The next few days, we were trapped in a seemingly never-ending agony.

At 7am every morning, we were herded to the training grounds, given our instructions, and forced to undergo boot camp - rigorous quirk training designed to shred our muscle fibers, tear our quirks apart, and turn us into champions.

I was assigned vigorous marathon running, hard core and long distance, to improve on my leg strength and my stamina. For eight hours a day, every day, I ran without fail, only taking breaks when my legs would no longer support me. I tired out recipro multiple times. I wondered perhaps if the training regime Tensei had taught me would be suited for this activity, but I decided against it. I must follow what Sensei had given me for my regimen. Everyone, in fact,had to participate in some kind of hellish boot camp quirk training.

The four Pussycats, Sensei and Class B's teacher Vlad King were supervising our progress all the time. Aside from the first two Pussycats we'd met, there was also a big burly man called Tiger and a kind one called Ragdoll. Pixie Bob, the blond worried about getting married, had earth moving powers. Mandalay the brunette could project thoughts into people's minds. Rag doll could look at people and see their weaknesses and locations. And Tiger could flex his body around, with a quirk called pliabody.

At 4pm, the Pussycats led us t the mess hall. No wonderful food was prepared for us this time.

"Now, I told you yesterday, 'Today's the last day we help you out!' said Pixie Bob on the first day.

Rag doll added "If you want to eat, get off your asses and make it yourself! Starting with Curry!"

"Yes ma'am" we all barely stumbled out.

"Hahaha! Everybody's looking pretty raw!" gloated Ragdoll. "That doesn't give you an excuse to do a sloppy job though!"

"You're right!" I realized. "In the case of an emergency, feeding the hungry and providing sustenance to mind and body is an essential part of providing Aid! These pros are correct! Let's make the world's best curry!"

My classmates agreed with me, and Sensei I saw, was looking at me as if a little proud.

By day 3, we were all beginning to wear thin. I noticed, during one of my runs, Sensei reprimanding the remedial group.

"Oi, remedials! I don't see your muscles moving."

"I'm sorry," gasped Ashido. "It's just….sleep…deprivation."

"Yesterday's 'remedial lessons,'" groaned Kaminari, "were…" There was really no word.

"Told ya, didn't I? This was gonna be rough," Sensei reminded us. "Sato and Kaminari, your capacities, the amount of quirk-related power you have stored up, are directly linked to whether or not your survive any particular fight. Raising those capaciteis requires endless repetitive use of your quirks. Sero, in addition to increasing your capacity, yo also have to work on increasing the strength of your tape as well as the speed at which you can fire it. Ashido," turning on me, "extended use of your acid eventually causes your skin to reach a limit. You need to lengthen the amount of time it takes to reach your limit. And Kirishima, if you work both on your muscular strength and increasing your quirk's rigidity, you'll achieve synergistic benefits. Above all else," he glowered. "Every last one of you here were exposed during final exams. While you train I want you guys to think long and hard about why it is exactly that you're so much more tired than everyone else."

He turned once again to snap at Uraraka and Aoyama this time. "You guys are in the same boat! You didn't fail per se, but you were pretty damn close. 30 points was the cutoff and you two only squeezed by with a 35. Don't lose focus. Everyone keep at it! No matter what you do, never forget your fundamental drive. That's how you improve and progress. Why am I working this hard? Why am I putting up with being chewed out like this? To what end? Always keep the answer to that question in mind."

What I want. Why I'm here. I thought about that as I forced my legs to move again, despite the pain, through another round. I am here so that I can live up to my brother's name. I am here to become a hero great enough to compete with Midoriya and Todoroki. I am here to become the best hero I can be.

We were exhausted beyond belief as we made the stew that night, but I encouraged my classmates to do their best. "I don't see your hands moving! We have to make the world's finest stew!"

At last we were out in the woods.

Pixie bob smiled. "Our stomachs are full and the dishes are clean! Next up!"

"The Test of courage!" cheered Ashido .

"Before that," said Sensei, and we froze. "Though it pains me to say it, the remedial bunch are going to have a review lesson with me starting right now."

"NO WAY!" screamed Ashido.

But there was nothing they could do. sensei bound the five of them and dragged them off to the stupid building.

Pixie Bob explained the rules of the Test of Courage. "So there we have it. Class B will start out as our scarers. Class A will leave in pairs of two every three minutes. In the middle of the route, there'll be a card with your name written on it. Take it back with you as proof. The scarers are not allowed to directly touch anyone. But scaring tactics using any and all available quirks are permitted. The winner will be the class that makes the most creative use of their powers and makes the most people piss their pants!"

"I see!" I realized. "By pitting us against each other, we can polish our skills! And as a result, reach new horizons with our quirks! As expected of UA!"

We drew lots for our teams of two, and I was paired with Koda. Poor Midoriya was left alone.

I waited with Koda, Ojiro, Mineta, and Midoriya. Somewhere in the mountains, smoke began to rise. While we were distracted, Pixie Bob was lifted off of her feet, and dragged as if by a telekinetic quirk towards the edge of the clearing.

A stranger with long slick hair, full lips, and dark sunglasses crushed her head beneath a large weapon. Next to her was a lizard like man, wearing a mask and outfit that was not unlike…Stain's…

"Why!" I thought we took all the necessary precautions!" cried Mineta. "So why? Why are there villains here?!"

"Pleased to match, UA Students!" gloated the lizard one. "We're the League of Villains' Vanguard action squad!"

"League of villains!?" cried Ojiro. "How'd they find us?!"

"Should I go ahead and crush her pretty little skull?" gloated the one with large lips, pointing to Pixie Bob. "What do you guys think?"

"As if I'd let you!" shouted Tiger.

"Wait, wait," said the Lizard one. "Don't be hasty, Big Sis Mag! You too, Tiger. Calm down. Holding power over someone's life is everything! Or don't you believe in following Stain's tenets?"

"STAIN!" Gasped. "So these are his followers."

"Yep! We sure are," replied the lizard one. "Ah, and we know about you, four eyes! You're one of the ones who brought about Stain's end in Hosu city. Let me introduce myself. I'm Spinner. And I intend to make his dreams come true!" With that, he pulled a sword that appeared to be made of countless other swords, held together with belts and chains, out to wield.

"That's all well and good," snarled Tiger. "But that woman lying there, Pixie Bob, Lately she's started to worry about getting married. Hoping to find some happiness in this world. How dare you scar her face like that and stand there yapping away like its nothing?!"

"So heroes really do dream of finding ordinary happiness in life?" cried Spinner, preparing to swipe at the pros.

"Tiger!" Mandalay shouted. "I've broadcast the order! Rag doll will make sure the other students are safe. It's our job to hold them back here! Get going, everyone! And remember no fighting! Lead them, class Rep!" she told me.

I was reminded of 13's order, at USJ. I would not hesitate this time. "Understood! Let's go!" I told the four who remained with me.

We turned to run to the lodge, but Midoriya held back.

"Go on without me, Iida."

"What do you mean, Midoriya?!" I gasped. Surely not -

"Mandalay!" he shouted to Sensei. "I know where he is!"

Before I could reach him, before I could say anything to stop his movements, Midoriya had sped off into the trees at a slight nod from Sensei.

I wish I had tried harder to stop him in that moment, because I would soon learn to regret that day.