"Full throttle, sparkles!"
Aoyama winces—but straightens immediately, striking a proud pose despite the tension in his stomach.
"For dazzling victory!" he declares.
He fires again.
This time, the beam blazes brighter—thicker—pushing beyond his usual output.
Sato crosses his arms in front of his chest.
He's too close to dodge.
The laser strikes.
Light engulfs him as the blast slams into his guard. Wind bursts outward from the impact, cape and hair whipping violently across the rooftop.
His boots scrape back several feet.
Concrete cracks beneath him.
But he holds.
Smoke rises from his forearms.
He's still standing.
And Mina is already gone.
She drops low and slides across the rooftop at a sharp angle, acid slicking beneath her boots as she propels herself sideways—bypassing Sato completely.
Straight toward the weapon.
Straight toward Koda.
Birds dive again.
"You won't be able to stop me now, Koda!" she calls, grinning despite the chaos.
She twists and spins, curving along thin acid trails that send her skating in unpredictable arcs.
The birds dive—
—but overshoot again and again as she weaves past them.
Closer.
Closer.
Koda's breathing hitches.
She's too fast.
Too close.
His hands rise instinctively to shield his face, eyes squeezing shut as if bracing for impact.
His voice stumbles out in panic.
"W-Wait—!"
Mina bursts forward in one final surge.
Her arm stretches out.
Fingers inches from the dull metallic surface of the weapon—
And Koda stands there trembling, unsure how to react.
Just as Mina's fingers hover inches from the cold metal—
The speakers explode to life overhead.
[Time's up! The Villain Team claims victory!]
The announcement echoes across the rooftop.
Mina blinks.
"…You've gotta be kidding me—"
She twists to look back—
And at that exact moment—
Aoyama fires again.
The brilliant beam flashes across the rooftop—
—but his aim slips as a sharp pain seizes his stomach.
The laser veers.
It blasts straight past Mina's shoulder—
—and slams directly into the weapon.
The metallic device erupts in a burst of light and fractured steel.
The mock warhead shatters apart, pieces scattering across the rooftop in smoking debris.
Mina jerks back, startled.
For a second, she simply stares at the ruined pedestal.
Then she slowly turns.
Aoyama lies collapsed near the doorway, one arm wrapped tightly around his stomach while the other still points weakly where he fired. His face is twisted in discomfort.
"…Ah… mon dieu…"
He exhales shakily.
"My stomach… protests such exertion…"
The scolding Mina had ready instantly died in her throat.
Her shoulders slump.
She exhales through her nose.
"…You destroyed the weapon, sparkles."
Several feet away, Sato finally relaxes.
The tension drains from his posture as he drops down onto the rooftop with a heavy thud, sitting back on his hands.
His sleeves are scorched and torn.
The fabric along his forearms is blackened, parts of his chest lightly burned where stray beams clipped him.
Faint smoke still curls upward from the damage.
The sugar rush begins fading from his body.
The swelling strength in his muscles softens as the power tapers off.
He breathes deeply, steady but tired.
"…Good fight," he says simply.
Koda steps forward cautiously, carefully avoiding scattered debris.
The birds continue circling above for a moment.
Koda looks up at them nervously.
"Th-thank you… everyone… for helping."
The birds chirp softly.
"You can… go now."
One by one, the flock peels away, wings beating as they scatter across the sky.
Koda then kneels beside Sato.
"Are… are you okay?" he asks softly.
Sato nods once.
"Yeah," he says. "Thanks to you."
Koda hesitates.
Then he gently slips Sato's arm over his shoulder and helps lift him upright, supporting part of his weight.
Nearby, Mina plants her hands on her hips beside the destroyed weapon and lets out a long breath.
"…That was so close."
Aoyama remains sprawled dramatically on the rooftop.
"Victory…" he mutters weakly. "…narrowly escaped my brilliance…"
Mina snorts.
"Escaped? You nuked the objective!"
Despite the pain, Aoyama gives her a faint, proud smile.
At that moment, a thunderous voice booms once more from the speakers.
[Well done, young heroes!]
The unmistakable voice of All Might fills the rooftop.
[Both teams demonstrated excellent teamwork and perseverance!]
There's a brief pause before he continues in a more commanding tone.
[Team Ashido and Aoyama, return to the monitoring room!]
[And Team Sato and Koda—follow the guide robots to the medical bay so we can treat those burns and stomach strain!]
A pair of small guide drones rise from the rooftop access doorway, hovering nearby with soft mechanical chirps.
Sato exhales slowly as Koda steadies him.
"…Medical bay sounds good right about now."
Across the roof, Mina stretches her arms over her head.
"Next time," she mutters, glancing at the shattered weapon, "I'm grabbing the objective before sparkles starts firing lasers everywhere."
Behind her, Aoyama groans dramatically as one of the guide drones hovers over him.
"Ah… the price of brilliance is cruel indeed."
A pair of mechanical arms carefully lift him onto a floating stretcher platform.
"Ah… even in defeat, I am carried like royalty…" he murmurs weakly.
Another drone floats beside Sato, its stabilising harness extending toward him.
Sato exhales and gives Koda a tired but reassuring nod as the drone slowly steadies him upright.
The aftereffects of his quirk begin settling in now—his body relaxing, eyelids growing heavier as the sugar crash creeps in.
Koda squeaks softly in surprise as the machine rises.
"S-Sorry—!"
Within moments, the drones begin drifting over the rooftop's edge, carrying Sato, Aoyama, and Koda down toward the medical bay below.
Mina and Koda remain on the rooftop a moment longer, watching them descend.
Wind brushes past them.
Koda glances toward the shattered pedestal where the mock weapon had stood moments ago.
"…Your slide was really fast," he says quietly.
Mina blinks, then grins, some of her energy returning.
"Your birds were really annoying."
A small, shy smile forms on his face.
Another drone floats up beside them, its lights blinking softly.
[Students Ashido and Koda. Please step onto the platform.]
Mina hops onto the hovering transport without hesitation.
"Man, even the ride down's fancy."
Koda carefully steps on to the platform beside her.
The drone hums softly before lifting them from the rooftop, carrying them down toward the lower levels of the building.
***
The monitoring room doors slide open.
Applause erupts immediately.
Then it continues—louder as students crowd toward the returning pair.
Kirishima is the first to barrel forward, grinning widely.
"That was awesome!" he says. "Sato held the line like a rock!"
He pumps a fist enthusiastically.
"Super manly defence!"
He then turns toward Mina and flashes her a thumbs-up.
"And that slide at the end? You almost had it!"
Mina grins back, puffing her chest slightly despite the loss.
"Right? I almost had it!"
Asui steps forward more calmly, hands resting near her chest.
"Your mobility was impressive, Ashido. Ribbit. If the timer had lasted longer, the outcome might have changed."
Tokoyami inclines his head slightly toward Koda, standing nearby.
"Your command of the skies was commendable. A quiet strength."
Dark Shadow briefly manifests over his shoulder.
"THE BIRDS WERE MOST IRRITATING," it declares loudly before retreating.
Koda blushes faintly at the praise.
Uraraka clasps her hands together. "Aoyama really pushed himself back there…"
Beside her, Tenya Iida adjusts his glasses sharply.
"Indeed! Though his final shot was accidental, the situation demonstrates the dangers of operating while physically strained!"
From the back of the room, Katsuki Bakugo clicks his tongue.
"Hah. Extras relying on a buzzer."
The class gradually settles back into loose clusters before reorganizing into rows as All Might steps forward again, returning to his place before the monitors.
He folds his arms, posture tall and authoritative.
"Now then! Let us review!"
The room quiets.
"Team Sato and Koda—excellent use of terrain. Elevating the objective to the rooftop forced the heroes into a vertical advance, which drained time and created pressure."
On the medical bay monitor, Sato sits upright on a cot while Recovery Girl examines the burns on his arms.
He rubs the back of his head modestly at the praise.
Aoyama, lying dramatically on the bed beside him with a heat pack on his stomach, lifts a weak hand.
"My brilliance… recognized at last…"
Recovery Girl lightly bonks him with her cane when he tries to strike a pose.
All Might continues.
"However—Sato, remember that endurance alone cannot win every battle. Standing your ground is admirable, but coordinated pressure with your partner will create far more opportunities!"
Sato nods firmly.
"Yes, sir!"
"And Aoyama!"
All Might's grin widens slightly.
"Your quirk possesses tremendous striking power—but today demonstrates the importance of control and stamina management. A hero's light must be directed carefully!"
Aoyama lifts a weak hand from the bed.
"I shall refine the aim of my radiance…"
Light chuckles ripple through the room.
All Might turns toward Mina.
"Ashido! Your mobility was exceptional. Your use of sliding acid paths allowed you to bypass a physically stronger opponent and nearly secure the objective."
Mina scratches the back of her head with a sheepish grin.
"Heh… almost doesn't count though."
"On the contrary!" All Might replies warmly. "Creating openings through speed and creativity is a vital hero skill!"
Then he gestures toward the medical monitor again, where Koda sits quietly.
"And Koda!"
"Using indirect animal support to stall without direct confrontation—clever and efficient battlefield control!"
Koda stiffens slightly under the praise before bowing his head.
"Th-thank you…"
All Might clasps his hands together.
"Remember this, young heroes!"
"Most victories are not achieved through overwhelming power—but through positioning, patience, and teamwork!"
He continues, voice swelling with pride.
"Every match today has demonstrated growth! Strategy! Adaptation!"
"That is the essence of hero training!"
His voice booms through the room with renewed energy.
"And now—"
He raises one arm dramatically toward the final monitor.
"—we move to the final battle of the day!"
A subtle wave of excitement moves through the students who haven't yet participated.
Jiro twirls one of her earphone jacks idly around her finger, eyes half-lidded but attentive.
"Finally."
Kaminari straightens up instantly.
"Oh man—okay—okay, cool. This is it. I'm totally ready. Like, super ready."
He pauses, leaning slightly toward her.
"Jiro, we're gonna look cool, right?"
She smirks slightly.
"Try not to short-circuit, and we'll talk."
Nearby, Yaoyorozu stands poised, posture straight, hands lightly folded before her.
Her eyes move across the room.
"Preparation will be key," she murmurs thoughtfully. "Even small advantages can determine the outcome."
Between her and Izumi, Ayaka rocks back and forth lightly on her heels, a slow grin spreading across her face. Anticipation radiates off her.
Izumi glances at her from the side and exhales softly.
"Try not to break their bones."
Ayaka stops mid-rock.
Her head snaps toward him like a stretched rubber band released.
"Like you have a say," she fires back immediately. "You're the one who levelled an entire test neighbourhood. You're one to talk."
Izumi doesn't even blink.
"No bones."
Ayaka's eye twitches.
She opens her mouth—
"All right!" All Might's booming voice cuts cleanly through the tension.
Ayaka's attention shifts instantly.
"A villain's role is not always reckless destruction," he declares loudly. "A true test lies in how well you control the battlefield! Outsmart your opponents! Force them into your pace!"
She inhales, about to nod—
—but Izumi casually reaches over and grips the back of her head, pressing it forward into a shallow bow.
"I apologise for her behaviour, All Might," he says smoothly. "She was hit frequently in the head during training."
Ayaka struggles against his grip, trying to turn her head to glare at him.
He releases her just enough for her to see the faint smirk only she catches.
Around the room, the same silent collective thought forms.
'What an absurd pair.'
All Might blinks once. Twice.
Then straightens.
"Yes. Well."
He steps between the two familiar boxes—one black, one white.
He reaches into each, shuffling the spheres before pulling one from both.
He raises the black ball first.
"Villain Team: Team C!"
He opens his palm.
"Ayaka Adachi and Momo Yaoyorozu !"
A murmur ripples through the class.
Ayaka's grin widens.
"Well," she says cheerfully, rubbing her hands together, "guess villainy runs in the family. My turn to play the villain."
Beside her, Yaoyorozu suddenly feels a small chill run up her arms.
Goosebumps prickle faintly across her skin.
'I would prefer not to imagine that', she thinks quickly.
She gives a few quick shakes of her head, composing herself almost instantly.
Then she nods calmly.
"Understood."
Beside them, Izumi chuckles quietly at her reaction.
Yaoyorozu turns and flicks the back of her hand against his arm.
"Behave."
He only smiles faintly.
All Might raises the white sphere.
"Hero Team: Team G!"
He declares it.
"Kaminari Denki and Jiro Kyoka!"
Kaminari pumps a fist. "Let's go!"
Jiro sighs, but a small smile tugs at the corner of her lips.
"We will use Building C once more," All Might continues. "Villains—you have five minutes to establish your base. Heroes, prepare your approach strategy!"
Ayaka turns to Yaoyorozu, eyes practically glowing with excitement.
"You ready to go, Momo?"
Yaoyorozu smiles politely—confident, measured.
"Of course. Let us construct an efficient defence."
The two walk side by side toward the exit, their steps steady.
One brimming with restless excitement, the other radiating controlled composure.
Behind them, Kaminari nudges Jiro lightly as they head for the opposite corridor.
"Okay, okay. Strategy meeting. We've got this, right?"
Jiro flicks one earphone jack lightly against his shoulder.
"Just follow my lead if you panic."
"I don't panic," he protests.
She raises an eyebrow.
"…Much."
The doors slide shut behind both teams as they depart for their positions.
Inside the monitoring room, anticipation thickens the air.
One final match.
One final clash.
And somewhere between strategy and chaos—
The day's training will find its conclusion.
***