Mustafu Japan,
U.A High, Ground Beta,
Twenty three seconds had barely passed into the Battle Training class ...
BOOM!
When a large explosion emerged from the east district, causing everyone to look to the sky. What caught their eyes was the sight of a massive fire blast erupting before dissipating into smoke.
"An explosion?"
"Indeed. From the east" Iida affirmed. "It would seem that Bakugo isn't in our vicinity."
"Ribbit. Is that good news or bad news?"
"Well, it depends on how you look at it."
Looking at the plume of dissipating smoke, Midoriya's brows furrowed slightly. "If they are working together, then that means we don't have to worry about getting attacked for a while. Though that would man that we'd have to face all three together."
"On the other hand, if they're not, then ..." His head lowered, deep in thought. "Then it means that they decided to split up and someone else is likely close by in this area. Meaning we'll have to face someone else. Be it Ken or Todoroki, we're not as prepared for them as we would be for Kaachan ..."
He placed his hand on his chin.
"Things just got a little harder. Either way we can't be sure which one it is."
"Then what do we do now?"
Everyone's eyes were on Iida and Midoriya.
"Well. If I had to decide, I'd suggest we head east." The green haired boy replied after a moment's thought.
"Towards Bakugo?" Uraraka asked surprised.
"Exactly. If the villain team is together then the bomb is most likely near them or being guarded by them directly. We'll have to go there anyway. If they split up on the other hand, we can't tell who has the bomb or if it's with any of them at all. In that case, unless we plan to face either Ken or Todoroki head on, my intuition tells me that heading for Kaachan's general direction is the better choice."
"We can survey the surroundings and adapt our plan as the situation unfolds, or if we run into any of the other two villains."
Everyone took that in.
"I agree." Iida uttered.. "We can work with those odds. Either way, you make a good point Midoriya. Excellent plan ..."
"Oh ... Um, thanks. I just, ..."
"No need to be modest. Now Koda ..." Iida turned his gaze elsewhere. "We'll need your help with scouting our surroundings as we move so we don't get ambushed." The boy in question was tall and had a wide physique. With a mutant appearance, square jaw, and unevenly shaped rock head.
He also hadn't uttered a word since the team was formed. Preferring to reply with nods or head gestures.
Just like before, he replied with a nod and nothing more
A man of few words it seems, Iida had thought earlier.
"Alright team, let's move ..."
BOOM
The loud explosion came again.
"From the east again."
"Yeah. Come on."
The group advanced forward. Hearing occasional explosions as they did.
"What is he doing?"
"Beats me"
"Is it possible that he's already in battle with one of the other teams? Ribbit." Asui pointed out. "No, that's not likely."
This time, it was Iida who answered. "The explosions are periodic, and don't sound like someone in battle. My guess? It's Bakugo's way of luring the hero teams by announcing his location. As the villain, he doesn't have to look for us because unless we find the bomb's location, we'll have to come to him anyway."
"Well if that's his plan .." Midoriya paused. "... Then it's definitely working."
"Hmph. That checks out." Sato snorted. "I bet he's probably just sitting there, waiting for us cockily as we speak."
Meanwhile ...
BOOM!
Sitting on top of a building quite far off in the distance ...
"Dammit! What's taking these extras so long?" Was a snarling Katsuki Bakugo.
"Those idiots ... Are they dead? How long does it take to get to my location? I've already made it easy enough for them to find me." He growled, tone clearly impatient. It would have been fine if this was just an exercise, but that damn Ken had turned the whole thing into a race to see who would eliminate their opponents first.
Eliminating extras?
He could blow them all away with one blast from his gauntlet. This time, he definitely wasn't going to lose. But now it seemed the extras were busy hiding instead of coming out to face him. How cowardly.
Even with superior numbers, they still didn't dare to face him head on.
'At least one hero team should be here by now, so there's no other explanation.'
Finally, his patience reached its limit as he fired the last explosion and walked to the edge of the rood
"Fine then. If you won't come to me .." He grabbed the ledge and jumped down from a twenty meters tall building.
".. THEN I'LL FIND YOU ALL INSTEAD."
His hands cracked with explosions propelling him forward as he landed on another roof.
He snarled ferociously before running forward, blasting from roof to roof as he began his search.
Meanwhile. ...
"He's looking for us now ..." Hidden aside in a corner of the street, Ojiro removed the binoculars, turned to his team and reported Bakugo's actions.
"Did he have anything that looked like a bomb on him?"
"No. Nothing I could make out."
"What about the rest of his team?"
"Didn't see anything else. Most likely, he ditched them and chose to work alone."
Kirishima smirked. "Seems like something he would do."
Not far away in the same open street was an opened Manhole cover. While Team A were stationed to come from the gates, Team B had come from an underground passageway.
"Indeed." The team leader, Yaoyorozu Momo, nodded. "Fortunate for us, we can capitalize on that advantage. It could still be a trap though, so we need to be careful with our plan."
Her hands lit up with a rainbow glow. Her quirk manifesting to create the core of their plan.
"Now then, it's time for use to move." She looked up, standing to her feet.
"Everyone remember the plan?"
"I got it."
"Crystal."
"I remember."
"Me too. But aren't we going to check the building Bakugo was on?" Kirishima added at that point.
"Maybe he hid the bomb in it."
"It's unlikely for him to leave it there unguarded. But based on what I know of their personalities, if they're working separately, it's highly likely that the three hid the bomb somewhere only they know of. Carrying it in the middle of battle would be restricting and risky for any of them because once it's caught, all three would fail."
"Hmm. I guess that makes sense."
"Of course it does "
Momo's chuckled.
"Alright then. Let's go."
The group advanced.
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
"Hey! The explosions are coming from that direction." Sero yelled from the top of the building.
"You think it's Bakugo?"
At the foot, standing in front of the door of an open building, Kaminari asked.
"Hmph. What kind of stupid question is that genius? Who else uses explosions in our class?"
Stepping out of the door, Mina sighed and spoke in a grumbling tone.
"Hey. I was just saying. No need to call me stupid."
"I didn't call you stupid. I said your question was stupid."
Team C's entry point was also through the underground passage. But instead of coming out from a manhole in the street, their path had led them to emerge inside a building.
Sero slid down from the rooftop, tape retracting behind him. "Yup, it's definitely Bakugo making all that noise. The guy's basically begging to get jumped."
"Then it's probably a trap," Shoji said firmly, his voice calm but weighted. His many arms shifted, one forming into an ear to better catch the distant blasts. "Think about it. If the villains were smart, they'd stick together. Guard the bomb as one unit. That way, their power multiplies, and they force us to split up."
"Eh? But Momo said—" Mina started.
Shoji cut her off, steady as ever. "Momo isn't here. And if they're united, charging in blind could end it for us in seconds."
Kaminari shoved his hands into his pockets. "Nah, nah, nah. You're overthinking it, man. Bakugo? Stick with people? Please. He looks like the kind of guy who doesn't even stick with his shadow."
"Agreed," Sero nodded. "He's too prideful to babysit a bomb. He wants the spotlight. That's why he's out there setting off fireworks like an idiot."
Mineta piped up suddenly, puffing his cheeks. "Hold on. Who died and made Shoji the leader? We should vote on this!"
"Then who do you think should lead?" Sero asked, raising a brow.
"Me, obviously!" Mineta jabbed a thumb at his chest, grinning. "My superior tactical brain, my unmatched perception of the female form—"
SMACK. Mina's fist collided with his head, sending him face-first into the floor. "Why am I stuck as the only girl in this team?" she groaned.
"Because fate is cruel, ribbit~" Kaminari teased, trying to imitate Asui's voice.
"Shut up," Mina snapped.
Aoyama brushed imaginary dust off his sparkly uniform, striking a dazzling pose with one hand on his hip. "Mes amis, you quarrel pointlessly. Surely the one most radiant among us should lead our path to glory." He gestured dramatically to himself, cape fluttering.
"Yeah, no," Sero deadpanned.
"Absolutely not," Shoji added flatly.
Kaminari snorted. "You guys are hilarious. But look—forget all that. I vote we target another villain."
"Elsewhere? If it's just him as you said then why not Bakugo?"
Kaminari gestured madly.
"Why would you pick Bakugo and not anyone else?"
"Because Mr All Might said Ken and Todoroki are first and second overall respectively. From my view, that means they're harder to deal with."
"Ah please. Just because they came through the recommended entrance exams doesn't make them stronger." Kaminari crossed his arms and shook his head. "I don't agree with that."
"Well in my view, Bakugo's the scarier option."
Shoji's eyes narrowed. "Scary doesn't matter. Strategy does."
"Nah." Kaminari waved him off. "You seen his expressions? Bakugo is way more scary than Ken or Todoroki."
"Is that so?"
The voice drifted in, flat and cold as ice.
Everyone froze. Their heads turned as one, dread sinking in.
There, standing at the alley's edge, half his body encased in frost, steam curling from his breath, was Shoto Todoroki.
"Um…" Kaminari raised his hands weakly. "Would you believe me if I said I was just joking?"
"You seem to know me very well. What do you think?"
"..."
___
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