CHAPTER 2

THE AGILITY, THE DRIVE

UA HIGH SCHOOL

BATTLEGROUND BETA

THE FIRST MOCK TEST OF HEROES VS VILLAINS HAS BEGUN. THE HEROES MUST INFILTRATE THE BUILDING AND EITHER DEFEAT THE VILLAINS OR SECURE THE BOMB FROM THE ENEMY.

Up in the observation room, All Might and the other hero course students are watching the first session unfold between Ida and Bakkugo vs Izuku and Ochaco

"Infiltration was a success," Ururaka said while entering the window. Izukue turned and mentioned, " There are a bunch of blind spots, so be careful."

"Everyone observe and make strategies of your own," All Might said in front of his young audience. Everyone was staring with anticipation and worry. On the first day of UA, Bakugo's homicidal tendencies always bubbled to the surface, which gave anyone who had to fight him confidence. Izuku may be smart, but this raw force makes the average person feel anxious about the outcome.

As the test continues Izuku and Ururaka are carefully sweeping each floor of the complex. Izuku is taking making sure Bakugo does not surprise his partner. As they approach the third floor, something starts to take place. As Deku banks the first corner on third something begins to throb in his head. His brain starts to scream pulsating like something dangerous is near. "Deku?" Ururak said with worried confusion. "Is something wro-" and without even thinking as if it was second nature to the boy Izuku took Ururaka by the torso and took a big leap back with her behind him.

Before anything, her answer is given as Bakugo banks around the corner with rage in his eyes. "TIME TO FRY BUG" Bakugo screams as he unless a torrent of fire filling the corridor is an explosive blaze of light and fury.

"That almost hit grazed me," Izuku said with a sighed relief thanking God that he jumped back to miss the initial volley of explosion. "Ururaka, you good are hurt in any way." Ururaka snaps and responds "No, you saved me that." Ururaka said calming down from the attack "That's good with me as his opponent, Kacchan will focus on fighting me over everything else in the exercise." As the smoke and fire die down Bakugo slowly walks down the corridor with fire in his eyes

"Awe, look at you getting into your Hero role, YOU DAMN NERD!" Bakugo said as excess explosives constantly popping off in his hand alongside a hungry grin ready to ponce. Izuku stands ready to face Bakugo again.

Up in the observation room, everyone was shocked by the first encounter. "Wow, really, Bakugo is fighting with ambush tactics! Very unmanly" Kirishima said in irritation of the encounter. " NOW, NOW, AMBUSHES ARE GOOD STRATEGIES TO HAVE. THEY ARE IN THE HEAT OF BATTLE AND NEED TO THINK ON THEIR TOES." All Might responded by critiquing Kirishima's plight. "Wow Midori anticipated that attack how did he know to back up from the corner." All Might began to ponder that very question as he knows he does not possess such abilities as this is something new. As he thinks something interesting takes place.

"I hope you're ready! I'll blow you away but just short of getting interrupted!" Kacchan said prepping an up-close attack. As it happens Deku sidesteps the initial swing and grabs Bakugo's swinging arm. Alarms start blaring in Bakugo's head telling him to react but with no time to react Deku begins throwing Bakugo within the shift of power and weight Bakugo begins to recover from the throw and almost slams Kacchan on his back by front flipping into a standing position shocking himself, Deku and the rest of 1A in the observatory.

"The hell. What just happened since is Bakugo that agile" Kirishima said in confusion looking at Bakugo's recovery stunt.

'Wow, crazy, flexible. I got a new dance buddy." Mina said analyzing Bakugo's quick action. "I don't think that a good idea" Jiro perked up behind her. "Kero, Yeah, Bakugo is not what you consider as someone who plays well with others," Asui said as she pondered the thought process of Bakugo's team dynamics for the future.

Deku was still stunned as Bakugo turned around to face him again. "You want to try that Again you Cheeky NERD!" Bakugo begins to rush forward with an explosion in tow propelling to high speed. Deku's head begins to throb as he dodges the rush limbo bending under him. This shocked the boys but what came next was even worse. Right as Bakugo flew over Deku used his legs to springboard and then kick the ash blonde right out the window and into the street outside using force against him.

"Oh shit," the bulk of class 1A said in bewilderment and shock at the dramatic turn of events. "CHILDREN, YOUNG HEROES SUCH AS YOURSELVES SHOULDN'T USE SUCH VULGAR SLANG," All Might said in chastisement towards his student. His class started murmuring in the background analyzing what transpired. "Wow, Deku did they train together before UA," Asui said puzzled by the boys' agility and reaction time. "Well they did come same high school that could explain it" Momo said to answer Asui's question. This started more speculation as the class devolved into chatter. "Class settle down that fight is about to turn to the next page," All Might said shifting the focus in the class.

Outside the test sight building Bakugo is lying in a crater in shock of what transpired. Bakugo world is beginning to crack. On one hand, his heart was overjoyed that he could push himself on the other hand DEKU, the nerd, the wannabe weakling matched him beat for beat. The quirkless idiot never showed he had a quirk growing up so why? Why is Deku beating now? Why is he strong? Has he been lied to? Did his last-minute training close the gap in combat and technicality? His thought was interrupted as Ida pinged in his earpiece. "Bakugo, Bakugo can you hear me what that explosion? Are you alright, I'm still protecting the bomb please respond." Bakugo pops up to feet taking in this new information and responds. "I read you," Bakugo said with anger in breath. "That damn nerd and round face are coming to you I'm on my way" As he said this Bakugo surged with strength and anger he never felt before turning to face the broken window of the building "On second thought, Ida, get ready to move the bomb. I got an explosive idea to shake things up." Ida was taken aback by this claim "I'll let you know we ready to move." Bakugo not satisfied responded with "You got one minute." As he finished he's hands began to smolder with excitement as prepared his ultimate move.

On the next floor approaching Ida's bomb room a sensation creeps up on Izuku's back which causes him to freeze on the spot. This worried Ochaco as she tugs to wake up Izuku from his trace. "You need to go, there's not much to time." Ocahco looks confused as she is about to say something Izuku continues "Go. find Ida, get the bomb. Hurry!" without another runs full speed to the next floor.

Deku has to think. Was this a power from One For All? Is it warning me of something bad? I need to find the source of this discomfort as Izuku is something that worries him. Outside the building Bakugo preparing his gauntlet for a large explosion. "OH NO," Ochako said simultaneously as Deku but for a different reason. As she approached the bomb room she was in for a shock. "I anticipated your arrival, foolish hero, and removed and cleaned anything from the environment," Ida said striking pose "I didn't know you liked the Ginyu force" This flustered Ida from the deep reference from a classic manga. Before he could react Ochaco began to close the distance by running at full speed shocking the speedster. Before she gets across the room, Ida speeds to the opposite side room wasting her energy. "You have to be better than that hero," Ida said while striking Burter's pose to mock his opponent. He then checks his watch to time and is in shock "Oh no" Ida realizes time is up.

"Hope you're ready," Bakugo says as he primes the pin on his gauntlet.

All Might sees and chimes into the mic "BAKUGO NO, THE EXPLOSION WILL DESTROY THE BUILDING AND THE BOMB AND YOUR CLASSMATES." All Might says this griping the mic tighter. "Don't worry I'm aiming higher like always," Bakugo says with glee. Todoroki chimed in knowing the blast cone trajectory "Sir, it possible that Bakugo is using the force, not the explosion to just shake the building," Shoto said inquisitively looking at All Might "Be that as it may. The possibility idea is mute when lives are still at stake especially students" All Might turns to Shoto so the message sinks.

-ting- the pin is pulled

"DIE" Just as Bakugo says this a loud crash can be heard coming from the building. It was Deku showing more determination to prepare a smash to counter the explosion.

Seconds earlier, Deku sees Bakugo's plans and thinks on his feet. Izuku radios Ochaco "Hold on to something," Ochaco hears her partner and grips the piller in the room holding on for dear life. Deku thinking about what to do swallows his fears and prepares to PLUS ULTRA move. He runs full speed at the window charging One For All in his hand. He hopes he times this right as he does not want to hurt Bakugo.

Cut to present

-DETROIT SMASH-

As he says this Deku smash collides with Bakugo explosions. The explosion and air pressure cause blowback that causes both students to fly back. Bakugo flies almost flying unconscious until his body and mind snap to life and catches himself on a fire escape down the alley. Katsuki is now dangling on a fire flying in and out of consciousness. At the time Deku is blown back into the body flying down the hall like a childhood friend and opponent his body awakens and forces him to grip the wall grinding to a halt almost scaping off the wall. Izuku was shocked at the body's quick reflexes but dropped to the floor in shock from a bruised and possibly broken arm.

On the top floor

Ururaka feels the building shake violently and the sound of cracking concrete begins to peel off the roof of the building. "All this wind pressure," Ida said as he griped the bomb behind him. Ida is now in a spining flying to the next building. Ida recovers and begins to springboard to debris like a stepping stone. As luck would have it his grip on the bomb is tight not letting it go. As Ida was moving to a new location Ochaco still gripped the floor making it weightless as she approached Ida. "I'm not letting you get away," Ochacho said with a determined look in her eyes. Ida is on the rooftop of another building and begins rooftop running. "Seriously," Jiro said in the observation room. "yeah, he's giving everything for this exercise" Denki chimed in.

All Might was in deep thought should he stop the exercise it would matter at this point with only forty seconds left. As he thinks this Ochako is showing her worth by gaining on Ida as clears another alley gap. Ochaco jumps but clears it completely and lands accidentally on the bomb causing Ida to freak out as runs into letting go of the bomb.

All Might takes advantage of the handoff and calls the match. Alarms blare calling the end of the match "THIS MATCH IS OVER AFTER A HARD FOUGHT VICTORY THE HEROS WIN" As he says this Bakugo wakes up and drops from the fire escape. "Did I just lose?"Bakugo said as he heard the announcement "WHAT THE HELL" Bakugo screamed in emotional pain as he reeled from what had transpired. meanwhile, inside the test building, Deku wakes up and chuckles as he celebrates his victory. Izuku has enough strength to stand and walk down the lobby.

At the same time, Bakugo walks out of the alley staring at Deku. "This isn't over NERD, you damn DEKU" Bakugo said as he walked to the entrance on the opposite sidewalk of Izuku. "Deku will no longer mean useless to me, Deku is the name of a hero." Bakugo scoffs as he continues to walk away.

Meanwhile, Ida and Ururaka congratulated each other. "That was amazing, Ida. How do you have that balance and dexterity?" Ururaka said with a smile. I could say the same to you, Ochaco. You gained on me incredibly fast, me being out of my element of level ground. You can still keep up. It surprised me." Ururaka scratches her head "Yeah, I wanted that bomb."

"Wow, that set the tone," Mineta said scared and bewildered. "Yeah, I'm getting excited everyone acting so manly," Kirishima said getting excited for the next matches.

All Might breathe a sigh of relief. As he does this Midnight appears shocking everyone. "MIDNIGHT WHAT ARE DOING HERE." All Might said in confusion. "Oh, I'm here 'cause paperwork is done," she said casually. "Remember freeform learning," she says glaring at him. "I came here to back you up for the next matches just in case," still glaring at the Symbol of Peace. "OH," All Might said still surprised. "You only spook the principal once," Midnight said with a laughing grin looking at the monitor.

"Oh great my tea, Class 1A sure is something special Aizawa," the principal said pouring another cup of tea. "Thank you, sir," he said with disinterest. The drained teacher looked at his data pad updated with the real-time data of the first match. "Tch, problematic kids" as leans back on the sofa.

END CHAPTER