And I'm finally back!
A day late, due to last minute edits, but better late than never. Let's just get the team building process underway!
One thing I want to note is that the next chapter MIGHT need 3 weeks to cook, instead of the current 2, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it!
Without further ado, here it is! Chapter 26!
Meanwhile, the streets of Kamino
The rain, like most seasons, was absolutely pouring. The wind was howling, and yet there was also a fog that felt stuck to the air. Cars and people were rushing to seek shelter, among them there was one girl, with arms wrapped around paper bags.
As a gust of wind blew, it pulled back the flimsy useless piece of brown cloth that was considered to be 'a hood', and revealed her black hair… and green eyes.
The girl couldn't help but growl, before noticing that she got the attention of others on the sidewalk. She got a move-on, with her expression still one of anger.
With her shrunk posture, her eyes went about… and found her goal. A door, her house.
Using the key, she entered, and was greeted with a home, fit for a core family with the bright dye… and yet the lights were off, and she was the only one in.
The couch, along with an armchair was knocked over. Coffee table was smashed, the rug was ripped, and a number of picture frames, only one or two of which included her, were cracked.
Tossing the wet cloak next to some of her other clothes, an orange American football jersey, as well as blue shorts, she set the paper bag on the kitchen counter which overlooked the living room.
She was now wearing an indigo sleeveless shirt, and like she was trying to emphasize the goth aesthetic, black leather jacket, a bead necklace with a cross at its center, black skintight leggings, and a golden chain-like belt… with a skull on it.
Turning on the tv, the girl gently lifted up one of the armchairs, and collapsed onto it, sighing as she looked at the ceiling first and her knuckles second.
Her green eyes turned to the door, and her ears listened to the rumbling thunder, flashing lightning, and the gentle pitter pattering of the rain outside. She took a deep breath of the room through her nose.
"No attacks today…" It came out of her mouth like a breath. "At least for now."
She got back up, and went to the kitchen. To the sound of the static playing from the tv, she took out some meat as well as spices, specifically the ones which were hot.
"Another *peaceful* night, *all* to myself."
Her eyes landed on the broken chess set in the middle of the room. Even her inner voice was filled with sarcasm. With frustration, she made her hands into fist, and blood come out of her knuckles, but the pain didn't phase her. She… almost welcomed it.
It was just… the only thing she could really *feel* in this silence–
Almost like the world heard him, the rain on his windows intensified, the thunder intensified, a storm was clearly brewing however she didn't react to any of that sound.
The lightbulb of the living room cracked, and then fell to the floor, shattering, leaving the house in darkness. However once again, she didn't flinch.
Her green eyes turned to the remains of the pictures again.
Like she said, as the girl stood in that darkness, 'alone'.
"However!" Like a feral monster once disturbed, she took a battle stance…
"It looks like Todoroki's not taking that loss well!"
The flashing lights from the tv… it had picked a channel. The girl lowered her guard, and curiously walked to the living room.
"Even as they push and pull against each other, can the two at the top remain in the lead?!" The commentator spoke. "Without stepping on any landmines?!"
The girl had seen this, the festival for young heroes.
From what she could see now, it was a race… a crab, and two other kids were way in the lead.
"That won't work!" The blonde one sidestepped.
And the other put down some more ice. "Hmph…"
As much action as there was, it… still made her want to jump up. Her facial expression still looked disinterested, all in an attempt to look strong, and act like she was unbounded by that.
But, the teenage girl couldn't help that longing feeling. It made her clench her fists…
…but the following blood that flowed from them, spoke to her otherwise. It made her turn away, cut herself off with her using her quirk, not to the disgust of the channel… but the faint reflection of herself she could see, even on the bright tv screen.
This wrong feeling, of a version of herself, inside that world.
Her heart felt like it was tied up in knots, as she turned away from it, but this. was. correct.
The heroes that dealt with what she dealt, even with the stuff from a few weeks ago…
She sighed. Admit it, what went on in her world, and what went on in theirs could never crosso–
"Tidal warning!"
Her eyebrows went up. He knew this tone. She had HEARD this voice.
Turning back again, and sitting in front of the screen like a kid during Saturday mornings, she let the fact, as well as surprise, wash over her.
She recognized him.
"Hero."
Her red, armored, crab-like savior from a few weeks ago, was on that screen. That kid…
"WATER HAZARD!"
That had clinched it. Her heart beat faster, much faster than whenever she had been attacked. This…
With surprise taking the wheel on her motor controls, she stood up, but not much more.
The girl settled on keeping a cool head, before watching a bit more, observing more students from that same place, including one with green hair and another with red, deliberating on what to do. What would be the correct choice here?
On one side of the room, there was yellow slime, claw marks, left over from weeks ago, and on the other… nothing.
Moving, and then turning on the corridor light didn't make a difference. Between the darkness from earlier, and the yellow light, on all the rudimentary, but broken furniture didn't change her thoughts.
Looking back, her eyes noted the school logo on the right side of the screen, simply stating "U.A. High." all with their signature symbol of an A inside a U.
She grabbed the brown cloak from where she hung it and… went out once more to the dismal and wet streets. The rain had not faltered from earlier, one little bit.
Water continued to flow down, and in a place like Kamino Ward where the city was designed to stand tall against endless cloudbursts and fierce storms, the low ground was still rife with danger.
"I'm here."
Coming out of the black and purple mist, Shigaraki stretched his arms as he stepped into the bar.
Tipoca Tavern/Tavern of the LoV
His one red eye, behind the severed hand, looked around. Nothing was out of the ordinary.
"Giran!" he shouted.
The mist of Kurogiri descended on his shoulder. "Master shall be contacting us shortly."
"Right." Shigaraki just took his usual stool on the bar. His bruises from attacking U.A. had long healed, but… he honestly wasn't feeling like doing anything–
The un-lit corner of the bar just moved. He could hear a swoosh, behind that shitty green curtain.
Shigaraki immediately got to his feet.
A yellow visor lit up.
He didn't make another move. His hands remained in his pockets. "There is someone else behind him."
If that guy didn't move, his partner would, and something told him that this bastard just put all his attributes into agility. Shigaraki would need a distraction if he were to–!
"Who are you?!" Kurogiri turned, erupting forth from his suit.
And all in one instance, it had become a stand-off. The red ninja had his hands close to his swords. Shigaraki had his palms outstretched.
Now that they were out, one move… and neither of these guys would ever get to catch their breaths again.
"What do you want?" Kurogiri demanded. "What are you doing here?"
Shigaraki opened his mouth. "Answer him."
"Settle down, Tomura."
Both villains peaked at the screen from the side of their eyes. The computer at the corner of the room, it had turned on and the voice they heard was truly him.
"He's right, gentleman." From the side of the red ninja, appeared another medieval character, wearing a knight's armor, golden mask and gray-blue crown.
Shigaraki scoffed. Guess, both guys were that hideous, hiding their faces behind a mask and all.
He scoffed. "Especially a golden one."
"League of Villains, rejoice."
The guy with the golden mask, assembled its hands behind. "As we bring news… as well as an offer."
"Kay guys." Tennyson held up his hands. "It's time. Really hero time now. Let's go out there and show them."
Back at the festival
He had assembled Kirishima, Midoriya and Yaoyorozu. Ben pointed to the pupil of All Might. "Midoriya, you would be our unstoppable force."
The greenette opened his mouth. "Tenny—"
"No no, I don't want any humble act, Midoriya." Ben cut him off, putting his hand forward. "With that stunt in the tracks, I'm sure now. You would be the perfect rider."
His hand turned to the rich girl. "Yaoyorozu, you're the ultimate utility, of course."
She…bit her lip, and turned her head.
Ben sensed something in that moment. Like it wasn't all fun and games for a second, but he played it off.
"And then Kirishima, the Mr. Hardening Man himself, as the front runner." Ben said, before putting his hand on himself. "All with me. With my transformations, Yaoyorozu and I can work on the flanks, sealing up any defensive cracks that might happen."
He opened his arms. "Nevermind the other students, we could probably take on All Might. It'd be the perfect test drive for the future stuff…"
His eyes went through all of them, before hesitating on Midoriya. "...for all of us this time."
The greenette almost jumped at the implication. Kirishima was confused as he looked back and forth between the two.
Ben kept a tight lip on that. Yeah, their little mission a couple days ago with Helen, Manny, Gwen, Kevin, Ingenium…
He shook his head. "Yeah, as soon as the break comes on, I will tell em–"
"I agree." Midoriya cut in. "However, I think I'm settled, Tennyson. I want to back out."
"Huh?" He gasped.
"I feel the same way." Yaoyorozu then declared.
Now, her. "Why?-"
"No offense Tennyson." Kirishima continued. "But the entire point was to go up against you."
"Against me?" Ben thought. "Guys, but this is a team *game*–"
"We know." Kirishima said, and shook his head. "But man, you just make for too good of an opponent."
"I share the sentiment." Yaomomo had cut in.
She raised her hand.
"Even though it… won't be an individual assessment, akin to the Obstacle Course." Her motions were swift and unstable. "Everyone came here… to continue testing their merits against yours, rather than working from your success, Tennyson."
As much as she tried to tiptoe around it, frustration and anxiety was just dancing around in her like a sword that was embedded within.
Ben wanted to speak up. "Yao–"
"Yeah, exactly!" Unfortunately Kirishima didn't have the same kind of alarms. "You showed us up during the obstacle course! Of course, we're gonna run the rematch, right Yaomomo?"
"I couldn't have put it better myself." She let her arms cling together.
Ben looked in front of him. He couldn't believe what he was hearing, however… he should have expected that.
Their first experience with alien life was a whole catalog for them not being experienced, and beyond that, he had… always been making an impression since he came to this school.
Getting 100 points in the entrance exam, Aizawa's quirk assessment, his performance against the villains in the USJ, and now his speech during the festival as well as the show during the Obstacle course.
This is how his classmates feel about him. A friend, but a friend to strive to beat.
He didn't understand it. Ben wanted to have fun, letting them go didn't feel good, but he figured he would respect it.
"Alright."
Ben put his hand in the middle, and smirked under his breath.
Midoriya followed his lead, Kirishima enthusiastically mimicked them… and Yaoyorozu lifted her hand.
Hesitantly, almost like she was about to touch fire, she placed her hand as well.
"There are four qualifying spots, and four of us." Ben said, very much teasing. "I hope to see you all there."
"I will see you there." Midoriya channeled some hopeful confidence.
Kirishima was no different. "Count on it!" He hardened his hands. "I'm itching to be in this year's 1v1's."
Ben's eyes turned to Momo, and so she felt the need to speak.
"I accept, gladly, with all of my heart." Yaoyorozu nodded.
The team was settled. Ben let them go.
"We're in agreement then." He said, as the hands lifted one after the other. "Good luck."
The team that vowed to fight aliens together, dispersed in their own directions.
Yaoyorozu thought to herself. Fists clenched, her eyes went around the field.
Ben 10: Hero Force
Chapter 26
A Wake Up Jolt
"So…" Kaminari put his hands in his pockets, asking Uraraka. "Where are *you* goin?"
As 3 minutes had already passed on by, a good amount of 1-A had already grouped up, but there were still some people who couldn't find their crowd. *He* was one of them, and Uraraka was too.
"Oh, I don't know." Uraraka looked surprised for a second. "Just look around? I guess."
Kaminari nodded, arms crossed. "You too, huh?"
"Y-Yeah." Uraraka answered flusteredly. "I had an idea for a team…" Her eyes couldn't help but throw a quick glance in Deku's direction. "...but it feels kind of dashed now."
"And now, you're left with no team." Kaminari shook his head, not catching Uraraka's action. "I get that, oh trust me, do I get that."
Sero and Ashido were over by Bakugo, Jiro and Shoji had gone in the way of Todoroki, and then Kirishima… he had a spot in the golden team.
"Lucky." he couldn't help but saltily remark. And Mineta didn't even qualify, so he *was* feeling a bit stranded.
"How about you?" Uraraka asked.
"Me?" Kaminari hand waved it away. "Oh, you know me. Just keeping my options open. There is only one taser-master around here after all."
"Uh-huh." Uraraka replied, relatively deadpan.
But internally, Kaminari's stress had bubbled up almost instantly.
"I DON'T KNOW!" He screeched on the inside. "I really don't know who to team up with!"
"I went to Bakugo, but he told me to piss off!"
He WAS right to a certain extent, his electricity COULD shock all of them, but he didn't have to say it like that!
He had then checked in with Todoroki, and the second strongest of their class DID seem interested but…
"No."
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, NO?!" Kaminari yelled to himself again. "At least give a reason!"
Kaminari sighed. Let's face the obvious here, if he couldn't get a place with them, he wasn't in the top 3. Class 1-B, or the general studies pair or the girl from the support course, weren't on the same dance floor as their guys.
"But, thankfully it's the first *four* that qualifies." He took a deep breath, relaxing his nerves.
There was still an open spot, so he just needed to make his own team.
He shot his shot. "So, you wanna–"
Kaminari saw Uraraka leave from her side in a hurry. She hung him out to dry aga… Oh, no. That wasn't it.
Tennyson's team? Well, that band must have surely had some disagreements, because it was splitting up!
"Oh no." he grabbed his blonde hair. "What the hell! Now, there is Yaomomo and Midoriya to contend with too?!"
There were too many top contenders. Going rogue ain't viable… and other students were taking notice of this.
"Gotta secure a spot with the golden kids." He thought and started walking. "But which one?"
There were three of them.
He scoffed. "Well, obviously go big or go home."
Sights were set on Tennyson, who also didn't have a full team now. Some of Bakugo and Todoroki's crowds were funneling over to him.
"I mean, why would he reject me, right?" He took his hands out of his pockets. "The guy has a strong quirk. *I* have a strong quirk. And we can combine our stuff together."
People say good things come in pairs, and they could basically be the second coming of peanut butter and jelly.
But…
His eyes got a second look at the people around him now, and weighed his chances of being picked.
"You should team with me." Sato pointed to himself.
"What?!" Ashido raised her arms, pouting. "No, don't kid yourself Tennyson, you definitely want me by your side!"
Sero joined in. "Come on man, remember the battle trial. You already know how good of a team we are!"
"I don't… wanna beg… but me s'il vous plait…" Aoyama was holding his stomach, and basically begging.
"Guys guys!" Tennyson, with a smile, tried to hold the group back just a little. "I wish I COULD team up with all of you, honest, but I got a limit here. 3 people, and that's it. So, I really need to think about who will mesh well with my quirk."
Ben wanted to rationalize the process. He had all these people gathering around him and saying 'no' to their face, especially after making that speech of how amazing they were, kind of hurt.
The whole thing made him feel like a celebrity, but *not* in a fun way.
Ben cupped his chin. "If only there is something that would make the process eas–"
"TEAM UP WITH ME, PERSON IN FIRST PLACE!"
Even the hero who stood his ground against Vilgax, had to step back. "Hey!"
She had a confident tone, and as soon as she moved the goggles, Ben immediately noticed her yellow scope-like pupils.
"I'm a student in the support course." The girl giggled as her hand stayed on her goggles. "Name's Mei Hatsume!""
The *current* number 1 repeated her name, questioningly. "Hatsume–?"
"That's right!" She extended her hand, like it was part of a mechanism. "We haven't met, but I'd like to use your position for my own gain!"
Even in the stadium grounds, a silence of three seconds rang true.
"Wow." Ashido said. "Has anyone told you that you have a way with words?"
"Nah." Ben spoke up. "Even if someone did–!"
"Nope!" She cut him off, and approached further. "But listen, I got a real offer here. If I teamed up with you, then I'd be in the spotlight, part of the team everyone'll be watching!"
She approached even closer. "That means my super cute babies will inevitably be seen by the big strong support companies that'll be tuning into the Sports Festival!"
And then even closer. "THIS is the absolute BEST way for me and my marvelous inventions, gadgets, and weapons to get recruited!"
The transforming hero, first things first, took another step back.
"Wait… Wait, wait, so… babies, big companies…?"
"Support items." Jiro stated. "That's what she means."
Sato raised his hand. "Well, we all need that attention to present ourselves to pros, you kn–"
"I packed a ton for today's events." Hatsume really didn't seem to care. "So I'm sure you'll find something you'd like from my arsenal!"
She opened her suitcase, but maybe it would be better to call it a war chest! There were so many pieces of tech, just bunched up together.
Ben couldn't help but reach inside.
"Oh, did something catch your eye–" She herself stopped short, as an intrigued and excited glimmer washed over her goggles. "Hmm, ohh, what's that now?"
Ben tried following her gaze,and it landed on his left wrist. The one he used to reach into the suitcase… the one with the Omnitrix.
"Ah–"
"Fascinating!" Her left hand quickly grabbed the watch. "I didn't know you had a supplier already."
The scopes of her eyes widened over Ben's wrist. "What design, I wonder how it works."
She tapped on the faceplate's touch screen, and Ben gave her a cool 30 seconds. There was no need to be rude, and pull away… but she showed no signs of stopping.
"Hey." He tried harder, but it didn't budge at all. Blood flow to his wrist was decreasing, so he pulled even harder! "Hey!"
He was giving it all now. "If you give me a chance, I can show you!" Ben was trying to pry his arm away with all he had.
"I already saw what you do!" She replied as her head got closer to the watch, and her eyes zoomed onto the faceplate. "I want to know more about *him*, your little baby."
"Umm…" Sato said, as the students of 1-A felt like they were being shoved off to the side. "Should we be doing something about this?"
Tennyson was trying to free his arm, and Hatsume wasn't giving him an inch.
Ashido shrugged, mumbling. "I don't know."
"Probably something more than just watching." Jiro added, and Shoji agreed.
"Indeed, Tennyson doesn't seem to be appreciating it."
"Really?!" Ben spoke up.
Dang, alright, when he was done with today, he was gonna ask Midoriya for some workout tips, because his lack of muscles was really failing him right now. He also couldn't reach the dial to transform because she kept swatting his hand away!
"Okay, if that's how we're gonna play it." He thought. "Whoever gets her off my watch first, gets a place on my team!"
Just like saying 'open sesame' to a locked door, that did it. It got all of Ben's classmates to work together, with one purpose!
"Enough." Momo shook her head, and took a deep breath. There was work to be done, and yet she was stuck for a while, just watching him… admiring his familiarity.
She shook her head again. "Come on, Momo, focus!"
From a pink glow in her hand, a pen and paper was created. "You did the worst out of anyone during the obstacle course." She doodled a team of four. "You then opposed Tennyson's offer, so show him that the refusal wasn't for nothing."
Yaoyorozu then wrote her name as the rider.
"Prove yourself… with this."
The top 10.
1st: Ben Tennyson
2nd: Izuku Midoriya
3rd: Shoto Todoroki
4th: Tenya Iida
5th: Juzo Honenuki
6th: Fumikage Tokoyami
7th: Ibara Shiozaki
8th: Katsuki Bakugo
9th: Setsuna Tokage
10th: Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu
Bottom line, if there was any shot at success in this event, these people had to be the ones to be allied by. The ones who ranked high in the previous obstacle.
Not only because they would be assigned a high point value, giving teams a higher base to start off from…
"... but because these people could attain their rankings, not because the stage suited them…" Momo recognized all, or rather most of their names. "They attained it because they had the power to be unbendable against any challenge."
Her name was not on this list. *She* wasn't one of these people.
However it didn't change the fact that she still needed this strength.
Arrows were drawn from the list to the doodled horse formation, writing down aspects that they needed, and who from the list could fulfill them to their full extent.
Yaoyorozu was jolting down everything. Her hand brushed across the paper like it was playing an instrument. Ideas were falling into place, one after the other.
Offense, defense, and speed. Three parts of a whole–
She circled the last part.
Yes, it was all coming togethe–
"Hey Yaomomo!"
The eyes of the raven-black haired mistress of 1-A turned at the new arrival, Kaminari.
"Oh, umm…" He recollected his words. "You're not part of a team, right? Yaoyorozu? Because I just saw you split off from Tennyson."
"No, I am not." Momo folded the piece of paper, hiding it. "Tennyson and myself… we've simply decided to tackle the challenge individually."
"Oh, yes." Kaminari rapidly shook his head up and down. "Individually. Yep, no, that's not problematic at all."
Momo tilted her head. She hadn't understood why he thought her decision was problematic.
"In any case, i-if you really don't have a team, could we join?" He, striking a powerful pose, lent his fist forward before nervously opening it. "Join forces, I mean?"
Momo, after a bit of thought, took out the paper again.
"Kaminari…" He wasn't present in her plans. In terms of placements, he wasn't particularly high.
"I don't know." Momo blurted out. "I already had a team in mind…"
"Ah." Kaminari frowned. "I figured you would."
"However!.." She added swiftly, holding up her hands. "I… was also unsure of the last person I had planned."
She was in the middle of coming up with a replacement for them already, but it could be fine to recruit the person who asked her.
Besides, there were going to be two others beside them.
"So, I could tag around?!" There were hopeful stars in Kaminari's eyes. Momo nodded.
"Alright!" Kaminari instantly celebrated, fist bumping the air. "So, who's first?"
Momo looked at the time first, then the paper again. Twelve minutes were remaining.
It was time to set out for her first target.
As she walked past people, her eyes met with an analytical Midoriya, who didn't seem to register them.
"It *is* too much of a gamble if you don't know what their quirk can do."
He saw an orange haired girl, most likely from 1-B, talking to one of her friends with moss-green hair.
"So, I better make sure I have the right people and start asking them…"
Koda and Tokoyami were having a discussion, and so were Asui and Ojiro.
"...fast.""
His eyes drifted off. This time to where he came from though.
Tennyson seemed to have an ally? She was attached to his arm and Tennyson was stubbornly dragging her around.
"That girl, she was from the support course, wasn't she?"
Back at The Fall, he had gotten to see another one of her items too. It would be a great opportunity if he could recruit her instead, however that was not the case.
Most people were avoiding him since he held off on using his quirk for so long too, and…
He brought his hands from behind him, the two index fingers of his were broken. Back in the obstacle course, once he had landed on the ground, he had used One for All to launch himself to the finish line–
"Hey Deku!"
He found Uraraka right next to himself.
"Let's team up!"
Deku was, in the very literal sense of the word, dumbfounded.
He hid his hands behind him. "R-Really?! That'd be great, but are you sure?"
"Of course I am!" She answered! "It's better to team up with people you like!"
"L-Like?" Deku blurted out.
The gears in Midoriya's head exploded. His chest felt like it was about to explode, since… that. came. from…
"Oh, you're hurt?
Midoriya took notice of his hands with the two broken fingers. He put them behind him once more. "N-No!"
She was his only ally, he couldn't push her way! "Izuku, focus!"
He would slap himself in the face if she wasn't looking right now.
"I-I was just thinking, it *is* smarter to team up with the people you communicate well with." he could answer.
"Uh-huh!" Uraraka ecstatically nodded, and Midoriya figured out how words worked all over again.
"Actually, I already had a strategy brewing, w-with you. S-So, thanks!"
"O-Oh…" The pink blushes on Uraraka intensified.
She thought to herself. That meant Deku was thinking about her as well, right? "G-Good to know!"
"I know right!" Midoriya beamed, and quickly put a hand on his chin. "Now, to recruit our front horse."
Midoriya turned, and saw the blue haired class president just in the distance.
"Iida!" He walked over to him, with Uraraka following.
The class president looked, and saw both him and Uraraka, ecstatic.
Time for the third teammate!
"Someone from 1-B?" Kaminari asked. He and Yaomomo had found their first possible recruit for team zero, the third wheel of their team.
"This 'someone' is a recommended student just like myself, Kaminari." She replied. "His skills have been tested just as much as I…"
She looked away to the leaderboard from the obstacle course, and muttered under her breath. "... and has emerged with better results."
This person was pale-skinned, like Kaminari could get a glass of spoiled milk and compare his skin color to that, he was that pale. Other than that, he had angular eyes, beige spiked hair, a flat nose, and small eyebrows.
That wasn't to say anything about what kind of person he might be. No, Kaminari did his best to not assume anything, but honestly he was intimidated by his lips. Or rather, the lack of them. It made his face look like a skull, with his teeth on the outside of his skin.
"His softening works from a range." Momo thought. "By manipulating the ground, he could immobilize attackers or give our other defensive options a chance to prepare and not get swarmed."
Kaminari wasn't thinking too in-depth. "Yeah, a recommended student wanting to team up with another recommended student. Sure, that makes sense."
Yaoyorozu approached him. Kaminari followed.
Honenuki, as he had heard their steps, noticed the two of them. Now Kaminari wasn't told this but Yaomomo had chosen to approach the situation with diplomacy.
"Greetings Honenuki Juzo."
The boy with a skeleton for a jaw, turned to face her. She bowed her head formally. "I am Yao–"
"Hard pass."
Momo… was taken aback, and just like that Kaminari chose the opposite of diplomacy.
"Hard pass?" He stepped forward for her. "Dude, don't you know who just made an offer to you? She's–"
"Yaoyorozu Momo." He stated bluntly. "Vice Class President of 1-A and the second recommended student in that very same class, behind Todoroki."
He narrowed his eyes. "...emphasis on the behind."
Momo shrunk, and Kaminari was right behind her. "Okay, so maybe you do know who you're talking to."
"And, like I said, hard pass." Honenuki crossed his arms. "I will not join you for the cavalry battle, Yaoyorozu."
Momo tried the diplomatic approach again. "May we at least procure why? You haven't even heard us out. If there is anything we can do, or offer, then we're willing to hear it out, at the very least?"
His… mouth, not lips, were sealed tight. She left that last part as more of a question, since Honenuki's glare at them hadn't improved.
"No, Yaoyorozu." He crossed his arms. "The problem is not what you can do, rather it is who you are, Class 1-A. We saw your 'show' from a month ago, on TV."
"The villain attack?!" Kaminari spoke up. "Dude, come on, we were attacked! You think we wanted villains to knock on our doorstep?!"
Momo put a hand on her chin. She had heard of 1-B's polarized state regarding their opinion of their sister class from Pony.
It would be the class officer's responsibility to mend these troubles–
"Regardless of whether that was intentional or not, you have to admit that it served as a headstart for your class, didn't it?" Honenuki asked. "You got to show off how capable you are, early."
Momo instinctively nodded. "Yes, it did exhibit our ability, however we were mentioned as victims of the attack. Our class is not one that is concerned with showmanship."
"Is that so?" Honenuki retorted and then raised his hand towards Tennyson.
"What was he doing when he was giving the Student Pledge then?"
Honenuki then pointed to Midoriya, in the distance. "Or him. Back when he was in the minefield, he decided to make a pink explosion, even though he can very well use his super-strength quirk."
Momo started thinking up of retorts–
"Bro." Kaminari cut in. "Midoriya was obviously trying to win there. His control over his quirk… Wait a minute, why am I telling you that…"
Honenuki's eyebrow raised, impressed that Kaminari saw through the attempt to steal information.
"Point is, Midoriya was obviously just trying to conserve his quirk." He said. "And then Tennyson... WAS giving a show to the crowd. We can't really deny that, I will admit, but he praised you t-"
"He did praise us too, you're right." Honenuki gave credit, shrugging. "But think about it for a second, who *really* got to shine in this scenario? The people he rained that praise to, or the generous guy who blessed them with his words on the stage?"
Both Momo and Kaminari didn't have words.
"That's not to mention how he used his forms as well. Posing anytime he switched to a new one, or shouting his name. I mean, what's up with that?"
Both of the 1-A students shrugged. It clicked with Momo that she didn't know what compelled him to shout his name when he transformed. The idea of it being an impulse could not be true, seeing as she has seen him transform without shouting before.
Kaminari shrugged. "Hey, when you have a quirk like that, you gotta admit, that's good publicity."
Honenuki rolled his eyes, not acknowledging that point, only for them to turn to her.
"And don't act like you're free of guilt. Yaoyorozu."
Kaminari spoke up. "What did she do?"
Honenuki raised an eyebrow. "You don't remember? She was flaunting to the cameras just a second ago."
"Just a secon..?" Kaminari thought to himself, before Yaoyorozu spoke.
"The giant robots."
Honenuki nodded. "One of them fell down by Todoroki's hands."
Momo recalled it, getting more nervous by the second.
"If they went through all this trouble, I'd wish it was on something more worthwhile."
"The second was Tennyson." He raised his hand towards Kaminari. "Oh, but of course, he was just 'trying to play the game'."
"I'll show you what a war looks like!"
"And then Yaoyorozu." He assembled his hands behind him. "Could you tell me… Who was the third person?"
Momo gulped.
Her eyes met with the rest of her student group from the Master's classes. "Piece of cake!"
"I wasn't meaning to show off!" Momo tried to defend herself. "I…"
Her eyes darted around. Honenuki waited patiently for what kind of counter argument she could pull out, only for her to shut her mouth.
"Face it."
Kaminari turned to see another blonde, this time styled and parted, walk up to them. He also had blue eyes.
Again, Kaminari said he would always keep an open mind, and have his notes about appearances be just that, small notes behind his head. But this guy? He honestly just straight up looked like an asshole.
"Like it or not…" Monoma said. "...things always work out to put 1-A in the spotlight, almost like you have someone behind the curtain, pulling the strings."
Kaminari deadpanned. "I mean, even if there is, it's not like we wan–"
"...but today it will be different." Honenuki said, as Monoma stood by him and then left his place to Tetsutetsu, Kuroiro and Komori.
"So, Class 1-A…" he said, surrounded by his teammates. "I have a lot of respect for you, Yaoyorozu, however like I said, thanks for the offer, my answer is still no. I have my own team, I will not be joining you."
Kaminari caught his team leader looking down onto the ground.
Monoma walked away. "Good hunting Tetsutetsu, Honenuki."
Tetsutetsu's fist suddenly got covered in steel. "You too, Monoma."
Yaomomo left first, and Kaminari followed after her.
He opened his mouth about going back and getting the Undertale-reject back, but the guy probably couldn't make a clearer point if he tried.
"What are you thinking, Yaomomo?" Kaminari cautiously asked. "Did you… have a replacement pla–"
"No, I didn't!" Momo curtly answered, before her eyebrows went up, and she grabbed her mouth with both hands. "I'm sorry. "
"What for?" Kaminari asked. "You're frustrated. It happens."
Yaomomo shook her head. Well, it shouldn't have–!
A jolt ran up her back. It was a memory… of another time she lost her nerves.
"What a sweet declaration from a damsel–!"
The clinking of their blades echoed, as Kaminari had grabbed her shoulder.
"Hey, Yaomomo. You alright?"
She reluctantly nodded. "Y-Yes…"
A momentary headache was coming over her.
"In either case, I will have to scout other options, no doubt." The rich girl rubbed her eyebrows.
Ben rubbed his eyebrows. "Oh brother, why…"
Hatsume was still wrapped around his arm, and just wasn't letting go! How did his master plan fail?!
"How did even Sato fail?" Ben was freaking out and very much annoyed on the inside.
"I see…" Hatsume thought to herself, not realizing that she had gone and wasted a good 5 minutes of Tennyson's time, leaving only 7 minutes. "Well, it's official, I don't understand anything about it!"
"That's great!" Ben sarcastically said. "NOW, could you let go?!"
However, she didn't answer for the millionth time. Just like how the Omnitrix attached to Ben's arm, her attention had a similar grip on it, which forced him to drag her along wherever he went.
"What is she doing now?" Ben rolled his eyes.
She was busy, pressing one of the watch's crown's in, only for a thought to hit. The rims of the device could rotate and make noise.
The number 1 HAD stopped and told her that pressing them both in would make the dial pop out.
Now, what would happen if… she pulled them out?
The thought experiment, still without the consent of the one currently wearing the watch, was applied to one, and then the other–
Suddenly, a yellow ring of energy dissipated.
"HA!- Ahhhh!"
Just in time for that moment of triumph, an earphone jack connected into her ear, and… THAT finally broke her focus.
Ben didn't miss his chance, and managed to get her off.
"Finally!" he exclaimed as he held his wrist. Steam was coming off it.
"You're welcome." Jiro said dismissively, arms crossed.
"Wasn't that too harsh, Jiro?" Shoji asked, but the earphone jack girl raised an eyebrow.
"No?" She replied, "Besides, didn't this go on long enough?"
There was no answer coming from him.
She opened her arms. "Well, there you go. Now, to assemble the rest of your…"
However, something was off. From the corner of her eye, he saw Tennyson's watch start to blink.
"Uh, Tennyson?" Jiro pointed to his watch.
The transforming hero raised an eyebrow, right before raising the Omnitrix. "Wha– Oh."
The watch wasn't stopping either. Ben went with the advanced way of deactivating the thing… by slamming it in the faceplate.
"Number 1 of our class, ladies and gentlemen."
It made noises, sure, but no dice in it going back to normal. He tried twisting the dial around.
"Oh crud, please don't tell me this thing got busted again."
Sparks of electricity flied out of the thing, before–
"Ah!"
One of those sparks shot out, and shocked Jiro's hand.
"Tennyson, what the hell?"
The transforming hero shrugged, raising the watch. "You're asking me."
The device's dial continued to blink back and forth, but this time between green… and yellow.
Ben's pupils shrunk. He… Didn't he know thi–?
The faceplate rose up on its own!.. before then settling back. Everyone waited a minute, just in case the watch decided to act out again, but it didn't.
"What. was. that?" Sato became the first to ask. The crowd of 1-A students were all staring at Tennyson, as his gaze was stuck on the device.
"The fruits of my effort, that's what!" Hatsume was ecstatically awakened! "It turned to another color!"
"Yeah, yellow." Jiro said, as she rubbed her hand. It kinda reminded her of Kaminari. "That ever happened before Tennyson?"
Ben narrowed his eyes.
"Yeah…" he replied.
"Okay, what does it mean?" Jiro asked, and Tennyson didn't speak up. He raised his hand to touch the rims of the watch, pull up the holograms… however he ended up holding off on it.
"I'm not 100% sure yet."
Jiro exasperated. "Great, because you weren't cryptic enough already."
"Okay, current events everyone." Ashido took everyone's attention again. "Tennyson, then it's settled, you're recruiting Jiro. But who else?!"
"Oh, yeah, right." Ben put a hand under his chin, as his eyes went down on the watch, and questioningly settled on Hatsume. "Who else, indeed..."
He had lost a couple of options from around him, as they left, but in terms of a third member? Ben, now with recent events to his watch, had one person in mind.
"I'm grateful to be considered by someone of your caliber, Yaoyorozu." Tokoyami assembled his hands behind him.
Kaminari crossed his arms. Yep, after the disaster with that 1-B student, they decided to go with people from their class..
"I… Ha ha ha, excuse me." She was flustered because of the compliment. "I'm glad you think so, Tokoyami."
From the list of the top 10 ranking students, he was her first choice. In terms of offense and consideration of the most extreme cases, such as getting the points of Tennyson or Todoroki, there was only one person who could succeed if given the chance.
And that person was Tokoyami as well as his Dark Shadow.
"Electrification on defense and Dark Shadow on offense." She pondered. "In theory, the combined use of these two quirks should make for a very potent combination."
Yaoyorozu created another piece of paper. "I'm not sure if I should go into specifics yet, however we were hoping to utilize the offensive power of your Dark Shadow–"
The shadow in question couldn't wait for another second. It emerged right out of him.
"Offensive power?!" he said. "That's what I'm talking about! It's *high* time I started kicking ass and taking names–"
"It is only for collecting headbands, Dark Shadow." Tokoyami assembled his hands behind him, as though a count would.
He gestured to Yaoyorozu again. "Am I right to assume your target is Tennyson?"
She nodded.
"I see." he said, a hand on his beak. "Are you intending on fighting an offensive battle? Or acquiring the points early to fight a defensive battle?"
"We think an offensive battle would work best." Momo took out the initial paper, however refrained from showing it to him. "It is also the best utilization of your quirk, is it not?"
"It is." he confirmed, and Kaminari just relaxed even more. Yep, this was gonna be easy as pie–
Kaminari then saw the actual 'raven-eyes', not Yaomomo's, land on him, and saw his glare sour. He felt his soul tense up.
"Yaoyorozu." Tokoyami asked. "Your plans include Kaminari being a part of our collective, am I right?"
The vice prez felt the need to look at him. Kaminari nervously smiled.
"My initial ideas for our team didn't work out exactly as I imagined." She replied, and gestured to him. "I thought Kaminari would be a valid replacement. Would that be a problem?"
Tokoyami assembled his hands behind him. "It m–"
Dark Shadow started ferociously nodding his head.
"Dark Shadow, you're being rude." Tokoyami warned him.
"I know, Fumi, but it's better than giving these guys false hope." The shadow's glowing yellow eyes inspected him again. "Like, no ill-will electric boy, but both of us here knows this team thing isn't gonna work out for me."
At that moment, Kaminari felt the universe's sense of humor strike him down.
"Why?" He then jumpily asked. "Because I'm blonde? Because let me tell you, our explosive blonde is right there! That ain't me!"
"Nah, it's–" Dark Shadow saw Fumi's annoyed glare just in time. "I mean…"
He flew behind Tokoyami and pushed him. "You explain it, Fumi!"
The creature quickly submerged in his host's body afterwards. Tokoyami annoyedly sighed.
"I would also like to be upfront, and mention that I am unable to go into specifics due to the nature of the contest, however I do not believe my quirk will make for a suitable combination with Kaminari's."
Yaomomo worriedly and curiously asked. "Why so?"
Tokoyami couldn't answer that, like he said.
"Right." Yaoyorozu realized it. Her mood dropped once again, like when she was rejected by Honenuki.
"I would like to apologize." Tokoyami said. "I'm afraid having us both on a team will be a hindrance as opposed to an advantage."
Not even a word came out of Yaomomo's mouth, Kaminari measly objected.
"Is… Tokoyami, please, seriously? Is there *really* no way?" he opened his hands, hoping for a hail mary.
"Unfortunately so." Tokoyami answered. "As though you may try, we've all witnessed that you can't aim his lightning, Kaminari. Your battle trial, alongside Jiro, has seen to it."
"Right." Kaminari said. He did remember that.
They won, even though he recklessly rushed in, let his power loose, and shocked his teammate Jiro as well.
Kaminari rubbed his shoulder, nervously looking away. "I can't bluff my way out of that, can I?"
"It is okay." Yaomomo closed her eyes, putting on a smile. "It's… not the plan I originally conceived of, but we're used to it not working out."
Kaminari felt his sixth sense tingle. From her facial expressions, aversion of eyes from everyone, hands being clamped together…
"NOOO, SHE *IS* SAD!" he outright cursed on the inside. There was no doubt about it, and his victory of being on her team was now feeling really bittersweet.
It was corroding that good feeling, dammit! No! Just when he got a lucky break!
"I look forward to seeing you on the field then." Tokoyami held up his hand.
"I feel the same way." Yaomomo unwillingly shook his hand. "You will be a tough competitor to overcome, Tokoyami."
"Ahhhhhhhhhh!" Kaminari was screeching internally. "Don't do this!"
"Same here, Yaomomo!" Dark Shadow held out his hand. "Good luck!"
She smiled melancholically. "You too, Dark Shadow."
Kaminari felt his soul being clawed, like an animal sinking its claws and just pulling to rip him apart, and so… seeing her plan falling apart, he stepped forward.
"Guys, I…" He brushed his hand across his arm. "I think it's gonna be better if I left?"
Yaomomo turned around. "Kaminari, what do you–"
"I mean, you said first, I'm not in the plan." Kaminari gestured to himself. "He is, and… Maybe I can still find another team, you were also recruiting me out of pity, anyway."
Yaoyorozu was stunned.
"I see–" Tokoyami said before Dark Shadow escaped from his stomach again.
"Is THAT what she wants though? I mean it looks like it ain't what you want, and either way she would only have two people as a team."
Kaminari looked down. That bit was true. Would it actually be 'adding' to the team?
He recalled that declaration along with Midoriya…
"Wait a second Todoroki." Yaoyorozu cut in. "I will not assume to know what you're thinking when you say you'll be beating us."
A dim onyx flame was lit.
"However…"
Along with Midoriya, she had declared it.
"I promise we won't roll over so easily,"
The creation girl, and the disciple of All Might, had a fire burning under their eyes.
"Yes." Kaminari declared, both to himself and Dark Shadow. "It should be. I mean, you were there, Tokoyami. Yaomomo said she wanted the top spot."
Momo looked at his fake sheepish declaration, brushing his hand across his hair.
"And…" He looked in front of him, and sighed. "...I'd think she needs people who can help with that."
Both of his classmates were silent.
"Okay." Internally he said. "You just gave up your team with the vice prez. That's fine, noble even, maybe it could even get you some credit within the class."
He enviously smiled at the idea. "Yeah, it could–"
"BUT WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! Like, oh my god, I don't know what was going through your mind, but that was perhaps. THE. STUPIDEST. THING. You're *trying* to show yourself off Denki, and then you go ahead and pull the equivalent of a forfeit?! I get that you want to be a hero, but HOW ABOUT DOING THAT AFTER, AND WHEN IT'S NOT TO YOUR DETRIMENT?!"
Kaminari shook his head. Eh, he was forcing this 'team with Yaomomo' thing anyway.
There was no way her, a recommended student, would recruit the class' bottom of the barrel.
"Godspeed, you two." he turned away from the two of them, and took a hik–
There was a hand on his shoulder.
"I… I would like to thank you for considering his offer, Tokoyami. H-however…"
Words were not coming out determinedly from coming out from Yaomomo's mouth. Not at all.
"I think we may have a good team… here." Kaminari had turned back and saw Yaomomo biting her tongue, and talking to Tokoyami and Dark Shadow.
Kaminari's eyes widened with shock. WHAT THE HELL IS SHE DOING?! He was just making an honorable sacrifice!
Tokoyami and Dark Shadow acknowledged her decision, and walked away in response.
"Why, vice prez?" Kaminari asked. "Like I'm genuinely curious here."
"I…" She bit her lip. "When I saw that you were willing to walk away, s-so that I could get the offense I want, I figured…"
The vice president of Class 1-A sat down.
" I…figured I should play with the cards I've been dealt."
She looked directly at the dirt, but her mind was completely off somewhere else.
The rich girl didn't face him as a figure of authority, but as a friend.
"Even though it is at the cost of my offensive force, you… after you have stood by me, and tried to be of assistance."
Momo averted her eyes.
"It wouldn't be right… for me to extort your feelings as so."
An unfortunate memory crept up to her mind.
Back at the castle, back when she was first beginning to be brought into the fold, regarding Tennyson's double life.
"Are you still planning on going, Tennyson?" she had asked him.
"Yeah." he replied, still in his casual attitude. "Clearly–"
It annoyed her. They were this worried, and he was so… so… nonchalant about everything!
He had his hands in his jacket. "I'm still needed for tonight–"
"No." She barely held back her own voice. With a calm venom, similar to her mother's, she talked. "If I can't get you to stop, I would want you to at the very least allow us to come along."
The words were piling up in her throat.
"As otherwise…"
Something was pressing against her chest. This felt wrong, terribly wrong, however she didn't stop herself. Momo bit the bullet.
"I will have no choice, but to report you to the teachers."
Only then did she understand what was pressing against her. It was regret, and now it had pierced her, but what was done was done. Now, she had to hold firm–
"Wouldn't that be instant expulsion, Yaomomo?" Kirishima asked in a worried way and it twisted the knife inside.
She did as she declared though, holding firm.
"It might be." She said. "Unless he decides to let me come with…"
She didn't voice it to him, and so Kaminari had no idea what to say.
"Thanks vice prez."
"Please, do not mention it." She said. "You've been speaking too highly of me already."
Kaminari's eyebrows crossed, eyes widened.
"How?.." He thought to himself. "Where and how did she get that?"
Yaoyorozu still wasn't looking at him.
"She had misspoken before." He tried to soothe himself, to keep himself from poking at her sorrow. "So, w-who's next on the list, leader?"
Momo reached into her pocket, took out the paper and then quickly glanced at the timer. Four minutes remaining.
"Considering we already have defense, a-and assuming we do find another attacker…"
She was in pain at this point.
"I presume, we could try to secure an advantage in speed." She thought. "After all, solely relying on Kaminari would be impossible due to his limiter, and even if we had recruited someone with no limit like Honenuki, it would end with us being pinned."
She circled that last part.
"At that point, it would just be a matter of time before other teams then tighten the circle around us, and then steal our points." She thought. "However…"
She wrote 'Iida' in the circle that represented their front horse.
"Iida's engine quirk could at the very least allow us to stay mobile at all times." She thought. "In case of an approaching enemy, or an approaching corner, his engines would allow us to swiftly reposition and avoid any pincer attacks."
She folded the paper back again.
"The next person we should try is Iida–"
Like everything else wasn't enough, they then saw him in the distance, along with Midoriya's team.
"The three of us would be horses, with you at the front, Iida." Midoriya explained as the three team members huddled together.
4th: Tenya Iida
"You would negate our weights, Uraraka, and so Iida would make us extremely mobile. If we manage to get Tennyson's points, or enough in general, it would be very difficult for anyone to touch us." Midoriya voiced his thoughts.
The pieces were still landing one after the other, but so far, this could be a good basis. "I could probably be the rider, if you guys wanted me to. However, we're still going to need someone else to further bolster our defense and offense."
Uraraka nodded. "I see. Good idea, Deku."
"A good strategy." Iida nodded, and commended him. "However, I'm afraid I must refuse."
Both the brunette and Midoriya flinched. "Huh?"
"Don't take it personally." Iida said. "You're a good friend. But, ever since this all started, I've continuously found myself on the losing side… against every obstacle I've gone up against."
Iida fixed up his glasses, as the glimmer briefly masked his eyes.
His misjudgement of Midoriya in the entrance exam, his loss also against Midoriya and Uraraka in the Battle Trial, his… inaction during the USJ.
"Iida. I've heard that you are perhaps the most earnest, intelligent and disciplined person inside Class 1-A." Midnight's advice, during that last event's aftermath and their psychiatric session came to his mind.
"You might think that Yaoyorozu might have pulled ahead, by being both a leader and a hero, but you also have the qualities, you have the potential! Remember that, once Midoriya resigned, everyone in the class chose you without question."
"I do remember, and that's why I need to prove their correctness now." Iida thought to himself, before looking back at his friend.
"If I just continue to follow you, I'm afraid I won't live up to what others see in me, and won't properly get stronger."
He took a step back. The two fellow students continued to watch him.
"I know you already have plenty of rivals, Midoriya."
He sided with Todoroki.
"So, I hope you can forgive me when I say that I will try my best to defeat Tennyson *and* you."
He had taken his place beside the fire and ice teen and… Tokoyami.
"Well, we can't recruit either of them anymore." Kaminari nervously said, as Momo looked around.
"Please." She thought to herself, there has to be someone else left from the list.
"Kirishima!" the redhead heard from behind him, and got to see Pony. "Let's team up?"
"Really?"
"Yeah!" Pony said, with even her little blonde tail standing on edge, put her fist forward. "That's okay, right?"
"D-Definitely!" He held up his fist. "I… just, didn't expect you to ask me."
The redhead was kind of sheepish in that regard.
"I was thinking you would go to Midoriya, or Tennyson. You know, the welcoming, and yet still high-scoring people of 1-A."
"Nonsense!" Pony blurted out in English. "I was thinking we would get the mall squad back together, you and me, minus Midoriya and Tennyson!"
Wow, did that memory throw the redhead for a loop.
"Guess, this is goodbye?" Tennyson had said.
"Only for now!" Pony had then responded. "We'll meet up at the school for sure!"
Boy, they really hadn't done anything with that, huh… besides the stunt they pulled for Tennyson at lunch, after the USJ?
"So, what do you say?" Pony said, putting her fist forward. "We're back in action?"
How could he say 'no' here?
"Hell yeah!" Kirishima responded, bringing his next to hers. They had to make up for that lost time. "I was actually going to another friend to team up as well. I'm sure he'll let you in his team as well."
"Really?" Pony tilted her head. "Who?"
Kirishima pointed, and the ash-blonde's crimson glowing eyes pierced through the smoke from his palms, and made contact with her bright blue ones.
9th: Katsuki Bakugo
Kirishima hadn't looked, but he could feel every fragment of enthusiasm within Pony die right there and then.
"I don't know." She was rather bluntly skeptical. "He looks like he's in a bad mood."
"Oh, that's just his style." Kirishima waved it off. "His way of being manly. Hey, Bakugo!"
He waved his hand towards the explosion boy, cutting through the crowd, and the ash-blonde settled on him.
"Shitty hair…"
"My name's Kirishima!" He yelled out. "At least try to remember! Besides, my hair isn't that different from yours."
Kirishima was pointing to his own hair and then his, but Bakugo, really, didn't seem to care.
"Anyway, I was gonna try Todoroki, but he already picked a group."
Pony then appeared beside him, just at the right time. Kirishima started pointing to her and himself with his thumb.
"So, I was thinking: 'Hey, we, as in all three of us…" His thumb pointed to him and Pony. "We should team up!"
He eyed them both from eye to foot, before bluntly stating: "I need people with guts."
Pony continued to feel unsure, but Kirsihima had a cunning expression.
"Come on!" Kirishima said. "You want to be the rider, right? So you're gonna need a strong horse that can stand your blasts."
He hardened his arm. "That'd be me, if you remember our training."
Bakugo seemed intrigued, only to then divert his eyes. "Who's the chick?"
"Ummm…" Pony shrunk back, before being helped up by the redhead.
"She's Tsunotori, the most thoughtful, diligent friend that anyone can ask for." Kirishima said. "She always comes through… Like, trust me I don't need to sell her to you, this is the package deal of the ages you're looking at."
Bakugo scoffed.
"I…" Pony said, keeping her hands together. "I try to make sure that's true."
Her large prussian blue eyes squinted, with her hands assembling.
" Because I… wouldn't be able to stand making any of us lose."
Bakugo growled. "You better *not* be that kind of team member, horse girl! Otherwise, who'd take you?! Me?!"
Pony didn't take a step back.
"You're right, no one…" She brought her hands together. "And… and…"
She raised her arms, and once again in English. "We'll beat them black and blue! So… let me on your team!"
Bakugo raised an eyebrow, taken aback, but also delighted. A sight which infinitely gave Pony even more unease.
Kirishima stood by her side. "And I'll be a horse that'll never waver. You're going for it, right?"
The redhead tapped him on the chest with the side of his fist. "The 10 million?"
Bakugo crossed his arms, and the mad red glare on his pupils intensified.
A plan was brewing to flatten Tennyson. They almost had their full team assembled.
"Iida…" Uraraka worriedly whimpered, before looking back at Deku, and then back at Iida, but Midoriya didn't break his gaze away.
They were still only two people without a full team and more than half the time was gone.
"This isn't good."
The greenette walked away, and Uraraka followed him.
"What's our plan now?" She asked, and Midoriya replied.
"I don't know."
His eyes stared at the dirt, and his hands assembled behind him.
"Losing Iida was a definite blow." Midoriya thought. "And with Todoroki and Tokoyami ending up on one team, as well as Kacchan and Tennyson forming their own groups…"
His eyes narrowed. "Uraraka will still provide good utility and I should be able to put up a strong offense if it comes down to it. It might even lead to us taking Tennyson's points, but it will mean nothing if I can't get a strong defensive option."
"Who can you rely on Izuku?" His heart sank again. "Who–"
"Excuse me?" Yet another female voice called from beside him.
Maybe the thing to rely on now… was some good faith.
"If you're looking for another member, could I perhaps join your collective?"
The pair looked and saw a girl of medium height, wearing the sports uniform with green lush vines in place for hair.
A couple of them were wrapped around her head in the shape of a cross, as the rest dangled off just above her waist. She also had dark green eyes, with long lower eyelashes.
"You…" Uraraka said.
"You're from 1-B, aren't you?" Midoriya followed up.
"Yes. " Her vine hair moved on its own, rustling as her hands remained assembled. "I'm Shiozaki Ibara of your sister class, 1-B.
7th: Ibara Shiozaki
"And I wish to join your group in the upcoming Cavalry Battle."
"You were looking for Tokage, right? Moss-green hair, pointed teeth? Well…"
Kaminari pointed elsewhere and Yaomomo bowed her head. That *was* her, and the student in question was surrounded by three others.
That was it. The entire list, and all of them were now recruited.
"Wait so, we're just gonna back down?" Kaminari opened his arms. "Just like that?"
"Yes." Momo thought to herself. It was hopeless.
"Without them, there is no one we can recruit who could give Tennyson a hard time." she put her hands on her head.
They were still only two people, rejected by everyone with noteworthy ability. A vocal answer hadn't come out, so her only teammate chose to perk up even more.
"We can't give up!" He waved his hands. "Especially not because we don't have just some peopl–"
"No!" Momo retorted. "I-I apologize Kaminari, I don't mean to be rude, however they are not just *some* people!"
She turtles into herself. "Our quirks, both of them, are just too ineffective! I…"
The rich girl gritted her teeth.
"I didn't mean to mention it, as you would know, but Tennyson's Chromastone form perfectly counters any electric attack, and I…"
As her face had rested on her legs, she solemnly looked away.
"My creation wouldn't work."
Any form of Tennyson would do the trick against anything she would do. Not to mention the others.
Her eyes danced around the tournament grounds, glancing at every team she calculated to have the highest number of points.
Todoroki…
Midoriya…
Bakugo…
Despair crawled against her skin.
"Unbendable against any challenge." She muttered under her breath. "I do not imagine this stage being suitable for many, however it doesn't matter for them."
Gloom descended upon her like a dark cloud.
"I gave my all, and it was insufficient."
Momo settled back down. She sat on the ground, wrapping her hands around her knees.
"Nothing would ever work."
The faint static noise on the back of her mind increased.
"They are. Simply. different from us. I don't know how else to put it, Kamina–"
"And I feel that Yaomomo."
She looked up for a second, before Kaminari also sat down next to her, leveling with her.
"Like, hello, I'm the infamous last place in our class." He said. "The one who messed up in the battle trial, the one who did squat in the USJ…"
With hands on the ground, learning back and letting his front catch the sun, he looked up.
"I felt like there was a gap… right out from the jump." He said. "In the exam, I knocked myself unconscious by overclocking my quirk like an idiot and…"
Tennyson, as well as Jiro. The number 1 and one of the two number 8's of the whole hero course entrance exam.
"The ones that saved me… I learned that they did not just pull my ass out of the fire, but they destroyed the test with flying colors." He looked at her. "Believe me, I was convinced that the acceptance letter I got, shouldn't have been there."
Momo didn't change her gaze. Her eyes stayed at the ground, with her mouth pressing against her leggings.
"I know exactly what you feel like."
"No." Her mouth opened. "Not exactly."
Kaminari shook his head, huffing.
"Yeah, details are a little different." He avoided eye contact. "But it's there, isn't it? The doubt?"
The rich girl turned away.
"Yaomomo, you are… one of the smartest people I've ever met so I will skip the preamble." He assembled his hands. "You can't *stop* trying."
Momo closed her eyes.
"I know the feeling of facing walls everywhere you go." He raised his hand. "It sucks, it's the most discouraging thing, and once in a blue moon, it makes you lay on your bed and… stop… to reevaluate."
He caught her looking at him. from the corner of her eye. Kaminari took his chance, he got up.
"The point is that you can't stop." The electric user stood in front of her, and lent down his hand. "You *shouldn't* stop."
Momo looked at the hand briefly, but didn't pull herself up. "Why?"
"Because when you give in…" Kaminari said. "...It's a nightmare to get out."
He opened his arms.
"You need to remember that… Even Mr. Aizawa even said it." He determinedly played his last card. "He said he would expel anyone with zero potential, and well… we're still here. So, let's try, and live up to it."
She looked up to him. "So what do you expect me to do, Kaminari?"
"I don't know." He said with brutal honesty, and then smirked. "But… like I said, you're smart. You know a lot of stuff I don't already."
For the first time perhaps… Momo felt an amusing sarcasm escape her lips. She laughed.
She genuinely giggled at the declaration under her breath. "The–"
"That's *why*." Kaminari spoke. "That's why, for this entire time, I stuck with you."
A thunder struck.
Her day of being accepted into ninja training.
"Ojiro had informed me that you were one of the recommended students in your class, and have become class president."
Momo nodded yes. "Though I must correct him." She raised her hand. "I have been elected to be the *Vice* class president."
"That does not matter." Master Hamato declared. "Point is that people are trustfull towards your judgment and intelligence."
"I wanted to do this right…" Kaminari was also losing spirit. "Because if there was anyone who wouldn't be a solo act with some flashy quirk, and utilize everyone's strength, it would be…"
He couldn't say it, but Kaminari still gestured to her. "Well, you know."
Yaoyorozu's eyes widened, and even though she was still despairing, it made her get up at the very least.
"Kaminari's right."
Both of them saw a new student approaching them, Asui.
"This stage is a team game." she put a finger on her chin. "So, it should be about teamwork, and hence finding the people you work best with."
The frog girl of 1-A put a hand on herself.
"I know my quirk will not be of much use to you, ribbit." Asui stated. "However, I believe our experience together from the battle trial can help. If you'd like, I would join your team, ribbit?"
Momo's eyes grew. That… What she said, felt sound.
"Of course." the rich girl replied.
Now, they were collectively three people.
"Yes!" Kaminari also celebrated. "Progress!"
Asui was also glad for their friends' celebrations.
"Awww, look at you guys!"
Now, someone neither of them expected had shown up.
With moss-green hair, dusky eyes, and long pointed teeth, it was the second recommended student of Class 1-B, and… Momo felt rewarded.
8th: Setsuna Tokage
"It looks like you got a very good team going here." She cheekily raised her hand. "Room for one more?"
"O-Of…" Momo stuttered. She didn't expect another recruit so soon, especially of her caliber!
Another answer just didn't come to mind!–
"Of course!" Kaminari said, now in place of her. Their team of four was now made, surprisingly fast as well.
"Hold on, ribbit."
However, Asui was perplexed.
"They already said yes, however, I have a question." She held up her hand. "Why not team up with others from 1-B, ribbit?"
Momo rested her head over her hand. "That *is* a rather fair question."
"Not that we're complaining or anything!" Kaminari nervously added. The last thing they needed was the team going back down to three people, and Momo flinched as well.
"Nah, I get it!" Tokage waved her hands, before tapping under her chin.
"Well, other than both of us rocking dark green hair…" Tokage pointed to Asui, and Asui just pointed to herself questioningly in response.
The moss-haired girl assembled her hands behind her. "You'd really have to thank–"
"In that area, you must exhibit gratitude towards Tsunotori."
"Tsunotori?" Uraraka repeated, and if she hadn't, Midoriya knew he would. What did she have to do with this?
The vine haired girl put her hands together faced towards the sun as its light shone upon her… even though it was currently supposed to be behind a cloud.
"She has exhibited the utmost effort in preaching against the deceptive word of yet another from our class." Her vines even grew a little from the sunlight. "Such a noble soul she has!"
The pupil of All Might was very intrigued, even though Uraraka was very puzzled.
That was great! So, some of 1-B was willing to team up with their classmates, and he knew what that meant. Many more quirks to watch on the battlefield!
"And so, we've chosen to be more lenient in our construction of teams, and ally with the members of your class that show promise."
"Interesting." Midoriya sai–
Uraraka took the word back, eyes beaming with the prospect.
"Wait, then, couldn't you tell us who decided to team up with who, and their quirks?"
Midoriya's eyes grew. "Uraraka!"
The brunette opened her arms. "What?"
With one hand clenched, and her brown pupils vanishing again. "This is war, Deku. ((◣﹏◢))
"And we can win… with information."
"That's true…" Midoriya backed away slowly. Uraraka was really reminding him of Kacchan right now.
But the vine girl shook her head. "No."
Putting a hand over her forehead and the other close to her heart, she dramatically looked away. "It would be too dishonest of an action!"
Meanwhile
"So…" Todoroki's blue and dark gray eyes stared at the silver haired 1-B student. "What's your quirk?"
Reiko's one blue eye that wasn't obstructed by her hair, looked down, as she held her hands up as high as her elbows, with the hands draped down.
With a solid pink aura, a pebble levitated from the ground in front of them.
Todoroki raised an eyebrow, as his eyes followed the pebble's flight. "And why do you want to join my team?"
Reiko didn't tell him. She just stood there, eye glued to Todoroki's expression, as more and more pebbles started levitating, and Todoroki responded with his eyes staring back at her.
The two didn't make a sound. It was almost like a standoff, even when Reiko did let the pebbles fall to the ground shortly after.
Iida and Tokoyami looked at each other—
"You're in." Todoroki responded.
Ben had his arms crossed, with Jiro and Hatsume behind him.
"You want the number 1 of 1-A, and the class prez of 1-B to team up?"
The girl who made the offer had orange hair, teal eyes, a ponytail to the side and a well-built body.
"Talk about a power couple." Jiro had her arms crossed.
"It would show the strength of our class' unity." Kendo confidently said. "Pony was really into the idea, the least I could do is support her cause."
"Really?" It was time for Ben to teasingly mimic Jiro. "What do you really think about it then?"
Jiro was feeling really done with him right about now, and the alien hero was feeling it.
Kendo didn't falter.
"I'm their class president." She pointed to herself with her thumb, before placing both hands on her hip, back straight. "Don't you think I would make sure to lead them through paths I agree with?"
Ben and Jiro looked at each other, rather impressed.
The transforming hero nodded his head on the inside. "Point take–"
"...And I want to win." Kendo added at the end. "I know it's a little disrespectful, and I don't mean that, but you really seem like a cut above the rest, Tennyson. "
She jokingly asked. "What's your secret?"
Ben sweated, and now, it became Jiro's time to internally laugh at his face.
"Smoothies, ahem." Ben fake coughed to his sleeve, unraveling his arms. "Now, what's your quirk again?"
"I see…" Momo murmured to herself.
Kaminari was relieved, and Asui still held the same expression.
"Thanks." she replied. "We weren't questioning your good will, it's just that… some people can be real jackasses."
"Amen to that." Kaminari had his arms crossed, nodding.
Yaoyorozu however refrained from thinking of anyone in particular. Not because there wasn't an example, but because it wasn't becoming of her.
"No matter though, and that's probably enough about me." Tokage clapped her hands. "What about you?"
She pointed to Yaomomo. "What are you thinking, Yaoyorozu? I'm sure it's high time for you to cook up a plan for us, isn't it? I heard you thinking earlier before Asui dropped in."
"Yep." Kaminari said, before seeing the vice-class president's intense focus.
"Time…" Yaomomo muttered and looked up at the countdown for the teams.
Her eyebrows went up. An idea had struck!
Back to Midoriya
"If you must know for me though…" Shiozaki kept a hand upon herself, and closed her eyes. "I chose you, Midoriya, since you've proven your proficiency by claiming number 2 against so many fierce opponents."
Shiozaki turned away. "And because, Tokage insisted. "
"Oh?" Midoriya put a hand on his head. "It really was nothing–"
"Stop calling it nothing, Deku!" Uraraka pouted.
Shiozaki thought it would be correct for her to join.
"I agree." she said. "I cannot write off such a golden achievement, that clearly bears the Lord's grace."
"Yeah!" Uraraka said. "What she said!"
Shiozaki paused and looked at Uraraka.
"You got ahead of Todoroki and DESTROYED Bakugo!"
"Okay okay…" Midoriya had to back down. "Fine, but we're getting sidetracked."
He turned to her. "So, Shiozaki, does… I assume your quirk lets you manipulate the vines on your scalp?"
"Yes." Her thorned hair levitated. "I am able to lengthen and manipulate my blessing, as well as detach them so that they may continue on without me. However, in that event, it takes time for them to grow back, as well as water and the light from above."
"That's still an amazing quirk!" Midoriya immediately jumped on the opportunity to compliment the quirk. "It would be great for surveillance, searching, saving people from under debris, restricting villains…"
Midoriya was back on his hyper murmuring again, to which Shiozaki stared blankly.
Uraraka then found her eyes to turn at her, but the brunette just shrugged. "Yeah, this just kind of happens."
"Would you mind being the front horse in our formation?" Midoriya then asked without missing a beat. "Because I-I don't think we would have a better option?"
"Certainly." She answered, and in one fell swoop, Midoriya's confidence was back.
The greenette looked ahead. "Now, we have both offense and defense. What else?"
"*Who* else?" He looked up. "Could you ask Tsunotori?"
"I most definitely could." Shiozaki didn't bat an eye and answered. "However… I'm afraid she had her own plans for acquiring a team."
"Ah…" Midoriya said, biting his tongue. " That sucks."
"I know, right!" Uraraka clenched her fists pouting.
"Do you not have anyone else in mind?"
"No." Midoriya said, with one hand on his chin. His eyes drifted to the timer.
Last 3 minutes.
"Think Midoriya." Who else was there?
Uraraka's utility could work to their benefit. With his current handle on One for All for offense…
He looked at his two broken fingers.
Midoriya shook his head. No, he couldn't hold back. That time he didn't luck out, but… during this battle he had friends by his side, that should keep him calm as they attacked, perhaps making him better focus while attacking.
Oh, actually combining the two, maybe it would allow themselves to fly as well. Shiozaki's vines would also handle their defensive needs. So, what else were they missing?
Midoriya's eyebrows went up.
"A wild card."
00:01
00:00!
*Bwaaaaaaam!*
Time up!
Midnight stretched her arms. "Oh, goodie, it's time to get this party started!"
"Hey, look alive, mummy man!" Present Mic tapped on his co-host.
Eraser's bloodshot eyes looked at him with as much annoyance as possible.
"After 15 minutes of picking teams, and talking strats, looks like eleven cavalry teams have formed to go head to head!"
The Erasure hero leaned forward, and…
"Well, these are certainly interesting combinations."
"Now, raise those battle cries!" He yelled out. "It's time for a U.A. Battle Royale!"
Midoriya tightened the 600 point headband around his head.
"You ready?"
"Yep!" Uraraka confirmed.
"Shiozaki?"
The sun shone upon the 1-B student. "I sure hope so."
And lastly… Midoriya took a deep breath. "Shinso?"
The purple haired general studies student looked up, with nothing less than measured disdain, and gave a nod.
"Good." Midoriya said and looked at the two broken fingers that Shiozaki had wrapped up from him.
He squeezed his fists even so. "Because our eyes are on the prize…"
"THREE…"
Bakugo cracked his knuckles with his 575 point headband. "You extras ready?"
Supporting him were Kirishima in the front, Tsunotori on the right and Ashido on the left. They all, getting into the spirit of the competition, yelled: "Right!"
"Let's get him…"
Todoroki stood tall on top of his team, with Iida at the front, Tokoyami on the left and Reiko on the right. "We're only aiming for one thing."
"TWO…"
Kaminari… faced forward. After much debate with the rest of his team, he was put in the right flank, and Asui was the left flank.
Tokage had made up the rider, carrying their proud 530 points, to which he had contributed 90 points of.
Lastly, Yaomomo made up the front horse.
This wasn't the original plan, not by a long shot.
"He got two from our plan A." Kaminari gestured to Todoroki, sweating under his breath. "Sheesh–"
"No matter." Yaomomo declared.
The walls they talked about, they were still there, but… at this very moment, they didn't seem quite as daunting. A wistful and psyched attitude had overtaken her.
"He's ours."
"ONE…!"
Midnight's whip cracked. "BEGIN!"
Immediately, 8 of the 12 teams started bolting towards Tennyson's team!
"It's basically one big battle for 10 million points!" Tetsutetsu yelled out!
"HAHAHAHAAHHAHAH! "An overzealous laughter echoed from the invisible girl. "I will be taking that headband now!"
Kendo enlarged her hands. "Tennyson, time to make our play."
"Right!" Ben pressed down the rims. "Hatsume, get ready–!"
"Oh oh, we're using one of my babies?" She perks up. "Which one–?!"
"I don't think so!"
The ground under them softened, sticking their team to the ground!
"Can't move." Jiro said under her breath, and Hatsume reaffirmed.
"Nope, me neither!"
"Ah, Honenuki!" Kendo yelled. Her eyes were on his skeleton-like face. "That was faster than I thought."
They were now ankle-deep into trouble, rapidly escalating into knee-deep.
"I still got this, don't worry!" Ben got his hands together, Kendo held onto his shoulder with one arm so that he'd be connected. "Here it comes–!"
As soon as the dial rose, he saw the hologram. His heart skipped a beat.
"I knew it!" He fistbumped to the air internally.
"Hold onto your socks everyone!" Ben looked back at the team. Jiro questioningly tilted her head as a green flash consumed all.
Ben could feel his whole body morph. The entirety of his skin became white, his middle and ring fingers fusing into one, black lines appearing all over his body as well as the inside of his body, which had completely become green.
His pupils dissolved in place of a green void, and lastly, his frame shrunk down.
"Now." He shouted. Wait…
Now, he was shoulder-deep in the softened ground!
With the white and green form of his, he spoke with a robotic reverberating filter to his tone. "Well. This. Size. Isn't. Ideal."
The rest of his team was freaking out. "What did you do?!" spoke out first.
Todoroki's team paused, right where they were running from.
Both of Reiko's eyes, even though she was positioned at the back right, went to all of them. She could feel their shock.
"Tennyson has changed his form…" Iida said. "However, I don't recognize him."
"He never ceases to surprise us." Tokoyami added, and Todoroki acknowledged it as the ice emerging from him slowed down.
"No, he never does."
And that's it! Hope you enjoyed it!
Yep, our first new alien entered the chat, and I'd rather have this Ben come up with his name more naturally, so I didn't shoehorn it in for now.
Speaking of which, yes, the Omnitrix did that because of Hatsume's meddling. I will go in depth as to what she unlocked later.
As for other notes, once I decided to make this its own chapter, I wanted to give it Yaomomo's POV. Ben already got a lot during 24, so if he was in the spotlight again, I was afraid it would just be repetition. Once I settled on that, I then got to thinking on who could be her 'sidemen' and… Kaminari just kinda shined through for me. I thought a dynamic between one of the top of the class, and the bottom of the class, connecting on not feeling like they belong could have been interesting, and… at the end, it kind of was? I enjoyed writing the pair's scenes, but the editor's reaction came out very lukewarm so I'm unsure if it landed for you guys as well.
In terms of teams, I didn't have the Hero Force team up because everyone on that kind of team felt important, and with Ben around, everyone wouldn't get an even amount of mention without some kind of nerf on Ben's side and that just wasn't fun. Plus, with everyone making their own teams, I thought I could get even more interesting combinations, character moments, etc during the actual event instead.
Speaking of which, you guys have no idea how many combinations of characters I went through to settle on these ones. Like, for Ben, his first ever team was Jiro, Shinso and Pony. At some point Kendo or Rin (guy with scales) ended up on his team, getting Shinso off was an arc in and of itself…
But the part about some of 1-B distributing themselves to these major teams? Yeah, that was in from the beginning and I'm personally pretty happy with the choices. There was a moment where I wanted Kendo to be on Yaomomo's team, but it just didn't work out, their interactions didn't work well so I didn't force it.
Lastly, I'm sure that you noticed but this means we have 5 teams gunning it for the top and… only 4 actual spots to move on!
I won't make a poll for this, but tell me who do you think will come in 5th in the reviews!
For now though and until the next release, have a great day. Sorry for the rather long and lukewarm chapter, but next time we're getting into the full brunt of the Cavalry Battle, so I hope to see you on the next one!
