After the training exercise, we gathered in the monitor room. Jiro and Kaminari had already woken up, though they still looked a little dazed from the ambush. All Might stood at the front of the room, his towering presence commanding everyone's attention.
"Well done, Young Kuroda and Young Yaoyorozu!" All Might said, his booming voice filled with pride. "Your plan was excellent—taking advantage of the indoor space and your Quirks to neutralize your opponents in an instant. You handled the situation like pros, not giving them a chance to recover. You accomplished your task perfectly."
He paused, his expression turning more serious. "However, I hope you also had a backup plan. It's always good to have a Plan B. In real-world scenarios, things don't always go as expected. Being prepared for the unexpected is what separates good heroes from great ones."
All Might then turned to the rest of the class. "Take this as an example, everyone. Vigilance is key. Had Young Kaminari and Young Jiro been more cautious, the outcome might have been different. Always stay alert, no matter the situation."
The class nodded, absorbing All Might's words. It was a valuable lesson, and one that I knew would stick with all of us.
Once the training session was over, we changed back into our school uniforms and prepared to head home. As we were packing up, Midoriya walked into the room, his arms bandaged and one in a sling. Despite his injuries, he had a determined look on his face.
As soon as he entered, the class erupted in excitement, crowding around him to sing his praises.
"That was awesome, Midoriya!" Kirishima said, his usual enthusiasm shining through. "I don't know what you're talking about, but it's got all of us fired up!"
Sato nodded in agreement. "Seeing you go all out like that made us push ourselves even harder. You set the bar high!"
Ashido chimed in, her cheerful energy infectious. "And how did you dodge Bakugo like that? You've got to teach me your moves!"
Ayoyama added, "Not exactly elegant, but impressive nonetheless."
Tokoyami, sitting on a desk with one leg up, muttered, "So noisy."
Iida, ever the rule-follower, immediately scolded him. "You should not disrespect our seniors by putting your feet on the desk!"
Jiro rolled her eyes and interjected, "Chill out, man. Why are you so stuck up?"
Just then, Ochako and Kaminari entered the room. Kaminari, ever the laid-back one, asked, "Hey, do you guys want to grab a bite? What are you in the mood for?"
Ochako, however, ignored him and immediately went to Midoriya, her concern evident. "Are you alright?" she asked, her voice soft but filled with worry.
Midoriya smiled nervously. "Yeah, I'm okay. I should visit the nurse's office tomorrow, though. Have you guys seen Kacchan?"
Kirishima answered, "He just headed out for the day."
Midoriya's expression shifted, and without another word, he ran out of the room to catch up with Bakugo. The rest of us exchanged glances, knowing full well how complicated their relationship was.
Midoriya caught up to Bakugo just outside the school gates. Bakugo was clearly frustrated, his hands shoved deep into his pockets and his usual scowl even more pronounced.
"Kacchan, wait!" Midoriya called out, his voice tinged with urgency.
Bakugo stopped and turned, his eyes blazing with anger. "What do you want, Deku?" he snapped.
Midoriya hesitated, then said, "I just wanted to talk. About today—". I could see him nearly blurt out his secret to Bakugo, but he managed to stop himself just in time. Bakugo ignored him and kept walking, his frustration still clearly boiling over.
"Save it," Bakugo interrupted, his voice low and dangerous. "I don't need your pity or your advice. I'm already fired up. I am going to be the No. 1 Hero"
Just then, All Might appeared behind them, his presence calming but firm. "Young Bakugo, I understand your frustration, but—"
Bakugo cut him off. "Save your words, All Might. I don't need them."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Midoriya and All Might standing in silence.
As everyone began to pack up and leave, I noticed Midoriya struggling with his bag due to his injured arms. I walked over and offered to help.
"Here, let me get that for you," I said, slinging his bag over my shoulder.
Midoriya looked surprised but grateful. "Thank you, Jin," he said nervously.
I smiled slightly. "No problem. Let's get you home. Don't worry—I'm sure you'd do the same for any of us."
Midoriya seemed touched by the gesture. Iida, who had been nearby, joined in. "He's right, Midoriya. We're a team, and we help each other."
As we walked, I texted Kendo to let her know I wouldn't be able to walk home with her today. She replied with a quick "No problem!" and a smiley face.
After some time, Iida and Ochako departed, leaving just me and Midoriya. I decided to broach the topic that had been on my mind.
"You seem to be struggling to control your Quirk," I said carefully. "Do you mind telling me how it works? Maybe I can offer some advice. I used to have the same problem."
Midoriya looked surprised. "You had trouble controlling your Quirk too?"
I nodded. "Yeah, it took me a while to figure out how to use it without hurting myself."
Midoriya hesitated, clearly torn. He remembered his discussion with All Might and the information he had submitted to the school. Finally, he said, "My Quirk is a power-up type. It makes me stronger, but my body can't handle its full power."
I pretended to think for a moment. "The problem isn't that your body can't handle the Quirk—it's that you're going beyond what it can handle. Have you tried starting at a lower power level? Like, say, 5 percent of your full power?"
Midoriya's eyes widened. "I… I haven't thought of that."
I continued, "And can you only summon your power in your hands and legs?"
"No," Midoriya said slowly. "I can use it all over my body. I think"
"Then why are you only focusing it on your hands and legs?" I asked. "If you spread it evenly across your entire body, the strain on any one part would be less. It could also make your movements faster and more controlled. Start with something low like 5 percent across your entire body and see how it feels."
Midoriya's expression shifted as the idea took root. He began muttering to himself, his mind racing with possibilities. After a moment, he looked up at me, his eyes shining with excitement.
"Jin, you might have just solved my biggest problem!" he said, bowing deeply. "Thank you so much!"
I waved him off with a smile. "Don't mention it. We're heroes, and we're in the same class. Helping each other is what we do."
As we reached his home, I reminded him, "But remember, you need to recover first. Don't try anything until your arms are healed."
Midoriya nodded, his determination renewed. "I will. Thanks again, Jin."