- A/N -
Hello and welcome to the Eighth Installment of this story
And as always:
Questions?:
Ideas?:
Criticism: I've seen Egnoder's comment about the inconsistent first-person POV,
I'll do my best to fix this issue.
Now, I hope you enjoy it!
- [Ground Beta - Monitor Room] -
And they fainted…
"Villain Team Wins!" Skyward announced from the Monitor Room.
I watched nervously as the previous round concluded.
The two had been unexpectedly incapacitated by Kayama's quirk, leading to their victory
"Wow, how did they have the opportunity to fill the room with Kayama's quirk?" Haruto-san asked, tilting his head
"That's the thing...she didn't. They just happened to be trapped by Ishiyama beside a wall with a vent…" Ryuko stated
"The gas went through it and coincidentally made its way to the 5th floor room."
"So they were just messing with them? Some sort of silly prank?" Yamada questioned.
"W-well, Mitsuki-san is known to mess with people when she feels like it...b-but she doesn't mean anything bad by it!" I hurriedly clarified, not wanting to paint her in a negative light.
Aizawa nodded. "From the looks of it, I can say the same about Kayama."
As the next team was called, my heart raced with anticipation.
"Next up are...these guys!" Skyward announced, taking out a black and white ball with the letters 'B' and 'I'
"Team B are the heroes...""Team I are the villains..."
"Let's get started!" Skyward stated excitedly.
I nervously played with my fingers, thoughts swirling once more about who Haru-Hisashi-san and I would be up against.
"Something wrong, Midoriya-san?" Humura-san noticed my nervous fidgeting.
I took a deep breath before responding, "I-It's just, I'm worried about who I'll be up against..."
Humura-san gave me an understanding nod. "I see. I'm sure you're not the only one feeling that way."
"There are bound to be more than one participant with similar concerns."
"Y-Yeah, you're right," I agreed, trying to calm my racing thoughts
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[A Lighter Shade Of Green]
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- [Battle Trial - F1] -
"We really have our work cut out for us, huh?" Takami remarked
"Some blonde and a guy who looks like he'll rip our heads off."
"Going by kemono's feral look, I think he has some sort of animal-like quirk," Aizawa speculated
"Perhaps it gives him strength, but I'm unsure."
"Yeah, that guy definitely gives off some primal vibes," Takami replied, adjusting his wings.
"But let's not underestimate Hakamada his eyes just scream strategist," Aizawa warned.
"Kemono might have brute strength, but that doesn't mean he's invincible," Aizawa continued, narrowing his eyes at their adversaries.
Takami cocked his head, considering their opponents. "So, how do you suggest we tackle this?"
"We need to exploit their weaknesses. kemono's raw power likely comes with a lack of finesse."
"If we can outmaneuver him and force him into a position where his strength becomes a liability, we'll have the upper hand," Aizawa strategized.
Takami smirked, his eyes gleaming with confidence.
"Leave the heavy lifting to me. I'll keep the beast guy busy while you handle the fashion one."
Aizawa nodded in agreement. "I'll use my Quirk to erase Hakamada's Quirk; if I'm right, that should level the playing field."
.
- [Battle Trial - F3] -
Hakamada thought for a second, his expression tense with determination.
"Kemono, we need a plan. Aizawa and Takami won't go down without a fight."
Kemono scoffed. "Ha! A plan? Please, I'll take them on myself. They won't stand a chance against my Quirk."
Hakamada shook his head. "Listen, this isn't about showing off. It's about strategy. We need to work together if we want to win."
Kemono relented, albeit begrudgingly. "Fine, fine. What's your brilliant plan, then?"
"We need to create a distraction. While they're focused on us, someone else can grab the case and make a run for it," Hakamada explained.
Kemono considered the idea. "Hmph, I suppose that could work. But why don't I just take them out myself?"
"Because, my friend, we need to ensure our victory. Let's use our strengths wisely," Hakamada reasoned.Reluctantly, Kemono agreed.
"Fine, I'll play along. But don't think for a second that I need your help."
"Of course not. Now, let's execute this plan flawlessly," Hakamada said, determined.
"Flawlessly? Ha! That's my specialty," Kemono boasted.
"Remember, keep your focus. We can't afford any mistakes," Hakamada reminded him.Kemono nodded,
"Yeah, yeah, I've got it."
"I'll protect the case with my life. It's our ticket to victory," Hakamada emphasized.
"You better!." Kemono replied
.
[A Lighter Shade Of Green]
.
- [Battle Trial - Monitor Room] -
"Hey, is the audio broken? I don't hear anything," Shirakumo stated
"Well, no, it's not broken. I've given them small earpieces so that the teams can communicate with each other. All we can do is watch," Skyward explained.
"As much as I want you all to hear the battle, along with a map of the building, they also have a roll of capture tape," Skyward continued, holding up the map and the tape.
"Wrapping this around your opponent means you've apprehended them, and they're out for the rest of the game."
"So, there's a 15-minute time limit…" Haruto-san started
"And the good guys have no idea where the bad guys have placed the case, huh? Not to mention, they can simply avoid them the entire time," Mitsuki-san finished.
"Correct!" Skyward exclaimed with a smile.
"Then the tired and bird guy are clearly at a disadvantage here," Mitsuki stated
"Real pros have to outwit villains on a daily basis. That's life. Even when the odds aren't in our favor, we fight," Skyward stated
"All together!" Skyward rallied everyone
"Let's hear a 'Plus Ultra!'" The majority of my class stated the phrase in unison
"It seems they're on the move. It's about time," Todoroki remarked,
"Mh?" Skyward said, turning her attention to the monitors
.
- [Battle Trial - F2] -
On the second floor, Aizawa and Takami diverged as the seasoned hero crouched low, his gaze fixated on the stairwell ahead.
Faint footsteps echoed, signaling an impending confrontation.
He braced himself, prepared for what lay ahead.
As Kemono stormed onto the second floor, his sinewy muscles coiled with power, Takami sprang into action.
With a flurry of feathers, he evaded the villain's grasp, teasing him with his agility.
"Come on, big guy," Takami taunted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Can't catch me?"
"Get back, you damn bird!" Kemono bellowed in frustration, his narrowed eyes fixated on his elusive prey as he gave chase.
Takami's swiftness allowed him to navigate the narrow corridors effortlessly, but Kemono's relentless pursuit matched his every move with brute force.
With a burst of speed, Takami darted through an open doorway, narrowly avoiding Kemono's outstretched hand.
He knew he couldn't maintain this pace indefinitely; they needed a strategy to shift the odds in their favor.
.
- [Battle Trial - F3] -
On the third floor, Aizawa rounded a corner and found himself face-to-face with Hakamada.
The blond stood there, strands of his quirk-activated fibers trailing behind him as he gripped the capture tape.
"I knew we'd cross paths eventually," Hakamada stated, his attire overly extravagant for the occasion.
"I've been looking forward to this."
Aizawa narrowed his eyes, his capture scarf poised for action.
"Let's not waste any time, Hakamada. The case belongs to us."
With a swift flick of his wrist, Hakamada sent the strands of fiber snaking towards the case, aiming to ensnare it before Aizawa could react.
However, Aizawa was quick to counter, his gaze unwavering as he activated his Quirk, nullifying the effects of Hakamada's Quirk.
As the strands of fiber faltered mid-air, Hakamada's expression hardened.
"Impressive," he conceded, his tone laced with respect.
"But don't think for a moment that I'm out of tricks. This might not be elegant, but it's necessary."
.
- [Battle Trial - Monitor Room] -
Through the many monitors, we saw Hakamada launch himself towards Aizawa, aiming to close in with close combat.
Aizawa reacted swiftly, dodging Hakamada's initial strike and countering with a calculated sweep of his capture scarf.
"Huh? How the hell did that thing do that?" Questioned a student
"A lot of work. I have a feeling he knew it might fail," A different student chimed As soon as they said that Hakamada, deftly evaded the attack.
"Wow, I don't know if either of them are using their quirks or not, but damn, they're putting on a show," Mitsuki-san remarked as the two carried on
"Wait a sec, I think Takami is getting awfully close to where the other two are," Hisashi-san pointed out as Kemono continued to chase Takami down the building's corridors.
"Awfully? Don't you mean right next door? It'll be straight chaos if the two colli-." Mitsuki-san started before the loud sound of Kemono's roaring could be heard from Skyward's earpiece...
.
- [Battle Trial - F3] -
"Aagghh!!, you get back here you damn chicken!." Kemono roared as he continued to chase Takami He ran after him almost on all fours as the two went through the several corridors of the second floor
"Hey! A chicken can't fly!. " Takami corrected, aggravating Kemono further.
"Who cares! I'm gonna tear your wings off!" Kemono bellowed, increasing his speed.
A flash of red whizzed past Kemono, narrowly missing him.
A single red feather embedded itself in the concrete wall.
"Geez, fast reflexes too? What else does your quirk give you?" Takami taunted, goading Kemono on.Fueled by frustration, Kemono intensified his pursuit.
Takami retaliated by hurling feathers sporadically as they ascended to the third floor, but Kemono effortlessly dodged them.
Fed up with the ceaseless chase, Kemono pushed himself to the limit.
Muscles straining, he let out a primal roar as they rounded a corner.
In a desperate leap, Kemono tackled Takami to the ground, unwittingly landing in the midst of Aizawa's and Hakamada's confrontation.
Kemono wasted no time as he raised his sharp claws at the blond hero.
However, Aizawa swiftly intervened, using his capture weapon to grasp Kemono's hand mid-swing.
"Get the case!" Aizawa urgently urged Takami, who nodded in response as he quickly used a feather to cut the fibers holding the dangling case.
But their plan was thwarted by the other blond. with his fibers, he seized the feather, tightening his grip on it.
"Not so fast," he taunted.
"Darn," Takami mutteret, and Just when it seemed all hope was lost, takami spotted an opening.
With a burst of speed, he lunged forward, attempting to snatch the case before Hakamada could fully secure it.
However, Kemono's voice cut through the chaos.
"Oh no you don't!" he roared as he bit into Aizawa's scarf, tearing it and launching himself at the blond, kicking him towards the wall.
Caught off guard, takami attempted to use his feathers to gain an advantage, but Kemono swiftly grabbed hold of them, yanking them back.
Aizawa, observing the unfolding struggle, moved to intervene, but before he could act, Hakamada's fibers ensnared him, immobilizing him.
"Damn it!" Aizawa cursed, struggling against the fibers' grip.
As Kemono wrestled with Takami, his grip tightening on the hero's feathers, Aizawa strained against Hakamada's fibers, desperate to break free.
Aizawa grunted, his eyes fixed on the struggling duo.
With a swift motion, Takami managed to break free from Kemono's grasp, seizing the opportunity to snatch the case just as Hakamada tightened his hold on Aizawa.
"Not so fast!" Takami exclaimed as a feather clutched the case tightly behind Hakamada's back.
Distracted by takami's move, Hakamada momentarily loosened his hold on Aizawa, who, finally freed from the fibers, joined Takami And as the other two attempted to go at them
With ease, Hawks grasped the case...
"The hero team Wins!!!" Skyward exclaimed through the speakers as Shishido clutched his hair in frustration and Hakamada faced down in disappointment
.
- [Battle Trial - Monitor Room] -
"That was rather anticlimactic," Mitsuki-san remarked, her voice tinged with a hint of disappointment as she surveyed the scene.
"Yeah, it's better than anyone getting hurt," I stated, relieved that the situation hadn't escalated further.
"Alright! While we get everything set up, it's time for the next round!" Skyward exclaimed, casting a quick glance in my direction.
A sense of unease settled in my stomach at her scrutiny.
'That isn't good...' I thought to myself, my mind racing with apprehension.
"Next up are these guys!" Skyward announced, producing the next set of teams with a flourish.
My heart skipped a beat as she revealed the lineup.
"Team C are the heroes..." I felt a bead of sweat form on my brow at the announcement of my team.
"Team E are the villains..." The tension in my mind escalated as the second announcement was made.
"Now, let's get started, shall we?" Skyward declared with a smile, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
I couldn't shake the feeling of nervousness that gripped me.
I remembered what Humura-san had said to me earlier, about how I wasn't the only one feeling anxious about our opponents.
'But I'm up against her... fire versus fire and ice versus telekinesis/OFA...'
'I'm even more nervous than before!' I screamed internally as a hand landed on my shoulder.
"Yo! You'll be fine. Even if you lose, it's an experience, isn't it? Go rough up the damn apple for me, alright?" Mitsuki-san reassured me
I nodded silently, grateful for her support...
.
[A Lighter Shade Of Green]
.
- [Battle Trial - F4] -
Todoroki and I stood in silence, awaiting the commencement of the round.
"Do you perhaps have a-" I began, only to be cut off by the red-head
"Our Quirks contradict each other, it's not a favorable match-up," he pointed out the obvious.
"Well, yes, fire melts ice, and ice extinguishes fire. It's not an ideal scenario," I acknowledged.
"In other words, I'll handle the other two opponents, while you freeze the case, prevent the Girl from obtaining it," he instructed
"Girl? You mean Midoriya-san?" I asked, seeking clarification.
"Yes, her," he spat the word with a hint of venom in his voice.
It was quite the strategy, but I couldn't shake the feeling that things might take a turn for the worse from here…
.
- [Battle Trial - F1] -
"So... we're up against Humura and Todoroki, huh?" Haruto-san stated
"Y-yeah... I-i'm a bit worried though," I admitted nervously, my fingers fidgeting with each other.
"I can guess why. Todoroki's quirk is really strong, not to mention fast!" Haruto praised Todoroki.
"I think his fire quirk is stronger than mine, which is saying something since I believe mine's pretty strong too," he added
"D-don't doubt yourself! I-I'm sure you can get stronger with training," I encouraged him, offering a nervous smile to encourage him
Haruto looked at me, bringing a smile to his face, "Yeah, you're right. I won't let their strength intimidate me. Let's focus on our own strengths."
I nodded in agreement, "We have to work together as a team... Do you think our quirks will work together?"
"I'm sure they will. You can move stuff, right?" Haruto asked, seeking assurance as I nodded in confirmation.
"Then with that, I'm sure you can manipulate my fire. We can do a fire trick!, like a fire wheel!" he exclaimed with enthusiasm
"And with that, we'll show them what we're capable of," he declared confidently, helping my confidence ever so slightly
but as we prepared for the round, I couldn't shake off the nerves entirely.
"I just hope we can execute it well under pressure," I admitted, a tinge of apprehension lingering in my voice.
"Don't worry, Midoriya-san," he reassured me with a calm voice.
"We've trained for this. We'll make it count."I nodded, attempting to steady my nerves.
"R-right. We just need to stick to the plan."
"Alright! Let's begin this training!" We heard Skyward through the speakers.
"Team C and Team E, your time starts now!"
"A-alright, let's go!." I asserted, but Hisashi-san halted abruptly mid-step.
"Wait a sec, I think we should enter through the second floor." he proposed.
"Huh?, how do we do that?." I asked, though I already anticipated his answer.
"Mmh?, you can carry people with your quirk right?." he asked
"Well…yeah, but the h-heavier it is the more it strains my head." I elaborated.
"Then you're lucky am the lightest one here!." he declared.
"Don't bother asking, cause I don't know why myself, it just happened." He added
"Perhaps it's because of my quirk, anyways go on."
I nodded, activating Gravitate. As my eyes glowed a lighter shade of green, I extended my hand toward Hisashi-san, enveloping him in a green aura.
Carefully, I lifted him towards a second-floor window, where he promptly entered.
Relinquishing my quirk, I massaged my throbbing head.
"You alright?, how bad is it right?." Hisashi-san inquired from above.
"N-no, it's fine, just a mild headache," I remarked.
"Ha, I knew I wasn't a burden," he chuckled.
"Okay, so, we'll rendezvous at floor 3, you check out the first floor, and I'll do the same with the second." he instructed, to which I nodded in agreement.
"Let's go then." he said, bidding farewell with a wave as we entered our respective floors.
.
The first floor consisted mostly of simple corridors, devoid of any grand
Suddenly, a voice crackled through my earpiece,
"Hey, are you there?"
Startled, I responded, "Ah, yes, why?"
"Oh, just checking if this thing works, you know," Hasashi-san explained.
"Was there something else you wanted to tell me?" I asked
After a brief pause, he responded "...oh yeah, if what you said about Humura's quirk is true, she'll likely freeze the case so we can't access it, and Todoroki is probably on our trail as well."
"That's... not good," I nervously remarked.
"You're right. We'll need to avoid him if possible and reach the floor with the case," Hasashi-san strategized.
"If Humura is there, I'll melt her ice with my fire and secure the case. If not, we'll have to face both of them."
"Okay... good luck, Hasashi-san," I wished him.
"You too. Let's hope I don't get burned," he joked before our communication went silent
With that, I began exploring the floor, cautiously turning each corner of the corridor to check for any signs of activity.
As I combed through the first floor, every creak of the floorboards seemed to amplify in the eerie silence.
With a cautious hand, I activated my earpiece.
"Hey... I've finished searching the first floor, are you alri--"
A piercing scream, laden with dread, cut through the airwaves, resonating through my earpiece.
"Aaaaaaah!!!!"
My heart clenched in fear at Hasashi-san's distress.
"I-is everything alright?!, Hasashi-san?!" I blurted out, urgency lacing my words as I awaited a response.
Silence stretched agonizingly before his voice crackled through, ragged and strained
"Ah... ah... huff, I'm... I'm fine, don't worry... Todoroki found me. I managed to escape him, but it won't be long until he tracks me down again..."
Dread pooled in the pit of my stomach, twisting with apprehension.
"Looks like we need to rethink our strategy...," Hasashi-san's voice wavered with nervous tension.
My mind raced, thoughts colliding with the overwhelming realization that the tables had turned…
'I'm not prepared for this' I admitted inwardly, as the gravity of the situation sunk in…
- [Word Count: 3234] -
And End...
Sorry if it took a while; I was out of ideas, and all I could think of was Inko's fight. But don't worry, I'll make sure not to take more than a week next time.
I hope you enjoyed it!