The buzz in Class 1-A was electric.
It was a Friday morning, and although the students had grown accustomed to the grueling schedule of academic lessons mixed with quirk drills, today's air held something different. Everyone had noticed the subtle clues—faculty whispers, the sudden gym renovations, and most tellingly, Aizawa's cryptic note written on the board yesterday:
"Combat trial. Bring your costumes."
As the homeroom teacher strolled into the classroom, burrito of yellow sleeping bag and all, he didn't bother with pleasantries. "Get changed and report to Gym Beta. Today, you'll be training under someone special."
That was enough to cause a stir. Excitement rippled across the classroom like electricity.
"Special?" Kaminari practically sparked at the word.
"Could it be him?" Kirishima asked, eyes gleaming.
"Someone stronger than Aizawa-sensei?" Mina whispered.
"Could be All Might," Daichi said casually, causing Jiro beside him to raise a brow.
"You really think so?"
He shrugged, a confident grin creeping over his lips. "I just have a feeling."
Twenty minutes later, the entire class stood in Gym Beta, all of them clad in their hero costumes. Daichi adjusted his own lightweight but sturdy gear—sound-absorbent black plating with small sonic resonators along his arms and gloves. The outfit wasn't flashy, but it was efficient, designed to augment his sonic strikes and allow movement flexibility for his clones.
Just as Aizawa stood to speak, a massive gust of wind slammed into the gym, and a familiar voice boomed:
"I AM HERE! COMING THROUGH THE DOOR LIKE A HERO!"
All Might's dazzling presence overwhelmed the room. He wore his signature red, white, and blue costume, grinning like a showman on stage. The class exploded with enthusiasm.
"Holy crap!" Kaminari gawked. "It's really him!"
"He's so… shiny," Hagakure said, awestruck.
All Might waved with that same practiced charm. "Greetings, future heroes! Today, you will experience a vital aspect of being a Pro Hero—combat against villains! This is your first step toward real battle experience!"
"Whoa…" Uraraka murmured beside Midoriya, who looked like he was about to pass out.
"All of you will be split into teams of two: half heroes, half villains. The villains will defend a nuclear weapon replica; the heroes must capture it or defeat the villains to win."
"Classic scenario," Daichi murmured, arms crossed as he leaned against a wall with Jiro beside him.
"Feels like a superhero comic," she replied, fingers idly tapping against her thigh.
"Team pairings and match-ups will be random," All Might continued, pulling a small box filled with slips of paper. "Let's see who fate chooses for our opening bout!"
He reached in and called out the names:
"Team A: Izuku Midoriya and Ochako Uraraka."
"Oh boy…" Midoriya muttered, visibly pale.
"Team B: Katsuki Bakugo and Tenya Iida."
A chill passed through the air as Bakugo's snarl broke through the quiet.
"Tch. This'll be over quick."
"Interesting match-up," Daichi said under his breath.
All Might gestured grandly. "Team A will play the heroes. Team B will defend as villains! Everyone else, head to the observation room!"
⟡
The observation room was a marvel of U.A. technology. Massive holographic displays projected live feeds from every camera inside the training building. Daichi stood toward the back, arms folded, eyes locked on the screen as the match began.
"This building has five floors and multiple entry points. Teams may formulate their strategies freely," All Might narrated for the class.
Inside the arena, Bakugo and Iida stood together.
"I'll guard the bomb," Iida said in his usual uptight tone. "It is the logical strategy."
"Whatever," Bakugo growled. "Just don't get in my way."
On the other side of the building, Midoriya and Uraraka crouched in a hallway, whispering their plan.
"You've analyzed his moves, right?" Uraraka asked.
"I—I have, but Bakugo's unpredictable. He's aggressive, explosive… but I think I have a strategy."
"Then I'll follow your lead."
In the observation room, Yaoyorozu gave a thoughtful nod. "Midoriya might not look like it, but he's incredibly tactical."
"Bakugo's not gonna give him the time to think," Kirishima said. "He's a beast in close combat."
True to those words, the camera feed flared as Bakugo burst through a corridor wall—literally. With a feral scream, he detonated an entire section of concrete and flew through the debris, fists ready, explosions flaring from his palms.
"DEKU!"
Midoriya had barely enough time to push Uraraka out of the way. He flipped back, narrowly dodging Bakugo's gauntlet blast that scorched the metal floor beneath them.
"Whoa! He's insane!" Kaminari said, mouth agape.
"Reckless," Jiro muttered, frowning. "But effective."
"He's pushing himself too hard," Daichi said quietly. "That explosion… his gauntlet didn't absorb it fully. He'll lose control at this pace."
Bakugo wasn't letting up. He tore through the hallway, chasing Midoriya with unrelenting aggression. Uraraka, meanwhile, circled around the building's second floor, heading for Iida.
Midoriya ducked into a stairwell, using a pipe to block one of Bakugo's blasts. It exploded on impact, flinging him down the flight, but he rolled with the force and used the momentum to keep moving.
The observation room was riveted.
"Midoriya's barely surviving," Ojiro said, concerned. "He's not fighting back."
"He's analyzing," Daichi said.
Bakugo caught up again, screaming in rage.
"You think you're better than me now?!"
He launched another blast. Midoriya grabbed a steel beam and used One For All—just 5%—to leap above the attack. He landed behind Bakugo and swung a pipe with full force, only for Bakugo to block with his gauntlet and counter with a low-powered explosion that blasted Midoriya through the drywall.
"He's gonna kill him!" Mina gasped.
"No, look—Midoriya's baiting him," Daichi said, eyes narrowing.
Sure enough, as Bakugo went in for a final blow, Midoriya used his environment—a dropped fire extinguisher—to create a smoke screen. It exploded on impact, filling the hall with a white cloud. Then came a thud.
Bakugo fell to one knee, clutching his head. "Damn nerd… you used the backdraft to stun me?!"
Midoriya didn't wait. He bolted through a side corridor and rejoined Uraraka, who was now in position.
"We need to get to the top floor," he whispered. "Iida's guarding the weapon. You ready?"
Uraraka nodded. "Always."
The final showdown was underway.
Iida, now fully immersed in his villain role, played the part of a cartoonish overlord—complete with exaggerated monologue and deep laughter. When Uraraka snuck in through the ventilation system and floated overhead, he didn't notice her until she dropped onto the bomb platform.
"GOT IT!" she yelled.
"Not so fast!" Iida dashed forward with Engine, but Midoriya had already blocked the hallway, arms spread wide.
Uraraka pressed her fingers to the bomb, and All Might's voice echoed through the gym.
"TEAM A WINS!"
The observation room exploded with cheers and chatter.
"No way, they pulled it off!"
"Teamwork!"
"Midoriya's strategy was amazing!"
In the midst of the celebration, Daichi silently assessed the fight. Bakugo had power, no doubt. But Midoriya had control—and vision. That distinction was crucial.
"Iida really got into his role," Jiro said with a chuckle.
"He made a great villain," Daichi replied. "Theatrical and everything."
A few minutes later, all four students returned to the observation room.
Bakugo stormed in first, jaw tight, arms shaking.
"Tch."
He ignored everyone.
Midoriya followed, a bit bruised but smiling faintly. Uraraka beamed beside him, throwing a thumbs-up to Yaoyorozu and Mina.
Daichi caught Bakugo's eye as he passed.
The blonde's expression twisted—anger, embarrassment, and something else buried deep.
It wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
All Might clapped his hands. "That was a fantastic demonstration of tactics, power, and teamwork! Each of you will get your turn soon. Remember: being a hero isn't just about strength—it's about using your head and protecting others!"
Daichi nodded.
He could already tell: these were the battles that would shape their futures.
And his own would come soon enough.