Chapter 23

[U.A. High School, Class 1-A, After School.]

(Arata POV)

The last class ended as Yaoyorozu and I discussed the training we wanted to do in the 2 weeks leading up to the sports festival.

"Two weeks for training, huh? Do you already know what kind of training you are going to do?" She asked.

"Yes. I already have a training plan in mind. What about you, do you want any help figuring it out?”

"Eh? Have you thought of your training? And how are you going to help with mine? I don't think we've talked much about my quirks." 

"It’s nothing extraordinary, just some small detail I've observed from our different tests. It's not much, so don't get your hopes too high."

"That's incredible, to think you could not only see where I'm lacking, but also think of ways for me to improve! Since that’s the case, I won't refuse your help, please." 

"Okay. First, I would recommend you eat a lot of food and create stuff quickly to train how fast you both create and consume calories. Second, you should change the way you fight.” 

“Let me see, in game terms you are currently fighting as a melee when the greatest advantage of your quirk is that it makes you a fantastic ranger. If you can create things like flash bangs, stun guns or smoke bombs, you should focus more on creating long-range weapons."

“Your weaknesses should be that you have to know the structure and composition of the things you create. That's why you normally go for simple weapons, but if you want to grow further, you should instead focus on those. So what do you think?”

“Wow, I didn't realize you would learn so much about my quirk, and you are right about my weaknesses.”

While we were chatting, our conversation was interrupted when a commotion broke out outside the classroom. Yaoyorozu and I shared a look before getting up to investigate. As the president and class vice president, respectively, it was part of our duties to find out if something was wrong.

“Woah…Wh-What’s going on?!” Uraraka thought out loud,

“What business do you have with Class A? Please don't stand in the way,” Ida tried in vain to organize the crowd gathered outside the classroom.

“We can’t get out! What did you come here for, anyway?” Kaminari asked them but didn't receive an answer Bakugo walked past his classmates.

“Scouting out the competition, they're all just small fry.

We’re the ones who made it out of the villains’ attack.

They probably wanna check us out before the sports festival.” he stopped in front of the crowd outside the classroom, speaking in an unusually calm tone.

"Who cares? There’s no point in doing stuff like that. Out of my way, extras!

Bakugo yelled in frustration as he was trying to leave.

At his declaration, the corridor was silenced as no one could deny that it was the truth. But rather than feeling insulted, the gathered students from the General Studies department instead felt a fire being lit in their chest.

“Could you stop calling people “extras” just because you don’t know them!” Ida took offense at Bakugo's words

"Bakugo, you are going to make everyone hate us. Kirishima said. 

This was the scene Yaoyorozu and I encountered when we went to investigate. I let out a sigh, watching the interaction unfold. Before turning to her and asking, 

“Do you want me to take care of this, or do you want to do it yourself?”

“ Sorry, could you intervene before the situation escalates? Thank you.”

“Ok!”

“It's true," A voice cut through the tension as Shinso slowly revealed himself from the crowd. 

“We came to check out the competition and see what the famous Class 1A was like, but you seem pretty arrogant. Are all the students in the hero department like this? Seeing how you act makes me disillusioned.”

“So what?” Bakugo replies, unconcerned as he and Shinso stared at each other,

“There's a lot of guys like me who wind up in the general education department or other courses because they failed to enter the hero department. Did you know that?”

"Huh?” Bakugo raised an eyebrow, not understanding where he was going with the conversation.

I could see several members of our class all shake their heads frantically as Shinso made his way to the front of the crowd.

“The school has left us a chance. Depending on the results of the sports festival, they’ll consider our transfer to the hero course. And it seems they may also transfer people out.

Scouting out the enemy?

I came to say that even if you’re in the hero course, if you get too carried away, I’ll sweep your feet out from under you.” Shinso said his posture was relaxed, but there was an edge to his tone.

Hearing that, Bakugo's mood worsened.

‘ If anything, I can at least compliment him for his confidence!’ I thought as I began approaching the duo,

"Surprisingly, Bakugo is right. Even if he didn't have to pick a fight." Hearing my words, everyone's eyes locked onto me.

"What do you mean, surprisingly, I'm always right, you damn fish-eyed bastard! Tch, whatever…”

I ignored Bakugo's outburst as I walked in front of Shinso.

" Could you please move? You are blocking the exit. " I ask.

" I know." He said, not budging from his place.

" Let me guess, you are here to declare war on class 1-A; that was the purpose of this, right? "

" Pretty much. " Shinso said as he waited for me to continue. 

I sighed, looking at the students gathered,

" What a waste of time. The sports festival is a competition. Why bring up a topic everyone is already aware of? And instead of training to improve, you people are here, blocking the exit for our class. You may be scouting the competition, but please don't waste our time.”

"We in class 1A are all aiming for the top, and I hope you all can do the same now... Step aside." I finished, while glaring back at them before relaxing my expression

Shinso stared wide-eyed at me. He understood that to us, the declarations of war were meaningless. The sports festival is where everyone would be settling accounts.

Most of the other students understood as well. No more words were spoken, but the determination in everyone's eyes was enough to show their feelings.

Shinso exhaled heavily with a determined expression as he walked away from the door.

“The top, huh? I'll catch up to you all very soon!”

Slowly, the crowd of students started dispersing. This isn't the first time I'm confronted with a wannabe challenger like that. The Center was similarly filled with the same type of people. The best way to deal with them is to set clear rules for the challenge, and not let them drag you into whatever they are planning.

I heard someone shouting my name.

"Hey, Arata!" I turned my head and saw that it was Itsuka with some members of Class B.

She approached me while smiling, 

"Well, isn't this Mr. Prince Charming? How mean of you to use me like that and not even come by to say hello!"

“WHAAT” Hearing her words, most of my classmates were speechless, unable to process the fact that someone was basically accusing me of being a player.

But before I could clear the situation, one of her classmates shouted out instead, 

"You scum, I can't believe it! I heard you guys fought some villains and I wanted to find out more about class 1A, but to think such a bastard would be present!” yelled another student who pushed his way to the front.

"Wait, you jerk. What're you doing?!" 

Itsuka, who was smiling, started panicking and tried to explain everything, but Momo, who was standing behind me, came forward and interrupted her, 

"Excuse me, Arata is a trusted member of our class. And I don't like what you are insinuating with your words. We don't even know who you are in the first place?"

‘ Hmm, to think Yaoyorozu would immediately come to my defense. Does she trust me that much?’

Momona continued undeterred by Yaoyorozu's question, 

"Hmph, such arrogance from Class 1A. As expected, you think you're above us, to the point where you don't even acknowledge your mistake but point at others instead.”

Itsuka blushed at Yaoyorozu's sudden defensiveness, then enlarged her hand before slapping the top of her classmate's head.

"Ah, wait, I was just joking. And Momona, why are you trying to make things worse!" 

Momona grasped his head in pain and fell to the ground.

"Please, don't mind him. He's just an idiot. I'm Itsuka Kendo, class president of 1B. I just came here to greet my friend, Arata." She explained, while looking at me for help.

"Sigh. Thanks for defending me Yaoyorozu; you don't have to worry. Itsuka and I met during the entrance exam. Aside from her sense of humor, I can guarantee she is a good person." I said, completely ignoring Mona, who was still clutching his head on the ground.

Yaoyorozu carefully looked at Itsuka before nodding, 

"I see. I apologize for the misunderstanding. I am 1A's class president, Yaoyorozu Momo. Nice to meet you."

Itsuka scratched her cheek awkwardly, 

"Uh, I'm really sorry for earlier. Nice to meet you."

“Ahh, look at the time. Sorry, we have someplace to be; Let's talk another time, Arata.” She said before enlarging her hand once again and dragging Mona away.

"What an interesting day. Though, what I found interesting is Bakugo. He was much more composed than usual." I said, trying to steer the conversation away from the duo.

"I noticed that too. Seems like he changed a lot recently" Yaoyorozu nodded, surprised by the fact that Bakugo didn't threaten anyone with murder, forgetting about Itsuka.

"Well, let's hope it's for the best. See you tomorrow!" I said to her as I made my way towards a training facility.