Sam was lying under a tree, watching the night sky with nostalgia.
It was nearly morning. Sam had slept—barely.
Because of that, he refused to sleep in the boys quarters, and he slept outside.
To be more specific, he found a small cave, right by the camp. It seemed to have been used a lot by someone, if Sam had to guess, he would assume Kouta made the cave his hideout.
Sam didn't want to rain on the kids parade, but he wanted to at least have a roof over his head and the cave was perfect.
After getting a few hours of sleep, he went back to the camp and just sat under a tree. He would usually call Rumi and he would hear her complaining about not getting to fight villains, due to them surrendering when they see her.
That was therapeutic for Sam. He wouldn't admit it, but he likes that part about her. She never holds back her words.
If something pisses her off, she'll make it known.
If she liked something, she'll make it known.
In other words, she is a loud woman.
But Sam found her honesty attractive.
Realizing the thought he just had, he felt his face heat up.
'Damn it…'
He couldn't deny it. He had feelings for her.
But a part of him was still clinging to Zola.
He really didn't know what to do.
"Fuck…"
———
Before he even realized it, the sun was rising.
The next thing that came to his attention, was the doors to the quarters opening up, and out of them came the dead-tired students.
He also saw Aizawa, the orchestrator of their misery, waiting for them.
"Good morning class."
Aizawa greeted.
"Today, we begin the training camp. It will increase your strength, which is the goal of this camp. You're going to have to get stronger if you want to get your provisional license. This will allow you to face the dangers that fester in the darkness. Choose carefully."
Aizawa said.
Sam walked over to the others, and they finally noticed him.
"Suzuki, where were you?"
Aizawa asked.
"Right under that tree. I'm stunned you didn't see me."
Aizawa rolled his eyes.
"Anyways, I have a question."
Sam had to be problematic at all costs.
"Does the license stop villains? Or is it just a glorified police badge?"
Sam asked, clearly criticizing the hero laws.
"It can keep you out of prison if you use your quirk in public."
Aizawa flat out replied.
He then took a baseball out of his pocket.
"Look alive Bakugo."
He threw the ball to Bakugo and he caught it, looking down at it.
"Try throwing that for me."
Aizawa ordered.
"Yeah, sure. Just like the fitness test."
Bakugo said as he reeled his arm back.
Sam leaned over to Todoroki who was nearest to him.
"What fitness test?"
Todoroki looked at Sam and remembered he wasn't in the class when they had the fitness test.
"The first day of school, we had to do a fitness test. Aizawa wanted to see competency and skipped orientation."
Sam's eye twitched.
'That guy is such a dick.'
Sam could tell what that test was. Sam read up on Eraserhead in his free time. He learned the guy expelled his entire class last year. If Sam wasn't mistaken, then Aizawa likely tried to pull the same stunt with this class, but saw potential.
Despite being amicable with Eraserhead, Sam never felt he could like him. It was his fault that Sam ended up having a mental breakdown, and even if he apologized, Sam didn't accept it. Any respect he had for Aizawa was gone when he learned he expelled his old class for being worthless to him. Both him and Nezu have earned his ire.
'He expelled an entire class. Just like that.'
Dreams — erased.
And they call him a hero.
Sam shook his head in disapproval.
BOOM!
"DIE!"
Bakugo screamed and launched the ball with an explosion, bringing Sam out of his thoughts.
"…709.6 meters."
Aizawa revealed to the class.
"That's it? Kinda disappointing."
Sero admitted.
"You've had a single semester at U.A. You all have dealt with various situations, and because of that you all definitely have improved. But that is mostly in experience and skill. Your quirks haven't improved that much, as you can see. That's why we are going to be focusing improving your powers."
Aizawa calmly revealed, before a sinister smile appeared on his face.
"This will be so hard, you will feel like you're dying. Let's hope you all survive."
"Sensei, this seems a bit silly."
Sam interrupted.
The students turned around to look at him.
Aizawa raised a brow at that.
"What do you mean, Suzuki?"
"I mean what I said. Sure, raw power is important, but they should be taught smart ways to use their powers, not just using them until they feel like dying. Power without imagination is just noise."
Sam advised.
Aizawa sighed, already hearing the murmurs of doubt from his students after Sam stepped in.
Aizawa saw Sam smirking a bit.
'He is so petty.'
Aizawa could tell this was because of his role in his final practical exam.
"That's not a bad idea, Suzuki. They will still be doing what I planned, but why don't you stick around and give some tips."
Aizawa wasn't going to let Sam ruin his entire training plan.
However, Sam actually pondered it.
'I mean, I have no intention of becoming a hero. Blank is just a call sign at most. However, these brats will be throwing themselves into danger in the future. Might as well use my time here to help.'
"Sure, why not?"
Sam agreed.
The students gasped in surprise, but also excitement. All of them acknowledged Sam's wisdom and the chance to get personal training tips from him is a great opportunity.
Aizawa was a bit shocked that Sam agreed, but went with it.
"Alright. Let's get to work."
And with that, it was suffering time for the students.
———
It's been an hour since they started training.
However, Sam wouldn't call this training. This is simply using their quirks over and over again, like some crazy idiots.
He could tell where Aizawa was coming from with this, hoping to enhance their quirks through constant usage. Like a smithy forging a sword and beating the devil outta it with a hammer.
But, Sam thought it to be a waste to just devote all their time to only doing this.
He was currently walking toward Todoroki.
He saw the kid working on handling the drastically different temperature effects on his body.
"Todoroki."
Todoroki stopped what he was doing and took a deep breath.
"Yes, Sam?"
Sam could tell this was killing the boy.
"Something I wanted to ask you a while ago was how your ice worked. After observing for a bit, I can tell you only freeze the water molecules in the air which creates giant glaciers, meaning you don't produce ice. Right?"
Todoroki widened his eyes.
"That's right."
Sam nodded.
"Figured as much. Well, I think there is something you are missing with your quirk. You think it's just hot and cold, right?"
Todoroki raised an eyebrow.
"It is Hot and Cold. What are you talking about?"
"You think your quirk is fire and ice. It's not. It's temperature. Quick question, you can make ice and fire at the same time, so tell me. What happens when fire and ice meet?"
Todoroki understood immediately.
"You mean, water? That's what's missing?"
Sam shrugged.
"I have no idea, it's just a thought. But thinking outside the box is important. That's your greatest problem. You are limiting yourself."
Todoroki looked down at his hands.
"Water… I will have to think about that. Thank you, Sam."
Todoroki did a polite bow.
Sam nodded.
———
Sam went on to, what he deemed, Aizawa's greatest failure.
Momo Yaoyorozu.
For her training, she was forced to stuff her face with cake and constantly make matryoshka dolls. This vexed Sam greatly.
He walked up to her.
"Momo."
"Hmm?"
She gulped down the cake she was eating and turned to see Sam approaching her.
"Sam? How can I help you?"
She asked, wiping crumbs off her clothes.
Sam sighed.
"Honestly, this training you're doing isn't going to do much. Plus, you're going to get cavities from all the sugar. This isn't going to help you much."
Sam said, not hiding his disapproval with her training.
"W-well, this was what Aizawa-sensei said would help me push my quirk to its limits."
Sam nodded.
"And he is right. But that's not going to make you stronger. Sure, your stamina and endurance may get better, but you're not learning anything. You are smart, that's not debatable. But you are too straight and narrow."
Momo gave Sam a confused look.
Sam rolled his eyes.
"By straight and narrow, I mean you don't have much creativity. You make things that already exist."
Momo's head cocked in confusion.
"What?"
"I mean, everything you create is not original! You can create anything. That makes you the most dangerous person here—if you stop copying blueprints. You don't mix things up. Like, for example, I noticed you like using a bo staff. Have you thought about adding a taser to the end? Or maybe adding a compartment that can eject darts at someone? That would make you more unpredictable and dangerous."
Sam said, determined to help this girl.
Momo's eyes widened and she felt like she was given an enlightenment.
'That's… I never thought of that.'
"See what I mean? You're too straight and narrow. Be a bit creative with what you make. It could make your creations more unpredictable and that would do wonders for you in the future."
She gave Sam a smile of gratitude.
"You're right. Thank you so much, Sam."
She bowed to Sam, feeling grateful for his help.
"No problem, just let loose sometimes. Let your mind run wild."
Sam smiled, glad she got his message. He turned away and went to the next students.
———
For the rest of the day, Sam would just observe some of the others and give a few tips. He noticed class 1-B arriving but paid them no mind.
Right now, he was sitting at a table, surrounded by the exhausted students.
He got to meet the rest of the Wild Wild Pussycats. One was a cute catgirl named Ragdoll, the other was Tiger—built like a tank and twice as loud.
He honestly found the Pussycats to be kind of adorable, leaving out Tiger. Just thinking that makes him curse his weakness to cuteness.
Right now, they were being forced to make their own food. Curry.
Sam wasn't about to sit around and eat some damn curry. He may not taste things, but that curry didn't agree with him. He's going hunting.
"Suzuki, where are you going?"
Before Sam could escape into the forest, he was stopped by Aizawa.
"I'm not having curry. I'm going hunting."
Aizawa sighed.
"What are you going to hunt out there? Sit down and make some curry."
"No. I'm hunting for a rabbit. Leave me be. It's the least you can do after I did your job for you."
Aizawa raised a brow.
"What do you mean? Do you mean giving advice? While I appreciate your help, to say that you did my job is…"
He paused, and he thought about the results from Sam's assistance. Because of his tips, the students grew more motivated and went beyond plus ultra. He hated to admit it, but Sam really came through.
Aizawa could only sigh.
"…You're insufferable."
Sam smirked and headed into the forest.
"And you're welcome."