Authors note:
Speaking: "…"
Thinking: '…'
___
Momo pov
A couple minutes earlier
Eraser was just dragged along by the hand guy and was now stuck in the forest zone, Mr Midoriya was currently engaged in combat with a villain stronger that the class had ever even heard of. Looking at the sky where the fight took place the students were only able to make out flashes of green light clashing against each other, the pressure alone strong enough to send shockwaves throughout the entire facility.
„ Todoroki, is this normal?" the second in command asked her superior, staring at the display of power in disbelief, shocked anyone could ever fight at that level.
„ It's not, frankly speaking this confrontation is anything but normal. Even I have never seen anyone keep up with Midoriya except for sensei Bakugo like that" the bi colored teen said crossing his arms observing the fight.
„ Sensei bakugo?" the onyx haired girl questioned staring at him ‚there's someone else who can fight at that level. And he's todorokis sensei?'
‚ is that why he's this strong, trading under someone who can operate at such a level. There is an even bigger gap between us that I thought!' she thought to herself growing more anxious and feeling as if she didn't deserve her position as second in command beside the ice user.
The continued to observe the fight for about one more minute, until another loud clash erupted, this time right on the middle of the plaza. The second one that came from the green portal was fighting a weird black and purple creature that looked like someone had smashed together a bunch of different animals randomly.
Momo was entranced by this persons spearmanship, the beautiful parries, the way he perfectly spaced himself from the creature and the masterful movement he performed with the weapon. As a polearm user herself, she's spent hours practicing her bo staff skills, yet still even at just one glance she could see the vast difference between them.
That was until a muffled scream beside her broke her focus of observing the fight, turning her head she found Todoroki almost entirely engulfed by a cloud of black and purple mist.
Two yellow glowing orbs, akin to eyes, appeared on the mist. „ My apologies, but it seems like I have to take your friend away from here. I'm sure you understand" it spoke before completely covering Todoroki and taking him god knows where.
But that wasn't all it did, out of the portal came a red and black clawed tiger paw aimed directly at Momo. Still shocked and in disbelief at her classmates disappearance, the young creation user wasn't able to react fast enough to defend herself against the incoming attack.
At nearly the last second, something intercepted the attack, pulling it to the side. It was something akin to a lightning whip, coming from a grinning class clown "Whip it good! Shocking, I know, but that's just how I roll." He commented before pulling and sending the attacker flying several meters away.
Controlling her breathing from the shock of almost dying before looking up to see Haruki holding out a hand „ Need a helping hand, or would you rather have a helping whip? My fellow second in command," he suggested, also putting the hand holding the electrical construct for her to choose.
„ Thanks but I chose not to get shocked" she affirmed taking his hand and pulling herself back up. Before turning to their attacker, getting a good look at her.
It was a young woman with red hair and two black cat-like ears poking out from her head, dressed in a black leather jacket with a red shirt underneath. She had a black tiger tail with red stripes, and both her hands were changing from tiger claws to human hands.
Rubbing her forehead she annoyingly complained „ Damn you, ya little punk. That little electric thing hurt you know" staring at the class clown in his Loki costume.
„ Why of course it does, that's what happens when little kitties get curious about electricity. Don't you know that my little kitten" he mused in a jesters tone, provoking the tiger lady even further, just as his arm tattoos started glowing blue and green.
„ oh ho ho, that's it you punk I'm coming for you, nobody gets away with calling me a kitten." she sneered before charging ahead on all fours and lunging at the group of three students.
„ Hihahah, well then I welcome you to try! Now let's get this show on the road, second in command your up" Haruki called out to the petrified girl who was still standing there in denial. Shocked by his call she defensively argued „ What, why me?"
The jester smirked before slapping both her and Ayato on the shoulder, then jumping into the clash with the tiger woman, summoning a tornado around his feet to parry her clawed attack. ‚ Because you the strategist, go figure it out' Momo heard Haruki speak into her mind.
' What, am I going crazy or did I just hear Haruki in my mind' she thought to herself in disbelief. ' As much as I'd like to witness that someday, right now I just made a temporary link between the minds of the three of us using a wildcard. But I should warn you, we can hear everything, hihihihi'
' He's right yaoyorozu, maybe don't think about anything you don't want my brother to know' Ayato mentally reminded her, giving her a look of confidence.
' crap, what should I do, normally todoroki makes these decisions. Even Haruki is better at this than me!' The onyx eyed girl nervously thought still not used to the mental link.
' it's sweet that you think so highly of me, but right now I can't have you crapping your pants.
I need a bit of assistance brother dearest, right about now would be great!!'
' got it' Ayato confirmed through the link and rushed to his brothers aid enhancing his legs for greater speed, then finding the Norse inspired hero on the receiving end of a claw strike that was slowed down by Harukis time warp ability. Giving the younger sibling the opportunity to deliver a mean right hook to the tigresses face, sending her crashing into the wall.
After a almost two week under the relentless training under Midoriya, both Ayatos control over his quirk as well as his attitude evolved. Through rigorous practice the once timid boy, was now capable of holding his own with confidence that Momo was currently laking.
The wall exploded outward as the tiger woman crashed through it like a living cannonball. Rocks scattered. Dust choked the air. A low rumble spread under their feet.
For a moment, nothing moved.
Only the sound of the woman's ragged breathing came from within the rubble pile.
Ayato stepped forward from the smoke. His chest was heaving. His expression unreadable, but his eyes were sharp. Focused.
Arcs of black and blue electricity danced unnaturally across his limbs. Crackling. Forked. Off-color from anything she'd seen in training.
Momo's eyes narrowed.
'That's not enhanced strength. That's not what his quirk used to look like...'
This was something else entirely.
Something new.
‚Okay...' Haruki's voice cut through her thoughts via the mental link. He sounded amused. Delighted, even. ‚I don't know what lil' bro had for breakfast, but I want some. Man's cooking. Smoke coming straight out of his bones.'
Momo didn't answer.
She couldn't.
Ayato had already moved, charging again. His expression didn't change. No hesitation. No coordination with the rest of the team. He moved on instinct. Not logic.
The punch connected, a clean hit. The black arcs burst on impact, sparks scattering. The tiger woman staggered back. She didn't fall, but the force shook her.
Momo kept watching.
He wasn't following any plan.
He wasn't waiting for direction.
He was doing things she'd never taught him.
Things she didn't even know he could do.
'Todoroki would know what to do here,' she thought bitterly. 'He wouldn't freeze. He'd already be analyzing. Already giving orders.'
Her gaze stayed locked on Ayato.
And that's when Haruki cut in again, louder, this time. ‚It's real crowded in here with all these intrusive thoughts. Sweetheart, I need you to stop hosting a pity party while I'm about to die looking this good.'
"What!?" she blurted.
'Look left.'
She turned without thinking.
The tiger woman was changing again.
Her body expanded, twice the size now. The black fur was rougher, the red stripes glowing with energy. Her claws lengthened. Her snout stretched forward as her face shifted fully into that of a monstrous feline. Her entire body became a red-striped black tiger.
A beast.
Haruki stepped forward, both arms raised. "Ladies and gentlemen," he called aloud, his usual theatrical tone still present, "we are officially fighting something that wants to wear our spines as earrings!"
The tattoos on his forearms glowed green and blue.
She recognized the sign.
A Wildcard.
Didn't announce the move. But she saw the glow. And knew he had something unpredictable.
Then, poof.
Smoke burst out from where he stood.
Silence followed.
Then—
'Quack.'
Momo's eyes widened.
Where Haruki had been, there was now... a goose.
A literal goose. Wearing a miniature domino mask. The glow from his runes faintly pulsed around its scrawny, feathered neck.
"You've got to be kidding me..."
'Quack~' came the smug reply through the link. 'Thirty-second form shift. No thumbs. No weapons. But I can see her energy field in 4K and her split ends in 8K. Heads up, she's about to hit Ayato's blind spot. Now.'
Ayato pivoted, intercepting a strike with his forearm. The hit dragged him back, his boots skidding across the concrete.
"You're a damn goose," Momo shouted, pulling a smoke capsule from her belt. "How is this helping!?"
'Because I'm observant,' Haruki answered, completely unbothered. 'And you? You're brilliant. But right now? You're too busy trying to be someone you're not.'
She froze mid throw.
"What did you just—"
'You heard me. You're trying to be Todoroki. Stop it. I love ice boy, don't get me wrong. Ten out of ten hair. But you're you. And you're not here to fight like him. You're here to think. So start thinking.' The goose encouraged while continuing to direct Ayato.
But she didn't know how.
Not anymore.
Was she supposed to lead? Analyze? Support? Right now all she'd done was hesitate. Doubt herself. And watch her teammates fight alone. Working together with coordination akin to what she thought only pro heroes could have.
Ayato let out a sharp cry, his arm caught mid-strike, then bent the wrong direction. A loud crack followed. He dropped to one knee, screaming.
Her stomach dropped.
"AYATO!"
The tiger raised a claw. Energy charged at the tip.
And then the goose exploded.
There was a cartoonish pop. Smoke. Feathers. And then Haruki was back, mid-air, twisting and landing on one knee. He grunted, a red pulse crossing his markings .
Then he collapsed, leg buckling underneath him.
"Oh sh—" he started, before hitting the ground.
The tiger turned.
Ayato was down.
Haruki was immobilized.
And Momo stood between them.
Frozen again.
'Move,' Ayato implied into the link. He was pale. Bleeding. His arm hung limp. But his eyes were still locked on her. 'You're the only one left.'
'If I mess up—'
'Then mess up. Just do something.'
Her hand moved before she fully processed the command.
Smoke capsule, thrown.
Net cannon, fired.
Trap mine, deployed mid-run.
Flash orb, lobbed high.
The sequence happened on instinct.
The smoke swallowed the tiger in seconds. She howled. Clawed. The net tangled her limbs. The mine clipped her right side. She stumbled forward just as the flash orb ignited.
And then Ayato reappeared, falling from the sky like a bolt of lightning.
His body was cloaked in black electricity, energy screaming off his skin.
He struck her mid-lunge.
Thunder clashed against claw.
The impact shook the entire area.
A dome of energy burst outward, engulfing the both of them. When the light finally cleared, the tiger woman was embedded in the concrete. Unconscious. Twitching.
Smoke coiled off her fur.
Ayato staggered upright.
Barely.
But he was still standing.
Momo stared.
Her breath was short. Her muscles shook. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest.
It was over.
They'd won.
Haruki groaned, dragging himself up by one elbow. "Well," he coughed, "we can call that a team effort. Heavy on the team, light on the effort. Because obviously, I did most of it."
Momo didn't laugh.
She didn't even smile.
Because the thought echoing in her head wasn't about victory.
It wasn't relief.
It was cold. Quiet. Unforgiving.
‚I didn't do anything that mattered.'
Her eyes drifted back to Ayato.
Covered in lightning. Standing alone. Changed.
‚He's surpassed me.'
And she hadn't even noticed when it happened.