"Come on, kid, keep up!" Mirko shouted as she leapt to another building.
"Kid?! Pretty sure you ain't that much older, luv." Izuku replied, and he continued to follow her, using Cable and releasing bursts of electricity to boost his speed. This allowed him to keep up with her as they patrolled the streets. However, unlike last time, he was not going to go over the limit. The Omnitrix began to beep red. "Oh! Break time!" He said, leaping down into an alley and turning back.
"Again? It feels like not that long ago you had one." Mirko said, following him down the alley. "I could just force you into another form if I so choose. I am now an Admin of your little device!"
"No need to remind me, Mirko. You already said it four times." Izuku remarked dryly. "It is just ten minutes."
"Ten minutes is a massive window for enemies to strike you down!" She pointed out. "And for shit to go from bad to worse."
"I mean, everything is pretty chill so far," Izuku remarked. They have been patrolling for a few hours already, and nothing has been happening. "Looks like a peaceful day."
"Ha! Peaceful, my ass. Trust me, somewhere out there, shit is going down. We are just not close enough to do shit." She said, only to remember a certain detail. "Right…You can use Accel to patrol the entire country if you so fancy."
"I don't think Accel is THAT fast," Izuku said, doubting the speed of his alien.
"Correction: Accel's race is capable of speeds so great, he makes time seem like it stopped. And you claim it cannot run around a country with only 377976 Square-Kilometers?" The Omnitrix's addition made both Izuku and Mirko look at the device awkwardly.
"Ok, so it is that fast."
"Fast?! That one can literally move so fast it makes time seem like it pauses?!" Mirko asked, increasing the volume of her voice. "I ought to remember your aliens are not one-trick phonies. Some hide some really nifty tricks."
"Well-" The Omnitrix became green again. "Oh, it's ready!" He activated the interface again, scrolling to Cable. However, before he could press the dial, Mirko intervened.
"Actually, I'd like to run around with Wolfcry if it's not an issue."
"Oh, none at all! Wolfcry is actually capable of leaping almost just as much as you are, so he shouldn't have trouble keeping up." He scrolled past Cable, accessing Playlist Beta, and bringing up Wolfcry. After a quick flash of light, he stood towering over Mirko.
She walked up to him, however, grabbing his collar. "Why the collar, though?"
"Beats me." He replied. "It came with it."
"Heh. Keep up, doggie!" She said, leaping on a wall, then leaping from it onto another, and so on until she climbed atop the buildings again. Wolfcry followed, climbing the side of the buildings with his claws until he reached the top and began following her. He ran on all fours, then, when he reached the edge of a building, he leapt, landing on the other side safely.
"Look! It's Mirko!" A pedestrian shouted as they spotted her, but then they saw Wolfcry. "What is that thing?!"
"Is Mirko being chased by it?" Someone else asked, but then Mirko turned around.
"Come on! Keep up, would you?"
"I am doing my best here!" Wolfcry barked back as he landed on the same roof as her.
"Wait, is that her sidekick or something?" A person below said.
"What a sidekick!" Another said. "He is easily twice her size!"
"Who is he?" Someone else asked. "Is he a fresh graduate?"
"Looks like the people are talking," Mirko remarked as she leaned over the edge, looking down at the streets below and the people looking from a distance. Wolfcry walked up beside her, looking down as well.
"Do you reckon this will end up in the news?"
"Given I've never had a sidekick before, it will definitely go down on TV. But who the fuck cares, right?" She replied, but then she saw his nose scrunch up. He began sniffing the air, picking up a scent. "Something the matter?"
"Something reeks." He said, then scratched his nose. "It's irritating my nose, no less."
She got tense. "Can you tell me the direction?" He pointed somewhere in the distance, then Mirko closed her eyes, focusing on any traces of sound coming from that direction. Whilst wolves have very sharp hearing as well, it is specialized in detection, allowing them to better pin down the origin of a sound. Rabbits had a greater range, however.
Using her hearing, Mirko focused on any sounds coming from that direction and picked up several sounds. The sound of sirens. It was faint, however. "There is trouble there!" She said loudly. "It's far, too. I don't know if we can make it in due time."
"We can." He said, then pressed the dial on his collar. A quick flash later, Accel was there.
"What was that?" A pedestrian asked, looking up.
"Shit, now they will ask questions about your Quirk letting you change forms!" Mirko said.
"No time to worry about that! Come on!" He turned with his back to her.
"Hold on, you want me to ride you?" She asked, looking at him.
"Yes, and you'd better hold on!" Accel replied.
"Are you sure?" She asked, getting closer.
"Accel naturally leans forward when moving and running, meaning you can easily position yourself on- Oof!" He was interrupted as Mirko leaned on his back, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Are you good?" She asked, trying to position her legs in a manner that doesn't interfere with his.
"I'm good." He replied. "Despite being focused on speed, Accel can easily take a few extra weights!"
"You're not calling me fat, are you?" Mirko asked with a dangerous edge.
"Does it matter?" He asked, then sped off, running down the side of the building into the streets.
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!" Mirko screamed from the top of her lungs.
When Accel stopped, they were on the highway. Mirko got off his back slowly, her legs unsteady as she recovered from the fast trip. They effectively reduced a walk that would have taken almost an hour to just one minute! However, she felt like her stomach got turned upside-down.
"Are you good?" Accel asked.
"Y-yeah." She said, then gagged, almost throwing up. However, she pushed it back down. "Yeah. Shit, you really are fast. Too fast."
"Well, we did need to get here quickly." He turned back to normal. "Let's see what- Oh my God!"
"Shit, this is bad." The police had already set up a perimeter, preventing civilians from getting closer. Mirko and Izuku went closer, and an officer went to them.
"Mirko! Thank God you are here. We could use a Hero right now." The officer said.
"What happened? It reeks like hell here!" Mirko asked.
"A tanker transporting dangerous chemicals was involved in an accident. We don't know for sure what it was carrying, but it seems to react to air and cause some kind of poisonous gas." The officer said. "Many of my officers had to be taken away, and the emergency crew that was here earlier was taken to the hospital as well. We were able to get everyone out of the rubble, but the threat remains."
"If that tank explodes…" Izuku said slowly. The officer locked eyes with him.
"Who is this, Mirko? Is he your sidekick?" The officer asked.
"He is Izuku Midoriya, my HAP protege," Mirko explained.
"H-hi?" Izuku said shyly.
"I took him with me today on patrol to show him the ropes." She continued, then looked at the tanker. "Still, he has a point."
The tanker in question had completely fallen to its side, and there were two cars totally wrecked around it. There were no visible leaks of gasoline around, but there was a visible leak out of the tanker itself, revealing a strange, blue liquid that emanated vapors that spread in the wind.
"It is a hazard," Mirko added.
"One we cannot approach. We are waiting on specialized personnel to come and-" Suddenly, an explosion shook the scene. One of the cars suddenly went up in flames, but it was fortunately the one further from the tanker. But that in itself was a problem. "Shit!"
"Does this look like it can wait?!" Mirko asked aggressively.
"We cannot get close, though!" The officer repeated. "That stuff is poisonous!"
"Maybe I can?" Izuku wondered, checking the Omnitrix. "We need to reseal the tanker, yes? And preferably ensure it doesn't go up in flames."
"Hold on, there!" The officer turned to Izuku. "I may not know much about the HAP, but I am fairly certain you cannot just act like you are some hero, kid!"
"If I say he can go in, he can go in!" Mirko said hardly, arguing against the officer. "Plus, we are stressed for time! Tell me you got someone who can pull this off!"
"I think Magneto might be able to lift the truck and take it away from the open fire! But there is the problem of a possible ignition if I move the truck." Izuku said, scrolling through his options. "That also disqualifies Trihex. Not that he can help us, anyway…He has a weight limit on his telekinesis, and this truck is definitely above it!"
"What are you even on about?" The officer asked.
"Wait!" Izuku realized and scrolled to Playlist Alpha. "I can use Hack!"
"Doesn't that one deal with technology and stuff?" Mirko questioned.
"The definition of technology is broad, but I can use Hack to not only solve the issue, but also repair the truck! The issue is that I am unsure if the gas will affect it." He said, and the interface popped up as he selected the DNA sample. "Here goes nothing!" He said and slammed the dial, turning in front of everyone present.
"By God…" The officer took a step back as he looked at the new being that appeared before him. "What kind of Quirk is this?"
"Heh." Mirko grinned. "What? You think I'd settle for less? Now, get to it, kid!"
"Right away!" Izuku moved on the truck, letting his body sink into a slimy puddle and going between the officer's legs toward the truck. Once he reached it, his body leapt onto it, covering it from one end to another. Other officers present watched in awe, and civilians took out their phones to record it as the truck turned back with green lines running around it.
Then he began his work. He made it so the truck's wheels pushed it up, putting the truck back on the road upright. Then he began working on the leak, sealing it up. However, something was not right. "Attention! The substance within the truck is affecting you!"
The Omnitrix's notification told him everything he needed to know. He had to be quick. His body found multiple faults with the truck, but he fixed them. Then, when he was done, he slowly detached himself from the truck, reforming next to Mirko. "It's done."
"Holy shit, kid." The officer said, looking at the truck. "You fixed it well! It looks brand-new!"
"Thanks…Hack really knows how to work them." He replied slowly.
"Are you alright?" Mirko asked, looking at him.
"I think so. I just got affected by the substance, that's all. Officer, do you know anything about the ones affected? Is the substance dangerous to an advanced degree?" He asked, looking at the officer.
"I don't know what to tell you, kid. The folk who were caught in there and those who went in to save them passed out. I haven't heard any news from the hospital." The officer explained. "Still, now this makes things tricky."
"How come?" Mirko asked as Izuku was taking a rest.
"We have to see who was responsible for the accident." The officer replied. "And your protege there effectively erased any mechanical evidence on the truck!"
"I'm sorry. I was focused more on preventing further harm." Izuku said.
"It's alright, kid. As Heroues, our duty is just that. We don't have any duty to preserve evidence for the police, on account of a certain incident." She eyed the officer slyly. "If I recall correctly, didn't a detective launch multiple lawsuits against heroes for destruction of evidence? Pretty sure the courts ruled that Heroes must be allowed to do their job to protect civilians, even if it leads to damage to physical evidence, so long as it was non-intentional."
The officer flinched. "T-true, that was the ruling." He didn't sound too happy about it. "But your protege is not a hero, correct? As such, the ruling doesn't apply to him."
"Are you really looking to pick a fight now after what he did?" Mirko asked, getting infuriated with the officer. "Would you rather die here, smothered by some unknown chemical?"
"M-Miss Mirko, I ought to remind you that-"
"There was nothing wrong with the truck." Izuku finally replied. "When I was once with it, I found nothing mechanical that could have led to the accident. Sure, I found some damage, but all of it seemed related to the accident instead of a cause. At best, I found some old oil that needs to be changed."
"Are you certain about it?" The officer questioned.
"I became one with-" Suddenly, Izuku fell to his knees. As Hack, one might think he couldn't puke. But they'd be wrong. He started to puke, though it looked more like he was expelling chunks of himself onto the pavement.
"Shit!" Mirko rushed to him. "Are you alright? Answer me!" She demanded.
"I am…" He stopped again, briefly. "I'll be fine…I just need to change forms again…" He reached for the badge, tapping it. Before long, Izuku changed into Healing Salve, his more medically inclined alien.
Upon turning, however, he seemed to have a more powerful reaction. Growths began to sprout all over the bark on his back, and once they reached a certain size, they fell off onto the pavement. "Better." He said, getting up slowly. The officer looked down at the growths, trying to pick one up. "Don't!" Izuku extended thin roots from the tips of his fingers, grabbing the officer's arm. "They contain the same toxin as in the tank. I was infected with it as Hack when I fixed the truck, and expelled them as Healing Salve."
"Jesus, kid." The officer said, turning to him. "You can switch forms, and each form has a different Quirk or something?"
"You can say that." Healing Salve said, then narrowed his eyes at the officer. "Stand still."
"W-what?" He placed his hand on the officer's face, small root-like extensions attaching to his skin.
"You have a pretty nasty kidney stone." Healing Salve said.
"What the- How do you know that?" The officer asked, then realized, swatting Izuku's hand away. "You used your Quirk on me?!"
"Forgive me, but I cannot help myself. I noticed you seem to be in a bit of pain, and I had to see if I could remedy it." Healing Salve explained.
"Forgive him. When he turns, some forms alter his personality. This one seems to be very…medical, if you would."
"As Healing Salve, I am arguably as able as an experienced physician." Healing Salve replied to her words. "If you would allow me, officer, I can help you with your current condition. Right here and now."
The officer crossed his legs. "Heck no! I went through a kidney procedure before, and I am not taking my pants off here!"
"Your pants?!" Healing Salve gasped. "Good Sir, I can generate a serum to dissolve the stone. At best, you will feel a sting when you piss."
"D-dissolve it? And this serum is safe?" The officer asked. "I am desperate to be rid of it, and the cost of getting surgery…Not to mention the recovery time…Ugh! Fine! But if this doesn't work, I will press charges!"
"Thank you. Now, come here." The officer went close, allowing Healing Salve to place his hands on him again and re-establish the connection. As he did so, a new growth appeared, but this one was different. It was see-through, like a globe. A few substances appeared inside, mixing, turning into a yellowish serum of some kind. "This might sting a bit."
He placed his right index finger against the man's neck, a small needle emerging from it. He injected it into the man's neck, and the serum traveled through it into the officer's system. When he was done, he retracted his finger and took his hands off the officer.
"That was it?" The officer asked. "How do I know it worked?"
"Next time you go to the toilet, you should know. Or you can ask your doctor later for a quick scan to see if the stone is still there." Healing Salve said, then the Omnitrix began to blink red. "But I assure you, good Sir, your stone should be gone." Izuku returned to normal, then quickly bowed his head. "I AM SO SORRY! I didn't mean to overstep!"
"Easy there, kid!" The officer sighed. "Look, I won't report this. Well, this part. But best be ready to answer some questions, Mirko."
She sighed. "If I have to."
"Wonderful." The officer said. "Now, I will get back to work." The officer left, leaving Izuku and Mirko alone to talk to each other.
"Did you really fix his kidney?" She asked.
"Maybe? I am unsure what Healing Salve did."
"Let's bounce. I am pretty sure an officer will visit me later, so until then, let's continue our patrol."
"R-right!" Izuku said, following Mirko.
Later, the following day, at a hospital. "Well, sir, before you had a pretty big stone! We would have required surgery to get it out! However, I cannot see it anywhere on your scan!" The doctor said, giving the same officer the good news. "It's like it vanished into thin air!"
"Holy shit…" The officer said, realizing that what Izuku did actually worked! He did feel the sting when he went to the bathroom. "Doctor, does this mean I am free?"
"Yes! In fact, looking at your other kidney, I can confirm they are both clean! No sign of any stones left!" The doctor said. "This is amazing! Did you do something to achieve this result?"
"W-well, let's just say I got lucky with something." The officer said, trying not to say anything.
"So, how was it?" Izuku asked Mirko as they were once again on patrol. "The aftermath of that incident, I mean."
"Meh. Same old shit." She said, shrugging her shoulders. "Officially, I did something and somehow saved the day. End of the story."
"That easy?" Izuku asked.
"Of course not!" Mirko replied to him, slightly irritated. "There are a lot of people who apparently filmed from a distance, but you are being treated like one of my sidekicks. People are asking where the suit was, however."
"I don't wear one, however. My forms are my suit." Izuku replied.
"Well, yeah, but no one knows that outside UA, and even fewer people know the truth behind your shtick," Mirko replied. "If anything, the public is making a bigger fuss about me having a sidekick than the stuff you did."
"Well, so long as I am not getting in trouble, I think I am good," Izuku replied, breathing easily. "So, do we go on patrol today as well?"
"Yeah, why not? Plus, you did a good job yesterday with that tanker! Wonder what was inside that caused so much harm." Mirko questioned.
"Maybe Thinker could have figured it out?" Izuku asked. "But I guess there is no need to ask about it anymore. " A flash of green surrounded him, then he stood next to Mirko, his black fur a stark contrast with her white outfit. Wolfcry was back!
"Heh. True that! Now come on! We got assholes to beat up!"
"He is where?!" Ida gasped as he heard the news.
"He is apparently out on patrol with Mirko today," Mina repeated herself, looking a bit frustrated that she had to. She was currently out with Ida, Ochako, Tsuyu, and Kirishima.
"Man, I am so jealous of that guy! Not only does he not have to attend classes, but he gets to go out on patrol with an actual hero? Being in the HAP sounds awesome!" Kirishima said.
"I think it is because he is Mirko's protege, actually. She is known for her laid-back attitude. Ribbit."
"And highly irresponsible! Despite being in the top ten, Mirko is also the most impulsive and reckless of heroes!" Ida stated openly. "While I can respect her efficiency in the field, she could do with more discipline!"
"Chill out, Ida," Mina said. "If anything, I agree with Kirishima! The fact that he gets to go out already is reason to be envious! Plus, have you seen the latest news on social media? People are going crazy believing he is Mirko's new sidekick!"
"What did Mirko say about it?" Ochako asked.
"Nothing! And that makes it juicier! She is letting people speculate about what Izuku is to her!" Mina said with a wide grin on her face. "Apparently, he already did some work as well, using that one form…Hack, I think? He apparently used it to fix up a tanker carrying some kind of dangerous chemicals!"
"That is so manly! But I am also so jealous! We have to wait until after the Sports Festival to be taken out to the field, and even then, we cannot expect to fight villains or anything!" Kirishima said, complaining about the situation.
"I heard it from my brother as well. Heroes usually have interns do non-combative tasks, and even then, they might keep them at their agency and not take them out to the field." Ida stated. "Unfortunately, it is wholly within their discretion to do so, according to the law."
"Boo," Mina said, giving her opinion. "If you ask me, they can just as easily sabotage us by not letting us get some experience before hitting the streets!"
"Speaking of hitting things…I am worried about Bakugou." Kirishima said, suddenly switching the subject to the current Black Sheep of their class. "He has been extra irritable since Shinso joined our class."
"That is true," Ochako confirmed. "He looks like he is ready to explode!"
"Which, given his Quirk, is not far from the truth," Mina added. "But that Shinso guy sure is strange."
"At least he seems to be getting along pretty well with Ojiro and Tokoyami. Ribbit." Tsuyu remarked. "But yeah, that guy is something."
"Brainwashing, and that statement in class from Professor Aizawa," Ida said slowly. "Do you guys think he made a good point?"
"What do you mean by that?" Kirishima asked.
"Everyone here passed the entrance exam by destroying robots via one method or another," Ida added. "That's it. Sure, we also gained hero points in various amounts, but it remains the truth that not all Quirks are tailored to be used against enemies like that. Lifeless."
"Professor Aizawa's Quirk would only be useful against an actual opponent. Someone with a Quirk for him to erase." Ochako added, seeing the issue as well. "And Shinso's would never work on a machine."
"Yet, both are extremely useful Quirks to have as a hero," Ida added further. "Professor Aizawa can effectively nullify the Quirk of any villain, leaving them powerless. And Shinso? He can control his enemies and easily take them out. Some might call those Quirks unfair, but in this world, fairness doesn't matter as much as pragmatism in an active combat scenario."
"Hell…Now I feel bad." Kirishima said. "I mean, if we are here, it's only because our Quirks are flashy and stand out! Because they are useful for all-around destruction. But more subtle Quirks, like Erasurehead's? I can see what you mean, Ida."
"There is no need for us to feel down, though," Tsuyu said, trying to lift everyone's spirits. "At the end of the day, we are here to become heroes! Even if someone with a more pragmatic Quirk cannot be a hero due to the way things are, that isn't to say we need to feel bad about it, so long as we do our part as heroes. Ribbit."
"Tsu is right!" Mina said in agreement. "Pragmatism is not everything! You need to have heart!"
"Still, while we are on the subject of pragmatism, I think we can all agree Midoriya's Quirk takes the cake," Ochako said, a bead of cold sweat falling down the side of her face.
"I dare to argue," Ida said. "Midoriya's Quirk is not pragmatic; it's versatile. The way he uses it can be the pragmatic choice."
"Oh! I guess I am still learning the terms. Sorry." She apologized for her slight mistake.
"It's no reason to apologize. If anything, I agree with you. Midroiya's Quirk is truly amazing. He is faster than even me, and that speaks volumes." Ida said, clenching his fist. "He has so much power, it's almost scary."
"We all also saw what happened in the battle against Bakugou. He unlocked ten new forms if rumors are to be believed." Kirishima added. "How many does that make? Twenty?"
"Like having twenty Quirks, too," Mina added. "Still, which one is your personal favorite? Mine has to be that Cable guy! He is just so confident, and his powers are so cool, too!"
"Bullshit! Diamond Soldier is the best! That diamond-hard skin is the perfect defense!" Kirishima argued.
"You guys are underestimating Jaws. Ribbit." Tsuyu said, adding her own opinion. "He is unbeatable in the water! Ribbit."
"Please, you all miss the crucial aspect of speed! All your choices are meaningless if they cannot land a punch, making Accel the best choice!" Ida said, adding his own bits.
"Oh yeah? What about you, Ochako? Which one do you think is the best?" Mina asked, turning her attention to Ochako, who was trying to stay out of this specific argument.
"Oh! Well, Umm. I think I like Izuku." She said, blushing a bit.
"As in, his normal form?" Mina asked, confused by her reply.
"Yes! I like how he is in his human form, so to speak. I mean, all of his forms are just him, right? But whenever he changes, he also seems like a whole different person. But I like the default Izuku. He is polite and just as awkward as me." She laughed.
Everyone looked at each other, and while Mina and Tsuyu seemed to notice something more, Tenya and Kirishima were looking at her with a confused expression. "I mean, I guess he is smart," Kirishima said, not getting what Ochako actually meant.
"Midoriya's intelligence and will are truly something else. When that monster attacked, he protected us without worrying about the consequences." Ida said. "Out of us all, I truly believe he is the one who deserves to be a hero the most."
"True that!"
"Hmmm. Hehe." Mina snickered, looking at Ochako. The girls knew what was going on, even if the boys were missing the point entirely. "Guys, how about we end our outing here? I just remember I have an assignment I need to turn in for Professor Midnight's class."
"You haven't done your assignment?!" Ida gasped, sounding personally offended by her words. "How can you be so irresponsible as to leave it to the final stretch?!"
"Chill out, dude. It's an easy one, done in an afternoon. She can manage. Come on! Let's go train a bit at the gym!" Kirishima grabbed Ida and left. "You girls staying here?"
"I am in no hurry. Ribbit." Tsuyu replied.
"Sui yourselves!" And so, the guys left, and Mina's smile enlarged like a shark smelling blood.
"So, Ochako…You like Izuku as he is, huh?"
"Ummm." The poor girl was blushing, giving herself away.
"Well, this took a turn. Ribbit."
"Stupid Deku!" Katsuki said as he was working out in the gym. He couldn't use his Quirk, but he was working on his body instead. "Stupid, bullshit Quirk! Fucking Erasurehead! Fucking Nezu! Fucking UA!" He shouted, dropping from the bar where he was doing pull-ups, then went to the punching bag. Again. For the fourth time today.
"This is all fucking wrong!" He said internally as he began punching the sand-filled bag. "Why am I being treated like I am some pariah? I am the best UA has seen in years! Not Deku! Everything is fucking wrong! He shouldn't even be at UA, and now, he is in some special program, getting direct tutelage from a Pro! Fuck this!"
He was punching the bag just for the sake of venting. "GAH!" He shouted, almost unleashing an explosion at the bag, but stopped himself. "Fuck this!" He took steps away from the sandbag. "Shitty Deku, this is all because of him!"
"Young Bakugou?" Katsuki stood at attention as All Might walked into the gym. "I thought I heard some noise. Young man, are you aware that the gym closed down half an hour ago?"
"It has?" Katsuki asked, realizing he had lost track of time. "Huh. I was wondering why it went quiet in here."
"Working hard to keep up with everyone despite your limitations?" All Might asked.
"Limitations? Yeah, right. This is bullshit! I shouldn't have to withhold my Quirk! I should be able to train to my heart's desire here at UA, to learn to become a Hero!" Bakugou complained. "But then shitty Deku came along and ruined it all with his bullshit Quirk!"
All Might perked up at his words. "You are no fan of young Midoriya, I assume?"
"Fuck him!" Katsuki said aggressively.
"Hmmm. You might be useful." All Might said under his breath. "Young Bakugou, know that I share your displeasure with Young Midoriya."
Katuski turned to All Might, looking at him with wide eyes and surprise. "You do?!"
"I was the one who suspended his application! However, with Cementoss backing out, I cannot maintain his suspension. Something is not right with Young Midoriya's Quirk, you see. I have a hunch." All Might began, carefully speaking so as not to reveal anything Bakugou was not ready to learn.
"A hunch?" Katsuki echoed. "What kind?"
"It is possible that his Quirk is not his own." All Might said, which shocked Katsuki.
"Bullshit! Deku is many things, but he ain't a thief! Especially not a Quirk thief! How do you even steal a fucking Quirk?" Katsuki questioned, and All Might expected this kind of reaction. But he was ready.
"I'm not saying that he stole it. But don't you find it strange how he suddenly gained one after so long?" All Might added, making Katsuki think. "Something is wrong with Young Midoriya, and despite having Vlad King in agreement with me, I fear that few can see what I see."
"Then kick his ass!" Katsuki said. "If Deku is suspicious, why not just kick his ass and be done with it?"
"It's not that simple." All Might replied, frustration evident in his voice as Katsuki showed how quickly he is prone to the violent option. "He is under the HAP. I cannot touch him. And if I were to, as you said, kick his ass? Nezu would have my license!"
"So, you are telling me that you, All Might, are helpless?" Katsuki asked slowly.
"You'd find such matters that involve no fighting to be much more frustrating than not being able to defeat a villain at times, Young Bakugou. A lot more frustration. Dealing with allies is sometimes worse than dealing with enemies." All Might added further. "But perhaps we can help each other."
"Tch. How? I am on thin ice with Professor Aizawa. The man is ready to ship me into General Studies." Katsuki pointed out, and All Might had to admit, he had a point.
"I can work around your limitation." All Might told him. "If I supervise you and train you myself, then I can convince the Dean to allow you to utilize your Quirk again."
"You mean to tell me, I'd be getting the ability to train my Quirk again and training directly under you?" Katsuki asked, his voice breaking slightly as he stared at All Might.
"Precisely!" All Might confirmed. "Something is afoot at UA, Young Bakugou! And it needs someone to protect it, even from itself."
"And does this mean I can put Deku in his place?" Katsuki asked.
"No, Young Bakugou. But it does mean you will be ready when he shows his true colors, and someone WILL need to put him in his place."
"Hoho. I'm in."
"Alright!" Mirko shouted with enthusiasm as she stood in front of Izuku, inside the living room of his house. "The Sports Festival is next week!"
"You sure are excited for it, Mirko," Izuku remarked.
"Of course I am! This is your chance to show up every single one of those Hero Course punks!" She said with a wide grin. "But regardless of outcome, know I am submitting an offer for you to intern at my agency!"
"That's amazing! Honestly, I don't think I'd want to intern with anyone else, especially after witnessing how you do hero work." Izuku said. Since Mirko had started taking him along with her on patrols, he had witnessed her do actual hero work out on the field first-hand.
Mirko was definitely more suited for combat, but he saw her perform several rescues as well. He helped, where he could, and was legally allowed to. True to her words, when he first followed her on a patrol, actions had to be critical and well-judged. You do not have time to second-guess yourself. Mirko was confident while on patrol, and it showed greatly. And her confidence inspired others, making them feel like everything would be alright.
A hero confident in their victory was a hero who inspired hope to those around them. That was the lesson he learned from her during the patrols.
"Ha! I don't blame ya. Honestly, keeping someone with your skillset at the desk pushing papers is downright wasteful! You can be sure that during your internship at my agency, you won't have to worry about pushing papers! Well, maybe I will teach you some bureaucratic shit, it's unavoidable, but we will try to focus on the more active parts!"
"I wonder how the others are preparing." Izuku suddenly said, thinking back at class 1A and 1B.
"The Sport Festival is upon us!" Aizawa declared to his class, carefully looking over them all to examine them for their reactions. "As I said before, you are expected to give it your all during this time, otherwise your very position in the Hero Course will be called into question! You can and will be replaced if you underperform or blunder!"
"Professor Aizawa, Sir!" Ida put his arm up.
"Yes, Ida?" Aizawa asked, giving him the right to speak.
"Is it true that the three main events of the festival are different every year?" He asked.
"Yes and no," Aizawa replied. "The final round, a tournament-format battle, is always the same. 16 students who made it through the previous challenges will face each other in eight rounds. However, given it was brought up, I ought to mention there are rules to those fights. The first and foremost is a ban on excessive force."
"What counts as excessive, Sir?" Momo asked.
"It depends." He replied, once again leaving things vague. "But generally, it is a judgment tied to your use of your Quirk and how far you take it. In the past, we've had several incidents where one competitor went too hard and seriously injured their opponent. Such things can happen by mistake, and while we do not encourage them, if such levels of injury happen, the fight is ended right then and there."
"But what if it was an intentional action?" Momo asked further.
"It is hard to prove what is by intention and what is not during such fights," Aizawa explained further. "It makes it difficult to properly respond to an intentional act of deliberate excessive harm. What UA has decided to focus on instead is intervention and treatment. The moment such an event happens, we intervene to stop the fight and take the wounded to the infirmary. During this period, Recovery Girl is assisted by a few other doctors who volunteer to provide additional medical aid."
"And what would be the consequences to someone who refuses to stand down?" Kirishima asked, a bead of cold sweat running down his face.
"Kirishima, know that your question is arguably the smartest one asked today, but also the one that brings the dark truth to light. So far, UA has 3 recorded such incidents, all occurring during the final round." Aizawa said, holding up three fingers. "In all of them, after defeating their opponent, the victor refused to end it and continued their assault despite direct orders to stand down. Despite their victory, such behaviour is unacceptable. They were expelled and arrested for aggravated assault."
The class gasped at hearing him. "Arrested?!" Mina said. "Isn't that-"
"Harsh? Maybe, but consider this: What of the ones they viciously attacked? Out of those three incidents, one of them had to drop out of the Hero Course entirely due to losing the ability to use their Quirk as a result of the assault. Later investigations revealed that the reasoning was always personal. Always motivated by outside elements. Petty reasoning. Jealousy. I said it before, but I stand to reinforce my words whenever I feel it necessary: This is UA University. We train heroes here, not villains. And heroes do not attack an opponent who has already been defeated. You won, that's it, move on to proceed with the arrest."
"That is a direct violation of Hero Law!" Ida realized. "Heroes are forbidden from using excessive force!"
"Exactly! In a way, the final round is a means to test if you can respect those laws." Aizawa added further. "Villains might, at times, seem like monsters to you. But they remain human beings. They have rights that not even the top hero is allowed to ignore or strip away. As heroes, you are expected to uphold the moral high ground and respect those rights. Even if you believe they do not deserve it."
Tsuyu put her hand up, slowly. "Professor, if you don't mind me asking, have you ever faced a villain you wanted to, well…End? Ribbit."
Aizawa remained silent for a bit, thinking about her question. Then, in a tired tone, he made his reply. "I have." He admitted. "Many times. I have seen and witnessed many villains do things that drove me to the limit of my discipline. And worst of all? Not all villains are flashy. Not all villains make a big show out in the street. The worst ones are the quiet ones. The smart ones. But through it all, we cannot give them the satisfaction of killing them. If we do that, we become just like them."
"I think…We derailed quite a bit." Ida said, slowly. "Can you tell us about the Festival again, Professor?"
"Yes. As I said, the first two rounds are always at random. The details of each round are held even from us, the teachers, until the very day of the festival. The only ones privy to that information are the Dean and his organization team, who are in charge of putting it all together. You can face anything from a creatively organized race to a game of survival."
"We recently heard rumors that non-UA students will participate as well," Shoji said, voicing his thoughts.
"I've also heard of those rumors," Tokoyami added.
"And I confirm them. Yes, non-UA students are going to participate." Aizawa confirmed, sparking a lot of talk among the class. "However, I stand to point out that this is a premiere. We are not welcoming civilians at random, either. Only those who achieved a certain score during our Entrance Exam are given the chance. And then there is the issue of those who WANT to take their shot at potentially entering the Hero Course."
"This sounds like an attempt to give individuals like Shinso a chance." Ochako pointed out.
"It really does, but that depends on the first two rounds of the festival itself." Shinso pointed out. "Luck could be against them, and the rounds are unfit for their Quirks, thus shooting down their odds at getting in."
"Again, this is a premiere. As it stands, we are not expecting anyone to make any form of impression. However, it will open the doors for future applicants to try their luck again, with the hopes of still making it into UA despite failing the practical part of our Entrance Exam." Aizawa added, then inhaled deeply. "Now, if you do not have any other questions, let us proceed with today's lessons."
"The Sports Festival is here!" Vlad King shouted to his class. "This is your chance to show up 1A in front of a large audience!" The class cheered, excited about the opportunity to show what they can do. "I must warn you all, however. You all saw what 1A can do during the USJ joint-training exercise. Some of them are real powerhouses!"
"Teach, you are worrying too much!" Monoma said, showing a more relaxed demeanor than usual. "Who are you worried about specifically? They showed their hand during the USJ! We will be ready to face them in the final round without a problem!"
"Am I the only one who ought to mention that Midoriya might be there?" Setsuna said, which made Monoma flinch.
"Ah, crud!" Manga said, grabbing his head in realization. "If he makes it to the final round, we're screwed!"
"That demon-possessed boy, who changes his appearance like a demon changes hosts…" Ibara said, muttering under her breath. "Heaven's help whoever is unfortunate enough to cross paths with him!"
"Enough!" Vlad raised his voice. "I won't have you lot cower just because of one kid! Izuku Midoriya is…" He stopped himself, his brain catching up to his mouth. "Ok, so maybe you lot have a point. As it stands, Midoriya is your biggest hurdle to overcome, but I stand to remind you all that he is not part of the Hero Course!"
"Of course!" Itsuka Kendo said, realizing the situation. "He is HAP!"
"Shouldn't he be, like, not allowed to partake in the festival's final round, then?" Kamakiri said.
"He is still under UA's direct jurisdiction." Vlad King pointed out. "However, as it stands, only the Dean and his Mentor can have a say in what he can do, and his mentor is that annoying woman, Mirko! Knowing her, she is encouraging him to go nuts during the festival, to use his best forms and leave us all in the dust!"
Class 1B's morale clearly dropped at those words, all of them recalling the forms he used during the USJ.
"The fast one could walk on water…"
"He has a form that can cause landslides and earthquakes."
"Don't forget the fish one! He has huge ass teeth!"
"He likely knows all he needs to know about us as well," Shishida said. "I remember when I exchanged blows with him. He hits hard and can take a punch as well."
"Can you beat him?" Yui Kodai asked.
"I am not sure. Our fight, if you recall, was cut short." Shishida glanced over to Monoma.
"Hey, it's not my fault, alright?! I didn't know his Quirk could overload mine and cause me to pass out!" Monoma said, defending himself. "It was the first time something like that ever happened to me!"
"Quiet down, you lot!" Vlad King said loudly. "Now, as it stands, this is also a chance for you all to gain the attention of some Pros. As you know, the Sports Festival is equally a chance for you all to be scouted by Pro Agencies, under which you will serve as interns. You must give it your all, and take the spotlight from 1A! The more offers you get, the better! But…There is also the risk."
The class listened closely as their teacher spoke.
"Just as 1A is at risk of losing more students, so are you. During the Sport Festival, if any of you cannot prove themselves, then you will be immediately removed from the Hero Course. 1A has missing spots, meaning there can be leniency, but not here! You all either give 120% or you pack up and leave! Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Sir!" 1B replied together.
"Good. Now, I suggest you all head straight for the gym for training after class. You will need to be in shape for what follows."
At midnight, in the heart of Japan's forests, the animals were walking around and grazing peacefully. A deer was walking by, until it sensed something and turned its head. But it saw nothing. Yet it sensed something. The air was different, the wind was blowing the wrong way, and its fur was standing on its ends.
Almost like lightning was about to strike! It watched the same spot, and then, in a bolt of light, a sphere appeared, bright red and spooking the wildlife. The deer ran for its life, the birds flew off, and the sphere continued expanding. The grass was burned to a crisp, and the entire forest was illuminated.
But just as quickly as it appeared, the light vanished. The grass was burned, yes, but in the middle stood no monumental monster, but a small creature. A smart creature. Red eyes peered all around, and the creature took the time to inhale the air.
"Earth." It said, its voice hoarse and older. The small creature looked at its hands and looked relieved. "Good. Galvan DNA is available." But that was not what it required now. It required knowledge. It required resources! But right now…He was free.
"Hahahahah!" He laughed, clutching his stomach. "Take that, Azmuth! I, Albedo, not only outlived you, but I have escaped from the Plumbers and the accursed Tennyson bloodline - Gah!" He felt his back acting up. "Ugh…Too bad I couldn't do it before old age…"
The small Galvan had red eyes, which was already a big tell of the major difference from the rest of his species. Additionally, he had two elongated appendages going down from his chin, much like how Azmuth looked. But different. He wore a red and black tunic, but interestingly enough, he had an Omnitrix badge on his chest. Except, it was not an Omnitrix. He was Albedo, a former assistant of Azmuth. In his ambition to show he was greater than Azmuth, he tried to replicate his work, but he found it inferior to the original Omnitrix.
Thus, he tried to steal it from Azmuth's champion, Benjamin Tennyson. But the results were a disaster. Not only had Azmuth learned of everything, but when the two Omnitrix devices interacted, it damaged his very DNA! He was trapped in a human form, with disgusting cravings, for years! But he learned.
His condition was tied to the Omnitrix. The unlocked DNA samples manifest in his own DNA, allowing him to transform into them without the need for an Omnitrix! Except, well, this ability was highly unstable. In order to fix it, he created a DNA stabilizer, allowing him to control his newfound ability and retain his true Galvan form. But after his final defeat at the hands of Ben 10K, as he took to calling himself after gaining Master Control, Albedo's stabilizer was altered to trap him in his Galvan state forever, and then he was locked up!
But he escaped. It took him years, but he managed to make deals, trade, and eventually construct a device that would get him out of that prison. A cross-universal one-way teleportation gate! This is how he got here! But something was wrong. Or rather, the device needed a homing beacon.
Something to create the connection! As a result, he used his connection to the Omnitrix as the main catalyst, but that meant his escape would be only to a universe where the Omnitrix exists! He doesn't know where he is, or if this version of Tennyson, or whoever it is that had the device, was even someone he could get along with! He cannot afford to take that chance!
But he had nothing right now. Nothing but time. His stabilizer was now integrated into his body, and if he can somehow hack it and remove the limiter they placed on him, he can freely transform into any form he might require to either escape or fight!
But that brought Albedo to remember his plan…To which he had to admit that he had forgotten to think this far ahead. "I didn't think I'd make it this far." He admitted to himself. Azmuth was deceased. Benjamin Tennyson was deceased.
"Maybe…Maybe walking around will provide some answers."
Fireworks went off in the sky to announce the start of the Sports Festival. Students and civilians alike walked around the various stalls installed around the strip of pavement located on the other side of a massive wall. "THIS IS THE FESTIVAL AREA?!" Izuku gasped as he stood next to Mirko, looking at the giant wall.
"Oh yeah!" Mirko said, turning to him. She was wearing her hero outfit today, which attracted attention, but people seemed more interested in the stalls than her. For now. "UA has a crazy budget, not to mention ways to cheat! This bad boy is called The All-Rounder Arena. ARA, for short. I don't get all the technical mambo jumbo, but apparently they can have this place become whatever they need for their games at the press of a button!"
"Suddenly, the Omnitrix seems a bit less impressive."
"Notice: I take offense to that." The Omnitrix stated. "Accessing UA's systems, searching for ARA Blueprint- ERROR! Firewall detected! Hack attempt unsuccessful!"
"H-Hey! Don't hack the university!" Izuku told the Omnitrix.
"Yeah, I also agree with Izuku. Don't." Mirko added as well. "Nezu would skin us if he learned we hacked his school."
"Disappointing."
"When are the events going to start?" Izuku asked, turning to Mirko.
"This is the first day, and the festival only just started. UA gives its students some time to enjoy themselves before the events begin, so I'd say you have a few hours. No worries, you ought to receive a message when you need to go to the lockers. Everyone participating is given UA-issued tracksuits."
"Well, I doubt it matters much since-"
"Izuku!" Ochako called out to him, making him look behind to see her, along with a few others from her class.
"Looks like your lady is here. Go to them!" Mirko said, ditching him. "I got some official stuff to take care of!"
"And there she goes…" Izuku sighed, seeing Mirko leap away. He then turned to Ochako and the others, going to them. "Hi, guys!"
"Don't Hi guys us!" Denki began, looking a little pissed. "Dude, we all heard how you went on patrols with Mirko! No fair!"
"What the oaf wants to say…" Jiro said, stabbing Kaminari with her jack in the ear to shut him down. "It's good to see you again. We haven't seen you around much, given your patrols with Mirko."
"Yeah, she must have had me walk with her across the entire city. Granted, it was more jumping from one rooftop to the next." Izuku replied.
"Man, aren't you excited for the festival!" Kirishima said, smiling widely. "This is so manly! We get to show off to pros and the public! Heck yeah!"
"Don't forget all the attention we might get from the media! This is the perfect chance to also get our names out there!" Mina added with a wide smile.
"Everyone, I stand to remind you that we are here to show what we can do to Pro heroes to receive offers after the festival! We are not here to show off!" Ida said, but Izuku found a little problem with his argument.
"I think they are the same things, Ida," Izuku said, making Ida lock up. "Speaking of offers, do you guys have any favorites? Like, heroes you want to intern under?"
"I hope I get to intern under 13!" Ochako said rapidly.
"Midnight for me!" Mina said, although everyone present looked at her strangely for that. "What? She is a good hero on top of being a part-time model! I want to learn her secret to balancing that kind of life!"
"You plan to go into modeling?" Izuku asked, curious about her prospects. "Isn't that a bit…Counter-productive to being a Hero?"
"Huh? But I know a lot of heroes who have side gigs." Mina argued.
"As much as I want to argue on the matter of morality, I'm afraid Mina does have a point. I plan to intern under my brother, but that being said, Tensei does lend his public image in commercials to earn for his agency." Ida said. "It is not uncommon for heroes to have secondary jobs, as a hero's main source of revenue comes from the sale of merchandise first and foremost!"
"Ah, that's right! That is why UA has a marketing department!" Izuku recalled. "To sustain themselves, Heroes sell merchandise! Or rather, their agencies do! But a hero's popularity directly influences how much merchandise is sold, and thus how much they can afford to be a hero full-time!"
"Didn't the government pay the heroes to do their job?" Kirishima asked.
"It did in the early days." Jiro corrected Kirishima. "But once the number of heroes increased beyond the country's ability to finance them, the government decided to have them generate their own revenue through the sale of merchandise."
"Yup!" Mina said. "But not everyone is as popular as All Might or Endeavor! So, many heroes take up side gigs! Especially female heroes, given their popularity, end up modeling on the side!"
"And you want to be a model?" Izuku asked. "Is that why you want to be a hero?"
"What?!" Mina gasped. "No, no! I know it might sound selfish, but that is not why I wanted to become a hero!"
"Uncool, Midobro!" Kirishima said, using his nickname for Izuku. "I doubt anyone here wants to be a hero for bad reasons! Take me for example! I want to be a hero to follow in the footsteps of my idol, Red Riot!"
"I want to uphold my family legacy, as we've been heroes for generations!" Ida added, giving his own reason.
"My case is a bit more complicated, not gonna lie," Jiro said, grabbing everyone's attention. "My parents own a music shop, and it is thanks to them that I love music so much. But I guess I always wanted to help people, too. They are actually a bit against the idea of me becoming a hero, and I keep thinking I am letting them down by being here and not working toward taking over their shop."
"What do you want, though?" Izuku asked further.
"I guess I want to do both. I want to somehow combine my love for music with my desire to help others. By becoming a hero, I guess I hope to find a way to do it."
"That is a deep reason," Denki said. "Honestly, my reason is lame compared to yours. My Quirk is just…Well, strong! I can literally take out multiple people at once!"
"While frying your brain in the process as well," Jiro remarked dryly.
"Only if I overdo it!" Denki argued. "My point is, I got a strong Quirk, so I might as well use it to help people!"
"That is a straightforward reason, indeed." Ida agreed. "And I do agree your Quirk is a powerful electric-based one. Granted, you are poorly handling it by overusing it and causing your brain to short-circuit. It also doesn't help that you are one of the weakest students in our class academically."
"Hey!"
"I am just stating truths," Ida argued.
"I want to stop bullying." Mina suddenly said, giving her reason.
"That is a tall order," Izuku said softly. "Care to elaborate?"
"People with Mutant Quirks or who are like me, and don't look really human, are often picked on."
"Mutant Discrimination," Ida said, once again giving a name to the issue. "I read about it. Mutant-Type Quirk users are being labeled and discriminated against simply due to the way they look."
"That's horrible," Ochako said softly.
"I used to be picked on back in High School," Mina confessed. "Kirishima would know. We went to the same school together!"
"Y-yeah, though we never really talked much," Kirishima admitted.
"And back then you had-"
"Stop! Stop, stop, stop!" Kirishima said quickly. "Do not say another word!"
"Ok…But yeah. I want to become a hero to use my position to promote anti-bullying policies and maybe help reduce the discrimination among Mutant-Type Quirk users."
"I see. I apologize for accusing you of wanting to be a hero for selfish reasons." Izuku said, offering his apologies. "I guess I jumped the gun."
"What about you, Ochako?" Mina asked, turning to Ochako. "Why do you want to become a hero?"
"Oh. Umm…For…Money."
"Whoa, ok!" Mina recoiled. "I…I didn't expect that."
"It's not what you think!" Ochako said quickly. "I want to become a hero for the money, yes, but not because I want to be rich! It's for my parents!"
"Care to elaborate?" Ida asked.
"My parents own a construction company. But it has been struggling in recent years. My father works hard every day, and it is thanks to him that I managed to afford coming to UA in the first place. The university already provides me with some financial aid, which helps massively, but I know once I graduate, I need to work extra hard to earn enough to sustain both myself and help my parents." Ochako explained.
"Your reason isn't bad, either," Izuku said. "In fact, it is a very good one as well. It takes courage to become a hero, and doing it to help your parents isn't a bad reason. Just a bit on the small scale, that's all."
"Thank you, Izuku. But…What is your reason for being a hero?" Ochako asked, and Izuku was ready to answer, only to then freeze up. It wasn't that there wasn't a reason. The issue was that he couldn't confess it in full. But maybe he could give them a parodied version, which is still true but without revealing the secret of the Omnitrix to them.
"You remember where I come from, right?" He asked, and everyone instantly knew the name.
"Aldera," Ochako said softly.
"Is your reason close to mine?" Mina asked.
"You could say that, Mina. In my case, however, I saw people being discriminated against and bullied based on a Quirk-based hierarchy. In hindsight, I was never the only one to suffer. Just the one who suffered the most. The teachers and bullies always sought to step on people's dreams if they thought the Quirk was useless. They only wanted to take away people's hopes in life." Izuku brought his arm up. "But then I got my Quirk. Things changed. But I know such thinking - such abuses happen everywhere."
"I want to stop them." He declared. "I want to give back hope to the people such individuals have abused. I want to tell them all will be alright, to tell them they matter and their dreams are not foolish or impossible. Everything I was denied, I want to be the one who gives hope to people that things are not as grim as they seem."
"Man, that is poetry," Kirishima said, looking at Izuku with respect. "You know, out of all of us, I think you had equal reasoning to become a villain, too."
"Kirishima!" Ida shouted.
"No," Izuku interjected quickly. "He's right. In hindsight, I could have easily chosen vengeance." He admitted, and his admission shook everyone present.
"Midoriya." Ida said softly.
"I won't lie, guys. I was close. I had such thoughts." Izuku said. "Times I wished harm on others. It's scary to think how close we all are to becoming villains. And, to be honest with you all, despite everything good that has happened to me so far, there are still times when such thoughts cross my mind."
"Professor Aizawa recently told us about something similar. When heroes want to end villains, permanently, because the villain itself was that vile." Mina said, bringing up one of their past lessons. "He told us that, no matter what, a hero must be disciplined and not go over the edge. If they do, then villainy wins."
"Even heroes kill," Izuku argued. "Endeavor, for instance, has killed villains before. The difference is necessity. The ones killed are always extremely dangerous villains who cannot be safely incarcerated. But, I doubt such an action is easy for a hero to bear."
"Damn, that got dark quickly," Jiro said, breaking the awkward silence that followed after Izuku's words. "Still, your reasoning is really something, Midoriya. And personally? I think you can do it. After all, if not you, then who? You legit have more Quirks than our entire class combined!"
"Jiro, it is inaccurate to say Midoriya has multiple Quirks!" Ida said, correcting his classmate again. "Midoriya has only one, extremely powerful Transformation-Type Quirk!"
"Y-yeah. Though Jiro does have a point. I do have multiple powers, some more dangerous than others." Izuku said, but then the Omnitrix beeped. The others didn't notice as their phones buzzed, meaning they all got notifications.
"It's starting," Ida said. "We are being called to go change and prepare for the first event!"
"Already?! I thought we had a few hours to enjoy ourselves before the first event begins!" Mina argued.
"Apparently, we don't," Jiro said. "Let's go, gang! Professor Aizawa won't be happy if we are delayed!"
Izuku looked at his message as well on his HUD, but his had certain mentions. Yes, he had to present himself to the lockers, but there was more to his message than a simple notification that the event was starting.
"Due to its dangerous nature, I hereby inform you that your Chernobyl form is NOT be used throughout the entire sports festival. With love - Nezu."
"This is a highly illogical request. Dean Nezu has no Admin Authorization to prevent the use of any of our forms."
'Maybe, but I say we obey so we do not get removed from the festival. Can you lock the Prypiatosian-B DNA until the festival is over?" Izuku requested, and with a quick beeping sound, the Omnitrix had completed the action.
"Done. The lock will prevent any possible accidental transformation." The Omnitrix informed him.
"See you during the festival, Izuku!" Ochako waved as they left, and Izuku waved back. Then he went to the lockers. According to his HUD, he was going to be getting ready in separate lockers from the others. He felt nervous, but excited at the same time. This was his moment to shine. His true moment to show the world how far he has come.
And no one is going to stop him.
"HELLO LISTENERS!" Present Mic shouted as the crowd cheered loudly, the crowd having packed the ARA facility full! "I WELCOME YOU ALL TO ANOTHER UA SPORTS FESTIVAL! OH YEAH! WE ARE BACK, BABY! AND AS ALWAYS, WE ARE BACK WITH SOME GOOD STUFF FOR YA'LL! AND GUESS WHAT? JOINING ME HERE TODAY IS NONE OTHER THAN THE UNDERGROUND HERO: ERASUREHEAD HIMSELF! SAY SOMETHING FOR THE PEOPLE, ERASURE!"
"I hope you all have a great day and enjoy the events," Aizawa said, his tone clearly reflecting his lack of sleep.
"SHEESH, LOW ON COFFEE, MUCH? ANYWAY! TODAY WE GET TO SEE OUR TOP CROP COMPETE TO SHOW THE WORLD WHAT THEY ARE WORTH, BUT THIS EVENT INCLUDES EVERY UA COURSE! SO, LET'S HEAR FOR THEM ALL! FROM LOW TO HIGH! FROM K TO I, WE HAVE OUR MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT!"
Students began entering the ARA from the side doors, waving at the crowd. "WORD OF ADVICE, MAKE SURE TO BE FRIENDLY TO THOSE GUYS! THEY ARE THE HEART AND SOUL OF A HERO AGENCY! THE ONES WHO WILL HANDLE EVERYTHING FROM FOUNDING YOUR AGENCY TO HELPING YOU MANAGE IT AND SELL YOUR IMAGE TO EARN YOUR BREAD AND BUTTER! REAL SHARKS WE ARE TEACHING HERE AT UA! NOW, LET US HEAR IT JUST AS LOUDLY FOR H TO F, OUR DEPARTMENT OF SUPPORT!"
More students entered the ARA, many of them looking quite tech savvy in their own right! "EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT, AS EVERY HERO NEEDS RELIABLE SUPPORT ITEMS TO MAXIMIZE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS IN THE FIELD! THOSE ARE THE GENIUSES BEHIND EVERY HIGH-TECH TOY HEROES MIGHT EMPLOY IN THE FIELD! WOOOO! NOW, LET US HEAR IT FOR E TO C, THE DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL STUDIES!"
More students entered the arena. "THEY ENJOY SOME OF UA'S FINEST EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES! MORE EVEN, THOSE WHO WE THINK HAVE A SHOT CAN EARN THEMSELVES A PLACE AMONG THE HERO COURSE! DESPITE NOT BEING AS SPECIAL, DON'T BE FOOLED! THEIR POTENTIAL IS STAGGERING! BUT OF COURSE, NOW WE REACH UA'S PRIDE AND JOY! OUR HERO COURSE! LET US HEAR IT LOUDLY FOR B TO A! THE HERO COURSE!"
Finally, everyone from the hero course entered the ARA, looking in awe at the people cheering for them. "This is quite a lot," Ochako said, nervously.
"Hey, don't worry, Ochako! We are in this together!" Mina said, reassuring her.
"Thanks, Mina."
"AND NOW, FOR THE ADDITIONS THIS YEAR! UA HAS DECIDED TO ALLOW SELECT INDIVIDUALS TO PARTAKE IN THE FESTIVAL THIS YEAR! AND THOSE GUYS CAN HAVE A SHOT AT GETTING INTO UA, EVEN INTO THE HERO COURSE! LET US HEAR IT FOR THE BRAVE ONES WHO JOIN US TODAY!"
The number of people who filtered in was not as big as an entire class, counting only a handful of individuals. "AND NOW, AS THE FINAL ONE TO ENTER, the HAP PROGRAM! WE ONLY HAVE ONE GUY FROM THERE, BUT HE IS ONE HELLUVA ABERRATION! LET US HEAR IT FOR IZUKU MIDORIYA!"
Izuku entered the ARA as well, granted, because he was named, people seemed to have a strong reaction to him. "No fucking way…" Someone from the crowd of additional participants said, and then they pulled back into the crowd to avoid being spotted.
"Why did I have to be named directly?" Izuku asked as he went toward 1A, joining up with the others.
"Izuku!" Ochako greeted him. "You look…Are you ok?"
"I think I am going to be sick…So many people…So many eyes…Watching." He said, shivering from the large number of people currently watching.
"The first of our events is called Find the Ball." Aizawa's voice said over the intercom system. Then, to the surprise of the people present, the ground beneath them began to shift as a literal city was being built around them. Buildings were going up the top of the arena, and then past it, and streets were paved before their very eyes.
"Whoa," Kirishima said. "Dude, this is insane."
"The purpose of the first event is to find one of 60 plastic balls hidden across the city," Aizawa explained further. "Finding one, then going to one of the safe zones located on the outskirts of the city, ensures the one who found it a place in the next round."
"BUT DO NOT THINK IT IS THAT EASY!" Present Mic said, cutting in.
"I was getting there. Since there are only 60 balls, that by default means only 60 competitors may proceed to the next round. There is also a timer of 30 minutes. If the timer runs out, and you didn't even find a ball, you are out. If you have a ball, but didn't reach a safe zone, you have an additional five minutes to reach one. If you fail, you are eliminated."
"AND YOU CAN ALSO STEAL SOMEONE'S BALL!" Present Mic added. "IF YOU SEE SOMEONE HOLDING A BALL, YOU CAN ATTEMPT TO STEAL IT FROM THEM! NOTHING STOPS THEM FROM STEALING IT BACK, HOWEVER! BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU LOT ARE ALLOWED TO FIGHT EACH OTHER! COMBAT IS 100% OFF THE TABLE DURING THIS EVENT! ANY VIOLATION OF THIS RULE RESULTS IN IMMEDIATE ELIMINATION!"
"The event officially starts in 3! 2! 1!"
And with the blare of a horn, chaos erupted.