Chapter Nine
Aizawa looked at his class, the usual apathetic expression masking his underlying thoughts. Today was the day they would elect a class representative. He had his own opinions—Ingenium's younger brother seemed like a natural fit for the role. But this wasn't about his preferences; it was about letting the students decide.
"How are we electing one, Aizawa-sensei?" Kaminari asked, his curiosity evident as he scratched the back of his head, his face twisted into a slightly idiotic grin that made Aizawa inwardly sigh.
Aizawa surveyed the room. Most of the students mirrored Kaminari's puzzled expression, though some, like Bakugou, seemed more irritated than curious.
"I don't care how you do it," Aizawa said, his voice a monotone drawl as he unzipped his sleeping bag. "But you do it." He slipped into the bag with practiced ease. "Don't disturb me until you do it." With that, he collapsed onto the dais with a thud, snoring within seconds.
Despite his apparent slumber, Aizawa could hear the students' bickering.
"I should be the class rep!" Mineta's shrill voice pierced through the room. "Then I'll make the girls wear—"
"Ew, no one's asking you, rotten grape," Jiro snapped back, her earphone jacks twitching in annoyance.
"You extras have no—"
"A dazzling gentleman like—"
"I should be th—"
"How 'bout—"
"—we vote?" Momo's calm, composed suggestion cut through the cacophony.
"Excellent suggestion, Yaoyorozu-san!" Iida's voice boomed, his hand chopping through the air in agreement. "You too, Iida-kun!"
The chatter subsided as the students began to consider Momo's idea seriously. Aizawa, half-buried in his sleeping bag, allowed himself a small smile. They'd get through this quickly enough. The Underground Hero needed his sleep, after all.
Fifteen minutes later, a decision was reached. Iida stood tall as the class representative, with Yaoyorozu as his assistant.
"All right then," Aizawa said, emerging from his sleeping bag and glancing at the clock. 10:34 am. "Class is over. Your next class is Practical Heroics. So—"
"Yosh! Finally!" Kaminari interjected, barely able to contain his excitement.
"A class that is not boring!" Ashido exclaimed, her enthusiasm infectious.
"Seeing girls in costumes… hehe…" Mineta muttered under his breath, earning another round of disgusted looks.
"Why is he here again?" Jiro groaned.
Aizawa sighed, his thoughts drifting to the next instructor. 'Good luck, All Might. Hope you have some 'fun'.'
Aizawa's gaze lingered on Izuku Gojo, the boy who seemed to exist only on paper as a ghost. Only Nezu and All Might knew the full truth of his identity, and they were keeping tight-lipped. There were whispers that he was All Might's son. Looking at the boy's glowing eyes, Aizawa couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to him than met the eye.
The history of the Culling Games and the Cursed Chapter of Humanity flashed through Aizawa's mind. The Gojo family's legacy was shrouded in mystery, but one thing was clear: their eyes held the power to manipulate space-time. The man who created quirks was a Gojo. The man who destroyed Shinjuku was a Gojo.
If Izuku Gojo was anything like his ancestors, he might be stronger than All Might.
Or perhaps even All For One.
oOo
All Might opened the door to the mock city with a dramatic flourish, his Silver Age costume gleaming under the artificial lights. Students erupted into cheers and admiration. He couldn't help but smile; such enthusiasm never got old.
Everyone was dressed in their customized costumes. His eyes scanned the crowd:
Young Momo's costume was functional but overly revealing.
Hagakure was…invisible? Her costume left much to the imagination, or lack of… Mineta, in a diaper-like costume, looked downright ridiculous.
All Might sighed deeply. A conversation with the principal about costume regulations was clearly in order.
Turning his attention to Izuku Gojo, his charge, he noted the boy's attire—a sleek black t-shirt and baggy white pants. The material looked expensive, likely resistant to electricity and fire. Izuku would look even better in a few years if he gained muscle. All Might mused that he might order a similar outfit for himself.
Addressing the students, All Might announced, "Today, we'll be doing mock battles. Each battle will feature four students: two heroes versus two villains."
Excitement buzzed through the crowd, the students' chatter filling the air. All Might grinned, pleased with their enthusiasm.
- Team 1: Kirishima and Asui as heroes vs. Sero and Mineta as villains. Kirishima's hardening quirk and Asui's agility made quick work of Sero's tape and Mineta's sticky balls.
- Team 2: Todoroki and Shoji as heroes vs. Sato and Koda as villains. Todoroki's ice immobilized the villains while Shoji used his dupli-arms to secure the area.
- Team 3: Momo and Tokoyami as heroes vs. Ojiro and Hagakure as villains. Momo's quick thinking and Tokoyami's Dark Shadow easily outmaneuvered the invisible Hagakure and the tailed Ojiro.
- Team 4: Jiro and Kaminari as heroes vs. Sato and Koda as villains. Jiro's sonic attacks disoriented the villains, allowing Kaminari to stun them with his electricity.
Finally, it was time for the highly anticipated battle: Team Heroes: Izuku Gojo and Ochako Uraraka vs. Team Villains: Bakugou Katsuki and Tenya Iida.
Ochako was visibly nervous. Izuku leaned in, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Don't worry, I'll handle everything," he winked at her. Ochako blushed, unable to resist his charm.
"As long as I'm around, no need to worry, sweetheart," Izuku said confidently, making her blush even more.
Meanwhile, Bakugou and Iida were preparing for the battle. Iida tried to strategize, but Bakugou cut him off with a snarl. "Shut up, Four-Eyes! Just guard the bomb and leave everything to me!"
Iida was taken aback by Bakugou's rudeness but before he could lecture about respect and honor, All Might's voice boomed, signaling the start of the mock battle.
Back in the mock-town, everyone took their positions. Izuku and Ochako waited at the gate while Iida and Bakugou were inside the building.
"Both teams ready?" All Might asked one final time.
"Yes," "You bet!" "Bring it on!" "Yeah!" came the simultaneous replies.
"The game begins now!" With that, Ochako and Izuku stepped inside the building.
The interior of the building was dimly lit, with old, dusty furniture strewn about. A worn-out cabinet beside the door caught Izuku's eye. It held a picture of Kyoto Jujutsu High School from the 21st century, with a caption: The school where Ryomen Sukuna, the King of Curses, studied.
Izuku chuckled, finding the historical inaccuracies amusing. Principal Gakuganji must be rolling in his grave. The authorities had tried to cover up the existence of the Jujutsu society, but relics like these hinted at a hidden truth.
"What's that?" Ochako asked, peering at the picture.
"Oh, nothing, dear," Izuku moved her away gently. "Let's explore!"
She nodded. "Let's find Bakugou—" Her sentence was cut off as a familiar voice echoed through the room.
"No need, Round Cheeks," Bakugou said, cracking his knuckles as he descended the stairs.
"Yo!" Izuku waved cheerfully.
"Don't fucking 'Yo' me, Fancy Eyes!" Bakugou sneered.
Izuku raised his hands with a smirk. "Did I somehow offend you, your majesty?" Bakugou gritted his teeth. "You seem to be annoyed around me. Is it because I look better than you? Or because I scored top in everything so far? Or is it because I look like a certain someone you hate?"
"DIE!" Bakugou lunged at Izuku, his hands crackling with explosive energy.
Izuku gestured for Ochako to leave. Everything was going according to their plan. Izuku and Ochako had anticipated Bakugou's focus would be on Izuku.
Izuku turned off his Infinity, allowing Bakugou to attack. Bakugou launched a flurry of explosive punches, each one effortlessly parried by Izuku. With each miss, Bakugou's frustration grew.
"Stop dodging and fight like a man, Fancy Eyes!" Bakugou yelled.
"Oooh," Izuku chuckled. "You wanna see a real man?" The image of Toji Fushiguro flashed in his mind. "So be it!"
Izuku released a burst of cursed energy, propelling himself at Bakugou. Bakugou barely dodged the kick aimed at his head, his eyes widening as Izuku's foot shattered the wall it connected with.
A grin formed across Bakugou's face subconsciously. Finally, he had found an opponent who didn't rely completely on their quirk.
Izuku dusted off his leg and smirked. "You waiting for an invitation or something?"
"I'm coming for ya'!" Bakugou shouted.
"My kokoro!" Izuku exclaimed, taking a defensive stance.
Bakugou used his nitroglycerin sweat to propel his punches, aiming at Izuku with incredible speed. Izuku countered with precise, controlled karate moves, each strike delivering minimal force but maximum impact.
Bakugou aimed a knee for Izuku's stomach. Izuku bended perfectly with a grin.
Bakugou jumped back as he dodged an elbow meant for his jaw.
"Good, very good!" Izuku praised. "You are almost as good as Maki before her awakening."
"Who?" Bakugou frowned. "Like I care!"
Bakugou had trained all his life to find his friend… Satoru Midoriya. It has been long since he realized that relying solely on quirk is too dangerous. He joined a dojo and slowly but surely became a master at karate. Flexibility and speed is etched into him…
Bakugou was almost a blur to the normal eye. However, to Six-Eyes…
"Too slow," Izuku remarked.
With a precise punch to the gut, Bakugou was sent flying before he crashed into a wall.
He moaned in pain before he propelled himself at Izuku with…
Izuku readied himself to dodge the attack, but was surprised when the boy changed his trajectory and landed a kick to his arm, breaking the humerus bone right at the middle.
Izuku's smirk faded a little. If his costume wasn't as durable as it was his bone would have shattered completely.
Izuku's costume, designed for free movement, allowed him to dodge and weave effortlessly. He mentally thanked the man who inspired Toji's design—if not Toji himself.
With a simple Reversed Cursed Technique, he healed the bone instantly.
Satoru Midoriya had been trained in the Nursery meant for bringing down nations. His body was very durable, but still, to be able to injure him at this level. 'Kaachan,' he thought. 'You're strong.'
Bakugou thought he had Izuku cornered, throwing a powerful punch filled with explosive energy at Izuku's head. Izuku, caught slightly off guard, activated his...
"Limitless: Infinity..."
Space obeyed Izuku's command, creating an invisible barrier that halted Bakugou's explosive punch just inches from his face. The sheer force of the explosion dissipated harmlessly, its power nullified by the distance that Izuku controlled between them.
Bakugou's eyes widened in frustration and confusion. "What the hell is this, Fancy Eyes?! Fight me properly!"
Izuku chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "This is me fighting properly, Bakugou. But if you insist..."
With a fluid motion, Izuku shifted his stance and propelled himself forward with a burst of cursed energy. Bakugou barely had time to react as Izuku's movements became a blur. A swift, precise kick landed on Bakugou's side, sending him crashing into the wall.
"Stay down, Bakugou," Izuku said, his tone calm yet commanding. "This isn't a fight you can win."
Bakugou snarled, pushing himself up from the rubble. "Like hell I'll stay down!" He charged again, explosions erupting from his palms as he aimed for Izuku.
Meanwhile, Ochako navigated the building with swift, silent steps. She had to secure the bomb while Izuku kept Bakugou occupied. Her heart pounded in her chest, but Izuku's confidence gave her courage.
"Focus, Ochako," she whispered to herself, creeping through the hallways.
Iida, stationed by the bomb, kept a vigilant watch. His mechanical movements were precise, his resolve unwavering. He heard footsteps approaching and tensed, ready to defend the objective.
Ochako spotted Iida from behind a corner. She took a deep breath and stepped out. "Iida-kun," she called, trying to sound more confident than she felt.
"Uraraka-san," Iida replied, his eyes narrowing. "I must stop you here."
Ochako smiled nervously. "We'll see about that." She activated her quirk, touching the ground and sending debris floating towards Iida.
Back in the main hall, Bakugou's relentless assault continued. He aimed a powerful explosion at Izuku, but Izuku sidestepped with ease, countering with a swift jab to Bakugou's shoulder. The impact sent Bakugou reeling, but he quickly recovered, his determination burning brighter.
"You're not getting away that easily!" Bakugou roared, propelling himself towards Izuku with another explosive burst.
Izuku's eyes narrowed as he anticipated Bakugou's move. With a graceful pivot, he dodged the incoming attack, using Bakugou's momentum against him. Bakugou stumbled forward, giving Izuku an opening. He capitalized on it, delivering a precise strike to Bakugou's back, sending him sprawling across the floor.
However, before the dust and debris cleared, Bakugou shot back and engaged with Izuku with a hand-to-hand combat.
"You're really good at Karate!" Izuku yelled as they exchanged ferocious blows.
Bakugou didn't say anything, but smirked. Fancy Eyes was actually a great hand-to-hand fighter. He was fast, but for some reason, he was holding back. Bakugou was also holding back a lot. But both of them were getting more and more serious with every blow.
In the other part of the building, Iida deftly dodged the floating debris and charged at Ochako with impressive speed. Ochako, prepared for this, used her zero gravity quirk to launch herself into the air, evading Iida's attack. She landed gracefully behind him and sprinted towards the bomb.
Iida quickly turned, his engines revving as he dashed after her. "You won't reach it, Uraraka-san!"
Ochako's heart raced as she felt Iida closing in. She had to act fast. With a swift motion, she touched a nearby table, sending it floating towards Iida. He skidded to a halt, narrowly avoiding the obstacle.
Back in the main hall, Bakugou, now visibly exhausted but still fiercely determined, struggled to his feet. "I'm not done yet!"
Izuku shook his head, admiration for Bakugou's tenacity shining in his eyes. "You're persistent, I'll give you that."
Bakugou had to admit, Fancy Eyes was actually quite a stamina freak. Fifteen minutes of straight non stop karate and judo, yet he was not even breaking a sweat!
Bakugou launched another desperate attack, his movements slower and more erratic. Izuku effortlessly dodged, stepping aside and allowing Bakugou to crash into the floor once more.
"Enough, Bakugou," Izuku said softly. "It's over."
Bakugou tried to do a flip and stand back, but Izuku kicked at his solar plexus, knocking the air out of him.
"Stay down,"
Meanwhile, Ochako was trying her best to not lose. Iida was fast. Too fast. But…
There was a huge crash sound that came from downstairs, distracting Iida for a fraction of a second, which was enough for her to make herself weightless and float towards the bomb by kicking the wall and gaining momentum.
"No!" Iida finally noticed, starting his engines, but it was too late.
Ochako finally reached the bomb, her fingers brushing against its smooth surface. She took a deep breath and activated her quirk, lifting the bomb into the air.
"I've got it!" She declared.
All Might's voice boomed through the intercom. "And the heroes win!"
Iida stopped in his tracks, acknowledging her victory with a nod. "Well done, Uraraka-san."
"Thanks, Iida,-kun!" She shouted triumphantly before vomiting rainbows, making Iida frown in admiration.
'Wow, so she has a dual quirk. I wonder if that liquid is acidic…'
The mock battle concluded, Izuku helped Bakugou to his feet. Bakugou glared at him, but there was a grudging respect in his eyes.
"You got lucky," Bakugou muttered.
Izuku smiled. "Maybe. Or maybe you just need to work on your strategy a bit more." His smile turned into a grin. "And your attitude."
Bakugou scowled but didn't argue further. As the students regrouped, All Might praised their efforts, highlighting the importance of teamwork and strategy.
"Excellent work, everyone!" All Might's voice was filled with pride. "Remember, every battle is a learning experience."
Izuku glanced at Ochako, who was still beaming from their victory. He gave her a thumbs-up, and she returned it with a bright smile.
They were swarmed by their excited classmates.
"That was soooo manly dude!"
"Awesome!"
"What was that quirk— 'Limitless Infinity'?"
"Remind me to not to mess with you,"
"So explosive!"
"Can you teach me a few moves?"
"Calm down, children," All Might told the excited students. "They need to go to the infirmary to see if they are injured or not."
As the class dispersed, Izuku's thoughts drifted back to the old photo of Kyoto Jujutsu High School. The secrets of his past and the legacy of the Gojo family weighed heavily on his mind. But for now, he was just another student at U.A. High, striving to become a hero.
And that, for the moment, was enough.
oOo
Tomura left the arcade with a scowl etched deep on his face. No game was fun anymore. He was too good at everything, mastering every challenge with ease until the thrill evaporated. Hel, he was bored out of his mind.
"Oi, mister, move!" a kid shouted, snapping him out of his thoughts.
Ever since Sensei was gone, Tomura had been forced to deal with those contracted lackeys of All For One. Each encounter was a tiresome reminder of the void his mentor left behind.
"Hey, man! Move out of the way!" another voice called, louder this time, full of irritation.
Last week, he had made contact with that family—what was their name again? Oh, who cares? They were just another tool in his game. Their kid was a spy at UA High School. Apparently, the heroes were planning a lesson at USJ next Tuesday. Good. At least he could have some fun there.
But the boy had also warned him about more than just All Might and the heroes. There was a student with a quirk that was too powerful, too broken. The kid had mutated eyes and a space-time quirk. His name was Izuku Gojo.
Gojo. Could he be a relative? The thought had intrigued Tomura for a moment, so he asked Kurogiri to research about the boy. Well, to be honest, this matter, what did it matter in the grand scheme of things?
"Look out!" a voice screamed, filled with panic.
Tomura turned just in time to see a truck barreling towards him, the driver's face a mask of horror as he slammed on the brakes. Time seemed to slow down. The massive vehicle was almost upon him, the screeching of tires and the gasps of onlookers filling the air.
A sinister smile spread across Tomura's face. He raised his hand, fingers outstretched. Just as the truck was about to make contact, he activated his quirk. The metal and rubber began to decay instantly, disintegrating into nothingness. The truck crumbled, its frame collapsing into a heap of ashes and debris at his feet. The oncoming force of the vehicle dissipated into the air like smoke in the wind.
The scene around him erupted into chaos. People screamed and backed away, eyes wide with terror and disbelief. A woman covered her child's eyes, pulling them away from the horrifying spectacle. Phones were whipped out, some recording, some calling for help. The crowd's fear was palpable, a tangible wave of panic that rippled through the streets.
"What the hell was that?"
"Is he one of those villains?"
"Somebody call the heroes!"
Tomura stood in the middle of the wreckage, unaffected by the pandemonium. He brushed the ashes off his hands, his expression one of bored detachment. He reveled in the chaos, in the fear and confusion he had caused. It was the only thing that still brought a spark of interest to his otherwise monotonous existence.
He turned on his heel and walked away, the crowd parting around him like the Red Sea. Whispers followed him, a mixture of awe and horror. "Did you see that?" "He destroyed that truck like it was nothing!" "Who is he?"
Tomura didn't care about their questions. He had other things on his mind, more significant plans in motion. His lips curled into a twisted smile as he thought about his impending visit to UA High School. The heroes, the students—they had no idea what was coming.
And as for Izuku Gojo? Well, he would just have to wait and see.
TBC