Day two, morning at the summer camp. We had to wake up pretty early in the morning and change into our gym uniform. We then all gathered somewhere outside at the back of the building. Many of the other students look tired and are yawning while some seem to be early birds. I was feeling a bit tired myself even though I didn't do anything as tiring as what the others had to do.
Aizawa is at the front of the group and announces, "Good morning class. Today we will begin the training camp that will increase your strength. Our goal is to increase your skills exponentially so that each of you earns a provisional license. This will allow you to face the dangers that continue to fester in the darkness. Proceed carefully." Aizawa throws a ball toward Katsuki and Katsuki catches it, "Look alive Bakugo. Try throwing that for me."
"Yeah sure. Like in the fitness tests," Katsuki said, staring at the ball.
"That's right. When you first started school, your record was 705.2 meters. Let's see if you improved."
"Oh, I get it! We're checking our progress," Ashido said excitedly as Katsuki walks to a clearing and winds up his arm.
"A lot has happened to us in the last three months. Maybe he can throw it a whole mile now," commented Sero.
"He hasn't improved that much, Sero," I told Sero, which he didn't hear. I don't think anyone heard. At least if Katsuki heard he would be a little bit angry about it. It was like no one heard me at all.
"Come on! Get It Bakugo!" Kirishima cheered.
"I've got this. No one blink," we hear Katsuki say. "GO TO HELL!" Katsuki shouts as he throws the ball, igniting an explosion in his hand.
The ball gets sent flying and lands, then Aizawa announces, "That was 710.6 meters."
"That's it? Man, disappointing," Sero said.
"You had a single semester at UA. And due to your various experiences, all of you have definitely improved. But those improvements have mostly been limited to mental prowess and technical skills. With a slight increase in stamina thrown in along the way. As you can see your quirks themselves have not improved much on a fundamental level. Well at least for everyone but Akumi. That's why we're now going to focus on improving your power." Aizawa made a wide eye grin as everyone gave a mix of reactions to it, "This will be so hard it'll feel like you're dying. Let's hope you all survive."
"Wait, I have a question," Izuku said. "Akumi and her quirk. Why is she the only one to have improved her power?"
"Akumi's quirk, if you haven't noticed already. Has already exploded in power within these last few weeks." Aizawa then addressed the entire class, "Quirks have a limit to how much they can grow before becoming harmful to the user. While special quirks that have will's of their own will not only be harmful to the users, it can also become harmful to those around if not properly controlled." Then shifting focus to just Izuku, "Maybe you could go even further beyond your limits but your sister can't."
"Why?"
"It's not that I can't go beyond my limits, it's that I won't go beyond my limits," I spoke out. "I can't afford to lose myself as I did during the sports festival."
"But—"
"The sports festival was not the first time I lost control… During the U.A. entrance exam. I lost control and… Let's just say I accidentally hurt some of the contestants. Back then my quirk wasn't as strong so most injuries were minor bruises. But as shown with the sports festival I was able to pierce the human body without difficulty. The next time I completely lose control in situations like those. I might actually kill someone."
Everyone went quiet for a moment. I can feel that everyone was taking me seriously. Everyone but Katsuki, "You think you're able to kill someone. Ha. I don't believe it. All I'm hearing is excuses. If what you said is true then why even bother being a hero? Wouldn't dropping out be a better idea?"
I was a bit hurt by the comment, "You don't think I've thought of that! If I could I—"
"That's Enough!" Aizawa commanded with a bloodlust aura. "We are here to train. Not to question Akumi and her quirk. Now follow me. We will be meeting up with the Wild Wild Pussycats. Class B is already at it. So let's get moving." Aizawa then begins walking through the forest. We all followed quietly to a clearing with mountain terrain where the Wild Wild Pussycats were waiting. There were two more members there. The muscular man wearing the color brown was called Tiger and the green-haired woman wearing yellow was called Ragdoll.
From a distance, I could see some of class B's students exerting their quirk to their limits. But the one I immediately noticed was Youta moving around to different students allowing them to hit his red light shattering it but then the light quickly reformed back to its normal state but it then again gets shattered by another quirk.
The four members of the Wild Pussycats got into formation when they noticed us approaching. First up Mandalay, "With sparkling eyes, we rock on!"
Next was Ragdoll, "We've come to lend a helping paw!"
After Ragdoll was Tiger, "Wherever, whenever, we'll arrive!"
Lastly comes Pixie-Bob, "Cute, cat, and stinger!"
Then they all together struck a pose and announced, "The Wild, Wild Pussycats! (Full Version)"
Ragdoll, "My quirk is… Search! I can observe and monitor up to one hundred people at a time! Their location and weak points too!"
Pixie-Bob, "With my Earthflow, I can create the perfect training environment for each of you!"
Mandalay, "And I use my Telepath to give advice to each of you, all at once."
Tiger, "And I'm here to punch and kick you into shape…! All you power-up types, you're coming with me! My boot camp's already begun."
The class then separates into their personal training. With me being last to go into personal training. I was surrounded by all the adults Aizawa-Sensei, Vlad King, Mandalay, Ragdoll, Tiger, and Pixie-Bob. "Umm… So what training do I have to do." I rubbed my arms as I looked around at them nervously.
Ragdoll, "Hmmm. That'll be difficult. I sense no faults in your quirk. I think it's because the other two people inside of you are covering for what you lack."
"Isn't the biggest weakness is the limit of what I can absorb before I switch to the other side."
Pixie-Bob, "With your restrictions on quirk usage. We can't have you push yourself to your limit."
"But everyone else is training so hard. It makes me want to also. Even though in my heart I know it might not end so well."
Mandalay, "The only things we could think of maybe go with more precision instead of power.
Tiger, "Or you could go for the more physical aspect in training your body."
Vlad King, "We were also thinking something along the lines of you doing nothing. Your quirk gets stronger even when you don't use it and it's safer that way."
"Three options to choose from… I don't know?"
Aizawa, "Well, decide quickly. Everyone is already suspicious of why you were excluded from most activities already. If you decide to do nothing I will double your workload."
"Okay. I think I go with the safer option with physical body training. At least I won't have to use my quirk if I do that."
"Alright then! Join the group!" Tiger shouts and directs me to where Izuku and two other class b students were. The class b students there I didn't know. One looked like a beast, and the other looked normal.
"Akumi? Why are you training here? Shouldn't you have personalized training to train the control of your quirk?" Izuku says as he continues to stretch and swing his arm up and down.
"Since my quirk is already all-powerful. They decided I should focus on training my body so it can handle my quirk," I lied. "You know, similar to yours."
"Enough talk! Now get to it, hero!" Tiger shouted at us.
"Yes Sir!" I shouted in response.
"As we said, the pampering ended yesterday!" Pixie-Bob announces to the group striking a pose with food ingredients on the table outside.
"Wanna eat? Then you gotta cook for yourselves! Today is curry!" Ragdoll said after striking a pose next to Pixie-Bob. The group responded with lackluster, making Ragdoll laugh, "Bwahahaha! You all look worse for wear! That doesn't give you an excuse to do a sloppy job, though!"
"But of course… In times of disaster and evacuation, someone needs to fill the bellies and soothe the souls of fatigue citizens. These are the essential part of providing aid…" Ida states with his thumb and index finger on his chin. Then turning around to the group Ida swung around his arm in a chopping motion shouting, "Naturally, U.A. never misses a teaching opportunity! So let's make the tastiest curry in the world, everyone!"
Ida's words actually manage to rile up some of the two classes as they shout along with Ida. Everyone got to work. Todoroki's fire was great at lighting up the stoves. Bakugo managed to blow up one of the stoves trying to light it with his explosion. I was peeling the vegetables for today. Eventually, we finished cooking but the sun was already down by then.
I sat on one of the benches with Youta. Surprisingly it was just the two of us alone. "Hey, you look pretty tired out. Notice your light shattering. Never seen that happen before."
"Yeah. This was different from the usual training we would do," Youta replied. "I've never had the solid light out for that long. I still have it out right now." Youta waved his hand and a red light started to shine above him.
"You still have your quirk active? Training is over, right?"
"My quirk's only drawback is when it is initially activated. But if I had it activated already I won't have that drawback. In this case, my light won't be as strong compared to when I initially activated my quirk but I'm working to increase its durability. But enough about me what type of training are you doing. I notice you training with Izuku."
"Oh that… Well… They said my quirk is good as is, so they said I should focus on training my body," I lied again.
"Oh right. I almost forgot about… That. Are you feeling ok?"
"Yeah. Feeling great!" I pump my fist. "At least I feel better than everyone here."
He waved his hand and the red shine disappeared, "Just don't overdo yourself."
"Stop talking like that. Where's Izuku? I saw him leave a moment ago with a plate of food." I look around the area and there is no sign of Izuku. I did notice Jiro slap Sero in the face.
"He's probably off doing hero duty."
"Your right," I sigh and turn my head back only to be tapped on the nose by Youta with his index finger.
"Didn't I tell you Izuku's not the only one you can rely on now? I'm here as well."
I cover my nose, "It's not like I was trying to find him to rely on. I was just wondering where he was."
"Yeah, right," Youta gives me a doubtful smile but also a smile that reassures me that he is here for me.
Izuku follows Kota from a distance through the forest up a mountain. Kota then stops in front of a cave then sits by the edge of the cliff. Izuku hearing Kota's stomach growl in hunger, Izuku approaches with a plate of curry rice. "You must be starving. Here's a plate for you. It's curry."
"You! How'd you know I was here!" Shouted Kota in surprise.
"Oh. Sorry, I followed your footprints. Figured you hadn't had anything to eat."
"Nope, don't want it. As I said, I don't want to be around some wannabes. So get away from my secret base."
"Secret base, huh…?"
"Improving quirks… Stretching them to the limit… It's pathetic really. Flaunting your powers like that."
"Your parents… By chance, is one of them Water Hose, the hero with a water quirk?"
"Mandalay opened her big mouth, Huh!"
"Oh, uh, no… Sorry! I just happened to hear about it, and judging by the context… It was a terrible tragedy. I remembered it."
"Screw you." Kota's cap covered his eyes. "You're all freaking nuts… Calling yourself heroes or villains and killing each other like idiots. Talking about your quirks all the time… All just to show off."
"It's not just heroes. He's got a problem with quirks and our super-power society…" Izuku thought to himself.
"What! Cat got your tongue. That's what I thought, now get the hell out!"
"No… It's just… A friend of mine! He didn't inherit any quirks from his parents."
"Huh?"
"It's a birth defect that rarely happens. He still admired heroes though. But in our society, someone without a quirk can't be a hero. For a while, he just couldn't accept the truth. Then he got a sister, a sister who was new to the world. But his sister had a quirk. At first, he was jealous of the fact that his sister was the only one to have a quirk. He thought he could push his dreams onto her and be happy. But one day his sister was seriously hurt and might have died all because of her quirk. He realized she was the only one who would ever see him as a hero. That, if she died then there really was no way he could be a hero. When his sister recovered they had a big argument about how her quirk was doing bad things to her. At that point though, it was already too late. He already put the idea of being a hero into her mind and nothing was going to change that… The main point I'm trying to say here is that there's a lot of stigma regarding quirks and I can't say this without bias but… If you keep rejecting everything you're only going to cause yourself more pain."
"You don't know when to shut up! Get your ass out of here before I make you!" Kota shouts and swipes his arm in front of himself.
"Anyway, I'm just rambling. Sorry. I'll leave the curry here." Izuku sets the plate down on the ground and leaves.
"It never ends with these guys… So annoying."
This was the third day of summer camp. Last night I stayed up with Ashido, Kirishima, Kaminari, Sato, Sero, and surprisingly Monoma and Youta for our remedial session. But right now we are outside again back to training our quirks.
"Remedial group. Why have you stopped moving?"
"Sorry… Just a little sleepy," responded Ashido.
"Yesterday's remedial lessons were…" Kaminari added on.
I see Youta running about doing the same thing he did the other day. I myself was also feeling tired but not as tired as I was yesterday for some strange reason. Actually, I should help them out a little bit.
I raised an arm at the remedial group only to get restrained by Aizawa's scarf immediately, "What do you think you're doing?"
The scarf is wrapped tightly around my arms. Why did I have my other arm up? "I was thinking to alleviate some of their tiredness by absorbing it then sending it off into space."
"Right." Aizawa undoes his restraint, "Well anyway. You all have to make up for your piss-poor performances during the final exam. Think about that when the others are doing fine and you lot are dead on your feet. Uraraka! Aoyama! You guys too. You didn't quite manage to fail, but it was a close call. Thirty points were the cutoff. You squeezed by with thirty-five points. So don't let up. You're all looking sluggish today. Always be conscious of who you are. That's the key to improvement. That's why you're out here sweating, why I'm riding you so hard. Keep it in mind, always."
"Who I am…" I thought to myself while continuing to do the same exercises as Izuku. "I am Akumi, right? Or am I Yuu? Am I that other person? No, I'm Yuu. I know that for a fact. But I'm in Akumi's body. So does that make me Akumi? I call myself Akumi, I respond with Akumi nowadays, so am I Akumi now? But that's only because I didn't know my name. But now I know my name, so that should make me Yuu and not Akumi. But knowing that means acknowledging that I am both Akumi and Yuu making me that other person. No, we are the same person. But that doesn't make any sense. I'm not from this world, right? Me remembering reading the story definitely proves it. But what if it's fake memories?"
"Meow meow meow… Listen, everyone! Tonight both classes are going to have a head-to-head showdown in a test of courage! Your reward for intense training is some intense fun! How's that for a reward!?" Pixie-Bob announced breaking my train of thought. "With that said… Work your butts off in the meantime!"
"Yes, Ma'am!" I, along with some of the other students, shouted.
It was again time to prepare dinner with every one of classes 1-A and 1-B. I was now dicing up the vegetables with Katsuki. "Bakugo, I'm really surprised! Who knew you could work with Akumi with a kitchen knife like a pro," commented Uraraka.
"Surprised? The hell?! How can you be so trash with a knife?!" Katsuki shouts, chopping the vegetables faster but still neatly and evenly.
"Katsuki, slow down. You could cut yourself," I say.
"What are you, my mom?! Go cry me a river, I'll do what I want!" Katsuki chops the vegetables even faster. But as I mentioned he accidentally slightly cut his thumb as it began to bleed.
"See. What did I tell you?"
He gently puts the knife down and clutches his hand that was cut and shouts at me, "This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't said anything! Now there's blood on the carrot!"
I walked over to Katsuki and stuck out a hand, "Here, give me your hand."
He takes a step back moving his hand away from mine, "What?! No! I'll deal with this myself!"
"Just shut up and let me see it!" I demanded and I managed to grab his bleeding hand.
"What do you think your—!" I don't actually know what I was doing but my right arm moved on its own as it hovered over the cut on Katsuki's hand then touching it the bleeding blood disappeared and the cut was closed up. "Why did you do that?"
I let go of his hand confused at myself at what I had just done, "I don't know? It kind of just happened."
"Well…" He jerks his hand away, "Keep your filthy hands off me! This doesn't change the fact there is still blood on the carrot!"
Feeling this won't end well I didn't bicker back and instead went back to cutting vegetables. Again we eventually ended with dinner being served. This time it was stew. But most importantly I was at a table with all the class 1-A girls for some reason.
"So why did you call me here?" I asked.
"Girl, you need to give us the scoop," said Ashido.
"The scoop? On what?"
"On your love life with Katsuki and the boy from class 1-B," Hagakure responded.
"Love life?!" I'm starting to feel a bit embarrassed, "It's not like that."
"Oh, but that's what everyone says," Uraraka pointed out.
"I have to agree. The way you were chatting with Okazaki yesterday. I'm a bit curious about it myself. The aura was that of an old married couple."
"Then after what we witnessed today with Bakugo," Asui added.
"Are you two-timing? You're such a player," said Jiro.
"What no!" I slam my hand on the table, "We're just friends. Well, at least Youta is."
"Oh so Bakugo is more than a friend," Ashido inquired.
"He's more of a rival than a friend. So he isn't more than a friend. I think with him bullying Izuku as much as he did while we were young, I consider him less than a friend."
"Maybe you have a brother complex. We have noticed you staying around Izuku more often. You even brought his name up."
I sigh, "let me get one thing straight at a time. I feel safe when I'm with Izuku. I feel strong when I'm with Katsuki. And I feel like myself when I'm with Youta. But I can't be with any of them. Izuku's my brother. Katsuki, well, he is not my type. And Youta… Someone I know well and consider a very close friend needs him more than I do."
"Oh, I see now. That's why you clung so hard onto Izuku that one time," Hagakure said.
"Deku does give off that vibe of safety," Said Uraraka.
"Doesn't that mean Bakugo brings out your strongest emotions?" Asui questions.
"I assume you didn't see the look on your face when you healed Bakugo's injury. It was the look that screams, I love you," Yaoyorozu added.
"Then there's Okazaki. He's new to us but he's a childhood friend to you, right? And you have a love rival you consider a friend. How could you not tell us before," Ashido continued.
"You were more relaxed and willing to talk about a lot of things when you were with Okazaki the other day. I guess we're just not close enough for you to tell us about all this," said Jiro.
Hearing all of them talk one after the other made my head zero out. I didn't know how exactly to respond. If it was about the story events I would have an answer but this was about my events. I lost that answer a long time ago. "Come on guys. When would I ever have the time to bring this up to you guys. Villain attacks, sports festival, and then my recovery time with you guys having hero internships and final exams. Even now after this, we're about to embark on a test of courage."
"Yeah, that's true. With all that's happened we haven't really had time to relax like this," said Asui.
"Ooh. Wouldn't it be a fun idea if Akumi got paired with Bakugo in the test of courage," said Ashido.
"Yeah, then when she comes across Okazaki in the forest which one would she cling onto when she gets scared," said Hagakure.
I knew I wasn't going to participate in the test of courage because of the remedial sessions but I let them have their talk. But wait… How did I know that? And where are the teachers?
(Taking Place At The Same Time. Class's 1-A Boys Group)
"Hey, Bakubro. Did you notice that look Akumi gave you?" Kirishima asked.
"Shut your mouth and eat! Nothing happened between her and I!" Katsuki shouts angrily.
"No, but Kirishima makes a good point. That face, there's no denying. She is in love with you," said Kaminari.
"Speak another word of what never happened and I will kill all of you!"
"Alright man we won't talk about that but there are signs. Like how she always calls you by your first name." Sero comments.
"She only calls me by my first name to annoy me!"
"But isn't it also in our culture that calling someone by their first name is a sign of closeness?"
"Say that again and you're dead," Katsuki threatens Sero, shooting him an evil stare.
"You know, I think—"
"You don't get a say in this Deku!"
"Okay, I'll keep my mouth shut." Izuku covers his mouth and shrinks away.
"Bokugo, don't you think Izuku would be the best person to get information about Akumi and her interest in you," Todoroki states. "After all, he is her brother. Or is it that you like her calling you by your first name."
"Was this the only reason you dragged me to this table, to talk about that Wet Sponge! Well, forget it! I'm out." Bakugo was fuming as he takes his plate of stew and goes to sit at another table. The boys then followed suit and followed Katsuki to the other table. "Stop following me, you extras!"
"Come on Bokubro don't be like that. We're trying to help you out here," said Kirishima.
"Shut Up!" Katsuki used his explosion quirk on Kirishima and Kirishima put up his hardening.
"Well, guys I don't think we'll be getting much out of him. Guess we'll have to ask Izuku," said Sato
"I figured as much… But look at him, he's so shriveled up," said Ojiro.
"Izuku! You knew that one day your sister would fall in love with a man. You can't be showing weakness now. This is precisely the moment you stand and say that you will not be giving up your sister to any unworthy man!" Ida shouts trying to encourage Izuku.
"Yeah! Instead, you should give your sister to me. I'll treat her better than Bakugo ever could," Mineta shouted along with Ida.
"I don't get what all the fuss is about but I'm sure whatever Mineta is trying to do is wrong," commented Tokoyami.
"A girl's love is a dark mysterious thing to have come at you," Shoji said through one of his duplicated mouths.
Tokoyami nods his head while crossing his arm, "Dark and mysterious you say. Maybe I should take a deep dive into these topics at a later date."
Koda wants to speak out but only manages to wave his hand around in gestures pointing to Izuku.
"There is only one explanation I can put into this," Izuku announced. This got the attention of all the boys in class 1-A excluding Bakugo. "Akumi's split personality when using her quirk must have taken over at that moment."
"How can you be so sure of that? What if the feeling was genuine," Ida brought up.
"Well, it's only just a theory right now since I didn't actually see what happened. As said before when Akumi switches personalities she isn't aware of what she's doing until she switches back. That also means that the Akumi we saw is not the same Akumi we know. Therefore Akumi isn't necessarily in love with Kaachan but instead, her quirk personality is."
"That's one way to explain it. Well whatever helps you sleep at night Izuku," said Kaminari. Another explosion goes off in the background as Katsuki is now full-on attacking Kirishima.
Mineta rubs up against Izuku and nudges him with his elbow whispering, "So what does her quirk personality think of me?"
(Taking Place At The Same Time. Class 1-B)
"I'm here… So why is the class gathered around me?" Youta asked.
"What's your real relationship with that girl from class 1-A," asked Tetsutetsu.
"I don't understand what you mean. If you're talking about Akumi and me, we are just friends."
"Likely story. We saw the way you two interacted with each other the other day," Kendo rebuked. "There has to be something else going on. Especially what happened today."
"What are you guys going on about?"
"Do you really not know? That girl, Akumi Midoriya, am I right? She gave Bakugo the look," said Tokage.
"What look? I didn't see anything."
"Fukidashi, do the honor please," said Monoma. Fukidashi then used his quirk to summon the Doki Doki sound effect with the word Love on his face.
"She did that and to who now?" Youta asked unenthusiastically.
"To Bakugo!" All of class 1-B said in unison.
"Hmmm," Youta places a finger to his chin. "Well, why are you telling me this?"
"Are you not going out with her," asked Shiozaki.
"No. When did I say that?"
"But you two were talking so casually. Even about some certain topics," said Shoda.
"We always do that. Well, there used to be someone else with us but they aren't here right now."
"That's not the point here guys," said Shishida. "The point is that Youta's girl is being stolen from right under his nose."
"My girl?!" Youta exclaimed. "Ok, I think you guys are misunderstanding some things! Akumi is going through some really tough times right now and Izuku, her brother, Bakugo, her rival, and Me, her childhood friend, are the only ones she can really trust. She used to have a friend that could help console her but they're not here right now. Akumi was not showing love, she was just trying to ask for help."
"We would be seeing a different red light from you if you actually saw what happened," Honenuki comments.
"I think what you are doing is called… Rejecting reality," said Tsunotori.
"Seriously guys. It's not like she's my girlfriend. She's just a friend. She's someone who helped me fix a relationship I broke a long time ago. If she really did love Bakugo then as a friend I will support her decision. Even if I don't fully agree with her choice."
"But don't you love her yourself," Yanagi asked.
"Of course I do, but I've already promised someone else that I will be with them one day."
"Oh, you already had a fiancé. Sorry we didn't know," said Kendo. Most of class 1-B figured that the other girl Youta mentioned was one of the two other girls that were on his team during the sports festival.
"No, it's fine. It's not like it's set in stone or anything. Besides, that other person probably forgot all about me. As I mentioned, a relationship Akumi helped repair. It's not entirely fixed. Still missing a couple of screws but almost there. I just need to work on being the hero they need right now."
"Wow, we really didn't know anything. Sorry again for the misunderstanding," Kendo again apologizes and the rest of class 1-B did the same.
"Come on now. It should be me who should apologize for the misunderstanding. Akumi helped me at my lowest of lows so I just wanted to help her at her lows. I should have just told you all from the start."
