my-rewrite-academia

[my-rewrite-academia]

Week 25 (Training Camp - Part 2):

Training Time!

The morning after the Sauna Incident™, 1-B, (half of them, anyway), wake up at 7 AM, only to find that the 1-A students are already out of bed. Vlad King takes them outside for training after breakfast, revealing that 1-A have been awake since 5 AM, and are in the middle of training.

Yuuga trains his endurance by blasting his navel laser into the air repetitively, until he eventually throws up, takes a five minute break, and returns to doing it again.

Tsuyu strengthens her limbs to maximise her flexibility and agility, as well as how far her tongue can stretch and how much it can lift.

Tooru uses her quirk to heat up a pot of water until it boils, then cool it until it freezes. When she isn't doing that, she's learning how to silence her breathing and steps with Aizawa.

Kyouka strengthens her earlobes by penetrating stone, and trying to create as many vibrations as she can within each jab.

Kouji screams into the forest, increasing the output of his voice, basically learning how to create noises at a pitch only animals can hear.

Izuku trains with Tiger to strengthen his reaction time, speed, strength, and his thinking on the fly, as he has no quirk to train.

Minoru peels off ball after ball on his scalp, even when he bleeds, to propagate healing to allow the balls to keep its adhesiveness longer, and to make more grow.

Hanta shoots his tape as far as it can go, then some more, as well as using his tape to pull increasingly heavier objects. On the side, Aizawa helps him learn how to navigate dense areas.

Mezou trains his senses to the max, having Tooru help him when she can, and he trains how fast he can change each limb to an eye, an ear, a mouth, or hands.

Momo is tasked with creating as many items as she can, only allowed to eat after she's exhausted her quirk to its theoretical limit, to help increase her load.

1-B are already terrified at the sight of them, and that fear is only strengthened when Vlad grins down at them, declaring that it's their turn.

Yosetsu welds objects together, both organic and non-organic, bettering his reaction time and speed of welding.

Manga creates as many onomatopoeia as he can, each different from the previous, to increase his palette and reduce the time between each creation.

Juuzou has a mountain-side for his use, having to soften the ground but halt it in time to not cause a landslide, to help his control.

Yui is faced with many objects, having to resize them, some giant and some tiny. Her goal is to make an object the size of the house and one the size of an ant, potentially smaller.

Shihai has to merge with shadows from the forest, slowly working his way into the lighter shadows until he cannot feel any sort of pull, and push for it anyway.

Neitou's main goal is to juggle through everyone's quirks, (those he can copy, in any case), without gaining any information from the person as to how to use their quirk.

Tetsutetsu strengthens his hardening with help from Pixie-Bob's quirk, as she has golems attack Tetsutetsu at each end, until he cannot hold it up any longer.

Reikou moves as many objects as she can, pushing past her weight limit, and increasing the velocity of which she can move them.

Pony has to increase how far she can throw her horns, as well as how much they can carry, using boulders and tree trunks to aid her.

It's a hell of a time, but it'll be worth it – to become stronger.

-

During one of Izuku's breaks, he takes the chance to observe his classmates, mind busy with two different things. Kouta, and All for One.

Kouta is hostile to anyone and everyone, and he nearly seriously injured himself just the day before in the sauna. Shortly after he brought him, (and Minoru), to the infirmary, he managed to ask Mandalay about Kouta, and was told about his parents. The Water Hose heroes, killed in duty when Kouta was only three. Mandalay had considered it a noble way to go, especially for a hero. But Sosaki Shino has always wished they ran away instead.

It's not heroic. In fact, some would even call it cowardly. But she would rather they be alive than to die, selfish as it is. They died saving people, which is a pretty good way to go. Kouta, however, has never seen it like that. He didn't know his parents as heroes, he only saw them as his parents. To him, they chose to die as heroes, than to live on as his parents.

When he was told, Izuku didn't know how to feel. On one hand, as heroes, it's their job to put their lives on the line and fight for those who can't fight for themselves… On the other hand, when do heroes stop being heroes and start being human? When is it okay for them to admit defeat? Will it ever be okay?

He sees Kouta's hostility now, and he doesn't see a volatile brat. He sees a damaged boy, who has no idea how to grieve in a world where his parents' deaths were called noble rather than tragic.

… Then, of course, there's the conversation with All Might. About All for One.

It's been on his mind since that day, really. Someone who could take and give quirks as he desired. It's cruel to take others' quirks, yet Izuku knows that the him of last year would have given anything to have a quirk of his own. It plagues him: this question of if he would have taken a quirk a year ago, given the chance, if only so he had a shot of making it into a hero school.

As he thinks about it, his eyes flicker around his friends and classmates, observing their quirks, and just imagining for a moment. What would happen if he got any of their quirks? Most of their quirks only worked with them because of their secondary or tertiary quirks. Everyone had some form of them; even the quirkless had them. 

Unnatural hair, eyes, and skin were often tertiary – barely considered a quirk considering how normal it all was now. Secondary quirks often allowed the main quirk to function as they do. Tsuyu's biology allows the merging of a frog's, specifically with the stomach and joints. Tooru's biology allows her body to handle radiation at such a high level. Kyouka's ears resisting loud noises, unable to be ruptured by her own sounds. Kouji's larynx allows him to reach such high decibels, his voice louder than what is usual – if not for his larynx, he wouldn't be able to use his quirk at all.

Of course, it's not infallible. Quirk backlash is still a thing. Ochako becomes nauseous after using her quirk more than she can; Tenya's legs cramp up after a while of using his engines, and they can overheat; Shouto can get both hypothermia and hyperthermia if he's not careful. It's like straining a muscle after overworking. Quirk backlash only occurs after strenuous use, due to the secondary quirk supporting it. 

If Izuku received any of their quirks, there would be nothing to support his usage of it. Heck, he'd just end up like Yuuga, who can't use his quirk for more than a second without risking damage to his… body…

Izuku's mind races, eyeing Yuuga as he crumples, face scrunched as he fires into the sky, legs shaking horribly, mouth crusted with vomit, eyes red. 

… The human body isn't designed to support any quirk other than your own. The noumus proved that. Quirk backlash certainly exists, but not to this extent. Not unless the quirk is either incredibly destructive… or if the quirk doesn't suit the user's body. 

There was a meeting. Shortly after the USJ incident. Midnight hadn't been there. No, it was Mic. Before he started the meeting, he had warned them that the contents may induce paranoia, and specifically warned Izuku that he wouldn't like the implications. Fool that he is, he stayed. 

And he was informed of a traitor.

It had taken all of his strength to not reveal it to his classmates, and take the burden onto himself. They didn't need to spend every minute together suspecting others of betraying them, of betraying their trust. Izuku had spent those weeks leading up to the Sports Festival examining each of his classmates, including 1-B. 'Just in case,' he swore to himself, as if didn't know what that case was.

He… He had to tell Mic, when they got back. It was nothing definitive, and he'll have to keep All for One out of it, but even a small chance meant so much more. 

Hopefully, it's just a coincidence. If not, then… then he'll deal with it when the time comes.

-

During the night, Kouta disappears. Mandalay isn't too concerned, as Ragdoll can still feel him within her radius, faint as it is, but Izuku is. It's dinner, and he didn't see Kouta eat anything, distracted as he may have been. So, he finds an insulated bento box, fills it with the curry whipped up with the might of Tsuyu, Izuku, Hanta, Yui, and Neitou. 

It takes far longer than he thought it would, but he manages to find Kouta on the mountainside. 

"It's cold, you know."

Kouta shrieks, throwing out some water from his hands as he does. It does little, splashing on Izuku's shoes. He regains his sense of sense shortly after, hugging his knees and glaring at Izuku. "What do you want? How did you find me? Stalker."

Izuku brushes the insult off, approaching him with the bento. "I want to give you some food. I found you by looking around – it took me thirty minutes. This is a good hiding spot."

Kouta rolls his eyes. "It only takes ten minutes to get here. And go away. I'm not hungry." Betraying him, his stomach grumbles.

Izuku doesn't bring any attention to it, only opening the bento. "In that case, then I guess I can eat it," he teases, unwrapping the tissue holding a spoon. "Ah, I can't wait! This curry is so delicious! Mild but with that amazing tang. A hint of apple to add some sweetness to it!" He scoops some rice with the curry, bringing it to his mouth. "Aaaaahhh–"

Kouta, face red, grabs the spoon and shoves it in his own mouth. Izuku smiles as Kouta takes the bento off him, eating with vigour. "… It's good," he mumbles, eating it until it's all gone. 

"…" Izuku takes a deep breath, scooting closer to Kouta. "Mandalay-san told me about your parents."

"Huh!?" Kouta glares at him. "… Why does that matter? No, let me guess: you think they died a noble and heroic death, huh? That I should be proud of them!? Is that it!?"

"I'm sorry," Izuku says instead, silencing Kouta. "I'm sorry that happened to them, and to you. None of you deserved it." 

Kouta is stupefied. "Why… Why are you sorry? Everyone…" He looks down, hands balling into fists. "Everyone always says that they were heroes. That they died as heroes. To save people… If they really cared, then… Then!" He shakes his head, tears in his eyes. "Then why did they leave me!?"

Izuku jolts. Of things he expected, it wasn't that.

"Why did they care about a bunch of strangers more than their own son!? Why did they care more about being heroes than loving me!?" 

'Oh,' Izuku realises. This is a child. This is a young boy in front of him. A kid who wasn't allowed to grieve or mourn his parents, for the world around him commended their deaths. A kid who doesn't know how to handle loss, for the world around didn't see it as one. They call it glory in death, a heroic sacrifice. Anything but a tragedy. 

This is a boy trying to make sense of something that has no explanation.

"Kouta-kun…"

"Don't!" Kouta snaps, eyes and nose red. "All you heroes are the same! Keep saying you want to save people, but you don't even think about the ones you leave behind. I hate you. I hate you all! Leave me alone!" He throws another ball of water, striking Izuku in the face.

Izuku doesn't bother dodging, or trying to wipe it off. Instead, he collects the empty bento. "For what it's worth," he says as he leaves, "I don't think your parents wanted to die. I don't think they wanted to leave you." 

Kouta jumps, and Izuku smiles at him.

"I think they were trying to make a safer world for you."

-

Roguish Interception

Skipping through the dense streets of Tokyo, one Toga Himiko is on her way to the Rogue's base of operations. Yes, there's a bit of blood on her, stuck between her teeth, but that isn't so important. What is important is a certain someone she spots walking into an inconspicuous bar. Her first thought is, 'wow, I didn't realise our bases were so close together.' Her next thought is that she should probably tail them.

That feeling only doubles when she sees three others walk in, two of them she recognises as pretty well known villains. And if they're with Tomura, then the League of Villains are making their move.

Sneaking by, she stays as close as she can without being spotted, shoving metal rod between the door as it closes, keeping it slightly open for her to hear.

It's not entirely clear, but it's enough. 

With new information in hand, Himiko turns away. As a Rogue, she will follow her beloved Stain's footsteps, and fighting against the League of Villains, whom Stain proclaimed to be wrong, is her first step. Their first step.

-

The second day passes, then the third, fourth, and, finally, the fifth. All goes as normal: wake up, eat, train, eat, train, eat, sleep. Well, it would have gone as normal, except for that last bit about sleeping.

Instead, they have a test of courage. A fine test for heroes. 1-B are up for scaring first, and 1-A will do the scaring afterwards. The Pussy Cats are all in different points in the forest, with Ragdoll at the start. They're all paired up, making for five pairs. Izuku choses Yuuga as his pair, keeping an eye on him, especially with how nervous Yuuga appears to be. He claims that he doesn't do well with horror, but Izuku can imagine another reason. 

The pairs are: Yuuga & Izuku, Tsuyu & Kouji, Tooru & Mezou, Kyouka & Momo, and Minoru & Hanta. 

Minoru and Hanta go up first, with Minoru clinging onto Hanta for dear life. They disappear into the forest, and Minoru's screams echo in the night, followed by giggling and laughter from the 1-B students. 

After two minutes, Kyouka and Momo enter, Momo shyly admitting that she's bad with horror. Kyouka teases her, stating that she'll protect her honour. They go in, and it's a boy who screams first, followed by Momo's incessant apologies. When she said she's bad with horror, she meant she chooses fight over flight.

Tooru and Mezou go in and, only a minute later, there's a shriek. "Sensei!" Tooru screams, unseen. "There's something wrong!"

Aizawa stirs, hand on his scarf. Nearby, Ragdoll gasps. "Intruders!" she declares, Search reaching all around her. "Unknown individuals have arrived on the site!" 

Izuku and the remaining three stiffen. Aizawa curses under his breath. "Find Mandalay," he says to Ragdoll. "Have her inform the students." He turns to his students. "Do not do any reckless."

As Izuku is about to agree, he remembers the time. More specifically, he remembers who always disappears around this time, for the past five days. "Sensei, Kouta-kun! He's not here – he's up in the mountains!" 

Ragdoll frowns. "How likely is he to be found?"

"Likely," Izuku reports. "Especially if they're not walking."

"… Ugh." Aizawa palms his face. "Midoriya. Get to Kouta. Take your weapons. Do not engage unless necessary."

"Yes, sensei!" Izuku doesn't waste a moment, and Tsuyu helps. As soon as Izuku comes back with his weapons, Tsuyu grabs him with her tongue and gets up high. Izuku immediately points in the direction, needing no prompting.

"Good luck," Tsuyu says, before throwing him far away in that direction. He runs, and runs, desperate, praying to any God out there that Kouta is okay.

-

Ragdoll runs off shortly after, focusing on the energy she knows belongs to Mandalay. Aizawa, meanwhile, stays behind with the kids, reluctantly allowing Tsuyu, Yuuga, and Kouji to aid him if necessary. 

It takes only a minute before something happens. Two marbles land by them. Aizawa's first instinct is to push the kids behind him, activating Erasure at the objects.

"Now, now," a voice says, from the trees behind him. "I was under the impression that your quirk does not work on objects." The man, Mr. Compress, snaps his fingers and the marbles glow, disappearing to leave behind a burly woman, Magne, and a blonde teenager, Himiko.

"Bit tacky," Magne remarks, not bothering to even look at Aizawa or the kids. "This ain't the League, Compress."

"I'm aware," Compress says, twinkling. "But Spinner-kun did request that we protect the students, so long as they aren't posers."

"Don't worry!" Himiko sings, knives glinting in the moonlight. "You guys look super cute. Especially you," she waltzes up to Tsuyu, who instinctively backs away, Aizawa stepping in to shield her. "Aw, don't worry! I'd say I don't bite, but that would be lying. But I did make a promise not to hurt anyone Spinny doesn't want me to."

"Who are you?" Aizawa says, cutting to the chase. "Are you part of the League of Villains? What are your intentions with my students?"

Mr. Compress jumps from the tree, landing strongly on his feet. "We are not part of that group. In fact, we are here today to take them down, and to protect your students as much as we can. As for who we are…" 

A pillar of blue flames rises in the distance, colouring the trio in a blue light.

"We are the Blemished Rogues."

-

My Hero

Kouta said it takes ten minutes to get to the mountain-side. It probably does for a little boy. For Izuku, however? Now that he knows how to get there, it doesn't take thirty minutes. It takes six. 

Six minutes is a lot when it comes to a fight, which is exactly what he comes upon when he arrives.

Kouta by a villain, muscles wrapped around his limbs, creating a dense weapon and shield that could break from nothing. Muscles on their own are soft, but when they've been layered like so, it becomes a lot harder.

"You killed them!" Kouta is screaming, and Izuku runs as fast as he can. "You killed my parents! You're the reason they're gone!"

Muscular, the villain, only laughs, full of sadistic glee. "I did!" he declares, like one would present a trophy. "Your parents gave me this eye, you know? Hurt like a bitch." He squeezes Kouta tighter, who screams, unable to thrash in such a tight grip. "And they died just like this. Crying, screaming, and pathetic."

"Shut up…!" Kouta gasps, tears falling from his eyes, splashing Muscular to no avail. "Shut up! Don't you dare talk about them! They… They were my parents! Give them back!"

"Don't worry, brat." Muscular chuckles, squeezing tighter. "I'm sending you to them!"

Izuku remembers Aizawa's orders. Do not engage unless necessary.

It seems pretty necessary.

Unsheathing his katana, he rushes in, blade at the ready, and he cleaves into Muscular's arm.

Muscular screams, letting go of Kouta in his fit of pain. Izuku aims his grappling hook, shooting it onto the edge, and grabbing onto Kouta. As Muscular regains his barings, Izuku jumps off the cliff, Kouta in a fireman hold in his arm, the rope lowering them down the mountain as fast as he can without harming either of them.

"M… Midoriya…" Kouta croaks, body bruised, face streaky with tears. "You came for me?"

"Of course!" Izuku says, kicking off a bit of the wall, away from the slope of it. "I'm not a hero yet, but I don't have to be one to save someone in need!" 

As he says that, Muscular cries out atop the cliff, and punches straight into the ground, right where Izuku's hook is tethered. It comes off, snapping back to Izuku's wrist.

Cursing, he grabs Kouta with both arms, tucking him in as they fall onto the sloping terrain, rolling across it. He yells out in pain at each drop, Kouta screaming in fear, until they finally land on grass – by the edge of the forest. 

"Crap…" Izuku mutters, body battered and bruised. 

Kouta grabs onto Izuku's shirt. "Midoriya! Midoriya! Are you okay?" 

Izuku coughs wetly, and he's sure he may have punctured a lung, which means a broken rib. It takes a great amount of effort, but he manages to get up, feeling a bit ashamed as Kouta helps him. "We have to go," he says, instead of answering Kouta's question. "He's going to follow us and–"

"Midoriya!?" From the forest emerges Neitou, along with Reikou. "What the hell happened to you?" Neitou asks.

"Not important," he stresses, Kouta looking between them with wide eyes. "Villains are here. We need to get back to Aizawa-sensei!"

A loud bang. Dirt thrown up from the landing. Muscular emerges from the cloud of dirt, right behind Neitou and Reikou, pissed as his arm bleeds sluggishly. 

"You brat," Muscular growls. "You'll pay for this!" 

Neitou and Reikou step back, falling into a stance. "Nevermind," Neitou says, grinning nervously. "I think I have my answer now."

"Kouta-kun," Izuku says, drawing his katana once more. "Get behind us. Find some shelter."

"But–!"

"Don't worry." He smiles. "We won't die."

Kouta bites his bottom lip. "You better not!" He turns to run away.

Muscular reaches out to him, and Reikou reacts first, pulling on his tightly wound muscles, ripping them from his skin. "I don't think so," she states, cold and certain. "You'll have to go through us!"

"You bitch!" Muscular screeches. Neitou taps Reikou's skin. "I'll kill you!"

"Will you now!?" Neitou pulls too, just as Reikou does, working in tandem to unravel his muscles. To their credit, they only cringe at the sheer amount of blood that spills as they do so. 

Muscular screams, his agonised shrieks echoing. But, he grits his teeth, grinning crazily. "I get it. I get it!" He grunts, stumbling back. "You brats… You can't use that telekinesis to lift a human, right!?" Reikou clicks her tongue. "I'm right! In other words…" He reels his fist back, moving towards Reikou. "You can't stop me from killing you."

"They can't," Izuku says, breathing raggedly as he angles his katana, "but I can!" He steps forth, aiming low, and he cuts right across Muscular's achilles tendon on both ankles. As he imagined it would, Muscular falls to his knees, unable to support his legs. "Yanagi-san! We need something to keep him down!"

"On it!"

Muscular roars with rage, lashing out and grabbing Izuku's arm, entwining muscles around both of them. Neitou immediately tries to pull his muscles out, only for Muscular to both create more and swipe a leg under Neitou's, tripping him up, and pinning him down with the same leg, blood dripping all over Neitou's chest.

"You…" Izuku grits his teeth, dropping his katana. If he was in costume, he could use his arm brace to cut the muscles from within. Unfortunately, he's not in costume. He's only got his grappling hook and katana, the latter of which is on the floor. 

As such, he goes for a different method, wrapping his fingers around Muscular's prosthetic eye and pulling. 

It's gruesome and bloody and downright cruel, but there's no time to consider the morality of it as the eye comes out, Muscular writhes and screams in agony, snapping Izuku's wrist as he does. Neitou reaches out with Reikou's quirk, dragging Muscular's back muscles to the ground, and Reikou reaches under the ground, pulling the roots of trees, dragging and warping them until they fit around Muscular's build, tying him to the ground. 

In the end, Muscular succumbs to the pain and passes out, muscles retracting and forcing Reikou to tighten the roots around him. 

Izuku falls to the ground, wrist firmly broken, and it hurts like hell, but he can't stop now. They still have to get Kouta to safety. 

"Come on, Midoriya," Neitou encourages, his chest still feeling heavy with the imprint of Muscular's foot. "We need to get out of here."

"Yeah," Izuku grunts, his breaths short and wet. He coughs and, lo and behold, blood comes out with it. "C-Crap," he says, grabbing at his shirt with his relatively uninjured hand, pulling at it to no avail. "Gotta… splint my wrist."

"Don't speak," Reikou orders, pale from both the events of the fight and how beaten Izuku and Neitou are. "Hey, kid!" she yells, for Kouta. "It's safe now! We gotta get outta here!" 

Kouta peeks his head out from a corner, face wet with tears, and nods shakily, running up to join them.

Neitou takes Izuku's shirt, ripping off the edges. "I'll splint this. I'm no pro, but I know a bit about first aid." He taps Reikou again to replenish her quirk, using it to rip some barks off a tree and wind the cloth around it and Izuku's wrist, pushing on even when Izuku's grimaces and grunts at the pain. It takes a minute, maybe less, then they're back on their feet, re-entering the forest with a single goal in mind.

Get to safety.

-

Anti-Villain

As Izuku, Neitou, and Reikou fight Muscular, some of them are caught unaware as a sadistic, cannibalistic villain finds them: Moonfish. 

Juuzou and Manga, ready to scare some 1-A students, Momo and Kyouka, trying to not throw hands at a jumpscare. As Kyouka and Momo walk by, Juuzou and Manga are ready to scare them… Until someone else does it for them.

Blades shooting from the forest, stabbing right where Momo and Kyouka would be, had Kyouka not heard the rustling of the leaves and pushed herself and Momo out of the way. 

"What the hell!?" Kyouka snaps. "Who's putting up lethal scares!?"

"We didn't!" Juuzou rushes to assure, stepping out of his hiding space. "None us are aiming to hurt you. That wasn't us."

"Then," Momo says, creating an object in her hand, "it must be an outsider." She tosses the object, battery-powered lights, catching them on the branches. Moonfish stands there, straight-jacket firmly strapped around his body, a dazed look in his eyes. 

"Who are you?" Juuzou asks, summoning as much bravery as he can. "Depending on your answer, we'll either take you down, or escort you out of the premises."

Instead of a straight answer, Moonfish watches them, bloodlust wafting from him. "Yes… Yes, this is good… No, not good. Not here. Can't find them… But this is good for me… Your flesh… will help me concentrate." He chuckles, manic despite how low it is. It sends shivers up the quartets' spines. "I am Moonfish. You are my meals."

His teeth glisten, and blades shoot from them, precise and sharp. Juuzou falls to the ground, slamming his hands on the floor and softening the ground beneath Moonfish. Moonfish dodges, using his teeth blades to propel him up. 

Momo creates a shield over one arm, and creates a bola in her other hand. With a wind-up, she tosses it up at Moonfish, aiming at his feet, only for him to use his teeth to block it, sending others at Momo, who blocks it with her shield, taken by surprise at how strong they are. 

Manga goes next, as Moonfish lands on the ground, yelling out 'FWOOSH!', creating a large amount of wind underneath Moonfish's landing, destabilising him.

Seeing this, Kyouka shoves her lobes into the ground, sending a harsh vibration into the Earth and directing it towards Moonfish. He responds by trying to use his teeth on the ground to push himself to safety, only for those vibrations to carry into his teeth, to his gums, to his head, to his brain. 

He warbles in pain, wobbling as he slowly pushes himself up. Juuzou tries to take the chance to soften the terrain underneath him, only for Moonfish to, without an issue, shoot his teeth at Juuzou, stabbing into his arm. Juuzou reels back, and the teeth retract, Juuzou's blood coming with it.

"Perfect," he moans, licking up every bit of blood, much to the groups' horror and disgust. "No, not perfect. I need to concentrate. Need to find the kid… Need… I need flesh…" He grins, laughing crazily. "I need your flesh!"

Teeth-blades shoot in every which direction, forcing everyone to dodge, including Kyouka, resulting in her lobes coming out of the ground, though they can't escape all of them, blades cutting into their flesh. Before anyone can react, Moonfish is already up, leaping up to the trees, cackling madly and each of them bleed, his blades catching a good portion of it. He licks it all, savouring each bit.

"So delicious… So good. Give it to me…! Give me your bodies! Your blood, your flesh, your bones. I need it!"

"You need to cool down." 

All four of them turn, just as a burst of blue flames shoot out, slamming into Moonfish and sorching him.

"You're way too hot-headed." Dabi snorts, hand outstretched. "Get it?"

None of them can answer. Instead, they prepare to fight against him, four against two. Or one, maybe.

"Who are you?" Moonfish asks, head tilting all around. "You're not in the League… You… Why are you stopping me?" His voice pitches up, psychotic. "This isn't fair. I need their flesh. I need it. Why are you stopping me?"

Dabi shrugs. "I'd say it's nothing personal, but I'd be damned if you don't freak me out." Blue erupts from his hands once more, and Moonfish dodges this time, now aware of the threat. "I have a… special interest in keeping these kids alive. And taking you fuckers down."

"In that case," Momo turns away from Dabi, "I can assume you're on our side?"

"Probably."

"Good." Momo holds her shield up, empty hand at the ready. "Then, as they say, I'll leave my back to you."

Dabi grins. "Got it, ojou-chan."

Moonfish strikes, a large-scale attack, and Manga responds with a loud, "THUNK! BAM! CLANG!", creating a wall of words to block the attack. As he does, Juuzou gets to the tree, softening the material and forcing Moonfish off it. Kyouka creates vibrations in the ground to trip him up, Momo getting in close with her shield, and creating a jar of acid and shattering it on Moonfish's teeth, corroding and eating away at it.

"Dodge!" Dabi yells, and Momo barely gets out of the way in time for a haze of flames to attack Moonfish. 

He screeches, teeth-blades snapping off with a "BANG!" from Manga, body burning from Dabi's flames. Momo backs up, creating a gas bomb with chloroform and chucking it at Moonfish, before running back, creating five gas-masks and passing them to the others. As soon as they put it on, the bomb goes off, chloroform erupting from it. 

Moonfish writhes, lolling from side to side, before creating more teeth-blades, the ends jagged and burnt from Momo's acid, and twisting it around, and around, until the chloroform clears away. But, it did its work – he's dazed. Dazed enough for Dabi to land a perfect strike of flames, right at his chest and face, searing the clothes off and attacking the skin.

Faced with this torment of pain, Moonfish collapses to the ground, Juuzou softening it up and solidifying it to trap him in the mud. 

Dabi approaches him, glaring down at him. "You know, they say that burns are one of the most painful injuries you can get." He smirks sardonically, pushing his foot against Moonfish's burnt face. "Especially second degree burns," which he made sure to give him, "on the hands, feet, and the face. Until those heal, you'll be in complete agony." He digs his foot in deeper, reveling in Moonfish's sob of pain. "But I think this is a more fitting punishment."

A spark of flame, straight into Moonfish's open mouth, kissing his tongue and burning. No, not burning, torching. Moonfish shrieks, thrashing in his bonds.

"What are you doing!?" Kyouka snaps. "Stop it!"

"Too late," Dabi states, hands in his pockets. "His tongue's already burnt. For good fucking reason."

Momo's eyes narrow. "A good reason? There's no good reason to torture someone!"

He sighs, rolling his eyes. "You kids don't know shit about the real world. Besides, unless you can think of a better fitting punishment for a damn cannibal, you can't say shit about my methods."

"A cannibal?" Juuzou asks faintly. "I mean, I kind of got those vibes with all the crap he was saying, but he actually…"

"Ate someone?" They flinch at Dabi's straight-forwardness. "Yeah. He's pretty well-known among villains for being a disgusting freak. With that tongue of his," he grins sadistically, "he'll never be able to taste anything. Not even his favourite meal."

Manga shakes his head. "Even so… he won't be able to eat humans in prison. You didn't need to go that far."

"Prison's a short-term solution," Dabi rebukes. "Now, even if he breaks out, he can't do it again. Or, at least, he can't gain the same pleasure of doing it again."

They're still not convinced. But that's honestly the least of their worries right now. The League are here, and they're far more competent this time around.

-

Notes:

ABOUT IZUKU FIGURING IT OUT: He's only able to figure it out because All Might told him about All for One's quirk, and because he knows a lot about quirk science. Additionally, if Yuuga hadn't been in sight while he was thinking about it, it would have taken him longer to put the pieces together

Kouta!! I always felt like his trauma was just poorly handled in canon. Mandalay basically just says that he'll understand why heroes put their lives on the line, and that isn't a healthy way to deal with a kid's trauma. Empathy works wonders, and Izuku has plenty to spare

The Rogues!! I was actually really excited to get to this. The difference between heroes and vigilantes isn't just that a hero follows the laws, but that vigilantes have more gray morality than black and white, and that is personified in Dabi especially

Izuku finally broke a bone. Canon Izuku would be so proud

Conclusion:

Izuku places suspicion on Yuuga and his quirk

The LOV attacks the camp, and the Blemished Rogues intercept them

Muscular is beaten by Izuku, Yanagi, and Neitou

Moonfish who is taken down by Momo, Kyouka, Juuzou and Manga, with Dabi's help

[my-rewrite-academia]

Week 25 (Training Camp - Part 1):

Where We Went Wrong

After the final exams, Momo and Tenya are called upon by Aizawa to explain their plans in class. Tenya goes first, explaining that they were going to cover more ground by splitting up, with only Mashirao and Rikidou being together as everyone else had far stronger quirks. Tenya had stayed back at the base with Shouto as his guard. Everyone else was to go all the way to one side, then return back. The plan was to thin Team A's numbers, and have a greater number of their team when Team A came for Tenya.

Momo explains Team A's plan: everyone was split into groups of two or three and went in different directions. Upon getting there, they'd start heading to Team B's base. The duos/trios either had a varied skill set, or their abilities worked together well. Momo decided not to stay at the base, both because she didn't want to be a sitting duck, and because it wouldn't do for a leader to not serve as an example.

Their methods were completely different: Team A valued teamwork, while Team B valued singular strength. This worked for some in Team B – Eijirou, Shouto, and Bakugou worked well with it, but others… not so much. That isn't to say that Team A's plan was perfect: there were plenty other ways to go about it. Mezou, Kouji, and Hanta may have been a varied group, but their abilities didn't work together well.

On the plus side, everyone passed. A few of them had points docked for harming/scaring the civilian bots: Yuuga, Ochako, Momo, and Bakugou. Although Momo was tackled into a bot, it still counts as harming a civilian, especially as she didn't do anything to calm the civilian bot down. There were also points taken from poor performance in battles, specifically from Rikidou and Hanta. 

Nevertheless, everyone passed the test… But it doesn't change the fact that Team B lost. 

As soon as Aizawa says that, everyone goes still.

"I told you before the exam that the losing team will not be going on the trip. As such… Team B, led by Iida, will be staying behind." 

… Crap.

They knew this already, of course. Still, there was some form of hope that it was just a lie. It's not.

Aizawa is unmoved – he warned them, after all. While Team B are on the class trip, Team A will be taught by Thirteen and Mic. The trip will be a week long, and Aizawa expects both teams to improve by the time he returns.

When that day is over, things are… awkward in the dorms, to say the least. 1-A aren't the only ones to have only half of them attending – 1-B are in the same predicament. Twenty are going on that trip, and it's not even a complete class. 

With his friends, Izuku wants to apologise, but he's cut off by Ochako. She scolds him for feeling sorry for them, when he would be happy for them if the reverse happened. The idea that he would have held back and just given them the victory if he knew for sure that they would be left behind; it's not a comforting one.

Tenya agrees, telling Izuku that the best way to make it up to them is to make the most of the trip. They chose to fight Izuku, they requested for him to be on the opposing team, they knew what they were getting into. It is not his fault, and he should not feel guilty for winning fair and square.

Shouto puts the final nail in the coffin, asking Izuku if he would change the results if he could. If he would go back in time and make his own team lose. And Izuku says no. He wouldn't. 

One by one, everyone comes to terms with the results. Oddly, Yuuga expresses relief.

-

A Tale Long Ago

With the exams out of the way, All Might gets a chance to speak to Izuku. He summons him one day, taking him to an office. He doesn't waste any time, getting into the meat as soon as.

"I heard you made contact with Shigaraki Tomura."

"I did," Izuku confirms. "During the summer break, he… found me." He frowns, feeling an uncomfortable sensation around his neck. "He wanted to talk… I… couldn't resist him."

"That's fine," All Might assures. "When you're held hostage, the best thing to do is listen, not to fight. You did the right thing."

Izuku looks away. "Tsukauchi-san said the same thing. But… it didn't feel right." He jolts. "Oh, Tsukauchi-san is–!"

"A detective." All Might smiles. "Yes, I'm aware. He's also a close friend of mine." Izuku is shocked, of course. He didn't realise that they knew each other. "The reason I brought you here is… Well. In Hosu, three noumu were rampant, yes?" Izuku nods. "Those noumu – did you notice anything about them?"

Izuku frowns, thinking about it. "It's… clear that they weren't born. They were created, right?" All Might nods. "I don't know how but someone manufactured them as a weapon. From what I remember… they all had different quirks… Multiple… quirks…?" Realisation appears in his eyes, and All Might's lips thin gravely.

"Exactly," he says, and Izuku feels horrified. "This is… top secret information, young man. If you wish to live without it, you may leave and I shall never speak of it again." 

It's a chance. To escape this future horror. Anyone with a level of sense would take it. They would stand up and leave, acknowledge that there are some things that they just don't need to know.

But, Izuku is a fool. Human experimentation. Multiple quirks. Noumu. Tomura. He should be long gone. He doesn't even move.

All Might waits for a minute, before he realises this too. "200 years ago, when quirks were first appearing, there was a man. We do not know his real name, just that he now goes by All for One. The name of his quirk." 

"All for One…" Izuku's eyes widen. "One for All."

"Yes." All Might clenches his hand into a fist. "All for One had a brother he presumed to be quirkless, and gifted him One for All – a quirk that would allow him to stockpile power, to help combat his weak body. What neither of them knew was that the First had a quirk that allowed him to pass it down to another user through DNA transfer."

Izuku pales. "Blood?"

"No, no. Hair."

"… That doesn't make it sound better, sensei."

All Might flushes. "I'm… aware." He clears his throat. "The reason All for One was able to give his brother a quirk in the first place is his own quirk. All for One allows the user to take and give quirks." Izuku's lips part in shock. "The only exception was One for All, which can only be taken and given with the user's consent. As such, One for All has been passed down for those two hundred years, all with the express purpose of defeating All for One."

Izuku bites his lip. "So… you're the forth?"

"No." He gestures at himself. "I am the eighth user, though I understand the confusion. In truth, the past users all died young – in the heat of battle. I believed I had ended the cycle." His hand trails down to his stomach. "I thought I killed him."

Izuku gulps. "That enemy you fought… six years ago now."

He nods. "I thought that was the end of him, hence why I didn't bring it up when I offered my quirk to you. I didn't think it would be necessary." He sighs, shaking his head. "However, with the noumus, it seems that… That is not the case. All for One is the only one I know of who can take and give quirks, just as it seems happened to the noumus." His fingers dig into his scar. "He is still alive.

"And you seem to be a special interest."

As horrible as it sounds, Izuku can't even argue against it. Of everyone, the noumu went for him. Of everyone, Tomura spoke to him. Of everyone, he has made contact with them the most. 

All Might leans forward, and takes Izuku's shaking hands into his own. "All for One is still alive. He is out there. But, I swear, I will ensure that he is my problem to deal with. Not yours. I tell you this, not to invite you to join in my battle, but because you should know who it is that you may end up facing."

Izuku nods, his heart still beating a bit too fast.

"I apologise for putting this on you. I do not expect you to do anything with this information, nor do I want you to." He bows his head towards Izuku. "Just… please. Stay safe."

Izuku breathes in, and it's shaky, hard to do, but very much needed. His hands settle. "I will." He bows back to All Might. "Thank you."

-

Training Camp – Start!

The bus ride is… awkward. Despite coming to terms with it, everyone is still a bit upset that half of their class aren't with them. Izuku doesn't even have his closest friends! 

But, well, they all swore to make the most of it, for those who cannot be there with them.

And so, they go, bags packed. Aizawa explains, as they get onto the bus, that they'll be going to a camp for training, hosted by a hero group. The bus stops at a cliff, where the Wild Wild Pussycats greet them. They introduce themselves, with Pixie-Bob flirting with the male students until they refer to her as an old lady. 

Kyouka notices that they've stopped, but there's no housing. One by one, everyone realises that they're not safe. Something is up.

They run to get back onto the bus, only for Pixie-Bob to morph the ground beneath them and throw them off the cliff. Fortunately, Momo reacts quickly, creating a layer of sorbothane to absorb the impact. Although, it doesn't matter much as an Earth Golem greets them, attacking instantly. 

"Your goal is straight ahead," Mandalay informs via telepathy. "You have four hours to get there! Good luck!"

With that, the Wild Wild Pussycats leave with Aizawa, and Team A are faced with unfamiliar, dangerous territory.

But, hey, they already have experience as a team. Let's see if they can put it to use!

Momo and Izuku work together to create strategies. They try to see if Kouji can control the golems, and when he can't, they have him keep other creatures away from them. Kyouka, Tooru, and Mezou are in charge of combatting the golems, with Kyouka using her vibrations to make them fall apart, Mezou being the beefiest of the group, and Tooru manipulating the temperature to make it brittle or soft. 

Hanta and Tsuyu are on scouting duty, both being sent ahead to check the path in front of them, as they're able to get high enough to look. Yuuga attacks from afar, along with Minoru. 

Momo creates a weapon for herself and for Izuku, and they're in the middle – in front of Yuuga and Minoru, but behind Kyouka, Tooru, and Mezou. 

They have four hours, and the golems are not easily taken down. 

…

They arrive after six, bruised and battered. But they arrive.

1-B are already there, after going straight there due to Kan not being sadistic enough to make them go through that route. 

Well. Half of 1-B are there.

Itsuka's group: Yosetsu, Manga, Juuzou, Yui, Shihai, Neitou, Tetsutetsu, Yanagi, and Pony. The rest of 1-B are back at U.A., after they lost against them. Much like 1-A, they have also come to terms with this, but it's still saddening to think about. 

Horrified somewhat, 1-B just like 1-A pass by them, spotting not a single one without some sort of injury. At least, none of their injuries are severe, so… Silver Lining.

Aizawa meets 1-A, properly introducing the Pussycats as well as the objective of the camp. To train their quirks. (Or, in Izuku's case, everything else.)

They're shown around the house they'll be staying at… and meet a young boy as they do. Mandalay introduces him: Izumi Kouta. Her nephew; she took him in after his parents passed away.

Trying to make nice, Izuku greets him, leaning down to him. Kouta reels a fist back, and punches Izuku's balls. 

Mandalay freaks out, apologising for Kouta and scolding him at the same time. Whimpering, Izuku falls to the ground, clutching his privates, and wheezes out, "It's okay!" It's not, and the lads take Izuku away, comforting him. 

Soon, they relax in a sauna, (with 1-B), Izuku less offended about being punched in the nuts and more concerned about why it was the first thing a child did upon meeting someone knew. Hanta encourages Izuku to let it go, or else he'll have to wear a protective cup. Neitou and Yosetsu immediately laugh at the implication, Tetsutetsu and Juuzou quietly protecting their own jewels, Manga and Shihai offering sympathies.

As they speak, wondering how their friends are handling things in U.A., and wondering what's to come tomorrow, many things happen. Next door, the girls get in, loud, and Minoru immediately moves far away from the dividing wall, but is suddenly faced by the fact that he is surrounded by buff people. It's to the point where he ends up passing out.

Up on the wall, Kouta leans over, wondering what the hell is going on as the boys panic over Minoru, only to slip. 

He screams as he falls, and Izuku and Neitou react at the same time. Izuku runs forward, hands out to catch Kouta. Neitou taps Manga and yells out, "Fukafuka!", creating a 'fluffy' surface of words underneath Kouta. Izuku manages to get to Kouta in time, bearing the brunt of the fall as he crashes back into the 'fukafuka' creation.

[Fukafuka – Japanese onomatopoeia used to describe a soft or fluffy object]

"Are you okay!?" 

Kouta stares up at Izuku, Hanta slowly inching close in case Kouta goes for Izuku's inches. It doesn't happen. Instead, Kouta blubbers and blubbers until Izuku takes him to the side with Minoru, where the latter is recovering from his crisis and near-drowning.

As Izuku fans Kouta, he truly does wonder what happened to this young boy.

-

Notes:

Yeah, All Might actually gave a chance for Izuku to turn away from the information about All for One. He's a good man.

Okay, seriously, I know that All Might hasn't been that involved lately, and that's most because he has no reason to be, but he will be more involved in upcoming arcs. For now, I'm mostly focusing on Izuku and the main quartet, with some character development for others sprinkled in-between, (Bakugou, Minoru, Tooru, Momo, Yuuga)

How many of you thought Aizawa's threat would be a logical ruse? Be honest. Hehehe…

I don't know how obvious it was, but, despite being in charge of fighting them, Kyouka, Tooru, and Mezou did not have an easy time. None of the golems were really destroyed, considering they don't have a core to destroy

Conclusion:

All Might tells Izuku about All for One and apologises

Team A attend the training camp

Izuku tries, and fails, to reach out to Kouta

[my-rewrite-academia]

Hey! Glad to see the rewrite's back. It's been a fun read so far, but I do have a question. I've noticed the biggest players of the LOV become a group without Tomura, and the summer camp and Kamino Ward incidents don't happen. Did I miss a major detail as to why that is, or did you just decide not to go that direction for your rewrite? I'm sorry if this is a dumb question!!

Hello!

-

The biggest reason is that Stain managed to escape captivity. Izuku does not have OfA, so he didn't break Stain's ribs, which would have led to him puncturing a lung. As it is, Izuku and Tenya knocked him out with Shouto's help, but Stain wasn't injured enough to stay down.

After escaping, he publicly calls Tomura out, which spreads around Japan. As such, the canon Vanguard Action Squad do not join the League, as they only joined with the belief that Stain was working with them.

Spinner creates his own group in Stain's name, after seeing Stain so close to being taken down.

The summer camp and kamino ward events don't happen, because the final exams come first. My timeline is more stretched out, which is why the break happens before the exams.

-

Thanks for the ask!

[my-rewrite-academia]

The reasoning behind why Stain went after Tensei intrigues me and if I’m remembering correctly (which I might not be) you mentioned that Koichi does exist in your rewrite. So, I’m curious what is Koichi’s and Tensei’s relationship like in your rewrite? If they know each other in your rewrite of course.

Hello!

-

Koichi actually works under Tensei. While they used to be close friends, work got in the way, and they eventually grew apart, as most school friends do. They're still friends, but they're not as close as they once were.

Hence why Koichi didn't realise Tensei was wrongfully villainising victims. If he did know, he would have called Tensei out a long time and subvert the entire thing.

Tensei is gearing up to announce his actions to the public, and will tell his agency before he does it too, just so they know what he's going to do. Koichi will have his own reaction to it.

-

Thanks for the ask!

[my-rewrite-academia]

Hello! 20 (technically 22) weeks 👀. Now, what are Izuku’s current opinion/thoughts on the rest of class 1-A?

Hello!

-

Izuku has a high opinion of his classmates now. At first, he was a logically cautious of them - Aldera and society as a whole made him such a way.

But then he grew close to them. Ochako and Tenya are his best friends, and Shouto is right there with them now. Momo is getting there, and he's respected by Kyouka and Mashirao after the USJ experience.

Most of his classmates are just nice people. They're kind to him, and they don't look down on him. Or, if they do, they don't make it known.

He's still a bit nervous around the more stoic characters, like Fumikage and Rikidou, and he's intimidated, to an extent, by Tsuyu. But, other than that?

The only person he has negative feelings about is Bakugou, for good reason. They may have had their moment in the Final Exams, but that's just the start of slowly rebuilding some sort of neutral platform between them. Really, Izuku only felt comfortable challenging Bakugou because he's seen him put in the work to be better.

Right now, his closest friends are Ochako, Tenya, and Shouto, but he can consider most his classmates his friends, (Bakugou being the exception).

-

Thank you for the ask!

[my-rewrite-academia]

Hey, I got a question for you. Do you mind if I ask?

Hello!

-

Sure! That's why my ask box is open!

-

Thanks for the ask!

[my-rewrite-academia]

After you're done with your rewrite, do you have any intention of doing a reboot?

Hello!

-

...

[Staring at the original characters I made for a reboot]

Um.

[Notes of lore and worldbuilding]

Uh...

[Plot bunnies keeping me up at night]

Well.

Perhaps.

-

Okay, in all seriousness, it's been in my mind from time-to-time. Sometimes, I'll open up my drawing program and just draw some sketches and think, 'man, this'd be good for a MHA reboot'. Then I look at my 99+ unfinished WIPs and take a step back.

I'll have to see how I feel after the end of MRA.

For now, it's a solid 'maybe'.

-

Thanks for the ask!

[my-rewrite-academia]

this rewrite is so cool keep up the good work 👍🏻 👏🏻. ive been especially enjoying seeing how each fight happens and how they conclude. i have several of questions that ive been meaning to ask but i guess on a technical level one or two of the questions i have was asked by tht previous anon but to me that anon was rude 👎🏻 so idc a bout them. also my reason behind my questions is because i lobe 💖 hearing about the behind the scenes stuff and im lowkey asking for advice too

what is your thought process when writing the fights, deciding who wins/who losers, and how do you keep the fights in-character both from in the perspective of personality, skill level, and themes you set to show case in your rewrite? so far which fight was the easiest for you to decide who wins/loses and which fight was the hardest for you to decide who wins/loses? 🙀 hopefully this wasn too many questions

Hello!

-

Thank you!! (This is ask referenced.)

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought that. I thought I was overreacting, or something, so it's nice to see that I wasn't alone in that.

When I write fights, I have two different thought processes. If it's just a small thing, such as the spars during Week 4, then I don't put that much time into them. I think about who would challenge the other well. When it comes to who wins in that fight, I think about their experiences and their mindset.

Again, Shouto only lost to Tooru in the spars because he was arrogant and believed his powerful quirk was enough to beat her, without thinking about how Tooru's quirk worked against his.

Izuku beat Momo, because Momo's reportiore is more broad and therefore her skills are not as focused as Izuku's. They had a swordfight, where Izuku is more skilled in.

The second thought process comes in with bigger, more meaningful fights. For example: Ochako versus Momo in the Sports Festival.

At that point, Ochako and Momo both have a deeper understanding of their quirks, and Momo still has her confidence. I knew that I wanted Ochako to win, but I also knew that I didn't want to undersell Momo's prowess.

They're both still ametuers when it comes to battle, but Ochako's quirk is simply really strong. At a higher level, I can see Momo beating Ochako - if she could improvise more and create a better strategy. But, at this level, Ochako wins because she has more determination to do so.

The reason I wanted Ochako to win is because she is one of the only ones to have a deeper reason to wanting to win the Festival.

I also thought that it served to show a good fight between two ends of the wealth spectrum. Ochako is poor, whereas Momo came from money. Just really drive in the point that wealth means nothing in a fair duel.

I always want a focus-fight to display all of the characters', well, character. Everything that has happened makes who they are. 1-B didn't have that experience in the USJ, leading to many of them not being able to fight with the mindset that experienced soldiers have. The ability to fight with your life on the line. Whether 1-A knew it or not, they've channeled that feeling into their fights. Because it was an overwhelming feeling of fear, and that doesn't just go away.

That being said, many in 1-B are competent, and I'm looking forward to including them more as the series goes on.

With every fight, I think about what it says, and what it will set up. Many rivalries are set up during the Sports Festival, and no good shounen doesn't have rivals. Shouto, Tenya, and Izuku properly become rivals at that point. Tooru and Mina become rivals. Momo and Ochako become rivals. Eijirou and Tetsutetsu become rivals. There are even rivals among 1-B, like Juuzou and Koujirou.

The biggest example of this 'setting up' and 'theme setting' is the Izuku versus Shouto match.

One born with nothing, the other with everything. Izuku, hated by peers but loved and supported by his parents. Shouto, praised by his peers but hurt and abused by his parents.

Izuku, using the Sports Festival to show the world of pros that he is not weak, that he is here. Shouto, using the Sports Festival as another step in his climb to greatness, to show Endeavour that he doesn't need his quirk.

Shouto, a born hero. Izuku, a made hero. It's this difference that sets the stage. Despite Shouto being perfect for a hero, it's Izuku who acts more like a hero than him, sacrificing his win to save Shouto from himself.

It's the start of a long rivalry between a boy born with nothing and boy born with everything. Shouto wins, not because he's just that much stronger, but because he's both already strong, and because he finally realises his desire to become a hero, not just to spite Endeavour.

Izuku saves him, and Shouto finally sees the hero he wants to become. In accepting his heroism, it combines with his already great strength, and he wins.

so far which fight was the easiest for you to decide who wins/loses-

The easiest fight, for me, were Shouto's fights against Kaibara and Eijirou. Though, that's a bit of an easy choice, with Shouto using overwhelming power, and needing that fight against Izuku to open his eyes.

Other than those, among the long ones with proper meaning, the easiest one was... I believe Fumikage versus Tooru & Yuuga. There's a theme of light versus dark. Not only was it fitting for light to reign supreme against the darkness, but it also helps that it's another case of being born strong and making yourself strong.

Tooru is able to handle Fumikage, not because she's just that good, but because Yuuga was one her side. If she didn't have Yuuga, they would have lost.

If there wasn't a capture tape, Fumikage would have won eventually, as Yuuga's endurance is lacking with his quirk backlash. But, there was capture tape.

It was easy for me to decide that they'd win and Fumikage would lose, because it decided it for itself.

Teamwork is a theme I'm working on fully developing.

-which fight was the hardest for you to decide who wins/loses?

The hardest was definitely the fight between Kyouka and Shouto. The entire time, I was switching back and forth, thinking: 'Kyouka's vibrations can destroy the ice', 'But Shouto can comfortably use his flames!', 'But it makes sense for Kyouka to train against fire since the USJ', 'But Shouto could rupture his eardrums and fight barehanded!', 'But he'd be disorientated from it', 'But Kyouka would be really hurt by then!', 'Shouto can burn the capture tape!', 'Kyouka can stop his flames with soundwaves!'

It was a lot. I had to justify everything to myself, going back and forth.

Originally, Shouto was going to overwhelm Kyouka, and Momo and Izuku would have to tag-team to beat him. But I went through the logistics, and decided that Kyouka, in actuality, would emerge the victor.

It helps that I love the whole 'traditionally strong quirks versus obscurely strong quirks'.

-

Thanks for the ask!

[my-rewrite-academia]

1 . Did stain ever go after jack

2 . Can we get some facts about the pros that class 1A is doing an internship with.

(Sorry it's been so long. Motivation drops, and all that jazz.)

Hello!

-

Did Stain ever go after Jack?

No. Stain travels all around Japan to both spread his name, and to deal with corruption everywhere. It's mentioned that he deals with three heroes in one city, before leaving, which is how Tenya and Izuku knew he was still in Hosu, along with other heroes like Endeavour.

Jack was certainly on his list, but he never got around to him before he was exposed by his own victims - karma at its finest.

Can we get some facts about the pros that Class 1-A is doing an internship with?

I won't do all of them, as most don't matter, but I'll do the ones that do.

Mount Lady:

List of previous facts

Has considered hiring a cleaner, but doesn't know how to find one that won't violate her privacy

While she took Izuku in as an intern, she was cheering for Ochako in the last round of the Sports Festival

Manual:

Has low self-esteem, but doesn't recognise it due to valuing his life. His low self-esteem comes from him viewing himself as a baseline for heroes to follow, rather than an idol or anything grand

Will eat KitKat's without breaking them - it's just more efficent. (To him)

He's based in Hosu because it has a high crime rate, and he wants to lower it

Endeavour:

Despite his quirk, he despises spicy food. Cannot tolerate it whatsoever

While rescue heroics is not his forte, he has participated in many, specifically fire-based ones that won't harm him

Genuine hero merch, as in of his own volition, are few and plenty. Most are off-brands that he only accepts so they don't bother him

Uwabami:

At the start of her hero career, she struggled to make any leeway. It wasn't until she leaned into her sex appeal that she rised in popularity

She and Midnight have a rivalry, as does Mount Lady, as they're often considered the most attractive heroines

Really, she is great for rescues and locating unseen victims, but she spends a lot of her time. that could be used in heroics. in interviews and photoshoots

Hawks:

Has smacked into many windows, to the point that, if he's not in his studio, windows have to be left open for ease of access

Cannot drive to save his life - he insists that there's no point when he can just fly to wherever he wants to go

Even in the sky, an endless atmosphere of purity, he can never seem to feel free. Not once

Miruko:

At the start of her career, people assumed she was going for sex appeal. It wasn't until she took down her fifth villain that they realised that she's vicious

While she watches the Sports Festival every year, it's more background noise. This year is the first time she paid attention to it.

People underestimate a rabbit's strength. As a kid, people thought that she was just quick and super weak. They're wrong

Present Mic:

Many believe he has hearing loss from his quirk. Really, his quirk comes with a mutation to keep his ears safe to aid in regulation

Genuinely has a passion for teaching, which is what makes his lessons a fan-favourite amongst the student body

Only grew his hair out because a certain old friend told him it looked 'rad'. Ever since Oboro's death, he's been growing it out longer and longer

-

Thanks for the ask!

[my-rewrite-academia]

Week 24 (Final Exams - Part 2):

Start!

Monday comes around. Tenya and Momo give Nedzu a list of their finalised teams. He is already aware, of course, as he kept an eye on them through the cameras.

After the written exams, they have half-an-hour to relax, before Aizawa finally explains the exams in depth, everyone now dressed in their costumes.

The goal, as explained before, is to capture the enemy team leader for five minutes using a special capture tape provided to everyone. For those five minutes, the leaders can escape. If they escape, that time held captive will be reset to zero. Other team members can be taken out by capturing them for two minutes. Once those two minutes are up, the capture tape will glow red, and the captive will have to stay still for the rest of the exam.

They will be fighting in City D, where there are many civilian bots provided by Power Loader. They are small and if they are damaged, they will set off an alarm and their eyes will glow red. Damaging a civilian bot will dock points from the individual student. 

Speaking of docking points, students will be marked based on their performance. He doesn't explain the specifics of the marking, but does let them know that the better they act, the higher their points. Within the exams, they are only to refer to each other by hero names. Using real names will mark them down a point.

The exam is two hours long, but it doesn't have to last two hours long, nor do they have to fight for the entirety of it, (that would just be asking for the impossible). It will end earlier as soon as the team leader is marked 'out'. Again, if neither are taken out, both teams will lose, not win, meaning nobody goes on the trip.

The students are handed two rolls of capture tape each. "Good luck," Aizawa says once more.

Each group is taken to a starting point. As Aizawa said, the fake city is full of civilian bots, each small with a friendly smile on their faces. None of them want to see what it looks like if damaged. They start on opposite ends of the fake city, and the exam will start when Mic, in a booth, announces it.

They go over their plans first, modifying it to fit in with the city layout, the map provided in their starting point, both highlighting the team bases. Momo creates earpieces for her teammates, who wear them gratefully.

Both teams have decided to make protecting their leader their number one priority but in different ways. They have five minutes to refamiliarise themselves with the plan and modify it accordingly. At the end of the five minutes, it starts.

"STAAAAARRRRRT!"

Revelry in the Dark

As soon as it starts, all of Team A leave the base. Momo is guarded by both Izuku and Kyouka, heading north towards Team B's base. Yuuga and Tooru split off together to the west. Tsuyu and Minoru partner up, heading east. Mezou, Kouji, and Hanta head northwest together.

Meanwhile, everyone in Team B splits up, with only Shouto guarding Tenya. Mashirao and Rikidou go in the same direction, while everyone else travels alone to different locations. Ochako and Denki head off to the base, undeterred. 

Fumikage heads straight to the west, using what he learned from Hawks to aid him, having Dark Shadow wrap around him and fly up ahead until he spots two students – Yuuga and Tooru. After spotting them, he assesses where the civilian bots are, before dive-bombing onto their location.

The dive-bombing, of course, creates some noise, and Tooru and Yuuga are able to see him coming and react accordingly. Tooru pushes herself out of the way, moving the light around her costume to turn it invisible. Yuuga uses his navel laser to propel himself out of the way, accidentally taking a civilian bot with him, the blue smile turning into a red frown, blaring some noise. He winces. 

Fumikage uses Dark Shadow to soften his landing, and he stands from the small crater his divebomb creates. "Greetings, Kousen. Spotlight." He stances up, ready for battle. "Let us observe who shall win. Light? Or dark?" 

"That's quite cheesy, mon ami," Yuuga stutters, civilian bots evacuating at the battle soon to happen. "We're not after you, you see! Perhaps we should leave the fighting for now."

"I shall respectfully decline." With that, Fumikage sends Dark Shadow to attack Yuuga, who dodges in a panic, sweat coating his face. Tooru, unseen, charges at Fumikage, reeling back a fist to punch him, only for her fist to meet the might of Dark Shadow.

"Sorry, lady!" Dark Shadow cheers. "But the bird mutation ain't just for show! You can look invisible, but you should learn about this thing called magnetoreception! Disturbing the magnetic fields is just as loud as yelling." 

Tooru backs up, and she smiles. How exciting! An opponent who can figure out where she is! It's good practice, she reckons. With that, she charges back in, forgetting about relying on her invisibility, dodging and weaving between Dark Shadow's attacks. He's hardly affected when she tries to burn him or freeze him, and she gets knocked back time and time again, barely landing any hits against him. But it's so exciting!

Yuuga is a coward. He knows this. The reason he chose Momo's group wasn't because he thought he'd work well with Tooru, or because he wanted to prove himself. It's because he wanted to lose. Team B's group is full of powerhouses with strong quirks, like Shouto, Bakugou, Ochako, Denki, Mina. He knew he'd stand no chance against them, and that's why he chose Momo's group. There's a reason he wanted to lose.

Except, as he watches Tooru fight against Fumikage, (although, 'watch' is hardly the word to use when she's invisible), he feels a deep sense of shame within himself. Here his teammate is, fighting against someone like Fumikage, who is so strong, not a single scratch or bruise on him. Tooru is fighting him, getting hit at every turn, and she gets back up. Charges in again. She fights.

His hands shake, tears already building in his eyes. (He's always been a crybaby.) He shouldn't want to win. He should be doing everything to make sure his team loses. To make sure half of the class doesn't get to go on that trip.

But, as he watches Tooru, he knows he can't. Yuuga may be a sad excuse of a hero, but he refused to be a worse friend. So, he stands up, hands behind his head, and he fires a beam of light straight at Fumikage.

He dodges. Of course, he dodges. Because Yuuga can't do a single thing right.

But then– "Good job, Spotlight!" As Fumikage focused on dodging Yuuga's laser, Tooru dived in further, finally managing to land a hit on Fumikage's jaw. His head flies back, and Dark Shadow retaliates by smashing into Tooru, sending her flying back, right to where Yuuga stands. "Look at that! We managed to land a hit on him!"

"… No. You did. I missed."

Tooru's voice is as peppy as ever, "I only hit him 'cause you fired." She pats him on the back, strong. "Now, let's do that again! Until we get a chance to capture him!"

"Unfortunately for you," Fumikage says, "you won't get a chance." He attacks once more, and Tooru dives in, Yuuga yelping and trying to hide. But Tooru's words replay in his head. He did something. It was pathetic, and yet it somehow helped. 

… He shouldn't. He wanted to lose. He shouldn't be trying to win… But he can't leave her hanging. Not like this.

So, he readies himself, and fires again, unsure of where Tooru is, but trusting her to dodge. She does, and she lands another hit. The more Yuuga fires, Tooru notices that Dark Shadow begins to shrink as the lasers pass by. A lightbulb switches on in her head.

"Hey, Spotlight! Do you remember what Kyou said? About how we could work together?" Yuuga thinks. And he remembers. Tooru grins, unseen. "Wanna try it out?"

"My fair lady, you are quite daring!" Yuuga turns his navel, stomach churning dangerously, but adrenaline high. "Whenever you are ready!"

Tooru backs off from Fumikage. He charges in, unnerved by this sudden turn, but he's too late. Yuuga fires a laser, as strong as he can. Tooru steps into it, absorbing all of that radiation and light. Fumikage, stunned, freezes. Yuuga just hit his teammate. On purpose.

Then Tooru begins to glow. "Hey, Tsukuyomi-san, dweller of the dark." She steps forward, Dark Shadow retreating with it. "You wanted to see how light combats the darkness? Here you go!" Light blooms from her body, bright and all encompassing. Dark Shadow screeches at the overwhelming amount of light, Fumikage panicking at the sight.

Yuuga shields his eyes, pale and sweaty. When he opens his eyes, Dark Shadow is little more than a heap on the ground, Fumikage curled up and palming at the ground, blinded momentarily.

"Spotlight! The tape!"

"R-Right!" Yuuga rushes forth, tape at the ready, and he ties Fumikage up, taking a step back a moment later. Tooru, as soon as the tape is around him, jumps on top of him, recalling how Izuku kept her pinned down in the Sports Festival, and recreating it with Fumikage as her victim. 

"G-Get off of me!"

"No way," she sings, gleeful. "With that super strong quirk, I bet you've barely worked out. I'm gonna lay on top of you for two minutes! And I know you're not overpowering me!" She turns her head, activating her suit one more. "Spotlight! Be a darling and fire super short bursts around Tsukuyomi here. That way Dark Shadow can't even grow, can he?"

Fumikage doesn't answer. He doesn't have to. Two minutes pass. The tape glows red. Tsukuyomi is out.

-

Rangers – Attack!

As Yuuga and Tooru encounter Fumikage, Tsuyu and Minoru are quickly confronted by Team B's only duo: Mashirao and Rikidou. Tsuyu is on the rooftops as it happens, Minoru following on the pavement. Mashirao and Rikidou are the first to notice Minoru, but neither notice Tsuyu, who spots them. 

Mashirao makes the first move, chasing Minoru into a vacated building, where there are no civilian bots to harm. Rikidou follows after. Minoru is deceptively fast, screaming as he runs away, but he's just as quickly cornered in the third story, in a room full of pillars and wooden boxes. 

"Uh, hey," Minoru greets, nervous. "So, how's your day going?"

Mashirao doesn't grace that with a response, lunging at Minoru with a tail to his face, only for Minoru to duck, making him miss entirely thanks to his lack of height. He guns for the door, only for Rikidou, powered up with a stick of sugar, to block his way via breaking a pillar and covering the door in rubble. Minoru screams once more, believing now that Tsuyu cannot come to his rescue.

"Fight's on, Purple Rain," Mashirao declares, before both him and Rikidou charge at him. Minoru manages to escape, running around the room. Rikidou chases after him, Mashirao cutting him off at several points. The fight reigns on, Minoru getting struck every so often, while Mashirao and Rikidou are merely sweating with how much they have to run after him.

Eventually, however, Mashirao does manage to strike Minoru in the gut with his tail, sending him flying against the wall. Rikidou picks him up, grinning all the while. Minoru struggles in his grasp, tears in his eyes, but he can't fight as Rikidou begins to tape up his body. 

"Wait!" Minoru cries. "Please! Not like this!"

"I could make it worse," Rikidou says, dropping Minoru on the ground. "Just accept your loss."

Mashirao nods. "He has to stay like this for two minutes, right?"

"Yeah."

"Too bad." A tongue shoots past them, wrapping around Minoru and dragging him away. Mashirao and Rikidou turn around. Tsuyu stands on the windowsill, ripping the tape off Minoru's body. "Sorry I'm late, kero. I didn't know which floor you were on."

Minoru sobs. "I-It's okay, Froppy! Just get here faster next time!"

Tsuyu nods. "Sure." 

Rikidou lunges at her, attempting to punch her, but she drops inside the building, ducking past Rikidou and wrapping her tongue around him, before throwing him into a pillar. Mashirao jumps in next, tail swinging. She ducks, moving back towards the wall. This time, Minoru attacks, throwing a ball with accuracy, pinning it to Mashirao's tail. Tsuyu ducks once more, and Mashirao pales as his tail latches on the wall behind her. Stuck. 

Minoru freaks out, internally. He couldn't do this before – dodging and attacking with two people on him was impossible. But with Tsuyu here, victory is in sight!

Rikidou jumps back into the fight, powered up with three sugar packets… and his IQ takes a hit, attacking mindlessly. Tsuyu has more trouble dodging, as does Minoru, getting hit a good few times, but with Rikidou in this state, he's become oblivious to anything other than his targets. Mashirao struggles against the wall, cursing how sticky Minoru's ball is. As he does, he notices Minoru throwing more balls onto the floor around Tsuyu, who stands still

Mashirao figures it out quickly. "Fornax! Wait!"

But it's all for naught. Rikidou is too mindless to listen, and he charges at Tsuyu. When he does, his foot lands on top of Minoru's trap. He rips his shoes off, but it's too late, as Minoru slaps a ball on his back and Tsuyu delivers a kick to his stomach, sending him on the ground, stuck. And in an uncomfortable position, with one foot stuck too. 

Tsuyu wraps Rikidou in capture tape, Minoru sticking his hands to the ground. They turn to Mashirao next. He pales. 

Two minutes pass. Rikidou and Mashirao are out.

-

Rivals Riot

Back to Yuuga and Tooru!

Tooru speaks into her earpiece, declaring that Tsukuyomi is down. A moment later, Tsuyu declares that Fornax and Tailwhip are out. As soon as that's announced, Tooru and Yuuga celebrate, Fumikage watching them blandly on the ground. 

"Ah! I didn't expect to win," Yuuga claims, holding his stomach.

"Don't speak like that!" Tooru yells, slapping his back for emphasis. "If you only expect failure, then that's all you'll get!" Yuuga chuckles nervously, still sick. He's sure that if he tried to use his quirk again, he'd throw up immediately.

"Well said, Kousen!" As if to spite him, Mina steps in, beaming. "Now, I believe we have a rematch we never missed?"

Tooru smiles back. "That we do! Spotlight? Let me handle her. You go get some rest, okay?"

Yuuga steps back. "I-If you're sure."

"I am." Tooru cracks her knuckles. "I have a score to settle, after all."

Yuuga steps away. As soon as he does, Tooru charges in, suit turning invisible. It matters not, as Mina spreads her acid all around. Tooru yells in pain as the acid strikes her, burning through her clothes and searing her arms.

Mina grins. "I did some research, Kousen. Acid isn't radiation! I can burn you!"

Tooru breathes in deeply, tears stinging her eyes from the burns on her body. Crap. Her bluff is completely gone now, especially since she instinctively screamed. "Then," she says, voice wavering, "I guess we can both go all out." As soon as she says that, the atmosphere begins to drop. Yuuga shivers, Dark Shadow coming out to provide warmth to Fumikage. A puff of condensation leaves Mina's mouth. "I did my research too… There's a reason I've been training my temperature control. Did you know that liquid travels slower when it's cold?"

Mina readies herself, cold but eager nonetheless. "Good! I'd hate for my rival to fall behind."

The battle begins. Tooru manages to dodge much of Mina's acid, and she grits her teeth as she slams her fist into Mina's acid-coated skin. Mina retaliates with well-placed strikes, finding her acid solid when it strikes the ground, making her unable to slide across the floor.

Their fight is gritty. With every hit Tooru lands, she takes damage. But Mina isn't nearly as sturdy as Tooru, who has built her body for years. All-in-all, it's a pretty even fight, but Tooru has far more constitution, even if their stamina is on par with Mina's years of dance. 

Tooru manages to hit Mina hard enough to make her dizzy, and quickly wraps the capture tape around her.

Then Mina dissolves it. She smiles, hand on her head as she tries to regain her bearing. "Sorry, hunny," she says through chattering teeth. "But I don't think I can be captured." 

Tooru only grins back. "Then, I'll just have to knock you out!" Mina blanks. Tooru kicks her in the gut, then punches the back of her head, sending her face-first into the floor. She's out-cold. Unconscious. Tooru whoops in victory, and quickly ties her every orifice up, hoping to every God out there that she doesn't wake up before two minutes.

As she lets the temperature return, she quietly cries, as a third person arrives, landing harshly on the ground from the rooftop. 

"Yo!" She turns, shaking. Before her stands Eijirou, a wide grin on his face, legs hardened before it returns to its normal muscles. "Be a pal and give my teammate back, won't you?"

Tooru stands, her burns aching and body tired. Three back-to-back fights. Damn. "Hey, Spotlight? Gimme a hand, won't you?"

Yuuga walks to her side. "I'm not sure if even ten hands will help us."

They wouldn't. With Yuuga still half-sick from overusing his quirk against Fumikage and Tooru exhausted beyond belief, they know that they're not emerging from this as the winners. Still.

"But, as you said my fair lady, if we expect failure, then we'll only get failure."

Tooru laughs. "That we will!" 

In fairness, they last longer than they expect. Eijirou can't fight lasers, nor can he dodge what he can't see, but he can react to it. Two minutes go by and Mina's tape goes off. Two minutes go by, and Tooru and Yuuga lie in a heap, tape wrapped around them. Knocked-out. 

Eijirou emerges as the victor. Acid Trip, Kousen, and Spotlight are now out.

-

Electric Punk

Denki and Ochako travel south, and they meet Momo, Kyouka, and Izuku halfway, who are travelling north. They collide, Ochako jumping Momo, who moves her cape to block Ochako's hand, and Denki follows after them.

Kyouka and Izuku react quickly enough, chasing after Momo, who creates a copper pole, directing Denki's electricity away from her. Izuku kicks Ochako away from Momo, while Kyouka sends a blast at Denki, who gets sent flying. Civilian bots are fleeing the premises, some glowing red and blasting their alarms after Momo was tackled into them.

"I'm going after Chargebolt!" Kyouka yells, then doesn't wait for an answer, running after Denki. He's landed far away from Momo, Izuku, and Ochako, already wielding his water gun. He shoots, and Kyouka steps out of its path, retaliating with her own projectile. Denki sends a wave of electricity towards her through the ground, and Kyouka blasts her speakers once more.

His jaw drops as the electricity fizzles out, some even recoiling towards him. Kyouka smirks, seeing his shock. "Did nobody tell you? Radio waves can affect electricity. Sorry, but I'm a great match against you."

His grin is limp. "Great match for me, too."

She rolls her eyes. "No chance in hell." With that, she sends another blast at Denki. He decides that playing long-range will only result in failure, and charges at her with a cry of war, metal baton in hand. She's ready for this – it's only logical that he would do this. Still, Kyouka breaks out into a sweat as she finds herself in close-quarters combat. Not her forte.

She manages to dodge a few strikes, sending small blasts in retaliation, but she can't dodge them all. With each strike, Denki runs a small charge of electricity through his baton, shocking Kyouka in tandem. She falls to her knees, when one strikes right into her shoulder, and manages to roll out of the way of the following strike. As she lands, she blasts again, this time small and targeted: right into Denki's wrist. His wrist flies back and, with another blast, the baton soars from his hand, lying in a heap.

He panics, running to get it, only for Kyouka to strike the back of his knees with a blast, making him fall to the ground. She charges at him, one lobe leaving her speaker, and wrapping around Denki's ankle. He instinctively sends a wave of electricity around his body, and Kyouka grits her teeth, blasting her own lobe with her soundwaves, cutting it off before it could travel any further. 

She leaves one speaker on, keeping a steady noise going as she pulls Denki towards him. He panics, clawing at the ground, grabbing his water gun, only for her to yank him forth and slap it out of his hands. She lowers the sound little by little, and his heartbeat follows with it, slowing down.

Before she blasts it, loud and piercing. Denki chokes, his head spinning, eyes rolling back. As much as he fights against it, he falls unconscious, with no idea what the hell just happened.

Kyouka grins, wrapping him up with tape, before limping away to get back to Izuku and Momo. Hopefully she didn't rupture his eardrums.

-

Contact

Back to Ochako, Momo, and Izuku: they're fighting. Momo is using a bo staff, keeping her distance away from Ochako, while Izuku attacks with his katana, stepping back whenever Ochako tries to grab him. All-in-all, it's the most ferocious game of keep-away to be known by mankind.

Ochako's physical abilities have been amped up by Miruko, and she is using every bit of knowledge to aid her. Two-on-One? Who cares!? She sure as hell doesn't. She's learned a lot from friends and Miruko, and she will prove her worth here and now. After all, she already promised to fight Momo again, and she really wants to beat Izuku at least once. This is her chance to kill two birds with one stone.

Izuku slashes at her, and she dodges, bringing her hand to slap his katana, only for Momo to jump in as Izuku draws his katana back, slamming her bo staff into Ochako's gut. Ochako grabs it as soon as it makes contact, and Momo lets it float away, simply creating a new one.

Really now, it's a good fight. Ochako does well against two opponents, none of them giving anyone a chance to breathe. She stands her ground, managing to graze her fingertips against Izuku's sleeve, and accelerating him backwards, far away. He manages to cut the top of his hakama off, leaving his black turtleneck to cover his chest. It takes a while, with carbon fibre woven into it, but he manages.

While Izuku struggles against his own clothes, Ochako and Momo continue their fight. Ochako reaches for Momo, who bats her wrist away, kicking her leg out to trip Ochako up, only for her to jump over it, lunging with her other hand. Momo drops to the ground, creating a pole from her bare stomach, which slams into Ochako. She chokes, landing on the ground, clutching her abdomen.

Momo gets up, rushing at her, one hand holding the capture tape, the other holding her staff. Ochako manages to get herself together before she can reach her, getting her feet under her and kicking off to Momo, tape at the ready. She manages to catch it around Momo's stomach, then taps herself, accelerating herself into the sky, fast, Momo hanging on by the tape. 

Momo yelps, realising that she has no choice but to hold onto the tape, or fall and get captured anyway. After all, she can't recover from a landing that fast, and Ochako could touch her while she recuperates. No, she could create a layer of sorbothane to soften the impact. But what if it's not enough–?

As she thinks, Ochako pulls her up by the tape, and taps her too. Now, even she can't event all and create sorbothane to absorb the impact. She swallows nervously, the ground further and further away. "Well played, Uravity."

Ochako smiles down at her. "Thanks, Izanami!" Now, all she has to do is keep Momo in the air for five minutes.

For a moment, Momo considers giving up. She knew she wasn't cut out for this - she's not like Ochako, so strong and unafraid to be herself and look good while doing it.

But.

But.

She already promised to live up to her teammates' expectations. They trust her. And she won't betray that trust.

Momo looks around the area, spotting Kyouka and Denki's ongoing match. An idea flutters into her head, watching as Denki shocks Kyouka with his baton. Though, right now, it's far more dangerous. Right now, she'll just have to trust Izuku. (Not that it's a hard thing to do.)

Meanwhile, Izuku cuts his hakama off, finally, and stops accelerating, his clothes flying past him. He runs back, spotting the shadow on the ground. He looks up to see Momo and Ochako in the air, Ochako slowly wrapping tape around Momo. That simply won't do. 

Good thing he added that hookshot.

He hasn't had much practice with it, only latching onto poles and buildings. He hasn't practiced this yet. But, well, no time like the present.

He activates his earpiece, aiming his hookshot up. "Izanami. Don't let Uravity hear me. Just make sure to catch." Momo doesn't answer, but in the sky, she's pretty damn confused. That is, until, a line of reinforced, metal rope flies by her. She doesn't think about it, and only grabs onto it. Ochako jumps in shock. Then Izuku brings the hookshot back down. Momo goes with it.

"Woah!" Ochako yelps, moving back down as Momo severs through the tape via creating blades from her body, only to drop them on the floor. She chuckles. "Guess that plan's gone sky-high." Pun absolutely intended.

"Guess so," Momo agrees. Her hand glistens, and she creates yet another long staff. This time, there's a taser attached to the end. Ochako gulps. "Thank you for giving me a perfect view of Chargebolt and Amplify's match. It inspired me." 

Faced against two people, Ochako was doing incredibly well. Faced with two people, one with a taser? She's a goner.

Kyouka arrives back at the scene, and Ochako is wrapped up tightly in capture tape, her fingertips covered in plasters. Kyouka grins. "Yeah. I beat his ass too."

Chargebolt and Uravity are out!

-

Explosive Temper

Back with Tsuyu and Minoru, they're back on the move, Tsuyu on the rooftops and Minoru on the ground, rushing towards the east, as they decided earlier. Minoru is weary, tired from getting beat up and from using his quirk so much. Tsuyu is far less affected, only sweaty, as she was only hit a few times. Sure, her ribs are aching, but it's nothing bad.

As they travel forth, an explosion sounds, and they both stop, turning around. As they do, Bakugou lands in front of Tsuyu, grinning widely. She realises arbitrarily that it's the first time she's seen him in costume since the second day of school. His gauntlets are now gone, (confiscated after the support team realised how hazardous it was), replaced with a thick armband to propagate sweat.

"Hey," Bakugou greets, then raises his arm. She has that moment to react, before he fires an explosion her way. She dives off the building, into the populated street. Minoru shrieks as he figures out who has come after them, and Bakugou drops to the ground, loud and abrasive. He blasts at the ground to soften his landing, damaging some of the civilian bots, who all run away in fear. 

He strikes once more, bringing up rubble as he does. Tsuyu and Minoru are forced to dodge, unable to get close at all. Minoru throws a ball at him, but Bakugou has been stuck watching them for weeks. He knows now to touch it, and instead blasts at it, sending it back. Panicking, Minoru throws more, which Bakugou weaves through, before blasting one at the side, sending it flying at Tsuyu. 

She doesn't expect it at all, and thus gets struck in the chest by it. Bakugou follows up by charging at her, getting behind her and sending a small blast at her back. It sears her costume, only slightly stinging her skin, and sends her to the ground, her shoulder stuck to the ground. 

Minoru screams, panicking even more, and Bakugou gets to him with speed, blasting him away. He goes back to Tsuyu and wraps her leg with capture tape. Minoru picks himself up and screams into his earpiece, "Backup! I need Backup! Bakugou's here!" Bakugou slaps his hand away from his earpiece, cracks his knuckles, and blasts by his ear, disorientating him and giving him enough time to wrap him up too. 

With that done, he shoves Minoru next to Tooru and sits. Back-up, Minoru requested. Sure, Bakugou grins, he'll beat up the back-up too.

Minutes go by, five, ten, fifteen, before the back-up arrives. Mezou and Kouji. 

"What?" Bakugou questions, standing up. "Only two of you?"

Mezou grunts. "There were three of us, but Cellophane went on ahead to take down your leader."

Bakugou guffaws. "Good fucking luck! We got Shouto on guard duty. That Cellophane bastard won't last a minute!"

"Then," Mezou stances up, "we'll beat you and back him up."

Bakugou cracks his neck. "Tough words. See if you can back it up."

Mezou lunges first, fast. But Bakugou has been watching for weeks. He knows how fast Mezou is, despite his bigger form. Kouji yells loudly and birds respond to him, diving down at Bakugou to peck at him. He explodes, scaring them away and burning the feathers of a few. In the same instance, he blasts out of Mezou's path, using another blast to send him up and over Mezou, reaching out to blast his back.

Kouji yells once more, summoning rats too this time. Birds and rats attack Bakugou, pecking and biting, messing up his vision and crawling all over him.

"ARGH!" he yells, setting explosions off all around him. "You're pissing me off!" He charges at Kouji, who tries to run away. Mezou, back stinging, rushes back in, managing to strike Bakugou in the jaw and get him away from Kouji. Bakugou growls, swinging back at Mezou, who dodges, grabbing onto Bakugou's arm and pulling him forth while bringing his knee up, right into Bakugou's stomach. He chokes, falling to the ground.

Spotting his chance, Kouji calls out once more. But, as soon as his voice leaves, Bakugou raises both hands, creating a super explosion, drowning out his voice. With the blast radius, Mezou goes flying back, as does Kouji. Kouji, a bit further away from the explosion, is conscious, but Mezou is out-cold. Bakugou turns to Kouji, who shrivels from his attention, and wraps him in capture tape. Kouji can only watch as Bakugou does the same to Mezou. 

"Damn," says Bakugou, scowling all the while. "You fuckers… fought. Well. I guess."

Then he takes off, back to their base, leaving Kouji as the only one to have heard a compliment from him. The mute kid. He sure knows who to speak to, huh?

-

Hot n' Cold

Hanta, as foretold by Mezou and Kouji, arrives at the base. Really, he's not sure if he got here too early for the plan or not, but he's here now. The plan was to head all the way to their designated directions, then head to the enemy base, taking out anyone they meet along the way.

As it stands, Hanta is apparently the only one who has gotten here in time. Tooru and Yuuga aren't here, Tsuyu and Minoru needed back-up with Bakugou, Mezou and Kouji went to back them up, and Izuku, Kyouka, and Momo are away. 

To be fair, he and Tsuyu are the only ones who can travel fast in a dense city, with their respective quirks. Still, that doesn't change how much he wants to cry.

Why? Well, it's simple.

There's only one guard with Tenya. The guard in question? Shouto. He stands outside of the entrance, not moving an inch. Momo and Izuku suspected that Shouto would stay guard, as he's skilled in both defence and offence, but it didn't make him any easier to face. Theoretically, he could sneak past him, but highly doubts that the son of Endeavour wouldn't pick up on him.

(Dammit, he's screwed. He should have written his will already.)

"I know you're there." AH! He knew it! "Come out."

… There's no use playing dumb. Hanta takes a deep breath, before leaving the corner he hid behind. "Hey, Shouto. Any chance you could let me pass?" 

Shouto blinks. "No." Hanta blinks, and he's covered in ice. Dammit. His teeth chatter, and his limbs would shiver if they had room to. Not even leaving his place, Shouto holds out his tape, and sends out a small bit of ice, taking the tape with it. It slaps on Hanta's face. Guess that also counts as 'captured', huh? It must, because the tape glows red two minutes later. Shouto melts the ice, leaving Hanta on the floor.

"Man," a familiar voice enters. Eijirou walks to Shouto's side, eyes on the water on the floor. "You went overboard."

"I did not," Shouto rebukes. "If I let his elbows out, I would have been in trouble." While that is an awfully high compliment, Hanta distinctly recalls how one-sided it was. Eijirou only laughs, patting Shouto on the shoulder. Shouto frowns. "I wasn't joking."

"Didn't think you were," Eijirou assures.

Hanta has the urge to sob as he hears explosions in the distance and– yep. Bakugou drops by Shouto and Eijirou. Dammit, that means Mezou, Kouji, Tsuyu, and Minoru are out. 

"Welcome home," Shouto deadpans. 

Bakugou sniffs. "This ain't home." He looks down at Hanta, and snorts. "Man, I didn't think you were actually stupid enough to come alone." Hanta wants to yell at him, but he quickly remembers that he's not allowed to move after being captured. "Shit, is this everyone?"

Eijirou nods. "Guess so. I took down, er, Kousen and Spotlight. They got to Tsukuyomi and Acid Trip."

Bakugou rolls his neck. "I got fucking, uh, Froppy, Purple Rain, Tentacole, and Anivoice."

Shouto looks at Hanta. "Only Cellophane has come here. That means Kyou and Amplify are left with Izanami. Unless Chargebolt and Uravity got to them first. If they did, I doubt we'd still be here."

"Ding-ding. Full marks." Hanta doesn't even need to look to see. That's Kyouka's dry wit, after all. "They've been captured now."

Bakugou grins, slamming an open palm against his fist. "So, three-v-one, huh? That's fine by me! I'll take you all on by myself."

"There's no need," Shouto states, before icing the door behind him shut, covering the entire front of the building, ignoring Tenya's yell of indignition. "I'll take Kyou."

"No, actually," Kyouka retorts, stepping up. "You'll be taking me." Shouto narrows his eyes at her, and she lashes out with her lobes, throwing Shouto aside to the right alley.

Kyouka charges after him. Shouto is already annoyed – he joined Tenya in order to fight Izuku, not her. He sends out a large iceberg, and Kyouka grins almost manically. She grunts as she stabs her lobes into the ice. A few pounds is all it takes, before the ice shatters. Shouto's eyes widened. Once again, he's found someone who can destroy his ice with ease.

Good thing he can use his fire now. At least, that's what he thinks. But then Kyouka plugs both lobes in, aiming directly at his hands, and fires. The sound waves crash into his hand, his flames flying back towards him. Kyouka smirks, "Sorry, but I've been training against fire since the USJ. Guess I'm just a good opponent for anyone with an elemental quirk."

Shouto levels his gaze on her. "That's fine," he says. "I hope you don't mind training with me in the future."

Kyouka huffs. "I'm honoured." The fight reigns on.

As much as Kyouka can combat Shouto's quirk, it's not invincible. She takes elemental damage. She gets burned. She gets slammed in the stomach by ice, frozen by it. Her ears ache with the cold. Shouto, now using both sides of his quirk, doesn't have to worry about being frostbitten or overheated. So, while Kyouka is able to put up a good fight, Shouto goes untouched for much of it.

That is, until he uses his fire once more and Kyouka's blast is even louder, even stronger than before. Shouto stumbles back, ears ringing. He's disorientated. Kyouka doesn't stop there, using one speaker to project her heartbeat as loud as she can go, the other piercing into the ground, sending it through the ground. The ground beneath Shouto trembles, but he can't tell if it truly is or if it's all in his head. 

Keeping it up, Kyouka approaches as slowly as she can, and Shouto groans, the noise becoming louder as she does, and he slams his hands as hard as he can against his ears. He falls to his knees, and Kyouka smirks, grabbing her tape. As she reaches out to wrap him up, he reaches out, grabbing her arm. Her eyes widen, spotting blood coming from his ears.

Oh, shit. He ruptured his own eardrums. Who does that!?

Shouto does. He pulls her arm over his shoulder, throwing her over. In doing so, her lobe rips free from the ground. The floor no longer trembling, Shouto goes to swing at Kyouka.

And misses.

Kyouka feels a beat of hope. He's still disorientated, and his ruptured eardrum only makes it worse. She charges back at him, swinging wide, and manages to strike his jaw. He winces, and sends out a wave of ice. It knicks Kyouka's arm, but mostly misses thanks to his vertigo. 

With a cry of war, she runs at him, catching the tape around his stomach and dragging him to the floor, wrestling to get on top of him. With his eardrum ruptured, she can't use the same technique she used on Denki, but she can try to brute force her way through. So, keeping a stream of noise around them, she keeps her tape wrapped around Shouto, arm at his neck, the force of her soundwaves destroying his ice and extinguishing his fire before it can grow.

She struggles against him, crying out. Two minutes feels more like two hours, before the tape finally glows red, and both she and Shouto crumple. 

"You," says Shouto, louder than necessary, "did good!"

Kyouka nods against his chest. "You too!"

-

Rock and a Hard Place

When Kyouka throws Shouto aside, Momo creates a pile of rope, throwing it around Eijirou. She pulls him towards her, further down the alley. "And I'll be fighting you."

Eijirou grins, landing on his feet and hitting his fists together. "Fine by me!" 

Momo starts, using the same tactic she used for Ochako, and striking at him with a taser. He smacks it aside, lunging at her with hardened arms. She manages to step back and out of the way of his swings, throwing her hand under his chest, palm facing up, and creating a pipe shooting straight up. Eijirou manages to react in time, softening his arms to harden his chest. Still, the impact has him stumbling back.

Momo discards the pipe, instead creating a grappling hook. She shoots it up, attaching to a building, dropping down a single item as she rises and forming a visor around her eyes. Eijirou panics, first thinking that it's a bomb. To an extent, he's right. He hardens his body, able to do so for a short second, but it's for naught. After all, it's a flash bomb. It goes off, blinding Eijirou, and Momo drops back down, eyes protected by the visor.

She creates a net weighed down by tungsten as she falls, dropping it on top of Eijirou's body. He flounders, black spots appearing in his vision, before he hardens his arms and cuts past the netting. Momo greets him with tape to his face, but it's easily taken off before he can truly be captured. 

Momo moves back, and nearly trips over Hanta as she does. Hanta wants to apologise, but he can't, both because he's supposed to stay still and because Eijirou has already shoved Momo further down the alley. She yells out in pain as his hardened arm makes contact. His vision isn't entirely clear, but he can see enough.

But, tripping over Hanta does give her a neat idea. Her arm sparkles with creation, but Eijirou lunges in, spotting it, and punches her hand away before can make it. Momo can't make it as fast as she can make other stuff, because she doesn't remember the exact mechanics. If she wants to search it up on her watch, she'll need the time to do it. And she doubts Eijirou will fall for the flashbomb again.

As she dodges between Eijirou's strikes, using a staff to aid her, she urges herself to think, Momo! In the background, a wall of ice appears in her peripherals. Oh. That'll work.

When Eijirou lashes at her, she doesn't bother dodging, allowing it to hit. As his fists lands, Momo throws her hand out, her palm sparkling, and metal plating protrudes, building a large wall in front of her. Eijirou bashes into it, and Momo is given a bit more time. She creates her item of choice, filling it with her prepared one, and aims at the dent in the metal wall. 

Surely enough, Eijirou breaks through it, and Momo fires her tape gun. The capture tape lands directly onto Eijirou's chest and, before he can rip it out, Momo throws her hands out harshly, creating super glue from her hands as she does, and it spreads across the tape.

It's not an invincible tactic. She knows. So, while Eijirou struggles to get it off, prioritising that, his chest burning with the application of the super glue and from his trying to rip it off his bare skin, Momo dives forward, discarding her tape gun, both hands sparkling. Eijirou manages to pull the tape off his body, and looks up to see Momo, holding a bomb in one hand, her other hidden behind her back.

Eijirou instinctively covers his eyes. Really, he should have covered his nose and mouth. Because Momo's bomb is full of chloroform. She places her gas mask over her face, and detonates it. Within seconds, Eijirou falls unconscious, and Momo places her capture tape around him. They got two for a reason, after all. 

With Eijirou taken care of, she retrieves her other roll of tape from the gun, and marches back to the enemy base.

-

Blessed versus Hollow

Bakugou licks his lips, dry for a reason he can't tell. "Then, I guess you wanna fight me," he says to Izuku, who only smiles nervously. He walks around, the left alley, katana in hand. Bakugou swallows a thick lump in his throat, and he tries to grin. "Fine! But remember: you asked for this."

Their fight starts with Bakugou swinging. And Izuku has known Bakugou for years. He also knows that Bakugou always starts with a right swing. So, he ducks beneath it, moving behind Bakugou. He lets one hand go from his katana, and swings an open palm as hard as he can at Bakugou's back. Bakugou stumbles for a moment, before swivelling around, sending another blast at Izuku.

Izuku uses the blunt edge of his katana to knock his arm away, ducking in and elbowing Bakugou in the gut. In the same movement, Bakugou moves his hand up, blasting Izuku to the side of his face. Izuku hisses, pulling back. He trains his katana towards Bakugou, frowning.

Bakugou grins. It's strained. "What's wrong? Realise you picked wrong!?" He rushes at him, and blasts at thin air as Izuku steps back, slicing his katana through the explosion at a distance. Bakugou growls. "Come on! You wanted to fight me! Fight back!" He pushes on. A short, controlled blast at Izuku's chest.

Izuku bashes his wrist up with his katana's handle, then swings in the next instance, leveling his katana at Bakugou's neck, frown still present. "You're holding back. Why are you holding back?" 

Bakugou's eye twitches. He doesn't answer, instead knocking Izuku's katana away and charging in. 

"Why are you holding back!?" Izuku yells, kicking out, his foot landing on Bakugou's chest. He grabs onto Izuku's ankle and throws him away.

Izuku lands on his feet. "Like there! You could have blasted my ankle instead of throwing me! Why are you holding back!?"

Bakugou is silent, teeth grit, and he rushes at Izuku, lashing out and blasting at his face. Izuku swings his katana up, slicing through it again, and barging into Bakugou with his shoulder.

"Why!?"

"I don't wanna hurt you!" Bakugou finally reveals, shaking. "There! You happy now!?"

"Of course not!" Izuku moves into Bakugou's personal space, bashing his head into Bakugou's jaw. "You never cared before! Why do you care now!?"

"Because!" He punctuates with a louder, larger explosion, forcing Izuku to reel back, heat kissing his skin. "It was never okay, was it!? That's what everyone says! Then you go ahead and decide to fight me!? Why!?"

Izuku grabs his hookshot, firing past Bakugou's head. He flinches away from it, and Izuku steps in, katana reeled back, low. He brings it up, and Bakugou just barely moves back in time, the blade catching on his shit and tearing it open. "Because I wanted to! I wanted to prove to myself that I'm not that defenceless, weak, pathetic Deku I used to be!"

Bakugou growls, throwing another explosion at him. This time, it strikes Izuku's shoulder directly, and he nearly drop his katana as his arm drops from the force and heat. It's been a while since he's experienced Bakugou's explosions.

"Ain't it obvious you're not!?"

Just like that, Izuku stops, eyes wide.

Bakugou scowls. "Dammit, do you really need me, of all people, to spell it out!? You're not the same as middle school! You're in the student council, you survived the USJ, you got fourth place in the Sports Festival. Everyone fucking respects you! As if you're the same nerd from Aldera!"

Izuku lowers his katana, taken back. Bakugou scoffs, hiding his face in his hands, and he groans, loud and full of frustration. "I've had to spend months watching you get stronger. Watching all of you fuckers get stronger. Months spent with a shrink, makin' me question everything I've ever done, everything I've ever believed! Fricking Present Mic had to spell it out for me! You think I'm blind!?"

Stricken, Izuku can't respond. He doesn't know how to. For once, his brain completely fails him.

Because Bakugou removes his hands and there are tears in his eyes. "So, there. I didn't come into this expecting to fight you. 'Cause I didn't want to. The only reason I joined this team is 'cause I wouldn't feel right on your team."

Izuku breathes out shakily. "That's insulting, you know. I chose to fight you, so you should have at least honoured that by giving your all." 

Bakugou observes him. And he nods. "Fine. Whatever. I'll give it my all now."

But Izuku only sighs, sheathing his katana with his left hand, his right hanging limply. "There's no point." 

"HAH!?"

He waves a hand. "When I slapped your back earlier, I slapped some capture tape on it." Bakugou's eyes blow open. He struggles to look behind him, and he spots a flash of red. He turns back to Izuku, gaping. Izuku smiles wryly. "Maybe next time. If there is a next time."

Izuku walks away and Bakugou falls on his arse. He tilts his head back. And he laughs.

-

Speedster

Tenya was prepared for many scenarios. He wasn't foolish enough to think nobody could ever get past Shouto – he was prepared for anything. But, as Kyouka breaks down Shouto's wall of ice, Momo and Izuku her side, he can firmly say he did not expect this.

Izuku? He was hoping to face him. That's the reason he requested Izuku to join a different team. Kyouka? Unexpected. He didn't realise she would stand a chance against Shouto. And, going by the burns and the fragments of ice on her, she was the one to win against him. Momo? Definitely unexpected. The whole reason Ochako and Denki went to the enemy base was because he expected her to stay there, not join the battle.

He didn't join the battle, because he didn't want to risk losing like that. He didn't want to risk going into battle with, say, Minoru – a good match against his quirk – and lose in such a way. 

"Give it up!" Momo demands, breathing harshly, bruised and battered. "All of your companions have been defeated!"

She's not the only one hurt. Izuku has many minor burns on his body, his right arm useless. Kyouka still shakes from frost and burns dotted on her skin. 

Nevertheless, Tenya will not insult his friends by taking them lightly. Even now, he's sure they'd put up a mighty battle. As such, "I refuse," he takes his stand. "Giving up so easily will only bring dishonour upon my comrades! I will fight!"

It's not an easy fight, not at all. Tenya's right to take them seriously.

Even injured, Kyouka can still blast sound waves at him, disorienting him. Even injured, Momo can still act as an ample, versatile threat. Even injured, Izuku can still act as a good back-up. 

Kyouka is too exhausted to move around, only attacking from long-range. Izuku's shoulder is too injured to swing his katana, and he settles for using his hookshot to direct Tenya back to Momo. Momo is the only one fighting up-close, settling with her trusty rapier, battling speed with speed. It helps that Izuku and Kyouka cut off Tenya's escapes, forcing him to battle her up-front. 

He manages to land a good few hits, and Momo returns them in kind, though they're not nearly as strong as Tenya's. It all comes to an end, however, when Momo forms a can of spray paint, coating Tenya's visor with it. He takes his helmet off, a short-term solution, but that turns out to be a mistake when Momo creates dust, throwing it into his eyes, and then, with all the strength they have left, Izuku and Kyouka jump him with rolls of capture tape, keeping him down. 

When he tries to boot his engines to escape, Momo relies on an old tactic, spraying liquid nitrogen onto them, forcing him to shut them off, lest they explode. 

He struggles for five whole minutes, Momo joining on the dogpile, keeping the tap secured to his body until–

"IT'S OVER!" Mic yells, jazzed beyond belief. "INGENIUM HAS BEEN CAPTURED! TEAM A WIIIIINS!"

-

Notes:

OOOOOH BOY! THIS ONE IS A LONG ONE! 8.4K TO BE EXACT!! It was originally going to be split into two parts, but I decided to write it into one. You're welcome :))

I gave everyone their time in the limelight this chapter. Before I get another oh-so-smart anon full of sarcasm and barely-disguised insults, read over the fights one more time. They make sense. I made sure of it. 

Bakugou is getting there. He still doesn't know what he's supposed to become, but he'll learn as the series goes on. And, NO, I do not intend to create any sort of friendship with Izuku. But, at the same time, Izuku needs to have that closure. Until Bakugou gets his head sorted, however, he's not getting it

Oh, Tenya. Taken down by the good ol' dust in your eyes followed by a dogpile. What a lad. But, in all seriousness, did you expect him to be able to take down three people all at once? Didn't think so!

Conclusion:

Aizawa debriefs everyone

The civil war starts

Team A vs Team B. Winners: Team A

[my-rewrite-academia]

Week 23 (Final Exams - Part 1):

Nerves

Final Exams are coming up next week, and the hero students are scrambling in their attempt to figure out what it is. Midterms were just ordinary exams, but U.A. isn't an ordinary school. They have no doubt that it's going to be something big. 

They start training extra long, pushing themselves further. Izuku incorporates his new grappling hook to his costume, and Mei, who volunteers to look after his costume, modifies it even further to turn it into a hookshot of sorts. It's basically a wristband with the grappling hook attachment, making it more subtle and accessible. (See: Ocarina of Time.)

But, while they train a lot, it doesn't make them any less anxious about their upcoming exam. Mei has already been told what it is for the support course – to make the best item they can. Kisai already knows her too – to create a presentation to introduce a theoretical new hero. Some of their new gen-ed friends know theirs too – written exams based on their after-school course they chose at the start of the year.

1-B haven't been told either. The older students have two different stories. The third year had to fight robots, while the second year had to fight one-on-one with each other, like the final game of the Sports Festival. Online forums have a multitude of stories too, some doing a large obstacle course, some fighting sidekicks of pro heroes, and so much more.

In other words: they have no idea what's in store for them.

While they do their best not to, their anxiety does end up affecting their concentration in lessons, (most of them, anyway). All Might takes notice of this, doing his best to assure them that all will be okay. Mic, also, tries to cheer them up, swearing that it won't be as dreadful as they're making it out to be. It will be fair.

Against all odds, it helps. To an extent. It's still nerve-wracking, but they can finally focus on their studies, making sure not to let them drop for the written portion. 

Bakugou is informed that he's now allowed to participate in combat, but that right can be revoked should the situation arise. He agrees, excited beyond belief, but also simpered by the knowledge that he could be stuck with a dummy for the rest of his days if he steps out of line.

-

It's WHAT!?

Saturday comes, their final day before the exams next week, and Aizawa finally comes out with it. (Vlad King, also, finally tells his students too.)

It's all part of his 'ruse', as he says. To make the students wary of the exam by not telling them what it is in advance, and thus gaining a better understanding of how they'd react to a scenario where information is scarce, and how they'd fare with an exam they have little preparation time for. 

Many of the students are spiteful of this, but they can't deny that it is a learning experience. As heroes, they will have to deal with not knowing on a regular basis. If they folded from this amount of pressure, they'd never handle it when they become heroes… Not that it erases the mental burden they'd already been carrying.

Aizawa comes out with it. "It's a civil war." Immediately, they're all listening intently, sweating in their seats. "There are two teams, each of which will be lead by two students: Team A by Yaoyorozu. Team B by Iida." Eyes turn to them, both becoming rigid. It makes sense – they're the class representatives. "You will decide who else in your team amongst yourselves. Each team cannot have more than eleven students."

Both Tenya and Momo begin to take notes, eyeing all the students around them, trying to figure out who to pick and who not to pick.

"Only those in this class are able to compete. Receiving any outside help will result in a disqualification. The goal is to capture the enemy leader, and keep them captive for five minutes. If neither team is able to capture the enemy leader within the time limit of two hours, both teams will lose. You have today and Sunday to decide your teams, and Monday morning to finalise them. The exam will take place after the written one at 10 am, beginning at 1pm."

The class realises exactly what this means. They have to decide whose side they're joining within one and a half days. They have to come up with some sort of plan within that time. They have to fight each other.

Aizawa grins. "By the way… There's a trip coming up the week after your finals. The team that fails… will not be allowed to join." 

Everyone, and I mean everyone, stills. A burning will flames in their hearts. Izuku's hand tightens on his pen. Half of the class won't be able to join the trip. And nobody wants to be the person who lets their team down. 

"Good luck. Work hard."

Or else it's your trip at stake.

-

Team-up!

The dorms are chaotic, both 1-A and 1-B scrambling to form teams. Momo and Tenya are both overwhelmed as their classmates struggle to decide who to team-up with, arguing with each other and hesitating. A poor choice in their team could spell the end for their trip.

(Itsuka and Setsuna, similarly, are being bombarded by their classmates, trying to sort through them and struggling horribly.)

The chaos comes to an end when Momo creates an alarm and blasts it, cutting through the noise. "That is enough! You are all acting unprofessional, and, quite frankly, I have half the mind to not allow anyone to join my team!"

"Agreed!" Tenya says, chopping his arms for emphasis. "We all need to calm down and decide on our own!"

"How?" asks Tsuyu, cocking her head. "We all don't really want to pick a side, kero."

Then Shouto raises his hand. "I want to join the team Midoriya's not on." Izuku is, frankly, insulted. Others are stricken by this too, but Ochako, surprisingly, agrees with Shouto too. 

As if to spit on him, Tenya does too. "This may sound selfish of me, but I, too, wish for Midoriya-kun to join the opposing team." By now, Izuku is practically dead. His closests friends. All wishing to be in a different team. "Please do not misunderstand me, Midoriya-kun!" He peers up, wondering how on Earth it could be a misunderstanding. "I think of you as my rival. It wouldn't do for rivals to team up."

"Me too," Shouto agrees. "I want to beat you. I can't do that if you're my teammate."

Ochako nods. "You're a great friend, Midoriya-kun! But, I really want to beat you."

With that, Shouto and Ochako join Tenya's team. Respecting their wishes and feeling something similar, Izuku joins Momo's team. With Izuku on Momo's team, Bakugou turns to Tenya. "Let me join your team. Please." And maybe it's because he was polite for once, but Tenya agrees, only making Bakugou promise to work together. Bakugou agrees.

Mostly to look after Bakugou and make sure he stays on the right path, Eijirou also joins Tenya's group, Denki and Mina following after him, mostly wanting to keep the group together and fight alongside their friends, not against.

Seeing Mina in Tenya's group, Tooru joins Momo's, excited to have a rematch against Mina. Yuuga also joins Momo's group, reckoning that he could probably work well with Tooru. Hanta joins Momo too, mostly wanting to prove himself against a group with so many powerhouses.

Hearing Hanta's reasoning, Fumikage joins Tenya's group, deciding that it will be interesting to fight against those with the power of light like Yuuga. Kyouka decides to join Momo's group, mostly because she knows that Izuku, at least, is a good strategist. Mashirao, however, joins Tenya's group, believing that he can get his time to shine after his many losses. Agreeing with him, Rikidou joins Tenya.

Tsuyu decides that she wants to challenge herself and joins Momo's group, mostly because she wants to know how she'd hold up against ice-user Shouto and acid-user Mina. Kouji follows after Tsuyu, believing Momo's group could help him realise the full potential of his quirk. Mezou also joins Momo, with the idea that he'll be able to help more in their team.

Minoru is left, and he observes both groups closely. Tenya's group full of powerhouses, or Momo's group with more tricky quirks to work with. He decides to join Momo's group, because maybe they'll help him figure out how to be strong.

With that, both teams have been decided. 

Team A, led by Yaoyorozu Momo, with Aoyama Yuuga, Asui Tsuyu, Hagakure Tooru, Jirou Kyouka, Kouda Kouji, Midoriya Izuku, Mineta Minoru, Sero Hanta, Shouji Mezou.

Team B, led by Iida Tenya, with Ashido Mina, Bakugou Katsuki, Kaminari Denki, Kirishima Eijirou, Ojirou Mashirao, Satou Rikidou, Todoroki Shouto, Tokoyami Fumikage, Uraraka Ochako.

From now on, they are enemies.

-

Confidence

To be honest, Momo is... concerned. She can't do this. She's not the right person for the job. In her opinion, there are other far more equipped for the job.

That's why, when Team A gathers for a meeting, the first thing she does is apologise. She apologises for being their leader, apologises in advance for her poor performance, and claims that she will accept all culpability, as the leader, should they lose.

And, for a moment, nobody speaks. Until Tooru does, "No way!" Tooru expresses that there's a reason Momo was voted as class president, and why they decided to join her group. Of course, Momo is taken aback, but also refutes this, stating that she has nothing compared to Tenya. That she's not cut out for action.

Fumikage, of course, disagrees, stating that Momo had no trouble fighting Tenya in the Sports Festival. Uwabami's words plague Momo's mind, reminding her what she's really good for.

Mezou backs Fumikage and Tooru up. Even if Momo is not as physically capable or weaker than Tenya, she makes up for it with her brain. They joined her team, not because they had no choice, but because they trust her leadership.

Izuku speaks up too, believing that Momo has some of the best potential in their group, the most versatile. If she can't believe in herself, then she can at least believe in her allies.

Momo... thinks about it. She thinks about how she couldn't do much of anything in the USJ, how she lost against Ochako in the Sports Festival, how she learned nothing but a woman's role in the industry in her internship.

She thinks about her friends' words of encouragement. She thinks about the trust they place in her, the honesty in their eyes.

"... Okay," she says. "I'll do my utmost to live up to your expectations! Thank you for trusting in me!"

-

Suspicion Afoot

Mic arrives in Nedzu's office, eyes dark, exhaustion coating his bones.

"I think… I've narrowed it down. To three."

Nedzu pulls out a cup of tea, inviting Mic in. "Come! Enlighten me."

-

Notes:

GASP! A civil war?? Oh my goooosh. Yeah, I decided not to go with the whole 'fighting teachers' thing. Not just because I wouldn't change much from canon, but also because this allows me to give even more students the spotlight

GASP! Bakugou being included?? Oh my goooosh. Bakugou has gone 23 weeks of counselling by now, and he's improved quite a bit. No longer screaming at everyone or insulting them, even being moderately friendly to other courses. He's allowed by now, I think

I love a good friendly rivalry. I will deliver on them. 

Conclusion:

Final Exams are next week

Aizawa tells everyone in advance what the exams are

Momo gets a pep talk

Mic reports to Nedzu, stating that he thinks he's narrowed 'it' down

[my-rewrite-academia]

Holy Trinity & Jouhou Katei:

Warida Shiki

Name: Warida Shiki (meaning 'Calculate', and 'Formula')

Age: 18

Gender: Male

Quirk: Calculator He can instantly process any mathematical equation. He can get overloaded/overwhelmed if the amount of equations increases over one hundred

Year/Course: Year 3, Management, 3-K

Appearance: Shoulder-length, black hair, tied into a ponytail. Wide, dark purple eyes. 171 cm/5'7" in height.

Tsukuru Kizaru

Name: Tsukuru Kizaru (meaning 'Build', and 'Creative')

Age: 18

Gender: Female

Quirk: Torch Her hand can turn into a welding torch. She cannot produce small flames from this. This also increases her heat resistance in her hands.

Year/Course: Year 3, Support, 3-H

Appearance: Pastel purple hair in a pixie-cut. Rounded, golden eyes. 162 cm/5'3" in height.

Shun Keichi

Name: Shun Keichi

Age: 18

Gender: Male

Quirk: Super-Process He can process information at supersonic speeds. It cannot shut off. It's nigh-impossible to overwhelm him with information.

Year/Course: Year 3, General Education, 3-C

Appearance: Slicked-back, silver hair. Sharp, lapiz-blue eyes. 174 cm/5'7" in height. A bit chubby

Jouhou Katei

Name: Jouhou Katei

Age: 16

Gender: Male

Quirk: Psychometry He instantly understands the make-up on any object he touches, but only through at least one of his fingers. As it's always active, he has to wear gloves.

Year/Course: Year 1, Support, 3-G

Appearance: Arctic-blue hair with an undercut. Same coloured-eyes, wide and round. 160 cm/5'2"

-

Reminder: they’re not going to overshadow the MCs, as I personally don’t like major OCs, (with certain exceptions), so if you’re the same way, worry not! They’re here to flesh the school out, and are minor repeating characters.

[my-rewrite-academia]

Week 22:

Holy Trinity

With Summer Break over, students return back to U.A. Izuku is bombarded a lot by his classmates, who were told about his interaction with Tomura in the mall. They all apologise for leaving him alone, and they swear that, from now on, when they hang out, they will always travel in pairs, at the very least. Izuku reveals that he was already questioned by a man by the name of Tsukauchi Naomasa, a detective on the League's case. He didn't have much to say, just Tomura's description and his reaction to Izuku's words.

When lessons kick back in, Aizawa has everyone remember their report of their internships without looking at it. Only a scant few are able to recall it exactly, with Izuku, Tenya, and Shouto omitting their part in Stain's takedown. Most are unable to recall everything, only the most exciting parts, and even then, not all of it. 

Aizawa reveals this to be a test. Many times, heroes will have to revisit past cases, small or otherwise. They have to ensure that they will remember even the smallest details. He explains that in two weeks, they'll have their final exams. After the exams, he'll ask everyone to summarise their own performance and what they remember from it. This, of course, will aid in their situational awareness. He tells his students to not get too caught up in it, else they'll be swept off their feet.

The first two days go on as normal. Many of them are already trying to keep aware of their surroundings, in the event that Aizawa throws a sudden surprise test at them. It doesn't come. Instead, when they arrive in their classroom on the third day, three people are waiting for them, standing by the board.

A boy with black hair, long enough to be tied in the back, and golden eyes, glasses over his eyes, with a thin frame. A girl with purple hair in a pixie-cut, golden eyes, and broad shoulders, sleeves rolled up. A boy with slicked-back silver hair, blue eyes, and a bit of chub on his body. 

When class starts, Aizawa introduces them. Black-haired boy is Warida Shiki, a management student from 3-K. The girl is Tsukuru Kizuna, a support student from 3-H. Silver-haired boy is Shun Keichi, a general education student from 3-C. Together, the three of them are known in U.A. as the 'Holy Trinity', each ranked first in their courses across their year.

They then introduce themselves. Shiki is a very excitable person, cheerfully greeting everyone with a smile on his face. Kizuna is more quiet, simply waving at everyone. Keichi could be mistaken for Keisu's brother, just as energetic as him. In fact, they only stop talking when Kizuna puts both in a chokehold. 

Mina, as much as she sorta likes them, is also confused as to why they're here. When she asks Aizawa, he explains: as far as academics go, they're the best. While the heroics course has their own 'top three', they should be looking up to the Holy Trinity for their education. Shiki is already known within the heroics industry for his top-tier performance in business. Kizuna already sells items to people, and has many companies offering her a contract. Keichi is skilled in many areas and has his own selection of jobs to go into.

They're here to explain the benefits of forming good relations to people in their own respective courses, and why staying away can harm your future as a hero.

Shiki goes first, as 1-A already kind of understands why they need to communicate with the management course, from their experience with their hero names and gearing up for internships. Shiki asks them first why management is important for heroes.

Tenya suggests that the reason heroes are able to gain fame is their publication, which their managers will handle most of the time. Momo adds that they will help them maintain their hero personas in front of the general audience.

Shiki is somewhat impressed, but not completely. He explains that managers also handle jobs by deciding what they call 'raids': a process in which heroes are collected to handle a large group of villains, or incredibly powerful solo-villains. While heroes can decide to join raids of their own volition, their managers are the ones who decide whether or not to inform them of the raids. Managers will also handle communication between other heroes and agencies. They're the ones managing the agency's money, publication, and workers.

It's important to build connections within the management course now, so they can either work with that manager when they become heroes, and because they can learn more about managers to know what to look out for later on.

Kizuna goes next, explaining why building rapport with the support course is important. Most of 1-A already knows the main reason: those support students will be the ones making their items and their costumes in the future. If they have a negative relationship, those items will suddenly go missing, or take longer to make, or break easily. Their costumes won't be up to par, or be made differently from how heroes wish. 

She explains that those in the support course will also work in tandem with managers to create merchandise. That merchandise will help you gain both popularity and money, depending on how successful it is. The more those support creators like you, the more those positive feelings go into the merchandise. 

Keichi goes last, and nobody really knows why the general education course is important to build a relationship with. But Keichi has far more to say than any of them think. He explains that it's true that general education students may go into any career, many of which have nothing to do with heroics. Still, it's good practice to become acquainted with them, at least. Because they are the ones who can and will speak about them in the future.

They will have that power to speak about them in the future, and dictate whether their careers will rise or fall. If they tell the public they were bullies, or looked down on them, that will drag down their reputation. If they tell the public how kind they were, or treated them as equals, that will bring their reputation up. There is no witness like a first-hand one, after all.

It doesn't hurt that, because these general education students can go into a multitude of careers, there is a chance that they've befriended a future CEO, future doctor, future lawyer, future idol, future anything. There is no telling, thus it's important to gain as many connections as they can. Just because they're in general education, it doesn't mean they aren't important.

1-A, however, recalls how many of those who ambushed them after the USJ, who spread rumours about them being 'arrogant' were all in different courses, and their main antagonists were in 1-C. They've built a decent relationship with the management course, specifically 1-J, but, as far as they're aware, the rest of the school still thinks of them as 'arrogant attention-seekers'.

Still, with this new information granted by the Holy Trinity, they find that they should probably work on their relationship.

-

Bad Reputation

Now, with the Holy Trinity's lesson in mind, 1-A begins to reach out to the other courses. They're already friends with their management partners, but they haven't reached out to others. They don't really have a chance to speak with anyone outside of lunch breaks, so that's when they strike. Lunch comes around, and they split away from their usual tables. 

Izuku, Ochako, Tenya, and Shouto sit on a table where Hatsume Mei is, along with a boy with light blue hair and light blue eyes, gloves on his hands. Mei is all for it, introducing the boy as Jouhou Katei, from 1-G. His quirk is psychometry, hence the gloves, and she recruited him into her force after learning about it. 

Now, Katei is initially hesitant, recalling the rumours about 1-A being arrogant, but this is a group full of the most friendly in 1-A, so that idea gets shot down immediately. Izuku is incredibly excited about his quirk, bombarding him with x-many questions, Ochako intervening every so often to calm him down. Mei and Tenya get along well already, with Mei thanking Tenya for advertising her babies and Tenya accepting it with modesty. Shouto is quiet, but once spoken to, he speaks well and politely.

Katei quickly realises that everything he heard from 1-A is a lie, because these four are so friendly, and they're not rude in the slightest.

All around the cafeteria, many students come to this realisation too. Eijirou, Mina, Denki, and Bakugou sitting with a group of general education students, with Bakugou reigning himself in. Kyouka, Fumikage, Mezou, and Tsuyu sitting with some management students, (outside of 1-J), getting along well. Tooru, Mashirao, and Rikidou with some support students, listening intently as they rattle on about their latest reaction. And so much more.

By the end of the day, students from all courses speak about how wrong they were about 1-A, about how they didn't expect the hero course students to interact with other courses outside of lessons. 1-B quickly gain news of this, and they decide that they won't be left behind. The next day, both 1-A and 1-B are hanging out with other courses during lunch.

In his office, Nedzu observes, pleased to see the inter-course mingling. It's been a while since he's seen it on such a scale, and it's heartening to see.

-

Blemished Rogues

In a lone street, a certain lizard mutant stands before five people. All six of them gather for a single reason: Stain. 

"I am Spinner, and I want you guys to join my gang!" Spinner stands before them in a shabby Stain cosplay, grinning widely. "Stain has spoken. There are corrupt heroes out there who have no business in the hero industry! They don't deserve to be in the same profession as All Might. Before, Stain alone took on the burden of staining himself for the sake of a purer world.We shall share that burden for him!" He points. "Introduce yourselves!"

Dabi, Toga Himiko, Twice, Magne, and Mr. Compress introduces themselves one by one, each speaking their own motivations.

Dabi, "I agree with Stain. Fake heroes should be culled."

Himiko, "Well, Stain is like my idol! So cute, spilling all that blood. I wanna follow in his footsteps."

Twice, "Society cast me aside. People like Stain would understand me! Stain is just like them!"

Magne, "The world wronged me, so I'm gonna wrong them. Maybe it'll set them right."

Mr. Compress, "I wish to reveal the fake heroes! Steal from the rich, for their wealth is made from our backs!"

Spinner, of course, loves it all. People who think just like him. Outcasts, people who see the fakes, who want to make a change in this rotten world, who aren't afraid to face reality: heroes won't change unless they get their hands bloody. It's something few are able to truly understand, and he's found people who do.

"Then!" He spreads his hands wide, welcoming. "Welcome to my squad! From here on out, we shall be known as the Blemished Rogues! We will weed out all those fake heroes, aid Stain in his journey, and protect what it means to be a hero!"

-

Notes:

Holy Trinity! Yes! I always felt like it was a big missed opportunity for the Big Three to only be hero students, so I created the Holy Trinity, full of the best students from each course, bringing them all into the spotlight, even for just this post

Making the hero course interact with other students from different courses, and not just one from each? Hell yeah! I fully intend to bring more of the academia into this rewrite

Sorry if you don't like OCs. Then again, that just means this ain't for you. I have more OCs incoming to fill in for roles I felt were missing

Blemished Rogues! Yes! Spinner making his own, separate group. Anyone from the Vanguard Action Squad not mentioned here have joined the LOV. Because Stain called the LOV, I felt this was more than appropriate. (Blemished also means 'Stained', fun fact)

Conclusion:

Students return from their break

The Holy Trinity are introduced

Spinner creates the Blemished Rogues: Dabi, Himiko, Twice, Magne, Mr. Compress

[my-rewrite-academia]

Week 16-21 (Summer Break)

Summer Break

With the internships over, students leave for the summer break right away, only spending the first Monday back in U.A. to report back from internships. For breaks, students are to return to their homes, though exceptions can be made depending on the circumstances.

While there, plans are made. 1-A have two dates planned. One on the first day of summer break, the other a week before it ends. Shouto rejects the first date, already planning to visit his mother for the first time, but they're all free for the last one. Even Bakugou, who Eijirou drags into it. 

Monday ends, and the following Tuesday, everyone meets up at the mall. It's almost exactly like their first hang-out, with the exception of Bakugou now joining in. Bakugou makes an effort to never approach Izuku and mostly sticks with Eijirou and his group. At first, Mina is against Bakugou being there, salty at his appearance – she knows a bully when she sees one. 

However, throughout the day, she sees that Bakugou really is trying, cutting himself off whenever he begins to yell, referring to everyone by their real, family names, and just overall being more docile. Also in their group, Kyouka is the first to reach out, telling Bakugou outright that they don't care if he's angry; they care if he's a dick. Mina breaks next, telling Bakugou that he'll have to do a lot to redeem himself in their eyes, which he acknowledges, but he's not that bad right now.

Bakugou, as much as he refuses to admit it, is touched. And confused. He doesn't get what they mean by his anger being okay, and he has no idea how he's supposed to reform himself. But it's okay. There are people willing to guide him onto a better path.

Now, let's look at the IzuCrew! While Shouto isn't with them, that doesn't stop them from having fun. Ochako finally reveals her Kansai dialect, and Izuku and Tenya take it in stride, Momo admittedly being confused as to why she hid it, and Yuuga goes a step further, stating that being true to herself has made her more beautiful. 

Tenya feels a lot better already. None of them mention the new scars on his and Izuku's arms, and it doesn't matter anyway. They all notice how lighter he looks, smiling far more often and engaging with everyone. He hasn't returned to his previous demeanour, no. He's far less rigid, more open to everyone, and his laughter is heard a lot more.

Momo, on the other hand, is less okay, and they all notice that she's dressed a bit differently than usual. Her normal looks are modest and elegant. This, however, is not that. It's not raunchy, exactly, but she wears it like it's supposed to be exactly that, even winking. Knowing what Tenya nearly did, Izuku questions her about it, but she waves it off as 'experimenting'. Ochako actually defends her, arguing that a girl can wear whatever she wants to wear, Yuuga agreeing and calling Momo stunning. Tenya and Izuku are less sure, but, hey. They don't know how women work, so they leave it. 

Izuku is happy. Over the moon, even. He never used to be able to hang out with anyone but his family, yet he's out here with eighteen other people, having fun, and it's everything he never knew he needed. Sure, he's wanted it. But he didn't think it was a necessity. Now? Now, he can't imagine a life where he never spent time with his friends.

-

Dearest Mother

Let's take our attention over to Shouto, shall we?

He's been planning to visit his mother since the Sports Festival. However, with the dorms, he would have to request a leave, and he really didn't want to bring anyone's attention to the fact that his mother is in a psych ward. Before U.A., the idea of visiting his mother was met with a hard refusal. Not because he hated her or blamed her for anything. But because he was scared.

He had no idea if she would look at him with those eyes, full of fear and hatred, seeing Endeavour more than she saw him. Before the Sports Festival, before Izuku, his scar would ache at the thought of her, a reminder of his father's cruelty. 

(People may assume his scar was from a fire or heat, without taking in the logistics of his fire-side being heat resistant. Ironically, his scar wasn't from the boiling water, but from his mother icing it over. His scar is a freeze burn. Because his mother iced the burn she also inflicted.)

So, yeah. He was scared for the longest time that his mother hated him. That visiting her would only hurt her more. Then one Midoriya Izuku barged into his business and decided it was his business too. And, by God, if he weren't grateful for that. Memories he didn't realise he had, of his mother loving him before Endeavour drove her into insanity, affirming that he could be anyone he wanted to be, all of it came back as Izuku reached out to him.

Now, he walks into Fujitani Hospital, into Rei's room, and he's terrified but it doesn't look so scary anymore.

"… It's been a while." He cringes at his own words. Of all things to say! 

But, Rei turns to him. And she smiles. "Shouto… I've missed you."

The tears sprang to his eyes. He smiles, stepping forth, and she opens her arms, inviting him in. They hold each other close, and Shouto forgot how warm her hugs were, even with her Frost quirk. "I missed you too, okaa-san."

He was terrified. He's not scared anymore.

-

Welcome Home!

Two weeks into the break, the Midoriyas get a very special guest. Now, they already have a guest. Someone who's been taking refuge in the Midoriya household and learning first-hand many things: a parent-child relationship, a pseudo-brother, the ferocity of Inko when they play games, that Izuku inherited his tear ducts from Inko considering the movie nights. 

Yeah, Shouto has been spending more time with the Midoriyas than at his own house. Fuyumi understood why, even encouraging him to spend more time with his friends, and Endeavour can't do much. Shouto went on his volition, and trying to force him to go back would only paint a bad light on him. 

So Shouto has been staying with the Midoriyas, sleeping over often on a futon in Izuku's room. It's new to him, but he likes it. If it pisses off Endeavour, then even better.

Now, like I said before, two weeks into the break, someone special arrives, knock-knock-knocking on the door. That's right: coming all the way from America. The man, the myth, the legend! The one who helped Izuku pick up a katana! It's Midoriya Hisashi! 

He arrives without a word in advance, wishing to keep it a surprise, and boy did he surprise them! Izuku and Inko are both ecstatic, jumping him and crying all the while, Hisashi hugging them back and ignoring his luggage for the moment. Right now, all he cares about is his family.

When the emotions settle down, they introduce Hisashi to Shouto. He works in America, specifically as a data scientist geared towards heroics in the U.S. His job revolves around analysing a multitude of heroes' careers in America as well as support companies. He works freelance, like Inko, but he's so well-known that he doesn't need to be tied down to have a stable income. 

Izuku also reveals that Hisashi used to be a hero known as Salamander, picked because of his fire breathing quirk. Shouto doesn't recognise his name, and Hisashi explains that he wasn't very well known, only to Musutafu. More of a house-hold name than anything else. He doesn't explain why he left heroics, and nobody really asks. 

Hisashi spends time at home, expressing joy for Izuku and how far he's come, and assuring Shouto that their home will always welcome him. He brings a gift for Izuku – a grappling hook. He also makes Izuku swear to learn how to use it with his teacher's there before actually trying it. 

Shouto watches Izuku and Hisashi together, with Inko fawning over them, and he wonders if this is how a family should be. Even though Hisashi doesn't get to see them often, he loves them both dearly, and Inko showers them all with affection, and Izuku is so eager for their love.

Seeing this, Shouto honestly can't wait for his relationship with his mother to improve, and maybe he'll gain a relationship with his siblings too.

-

Hey Brother

Tenya, finally getting the chance to, visits Tensei. He's nervous. Before the internships, he only visited Tensei twice. The first when Tensei was admitted, the second when Tensei was asleep, and Tenya swore to take down Stain for him. Now, he visits, knowing that he nearly crossed a line he could never return from, and Stain's words plaguing him.

There was a reason Stain targeted him. A reason why he called Tensei 'corrupt' and a 'fake'. As much as Tenya looked up to him, as much as hated the idea of it, he had to know. If there truly was a reason Stain went after him, Tenya needed to know. Ignorance is bliss, but it's a hero's job to combat misery.

So, he visits Tensei, nerves at an all time high. His stomach churns when he sees Tensei and the brand on his neck – Stain's personal mark. It's scarred onto Tensei's neck, despite the many quirks that can get rid of scars such as that. Tenya subconsciously touches his neck, wondering if he would have received it had Stain not decided to kill him, (and only fail with Shouto and Izuku's entrance).

It takes a while to get to the question. For the most part, they play catch-up, Tensei expressing that it's nice to see Tenya in a lighter mood, but he also looks so tired. Tenya agrees, and finally asks, "Why did Stain target you?"

Tensei is quiet for a bit, but he sighs. "I was going to tell the public anyway." He gestures to his brand. "There's a reason I didn't get this scar healed." With that, he explains, "I was stupid, in short. I completely forgot the basis of heroics. That is, to save people. I… turned my back away from those who cried for help." 

Just like that, Tenya's word comes crumbling around him.

"There were a lot," Tensei says. "The laws dictate that using your quirk in self-defence more than necessary is illegal, and I followed it blindly. The amount of people who I've turned into villains is… revolting. I can't even remember their faces. All I remember is that they defended themselves and I labelled them a villain for it." 

'That's it,' Tenya thinks, hands clenched into trembling fists on his legs. "The laws…"

"The laws are cruel," Tensei retorts, exhausted. "I understand why they're like that. If you're under attack, you're only allowed to run away. If you harm your attacker, you can only do so in order to run. If you harm them more than necessary, it will be classified as assault. The issue is that, unless you're trained for such situations, people can't control how much they use their quirks when they're panicking. And I called many a villain because of that. All because they were scared."

Tenya shakes. His own brother, the one he looked up the most, punished people for defending themselves. For accidentally going too far when they were scared, unable to control their quirks in their panic. There must have been many who didn't even intend to use their quirks – their bodies attacking before their minds could register what was happening. 

It wasn't fair at all to punish them for being scared, for defending themselves. Yet that is exactly what his brother did. 

"In the end," Tensei continues, cupping his brand, "I'm glad Stain saw straight through me. He opened my eyes when I didn't even realise they were shut. Well, I don't agree with his methods, but somebody needed to call me out. With the state of our society, I can't think of anyone else willing to."

Tenya breaks even more, tears flooding his eyes. Tensei was grateful for Stain's intervention. And Tenya tried to kill him. 

-

Greetings, Hero

Throughout the summer break, many things happen. The Izuku, Ochako, Tenya, and Shouto hang out a lot, with Momo and Yuuga joining from time-to-time. Ochako works for her family a lot, (and she often wonders if Stain would have targeted her for becoming a hero for money). Tenya thinks a whole lot about Stain and his brother. Shouto studies the family dynamics of the Midoriyas. Izuku spends as much time as he can with Hisashi before he goes back to America. 

Then the second 1-A hang-out comes around, this time with Shouto there.

Both Shouto and Momo are taken to try fast food. Shouto is honestly excited to try it, as he's always wanted to try the crap Endeavour banned, while Momo is more tentative, having heard a lot about how 'disgusting' it is. But, with the power of Mina and Tooru combined, they have no choice but to, at least, give it a try.

They love it. They wouldn't eat it regularly, but it was nice to try it. Of course, Momo is appalled when Denki explains that even the healthy options aren't healthy, but it tastes nice, and she liked this minor form of rebellion. Shouto doesn't care either way – he knows that a single meal won't affect his general health, and he can't wait to tell Endeavour that he ate something as unhealthy as fast food.

Yuuga makes everyone go on a fashion trip with him, dressing them up stunningly. He even gets a few of the guys to wear feminine clothing, specifically: Izuku, Denki, Eijirou, and Mezou. They all rock it, with Mezou wearing a rather revealing set that many gush over. Many girls feel like they've lost to them. 

All throughout the dress-up, Minoru keeps his eyes away, even bashing his head at some points to get him to stop getting worked up over Mina in acid-wash shorts, Momo in a spaghetti dress, Tsuyu in a summer dress and– NO! Then the boys come out in skirts and he suddenly realises that he's screwed. He ends up fainting, and wakes up to see Yuuga carrying him bridal-style, wearing a full face of make-up, and he decides that he might just die instead.

The girls are happy to see that he's actually doing his best to control himself. At least he's actually improving. Their intervention did wonders.

There's a merchandise store. It's selling Stain merch. Many of them eye Tenya when they go past it, none ignorant or oblivious enough to point it out. But, Tenya can see them looking, and he waves it off. While he would never understand why people liked Stain, he can now understand why people acknowledge him, even if he is a serial killer. Besides, if even a victim can be grateful for Stain, then Tenya won't deny his impact. Even if he doesn't like Stain or his methods. (There are other ways to call heroes out.)

For a while, they just spend time together, having fun. Then, they all split up, some going to the music store with Kyouka, others to an arcade with Mina and Denki, a few checking out the merchandise store, or buying more school supplies.

In the end, Izuku is alone, holding a few bags, some left behind by Ochako, who left him to find a gift for her parents. He guards the bags, waiting for Ochako to come back. Then a hand snakes around his neck. His first move is to throw the one holding his neck over his shoulder, but then the guy speaks, and he freezes.

"Not so fast, hero." The rasp in his voice, scratchy, sending shivers down his spine, the scar around his wrist stinging, his bones aching from a fight long ago. Even without those hands covering him, Izuku knows who this is. "Hey. Did you miss me?" It's Shigaraki Tomura. "Let's have a chat, shall we?"

Izuku gulps. "And why should I listen to you?" 

"Look around. All these people gathered in one place. Like nothing could ever harm them. Let me ask you: how many people here do you think I can kill before you take me down?" Izuku falls quiet. He doesn't have any weapons on him. Only bags full of clothes, hero merchandise, school supplies, and nothing more. "So… Let's talk, shall we?" 

With Tomura's hand wrapped around his throat, only one pinky away from killing him, Izuku can only agree. They sit on a bench, and Tomura leads the conversation. "Why?"

"Why what?"

"The League were the ones to send Hosu into disarray," he says. "I ordered those Noumu to wreak havoc. Yet all everyone talks about is Stain." As if to mock him, people around them speak about him attacking Native, about his speech to Endeavour, some holding a Stain plushie. Even the NEWS speaks of him. "Why? We did more than Stain that night."

Izuku, for a moment, has half-the-mind to tell him what he wants to hear; just lie and say that people are talking about them. But then he remembers that Tomura is searching for an answer. There's a reason he hasn't just killed him. So, he tells him the truth. 

"Because you don't have a purpose." Tomura hums, and he listens. "I will never agree with Stain's methods. He didn't need to hurt people or kill them to get his point across. But you can't deny that he had a point." It's like ash in his mouth. "There are heroes out there… who use their status for their own personal gain. People are heroes to satisfy their own greed. 

"Native was targeted because he protected a drug ring for its monetary value. Past heroes he's targeted have done bad things. Icy Hero: Frost, beating villains to death, only with mutations. Natural Hero: Ivy, hiring villains to attack for her to take down and hurting civilians in the process. Night Hero: Star, taking bribes from villains to let them go. And many more. They were all corrupt, and nobody knew it until Stain targeted them."

It's exhausting, for Izuku. Recalling all those corrupt heroes, those 'fakes', and knowing he once looked up to them. 

"You attacked the USJ, attacked Hosu, and nobody knows why. We still don't know why you want to kill All Might, or why you attacked Hosu. It's just senseless violence. Nobody knows what you stand for, or what you'll fall for. Until that day comes," he swallows the lump in his throat, "you're nothing more than a group of delinquents."

He looks up, and his spine goes rigid. Tomura smiles, and it's horrifying. His lips dry, splitting from his wide grin, his eyes squinting as his cheeks rise, dark, dark circles running around them. There's light in his eyes, and his hand trembles with this new-found realisation. Izuku sees it and he's terrified. It's wrong, wrong, wrong.

"I see…" Tomura speaks with a low voice, breathy almost. His hand tightens around Izuku's throat, and he struggles against it, breath cutting short. "Senseless violence, huh…? It all makes sense now! None of you, not a single one, gets it… Look! Everyone is having such a good time, like a hero is always going to help them!" 

Tears sting Izuku's eyes as he struggles against Tomura's hold, but he's less scared of dying and more scared of that gleam in Tomura's eyes, psychotic and oh-so-cheerful.

"You know whose fault that is, hero? That's all because of All Might. Always parading around with that annoying smile! Like there wasn't a single person he couldn't save!" Izuku wheezes, and, shit. He's going to die. "It's all bullshit. I'll show them. I'll show the whole world that they should be scared! After all," his hand tightens even more, "you heroes can't save everyone." 

He's dead, Izuku morbidly thinks. He's going to die and then Tomura will kill everyone else and– 

"Who are you?" Ochako approaches, a bag in hand. "You're… not his friend. Let go of him." She's scared too, Izuku realises, then remembers who's holding his neck.

"It's okay!" he yells, panicked more than anything. "I'm fine, Uraraka-chan!"

She steps forward. "No, you're not." She reaches out, eyes darkening. "Oi. I said to let go of him." 

Tomura looks up at her, and he smiles. "Oh, I didn't know he came with a friend!" He lets go of Izuku, and he coughs, choking on it as he finally gets to breathe. "I'll be off, Midoriya." 

"W-Wait!" Izuku calls though his coughs, Ochako keeping him from collapsing. "Shigaraki! What are you planning?"

But Tomura doesn't answer him. He walks on, neck itching, hands twitching. Nobody takes them seriously because they don't understand what he stands for. So, he'll show them. And he'll kill All Might to do it.

-

Notes:

Once again, I did not expect this to be this long! 3.5k words! Whaaat???

Yeah, I finally gave Bakugou a bit more time in the spotlight, and he's finally getting along with his canon friends. Also, look! He's learning! Not quite educated yet, but he'll get there. This time, with Mina and Eijirou there to help

Rei and Shouto finally get to see each other again! Hisashi came back home for a short while! Stain had an actual reason to go after Tensei! 1-A actually having fun for a while! Minoru getting development! Yay!

Tomura and Izuku meeting, and earlier than canon. In canon, it was only after finals, but finals happen later in my rewrite, and as students live in a dorm, this is one of the few chances they'll get to meet. Their discussion is different from canon, as it didn't feel like Tomura really learned anything from it, other than, 'Man. I'm so right about hating All Might'

Conclusion:

Internships are now over, and the students are on Summer Break

Hisashi comes home to congratulate Izuku, and it's revealed he was once a hero

Shouto spends more time with the Midoriya's than at home, and finally visits Rei

Stain's reasons for targeting Tensei are revealed

Tomura meets Izuku

[my-rewrite-academia]

Week 15 (Internships - Part 3)

Present Mic to Bakugou Katsuki

Bakugou, left with default heroes, (staff members), decides to go with Mic, as he's the highest ranked hero of the staff, at Rank 28, apart from All Might, who doesn't do internships. Mic also accepts Neitou and Kyouka. Throughout the internship, Neitou is an elite hater. He doesn't even use words – all he needs is his face. Kyouka, unlike the rest of 1-A minus Eijirou, does not ignore Bakugou. No, she's above that. She has no trouble calling him out for his crap.

They do a lot in Mic's internship. Helping on his radio, patrolling, (though Bakugou is not allowed to fight at all), and greeting fans. Out of the three, Kyouka is the best at speaking, having learned a bit about it from her parents. Neitou is up there, but he gets overwhelmed from time-to-time. Bakugou, of course, is the worst, wearing a scowl and snappy. Mic intervenes a lot for Bakugou, and the others from time-to-time.

A few days go by, half-way through the week, and Mic takes Bakugou aside. 

Now, Bakugou has been improving. He doesn't scream at people or insult them. He keeps his mouth shut. He doesn't hurt anyone… But, otherwise? He's not done much. He's apologised to Thirteen, yeah, but nothing else. After all, he snaps at strangers, and he still wants nothing more than to be strong. 

So, Mic takes Bakugou aside. "Why do you want to be a hero?"

Bakugou is… confused, to say the least. His partner in management asked the same question, and his answer has always been the same. "I wanna be the best. The strongest and the richest. I want the world to know my name!" Back then, his management partner sighed, disappointed. 

Mic does too. He asks Bakugou if he knows why All Might is the number one hero.  Of course, Bakugou says it's because he's the strongest. He's the strongest and coolest hero ever. But Mic rebukes this. He says he's the number one hero, but Endeavour has the most takedowns. There are some heroes who could theoretically destroy All Might in a fight. It was never about his strength.

It's about his heart. Bakugou is confused, of course. Heroes have to be strong. What the hell can 'heart' do without strength to back it up? Mic goes on, explaining that nobody would like All Might if he was a bad actor – if he hurt people or looked down on them. The only reason Endeavour is number two is because of his takedowns. When going by the general public's opinions, it's highly likely Endeavour wouldn't even be in the top ten.

"Right now, from what I've seen, you don't look like the next All Might. You look like the next Endeavour." Mic's not saying this from a hater's perspective – he genuinely wants Bakugou to succeed. And if that means being cruel, then he'll be cruel. 

Bakugou is left reeling for the rest of the internship, silent. Kyouka is so grateful for this and the relief to her ears. Neitou observes him with a critical eye.

Mic, meanwhile, hopes that Bakugou has learned something.

-

Uwabami's Lesson

As in canon, Momo goes to Uwabami. She's the highest ranked hero in her requests, and she's pretty decent in rescue heroics. At least, her popularity must prove this. Because Momo, and Itsuka, do not learn anything about rescue heroics.

It's subtle at first. Uwabami admits that she was interested in them due to their appearances rather than anything else, which hurts, but they'll have to learn how to handle criticism when they become public figures anyway. It's no big deal.

Two days in, and all they've done is get dressed and wave to citizens and the cameras. Momo is in deep denial, of course, insisting to both herself and Itsuka that Uwabami will teach them something worthwhile. She has to. Itsuka is less convinced, managing to convince Momo to do some of their own training via daily duels. 

Time passes by. Four days into the week, and Uwabami has an exciting announcement for Momo and Itsuka! … They get to perform in an advertisement. Momo, who (foolishly) got her hopes up, reasons to herself that maybe this was some sort of test. There's more. There has to be. 

But, the shooting comes and goes, (with a bit of difficulty), and Momo feels so defeated. Itsuka, whose expectations were low since day two, is less distracted. During one of their spars, Momo is unable to react in time to a strike, which she would usually be able to dodge. Kendou's fist hits her face, bruising the cheek, with Momo's teeth cutting her lip.

Which is apparently a massive issue the next day, when Uwabami sees Momo's bruised face. She freaks out, then scolds her and Itsuka for being so reckless. Momo denies this, stating that injuries are inevitable in heroics and she can't be a hero if she's afraid of being hurt.

"It's not the pain, sweetie." Uwabami hovers her fingers over Momo's bruise, frowning deeply. "It's the face." Of course, Momo is confused. Itsuka is too. It wasn't like her face was disfigured or anything. Uwabami sighs. "Tell me, do you really think women can succeed in this business without looking pretty?" 

"I do," Itsuka instantly says, not backing down an inch. "All Might and Endeavour can do it."

"They're men," Uwabami retorts. "The rules are different for women. Name one female hero ranked above a hundred who isn't attractive. I'll wait." Both Momo and Itsuka fell flat. "… Exactly. For us girls, our biggest weapon isn't our quirks or a weapon." She cards her fingers through Momo's hair. "It's our sex appeal." 

Momo… Momo really wants to deny this, but she honestly cannot think of a hero above rank 100 who isn't pretty. With the hesitant exception of Tooru, who has no face to judge, all the girls in the hero course are attractive. As much as she doesn't like it or want to admit it, there is truth to Uwabami's words.

Itsuka is less convinced. Being pretty can't be all there is to it. This can't be the only lesson Uwabami teaches them.

The end of the internship comes. They're taught nothing else. 

-

Fumikage to Hawks

Fumikage is excited, of course, for Hawks' internship. His excitement is dulled, however, by confusion. He didn't progress past the second game, yet Hawks decided to send a request for him? While he wasn't self-conscious or undermining his abilities, he didn't quite understand why Hawks chose him over anyone else. Like, say, Shouto or Ochako – two of the top three in the Festival. 

It's odd, to say the least… But he gets his answer as soon as the internships start. Introductions are done, they have a small conversation about how Fumikage is liking heroics, and then Hawks asks about the USJ. About the creature his teachers fought, and any information he had on the villains who attacked them. It becomes clear, then, that Hawks had no real interest in Fumikage. Just the information he had.

After the 'interrogation' of sorts is done, Hawks doesn't do much of anything, complaining to himself about the distinct lack of information Fumikage had about anything regarding the villains, and they fall into silence shortly after. 

Fumikage does manage to ask why he chose him out of everyone, and Hawks' reasoning is simple. Birds of a feather flock together.

Now, Fumikage may have a bird's head, but that is a secondary mutation that has little to no impact on his actual abilities. Sure, it may give him better eyesight than normal humans, and he has a bird's hearing, but his strength and skills are all his and Dark Shadow's doing. 

Speaking of Dark Shadow, as the first day goes by and Fumikage has learned nothing but to never meet your heroes, Dark Shadow speaks to him. "Make him teach you," he says. "Threaten to make U.A. sever ties with him, or get hurt and sue him for negligence! Anything it takes!" Fumikage is the reasonable one of them and, naturally, rejects going to such lengths.

But when he's half-way through day two and he still has yet to learn anything, he sees the reason in Dark Shadow's words, and follows through. Hawks has no idea, and thus is taken by surprise when Fumikage uses the information Hawks gave him against him.

"It appears that you desire to obtain knowledge of the villains, even taking in a student you know little about just to increase your level of knowledge." Fumikage looks down at Hawks as he sits on his desk. "Our Principal takes matters regarding education quite seriously. As a matter of fact, should I inform him of your refusal to tutor me in any regard…" His eyes darken. "I have no doubt he would cut ties with you." 

Hawks straightens, realising exactly what was at stake. 

Fumikage goes on, "Should I do such a thing, the knowledge you so desperately long for would be out of your reach. Would that not be such a shame, Hawks?" 

And… Hawks folds. "Alright, alright, fine! I guess I could teach you a thing or two!" He sighs, standing up from his chair as Dark Shadow internally celebrates, Fumikage feeling elated that he was finally learning something from the number three hero. "Now, let's see if Dark Shadow can help you fly." 

-

Miruko and Rage

Ochako arrives in Chiba, anxious but prepared for anything. For a while, her mind stays set on Tenya, concerned about his silence, his colder eyes and demeanour. She arrives at Miruko's estate like this, distracted by her friend's turmoil, directed to Miruko's personal dojo, unable to focus on her internship entirely.

That all goes flying out the window as soon as she steps in. A foot comes flying at her, and Ochako has half-a-second to react, pulling her arms up to defend the side of her head. It does nothing, as Miruko's foot slams into her arms and sends her flying to the, (thankfully), padded wall. 

"You're slow, kid!" Miruko charges forth, and Ochako scrambles to her feet, panicking but desperately trying to pretend otherwise, managing to dodge some blows, block others, and completely fail on most. Miruko wears a grin the entire time, taunting Ochako all the way through, not a damn left to give. 

And Ochako is slowly becoming more and more frustrated. She would be a fool to expect Miruko to be nice. After all, Miruko is known for her ruthlessness in battle, never once working with another hero, rejecting any sort of promotion, only rising to fame because others took videos and spoke of her. She's the definition of a lone warrior, and she's not going to drop that for anyone – not even a young student.

Ochako knew Miruko would put her through the wringer, and she was excited for it, but she didn't expect this. Not even an introduction. At least, not a proper one. A foot to the face is no polite greeting. That's not to mention Miruko's aggravating words.

"That all you got!?" "You won that festival like this!?" "You're making me yawn here, kid!"

It gets to a point, and Ochako really cannot hold herself back any longer. So, she doesn't. 

"Shut yer trap!" she yells, finally shifting away from defensive to offensive, throwing her first punch back. "Yer pissin' me off!" Now, if she were in a less tense scenario, she would be mortified at both her words, and her accent slip. Instead, she doesn't give a flying flip, and instead properly engages in the fight.

It doesn't last that long. Maybe ten minutes. By the end of it, Ochako is bruised and sweaty and tired, lying on the dojo floor, while Miruko is completely fine, if a bit sweaty. 

"So…" Miruko leans over Ochako's collapsed body. "You got a Kansai dialect, huh?" Immediately, Ochako realises that she'd slipped up, and she's flustered, denying it, putting on a Tokyo dialect, but Miruko doesn't buy it for a second, laughing at her denial. "Nothing wrong with it, kid."

"Yes, there is," Ochako rebukes, out of breath. "It's not the image I want."

Miruko rolls her eyes. "Please! I'd rather we get another aggressive chick than an 'I can do no wrong!' kinda girl. Gets tiring." She grins, grabbing Ochako's arm and pulling her up. "'Sides, you didn't choose me 'cause you wanted to learn how to be cute. And I sure as hell won't be teaching you that. No, I wanna make you angry." 

Ochako reels back, but Miurko keeps going. 

"That gritty style you used in the Sports Festival, against that Acid Trip girl and the ferocity of your match against the Izanami girl. I wanna see more of that. That's the reason I request you." Her grin is viscous, eyes alight with an odd mix of malice and passion. "All that fear of being brutal? Yeah," she cracks her knuckles, "that's gonna go by the time I'm through with you."

Ochako gulps, nerves high. Nevertheless, she steels herself, accepting Miruko's challenge. "Right!"

Her internship is brutal, but Ochako leaves feeling free.

-

Notes:

Bakugou is slowly getting there. He needs to understand how wrong his mindset is: not just towards Izuku or his fellow classmates, but his perception of heroics. Mic truly cares about his role as a teacher, so I thought he was the perfect person to take Bakugou aside and actually tell him where he was going wrong, rather than just saying he's wrong

I know some people were expecting Uwabami to actually teach them something productive, and I'm sorry to let y'all down, but this is important for Momo's character arc. Also, I do not believe in Uwabami's words. That's what she and an overwhelming majority of women in the industry believe

Now. Fumikage and Hawks. I was not gonna do him dirty. Fumikage has far more self-worth than to let Hawks get away with wasting his internship, and Dark Shadow would never let that slide

Ochako!! My girl is from Mie – she has a Kansai dialect. Sorry, I don't make the rules. Miruko refuses to let the cute 'innocent' heroes become the norm for girls. She sees vicious, she'll make Ochako vicious

Conclusion:

Bakugou gets a lesson from Mic

Momo is told by Uwabami that women in the field have to look the part to be successful 

Fumikage forces Hawks to teach him something

Ochako allows herself to be as violent as she wants in battle thanks to Miruko

[my-rewrite-academia]

Hi! Hello! Where have I been, you ask? I've been in the pits of writer's block. Fear not, however! I discovered that the walls had grooves within, and each one slowly restorted my motivation. Now? Now, I am on the surface, breathing that fresh air, and I have gained inspiration!

Seriously, I went wild. I discovered motivation, like, three days ago, and I wrote so much. As in, on Sunday, I'll post three (technically four, I guess), erm, 'chapters', let's call them, even though they're not what I would call chapters. Parts? Summaries? Whatever you wanna call them, they're coming out.

So, don't worry. This is not being abandoned. Thank you all for your patience, and I'll see you soon! With three (technically four) posts! Just as a little apology for not posting anything for the past couple of weeks.

The first post will be the third, and last, part of the Internships Arc. The second post will be take place in the summer break. It's its own thing, as is the third post. The third post is the first week back in school, with a bit of focus on how other courses interact with the hero course. The (technical) fourth post is an introduction to some minor OCs.

Again, thank you for your patience, and I'll see you on Sunday!

[my-rewrite-academia]

How did you decide (out of universe) on the hero names for 1-A? Working on my own little universe/sandbox has got me curious.

Hello!

-

I first look at their quirks and character traits. For example, let's look at Satou Rikidou. In canon, he goes by 'Sugarman', which honestly came off to me as lazy and unoriginal. I mean, Horikoshi just personified him by his quirk.

Rikidou, in MRA, goes by the Sweet Hero: Fornax. Fornax is the divine personification of the oven. In Ancient Roman times, people would pray to Fornax for aid. Like a hero. Now, Fornax is a goddess, but the name is ambiguous enough to be male too.

In canon, Mina's hero name was the Ridley Hero: Alien Queen. I didn't understand why she went by 'Ridley Hero', considering Ridley does not look anything like her, and Ridley's (from Metroid) are sadistic, which Mina is not. I went, instead, with 'Alien Hero: Acid Trip', keeping the alien identity, while keeping in mind her acid quirk, and relating it to her bubbly personality.

Something that I kept in mind was how effective it would be in battle. The biggest issue I had with Yuuga's name was how long and inconvenient it would be in the field. Spotlight is short, memorable, convenient, and keeps the subtle foreshadowing.

Really, I went through a lot of names. I wasn't originally going to change Momo's name, as Creati is both cute and effective, but I wanted to ephasise how capable both her and her quirk is.

Minoru's was, really, the hardest one to change. I've mentioned this in a previous post, but one of the names I wanted to give him was 'Grapist', but I thought it was a bit too far, especially since he's already had his intervention by then.

It was hard to find a non-perverted name. I mean, his quirk is literally just sticky balls. Haha, Horikoshi, so funny. In the end, I did find inspiration from other people, especially on reddit threads, (actually useful for once), and fics that redeem Minoru rather than bash him or remove his existence.

All in all: keep in mind character traits, the quirks, and its usability in battle.

-

Thanks for the ask!