Byakuren furiously wiped off the water from his face with his hand. Not that it mattered. His hood was doing little to block all the rain from pouring on his face. The spiky white haired student found himself in the Squall Zone. It was pouring heavily in his area but thankfully he was at an advantage. The strong winds around him were definitely a boon to his abilities. He could not just gain control of the window around him but he does have the potential to use those winds to his advantage if he added his own wind to the mix. However, the stronger the winds the harder it became to control them.

Byakuren quickly ran towards an empty alley way and hid there.

He wasn't sure if he was the only one of his classmates that was warped to this particular zone. The moment he set foot on the wet ground, he instantly found himself surrounded by a bunch of villains who were just waiting for him. He wasted no time in releasing a powerful tornado to push them away from him so that he could flee and think. Now that he thought about it, that move was probably not the best option. He acted rashly, he could admit that.

He was certain that he attracted the attention of the remaining villains in the area based on the loud sounds he was hearing. Every few seconds he would hear a sound that was similar to something that was slammed against the building walls.

He carefully moved to the edge of the wall and listened for the sound. He heard it, and it was closer this time.

Byakuren gritted his teeth and leaped out of the alley way with tornadoes shaping around his fists. He immediately stopped his attack when he recognized the faces in front of him. It was his two classmates. The one with the bird shaped head and the one whose head was similar to a rock.

He widened his eyes.

"Kyouran—!" Tokoyami was cut off.

"DUCK!" Byakuren yelled before swinging his hands upwards. His two classmates were quick to heed his warning and they dodged the incoming tornado by dropping down on the floor. Both of them had their eyes wide open in shock as they felt his Quirk pass above their heads. It almost felt like a blade flew past them.

The villains, that were running up behind them, were swept away by Byakuren's growing tornado.

Byakuren narrowed his eyes and closed his fists in front of him in a rapid manner. The tornado disappeared and the villains were thrown ruthlessly inside the buildings effectively knocking them out.

Tokoyami tilted his head back to look at the outcome. A couple of debris was falling down from the height but it wasn't anything too serious. He looked at Byakuren and saw him drop his hands on his knees.

"That's already two big tornadoes... I think I overdid with that last one." Byakuren said while panting. Every Quirk has a weakness due to their tie to biology. Byakuren's Quirk allows him to create tornadoes whenever he is not in a vacuum. But it gets harder for him to control larger tornadoes since there is an issue of oxygen. Therefore, it takes a little time for him to take in oxygen normally.

"Kyouran, there's no need to push yourself." Tokoyami advised when he saw the state he was in before standing up with Koda.

Byakuren panted and looked up to give him a confused look, "What, but there's like a bunch of them? I have to be careful."

Tokoyami nodded, "Of course, but there's no need to go overboard." He turned around to look up at the spot where the villains got shoved into. "These villains are not that strong."

Koda nodded in agreement.

It wouldn't be surprising to go all out on people who where threatening their lives but they also had to consider what kind of skill these villains had before acting recklessly when not necessary.

Byakuren stood up straight and regained his normal oxygen intake. He listened as his classmate explained to him how it was rather easy to beat them if they made sure not to get caught in their attacks. They just needed to work together to get rid of them. He relinquished the position of brains in their little operation to Tokoyami. Byakuren, the tactical student, was not exactly in the state of mind to think up of some brilliant strategies. The recent event had shaken him up and he was concerned about Mizuha. Despite their years together, he had no idea what was going on through her head when she ran up to the mist-looking villain.

She was already dressed in black, it was kind of terrifying to see her blend and fade away into a darkness that was out of his reach.

The think that gave him peace of mind was the memory of seeing her close to Bakugo and Kirishima. From what he'd seen so far, Bakugo most likely wasn't going to hesitate against the villains and he was pretty sure Kirishima would jump in to help. If she were to stick with the, then she'd have a higher chance of survival and in defeating the villains who occupied her area.

He just didn't understand why she would react so impulsively like that.

... Why did she run to them?

She could have chosen to use her Quirk to defend them, but she didn't.

Four years ago, she inwardly swore to herself that she wouldn't get close to anyone. She didn't want to feel responsible for anymore bad decisions. It was too scary for her. She didn't want to repeat her mistake. Detached from others and only follow orders, that was the most safest way to do things. It frees people from being held accountable.

Instinct or personal concern?

Was it feasible to believe that she acted out of personal concern?

Either way, it seemed like a good place to start. Byakuren couldn't sit still after seeing that. Even if it was just a little, he needed to make the most of it; he had to pry her shell open before she completely retreated again.

Mizuha ran to catch up with Kirishima. They were both following their noisy classmate who was already attacking the first villains he laid his eyes on. They both joined him and took out the bad guys around them.

"DIE!" Bakugo screamed when he blew away five villains.

Kirishima ducked and slammed his hardened fist under a guy's chin. At the same time, another one was coming from behind. A villain yelled as they swung down their sword behind him. The red head was quick to react and simply broke the blade in half with his hand. He then slammed his free hand down on them to knock them out.

Mizuha decided to stay in the hallway to prevent any other villains from joining their allies. She was clearing out the area left and right while almost and probably going over her limit. She was cold.

They've been coming in like cockroaches.

She spotted another group swarming towards her from the other end of the hallway.

If I can just shoot some ice towards them and slam them against the end of the corridor...

She narrowed her onyx eyes and stood her ground. Mizuha saw a bunch of them charging towards her as she remained still. Immediately she forced some ice, that started from her feet, to shoot forward.

The villains were all stuck together at the end of the hall way with her ice encasing everything beneath their chin. She let out a breath that she didn't know she was holding back. Unlike the boys she was with, she made sure to keep her distance when it came to knocking them out with her Quirk. She wasn't going to risk getting hit by one of them. These were real deal after all! What if someone had a blade coated in poison? That would be the worst case scenario right there if someone were to get cut.

This situation required them to use their Quirks the best way they can to protect themselves.

"In the hero course, you're going to have to use your Quirk completely and not just part of it. Do you understand?"

Mizuha shifted her eyes to the side when Aizawa's voice echoed in her mind. She was linking his words with his moment of crisis where their immature Quirk were only defense against these villains; they helped even the odds.

"You can't be a hero with just one trick." Mr. Aizawa replied without looking back.

Ice couldn't be her only trick. The more tricks up their sleeve the better.

Her Quirk was a form of Hydrokinesis. Water States. By altering the temperature of her water; she was able to manipulate it under its tree possible forms: gas, liquid and solid.

Mizuha was beginning to think that perhaps it was time that she learn to use her Quirk properly again. But how? Whenever she was free after school, she tried her best to change a simple sphere of ice into water or mist, but was only met with disappointing results.

"I'm telling you to move forward and grow because you seem to be stuck."

With a soft sigh, Mizuha turned around her heel and walk to where Kirishima and Bakugo were. She could hear Bakugo's yelling and explosives echoing in the corridor. For a while now, the girl had associated his sounds to reassurance. Having a strong and aggressive classmate sure did help. His violent side towards his classmates was nothing compared to the aggressiveness and violence he showed the villains.

When she returned to her classmates, she was just in time to witness Kirishima defeating the last villain in the room. She came face to face with him as the villain dropped down in front of her. Alarmed by the sound of her boots, the red head whipped around in alert with the intention to attack only to realized who was standing there.

"Hyoumei! Are you alright?" He asked when he reverted his hand back to normal.

Mizuha nodded her head and walked into the room, "Yeah. I defeated the rest of them."

The ones on this floor at least, who knows many are downstairs just waiting for us.

"All right. Let's hurry up and go save the others! If we're here, then everyone else should be inside USJ, too." Kirishima turned around to face both Bakugo and Mizuha. He then clenched his fist, "I'm worried about the guys who don't have ways to attack!"

... Uraraka, Koda, these two are the first people that pop into my head. I haven't really seen any offensive abilities from them yet.

Mizuha titled her eyes up as she tried recalling more of her classmates' Quirks that might not help in a outnumbered fight. One face did appear in her mind which made her cringe in disgust. The short kid who was so determined to know at what 'base' she and Byakuren were at. Mineta. She was wondering what kind of Quirk this shrimp was hiding in that small body of his.

Kirishima's words pulled her away from her thoughts, "Besides, because we ran off ahead, we slowed Thirteen down. None of this would of happened if we'd let Thirteen suck up that fog." then he suddenly looked at Mizuha, "Plus Hyoumei also got warped away when she tried to pull us back because we acted rashly!"

Mizuha's eyes widened a little bit. She was honestly a little touched at how he felt guilty.

Normally, she would have said a sarcastic remark despite the situation they were in. But she stopped herself when she remembered that they weren't Byakuren. She couldn't act normally.

He then looked at Bakugo, "As men, we have to take responsibility for what we did!"

The ash blond haired student looked away with a huff, "If that's what you want, then go on alone. I'm gonna kill that warp gate."

Even Mizuha had to react to that, "Hah?" She let out with a look of disbelief.

Kirishima was supporting the same look on his face, "What? You're gonna act childish at a time like this? Besides, normal attacks don't work on him..."

Bakugo gritted his teeth in annoyance, "Shut up!" He turned and yelled in the red head's face. "That gate bastard is the enemy's way in and out. I'm gonna cut off their gateway route for when the time comes. And it's not like I don't have a way to beat him!"

Mizuha suddenly saw a knife emerged from behind Bakugo and it was heading straight at him.

"Bakugo!" She warned as she stomped on the floor to emit ice.

She didn't have to do anything.

Her classmate was already faster than her because he merely stretched out an open palm and grabbed onto whatever was directing the knife behind him. He slammed it down on the floor with his Quirk.

Mizuha froze, like her Quirk, and merely watched as whatever what Bakugo was holding was revealed. It was villain with a mutant type Quirk.

"A chameleon...?" She mumbled while staring at the villain.

Bakugo stared at them as he held up its head for his classmates to see, "If all they're sending us is these idiots... we should be fine."

Mizuha made a small 'o' and nodded her head, "Yeah... he's right."

Kirishima looked astonished, "Anyway, were you always this calm and rational? I thought you were more like..." He trailed off. Mizuha already had a good idea of what he was talking about. They were both picturing the usual Bakugo who screamed 'DIE'.

Bakugo instantly snapped and returned to his usual character, "I'm always calm and rational, you spiky-haired punk!"

"Ah! There it is!"

Mizuha rolled her eyes, contradiction right there.

Bakugo scoffed and merely tossed aside the villain like a ragdoll, "Then go if you want to!"

Kirishima was quick to tell him to wait, "Believing in our friends! That's real manly, Bakugo! I'll follow you!"

Bakugo didn't say anything as he stared at Kirishima. Then, his red hues were directed at Mizuha as if he was waiting for her answer.

She wanted to say that she wanted to go and look for Byakuren since he might help turn the tide of the situation with his tactical mind. But she hesitated when she remembered what Bakugo said.

"If that's what you want, then go on alone. I'm gonna kill that warp gate."

Earlier, that warp gate-like villain was able to bring in all these villains. One of them looks more dangerous than the others. I could feel it. The man with light blue hair that had a hand attached to his face. When I looked at him, I felt a sort of chill like as if something was not right with that one. If my hunch if correct and he is dangerous... then what if that warp gate guy brings him in front of Bakugo and Kirishima once they get to him?

Mizuha narrowed her eyes and gritted her teeth in frustration.

Kirishima looked concerned, "Um... Hyoumei?"

Bakugo arched up an eyebrow.

But what if Byakuren needs help and I decided to not go find him after all? What if he gets hurt? These are real villains so we shouldn't underestimate them... what if... Like that night...

Her mouth fell open a little as her eyes darted around a bit as if to search for an answer.

Bakugo kept his eyes fixed on Mizuha. She looked like she was having an internal struggle with herself by the way her face looked conflicted. He was immediately reminded of what happened to her during the false alarm during lunch break. He remembered the way she looked so lost. He could remember the feeling of her hand gripping his arm.

Most importantly, he remembered how she repeated one name during her little scene. Byakuren.

That was probably what was getting her agitated right now.

She was worrying about him again. A panic attack was the last thing this situation needed.

He clicked his tongue, "HEY! IDIOT!" He boomed.

Mizuha jumped in surprise and looked at him with widened eyes.

"Calm the hell down! Like I said, they should have no problem with these guys." He pointed at the villain on the floor that was next to her. Mizuha slowly looked down at where he pointed, "If your boyfriend can't handle trash like this, then he must be really weak!" Bakugo huffed in annoyance. He turned around and walked out of the room without even waiting for either of his classmates.

Kirishima, who was surprised, couldn't understand what was going on but when he glanced at Mizuha, she looked a little calmer. Her face looked a little more relaxed compared to a few seconds ago. The red head cautiously took a few steps towards her.

He's not weak. He's plays smart... he's strong...

Kirishima slowly placed a hand on her shoulder, "Hyoumei?"

She was quick to respond by turning her head at him. Indeed, she looked more collected than earlier.

He smiled reassuringly before releasing her shoulder, "I'm sure Kyouran will be fine. I could tell he's strong. Have faith, alright?"

...

"My name Kirishima Eijiro. What's your name?"

She hesitated, "Mizuha. Hyoumei Mizuha."

...

He gave her a toothy grin, "Thanks Hyoumei! You know, you're pretty cool!"

...

Kirishima picked up his bag that he set next to his feet, "Hey, let's walk to class together! You could use some company!" He said with a grin.

...

Mizuha breathed out before nodding, "Right. Sorry... yeah, I'll come with you guys."

Kirishima grinned and patted her shoulder before running off to catch up with Bakugo. Mizuha didn't waste a second to follow after the two boys. They could hear Bakugo yelling once more along with his Quirk firing off around the corner.

She couldn't believe what she was doing. Now she understood why she jumped after Bakugo and Kirishima when the mist villain surrounded her class. Now she understood why. The answer was so simple yet so difficult to accept.

She swore to herself she wouldn't make friends to prevent situations such as earlier. And she didn't. But still...

Kirishima is a nice guy. I could tell he has a kind heart. Bakugo may not be the easiest person to deal with but he is also a good person, it's just very difficult to see it. These two don't deserve to get hurt by any kind of villain. I don't want them to get hurt.

This was exactly the kind of thing that caused her regret in the first place.

Mizuha clenched her fists tightly while running, "You can't think straight and that costs everything." She muttered to herself.

The platinum haired student assisted in the fight against the remaining villains with Bakugo and Kirishima.

Last time. This is the last time. I won't... I won't make the same mistake.