A/N: Thank you so much for your patience. If you've stuck around, you're the best! Just go read.

Disclaimer: I don't own BNHA (obviously)

Rating: T (because what fun is it without cursing)

Summary: Genetics determine everything, your face and height, even intellect to an extent. In this world of quirks, it is even more pertinent now. Two villains conducted several experiments in crafting the perfect genes for any quirk. Hikari is the result of those experiments. Follow along as she sets out on a path to become a pro-hero by attending the best hero academy, UA.

Un-betaed so you're bound to find some mistakes.

Twelve: Keep Your Friends Close, but Hold Your Rivals Closer

It turns out that falling from about two stories with a knife embedded in your thigh will cause a lot of damage.

My attempt to try and grab Midoriya from the Noumu had caused extensive damage to both my Rectus femoris and Vastus lateralis, the knife having been ripped from my leg and causing more damage than just having been stabbed with it. It had been a clean tear due to the blade being so sharp, so the fix wasn't too bad. Some minor surgery in patching the muscles up individually. They didn't want to try healing it all in one go since it was so extensive, so I was currently bandaged up and would be going back down tomorrow morning and then discharging.

They had tucked all four of us away into one room of the hospital, only after I begged them not to separate me out from my friends, the nurses finally relenting and letting us stay together only after I had worked myself up to near tears, and consistently poked their heads in (what they thought we'd get up to this injured was beyond me). It was shortly after that the chief of police had shown up to first chew us out, which Todoroki was ready to fight him for, and then thank us for everything we did. The Hero Killer had finally been brought in.

But the League of villains was still at large with no idea where they are. We all had to give statements to the police about the interaction, the detective was baffled that Sillohuette would give up Stain so easily and find a fifteen-year-old to do so. The interaction still confused me, why she would give me knowledge on her companion was beyond me, but she was still out running around.

I now laid back in bed, everyone finally done questioning and scolding the four of us instructing us to rest for the afternoon. I was more relaxed now that I had pain killers in my system and everyone was safe. Midoriya and Iida had both drifted off, the former lightly snoring into his pillow. I slid my gaze over to Todoroki to find him staring at me.

"What?"

"Just thinking about how grateful I am to have friends"

I cracked a smile large enough to put All Might to shame.

"So, you admit that we're friends, Todoroki?"

He rolled his eyes dramatically but there was a ghost of a smile on his lips.

My phone went off, blaring an old rock song, one of Aizawa's favorites. I scrambled for it, sending shooting pain through my thigh as I retrieved it from the side table of the bed. Iida didn't stir and Midoriya's snoring only hitched for a moment before it resumed. I tapped the answer button hurriedly.

"Arai Hikari, they won't tell me what actually happened, insisting that Endeavor handled the situation, but you didn't just stumble into that"

I cringed and glanced at Todoroki who only had an eyebrow raised in question.

"Yes Oji-san, you're right. But to be fair I did follow Endeavor's orders to go find the others, I didn't think it would blow up the way it did and—"

I was cut off by a large sigh on the other end. I could just picture him rubbing his forehead in frustration of the oncoming tension headache he was giving himself.

"I know. I'm glad you're safe and you did as you were told, but I'm pissed that Endeavor took you to Hosu City looking for Stain. It was incredibly irresponsible, and you know he'll be hearing from me soon", he droned bitterly.

I laughed softly, always the logical one here.

"I'm fine. Shouto and I should be discharged tomorrow morning and we'll go back to Endeavor's office building. I don't think he'll take us on patrol in the city"

Blessedly he let the use of my classmates first name slip by unmentioned.

"I really should pull you both considering how he endangered you both like that—"

I let out a long whine in response but he barreled through it.

"—but I'll settle for sending an absurdly long email and yelling at him the nest time he's on campus. You scared us all."

I gulped, shame pooling in my stomach. I hadn't thought about how my family would have reacted to all this. They knew being a hero was dangerous none of us thought I'd be in so much trouble as a fifteen-year-old already.

"I know. I'm really sorry Oji-san. I already had a long conversation with dads at length earlier."

There was only another sigh from his side of the line. Poor man overworked himself too often.

"I'll bring you coffee on Monday", I baited.

A dry laugh, "It better be one of those giant iced coffees. I'll need a lot in compensation since four of my students were present and I can't punish any of you since it technically didn't happen but—"

"Who ya talking to teach?", came a velvet smooth over Aizawa's.

"Family matters Shinsou, not that it's your business—"

"Whoa, wait Oji-san! Why are you talking to—"

"Hush", He hissed through the phone, "I know you're with other people in the room and this isn't to be getting out yet."

I grinned seeing where this was already going, "What isn't, Oji-san?"

"You're a little shit you know? I've borrowed Shinsou Hitoshi from the General Studies course for the week. Since all of you are gone I have time to help him out."

"You took an intern!", I squealed. "You never take interns! You know, I told him he reminded me of someone. And to come by the gym sometime."

"Toshio has taken quite an annoying liking to him", He stated dryly.

"Is that Arai?", Shinsou asked. A light thud could be heard as if Aizawa had swatted at the boy.

"I'm hanging up now. Get better soon, things will just be harder when you get back"

I was going to protest but he killed the line before I could get anything out. I set the phone back down on the table, silencing it this time to make sure no one's sleep would be disturbed.

"Is sensei mad?", Todoroki asked monotonously.

"Yeah, but we can't be in trouble because it officially didn't happen. He's also busy cuz he took an intern this week too."

He only hummed in response, he also looked like he was going to pass out with the way both eyes drooped.

"Go to sleep, you look exhausted"

"You don't mind?", he yawned.

I held back the urge to laugh, "What kind of friend would I be?"

He was already reclined into the pillows eyes closed before I finished the sentence. I studied his face. He looked relaxed for once in his life. I reclined back in my own bed casting my eyes to the ceiling.

I wasn't going to ask Aizawa over the phone with everyone in the room, but I had so many questions. Things had been increasingly confusing ever since that night that I overheard them all talking about my birth parents before the Sports festival. It had been something lurking in the back of my mind, popping up at the most inconvenient times. They knew something and clearly weren't excited about telling me whatever it was. And now villains were seeking me out to give tips on how to fight their comrades. Something wasn't right about the whole situation, and I was going to get to the bottom of it all.

Shouto and I were discharged the next day, both of us saying a temporary goodbye to our classmates that were staying for a little longer. Iida had some extensive nerve damage thanks to the multiple knives that had found their way into his shoulder. I apologized profusely because I yanked the one out from his arm knowing that it wasn't good for puncture wounds. He insisted I did it in the heat of the moment because he was trying to get it out himself. I still apologized once more before Shouto said we had to go.

A car sent from Endeavor waiting outside to take us back to his agency building. Shouto slept the entire drive back, head leaning back against the seat. I immediately put earbuds in, the driver wouldn't talk and didn't want to play music. The silence was suffocating and just let my mind wander, making up insane scenarios for the conversation with Aizawa once we were back and just the worry about him not even telling me, which was crazy because Aizawa didn't lie to me. Even as a small six-year-old he didn't spare me, much to both of my dads chagrin.

After what seemed like forever the car finally rolled to a stop outside the agency building. Shouto stretched and glanced around the car, face hardening when he realized we had arrived back.

"Morning sleeping beauty. You slept the entire drive", I teased.

"Sorry for not keeping you company, it must have been boring"

The driver beat me to it and opened the door for me, offering a hand to help me out. Flustered I took it despite wanting to slap it away, it would be rude of me to do so. Shouto followed me out onto the sidewalk. I shrugged at him

"It wasn't a big deal. You needed the rest."

I watched Shouto as we walked up and into Endeavor's office building, his shoulders squaring off and his jaw set tight. Ready to fight or flee once again. I kept pace with him as we passed the secretaries desk, the woman sitting behind it calling out a cheerful hello to us. I smiled and nodded in return, my own anxiety creeping up my back as we took the elevator up to the top floor, returning to the office where the insanity of the last few days had begun.

Rumble was there to greet us as the doors opened, a tight smile on his lips.

"We've been waiting for you both, welcome back. I hope you're both feeling better"

Shouto only hummed, eyeing the office door at the end of the hall.

"We are, thank you. I'm excited to return to the internship", I supplied instead.

"Ah, yes. We will be taking it easy the remainder of course, but I am excited to take you on patrol again"

Rumble stepped back and gestured down the hall. I fell in step behind Shouto, his spiked boots echoing through the giant hall. Shouto reached for the handle, pushing the door in without knocking first. I hurried in after him, worried a fight was about to happen in the giant office.

Endeavor was standing looking out the floor to ceiling window, massive back to us all. The flames along his shoulders swayed slightly.

"Leave us Rumble", he said curtly.

"Yes sir"

The door clicked close quietly, air thick with animosity between the two Todoroki's. I inhaled sharply to try and calm the dread climbing down my throat and into my lungs. Endeavor let out a sigh, his hulking figure turning to face us both. His lips were turned down in displeasure, but that seemed to be his most neutral face at this point.

"Hikari. I am incredibly sorry for allowing such an injury to befall you while you're here training under me. Please allow me to pay for the medical bills, it is the least I can do", he bowed at the waist.

My mouth dropped open, "Oh no! Endeavor I couldn't possibly allow you to do that!"

Todoroki's hand clamped down on my shoulder, fingers digging into my skin through my shirt.

"Nonsense. I can't accept no as an answer", He grumbled.

His blue eyes stared me down, I felt like they were searing a part of my soul off. I swallowed and managed a half smile before bowing.

"Thank you very much"

He only grunted in return, nerve inducing stare shifting to the boy next to me. I glanced out of the corner of my eye, he wasn't tense or terrified. He stared back with blank face, calm in the face of a billowing inferno.

"Shouto. Running off like that put yourself and Hikari in danger", he growled.

"My friends were in trouble. I had to go. We stopped Stain in the end didn't we. Though, I guess officially you stopped him", Todoroki coolly shot back.

I swear I saw Endeavor's eye twitch. The two only stared at each other, the temperature of the room slowly climbing. I worried my bottom lip between my teeth and kept my gaze trained on the towering man in front of me. His eyes darted to look at me again, his face twisting into a frown as our eyes met.

His gaze returned to Todoroki, grimace still twisting his face but the room began to cool.

"We will only do physical training here within the office for the remainder of the week, I think you've had enough field experience for quite a while".

The remaining days on the internship passed quickly and without incident. Both of my dads fretted over me when I returned home on Sunday, checking me over multiple times, the only proof that anything had happened a few days ago was the four-inch-long scar on my left thigh, peeking out from my uniform skirt.

They begged me to be more careful and swooned over how Endeavor had rescued us and was kind enough to pay for the medical bills. I chewed on the inside of my cheek and only nodded along at that part, not being able to tell them that I had run head long into the whole mess and that Endeavor wasn't the hero they thought him to be.

Monday morning came too soon and I left earlier than usual to stop by and pick up an iced coffee to use to beg for Aizawa's mercy on us all. But also, to buffer the onslaught of questions I was going to be asking at last.

My thoughts had been plagued by the mysterious woman that had sought me out. Zilla. The fact that Aizawa had warned me of her, giving me details on her and the hero killer before the internship, and then she just happened to know me and find me to warn of Stain's? It couldn't possibly be coincidental; the universe wasn't so lazy.

I trudged up the stairs to get to the teacher office to find my uncle. I slurped on my own iced coffee, grateful to already feel the caffeine. I arrived to find several teachers in the office, Present Mic chatting loudly with Midnight. I bowed to both of them when they looked at me.

"Ah! Hikari! Your uncle is under his desk", the blonde called grinning wide.

"Thanks!"

I was met with a yellow bundle of sleeping bag under said desk, I nudged what I thought was a shoulder with my foot. Not even a groan in response. I knelt down next to him and began shaking his shoulder.

"Oji-san! I brought coffee!"

The bright bundle squirmed, turning over to expose a pair of bloodshot eyes glaring out from the cocoon. I offered a smile. An arm wormed out and snatched the giant iced coffee out of my hand.

"Good morning! I missed you while I was gone!"

"Didn't miss you, brat. Causing so much trouble", he grumbled sitting up so suck down the caffeine.

I laughed nervously, "Yeah, it sure was a week huh?"

Aizawa said nothing, sleepy eyes staring at me as he continued to drink. I swallowed and bowed forward to look at the ground.

"I'm sorry for what happened. I promise I'll be more careful in the future."

Aizawa quirked an eyebrow, coffee almost gone.

"Really! I mean it!"

He took one last giant gulp, exaggerating his movements to show his annoyance.

"You'll have to help me keep the other problem children in line."

"Yes Oji-san. I'll try to keep Midoriya and Todoroki out of trouble."

Aizawa grunted in response climbing the rest of the way out of the cave he had made for himself, I stepped back as he stretched his back out. He looked extra tired today.

"Are you okay Oji-san?"

"I'm fine, just haven't pushed myself as hard as I did last week since the accident. Not up to where I should be."

I hummed in response as he gathered his things and we began the trek to the classroom. It was still early so the hallways were still incredibly empty. My nerves sat heavy in my stomach as I tried to choose the words to ask what I needed to. I had to get answers, or the confusion was going to eat me alive.

It wasn't until I stepped into the classroom behind him and I was heading to my desk that he said anything.

"Okay, what's eating you? You've been extra fidgety the whole way here", Aizawa rasped.

I froze midway down the aisle, still not ready to bring this up. I turned on my heel and headed back to the front where he was at the podium.

"Something happened last week…", I started.

Aizawa snorted, "That's a way to put it."

"No, not that. Something else."

I sucked in a huge breath before continuing. "I also ran into Zilla. The one you talked about being involved with Iida Tensei's injury".

The only response I got was his eyebrows rising slightly.

"She actually ran into me. She found me to tell me about the Hero Killer's quirk. She didn't even try to hurt me, it was incredibly bizarre. One of the villains you warned me about sought me out to turn on her ally that she's been collaborating with since breaking out. Isn't it weird that you talked about here and then she finds me?"

Aizawa sighed through his nose mouth opening to reply but I cut him off before I lost my courage.

"There's also another thing. I heard you all. After the USJ incident, with my dads. You were talking about my birth parents. And I didn't bring it up sooner because I was focused on training for the festival, but it seemed like you all know something about them", I mumbled out the end.

The silence hung thick between us, his face blank as he stared at me. He broke first and dragged a hand down his face, looking utterly exasperated. I gnawed the inside of my cheek in anticipation.

"Hikari. There are things going on that you don't know about. And your dads and I disagree on when you should be told and what all you should be told. I warned you about Zilla because you were panicking for your friend and I wanted to give you some information on the situation. I promise I'll answer your questions. But not until after finals"

"That's weeks away!", I whined.

"I know. But I'm asking you to be patient and wait, and to focus on your exams for the term first. We'll talk at the start of Summer break", his voice firm.

I knew there was no room for argument, there was nothing I would get out of him until then. I was frustrated and more worked up now knowing that something was going on and I was being kept out of it.

The final weeks of the semester were grueling, and my underlying anxiety only made things worse. I was distracted, and my class ranking had slipped after midterms, I fell into sixth, behind Todoroki, three behind Bakugo, who wasn't content with third even if he was above Midoriya.

The majority of the class was panicking over finals, especially since a training camp was being held above our heads. Half of the class was scared of the written exams, but everyone was nervous about the practical. Rumor on the street was that it would be against robots like the entrance exam was, but that seemed way too easy compared to what our semester had put us through already. Maybe it was because we were just an anomaly that has had too much real-life experience already, but it only was fraying my nerves further. And it wasn't going unnoticed.

"Star face, if you don't stop clicking your pen I'm going to jam it down your throat", Bakugo growled.

"Dude, woah! It's not that big of a deal!", Kirishima shot back.

"It is because it's distracting!"

I groaned and threw my pen down on the table, rubbing my eyes as they continued to squabble. We were two days after from the start of written exams and the three of us had holed up in a coffee shop to study.

"I'm sorry, I just can't focus"

"Clearly", Bakugo grumbled, sipping his latte, milk steamed to an absurd temperature.

"Don't mind him, we can't all be study machines like him", Kiri reassured, sucking down a blended coffee drink, stuffed with sugar.

"I know but I need to do well on this, the fact that I slid under Todoroki in grades is irritating because he doesn't have to try very hard to do well", I grumbled.

Bakugo snorted, "Icy hot isn't that smart, don't give him so much credit."

"You don't give him enough credit, Sparky"

The blonde opened his mouth to reply but Kirishima smacked his arm to get his attention.

"Hey, Can you explain this bit to me?"

"Hah? We've gone over this already Shitty hair!"

"Oh, yeah I uh, still don't understand it"

"You need to focus too!"

Written finals went by quickly once they arrived, though there was a lot of groaning from everyone in between them. Kirishima managed to stay optimistic, even after he told me he was certain he bombed the math final and wasn't going to be allowed to go to the training camp over the summer. Bakugo only threw an explosion at his face, saying there was no way he failed thanks to his tutoring. I felt much better now that we were nearly done, the written exams not being very difficult, though I still found my attention wandering at times, drifting off into my thoughts.

What could be going on was beyond me, but Zilla and her shadow quirk lurked in the back of my head, Stain and his terrifying aura popping up every so often as well. The whole interaction sent shivers down my spine still.

"You good Hi-chan?"

I glanced up at Ochako, sweet voice snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Oh yeah! I'm fine, just drained from all the exams. Just wanna get it over with!"

She threw an arm over my shoulders, grin on her face, "Almost there! We got science this afternoon and just the practical tomorrow!"

I gave her an uneasy grin back, "I can't wait"

I had woken earlier than I typically did, doing a light workout and making a gigantic breakfast to stay energized for the practical exam. My nerves were running even higher now that the end of finals was really here, all that stood between me and getting answers out of Aizawa was this one thing. Some type of fight most likely. I mused how we would be divided, if they would have us go it alone even though it was only our first practical like this.

They had herded us all to the gym, the twenty-one of us dressed in our hero costumes and most of the hero department teachers stood in front of us. Their presence seemed odd, the only ones who should be here are Aizawa and All Might.

"Now, I know there have been many rumors flying around about the practical. And while in the past the final has been against robots, we had to change tactics since the lot of you have already had more experience than some sophomores", Aizawa droned, eyes glancing over me and Todoroki, then Midoriya.

"Instead of fighting robots, you will be fighting us in pairs."

The class cried out in protest, the skill gap being too wide, how that was too far. I shook my head, the thought of fighting any of these pros was crazy. All of them being twice or more our age.

"Fear not boys and girls!", All Might cried joyously, "We had these commissioned by the support department! They will weigh us down immensely giving you an appropriate handicap. You have two choices. You can either fight and capture us, or you can escape the ring together."

"This still seems really hard…I hope we get paired up Hikari!", Kirishima whispered to me.

"That'd be nice", I hummed in agreement.

Aizawa began listing off pairs, I sighed in gratitude that he had stuck grape head with Sero, I'd probably singe his head on 'accident' if I was left alone with the cretin.I was disappointed that Kirishima was paired with Sato, but was glad that I didn't have to fight Cementoss. The class continued to dwindle in size and my name had yet to be called. I might end up with Bakugo, which that would be reassuring and terrifying all at the same time.

"Midoriya and Bakugo will be paired together against All Might"

The class went silent and I stared at my uncle in shock. The most rational man in this entire industry, and he put the two most ill suited people together. This was a nightmare situation.

Bakugo thought it too, I could feel the anger rolling in waves off him as his hands shook. Kirishima glanced at him and then me, his surprised look mirroring my own.

I mumbled under my breath, even though with how quiet everyone was they'd hear me anyway.

"Bakugo—"

"Shut the fuck up", he barked.

Aizawa seemed unphased by this entire interaction, knowing that this is what would happen anyway. He continued on.

"Hikari that leaves just you. Since we are at odd numbers, you will be paired with Monoma Neito from class 1-B against Vlad King, he'll be going before the rest of class B in the afternoon"

I hissed out a curse under my breath. Luck just continues to shit on me today.

"You all will have twenty minutes to fight or flee, report to your assigned training ground. We all will start at the same time"

Dsfdsfdssd

One short shuttle ride late, I was stepping out in front of ground Iota. Behind the tall wall I could see what looked like multiple apartment complexes and power lines. I had never been here before, but it looked like a large residential area like in a city, I couldn't tell if there were any individual houses.

At the gate stood one pissed-looking Monoma and a slightly annoyed Vlad King. The blonde sneered at me as I stepped closer.

"Unfortunately, we've been stuck together, and despite my plea to be switched with anyone else, Sensei won't budge", he drawled out.

I chewed on the inside of my cheek ignoring him and looked at Vlad King instead.

"We'll do our best Kan-sensei"

His lips twitched into an almost smile as Monoma started grumbling at my use of the word 'we'.

"I imagine so. I know I am not normally your teacher, but I look forward to this examination of the two of you. I will be heading in now, we should be starting in about ten minutes. Use that time wisely."

"Yes sir"

He gave a pointed look through his mask before turning and striding through the gate, disappearing quickly into the cityscape.

I turned breguinngly to Monoma, dressed extravagantly for a hero uniform, sneer still on his face. He looked me up and down quickly.

"Your outfit is too plain", he groused.

"Yeah, cuz you need two belts", I bit back.

He simply laughed maniacally at me and shook his head, "You were given this flashy quirk and you can't even dress right for it? How are you supposed to become a hero like that?"

I only sighed loudly, not wanting to rise to the bait, " I don't care if I go mainstream or not, I'd rather be an underground hero like my uncle. I care about helping people not the media— ".

"Wow you are stupid", he whistled. "You don't even wanna play your quirk up properly? Disappointing".

I couldn't help the flash of anger that rolled through me and settled into my gut. "We're wasting time. We should be planning on what to do when we get in there."

"Oh no, there is no we here. I don't care if sensei insists on it. I'm not working with 1-A trash. I'm going to sneak up on him and borrow his quirk, I'll take him down using his own power against him."

I couldn't help the snort that came out of me, "Are you stupid? We're definitely being graded on our teamwork. Not to mention he knows how your quirk works, he isn't going to let you close enough to touch him!"

"Class 1-B has been training harder than any of you! Just because you're the ones who got the spotlight at the USJ and then you had to be saved by the number two pro doesn't mean we aren't competent. I'm not going to use your dumb quirk"

"That isn't what I said, don't put words—"

The alarm sounded and he took off running straight into the suburb without glancing back at me. I groaned in frustration and kicked at the ground. I took two running steps and launched myself up and after him.

"Monoma wait!"

My calls fell on deaf ears as he darted down a narrow alley to try and lose me, skidding to a hard stop on the sidewalk I kept after him.

"Hey dumbass, wait up!"

"Not for a 1-A idiot like you", Monoma tossed over his shoulder.

He took a sharp right and then a left, surprisingly fast for not having a physical quirk, but I was gaining on him. The ever ending alley maze between the apartment buildings was nearing an end, opening up to the street. He clearly had no intention of stopping to look out and see what was going on out in the open. Giving a big burst of energy to my feet I shot myself straight forward, hands fisting into the upturned collar of his dress shirt. I spun around and shoved him into the brick wall.

"Let go of me!", he shrieked.

I kept my grip firm on his shirt and pressed my other elbow directly into his spine, one foot between both of his. He was decently tall but I had a few centimeters on him.

"You're acting irrational. If you can't work with other students you don't like, how are you supposed to work with other pros you don't like?", I hissed at him shoving him into the wall a little more. "You'll never be taken seriously if you keep up like this."

"We aren't taken seriously anyways! No one cares about 1-B in the hero course!", he spat back struggling against me.

I sighed, softening the pressure on his spine.

"We didn't ask to be attacked at the USJ. And I didn't ask to be corned by Stain either. We've just had really bad luck and keep ending up in the wrong place at the wrong time. 1-A doesn't look down on you because you have 'less experience' in the real world than we do."

The blonde only snorted and craned his neck around to glare at me out of the corner of his eye, "Tell that to your resident splodey boy and Endeavor Junior and how they look down on us"

My reaction was immediate,pressing my forearm across his back into the wall and my elbow finding purchase against his back again. He only grunted out in response.

"Don't you get it? It doesn't matter what others think of you, or what you think others think of you. What matters is what you think of yourself and what you do for yourself!"

"I am doing this for myself!"

Monoma shoved back against me and I dropped my hold on him and stepped back. He was glaring daggers at me as he straightened his shirt and jacket out.

"I'll be better than all you class A wannabes and I'm not even the strongest in my class. I don't need your help!"

"We were paired up for a reason, we're supposed to do this together. Neither of us are strong enough to take Kan-Sensei down on our own. We have to do this together".

I met his glare evenly, his eyes a pale purple and iris' stark white. They vaguely reminded me of another glare but I couldn't be bothered to place it. They only held anger and disdain for me.

Neither of us were allowed another word though as a loud crash echoed through the street.

"Come out heroes!", Kan-Sensei roared.

I chanced a look out to the street and that's where my mistake was because Monoma took the opportunity to dart past me and out to the open street, likely to take our teacher on head first. With no combat ready quirk. He has guts I'll give him that. Throwing my hands up I looked around for the drone that was surely recording for the teachers to go over, not finding it but knowing it was somewhere I simply yelled up at the sky.

"What am I supposed to do when they won't work with me!"

I chanced a glance out at the street, dust floating a block over. Kan-sensei was known for excelling at precise attacks so how he managed to knock enough shit over to cause dust was just impressive. Neither of them were in view but another crash resounded along with Monoma's screams.

I cursed my garbage fire luck and took off towards the noise, keeping close to the buildings. This damn mess I already was in. Working with Bakugo would've been easier than this blonde. I made it a block over when another crash resounded.

"What the fuck is he doing?", I muttered to myself.

I pressed close to the building, the street opening into a large four way section. Being low like this wasn't a good idea but I took the chance and glanced around the building.

There Kan-sensei was, lampposts and part of a building destroyed, dust swirling up from the wreckage. He sat atop some of the rubble he had managed to create and looked utterly bored at the whole situation. And lying a few meters away from him was Monoma. No major injuries seen, but out cold. The fucking idiot.

"I know you're there Arai!", Kan-Sensei bellowed.

I immediately withdrew my head and pushed my back against the building sucking in a breath. The glass of the faux store front was cold against my skin. I went over my options, and it wasn't great. I could simply flee. Only one of us needed to escape in order to pass. Kan-sensei would likely pursue me to the exit on the opposite side anyways. We weren't very far into the training ground and if it was the same size as the others I had a ways I'd have to go to get out.

I could attempt to handcuff and subdue Kan-sensei, which would be likely impossible even with the physical handicap he had. He could match me with long distance and it'd be over if I got too close to him. The same fate that Monoma found would also befall me.

The image of Monoma popped into my head. Laid out on the street, by himself. He of course wasn't in any real danger because this was just class. An exam. Kan-sensei wouldn't have done anything horrible to him. But if this was the real world he'd be left for dead like that. Paramedics wouldn't be able to get him because the villain would be right there, the scene unsafe for them to enter. I thought of Iida and Midoriya in the alleyway a few weeks ago. They wouldn't have made it without more help.

I couldn't leave the idiot behind.

I groaned and hit my head against the glass behind me. I pictured where he was on the street, off to the right and Kan-Sensei perched atop the fallen lamppost on the left. If I could fake him out thinking I was going in to attack and blasted enough dust up I could maybe make it over and grab him. But even if I got him there's no way I could fly us out. I'd have to try though.

"Arai I'm coming for you next!", Kan-Sensei roared.

"Not if I get you first!"

I shot a star out of my arm to the open street, sending it up and to the left,compressing it in. Remembering the control Endeavor had taught me. Stretching my hand out I ran after it into the open street, headed to the far left side.

"I see you both like trying to attack alone then! How pathetic!", Kan-sensei smirked. I knew he was playing the part of the villain but that still hurt.

"Neither of use are pathetic!"

I closed my hand the same time he sprung forward, trying to close the gap between us. The star burst, going supernova in a flash of white light. He yelled in surprise, shielding his eyes, and I swerved hard. Pushing out enough power in my hands and feet to destroy some of the street below me I flew to the right and landed right over Monoma. The dumbass was out cold. I bent over and scooped him up and over my shoulder into a fireman's carry, he wasn't heavy but I'd never tried flying off balance like this before.

The dust was starting to clear and I could see Kan-sensei turning to face us, mostly obscured by the cloud. I raised my free arm releasing a barrage of stars at the street to add more to the cover. I pushed all of my energy into my feet, shooting us up to the rooftop of the three story building. I began doing my best imitation of Aizawa, parkouring over the rooftops with the added boost of my quirk.

I held tightly around Monoma's waist every jump, terrified I'd drop him into an alleyway if I wasn't careful. I felt more than heard the groan that came out of him.

"You awake at all?" I asked.

I made a longer jump from an apartment building onto a store, having to take a knee since it was a two story difference. I only got a more pained groan in response.

"So no then"

The gate was only a few more blocks, we could make this.

It was at that moment something went shooting right across the arm I had over Monoma,cutting it. My head snapped around to see Kan-sensei barreling down the street after us.

"Shit shit shit shit", I cursed under my breath.

I took off hard to get up to the next building, another small apartment building. Running was difficult with a literal dead weight on my left shoulder, but I kept on and made the jump to the next building. I couldn't turn around to see how close Kan-sensei was since the street was on my left. The next jump I made I also threw a few stars blindly back at the street in hopes that would do something.

"You aren't going to get away from me!"

I made the next jump and turned 180 to face the street. He was closing in on us. Perching on the building I shot at him, this time being able to aim properly. He wasn't a small man but deftly dodged them all. I shot another one at and flew up and back, turning again to land and run across the next roof top. My shoulder was screaming in protest.

"You're heavy, did you know that?", I hissed at Monoma, who only whined back in response.

The gate was a block and a half away, another of Kan-sensei's blood spikes finding purchase against my thigh. I'd have to end this fast, we were going to be caught at this rate. I jumped to the last building before the grounds opened up the fence and exit gate. I made it two steps before I tripped and nearly dropped the human turned sack of potatoes in the process. Man-sensei had managed to solidify his blood over my left boot.

I cursed, I could hear his footsteps in the alleyway, clearly trying to find a way up to us. I light my hand up enough to rip through the laces and wrenched my bare foot out of the boot. I made it to the other side of the building as I heard Kan-sensei make it to the roof. I made a mad dash to the edge and didn't bother trying to jump up much, just forward.

I put the last of my strength into the stars on my feet, shooting us forward to the gate. We hurtled sideways through the air, blood roaring in my ears. I did my best to shift Monoma down my toros and held his head with my other hand. We passed through the gate as my shoulder took most of the landing. I held tightly to the unconscious blonde while we tumbled over and over a few times before coming to a stop a little ways outside the gate.

Monoma groaned and coughed as I wormed my stuck arm out from under him, clearly still not with it. My shoulder screamed in pain, the skin completely torn due to the self inflicted road rash, bleeding in spots and just pink in others.

"You better have been worth it, idiot", I grumbled.

"ARAI HIKARI AND MONOMA NEITO HAVE COMPLETED THEIR EXAM!", a voice boomed out over the loudspeakers.

"You pass Arai"

I glanced up to see Kan-sensei approaching, my boot in hand. A stretcher manned by two robots coming up behind him.

"I'm sorry we didn't work together. He wouldn't accept my help", I bowed my head.

"I figured that might be the case. That's why we wanted him to be the one to be paired with someone from class 1-A. It's been difficult for them, they feel like they're living in your classes shadow", he extended a hand to me helping me up.

I shoved my foot back into my boot, laces disintegrating as I wriggled it in.

"He said as much. I'm sure it must have been hard. We've caused a lot of trouble for the school and the other students...but it's not like we asked for all this to happen. It isn't fair on us"

I pulled on my fingers as he loaded Monoma onto the stretcher, silent as it started off for Recovery Girl. Man-sensei turned to face me.

"We know that. But it might take some of the others some time to come around to that idea. But chin up, Arai. You did well. I'm proud of you for going back for him even though you could've fled and passed on your own", he smiled at me.

I bowed, "Thank you sensei. I couldn't have left him behind, even if he was acting like a pain"

That got a low chuckled out of him. I gave him a small smile in return.

"Come on, let's go get that shoulder looked at. Road rash isn't very fun"

"Yeah, no kidding".

A/N: Holy hell y'all. It's almost been two years since I started this fic, and a year and a half since I last updated. Yikes. All kinds of stuff has happened in that time. If you're still here and reading I really appreciate you! I do have more planned out, I have a whole outline that has us going for a long time yet. I really hope to write more and update again. If anyone isinterested in reading it I guess, but I've really missed writing for fun too.

The world is crazy right now. Stay safe and wash your hands!

~ Vic