After the intense Quirk apprehension test the day before, I was eager to see what UA had in store for us next. As I walked to school, I checked the notification from the System that had popped up after the test.
Mission Complete: Pass Aizawa's Test
Rewards: Level Up, 10,000 Gold, Ki Detection Skill
I smiled to myself. The rewards were generous, and I was already feeling stronger. The System was proving to be a valuable ally in my journey to become a hero.
After school, I met up with Kendo Itsuka, and we walked home together, discussing how our classes had gone. It was becoming a daily routine for us, and I appreciated the chance to unwind and share our experiences. Kendo was in Class 1-B, so it was interesting to hear how their training differed from ours.
The next day, our regular school schedule began. We had normal academic classes in the morning—subjects like math, literature, and history. While the material wasn't particularly challenging, it was a good reminder that being a hero required more than just physical strength. After lunch, as we were waiting for our next class, the door suddenly slid open with a dramatic whoosh.
"I AM HERE!" All Might's booming voice filled the room, and everyone turned to see the Symbol of Peace standing in the doorway, his signature grin lighting up the room.
The class erupted in excitement. "It's All Might!" someone shouted. "The rumors were true—he's really teaching at UA!"
All Might stepped into the room, his massive frame towering over us. "Today, we're going to do battle training!" he announced, his voice full of enthusiasm. "But first, you'll need to change into these!" He clicked a button on a remote, and panels slid open in the walls, revealing rows of sleek, gray briefcases with green numbers on them.
Mine was labeled 1. I grabbed it and headed to the changing room with the others. Inside the briefcase was my hero costume. I quickly changed into it, admiring the simplicity and functionality of the design. My costume consisted of a blue sweatshirt and pants, paired with a white half-sleeve vest. I wore a white headband, black goggles, and a white belt with utility pockets. My gloves and shoes were also white, and I had an expandable baton attached to the right side of my waist. It was one of the simplest costumes in the class, second only to Ojiro's.
Once we were all suited up, we made our way to Ground Beta, sprawling urban training area designed to simulate real-life hero scenarios. All Might was waiting for us, his cape billowing dramatically in the wind. He began explaining the exercise, holding up a script as he read the scenario.
"Today's training will be a mock battle between heroes and villains!" he declared. "The heroes' objective is to either capture the villains or secure the weapon within the time limit. The villains must either capture the heroes or protect the weapon until time runs out."
As All Might continued, he was interrupted multiple times by questions from the class. Iida, ever the rule-follower, was particularly hesitant about playing the role of a villain. "Is it really appropriate for us to act as villains, even in a training exercise?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.
All Might chuckled. "It's all part of the learning process, young Iida! Understanding the mindset of villains is crucial for becoming a better hero."
Ochako raised her hand next. "Will there be any punishment for the team that loses?"
All Might shook his head. "No, young Uraraka! This is purely a learning exercise. There's no need to worry about punishments."
The class collectively sighed in relief, still recovering from the stress of Aizawa's test the day before.
The teams were decided by drawing lots. I was paired with Yaoyorozu Momo as Team C. As soon as the teams were announced, I received another notification from the System:
Mission: Win the Battle Training Exercise
Rewards: Favorable Impression by Momo, Experience Points, Gold
Punishment: Unfavorable Impression by Momo
This was the first time the System had included something like "favorable impression" in the rewards and punishments. It was an interesting twist, but I didn't have time to dwell on it. Winning was my priority—not just for the rewards, but to prove myself in front of my classmates and All Might.
The first teams to face off were Team A (Izuku Midoriya and Ochako Uraraka) versus Team D (Bakugo Katsuki and Iida Tenya). We were taken to the monitor room to observe the match. The rules were simple: the heroes had 15 minutes to either capture the villains or secure the weapon. If they failed, the villains would win.
The tension in the monitor room was palpable as the match began. Bakugo's aggressive demeanor was on full display from the start. He charged at Midoriya with explosive force, his Quirk roaring like a cannon. Midoriya, clearly nervous, dodged and weaved, but Bakugo's relentless attacks left him little room to breathe.
"What's with Bakugo?" Kirishima muttered, his voice tinged with concern. "He's going all out like it's a real fight."
"He's always like that," Kaminari replied, shrugging. "But yeah, this seems… intense."
Midoriya, however, didn't back down. Despite his fear, he kept moving, his eyes darting around as he searched for an opening. Uraraka, meanwhile, was using her Quirk to navigate the building, trying to flank Iida and secure the weapon.
The monitor room was filled with gasps and murmurs as the fight unfolded. Bakugo's explosions echoed through the speakers, and the screen showed Midoriya's desperate attempts to evade him. At one point, Bakugo cornered Midoriya, his hands crackling with explosive energy.
"You think you're better than me, Deku?!" Bakugo roared, his voice filled with rage. "I'll show you what a real hero looks like!"
Midoriya's response was quiet but firm. "I'm not trying to be better than you, Kacchan. I'm just trying to win."
The tension in the monitor room was almost unbearable. Everyone was on the edge of their seats, their eyes glued to the screen. Even All Might looked concerned, his usual smile replaced by a frown.
Finally, Midoriya made his move. Using his Quirk, he unleashed a powerful punch that shattered the floor beneath Bakugo, sending him flying. The force of the attack was immense, but it came at a cost—Midoriya's arm was left broken and mangled.
"He's insane," someone whispered, their voice filled with awe.
Despite his injury, Midoriya pressed on. Uraraka used the chaos to her advantage, floating debris to create a diversion and securing the weapon just as the timer ran out. The heroes had won, but the victory came at a heavy price.
Bakugo was left standing in stunned silence, his usual confidence shattered. He stared at Midoriya, his fists clenched and his expression a mix of anger and disbelief. "How…?" he muttered, his voice barely audible.
In the monitor room, the tension slowly gave way to a mix of relief and concern. "Midoriya won, but at what cost?" Momo said, her voice thoughtful. "His lack of control over his Quirk is a serious weakness."
All Might nodded, his expression serious. "Indeed, young Yaoyorozu. Midoriya's determination is commendable, but he must learn to harness his power without harming himself."
I couldn't help but agree. Midoriya had potential, but his recklessness was a liability.