Izuku hurried to the dorms, sneakers squeaking against the tiled floors as he went, making sure he had enough time for a thorough shower and to give his teeth a good scrubbing, hoping the steamy water would wash away any lingering alcohol odor clinging to his skin and hair. A spritz of crisp cologne wouldn't hurt either, he decided, dabbing on a subtle citrus scent.
As he emerged from the bathroom, towel around his waist and droplets still beading on his freckled shoulders, his eyes landed on Ochaco and Momo huddled together, their hushed tones and furrowed brows indicating a serious conversation.
'I guess it wouldn't be that weird if the prestigious Yaoyorozu family had ties to the legendary Pendragons,' he mused, padding back to his room.
The buzz of his phone drew his attention - a text from Kinoko and Itsuka asking to hang out later. He tapped out a reply, thumbs flying across the screen, agreeing to meet up for a bit after classes let out. Slipping the device into his pocket, he rejoined the common room where everyone was gathering bags and straightening uniforms, the excited murmurs about the possibility of ALL MIGHT himself teaching them today filling the air.
"Welcome back, Sir Knight," Ochaco's melodic voice rang out, her greeting pulling the eyes of their classmates his way.
He couldn't really make out where the invisible girl Hagakure Toru's is looking at since, well, he couldn't see her face.
'Maybe I'll try to sell her the idea of wearing a beret,' he thought to himself.
"Hey there! I was going to say hi earlier but you seemed busy," he replied with an easygoing smile.
"You must mean when I was talking to Yaoyorozu-san. Just some casual girl chat," she explained with a dismissive wave of her hand as they fell into step together toward the academic buildings, the gentle breeze ruffling her chestnut hair.
"So how was your first Evoker lesson?" She arched an inquisitive brow.
"I'm not sure I'd really call that a lesson. More like an orientation," he said, scrunching his nose slightly. "We just introduced ourselves, set expectations, that kind of thing. What about you? Didn't Principal Nezu mention you having extra classes too?"
"Yeah, but those are scheduled after homeroom and Heroics," she told him, adjusting the strap of her bag.
"Man, I wish mine were too," he joked with an exaggerated sigh.
"What's this about extra classes?" Kaminari piped up, his blond hair sticking up every which way as he sauntered over, hands shoved in his pockets.
"Something like that," Izuku replied vaguely, not wanting to go into details.
"Dang, that must've sucked," Kaminari commiserated with a grimace.
"Other than the schedule, I can't complain about the chance to grow," Izuku said with a casual shrug of his broad shoulders.
"Truly an admirable perspective, My Knight," Ochaco praised, her warm smile making his heart flutter ever so slightly.
"Dude, you're so lucky you've got an elf babe like her into you," Kaminari muttered under his breath, openly ogling Ochaco in a way that made Izuku's jaw clench. "I'd kill to get with a hottie like that."
"While I can't deny she's hot, I'd advise keeping your eyes and hands to yourself if you know what's good for you," Izuku warned in a low, icy tone, pinning Kaminari with a stern look until the other boy swallowed hard and backed off.
"What were you two whispering about?" Ochaco asked, her brow furrowed in curiosity as she glanced between them.
"Nothing, just guy stuff," Izuku deflected smoothly, the words rolling off his tongue as naturally as if he were discussing the weather. Ochaco seemed to accept this, giving a little hum of acknowledgment as their conversation carried them through the entrance.
The animated chatter continued, their voices joining the symphony of sounds echoing through the halls - laughter, shuffling feet, lockers slamming - until they reached their classroom. They claimed their assigned desks, the wooden chairs creaking as they settled in to await their teacher's arrival.
For English 101, the boisterous voice of Present Mic boomed through the room, his very presence demanding attention. For Physics 101, Cementoss entered, his heavy footfalls thudding against the floor as clouds of chalk dust followed in his wake. Culture 101 was taught by Midnight, who favored Izuku with a strange, lingering smirk as she sashayed into the classroom, her musky perfume preceding her.
'Dammit, I got reminded of what she said about Mom!' he mentally yelled, going into a full-blown crisis needing brain bleach.
After choking down a hurried lunch of slightly soggy cafeteria fare, Izuku went to what appeared to be an abandoned wing of the school grounds. Dust motes danced in the few rays of sunlight filtering through grimy windows as his footsteps echoed hollowly in the vacant corridor. Before his next lesson, he wanted to train his subpar senses - easily his weakest ability.
Someone like Ochaco would instinctively know every person entering and exiting a building she's in without even leaving her room. Someone like Yui could stroll into a bustling hospital and, before even reaching the reception desk, absorb the complete medical histories of every patient and staff member - eavesdropping on their very DNA to intimately know their afflictions, allergies, and blood types.
Those heightened abilities assumed no one was magically Veiled, of course, but the disparity remained glaringly obvious. Izuku, on the other hand, needed someone actively wielding magic right before his eyes for his own mystical senses to even register their presence. 'At that point, what even is the point?' he thought. His perceptions were sharper than an ordinary human's, for sure, but still dismally lacking.
Through the shadowed hallway, his gaze snagged on Yaoyorozu engaged in conversation with a peculiar young woman dressed in tattered, fraying jeans. Her movements were subtly off, lacking the unpolished grace of a student - but more feral than refined. He'd spent enough time around Itsuka to recognize the nearly imperceptible signs that this person wasn't fully human.
This seemed to present a perfect moment to test his limitations. Maybe he could attempt to see through the Veil shrouding her nature from his senses. Narrowing his focus, he channeled his magic, concentrating it into his eyes like a tightly compressed magical Pair. But when he unleashed that focused energy, he immediately felt the grave miscalculation. The surge of magic blown outward was exponentially more potent than intended, and rather than granting him sight beyond the Veil's boundary, the force obliterated the mystical cloak entirely.
'Shit.'
"Something burned through my Glamour, Hime-sama! An assassin! Get behind me and be ready to run. It's an Evoker!" The girl Yaoyorozu was speaking with exclaimed, her voice tinged with alarm as her form shimmered and shifted. She was revealed to be a three-tailed demon-fox, her tails' fur rippled as two of her tails had turned a brilliant, metallic silver while the remaining red one still appeared to be developing. She must have been around a century and a half old. In her left hand, she gripped a wicked-looking tantō, the razor-sharp blade glinting menacingly.
"Um, hi?" Izuku ventured, slowly approaching them with his hands raised in a placating gesture.
"I don't think that will be necessary, Kitsune-kun. He is my classmate, Midoriya-san," Yaoyorozu said sternly, though her tone remained even as she regarded her companion.
"Sorry to scare you girls. I was just trying to train my Sight," Izuku explained, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.
"This is my associate, Hakone no Kitsune. I apologize for her temper as well. Kitsune-kun, this is my classmate, Midoriya Izuku," Momo made the introductions, gesturing between them.
"Nice to meet you. So, what brings you here today?" Izuku asked the kitsune, his gaze flickering to her twitching tails.
"To kill things," she growled, fixing him with a narrow-eyed glare as her lips curled back to reveal wicked fangs.
"I see," Izuku muttered, subtly readying himself as he prepared his cards that would allow him to cast Shield in case things turned ugly. 'Shield, then nuke her with a Royal Flush. No chances.'
"Stop joking like that, Kitsune-kun," Momo admonished her fiercely, before turning back to Izuku with an apologetic look. "She is my bodyguard. Sadly, the World of Magic can be a dangerous one. Don't worry about her, Midoriya-san."
Momo then stared intently at him for a long moment, as if she had slipped into a trance, her luminous dark eyes straining to truly See him on a deeper level.
"Is there something I can help you with, Yaoyorozu-san?" Izuku asked, shifting slightly under her probing gaze.
"No...no, it's nothing. Merely a ghost of a dream, half-remembered at dawn. My apologies, Midoriya-dono," she said, blinking rapidly as if snapping out of her reverie.
"None required. It's a pleasure seeing you two, even though we started on the wrong foot," Izuku replied with an easy smile, hoping to smooth over the palpable tension.
"As it has been for me. I'll see you in the classroom," Momo said with a respectful nod before turning on her heel and striding away, the kitsune falling into step beside her. Hakone spared one last glowering look over her shoulder at Izuku, her lips pulling back in a silent snarl as she mouthed a single venomous word - "Abomination" - before leaping up to the roof in a blur of crimson fur and disappearing from sight.
"Well, that happened," Izuku said to the empty hallway with a bewildered shake of his head. 'I better go before I become late.'
As he arrived last to the classroom, hurrying to his seat, a deafening voice suddenly boomed from just outside the door.
"I AM..." The unmistakable timbre made the hairs on Izuku's arms stand on end in anticipation.
"...COMING THOUGH THE DOOR LIKE A NORMAL PERSON!"
ALL MIGHT announced, striking a signature heroic pose as he filled the doorway, cutting an imposing figure backlit by the hallway light.
Izuku felt a chuckle bubbling up as layers of meaning converged in that purposefully mundane statement. 'Leave it to ALL MIGHT to always make an entertaining entrance,' he mused.
The rest of the class was instantly abuzz with excited murmurs and whispers at the arrival of the Number One Hero himself.
"It's ALL MIGHT," Kaminari said reverently.
"Wow, he really is a teacher," Kirishima added, his spiky crimson hair seeming to stand even more on end.
"That's a costume from the Silver Age, isn't it?" Asui observed, her finger pressed contemplatively against her chin.
'Looks like I'm not the only hero nerd in this class,' Izuku realized with an internal grin.
"Its style is so different, it's giving me goosebumps," a blonde boy with an odd tail commented, his eyes wide.
"I TEACH HERO BASIC TRAINING. IT IS A SUBJECT WHERE YOU TRAIN IN DIFFERENT WAYS TO LEARN THE BASICS OF BEING A HERO," ALL MIGHT's voice thundered, commanding the attention of every student as they leaned forward eagerly.
"YOU'LL TAKE THE MOST UNITS OF THIS SUBJECT! LET'S GET RIGHT INTO IT! OUR AGENDA FOR TODAY IS..." He paused dramatically before whipping out a flashcard with stylized lettering. "BATTLE TRIAL!"
The class erupted in excited whispers and murmurs at the prospect of finally being able to put their hard-earned powers to the test.
"AND TO GO WITH THAT ARE THESE!" ALL MIGHT continued, his commanding presence filling the room as he gestured to the left wall where racks of cases were lined up. "COSTUMES MADE BASED ON YOUR QUIRK REGISTRATIONS AND REQUESTS YOU SENT BEFORE SCHOOL STARTED. AFTER YOU CHANGE, GATHER IN GROUND BETA!"
"Yes, sir!" The students chorused obediently.
At Ground Beta
The path to the immense entrance yawned before them like the gaping maw of a sleeping beast as the students filed through, their varied costumes and gear glinting in the morning light. ALL MIGHT watched their procession, his eyes glinting with pride behind the shadows of his sweeping locks.
"THEY SAY CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN, YOUNG MEN AND LADIES. BE FULLY AWARE, FROM NOW ON...YOU ARE HEROES!" His booming declaration rang out across the concrete battleground.
They strode forth in their hero attire - some in sleek, sculpted bodysuits while others favored more practical, armored outfits over flashy costumes. Ochaco's genuine Schwartalf armor gleamed like liquid starlight as she moved, the same battle-worn set she'd worn when fighting the Minotaur Lord alongside Izuku. He himself had opted for a simple military-style camouflage uniform, the muted greens and browns blending naturally with the surroundings.
"THAT'S GREAT, EVERYONE. YOU ALL LOOK SO COOL! SHALL WE BEGIN, YOU ZYGOTES?" ALL MIGHT bellowed, throwing his arms wide in an expansive gesture of invitation.
"NOW, IT'S TIME FOR BATTLE TRIAL!"
"Sensei!" The robotic-looking student beside Izuku raised his hand, straight-backed and formal. 'Oh right, that's Iida,' Izuku recalled.
"This is a battle center from the entrance exam, so will we be conducting urban battles again?" Iida inquired politely.
"NO. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TWO STEPS AHEAD! MOST OF THE TIME, FIGHTING VILLAINS TAKES PLACE OUTSIDE, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOTAL NUMBERS, ATROCIOUS VILLAINS APPEAR INDOORS AT A HIGHER RATE," ALL MIGHT boomed, his voice carrying easily across the wide space.
"IMPRISONMENT, HOUSE ARREST, BACKROOM DEALS...IN THIS SOCIETY FILLED WITH HEROES, TRULY INTELLIGENT VILLAINS HIDE IN THE SHADOWS!" His words seemed to suck the air from the arena, the weight of that somber truth settling over the assembled students.
"FOR THIS CLASS, YOU'LL BE SPLIT INTO VILLAINS AND HEROES AND FIGHT 2-ON2 INDOOR BATTLES!"
"Without basic training?" Tsuyu's curious voice piped up, her finger pressed quizzically to her chin as she blinked her large, round eyes.
"THIS IS A REAL BATTLE TO UNDERSTAND THOSE BASICS! HOWEVER, THE KEY THIS TIME IS THAT THERE'S NO ROBOT YOU CAN JUST BEAT UP," ALL MIGHT clarified, his deep voice reverberating like thunder.
"How will wins and losses be determined?" Momo asked, her elegant brow furrowing slightly as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Can we beat them up anyway?" Katsuki growled, flexing his hands as small explosions crackled in his palms, the acrid smell of smoke wafting through the air.
Izuku couldn't say he was surprised to hear the aggressive question coming from the ash-blonde's perpetually scowling lips. He rolled his eyes internally.
"Will there be a punishment intended like the expulsion threat with Aizawa-sensei?" Ochaco piped up, absently running her fingers over the ornate carvings adorning her breastplate.
"How shall we be split up?" Iida demanded, pushing his glasses firmly up the bridge of his nose.
"Doesn't this cape just look amazing on me?" Another blonde student - Aoyama, if Izuku recalled correctly - crooned, giving an overdramatic flourish of his gaudy cape as it fluttered behind him. Izuku remembered with a grimace the constant pained expressions and tummy aches Aoyama had during the quirk assessment test.
'I've been thinking all this time, but...aren't there too many blonds in this class considering we're in Japan? You know, a place where people have predominantly black hair,' Izuku mused. 'I guess it's a little hypocritical of me to think that considering I have green hair, but still...'
"I'LL ANSWER ALL YOUR QUESTIONS!" ALL MIGHT's thunderous voice cut through the barrage of queries, his eyes slightly wide as if overwhelmed. He dramatically whipped out what appeared to be a script, flipping through the pages as he scanned the contents.
'A script?' Izuku wondered with an arched brow.
"THE SITUATION IS THAT THE VILLAINS HAVE HIDDEN A NUCLEAR WEAPON SOMEWHERE IN THEIR HIDEOUT. THE HEROES ARE TRYING TO DISPOSE OF THAT," he read aloud, the words echoing ominously across the concrete battleground.
"THE HEROES NEED TO CATCH THE VILLAINS OR GET THE NUCLEAR WEAPON BACK IN THE ALLOTTED TIME. THE VILLAINS NEED TO PROTECT THE NUCLEAR WEAPON FOR THE WHOLE TIME OR CATCH THE HEROES."
As if punctuating his statement, he produced a bright yellow box from somewhere within the billowing lines of his hair, the word 'LOTS' stenciled across it in bold black lettering.
"It's being decided haphazardly?" Iida questioned, his brow furrowing behind his visored helmet as the corners of his mouth pulled down.
"Pros often have to create makeshift teams with heroes from other agencies, so that's the reason for it," Izuku explained, nodding sagely as he caught Iida's questioning gaze.
"I see. The discernment to look ahead..." Iida murmured, realization dawning across his features as he processed the logic. "Please excuse my rudeness!"
"IT'S FINE. LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO THIS!"
ALL MIGHT's words reverberated through the still air like a gunshot. The class stood in taut silence as he dramatically unfurled the team listings, the tattered parchment fluttering slightly in the electric tension swirling between the students.
"TEAM A: MIDORIYA IZUKU AND OCHACO PENDRAGON"
Izuku's breath caught in his throat as his name was called alongside Ochaco's. He felt her shift almost imperceptibly closer at his side, the faint smell of jasmine wafting from her hair. Exchanging a sidelong glance, they shared an enigmatic look laced with undercurrents.
"TEAM B: SHOJI MEZO AND IIDA TENYA"
The tall Shoji gave a solemn nod while Iida straightened even further, if possible, squaring his broad shoulders beneath the rigid lines of his armor.
"TEAM C: MINETA MINORU AND YAOYOROZU MOMO"
As he listened to the pairings, a thought resonated in Izuku's mind. 'Ah, so his name is Ojiro. Also, isn't Team A simply overpowered?' His eyes cut briefly to the smaller boy with the grape-like head, then slid away dismissively.
The rest of the teams were rattled off in rapid succession, but Izuku barely registered the names - his focus tunnel-visioned to the girl at his side. "Seems like Destiny that we are matched today, My Knight," Ochaco murmured, her breath puffing against the shell of his ear and sending an involuntary shiver cascading down his spine.
"Indeed it is," he replied lowly, subtly angling his body toward her alluring presence like a flower bending toward the sun. "Honestly, I'm feeling pretty bad for whoever's gonna get matched against us in this."
He knew the words rang with bravado, but they weren't untrue. While he would undoubtedly have to hold back most of his power to avoid severely injuring his classmates, there wasn't much they could realistically do to damage either him or Ochaco. Based on his observations, none possessed abilities potent enough to pierce his nigh-invulnerable skin.
And while Ochaco wasn't Evoker-durable by default, Izuku knew she could enhance her body with spells and conjure impenetrable shields. With her mystical senses being exponentially more acute than his own, she would prove even more elusive - the element of surprise simply wouldn't work against her perception.
'Maybe Yaoyorozu-san could use a Veil to conceal them, making themselves invisible to both of us,' he mused, his analytical mind whirring. 'If they're the Heroes, they could touch the objective without us detecting them. And as Villains, she could Veil the target as well. Hagakure would be problematic if I was alone, but with Ochaco there, her senses would pinpoint the invisible girl's location the instant she entered the vicinity.'
His mouth curved into a faint smirk. 'Thankfully, Yaoyorozu-san couldn't risk using such blatant magic in front of everyone when her own quirk is matter creation.'
"To be perfectly honest with you, the only one I can see posing a challenge here would be if Yaoyorozu's team Veiled themselves. Unlikely that she will actually attempt it," he said, letting a hint of his quiet confidence bleed into his words. "Otherwise, we've got this in the bag."
"That is brilliant, Izuku. And I agree she'll be a challenge to deal with," Ochaco replied, the gentle lilt of her voice kindling a subtle warmth in his chest. "Due to the nature of the trial, the enemies don't need to fight either of us at all to win."
A slow smile curved her lips as she shifted infinitesimally closer, resting her head against the solid plane of his shoulder with a contented sigh that stirred the fine hairs at his nape. The soft floral scent of her enveloped him like a soothing balm as ALL MIGHT's voice rang out again.
"THE FIRST TEAMS TO FIGHT WILL BE..." The air became electric, every eye fixating on the numbered spheres cradled in ALL MIGHT's palm as he drew out the lots with theatrics. "THESE GUYS."
"TEAM D WILL BE THE HEROES AND TEAM A WILL BE THE VILLAINS. EVERYONE ELSE, PLEASE PROCEED TO THE OBSERVATION ROOM," he decreed, his baritone voice dragging their attention back to the present with its commanding presence.
"Yes, sir!" Their classmates chorused as one, the sounds of shuffling feet and murmured whispers swirling in the air as they began trickling away.
"VILLAIN TEAM, GO IN FIRST AND SET UP! IN FIVE MINUTES, THE HERO TEAM WILL BREAK IN, AND THE BATTLE WILL START!"
As Izuku and Ochaco turned toward the ominous structure looming before them, ALL MIGHT's voice rumbled forth once more - resonant and grave.
"YOUNG MIDORIYA. YOUNG PENDRAGON. LEARN TO THINK FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE VILLAINS. THIS IS PRETTY CLOSE TO A REAL BATTLE. DON'T BE AFRAID TO GET HURT AND GO ALL OUT."
"Yes, sir!" They answered in tandem, exchanging a meaningful look heavy with unspoken communication.
"IF THINGS GET OUT OF HAND, I'LL STEP IN."
"Yes, sir!"
HERO TEAM PREPARATION
"This sucks," Bakugo muttered, the words bitter on his tongue as he surveyed the opposing villainous team. His narrow crimson eyes settled on the form of Izuku, taking in the mess of emerald curls and the toned physique that had effortlessly shrugged off his explosive blasts all their lives. A shudder of unease trickled down his spine as he recalled the overwhelming display of raw power during the Quirk Apprehension Test.
Despite the seed of doubt worming its way into his consciousness, Bakugo's fierce competitive spirit flared white-hot. He began pacing in restless, prowling strides, the soles of his boots scuffing against the concrete underfoot. Dropping into a squat, he launched into a series of furious push-ups, his palms igniting in miniature explosions with each punishing rep. Sweat beaded along his brow, trickling in rivulets down the sharp planes of his face as the acrid, nostril-burning scent of nitroglycerin filled the air around him. Five minutes - that's all the time he had to stockpile as much of his blazing ammunition as possible in a desperate bid to even the odds against his seemingly unbeatable goal.
His memories cut briefly to the round-faced girl standing at Izuku's side, taking in her slight stature and delicate features. She didn't appear an easy target by any stretch, not with the glint of quiet determination sharpening her warm brown eyes. But Bakugo knew, deep down, that he stood a better chance of subduing her than the unstoppable juggernaut that was "ALL MIGHT 2.0" - the moniker he had mentally branded Izuku with.
'What the hell is their relationship anyway?' he grumbled inwardly, lips twisting in a scowl as he watched them converse in hushed tones, bodies angled toward one another in an easy display of intimacy. 'Sir Knight this, My Knight that... It's irritating as hell the way they talk, playing make-believe like everything's one big joke while flaunting their superior abilities right in front of us.'
Snatches of their sickly-sweet exchange filtered through his awareness, scattering his already tenuous focus like rocks in a still pond. "My Knight"... "Destiny"... Every endearment sliced through him with the precision of a scalpel, scraping away at his quickly fraying composure. The way they moved, always in sync, impossibly close - it was like being relentlessly pummeled by the incessant drip-drip-drip of Chinese water torture. As if they intentionally curated every word, every gesture, every meaningful look to remind the rest of the class of their untouchable superiority.
'Fuckin' grade A hero students they are.'
Bakugo's jaw clenched until his teeth ground together with an ominous creak. Sweat trickled into his eyes, stinging fiercely, but he refused to break form - chest heaving with each punishing rep as he silently vowed, 'I'll have to win. I have to win.'
"Don't worry," Todoroki Shoto's deep voice cut through the tense silence, steady and devoid of inflection. "We'll just win this without issue."
Bakugo scoffed loudly, the sound harsh and mocking as he shoved himself upright, raking the ice hero with a scathing glare. "Oh, yeah? So what's this brilliant plan of yours, Prince Zuko?"
The biting sarcasm saturating his words bounced harmlessly off of Todoroki's stoic demeanor as the dual-haired teen replied, "After the time starts, I'll freeze the whole building. Then we can touch the bomb uncontested."
Bakugo shook his head roughly, sweat-damp spikes of ashen hair whipping across his forehead. "Won't work," he spat, already poking holes in the simplistic strategy. "Not sure about the girl, but Izuku would just break out of the ice without a problem. That's even assuming he'll get caught in it."
A minute crease formed between Todoroki's arched brows as he questioned, "How would he even do that?"
Before Bakugo could snap off a mocking retort, ALL MIGHT's reverberating bellow sliced through their exchange.
"FIVE MINUTES IS UP! HERO TEAM MAY NOW ENTER!"
Todoroki didn't hesitate. With a forceful sweeping motion of his right side, he released a torrent of glacial ice that instantly flooded the building's interior - rapidly encasing every surface in a glittering, frozen shroud. A frigid wave of air washed over Bakugo, momentarily stealing the breath from his lungs and chilling the simmering anger thrumming through his veins.
"You idiot!" he finally managed to rasp, his voice echoing harshly through the frozen labyrinth. "I won't be able to use my quirk if you do that!"
"What's the problem when all we have to do is touch the bomb?" Todoroki's tone remained infuriatingly even as he retorted, seemingly unbothered by the accusation.
Katsuki opened his mouth to unleash another scathing volley, only to be cut off by the unmistakable sound of measured footsteps reverberating through the icy corridors. Not the rushed, panicked scuffling of prey desperately fleeing, but the steady, predatory cadence of the hunter honing in on its quarry.
He turned slowly, a kaleidoscope of emotions swirling through him as Izuku emerged from the shadows at the far end of the hallway - his movements loose and unhurried, radiating a quiet, understated sort of menace. The fabric of his costume top was conspicuously absent, the defined sinews and sinewy musculature of his torso fully exposed.
'The hell is he doing?' The incredulous thought surfaced as Katsuki's heart stuttered in his chest - a complicated maelstrom of fear, rage, and an unwanted sliver of awe at the raw power coiled in Izuku's form.
Observation Deck
An undercurrent of shocked murmurs rippled through the assembled students witnessing the scene unfold on the monitors. More specifically, Izuku's state of undress as he prowled down the frozen hallway, his chiseled abs and powerful shoulders on full display. The girls were blatantly staring - even demure Momo's eyes widened incrementally as she traced the defined vee of Izuku's lower abdominals disappearing beneath his waistband.
Mineta Minoru gaped shamelessly, his pouty lips parted and his eyes glazed with naked admiration. In stark contrast, Ochaco sat huddled just outside the building, Izuku's top draped over her shivering form as she burrowed into the discarded fabric with her arms wrapped tightly around her torso for warmth. The significance wasn't lost on anyone - the frigid chill of Todoroki's quirk at work.
"YOU MAKING FUN OF US BY WALKING AROUND HALF-NAKED OR WHAT?!" Katsuki's outraged bellow reverberated through the room, his tone saturated with frustration and the barest undercurrent of uncertainty.
Izuku's response was a deep, throaty chuckle that raised goosebumps on the arms of more than a few observers. "Hahaha! Nah, Kacchan, it's just a bit chilly for Ochaco. She's not used to this cold," he called out easily, a mocking lilt entering his voice that seemed expressly designed to rankle his volatile classmate. "Besides, wouldn't you rather have me win this quickly so we can all get out of here?"
There was no arrogance in his tone, only a simple statement of assured confidence. Yet that quiet surety, combined with his casual dismissal of the blistering cold and semi-nude state, imbued Izuku's words with a razor-edged undercurrent of menace.
'Surrender now, Kacchan,' he seemed to be saying with that infuriatingly placid smirk. 'There's no path to victory for you here.'
The weight of that challenge hung in the air as the two adversaries sized each other up through the twin monitors - one perspiration-slicked and trembling with obvious effort despite his fierce glower, the other a study in relaxed nonchalance. The outcome suddenly felt like a hauntingly foregone conclusion.
Whether they split up or stayed together, Izuku would catch up to them. And if Ochaco managed to warm up and re-enter the building, her gravity manipulation and magic would still make her an extremely formidable opponent.
Back to the exercise
"Damn it," Katsuki snarled, the expletive a guttural rasp forced past clenched teeth as sweat trickled into his eyes, stinging fiercely. 'He's right. But I won't go down without a fight!'
Despite the sliver of doubt lancing through him at Izuku's casual dismissal, an ember of stubborn determination flared white-hot in Bakugo's core. Thank whatever lucky stars were shining that he'd taken the time to charge his Grenadier Bracer before entering the frozen battleground. 'Having that edgelord reject from My Chemical Romance over here rendered my quirk practically useless,' he groused inwardly, cutting his glare toward the impassive Todoroki.
Lifting his right arm, the heavy steel cuff encasing his forearm thrummed with barely contained explosive potential as he took aim squarely at Izuku's chest. With a deft flick of his left thumb, he released the pin.
*BOOM* *FWOOOOSH*
An earthshaking detonation ripped through the icy corridor with the force of a cannon blast - the shockwave slamming into Izuku like a battering ram as searing flames roiled outward in its wake. The entire building seemed to shudder beneath the explosive onslaught, frost raining down in glittering shards as a thunderous boom reverberated through the enclosed space.
But rather than seeking cover or flinching from the scorching onslaught, Izuku charged forward - his feet pounding against the frozen ground as he sprinted directly into the heart of the inferno with utterly casual disregard. Bakugo's eyes blew wide in shock and a touch of visceral fear as the fiery maelstrom washed over Izuku's exposed skin like little more than a gentle summer breeze ruffling his messy locks.
'What the hell?!'
Before the stunned hero student could even process the impossibility of what he'd just witnessed, Izuku's form seemed to blur with preternatural speed. One moment he was ten yards away, the next instant a fist slammed into Bakugo's abdomen with the hollow, sickening thud of bone striking flesh. The sheer force of the blow lifted him clear off his feet, the air expelling from his lungs in an explosive whoosh as his very ribs creaked in protest. He crumpled bonelessly to the icy ground, stars bursting across his vision, every nerve ending screaming in agony as his body seized up - utterly paralyzed from the ruthless, precision strike to his solar plexus.
The last thing Bakugo's fading senses registered was the muffled crash of another impacting blow before the world tilted violently and everything dissolved into infinite darkness.
Todoroki watched in mute, impotent shock as his volatile partner was so effortlessly neutralized - one moment filled with bravado, the next a broken heap of lifeless limbs scattered gracelessly across the frozen tiles. The memory seemed to unfold in visceral slow motion before his disbelieving gaze.
'What the hell was that?' his mind stammered, struggling to process the impossible scene that had unfolded in mere seconds. 'The explosion barely fazed him, and the speed of Midoriya's counterattack was simply...inhuman.'
He shook his head brusquely, ice crystals raining from his dual-colored locks as he centered himself. 'No time to think about it now.'
With a forceful sweeping motion, he unleashed a withering barrage of razor-sharp ice spikes, the jagged lances hurtling through the air to converge on Izuku's position. But rather than piercing flesh, each frozen projectile detonated against his exposed torso with a distinct patter of shattering crystal - the glittering fragments bouncing harmlessly off his impervious form like so much crumbling styrofoam.
Todoroki felt his heart plummet like a stone as the horrific realization set in: attempting to physically wound or incapacitate Izuku was useless. Gritting his teeth, his mouth set in a grim line, he gathered the full brunt of his prodigious power and channeled every ounce of his quirk.
The ambient temperature within the enclosed space plummeted exponentially, frost instantly glazing every exposed surface in shimmering fractals as his quirk blanketed the entirety of the hall in dense, sub-arctic ice. A dense fog of vapor clouded the air, momentarily obscuring his vision before the frost cleared - revealing Izuku and the area around him sealed within a solid, crystalline prison, every inch of his form entombed in impenetrable glacial ice.
'That's what you get for being so damned cocky,' Todoroki couldn't help thinking, chest heaving as he fought to steady his ragged respiration. His own extremities were beginning to show signs of early-stage frostbite, ice spreading in delicate ferns across his right calf and forearm, but he pushed the discomfort from his mind. He could worry about the peripheral damage later; for now, the priority was securing the victory.
*CRACK*
The sound was quiet at first, nearly imperceptible over his own labored breathing as it reverberated through the frozen corridor.
*CRACK!*
Louder this time, more insistent, like glacial ice straining against the first ponderous shifts of an inexorable thaw. Todoroki's head snapped up, his heterochromatic eyes widening in dawning panic as a third cataclysmic fracture rang out - this one underscored by a distressing groan of the entire building.
*CRACK!*
To his mounting horror, a series of spiderweb-thin fractures were indeed spreading through the solid glacier encapsulating Izuku - starting as hairline fissures before blooming outward like capillaries in an intricate, spiraling pattern of diffusion. The tremors wracking the building intensified, dust sifting down in gritty plumes as the subterranean rumblings grew to a disquieting crescendo, shaking the very foundations with their sheer intensity.
Before Todoroki's stunned gaze, cracks radiated through the frozen tomb, splintering in every direction as the structure itself seemed to groan and shudder against an overwhelming, irresistible force straining from within its icy heart. He backpedaled, his mouth working soundlessly as his mind rebelled against processing what his eyes were perceiving.
The reverberating tremors intensifying until, with a thunderous percussive shattering likened to the world's most colossal iceberg calving, the frozen prison dissolved in a torrent of rending ice.
*BOOOMMMM!*
Todoroki flung an arm across his face, shielding his eyes from the crystalline maelstrom - shards and splintered chunks and billowing clouds of vapor obscuring his vision for a handful of agonizing heartbeats. Then, with a groaning hiss, the debris parted...and there he stood.
Then, with an abrupt surge of liquid grace, Izuku flowed into motion - his form seeming to elongate, distort, his clenched fist launching forward in a piledriving punch augmented by the full weight of his entire body. Todoroki reflexively flinched, already anticipating the same explosive agony that had so ruthlessly bested Bakugou mere moments ago.
Then everything went black.
"VILLAIN TEAM WINS!" ALL MIGHT's thunderous voice boomed across the building.
Izuku emerged from the crumbling building, a triumphant grin stretching across his face. The scent of smoldering debris hung thick in the air as he brushed away a few stray pebbles clinging to his tousled green curls. He had easily defeated both Bakugo and Todoroki.
Ochaco, waiting outside, hurried towards him on nimble feet, shivering slightly as a chilly breeze nipped at her figure. Izuku wrapped his toned arms around her, the warmth of his body a welcome contrast to the icy air. She melted into his comforting embrace, breathing in his earthy, masculine scent.
"Thank you, Sir Knight," Ochaco murmured against the firm plane of his chest, her voice slightly muffled.
"Anything for My Princess," Izuku replied, his deep voice filled with pure affection. He glanced down at her upturned face, a protective instinct surging through him like a crashing wave. "Let's go back with the others. You need to warm up."
"Go put your top on first," Ochaco said with a playful smile tugging at her plump lips. Her warm brown eyes sparkled with mischief. "I do not particularly enjoy the thought of other girls leering at your body."
Izuku chuckled, the rich sound reverberating through his chest as he pulled on his shirt. He walked beside her, her shoulder brushing his side with each stride.
As Izuku and Ochaco approached the observation room, a wry smile curved his lips. He noticed a few of his classmates sporting flustered expressions, their gazes quickly averting when they realized he caught them staring. A spark of amusement flickered in his emerald eyes. 'Well, I suppose if the roles were reversed and it was a girl walking around without a shirt, I'd probably be just as flustered,' he thought, amused by the irony of the situation.
Back in the observation room, ALL MIGHT's booming voice echoed throughout the spacious area. "ALL RIGHT. BEFORE WE PROCEED, DOES ANYONE KNOW WHO THE MVP OF THIS BATTLE IS?"
Momo's slender hand shot up with elegant confidence, her posture regally assured. "It's without a doubt Midoriya-san," she declared in a clear, self-assured tone. "He not only intercepted the Hero team before they entered too deeply into the lair, but upon their first attack of freezing the building, he prioritized his ally's condition. On top of getting her to safety, the position he selected was behind the Hero team, making it the perfect spot for her to ambush Bakugou-san and Todoroki-san should the need arise."
"WELL DONE, THAT IS CORRECT," ALL MIGHT boomed in approval, his voice thrumming with pride.
As the next team took their positions on the training field, Momo approached Ochaco with purposeful strides, her voice hushed. "Princess, forgive me for the transgression, but there is something I'd like to confirm with you."
"Sure," Ochaco replied, tilting her head in curiosity. Her silky chestnut tresses spilled over one shoulder. "Does it require a private conversation?"
"Not exactly," Momo said, her intense gaze briefly flickering towards Izuku before settling on Ochaco's upturned face. "Wasn't the armor you were wearing a Schwartalf Plate?"
"Yes, it is," Ochaco confirmed with a small nod, unsure where Momo was going with this line of questioning.
"Then doesn't it protect you from temperature changes of that degree?" Momo asked, her melodious voice laced with a hint of suspicion.
Ochaco paused, meeting Izuku's knowing gaze across the room. A heated blush crept up her cheeks as he smirked at her, his eyes sparkling with mischief and something deeper...something that made her stomach flutter with a rush of desire. A sly smile slowly curved her lips.
'Sard. She figured it out,' Ochaco thought with a mental chuckle. The armor she wore, a priceless family heirloom passed down from the legendary late Queen Guinevere herself, was more than capable of shielding her from Todoroki's icy Quirk. But the tempting chance to wear Izuku's lingering scent, to feel his body heat still clinging to the fabric, was an opportunity too delicious to resist. Besides, who could blame her for wanting to catch a glimpse of her gallant knight in such a...revealing state?
She knew she was being a bit devious, playing the delicate princess while harboring such salacious thoughts, but she couldn't resist acting on her impish impulses around him. Like he had told her before in that deep, husky timbre that made her knees weak, she felt there was something truly special stirring between them.
After the combat lessons concluded for the day and the class gathered near the exit of Ground Beta, ALL MIGHT congratulated them on their successful training session in his trademark booming baritone.
"GOOD WORK, EVERYONE! WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MAJOR INJURIES EITHER! YOU ALL TOOK THIS SERIOUSLY. YOU GUYS DID A GREAT JOB FOR YOUR FIRST TRAINING EXPERIENCE!"
"To have such a proper class after Aizawa-sensei's...unorthodox lesson, it's kinda anti-climactic," Tsuyu commented, her nasally voice pitching low in a croak.
Ochaco silently agreed, pleasantly surprised by the smooth transition between the two contrasting teaching styles.
"WE'RE FREE TO HAVE PROPER CLASSES, AS WELL!" ALL MIGHT declared with a booming laugh. "WELL THEN, I MUST REVIEW THE RESULTS WITH YOUNG BAKUGOU AND YOUNG TODOROKI. GO CHANGE AND RETURN...TO THE CLASSROOM!" With an overly dramatic flourish befitting his oversized persona, he sprinted away in a burst of speed, kicking up a swirling vortex of dust in his wake.
Meanwhile, ALL MIGHT rushed through the dimly lit hallways to the nearest empty staff room, closing the door firmly behind him. With a weary sigh, he allowed his muscular form to deflate and shrink back down to his true, emaciated self - a frail, sickly-looking man struggling to catch his ragged breaths. He slumped heavily into a chair, hunching over as he clutched at the aching hollow of his chest with trembling fingers.
'Time is running out,' he thought grimly, wheezing with every shallow inhale. The familiar ache radiated through his weakened body like shards of ice piercing his very core. 'I need to find my successor soon, before it's too late.'
Weary eyes drifted towards the door, his gaze growing distant as his mind churned through the potential candidates. 'There are individuals with incredible potential right here in my class, just waiting to be nurtured and cultivated,' he mused, remembering the impressive feats he witnessed earlier that day. 'But this isn't something I can offer to just anyone.' He sighed, the weight of his heavy burden settling deeper onto his frail shoulders. 'I really don't want to, but maybe I should try to discuss my situation with Nighteye again...see if he has any insights on finding a worthy successor.'
Yay! We got to meet Foxy. The assassin/bodyguard is in contract with the Yaoyorozu family. Momo's initial events would likely be happening earlier than Akane's because they're classmates in this fic rather than two people who met each other by 'coincidence™.'
Also, I like the sneaky Ochaco for what she attempted in this chapter. Too bad Momo unintentionally outed her.
For anyone wondering, yes. Izuku's camo suit is a temporary thing. He doesn't have his plate armour yet.
I went with the traditional pairing of the two most powerful in 1-A canon at this moment and just had Izuku fight them without using magic. Izuku being cocky with his body's resistance is very much an Evoker thing to do. Itsuka would still be very mad if she heard about it though.
Yaoyorozu would've been a tough challenge for our couple if she's actually allowed to use her magic due to her Veils. The rest of the teams would get stampeded all the same.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed reading this chapter and the short fight. Do let me know if you have feedback or questions about it.
Have a great day and thank you for reading this part!
Meme of the chapter: