BEGIN.

It made Izuku stumble a little, hearing a booming robotic drone instead of the screech of Present Mic's voice. It sounded ominus, heavy. Windows rippled like water in its wake. His team took a second to recover before making a break for the nearest building. In the distance, the faint pops and bangs of Kacchan's quirk peppered the rising battle cries of other students.

"Okay," he began, "once we get inside we should-"

"Deku-kun! Down!"

He was tackled to the floor as something soared where his body had been. He vaguely noted his face and hands were stinging as he looked ahead. Another team had already found them. Pebbles rose around them and spun. Izuku's breath caught.

Pushing up, he ignored Uraraka's squeak as he adjusted her from his back and into his arms. His legs shot him behind a bus stop. Ashido and Ojiro had ducked behind a car as rocks and pebbles pounded the metal. Glops of something came next, littering the ground. It was like it wasn't aimed at them at all.

"Everyone, don't touch that stuff! It's a trap!"

Something moved against him. "Um… D-Deku-kun…"

He looked down. Uraraka's face was red, her eyes looking anywhere but him.

"C-could you p-put me down?"

Then he remembered.

His heart burst, his eyes popped, his face set on fire, and he couldn't drop her fast enough. They were both a blushing mess, wishing the ground to swallow them up. Not in the same place though, that'd be too close.

"Gah! S-sorry!"

"No no, it's fine!"

"Oi!" Ojiro's voice brought them out of their awkward teenage stutter storm. "Any ideas?"

Izuku took a peek around the bus shelter. The enemy team were huddled in the alleyway, protected from being flanked. A ghostly looking girl was stacking more stony ammunition, while a person with an oddly shaped head was throwing gunk on the floor. The two other teammates were positioned low, but waiting.

The ghost girl fired another volley. Izuku hissed as he ducked back, getting caught in the shoulder. He was durable, but the surface area of the rocks was small enough to get through his thick skin.

Ashido took a chance and lobbed a glob of acid, getting a stone shot into her arm in response. She fell to the floor, clutching her bicep. "You okay, Ashido-san?" asked Ojiro.

"'M fine. Least I got 'em."

Izuku took another look and saw her acid sliding down the air itself, just in front of the alley. What kind of quirk is that? Telepathy? Did the ghost girl stop it? A frontal approach won't work.

"What are you thinking, Deku-kun?"

"I-I think I have an idea."

His team had the range disadvantage, but they had more power. Another volley thundered against the metal like war drums. Dents were starting to show.

"Ojiro-kun. We're going over them, attacking from above. Ashido-san, please cover us! Uraraka-san, you need to get as close as possible. Distract them."

She nodded back at him, determined in that way that definitely didn't make his heart flip. "I'll follow your lead, Deku-kun!"

"Let's kick their ass!" Shouted Ashido, pumping her good arm.

"From above? Sounds crazy," said Ojiro.

"They have some kind of forcefield, enough to stop our ranged attacks. I think we can either crack it, or go above it."

"Sounds good, pupil." Ojiro was smirking. Izuku had to return it.

Another volley. "Everyone ready?" They nodded. "Go!"

Ashido slid forward, weaving from side to side as she made for another car. Uraraka jogged forward, picking up rocks and throwing them back as she made for more cover. Izuku met up with Ojiro and, together, they slipped around the side of the car.

Uraraka ducked under a glob, drawing closer. Ashido was grinning, spinning and whipping her arms and legs as she danced along the street, acid flying and catching rocks in the air. Izuku edged his way along, low and desperately wishing he didn't have such poofy hair. If it gave him away he would never show his face again. He looked behind to see Ojiro settling into position, his tail ready to push off the floor.

They exchanged a nod.

"Ojiro-kun, now!"

"Bondo!"

Izuku pushed off his legs as Ojiro did, but he was snapped back to the ground. "What?!" he looked down. His foot was encased in the white goop that was all around. He looked up to see another fling onto his chest, pushing him over and pinning him to a lamppost. The smell of glue wafted upwards. That's what it is!

His eyes caught something eyes flying through the air: Ojiro.

A smile was on his face. He flipped once, twice and dropped, tail swinging.

"Shield!" the ghost girl shouted. Another student blew comically and izuku saw the air shift, then shatter.

Ojiro's tail was made of pure muscle. As thick as Ojiro's body, it packed a serious punch, something Izuku could personally attest to after an attack caught him during their spars. Whatever they could someone would stand no chance.

Ojiro landed perfectly, tail whipping behind him, swiping a general education student into a wall as he thrust his palm into Bondo's 'chin'.

The ghost girl raised some stones, only for them to fall as her sleeve sizzled away. "What?!"

Ashido slid in smoothly, no momentum lost, grin on her face. "That's for my shoulder," she said, spinning, leg trailing in a spinning kick that caught the other student in the side. "And that's for, uh, something."

Uraraka just ran up to the air guy and socked him one. A piece of tape later and the team was eliminated, slinking back to the starting area.

The girls cheered and Ojiro was looking pleased with himself. Izuku was starting to smell the saliva that was mixed in with the glue. He wanted out. Now. "U-um, Ashido-san, could you get me out of here?"

Ashido and Uraraka giggled at his state. "Well, Midori, look how much of a help you turned out to be! Guess I should help you out." Acid pooled at her fingers. "Just hope I'm gentle or your clothes could go along with that glue," she said with a wink.

"P-please don't!"

Eijiro knew Bakugo wasn't a patient person. Anyone within the same building knew that too. So when he flew off, leaving the rest of his team behind, Eijiro wasn't shocked. He did question how he was one of the top students in the class though.

"He's seriously too crazy," Sero muttered.

"What was he thinking, leaving us behind like this?!" Hagakure whined. "It's like he's forgot that if one of us goes down, we all fail."

Eijiro rolled his shoulders. "Then we'll just have to keep up."

They jogged after the sound of explosions, coming across scorch marks and shattered glass along the way. A couple of students were dazed on the floor. It's like he doesn't even care about anything else. Hagakure taped them up and eliminated them from the game.

"Think he's after Midoriya?" Sero asked, whipping from street light to street light.

"I think so. Whenever we talk the guy's brought up. It's a super manly rivalry!"

"Super stupid more like," Hagakure said, keeping up with them surprisingly well.

They cut through an alley into a main street and saw Bakugo standing still, palms at his sides, front open in his usual stance. It roared come try me! Eijiro noticed the staggered rise and fall of his friends' shoulders. He was winded.

On the other side of the street, a girl he had seen from 1B was standing with a shark like grin on her face, hands tucked into her green hair. "Well well, looks like the whole party's here."

Bakugo looked back for a second, only to have to dodge a fist that whistled past his head. "You extras are finally here. Guess you aren't completely useless after all."

"What a way to talk to your comrades! I knew you were an arrogant prick, but that takes the cake! I can't wait to wipe it off your face!"

"Shut it, Monoma! Your face is looking bad enough itself," shouted Kendo. She had a few scorch marks on her enlarged hands.

Tokoyami stood quietly at the side, Dark Shadow poised to strike.

"See, Bakugo-chan, you're worth a whole lot of points. Congrats, you're finally worth what you think you are. But we'll be having those."

"Like hell you will, bitch," Bakugo hissed through his teeth.

She laughed. "You're funny, Bakugo-chan. You see, the thing is…" Another fist flew by and nailed Sero in the jaw. "I already had you beat before they got here. Just cause I'm not in 1A, doesn't mean I'm not strong. I got in through recommendations you know."

The two stared each other down, Eijiro wondering who he would take on first. It looked like they were physical attackers, so his quirk should take him pretty far. Once he was in, he'd stay in, no matter what. The others weren't front liners like him.

Just as his legs tensed, Kendo staggered back with a grunt, then another as her hands shrunk and she clutched her stomach. It was then Eijiro realised Hagakure had gone missing. It was then he moved. He rushed Monoma and smiled when he saw Sero swinging towards Tokoyami.

"This was a bad choice, 1A!"

Eijiro got with two feet before he was pushed away. He hardened his back before he hit the ground, rolling with the momentum to meet a large fist smacking him in the face. Okay, maybe he should go full armour.

The next blow was a dull thud as he raised his arms in front of his face. He moved forward, pushing against another blow. There was no dodging. No room, no time.

Monoma's massive hand swiped at him like a paddle and Eijiro jumped forward, quickly closing the distance, a hardened fist going for the loudmouth's sternum. It clashed against rock. He looked at Monoma's smug face, his cheeks were sharp and hard.

He copied his quirk. And he had no trouble controlling it at all. And that made him mad.

The hardened skin disappeared and the large hands were back, pushing Eijiro away. Monoma didn't move. Neither did he. The past swirled through his mind, murky memories of being useless poking and prodding the embers of his anger. The times he was laughed at, the times he was wishing he could just be better. The time when Ashido made him realise what being a hero really meant.

He put tears, sweat and blood into training his quirk. It was two months before UA when he finally managed a full manifestation of his quirk. And this smug bastard had done it in seconds.

"What's the matter, 1A? Why aren't you moving? Scared I'll beat you down again?"

Eijiro chuckled. "You know," he said, fists clenching as a fire roared in his body. Was this what Bakugo felt when he got mad? "I hate people like you."

He took a step and Monoma threw a fist. Eijiro met it with one of his own. Blood spattered as skin met skin, Monoma's fingers being torn. "People who laugh at those they think are below them."

Monoma snarled. "You seem to follow that jerk." He swiped.

Eijiro clashed again. "He ignores people, true, but he judges you based on your actions. But this isn't about him!" He yelled and sprinted in full armour, striking at the hands that tried to stop him.

Soon enough, they were a flaky mess, blood trickling from his fingers and palms. "This is about me and you!" Eijiro's fist was stopped by hardened skin again, but Monoma's eyes were panicked.

"And the fact that you can use my quirk so easily…" They clashed and swung, both clumsy, sparks flying. Until he grabbed Monoma's collar and smiled viciously. "Really pisses me off!" he hit the smug bastard's cheek, sparks flying from his knuckles. "You don't know the journey people take to push their quirks higher! You don't know the pain we go through!" Another strike. "You just get it!"

Another hit.

"And that makes you weak." He finished the dazed boy with a manly headbutt. For effect. "Word of advice: be less of a bully. Get some sympathy."

He wrapped the tape around his ankle and the team was buzzed out. He looked around the street to find Bakugo breathing hard, a bruise on his eye. The green haired girl was still smiling. Kendo was on the defensive, eyes scanning as the buzzer finally reached her senses. She sagged a moment later and sat down. Sero was thrown into a car, but was somehow still smiling.

"Well I guess it's over then. Shame, I was enjoying watching you dance, Bakugo-chan. Next time I'll get you for sure." Her arms popped off and glided under Monoma, lifting him up and carrying him with his group. "Good job, Kirishima-kun." At least that sounded genuine.

"Good fight, Sero-san," said Tokoyami.

"Sure…" Eijiro could feel his friends' exhaustion.

Another minute and they were gone. Bakugo was rooted to the spot. "Yo, Bakugo-san, you good?"

"Why'd you stop it?"

"Eh?"

"Why'd you stop the fight?!" He was in Eijiro's face. He backed away with his hands up, skin involuntarily hardening at the bloodlust of his 'friend'. "I had that!"

"Cause we need to win! If we just go looking for fights we'll get worn down and eventually slip up!"

"But-"

Sero and Hagakure looked on in shock as Eijiro grabbed Bakugo by the collar. "No buts! You might wanna be number one or some shit, but we wanna be up there too! So suck it up and stop whining!"

Bakugo's eyes smouldered into him, but Eijiro's fire hadn't gone down in the slightest. Neither backed down. He didn't know how long they were staring each other down, but Bakugo eventually tutted and pulled away.

"Fine, but don't go getting captured. If you extras fuck this up for me, I'll kill you!"

"Iida-san!"

Yaoyorozu's voice rang clear through the wind in his ears. For the past five minutes, the battlefield had been a blur, his team being dropped right into the thick of the fighting. The constant dodges he had to perform took him back to the thundering storm zone, where villains tried their best to pin him down. He had to remind himself that his life wasn't at risk right now.

A smooth curve of ice materialised in front of him and he slammed the breaks, using the sheet to sharply turn back on his attackers. When his front foot hit the ground, he fired up again, never changing gear. He zoomed past the leader of another team and snatched their headband.

This had been going on for some time, and Iida would have never kept up his top gear of speed without Todoroki. If he wanted to use a crude analogy, he would say her was like a pinball, skirting and bouncing around the combat zone as it ever so slowly turned into Todoroki's own icy domain. Yaoyorozu was kind enough to make everyone a jacket.

All too suddenly, the sounds of fighting ceased, and through blurry tunnel-visioned eyes, Tenya could see his opponents slunking off in defeat. That meant he had to slow down. A few laps should do it.

One, two, three, four.

The fire in his calfs cut off with a sizzle. He still had some juice left to see his team through to the end.

"A commendable job, Iida-san," Yaoyorozu said as they reconvened.

Tenya nodded and bowed as he was taught to do. "No, it was through everyone's efforts that we were able to succeed. I thank you Todoroki-san for the boost."

"It was nothing," came the soft reply. Kaminari was looking a little out of it, but his faculties looked to be coming back slowly. Todoroki was staring into the distance, at something only his mid could see.

"Regardless," Tenya said, adjusting his slightly askew glasses, "we must be off, before more arrive."

"Un," was the reply he got from his team leader.

The city was far larger than he thought. The entrance exam was a blur in his memory, but he was certain it had never been this big. Some adjustments had to be made. As they made their way through deserted streets, the quiet drilled its way into Tenya's mind. He could hear the faint chime of wind glide through windowless cars; hear the scrapes of his team's boots; hear the cries of others locked in battle.

Ten minutes had passed since the start of the battle. The numbers were getting thinner, the fighting became less. The points up for grabs were whittling by the minute. Luckily, they could just wait the rest of it out, but he knew none of his team wanted that. They wanted to be first, number one, and that meant only one thing: Midoriya would have to go down.

Going up against his friend was by no means a pleasant task, but Tenya had made up his mind ever since he saw the green-haired boy walk into the class. He was a measuring stick to a lot of people in 1A, and an obstacle to others, mainly Todoroki and Bakugo.

His heroism saved Eraserhead from death, and his drive pushed Tenya to do what was necessary, clearing the doubt from his mind. His presence inspired people. It was Tenya wanted to do, what his brother could do.

As fast as he was, he always felt like he was trying to catch up to everyone around him. When he would steal the headband from Midoriya, he would finally meet his friend at the starting line. Then they'd set off into the world of heroics together, side by side.

That was Tenya's hope.

THUMM

The earth quaked. Tenya spread his legs as the tremor passed and noticed a plume of dust flying into the air before drifting lazily in the wind.

He checked on his team to find Todoroki glaring at the plume. The show of emotion was enough for tenya to guess who was at the centre of it.

"That's Midoriya-kun, isn't it?"

Todoroki said nothing, but strode towards the destruction and the approaching pops of explosions.

"Woah, woah, let's not be too hasty, yeah?" Kaminari said nervously. "We don't need to go after him you know. There's still others left."

"I think our course has been decided," Yaoyorozu nodded to the dual quirk user who was starting to form a path of ice to the top of the buildings, giving them a straight line to the action.

"Easy for you guys to say! My quirk's strong, but it ain't flashy like you guys! I can't go toe to toe with those powerhouse freaks!"

"Kaminari-san." Tenya adjusted his glasses again. He really needed something to keep them in place better. "If you want to stop, you can. I won't force you to continue. I just wonder what you'll think of yourself after all this is over." he walked to the ice ramp. "I'm here to prove myself to my classmates and my family, and nothing will stop me from moving forward.

"So, Kaminari-san, what are you fighting for?"

They left him after that, Yaoyorozu looking conflicted. There was a tense silence for all of ten seconds.

"Ah, fine! You know what, screw it! If I'm going down it'll be in a shower of sparks!" he ranted as he stormed past. Before they reached the top of the building, Kaminari looked Tenya in the eyes and pointed. "And I'll blame you for it, prez!"

Tenya just smiled in return. "I'll be sure to file all the necessary responsibility paperwork, Kaminari-san!"

"You better! Now let's get going. Half cold half hot is way ahead."

They'd been hidden for a while. No one had found them yet, so they watched as the chaos of conflict rose from the streets below. Ashido was trailing her finger along the dust covered ground, Ojiro was fiddling with his tail and Deku was looking intently through the window, eyes flicking left and right.

She was just spying on everyone.

Conversation was light at first, with Ashido complaining about how many stairs they climbed and Ojiro adding his own quiet teasing. Deku was muttering for a minute before he took Ashido and had her weaken some of the floors with her acid. When the concrete crumbled, it would give Ochako some ammunition to do something with.

A buzz and the changing of scores silenced another fight. "It's getting quieter," Deku said, thumb to his lips.

"Think we'll be safe here?" Asked Ojiro, coming up to look out the window.

"Hard to tell," he murmured. "We'll just have to wait and see."

And that was the worst part, the waiting.

Slowly, their eyes drifted to the city below, each watching, barely breathing. It was like USJ, where she, Koda and Momo were tucked away, waiting for the fighting to stop. Too dangerous to move, to scared to act. Her heart hammered.

Something shook the building from below and they turned to the doorway. One of the floor traps had been triggered. Then another. Then another. Everything was shaking. "Deku-kun?"

"We meet them head on. With how many pitfalls they've triggered they have to be winded. I'll take up the front. Ojiro-kun, stick behind us."

They crept their way through the dusted halls of concrete. The stale smell stuck to her nose, the scuffing of shoes pierced her ears as she strained her senses to find something. Light peaked through doorways, catching drifting particles in the air.

And then she was falling.

"Uraraka-san!"

A shriek.

"Ashido-san!"

"Ojiro-kun, where'd you go?!"

She hit the ground hard. Hands grabbed her ankles and she yelped, kicking and squirming as she reached for the person dragging her closer. If she could remove his weight then -

Tape was working its way around her ankle.

"No!"

She kicked forward and hit the person's thumb. No sound was made, but her attacker let go and she scrambled back until she hit a wall. The world came back into focus. It wasn't dark, but she was a lot lower in the building than she was before. Another student was covered in shadow, clutching capture tape in one hand and looking at his disfigured thumb.

Ochako's stomach curdled. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to do that, I was just really scared and…" The boy did nothing, said nothing. Then he was gone. "What?"

Something brushed the back of her hair and she swung around with a fist. Nothing. What is this quirk?

Something collided with her and she was sent to the floor. Her fingers closed around the person holding her down and she activated her quirk. She had him!

Tucking her legs under his body, she pushed him off towards the ceiling. Then he sank into it, coming out from the wall behind her. The pieces clicked together. He can move through shadows. The dread that washed over her at discovering such a powerful quirk was quickly drained away when she saw him drifting aimlessly down the corridor, eyes vacant, arms stretching for her with no direction. Was he a zombie too?!

"People like you know nothing of what people with quirks like mine go through!"

That came from above.

Mina was quick to recover from being pulled through a wall, all things considered. Finding her centre of gravity as she was thrown through the air, she caught herself on her hands and sprang onto her feet. Only a slight stumble. The judges scored a seven.

Shoji didn't score her anything.

"Surprised to see you here, big guy. I thought we would've heard you for su-"

He swung at her and hit. She flew back into a wall, ears ringing and teeth aching. Her stomach was quickly numbed to the blow as adrenaline kicked in. she wiped away a bit of spittle that came out. "Don't wanna talk? That's fine by me!"

If he wanted rough, she'd give him rough. She flicked her fingers out, scattering acid towards Shoji. He shielded himself with his arms, just as she hoped. She skated around to his side and landed a kick to his ribs. He grabbed her leg and hoisted her up with ease. His dead eyes pierced into her own and she knew she was in trouble.

Before she could say another word she was thrown again. This time she went straight through the window, glass cracking, shattering, ringing as her stomach lurched. How many stories up were they? Would she feel it before she hit the floor and her brains scattered across the pavement. Thirteen's cracked helmet flashed before her eyes.

She grunted as her back hit the concrete, bouncing her into a roll that scraped her arms and cut into her uniform. She fell for a shorter time than she thought.

When her stomach settled and the world came back into focus, she saw the window she was thrown through a story above. She'd landed on another building's roof. She choked back a sob.

Shoji jumped across, using his arms to brace his fall. Mina stood up and raised her fists. She didn't bother talking anymore. She had to beat his ass for scaring her like that!

She launched her acid. He either dodged it or swiped it to the side. She skirted around him, trying different angles, making sure she didn't slide off the roof, keeping her eyes out for his sweeping arms.

Come on Mina, think! Use that dumb brain of yours for something! I can't take him head on and strong acid isn't an option. The guy's a tank!

She ducked under another swipe and slid back from the rest of his arms. Shoji stumbled from his swing, something she'd never seen before.

Is he top heavy? It makes sense, but he's never been off balance before. And now that I'm lookin' at him. She threw another glob. His form's really off. She smirked viciously, orange eyes glinting.

"Ready or not, Shoji, here I come!"

She danced behind him and slid in close. As he swung around, she dropped low, using her hands and feet to slip around him again. Cutting off her acid, she transferred to her hands. He turned, she swung her legs.

And his base fell out from beneath him.

He fell hard as Mina stepped away. He didn't even try to stop his fall, making the back of his head bounce and knock him unconscious. Something was wrong with him before they even started the fight.

She was approaching him when the side of their hideout exploded, concrete and dust kicking into the air.

THUMM

It was easy to dispatch of the person who muffled him and dragged him away. Mashirao could tell immediately the guy had no combat experience and that his reaction time was far less than most people. A hit with his tail and the student was down. Where he'd been taken, or where Midoriya was, was something he was still trying to figure out.

He was running through the corridors when he heard the pitter-patter of feet coming towards him. Very fast. Too fast!

He raised an arm and felt a foot bounce off it. He put his guard up and stopped a punch aimed right for his temple. What's happening? I can't see them! Wait…

"Hagakure?" he felt the kick coming and leaned back, feeling a breeze flitter by. He returned with a roundhouse kick and followed through with a tail swipe. Nothing. She either backpedaled far or…

Crap, above!

He crossed his arms above his heat and winced when a pointed knuckle buried into his muscle.

He turned and stepped back, guard raised. Nothing came. No noise. "I thought there was something different about you during the USJ. You took those guys down quick, and the villains we passed on the way down…"

The subtle scrape of toes leaving floor.

His hip shot out a side kick that connected with her stomach. He knew it hurt, but she didn't even grunt. "You're better than you let on."

"We'll see."

What came next was a flurry of punches, some he redirected, others he blocked. The ones that hit against his arms hurt like hell, the knuckles digging deep. I was like she practiced makiwara every day. A blow finally slipped through his guard and hit his stomach. If he wasn't used to his sister smacking him up and down the dojo he would have crumbled. But it did offset him enough to take a palm to the jaw, slamming his teeth together.

She really isn't holding back!

He had to retaliate, she was too fast for him. He threw a jab to test his range and blocked her counter attack. Another jab. He shuffled forward, testing, throwing low kicks and brushing by her ankles. He whipped his hand out again and his fingers felt hair.

There!

He followed with a hook to her body and a kick to her leg. She checked the kick and brushed by his side. Not a chance. His tail whipped around and puched he back in front of him, where he continued his assault.

She kept up well, taking hits and weaving around others. Their fight became more and more about how many hits they could take. Their arms were growing weary, their feet moving less and less. And then she vanished. Not a trace remained.

He coiled his tail and readied his battered arms.

And the roof exploded.

THUMM

The ensuing dust showed Hagakure darting around a corner. He didn't have it in him to follow. They fought to a stalemate.

Izuku gritted his teeth as his team was picked off one at a time. Whoever was attacking knew their strength lay in their numbers. It also meant he would have to choose who to help first and that would take him far away from the others. So he continued forwards, edging his way down the corridor. A window shattered. He turned.

He entered one of the big rooms that was on every floor. The same kind of room he punched Kacchan through. There was only one way in and out, not counting the windows. Izuku knew he could survive the fall if things got really bad. Boots scraped in the doorway.

Izuku willed the tension out of his body. The person who followed was a tired looking boy with wild purple hair. He looked disinterested with the whole situation, but Izuku could see a glint in his eyes.

"This was easier than I thought it'd be," he said. "I'll be taking that head band."

Quirks were always the mystery factor. Hwikst izuku was extremely durable to blunt force, the guy could have something that could easily pierce his skin. Izuku cocked back an arm for an air blast.

"Think you can stop me?"

Izuku frowned. "I know I ca-"

And Izuku was no more.

The boy's voice came as if izuku was trapped under water. "And just like that you're finished."

He couldn't move. He couldn't think. Something had weaved its way through his mind and pushed it all apart only for something else to take its place.

"For all that muscle, for all the flashiness of your quirk, you're nothing."

Honestly, boy, you need to stop getting yourself into situations like these. You shouldn't hesitate. As soon as he showed his mug you should have blasted him away. He's like a twig!

I don't want to hurt anyone!

And that's been your problem. You know your safe limit, why not use it?

Because…

Because you think too much. Listen, we'll help you out this time, but don't expect it to happen for too much longer. And I'll give you a hint: don't be obsessed with the 'off switch'.

What?

"You know, my whole life people have called me a villain. Because of my quirk. A brainwasher. They didn't do anything wrong, it was me who made them do it. They used me as a scapegoat!

"And then there's people like you who have it all. With a quirk like All Might's I'm sure you were popular, never shunned for being born."

Power crackled in Izuku's fingers.

"Well I'll show them. I'll use this quirk to become a hero, to save people. My first step is beating you. The next step is the hero course. So, take off your headband and give it to me."

Izuku complied, ripping off his points and walking up to his captor, who held out his hand with a smile. Izuku's other hand flexed slightly.

You're wrong. This quirk of yours is strong. I won't let you fall down the same hole I did!

He forced his arms behind him and flicked his finger. The air was still, then it wasn't. It boomed, it whipped, it forced its way through concrete and slammed upwards. Rock crumbled and light bathed the room.

And Izuku could feel again. The brainwasher frowned.

"People like you know nothing of what people with quirks like mine go through!"

"Your wrong! If a quirk that hurts people like mine can become heroes, you can too! It's not the quirk that makes you, it's you!"

He sped forward and grabbed the boy's arm, wrapping tape around his wrist. "I'm sorry about what happened to you. If I had longer I'd talk to you more."

"Whatever." With that, he walked off.

Izuku didn't know he was holding his breath. "That was intense…"

"Deku-kun!"

"Uraraka-san!"

"Down here!" From the shadows she slowly came into view, drifting upwards. He pulled her in when she reached his level and she released her quirk. "Thanks, Deku-kun," she said with a smile.

He smiled wobbly. "N-no problem." Then he noticed he was still holding her arm, and she was burning! He whipped his arm away, kicking up dust behind him. Was he burning? Why was it so hot?!

"Deku-kun, are you okay?"

"F-fine! W-we should find the others."

"You won't have to look far."

"Ojiro-kun! What happened?" His sensei was limping slightly, a couple of bruises on his face. Whoever took him away must have been skilled.

He groaned and stretched his neck. "Hagakure happened."

"Hagakure-chan?" Uraraka said, inspecting Ojiro's battered body.

"I was surprised too, she got me pretty good."

"But where's Ashido-san?"

"GUYS!" That came from outside. "THERE'S AN ANGRY EXPLODING BLONDIE COMING THIS WAY!"

They rushed towards her voice and saw her on another roof with Shoji unconscious next to her. She noticed them at the window and pointed to the sky, where flashes of orange rocketed Izuku's rival forward. The air started to chill too.

"Oh no."

Across the way, ice bridges were being formed, carrying with them Todoroki's team. Their hiding plan had gone from bad to worse, to really really bad in seconds.

"DEKUUU!"

The orange was brighter, twisting, morphing. He could have sworn the fires made Kacchan's murderous grin. "DIE!"

He was moving before he knew it, dragging his friends along. "Get down!"

There was a small pop, then a massive bang. Everything shook, his eyes wobbled, his ears rang, and the ground crumbled beneath his feet. He lost his grip on the others and then he was falling, falling with rock and dust and screams.

AN: Here it is, broken into two parts for easy digestion. The return begins. A few things to get off my chest first. Thank you to all those who either kept checking back to the story or those who read it and decided to follow. When I last checked this story had gotten over 100,000 views collectively, which is crazy considering it's been inactive for a year and a half.

I was working a night shift for a full year, and whenever I came back to write this chapter I never had the drive, then I moved country. To be honest, I got lucky people like this story, with as weak of a premise as it has. I forgot how I characterised everyone and I just couldn't start it no matter how hard I tried. But, I set out to make a shonen story, with all the crazy big fights and stupid reasoning included. So I'll do what I did before and just write it. This felt good to do, but I know it won't sound the same as the rest of the story. And that's okay.

Thanks for sticking with it. Next one will be up in four or so days. Depends how much Astral Chain I play.

Hope you enjoyed!