Chapter 14: Battle Trial: True Start Of Hero School.

Izuku woke up quite peacefully, the soft morning light barely peeking through his curtains. He yawned, stretching out his arms with a quiet groan before getting ready for school. After a quick breakfast and a refreshing shower, he went through his usual morning routine, his mind already wandering toward the day ahead.

Last night had been... interesting. After exchanging numbers with Yui Kodai, he had discovered just how talkative she was online. His face had been burning the entire time, his hands fumbling as he texted her back and forth until he eventually fell asleep, phone still in hand.

Now, standing before the massive U.A. gates once more, Izuku felt his heart pound with nervous excitement. His hand absently moved to the Omnitrix on his wrist, his fingers tracing its smooth surface.

"I still can't believe I'm here. A year ago, I was quirkless, barely had any friends, and was a target for the whole school. Now... I'm standing at U.A. with so many quirks. The old me would go ballistic!"

He shook his head, chuckling at the thought, and started walking through the gates. As he scanned the area, his eyes landed on a familiar figure sitting on a bench. The girl had long, vine-like hair and was dressed in her U.A. uniform, quietly reading a Bible in the soft morning light.

"Hey, that's the girl with the vines," Izuku thought, stopping in his tracks. He felt a sudden rush of nerves wash over him, his face quickly turning red.

"M-Maybe I should say hi?" His eyes darted toward her, then down to the ground. The thought of introducing himself had his heart racing.

Before he could decide what to do, the girl lifted her head, her bright green eyes locking onto his. She tilted her head slightly, a look of mild confusion crossing her face before she gave him a small, polite wave of acknowledgment.

Izuku panicked, his feet moving forward before his brain could catch up. "Okay, Izuku, don't stutter. Just be yourself. No stuttering!" He clenched his fists at his sides as he approached her, his shoulders a little too stiff, but he pushed through.

"Hello," Izuku managed to say, his voice a little higher than usual. He was stiff, but at least he didn't stutter.

The girl smiled politely, closing her Bible and resting it in her lap. "Hello. You're the boy who was with Ingenium, correct?"

Izuku nodded, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "Y-Yeah, I thought you wouldn't remember me."

Her gaze softened. "I remember you. You were quite heroic during that incident. By the way, what are you doing with your vines? I mean... your hair? Or... is it your quirk?" His words tumbled out awkwardly as he gestured toward her hair, his fingers twitching slightly from nerves.

The girl didn't seem bothered by his awkwardness. She smiled serenely. "My vines require sunlight and water to grow, so I'm allowing them to soak in the sunlight to prepare for our first hero class today. I wish to be at my strongest."

"Wait, first?" Izuku blinked, surprised. "You're a first-year hero course student too?"

She nodded gracefully. "Yes. And I take it you're from our sister class, Class A?"

Izuku nodded, feeling a little less tense now. "Yeah."

"I see. May I know your name?" She leaned forward slightly, her expression warm but curious. "You were kind enough to retrieve my undergarments months ago, and we're both in the hero course. Perhaps this will help ease any tension between our classes."

"Izuku Midoriya!" He managed to say, his voice a bit high.

Ibara blinked in disbelief, eyes widening a little as she began to study the boy before her.'This is Izuku Midoriya? He managed to obtain an incredible 450 villain points during the exam. He must be incredibly powerful. And on top of that, 150 rescue points, he must be remarkably selfless.' Ibara gazed at him in awe, far more impressed by his rescue points than his villain points.

Izuku feeling bit nervous especially how the girl seemed to fall silent after he told her of his name."Ahem." Izuku said he's cheeks a tint of red.

The girl was broken from her thoughts as Izuku spoke.

"May... I know your name?" Izuku asked.

Ibara chuckled softly, her smile kind. "I am Ibara Shiozaki." She gave a respectful bow. "It is a pleasure to meet you properly, Midoriya. I have heard of your impressive score during the entrance exam—450 villain points, was it? That is quite remarkable."

Izuku blinked, his cheeks flushing. "O-Oh, I was just trying to help out... But you scored 5th place, right? That's incredible!"

Ibara smiled humbly, lowering her gaze. "I was merely doing what I could with the abilities I've been blessed with. My quirk, Vines, allows me to manipulate my hair as if it were an extension of myself. I can use it to defend or strike from a distance, ensuring that I can protect those in need with grace."

Izuku's eyes lit up, his excitement bubbling over. "Wow, that's an amazing quirk! It could be super effective for restraining villains, especially ones with electricity-based quirks. If you wrap them up quickly, it could prevent the electricity from traveling through the vines, keeping you safe while subduing them!" He started muttering rapidly, his hands waving animatedly as he went on and on about potential applications for her quirk.

Ibara blinked, tilting her head as she watched him. "Does he ever pause for breath?" she wondered, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Finally, Izuku stopped, his face turning red. "S-Sorry! I started rambling again."

Ibara shook her head, her expression still gentle. "It's quite alright. Your enthusiasm is admirable." She folded her hands neatly in her lap. "As for your earlier question, I restrained most of the villain bots during the exam, but my quirk requires me to stay grounded, so maneuvering was a bit difficult."

Izuku nodded thoughtfully. "Oh, I see. That makes sense." His gaze softened as he looked at her. "Even with those limits, your quirk is amazing."

"Thank you," Ibara said, bringing her hands together in a prayer-like gesture. "I consider my quirk a blessing from God, something I'm eternally grateful for. With it, I hope to guide others toward righteousness and save those in need."

Izuku's eyes softened at her words. "I... I feel blessed too," he said quietly, glancing down at the Omnitrix on his wrist. "And with this, I'm going to become a hero who saves people—just like All Might."

Ibara studied him for a moment, noticing the sincerity and determination in his eyes. She gave a small nod. "I believe your path is blessed, Midoriya. May you continue to spread light to those in need."

Izuku smiled, the tension in his shoulders easing. "Thanks. You too." He waved goodbye as he started walking away, feeling a surge of pride. "I managed to talk to a girl without stuttering! Yes!" He threw a small fist into the air in triumph.

Before he got too far, he paused and turned back to Ibara. "Oh, by the way, for maneuverability, you could try swinging like Kamui Woods. You might need to do some upper-body exercises, though!"

Ibara blinked, watching him walk off. "Like Kamui Woods?" she murmured to herself, taking out her phone to look up the hero he mentioned, her curiosity piqued.

...

Izuku glanced nervously ahead. "Okay, you managed not to stutter while talking to a pretty girl, that's a win. N-now, we have our first Heroics training..." He gulped. "And All Might is going to be my teacher..."

As he stared at the imposing U.A. building, a few knots twisted in his stomach.

"Midoriya." A familiar, elegant voice called out, and Izuku turned to see Momo Yaoyorozu approaching with a light jog.

"Morning." She greeted him with a polite bow, a small smile tugging at her lips.

"M-Morning," Izuku stammered before mentally facepalming. 'You were doing so well!'

Momo tried to stifle a small giggle, causing Izuku's cheeks to flush, but their moment was interrupted by a loud voice.

"Oh, Midoriya! What's up, dude?" Kirishima greeted with his trademark toothy grin as he caught up to them.

The three began walking toward class, Kirishima still brimming with excitement. "I still can't believe we're actually here—in the top school in the country!"

Izuku couldn't help but smile at Kirishima's enthusiasm. "Yeah, U.A.'s been my dream since it's All Might's alma mater. He's the reason I became a hero. Being here feels unreal."

Momo tilted her head, intrigued. "So, you came to U.A. because it's All Might's alma mater?"

Izuku flinched, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, kinda."

Momo smiled softly. "You must really admire him."

"I-I do—"

"DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO, YOU ROUND-FACED BITCH!"

All three flinched at the unmistakable roar of Katsuki Bakugou. They turned to see him stomping past, veins bulging from his forehead, his face red with fury.

His gaze shot toward Izuku, full of contempt. "You'll always be a stupid Deku. Quirk or no quirk, you're just a Deku!" he spat.

Izuku recoiled, while Momo scowled at Bakugou. It was clear to anyone that the name "Deku" was an insult.

As Bakugou stormed off, Izuku noticed Uraraka standing nearby, her expression tense and frustrated.

"Uh, Uraraka, what was that about?" Izuku asked cautiously.

Ochako flinched, clearly feeling guilty. "W-Well..."

[Flashback]

"Huh?" Bakugou's red eyes snapped toward Ochako, narrowing dangerously as veins bulged from his forehead, rage radiating off of him.

"I said, stop calling Dekiru—I mean, Midoriya by that name." Ochako's voice was firm, unwavering.

Bakugou's scowl deepened, his anger only escalating. "Why the hell would I do that? You call shit, shit. You call a book a book. You call someone useless, worthless—a Deku."

Ochako's glare hardened. "He hates it when you call him that."

"What he likes doesn't fucking matter," Bakugou spat. "He's a Deku—someone useless, someone who will never make it as a hero."

Ochako's hands balled into fists, her frustration finally breaking through. "Won't make it as a hero? He's beaten you twice already! What's your problem?!"

Her voice rose, filled with anger. "You keep screaming that he's useless and worthless, but can't you, I don't know, just mind your own business for once?"

Bakugou's expression twisted in rage, but Ochako wasn't done.

"What is it with you? You're always tearing him down, even when he's proven himself again and again! How can you not see it?" Her voice cracked with frustration. "You treat him like dirt, and for what? Just because you can't handle the fact that maybe, just maybe, he's better than you think?"

For a moment, it seemed like Ochako's words hung in the air. Bakugou's fists clenched tighter, his whole body shaking with fury.

"DON'T FUCKING TELL ME WHAT TO DO, YOU ROUND-FACED BITCH!" Bakugou roared, his voice filled with pure rage before he stormed off, leaving Ochako standing there, her chest heaving with pent-up frustration.

[Flashback over]

"And that's pretty much what happened..." Ochako slumped, looking a bit defeated.

"S-Sorry, Dekiru, I couldn't convince him to stop calling you 'Deku.'" Ochako apologized, her voice tinged with guilt. As she spoke, Jirou and Iida approached from the classroom.

Izuku blushed, scratching his head awkwardly. "N-No problem... Plus, it's not like you would've convinced him anyway."

Jirou raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms as she quipped, "Woah, who pissed in explosive asshole's cereal today?"

Ochako looked down, clearly still feeling guilty. "That was me... I asked him to stop calling Dekiru by that nickname."

"And let me guess, he told you to shove it?" Jirou asked with a smirk.

"Yeah," Ochako sighed dejectedly, slumping her shoulders even more.

Momo sighed in disapproval, shaking her head. "Does he have to use such vulgar language? Honestly." Her brow furrowed as she crossed her arms.

Ochako, still looking frustrated, turned to Izuku. "What's his problem with you anyway?"

"I'm honestly curious too," Jirou chimed in, raising an eyebrow. "When you first told us about him, I didn't think he was that bad, but after yesterday… yeesh! A nope on wheels!"

Izuku shifted nervously, a small smile tugging at his lips. "N-Not sure. He's always seemed to hate my guts... But in a way, I respect him."

Momo blinked, her eyebrows drawing together in confusion. Jirou shot him a skeptical look, waiting for an explanation but not interrupting.

Izuku rubbed the back of his neck. "I mean, his ambitions, his strength, even his quirk... they're awesome. I honestly think he's going to be an amazing hero. But even though he calls me Deku... I still want to beat him."

Ochako furrowed her brow, clearly confused by his reasoning. "...So then... this must be one of those 'fated rivals' or something," she said, almost unsure.

Momo and Jirou exchanged glances, both of them clearly thinking that was far from the case.

"So you think he's going to be an amazing hero because of his quirk and... ambitions?" Jirou asked, her tone flat, eyes narrowing.

"Y-Yeah, kind of..." Izuku responded, unsure of where this was going.

"No." Jirou shook her head firmly, making Izuku blink in confusion. "Just no."

Jirou sighed heavily, placing her hands on her hips. "No offense, green, but I don't care if he's as powerful as All Might or as ambitious as the first guys to land on the moon—anyone, and I mean anyone, who screams at everyone like they're extras, calls someone worthless, and attacks people without provocation just to soothe his ego, in my eyes, isn't a hero."

Iida nodded solemnly in agreement, his arms crossed as he watched Jirou continue with a serious expression.

Izuku looked at her, stunned, while Momo and Ochako silently nodded in agreement. Jirou's words hit harder than he expected.

"Let alone someone who deserves any kind of respect, especially from you," Jirou continued, her tone sharp. "In my opinion, it doesn't matter how strong someone is or how powerful their quirk is. A true hero stands up for what's right."

Iida adjusted his glasses, nodding once more. "Indeed. A true hero should inspire hope and unity, not division and fear."

She stared directly at Izuku, her gaze unwavering. "A hero doesn't put down others or call them worthless. Because if you see someone as worthless... does that mean their life isn't worth saving?"

Everyone went silent. Momo's eyes widened in realization, while Ochako's expression softened as she processed Jirou's words. Izuku swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her statement.

Jirou sighed, breaking the silence. "And that's why I think you and All Might are so amazing." Her voice softened slightly, sending a shiver down Izuku's spine as his face turned bright red.

"You both have incredible power, yet you don't flaunt it like you're trying to show off your... well, you know," she blushed slightly, recalling how Izuku had once complimented her quirk. "You always see the best in people. You're always telling us how amazing our quirks are, even when they're not as flashy as others."

Izuku blinked in surprise, his heart racing as he saw the sincerity in her eyes. Jirou's ears turned red as she looked away, her usual cool demeanor cracking just a bit.

"And you've helped people, even without a license," she added. "You and All Might have used your power to help others, not to boost your own ego."

The group fell quiet, each of them thinking back to all the times they'd seen Izuku go out of his way to help others. Momo and Ochako exchanged glances, both of them nodding in silent agreement with Jirou.

"But Bakugou?" Jirou shook her head. "All he does is use his quirk to threaten people, to show he's better than everyone else. I have no idea how you can respect someone like that."

Izuku opened his mouth to respond, but the words caught in his throat.

Jirou crossed her arms again, finishing her thought. "Power and ambition don't make a great hero. It's how you use those abilities that shows what kind of hero you really are."

Everyone stared at her in awe. Iida, visibly moved, suddenly started clapping, his eyes glistening with emotion.

"Bravo, bravo, bravo!" Iida cried, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye.

Momo beamed, giving Jirou an approving smile. "That was splendid."

Jirou's face turned bright red, and she quickly covered her ears in embarrassment. "Ugh, stop looking at me like that, you dorks."

Momo giggled softly. "That was truly a beautiful speech."

Jirou grumbled, clearly uncomfortable with all the attention. "I swear, my friends are all nerds. I'm gonna find new friends."

"You don't have to be embarrassed," Momo said with a warm smile. "That was truly inspiring."

"Ugh!" Jirou said with a small smile and blush creeping onto her face.

Izuku looked down, he couldn't find the words to defend Bakugou as his mind drifted to Kevin.'That's what he used to tell me...'

...

[Homeroom]

"Make sure to take your academic classes seriously. U.A. will not tolerate anyone slacking off," Aizawa warned his Class 1-A students, his tone flat and uncompromising.

"Also—" he glanced pointedly at Bakugo, "be sure to behave yourselves in all of your classes, including your hero lesson today."

Bakugo, sporting his signature scowl, felt a familiar tension rise.

Cross veins appeared on his forehead, and the room braced for whatever he might say next.

[English]

Everyone sat in bored silence as Present Mic, the English teacher who had also overseen their practical exam, wrote four sentences on the board.

"Now, which one of these sentences is incorrect?" he asked, his tone a mix of excitement and disinterest.

"So boring..." was the collective thought running through the class.

[Mathematics]

"And that is how you solve for X," Momo Yaoyorozu explained, having used nearly the entire board to work through a complicated math problem.

"That is correct; good job," praised Ectoplasm, the math teacher, his clones diligently taking notes alongside him.

Izuku Midoriya stared at the board, his eyes wide with admiration. "She's amazing!" he thought, feeling a hint of envy. "Too bad I can't use Brainstorm to tackle my schoolwork. Though, honestly, I doubt it would be a challenge if I could."

A heavy panting broke his concentration, and he turned slightly to see the short, purple-haired boy behind him, drooling and staring at Momo with wide eyes. "She's... amazing..." he echoed, clearly captivated for different reasons.

Izuku shivered in disgust, his imagination running wild with what the boy might be thinking.

[Modern Literature]

"You'll need this book for our first few assignments," announced Cementoss, the cement hero, holding up a hefty time expected for the class.

"AH! Reading!" both the pink-skinned girl and the invisible girl exclaimed in dismay, hands clutching their heads as if the very thought of reading was torturous.

Meanwhile, Yaoyorozu and Iida had already begun poring over their copies of the book.

"How did she get it already?!" Izuku wondered in confusion, glancing at their eager expressions.

"One should always be prepared to dedicate themselves to studying," Yaoyorozu said, her voice calm and focused as she flipped through the pages.

"I hope the book is cheap..." Ochako muttered under her breath, peeking into her wallet with a worried frown.

[Modern Hero Art History]

"And that is a brief introduction to the 'Regulations for Exposed Skin in Costumes' bill," Midnight said with a smile, her whip gesturing animatedly to the information she had written on the board. "This bill restricted the styles that female heroes could adopt for their costumes."

As she spoke, a few boys in the class blushed, clearly distracted by Midnight's provocative outfit.

"Some of you, boys or girls, may be affected by these regulations. Clothing can be quite restrictive for those of us who need to expose skin," she continued, her tone both playful and serious.

"If you ask me, they should've let youth shine in the way they wanted! You gotta express yourself in any way you can—show the world the power of your youth!" Midnight exclaimed, breathing heavily as she flashed a bright smile.

"Stupid regulations! We want more skin, not less!" Mineta shouted, disappointment evident in his voice.

"Now, now, certain people just can't handle the blooming that we youthful folks possess. Don't you agree?" Midnight winked at the class, her enthusiasm infectious.

"Yes!" several boys shouted in unison, their excitement palpable.

"Are you implying that you're still in your youthful phase?" Bakugo interjected, clicking his pen with a challenging glare.

The classroom fell silent, and Midnight's demeanor shifted, the grip on her whip tightening as a menacing purple aura began to swirl around her.

"What do you mean by that?" she asked, her voice laced with an ominous tone.

The class shivered, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife.

"Nothing..." Bakugo replied, his voice low, a hint of fear creeping in. His past experiences with his mother had taught him that this situation could only end badly.

Midnight's smile returned, though it was edged with danger. "Good! Moving on!"

[Lunch]

The lunch arrived, bringing with it students from various departments: General Education, Business, and Hero Courses. Midoriya sat with Uraraka, Jirou, Iida, and Yaoyorozu when he suddenly felt a flick to his forehead.

"Kendo!" he exclaimed, looking up to see Itsuka Kendo standing above him.

The girl shook her head with a small smile. "No, I'm not mad anymore. It's fine."

Uraraka chuckled, "I'm surprised you didn't flip him to the floor, Kendo."

"Oh, I plan to," she replied playfully, a mischievous glint in her eye. Midoriya flinched in mock terror, which earned a laugh from the group.

Kendo straightened her posture and addressed everyone. "I'm Itsuka Kendo, by the way."

"Kyouka Jirou," Jirou said.

"Momo Yaoyorozu," Momo introduced herself warmly, giving the girl with green hair a friendly wave. The green haired girl returned the gesture with a bright grin.

"Tenya Iida," he added, adjusting his glasses earnestly.

As the group settled in, three other girls approached their table. Midoriya's gaze landed on one of them. "Oh, hey, Kodai!"

Kodai offered a small nod, her expression neutral but friendly.

Kendo's brow furrowed slightly, concern creeping into her voice. "Wait, you know her?"

"Yeah, we met yesterday—well, formally met, anyway. We exchanged numbers and have been texting. She's surprisingly a good conversationalist," Midoriya explained, his cheeks tinged with pink.

Kendo's grip on her lunch tightened as she processed this. "Oh... you already exchanged numbers," she said, her tone revealing a hint of jealousy before she quickly composed herself.

The other two girls stepped forward. "Setsuna Tokage," said the girl with a toothy grin, extending her hand toward Izuku. He blushed, startled by her enthusiasm.

"I-Izuku Midoriya," he stammered, reaching out. As soon as he said his name, Setsuna's grip tightened, and her eyes widened.

"Midoriya? The top scorer in the entrance exam?" Setsuna leaned in closer, excitement evident in her voice. The girls at the table shifted, some narrowing their eyes in annoyance.

"You really showed everyone who took the entrance exam, managing to beat a score that hasn't even been touched in nearly forty years!" she continued, causing Izuku to force a smile, flattered but feeling a bit overwhelmed.

"Y-Yup! That's me! C-Can you please let go?" he asked, trying not to squirm under her grip.

"Oh, right! Sorry!" Tokage quickly loosened her grip, bringing her hand behind her head and laughing awkwardly. "Guess I kinda got awe-struck, y'know? Didn't expect the guy that Kendo's been gushing over to be the Izuku Midoriya."

"N-No…" The realization hit the table like a thunderclap. Izuku's face turned beet red, and Kendo's cheeks matched the color of his hair.

"H-Huh?!" they both exclaimed, eyes wide with disbelief.

"I-It's not like that!" Kendo protested, her face flaming as the girl with green hair laughed, clearly enjoying the moment. Itsuka seemed ready to knock Setsuna out, her embarrassment barely contained, while Izuku struggled to meet her gaze.

Reiko Yanagi. Pleasure," the third girl said, attempting to defuse the tension.

The rest of the group introduced themselves, and the conversation soon shifted to their first-day experiences.

"So, I heard you guys had a pretty stressful first day?" Setsuna said, her expression playful. "Unlike us, our day was pretty much a snoozefest."

Everyone shivered at the memory. "Yes, I didn't think our teacher was serious about expelling us, but when I learned he expelled his entire class, I was more than surprised," Momo said, her tone a mix of disbelief and fear.

"It was absolutely terrifying!" Jirou added, shivering again at the thought.

"Yes, knowing he has the power to expel any of us at will does give me quite the anxiety," Iida remarked, his brow furrowed seriously.

"Wow, your teacher sounds scary," Yanagi said, her eyes wide.

"So, who got the boot?" Setsuna asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Oh, no one. Our teacher said he saw great potential in all of us, and that's why none of us got expelled, luckily," Momo replied.

"Though I really hoped Mineta would get booted," Jirou said, her tone devoid of empathy.

"Jirou!" Iida exclaimed, his voice incredulous. "He's our classmate!"

"He's a pervert who openly and shamelessly looks at the girls in his class, and the things he said under his breath…" Jirou shivered, recalling some of the crass remarks she'd overheard.

The girls from Class B looked terrified. "Kinda makes me glad we don't have any perverts in our class," Setsuna said with a sigh of relief.

"Wait, you guys don't have any pervs? Damn it! How the hell did we get stuck with the only pervert?!" Jirou said in frustration, throwing her hands up in exasperation.

"Mhm, no... Every guy in our class seems to be normal," Yanagi said, shrugging. "Except Monoma.

Monoma?" Izuku inquired, her brow furrowing.

"Yeah, I almost forgot to tell you—Monoma really seems to have it out for your class," Kendo explained, her expression a mix of confusion and concern.

"Really? Why?" Iida asked, leaning forward, genuinely interested.

"Well, he thinks we need to prove that we're the superior class. With your class having the top two spots in the entrance exam, he wants to prove himself," Setsuna explained, taking a bite of her sandwich.

"Especially you, Midoriya. He really wants a piece of you," Kendo added, her eyes narrowing playfully.

Midoriya slumped in his seat, a look of defeat washing over his face. "Great, another blonde guy wants to pick a fight with me."

"You seem to have a really bad track record with blondes—first Bakugou, and now Monoma," Yaoyorozu said, patting him comfortingly on the back.

"By the way, I'm not sure if it's only for Class B, but for Hero Basic Training, why is it the only class where we don't know our teacher's name?" Kendo asked, annoyance creeping into her tone as she fiddled with her sandwich.

Everyone exchanged looks before nodding in agreement. "Same for us. They seem to be pretty hush-hush about the situation," Iida replied.

"I asked Mr. Aizawa, and he just told me we'd find out in Hero Basic Training. Don't worry about it," Yaoyorozu said, her tone reassuring.

"Maybe there's a typo in the syllabus?" Setsuna suggested, shrugging casually.

Iida suddenly shot up from his seat, eyes wide with indignation as he began chopping the air with his hands. "If that's the case, then it's unacceptable for a top hero school to allow such mistakes in the great halls we walk!"

Midoriya took another bite of his lunch, trying to stifle a laugh at Iida's over-the-top response. "Maybe they wanted to surprise you, like in the entrance exam with the zero pointers. Remember?"

Everyone shivered again at the thought of the giant robots.

"I suppose so, but if that's the case, try not to put yourself in more danger." Iida said, still fuming. "Oh, and after learning what your quirk does, I was curious about something?"

"Oh? What's up?" Midoriya asked, intrigued.

"You can turn into multiple forms, each with their own powers and abilities," Iida noted, his tone serious.

"Wait, hold up—that's your quirk?!" Setsuna exclaimed, disbelief written all over her face.

"Yup! He's got 19 aliens with multiple quirks!" Ochako chimed in, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Woah, you really hit the genetic jackpot!' Setsuna said, her tone impressed. "Never seen a quirk like that, but from the rumors about you, it kinda begins to make a little more sense."

Midoriya chuckled nervously, thinking, 'You have no idea how wrong that statement is.'

'Yeah... I guess."

'Kinda thought he was quirkless with him wearing the quirkless reds,' Setsuna mused before shrugging. 'Must be a similar pair.'

"Yes, out of your forms, how come you didn't use Fasttrack and get everyone out? You would've gotten your rescue points without engaging the zero pointer," Iida asked, genuinely curious.

Midoriya froze mid-bite, a moment of realization dawning on the group.

"..."

"...Why didn't I think of that?!" He shot up from his seat, grabbing his head in frustration as laughter erupted from the group.

Kendo patted him on the back, trying to stifle her own giggles. "Don't worry, we all make mistakes," she said, her tone comforting as she hid her laughter behind a smile.

"Ah, man," he mumbled, blushing in embarrassment.

[Hero Basic Training]

Class 1-A buzzed with chatter as the students waited in anticipation for their teacher. Izuku sat quietly, fiddling with the Omnitrix while making notes in his notebook, titled Alien Heroes #1.

"Ever since I figured out how to use Full Cowl with my aliens, I haven't had much time to test how it'll affect them," he thought, scribbling theories. "Heatblast's flames might burn hotter and brighter, Four Arms could get a boost in strength and speed—maybe around 20%, turning him into a pseudo-100%? Not sure about Goop or Diamondhead though, I'm curious to see the effects."

Across the room, Hagakure Tooru animatedly chatted with her classmates, while Momo and Jirou engaged in their own conversation. Momo made an attempt to talk to Todoroki, but to her disappointment, he brushed her off politely.

On the opposite side of the classroom, Ashido Mina and Kirishima Eijirou kept the energy high with their lively discussion, occasionally joined by the eccentric Aoyama Yuuga, who threw in a few flamboyant remarks.

Suddenly, Kyouka's sensitive hearing picked up something unusual. She paused mid-conversation, her head tilting slightly.

"Wait, that laugh... it can't be..." she trailed off, her attention fully focused on the door.

The class fell into a hush as they too began to hear the unmistakable sound of heavy footsteps approaching.

The door burst open with a loud thud.

"I AM HERE!" All Might's booming voice echoed as he made a grand entrance, posing dramatically. "And I'm coming through the door like a normal person!"

Excitement rippled through the room. Even though Izuku saw All Might often, it still felt surreal every time the #1 hero stood before him.

"I can't believe it's All Might!" Kaminari exclaimed, eyes wide with excitement.

"So he really is a teacher here. Man, this year's gonna be awesome!" Kirishima added, punching the air enthusiastically.

"Hey, isn't that his Silver Age costume?" Tsuyu observed, tilting her head as All Might made his way to the podium with his usual larger-than-life energy.

"Wow, that's so retro," Ojiro, the boy with the long tail, commented, clearly impressed.

All Might struck a new pose at the front of the room. "Welcome to the most important class at U.A. High: Hero 101!" he announced. "Here, you'll learn the fundamentals of being a Pro Hero and fighting in the name of good. Let's get into it!"

The class leaned forward, fully invested.

"Today's lesson is... Combat Training!" All Might shouted, dramatically pulling out a card with the word BATTLE written on it in bold letters.

"Finally, the real stuff!" Bakugou growled, eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Real... combat?" Izuku muttered, feeling his nerves kick in. He gulped. "I've been in real combat before, but... I'm still nervous. At least this time, my life won't be in mortal danger..." He cast a glance at Bakugou, remembering their history. "...Probably."

All Might's voice snapped him back to attention. "And to go with that, are these!" he said, pressing a button on a small remote.

From the walls, large drawers slid out, revealing rows of numbered cases.

"These are the costumes you designed based on your quirks, which you requested before school started! Get suited up and meet me at Ground Beta!" All Might struck yet another heroic pose.

"Yes, sir!" the class responded in unison, their excitement palpable.

As the students filed out, Izuku lingered at the back, his eyes catching something on the floor near All Might's desk. Bending down, he picked up a book that had fallen and widened his eyes in disbelief. Teaching for Dummies?! he thought, unable to hide his shock.

"Midoriya, you don't want to be late!" Momo called from the doorway.

Izuku quickly shoved the book back into the desk and gave her a nod. "Coming!" he replied, rushing after the others.

Izuku stood in the boys' locker room as the rest of the class changed into their hero costumes. He opened his suitcase and smiled as he pulled out a familiar green hoodie.

The hoodie was the same shade of green as his hair and eyes, with a hood that featured bunny-like ears, reminiscent of All Might's hairstyle. Two white stripes ran down the arms, and the number 10 was boldly printed on the chest.

Flashback: Three Weeks Ago

"I need to go to City Hall to update my Quirk registration for the clothing allowance," Izuku muttered, sitting on the couch, papers scattered across the table. Between his training with All Might and schoolwork, he'd forgotten to submit his costume request in time, leaving it until the last minute.

"Oh wait, but I'm already registered as Quirkless... Oh crap, what do I do?" Panic crept into his voice as he realized the potential complication. He quickly decided to call All Might for advice.

"Quirk registration? Oh yeah, you can update that," All Might said casually from the teacher's lounge, his tone nonchalant.

"Wait, really? Just like that?" Izuku asked, surprised.

All Might chuckled. "Yep. When you enter elementary or junior high, everyone gets examined and registered, right? But sometimes people find out later that their Quirk isn't quite what they thought it was. You're allowed to update it once or twice. As long as it's not an outrageous change, you'll be fine. Especially since you were registered as Quirkless before."

Suddenly, Izuku heard the front door open.

"I'm home!" Inko called out.

Panicking at the thought of his mom overhearing the conversation, Izuku accidentally hung up the phone in a hurry. "Damn it, I hung up by mistake. I'll apologize to All Might later."

"Welcome back!" Izuku greeted, walking over to see her.

"Hey, Izuku," Inko smiled as she pulled something out of her bag. "Congrats on getting into U.A.!" She placed an old, dusty box on the table. "Your father made this before he passed. He said, 'When Izuku gets into U.A., give this to him.'"

Izuku looked puzzled as he opened the box, revealing a green hoodie inside.

"A hoodie?" Izuku repeated, inspecting it closely.

"It's not much, but your father worked hard to make it," Inko explained. "It still has his scent."

"Dad made this?" Izuku murmured, holding the hoodie. To him, it seemed like an ordinary piece of clothing, but the sentiment behind it made it special.

Suddenly, Inko's expression shifted. She looked sad, her voice dropping as she spoke. "I've been thinking about something for a while now. The terrible thing I said when you were younger... when I told you that you couldn't be a hero. I gave up back then, but you didn't. You kept chasing your dream, even after your father passed. And I... I just let go of mine."

Tears welled up in her eyes. "But now look at you. You're at the top of your class, pushing forward like a real champ." Her smile returned, though her eyes remained teary.

"Mom..." Izuku smiled softly. "I'll make this my hero costume. I'll carry Dad and you with me, wherever I go."

Inko broke down in tears, rushing to hug her son. "Oh, my baby!"

"Mom!" Izuku protested as she squeezed him tightly. "The neighbors will complain again! And I don't want to get the new hoodie wet! If you start crying, I'm gonna start crying too!"

The two stood in the embrace for a moment longer, both crying and laughing.

Flashback Over

Izuku jogged through the tunnel leading to Ground Beta, a little behind the others. It had taken him longer to get ready, having been caught up in his memories of the hoodie. He finally emerged at Ground Beta, looking around at the training site.

His costume consisted of fingerless gloves, the green hoodie with bunny-like ears, knee and elbow pads, and his signature red shoes.

"This is it. My hero costume!" Izuku thought, a surge of pride swelling in his chest as he prepared for his first official combat training.

Uraraka, Ashido, Jirou, and a few others turned as they noticed Izuku approaching.

"Hey, Dekiru," Ochako greeted with a bright smile, walking up to him. "Cool costume! Makes sense your clothes disappear when you transform."

"U-Uraraka..." Izuku stammered, his face heating up at the sight of her hero outfit. Her skin-tight costume hugged her body, accentuating her figure in a way that made his heart race. Her helmet sat perched on her head, completing the look.

"I-Is that your costume?" he asked, nervously glancing away.

"Yeah," Ochako replied with a shy smile, her cheeks reddening slightly. "I guess I should have been more specific about what I wanted when I filled out the form."

Izuku's face went even redder as he tried to stay composed. "U-Uh, yeah! I-It looks great!" he said, his voice cracking a little.

"Thanks, Dekiru," she replied, her pink blush deepening.

Before Izuku could fully recover, Mina appeared in her hero costume. Her pink skin stood out in the camo-patterned bodysuit that clung tightly to her, the confidence in her stride only enhancing her curves.

With a playful, cheshire grin, Mina caught him staring and quickly closed the distance between them. Izuku's breath hitched as she stood in front of him.

"Like what you see?" she teased, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "So, what do you think of my costume?" she asked, batting her eyelashes.

Izuku's face turned beet red. "I-I-I uhh..."

Mina giggled at his flustered response. "Tehehe, I love teasing you, Midori," she said with a grin, though her tone softened as she added, "But you look really nice too. I like your bunny ears."

Izuku blinked, trying to regain his composure. "Y-Yours is... uh, loud," he managed to say, causing Mina to raise an eyebrow. He quickly followed up, "B-But it suits you! I-I like it!"

Mina's face turned a light shade of lilac as she struggled not to get flustered. Smirking, she leaned closer. "Wow, Midori, you're a bit of a flirt, huh?"

Izuku's blush intensified, and he waved his arms defensively. "I-I-I wasn't trying to flirt! I just think your costume looks really good! It suits you!" His stammered defense only made Mina giggle more.

Realizing she was teasing him, Izuku's blush slowly faded, but then something hit him. "W-Wait... M-Midori?" he asked, confused.

"Oh, well, since Jirou and Uraraka call you by a nickname, I thought it'd be cool if I gave you one too," Mina explained, her teasing grin faltering slightly. "You don't like it?"

Internally, Mina began to worry. Oh no, was I being too forward? Does he think I'm creepy?

Izuku quickly shook his head. "N-No, I'm just not used to getting nicknames..." He paused before adding quietly, "Well, nicknames that aren't degrading..."

Before Mina could respond, they both heard the voice of Momo approaching.

"Hello, Midoriya," Momo greeted, her voice calm and polite. Izuku turned around, but the moment his eyes landed on her, his breath caught in his throat. His mind went completely blank as his gaze fell on Momo in her hero costume.

She wore a tight red leotard that clung to her curves in all the right places, accentuating her figure. But what really caught his attention was the vertical split in the front, revealing a generous amount of skin, all the way down to her navel. His eyes lingered on the exposed area a little longer than he intended, and Momo, noticing his stare, felt a strange flutter in her chest as a blush crept onto her face.

Izuku quickly looked away, his cheeks burning with embarrassment. "H-Hey, Y-Yaoyorozu... Y-You look great in y-your costume!" he stuttered, trying to push the image of her revealing outfit out of his mind. He was grateful for the gloves on his hands—he was sure his palms were sweaty.

"She did mention needing exposed skin for her Quirk," Izuku thought, trying to rationalize his reaction. But the sight of her kept replaying in his head.

Momo, meanwhile, glanced at him thoughtfully. 'His costume is pretty simplistic... but he probably doesn't need much protection with those transformations. From what I saw yesterday, his clothes don't seem to stay on during the shift anyway. Her eyes drifted to his shoes, and she blinked in surprise. Wait, are those Quirkless Reds? But why would he have those? He's clearly not Quirkless... maybe I'm mistaken?' She frowned slightly, recalling how she'd misjudged their teacher earlier. Perhaps I've misunderstood him as well...

As Izuku noticed Momo staring at him, his blush deepened, his awkwardness evident. Her intense gaze hadn't gone unnoticed by some of the others either. Kaminari and Mineta, standing nearby, exchanged furious looks, clearly jealous.

Before the tension could build further, Jirou stepped into his line of sight. Her costume featured a sleek black leather jacket, a ripped salmon-colored shirt, and boots with built-in stereo speakers. Izuku's eyes lit up at the sight of her practical yet stylish hero costume. "Cool..." he muttered under his breath, though Jirou, with her enhanced hearing, picked up on it and immediately blushed.

She hadn't expected him to comment on her costume—it was pretty plain compared to the more form-fitting ones the other girls wore, which highlighted their figures. "U-Uh, thanks," Jirou replied, fidgeting slightly. "Yours is pretty cool too, though. That 10 on your suit's a bit misleading, though. You've got more than ten forms now, right?"

Izuku scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Yeah, I guess it is a bit outdated," he admitted, feeling a bit embarrassed by the oversight.

Meanwhile, Mineta, who had been ogling the girls' outfits the entire time, grinned and gave a thumbs up. "I love this school."

...

Hagakure walked up to Ashido, catching Midoriya's attention. His face flushed as he noticed her "costume" consisted solely of a pair of gloves and boots, the rest of her body completely invisible. The boys nearby were equally flustered, trying not to stare.

"H-Hagakure, your costume is..." Kaminari trailed off, clearly unsure how to phrase his thoughts without sounding rude.

The invisible girl scratched behind her head, a faint blush on her cheeks. "Yeah, it's super embarrassing, but I can't really wear much else. My Quirk doesn't turn off, so regular clothes wouldn't make any sense."

Midoriya, still processing the situation, chimed in. "But what about DNA-coated costumes? You know, the ones made with your hair, so they work with your Quirk?"

Hagakure sighed and shook her head, the sound of her exasperation palpable. "Those only work for people whose Quirks can turn off or change. My Quirk's always on, so the fabric wouldn't sync up right."

Yaoyorozu nodded in agreement, stepping in to clarify. "That's right. I looked into it too. DNA-coated costumes work for some emitter-type Quirks or those that can be deactivated, but in Hagakure's case, it wouldn't make a difference. Even if we could make the fabric invisible, there's no technology to make it work properly."

Midoriya's eyes widened in realization. "Oh, so it's not just about the Quirk... the technology doesn't even exist yet."

"Exactly," Yaoyorozu confirmed, her voice steady and informative. "It's not merely a matter of making the clothes invisible. That kind of tech doesn't exist for clothing, and even if it did, it would raise bigger concerns. If you could create invisible clothing, what's next? Invisible armor? Weapons? Machinery? It's a complex issue that we aren't ready to tackle."

Midoriya nodded thoughtfully, his mind racing with possibilities. "That makes sense... even with Midnight, she still needs specific materials because her costume has to allow her Quirk to function."

"Right," Yaoyorozu added, her gaze shifting to Hagakure. "Even DNA-coated costumes have their limits. For some Quirks, like Hagakure's or Midnight's, the fabric has to adhere to certain rules. We can't just create fully invisible, indestructible clothes on demand."

"Yeah," Hagakure interjected, her voice filled with determination. "Until the tech exists to make something better, I'll just stick with what I have. I might not have the best protection, but I'm still going to be a hero!" She straightened her back, exuding confidence.

The group smiled at her unwavering spirit, Kirishima in particular tearing up. "So manly!" he shouted, clearly moved by her resolve.

"Yeah, it's impressive," Ojiro added, nodding appreciatively. "I knew a guy with indestructible skin. No matter what materials they used, his clothes would still tear in battle. Sometimes, the tech just isn't there yet."

...

All Might, noticing the costume of his protégé, felt a twinge of nervousness. 'Hisashi, please tell me you didn't make that hoodie out of alien technology! For the love of all that's good, right? Yeah, it's probably fine. Yep. Totally A.O.K. But I know Hisashi put a lot of effort into making that for you.'

As he looked around and noticed everyone was present, he shifted his focus to the group. "Now, it's time for combat training!"

"Sir! This is the battle center from the Entrance Exam, so will we be conducting urban battles again?" Tenya asked, his voice and animated hand movements immediately recognizable to Izuku. Tenya looked impressive in his knight-like Hero costume, and Izuku had to admit it suited his personality perfectly.

"No, we're moving ahead two steps. Most of the time, fighting villains takes place outside, but if you look at the total numbers, heinous villains tend to appear indoors more frequently. Imprisonment, house arrest, backroom deals—this society filled with Heroes also has truly cunning villains lurking in the shadows! For this class, you'll be split into teams of heroes and villains to fight 2-on-2 indoor battles."

"Without basic training?" Tsuyu asked, her tone skeptical as she assessed their readiness for such a challenge.

"This is a real battle to help you grasp those basics! However, this time, there won't be any robots to beat up."

"How will wins and losses be determined?" Momo inquired, her brow furrowing in thought.

"Can we beat them up anyway?" Bakugo chimed in, clearly hoping to take down whoever his opponent was—preferably Izuku.

"Will the punishment be expulsion like with Mr. Aizawa?" Ochaco asked, recalling the pressure of their last experience.

"How shall we be split up?' Tenya pressed, his organizational mindset kicking in.

"Isn't this cape crazy?" Aoyama said randomly, drawing puzzled glances from his classmates.

All Might felt overwhelmed, not used to handling so many questions at once. Teaching was still a new experience for him. "I'll answer all of your questions! Now, listen up!" He pulled out his teaching notes.

"A script?" Izuku thought, suppressing a sweat drop as he found amusement in his mentor's antics.

"The situation is as follows: the villains have hidden a nuclear weapon in their hideout. The heroes are tasked with disposing of it. The heroes need to either catch the villains or retrieve the nuclear weapon within the allotted time. The villains, on the other hand, must protect the weapon or capture the heroes," All Might explained.

"This situation feels very American," Izuku commented, his analytical mind already assessing the scenario.

All Might then produced a yellow box. "Teams and opponents will be determined by drawing lots!"

"They're being decided so haphazardly?" Tenya questioned, surprised by the lack of organization.

"Pros often have to create makeshift teams with Heroes from other agencies, so this is part of the learning experience. We always need to be prepared to team up with another Hero if the situation calls for it." Izuku pointed out, and All Might smiled at his successor's keen insights.

Tenya nodded, understanding Izuku's reasoning. "I see. The discernment to look ahead... Please excuse my rudeness!" he said, bowing respectfully.

"It's fine! Let's hurry up and get this done!" All Might bellowed as the students moved forward to draw their lots and discover their partners.

...

Team A- Izuku Midoriya and Minoru Mineta

Team B- Tenya Iida and Ochaco Uraraka

Team C- Momo Yaoyorozu and Mezo Shoji

Team D- Katsuki Bakugo and Shoto Todoroki

Team E- Mina Ashido and Yuga Aoyama

Team F- Rikido Sato and Koji Koda

Team G- Denki Kaminari and Kyoka Jiro

Team H- Fumikage Tokoyami and Tsuyu Asui

Team I- Hanta Sero and Toru Hagakure

Team J- Eijirou Kirishima and Mashirao Ojiro

"Damn it, why didn't I get any girls?!" screamed the perverted midget, causing Midoriya to sweat drop, his face turning a shade of crimson.

Kaminari, grinning like he'd just won the lottery, sauntered over to Jirou. "Hey, Jirou, guess we're teammates!" he said, his enthusiasm palpable.

Jirou raised an eyebrow, her unimpressed expression making it clear she wasn't impressed.

"Maybe after class, if you're not busy, we could grab some lunch?" Kaminari asked, but Jirou's deadpan response cut him off.

'Didn't this guy ask out Ashido and Toru yesterday?' Jirou thought, barely hiding her disdain.

"Yeah, no thanks," she replied flatly, watching Kaminari's expression fall as if he'd just taken a direct hit. She turned to Midoriya. "Sorry, you got stuck with the perv, Green. We would have made an awesome team."

"Uraraka, I hope we'll work efficiently and effectively!" Tenya declared, adjusting his glasses with determination gleaming in his eyes.

Uraraka nodded rapidly, her energy contagious. "I was hoping to be with Dekiru, but Iida is just as good! With your speed, I know we'll crush it!"

"Bakugou," Todoroki stated in his usual monotone, his eyes glancing over to the blonde. Bakugou's surprise quickly morphed into a smug grin when he saw who his teammate was.

"Wait, the son of Endeavor and the second place are both on a team?!" Ashido exclaimed, her voice laced with awe and a hint of fear.

"The most capable boy in class," Momo remarked, her gaze lingering on Todoroki with a mix of admiration and concern.

"The most handsome boy in class," Toru chimed in, a light blush spreading across her cheeks as she gazed at him dreamily.

"With the most violent person in class?" Sato added, glancing nervously at Bakugou, who was cracking his knuckles in anticipation.

"And you saw him yesterday; that guy has a garbage personality, but his quirk is powerful as heck," Kaminari commented, crossing his arms with a cocky smile.

"Feel bad for whoever's going against them," Mineta said.

Yaoyorozu looked at the assembled teams, a worried frown crossing her face. 'I hope Midoriya doesn't go against them. Bakugou seems to have a serious grudge, and Todoroki is a prodigy. I couldn't take them on myself.' Her eyes flicked to the dual-haired boy. 'He's far more powerful and capable than people realize. Trained by the number two hero, going up against him will likely lead to failure for most of the class.'

All Might, standing between two boxes—one white labeled "HERO" and one black labeled "VILLAIN"—prepared to announce the matchups with theatrical flair. "The first teams to fight will be..." He dramatically pulled out two balls, one black labeled "D" and the other white labeled "A." "These guys! Team A will be the Heroes, and Team D will be the..." He paused realizing who the teams are. "..Villains."

Midoriya and Mineta's eyes widened in horror, their bodies tensing up like a coiled spring. Mineta began to tremble like a leaf caught in a storm, while Izuku's heart raced as he processed the names. All Might quickly noticed their distress.

'I'm sorry, Young Midoriya, but it seems that fate has other plans for you today,' All Might thought, recalling how tumultuous the relationship between these two was. With Todoroki trained by his father, this would surely be a daunting challenge for Izuku.

Both Izuku and Bakugou gasped in shock. They hadn't expected to be thrust into battle so soon. Slowly, Izuku turned to Bakugou, who wore a twisted grin that sent chills down his spine, explosions crackling in his palms.

"PERFECT! I finally get to crush Deku with my own hands and show him he's just a pebble in my way!" Bakugou thought, relishing the prospect of their impending showdown.

'Hmm... Midoriya? Rumor has it he has flames with a heat similar to Endeavor's...' Todoroki mused, stealing a glance at Izuku. 'Yesterday's test showcased his raw power; the wind pressure he generated was incredible. But he has no control. If his forms are as powerful as this, at best he'll take down the whole building. My victory is assured. I have power and was trained by that bastard. We're on different levels. He may have raw strength, but I have the training and control.'

The others exchanged pitying glances, concern evident as they regarded Midoriya and Mineta. With one trembling and the other clearly outmatched, faith in the Hero Team was waning fast. Izuku summed up the entire situation in two words, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Ah, man."

...

"This is going to be... a massacre," Kaminari said, wincing as he was jabbed in the side by Jirou's ear jack.

"Hey! We're all thinking it!" Kaminari retorted. "Todoroki is the son of Endeavor, and the guy is no joke," he added, glancing at Todoroki, who seemed oblivious to the commotion around him.

"And Bakugou? I saw him during the entrance exam—he's a beast! No offense to Midoriya, but I don't think he'll win. These are two of the strongest students," Kaminari continued, earning sympathetic looks from their classmates.

"Everyone else, head toward the monitor room!" All Might instructed.

"Yes, sir!" the students responded, though concern hung heavy in the air. Neither Midoriya nor Mineta came off as warriors; if anything, Midoriya seemed gentle and averse to conflict, even with his powers. As they made their way through the hall, the boys headed toward the monitor room.

'Hopefully, All Might will stop the match before it gets out of hand,' Yaoyorozu thought anxiously.

"You know, there's no shame in giving up, heroes," Kaminari said, trying to lighten the mood.

"Yeah, totally backing down from a fight won't make us think less of you," Ashido added, her worry palpable, especially considering how the two interacted. She didn't want her new friend to back down.

Midoriya slumped, feeling the weight of expectations. Even though he had demonstrated his abilities, people already believed Todoroki would come out on top.

"Dekiru," Ochako called out, breaking his thoughts.

"Huh?"

"Kick their butts!" she said with a wide smile and a thumbs-up.

"Y-You actually think I can win this?" Izuku asked, surprise etched on his face.

"That's why I call you Dekiru, because you can do it!" Ochako beamed at him, her encouragement flooding him with warmth.

Izuku looked at her, determination igniting within him. He cracked his knuckles, feeling a surge of confidence. Seeing this side of him made her heart race, her cheeks reddening.

"It is so Hero Time," Izuku declared, his spirit lifting.

Ochako blushed before shaking it off, quickly running back to catch up with the rest of the girls. Momo turned to her, curiosity in her eyes.

"You seem confident Midoriya's going to succeed," she remarked.

Ochako and Jirou exchanged smiles.

"I... I don't know. I've known for a while, and he always seems to surprise us..." Ochako confessed, her voice soft but earnest.

"I know he can be scared and timid, and that doesn't exactly scream 'warrior'... but from what I've seen, doubting him only ends up backfiring!" Jirou chimed in, her smirk growing. "You're all going to be eating your words pretty soon. Just don't get all mad at Greenie when he beats up Todoroki."

Momo and Toru blushed heavily.

"I-It's not like that!" Momo stammered, flustered.

Jirou rolled her eyes playfully. "I know you two are crushing on him, but don't let that lovestruck heart blind you. Greenie is going to win!" she declared confidently, her voice unwavering.

Ochako nodded, her expression brightening. "Yeah! Dekiru can do anything when he puts his mind to it. He always manages to pull through!"

All Might leaned in close to Midoriya, his voice low and conspiratorial. "Young Midoriya, remember when I said you have terrible luck?"

"Yes?" Izuku replied, a hint of dread creeping into his voice.

"I think my point has just been proven," All Might said, a teasing grin spreading across his face.

Midoriya sweat-dropped, feeling a mix of anxiety and determination. "Y-yeah, b-but I'm not going to lose."

All Might handed out communicators to the group and explained the prep phase before ushering them toward the building, leading the rest of the students to the observation room.

Meanwhile, Bakugou leaned against a wall, his eyes slightly opening as he addressed Todoroki. "Hey, do you think Deku actually has a quirk?"

Todoroki regarded him for a moment, his expression blank. "I'm not going to answer such a stupid question," he replied in a monotone voice.

"But from what I overheard, you two have known each other for a while," Bakugou said, frustration building. "But judging from your question, you don't even know his range of abilities."

Bakugou gritted his teeth, fury boiling within him. "Did he dare to trick me for so long? That damn nerd lied to me! He's just a damn pebble; he shouldn't be here—so... why is he here?! He doesn't deserve it!"

Blood-red veins pulsed in his eyes as he clenched his fists. "I'll show him... I'll show him not to make a fool out of me!"

"Whatever that nerd's stupid, worthless powers are, I'll beat him regardless! You guard the bomb."

"No," Todoroki said flatly, turning away.

"What?" Bakugou snapped, annoyance evident as he stepped closer to Todoroki, glaring fiercely.

"You stay back. You'll only be in my way," Todoroki replied, unfazed by Bakugou's anger.

"The nerd's mine! You stay here and guard the bomb, you icy nobody! Just because your dad is number two doesn't mean shit to me; you're nothing!" Bakugou shot back, the tension in the room rising sharply.

Their glares intensified, each boy refusing to back down. The mention of Todoroki's father struck a nerve, causing his anger to simmer just below the surface. As the prep phase came to a close, Todoroki shoved Bakugou aside before leaning against the bomb. "Don't blame me for what happens next. I'm going to win this."

"Tch," Bakugou scoffed, turning away with a sinister grin creeping across his face. "I'm gonna roast that little fuck today!"

[Outside the building]

Izuku stood outside the building, his body shaking with a mix of nerves and determination. "Okay, Mineta, I think I have a plan."

Mineta trembled beside him, fear evident in his voice. "Y-Yeah, I-I'm not fighting those two!" He shivered, eyes wide. "I could feel the intensity, and Bakugou seems violent! And besides, I don't want to be humiliated in front of the girls getting destroyed! That would be so embarrassing!"

Midoriya sweat-dropped. "You're not wrong about that. Kacchan can be really violent."

Mineta nodded vigorously, anxiety spilling over. "A hero should know when they can't win and make a tactical retreat. Let someone else handle it!"

Memories of the sludge villain flashed through Izuku's mind, recalling how he had hesitated and waited for someone with the "right quirk" to deal with the situation. He closed his eyes, releasing a heavy sigh.

"I'm not going to force you to come with me," he said, his voice steady. "But if you're not going to help, then just stay out of the building." As he began dialing the Omnitrix, Mineta jolted in shock.

"Wait, you're actually going to fight those two by yourself?!" he exclaimed, disbelief written all over his face.

"We're heroes, Mineta. It's part of the job to face danger," Izuku replied, meeting his friend's wide-eyed stare.

"Huh?"

Izuku pressed on, determination rising within him. "Someone once told me—it was a long time ago—that it's a hero's occupational hazard to run into danger. That's one of the qualities of being a hero. So, if you want to stay here, I'm not going to stop you. But I'm also not going to give up..." His voice took on a firmer tone.

"And... I'm not going to lose." He tightened his gloves, his eyes glowing with a toxic green light as his demeanor shifted. Standing tall, he clenched his fists, heart pounding in his chest.

Izuku's gaze locked onto the building ahead, where his opponents awaited. "Kacchan... I'll show you that I've surpassed you!" he declared, lifting his arm with newfound resolve. Mineta looked on, curiosity piqued.

With a sharp press of the button, the Omnitrix dial popped up, green light spilling forth as the aliens appeared before him in rapid succession. Izuku quickly spun the dial, his mind racing. "I'm fighting both Bakugou and Todoroki... so maybe I shouldn't take them on at once. How about Ghostfreak?" He hesitated, remembering the murderous urge that surfaced when Ghostfreak confronted Bakugou.

'Definitely not Ghostfreak,' he thought, scrolling past the spectral alien and continuing his search. Finally, he landed on the form he needed. "Diamondhead," he said, a smirk breaking across his face. He slammed the Omnitrix down, the world around him bursting into a brilliant green flash.

...

"I can't wait to see what Midoriya will turn into this time!" Sato exclaimed, excitement evident in his voice. "Do you think he'll bring out the guy who took down the zero pointer? I really want to see how his flames compare to Endeavor's son."

"Oh, maybe it will be that small white alien from the exams?" Toru chimed in, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"I hope he brings out something different! Maybe a cute, small one! That would be nice," Ashido added, her enthusiasm infectious.

Jirou crossed her arms, her tone flat. "Weren't you guys just saying how screwed they were?" The group flinched at her words.

"Y-Yeah, I mean, you can't help but wonder what he'll turn into," Ashido said, her confidence wavering.

"Perhaps he will reveal something new. This is the perfect time to do so; his opponents won't know what to expect," Tokoyami said, rustling his limbs under his cloak while focusing on the screen.

"Regardless of what Midoriya turns into, it seems he's going at this alone," Shoji observed.

"Yes." Tenya nodded in agreement. "It appears Mineta isn't inclined to fight what he believes to be a losing battle."

"I can't blame the little guy; I wouldn't want to get spanked by Bakugou and Todoroki either," Kaminari added, chuckling nervously.

Jirou's eye twitched. "Shush. Instead of praising the wuss for being a coward, you should keep your mouth shut and talk your smack after it's over."

"Midoriya does have Four Arms, and I doubt Todoroki and Bakugou could take a punch from that red hulk," Kirishima said with a grin, trying to stay optimistic.

"True, but look at the building," Momo pointed out, her brow furrowed. "Four Arms is a twelve-foot giant with strength comparable to All Might." She paused, concern evident in her voice. "Unless Midoriya wants to bring the whole building down, Four Arms is a terrible option. The halls are too narrow, and he'd probably bring the foundation down every time he moved to attack."

"This is going to be difficult, to say the least," Jirou admitted to herself, watching as her friend scrolled through the Omnitrix.

"Why don't you think he can win this?" Uraraka asked, a hint of determination in her tone. "Dekiru has the power; I'm sure he's got this!"

"Oh, no, I don't doubt that Midoriya could take them on," Jirou replied, her expression serious. "The problem is, I've read what some of his forms can do. In terms of raw power, the green patch has this without breaking a sweat, but this is a building. He can't go all out without literally bringing the house down."

"Maybe Amfibian would work?" Jirou mused, considering the options.

"Good point. The form Heatblast could be quite damaging to the building," Iida added, recalling firsthand the destruction the flaming alien could cause.

"What about Fasttrack? He could get in pretty quickly and touch the bomb," Ojiro suggested.

"Yes, but Todoroki is the main problem. He doesn't know Midoriya's range, and Fasttrack could become a liability. Speedsters aren't always the best when fighting people with ice abilities," Tenya replied, his analytical mind at work.

"Probably the best option is Diamondhead. According to Midoriya, he's basically indestructible, with skin harder than diamond," Jirou added. "Plus, he can turn the battlefield to his advantage anytime. He could probably tank Bakugou's explosions, and Todoroki wouldn't be able to do anything against him."

"Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration?" Yaoyorozu questioned, raising an eyebrow.

Jirou just shrugged, a confident smile on her face.

Momo clutched her chest, a determined glint in her eyes. "Regardless, I have faith in Todoroki. I know he has a well-planned strategy to win this battle. Despite Midoriya's abilities, Todoroki has far more battle experience than any of us."

Toru nodded in agreement. "He was trained by Endeavor."

All Might nodded solemnly, unable to deny that Endeavor was an excellent teacher from what he had seen of Todoroki.

Everyone watched intently as Midoriya slammed down on the Omnitrix, the monitor engulfed in a brilliant green flash.

...

"DITTO!?"

Izuku blinked as he swore he heard a chorus of high-pitched squeals echoing through the hall. He shook his head vigorously, glancing around in confusion. "Did you hear that?" he asked.

Mineta, beside him, gave a nervous nod. "Y-Yeah..."

[In the Monitor Room]

The girls were gathered, eyes glued to the screen, practically vibrating with excitement. Mina Ashido, Hagakure, and Uraraka were jumping up and down, squealing in delight.

"That adorable fuzzball is going against those monsters?!"

"I wanna keep him! He's so cute!" Hagakure shouted, clapping her invisible hands.

"That's adorable," Tsuyu added, pressing a finger thoughtfully to her chin, though a small smile played at her lips.

[Back to the Training Exercise]

"Ditto?!" Ditto blinked, staring at his reflection in a nearby window. "I was aiming for Diamondhead! What am I—" His expression shifted into a mischievous grin. "Okay, Ditto it is."

He examined his alien form—compact yet flexible, his rubbery skin gleaming slightly under the fluorescent lights. "Alright, first off, Ditto has some rubbery properties. With One For All, I should..."

He moved to the entrance of the building, getting down on one knee. Planting his fist against the ground, he inhaled deeply, letting out a slow, controlled breath. "One For All... Alien Full Cowling!" Green electricity surged across his small, black-and-white frame, crackling with power.

"As I suspected, I can use about 8% of One For All with Ditto. Some forms can handle more, but Recovery Girl and All Might told me not to push it too far. A few of my forms can't handle One For All at all—like with Crashhopper. I can only channel it through my legs, otherwise my limbs feel like they're going to explode."

He stood up straight, inhaling once more. "Alright, let's see what Ditto and One For All combined can do!"

Without hesitation, he launched himself forward at high speed. He hit the side of the building with a loud smack, bouncing off it like a rubber ball before landing face-first into the ground.

"Ow..." Izuku groaned, rubbing his head as he staggered to his feet.

Meanwhile, inside, Bakugou and Todoroki paused, alerted by the noise. Bakugou narrowed his eyes, his fists already crackling with tiny explosions. "That came from the entrance... I bet it's that damn nerd!"

Izuku—now Ditto—shook off the impact, assessing the cracked wall behind him. "Okay, so my body is pretty bouncy. I've got increased speed, strength, and durability in this form too." He nodded to himself before breaking into a grin. "Alright, time to make a plan."

Ditto paused for a moment, thinking. His grin grew wider. "It's Hero Time!"

In a flash, he split into multiple clones, each one identical to the original. The sudden duplication caused a wave of excitement back in the monitor room, the girls practically squealing in unison.

"Alright, Dittos, let's get down to business!" Izuku called out, his clones gathering around him.

"Kacchan's coming for us," one of the Ditto clones muttered, nervously scratching his head. "And judging by our history, he's probably looking to beat us into a bloody pulp."

All the clones shivered at the thought. But they quickly clenched their fists in determination.

"We all know the plan, right?" one Ditto said, standing tall like a commander rallying his troops.

Another Ditto nodded. "We let him find one of us and keep him away from the bomb."

"Lure him away and keep him busy!" another echoed.

"And the rest of us will find Todoroki and the bomb! Engage the enemy, take the bomb!" a third one chimed in.

A Ditto clone rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Yeah, but how will we let the others know we found Kacchan? Unless..."

They all collectively winced, as if sharing the same dreaded idea. "We'll figure that out later..."

One Ditto raised a hand. "What about Todoroki?"

Another clone answered, "With this form, we can bounce around like Gran Torino. We'll make as much noise as possible, and the others will come help. Just, uh... avoid getting hit by Kacchan's explosions." He smiled sheepishly.

A third Ditto clapped his hands together. "Alright, boys, let's go win this!"

"Yeah! Like Uraraka said, we can do this!" another chimed in enthusiastically.

One of the Ditto clones raised his fist nervously. "I-I'm still worried about Kacchan, but yeah, l-let's do this!"

They all gathered their hands together in a circle, smirking as they shared a glance of nervous excitement. "Alright, boys... what time is it?!"

Their grins widened.

"Hero Time!"

In unison, they activated One For All, green electricity crackling across their small, agile forms. The clones exploded into motion, moving in all directions, bouncing off walls with impossible speed. Black, white, and neon green streaks zigzagged through the air, the building filling with the sounds of their rapid movements as they prepared for the battle ahead.

[Monitor Room]

"Whoa! So fast!"

The room buzzed with excitement as the monitors displayed the dizzying speeds at which the Dittos moved. Each one, crackling with green electricity, dashed through the building in a blur of rapid motion.

"I didn't know Ditto could move like that!" Uraraka said, eyes wide with amazement.

"It must be his second quirk powering up his alien forms," Iida reasoned, his hand chopping through the air as he tried to explain the sight.

All Might, standing off to the side, had a proud but concerned expression. 'Like an army of Gran Torinos... Midoriya, are you sure this form was the best choice? If one goes down, they all feel it...' he thought, but even with his concern, he couldn't help but smile at Izuku's tenacity.

[Back to the exercise]

One of the Dittos sprinted down a narrow corridor, his small, rubbery body bouncing with every step. His large, round eyes scanned the area ahead, and his alien mouth stretched into a grin. Ditto's orange, gooey body shimmered with the One For All electricity, crackling like tiny lightning bolts across his stretchy skin.

Suddenly, Bakugou appeared from a side corridor, his hand outstretched, sparks erupting from his palm.

"DIE!"

The explosion roared toward him, but Ditto's reflexes kicked in. With a quick, agile backflip, he narrowly avoided the blast, flipping through the air with unnatural ease and landing in a skid a few feet away. His tiny body was jittering with the residual energy of the dodge as he locked eyes with Bakugou, a mischievous smirk on his face.

"Found you," Ditto taunted, the playful gleam in his alien eyes unmistakable.

[Monitor Room]

"He almost got the jump on him!" Ojiro exclaimed in awe.

"Sneak attack Bakugou? Seriously? What kinda man pulls cheap moves like that?" Kirishima chimed in, half annoyed but also impressed by the strategy.

"It's a good tactic! He's acting the part of a villain well," All Might said, a note of approval in his tone.

"But it didn't work! Midoriya dodged it!" Ashido cheered, pumping her fists in excitement.

[Back to the fight]

Bakugou, crouched low from his failed strike, glared at the small alien before him, his crimson eyes burning with anger. His hand still crackled from the explosion that missed.

Ditto's small orange form didn't look intimidating at first glance, but the way the green sparks of One For All danced over his stretchy skin made him seem a little more formidable. His body, almost jelly-like in appearance, seemed to wobble with each breath, but his wide grin never faltered. He had the look of someone who knew something his opponent didn't.

'Okay, I found him. Just need to let everyone else know... this is going to hurt.' Ditto braced himself, his little alien heart pounding in his chest.

"Hey Bakugou," he called out, his voice cocky despite his size, "How does it feel being number two?"

Bakugou's face twisted in anger, his teeth grinding audibly as his fists sparked with violent intent.

"You talk big for a useless extra!" Bakugou snarled, before launching himself forward, his fist charged with explosive energy. "I'll hit you just hard enough to stop the fight, but not enough to put you in the hospital!"

Ditto closed his eyes just as the explosion hit his shoulder, sending him flying back like a ragdoll. He crashed against the floor with a thud, his rubbery form bouncing slightly from the impact.

[Monitor Room]

"Midoriya!" Ashido shouted, slapping her hands to her mouth.

[Back to the fight]

All of the Dittos froze momentarily, each of them wincing in pain and clutching their shoulders.

"Did you feel that?" one Ditto muttered, rubbing at the spot Bakugou had struck.

"Yeah, definitely Kacchan's explosion..." another replied with a grimace, still holding his aching shoulder.

"I'll go help the other me. It sounded like he's on the second floor," one Ditto said as he shook off the pain.

"You guys go find the bomb!"

The others nodded in unison before they all blasted off in different directions, their tiny bodies flickering with One For All as they zipped through the building like electrified marbles. Their green streaks illuminated the dim hallways, each Ditto determined to execute the plan—no matter how painful it got.

...

Bakugou stood over the small orange alien, his laugh cruel and mocking. He sneered down at the battered Ditto, explosions popping in his hands like a villain savoring his victory.

"That's what you get, Deku!" he spat, his voice dripping with venom. "You worthless, quirkless piece of shit! You think 'cause you scored some lucky points you're better than me!?" His red eyes were wild with fury as he stepped closer. "I'm gonna beat your ass so bad that everyone will see how weak and worthless you are! And that freak Levin won't be around to protect you!"

The Ditto on the ground winced but slowly pushed himself up, his body wobbling slightly from the impact. His small, squishy hands dusted himself off as he got back to his feet, his large eyes narrowing as he took a stance, ready for more. Then, something clicked. His wide, alien eyes widened in surprise as he realized something important.

"I-I'm not shaking?" he murmured to himself, the disbelief evident in his voice. "I'm not scared...?"

He stood up straighter, his little rubbery body crackling with the residual green electricity of One For All, and stared straight into Bakugou's angry, bloodshot eyes. For the first time, he wasn't trembling beneath the weight of Bakugou's presence.

"You should've picked something else!" Bakugou snarled, stomping toward him, the explosions in his palms sparking louder. "All your forms are as worthless as you! C'mon, transform into something else already!" His voice was like a growl, his body hunched over like a predator ready to pounce.

Ditto remained still, his form unwavering, his confidence steady as Bakugou barked insults at him.

"Transform into that four-armed guy! That's your strongest, right?" Bakugou snapped, his tone mocking. "C'mon, you bastard!"

But Ditto's gaze shifted slightly, his grin returning as he spotted movement from the corner of his eye.

"Took you long enough," he said casually, a smirk playing on his small mouth.

Bakugou's eyebrows knitted in confusion, his mouth opening to retort, but he didn't get the chance.

Before he could say anything, a fist slammed into his face, sending him flying backward, blood spraying from his nose. He twisted midair, using his explosions to avoid hitting the ground, but his mind was racing. What the hell just hit me!?

When he landed, Bakugou's crimson eyes widened in shock. Standing before him were not one, but two Dittos, both with their tiny fists raised, green sparks of One For All crackling across their elastic orange bodies.

"Cloning?" Bakugou growled, wiping the blood from his face with the back of his hand. He looked down at his bloodstained fingers and clenched his teeth in anger. "That's all this one can do?"

His fury bubbled over. "Oh, now I'm definitely gonna hurt ya!" Bakugou roared, preparing another explosive charge.

The Dittos, their expressions in sync, narrowed their eyes.

'Kacchan always starts with a right hook swing... to counter that, I need—' Ditto's mind raced through the combat notes he'd written in his various notebooks, analyzing Bakugou's movements.

As predicted, Bakugou launched a right hook, his palm crackling with explosive energy. But before it could connect, one of the Dittos stepped in. With expert timing, the Ditto ducked beneath the punch, and in a flash, grabbed Bakugou's arm.

Bakugou's eyes widened in shock as the small alien lifted him off the ground with surprising strength. His feet dangled for a split second before Ditto slammed him into the floor with a thundering crash. Bakugou groaned in pain, the air knocked out of him, his back arching from the impact.

The second Ditto leapt from the ground, bouncing off the ceiling like a spring, and then shot downward in a blur of speed, his fist glowing with green electricity. The punch connected with Bakugou's gut, hitting him with the force of a bullet. Bakugou's body jerked violently, his mouth hanging open as he gasped and spit flew from his lips.

The two Dittos stood over him, their tiny bodies still crackling with energy as they settled into identical fighting stances, ready for whatever Bakugou tried next.

Bakugou, hunched over on the ground, glared up at them through a haze of pain, his breaths ragged and labored. But even in the face of defeat, his anger didn't wane.

"You bastards..." Bakugou growled, wiping his mouth, still not willing to back down.

[Monitor room]

"Woah, Midoriya's got some moves!" Mina exclaimed, leaning forward in her seat with excitement.

"When he got hit the first time, I was kinda worried, but look at him now!" Toru added, her voice filled with admiration as she watched the screen.

"Cornering a guy like that feels a little unmanly," Kirishima admitted, scratching his head with a grin, "but it seems Mineta isn't helping much, so go Midoriya!"

"Impressive power... and speed," Tokoyami noted, his eyes narrowing as he analyzed the situation. "This form is ideal for close-quarters combat. The walls and ceilings give him excellent propulsion."

Tenya nodded in agreement. "Indeed, he can dodge and attack without causing structural damage. It's remarkable how he adapts his form for every situation."

"And with his clones, he can take on both enemies at once," Tsuyu added, her calm voice filled with quiet approval.

All Might's eyes shone with pride as he watched. 'He let himself get injured to communicate with his clones, ensuring the others can focus on finding the bomb without worrying about Bakugou. Clever strategy, Young Midoriya.'

[Back to the fight.]

"I analyzed every hero, every move they made, even you!" the green-haired boy turned alien shouted, his fists clenched, eyes fierce with determination. "I wanted to learn everything I could about them. All of it was in the notebook you burned and threw away! You can call me Deku, but I'm not the same helpless, defenseless kid anymore! Do you hear me?! I've changed! From now on, Deku means nothing to me!"

Bakugou gritted his teeth, struggling to get back to his feet as pain rippled through his stomach. 'Did he read my moves?! No way! He's not that good! He's just a worthless pebble!'

His face twisted with rage. "Deku, you bastard! I'LL KILL YOU!"

[Monitor room]

"What's Bakugo saying? I can't really tell with the camera stuck at this angle and no sound," Kirishima said, his eyes glued to the screen.

"It looks like they're exchanging words," Toru observed.

Jirou narrowed her eyes, trying to pick up on their body language. "It's hard to tell, but there's definitely something going on between them."

"This is a battle between men!" Ochako added, clenching her fists in determination, her voice full of passion.

Jirou raised an eyebrow at her. "Yeah... sure. If that's what you want to call it." She couldn't shake the feeling that there was something deeper between Izuku and Bakugou. They weren't typical rivals, and they certainly didn't act like friends.

It gnawed at her, the way Izuku stood up to Bakugou—it felt off. It reminded her of that Quirkless kid back at her school, always scared of everything. But that couldn't be right. Izuku wasn't Quirkless. He was powerful now. There was no way he had ever been without a quirk... right?

Shaking her head, she pushed the thought away, unwilling to make assumptions about her friend.

"So this is how much young Midoriya has grown," All Might said with pride, watching closely as his former student stood his ground against Bakugou.

...

[Back to the fight]

Bakugou stood up, blood trickling from his nose, wiping it with the back of his hand. He snarled and thrust his palms behind him, blasting forward with an explosion. One of the Dittos leaped to the ceiling, his fingers digging into the wall for support, while the other remained on the ground, watching Bakugou's advance.

Bakugou charged the Ditto on the ground, unleashing an explosion, but the small alien ducked, narrowly avoiding the blast. He countered with a swift roundhouse kick, catching Bakugou off guard. Before Bakugou could react, the Ditto on the ceiling launched himself down, aiming at the explosive teen.

Instinctively, Bakugou propelled himself out of the way with another explosion, but it wasn't enough—the other Ditto seized the opening and delivered a solid punch, sending Bakugou crashing back to the floor.

Reeling from the blow, Bakugou barely had time to process as the Ditto rushed in again, landing a punch square in his face. He stumbled back, trying to recover, but the second Ditto swept his legs out from under him, slamming him to the ground. With a growl, Bakugou retaliated, blasting an explosion, but the smoke cleared only to reveal the two Dittos still standing, coughing slightly.

"You good?" one Ditto asked, looking at the other.

"I'm you, you idiot! If I wasn't, neither would you be!" the second Ditto responded through the haze.

"Don't be so rude! But yeah, our moves are working. We're getting some hits in." The Ditto's voice dropped to a whisper. "We can't let him take either of us down."

Bakugou staggered to his feet, his body aching from the barrage of hits. His thoughts raced in anger. 'Since when did he get this good?! How the hell does he know martial arts?! How am I losing... to him?!'

Across from him, the Dittos panted, eyeing Bakugou closely. 'He's too focused on fighting me,' the original Ditto thought. 'Good. That'll give the others time to find the bomb and Todoroki.'

Bakugou's hands balled into fists, pure rage burning in his eyes. "WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU LIE TO ME?!"

The Dittos froze, their expressions confused as they glanced at each other.

"You had a flashy Quirk this whole time?! WHY DID YOU LIE ABOUT IT?!"

The Dittos were silent, memories crashing over them like a tidal wave. Images of Bakugou's taunts, the constant bullying, the shame of being Quirkless, and Kevin—his only friend—who had always defended him. Kevin, who had gotten into trouble, who had suffered because of Izuku's lack of a Quirk. The investigation that exposed the truth about Aldrea had taken months, and it wasn't until recently that many teachers had been fired for allowing such cruelty.

Izuku hadn't known any of this until a few weeks after he received his acceptance letter to U.A. Now, Bakugou stood before him, accusing him of hiding everything just to make him look like a fool.

"FIGHT ME WITH YOUR STRONGEST FORM! THAT FOUR ARMS GUY! YOU OWE ME THAT MUCH AT LEAST! COME ON, MIDORIYA! USE HIM, OR ARE YOU AFRAID YOU'LL LOSE?!" Bakugou's voice shook with frustration, his rage building as he pieced together his own twisted conclusion. "Or is that it, huh?! YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING DOWN ON ME THIS WHOLE TIME, HAVEN'T YOU?!"

The Ditto clones stood frozen, the accusations hitting harder than the explosions.

"THAT'S WHY YOU NEVER USED THAT FORM! SO YOU COULD LOOK DOWN ON ME!" Bakugou shouted, his anger bubbling over. "HAVE YOU BEEN LAUGHING BEHIND MY BACK?! ENJOYING MAKING ME LOOK LIKE A FOOL IN FRONT OF EVERYONE?!"

He clenched his fists, explosions crackling in his palms. "DID YOU ENJOY IT WHEN OUR TEACHERS MADE ME HUMILIATE MYSELF?!"

Ditto's eyes darkened as memories of Kevin flashed before him. His friend had defended him at every turn, standing up for him when no one else would. Midoriya felt his anger surge as he remembered how long Kevin had been gone—missing, lost after everything he had sacrificed to protect him.

"How dare you," Ditto growled, his voice laced with fury. In a flash, one Ditto leaped toward Bakugou, green electricity sparking to life as his body activated Full Cowl at 11%. Bakugou's eyes widened as Ditto's speed increased drastically, too fast to counter. Ditto's punch landed hard, sending Bakugou flying across the corridor.

From the observation room, All Might's eyes widened. "What—? Such a sudden shift in power!"

Ditto stood over Bakugou, panting with barely contained anger. "You think I would've hidden my Quirk and let my only friend get punished for defending me? You think I'd do that just to show you up?!"

Bakugou groaned, glaring at the alien clone as he slowly pushed himself off the floor.

"I was Quirkless!" Ditto shouted, his voice echoing in the hallway. "And I don't owe you an explanation! Not to you! The world doesn't revolve around you, Bakugou. Despite what our teachers made you think."

As Bakugou stared, disbelief mixing with fury, Ditto split himself into more clones. Six Dittos stood now, all with electricity crackling around them, ready for a fight. Bakugou popped explosions in his palms, his body tense with a mix of anger and something else—something like... uncertainty.

With a battle cry, the room erupted into chaos as the Dittos and Bakugou launched at each other, the hallway filled with the sounds of fists, explosions, and the clash of raw power.

[With other Ditto's]

The Dittos moved swiftly through the building, scouting each room with meticulous precision. One particular Ditto paused at a door that seemed no different from the rest.

Having finished his search of the other rooms, he decided to add a touch of humor. Straightening an imaginary tie, he raised his fist and knocked, as if paying a formal visit.

Inside, Todoroki leaned against the wall, his eyes closed, though his senses remained sharp. The faint sound of knocking reached him, causing him to tense.

KNOCK*KNOCK

Todoroki's eyes shot open, and his muscles stiffened. He turned his head toward the door, remaining wary. With a slight shrug, he took a step forward, figuring it was probably Bakugou messing around. "Who is it?" he asked, uncertainty lacing his voice.

Before he could take another breath, the door blasted off its hinges, splinters of wood flying everywhere as a small figure appeared through the dust cloud. It was a black-and-white creature, no taller than his waist, surrounded by crackling green electricity.

"Justice," Ditto said in a low, resolute voice, though his diminutive size made him look more like a determined puppy than an intimidating force.

Without hesitation, Todoroki's hand slammed to the ground. In an instant, a wave of ice shot out from beneath him, freezing the entire floor and climbing up the walls like a rushing tide. Frost spread through the hallway in the blink of an eye, leaving the room cloaked in white.

His breath came out in a cold mist, mingling with the freezing air as the temperature dropped sharply.

In the lower levels, Bakugou had been trading blows with the other Dittos when the sudden frostbite crept in, coating the entire floor in thick ice. "What the hell—?" Bakugou's eyes darted down to see his feet encased in ice. Growling in frustration, he yanked his leg free, looking at the trapped Dittos with a scowl. "That icy bastard did this?"

The Dittos shivered, trying to shake off the frost clinging to them.

Todoroki, back upstairs, stood tall amidst the icy mist, a smirk playing on his lips as he surveyed the results of his handiwork.

[Monitor Room]

"Holy crap!" Sato blurted out, wide-eyed as he watched the building freeze over on the screen.

"Yeah, that's insane," Kaminari muttered, staring at the scene in disbelief. "He froze the whole building in, like, a second..."

Yaoyorozu's expression reflected awe. 'I knew Todoroki was strong, but this...' she thought, her heart sinking a little as she considered Midoriya's odds. 'There's no way Midoriya stood a chance from the start.'

Toru, blushing slightly, added, "He's... incredible..."

"Froze the whole place in a blink!" Kirishima exclaimed, unable to contain his admiration. "That's the kind of stuff you get from a recommended student."

Momo nodded, still flustered. "It takes a lot of control to use his Quirk on such a massive scale... He must have trained so hard."

"Impressive," All Might agreed with a grin, but his eyes gleamed with something more. "But Todoroki made a critical mistake."

The students turned to him in confusion, then quickly looked back at the screen.

[Back to the Fight]

"Sorry, this isn't personal. We just—" Todoroki began, his voice calm. But before he could finish, a fist smashed into his face, the impact sending him careening across the room. He gasped as pain shot through his cheek, planting his feet against the floor just in time to stop himself from crashing into the opposite wall.

His hand flew to his face, clutching his cheek where the blow had landed, his skin already bruising. He looked up through narrowed eyes, cold fury building within him.

Meanwhile, the Dittos began breaking free from the ice, cracking it off their feet with visible shivers from the cold. Their bodies trembled, but they showed no signs of stopping. With a surge of energy, they launched themselves at Todoroki, bouncing off the walls, ceiling, and floor like a flurry of rubber balls. The room filled with the sound of their rapid movements as they zigzagged toward him.

Todoroki gritted his teeth, summoning sharp, jagged ice formations from the ground, trying to trap them. The air around him chilled even further as ice spikes shot upward, but the Dittos weaved through them with uncanny precision. Some leaped over the frozen barriers, while others punched straight through the spikes, shattering the ice into splinters.

Two of the Dittos got in close, but Todoroki was quick to respond. With a swift motion, he summoned twin columns of ice, freezing the pair in place. Their bodies were encased in the cold, frozen mid-air. But it was far from over. Another group of Dittos dropped from above, their fists aimed directly at Todoroki. He rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the crushing impact as they cracked the floor beneath them.

Todoroki didn't stop, rolling back to his feet and sending more ice shards across the room like a barrage of arrows. The Dittos countered, splitting into pairs and dodging the attacks. One of the Dittos rushed him again, fist poised to strike. 'He's aiming for my face again?' Todoroki thought, preparing to counter. 'Predictable.'

But just as Todoroki moved to block the attack, the Ditto changed his trajectory mid-air, sending a knee crashing into Todoroki's nose with brutal force. Blood sprayed across the room as Todoroki staggered backward, pain shooting through his face.

Before he could recover, another Ditto leaped toward him, fist raised. Todoroki barely had time to react as the punch slammed into the side of his head, sending him reeling. Another Ditto followed, launching upward, his fist colliding with Todoroki's jaw in a brutal uppercut.

Todoroki stumbled, ice spikes erupting from every surface as he tried to regain control. He panted heavily, his breath visible in the freezing air, blood dripping from his nose onto the ice-covered floor.

Ditto stood amidst the chaos, his arms crossed as his clones spread out, surrounding the dual-haired boy.

"So, what was that you said about me not being on your level?" Ditto taunted, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction as Todoroki wiped the blood from his nose, glaring at the small creature in disbelief.

[Monitor room]

The class sat in stunned silence, their jaws practically on the floor, unable to tear their eyes away from the screen.

"Did you see those moves?!" Kaminari exclaimed, eyes wide in disbelief.

"Green..." Jirou murmured, equally taken aback. She had known Midoriya was strong, but seeing his close-quarters combat skill up close was something else. It was almost mesmerizing.

"In close quarters, he's incredible. His movements are almost impossible to read, and that flying knee kick... flawless execution," Ojiro added, a smirk tugging at his lips. The martial artist in him couldn't help but appreciate the raw skill on display.

"He landed a hit on Todoroki!" Sato nearly shouted, still in awe of what they were witnessing.

"Wait, he's going to fight both of them?!" someone asked in disbelief.

"How do all the clones know where the bomb is?!" Sero chimed in, scratching his head in confusion. The sheer coordination between the Dittos made it seem like they shared a single mind.

"Woah, Midori's is fighting both of them?!" Mina said, excitement bubbling in her voice as she leaned forward, completely invested in the outcome.

Yaoyorozu, usually calm and composed, found herself utterly speechless. She had always admired Todoroki's raw power, and her logical side still backed him to win. But seeing Midoriya confidently take on both top students at once was impressive beyond her expectations. She watched his movements, how he managed to locate the bomb and keep the villain teams separated with such precise strategy.

"He's... incredible," she muttered without thinking. But then, catching herself, she shook her head. 'Todoroki still has this,' she thought, mentally reaffirming her support. Yet, deep down, she couldn't shake the quiet admiration growing for the green-haired boy's tenacity. A small part of her heart yearned to see him win, even if she didn't want to admit it.

"I knew he could do it!" Uraraka said, hope sparkling in her eyes. Her faith in Midoriya had never wavered, but seeing him in action like this was validating.

"The match isn't over yet!" Iida reminded them, though even he couldn't hide the hint of admiration in his voice. Midoriya's tactics and adaptability were nothing short of impressive.

"He's not just fighting," Jirou added quietly. "He's planning... every step. He's been outmaneuvering them from the start."

[Back to the fight]

The ice binding Bakugou shattered with a thunderous BOOM as he blasted himself into the air, propelling free from the frozen trap. Chunks of jagged ice ricocheted off the walls, scattering like broken glass. Heat from the explosion steamed off his arms, and his breath came out in harsh clouds.

"These damn freaks," Bakugou growled, twisting midair to dodge another flash of green lightning trailing behind one of the Ditto clones. They zipped past him with rubbery bodies, their unpredictable bounces making them impossible to track.

Several Dittos, each glowing with the fierce power of One For All, ricocheted off the walls and ceiling. Every impact sent a sharp crack through the air, as if the building itself was groaning under their relentless assault. Sparks danced in their wake, and the green electricity snapped and hissed like a live wire.

Bakugou snarled, wiping frost from his brow. "You think you can outmaneuver me?!"

He thrust both hands forward, detonating a massive blast that lit the hallway with a fiery explosion. The force launched him toward one of the Dittos, who twisted away at the last second. Bakugou's fist smashed through drywall, but before he could recover, another Ditto shot down from above, slamming into his ribs like a cannonball.

The impact forced a sharp grunt from Bakugou as he hit the ground hard, skidding across the cold floor. But he recovered instantly, twisting with a wild grin as explosions crackled from his palms. "Tch—that's all you got?"

With a deafening blast, he rocketed toward another clone. This time, he landed a clean hit, the explosion sending the Ditto careening down the hallway like a ragdoll. But more replaced it just as fast, bouncing off the walls like living pinballs.

One swept past his blind spot and smashed a kick into his back, forcing him to stumble forward. Another streaked past his legs, tripping him up as he barely caught himself.

Bakugou's muscles burned from the cold, and he could feel the frost creeping under his skin, slowing him down. But instead of faltering, he pushed harder, his explosions doubling in intensity. Every blast cracked the air like thunder, tearing through walls and sending smoke curling through the corridors. His crimson eyes blazed with fury, sweat freezing on his skin as he grinned through clenched teeth.

"You're all dead. I'll tear this whole place down if I have to!" He exploded forward again, blasting straight through walls, causing the hallway to buckle under the destruction. The floor beneath him groaned as dust rained from the ceiling, cracks spreading like a spider web from the force of his assault.

[With Todoroki]

Todoroki stood still, his breath forming white clouds in the freezing air. His hands flexed at his sides as eight Ditto clones surrounded him, the glow of One For All flickering across their bodies like crackling green fire. They bounced off the walls, floor, and ceiling with alarming speed, their momentum building with each ricochet.

He tracked their movements carefully, his sharp gaze following the erratic arcs they took. His muscles burned, and bruises throbbed beneath his uniform—proof that the relentless attacks were taking a toll. His jaw clenched as he inhaled slowly, the frost in the air prickling his skin.

One Ditto clone strolled forward, lazily pretending to light a cigarette. He exhaled an imaginary puff with exaggerated flair, flashing a smug grin. "Sorry, kid," he said, his voice dripping with mock sympathy. "It's just business."

Todoroki's eyes narrowed, his expression cold and unreadable. His left side began to glow faintly with warmth, steam rising from his skin. "Business?" he murmured quietly. "Let's finish it, then."

The Ditto clone flicked his imaginary cigarette to the floor. "Get 'em, boys."

In an instant, the room erupted into chaos. The clones launched themselves at Todoroki from every direction, their bodies snapping and bending mid-air like elastic bullets. Green lightning flashed as they ricocheted wildly, filling the small space with deafening impacts.

Todoroki extended his right hand, a jagged wall of ice exploding from the floor and surging outward. One of the clones was caught mid-leap, encased in a prison of frozen crystals. But before he could take a breath, another Ditto clone shattered the ice with a brutal punch, sending shards flying in all directions.

A third Ditto shot past Todoroki's head, his electrified kick grazing his shoulder. Todoroki hissed in pain, the green lightning stinging like fire. He retaliated with a blast of fire from his left side, scorching the air and forcing the clone to twist away. But no sooner had the flames died down than another clone crashed into his side, slamming him into the wall.

Gritting his teeth, Todoroki pushed himself up. His breath came in ragged bursts, each one visible in the freezing air. The room was too small, the clones too fast. Every attempt to trap them in ice failed, and their relentless attacks were wearing him down. His muscles screamed in protest, but he forced himself to stay focused.

The air around him grew colder as frost began to spread along the walls and ceiling. Ice crept over his boots, climbing up his legs as he summoned more power. His left side burned hotter, steam rising from his skin as he balanced the two opposing forces within him.

One of the clones leapt toward him, fists crackling with power. But this time, Todoroki was ready.

"Enough," he whispered.

With a sudden roar, Todoroki unleashed his full power. A colossal wave of ice erupted from the ground, consuming the entire room in a frozen tidal wave. The glacier tore through the walls, ripping apart concrete and metal with ease. Outside, the side of the building exploded outward as jagged sheets of ice burst free, forming a massive iceberg visible from the street below.

The room fell silent, the air filled with nothing but the faint sound of ice settling into place.

Todoroki stood at the center of the frozen wreckage, his chest rising and falling with each labored breath.

His body trembled from the cold, his breath forming thick clouds in the air. He wrapped his arms around himself, shivering as the weight of exhaustion settled over him.

-SAMETIME-

Bakugou shot forward, explosions detonating from his palms, the shockwaves reverberating through the room. Smoke filled the air, curling around them like a veil of war. His crimson eyes burned with murderous intent as he locked onto one of the Dittos, soaring upward through the swirling mist. His grin was feral. I've got you now.

The Ditto leapt high, his body twisting mid-air to avoid the oncoming blast. Exactly as Bakugou predicted.

"There!" Bakugou snarled, blasting himself through the smoke, rocketing toward Ditto with deadly precision. The air sizzled with heat as the blast propelled him closer, his gauntlet primed to release an explosion point-blank.

Just as Bakugou stretched his arm forward, palm open—ready to detonate—Ditto swung his leg.

With an inhuman twist, Ditto executed a flawless mid-air overhead kick, his momentum carrying him in a fluid arc. The kick connected under Bakugou's arm with startling precision, slamming into his gauntlet and knocking his hand upward.

BOOM!

The explosion detonated above them, a fiery blast tearing through the ceiling. Smoke and debris rained down, the force of the misfire sending Bakugou careening sideways. His eyes widened as the realization hit him.

'He did a backflip—while still in midair?!'

Snarling, Bakugou twisted his body, aiming his other hand toward Ditto to counter. But before he could fire, a second Ditto shot out of the smoke like a bullet. With his hands clasped together, he brought them down in a hammer strike.

CRACK!

Bakugou's skull slammed into the ground with a bone-rattling force. Pain exploded in his head as he grunted, dazed but still forcing himself to rise.

"GAAK!" Bakugou spat blood, rage fueling him as he pushed himself up. But before he could regain his footing, another Ditto lunged from the smoke, grabbing him by the neck.

"Gh—!" Bakugou gasped, struggling to pry the iron grip from his throat.

The Ditto grinned wickedly and slammed his knee upward.

CRUNCH!

The sharp crack of bone echoed as Bakugou's nose shattered under the impact. Blood poured freely from his nostrils, staining his uniform and lips with crimson. Enraged, Bakugou roared and grabbed the Ditto by the arm, swinging him violently into the nearest wall.

BAM!

The wall shuddered under the impact, cracks spider webbing outward. All the Dittos recoiled for a split second, feeling the blow ripple through their shared consciousness. But before Bakugou could press his advantage, another clone appeared from his blind spot.

With a vicious uppercut, the Ditto sent Bakugou flying back. Pain shot through his jaw as his head snapped back, stars bursting in his vision.

"Ugh—dammit!" Bakugou cursed as he was flung into the wall. Dust and rubble rained down, but he didn't stay down for long.

He dragged himself back to his feet, glaring murderously at the Dittos. His chest heaved, each breath a ragged growl.

"Hey..." Bakugou wheezed, wiping the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. "Where the hell did you learn those moves?"

The Dittos paused, the exchanged confused glances before turning to him with a bit of on not impressed look.

"Huh?" one of them asked.

"Don't play dumb!" Bakugou snarled. "I know damn well your sorry ass couldn't teach yourself that! Someone's gotta be showing you how to fight like this!"

The Dittos shared a look, their grins widening, which only stoked Bakugou's fury.

"Her name is Itsuka Kendo," one Ditto said, a proud gleam in his eye as One For All crackled brighter around him.

"And she's the greatest teacher!" another chimed in with a cocky grin.

The lead Ditto smirked. "So when I'm done kicking your ass, make sure you thank her!" he said, launching himself at Bakugou with a flying knee.

Bakugou's eyes narrowed. He saw the move coming.

"Predictable as ever, you damn—"

Before he could finish, Ditto switched legs mid-air, his other knee rocketing upward into Bakugou's chin. The unexpected strike snapped his head back, causing him to bite his tongue.

Blood flooded his mouth as he stumbled, coughing violently.

"Oh look, we got Bakugou to shut up!" a Ditto jeered, grabbing one of his clones by the arm and hurling him toward Bakugou.

The clone twisted mid-flight, fists clenched. He drove his punch deep into Bakugou's gut.

WHAM!

The breath whooshed out of Bakugou's lungs, and he doubled over, coughing up blood. But before the Dittos could press their advantage, Bakugou exploded backward in a fiery blast, his eyes blazing with pure hatred.

He gritted his teeth, fury bubbling to the surface.

...

[Monitor room]

All Might had comical tears of depression as he clenched at the screen. 'Young Midoriya what about me? I taught you as well!

[Back to the fight.]

"Enough playing around... I'll kill every last one of you," he growled.

His gauntlets began to glow an ominous red.

Bakugou's lips curled into a wicked grin. "They're loaded."

All the Dittos stiffened, their smug expressions vanishing as they saw the change in his demeanor. The lead Ditto gulped as he stood at the front of the group.

"Kacchan..." the Ditto muttered, his voice wary.

The rest fell into defensive stances, tension filling the air like a taut wire.

Bakugou slowly raised his arm, palm open.

"Y'KNOW SOMETHING, YOU DAMN NERDS? I OVERHEARD YOU!" Bakugou bellowed. "IF I TAKE DOWN JUST ONE OF YOU, THE REST GO TOO!"

The Dittos exchanged panicked glances, quickly merging into a single form. The remaining Ditto now stood alone, visibly sweating.

"And with all your creepy stalking, you probably already know..." Bakugou said, pulling the pin on his grenade-like gauntlet. "MY QUIRK LETS ME SECRETE NITROGLYCERIN-LIKE SWEAT... AND THESE GAUNTLETS STORE IT."

The Ditto's eyes widened in horror.

"Don't tell me that's—!" All Might's voice crackled frantically through Bakugou's earpiece. "Young Bakugou, stop! Are you trying to kill him?!"

"OH, HE'LL BE FINE—AS LONG AS HE DODGES!" Bakugou roared.

"Kacchan, no!" Izuku's voice shouted from the other end, panic clear. "You can't—!"

But Bakugou didn't hesitate. With a manic grin, he yanked the pin, unleashing an explosion bigger than anything they had ever seen.

KA-BOOOOOM!

The room was swallowed in a blinding inferno. The force of the blast tore through the walls, sending debris flying in all directions. Smoke and fire surged outward like a tidal wave, the sheer pressure rattling the foundations of the building.

[Monitor room]

The explosion roared through the monitor screens, the force of it shaking even the observation room. Flames and debris engulfed the battlefield, and thick smoke swallowed everything in sight. The students watching froze in disbelief, their hearts hammering against their ribs.

"No way..." Kaminari whispered, his voice barely audible.

"GREEN!" Jirou's voice cracked with fear, her fists clenching as she stared wide-eyed at the screen. "C'mon, you idiot! Don't you dare be dead!"

"DEKIRU!" Ochako screamed, her hands flying to her mouth as tears welled in her eyes. "Please, no—get up, get up, get up!"

Tsuyu's lips trembled, her wide eyes brimming with tears. "M-Midoriya-chan... no..." she whispered, clutching her chest as if the pain was physically pulling her down.

Momo gasped, her face pale, hands pressed to her mouth. "Midoriya... He couldn't—he can't be—" She stopped herself, fear choking her words.

Toru clenched her invisible fists, her voice rising in panic. "Midoriya! Somebody stop this! He's—he's not okay!"

Mina was the first to look away, unable to handle what she was seeing. Her heart thudded painfully as she whispered, "Midori... please, don't..."

Iida turned sharply toward All Might, his voice laced with frustration and fear. "Sir, this has gone too far! If you don't cancel the match now, Midoriya will need immediate medical attention!"

But All Might remained still, his gaze fixed on the screen. Everyone's emotions spiraled into chaos, yet he stood unmoving. Slowly, a small, knowing smile began to tug at the corners of his mouth.

[Back to the fight]

Todoroki stood still, his breath fogging the cold air, every inhale shallow and labored. His limbs felt heavy, the frost biting into his skin. I overdid it... he thought as he glanced at the wreckage. His glacier attack had worked, freezing over everything in sight. His lips curled into a faint smirk. "But at least we won."

Then came the first crack—deep, resonating through the floor.

Todoroki's eyes widened in alarm. The massive glacier, which had spread through the walls and ceiling of the building, was now crumbling. Sharp fractures ran through the ice, splintering outward, and before he could react, the glacier exploded, shards flying like deadly knives.

The Ditto clones burst from their icy prison with bursts of green lightning crackling around them. Todoroki gasped, struggling to steady himself. His body was cold, his muscles sluggish, and his energy all but drained.

But that wasn't the worst part. As the ice gave way, so did the building's structure. A massive support pillar, frozen solid by Todoroki's attack, cracked under its weight.

The ceiling groaned above him, large chunks of concrete beginning to fall.

Todoroki looked up, horror dawning on his face. "No...!" He tried to move, but his legs refused to respond fast enough.

The ceiling groaned again as the beam plummeted, moments from crushing Todoroki beneath its immense weight. His mind raced, but his frozen body betrayed him, unable to act in time.

I can't dodge... This is it...

But just as the beam was about to hit—

A blur streaked through the air, green lightning arcing wildly in its wake. The impact came not with crushing metal but with a loud, thunderous shockwave.

A Ditto clone had appeared at the last second, launching himself at the beam with a surge of determination. With a primal roar, he thrust his body against the heavy metal, redirecting its descent with sheer force of will.

The clone's muscles strained, veins bulging as he pushed against the weight of the collapsing pillar. Sparks erupted around him as One For All surged through his limbs, illuminating the chaos of the room.

Todoroki stared in disbelief, his mind struggling to register what had just happened. "Why...?" he whispered, his voice barely audible over the groaning structure.

The Ditto clone, his face contorted with effort, glanced down at him.

[With Bakugou]

The room was filled with thick black smoke, swirling like a chaotic storm Bakugou stood at its center, explosions flickering in his palms, his grin stretching wide across his face. His eyes gleamed with murderous intent as he scanned for his target.

"You should've picked a different you damn nerd!" Bakugou roared into the smoke veins bulging along his arms as his heart pounded with adrenaline.

"SOMEONE LIKE YOU NEVER DESERVED TO BE HERE!" His voice echoed, full of venom and raw hatred, believing Midoriya was still somewhere in the smoke, hiding like "useless Deku" he'd always been.

"YOU HAVE AND ALWAYS BEEN A USELESS DEKU! JUST DIRT NOW YOU KNOW YOUR PLACE! BENEATH–"

CRACK!

The ground beneath his feet split open with a deafening noise. Bakugou's eyes barely registered the fissure before a white fist erupted from the rubble like a bullet, striking him square under the chin with a bone shattering-uppercut.

His head snapped back, the world spinning as he was launched into the air, limbs flailing. Blood splattered from his mouth, painting the air with crimson droplets. His thoughts blurred for a split second, but he had no time to recover.

The Ditto sprang from the shattered floor, splitting into another mid-air. The second clone shot forward, green electricity crackling around him, with a wicked smile, he twisted his body into a tight spin.

BAM!

The clones fist drove into Bakugou's face, the impact violently whipping his head to the side. Bakugou's body hit the ground with a sickening crack, the impact rattling through the floor as his skull bounced violently off the concrete. His eyes rolled back for a moment pure white as the blow sent his mind spiraling toward unconsciousness.

But then with a low glutaral growl, the whites of his eyes flickered away the red returned.

Bakugou coughed out blood as he flew across the room, his body barely responding. His muscles screamed, his mind swirling with rage and disbelief. Every damn insult at Midoriya echoed in his skull louder and louder as the room spun around him. He hit the ground hard, his limbs heavy, his breathing ragged.

"Y-You'll never beat me!" Bakugou snarled, his voice hoarse but still burning with hatred. He forced himself up on shaky arms.

"You... will always be a useless Deku!"

The Ditto loomed over him, his fist shaky as he clenched it green electricity exploding out. "And I told you... You can call me Deku..."

"THE HERO..." Bakugou's pupils shrank to pinpricks as dread washed over him. He tried desperately to put Deku back into his damn place, but

"No..." Bakugou whispered to himself.

"Deku means nothing to me!" Ditto exclaimed as his team victory rang out.

"...TEAM WINNNSS!"

As the echoes of victory hung in the air, a Ditto clone surged forward, propelled by sheer determination. With a primal roar, he hurled himself at the massive, collapsing support pillar.

The sheer weight of the metal beam was overwhelming, and as the structure creaked ominously, the clone's muscles strained to the breaking point, veins bulging as One For All coursed through him, electrifying his movements.

The ground trembled beneath the clash, the air charged with raw energy as the Ditto pushed against the pillar. His form shimmered under the strain, a whirlwind of color and power. He poured every ounce of strength into his effort, the weight of the collapsing beam threatening to crush Todoroki beneath it.

With a final, thunderous effort, the Ditto redirected the falling pillar, the metal screeching in protest as it was thrust aside with a powerful shove. The ground shook violently as the pillar crashed to the floor, sending dust and debris spiraling through the air.

The immediate danger had passed, but the aftermath lingered, a heavy silence settling over the battlefield.

Todoroki stared, disbelief etched on his face, as he tried to comprehend what had just unfolded. "Why...?" he whispered, the sound almost lost in the swirling dust.

The Ditto clone staggered, panting heavily as it began to merge back into one solid form. Its vibrant green lightning dimmed, fading into nothing. His muscles screamed in protest, burning with exhaustion, while sweat dripped from his face. He bent over, hands clutching his knees, struggling to catch his breath.

Todoroki straightened slowly, the frost that clung to his limbs already beginning to melt. Without a word, he extended his hand toward the frozen parts of the building, using his flames to thaw the ice and prevent further collapse.

"Uh... good match, Todoroki," Ditto muttered between heavy breaths, unsure what else to say. His words hung awkwardly in the air, and he gave the dual-haired boy a tired, lopsided grin.

Todoroki glanced at the alien, a flicker of something rare—gratitude—softening the usual coldness in his gaze. It was subtle, but there, a quiet acknowledgment of the effort the clone had just made to protect him.

"Yeah, whatever," Todoroki muttered, fatigue weighing on his voice.

The final Ditto clone, leaned heavily against the bomb in the corner of the monitor feed. His chest rose and fell with deep, ragged breaths, body slumped in pure exhaustion. Having crawled through the window moments earlier, he had simply touched the bomb and let himself collapse against it, too tired to celebrate the victory.

[Monitor room]

"He... He won," Sero breathed, disbelief in his voice.

"The little guy actually did it!" Sato cheered, eyes sparkling with excitement. "I always thought Midoriya was kinda wimpy, y'know? Not the type to throw down like that. But wow—he really proved me wrong!"

"That was insane!" Kirishima exclaimed, pumping his fist. "Talk about guts! He didn't just hold his own—he went all out!"

"I'm more shocked that he pulled it off so smoothly," Jirou added. She crossed her arms, trying to seem nonchalant, though the flutter in her chest betrayed her.

Watching him throw everything into saving Todoroki—an opponent, no less—hit her harder than she expected.

Her gaze flickered to the screen again, replaying that moment where Midoriya, muscles trembling and sweat pouring down his face, stood beneath the collapsing beam, refusing to let it crush Todoroki. That raw determination stirred something she wasn't quite ready to acknowledge. Her face grew warm as she thought about him.

"Yes, his quick thinking played a vital role in today's victory," Iida said, adjusting his glasses with a firm nod. "It's the kind of strategic prowess we all should aim to develop."

"This is a valuable lesson," Tokoyami said, his voice calm and contemplative. "One must never judge someone's strength by appearances alone."

"Agreed," Shoji nodded, his arms crossed thoughtfully. "He has more than just power. His ability to think under pressure... it's impressive."

Uraraka's grin stretched wide. "He really came through for Todoroki in the end! I didn't expect him to take such a huge risk like that, but... it totally paid off!"

Momo remained silent, her gaze fixed on the screen, replaying the moment in her mind—the moment Midoriya threw himself beneath that collapsing beam, struggling with every ounce of strength to save Todoroki, his opponent. Everyone had gone silent, awestruck as the green-haired boy, trembling and exhausted, refused to let go.

Her heart skipped a beat, the memory making her stomach twist into unfamiliar knots. The warmth that spread across her cheeks caught her off guard, and she couldn't quite place why concern for him had struck her so deeply. When his plan had finally succeeded—when Bakugou fell, and victory was declared—only one word slipped from her lips. "Incredible..."

Mina's grin grew wide as she leaned back, a faint blush creeping over her face. 'Man... the way he moved, how he just kept pushing through everything... It's like nothing could stop him!' Her heart fluttered at the thought. 'That was... kinda amazing.'

Tsuyu was curled up under a blanket with Toru, the two of them huddling close to the heater Momo had conjured earlier. She blinked slowly, still processing what she had witnessed.

"Midoriya-chan..." Tsuyu whispered softly, her voice tinged with quiet admiration. A subtle, fond smile tugged at her lips.

Even Toru, usually playful and carefree, found herself unusually quiet. She stared at the screen, watching the replay of the fight, her invisible frame almost motionless. Somehow, Midoriya had done it—again. Despite being cornered time and time again, despite overwhelming odds, he kept going, refusing to back down. He didn't just survive; he thrived.

As the replay looped again, she hugged the blanket tighter, whispering in awe, "He just... doesn't know how to quit."

All Might burst out of the room, his eyes immediately locking onto the monitor displaying Bakugou's distraught expression.

Bakugou stared at the screen, disbelief flooding his features. "I-I-I lost. Deku beat him. H-He won?! He beat me again?!"His voice wavered, the weight of the words crashing down on him like a tidal wave.

Panic surged through him, and his breaths came in quick, shallow gasps. Sweat beaded on his forehead as his heart raced, pounding loudly in his ears.

"Damn it!" Bakugou shouted, fists clenching at his sides. His mind raced, spinning in circles as he tried to comprehend the loss. Each thought was a jagged edge that cut deeper into his pride. "This can't be happening!"

"Kacchan?" Ditto asked, concern etched on his face. Bakugou's eyes darted around the room, wild and unfocused, as if searching for an escape from the spiraling chaos within him.

"Are you okay?" Ditto pressed, watching his friend with growing alarm.

Bakugou's breath quickened further, his chest tightening. He could feel the walls closing in, the familiar sense of helplessness washing over him.

The room felt too small, too suffocating, and the edges of his vision blurred as he fought to keep it together.

Just then, All Might approached, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, young Midoriya. I'll take young Todoroki and young Bakugou to the infirmary to meet up with your classmates."

"But—"

All Might leaned in closer, whispering, "Listen, young Midoriya, I know you're worried about young Bakugou, but I think you're the last person he wants to see right now."

Bakugou shook his head, desperation creeping into his voice. "I can't—I can't go like this!" The panic surged, and he felt his breath hitch, his hands trembling. He was about to spiral into a full-blown panic attack.

Ditto nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation, before he and the other Ditto clones exited the building. As they stepped outside, they encountered Mineta, who was bouncing with excitement.

"Hey, we won!" he shouted, beaming with pride.

The Ditto clones exchanged deadpan looks before bursting into laughter. 'Yeah, 'we' won."

"We took on Bakugou and Todoroki. We got frozen and nearly exploded."

"Yeah, 'we' won. That's hilarious," another Ditto said, rolling his eyes.

"You just stayed and played with your balls." A Ditto said.

"Anyways, Mineta, let's head back."

Mineta frowned, his enthusiasm dampening. "Ugh, fine. Wait, what about Todoroki and Bakugou?"

"They're headed to the infirmary," one of the Dittos replied casually, picking his nose.

Mineta gulped, his face paling. "He sent both to the infirmary?!"

...

The Dittos and Mineta began to stroll toward the monitor room, all the clones utterly exhausted. Their rubbery bodies sagged slightly with each step, and one Ditto let out a wide yawn, his pointed ears twitching. As he pushed open the door, they were immediately surrounded by the excited students of Class 1-A.

"Dude, that was incredible!" Kaminari exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Those moves were awesome! You've clearly been trained by an excellent master!" Ojiro added, nodding with approval.

"You weren't exactly dazzling, but—" Aoyama began dramatically, only to be cut off by Ashido, who practically bounced toward the group.

"You were incredible out there, Midori! I've never seen moves like that before!" she gushed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"I could barely keep up with what you were doing! That was so manly!" Kirishima added, giving a hearty laugh and clapping a Ditto on the back. The alien stumbled forward slightly, his rubbery frame absorbing the force with a slight wobble.

"Taking on the two strongest students and holding them off was… impressive," Shoji said with a respectful nod.

Ditto blinked, his glowing green eyes wide with surprise. The sudden wave of compliments made his black-and-green markings pulse faintly, and the slight blush forming across his smooth face didn't go unnoticed by Ashido. A nearby Ditto scratched the back of his sleek head, clearly flustered by the attention.

Ashido leaned in, a teasing grin playing on her lips. "You guys were amazing," she said again, noticing how the alien's glow dimmed shyly under her gaze.

"Told you you'd be eating those words," Jirou said with a smirk, nudging Kaminari.

Momo stood back for a moment, her gaze lingering on the alien form of Midoriya. As much as she had rooted for Todoroki during the game, she couldn't help but be impressed by how sharp Midoriya's tactics had been. 'He knew Bakugou would come for him and used it against him. On top of that, he predicted Bakugou wouldn't cooperate with Todoroki...' she thought, biting her lip slightly. 'And he even managed to bait them both into fights that worked in his favor.'

Despite herself, a faint blush crept onto Momo's face as she shook her head, trying to dismiss the admiration building inside her. 'Even if the terrain worked against Todoroki a bit… that was still an incredible strategy.' She couldn't help but feel a flutter in her chest, a conflicting emotion that she didn't fully understand.

After a moment, she stepped closer to the nearest Ditto and offered him a polite, if slightly flustered, smile. "Congratulations, Midoriya," Momo said softly. "You were really impressive. I underestimated you—you executed your strategy perfectly."

Ditto blinked at her with those bright, glowing eyes, visibly caught off guard. "Uh… thanks," he mumbled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his rubbery head with a clawed hand.

Another Ditto glanced toward Ochako, his small fanged smile lighting up his childlike face. "Guess you were right… I really did do it," he said, his tone a little bashful.

Ochako's face immediately turned bright red, and she fumbled for words, waving her hands wildly.

"A-Ah! Don't worry about it, Dekiru! I-I knew you just needed a little confidence! You did amazing!" she stammered, her voice rising an octave as she tried to keep her composure.

Ditto tilted his head slightly, ears flicking in mild confusion. "No, really! I thought about how much you believed in me the whole time—it helped a lot!" he said earnestly, making Ochako's face heat up even more. She pulled her hands to her cheeks, clearly overwhelmed, and tried to hide behind them.

"And Jirou! Thanks for believing in me, too!" Ditto said with excitement, beaming at her.

Jirou coughed awkwardly, her face turning pink as she glanced away. "Y-Yeah, whatever," she muttered under her breath.

As the adrenaline started to wear off, the Dittos' energy began to fade. Their glowing markings flickered softly, and the clones exchanged tired glances.

"Alright, boys, looks like it's time to merge back," one Ditto said with a yawn, stretching his arms wide. The others nodded in agreement, their movements sluggish as they prepared to reunite.

But just as they were about to fuse, Ashido and Ochako sprang into action, clinging tightly to two of the Dittos.

"Nope!" they chorused, grinning as they held onto the squirming aliens.

"Wh-What do you mean, 'no'?!' one Ditto stammered, his pointed ears twitching in surprise.

"You're way too cute! Do you really expect us to let go of this much cuteness?" Ashido teased, tightening her grip around the struggling alien.

"Yes! It's me! Let me go!" one of the trapped Dittos protested, squirming like a cat trying to escape a bath. His ears flattened in frustration as he hissed under his breath.

"Boys would kill to be hugged by cute girls!" Ashido said with a mischievous grin, hugging the Ditto even tighter.

"I'm not going through this again!" Ditto wailed as he flailed in her grasp.

"Again?" the entire class echoed in unison, their curiosity instantly piqued.

...

"When he transformed the first time, me and Kendo didn't want to let go of him. He was just so cute!" Ochako explained, rubbing her cheek affectionately against one of the Dittos. The clone squirmed in her arms, his glowing green eyes narrowing in frustration as his sharp ears flicked irritably.

His sleek, black-and-white body and soft, round face gave him the look of an annoyed kitten, only making him seem more irresistible.

"Agreed! He's adorable," Tsuyu added sleepily, pinching the cheek of another clone. She was wrapped snugly in a large blanket Momo had made, looking half-asleep as she lazily cuddled the struggling alien.

"Not you too, Asui!" Ditto protested, glaring up at her with the pout of a child forced to endure unwanted affection.

"Call me Tsu," she replied calmly, her blanket cocooning her like a tired frog about to hibernate.

"Tsu sounds pretty cute. Now, can you please let me go?" Ditto muttered, trying to pry himself free. His rubbery body gave a little bounce as he wiggled, but Tsuyu simply held him tighter, her wide-eyed expression unchanging.

Another Ditto struggled in Ochako's grip, his movements reminiscent of a puppy trying to escape its owner's clutches, only to be squeezed even tighter.

"Ah, man!" he groaned, kicking his legs in frustration.

Jirou leaned in, pinching one of the Dittos on the cheek. "Huh? Don't you usually get all flustered around girls? I'm surprised you're not passing out," she teased.

Ochako giggled. "Oh, when Dekiru turns into Ditto, he gets all childish! Instead of being a blushing mess, he just acts like a grumpy little boy trying to escape girl cooties." The Ditto in her arms hissed dramatically, his fanged mouth open as his green ear twitched like an irritated cat's.

"You sure you can't stay like this forever?" Ashido teased, still holding her Ditto close as he squirmed helplessly in her grasp.

"For the millionth time, yes! Now let us go!" Ditto shouted, his voice rising in frustration as he twisted, only for his flexible body to spring back like rubber.

"Never!" Ashido laughed, cuddling him tighter as he grunted in annoyance.

Off to the side, Kaminari and Mineta watched in disbelief, their faces twisted in equal parts envy and rage.

"That bastard is trying to start his own harem!" Kaminari seethed, his fists clenching at his sides.

"Using the power of cuteness! Such a devious plan!" Mineta added, his wide eyes filled with burning jealousy.

BEEP BEEP BEEP

Ditto sighed as the familiar warning of his transformation's end blared from the Omnitrix.

"Saved by the beep," he muttered under his breath, a mix of relief and dread in his voice.

The glowing Omnitrix symbol atop Ditto's head began to pulse with vibrant green.

As the adrenaline of the moment wore off, the Ditto clones held tightly by the girls suddenly floated upward, leaving them momentarily stunned. Slowly, the duplicates drifted together, converging in midair toward the main Ditto trapped in Ashido's embrace.

BWOOO

With a bright flash of green light, all the clones fused into one unified form. When the glow faded, Ashido realized she was now holding onto the real Izuku Midoriya, no longer soft and rubbery like Ditto. Instead, her arms wrapped around his actual body—toned and firm from all his training, a stark contrast to the squishy alien she had been squeezing moments ago.

"P-P-P-Please let me go," Midoriya stammered, his face turning crimson. His awkward, flustered demeanor had returned full force, and it took all his willpower not to pass out from the close contact.

Ashido, sensing his embarrassment, couldn't help but grin mischievously. "Fine... but when this is over, I am going to feel all those muscles," she whispered in his ear with a playful glint in her eye, sending his blush into overdrive.

Midoriya nearly melted on the spot. "T-Teasing me is so unfair, Ashido," he muttered weakly, his mind scrambling to stay coherent.

"Teasing you is fun, Midori!" she laughed, ruffling his hair. He gave her a deadpan look but was too flustered to say anything further.

As Midoriya tried to collect himself, he noticed Hagakure shivering in a corner, bundled tightly in a blanket Momo had made. Concerned, he walked over to her. "Hagakure, are you okay?"

The invisible girl gave a shaky thumbs-up, though it was barely visible. "I-I-I'm okay," she said, though her trembling suggested otherwise.

"Todoroki's ice made the room colder than expected, but she should be fine now," Iida explained in his usual composed manner.

Realizing she was still cold, Midoriya quickly shrugged off his hoodie, revealing a fitted black undershirt beneath. The snug shirt clung to his frame, showing off his surprisingly toned muscles.

Several of the girls blushed, their eyes briefly lingering on his physique. Even Momo, usually calm and composed, felt her heart flutter as she tried to suppress the warm flush spreading across her cheeks.

"Midori has muscles..." Mina whispered to herself, wide-eyed.

Then, before she could stop herself, Ochako blurted out, "You should see him shirtless..."

The room fell into a stunned silence. Every head turned toward her, and she froze in horror at what she'd just said.

Realizing her mistake, Uraraka's entire face turned scarlet. "I-I didn't mean—! I mean—!" she stammered, waving her hands frantically.

Trying to steer the conversation away from his growing embarrassment, Midoriya turned back to Hagakure and handed her his hoodie. "Here, this should help keep you warm."

"U-Uh, t-thanks," Hagakure stuttered, slipping the hoodie over her invisible form. Almost immediately, the warmth from the hoodie spread across her body, as if it were radiating heat.

She hugged herself tightly, her shivers subsiding. "Wow, Midori, I didn't know this was a self-warming hoodie."

But when she glanced down, she realized something strange—Midoriya's hoodie had become completely invisible, blending perfectly with her. Only her boots and gloves were still visible to the others.

Kaminari's jaw dropped. "Uh... Hagakure, please tell me you can make stuff invisible."

"N-No..." she mumbled."I can't..."

Curious, she peeled off the hoodie and handed it back to Midoriya. As soon as it left her body, the garment became visible again. Momo, always intrigued by the unknown, reached out and slipped the hoodie on herself.

The fabric effortlessly adjusted to her body, molding to her shape without tearing or stretching. The girls watched in fascination as the hoodie fit her perfectly, making her look surprisingly cozy despite the plain design.

Everyone's gaze shifted back to Midoriya, who stood frozen under the weight of their stares. His face flushed as he started sweating bullets. The silence in the room grew heavier, thick with unspoken thoughts.

Finally, with a nervous chuckle, Midoriya scratched the back of his neck.

"A-Ain't that something, huh?"

...

[Note: Rewritten]