Chapter 73: Final Exam Arc (7)
~Third POV~
[UA High School, Practical Exam Area – Center Plaza, Monitor Room, Japan]
After viewing Jiro's and Mina's teams, they soon witnessed Toga and Toru's team with Ren gazing at the screen in front of them with a wry smile, "Well… that's certainly one way to win the practical. Although…"
The rest of his classmates had a neutral expression, seeing how Toga and Toru managed to win the practical. Toga first began to use Ren's blood, transforming into a simple armored hero using her Quirk [Transform].
Toru would provide support when Toga charges forward, leaving Snipe to throw down a smoke bomb to hide from Toga but allowing Toru to strip naked, managing to capture Snipe by surprise cuffing him.
But in the process, he accidentally touched her breast, causing the scene before them to happen with Ida raising his eyebrows in an unsure tone, "Yes… that's certainly a unique way of winning. Although Snipe should be more careful."
However, bringing up the subject of Snipe, Ren couldn't help but point out in a confused tone, resting his hand beneath his chin, "You know, a thought just occurred to me. Are school shootings here legal with a teacher carrying a professional gun or not holding a Hero License?"
Hearing his words, Momo soon opened her mouth to answer but soon paused. She carefully thought her answer before finally muttering in a curious tone, "Huh… I'm actually not sure about that one…."
However, before they could, their attention was now on the announcer, who was showing a monitor of the Rocky terrain area, announcing, "Team Shinso and Sero. Practical Exam. Ready, go!"
Soon, all eyes were on Shinso and Sero's team. Everyone was interested to see where this match-up would lead…
/////
~Hitoshi S. POV~
[UA High School, Practical Exam Area – Rocky Terrain Area, Japan]
Hearing the buzzers, Sero and I made our move in the Rocky Terrain Area, "Team Shinso and Sero. Practical Exam. Ready, go!"
We readied ourselves as our opponent. Midnight-Sensei.
Moving forward, it was easy to see from a high vantage point where the escape gate was located, but so was our opponent staying there. I narrowed my eyes as Sero spoke seriously, "Alright, Shinso, how should we go about this? Midnight won't make this easy for us."
Curtly nodding my head, grasping at my capturing weapon, I spoke, asking Sero as we moved down our vantage point, "We'll either rush her or capture her. Sero, I'll need some of your tapes so as not to get trapped in inhaling her gas. Oh, you should probably do the same under your helmet."
*Veeee*
Giving me some tape to wrap around my mouth, still managing to speak, Sero asked in an unsure tone, doing the same, "You sure about this, Shinso? Your Quirk [Brainwashing] won't work well if you can't speak well enough, ya know?"
I nodded my head in understanding of that. But it's the safest bet for us considering the fact we'll be knocked out cold inhaling her Quirk but because of that, she won't drastically speak up knowing my Quirk.
In all honesty, I'm deadweight unless I can speak to her. But if she manages to drop some gas near the entrance while being brainwashed, it wouldn't work well in that scenario. But I have backups.
Going into my utility belt, grasping hold of some smoke bombs. I noticed some movement from the tracks on the terrain dirt imprints continuing our movement.
Guess studying under Aizawa-Sensei and learning his [Binding Cloth Style] does have some perks learning from an Underground Hero. We made our way, and I finally responded in a hushed tone, "I know. But unless the old hag wants to come out, she – ack!"
*Whip*
*CRACK*
I was suddenly slapped on my back by her whip as Midnight came around. She looked like she wanted to say something but couldn't risk the chance.
However, Sero immediately got my back using his Quirk, trying to capture Midnight with his [Tape] in a determined tone, "Sorry, Midnight-Sensei, but will be taking this win! Hyahh!!"
*Swoosh*
Shooting tape at her, Midnight merely licked her lips as she slapped the tape away with her whip. But soon we noticed the pink gas forming around as we got into our stance as she remained quiet.
Still not taking the bait huh? Not knowing if it was Sero speaking with his helmet on we took to each other's back leaving no blind spots as the gas enveloped us completely.
It felt like were the prey in this situation as I held my capturing weapon tightly. Sero soon spoke in a nervous tone asking for my advice, "Aw man we're in some deep trouble aren't we buddy? Got a plan for this Shinso?"
I whispered as I clenched to another useful item in my utility belt. Taking out a small pellet of a flash grenade, I responded to Sero in a calm tone, "Yeah… I got one. You remember where the escape gate is located, right? We both go through and commence 'sabotage.' You got it?"
Sero jolted slightly as I saw his thumbs up. Good enough for me.
*Whip*
Smacking her whip near us we got a point where she's at. Now is the time as I clipped off the pin of the flash grenade yelling out loud, "NOW!"
*Swoosh*
*Boom*
Sero made a break for it to the escape gate. But at that moment the smokescreen from the smokescreen bombs filled the area with black smoke. Too dark to see and perfect to easily camouflage to escape into with my Hero Costume.
I dashed back as I saw the swift movements of the smoke appear. Noticing a pink gas emanating from the person we found Midnight.
*Whip*
*Fwap*
Tossing my own Capturing Weapon at her I managed to get her legs as she fell. I wasn't the only one who did so as Midnight's attention was on me Sero shot tape entangling her. We both made this plan when we created this plan and observing our classmates from the monitor room inspired us.
They gave us a few ideas, and some fights proved vital for our goals. Managing to capture Midnight cuffing her, she spoke in a light-hearted tone, "Hahaha… seeing you just made me realize how much you like Aizawa. But tying little old me…? Can you make it a bit tighter sweetie?"
*Shiver*
I felt a shiver run down my spine as Sero blushed with the buzzers speaking getting our attention, "Team Shinso and Sero have passed the final exam!"
I sighed a breath of relief as we unwrap Midnight from her bondage state. It feels good to finally pass and make my way to becoming a hero.
/////
~Third POV~
[UA High School, Practical Exam Area – Center Plaza, Monitor Room, Japan]
With Shinso and Sero completing their practical exam all eyes were now on Shoto and Bakugo against All Might. Everyone remained silent seeing how this confrontation between them would erupt.
From the screen, they could see both working together, challenging All Might in their practical exam area, Ground Beta. From the scene before them, everything was going as normal with Shoto unleashing his ice and fire.
Bakugo using his explosions tried to directly damage All Might while Shoto was the same from the screen. Upon noticing this Ren suddenly spoke up gaining some classmate's attention in a conflicted tone, "They're not gonna make it…"
They paused hearing his words. Asui soon spoke curiously at his expression asking in a blunt tone, "Huh? Do you think Bakugo and Shoto are gonna fail in their practical Ren-san, ribbit?"
He shook his head as he began to point out the scene where All Might trap Shoto using the guard rail in a disappointed tone, "No. Rather, it's accurate to say that Bakugo would rather lose than rely on help. And to make matters worse, well… just look at the screen, and you'll see my point."
Asui blinked as they soon saw from the monitors All Might slamming his fist into Bakugo causing him to skid across the field. Shoto was shown to be struggling to get free from the guard railings as All Might seemed to have spoken to Bakugo who was clenching his stomach.
However, Ren, reading lips from Bakugo using [Language Comprehension], thought to himself in a neutral tone, 'Zip it… All Might! If you're saying I gotta rely on his help… then I'd rather lose…'
*SWOOOOSH*
*BAM*
Everyone soon gasped, seeing Bakugo get slammed unconscious, seeing the results. Ren, viewing this thought in a neutral tone, 'Right… in the series during this point of the story, Deku would've reignited Bakugo's spirit to continue fighting together to escape All Might. But this time, with no Deku as his partner to encourage fighting on and Shoto in the way… The results were obvious.'
With Bakugo out, Shoto was soon left to face All Might alone. Despite having the chance to escape, he chose to fight, trying to save an unconscious Bakugo, only to be knocked out in the end.
*BEEEP*
With this event, the buzzer spoke as everyone had their eyes widened in surprise at the results, just showing how difficult UA is all about feeling tension in the air, "Bakugo and Todoroki have been knocked out. Exam over."
The students were flabbergasted at the results, with Mina yelling in a stunned tone, "Seriously?! That fast?"
Momo even uttered, feeling a light shiver run down her spine seeing who the class considered the strongest fall like that in a disbelief tone, "Shoto went down?"
Ochaco even muttered in a stunned tone, gazing at their defeat, "No way… it was that one-sided?"
Denki mutters in stunned disbelief at their powerhouses in Class 1-A, "The hell… they lose just like that…?"
Asui eyes widened as she asked Ren who seemed calm during the commotion wanting to know in a surprised tone, "Whoa… Ren-san, ribbit. Did you already know that somehow those 2 would lose to All Might?"
Asui, being the observant one, pointed out that Ren, being the one to call the fight, would fail. All eyes are on him as he explains in a neutral tone, "Yeah. I thought they had the chance if they worked together, but… their approach was the issue. Challenging All Might but rather their personalities. That's what cost them the practical exam."
Recovery Girl soon chimed in, correcting Ren's words as she responded in a neutral tone, glaring, having to do her job, "That's right, kiddo. Those two were picked because of their alpha mentality."
Hearing the words, Momo soon recognized what went wrong as she uttered in an understanding tone, "I see… so it's a matter of pride for them. They would rather fail than rely on each other… especially given they're up against the No.1 Hero."
Ida soon understood what Ren and Momo were talking about as he responded in a stoic tone, getting the bigger picture, "Of course! During our time in the Hero Course, we haven't seen once that Bakugo and Todoroki ever accept help or consider the option. Considering they are our class strongest, the thought of working or helping each other hasn't crossed their minds."
Ren smiled as he raised his finger, correcting Ida in a knowing tone as he addressed his classmates, "Bingo Ida-san! But it goes a bit further than that. You have got to take their psyches and backgrounds into account. Just a bad personality alone wouldn't be enough to make them fail but…"
His face flinches as Momo speaks in an honest tone about the duo's issues, "They have a lot of work to cover when it comes to cooperation. And probably more than that…"
Everyone in class simply nodded, understanding the situation. All they could do now was simply give their support for them as Ren wondered to himself curiously, 'I wonder what the League of Villains is doing now that they lose Toga?'
Meanwhile, back to the League of Villains…