sweat off his face.
"I have come to issue a challenge!" Iida smirked and softened his loud and jagged tone, "Let's have a race!"
Shoto walked past Izuku and towards the doorway, "A race? What for?"
Iida nodded his head firmly, "the class is having a little betting game as to whether or not you are faster then me Midoriya. It seems a large majority of them believe you are faster than me," he smiled playfully, "I am simply going to prove them wrong."
Izuku shot him a smirk, "Oh really? So this is a challenge right? I'm in!"
"Alright then! I will be besting you in this race in front of our dormitory! So if you will kindly follow me..." Iida smirked as his walked out the door of the gym.
Shoto and Izuku looked at each other with amazement, was that really Iida? Who knew he could be so...so...jokey! The two boys quickly jogged towards the exit, Izuku calling out to their friend, "Hold up Iida! We'll see who's really the fastest!"
As the three walked out in front of Heights Alliance, they found a good portion of the class discussing the upcoming competition.
"I'm telling you Sero! Tenya's main thing is SPEED! Of course he's gonna win!"
"Kaminari, what are you on?! Have you not seen Midoriya run? He's like a lightning bolt!"
"You both are crazy!" Mina budded in between the two rowdy teens, "obviously Iida is gonna win because he has his Recipro Burst! Duh!"
Iida walked in the middle of the discussion, "Now, now, instead of talking about it, why don't Midoriya and myself simply start the race right now?"
With that the two runners positioned themselves at the starting spot. The front door of Heights Alliance. The race track would be around the entire U.A. School and back to where they started. Iida fired up his Recipro's and Izuku kicked up his One for All to 10% - he would probably need even more.
"You guys ready?" Jirou walked in front of the two boys itching to get going.
After they both nodded - Jirou began the countdown.
"3...2...1...GO!"
They both shot off on the pathway - their shoes leaving skid marks on the tiled floor. Almost immediately Iida took a large lead. Izuku would need to kick up his One for All if he really wanted to win this.
'Let's give 15% a try'
As his percentage output cranked up, Izuku could feel the pressure on his bones increase. It was painful, but not unbearable. The gap closed almost immediately...until Iida glanced over his should and smirked.
Out of nowhere his blue haired friend shot forward with a cloud of blue smoke in his place. His eyes widened at the incredible speed, but he had no time to gawk. He pushed himself to release 20% of his power and within seconds he could see Iida once more.
This output was almost too much for him. All Might had lectured him about using this too frequently - saying it could permanently stunt his growth in his bones. But he had little choice here - he couldn't simply let Iida beat him. They were on the last stretch, only 300 more feet or so, and it was closing fast. All he needed was one last push!
Iida gritted his teeth and let out even more blue flames then before. Izuku's AFO capacity was almost at its limit, anymore and his body would fold under the pressure. It stung, but he wanted to win!
They were neck and neck, hairs ahead of each other. That is, until Iida dug deep one last time and shoveled out even more fuel to his engines. With a burst of blue smoke - the blue haired boy launched ahead of Izuku one last time. Iida had done it, he had won.
The two boys skirted to a stop next to their finish line, heavy breathing soon encapsulated their voices. The class rushed over to the two panting boys, Mina was giggling at her classmates who had lost bets to her, "Ill be taking my money now!"
With a huff, the boys handed over their money - and everyone went back to laughing and congratulating Iida. Bakugo stood in the back looking rather ticked off - and the rest of the class simply chuckled at the participants stammered calls for a rematch.
After having some water *courtesy of Yaomomo* Iida and Izuku bumped fists.
"Iida - I did not expect you to be that fast! You really surprised me!"
The blue haired boy smiled, "Well Midoriya, you are not the only one training to be a future hero. But speaking of training - you are INSANELY fast! It's incredible how much you can crank up your power output!"
Izuku blushed at the small compliment, "Aah, well it kinda hurts when I push it like that - actually it really hurts - but I'm getting used to it which is a good thing!"
"Don't push yourself to the breaking point Midoriya," Iida placed a hand on his shoulder, "We can work together on getting stronger - but try not to break yourself along the way as much."
The green goofball smiled widely, "Of course Iida. I'm expecting a rematch!"
Before he could take him up on his offer, a few of the boys from the class picked Iida up and started chanting his name. As Iida was pulled away by the rest of the class, Izuku couldn't help but smile. He almost had forgotten how much the rest of his classmates were progressing. He suddenly felt the urge to train even harder then before.
Feeling a rather aggressive tap on his shoulder, Izuku turned around instantly, only to find Bakugou - looking as pissed off as usual.
"Deku, we gotta go," the blonde showed him a text from All Might, "he needs to talk with us."
Bakugo then mouthed the words, about One for All, which completely altered Izuku's mood. It must be urgent for All Might to not find them himself. And it's been a while since he's really had a "One for All" Talk.
With a firm nod, the two took off towards the school. A small feeling of anxiety lingered around them, more towards Izuku then Bakugo.
He should have brought his phone today - he would've gotten that text as well. No use worrying about it now, but still. What could this meeting be about? If Bakugo got it, that means Uraraka most likely received it.
He glanced over to the blonde, he looked...agitated. Not unusual, but it seemed more genuine today.
"Hey, did he say anything else about this meeting?"
Bakugo looked towards him, "What do you mean?"
"Like...do you know if this is really serious? Or anything about what's going on?"
He glanced forward, seemingly scanning his memory for an answer to Izuku's question, "I don't know. Earlier I got really pissed off cuz all the teachers were having an argument that was loud as hell - I'm thinking it has something to do with that."
"Oh," Izuku thought back over the day as well, "It seems like ever since the festival they have been on a tighter lock-down. Not to mention before the festival Uraraka was attacked in the Hospital like that."
"Ya. I've been thinking..." Bakugo looked towards the main school building with discontent, "You think one of us could be a traitor?"
Izuku's eyes widened, "T-Traitor?"
A long sigh escaped the emotionally explosive boy, "That argument I was talking about. It sounded like they were saying something along the lines of a traitor being in U.A."
Staying silent, Izuku played with the idea of one of his friends being a traitor. He hated it. These were the people he lived with, they were all his best friends and to even fathom that one could betray the rest. It didn't sit well with him.
Bakugo seemed to notice his friends disdain, "I don't like it, but its getting to the point where it makes sense. Think about it - the USJ, how did they know our class was there? Or the summer training camp, how is it possible that they knew the location of that place? All of the teachers said that not even the rest of U.A. knew the location. It makes it hard for one of us to have let the enemy know our location but I don't see another option."
Looking down, Izuku contemplated on the idea, "I...I don't want to - but I'd believe it."
After hearing Bakugo's reasoning, he almost did believe it.
"Ya..."
As the two neared the entrance to the school - a welcomed voice rang from behind them, "Guys! Wait up!"
Turning around, they saw none other then Ochako Uraraka running full force towards them. Bakugo growled below his breath, while Izuku smiled wholeheartedly. The two were as close as ever since the festival, all of their previous awkwardness being lost.
Raising a hand, Izuku called out to their friend. "Uraraka! Hey!"
Stopping in front of them, Uraraka took a moment to catch her breath, "Sorry, I got the text and rushed over here as soon as I could."
"We gotta go - he's expecting us."
With that Bakugo turned around and left the two standing there.
Uraraka elbowed Izuku as they followed him, "He doesn't seem to be in a good mood today, huh?"
"I wouldn't hold it against him," he shot a concerned look to the boy, "There's a lot happening right now."
While the three walked through U.A. towards All Mights office - All Might himself paced around his desk. He was worried - extremely worried.
He never felt such a growing sense of guilt before - what he was about to tell them of...accuse them of...
"I'm glad you three got here so soon, please have a seat."
Izuku, Bakugo, and Uraraka all sat down in front of All Might's long brown desk. He was being extremely serious, not something that was necessarily common with All Might.
The thin man eyed the students, a look of guilt flashing across his eyes, "Actually, I am sorry young Uraraka, Bakugo - I am going to need to speak to Midoriya alone first."
Uraraka and Bakugo immediately shot their eyes open with confusion, but All Might quickly raises his hand.
"It's alright, just some master student talk - nothing important."
Nodding, Uraraka got up and moved to leave the office for the time being. Bakugo growled for a few extra seconds before shooting up and following the girl.
As the door shut, Toshinori sighed and brought a hand to his head, "Young Midoriya..."
"Sir," Izuku gulped as he suddenly felt the tension in the room rise, "What you have to talk to only me about is actually important...right?"
Nodding, the blonde sat down in his desk and eyed the confused teenager, "Listen. This isn't going to be easy to hear. Not at all."
Tightening his fist, the boy leaned forward in his chair, "It's ok, I can take it."
The former number one hero chuckled at Izuku's stark nature, "I am well aware, just thought I'd warn you a bit. There is a reason I asked the other two to step out."
Izuku opted to stay silent.
"Everyone is..." Toshinori rubbed the bridge between his eyes before meeting Izuku's gaze, "Everyone in Class 1-A is a prime suspect for being a traitor to the school."
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What?