Chapter 19 — Copying Techniques
All Might clapped his hands to gather everyone's attention.
"Now I'll explain the rules!"
He raised a finger dramatically.
"The situation is simple! The villains have hidden a nuclear weapon inside their base. The heroes must locate and secure it before time runs out."
He continued:
"The heroes win if they capture the villains or recover the nuclear weapon."
"The villains win if they protect the weapon until time expires… or capture the heroes first!"
The students listened carefully.
Then All Might turned toward Akio Tatsuma.
"Akio, because your team has three members, you may choose your two partners directly—as long as they agree."
The class glanced at Akio again.
Many students still found his situation unusual.
After all, the class normally had twenty students, divided into pairs. Akio had been added afterward, making the numbers uneven.
The teachers had already decided the only fair solution was to allow a three-person team.
Bakugo clicked his tongue loudly.
"Tch."
"I'm going to blow that guy up."
He hated the idea that Akio was treated differently.
Special people deserved special treatment—explosive treatment, in Bakugo's opinion.
Nearby, Shoto Todoroki quietly observed Akio.
His expression remained calm, but he was clearly thinking about something.
Akio spoke without hesitation.
"I choose Denki Kaminari and Momo Yaoyorozu."
Midoriya looked slightly disappointed.
For a moment he had hoped Akio might choose him.
But he quickly hid the expression.
Behind the group, Tsuyu Asui simply watched quietly. She understood Akio's personality well enough and didn't question his decision.
Yaoyorozu stepped forward gracefully and stood beside him.
Kaminari followed excitedly.
He felt proud of himself.
After all, he had been the one to approach Yaoyorozu earlier and mention that Akio wanted her on the team. She had only thought about it briefly before agreeing.
Kaminari didn't think too deeply about the reason.
Maybe Akio just wanted her Creation Quirk to support the team.
If Akio had heard that thought, he probably would have laughed.
No, he thought.
I just want an excuse to talk to her.
"All right!" All Might announced.
"The first match will begin now!"
"The villain team, led by Akio Tatsuma, will defend the base!"
"Is there anyone willing to challenge them?"
"I will!"
Bakugo stepped forward immediately.
At the same time—
Todoroki silently walked forward as well.
Bakugo glared sideways.
"Half-and-half guy."
"I don't need your help."
Todoroki didn't answer.
His eyes remained calm.
Bakugo clicked his teeth.
"Tch. Everyone here acting cool is really irritating."
All Might clapped his hands excitedly.
"Excellent! Then the attacking team will be Bakugo and Todoroki!"
"Akio, take your teammates inside and prepare the base defense!"
The three of them immediately entered the building.
The training structure had been reinforced with thick walls and multiple corridors. There were blind corners, maze-like passages, and many dark areas—perfect for ambushes.
Outside, several students watched the monitor.
"These teams are ridiculously strong," Hanta Sero muttered.
Tokoyami nodded calmly.
"Indeed."
"These are probably the strongest groups in the class."
Shoji agreed.
"This will be the most interesting match."
Suddenly Mineta spoke.
"I don't trust Akio."
Several students looked at him.
"Why?"
Mineta raised a tiny hand dramatically.
"Because he chose to team up with Yaoyorozu!"
The class collectively rolled their eyes.
No one cared about Mineta's reasoning.
Inside the building.
Top floor.
Akio stood beside the fake nuclear device.
"Kaminari, Yaoyorozu—stay here and guard the weapon."
Then he turned toward Yaoyorozu.
"Can you create a small portable heater?"
She nodded.
"Of course."
Her Creation Quirk activated, forming a compact heating unit.
Akio attached it to his combat suit.
The device would counter Todoroki's ice.
"You're going to face them alone?" Yaoyorozu asked, surprised.
"Those two aren't easy opponents."
Akio shrugged.
"If I can't beat both of them, I can at least deal with one."
He suddenly felt a chill in the air.
"Todoroki already started."
The temperature inside the building was dropping rapidly.
Ice was spreading through the lower floors.
Akio stepped toward the stairway.
"Stay alert."
"If one of them breaks through, protect the weapon."
With that, he left the room and headed toward the only staircase leading upward.
The building had a single access point to each floor.
If the attackers wanted the nuclear weapon—
They had to pass him first.
Meanwhile, on the lower floor.
Frost crawled across the walls.
Bakugo looked annoyed.
"Who told you to use your Quirk already?"
The freezing air made movement slightly harder.
Todoroki replied calmly:
"If you don't like it, act on your own."
"You can fight alone if you prefer."
Bakugo's grin turned sharp.
"You want to fight me first?"
Todoroki didn't even respond.
Instead, he ran straight toward the second floor.
Bakugo's expression twisted.
"Damn it!"
Everyone around him kept acting calm and superior.
Todoroki.
Akio.
All of them.
And that irritated Bakugo more than anything.
Upstairs—
Akio stood quietly in the corridor.
Electric sparks danced faintly around his fingers.
Over the past months he had been experimenting with something unusual.
Using lightning…
to replicate combat techniques.
In his previous life, he had seen countless characters who controlled lightning in different ways.
While he couldn't copy their abilities perfectly, he could imitate the form of their techniques.
If the timing was right—
He would test one of those techniques today.
Against Bakugo.
And Todoroki.
The real battle was about to begin.
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