Black RWBY Academia

by stringdog

What if the characters from RWBY and Black Clover were in the MHA universe, how would the story be told then? Well, it's time to find out in this three-way crossover set entirely in the MHA universe in a retelling of the story with additional characters and the roles that they will play in the war between All for One and One for All.

22. Chapter 22: The Next Challenge

Here is the twenty-first chapter in this series released in keeping with my self-imposed upload schedule for this series. The USJ incident is officially in the rear view window, the students have had a chance of relax and recover, and now it's back to the grindstone of school with a big announcement of what is to come that many are looking forward to. Anyway, that is all the administrative stuff I have and while there are no questions that need answers but there are two guest reivews to respond to and address some good suggestions in them so I will do that now. Do keep the reviews and PMs coming as I always like hearing how much y'all are enjoying my work.

To Guest (guest), thank you for your review and support. Yeah, this idea came to me as something to broaden the depth of the story and add in what's going on with the villains so that y'all can see what the heroes are up against and it is a true Demon Lord Triumvirate right there but then again the three heroes of Black Clover, RWBY, and MHA are teaming up so it makes sense that the villains also have some kind of alliance as well. Patry is still a villain and more on his backstory and why he was the ideal puppet will be explored gradually throughout this story but he was Zagred's puppet in Black Clover so I felt like keeping that to some extent here but of course the great villain of Black Clover needed to be involved. There's a lot more to come with the villains, not sure when their next chapter will be but I'll probably be doing a few more at key moments to help broaden things. The VA jokes are always fun, there's a slightly more meta one coming up in a sense soon, and when they work I'll do them though with how all but one (Sero) member of Class A and all but one Black Bull (Vanessa) have at least one credit in the other series it's not too hard. That said there will be some that either won't come up due to who their other voices are such as Aoyama's VA only being in 1 Black Clover episode as some really minor character or Toru and Ochaco's being dead prior to the events of Black Clover (Asta and Noelle's mothers respectively as well as Tetia for Toru's as well so if Ochaco meets Nozel that could be amusing) while some like Mina's actually have a better RWBY VA credit than Black Clover but all in good time. It was a surprise when I learned that Kahono and Mineta shared a VA but that's just going to add to things when the time comes. Do keep enjoying my work.

To KGBeastboy (guest), thank you for your review, support, and ideas on some things. While some won't be doable for various reasons, some will be and it is suggestions like this that help me get through certain roadblocks in a massive undertaking like this one such as being able to factor in Zagred as I didn't think I'd be able to until your suggestion made me consider him as a heteromorph instead. I'll now address your suggestions and what I can do, can't do, and what is helpful as a starting point for potential adaptation into this story. The first suggestion regarding Patry, I'm sorry but I won't be giving him a second Quirk. I'm sticking with the MHA lore that only One for All is multiple Quirks and only All for One can steal and give them naturally. If it ever comes up I may make mention to Mercury's father having a Quirk stealing Quirk as he stole Mercury's Semblance in RWBY but that is it. The idea of Patry's change is one I'm still contemplating and likely will have it tied to Zagred's Quirk when the time comes. As for Patry's Quirk, thank you for mentioning it as I actually was planning on naming it last chapter but I forgot so I'll name it now and it's called Light of Justice and it basically gives him the ability to create certain weapons made of light similar to his spells in Black Clover though I'm not sure if I'll give him such a power like Arrows of Judgement. I'm still deciding which arc his big events will be in, I've got some ideas but they're a fair bit off right now so I've got some leeway. Next the devils. I really wasn't going to include any of them at first but with the idea of them being heteromorphs I may change that and have a few of the high ranking ones as extreme heteromorphs with powerful emitter class Quirks who consider themselves superior to non heteromorphs because of their breeding but who work with the Dark Triad. They'd still be of human descent though, I'm going to keep Nezu as the only instance of an animal manifesting a Quirk as there are certain things about his backstory that will be relevant to something I'm working on. I'm currently not planning on doing anything like the Devil Hosts in Black Clover though if it works I may see if the doctor can replicate their Quirks and implant them into the respective Dark Triad members but that is going to be hard to do. As for Liebe, as of right now I have no plans to incorporate him into this story. I will certainly keep your suggestion on him in mind, as well as the idea about Asta's mother, but for the moment I'm going to avoid addressing him as there is a lot to get through before I'd need to deal with him especially as I still want the first extreme heteromorph in the devil style to be Zagred and at the moment his debut is not going to be until the Endeavor Agency arc at the earliest so there is a lot to get through before then and a lot of ground work to sift through. Blending all these stories together and figuring out where and when certain elements will take place within the MHA timeline is a complex process and already I know that certain arcs of Black Clover will not be incorporate though certain characters will still be brought into the story in various ways while for the most part events of RWBY are going to only follow the first two volumes and from then on it will just be the machinations of Salem as brought into line in places where it works. Thank you for the suggestions, they've been helpful in giving me food for thought and do keep reading and enjoying my work.

That is it for this long pre-chapter note which means that it is time to sit back and enjoy the twenty-first chapter in Black RWBY Academia.

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to these three great franchises.

Chapter 22: The Next Challenge

"So, did anyone watch the news last night?"

The question was posed by Hagakure to the class as many took their seats or were at least near them what with homeroom only a few minutes. They'd had the day off the day before due to the attack on the USJ but now school was back in session and as such it was time for homeroom to start another day at U.A.

Most of the kids were well rested and had started to recover from the events at the USJ where they'd seen and faced villains for the first time and overcome it. There were still issues, they did face villains for real after all, but they were handling it well. Even Midoriya who'd been the only one badly injured, due to his own Quirk and not villains, was back at full strength after a final healing from Recovery Girl so they were all ready to get back to the grind of Japan's top Hero Course.

For Asta he was now feeling the lack of work the day before as he'd realized how much he had to do and that he should have taken Yuno's advice to study after they'd called home but he'd not done that. Now he was going to have to do homework late but it was his own fault so he'd get no sympathy from Yuno for his plight.

"So what did you with the day off?" Asta asked leaning back onto Noelle's desk behind him to ask much to her chagrin as she went red at both the physical presence Asta was now showing and the question triggering her recollections of yesterday while some of the class began discussing the news coverage of the USJ attack. "Nero said you two were hanging out so what did you two get up to?"

"Nero!" Noelle yelled in shock as Toru commented on how they got some screen time on the news and hoped that they'd noticed her, which as Ojiro pointed out was kinda hard given the girl was only gloves and shoes in her hero costume.

"I didn't tell Asta what we did." Nero said idly as she made that clear because Noelle was still a long ways away from being able to accept to herself what was painfully obvious to Nero now. "Just that I couldn't hang out with him and that he'd better bother that Yuno kid instead because you'd invited me over, which turned out to be pretty fun so I didn't mind."

"Oh, um, well…" Noelle stammered much to Momo's surprise as she was now annoyed she'd missed out but she'd needed the full spa day at her house to destress at her mother's insistence, which did help Momo a lot, and also catch up on all the readings for the semester given that she had the day to do so. "We just met up, chatted, had tea, that kind of stuff. Nothing really exciting, just a relaxing time for some of us girls."

"Oh did you enjoyed that Gold Tips Imperial I gave you?" Momo asked as Kaminari commented on how they were big deals now that they were on the news, while conveniently leaving out how he went stupid from overusing his Quirk and got caught by a villain immune or at least resistant to his Quirk. "I wanted you to have something good Noelle when you moved in."

"We did, it was delectable as always." Noelle said with a smile. "Weiss's butler really knows how to brew it just right."

"I agree, to enjoy one of the finest teas in Japan was a rare treat." Nero said. "One of the reasons why I am grateful for Noelle's invite as I can't enjoy that brand on my own due to its expense and rarity."

"My, I didn't realize you understood tea so well, Swallowtail." Momo said to Nero causing Noelle to blink at that and look at Nero who just looked indifferent. "I am impressed and pleased to hear that there is someone else in this class who appreciates the fine taste of a well brewed cup of tea."

"Nero." Nero said simply as Jiro shot down Kaminari by pointing out that the attention was because the top Hero Course was attacked not them. "Please call me Nero, Yaoyorozu, I avoid using my family or given name unless absolutely necessary."

"Oh, er, right, sorry." Momo said bowing her head. "My apologizes for assuming otherwise."

"It's ok, I didn't specify with you yet so you had no reason to know." Nero said as Sero pointed out that the teachers arriving saved them causing Mineta to freak out and get yelled at by Bakugo to grow a pair which startled Midoriya who seemed to be in quiet contemplation on his seat as he ignored most of the class discussion around him. "But yes, I am a fan of a good tea. I grew up with access to some of the better brands and my legal guardian is a full tea aficionado who's introduced me to some of the finest tea leaves out there that I'd never heard of before. That said, few, if any, can compare to Gold Tips Imperial."

"That is true." Momo said. "You should come around to my place sometime then, Nero, I'll treat you to a tasting of some of my personal favorites including Gold Tips Imperial as we always make sure to have some of that brand around. Noelle, care to join as well?"

"Er sure." Noelle said a little stunned at what was going on as Sato commented on how good the fight between All Might and the bird villain guy was to which Tokoyami agreed. "We could make it a girls day, invite all the girls in class. I'm sure Weiss would like it, and Rose as well, I am sorry I took Weiss from her when they already had plans but I did need to get advice from Weiss as well as Nero yesterday."

"Of course, it will be great fun." Momo said with a smile as Nero just resigned herself to another adventure where she'd have to try and figure out what being a normal teen girl was like though given that this was an invite from Momo Yaoyorozu the word normal probably wasn't going to be used at all as she was somehow even further from normal than Weiss and Noelle were though it was in a kind, unrealizing, way which made up for it. "I shall make the arrangements when the time permits."

"Sounds like you had a good time Weiss." Ruby said smiling at her best friend as she turned in her seat to lean her upper body on Weiss's desk and look at the white haired girl with a smile having heard the conversation at the end of the row and using it to chat to her bestie and ignore the last minute advanced math problem she'd been working on. "I'm glad you could help out your friend."

"Yes, well, Noelle did need my aid it turned out but I am sorry for having to bail on our plans, I was really looking forward to them but Noelle was in a real tizzy unlike anything I'd seen before so I had to help out." Weiss said smiling back and trying not to notice that with her jacket off and the way she was leaning on Weiss's desk accentuated a certain feature on Ruby that was clearly a good size for her frame, not that Weiss noticed that thing at all. "I will make it up to you, I promise."

"I know and this was an unplanned day off so it's fine." Ruby said still smiling at Weiss. "Plus this way I got to play up being knocked out and have my sister wait on me hand and foot as I pretended to lay helpless on the couch and play video games all day. Well kinda as she figured out by the end of the day but not until she baked me some tasty cookies so it was all good."

"Somehow that doesn't surprise me." Weiss said with a chuckle. "I'd last less than a minute before Winter figured it out if I was trying to milk it. If I was genuinely hurt she'd care for me but I couldn't pull off milking it."

"I'm sure Yang knew but she liked helping me and I did do well at the USJ so she was proud with how I handled myself." Ruby said. "And besides, she does it too when she's hurt. Blake's not happy with Yang when she plays up her bruises. Problem for Yang is that her Quirk actually requires her to take physical damage to stockpile it and use as a power source so she always gets banged up but after a while Blake realized that Yang's constitution is really strong and she was milking it for attention."

"Blake, that's the black haired girl who helped me out when the media was hounding the school the other day, right?" Weiss asked trying to recall where she'd heard that name before. "Er, what's her family name, her first name is too informal for me to use."

"Oh right I've known Blake long enough that I use her first name." Ruby said realizing that she probably should have specified Blake's family name first. "Her family name is Belladonna so that's what you should call her if you meet her."

"As in the same Belladonna as Ghira Belladonna, the former leader of the White Fang party that campaigned for heteromorph rights and helped created the prefecture of Menagerie?" Weiss asked. "And who publicly denounced the White Fang when they became terrorists after ousting him as the party leader? That Belladonna family?"

"Yup, that's her dad." Ruby said with a nod. "I've not me him or Blake's mother, they live far away, but Blake speaks highly of him and the work he did for heteromorph equality, work that has been damaged by the current White Fang it seems. I'm surprised you know of him."

"Let's just say that my dad doesn't like the White Fang at all." Weiss said cooly. "He was one of the ones who tried to get them labeled terrorists before they actually did commit an act of terror and all because of his own prejudices towards heteromorphs. He figured that if they were terrorists he could discriminate and use them without punishment. I don't agree of course but there's nothing I can do about that at the moment. Regardless, I doubt your friend Blake really likes that we're friends."

"Nah, Blake's cool with it." Ruby said dismissively. "She trusts me, I've known her for years seeing as she's Yang's bestie and if I say your cool, which you super are, then you're cool. She won't judge you because of your father's views."

"Oh, th, thank you." Weiss said flushing at that before it hit her and it gave her a chance to learn Ruby's views on the issue, not that she really wanted to know Ruby's views of course. "Um, if I may ask, are Blake and Yang, you know…"

"Huh are they what?" Ruby asked now a little confused.

"Dating." Weiss said in a low tone as she wasn't sure what others in the class might say or feel about something like that.

"What? Oh no they're not dating, just best friends." Ruby said. "Been that way since the entrance exam they took together were they saved each other, or as Blake puts it saved Yang from her own reckless stupidity which knowing Yang is probably the true account and not Yang's claims that she valiantly defended Blake's life with her own actions. Blake's got a boyfriend who goes to Ketsubutsu and Yang type is ripped men though she's never found a man who can tame her, Yang's words not mine, so she's single. If they were dating I'd be totally cool with it, I don't care about that stuff and they'd make a cute couple but they're just besties who are super close."

"Oh ok, just wondering." Weiss said glad that Ruby didn't judge on that front and was accepting of couples like that before wondering why on earth she was glad about that in the first place because…

"Attention class, homeroom will begin shortly!" Ida announced as he power walked to the front of the classroom and got their attention mercifully distracting Weiss from her thoughts about something she'd never thought about before she'd gotten to know Ruby as a friend so why she was so relieved that Ruby didn't judge people based on sexuality or why she was even thinking about that stuff right now really confused her. "Everyone stop talking and take your seats this instant."

"Er, Ida, we're already doing that." Kirishima said as everyone did stop talking to focus on him. "Well the in our seats part at least."

"Yeah you're the only one still standing." Sero said. "We're all being good students and are at our desks waiting for homeroom to start."

"Doesn't that mean that Ida's the one out of place then?" Asta asked. "I'm still confused by this whole classroom stuff."

"Just go with it Asta, I am as well but I leave it be and learn from those who weren't homeschooled." Noelle said though the reasons why both had been homeschooled before coming to U.A. were vastly different.

"Damn it, the curses of the Class Rep." Ida said as he sat down and Ochaco tried to reassure him. "The responsibility of making sure everyone is in their seats means that I'm the only one who is out of mine."

"Hey guys, who do you think will cover for Mr. Aizawa today?" Ashido asked the class as she lent back in her chair and into Tsu's personal space behind her. "Because he's got to be in the hospital still, right? He was badly hurt defending us, as was Thirteen, so he should take some time to recover."

"I'm not sure, Nero did heal his upper arms." Tsu said with a finger on her chin. "But he had other serious injuries so…"

Suddenly the door opened as if to answer their question and the class turned to it. That was when they got stunned by what they saw there because it was the last person any of them expected to see today.

"Morning class." Mr. Aizawa, his face wrapped in bandages and his arms in slings, said standing there before he began to walk in. "Good, you're all already in your seats."

"Sir, what are you doing here?" Several of the class asked in shock.

"Shouldn't you still be resting?" Kirishima asked. "I get that this is manly sir but there's no shame in resting after such injuries."

"Sir, I'm happy to see that you are ok." Ida said his arm thrust into the air as he spoke while several questioned Ida's definition of the work ok.

"My wellbeing is irrelevant though Swallowtail, thank you for you aid with my upper arms it allowed Recovery Girl to heal more of me than she expected so my recover should be faster because of it." Aizawa said again surprising the class though Noelle was more confused as now her teacher sounded oddly like a nicer version of her brother Solid, not a hard thing given that he put the A in asshole, when he didn't before but he did have bandages over his face so she chalked it up to that. "Your Sealing Quirk was very useful in that regard. I've been told to tell you that for the next week at least your campus job as part of your financial aid will be with Recovery Girl to learn how to work on more complex breaks."

"Sir, I only did what I had to in the field." Nero said. "I don't have any formal medical training just what I know I can do with my Quirk. Sealing allows me to seal up wounds and mend simple fractures but that is the extent of my healing capabilities. Theoretically I could do more, even reattach limbs, but that's not something I'm willing to risk unless I absolutely have to."

"I understand but knowing first aid is vital in the field and having a hero with a Quirk that can in some aspects heal can mean life or death in certain situations." Aizawa said. "So you're going to get additional training from Recovery Girl to accomplish it."

"Understood." Nero said. "I appreciate it and will work to improve."

"Good, now what is more important than all this is that your fight isn't over yet." Aizawa said to the class much to the surprise as several exclaimed at that and Mineta wailed about having to face more bad guys. "The U.A. Sports Festival is coming up."

This got a serious of happy exclamations from the class over the news of the Sports Festival and how their teacher shouldn't scare them like that. This was what several had been waiting for but there was one question on several of the student's minds and it was Jiro who voiced it for the class as Kaminari shut up Kirishima who seemed the most excited about the Sports Festival.

"Sir." Jiro said. "Are you sure that this is a good idea? The villains did just attack us after all."

"Yeah they could attack again now that we are in the same place." Ojiro added.

"They could." Noelle called out. "But it wouldn't be wise. I know for a fact that there are going to be Quirk Knight Captains in attendance, all are on par with a top 10 hero in the billboard charts, and that's not including the teachers and other pros who will be there as well. I agree that this is tempting fate but if there's enough pros then we should have protection."

"Silva is right and we've just got confirmation that all 9 Quirk Knight Captains, along with the four Huntsmen who run the Huntsmen agencies as well as the number 2 pro Endeavor will be in attendance." Aizawa said causing Todoroki to tense a little not that anyone noticed it while Noelle blinked because all 9 meant her brother and while he'd said he would she didn't actually think he was being serious given her families ties to Shiketsu. "The administration thinks that the Sports Festival is a good way to show that the threat posed to our school has been handled and the attendance from over a dozen top tier heroes will make sure that our school is safe. That and there will be added security above past years."

"I see." Jiro said as she thought on what her teacher had said. "If that is the case then I guess it's not a bad idea."

"There is sense in having solidarity and defiance after an attack like that." Weiss said. "If we canceled we'd look weak and playing into the villains' hands. This way we show that they can attack us and lose and we won't cower after a victory. It won't embolden other villains to follow in their footsteps but deter them instead, at least in theory that is."

"That is true but there is more to this that you as hero students should pay attention to." Aizawa said. "This event is a major opportunity for all students at U.A. It's not something we can just cancel because a few pieces of trash thought they were big and attacked us en mass."

"But it's just a Sports Festival." Mineta pointed out.

"Don't you know how big it is?" Izuku asked looking back at the small boy behind him.

"Of course I do but I don't want to get murdered by villains." Mineta pointed out. "I barely survived the last time and all I got for it was a little…"

"I don't, I just know that it's a thing and that I'm going to beat Yuno in it." Asta said with a grin interrupting Mineta before he could comment on Tsu's boobs in a highly inappropriate manner, not that that was appropriate to begin with. "So that's my goal in the Sports Festival."

"Isn't that the pretty boy extra who dared beat me in the entrance exam." Bakugo growled recognizing the name even though he refused to acknowledge it.

"Yeah he got top, I got third and Schnee was second." Asta said with a grin. "So we all beat you."

"Right then I've got to murder all three of you in it." Bakugo said serious. "I'm winning it to show I'm the best."

"That is the attitude Bakugo." Aizawa said getting their attention. "The U.A. Sports Festival is one of the most watched events not just in Japan but the whole world. In the past it was major sporting events like the Olympics, the soccer World Cup, baseball World Series, and even that Super Bowl thing those Americans played that was for some reason huge that were watched globally. However, when Quirks started to show up and showed new heights for humans, viewership and the scale of those events drastically fell off because people wanted to see Quirks in action. These days the only tournament that matters is the U.A. Sports Festival."

"Correct, the top heroes from all over the nation and all three branches will be watching." Momo said knowing exactly how important the Sports Festival was. "This is where you get scouted, even with how the Huntsmen Agencies work there is scouting for those who may not want to work for Beacon or decide to change paths after learning more about the hero world."

"All 9 Captains, that's almost unheard of though." Noelle said.

"But we won't be scouted if we're dead." Mineta said.

"Why are you a hero again?" Noelle asked looking down on the creep.

"Ladies." Mineta said simply before he started to pant and drool. "They love a hero and one day…"

"Finish that and you will drown." Noelle growled. "There's only one…er, I mean you're a disgusting insect who shouldn't talk to me."

"Yes mistress, I usually don't go for insults but you can insult me any day." Mineta said really creeping Noelle out and it took all her self-control not to slap him in the middle of class.

"Yaoyorozu is right though." Kaminari added and saving Noelle from slapping the pervert even though he totally deserved it. "After graduating many join an agency as a sidekick or a are welcomed into a Quirk Knight Squad or officially become a Huntsman or Huntress and the Sports Festival is a great way to show agencies your potential."

"But that's as far as some go." Jiro pointed out. "They either miss the chance to go independent and run their own agency so remain eternal sidekicks, you're destination I'd presume Kaminari, or they never reach the rank of Captain in a Quirk Knight Squad or whatever ranking is in the Huntsman branch."

"There's not really a rank, agency head or deputy head are the only ones of note though team leader does carry some weight when you're in a team with a few other Huntsmen or Huntresses." Weiss said. "There is a title reserved for the top four female Huntresses, they're called the Seasonal Maidens and the season they are associated with depends on the agency they're the top at, but that's some strange complex thing that involves holding the title for life which I don't understand. I do know that my sister is the leading candidate to be the next Winter Maiden, that the season associated with the Atlas Agency, whenever the current one dies but that's about it."

"Or that which won't be you regardless, you're kinda dumb Kaminari." Jiro said not understanding what Schnee had said but going with it.

"For most of you, those not seeking to join a Quirk Knight squad or a Huntsmen Agency, joining a famous hero agency can, if played right, garner you greater experience and popularity and all that comes with that." Aizawa said as Kaminari protested Jiro's assessment of him. "And so that is why the Sports Festival matters to you lot. If you seek to be a normal pro then the Sports Festival can be the first step on that path though with all 9 Quirk Knight Captains in attendance this year's festival is going to be important for those on that path as well. You will get one chance a year, three chances over your time at U.A., none of you who wish to be at the top can afford to miss the Sports Festival."

At that Aizawa paused for a moment as he looked over the class to make sure his words were sinking in. This wasn't going to be just for the normal students either, those on the Quirk Knight and Huntress paths needed this as well.

He still remembered those on the alternative tracks from his own day and how even his classmate Fuegoleon Vermillion hadn't slacked off despite already set with his Squad so those in his class on those paths needed it as they lacked the necessary connections to get into a good Squad so had to show off. Well, Asta and Swallowtail did seeing as Silva was set despite her connections due to her lack of control. Meanwhile, the Huntresses were pretty much guaranteed offers from Beacon, well Rose was seeing as Ozpin recommended her and Schnee's ties to Atlas meant she'd get that offer regardless.

"As for those of you on the other tracks also need this as the heads of those specific groups will be watching and often times the offers made now stick until you graduate." Aizawa said. "Impressions from the Sports Festival matter. Two years ago Luck Voltia, one of the top third years at the moment, won the Sports Festival but his attitude and brutal fighting style turned off 8 of the 9 Quirk Knight Squads landing him one offer on his chosen path. Same can be said for Sol Marron, Charmy Pappitson, and Magna Swing who you met; all are Quirk Knights who's Sports Festival performances dictated their paths. As such, no one here can get lazy on your training, got it?"

"Yes sir." Most of the class said.

"Good, you're dismissed." Aizawa said as he headed to the door. "You've got a little time before your first class, use it wisely."

By wisely, it came down to the class basically preparing for a few minutes before Present Mic walked in for their next English class and they weren't able to really talk about the Sports Festival in as much depth as they wanted to. As such they were stuck thinking on it until lunch as they got down to a normal set of classes at U.A.

---

"All that villain stuff at the USJ sucked but now I'm super pumped for the Sports Festival!" Kirishima roared as the bell rang to signal that it was the end of their modern literature class with Cementoss and now it was time for lunch so they could finally talk about the Sports Festival. "I can't wait for it to start."

"Yeah a good showing in the games and we're set for the pros." Sero said. "With all the eyes on us, you make a name for yourself at the games and the agencies will really start to look at you seriously."

"The Sports Festival is why I even came to U.A." Sato said eagerly as the class devolved into discussing it.

"Yeah I can't wait, Yuno here I come." Asta said with a grin. "This will be our first proper battle so I can't wait to beat him in it."

"Yuno, your, er, brother, right?" Weiss asked as they all grouped up now that class was over while Hagakure was trying to talk about standing out to Ojiro which he wasn't sure she'd manage what with the whole invisibility thing she had going for her but as Ruby would later point out, so long as Hagakure wasn't in her costume the whole floating clothes did actually stand out. "The guy who topped me in the entrance exam if I recall. I was going for the top spot myself so I can't let it stand that someone beat me, my sister would be disappointed if I didn't avenge that loss in the Sports Festival."

"Yup, we're rivals so this is a great chance for it." Asta said as Aoyama showed his extreme vanity and ended up making Koda, who was wiping the board and not the talkative type, really nervous with his twinkling poses. "So I can't wait and as he beat me in the entrance exam I need to beat him in the Sports Festival to keep up with him."

"Right some of you took the normal exam." Momo said pausing on her way to meet up with Jiro who she'd become close with following the USJ and had plans to get lunch just the two of them as part of her, rich girls branching out idea but the talk of rivals did bring up something for her so she paused as she looked at the others. "Asta, Nero, and Weiss did. Noelle got let in specially and Rose is like me, a recommended student."

"As always you show great tact Momo." Noelle said as Shoji talked about how useful he wanted to be and not just be noticed for his Quirk in response to a statement from Kaminari regarding how Shoji would stand out because of his Quirk, though Noelle knew Momo meant no harm, the girl was a little like Mimosa, she lacked a filter at times when it came to certain things. "But yes I got in that way and it has already turned out to be for the best."

"Yeah the recommended exam." Ruby said thinking on the results. "If I recall, I was fourth in it once all aspects of the exam were sorted out and I think you were ahead of me Yaoyorozu."

"I was, I came third with Todoroki second and a guy called Yoarashi first though he seems to have not come to U.A. for some reason." Momo said as Jiro insulted Kaminari again, this time about how his stupid mode would make a scene as well. "But I only beat you because of my test scores Rose, you beat me in the practical exam and that's where the real test was so I hope you don't mind that I try to beat you in the Sports Festival."

"Huh?" Ruby asked. "You're challenging me? Like as a rival?"

"Yes, I was going for the best female practical in the recommended exam but it was my luck to be in the same exam as the one girl who could, and did, beat me." Momo said. "And you more than earned it, I was thoroughly impressed with your skills and the way you used your Quirk in the exam, it's no wonder you passed it with how well you applied Petal Burst, but I must make up for that loss so I will strive to beat you in the Sports Festival."

"Er, sure then I'll try to beat you, you did beat me in the overall results." Ruby said as she tried to process it.

"Good, now I must bid you farewell, Jiro and I are getting lunch and she's showing me some interesting dish that I don't normal try." Momo said and she left them as Izuku went over to Ida to discuss things and Ruby looked back at the others.

"Er, did I just get challenged?" Ruby asked. "Because that was the politest and most formal way I've ever been told I'm a rival, not that I get that often to begin with."

"Momo can be very formal." Noelle said. "And a little prideful in her abilities. She recognizes you won but her pride will stive to be better."

"Of all of us from that social circle Momo is the smartest and most talented when it comes to Quirk usage given the versatility of Creation." Weiss admitted as they headed over to Ida who was for some reason doing a dance move about how excited he was for the Sports Festival. "But after she mastered Creation, which trust me was no easy task as that Quirk is really complicated to master if you don't have the intelligence for it as well, she's never really had a true challenge to shake her confidence. However, the Sports Festival may force Momo to face a challenge she's never encountered before which would be good for her. You beating her probably got some competitive juices flowing for Momo and she doesn't want to lose again."

"Ok well so long as I don't accidentally faceplant into Yaoyorozu's massive cleavage again I'm fine." Ruby said as if it was nothing causing Weiss to splutter at that, as well as a tightening in her chest that she didn't understand, while the others walked though Nero did slap Mineta as hard as she could along the way before he could make some statement about that. "And…"

"Deku, Ida, everyone." Ochaco suddenly said getting their attention and they turned to see a very serious look on the normally sweet and bubbly girl's face. "Let's do our best in the Sports Festival."

"Er, Uraraka, your face." Izuku said nervous.

"What's up girl?" Ashido added. "You're normally so laid back but right now you look like you're about to go to war or something."

"Seems like someone's fired up." Asta said with a grin. "That's hard determination there."

"Is it PMS?" Mineta asked having recovered and moved away from the crazy flat chested girl with horns who was alluringly cute in a cool way though her lack of boobs did diminish her in Mineta's eyes only to be slapped in the same exact spot by Tsu's tongue that rocked his face.

"Good shot." Nero said with a nod. "He needed another."

"Agreed." Tsu said.

"Everyone, I'm going to do my very best in the Sports Festival!" Ochaco yelled thrusting her right fist into the air and startling those left in the room and getting some responses from the others before she turned and basically repeated herself to the same results.

"Er, you ok Uraraka?" Kirishima asked. "You seem to be losing it a little."

"I said I'm going to do my best!" Ochaco repeated as everyone began to head to lunch deciding that it was best to just go with it than question what Uraraka was doing.

It took a moment for Ochaco to calm down but they all stayed in their current group before heading out together to lunch. They asked Tsu to join them but she'd packed a lunch that she'd made at home and wanted to eat outside in the nice weather, something about her cold blood it seemed, but she promised to join them next time so they headed out. It was as they were walking to lunch that Izuku paused stopping the group as he had a question to ask his friend that he'd been meaning to ask but until now hadn't found the moment to do so.

"Hey, Uraraka, can I ask you something?" Izuku asked as they all stopped to look at him.

"Sure Deku, what's up?" Uraraka asked back in her normal tone with a warm smile on her face, one Nero's observation skills, and heightened focus thanks to Noelle's recent development regarding Asta, picked up on and she got a feeling the brunette may have her own soft spot for a loud, dense, moron who recklessly ran into battle just like Noelle had and Weiss might have though Nero was more uncertain there. "What do you want to know?"

"I'm curious, why'd you chose U.A.?" Izuku asked. "What made you want to be a pro? I mean I was inspired by All Might, while Ida, Rose, Silva, and Schnee have familial reasons behind their choices, and Asta wants to be the Wizard King, and Nero, er…"

"I applied because it seemed interesting, same with the General Studies and Support Courses actually though I never took the latter exam, and Asta showed me that being a hero was the right call." Nero said with a shrug that Noelle tried her hardest not to read into because while Nero had said she wasn't interested in Asta romantically she was still a cute girl, not that any of that bothered Noelle one bit of course. "So when I got in I took it. I also kinda came 5th in the entrance exam so it kinda made sense to be a hero after a result like that though I'll admit I only really got that score because I had to save Asta's reckless ass."

"That doesn't sound surprising at all." Noelle said.

"You give yourself too little credit, Nero, it was your plan after all." Weiss said. "Though I do agree that Asta was too reckless in that moment."

"It worked and you both saved me as I knew you would." Asta said with a grin. "So that's all that matters."

"That's a fair reason and…wait 5th?" Izuku asked blinking as he processed what Nero had said while Ochaco thought on her answer. "You were 5th in the exam?"

"I probably told you; it was under my legal name so it's not a surprise that you forgot." Nero said and left it at that.

"Oh, ok." Izuku said deciding to leave it at that.

"Deku." Ochaco said a little nervous and the nerves had nothing to do with the warmth she felt whenever she talked to Deku but the reason she was going to give, which was the truth because he deserved no less. "I came to U.A. because it's the best Hero Course and I want to be a hero to make people feel happy and safe but deep down, the ultimate reason for why I came to U.A. and want to be a pro is, well, money."

"Money?" Izuku asked confused. "You want to be a hero to get rich?"

"That can happen?" Noelle asked confused. "Our wealth comes from other things, we're Quirk Knights due to duty."

"Noelle, I'd advise you to shut it." Nero said simply. "You and Weiss are a little out of touch for this conversation."

"I'm with Nero, you're arrogance isn't cute like Momo's obliviousness is." Weiss said. "So take her advice and shut it Noelle, I won't comment on this."

"Wait you call Weiss by her first name?" Ruby asked surprised.

"Yes, she asked me to do so yesterday and so I do." Nero said. "I ask you lot to call me Nero because that's the name I go by these days so if you wish me to call you by your given name then I will as it's only fair to reciprocate the gesture if offered."

"Oh ok then you can call me Ruby if you want." Ruby said with a smile. "I don't mind if people call me by my first name, the American side of me is pretty strong in that regard."

"If, if we're getting down to the core of it then yeah money is a big reason why I want to be a hero." Ochaco said nervously getting their attention once again and flushing a lot at their looks. "The rest of you have admiral motivations, well most I'm not sure about Nero's reasons but she seems fine with them so who am I to judge them. I just don't want to be thought less of."

"My reasons are the most basic of them all." Nero said. "So pay it no heed."

"How could we think any less of you when you've got an admiral goal to support your wellbeing, Uraraka." Ida said making chopping moves with his arms. "That is a fine motivation."

"Just surprising that's all." Izuku said. "There's nothing wrong with it."

"Being rich is good, I commend that." Noelle said.

"Not helping Noelle." Nero said.

"Seconded." Weiss added.

"I don't get it." Asta said unhelpfully though he'd grown up even poorer than Ochaco had but unlike her he'd not seen the direct struggles due to where he'd been raised the way that Ochaco had.

"Well, the thing is, my family owns a construction company but we haven't been getting contracts or even general work lately so we're broke and we've been struggling for a while now." Ochaco said her tone saddening. "This isn't something I usually go into but…"

"Say no mor I get it now." Asta said with a grin. "Helping your family is what a hero should do. I know that I'll be sending back a good portion of my earnings to the church in Hage to help out the orphanage there so that they can improve it and the village in general if need be. That's my family and anything I earn that I can spare I want them to have so that they can make a better life."

"Construction eh, I bet if Uraraka got licensed to use her Quirk she could help out by making things float." Izuku said thinking on it. "That should bring down costs significantly as her Quirk would reduce the need for various things while also speeding up the construction seeing as she can cut out the heavy lifting."

"And they can sell the heavy equipment, that would save some cash." Ida said thinking on it as Ochaco looked in stunned surprise at the support her friends were giving her.

"Well…" Noelle began.

"One more out of touch word from you and I'm sealing your mouth shut until lunch." Nero said seriously. "This is Uraraka's life, you can't understand at the moment so be tactful and stay quiet."

"I've never seen her this forceful." Ruby said as Ochaco confirmed that this had been her plan for a while now. "Aren't she and Noelle friends?"

"I've seen it when we faced off in the battle trial while you were faceplanting a sword." Weiss said. "Noelle can annoy Nero for some reason, it's strange but I think Noelle needs a friend like her who can ground her some more. Asta will help but, well, there seems to be a different issue there that I won't get into."

"Anyway." Ochaco said as she got their attention again though Ruby was currently confused by what Weiss had been saying about Asta and Noelle because as far as she could tell they were just good friends like her and Weiss were or how Uraraka and Midoriya seemed to be. "My goal is to sign with a good agency and make a lot of money as a pro. That way I can let my parents have an easy life that they deserve."

"That's so beautiful." Ida said clapping as Asta cried, Ruby teared up at the last thing Uraraka had said, and Nero raised her hands in front of Noelle's face to keep her quiet. "Bravo Uraraka, bravo."

Izuku just stared at that as Ochaco began to smile, a really cute smile that Izuku liked on her a lot but he was so focused on her words that he barely noted that. That was because Uraraka was here not because of some hero fantasy to live up to her idle like he and Asta were or because of some need to uphold, live up too, or break from a familial legacy like Ida and the other girls but Nero were.

No, unlike the rest of them Uraraka was grounded in reality and it really showed on her. However, before Izuku could think more on it there was a sudden bout of laughter and they all turned to see All Might approaching them in a navy blue wester suit that looked normal and not gaudy like his yellow one that he seemed to favor.

"Young Midoriya is here!" All Might said striking a pose as he reached them though he awkwardly stood behind a pillar for some reason.

"All Might?" Izuku asked as they all stared at the number 1 pro. "What are you doing here?"

"It's lunch time." All Might said holding up a bento box that was wrapped in a handkerchief. "Care to eat with me?"

"That's adorable." Ochaco said as she did a spit take at it while Ruby looked amazed, Asta had stars in his eyes fantasizing about doing just with the Wizard King instead of All Might, while Weiss, Nero, and Noelle all looked a little confused. "And so cute."

"What do you say?" All Might asked.

"Er…" Izuku said.

"Go on, we don't mind." Asta said and Ida nodded. "Have lunch with All Might."

"Alright, sure." Izuku said as he hurried off and unbeknownst to the rest worried that something was wrong with All Might as this was new and a little brazen for his mentor to do. "See you guys later then."

The others just shrugged at that and then headed down to the cafeteria without Midoriya to get lunch. It was a surprising change of events and they weren't able to talk about it for a few moments as they entered the cafeteria and got in line for food.

"I wonder why All Might wanted to get lunch with Deku?" Ochaco asked finally breaking the silence as they waited in line. "And now of all times?"

"Probably to do with his Quirk." Ida said. "Both of them have some powerup type Quirk I think so it makes sense that All Might would want to check up on Midoriya and give him some pointers. If anyone can help him get control it's All Might. That and I heard that Midoriya helped All Might at the end of the USJ attack so he might be thanking him for that as well."

"True, Midoriya did do that but I think that this has more to do with Midoriya's Quirk than saving All Might though the latter is a good reason for having lunch with Midoriya to discuss his Quirk control." Weiss said as none of them noticed that Todoroki was a few places in front of them in line and heard all this as well. "I'd expect that from other staff members as well if there's similarities. Doesn't Sato have a powerup Quirk as well?"

"He does so I bet All Might will chat with him at some point as well." Noelle said. "And if I recall Present Mic's is sound based so Jiro and Koda could benefit from him, especially the latter as both have Quirks localized to their vocal cords if I recall."

"Plus Mr. Aizawa is similar to Asta but there's enough differences that I think he won't be of much help." Nero said. "That and I heard that one of Class B's recommended students was personally recommended by Aizawa, it's why he's in Class B, through some special program that was set up for Quirks that can't be tested well in the normal entrance exam so likely Aizawa is still mentoring him."

"This is just what U.A. is about and why I wanted to come here." Ida said as they reached the front and began to select their meals. "Hands on teaching when we need it the most. I will strive to find a mentor of my own both in the staff and the field to learn as well."

"That is a good idea." Nero said as she selected her food.

"Look, there's a free table, let's claim it." Asta said not hearing any of this as they all got their food, most going for their favorites while Ochaco went cheap and Asta and Nero had their own special selection due to their enrollment situation. "We should all sit together so that we can discuss the Sports Festival."

"Don't you want to sit with your brother?" Ida asked snapping back to Asta's point as they headed over and noticed that Yuno was at a table with the Vermillion cousins, a tanned boy none of them recognized and a few other students who had to be in Class B as well. "Usually you like to sit with him."

"Nah, Yuno and I hung out yesterday and called home due to the break we had." Asta said shaking his head as they neared the free table. "We want to form our own friend groups here and as we're in different classes it works out better for us. I'll chat with him later, I'm sure."

"I'm with Asta on this front." Noelle said as they reached the table and Asta set down his tray with Noelle and Nero taking seats on either side of him, a sight that Mineta on a nearby table didn't miss and glared at with tears in his eyes at the sight of two girls who clearly were friendly with Asta when he wanted that kind of friendship and more from the girls in his class. "We should be united as a class seeing as we'll be training together all year so sitting together makes sense."

"Right." Nero said as the others made their way around the table though she had a feeling that Noelle's reasonings had more to do with avoiding perceived threats from Class B girls than anything else. "I don't particularly care either way but fostering bonds with the class is a good thing."

"It does seem like a good idea." Ida said as he put his tray down opposite Nero with Ochaco on one side facing the empty chair that would be Izuku if he was here, and Ruby on the other facing Asta so Weiss sat next to her and opposite Noelle. "Teamwork and bonds are important as heroes so starting early is what we should do as U.A. students."

"You always see things in a good way Ida." Ochaco said as they all gave thanks for their food before tucking into their meals. "Though I agree, it's good to work with people you know and like."

"Well there is more to it I'm sure but I'll see that when the festival begins." Ida said. "I bet that there will be team based events in it so having strong bonds beforehand will help."

"There usually is one team based event." Ruby said. "So you've got to have good teamwork for it but in the end it is all individual and that's where I have to be my own person. My sister won the second year's one last year but I want to make my own mark, that's what I'm going for in the Sports Festival. That and while I've gotten over some issues I had; I still want to show that I deserved the recommendation that I got."

"Right, Xiao Long is your sister." Ida said focusing on the sibling rivalry and not the recommended part as that was clearly something specific to Rose. "I understand that. I too wish to be seen for my own achievements and not those of my brother."

"Same with my older sister but she was at Shiketsu so not an issue for me." Weiss said. "I can make my own mark on U.A. as the first Schnee to attend it."

"Likewise." Noelle added not adding that she didn't care for her siblings given her treatment but that was personal and she was in a good place at U.A. where she knew she'd grow stronger than she could at Shiketsu where she'd always be in her family's shadow and reminded of her failures. "I have a chance to show that a Silva can do well at U.A. so I will."

"I'm just there to beat Yuno, he's my rival." Asta said as he ate with his usual gusto and lack of manners. "But if we beat the others than all the better, I'll take down any who get in my way."

The others understood that as a lull fell over the table for a moment as they ate and the word rival stuck with Noelle. For some reason she saw Nero as a rival of sorts, as well as a growing friend of course, because of her closeness with Asta. Logically she knew that she didn't have to worry, not that she was worried at all not one bit, because Nero had said she wasn't interested in Asta that way, and naturally neither was Noelle as she constantly told herself over the last few days, but still there was worry all the same. That was added if her cousin showed up.

Noelle couldn't put her finger on it but deep in her gut she knew that Mimosa could be a rival for Asta's attention, not that she craved it or anything. She wasn't sure why she thought that Mimosa would be a rival but she did. Maybe it was Mimosa's cute and bubbly personality that didn't take into account social status or skill in how she saw people, maybe it was because Mimosa was similar to Noelle in more ways than either girl really knew, and maybe it was just because Mimosa was the only friend in their extended family that Noelle had growing up.

Whatever it was, Noelle did know she didn't want a rivalry with Mimosa though if one happened she'd not let it ruin their friendship. Well all that and Noelle couldn't lie, Mimosa had really developed well in one area to the point that it put Noelle's average development there to shame and she really didn't want Asta to notice that.

"There is actually something I've been wondering about." Ida asked as they ate and interrupting Noelle from her thoughts regarding her cousin. "How do the Huntsmen Agencies and Quirk Knight Squads work when it comes to recruitment? For normal Hero Agencies you get noticed, intern there for a week in your first year, and then if possible do a work study there starting in your second year to build up the work to get an offer to be a sidekick."

"That's how it works in the normal track?" Asta asked. "I didn't know."

"Oh yes it is quite regimented in a lot of ways." Ida said with a nod. "Though once you make sidekick you can really start to make a name for yourself. Those who manage that form their own agencies once they're established. Even those with family agencies tend to wait before joining them so that they can get more experience away from their family's agency that they can then bring to it when they officially join it. I know I plan on finding my own path before joining the Ida family agency, but aren't there a finite number of options for the other branches?"

"There are." Weiss said as she enjoyed her meal, a fancy western dish that only Noelle could identify which Weiss was particularly fond of, with a certain grace. "There are 4 official Huntsmen Agencies, though there are also independent units that are kinda a mix between Huntsman and normal hero agencies, and 9 Quirk Knight Squads. I can't comment on the latter but the former are well know for how they work, within those who desire this track that is."

"They are?" Ochaco asked.

"Yes mainly because 3 of them are directly tied to three of the top Hero Courses in the country where they have strong connections." Weiss said. "For U.A. it's the Beacon Agency, for Shiketsu it's the Atlas Agency, and for Ketsubutsu it's the Haven Agency. Those three agencies draw heavily from those three courses and it's usually expected that a Huntsman or Huntress at those schools go to that agency. It's not a given of course and the agencies make plenty of offers outside their usual recruitment grounds, Atlas for sure will make me an offer due to my family but I'd like to work for Beacon for the same reason I wanted to come to U.A., I need to forge my own path."

"I want to work for Beacon as well." Ruby said. "My parents worked for it, dad still does though he's based solely in our hometown of Patch and is more part time these days, as does my uncle and Yang's been a work study student there ever since she got her provisional license at the start of her second year. Course I should get an internship offer at the very least, the head of the Agency is the same guy who recommended me to U.A."

"That will do it and as Beacon should offer me as well I can't wait to do our internship together." Weiss said with a small smile as Ruby nodded in agreement. "But Ruby's also made a good point there, the heads of those agencies are all tied to the schools in question as they are alumni of those schools and have deep ties to them. Ironwood, the head of the Atlas Agency would have recommended me for Shiketsu's Hero Course if I'd wanted that but he respected my choice to reject Shiketsu in favor of U.A. though he'll still try to get me to work for the Atlas Agency like my sister does."

"I see that does make a lot of sense given the close ties and relatively small size of the Huntsman branch." Ida said thinking on it and noting that only three agencies had been mentioned. "What of the fourth one, what's that like?"

"Shade Agency is different from the other three." Weiss said. "Theodore, the head of it, doesn't have ties to any of the major schools other than being a good friend of Ozpin's and as such he doesn't have that kind of recruitment strategy. From what I've heard, Shade will make an offer to any Huntsman or Huntress who's eligible and take them with open arms. As such they're a bit of an eclectic bunch and some from the other three schools do go there but for the most part they are made up of Huntsmen and Huntresses who went to other Hero Schools like Seiai Academy, Isamu Academy High School, and Seijin High School to name a few."

"I guess that does ensure that all have a place to go when they graduate." Ida said thinking on it. "Not sure how it's a good idea though. Seems like some school based discrimination there."

"Well we are all at U.A., it's the top Hero Course in the country with only Shiketsu's being considered a rival for it, the reputation is a big reason why most of us chose to attend this school." Weiss pointed out trying to be as tactful as she could given Noelle's lack of choice but Noelle didn't mind as she'd already accepted how she ended up at U.A. and was fine with it because she wouldn't have been let in had she not had the potential for U.A. to begin with. "So that does come with perks but we all earned our way here one way or another and thus deserve the benefits."

"I can see your point and the Sports Festival will help get our names and images out there more than those in other Hero Courses." Ida said thinking on it. "And the Quirk Knight Squads are similar?"

"Wouldn't know, don't know how to get into them." Asta said through a mouthful of food. "I just want to be one and I'll take any squad that will have me."

"I just plan on joining the same as Asta and leaving it at that, providing that I get an offer from that Squad as well." Nero said. "I don't know anymore than that and frankly don't care."

"Wait, what?" Noelle asked a little startled at Nero's words as it showed some serious loyalty to Asta that Noelle hadn't fully expected from the other girl, as well as causing some insecure feelings but Noelle swiftly ignored those.

"Yeah why specifically the same as Asta?" Weiss asked confused. "That may be hard if you don't get an offer from the same one."

"If I don't then I'll take that offer and try to figure something out down the road even if it means making a personal plea to the Captain of the Squad Asta ends up in to let me transfer to that Squad." Nero said. "But why Asta's, just cos."

"That's not an answer." Noelle said her insecurities that she'd just ignored flaring back up with a renewed vengeance.

"It is but ok fine I can tell that you in particular won't be satisfied unless I give a specific answer, Noelle." Nero said. "It's because Asta reminds me of someone from my past, someone special and inspirational to me though Asta still can't hold a candle to him in the grand scheme of things, and I want to be in the same Squad as Asta to help him grow and achieve his dream. Good enough."

"How touching." Ida said as Ochaco nodded in agreement at that while Noelle just grumbled. "To be there for a close friend like that, your loyalty is an inspiration Nero."

"Er, thanks." Nero said unsure how to respond to Ida so deciding that it was best to shift the focus onto the one person present who actually did understand how the Quirk Knights worked. "But if you want to know more about how the Squads work, Noelle's the only one who can answer that seeing as she's from one of the great houses and hers runs one of the 9 Squads if I recall."

"That is true, my family has historically run the Silver Eagle Squad and right now my oldest sibling, Nozel, is the Captain of it." Noelle said. "Though I will not be joining it."

"Wait you won't?" Weiss asked surprised at that. "I thought all Silvas had to join the Silver Eagles unless they specially requested to join another Squad and had that Squad Captain's permission."

"Yeah if it's family wouldn't it make sense for you to joint their Squad." Ida added. "I get that with normal hero agencies there's variety and crossover but not with only 9 available."

"It would but, well, it's complicated and I won't get into the finite details." Noelle said which told Weiss everything as it seemed that Noelle's brother Nozel was still an ass though better than her other two siblings as Nebra and Solid were just cruel bastards from what Weiss knew of them, it was part of why Winter always put Nebra in her place at Shiketsu. "Suffice it to say that my lack of Quirk control is the issue."

"It is?" Ochaco asked her head cocked in confusion. "How so?"

"It makes me a failure in their eyes." Noelle said simply with only a little pain in her voice as she'd started to recover from that in no small part thanks to Asta's support for her since the battle trial. "It was so bad to them that I was sent to U.A. as a form of exile from my family as no Silva before me has attended this school, we've always gone to Shiketsu. In fact it's an unspoken rule in the great Quirk Knight houses that Silvas only attend Shiketsu and Vermillions only attend U.A., so me being here is a statement to how I'm not seen as a true Silva. My fall from the family is so complete that as part of my enrollment under Nezu's special exemption I am only eligible for one Quirk Knight Squad which I must join."

"Well that sucks." Asta said bluntly looking at Noelle. "You're amazing Noelle, you're Quirk has so much power and potential you just need a little control and you'll be great. It's not a big deal as far as I'm concerned but then again I don't get these wealthy families at all. Regardless, it's their loss for not wanting you I say."

"Th, thank you Asta." Noelle said her cheeks flaring red at that and not looking at him as she continued to speak. "Thanks to being at U.A. and being able to escape my family I've actually started to make peace with it, I guess, but it's still an insult in a way as a Silva should at least get a choice even if I can't join the Silver Eagles, not that I want to join them anyway. Still, I wish I could be like my cousin Mimosa and chose a Squad rather than have one chose for me. It's what her brother did as well but that was more because her brother is so narcissistic that even the mythical Narcissus would say it was too much, while she's doing it to forge her own path. Alas I don't get that."

"Well if I get an offer from the same Squad I'll consider it." Asta said causing Noelle to go brighter red at that, which Nero and Weiss noted but no one else seemed to though Ochaco was eating and Ida and Ruby seemed to be only slightly above Asta in the density towards feelings department which would make Nero's belief regarding Weiss more interesting to watch as well, in time at least. "Cos I like working with you."

"I, I would appreciate that." Noelle said still bright red before recovering. "Just don't read into it."

"Read into what?" Asta asked looking at her as he ate causing Nero to sigh, this may be amusing to watch but between Noelle's extreme denial that was bound to get worse the deeper she fell and Asta's redefining of density in ways most would be envious at it might take a long time. "Also how does one get into a Squad?"

"Well that's pretty straightforward." Noelle said glad to have something simply to explain and thus quell her racing heart at what Asta had said to her, though why her heart was racing was a mystery to Noelle. "Same as the other branches, they recruit. As there are 3 unknown Quirk Knight track students at U.A. and a great house member who's openly spurned her familial Squad, I can actually understand why all 9 Captains are going to be in attendance at the Sports Festival. I was shocked when Mr. Aizawa mentioned that earlier but now that I've had time to reflect on it I can understand it."

"Yeah that was a surprise for sure." Weiss said. "All 4 Huntsman agencies is to be expected even with Beacon's strong ties to U.A. but all 9 Quirk Knight Captains wasn't."

"I take it that that's big." Ida said.

"Yeah they rarely all attend the U.A. Sports Festival from what I've heard, via my sister who knows this from Noelle's sister Nebra." Weiss said. "The Silver Eagles almost never recruit from U.A. while the Blue Rose Knights only do so if there is a promising female candidate, and there are a few other Squads out there that don't often recruit from U.A. either if I recall."

"Well Mimosa's the one spurning her family's Squad not Leo so Captain Charlotte of the Blue Rose Knights will want her so that's got to be the reason why she's coming to the Sports Festival." Noelle said. "As for the rest, I think it's mainly because the second highest score in the entrance exam since All Might was a Quirk Knight track student, at least that's what my staff were discussing, so it seems like my brother is coming to see that and maybe poach Mimosa as a way of sticking it to her cousin and Leo's brother Fuegoleon."

"That sounds confusing." Ida said. "And like old school feudal era power play stuff."

"With the nature of the Quirk Knights and how we've developed over the years it pretty much is." Noelle said with a sigh. "It's led to a very exclusionary attitude with three of the 9 Squads, though one has become more accepting in recent years, and a 4th is exclusionary for a different reason. The remaining 5 are less picky with at least one, the Green Praying Mantis, being solely comprised of members of lower birth than the average Quirk Knight family as well as generally not accepting students from U.A. or Shiketsu so they're probably the other one that Weiss was thinking about."

"Can't say I know much about that Squad." Weiss said. "But if that's their attitude then it does make sense that they'd be less likely to recruit from U.A. or Shiketsu."

"Correct but that said, their Captain will be in attendance regardless of whether or not he recruits anyone." Noelle said. "Mainly because he's an extremely strange man who loves battle a bit too much and has a rather lethal Quirk from what I've heard. My brother acknowledges Captain Jack's skills but his mentality is off apparently."

"Jack?" Ida asked the name ringing a bell in his head from something Tensei had once told him about a Quirk Knight Captain who used a pre-Quirk era, western, moniker. "As in Jack the Ripper? I've heard of him. Doesn't he have a strange Quirk that allows him to sever anything he slashes with blades that he can make on his body and he loves using them."

"That sounds about right." Noelle said with a sigh. "He's one of three Captains not from the upper classes that make up the bulk of the Quirk Knights and is likely in part why he doesn't take upper class potential members. I won't be joining his Squad though so it's not something I have to worry about."

"Oh I see." Ida said. "And the other Squads? You said some are exclusionary, how so?"

"Well two are run by two of the three great houses, the Silver Eagles by my family and the Crimson Lion Kings by Mimosa's though she's technically from a side branch of the family as it's her uncle, Leo's father, that runs the family and Leo's brother who's the current Squad Captain." Noelle said. "The third of the great houses, House Kira, doesn't run a Squad but are heavily involved in politics and are basically the ones who control the regulations surrounding Quirk Knights with one of their members, an annoying man called Damnatio who I've thankfully never had the displeasure of meeting, being in charge of the governing body of Quirk Knights that is part of the HPSC umbrella."

"And I take it given their attitudes, which the first Wizard King and your ancestor would be appalled at, those two Squads tend to only recruit from the upper class." Nero said.

"That would be the case, something I'm coming to terms with may not be good and there is corruption there as about 6 years ago or so a Silver Eagle and a Crimson Lion King were caught running some criminal group and arrested by other Quirk Knights." Noelle said ignoring Nero's statement about her ancestor as she doubted Nero actually knew anything about the first Wizard King and was thus just trying to get a rise out of her in some way. "And since Fuegoleon has taken over the Crimson Lion Kings have been more open but yes they historically do discriminate based on social status. The third of them is also one of the two newest and current top Squad, the Golden Dawn."

"I've heard of them, my brother's worked closely with some of their members in the past." Ida said. "They're run by a man called Willian Vangeance, right? His Yggdrasil Quirk is said to be one of the strongest in the nation and that he's the man likely to replace Julius Novachrono as the next Wizard King. If I recall he went to U.A. as well, graduated as a member of the Grey Deer Squad which Novachrono was the Captain of at the time and then when he became Wizard King he appointed Vangeance as the head of a new Squad 5 or 6 years ago I think. It's unbelievable how fast they've risen since then."

"All that is correct barring one addition." Noelle said. "One my brother still fumes about for personal reasons and that's that Vangeance wasn't the only one named to create a new Squad that day but I'll get into that in a moment. Vangeance, from what I've gathered, isn't actually classist himself but he recruits only the best for his Squad though to this day he's never recruited from a great house for reasons unknown. As a result he's never recruited a lowborn Quirk Knight hopeful but it's not out of exclusion I think."

"It does sound fishy though, especially the whole recruiting the best but not a member of the great houses who are supposed to be the best of the best." Nero said. "But I guess the whole historic familial Squads play a role in it."

"It seems it's a bit like the Endeavor Agency, the best can recruit the best and this keep getting better in a perpetual cycle but such is the nature of becoming the best I guess." Ida said. "And there was a 4th that had some exclusionary policy, which is it."

"The Blue Rose Knights." Noelle said. "For whatever reason, likely some deep rooted issues that she's never properly addressed, their Captain, Charlotte Roselei, only recruits women. She's a strong and talented Quirk Knight in her own right, her Blue Briar Quirk is something to be reckoned with from what I've heard, and she will recruit outside the high class circles though she's not allowed to recruit me."

"The whole specific Squad rule as part of your acceptance to U.A. I take it." Ida said.

"Yup, the Blue Rose Knights were deemed to be too good a Squad for me though I'm not sure I could handle Charlotte's misandrist attitude." Noelle said trying not to think about one specific male in particular as she spoke. "That attitude and her refusal to recruit men has led to some complaints and fines for discrimination but a deal got struck were she can keep it up so long as there is one all male Squad to balance it out and there is in the Green Praying Mantis though that's most women don't want to joint that Squad either. They have very different reputations of course but it works out and most men at this point stay away from Charlotte and her thorny personality, pun unintended."

"Sounds like she dealt with sexism in the past and has responded with sexism of her own." Weiss said. "Pretty typical. It doesn't justify her sexism but it would explain it at least."

"It works out so no one questions it." Noelle said. "But yes those are the 4 that have either explicit or implicit exclusionary policies. I've explained the Green Praying Mantis Squad so that leaves the remaining 4 which are like the Green Praying Mantis more open and accepting of lower born Quirk Knight hopefuls. Well, to some extent as the Purple Orcas tend to recruit characters with questionable ethics and are almost always the ones embroiled in corruption scandals."

"Sounds like one to avoid." Asta said not realizing that the villain he'd taken down when his Quirk first manifested was actually a former Purple Orca who'd been kicked out for corruption after taking the fall for his Captain's own rampant corruption that still hadn't been brought to light. "I don't want to deal with that."

"I know little about them; their Captain is a business tycoon called Guelder Poizot who's immensely wealthy though not a member of a great house and that's all I know." Noelle said. "I don't even know his Quirk. Of the other three, the Aqua Deer has the youngest Captain at only 19."

"19?" Ida asked amazed. "That's unheard of. I think even Hawks was only 20 when he founded his agency though he may have been younger I'm not 100% sure there."

"It's true though I only know that Captain Rill has been in his roll for a year at most." Noelle said. "If that, and he has a habit of getting distracted but his Picture Creation Quirk is strong. He's unpredictable at this point and the Coral Peacock Captain, one of the three not from the upper classes though no one really knows much about her background, is also rather eccentric. She'll do as she pleases, when she's awake that is."

"Awake?" Ochaco asked.

"Dorothy Unsworth, the Coral Peacock Captain, is notable for almost always being asleep for some reason." Noelle said. "I've heard that she has a powerful Quirk that involves dreams or something associated with dreams at least but with her frequent napping habit and how Mimosa's brother basically runs that Squad I can't say I know any more than that."

"I don't get that at all." Ida said deciding it was best to just let that be and not try to dig too deep into it. "And the final Squad? You've left that out until now. What do you know about the Black Bulls? That's the one that that Swing kid who's a third year is going to be part of when he graduates if I recall."

"That's because they're considered the worst of the worst so I saved them for last for that reason." Noelle said as she sighed again as it was now time to address the Black Bulls and her connection to them. "They recruit well but only because they get the kind of people the other Squads don't want even if that kid is at U.A. and yes they're the one I'm allowed to join. It was part of the condition for my acceptance into U.A. that should I stick to the Quirk Knight path I must be a member of that Squad and that Squad only. Magna's low birth and personality probably ensured it and I know they have two other U.A. third years but that's it."

"I have heard of their reputation." Ida said. "It's not the best, they have a habit of causing more damage than good so they only get called in when that is needed or when collateral damage isn't a concern."

"That's what I've heard as well which is odd because remember when I said that Vangeance wasn't the only new Captain appointed by Novachrono." Noelle said and Ida nodded. "Another Grey Deer member was allowed to form a new Squad at the same time as Vengeance was."

"I recall." Ida said. "I take it that that person formed the Black Bulls."

"Yup, that other new Captain was Yami Sukehiro." Noelle said. "The first and only Captain of the Black Bulls."

"So they were formed on the same day?" Ida asked.

"Correct, seems they're actually decent friends and rivals in a sense." Noelle said. "Little is known of Yami Sukehiro other than that he originally came from a sect in Japan that still holds true to very old, pre Quirk, cultures but other than Yami himself none from that sect have been seen in decades. From what my brother's said, and my brother doesn't like Yami at all because well Nozel is still a classist ass, Yami just kinda appeared on the coast one day and ended up getting mentored by Novachrono back when he was still a Captain. The man's a mystery in a lot of ways actually. Regardless, he's strong enough to be a Quirk Knight Captain and he will be mine."

"Sounds like an interesting man." Asta said as the bell rang, they'd long finished their meal and Izuku had not joined them during it so they just presumed that he'd had a long chat with All Might and left it at that. "Sounds like it's training time."

"And we will all do our best." Ida said as they picked up their trays. "I know Midoriya will as well."

"Yeah Deku will do all he can to win, I know it." Ochaco said with a smile. "As will I of course because I will get a great offer."

"We all will." Weiss said.

"Yeah come on let's get to training." Asta said hurrying off.

"He's an idiot but he's not wrong." Noelle said with a sigh as she began to walk after him with Nero swiftly falling in behind her. "Let's go make sure he doesn't kill himself with some stupid training idea that he's not thought through properly."

The rest nodded at that as they cleared their trays and got ready. The Sports Festival was in two weeks and that meant that it was time to train hard for it because they all wanted to win it. Their next great challenge was on the horizon and all were rising to the occasion as the famous U.A. Sports Festival drew near.

Well, school has resumed and it's back to the grindstone for the Hero Course after the attack and that grindstone is sharpening them for the coming Sports Festival which I'm sure they're all looking forward to. That is the next big thing but first our heroes have to train for it and that could be interesting in its own right so that is what will come next as a way to whet the appetite for the coming Sports Festival which will be a long arc what with the expanded class sizes and all that. One thing to note in this chapter, if y'all realized it as it was subtle (well I thought so) is that Noelle's reference to Aizawa now sounding like Solid is a deeper reference to the fact that Aizawa's English VA changed after the first season due to the original taking a break from voice acting to focus on theatrical performances so he was replaced in all his current projects that had upcoming seasons (incidentally the same guy who replaced him in MHA also replaced him in Fairy Tail as well) so I felt that a deeper reference was needed. Aizawa's original VA has returned to voice acting a bit and does have a Black Clover role though his Black Clover character is one who likely won't appear in this story so I won't be referencing that though I did mention that character in this chapter. When it comes to VA changes, of which there are 3 of note in MHA (one was for health reasons and he returned as Re-Destro in seasons 5 and 6) and 4 in RWBY (soon to be 5 whenever Tyrion returns and a 6th if Torchwick ever comes back in some shape or form) the references are sorted on a case by case basis though only one RWBY change is actually relevant as that changed from a VA not in either MHA or Black Clover to one in both but I likely won't reference that change while the few changes in Black Clover were just one episode changes due to various reasons like Kahono's VA giving birth and being unable to voice Kahono for that Star Festival episode so Sally's VA filled in for her. There is a potential change in VA for one of Class A in the 7th season so I'll be keeping an eye on that but likely that won't be something I address as it's such a late change. That is all that I have for this rambling post chapter note so I'll leave it off here. If you like this story please follow, favorite (this story and me) to keep up with it and leave a review or PM, your support is what helps motivate me to keep up this work and any questions posed before the next chapter is uploaded I will try to answer. Until next time.

Stringdog