(A/N: Reminder of the remedial team. We've got Satou and Aoyama who lost against Cementoss, Ashido and Kaminari against Nezu, and then Katsuki and Kirishima against All Might. In case you forgot. :)
So I've got a little treat for you this week. It's going to be a double update! :D Why? Because I felt like it. Also the ending of this chapter didn't seem like a satisfying cliffhanger. Which means you get two chapters this happy Tuesday. ;) Enjoy!
Warning for teasing from ["Partnering again, eh?..."] to just before ["Oh, yes!"]. )
...
Fuck mornings.
Katsuki was exhausted. Not that he would show it like the others kept up late for remedial classes, but come on, two in the fucking morning? What the fuck, hobo man? Keeping a strict sleep schedule was important to his routine. Only five hours of sleep was seriously messing with his energy, but Katsuki would push himself hard regardless. He needed to work harder to be better.
I'll do whatever it takes to be a Hero.
After hearing what happened to Inko, he had to do his damnedest to become one. His aunt had been attacked by a Villain and although the last time he had seen her she had yelled at him, he was determined to be there to beat whoever tried to mess with her again. Katsuki wasn't so stubborn as to admit at least to himself that he cared for Inko. Just thinking of her had red eyes trailing to a mess of green hair across the way only to snap away a second later.
Katsuki wasn't sure how to feel about Deku right now. Inko was his aunt and it hurt to hear what happened to her. He couldn't even imagine what the nerd was going through since it was his mother though he seemed to be doing alright he guessed. Regardless, from lack of sleep and having to see the two idiots canoodling this morning, Katsuki didn't have the energy to even think of Deku right now. Any scrap of it he was going to need to get through training today.
"WAAAAAAH!" Rock Face screamed as loud as he could from a top of a hill.
It's too fucking early for this crap, Katsuki thought, resisting the urge to yawn.
The others weren't so restrained visibly looking as tired as he felt. Big Lips was trying to appear strong but his eyes were squinted in sleep. The walking Disco Ball wasn't as 'sparkly' as usual with a smile that was more like a grimace. Pinky and Pikachu couldn't stand up properly propped up on their bent knees. Shitty Hair's grumbling ended up getting himself wrapped up in the hobo's scarf to force him to face the early morning sun. Even across the way, the Copycat from 1-B didn't seem up to his usual snark.
"I wasn't lying when I said it would be tough," the scruffy man said, pulling his scarf taunt. "You're not only here to improve your Quirks, but also to overcome weaknesses seen in the finals. Consider why you are more tired than the others before you start whining about it. You have much more to improve here."
He released his hold on Kirishima and the red head would have fallen over if Katsuki hadn't stuck out his arm. He caught Shitty Hair who grabbed onto him long enough to stand on his own. His friend sent him a grateful look. Katsuki merely huffed in reply before pulling his arm away and made his way to his assigned barrel of boiling water to get started on today's training.
...
Across the field, Izuku was surprised at the interaction never expecting Bakugou to help anyone like that. But then again, there had been a lot of things that he never thought his once childhood friend would do. Bakugou had been so brash and explosive since his Quirk came in and it only increased as the years went by. The showering of praise allowed his confrontational nature to grow while at the same time put a lot of pressure on him to live up to those expectations.
Perhaps that was what had led him to think Izuku had been looking down on him? Someone he saw as lesser trying to match him on his perceived higher level. He was completely wrong of course but maybe that was it. Regardless, while Izuku still saw the Hero in Bakugou despite all he's done to him, the subtle changes he saw meant there was progress in him working towards being a better person. It gave him hope that his childhood friend could be an even greater Hero than he would have been already. A Hero that sought to save people and not just to be the best.
"Uraraka! Shinsou!" Aizawa called out suddenly drawing many people's attention to the pair.
Ochako was walking around with a boulder floating above her hands. While Hitoshi was already sweating currently controlling multiple students at once ordering them to use their Quirks while under the control of his own. Two birds, one stone, right?
"That also includes you," the teacher continued, his tone stern. "Technically your team didn't fail, but you were very, very close. You took a big risk with what you did despite all of your precautions. It was a gamble that paid off this time, but next time you may not be so lucky. It was only Thirteen's concern for Uraraka that aided in your win, but against a real Villain it won't be the same case."
Ochako and Hitoshi hung their heads in shame, but nodded accepting the criticism.
Aizawa nodded as well before addressing them as a group, "All of you should know to not put yourselves in danger on purpose just in order to win. Yes, you're training to become Heroes, but you need to be smart in this dangerous work. Think and fight with your mind as well as your body. Find a way to win without sacrificing yourself and live to fight another day."
Izuku knew those words came from the loss of his friend back in his high school days. A young Hero-in-training who never had a chance to see their future as Pros come into being. A sad story but one that fueled the man to push his students so they wouldn't meet the same fate.
"Don't lose focus. Work harder and aim to be faster, better, stronger. And don't forget where you started from. Remember who you were before UA. Who you were then and who you are now are drastically different. Keep pushing forward while thinking why you're sweating, why your limits are constantly being tested. Then you will know what it means to improve."
His words were harsh and demanding of them to push themselves to their limits in order to surpass them. It was hard work but even then, they knew it was all in an effort to help them improve and be better. Some even already seeing results from their hard efforts. That paired with his little speech drove them to work even harder and become the best kind of Heroes they could be.
"Meow, meow, meow, meow!" Pixie Bob spoke in a laughing tone while sitting on a pile of boxes. "More importantly, you kittens are gonna have fun tonight! The two classes will be pitted against each other in a test of courage. You've all been training very hard, so as a reward, you'll get to play hard later!"
Her enthusiasm was not matched by the students who were already exhausted. To many it sounded more like training than a reward and in the dark no less. Though those that embraced the darkness looked forward to the coming revelry in the dark. Regardless they all refused to slack off and continued to keep pushing themselves as they trained.
A test of courage, huh? Izuku thought, smiling as he sparred with one of the 1-B students. Sounds like fun!
Training was followed by preparing dinner. Bakugou surprised a lot of people with his cutting skills but Izuku knew he actually was a very good cook. His passion for spicy things had driven him to learn so he could make food at his preferred spice level. Izuku himself helped out loading firewood while others busied themselves peeling potatoes and other tasks.
At one point he spotted Kouta carrying a box of vegetables to help out his aunt. He was still standoffish with the other students but he wasn't exactly running away to his hideout like before. Izuku managed to caught his eye and gave him a small wave as he was putting down his box. The boy looked away stubbornly but after a moment glanced back at him and returned the wave before darting off. Izuku chuckled as he went back to his task.
Soon enough they finished, consuming the stew they had just made, and cleaning up after themselves. Then it was time. The test of courage was about to begin.
Well, for most of them. Unfortunately, those in the remedial classes were dragged off, some literally, by their teacher. Bakugou made no complaint and followed with his hands in his pockets. He didn't want to do that dumb kid stuff anyway. Though talk of strategy and whatever wasn't going to be much better. Ugh, this training camp really sucked.
For those participating, Class 1-B was up first as the 'scarers' scattered along the planned route lying in wait to terrify them with their Quirks. Izuku himself was already brainstorming how he would use the Support Items he was dressed in head to toe. The path was a loop with nametags located at the midway point to prove they cleared the course. Then 1-A would pair up to walk the route and thankfully their numbers were even what with six of them stuck taking the extra classes. Meaning Izuku didn't have to do this alone.
Thank goodness for that.
"Revelry in the dark," Tokoyami said out of the blue.
Not sure what that means, but okay!
They drew lots to find their partners. Tokoyami was with Shouji, Jirou with Hagakure, Yaoyorozu with Ojiro, Ochako with Tsuyu, and Tenya with Kouda. Izuku found himself paired with Sero who flashed him a smile.
"Partnered again, eh, Midoriya?" Sero quipped, wiggling his eyebrows. "If we keep seeing each other like this, might as well go steady."
Izuku laughed the comment off though he still blushed at the insinuation. He glanced over at Shouto who was glaring at Sero as he stood next to his own partner Hitoshi. The greenet caught the bi-color teen's attention and Shouto's expression softened. They stared at each other for a moment lost in the other's eyes while Sero and Hitoshi traded a knowing look.
"So, you and Todoroki, huh?" the tape wielder said suddenly next to him.
The Quirkless teen jumped as he snapped his attention back to his partner.
"Eh? Yes? No? What?"
Sero chuckled at his reaction as he said, "Never mind. You ready for this?"
"Oh, yes!" Izuku chirped, glad for the change of subject. "I've never done one of these before but it sounds like fun!"
They were one of the last pairs in the lineup so they waited patiently for their turn. Well, as much as one could while listening to screams coming from the forest intermittently. It was just as Ochako and Tsuyu entered the forest that the air of playful scaring turned to be filled with real fear. Even the smell in the air turned foul and there were whisps of black smoke drifting out of the tops of the trees.
Is there a fire on the mountain?
But how? The embers fluttering in the smoke looked blue. The only fire related Quirks were Shouto's and Bakugou's and neither of them had blue flames. Maybe Fukidashi with the right words or Monoma if he copied one but again, no one in either class had a Quirk like that. So, what was going on? Izuku had a sinking feeling that their fun filled night was taking a turn for the worst. Which was quickly confirmed when Pixie Bob was suddenly surrounded by a pink aura and pulled by an unseen force.
"Pixie Bob!" Mandalay cried out as they tracked her trajectory.
She was on the ground, her head pinned by a long cloth covered object. The tall figure holding it could either be a man or a woman, Izuku wasn't sure, but that didn't matter right now! The Hero was hurt, lying still as blood was running done her face and her visor was broken.
"Let's first rid ourselves of these feral cats," this person, this…this Villain, sneered.
Villains? Here? No way. I thought they had planned it so no one could find us. We don't even know where we are!
Seriously, what the hell was happening?
The one pinning Pixie Bob wasn't alone. There was also another Villain next to them posturing. He had green scaled skin and purple hair armed with what looked like a sword on his back. Wait, the eye mask and scarf looked familiar. Was he trying to look like Stain?
Izuku didn't know how to feel about that nor did he have the time. Pixie Bob was hurt and the camp was being attacked by Villains. Clearly more than these two judging by the smoke and blue fire raging in the woods. And now there was some sort of pink gas? Fuck. Who knows how many were out there or what they could do? They had to be careful as once again they would have to fight just to stay alive.
Then Izuku remembered something. Or rather someone.
Shit! Kouta!
"Mandalay!" Izuku called out, already readying his Jet shoes. "I know where Kouta is!"
"Hey wait!" the Hero yelled at the same time the lizard Villain shouted, "That's him!"
But Izuku heard neither of them as he dashed off into the forest with his whole focus on finding Kouta and making sure he was safe.
"Shit," the lizard man cursed. "The target's on the move."
Target? Mandalay thought in dismay.
"Not to worry, Spinner, dear," the other Villain assured their partner. "He should run into one of the others."
"You're right, Big Sis Mag," the lizard man nodded before turning back to the others and started monologuing as bad guys do. "Greetings, UA High School. We are part of the Vanguard Action Squad of the League of Villains. How are you this fine evening?"
Little did they know that Mandalay was sending out a message to all the Heroes and students warning them of what was happening. They were under attack and their secret training camp was no longer safe.
"Everyone! Two Villains attacked us. High possibility there are more. They also revealed they have at least one target. Everyone, especially Midoriya Izuku, needs to return to camp immediately. We need to regroup. Do not engage any enemies."
Izuku ran while listening to the telepath's message. The feeling was foreign like a kind of electrical static but he ignored it and her instructions so that he could find Kouta. It didn't matter that he was a target. He needed to find Kouta and fast. Then they could both go to safety.
Gods damn it, Shigaraki! What the fuck do you think you're doing?!
The Villain seriously had no qualms when it came to attacking children. The same children in fact over and over again. Seriously, universe, what gives? And Kouta was out there somewhere alone, most likely at his hideout. The thought of him alone and unprotected drove Izuku to move all the faster to get to him. To keep him safe.
...
Kouta was scared. The trees were on fire and there was a weird smell in the air. He was alone and his cousin didn't know about this place so she couldn't come find him. Couldn't come protect him from whatever was happening. He didn't know what to do so he stood there staring out at the scary sight below. And it only got worse as he heard a noise from behind him at the same time the voice of his cousin rang in his head.
"Kouta. Kouta! I hope you can hear my voice. Hurry up and come back to camp!"
He could, he very much could hear his cousin's voice in his head, but he couldn't come back to camp. Not with the towering masked and cloaked figure suddenly staring down at him.
"I'm sorry, I can't come to you! I don't know where you're always running off to."
He knew that as he stepped back away from the scary man. It was part of why he came up here because nobody knew about it. So that he could be alone. But now that was putting him in danger. Kouta was scared.
"Forgive me. Just get back home, fast!"
He would, oh how he wished he could. But how could he with this person, this…this Villain bearing down on him. Following him step for step.
"Came up here scouting for a nice vantage point," the Villain said, standing before him. "Didn't expect to find someone up here. You're not even on the list."
Kouta trembled as he looked up at the tall man, not knowing what to say or do. Because what could he do? He was just a kid!
"By the way, nice hat, kid," the man continued, his voice growing ever familiar in his young ears though he didn't know why. "Wanna trade it for this lame mask?"
He reached for the mask with a giant hand. Kouta took the chance and turned to run, but it was no use. The scary man was fast and blocked his path, muscles breaking through his skin at an alarming rate. However, that wasn't what Kouta was focusing on as he trembled with fear. The news broadcast of his parents' death played in his head as he realized who exactly was in front of him. The Quirked muscles paired with a murderous grin and a damaged eye filled with bloodlust. It was him.
The Villain who killed his parents.
It was in that moment as the murderer's fist was coming down on him that Kouta found himself being dragged out of the way.
...
Izuku almost didn't make it. He finally reached the cliff to find poor Kouta facing a Villain all by himself. He looked so small compared to the towering figure. One who was aiming a punch right for the kid. No way in hell was Izuku going to let that happen.
With a burst of his Jet shoes, the Quirkless teen shot forward and grabbed the boy in just the nick of time. At least for him though Izuku still took a glancing blow from the Villain. His goggles cracked and flew off his head as they landed in a heap on the ground.
Okay, ouch, that fucking hurt, Izuku thought as he picked himself up to face their attacker.
"What are you doing here?" Kouta shouted, shocked that he was there.
"I came to make sure you were alright," Izuku answered, eyes not leaving the Villain.
Wait, is that? Izuku thought, looking the man over and immediately recognizing certain features. Shit, it is him. Muscular.
The greenet chanced a glance down at the boy beside him who was trembling like a leaf. He could relate being faced with the man who attacked their parents but he didn't have time to allow his fear to take over him. He needed to protect them both.
"Well, well, well," the familiar man drawled with a grin. "Look who it is. Shigaraki's little pet project. Peh, I don't see what's so special but whatever. You're coming with me, kid. Shigaraki wants you."
"I don't give a fuck what Shigaraki wants," the Quirkless teen spat back. He was really pissed at the handy man right now. "No way am I going with you."
"You got quite a mouth on ya," Muscular jeered. "A little fight in you too. This could be fun. Shigaraki said to take you in but he didn't say in one piece."
The muscled Villain was staring at him like a piece of meat. There was no way Izuku was going to be able to fight him off alone. He needed backup, fast. And he needed to get Kouta the hell away from here as soon as possible. But with his broken goggles there was no way Izuku could call for help. He couldn't even use his phone seeing as there was no service out here. He'll have to add a secondary communication device of some kind after this. If they made it out of this alive that is.
"Come on, Midoriya," the Villain taunted, dropping into an attack position ready to strike. "Show me why Shigaraki wants you so bad. Show me what makes you so special. SHOW ME YOUR BLOOD!"
Muscular surged forward and Izuku only had a second to grab Kouta before using his Jet shoes to shoot up into the air. They jumped over the Villain as he ran past them and landed quickly turning to face the man.
"Kouta, get on my back," Izuku instructed as he crouched down.
The boy was quick to do as he was told and latched onto him like a koala. The Quirkless teen willed his arm wrappings to unfurl and then secure the kid to his back. All while he kept the Villain at bay with a blast of fire from his mask.
"Not bad," Muscular said as he waved the last of the flames away. "But playing keep away isn't my style. Fight me with everything you've got!"
He moved to charge them again at the same time Izuku threw a glue bomb at him. The bomb hit true and dowsed the man with glue, drying instantly and cementing him on the spot. But the young analyst could see the glue already cracking as more muscles grew out of his skin.
Shit.
By himself, he wasn't going to last long. Izuku was smart and clever. Could think his way out of a lot of things, but sometimes brain could not beat brawns. Sometimes you needed more of an edge in a fight than some gear. And Izuku knew just the kind of edge he needed in this moment.
Eraserhead.
His teacher had been with the remedial class at the time of the attack. Perhaps he was still there and could help Izuku take down this muscled monster. He could at least get Kouta there, a bit safer than out here. Then the Quirkless teen could draw the Villain away and use being a target to his advantage.
With that plan in mind, Izuku blew another billow of fire as he reached for another bomb. Muscular was still working on the first layer of glue as he was hit by a second glue bomb. The Villian roared in anger and grew even more muscle to break himself free. The young Hero knew he didn't have much time and so he tossed a smoke bomb before he jumped off the cliff with Kouta secured on his back.
"COME BACK HERE!" the muscled man screamed, a loud crack snapping through the air.
Fuck. Not good.
Izuku was racing on his Jet shoes, zig zagging through the trees as best he could to put some distance between them. Behind them he could hear the Villain rampaging through the forest in pursuit. He seriously hoped he could get to Eraserhead in time.
The Quirkless teen did his best to keep their attacker at bay. Throwing smoke and glue bombs behind him until he ran out. The others wouldn't help in this situation, not even the improved capture bombs considering the Villain's Quirk. Izuku figured the only way to defeat him was to erase the muscled man's Quirk and then take him down. It wasn't like any of them had a Quirk like All Might's to overpower Muscular in strength. Well maybe Dark Shadow empowered by the darkness of the night but Tokoyami could be anywhere. At least with Eraserhead, he had a general idea of where he could be.
Izuku dodged another tree trying not to get distracted by the angered howling behind him as the Villain continued to chase them. He then spotted some of his classmates ahead running for the same building he was. Most likely to safety and here Izuku was drawing danger to the door step. But what choice did he have? He needed to find Eraserhead.
"RUN!" Izuku yelled. "THERE'S A VILLAIN BEHIND ME! RUN!"
Tenya was quick to take action and grabbed hold of Kouda and Sero by the collar before activating his Quirk. The animal whisperer and tape wielder flailed as they zoomed off ahead of them. Izuku let out a sigh of relief as he kept going.
"Why?" a quiet voice asked behind him. "Why did you come for me? Why did you fight him?"
He couldn't spare a glance focusing on skate-running, but he did reply, "I had to make sure you were safe. That's what Heroes do. Save people."
"But he's so strong," Kouta pushed, holding on to him tighter.
"I know," Izuku said as he dodged another tree. "That man…he's dangerous."
"I-I know," the boy replied, voice wobbly with tears. "He…he killed my parents."
That hurt Izuku's heart. That the kid knew and had to face the man that murdered the most precious people in his life. It hurt Izuku too but at least his mother was still alive. But Kouta…he ended up alone.
"I know," the Quirkless teen answered. "He's the one that hurt my mom too."
He could hear and feel the sharp intake of breath from behind him. Izuku hadn't really been planning to share that as he didn't want to make the boy sad. But it was a truth and a connection that they both shared. For better or for worse was yet to be seen, but that was for the future. For now, they were running for their lives.
Suddenly they cleared the tree line and were met with an odd sight. Tenya, Sero, and Kouda were stopped and standing off to the side. They were watching with caution as Aizawa was dealing with who had to be one of the other Villains. The black-haired man was covered with scars lined with staples and wearing dark clothes including a long coat.
Eraserhead had the scarred man wrapped in his capture weapon as the Villain taunted him about his worry for his students. The Hero pulled his scarf taunt in threat only for it to cut through the other like butter. The Villain seemed to turn to sludge and Izuku wondered if that was his Quirk. But he also noticed that Aizawa had Erasure active so it couldn't be that. Perhaps someone else's that he couldn't see? Which left the question as to what was the Villain's Quirk.
"SHOW ME YOUR BLOOD!"
Fuck. Right, Muscular.
"ERASERHEAD, QUICK!" Izuku cried out as he rushed towards him. "There's a Villain following us with a transformation Quirk that increases his muscle mass. You need to erase his Quirk fast!"
The Pro Hero nodded before snapping his gaze towards the sounds of the coming danger crashing through the trees.
"Get into the building now!" Aizawa ordered, momentarily pleased when he heard quick footsteps behind him.
He searched the trees for any sign of the coming threat. Blinking just enough to rehydrate his eyes but still ready to activate Erasure. It was obvious where the Villain was coming from with all the noise. No subtlety at all but that was to his advantage. Without even seeing him, he could guess his next opponent most likely relied on his Quirk a lot. Let's see how he handles a Quirkless fight.
The Villain broke through the trees tossing one of them out of his way with ease. Eraserhead recognized him immediately and internally cursed. The problem child and Kouta had to face him of all people? Why did the universe have to curse them with such rotten luck? No matter. The Hero would make quick work of Muscular and finally bring him down.
Black eyes flashed red as Erasure took effect. Muscular paused in shock as his muscle retreated back under his skin. The blonde was clearly trying to will his Quirk to work but that would never happen under Eraserhead's Quirked eyes.
"Stand down, Villain," the Underground Hero ordered with a growl.
"Ah, another Hero, huh?" the Villain sneered. "Eraserhead, right? You think taking my Quirk will stop me from fighting you? No way in hell. I'll beat you down until you're a bloody heap in the dirt. I will make you show me your blood."
Muscular ran towards him only to be instantly wrapped in the Hero's scarf. Eraserhead surged forward and kneed the man in the face, right into his injured eye which was an obvious weak spot. It was almost laughable how easily the Villain crumbled to the ground. All talk but without his Quirk he wasn't much of a fight. The Pro fished out a pair of Quirk canceling cuffs and secured them on tight before turning around.
The problem child and Kouta were still there. Watching.
"Thank you, Aizawa-sensei," Izuku breathed out, the boy still on his back. "I knew I couldn't fight him on my own, but I was able to get Kouta away from him."
"Why are you still out here?" Aizawa fumed as he stalked over to them. "I told you to go inside."
"Can't," the problem child replied as he unfurled his arm wrappings and passed Kouta over to him. "I can still help the others out."
"Not as a target, you can't," the Hero said sternly while holding the boy securely.
"Watch me," Izuku retorted with a tone of challenge.
The teen then rushed off back into the forest and Aizawa could do nothing with his arms full of child.
Fuck.
"TELL THE OTHERS THEY HAVE MY PERMISSION TO FIGHT!" Aizawa shouted. "IN DEFENSE ONLY!"
The kid waved over his shoulder in response as he ran while the tired man sighed.
…problem child.
"Is he going to be okay?" Kouta asked quietly, staring off where Izuku had left.
"I sure hope so," was the teacher's answer. "Let's get you inside."
Then I'll go find the problem child and drag his ass back here if I need to.
Aizawa was not going to let anything else traumatic happen to the green one for once. The universe seriously needed to cut the kid some slack.
It doesn't.
...
Tumblr blog name: ja0-s-blank-canvas-fic
Notes extension: ja0-s-blank-canvas-fic/720040764461170688/part-3-chapter-25-training-camp-test-of?source=share