Chapter 19 - The Start Of Training

Morning sunlight filtered through the tall windows of the U.A. dorms, golden rays spilling across the hallways and through Yuuki's neatly kept room. The sound of her alarm clock was soft and melodic—something calm that eased her awake instead of startling her. She blinked sleepily, rubbing her eyes and yawning before sitting up. After stretching her arms above her head, she shuffled out of bed, her hair slightly messy from sleep. She quickly fixed it into a cute half-up style before picking out her clothes for the day—a pastel pink pullover long sleeve that looked soft enough to nap in, a pair of light blue jeans that fit comfortably, and her favorite pink sneakers with little white hearts on the sides. She smiled shyly at her reflection before grabbing her school bag and stepping out into the hall.

The dorms were already bustling with life. Mina was laughing at something Kaminari said, Uraraka was rushing around trying to find her notebook, and Kirishima was helping carry some training gear for later. As Yuuki walked down the hall, she waved shyly at her friends, her sneakers making light taps against the floor. When she reached the entrance, the crisp morning air brushed against her face, and she felt a mix of excitement and anxiety flutter in her chest.

"Yuuki! Morning!" Mina called, waving her hand wildly. Yuuki smiled and waved back as everyone began to gather around her—Midoriya, Todoroki, Kirishima, Kaminari, and even Bakugo, who looked like he hadn't slept but somehow was still full of energy.

"Morning, everyone," Yuuki said softly, her voice sweet and quiet as always.

Todoroki, standing beside Midoriya with his calm expression, glanced at her. "The training portion of the exams begins today," he said in his usual flat but gentle tone. "It'll test both combat ability and teamwork."

Yuuki froze for a moment, her small hands tightening around the strap of her bag. "O-Oh... today?" she stammered, her eyes wide. "I-I thought that was next week."

Midoriya quickly stepped forward, waving his hands slightly, his nervous energy matching hers. "D-Don't worry, Yuuki! You'll do great! You've been improving a lot lately," he said with a warm smile. "Just remember to stay calm and trust yourself. You've got this."

Yuuki looked down, her cheeks tinting a soft pink. "Th-thank you, Midoriya..." she mumbled, a little more reassured.

Bakugo, who had been standing slightly behind the group with his hands shoved in his pockets, suddenly spoke up with his usual sharp tone. "Tch. Stop worrying so much. It's just a test. I can't wait to fight and crush everyone. This'll be fun." His grin was fierce, that usual spark of competitiveness lighting up in his eyes.

Kaminari groaned, slouching a little. "Man, that's Bakugo for you. He says that like we're not all about to get wrecked."

Kirishima chuckled and clapped Kaminari on the back. "He's just pumped up! That's how Bakugo gets ready—by yelling and acting all fired up!"

Bakugo whipped his head toward them, his glare sharp. "I heard that! You extras better watch it before I make you my warm-up!"

"See?" Kaminari said, half-laughing, half-wincing. "Exactly like that."

Everyone laughed lightly at the exchange, the morning feeling a little more normal despite the looming exams. Yuuki giggled softly behind her hand, glancing up at Bakugo with a small, shy smile. For a second, Bakugo caught her looking and immediately turned his head with a scoff, muttering something under his breath. Kirishima elbowed him playfully, whispering something about how someone's already nervous enough, and Bakugo growled in response, earning more laughter from the group.

As they began walking toward the training grounds together, the chatter and teasing continued. Yuuki stayed close to Uraraka and Mina, who were excitedly talking about what the training might include, while Midoriya and Todoroki discussed strategy in calm tones. Bakugo walked slightly ahead, hands still in his pockets, pretending not to listen—but every so often, his crimson eyes flicked back to where Yuuki was walking, watching her just long enough to make sure she wasn't lagging behind.

•••

The air was buzzing with energy — the kind that always came before something big. The students were already filing in, voices overlapping in friendly chatter. Yuuki entered quietly, holding her books close to her chest. She looked adorable in her pastel pink pullover long sleeve and her favorite jeans, paired with those comfy pink sneakers she loved. Her hair was neatly brushed, and she wore a small smile even though she was nervous.

She sat down beside Uraraka and Mina, who were already in the middle of an excited conversation about the practical exams. Kaminari was draped over his chair, yawning, while Kirishima and Sero were comparing notes about their quirks and battle strategies. Mr. Aizawa hadn't shown up yet, which gave the class free rein to talk as much as they wanted.

"So," Mina began with a grin, spinning in her chair to face everyone, "who else is stressing about the exams today? Because I am definitely stressing."

Kirishima laughed. "You'll be fine, Mina. You're always pumped up when we train."

"Yeah, but this time it's official!" Mina said dramatically. "What if they make us spar against the teachers again?"

"That'd be awesome!" Kirishima grinned, flexing an arm. "Man, I'd love another match against Bakugo—"

"Like you'd even last thirty seconds, you dumb rock head," Bakugo cut in from his seat near the window, his usual scowl on his face. "Focus on passing before you start running your mouth."

Kirishima chuckled, unbothered. "See, that's the Bakugo we all know and love."

Bakugo scoffed, muttering something under his breath that made Kaminari laugh quietly.

Meanwhile, Midoriya had his notebook open and was already jotting things down. He looked up thoughtfully and said, "You know, after the exams, maybe we should all check our hero costumes. Some of us might need upgrades."

That got everyone talking. Jirou mentioned adjusting the sound output of her equipment, and Iida talked about reinforcing his armor for better speed regulation. The room filled with ideas and discussions, everyone excitedly sharing what they'd like to change or improve.

Then, Midoriya turned toward Yuuki with a curious smile. "What about you, Yuuki? How's your hero costume holding up?"

Yuuki froze mid-sip of water, blinking wide-eyed like a startled kitten. She set her cup down carefully and fidgeted with her sleeves. "U-Um... I... I don't really have one..." she admitted softly.

The entire group went silent for a moment before Uraraka blinked. "Oh yeah! I remember when you joined, you didn't want a costume yet."

Yuuki nodded shyly, glancing down at her desk. "I-I just... didn't think I needed one. I'm not really good at using my quirk yet. I've never... really used it that much."

Mina gasped, leaning over her desk. "Wait, what?! You don't have a hero costume? That's so sad! You have to get one now! We should totally talk to the support department and design something for you!" she said with her usual spark of excitement.

Yuuki blushed, holding up her hands nervously. "O-Oh, I don't know... I wouldn't even know what to pick..."

Todoroki, who had been quiet until now, turned his gaze toward her, his mismatched eyes calm but curious. "If you rarely use your quirk, what exactly is it?" he asked. "I've only seen you in training a few times, but you never activated it."

The classroom quieted again as everyone turned toward Yuuki. She looked overwhelmed under all the attention, her fingers nervously twisting the end of her sleeve. "Um... well... I-It's kind of complicated... it's... um..." she mumbled, her words barely audible.

Bakugo suddenly slammed his hands on the desk, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. "Oi! Speak up, would ya? No one can hear when you talk like a damn mouse!"

Yuuki jumped, her eyes wide as she flinched slightly. "S-sorry!" she said instinctively, her voice still small but now trembling.

Uraraka frowned and turned to Bakugo. "Kacchan! You didn't have to yell at her!"

Bakugo glared. "I wasn't yelling! I was telling her to use her voice! If she's gonna be a hero, she can't mumble through everything!"

Midoriya sighed softly, scratching the back of his neck. "He... kinda has a point," he admitted awkwardly. "But maybe say it a little nicer next time?"

Mina huffed, crossing her arms. "You don't teach confidence by scaring it out of someone, Bakugo!"

Bakugo just grunted and looked away, muttering something under his breath.

The room went silent again. Even Kaminari stopped messing with his phone. All eyes turned to Yuuki.

Yuuki fidgeted with her sleeves, her heart hammering in her chest. "Um... it's... called Tender Pulse," she began softly.

Bakugo tilted his head, frowning. "Tender what now?"

Yuuki took a shaky breath and continued. "It's a quirk that... reacts to my emotions. The stronger my feelings get — like if I'm scared, sad, angry, or even happy — my power grows stronger. The energy it creates becomes so powerful that... it can match All Might's strength if I get too overwhelmed."

The room exploded with gasps.

"Wait—what?!" Mina practically shouted, slamming her hands on the desk. "Like All Might levels of power?!"

Midoriya's pencil snapped in half. "That's incredible! That kind of quirk—! If your power scales with emotion, then your energy output could—"

"—also be dangerous," Yuuki cut in softly, fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve again. "That's... why I don't use it. It's a double-edged sword. The stronger my emotions get, the more powerful my quirk becomes — but the harder it is for me to control it. If I lose focus, I could hurt someone without meaning to."

The room went quiet again, but this time with awe instead of awkwardness.

Yaoyorozu placed a hand on her chin thoughtfully. "That's an incredibly complex quirk. You must have to maintain constant emotional balance to use it properly."

Kaminari blinked in disbelief. "So basically, if you get emotional enough, you go full All Might mode? That's insane! Dude, that's so cool!"

Yuuki blushed, hiding behind her hands. "I-I don't think it's that cool... it's actually really scary sometimes."

Bakugo's chair screeched as he suddenly stood up, arms crossed. "So let me get this straight," he said, his tone sharp but intrigued. "You've got this monster-level power sitting in you and you've just been too scared to use it?"

Uraraka frowned immediately. "Bakugo, don't say it like that!"

But Yuuki shook her head quickly. "N-No, he's right... I am scared. I've... lost control before." Her voice softened, eyes growing distant. "When I was little, I got upset and... I accidentally caused a lot of damage. That's why I don't use it unless I have to."

The class fell silent again, the energy in the room shifting to quiet understanding.

Midoriya leaned forward gently. "That must've been hard... but Yuuki, that kind of quirk has so much potential. You could be one of the strongest heroes out there."

Mina smiled brightly again, trying to lighten the mood. "Yeah! Imagine it — Yuuki with a hero costume, glowing with her power, totally unstoppable!"

"Now that's a sight I wanna see," Kirishima added with a grin.

Yuuki giggled shyly, cheeks rosy. "I-I don't know if I could ever look unstoppable..."

Bakugo clicked his tongue, glaring halfheartedly at her. "Tch. You've already got that power, dumbass. You just need to learn how to control it. Stop acting like you're weak."

Yuuki blinked, eyes wide, and then gave a small smile. "Th-thank you, Bakugo..."

He looked away quickly, his face slightly pink. "Whatever. Don't make me repeat it."

The bell rang, signaling the start of class. Aizawa walked in with his usual tired expression, holding a clipboard.

"Alright, everyone, settle down," he said, sipping from his coffee. "Today's focus is the practical exam evaluations. I hope you're ready to show me what you've learned."

As the students scrambled to get ready, Yuuki took a deep breath, her heart still racing from earlier.