Knock Knock*

"Kanzaki-san? Kanzaki-san? Hitomi? Are you in there?" Michiru called out worriedly as she stood in front of the counselor's door. Pulling out her phone, she checked the time…five past six, already past the time they agreed upon. No new texts or missed calls. Michiru looked up at the ceiling, then around the hallway nervously, concern for her fellow lighter growing.

It been over a week since Hitomi and Shouta had started spending their days trying to get Oboro in control of his body. In that time, the counselor and underground teacher had worked tirelessly with only moderate improvement to show for their efforts. Shouta would come back after work hours and insist on updates from Jun and give input and direction for class. Hitomi was often too drained to do even that, sticking to phone calls or just some texts from Jun once she was home and resting to keep up to date on the newest lighters.

It had been the tanuki girl that concerned Hitomi the most, given her traumatic experience and violent expression of that stress on her mission and the fight with Sakon afterward. The brunette first lighter wanted to sit down and have a long talk with the fur-covered morpher because she knew how important it was to talk these things out, even if it sounded like fists had gone a long way with the ant girl.

So it was, on the last day of the week, Hitomi and Shouta had agreed to finish with Oboro early so she could get a talk in with Michiru before the tanuki girl joined her friends for the joint training with 1-B the next day.

The only problem now was that Hitomi was late, or worse for all Michiru knew.

After a few more minutes of waiting and checking the group text with 1-A and feeling bad for how clueless they were about the next day, Michiru went to knock one last time before giving up. "Hitomi, are you-"

"Sorry I'm late Michiru."

"AH!" Michiru yelped as she nearly jumped out of her fur, quickly twisting to face the older woman with shock on her tanuki features. "How the hell did you sneak up on me!?" she asked panicked, her heart racing.

The question became even more relevant when Michiru actually got a good look at Hitomi. The counselor was disheveled to say the least, her business suit untucked in places, the bow on her collar uneven and her hair a mess. And the bags under her eyes…the poor woman looked like she hadn't slept in days. Hitomi offered a confused, if fatigued "Huh?" in response, titling her head.

Michiru quickly composed herself and stepped to the side to allow Hitomi to unlock her door. As the counselor stepped forward to do so, Michiru couldn't help but ask "Kanzaki-san…are…you ok? We can try again next week if you're not up to this, you know."

Hitomi stopped, straightened her posture, shook her head and put a smile on her face before looking sideways at her patient and said "I appreciate it Michiru, and under normal circumstances, I'd agree. It's just, I know Aizawa-sensei only has a few more days before Principal Nezo wants him back and by then I'll be even more exhausted. I don't plan to use my power in today's session though. Besides, with other things going on, I don't know home much peace we're going to have."

Eyes widened; Michiru quickly followed up "What does THAT mean? Is everything ok?"

Hitomi shook her head, taking another step up to the door, pressing her ID to the panel by the handle to unlock it as she said "Not out here. I can tell you a bit more while we talk. There isn't any immediate danger, I'll say that."

Wholly unassured, Michiru followed Hitomi into her office and sat down on the couch opposite the chair Hitomi usually sat in.

Hitomi went to desk to put her bag down and get out her tablet. While she was doing that, the counselor asked "So, how was the Nekoya? I heard Emeralda had to go help Eri-chan and it was just you and Zelgadis. Did you have a good time?"

Michiru turned to look over at Hitomi as the older woman began walking to her seat and replied "It was great! Pretty sneaky of you not to mention every Saturday the entrance becomes a portal to another world! Aside from the lion guy that picked a fight with Zel, I think he enjoyed it too! Kind of like home for him, especially once we got talking to the other customers!"

Hitomi got to her seat and plopped down heavily, though she was smiling, and said "Yeah, I heard about that! Sorry things got a little rough there but I'm glad you had a good time!" Then, stylus in hand, Hitomi looked down at her screen before asking nonchalantly "Yomi told me everyone, including her, thought you two were a couple when you first came in. I hope that didn't make things awkward for you."

Michiru blanched involuntarily, sitting forward suddenly before quickly replying "Why does everyone think that? I don't even think of him that way, and I know he doesn't see me that way!"

Hitomi chuckled, causing an adorable pouting expression on Michiru before the counselor looked up again and said, her voice soft yet carrying a knowing confidence "If I were to guess, it's because you two look so at ease around each other."

"But it's not like we hold hands or look all lovey dubby at each other. So, what gives!?" Michiru protested.

"Michiru, there's more than one way to express affection. Not every couple is kissing in the streets and declaring how amazing the other is all the time. Sometimes it's knowing that you care for them and they for you." Hitomi explained.

Michiru's expression was first one of embarrassment, mostly at the subject even being discussed at all but then she shifted to looking more contemplative. After a moment, the tanuki girl said, a look of realization on her face "That's how it was for you, then? I always kind of thought there was something between you and Sanada-sensei."

Immediately, Hitomi burst out in laughter, nearly dropping her stylus as she leaned forward, unable to control herself for a moment. Michiru looked confused, an eyebrow raised as she waited for the counselor to regain her composure. When the brunette finally did, she explained while wiping tears from her eyes "Oh no, Sanada-sensei and I aren't a couple. He has been, and always will be devoted to his lost family. Besides, I've always seen him as an older brother."

"Oh…ok. Sorry for the misunderstanding." Michiru apologized, looking away, ready to talk about just about anything else.

Hitomi, though, wanted to further clarify and replied "It's ok, that's hardly the first time that's happened. Jun is very distant and we spend a lot time together, I get it." Then Hitomi's face turned wistful and she added "When I was a bit younger than you are, I had a crush but as I was confessing my feelings, I was whisked away to Gaea. Before long I was smitten with a noble knight that had more than a passing resemblance to that first crush. All the while traveling with the newly minted king of a small country who did all he could to help me, even if he was sometimes very awkward about it."

Michiru's face grew sour and couldn't help but quip "Well, that sounds like a nice little romantic vacation, doesn't it?"

"Hey, I was trying to stick to the parts relevant to the subject at hand but if you want to hear about the two separate countries I saw burned to the ground, all the times I was nearly killed or saved others and the war I was partly responsible for, then settle in because I've got a story to tell." Hitomi replied with an icy tone, her exhaustion dampening her usual sweet demeanor.

Michiru recoiled back, putting her hands up defensively as she said "Sheesh, I'm sorry! Back to the love triangle…"

Her expression softening, Hitomi met her patient in the eyes and said seriously "All I was trying to say was, all the time I was with Van, I cared about him. I wanted him to be happy and I worried about him, all the time. It was almost too late when I realized that was what love was. Not the twittering in your stomach when a guy you like looks your way, not when he thinks your outfit looks cute or how attractive he looks in whatever he's wearing. We supported each other and did our best to make each other happy. Whether you have that, or want that, that's up to you and that special someone. Sometimes the hardest part is realizing it. At least, that was my experience."

Michiru had listened intently and when Hitomi was done, the tanuki looked lost in thought. The counselor's words seemed to open a door for the tanuki girl and now she was suddenly thinking back to all of her relationships with her friends, in this world and her own. It was…almost too much and her eyes began to glass over as she stared at the wall behind Hitomi.

The counselor noticed she'd lost her patient and gently spoke up "All that being said, that isn't why we're here today, is it? So, tell me about Shivmachi and about this revelation you had when you fought Formidable."

Michiru's head snapped straight once Hitomi spoke again, an embarrassed blush on her face. Once Hitomi finished asking about recent events, Michiru steeled herself, taking a deep breath and began "I'll tell you about that but before I do, let me start with when Sakon asked if I'd met any beastmen before I became one…"

(X)

At the lighter dorm, with classes over for the day, Emeralda was at the dining table in the common area along with Eri. The younger girl had a lot to catch up on with her schoolwork, having been offered barely anything that might be considered an education while under the care of her "father" and Emeralda was helping the best she could. Normally people preferred to do homework in their rooms or in the classroom on the other side of the building, but Eri very much liked to avoid being alone or in confined places if she could avoid it.

Emeralda found she was having a hard time explaining vocabulary and writing, her serious, often times too literal mind making it hard to explain concepts at Eri's level. Math, though, was by it's nature very logical and she found she had a much easier timing teaching it to the mono-horned girl.

The two friends were just finishing up what Jun had assigned when Zelgadis came in the door, a couple of books under his arm. The two girls stopped and looked over at the sour looking chimera, Emeralda offering a nod, but Eri sat up, turned in her chair and waved excitedly and said "Zel-kun! Welcome home! Emmy-chan says you might be able to help me with my words! Can you?"

Zelgadis was surprised by the request and briefly shared a look with the tan lighter. Between the adorable little girl and the unspoken request from Emeralda, Zelgadis didn't have it in him to refuse so he headed over to the table. Taking a seat on the other side of Eri, Zelgadis put his books on the table and looked down at the beaming girl. For a moment, the sorcerer-swordsmen stared at Eri, wondering what was going through her mind. He had, after all, held her hostage when she had been so close to freedom, his sword at her throat. She had every right to fear him. To hate him. To recoil at his mere presence.

Yet, here she was, asking for his help as if nothing had ever happened. It reminded him of the days when he had helped support orphans. Back before they had become scared of him. The eyes that looked up at him now bore no fear. She was…happy to see him. It was almost too much for him too bare, he was entirely undeserving of those eyes. Then again, she had saved him. Healed him when he surely would have died and only moments after he had committed such a heinous act.

Eri's grin began to shift into a confused look, which just made her look even more precious and Zelgadis knew he'd been in his own head too long. "So, what is it Emeralda thought I could help you with?" he said, bringing a smile back to Eri's face.

Pulling a thin book from a stack in front of her, Eri flipped it open to a bookmarked page, pointed empathetically and said seriously "Grammer! Emmy-chan tried to explain this but I didn't get it. Could you explain it to me?"

Zelgadis leaned forward, saw the offending page, briefly glanced up at Emeralda again, wondering just what she had said that confused the poor girl before returning to the topic and did his best to explain the concept. It took a bit of rephrasing but on the second try, Eri seemed to understand. With that done, Zelgadis moved to get back up, his own prep to do before tomorrow's training, when Eri grabbed his arm and said "Oh, oh! Would you help me with a few other things? Emmy-chan tried but…"

Now Zelgadis shot an annoyed glare at the nanomachine girl, who at least looked guilty under his scrutiny. Sitting back down and swallowing a sigh, the chimera smiled and replied, "Sure kid, how can I help?"

From there, Zelgadis only got himself in deeper, answering any and all questions that came his way, all the while peppering the little girl with his own, gently guiding her to the right conclusions. Not long after they started, Emeralda excused herself to prepare some snacks for them while they worked.

That's how things were when Terra came down from her room, a heavy air about her. Zelgadis briefly offered a glance and a nod but continued working with Eri. Emeralda, though, picked up on the half-esper's temperament and stepped away from the kitchen to meet the older girl. "Is…something wrong, Terra?" she quietly asked.

"It's nothing." Terra quickly lied, which caused a frown to form on the nanomachine girl's face. Then Terra looked over Emeralda's shoulder at Zelgadis continuing to work with Eri and it looked as though the magic-wielder came to a decision. "Actually, I do have some news. Is Michiru back from her session with Hitomi?"

Emeralda shook her head and replied "I am afraid not. Neither gave me a time frame for her return. Honestly, the longer they spend, the better for Michi."

Terra nodded and then called out "Eri-chan, I need to talk to Zelgadis and Emeralda about something. You think you could finish your homework in your room? I'll read you a story once we're done here, ok?"

As if Zelgadis wasn't even there, Eri shot up from her chair and beamed "OK! Zel-kun's been a big help, I should be done with the rest real quick. I'll be waiting for you Terra!"

After quickly gathering her materials, the rewinding girl dashed upstairs, excited to hear another one of Terra's stories. Terra couldn't help but giggle at the young girl's enthusiasm. Before long, Eri was gone and only the three lighters remained.

Without further preamble, Zelgadis got straight to the point as Terra and Emeralda joined him at the table "So, what's wrong. You looked pretty shook when you came in."

The smile that had been on Terra's face faded away quickly now that they were on to serious matters, but before that, the half-esper needed to clarify some things. "Honestly, until a few moments ago, I wasn't going to say anything at all."

At first, Zelgadis looked angry, then briefly hurt, before realization set in and he spoke "You didn't think you could trust us, trust me, with this information. Is that it?"

Terra nodded, her strong feelings about Zelgadis' actions regarding Eri in the yakuza raid still informing her attitude toward the chimera. At least, until just now. "You don't really have the best tract record. It's hard for me to forgive you for what you did. Watching you now, though, I knew you had been working to atone and watching Eri, I started to think that if she could forgive you, then maybe it was time I did too."

If Zelgadis was relieved, he didn't show it. Instead, he went the other way, replying "Eri is a child, she probably doesn't even truly understand just how wrong I was. You're right to continue to feel that way. I deserve it. I'm actually glad you feel it for Eri because she is much too sweet to do it herself."

"Zelgadis, that's too harsh-" Emeralda began to protest before Terra cut her off.

"No, you can't make things better in the past. Keep walking forward and I will help along the way. That's all I ask. Now, you remember Sadou Maou, don't you?"

Both lighters nodded and Emeralda answered "We went looking for him only to find he had been given a store in a place called Deika City. Is he ok?"

"Jun says they don't know. They claim there was an earthquake in the city and a number of people are dead and a lot of the city was damaged."

"What?" Zelgadis said, confusion and worry seeping into his voice.

"That's not the worst part." Terra then said. With the other two intently waiting on her to explain, Terra continued "He was actually on an undercover mission, penitence for his hand in helping you get to Kamino. We knew for a fact that the League of Villains were headed toward that city. We think something serious went down there, we just can't tell what."

The normally stoic Emeralda was visibly concerned when she asked, "What was Maou-san investigating?"

"Rumors about the resurrection of the Meta Liberation Army. Celty had actually made contact with him just the night before we lost contact. He claimed the whole city was populated by people devoted to the cause of overthrowing the government."

"And what? We're here playing student when there's such a big threat out there for these people?" Zelgadis asked. Though the question was pointed, he spoke it calmly.

Terra still eyed the chimera, memories of him and the other new lighters rushing off to fight All for One very much at the forefront of her mind. "And we let those trained to handle situations like this do their job. It means a lot that you want to help, its what makes you a hero. I know it's been hard for you to trust others given all you've been through so before I ask you to trust them, know that I trusted you enough to share this with you. I trust you won't run off again."

Emeralda looked over at Zelgadis, half expecting him to be furious at being told to sit and wait but was relieved to see he had remained calm, nodding along with what Terra had said. "You're right, not to long ago I wouldn't have trusted anyone else to get the job done but…but as much as I want to repay them for helping me, this world is so much bigger than mine. There are many, many more people here who are doing what needs to be done. It's just hard sometimes, sitting still, not being able to go where I need...where I want to go."

Terra smiled and stood up, surprising the other two lighters. "That's what I was hoping I would hear. I feel a lot better about tomorrow knowing that."

Emeralda and Zelgadis briefly looked at each other before the chimera replied "What? Is there something else about tomorrow we're missing?"

"Yes. Jun also told me to tell you you'll be in charge." The half-esper said with a smirk.

The chimera stared for a moment before his shoulders comically sunk and he numbly said "What…"

(X)

The next morning, a Saturday, arrived and Izuku had arrived at Training Ground Gamma early. The location was a massive replica of an industrial factory, with countless buildings filled with complex layouts, and machines, pipes and equipment. An ideal place for the kind of complicated close combat situations heroes sometimes found themselves in when facing villains.

Whether those villains would be the sister class to 1-A, 1-B or some other setup, the freckled boy didn't know. The teachers had been suspiciously quiet about the exact nature of this joint training, which only ate at Izuku's nerves all the more.

Not that he needed any help in that department. The night before he had had an extremely vivid dream in which those that claimed to be the previous wielders of One for All had come to him, shown him memories and even spoken to him. He'd awoke with a start, his quirk briefly going out of control and causing him to shatter his window. Yuga had been very worried and threatened to stuff him with cheese if anything was wrong. Sleep was impossible after that and as soon as he had dared, he'd calledToshinori The former number one hero had said he would explain as much as he could after the training but since the exercise was in the morning, they would have to wait until afterward.

Eventually, the teachers arrived together. Jun, Tosinori, Sekijiro, Nemuri and much to Izuku's surprise, Shouta. "Is everything ok, Midoriya? You're here very early and I don't see any of your classmates." Jun said ahead of the rest of the faculty.

"Uh, yeah! I…just had a hard time sleeping is all! Excited for the training I think!" Izuku nervously replied, briefly glancing at Toshinori before facing his normal homeroom teacher and saying "Hello Aizawa-sensei! I didn't expect to see you here."

If the gruff underground hero was happy to see his student, he didn't show it, instead adopting an admonishing tone, saying "Midoriya…you need to be rested to be at your best. I expect you to get a full night's rest."

Nemuri was having none of it, playfully shoving the dower eraser hero before saying playfully "Oh, look whose talking over here! Says the man who gets so little sleep he naps during class!"

Shouta was unfazed but he did counter "And I know better than most just how important that rest is as a result. The last thing I want is for them to follow my example."

Why, then, he continued to do it was left unsaid by everyone but thought by all present.

It wasn't long at all before the rest of 1-A arrived, except for the three lighters. Izuku knew they were missing even before he could see everyone coming around a corner because his classmates could be heard wondering not just where they were, but several were gossiping about the recent trip Michiru and Zelgadis had taken to a restaurant hours away.

All of that discussion died the moment Ochaco and Tenya came into view, their eyes lighting up in recognition. Tenya waved his hand while the brunette called out "Deku! Where were you? You had us worried! You didn't even answer your phone!"

Izuku rushed over to the rest of the class, an apologetic expression on his face. "Sorry guys! I had something on my mind this morning and needed to clear my head! I left my phone in my room but I'm ok now! I'm ready for the training!"

"You better be, nerd! We're not going down because you're spacing out or whatever!" Katsuki bellowed, freshly adorned in his new winter gear, covering all of his formally exposed skin.

"Your costume looks great, Ka-chan! It helps with sweat retention during colder weather, right?" Izuku replied, the angry blonde's words seemingly rolling right off him.

Katsuki looked he was about to bite out a counter but stopped himself, folded his arms and just looked away. That left others to speak up, namely Momo, whom was now donning a red cape over her normal revealing costume, who said "He's not the only one. Many of us have needed to adapt to the circumstances."

"Yes, our costumes have come a long way since we first started the year, isn't that right, Midoriya?" Tenya added, offering an approving smile at Izuku and his own new equipment.

Now sporting gloves that would allow him to use his quirk to send small blasts of air from them, the freckled bearer of One for All bashfully rubbed the back of his head and replied "Ye-yeah, I guess your right about that."

"Ahh, isn't that cute! Are you all done comparing fashion? Because we're here to be heroes!" An arrogant and unfortunately familiar voice called out from around an opposite corner.

"Oh no…" Denki said, his heart sinking.

"OH YES! Class 1-B is here!" Neiro said, at the head of 1-B, themselves decked out in their hero costumes. Whatever bluster the tuxedo-wearing blonde may blabber about, it was clear the other first year students was here to prove themselves, each bearing a serious and determined look on their faces.

"GET READY 1-A! Because we're here to kick your asses!" Neito finished, leaning back, flaring his arms out and cackling like the most villainous of madmen.

"OH YEAH! I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU TRY!" Katsuki roared, pushing past Izuku and challenge the smug quirk copier. The rest of 1-A also got their game faces on and had turned to face their rival class, none willing to show weakness in the face of the challenge.

Before the two blondes could come close enough to get physical though, Sekijiro came to stand between them, his massive hands used to push the two belligerent students apart. "It seems you all have misunderstood the nature of today's training."

"What do you mean, sensei?" the silver-haired Reiko asked, echoing the confusion on many of the students faces.
"He means you all won't be fighting each other." Shouta answered sharply, bringing everyone's attention on him. He'd been hiding behind the other teachers, and this was the first time any of the others besides Izuku had seen him.

After a chorus of questions and well wishes, the ever-tired teacher continued unabashed "Though we had originally planned for you all to compete head to head, it was pointed out this wouldn't be extremely realistic. Since I wasn't there to object, Sanada-sensei went ahead with his idea, which he will now explain."

Stepping forward, Jun offered a thankful nod to the man he was subbing for and raising his voice so all forty students could hear "While it's good to compete with other students to gauge your growth, it's not something that happens on the job. In the field, when there is a villain attack, often heroes from more than one agency will arrive on the scene. You will find in your careers that it is important to your bottom line to be the agency that gets credit for stopping a villain."

Several student's eyes widened in realization of what the teachers were planning, Izuku going so far as to say aloud "Wait…you don't mean that we're going to be competing to…"

"Well done, Midoriya-san." Jun praised before continuing "That's right. The two classes will be competing to be the class to stop as many villains as possible. The class to take down the most, or is able to secure the enemy bomb in the time limit will be the winner."

Mina quickly raised her hand, worry on her face and asked "Wait, what about the others? Michiru, Emeralda and Zelgadis aren't here!"

"And how does this format fix the problem of 1-A having their ringers!" Tetsutetsu added.

On hearing both questions, Jun offered a knowing smile. Raising his hand and pressing a button on his cellphone, a door behind the teachers began to raise and the silver-haired former hero answered "Ah, simple enough. Because the villains you will be attempting to subdue will be my very own lighters!"

The door finished raising and there stood an apologetic Michiru beside a very annoyed-looking Zelgadis and ever neutral Emeralda. The three newest lighters weren't alone, however. Terra, Shinra and even Hina were there, though there was one more. To say the gathered students were surprised was an understatement.

"What the hell is this bullshit!?" Katsuki roared.

"Wait, is that Shinso?" Mashirao asked of the purple-haired brainwasher, now sporting a scarf that looked like Shouta's.

"It hardly seems fair that forty students should take on seven." Tenya observed.

"You mean we have to go up against Branford?! We're screwed! Totally screwed!" Kinoko from 1-B declared.

"Are…are those general studies students though?" Hanta asked.

"CALM YOURSELVES!" Sekijiro yelled out once more. The students immediately went silent, their attention again on the teachers.

"Here's the deal!" Nemuri spoke up. "Your class reps will serve as the heads of your agencies. All tactical decisions will go through them! You will be broken up into smaller units of four each. To keep this fair, each unit won't be allowed to directly assist one another other but you can share information. To have a capture count, you will need to take them back to your classes cutely decorated prison cells! However, if a villain incapacitates you, you're out! Also, villains can be rescued from jail and can rejoin the fight! If all of the villains are caught or the bomb is captured, the game is over! Whoever captured the bomb or has the most villains when all are caught wins! Teams will be assigned by random lots."

"I have a question!" Tenya called out, his hand raised stiffly above his head. "I understand why most of the lighters are here. They are on the hero track, but why are there two general studies students here? Also, what would happen should I or my fellow class representative get knocked out of combat?"

Denki, standing beside Tenya, couldn't help but point out "That was two questions though…."

Still, Hina opened her mouth to answer the first question with a quip but Jun beat her to the punch, quickly and loudly replying Although Yoshifumi -san isn't in the hero course, she is quite capable. We needed seven to round out our numbers and she volunteered. Trust me, she will be fine." As the former rescue hero finished, Hina offered a menacing toothy grin that only the students could see. More than a few of them felt a shiver down their spines.

"As for Shinso, he is shooting to join the hero track. This is his chance to show he is worthy of joining you. That also means one of you could lose your spot, so I expect your best." Shouta answered, narrowing his eyes.

Several of the lower preforming members of both classes suddenly looked very nervous, especially one grape-haired boy who had continued to do poorly as he tried to earn his provisional license.

"As for your second question, if the class rep is defeated, that team will lose the ability to communicate between each unit. Also, if units have lost several members, they can be combined to get back up to four." Sekijiro explained.

"Now unless there are any other questions, come up and draw lots! That will determine which unit you're in!" Nemuri called out.

Before any of the students could move, however, Michiru raised her hand and called out before being acknowledged by the teachers. "Yeah, I got one! Who blew out their window last night? It woke me up and after I dragged Emmy out of bed, we checked it out. One of you shattered your window, who was it?"

This was news to most of the teachers. Toshinori had been told over the phone and he'd reported it to building maintenance but as for the rest, it was new. Thus, Shouta raised an eyebrow and turned to face his students and said, his voice icy "Yes…that is an excellent question. Would someone like to volunteer that answer?"

Most of 1-A looked confused though this quickly turned to shock when Izuku meekly raised his hand.

"Deku?" Ochaco asked, worry in her voice.

"Dude, everything ok?" Eijiro also asked, more of less speaking for the rest.

Moving his hand to scratch the back of his head, Izuku briefly offered an apologetic glance at his housemates before facing Michiru when he spoke "Sorry. I should have known you'd hear that. I kinda lost control of my quirk when I woke up from this weird dream I was having. Sorry for waking you up!" he finished, trying to smile despite how nervous he felt with so many eyes on him.

Her arms crossed, Michiru at first was annoyed she had had to call some one out but on finding it was Izuku and getting his explanation, the tanuki girl softened her expression and offered a smirk herself, saying "Thanks for admitting it! I'm glad you're ok and nothing else was wrong. Now get ready because we're going to wreck you!"

"Bring it, racoon face!" Katsuki roared before Sekijiro again stepped in and declared "Pick your lots, let's get moving!"

(X)

The "villain" team watched on while the hero students pulled lots and began to gather with their teammates. Michiru had mixed feelings about effectively filling the same role the Big Three had played in their own test so months earlier. Besides the scale, seven against forty, there was one other difference. Not only was Zelgadis serving as their team leader but if he did well, he would have his punishment reduced to time served and he wouldn't have to join Katsuki and Minoru any more.

The tanuki girl was sure that was a big reason for the sour look on his face. There was no doubt in her mind that Zelgadis thought he was being bribed into the role he had previously stated he wasn't good at. At this exact moment though, the facts seemed to be pointing the other way because the chimera had taken it upon himself to approach the seventh member of their little squad.

Extending his hand, the sorcerer-swordsmen introduced himself, saying "Shinso? Hello, I'm Zelgadis Greywards, the team leader for the exercise. Please just call me Zelgadis. Sanada-sensei filled me in on your quirk and I watched your match in the sports festival with Midoriya. Looks like you have some additional equipment, mind if you fill me in?"

Hitoshi Shinso, a general studies student who managed to make his way into the final round of the sports festival. It was a feat usually only those in the hero course could pull off and spoke of the boy's drive to actually earn a spot on the hero track. Just about the same height as Zelgadis, his wild indigo hair made him look a bit taller along with his white boots that stood out on his mostly black jump suit. He did wear the same scarf-like capture tape that Shouta wore and some sort of mask to cover the lower half of his face. The mask currently rested on his neck as his tired looking purple eyes hardened and he replied "Yeah, I'm not here to make friends. I've got something to prove so no need to get all chummy, ok?"

Zelgadis glanced down at his hand, left unshaken before he raised an eyebrow and looked back at the younger general students student, Michiru and Emeralda now on either side of him. "Yeah, never said we were. I asked you a practical question. The more I know, the better plan I can make. We don't have to be friends, Hina over there hates my guts, but we are working as a team so let's get talking while we can."

"Damn right!" the blue-haired telekinetic confirmed, raising her hand with a smirk before returning to talking to Terra, who just frowned.

Instead of answering his team leader, Hitoshi turned and faced the hero students and spoke, his voice raised to make sure he was heard "I've trained hard to get to this point! Just because I'm on a villain team, you best remember that I'm gunning for one of your seats! I'm way behind you all and I know that but that doesn't mean I won't go as hard as I can so be ready!"

Many from 1-A and 1-B, having stopped to listen, responded with raucous cheers, several offering their own challenges in response. Zelgadis, though, had his hand in his face. "He's going to be a handful, isn't he?" Michiru quipped.

"I do not envy your position." Emeralda added.

"Shoot me now" Zelgadis said, grumbling.

(X)

After finally getting Hitoshi to explain his mask, which allowed him to sound like other people, Zelgadis had introduced the rest of the team and explained what their "quirks" were. The brainwasher had been less than cordial but had agreed to do as he was told. Zelgadis had decided to split the team inro two groups, with Hina left to protect the bomb and serve as a last line. Because the numbers were so staked, the remaining six could only cover so much ground to maximize how much they could help each other, they would wait just outside of the building with the bomb and wait until the heroes arrived.

As much as it might mix things up and throw off their opponents, Zelgadis thought it best that those who worked together the most should be on the same team, thus he had paired himself with Michiru and Emeralda and Terra with Shinra, since they were classmates and having more time in the UA system, better suited to work with Hitoshi. Plus, the chimera reasoned that with the brainwasher able to freeze an opponent, that would be all it would take for Terra or Shinra to quickly knock out a hero.

Zelgadis knew Tenya well enough by now to know that the speedster legacy hero would want to play it safe. That meant sending a recon team in first, namely the group made up of Momo, Toru, Fumikage and Yuga. Which also meant the one and only time it would make sense to go on the offensive. Not knowing Itsuka Kendo, the class rep of 1-B, Zelgadis could only guess what her plan was but he had told Terra if they thought a scouting team was out there, he'd leave it to her whether or not to attack it.

As they waited, the three of them each hiding beside different storage crates line up in a row, Zelgadis felt the need to bring up a subject he had been reluctant to broach until now. "Michiru. You still haven't shown either of us this chimera form of yours. It would have been good to know what you could do if the situation required it."

Until now ideally fiddling with the edge of her jacket, the tanuki girl frowned before replying "That's because if I have my way, you, or anyone else won't ever see it!"

Zelgadis had more or less expected that answer and was about to respond that he didn't care what form she was in when Emeralda spoke first, asking "But why? I don't understand, how is it any different than any form you take? If anything, is it not the advanced form of your abilities?"

Still fresh off her talk with Hitomi the night before, Michiru was more willing to share her feelings on the subject, even if it wasn't what the other two wanted to hear. "That's not it. Honestly, I'm pretty strong in that form. Maybe too strong. But that's not what upsets me. It's what I've done when I was in that form. I was angry, at my lowest point. I…I don't want to be the kind of person that relies on that form, that rage, you know?"

"Michiru, no one thinks less of you. Sakon certainly doesn't. You were just…human. Maybe you should cut yourself some slack." Zelgadis suggested, missing the irony of his words completely.

Michiru, however, did not, chuckling and offering as a counter "Talk about the kettle…."

Zelgadis was apparently familiar with the phrase because he frowned his usual annoyed look, something that had come to bring no small amount of joy to the tanuki girl's heart. Emeralda though, interjected with a confused "I don't understand. What does a kettle have to do with anything?"

Suddenly, Michiru's ears perked up and she quickly said "SHHH!" before extending her ears to those of a rabbit while stretching her snout out to that of a wolf. Both Zelgadis and Emeralda grew deadly silent while Michiru took in the surroundings and after a few tense moments, dropped her voice to a whisper "Its Hagakure! She's about twenty meters to the south."

Zelgadis nodded. "This is it, let's head out. Lead the way and keep a lookout for an ambush!"

(X)

"Are we close?" Zelgadis asked behind the leading morphed tanuki girl.

"Yeah, she's on the opposite side of this structure, but…" Michiru answered, confusion lacing her words.

"But what?" Emeralda pressed.

"Beyond her, it kind of smells like…nail polish? It's awful!"

"Nail polish? As in acetone? Ok, hold up." The chimera ordered as he stopped, along with his teammates. "That's clearly not a normal thing to smell, right?" he asked while Michiru turned back to look at him.

"They know many of our abilities just as we do theirs. Perhaps they are trying to throw Michi's sense of smell off?" Emeralda hypnotized.

"Then why do I smell Hagakure? Why not hide her scent too if she's trying to sneak up on us?" Michiru questioned, trying to listen in with her ears now knowing her nose was likely failing her.

The three thought for a second before it came to their leader, a moment too late. "Because they wanted to lead us into an ambush!" Zelgadis called, pulling out his sword just in time to block a charging Dark Shadow from the shadow of the neighboring structure.

"Shit!" Michiru cursed, dodging to avoid a naval laser from Yuga, who had appeared around the corner. She rolled away and came back to her feet, ready to charge at the blonde half French boy when she noticed he slipped on what looked like a gas mask.

Then, a floating mask appeared before the caped figure of Momo, brandishing what looked like an air gun. Before any of the lighters could register what was happening, the creator shot a fairly slow-moving projectile at them. Emeralda wasted no time shifting her arm into a sword and swung at the object. Her aim was true, busting the bag. This caused a horrible gas to explode however, suddenly making it very hard for those without a mask to breathe, their throats on fire and their eyes watering.

Yuga wasted no time attempting again to blast the struggling lighters but Emeralda was able to form a shield, even as she kneeled, unable to do much else. Dark Shadow had a much easier time getting a shot in on Zelgadis, sending him backward, landing hard on his back before he curled up, coughing and wheezing.

Michiru, hardest hit by her sense of smell and sight, reverted her nose back to normal, reducing the pain but not enough to get her on her feet. What was still working was her ears and she knew her friends were in trouble. Throwing caution to the wind, she sprouted wings on her back and began beating them furiously. The gale she created was enough to clear the gas from the area and give their opponents pause but little else.

The brief pause was still enough. With the gas gone, Zelgadis was able to get out a labored "Eyes!" Michiru and Emeralda knew what that meant and knew to keep their still burning eyes closed before Zelgadis raised his hand and shouted "Lighting!"

Brilliant light spilled from a glowing sphere in his hand. The sudden change in luminosity was enough cause the attacking 1-A students to block their vision, though Dark Shadow had no luxury, crying out as the brightness caused him to shrink.

Just able to get their own eyes open enough to see, the three lighters got up and retreated as quickly as they could, Zelgadis sending off a Freeze Arrow back at their assailants that hit the ground and quickly formed a wall of ice to buy them some time.

Near their original starting point, all three struggling to breathe still, Zelgadis pressed a button on the head set he'd been issued just like the two class reps had and said "Report! Is everyone else ok?"

"I'm sorry, Zelgadis! They attacked us all at once, I was able to drive them off but they got away with Shinso." Terra reported.

"Great." Zelgadis drawled.

"I'm got some action." Hina came in over the comm.

That was the biggest surprise. Had this scouting team/ambush been a ploy to sneak another team in?

"Yeah, I got the frog girl, the animal lover, the rocky guy and an idiot blonde." The blue-haired girl reported, Zelgadis able to hear Denki protesting the insult in the background.

"That sounds bad." Michiru agreed, able to hear with her elongated ears. That same hearing was able to pick up the sound of more attackers coming just in time to shout a warning "There's more! We need to move!"

But it was too late. Blasts of concentrated air and a flurry of sticky balls along with streams of tape fell upon the three lighters. Michiru was able to evade the wind pulses, but Zelgadis found himself wrapped tightly and Emeralda had been unable to avoid several of the balls and found herself stuck to the ground.

Looking up on the top of the nearest building, eight heroes-in-training appeared, ready to move in and finish the job. At their head was Katsuki Bakugo, a cold and focused glare set firmly on the chimera he had gotten the jump on. "Let's Finish this!" he declared before Izuku, Jiro, Ochaco, Hanta, Mina, Rikido and Minoru charged forward.

Zelgadis had known this training wasn't going to be easy but even he had to admit he hadn't expected things to snowball so quickly. He had to hand it to the Ida kid; he didn't think the bi-speckled class rep had it in him to be so bold.

With a smirk, Zelgadis looked over at his teammates despite his constrained state and asked, "You two ready to do this?"

"Let's go!" Michiru declared, her hands becoming sharp clawed paws.

"Yes, let us kick ass." Emeralda added in a comical monotone.

That caused the other two to smile despite themselves and in just a few moments, the fight truly began.

(X)

I feel like I start all of these postscripts with apologies but I just can't help it. I wanted so badly for this chapter to be a long and epically fun battle. It's what I've been looking forward to writing for a longtime now. Yet, I fear that anticipation backfired on me, the lead up helping to feed a blank when it came to actually writing it. This combined with a bout of depression that came hard at the beginning of the month left me not wanting to do much of anything. Thus this chapter is much shorter than I planned and I can't help but feel disappointed in it. Not exactly the way I wanted to celebrate my birthday. Then again, I hadn't expected to once again be sick and for my wife to be out of town at a work conference, leaving me to be a single dad for a week. Today feels a bit hollow, honestly. Sorry, I've got nowhere else to say this so sorry to burden you all with that. It'll be a new month with the meat of the fight ahead of us next month, I promise.

If you're wondering how old I am today, I'll give you a big hint. Today, I'm the answer. I'll leave it at that. If you want a bigger hint, feel free to ask. There were no reviews this month so I wouldn't mind the conversation. Take care out there, thank you for reading and I'll see you in the new year!