Win Or Save?

Goodness, I've made MHA a little too emotional with that last chapter... a shame I'm gonna do it far worse in the future.

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As the sun crept over the horizon, casting long shadows across the streets, students began making their way to U.A. High. Except for one student, who was already there.

Kurokami Tenshin had been awake long before dawn. At his house, he had been training intensely, smashing his training dummies and causing so much noise that he had to stop out of consideration for his neighbors. Being too nice has its downsides, he thought with a chuckle.1

But here, at the Support Course Lab, there was no need to worry about waking anyone. It was a paradise for someone like Kuro, filled with all the tools, space, and freedom he needed. A perfect place to train.

Kuro stood in the workshop, beads of sweat dripping from his forehead, his mind focused as he practiced. His quirk, Ki, had evolved, and with it, his body. Lately, Kuro noticed something new—he required less and less sleep.2

At first, he thought he was developing insomnia, but he soon realized it wasn't that. As his body grew stronger, his stamina increased, and his need for rest seemed to diminish. One day, I might not even need sleep at all. Maybe I could go a whole week without it.

But that probably wouldn't be healthy, Kuro mused, smiling to himself. Sleep is important for a growing hero.

The sun's rays filtered through the windows, signaling the beginning of another day. Kuro remembered Power Loader's words about locking up, so he went around securing every door in the lab. That's when he stumbled upon Mei Hatsume, fast asleep amidst piles of blueprints and tools, seemingly unbothered by the chaos around her.

"Guess she does live here," Kuro muttered, locking the last door with a chuckle.

Kuro sped through the halls of U.A., making his way to Class 1-A before anyone else. The school was still quiet, and as he entered the classroom, he noticed one familiar presence—Aizawa, his homeroom teacher, wrapped up in his iconic yellow sleeping bag, snoozing away in a corner.

The room was empty otherwise. With nothing to do and time to kill, Kuro decided it was the perfect opportunity for a bit more training.

Kuro walked up the wall effortlessly, thanks to his Ki-enhanced agility, and sat cross-legged on the ceiling. He closed his eyes and began meditating, focusing on his quirk. Meditation had become an essential part of Kuro's training, helping him sharpen his control over his Ki.

It allowed him to feel his energy flow, and to focus on condensing and enhancing it. He had mastered how to switch between Base form and Condense mode—where he could channel his Ki into specific areas for powerful strikes.

But today, he wanted to push it further. He wanted to combine his forms, merging the focus of Condense with the overall enhancement of Base. It was dangerous, though—if he overused his Ki, his body would be left in a weakened state, his muscles completely drained.

Still, if I can master this… it'll be worth it, Kuro thought, deep in concentration.

By the time 8:00 AM rolled around, the school was starting to come alive, though most students wouldn't arrive until closer to 8:30. However, punctual as always, Tenya Iida walked into the classroom right on time. He entered quietly, not wanting to disturb the sleeping Aizawa, and sat down in his seat.

But something felt… off. Iida's instincts kicked in as he scanned the room, his eyes finally landing on Kuro, who was calmly meditating on the ceiling.

Iida's eyes widened slightly. How long has he been up there? he wondered though he was no longer surprised by Kuro's unusual antics. As Iida stared, Kuro opened his eyes and, with a nearly soundless impact, leaped down from the ceiling.

"Morning, Iida!" Kuro waved excitedly, his energy as infectious as ever. "What do you think a Class President does all day?" While it's just to be freer in his movement, he does need to do that part.

Iida, who had already regained his composure, adjusted his glasses. "That depends on the task, Kuro. You don't have to worry about the day-to-day specifics—I can handle those. Scheduling, organizing class duties, and maintaining order… that's my areas of expertise. But when it comes to battle or practical exercises, I'll gladly defer to your insight."

Kuro tilted his head, intrigued. "My insight? What do you mean?"

Iida stood up, gesturing with his hand. "You had the highest score in the rescue points section of the Entrance Exam. Your ability to think quickly and act selflessly in a crisis is impressive, even if your methods are… unorthodox." He gave a small smile, clearly amused by Kuro's carefree nature.

Kuro blinked as if remembering. "Oh, right! I forgot about that. Thanks for reminding me, Iida! That means I don't have to do as much work, huh?"

Iida sighed, shaking his head. "You always seem to take things lightly. But if that's how you work best, then so be it."

Then, after a pause, Iida asked something that had been on his mind for a while. "Kuro… what's the point of your strength?"

Kuro blinked again, confused. "Huh? What do you mean by that?"

Iida crossed his arms, looking thoughtful. "You're incredibly strong, that much is obvious. But you don't seem very… heroic. Your approach is more like that of a child with boundless enthusiasm. What drives you? Why do you want to become a hero?"

Kuro smiled brightly and, with a hint of mischief, replied, "I'm very mature, you know. But honestly, I don't want to be a hero. I just like helping people." He said it so matter-of-factly that it almost sounded too simple.

Iida sighed again, though this time there was a touch of admiration in his tone. "That's… a rather innocent perspective. But I suppose it's a relief that people like you, with such strong quirks, are born with a desire to help."

Kuro grinned widely. "Hey, that's not very logical of you, Iida! You're usually more precise with your thoughts."

Realizing the truth of Kuro's words, Iida straightened up. "You're right… I must be getting swept up in your infectious enthusiasm. Regardless, it's good to know that even with your carefree attitude, you take your role seriously when it counts."

Kuro chuckled, clapping Iida on the back. "Don't worry about it, Iida! We'll make a great team."

...

Kuro and Iida were deep in a spirited discussion when Momo Yaoyorozu quietly walked into the room. She, too, noticed Aizawa sleeping in his bag and carefully tiptoed past him, making sure not to disturb the pro hero.

As Momo reached her seat, she gave a small sigh, feeling a twinge of guilt. I should be acting more like a proper Vice President, she thought. Both of them are already here, probably discussing how to guide the class, and I'm only just arriving.

However, her concern quickly dissipated as she overheard their conversation.

"I'm telling you, All Might's going to teach today!" Kuro declared confidently, his hands waving in the air for emphasis.

Iida shook his head, pushing up his glasses. "That's highly unlikely, Kuro. As the No.1 Hero, All Might's duties extend far beyond teaching a class. He may be busy with hero work. It's impractical for him to teach during the first week of school."

Kuro was about to retort when he noticed Momo. "Yo!" he said brightly, raising his hand in his usual peace symbol, thumb out as well.

Momo offered a small, nervous smile and replied, "Hello," before taking her seat. She could sense the energy between the two, and it was clear that their conversation wasn't quite as formal as she had initially assumed.

Iida, ever the perceptive one, sensed the slight tension in the air. We should focus on something productive, he thought. "Since we're all here," Iida began, his voice calm and professional, "what class activity do you think would help the students bond better as an icebreaker?"

Kuro's eyes lit up, immediately raised his hand with excitement. "Sparring! Nothing gets people closer than fighting!"

Momo frowned slightly. Sparring? She wasn't particularly fond of the idea of fighting her classmates for the sake of bonding. She preferred a more intellectual approach. "What about studying?" Momo suggested. "We could have group study sessions. It would help us get to know each other while improving our academic skills."

Kuro gave a mock groan. "Studying? That's boring!"

Iida, seeing both perspectives, raised his hand to mediate. "Perhaps we can combine both ideas. We could create specialized teams based on compatibility—groups that balance strength, intelligence, and quirks. That way, we could have a mix of sparring and studying, depending on the team's focus."

Kuro gave a thumbs down, pouting slightly. "Eh, that's a decent idea, but I was hoping for some one-on-one action. Can't we just fight?"

Momo couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at Kuro's childish enthusiasm. For someone with so much power, he certainly doesn't act like it, she thought. But at the same time, his carefree nature was oddly refreshing. "I do think Iida's suggestion is more balanced," Momo added. "It allows us to work together, which is crucial for building trust in a class like ours."

Kuro sighed dramatically but eventually nodded. "Alright, alright. I guess that works."

As the three continued discussing, Momo hesitated for a moment before offering another suggestion. "We could do this at my house… I have plenty of space, and it might be a more relaxed environment than the school."

Kuro's eyes widened as he started connecting the dots. Momo Yaoyorozu… is rich. Her calm demeanor and the casual way she mentioned her home made it obvious. His mind raced through the possibilities, imagining some grand mansion. "That sounds cool," Kuro said, though his curiosity was piqued. How rich is she exactly?3

Iida, however, was more pragmatic. "While your offer is generous, Momo, it may be better to conduct our first group activity at U.A. It's more familiar to the class, and it might be less intimidating for some students. Plus, the school has all the necessary resources."

Momo nodded thoughtfully. "You're right. U.A. is probably the better choice for now."

Kuro jumped in, still not giving up on his idea entirely. "Alright, then we'll have three teams! Unless, you know, we want to elect a fourth team leader. That could make things more interesting."

Momo, ever the strategic thinker, considered the proposal carefully. She didn't want the class to feel like the newly elected President and Vice Presidents were just choosing their favorites for team leaders. That could cause unnecessary division. "I think three teams are sufficient for now. We don't want to seem like we're being too exclusive."

Iida agreed. "Yes, three teams should work well. It's a manageable number, and it allows us to evenly distribute our classmates without overwhelming anyone."

Kuro shrugged his usual carefree smile back in place. "Sure, three teams it is. But I'm leading the sparring team!"

Momo smiled at Kuro's enthusiasm and nodded. "And I'll handle the study group."

Iida looked satisfied with the arrangement. "Good. That leaves me to coordinate the practical exercises and ensure everything runs smoothly. Together, we'll be able to guide the class effectively."

Kuro leaned back in his chair, arms behind his head, and grinned. "Looks like we've got it all figured out!"

...

As the rest of Class 1-A slowly filtered in, the usual energy and chatter filled the room. But for Izuku Midoriya, something felt off. After entering the classroom, his eyes immediately found Bakugo, who sat a few seats away, silently focused on something in his hands. Kacchan...

Izuku hesitated, then took a deep breath and walked over, trying to act as if nothing had happened. "H-Hey, Kacchan," he stammered, his voice full of forced cheerfulness.

Bakugo slowly lifted his head, his face devoid of the usual scowl or explosive energy. His expression was so blank, so emotionless, so so...lifeless that for a split second, Izuku wondered if he was looking at someone else entirely. But it was Bakugo—his sharp eyes were unmistakable.

Without a word, Bakugo lowered his head again, continuing to focus on a small metal ball in his hand. He was using his quirk to slowly heat it, a tiny flame flickering from his palm as he tried to melt the metal without creating an explosion.

Izuku stood there for a moment, unsure of what to say. The weight of the previous night's confrontation hung between them, unresolved. He was about to say something, anything, to break the silence, but before he could, Ochaco leaned over from her seat.

"Hey, Deku," she whispered, noticing the tension in his body. "Is something wrong?"

Izuku quickly shook his head, forcing a smile. "No, no, everything's fine. Kacchan's just... tired. That's all."

Ochaco, though still slightly suspicious, accepted his explanation with a shrug. "Well, okay. I guess everyone's a little worn out."

Meanwhile, Iida, ever the sharp observer, frowned as he glanced between Izuku and Bakugo. He leaned toward Kuro, who was sitting cross-legged in his usual meditation pose.

"Kuro," Iida began quietly, "have you noticed anything strange about Bakugo?"

Kuro, sensing Iida's unease, opened one eye and glanced toward Bakugo. For a moment, their eyes met. Bakugo, sensing the attention, turned his head and created a small explosion in his hand, a silent challenge as always.4

Kuro, unbothered, smirked. "Nah, nothing too different. He's a bit more somber, I guess. But he's still eager to kill me, as usual." He chuckled at his bluntness, causing Iida to sigh in exasperation.

"I suppose that's true," Iida muttered, shaking his head. Why does Kuro always put things so simply?

Across the room, Denki Kaminari, the ever-energetic boy with yellow hair and a striking black streak through it, leaned back in his seat and called out to no one in particular, "So... who's teaching us today?"

The class buzzed with speculation, but before anyone could offer an answer, Aizawa stirred in his sleeping bag, sitting up with a groggy expression. His bloodshot eyes briefly scanned the room before he muttered, "Someone you'll love..." Then, with an irritated grunt, he stood up and unceremoniously left the classroom, his messy hair trailing behind him like a storm cloud.5

The students exchanged confused glances, wondering what Aizawa had meant. The chatter grew louder as they debated who might be teaching them.

But then the door burst open with a dramatic slam, and a booming voice filled the room.

"I AM HERE!"

The entire class turned to see none other than All Might standing in the doorway, his signature wide grin plastered across his face, his massive frame filling the entrance with a powerful presence.

Excitement rippled through the classroom at the sight of the No.1 Hero, and several students audibly gasped. Iida, however, was less thrilled. His eyes widened as he remembered the conversation earlier with Kuro. I can't believe it...

"Kuro was right," Iida muttered under his breath, looking both impressed and annoyed. He reached into his pocket and pulled out 2,000 yen, the result of a small bet he had made with Kuro earlier about whether All Might would show up. He handed the money to Kuro, who accepted it with a smug grin.

"See? I told you!" Kuro stuck out his tongue playfully. "Guess I'm 20 bucks richer now."

Iida sighed, feeling both the sting of losing the bet and the absurdity of betting on something like this in the first place. "Yes, well... I should have known better than to underestimate your luck."

Kuro gave him a thumbs up, the money tucked away in his pocket. "Don't worry, Iida. I'll use it to buy something cool for the class. Maybe sparring gloves!"

Iida sighed again. "Let's... think about more productive things, shall we?"

Meanwhile, All Might stepped into the classroom, his booming energy as infectious as always. He raised his arms, his grin never faltering.

"Good morning, Class 1-A!" he bellowed, his voice full of enthusiasm. "Today, we'll be diving into a very important part of hero training! Are you ready?!"

The class erupted in cheers, with most students too caught up in the excitement to focus on anything else. Even Bakugo, who had been silently stewing in his thoughts moments ago, was drawn back by All Might's entrance, his eyes narrowing with intensity.

This is it, Izuku thought, his heart pounding in his chest. Training under All Might... It's finally happening.

...

All Might stood at the front of the classroom, his imposing figure capturing the attention of every student. With his trademark grin and booming voice, he announced, "Today, we'll be doing practice matches! A hero-vs-villain scenario!"

The class buzzed with excitement as All Might explained the rules.

"You'll be working in teams of two," he continued. "Villains must protect a bomb, and heroes must try to capture it. The objective is simple: heroes need to touch the bomb to win, while villains can either defeat the heroes or let 15 minutes pass to claim victory. But there's a catch—if the bomb is destroyed, both teams lose, because, in real life, that would mean certain death!"

The students leaned in, fully invested now.

All Might then held up a roll of tape. "Each team will be given capture tape. If someone ties you up with it, you're out of the game! So use it wisely."

Finally, All Might added the last twist. "Oh, and one more thing... all teams are randomized! You won't know who you're working with—or against—until the matches begin! Now, get into your hero suits. You're heroes and villains from now on!"

Kuro's Suit Retrieval

As the class got up to head to Ground Beta, the excitement and tension in the air were palpable. Kuro stretched, his mind racing back to the Support Course and his meeting with Mei Hatsume. I still need to get my suit from her, Kuro thought, suppressing a shiver as memories of their first encounter flashed through his mind.

Meanwhile, Bakugo walked over to him, stretching casually. "I'll finish off whatever opponents I get in less than five minutes," he said with complete confidence, his usual cocky smirk in place.

Kuro grinned back, accepting the challenge. "Oh yeah? Let's see if you can keep that promise, Bakugo."

Iida, overhearing the exchange, sighed and shook his head. "Do you always have to turn everything into a competition?"

As Kuro headed out, Izuku couldn't help but feel a twinge of relief. At least Kacchan's happy with other people, he thought. Even if he still won't talk to me...

Mei's Trap

Kuro made his way over to the Support Course lab, mentally preparing himself for whatever chaos Mei might have caused this time. As he opened the door, he was greeted by the sight of Mei Hatsume tangled up in a mess of rope. Mei, who had one arm free, waved enthusiastically as if everything were perfectly normal.

"Hey, Kuro! You're just in time!" she said, her voice muffled slightly by the ropes constricting her.

Kuro let out a long sigh, grabbing a sharp piece of metal from a nearby workbench to cut her free. "Mei... what are you doing this time?"

"I was testing out my newest 'baby'—the Rope Trap!" Mei said proudly. "It works like a charm! Well, at least on me..."

Kuro was about to retort, but then paused, considering it. That trap could be effective for certain heroes. Not me, but... He shook his head, reminding himself why he was here. "Right. Anyway, I'm here for my suit."

Mei, who had been eyeing the ropes as if considering getting herself tangled again, suddenly remembered. "Oh, right! Your suit! Just give me a second."

She darted off into the depths of the lab and returned quickly, holding up Kuro's new hero outfit. It was a sleek, long black coat that looked more like a raincoat, complete with multiple pockets. Its appearance was plain and minimalist—nothing flashy or overly complex. Mei had originally wanted to add a lot more bells and whistles, including a self-destruct function, but Kuro had vetoed all of that.

"Here it is! It's got the weights we made integrated into the design," Mei said excitedly, her eyes gleaming. "In terms of functionality, this one's my favorite baby! I even think of it as our baby, Kuro!"

Kuro's face flushed slightly, his body shivering at the memory of their first meeting. Nope. Not like that phrasing. He quickly put on the coat, feeling the familiar weight settle over his body. "Thanks, Mei. I'll be going now."

Mei tilted her head, confused by his quick exit. "Why are you leaving so soon? We could make more 'babies' together!"

Kuro nearly bolted out the door, waving her off. "Nope, no more babies. I'll see you later!"

Mei shrugged, completely unfazed, and turned back to her workstation, already tinkering with her next invention—the rope trap.

Heading to Ground Beta

Kuro arrived back at Ground Beta, now dressed in his hero suit. As he rejoined the rest of the class, the sight of the other students in their respective costumes filled the air with excitement. Everyone looked ready for their first real test as heroes and villains.

Izuku stood nervously in his green suit, fidgeting with his gloves. Ochaco, in her pink-and-black suit, waved at him encouragingly. Bakugo's aggressive outfit reflected his intense personality, complete with grenade-like gauntlets designed to amplify his explosions.

All Might stood at the center of the training ground, radiating energy and charisma as he prepared to announce the first round of matches. His booming voice echoed through the area. "Now that everyone's ready, let's begin the hero-vs-villain exercise! Remember, this is not just about winning—it's about how well you play your role! Give it your all!"

Kuro stretched, feeling the weight of his coat and the hidden mechanisms designed by Mei. This is it. Time to see how the suit holds up in a real fight.

He glanced over at Bakugo, who was cracking his knuckles with a devilish grin. "This'll be over before it starts," Bakugo muttered under his breath.

Kuro smirked back. Not if I can help it, Bakugo.

...

All Might stood at the front of the classroom, his imposing figure capturing the attention of every student. With his trademark grin and booming voice, he announced, "Today, we'll be doing practice matches! A hero-vs-villain scenario!"

The class buzzed with excitement as All Might explained the rules.

"You'll be working in teams of two," he continued. "Villains must protect a bomb, and heroes must try to capture it. The objective is simple: heroes need to touch the bomb to win, while villains can either defeat the heroes or let 15 minutes pass to claim victory. But there's a catch—if the bomb is destroyed, both teams lose, because, in real life, that would mean certain death!"

The students leaned in, fully invested now.

All Might then held up a roll of tape. "Each team will be given capture tape. If someone ties you up with it, you're out of the game! So use it wisely."

Finally, All Might added the last twist. "Oh, and one more thing... all teams are randomized! You won't know who you're working with—or against—until the matches begin! Now, get into your hero suits. You're heroes and villains from now on!"

Kuro's Suit Retrieval

As the class got up to head to Ground Beta, the excitement and tension in the air were palpable. Kuro stretched, his mind racing back to the Support Course and his meeting with Mei Hatsume. I still need to get my suit from her, Kuro thought, suppressing a shiver as memories of their first encounter flashed through his mind.

Meanwhile, Bakugo walked over to him, stretching casually. "I'll finish off whatever opponents I get in less than five minutes," he said with complete confidence, his usual cocky smirk in place.

Kuro grinned back, accepting the challenge. "Oh yeah? Let's see if you can keep that promise, Bakugo."

Iida, overhearing the exchange, sighed and shook his head. "Do you always have to turn everything into a competition?"

As Kuro headed out, Izuku couldn't help but feel a twinge of relief. At least Kacchan's happy with other people, he thought. Even if he still won't talk to me...

Kuro made his way over to the Support Course lab, mentally preparing himself for whatever chaos Mei might have caused this time. As he opened the door, he was greeted by the sight of Mei Hatsume tangled up in a mess of rope. Mei, who had one arm free, waved enthusiastically as if everything were perfectly normal.

"Hey, Kuro! You're just in time!" she said, her voice muffled slightly by the ropes constricting her.

Kuro let out a long sigh, grabbing a sharp piece of metal from a nearby workbench to cut her free. "Mei... what are you doing this time?"

"I was testing out my newest 'baby'—the Rope Trap!" Mei said proudly. "It works like a charm! Well, at least on me..."

Kuro was about to retort, but then paused, considering it. That trap could be effective for certain heroes. Not me, but... He shook his head, reminding himself why he was here. "Right. Anyway, I'm here for my suit."

Mei, who had been eyeing the ropes as if considering getting herself tangled again, suddenly remembered. "Oh, right! Your suit! Just give me a second."

She darted off into the depths of the lab and returned quickly, holding up Kuro's new hero outfit. It was a sleek, long black coat that looked more like a raincoat, complete with multiple pockets.

Its appearance was plain and minimalist—nothing flashy or overly complex. Mei had originally wanted to add a lot more bells and whistles, including a self-destruct function, but Kuro had vetoed all of that.

"Here it is! It's got the weights we made integrated into the design," Mei said excitedly, her eyes gleaming. "In terms of functionality, this one's my favorite baby! I even think of it as our baby, Kuro!"

Kuro's face flushed slightly, his body shivering at the memory of their first meeting. Nope. Not like that phrasing. He quickly put on the coat, feeling the familiar weight settle over his body. "Thanks, Mei. I'll be going now."

Mei tilted her head, confused by his quick exit. "Why are you leaving so soon? We could make more 'babies' together!"

Kuro nearly bolted out the door, waving her off. "Nope, no more babies. I'll see you later!"6

Mei shrugged, completely unfazed, and turned back to her workstation, already tinkering with her invention—the rope trap.

Kuro arrived back at Ground Beta, now dressed in his hero suit. As he rejoined the rest of the class, the sight of the other students in their respective costumes filled the air with excitement. Everyone looked ready for their first real test as heroes and villains.

Izuku stood nervously in his green suit, fidgeting with his gloves. Ochaco, in her pink-and-black suit, waved at him encouragingly. Bakugo's aggressive outfit reflected his intense personality, complete with grenade-like gauntlets designed to amplify his explosions.

All Might stood at the center of the training ground, radiating energy and charisma as he prepared to announce the first round of matches. His booming voice echoed through the area. "Now that everyone's ready, let's begin the hero-vs-villain exercise! Remember, this is not just about winning—it's about how well you play your role! Give it your all!"

Kuro stretched, feeling the weight of his coat and the hidden mechanisms designed by Mei. This is it. Time to see how the suit holds up in a real fight.

He glanced over at Bakugo, who was cracking his knuckles with a devilish grin. "This'll be over before it starts," Bakugo muttered under his breath.

Kuro smirked back. Not if I can help it, Bakugo.

...

As the class gathered outside Ground Beta, the students adjusted their hero suits and chatted, filling the air with excitement and a bit of nervous energy.

Ochaco, adjusting her pink-and-black suit, turned to Izuku with a curious smile. "Hey, Deku, how did you decide on your suit design? It looks cool!"

Izuku, a little flustered by the compliment, rubbed the back of his head. "Oh, uh, my mom made it for me. She didn't believe in my dream at first... but once I got accepted into U.A., she wanted to support me, so she made this."

Ochaco's smile widened. "That's so sweet of her! You can tell she put a lot of love into it."

Izuku nodded, feeling a bit emotional as he glanced down at the green suit his mother had made. "Yeah... she did."

Ochaco then gestured to her outfit. "I just picked my favorite colors for mine. Pink's always been my go-to."

Izuku nodded, admiring her cheerful attitude before his eyes wandered to Bakugo. His outfit was as intense as his personality—black, orange, and those grenade gauntlets that amplified his explosions. Kacchan's favorite colors... Izuku thought.

Meanwhile, Kuro stood nearby in his long, black coat. The coat was oversized and swallowed up part of his face, covering his mouth and giving him a rather mysterious, almost comical look. Iida, always the stickler for hero professionalism, could only stare at Kuro's suit with a mix of confusion and disappointment.

"Kuro..." Iida started, adjusting his glasses, "While I respect your choice in costume, that coat... it's much too big. You look like a child playing dress-up rather than a hero. How are people supposed to take you seriously in that?"

Kuro grinned, even though it was mostly hidden beneath the collar of his coat. "I can still talk! And I'll still crush my opponents. This coat is part of my strategy!"

Iida sighed, already anticipating Kuro's usual antics. "That's not the point..."

Momo Yaoyorozu, who had been talking with Kyoka Jirou, overheard Iida's comment and chuckled softly. Her suit had attracted some curious glances—especially from Jirou.

Jirou, with her usual deadpan expression, raised an eyebrow and asked, "Momo, I gotta ask... why is your suit so... revealing?"

Momo, ever poised, gave a thoughtful nod. "Well, actually, this is the most they would allow me to reveal. I need as much skin exposure as possible for my quirk to work efficiently. My body converts fat cells into material for creation, so having more exposed skin allows me to create larger objects faster."

Jirou blinked, processing that information. "Makes sense, I guess. Still seems... like a lot."

Momo smiled. "It's all about function over form."

While the students chatted, All Might approached the training ground with Aizawa in tow. The No.1 Hero was as lively as ever, though a careful observer might have noticed the hint of exhaustion in his eyes, a byproduct of his other duties as a hero. Aizawa, meanwhile, was his usual tired, irritated self, but something had been nagging at him all morning.

As the students showed off their hero suits, All Might's gaze drifted to Izuku, lingering a little longer than it probably should have. The green jumpsuit, the mask, the bunny ears... the design was strikingly familiar. The ears look just like my hair strands, and the smile on the mask... All Might's thoughts wandered. Could it be a subconscious homage to me?

Aizawa, standing off to the side, narrowed his eyes as he followed All Might's gaze. Again? he thought, now fully convinced that Izuku was somehow connected to All Might—either a disciple or someone close. It was becoming harder to ignore, especially when All Might couldn't seem to hide his interest in the boy. I'll have to keep an eye on him.

Letting out a deep sigh, Aizawa resigned himself to the fact that he would need to stay close during the matches, just in case All Might started showing favoritism. If that's his disciple, then I'll make sure there's no bias.

All Might, feeling Aizawa's sharp gaze on him, cleared his throat and turned his attention to the entire class. His smile widened as he prepared to start the matches.

Before All Might could officially announce the start, Kuro, sensing the tension in the air, took the opportunity to speak up.

"Hey, everyone!" Kuro called out, waving energetically to get their attention. "Let's not forget—this is just a practice match, so no hard feelings, okay?"

The class turned toward him, some nodding in agreement, others just listening. But Kuro wasn't done. With a mischievous smile, he added, "But that being said... I'm going to crush my opponents. With a smile, of course!"

A few students chuckled at Kuro's playful tone, but Iida, standing beside him, immediately stepped forward to counter his enthusiasm. "Ahem!, this exercise is not about personal competition! It's about learning to work together and prepare for real-life hero situations. Please remember to hold back for the sake of team building!"

Momo nodded, backing Iida up. "He's right. This isn't about winning or losing—it's about learning how to use our quirks effectively in various scenarios."

Kuro, still grinning, shrugged. "Fine, fine. I'll keep that in mind. But don't blame me if I have a little fun while doing it!" Hehe... that'll take 3 minutes top.

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[Auther: Yo. This chapters are long as. Takes my ass a day just to finish 1.]