Chapter 18: Exam Prep
"...so, the blade snapped against your bare skin?" Thor asked, grinning like a madman.
Midoriya nodded, exhausted from a week of doing paperwork and other trivial nonsense for Endeavor, followed by daily visits to Iida with Todoroki. Unfortunately, Iida had irreparable nerve damage in his left hand, though it was still somewhat functional. He was lucky, if anything, that it was his non-dominant hand.
Still, with everything that was going on, it wasn't until Saturday evening that Izuku was able to sit down with Thor and his mother for dinner. Not a moment too soon either, because Inko was incredibly curious about the details of his run in with the Hero Killer.
"Right." Midoriya nodded tiredly, but helping himself to some more rice. "Twice. And Stain freaked out."
"H-he's not the only one," Inko stuttered, on the verge of tears. Her baby had been seconds away from getting stabbed! By a murderer!
"This is truly good news, though!" Thor bellowed, reassuringly. "Your transformation into an Asgardian is going well. Your strength and durability can only grow in time. Soon, I'll be able to shoot a cannon directly into your chest with no ill effects."
Inko made a noise akin to something a Muppet might make.
"I-I won't though," Thor added. He turned and thumped Deku on the shoulder lightly. "For someone who defeated a villain called, 'the Hero Killer,' you don't look so thrilled."
"Just what happened with Iida's hand," Midoriya sighed, picking at his rice. "If I had been quicker, I might have been able to prevent it. I mean... it sucks about not being able to tell anyone, but I just wish I had been there sooner."
"Well, you can't stop someone from charging foolhardishly into danger. My parents learned that the hard way about me," Thor said. "Had you not been there, he'd be much worse for wear." His jovial attitude turned into a slight scowl. "I'm more miffed about this whole business with Ending Vore."
"Endeavor," Midoriya corrected. That misnomer seemed much more...gross than Kachow.
"Right." Thor frowned. "Even after the Sakovia Accords passed, some of the greatest of Midgards Hero's remained vigilantes. Captain America included. His unabashed disregard for your comrade and glory-hogging shall not go unpunished, I assure you."
Midoriya began to sweat, nervously. "Please don't go picking a fight with the Number Two Hero. It wouldn't look good for my prospects after graduation."
"Hmm," Thor huffed. "I suppose. You're lucky I'm already on thin ice."
Both Midoriya dropped their chopsticks surprised. "Thor, did something happen?" Inko asked, worriedly.
"Er, said too much," Thor replied, quickly. "Never you mind. Young Midoriya, you need to focus on finals soon, right? Better hit the books," he laughed nervously.
He didn't want Inko to know he provoked a fight with a teenager; she probably wouldn't be too keen on it.
--
Thor had been right though, they weren't back in class for more than five minutes before Aizawa told them that they would be shifting focus right onto the end of semester exams.
What Midoriya had not expected was that the exam would be in two portions: a written one covering both Heroics and Standard Academics (bound to include all the Shakespeare Present Mic could cram in there), and a, "Practical Portion."
"But sir, what will the practical portion entail?" Iida asked, animatedly. He seemed back to his old self, making all sorts of motions as he asked. "We can't properly prepare ourselves without some sort of idea!"
Aizawa blinked, took a drink of coffee, set his mug down, cleared his throat, and answered. "That's the point. But if you don't pass, you won't be able to to the Quirk Training Summer Camp we have planned for classes 1-A and B."
The class erupted; suddenly, studying had become the top priority for everyone. By the end of the day, Yaoyorozu had, "adopted," about seven classmates to help study.
--
At lunch and after classes, rumors were flying around the class about what the final exams could be. Some students were convinced they'd have to go one on one with Zero Pointer Robots. Others were convinced they'd have to save robots from burning buildings or disaster scenarios.
"I'm telling you, they're going to separate us into squads of three, and give us either a Heaven or an Earth scroll," Sero insisted to Kirishima after school. "And then we'll have to get the other scroll from an opposing team, and make it to the center of the Forest of Death within three days."
"What are you even TALKING about?" Kaminari asked, bewildered.
"BELIEVE IT!" Was Sero's response.
A few feet away, Midoriya and Asui laughed as they overheard this. "I think Sero is an otaku, kero." Asui observed.
"Probably," Midoriya replied, "what do you think it will be, Asui?"
She tapped her finger to her chin, "It's hard to guess. I don't think it will be robots though, kero."
"Yeah?"
"Mhmm," she nodded, "too predictable. And we just had the whole Sports Festival about fighting. I think they're going to focus on other parts about being a Hero too. Probably the ability to rescue or thinking on your feet or something."
Midoriya frowned and looked down at Mjolnir. "You know, growing up, I really idolized All Might."
"I think everyone did," Asui teased him, causing him to laugh and lighten up a bit.
"Well yeah, okay duh," he admitted, "but not just because he was so cool. He just... always saved everyone, I guess. I just remember that video of him carrying ten people of a bus to safety. It was so cool. I just hope I can save people like that too. A lot of my Quirk seems more geared towards causing destruction."
She flicked him on the side of the arm, "Stop that, kero."
"Ow," he said, though more from surprise than hurt - if blades couldn't do it, neither would that. "What?"
"You got both of us out of trouble at the USJ. You won the Sports Festival, kero." She ticked off. "You got to intern with the Second Highest Ranked Pro Hero. You really shouldn't doubt yourself."
He blushed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Y-yeah. I guess you're right. I'm sorry."
"Good," Tsuyu ribbited playfully. "You're like the coolest guy in the class."
"Is that what everyone is saying?"
It was her turn to go red at the question. "Well, kero, no. I'm just... saying... that."
The rest of the walk home was pretty quiet, but Izuku couldn't wipe the stupid grin off his face.
--
The next few weeks were quiet as the Hero Courses began to study for their final exams. Even school clubs were cut short so that the students could focus on studying. Even those with the lowest scores in the class were diligently researching under the tutelage of their vice president, in an effort to make it to the Summer Training Camp at the end of the term.
Looming even more on their minds was the practical portion. It was announced by Aizawa the week before the test that they would only find out what they were faced with the day of the exam. After the written portion, at that as well.
The flow of time seemed to be on overdrive as exam day approached, only to slow to a screeching halt once the exam was in front of everyone.
Midoriya felt pretty confident in his form as he turned it in at the front desk, the third one finished in his class. Aizawa's eyes flicked up to him. "Go get into your Hero Costume, Stormbreaker. Meet outside Ground Beta."
Izuku just gave a small nod and hoped it wasn't obvious how nervous he was. He walked out of the room and went towards the locker room. As he walked in, Iida had just finished putting on his own costume.
"Hey Iida, you holding up okay?" Izuku asked, jovially.
Iida gave a small smirk, and flexed his left hand. "A little better every day. But now's the time to focus! We have finals!"
"Right," Deku laughed. Back to his usual self, thankfully.
As Iida left, Midoriya got changed himself. He glanced down at his own arm, looking at the spot where Stain's blade had snapped against his skin. He couldn't help but wonder what would have happened to him if his Asgardian transformation hadn't protected him to that point.
As he pulled his helmet onto his mess of hair and went to leave, the door swung open to reveal Bakugou had finished his exam as well, Todoroki behind him. Politely, Midoriya stepped backwards to let the blonde through. "Sorry, Kacchan." Internally, he winced at himself; he didn't need to apologize for just being in the doorway.
Bakugou said nothing, and walked past Izuku. Todoroki followed, and gave his friend a quizzical look. Midoriya just shrugged in response.
When he made his way outside, he saw Yaoyorozu and Iida had been joined by a few more girls of class 1-A, and slowly the rest of the class began to filter out. Ashido looked defeated, though Sero looked unusually confident.
Not long after Aizawa left the school.
And Midnight.
And Cementoss.
And the Principal.
And slowly, all of the Pro Hero Teacher's were standing across from class 1-A until All Might walked out as well.
"Congratulation on finishing the written portion of your first term!" All Might bellowed in his usual, friendly voice.
"Don't congratulate them, they might not have passed it," Aizawa sighed.
All Might elected to ignore this. "But now comes THE REAL CHALLENGE!"
The atmosphere among the class turned jittery, though no one spoke.
"You will be placed strategically in teams of two," the Principal said, stepping forward. "And you will be placed in a timed fight with...one of us."
The class erupted into surprise and questions, but Midoriya stared between the teachers. As Nezu explained the timed combat, and that they needed to either restrain the teacher or escape the combat zone, Midoriya could only stare from teacher to teacher and strategize.
Immediately, every student began muttering that they hoped they wouldn't get put against All Might.
"So, the teams will be as follows," The Principal advised, pulling out a list from his pocket.
"A team of Uraraka and Aoyama against Thirteen.
A team of Kaminari and Ashido against myself.
A team of Kirishima and Sato against Cementoss.
A team of Koda and Jiro against Present Mic.
A team of Asui and Tokoyami against Ectoplasm.
A team of Todoroki and Yaoyorozu against Eraserhead.
A team of Sero and Mineta against Midnight.
A team of Hagakure and Shoji against Snipe.
A team of Iida and Ojiro against Power Loader."
Midoriya's heart dropped. This was literally the worst combination they could have left for me.
"Which leaves Midoriya and Bakugou against All Might." The principal concluded. He turned to Thirteen. "Take your challengers to your grounds, and I shall escort the others to the viewing platform."
Next to him, Asui gave him a concerned, if sympathetic. look. Deku feigned a confident grin, but as he was led to the viewing platform with the others, he approached the blonde cautiously.
"Hey, Kacchan," he said, quietly.
Bakugou said nothing.
"Kacchan, listen." Midoriya said, a little louder. "We need to talk strategy."
"No." Bakugou replied, abruptly.
Midoriya paused, and Katsuki walked further away. "...no?"
"I'm not working with you." Bakugou replied bluntly.
As his former friend picked up the pace, Izuku fell back with his friends.
"Kero, that's pretty rough." Asui said, giving his shoulder a squeeze.
"All Might will be nearly impossible to take down without a good strategy," Todoroki frowned, folding his arms. "Sorry, Midoriya."
Once again, Midoriya tried his best to feign a confident grin. But the whole time, he could only wonder...
How the hell do I get past this?