BNHA: Singularity

With most of Class 1-A having no idea what Shinso had done, tensions were high in the wake of the second round. Fortunately, All Might was present, garnering the Class's attention with a barrel-chested laugh before exclaiming, "That was an excellent performance by both the Hero and Villain Teams! The Hero Team, in particular, deserves recognition for securing the payload and defeating their enemies without damaging their surroundings or causing needless harm! Well done...!"
Though Kaminari, in particular, was still bothered by what had transpired during the exam, All Might's words had a decent effect on the rest of the Class. Ida even started a short ovation, prompting several others to join in while All Might exhaled a hearty laugh in the background.
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After reaching the location of the bomb they needed to protect, a large room on the fifth floor of an office building, Ashido asked, "What do you think our chances are? Do you think you'll be able to take on Shoji-kun?"
Shaking his head, Izuku answered, "I might be able to do something if he was simply strong, but his Quirk makes him a nightmare in close combat. Six hands are better than two..."
Maintaining a faint smile, Ashido asked, "Does that mean we should just give up?"
Adopting a smile of his own, Izku replied, "Of course not. I may not be able to defeat Shoji-kun in a contest of strength, at least not at my current Level, but that isn't the objective. So long as we can stall for time, it's our victory."
Nodding her head in approval, Ashido said, "Okay." before asking, "And how do you propose we do that? I can use my acid to block off all the entrances, but if the pH is too high, Shoji-kun will just be able to break through it. If it's too low, it'll eat through the concrete."
Punching his right fist into the palm of his left hand, Izuku mused, "The solution is simple. This building has ten floors, and the Hero Team has no idea where the bomb is. It would be difficult to search every room within the time limit, so the smartest course of action is to face them directly or act like the bomb is on a different floor. I may not be as powerful as Shoji-kun, but I'm confident in my stamina, speed, and durability. If it's just ten minutes, I can easily stall him."
Pumping her fists excitedly, Ashido's smile broadened as she exclaimed, "Now you're talking! I hate sitting around and doing nothing, so let's take the fight to our opponents!"
Though he nodded in agreement, Izuku felt compelled to advise, "Still, we should be careful. Mineta's stature and Hero costume may make him look ridiculous, but he must have some tricks up his sleeve to get into the Hero Course. During the Quirk Apprehension Test, I noticed that the grape-like balls he pulls from his head have powerful adhesive properties, but he's able to bounce off of them. If he spreads them through our surroundings or manages to stick them to our bodies, things will get troublesome very quickly."
Waving her hand in front of her face, Ashido assured, "That won't be an issue. Just focus on Shoji-kun and leave that little pipsqueak to me. I'll teach him a lesson on behalf of every girl in Class. Our costumes may be designed to be admired, but taking advantage of his short stature to stare at girls' butts is inexcusable!"
Since Ashido's Quirk should be a direct counter to Mineta's, Izuku didn't question her decision. Instead, he extended his right fist, saying, "Let's do this." with a toothy grin. Ashido readily bumped fists with them, and then the two of them made their way to the second floor to stage an ambush...
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Though he silently bemoaned the fact he had been paired with Mineta, Shoji was looking forward to trading blows with Izuku. The latter had ranked second during the Quirk Apprehension Test, so Shoji wanted to see how he, the person ranked seventh, compared.
Interrupting Shoji's focus, Mineta, wearing a grape-themed bodysuit, large yellow gloves, oversized yellow boots, a yellow cape, and a pair of shorts that vaguely resembled a diaper, asked, "So, what do you think we should do, Shoji-kun? If we knew where the bomb was, I could try scaling the building from the outside."
"..."
Resisting the urge to tell Mineta to stay out of his way, Shoji spread his tentacle-like arms, interconnected by his extremely elastic flesh, to form the shape of a satellite dish. Then, using his ability to manifest body parts on the ends of his tentacles, he reproduced several ears to see if he could detect the location of Izuku and Ashido via sound.
Without saying anything, Shoji began leading the way into the office-like complex. Mineta eventually followed after him, but only after balling his hands into fists and looking down at himself with a self-deprecating smile. Being expelled compelled him to reflect on his motivations and reconsider if he truly had what it took to become a Hero. Being shunned by someone he was supposed to be cooperating with was surprisingly painful...
Unaware of Mineta's thoughts, Shoji used his excellent hearing to pinpoint Izuku's and Ashido's locations on the second floor. He couldn't make out what they were saying, but they seemed to be talking to each other in the same room.
Speaking for the first time since the start of the operation, Shoji revealed, "I've located them." in a deep, somewhat raspy voice. Then, recalling Mineta's previous suggestion, he proposed, "You should try and find a way to sneak in from behind while I draw their attention from the front."
Realizing that Shoji was giving him a chance, Mineta briefly became teary-eyed before quickly wiping away the evidence, giving a thumbs-up gesture, and responding, "Just leave it to me!" He was a little ashamed that he immediately thought about how sneaking in from behind would let him get a view of Ashido's backside, but it wasn't like he could change his entire personality in a single evening...
With their plan decided, Shoji waited around a minute or so for Mineta to sneak outside before smashing through the doors leading to Izuku's and Ashido's locations. The two were chatting casually while the latter sat on the edge of an office desk, so Shoji hastily grabbed a cubicle partition, using it as a makeshift shield as he charged toward them like a bulldozer.
"You sure took your sweet time, Hero!" shouted Ashido, leaping backward to create some distance while Izuku bolted forward, surprising Shoji as he didn't expect the former to try and meet him head-on.
Taking advantage of the fact that Shoji had limited both his vision and movement by picking up a 'shield,' Izuku performed a leaping dropkick, his feet impacting the direct center of the partition. Shoji's momentum was greater than his, but the effects of [Bronze Body] allowed Izuku to endure the collision as his feet buried into Shoji's diaphragm.
Though Izuku's dropkick knocked the wind out of him, causing his torso to seize, Shoji didn't let his charge go to waste. The moment he realized Izuku's aim, he released his grasp on the partition, allowing it to shatter against his body as he spread his webbed arms wide with the very clear intent of capturing his opponent. He would have succeeded as well, if not for the fact that Izuku had planned ahead, using Shoji's solid frame as a springboard to propel himself away just as his muscular classmate's arms tried closing around him.
Landing on his feet, Izuku's smile exhibited traces of euphoria and battle lust as he shouted, "Sorry, Shoji-kun, but this match belongs to me! Can't have you embarrassing me in front of my future date...!"
With Shoji being forced to a knee due to his winded state, Izuku leaped over his body and followed up with a shoulder tackle. Shoji's inordinately flexible limbs allowed him to protect his front and back with similar ease, but even with the disparity in their sizes, Izuku's momentum was greater than his inertia. When the latter crashed into him, Shoji felt a sharp pain in his limbs as he was sent flying a short distance, crashing through several partitions and smashing an office desk.
Though his previous life's training mandated that he followed up to ensure his opponent was down for good, Izuku created some distance between himself and the downed Shoji. His goal was to confirm the results of his training and buy time, not brutalize one of his classmates, so Izuku didn't mind giving the six-armed man a chance to recover. In the meantime, he inspected his and Shoji's statuses, the former to confirm he was gaining a fair amount of Experience and the latter to ascertain whether a person's attributes changed mid-combat...
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Name: [Izuku Midoriya]
Quirk: Digitalization
Current Level: 16 (53,993-&gt;54,108 EXP)
Effective Level: 33
[Attributes]
Strength: 50
Agility: 50
Vitality: 100
Intelligence: 62
Dexterity: 50
Luck: 15
Free Attributes: 0
Rerolls Available: 2
[Perks]
[Bronze Skin], [Fleet-footed], [Lesser Regeneration], [Healthy Body], [Sharp Mind], [Nimble Fingers]
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Name: [Mezo Shoji]
Quirk: Dupli-Arms
Current Level: 20(147,100 EXP)
Effective Level: 48
[Attributes]
Strength: 137-&gt;130
Agility: 29-&gt;11
Vitality: 190-&gt;169
Intelligence: 28
Dexterity: 63-&gt;25
Luck: 35
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Seeing that most of Shoji's physical attributes had taken a hit, Izuku's green eyes blazed. He had observed a similar phenomenon in the past, specifically when taking self-defense classes, but the injuries sustained during spars were astronomically different from actual combat. Now, he knew with absolute certainty that a person's attributes varied based on Quirk usage and the condition of their bodies...
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Observing Izuku's and Shoji's battle from a short distance away, Ashido couldn't help thinking, ("Midoriya-kun is more capable than I expected. If it's true he only started training seriously two years ago, he must be some kind of genius...")
Though Quirks could make a person stronger, faster, and more perceptive, battle awareness and combat proficiency could only be acquired through experience. Ashido was confident in her abilities because she had trained extensively and taken dance classes since she was four. Because of this, she could tell Izuku wasn't a beginner. He couldn't be called a master, but his movements and relative calm alluded to a fair amount of experience in actual combat...
After making a mental note to probe more into Izuku's past during their date, Ashido stopped watching his fight and scanned her surroundings. Mineta had yet to appear, so she was starting to consider the possibility he had separated from Shoji to search for the bomb. This was within the scope of possibilities listed out by Izuku, but that didn't make her any less annoyed.
As it was clear that Izuku had things under control, Ashido waved her arm and called out to him, shouting, "Yo, Midoriya-kun! I'm going to make sure that little pervert doesn't stumble across the bomb by accident! You good here!?"
Without taking his eyes from the still-downed Shoji, Izuku gave a thumbs-up gesture and replied, "See you after we win." in a relaxed tone. His eyes were still blazing, but one of the first things he learned in BCT was to stay calm, stick to his training, and trust his companions. Ashido wasn't a child that required his oversight. More importantly, her physical attributes were far higher than Mineta's. Even if the latter managed to surprise her, Ashido should be able to beat the shit out of him without breaking a sweat...
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Though he had trained hard leading up to his enrollment in UA, Shoji had never fought a serious battle where neither he nor his opponent held their punches. Actual combat was more intense and significantly more painful than he expected...
Ignoring his body's protests, Shoji slowly pushed himself to a kneeling position, his obsidian black eyes fixating on the nearby Izuku as he asserted, "You're strong..." through the veil of his balaclava-like facemask.
Shaking his head, Izuku cracked a smile as he said, "Not as strong as you. This outcome is the result of a difference in experience and conviction. If you truly wished to hurt me, those powerful arms of yours could probably make me into a meatball. That's one of the burdens of being a Hero. We're obligated to hold back, even when our enemies intend to kill us."
Rising to his full height, Izuku dusted himself off as he added, "Not that I disagree with this way of doing things. Heroes exist to inspire and protect, not pass judgment. Now, get to your feet and come at me. So long as you limit yourself to punching and kicking, I should be able to endure your full strength."
Blinking in surprise, Shoji asked, "Are you sure? I don't mean to brag, but I can bench press 2000kgs if I use all of my arms. If I seriously injured one of my classmates, I don't think I would be able to become a Hero..."
Instead of responding to Shoji's words, Izuku peeled off his chainmail-like shirt and tossed it to the side, revealing a lean yet incredibly well-defined physique that earned him a bit of fanfare among the spectators. That was one of the reasons he removed his shirt, but the main reason was to show off the effects of his [Bronze Skin].
With Shoji staring at him in confusion, Izuku slapped the center of his chest with all his strength. Doing so produced an exceptionally loud sound, but it also caused the entire front of his body to turn a luminous shade of bronze.
"Did you see that?" asked Izuku. "I may not be as durable as Kirishima-kun, but I can disperse forces across my body. Unless you're hiding a gun or a knife somewhere, you won't be able to break my defenses easily."
Though he was more than a little confused, Shoji only hesitated for a brief period before getting into a boxing stance and saying, "Let's do this..." in a resolute tone.
In response to Shoji's words, Izuku launched himself at the much taller boy, executing a flying leg kick. Strength and Agility were complimentary attributes, so the power of his kicks was much stronger than his punches. His maximum speed may not increase as his Strength rises, but he could leap greater distances and kick off the ground to accelerate much faster.
Caught off guard by Izuku's 'surprise' attack, Shoji barely had time to cross his arms before the former's heel impacted his guard with the force of a cannon. He managed to stay upright, but his feet scraped against the ground as he was pushed back nearly three meters, impacting a wall.
Not giving Shoji any time to recover, Izuku attacked, this time executing a simple side kick, but much faster than any ordinary Karateka. The wall behind Shoji was the exterior wall of the building, so Izuku was planning to kick him out and take the fight to the street. That way, they would both be able to move freely.
Interrupting Izuku's plan, Shoji used his tentacles as a spring to abruptly repel himself from the wall. At the same time, he tried to grab Izuku's leg with his left hand while punching outward with his right.
Not expecting Shoji to lurch forward without any forecasting movements, Izuku barely managed to twist his head and torso to evade the former's punch. This consequently allowed Shoji to grab onto his leg, but that was something Izuku had anticipated the moment he launched his attack. The moment Shoji's arm wrapped around his foreleg like a vice, Izuku tucked his body inward, coiling himself like a spring before straightening out with explosive force.
As powerful as he was, Shoji's speed and reaction time were lacking. He was also severely lacking in experience, so the tensions in his body had relaxed, albeit only for a moment, when he caught Izuku's leg. As a result, his mind failed to comprehend what had transpired when Izuku suddenly 'exploded,' sending his body smashing through the concrete wall behind him.
Fortunately, though Shoji would have been fine either way, he was only on the second floor when Izuku kicked him outside. He also managed to flip himself over at the last moment, saving himself an intimate introduction to the asphalt.
Following close behind, Izuku leaped from the second floor, executing a flawless three-point Hero landing as he fell to ground level. This caused a sharp pain to spread through his knee, but it faded almost instantly due to his Digitalized body and the diffusion effect of [Bronze Skin].
Rising to his feet, Izuku took a moment to dust himself off, asking, "Can you keep going?" in an intentionally casual tone. He was supposed to be playing the part of a Villain right now, so he decided to play it up a bit for the viewers.
Catching Izuku a little off guard, Shoji responded by hurtling chunks of destroyed building at him. They weren't particularly fast, and Izuku was more than capable of withstanding the forces they contained, but having head-sized pieces of concrete fly at his face was fairly unnerving, forcing him to raise his guard.
Taking advantage of the momentary gap in Izuku's preparedness, Shoji charged forward as his feet could carry him. Then, as if borrowing a page from the former, he tackled Izuku through the building, crashing through several walls before eventually tripping over.
Feeling himself falling backward, Izuku gripped Shoji's body, tucked his legs, and rolled with the fall. He was currently blind due to some concrete dust getting in his eyes, but he still managed to execute a flawless tomoe nage, one of the traditional throws of Judo. The result was that Shoji was sent flying through the air, allowing Izuku the opportunity to bound to his feet and create some distance between them.
While trying to clear his vision, Izuku adopted a wry smile and remarked, "That was one hell of a tackle, Shoji-kun..."
Hearing Izuku's words, Shoji, who was currently half-embedded in a wall, groaned, "Speak for yourself..." before asking, "Was that Judo...?" after a brief silence.
Nodding his head, Izuku was about to answer when the sound of a bull horn interrupted them, followed by All Might exclaiming, "And that's the end of Round 3!!!" over the building's intercom. Fortunately, just as Izuku was panicking internally, All Might added, "The Villain Team managed to hold out until time expired, so they're the victors!"
Hearing the relieving news, Izuku exhaled a loud and exhausted sigh. He had gotten so caught up in the moment that he completely lost track of time. Fortunately, as he would later learn, Ashido has no issues dealing with Mineta. Her acid was able to counteract the properties of Mineta's Grape Shot, so it was nearly as one-sided as the fight between Ojiro and Koda.
Now that their battle was over, Izuku made his way over to Shoji, pulling him from the wall and helping him stand as the two made their way out of the building. It was a little awkward due to Shoji being bulkier and a full 20cm taller than him, but the act of sportsmanship earned him a round of applause and several approving remarks once they reunited with the rest of the Class...
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While Class 1-A was in the middle of their Battle Training, two people were observing the exercise with very different expressions. The first, Principal Nezu, had an approving smile on his mouse-like face, while the second, Katsuki Bakugo, wore a grim, almost pouty expression.
As if he didn't notice Bakugo's displeasure, Nezu asked, "So, what do you think, Bakugo-kun? Do you still believe Midoriya-kun is undeserving of his position in Class 1-A?"
Instead of answering Nezu's question, Bakugo hung his head, no longer able to look at the monitor they had been using to observe Izuku's and Shoji's brawl. He already knew Izuku was qualified after witnessing his performance and seeing the results of the Quirk Evaluation Test. What he couldn't understand was how Izuku had gone from a loser that couldn't even meet a girl's gaze to someone who exuded confidence as if it were his default state of mind. It was almost like he was a completely different person...
Seeing through Bakugo's thoughts, Nezu's voice was utterly calm and relaxed as he said, "It is becoming increasingly well-documented that a person's Quirk can have a drastic effect on their mentality. As someone who grew up alongside Midoriya-kun, he must seem completely different from the boy you once knew. However, that isn't what it's important right now. The real question is, are you 'serious' about becoming a Hero, or was it simply an excuse to show off?"
Furrowing his brows, Bakugo flared up, exclaiming, "What kind of question is that!? Of course, I want to be a Hero! And not just any Hero! I'm going to be the greatest Hero of all time! Even greater than All Might...!"
Instead of panicking or trying to refute Bakugo's words, Nezu gave a slight nod, waiting for the former to settle down before asking, "Then let me ask you this, Katsuki Bakugo-kun. What does being a 'Hero' mean to you?"
Without missing a beat, Bakugo thumped his chest and replied, "It means being the strongest! Strong enough to save anyone and fierce enough to deter any wannabe villain from showing their ugly mug in public...!"
Seeing a strange emotion in Bakugo's chest, Nezu revealed an expression he had rarely witnessed when interacting with adults, disappointment. It was even worse when the latter shook his head and said, "While strength is important, especially when it comes to protecting people, it isn't power that deters Villains and compels people to admire Heroes. If that were all that was necessary, the JSDF and the police force would do a better job at keeping the peace than a handful of Heroes..."
Meeting Bakugo's gaze, Nezu's expression and tone were severe as he explained, "The reason Heroes are so integral to our modern society is because they inspire others, especially the younger generations of Quirk users, to be good...to be 'better.' If the only thing you know how to inspire is fear, it doesn't matter how many people you save. You will never be the number one Hero..."
"..."
As virtually everyone had lauded his power and reinforced the notion he could be an exceptional Hero, Bakugo found himself at a loss for words in response to Nezu's declaration. If it were some random person, he would have scoffed and told them to fuck off. However, the 'man' in front of him was the Principal of the most prestigious Hero Academy, not just in Japan but the entire world. He wasn't some 'loser' that had no idea what he was saying...
Reinforcing Bakugo's silence, Nezu went on to say, "If Midoriya-kun had elected to press charges against you for yesterday's incident, your path to becoming a Hero would have been severed right then and there. Even if you regretted your conduct and worked tirelessly to prove you had been reformed, you would never be entrusted with a Professional Hero License. If you still aspired to become a Hero, your only option would have been to become a Vigilante. However, as your Quirk is exceptionally rare and very easy to identify, you would quickly be apprehended and incarcerated for illegal Quirk usage..."
Looking away from Bakugo, Nezu used a remote to rewind to the scene of Class 1-A clapping as Izuku arrived, supporting his former 'enemy' on his shoulder. When Bakugo eventually looked up, staring at the image on the screen, he regained his smile and said, "You truly do have the potential to be a great Hero, Bakugo-kun. Don't just take my word for it. These are the words of Midoriya-kun as well. Despite everything you've done, that child doesn't hate you. Instead, he actively tries to convince others you're not a bad person. He also believes that it's only a matter of time before you rejoin the Department of Heroes, so allow me to ask one more time...are you 'serious' about becoming a Hero?"
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While everyone else was excited by the appearance of All Might in his Silver Age costume, full-body tights with a red top, blue bottom, a utility belt, predominately golden boots, and golden vambraces, Izuku's usual smile had frozen.
By rejecting One-for-All, Izuku was hoping that All Might wouldn't be the teacher of Class 1-A's Foundational Hero Studies course. Now that he had appeared, the probability of the USJ incident and other events transpiring increased drastically...
Striking a pose at the front of the room, All Might shouted, "Foundational Hero Studies! As the name suggests, this Class focuses on teaching you everything you need to know to be a proper Hero. As for our first lesson..."
Striking yet another pose, this time holding a placard with the word battle written on it, All Might declared, "We'll be conducting a battle simulation!"
Hearing they would be conducting battle training on the second day of school, a tense yet excited atmosphere pervaded the classroom. Things became especially exciting when All Might pressed the activation switch of a tiny remote, causing the far-side wall of the classroom to slide open, revealing twenty numbers briefcases.
"To aid in your first battle, the school has prepared gear and costumes in accordance with the forms you filled out during your enrollment. In other words, these are your very first Hero costumes...!"
As not everyone had the means to acquire rare materials or develop high-quality costumes, the Class practically erupted in response to All Might's words. Izuku was similarly excited, as he had put considerable effort into designing his Hero costume, but it was hard to remain enthused when he knew his life would soon be imperiled. He wasn't completely unprepared, but even the best-laid plans meant little in the face of true strength and inextricable violence...
Interrupting Izuku's thoughts, All Might made a pointing gesture toward the door with his thumb, saying, "Grab the briefcase matching your Seat Number and then make your way to the Field Beta. You can change in the corresponding Locker Room. With that said, I'll see you there...!"
Without waiting for anyone to respond, All Might bolted out of the room as if there was a fire. In the wake of his departure, everyone hurried to grab their assigned briefcases, the only exceptions between Izuku and Shinso. The latter didn't have a briefcase just yet, so he waited for everyone else to clear out before grabbing his gym uniform and following at a distance as the Class made their way to Field Beta...
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Contrasting the diverse and fairly flamboyant costumes of his classmates, Izuku's military-themed Hero costume sacrificed flair for practicality and ease of movement. The top was a seemingly simple black tee, but it was woven from a special carbon-fiber mesh that made it resistant to small-arms fire and most blades. The bottom was made from the same material, but it resembled the standard-issue fatigues of the JSDF, complete with cargo pockets.
Complimenting his outfit, Izuku wore a set of titanium-plated dog tags around his neck, heat-resistant combat gloves on his hands, and thick-soled combat boots on his feet. He also wore a red belt around his waist that came equipped with a magnetic belt buckle and a short-wave signal jammer. It could also serve as a tourniquet during an emergency, but that was a function Izuku hoped he would never have to utilize.
Seeing Izuku's outfit, the nearby Kirishima couldn't help asking, "Is that really your Hero costume? Don't get me wrong, it looks pretty badass, but isn't it a little too ordinary?"
Without missing a beat, Izuku tucked his dog tags into his shirt as he said, "I prefer the term 'practical.' Besides, soldiers, policemen, and firefighters are the 'original' modern Heroes. Paying homage to our roots never hurts."
"Well, when you put it that way, I dig it," said Kirishima, extending his right fist with a smile.
Adopting a smile of his own, Izuku bumped Kirishima's fist with his own, saying, "I'll see you on the battlefield." before making his way out of the Locker Room. One of the many benefits of a practical costume was that it was easy to change into, so he was among the first to finish getting changed. The only person who took less time was Ojiro, but his outfit was basically just a modified karate gi.
Upon arriving at Field Beta, Izuku's green eyes briefly flickered as he noticed a pair of white shoes and distinctive blue gloves hovering in the air. While Ojiro was among the first to arrive, the absolute earliest was Hagakure. After all, her current Hero costume was essentially just her 'removing' her clothes, not changing into something else...
Seeing Izuku looking her way, a potent blush spread through Hagakure's invisible face as she slightly turned her body. She had mentally prepared herself to be 'seen' in her Hero costume, but it was still embarrassing to be stared at directly.
Smiling wryly, Izuku decided against bothering Hagakure and instead made his way over to where All Might and Ojiro were standing, his eyes scanning the latter as he said, "Nice costume. I take it you've undergone some traditional martial arts training?"
Nodding his head, Ojiro replied, "Yeah. My family owns a dojo outside of Tokyo. My Quirk may not be all that impressive, but I'm pretty confident in my strength and skill."
Following Ojiro's response, All Might elected to comment on Izuku's outfit, remarking, "That's quite the practical costume, young Midoriya. I'm a little surprised, though. Based on your performance during the Entrance Exam, I thought you would have incorporated more Support items into your Hero costume."
Punching his right fist into the palm of his left hand, Izuku explained, "I've changed quite a bit since then. I still plan to make use of Support items in the future, but I'm currently focusing on my close-combat and detainment skills."
Recalling how Izuku had apprehended Bakugo, All Might gave a curt nod without pressing the matter further. He truthfully had a lot to discuss with Izuku, but now was neither the time nor the place...
With All Might leaving them to their own devices, Izuku and Ojiro made casual conversation until the other students trickled in. Most of the girls wore form-fitting costumes that would bolster their popularity once they became Heroes, while most of the guys wore edgy or flamboyant outfits that would allow them to stand out. Female Heroes, especially attractive ones, had a much easier time earning fans and brand endorsements, so male Hero costumes needed to be flashy or iconic to compete. Of course, none of that mattered if you were truly powerful...
Waiting until everyone had arrived, All Might struck a pose with his hands on his hips as he said, "They say the clothes make the Pros, and behold, you are the proof of that claim! From this moment on, you are all officially Heroes-in-training!"
Hearing someone like All Might call them 'Heroes-in-Training,' the eyes of nearly everyone in Class 1-A blazed with resolve. The former was the idol of almost every child in Japan, so even a small compliment from him was enough to get them pumped up...
Feeding into everyone's excitement, All Might began explaining the details of their Battle Training. Simply put, they would be split into groups of two, one side playing the part of Heroes while the others were Villains charged with protecting a fake nuclear bomb. If the Heroes managed to touch the bomb before time ran out, they would be victorious. On the other hand, if the Villains managed to incapacitate the Heroes or stall until time ran out, they would be the victors...
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As things were developing similarly to canon, Izuku expected to be paired with Ochaco, working together as a Hero Team. Instead, undoubtedly as a result of Bakugo being dropped from the Class and Shinso being added, he ended up on a Villain Team with Ashido, prompting her to come over to him and remark, "It looks like we're fated to be together, Midoriya-kun." in a teasing tone.
Though his mood wasn't the best due to All Might's appearance, Izuku managed a smile as he replied, "If that's the case, I'm pretty lucky. You look amazing in your costume, by the way."
Similar to the majority of female Heroes, Ashido opted for a skin-tight bodysuit as the core of her Hero costume. What distinguished her from the rest was her psychedelic camo pattern, blending bright turquoise and magenta in a way that was offensive to the eyes yet compelled people to stare. Over that, she wore a yellow half-vest with a thick fur collar, a white facemask that covered the upper half of her face, and dark-purple boots with yellow accents.
Adopting a broad smile, Ashido mused, "You never pass on an opportunity to pay a girl a compliment, do you? Not that I'm complaining. I put a lot of effort into this design, and I'm pretty proud of my physique."
Nodding his head, Izuku asserted, "It shows." before quickly changing the topic, adding, "I also designed my Hero costume. What do you think?"
Leaving Izuku a little speechless, Ashido replied, "Eh, it's okay. Your body matches, but you don't really have the face of a rugged soldier-type Hero. Your face is too round, and your freckles aren't doing you any favors."
"..."
As there was a fair amount of truth to Ashido's words, Izuku found himself unable to refute them. He had worked hard to cultivate a lean and athletic figure, but his face hadn't changed much since middle school. Cutting his hair had made a massive difference, but his face and bone structure made him look frustratingly young and naive.
Exhaling a sigh, Izuku had a defeated expression and tone as he said, "I believe honesty is important, but you could have sugarcoated your words a bit. This is the face I was born with, after all. There isn't much I can do to change it..."
Patting Izuku's shoulder, Ashido attempted to comfort him by saying, "I didn't say it was a bad face. If anything, your face is pretty cute. It gives you a 'trustworthy' vibe that makes you easy to approach."
Though he didn't appreciate being called 'cute,' Izuku ultimately shook his head and said, "I'll take the compliment. Thanks, Ashido-san."
Smiling even wider than usual, Ashido gave Izuku a few additional pats on his shoulder before suggesting, "Come on. Let's watch the other matches together and plan our strategy. Mineta shouldn't be a problem, but Shoji-kun's grip strength is insane. My Quirk can't really be used against people directly, so you'll have to be the vanguard to fend him off."
Nodding his head in affirmation, Izuku joined Ashido in watching the other matches. Deviating from canon, where 'Deku' had to compete against Bakugo in the very first match, Izuku and Ashido wouldn't be participating until the third. This gave them plenty of time to strategize, even if the first match was guaranteed to be a bust. After all, it was a match-up between Todoroki and Tokoyami, representing the Hero Team, against Tsuyu and Sero as Villains. Izuku would like to cheer for Tsuyu's victory, but he knew she had no hope against Todoroki's ice powers.
At least she looked adorable while hibernating...
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With the first round ending with Todoroki's and Tokoyami's absolute victory, Izuku offered some consoling words to Sero and earned himself some brownie points by asking Yaoyorozu if she could produce a warm blanket for Tsuyu. The latter was extremely susceptible to the cold, so she invariably collapsed after Todoroki used his ice powers to freeze the entire building. Sero, too distracted by her condition, was unable to fend off Tokoyami and his Dark Shadow, so the match ended after a mere 37 seconds.
Fortunately, while the second match was also a little one-sided, it was marginally more interesting as Shinso was on the Hero Team, paired with Ojiro. When the two encountered the Villain Team, consisting of Kaminari and Koda, Shinso exploited his Brainwashing Quirk to take out the former in an instant. Koda lasted a little longer, as he seldom spoke aloud, but he was virtually powerless against Ojiro's assault since the only animals in the mock city were birds and a variety of insects. As a result, Shinso was able to casually walk around him, placing his hand on the rocket-shaped bomb and securing the Hero Team's victory in a modest 5 minutes and 13 seconds...
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Chapter 13: Chapter 13