บท 31: Study Struggles
The students of Class 1-A sit attentively as Aizawa stands at the front of the classroom, his usual tired expression on full display. His gaze sweeps across the room before he finally speaks, his monotone voice cutting through the tense silence.
"Before any of you start panicking, I'll remind you that the upcoming written exams are just as important as your physical ones," Aizawa says, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Being a hero isn't just about using your quirks. It's about strategy, intelligence, and making the right decisions under pressure."
Bakugou snorts, arms crossed. "We know that already."
Aizawa ignores the comment and continues, "Those of you who think you can coast through this because you've survived fights with villains are mistaken. No matter how strong you are physically, without proper knowledge, you're nothing but a liability."
At that, a few students shift uncomfortably in their seats. Iida, as always, is sitting up straight, his hands folded on his desk, nodding seriously in agreement. Midoriya, meanwhile, scribbles furiously in his notebook, probably taking notes on everything Aizawa is saying—despite this being a reminder more than a lesson.
"Exams will cover all the material you've learned so far," Aizawa continues. "So make sure you're studying everything." He pauses, his expression growing even more serious.
"And remember, if you fail, you won't be going on to the training camp."
That last line hits harder, a ripple of unease spreading through the class. Even Bakugou's usual scowl deepens at the mention of being held back from the training camp.
Aizawa concludes, "You have a few days. Make the most of them. Dismissed."
...
"Aw, man! This is going to be bad." Kirishima groans, rubbing the back of his head.
"Come on, we've been through tougher," Kaminari chimes in, leaning back in his seat with a smirk.
"Easy for you to say," Mina retorts with a sigh. "You've got lightning powers—nothing can fry your brain like studying can fry mine."
Midoriya, always one to take everything seriously, is already muttering strategies under his breath. "I have to make sure I'm fully prepared... We can't let our practical skills overshadow our academic abilities."
Bakugou, sitting with his arms crossed, huffs, "Tch. I'll blow through this exam, same as everything else."
From her seat, Jirou casts Kaminari a sidelong glance, her expression thoughtful as she recalls his recent impressive performance during the rescue training. "Think you're ready for the written test, Kaminari? You've been spending a lot of time training lately. Can't zap your way through a test."
Kaminari chuckles, shrugging. "You never know, maybe I can short-circuit it."
...
Kaminari surveys the classroom: his friends are scattered around the room, some nervously flipping through pages, while others are clearly avoiding the studying altogether. The air buzzes with a mix of stress and procrastination, but Raio knows they're all in this together.
...
"I can feel the tension here," Raio thinks, taking a seat beside Kirishima, who's scratching his head while staring at a history book. Across the room, Jirou leans against the wall with her earbuds in, flipping through a notebook but barely paying attention to it. Mina, meanwhile, has turned her study guide into a makeshift paper airplane.
"I didn't expect the study sessions to be so... intense." Raio says with a sigh.
Mina grins and tosses her airplane. "Come on, Kaminari, don't tell me you're worried about exams! You survived Stain! This is nothing!"
Raio raises an eyebrow, catching the paper plane mid-air. "I survived Endeavour, too. I feel like written exams might be a different kind of nightmare."
Kirishima laughs, "Man, tell me about it. I'd rather break through walls than face another math question."
Just then, Todoroki walks in, cool and composed as always, and joins the group with his own set of books. "It's not so bad," he says, taking a seat. "You just need to understand the basics."
Kirishima groans. "Easy for you to say! My brain can't handle all this stuff at once."
Jirou pulls out her earbuds, glancing at Raio. "Endeavour didn't grill you too hard, did he?"
Raio chuckles. "Harder than the textbooks, trust me."
Just as they're settling into the study groove, Bakugou storms in, already looking frustrated, clearly not interested in studying. "You guys are wasting time on this crap. I'm gonna ace it all anyway."
Everyone stares at him for a moment, then exchanges glances, amused by Bakugou's usual arrogance. Todoroki shrugs. "Confidence is one way to pass, I guess."
The sound of light chatter filled the common area as students began to leave for the day.
With the announcement of the upcoming training camp, there was a mix of excitement and worry about what lay ahead. For a few of Class 1-A's students, the immediate concern was their academic performance.
Jirou, leaning on her seat with a thoughtful expression, nudged Sero, who was sitting beside her. "You know, with the written exams coming up… We should probably get some help."
Sero sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, I guess I could use it. It's not like I'm exactly at the top of the class."
Across the room, Ojiro overheard the conversation and walked over, nodding. "Same here. I was thinking of asking Yaoyorozu for help. She's always at the top of the rankings."
As if on cue, Mina bounded up to the group, her usual energy in full force. "Oooh, are we talking study sessions? Count me in! I mean, I'm not doing terrible, but it doesn't hurt to get a little extra help, right?"
Jirou stood up, stretching her arms. "Alright then, let's ask Yaoyorozu if she can help us."
The group approached Yaoyorozu, who was gathering her things near her desk. When she noticed them coming, she smiled warmly.
"Hello, everyone. How may I assist?"
Jirou spoke up first. "We were wondering… would you be willing to help us with studying for the written exams? You know, since you're one of the top students in our class."
Yaoyorozu's eyes lit up, and she nodded enthusiastically. "Of course! I'd be more than happy to help. Why don't we all study together at my place? It would be a great opportunity to review everything."
"Sweet! Thanks, Yaomomo!" Mina said, excitedly.
As the small group made their plans, Jirou's eyes scanned the room, landing on Kaminari. He was seated nearby, looking a little lost in thought. She glanced at his last test results and raised an eyebrow. "Hey, Kaminari, you should join us too."
Kaminari blinked, surprised by the invitation. "Huh? Me? I'm not that bad at studying…" He trailed off when he noticed Jirou giving him a knowing look.
"You're 20/20 on the rankings, remember?" Jirou teased, but there was a friendly smile on her face. "You could definitely use a little extra help."
A sense of dread was bestowed upon Kaminari. Indeed, with everything going on: USJ Raid, U.A Festival and his parents, the Intership and Endeavour, the hero killer, Kaminari had forgotten he's still at a school.
Kaminari scratched his head, laughing sheepishly. "Alright, alright, you've got a point. Count me in."
"Great! We'll meet at my house tomorrow," Yaoyorozu confirmed, as everyone started to make their way out of the classroom.
As they walked, Kaminari couldn't help but feel grateful for the offer. Even with all the battles and training ahead, it was nice to know they had each other's backs when it came to things like exams.
...
In the mess hall, a lively atmosphere buzzed as students from Class 1-A gathered for lunch. Raio sat at the table with his close friends—Mina, Jirou, and Kirishima. Laughter filled the air as they chatted about the upcoming final exams, teasing each other about their strengths and weaknesses.
Jirou leaned back in her chair, a playful grin on her face. "Just don't get too cocky, Kaminari. We all know how much you love to fry things. Just don't fry your own brain this time!"
Mina burst into laughter. "I can just imagine you running around with your hair frizzed up like a lightning bolt! If you need help, I can bring some styling gel!"
As they continued their banter, Iida, who was sitting nearby with Midoriya, suddenly looked more serious. Raio noticed him glancing toward Monoma from Class B, who talking to them with his usual smug demeanor.
Monoma strolled over, a self-satisfied grin plastered on his face. "Oh, look who it is—the infamous 'Hero Killers.' So, how does it feel to be in the spotlight? You're not going to let the fame get to your head, are you?"
Ilda's expression darkened as memories of the fight against Stain flooded back—his brother's injuries, the chaos, the fear. The weight of those thoughts settled heavily on his shoulders, and he clenched his fists, struggling to hold back the emotions rising within him.
Midoriya tried to respond, "I mean, we were just trying to do our best—"
"Oh, please," Monoma interrupted, waving his hand dismissively. "You think you're heroes just because you took down a villain? I guess everyone's a hero these days. Just don't let it go to your heads when you flunk your finals."
As Monoma continues his smug remarks, each word seems to strike deeper into Kaminari's mind, his chest tightening with the memory of Iida's pain and the blood-soaked fight against Stain. He clenches his fists, trying to steady himself, but the Hero Killer's encounter floods his mind, blurring the present.
"Maybe you guys enjoyed your time playing heroes in Hosu, huh? Fighting villains for some fame while the rest of us have to train for our actual future."
Kaminari's heart races. Monoma's taunts feel like they're pulling him back to that night—the fear, the blood, the sensation of Stain's blade cutting into his flesh. His breath quickens, his vision narrowing. He can't hear the murmur of the students around him, only the echo of the fight and the danger that almost claimed his life. A dark, suffocating rage starts boiling over.
Finally, he stands up, his body shaking slightly as he steps forward. His voice is low and calm, but the tension underneath is palpable.
"You don't know what you're talking about, Monoma. You're mocking something you don't understand, something that changes you forever."
Those who overhear the words freeze. Raio's energy crackles faintly, barely controlled. The air around them grows thick with unease as the others in the cafeteria slowly realize something is wrong. They've seen Raio fight, but this is different—he's angry.
Monoma, though, merely grins and shrugs it off, continuing his mocking tone. "Oh, but I do, Kaminari. You and your little friends almost got yourselves killed for no real reason."
Kaminari stepped closer, locking eyes with Monoma.
"Say one more thing about that night... and I'll show you exactly what kind of scars it leaves behind."
The lunchroom went quiet. Raio wasn't shouting, but the weight in his words made the entire scene freeze. A few students shifted uncomfortably in their seats, sensing that something was about to snap.
"Oh? What's this? You're going to play the tough guy now, Kaminari?" Monoma, momentarily caught off guard, managed to keep his smug facade. He leaned back, smirking.
Before Raio can step further, the wave of his emotions cresting, Jirou quickly gets up and places her hand on his shoulder, her voice quiet but firm. "Kaminari, it's not worth it."
Monoma doesn't even see her strike coming. He's on the floor, out cold, before he can utter another word. Kendo strides over, her expression all business.
"Monoma, that's not nice, you know what happened to Ilda. My deepest apologies for him," Kendo says, bowing slightly toward Raio and Iida. Her eyes linger on Raio for a moment longer, filled with understanding. "He speaks without thinking and doesn't considerate the feelings of others."
Jirou gives Raio a reassuring nod, her grip still steady on his shoulder, and Iida finally speaks up, his voice soft. "Kaminari... thank you. I know why you did that. I appreciate it more than I can say."
Raio nods silently as the tension ebbs away.
Raio remained still, taking a deep breath, his mind slowly clearing thanks to Jirou's gentle presence beside him. He nodded, acknowledging Kendo without words, and then—almost like a second nature—his lips pressed into a faint, appreciative smile.
Mina watched carefully, catching something in Kendo's subtle gestures and tone.
Kendo shifted the conversation quickly, as if to divert attention. "So, I heard rumors about the practical exam... something about robots?" she said, her voice casual but direct, addressing everyone. But even as she spoke to the group, Mina couldn't help but notice that Kendo's attention kept drifting back to Raio.
The atmosphere relaxed as Kendo's intervention broke the tension. "A veteran friend of mine told me about it. Consider an apology gift." Another smile is drawn as she drags Monoma away.
Robots, huh? That's great news for me. As if what just transpired is forgotten, Kaminari's mind shifted to Midoriya's muttering.
But before robots, there written exams are in the way.
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