Lunch had barely settled before Izuku Midoriya was back at his desk, a quiet current of anticipation running through him. Hero Basics with All Might was next, and that alone was enough to sharpen his focus.
The classroom door burst open.
"I AM HERE!"
All Might strode in, larger than life in his Silver Age costume, his presence filling the room as easily as his voice.
A wave of murmurs followed.
"He's really teaching us…""Still can't believe it…"
All Might clapped once, crisp and commanding.
"You already know what this class is about, so we'll skip the explanation. Today, we're getting hands-on!"
He struck a pose, then flipped up a sign emblazoned with a single word:
BATTLE
"Combat training!"
Panels slid open along the walls, revealing rows of neatly stored cases.
"Inside are your hero costumes, built from the Quirk data and requests you submitted before enrollment."
He gave them a brief pause to take it in.
"You have five minutes. Get changed and meet at Ground Beta!"
"Yes, sir!"
Izuku opened his case—and hesitated.
Two belts.
He picked one up, then the other, turning them over in his hands. The second felt unfamiliar, heavier, fitted with attachments he didn't remember asking for. Something about it tugged faintly at the edge of his memory, like a half-forgotten dream.
No time.
He set it aside and fastened the one he recognized.
By the time he reached Ground Beta, the class had already begun to gather among the concrete skeletons of the mock city.
His costume fit cleanly, designed for movement. Green dominated the suit, accented by a reinforced mask whose small protrusions echoed All Might's signature look. A dark red emblem marked his chest, his own addition, while the rest bore the careful craftsmanship of his mother's hands.
From across the field, All Might observed in silence. His gaze lingered briefly on Izuku's mask, a faint, knowing smile crossing his face.
Straightforward, just like him.
"Sir," Tenya Iida called, adjusting his glasses with precise efficiency, "this appears to be the same facility used during the entrance exam. Will today's exercise follow a similar structure?"
"Good observation!" All Might replied. "But today, we're changing things up. Two-on-two indoor combat. One team plays heroes, the other villains. The villains will guard a mock 'nuclear device' inside the building. The heroes' objective is to secure it."
He gestured toward the looming structure ahead.
"That's the entire exercise. Now, let's assign teams!"
—
Ten minutes later, the teams were set.
Villains: Katsuki Bakugo and Tenya Iida, stationed on the fourth floor with the device.
Heroes: Izuku Midoriya and Ochaco Uraraka, starting from the ground floor.
Izuku rolled his shoulders, loosening the tension in his muscles.
Uraraka glanced at him, a hint of concern in her expression. "You look like you're about to sprint the whole building."
"I might," he admitted, flexing his fingers. "If we move fast enough, we can finish before they have time to react."
"Bakugo won't make that easy."
"I know." He met her gaze, steady and resolved. "That's why I have a plan."
A brief pause.
"I don't want to lose."
From above, All Might's voice rang out, clear and resonant.
"Three… two… one… begin!"
Izuku moved.
The air snapped as he accelerated, green sparks flickering along his legs. He took the stairs in bounding strides, momentum carrying him upward in a blur of motion.
In the observation room, All Might leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowing with interest.
His control has improved again… and not by a small margin.
Izuku reached the third floor in seconds—
—and nearly ran straight into Bakugo.
They both stopped for the briefest instant.
Then Bakugo's grin spread, sharp and immediate.
"Found you."
An explosion cracked through the hallway as he launched forward.
"DEKU!"
Izuku reacted on instinct, pivoting away as the blast tore past where he'd stood a heartbeat earlier. He sprinted down the corridor, footsteps light, breath steady.
Behind him, Bakugo surged after him, explosions punctuating each step like thunder chasing lightning.
Elsewhere, Uraraka reached the third floor and slipped toward a window, keeping her profile low.
"Just stick to the plan…" she murmured under her breath.
Ahead, Izuku slowed.
Only slightly. Just enough.
He turned.
Bakugo closed the distance instantly, fist already driving forward—
Izuku shifted aside, the strike cutting through empty space.
"Kacchan," Izuku said, voice calm despite the pressure, "your Quirk really is incredible."
For a moment, something in Bakugo's expression tightened, irritation sharpening into something more volatile.
Exactly what Izuku needed.
He adjusted his stance, grounding himself, eyes locked on his opponent.
If he could keep Bakugo's attention here—even for a few seconds—
that would be enough to open the path forward.