Chapter Six – Action, Finally!

Seeing what day-to-day life at U.A. was like turned out to be a bit soul-crushing for Clay. The rumor that they'd receive their costumes by the second day of class turned out to be false, much to Class 1-A's disappointment.

Despite the desks being a bit too small for him and the fact that he was in a classroom instead of out in the field, the classes themselves weren't bad at all. It was nothing like high school. The content was interesting and, more importantly, useful: Hero History, Hero Ethics, Japanese and International Hero Law, and Case Studies. He especially liked the case studies—they were essentially stories with lessons built in. Some were about heroes who handled situations well, and others showed where things went wrong.

There was even a class all about branding, taught by a loud, eccentric man named Present Mic, who always referred to the students as "his listeners." He spent way too much time talking about action figures. Apparently, if a hero was popular enough, they'd get their own figure. Every action figure sold meant extra income for the agency the hero worked for, with a portion going directly to the hero. In other words, popularity helped fund safety.

The day started like many others. Clay scooted into his desk, and the weird looking guy who sat next to him was still eyeing Skipper. It made more sense now that Midoriya mentioned to Clay that this guy's thing is that he could control animals… or at least talk to them.

Clay raised an eyebrow, smirking a little. "Still curious 'bout the little guy?"

Shoji looked over, his gaze steady but interested. "He's… unique. He doesn't talk like most animals do."

Clay chuckled, scratching Skipper's head. "Unique is one word for him. I reckon he's got his own way of thinkin'."

Shoji nodded thoughtfully, his interest clearly piqued, but not enough to justify him speaking more.

Clay rubbed his legs a bit. He forgot to do the standard stretches before cramming into his desk, so he knew that he might have some cramps on the way. He almost got up to stretch when the door opened. The uninterested gaze of their raven-haired instructor induced a hush over the students.

Aizawa scanned the room with a practiced look of mild irritation. "Good," he muttered, perhaps more to himself than to them. "At least you're learning when to keep quiet." He flipped open a thin folder he'd brought in with him, his sharp eyes briefly scanning the contents. "You will all be doing exercises for the day. All-Might will be waiting for you at simulation grounds three." With the same lack of apparent enthusiasm, he presented a small remote, and he pressed one of the buttons. "Remember, your costumes will be designed with your quirks and the specifications you submitted—though any special requests need to be addressed directly with the support department. If they haven't reached out to you by now, then that's probably a good thing."

The wall at the back of the classroom began to shift with a low, mechanical hum. Panels slid apart to reveal rows of sleek, high-tech cases emerging from hidden compartments, each one marked with a student's name. The cases gleamed under the fluorescent lights, looking as if they held something precious and powerful inside.

Clay couldn't help but stare. He'd never seen anything like it—it was a far cry from the hunting packs and rough work boots he'd grown up with. This whole setup felt straight out of a sci-fi movie.

Aizawa continued, barely acknowledging the students' growing excitement. "These are your preliminary costumes. Consider them your field attire for today's exercises. They're not final; any adjustments will come after you've tested them in real scenarios." He glanced around, letting his gaze linger on each of them. "You'll be under All Might's guidance today, so try not to embarrass yourselves."

Clay could see that, for some reason, Midoriya was on the verge of tears.

With that, Aizawa waved them off with a dismissive hand. "Well? Grab your cases and head to Simulation Grounds Three."

As the class shuffled toward the shuttle that would take them to the training grounds, Clay couldn't resist sneaking a peek into his case. The clothes inside were folded impossibly tight. "Thought origami was just for paper," he muttered to himself. They were so compactly folded he couldn't even tell which piece of clothing he was looking at.

"Move it along! We'll have plenty of time in the locker room!" Iida called, taking his role as class representative very seriously. Clay almost felt happy for him. Being class rep was probably the most exciting thing that could happen to someone like Iida.

The "shuttle" was really more of an underground train—a subway, of sorts. It was more than spacious enough for the twenty students and fast enough that Clay barely had time to sit down before it came to a stop. Several of the other students tried to inspect their costumes too, but they ended up having to shove everything back in when the shuttle doors opened, signaling it was time to move.

"Woah," Sero muttered, being the first one entering the men's locker room. "This one's even better than the other one."

Clay doubted that a locker room could ever receive such excited praise. But as soon as he walked in, he figured that just two or three square feet of this mere locker room was probably more expensive than his mother's entire trailer. He'd thought Sero was exaggerating, but this place was something else. The entire room was a glossy, spotless white, illuminated by recessed lighting that gave everything a sleek, almost futuristic feel. The walls were lined with individual lockers, each equipped with digital panels instead of the physical locks and latches he was used to. They gleamed, as if just stepping near them would set off an alarm to keep the mud and grit of the outside world from even daring to think about landing here.

Sero whistled low, shaking his head in admiration. "Look at this place! I'm half expecting a butler to pop out any second."

The floors were tiled with a dark stone that had a slight polish, giving the room a clean, solid feel. But it was the space itself that surprised Clay. The aisles between the lockers were wide enough for two people to walk side-by-side without even brushing shoulders, a level of luxury that felt borderline ridiculous for a mere locker room.

Further in, he noticed separate changing stalls with thick, frosted glass doors, offering more privacy than he'd ever thought a locker room could provide. Each stall even had a built-in bench and hooks for their costumes, which—if the faint hum in the air was anything to go by—were temperature-controlled.

"Look at this place! I'm half expecting a butler to pop out any second."

"Why the hell would they make this place so nice?" Clay picked a spot by a marble bench, and he set his case down. "And you already said that."

Kirishima chuckled, shrugging as he glanced around the high-tech locker room. "Guess they figure heroes deserve the best. Gotta keep us motivated, maybe?"

Sero leaned against one of the lockers, still looking around in awe. "Or maybe they're just showing off. I mean, this is U.A.—they probably want to make sure we know we're not in some average school."

Clay shook his head, still processing the extravagance. "Feels like overkill. But then again, best hero school in the world… so I'm told." He glanced at Skipper, who was now peering curiously at the temperature-controlled stalls, his little nose twitching as he seemed to marvel at the place himself.

"Who knew the locker room would feel like more of a luxury suite?" Sero muttered, chuckling as he tapped one of the digital panels, watching as it flashed with his name and opened to reveal his costume inside. "Guess they haven't updated the locker room closer to campus…"

Clay smirked, running a hand along the edge of his locker. "Well, reckon I'll see if they went full butler service and threw a tux in here for me, too." With a chuckle, he set Skipper up on a ledge inside the locker. "Alright, let's see what we got."

The outfit, though simple, was everything Clay could've hoped for. As he put it on, he quickly realized the clothes were more than they seemed. The boots, while steel-toed, felt as light as wool socks. The brown cargo pants were so comfortable he could probably sleep in them, and he was pleased to discover hidden padding around the knees and shins. The undershirt had some padding as well, but it was the woodland camouflage hunting coat that really impressed him. It fit him perfectly, and as he buttoned it up, he noticed an array of hidden pockets inside. Plus, as he'd requested, the sleeves were roomy enough to accommodate a rat.

To complete the outfit, there were tan work gloves and an ivory-colored cattleman's hat. "How'd y'all fit all this in?" he muttered, raising his arm toward Skipper. "Come on, give it a try."

With a happy chitter, Skipper leapt into the sleeve, scurrying up and down comfortably with no obstruction.

Suited up, Clay found himself near the door to the training area. A few of the other students were there, ogling at each other's costumes. Clay found himself particularly impressed with Sero's.

"Someone would have to be out of their mind to try and fight you, Sero," Clay said with a laugh. He adjusted the collar of his own rugged outfit. The work gloves fit snugly, and the cattleman's hat felt like a natural touch—practical and familiar. It wasn't flashy, but it was clearly built for utility. He glanced down, catching Skipper peeking out from his sleeve before ducking back in, as if already getting the hang of the setup. Clay gave his arm a little shake, feeling the slight weight as Skipper settled comfortably in place.

"Lookin' good, Clay!" Kirishima called out, appearing beside him in his own red, armored getup. He gave an approving nod to the hat. "I'm guessing they didn't ask if you wanted to look like you just stepped out of the Wild West, huh?"

Clay grinned, adjusting the brim. "Reckon I'd call it more practical than pretty, but hey—it's a lot better than what I was expectin'. Hatsume must've had fun."

"This ain't a hunting trip, hick!" Bakugo spat.

Clay turned to see the dumbest-looking gauntlets he'd ever laid eyes on. He was more than ready to point this out but decided against it in the end.

"C'mon!" Mineta shouted, his small form weaving between the forest of legs blocking his path to the training grounds door. "Let's see the ladies' costumes!" Clay saw he was practically frothing at the mouth.

Clay raised an eyebrow, unable to suppress his smirk as he watched Mineta scurry around like a kid at a candy store. "Careful there, buddy," he drawled, tipping his hat slightly. "Might wear yourself out before the real training starts."

Given that they were a collection of young men, it was no surprise that Mineta wasn't the only one excited to see the women, though most were better at hiding it.

As the class moved as a group through the tunnel leading to the training grounds, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement and nerves, everyone casting occasional glances at each other's costumes. The sound of boots, sneakers, and combat gear echoing off the walls added a sense of urgency, like they were heading toward something big.

Clay couldn't help but notice that while the guys were trying to play it cool, a few couldn't resist sneaking glances at the girls' costumes. Mineta, however, was practically a lost cause. He darted between legs, craning his neck and gawking openly, his eyes wide with anticipation. "C'mon, ladies, let's see what you got!" he half-whispered, half-shouted, his voice edged with a manic excitement that bordered on absurd.

Sero rolled his eyes, nudging Clay with a grin. "Think Mineta's got enough energy left for the actual training?"

Clay chuckled, tipping his hat and eyeing Mineta with a mix of amusement and exasperation… mostly exasperation. "He'd better hope so. Otherwise, one of these girls might just knock him out for good… I better get to him first."

Clay tried to keep his gaze casual, but his eyes wandered for just a moment, giving Tsuyu a quick once-over. It made him feel wrong, but he couldn't help it. Her costume suited her—sleek and practical, a streamlined green and black bodysuit that looked both comfortable and built for agility. She seemed perfectly at ease in it, her calm expression never faltering even with all the glances her way. He quickly turned his focus back to the tunnel ahead, feeling a bit sheepish for looking at all. The gloves, mask, and head… thing were all well-suited for her.

Sero nudged him again, noticing his silence. "What, you too?" he teased, though his tone was lighthearted.

"Not like Mineta," Clay muttered.

Like the locker room, the simulation area was impossibly elaborate. It was essentially a city. Like, a full-blown city. The scale was so absurd that Clay hardly noticed the mammoth of a man who seemed like his smile was part of his very soul.

Sero let out a low whistle, his eyes wide. "It's like… an actual city. Do they expect us to take down a whole block?"

Clay chuckled, shaking his head. "Wouldn't put it past 'em." He adjusted his hat, a mixture of excitement and disbelief bubbling up as he surveyed the grounds.

"Welcome, class 1-A! I am here!"

Deku was almost crying at this point. Must be a big fan, Clay thought to himself.

All Might's booming voice filled the simulated city, his smile as vibrant as ever. "Today, we're testing your teamwork, strategy, and resourcefulness in a classic hero-vs-villain exercise!" He pointed to a model of a bomb near the center of the plaza. "Two-on-two matches! Villains will be defending the bomb, and the heroes' goal is to reach it. All quirks allowed, so don't hold back!"

Beside him, Clay noticed Deku practically vibrating with excitement, his face lit up with a mix of awe and nerves. Clay smirked—if Deku's enthusiasm was anything to go by, he'd probably spent years dreaming of a moment like this.

All Might began calling out pairings, assigning teams of heroes and villains. Each team would be working within different sectors of the city simulation, with varying terrains and layouts.

"Derreks and Minoru, team C! As Villains!"

Clay's stomach dropped when he heard Mineta's name paired with his. Out of all the people in Class 1-A, he'd somehow ended up with the loudest, most excitable, and, frankly, least helpful option. He shot a quick glance at Mineta, who was already grinning from ear to ear, clearly thrilled at the chance to play villain.

Clay leaned over to Sero, muttering under his breath, "Guess I won't be getting much help guardin' that bomb."

Sero tried to hide a laugh behind his hand, giving Clay an exaggerated thumbs-up. "Good luck, man. You're gonna need it."

Kirishima chuckled along, though he couldn't help but wince at his friend's misfortune. "Did anyone hear who's in team D?"

"Yeah!" Mina squeaked, looking like she belonged at an '80s disco rather than an observation room. "Me and Tsuyu!"

"Ah hell…" Clay groaned, glancing up to see Tsuyu's amphibian eyes meeting his. Despite her otherwise expressionless face, there was a quiet determination in her gaze. While Deku and Bakugo fought in the screens behind her, she was watching Clay. There was something predatory about it.

Sero couldn't resist teasing him. "What? Don't they hunt frogs where you're from?"

"Call her frog legs and see what happens." There was no hint of humor in Clay's voice, which only made Kirishima and Sero laugh harder.

Sero wiped away a tear, still chuckling. "Just don't get too distracted, Romeo."

"Not plannin' on it," Clay muttered, though he couldn't shake the feeling that Sero's teasing held more truth than he'd like to admit. Tsuyu's focused stare had been enough to set his nerves humming. She wasn't the type to pull punches, and he respected that. But he'd be lying if he said it didn't add a little extra pressure to impress, especially with her as his opponent.

"Alright, Team C!" All Might's voice boomed across the training ground, snapping him back to reality. "Villains, take your positions and prepare to defend the bomb!"

Clay let Mineta walk before him, mainly because Clay had seen the type. It'd be easier to keep him out of trouble if Clay could see him. "Eyes forward, chief. You don't need to be lookin' at Miss Momo."

Mineta froze mid-step, his head snapping forward as he stammered, "I-I wasn't looking! Just… assessing!" His shifty eyes betrayed him, darting back and forth with barely restrained excitement.

"Eyes. Forward."

"Okay, okay," Mineta muttered, reluctantly moving forward and heading down from the observation room. His gaze lingered on the balcony a moment too long before Clay nudged him along, keeping his attention grounded.

Clay tipped his hat at Momo as they passed, earning a polite, if slightly formal, nod from her. There was a hint of intrigue in her gaze, though, like she was curious to see what he could do.

"Let's get movin', Mineta," Clay murmured with a smirk. "Wouldn't want to keep our audience waiting." Neither of them said anything as they walked, and Clay found himself disliking the little guy even more with every step. Curiosity got the better of Clay, so he reached forward, plucking a purple orb right off his head.

"Hey!" Mineta yelped, spinning around.

Clay raised an eyebrow, watching with a mix of fascination and annoyance as his left hand clung stubbornly to the sticky purple orb. His attempts to pry his own fingers free only made matters worse, and he found himself with both hands now firmly attached to Mineta's quirk.

"Damn thing's stickier than pine sap," Clay muttered, tugging in vain.

Mineta huffed, crossing his arms with a slight smirk. "That's the point! They're my Pop-Offs. Stick to anything, even gloves."

"Convenient," Clay drawled, voice tinged with sarcasm as he gave one last pull, finally managing to wrench his hands free with an unpleasant pop. He gave Mineta an unimpressed look, tossing the purple orb back to him. "Next time, a heads-up might be nice."

"Nobody made you grab it!" Mineta shouted.

"Fair enough," Clay muttered. The building where they would be protecting their bomb was well suited for such a task. Lots of floors and lots of rooms. "Any ideas?"

Mineta looked around, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Well, I could stick these Pop-Offs all over the stairs and entrances," he said, an eager gleam in his eyes. "Anyone who tries to come up will get slowed down, maybe even trapped!"

"Not bad, not bad…" Clay raised an arm, looking as Skipper's head peeked through the sleeve. "Traps… Y'know what, hold still." Without even making sure he was ready, he had a steady stream of rats spew forth. "Alright boys, grab a ball and wait for me."

"Wait, Cla— AAAAAAAHHHHHH!"

Mineta's scream echoed through the stairwell as a flood of Clay's rats poured out, scurrying around him with quick, purposeful movements. They darted toward the Pop-Off balls, eagerly tugging at them and positioning themselves as if they already knew the plan. Mineta stumbled back, clutching his head as he watched the army of rodents efficiently grab his Pop-Offs.

"What are you doing?!" Mineta yelped, his eyes darting between Clay and the rats that now each carried a purple ball in their mouths.

"Relax," Clay said with a smirk, tipping his hat. When about fifty rats had received a ball, Clay stopped the flow of rats. "I'm feelin' a little woozy, so I think that'll be enough. Mineta, set up some balls to funnel them in. Boys, get yourself good and hidden, and set those balls on anyone lookin' pink or froglike."

Mineta muttered something under his breath but nodded, placing a few additional Pop-Offs strategically along the main staircase and other pathways as backup. "Well, if this works, we'll be untouchable."

Clay grinned, pulling himself up to stand by the bomb, tipping his hat forward. "Good. Now we're ready for 'em."

As they took their positions, Clay felt a thrill of anticipation mixed with the steady hum of focus. This wasn't a hunting trip back home, but the instincts felt the same—observe, prepare, and anticipate your opponent. He glanced around the building, spotting a few rats perched in high corners, doorways, stairways and more, their beady eyes glinting as they watched over the paths leading to the bomb. He allowed himself a small, satisfied smirk.

"BEGIN!" came All-Might's voice through the speakers, loud enough to cause the building to vibrate a bit like a tuning fork.

The sudden roar of All Might's voice snapped Clay's senses into high gear, and he steadied himself, feeling a wave of anticipation ripple through him. Beside him, Mineta flinched, clutching his Pop-Offs like they were his only lifeline. Clay gave him a quick, steadying nod.

"Remember—stay calm, eyes open," Clay whispered, glancing at his rats stationed like silent sentinels around the room and the rest of the building.

A quiet thud echoed from below as something moved on the lower floor, barely noticeable. Clay narrowed his eyes, listening carefully, straining to pick up even the slightest hint of movement. With Tsuyu's agility and Mina's acid, they'd be tricky to catch off guard. But that's what the traps were for.

Just then, he noticed one of his rats perched near the end of the hallway by the stairwell twitch its whiskers and shift its focus, signaling movement nearby. A flash of green—Tsuyu's unmistakable form—leapt gracefully from one landing to another, avoiding the sticky traps Mineta had set along the stairs. She was using the walls to bypass the traps, making her way up in swift, quiet bounds.

He stood at the doorframe. He figured he needed Mina and Tsuyu together before he sent his rats in. "Hey Tsuyu, how you doin'?" he said casually.

Tsuyu paused mid-leap, landing silently on the wall with her hands and feet spread for balance. Her large, unblinking eyes locked onto him, a hint of curiosity mingling with her usual calm. She tilted her head slightly. "I'm doing fine, Clay. But I'm here to win, ribbit."

Mina's footsteps could be heard coming up the stairs. Clay needed to stall a little longer. If they could take Mina down now…

Then, all at once, he heard tumbling from the stairwell.

Clay's grin widened as Mina's yelps echoed up the stairwell, accompanied by the frantic scuffling of rats. He could almost picture the scene: Mina trying to fend off the swarm of rats, each sticking her with a Pop-Off ball before dispersing. She'd be slowed down, maybe even forced to retreat. Ideally, Mina was currently stuck to the wall or the floor.

Tsuyu's gaze flicked toward the stairwell, a faint crease of worry crossing her otherwise calm expression. Clay took advantage of her split-second distraction, leaning slightly out of the doorframe to keep her attention fixed on him.

"Looks like your partner's got her hands full," he said, tipping his hat with a mischievous smirk. "You're sure you wanna press on?"

Tsuyu's eyes sharpened, her expression unflinching. "Mina can handle it," she replied, her voice steady, though her gaze darted once more in Mina's direction. "And so can I."

"Fair enough." His smile widened a bit more.

At his whistle, a wave of rats poured from the shadows, scurrying along walls and floors, each one armed with a Pop-Off orb. Tsuyu's eyes widened as they closed in, her calm composure giving way to quick, precise movements. She flipped backward, springing to the wall as a few orbs stuck to her arms and legs, slowing her agility.

Clay's smirk deepened as he watched her attempts to evade, admiring her grace even as she twisted to avoid the oncoming rats. "Ain't so easy now, is it?"

With Pop-Offs sticking to her limbs, Tsuyu was forced to adapt. She used her long tongue to whip a few of the rats away, managing to fling several Pop-Offs across the hallway in the process. One of the sticky orbs hit the doorframe just beside Clay's head with a loud smack.

Just when Clay was running out of armed rats, one of them had a lucky break. Leaping from the top of a doorframe, the rat managed to land a Pop-Off right on the inside of her elbow, more-or-less making it useless. Taking the opportunity, Clay charged forth. "Sorry about this, Tsuyu," he muttered, just before shouldering her over onto her back.

Tsuyu hit the floor with a soft thud, her wide eyes meeting his, and for a second, Clay felt a pang of guilt for pinning her down. She struggled briefly, her arms partially immobilized by the Pop-Offs, but she kept her gaze steady, unblinking and defiant.

"Nice move, Clay," she said, her voice calm, even with the hint of strain in her tone. "But this isn't over yet, ribbit."

Before Clay could respond, he heard Mina's voice coming from the stairwell, a hint of frustration mixed with determination. She'd managed to shake off a few of the sticky orbs and was clearly ready to make up for lost time.

"Hang tight, Tsuyu! I'm coming!" The voice sounded like it was coming from the first or second floor. Clay still had time.

He winced, pressing his back against the wall—a perfect place to ambush anyone coming up the stairs. But he needed to go a step further. Raising his arm, he summoned a smaller, quicker rat. "Mineta," he whisper-shouted, "I need another ball!"

Still in the bomb room, Mineta handed the rat one of his sticky balls, which it gripped tightly in its little mouth before scurrying back to Clay and waiting for instructions.

"God forgive me…" Clay muttered. "Go ahead and stick that on her mouth."

The rat gave a tiny squeak, as if it understood the gravity of the request, and darted forward without hesitation. Clay held his breath, watching as the small creature moved with surprising stealth, the Pop-Off ball clutched tightly in its mouth.

Tsuyu had just managed to prop herself up on her elbows, her expression one of intense focus as she prepared to launch her tongue. But before she could, the rat lunged, springing up and pressing the sticky orb onto her lips.

Her eyes widened in shock as her mouth was effectively sealed shut. She reached up, trying to pry it off, but with the Pop-Off balls already stuck to her arms, her efforts were clumsy at best.

"Sorry, Tsuyu," Clay muttered, feeling a pang of regret as he watched her struggle. "But I can't have you callin' out for backup."

A few moments later, Clay could hear Mina's footsteps coming up. He could hear her labored breathing. Nobody would be fresh after climbing all those stairs. Clay caught Mineta's eye, and Clay waved him to hide. They would ambush Mina when she approached Tsuyu to help.

Mineta nodded, diving behind a stack of crates in the corner with surprising stealth, his usual jittery energy momentarily tempered by the seriousness of the situation. Clay pressed himself against the wall, watching the stairwell intently as Mina's footsteps grew louder, her pace slowing slightly as she neared the top.

Seconds later, Mina appeared, her breathing heavy, eyes darting as she took in the scene before her. Her gaze locked onto Tsuyu, whose arms were still bound with Pop-Offs and whose mouth was covered with another, preventing her from warning of the danger. Mina's expression shifted from determination to concern as she started toward her friend, completely unaware of Clay and Mineta lying in wait. She took a few steps forward, realizing too late that she had walked into a trap.

"Sorry Mina!" Clay shouted, charging forth and shouldering her over. Mina stumbled forwards from Clay's rush, her arms flailing as she tried to steady herself, but Mineta was ready. He sprang from behind the crates, hurling several sticky Pop-Offs onto her arms and legs, each one landing with a satisfying splat.

"Gotcha!" Mineta shouted triumphantly as the orbs quickly immobilized her. Mina struggled, her hands glowing faintly with acid as she tried to melt through the sticky traps. But with her energy already drained from the stair climb and her mobility compromised, her efforts were slow, each movement hindered by the purple balls clinging to her limbs.

"TEAM C WINS!" came All-might's voice.

"Good job, Mineta. Let 'em loose."

Mineta just stood there, looking at the two women. Restrained women. Clay knew the look.

"Let them loose now or I'm gonna throw you outta window. That ain't a threat. That's a promise."

Mineta blinked, a nervous chuckle escaping as he looked at Clay's serious expression. "Alright, alright! No need for that!" He quickly peeled the remaining Pop-Offs off Mina's arms and legs, and Clay gave him a nod as if to say, That's more like it.

Mina stretched out her arms with a scowl, though there was a hint of admiration in her gaze. "You two are relentless." She rubbed her wrists where the orbs had been stuck, but her expression softened as she looked up at Clay. "Nice work, cowboy."

Tsuyu, now free, dusted herself off, her calm composure returning. She met Clay's eyes and nodded, a glimmer of respect in her gaze. "Not bad, Clay. You and Minoru make a surprisingly good team."

"I'm sorry I had to… do that to you, Tsuyu. Ma raised me better than that."

Tsuyu blinked, her expression softening as she studied him. "It's alright, Clay," she replied, a hint of a smile pulling at her lips. "Heroes have to do what they must to win, ribbit."

Clay scratched the back of his head, looking a bit sheepish. "Still, didn't expect my first mission here would be stickin' a ball on someone's mouth. Guess I got some adjustin' to do."

Mina laughed, nudging him playfully. "Hey, don't sweat it! It's all part of the game. Besides, you took us down fair and square." She shot Mineta a mock glare. "Just make sure he knows the rules of 'hero etiquette' next time..." Her fluffy pink hair fluttered when she snapped her head to face Mineta. "Pervert."

Just then, All Might's voice echoed again, calling them all back to the observation room. The four of them began the walk back, a bit slower after the adrenaline of the match. Clay could feel the satisfaction of a hard-won victory settling in, along with a bit of relief—he'd earned some respect from his classmates and, maybe more importantly, from Tsuyu.

"Don't let that cowboy hat fool you," Mina said as they walked. "There's a real strategist under there."

Clay smiled, heat rushing into his cheeks. All the goodness he felt was gone when his eyes fell upon Mineta, who was walking a ways ahead of him. "It wasn't right. The way he looked at ya'll when… in that state." Nobody said a thing, but Clay was still determined.

Returning to the observation room, they were met with some cheering. "Great job to both teams!" All-Might boomed. "Clayton, take the shuttle back to campus. Principal Nezu would like to speak with you."