Afternoon,
The day of the Final Exams
Class 1-A's students, all in their Hero Costumes, gathered in front of the entrance that led to the various battle sites.
In front of them, standing tall, were the Pro Heroes of UA.
"Now, we will begin with the Practical Exam," Erasure Head told them. "Of course, it is possible to fail the exam."
Standing among the students, Luke looked at the teachers, Nyx perched on his shoulder.
Momo had mentioned it once to him, he remembered. This day, she had overcome her anxiety during the Practical part of the first term's Final Exam, where she and Todoroki had paired up to take on Aizawa.
During last term's final exams, everyone had to go against Sand — and he hadn't even used his Quirk, focusing on the close combat only.
It would be different this time. Not only would there be different teachers, but, given the seriousness of Villainous activities outside, they would be using their Quirks freely as well.
But Luke wasn't overly worried about it.
If his reasoning wasn't wrong, then Sand must have volunteered to test Luke alone.
With Sand, Luke could go all out in using his Quirk without worrying about holding someone back, preventing them from unleashing their full potential.
Suddenly, just as Luke was going through his thoughts, he noticed something odd.
There was a tiny scar on Aizawa's forehead, hidden under his bangs.
If it wasn't for his Swindler-based abilities to pick up on minute details, then he might not have even picked that up.
I saw him two days ago, Luke contemplated. There's no way Aizawa went for regular Hero work when the Final Exams were so close. Who gave him a scar? Did Shigaraki or Stain act against UA again? How did I not learn of such a situation?!
However, before Luke could go on with such a chain of thoughts, Aizawa dropped a bomb on the students.
"Also, UA has decided to organize a Training Camp for you all during the Term Break," Erasure Head, smiling slyly. "Those who fail the Final Exam will not be allowed to become a part of it."
WHAT?!!
"… A Training Camp?!" Tsuyu worded out, others' thoughts resonating with hers.
It was more so in the case of Midoriya, Todoroki, and Luke, who looked at each other with wide eyes.
And as the shock of the announcement left them, smiles surfaced on all faces, excitement jolting their spirits.
This was it.
This was what they needed.
Midoriya and Todoroki, who had made plans to meet at Todoroki's house with Luke during the Term Break, shared a smile as well.
Luke smiled along with them, too.
However, his smile was the emptiest from within.
This wasn't good news for him. He had taken extra care to arrange his meeting with the two boys at Todoroki's house so that he could get a chance to free himself now and then.
There was no saying if he could do the same during the Training Camp.
As if that wasn't a blow enough, Luke also remembered the Training Camp Momo had mentioned in his previous life.
In a way, that Training Camp had heralded the rise of All For One and the end of All Might.
During the Training Camp, the Villains had kidnapped Bakugo. By the time he was saved, All Might had already come face-to-face with All For One.
A great fight had erupted between the two, which Luke had seen recordings of later.
In that fight, All Might had won, but at the cost of losing the remnant parts of One For All within him, becoming truly Quirkless.
Luke didn't want that to happen. Not yet.
The Training Camp in his previous life had taken place during the Term Break between 1st and 2nd Terms.
So, in this world, Luke had thought he had successfully managed to postpone that event.
But, as Aizawa mentioned Training Camp, Luke found himself facing the same fate again, with a helpless gaze.
Was there no way to defeat the fate, no matter what one did?!
Luke and Nyx looked at each other, their gazes shaking at the question.
Then, together, they clenched their fingers, Nyx's claws digging into his shoulder.
No. It wasn't all over yet. If they had changed the fate once, then they just had to change it again… and again… again and again… until its return wouldn't matter anymore.
"Alright," Aizawa hissed, seeing the students excitedly whispering among themselves. "As I said, only those who pass the exams will be allowed to join the Training Camp. So, don't make silly mistakes."
"… Ara…" Midnight smiled. "Has it not crossed anyone's mind why there are so many teachers here?"
The smiles on everyone's faces died.
"… No way…" Midoriya stepped back, his eyes widening.
Todoroki, Momo, Kyoka, Tenya, Tsuyu, Fumikage, Bakugo… one by one, everyone began realizing the sword hanging on their necks.
"Hehehe…" A squeaky laugh echoed, and, from the strips of cloth around Aizawa's neck, Mr. Principal came bursting out. "Last time, we focused on hand-to-hand Combat. This time, we want to focus more on actual fighting. So… we will have you form teams, with each team going against a different teacher!"
Uraraka and Mina gasped.
"… different teachers?!" Mineta stuttered. "With Quirks?! We are…"
"… going against Pros?!!" Toru asked, shocked.
"The pairs have already been decided…" Sand said, coming to the front. He shared an annoyed glance with Aizawa and tsked, looking away. "It's based on various factors, like fighting styles, grades, and interpersonal relationships. So, here they are — First, Todoroki and Yaoyorozu are one team, and they will be going against — me."
Todoroki and Momo shared a nervous glance, Luke narrowing his eyes at Sand.
"And…" Erasure Head said, sounding pissed as well. "Midoriya, Bakugo, and Luke are a team…"
"… What?!" Bakugo and Midoriya looked at each other before both staring at Luke, who was genuinely shocked as well.
"Sir, three…" Luke began.
"Their opponent will be — " Aizawa said, cutting off Luke.
"HAHAHA…" From the sky, All Might descended, the entire ground booming as he landed. "I… will do it…"
"Their opponents will be," Aizawa corrected himself, a chill running down the three boys' spines, "All Might and me."
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AN: Original Image of Luke, Midoriya, and Bakugo as All Might arrives is available
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