"I REPEAT..."
"THE HERO TEAM WINS!!"
All Might's voice boomed through the speakers.
Aoyama smiled as he looked up at the monitor.
Both Katsumi and Izumi had been knocked unconscious.
Izumi's costume was scorched black, her body finally giving out under the strain of One For All.
Katsumi wasn't in much better shape. She had been launched halfway across the corridor, a clean punch to the jaw knocking her out instantly.
"...Interesting."
Aoyama folded his arms.
I'm surprised.
I was sure that punch would've shattered half her face.
Izumi hadn't angled the attack upward like she had in canon. It had connected head-on.
Yet somehow...
Katsumi had only been knocked unconscious.
His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
Was that old theory actually true?
That Bakugo's Quirk enhanced their physical durability whenever they were actively detonating their sweat?
It would explain why their own explosions never destroyed their arms.
He rubbed his chin.
I'll have to ask Katsumi someday...
...assuming we ever get on good enough terms.
A small smile crossed his face.
Or...
I could find out right now.
He raised a hand.
"Mr. All Might!"
The Symbol of Peace turned around.
"Yes, young Aoyama?"
"The building looks unstable after that last exchange."
Aoyama pointed toward the monitor, where chunks of concrete were still falling from the damaged floors.
"Izumi and Katsumi are both unconscious."
"If another section collapses, they won't be able to escape."
"I'd like permission to help evacuate them."
All Might studied him for a long moment.
Is he being sincere?
All Might searched his expression for any sign of ulterior motives or hidden intent, but found only a quiet resolve to help his classmates without expecting anything in return.
It certainly didn't seem like an act.
Besides...
If the building really did begin collapsing...
A barrier Quirk would be invaluable.
"...Very well."
All Might nodded.
"You have permission."
Aoyama smiled.
"Thank you."
"However," All Might continued, raising a finger, "it would be inappropriate for you to carry the girls out yourself."
He looked across the classroom.
"I'll need two female volunteers to assist with the evacuation."
Momo immediately stepped forward.
"I volunteer."
She smiled politely.
"I have a fairly strong physique. I should be able to carry one of them."
Another hand shot into the air.
"I'll help too!"
Eijira Kirishima grinned confidently, flexing one arm.
"Heh! I've got more muscles anyway!"
She laughed.
"I can probably carry both of them myself, so leave the heavy lifting to me!"
Several classmates chuckled.
All Might laughed as well.
"Splendid!"
"Such admirable heroic spirit!"
He pointed toward the exit.
"Young Aoyama, Young Yaoyorozu, Young Kirishima—you may proceed."
The three hurried toward the doors.
As they reached the hallway, Aoyama glanced at the green Slime-Biot resting on his shoulder.
...Now then.
How do I get you close enough to scan Katsumi without anyone noticing?
He sighed.
His gaze drifted toward Toru.
Unlike her canon counterpart, she wore a long brown trench coat over her invisible body, with only her gloves and boots visible.
Maybe she's just shy...
Or maybe she simply doesn't like being "invisible" around so many people.
Either way...
He walked over.
"Toru."
She looked up.
"Hm?"
"Would you mind holding my pet for a little while?"
He gently lifted the Slime-Biot from his shoulder.
"I'm worried I'll lose it while helping with the evacuation."
Toru smiled.
"Sure."
She reached out to take it, but paused for a closer look.
Huh...?
What is this?
Until now, Toru hadn't really paid attention to what had been sitting on Aoyama's shoulder.
Somehow, she'd completely overlooked it—either because she'd been lost in her own thoughts or because she'd assumed it was some strange costume prop.
It wouldn't have been the weirdest hero costume she'd seen today.
There was Minette, whose costume made her look like a bunch of grapes.
Then there was Shoko, with mock ice crystals covering the entire left side of her outfit.
Compared to those, a little green blob on someone's shoulder didn't seem all that unusual.
She'd bet most of the class hadn't even realized it was a living creature.
Even so, she carefully accepted the tiny Slime-Biot into her hands, not wanting to be rude.
"I'll take good care of it."
"Thanks."
Aoyama smiled.
"I owe you one."
He pointed toward the pairing board.
"And since we're partners..."
"I promise we'll win our round."
The Slime-Biot stared curiously at Toru.
Without her noticing...
A thin strand of translucent slime slipped beneath the cuff of her glove and touched her skin.
Aoyama kept walking without reacting.
DING.
A translucent notification appeared before him.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
[Foreign Genetic Sample Detected]
Compatibility: 9/10
Danger: 1/10
Sampling in Progress...
[══──────────────────] 5%
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Aoyama smiled to himself.
The three hurried outside and entered the damaged building.
It didn't take long to find them.
Izumi and Katsumi lay unconscious on opposite ends of the ruined corridor.
Momo quickly knelt beside Izumi.
"I've got her."
Eijira carefully lifted Katsumi over one shoulder.
"Heavier than she looks."
She grinned.
"But no problem!"
Together, they carried the unconscious girls from the unstable building.
By the time they emerged, Ochaco and Iida had already made their way outside.
Campus medics rushed over with stretchers, immediately taking Izumi and Katsumi for treatment.
All Might let out a relieved sigh.
"Excellent work."
He turned toward the damaged structure.
"We'll postpone the remaining matches until Cementoss has reinforced and repaired most of the building."
The battered building groaned quietly in the distance, dust still drifting from the shattered upper floors.