Chapter 29: Finals Hell begins
A week has passed since the Hero Internship has come to an end. My exemption from the practical Hero studies is lifted today and I'm ready to jump back into training.
But then, this morning is when Aizawa decided to drop a massive bomb on us.
"Uh, summer vacation's close at hand. Of course, it would be completely irrational for all of you to take a whole month off." He states to us, "As such, you all will be doing a summer training camp in the woods."
"Hell freaking yeah!"
"Truth or dare!"
"Fireworks!"
"Curry, yes!"
"What does that have to do with summer camp?"
One by one, all of us in the class all cheers at the prospect of a summer camp for the Hero Course. For me, on the other hand, it only serves as a cruel reminder of what is to come.
The Summer Camp arc is the prelude of the end of the Era of All Might, where the League of Villains attacked the secret campsite and captured Bakugou. It is the beginning of the end, as a matter of speaking.
I have been making plans on this arc since the moment I remember everything, and I still have not finalized it at all.
"However!" Aizawa gave us his anti-quirk glare and we all quiet down immediately, "Anyone who doesn't past the upcoming finals is in summer school hell, right here with me."
""DO YOUR BEST, YOU GUYS!""
Kirishima and Kaminari cheer us on, which only just increase the tension of the upcoming finals even more.
This arc is the final stopper arc before everything went crazy. Wild Wild Pussy Cat's Rag Doll would be attacked and stripped of her insanely powerful quirk, Bakugou would be captured and be the catalyst for the final showdown between All Might and All-For-One, and would mark the end of an era which the world is not ready for.
I need to consider what I need to do to prevent those tragedies from happening, and possibly prevent All Might from retiring too early.
And before I can do that, I would need to pass the finals first.
Lunch period soon rolls around, and me and my cliché of friends gathered at our usual table and discuss the upcoming terror that is the finals.
"I can't believe I forgotten about the finals…" Taikou groaned into his hands, "I'm so going to flunk it so badly…!"
This somehow feels like deja-vu… had this happened before…?
"Come on, it's not that bad." I noted as I bites down on my tempura shrimp, "You just have to study a bit harder."
"Says the one that could ace her exams with her eyes closed." Shinsou noted with a sigh.
"I have to agree with Naru on this one, Tatsuya." Kirishima stated, "I mean, you aced those mock exams with no trouble at all. Not to mention that you are in the top ten in the midterms."
"You are very smart, Genko-chan." Tsuyu tells me.
"I-I suppose…" I can feel my cheek blushing from the compliment.
"Me on the other hand…" Taikou groaned, "Calculus will be the dead of me…"
"You're telling me." Kirishima groaned.
"You try getting English right." Shinsou stated.
"For me, it's Japanese Literature." Pony noted with a heavy sigh, "Why does the Japanese writing system has so many variants…?"
"Science is my weak spot, kero." Tsuyu added.
"History, man…" Tetsutetsu stated, "Who cares what happened decades ago!?"
Oh boy, looks like everyone has their own weak subject. And at this rate, no one can properly pass the exam…
"So, Genko…" Taikou turns to me, "Study session at your place this weekend?"
Pony flinched at the corner of my eye, but I ignore it. "The usual, then?"
"Why am I even surprised…?" Shinsou sighs, "Then, mind if I join as well? Not sure how different the subjects are from the Hero Course compared the General Course, but I sure could use the help with my calculus as well."
"Sure." I nodded, and then I turn to the rest of our little group, "Why don't you guys join us? It would be easier to help each other study then alone, right? And, to be honest, Japanese Literature is kind of my weakness…"
"Y-Yes please!" Pony stated very excitedly for some reason.
"Yeah, let's do that!" Tetsutetsu cheered.
"Eh? But to go to a girl's house like that…" Kirishima muttered with cheeks stained red.
"It's not like you're going in to her room." Tsuyu noted.
"Yeah, but won't it be disturbing…"
"Eh, don't think about it too much." I assures him. I then notice Taikou staring at me, "Taikou? Is something wrong?"
"Oh, no, it's nothing. There's just some rice by the edge of your mouth."
"Really?"
With that settled, we all agree on a day for our group study session.
Taikou yawns as he checks his watch. 'Just a few more minutes…'
It is now the weekend, the day of their group study. They all agreed to meet up at the station where he will lead them to Genko's place, the host herself is preparing for their arrival.
For now, he is the first to meet up.
"Yo, Naru!"
He turns to the voice as Kirishima runs up to him with a bag on his back, dressed in a red short sleeved hoodie over an animal patterned shirt and a pair of green Bermuda shorts with a pair of red sports shoes.
Taikou's own casual wear consists of a blue short-sleeved polo shirt with a pair of pale jeans and a pair of white and blue running shoes.
"Am I late?" He asked.
"Nope, you made it just in time." Taikou informs him. He then turns to the uninvited guest, the pink haired girl waves at him while standing next to the redhead while dressed in her pink picture shirt and short pants.
Apparently, Ashido Mina has overheard them in the cafeteria and asked if she could join in the study group as well, to help with her studies. He thinks Genko knows what she actually wants in this when she accepts her.
"Sorry again for intruding in like this." She light-heartedly laughed.
"Eh, it's no big deal." He tells her, 'You would have barged in, regardless…'
"Good morning, everyone."
"Sup, guys! Hope we didn't keep you waiting for too long."
Pony runs/gallops down the stairs with a cheerful wave, dressed in a spaghetti-strap top with pair of a jeans over her horse legs and a pair of hoof-styled shoes; the translator box is strapped around her neck.
Right behind her, walks Tetsutetsu with a backpack strapped on his back. He is dressed in a black shirt with a large white kanji of 'tetsu' printed on it and a pair of white slacks along with grey-white shoes.
"You didn't. I just got here myself." Kirishima tells Tetsutetsu as they fist-bumps each other.
"So, um…" Pony walks up to Taikou as she combs through her blonde hair, "W-What do you think?"
"About what?" He asked.
"W-Well…"
"We're here."
She was interrupted when the last two people of their study group walked out of the station towards them; the American exchange student let loose an annoyed sigh.
Tsuyu is dressed in a simple green stripped tank top and shorts with a pair of black sneakers and a light green cap, while Shinsou is in a black shirt and dark blue Bermuda pants along with a pair of red sports shoes.
"Right. Come on, Genko's place is this way."
Taikou leads them down the streets towards where his childhood friend's apartment is, all the while the others discuss among each other about various topics, from Ashido talking with Tsuyu and Pony about Genko's possible wardrobe to Kirishima talking about possible training methods with Tetsutetsu.
"Quite a crowd." Shinsou commented.
"Yeah, it is." Taikou nodded, "Still surprised that Genko invited them all for the session."
"Is it that strange?"
"Genko never tries to invite anyone else to our sessions." He stated, "Even if I invite some of our classmates back in middle school, once Genko is involved, they would decline all the same."
"Ah, now that you mentioned it, I was the only one she invites for this besides you."
When they made it to the apartment complex lift lobby, they run into the one person who should be at home right now; Genko dressed in a loose fitting white and red polo shirt over a pair of white shorts and slippers.
"Genko? Why are you doing out here?" Taikou asked, "You messaged me that you're at home just half-an-hour ago."
"Well, I just realized that I have run out of snacks so I went to the convenient store at the next block to get some." She explains as she raises her two bags of sweet and salty goodies for him to see, "See, I have about five varieties of potato chips and–"
"Okay, okay, I get it." He noted with a sigh. 'A glutton as always…'
A ride on the elevator later, Genko unlocks the door and let them all into her home, "Welcome to my home."
"Sorry to intrude."
They all echoes out as they enter the living room. Genko places the two snacks-filled plastic bags on the kitchen counter before turning to them, "Dad are sleeping after a late night, so I greatly appreciate it if you guys don't make too much of a ruckus."
"Tatsuya-sensei's home?" Ashido moans, "I was kind of hoping if we could sneak into his room to check for the exam questions…"
"It wouldn't be much help for us, anyways." Genko tells her classmate, "He's in-charged of the third years' papers."
"Well, let's all get started!" Kirishima shouts out, before quieting down when Genko hushes him, "Sorry…"
It must have been a few hours since we begin our group study.
As usual, I helped out with Taikou's calculus issues and Shinsou's English. Being a former physic major in my past life definitely helped. I also assisted many of my friends' other problematic subjects the best I can, and they in turn helped me back.
It turns out that Tsuyu is really good with Japanese Literature when she begins to help me and Pony with the ins and outs of the Japanese writing system.
Kirishima isn't having much trouble as I thought, but he truly appreciates my assistance in his calculus. He is pretty average scorer in terms of our position in the class academic ranking. Heck, he is the one that is assisting Tetsutetsu with his history.
As for Ashido…
"I told you, you have to use this formula right here!"
"…Wha?"
I let loose a tired sigh as the pink skinned girl gave me a blank stare. This is the sixth time I have explained the same physic formula to her for the past hour, and the sixth time she gives me the same blank stare. I can see how she ended up at the bottom of the mid-terms ranking with Kaminari.
"I knew Mina is bad at studying, but I didn't think it would be this bad." Kirishima noted.
"Mina-chan does seem to be someone who leaps before looking." Tsuyu stated, "Remember her fight with Tokoyami-kun?"
I let loose another sigh. "Ha… forgot it, let's just start over. This question-"
*GROOOWWWLLL*
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…she ate all those pocky sticks, though…"
"…Loud as always, huh?" Shinsou snickers to my increasing embarrassment.
"Whoa, it's already well past noon!" Kirishima noted in shock, "We must have been at this for quite a while."
"That might explain the growling stomach." Taikou noted with a grin.
"S-Shut it, you!" I shouted at him.
"I am feeling rather hungry." Tsuyu noted, "Why don't we take a break and have lunch?"
"Agree~!" Ashido cheers. Of course, she would like a break…
"Same here." Tetsutetsu agrees with a light groan, "My shoulders feel stiff after sitting here for so long…"
"Should we order take out?" Pony asked, "I remember seeing a bento shop on our way here. Their offers are quite tasty looking."
"Is it the one at the corner of the shopping district?" I asked.
"Yup! That's the one!"
Ah, that shop. I remember eating their bentos when mom was too busy with her cases, or after my morning workout with Taikou in the weekends. Their side dishes are so good and their variety is pretty vast.
Most importantly of all, they have a special menu for students!
"That's a good shop." Taikou noted, "And cheap too."
"So, who's going to go get the takeout?" Shinsou asked.
"Oh! I'll go!"
"Oh no, you're staying here, Ashido-san." I tells her with a firm glare; she sat back down immediately, "We're going to go over that question one more time."
"Eh~!?"
I'm going to get her to understand calculus, if it's the last thing I do!
"Allow me." Kirishima tells us, "I kind of need the exercise after sitting for so long."
"I need some exercise too-!"
"Ashido-san."
"…Mm~…"
"I'll come with you." Tetsutetsu stated, "There's something I want to buy along the way."
"Same here." Shinsou added.
After taking our orders and our money, he and the two hard boys went on their way.
"Now, Ashido-san… back to the question. Now see here, this-"
"What's your relationship with Taikou?"
I blinked as me and Taikou looked at each other, completely stunned by her sudden question. What does that have to do with anything we're studying?
"Ashido-san, what are you talking about-"/"What are you even talking about?"
"You two are more than just friends, that's for sure!" She shouted, "You two are always together, come to school together, eat together, all that jazz that only would happen if you guys are dating! So, are you two dating or not!?"
"Huh!?"
We both screams out at her before Taikou speaks up, "What are you talking about!? We're just friends! Spending time with her doesn't mean we're dating!"
"But all the time? That's not just friends!" She stated.
"Can we get back to our studies, please?" I asked annoyingly.
"I-I also think there's more to it than just friends!" Pony cries out suddenly, "For the past week, Naru-kun seems to help Tatsuya-san out whenever they meet! There's one time I saw Naru-kun helping her take off her shoes!"
"Yup! Boyfriend actions right there!"
"He basically forced me to let him to that!"
Taikou has been really bothersome for the past week, despite me telling him to back off a little; especially when he tries to help me get my shoes off. I kicked him in the chin when he tries to help with my slipper on too.
I refuse for them to use that as an excuse to interpret our relationship that way!
"Kind of think of it, I saw Genko-chan piggybacking on Naru-san a week ago." Tsuyu noted.
"Again, boyfriend actions! It is official, you two are dating!"
"We're not like that!" I screamed at her.
"I can't stand any of this. I'm going to get some water."
"Ah, me too!"
Anything is better than getting interrogated by those three girls. Seriously, is this the time to talk about others love lives…?
Me and Taikou got off the table and went into the kitchen. I open up the cabinet and hand his mug to him before reaching for my own. Maybe because my fingers are greasy from the snacks I have eaten, it slipped and falls out of my grip.
My immediately reaction is to grab it out of the air, but unfortunately the kitchen isn't that large and I ended up knocking my head against Taikou's face.
"OW!"
"Oh crap, are you okay-WAH!"
"Genko-WOAH!"
The glass mug, which surprisingly didn't shatter, slips under me and I ended up falling forward and towards my childhood friend.
"OW!"/"Grgh!"
"Ah, Tatsuya-san, are you alright-EH!?"
"My, my."
"Oh, I'm taking a picture~!"
I grunted into soft floor that I have landed. I glanced down to see what I have landed on, only to find the wide eyes of Taikou staring back up at me with a hand up to his lips and beet-red cheeks. The remnants of warm on my lips and the aching of my teeth has my eyes widen in shock at what is happening right now.
For some reason, the world decided that it is due a rom-com moment and decides to have Taikou fall on me and to have our lips touch right at that moment.
Judging by the slight squeals, the girls must have rushed over and I can see Ashido with her phone out no doubt taking pictures of our predicament if the sounds of clicking is any indication. Tsuyu has the same blank expression but her pupils are slightly smaller, while Pony for some reason is glaring daggers at me.
Oh god, don't tell me that she likes Taikou…
"I knew there's something between you two~!" Ashido squeals, "Oh, I'm sharing this with Toru-chan!"
"Don't you dare!"
Taikou was the one that shouts out as he reaches for Ashido's phone, who easily dodges his attempts as she run around the living room while avoiding his grasps.
"Well… that's one way to get my first kiss." I muttered under my breath as I watched the mayhem happening in my living room.
A quick glance over my shoulder confirmed me that Pony is still glaring daggers at me. Seriously, when did Taikou seduced her!?
"Hey, guys. We're back-What's going on?"
"Oh, Kirishima! Look at this!"
"Don't!"
We eventually got lectured by dad minutes later…
Omake
Mineta stops writing in his notebook.
"I felt… a disturbance…" He mutters before growling, "Like… there's a normie getting some…!"
"Dude, you're kind of creeping me out…" Kaminari noted to his pervy friend.
…
Hagakure Toru stops her writing when her phone beeps. "Hm? Mina-chan? What did she send me?"
She opens up her message, before squealing at the image of her classmate pinning down that one guy from Class 1-B and giving him a kiss.
"Oh~! I knew they would be a couple~! Got to sent this to the rest of the class!"
Yup. This is a bit slow, but with these school series, it's only bound to have some low action between arcs. And boy, this chapter is pretty tricky to write. Writing romance subplots isn't my forte, so I hope this is good enough.
Hopefully when the practical exam bit comes around, it would be much better…
Man, I wasn't sure if I want to ship Genko with Taikou, but they have chemistry, so… I'll think of pairings later down the line.
With that, I thank you for reading this!
