Chapter 4 - Cinder

You trudged out of the building, finding the rest of your teammates already outside, wiping the blood from your lips and rubbing the bruised skin on your neck. Hagakure had put her gloves and shoes back on and it appeared she was jumping up and down beside two floppy sandbag mannequins.

"You did it [y/n]! You really held him!" she cheered. But upon taking a closer look, she gasped, "Are you okay? Do you need to see Recovery Girl?" At this, Iida perked up and without letting you answer, escorted you toward the nurse's station to have your head and stomach checked out.

"I'm fine Iida. It's just a bump," you protested, even though you were dying to sit down and have some water.

"We have to portray the villains by the end of class. You need to be ready." He looked at you with serious eyes.

"Fair enough Mr. Class Rep Sir," you said, feigning bubbliness while pointing finger guns. Your head was pounding.

"That's not the correct title [l/n]-san," Iida said with the same earnestness. You simply smiled and nodded. You were quickly learning that sarcasm and teasing wouldn't work too well on this one.

Recovery Girl gave you a quick once-over and sent you back out to the rest of the class. Her kissing technique was interesting, much different from the nurse at Blackstone. Dr. Stem Cell, as she was known, had been able to produce any kind of tissue and could replace it in the patient's body. Need blood? Easy. Bone broken? She'll make a new one and pop it in. Naturally, she was O-neg. Quirks are amazing.

RECOVERY GIRL—QUIRK: HEAL. SHE CAN AMPLIFY AND QUICKEN HER TARGETS' HEALING PROCESS BY EXTENDING HER LIPS AND KISSING THEM. WITH HEAL, SOME GRAVE INJURIES REQUIRING MONTHS TO HEAL CAN BE HEALED COMPLETELY IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. IT REQUIRES STAMINA FROM THE RECEIVER'S PART IN ORDER TO WORK, LEAVING SAID RECEIVER VERY EXHAUSTED AFTER THE PROCESS IS COMPLETED IF AN INJURY IS SERIOUS ENOUGH.

Upon entering the underground observation room, you were swarmed by your fellow classmates.

"That was incredible! You took him down so fast!"

"Why did you only show us butterflies last night?!"

"I thought you were gonna die when he got out of the hold!"

"Marry me again?"

You smiled and swatted away all their questions and compliments, pink dotting your cheeks. "It was nothing. I just wish I could have held on longer."

"What did you say to him at the end? We don't get sound in here," Sero asked.

"I called him a kinky bastard for choking me like that," you deadpanned. Sero and Kaminari's mouths fell open.

"You really don't have any fear, do you?" the dark-haired boy said. You simply shrugged and turned toward the wall of screens. You found yourself standing between Todoroki and Kaminari. The room was lined with a dozen monitors showing different angles of the building on each floor.

I wonder what I looked like up there.

"Class! Teams 2 and 3 are starting. We will review all the matches at the end of class," All Might cut off the chatter.

***

This time Bakugou and his team were the heroes. It was clear he was still pissed from his very recent loss, but because of it, he looked even more determined.

You watched. You more than watched. You couldn't pull your eyes away. His every move was like a dance. Even going up against Izuku, who was so fast and strong, and Kirishima, who was like a walking wall, Bakugou managed to counter. Like your own strategy, he had taken it upon himself to confront the biggest offensive threats.

MIDORIYA IZUKU, HERO NAME: DEKU—QUIRK: (APPEARS TO BE) SUPER STRENGTH AND SPEED PLUS BLACKWHIP. DEKU USES HIS ARMS AND LEGS TO DEAL OUT EXTREMELY STRONG PUNCHES AND KICKS. HE CAN EVEN PRODUCE STRONG GUSTS OF WIND WITH A SNAP OF HIS FINGERS. HE SEEMS TO HAVE A SECOND QUIRK CALLED BLACKWHIP WHICH IS USEFUL FOR CAPTURE.

KIRISHIMA EIJIROU, HERO NAME: RED RIOT—QUIRK: HARDENING. KIRISHIMA IS CAPABLE OF HARDENING ANY PART OF HIS BODY. ONCE ACTIVATED, HE BECOMES CAPABLE OF ENDURING WHAT WOULD BE OTHERWISE LETHAL HAZARDS, LIKE TONS OF FALLING METAL AND MULTIPLE EXPLOSIONS, WITHOUT LEAVING A SCRATCH. EVEN BULLETS ARE UNABLE TO PIERCE HIS SKIN.

It took no more than ten minutes for the hero team to be named the winners, slowed only due to Tsuyu triple wrapping her tongue around the hostages. Bakugou was clearly the MVP. You gulped, knowing it had only been because of your surprise quirk that you had lasted that long against him. The next time wouldn't be so easy.

I really had to pick the worst person to hassle.

***

Your second match ended after the full twenty minutes, with your team fending off the heroes. You were fairly certain that the heroes had expected you to play the offensive buffer again, but you stayed right next to Tokoyami in the room with the hostages. They were no match for your smoke tendrils and Dark Shadow, even with Kaminari's electricity buzzing around the room, minimizing his offense.

KAMINARI DENKI, HERO NAME: CHARGEBOLT—QUIRK: ELECTRIFICATION. KAMINARI HAS THE ABILITY TO ELECTROCUTE ANYONE THROUGH CONTACT. IF HE EMITS ENOUGH ELECTRICITY, IT AUTOMATICALLY DISCHARGES IN ALL DIRECTIONS, SHOCKING ANYONE CLOSE TO HIM, REGARDLESS OF CONTACT. HOWEVER, IF HE EXCEEDS HIS WATTAGE LIMIT, DENKI SHORT-CIRCUITS HIS OWN BRAIN, TURNING HIMSELF DUMB FOR A ONE-HOUR PERIOD AND BEING UNABLE TO ACTIVATE HIS QUIRK.

After All Might announced that time was up, everyone reconvened back in the observation room. "Well done all!" he boomed (then coughed). "You have all certainly grown since the first time I saw you in this building. Now a few notes..." All Might went down the list of classmates, noting highs and lows of their performances as well as letting the other students chime in with observations.

"Young Bakugou, while your performance in your second match was impressive, in your first you made a fatal flaw - underestimating your opponent. We are rarely gifted the knowledge of our foe's quirk and must approach with caution." All Might clapped Bakugou on the back before turning his focus to the next name on his list. Bakugou simply stared at the floor, his fists clenched at his sides.

After a few more students you heard, "Young [l/n]! You did exceptionally well for your first match against a sea of unknown talent. You should be commended." You beamed at the hero. "But! the other side of the coin to Young Bakugou - when you become a pro hero, your foes will know your quirk. You won't be able to utilize the element of surprise. Don't rely on it."

"Yes sir," you muttered, feeling slightly deflated.

***

You left the locker room holding your costume case, staring at the backs in front of you. Your new classmates. Your new friends? Kicking ass sure felt like a bonding moment.

"You." You were pulled from your thoughts as a rough voice and even rougher hand grabbed your arm and pulled you behind a nearby wall.

"Bakugou," you barely breathed out before his other hand was slammed to the side of your head, cracking the wall slightly from a small, sharp blast. You instantly reverted to your battle stare.

Never let them see your fear.

"Did you have fun with your little stunt? Trying to make me look like an idiot?" He didn't yell. His tone cold and measured. It was scarier than yelling.

"If you looked like an idiot, it was your own fault," you spat back.

Where is this aggressive confidence coming from?

He practically growled, "You underestimated me. The next time we fight, you're gonna die."

"I think you're the one underestimating me. I've seen you fight now, and I can more than handle it." You slapped his cheek in a mockingly affectionate manner. "After all, I'm your weakness," you answered, saccharine sweet, before you shoved off the wall, knocking his shoulder as you walked past.

Bakugou glared daggers at your back, but a smile dared to touch his lips. Your declaration was a fresh challenge, something new and exciting. His gaze softened as he watched you walk.

"Tsk."

***

Aizawa motioned for everyone to take their seats. You had all been discussing the afternoon's training in small groups dotted around the classroom.

"As I'm sure All Might mentioned, this year has a strong focus on teamwork. Pros have sidekicks. There are singular teams like the Pussycats. There are entire agencies you could belong to. Pros team up for more complicated missions..." You tilted your head to the side wondering where this was going. Does UA place their students into agencies in their second year? "So, this year, every month you will be working with a new partner."

Chaos.

"Do we pick our partners?"

"If we get along, do we have to change at the end of the month?"

"What if I hate everyone?" Three guesses who.

Aizawa's quirk activated, and the class silenced instantly. "As you have all obtained your provisional licenses, you can act in a minimal hero capacity. Some of you have already taken part in work-study programs. These partnerships will further push you out of the nest. You can perform patrols. You can help with rescue efforts. You will not embarrass me or this school." He poured two eye drops into each tired eye.

"I will assign partnerships at random. You don't always get to choose who you work with in the pro world, nor will you here. Until summer break we will have mandatory switches. Afterwards you can choose to remain random or team up with a previous partner. I don't really care. Iida please come to the front of the room and announce the partnerships," Aizawa barely finished before curling into his yellow sleeping bag on the floor, leaving a piece of paper on the podium.

"Yes sensei! First up..."

Partnerships? But you'd only known these people one day! Sure, you'd managed to win two battles, but that was for twenty minutes, spending a month...

"Kirishima and [y/n]."

The sharky boy turned to smile at you and gave a big thumbs up. You gave an awkward thumbs up back before you heard a sad groan from the sparky blond in front of Kirishima. You'd never worked closely with a transformation-style quirk before having gone to the Blackstone emitter school. This would be interesting if nothing else.

"Bakugou and Kaminari," Iida continued. An audible exhale was heard from around the room, everyone seemingly grateful not to get paired with the angry blond.

***

The class was dismissed, and Kirishima walked toward your desk with a giant smile plastered on his face.

"This is going to be awesome! We should come up with a team name! I'm thinking Team Dragon!" He was so enthusiastic you hated to burst his bubble.

"I think we should probably focus on schoolwork and training before team names, don't you think?" You tried to keep your rejection upbeat.

"Well, yeah. Of course," he half laughed while scratching the back of his neck. "I'm not the best at class, but I've definitely got your back in a fight!" You stood from your desk and motioned that you could talk while making your way back to the dorms.

Kirishima stopped in front of the door. "Oh! We should swap numbers in case we need to meet up for training or something," he said with a slight blush as he held out his phone.

"Get outta my way Shitty Hair!" You spun around to see the explosive blond making his way toward the hallway. "You too Ashtray!"

"Now that's a new one," you chuckled lightly. "I think I prefer Kaminari's 'Smokin' Hot' though." You heard a 'tsk' pass you, followed by said Kaminari in his wake.

"What is your hero name anyway [y/n]?" Kirishima asked.

"I'm the Smoke Hero: Cinder."