A/N: We're back! Happy Friday, everyone! Enjoy the new chapter.
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Class 1-A stood at UA's Central Plaza, fully in their hero costumes with Aizawa and the other first-year teachers standing in front of them.
The three days of written exams had been completed, Hitomi feeling more confident on her test scores thanks to the extra studying she'd done with Bakugou and Kirishima.
Jirou pointed out the large amount of teachers, wondering why so many were present if the practical consisted of fighting robots again.
"I expect that you all have gathered information ahead of time and have some idea of what you'll be doing," Aizawa said.
Kaminari proudly announced the class would be fighting the faux villains from entrance exam, while Mina cheered for summer training camp activities.
"Too bad!" a voice said, seemingly coming from their homeroom teacher.
The tired man's scarf rustled, before the UA principal Nezu popped out. "For various reasons, the exam will be different starting this time!"
Kaminari and Mina visibly froze, fearing what was coming next.
"From now on," the mouse said as he climbed down from Aizawa, "we want to focus on person-to-person combat and hero work, and stress teaching that is closer to actual fighting.
So that means…
We'll have you form teams of two to fight against one teacher!"
The entire class collectively gasped.
"In addition, the pairs and who each pair will be up against have already been decided," Aizawa added. "They were determined at my discretion based on various factors, including fighting style, grades, and interpersonal relationships, so here they are-"
Hitomi raised her hand abruptly, cutting in. "I'm sorry for interrupting, Sensei, but there's an uneven amount of people in the class because of me…"
"I've already taken care of that," her teacher replied. "You'll be on a team of three with Midoriya and Bakugou."
The two boys turned to each other in surprise before Aizawa continued. "Since three-on-one is a bigger disadvantage compared to two-on-one, your opponent will be…"
A loud laugh was heard, a silhouette appearing in the sky before it suddenly landed in front of the three students.
"I will do it," said All Might.
"All Might?!" Midoriya and Bakugou said, while Hitomi was stunned into silence.
"Work together to beat me, you three!" the No. 1 Hero exclaimed.
A few days ago…
The UA staff had been discussing a new practical final exam, and Aizawa had just finished proposing the team of Todoroki and Yaoyorozu.
"Next up," Aizawa said as he shifted through his class files, pulling out three papers, "for Midoriya, Bakugou, and Kanetsukabe, I'm leaving them to you, All Might."
All Might made a sound of curiosity.
"In the case of the two boys, I didn't pair them up based on abilities or grades." Aizawa looked up from his papers. "Just on how badly they get along. You like Midoriya, right?"
All Might was silent for a moment before he spoke up. "And for Young Kanetsukabe?"
Aizawa looked back at his papers, picking up Hitomi's class file. "She's friends with Midoriya, and it seems Bakugou's somewhat recognized her abilities from both the sports festival and from studying for the written exam. To my knowledge, she's friends with him as well. Kanetsukabe can hopefully act as a buffer between the two of them.
However, that's not the main reason I put her here. Even with the knowledge she's gained from her internship, she relies way too much on the formidability of her quirk.
She seems to firmly believe her force fields are unbreakable, and I'm afraid she'll one day receive a rude awakening where the consequences are severe.
I want you to test her belief with your power.
The results will affect her quirk training in the future.
Please instruct them well."
The present…
Aizawa had just finished announcing the teams and match sets before Nezu explained the details of the exam.
"The time limit for the exam is thirty minutes!" He pulled out a pair of handcuffs, continuing. "Your objective is to either put these handcuffs on the teacher, or to have one of you escape from the stage."
The teachers all continued to explain the hypotheticals the students would learn from the exam, before All Might introduced one more element of the practical.
"Ultra-compressed weights! We'll put on about half of our own body weight," he said as the teachers all clamped wrist and ankle weights on themselves. "It's to give you a handicap. It's old-fashioned, but it makes it hard to move and eats up stamina!"
That'll make it easier if the students choose to fight…
…
The students were dismissed, the teachers giving the teams time to plan and discuss strategies before the first set.
Midoriya turned to Bakugou, about to speak before the blonde walked away.
"Bakugou, where are you going?!" Hitomi asked. "We need to figure out a plan for All Might…"
The boy continued to walk away, ignoring her.
"Sorry, Kanetsukabe-san…" Midoriya said. "It's because of me he doesn't want to talk…"
Hitomi sighed, staring at their teammate before she turned back to her friend. "That's okay. We can watch the other matches since we're going last and try to come up with something on our own…"
…
Hitomi and Midoriya stood in the monitor room by Recovery Girl, Uraraka joining them to watch the fights for reference.
Kirishima's team was in the first match, up against Cementoss.
The hero created cement walls, keeping Kirishima and Sato at a distance.
The boys activated their quirks, charging headfirst for the hero and trying to break through the many cement walls created.
It continued for several minutes before Hitomi noticed the two boys started slowing down.
They were suddenly encased in a cement dome, a loud crash sounding and a horn blaring.
"Kirishima!" Hitomi cried out.
"Team Sato and Kirishima retires due to both members losing consciousness."
"Oh no… and so quickly too…"
This exam is going to be harder than I thought…
And we're up against...
Uraraka had just returned from her match, entering the monitor room to join Hitomi, Midoriya, Tsuyu, Iida, and Yaoyorozu.
"Uraraka-kun, congratulations on passing!" Iida said.
"Thanks! You too, Iida-kun!" the brunette replied.
"Ochako-chan," Tsuyu said, placing a finger on her chin, "when you were fighting against Thirteen, what were you talking about with Aoyama?"
"Huh? That was…"
She paused for a moment, before her face suddenly bloomed a bright red.
"...n-nothing! That's not how it is!" She was waving her arms around rapidly in fierce denial, but Hitomi didn't miss the way she seemed to be staring directly at Midoriya.
Mineta and Sero were in the middle of their exam when Hitomi tugged Midoriya's sleeve.
"We should head to the battle stage about now."
Midoriya took one last glance at the monitors before nodding, the two silently exiting the room as the others watched the current fight.
…
Hitomi and Midoriya sprinted towards the entrance gate, slowing down when they saw Bakugou already waiting right in front of it.
Hearing their footsteps, Bakugou glanced at the two of them, his gaze stopping on Midoriya. He glared at the boy before turning back around, a horn sounding.
"Team Midoriya, Bakugou, and Kanetsukabe, practical exam.
Ready, go!"
A/N: A mostly uneventful chapter this time around, just shoving in an IzuOcha moment because I can. I hope you all will enjoy the kids' fight with All Might!