Outside the mock office building...
Team B stood at the entrance.
Shoko's expression remained as calm as ever.
Beside her, Mezo Shoji rolled his shoulders.
All Might raised one hand.
"Heroes!"
"Your mission begins now!"
"Proceed inside!"
"Understood."
The pair stepped toward the entrance.
Before crossing the threshold, Mezo raised several of his conjoint arms.
The tips of six hands rippled.
Eyes...
Mouths...
And finally they transformed into ears.
The corridor fell silent.
Mezo closed his eyes.
He listened.
...
...
His brows slowly furrowed.
One of his ears shifted again, becoming a mouth.
"I hear footsteps."
Shoko glanced sideways.
"How many?"
"They're above us."
He paused, focusing.
"...Multiple sets."
"Some are heading this way..."
"...while others stop midway through the building."
He listened a little longer.
"...Twenty-four."
Shoko wasn't surprised.
"I expected as much."
Twenty-four...
He's divided himself that many times.
She remember yesterday's display he used to stop Katsumi, now adding what else she knows he could do made her nervous.
Aoyama Hikaru plans to overwhelm us with numbers.
Her gaze drifted toward the upper floors.
This is a well thought ambush.
I should assume he has those web the other girl used since he has a simular theme, along with his barriers, and the strength enhancing glove he used a day prior.
She looked back at Mezo.
"Get outside."
He blinked.
"...Outside?"
She nodded.
"Things are about to get dicey."
It would be easy enough to freeze the entire building...
But not while his still inside.
Mezo didn't know why she had said that till he began to feel a icy chill coming from her.
That was the only sign she needed to give him to understand. He gave a firm nod and turned to leave through the entrance.
BANG!
A sharp crack echoed across the training grounds.
Something struck the doorway.
WIP!
A thick strand of webbing exploded across the entrance.
Mezo instinctively stepped back.
"What...?"
Before either of them could react—
BANG!
Another shot rang out.
A second glob of webbing splattered across the doorway, layering over the first.
Then another.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
Each shot spread more webbing across the entrance, gradually sealing it shut while still leaving enough gaps to see through.
Mezo looked through the sticky mesh.
His eyes widened.
"...There."
He pointed upward.
On the roof overlooking the entrance stood Aoyama.
More accurately...
One of him.
His right forearm had transformed into a sleek rifle.
The barrel was trained directly on the entrance.
Several more Aoyamas stood nearby on the rooftop.
Some waved cheerfully.
Another calmly held out a fresh vial of web fluid.
The sniper clone caught it without taking his eyes off Team B.
Click.
He slid the vial into the rifle.
Aoyama smiled.
He gave the pair a friendly wave.
Then pointed toward the doorway again.
BANG!
Another web round burst against the entrance, thickening the sticky barricade.
Mezo blinked.
"...Is..."
"...is this legal?"
Shoko silently stared at the rooftop.
"..."
"I believe it is."
"It doesn't violate any of All Might's rules."
She watched as the rooftop clone casually reloaded again.
"...A clever strategy."
Mezo looked at her.
"You think he's trying to trap us?"
She nodded.
"He believes we'll attempt to retreat once his ambush begins."
"So he's blocking what he assumes will be our escape route."
She glanced back toward the rooftop.
"If he truly intends to surround us with his clones..."
"...then cutting off our exit makes perfect tactical sense."
Another web bullet struck the entrance.
BANG!
The sticky barrier grew even thicker.
Shoko remained completely unfazed.
"My plan is still on the table."
She turned toward Mezo.
"I want you to break out through a window."
"The second or third floor should do."
"Once you're outside..."
She met his gaze.
"...tell me."
A faint layer of frost spread beneath her feet.
"I'll finish this."