Ch. 57: Gear Up for Final Exams
A few days after the Peace Conference, on Saturday after school, July 4th…
"Thanks to the joint project between our schools, for the foreseeable future, I'll be the advisor of the Occult Research Club. You can call me Azazel-sensei or Governor. Looking forward to working with you from now on, kids!" Azazel, wearing a worn-out suit, said with a grin as he leaned back on Rias' chair.
"You cannot be serious," Rias grumbled while rubbing her temples, looking like she was on the verge of a migraine. The rest of the Gremory Peerage, along with Ravel, Fuyuko, Hyde, and Ingvild, all gawked at seeing the Governor General sitting at Rias' desk. Itsuka, who was also present, sat at the back, her head down, her bangs concealing her eyes.
"Oh, but I am, I got permission from your big bro and Nezu," Azazel retorted with a smirk. "If you got a problem, take it up with Serafall's little sister."
"Kaichou?" Izuku looked towards Sona, who was also present.
Sona closed her eyes and looked away with a light blush. "Look, I didn't have much of a choice; if I didn't agree with it, my sister threatened the worst."
"Like what?"
Sona smiled nervously. "She…uh said she'd come instead."
"…I see."
Rias glared at her friend. "So basically, what you mean is you sold us out."
"Would you want your brother to be here instead, Rias?" Kudelia asked.
"No, of course not!"
"Then there you go," Kudelia winked.
"Besides, Azazel is quite knowledgeable about Sacred Gears. He will be a tremendous asset," Sona adjusted her glasses. "Anyway, we'll leave you to it," she said in a hurry and left the room with Tsubaki. Kudelia and Tye soon followed.
"Hey!" Rias cried out in vain.
"Now, understand that Nezu and Sirzechs had one condition for me," Azazel said, standing up. "The reason they asked for my help was to assist the immature Sacred Gear possessors at this school with their growth. I'm an expert in this department after all. I'll help train you to go up against the Khaos Brigade."
"Are you saying that we'll have to fight the Khaos Brigade again in the future?" Izuku asked.
"With any luck, no," Azazel responded. "All of you are talented young people, so we'll be counting on you as a future deterrent against the terrorists. But if you're asking me whether you'll be sent out in the immediate future, then the answer is no. Nezu was very adamant that you only get involved with his permission. Besides, both sides are in their preparatory period, so it's unlikely there'll be anything more than minor skirmishes for now."
"That's a dangerous assumption to make," Xenovia said. "The enemy doesn't always move the way you expect them to. I mean, you didn't foresee Vali Lucifer's betrayal, did you, Governor?"
"Wow, way to hit where it hurts, girl." Azazel made an exaggerated gesture. "You have a point, and we'll do our best to be ready if they make their move early. Either way, we'll refrain from sending you young people out if we can avoid it."
"Did you learn anything about those guys?" Hyde asked.
"Apparently, aside from Vali's team, the rogue magicians of Nilrem, and the Old Satan Faction, there are a number of groups and teams. We're still determining who they are," Azazel answered.
"…Is one of them the League of Villains?" Ravel asked with venom in her voice.
"As far as we know, no," Azazel shook his head. "Though that doesn't mean they're not a threat. They did turn at least two supernatural creatures into Nomu, a process that both disturbs and intrigues me."
Ravel gave a soft growl, more than willing to burn the League for what they did to her brother. Izuku, having taken notice, gently placed his hand on her shoulder. The Phenex girl gently grasped it with her own in response.
"So, until such a time comes, you should enjoy your school life as best you can," Azazel added. "It's no use worrying when there's nothing you can do about it.
Everyone but Itsuka slowly nodded their head in acceptance of Azazel's words, which the Governor noticed. "Hey, Kendo Itsuka? How long are you gonna sit there?" Azazel asked and waited for a response. But none came. "Hey, are you listening?"
"Kendo?" Izuku and the others looked towards the redhead.
"What?" Itsuka looked up, revealing dark circles beginning to form under her eyes. "Sorry, I spaced out for a second."
"Kendo, are you okay?" Momo asked.
"I'm fine, really," Itsuka waved off.
"You don't look fine. You've been like this all day," Ibara pointed out.
"This about your mother, kid?" Azazel asked.
"…Yeah," Itsuka admitted with some hesitation. "I just got word from the hospital they sent her to. Her life's no longer in any immediate jeopardy, but they're not sure when she'll recover. If at all…"
The clubroom grew silent at that, most of those present unsure of what to say. Azazel, though, sighed. "I'm probably the last guy who should say something like this, but don't get too hung up about this. Life's full of problems, and sometimes the best way to handle them is to let them sort themselves out. I don't find any point in worrying about every little thing that lies ahead."
"But-"
"I get you're worried about your mom, but I don't think she would be happy seeing you in this state," Azazel quickly shut down whatever argument Itsuka was going to make. "But hey, I got some news from Sirzechs that should make you feel better. In fact, it's for all the young ladies here," Azazel gave a mischievous smile.
"What news?" Rias asked worryingly.
"After careful consideration and discussion with Principal Nezu, all current female members of the Occult Research Club and the first-year heroics classes will be given the option to move into Midoriya Izuku's residence. There you go," Azazel said.
"Move in?!" Izuku and Rias repeated.
"Yep," Azazel nodded. "Apparently, Nezu has been planning to implement a dorm system for U.A. for a while and said that this would be the perfect time to test it, especially since the Midoriya residence is near U.A."
"But we're so close to the final exams!" Momo pointed out.
"Which is why it's optional," Azazel repeated. "Though I think some of them have already taken up the offer."
"…Who?" Izuku couldn't help but ask, though he already had some idea.
Izuku got his answer not long after.
"Izuku, I decided to m-m-move in with you," Milia blushed, several bags behind her as she stood in front of the Midoriya residence. And she wasn't alone. Tsubasa, Mina, Toru, Setsuna, and Yui were also present.
"You all accepted the offer?" Rias asked.
"Yep!" Mina cheered. "It sounded like fun!"
"Besides, we get to spend more time with Green, so we couldn't resist," Tsubasa added.
"It would be nice to have some extra company here," Fuyuko smiled.
"Yeah," Ochako nodded. "You guys need any help picking a room and unpacking?"
"Wait for us!" Xenovia called out, dragging along a couple of bags with Koneko, Ravel, and Itsuka.
"You guys, too?" Rias asked.
"Nezu 'persuaded' me to accept," Itsuka revealed. "He said it would be good for my mental health."
Izuku sighed. 'I don't know why I'm surprised at this point. I'm half expecting a pro heroine to move in sometime soon.'Izuku made sure those were his inner thoughts.
[Careful, partner. That may just come true soon enough, given Ryukyu.]
Izuku blushed at being reminded of Tiamat's daughter and how much he liked spending time with her. "Let's help them get settled in…"
"It seems Izuku's home life will be even more exciting now," Momo giggled as she and Kyoka returned home. "I wonder if we should move in."
"Might be hard to convince my dad, though," Kyoka joked.
"True. Though your mother might approve," Momo added.
"She probably would," Kyoka laughed as the two entered the Jiro home. Once Kyoka opened the door, she noticed something odd. "Huh?"
"Is something wrong?" Momo asked.
"I think we have some guests," Kyoka pointed downward. Right there, near the entrance, were four pairs of shoes. They recognized two of the pairs as belonging to Kyoka's parents, but not the other two. "Mom, Dad, we're back!" Kyoka called out.
"We're here, Kyoka!" Mika, Kyoka's mother, called out from the living room. "We have some guests who want to talk with Momo!"
"With me?" Momo questioned. When they entered the living room, they saw Mika and Kyotoku sitting on one couch, and across from them were three people.
One was a young man with short black hair and pale grey eyes who looked a few years older than they were. He was dressed in a black combat uniform and wore a black coat on top of it. A large black dog sat down in front of him. Next to him was a young woman with a slim and voluptuous figure; she had long, flowing black hair and red eyes, and wore formal attire.
"Uh, hi?" Kyoka greeted, unsure of what to make of all this.
The young man was the first to return a greeting. "Hello. I'm Ikuse Tobio," he said, his gaze lingering on Momo for a while before turning to his dog. "This fellow is Jin. Say hello, Jin."
The dog barked once before falling silent.
"And I think one of you already knows her," Tobio pointed at the black-haired woman.
Momo narrowed her eyes. Something about this woman was familiar, but she couldn't quite place it.
"Hello, Momo," she greeted.
"Wait…" Momo's eyes widened in surprise, finally realizing who this was. "Akane-san?"
The woman nodded. "These days, I go by Suzaku, but yes. It's me."
"I didn't even recognize you."
"It has been seven years since we last saw each other," Suzaku admitted.
Kyoka glanced over to Momo. "Uh, Momo, who is she?"
"She… she's my cousin," Momo answered.
"Ah, I see- HUH?!"
"Yes, I was shocked too," Mika said. "I wasn't expecting anyone from Momo's family to come visit us, given… certain circumstances."
"We can't stay for too long, I'm afraid," Suzaku said. "This is merely a quick visit."
"That's fine," Mika waved off. "We can't stay either."
"You guys got a gig tonight?" Kyoka asked.
"Hmhm, what tipped it off?" Mika chuckled. "But yes, we'll be out until midnight tonight, so you and Momo will be alone for a while."
"Just try not to get into anything unsavory!" Kyotoku half-threatened.
"We'll be fine! Geez, old man," Kyoka muttered, causing the two guests to laugh a little.
"Dear, we'd better get going," Mika said.
"Right. Catch you girls later!" Kyotoku waved as the two left.
"…So, what brings you here?" Momo asked, glaring at Suzaku slightly.
Suzaku flinched a little at Momo's glare.
"Hey, there's no need for that," Tobio quickly got between the two. "I know you probably have a low opinion of our family, even hatred, but Suzaku here has been doing her best to change the rigid traditions of the Himejima family regardless of the personal cost."
"Hold on…our family?" Momo narrowed her eyes. "Then, Tobio-san, you're…"
"Yes, I'm a member of the Himejima family as well," Tobio said. "My grandmother, Ageha, used to be a member before she was exiled for practicing Buddhist Magic, an act which went against the teachings of our family. Since our grandmothers were sisters, I guess that makes us second cousins."
Both Kyoka and Momo were shocked by this unexpected connection.
"It's as Tobio said," Suzaku spoke up. "I'm doing what I can to change the rigid traditions of our clan, bringing every exiled or shunned member of the Himejima family back into the fold. Momo, I've always regretted not being there for you or your mother. At the very least, I want the two of us to talk to each other again."
"I…will think about it," Momo said after being silent for a few seconds. "That's all I can say for now. Sorry, but all this is too overwhelming at the moment…"
"Thank you," Suzaku sounded relieved.
"Suzaku, I think we'd better get going," Toby said. "Lavinia and the others are probably wilting for us."
"Right," Suzaku nodded. "Take care, Momo. And don't worry. We'll see each other again real soon!" Suzaku waved as she and Tobio left.
"…What did she mean by that?" Kyouka asked.
"I'm… not sure," Momo shrugged.
Elsewhere, at Ryukyu's agency, the Dragoon Hero sat in a chair, looking over her schedule to see if she could appear in an upcoming talk show tomorrow night. It wasn't her favorite part of the job, not by a long shot. But she knew that since she was so high on the rankings, appearances like these were necessary.
Talk shows these days always fight tooth and nail to try and get the biggest guests they can onto their segments for ratings. The higher the hero on the board, the more people tuned in. It was just a fact of life now.
"You're seriously gonna do that show?" Mirko, sitting lazily on a couch, wearing a gray hoodie and black sweatpants, asked.
"The segment will be about hero branding, so maybe," Ryukyu replied.
"They couldn't get Best Jeanist?"
"He's unavailable, due to a team-up request in Hokkaido."
"Tch, of course," Mirko muttered. "That talk show is just a waste of time, Ryuko."
Ryukyu actually nodded a little. Though it wasn't an aspect of the job she enjoyed as much as some other celebrity-posed heroes, Ryukyu rolled with the punches whenever she was asked to come onto segments like these. "You're not wrong, Rumi. But it'll be a nice distraction, and at the very least, it'll be informative. Though it's probably gonna be a big advertisement for my brand."
"Wait, distract? Distract you from what?" Mirko asked, her ears twitching upward. "Don't tell me it's that Midoriya kid again."
The faint blush on Ryukyu's face at the mention of Izuku's name was all the answer Mirko needed.
"Oh my god, it is!" Mirko got up with a smirk. "That's so cute! The big, bad dragon girl has a crush on a student!"
A still blushing Ryukyu got up and glared at the Rabbit Hero. "You're one to talk, Rumi. I swear, you've been fixated on him ever since the Sports Festival. I recall you saying you were even planning to send him an offer."
Mirko got up and matched Ryukyu's glare with her own. "So what if I was? The kid looks fun to fight, and I would have had your mom hadn't been there. It's not like I have a crush on him like you do."
Eyes narrowing, Ryukyu spotted something sticking out of Mirko's bag. Swiftly, she grabbed it before Mirko could react. It was a picture of Izuku from the Sports Festival, specifically of when he was fighting Todoroki.
"I assume that's why you have a picture of him in your bag?"
"Give me that!" Mirko grabbed the picture, her face having a light blush. "Okay, I admit that he's cute, but I'm not sure yet."
"No, I think your crush is very real, Rumi," Ryukyu smirked. "You don't keep it under control as well as you think."
"Oh really?" Mirko smirked. "When I stayed the night the other day, I heard you 'relieving stress', and Midoriya's name came up more than once."
Ryukyu blushed, but she maintained her glare. "Oh, like you have room to talk. You're not subtle in your stress relief, either. And no, I'm not talking about when you destroy my gym equipment. How often did you yell out Midoriya's name last night alone?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Mirko quickly denied before pressing her forehead onto her best friend, who pressed right back, the two sending glares, yet grinning viciously at each other. "But it's funny, given your animal instincts, I'm surprised you didn't take Midoriya the first chance you got while he was here."
"It wasn't until near the end of internships that they started acting up," Ryukyu countered with equal challenge in her eyes and tone.
"Oh really? Then why didn't you do anything, Scaley!?" Mirko mockingly asked.
"Because it wasn't appropriate to act on them, Chocolate Bunny!" Ryukyu fired back.
"Dragon Whore!"
"Thunder Thighs!"
"Scale Tits!"
"Pervy Rabbit!"
"Horny Dragon!"
Nearby, Ryukyu's sidekicks either continued their work or just shook their heads, wondering how long this name-calling spree of theirs would last until they kiss and make up, some hoping they would literally kiss. "And they wonder why there are fanfics of them doing all kinds of kinky shit," one of them muttered.
"Yeah," another nodded.
One of the office phones began ringing, which a sidekick answered. "Ryukyu Hero Agency, how may we assist?" She said naturally. "Yes, she's here. … Yes, Mirko is here as well. … Okay, I'll tell them right away. Ryukyu!" She called out, getting the attention of two Pro Heroes. "Principal Nezu of U.A. High wishes to speak with you and Mirko!"
Mirko and Ryukyu blinked. "He's asking for us?"
Mittelt suppressed a groan, helping organize some paperwork in Principal Nezu's office. The official story was that Mittelt was a second-year college student taking a break from her studies and, under a recommendation from Azazel, would work as an assistant to Nezu for however long the rodent principal saw fit.
"Mittelt, please deliver these files to the staff room," Nezu gestured to a small box full of files.
"Yeah, got it," Mittelt grabbed hold of the box. Taking the files out, Mittelt was about to head to the staff room when she bumped into someone. "Hey!" The bump caused her to spill the files on the floor. "Watch where you're going, you- Oh, it's you." Mittelt groaned.
"You gotta be shitting me. You're here?" Bakugo groaned.
"You know her, Bakugo?" Kirishima asked, the two being on their way to study for final exams.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Bakugo asked Mittelt, ignoring Kirishima.
"If you must know, I'm working as Principal Nezu's assistant now," Mittelt answered as she began picking up the dropped files. "How the hell I got reduced to this is beyond me…" she grumbled.
"Stop complaining, Midget," Bakugo said.
"How many times have I told you? DON'T call me Midget!" Mittelt growled. "And since you're the reason I dropped these, you're going to help pick them up!"
"Huh? Why the hell should I?" Bakugo asked.
"Because you're the reason I dropped them! Remember!?" Mittelt yelled in annoyance.
"How the hell is that my fault? You're the one who didn't see where they were going!" Bakugo countered.
"Don't try to pin this on me!" Mittelt growled.
"Hey, Bakugo! Calm down," Kirishima tried to plead. "Let's just help her with these and be on our way, okay? It won't take that long, a minute tops."
"Tch. Whatever," Bakugo grumbled as he began picking up the files.
Mittelt gawked at the sight. "How the hell did you get him to listen to you?"
"Don't know," Kirishima shrugged. "Just that it sometimes works. Sometimes it doesn't work."
"Of course…" Mittelt sighed as she picked up the remaining files.
"So, how do you two know each other, anyway?" Kirishima asked. "You a couple or something?"
A record scratch could be heard in Bakugo and Mittelt's heads at that moment. "WHAT!? HELL NO! WE'RE NOT A COUPLE, DAMNIT!" Bakugo and Mittelt yelled.
"You're not helping your case," Kirishima snickered.
"Shut it, Weird Hair! Or I'll kill you!"
"Must you always say things like 'die' or 'I'll kill you'?" Mittelt grumbled. "Don't you have any other threats or insults?"
"Shut up, Midget!"
"Stop calling me that, Kacchan!"
'Bakugo has a girlfriend, huh?' Kirishima thought to himself as the two blonds kept arguing. 'I gotta tell the others.'
"Bakugo! Why didn't you tell us you had a girlfriend?!" Mina asked the explosive blond.
"For the last time, SHE'S NOT MY FREAKING GIRLFRIEND!" Bakugo very much wanted to explode at the pink-skinned girl, but had to restrain himself due to being in class.
"There's no need to be shy, Bakugo," Kaminari grinned. "Is she hot, though?"
"What are her sizes?" Mineta demanded.
"WILL YOU ALL SHUT UP ALREADY!?" Bakugo demanded.
Nearby, Izuku watched with a smile. 'I probably shouldn't be enjoying this, but seeing Bakugo get teased like this is oddly therapeutic.'
"Midoriya, are we still doing a study hall at your home later?" Hyde asked.
"My parents will be out for a 'date night' before my dad has to go back to work, so we'll be free for a few hours," Izuku replied.
"Damn, man! Your place is rocking!" Kaminari exclaimed. He, Sero, Liana, Pony, Reiko, Tsuyu, Todoroki, Celica, and Iida were invited to a group study at Izuku's home, with Hyde and the other residents of the home already present.
"Yeah, it's a little big," Izuku said sheepishly.
Everyone quickly settled in, most of them occupying the dining table, and began studying. "Now, how many forces are required for an interaction?" Momo asked Kaminari.
Kaminari knocked on his head, trying to recall details. "Uh…forces, an action, and a reaction?"
Momo nodded. "You're doing better! You've almost mastered Chapter 5!"
"Yeah, of 15…" Kaminari looked away.
"Doing better than me, at least. Why can't I just remember any of this?" Mina asked, mentally panicking.
"Memory lapses are a totally natural aspect of life for all of us," Tsu said, comforting her. "Don't feel too bad, Mina. I'm still struggling to remember some stuff."
"Yeah, but you're at least up to Chapter 10. Doing soooooo much better than me."
"…well, sometimes stuff also comes easier to some people," Tsu defended herself.
"Ugh, every time I hear the name Matthew Perry, I keep thinking of that guy from Friends," Toru groaned.
"Matthew C. Perry was an American naval officer who pushed Japan to engage in trade with the US and requested a treaty allowing trade and the opening of Japanese ports to US merchant ships," Rias said flawlessly.
"I'll try to remember that C. in his name," Toru muttered.
Xenovia groaned as she leaned back in her seat. "Ugh, even after all this time, kanji and katakana are still so confusing."
"Don't worry, Xenovia," Ibara comforted, patting Xenovia's shoulder.
"Yeah," Pony nodded. "You're doing a lot better than I did, so there's that."
"I suppose that is true," Xenovia admitted. "Still, I don't know which language is worse: Japanese or English."
"They're both real pains in the butt," Pony nodded.
"Just be glad you guys in Gen Ed don't have to do a practical like us," Yui said.
"Oh, right," Ochako groaned. "After everything that happened, I forgot about the practical exam."
"Yeah," Itsuka nodded.
"What do you think the practical will be like?" Milia asked.
"I have heard from our forebears that our evaluations will be determined through trial by combat with our institution's army of automatons," Reiko offered.
"Huh?" Mina tilted her head.
"She said that an upperclassman told her that we may have to fight robots," Setsuna translated.
"Like the entrance exam?" Kaminari asked hopefully.
"I'm not sure it will be like that," Todoroki spoke up. "I overheard my father speaking with Nezu the other day. I'm not sure what it was about, but it might involve the final exam."
"I heard my parents speaking with Nezu, also," Liana added.
"…We're not gonna fight pros, are we?" Sero asked in fear.
"Is that even allowed?" Ravel asked.
"The rat is friends with Azazel, now," Koneko whispered to her.
"…I worry for Izuku and the others now," Ravel muttered.
"I guess we'll find out Friday," Celica said. "Who knows, it might not be so bad."
'Damnit, why is she so innocent?' Kaminari asked himself.
Tuesday came, and it, along with the next few days, consisted of nothing but exams. There were struggles for all involved, some more than others, but they managed to persevere. Before long, it was Friday, the day the hero course students' Practical Exams would begin.
Classes 1-A and 1-B were dressed in their hero costumes, ready to take on the practical exam that would determine whether or not they passed this semester.
Aizawa and Vlad were waiting for them at the entrance. "Alright, let's go down to the test site," Vlad said, gesturing towards the bus that was parked nearby. The students got onto the bus, chatting excitedly about what the practical exam might entail. Some were nervous, while others were confident in their abilities.
Before long, they arrived at the test site. Before both classes stood the teachers who had taught them throughout the year. Aizawa and Vlad walked over to join the row of Snipe, Cementoss, Midnight, Thirteen, Ectoplasm, Mizu, Power Loader, and Present Mic. Above them was a giant electronic billboard of sorts as well, with U.A.'s logo on it.
"Why are all the teachers here?" Celica asked.
"I have a bad feeling about this," Ochako muttered.
"Welcome to Battle Center Beta, everyone," Mizu called out. "I bet everyone's eager to finish the Practical Exam as soon as possible, right? I'm sure some of you asked around to get an idea of what the exam will be, right?"
"It's gonna be a Robot Rumble! Like facing an army of Zero Pointers!" Kaminari declared confidently.
"Fireworks! Curry! Test of Courage!" Mina cheered, getting ahead of herself.
"YEA!" Manga agreed, using his Quirk to create happy sound effect words.
"Don't forget bonfires!" Setsuna added.
"A free-for-all fight to the finish?" Tokoyami inquired.
"Not quite, my dear students!" Principal Nezu suddenly popped out of Aizawa's scarf. "You see, a new colleague of mine has expressed his opinion on how the Exam is carried out, stating it is not currently applicable to the real world, which I agree with! In other words, something completely different!"
Kaminari and Mina froze while Manga had the words pop up above him that said 'Wa Waa Wa Waaaaa.', similar to the trumpet fail sound effect.
The hero course students who had some connection to the supernatural all quickly realized who Nezu's new colleague was. 'Azazel…'
"So, how will the exams be different?" Liana asked.
"Normally, what we would've done is put you up against the combat robots from the entrance exams, along with maybe one of the teachers, but as Nezu said, that's not gonna cut it anymore," Aizawa said. "Due to the growth you all have had here in U.A. and at your internships, combined with external factors, we felt it appropriate to change the exam's formatting completely." He tapped his watch, and the billboard flashed, displaying eight lines with text in them.
Villain Capture
Hostage Situation
Natural Disaster
Crime Scene Investigation
Infiltration of a Villain Lair
Bomb Retrieval and Disarming
Cargo Protection
Armed Robbery
"As you can see, the Practical today will be eight separate simulations, all of which will be emulating events you all will encounter in your careers as Pros," Vlad stated as the classes buzzed with questions.
"Hostages? Disaster?" Tsubasa said aloud.
"Bring on the villains! I can take 'em!" Kirishima declared.
"Protecting cargo?" Ibara questioned.
"B-bombs?" Pony muttered nervously.
"Of course, some of the teachers you see before you will be taking part in these simulations," Mizu added. "Some of us will be playing certain roles. They may aid you, or may fight against you, or something else entirely different. Of course, they won't be the only ones taking part in this, and they won't be students either," she smirked.
"Hang on," Izuku spoke aloud. "People taking part in this that are not the teachers or students? Not robots?"
"Who will they be?" Ochako asked.
Aizawa let off a soft, almost sadistic chuckle. "That's for us to know and you to find out. Vlad, Ryūtō, and I won't be taking part in these exams, as we will be acting as your Proctors. How you pass will be up to us. I trust I don't need to elaborate further?" No questions were asked. "Good."
"Now then, here are your groups!" Nezu declared as the names were now on display beside the exam criteria.
Villain Capture: Yura Tsubasa, Shoji Mezo, Kirishima Eijiro, Monoma Neito, and Rin Hiryu.
Hostage Situation: Midoriya Izuku, Hagakure Toru, Kendo Itsuka, Jiro Kyoka, and Kodai Yui.
Natural Disaster: Mineta Minoru, Liana Kozuki, Tokage Setsuna, Jurota Shishida, and Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu.
Crime Scene Investigation: Kaminari Denki, Ashido Mina, Kuroiro Shihai, Kido Hyde, and Pony Tsunotori.
Infiltration of a Villain Lair: Bakugo Katsuki, Honenuki Juzo, Sero Hanta, Kamakiri Togaru, and Iida Tenya.
Bomb Retrieval and Disarming: Milia Takamaki, Tsuburaba Kosei, Awase Yosetsu, Uraraka Ochako, and Aoyama Yuga.
Cargo Protection: Yaoyorozu Momo, Celica A. Mercury, Shiozaki Ibara, Yanagi Reiko, and Asui Tsuyu.
Armed Robbery: Fukidashi Manga, Kaibara Sen, Todoroki Shoko, Tokoyami Fumikage, and Komori Kinoko.
The students talked amongst themselves over the matchups before Aizawa continued. "Now, 8 stages have been prepared. All teams will begin simultaneously. The test guidelines will be explained once you reach the staging area." Aizawa said. "All the stages are on school grounds, please report to your respective vans."
Aizawa motioned over to some vans that had the digits 1-8 on their backs. Izuku took a deep breath as he and the others walked towards their buses. The students shouted words of encouragement to one another, but all of their stress levels had honestly skyrocketed.
Izuku, followed by Toru, Itsuka, Kyoka, and Yui, boarded their van, with Mizu taking the driver's seat. The ride was quiet as they made their way to their assigned stage.
"So…any plans for the summer?" Mizu asked, attempting to keep some camaraderie up by making odd bits of conversation.
"I don't know," Itsuka muttered. "Haven't really thought of it."
"Uh…I guess training?" Izuku shrugged.
"Dude, is there anything you do that doesn't involve training?" Kyoka asked.
"Uh… study heroes?" Izuku weakly offered.
"Dork," Yui smirked.
Toru giggled. "I mean, the summer training isn't until August, so we have a few weeks to do whatever."
"Ah, yes. I remember my first time at the summer training regimen," Mizu sighed, thinking back to her school days.
"What was it like?" Yui asked, invested.
"The camps usually emphasize honing your Quirks, so I had to generate and control my plasma nearly constantly!" Mizu groaned at the memory. "Ugh, I honestly thought I was gonna die the first couple of days."
Izuku and the girls all shared a look.
"Believe it or not, I actually got lucky," Mizu continued. "One of my classmates had to- Oh, we're here." Mizu drove up to the testing ground.
Once Mizu parked the van, the six of them left it and stood before the gates of the testing ground. "Whoa, Cementoss went all out on this testing ground," Toru laughed. "Where's his Pritzker Prize?"
"It looks like downtown Tokyo," Izuku said.
"So, Mizu-sensei. How does this test work?" Itsuka asked
"The rules are simple," Mizu held up a couple of pairs of handcuffs. "The time limit for your exam is 30 minutes. Your objective is to either rescue the hostage from the villains, capture the villains with these handcuffs, or stall them while at least two of you escape the staging area to 'get help'. This is meant to emulate a real-world scenario as much as possible, so be careful." Mizu answered before she smirked. "As for who you will be fighting…"
The opponents landed before the students, before Mizu could finish, one of them sporting a wicked grin.
"Long time, no see, Midoriya!" Mirko grinned, she and Ryukyu in dragon form standing before them.
"…We're fighting pros?!" Toru and Kyoka exclaimed in shock while the others gawked.
"Yep," Mizu nodded.
"This doesn't seem very fair," Itsuka noted.
"As I'm sure you heard from Eraserhead, life's very rarely fair," Mizu countered. "But to make sure you kids stand a fighting chance, the support course created these," Mizu pulled out something that looked like an ankle weight of some sort. "Ultra Compressed Weights."
"They're designed to weigh us down by fifty percent of our own body weight, simulating slower movements and stamina drains," Ryukyu said as she shifted to human form.
"Not a big fan of these things, but the rat said to do it so…" Mirko put on some of the weights. "Crap, they're heavier than I thought. But…" she grinned at Izuku. "If it means fighting you, I'm not gonna complain. We got interrupted last time, so…"
"Odd. I seem to remember that you challenged my mother instead," Ryukyu pointed out.
"Shut up!"
Mizu laughed before turning to the students. "Now then, report to the center of the city. When everyone else is in place…the exam will begin."
It didn't take long for Izuku, Toru, Itsuka, Kyoka, and Yui to reach the center. It was eerily quiet as they waited for the exam to start. "Okay, this is kinda intense," Toru muttered.
"Yeah," Kyoka nodded before looking Toru over. "By the way, I see you finally got a proper costume, huh?"
"Yup!" Toru gave a thumbs up. Her new costume still had the original shoes and gloves, but now there was a two-piece suit made from a combination of special tech and her hair, being comprised of a sleeveless top and shorts. There was also a hooded cloak that split into ribbons.
"It looks nice," Izuku nodded.
"It sure does. And check this out!" Toru reached down to her pants and pressed a button, causing the suit, minus the gloves and shoes, to disappear from sight. "Cool, huh?"
"Mh!" Yui nodded. "So what's the plan?"
"Well, first we need to find the hostage before anything else," Izuku looked out across the faux city. "And that won't be very easy."
"I can use my Quirk to try and find them," Kyoka spoke up. "But how the hell are we gonna get past Ryukyu and Mirko?"
"I'm… still working on that part. It's about… Twelve percent of a plan," Izuku admitted. All the girls looked at him with odd looks.
"I sure hope your big, beautiful brain doesn't fail us today, Izi," Toru muttered. Yui nodded.
"Do you think you guys can use your Sacred Gears for this?" Kyoka asked. "I mean, Ryukyu already knows, so odds are Mirko might know too. And given Azazel is part of the staff now…"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Yui suddenly beamed, stars in her eyes as she got up into Izuku's face, to the green-haired boy's shock. "I wanna see you go Tokusatsu on them!"
Itsuka calmly pulled Yur back. "Yui, control your fangirl side, please."
Kyoka was about to say something when her Earphone Jacks twitched. "Incoming!"
Kyoka quickly pushed them all into a nearby alleyway before a shockwave hit where they stood, the force of which main road and a few nearby buildings to crumble under the pressure.
"Holy shit!" Itsuka muttered with wide eyes as Mirko landed in front of them.
"Just because this is a test, doesn't mean I'm gonna hold back on ya!" Mirko licked her lips.
Final Exam Team 1: Villain Capture
Ground Gamma
In one of U.A.'s many battle centers, a group of students consisting of Tsubasa, Shoji, Kirishima, Monoma, and Rin, were making their way to the start area after being briefed on the exam's rules.
The scenario was that a notorious villain had recently escaped custody and was on the run. The students will be acting as high-profile heroes (top ten or top twenty, whichever helps them visualize it) and have tracked the villain to a large factory area. Police have the area surrounded, making it almost impossible for the villain to escape. To pass, the students must capture the villain within the 30-minute timeframe, by which point the villain will have found a way to escape.
"Who do you think will be the villain here?" Tsubasa asked her teammates as they made their way through a set path in the forest of pipes and corridors.
"No clue. It could be anyone," Shoji replied.
"I know one thing. I can't wait to get started!" Kirishima smashed his fists together.
Monoma lightly grumbled something about 'being forced to work with the arrogant 1-A' before Rin tapped his shoulder. "Dude, drop it, at least until the exams are over, okay?"
"…Fine," Monoma grumbled. "But once this is over, it's back to proving 1-B is superior to 1-A!"
Rin facepalmed.
"…I'm starting to worry about him," Shoji muttered to his three classmates.
"Yeah, something's clearly wrong with him mentally," Tsubasa nodded.
"Come on guys, relax," Kirishima smiled. "Let's focus on the exam. Who cares if we don't know who we're facing? I say we give it our all!"
Rin nodded with a smile. "Yeah! We'll pass this exam no problem!"
"In that case, I welcome the challenge young heroes!" A boastful voice echoed.
The students froze before shakily looking up. Standing on top of a thin pipe, cape billowing in the wind as a faceless mask looked down at them.
"I'm looking forward to toying with you!" Zero declared before he leaped off somewhere.
"…We have to catch ZERO?!" Tsubasa exclaimed.
"I stand corrected. We're gonna fail." Rin muttered.
Final Exam Team 3: Natural Disaster
USJ
Mineta, Liana, Setsuna, Jurota, and Tetsutetsu walked into the USJ for their exam. The scenario was that a volcano had erupted, burying a nearby coastal town in ash. The students have to dig and rescue any survivors while also being on the lookout for any criminals or villains who will take advantage of the situation.
"Haven't been here for a while," Tetsutetsu muttered as his team walked down the steps from the USJ's entrance.
"Yeah," Setsuna nodded. "And they sure changed things since last time."
To help with the exam, most of the USJ was retrofitted to look like a coastal town that had been buried in volcanic ash. The ocean portion came from the Shipwreck Zone, and the former Conflagration and Downpour Zones had disappeared, their large lots replaced by buildings with collapsed roofs and covered in feet of gray dust. The shore had mock docks and half-sunken boats placed around.
"It's like a documentary I saw once," Setsuna said.
"I still don't get why we need to look out for villains in something like this," Tetsutetsu said. "I mean, what does a villain gain by digging through a buried town?"
"Plenty, since there will be plenty of valuables buried in the ash, easy to take with everyone either gone or buried in the ash," Liana said. "Villains are known to take advantage of such situations."
"Not just villains, unfortunately," Jurota said. "It's well documented that even civilians go to disaster sites and collect whatever they can to sell online to collectors."
"You're kidding!" Tetsutetsu exclaimed.
"He isn't," Setsuna shook her head. "I once went through an auction site to find any dinosaur bones and saw that, somehow, someone was selling things right from when villains invaded the USJ."
Mineta stared at the Lizard Tail Splitter in disbelief. "How the hell did they pull that off?"
"That is something my legal team has been investigating," Thirteen huffed, waiting for the students at the bottom of the stairway. "I take it you're ready for your exam?"
The students all nodded.
"Good. Oh, before you begin you'll need these," Thirteen presented a box to the students.
"Gas masks and ski goggles?" Tetsutetsu questioned.
"It's to protect you from the dust we used to simulate volcanic ash," Thirteen answered.
"Why? Isn't it just ash?" Mineta asked.
"Volcanic ash isn't like the ash from a campfire, Mineta," Thirteen lightly glared at the small student. "It's rock and volcanic glass and extremely hazardous! If you breathe it in it'll damage your respiratory system, and if you breathe in too much you'll drown because of the ash gunking up your lungs. Not to mention it can damage your eyes and even potentially blind you."
Mineta stared at Thirteen in horror.
"For safety reasons, we're not using actual volcanic ash, just a similar substitute. It won't cause any lasting harm, but it's still best for you to wear these. Once you're ready, we'll get started."
Final Exam Team 4: Crime Scene Investigation
Ground Beta, South Section
Snipe led Kaminari, Mina, Kuroiro, Hyde, and Pony to the site where their final exam will take place, a high-rise building near the entrance to the testing ground.
The scenario was that a member of the National Diet had fallen out of a building with the police suspecting foul play. The students were called in to help with the investigation. The crime scene itself looks very convincing, from the police barricade tapes cording off certain areas to the cars and even a body on the pavement. Only there were cardboard cutouts of the police officers and the body, while convincing, was obviously a fake.
"At least there isn't any blood," Kaminari said in relief.
"Ugh… The body sure looks real," Hyde muttered, queasy at seeing the 'corpse'.
"It's a SynDaver," Snipe answered. "It may look real, but it's 100% fake. Perfect for this type of test."
"And how, prey tell, are we supposed to do this test?" Kuroiro asked.
Snipe pulled out a folder. "Normally this kind of thing can take days or even weeks to solve, but ya'll only have 30 minutes. So for the sake of fairness, this crime is a rather simple one to solve. The police already did most of the legwork, you kids just have to put the pieces together." He handed the folder to Kuroiro. "Good luck," with a tip of his hat, Snipe walked away to properly gauge them for the exam.
"Oh boy…" Kaminari could already feel his head hurt as Kuroiro looked over the files Snipe gave him
Final Exam Team 5: Infiltration of a Villain Lair
Practical Exam Arena 1
"There's the lair," Iida whispered. He, Bakugo, Honenuki, Sero, and Kamakiri were observing a large home in the urban center as part of their exam. The scenario was that the hideout of a high-profile villain and his gang had been located. Problem was that it was in the middle of a residential area. As such, the students will have to enter the hideout and capture the villain without attracting attention or causing collateral damage to the surrounding area in 30 minutes, by which point the villain will become aware of their presence and escape.
"We can see that, Four Eyes!" Kamakiri said.
"Keep your voice down, dude!" Sero hissed.
"It is rather unfortunate that we were only given the location of the villain's lair," Iida muttered. Once they were inside they would be on their own.
"So how do we get in?" Honenuki asked.
"I just say we blast our way in!" Bakugo grinned.
"I'm in!" Kamakiri grinned.
"Are you two nuts?" Sero asked. "The rules said that we have to get into the lair without any of the villains noticing!"
"Not to mention that, since we're in an urban setting full of homes, we need to keep property damage to a minimum," Honenuki added. "We can't go in guns blazing."
Bakugo grumbled but conceded.
"I don't see you guys having any better ideas!" Kamakiri yelled.
"What if we sneak in through the vents?" Sero suggested. "Like in those spy movies?"
"Okay, One: This isn't a movie," Honenuki quickly said. "Two: We're all too big. And three: Even if we could fit, it would make too much noise."
"We only have 30 minutes to sneak in," Iida reminded them. "We must find a way in soon before time runs out," Iida looked over the hideout one more time. There weren't any guards as far as he could see, but that did not mean there wasn't someone watching the main entrance. Iida then noticed that a window adjacent to a thin alleyway was open. 'That might work!'
Final Exam Team 6: Bomb Retrieval and Disarming
Practical Exam Location 2
"Looking for a bomb in a big, ol' building. This is just like the battle trials at the beginning of the year," Ochako noted.
"Yeah, only instead of a five-story building," Milia looked toward the entrance of the large structure their exam was to take place in. "It's that."
The scenario for their final exam was that a group of terrorists had created a bomb capable of wiping out a city block and hidden it in a government building they'd taken over. The students' task was to locate the bomb and disarm it before it could detonate while dealing with any terrorists guarding it.
"Somehow I get the feeling it won't be as easy," Awase muttered, with Tsuburaba nodding in agreement.
Aoyama did a couple of flashy poses, admiring his own reflection in a small mirror he brought.
"Ochako, Ectoplasm-sensei gave you the map of this building, didn't he? Does it show where the bomb could be?" Milia asked.
Ochako looked over the map. "Too many to count. We don't even know how big the bomb is, either, so it could be anywhere."
"And that's not counting the terrorists we'll be dealing with," Tsuburaba added. "I guess our only real option is to split up."
"Oh, sure. Just let the terrorists pick us off one by one. We'll pass for sure like that," Awase deadpanned.
The buzzer rang, indicating the start of the test.
"We'll figure it out as we go, I guess," Ochako muttered as the five of them ran into the building.
Up above, Best Jeanist, the Number 7 Hero, and some of his sidekicks watched as the students ran into the building. "I know this is supposed to be a test, but let us clothe these students in darkness, shall we?"
Final Exam Team 7: Cargo Protection
Ground Omega
Momo, Celica, Ibara, Reiko, and Tsuyu all looked over several vehicles: a semi-trailer truck and a couple of jeeps.
The scenario they were given was that highly valuable cargo was being transported by truck through the countryside. Their task is the keep the cargo safe until it reaches its destination (the exam area's exit).
The inside of the trailer was filled with cardboard boxes with a cartoony Nezu saying 'precious cargo~ handle with care'.
"Kero? What do you suppose is in those boxes?" Tsuyu asked.
"I am unsure, though I highly doubt it is as valuable as they are making it to be," Reiko replied.
"Does anyone know how to drive?" Celica asked as she approached the driver's side of a jeep. She gasped as a small robot with Nezu's ears popped up and took the wheel.
"SORRY, FLESHLING. WE'LL-BE-THE-ONES-DOING-THE-DRIVING," the robot said as several more piped up at the driver seats of the vehicles.
"Oh, that's okay," Celica smiled as she made her way to the passenger seat.
The buzzer rang soon after, meaning that the test has officially begun.
The various vehicles, driven by the Nezu-approved robots, drove off. Momo and Reiko were in the trailer truck while Ibara, Celica, and Tsuyu were in one of the jeeps, Tsuyu's jeep taking the lead while Ibara and Celica's jeeps were right behind the truck.
As they grew comfortable, Reiko turned to Momo. "Yaoyorozu-san, I have a quandary."
"Quander away," Momo offered.
"Are you, perchance, a devil?"
Momo was slightly caught off guard by Reiko's question before recalling that she was Izuku's newest client. "I am. Izuku and I are in the same peerage."
"Then you know what Izuku's social status is, correct?"
Momo raised a brow at Reiko using Izuku's name before answering. "He's dating several of us."
"Izuku has a harem?" Reiko said in surprise.
"Are you interested in joining?" Momo teasingly asked.
"…I would be lying if I denied it. There is just… something about Izuku," Reiko hummed in thought. "But is maintaining such a relationship not difficult?"
"It can be," Momo nodded. "But honestly, it's worth the effort. Even if I wasn't also dating Kyoka, I…" Momo paused when she heard the distinct sound of chopper blades above them.
"That sound," Reiko moved to look into the nearest rearview mirror and saw a helicopter hovering right behind the convoy.
Momo quickly activated her earpiece. "Everyone, we have company!"
No sooner had she said that than a stream of fire shot out of the helicopter's opened door, setting the road in front of the vehicles on fire, forcing them to stop.
The chopper hovered in the air behind them as the students got out of the vehicles, ready for a fight as three figures jumped out of the chopper.
Momo's eyes widened in shock, recognizing who their opponents were right away. "Akane?! Tobio?!"
Sure enough, Tobio in his combat attire, the black dog Jin, and Suzaku, wearing a white and red battle kimono with black stockings and red lace-up boots, were their opponents for the exam. "Hello, Momo," Suzaku waved with a smile.
"You know the Miko Hero, Kouen, and her fiancé?" Reiko asked Momo.
"She's my cousin- Wait, she's a hero?" Momo asked.
"Wait a minute…" Tsuyu turned to give Momo a look. "You didn't know that your cousin is Kouen, the Number 10 Hero?"
"She's number 10?!" Momo exclaimed.
"You didn't know?!" Ibara yelled.
"I DIDN'T KNOW!" Momo yelled back.
"You really need to pay better attention to the hero rankings, Momo," Suzaku quipped.
Momo lowered her head in shame, unable to understand how she missed such a detail. Celica patted her back. "There, there."
Final Exam Team 8: Armed Robbery
Ground Beta, North Section
Fukidashi, Kaibara, Todoroki, Tokoyami, and Komori waited at the mock police station in the battle center for their exam to begin.
The scenario was that the students were called in to deal with a group of villains robbing a bank. The goal is to either capture the villains or delay them until backup arrives, all without causing too much collateral damage.
The group was quiet for the most part as they waited, with only Fukidashi and Kaibara striking up a conversation as they waited. Soon, though, the buzzer sounded, singling the start of their final exam.
Not even two seconds later…
*Boom!*
"Holy shiitake!" Komori exclaimed. The students quickly ran to the source of the explosion, which was easy given the column of smoke rising in the air. It wasn't long before they got to where the bank was, the building partly on fire as several faux villains stood outside it, each carrying a bag of money.
"…You gotta be kidding me," Todoroki muttered to herself. She recognized who the faux villains were.
"Hey there, Shoko!" Burnin', one of Endeavor's sidekicks, casually greeted her.
"Took you long enough, Shoko," Endeavor greeted.
"Of course, I have to fight my dear old dad…" Todoroki muttered to herself.
Final Exam Team 2: Hostage Situation
Ground Alpha
Mirko, grinning like a maniac, twisted her body before charging at the students, specifically the two her instincts said were the strongest.
Izuku and Itsuka summoned their Sacred Gears on instinct to black Mirko's ax-kicks, the force of which knocked them back while Toru, Kyoka, and Yui were blown back by the shockwave.
"Holy crap!" Toru exclaimed as she was flown through the air before landing.
Izuku and Itsuka managed to keep their balance as they stared at Mirko, who stood in place with a pleased look on her face. "I knew she was strong, but she's a lot stronger than I was expecting," Izuku muttered.
"…Never underestimate a bunny girl," Yui muttered as she got up.
"Oh, haha," Mirko gave a fake laugh. She then smirked when she saw the Sacred Gears. "So those are the gear things Ryuko told me about, huh? First time I'm seeing this sort of thing up close," she said before liking her lips. "I can't wait to see what they can do!"
'She knows about Sacred Gears?' Izuku thought. 'Guess I shouldn't be that surprised, given she's friends with Ryukyu. Speaking of, where is she?' Izuku's eyes briefly looked away from Mirko and into the sky, not seeing any sign of the Dragoon Hero.
"Keep your eyes on the enemy, kid!"
Izuku gawked, Mirko suddenly right next to him, ready to deliver one of her signature ax-kicks. Izuku managed to duck, but Mirko's kick managed to shave off a bit of his hair. Izuku tried to deliver a punch in response, but the Rabbit Hero had hoped away before it could reach.
Still grinning, Mirko delivered another ax-kick to counter Itsuka's large fist, even though it was enhanced by Itsuka's Turbo Cestus. Mirko jumped back as Itsuka quickly stood by Izuku's side. "You okay?" The redhead asked.
"Yeah," Izuku nodded. "Even with those weights on her, they're not slowing her down much."
'I hate to admit it but the redhead's packing some power,'Mirko tried to hide her wince at the pain in her foot. 'Makes me wonder what else she could do.' Tensing her legs, Mirko prepared to sprint at them when her ears twitched. Looking up, she jumped back as a car, twice the size it should've been, landed where she was.
"She forgot that we're here," Yui said, shrinking another car before she tossed it at Mirko, it growing back to twice its original size before it landed.
Mirko simply kicked the car away in annoyance. "Yeah, I did kinda forget about the rest of you," she admitted. Of the students, only Izuku and Itsuka were really true fighters. Yui and Kyoka could defend themselves easily, but Toru couldn't. 'Wait, where are the other two?'
"Guys, time to move!" Toru's voice called from one of the alleyways.
Mirko would've hopped to Toru, following the invisible girl's voice, had her enhanced hearing not alerted her to a faint clicking sound coming from behind her. Turning, the Rabbit Hero just had enough time to see Kyoka fire off a blast of sound waves. Mirko screamed in pain from the sound, covering her sensitive ears as best she could even though they felt like they were exploding. Mustering all her stenches, Mirko jumped into the air, out of the attack's path.
"Damn, that hurt…" Once the ringing in Mirko's ears finally stopped, the Rabbit Hero landed near where she jumped, only to see that the students were gone, having ran when she was in the air. Mirko just grinned in anticipation. "I love it when they run!"
A couple of blocks away, the students hid in an alleyway away from the street, catching their breath.
"Good thinking, Kyoka," Itsuka said.
Izuku nodded. "Yeah, that bought us a little time."
The Earphone Jack user smiled. "Thanks, but I don't think Mirko will let us do that again."
"No kidding…" Toru panted. "Gosh, I gotta work out more."
"I'm surprised that Mirko just attacked us like that," Yui said.
"Yeah, that is kinda weird, isn't it?" Toru asked. "If this was a hostage situation, why complicate it by attacking like that?"
"That's a good point," Izuku hummed in thought. Discounting Mirko's well-known love for fighting, it didn't make any tactical sense to attack the heroes when you already have a hostage. Unless… "Mirko is just keeping us busy while Ryukyu is guarding the hostage! She may even be getting ready to take the hostage somewhere we can't find them!" Izuku realized.
"…And Ryukyu can fly, so she could have moved the hostage anywhere by now," Itsuka realized.
"You got any ideas yet, Izuku?" Kyoka asked.
"Actually, I may have one," Toru raised her arm. "Mirko's focused on Izi and Itsuka right now. So, why not have them and Yui keep Mirko busy? That way, me and Kyoka can find Ryukyu and the hostage since we have the best chance of finding them."
"That's…" Kyoka paused as she stared at Toru. "That's actually a good idea."
"Yeah, it kinda is."
The teens flinched as they looked up, Mirko looking down at them from the ledge of the building before she hopped down, landing a few feet away from them. "Gotta say, I underestimated the invisible girl. I just thought you were just some ditzy exhibitionist…"
"Hey!" If they could see her, they would know that Toru frowned at Mirko's remark. "I finally got a new costume, you know!"
"But…" Mirko liked her lips, tensing her legs. "I think it's time for the fun to start!" Leaping high into the air, Mirko spun around in a somersault and then extended her leg, falling straight down toward them. "Luna Fall!"
"Move!" Kyoka yelled, the teens scattering just as Mirko hit the ground, cratering it.
"Toru, Kyoka, get out of here!" Izuku yelled.
"We'll hold her off!" Itsuka took another look at Mirko's battle-craving face. "…I think."
"Be careful, guys!" Toru called out as she and Kyoka ran. Mirko was about to run after them when a wall suddenly sprang up.
"What the-?"
Mirko looked to the side. Yui, standing against a wall of the alleyway, her hand on the ground, used her Quirk to create a barrier between the two fleeing and Mirko. "Get through us first," Yui said.
Mirko smiled in response. "My pleasure!" The rabbit woman hopped and delivered a heavy ax-kick that cratered the alleyway wall as Yui barely dodged under it.
Yui quickly ran to regroup with Izuku and Itsuka as Mirko turned to grin at them. "We can't stay in this alley. We don't have enough room to dodge her attacks," Izuku said. "We need to get back to the street."
"Yeah," Itsuka nodded, the three teens running down the alley away from Mirko who gave pursuit.
"You aren't getting away that easy! LUNA RING!" Mirko started doing a series of cartwheels, gaining speed and cutting through the ground like a demented buzzsaw as the teens made it out of the alley.
'Dragon Veil 10%!' "St. Louis Dragon Smash!" Izuku responded by delivering a roundhouse kick to block Mirko's attack, sending the Rabbit Hero back.
Mirko landed feet-first against a wall and, still smiling, jumped back toward them. "That's more like it! LUNA ARC!"
Itsuka stepped up, her Sacred Gear active and glowing as she readied a punch, meeting Mirko's ax-kick head-on.
Once Mirko was forced back, Itsuka yelled, "Yui!"
"Right." Yui nodded, reaching into her pouch and pulling out some bolts, pieces of metal, debris, and other objects she had gathered during their journey, and threw some of them into the air. Enlarging her hands, Itsuka then swatted the objects toward Mirko as Yui put her fingertips together. "Release."
The items suddenly grew to triple their original size.
"LUNA LANDING!" Coming in with a double dropkick to the largest of the thrown objects (a flatbed truck), Mirko sent it toppling over, which caused the other objects to scatter around her. "Hmph! Is that all you got?"
'The news wasn't kidding about Mirko's love of a good fight,'Izuku sweat-dropped. 'I'm not sure if I should use my Balance Breaker against her. It might be overkill… or it could rile her up more. I just hope Kyoka and Toru are doing okay.'
Several blocks away, Toru and Kyoka moved through the shadows, the Earphone Jack user leading as she used her Quirk to locate their target.
"How close are we to Ryukyu and the hostage?" Toru asked. There was a bit of nervousness in her voice. Understandable, as they could still hear the fight between Mirko and the rest of their team, even from their current distance.
"They're close," Kyoka's hearing picked up the sounds of both Ryukyu and the hostage. "Quick, hide!"
The two quickly hid behind a car as Ryukyu flew overhead, a person with a burlap sack over their head in her claws. Landing on a small office building, Ryukyu transformed into her human form, with the exception of her tail as it wrapped around the hostage. Ryukyu briefly looked out toward where the fight was before she disappeared from Kyoka and Toru's sight.
"Well, we found her," Kyoka muttered.
Toru made her suit invisible. "I'll scout it out. You find a way to get there without being seen."
"Right," Kyoka nodded as she ran down the alley away from the building as Toru snuck to it. Getting into the building was simple enough as the front door was open. As quietly as she could, Toru snuck through the empty office building looking for the hostage.
'Hiding out in an office building in an empty city? Feels like an apocalyptic movie,' Toru thought to herself as she made her way up to the second floor after checking the first.
"That battle maniac…"
Toru nearly gasped, placing her hands over her mouth to keep quiet. Slowly, Toru approached an open door and peeked inside.
Ryukyu stood in the center of the room, looking out the window, her tail fully out as it wrapped around a tired-up person with a burlap sack over their head. "She should've been back by now. But of course, Mirko got lost in her battle mania again," Ryukyu sighed.
Toru slowly stepped away from the door and activated the communicator she and the others were given for the test. "Kyoka, you there?" She whispered.
"{I'm here. Did you find the hostage?}"
"Yeah. They're on the second floor, room 208."
"I know you're there, Invisible Girl," Ryukyu suddenly called out.
"Eep!" Toru scurried away from the door.
"You're not bad, but I don't rely solely on my sight," Ryukyu stepped out, sniffing the air. "Nice shampoo, by the way."
'Crapbaskets!'
Itsuka was fighting evenly with Mirko, Itsuka's punches countering Mirko's kicks. Izuku had taken a moment to step back and catch his breath while Yui went off somewhere. Still, while they were fighting, Izuku saw that Itsuka began to share Mirko's grin, nearly identical in fact. "Guess Kendo's starting to enjoy this," he muttered.
Izuku didn't know how right he was. Now that it was just her who was facing Mirko, Itsuka began to really enjoy the fight. So much so she began to realize something. She loved it. The thrill of battle, the pounding of her heart, the taste of her own blood. SHE LOVED IT!
"Now this is what I'm talking about!" Mirko practically sang as she swung another kick, only for Itsuka to block it with a punch. "You're good, kid!"
"You too!" Itsuka smirked, her eyes giving off a pink glow. "This is amazing!"
'They forgot that this was a test, didn't they?' Izuku sweat-dropped.
"Izuku."
Izuku looked up to Yui as she handed him a shrunken-down tanker truck.
"Throw this."
Izuku nodded. "Right," he took hold of the shrunken tanker and readied Dragon Veil. "Kendo, get out of the way!"
"Huh?" Itsuka blinked, only seeing Izuku throw something as Yui put her fingers together.
"Release."
The tanker truck grew back to its original size, heading straight for them.
"Just when things were getting fun…" Itsuka muttered as she jumped back to Izuku and Yui.
"Spoilsports," Mirko growled, ready to kick the truck aside, but then her instincts told her that was a very bad idea. Having always trusted them, Mirko simply jumped over the truck before it hit the ground…
*BOOM!*
As it exploded into flames once it hit the ground, setting fire to the nearby buildings.
As the flames spread, Itsuka, Mirko, and Izuku slowly turned to Yui in shock. "…I thought it was a water truck. Or was at least empty," Yui admitted, a small blush on her emotionless face.
"…Who's the idiot who put a tanker truck full of gas here for a test?" Mirko asked.
"Achoo!"
"You okay, Eraser?"
"What the hell was that?" Kyoka glanced toward where the explosion came from, seeing a billow of thick black smoke rising into the air. "Izuku and the others better be okay."
Kyoka turned her attention back to the office building Ryukyu had taken the hostage into. She managed to get to the back entrance, but now she could hear Toru running from Ryukyu. "Toru, you okay?"
"{For now! I managed to lose Ryukyu, but it won't be long before she picks up my scent again, and she still has the hostage in her tail!}"
"Damn it," Kyoka cursed. If Ryukyu didn't have the hostage with her, she could use her Quirk to disorientate her. At this rate, though, their best option might be to escape the area to get help. "Meet up at the front entrance!"
"{Roger. Uh-oh, she's here! Gotta go!}"
"Toru? Toru!" Kyoka cursed again as she ran to the front of the office building. Before she could reach it she heard the sound of its front door opening with Toru running outside, followed soon by Ryukyu bursting down the doors.
"Guys! I know you're still dealing with Mirko, but we could use some help here if you can spare it!" Kyoka hissed into her communicator.
"{We'll be there as soon as we can. Try and stall.}" Izuku answered.
"'Stall' he says," Kyoka muttered as she peaked around the corner. Ryukyu, in her dragon form, stood over the street, the hostage in her claws as she looked around, looking for where Toru had gone.
'Well, guess I should try.'
"Hey, scaly!"
Ryukyu glanced at Kyoka as she stepped out into the street. "Another little hero. What is it you want?"
"I came to hear what your demands are," Kyoka replied. "Your partner attacking us earlier wasn't a smart move, though, especially since we don't even know what you want."
"No argument here. And we only just took her," Ryukyu rebutted, holding up the hostage, who squared a little in Ryukyu's grasp.
"Yet you had to have taken them for a reason, right?" Kyoka asked. "So what is it that you want? Money? A ticket out of the country?"
"Hmph! You think I'll tell without my idiot partner here?" Ryukyu spat.
'Kinda, yeah,' Kyoka thought.
"Hey! Who are you calling an idiot!?"
"Huh?" Ryukyu and Kyoka both turned, seeing Mirko was nearby, fighting Itsuka.
"When did-?"
"Dragon Smash!"
Ryukyu was cut off by Izuku delivering a punch to her snout, chasing her to let go of the hostage. The hostage let out a muffled scream before Toru, her costume visible again, ran up and caught the hostage. "I got her!"
"Good. Get out of the way!" Yui called out.
Toru carried the hostage away, with Izuku and Kyoka following, as Yui placed her hands on the ground. A large hole suddenly formed beneath Ryukyu, who gave a frightened, and surprisingly girly and cute, shriek as the hole closed around her.
"Nice, Yui!" Toru cheered, only to back up a little as the asphalt and pavement began to crack as Ryukyu began to break free.
"That won't hold long," Yui said.
"At least we got the hostage, though something tells me that alone isn't enough to let us pass," Kyoka muttered as she undid the bindings on the hostage.
"Are you okay, miss?" Izuku asked as he removed the burlap sack… and revealed a familiar face.
"Yep!" Nejire smiled.
"Senpai!?"
"Hiya, Izuku! Been a while, huh? Were you surprised? It sounded like you were surprised. You want to know why I'm here? Hey, I kinda like this position we're in," the third-year student leaned against Izuku, to his embarrassment. "Hey, since you guys saved me, does that mean I should reward you all with a kiss?"
"This isn't the time to- Wait, does that include me and Kyoka?" Toru asked.
"Guys, focus!" Kyoka snapped right as Ryukyu managed to break free.
"Right!" Izuku gently pushed Nejire away. "Toru, you keep Senpai safe and head for the exit! Kodai, do you have the capture cuffs on you?"
"Hm," Yui nodded.
"Okay, you and I deal with Ryukyu. Kyoka, you'll help Itsuka deal with Mirko."
"Right!"
"Hm!"
"Gotcha!" Toru took Nejire's hand. "This way, senpai!"
"Kay!" Nejire beamed as they ran into an alley, asking Toru questions all the while.
Mirko's enhanced hearing informed her that the invisible girl was taking Ryuko's intern away. As much as she wanted to keep fighting the karate girl, she needed to do what the rat told her. "Sorry, kid, but we're gonna have to cut this short!" The Rabbit Hero pushed Itsuka back with a kick and attempted to hop to a nearby rooftop.
"No, you don't!" Kyoka connected her jacks to her leg amplifiers. "Heartbeat Fuzz!"
The sonic attack caused Mirko to scream curses not worth repeating as she covered her ears. "NOT THIS SHIT AGAIN!" The Rabbit Hero was about to jump upward to escape like she did before, but Itsuka slugged her before she could.
"We're not finished, yet!" Itsuka smirked.
Mirko returned the smirk. "Okay, fine. I'll take you out first, kid!"
Kyoka looked worriedly at Itsuka as she and Mirko started fighting again. 'Okay, something is up with her.'
"Kyoka!"
The Earphone Jack user turned just in time to catch one pair of capture cuffs thrown by Yui.
"Thanks!" Kyoka smiled as she ran to Mirko.
Yui returned Kyoka's smile before looking over to Izuku's fight with Ryukyu. Already in Dragon Force, Izuku flew swiftly around Ryukyu, delivering punches and kicks while the Dragoon Hero tried to catch him.
Yui reached into her pouch and pulled out the bolts, pieces of metal, and debris she had gathered during the exam and threw some of them at Ryukyu. Placing her hands together, Yui utters, "Release," making the items grow thrice in size.
"This is getting annoying!" Ryukyu spread her wings and gave a few flaps, the force of her wings pushing most of the enlarged objects. Yui simply smirked as she looked up… at the enlarged capture cuffs she threw also.
Izuku grabbed the enlarged capture cuff and quickly aimed it at Ryukyu's arm.
Itsuka and Mirko began to tire each other out, panting as they stood ready. "You… giving up, kid?" Mirko taunted.
"Not even close," Itsuka smirked, her eyes a bright pink now. She then noticed Kyoka a few feet behind Mirko, capture cuffs in hand. "But…" Itsuka licked her lips. "We're gonna have to stop at some point."
"True. So, one last round?" Mirko tensed her legs.
Itsuka simply smiled and took a few steps to the side. "Maybe next time."
"Huh? What does- DAMNIT, NOT AGAIN!" Mirko covered her sensitive ears as Kyoka fired another sonic blast at her. This time, Itsuka ran toward the Rabbit Hero and enlarged one of her hands, grabbing hold of Mirko before she could hop away.
Kyoka quickly ran to Mirko and aimed her capture cuff at Mirko's arm.
The cuffs were slapped onto the two pro's wrists at the same time. Mirko and Ryukyu paused to stare at the cuffs, processing what had just happened as the buzzer went off from the gate, indicating the students had won.
[Team Midoriya, Hagakure, Kendo, Jiro, and Kodai have passed the exam!]
"Finally," Kyoka groaned. "That felt way, way longer than 30 minutes."
"Did we have to end it so soon?" Itsuka complained as she let Mirko go. "I was really getting into it!"
"Unfortunately," Mirko nodded in agreement. She then noticed that Itsuka's eyes were different. "Huh? Hey, kid, your eyes weren't always pink, were they?"
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"Yeah, I noticed that also," Kyoka spoke up. "Are you sure you're okay, Itsuka?"
"Never felt better," Itsuka replied. "But I'm still worked up, so… Oh~!" Her hot pink eyes landed on Izuku as Toru and Nejire made their way back to them.
"We only just got to the gate when the buzzer sounded!" Toru said.
"Well, at least that means we would've still passed," Izuku sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.
"Hm," Yui nodded as Ryukyu, in human form, approached.
"Congratulations on passing," the Dragoon Hero said. "Are you okay, Nejire? I wasn't too rough, was I?"
"Nope! I kind of liked it though," Nejire admitted. "So should I give that reward to you guys now or- Oh! There's Kendo! Hey, Kendo!" Nejire waved as Itsuka approached.
Izuku smiled, but then he noticed Itsuka's new eye color. "Uh, Kendo, is something wromph-!" Without warning, Itsuka jumped on him and slammed her lips into his.
Everyone present watched in a mix of surprise and intrigue as Itsuka aggressively kissed Izuku.
'Is she high or something?!' Izuku thought as Itsuka continued to kiss him, though he didn't try and fight it.
"Woah! Itsuka, what are you doing?!" Kyoka demanded as she pulled the redhead away from Izuku.
Itsuka's pink eyes landed on Kyoka. "What does it look like?"
"Not what I meant!" Kyoka shouted. "Why are you suddenly sucking face with Izuku when you're not eve-mmph!" Kyoka was cut off when Itsuka suddenly started kissing her, her Earphone Jacks shooting straight up as her face turned red.
Izuku stared wide-eyed as Itsuka kissed Kyoka without warning. "Kendo, WHAT is going on?!" He demanded.
Itsuka broke away and looked at him dreamily. "I'm still worked up from fighting Mirko and need a way to vent."
"By kissing us?!" Izuku and Kyoka questioned.
"…Can I get in on this?" Yui asked.
"Don't encourage this!" Izuku and Kyoka yelled.
"I'm in!" Tour cheered.
"Same!" Nejire nodded.
"Huh?!"
Ryukyu and Mirko could only stare at the scene before them as the teens all began kissing each other (mostly Izuku), their silence only broken when Mirko snorted. "I like those girls. They know what they want."
Yui took a break to look at Ryukyu and Mirko. "You're free to join."
"WHAT?!" The two pros exclaimed, blushing.
"Are you not interested?" Yui asked.
Ryukyu's blush seemed to grow. "…I suppose a couple wouldn't hurt."
"HAH!?" Mirko could hardly believe her eyes as Ryukyu walked up and joined the kissing frenzy. Her own rational mind said not to do this, but her rabbit instincts began to override it, telling her to take this chance. "Fuck it!" Mirko hopped into the kissing frenzy also.
Nearby, Mizu watched with an amused grin. "The rizz is strong with this one," she laughed.
"I can't believe I did that," Itsuka, her eyes now normal, muttered as she sat down on a bench outside the battleground, face buried in her hands and her back hunched forward. "I can't believe I did that."
"You did," Yui, the only one not embarrassed by what happened aside from Mizu, smiled dreamily.
"I can't believe I did that."
"I can't believe we did it, either," Ryukyu muttered, her face burning from remembering the passionate kisses she gave Izuku.
"Uh-huh," Mirko nodded, cursing her instincts.
"So, why did you act like that, Kendo?" Toru asked.
"…I'm not sure," Itsuka admitted. "All I know was that I got… really worked up while fighting Mirko, and when I saw Midoriya… things just happened."
"It might have something to do with your heritage," Mizu offered.
"…Her heritage?" Mirko questioned.
"She's a descendent of the Asmodeus Clan of devils," Mizu explained. "Asmodeus is the demon of lust, and the clan's trait, Starsend Moment, can affect the senses from what I heard. It's possible that during your fight that might have awakened her clan trait, and caused her to act out on her emotions."
"…Seriously?" Itsuka muttered.
"It's just a theory. We'll have to do some training so this doesn't happen again," Mizu shrugged. "Anyway, how about we head back and see how everyone else is doing?"
"…In a minute," Ryukyu wrapped her arms around Izuku's left arm. "Me and Rumi need to have a… talk with Izuku first."
"…Yeah," Mirko wrapped her arms around Izuku's right arm. "We do."
"Are you joining his harem?" Nejire asked. "Can I join?!"
"Audible gulp," Izuku gulped, both dreading and looking forward to what'll happen next.