Chapter 331 - 7-8

"I can't believe this is actually happening…" Aizawa said with a tired tone. This ought to be the fastest someone has ever issued a challenge in a year in UA's history, and yet Dean Nezu allows it. He sometimes wonders what goes on through that rat's head. Still, he couldn't disagree with him. He did argue with him earlier about the legitimacy of this challenge.

Given Katsuki Bakugou's behavior so far, had it been up to him, Aizawa would have him shipped to General Studies already. But Nezu didn't let him because this challenge was, in fact, legitimate, and they couldn't punish him for following the rules. Any UA student, whether in the Hero Course or any other course, has the right to issue such challenges to resolve disputes.

It was proposed and implemented by the previous Dean, who found that it drastically reduced fights between students outside of official challenges. On paper, it seemed like a way to throw down without consequences, but in actuality, it was a way for teachers to see things first-hand. The leading issue when a fight does break out is figuring out the context of what happened, who started it, and why. More often than not, there are more than a few individuals who lie to cover for their friend.

He saw innocent kids ruined by such things.

But here, the person who issued the challenge is written down. Here, they can see just how far the fight goes, and are recorded from multiple angles at all times. If any of them try anything funny, they will have uncontested proof -No use lying. Additionally, if it solved issues among students, that was a plus. More than a few people came out of those challenges as good friends.

Aizawa wouldn't count this as such an occasion. The bad blood between Katsuki Bakugou and Izuku Midoriya ran deep. One wished to stand up to their past bully while the other simply wanted to show their superiority to mend their bruised ego. Both of them are selfish. Selfish, but not unique. UA had a no-bullying policy that offered 0 tolerance to bullies and, after much bureaucracy, the authority to run background checks on potential applicants.

Everyone is, of course, checked before they are allowed to join UA. If any of them have a history of known bullying, that is an immediate denial on their file, along with a red flag for any other institution in the country. Of course, in cases like Aldera, the bullying might be kept off the official record. No matter. UA has hired Private Investigators to look into its applicants if someone seems suspicious.

They did that to Katsuki Bakugou, finding enough to deny him, but they didn't. Such was the loophole of this system: Nezu. He holds the final say, and he decided to enroll Katsuki Bakugou into UA because he believes there is a chance to reform him and make him a decent hero after all. But Aizawa doesn't share the same optimism.

Izuku Midoriya, on the other hand, was a different case. Aizawa saw in him a boy who lacked the confidence to stand up for himself his entire life, someone whose will was weak. He was very polite, and his mother did a good job at raising him, sure, but after what Aizawa heard from Nezu, he now had different opinions. Was it luck or fate that saw him receive the Omnitrix? He didn't believe Nezu at first, but his compelling arguments eventually lined up.

Aizawa knew he was Quirkless. Hence why Erasure didn't work on him. Those transformations were not Quirks; they were different species altogether. It made sense why his personality shifts with every form as well. Different DNA strands might be stronger than normal human DNA. Poltergeist, or as Nezu called it, the Ectonurite, stands as the prime example; he revealed that their consciousness is tied to their DNA. The Omnitrix seems to have an altered 'blank' copy; however, Aizawa had serious doubts about it.

That form didn't feel at all like Izuku. It gave him the creeps.

But at the same time, he felt a small feeling of disappointment. Each of those alien forms will require extensive training to master properly, and Aizawa was only disappointed he couldn't be the one to do it. Pushing him to his limits, only to break through them, for each alien form, would have been more than simple entertainment, but a test for Izuku and proof to him.

If the boy were to meet his expectations, he'd have more hope for the heroes of tomorrow. So far, his class hasn't inspired much promise in him. But alas, All Might had to intervene with his paranoia. Worse, he dragged Cementoss and Vlad King into it. He tried talking with Vlad, but it was of no use. He didn't hold any grudge against Izuku, personal or otherwise, but was wary after what All Might revealed to him. He feared the possibility of that boogieman having an agent in UA.

Baseless fear. Everything All Might had to serve as proof was Izuku's ability to change forms and use what he believed to be 'multiple' Quirks. If only he knew the truth…But he doesn't. And Nezu was clear that they had to limit the number of people who knew. Not even Mirko knows the full truth.

Due to that, Nezu got Recovery Girl on this as well, revealing her the secret. Poor woman nearly had a heart attack believing she might work with alien physiologies, but Nezu assured her that wouldn't be the case. No, instead, she drew blood from Aizawa to falsify a blood test that Nezu promised All Might. A test meant to show that Izuku didn't have multiple Quirks.

But before this fight, Nezu told him something that bugged him. He told him that Izuku was only using Playlist Alpha so far, but Beta was also unlocked. Aizawa could only assume Izuku Midoriya had a whole new set of aliens he was not aware of, and if he was, he was terribly inexperienced with them.

He will need to see.

"Alright, listen up!" Aizawa raised his voice, looking down into Gym Omega from the observation platform. With him, Mirko, and Nezu were present as well. Nezu just wanted to watch, while Mirko was required to be here, seeing that Izuku was her protégé. There were several students here, too. This was a public event, meaning students were allowed to watch. Multiple students from his class were present, with clear sides having been drawn.

Katsuki Bakugou didn't have a lot of fans.

"This is an official UA challenge!" Aizawa continued. "When I give the signal, you can begin. You will be allowed to use the full extent of your Quirks, but be warned that intentionally inflicting major injury will not be tolerated, and we retain full authority to stop this fight when we see fit! Failure to comply will result in a 2-week suspension and a permanent stain on your file. If either of you falls unconscious or calls it quits, the fight ends right then and there. No excuses."

"I also want to add that you are being recorded from every single angle!" Nezu said, taking the microphone from Aizawa. "Any foul play WILL be punished. However, support items are permitted in full, but any non-registered weapons or tools will not be allowed." That explained why Bakugou was wearing his suit's gauntlets. Two large, grenade-shaped gauntlets worn around his arms. Izuku knew what those were, as he was the one to design them as kids when Katsuki's Quirk first manifested.

The concept was simple. His sweat was a biological nitroglycerin he ignited by producing sparks from his hands. That was how his Quirk worked! Those gauntlets are made to make his arms sweat more and build up the liquid. Then, when the pin is pulled, it enables him to release a larger, stronger explosion than he could normally release without suffering damage.

To see him use them left a bitter taste in Izuku's mouth.

"Can they hear us?" Ochako asked.

"No, they cannot. We are far away from where the action will take place." Aizawa replied. "The Observation Decks are built to keep spectators out of the actual fight, and not get in the way. This includes not being able to distract them by shouting cheers and jeers."

"Oh…" Ochako was disappointed.

"Now…" Aizawa brought the microphone to his mouth once more. "Ready?"

Izuku lifted the Omnitrix, activating it and selecting the form he wanted.

Katsuki got into a stance, ready to propel himself with his explosions.

"Fight!"

The reaction was immediate, with Katsuki launching himself right at Izuku with immense speed. However, Izuku managed to slam the dial in time to turn himself into Diamond Soldier, tanking Katsuki's incoming strike successfully. Katsuki clicked his tongue in annoyance, but then unleashed another explosion right into Izuku's arms, propelling himself away.

"This hard fucker again…" Katsuki said slowly. "My explosions won't do shit!"

"Hard as rock!" Izuku declared proudly as he punched his chest to prove the point. "As it stands, Diamond Soldier is my most durable form."

Katsuki grinned. "I know." Then he did something Izuku didn't see coming. "AP SHOT!" Katsuki seemed to fire a narrower explosive projectile at Izuku, who, believing he could tank it, put his arms up to block it, only to have the projectile pierce through his diamond outer layer.

"What?!" Then detonate, sending him back a few steps. He checked his right arm, seeing that it was cracked and damaged.

"How'd you like that?!" Katsuki shouted. "That was my AP Shot!"

"A named move?!" Mirko gasped. "Isn't it a bit early to be teaching that class, Aizawa?"

"I didn't teach them anything about Ultimate Moves, Mirko. Katsuki Bakugou figured it out on his own." Aizawa replied, eyes narrowed at the exchange. "To think he figured out a counter to Midoriya's strongest defense…He didn't challenge him blindly; he came prepared!"

"Indeed." Nezu agreed, then their attention returned to the fight below.

"You can pierce my diamond exterior now, huh?" Izuku said, staring at him. "Fine then! No more defense!" He slammed his fists into the ground, making crystals erupt from below toward Bakugou. However, the blonde leapt upward upon seeing them, but Izuku gave chase. Quickly summoning a crystal below his feet, he propelled up after Katsuki while morphing his good arm into a hammer.

But Katsuki was prepared. He launched another explosion to change direction mid-air. This surprised Izuku, who had just landed back on the ground, seeing Katsuki fly using his Quirk. "That is new," Izuku stated.

"You think I ever used my full Quirk on you, nerd? Keep dreaming!" Then he launched an explosion that launched him right at Izuku. The boy raised his arm, creating a shield and making sure to reinforce it with extra layers. "AP SHOT!" As predicted, Katsuki launched another AP Shot at him, but the shield was able to tank the explosion well. It still cracked, but it'd take more than one AP Shot to fully go through.

At least, that was what he assumed Katsuki was after.

In truth, he failed to notice Katsuki got behind him. The explosion was a diversion.

"I got you now, Deku! AP SHOT!" An AP Shot was fired, just as Izuku turned around and struck him square in the chest, the resulting explosion sending him flying down the street and into one of the fake buildings inside Gym Omega. When he got out of the rubble, he had a sizable hole in his chest and cracks all over his right side, with one going all the way to his face and over his right eye. "Not so invincible now, are you?" Katsuki said, openly mocking him.

"Congratulations," Izuku said slowly and sarcastically. "You learned how to punch through Diamond Soldier's skin and outmaneuver him. But can you keep up with Accel?" Izuku slammed the dial, changing forms. But something seems to have gone awry.

"What?" Even Katsuki was confused.

"What is that?" Aizawa asked at once. "That form is not in his current file!"

"Because it is not a current form he knows…We just witnessed Izuku Midoriya unlock a new form." Nezu replied, but the message was clear. Izuku just tapped into Playlist Beta.

When the light died down, what appeared was not the fast Accel, but something new. Large, with grey fur in the front and black on the back, with four claws on each hand, one being his thumb, and three on his feet, and spiked elbows and shoulders from his bone structure. His eyes were a bright green, and he wore a pair of black shorts on his lower body with a thick, green collar around his neck, holding the dial of the Omnitrix. He swung his new, bushy black tail around, and his new mane flowed in the wind.

Yet, Izuku only had one thing to say. "WHO THE FUCK IS THIS GUY?!" Normally, he doesn't swear like this, but this was warranted.

"Answer: Playlist Beta DNA Sample. Species name: Loboan. Bio has been provided."

"Playlist Beta?! But that was not yet unlocked!" Izuku argued. "Wait…Did Paranox lie to me about requiring a final password?!"

"Affirmative."

"I…Shit…Better read the bio, quick!"

"Deku!" Katsuki shouted. "What the fuck is this?! Are you a furry or something?"

"Hey!" Izuku barked, growling at Katsuki. That's right, growling, like an actual wolf. His voice was different, go figure, but as he read the bio quickly, he learned what he could do. Overall, this was a simple alien. Except for one detail. "Wolfcry is enough to kick your ass into next Sunday, Kacchan!" Izuku mocked him, giving his alien a tag that the Omnitrix was sure to memorize.

"Wolfcry?" Katsuki snorted. "Some name that is." Then got ready and launched himself at Izuku. "But this won't help you! Your defense is down!"

"Don't think so…" Suddenly, Izuku revealed his trick. His upper and lower jaws split apart. Katsuki, seeing this, recoiled in horror, but then came the good part. Izuku howled, and as he did, the sonic wave shattered windows and struck Katsuki dead-on, killing his momentum and sending him flying. His jaws closed back up. "Ok, that was awesome!"

"What the-" Ochako recoiled back, seeing the howl. "What did he just do?!"

"That was a sonic blast!" Jiro, one of her classmates, said. "I do something similar with my Quirk, but not on that scale! He outright shattered the glass on every building there!"

"Not to mention he looks like a werewolf, Kero." Their classmate, the frog-like girl, said.

Katsuki got up slowly, ears ringing. "Deku…" He growled, then put his arms up. "AP SHOT!" And fired, but Izuku reacted quickly. His ears moved, hearing the AP Shot coming toward him, and his jaws opened up again. He howled at the attack, causing it to blow up before reaching him. "You fucking shit!" Katsuki charged through the smoke of the explosion, but Wolfcry was prepared. When Katsuki launched an explosion at him, he leapt upward above him, spinning in the air and landing behind Katsuki while slashing down at his back.

"GAHHHH!" Katsuki screamed as his clothing and skin were torn, exposing three claw marks now running down his back, blood flowing slowly from them. "Deku…" But now Katsuki's eyes were screaming bloody murder.

"Surrender, Katsuki!" Izuku demanded. "Even if Wolfcry doesn't have Diamond Soldier's defense, this form is more than equipped to deal with you!"

"Don't be so fucking cocky!" Katsuki shouted, launching one of the biggest explosions Izuku had seen so far. He leapt back, not standing in the smoke produced by the blast. His ears moved from side to side on his head, hearing the sound of explosions going off. Katsuki was flying again.

Izuku knew he could change again into one of his flying aliens, but he had already cut his time in half by changing into Wolfcry. He didn't want to suffer again like last night, so he'd rather avoid going over the limit. He also knew that if he went all out, he could seriously harm Katsuki. Not that he didn't do that already, but the wounds he left on him were shallow. They will heal quickly, especially with Recovery Girl's Quirk.

So instead, he got on four legs and began giving chase. Katsuki's Quirk was loud in this form, allowing Izuku to chase him through the fake city, jumping from building to building, latching onto the side of buildings with his claws. He was starting to like this form quite a bit. Eventually, he started catching up with Katsuki, the smell of blood hitting his nostrils. Katsuki, upon seeing him behind him, turned around and fired a series of explosions with one hand to slow him down.

When that didn't work, he turned to a different target. He saw Izuku jump to another building and launched an AP Shot at that building, destroying the wall Izuku was planning to grab. This caused Izuku to fall inside the building, which slowed him down. This allowed Katsuki to put a fair bit of distance between themselves.

"The fuck am I doing?" Katsuki asked himself after he landed. "Am I seriously running away from Deku of all extras? No! Of course not! This was a tactical retreat! I need to think about how to deal with that mutt form of his. From what I noticed from his reaction, checking himself out, this was a new form even to him. But to think he adapted to it so quickly…Clever bastard. Still, he lacks experience with it! Think, Katsuki, how can you take it out? That wolf thing is- Wait! That's it!"

With a grin, Katsuki waited for Izuku to get close again, but while he did, his hands began to produce smoke without generating explosions. By the time Izuku arrived, his nose started to burn. "GAH!" He shouted, recoiling back while grabbing his nose. "What is that smell?!"

"Ha! Knew it!" Katsuki shouted in triumph. "You are a wolf! Wolves have highly sensitive noses and ears! You know why I never got a dog, Deku? Because my explosions are loud and the smoke I produce is obnoxious, especially to canines!"

Izuku shook his head. "No matter!" He opened his mouth, but Katsuki clapped his hands together, unleashing a small, yet very loud explosion that seemed to cause pain to Izuku as he grabbed his head. He did so mid-howl, too, causing the attack to fly off into the sky. "My ears!"

"Remember this?" Katsuki clapped his hands again. "A small trick we came up with as kids! Just like throwing a very loud firecracker!"

"Fuck! He figured out how to counter Wolfcry already?! I have no choice." Izuku tried to reach for the dial.

"No, you don't!" Katsuki clapped his hands again, making him redirect his hands back to his ears. "I know that is how you turn! I won't let you touch that thing again!"

"Didn't I tell you…I don't need to touch it." Izuku said, confusing Katsuki. "Omnitrix! Change my current form, now!"

"Affirmative. Selecting a new DNA sample. Sample selected! Playlist Beta, Uxorite."

The Omnitrix beeped twice before it initiated the transformation sequence, enveloping Izuku in light once more. "No, you don't!" But Katsuki was not about to let him turn, and lifted his gauntlet.

"BAKUGOU! IF YOU FIRE THAT AT SUCH A CLOSE RANGE, YOU WILL-"

"DIE, DEKU!" But Bakugou ignored the warning and began pulling the pin. Only for his arm to stop mid-way. "What the fuck?!" He tried to pull more, but he found his arm immobilized. Looking at it, he found it surrounded by a purple aura. "What the fuck is this shit?!"

"Looks like I made it in time," Izuku said, revealing his new form. Everyone stared as a tall, green-blue reptilian being revealed itself, with three tentacles coming from its head, long and thick, and three purple eyes, one of them situated sideways above the other two in the middle. The eyes had stripes running down his head tentacles, and he swung a long tail behind himself. Lastly, his legs were like those of an ostrich, with seemingly two joints instead of one, and four-fingered hands, with his feet showing three, two in front, one in the back.

He wore a full bodysuit, black with a green line running down the middle. And currently, his eyes were glowing with a purple aura.

"Deku, what are you doing?!" Katsuki asked, but then Izuku lifted his hand, and Katsuki was lifted into the air. "What?!"

"This form, Katsuki…I admit, it's new to me as well. But it seems to possess a powerful telekinetic ability. I do not even need to touch you." He moved his fingers, making Katsuki stand in a T-pose in the air, unable to move. "You are fully restrained, Kacchan. Say it."

"Never!" Katsuki barked in defiance. "I will never admit defeat to you, Deku! You hear me?! NEVER! I know you cannot keep yourself transformed for long. I just need to wait you out, then you will return to being the pathetic Deku I know…"

"Hmm. You are smart, Kacchan. To have figured that out so fast speaks volumes about your mental capacity. Too bad you waste it with your bad personality." Katsuki growled and was about to argue further, but Izuku continued. "This form is called Trihex!" The Omnitrix dial on his chest lit up, registering the tag. "You know, given the three eyes and the hex-like ability?"

"Fuck you!"

"Oh! Right, I almost forgot to mention…I can stay in this form as long as I like." Katsuki's eyes widened.

"What? What the fuck do you mean?" Katsuki asked, not expecting such a revelation.

"In truth, if I stay transformed for too long, I start to mutate. Not a pretty sight. I do turn back to normal after some time, but you know I'd rather avoid that to begin with." Izuku explained. This form seemed to have a calmer personality, speaking in a more mannered way. "But you planned to wait until I turned back? Good, but not good enough."

"Doesn't matter. I am still NOT SURRENDERING TO YOU-"

"I wasn't banking on it." Then Izuku did something that shocked the audience. He slammed Katsuki into the concrete roof they were on with his telekinetic power. "I will simply go for the alternative. Knocking you out."

He slammed him into the concrete again, drawing a scream of pain from him. But that was when he heard it.

"ENOUGH!" Aizawa shouted, jumping to them and making Izuku let go of Katsuki. "The result is clear."

"The fuck it is…" Katsuki got up slowly, but Aizawa was already cancelling out his Quirk.

"It is over, Bakugou. You know the rules. My word is final." Aizawa reminded him. "The winner is Midoriya."

"NO!" Bakugou protested. "I refuse to lose to Deku! I won't lose to him!"

"There is nothing you can do!" Aizawa said strongly. "Even if you fought him again, you have no counter to his new telekinesis. He had you fully restrained. You lost the moment he changed forms."

The Omnitrix beeped red, signaling to him that he was reaching his limit. "I need to turn back," Izuku said, touching the dial and returning to his normal form, but now the Omnitrix was red, indicating it was unavailable until it fixed all unseen DNA damage.

"Congratulations, Midoriya, on your victory. You are free to go."

"Thank you, Professor."

"Wait! Where do you think you're-"

"Katsuki Bakugou," Nezu spoke as he approached him. "I must say, you impressed me during this fight. You have the skill of a true hero!"

"I…I do?" Katsuki asked slowly.

"But not the heart of one," Nezu added somberly. "When you attempted to use your gauntlet, you were very much aware of the potential harm you could cause. Yet, despite our direct intervention, you refused to obey a direct order. I am disappointed to have to do this, but given what has been seen, I am forced to restrict your participation in the Hero Course, effective immediately."

"What?!" Katsuki gasped. "This is bullshit!"

"On the contrary!" Nezu replied. "You will no longer be allowed to partake in any practical lessons where your Quirk is allowed to be used. This means no training, and you won't be allowed to use the Gyms, either. Additionally, during the upcoming visit to the USJ, one of UA's most advanced facilities to train heroes, you will be placed under temporary house arrest and not allowed to go with them."

"What…But that means…I will fall behind…" Katsuki said slowly, letting reality sink in.

"You need to learn to value those around you, Bakugou. Your behavior is inexcusable for a future hero! I'm sorry, but that is how we do things at UA." Nezu finished, then turned to Izuku. "We will need to update your file with the new forms, Midoriya. Also, if you discover more, make sure to inform us at once."

"Yes, Sir!" Izuku replied.

"Dismissed."

Walking out of Gym Omega, Izuku was looking over the Omnitrix. Although unable to turn, he could still check the device's alien DNA list. "Here it is…" He said softly, seeing it for the first time. Playlist Beta. Wolfcry and Trihex were there, along with 8 other forms for him to try out. He was fairly nervous seeing them, as this meant he now had 20 forms available. He wished Paradox were around to talk with him about this.

Why unlock the playlist and not be truthful about it? He didn't think he was ready and- Wait…Could it be he was doing him a favor? Paradox might have unlocked Playlist Beta because he WAS ready, but he just didn't FEEL ready. Paradox did him a favor.

"Oi, brat!" Mirko showed up, walking right to him and locking him in an arm lock. "Nice fight there!" She had a tooty grin, pleased with his performance. "Must say, that wolf of yours gave me the creeps with those jaws! Seriously, what's with your Quirk and all those weird and creepy shapes?"

"M-Mirko, sorry! I don't know, either." Izuku replied slowly. "I just got it, along with Trihex."

"Really?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I've checked," Izuku added. "This device is part of my Quirk. Like an interface."

"Hmm. And you can see your available forms on this thing?" She asked, looking at the Omnitrix. "Hold on, does this mean you can see if there are some you've yet to try?"

"This is what I was checking before you showed up." He replied. "There are some muddy spots in there," he lied.

"That good?"

"I think so?" Izuku replied, trying to sound unsure of his answer. "They are something. Maybe if I try turning again at random later, I might land on another new one."

"Command received: Randomizer Function Activation."

Izuku panicked. "No! Don't randomize! Don't!"

"Command received: Randomizer Function Deactivated."

Izuku felt relief wash over him, but then Mirko grabbed his wrist. "Why's it red?" She asked, noting the color.

"It's reached its limit," Izuku answered, taking his hand back.

"Limit? But you stayed turned all day as that ghost guy!" Mirko argued. "Wait, you did explain you have a safety limit, correct? Does the red mean it's on a cooldown?"

"Yes," Izuku replied. "The moment I turned back, it entered a cooldown period to recover. When it turns green again, it will be operational again."

"Estimated recovery time: 20 seconds."

Which was soon, from what Izuku just heard. "Well, I ought to say I am not very pleased with the other kid. I swear, who even let a thug like him into UA?" She asked, then recalled something. "He seemed to have a bone to pick with you, too. Old friend?"

"I guess you could call him that." Given their past relationship. "But in the present time? He is not my friend. Far from it. He made his choices in Aldera High School, and now he has to live with them."

"He will. Nezu just banned him from any form of training where his Quirk could be allowed." Mirko told him, although Izuku already knew. "He is giving the brat a chance. If he can pull through this punishment, odds are Nezu will lift the ban."

"I heard that from the second semester, we are expected to accompany pros on patrols, though," Izuku said. "How will he do that if he cannot use his Quirk?"

"Knowing Nezu, he will either have him miss the second semester's practical part entirely or make an exception. Either of the two." Mirko shrugged. "But it doesn't bother us. I managed to talk with Erasurehead, by the way. You will be joining 1-A at the USJ!"

"Really?!" Izuku gasped. "I heard of that place! It is where UA conducts highly realistic exercises for students! I heard there are several zones, each simulating a different natural disaster!"

"That is true! Though I wouldn't know." Mirko shrugged. "Never saw the place, except when they opened it."

"Really?" Izuku asked, and just then, the Omnitrix turned green again.

"Looks like your Quirk is all charged up," Mirko remarked with a grin. "Good, because I want you to do that random thing. Come on!" She dragged him to another one of the gyms.

"What!- Mirko, wait, I need time to rest!"

Well, Izuku will be lying if he said he didn't wish to try out his other forms as well. But scrolling through the new Playlist, he had trouble selecting one, which Mirko noticed. She was tapping her foot on the ground, impatient. They were inside Gym Alpha. "Come on already! Choose one!"

"I'm trying!" Izuku protested. "I just…Don't know which one…"

"Just choose one and slam that thing down already!" Mirko shouted. "A hero cannot be this indecisive in the field! Imagine there was an emergency going on! Would you allow yourself so much time to decide on what is the optimal form?"

"Of course not!" Izuku replied. "But the wrong form could also-"

"Don't argue with me, brat! Come on! Be decisive!" Mirko said back, cutting him off in the process. But she was right. Izuku had to be more decisive. He selected a form on the Omnitrix, one he's yet to try, and slammed the dial. When the light died down, Mirko saw a large form, clad in what seemed to be a suit of some kind. It was large, bulky, and didn't seem very dynamic. She looked at its face, seeing four grates glowing orange from the inside, and the dial on the front, which she assumed was a strange locking mechanism. "What the fuck is-"

Suddenly, however, alarms blared throughout Gym Alpha. "What is happening?" Izuku asked, panicked. His voice seemed to echo from within the suit.

"ATTENTION! ATTENTION!" A voice blared over the intercom system of the Gym. "DANGEROUS RADIATION LEVELS DETECTED! I REPEAT! RADIOACTIVE QUIRK DETECTED!"

"RADIOACTIVE?!" Mirko gasped, turning to Izuku. "What is with this form?!"

Izuku read the bio quickly. "It's…Oh my God…" He took a step away from Mirko. "This suit is meant to keep the real form of this transformation isolated. I am radioactive! Dangerously so!"

"Holy- Turn back! Just turn back already!" Mirko shouted, and Izuku did just that, turning back to normal. Soon enough, however, two staff members showed up, one of them being All Might and the other being one of the other female staff members of UA. The Pro Hero, Midnight, AKA Nemuri Kayama, is a tall, curvaceous woman with sky blue eyes tilted downward in the center and framed by a set of rather long eyelashes.

She had long, thick, spiky, dark purple hair, made up of layers of varying lengths, the longest ones reaching below her waist. Her chin-length bangs were split into three sections: two swept to the sides and one over her face, going diagonally down to the left between her eyes, and a small beauty mark below her left eye, as well as red-painted nails.

Her hero costume was remarkably similar to that of a traditional dominatrix. She wore a breastless, black leather leotard—similar in style to a corset—over a thin, skin-tight, white bodysuit, which accentuated her voluptuous figure.

The center strip of her leotard was embellished with red gemstone-like accessories in a vertical pattern, extending from her collar to her midriff. She wore translucent, black, thigh-high garter stockings, which were attached to a burgundy utility belt decorated with gold studs around her hips, a matching pentagonal buckle in its center, and black knee-boots.

She had a small red mask outlining her eyes and a handcuff on each wrist.

"What is the name of God are you doing here?!" All Might asked loudly. "The radioactivity alarms went off!"

"Let me handle this, Toshi!" Midnight said, stepping forward. "Mirko, dear, can you please explain why the alarms went off?"

"We were trying out to see if my protege here has any more new forms," Mirko replied, a detail that caught All Might's immediate attention.

"New…Forms?"

"Yes, Sir," Izuku replied slowly. "My Quirk seems to have grown, and new forms have been unlocked. I still don't understand how myself, but it just seems so." He lied, of course, trying to sound convincing.

"And one of those new forms has radioactive powers?" Midnight asked.

"More like they are radioactive, Ma'am. As in, their body is." Izuku replied with respect. Still, that seemed to put Midnight on guard.

"Its body is-" She suddenly looked at Mirko.

"Hey, I am good! None of that worry!" Mirko said quickly. "His Quirk seems to be smart enough to put the walking hazard in a special suit to keep the radiation from leaking everywhere."

"Our sensors are very sensitive, however. Even through that suit, they were able to pick up the radioactive signature and trigger the alarms." All Might said, explaining the alarms. However, Izuku had questions.

"Um. If it isn't too much, can I ask why UA seems so interested in Quirks that deal in radioactivity?" He asked, and sure enough, Midnight had the answer.

"Because they are among the most dangerous Quirks!" She said sternly. "Radioactivity, in general, is a nasty thing. Radiation poisoning is deadly without immediate treatment, not to mention potential risks like cancer! Risks that can often affect the user as well."

"In the past, there had been people with such Quirks who lost control and seriously harmed fellow students, or who suffered terribly because of their Quirks. Not to mention the fact that radioactivity tends to stick around. Just look at the tragedy of Chornobyl! To this day, that part of Ukraine is uninhabitable!" All Might explained further. "As such, UA made it a MUST to keep watch for such Quirks!"

"Considering you have radioactive powers now, Nezu will need to be informed, and measures will need to be taken." Midnight said. "But, considering it is a part of your Quirk, and not your main Quirk, I think the measures will be more along the lines of knowing when to use it. I don't imagine that one being safe to use in populated areas."

Izuku laughed nervously. "To be honest, I already had one that was kind of like that, but instead of radiation, it was fire."

"Fire?" Midnight asked, curious. Mirko, sensing a chance to brag, turned to Izuku.

"Turn into Fire Hazard, now!" She commanded.

"Y-yes, Mirko!" Izuku replied.

"Wait, what do you mean by-" Midnight and All Might both averted their eyes as Izuku transformed, but then saw it. Midnight's eyes widened greatly as she saw him, a being made entirely of fire. "Holy shit…And you are made of fire right now?"

"I am," Izuku said, holding up a finger and making a small flame on top of it. "Pyrokinesis is something this form excels in. I already know not to use him against living opponents, though." He tried to press the dial again, but Mirko was faster.

"Turn into another new one." She ordered him again.

"Mirko?" He turned to her.

"You heard me! I want to brag to those two!" She admitted to her reasoning. "Brag that my protege is better than all their students put together!"

"Now hold on there, Mirko!" All Might said, offended by her words. "You cannot claim that Young Midoriya here is better than every single student in UA's Hero Course!"

"Wanna bet?" Mirko said again, pushing the issue further.

"How about instead of bragging, I just turn into one more form, and we call it a day?" Izuku proposed. "I didn't get to rest much after the fight with Katsuki, so…"

"I agree, All Might, and I also have things to take care of. More important things than entertaining your ego, Mirko." Midnight said, siding with Izuku on the matter.

"Fine." Mirko sighed, accepting the deal. "Got anything interesting at least?"

"Well…Let's see." Izuku turned the dial, then tapped it, letting the light surround him. What came out was a white, large humanoid with a purple head and face, with four red eyes on it. Four more eyes were present on his chest, and above his black hands and feet were grayish splotches that tapered off before the elbows and knees.

He also had white skin flaps over the shoulders and stomachs, which he opened to reveal two sets of wings with orange undersides and nutrient-collecting tendrils, respectively. Lastly, the dial was in the center of his chest, right between the upper pair of eyes.

"Ok, this one's a big boy!" Midnight said, with Izuku reading the bio of this form.

"This is…" His voice was different again. "I don't think this is a primate."

"Huh?" Mirko tilted her head. "What do you mean by that?"

"What I mean is that this form is not of some inferior background like you lot!" He snapped, shocking everyone present.

"O…K?" Midnight said slowly. "That was…Racist."

"Did…Did you refer to us as monkeys?" All Might asked slowly.

"This form is more noble! Plant-based! I can sense it!" Izuku said loudly. "I feel so much purer than I do in my primate form!"

"Hey!" Mirko shouted, making him flinch. "I know some forms change your personality, but a racist?!"

"Be happy to know I don't view any primate on lower standards based on skin color." He argued back. "This form…Shall be called Duke!"

"Tag for Highbreed DNA registered!"

"Ok, now turn back! Or rather…" Mirko thought of something and jumped up to his chest, smacking the dial. To Izuku's surprise, that seemed to work, turning him back to normal.

"Wha - I AM SO SORRY FOR MY WORDS!" Izuku bowed and apologized instantly.

"The reason Mirko was able to activate the transformation function was that the Omnitrix allowed her to. Given her current position over the user, she has been given limited rights to perform such actions."

Good to know…

"So, a racist form…" Midnight said slowly. "I swear, some Quirks are just awful in terms of ethics…"

"That one might be problematic as well, but at least it is just a behavioral issue." All Might said, but then checked the time. "We'd better go, Midnight. Nezu wants us to be present for a small briefing about the upcoming USJ trip."

"Right behind you, Toshi!" Midnight said as All Might departed. "But between the radioactive dude and the rude one? Killer Quirk, kid." She winked at Izuku before leaving, making the boy blush at her antics. Mirko noticed this, however, and scoffed, annoyed that they cut her fun short.

"Go home and study, brat. Wouldn't want you falling behind." Mirko ordered him as she departed as well.

"Right…" Izuku said, deciding to walk back to his home normally, without using Accel. On his way, he also decided to name the radioactive form Chornobyl. All Might gave him the idea.

Chapter 8: Treachery!

A new week at UA was upon him, and Izuku felt well. His recent evaluation for the HAP program turned out positively, with Nezu overseeing his academic review and stating that he performed well. This meant he was able to study on his own without problems, but as far as training with his new forms went, well…It was a busy last week.

"Ok, kid, listen up! We are not leaving this place until you have reviewed all of your new forms. Minus the ones from before! No more radioactive and racist guy, got it?" Mirko told him as they found themselves in one of the gyms again. It was the following day after the fight with Bakugou, and despite having time to rest aplenty, Mirko dragged him out at 8 in the morning so he could try out the new alien forms in his latest playlist.

"Alright! Well, we are four down already, so six more to go." Izuku said as he activated the Omnitrix. "Let's see…This one!" Then he transformed, but as he changed, he noticed his vision went dark. He was blind. But he was also significantly smaller.

"Christ on a- This one is ugly as fuck!"

Izuku flinched, hearing Mirko shriek. "Miss Mirko! Please, don't shout!" He said, his voice sounding…Weird, even by his standards.

"Shout?! What do you mean by that? I wasn't shouting!" Mirko said again, making Izuku LEAP away from her. "Whoa."

He needed the bio, quick! But how can he read it without being able to see anything? Wait…Something was strange. He felt he had six feet and a long abdomen. As he was getting accustomed to his new form, he also noticed that he could sense where Mirko was. He could sense the very beating of her heart! And her heartbeat was quite quick, likely from her rabbit Quirk.

Yet, he also felt another pair of legs. Or were they legs? They were not touching the ground.

"Mirko…How do I look?" Izuku asked, but then the Omnitrix finally came in for him.

"Georanchar DNA has been selected. Recommended that you exit this form to view the bio."

"I am taking a picture!" Mirko said, once again making Izuku flinch from the perceived volume of her voice. "Done!"

Then he turned back, recovering his vision. "What was that?" Izuku asked, going to her.

"What do you mean? Couldn't you see yourself?" She asked.

"No, I couldn't! I was blind!" Izuku replied.

"Well…Here." And then she showed him the picture, the bio appearing beside it in his field of vision. Izuku gulped seeing the arachnid-like form. What he saw was akin to a pitbull-sized spider, brown and yellowish, like dry ground in color. It had six legs supporting it, large and unsettling, but then came the real eye-catchers. A bad pun, as the main body had two larger legs with some kind of claws at the tips. They were coming out of the skull. Lastly, he had a longer abdomen, reminding him of a scorpion or something. However, there was no pincer.

But the Omnitrix bio showed what was not shown in Mirko's image. This form had a mouth with two mandibles below it, right below the frontal legs. Additionally, it had a prehensile tendril equipped with a needle, meant to deliver a powerful paralytic poison. It could expand up to 2 meters. The mandibles also doubled as pincers, able to deliver the same venom, albeit in smaller quantities.

But then came the reason why he thought Mirko was screaming. This alien species evolved to reside underground, using the frontal legs for digging. And are extremely sensitive to vibrations and sounds, having developed special organs spread throughout their body. Lastly, they possess a fairly durable exoskeleton.

"So, what can you tell me about this freak?" Mirko asked.

"Well, I think I will call it…Arach." A short version of the word Arachnid. "Usually, after transformation, I get a basic idea of what they can do. I think Arach is sensitive to vibrations and sound, hence why I thought you were shouting."

"You can also jump a fair bit. Creepy as all hell, though." Mirko added. "Your badge was nowhere to be seen, either."

"Must have been below." Izuku reasoned, but that made Mirko shake with disgust. "I also have a feeling it might be venomous. Paralytic venom, to be precise."

"And you get all that as a hunch from your Quirk?" She asked, skeptical about such in-depth details.

"I am not sure. Maybe I just know it because I turned into it briefly?" Izuku replied. "I am not sure how my Quirk works in certain aspects."

"Well, onward with the next one! And hopefully, it is not another creepy crawly." Mirko said, and Izuku nodded in agreement, bringing his Omnitrix up again. He had a fair bit of time left, and he didn't want to stay in one form for long.

So, he turned again, and once again, Mirko recoiled. "Whoa! Those are some big teeth."

The alien Izuku turned into this time had pale grey scales with webbed digits. Four on his hands and two on his feet, the former hosting black claws. He instantly noticed the presence of gills going down his neck and torso. He had short, swamp-green fins atop his neck, and a longer one on his back, along with something resembling the stem of an anglerfish sprouting from his head, shining softly with the same green hue as the webbing on his digits.

His eyes were circular and appeared vapid, and he entirely lacked lips to hide away his surly teeth. He also appeared to be wearing a loincloth, segmented by off-white lines, which touched the ground, and he dragged it around. Lastly, the Omnitrix rested on a belt around his waist.

"Water!" Izuku wheezed out. "Water!"

"Oh shit! This is some underwater guy?!" Mirko said, panicking as she saw Izuku suffocate. Then she remembered! There was a large basin located in this gym! "There!" She pointed it out to Izuku. "Can you go there?"

"I can…Try!" Izuku rushed to the basin, running as fast as his legs could carry him, then leapt into it. Immediately, he felt like he could breathe again as his gills opened wide to take in the water, but something else happened. The loincloth on his lower section changed, and his legs vanished under it, becoming a tail. He swam around at high speed, then he swam upward, leaping out of the water with his tail below him.

"Holy shit! You have a tail?!" Mirko asked as Izuku landed back in the water, then swam closer to the edge.

"Much better." He replied, voice changed.

"You can breathe underwater now? Right on! Another sick power to add to the list to flaunt in the Hero Course's face!"

"Not only," Izuku replied, reading the bio. He then lunged at the concrete edge, his jaws enlarging as he ripped out a huge chunk of concrete and threw it to the side. His teeth were not even nicked by that. "Jaws…A fitting name." The Omnitrix beeped, registering the name.

Izuku then climbed out of the basin, turning back to normal. Once he was back to normal, he took a large serving of air. "None of your forms are perfect soldiers, that much is for sure," Mirko remarked. "Some are either too dangerous to use out in the field, don't evoke much public trust, or are limited in what they can do and where they can do it."

"I guess so," Izuku said, activating the Omnitrix yet again. "Next up!" And he slammed the dial, turning into the next alien of playlist beta. This form resembled a humanoid plant with one eye in the middle of its face, four vine-like legs, four long fingers on its hands, flytrap-shaped flaps with teeth covering its head, and fruits on its back. He had green skin all over, and the eye on his head was blue. "Whoa! Plant-based, again?"

"Shit," Mirko swore.

"Hol' on! This ain't no racist, Mirko!" Izuku replied, but he seemed more…Laid back? More relaxed? "I don't even care about that stuff right now."

"Huh. This one might actually be beneficial to your mental health." Mirko remarked, then got close, tapping on the badge to turn Izuku back to normal. "But I don't have time for you to unwind and shit! So, name it, and move on!"

"Right! Well, I will name this form Flora." The Omnitrix beeped, registering the tag. "Three more! Here we go!" The next one, however, was another plant-based alien. But this one was different. Izuku found himself somewhat taller, but not that much. His torso seemed covered in some kind of smooth, light-brown bark, which he could tell was part of his body. His arms, down all the way to the wrists, were also covered in the same kind of bark, although it didn't seem to hinder mobility in any way. His feet, on the other hand, resembled roots at the bottom, but he could feel fingers in there. The bark and roots were more like some kind of shoes than anything, protecting what was beneath.

Then came the main body. Touching his face, Izuku found that apart from his skin being milky white, it was also sticky to the touch. The bio revealed this to be a natural secretion of this species, making them unable to be set on fire. His eyes were yellow, circular, and he had four nubs on his chin. The bio revealed that those were, in fact, the start of a beard of some kind.

He had turned into a Hypolurian, a race known for being the best doctors in at least 3 galaxies! Izuku was stunned to read that detail! Strangely, Hypolurians can gain innate knowledge of their patients by simply touching them, allowing them to understand their anatomy and pinpoint the injuries, external or internal, and even the disease they are suffering from. There was more, but Izuku got the idea. The Omnitrix was resting, interestingly enough, on his stomach.

"Is this plant guy chill?" Mirko asked.

"Yes, he is," Izuku replied, sounding more dignified in his speech. "In a way, this is a doctor, to put it simply."

"Wait, it can heal?"

"And regenerate!" Izuku replied. "I am unsure myself how it does it, but I just know it is a healer. However, it is not a fighter."

"Kid, that is more than ok," Mirko replied. "With how many differing abilities you already have, having all of them be useful for only fighting was getting tricky. Having a guy capable of healing people will go a long way to gain you public approval!"

"Thank you," Izuku said, turning back to normal.

"Two more?" Mirko asked. "Can I?"

"I mean…I don't see why not." Izuku said, letting her touch and select the next form from the Omnitrix.

"Ok…One, two - This one!" She pushed the dial, and before long, Izuku changed his form once again. This time, this form resembled a magnetically floating metal skull with a yellow eyebrow-like crest on its forehead, surrounded by a glowing white aura, and levitating in an arch between his shoulders. He had crab-like claws for hands, and his body was mainly brownish-black with yellow feet, hands, shoulders, and chest. The Omnitrix rested on his chest. "Ok! What can this guy do?"

"This," Izuku replied, stretching his hand as he unleashed a wave of magnetism. Before long, he listed several poles from the concrete. "Magnetism."

"Don't you have a telekinetic guy already? Why use something that lifts only metal?" Mirko asked, making Izuku's pride take a hit. She had a point.

"Still, I think Healing Salve and now, Magneto, are good additions." The Omnitrix beeped, registering the tags. "And from this form, I can turn directly into the last one," Izuku said, tapping the Omnitrix.

"Alright, let's see the last…Oh…Oh! Now this is a fighter!"

The last one was especially to her liking. And the tests were very positive about it! Currently, Izuku was wandering around the US campus. Training under Mirko saw him not only improve with his aliens but also physically. He told her that the stronger he is in his base form, the stronger his aliens will also be. In a way. He is curious how it works, but it might have something to do with him being in good shape, and that reflecting on his aliens.

The USJ trip was tomorrow, and from what he heard, 1-A was given the day off to prepare. He thought he ought to prepare as well by transforming into one of his aliens and doing some more practice, but he earned some time off for now.

"Well, aren't you all peachy?" Izuku turned around sharply, seeing Professor Paradox there with a cone of ice cream in his hands. "How are you doing, Izuku?"

"Professor!" Izuku said, turning to greet him."I am doing well, despite the small trick you pulled on me."

"Ah, so you noticed!" Paradox stated plainly. "Forgive the deception, Izuku."

"Why unlock playlist beta and not tell me?" Izuku asked. "I thought it was up to me when I decided I was ready for more."

"Izuku, do you know how old the original Omnitrix wielder was when he received the device?" Paradox asked, making Izuku look around. "Not to worry. We are outside hearing range for anyone, even those with hearing-enchancing Quirks. I would expose your secret so callously, son."

"I think you once said he was ten? Or maybe I read that in the Omnitrix?" Izuku guessed.

"And you are 18, almost 19! At your age, Benjamin already fully mastered the Omnitrix!" Paradox pointed out. "And he didn't use it for 8 years straight, either! Before he turned 12, he found how to remove it, and remained that way for 3 years, living a normal life. Do you know how he was able to master it, however?" Izuku shook his head, nervous. "He was not afraid to venture into new forms."

"But there are so many! How did he balance out training?"

"He didn't!" Paradox pointed out. "He went with his gut. He trusted his instinct, and that got him far. His proficiency with his forms came not from endless training sessions, but from experience earned through battle. Right now, Izuku, you are more tempered than Benjamin was. Older, too. You might think that is a drawback, but you'd be wrong. You are just different. Not worst. Not better. Just different."

"Could I…Could I unlock even more forms with time?" Izuku asked.

"As you grow, Izuku, and mature into a hero, I will personally unlock for you more forms. Ben just got lucky before, constantly playing with the Omnitrix until a new form was unlocked. Truthfully, he just punched in the right code by sheer luck!" Paradox laughed. "You are more attentive, less reckless, but also less adventurous than Benjamin was, Izuku. Trust your gut more."

"Trust my instinct, huh?" Izuku repeated softly. "So, to summarize, you are telling me to stop dedicating so much time to training with my aliens?"

"Train as you want, Izuku, but their abilities won't grow from training. It is not how they work. I remind you that they are not Quirks, so instead of training and expecting sudden improvement in their abilities, I suggest you instead think outside the box on how you can use those abilities." Paradox pointed out. "Though, I have to say. I wasn't expecting some of those aliens to be in playlist beta."

"Wait, you didn't know what aliens are in it?" Izuku asked.

"I knew of a few, but not all of them. Despite appearances, I am not omniscient. I just peeked into what is about to happen, and that is how I know. But I made it a habit not to abuse my power, especially in such a young timeline. So, in a word, I am leaving myself vulnerable to surprise for once!" He licked his ice cream a bit. "It's a refreshing feeling!"

"Do you know any alien in the next playlist?" Izuku asked, catching his immediate attention.

"Playlist Gamma. Well, all I can say about it is that it will contain one of your strongest aliens until you unlock Alien X." Paradox said, confusing Izuku.

"Alien X?"

"Oops! I let that one slip." Paradox realized his slip-up, but didn't seem too worried about it. "I will let the Omnitrix explain. Omnitrix? Please provide the bio for the Celestasapien DNA without unlocking the sample in question."

The Omnitrix beeped. "Voice recognized. Command received. The bio for the Celestasapien DNA has been made available."

The screen opened before Izuku, but Paradox covered the watch, turning it off, before Izuku could read. "Why are you-"

"Sorry, Izuku. You are free to read the bio, you really are! Just not now. I am afraid you are about to have company. Bye! See you after the USJ!" Paradox left, leaving Izuku there.

"Wait-" But within the blink of an eye, Paradox was gone. "How does he-"

"Midoriya!" Izuku turned around, seeing Ochako Uraraka walking to him, together with Tenya Ida and Tsuyu Asui. "Hi! Didn't think we'd meet you here!"

"Oh! Sorry, I am just taking a stroll. Mirko is letting me have today off after my academic evaluation." Izuku replied.

"Academic Evaluation? Right!" Tenya added, remembering the details about the HAP program. "To ensure the Protege is progressing and keeping up with the curriculum of their relative year, UA has HAP participants take a mandatory evaluation monthly!"

"I just took mine," Izuku said. "I passed with a score of 91%."

"91%? That is an amazing score!" Ochako said.

"Ribbit. You seem just as smart as our Class Representative. Ribbit." Asui said.

"Class Representative?" Izuku echoed. "Isn't that a concept more suited for high school?"

"UA also uses it, having the class elect someone from their group to represent the class before the teachers when it comes to official matters, such as planning for trips or even accommodations for certain students." Ida once again explained. "Our representative is named Momo Yaoyorozu."

"Yaoyorozu?" Izuku said softly. "You mean from the Yaoyorozu family? They are big-time investors in Hero Support Items and companies!"

"The one and the same!" Ochako said, matching his surprise. "I was just as shocked when I learned, too! I never heard of the Yaoyorozu family before!"

"Still, I stand to point out that she is one of our hardest-working classmates! She is prudent, kind, and always polite! She doesn't look down on any of us in the least!" Tenya pointed out. "Truly, there couldn't have been a better person to represent us here, at UA University!"

"She also has a good Quirk. Ribbit." Asui added. "She can create anything she wants! It just comes out of her skin! Ribbit."

"Oh! Do you have a form capable of doing something like that, Midoriya?" Ochako asked, looking at Izuku.

"Even after checking the new forms I have with Mirko, I am afraid I don't have anything that can just create stuff," Izuku replied with honesty. "The closest one in that regard is Hack, and that form allows me to combine with technology and modify it. It doesn't create technology."

"I see! Wait! Your new forms! Is it true you have a nuclear one?!" Ochako asked suddenly, surprising him. "Professor Midnight mentioned something about Mirko having a radioactive protege!"

"R-right. I do." Izuku replied.

"RADIATION?! Midoriya, I sincerely hope that form is properly handled to ensure its powers do not harm those around you! It'd be extremely irresponsible to use such a form recklessly!" Tenya said, chopping his hand in the air.

"Chernobyl-"

"You named it after one of the worst nuclear disasters known to history?!"

"Ida!" Ochako jabbed him in the side. "Don't interrupt him!"

"Oh! My apologies, Midroiya, I got carried away."

"It's alright. As I was saying, Chernobyl IS radioactive. As in, the entire form is! Not just his powers! But it comes in this huge and heavy metal suit, which I think is meant to keep the real body of that form inside and those outside safe." Izuku explained. "I didn't try to get out of the shell, to be honest. I know it is a highly dangerous form, and I'd rather avoid using it if possible."

"So, the sheer presence of that form can be a hazard? Ribbit." The frog girl questioned further.

"A big one! Dean Nezu talked to me about the dangers of using it with others around! Went into detail how, if I were a Pro Hero and I used this, and by some unfortunate twist of fate, someone gets cancer, they could sue me for making them sick!"

"That's ludicrous!" Tenya said. "But…Radiation can cause cancer."

"See? Preferably, I am to use some of the other forms, and if that is not an option, at least have the area evacuated." Izuku replied, but something about that kind of scenario seemed to make the others nervous. "Something the matter?"

"It's nothing, just…Your Quirk seems to be both the strongest and most dangerous in UA." Ochako replied, making it clear what the situation was. "People saw the fight you had against Bakugou, and the way you changed forms. Many say it is cheating, since it means you have access to multiple Quirks."

"Your most defensive form, Diamond Soldier, for example. Bakugou had developed a special move solely for the purpose of overcoming that one!" Tenya added further. "But Bakugou also seems to have an unhealthy fixation on you. I dare say it is an obsession!"

"I guess some things never do change," Izuku said. "He won't accept that I beat him, no matter what others say and do. The fact I did defeat him, though…I know him better than anyone here, and frankly, it'd be stupid to believe he has given up just because he lost once. If anything, he is now even more motivated to prove himself superior."

"And it shows. Bakugou has been working out nonstop and training just as hard," Tenya replied.

"I thought Nezu cut his access to UA's facilities!" Izuku said in surprise.

"He is not allowed to train his Quirk, no. But he has been doing other things," Tenya added further. "He is working on his body, and I've heard he is taking lessons in fighting without the use of his Quirk."

"Katsuki Bakugou? Fighting without his Quirk?" Izuku repeated, not able to believe he was hearing this. "That is something, alright."

"Out of everyone, you know him the best, so I assume by your reaction that this is not normal?" Tenya asked.

"No, it is not," Izuku replied. "At least, it's not bad, just new. As you know, we came from Aldera, and Quirks were viewed as the only things that mattered. To hear he is focusing on his body instead is more than just novelty; it directly goes against what was taught there!"

"Maybe he got wiser? Realized the teachings from Aldera were holding him down? Ribbit." Asui said, bringing up a very good point.

"Maybe. The only way to know for sure is to talk to him." Everyone collectively shook their heads, showing tired expressions at the prospect. "Not the social type, is he?"

"He doesn't talk to anyone. He calls us Extras, and some of us, like Ochako and me, he calls us all kinds of names. In general, he calls us blind or stupid for showing you any attention. He is also very pissy when someone mentions you. He doesn't lash out or anything, but as soon as your name is said, he always leaves the room." Tenya explained further.

"I see…" Izuku looked down, unsure of how to feel about that.

"Regardless, are you guys excited about the USJ trip tomorrow?" Ochako asked. "We are going there for our Heroics class! Professors All Might and Erasurehead will take us there, where we are supposed to meet with another Pro that will teach us all about rescue missions and the various kinds of hazards we can encounter!"

"Since you are joining us, that means Mirko will also be present, right?" Tenya asked, but Izuku shook his head.

"She isn't coming, actually." Izuku replied. "Instead, she is placing me entirely under the care of Erasurehead for the duration of the trip. She said she wanted to catch up on hero work."

"Ah, true. Mirko is a hero in the top 10, so her schedule is likely very packed." Tenya replied. "Well, hopefully, tomorrow becomes an unforgettable experience-"

Suddenly, all across the UA, alarms blared, cutting Tenya off and catching everyone's attention. "What is that sound?!" Ochako asked, then they all turned to see a large crowd of people filtering into the UA campus. "Who are they?"

"The media?!" Tenya gasped. "But they are not allowed on UA's campus following a scandal 15 years ago!"

"I'd ask about it, but we don't have time…They are coming toward us!" Izuku pointed out.

"We cannot use our Quirks against civilians. Ribbit. But we can use them to run." Asui said, already leaping away. Same with Tenya, the two of them proving more than quick enough to escape.

"Hey, wait up!" Ochako shouted, but then a green light shone beside her. Before she had the chance to realize what it was, Izuku had turned into Duke and grabbed her.

"Hold on!" Then he spread his wings and flew off, away from the media and flying toward the housing section.

"Thank you," Ochako said, holding onto his neck.

"Save your gratitude, primate," Duke replied, immediately causing Ochako to flinch.

"Is this…The form rumored to be racist?" She asked slowly.

"I merely speak my mind about my opinion on inferior lifeforms."

"Totally racist…"

Eventually, the mass media had to be escorted off UA grounds by the police, since they either refused to leave or tried to sneak around. Apparently, this all started because it was leaked that All Might was teaching at UA, but something else was going on. Nezu could sense it. "How did they get past our security measures?" He asked, standing across from Erasurehead, Hounddog, and All Might.

"This morning, when they started to gather, we erected the UA barrier." Hound Dog replied. "However, after they got in, we checked it. Someone punched a hole through some circuits, causing it to drop."

"From the inside?" Erasurehead asked.

"From the outside." Hound Dog clarified. "It looked like the metal corroded and broke apart rapidly."

"A Quirk!" All Might realized instantly. "There is no other explanation."

"I am afraid it was no one from the media, either. Following the scandal 15 years ago, they were expressly forbidden from entering UA grounds, something they were likely aware of but chose to ignore in light of a good scoop."

Hound Dog growled, clearly annoyed. "Don't remind me of that day, Nezu…It was a real storm, especially since we had to explain it to the parents!"

"What happened 15 years ago?" All Might asked.

"A group of reporters from the media snuck onto UA grounds and began filming students and staff alike. They even caught a couple mid-copulation, and then had the gall to broadcast the entire reportage as some privileged look into UA's day-to-day." Erasurehead replied. "What followed was a lawsuit launched by UA and the students in question, and the respective media channel was charged criminally, making it shut down."

"Afterward, UA was permitted to ban the media from its grounds. The only way they can be allowed on university grounds is with express permission from the Dean. And I surely didn't give one such permission now." Nezu replied, and All Might had to admit it all tracked with the way the media tends to act. Still, that incident seemed to involve multiple lines being crossed. Hopefully, the ones affected found peace in the end.

"Regardless, that incident is not what we are talking about." Hound Dog reminded them. "Nezu, someone broke into UA."

"I also looked around," Erasurehead added. "Someone stole a copy of tomorrow's schedule, which includes a list of students and staff members meant to be present at the USJ tomorrow."

"If this really was an attack to steal from us, then this means those documents were their targets. Still, the fact that we know what they are after makes it easy to counter them." All Might stated.

"Could they be after the young ones?" Hound Dog suggested. "A possible strike to stem the future generation of heroes!"

"Highly probable," Nezu replied. "I will not take any chances."

"What are you planning on doing, Nezu?" All Might asked.

"Why, we will simply not go to the USJ tomorrow." Nezu replied, making them nod their heads.

"Logical," Erasurehead said. "If the perpetrator thinks he will find us at the USJ tomorrow, then the best course of action is to throw them off. I will contact Thirteen and tell her not to come to the USJ tomorrow."

"What about the schedule? Class 1-A cannot skip the USJ trip, as the next time we can schedule them is next month!" All Might said, raising concerns.

"We will have them join 1-B on their own USJ trip," Nezu replied. "I will contact Vlad King and ask him to check the documents for 1-B, make sure they were not compromised."

"A good choice, but there is another issue. Something that has been bothering me." Aizawa said, speaking his mind. "How did the media learn of All Might's presence at UA?"

"Well, I reckon it is possible one of the students bragged to their friends." All Might's point was valid, but that hasn't satisfied Aizawa. Although possible that a student's involuntary actions caused the leak, something didn't add up for him.

"But why now? And how did it match up with a potential villain infiltration into UA?" Aizawa asked, getting Nezu's immediate attention. "How did the villain know when to strike?"

"Are you saying this incident was not by chance, but planned?" Nezu asked.

"Dean Nezu…We have a Judas in UA." Aizawa said, causing a deadly silence to fall over the room.

"Impossible!" All Might shouted. "Every member of staff is a Pro Hero, with years of experience! I vouch for their integrity!"

"I never said it was a staff member, did I?" Aizawa pointed out, making All Might pause.

"You mean it could be a student?" All Might asked.

"It is entirely possible, Toshi," Nezu replied, considering the option. "All of 1-A knows you are teaching Heroics. You do not teach 1-B, however, and they do not know you teach 1-A, and even if they do, they wouldn't have known where the schedule is kept."

"Several of my students saw me put it away in the teacher's lounge as I explained the USJ trip to them," Aizawa replied. "However, that is at least 10 potential suspects."

"All of 1-A is a suspect," Nezu added.

"What about Izuku Midoriya?" All Might asked. "One of his Quirks can turn him invisible, can he not?"

"Quirks?" Nezu caught on. "Toshi, you saw the blood test results. Izuku Midoriya has only one Quirk, and one Quirk only. Yet, you still suspect him of working for that man?"

"Even if the blood test clears him of having multiple Quirks, that does not mean his current one is not a combination of multiple other Quirks! I saw him do something like that before." All Might replied, making Nezu sigh.

"I will check the cameras, but I am telling you now, Toshi, Izuku Midoriya is as straight as they come," Nezu added. "But back to the subject of a potential spy in the 1-A ranks, we cannot ignore the fact that they might jeopardize future events as well. We need to weed them out from among our ranks."

"But how?" Aizawa asked, to which Nezu made a grim suggestion.

"Poltergeist," Nezu suggested, but All Might was up in arms immediately at that suggestion.

"Izuku-" Suddenly, All Might's buffed form vanished as he began spewing blood, returning to his skeletal form. His clothes hung loosely on him, yet he didn't stop. "Izuku Midoriya's transformation?"

"According to Mirko, he is capable of possession," Nezu said. "If we have him possess everyone in 1-A in secret, he can learn who the culprit is."

"At the cost of giving him access to their secrets! Nezu, this is a gross violation of their privacy!" All Might argued.

"But it is the easiest way to remove the potential threat from our ranks," Aizawa added. "And ultimately, we can manage the situation if Midoriya agrees to take any secret he learns to his grave. Still, as much as I want to inform them to give consent, we cannot do so. If we do, the traitor might attempt to escape."

"We will need to break their trust to ultimately protect them and all of UA," Nezu said. "I do not like this as much as you do, Toshi, but necessity often makes us do things we do not agree with. I will summon Midoriya here. Aizawa, you summon your class and tell them to assemble in the courtyard tomorrow."

"Nezu, this is not morally correct," Toshi argued again.

"But it is necessary."

"You want me to what?!" It was the next day, and the USJ trip was cancelled at the last minute, from what Izuku heard. And now, he was on the UA campus, talking with Dean Nezu himself.

"You heard me, Midoriya. We suspect there is a traitor among the ranks of 1-A, and we require your help to discover who they might be. Use Poltergeist and possess everyone! Read their minds, and uncover who the traitor is." Nezu said, repeating himself to Izuku.

"But…It doesn't seem right." Izuku said slowly, looking down at the Omnitrix. "I'd be invading everyone's minds, learning their secrets, and- and…I'd betray their trust."

"Necessity often pushes us to do things we do not like, but which are necessary. And in this case, this traitor is a danger to the safety of everyone in 1-A and to UA. Please, Midoriya. You are the only one who can do this." Nezu pleaded, and eventually, Izuku sighed.

"Fine. I will do it." He replied, already bringing up the Omnitrix and dialing for Poltergeist.

"Thank you." Then a green flash took him over, replacing Izuku with Poltergeist.

"So good to be back!" Poltergeist said, making it clear to Nezu that this form's alterations were still major. Cold and cruel. "So, you need me to weed out a traitor? Got any leads on who it could be?"

"None. Take everyone in 1-A, one by one." Nezu replied. "They are gathered in the courtyard."

"Understood. Head there, now, and enjoy the show." With those words said, Poltergeist vanished into the ground, and Nezu rushed to the courtyard, turning the corner and seeing all of 1-A there.

"Dean Nezu?" One of the girls gasped seeing him. "What are you doing here?"

"Mina, that is not a proper mannerism when addressing the Dean of UA!" Tenya Ida scolded his classmate. "Forgive her, Dean Nezu, Sir!"

"No, no…I am here to announce the USJ situation. Why did we cancel it, and why are you here today?" Nezu began, then inhaled deeply. "Class 1-A, it is with a heavy heart that I must announce that we have reasons to believe there is a traitor among your ranks. Someone who worked with at least one villain to help them infiltrate UA and steal a copy of today's schedule. Due to the security concerns, we had to cancel the trip to the USJ."

"A traitor?!" Momo gasped.

"Mon Dieu!" One of the boys gasped, saying something in French.

"Dude, that is not manly at all!" Kirishima added, with everyone in class having their reactions to this information.

"This is why you were also gathered," Aizawa added. "I confirmed that everyone in 1-A is present right now."

"But why did you gather us here?" Jiro asked, then a cold chill ran down her spine.

"Well, if you are so curious to ask, it is so I can check you." Turning around sharply, she came face to face with Poltergeist, making her yell out and fall on her butt. "Hehehe. That will never get old."

"Midoriya!" Tenya gasped, seeing Izuku. "Why are you transformed into your Poltergeist form?!"

"Deku…" Bakugou growled.

"Why else? Nezu asked me to be his rat-finder. I am capable of possessing your minds and bodies!" That information shocked everyone, including because Poltergeist said it with such ease.

"Midoriya here will possess each of you and read your minds," Aizawa explained. "We will find out who the traitor is this way. Rest assured that Midoriya will not be allowed to share any secret he might learn."

"That is an invasion of our privacy!" Kaminari argued. "You guys can't just probe our brains!"

"Kaminari, know that this action is not taken with a clean conscience. But we need to find out who the traitor is, as they represent a danger to UA and all of you!" Nezu added. "Midoriya!"

"At once!" The first one to get possessed was Jiro, the poor girl, looking like she was choking as she fought back against the possession. However, Poltergeist came out looking disappointed. "Tch. Not her."

"You…Damn it, that sucked…" Jiro said, taking deep breaths.

"It'd be easier if you didn't fight back. Now…" His eye slid across his body, landing on Kirishima.

"Whoa, whoa, hey!" Kirishima shouted, but Poltergeist just flew into him. "Gah! This…Really…Gah!" And then he came out.

"Apart from a little embarrassing secret, nothing," Poltergeist said again, clearly showing disappointment in his lack of progress. He was impatient.

"Midoriya, I urge you to please be more considerate of-" Before Momo could continue, Poltergeist went into her body next, but Momo didn't fight back. Before long, Poltergeist came out, looking…Shocked?

"Midoriya?" Nezu asked, with Aizawa behind him, ready to apprehend Momo if Izuku was to reveal now that she was the traitor.

"How many butlers do you need, woman?!" Poltergeist asked, staring right at Momo. "And maids?!"

"Ummm. W-well, my family owns quite a few houses, so-"

"HOUSES?! I SAW MANSIONS, VILLAS, EVEN A BLOODY CASTLE! BUT NO HOUSES!" Poltergeist shouted, then inhaled deeply. "She isn't the one. Makes me green with envy, however. Now…" He turned to his next target, Hagakure.

"Hey now, easy there!"

"Your invisibility Quirk makes for the perfect sneaking tool…" Poltergeist said. "I highly expect to hit the jackpot this time."

"Wait!" Then he went in, but he didn't stay long, coming out almost instantly. "Oh no…"

Poltergeist shuddered. "I won't even comment on what I saw. She is not the traitor!"

"Stop this!" Aoyama shouted. "This is out of line, toi, diable!"

"Oh?" Poltergeist fixed himself on Aoyama next, seeing him sweat. "Why are you so nervous?" He flew toward Aoyama.

"I- Um…I have many embarrassing secrets, and I-"

"Then let me see them!" Poltergeist took possession of Aoyama.

"Let us see…" Poltergeist said, looking through his memories. "Well-off family. Not as rich as that girl, but still pretty good. Wait…" He found something odd in his memories. "No Quirk? But then how…Wait, this is from yesterday! He called someone…Told the media about All Might, then made another call…Told them it was time to strike?"

"Oh dear, it looks like my little spy has been found out." Izuku turned around sharply at the voice, shocked as there were not supposed to be any other people in here aside from him. "Congratulations to Nezu and you, Young Midoriya. Your Quirk is surely something fierce…Will make it all the more delicious when I take it for myself!"

"Get away!" Izuku shouted as the shadow began to envelop him, forcing him out of Aoyama.

Poltergeist went out of Aoyama in a panic, panting, scared even! "It is him!" He pointed at Aoyama. The boy recoiled as he was found out. "I saw it in his memories! Before…I saw it! He was the one who told the media and the one who called the villain who got into UA!"

"Wait, no, I am not-"

"Yuga Aoyama!" Aizawa acted swiftly, restraining him right away. "You have the right to remain silent!"

"Please, no! It is a misunderstanding!" Aoyama pleaded, discarding his French accent.

"There is no misunderstanding!" Poltergeist argued. "I saw it! I even saw…No…I don't know what that shadow was, but I saw your memories clear as day! I might not have gotten the time to look more to learn more, but I am certain you are the traitor!"

"Please, you don't understand, I had no choice!" Aoyama continued.

"We will learn everything soon," Nezu added. "Aizawa, take him away to the holding cells and inform All Might and the rest of the staff to come with. Midoriya, I'd also ask that you return to normal and eventually join us so we can further uncover things."

"Understood." Izuku did as told, returning to normal. "Everyone…Please forgive me…" He apologized to 1-A, bowing his head deeply.

"Midoriya…" Tenya said.

"It's alright, Midoriya," Momo added, looking at Aoyama being dragged away. "You did what you were told, and…You were right to do so."

"It wasn't very manly what you did, but it was necessary, I guess," Kirishima said, trying to understand things. "But, just to be sure…You won't tell anyone about, you know?"

"NO!" Izuku shouted. "I promise! Everything I learned, I will take with me to my grave!"

"Oh, thank God," Hagakure said, but when Izuku looked at her, he shivered. "No telling!"

"I am not even- I might start drinking just so I can forget!" Izuku said.

"Dude, what did he see in your head?" Kaminari asked.

"Nothing that is any of your business!" Hagakure said angrily. "Anyway, I think it is safe to assume that we are free to go. See ya!" Then she ran off.

"Are you sure she is not a traitor as well?" Shoji asked.

"Trust me, she is the furthest thing from one…"

After an hour, Aoyama was cuffed to a chair, being held in a cell underground at UA. The UA holding cells are temporary measures where they usually take students who crossed the line. Each cell was fully customizable to hold students based on their Quirks, but given Aoyama's Quirk, it was decided that no customization was needed in his case. And currently, Nezu, Aizawa, All Might, Present Mic, and Cementoss were present there.

"Yuga Aoyama, you stand accused of working with villains to potentially bring harm to your former classmates and maybe even UA staff," Nezu said, listing his accusation. "Thanks to the help of Izuku Midoriya, you were identified beyond a shadow of doubt. However, we are willing to offer you a lenient sentence so long as you cooperate and answer our questions. Understood?"

"Y-yes, Sir." Aoyama replied.

"Sorry, I'm late," Izuku said as he arrived as well, making Aoyama tense up. "I needed a moment."

"It's quite all right, Midoriya, we've yet to properly start," Aizawa said. "Now, the first question: Who do you work for?"

"I…" Aoyama seemed to hesitate on that question.

"Hmm. Midoriya, you seemed to get out in a hurry." Nezu said, remembering how Izuku was when he came out of Aoyama.

"Right! There was a shadowy thing there." Izuku recounted.

"Shadowy thing?" All Might asked.

"Yes! Like, a different personality or entity, but I don't think it was within him. I think it was more linked to him, somehow." Izuku said, which immediately made everyone mutter. But then Izuku recalled something else. "But there is something else I saw…"

"What did you see, exactly?" All Might asked, feeling a sense of dread wash over him.

"Aoyama…" Izuku turned to him. "You were born Quirkless, weren't you?"

"What?!" Cementoss gasped.

"Hold the phone! But he has a Quirk!" Present Mic argued, but to All Might, everything fell into place.

"It was him…For fuck's sake, it was him!" He turned to Aoyama angrily. "Where is he?! Where is that fucker hiding?! Tell me!"

"I-I don't- He never-" Aoyama stuttered in his words.

"Ease up, All Might!" Nezu said, trying to be considerate of Izuku. "Midoriya, I am afraid things are getting a bit complicated. I will need to ask you to clear the room. Thank you for the additional information, however. It was of great help."

"Alright? But, Sir, I don't know what is going on. Would you-"

"I promise to explain as much as I can later," Nezu said. "But for now, we need to conduct the interrogation. Things have become highly sensitive, Young Midoriya. Too sensitive for your ears."

"I understand." He turned to Aoyama. "Forgive me, but I had to do it."

"You don't understand…" Aoyama said slowly.

"Trust me…I do." Izuku then left, allowing the staff members to let loose and not walk on eggshells.

"You work for All for One," Nezu said, making Aoyama freeze up at the mention of the name. "How?"

"It was already revealed you were born Quirkless," Cementoos added further. "Meaning he gave you your Quirk!"

"Young Aoyama…Talk to us." All Might urged him. "Tell us everything!"

"I…I was born Quirkless…" Aoyama began. "But my parents, they didn't…They couldn't accept this, so they reached out to their contacts, trying to find a way. Their more shady contacts. Eventually, a reply was made…That is how I met All for One." His voice was trembling as he recalled the events. "My Quirk is giving me so much trouble because it is not compatible with my body, but he didn't care. He said he'd give me a Quirk in exchange for a favor later down the line."

"And that favor was infiltrating UA and being his mole," Aizawa said, piecing everything together.

"And so long as I am his mole…My family was safe." That detail sent Nezu into high alert at once.

"Present Mic, contact the authorities and send them to the Aoyama household at once! Have them brought here to UA at once!"

"Yes, Sir!" Present Mic rushed off.

"Damn it, Young Aoyama…" All Might said. "Are there any more agents within the ranks of UA?"

"No. I was the only one!" Yuga replied.

"You mean Izuku Midoriya, with his Quirk, is not an agent of this man?" Cementoss asked.

"No. It is quite the opposite. When I told him about Midoriya, All for One said he couldn't wait to get his hands on Izuku's Quirk." Aoyama said, which seemed to confirm something to Cementoss.

"So, he is innocent." He gave a side glance to All Might, but decided to leave it for later. "What can you tell us about his plans, and do you know about any of his currently known associates?"

"Two of them," Aoyama replied. "Their names are Tomura Shigaraki and Kurogiri. I don't know what Tomura's Quirk is, but Kurogiri has a powerful warping Quirk."

"Those are very rare," Aizawa said. "How powerful?"

"From what I saw, he can teleport as many people as he wants as far as he wants."

"That is powerful," Nezu said. "What were they planning to do at the USJ?"

"They wanted to kill All Might," Aoyama replied, shocking the staff members.

"Of course he would." All Might said.

"They said they had a weapon they could use against you! Moreover, they were going to bring a small army of small-time villains to deal with 1-A." Aoyama added further. "But I…How did you find us out so easily?"

"Well, we need to give Midoriya the credit for exposing you as the mole, but in truth, I pieced things together," Nezu said, bragging about his Quirk. "My Quirk is called High Specs. It not only makes me as smart as a human, but also makes me smarter. When Aizawa suggested there might be a traitor as well, it all made sense. Now, Aoyama, I won't say that we agree with your actions, but given that you were cooperative here, we are willing to be lenient."

"So what will you do with me?" Aoyama asked.

"Given you and your family are associates of All for One, you will be placed in protective custody here at UA," Aizawa said. "No interactions with anyone aside from staff, and no visitors. No unsupervised internet access, either. You are effectively being placed under house arrest."

"I understand…" Aoyama said. "At least my family will be safe. What about my status as a UA student?"

"Naturally, you are expelled." Nezu replied bluntly. "I am sorry it had to come to this."

"No, no, I understand. I did it myself, in the end." Aoyama added further.

"Good. We will be going now, but once we secure your family, you will be moved into a vacant house."

After those words were said, everyone left the cells, leaving Aoyama there to wait for his family.

"He isn't a traitor," Cementoss told All Might later, in private, as the top hero returned to his skeletal form to rest. "Yuga Aoyama just confirmed it, Toshi."

"He did, didn't he?" All Might replied. "The blood test, plus Aoyama's statement, all of it points to Izuku not being an agent of All for One in the slightest."

"We should do right by the kid and withdraw the suspension of his application," Cementoss suggested. "He did break the UA record in the practical. He deserves to be part of the Hero Course officially."

"Maybe…" All Might said, slowly wearing out Cementoss' nerves.

"You do not honestly believe he might still be hiding something, do you?" Cementoss suggested.

"He lied back then, Cementoss. Something is still not right with Izuku Midoriya." All Might stated, not giving up his suspicions about him. "Even if he is not an agent of All for One, something is not right, and I do not want to risk it. As such, I won't drop my part in the suspension of his application."

"I see. Too bad then…Because I am."

"Cementoss!" Toshi reacted strongly.

"I have been talking with Mirko. She spoke highly of the kid. But Yuga Aoyama's testimony and the blood test are both evidence of the authenticity of his Quirk and the honesty of his role in UA. As such, I will be withdrawing my role in his ban, which will allow him to join the Hero Course if he so wants."

"But-"

"Toshi!" Cementoos raised his voice, a rare sight with him. "I understand. Aoyama's words also confirm that he is back and moving. But Midoriya is not an enemy. If anything, he might one day become our greatest ally against him. Your trauma and paranoia are holding you from seeing it, old friend. But I know, deep down, that you see the same things we all see."

"What now?" All Might asked. "Even if Midoriya's application gets unsuspended, joining the Hero Course mid-semester is not so easy."

"Mirko spoke highly of his academics, too. He won't have any issues." Cementoss added further. "She might have an issue with losing him as her Protege."

"I sincerely hope we are not making a mistake here, Cementoss."