"Bakugo will come right for me; he will ignore anything Ida has planned and likely will not even listen to him. Ida will likely stay behind with the bomb giving us a two-on-one advantage with Bakugo. I think you should keep your distance and use ranged attacks like furniture or rubble, and will I keep it up close and personal? Take him down and capture him, then we move to Ida." Izuku said.
"Or you take him one on one," Ochaco said.
"What?" Izuku was surprised, it was what he wanted, but he was putting that aside.
"Listen, I don't know the whole story between you two, but there is something there for him to call you Deku and after that confrontation in class this morning. Do you want to fight him 2v1, or do you want to show him that you belong!"
"I want to fight him and show him how far I have come, that I am not just some Deku."
"Then you fight him and leave Ida to me," Ochaco said, pumping her fist.
"Why would you do that?" he asked with genuine curiosity.
"Because we are friends, and I can tell you need this. This would be our first training class if this were real life. We might get in trouble, but they won't throw the book at us, especially if we win."
"I don't know what to say?" Izuku replied.
"Don't say anything; just kick his ass," Ochaco said with a wide grin.
"You got it."
-Observation Room-
The class couldn't hear what was being said during the planning stage the mics kicked in as soon as the match started. Still, from what they could see, Bakugo and Ida were not on the same page at all, with the speedster eventually just walking away and clearing the room they had the bomb in of any obstacles in his own; as the feral grin and Bakugo had gotten even more manic.
Ochaco and Izuku, on the other hand, seemed to have come to some plan and looked pumped for whatever they had planned. Tsu noticed how they looked at each other, which bothered her. She saw she could feel his excitement and nervousness. What bothered her more was when they were talking, she felt something from him, an emotion she couldn't place, and it was directed at Ochaco. It made her want to cry or run and attack the girl. Though the feelings played subtly on her face to the extent that no one in the class could tell the turmoil she was suffering, her heartbeat, on the other hand, betrayed her, and Kyoka could hear it loud and clear.
She leaned over to her friend, "Tsu, what is happening? Your heart rate is everywhere? Are you ok?"
"Yes," she lied.
"I can tell when people are lying, Tsu, even you." She said sympathetically. "I understand if you just don't want to talk about it, but you don't have to lie. When you are ready or talk, I am here for you, ok?"
Tsu wanted to yell but knew that was her misplacing her emotions, "I'm sorry, Kyoka, but I can't talk about it here. Maybe after school or something. Thank you."
"No problem, Tsu, whenever you are ready? Whether after school today or some other day, know you can talk to me."
Tsu felt better knowing that Kyoka wasn't upset with her, and she began to debate about telling her friend what was going on, as there was a measure of embarrassment that went along with it.
-A Fated Battle-
When the buzzer sounded, Bakugo raced off, determined to end Deku once and for all. The bastard had somehow cheated into U.A. and was walking the halls deceiving the rest of the damn extras. He was going to expose and destroy this damn pebble for the last time; he was supposed to be the only one to come from Aldera; he was going to be the future number one; he would not have his story tarnished by this GOD DAMN DEKU ANY LONGER.
Izuku and Ochaco ran in; two stairwells presented themselves. Ochaco took a position in the center of the room as Izuku made his way up the right side, ensuring his boots made some noise to lure Bakugo in. Sure enough, as he neared the corner, something screamed at him in his head, and he jumped back just in time to avoid a sneak attack. Ochaco hearing this bolted up the left side, negating gravity on herself so she could quickly leap up the stairs.
"A sneak attack Kaachan!" Izuku said mockingly, hoping to drive Bakugo further past the point of rational thought. "Your so scared of me that you had to try and take me out with a sneak attack; you don't even have the balls to take me head on."
"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU SAY TO ME DEKU? ARE YOU CALLING ME A COWARD?"
"If the shoe fits…"
"I WILL FUCKING END YOU RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF EVERYONE, YOU FUCKING PILE OF SHIT," Bakugo screamed as the foam began to fall from his mouth, Izuku knew that he had added even more gasoline to the raging inferno, but he was not about to back down. This was his moment to show Bakugo that he wasn't just a damn Deku and would not be anyone or anything's pebble.
Bakugo leaped forward with an explosive right hook like so many times in their lives. But like any other time, Izuku was suddenly surrounded by green lightning. He surged past his norm of 8% to 15%. His body didn't creak or protest; instead, it reveled in the power. Stepping forward past the hook, he delivered a devastating uppercut that halted Bakugo's momentum and sent him up, but not for long. Izuku felt it was in slow motion seeing Bakugo rising into the air after the uppercut; he grabbed his legs, spinning and slamming Bakugo into the ground driving the air out of his opponent.
He knew the fight wasn't over; still holding Bakugo's legs, he pivoted and spun, throwing him across the room and causing the wall to spiderweb. Before Bakugo could react, Izuku dived after him with a knee strike that found its home breaking the boy's nose. Bakugo responded to the pain by throwing his palms forward and letting off a massive blast that rocketed Izuku away and through the opposing wall.
Bakugo's mind raced at everything that had just happened; he stared at the whole across for him; the feeling of victory began to fill him until it faded just quickly when the dust settled, and he saw the green lightning emanating from the darkness.
"Is that the best you got, Kaachan" Izuku's voice rang out. He stepped out. His costume was smoldering some, but his reinforcement in the chest had held; he looked almost like a monster emerging.
-Observation Room-
"Dude, he looks manly as fuck," Eijiro said.
"Kero," was all Tsu could say as a fire ignited in her at that moment that could only be described as a passion; later alone, she would blush at the thoughts that ran through her head.
-Battle Ground-
Bakugo roared and rushed Izuku bringing up his gauntlet as his other hand pulled a pin from it.
"DON'T DO IT, YOUNG BAKUGO. YOU WILL KILL HIM," All-Might yelled over the intercom.
"NOT IF THE SON OF A BITCH DODGES, DIE DEKU!" Bakugo replied.
Izuku quickly processed that the gauntlet must store Bakugo's explosive sweat and that he was about to unleash a massive and potentially life-threatening blast upon him; deftly, he moved and ducked under Bakugo's area and forced the explosion upward; the building shook violently.
"Izuku, are you ok?" Ochaco yelled over the earpiece.
"Yes," he replied as he drove his knee into Bakugo's gut as hard as he could, doubling over his rival. He then grabbed his head and repeatedly introduced his knee to Bakugo's face till the explosive teen fell to the ground, a bloody, unconscious mess. He wrapped the capture tape around his fallen foes' wrists.
"BAKUGO HAS BEEN ELIMINATED!" the call rang out.
Ida recovered from the building being shaken and decided was surprised when the door flew open, and Ochaco came barreling in like a missile spearing him in the gut. Her five-point contact was successful. She rolled and kicked flip the speedster into the air, hoping to immobilize him, but to her dismay, Ida used his thrusters to fly around the room, forcing Ochaco to go on the defense.
As Ida was closing in, Izuku ran in. "Release him, Ochaco, and run for the bomb." Ochaco immediately pressed her fingers together, deactivating her quirk; fighting back the urge to vomit, Izuku grabbed Ida, distracting him, and allowing Ochaco to secure the victory. The two boys rolled off each other and took a deep breath.
"Good Match," Izuku said, catching his breath.
"Same to you, my friend," the speedster replied. The trio exited the building together as the medical bots took Bakugo away; Ida looked at Izuku. "He seemed to have a personal vendetta against you."
"The feeling was mutual." Izuku said, "We have a sordid history."
When the group entered the observation room, they were greeted with cheers as the other classmates swarmed them to congratulate them on a good match. Tsu repressed the urge to scandalize the room. Instead, she held back, waiting to check on him. It was one of the hardest things she ever had to do; she just wanted to fuss over him.
When All-Might called for MVP voting, it was decided that Ochaco deserved the honors. Momo had started chastising Izuku for engaging Bakugo one-on-one, but Ochaco told her he wanted to go 2v1. Still, she decided to split the group as she felt I would work out better in the end, that they just weren't prepared for Ida being able to use his thrusters with no gravity. Momo offered her apologies to Izuku, who was able to stutter out, "I. It is okay, Yaoyorozu."
The intensity of the first battle seemed to pump up the rest as the next group took the stage. Tsu managed to get near Izuku. "Are you ok? You're not hurt, are you?"
Izuku smiled at her, "I am good; my chest plate took most of the damage."
"Good, I wouldn't want you to get hurt." She said in a whisper.
"You be careful out there too," he replied, they looked away, hiding their blushes. Kyoka heard the exchange and watched them turn from each other, and things began to click into place.
Kyoka and Tsu's attention was taken when Shoto froze the building, almost freezing Toru. The poor girls' costumes consisted of only boots and gloves. All-Might immediately made a call to David Shield about fixing that problem quickly.
-Tsu's Turn-
When Fumikage and Tsu took the field, they discussed their strategy as they prepared to go against Kirishima and Hanta. Tsu proposed using their mobility to avoid Kirishima and focus their attack on Sero, hoping to use their advantage to find the bomb. The buzzer sounded as the groups began to move.
"That is a perfect plan, Tsu," Fumi said as Dark Shadow popped out and nodded his approval. "It very adaptively plays to our advantages. After the trial, I would like to discuss our quirks more; maybe we can get a drink at the café near the school."
"If we have time." That was all she said—not noticing that Fumi seemed a little sad by her response. Dark Shadow patted Fumi's shoulder in sympathy.
The villains not ones to be passive meet them to attempt to hold the heroes at bay. To impress, Fumi shouted, "TSU MAKE A RUN FOR IT, DARK SHADOW, AND I WILL HOLD THEM HERE." Tsu nodded, dodged past Kirishima, and narrowly avoided an attack by Hanta; the tap user turned to pursue.
"Now, Dark Shadow, hold them off so the fair maiden may secure us victory."
Dark Shadow roared forth, cutting off Hanta and sending him crashing back into Kirishima. The hardening quirk user brushed off the collision and turned to rush Fumi head-on. "Should have kept your shadow closer, Sero go."
Fumi attempted to pull Dark Shadow back, but they vastly underestimated Kirishima's speed, and he tackled Fumi to the ground. Sero bound off after Tsu and a game of cat and mouse erupted between the two as Tsu used her superior agility to keep an advantage over her pursuer. She froze when she busted into the room with the box; the entire room was covered in tape. She felt a sense of worry overtake her body and instinctively leaped up and backward, dodging Sero's attack. Quick, she pushed off the wall driving her feet into the pursuer's back; as Sero bounced, an idea sprung to her mind; with a burst, she delivered a drop kick sending Sero crashing into the tape maze surrounding the bomb.
Dark Shadow managed to push Kirishima back, allowing Fumi to get to his feet, wiping blood from his lip. "We shall not be defeated here, a foul villain; I shall taste victory ." He called out.
"Not today buddy," Eijor shouted as he dived at Fumi once more.
"HERO TEAM WINS," rang out.
But unfortunately, Eijiro was already airborne and crashed into his opponents, sending them crashing to the floor.
As the teams walked back, Tsu was helping Sero walk as his back was in terrible pain from the kick; Eijiro took over once they came into view. Fumi was silent feeling he did not perform as he hoped.
-The Observation Room-
"OMG, did anyone else hear the fair maiden comment," Mina said. "I wonder if Tsu likes him?"
Izuku winced and felt his fist clench involuntarily; he chastised himself; it wasn't like he had told her how much she meant to him, how he looked for her for years, or how his world was brighter if she dared to grace his dreams. He sighed. God, she would think he was some pervert. She didn't owe him something if Tsu liked Fumi. As long as he treated her right, he would support them.
Before they entered the room, Tsu asked Fumi to stay back.
"Fumikage, I thank you for finding me to be a "Fair Maiden," but I must tell you that someone has already caught my eye. While I cannot be involved with you in the way you may desire, if it were not too much, I would still like to be your friend."
"I understand, my lady; I thank you for you honesty." He responded.
"I wonder what they are talking about," Toru said. "Maybe she is telling him that she wants to get to the café," the excitement was evident in Toru's voice.
"No, she is telling him the opposite," Kyoka said as she stood beside Izuku. She heard his heartbeat increase at the news, and a sly smile crossed her face.
"Awe, I was hoping for some romance," Mina pouted.
"Mina, it is only the second day of class," Momo said, chastising the girl.
"Whatever, I could have been love at first sight or something romantic like that."
"While the concept is romantic, I don't believe it works that way; it is more lust at first sight. At least according to Mother." Momo said.
"She said that someone else had caught her attention; I wonder who that could be," Kyoka whispered to Izuku as she walked away.
When the heroes entered, Tsu was named MVP; Fumikage looked a little crestfallen as the bout was discussed, and each team gave their reasoning for their plans. While the discussion was going on, Izuku approached Tsu and leaned in, "I was right. You do have a hell of a kick."
"Thank You, Izuku," she responded quietly. Kyoka could hear her heart beating from across the room.
-Aftermath-
As the groups went to their locker rooms to change, everyone was talking about their matches, and they noticed that Bakugo's locker was empty.
"GLORY BE TO OUR GLORIOUS UPPERCLASSMAN," Mineta called out, getting everyone's attention.
"You Mineta, what's up," Denki asked.
"There is a peephole over here; fate has given us this opportunity to bathe our souls in the glory of seeing the luscious bodies of our classmates."
"That is not a very hero thing to do, Mineta; you should simply ignore it," Ida said.
"Dude are you gay?" was the purple boy's response. "Sero, Denki you guys in?"
"I mean, if it's there," Sero said. Denki nodded.
"That is so unmanly," Eijiro said.
Mineta started rambling about the girls in a very objectifying manner and adding vulgar sexual comments; Izuku was shocked that no one was moving to do anything. Hearing the boy's words about Tsu snapped him out of his surprise. Quickly he activated One for All and leaped across the room, snatching Mineta away and tossing him across the room.
"Dude, what the fuck," he yelled as he crashed.
"What the hell is wrong with you, Mineta?" he yelled, "In fact, what the hell is wrong with all of you? None of you would stop him, Denki and Sero; you would perv out with him. KYOKA?"
"We heard everything Izuku; I was ready to stab his eye out before you jumped in. Momo is patching this side," he heard the girl call back.
"Try that shit again, Mineta, and I will throw you through the lockers," he shook his head at Denki and Sero as he finished getting changed.
"You are right, Izuku; I should have done more than just chastise him," Ida said. "I will report this to Aizawa." He said as he exited.
-Girl's Side-
"Izuku is so awesome," Ochaco said as she dropped her towel to get dressed after the drama had passed.
"He is decent," Momo added, zipping her skirt. "He did more than just use his words; he stepped up."
"I was so about to stab that little pervert," Kyoka said. "It sucks that Denki and Sero would go along with it. Fucking perverts."
"I wonder if Izuku has a girlfriend," Mina mused. "He is a little plain but a stand-up dude."
"I don't think he is plain," Ochaco said as a chorus of "Ooohhs" erupted.
Tsu bristled up, "I don't mean it like that. He is a nice guy, and his freckles are cute," Ochaco tried to defend herself, but she wasn't doing herself any favors. "Come on; someone back me up."
"His freckles are kind of cute," Toru chimed in. "And hey, he's pretty buff, and I couldn't be the only one that thought he looked kind of hot when he came out of that hole in the wall all green lightning."
"That was sick," Mina said.
The girls then started talking about different things that happened during the tests; how Shoto froze the whole building made Toru shudder to remember the cold, which drew a laugh.
"Let us not dilly dally ladies; we still need to report back to class," Momo called as she walked to the door, "Please let the professor know I will be there shortly. I am going to report the incident to Professor Midnight."
As they returned to class, Kyoka caught up with Tsu. "Hey, Tsu, did you want to hit the café after class today?"
Tsu contemplated lying, but instead, she just nodded, Toru said something about the café soon it turned into all the girls wanting to go together. Even Momo wanted in once she heard after returning to class. Truthfully, she seemed more excited than everyone else. Tsu was slightly thankful for it turning into a group outing, it meant she could avoid talking about Izuku with Kyoka.
Izuku walked passed the group on his way to catch up with Ida. "See everyone tomorrow," he said as he walked past, he stopped and smiled when all the girls responded with a similar goodbye. She could feel how light his heart felt at not being shunned, but instead being accepted. It made her step lighten as well as she realized that here, she was not only in U.A., that she was going to a café with all her female classmates and that she was able to see her mate again tomorrow.