UA HIGH

It had certainly been a long, exhausting day. We were more than ready for a rest as we packed up, changed, and prepared to head back towards Heights Alliance.

Everyone was chatting excitedly about the day's events. Everyone, that was, except for Bakugou and Midoriya, who had disappeared after the end of class. I wonder what's up with them? Are they doing something together?

Midoriya and Bakugou? That doesn't seem likely. Though they do seem to be getting along much better these days.

"Iida!"

I started a little. Kendo, with the rest of Class 1B behind her - excepting Monoma - was smiling at me. I stopped and the rest of Class 1A came to a halt behind me.

"Kendo. You fought valiantly today!" I bowed to her, my fellow Class representative.

"Thanks," she said, scratching her head a little. "We were wondering - would you mind if we came and hung out with you guys?"

"Of course not!" I cried out, perhaps a little too eagerly. I raised my right hand. "We would be honored to have you join us!"

"Great!" said Kendo. "See you there."

I glanced at the others; I should perhaps have asked their permission first? But no, all of them were smiling, looking quite pleased. Class 1B joined us in our walk back from the campus to the dorms, falling into line with us. Behind me Kendo had joined Yaoyorozu and Jirou; Tetsutetsu and Kirishima were deep in conversation already, and many others had joined forces to talk over the day's events.

Honenuki gave me a simple nod; we had already said our piece. The others of the group we had fought had paired off with others of my classmates. I didn't exactly mind; I was in fact tired enough from the day's events. My legs, indeed, were rather sore. My backpack was also exceptionally packed with textbooks I'd taken from the library in the morning.

We arrived and I immediately perked up. That smell - could it be? Our dinner tonight was - Beef Stew?

Yes indeed it was! Steaming pots on the stove, Lunch Rush's work - and extras brought over for Class 1B already?

"I'll prepare tea for us all!" Yaoyorozu was calling, accompanied by Sato saying "And I think I've got some extra cake upstairs, just hold on a moment!"

I sat down to dinner, watching as everyone paired off, joined up, went deep into conversation. Where on earth are Midoriya and Bakugou? You'd think they'd at least be on time for dinner.

Todoroki was sitting with Ojiro and Koda, though he didn't seem to be talking much. He looked rather troubled...something was bothering him. He had seemed rather upset all day, even before our tie match.

Even though Tetsutetsu counted it as a draw, I feel I still have a long way to go. Still, I added, remembering to avoid dwelling too much, it came far more easily than it would have done before. It feels like a long time ago, but there was certainly a time when even going to Recipro Burst would have felt exhausting. Now I can go to Recipro Turbo and it feels easier to navigate than it used to just using the momentary burst. I suppose it was all that training. It's paying off now.

The door opened and Bakugou stomped in. He was wearing his gym clothes and looked as surly as usual.

"Bakugou" I salted him, having cleared my plate and ready to make the rounds. "Where have you been?"

"None of your damn business!" he snapped back. For him that was a rather polite greeting.

"Bakugou, as your class representative, it is my responsibility to -"

He had already headed to the dinner table. I sighed and gave it up. Bakugou probably wouldn't tell me, and as long as he was back safe and sound that was what mattered.

But if he wasn't with Midoriya, then where is Midoriya?

I considered calling him. Or informing a teacher. With Midoriya, you never know.

To keep my mind off of him, I examined everyone else. Yaoyorozu, Kendo and Jirou were sharing tea. Kirishima and Tetsutetsu were gripping hands as if striking a deal. Uraraka had her head draped over a sofa, chewing dinner, next to Asui and Hagakure.

The door opened and to my relief Midoriya walked in, also in gym clothes and looking a bit disheveled.

They are both in gym clothes...were they together after all?

I hurried over to him. "Dinner tonight is beef stew!"

"Ooh, nice. And it looks like Class B is here too!"

"Indeed! They've come to socialize and discuss today's training!"

He smiled, and turned away, headed towards the kitchen. I sped forward, but couldn't help overhearing Todoroki.

"I've been looking for you, Midoriya. I didn't realize you had two quirks too."

"Huh?"

"I was just a little shocked that they guy who screamed at me not to hold back was hiding this all along."

"It's not like that! It's probably just derived from the original...it's still just a single quirk...I was shocked too! This has never happened until today."

Oh. "Right. Well, that sounds rough. Sorry for doubting you. But it was pretty impressive."

"You too, Todoroki! Your flames...You're really getting the hang of it."

"No. I still have a long way to go. Just like you, I guess. Which is why I need to keep aiming higher."

Aiming higher, I thought, as I settled down to watch over our two classes. Indeed...I can do so much more now, it seems absurd to keep waiting. With these new skills...

I gave Tensei and mother a call that evening.

"Tenya, how are you?"

"Great to hear from you!"

"Thank you! I hope you are both doing well?"

"Sure! But how are you? How's UA?"

"Fine...we had our first joint training with Class 1B today."

"Yeah?"

"It was a tournament. Five teams from our class vs five teams from theirs."

"And? Did you win?"

"Our class won." I paused. "My team tied."

"Oh - well, that's still pretty great!" said Mother.

"If I wish to become a hero, I need to keep aiming for the top," I said sadly. "In a real world situation, a draw would be unacceptable."

"Not necessarily," Tensei chimed in. "Sometimes a draw is the best you can hope for. It's better than a loss."

Coming from a pro hero, of course, that was reassuring.

"Thank you, Tensei. I should keep that in mind."

...

The next morning, during my first break from school, I dialed a number I hadn't touched in a long time.

"Tenya, long time no hear. How are you?"

"Well, thank you, Mr. Manual. I wanted to ask something."

"Yeah?"

DEIKA CITY

Spinner and Shigaraki, Dabi and Mr. Compress, had been separated from Toga's fight with Chitose. Fighting back on their own sides against the seemingly never-ending onslaught of Meta Liberation army warriors, they looked like blips surrounded by human waves.

"How much longer until wakey-wakey time?" called Spinner.

"One our, 20 minutes," said Mr. Compress.

"For real? Even though we knock em down, they just keep on coming!"

"You haven't taken a single one out yet," snapped Dabi.

"Where'd Toga run off to?" asked Twice.

A car came driving through, a car with a dias on top labeled "Hearts and Minds Party". Atop it stood the Meta Liberation Army Member with the dark glasses and long twine of hair.

"ATTENTION! I HAVE TRAGIC NEWS TO REPORT!"

"An election campaign van?" wondered Mr. Compress.

"MISS CURIOUS HAS FALLEN IN BATTLE! SHE HAS GIVEN HER LIFE TO THE LIBERATION CAUSE!"

"Ahh! How awful" Shrieked the audience members, in a wild display of feeling. "Any word from the grand commander about this?"

"DO NOT LET HER SACRIFICE BE IN VAIN, HE SAID."

"I see," said Compress. "Hanabata's playing the role of the preacher gathering his flock. This isn't an army. It's more like a religious sect."

A giant wall of warriors, all at once, were headed towards Shigaraki. He seemed almost dwarfed by their size.

"Shigaraki!"

Shigaraki's hand had seized the face of the first, which began decaying from his touch -

And it spread to the person next to him - and the next -

and the next

and the next

Until the wall was a pile of ash.

Am I seeing things? thought Spinner. Just now...his decay effect spread to people he wasn't even touching!

"Shigaraki - you -"