Chapter 471 - 48-53

Chapter 48: The Morning After

Mineta's eyes slowly opened, mind and body numb to everything around him. Where was he? Was he okay? How about Iida? Did Todoroki encounter anymore trouble? Did Midoriya lose Stain? Or did the worse happen to his partner?

That thought almost snapped him out of his stupor. But upon thinking about it, Midoriya fit Stain's ideal standard of a Hero. So at worse, he'd just paralyze him and continue to run. Still, that meant there was still a maniac on the loose. And who knows when he'll make the streets run with blood again.

"Shifu'll be mad…" Mineta thought as he prepared his body to finally move.

He felt something fluffy at the back of his head, definitely a pillow. He was laying against something stiff yet slightly spongy, most likely a bed. His right arm felt sore and something was pricking his left, left over damage from the fight? Finally, the bright light and sterile smell in the air gave him the key to his location.

He was in a hospital.

He also felt another presence in the room. And it was sitting right next to him.

"Hello…?" Mineta groaned, eyes still too blurry to recognize anything. But the moment it spoke, the shorter boy was able to relax. Well, half relax as there were still questions on his unfocused mind.

"Mineta-kun, you're awake. Are you feeling okay? Hold on, I'll get you a Doctor." Midoriya said, the sounds of him rushing around filling the air.

"Midoriya…? Where's Iida?" Mineta asked as he began blinking the clouds out of his eyes. Slowly but surely, he was able to get a visual on what was around him. He was in a hospital room, one that could only fit two patients. His partner was standing by the door out, looking relieved but ready to get help. And outside, the sun was shining bright all around.

If he had to guess, it was close to noon.

"The Doctors are examining Iida-kun's wounds one more time. But don't worry, he's fine." Midoriya answered before leaving the room. And so, in the relative silence of that room, Mineta could now finally settle his nerves. He stared at the ceiling, thoughts going to his other classmates and their internships. And with every fiber in his body, Mineta hoped they don't run into anything like Stain for the rest of the week.

That encounter was going to hang over him like the USJ attack did.

"… Two League of Villain events and it's still Spring. Coincidence or not, they were too close of a call. In case they come back, I need to be ready." Mineta thought, as he felt a tingle run through his right arm. He carefully raised his right hand and stared at the bandages that wrapped it. He then looked at his right shoulder, wrapped up in very much the same way. While the damage could've been worse…

It certainly could've been better. A testament that Mineta still had ways to go before he could be a true Hero.

The door slid open and turning over, Mineta could see that his partner had lived up to his words. The Doctor came over and began going through a basic diagnostic test. Questions were asked, answers were given, just your standard affair that came with any medical examinations. And just as the Doctor left after getting everything he needed, Midoriya returned with Todoroki and Iida.

"Mineta-kun! You're awake!" Iida said quickly rushing over. Mineta would've answered back had his focus not been entirely on the cast around Iida's left arm. It was being supported by a sling as well, making the implications of it that much worse. Noticing this, Midoriya and Todoroki looked towards their Class President as well. All three of them silently asking the big question, how's your arm?

Iida simply gave a sad smile as he raised his left arm slightly.

"I suppose I should get the bad news out of the way. The injuries on my left arm have some residual complications. While, thankfully, it isn't paralyzed, I won't be able to move it as I originally did."

"Iida-kun, that's… Could it be treated?" Midoriya asked, his eyes widening.

"It can. With just a bit of nerve grafting surgery, my arm will be fully functional again. However, I won't go through with the procedure… Not until I become a true Hero. Think of it as a reminder of my mistakes from last night." Iida replied before facing Mineta. The shorter boy didn't know what to say. Naturally, he wanted to tell his class president to not worry over what Stain said. That Iida should get the surgery to get himself back on track.

On the other hand, after a moment of thought, Mineta knew why he couldn't go through with it. The question he had asked Iida must still be on his mind. And until he could answer it, Iida couldn't back down. Honestly, it felt like he was now under an unspoken contract.

"Hmmm…" Todoroki hummed contemplatively. That caught everyone else's attention as they turned to face their dual colored classmate. He was touching the scar that surrounded his left eye. And not too long after that, his eyes went to the injuries that Iida and Mineta sustained.

"Todoroki-kun? What's on your mind?" Iida asked.

"Sorry, just thinking about what they say about scars. They are supposed to be something one can be proud of… But I've only seen and felt the opposite… These injuries feel more like brands of failure." Todoroki answered solemnly. Mineta gripped his sheets as he turned away. His classmate's words began to ring within him, his injuries throbbing with each echo. For what happened, the shorter boy supposed it was appropriate that this happened.

To be punished for his mistakes.

"You aren't wrong, Todoroki-kun… But you aren't right either. Scars do complex things to a person's mind, so we can't simply generalize them. Some are discouraged, some are motivated, and some just don't care about them. But what I can say is that HOW we see scars can change. And that, in turn, can become a sign for us to grow as well." Midoriya said, looking between each one of them. He then held out his right hand, which was gently balled into a fist.

"We all still have much to learn. So let's move forward one step at a time, surviving our mistakes and learning from them." Midoriya continued, smiling at each of his classmates. However, before anyone could say anything to that, the door slid open. All eyes went to their new visitor, Mineta's eyes widening to the sight. Though she had several bandages on her arms and face, perhaps countless more beneath her robes, Fenghuang firmly stood before them.

And this was in spite of the crutch she was using to support herself.

"Shifu! You're okay!" Mineta said, slowly sitting up in his bed. Honestly, he wasn't sure what happened between his teacher and the Nomu last night. Based on her injuries, it must have been quite the fight even with all the support she had.

"You know me, my young pupil; I'm not one who gives in so easily. Not while I still have lessons to teach. In fact, let's have a session right now. Your friends are welcome to learn too." Fenghuang replied, gesturing to the empty beds. Iida and Todoroki looked at each other before shrugging and taking a seat. Midoriya was in full on Hero otaku mode, listing off several achievements under the Radiant Wing. It was only when Mineta hit him with a spare pillow did he stop to sit down.

This did leave the shorter boy wondering what wisdom were they about to receive.

Fenghuang looked at the four boys, hobbling over to them as she adjusted her crutch's length. She then began to hold it by the peg end of it. Mineta watched as gears were turning in his teacher's eyes before realizing what she was up to. But before he could speak, Fenghuang raised the crutch and swiftly smacked their heads with it. Now while it actually didn't hurt, something about the hit felt heavy.

"While you all maybe Heroes in Training… What you've done last night was beyond foolish. Going after Stain without any plan or knowing if more help will be on the way. What would you have done if things have gone awry?" She asked, readjusting her crutch. The Heroine then pointed at Iida, causing him to flinch as he knew what was coming.

"I'm disappointed with you most. How could you do this to your friends? More importantly, how could you do this to yourself? Your brother may have had regrets regarding the Hero Killer. But Tensei isn't so selfish that he'd risk his own family for his sake. Especially not for something like revenge."

Iida stood and bowed to Fenghuang, his torso almost parallel. He didn't say anything. But the penitent silence that emanated from him was all she needed. Because he was already on the road of improvement, there was no need to say anything more. The Heroine's gaze then turned to Todoroki and Midoriya, causing the latter to bristle.

"And you two, was it really a good idea to split up when a known killer was still around and very capable of fighting?"

"I'm sorry… But I just couldn't let the person who hurt so many people get away…" Midorya said as he deeply lowered his head.

"And yet you've failed to consider yourself in this. How would your friends react if you've gotten killed chasing a man who willingly retreated? I understand that you're a true Hero at heart. But without tempering that courage, you'll find quickly yourself in need of a Hero. Just like Young Iida had." Fenghuang replied. This just kept Midoriya's head down as the Heroine turned to Todoroki.

"What about you? You've allowed your friend to recklessly go after a known murderer. What were you thinking in that moment?"

"Because there were injured people, I thought it was best to guard them in case someone else came by to finish them off. The Hero Killer might've had help of some sort." Todoroki replied.

"Did you have any evidence of this before acting? Have thought that maybe this accomplice had retreated with Stain? And thus, leaving young Midoriya to fend off two assailants on his own?" Fenghuang asked bluntly. The dual colored boy opened his mouth, a response on the tip of his tongue. However, nothing came out as he lowered his head in defeat.

"… No. You're right, we were fools."

Mineta swallowed the lump in his throat as everyone marinated in the silence that swamped the room. What started as a misguided quest for vengeance had turned into a serious mess of missteps. Had their luck been worse, it would've their names showing up in the obituaries. So in all, they deserved this miserable atmosphere. It was their punishment for their rashness.

At least, it was until Fenghuang gave a light sigh and a smile replaced her scowl.

"However, you can take pride in what you've accomplished last night. You've stopped Stain from adding another tally to his blades."

"Wait, but I thought–" Mineta began before his Shifu raised her hand.

"Yes, you were fools… But you still saved lives. And Heroes who fail to even try could never help anyone, not even a single life. More than that, you forced a Villain to retreat, a feat that's surprisingly difficult to achieve. And though you've sustained injuries, look at the results of your efforts." Fenghuang said as she gestured to Iida. The shorter boy turned to his Class President and something began to well up inside him. Honestly, he was so disorientated with everything that happened that he failed to realize it.

The relief that came after all the pain and anxiety had faded.

That Iida Tenya and Mineta Minoru were still here.

"Yeah… I guess I did good…" Mineta said, tears starting to well up in his eyes.

"See? I knew you were a Hero too." Midoriya said with a smile.

"I mean, why wouldn't he be? Mineta's in the Hero course." Todoroki said bluntly. Iida, using his uninjured hand, lightly bopped the top of his dual colored classmate.

"Todoroki-kun, please read the mood."

A quick laugh went around as Fenghuang nodded. She then began to hobble to the door, having finished what she accomplished. But she then stopped and turned back to the group, words still on her tongue.

"One last thing, you'll be visited by the Hosu's Police Chief a little later. He'll be speaking with you about your act of vigilantism in similar yet different way to me. It's annoying and stifling to hear, I know, but important never-the-less. All the greatest lessons are the ones that often repeat. Be seeing you later, young Heroes." Fenghuang said as she opened the door. The Heroine then bowed before leaving the room, closing the door behind her.

"Honestly, I was expecting her to reprimand our ears off… But that was a pleasant surprise." Iida commented.

"That's what happens when a kung fu master teaches; cryptic wisdom gets shoved into your ears." Mineta replied.

"Better that than something unrelated though. With the League of Villains and now the Hero Killer loose, we have to learn everything we can." Todoroki said solemnly. That dread that clung to the back of their minds came to the forefront, creating a steep drop in the atmosphere. And though Mineta wanted to berate his classmate for being so negative… He was right. With all the Villain activity these past few months, things could start to snowball into anarchy.

The League of Villains and Stain have shown that Heroes aren't infallible. They were able to disrupt societal order on a scale never before seen. Well, not seen since All Might became the Symbol of Peace. This could be enough to inspire all sorts of Villains to redouble their efforts. Or worse, pool their strengths together and form an actually cohesive unit.

Hell, who's to say that the League of Villains isn't doing that right now? They could be gathering skilled villains to make an elite death squad. And unlike the mass of generic thugs used at the USJ attack, they could pose a serious threat to the underprepared.

So before that chaos comes to pass, Mineta, Midoriya, and all their friends needed to get stronger. Strong enough to stand alongside the great Heroes they look up to.

A knock at the door shook the group out of their thoughts. And upon it opening, they saw the Hero Manual, a short, old Hero, and a tall man with a dog head in a suit. Was this the Hosu Police Chief that Fenghuang was referring to?

However, before the man could speak, a nurse came in and looked right at Mineta. She then turned to the dog man and began speaking. "My apologies sir, but there's been a new development with Mr. Mineta's injuries. So we need to speak with him immediately."

"Oh, if that's the case, then go right on ahead." The man said, gesturing towards the shorter boy. Mineta raised an eyebrow as the nurse came to him, making sure he could move without issue. There must have been over a dozen questions he had over it. And not helping matters were the utterly concerned stares of his friends.

Iida was looking especially guilty. No doubt blaming himself for whatever Mineta was about to hear.

So without another word, Mineta followed the nurse out of the room. He was led down the hall and into an examination room. That was when he spotted a crash test dummy looking at x-rays on the wall. It wore semi-formal clothes and was taking notes on a clipboard. And despite the physical mutations one could get from Quirks… This was by far the strangest thing Mineta has seen thus far.

"This is Doctor Buster, a trauma specialist visiting from America. Due to your injuries having a unique damage pattern, we had to contact him before we continued with your treatment." The nurse said. The Doctor turned over, his face completely expressionless as he wordlessly nodded to Mineta.

"H-Hello…" Mineta replied, wondering if this guy was not just a robot.

"Please excuse my silence. It takes time for my voice synthesizer to accurately process my intended tone, pitch, and intensity." Buster said suddenly. Robot was starting to seem more likely…

"Are you–?"

"I am not a robot, just a cyborg. My body is over 80 percent mechanical, but the rest is the body I was born with. I apologize for any displeasure or disappointment to this revelation."

Mineta only nodded before being led to a chair by the nurse. The shorter boy watched as the Doctor began to stiffly move to the open seat in front of him. Buster sat down and wordlessly gestured to Mineta's hand, his voice coming on a few seconds later.

"How is your hand and shoulder faring? It took quite some damage last night."

"It still hurts a little… But I think it's healing nicely." Mineta answered. There was something about the Doctor's words that unsettled him. And that's not just from the man's synthesized voice. The robotic man nodded before handing his clipboard to Mineta with a pen. And going over the contents, Mineta saw it was a blank patient information form.

"That's great to hear. If you don't mind, could you fill this in? Your friend only gave us the basics when you came in, so we're missing a few details. We like to keep our patient's information as updated as possible in the event they return in the future." Buster said after a pause. The shorter boy simply nodded and looked to the first blank.

Strangely enough, it was his family and given name.

He quickly put the pen to the line and began to write… Only to find that every character he made was garbled and sloppy. Mineta raised an eyebrow before crossing out the messy one. This time, he tried to be as methodical as possible but ended up with the same result. A deep sinking feeling was settling in the bottom of his gut as he tried one more thing. He tried to draw a circle.

Now while a perfect circle was impossible, Mineta could consistently make good circles. Not this time as the five circles he sketched were completely uneven and lumpy.

"… Doctor? I think there's something wrong with my arm." Mineta said, looking back up.

"I suspected as much. Please, take a look at these scans of your right arm. Note the line in blue." Doctor Buster said, handing the shorter boy a laminated sheet. Mineta took it, examining the thing. It was a bunch of white lines piled together in the shape of an arm. Among them was the line in blue that ran along the entire thing.

At the palm and shoulder, the blue line was much thinner than the rest.

"That line is a rather small, but important nerve. It serves as the relay for all minute movements that occur in the arm. But because two points have been damaged, your fine motor control has been reduced considerably in the right arm. Athletes who suffered the same injury, specifically Baseball pitchers, saw a drop in accuracy as great as 83 percent." Doctor Buster explained.

Mineta's heart sank lower than it has ever before. Though he could pitch from his left… It was his right that carried the weight of his heart and soul. It was this hand that created art on his free time. It was the hand that learned from Aizawa and then Fenghuang. It was the hand that protected Iida.

It was the hand that started it all with Midoriya.

"Are… Are there any treatment options?" Mineta asked nervously.

"There is none, mostly because any sort of treatment would make the damage permanent. Whether it is surgery or the use of a recovery Quirk, this nerve is oddly sensitive to external forces. So it's best to leave the nerve alone and it should recover within seven to eight months." Doctor Buster replied.

Mineta leaned back into his seat as a sigh of disbelief left his lungs. Eight months of not being able to use his right arm like normal... It was almost like a bad joke. His morning started off as well as it could with Iida and his teacher being safe…

But this seriously made the shorter boy worry about the days to come.

Chapter 49: Answers to Riddles

It was the next day. And there Mineta sat, on his bed, trying to practice writing his name. But every time, it came out more and more sloppy. The shorter boy let out a groan of frustration, sinking into the angled mattress behind him. All the dexterity and finesse his right arm had, gone. If this was how things were going to be for the next eight months, he might as well learn how to use his left hand.

That's not to say all was lost. His right arm could still perform large movements without issue. And there was no decrease to his arm or his hand's overall strength. So, at the very least, Mineta could still use the baton and the martial arts connected to it.

"But this still sucks… So many projects have to be shelved until my hand gets better…" Mineta thought before looking over to Iida on the other bed. He was currently reading a book on Hero Professionalism and Etiquette. Due to the talk with the Police Chief yesterday, he needed to brush up on the inner workings of Hero Society again. So when the time came, Iida would know what to do and how far they could push things legally.

He was Class 1A's leader, so he needed to act like it.

"… Still worth it though." Mineta thought as he settled into his bed. A knock on the door drew his attention and not long after, it opened. Midoriya stepped through, wearing his Hero costume, and greeted the occupants.

"Good morning guys, how are you feeling?" Midoriya said, closing the door behind him.

"Oh Midoriya-kun, good morning. We're doing well, though Mineta-kun's feeling a bit frustrated." Iida replied, putting down his book.

"Understatement of the decade, it's like I'm constantly writing on jelly. But that's enough about me, how about you dude? That old man you're working with putting you through the wringer?" Mineta asked, gesturing to a free chair in the room. Midoriya walked over and sat down before rummaging through the bag he was carrying.

"Absolutely, Gran Torino's pretty intense. Just before we came here, we had a spar and he literally mopped the floor with me. Right now he's meeting with several Heroes here in Hosu to discuss the situation with Stain. And that leaves me to wait here until he's done." Midoriya replied.

"Strange, you would think he would bring you along to show you the inner workings of Hero procedures. Did he mention why?" Iida asked, hand cupping his chin in thought.

"Well Fenghuang handed something off to him for Mineta-kun, something to keep him occupied. And he gave it to me to deliver because... Uh… He didn't want any misunderstandings around him." Midoriya answered after an awkward pause. Mineta and Iida raised an eyebrow to that. What was it that could cause misunderstandings?

But once Midoriya pulled said item out, the shorter boy knew exactly what Gran Torino meant.

In Midoriya's hand was an issue of the world famous, ultra premium, subscription only, gentlemen's magazine Worship. But it wasn't just any issue of Worship; it was the strange riddle filled one that Mineta and Kaminari found. This brought up so many questions in Mineta's mind. First off, why did his Shifu dig through his belongings? Two, why did she hand it off to two others knowing it could cause problems? And three, WHY NOW!?

But back to the current situation… The green haired boy was blushing, not looking at anyone as he handed it to Mineta. Iida blankly stared at the shorter boy, glasses reflecting the light in a particularly ominous way.

"Mineta-kun… Please explain to me why you've brought such explicit reading material to your internship?" Iida asked.

"Yeah, this isn't actually what you think it is. Someone actually gutted the original pages and replaced it with scribbles. See?" Mineta answered as he showed a random page in the magazine. Midoriya and Iida looked away blushing, hands shielding their face. And as funny as seeing two guys trying preserve their innocence was…

This was not the time.

Mineta didn't say anything as he kept holding out the book, becoming a beacon of curiosity. At some point, someone's got to wonder what was written in this. And luckily for the shorter boy, it was his partner that gave in first. Midoriya slowly peaked over his hands, green eyes locking with the nearly incomprehensible scrawlings.

"Huh… You're right…" Midoriya said, studying the shapes with interest. This was when their Class President lowered his barrier to gaze at the bizarre book. And his reaction to it was unexpected to say the least.

"Wha–? Even if I don't partake in these sorts of works, they shouldn't be vandalized! Don't they know the struggles that go into making even a regular magazine? In this era of digital publications? Honestly, the nerve of some people…" Iida said with a surprising amount of distress. And as Mineta watched him make all sorts of wild gestures, he wondered if Iida too had a secret dark side.

Granted, Mineta already saw it with Iida's meeting with Stain…

"Mineta-kun, why do you have this exactly?" Midoriya asked, bringing the shorter boy's attention back to the matter at hand.

"I randomly found it with Kaminari and never threw it away. And one day, when I decided to study it, the thing's hiding a big secret. Believe it or not, but the thing's a treasure map." Mineta answered. The shorter boy swore their eyes almost exploded out of its sockets. But it was only seconds later that he saw their expressions returned to reason and doubt.

"Really Mineta-kun? That sounds a bit implausible." Iida asked before adjusting his glasses.

"Yeah, it's probably some elaborate prank." Midoriya said, nodding his head in agreement.

"I thought the same thing… But take a look at this Midoriya." Mineta replied, holding the first page in a particular way. The green haired boy stared at the scribbles, only to notice the very thing that led Mineta on this path.

"Is that the Fig Grove Logo? And are those serial numbers?" He asked, looking back up to his partner. Mineta only responded with a nod as he saw the gears turn in Midoriya's head. The green haired boy sat in silence before looking back at Mineta, curiosity written all over his face.

"Was the next code easier or harder?"

"It was about the same, figuring out more serial numbers. But the next two were so absolutely bullshit that I'm surprised me and Kaminari got past it. The first was a riddle about finding a certain person at a certain place and time based on the movement of someone else. The next was sorting words from a cluttered flyer for specific words by using an ancient, western poem. And now we're stuck on this riddle, 'North and South, once was one but now away in more than two. And though they oppose, they be bound by forces greater than blood'." Mineta explained.

Midoriya began mulling over that last statement as Iida let out a cough. This drew in the shorter boy's attention, patiently waiting for his Class President's response to this.

"Mineta-kun, these are not riddles. Riddles have clues within them that make sense. But based on what you said, these are far too outlandish to be anything more than a time waster. I think it's best to stop before you're horribly disappointed." Iida said.

"Iida-kun… That last riddle convinced me that, BECAUSE it's this complex, this treasure is real. No prankster alive would take this much effort to learn all this just to trick someone. It'd be completely absurd." Midoriya replied as he looked to his class president.

"Then what if this belongs to some criminal element? We're putting ourselves in danger by discussing this. And we were told not to do things illegally remember?" Iida asked.

"I know, but I don't think a Villain or Criminal made this. If they did, they'd be using their own codes and cipher systems. Not a bunch of riddles that anyone who was smart or observant enough to figure out. Like that last one, I know the answer to it. If someone didn't want just anyone to find it, I'd still be thinking about the meaning of the riddle." Midoriya explained. Iida opened his mouth but no words came out. He then began to ponder the green haired boy's words, leaving Mineta free to talk.

"So… What's the riddle about? I couldn't any sense of it." Mineta asked.

"That's because you need to know a lot of intimate trivia about Heroes and Villains. 'Bound by forces greater than blood' and 'once was one but now away in more than two' hints at the identities of the riddle's subjects. Have you ever heard of the Polar War?" Midoriya asked.

"Wasn't that the series of battles between the Hero Gauss and Villain Revulsion? What about them?" Iida asked.

"They weren't just nemeses… They were brothers, conjoined twins with two halves of a magnetism Quirk. They were attached at the shoulder for most of their childhood. But when they were surgically separated before high school, the twins drifted apart. One became a model student, the other turned into a rebel. And upon graduation, their first battle erupted. Since then, they became the worst enemies and fought from Hokkaido to Okinawa." Midoriya explained.

Mineta began nodding to that, finally seeing where this was going. The riddle described the brothers in their entirety. Their lives, their powers, their bond, their hate, it was all there. But there was one part that the shorter boy still doesn't quite understand.

"If that's the answer to the riddle, how does that relate to this treasure hunt?" Mineta asked, once more showing the magazine to Midoriya.

"Did you find this in Musutafu?" He asked, to which Mineta nodded in response.

"Well… The twins fought in Musutafu eight times in eight different areas. Whoever made this has likely hid the treasure in one of those eight areas. The riddles that come after this must be to narrow down the search." Midoriya answered. Mineta nodded in as the pieces began to click into place, it was all connected all along.

Just then, Iida coughed, drawing the two boy's attention back to their class president.

"While I'm glad you both reached an answer… There is still the problem of the dangers this could pose. While there might not be any criminals involved, we could still break the law by being in places we're not supposed to be. So before you both continue… Can you promise me that you won't be stepping over legal boundaries? We are trying to be Heroes in Training after all." Iida asked.

"Of course Iida-kun, yesterday's talk reminded me of that." Midoriya answered.

"You got it Class Pres. We'll try not to get into any more trouble." Mineta replied.

"Good, now… Allow me to assist you with this. I've grown curious about this strange puzzle and I won't rest easy until I help solve it. It's the least I can do since you helped me with the Hero Killer." Iida added, setting aside his book before getting up. It was a surprising thing to hear for Mineta and Midoriya. But given the circumstances, they might as well pool their knowledge together. The sooner this was solved, the better.

So, once Iida was seated next to Midoriya, Mineta flipped to the next page. The scribbles there were just as incomprehensible as the last. But with two extra brains, the shorter boy knew it was only a matter of time before the code was cracked.

There will be an answer to this riddle.

Chapter 50: Return to Normalcy

Mineta was discharged early the next day from the hospital, allowing him to return to the Heaven and Earth Temple with Fenghuang. From there, he spent the rest of his internship week polishing his baton techniques as well as learning important battle concepts. And though his time here was short, every last second proved to be worthwhile.

Although…

Mineta wished the meditation sessions had yielded more answers. Each night was very much like the last, silence and reflecting on past mistakes. And though it made him more aware of his inner demons, the shorter boy still doesn't know anything about himself.

"Patience my young pupil, all answers will come in due time." Fenghuang said. Mineta jumped as he turned to the door of his loaned room. He had just finished checking all of his belongings and was ready to leave. Once he calmed down, he finally asked the question that's been on his mind since day one.

"Are you some sort of psychic? You always know what I'm thinking."

"Of course I'm not psychic, even the remnants of my Quirk don't give me that sort of power. Just think of it as a Teacher's and Mother's intuition. It's my job to make sure you young ones grow into fine individuals." Fenghuang said with a chuckle. With this response, Mineta realized something he hadn't really thought about. This whole week, he learned many things from his teacher… But he never learned anything ABOUT his teacher.

Then again, a professional keeps their personal lives out of their work.

"Still, pretty selfish of me…" Mineta thought, closing his costume case. He then put on his backpack and stood up, ready to go.

"Then thanks for putting so much effort into this poor rat. I'll do my best to continue what you taught me." He said with a bow.

"And thank you for being a wonderful student. Please, take these gifts to help you along your journey." Fenghuang replied, bowing back before handing her student a medium-sized tote bag. Mineta nodded to that, taking the bag. But due to curiosity, the shorter boy decided to see what was inside.

What he saw was five containers each with four pork buns, four large bottles of tea, and a T-shirt with the Temple's name boldly printed onto it.

Mineta looked up at his Shifu, who was giving him a sly cat smile. Was she really using him as an advertising monkey?

"Do tell your friends about us, my Masters would appreciate the extra students." Fenghuang said with a laugh.

…

The next day came soon enough after Mineta departed from the Temple. And naturally, it started like any other day. He met up with Midoriya and made small talk about what has happened since Hosu. However, what wasn't being discussed was what they learned. And the shorter boy could sense it, his partner wanted to surprise him and vice versa.

"Not even a little hint?" Mineta asked as the two walked through UA's halls.

"Nope. Not unless you share what you've got." Midoriya replied with a smirk.

"Sorry, Shifu's teachings are too awesome for words."

"I guess we'll have to wait until Hero Fundamentals then… Have you ever thought about how everyone else was doing?" Midoriya asked after a momentary pause.

"Sometimes, reminds me that I'm not alone in cryptic suffering. Of course, Iida's case was a little different… But things worked out in the end somehow." Mineta answered with a sigh.

"Thanks to you." Midoriya replied, patting his partner's back. The two stopped before the doors of the 1A classroom. And already they heard some of the regular chaos occurring within. Mineta and Midoriya looked at each other warily before opening the door. What's gotten into their classmates first thing in the morning?

"Is that for real Bakugou!?" Sero laughed, tears pooling in his eyes.

"What's with the hair!? I couldn't recognize you!" Kirishima asked, also laughing his guts out.

"Don't you fucking laugh… It's stuck like shit to a blanket…" Bakugou growled, his hands twitching like he wanted to strangle them. But what was more incredible than his surprising show of restraint was his hair. Instead of the spiky starburst he was known for, Bakugou's hair was neatly combed to make him look like a proper business man. It honestly looked ridiculous, but Mineta was perfectly okay staying silent.

He already had one foot in the grave since the Sports Festival after all.

The two boys then heard a heavy but focused exhale. And turning to the source, Midoriya and Mineta were confronted with another incredible sight. Uraraka, in a steady stance, exuded an aura of terrifying focus as she went through a few martial art forms. Judging by how steady and impactful her movements were, it was obvious that her time with Gunhead was worthwhile.

"It seems Uraraka-san's internship was a success." Midoriya commented as he carefully observed her moves.

"No kidding… I hate to be the guy to go against her…" Mineta said with a nervous chuckle. The girl in question then noticed them, her cheerful side immediately returning.

"Good morning guys, it's been a while. How are you feeling?" Uraraka asked.

"I-I'm doing okay all things considered. It's been a pretty rough week." Midoriya replied, shying away a bit when Uraraka got a little too close.

"Agreed, it hasn't been easy…" Mineta said with a nod. And that wasn't even going into his encounter with Stain. But since that has been put under wraps, it's best for the shorter boy not to mention that. Although, now that his thoughts were on that incident, Mineta began looking for the other person involved.

"Where's Iida? You'd think he'd be here already, being super punct–"

Mineta stopped himself upon hearing the door open behind him. He then quickly braced himself for what was next, an authoritative shout of a greeting.

"Good morning everyone! I apologize for my tardiness!"

And there he was.

"Ah, good morning Iida-kun. What happened? You're usually here much earlier." Midoriya asked, turning around.

"That's because Tensei nii-san was finally discharged from the Hospital. I was making sure he was settled in before I came here." He answered, his voice laced with a bittersweet tone. Upon hearing their class president talk about his brother, all eyes suddenly went to him. All the conversations died down as they all tentatively looked at him. Even Bakugou stopped throttling Kirishima and Sero to that name. And with that change in tension, so did Iida.

"Did he hear about Stain?" Mineta asked, seeing that was the question on everyone's mind.

"How can he not? Guy lost his legs to that psycho…" Kaminari commented.

"I can't imagine what he's feeling, hearing the Villain who crippled him get away. I know I wouldn't be feeling too happy…" Mina said with a frown. The others began to whisper about the situation surrounding Stain. The Hero Killer disappeared completely after the Hosu attack. And despite having more accurate information thanks to Fenghuang and Mineta, no one could find even a hair of him.

Combined with the League of Villains growing presence, it left everyone guessing what would happen next.

But breaking the anxiety was their Class President, who raised his right hand high above his head.

"I appreciate the concern everyone, but it's okay. Though Tensei nii-san was frustrated that he could no longer work… He remains hopeful about the future. After all, he said he had a reliable little brother to count on." Iida said with a gentle smile.

"Awww, that's so cool. I wish I had brother or sister…" Uraraka cooed before mumbling that last part.

"Well, yes… But that's not everything. I might be inheriting the Ingenium name, but it won't be worth anything without great people by my side. So…" Iida replied. He then deeply bowed to Class 1A, his very soul being projected by the words that left his mouth.

"Thank you for everything! I hope you'll continue to support me!"

"Woah Class Pres, where's this coming from? Of course you got my support." Kirishima asked with a smile.

"You're always here for us, so it's only natural that we do the same for you." Yaoyorozu added with a nod.

As everyone began to jump in with their comments, Mineta noticed Iida looking at him for a moment. The Class President's eyes said 'brother knows what happened', allowing the shorter boy to piece together what occurred between the brothers. Iida Tensei must've reinforced what Fenghunag had taught his younger brother. He then had to stress the importance of having a good support system to rely on.

"He must've wanted Iida to succeed where he failed…" Mineta thought as he watched Class 1A talk with their class president.

The door opened again and in came Aizawa, looking as tired as always. Everyone stopped as they silently stared at their teacher, who stared back at them. His eyes then began to slowly narrow themselves. Class 1A quickly rushed to their seats, sat down, and patiently waited for their teacher. Aizawa walked to the podium and set his folder down.

"Will that be a regular occurrence?" He asked plainly, turning to the class.

"No sir!"

"Good, now let's get you back into our regular routine." Aizawa said as he opened his folder.

Chapter 51: Synergy

Not much happened after their morning homeroom period, just learning your standard mundane subjects again. But as Hero Fundamentals grew closer, Class 1A's energy was starting to boil over. It seems that everyone felt the same way Midoriya and Mineta had early that morning. They want to show off all they learned.

And as luck would have it, that time was now. There Class 1A stood before the entrance of Ground Sigma, an area that resembles a massive construction zone with options for vertical or horizontal movement. And for obvious reasons, Sero was excited to get in there.

Uraraka also seemed pretty eager, though for a completely different reason.

"Here we go… First real battle since my injury…" Mineta said as he rotated his shoulders. He then double checked his baseball bandolier, which was modified for his left side, and the baton that hung at his hip. Everything was set. Taking a look around, he could see that his classmates were the same. Interestingly enough, Midoriya was intently stretching out his legs while Kaminari was fiddling with some device on his arm.

It's going to be interesting to see what that's about.

"Welcome back Young Heroes! It's been a while." All Might greeted as he casually walked up to Class 1A. Mineta blinked as he stared at the Number One Hero. That has to be one of his flattest entrances yet and everyone knows it. But before the comments could spiral out of control, the Hero quickly moved onto today's lesson.

"Any how… Since you all are fresh off your Internships, we'll be seeing just how much you've developed in that short amount of time. However, I also want to see what your relations habits are like. So, today's exercise is a Team Raid Time Attack!" All Might said.

"Team Raid… Time Attack? What does that entail Sensei?" Yaoyorozu asked, raising her hand. All Might proceeded to snap his fingers and a flying robot the size of a basketball began floating next to him.

"Within these grounds are eight of these little buggers, target bots. And your goal is to shut them down as fast as you can with a partner. However, these guys won't make it easy as they are all programmed to respond differently, some of them are even armed! But a single hit and they'll go down. Like this."

All Might raised his hand towards the robot and poked the thing with just one finger. The target bot immediately stopped moving and fell to the ground with a heavy thud. Right on top of All Might's left foot. The Symbol of Peace winced and slowly turned back to the class, clearly holding back the pain.

Just how heavy was that?

"A-And word of advice, try not to let it fall on you… Young Iida, I've already made the pairings at random. Care to read them out loud?" He said slowly as he held a piece of paper towards the Class President. Iida quickly accepted the list, unfolding it to announce the contents within. It was strange not to see him in his shining armor. But Mineta supposed they had to live by their cover story to not reveal their involvement with Stain.

"Let's see… We first have… Midoriya-kun and Mineta-kun?" He said, looking over to the pair in question. 1A also focused their attention to the two, silence taking over the space around them. However, that couldn't keep the shorter boy's spirits down. Mineta and his partner could finally show off the very thing they were meant to be.

"The wonder duo's first? Alright, I've always wanted to see what they're like on the same side!" Kirishima shouted excitedly.

"And none of us are going to be on the short end of the stick! I'm all for this!" Mina replied with a nod. Mineta turned to the pink girl, eyes narrowing over the implications of those words. Was she really not a fan of going against him and Midoriya? Then again, given her reaction towards their hypothetical Sports Festival tactics, it was a fair reaction.

Who wouldn't feel upset about going against impossible odds?

"I've specifically picked those two to go first to show you the kind of teamwork I'm looking for. I'm sure you're all aware of those stories where Heroes get in each other's way. Getting hit with an ally's attack or crashing into them during a high speed maneuver, the cost of such a blunder could be immense." All Might said.

"Which is why I don't get the point of this? If people just stayed out of the fucking way, then I'd have no problem. I don't have to worry about friendly fire or shit like that." Bakugou said, still trying to fix his hair. While Mineta didn't really appreciated the human grenade's attitude… He begrudgingly admitted Bakugou had a point. If one's cooperation isn't at least half decent, having problems wouldn't even begin to describe things. All Might then proceeded to point at Midoriya and Mineta, gesturing them to come forward.

"Which is why you'll be observing how it's done. Now, young men, are you ready to enter the gauntlet?" All Might asked as the two stepped up. Mineta looked up to Midoriya as his partner stared back. The two then nodded and then faced the Symbol of Peace, the fire in their eyes intensifying.

"Yes All Might!" The two shouted. And without another word, Midoriya and Mineta entered Ground Sigma's half finished lobby and immediately saw a target floating in the center of the room. The two carefully approached it, taking care to see if it would do anything. But after a few seconds, they relaxed knowing it didn't.

"Your time starts the moment you shut down that first target. You can't leave the room until that happens, so do think carefully on how to approach this raid." All Might said over the intercom.

"Hmm… If that's the case, let's think of a battle plan. There's no map or any sign of where the other seven are, do we split up and search first? Or should we just handle it room by room? But given how All Might talked about the targets, they may be armed with things that could only be dealt with as a team." Midoriya suggested as he rested a hand on his chin.

"That's probably for the best. If we split up, we both could get stuck on something nasty and jack our time up. Let me grab a good rock first. I don't want to waste baseballs and we could just plink it from the door to save time." Mineta said before looking through a pile of rubble. There were many misshapen chunks but there were a few good ones hidden away. So with three safely hanging on his hips, Mineta readied the fourth by stretching out his left arm.

He and Midoriya then went to the door that led further into the training ground. The green haired boy put one hand on the doorknob as Mineta turned around, eyes locked onto the target. His body went through the forms, left arm beginning to draw the arc. The bit of concrete felt heavy against his fingers as it reached the moment of release. It made the boy appreciate all the reinforcements the Heaven and Earth Temple's armorer had made to his glove.

The concrete chunk sailed forward as a standard four-seam fast ball and nailed the target dead in its center. The robot fell to the ground as Midoriya opened the door, picking up Mineta as he did. The next area was a hallway with unpainted dry wall. There were two doorways to the adjacent rooms and a fork at the end of the hall. The target robot stood at the center of the hall next to one of the doorways.

Without hesitation, Mineta felt Midoriya lift him up and threw him towards the target. It was a strange thing, to be thrown head long by your best friend. But the shorter boy knew they didn't exactly have the time to be formal. Mineta drew his baton and extended it, taking a swing as he passed by. However, the robot simply moved out of the way of the attack.

That was until a fist shrouded in green sparks struck it. Midoriya quickly ran past the falling husk of steel and grabbed Mineta before he collided with the wall.

"Sorry about that." Midoriya said, lowering his head sheepishly.

"It's fine dude, totally expected that." Mineta said, allowing his nerves to settle. He looked down both hallways, nothing out of the ordinary going on with either path. The shorter boy then looked up to Midoriya and pointed between the two directions, posing a silent question. Where to?

"I have a feeling we'll be doubling back anyway. Let's go left." Midoriya said as he began moving that way. Mineta took a moment to look back and realized they never been to the other rooms. Oh well, if they really do need to double back around, he'll bring it up then. The two boys went through the next pair of doors and found themselves in a wide atrium. The skylight wasn't complete and there were stacks of construction material everywhere… But it looked like a nice place to lounge around in.

Well, except for the giant robot at the center of the room. Midoriya stopped running as Mineta stared at their next opponent. The thing was about three times All Might's height and twice as wide. It held a great shield that matched its height in its left and a long 'baton' in its right. And finally, the robot was covered in thick steel plates like a medieval knight.

It was also bipedal, making it unlike any of the UA robots they've seen thus far.

"What the Hell?" Mineta said as a cold sweat formed on his brow.

"Where's the target on that?" Midoriya asked, analyzing the thing from head to toe. Almost as though it was responding, the giant moved its shield in a taunting way. And there was the target robot, nestled in its left pectoral plate protected by tightly woven metal cage.

It was here that Mineta made a sound conclusion, which Midoriya had also reached. Before the steel giant even began to approach them, the green haired boy ran away with Mineta in tow. The two ended up back in the previous hallway. Midoriya only stopped when they were at the other door they ignored earlier. Mineta wriggled out of his friend's grasp and approached the door.

"Let's take a peak first. We don't want to run into that nonsense again." Mineta said, gesturing to the last room.

"Definitely. Let's figure how to deal with him later." Midoriya replied, pointing his thumb to the previous door. The two then focused on the one before them. With a lone nod from Mineta, the green haired boy slowly opened the door and the two peered through. The door actually led outside where construction equipment and piles of building material lay. There was a clear dirt path towards the framework of a new complex.

What they didn't see, however, was a target bot.

"We should move out carefully… We don't know what the target's going to do." Midoriya said as he fully opened the door.

"I'll do some scurrying around then, see what I can find." Mineta said as he quickly stepped outside. The soft dirt muffled his footsteps as he advanced. The shorter boy briefly hid behind wood pile before peering around the corner. Still nothing. However, before he could move forward again, Mineta heard a soft whiring noise from behind and above him.

Shit.

Mineta turned around and looked up. And there it was, hovering over his head, the target robot. While this one wasn't surrounded by mounds of steel like the other one, there was a still frame around it. Attached to that frame were a few jets, two rather large cylinders, and two spinning miniguns. Both of which were aimed right at the shorter boy.

"Mineta-kun! Step back!"

He did just that and, like many times before, Midoriya appeared to shield him. But unlike all those other times, this time the green haired boy was prepared. In front of Midoriya was a shield, the door that first led them outside. Mineta had to shake off the shock before going to peer around the makeshift shield. The target was firing what looked like to be paint rounds and slowly coming back to ground level.

"Midoriya, it's going to ground. On my mark, you push this door at it. Then, if it dodges, I'll hit it with a pitch." Mineta said, taking a baseball from his bandolier.

"We'll retreat if that doesn't work. And then we figure out how it behaves." Midoriya replied with a nod.

"You got it. Now go!" Mineta said after he entered his pitching form. Midoriya's body glowed a little brighter, the green sparks intensifying as he rested his right hand on the center of the door. With a resolute push, the boy sent the thing forward at a surprising speed. However, despite that, the robot smoothly glided to the side and avoided the hunk of metal.

That was when Mineta's eyes snapped to the target, his body already through most of the pitch. With some minor adjustments, the baseball launched from his fingers. But like the last projectile, the robot dodged it before its guns began to spin again. The shorter boy froze, waiting for his partner to grab him and run.

What happened instead was one of his hairballs got plucked and lobbed. The robot stopped spinning its guns before moving out of the way. And only now did Midoriya pick Mineta up and legged it. The shorter boy looked up to the green haired boy, ready to ask him what's with the delay. Those questions, however, died when he saw the gears turning in his head.

"Did you notice something?" Mineta asked.

"When we attacked that target… It stopped trying to shoot." He answered. Mineta let those words hang in his mind for a moment. The target did stop attacking them to quickly dodge. And, in fact, the opposite was true as well. When it was firing, the target moved rather slowly. If that was how it behaved, how could they take advantage of it?

"We should keep testing it; see what other ticks we could find." Mineta said, breaking out of his thoughts.

"Then let's try to it at different angles. We'll find a weak spot sooner or later. So… Please don't hate me for this." Midoriya replied with a nervous grin. Before Mineta could ask, the green haired boy dug his feet into the earth and ran back the other way. The robot that was chasing them stopped and readied its guns, only for Midoriya to throw Mineta.

Mineta's heart froze as the guns kept spinning. But to his luck, he'd get within swinging distance before the first shot. So with a simple flick of his baton, he forced the thing to dodge. Mineta then flung a hairball on the spot he was going to land on, softening his landing. Turning back around, he saw Midoriya fighting with the target.

And though the robot was dodging all of his attacks… What surprised Mineta was how his partner was semi-seamlessly blending kicks with his punches. It honestly made him forget about the fact that Midoriya threw him head long into firearms. But this was no time for semantics. The shorter boy quickly dashed onto his hairball and launched himself into battle.

He timed his jump to match Midoriya's kick. Once the target had just moved out of the way, Mineta came in swinging with his baton. And when it dodged that, Midoriya followed up with a punch from the other side. Another dodge, but Mineta cut it off with a thrust. This had begun a cycle. One that the robot struggled with as the duo's coordination was polished to perfection.

Honestly, it looked as though Midoriya and Mineta was performing a ritualistic dance. And it was this that allowed a new idea to form.

Mineta's next baton swing missed again. But with the way the target moved, he did something risky. Using the momentum of his strike, he threw the baton at it. And though it dodged again, Midoriya caught the baton and swung into the target while it was still moving. A dull clang was heard.

The robot flew back and fell to the earth. It was no longer moving…

"We got it… Good work Mineta-kun…" Midoriya panted as he tossed the baton back to his partner.

"You too man. Now, let's get the rest of these suckers." Mineta replied with a nod. He really had to hold himself back as the adrenaline was coursing through him. What they just did felt incredible. It made him wonder just how far they could push that move. Or even, how many other techniques they could make.

And just how much further they could grow.

Chapter 52: Ticking Time Bomb

Mineta and Midoriya proceeded to hunt down the other targets, destroying them with new and old techniques. It was here that the duo learned just how the other expanded their move list. Apparently for Midoriya, he was inspired by the way his internship mentor, Gran Torino, fought. And using the Sports Festival footage of Iida's fights, he came up with a new fighting style. A name for it was still in the works though.

However, not everything went their way with the last target, the heavily armored giant, proved to be too much. No matter what maneuver was used against it; Mineta nor Midoriya could do anything to it. The target was too strong and too well armored for either of their current abilities to work.

And thus, the two ran out an invisible clock All Might had set, ending the run.

It was pretty frustrating as they went back in defeat. Not even the encouragement of their classmates could help the disappointment. It only goes to show that Mineta and Midoriya still have much to learn. But that is for the future as All Might said. For now, the two watched how their classmates faired in their raid.

Here are some highlights.

Aoyama fired his laser at the wrong moment, interrupting Tokoyami and Dark Shadow's attack. This resulted in the two getting blasted by the gun target.

Mina literally melted the heavily armored target into a puddle. Even if that did leave some minor burns on her skin.

Kaminari demonstrating what that device on his arm was. It was a grappling hook with an ultra conductive cable. His accuracy with it, however, was something best left unsaid.

Bakugou, being Bakugou, was able to complete the raid the fastest out of everyone. However, this was only achieved because he left Yaoyorozu far behind.

And then there was Uraraka… She used an excavator to run over and pin down the heavily armored target, allowing Kirishima to finish it off.

So with that, All Might was ready to present the results.

"Good work everyone. Despite the highs and lows, you've all completed the raid wonderfully." All Might said, clapping his hands together. Before he could continue though, someone let out a rather condescending scoff. Three guesses as to who it was…

"MOST of us finished. Let's not get ahead of ourselves and say 'everyone did well' All Might." Bakugou replied, folding his arms. And while he didn't mention any names, the class knew who he was referring too. Mineta's brow twitched as words of rebellion rose up within his small being. The shorter boy knew this would go nowhere, tangling with an explosive.

But Mineta really was sick and tired of Bakugou.

"At least MOST of us didn't abandon our partner the first chance we got. Could you imagine what people would think if someone did that for real?" Mineta retorted with a growl. The air surrounding Class 1A went cold as Bakugou slowly turned to the shorter boy. He wasn't showing any sort of expression. That serenity, though, was betrayed by the fumes within his sharp, red eyes.

"Hey. At least Ponytail's grade won't drop because of me. You and Deku on the other hand will need a fucking miracle to fix. Shit stains can't even beat the last one to save your lives…"

"Pretty bold of you to assume you did better when the point of the exercise was to work together. Which YOU DIDN'T EVEN TRY." Mineta retorted loudly.

"I don't need to! If I had, we wouldn't have achieved anything! I got us results!" Bakugou shouted back, hands starting to spark. The murmurs around them grew a little louder as tensions rose. Yaoyorozu took the explosive blonde's comment the hardest, looking downcast as the girls try to cheer her up.

"Kacchan… Mineta-kun… Let's calm–" Midoriya began, trying to step between them. Mineta and Bakugou immediately snapped to the only person who could resolve this issue.

"All Might put down this jerk!"

"All Might tell Rat Bitch I'm right!"

"W-Well… Then why don't we take a look at these results." All Might said nervously as he pushed down a remote. A holographic screen appeared, listing all ten pairs, their time, target's destroyed, their average cooperation rating, and their overall score. Mineta went straight for his and Midoriya's, finding them at rank 6. That quickly put the fear in him, knowing that Bakugou could easily overcome that level of effort. He looked at the pairs above their own, sweating bullets over Bakugou's rank.

Only to not find his or Yaoyorozu's names at 1st through 5th. Instead, looking one rank down, he saw it. 7th place, Bakugou and Yaoyorozu. Wait, what?

"While individual strength is important for a Hero, it doesn't allow them to do everything. Just as a single teacher can't teach an entire school, us Heroes must be able to cooperate with one another during massive operations. And believe me, in a really harrowing scenario, you'd appreciate every bit of help you can get." All Might began with a cough.

"Despite Young Midoriya and Young Mineta's inability to defeat their last target, they demonstrated a level of coordination that takes months or years to build. And given their flexible abilities and good nature, they'd be able to integrate themselves into most plans." All Might explained.

"On the other hand… Your abrasive nature, Young Bakugou, makes things difficult for other people. Young Yaoyorozu only wished to help, but you disallowed her to even do anything. Imagine how she felt through all this? Imagine the consequences of not showing anyone respect or regard to their opinions. I say this because it's shockingly easy to ruin a relationship, even amongst good friends. And when you no longer have anyone around you… You'll find yourself fighting the odds without any rest." All Might concluded with a heavy sigh.

There was something to All Might's last two statements. For the first, it sounded like something he went through. Like there was someone the Number One Hero ignored and it caused a fracture in their friendship. Mineta might have to ask Midoriya about that later…

Then there was the last statement. All Might was no doubt talking about his current situation. Really, this was the first time that he alluded to the fact that he wasn't invincible. But thinking about it from a cooperation perspective, he must not want anyone in the same position he's in now. Heavily injured and slowly losing his ability to fight.

"All Might… Are you okay?" Uraraka asked.

"I am now but not so much in my youth. This is why I want you all to not repeat my mistakes. Be strong and kind not for yourselves, but for people next to you. Understood?" All Might asked, the pep in his person coming back.

"Yes Sir!"

"Good, now head on back to change. I need to file these recordings away." All Might said with a laugh.

So with that, class was dismissed. But a strange tension hung in the air as Bakugou was quiet throughout all of this. Mineta swallowed the lump in his through as he hung next to Midoriya. Neither of the boys said anything either, but they've come to an understanding. Their explosive 'friend' was simmering, his pride no doubt injured. He was, after all, beaten by 'two shits stuck to his boot for three fucking years'.

"This tension is killing me… Why don't we talk about something else?" Hagakure whispered somewhat quietly to Ojiro.

"If you fuckers have something to say, then stop pussy footing around and say it." Bakugou said with a low growl. Everyone flinched as they all stopped all eyes on the human grenade. Mineta looked at Midoriya, seeing him give him an affirming nod of confidence. Seeing that the shorter boy started this, he might as well bring it to its conclusion.

"Bakugou, even if our scores–" Mineta began.

"Don't you give me that patronizing shit Mineta Minoru!" Bakugou shouted, interrupting him. Now that sent Mineta onto his back foot, as well as everyone else. This was the first time he used someone's full name. His full name.

"All Might proved your fucking point and shot me dead. So go ahead, take your little victory, and rub it in my face. But be sure to savor ever last second because it'll be the last time ANY OF YOU gets the better of me! Because I'll be the one laughing next time. So fuck off and get away from me…" Bakugou said before storming off.

"Wha–? Bakugou! Hold up!" Kirishima shouted as he tried to follow. Midoriya quickly held back the red haired boy, shaking his head gently.

Mineta however, in his infinite confusion and anger, picked up a nearby rock and hurled it right at Bakugou. Class 1A stared in horror as the small stone flew on a course for his head. The explosive blonde looked behind him, sharp eyes already on the rock. And in one clean motion, blew the stone to dust. The line has now snapped.

"You little rat fuck! You want to go?" Bakugou screamed, advancing before a hardened Kirishima charged in and blocked him. Not that he seemed to even register him.

"You know what? Yeah! I'm sick of your pompous shit!" Mineta shouted back, drawing his baton before Midoriya placed a hand on his shoulder. That gesture was enough to regain a bit of the shorter boy's reasoning. Why did he do that? What does this even accomplish? Whatever the answers were, he knew the heat in his chest was burning too fiercely to even hope to stop.

"Just when I thought you've learned, you bring it back to yourself! The world doesn't revolve around you, but you keep acting like it is! You left Yaomomo behind today. Demanded an apology from Todoroki at the Sports Festival. In fact, did you even thank anyone on your Cavalry team? Shouldn't everyone here get a little more respect than that!?" Mineta continued shouting.

"I respect them by not shitting them with kid gloves! Unlike you, I can look at them dead in the eye and say 'fuck you'. But I guess that's too much for a conniving cock sucker like you to get." Bakugou answered, thunder punctuating every word.

"Kacchan! Mineta-kun! Stop! I know you two aren't friends, but you don't need to make things worse." Midoriya said loudly. Bakugou and Mineta continued to use their glares to strangle the other. However, now that nothing else was being said, they simultaneously broke their glare. Bakugou began walking off, grumbling something that could only be heard by Jirou or Shouji.

Though he did stop and chuck something towards Mineta, which the shorter boy caught without issue. It was a rock, about the same size as the one Mineta threw.

"Payment returned! Now settle your debt with me!" He shouted before stomping off. Kirishima looked to Midoriya, who nodded towards him. The red haired boy quickly ran after Bakugou, hoping to at least salvage some kind of positivity from this situation. Mineta stared at the stone that sat in his hand. He honestly didn't know what he was looking for in it. Perhaps he wanted a solution on how to deal with Bakugou...

Once and for all.

Chapter 53: Unexpected Surprises

The next day came and Mineta was neck deep in hot water.

Naturally the volatile events of yesterday were reported by Iida. And while Mineta just wanted to forget that ever happened, it was the right thing to do. He attacked Bakugou almost unprovoked, that sort of thing shouldn't go unpunished. It was also unbecoming of a Hero in Training and the partner of the future Number One Hero.

However, what Mineta wasn't expecting, was the fact that his nemesis was also in the same position. Class 1A agreed that, while the shorter boy started it, Bakugou didn't help matters at all. From trying to incite more anger, to attacking Mineta with one last 'screw you', Bakugou was equally as guilty. So he had to be punished too, much to the explosive blonde's frustration.

So when Aizawa came in, he made Mineta and Bakugou go to room D1 near Principal Nezu's office. It was one of several rooms solely reserved for students in need of discipline. And without any right to complain, the two troublemakers went there without issue. They are to stay there for the entire day, missing out on whatever today's lessons and announcements were.

"Hopefully it's not anything too important…" Mineta thought as he opened the door to D1. It looked like their 1A classroom, just a lot smaller, only holding about six student desks and a teacher's desk. And sitting there was a formally dressed small animal. It was Principal Nezu, patiently waiting for 'the guests of honor'.

"Ah, you two must be Bakugou-kun and Mineta-kun. I'm your friendly mammalian Principal of UA, Nezu. While I normally leave my teachers to handle disciplinary action themselves… I thought I'd give Aizawa-kun some much needed rest and handle you two myself." Nezu said, an ominous glint appearing in his eye.

Mineta felt a shiver in his spine as he gestured for the two to sit. Mineta stiffly walked forward, Bakugou following as he harshly shut the door behind them. The two sat at the front row, but kept a single desk between them. No matter what, Mineta wasn't going to turn in Bakugou's direction. And judging from the hostility from his left, he could tell the explosive blonde was doing the same.

"Hmmm… I take it that you two dislike each other?" Nezu asked with a hum.

"That's a fucking understatement." Bakugou said.

"Dislike doesn't even begin to describe things Principal." Mineta corrected.

"Oh dear, this is worse than I thought… Well, let me first start by asking why you two have such a vindictive relationship? If I recall, you two went to the same Middle School with Midoriya Izuku-kun. Did your troubles start there?" Nezu asked as he began pulling out a tea set, a sure sign that this was going to take a while.

"Like you wouldn't believe…" Mineta and Bakugou answered simultaneously.

"So there are things you two can agree on. Would either of you like to talk about it?" Nezu asked with a satisfied nod. Mineta pressed his lips together, not letting a single sound out. For one, he would need to divulge information involving Midoriya's Quirklessness. And while the shorter boy was certain the Principal knew about the egg, Mineta still wasn't risking it.

And two… He wasn't about to die in a fiery explosion for exposing a certain someone's problems.

"I've got nothing to say about him except that he's been a real pain in my ass since day one." Bakugou said, folding his arms. Nezu looked over to Mineta, his beady black eyes trying to pressure him into saying something. Anything. But the shorter boy maintained his vow of silence. And it was a good thing he did, since Mineta could feel Bakugou's killing intent.

"You two know this sort of problem can't be resolved with silence, right?" Nezu asked, leaning back into his chair. The two boys only responded with more silence, completely dead set on maintaining it. The Principal sighed sadly as he put one paw over his face.

"If that's your answer… Then take this time to reflect on your actions yesterday. I want you to think about what you could've said and done differently. You both have a lot of potential; don't go wasting it on petty squabbles." Nezu said as he began preparing tea. Bakugou simply grumbled while Mineta nodded before the two continued their silence.

The shorter boy closed his eyes and began to meditate like his Shifu taught him. He began to explore yesterday's outburst in closer detail. What was it that caused him to lash out like that? Was it Bakugou's 'me first' attitude? Can't be, he's been like that for three years.

Could it be Bakugou's habit of hiding his true feelings about something? No, that didn't sound right either. He was brutally honest with just about everything and everyone.

Could something have changed within Mineta himself? That could be possible… With his newest training, he could've been emboldened to poke the bear. Actually, this could've occurred even before he met Shifu. I mean, Mineta had argued with Bakugou several times since the Sports Festival.

Hmmm…

"It's no good, I can't think of anything. It's just like with my perverted side…" Mineta thought sadly as he stretched. He glanced at the analog clock on the wall; its loud ticking filled the air. Only ten minutes have passed. The shorter boy looked over to Principal Nezu, who was sorting through various documents. And though the mysterious mammal was intently reading, Mineta could still feel his watchful gaze on him and Bakugou.

This was going to be Hell.

…

…

…

Mineta stirred from his meditative serenity when the lunch bell sounded. He stretched out his limbs again while thinking back to that lengthened period of boredom. And like his other meditation sessions, he yielded no major results to old and new personal questions. The shorter boy only revealed surface level details, the things he already knew.

"How does Shifu do it? How does one dig deep?" Mineta thought as he and Bakugou both got out of their seats. Principal Nezu looked up and gestured for the two boys to sit back down. The shorter boy froze and immediately did so. Bakugou on the other hand…

"You can't expect us to go hungry." He said.

"Oh don't worry; I've already arranged something for you two. Just spend this time continuing to mull over your transgressions." Nezu said. Mineta could hear Bakugou's eye twitch as he stomped over to Nezu's desk. He then slammed his hands on the Principal's desk, looming over the small mammal. But despite that threatening action, Nezu remained calm with paws nestled together.

"Listen here SIR, I've spent four hours in mind altering silence. You can't expect me to keep this up!"

"You could always talk to your classmate. I'm sure he'd appreciate a break in the monotony too." Nezu replied cheerfully, gesturing to Mineta. Bakugou slowly turned around, his red eyes making contact with Mineta since coming into this room. And as it happened, their gazes met for the briefest of moments. The shorter boy frowned as the explosive blonde hastily turned away with a growl. Bakugou then stomped back to his seat and sat down.

But before they were subjected to more tortuous quiet, there was a knock on the door.

"Please come in." Nezu said, putting down some papers. Upon it opening, Mineta's eyes widened at the people that stood at the entrance. The first was a blonde haired man completely dressed in denim clothes. His shirt even had a massive denim collar. And next to him was someone Mineta wasn't expecting to see since leaving her care just two days ago.

"Hmm? Best Jeanist, Fenghuang, what brings you to UA?" Nezu asked, raising his brows.

"I heard about Bakugou's incident from Eraserhead. As such, I'm here to correct my student and his misdeeds Principal Nezu. So please allow me to spend the rest of today with the boy." Best Jeanist replied, bowing slightly to the Principal. The small mammal looked over to the Radiant Wing, seeing her nod as well.

"I'd like to teach my young pupil as well, esteemed Principal. It seems there are still some lessons I need to impart onto him." She answered, bowing as well. Mineta looked between his Shifu and the Principal, not sure what to make of anything. But as the shorter boy saw the complex gears in Nezu's mind turn, a wise yet devious smile formed on his face.

"Permission granted. And feel free to partake in our liberal teaching policies. Now, is there a specific spot you would like to use?" Nezu replied cheerfully.

"Here is just fine." Best Jeanist answered.

"The roof if possible." Fenghuang replied. Nezu reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a key ring. He flipped through a few of them before removing the red one. And upon handing it off, Fenghuang gestured for Mineta to follow her. With nothing better to do and the inability to decline, the shorter boy got out of his seat.

"Why does he get to leave?" Bakugou asked with a growl.

"We don't want to conflict with the other's teachings. That is unless you would like my assistance Mr. Jeanist." Fenghuang replied before looking to her fellow hero.

"I'll be fine. After all, I have this." Best Jeanist said as he dramatically brandished a comb. Bakugou noticeably paled as a cold sweat began to appear on his skin. This degree of shock even spooked Mineta. What did this strange man of denim done to him?

"Let's go Young Mineta, we have much to do." Fenghuang said, her feather cloak swaying as she turned to the door. This snapped the shorter boy out of his stupor and he immediately followed. He even had the common sense to not look at Bakugou, who was definitely murdering Mineta with his glare. And that haunting feeling didn't leave even though the door has closed behind him.

This just left Fenghuang and Mineta.

She began walking, forcing Mineta to follow. Nothing was said as they reached the stairwell… But instead of going up to the roof, they were going down.

"Shifu? I thought–"

"There are still a few components we need my young pupil. I know you're eager to repent for your mistakes. But there is no use in learning an incomplete lesson." Fenghuang interrupted. Mineta swallowed his remaining words. If he was about to be imparted with Kung Fu wisdom, it's best to wait and see. Stupid questions give you stupid answers after all.

So with that, both Master and Student went down towards Lunch Rush's cafeteria. Mineta began wondering just why he was being led here of all places. Perhaps she just wanted lunch? Seeing that it was noon and Fenghuang had to rush over to Musutafu from Inuito. It was also possible that there was some hidden meaning in coming here.

"Mineta-kun?"

Mineta froze before snapping around, causing his Shifu to do the same but slower. And standing there, in one huge group, was Midoriya and the rest of Class 1A. Even the ones who normally brought lunch to school were here. So he really had to ask the question, even if the same one could apply to himself.

"What are you guys doing here?" Mineta asked, eyes bouncing between his classmates.

"Dude we could ask you the same thing. I thought you were stuck in discipline Hell?" Kaminari replied. The electric blonde then noticed Fenghuang and his already surprised eyebrows went up a bit more.

"Who's the pretty lady?" He asked before being elbowed by Jirou. Yaoyorozu and Ojiro blinked before realization dawned on them. The former quickly approached the Heroine as the latter stared in silent awe.

"You're the Radiant Wing Fenghuang! Master of the Heaven and Earth Temple in Inuito city. Your Flowing Taiji style is legendary amongst Heroes who use martial arts. I-I've studied your introduction to staff fighting so many times before UA." She said excitedly, momentarily stumbling over her words. To see the normally regal and composed Yaoyorozu acting like Midoriya was pretty shocking.

But it wasn't bad to say, just made the girl all the more endearing.

"Then I hope my lessons will continue to serve you well. And to answer your classmate's previous question, I am here to discipline Young Mineta for yesterday's transgression. You see, your teacher had informed me of what had transpired. And seeing how I was his mentor until two days ago, it felt appropriate to visit him and impart one more lesson." Fenghuang answered. She then looked at each one of the 1A students. And as she observed them, Mineta noted how she had finished piecing together an idea.

One he just figured out.

"We need them for our lesson don't we?" Mineta asked. He didn't know why his Shifu needed them. But whatever the case, he knew it could only benefit them all.

"If it's not too much trouble, may I ask you all to join us on the roof? Think of it as a supplementary lesson to your current curriculum." Fenghuang asked, bowing slightly to Class 1A. While Yaoyorozu and Ojiro looked ready to jump at the opportunity, the others were still one the fence.

"Hmm… But lunch though…" Uraraka grumbled, tilting her head back and forth. With her free hand, Fenghuang began to fiddle with something within her feathered cloak. It was only a few seconds before she unveiled what it was she was doing. The heroine showed the class two large bags, one box shaped and one cylindrical. Mineta immediately began smelling the air. And despite the overpowering scents from the cafeteria, he managed to pick it up.

The familiar smell of high nutrition pork buns.

"You didn't think I would visit without bringing gifts did you?" Fenghuang chuckled as she looked to her student. Uraraka, who caught a whiff of the food, began salivating and immediately changed her tune. Though that could just be Uraraka's social class speaking for her. Mina though, began to vocalize just why they were together in the first place.

"But I thought we were going to eat together, build up some camaraderie after yesterday's Hero training?" She asked with a pout.

"You know, we could still do that. It'll just be on the roof and not here." Todoroki said bluntly. Mina raised a single finger, words ready to leave her open mouth. But nothing came out as the pink girl slowly lowered her finger.

"… Yeah, that'll work. Lead the way Kung Fu Lady."

Fenghuang gave the group a gentle smile before leading the whole class forward. It was a strange sight, but Mineta supposed stranger things have happened in UA. Midoriya walked next to the shorter boy and leaned in as best as he could to whisper to him.

"What's her plan with us exactly?"

"My guess is as good as yours. But based on how Bakugou reacted with Best Jeanist, we're probably going to be thrown face first into cryptic wisdom. With me taking the brunt of it…" Mineta answered, sweat rolling down the side of his head.

"Best Jeanist's with Kacchan? Oh man... Whatever it is though, I hope you're ready." Midoriya answered. The shorter boy looked at the gentle yet resolute back of Fenghuang. With the way she moved, there was definitely a great degree of conviction and intent within her. Whatever this lesson was, it would no doubt be important to all of them.

Such was the way of the Radiant Wing…