I don't own Boku No Hero Academia / My Hero Academia.
The creator is Kōhei Horikoshi.
Only made characters are mine.
Don't copy or claim it.
Hello everyone! This one took longer to write because since my previous story of 'Reincarnated Hero', I skipped the explanation of my OC's action in the USJ, and this time with the summonses, it may have been some complications on it. I am also working on my new story, I don't know why I'm writing 4 stories at the same time, but if I have an idea, I write it because if I end up having another writer doing the same thing I had done, it doesn't make any sense.
Anyway, I'll keep up as much as I can as I'm also rewriting some other stories of mine that aren't pleasing me at all. I keep re-reading them and keep finding some grammatical errors and/or I don't really understand what I'm writing about. So please, enjoy the slow update until I finish with most of the rewriting of my stories.
So I've been asked why Junpei (my OC) hadn't used his 100% strength in USJ (by reader: Vivek). Well, as you understand, Junpei has the mind of an adult which he's most intelligent among his classmates but doesn't want to stand out mostly because if he showed that he was most intelligent and the strongest of the young heroes, All for One and his League of Villains would come for him, even threatening to use his family as hostages despite that they are heroes. Think of that way.
(*****)
Me: Today we bring to our special moment, our OC's siblings: Keiji, Fumiko, and Himari-chan!
Keiji: (wide smile) Hello!
Fumiko: (polite bow) Nice to meet you all.
Himari: (waving her hands) Hi!
Me: So what's up today for the Takahashi family?
Keiji: Nothing much, let's see, training, eating, resting, studying, etc.
Fumiko: Don't forget about our hero jobs.
Himari: And I'm still minor! But I'll become a heroine too as my big brothers and sister!
Keiji & Fumiko: (lovely smiles) That's nice, Himari-chan!
Me: (nod x2) That's great! Anything last thing to say to our readers?
Keiji: Yup! We'll be waiting for reviews!
Fumiko: ...Likes & Favorites...
Himari: ...and NEW IDEAS!
Me: (smile) Enjoy.
CHAPTER 16
Sports Festival
After the USJ incident with the invasion of the League of Villains, and an improvised celebration among the students with our protagonists, the school had announced that it would close temporally.
(Takahashi's Household)
Junpei sighed while sitting next to Himari as she was eating candy and watching cartoons on TV.
"What happened back there, Junpei?" Fumiko asked.
Junpei sighed again leaning his head back to look at his sister. "Well, things happened..." He didn't really want to talk about it.
As soon as he arrived home from the celebration, U.A. had informed the students' parents about the situation since their kids would have returned with bandages all over them so there was no need to sugarcoat it. Junpei expected his family to understand and not worry so much, but his expectation wasn't right at all. They swooned on him worriedly as they were informed beforehand his arrival.
Anyway, U.A. had also told the students that the building would be closed until further notice. So they were given a week off from school until then.
"Principal Nedzu barely explained to us about what happened..." Yui said worriedly. "Even as heroes, we weren't given much information about what happened, so that's why we're asking."
Junpei closed his eyes and rested his head on the couch's pillow. "Well... it happened so fast. We were having classes with Thirteen-sensei and Aizawa-sensei before the lights turned off, and the villains appeared unexpectedly. The group of villains called themselves the 'League of Villains'."
"'League of Villains'? That doesn't sound very original..." Keiji deadpanned.
"Yeah, I get you." Fumiko agreed.
"Anyway!" Yui interrupted them as they looked sheepish. "Continue."
"Yeah, where was I? Ah yes, the 'League of Villains', anyway there was one guy that was all black mist and separated us as the villains ganged on us."
"Which zone were you?" Fumiko asked.
"I was at the Conflagration Zone." Junpei replied.
"The Conflagration Zone? Ain't that too easy for you, bro?" Keiji sounded more surprised than disappointed. "I mean, you hold well on that temperature thanks for your training. Had we not get into training before, onetime Japan got to the highest temperature season, you were the only one that was tanning leisurely!"
Junpei chuckled sheepishly. "Yeah, I don't know where that came..." He scratched his cheek sheepishly.
"Whatever, what happened next?" Fumiko urged.
He shrugged. "Eh, the villain separated us, tried to fight us with the majority but they were defeated easily. But since I wasn't going to let them get the advantage... I summoned the Guardians."
Yui, Keiji, and Fumiko widened their eyes. "Are you crazy? Dad told you specifically that you shouldn't use them unless necessity!" Keiji stated.
"Yeah, I did that!" Junpei frowned. "But what did you expect to do? I wasn't going to let my colleagues get finished off when I could have done something!"
Himari stayed quiet while looking around. She didn't understand much of what they were talking about, but from their tone, she knew that it was important. She may be young, but she isn't ignorant.
"So did you win, Junpei-nii?" She asked innocently.
Junpei smiled and stroked her head. "Yes, I did. Your big brother defeated the villains easily!"
She giggled childishly. "That's Junpei-nii for you!"
"Anyway..." He continued calmly. "After that, the villains had us over the edge but with the help of the Guardians, we were fine until they brought someone dangerous. I hadn't fought it so I can't say for sure if I would have been able to fight alone."
"Wait..." Fumiko asked confusedly. "You said 'Someone' and 'It', what do you mean by that?"
"I can't so sure about that..." Junpei told her, shaking his head. He then looked at Himari. "Himari-chan, could you go to your room? If you do that, I'll make some cake for you after dinner."
She wanted to argue that she was going to stay and listen but being persuaded with a cake brought her to comply easily.
"Okay. And I want a vanilla-flavored cake!" She told him before turning off the TV and marching toward her room.
After she left, Keiji looked at Junpei. "Is that too much for her to hear?"
He nodded. "Yeah... It is..." He paused trying to form something to explain to them.
He knew that the Nomu was previously a normal man until he was highly modified by the League of Villains. But he also knew that this kind of information has to be shared and to be prepared for the outcome... or else they won't know how to deal with them.
"The thing is..." He started. "That the League of Villains brought someone to fight All Might as he was also part of the Heroics classes in the USJ. That... thing... is no more a man but a highly modified juggernaut that obeys every command for a man-child, that's my theory."
"Wait, wait, wait, the leader of the League of Villains is a teenager with a mind of a kid?! That's stupid!" Fumiko commented.
"Yeah, I thought so too!" He agreed. "But if not for that, he wouldn't have told us that the creature that called it the Nomu, we wouldn't have known that the Nomu had [Shock Absorption] and [Super Regeneration] Quirks."
That made them their eyes widen in shock.
"...what?!" Fumiko gasped.
"You're saying..." Keiji blabbed incoherently. "That... Nomu had two Quirks?! Like you?!"
"No..." He shook his head. "In my case, I'm a natural two Quirks user. But that Nomu was highly modified and this means that he could have been normal before being... that thing."
"And how could you know that?" Yui asked worriedly.
"Remember the man-child leader of theirs?" He scoffed. "He bragged about it! He thought that his modified slave could have won against All Might, but as soon as his weapons lost... he started making tantrum like somebody broke a kid's toy and the kid started getting angry at it!"
"Geez, talk about a kid with power... That usually doesn't work at all..." Fumiko shook her head.
"Anyway, that's the gist of it." Junpei shrugged. "We won, All Might won, the League of Villains escaped leaving their scrapes behind and we were given the day off."
"That's some things you witnessed." Keiji said. "In our days, we weren't given that experience but we're glad that you're okay."
"Yeah, but..." Fumiko glanced warily at her little brother. "Ain't that supposed to be a secret? You know, because the U.A. wouldn't let anybody tell others until they get something concrete."
Junpei remained quiet for a moment before he responded. "Well, the reason I'm telling you apart from that you're my family, you're heroes. Most of my classmates' families are civilians and few of them have a hero in their family. It's best to know beforehand if your family are heroes and such but I can't place myself to hold this information to my family if the Principal ordered us." He stated. "I mean, you guys are strong, and knowing better, it could also bring more attention to your training."
Keiji and Fumiko hummed in agreement while Yui sighed. "Well, you've been honest to us, son, and I'll have a word with your father respect to that." The matriarch of the Takahashi's household said.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
We turned back to see that the house phone was ringing, so Yui went to it to answer it.
"Hello? This is the Takahashi's residence, with whom I am speaking?" She paused to hear the caller. "Oh, Principal Nedzu, what do you need at this hour?" A pause. "You want to speak with Junpei privately? Did he do something wrong?" Another pause. "Oh, that's great; I'll tell him right away. Where should he meet you?" Another pause. "At the U.A.? Alright, I'll tell him. Thanks for the call, Principal Nedzu. Have a nice day." She then hung up and turned to us.
"Was that the principal Nedzu?" Junpei asked, confusedly, at the reason for the rodent hybrid of the principal to ask for him.
"Yes, he had asked for you about something specific about your Quirk?"
"Is he talking about the Guardians?" Fumiko assumed smartly. "I mean, only we know about their existence and since Junpei had to use them in the USJ, maybe they're going to ask him about that."
"I don't know... ain't that risky?" Keiji pointed out. "We even know about the teleportation, which is something rare, but Junpei has different skills that he is much unique than rare."
"I don't know, I don't care, I summoned the Guardians since I didn't want to take a chance to lose one of my colleagues so if they're asking me to open up the Guardians' existence, so be it." Junpei declared firmly.
He had hidden his abilities for so long to hide from the eyes of All for One. Sure, he has some excellent skills and fighting prowess, but having a second minion with a Teleportation Quirk and also a Summoning Quirk such as his, would make that heinous villain get interested in him. And he would rather kill the man rather than letting him live.
"Well..." Junpei sat up from his seat and faced his family. "I'm going to meet the Principal before he wonders why I am late." Then he walked toward his room to change.
(U.A. – Principal's Office)
So after quick teleportation not far from the school and entering, Junpei was standing in front of the Principal Nedzu's office door.
Junpei glanced at the door for a few seconds before sighing and knocking the door.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Come in!" The rodent's voice called out from inside.
Junpei opened the door to be welcomed by the sight of the Principal, next to Chiyo, and the skeletal form of Toshinori.
"Ah, Takahashi, just in time." Nedzu said chirpily.
"Thanks for having me." Junpei said before noticing Toshinori. "Ah, Yagi-san, I didn't know you worked here."
"You two know each other?" Nedzu asked.
"A-Ah, yes, we met before the Entrance Exam when he saw me training Young Midoriya, sir."
"Hm, alright, please, take a seat." The rodent principal raised his paw at the empty chair in front of him.
Junpei nodded before sitting at the prepared seat in front of the heroes.
"Now, do you know why I called you here?" The Principal asked.
"Just a guess but you're asking me about those things back at the USJ?" He answered knowingly.
Nedzu nodded. "Yes, it is quite a surprise that we didn't get any information about them in your curriculum. Could you please show it to us?"
"Um, okay?" With a simple concentration, he summoned Cancer.
The crustaceous skull was quite surprising for the heroes to witness but the Principal had the look of profoundness and concentration on it.
"Interesting..." He mused calmly.
"The name of this summon is Cancer as the Western Zodiac. There are in total 12 summonses available at my command and each one of them has unique and different abilities from mine."
That did perk up the Principal. "You mean that those summonses of yours have different Quirks?"
"Well..." Junpei hummed thoughtfully. "I wouldn't say Quirks but skills, but sure, have it your way."
"That is... very interesting, Young Takahashi." Toshinari said not so sure since he had witnessed firsthand their abilities. "Can we see them?"
"Well, I can bring them but it gives me a headache if I summon them all together." Junpei explained, still trying to train up that ache.
"Do not worry; I'll prepare some painkillers for the headache if you start feeling it." Chiyo assured him.
Junpei nodded before bringing the other Guardians. The heroes gawked at the sight of all the Guardians floating around looking menacingly with their purple flames engulfing them completely.
"Hm, that's a very interesting ability you have, Young Takahashi." Nedzu said, very amused and interested.
"There is something I have to explain that it requires more secrecy than them." Junpei told them as the Guardians looked quite displeased at what he was going to tell them.
"And what is it more important to hold this information than what you're going to tell?" Nedzu asked warily.
"It's that... they're not twelve in total, but thirteen." Junpei replied.
"Thirteen Guardians, you say?" Nedzu mused quietly, taking a moment to think about it before he realized what Junpei was telling him about. "Oh..."
"What is it, Principal?" Toshinori asked. Both he and Chiyo were as much as confused at the dreading expression the principal was making.
"And what are you telling me about... the thirteenth Guardian?"
"Well, he's the strongest among the Guardians just by Taurus, Leo, and Sagittarius' level." He said giving a thumb to the said Guardians. "But he's also ruthless and obstinate. I once called him to help me train but he was really above my level and ignored the other Guardians' scolding."
"In a way of speaking..." Toshinori started, bringing a deadpan tone. "We're thinking about the same case as Young Bakugo in this case."
Junpei sighed in defeat. "Yeah, something like that. I can say for sure that if I compare Leo's and Katsuki's pride on him, they would be like children to him."
The heroes could hear Leo grumbling something incoherent as only Junpei could hear him.
"No cursing about him, Leo." Junpei scolded.
The heroes blinked in confusion. "Do you understand what he's saying?" Toshinori asked in surprise.
"Oh yeah, that's another thing about them. See, I can understand them verbally or mentally which is very much useful for cover operation. It's strange to speak them on my mind but you'll get used to." Junpei shrugged before looking at Cancer. "You might want to talk to them."
Cancer glanced at his master before nodding and looking at the heroes. (Good afternoon, Principal Nedzu, Miss Recovery Girl, and... Mr. Yagi. My name's Cancer and I would like to thank you for taking care of our Young Master.) He said gentlemanly.
And to say that it was strange that the heroes started hearing the crustaceous skull speak was... overwhelming.
"Oh my god..." Toshinori gasped.
Nedzu looked calm but Junpei and some of the Guardians noted that faint sweat trailing down from his white fur but didn't say anything.
"Ah, yes, Cancer-san... it is good to know that they can speak to us." Nedzu mused, keeping a calm façade. "So, um, each one of them has different abilities?"
"Why yes, principal, they do." Junpei nodded. "Want me to write it down or something?"
Nedzu nodded as Toshinori gave him a piece of paper and a pen to write it down. After some minutes of him writing the names and abilities, Junpei handed it down to the principal as the heroes looked over it. The title on the paper said: 'Zodiac Guardian's Quirks and Information'.
-o-
Name: Aries, the Ram – Female
Epithet: The Volatile / Representation: Merino Sheep
Quirk: [Intangibility]; Aries can make anybody and herself being intangible for a brief time. Aries doesn't require using it on herself since it's always passive on her but for others; she has to concentrate to make a layer over the person to be able to pass through anything. Note: Junpei noted that only the soles weren't passing through anything which it was different from a blond user which he knew. As for the other, Junpei could pass through anything without drawbacks.
Power: D / Speed: D / Range: B / Durability: C / Precision: B / Potential: B
-o-
Name: Taurus, the Bull – Male
Epithet: The Unyielding / Representation: Belgian Blue Bull
Quirk: [Leader's Inspiration]; Taurus can boost and motivate his allies, making them stronger than before. Its strength and boost lasts two hours and can be used three times a day. It can also stop the boost whenever Taurus feels like or Junpei orders him. Note: Keiji once asked Junpei to test Taurus' powers on him. Keiji felt stronger than before but by the time he could notice, he had used most of his strength and stamina during the test. Junpei assumed that giving too much on a person can be dangerous.
Power: S / Speed: B / Range: D / Durability: B / Precision: C / Potential: B
-o-
Name: Gemini, the Twins – Male
Epithet: The Dynamic / Representation: Barred Owl
Quirk: [Replicate Copies]; Gemini can make various copies of himself and confuse his opponents as they are all the same Gemini. In which Gemini can either make concentrated or scattered attacks depending on the situation. He can even scout stealthily since he's an owl. Note: During a game of hide-and-seek, Gemini uses his clones to look for the Takahashi family's children as the original prefer relaxing either sitting on a branch or sleeping somewhere.
Power: C / Speed: B / Range: C / Durability: C / Precision: B / Potential: A
-o-
Name: Cancer, the Crab – Male
Epithet: The Abyssal / Representation: Coconut Crab
Quirk: [Hard Shell]; gives the ability to have the hardest shell of the world even withstanding a powerful punch from All Might. In such cases that the shell shatters or breaks, a new shell forms up, becoming studier and denser than the previous one, and with the claws that Cancer has, it becomes the perfect shield and claw for him. Note: Cancer had once protected his master from a previous fight, when the opponent ambushed him, the attacker got startled by it but Junpei punched the opponent to unconsciousness. The attacker doesn't remember anything about Cancer at all.
Power: B / Speed: D / Range: D / Durability: S / Precision: C / Potential: B
-o-
Name: Leo, the Lion – Male
Epithet: The Sublime / Representation: Egyptian Lion (AKA. Panthera Leo Nubica, Barbary Lion, Nubian Lion)
Quirk: [Sovereign's Will]; Leo glares at his opponent making them paralyze in fear and terror at the presence of the king of the jungle. Depending on how closer Leo is to his opponents, the longer the paralysis becomes. But it doesn't work at those that share the same power of the mightiest as Leo; it can even nullify the paralysis if the other is much stronger. Note: Sometimes Leo asks for Junpei to have a staring contest, he loves having a strong master as his so he asks him for a competition of the mightiest and making his master stronger.
Power: A / Speed: B / Range: B / Durability: B / Precision: B / Potential: A
-o-
Name: Virgo, the Virgin – Female
Epithet: The Phantasm / Representation: Valais Blacknose Sheep
Quirk: [Healing Song]; Virgo can heal allies as she starts singing or humming. In some cases, if the injuries were long and unable to heal on time, her music can slowly heal the injury or regenerate missing organs or limbs but it'll take long to heal back to its prime. Note: Virgo is always summoned when Junpei trains with the Guardians. The Guardians heal once they disappear but since Junpei's injuries are physical, Aries can heal him well. Her healing powers are equal with Recovery Girl or even greater (For what his parents came up).
Power: C / Speed: C / Range: C / Durability: B / Precision: C / Potential: D
-o-
Name: Libra, the Scales – Female
Epithet: The Paragon / Representation: Scale
Quirk: [Gravity Shift]; Libra can change the gravity on the opponent as it could make them float lightly as a feather or press heavily as a building of 500 ton over them. Shifting to the right side makes the people lighter as the left side turns you heavier. Note: Junpei once got tired of using his [Magic Eyes] and asked for Libra to make him float upside down and train to get used to the feeling of being on-air without his Quirk.
Power: D / Speed: C / Range: C / Durability: D / Precision: D / Potential: C
-o-
Name: Scorpio, the Scorpion – Male
Epithet: The Warden / Representation: Deathstalker Scorpion
Quirk: [Poison Variation]; Scorpio can create different variants of poison, from mild to deadly, and it's all stored inside his tail which once Scorpio decides which poison to use; he stings it on their opponents making them excruciate different type of pains. Note: Scorpio once sneezed accidentally during Winter and acid spewed from its mandible making the snow melt completely.
Power: B / Speed: C / Range: D / Durability: C / Precision: C / Potential: C
-o-
Name: Sagittarius, the Archer – Male
Epithet: The Gambler / Representation: Kicsem Horse
Quirk: [Eyesight Alteration]; Sagittarius can change on different visions for his eyes. He can turn into Night-Vision, Thermal-Vision, Weak-Spot-Vision, X-Ray-Vision, Scope-Vision, and many more. His favorite one is the Weak-Spot-Vision since he can easily defeat his opponents without effort. His eyes change (like Mei's scope lenses eyes) depending on which eyesight he's using. Note: Junpei had once asked Sagittarius to shoot at him, to train in dodging bullets and his eyesight to get used to the feeling of getting shot at.
Power: B / Speed: A / Range: A / Durability: B / Precision: S / Potential: A
-o-
Name: Capricorn, the Goat's Horn – Male
Epithet: The Herald / Representation: Verata Goat
Quirk: [Store & Release]; Capricorn can store different attacks when being attacked by his opponents, there are certain attacks that he can absorb which are ranged ones; physical attacks cannot be stored although kinetic ones are okay. After storing the ranged attacks, Capricorn can release it whenever he likes to from his horns but cannot contain it more than his capacity's time-limit. Note: Junpei had tested the limits of Capricorn's capacity through the years, he only knows that Capricorn can store ten ranged attacks and release it whenever he likes it.
Power: A / Speed: C / Range: D / Durability: C / Precision: C / Potential: C
-o-
Name: Aquarius, the Water Bearer - Female
Epithet: The Devotee / Representation: Dall's Porpoise Dolphin
Quirk: [Tsunami]; Aquarius can produce a large quantity of water depending that the humidity of the place. With less humid atmosphere, the less water Aquarius can produce. Note: During Winter, Junpei was curious if snow could also be produced with Aquarius' skill but ended up freezing as soon as she produced it. Junpei thought that looked like Shoto's Quirk but was different on being that it was less frozen and more like the only thing that was frozen was the outer layer of the water.
Power: C / Speed: S / Range: D / Durability: C / Precision: B / Potential: C
-o-
Name: Pisces, the Fish – Female
Epithet: The Graceful / Representation: Koi Fish
Quirk: [Smooth Swimmer]; Pisces can swim on different terrains, even pass through anything. Pisces can swim in the air, glass, water, ground, earth, and even in different materials as it wishes. Note: Junpei got startled when Pisces was much smaller, swam on the wooden floor of his house, and through walls.
Power: D / Speed: A / Range: C / Durability: D / Precision: C / Potential: D
-o-
The heroes read in a different kind of bafflement and surprise at the detailed information about his summonses. Nedzu checked that there was another piece of paper under all the twelve Guardians but he left it for later since its kind of development was quite surprising.
"Well, now..." Nedzu started slowly. "This is... quite interesting information you gave us, Young Takahashi."
"I'm very intrigued by the ability of Virgo's but..." Chiyo mused, her face contorting a wondering expression. "Wouldn't have been better to have written only the animal and not the breed?"
"They wanted me to come up with an animal breed, so..." Junpei deadpanned pointing at his summonses. "Blame them."
Nedzu looked at the summonses that didn't look quite sheepish, well, most of them, and then at Junpei. "Alright then, there is nothing more that we require asking for you."
Junpei nodded and started walking away from the heroes before he grabbed the knob. "Ah, right..." He turned to the heroes. "If anything extraordinary happens in the future by me, well... I'll keep it entertaining." He said with a smile.
Nedzu nodded not so sure at what he meant but he was satisfied for now by the information of the summonses. There won't be anything else for him to ask Young Takahashi respective of his actions... yet.
His animal instinct tells him that there is something that ain't telling about. But as his intelligent side, told him that to leave him for now. It didn't seem appropriate for him to ask him more despite that he's the principal. He shouldn't abuse his position on a future hero unless he wants the student to feel resented for his actions. So for now, he's leaving him alone until he does something unusual.
-o-
Junpei sighed in relief after he left the school grounds. He was worried that Nedzu would have asked him about the first action he did back when he threw the charged balls at the villains, but he remembered that neither Shota nor Thirteen are up yet so they hadn't reported him about that.
And it was luck that nobody had told or seen him with his transformation. Only his Master knew about it and he was the one who told him to only use that transformation if the situation was needed. Although, the situation he was, wasn't really dangerous and he didn't need to transform at all. Maybe he has a sadistic personality for which he loves playing with his opponents, he didn't know...
As for what left of the day, he decided to return home since there won't be any problem until the school opens again.
(The Next Day – U.A. – Class 1-A)
The school reopened after his visit to the principal and the other heroes. To say that most of the students had been talking about the events of USJ, it wouldn't have surprised him at all.
"Hey, hey, did you watch the news last night?" Toru asked Mashirao.
"Yeah." The tail-man nodded.
"Did you see how everyone in the class was on-screen for a second? I didn't stand out at all!" She sighed dejectedly.
'Well, assuming that she's an invisible girl that only shows her gloves and shoes, is an understatement...' Junpei thought.
"That's true." And that was Shoji's blunt reply which shocked Mashirao.
Mashirao then tried to cheer her up. "It's hard to stand out looking like that, huh?" He remarked, recalling the appearance of her two floating gloves.
"But man, all the channels made a big deal out of it." Denki commented, leaning back on his seat.
"I was surprised." Eijiro agreed.
"Can you blame them?" Kyoka voiced out while playing with her earphone jack. "The Hero Course that keeps pumping out pro-heroes was attacked."
Hanta lay on his desk. "Who knows what would've happened if the teachers hadn't come when they did. Or better yet, if Takahashi hadn't brought those skulls with him." He wondered aloud. Then everybody heard a fearful yelp from the left side of the seats and saw that Minoru was the one who yelped.
"STOP THAT, SERO!" He bellowed fearfully. "Just thinking about its making me wet myself!" He cried out miserably.
'I wonder how the hell he managed to be part of the Hero Course... Hitoshi would have been a better choice than him.' Junpei deadpanned.
"SHUT THE HELL UP! BE QUIET, MIDGET SCUM!" Katsuki hissed angrily.
"But man, All Might was great. He pushed back those crazy strong villains." Rikido stated while doing jabs.
Fumikage nodded in agreement. "Yes, his strength is worth wondering at."
"Just as we had help from those skulls." Akari mused giving a knowing look at Junpei.
As the school's bell started ringing, Tenya bolted up to the podium. "Everyone! Morning homeroom is about to start! Stop talking and take your seats!" He ordered.
Junpei tried to hold an amused chuckle as everyone noticed the situation at hand, but that was beaten up when Eijiro and Hanta voiced out.
"We're already in our seats."
"You're the only one who's not."
Embarrassed by his action, Tenya's seriousness crumbled quickly and marched toward his seat in humiliation. "Shoot!"
"Don't worry about it!" Ochako said cheerfully.
Junpei shook his head with a smile; Tenya should ease up about everything. But that wouldn't make Tenya Iida for what he really is. Except that he took the top positions of the Student Representative and he's now the Secretary.
"I wonder who's going to teach us now..." Akari muttered suddenly bringing Junpei's attention. "I mean since Aizawa-sensei is now at the hospital recovering from his injuries. Who would be the substitute?"
Junpei chuckled at her question which made her cock an eyebrow. "Ah, you wouldn't exactly know Shota Aizawa AKA Eraserhead, fully, Akari-chan."
"Why you say that?" She inquired confusedly.
"Aizawa-sensei ain't a person who would pass someone to teach us as he would." He grinned.
"Huh?"
Just on cue, the classroom's doors opened up and everyone noticed the man bandaged like a mummy but what most students were shocked was who the man behind the bandages was.
"Morning..." Shota muttered quietly behind his bandages.
"AIZAWA-SENSEI, YOU'RE BACK TOO SOON!" Everyone bellowed in shock except for some others by his sudden return.
"You're too much of a pro!" Denki gaped in awe.
Tenya immediately raised his hand. "So you're all right, Aizawa-sensei?" He asked.
"Can you really call that 'all right'?" Ochako whispered in disbelief.
"My well-being doesn't matter." Shota replied. "More importantly, the fight is not yet over."
As his words came out, the class got quite suddenly. The students, except for Junpei and few others, gulped, gasped, or trembled nervously at what new challenge their homeroom teacher was bringing to them.
"The U.A. Sports Festival is drawing near."
"THAT'S A SUPER NORMAL SCHOOL EVENT!" Everyone cheered.
The students were sighing in relief that it wasn't another of his crazy tests or something but eventually, something snapped when Kyoka raised her hand.
"Is it okay to have a Sports Festival so soon after the villains snuck inside?" She asked.
"What if they attack us again or something...?" Mashirao added.
"Yeah, the U.A. wouldn't want to repeat the same thing with the festival, ain't that right?" Akari wondered.
Shota shook his head, or what he could with his bandages. "Apparently, they think of it as U.A. showing that our crisis management system is solid as a rock by holding the event."
Junpei raised his hand. "So by continuing with the Sports Festival... it's challenging the villains to try it again. But this time, we're willing to play with them on our field."
Shota glanced at the example he just gave. Though a little threatening for his part, he could see that few of the students had changed for the better as if they prepared for the next battle.
"Not quite right but close, but security will also be strengthened to five times that of previous years." He stated. "Above all, our Sports Festival is a huge chance. It's not an event to be canceled because of a few villains."
"But that's a good reason, isn't it?" Minoru asked fearfully. "It's just a festival of sports."
Izuku turned back to him. "Mineta-kun, you've never seen the U.A. Sports Festival?" He asked.
"Of course I have. That's not what I meant!"
"Then you're wrong!" Junpei exclaimed. "The U.A. Sports Festival has another explicit objective!"
Shota nodded. "Our Sports Festival is one of Japan's biggest events. In the past, the Olympics were called a festival of sports, and the whole country was crazy about them. As you know, with reductions in scale and population, they're now a shell of their former glory. And now, for Japan, what has taken the place of those Olympics is the U.A. Sports Festival!"
"Of course, all the top heroes around the country will be watching." Momo said like it was obvious. "For scouting purposes!"
"I know that!" Minoru retorted shamefully.
Denki continued. "After we graduate, it's typical to join a pro agency as a sidekick."
"A lot of people miss their chance to become independent after that and become eternal sidekicks, though." Kyoka stated harshly before muffling a chuckle. "Kaminari, I feel like you'd be one of them; since you're dumb."
"Kuh..."
"Of course, joining a famous hero agency will get you more experience and popularity." Shota continued. "Time is limited. If you expect to go pro, then the path to your future will open up at this event. Once chance a year, a total of just three chances. No aspiring heroes can afford to miss this event. If you understand that, then don't slack off on your preparations!"
"YES, SIR!"
"Homeroom is dismissed."
(U.A. – Lunchtime – Class 1-A)
After having Modern History classes with Ken Ishiyama AKA Cementoss, the user of the [Cement] Quirk, it was lunchtime for the students.
"Even though all that stuff happened, I'm getting really excited!" Eijiro declared, fired up.
"If we put on a good show and stand out, we'll have taken the first step to become a pro!" Hanta added.
'Though maybe your debut is going to be disastrous...' Junpei deadpanned while looking away from Hanta's direction.
"It was worth coming to U.A.!" Rikido said fisting his open palm.
Fumiko closed his eyes coolly and sat over a desk. "We will only receive a few chances. We cannot afford to miss this." He stated.
"Ojiro-kun, I'm getting kind of nervous now." Toru mumbled half-excited half-nervous. "I need to stand out at the Sports Festival! Hip, hip, hooray!"
'But the pros might not notice you unless you try really hard...' Mashirao thought while scratching his cheek.
"Oh dear, what'll I do?" Yuga began, shining throughout the class with something Junpei didn't want to question it. "I stand out just by standing still, so the scouts won't be able to stop looking at me, right?" He asked Koji, who was quite surprised at his closeness and nodded frantically. "Right?"
Akari sighed as she rested her head on her hands. "You think he's gonna shine all the way in the Sports Festival, Takahashi-san?"
Junpei snorted and shook his head. "Knowing him, he'll get a stomachache before he can stand out. But you'll never know what he'll do so... it's a given." He shrugged. "What about you?"
She returned the shrug. "I don't know, maybe the Sports Festival will give me a chance to fight the strongest students of U.A." She turned to him with a feisty grin. "I might end up fighting against you."
He grinned at her back with the same mindset. "If that's a challenge... I might accept it, Tatsuma-chan!"
They shared a small laugh before they returned back and hear what their colleagues were talking about. Junpei, though he had a mindset of an adult, hadn't gotten such privilege of childhood so it was his first time living like this. Despite that, the world he was living in, wasn't normal as he knew before.
"You're lucky, Shoji." Denki began with Mezo, Kyoka, and Momo. "Your brawn stands out on its own."
"There's no point if I cannot show them my usefulness." Mezo replied with his arms crossed. "You can see that here in Class 1-A has a lot of members that have a Strength-type Quirk. We'll have to show them that we can be dependable."
"I think you'll stand out, too." Kyoka said to Denki, barely holding her laugh. "When your brain short circuit." She teased.
Junpei chuckled softly before turning to his green-haired childhood friend. When he looked at him, he noticed that Izuku was tensed. So like a good friend he is, he walked toward him... and slapped his back.
"Don't be so tense, Izu. It doesn't look good on you."
He laughed sheepishly. "Sorry, it's just that everyone's so into it."
"You're not?" Tenya asked as he and Akari came to them. Tenya stood up and opened his arms. "We have enrolled here to become heroes, so of course we would get fired up!"
"I'm barely holding myself to start the Sports Festival." Akari grinned. "I didn't get to do much back at the USJ but this time, I'll show them what I can do!"
"Iida-kun, Tatsuma-chan, you two have a unique way of getting fired up." Tsuyu commented. "It's weird."
"It's not weird!" Akari retorted, quite offended by the frog's comment.
Junpei chuckled at her reaction. "I agree with her. You three need to relax. Well, not to the lowest point of relaxation but just about."
"Yes, but..." Tenya pointed at Izuku then waved his arm robotically. "Midoriya-kun, you don't feel the same?"
Izuku nodded. "Of course I do. But something's-"
"Deku-kun, Iida-kun, Takahashi-kun, Tatsuma-chan..." A female voice called out for them which they turned to see that Ochako looked different from her usual behavior. "Let's do our best at the Sports Festival."
"Holy crap!" Akari mumbled quite shocked at the sweet friend's behavior.
Izuku was much surprised than her. "Ochako-chan, your face...! It's..."
Mina popped out behind them. "What's the matter? You don't look carefree at all, even though that's what your name means."
Minoru was about to say something, perverted as always until Tsuyu slapped him with her tongue.
SLAP!
Ignoring the pervert, Ochako stood firm and raised her fist onto the air. "EVERYONE, I'M GONNA DO MY BEST!" She declared firmly.
"Y-Yeah!" Junpei, Izuku, Tenya, Mina, Tsuyu, and Akari cheered, somehow matching her attitude. Junpei didn't give much effort since he was quite dumbfounded.
Ochako then turned to the others. "I'M GONNA DO MY BEST!"
Rikido, Eijiro, Hanta, and Fumikage didn't share the same sentiment. "Y-Yeah..."
"What's wrong? Your personality's all over the place." Eijiro commented with a sweatdrop.
-o-
So after the fiasco with Ochako's behavior, they were on their way to the cafeteria for lunch. Junpei, Izuku, Tenya, Ochako, Momo, and surprisingly Akari were together on their way to the cafeteria.
"Ochako-chan." Izuku began.
"Yes?"
"Why did you decide to come to U.A. and become a pro hero?" He inquired curiously.
"Huh? Um... because..." She blushed as she made a money hand-gesture.
"Money?" Akari blurted aloud, her head tilted in confusion. "Ain't that normal for students with difficulties in the U.A.?"
Ochako rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. "Well, to boil it down simply, yes... Sorry, it's such an unwholesome reason. You five have such admirable motivations, it's embarrassing..."
Tenya raised an eyebrow. "Why? How is having a goal to support your livelihood not admirable?"
"He's right, Ochako." Momo added. "Most people of U.A. tend to become heroes because some of them don't have a good livelihood as others."
"I think there are some heroes that are likely as you, Ochako. So don't take it hard." Junpei said. He then thought of a certain blond woman that debuted last year.
Izuku nodded. "Right, but it's unexpected."
"My family owns a construction company." Ochako confessed. "But we haven't gotten any work at all, so we're flat broke. This isn't really something to tell other people, though..."
Everyone remained quiet processing her confession.
"Construction..." Tenya muttered aloud.
Izuku then perked up in realization. "Ah! With her Quirk, if she gets licensed, then it'd bring costs way down, right?"
Akari gaped in surprise pounding her fist onto her other hand. "You're right! She could make any raw material float. They wouldn't need any heavy equipment. Hell, it's simple but smart!"
"So by touching the materials, she can make them float and put them up depending on the floors." Izuku assumed.
Ochako pointed her finger at Izuku. "Right? That's what I told Dad when I was little!" She then sobered melancholy. "But... he told me to achieve my dreams to become a hero." She clenched her fists. "I'll definitely become a hero and make money and let my parents take it easy."
Everyone froze in awe at her declaration; it was amazing to see a friend of theirs to be so determined to help her parents.
The first to get out of the surprise was Tenya as he applauded for Ochako. "Bravo! Uraraka-kun, bravo!"
As being their closest friends to her, they even joined him on the applause.
"That's really great, Uraraka!" Akari smiled. "Nice!"
"It's really wonderful for your part to think about your parents." Momo agreed and then looked thoughtful. "Hm, maybe..."
Before anybody could ask her, a well familiar voice bellowed.
"Young Midoriya is here!" The Number One Hero appeared with a mighty shout as he pointed at them.
"All Might? What's the matter?" Izuku wondered quite surprised.
In that instance, the bravado All Might was showing moments ago turned into a shyest maiden as he held a lunch box meekly. "Lunch! Wanna eat together?"
Ochako and Akari spat and laughed at the sight of the hero acting like a maiden. "He's like a maiden!"
"How about it?"
Izuku looked back to his friends and they nodded in understanding.
"I'd love to."
-o-
Watching their green-haired friend go, the others went to the cafeteria on their own.
"I wonder what he wanted with Deku-kun." Ochako wondered aloud.
"No clue." Akari shrugged as she paced to get her lunch.
Tenya hummed thoughtfully. "Well, I wasn't there since I had to get the other teachers to USJ. Did something happen that required All Might call Midoriya-kun?" He asked.
"Well, I wasn't there much but what I gathered from the others that were at the entrance, they saw that Izuku and Tatsuma-san attacked the villains from behind." She suggested.
"Oh yeah, we did that!" Akira didn't even deny it. "All Might looked like he was in trouble so Midoriya and I sneaked behind the villains to lessen All Might's burden but the mist guy expected us to come and was about to teleport us elsewhere... Maybe that's why he wanted to talk to him."
"And why not you too then?" Ochako voiced out innocently.
"Mostly because I was waiting for Midoriya to come up with the plan, I just agreed with him at the moment." Akari shrugged indifferently.
Tenya cupped his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm, then again, remember what Asui-kun said on the bus?"
They recalled her words: 'Your Quirk is like All Might's.'
"The boundless powers they both have are similar, too, so maybe All Might has taken a liking to him. He's amazing." Tenya added which Ochako nodded in agreement.
Having said that, Junpei eyes to his side which a white and red hair stuck out in the cafeteria; subtly, he added not sounding suspicious. "Though maybe All Might and Izuku have the same type of Quirk, maybe he's giving him some advice instead of making his body tremble in pain. Even I have a Strength-type Quirk but it's not as I'm having a difficult time using it."
"Yeah, maybe so." Akari hummed in agreement.
All the while, Junpei noted that Momo had been quiet for a few minutes which got his attention. "Something on your mind?"
She got startled as he interrupted her thoughts. "Oh, nothing much, just thinking about something unrelated to what we were talking about."
Junpei cocked an eyebrow at her but shrugged it off. "Eh, whatever you say." With that, Junpei went to get lunch and eat with the others.
-o-
In a teacher's lounge which All Might, or now Toshinori Yagi, brought Izuku with him, sat comfortably on the couches as they sat in front of each other. As while Izuku's friends were talking, Toshinori had informed Izuku about his limits.
"You can now only last two hours and a half?" Izuku said in surprise.
"Well, given that I had taken much time on my morning routine and rested very little after getting here. I might have overdone my transformation while getting here." Toshinori admitted. "Though it was lucky that I didn't have to fight much of the villains and that brain-head villain, it was much less a blessing that my transformation took just half an hour of my limit."
"Yeah, it's thanks to Jukkun's Guardians that you didn't much fight against the others and helped you with that monster." Izuku nodded. "But, you know we could have helped you despite our odds."
Toshinori shook his head. "No, Young Midoriya, if any of the students were to be injured by the villains, we from the U.A. would be blamed for it."
Izuku felt that despite his years of training, it looked like it was even enough to stand against the recent villains he had witnessed.
"Well, despite that, I'm just glad that I can maintain my form for 2.5 hours now." Toshinori chuckled.
Izuku hung his head down in shame. "Yagi-san... I'm so-"
"You don't have to apologize!" Toshinori laughed while spitting blood. "Man, we really are alike, you and me."
"But..."
"It's fine." Toshinori assured him before offering tea. "Have some tea."
"Thanks..."
Toshinori then sobered up and became a little serious. "More importantly, about the Sports Festival, you barely regulate [One for All], can you?"
"More or less." Izuku admitted. "I've been trying to test what Jukkun said and kept training to control better [One for All] but after that, I get some numbness. At least they do not break." He blinked when recalled something. "I forgot! When I aimed a Smash at the Nomu, there was no backlash."
"Oh yeah, you mentioned that! What was different?" Toshinori inquired curiously.
Izuku glanced at his clenched fist. "Maybe because this was the first time I tried to use this power on a person... Though I don't know if that Nomu was a person..."
Toshinori rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm... Looks like you succeeded in putting another brake unconsciously." He assumed then looked at his successor. "Anyway, that's progress. I'm glad. Now, drink up."
Izuku nodded before sipping his tea while processing the given information. If he subconsciously held back, then he might need a little more training to be able to do it on his own.
"Frankly, I don't have much time left as the Symbol of Peace." Toshinori stated which brought Izuku's mind freeze at what he just heard. Toshinori had somehow walked toward the window and gazed at the city while he was thinking inwardly.
"No way..."
"And some of those with built-up villainous intent are starting to realize." Toshinori said turning to look at his successor and raised his hand. "I granted you my power because I want you to succeed me. You still feel the same as you did back then, don't you?"
"Yes." Izuku replied with determination on his tone.
"Then, the time has come for you to show that." Toshinori stated, confusing Izuku.
"Show what, Yagi-san?"
"The U.A. Sports Festival is something pro heroes... no, the whole country, is watching closely. A BIG EVENT!" Toshinori bellowed.
Izuku seemed to be excited now that Toshinori was expecting him to do.
"That is what I brought you here to talk about! The next All Might... the fledging Symbol of Peace... Izuku Midoriya. I want you to tell the world 'I AM HERE!'" Toshinori declared before giving Izuku a smile. "Do your best, Young Midoriya."
"Yes!" Izuku puffed his chest proudly and replied. Finishing with his tea, he was about to leave until his teacher called for him.
"Young Midoriya."
"Yes?"
"You know the Sports Festival system, right?" Toshinori asked.
"Yes, of course!" Izuku nodded. "The Support, Business, General Studies, and Hero Courses come together and fight through preliminary games of different types of class year. The students who make it through face off in the finals. It's a round-robin tournament divided by grade."
"THAT'S RIGHT!" Toshinori exclaimed in agreement while pointing two fingers at him. "In other words, you can sell yourself with everything you've got!"
Izuku remained quiet for a second with a small sweatdrop hanging down the back of his head. 'Somehow, it sounded wrong the way he spoke.' He shook his head before replying weakly. "Right..."
His weak response made Toshinori fall backward with the couch he was sitting on.
"I mean, it's not wrong." Izuku began muttering, his familiar traits surfacing. "But honestly, it's kind of hard to get completely into it right after what just happened... Besides, All Might is already teaching me, so I'm not as motivated to stand out at the Sports Festival... In the first place, I don't think I can stand out in my current state, despite that I had trained most of my life before meeting you..."
Toshinori bolted up from the ground while spitting blood. "No one's better at spouting nonsense than you!" He exclaimed.
"Nonsense, you say?" Izuku asked, quite taken back with his response.
Toshinori calmed down and stood up. "Those who are always aiming for the top and those who aren't; that slight difference in attitudes will have a big impact once you go out into society."
Izuku contemplated his words. Many students of U.A. came to the school to become the top heroes of the society they are living in. The Sports Festival is a competition among students to show who the one who is closer to the top is.
"I understand how you feel, and this is more for me than for you." Toshinori continued. "I won't force you. However, I hope you won't forget how you felt back at the beach park."
"I won't." Izuku replied with a nod.
"Good. Now you'll have to return to your lunchtime with your friends before it ends." Toshinori said.
"Yes. Thanks Yagi-san for the conversation."
"Anytime."
With the conversation over, Izuku returned with his friends in the cafeteria. He had much to learn and think about once the competition begins.
-o-
Returning back to the Class 1-A classroom, the mummified Shota continued with his class. "The U.A. Sports Festival is drawing near. Of course, joining a famous hero agency will get you more experience and popularity. One chance a year... a total of just three chances. No aspiring heroes can afford to miss this event. If you understand that, then don't slack off on your preparations!" He declared.
"Yes, sir!"
Continuing with the classes, it ended up smoothly with the students of Class 1-A about to leave... just as many other students were blocking their doors.
"Wh-What's going on?" Ochako wondered in surprise.
"What business do you have with Class A?" Tenya demanded, chopping the air.
"We can't get out. What'd you come here for, anyway?" Minoru complained.
"Scouting out the enemy, Small Fry." Katsuki replied with a grunt. Minoru began crying offended, pointing at him, while looking at Izuku which he tried to calm him down. Katsuki continued. "We're the ones who made it out of the villains' attack. They probably wanna check us out before the Sports Festival." He walked toward the bystanders and glared at them. "There's no point in doing stuff like that. Out of my way, extras!"
Junpei sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Despite that, he knew that Katsuki would do that, he had expected he would have been a little humbler. Guess he had expected too much... Junpei thought to show them something to the bystanders but rather... he wanted to leave it as a surprise.
Ochako got surprised, Momo sighed as Junpei, Akari simply laughed at Katsuki's boldness, Izuku grimaced, and Tenya began chopping the air in aghast. "Stop calling people 'extras' just because you don't know them!" He exclaimed.
Tenya stopped when a hand landed on his shoulder, turning his face to the owner of the hand, he got to see Junpei. "Don't try it, Iida-kun. Kacchan ain't one of those who can change with mere words or such cases... well, either you get used to him or try change yourself."
Before Tenya could answer, a familiar voice came among the bystanders. "I came to see what the famous Class A was like, but you seem pretty arrogant. Are all the students in the Hero Course like this?"
The people that already knew the voice, turned to see the indigo haired friend coming among the students. They hadn't seen him most of the days they had been in the U.A. and now they got to see that he was slightly different from before.
'Huh, there are some refined muscles on him and the air around him also changed. I guess the theory that Hitoshi is training with someone I know who's invested in him to train and to turn him into a hero ain't so farfetched.' Junpei mused to himself while he observed Hitoshi.
Hitoshi's statement made Tenya, Minoru, and Ochako shake their head and wave their hand to make him retract his words. Izuku sighed in exasperation as he couldn't do anything for him. Momo grimaced that Hitoshi was antagonizing their class, or most likely to Katsuki, which she didn't bring well of what he was doing. Akari was confused yet she would welcome the challenge of the other classes which brought her blood to pump up in excitement.
"Seeing something like this makes me disillusioned." Hitoshi continued with a shrug. "There are quite a few people who enrolled in General Studies or other Courses because they didn't make it into the Hero Course. Did you know that? The school has left those of us a chance. Depending on the result of the Sports Festival, they'll consider our transfer or adding into the Hero Course. And it seems they may also transfer people out."
Everyone that didn't know Hitoshi shivered upon hearing his declaration, the people that knew him expected him to be part of the Hero Course in the near future or at least soon.
Hitoshi continued. "Scouting out the enemy? I, at least, came to say that even if you're in the Hero Course, if you get too carried away, I'll sweep your feet out from under you. I came with a declaration of war."
Junpei somehow felt pride in his tone which he would be surprised if Hitoshi manages to be part of the Hero Course in the near future. He would glad to have another friend he can count on as colleagues.
After the declaration, a silver-haired guy with no eyebrows and thick pale eyelashes that encompassed his eyes appeared among the bystanders.
"Hey, hey, hey! I'm from Class B next door!" Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu, the user of the [Steel] Quirk, shouted. "I heard you fought against villains, so I came to hear 'bout it! Don't get so full of yourself!"
"Who're you supposed to be?" Akari asked.
"I'm Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu!" Tetsutetsu said before looking at Katsuki. "If you bark too much, it'll be embarrassing for you durin' the real fight! YOU IGNORIN' ME, BASTARD?!" He bellowed as Katsuki ignored him completely.
"I can see the resemblance..." Junpei muttered, earning various looks to said person.
"Wait a minute, Bakugo!" Eijiro said. "What're you gonna do about all this? It's your fault that everyone hates us!"
Katsuki looked at him over his shoulder. "It doesn't matter." He answered.
"Huh?"
"It doesn't matter as long as you rise to the top." Katsuki stated before walking away from the crowd.
Eijiro processed what Katsuki just said before crying manly tears. "That's so simple and manly!" He stated. Junpei blinked as he seemed to see the ocean waves behind him.
'I didn't think it was real...' Junpei commented inwardly, rubbing his eyes.
"Huh?" Denki said in wonder, ignoring the previously illusion, but more centered in what confusion occurred.
"You said it." Rikido agreed.
"Huh?!" Denki perked more perplexed and confused.
"The top, huh? There is truth in that." Fumikage added with a nod.
"Hang on, don't be tricked! He just made more pointless enemies!" Denki pointed out in distress.
"That's right! We'll just be at a disadvantage at the Sports Festival!" Minoru agreed, also in distress.
Junpei sighed. "You know guys; we've been at a disadvantage the moment we got recognized. It's too late to turn back. That boat already sailed far away, burnt down, and disappeared to the never-ending shit we got ourselves into."
"THAT'S EVEN WORST!" The two perverts exclaimed with tears.
"What did you guys expect?" Akari asked, earning their attention. "We got attacked by the villains and survived. Not even that, we fought some of them even if they were simple grunts but nevertheless we fought against real villains as soon as we entered U.A. I think we're the first students that fought villains while still being heroes-in-training. Many heroes would look up to us to see if we're worthy to be part of that society."
"As she said." Momo agreed. "Nonetheless, we're going to have much to take in the future."
Getting out of their frustration, they turned to the horned blue-haired colleague. "But! Doesn't it anger you, Takahashi?!" Denki exclaimed, trying to forget the previous statement in desperation.
"He's right! Bakugo just made us the first enemy of the entire first-class students!" Minoru added.
Junpei cupped his chin with his hand and hummed deeply in thoughts. Before anybody could ask him, his face crept out a smile which didn't give much wondering as he said the next thing. "Nope!" He said popping the 'p'. "Katsuki would eventually declare war on other classes! Even if we could stop him from doing it, he would have found a way to do it.
"WE'RE SCREWED THEN!"
While few of their classmates looked at the two with amusement, others thought deeply that it wasn't going to be easy with all the first-year students ganging on them, and the other few that were confident in their skills didn't say much about it and welcomed the challenge, Junpei knew exactly that this was going to be great for him, except that he either go all out or hold back a little if he wasn't going to be a target for the League of Villains or other ones.
Junpei looked at Hitoshi with a raised eyebrow and he returned with a smirk. 'I guess he really wants to take part in the Hero Course.'
Junpei walked up toward him with Izuku and Momo between him. "So it's a declaration of war then, huh?" He said blandly.
"Yup, a guy has to take the risk to be someone." Hitoshi shrugged.
"It's been so long, Shinso-kun." Izuku said. "We hadn't seen you much on U.A."
"Sorry, Midoriya. I've been busy with something personal." Hitoshi replied apologetically.
"It's good to see a friend even though he was the one that brought this battle." Momo commented aloud.
"Can't blame for trying, I guess that friend of yours is going to be a pain once I get him."
"Meh, he'll be more centered than before but eventually would have declared war on his own." Junpei shrugged like it was no big deal, knowing fully and growing up with him. "You just made it easier."
"Then I'll have to prepare myself." Hitoshi said and with that, he retired among the bystanders to his classroom.
"It's going to be something in this year's Sports Festival." Junpei mused with a smirk.
"I hope so..." Izuku agreed.
"Well, we'll think of it once the time comes." Momo said as we looked at her. "It's going to be some two weeks preparing ourselves for what's coming. But let's rest today and eat somewhere, shall we?" She offered.
"I'm in." Junpei said.
"I do also agree, Momo." Izuku said which brought Momo smile brightly.
After that, the group composed of the usual friends plus Eijiro, Denki, Kyoka, Tsuyu and Mina joined them to enjoy some food they came up while they walked away. The next day, everyone minus one started their training.
(During the two weeks before the Sports Festival)
One of the days that Junpei could train alone, he jogged on his pace until he met someone unexpected stopping him from his daily training.
"Oh, Ochako-chan!"
"Takahashi-kun! It's good to see you! I see you're training!" Ochako said as she was now wearing a black and pink sport bra with a combined leggings and white sneakers. "And the one I was looking for!"
Junpei blinked in confusion and surprise. "Huh? What do you mean?"
"Should we first take a break? I was training here without Momo-chan and I was about to rest until I stumbled upon you." Ochako suggested.
"Sure, why not?" They took a seat in front of a park and Ochako opened a bottle of water and gulfed it down. "So why's the coincidence?" Junpei asked.
Ochako sighed in relief as she stopped drinking her water and looked at him. "You see, you know that we're not far from having the Sports Festival?"
"Yeah, I know that much." Junpei nodded while crossing his arms.
"We're preparing for our performance in front of the people and heroes alike, right?" She added.
"Uh-huh." Junpei nodded for the second time.
"And we're most likely end up fighting among us if the competition ends up being about fighting."
"Yup." Junpei nodded for the third time.
"And I'm asking you..." She paused in dread and worry. "Could you perhaps... train me?"
"Okay." Junpei replied simply.
"I know that the students cannot help each other but I hope that-" She paused mid-sentence as she looked at him in disbelief. "You said yes?"
"Yeah, I did. Was it that what you were asking for?" Junpei asked with a raised eyebrow as it was the normal thing in the world.
"I... I... I thought you would at least give some thoughts about it." Ochako muttered quite surprised.
"Why should I think about it? The Sports Festival is about showing our effort of training to the world! Helping others might be optional for some others if they wished, but it's best to be at the top condition once we get to the Sports Festival, right?"
Ochako processed what Junpei said and let a sigh of relief escape her lips. "Haaah... And I thought that you would reject it, Takahashi-kun."
"And why should I? We're friends. That's what we count." Junpei chuckled, earning a blush of hers. "Anyway, we should see what you should work out for."
"Right!" Ochako said now pumped up in excitement. Just before Junpei's phone rang as he got two messages. "Uh, you seem to have a call."
"Oh, let me check them and we'll start, okay? Meanwhile, stretch more as it is going to be somehow intense for you."
Ochako nodded and began stretching. While she went to do her things, Junpei turned on his cellphone and see who sent him the messages.
"Let's see..." Junpei muttered as he checked two messages. The first one was from Himiko's, surprised that he hadn't talked to her since he began his life in the U.A., and the other one was from Mei's.
-"Good luck out there, Jukkun! I'm cheering for you!"- Himiko's said with a star emote at the end.
-"I'll see you at the Sports Festival! I'll show you how my babies can stand among all heroes!"- Mei's commented with an engine and triumphant emotes.
'I'm glad to see it...' Junpei smiled happily that those two can show him support. They weren't much shown individually as one was a lovable villain and the other one was a crazy inventor. He guesses that his encounter with them, showed them a different path from what they could have become if he hadn't existed, just like the manga.
Anyways, he had to be now focused as he had one of the girl colleagues that wanted him to train her. It wasn't going to be hard to train her as she needed some pointers on her Quirk and some fighting skills for her. He was only going to show her some basics from what he had been taught by the Grandmaster Arata and some others he had learned from his previous life.
Junpei was just returning to Ochako just as a simple thought came to him. He processed what he thought about before a mischievous grin spread his mouth. "Say, Ochako-chan, I have a question."
Ochako perked up in curiosity. "Yeah? What is it?"
"Why didn't you ask Deku?"
At that moment, Junpei was amused at the shade of red and pink formed on her face. "T-T-To Deku-kun?! W-Well..." She shied away meekly, tapping her fingertips together. "I-I couldn't... I just..."
Crossing his arms, while having the amused smirk planted on his face, he continued. "You want to impress him." He stated matter-of-factly.
"N-N-No! It's not like that!" She retorted bashfully. "Well, kind of, but nothing like that! I swear!"
Junpei chuckled at the way he played with her to get her embarrassed. He always wondered why the girls he was taking care of always said that they shipped together, now he sees it. "Sorry, sorry, it's just too funny to play with you, Ochako-chan!"
"You're an ass, you know that!" She huffed angrily, puffing her cheeks cutely.
"I am, and I'm proud of it!" He shrugged with a not-so-guilty smirk.
Ochako sighed in defeat as she realized that she was being played at. "Anyway, what shall we do then?"
The simple answer Junpei gave her was a smile.
(Meanwhile...)
In the grand dojo, where the three most prodigious disciples trained under the wings of a former hero, said former hero was relaxing with a cup of tea while sitting on seiza. Enjoying the small relaxation he loves to take, he raised his cup onto his lips and sipped his tea.
"Mmh, very relaxing indeed." Arata Kongōseki, the Grandmaster of the dojo, sighed in satisfaction savoring the flavor of his tea. "Now then..." His gaze turned onto the one he didn't expect to come back as he had promised before. "What are you doing here brat?"
Katsuki Bakugo remained impassive in front of the former hero who hadn't shown any respect since he came years ago.
"I want you to teach me everything you taught to Deku and Shitty Eyes!" He stated, not demanded.
Arata's eyes watched him for a moment before closing them. "Then tell me, why should I teach you? You rejected the way I taught my students and I released you from your humiliating state. Do you want me to remind you how I disciplined you?"
Katsuki growled inwardly recalling the day he got expulsed from the dojo after beating the crap of the students. His mom had scolded him and apologized to the senior for his attitude, but nevertheless, that didn't stop him from training to another place.
"I want to beat them both!" He declared.
Arata remained quiet hearing his declaration. The kid or man in front of him had the fire of passion that drove him to become a hero. The kid or man in front of him wished to come up to be a top hero and fight against the evildoers. But there isn't anything dreamy of that career that would please him. Arata knew what kind of job career he was getting into. He recalled the time he was the same as him. Being a brash and hot-headed brat that was confident in his skills and Quirk but eventually got smacked to the reality of what he chose to become.
That kind of attitude is what came to become what the man he is. He may not be able to change his attitude, but perhaps he can wake him up before it's too late. If not, well... he'll learn it eventually or soon.
"Fine but I won't teach you anything special until I see what you can bring to me. But do not think that I would go easy on you, brat."Arata declared firmly, placing his cup down.
His answer, a grin spread on Katsuki's face as he would be able to step up with those two. "Bring it on, old man!"
"First, I should teach you some manners, brat." Arata grunted as the two weeks Katsuki came to him only taught him what would be necessary.
(Two Weeks Later)
Two weeks passed quickly as the day where most first years of the famous high school of U.A. began their Sports Festival. Many aspiring heroes alike participated to let their presence known to the world and be recognized as one of them.
The reincarnated changed onto his school uniform tightly, like the way he used his formal attire with pride and professionalism. His new family stood in front of the door, including his father as he was standing with the mother of the household. His siblings smiling and grinning alike in excitement to see the second son of the family make his presence known in the Sports Festival.
Junpei grinned holding his messenger bag hanging around his torso, which most of his friends and family commented on how it didn't look well with it but Junpei preferred this way and walked toward them.
"Junpei, don't get hurt much over there." Yui said worriedly but softly.
"No promises. Considering that Kacchan is there... and the son of Endeavor." Junpei grunted with a grimace the last part.
"Yes... Him... Well, you'll handle it just fine against him so there is no need to be worried for now, unless something happens." Genkei said crossing his arms.
"Dad, you're going to jinx it!" Fumiko huffed.
"Either way, he'll overcome it. That's the Takahashi's way!" Keiji bellowed, flexing his impressive muscles.
"The Takahashi's way!" Himari parroted also flexing her arms which didn't have any developed muscles. (Of course)
"We'll be there after some preparations, okay?" Yui said to her second son.
"I understand." Junpei nodded. Before he could walk out of the door, his father stood firmly in front of him. "Dad?"
"Junpei." His stern voice said volume before softening with a smile. "Good luck out there and make us proud."
Junpei felt happy like the way he lived in his previous life. Even though he was more likely a father figure, the man in front of him was his father, the father that stayed with him said in an affectionate way that got him to feel good.
"Yes!" He shouted firmly getting various smiles from his family.
"Then show them how we roll, son!" Genkei stepped aside and Junpei walked out of the door with a new sensation on his chest. Screw being hidden to the world and villains, he was now going to show how a Takahashi show their might!
(U.A. – Class 1-A Waiting Room)
Reunited with all the classmates of Class 1-A, they were outfitted with their P.E. uniform while they waited for the announcement of the Sports Festival's beginning.
"Man... I wanted to wear my costume." Mina whined childishly.
"We cannot use them as that would mean giving ourselves an advantage that others don't have. That's the reason that the school restricted from the competition, Ashido-chan." Junpei said while stretching his arms, which earned more whining from the acid girl.
"I wonder what the first round gonna be..." Rikido wondered aloud as it showed how nervous was he.
"No matter what comes, we have no choice but to deal with it." Fumiko said sagely with his arms crossed.
"Right." Mezo nodded in agreement.
Junpei noted that others were also nervous because of the competition. Some of them were subtly while others were in the brick of panic. Junpei noted that Minoru was the most nervous one among all other and wondered why the hell he was nervous. From what he remembered, the two weeks of preparing that the students were given, he was the only one that daydreamed about his victory despite that he only got lucky on the first one and lost in the second one. With how he would shine apart from Yuga's brightness, he didn't know why he was nervous.
Just as he was about to ask him, Tenya bolted from the door. "Everyone, are you ready? We will be entering soon!"
"GAAAAAH!" The popped-haired boy screamed in panic.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Akari demanded as she got startled since she was closer to him. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?!"
"I got nervous as I recalled what happened in the USJ, you can't blame me for being scared!" Minoru stated.
"As much as I hate to say it, he's right." Kyoka said, giving the pervert a thumb on him. "We survived one of the unexpected events that are going to be part of us once we get our license. Getting in abruptly got us more nervous, Class Secretary."
Said Class Secretary got to be sheepish since some of them hadn't yet forgotten the said event. "Yeah, I'm sorry about that."
Junpei noted that Izuku still held the event of the USJ on his heart but disappeared completely once he looked at him. Just as they were about to leave the waiting room, a voice they rarely heard spoke up.
"Midoriya." Shoto Todoroki called him.
"Todoroki-kun? What is it?" Izuku asked in curiosity.
Many of the Class 1-A stopped their conversation and paid attention to one of the strongest powerhouses of their class.
"Looking at things objectively, I think I'm stronger than you." Shoto stated simply, which few of them felt a disturbance (not the way of the force like) and tensed of what was coming.
Izuku cocked an eyebrow in confusion. "That may be so but continue..."
"But... All Might has his eyes on you, doesn't he? I'm not trying to pry about that. But I'm going to beat you." Shoto declared which few of them gasped in surprise. Ochako hummed worriedly while glancing at Junpei which he simply shook his head. As much as he wanted to stop him, he wouldn't listen now. He isn't the Shoto Todoroki he grew onto but the cold Shoto Todoroki that disregarded everything but his cold side of his Quirk. He's yet to be friendly at the moment.
"Oh? Is the best in the class making a declaration of war?" Denki wondered aloud, sitting next to Eijiro and Katsuki.
Worried, Eijiro walked toward them and stop his inward fight. "Hey, hey, hey! Why are you picking a fight all of a sudden? Not now, we're about to start!" He tried to defuse the tension, placing his hands onto their shoulders.
Shoto immediately pushed his hand aside and continued. "We're not here to play at being friends. So what does it matter?"
'Wow... to read and see on paper or in the website is one thing. Hearing it is another story. The wound on his heart is too deep that what only keeps his sanity intact, is the memory of the love his mother gave him before the scar.' Junpei hummed quietly, crossing his arms with a stern look. 'I do want to give that man that calls himself father beat him to a pulp, but that time is yet to come. For now, I'll deal with it indirectly.'
Junpei walked toward Izuku and squeezed his shoulder in assurance. With a nod, Izuku looked at Shoto with a firm gaze. "Todoroki-kun, I don't know what you're thinking when you say you'll beat me, but of course you're better than me. I think you're more capable than most people... Looking at it objectively..."
"Midoriya..." Eijiro attempted to speak up. "You probably shouldn't talk so negative-"
"No, he needs it." Junpei interrupted him.
"Takahashi?"
Izuku gave his childhood friend a grateful nod before continuing. "But, everyone, the students from the other courses are aiming for the top with everything they've got! I can't afford to fall behind." He gave Shoto a determined look. "I'll be going for it with everything I have, too."
Shoto not wanting to prolong it, he simply answered. "Yeah."
The tension between these two got too heavy for the Class A. Shoto walked back, leaving a determined Izuku on its place. While those two were confronting, Katsuki who was watching on the sidelines glaring daggers on Shoto's back which got him riled up since he wasn't the one who got challenged.
'You just challenged the wrong person, Half n Half Bastard!' Katsuki snarled inwardly. 'The one you should have challenged would have been ME!'
"Well, with this fiasco over... are we now ready to go out?" Junpei brought out earning various nods. "Great, Class Representative, with you."
Momo nodded. "Alright, everyone, let's go to the stadium!"
Everyone left the waiting room and began walking to the inner stadium. As they were walking, they began hearing the cheers from the watchers and the boisterous voice of Present Mic.
"Hey! Pay attention, audience! Swarm, mass media!" Hizashi bellowed at top of his lungs, even with his Quirk. "This year's high school rodeo of adolescence that you all love, the U.A. Sports Festival, is about to begin! Everybody, are you ready?!"
The stadium trembled as the many roars of cheers the people were making. Some of the students were trembling in excitement with only hearing them, including Junpei.
"It's time for the students to enter the first-year stage!"
This was their first step to becoming heroes.
This was their chance to show their world and leave a mark to remember.
This was the moment everyone waited with anticipation and to prove that they were ready.
This was the moment, Junpei could see if the world was ready for him.
"Ladies and gentlemen..." Junpei droned out. "It's show time!"
TO BE CONTINUED
So the thing that Junpei tells his family about the League of Villains and the Nomu is because he knows the danger of ignorance and tells them despite that it would be important in the future. But it is better to be prepared than holding that information.
The reason that I took much too finish this chapter was that I had to think of new Quirks for the Guardians. It was difficult with Aries, Taurus, and Virgo.
Still waiting for two new members for the Class B! Or else I have to be creative with them. One MALE and One FEMALE, I said. No TWO males nor TWO females! Maybe…? And no members of other schools, though I much liked that Inasa Yoarashi could join the U.A. because of what happened; he wouldn't even join the U.A.
So make it up or I have to be creative y'all!
Until next time!