It had started to snow that morning, first just a few flakes but then it began to pile up on the sides of the road.

Bakugou and I were in the back seat of All Might's car and through the windows it coated the city in a white blanket.

"Goddamn it, freaking winter crap..." Bakugou muttered.

"You don't like snow?" I asked him.

"Fuck no. Who the hell does?"

I looked out the window. "I find it...comforting."

Makes me think of mom...

"Snow slows me down, dammit. And right when it counts the most!"

"Crime doesn't wait for the weather to warm up," said All Might from the front seat. "When you're a pro, you'll have to fight in snow all the time."

"Besides," I added, "the test is indoors anyway."

"Doesn't mean I have to be happy about the damn white glop."

"No, I guess it doesn't."

"Is...your father planning to observe this time?" asked All Might. I flinched.

"No. He's busy."

I'd had a long conversation with him the night before where we'd talked about my quirk and how I could potentially learn from him. It was frustratingly, a bit reassuring.

I felt dirty admitting that, but having my...the #1 hero being prepared to teach me a signature and useful move helped me feel just a bit more secure going forward into this test.

All Might pulled up to the curve outside the test building. "I'll circle around to park. Good luck in there!"

We stepped out into the freezing cold air and I saw Bakugou wrap his scarf a little more tightly. I suppose his quirk won't be as efficient inside.

"I'm gonna blow you away in there!" he shouted at me as we hurried inside.

"It's not a contest."

"Like hell it's not."

"BAKUGOU! TODOROKI! GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN!"

Yoarashi came stomping up to us immediately.

"Well well, hiya there Todoroki! Long time no see," smiled Utsushimi.

"Hello."

"Never heard back from you. How come you didn't answer me?"

"I've been pretty busy. Plus, it's hard to get away from campus to talk. There's a lot of supervision."

"YOU SURE ARE KEPT UP TIGHT AT UA! DO THEY NEVER LET YOU LEAVE?"

"Obviously since we're here," Bakugou snapped, stomping off to the locker room to change. I headed towards the locker room as well, with Utsushimi calling after me, "Well, give me a call!"

"I wonder why she's so eager to become friends with me..." I asked as I changed next to Yoarashi.

"OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO ASK YOU OUT!"

"Ask me out to do what?"

"TO...DATE, OBVIOUSLY?" He was staring at me and it was a very odd expression, like he couldn't understand a word I was saying.

"To date what?" I asked, getting increasingly frustrated. "Rocks?"

His jaw dropped open.

I shook my head and turned away to keep on dressing.

Soon enough we were all suited up and joined by the others who'd failed the Licensing Exam. Gang Orca was waiting for us.

"Today's the day I finally say goodbye to you slack-jawed fools!" He greeted us with that. "That thought's got me in a good mood. Ready for the pain, you specks of plankton?"

Behind him was a giant destroyed construction site crawling with his sidekicks.

"You will be conducting rescue operations here, much as you should have been doing in the Official Licensing Exam. And just like then, you will be doing so while fending off an attack by a supervillain gang. Supervillains have been traveling in groups lately, so you will need to work together with your fellow pros in order to successfully pull off this mission."

He gave me and Bakugou a very pointed glare. "No going off on your own!"

Utsushimi stretched out her fingers. I adjusted my wrist warmers.

"Let's do this!" shouted Orca.

Daika City

"Well, that could be a problem," murmured the villain known as Geten as Dabi's flames began to melt his weapon.

Throwing back his hands, ice from convenience stores, ice from vending machines, all ice - began to fly into the air. Forming itself at his command.

"Since you seem to be unaware, I manipulate ice. All Ice."

An enormous ice sculpture of a dragon had formed itself together in the sky, Geten flying nearby to command its movements.

"I've been perfecting this meta ability for a lonnng time. Longer than most heroes. So no school for me. The grand commander helped make me stronger."

"Sounds like you've led quite a life. But kinda sad!"

"You'd best not think your little campfire can melt my ice."

At that a giant wall of flames came blasting through the sky.

"Dabi, a little moderation, please!" called Mr. Compress.

"Mine's bigger and you're outmatched elementally. Your precious ice is practically all gone," he shouted at Geten, as the latter beat a retreat.

"If you're winning so easily, then lend me a hand!" Shouted Mr. Compress.

"Why should I help?"

"Are you so unfeeling?"

"Nah. I mean, just ask them," he said, pointing.

"Dabi! Mr. Compress! The Twices are here to save the day!"

Wall to wall, building to building, Twices. Clones and clones and clones seemingly without end.

"Kill em all!" "wOw! Move aside" "Yowch!" "Dabi!" "Hey" "Compress!" Dabi!" "Toga's dying!" "Hey!" "Yo!" "You two still kicking?""Your saviors are here!" "Compress!" "Slaughterfest!""Help is on the way!" "I'm still making more doubles!" "Don't step on my foot you clod!"

"What a racket," said Compress. "What about your trauma?"

"Love and courage were just what the doctor ordered!"

"That doesn't clarify things, but that feels like a heroic origin story, though you're still a villain."

"What good villain wouldn't wanna save his friends?!"

"Well said, me!" "You boys matter to me!" "There's so few of you, so you're even more precious!"

"Hah, hang on, am I stupid? Why don't I double Dabi?"

"He's way handier in a fight than me."

"That's true, he's basically a prodigy!"

"All right, one Dabi coming up! Or how about 20,000! I'll double you guys too! Forget League, we'll have enough for a whole villain nation!"

Not far away Shigaraki and Spinner were continuing to battle Meta Liberation army members.

"Shigaraki, you ok?" Asked Spinner.

"Just fine. Are you thinking we should've hung back after all?"

"Well, if we hadn't come to town, they would have sent a bunch of heroes after us, so we were kinda stuck between a rock and a hard place."

"True. We had no choice. But look, Spinner. The Tower's close. And there're even more of em."

"Where're they all coming from?" Cried Spinner as they attempted to dodge another attack - and were pulled to safety by Twices.

"Whoa. You made more of yourself?"

"Yup! You bet! This is how I can be useful, boss!"