Chapter 54: Unifying the Spirit
It was no wonder the rooftop was off limits to students, UA was a tall building. Even with Quirks, someone could seriously get hurt or even die at this height. This very thought began to stir a particularly bad memory within Mineta.
It happened halfway into their second year at Orudera Middle. And Bakugou was trampling on Midoriya's dream for the Nth time. While Mineta had tried to argue against him, it was hopeless like always. Then the bastard said something that came close to ending everything.
"If Deku wants to play Hero so bad, then he should take a dive off the roof. Who knows, he could have a Quirk in the next life."
Mineta clenched his right hand, feeling his nails dig into his skin. He was glad that Midoriya never took that 'suggestion' and stayed away from any ledges. But they had to spend a lot of time recovering from that comment. And while Bakugou never said anything like that again… He hadn't actually apologized either.
Even to this day.
"I have so many reasons to hate Bakugou that I'm starting to forget them." Mineta muttered.
"Holy crap! This is great!" Kirishima shouted, snapping Mineta out his thoughts. The shorter boy turned around and noted how his classmates were having fun. Yaoyorozu had generated a blanket so they all didn't have to sit on the rough concrete, practically turning their lunch into an impromptu picnic. Fenghuang was pouring them tea as 1A helped themselves to pork buns.
"I'm glad you enjoy them. My son and daughter will appreciate your kind words. They put a lot of work in making these for the students and masters at the Temple." Fenghuang said with a warm smile.
"You know, how did Mineta intern under you Fenghuang Shifu? I don't think your agency was one of the available options we had." Ojiro asked he took a cup of tea.
"My young pupil happened to stumble into a secret condition Aizawa-sensei had set. Should anyone fail to intern under anyone, he would send them to me. As it would happen, Mineta's choices all canceled for one reason or another. And thus, here we are." She answered. The shorter boy thought back to that strange chain of events, realizing just how quickly Aizawa put together the transfer. And while Mineta could've gone without the knowledge of his devious machinations…
This was probably for the better.
"Damn, you really are lucky." Jirou said with a smirk. Mineta didn't know about that, seeing as something was about to happen. Still, it was interesting to see how quickly Shifu endeared herself to his classmates. Even Todoroki was being a little more talkative when Fenghuang inquired about the state of their studies. But the moment everyone took a break to eat or drink something, her tone changed subtly.
"Do you have your baton my young pupil." She asked as she reached for her staff.
"I do…" Mineta answered with a gulp. He then reached into his pocket and removed it. The heroine proceeded to stand up and remove her feathered cloak, asking Iida to hold onto it. And while 1A was blissfully enjoying the food, weather, and company… She looked back towards her student with a glare.
The shorter boy immediately extended his baton and brought it up. Fenghuang was before him and sent him reeling back with a wide arc of black. The sharp sound of the clash caught 1A's attention, their eyes widening at the sight before them. The Heroine immediately stepped forward, her staff whirling around her. Mineta's thoughts were caught in a loop. He knew once someone was caught inside her Flowing Taiji bubble, they wouldn't be able to get out.
"Let's get to the point my young pupil! What do you think of Bakugou Katsuki?" Fenghuang asked, her staff extending out to sweep Mineta's feet. The shorter boy jumped back, only to find his teacher already covering that distance. Her staff began to whirl again, forcing Mineta to block every streak of white and black that came his way. He was stuck in her bubble.
But her question did stir within him long enough.
"I hate the guy!" Mineta shouted, eyes paying attention to how his teacher moved her staff. It was almost like clockwork with the way she completed her movements. Her steady footwork, the snappy twists of her body, the fluidity of her arms and shoulders, the speed and grace of her ever changing grips… All of it spoke of her experience.
"Why?" She asked. The shorter boy intercepted a particularly heavy rising strike, almost as if it emphasized her question. He managed to push the staff away and stepped in for a strike. Mineta too was putting the feelings of his answer into this attack.
"He's an asshole! Treating everyone like dirt! Thinking he's the center of the world! For getting away with everything he's done! I can't forgive him!" Mineta shouted, punctuating every swing. But like all the other times they've spared, Fenghuang brushed each attack aside with ease. The shorter boy charged in with a thrust that held the full extent of his hate. His Shifu simply stepped aside, allowing the boy to pass before hitting him square in the back.
Mineta fell to one knee before sensing a blow from his right. He threw up his guard and managed to stop it. But with another push from Funghuang, he was knocked to the ground. The shorter boy tried to get up. Only to find the dark wood of his master's staff pressed against his chest.
"Is that the only thing you feel about him?" She asked somberly. Mineta was about to answer 'yes' until a strange apprehension hit him. He didn't know what it was about this question that had him stuck. But it did, however, remind him of the first time he meditated with Fenghuang. It reminded Mineta of how he blinded himself with shame.
Was… Was he blinded by all the built up resentment towards Bakugou?
Before he could answer, Fenghuang quickly leapt away as a flash of green sparks flew over head. Mineta blinked and saw Midoriya's reliable back shielding him. He quickly looked to where his Shifu was and saw his classmates stepping into the fray. They had her surrounded on all sides, beginning a standoff.
"It's alright Mineta-kun, we've sent Aoyama-kun and Hagakure-san to get help. We'll be holding her right here until the teachers come." Midoriya said, tightening his combat stance.
"And don't think we'll hesitate just because you're a Pro Hero. Mineta-chan's our friend and classmate. We won't idly stand by and see him get hurt like this." Tsuyu said as she crouched down.
"So will you please explain what's going on?" Iida shouted, his engines revving up.
Fenghuang didn't answer, but she did maintain her intense aura. In fact, she wasn't looking at anyone else except Mineta. And as the shorter boy stared back, he saw that she was waiting for a response. But with all the tension in the air, he could hardly think of something to say. For now, he should try to diffuse the situation.
"Oh screw this!" Kaminari shouted. A 'boom' soon followed. The world slowed as Mineta began turning to the sound's source.
Kaminari had fired the cannon Yaoyorozu had created and manned, startling the girl. The fired net began opening up, but not before Fenghuang readied her staff. And in one smooth motion, she swung at the ensnaring projectile. The staff caught one of the various loops and began dragging it out of its intended path. She then began whirling her staff around, making the net look like an odd flag.
She turned and weaved the net in front of her, catching and dispersing a jet of flame from Todoroki. She then flung the burning mass right onto a lunging Dark Shadow. As the living shadow pulled away shrieking, Tsuyu shot her tongue out as Sero launched tape from the opposite side. Fenghuang leaned away from both attacks before slapping the non sticky side of Sero's tape. This caused the tape to adhere onto Tsuyu's tongue, forcing both to be stuck.
Fenghuang jumped to avoid a three sided attack from Iida, Kirishima, and Ojiro. The three barely stopped themselves from hitting each other, though they still crashed into one another. Fenghuang landed on Sero's tape, feet resting on the non sticky side. Her eyes then snapped to Jirou, whose jacks were coming in fast.
Mineta couldn't even see what happened next. Because when he blinked, Jirou's jacks were caught between Fenghuang's index, middle, and ring fingers. The heroine pulled on them, leapt into the air, and kicked her staff, hitting Jirou square in the chest. Fenghuang landed and charged at Kouda, who was readying commands for some pigeons. She threw feint right at his face, causing him to flinch and scared the birds away.
The Heroine proceeded to pull the boy forward a step and vaulted over him. But before Kouda could recover, a thick layer of ice encased his feet. Fenghuang then performed a sweeping kick the moment she touched the ground. This allowed her to avoid a break dance kick from Mina while knocking away the arms that supported the pink girl. And as she fell down, Fenghuang stood up to stop an overhead staff strike from Yaoyorozu. The Heroine then grabbed the Vice President's hand and twisted it a certain way, forcing her to let go of her weapon.
Fenghuang immediately took the length of metal and threw it several steps in front of Kaminari. The staff embedded itself into the ground before the electric blonde discharged electricity towards her. All the energy, however, didn't hit the Heroine. Instead, it all went into the rod and harmlessly into the ground. Uraraka, Midoriya, Shouji, and Ojiro proceeded to charge into fight. The tailed boy was notably wielding Fenghuang's staff in an attempt to use it against her.
But when his attack went in first, she stopped it and twisted the shaft in a peculiar way. The black and white staff separated into three parts, each connected by a short chain. Fenghuang grabbed the furthest piece and bent it around, forcing Ojiro release and back off to avoid damage. Now with this three section staff, she wrapped two parts of it around Uraraka's incoming hand and forced her in Midoriya's direction.
The green haired boy went stiff, stopping his One for All fueled kick. Fenghuang then pushed Uraraka into the poor boy, causing them to crash. She then fluidly ducked away from Shouji's multi armed grab, slipping behind him. With her staff combined again, Fenghuang's first strike hit the back of his knee before the next struck the giant square in his back. Shouji fell face first into the concrete but began to scramble up as Fenghuang began contending with Kirishima and Satou.
Mineta continued to watch as his classmates got back up and continued charging into the fray. Despite the odds that were stacked against them, they continued to fight on. However, Mineta knew they weren't doing this because they thought they could win. Rather, it was because they were protecting the things that mattered to them. Anybody who watched how hard they were trying could see that.
They were being the Heroes Mineta saw them as.
Something about that thought clicked with his mind. And as he began thinking about Fenghuang's question from earlier, things started to become clear. Mineta got up from the concrete and stared at the frantic melee in front of him. He had to find a way to stop this and give his answer. And as if hearing his prayers, a black blur dashed past him.
Class 1A stopped and backed off as a new fighter came onto the scene. Fenghuang immediately raised her staff and blocked the kick to her head. And now things have slowed down, Mineta was able to see the scraggly hair of their ever tired homeroom teacher.
"Aizawa-sensei!" They all cheered.
"… Don't you think you're sampling UA's curricular freedom a little too much?" Aizawa asked as he leapt back.
"It was the only way to get my point across. But I suppose I've been a tad excessive. I apologize for that." Fenghuang said before deeply bowing.
"Excuse me?" Uraraka asked as Midoriya helped her up. Hagakure and Aoyama nervously stepped onto the roof, ready to fight. But seeing everyone standing around doing nothing threw them for a loop. Things began to clear up when Fenghuang began to impart her wisdom upon them.
"Sometimes to find ourselves, we must leave the comfort and conformity of our lives. This sudden spar was to do just that and challenge your way of thinking. So, what new thoughts do you have on Bakugou Katsuki my young pupil?" She replied before turning to Mineta. All eyes fell onto the shorter boy as he took a deep breath.
"Ever since I met him, I hated Bakugou. And for the longest time, I thought it was just because he was a dick. But after I saw how you guys fought, the truth started to become clear. Unlike me, everyone here is amazing. More often than not, I get jealous of your Quirks, strength, drive, t-the way you guys l-look…" Mineta began, trailing off at the end.
"Why our appearance though?" Tokoyami asked.
"Look at me; I'm a meter tall rat bitch. Why wouldn't I be jealous of you beautiful bastards? But that's not the point I'm trying to get to. Besides all those, I was more impressed by how you guys treated each other. No one acted like the world revolved around them. And while there was plenty of teasing and joking… None of you did it to be mean or anything. You were just being good friends, good Heroes to each other." Mineta continued, looking to his classmates.
"I… Don't think I should count. I ignored everyone in the beginning." Todoroki replied as he stared at his left hand.
"Don't be so hard on yourself Todoroki-san. Keeping us out of your personal grudge was, in some way, you looking out for us. You didn't want to burden us with your deep seeded troubles." Yaoyorozu said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Ever since the Sports Festival, 1A slowly pieced together, as much as they could, about Todoroki's situation. And while the specifics were still under wraps, they had a general idea about what happened between Todoroki, his family, and Endeavor. As a result, they do their best to both understand and encourage him. But that story was for another day.
Todoroki nodded to the girl, mulling over her words until Mina let out a noise of realization.
"Wait! Then the reason you hate Bakugou is because… He's a jerk?" Mina asked, unsure if she even reached the right conclusion.
"Bakugou has everything… A strong Quirk, relentless drive, overwhelming power, a striking appearance… He's arguably the strongest person in our class. And in that sense, I kind of admire him. Who wouldn't want to be like him? But when you start looking at him like a Hero, things start falling apart. Bakugou's violent, curses like a sailor, and self serving beyond any measure. He's a far cry from what I feel a real Hero is!" Mineta answered.
Stain came to mind as the shorter boy finished that last sentence. It sort of made him feel disgusted to know he was resonating with the Hero Killer. But how could he not agree? Bakugou was everything a Hero isn't. He was just a Villain who had really good publicity. He was the living proof of how the ideals of a Hero have changed.
It was frustrating to think that Bakugou was what people wanted. Leaving the Heroes that stood on this rooftop unknown and underappreciated.
"… A broken pedestal really does ruin a lot." Midoriya said as he approached Mineta. All eyes shifted to the green haired boy as he crouched down to his partner. He then laid a hand on Mineta's shoulder.
"I know how that feels Mineta-kun. To see someone you look up to break you down… It's rough. My mental image of Kacchan shattered more times than I could remember. However, there's a reason I still consider him my friend. There's a thing that Kacchan rarely does… But when you see it, you can't help but feel differently about him. Right Kirishima-kun?" Midoriya said as he turned to his red haired classmate.
"Oh yeah, it's quite something." He answered with a toothy smile.
"But… Sometimes don't you just wish things were a little more obvious?" Mineta asked.
"Things in life never are. You either seek out the answers or wait for them to come. I prefer the former, but the latter can sometimes be unavoidable." Aizawa answered with a yawn.
"Remember when we talked about gardening, my young pupil?" Fenghuang asked. The memories of those days spent patrolling Inuito city were still fresh in Mineta's mind. He could not forget the wisdom his Shifu had so graciously imparted onto him. So with those negative feelings mellowing out, he gave her a resolute nod.
"I do Shifu."
A new resolve found its way into Mineta's heart. And though he still hated Bakugou, the shorter boy aimed to try to understand him a little better. He wanted to see what it was that Midoriya and Kirishima saw. He wanted to clear all the pain and despair Bakugou caused. He wanted to finally move on from their turbulent past and face a better future.
A future where Mineta could rely on him too…
"Keep this in mind my young pupil and I'm certain that things will change. Now, as for the rest of you, allow me to comment on your performance today. Starting with… You." Fenghuang said before turning her attention to the rest of 1A, pointing towards Kaminari. The inspiration of the moment died right then and there. What replaced it was a looming terror called professional criticism.
"Please don't…" Kaminari begged, hoping the Radiant Wing would skip this part.
"Please do. Tell them exactly what went wrong." Aizawa said plainly, gesturing for Fenghuang to continue. For the rest of lunch, Mineta partook in another incredible yet harrowing ordeal. His two masters, old and new, had joined forces to teach Class 1A a lesson.
Needless to say, no one survived…
Chapter 55: A Student's Nightmare
Since that day, Mineta and Bakugou showed more restraint towards the other. While they still expressed disdain for one another, no further arguments have broken out. And even when the two were placed on the same team, their tolerance held up. Though that was only achieved because they've kept communication to a minimum. After all, if no one talked more than necessary then no one exploded.
That was the silent rule Mineta and Bakugou had established between them.
And so, Class 1A felt a calm unlike anything they've experienced since their arrival at UA. But when the final week of June came, this delicate peace they've come to know would soon crumble. The shadow of an inescapable danger began to cast itself over UA. And this danger was so great that not even the teachers could even hope to stop it…
END OF TERM EXAMS.
"This is the way the world ends… Not with a bang… But a whimper…" Kaminari moaned as he stared blankly at the ceiling.
"Indeed… This is perhaps our darkest hour yet." Tokoyami said, sweating rolling down his feathers.
"If both of you have time to wax over hopelessness, then go do some studying. And wasn't English your best subject?" Jirou asked, poking the electric blonde with her jacks.
"My other grades left it bleeding in a ditch…" Kaminari muttered before sinking further into his stupor. Mina's laughter was then heard over all this anxious clamoring, sounding strong and hopeful. However, if anyone listened close enough, they could pick out the sheer despair buried deep within her.
Not that she was the only one; all of 1A felt the pressure in different ways.
This whole situation stemmed from what Aizawa had said a few weeks ago. The Hero classes have the opportunity to go to a forest lodge during their summer break. And not only would it help accelerate their Hero training, but it'll also help them unwind from all the school work. All of this didn't come without its risks however. Should someone fail, that person will be trapped at UA in remedial Hell for the rest of summer.
"I'm more worried about the practical than anything else. At least we'll know what to expect on the written test." Mineta commented while he fidgeted with his baseball. All the various grips he knows were starting to feel even more natural in his left hand. He wouldn't know if it would be as accurate or as effective as his right... But it never hurts to be prepared.
"That is an issue… Hopefully the teachers won't be too unreasonable." Tsuyu replied with a nod. It was here that Kaminari became even more lifeless while Mina began to cry her poor heart out. The shorter boy soon began to mentally kick himself for making such a careless comment. The atmosphere and tension was bad enough as it is; now the despair was actually palatable.
"It's over… I'm looking forward to all the stories you guys have to tell…" Mina said sobbing.
"Ashido-san! Kaminari-kun! Don't give up! We'll all pull through one way or another. If you stop here, you'll never reach your fullest potential." Midoriya said, doing his best to sound encouraging.
"Umm… I might be able to assist you two with the class materials. Though I have nothing for the practical portion…" Yaoyorozu said before lowering her head in defeat. Mina's face immediately brightened while Kaminari was revived from his death like state. The two began to cheer as they approached her, thanking her for her merciful offer.
"Calm down you two, you'll smother her. But, uh, if you don't mind Yaomomo, I need a bit of help too. Quadratic functions still got me stumbling." Jirou said as she took out her notebook.
"And I need some help with classical literature. So may I join the party?" Sero asked, clapping his hands together.
"Could I come as well? I need to brush up on Science…" Ojiro said as he rubbed the back of his head. These earnest requests for aid had changed Yaoyorozu's surprise into pure simple joy. She gladly accepted her classmates' requests and quickly began scheduling a group study session. Mineta stared at the group before turning back to his own.
"Maybe we should do a group study too. That way, all our bases will be covered."
"Sounds good, we can meet up at Mott Teahouse. Does Wednesday after school work for everyone?" Midoriya asked as he looked to Uraraka, Iida, Tsuyu, and Todoroki.
"As long as it's not Friday then I'm good. That's sales hunting day." Uraraka said with a nod.
"I'll try to make it. I usually help my little siblings with their school work." Tsuyu replied.
"I have to make a delivery run for my brother first. So expect me to be a little late, as much as that pains me to say." Iida answered, clenching his fist.
"I like tea." Todoroki said with a nod.
"Then that's that. We're going to nail this thing!" Mineta shouted confidently. The class door opened and Aizawa stepped through, causing 1A to immediately go to their seats. He stood at the teacher's podium and looked to his students. He then proceeded to let out a hum of satisfaction.
"Good, you're all in high gear today. Let's hope that'll be enough to get you over the exams." Aizawa said as he began his daily announcements. From that point, class proceeded as it always had. But the sole difference is that 1A was more attentive to what was being taught. The slackers like Mina and Kaminari were actually paying attention. While the more studious students like Yaoyorozu and Iida were making even more detailed notes.
But even with the written portion taken care of… That still left the practical. And by lunch time, no one still had any idea of what that might entail.
"Do you think the practical will cover what we did in Hero Fundamentals?" Uraraka asked before munching on some rice. The noise of Lunch Rush's cafeteria was lower than normal, no doubt some groups had already begun studying. Mineta hummed to that, racking his brain for any sort of clue. But the moment he factored in Aizawa and Fenghuang's roundabout teaching methods, he knew the practical could literally be anything. So with a shrug, he began to chow down on his hotdog.
If it was going to be this mysterious, there's no point in worrying. They'll just have to wait and take it to the chin as best as they could.
"Whatever the case, keeping our selves in tip top shape is– OWW!" Midoriya began before crying out in pain after someone purposefully bumped the back of his head. Everyone at the table snapped up from their meals and looked to Midoriya. That was when they saw 1B's Monoma Neito looking down on them. Mineta had to hold back a frustrated sigh. He just finished dealing with one pompous ass, now there's another.
"Oh I'm sorry, your head was just so big that I couldn't help but hit it." Monoma said with a smirk.
"May I ask what issue you have with us?" Iida asked solemnly, the glare off his glasses becoming pronounced. However, despite the attempt at intimidation, the arrogant boy continued to be condescending.
"Me? I have no issue with you, not when your class is already full of them. I've heard two of you had gotten into a fight recently. Are you all so bored of your victories that you're now starting your own trouble? How pathetic, it's no wonder I haven't heard any more good news out of your class. You're all so sloppy that people have started to censor you!" Monoma taunted. While his use of outdated events was laughable, the rest of it still pissed Mineta off. But getting into a fight with Monoma now will only validate his claims.
So for now, the shorter boy has to roll with the verbal punches.
"Oh, I should really get going before I'm seen with you. I don't to be blacklisted like you! So be as rowdy as you like 1A! We'll take your place long before you– Gah!" Monoma began before he yelped in pain and began falling over. From behind him, Kendo Itsuka quickly caught the tray her classmate held and his limp body.
"I'm really sorry about this guy; he's been a bit unhinged since you beat us at the Sports Festival." She said as she put down Monoma's body on a nearby chair. The girl then took a look at Mineta, her expression showing hesitance over something. Midoriya noticed this detail and carefully broached the subject as best as he could.
"Is there something wrong Kendo-san?"
"Ah! No, I just remembered something an upperclassman told me. Apparently the practical portion of our test will be like the entrance exam. We'll be fighting robots and accumulating points." She answered, waving her hands before her. But regardless of the gestures she made, Kendo's words surprised them all. They were going against the faux Villains?
"Really? Oh man, we should've thought of that. Acquiring new knowledge is a skill all Heroes need when dealing with unknown factors. Had this been a professional setting, we would've charged in blind. That's risky… We'll have to be careful from now on." Midoriya said before devolving into his signature muttering. Kendo slowly backed away as the green haired boy kept going with his line of thought. That was until someone regained consciousness.
"Damn it Kendo… You've just thrown away our intelligence advantage… We could've actually bested those detestable 1A mongrels." Monoma said before taking another chop to the neck.
"They're not mongrels or detestable. At least, not all of them are…" Kendo said going into a nearly inaudible mumble. She then glanced back at Mineta, teal eyes trying to burn a hole through his skull. The shorter boy bristled as he looked away, hand shielding the side of his face.
"I think she's still upset over what you did during the Sports Festival." Tsuyu said as she watched the 1B students sit down amongst their classmates.
"I know…" Mineta replied, wiping the sweat from his neck.
"Wait, why are we waiting around? We should really finish our lunch and get back to the gang. I'm sure they would like the status update." Uraraka said before going garbage disposal on her meal.
"Good idea, I'm sure Ashido-kun and Kaminari-kun would be relieved upon hearing such great news." Iida replied with a nod. And so, their group went back to eating, the worry of the practical gone. But as Mineta finished his lunch, he couldn't help but feel something was off. He didn't think 1B was lying about the robots… But something was stopping him from completely buying the story.
Call him paranoid. But Mineta has a good sense when it comes to cryptic nonsense thanks to his two masters. This simple task could, in reality, be hiding the most Herculean trial they'll face in school.
Mineta should voice this suspicion the first chance he gets.
Chapter 56: Herculean Trial
As one would expect from voicing a suspicion, not everyone in 1A bought it. There was not enough evidence to suggest that the test might not be what 1B said it was. And so, things proceeded with a relatively care free attitude amongst the laid back members. However, the more serious of 1A took the warning to heart. And while they still don't know what to expect…
They mentally prepared as best as they could.
A whole week of intense studying and training has now passed. The end of term written test was now upon them in all of its monstrous glory. Each hour was a different subject, battering the examinee with questions that exercised their memory, applicative ability, and common sense. Honestly, Mineta found it to be a little easier than expected.
And judging from how Mina and Kaminari acted after each part, the overall written test must've not been too brutal. Though he shouldn't let this lull him into a false sense of security…
Until the whole thing is over, he couldn't even hope to relax.
The practical came the next day and 1A had to change into their Hero costumes. And on their way to the test site, they had the chance to converse and consolidate their feelings.
"I can already see the fireworks! The curry! The dares!" Mina cheered as she skipped along.
"That'll only happen if you pass. So don't get careless." Todoroki said as he stretched his arms.
"Are you still worried about what Mineta's worried about? You got to lighten up. UA wouldn't spring a devious trap on us last minute." Kaminari said as he put one arm around his dual colored classmate.
"But Aizawa-sensei literally did that day one. If he hadn't been joking around about expelling someone, I wouldn't be here." Midoriya argued as he hastened his steps to walk next to the electric blonde. That seemed to kick some of their more relaxed classmates into a serious state. That memory of their dream almost being destroyed woke them up to the possible dangers ahead.
"Oh don't remind me… I still have nightmares about that…" Mineta groaned, rubbing his temples.
"Well whatever the case is, let's do our best everyone. I want to make this the best summer ever!" Uraraka said optimistically.
"Hey look, our teachers are all… Here?" Hagakure commented as the group stopped before UA's staff. From Aizawa and Present Mic to Cementoss and Power Loader, they stood there proud and ready. Ready for what exactly? Mineta couldn't say. But it probably had something to do with his weeklong suspicion. If there was a time to spring a trap on them, it would be now.
"We'll be starting the exam shortly. Note that you can also fail this part of the exam, so don't make any sort of painful errors. I also take it you've tried to learn what you could about the practical?" Aizawa began, stepping forward.
"Yes. But some of us suspect that it might not be what it seems…" Iida answered before Kaminari and Mina said something silly.
"And you would be absolutely correct! For several reasons, we're changing the contents of the practical starting now!" Principal Nezu shouted, popping out of Aizawa's bundled binding scarf. While the tension increased over the small mammal's words, it was somewhat diminished by the ridiculousness of the Principal's surprise entrance. Mineta had to do his best not to laugh as Principal Nezu began to climb down Aizawa like he was a mountain.
"Um, what do you mean by that Mr. Principal?" Yaoyorozu asked as Mina and Kaminari's fear came back
"Well do remember what Ms. Fenghuang said to you all those weeks back? After you had that short bout with her? 'Sometimes to find ourselves, we must leave the comfort and conformity of our lives'. So taking her lesson to heart, we've decided to challenge your way of thinking and face you ourselves." Nezu said, enflaming the battle spirit of the UA's teachers. The immense pressure of their presence caused Mineta to break out into a cold sweat. There was also the fact that they had to fight and win against Pro Heroes to pass this exam.
Something they couldn't do even when it was 16 on 1.
"Dude, your master's a jerk!" Kaminari cried as he picked up and shook Mineta.
"She's not a jerk! Shifu always does these things to HELP her students! It's better to suffer now than later!" The shorter boy shouted, resisting the electric blonde.
"And even if Fenghuang hadn't inspired us, we would've come up with something of equal difficulty. Regardless, here we all are. Now, calm down and listen up, we're explaining how this works." Aizawa said as 1A settled their nerves.
"Now, what we're testing today will be your Quirk, skill level, combat instincts, overall academics, and cooperative ability. To do that, you'll be facing one of us with a partner. Who you'll be facing and teaming up with has been predetermined based on your performance throughout the term. For instance… Todoroki and Yaoyorozu, you're against me." Aizawa explained before looking at the students in question.
While the former didn't look particularly perturbed, Yaoyorozu seemed to be unnerved by this. And Mineta couldn't really blame the girl for feeling that way. His former master was quite ruthless whenever he got 'hands on' with his lesson. Combined with his Quirk erasing eyes, both of 1A's recommendation students were going to have it rough.
From there, another one of the teachers announced the pair they were going to face.
Principal Nezu was up against Mina and Kaminari.
Thirteen chose Aoyama and Uraraka.
Cementoss was facing off with Satou and Kirishima.
Power Loader picked to fight Tsuyu and Ojiro.
Snipe had Shouji and Jirou to contend with.
Midnight was dealing with Sero and Hagakure.
Present Mic had Kouda and Iida to look after.
Ectoplasm needed to best Midoriya and Tokoyami.
Wait… If all those were the current pairs, then that just left two without partners. And that would be Mineta and… The shorter boy stopped as he realized who the other person was. He slowly turned to said person, only to find him looking back at him as well. Round dark eyes met sharp red ones as an appropriate response came out of their mouths.
"Fuck." Bakugou said.
"Ah shit." Mineta replied.
"As for the person you'll be fighting…" Aizawa began before a booming laugh pierced the air. From behind the group of teachers came the Symbol of Peace. And like the Titan he was, he loomed over Mineta and Bakugou in all of his glory. So this is what villains feel like when they're up against a living legend.
"That will be me. I'm in your care, Wonder Duo!" All Might said with a spirited tone. But Mineta was feeling anything but motivated to take on the Number One Hero. Sure he joked to Midoriya about being able to fight All Might way back when… But now that this was actually happening, he'd just want to run and hide under a rock, grades be damned.
Worse of all, he's got to do this with Bakugou. And the human grenade looked completely ecstatic for having a chance to challenge All Might.
"With the ten teams divided, we'll depart by bus to our respective testing stages in 5 minutes. Once we're there, we'll explain the general rules of the test and start at the same time. Are there any questions?" Aizawa explained.
"What are we supposed to do with these extra 5 minutes?" Iida asked.
"Oh I don't know… You could always pool your brains together and formulate plans with each other." Nezu suggested in a tone that was almost taunting.
"But that's nearly not enough time to come up with a plan for all of us." Midoriya said, almost bowing his head as if to plead for extra time.
"Listen kids, do you remember the entrance exam? It started without any warning, which is how most conflicts go for a Hero. The fact you're getting ANY time is us being lenient on you." Midnight said as the teachers began walking towards the ten parked buses.
"So make the most of it while it lasts students! You'll need every second." Present Mic shouted. The shock of the announcements quickly wore off as 1A huddled together to try and break through this predicament. Bakugou was about to walk off until Kirishima dragged him back. And after a few words from the red haired boy, the human grenade begrudgingly joined the group.
"Instead of coming up with plans, let's figure out why we're paired up the way we are. Any suggestions?" Jirou asked quickly, eyes darting between her classmates.
"We have to think of all of the factors of the examiner and the examinee. Let's simply go down the list, first is Aizawa-sensei against Todoroki-kun and Yaoyorozu-san. I think he chose you due to the nature of your Quirks. If he sees you, neither of you would be able to fight back. And because your close quarter skills aren't as good as his, he'll easily overwhelm you." Midoriya replied, pointing to the pair in question.
"So he'll try to ambush us huh? I think we could work around that. Right Yaoyorozu?" Todoroki asked as he looked to his partner. The elegant girl nervously gave a nod that Mineta didn't find reassuring. But there wasn't any time to address that, they had other pairs to go through.
"What about me and Kaminari? I don't think the Principal could win in a fist fight against of us…" Mina asked. Anyone could see that the pink girl was imagining how their unknown mammal principal would look beaten up. And before anyone could say 'animal abuse', Bakugou cut right to the chase.
"He doesn't need to. The bastard will use his brain to out think you morons. You've got a shitty puzzle boss to deal with."
Mina and Kaminari's faces were blank as they started at their classmates. It was then that they've fallen despondent and became zombies. They proceeded to drag their feet towards the bus Principal Nezu was waiting in. And it took Uraraka and Mineta everything they've got to prevent them from going over the edge of madness.
"Dude! Keep it together! Think of the hot springs!" Mineta shouted, grabbing one of the electric blonde's arms. He really had to dig his heels in to stop Kaminari from advancing any further.
"Don't give up Mina-chan! We'll make it to the lodge! The fireworks are waiting for us!" Uraraka yelled, hugging her friend.
"And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
and the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted – nevermore…"
Kaminari muttered as he stared at his shadow on the pavement.
"Ah yes 'The Raven', an appropriate piece for our current predicament." Tokoyami said with a satisfied nod.
"Not helping!" Mineta shouted as Midoriya rushed in to help him.
"I can see it… The youth that passed me by…" Mina said as she seemed to have aged several decades.
"Let's go to the next pair! Aoyama-kun and Uraraka-san! Ideas!?" Midoriya yelled, trying to distract Mina and Kaminari's mind. From there, 1A broke down the exam composition. And as the most logical conclusion behind each pair was reached, Mineta could see the pairs forming their own plans. Even Kaminari and Mina were starting to plot something against Principal Nezu. However, there was no telling if any of these will actually work until it's too late. They just have to hope for the best…
And with their 5 minutes ticking down to its last moments, 1A arrived to their last pair.
"They've definitely got you two together because you mix like baking soda and vinegar." Jirou said, gesturing between Mineta and Bakugou.
"Well jokes on them, we can actually work together now." Bakugou boasted with a smirk.
"I don't think that level of cooperation will do anything against All Might." Sero replied.
"If I fight and Rat Bitch doesn't fuck up, we'll win one way or another! End of story!" Bakugou shouted, folding his arms.
"We don't know all the rules yet, so there still might be a chance we could pass another way. But the explosive turd's right. As long as we don't get in each other's way, we'll be fine." Mineta said, doing his best to keep his bowels in check. It wasn't going to be easy, but there has to be a way to overcome the Number One Hero. After all, what was the point of a test if they were going to fail no matter what?
"Damn right I'm right! And don't call me a turd you piece of shit!"
"… Are they really going to be okay?" Tsuyu asked after a long pause, turning to Midoriya.
"They'll have to be if we're going to the lodge together." He answered before wiping the noticeable beads of sweat on his brow. A chime played around Class 1A before an automated message began playing. It informed them that their 5 minutes are up and that they should depart immediately. They looked to one another with various levels of resolve burning in their eyes.
"The next time we meet, the test will be over. The odds are definitely against us. But I know we have the potential to overcome this, just as we did during our other ordeals. So hold your heads up high my friends, for we'll be going to the Forest Lodge undivided. Good luck everyone, and go beyond…" Iida said, putting a hand over his heart.
"Plus Ultra!"
Chapter 57: God Amongst Men
Mineta and Bakugou's test site was letter G, a sprawling park that was half open fields and half moderately dense tree clusters. The foot paths were laid with brick and were decorated with flowers on the side. Other than that, it was furnished with your standard park objects like benches, lamp posts, water fountains, and a nice stone statue of Principal Nezu.
Honestly, between this, the other training grounds, and the main building… Mineta wonders just how many grants the government gives UA to be able to build and maintain their facilities. But that's a story for another time.
Mineta turned back to All Might as he and Bakugou stood before the park entrance. The apprehension was still bubbling within the shorter boy. And how could he not? He was fighting All Might with Bakugou as his partner to pass an exam. That was like trying to carve a granite block using fire crackers to make a beautiful statue. But while such a feat was possible for a master artist…
Mineta knew he wasn't THAT good.
"Alright young men, this is how we'll do this practical. You will have thirty minutes to complete this test. You win by either pinning these handcuffs on me or escaping this park. And even if it's only one loop or one person, both you boys would still win. So do consider both angles when planning your stratagems." All Might explained before taking out some special handcuffs. He handed both Mineta and Bakugou a pair each.
"That's it? Sounds too easy." Bakugou said with a scoff as he tossed the handcuffs away.
"Are kidding me? You know how fast All Might is. He'll catch us before we're even ready." Mineta said, picking up the discarded restraint. Due to its hefty construction, the shorter boy decided to pick it up. What he'll use it for, he cannot say. But it's better to have all their resources available just in case.
"Ah, but don't worry young Mineta. Each of us teachers must wear these ultra compressed weights designed by Hatsumei Mei of the Support Department! It's a handicap to ensure we don't completely overwhelm you. These weigh about half of me, so it'll really do a number to my strength and speed. Wow, that's actually pretty heavy." All Might said as he wore said weights around his arms and ankles. Mineta noticed how his arm swayed, indicating just how burdened the Number One Hero is. Still, that doesn't feel like enough of a handicap…
"Really? A fucking handicap? Just say you're looking down on me." Bakugou growled as his hands sparked. The shorter boy buried his face into his hands. This wasn't happening. The human grenade didn't just take the only thing that could help them pass as a personal insult. Because if he did… Then Mineta might as well forfeit the exam here and now.
"We're doomed…" Mineta grumbled as he peeked up. Only for him to see the ominous smirk of All Might as his signature laugh seemed a little twisted.
"Well I wonder about that… Anyhow, you kids are to head to the center of the area. Once everyone is in place, we'll begin in earnest. And remember to be ready for anything." All Might said. Mineta could only stiffly nod as Bakugou walked off grumbling. The shorter boy chased after his exam partner, quickly trying to come up with some reasonable strategy.
However, no matter what was brought up, it all broke down because of one fact. Bakugou was going to fight to the end. And if Mineta was correct, they would not be able to win except in one specific circumstance. But he couldn't go with that plan since it involves revealing All Might's weakening health in the process. And was this exam worth the cost of his trust?
Hell no. And that's why he and Bakugou will fail this battle.
"We're not failing grape shit. Not if I hit All Might with everything I've got and you run away like a little bitch. That way, we'll win one way or another." Bakugou shouted. Mineta flinched to that before recovering his bearings. They were standing at the center of the park where water was calmly flowing from a large fountain. But as Mineta registered the explosive blonde's words, the serenity of the surroundings were quickly soured.
"Do honestly think you could take on All Might? The Number One Hero and Symbol of Peace!? He's weighed down, but I'm pretty sure he can still trounce you." Mineta replied, practically spitting his words.
"You don't know that. And why do you even care? You get to play it safe while I'm knee deep in shit. So show some appreciation. Damn back humper…" Bakugou said, turning his back on Mineta.
"If you're expecting respect, at least show some yourself… But the point I'm trying to make if we're working alone, he's just going to pick us off one at a time. And you and I know damn well how that's going to end. So either we run together or fight together. Now pick your poison." Mineta said.
"Fuck off. You may not piss me off as much… But you're still eons away from being anything but useless to me. So just stay in your lane and I'll stay in mine. And when we pass either way, you'll see that I'm right." Bakugou replied as he faced Mineta again, threateningly pointing at him.
"Here we go again… It's always about you… Fine, we'll see how long 'your plan' lasts. That way, I can blame you when things go wrong." Mineta groaned, gritting his teeth.
"It won't, you coat-tail riding piece of shit. I'll keep All Might on me at all times and beat him down. You just run off to the goal and whatever. It's a race to see who gets what done first, fight or flight. And I'm just itching to get this started…" Bakugou said with a restless, manic grin. Mineta shook his head, not knowing how to respond to the human grenade anymore. That ego of his was so scrambled one could've mistaken it for breakfast.
Why was he like this? What does he have to prove? He's already the strongest person in their class, so what's the rush? Was happened to make him like this? Does his long history with Midoriya have anything to do with it?
"No wait, that's probably it. And I didn't help by constantly poking him and his biggest fear…" Mineta thought as he rubbed his face. What a terrible time for their past to catch up with them. The shorter boy left his thoughts when he heard Principal Nezu's voice from a hidden speaker.
"Is everyone at their marks? If that's the case, then let us begin Class 1A's end of term practical. Ready… GO!"
And not even two seconds after the announcement ended did something happen. Mineta and Bakugou were hit by a wind storm from the north. It wasn't strong enough to blow Bakugou away, but it did send the shorter boy tumbling a meter back. Their surroundings didn't fare any better. With large bald patches in the grass, up turned trees, and massive cracks in the fountain, it left Mineta wondering…
"This power… Is handicapped?" Mineta said with a quiver as he slowly got up.
"Here he comes…" Bakugou said, readying his hands.
"This a much better look for the park, isn't it Heroes?"
All Might then stepped through a dust cloud; his blue eyes glaring at them with killer intent. Mineta froze as he couldn't fight against the pressure the Symbol of Peace emitted. It was like when he fought Stain except for one key difference. Without something to embolden his spirit, the shorter boy was consumed by an all too familiar feeling.
Terror.
"Also, if you keep thinking of this as a test… You're going to be in a world of hurt." All Might warned as he charged forward. Mineta's mind couldn't process anything as his body didn't even try to move. What's going on? Even when drawing a blank, Mineta's body would usually move out of harm's way instinctually. But this time, it was different, like it knew…
"We can't win…" Mineta said with a broken laugh.
"Run you fuck! I got this!" Bakugou shouted as he raised his hands at All Might. The human grenade then brought his hands close together as sparks jumped between palms. A brilliant flash enveloped Bakugou as All Might shielded his eyes from the light. Mineta was in the explosive blonde's shadow, so the light didn't hit his eyes. But the shorter boy completely stood there before Bakugou leapt forward.
"Quit shitting your diaper and move your dumb ass!" He shouted, ready to swing at a blinded All Might. The Number One Hero, without removing his left arm from his eyes, simply grabbed Bakugou's face with his right. But without flinching or bothering to pull back, Bakugou raised his arms and started blasting All Might's face and body.
"GO!" He shouted through All Might's hand. It was only then that Mineta began running as fast and as far as he could. He quickly heard from behind him the sound of someone being SLAMMED into the dirt. The shorter boy was about to come face to face with All Might real soon. He needed some sort of pla–
"Hold it right there!" All Might shouted as he flew by overhead. The Hero then landed and began turning and crouching to punch the ground. If Mineta kept running this path, he'd be crushed like a can in a hydraulic press. It was here, however, that his body remembered all the training it's been through. His footwork altered itself as he twisted out of the way of the incoming fist. And soon enough, Mineta found himself close to All Might's left flank.
The side where his terrible scar was.
The shorter boy instinctively went for his baton, but his sensibilities prevented him from drawing it. He couldn't just attack the one spot that could worsen All Might's health…
Mineta sensed an attack coming from his left and raised both arms to block it. That guard was soon met with All Might's back hand swing, knocking Mineta away. But due to the awkward crouch All Might was in, the compressed weights, and the metal plates in Mineta's gloves, the attack wasn't so bad. It still hurt like all Hell, but at least his arms weren't broken.
Or Mineta would be in serious trouble.
"Not that I'm even out of it to begin with!" Mineta thought as he finished tumbling. He really was glad they were fighting in a park with soft grass and dirt. If this had been asphalt and concrete, the shorter boy would be having a bad time. But as Mineta stood, he was soon reminded that he was still in terrible danger.
All Might was in front of him, ready to punt him into the stratosphere. And due to how his leg was ready to swing, Mineta couldn't hope to dodge it. At least, that wasn't until an explosion threw All Might off balance. Bakugou came flying in, looking ready to murder someone. He then aimed his other hand and released an even larger explosion. The concussive flash of heat and smoke enveloped All Might, but not before he jumped away and mitigated some damage.
"The Hell you doing? Keep running!" Bakugou shouted to Mineta before charging All Might again. Mineta quickly turned into a sprint. This time he headed towards the direction All Might came from initially. The man must've been guarding the goal before seeking them. So if anything, that's the way to get out of this problem.
But the next step he took, Mineta was hit with something from behind. Its weight dragged him to the ground, making him eat grass and dirt. As he scrambled to get up, he figured what it was that hit him. It was Bakugou. And he wasn't looking very happy.
"God damn it, stop slowing us down you idiot!" Bakugou shouted as he rushed back onto his feet. Mineta's brow twitched before he buried the rising anger, this was not the time. The shorter boy stood up, only to immediately feel an immense pressure behind him. He finally drew his baton and spun around, raising his guard as he did so.
Somehow, by sheer luck, Mineta managed to prevent All Might's foot from caving his ribcage in. Even the baton he wielded held up against the Hero's strength, a testament to its sturdy craftsmanship.
But that strange miracle was ultimately pointless, since he was still launched into a tree. And upon colliding with the sturdy trunk, he felt like his body was going to snap in two. But it was this pain that prevented Mineta from blacking out, so it worked out somewhat.
Mineta slid down and landed at the roots, his back against the tree. He heaved before looking up as a shadow casted over him. All Might was standing there. His foot was raised and ready to kick into him. The shorter boy flinched and raised his baton in front of his torso. The Hero shoved his foot into it, pinning the weapon against Mineta's chest and severely tested the integrity of the boy's ribs.
"That's one good baton you're carrying Young Mineta. If you seriously hit me with that, I'd probably feel it." All Might commented casually, grinding his foot into the boy. Mineta desperately tried to push back with both arms now. But no matter what strength he managed to exert, it was like trying to push against a glacier. He didn't even have any breath to spare for a response.
"Then how about this!?" Bakugou screamed, coming in from All Might's side. The shorter boy and the Symbol of Peace looked over and saw him aiming his right gauntlet not too far away. His left hand was on the pin. Mineta froze as he braced himself. No one knew what those grenade-shaped bracers did, since he never actually used it. But if Mineta had to guess…
It was effectively a big gun.
The pin was pulled. From the hole on top of the gauntlet, a light shined before a massive explosion erupted out. Mineta had to close his eyes to shield himself from the light and smoke. He also prayed that he would survive the blast intact. But when the pressure from his baton disappeared and his back was still against tree bark, he knew Bakugou's aim was true. The human grenade had gone for All Might and All Might alone.
Although, the shorter boy was about to face Bakugou's rage in a different way…
"Fuck, you're even useless at running away. If that's all you got, then you really are a rat bitch. You can't do anything on your own! Why anyone bothered wasting time on you is beyond me. Just don't waste mine!" Bakugou screamed. The fury that was slowly bubbling within Mineta had finally exploded. He had some nerve to blame him when he's trying his damnest to get away. Bakugou didn't even CONSIDER the fact this was All Might they were dealing with.
So with his anger at Bakugou going critical, Mineta was ready to scream back at him. But before a single word was uttered, the explosive blonde picked the shorter boy up by his cape's collar. He stared Mineta dead in the eyes with his sharp red glare and let out a growl.
"If you have time to complain, then go FUCKING DIE!" Bakugou said before going into a shout. He then turned towards the direction of the exit. He pulled the arm holding Mineta back. And with a 'helpful' explosion, the shorter boy sent flying through the air. The disorientation was intense, just like the pain from the blast. But when he spotted the green ground, Mineta quickly threw out hairballs onto his landing point.
And upon colliding with the pile of purple, he dug in his body a certain way to ensure he simply bounced upwards. This bounce continued until he lost all momentum. But as he laid on his hairballs, Mineta could still feel Bakugou's words rattling in his ears. He gritted his teeth to every last, venom filled word that left his nemesis' mouth.
"I was trying you dip shit…" Mineta said, tears welling up in his eyes. He hated it. He hated how things have reverted back to the way they were. He hated how Bakugou put down everything he's learned. He hated how he said Fenghuang, Aizawa, Midoriya, everyone wasted time on him. He hated how he only considered him as waste.
However, as much as Mineta didn't want to admit it, Bakugou was somewhat right. Even if their opponent was the legendary Symbol of Peace, the shorter boy should've been capable of doing something. Anything. He trained with two great heroes, learned several new skills, drove back Stain the Hero Killer, and was finally becoming the partner Midoriya deserved… Yet here he was, lying in a pile of his own hair, while his asshat teammate was fighting for his life. It was pathetic.
He was pathetic.
Mineta gritted his teeth as the sounds of a distant battle filled his ears. Bakugou was keeping All Might's attention on him. And in some weird way, that was not only the right move but a heroic one. To force a Villain to concentrate solely on you will minimize collateral damage and allow other Heroes to focus on other tasks. Being able to perform that is what separated ordinary Heroes from the greats. For Bakugou to be part of that exclusive circle, it was infuriating yet inspiring.
Because through all the obscenities, the shouting, the self-centered attitude, and the violence towards his best friend… Mineta knew Bakugou was trying to be a Hero too. Nothing like the ones their classmates were going to be, but a Hero never-the-less. Although that did leave a worrying question within Mineta, what kind of Hero was he?
If he ran through the goal now, Mineta would be the same useless dead weight he always was. He would confirm everything Bakugou has said about him. That he's nothing without everyone's support. And while that was technically true… Maybe it was time for Mineta to finally say his piece.
To finally say 'I am here'.
"Fortune favors the foolish…" Mineta muttered as he sat up. He looked over to the building cloud of dust and smoke. It gotten so dense that even light could barely get past. Inside, he could hear the explosions and shouts of rage still going on. The shorter boy swallowed the lump in his throat, apprehension tumbling in his stomach. If he wanted to find himself, he needed to leave his comfort, his conformity.
So with his back straightened and his shoulders squared…
He stepped into the fog.
Chapter 58: Lucifer and Asmodeus
Mineta carefully moved through the thick smoke, keeping his senses open. And while he learned how to properly sneak during the Internships, actually doing it was quite difficult. He needed to rely on his five physical senses and the hidden sixth sense. What did his surroundings tell him? What details can he see? What can he hear and smell? And most importantly, does he feel his foe's intent?
That last question was by far the hardest lesson he had to undergo. To detect someone's intent while hiding your own was the key to being an effective predator Hero. And if Mineta was going to become one, he needed to practice it. So far, he's only been able to respond to attacks coming from behind. And while great, it wouldn't help him against All Might's guard breaking strength.
This is why Mineta made a special something to slip through that titanic defense.
"Damn it…"
The shorter boy stopped moving and crouched down. He scanned around with his ears since the smoke still blocked most of his eyes. Although once he found where those words came from, he was able to spot a large silhouette holding a smaller silhouette by the neck. Mineta was to the left of All Might and Bakugou. He took a silent deep breath, doing his best to keep a minimum presence while he moved towards the Number One Hero's back. He then began to take out his special item.
Using his cape, he had tied a knot through the loops of one of the handcuffs. This made a weighted parachute, a decoy used to drag along smoke.
Mineta continued to creep along as he reached an appropriate distance behind All Might. His left arm was raised, meaning that one was occupied by Bakugou. Perfect. The shorter boy then removed a hairball from his head and carefully tossed it to the left of All Might. His heart was completely in his ears, pounding away as he waited for the Symbol of Peace's reaction. Did he notice anything out of the ordinary?
"You've fought well Young Hero, harder than any student I've seen. But this is your limit. Had you not sent your little friend away, maybe you wouldn't be in this situation." All Might said menacingly, his attention still on Bakugou. Good, he hasn't noticed anything. But Mineta couldn't relax yet; he needed to find the right moment to strike.
Prey is at their most vulnerable when they think they're safe after all...
"Don't fucking give me that All Might… That little rat bitch is only good for running… He isn't ready for you… He isn't even ready to be a Hero…" Bakugou said with a cough. Mineta frowned and wondered if he should just turn back; leave the explosive blonde to his fate. But a part of him wanted to see what All Might's response to that was.
"Okay, I'm going to break character and be your teacher again. You cannot decide on your own if someone's Hero material or not. It's up to us teachers to examine and expand that potential. Even Aizawa, who seems like a wet blanket, really cares a lot about you kids. It's why he let someone as innocuous as Young Mineta take part in our rigorous curriculum." All Might explained, using his other hand to make gestures.
"But that doesn't mean he could strut around like he's hot shit! He can't deal with all the problems a Hero faces. The fucker can only hide himself and scurry around in the dark. What good is a Hero that could only do that?" He spat out.
"You say that like that's not a valid strategy. Personally it's not my style of fighting, but it has its merits."
"And that's why I don't like it; it's not how YOU would do things. Sneaking around, taking people down without looking at them dead in the eyes… It's just wrong!"
"So you don't like Aizawa either? Because he pretty much fits your rather negative description."
"I don't like how ANY of them fight. Always relying on stupid tricks… It's fucking pathetic…" Bakugou said with a tried growl.
Mineta could feel sweat rolling down the back of his head as All Might silently stared at Bakugou. But this did give the shorter boy insight into his nemesis' mind. The human grenade hated people who beat around the bush. He wanted the same bluntness he gave others. Whether it's with words or with fists, Bakugou always kept his eyes on the person in front of him. And only those who looked back got his respect like Uraraka or Kirishima. It's also why he's upset with Todoroki, who looked away at the last minute. But wait…
"Then what's his problem with me and Midoriya? We've done nothing but that for a long time." Mineta thought. Was there an extra factor at play? What was it about this triangular relationship that made things so difficult?
"Which is why, until Mineta Minoru shows me his worth… He'll never be more than a pest to me… Trash can't be treasure…" Bakugou finished. He then immediately raised his hands, both glowing bright. All Might didn't throw the explosive blonde away. Instead, he raised his guard with his right arm. An explosion erupted, but its intensity was pitiful. It just made the smoke a little denser.
Bakugou fought to such exhaustion that he can no longer detonate properly. Mineta swallowed his lump and hoped his sudden appearance would enflame his spirit. He couldn't completely do this on his own after all…
"Well, that's a darn shame… Even a lowly rat can bring civilization to its knees. You can't dismiss someone for their current worth, since it can change. So rest well Young Bakugou. And do reflect on your mistakes in your dreams." All Might said, raising his right fist. Mineta's eyes focused, the events before him playing in slow motion. He entered his pitching stance, the decoy in his left hand. He followed through the forms more fluidly than ever before and hurled it to All Might's right.
The moment the decoy left his hand, however, made the shorter boy dart towards the hairball. He sensed All Might reacting towards the decoy and jumped. His feet landed and, with the right angle, Mineta sprung towards the Hero. With his baton drawn, he thrust with all his being towards his intended target. The lone crack in the Symbol of Peace, the scar on his left flank.
"A Deco–!?" All Might shouted before Mineta's baton landed a direct hit. The Number One Hero let out a heavy groan of pain. It was supplemented by the gurgling of blood and an audible trembling. Honestly, that sound was going to stick with Mineta for a long while.
All Might released Bakugou and reflexively swung towards Mineta, who blocked the swing. And though it sent him flying back, the shorter boy managed to tumble back onto his feet with only some damage. However, the smoke cover was blown away, completely revealing his presence.
"Young Mineta!? I thought you were going for the exit!?" All Might asked with a surprised cough. He had backed off to recover from that painful attack, allowing Bakugou a moment of respite as well.
"The fuck you doing here Rat Bitch!? I didn't need help!" Bakugou screamed. Mineta then pointed at him, fully intent on facing him for all his worth. It was terrifying, but it wasn't any different from their other clashes. Only this time, the shorter boy was going to give it to Bakugou straight.
"Shut your face! I'm not here for you, I'm here for me! I'm sick and tired of hearing you complain about what I can or can't do. I know I'm not like you or Midoriya or any of our friends. You're all much stronger and cooler than me." Mineta said somberly. He did, however, refocused his eyes on All Might, who was starting to recover from the shorter boy's surprise attack. Mineta entered his all too familiar fighting stance, ready to face the Symbol of Peace head on.
"But I'll show you that this Rat Bitch can be a Hero too."
"Well said, Young Mineta. But that will be the last time you strike me. So let's see how you handle yourself now." All Might said, readying his own stance. Mineta could only nod an apology as the tense standoff began. Though 'standoff' was the wrong word as the Symbol of Peace charged forward. But due to his bout with Bakugou and having his weak point poked by Mineta, All Might's speed had gone down dramatically.
Which still made him about as fast as Stain or Fenghuang.
All Might leapt forward before smashing the ground in front of him. Mineta felt his footing crumble with the earth beneath him. And as All Might leapt straight for him, the shorter boy decided to dive forward. Once his feet left the ground though, Mineta scattered several hairballs where he originally was. The Symbol of Peace soared over his head and headed straight for the sticky landing. But as Mineta scrambled back onto his feet, he saw All Might land without getting stuck.
The Number One Hero, however, was in an awkward three point Hero landing.
But with his back to him, the shorter boy sprinted at full speed. He then threw one of his hairballs down and jumped onto it. He quickly sprung forward as All Might corrected his footing and stood back up. And as the Number One Hero turned to intercept, Mineta had already stuck himself to the man's left shoulder. Putting away his baton, Mineta quickly moved to All Might's back as All Might tried to swat him.
Both of them narrowly avoided hitting something from the other. For Mineta, it was the Symbol of Peace's gargantuan mitts. For All Might, it was the shorter boy's sticky hairballs. Mineta readied himself to move, focusing on all of the Symbol of Peace's minute movements. He needed to try and get to the scar again since nowhere else was an effective target. Mineta felt All Might reaching with his right hand, so he moved left. His left began to move, so he moved back right.
All Might then began to jitter around like a mad man with an itch. His arms were practically flailing all around his back. Mineta, however, was just barely able to stay out of the Hero's grasp. He did keep putting more hairballs down as he moved around, keeping his options open. It was also in hope that All Might would accidentally grab one of the balls, seeing how frantic he was.
"I'm beginning to see why you're often compared to a pest! You're a pain to get rid of!" All Might said, still reaching for Mineta while avoiding his hairballs.
"Thank you sir! I do my best to be as annoying as possible!" Mineta replied as he dodged another hand. At this rate, he'll never be able to reach the scar. But All Might was exhausting himself with every motion he made. So really, it was only a matter of time before he was too tired to do anything.
And that's not even going into his time limit…
But then, All Might stopped waving around and jumped backward. The speed at which he did so was so incredible, it pinned Mineta to his back. And not too long after, the shorter boy was crushed between All Might and something else. Based on the smell and how rough it was, he was pressed against a tree. Before long, Mineta was released when All Might stepped away, unfortunately not stuck to anything. However, the shorter boy soon found his body being grabbed and slammed back against the trunk.
A heavy fist was then embedded square in his face. A dark haze filled Mineta's brain, almost like he was ready to fall asleep. Part of him realized what was happening, so Mineta immediately bit his own tongue. And the shock was enough to bring his awareness back. It was then he could feel his nose leaking blood, his eyelids swelling, and some of his teeth jiggling around in his mouth.
Honestly, it felt like the front of his skull was compromised.
"… And you're awfully resilient for your size. Although I'm afraid if I'd punch any harder, there'd be nothing left of your face. So what to do I do with you…" All Might said as he took a deep breath. Mineta began clawing at the Symbol of Peace's iron grip, desperate to escape. The man was tired, so just a little more and he'll be able to put the handcuffs on him. If he could just get out…
He could prove that he is someone.
"Quit squirming. You're making it feel like I'm holding a beating heart." All Might said. He proceeded to squeeze Mineta's body, causing the shorter boy to stop. That was when Mineta began feeling his rib cage compress from all sides. And whatever damage he suffered before was getting worse; the sharpening pain inside him was proof of that.
"Not yet… I'm not done yet…" Mineta grunted, still trying to pry open the Hero's iron grip.
"Neither am I!"
Mineta snapped his head up just as All Might turned to the voice. Bakugou was there, hands glowing as he pressed them against All Might's left flank. The Symbol of Peace couldn't even twitch before he was blown away. This released Mineta, allowing him fall back to Terra Firma. He didn't have enough balance however, so he began to fall over.
That was until Bakugou grabbed him and plunked him back on his feet.
"Don't you fucking fall over… Not while you and I have a Hero to beat…" Bakugou growled, gripping his wrists. Mineta stared at him, unsure whether or not he heard that correctly. The human grenade simply glared back, as if daring to ask. To which Mineta dared.
"I thought you hated working with someone you considered useless?"
"I do… I just hate losing more. So show me you still have some fight left and I'll reconsider whatever the Hell you are." Bakugou said. He then faced All Might again, who was starting to walk towards them. Mineta looked over himself and noted how much slower the Symbol of Peace was. The blast to his scar must've weakened All Might even more.
But that still didn't mean there was any room for error.
"I'd like to move up from piss stain to toilet paper." Mineta said as he snagged the grenades from Bakugou's belt.
"As if I'd change it that much… Now, let's kill him!" Bakugou said before his hands began vomiting smoke. Mineta figured he was doing that to not only preserve his strength, but to also provide cover for Mineta. So once the smoke thickness was good enough, Bakugou darted forward. The shorter boy quickly shadowed him, pushing his legs to the very limit. And as he ran, Mineta took notice of the back of his nemesis.
It was quite unlike that of Midoriya or Fenghuang's back, which was like a clear, mid-spring sky. Instead, Bakugou was like a storm that threatened to throw down lightning and thunder. It may or may not happen, but no one would dare challenge those unbroken clouds. It was a sight to be both feared and revered, just like the Gods of ancient times.
And following Bakugou's back gave Mineta a different kind of inspiration. Instead of the calm hope he was familiar with, he was filled with great daring. A kind of daring that didn't dull his common sense, but rather enhanced it. He felt ready to take on the world by relentlessly, yet methodically, breaking things down. Was this how Bakugou saw things?
And if so… Is this the feeling that Midoriya and Kirishima talked about?
"Bakugou's a bastard to me… But it's no wonder Midoriya still chases after him." Mineta thought.
"Come at me with everything young men! This'll be your last dance!" All Might taunted with a shout. Mineta could feel a smirk spreading across his face as Bakugou gave the last laugh.
"Far from it All Might! The show's just getting started!"