Mato was walking to reach his class. Today, I have practical training, and Vlad King-sensei said it's related to Class A...
He entered the class.
"About time, Shirakawa," said Vlad King. "Now hurry up, put on your hero costume, and let's go to the Gym Gamma."
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Field Gamma
Satoru was standing in the training ground, waiting for Class A to arrive.
"I'm tired of waiting for them," he said, scratching his head.
"Hey, bro, aren't you cold with that sleeveless jacket of yours?" Tetsutetsu asked.
"Yeah, I'm freezing," said Mato. "But I forgot to use the winter version with the sleeves."
"Did you notice how none of us has the same hero costume as at the start of the year anymore?" Yui asked.
"Yeah, you're right," said Togaru.
"I'm tired of waiting for them," said Monoma. "Come with me, we'll take initiative."
"Don't do anything strange, Neito," said Mato, walking beside him. "And for the record, I am the leader."
Class B reached Class A.
"Hey, say, Class A..." said Monoma, still hidden by the dust. "Are you ready for some healthy competition?"
He struck a pose. "Face it, today we're going to show you that we're the best!"
"Nice to see you again, Class A," said Satoru.
"Hey, Hideki," said Izuku. "Your hero costume looks different. Did you change it?"
"No," said Mato. "Not that I remember, at least."
"Shirakawa-san, you know these guys?" Kinoko asked.
"Yeah, some of them," said Mato. "For example, my best friends among them are the one with freckles and the one with heterochromia..."
"Thank you for your consideration..." Uraraka snorted.
"Oh, and the girl with the pink cheeks, too," Mato added. "Sorry, Uraraka, I almost forgot about you!"
"Don't fraternize with the enemy, Hideki!" Monoma yelled. "Look at this, Class A! Statistics say that our play was liked more than your concert!"
"You really can't stay put without competing with Class A, can you?" Itsuka asked.
"Let him be," said Mato. "It's just his personality."
"Today, there will be a special participant," said Vlad King. "From normal course class C, Hitoshi Shinso. Have you got anything to say, Shinso?"
"I've already fought against some of you during the of you during the sports festival, but saying we're friends just because we've fought before... I'm not into good sportsmanship like that," said Shinso. "I'm already dozens of steps behind you all. Sorry, but I'm desperate for this, and I'm not planning on being friends."
Everyone clapped their hands.
"Short, clear, and concise," said Mato. "I like it."
"Well, shall we start?" said Vlad King. "This will be a battle between Class A and Class B, and it'll take place here, in a corner of Field Gamma! You'll face in five different rounds 4-versus-4."
"But, Vlad-sensei," said Jurota. "We're 42."
"We decided that Shinso will participate in a match with Class A and one with the Class B."
Vlad King pointed at Satoru. "Shirakawa, you'll be in the match where Shinso is allied with Class A, so it'll be a 5-versus-5."
"Why me?" Satoru asked.
"Because you're the strongest here," said Vlad King. "And also the only one who can fill that gap."
"Fine, I can do that."
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Match 1: Kirishima, Shinso, Kaminari, Asui, and Koda Vs. Shiozaki, Shirakawa, Shishida, Rin, and Tsuburaba.
Match 2: Yaoyorozy, Aoyama, Hagakure, and Tokoyami Vs. Komori, Kuroiro, Fukidashi, and Kendo.
Match 3: Iida, Todoroki, Shoji, and Ojiro Vs. Honenuki, Tetsutetsu, Tsunotori, and Kaibara.
Match 4: Bakugo, Jiro, Sero, and Sato Vs. Tokage, Kamakiri, Bondo, and Awase.
Match 5: Midoriya, Uraraka, Ashido, and Mineta Vs. Monoma, Kodai, Yanagi, and Nirengeki.
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Match 1
Satoru was leaning against the prison, with his arms crossed, and his gaze on the floor.
"Shirakawa-kun, do you have a plan?" Ibara asked.
"Unfortunately, no," said Mato. "The only thing I can think of is diving headfirst into a 1-on-5, but that would be impossible and would hinder us; we need to cooperate."
He pushed himself off the prison. "If we can't think up a plan, then we won't let 'em think up a plan either. Ibara, you do the bait. Rin, stay here. Shishida Kosei, follow me."
"So you did have a plan..." Shishida muttered.
"Yeah, I did," said Mato.
__________
Shinso, Kirishima, Asui, Koda, and Kaminari were in their area, thinking about a plan.
"Honestly, I don't like the idea of going after a girl, but..." said Kirishima.
Suddenly, Shishida came out of nowhere and attacked them.
"Ibara was just a bait, guys!" the boy exclaimed.
Asui and Kirishima smashed against the walls.
"Kirishima! Tsu!" said Kaminari.
Mato appeared from the corner of the wall.
"We took into consideration that Koda would search for the enemy," he said. "So we used Ibara as a bait to confuse you."
He adjusted his hair. "Honestly, we didn't have a precise plan, so we decided not to give you the time to think about a plan, either."
"You can't use your electricity around your friends, can you?" Kosei Tsuburaba came out from behind Shishida's back. "I've got a new technique after improving my Quirk!"
Kosei used his Quirk and trapped Koda in an air prison. "This technique is called 'Air Prison'!"
"Holy originality..." Satoru commented.
Shinso used his mask on the mouth. "All right, Shishida, drive them out!"
"You've got it!" Shishida exclaimed, but suddenly, he stopped.
"He talked with my voice!" said Kosei.
"Was he brainwashed?" Satoru wondered. "Oh, I think I get it... That's what your thing on the mouth is for, Shinso!"
"Exactly," said Shinso. "Let me introduce you to 'Persona Cords'."
"Wake up, Shishida!" Satoru kicked his classmates in the jaw, waking him up. Kosei trapped Shinso in his Air Prison.
"Now," said Satoru. "What are we gonna do-"
Suddenly, Satoru felt a strange sensation. As if someone were forcefully pulling him from behind, preventing him from moving. His eyes went white.
"What's wrong with you, Shirakawa?" Kosei asked. In response, Mato let out a scream that reverberated throughout the surrounding area.
What the fuck is happening to me? Mato wondered, as sparks shot out of his right hand. Are these the other two Quirks AFO gave me? And if so, why are they doing this to me?
"Oh no, Hideki-kun is going out of control!" Itsuka said, worried.
"What the..." Tetsutetsu wondered.
Mato screamed again. Why...? What are these sparks? What the hell is this Quirk called?
Suddenly, Satoru raised his hand in the air and let out a huge explosion.
"He used a technique similar to Kacchan's..." Izuku muttered.
"Is he trying to copy me?" Bakugo snorted.
"No, it's not that," said Shoto. "It's just that... he's not controlling it."
Suddenly, with no apparent logical explanation, Mato fainted.
__________
A while later
Satoru opened his eyes. He was sitting in a hospital bed, with his arms and neck bandaged.
What... where the hell am I?
"You're finally awake," Recovery Girl said, near to him. "We still don't know why you fainted, just know your team lost, and Class A won the exhibition."
"Oh, I see..." said Satoru. Maybe I fainted because my body is starting to feel the amount of Quirks in my body... and those sparks... were they caused by a possible explosion-type Quirk? I don't know... I don't really know.
Satoru was confused, sad by the loss of his class, and at the same time curious. If the fourth Quirk AFO gave me is really starting to manifest, then this means my mental sanity will slowly begin to fade... and my body will start to destroy.
Chapter 52 - End