I only own this fan fiction. May contain Out of Character moments.
After an hour of searching and waiting, neither Ryukyu or Nejire found any signs of Damocles or Stain. Just as suddenly as they appeared, they vanished, leaving their compatriots behind. Not that the 3 captured members of Crimson minded, happily giving their lives to the cause. And no amount of interrogating got them to disclose any useful information to shut down Crimson once and for all. So, Abyss, Ulysses, and Erinyes were sent off to a cell to be, one day, tried for their crimes.
As for the Ichor, Tsuyu vomited it back up in private and was once more secured in an armored case. And from there, everyone simply went back home to their respective agencies. It wasn't the ending Minoru was hoping for, but it's the reality they must put up with. They'll continue training until the day Stain and Damocles draw their swords once more. So until then, Minoru and Izuku continued their training and duties at the Heaven and Earth Temple.
That was until it was finally time for them to return to UA. Their long internship was finally over…
"It feels kind of unreal… We're going back to UA today…" Izuku said, packing up the last of his things.
"I know dude. After everything we've been through here, the Temple feels like another home for us to come back to. But everyone's waiting and I know Mina and Kaminari would give us flak if we're even a minute late." Minoru replied with a chuckle, folding up his futon for the last time. It seemed so long ago when they had first rolled them out, not knowing what their time at the Temple would be like.
But now that it is over… The shorter boy wished it lasted just a bit longer as there was still so much he has left to learn.
About Heroes and himself…
"If that happens, Ashido-san and Kaminari-kun will be reminded that they're the last ones to talk about being late." Izuku replied with a small smile. But hearing about the mess they'll be returning to was more than enough to keep Minoru's spirits up. He just hopes they haven't changed too much over the course of this internship. Though after meeting Tokoyami, Bakugou, Todoroki, Uraraka, and Tsuyu…
The shorter boy could safely say that he's worrying over nothing.
"But they'll definitely get on our cases. Got everything partner?" Minoru replied, hefting all his belongings.
"Yeah. Let's get going." Izuku said with a nod. The two boys walked out of their room and down the halls, taking the time to absorb the atmosphere of the Temple once last time. And upon arriving at the lobby, they found Fenghuang and 7 of the 8 masters waiting there for them.
"What were you two up to? The other interns have left already." O'Sullivan said, jabbing her thumb at the front door.
"Sorry, we just wanted to be sure we didn't leave anything behind. And you didn't need to wait for us, you've got classes to teach." Minoru replied, setting down his stuff.
"It's tradition for teachers to see off their students on their final day of class, so give us this luxury. And if you miss anything, we could just mail it back to you." Fenghuang replied, smiling.
"You and the masters have already done so much for us Shifu, we don't want to bother you all with extra work." Izuku replied. O'Sullivan walked over and began vigorously ruffling the green haired boy's head, making an even greater mess of his already curly hair. And though Izuku showed some resistance, he did so with a bright smile on his face.
"We're teachers, Bean Sprout, it's our job to be bothered by our students."
"Bothered isn't the word I would use… But I agree with the sentiment. Now, if you two have any more questions, ask them now or forever hold your peace." Kokyu asked, nodding to their fellow master.
"None, Master Kokyu." Minoru replied.
"Then you should probably get going. You'll be having a 'welcome back' party with your friends, right? Don't want to be late for that. Last time I was late to a party and these guys found out why, they didn't let me hear the end of it." Ping said, rolling his eyes at a chuckling Soren and Vengador.
"It's all in good fun my furry friend!" Soren said with a hearty laugh, patting the panda hard in the back.
"Next time you two come, we'll share the story. When Master Ping isn't being all fierce and ferocious, he can be quite–" Vengador began until two large paws began squeezing the top of his and Soren's heads. And in that instant, the Spaniard immediately changed the topic as Minoru and Izuku noted the sweat dripping from their faces.
"Oh yes, I've almost forgotten. Mr. Tobita wanted to give you boys some of his favorite blends he made during his time here at the Temple." Vengador said, pulling out a simple wooden box and held it out to the two boys
"Where is Tobita-san anyway? He said he was going to see us off yesterday." Izuku asked, accepting the gift.
"For someone who takes being a 'gentleman' seriously, he would never go back on his promises." Minoru replied with a curious hum.
"Well… The gentleman is currently… Indisposed…" Vengador replied, strangely hesitant about the answer. While Minoru raised his brow to that answer, trying to figure out what the Spainard meant, Eclipse appeared. Minoru always knew the cloaked Hero was there with them, wondering just when he would join the conversation.
"Ma-" Was all he said before he was forced to dodge Murakumo's greatbow.
"Have some tact Eclipse, even if that's the truth." She said as she nocked another arrow, aiming it at a fading Eclipse. And as the other masters piled onto her to stop her and Eclipse, especially as he began drawing his wooden sword. Fenghuang and Kamishiro could only laugh and sigh respectively at the growing mess before them.
"I'm really sorry… They usually hold up better than this…" Kamishiro said, turning back to Izuku and Minoru. The two boys couldn't help but take another look at the mess the masters were making, resulting in some of the senior instructors arriving to pull them apart. And all Izuku and Minoru could do was laugh.
"It's fine! It's fine! It just reminds us that we've got our own hot mess to return to." Minoru said, reigning in his laughter. And once the masters stopped their bantering and turned back to the boys, the two of them bowed to the teachers that helped them grow stronger.
"Thank you for everything!"
"And thank you for being excellent students. We hope your future endeavors bear fruit." Fenghuang replied, returning the bow. And with that, Izuku and Minoru left the Heaven and Earth Temple and began making their way back to their second home.
Back to the friends they missed.
…
…
…
"I missed you guys so much!"
Mina, with globs of tears rolling down her cheeks, practically had all the other girls in a tight hug. Honestly, Minoru would've done the same with the guys if he wasn't so self-conscious of his image and his arms weren't so short. But seeing others do it was enough for the shorter boy to feel all warm and fuzzy. It really has been too long since they all saw one another, texts don't do their bonds any justice.
"Mina-chan, you're squeezing a little too hard…" Tsuyu said, before the pink girl released them.
"Sorry, I didn't realize how much stronger I got. But all that patrolling and heavy lifting did wonders for us, right guys?" Mina asked, putting her arms around Hagakure and Aoyama.
"Oui, power unlike anything I've felt before courses through my veins. No longer will I be a burden to you all." Aoyama said, flipping his hair dramatically.
"How about you guys? Do you feel 'the power'?" Hagakure asked. Before anyone could answer, the collective stomachs of Class 1A grumbled and howled.
"I know I'm feeling hungry. Come on, let's get this party started!" Kaminari shouted cheerfully.
A few days prior to today, 1A agreed to have a party to celebrate the end of their internships. All of them had bought food and drinks from the cities of their internships and brought it back to the dorm. As such, there was a pile of boxes and bottles sitting on the tables. Satou was also cooking something up in the kitchen, preparing a new recipe he came up with.
"Hey Deku, Rat Bitch, you got the goods?" Bakugou asked, stomping over to the two boys as everyone began looking at the various foods they bought.
"I got your fix right here." Minoru said, immediately taking the box that Kirishima was about to open. And opening it for the explosive blonde, the scent of intensely strong curry filled the air.
"Geez, how hot is that curry bread? I can smell the heat all the way from here." Uraraka commented, wincing as she looked at the 13 golden red buns inside the box. Bakugou didn't respond and simply poked a finger through one of the buns. And upon removing his finger, getting some of the curry onto his finger, he licked it at and nodded with a smirk.
"Now that's the real shit right there." Bakugou said before taking two.
"Mineta-kun, why did you buy something that only one person could ever hope to enjoy? This isn't suitable for human consumption!" Iida asked, eyes watering from behind his glasses the moment he took a whiff of the curry bread.
"Because the explosive turd would kill us if we didn't buy enough. Don't worry, we've got other stuff too." The shorter boy replied, putting down the box of curry bread at a separate table. Tokoyami perked up to that and immediately rushed over to Izuku, eyes shrunk with mania.
"Then you have brought–!?"
"Apple fritters, double dipped in apple cider glaze with extra cinnamon." Izuku replied, opening another box with said pastries inside. The bird headed boy snapped up the box from the green haired boy and peered deeply into it like a pirate and his treasure. If Minoru hadn't seen this before, he would've found the sight of one of their calmest acting like a madman strange.
"The darkest of temptations! A cardinal sin will be committed tonight and I am powerless to stop it!" Tokoyami shouted, hoisting the box of fritters over his head. A length of tape then closed and snatched the box out of his hands. And looking over at the culprit, Sero was found smirking as he opened the box himself.
"Don't worry, we'll stop you before you go too far." Sero said, taking a fritter out.
"You shall not deter me from my dark destiny!" Tokoyami shouted, rushing towards the tape slinger.
"Hey! Save some for me!" Mina said, hurrying over as well.
"Can't help but make more minions, huh Mineta?" Hagakure asked, looking over at him with a sly grin. The shorter boy just gave the invisible girl a deadpan stare, only now remembering his running gag in 1A.
"... None of you are ever dropping that, are you?"
"Not in a million years." Mina said, holding back Tokoyami as Iida came to break up the struggle.
"You're our boss until the day we die!" Kirishima added happily before chowing down on a chicken skewer.
"You have to admit, it's a pretty good joke." Todoroki said plainly before taking a sip from his cup.
"And if Todoroki gets it, then you know it's funny." Jirou replied with a wide smile.
Again, the shorter boy just gave a deadpan stare at his classmates as they stared back in joyous silence. And even when Satou came in, having finished his latest dish, he instinctively knew what the silence was about and joined in the staring.
"I hate you guys so much…" Minoru grumbled, breaking eye contact first. And whilst everyone laughed, Tsuyu appeared next to the shorter boy and gave him a gentle nudge.
"We love you too."
"... I know."
…
…
…
"Man, I'm stuffed… So, what happens now?" Kirishima asked as he leaned back against his seat. The feasting had just about ended and everyone was now just lounging around while Yaoyorozu handed out tea to everyone. She had brewed up some of Gentle's blend that Izuku and Minoru brought back from the Temple, though they didn't say who made it. But the red headed boy did bring up a good point…
What now?
"I imagine our teachers will be setting up exams and scenarios that will test all we've learned over our extended Internship. We cannot afford to lower our guard, considering what they've thrown at us in the past." Yaoyorozu answered, handing a cup of fresh tea to Shouji.
"That shit isn't worth stressing about Ponytail. We'll get it done one way or another. I'm off to my room, don't bother me unless you want to die." Bakugou replied as he got up from his seat. He grabbed his belongings from the pile of bags and luggages that 1A made upon arrival, and disappeared up the elevator.
"Kacchan does have a point. We've grown pretty strong and accomplished many things over the past two months." Izuku commented.
"Speaking of accomplishments, I've heard the Heaven and Earth Temple put a serious dent in Crimson. How was it? Fighting them I mean." Ojiro asked, looking over at both Izuku and Minoru. The two tensed with the room a little as all eyes went onto the two. The shorter boy took a deep breath and looked up at the ceiling, recalling the skills and words of the foes they encountered.
"Intense… They're people you don't want to fight alone." Minoru said, words filled with unease.
"Tell me about it. Even when we worked together with Deku-kun and Mineta-kun, it still felt like it didn't make much of a difference." Uraraka commented, pointing to herself and Tsuyu.
"But they were still beaten, yeah?" Kirishima asked.
"For now, but we're sure they'll be back to cause us problems one day. The League of Villains was no different, why should Crimson be?" Izuku replied before he took a sip of tea to calm his nerves.
"Speaking of… Has anyone heard from those guys? They almost killed us on two occasions… We haven't seen any signs of them since that Dabi guy showed up after Endeavor and Hawks fought that suped-up monster." Sero said with a frown.
"Ugh… I honestly wanted to forget about them… But with their big bad boss behind bars, I don't think they could do much damage any more." Hagakure said as she fought with Kaminari to play with Ojiro's tail fluff.
"Somehow, I don't believe that's it… They did unleash that monster the day after Endeavor was officially number one on the Japanese Hero Billboard. They must be lying in wait for the right moment to reveal themselves again." Iida said, folding his arms thoughtfully as he closed his eyes. And as the 1A common room grew tense and quiet over the uncertainty of the future…
Aoyama began tapping his glass with a spare fork.
"Mes amis! Why such heavy conversation and heavier faces? Today should be a day of celebration! Our class is back together after a long and weary internship. We should be telling tales of our victories, not worries over the future!" He said, raising his glass of cider. The silence simply continued as all eyes continued to stare at their faux Frenchman, sweat building on his unchanging expression.
"A-Am I wrong?"
"No, Aoyama-san, you're not. Our futures are still unwritten and unknown, so it's best if we take it slow and without worrying over things we've got no control over. If they show up stronger than ever, then we'll simply surpass them in turn. Go beyond…" Yaoyorozu said, a small smile forming on her face.
"PLUS ULTRA!" The class shouted in response. And from there, the energy from earlier returned and the mood had lightened significantly. Minoru keeps forgetting that one fact. If the enemy is strong, simply get stronger. And with 1A back in full swing, full of new knowledge and experiences, the shorter boy knew they weren't going to lose to just anyone any more. They're going to be Heroes, come Hell or high water.
"Now… Who needs help finishing their class work? It's due tomorrow." Iida asked as he and Yaoyorozu pulled out their laptops from the pile of luggages. And without fail, Kaminari, Mina, and a couple of others raised their hands with a sheepish smile on their faces.
With one last laugh at their friends' idiocy, Class 1A began finalizing their work for whatever's coming tomorrow.
And that has been Chapter 149!
After a long while, we've finally returned to UA and our wacky hero class of 1A!
Not much else to say about this chapter as it's rather lighthearted, full of interactions and reoccurring jokes.
So with all that said...
Until Next Time. T1.