The Final Exams

Estelle sat calmly at her desk whilst she waited for the written exam to be over. She eyed the clock as time ticked away, counting down the seconds until she could leave. She was eventually given her reprieve when Aizawa spoke up.

"All right, the exam is over. You can put your pencils down."

Estelle neglected the rest of the class when they stood up to talk to one another about the exam that had just taken place. Estelle efficiently bolted out of the room like a person on a mission. She headed down to the cafeteria for the bento she had been thinking about all day.

'Bento. Bento. Bento. Bento

Ooft.'

She was brought out of her thoughts when she collided right into someone in the hallway. Immediately looking up to insult the individual, she was surprised to find a familiar face. A face that she thought she would never see again.

"Sorry about that. I recognise you. Oh. You were the one that helped me find the library a while back. Thanks for that," Estelle said with a nonplused look.

The male blushed across his entire face, clearly surprised that the girl remembered him and brokenly spoke back, "Yeah-yeah, that's me. I d-didn't know-know you we-went he-here."

"Oh. I wasn't at the time. I'm only in the first year."

"Ah, I'm in the t-thir-third year."

The conversation was quickly interrupted by two more individuals as they walked towards the conversing students. The first person was a tall male who had blonde hair and a wide bright grin on his face. Next to him was a more petite girl who seemed to be overflowing with energy since she bounced on her heels at an inhuman rate. The girl ran up to Estelle immediately, bursting with a hundred questions. Estelle already knew she was in for a headache.

"Hi! Who are you?! What are you doing with Tamaki!? What year are you in!? Are you here to be his friend? Something more?"

Estelle's mind shut down from all the questions. She was thankful when the blonde grabbed the overexcited girl's shoulder and hauled her back next to him. "Sorry about that; Nejire is just a curious cat! I'm Mirio - Tamaki's best friend. I didn't know he had any other friends besides us?!"

The male who Estelle realised was called Tamaki turned a darker shade of red and turned to the lockers whilst muttering something about strangers. He really was an anxious one. Estelle figured she wouldn't get any aid from him.

"Uh, yeah. Tamaki helped me find the library a while back. We bumped into each other here, and voila. I'm Estelle. Nice to meet you. I would love to stay and chat, but I have a bento calling my name - I'll see you guys around."

"We'll come with you! We like making friends," the blonde yelled with too much optimism. Estelle thought his smile was too bright. It was too kind for her to be around. She wasn't made for friends. Estelle just shook her head in response.

"Thanks, but no thanks. I think you guys will be better off without me. I'll see you around."

Before they could respond and rebuke the statement, Estelle was already gone.

"Huh. She's an interesting one." Mirio commented, curious about the aloof first year.

"Yeah, seems like she's a loner - like Tamaki over here!" Nejire responded.

"Hey!" Tamaki whined, his head still on the locker. The redness still hadn't faded, even if the pretty girl who complimented his shirt when they first met was gone. Mirio watched the corridor quietly, his interest in the female still running through his head. He lightened up when he came to some form of resolution. He was going to be her friend.

"I like a challenge!"

Estelle continued marching to the cafeteria with hidden eagerness. She could already smell her sweet bento as she walked up to the counter where Lunch Rush stood serving students.

"What can I get you?" He asked; when it was her turn. Estelle's mouth filled with saliva before she even ordered. She couldn't wait to bite into it. Thanking the hero for the meal, Estelle made her way to her usual spot by the trees. To her surprise, she found Shinsou sitting at her place. His back leaned against the wall whilst he eyed the sky. His concentration was interrupted when he heard the sound of crunching leaves. After turning to face Estelle, he gave a slight smirk.

"It was about time you showed up", He jabbed.

"Oh! I'm sorry, your majesty. I'll be sure to skip the cafeteria to grace you with my presence as soon as possible," Estelle sarcastically countered with a bow.

Shinsou scoffed, his smirk widening into a genuine smile. He shook his head and chuckled. "You are a funny one."

"Hm, so what brought you here?"

"What? Can I not spend time with a friend?"

"I repeat, you aren't a friend."

"Then, what am I?" He urged while he watched her sit next to him.

"A nuisance", Estelle bluntly replied whilst opening up her lunch.

"Pfft, someone is full of jokes today."

"I wasn't joking."

"Shut up."

"Hmpt."

Estelle took the moment of silence to bite into her bento; the sweet relief of goodness immediately relaxed her shoulders. She slumped as she submitted herself to her food.

'So good.'

"Wow, you're really enjoying that bento. I wouldn't be surprised if you started moaning," Shinsou commented, watching her love on her food with a smirk.

"I probably would have if I didn't have an audience", Estelle bit back, gazing at his hair.

Shinsou laughed. "Well, I'm not stopping you; go ahead."

Estelle moaned when she took another bite.

Shinsou crimsoned.

"I told you so," Estelle said with a grin of her own.

"Yeah yeah, whatever. I heard you had your written exam. How was it?" Shinsou asked, inwardly praying for his redness to leave his face.

"Pretty easy."

"Really?"

"Yeah, the stuff isn't difficult to grasp."

"Oh, that's good to know. How do you feel about the practical exam coming up?"

"That'll be a piece of cake."

"You're positive", Shinsou responded. He knew she was skilled. The way she moved was on another level. He appreciated her confidence in herself, though he could see how others would find it intimidating.

"Well, I have a lot of experience."

"Pfft, cocky", He taunted.

"Shut up. How are your training sessions with Aizawa going?" Estelle asked in hopes of changing the topic.

"Ugh", Shinsou started as his body fell sideways to hit the green grass. "Since you're training me on hand to hand combat, Mr Aizawa is training me with his capture weapon. It's hard. I keep getting tangled up in the damn thing."

"You'll get it."

"I know; I just hoped it wouldn't take that long. Apparently, Mr Aizawa took six years to master it."

"Looks like you've got your work cut out for you. Luckily, you aren't learning it on your own like Aizawa probably had to. That cuts down the time by a whole lot. Have patience," Estelle advised. Shinsou turned his head to Estelle with a thoughtful expression.

"I never thought about it that way. You're right. Thanks."

"I would say anytime, but I would be lying."

"Rude."

Estelle and Shinsou talked throughout lunch. Estelle enjoyed the company, but she felt like this would be a repeat of the cafe. Estelle still missed Bakugo and Kirishima's background noise from when they had studied there. She dreaded that the company would bring those same feelings when she was inevitably alone again. Shinsou broke her out of her thoughts when he stood up and stretched.

"This is a decent spot. I might visit you here more often," He thought out loud.

"Please don't", Estelle bluntly responded to his thinking. It was like he wanted to torture her. Companionship was pain. If not now, then it would be later.

"Don't lie. You enjoyed your friend hanging out with you," Shinsou voiced before he gazed down at the empty face of Estelle. He really wished she would smile more. He was making progress, though, even if it was at a snail pace.

"We aren't friends", Estelle reminded.

"Keep telling yourself that. I'll see you later. Good luck on the practical; I'm sure you don't need it."

"Later, Shinsou. Don't be a dick."

"Hmpt."

Aizawa stood with the UA faculty while he spoke to Class 1A.

"Now then, let's begin the last test. Remember, it's possible to fail this final. If you want to go to training camp, then don't make any stupid mistakes."

"Uh, why are all the teachers here?" Jiro asked, afraid of the answer.

"I expect many of you gathered information and believe you have some idea of what you'll be facing today", Aizawa continued.

"We'll be fighting big ol' robots!" Kaminari and Ashido yelled out happily. Estelle deadpanned at the two and their idiocy. It was evident that this wasn't going to be a robot fight.

"Actually, this year's tests will be completely different for various reasons!" Principle Nezu shouted as he jumped out of Aizawa's scarf.

'Why does he love being carried so much? Then again, I wouldn't mind being carried everywhere. That would be the life,' Estelle thought distractedly with a longing heart.

"You're changing things?" Yaoyorozu asked worriedly, catching Estelle out of her daydreams of being carried everywhere.

"There will be hero work, of course. But also, teamwork and combat between actual people! Most of you will be working together in pairs, and your opponents will be one of our esteemed UA teachers. Isn't that fabulous!?"

"We're fighting the teachers!" Ochako shouted out in unexpected surprise.

"Your opponents have already been chosen at my discretion. This is based on many factors like fighting style, grades and relationships. Estelle, the exam will be slightly different for you. We will discuss that at the end."

"Roger", Estelle replied with indifference. She had expected this. If anyone was going to be the odd one out, it would be her.

"You're not worried?" Mineta cried out like his exam was the one that changed. Estelle ignored him.

Estelle silently listened whilst Aizawa explained the teams that her classmates were placed in and their hero opponents. She couldn't help but sigh when Bakugo and Midoriya were put together with All Might.

'Let's hope they don't die.'

Once the teams had been announced, Estelle stepped forward when she was called. Aizawa gazed down at her and finally explained her exam.

"This was due to the fact the class is at an odd number, and we are aware you don't have any problems working in a team. You showed this in the training battle with All Might and the cavalry battle at the sports festival. That is why I have chosen you to go alone. Your quirk and your skills put you at an advantage with your class anyway, so there will be no quirk limiters."

The class gasped and murmured to each other at the drastic difference in their exams. They understood in a way, she did have four abilities in one quirk. Estelle nodded for him to continue in response.

"So, you'll be fighting..."

A man shot out of the sky and landed in front of the class with a thump. His fire surrounded him completely whilst he stared down at the girl who had defied him previously.

"Endeavour."

Everyone gasped at the reveal. The student's shock grew at the unexpected response from Estelle. Her mouth held a smirk whilst her eyes stared down at the hero manically. They quivered from the sight. Bakugo watched Estelle as heat crawled up his neck, entrapped in her emotion. To him, that fire he saw at the sports festival could be seen within Estelle at the moment. Estelle floated a piece of rock into her hand and squeezed, effectively crushing it to dust whilst speaking her following words.

"Oh ho, you're going down firewood."

"You have too much confidence, little girl."

"No. I have too much experience."

The class shivered at the intense staredown between the hero and student.

'She's fearless' Some awed.

Shoto watched Estelle with worry.

Estelle stood quietly while she waited for her turn on the exam. She was interrupted from her thoughts when Shoto sped walked up to her in panic. He had grabbed her arm to pull her outside. Estelle allowed him to do so without question, aware that he was worrying from a good place. She was startled to find that another arm hindered her.

Following the limb, her eyes trailed up to Bakugo. Alarmed at why he would interrupt, he spoke up before she could ask.

"Where do you think you're going, half and half?"

"I was going to talk to Estelle; why are you interrupting Bakugo?" Shoto responded sternly.

"Tch, she doesn't need to go anywhere with you."

Estelle was bewildered. She wasn't comrades with these people, so why were they dictating where she was going?

"Ahem", Estelle started to get the boys attention. "I don't understand why both of you are talking like I'm a piece of property. Whatever, I don't care. I'll speak to you both. Now let go."

Both males immediately let go of Estelle, allowing her to take in the relief for a moment with her personal bubble. She liked her bubbles. She took Todoroki's arm and led him outside, turning to Bakugo whilst she spoke her following words on her way out.

"I'll find you after our talk; it won't take long."

Thankful that he wasn't publicly embarrassed by being ignored, he nodded before leaning against the wall with an indignant pout. Estelle continued to lead Shoto outside and halted when they were at a reasonable distance. Shoto immediately spoke in a frenzy.

"You can't fight my old man! He'll crush you. I don't know what they were thinking by pairing you up with him alone! It's completely unreasonable. We have to get them to change the exam."

Estelle raised her arms placidly and held his shoulders so he would look her in the eye. She found it odd that he was so concerned for her. Estelle tried to stomp down on her feelings. It was too much care, more than she deserved. Estelle spoke confidently and reassuringly, which thankfully caused Shoto to ease at the resolution the girl portrayed.

"Hey, don't worry, Todoroki I-"

"Shoto."

"Shoto. Don't worry. UA is fully aware of what they are doing, and I get it. Have more faith in me. I can take your dad no problem. Just make sure you're there to watch. I'm sure it will be a once in a lifetime experience," Estelle finished with a tilt to her lips.

Shoto couldn't help but reciprocate her expression whilst he responded, "How are you so confident?"

"Like I said earlier. I'm not just confident; I'm experienced. I know what I'm doing. So have faith."

Todoroki nodded before letting out a sigh, the last of his stress leaving with it. He nodded to himself and said his final parting words, "I believe you. Kick his butt, Estelle."

Estelle's smirk grew into a reassuring smile. A smile that he had never seen before. His breath caught in his throat; she should do that more.

They parted ways after exchanging one last good luck, and Estelle went to look for Bakugo. When she had found him, the blonde grabbed her arm and took her to a different location outside. Estelle understood why Shoto would want to speak with her, but she didn't understand why Bakugo wanted to.

Once again, she was not given a chance to speak.

"Why is it that you get to shine alone, but I have to work with Deku?!"

'Oh, that's why.'

Estelle gave a dramatic sigh before responding, "Because of what Aizawa said. You can't seem to work with Midoriya; that's why he put you both together. It's designed in a way that you'll have to if you want to pass. You need to suck it up to win."

Bakugo clenched his fists and gritted his teeth in frustration. Estelle patted his shoulder reassuringly while she said her following words, "I know he pisses you off. You both have a lot of history. But I also know you can do it, even if it's for thirty minutes. Didn't you tell me before that you would show me who's best?"

Bakugo perked up and gave a manic grin "Tch! Of course, I will! Just you wait, Lioness, I'll kick All Might up shit's creek."

"That's what I like to hear!" Estelle stated, continuing to give the encouragement he so desperately needed right now. When he decompressed, she figured that her work was done, and she could return to her usual self. Estelle moved to leave to prepare for the battle about to take place.

To her, it felt like she was fighting her previous guardian since they were both so similar. Estelle almost couldn't wait to beat him down a peg. Lord knows Endeavour needed it. She could only hope that it would force him into some type of change. She might be shooting for the stars, though.

"Hey, kick the bastard's ass. I want to see what I'm up against." Bakugo stated when Estelle was nearly out of earshot. Estelle turned around to face the blonde and smirked once again. Of course, he would figure out the purpose of her exam. Her smirk morphed into a borderline bloodthirsty grin.

"Oh, you know I will."

Bakugo had to look away. It made him feel weird.