#it's fun getting to draw the other class 1a members honestly

[nimuello]

more bon voyage shenanigans but this time with kaminari, jirou, and momo aka my fave underrated trio 😌💜

[bokunoheroanalysisforthefuture]

And so preparations for the final event begin! Let’s see if these being one on one matches helps me get through them a bit faster when I’m not having to transcribe quite so much action all at once.

[No. 32 - Smile, Prince of Nonsense Land!]

Another character profile to start out with! (I swear I’m gonna have to make a post compiling these once we’ve gotten all of them for class 1a… maybe run a comparison with the end of chapter profiles? Eh shrug.)

I swear, my instincts say that something that that tail should not be as flexible as it is because of its circumference. I know, I know, quirks, freaking magic, don’t think about it, but still. It’s a very straightforward quirk with a surprising amount of utility, and he makes full use of it. Good for him! Now, onto the chapter proper.

Kirishima is pretty hyped for a tournament, thinking about how they’ll be up in ‘that ring he sees on TV every year.’ Mina asks him if it was a tournament last year as well, but Sero’s the one to answer - the format’s always different, but most years involve some kind of head to head competition. (Apparently the year before theirs involved foam sword fighting, and now I’m incredibly disappointed we didn’t get to see that for this sports festival finale… would have been absolutely hilarious.)

Midnight holds up a box of lots, saying that match-ups will be decided by drawing lots. Once that’s done, they’ll move on to the festivities and then the tournament itself. It’s up to each of the sixteen finalists whether or not they participate in the fun, since she figures some of them would rather take a breather and save their strength. 

She starts to call for the first place team to draw lots, but Ojiro raises his hand, calling for her attention. He then states that he’d like to drop out, much to the shock of the others. Someone (I think Kirishima?) asks him why, since this is his chance of being noticed by the pros. Ojiro stats that he has no memories of the cavalry battle or anything that happened in it up until the tail end. And it’s probably his quirk that did that. 

Ohh, ominous. And Izuku’s really concerned for Ojiro here. Ojiro states that he knows this is a great opportunity, and he knows it seems stupid to throw it away, but this final turnament… everyone else made it with their own strength. But he’s standing here and he doesn’t even know how or why. He just can’t take it. 

Hagakure says that he’s thinking about it too hard, and that he can just show what he’s made of in the tournament. Mina agrees, saying that by that logic, she shouldn’t really be here either. Ojiro starts crying, hiding his face in his hand as he shakes, explaining that he’s talking about his pride here. He doesn’t think it’s right. (He also has no idea why the girls are dressed like that. Really, the entire cheerleader gimmick seems a bit… awkward, here.)

Izuku has no idea what to say. But class B’s Nirengeki does - kind of. He admits that he can’t remember anything either, so he wants to withdraw as well. This is a contest of skill, so letting someone who didn’t do anything advance… doesn’t that defeat the whole point of the sports festival? Isn’t it against the rules?

Kirishima starts to tear up, calling the two manly. Up in the booth, Present Mic announces the strange turn of events, while Aizawa wonders what Midnight, as the coordinator, will decide. Midnight’s ruling?

She likes it. The two are allowed to withdraw. Aoyama puts a hand on Ojiro’s shoulder and promises to win it for him. 

Midnight tells the kids that replacing the two will be members of team Kendo, who took fifth. Kendo replies that if it’s gonna be like that, then shouldn’t it be team Tetsu instead? Her team was immobilized pretty much the whole time, while team Tetsu were giving it their all to keep what they had until the very end. She then hastens to assure that they aren’t colluding or anything, it just feels right.

Tetsutetsu is in tears by the gesture. After a brief transition, it’s decided that Tetsutetsu and Shiozaki will join the finalists, bringing the number back up to sixteen. And with that, the match-ups can be drawn!

Izuku notes that if he wins his first match, his second’s gonna be against Shouto. Which I feel is very rude of him to just entirely discount the possibility of Sero winning the match. I mean, it’s an honest assessment, but STILL. Rude. Anyways, before his match with Shouto, he still has to face off against Shinsou, who has to be-

And speak of the devil, there’s the guy in question. He wants to know if he’s Midoriya Izuku, which startles Izuku. Izuku recognizes him from the declaration of war two weeks back. He goes to respond, only to be cut off by Ojiro’s tail over his mouth. Shinsou huffs and turns t head away, while Ojiro warns Izuku not to answer him. 

We get a few other reactions from some of the other students: Shouto contemplates how his match with Izuku will be sooner than expected, and that he wants Izuku to bring his best before he takes him down. Katsuki wonders out loud who Uraraka is, which startles an eep out of her, possibly for using her actual name. Mei approaches Tenya, chucking as she starts to ask him something. And Present Mic announces that they’re setting aside the tournament for the time being, and getting on with the thrill-a-minute festivities. 

There’s a few snapshots of what everyone is up to over the course of the side events: some of the non-finalists racing massive balls (probably rubber?) around the inside perimeter of the stadium, Ojiro talking to a stressed out Izuku, Tokoyami napping in a tree, Tenya drinking five (5) cans of orange juice, Katsuki doing… something, Shouto crouched down resting somewhere outside the stadium, and finally some students searching for items on the cards they were given. Oh, right, and the girls are doing cheerleader stuff, with Hagakure being the most enthusiastic, and Jirou and Momo as the least. 

Honestly, with that jump, Hagakure is either buff as heck, or Ochako is lending her a hand. 

While all this is happening, Izuku is narrating how some people preferred to psych themselves up, while others tried to relax. Everyone was dealing with it differently. And before they knew it, the time had come.

We come back into the narrative as Cementoss is just finishing up crafting the battle platform from scratch, which is honestly incredibly impressive. I guess his manipulation of cement includes being able to dry it out super fast. And really, with how it looks, he’s just showing off. Especially with those torches, like, those can’t have been made from cement. Were they just put there and the cement set around them? Did he use the cement to manipulate them into place? I have questions, sir.

As I said, showing off just a touch. 

Present Mic thanks Cementoss before asking the crowds if they’re ready. He talks about how the students have been through hell to get here, but now it’s time for the one-on-one tournament! They’ll only have themselves to rely on. Even if someone isn’t a hero, that saying holds true! You know it! Spirit, technique, strength, wisdom, and knowledge! Use them all and show us your best!

...They’ll only have themselves to rely on, even applied to non-heroes? Uh, wow. Talk about the underlying 𝓲𝓼𝓼𝓾𝓮𝓼 showing up here. I honestly can’t help but think that Izuku’s issues with heading off alone in the current manga arc has less to do with emulating All Might, and more absorbing all these small asides and comments from all the staff of UA. Which is fucking 𝕪𝕚𝕜𝕖𝕤.

Anyways, while Mic’s doing his thing, Izuku is trying to calm himself before his match, only for Toshinori to come up to talk to him. He notes how it took a while, but Izuku’s finally getting the hang of using One For All, and gives Izuku a wonky thumbs up. Izuku is surprised to see his mentor there, but also corrects him - he doesn’t really have a hang of it, he’s still uneasy. He brings up his microwave visualization thing, and how he’s been trying to recall when he launched it at the villain, but it still feels dangerous. As if he could fall apart if he loses focus for a second, and, well, it’s like Toshinori saw. Given the level his body is at, even when Izuku controls it, it only gives a small boost in power. 

Toshinoir thinks on it for a bit, before reminding Izuku about that talk about giving it between zero and a hundred. As Izuku is now, heis body’s capable of about five percent. Izuku considers that, thinking that if it’s like that, then he’s just gotten lucky with everything. Toshinori gives him a few thwacks on the head and neck, telling Izuku that that’s because he’s always been trying his hardest, calling him a prince of nonsense. He also chides Izuku, saying he’ll never be a hero looking so mopey.

While Izuku recovers from the assault, Toshinori tells him to listen, before stating that especially when Izuku is feeling worried or scared, that’s when he needs to smile. Izuku’s come this far, so show some bravado, even if it’s fake. To punctuate this, Toshinori swells up into All Might, giving him another thumbs up. And I guess it kind of works as motivation, since Izuku seems less stressed?

Anywho, we finally get into the first match! Present Mic announces the two, with Izuku getting a comment about his making a weird face despite his good performance, and Shinsou getting a comment about not having done anything to stand out yet. The rules are simple - win by knocking out your opponent, immobilizing them, or getting them to say ‘I give up!’ Bring the pain! Recovery Girl’s on standby. And fight dirty if you must! ‘Ethics’ have no meaning here!

...this explains why Shinsou immediately went for such a low blow. 

Anywho, Cementoss makes himself a seat to watch from, so as to be prepared to stop the match at any time. Present Mic clarifies that going for the kill is a big no-no and will disqualify you, because a true hero’s fists fly only when in pursuit of villains. 

Shinsou starts talking, contemplating the ‘I give up’ option before asking Izuku if he gets it? That this battle’s going to test his strength of will. If you have any kind of vision for your future, there’s no sense in worrying about how you get there. Like that monkey, babbling about his stupid pride. 

Wow is Izuku pissed. Present Mic announces the start of the match as Shinsou rhetorically asks what kind of dumbass throws away a chance like this. Izuku rushes forward furiously demanding to know what Shinsou just said - only to stop dead. Shinsou calls it his win, while in the stands, Ojiro is stressing out, tail flailing as he snaps at how he’d warned Izuku about this. Toshinori is waiting at the entrance to the stadium, confused. 

Present Mic asks what’s wrong, the battle’s just started, show some spirit! Mere seconds into the match, Izuku is frozen in place?

And we end the chapter on that cliffhanger. What an introduction to Shinsou, and we have more to go in the next… one or two chapters, can’t recall. 

Anywho, see y’all next time for spooky quirk shenanigans! Can’t believe our first ghost sighting is about to happen. Fricken love ghosts.

[mrevaunit42]

The First Day (Boku no hero Academia au part 3)

Hello everyone, Mr.E here, still very much writing. haha sorry for not updating, I’ve been pretty busy and honestly kinda wanderlust in terms of what I want to write but here we are with the next chapter of my hero academia au for star vs.

So i wanted to do my own version of the first day of school and i felt like this was the best way. Since I kept writing and stopping cuz life kept making me deal with it, it feels a little off to me. Probably not my best work but i Hope you get some enjoyment out of it all the same. 

So some notes Bold mean the standard Adult Marco flashback in the vein of Adult Deku telling his story similar to the show and bold and italics is a new thing i tried to keep with the spirit of the anime and that is someone quickly explaining someone’s quirk. I felt it was a fun nod to the anime and in case You are wondering who is present Mic in this au, it’s Ruberiot because of course it is.

that’s it for me. have an amazing week and i hope you enjoy the story!

here is the link to part one https://mrevaunit42.tumblr.com/post/162853635472/im-going-to-be-a-hero-boku-no-academia-au-part

Notification squad: @artgirllullaby @ladyxgilex @nerdymetalhead @minthia-ren @thefandombytes @hipster-rapunzel @isolated-frequencies @burstingamerworld @sineston

I remember the first day of school well. How could I forget the uncontrolled joy, the sheer exhilaration of seeing that wonderful building with the knowledge I had finally made it. My determination, my drive, my unwillingness to give up and live a mundane, boring life to be the hero I always dreamed of. The hero I always hoped I  could be.

Of course it was on that day I realized how far I had to go. I swear I can still feel the aches in my bones and muscles just thinking about that day....

Marco could feel his body trembling with excitement as he passed through the school security gate.

His first day at UA high.

“How...terrifying” Marco muttered to himself, letting out a tense sigh “Okay Marco, you got this! You proved you deserve to be here! YOU ARE A HERO!”

Marco flushed as dozens upon dozens of eyes fell on him, a mixture of emotions in their gazes but all the young teen felt was embarrassment.

Marco rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly as the crowd's attention shifted elsewhere.

“I really gotta learn to control myself” Marco murmured awkwardly.

“Why?” A familiar voice answered “I think it be good for you to stop overthinking and relax for once in your life.”

Marco's face burned as a pair of arms fondly wrapped themselves around him though his body tiled unsteadily from the added weight.

Marco flailed, his arms reaching for anything but there was nothing within reach and he began to stumble.

“Whoa there” there was a soft fluttering of wings, a pair of gentle hands steadying him while the person backed away from the panicking Marco.

Marco let out yet another tense sigh. There was a brief thought that wondered how often did he perform the gesture but the train of thought was derailed as Star Butterfly hovered into view, a small yet soft smile gracing her face as she waved hello.

“Morning Marco!” Star beamed

“Morning Star” Marco greeted in return while the blonde haired girl planted her feet back onto the ground “ you really shouldn't sneak up on people....”

“and you shouldn't stand in the middle of the road muttering to yourself” Star countered with a smirk “But we're going to do what we're going to do.”

Marco scratched his cheek “Yeah...sorry.....I'm not used to...”

“People sneaking up on you?” Star offered as the pair continued their trek to class

“Friends hugging me.....” Marc whispered timidly

Marco blinked in surprised: Star let out an insanely cute coo before wrapping an arm around his neck and drawing him in close.

Star grinned happily at him “Get used to it buddy, I'm a hugger”

Marco chuckled softly, trying to ignore the racing of his heart “I would've never guessed.”

Star gasped mockingly “What? No way! You're more wrapped up in your head than I thought.”

Marco snickered “Cool it Butterfly just because you're my best friend doesn't mean you can get away with anything you want.”

Marco strolled into the room unaware that Star had released her grip on him and was standing in the hallway, completely dumbfounded by his words.

“Best friend?” Star muttered before letting a joyful “YES!” and pumping a fist into the air.

Marco shook his head as he slid open the classroom door, Star was just too endearing and cute....

“Huh?”

Marco stared, uncertain if he was seeing what he thought he saw.

He pulled his head out of the doorway for a moment and glanced upwards. 1A the sign read so this was his class but why there were only a handful of students inside especially on the first day?

Star made her way over to her best friend, a quizzical look on her face

“What's up Marco?”

Marco frowned “Nothing I guess? I thought I was in the wrong class for a second since the bell's about to ring and there's almost nobody here.”

“There is a reason for that Mr. Diaz.” a cool voice called from behind

Startled, Marco and Star whirled around to find Moon Butterfly standing there.

“M-Mrs. B-Butterfly! Good Morning” Marco bowed quickly while Star gave a cheery “Morning mom!”

“Morning Mr. Diaz, sweetie.” She gave a short nod “Please take your seats and I shall inform you where your missing classmates have gone.”

Marco and Star exchanged a look but said nothing, opting to take their seats instead.

It was so strange to be in class that nearly devoid of life but Moon quickly answered the question the 8 students were thinking of.

“The rest of your classmates are with my fellow teacher All Might” Moon told them

“All Might?! He's a teacher?! AT UA?!” Marco burst out loud.

Marco felt his ears burn when Moon's eyes narrowed on his face, the quiet snickering of his classmates echoing in his ears.

“Yes....” Moon began slowly “After many years, he finally decided to take up a position at UA since his personal affairs have...recently taken care of.”

Marco's throat felt dry as Moon's knowing gaze finally left him and scanned the rest of the room.

'She knows' Marco thought to himself 'She knows I have One for All.....'

“You are probably wondering why you are not with the rest of your class.”

Tom scoffed, waving their teacher's statement off “It's clear you wanted to talk to the top students of the entrance exam personally. Oh and Marco too”

Marco growled under his breath, clutching at the edges of his table angrily.

“Yes Mr. Lucitor, you are correct....”

Tom smirked proudly

“...well, partially correct.”

Tom's face fell as the room broke into hushed whispers.

Moon sat at the edge of her desk, her face stony and indifferent.

“As Mr. Lucitor was so kind to arrogantly point out, you eight scored the highest of all the applicants.”

Marco gazed about the room: Tom (because of course he did), Janna, Jackie (his heart skipped a beat), Ferguson, Alfonzo, Sabrina and Star.

Wait, where was the 8th...?

Marco mentally smacked himself upon realizing he failed to count himself out of habit.

“So naturally” Moon went on without missing a beat “Expectations are high for you 8.”

“Naturally” Janna smugly replied.

“Which is why you will be taking a special test today. One that determines if you stay at UA or not.”

A nauseous feeling formed in the pit of Marco's stomach as the classroom fell deathly silent.

“Hey!” Tom shot to his feet furiously “That's not fair! We passed the test fair and square, why are we being punished for that?”

“Fair?” Moon repeated with a steely edge to her voice “You seem to have a rather skewed perception of fair Mr. Lucitor.”

“Why you...” Tom began but Moon ignored him

“You all did exceedingly well in the examination but simply put, just because the others are convinced you will go on to do great things does not mean I share their sentiments.”

Moon pushed off her desk and stood at full height, making eye contact with every single person in the room

“And before you can complain that I can't do this” Tom openly glared but Moon paid no mind “I have expelled entire classes before and it's well within my power to do so. I do not sugarcoat anything. My fellow faculty members expect you to thrive here. I'm here to ensure their faith is not misplaced. As a hero, the world will place you on a pedestal whether you like it or not and they will not hesitate expect your success or remind you of your failure. ”

Marco gulped. Despite the general, almost conversational tone Moon took, he couldn't shake the feeling that she was speaking directly to him. He was River's successor and it was his duty to live up to his idol's expectations. If Marco was to be the next symbol of peace, failure could not be an option yet it would always linger.

Always.....

“Please gather your things and follow me.”

Marco's sense of dread only grew as the class quietly shuffled after their teacher.

20 minutes and one change of clothes later, the eight found themselves in a rather strange location: It was a well kept grassy plain surround by a loose ring of trees. The now dark blue and white track suit wearing students stood to one side of the groove as their teacher stoically remained in the center.

Moon had changed too though her attire was far more menacing: She wore a long black riding cloak over with her simple yet elegant chain-mail, thick bandages wrapped around her forearms with her long periwinkle blue hair braided into a single ponytail while a pair of strange goggles with multiple slits rested over her eyes.

Marco's body tensed upon the realization that she must've changed into her hero costume. The Queen was not holding anything back.

Moon turned her attention to the group of teens or at least that's what Marco thought. It was very hard to tell where or who she was exactly looking at with those strange goggles of hers.

“This is your final warning” Moon cracked her knuckles threateningly “This is UA. You will be bruised, you will get hurt and while your life will not be in danger, that doesn't mean we're going to go easy on you. If you want to back out, now is the time to do so.”

Her question was met with silence and determined gazes.

“Very well” Moon smirked as she fished out a dark blue cloth from her pocket “Let's get straight to the point: This is a UA flag, nothing special aside being used to show your school spirit.”

She wrapped it tightly around her forehead.

“Whoever helps get this off my head will stay at UA. Everyone else will be expelled at once and do not worry, I won't be using my quirk. It wouldn't be very sporting of me.”

“Wait!” Marco shouted alongside the choir of outraged students “Are you saying only one of us gets to pass?!”

Moon said nothing. She remained still and lifeless as a breeze swayed the folds of her cloak.

Tom snarled furiously, his hands bursting into flames “Fine! I'll just have to rip that stupid thing off your head!”

“Tom wait!” Marco reached for the hot headed teen but found empty air as the angry teen rocketed away, two bright orange flames burst forth from his palms and propelling him towards his opponent.

“I'm the best” Tom growled, his eyes brimming with a righteous fury “And I'm going to prove it to you right here! RIGHT NOW!”

Tom Lucitor-Quirk: Hellfire. Using his internal body heat, Tom can produce flames for various purposes though prolonged use will lead to dehydration and heat exhaustion. The flames become hotter and more powerful the angrier he is. Shocking.  

Moon barely flinched when Tom reached out for the headband.

“Foolish boy”

Tom let out a surprised gasp when Moon sidestepped him effortlessly, his palm sailing inches past her face as she just watched.

“What the hell?!” Tom cussed as Moon reached for his wrist and locked her fingers around it in an iron grip.

Moon shifted her foot sideways as she vaulted the attacking teen over her shoulder and slammed him into the ground. His back tensed from the sudden pain while the air emptied out of his lungs.

Marco stood there dumbfounded and unable to process what just happened: One second Tom was just one swipe away from staying at UA and the next he was face up on the floor, almost completely subdued.

“CHAAAAARGE!” Janna shouted, fist raised in defiance

The others rushed forward, hoping their individual strength would be enough to overwhelm the pro hero. Only Marco remained behind. He knew it would be pointless. The Queen was a spec ops heroine. She was used to being alone and being self sufficient. Even without her quirk, her general knowledge of quirks and their functions made her dangerous. Couple that with her hand to hand skills and there was no way a bunch of new students were going to defeat her....

Marco let out a disappointed sigh. Everything he had gone through, pushing himself further than he'd ever pushed only to have it snatched it away right at the starting line....

It wasn't fair.....it wasn't....

“I'm sorry....”

Marco snapped out of his spiral of depression to find Star next to him, hands clutched tightly behind her back as she hovered anxiously, her blue eyes focused on the battle ahead.

“Star?” Marco asked, unable to keep concern out of his voice.

“This is my fault....” Star answered sorrowfully “I caused this....”

“Star” Marco reached for her but she pulled away

“She's always pushing me, always giving me some new challenge. I thought she'd calm down now that I was actually in UA but it seems like it's only gotten worse....and because of me, everyone's going to lose their chance at their dream....”

“No”

Star turned to Marco.

“We're not giving up” 

"why not?” Star asked, her voice full of frustration “No one here can beat my mom”

To emphasize her point, Star gestured the completely one sided battle taking place before them.

Moon stood still as Jackie rushed ahead of the pack, a thin layer of frost covering her palms. She grinned happily as she skidded to a stop, brushing her hand lightly over the grassy floor.

Jackie Lynn Thomas-Quirk: Water Manipulation. Able to alter H20 on a molecular level, Jackie can create water, steam or ice at a moment's notice. However, this requires immense concentration and often gets Jackie sick. She does not like getting sick.

Ice spread over the plain, crawling closer and closer to Moon's feet in hopes of entrapping the heroine.

Moon clicked her tongue disappointingly as she jumped away from the icy clutches of Jackie's attack and countered with one of her arm wraps.

“What?” Jackie stood up, backing away in surprise but it was too late: The wrap wound itself tightly around her wrist and went taut “What the what?”

Moon pulled with all her strength and sent Jackie helplessly sliding down her own icy field.

“Capture tape” Moon explained as she flicked the bandage over her arm once again “It's designed to be flexible and durable. It's meant to capture the more uncooperative suspects.”

Moon's head snapped at the sound of footsteps crunching against grass.

“Thanks for the distraction Jackie!” Janna smugly shouted as she reached for the headband.

Moon battled away Janna's outstretched arm and counter attacked with a shoulder tackle. Janna let out a pained grunt as she fell to the floor.

“Too obvious” Moon chided.

“Actually” Janna smirked “Just perfect.”

Moon eyed Janna's darkly glowing hand warily when she caught the sounds of fibers being ripped and torn apart, a strange rune over her wraps quickly fading into thin air.

Janna jumped to her feet, shooting her teacher the most cocky grin and finger guns she could muster.

Janna Ordonia- Quirk: Fortune Redirection. After bonding with a person, Janna can use their inherit good or bad luck to affect other beings or objects. While usually the effectiveness of the results often vary, Janna seems to have found a particularly misfortunate person, granting her access to a powerful and consistent source of bad luck.

“That's unlucky” Janna mocked while she rushed at Moon again

“Only the foolish and inexperienced rely on luck” Moon replied as she pulled Janna's arm into a twist and sent her facing the other direction.

Janna winced “Whoa, this isn't very heroic you know?”

“You missed the part where I cared” Moon answered before shoving her towards the timid approach of Sabrina.

Sabrina flinched nervously and used her arms to shield herself from the Janna projectile coming the straight for her.

Janna was expecting to run into flesh. What she actually ran into was a thick, rocky surface that promptly sent her reeling onto the ground.

“Sorry....” Sabrina murmured softly

Sabrina Backintosh- Quirk: Reinforcement. She can harden her skin to a rock-like substance which is useful for the seemingly large amount of bad luck that follows her around. Some wonder if her bad luck and Janna's power are somehow connected.

“Sab” Janna dizzily told the petrified girl “You got to get in there....win for...me...”

Sabrina was unconvinced as Janna dramatically fell unconscious.

“....No....”

“Here comes the Ferg!”

Ferguson barreled forward with his hands inflated to at least three times their sizes and while his run was unsteady, there was a hint of confidence as he inched his way closer to Moon but the confident swagger left him when, instead of scaring the pro hero as he hoped, Moon decided to meet him head on, closing the distance between them.

Ferguson pulled his arm back, ready to take a swing at his teacher when Moon lashed out with an open palm directly to his face.

Ferguson stumbled backwards, arms flailing in a panic despite not actually being hit. Moon let out an annoyed sigh as with a muted pop, Ferguson's entire body puffed up and the boy helplessly rolled away.

Ferguson O'durguson- Quirk: Expansion. By altering muscle mass and fat, Ferguson is able to increase his own body's density. However, when startled, Ferguson's entire body expands at once and while this gives him a powerful defense, it also prevents him from moving normally.

Alfonzo stood at the ready, hand outstretched to stop Ferguson.

Ferguson let out a relived sigh as he came to a complete stop thanks to his best friend “Thanks buddy! You always got my back.”

“umm yeah of course Ferguson” Alfonzo answered back.

Alfonzo Dolittle- Quirk: Afterimage. Alfonzo is able to create static, still images of himself at will. The images will vanish if Alfonzo wants them to, sneezes or when he is asleep. He has accidentally scared himself on more than one occasion.

Moon shot him a questioning look, taunting him to try his luck against her.

Alfonzo took a step back, waving his hands in surrender.

“That's what I thought” Moon muttered. She almost relaxed now that most of the students had been subdued or frightened when a frustrated yell broke through the tense silence.  

“THIS ISN'T OVER!” Tom snarled, his hands ablaze as he drew closer for one final attack on the pro hero “GIVE ME THAT HEADBAND!”

Moon paid no to the raging teen despite how much he clearly was trying to catch her attention. Her ears twitched gently as she picked up the soft noise of ice slowly forming amidst the furious crackle of Tom's flames.

Jackie moved as quickly and quietly as she could, crouching low to sneak up on her seemingly preoccupied foe. There was no way she could take on a pro hero in a head to head battle but if her attention remained on the raging demonic hellspawn, she might just have a chance.  

Moon took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

Tom pulled his arm back, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. His body was exhausted due to the constant exposure to his own flames but he was too lost in rage and adrenaline to care. He was consumed by his fury and was beyond reason. He outstretched his hand, reaching the headband one last time.

Moon let out a frustrated sigh. She shifted her body to the left and as if in a hypnotizing stupor, the two teens followed suite, their single minded determination blinding them to the heroine's plan.

At the last possible moment, Moon dove sideways, dropping into a roll before leaping onto her feet. Her body relaxed as flame and ice collided.

Blue and red irises widened in surprise while they dug their heels in an attempt to stop but it was far too late to do anything. Instinctively, Jackie rose her frost covered arm in front of her face while Tom did the same with his burning limb just as the two smacked into one another.

Jackie and Tom were quickly enveloped by a cloud of steam, their figures obscured as they began cough uncontrollably from the sudden stuffy, smothering heat that overwhelmed them without warning.

Moon stood there, among the groaning and silence of the defeated, still and unmoving. If anyone had impressed her these last few minutes, there was no indication or acknowledgment in her face. She simply was, her face as indifferent as stone.

“See?” Star motioned wildly to emphasize her point “She's barely winded! Nobody here can take on my mom.....”

The blonde's face fell, sorrow filling up her sky blue eyes.

“We're going to get kicked out because of me....I...”

“Star

Star snapped out of her self defeated daze. There was a strange confidence in Marco's tone, one she was certain hadn't been there before. She lifted her gaze to Marco only to find him staring back at her.

“Marco?”

Marco clenched his fist tightly “Star, how fast are you with your wings?”

Star blinked in confusion.

“I...I dunno, pretty fast? I've never really kept track before.”

“ I was hoping for a specific number” A frown graced Marco's face only for a moment before a self assured grin quickly replaced it “But luckily I've got to experience your speed firsthand.”

“Marco?” Star raised an eyebrow but her best friend kept rambling on, muttering to himself about approach and karate lessons “Earth to Maaaaarco. Come in Marco!”

“Huh?” Marco shook away his runaway train of thought “Sorry, I tend to get carried..away...Anyway, I got an idea how to get that headband.”

“Marco” Star began dejectedly “Just stop. If my mom doesn't want you to have that flag, nobody is getting that flag.”

“Exactly!” Marco beamed

“Wha?”

“Don't you get it Star? Nobody is going to get the flag.”

Star nodded questioningly in agreement “Yes, that's what I just said.”

“Which is why we need bodies” Marco replied eagerly.

“Whoa! Marco you're an awesome guy but I'm not killing people for you!”

Marco's face paled “Wait! NO NO NO I mean we need to work together to get that flag! Nobody here can beat your mom on their own but we're not supposed to. If I'm right....”

“Whoever helps get this off my head will stay at UA.”

“...then it won't matter who gets the headband”

Marco felt all confidence drain out of him when he felt Star's hand gently grip his shoulder.

“Alright, what's the plan?”

Marco hid his burning face from Star, trying his best to keep his voice leveled as he told her the plan “We're going to need Al and Sabrina....”

Moon checked her watch briefly as Jackie helped the still slumbering Janna to the side while Tom begrudgingly guided Ferguson to a nearby tree.

“4 tired out, 2 frightened away” Moon murmured to herself “now where's Marco and...”

Moon perked up at the sound of crunching grass approaching her slowly.

She slowly tilted her head and found herself staring at group of four students, a mixture of fear and purpose etched deeply on their faces.

“...Star....” Moon whispered as she turned to face the new challengers “I'm getting rather bored of this so this is your last chance unless you wish to face expulsion.

Star clenched her jaw tightly as she stared down her mother.

“Don't worry Mrs. Butterfly” Marco answered with a respectful tone “We're going to give this our best shot.”

“Then proceed.”

Marco took a step forward and as expected, Moon backed up into a defensive stance.

“Al, NOW!”

Moon blinked in surprise as Alfonzo began running around her in a loose circle.

She narrowed her eyes in suspicion: What was Marco planning? If they thought they could distract her so easily, they were sorely mis...

Moon watched carefully as one Alfonzo became two then three then four then eight. Ten, fifteen, twenty Alfonzo's surrounded her, frozen images of him mid-run filling Moon's sight.

“Clever” She spoke loudly “Nice use of cover.”

“Thanks!” Marco's voice called from her blind spot on the right.

Moon's instincts kicked and with a graceful motion, she whirled around, leg outstretched to meet Marco's assault.

Except it wasn't Marco rushing to meet her. Instead, stumbling her way uneasily through the battlefield was Sabrina, arms flailing wildly as she tried to steady herself

Moon was going to follow through with the kick anyway when something caught her eye. The sun didn't reflect off Sabrina's skin properly...it was almost like it was...

Everything click at once but Moon knew it was too late to stop her momentum. However she could still use it to her advantage despite this setback.

Moon hopped off the ground with one foot, leaning into a spinning wheel kick as she narrowly leapt over Sabrina's head.

Sabrina tumbled forward, chin first into the ground but rather than torn skin, it was skin that had torn up dirt and patches of grass as she skidded to a stop across the floor.

'They used her as a projectile' Moon thought to herself as she unsteadily landed on the balls of her feet 'a distraction for another attack.'

Moon snapped into action, gripping Marco's wrist tightly as he reached for the headband on her forehead. If she had been a second too late, he would've....

Marco pulled back on his restrained arm, dragging the unsuspecting Moon forward and further off balance while reaching for the flag with his free hand.

Moon scowled angrily as she was forced to release Marco and intercept the attempted grab with a well place chop but Marco wasn't done yet: Before the pro hero could react, Marco threw right hook towards her unprotected side.

Moon caught his arm with her own and deflected the punch while reaching for his wrist once again. Marco pivoted on his heel before she could close her grasp, pulling backwards while driving his palm into Moon's shoulder blade.

Moon flinched, stumbling back from the force of the attack. Unlike the previous attackers, Marco had some knowledge of martial arts and would not easily be dispatched . However, an ocean of experience separated the two and the advantage Marco had gotten was quickly dwindling.

Moon dug her feet into the ground as Marco chased after her, attempting to keep her further off balance with a series of karate chops but without the element of surprise, Moon was unmovable. Despite his best efforts, Moon casually absorbed or blocked his attacks, refusing to budge a single inch under the onslaught.

Marco pulled back his arm, hoping a solid punch would break through his teacher's defense but Moon was already one step ahead of him: as he moved his arm backwards, Moon planted her feet firmly on the floor and braced her knees.

Marco's eyes widened as she tightly held onto his wrist, twisting her body as she began to drag him forward into a throw. Marco quickly brought his palm against her back and shoved as hard as he could.

Marco's hand slipped free while Moon fell forward, one leg awkwardly bent mid-air while the other tried to keep balance. Marco let out a sigh of relief and blinked.

When he opened his eyes a moment later, the color drain from his face as Moon twisted in his direction, her knee inches away from catching his stomach.

Marco didn't have a plan. Marco couldn't think of anything that could help in this moment and even if he could, he didn't possess the speed or skill to react in time. He felt the cold shiver of failure dripping down his back. Just one more moment. One more second and they would've won....they would've....

Star's downtrodden face flashed into his mind, the sorrow that danced in her eyes tug at his heartstrings painfully.

Marco screamed at himself. He wouldn't let it end this way. He wouldn't let everyone down just because he couldn't use his quirk properly. He wasn't about to lose everything just because he couldn't do one simple job.

He wasn't going to lose.

Marco felt power flow throughout his legs, the low hum of electricity charging filled his ears as his muscles tightened, renew vigor surging through him like a second wind. It was an odd feeling, one he couldn't remember ever noticing before but it had a comforting familiarity to it, one that cleared Marco's mind.

Marco tensed his body, letting the power run through his body freely. He felt invincible, he felt powerful, he felt like he possessed the energy and strength of not one person but several, overlapping together as one.

He felt like how he always imagined All Might would feel.

Marco only meant to push away, clear some distance between himself and his opponent as he leap backwards to avoid the knee.

He didn't have to worry about distant: It was weird how much the sound of crumbling earth sounded so similar to the crunching of cookies once crushed by human hands.

Marco shot backwards like a rocket, his legs flailing useless and broken as a 5 foot crater and violent winds formed from where he once stood.

Moon was nearly knocked off her feet as the fierce wind blinded and deafened her for a moment but a moment was all Star needed.

Star flew past the wall of Al's and sailed straight for her mother, her gaze focused only on one thing.

The ringing in Moon's ears was unbearable and she stumbled uneasily trying regain her balance. Her eyes were dry and her body shook from the sheer power Marco unleashed in that moment.

Moon saw Star coming, her daughter’s outstretched hand made it very clear what she was after.

Moon slowly began to raise her arm but paused for a moment.

She gave a little chuckle, suppressing the smile on her face as Star whizzed by, flag clutched tightly in her hand.

“As your classmate as figured out” Moon tiredly told the students save Marco and Star “You were supposed to work together and technically you all helped in getting the flag so you get to stay at UA.”

She scanned over each and everyone of them carefully

“You are future heroes. You will be measured to the standard of those who came before you and you will be the standard for which those who come after you will be compared to. You carry the legacy of us all. Welcome to UA high.”

Moon shook her head as the remaining 6 moaned and grumbled about how unfair it all was. They were all tired and they still had the rest of the school day to get through.

Moon watched silently as the class departed.

Marco broke both his legs again due to his quirk and despite Moon's suggestion that he was perfectly fine in the care of Recovery girl, Star refused to leave his side

“Our daughter” Moon spoke softly to the approaching figure “Takes too much after you. Reckless and crazy.”

River nodded as he stood next to his wife “Perhaps but she has your loyalty.”

“I don't know if that's a good thing....”

“I'd like to think so” River tugged at his beard anxiously “Moon pie....did I...?”

“Yes” Moon leaned over and gently kissed her husband's cheek “He'll make a fine hero. If his quirk doesn't kill him first.”

“He's tough and smarter than I when I first received One for All. He'll get the hang of it.”

“Then you have nothing to worry about it.”

River stared off into the distance.

“I sure hope so.”

Things were so much simpler back then......I still wonder if I would've had the courage to kept going if I had knew what lay ahead.....

[hatefilledpoptarts]

Class 1-A should really learn to stop letting Bakugou baku-off

(when stuck for the most appropriate and to the point title just give up and use shitty puns, 10/10 it will pass....I think :P)

One of the things that caught my attention when reading the manga for the first time was Bakugou’s behavior after the sludge man incident: when dealing with complicated/conflicted emotions he doesn’t know how to process, he has a tendency to just back off from the problem altogether for an indefinite amount of time. 

(This is all going under because this really got out of hand, so if you wanna have a read please do when you have the time or are bored, I take both)

Warning: A tad disorganized so read at own risk

Going back as far as the 2nd ch.(Fun fact about revisiting a series; you notice details you tend to skim over the 1st round), I missed the actual amount of time that passed before the exam and am now realizing just how long Bakugou had not interacted with Izuku back then.

10 months is a shit long time not to bother with someone you’ve known since childhood through to middle school. While not exactly weird or unusual, since people tend to just move in another direction and drift apart in life, this isn’t really that type of scenario. Of course this was coming right off the sludge incident and, while not anywhere on Izuku’s own radar, was very much still on Bakugou’s mind back then:

Quite an impressive show of petty to ignore Izuku for nearly a year, more than likely with the expectation that he just has to wait until graduation for this issue to just go away.

My initial impression for this was more along the lines of an Izuku-dealing habit since history has shown this kid doesn’t really react well when Izuku actions are outside of Bakugou’s own expectations (not that weird since I’ve seen actual kids behave this way).

Its very clear Bakugou has major issues being vulnerable and Izuku is this sort of catalyst: always finding a way to tip him to his lowest degree. Really it all comes back to his pride that both uplifts and shuts him into himself.

Now getting to my main point (at the start of this):

I recalled back when class 1A was having their room showcase event, only two members were counted out of the whole 20 from this: Bakugou & Tsuyu.

Not an incredibly shocking development when they both have excuses for not joining; particularly when you know how little Bakugou cares about these types of activities and really wouldn’t just go along with whatever everyone else is doing.

Of course we learn for Tsuyu, this was actually a time of guilt and self-doubt for her in regards to her relationship with the group who went to rescue Bakugou. 

And considering Tsuyu’s disposition of being outspoken and self-possessed, it can be easy for the class to overlook any insecurities she may possess. We can also take from Tsuyu’s special chapter that she has difficulty relating to her peers.

Luckily for Tsuyu, she has a supportive friend who will pick up on these unusual moments and possible signs of vulnerabilities, lending a helping hand when she knows it’s what Tsuyu herself needs and wants.

And Tsuyu does what she thinks is best, which is to bring up what is bothering her to the associated members in hopes they will get past this by understanding what type of problem this was for her. And Ochako, she’ll make it happen because she cares and if that means gathering everyone needed to listen to Tsuyu and offering a comforting hand for extra support, then those are the kind of things she’ll do for her friend. (It makes me wonder how ochako got along in middle school, she’s really impressive in these kinds of socially tense situations)

Now it’s interesting to realize this was a really subtle way for Horikoshi to draw a parallel for these two in that by withdrawing and isolating themselves during this time, they were demonstrating their own self-reproaches for actions they considered giving into their own shortcomings. Both Bakugou and Tsuyu were self-imposing their own guilt because they didn’t know how to address it to themselves or toward the affected members. Judging from their background, it can be inferred both grew up having strong feelings of responsibility for themselves taking on any burdens they’ve had on their own (Bakugou due to pride; Tsuyu being the sibling oldest).

 For Bakugou, his own issues won’t advance or mend because he doesn’t allow for this type of support in his life or even permits for his defenses to be dropped in front of anyone. Bakugou is more or less accepted as being moody and to be left to himself when he has his episodes (digging that hole pretty deep aren’t ya kacchan?) and no one has ever questioned if he can be brought down. When you get down to it, no one has pushed him out of this comfort zone for a long time; he doesn’t know how to reach out to others because he thinks no one can match him or he needs to maintain his image.

I mean look at him that time, he’s only 4 or 5 and he’s trying to save face, making sure they know he’s tough, and Deku challenges that by actually being concerned, showing that Bakugou is indeed fallible. Most of his peers, or even general authority figures, can only take in his surface value, what he wants others to see or think of, without looking deeper. Those who surrounded him during his early adolescence let him do as he pleased and they genuinely thought that’s just how life worked. 

See how those classmates react with Bakugou’s usual arrogant behaviour: they’ll jeer their irritation but fall in awe when he makes a bold declaration because that’s whats to be expected from Bakugou, they wouldn’t actually push it further than ‘friendly’ banter with him because he can actually back what he says. No one really disagrees because they know Bakugou is extraordinary and by that rule he can do as he wishes because he is amazing; there is no one who will challenge it when they know better, if you lack aptitude follow the guy who does have it. From a adolescent’s point view, thats how ‘society’ works and that honestly is the worst mindset to get from anyone growing up. 

Izuku can attest that it’s no easy feat confronting him in any scenario:

With an ego swelled far too big for a kid to grow up on and a real talent that can’t be denied: no real surprises here how this came about. No one wanted or thought they could stand on even footing with Bakugou.

 Now Kirishima, bless his good kind soul, is a good bet for a friend who can temper Bakugou’s volatile attributes, and might be his equal, but he is in no way equipped to understand or clue into all the intricacies that goes into what makes up Bakugou. He gets past his hot-blooded side and sees someone who does have standards to back his actions (even if he’s a bit of a loose canon of destruction on several occasions).

The same can be said of Kaminari, who does show a decent level of understanding in Bakugou’s mentality and take his cues when the appropriate situation calls for it. Both parties have shown a deft grasp of Bakugou to get that while he may be an unpleasant guy, he is by no means lacking in morals or skill to back his superiority; just tougher to work with and needing tougher skin to take in all the foulness he presents.

While both are definitely a good match-up to withstand the trial that is Bakugou, they don’t actually stand in the sort of ‘equal’ position in a personal level as they do working together or in social interactions, they often come together to be like a hero unit that Bakugou finds acceptable to his standards and even socially they interact like average friends. They might even retain the same social levels as Bakugou’s old gang: they see and understand his abilities and yet they can’t quite comprehend the more human side of him that Bakugou prefers to keep under wraps.

By no means is this a fault in the two themselves or their friendship to Bakugou but I do understand why they can’t dig past a certain point in their relationship with him. Socially speaking, they still need time to build the kind of connection with him that allows vulnerabilities and even permitting it to be shared in some form or other.

 I’d heard the phrase ‘emotionally constipated’ describe Bakugou before and honestly, that is the most accurate definition for him that I’ve ever heard. He does show a heavy difficultly in expressing himself in calmer ways, more often than not, physically & figuratively exploding his problems out. I can understand the struggle in articulating what you mean and what you feel, conveying intentions can be a struggle and seem like a bother, if from your perspective there is no point; they won’t understand the things you do the same or in a similar way. Bakugou can only put what he feels into action and that can be tough to infer what those actions really mean and Bakugou himself leaves it up to the other party to figure it out, if they can’t then its because they couldn’t hack it (thank UA there are some who actually give a damn and call it when they see it).

I also personally identify with Bakugou’s characteristic of being socially discerning (although not to his level of disregard); I understand his lack of willingness to let others see a weaker side to them, it can be daunting when you don’t know how to express yourself in the most appropriate way or perceive those around as not worth the risk (I grew up with unpleasant people I didn’t care to be around if I could help it). Even emphasizing when he sizes others up, concluding what the other person is about and not wanting to push yourself in a situation you assume isn’t worth your time or think you have no place in. If you don’t think well of someone or find you’ve yet to have a deeper emotional connection with, when you’ve hit major emotional turmoil, it can be challenging when you’ve come to realize your own isolation that’s been built around yourself and the internal frustration you know you have no control or even a solid understanding of how to adjust to make things better. You can’t force yourself but you gotta build something along the way.

I even identify with the lack of care Bakugou shows by not remembering what his classmates quirks were (his whole body shakes when he’s brushing them off). To this day I cannot remember anyone I wasn’t on friendly term with in school (gets awkward when they know me). Of course its not really about being isolated as much as it is about knowing you don’t have to play a certain role to have be acceptable to others, Bakugou hits hard with who he is, letting you know what you’re in for, and you decide if its something your fine with or can match. UA is a good environment for individuals with their own ambitions instead of the usual mob gang he used to run with for most of his life.

Now though, Bakugou has gained a bit of perspective on his friends and classmates; he’s no longer willing to look down on his peers but recognize them for the reason they are in the same school. For the Baku-squad, its all a matter of process and learning as time goes on and I don’t think that is unreasonable for this little group. It’s just unfortunate that timing is not on Katsuki’s side after what had happened at Kamino. No one could have guessed just how this whole event ran deep for him.

 Ironically the only one who might even come close to catching onto to these more human attributes is the very person he’s pushed away from and who will keep from his crossfires in turn:

Izuku is always the one to point out the real intent of Katsuki’s actions, letting in on the kind of state Bakugou is in. Most prominently exhibited during the sports festival: when Bakugou declared his own victory, several students and audience member peg him as being arrogant when in truth Bakugou was demonstrating how serious he was taking the event. Bakugou needed to prove to himself he was worth his merit and Izuku was able to know what that meant when he made this declaration. If someone suggests a misjudgment in his character, Izuku will say it how it is; he has absolute confidence he understands what Bakugou is like more than anyone because he’s had all the time in the world to watch and experience both his best and worst side.

But truth be told, Izuku only understands Bakugou’s physical ticks or when he catches his brief moments vulnerability (i.e. sludge incident). He can’t fathom what Bakugou feels deep down because, while he may recognize those weaknesses he does posses, Izuku can only assume Bakugou is everything he projects: that he wouldn’t hold back from what he feels (anger, pride, confidence, etc.). That notion itself is a far cry from what Izuku truly recognizes about his childhood friend.

You can see Izuku has no doubts in his mind when Bakugou declares he’ll be number 1 back during the first battle training, Bakugou will still shines through even when he experiences a setback; nothing in Izuku’s mind can shake this belief about him. Then he sees for himself that Bakugou can actually break from pressure, he is not an unshakable force of will. The breaks in his thoughts are indication enough to know this is a slow and near unthinkable realization of one of the most steadfast figures in Izuku’s life.

It never crossed his mind just how shaken Bakugou was that first battle, Bakugou is doing all he can to keep himself together before Izuku came around to explain things (keeping in mind Izuku shouldn’t be tasked with detonating a bomb when it comes to Bakugou, even if he’s willing to be that outlet).

 The only other party I can think of that might understand Bakugou in the same level as Izuku almost does would be Ochako. Ochako has shown an incredible level of insight and intuition in how she views and understands her classmates, she’s usually the one to bring new understanding to a situation that may have been overlooked or provide input that is strikingly close to the heart of the matter: click here and you can see her calling out Bakugou on his main issue with Izuku. You can before with Tsuyu she caught on much quicker than anyone else, doing what needed to be done and saying what Tsuyu needed to hear when the time came.

But as it stands, she can only provide input, Bakugou is in no way a friend or someone in a position for her to feel concerned for in the same level she shows toward those she has built relations with. 

shame there aren’t many times where she shines in these skills, the scenes are sparse and far between. Ochako has sharp insight she rarely gets to show off.

For final emphasis: Ochako has no feelings of obligation or responsibility for Bakugou whatsoever, social or personal. She can only put her own goals and the people she does care about in the forefront. Bakugou, as of now, has no place for her to butt into his personal issues. Particularly since she doesn’t seem the type to over step her bounds, she’ll have feedback but that’s the extent she’ll impose herself in those regards. (I like to think they can build a foreseeable friendship in the future when Bakugou is ready to genuinely accept Izuku in his life)

 Once again we circle back to Izuku (like kacchan does :P), who will meddle if that means helping someone. The thing to keep in mind is Izuku does actually feel a sense of loyalty, an over-responsibility, toward Bakugou. Whether this is due to their time old friendship or because Izuku has a strange sense of duty to others, I’m not entirely certain of myself.

And this is proven time and again that if Bakugou believes Izuku has tricked him, he’ll be upfront about how it really is.

 If Bakugou finds himself caught in a fix even he can’t manage to get out of, Izuku will push himself further than anyone else to try and help him out of it, even at his own risk.

Izuku just can’t abandon him, it’s just not in his nature to.

As a sidenote during the sludge incident, Izuku actually managed to step up and outdo both of his inspirations in a single leap, doing what both parties had discouraged him from doing earlier that same day.

Look at him here during the heroes vs villains battle training test:

The thought of Bakugou misunderstanding him to that level just makes him feel like he is guilty of something. Perhaps for Izuku, its not the thought of him being put into doubt but the thought that, in a weird way, he feels as if he’s abandoning Bakugou. If he knows someone is distressed in any way Izuku has to alleviate it because thats his belief, he wants to help others, never wanting to leave them to feel helpless. Deception, even misunderstood deception, that causes more pain than help is something he can’t stand by and let continue. For Izuku, deceiving has no merit unless its for someone else’s sake, that’s why he’ll try to get across the real intent; if it bothers someone, he’ll want to pacify that feeling, a different risk he puts himself through.

 Oddly enough, Bakugou does let himself go in front of Izuku, including All Might who is always present to oversee the pair. Whether its due to a lack of control with his emotions during those instances or because, from his stand point, Izuku will figure it out anyway so he has to affirm himself in those cases when he does find himself feeling more wretched than he wants to be.

The best turn for them now is vocalizing what their central issue is and not holding back about it; they shouldn’t dance around the other anymore, its pointless to keep thinking they need to keep the other at a distance. They continue coming back to the same point every time, repeating the same thing over and over again (rescue, challenge, co-operate then back to rescue) until something has to give. It could only be Bakugou who could make this cycle end since he keeps perpetuating the same mistakes, denying or choosing to shut out Izuku. He can’t keep restricting himself because he’s afraid and in denial, it keeps him standing still unable to make progress, feeding his own fear of being left behind.

 And Izuku affirming that he will no longer back down and can take what Bakugou dishes out is great in knowing that he no longer feels it’s beyond him. Izuku can assert himself fully to be the kind of person who won’t withdraw into himself any longer when there’s adversity. And what better person to exhibit this growth than the one he holds in such high regard and once thought he wouldn’t be able face off in earnest back when he felt he had nothing to stand on, when he felt like he was a spectator only.

Its a slow build from his first time, when he’d still be shaking despite his bravado, to when he almost tries to escape him only to look back to stand up for his friend, let him know Ochako has that determination to do crazy plans like that. Now there’s no quivering or hesitance, he’ll say what he wants and try his damnedest to back it.

He knows Bakugou is great and he wants to stand on that same field as him because, to Izuku most of all, it’s something worth matching, even going so far as surpassing. No one can bring down Bakugou and Izuku knows it’s the place he wants to go all out for, a place where he won’t falter no matter the challenge; a place you can stand your ground and do what needs to be done no matter the difficulty. For Izuku, it means standing firmer than anyone and never backing down or lose confidance in themselves when no one else believe he can do anything; ideals that can’t be shaken, knowing nothing or no one can make him lose his ground. Katsuki isn’t being viewed as only another bully or shitty person in Deku’s life, he’s an aspiration he wants to be himself. Izuku might just be as enamored with Katsuki’s talent as he himself is.

 Bakugou’s own Achilles heel was his belief that there was only single individual who can stand as the best. He’d built himself up only to see it crumble time and again when there was no top but a field with a group of many who can do just as well as him, and if he wants admit it to himself, might be even more impressive. 

Of course this newfound knowledge is a complete whiplash for him at first, he doesn’t know how to adjust to the thought or the change but does what he knows best; he’ll take on this challenge headstrong first, struggling to prove without a doubt where his worth is: being exceptional.These are all individuals taking on their own challenges and, for the most part, they have what he has, they all are going through what he’s going through and he knows he can’t let up. That is way too much pressure for a kid his age to put on himself.

Every time he’s faced with his own weakness, he crumbles bit-by-bit inside. His old amour won’t hold up in this new environment and the adversities he faces. Everything so far he’s tried has been unsatisfying and puts a bad taste in his mouth, he doesn’t know how to meet his goals.

Now he’s stuck in his own head trying to come to terms with his expectations and beliefs no longer being guaranteed. All Might was one of the surest and truest forces in Bakugou’s life and now there’s the knowledge that nothing truly is guaranteed. The kid who couldn’t do anything great is learning and growing to be great, be someone who could overtake him. Your indestructible hero can fall and is human. And his own flaws made All Might human, nothing can change this for him. 

Except Katsuki can change because he can see now there’s no longer a clear cut straight line, its all a matter of how to go forward past the one path he chose. Katsuki can move forward, along with Izuku and All Might now as they truly are, two kids who want to be top heroes and are still learning what that means, along with the one who wants to raise them to be their very best. Bakugou still needs time to be someone who can accept those flaws and shortcomings but I hope he can finally learn to lean on others more and not take it all on himself.(work with your classmates more, kacchan; your gonna be stuck with Todoroki eventually so start there)

By the end of this whole Bakugou redemption journey (whenever that will be), I really hope it will come full circle with that sludge man incident when Katsuki is ready to start the real mend, when he knows and feels that regret for those times he mistreated Izuku; when both are ready to take a step forward together with the other. After all, they are still kids on the road to self-actualization. Katsuki isn’t a bad kid but he still needs time and growth.

I mean they still bring up that event, it still bothers Katsuki, so it is a pretty pivotal subject waiting to be properly addressed between the two in the future:

For now, I don’t think we are quite there but every little step is progress and high school won’t be over for quite some time, they’ve got a fair share of time to grow (thought even that could be tossed out the window sooner rather than later).

That blood there is pretty ominous now that I think about it and was probably foreshadowing All Might’s draining power being the a catalyst for this recent development between the two.

Added Bonus for those who got through this schlep:

Yup, there’s a kid out there who can stretch his own body parts（゜◇゜）