End of The First Semester

" Midoriya, sorry, we couldn't watch your match yesterday", Sora apologized to a rather back-bent Midoriya the next day.

" Ah, it's fine. I didn't expect you to make it in time to watch it anyway, not with your injury," he answered.

" Is your back okay?" Yuu tilted his head seeing the boy's bent posture.

" I had All Might ramming into me yesterday..." Midoriya scratched the back of his head while Sora and Yuu winced in pain. Just imagining it was painful.

" And I was complaining about Vlad-sensei..."

" Those teachers are monsters, I tell you!" Whisper piped, only for Yuu to squeeze his head between his hands.

" Whisper! If you continue insulting teachers we'll be expelled!"

" Anywho..." Sora pointed at the front of the class with a lopsided smile. " Is it me or is it gloomy over there?"

True, those who failed the practical exam all had glum complexions. Ashido for once was crying as she told them she was looking forward to hearing from their camp journey.

Midoriya tried to calm them down only for his eyes to be transfixed by Kaminari's fingers.

Just about that time the door slid open, leading in their teacher. How they were able to assume their seats that fast was beyond them.

However, Aizawa brought the most interesting news so far. Even those who had failed their tests will be allowed to attend the training camp. It was all thanks to them not failing the written exam. " Good for you, Mina-chan."

He then explicated how they, teachers pretending to be villains, made sure to leave them ways to pass, saying that trying seriously to crush them and the failures won't go to the camp training was all a ' rational falsehood '.

Yuu was wrestling a furious fuming red Whisper by that moment. " The world would be better without your rational falsehoods!!"

Iida shuddered in his spot. " I was tricked again! As expected of UA!" He shot up abruptly, his head raised high. " However, since you lied to us twice, our faith in you will waver!"

" Twice?! It was too many times actually!" Whisper objected.

Their teacher's answer to that was that he was going to consider it. However, he firmly stated that all who failed will have extra lessons, harder ones.

Sora sweat dropped at how their mood switched on a whim. Aizawa-sensei... really knows how to hit where it hurts...

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" Shirogane-san, are you heading to the infirmary right now?" Midoriya asked as he approached her.

" Yeah. Recovery Girl still has healing to do." She placed her left hand on her right side. " To be honest it is still quite painful."

" Then, let's go together, as you see..." There was no need to continue for her to understand. Before they could leave, Iida and Yaoyorozu distributed training camp guides for everyone. Sora skimmed through it. It offered details and information about the camp as well as what they may need.

" We have a lot of shopping to do," she said looking back at Yuu. It was then that Hagakure suggested going out to shop together during the weekend.

The whole class except Bakugo agreed. Todoroki had to go visit his mother so he also passed.

" That sounds fun. It's been a while since I went shopping with friends." Sora was grinning from ear to ear.

" It's my first time though, going out with friends," Yuu muttered.

" You're excited, aren't you?" Smirked Whisper.

" I'm looking forward to it," He answered, a small smile on his face.

" Well then, the whole of class A is shopping together this Sunday!" Sora pumped up her right fist only for her face to contort in pain, hunching over to subdue the burning sensation. " But first... I need to go to the infirmary..."

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  The next day, all of them gathered in front of the shopping mall. " It's swarming with people," Yuu noted.

" Seems it's rather famous," Sora suggested.

Midoriya was murmuring while taking in the displayed goods before Tokoyami told him off for scaring the kids. Sora was surprised when a few people recognized them from the sports festival, making her realize again that all of Japan had been staring at them, literally for hours that day. 

Since everyone wanted different things, they split up and agreed on meeting in the central area around 3 o'clock.

Sora and Yuu ended up going with Iida and Yaoyorozu. " I think I need a new backpack. My current one is pretty old. Also, a water bottle and some new shoes." Sora ticked a list with her fingers. " What about you guys?"

" I will need new shoes as well. Thinking about it, a new pair is better." Iida pointed.

" I will be needing some insect repellent." Yaoyorozu tapped her chin. " Also sun cream."

" Seijin-kun, any special requests?" Iida pointed both hands at him.

The boy thought about it. " First I will need a carry bag too. Also, maybe a flashlight, just in case..."

" What do you mean, just in case?" Whisper gave him a pointed look and Yuu gulped.

"What about you Whisper-san?" Yaoyorozu asked curiously. " Don't spirits need anything in thier physical forms?"

" Nope, I require nothing."

" Very well then, our first stop will be for the bags." Sora pointed at a shop not far from them. " Alright?"

They all made sounds of approval.

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" Eh! Midoriya was... By a Villain..." Sora couldn't form a coherent phrase when Kirishima came to fetch them up.

Their shopping day was cut short when they had to shut down the place to search for the escapee Villain.

" Midoriya! You alright?!" Everyone was rather worried. It didn't help to see him clutching his neck. " Were you hurt?!"

" Ah, no... It's just..." He couldn't explain it. But Sora could understand just from his aura. He was somewhat afraid.

In the end, the police had taken whatever information they could from them before sending them home. Midoriya was held back for further investigation.

Who could have thought a shopping day would end like that? Maybe Monoma was right. We kind of attract trouble, our class. Speak of Gryffindor. She half-joked.

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They finally were sitting down for the Closing Ceremony of the 1st semester. However, while Nezu was giving his speech, Sora couldn't bring herself to register a word of his. Her mind was still hanging at the close call her friend had a few days ago. Having a villain grasp him by the throat, literally, escaping death by a hair's breadth, it was too much. And that could have happened to any of them.

There was evil lurking around, waiting for the best moment to launch on them. That much she could tell. Her friends would be placed in danger at a certain point. 

Her hands clutched her skirt tightly at that idea. She didn't want to be useless again. She didn't want to end up watching while her friends were endangered in from of her eyes again. She still has a long way to go, but she was definitely getting stronger, so she can protect everyone else.

" Finally, I want you all to remember what you have been through this semester." Sora looked up at those very words. " Many of you had faced great obstacles, yet that you managed to get through. I want you to learn from these experiences and hone your skills even more. For those who couldn't get through, don't let it stomp you down. Remember that feeling of frustration and make it into a spur for you to advance."

Nezu's eyes glinted as he looked at each and every one of their faces. " We're definitely not going backward, and we can't stay stuck in one place forever. Always aim higher. Go beyond: Plus Ultra! That's all!"

There was a round of feverish applause from all of them. Sora smiled as those words sank in. " That's right. The path in front of us is still long after all. And all we could do, is embrace it with a Plus Ultra."