What does he mean by 'we'll win'? Uraraka wondered, her thoughts racing as she tried to make sense of the situation. Izuku had always been a bit of a mystery to her. When she first saw Izuku, he seemed quiet, if a little shy. But now, there was something different about him. It wasn't just his mask or the dark, almost brooding aura that seemed to cling to him. It was his eyes—those piercing, intense eyes that seemed to hide something deeper, something she couldn't quite place.

She wanted to believe in him, in the words he had just spoken. After all, they were teammates, and teamwork was essential in situations like this. But the way he said it, with such sudden confidence, made her uneasy. Izuku had always been quiet, reserved, and unsure of himself, at least from what she had observed. But now, standing beside her in his ominous black costume, he seemed like a completely different person. His tone was too calm, too sure, making her question if he really believed they could win or if he was just saying it to avoid showing doubt. Is this who Izuku Midoriya is?

Uraraka's mind kept returning to that question as they prepared to face their opponents. She couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. Is he hiding something from me? she wondered. Does he think we'll lose? The confidence in his voice didn't match his appearance.

Uraraka knew their opponents were tough—Katsuki was explosive and aggressive, and Iida was speedy and strategic. Then there was Minato, the top scorer after Katsuki, who seemed to act calmly under pressure and frighteningly fast. They were facing some of the strongest students in their class, yet Izuku's sudden shift in demeanor made it seem like he wasn't worried at all.

But how could that be? Was it possible that Izuku had some kind of plan that she wasn't aware of? Or was he just putting on a brave face for her sake? 'We'll win.' The words echoed in her mind, but they only deepened her uncertainty instead of filling her with confidence.

"Deku," Uraraka said softly, turning to look at him as they moved into position. "Are you sure about this? I mean, they're powerful, and..." She hesitated, not wanting to sound like she was doubting him but needing to understand what he was thinking.

Izuku didn't respond right away. He simply adjusted his grip on the sword strapped to his back, his eyes hidden behind the narrow slits of his mask. When he finally spoke, his voice was steady, almost unnervingly so. "You've been through UA's exam and passed. This is just another one. Stick to the plan, and we'll be fine."

Stick to the plan? Uraraka thought, biting her lip. What plan? Izuku hadn't really shared much of a strategy with her. His words were vague, almost like he was keeping something to himself. The more she thought about it, the more her doubt grew.

Uraraka wanted to believe in Izuku and trust that he had some kind of strategy that would carry them through this trial. But as they moved into position, that knot of uncertainty in her stomach tightened. She had seen glimpses of his intelligence and strength, but those moments were always fleeting, hidden behind his literal and figurative mask.

She glanced at him again, hoping to catch some sign, some clue that would ease her nerves. But Izuku was unreadable. His eyes focused straight ahead, locked onto the task before them. And that made her question everything. How was she supposed to fight with someone who wouldn't let her know the plan, or if he even had one?

But there was no time to dwell on it. The timer on the training ground's display was ticking down, signaling that their trial was about to begin. Uraraka took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. If Izuku believed they could win, she had to hold on to that belief, too, even if it felt shaky and uncertain.

As they stood at the entrance of the building where the trial would take place, the buzzer sounded, and they went.

Immediately, Izuku moved at a speed that surprised her. He darted forward, his movements precise and fluid. She only heard her feet stomping as they ran while Izuku's were utterly silent. Uraraka hurried to keep up, her mind racing to piece together whatever strategy Izuku might have been formulating in his head. She had to trust him now, had to trust that whatever he was doing would give them a chance.

As they made their way through the training ground's simulated urban environment, Izuku's pace slowed slightly. His eyes scanned their surroundings with an intensity that sent a shiver down Uraraka's spine. He was calculating and analyzing every possible angle and potential threat. She could see it now—he wasn't just moving—he was hunting.

"Uraraka," Izuku says, "Your quirk can cancel gravity, correct?"

Uraraka glances at Izuku with a surprised look, wondering how he knew about her quirk. But she used it during the test Aizawa did the day before. She nodded, "Yes, It's called zero gravity. I can make objects or people float in zero gravity by touching something with all five fingers. But I get sick the more I use it... Do you mind if I ask what was your quirk?"

Izuku was silent. He looked back briefly, "I don't have a quirk; I'm quirkless."

Uraraka felt her breath catch in her throat. Quirkless? That was impossible—or at least, it should have been. How could someone without a quirk even make it into UA, much less perform as well as Izuku had so far? The revelation hit her like a ton of bricks, leaving her reeling as they continued moving through the simulated environment.

But Izuku didn't give her time to dwell on it. He pressed forward, his focus unwavering, as if what he had just revealed was of no consequence. But to Uraraka, it was everything. She had always believed that having a powerful quirk was the key to becoming a great hero, and here was Izuku, moving with the confidence of someone who had something far beyond just a quirk.

"How?" she whispered, almost to herself, but Izuku heard her.

"Training. Strategy. And determination," Izuku said, not breaking his stride. "A quirk doesn't define a hero. What you do with what you have does."

Though spoken calmly, his words carried a weight that settled deep in Uraraka's chest. She wanted to ask more, to understand how he had reached this point without the power everyone else relied on, but the urgency of their situation didn't allow for it

The building loomed ahead, its dimly lit corridors stretching like a maze designed to disorient and trap its occupants. Uraraka's heart pounded as they approached the entrance, the weight of Izuku's revelation still heavy on her mind. She couldn't fathom how someone quirkless could achieve so much, but there was no time to dwell on it. The trial had begun, and their opponents wouldn't wait.

As they stepped inside, the atmosphere changed. The air was more relaxed, and the faint hum of the building's electrical systems filled the silence. The objective was simple: locate and secure the bomb, while their opponents—Katsuki, Iida, and Minato—would do everything in their power to stop them.

Izuku moved with a purpose, his eyes scanning every corner, every shadow. Uraraka followed closely, her nerves taut as a wire. She had no idea what Izuku was planning, but she had to trust him. He seemed to know exactly what he was doing, even if she didn't understand it yet.

"Uraraka," Izuku whispered as they reached a fork in the hallway, "we'll split up here. You take the left. I'll go right. We need to cover more ground, and I'm counting on you to get to the bomb first. If you find it, use your quirk to move it to a safe location where they can't reach it."

Uraraka nodded, though doubt gnawed at her. Splitting up felt risky, especially against opponents as strong as Katsuki and Minato. But she could see the determination in Izuku's eyes, and something about his confidence steadied her nerves.

"Got it," she whispered back, her voice barely audible, "What'll you do?"

"I'll cause a distraction."

Uraraka hesitated momentarily, unsure if splitting up was the best idea, but there wasn't time to debate. She had to trust Izuku's judgment. She nodded again, more firmly this time, and then took off down the left corridor as quietly as possible, her heart pounding in her chest.

The hallway was narrow, the walls lined with doors that could lead anywhere or nowhere at all. The dim lighting made it hard to see far ahead, and every sound seemed amplified in the stillness. Uraraka forced herself to stay calm, reminding herself of Izuku's words: Stick to the plan. But what was the plan, really? She was still trying to figure that out, but she had to believe there was one.

As she moved deeper into the building, she focused on staying quiet, her eyes darting to every corner, every potential hiding spot. She had to find the bomb before the others did. It was their only chance. But even as she moved, part of her mind was still on Izuku. How could he be quirkless? How could someone without a quirk have the kind of confidence and determination he had shown?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps echoing from around the corner. Uraraka froze, her heart beating as she pressed herself against the wall, listening intently. The footsteps were steady and unhurried, and they were getting closer.

She held her breath, her mind racing as she tried to decide what to do. She didn't have time to think—if she hesitated, she'd be caught. And if she were caught, it would be over for both of them. But then she remembered Izuku's advice: If you find the bomb, use your quirk to move it to a safe location where they can't reach it.

Her quirk. Of course.

As the footsteps drew nearer, Uraraka took a deep breath and prepared herself. She didn't have much time to act, but she had to try. Slowly, she peeked around the corner, catching a glimpse of Iida, his tall figure moving purposefully down the hallway, his eyes scanning the area.

Uraraka quickly pulled back, her heart racing. She needed to get past him, but how? She wasn't sure she could take him head-on, but maybe she didn't have to. Perhaps she could outsmart him.

She glanced toward the ceiling, at the lights and the ventilation shafts that lined the hallway. A plan began to form in her mind, something risky but potentially effective. She just needed to get Iida's attention, and then...

Uraraka grabbed a small piece of debris from the floor—a loose chunk of concrete that had fallen from the ceiling—and held it tightly in her hand. She took a deep breath, her fingers brushing against the wall as she activated her quirk. The chunk of concrete lifted into the air, floating weightlessly above her hand.

With a quick flick of her wrist, Uraraka sent the concrete flying down the hallway in the opposite direction, where it clattered noisily against the wall. The sound echoed through the corridor, and she saw Iida's head snap toward the noise, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

It worked. Iida took off at full speed toward the noise, his engine-like legs propelling him forward in a blur of motion. The moment he turned the corner, Uraraka moved, sprinting down the hallway in the opposite direction as fast as she could. She had only a few seconds before he realized the noise was a decoy, and she needed to find the bomb

Before he caught up.

She turned another corner and found herself in a large, open room. The room was mostly empty, except for a few scattered crates and barrels, and in the center of the room, resting on a pedestal, was the bomb. Uraraka's heart leaped. She had found it.

Without wasting a moment, she dashed toward the bomb, her mind racing as she thought about what to do next. She needed to get it to a safe place, somewhere their opponents couldn't reach. But where? The building was a maze, and she didn't have much time.

As she reached the bomb, Uraraka placed her hands on it, her fingers trembling slightly. She activated her quirk, feeling the familiar sensation as the bomb's weight disappeared. It lifted off the pedestal, floating gently in the air. Uraraka quickly scanned the room, searching for a hiding spot.

Her eyes landed on a large ventilation shaft high up on the wall, just big enough to fit the bomb. It was perfect. Uraraka moved quickly, guiding the bomb toward the shaft, her heart pounding in her chest. She just needed to get it inside, and then—

Suddenly, the door to the room burst open, and Katsuki charged in, his face twisted in a snarl. Uraraka's breath caught in her throat as she saw him, his palms crackling with explosive energy. He had found her.

"Deku's little sidekick, huh?" Katsuki sneered, his eyes locking onto the floating bomb. "You really think you can beat me?"

Uraraka's mind raced. She didn't have time to think—she had to act. She pushed the bomb toward the ventilation shaft, willing it to move faster, but Katsuki was already closing in on her.

"Like I'd let you get away with that!" Katsuki roared, his hand outstretched as he prepared to launch an explosion.

But just as he was about to strike, a shadow moved behind him, and Izuku appeared, his sword drawn and his movements silent as a whisper. He instantly closed the distance between them, slashing his blade quickly and slicing the floor, a precise arc that knocked Katsuki off balance.

Katsuki stumbled, his explosion veering off course and blasting a nearby crate into splinters. He spun around to face Izuku, his eyes blazing with fury. "You...!"

Izuku didn't respond. He simply moved, his body flowing like water as he struck again, this time forcing Katsuki to retreat a few steps. Izuku's movements were calculated, his strikes precise, and each one was designed to keep Katsuki off balance and away from Uraraka.

"Now!" Izuku shouted, his voice sharp and commanding. "Get the bomb out of here!"

Uraraka didn't need to be told twice. She focused all her energy on moving the bomb, guiding it into the ventilation shaft. It slipped inside just as Katsuki regained his footing, his eyes darting between Izuku and the now-hidden bomb.

"I thought you were busy with blondie? I hated that he was right. You were the bait."

"I lost him," Izuku casually says not like Minato the top scorer. "Uraraka, go! Now!"

Uraraka didn't need any further encouragement. She darted toward the nearest exit, her heart pounding in her chest as she left Izuku and Katsuki for their confrontation. The bomb was safely hidden, but the trial was far from over. She needed to find a new vantage point, somewhere she could regroup and figure out their next move. The corridors blurred as she sprinted through the building, every muscle in her body tense with the urgency of the situation.

Meanwhile, back in the room, Katsuki's anger flared as he locked eyes with Izuku. The seething rage in Katsuki's gaze was met with the cool, calculated stare of Izuku's masked face. The two boys stood in stark contrast to each other—one a roaring inferno of explosive power, the other a quiet storm of controlled precision.

"You think you can beat me, Deku?" Katsuki spat, his voice laced with venom. "You really think you can take me down?"

Izuku didn't flinch. His grip on his sword tightened, the blade gleaming in the room's dim light. Izuku had a slight plan in his head. "This isn't about winning, Kacchan," Izuku replied, calm and steady. "It's about finishing the mission."

Katsuki's lips curled into a sneer. "Mission? Don't give me that crap! You're just hiding, just like always, hiding behind your tricks and your quirkless mask. But I'm going to blow you away, Deku. I'll show everyone what a pathetic weakling you really are!"

With a roar, Katsuki lunged forward, his hand igniting with a blast of explosive energy. The force of his attack was overwhelming, but Izuku was ready. He sidestepped the explosion fluidly, his sword cutting through the air as he aimed a precise strike at Katsuki's exposed side.

Katsuki barely dodged in time, the edge of Izuku's blade grazing his gauntlet. He retaliated with a flurry of explosive punches, each one aimed at where Izuku had just been. But Izuku moved like a shadow, his body flowing with each attack, always one step ahead of Katsuki's fury.

"You're fast, Deku," Katsuki growled, his frustration mounting with each missed strike. "But not fast enough!"

Katsuki unleashed a massive explosion, the shockwave tearing through the room and sending debris flying everywhere. The sheer force of the blast shook the building, but Izuku didn't waver. He used the momentum of the explosion to propel himself backward, landing gracefully a few meters away.

Izuku's eyes, hidden behind his mask, remained locked on Katsuki. "You're strong, Kacchan. But strength isn't everything."

The nickname made him twitch. Katsuki snarled, "Shut up! You don't know anything about strength! I've been fighting my whole life to be the best, and I'm not going to let some quirkless loser take that away from me!"

Izuku didn't speak. He didn't rise to Katsuki's taunts or let the anger take hold. Instead, he kept his focus, his mind working through every possible scenario and every angle of attack. Katsuki was powerful, but power without control was a weakness, and Izuku knew how to exploit it.

"You're still the same, Kacchan," Izuku said quietly, "Always charging in headfirst, relying on brute force. But that's why you'll never win."

Katsuki's eyes blazed with fury, and for a moment, it looked like he might lose control completely. But then, something shifted. Katsuki's rage sharpened into something more dangerous—a cold, calculated intent. He took a step back, his posture changing from one of blind aggression to one of strategic offense.

"Oh, I get it now," Katsuki said, his voice low and deadly. "You're trying to push me, trying to make me lose my cool. But I'm not falling for it, Deku. I'm going to end this right here, right now."

He smiles. Katsuki charged forward again, but this time, there was a difference. His attacks were more measured, his movements more controlled. He wasn't just trying to overpower Izuku—he was trying to outmaneuver him.

Izuku immediately saw the change, and his respect for Katsuki grew slightly. Katsuki had learned and adapted, but Izuku wasn't about to back down. He met Katsuki's charge head-on, their movements a blur of speed and precision as they clashed in the center of the room.

The sound of metal against metal filled the air as Izuku's sword met Katsuki's gauntlet. Sparks flew as they traded blows, each one trying to find an opening, a weakness in the other's defenses. Katsuki's explosions sent shockwaves through the room, but Izuku's agility and precision kept him just out of reach.

For a moment, it seemed like they were evenly matched. But Izuku knew that he couldn't keep this up forever. Katsuki's power was relentless, and every explosion took its toll on the room around them. If this fight dragged on too long, the entire building could come down on their heads.

Izuku needed to end this, and he needed to end it quickly.

In a split second, Izuku made his move. He feinted to the left, drawing Katsuki's attention, then pivoted sharply to the right, using his momentum to drive his sword—a flying dagger crashed into his blade, pushing Izuku backward.

"Bakugou, you said you could take him," Minato said, his tone calm and collected.

"Shut up!" Katsuki shouts, "I don't want you to hear your hypocrisy. You said the same thing, yet you lost him. We only have a few minutes left. That girl doesn't have the bomb. I saw her hide it somewhere in the room."

Minato stood at the room entrance, his posture relaxed, but his eyes were sharp and focused. He didn't flinch at Katsuki's outburst nor let the insult faze him. Instead, he simply nodded as if acknowledging a simple fact.

"You're right," Minato said calmly, "I underestimated him. But this isn't the time to argue. We need to work together if we want to win."

Katsuki snarled, his eyes darting between Izuku and Minato. The anger in his gaze was noticeable, but there was a flicker of something else—uncertainty beneath it. He hated to admit it, but he knew that Minato was right. As much as he despised relying on someone else, he couldn't take Izuku down alone, not like this.

"Fine," Katsuki spat, "But stay out of my way."

Minato didn't respond, but his silence was enough. The tension in the room was thick as both boys turned their attention back to Izuku. Izuku could feel the shift in the air—their dynamic had changed. He wasn't just dealing with Katsuki's brute force anymore; he was up against the combined strength and strategy of two of the most formidable students in the class.

Izuku's mind raced as he assessed the situation. He couldn't afford to be caught off guard, not now. Katsuki's aggression and Minato's precision made for a deadly combination, one that could easily overwhelm him if he wasn't careful.

The room was silent, the only sound the faint hum of the building's systems. Then, without warning, Katsuki moved. He launched himself at Izuku, his hands igniting with explosive energy as he aimed a powerful strike at Izuku's chest. But this time, Izuku was ready.

He sidestepped the attack, his sword flashing as he deflected the blow. The force of the explosion sent shockwaves through the room, but Izuku held his ground, his movements precise and controlled. He could feel the heat of Katsuki's quirk as it grazed his side, but he didn't let it slow him down.

As soon as Katsuki's attack was missed, Minato was there, his movements swift and deadly. He darted in from the side, his three-pronged dagger aimed at Izuku's blind spot. But Izuku anticipated the move, twisting his body just in time to avoid the blade. The dagger whizzed past his ear, embedding itself in the wall with a solid thunk.

Izuku didn't have time to catch his breath. Katsuki was already on him again, his attacks relentless, each one more powerful than the last. The room seemed to shake with the force of Katsuki's quirk, the air crackling with energy. But Izuku kept moving, his sword a blur as he parried each blow, his mind focused on finding an opening, a weakness he could exploit.

Minato observed the exchange, his eyes narrowing as he analyzed Izuku's movements. He could see that Izuku was holding his own, but he also knew that their combined assault was taking its toll. Izuku's breathing was becoming more labored, his movements slightly slower than before. It was only a matter of time before he made a mistake.

And that's when Minato would strike. He disappeared like he did during his race with Katsuki, appeared next to his dagger stuck in the wall, seizing it into his hands. Minato monitored as he clashed with Izuku, waiting for his chance to strike like a cobra. And Izuku can't do anything but wait.

Izuku could feel the pressure mounting as he continued to evade Katsuki's relentless attacks. Each explosion shook the room, sending shockwaves through the air, making it difficult to maintain his balance. The heat from Katsuki's blasts was intense, and the relentless barrage was beginning to take its toll on Izuku's stamina. He knew he was running out of time, both in terms of his energy and the countdown of the trial.

He couldn't ignore Minato either. Minato moved like a ghost, appearing and disappearing when he wanted to. Izuku was fully aware that one wrong move, one moment of distraction, could mean the end for him.

Katsuki's next explosion was particularly fierce, sending Izuku skidding backward across the floor. He barely managed to stay on his feet, the soles of his boots scraping against the cracked and scorched tiles. His breath came in ragged gasps, but he never lost focus. He knew that any sign of weakness would only encourage his opponents.

Standing a few meters away with his dagger back, Minato nodded slightly as if signaling to Katsuki. Izuku saw it, and his heart sank. They were coordinating their next move, and it would likely be the one to end the fight.

Katsuki's grin widened as he charged forward again, his hands glowing with explosive energy. Minato, in perfect synchronization, tossed his dagger and vanished from his spot. The dagger flies over Izuku's head, seemingly off target. Minato reappears over his dagger at Izuku's flank. He grabs his dagger mid-air, twisting his body, aiming for a precise strike.

Izuku's mind raced, searching for a way out. He couldn't block both attacks simultaneously, and evading would only leave him open to Minato's follow-up. He needed to think fast—faster than he ever had before.

As Katsuki closed in, his explosive fists aimed squarely at Izuku's torso, Izuku made a split-second decision. He threw himself backward, deliberately off-balance, to fall to the floor. It was a risky move, but it was all he had left. As he dropped, Katsuki's explosion tore through the air above him, missing by inches.

The blast's force sent a shockwave, rattling the walls and cracking the floor tiles beneath Izuku. But he had avoided the worst of it. The split-second delay caused by Katsuki's missed attack gave Izuku just enough time to twist his body and bring his sword up in a defensive arc, narrowly deflecting Minato's incoming dagger strike.

Minato's eyes widened in surprise as the blade of his dagger clashed with Izuku's sword, sparks flying from the impact. The two locked eyes for a moment—Izuku's steely determination meeting Minato's cold calculation.

Using the momentum from the deflection, Izuku pushed off the floor with his free hand, spinning his body in a low, sweeping motion that forced both Katsuki and Minato to back off momentarily. It wasn't a decisive counterattack, but it bought Izuku a precious few seconds to regroup.

As Izuku regained his footing, he knew he couldn't keep relying on these desperate maneuvers. He needed to create an opening, something that would give him a real chance to turn the tide of the battle. But with Katsuki's overwhelming power and Minato's unnerving speed, the odds were stacked against him.

Katsuki was the first to recover, and his fury was evident in how he bared his teeth. "You think you can keep dodging forever, Deku? I'm gonna blow you to pieces!"

He surged forward again, this time with even more intensity, his explosive fists aimed to obliterate. But Izuku noticed that Katsuki's attacks were becoming more reckless and more fueled by anger than strategy. Katsuki was powerful, but his emotions clouded his judgment.

Minato, however, remained calm, observing the fight with his calculating gaze. He was waiting for the right moment to strike, to catch Izuku when he was most vulnerable.

Izuku knew that if he wanted to win this fight, he had to disrupt their rhythm. He had to force them to react on his terms rather than theirs. With that thought, an idea began to form—a dangerous, reckless idea, but it might be his only chance.

As Katsuki charged, Izuku focused all his energy on one move. He let Katsuki close in, drawing him into a false sense of security. Just as Katsuki's fist was about to connect, Izuku activated his Sharingan, only for a short second, the crimson glow hidden behind his mask.

Time seemed to slow as Izuku focused on Katsuki's every movement, predicting the trajectory of the explosion before it even happened. At the last possible second, Izuku sidestepped the blast with almost supernatural precision, using the momentum to slide past Katsuki and close the distance between himself and Minato.

Minato's eyes widened as Izuku appeared in front of him faster than he had anticipated. Izuku didn't give him a chance to react—he struck with the hilt of his sword, aiming to disrupt Minato's balance. The blow connected, and Minato staggered back, his concentration momentarily broken.

It was the opening Izuku needed.

He didn't hesitate. Using the momentum from his previous movement, he spun around and delivered a powerful kick to Minato's midsection, sending him crashing into the wall with a thud. The impact knocked the wind out of Minato, and his dagger slipped from his grasp, clattering to the floor.

But Izuku couldn't celebrate just yet. Katsuki was already turning on his heel, his rage-fueled quirk crackling with even more power. He was coming for Izuku; this time, there would be no holding back.

Izuku braced himself, his mind racing for a plan. He had managed to disrupt their teamwork, but Katsuki was still a force to be reckoned with. He had to think fast and use every ounce of his skill and strategy to survive this final assault.

As Katsuki charged, Izuku saw the opportunity he had been waiting for. With Minato temporarily out of the fight, Katsuki had nothing to hold him back. He was overcommitting, pouring everything into a single, devastating attack.

Izuku steeled himself, gripping his sword tightly. He knew what he had to do.

As Katsuki closed in, Izuku didn't move. He stood his ground, waiting for the perfect moment. The room was filled with Katsuki's deafening roar—a thundering horn blasted across the room, halting both Katsuki and Izuku's movements.

"Team Midoriya and Uraraka Win!"