After the simple combat practices, we were allowed to leave.
All Might was running out of time to look muscular and all that.
Bakugo woke up after the practices and went straight back to the normal classes.
He was extremely quiet and had a neutral expression.
Which translates to: That bastard Deku has become a problem, and I need to reconsider the hierarchy.
Or in my language: A victory for me.
At the end of the school day and after a tedious chat with practically the entire class, where we introduced ourselves and so on, I noticed that Bakugo had left.
And I remembered that in the anime, he and Izuku have a talk where Izuku... well, acts like the least protagonist-like protagonist I've ever seen and gives Bakugo hints that his power isn't really his own.
So I decided to look for Bakugo, just like in the anime.
But with one difference.
I would reveal to him that I have One For All.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Did you really think I'd do something like that?
I fooled you, didn't I?
I would never voluntarily reveal to Bakugo that I have One For All.
I just want to add a few words to tear down his pathetic view of life a little more.
So here I am, arriving at the UA exit, with the sunset in front of me and a neutral Bakugo walking with his back to me.
If only we could swap Bakugo for a girl... like Nejire, then it would be the perfect confession moment.
Too bad this isn't your average Isekai and my set goals don't include having sex 24/7.
Nope. All For One wants my power and therefore wants to kill me. I need more power, not sex.
"Hey, armed terrorist!" At my shout, Bakugo turned his gaze and looked at me... yeah, the moron looked at me. I'm really trying hard not to laugh.
"What do you want, Deku?" Huh? What's with that defeated tone? It's like his mother just died... which would be a shame because Mitsuki is an excellent MILF. A pity her son ruins things.
"How do you feel, Bakugo? It hurts, right? You feel humiliated, right? Like the world is giving you the short end of the stick, right?" At his silence, I continued. "That's how I've felt since I was four, Bakugo. It sucks, don't you think? Look at how you feel right now and multiply that by 365, a total of 11 times. That's how I've felt all this time, you disgusting scum."
The silence that fell between us was extremely comfortable, for me at least.
I could see in his eyes how much he hated me for throwing the facts in his face, but he didn't dare say or do anything. Probably because of today's defeat.
Either way, it doesn't change anything.
I won in every sense today.
"I just came to tell you that, Bakugo. To show you a little of how I've felt all this time and to remind you of what I told you a while ago. I'm going to beat you in every possible aspect, and I'm going to enjoy doing it. See you, Bakugo, and say hi to Aunt Mitsuki for me."
After those words, I simply walked past him and left.
I felt All Might arrive at the end of our chat, but he didn't interfere.
He clearly doesn't know when it's right to meddle in his successor's life and when it's not.
Not that I care. Even if he does, things won't change.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Right now, I've just arrived at the abandoned gym that All Might bought for Gran Torino to train me.
It reminds me of Fogwell's Gym where Matt Murdock used to train in honor of his father.
How I miss Marvel's shows and movies.
Did I mention that Marvel doesn't exist in this world? If I didn't, I'm doing it now. It doesn't exist, but Disney does, which is really strange.
But putting aside my depression over not being able to know what will happen in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness because I got Isekai'd...
I'm seeing that there are all kinds of things here.
Which is perfect. The greater the variety of exercises, the greater my progress will be.
"Alright, brat, now that you're here, I want you to change into something more comfortable and put these wraps on your hands." When did Gran Torino get here? I didn't even sense him, although I didn't have One For All activated.
"Of course, give me a moment, sir." By the end of the week, I will have broken the 8% barrier. I can feel it, and this training is the key.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
This training is insane! In just 2 hours, I feel like I've trained more than in my entire week leading up to UA!
Every damn part of my body hurts. It's simply impressive.
But I'm still smiling. Why? Because the based old man that is Gran Torino told me I wouldn't be able to handle this training.
And I wasn't going to back down, so I told him I could.
And here I am, crying on the inside but smiling on the outside.
Like a true champion!
"Come on, punch, brat." I'm hitting a punching bag using a specific pattern: two punches with my right hand and one with my left.
This way, my body builds muscle memory.
"Change your footwork. You want to hit your enemy, not trip over yourself."
"Yes, sir!" Footwork is practically fundamental when it comes to punching. If your feet are in a bad position, you'll fall. Therefore, you must always keep them balanced depending on which is your dominant hand, in this case, it's the right hand.
"Alright, stop." Finally! I won't admit it, but I was starting to feel the strength in my punches diminish.
"Sit and meditate for the rest of the hour. Tomorrow you'll reach 8% of One For All." Gran Torino is my idol! No matter what happens, I will not let this man get hurt in the battle of Jaku or Deika, whatever the name of the city where the war will take place is!
I meditated for the remaining hour, and just for a brief moment when Gran Torino left the gym, I activated One For All at 8%.
And I didn't collapse in the process!
I think I'll definitely be able to break this damn power barrier I'm feeling.
And I don't know if the canon Izuku felt the same as I do, but ever since I arrived in this world and have meditated while increasing the percentage of One For All, I can feel how the power becomes more and more complex.
To explain it in a way that's understandable:
At the beginning, when I arrived in this world and was barely touching 5%, the power was, so to speak, flat.
It felt incredible, but it was just that: power.
In contrast, right now, I don't just feel the power. I can feel the hope of being the new wielder of One For All.
I can feel uncertainty every time I think about All For One, and not because I'm specifically afraid of him.
And I can also feel anger, a lot of anger. Towards All For One and everything he represents.
I'm feeling the closeness between the wielders more and more, and that both pleases and terrifies me.
I can only wait and see how it all unfolds.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Today is the day! I'll reach 8%!
But first, a class president must be chosen.
Everything was the same, until Iida proposed a vote.
I won, with even more votes than in the canon.
I came out with 7 votes to Momo's 3.
And here I am, about to give a speech to the class.
"Thank you for voting for me. I will do my best to make sure everyone feels comfortable working with me. If you have any questions about anything or a complaint, don't hesitate to come and let me know. We're classmates now, and it's my duty to listen to you." At my speech, everyone applauded. It's not the best thing I've ever said, but considering Iida will take my place at the end of the day, I'm not complaining.
"Yaoyorozu, let's do our best."
"Of course, Midoriya!" Momo's smile is very cordial and polite. I wonder how she was taught to smile like that, or maybe she was born with that ability.
. . . . . . . . . a. . . .
Now we're having lunch after the basic class taught by Aizawa.
Iida explained that his brother is Ingenium.
Uraraka called him a rich kid without any filter.
Humble, just how I like people. Way to go, Uraraka.
And I'm waiting for the alarm to go off.
By the way, I saw Mirio in the hallways. He was alone, but that doesn't matter.
He's super ripped! I can't wait to formally meet him and fight him.
His face isn't as cartoonish as in the anime.
But it does show his usual cheerfulness.
I'm already curious to see what he'll be like...
"Level 3 security breach. All students are asked to evacuate in an orderly manner."
Orderly? This looks like a stampede.
I managed to separate myself from the slow-witted students of this school and reached the windows.
The UA gate was turned to dust.
Thanos was here, or so I'd like to say.
(We'll meet soon, Shigaraki). The USJ is just around the corner, and everything has to go really well.
"Everyone calm down! It's just the press! Act like the honorable UA students you are and—" From that point on, I tuned Iida out. I'm not interested in his speech.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Before we start the class, I want to make an announcement. I am resigning from my position as class president and passing it to Momo Yaoyorozu. I propose Tenya Iida to take her place." I can see by their faces that my words have left them quite surprised, but I don't care.
I don't want to be the class president. It just takes up useful time, time that could be spent improving.
Anyway, after several deliberations, my words were accepted, and I lost my position.
The day ended, fortunately, and Aizawa explained that tomorrow we would be traveling to the U.S.J.
Which left me a bit lost. Didn't it happen on the same day as the gate incident?
These kinds of details ruin things for me.
Anyway, this benefits me. More than enough time to ask Gran Torino to accompany me to the U.S.J.
And to reach 8% in the process.
...
Author's Note:
Hey.
Well, here's another chapter of this Isekai story where everything is set up for the USJ.
This chapter is really just an interlude and nothing more.
The next one will have the trip to and arrival at the USJ.
The protagonist put Bakugo in his place again, nothing new.
And he trains with Gran Torino, as has been happening for a few chapters.
And the protagonist has an increasingly strong connection with OFA. That's something that will become relevant a little before the Sports Festival and will be an interesting change for the plot.
Opinions? Suggestions? Comments? If you have them, make them.
See you.