Chapter Text
As the water poured over her Jolyne stared at her arm, the first time in a while she’d really paid her tattoo and mind. Her fingers trace over the long since faded scar, she had healed nicely, so much so that it was only a few shades darker and barely felt any different. The once full fiery heart was reduced to scattered flames vaguely in the silhouette of a heart. She may have done the work herself but at the end of the day she did it for Romeo, for the Hearts, it wasn’t really her own.
Her skin unraveled, sliver by sliver, the ink loosened from her arm like pulling a thread from a shirt until the whole thing was undone. Then it was only a matter of ‘knitting’ it back together, no different than when she changed up her old UP uniform, one thread at a time. Line by line the heart shaped gap on her arm was filled. Manipulating the fine threads was no more difficult than just painting a clear picture in her mind and putting the inked skin where it needed to be. Her skin wasn't even pruny by the time she was done. She waved away the steam to admire her hand work in the mirror properly, and, well, to clean it up with a clearer view.
A butterfly with wings made of flame, its body a silver blade with a golden band of light weaving around her arm like a ring; ending squarely on the center of the blade a single star.
Fresh from a quick shower, Jolyne pulled her hair up and wrapped, a fluffy white bathrobe thrown on and equally fluffy blue and red slippers labeled U on one foot and and A on the other. She could tell just from holding it; it felt like rubbing a cloud between her fingers, but wearing them? These were undeniably pretty high quality material. She could easily sleep in them standing up. Would the school care if she just took it home with her once she was done with it? It’d be criminal not too. In fact it's her right as a student to take this home, who else was going to wear it this good? The devil on her shoulder whispered and the angel was too busy lost in comfort to argue.
“You all done, dear?” Sat on a little scooter was Recovery Girl, Syuuka's cute little grandmother who in no way inherited their size from her.
“Yep, so what now? The spa thing?”
“Well I’d say that's the gist more or less!” She chuckled powering along with Jolyne right behind her. “Go on, take a dip, relax, and we’ll be done here before you know it!” Recovery Girl cackled as she led her down the hall to a massive pair of doors. “I know I told ya already but being exhausted afterward is pretty normal, be sure to take a break after an hour we have free snacks and drinks too! Be sure to give us a 5-star review. Those engineering kids go crazy for that stuff.” As she pulled open the doors a wave of heat and humidity greeted her, and as she blinked through the haze she barely managed to take in the spacious chamber, the sound of running water filled the humid air.
“They really built a bathhouse in this place.” She whistled. She wasn't quite sure how the bath was going to do that but if she did then she would probably be in a different department.
“Then he, like, totally ignored me. I’m telling you it’s like he had a crab late on rent up his ass or something.” A disembodied girl’s head and hands were casually floating above one of the baths, her phone held tight in her grasp. In a bath to her right a mop of brown hair spread out across the surface of the water.
“Setsuna? And...Kinoko?”
“H-hey...” Kinoko’s hand poked up from the water and gave her a small wave. “J-jolyne...chan.”
“Oh! Yo! Jolyne what up!? I really didn't think I’d see you of all people here. Take a tub, well it's not like I own ‘em or anything! I was just telling Kinoko-chan about this jerk I ran into today.” Brash, blonde, red eyes and explosive hands Jolyne didn't really need to guess who she was talking about at all.
“That's one of the jerks from Class 1-A.” Jolyne scoffed as she settled in her bath on Setuna's other side. Almost immediately she felt the strength leaving her body as she slid down and slumped against the rim of the tub. It was like all the muscles in her body uncoiled all at once. She felt her eyelids growing heavy as the knots in her back and legs were washed away, a pleasant sigh echoed in the room. “What a dick.” As she sighed, she sank into the water, it's not like she was sharing it so she let her hair free of the towel too and she kicked off the edge to start floating about. Normally this would get you in trouble but who was gonna complain? Not her, her hair flowed all around her as she filled herself over, face first into the water. The pool was definitely deep enough to swim around in, as she passed another lap a trail of skin passed by her eye.
“What the fuck!?” In the water, she could see it, her skin, layers of it peeling off raw red and pink underneath as she moved and kicked her feet in a panic. A clump of green hair was wrapped around her legs. Past her bangs as the hair that clung to her face she could see clumps of ehr hair falling out with every movement. No way, not in the damned school spa (nurse’s department)! “This is a stand...!”
“Ohmgod your face!” Setsuna laughed, “ like you popped out of a horror movie!” Her head rolled off knot the floor still laughing as her hands slapped against the wet tiles. “ So is this your first time here too? Water’s weird right? See told you everyone probably freaks out, Kumori-chan.”
“....” Kinoko covered her face, her ears burning red. “I...screamed so loud I made a mushroom cloud.” Despite her hair and skin having fallen out around her... it was...
it was so...gross! And...It was fine? She ran her hands through her hair, in fact her hair felt softer and it was silkier than when she came in. And what she shed was already gone sucked out through the drain at the bottom of the bath as fresh water and heat poured right in. So this was a normal thing here?
“I think it's like those fish that eat dead skin. ” Setsuna sighed and rested at the rim of her bath. “And we get it for free, who would have thought?” She chuckled.
“OH well I guess thats cool.” Well if it was normal it was all good, no worries at all then. None.
“Ain't it~”
“You could have said something!” She yanked her head out of her own bath and pinched her cheeks. For that matter Eldis, that bitch could have mentioned falling apart in the bath! She could already see her making the same dumb smile on her face when she beat her up as training. Hell Setsuna had the same damned smile on her face right now!
“This is my second time. If I had to freak out at first, so do you two.” Setsuna sighed, her body sinking deeper into the tub. Around her pearly shoulders Jolyne saw her skin peel off like a snake. “Thanks for playing along Kinoko-chan!”
“Hmmm.” The mushroom girl nodded. “Sorry Jolyne-chan.”
“...It’s fine.” Setunsa stuck her tongue out as Jolyne threw a mild glare her way and tossed her head back at her body. “Not your fault.” As Jolyne settled back into the water, trying her best not to mind more of her hair shedding and growing back. After a few minutes she glanced at the other two, Kinoko was rooted in place but Setsuna glared at the ceiling, knitting her brows in thought.
“Hey, Jolyne, your quirk uses your body too? How does that work? I thought you moved stuff with your brain?” She said, wiggling her fingers in the air.
“Hm. Something like that.”
“Hmhmhm. Well, I guess we're kinda similar?” Setsuna chuckled. “Look.” She held out her hand for Jolyne to grab. The skin on her hand wasn't entirely as soft as her creamy skin would have you think. It was definitely smooth but not totally level. Some spots were bumpy and almost hard like a shell. Jolyne ran her fingers over Setuna’s scales making the girl snort in laughter. “Heyhey, relax! It's not a toy you know!” Her head rolled around flashing her sharp teeth as she laughed at Jolyne’s red face. “maybe you just wanted to hold on to me? You can just ask nicely!"
“Y-you gave it to me.” Jolyne threw the hand back in her face, leaving her just as red.
“Hey don’t get too excited. It’s just pretty ol me.” She batted her pretty slashes before breaking out into a fit of giggles. “What about you? You're making a whole costume out of your cells too?”
“Not the whole suit but most of it probably gonna need to be made of,well, me. You wanna see it? I still have my notes in my bag.” She might as well do what Midnight suggested even though she didn't really see the benefit it’d do her at this point, she was already sure of her design. Jolyne lifted a finger unraveling her legs to make some thread, but before she could shoot some tread with Stone Free Setsuna’s hand flew by her head. In the corner of her eye Jolyne noticed Kinoko perk up as the conversation started to drift towards their outfits.
“Sure no need to get up, I’ll get it. The perks of free floating bodyparts I can read and text in the bath no worries. Miss dryhands to the rescue.” Setsuna’s free hand and eyeball flew out the room. “Which one is your sketchbook Jolyne?”
“The one on top, just skip to the end.”
“Not a chance sister.” She chuckled and started from the start. “...Okay, maybe I will skip ahead. You really went through any idea you had huh?”
“Shut up.”She huffed. “That's why I said just skip em.” Jolnye rolled her eyes and noticed Kinoko staring at the back of her notebook, still clutched in Setsuna’s disembodied grasp. “You wanna see too, Kinoko?” She leaned over to get a better look at the shy girl that’d been mostly silent this whole time.
“A-ah yes please, thanks...”
“You're making a costume too, Kinoko? Something made of mushrooms maybe? Or something that helps you make ‘em?”
“ Me? Well, it's not for my costume or anything like that.” Kinoko explained, she sank a bit in the bath, her gaze turned to the side. “I just needed to give them a bunch of spores for my...stuff.”
“Fufuffu! Alright, I'm curious now!” Her hand and eye skipped out the room, tip tapping against the floor. “I gotta see it, did you bring sketches too?” Kinoko waved her hands but not a single sound came out of her mouth as Setunsa’s hand left and returned with yet another book clutched in their grasp. It was a page filled with little notes, dozens of sketches not necessarily more complex than the last but more vivid. At first it was a girly dress with mushroom patterns, page after page became friller and friller almost like a doll. It was certainly pretty, beautiful But it grew further and further away from heroic. Then suddenly a mushroom cap, almost like a sunhat,was added and things changed. It became simpler with each design and the mushroom grew. Then the ‘mushroom’ grew more founded, from the way her dress’s silhouette took shape to her shoes, all noted by little comets that she no doubt made. The latest design was simply:
“It's cute.” It was the first thought that popped into her mind, just looking at it made her smile a bit. It reminded her of two things: idols that sing and dance lighting up people’s hearts with a smile or song and Glory. In a way this costume was just like Glory’s filled with the desire to invoke a certain feeling in those that saw it just going on opposite ends. On one hand an idol that melts away your worries with mushroom clouds and on the other vigilante that’ll break some villain's legs. “You’d look just like an idol!” Why the heck was she scared to show off something like this?
“Re-really! You mean it, Jolyne-chan? It really looks like an idol!?”
“Oh okay I didn’t know we were doing all this. Wow, now I really gotta up my game.” Setsuna half laughed. “I can’t be the only one in class with a plain suit!” She hung her head. “I already submitted the design too! We gotta coordinate next time!”
“You guys are serious? ” Her bright brown eyes peeked out from behind her large bangs. The cool white x shaped iris against her brown eyes were like cute mushrooms that borrowed into their souls. “Thank goodness.” She sighed. “At least...it looks good.”
“How long did it take you to come up with this? It’s so detailed too, you even made notes for the material!" The page was filled with all sorts of design notes, you’d think she was an engineering student, the paper wasn’t very worn but it was obvious that this wasn't anywhere close to her first draft.
“I’ve, well, I’ve been working on it for about a year now? Maybe...two...” She tried to shrink even deeper into the water but at a certain point she’d just drown.
“A year!?” The lizard girl gasped.
“Wait, does that mean you thought of a name too?” Jolyne raised a brow.
“...Sh...” After a moment she answered in a quiet voice. “Shemage.”
“That kinda sounds familiar for some reason? Have I heard that somewhere before?” She wondered aloud. Suddenly Kinoko’s eyes lit up as she pushed herself to the edge of the bath, a cloud of spores formed around her hands giving birth to a mushroom.
“It's a kind of mushroom! The type people use in cooking all the time. But it also gives a magical vibe! With that and the costume it’s like mushrooms can make your dreams come true! Sorry that probably sounds dumb..." Her bright eyed explosion sputtered out as she caught herself and began to sink back into the water. “Sorry.”
“Nah, it's cool. Really cool. You put a lot of thought into this huh?”
“Seriously.” Setsuna nodded. “Thats crazy impressive. I bet no one else in class put that much thought into it.”
“You guys don't have too...”
“What? I think it's cute. If it can make your dreams come true it doesn't matter if it's a star or a mushroom or something else. That's the vibe you’re going for right?”
“You don't have to humor me...mushrooms aren’t really that glamorous or magical. It's not the type of thing that says ‘I’m here’ , it's not a flashy explosion or a powerful punch.” She huffed, atop her head a garden of mushrooms suddenly popped out. “It's a weird Quirk, it suits me,” She chuckled dryly as she plucked a mushroom from head, “but it doesn't scream hero, let alone an idol.”
“What...Come on, you can’t be serious right?” Setsuna’s grin wavered as Kinoko just shrugged. She never really got it but people with Quirks had their own hangs ups, she couldn't relate to that. To her having any power was something to be proud of, it gave you some value. Hell in the that fucked up gang better quirks got better treatment, cooler jobs.
And well, they decided she was expendable because she didn't have one. She may have been rock bottom, it seems being in the shallow end wasn’t much better. Not just with Kinoko here, staring down at the water as if scared to meet Jolyne’s eyes, Neito was like this too. His comments in the volleyball tournament weren’t a one off thing, he was just...like that, all the time. Talking about others Quirks how useful, powerful, they were. His eyes filled with obvious envy and anger, that Jolyne recognized as if looking in a mirror but mixed with an odd admiration. Between Netio’s weirdness around his Quirk and Rikiel’s allergy to his own power it seemed not all stars shine. Not everything was equal even on their end, and even if it was different she just counted and stood looking at this cause no one deserved to be weighed by the doubts and fears in their mind stopping them from trying.
“Who the hell told you that? I’ll punch 'em out for you.” Jolyne rose from the water, her fist pumped in the air.
“Jolyne-chan, it's just how it is...Even getting in here was mostly luck. I just gummed up some machines, I think I helped more people than taking out myself... I got lucky.” She whispered.
“So what if you did? That just means you're a hero doesn’t it?” Jolyne raised a brow. “Hell, I got super lucky. I had a senpai to coach me and some other stuff.” She admitted, her eyes shining like gems. “You’re already here so brag a little and if any has a problem with that screw em!”
“You gotta be proud of your designs.” Setsuna urged her with a small smile. “And your quirk. I got lizard scales. Not exactly glamorous either.” She chuckled. “But I ain’t letting anyone call me creepy so you ain't either not on my watch!”
“You...you guys don't have to be so nice...”
“Y-you know... I kinda think my's too plain.” Setsuna hummed as she steeled her head back on her shoulders. “You put so much thought into yours it's like going to a cooking competition with a microwaved meal or bringing someone else to microwave it for me. What should I do Jolyne?” The upper half of her face turned away from Kinko to wink at Jolyne and she couldn't help but grin.
“...How about we help you out then?” Kinoko blinked as Jolyne looked over at her. “What do you say? We can’t just leave her out to dry right?”
“Me...too? Y-you really want my advice, Setsuna-chan?”
“Please, I’m drowning here.” She pleaded as she shook Kinoko’s shoulders begging her for help.
“Maybe you could try and add a weapon? Maybe a cloak it’d add to your silhouette." Kinoko suggested her eyes shone bright with excitement. "Oh sorry."
“Whatcha apologizing for? I asked for advice, you know.” Setsuna hummed, rubbing her chin. “A weapon...huh. Hmmm. Though I guess I went for more function, I don't wanna bog it down with too much it'd make my pieces flying a pain. But I still wanna look good...”
“I don’t think you have much to worry about if a bodysuit looks good on you. Right?” Kinoko nodded in agreement, as she giggled into her hand.
“Aw that sweet you two. I’m starting to think we might just be a whole class of casnovas. Fufufu. Still I think I wanna do more.” Three of them went back and forth on what Setsuna could add to her costume. She wanted something sleek and simple but still filled with personality. Nothing that’d get in the way and something that was easy for her to keep track of when she split apart and didn't shift her body mass too much away from herself. After a half an hour of back and forth they settle on accessories beyond a mask or belt. From making a lizard tail to even a shapeshifting weapon made out of herself.
“...G-guys? What's that?” Kinoko shakily pointed over to some mirrors, the foggy surface was practically useless. Jolyne squinted, through the haze it was heard to see but it looked like someone had written a message.
“What...about me...?” The three of them read at once. Suddenly a gravely moan echoed through the world, like someone was being strangled to death. The air suddenly went cold as cold as ice. Three froze, the voice came from Setunsa's bath but was certainly not her voice. “Boo.” A harsh whisper blew past them and Setuna’s head flew off her shoulders and Kinoko unleashed a wave of spores turning the room into a mushroom menagerie. Jolyne turned to see, nothing but the footprints on wet titles. “Hey so you guys gonna ask me about my suit too? It'd feel weird if I just pulled out my own sketch if no one asks.”
“Toru-chan?” Setsuna’s head fell back onto her shoulders. “I almost died man!!” Jolyne couldn't tell for sure but she was positive that Toru shrugged innocently.
“Hey, it's not like I was hiding. I was in here first taking a nap, Jolyne’s scream woke me up a while ago.” The wet slap of bare feet echoed as one the tub that was apparently not empty’s water swished and spilled out as Toru got back into its waters. “I gotta get my suit made too, so I’d like some notes before it's too late, like Setsuna there!”
“Ok.” Setusna huffed. “...I really hope they let me switch it out."
“I thought you’d just walk around naked.”
“I considered it.” Toru sighed, “Brother got mad though he just doesn't see the vision. Midnight-sensi gets me though. Sorry to disappoint, Jolyne.”
“Hm!?” Setuna hummed, eyes wide.
“I think you could have pulled it off.” Jolyne nodded.
“Trust.”
“OH?!”
“...So did you make a costume then?” Jolyne asked. “We were getting Kinoko’s advice on our outfits.”
“Y-you guys make me sound like an expert...” Kinoko muttered, her face flushed.
“Glad you asked!” Toru’s bath surged meaning she probably got up again.The door out opened and closed as the sound of feet slapping against the tiles echoed; the only hint as to where Toru was, a notebook. was floating in the air with a wet handprint on it. “Mine’s basically a swimsuit? Anything more would just get in the way.”
“What the heck was up with that spa? I feel like I ran a marathon and got a massage at the same time.” Jolyne sighed, she tried to rub some phantom pain out of her shoulders as she strolled through the halls, her bag slung over her shoulder. She was the last one in and so the last one out, so she was headed home alone with heavy steps. Despite being in a spa for about two hours Jolyne felt both refreshed and oddly exhausted at the same time, she’d probably just jump onto her couch the moment she got home. At least she wasn't a walking prune.
On her way out of the school she caught Bakugou in her line of sight, and there was no time like the present to get annoying things out of the way.
“Hey.” As she approached him she saw that he was drenched like he was tossed into a pool or just came out of a marathon, she’d buy the latter cause he kind of reeked too,but there was something odd mixed into the smell of sweat that she couldn't really place.
“Tch.” He finally saw her too, not too thrilled about it either. That was too bad, because the next few minutes was going to be torture for him. “What the hell do you want? Get out of my way.”
At this point Jolyne had already figured out the best way to approach Stand users. If someone is trying to hide the fact they got a brand new power there's no way they’d just come out and say : ‘yeah check out my stand!’ Even those two bozos tricked her into revealing her hand. Without a single thought Stone Free manifested behind her, predictably he didn't flinch or acknowledge it, annoyingly he just strode right past her. Still it's not like that meant anything. Still that didn't mean much either he could just be the type not to flinch in a fight. She covered his eyes as he marched up to her. Still nothing.
“I said, get out of my way.” He snapped his fingers in front of her face that sparked a tiny explosion that made her ears pop. Well there was no choice. She had no other options. The tap to his jaw had him looking sideways. His sneakers skidded on the ground as he stumbled back. He whirled himself around, eyes wide for only a second before they narrowed and his mouth sprawled into a vicious grin. Sparks danced around his finger tips, the pop of the explosions rang out like firecrackers.
“You really wanna die!”
“I really don't feel like running around. So I’ll just beat your ass right here.” She slid her hands into her pockets and craned her neck to glare down at him as Stone Free emerged from her front and kicked him in the cheek. Lightly kicked him, lightly. She couldn’t rough him up too badly; boys were always the first to go running and crying when things didn't go their way in a fight or life. Still, Jolyne frowned, normally Stone Free was faster than that but even holding back it was only a couple notches faster than herself.
Regardless, she knocked him off his feet and he rolled with the blow. He slammed his palms on the ground and in a burst put some distance between the two of them only to close that distance in a blink with another explosion, his body spinning through the air. Annoyingly, he ducked the first strike and raised his plan to launch her back with an explosion only to be guarded by Stone Free, still the force shook her stomach and slid her back, he laughed and propelled himself forward again leg extended to land a kick to her head. With a roar Stone Free caught his ankle in hand whipped him like a towel and kicked the boy in the stomach in retaliation. He grit his teeth in frustration, probably trying his best not to scream in pain, as he blew himself back again, resetting their distance once more.
“Why don't you losers get it already!?!” He roared, fire dancing in his eyes and the ground under his palms were lit up once more. Stone free was already seeing a barrage of kicks his way and he stopped short, clapping his hands just out of her range filling the area of smoke. Smoke, smoke and more smoke, he for sure had plenty of fuel in the tank so what was he playing at? It wasn’t even thick enough to hide him. “Just stay in your lane and out of mine! Or you’ll die!!” Bakugo flipped over her with a boom! A savage grin on his face he bared down on her like a hawk crashing his feet into her back and forced her down to the ground face first. Hand on her back he launched himself away with a blast that threatened to bury her in the ground, and ran away as Stone Free tore through the smoke to kick him.
“You prick!”
“Die bitch!”
He was quick that much hadn't changed since the exam, but he wasn't dodging all of Stone Free strikes cause he could see them. He’d take a hit and use his explosions to push himself in the direction of the strike to lessen the blow and put distance between them. Or use the smoke of his explosions. As Stone free kicked or punched the smoke wobbled and split apart, an easy use warning system.
He didn’t have a stand but he was very used to fighting 'things he couldn't see’ that much she was sure of. She frowned,watching the fuming boy roll away again after another quick exchange. If he didn't actually know what a Stand was he wouldn't be able to share anything she needed to know about. She could just end it here, it’d be smart too before a teacher or some blabber mouth caught them.
“You gonna move? Or maybe I’ll just skip over your corpse!” He sure could bark like a dog.
“That hurt like putting out a candle.” She spat out a wad of blood and ran her tongue over her split lip, as he worked his jaw, that cocky grin on his face dropped as she pulled her eyelid down and leveled her other hand to her neck and mimed cutting it. “The only one that's backing up is you bitch.” Because of course she had no choice but to kick his ass into the dirt. He went for another smokescreen, fake out, and maneuvered around her as Stone free threw out a punch. This time, Jolyne just let her wobbly legs drop as Bakugou lunged over her. She twisted herself around to meet him as he spun on his heel for another attack.
“Haha! Another fine day of learning!” A bombastic voice echoed from inside the school.
His palm sparkled against her face and his chin rested on the back of her knuckles. Red eyes bore into her green once more. He broke eye contact to watch the smoke of his last blast weave around Stone Free as it loomed over him, something that she was sure he couldn't see, his eyes narrowed, the frown on his face soured into a fullblown scowl as he realized he was in a real stalemate.
This wasn’t over. That silent threat was made as they took a step away from one another.
“Bitch.” The word echoed between the two as Bakugo made his way out of the school and Jolyne fixed her collar, as she inspected herself with Stone Free’s eyes. She was a mess covered in soot and slight burns. “Good grief.” She sighed. “At least I won.” She chuckled, “you had to go around dumbass!” Stand users attract each other, if that's true then one way or another that shard is going to end up crossing paths with her eventually and in the meantime whatever shit pops up she’d deal with one way or another. As she made her way out of school she heard a slow applause from behind her.
“...Had me on the edge of my seat! I was sure you two were gonna wreck the gate or something! I was worried that I’d have to step in but you really handle him.” She turned, looked up and found... actually she’d never seen this kid around before. He sat squarely atop the school gate peering down on the scene with a wide grin, teeth black as night. His hair was jagged; it reminded her of Tetsutetsu’s when he ironed up, black and white crystal-like hair growing out of his skull falling almost like regular hair. His eyes were lax but his lashes were sharp too, pure white crystals and behind them his snow white eyes shone as if blind the world around him.“ Seriously! I don’t know if you know Baku-chan,” why did this bitch have such cute nicknames, “that well, but that was a close one. I ain't seen him that pissed since...well yesterday I guess. Or well the day before that or the first day of school.” He stood up and took a step into thin air. A pitch black crystal erupted from his hands as he made a slide for him to ride down. He was a bit taller than her.
“Hey, so I wasn't paying that much attention but you're in the hero course?” She grumbled as she fixed her shirt and skirt brushing her hair into place. Using a handkerchief to wipe off her blood. She was going to apply some makeup to hide the bruises on the train if she wanted to avoid worrying her mom but she was an old hand at that. “ So who the heck are you?”
“Oh shoot! Hey there! I’m Class 1-A’s Koshoin Shio'n!! The next Number One!” Dramatically, he twisted his body around to wink at her firing off a pair of finger guns to complete the act. “The man on the road to number one! I mean just the other day I had to fight Todoroki-chan and let me tell yeah...” Unlike Jolyne he wasn't here to get materials for his costume he needed to have his completed repaired after being flash frozen. He shook, teeth clattered as he recounted the scariest moment of his life, and how it lasted only a few seconds. Shio'n was a chatterbox, rattling on and on about his classmates with a sense of pride, especially noting how Midoriya and Ochako pulled the upset of the century on the walking grenade and the little Ida.
“Between him, Todoroki-chan, Yomomo-chan, and Midori-chan, my class is so amazing it's scary.” But the more he talked the more he calmed down, now he sounded anything but alert as he fished a bottle out of his back pocket, “but that's what I gotta expect from UA, the competition is fierce.” Not a hint of worry either, but it didn't sound exaggerated, his classmates were strong, that's a fact he believed and he didn't really care about it. It was like night and day compared to his chipperness a second ago.
“Hey Shio'n, right?” Well she was already here and he saw that whole thing so... “Can you stand over there for me?” She pointed at a spot a little to her right and in front of her.
“Yeah? Here?”
“One steep baaaack...Perfect! Sit still alright?” She clapped her hands, gave him a bright smile, and...
“Ora.” Stone Free’s Fist sailed clean through his skull, easily knocking his head loose from his shoulders leaving a trail of white and black crystals to scatter across the room. Or at least that's what would have happened had it been tangible, either way he didn't flinch at all. He was only startled when Stone free plucked the drink from his hand and tossed it into her own.
“Thanks for the soda.”
“What the-Hey my drink!” He cried out to her as she chugged it down the lemony drink, Stone Free’s fist sliding out of his head as she waved him away. Well that wasn't a total dead end, Bakugou knew something, not that he’d ever spill the beans to her, and she figured out a few tricks of her own.
“Consider a tax for having that guy as a classmate! Don’t tell anyone about this alright!” She called over her shoulder. “Oh and let him know I was only half awake and next time I won’t go so easy.”
“Baku-chan tax, gosh, we might go broke before we graduate...”
“Excuse me young man, let's not have a repeat of yesterday, take this stuff down.” She heard someone being scolded behind her. “I’ll even help you out! How does that sound Koshoin-kun!”
“Oh man, well I guess fair is fair.”
A new day began and as the hours ticked by one by one for another day at UA, Class-1B was filled with an anxious excitement; why wouldn't they be brimming with energy? Even their homeroom teacher was burning up almost as much as he did during the volleyball tournament. They all knew what today was. Beyond being their first real hero class, the first time they’d put on their outfits they put their hearts and souls into designing, it would be the day that:
“I’M! Coming through the door!” All Might slid into their classroom with a gust of wind and his cape billowing in his wake and a dazzling smile on his face. The door didn’t so much as squeak as it neatly clicked behind the hero of heroes. Blonde hair slicked back save for two tufts that stood tall like a pair of mighty horns. His signature red, white, and blue costume put his powerful body on full display as he flexed. The man stood tall, taller than even Vlad, a muscular figure that leapt straight out of comic book into reality. A sun that could blind with just his smile, that was the Number One hero: All Might. “How are you all finding today? Are you ready to face my lesson head on!? Because ready or not I’m here! Follow me!” With that said, he boldly opened the door and rushed ahead. Before anyone could get up Vlad simply raised his hand to stop them as a few seconds later Al Might returned sheepishly rubbing his nose. “Ah I nearly forgot! Your hero attire is ready!”
Class 1-B marched out fully decked out in their hero attire ready for any challenge that the number one or Vlad could throw at them. As the class took in his presence his eyes scanned their faces, committing them all to memory once more. For a moment longer than most he looked at Jolyne before moving on, his boisterous voice rang out.
Jolyne’s hair was pulled through a cool green helmet that covered her head and the top half of her face; a black mask that covered her mouth, and a bright red star painted on the forehead between the wide blue lens that covered her eyes. A somewhat transparent blueish-green shawl was warped around her shoulders and neck down to her elbows covered in a golden web-like pattern. Through the shawl on her back were layered stars each a color of the rainbow. Underneath it was a bodysuit with similar webs that formed a broken pattern around a butterfly crest on her chest, the same as the tattoo on her arm. The golden webs fade and combine into solid dark blue sleeves as they weave down her shoulders until they reach her blackened fingers and the same with her legs down to her feet. The suit was split in two by a large golden utility belt wrapped askew around her waist.
Jolyne’s head perked up locking eyes with All Might for a moment as he turned away and nodded to himself. All Might led the class to Ground Beta, an urban environment, similar to the entrance exam, that had seen better times. The building he led them too was caved in around massive black spikes covered in a white tundra. Pillars of ice and snow sprouted from the surrounding landscape. The chill rode the wind and made the young students shudder. The question of what happened here filled their minds but Jolyne, who had half the picture. That boy she met the other day wasn’t just bragging about his power at least. If he had stepped in, what would that fight had looked like oddly she was more excited by the idea than worried.
On the other hand, All Might who watched the one-sided clash between the youngest Todoroki and Shio'n had his smile faltering for a moment at the memory.
“Is...this really all you got? If you don’t wanna fight you could have just said so ain’t no shame in it. You can’t be me like this and I’m no bully.” He remembered it clearly; the dark crystals reflected a soft grin and calm eyes. For a moment a flash of flame was quickly silenced by a blast of ice and the howl of a blizzard as metal was torn asunder. Snow of black and white falling for the sky as he had burst onto the scene and brought an end to the fight as the building collapsed.
Another's roof was simply missing as if it had been blown out from the inside. This one he also had mixed feelings about. As if feeling the gaze of his students, All Might coughed into his fist, trying to disguise his pride and guilt of the destruction he allowed to run rampant.
“Y-yes well Class 1-A certainly were giving their all the other day! But worry not my students, we prepared another course in advance!!” He laughed becoming the young heroes away from the still being repaired site of the last exercise.
“In other words we’re stuck with the leftovers and snowballs, cause some kids couldn't handle themselves?” Neito clicked his teeth. The idea of being seen as lesser or jealous that his class was going second made him seethe and know one not even himself knew which made him angrier.
“Well its not exactly like that you see I-”
“We're all the same age and it's not as though they did it on purpose.” Itsuka chastised him, while she could understand, it's not like she wasn't disappointed seeing their first training course reduced to ruins, there was no point in badmouthing their peers.
“Maybe on the outside.” He grinned. “But if they can't even control themselves I'm gonna call them kids.”
“All Might-sensei...sir? What are we gonna do?” Jurota scratched the top of his head as he gazed at the winter-world before him.
“Haha! Worry not. Young heroes, this is no mere replacement! I’ve chosen to go a different way this time around and I’m sure you will be thoroughly challenged!"
“Indeed!” Their homeroom teacher bellowed, shaking their ears. “Compared to the walk into the park Class-1A experienced. My students will break the earth itself!” This was his suggestion and as such he was all for it.
“...” All Might simply smiled, a tiny bead of sweat ran down his cheek. Ground Beta was designed to be destroyed but...the thought of whether he would be blamed for what happens next made him pause. On the other hand, if they could destroy where he planned to bring them at the very least that meant the next generation of heroes were truly astounding all around!
“This is the place.” His smile never faltered as he placed his hand on the ground and as if he were cracking open a suitcase he lifted a chunk of the ground rose, spilling dirt and soot through the air as it creaked open. It was like the earth had opened its mouth to yawn, a massive maw easily big enough to fit a bus revealed a staircase leading somewhere darker than dark. As their teachers guided them down the path it grew even darker still, their steps echoed as they marched on and time seemed to lose all meaning until All Might's voice boomed and echoed off far and deep into the shadows.
“All right! Now shield your eyes!” With a loud click the area was filled with a flash of light revealing they had made their way to some sort of chamber almost like a dungeon, its brick walls were surely new, the chamber had four tunnels not counting the one they came from. In All Might's hand was a mechanical bird whose round belly was practically a lantern, its fluttering wings made a whirling noise whose hum filled the air.
“Listen here my gallant young heroes! While your peers in Class-1A were securing a bomb, you will be venturing into this maze, a Villainous pair's lair to rescue hostages." He held up the metal bird bathing them in its light. “Now let's head back up and I’ll divide the teams!”