After lunch, Izuku returned to the classroom brimming with excitement. The afternoon class was All Might's Hero Basics, a subject designed to build the foundational skills heroes need through practical training.
"I—AM—HERE!"All Might dramatically pulled open the classroom door, dressed in his Silver Age-style outfit.
"Good afternoon, everyone!"
"Whoa… All Might is really teaching now."
"The vibe difference is too strong—I can't process this."
"Well, since everyone already knows what Hero Basics is about, I won't explain too much," All Might said cheerfully. "Even though this is sudden, today we're doing this!"
He struck several bodybuilding poses, then pulled out a sign from his pocket.
BATTLE
"Combat Training!! Now, look over here."
Rows of racks suddenly appeared along the classroom wall.
"These contain combat costumes custom-made based on the Quirk reports and requests you submitted before enrollment!"
"Five minutes! Get into your combat suits and assemble at GROUND BETA!"
"Yes, sir!!"
Izuku stared at the box in front of him, looking conflicted.Why are there two belts inside? I'm sure I only designed one… And what's with all these extra components? Did the support course mess up? …I'll just wear my original belt for now. Wait—this looks like the belt from that dream. But now isn't the time… I'll wait for the right moment.
Two minutes later, Izuku had changed into his combat suit and arrived at the training ground—a simulated abandoned urban city. Everyone gathered there.
Izuku's costume was primarily green. His mask featured two decorative "antenna-like" tufts resembling hair, clearly inspired by All Might. There was a dark red emblem on his chest and white markings around the waist. The chest emblem was Izuku's own addition—everything else had been sewn with his mother's help.
The moment All Might noticed the "hair" on Izuku's mask, he chuckled quietly.Simple and easy to understand.
"Sensei, this is the same training site we used during the entrance exam. Does that mean we're doing urban combat again?"
"Correct! But this time, it's a realistic two-on-two battle. One team will be the Heroes, tasked with storming the building and capturing the opposing team's 'nuclear weapon.' The other team will be the Villains, whose job is to defend that 'weapon.' That's the entire exercise."
"Now, let's assign teams…"
Ten minutes later, Bakugo Katsuki and Iida Tenya were assigned as the Villain Team, guarding the 'nuclear weapon' on the fourth floor.
Opposing them as the Hero Team were Izuku Midoriya and Ochaco Uraraka, who started on the first floor.
The moment Izuku reached the first floor, he began warming up.
"Midoriya-kun, what are you doing?"
"I'm planning a blitz. I'll finish this at forty kilometers per hour."
"But Bakugo-kun is—"
"That's why I have two plans… and because I don't want to lose."
"Three… two… one—Training Start!"
The instant the signal sounded, green lightning crackled around Izuku's legs as he shot up the stairs at inhuman speed.
In the observation room, All Might watched Izuku charge forward and felt a surge of emotion.
Just one day apart, and Midoriya's control has improved again… Or did he put sandbags on his legs?
Within seconds, Izuku reached the third floor—at the exact same time Bakugo stormed in from the opposite side.
Izuku's thoughts flashed.Worst-case scenario. The last person I wanted to meet.
Bakugo launched himself forward using his Quirk.
"DEKU! DIE!!!"
"Whoa—Kacchan's really angry! I'm doomed, I'm doomed!!"
Without hesitation, Izuku bolted in the opposite direction. Bakugo gave chase. At that same moment, Ochaco arrived on the third floor and took position by a window.
"I hope Izuku-kun's plan works…"
Izuku suddenly stopped and turned to face Bakugo head-on.
"Kacchan, I've always thought your Quirk was incredibly strong," Izuku said with a smile, narrowly dodging a punch. His goal was clear—provoke Bakugo, defeat him if possible, or break through and sprint to the fourth floor to reunite with Ochaco.
"Yours isn't bad either!" Bakugo snarled, swinging again.
"It's decent, I guess. I'm still not fully used to it," Izuku replied, evading easily.
His speed improved again! That bastard!Bakugo's rage intensified as he yanked the pin from one of his grenade gauntlets.
"How about THIS?!"
BOOM!
The explosion was violent. Bakugo grinned in excitement.Got him. Trash is still trash.
But from the smoke burst a green figure.
Izuku had barely escaped the blast radius. Half his mask was scorched away, completely destroyed—but within the smoke, he saw his opening. Crouching low, green lightning surged across his legs again as he rocketed toward the fourth floor.
"Ochaco! Plan start!" Izuku shouted into his earpiece as he ran.
In the observation room, All Might finally understood Izuku's strategy.
Effective… but extremely risky, Midoriya.
Bakugo snapped back to reality and gave chase.
I can't let Kacchan catch up this fast! There's only one option!
Izuku leapt high into the air.
"Kacchan—sorry about this!!!"
Green lightning engulfed his raised right arm.
"DEKU, STOP!!!"
Bakugo raised his own right hand, preparing to clash head-on.
"SMASH!!!"
The result: Izuku's entire right arm was rendered useless—but Bakugo was blown back, unable to continue pursuit immediately.
Was it worth it…?Dragging his swollen, purple arm, Izuku reached the fourth floor—where Iida Tenya stood guard.
"Midoriya, why are you alone? Where's Bakugo?"
"He's behind me. He'll need some time."
"Then you're my only opponent left. Even so, I won't hold back!!!"
Just as Iida prepared to engage, the loudspeaker crackled to life.
"Hero Team wins!!"
"What?!"Iida spun around—only to see Ochaco hugging the 'nuclear weapon,' grinning foolishly.
"A miscalculation!!! I forgot there was still one more person!!!"
Iida collapsed to his knees in despair.
Izuku's plan had been simple: draw both Bakugo and Iida's attention—then let Ochaco strike from the flank and seize victory by surprise.
"Hah… mission accomplished!"
"Finally…" Izuku smiled at Ochaco—and then collapsed. His legs had turned purple, his arm was ruined, and he had already used One For All on top of taking Bakugo's explosion head-on. Reaching the fourth floor had been his absolute limit.
"DEKU!!!"
Bakugo finally arrived. Seeing Izuku lying on the ground, something cracked inside him.
My abilities… my personality… my motivations—he saw through everything.
"Even the aftershock of that punch sent me flying… which means if we fought seriously—!"
Bakugo's breathing quickened as he teetered on the edge of losing control.
Suddenly, a massive hand landed on his shoulder.
It was All Might.
"That's enough, Bakugo. It's time to head back for the evaluation. Win or lose—reflection is where real growth happens."
Inside the control room—
"Hmm… The MVP of this exercise is Midoriya Izuku. Can anyone explain why? Raise your hand if you know."
"Sensei!"Momo Yaoyorozu raised her hand first.