Hunter Amongst Villains Draft - Preparations for Ghin's Test (Patreon)

Oof. I've been mostly trying to reingratiate myself with old video game walkthroughs to strengthen my dialogue and writing skills. Mass Effect is a rich resource for such things as I've come to learn. Also scrounging for ideas and stuff in my revisiting. 

As for this, this is simply a prototype version of how Ghin would react in finding out about One For All. I instead wanted this to be more serious and dramatic. Right now, I wanted Ghin to go to UA, infiltrate everything using Toshinori, and interrogate him like hell to explain himself why his power is so similar to Izuku's. Once he got his answer, from Yagi's facial expression, Ghin would know the answer and explode in an unstoppable rampage towards Izuku to challenge him, a fight fueled by the pain of betrayal. It will be something even more dramatic and heart rending than Bakugo vs Izuku after the Kamino Arc, as Ghin really considered Izuku as his friend. And he has been through much for too long, since Izuku never knew how much Ghin treasured Ghin's considering him as a real friend.

Anyways, here you go, your weekly feed.

Meanwhile…

Under the noon sun, the boy who owned Class 1-A and the inheritor of All Might’s will walked down the sidewalk as the boy hummed in a jolly gait.

He and the rest of his friends had been thoroughly planning the surprise party they’d hold for the Hero-Hunter. Izuku only smiled wider as he thought of how strange the situation he found himself in was. They had relied on Ghin to send out the invitations, due to knowing Garou better than anyone. He did wonder who the silver-haired youth would invite however...

“So, tell me about your Quirk, Coward. What kind of quirk is it?” Ghin asked as he swung his arms back and forth in his jolly gait.

Izuku slowed at the sudden mention of his Quirk. A sense of unease came over him. He knew how both Ghin and Garou felt when it came to bestowed power. That it wasn’t earned.

“I-it’s uhhh…..”

“Why is it so similar to All Might’s?” Ghin asked. His tone was still childish and cheerful, but the message behind it spoke differently.

Izuku could only nervously laugh, scratching his arm in anxiety. Had he been revealed? And by the two most dangerous possible people?

“Ahahah… n-no it’s just a c-coincidence….lots of p-people have strength enhancing Quirks.”

“Why do you move so similar like All Might then?” He asked, his question taking a more dangerous turn.

Thinking of any possible reason or excuse, Izuku came up with the first thing he could think of.

“W-well… it’s like with you and G-Garou. I’m a big f-fan of All Might.”

“You can't compare learning martial arts to learning Quirk techniques. It is too similar. It is uncanny. The power behind it is suspiciously like All Might’s smash moves as well.” Ghin’s tone now took a more dark, low tone.

“You're lying. I've been training under Garou for almost a year. He taught me everything I know. I've studied martial arts, researched the applications of many moves, and practiced how to read and copy the techniques of others. And I know for certain how impractical it is for a person to somehow mimic the technique of differing Quirks.” Ghin stopped moving as he turned around, his eyes gazing at Midoriya… they are no longer the eyes Izuku knew. They were dark, and hostile.

Izuku froze in Ghin’s dark glare. He could feel a dangerous atmosphere settle around them. Releasing a calming breath, Izuku straightened himself up to his full height in an attempt to increase his confidence. It was to be expected. Either one of the silver-haired duo would have noticed sooner or later. And unlike with his friends, there was no easy excuse or reasoning to get out of it. Locking eyes directly with Ghin, Izuku let out another calming breath.

“Did you receive this Quirk from All Might somehow?” Ghin accused. Izuku flinched at his accurate accusation.

“......yes. I did.”

Izuku braced himself for the incoming verbal assault he was sure would be coming. He wasn’t entirely sure, but there was still the possibility that Ghin would straight up attack him here and now.

“............it all made sense…” The lights behind Ghin turned a murderous black, as Izuku felt a wave of killing intent unlike any other.

“Haha… Hahahahaha…” The boy started breaking down into mad laughter, as he if he found the answer to something very dreadful.

“The weakening… All Might’s constant disappearances and inactivity… hahaha. Of course such a Quirk exists. If there's a Quirk that can steal other Quirks, of course there’s a Quirk like that.” Ghin eerily smiled at Izuku. A very dangerous smile reflecting his dwindling sanity.

Eyes blackened by the void, not like Ashido's black sclera, but complete and absolute darklight consuming all colors as he stared at Midoriya, his killing intent like a blade holding Midoriya at knife point, holding his life on a string. Stuff like tat.

A cold, horrifying feeling.

Like a dark shadow that could rip someone's head off at any moment.

Izuku felt trapped. He felt like he was a small animal, cornered by a larger predator. Combined with Ghin’s suddenly unpredictable behaviour, it made Izuku genuinely worry for his own safety. He attempted to steel himself in the face of the danger he faced.

“Hehehehe… he. I no longer regret renouncing All Might now…” Ghin said as his smile grew even wider.

“....it’s not like that…”

Izuku couldn’t simply stand there and let Ghin slander All Might. He had given Izuku a reason to continue.

“I no longer regret renouncing every hero in the world. Quirks… they're not as special as they say. They're nothing but tools. Tools! Hahahahah!” Ghin started laughing as he smiled at its peak.

“No! You’ve got it wrong! They’re not just tools!”

Izuku steeled himself, taking a step forwards. With Ghin’s seemingly fragile mental state, Izuku felt like he was the only one between Ghin and something potentially very dangerous. He had to do something.

“Then what are they? Tell me, then, coward.” Ghin asked as he narrowed his eyes.

Izuku knew that giving Ghin the answer he wanted was not necessarily the correct choice. If he wanted to prove the value of Quirks, he needed to speak from his own heart.

“.....They’re a way to protect people. To be able to reassure people that there is always hope.”

“They're an excuse to bully the Quirkless. A power ripe for abuse.” Ghin rebuked with his own experiences.

“Anything can be abused! It’s about the will and strength to use it for good.”

Izuku fiercely debated with Ghin, the worry still permeating the back of his mind. He’d never seen the young boy acting like he was now.

“There is no good in a power that incites people to do evil.” Ghin rejected.

Shaking his head in disagreement, the green haired student faced down Garou’s disciple.

“It’s not the power that should be held responsible. It’s the ones using it with bad intentions.”

“It is. Quirks are no different than addictive drugs for the weak-minded and vulnerable. Tell me, do you know any good example of a bully that loves bullying others because of his Quirk?” Ghin asked as the image of Katsuki flashed through Izuku’s mind.

“........”

Casting his eyes to the ground, Izuku couldn’t respond to Ghin. The painful memories of his near-constant school torment surfaced, making him feel sick to his stomach. His head hung low as he couldn’t think of any way to counter the silver-haired boy’s point. His fists were clenched, his arms trembling.

“......I was once Quirkless like you…”

“?” Ghin raised an eyebrow as he heard that.

“What?”

Raising his head to lock eyes with the now surprised Ghin, Izuku’s face was set in a pained look.

“I wanted to be a Hero. But I couldn’t. I had no Quirk. Even when I met All Might, he told me I couldn’t. But just because I was Quirkless didn’t mean I couldn’t help someone.”

Izuku paused, taking another deep breath.

“Kacchan was in trouble. A villain had got him. No one could get to him to help. But I ran to help him anyway.”

“Why? You would've been killed instantly. And screw All Might for saying that.” Ghin both demanded why Izuku rushed in like a headless chicken and cursed All Might for saying something that insults his very life.

“I ran because he needed help. That’s what a Hero would do.”

“Garou told me anyone could go in and do that. Those kind of people don't last very long.” Ghin scoffed at his resolution.

“You need the strength to back it up. You're just an idiot, an arrogant idiot too full of himself because of moral superiority.”

Izuku’s face bore an expression of seriousness. His stuttering and trembling had ceased. The tension in the air grew and grew with each passing moment.

“I was an idiot. But because of my recklessness, my friend is alive. And I had proved to myself. You don’t need a Quirk to be heroic.”

“Being a hero and heroic are two different things. Anyone can be heroic. Being a hero is not so simple.” Ghin pointed his finger at Midoriya.

“Being a hero is never about just being heroic. It is more than just saving lives. And it is never about good versus evil. You'll only create more villains if you are too indulged in that ridiculous concept.” Ghin snarled.

“I know. Being a Hero is so much more. It’s about having the strength to smile, even when things look bad. To tell people that it’s okay. “

A corner of Izuku’s mouth creeped up, making the smallest smile.

“...you are just as bad as All Might.” Ghin, however, curled his lips in an infuriated frown.

“Smiles won't save anyone. It is about staring into the face of death and fight on. It is about tenacity to move on forward no matter what the world throws your way, and defy whatever fate throws at you and surpass it.” Ghin gave his own interpretation. A far harsher yet more realistic version of being a hero.

Izuku’s face softened slightly. He stared down at the frustrated form of Ghin.

“It’s the job of a Hero to do all of these things. That’s why they need to be the best. They represent so much of what we should strive to be.”

“Hah. Says the one who never earned his power in the first place. And I already know that.” Ghin scoffed at Izuku’s words, unimpressed. The empty street around them returned to its deafening silence as the two stared at each other.

“........”
Izuku was once again silent at Ghin’s words. He was unable to explain why he was worthy to Ghin. It was a bestowed power.

“Why did All Might even choose you anyways… wait, no… scratch that.” Ghin shook his head.

“How did you earn All Might’s favor?” Ghin rephrased himself.

“....when Kacchan was captured by the villain, All Might could only watch. He was too weakened.”

Izuku clenched a fist at the memory.

“But when I ran in to save Kacchan… I showed him that I wasn’t powerless. That it is the job of a Hero to go above and beyond to protect people.”

“......” Ghin remained silent as he looked at Izuku, almost as if experiencing his own nostalgia. All of his rage and anger died out, replaced by calm contemplation.

“When I met Aniki, he was bloody and near death. I was the one who first saved him by bringing him to my home.” Ghin started narrating with his own story.

“I never asked him to train me in the first place.”

Izuku nodded, silently taking in Ghin’s story. Still… the idea of Garou being beaten and bloody seemed so.... strange.

“...we met the second time after Garou went his way. He saw me being bullied by the playground… I hate being bullied. He chased them away and we talked.”

Sympathy welled up in Izuku’s heart as he listened. They both knew the pain and the torment. But it appeared that both of them had found someone to help them. To guide them down the right path.

“He offered to train me after hearing about the plight of the Quirkless. He wanted to prove the weakness of Quirks… to show everyone the value of individual strength, not Quirks. And he succeeded.”

Again, Izuku could only remain silent as Ghin revealed his and Garou’s first interaction. The boy seemed to have been caught up in the memories.

“…why didn’t anyone show me that anyone could be strong? Why is it that no one acquired the strength like Aniki in the past? Before I met Aniki, I would’ve begged God for a Quirk, but now after I learned that there’s a way for the Quirkless to gain strength, I was livid. Tell me, did the world hide that? To conceal that fact just so we Quirkless could suffer for their enjoyment?”

Looking down at Ghin, Izuku once again couldn’t respond. The similarities in their past made Izuku feel even worse for the boy. He was still just a kid. He didn’t deserve the torment placed on him.

“....I don’t know.”

“…it doesn’t matter anyways. Aniki already shook the world in the right direction. No Quirks will be able to defeat him anyways in the end.” Ghin shook his head as he locked gazes with Izuku again.

“Have you ever been let down by heroes? In the most painful way imaginable?” Ghin asked Izuku.

“...I always wanted to be a Hero. Even when I found out I was Quirkless.”

Even at a young age, Izuku never stopped his desire to become a Hero.

“My parents were killed in a battle between a hero and a villain, died under a crumbling building. I watched as they protected me to the very end.”

Izuku could only feel saddened for the young boy. He had been through so much. Torment after torment had heaped themselves upon him.

“The Hero never came to rescue them. He thought we were all killed. That damn Crimson Riot let my parents die.” Ghin seethed at the name.

Izuku widened his eyes in shock at the name of the Hardening Hero. He knew that early in his career, Crimson Riot had hesitated, leading to civilian casualties. But to think that Ghin’s parents were killed in such a way….

“Despite this, I still had some hope, in the heroes of this world. A foolish hope that they are still actual heroes… I was wrong. After I met Aniki, I renounced my fate in the heroes here. Even All Might. There is no hero for the Quirkless.” Ghin made a conclusion for his resolve.

“...I’m sorry.”

Izuku felt like all he could do was apologize. Ghin was clearly upset at the memories of his parent’s death.

“Don’t. I found a new hero in their place. No matter how much you convince me to change, I will always look up to Aniki as my hero.”

Nodding in understanding, Izuku could at least feel relief that things had gotten better for the silver-haired youth. Everyone needed a Hero, and Garou was his.

“Also, I might need to give you my own test.” Ghin then started to smile at Izuku, one filled with jittering excitement.

Despite his sudden nervousness at this news, Izuku couldn’t help himself from smiling along. The dangerous atmosphere around them seemed to have dissipated, leaving only one of anticipation.

“I am going to break your bones until they’re white powder! I refuse to let some nobody that never truly trained have the power of All Might! You will be tested in the fires of hell!” He joyfully declared with innocent glee, despite the words coming out of his mouth promised pain and misery for Izuku.

As he looked down at the now smiling boy, Izuku could feel dread creeping up his spine. The conversation changed from that of seriousness to one of danger for his well-being.

“....Will I be the only being ‘tested’?”

The entire class of 1-A had barely managed to contain him. In a one on one fight, Izuku had next to no chance.

“Well… you can bring one more if you want. Chicken.” Ghin giggled by Izuku’s cowardice.

Izuku thought of who he could possibly bring to face Ghin. Everyone of his friends flashed through his mind. In the end however, he could only think of one person.

“...Then I’ll bring Kacchan.”

“Eh? The bully?” Ghin blinked as he pondered.

“Ok! I will get to grind his bones to dust then! After I use him as a punching bag!” Ghin’s smile grew even wider at this point.

The green-haired student could only send a silent apology to his childhood friend. He would be furious that he’d been picked by ‘Deku’. But Izuku felt like out of all the people in the class, they were two who held the slightest chance.

“Anyways, onwards! We still have much to do for the party!” Ghin shouted reminding Deku of their task.

Midoriya stood in the middle of class 1-A, the focus of dozens of incredulous stares. They had all noticed that Midoriya seemed a little… off today. After a bit of questioning, that was when he’d revealed that he’d been challenged by Garou’s apprentice. And he had accepted.

“Midoriya! What are you thinking!”

Mineta shouted out, breaking the astounded silence. He seemed to be grieving for his classmate pre-emptively.

“I agree. It was extremely rash of you to accept his challenge.”

Iida was the next to speak up. The slightest hint of anxiety was in his movements as he adjusted his glasses. No one in the class had any doubt. Despite the fact that Midoriya was one of the strongest members of their class, he still wouldn’t be able to win.

Izuku could only nervously chuckle, scratching his arm in anxiety.

“W-well… h-he seemed so excited… a-and I wouldn’t have been a-able to get out of it…”

The sound of loud clattering filled the room, as Bakugou had shot up out of his seat angrily, knocking his chair over in the process. He glared at Izuku with his hands in his pockets.

“What the fuck is your problem? Why? Why did you accept?”

Izuku withered under Bakugou’s intense gaze. He shrunk back slightly in response.

“..well… h-he also told me to b-bring someone else too.”

The class suddenly got a lot more anxious. They all felt like any one of them could be chosen for the designated beating. Kirishima cocked his head as he looked at Midoriya, curiosity on his face.

“So? Who’d you pick?”

Izuku didn’t respond. He raised one trembling hand, pointing squarely at the one he’d chosen. Gasps came from parts of the class in response. Izuku’s finger was pointed right at the form of Bakugou. Bakugou himself however, didn’t show any outwards reaction. His emotions were swirling around inside his mind. The rest of the class also watched in shock as Bakugou didn’t even seem to shout at Midoriya or anything.

“Bakugou? Why him?”

Kaminari pointed a finger accusingly at Bakugou.

“W-well uhhh….. I f-feel like me and K-Kacchan could put up a g-good fight.”

Bakugou flinched upon being called by his childhood nickname. His glare increased in intensity as he pulled his hands out of his pockets, now balled into fists.

“I’m gonna give the little shit more than a ‘good fight’. I’ll make sure to show him exactly what I’m capable of.”

Raising one clenched fist, the class could see smoke rising from between his fingers, flashing sparks intermittently emerging from his hands.

“...I thought you despise Midoriya though.”

Iida pointed out, quite fairly. However, it only earned him a glare from Bakugou. Turning back to the nervous form of Izuku, Bakugou’s face was unreadable.

“....I do. But that fuckin kid butted his way in without asking. Me and the nerd’ll shatter his little confidence, sending him running back to him.”

However, Bakugou sent a momentary snarl in the direction of Izuku.

“But I didn’t need your damn ‘recommendation’. I was planning on fighting the kid anyways.”

“Kind of demeaning since you're picking a fight with a kid much younger than you though.” Kaminari commented bluntly for effect.

Turning to face the electric-Quirk user, Bakugou sent a death-stare his way. Kaminari flinched in response.

“...There’s nothing normal about that kid.”

Everyone in the class could only nod at Bakugou’s accurate summation of the disciple of Garou. He seemed like a smaller, more childish Garou. Which, judging from Garou’s behaviour, doesn’t make for a ‘normal’ child.

“And Deku.”
Hearing his childhood nickname, Izuku turned to the direction of the voice. Bakugou seemed to have calmed down somewhat, a serious look in his eyes.

“Don’t get in my way.”

“....got it.”

Nodding, Izuku knew that Bakugou had actually agreed to face Ghin alongside him. And despite his outward appearance, Izuku could tell his childhood friend was just as nervous as he was when it came to facing the disciple of the Hero-Hunter. No doubt he wanted to make up for his poor showing during the ‘test’ of 1-A in its entirety.

“...so what's your plan in facing the kid?” Sero asked now curious of Izuku’s game plan.

“....I was thinking about it. He has a massive advantage in speed and strength. His close-quarters combat skills aren’t to be ignored either…”

Izuku’s stammering and trembling had ceased entirely as he carefully thought of the boy’s capabilities. Bakugou merely stood there, arms crossed as he listened to Izuku rattle off all of the advantages the boy had.

“...added to his reaction times could make it very difficult to deal with.”

“Do you actually have any plan?”

Bakugou asked the mumbling Izuku. He hadn’t actually mentioned how they’d counter any of the kid’s advantages.

“.....not really. He’s got too much of an edge on us.”

The rest of the class listened in with growing anxiety. The beating these two will receive will be extreme. Some of them even worried for their classmate’s lives.

“I don't know how we can face him normally. Whatever Garou put him through made him one of the scariest kids alive. What we learned in UA won't be enough to take him on… only those Garou personally taught would know how to beat him. We do not have a ‘Garou’s mindset’ so to speak.” Izuku continued.

Cupping his chin in thought, Bakugou began thinking. Suddenly getting an idea, he turned to Izuku.

“Do we have time to ask someone who’s faced them?”

Midoriya immediately knew what he meant. They’d need to find someone who had been in direct conflict with one of the two, and who’d come out with somewhat of an understanding.

“....what about All Might? Or the Pussycats?”

Izuku brought both of them up as they were the first thoughts that came to his mind. The battle between Garou and All Might was beyond anything they’d seen. Perhaps he’d have some advice. And Izuku knew that two of the Pussycats had been trained by Garou, although he wasn’t sure which two.

“Well… All Might could work. But the Pussycats would be better in terms of details regarding Ghin’s fighting style… we can try both. Ghin said we will fight on Saturday or Sunday.”

Both Izuku and Bakugou remained silent as they began to think of any possible way they could contact the Pussycats. The rest of the class also fell deep into their own thoughts, attempting to come up with ways to help their two classmates.

“Maybe Aizawa-sensei knows how to contact them?”

Looking around in their classroom, their teacher was nowhere to be found. They needed to find him. They needed to get in contact with Garou’s two trainees as soon as possible. But first, they need to contact All Might. Izuku brought out his phone and dialed All Might’s number. If anyone knew where to find Garou’s disciples, it would be him. Though he would have to ask All Might about Garou’s fighting style first.

Standing in All Might’s office, Bakugou and Izuku looked down at the skeletal Hero. The former Symbol of Peace stared at the two students, a serious look in his eyes.

“....Are you both sure you want to go through with this? Facing young Ghin would most likely be like a scaled down version of the fight between me and Garou.”

The two students exchanged glances. They both knew that they stood a very little chance. They didn’t have the variety and adaptability that came with facing Ghin as a full class.

“Haha… well, it is better than rejecting the test. I don't know what he’ll do if I refuse.” Izuku awkwardly laughed.

Turning his eyes to Izuku, All Might could only look on with mild worry.

“Izuku, my boy. What made you accept his challenge?”

Izuku clenched his fists as he was reminded of his confrontation with the silver-haired disciple. Ghin had seemed so excited in preparation for their fight. And in truth, Izuku did want to face Ghin.

“...All Might… he knew.”

Releasing a long sigh, All Might didn’t really seem surprised about this fact. He looked at Izuku, sympathy in his eyes.

“I’m sorry Izuku my boy. It would have happened sooner or later. How did young Ghin take it?”

“....He was furious. I-I…I thought he would attack me on the spot.”

Midoriya shivered as he remembered the eerie episode that had come over Ghin.

Nodding, All Might gestured for the green-haired student to continue.

“H-He… asked me about how I was given One For All. Then he… told me about his past. How his parents had been killed in a battle between a villain and Crimson Riot.”

Upon hearing the familiar name of the fellow Pro, All Might twitched. He knew immediately what young Izuku was talking about. He also knew the overwhelming sense of regret that consumed Crimson Riot after the event. For Ghin’s parents to have perished under such conditions… All Might could only feel sadness towards the young boy.

As Izuku stood there, his head hanging in memory, Bakugou stood next to him, silently taking everything. Breaking the silence, Bakugou crossed his arms.

“So… do you have any advice?”

Steepling his hands, All Might recalled all he’s learned in regards to the methods of the Hero-Hunter. Despite the gap in power, he believed in the two students in front of him.

“Well, from my experience, their martial arts make it incredibly difficult to actually land any strikes. Combined with their superior speed means that unless you take them by absolute surprise, there is practically no way to hit them. And a surprise attack would only work once. So you’d need to make your decisive strike then. Otherwise, you will suffer a ‘Death by Garou’ as Ghin coined it.”

The two students nodded along with All Might’s analysis of the Hero-Hunter. They remembered the footage of the duel between the Hero-Hunter and All Might. It looked like not a single attack even landed on Garou. That must have been his martial arts that All Might was talking about, along with his ridiculous fighting skills.

“....Do you know how to get in contact with the two Pussycats Garou trained?”

Izuku brought up the other trainees of Garou’s. They were the other source of info on the Hero-Hunter. And judging by the fact that they had been directly trained, they would be quite  knowledgeable.

“Oh? Ragdoll and Pixie-Bob? Why yes I do know how to get in contact with them. Are you looking to question them as well?”

Leaning forwards in his chair, All Might’s face now bore it’s trademark smile.

Izuku nervously fiddled with both hands as he cast his gaze around the room.

“Uhhh… Y-yeah..”

“Excellent. I’ll give them some advance warning that you’re coming. I believe those two could help you greatly. Especially Ragdoll. She seems to have really taken Garou’s training to heart.”

Ever since she had been trained by Garou, Ragdoll seems to have undergone some personality changes. All Might assumed it was a byproduct of the intense training from the Hero-Hunter.

“Do you know where we could meet them?”

Bakugou narrowed his eyes upon hearing All Might’s words. It appeared that Garou’s ‘appeal’ was much larger than he had expected.

“…well, they stay at their other residence here for further training. If not, they’re at their usual training ground in the mountains. It’s a sight every time they come back though.” All Might smiles upon remembering their tired, exhausted faces as if they just went through life or death situations every day.

Bakugou and Izuku shared another momentary glance. Turning back to All Might, Izuku continued to fiddle with his hands nervously.

“But be warned. Ghin also trains there. If he finds you, prepare to experience ‘Death by Garou’. He is very protective of his ‘territory’.” All Might gave them a little warning just in case.

Both the boys nodded. So going to the forest was clearly out of the picture.

“So where is their house? We aren’t going to forest now.”

Bakugou stated matter-of-factly.

“Well… they rented an apartment… the apartment owned by Ghin’s aunt.” All Might reluctantly informed.

The two students began to feel a little frustrated. At every turn, Ghin’s presence was there, obstructing their goal.

“W-well, does Ghin spend a lot of time there?”

“They live in the building he calls home.” All Might pointed out the obvious.

“You will have to be very prudent this time. You can think of this as another trial in your journey to become a hero. Avoiding danger at every turn… which in this case a boy that might destroy you at first sight hahaha.” All Might lightheartedly laughed at the irony of the situation they’re in.

Both Izuku and Bakugou gulped at hearing All Might's summation of what would happen. They might not even make it to the weekend challenge.

“If we find the squirt there, one of us could attempt to distract him.”

Bakugou began formulating some attempt at a plan. Ghin was a kid after all. And that made him easier to distract than most.

“B-But how?”

The slightly trembling voice of Izuku responded to Bakugou’s attempt at a plan. The

silver-haired boy seemed to be unnaturally observant.

“Simple. You deal with him while I go question the Pussycats. Talk about Garou or something and he’ll take the bait.”

Bakugou waved his hand as if to saying don’t worry. Though Izuku could tell that there is also a ‘it's just you who’s going to die’ at the end of the sentence.

“Don’t give me that look, nerd. If I talk to him, he’ll get suspicious immediately. At least he’ll be willing to talk with you.” Bakugou pointed out.

“Hmmm… Maybe I could take some Garou-related stuff. Ghin really loves that.”

All Might watched in silence as the two students began to think of ways around the apprentice of Garou. And judging from their attitudes, they were both taking this quite seriously.

‘I wonder how they would react if I said I could summon them here…’ All Might thought to himself. Though he does have his responsibilities as a teacher to ensure their growth as heroes, ergo sending them into the cave of the God-Slaying Wolf as a test of sorts. Oh, the complaints he would hear from them when he reveals it in the end made All Might smile the ever more.

Both Bakugou and Izuku stood in front of the door that All Might had assured was their address. They spent a lot of time making sure the boy was not around, stalking around the apartment like burglars planning to ransack the place. It was awkward, especially for Bakugou since he’d never done something like this before.

Raising one hand to knock on the door, both the students could feel the tension in the air. Izuku held in one of his hands a plastic bag with something clearly inside it. They could both hear the slightest murmuring of voices from the other side of the door.

The door creaked open, pulled from the other side as then.

“Hello?” It was the boy the two wasted so much time to avoid. The silver-haired boy blinked upon seeing them. The two students paled like ghosts at seeing HIM.

“Eh? What are you two doing here in my sacred grounds?” He demanded, not amused by their being here.

“O-oh Ghin! We were h-hoping you were home.”

Izuku lied. He tried to prevent his stammering, so as to not look too unbelievable.

“Eh? You want to experience ‘Death By Garou’ that badly? Why are you here? Answer truthfully or perish.” How the boy narrowed his eyes already suspicious of Izuku screamed danger in itself. Bakugou’s left eye twitched, frustrates at Deku for messing it up, and at the boy for already ruining their plan from the get go. If this continues, they will experience ‘Death by Garou’ soon.

Suddenly, another head appeared from around the door. It was the familiar face of the Pussycat Pixie-Bob. She seemed to light up upon seeing the two UA students.

“Oh! It’s you two!”

She gestured for Izuku and Bakugou to enter.

“Come on in. We’re always happy to see you.”

“…you invited them here?” Ghin asked the older woman with suspicion.

Pixie-Bob looked down at the suspicious young boy. Both Izuku and Bakugou could see the smallest hint of nervousness in her face.

“Well yeah! They saved Kota!”

“Why invite them here? This is sacred grounds, minion. No, my holy grounds.”

‘Minion?’ Both Bakugou and Izuku thought in unison.

“We didn’t invite them here!’

Pixie-Bob was slightly taken aback by Ghin’s accusation. She was correct, neither she or Tomoko had invited the two boys to their home.

“Ehhhh…” Ghin turned his head to the two before narrowing his eyes.

“Why are two here sneaking around like burglars just to meet the minions? Burglars die without exceptions here.” Ghin asked them again assertively.

Izuku seemed to jump at remembering something. Holding the bag up closer to his face, Izuku grinned nervously at Ghin,

“I-I uhhh… found these for you. I thought you’d like to see.”

“Eh?” Ghin peered into the bag as he…

“…where’d you get that?! I searched everywhere for these limited edition action figures! Gimme!”

Ghin demanded as he grabbed the box containing the accurate form of Garou fighting the heroes, the Hero Hunter holding All Might's neck in a chokehold while surrounded by the bodies of other heroes. The reason why it was so rare because it was very unpopular with the masses, as it was seen as an insult to the heroes society worship today.

“I just p-picked it up at the store.”

Izuku felt slightly relieved at their plan. Both he and Bakugou knew that Ghin wouldn’t be able to resist any new Garou merchandise.

“Which store? What’d you want for this? I’ll trade you anything for this.” Ghin asked as he hugged the box as if he found the greatest treasure.

“I found them in that Garou store we met in. I-I noticed a few new products as well.”

“They just came in without me knowing?! Noooooo!!! I should’ve went there earlier!!!” Ghin dropped to his knees almost crying ‘NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO’ to the ceiling.

Pointing one thumb over towards the nearby elevator, Izuku smiled at Ghin. The plan seemed to be going well so far.

“W-would you l-like to go and get t-them? I can get them for y-you…”

Without a word, Ghin immediately put on his shoes and grabbed Izuku by the collar of his shirt and dragged him towards the elevator. Izuku blinked as he watched his own feet dragging across the floor by the hands of a younger boy as they entered the elevator.

“You two can self-study! I’ll be back!” Ghin shouted as he dropped Izuku and pressed the first floor button, the elevator door closing afterwards leaving Bakugou alone with the two Pussycats.

“Pixie~ where is Ghin going?” The voice of Ragdoll could be heard within the room.

“He's going out shopping, Ragdoll!” Pixie-Bob shouted back.

“Oh. More merch?”

“More merch.”

Turning his head around quickly, a serious look came over Bakugou as he locked eyes with Pixie-Bob.

“Quickly, while the nerd is distracting him. We need your… help.”

Bakugou seemed to struggle saying the word ‘help’. He grimaced as he spoke.

“…let me guess. A Garou-like test?” Pixie-Bob smiled cheshirely at Bakugou.

Nodding, Bakugou wondered how long the Nerd would be able to distract Ghin for. He hoped he’d at least get some good answers before they got back.

“The squirt challenged Deku. I’m coming along. We need any insight you have on the kid and his fighting style.”

“…wow. That’s… a big hurdle you’re facing.” Pixie-Bob commented.

“Do you at least have a plan to deal with Ghin? Because he is our senior. And by that, neither I or Ragdoll can beat him, so…”

Clenching his fist in frustration, Bakugou glared at the Pussycat. Silence hung in the air.

“Alright, alright. Let me think… Ghin fights in his own way. He adapted his fighting style based on Garou’s teachings. And so far, he worked very hard to destroy his weaknesses. To even stand up to him, you will need to learn the ‘essence of combat’ as Garou said.”

Crossing his arms, Bakugou leant back on one foot. He continued to stare at the Pussycat, occasionally casting his eyes into the gap in the door.

“Well we don’t have the time for that. We need anything you’ve got. Patterns, weaknesses, anything.”

“…he cannot copy techniques as well as Garou for starters.” Pixie-Bob remembered that tidbit as Ghin lectures her in their tutoring sessions.

“It takes him time to copy and adapt them unlike Garou, who could literally copy anything at first sight… but to make up for his, Ghin poured strength into his ‘reading’ skills. He can memorize and predict your moves much better than anyone I’ve ever seen to be honest. Even Garou complimented on his reading skills.” She added as she tapped her chin in thought.

“I’m gonna come right out and say it. What chance do you give us?”

Bakugou felt like he knew the exact answer they’d give.

“Less than one percent. One if he is feeling generous.” She did not spare him mercy.

“I mean, none of us are even at the level needed to exploit Ghin’s weaknesses… the kid trained almost a year under Garou. Almost a year and look where it got him.” She almost sounded as if she was complaining.

Bakugou gritted his teeth. He didn’t want to accept the slim odds he and Deku had. He was determined to show that silver-haired kid his true capabilities.

“Look, I will give you some insights on Garou though. His mindset is based on fight or flight. It is not like ours who just rely on our Quirks. It is everything you got or you die. Garou is not from here, his mindset and training is shaped in land where death is everywhere and stuff.” Pixie-Bob explained.

“......”

Bakugou cast his eyes to the ground as he thought. The silver-haired duo seemingly done nothing other than mock him. Frustration began to build up inside Bakugou, slowly turning into anger. He was being looked down on constantly.

“…have you ever wondered where Garou came from?” She asked Bakugou, already aware of what went on inside him.

“....it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter where he’s from.”

The blonde student stood there, his emotions turbulent swirling around inside his mind.

“There are no Quirks where he is from. And there is only one continent there.”

“...then how did he become so damn strong?”

Casting his eyes back up to Pixie-Bob, Bakugou had a resentful look upon his face.

“Eh? That’s your question? I expected something like, why there’s no Quirks or why one continent? There’s a lesson in this you know?” She pouted as the living bomb ruined her moment to give him a lesson.

“But we’re facing Ghin. He’s not from some fuckin other place that I don’t care about. “

“But his strength does come from Garou’s teachings. If you want at least a good idea of what you’re facing, you need to learn Garou’s origins.”

She lectured the impatient boy.

“....why was he so strong if there were no Quirks? Who’d need his level of strength?”

Bakugou cocked his head slightly in frustrated confusion. He could barely imagine a world where he’d live without his Quirk.

“The land he comes from is filled with monsters. Most that desired human flesh or just their lives for sport. Dangerous monsters, some that not even All Might can hope to beat.” Pixie-Bob informed while still pouting that Bakugou is not fazed about the fact that Garou’s from another world.

“Monsters? Like that thing from the news?”

Bakugou recalled the multi-limbed beast that had savaged an entire group of Heroes. And then he recalled how Garou had dispatched it with a single punch.

“Trust me. There are far worse things than that in his home. That thing in the news is, according to Garou when I asked, the product of an unknown method of transformation similar to how Humans turn into monsters in his home.” She said.

“......”

The spiky-haired student took all of this in with mild incredulity. Not only had Garou had to grow to such levels in a world where everyone was Quirkless, but he’d done it whilst being under threat of monsters like the one that he handled on the news.

“Garou’s stories of his home is like from a children’s book on nightmares. There’s a giant so big his head reached above the clouds and one swing of his hand destroyed an entire city with wind pressure alone. Another is a giant centipede larger than life, with a shell so hard it can withstand nukes. There’s even an alien attack that destroyed another city without warning. So many lives were lost on a daily basis. And he survived there.”

“Then… why didn’t he stay there?”

Bakugou seemed somewhat despondent at the reveal of Garou’s origins.

“He didn’t come here by choice. He was brought here by one of us against his will. He can’t go back even if he wants to.” Pixie-Bob kneeled until she was at eye level with Bakugou.

“......”
The UA student remained silent. He alway knew that Garou was different to everyone else. The way he behaved, his level of strength, his abnormally strong hatred for Quirks. They all put him on a level above everyone else.

“Listen. The lesson here is that to face someone like Garou, which is Ghin, you must learn to rely on yourself. Not just your Quirk. But yourself, everything you got. And I mean ‘everything’. That is the lesson I learned the hard way after failing to prevent your capture at that day.”

Bakugou was silent. The words from the Pussycat swirled around inside him. He stood there, momentarily unsure of what to do. Gritting his teeth, he felt a wave of powerlessness sweep over him.

“…” Pixie-Bob watched as she read the emotions swirling within Bakugou’s heart.

“You’re wondering about what to do about it, aren’t you?”

Nodding in silence, Bakugou didn’t really know how to proceed. He felt like everything he did was pointless in the face of such overwhelming power.

“Well… first, you should reflect on your values and assort them. Next, try to rebuild yourself from the ground up, something better than the you from before. Basically, you must acknowledge your weaknesses and learn on how to deal with them accordingly in a new perspective. That is what Garou taught me during my grueling training sessions. Ignoring them won’t make them go away, you know?” She smiled at Bakugou as she said that.

Hearing the words of Pixie-Bob, Bakugou clenched his fists in determination. He knew that he’d have to fight Ghin with every single drop of his power. He would have to go beyond even Plus Ultra. If he didn’t, he’d pay the price.

Hearing a loud ding behind him, Bakugou turned his head, to see the elevator doors open. Out of the elevators came a bouncing, smiling Ghin. Behind him was Izuku, carrying what looked like a gigantic pile of boxes. They almost seemed bigger than he was.

“Quick, slave! Before he comes!” Ghin ordered happily as they marched into the floor, Izuku feeling like he was a pack mule used and abused.

Bakugou watched as Ghin passed by him, Izuku following behind. Despite carrying so many boxes and looking so exhausted, Izuku locked eyes with Bakugou, silently communicating. Bakugou merely nodded in response.

“So, what did I miss? You guys aren't here to ask my minions on how to beat me, are you?” Ghin smiled at Bakugou and Pixie-Bob as the two froze like statues.

“....Of course not. I don’t need any advice.”

Bakugou shrugged, glaring at the smiling boy. Izuku would have added something to the conversation, but he was practically buried by the boxes he was carrying.

“Oh ok. I am going to torment Pixie-Bob for giving you cheats then.” Ghin then turned his eyes to Pixie-Bob, seeing the woman stiffen, sweat pouring down from her pores.

The older woman began rapidly waving her hands in front of her face.

“Nonononono! I never told them anything!”

“Don't think you can fool me! The hesitation, the lack of drawn breath! I will grind your bones until they're powder!” Ghin pointed at Pixie-Bob, pouting as if he was betrayed.

The two UA students watched as the female Pro Hero panicked. Clearly Ghin must have had quite an effect during their training.

“Mmphh..”

Izuku attempted to say something, but was smothered by the boxes.

“Oh right. I will grind your bones after my slave brings my stuff to my room! See you soon! March, slave!” Ghin shouted as he ran down the halls. The Pussycats’ room was on the same floor as Ghin’s. Ghin rushed down towards the end of the hall, humming to himself, as he left the pack mule behind to suffer.

Izuku could barely see where he was going as he carried the mountain of boxes down the hallways. He attempted to see the inside of Ghin and Garou’s home out of curiosity.

“Mmppphh… In here?”
Moving his head out of the boxes that engulfed his face, Izuku looked at one of the nearby doors.

“Yep!” Ghin said as he inserted his key into the lock above the doorknob, and opened the door as he said.

“Quickly! Come in!”

As Izuku staggered into what he assumed was Ghin’s room, he gently placed the giant pile on the floor near the door. He panted heavily from the exertion. Even with his training, these boxes seemed to weigh a ton.

“Now get out! Or I’ll break your bones!” Ghin shouted pointing at the exit.

Hurried out by the small boy, Izuku began to make his way back out of the front door before he could even capture a good glimpse of Ghin’s home. Bakugou was waiting for him outside, a scowl present on his face.

“You done?”

Wiping his damp brow, Izuku nodded. Judging from the way Bakugou had nodded as he went in, he’d got the information they’d come for.

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

Izuku gave one glance to Pixie-Bob, seeing that she was staring into space with her body drained of life. Drool even leaked down from her lips.

Izuku could only bow his head in an apology to the seemingly traumatized Hero.

“Uhh… Sorry for this.”

“No… no more hell and demons. No more fires of hell…” She muttered as if entranced.

Taking this as their sign to leave, both Izuku and Bakugou headed for the elevators. They both took one last look at the place that Ghin and Garou called home. Reaching the elevator, they both stepped in as the doors closed.

“…slave?” Bakugou asked the moment the doors were closed.

Izuku could only chuckle nervously. During the entire outing with Ghin, he’d learned how demanding the young boy could be. Ordering him to pick up box after box, with no rest or pause. Looking back at Bakugou, he raised one eyebrow.

“S-So what did Pixie-Bob tell you?”

“She said that even with all of their training, even they couldn’t beat the kid. They give us less than one percent.”

The air grew nervous as Izuku was once again reminded of their slim odds against Ghin. To be told such by someone who had undergone Garou’s direct training only made them feel more dejected.

“Did she tell you anything else? Anything we can use?”

Izuku continued prodding for details. Both he and Ghin had been gone a long time. Surely Kacchan must have got some good advice or information.

“...she told me that Garou’s strength was a result from him coming from… somewhere else. Somewhere without Quirks…”

Bakugou’s voice was low as he informed Izuku of the Hero-Hunter’s origin. Izuku could only stare at Bakugou, dumbfounded.

“A world….without Quirks?”

“Yeah. The world he came from was filled with monsters. Like the orange one that was on the news a few days ago. Ones that she claimed that could ‘beat All Might with no effort’.”

The green-haired student could only gape at the reveal of Garou’s background. Not only was he from a different world, but one without Quirks and with monsters instead. It boggled Izuku’s mind.

“...she said that to fight against Ghin, we’d need to use everything. Our Quirks alone wouldn’t be enough. Every drop of our strength will need to be put on the line.”

Bakugou clenched one fist as he remembered the way that the squirt had spoken to him. The way he had been dismissed so easily.

“All of our strength…”

Izuku merely mumbled to himself. Whilst he had gained greater control over One For All since their last bout with Garou’s apprentice, he still felt like it wouldn’t be enough. If they were to win, Pixie-Bob was right. They’d need to throw everything at Ghin to even stand a chance.

“...I see why Garou hates Quirks now…” Izuku murmured as he now understood Garou’s personality better. Many focused only on the strength of their Quirks, not themselves. Everything they got… he remembered what Garou said. Don't treat your Quirk as a power, but you. Not a tool or something separate, but you.

“I get it now…” Izuku murmured as he understood Garou’s lesson.

“......”

Bakugou merely said nothing. Garou and Ghin had belittled him, based entirely around his Quirk. They had assumed he had not ‘earned’ his power. Bakugou gritted his teeth, an indignant anger building up inside him.

“...Listen here, Deku. We’re gonna beat this kid. We’re gonna show him that not all of us are fucking pushovers. You got that? I refuse to let last time happen again.”

Breaking himself out of his stupor, Izuku smiled slightly at his friend's words. Nodding in response, Izuku clenched his fists in anticipation. To be honest, he was looking forward to it. An opportunity to prove his worth.

“Wait, Kacchan… since we have a few days, shouldn't we ask Pixie-Bob on how to train ourselves to better prepare for Ghin?” Izuku pointed out as he looked at Bakugou in shock.

Realising his missed opportunity, Bakugou balled up his fist, smashing it into the wall of the elevator.

“DAMN IT!!!” He cursed aloud as the doors opened. Izuku turned to the door as he saw…

“GAROU?!?!?!”

The Hero Hunter stood outside the elevator door, staring at the two with slight surprise.

“Oh? The Courageous Coward and… huh. Never thought I'll see you here, squirt.” Garou said as he saw Bakugou.

“Why’re you here?”

Upon seeing the familiar form of Garou, Bakugou’s eyes locked onto him, his face a mask. Izuku shook himself out of his momentary shock, nervously smiling at Garou.

“Oh… w-we were j-just visiting G-Ghin…”

“Don't lie. The shrimp would break you for even being here without good reason. Why're you here?” Garou demanded.

Recoiling at his excuse being so easily unravelled, Izuku came out and explained the reason for their presence. Bakugou remained silent as Izuku continued explaining, his glare locked onto Garou.

“Hoh, so you are here for ways to cheat against my disciple? I gotta say, that won't nearly be enough to even survive. You don't have the ‘sense of combat’ like he does.” Garou lectured as he shook his head.

Izuku nervously laughed, scratching one of his arms. Bakugou’s silence only made Izuku more anxious.

“I-It’s not r-really cheating… I-I mean… it’s s-studying our opponent.”

“Hmmm…” Garou contemplated, rubbing his chin with his finger as he processed his explanations.

“Well, I guess it doesn't count. When I was still Hero Hunting, I would do the same thing. Only I didn't trespass my enemy’s home to ask about their weaknesses.” Garou made a sly grin as he said that.

“Heh… y-yeah. S-strange circumstances…”

The green-haired student nervously laughed again at what he thought was Garou’s attempt at humor.

“Good luck. He will break your bones and make you experience a ‘Death By Garou’... huh, it sounds catchy now that I said it…” Garou said as he entered the elevator and pressed the top floor. He waited for the two to get out of the elevator and the doors to close thereafter.

Getting out of the way of Garou, the two watched the metal doors close. Izuku could only let out a sigh of relief. Bakugou still glared at the closed doors, seemingly expecting Garou to come right back out.

“L-Let’s get going Kacchan…”

Bakugou turned his glare onto his childhood friend, who flinched underneath it. Placing both of his balled fists into his pockets, he began to storm off, his attitude soured from the sudden interaction with Garou.

“Yeah I know. And don’t fuckin call me that!”

Izuku hurried after the seething form of Bakugou. They couldn’t go back to ask anything else now. They would have to make do with what they had. Ghin may very well be their most dangerous opponent yet.

And all of their research didn’t even bring his Quirk into the picture, although Izuku considered one possibility. Considering Ghins incredible dislike for Quirks, he would probably resent his own. Perhaps he would be in a similar position to the one Todoroki had been in at the Sports Festival, refusing to use his power out of a moral or ideological reasoning. Izuku could only hope.

“...u-um, Katsuki… so, what's the plan on our training?” Izuku stuttered, moving on to the next topic. How to prepare against a boy who went through hell.

Turning his head back around to focus on Izuku, Bakugou still bore his scowl. Taking a moment to think, Bakugou was silent.

“Judging from what Pixie-Bob told me, Ghin isn’t too good at copying moves like Garou. He is however, quite good at reading movements and stuff. In that case… we’d need to make sure our movements are varied. Can’t give the brat any way to predict our moves.”

Izuku listened in, somewhat surprised as Kacchan begun openly explaining and planning. Bakugou however, didn’t notice and merely continued. Suddenly stopping, he clenched his fists as he realised something.

“You’re our close-quarters fighter. You stand more of a chance in close-combat with your… Quirk.”

Bakugou struggled to admit it. Each word seemed to only frustrate him further.

“I can use my Quirk to attack at a longer range. But knowing that kid…”

The spiky-haired teen almost knew that his explosions would barely even faze the kid. The only thing he could think of was that the smoke thrown up was an advantage. The more he thought about it, the more angry he got. Deku was more suited to this fight than he was.

“Listen. If he gets close, you deal with him. Don’t fuck it up. Or we’re both gonna be in the hospital.”

Turning on his heel, Bakugou stopped walking. Glaring at Izuku, he made sure that the nerd knew his part. Neither of them wanted more hospital time.

“...it will be hard. No, almost impossible though.” Izuku murmured as he tried to recall everything he learned.

“Ghin won't be easy. I cannot hope to exploit an opening. He has next to no openings I can exploit, his senses are much more refined in combat than mine. He will still be able to fend me off unless I risk my body’s condition…” Izuku murmured. He does not want to break his body to the point of no return.

“That’s why I said ‘Don’t fuck it up’. If you need an opening, I’ll try and make one.”

“No, that won't be enough.” Izuku shook his head.

“We need to give it everything we got. If we are going to fight Ghin, we need more. A lot more than that. No half-baked plan, but to give it more than our all. To Plus Ultra.”

Shaking his head, Bakugou brought both of his hands out of his pockets.
“No. We need to give beyond our all. Beyond Plus Ultra.”

Izuku cocked one eyebrow at Bakugou using the tagline for UA in such a situation. But he knew what he meant. They’d both need to do every possible thing to beat Ghin.

“We can also see if there is anything we can quickly add onto our costumes. To counter the kid.”

Bakugou began thinking of potential ways they could modify their costumes to directly target Ghin’s potential weaknesses.

“We might need to ask All Might on how we could train to prepare against Ghin… items might not be enough.” Izuku added as he was more focused on Ghin’s strengths.

Turning back around, Bakugou began walking away once again.

“Let’s go ask him then.”

“...well, that is difficult…” All Might tapped desk of his workplace as the two students stood by his chair.

“Someone like Garou is more suited for such advice… he knows more about combat than I do unfortunately. Despite him being much younger than me…” All Might’s vitality dwindled, his eyes staring into space as he was reminded of the fact he was defeated by a young man around his school year.

“We can’t ask Garou. He wouldn’t tell us. Besides… we already blew our chance to ask him.”

Izuku knew that Garou would never tell someone how to potentially counter him. It seemed too counter productive.

“.......hah, let me think…” All Might sweated. This was something beyond him. He was more articulate on the subject of One For All. But this… this isn't something he was skilled in. In fact, he could be considered a novice in this area.

“...first, is to find a way to handle his speed. Ghin is fast, so you must deal with that first.” All Might’s fingers continued rapping on the table in series.

“Second, his strength… Young Ghin’s strength is refined. It is not raw power, but controlled strength. He makes use of every muscle in his being, no fiber gone unnoticed. He will be very agile and flexible in his attacks, so be sure to find ways to deal with that.” All Might was merely speculating from his impressions so far. Young Ghin’s strength really does differ from his in fact. Movements much more refined and sleek, no delay or lag.

Both Izuku and Bakugou nodded as they listened in to All Might’s analysis of Ghin’s capabilities. Izuku was sure that even in his Full Cowl, Ghin was assuredly faster than him.

“Third, his weaknesses… one time, I saw Ghin looking at one of the vents startled. There was a fly there, and he noticed it flying around the room despite the distance. He caught the fly between his fingers before it could land on him. And he wasn't even looking.” All Might was still dumbfounded at that part.

“So he’s got great reactions too.”

Bakugou had stopped being surprised at the capabilities of the silver-haired duo long ago. There was seemingly nothing they couldn’t do.

“Garou never cut corners in his training. Even I was surprised that this level of training actually existed in the first place… but I have an idea on how to handle that.” All Might grinned. He was not that Number One Hero for nothing.

Izuku looked on at his mentor with eagerness in his eyes. He knew it was the correct choice to ask All Might.

“Bait his reaction time. Trick his reflexes. That way, you can make him give up an opening to deal with a threat that might or might not be there.” All Might smiled.

“So… feints?”

Bakugou summed up All Might’s tactic into one simple word.

“Yes. You must use feints, but they must be well-made feints. The boy is very observant of his surroundings, so it will be tricky.” All Might warned.

“....hmmm. We’d need to focus his attention. Make a smokescreen or something….”

Izuku began mumbling to himself as he begun to think of ways to reduce Ghin’s observant nature.

“As for his styles… be warned. I do not know what skillsets he has. I heard of a few mentioned possibilities after seeing The Pussycats train the Third years.” All Might said.

“The Third Years were trained by the Pussycats?”

Izuku broke himself out of his mumbling as he exclaimed, clearly shocked. Was UA beginning to implement more generalized combat-training?

“Oh… it was to be a secret, honestly.” All Might rubbed his hair sheepishly, realizing that he botched it.

“We are implementing Garou’s teachings into our education system. We want to ensure our student’s safety and improve our potential heroes for the future. Especially after the recent events regarding the League.” All Might informed.

The two boys could barely suppress a gulp of anxiety. The idea that Garou’s brutal training would be making its way into their classroom… it was a scary thought. They’d both seen the near-catatonic state of Pixie-Bob.

“No no. We were downplaying the difficulty of the lessons. We don't want our students to suffer, but to grow… though Garou would say otherwise. He would barge in here demanding to up the ante if he heard about this hahaha.” All Might laughed light-heartedly upon imagining Garou storming into the Department of Education.

“So… when we will be noticing these changes?”

Bakugou’s attention had momentarily shifted from how to counter Ghin, to the changes that Garou had inflicted upon their school. He was actually a little morbidly curious.

“The Pussycats will be assigned to your class around next week. So prepare yourselves for a glimpse of their hard work.” All Might smiled.

“Tell me, how are Pixie-Bob and Ragdoll anyways?” He asked.

Izuku and Bakugou shared a glance, Izuku nervously chuckling. Izuku sent a silent apology to Pixie-Bob who was no doubt suffering the consequences of their visit.

“We didn’t see much of Ragdoll. But Pixie-Bob seemed… fine. Until Ghin found out we had asked her about him. Then she kinda… shut down.”

“Oh…” All Might does not know how to react to that. He will send her a box of cake as his apology later on.

“Anyways, where was I… oh yes, Ghin’s skills. I only caught glimpses of the Whirlwind Iron Cutting Fist and the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist… lengthy names for martial arts though.”

“But what about the other one? The one that Garou used against….against you?”

Izuku remembered the footage. He momentarily hesitate, swiftly reminded of the memory.

“Ah yes… the Monster Calamity God Slayer Fist… I think he renamed it to True God Slayer Fist now.” All Might felt his old wounds pulsed with pain at the mention of that name.

“Young Ghin seemed to be still in training. He had not yet reached the level where he could use it freely… that is the pinnacle of Garou’s martial arts. It has absolutely no weaknesses according to Garou.” All Might grimly enunciated.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Izuku was glad that at least Ghin wasn’t at that level. They might have well challenged Garou himself if that had been the case. Bakugou had been silent for quite a while, processing everything the former Symbol of Peace was telling them.

“....what about the kid’s Quirk?”

Bakugou finally brought up the topic of the floating lights that hung in the air behind the boy, seemingly acting as mood lights.

“...it has no name. But I heard reports of what his Quirk can do.” All Might still remembered how Ghin told the heroes off when they pursued him.

“He only got that Quirk a few weeks ago. He once used it to fend off Pro Heroes during an incident. The lights behind him can turn into wings and bestow him flight, and shoot lasers at his enemies.”

Throwing his arms up into the air in frustration and powerlessness, Bakugou’s anger began to seep out of him

“Well there goes any fucking range advantage we may have had over the kid. What can this brat not do?”

“He is still in the process of coping with his sudden Quirk. He will not use it in his test, that I am sure. He follows Garou’s teachings quite fervently hahaha.”

“Still… that sounds like an extremely powerful Quirk. Combined with his strength… he’d make a great Hero.”

Izuku muttered out loud. The combination of everything made Ghin seem almost unbeatable.

“Oh right! Young Ghin’s wings could be used as a shield to protect him from harm as well.” All Might added.

“How effective is the defense of these ‘wings’?

Bakugou questioned, imagining his Explosions impacting the wings.

“Well… it blocked Snipe’s bullets, ones which can tear through rocks and stones. He has great durability since Ghin did not even react to the bullets pelting his wings.” All Might informed.

“...Is there anything we could say? To distract him?”

Izuku moved his thoughts on from the increasingly grim thought of combat. After distracting him so quickly, Izuku reasoned that there may be something he could say to distract the silver-haired youth.

“Young Ghin might not be so easily distracted. The best ways I can think of might incur Ghin’s ire towards you…”

Nodding in agreement, Izuku swiftly abandoned the idea of verbally ending the fight. With someone of Ghin’s discipline, there was a very little chance that he’d even listen to what was being said.

“What about the environment? Could we use it to our advantage?”

Bakugou began to think of the potential combat field.

“Where did he say his test will be?” All Might asked.

“Ummm, I think it is the mountains or… you know, he didn't say.” Izuku pointed out.

The lack of information regarding the location of the fight was worrying to all three. It could easily be something that would suit Ghin and his strengths. Or something that would put the two challengers at a disadvantage.

“...do you have any more questions?” All Might asked to move from the awkward atmosphere.

Shaking their heads almost in unison, both Izuku and Bakugou had heard everything they needed to. All Might’s advice had been extremely enlightening, revealing potential plans and exploits that could increase their chances. Suddenly remembering something, Izuku seemed to light up.

“Oh wait! Does Garou work with Mirio-senpai and Sir Nighteye? I saw them all facing that monster on the news!”

Izuku had suddenly remembered the footage of all three of them standing against the orange skinned beast.

All Might’s smile suddenly grew wider at the mention of them.

“Ah, yes… a very amusing question. Which part do you want to hear? The part where Garou was forced to intern or forced to come to this school as a student?” All Might leaned forward as he cupped his lips, whispering to them like a girl gossiping juicy secrets.

Both Izuku and Bakugou’s eyes widened upon the sudden reveal. Garou… was going to their school? They both stood there in silence, dumbfounded. Izuku had only recently been told by Ghin that Garou was 18. He’d never considered that Garou could potentially enroll for their school…

“He’s… in this school?”

Izuku looked around nervously, as if he expected Garou to appear out of nowhere.

“Is he here now?”

“No, it's no longer class hours. But you should've been there when we gave him a hero costume under his nose. His reaction was priceless.” All Might laughed heartily at the memory of Garou’s world-ending roar within the dressing room.

“Who’s his teacher?”

Izuku was now extremely curious about the details of Garou’s school life. What kind of teacher would possibly be able to handle Garou?

“Snipe. His class got a lot more interesting with Garou around. Though Garou goes by the name of Bang Silverfang to prevent mass panic.”

“How’d you even get him into a classroom?”

Bakugou’s face was an unreadable mask. The idea that Garou had been in the same school as him for an unknown amount of time was not a pleasant one.

“It is easier than you think. Much easier.” All Might’s smile reached his peak. He had no regrets even if Garou was here listening in.

“How could he possibly be easy to manage? And how does Snipe even keep him in line?”

Bakugou raised one eyebrow. Garou was not the ‘student’ type. How anyone had got him inside a classroom was beyond him.

“...a trade secret. Garou does have weaknesses after all.” All Might suppressed a giggle when the memory of Miss Shinjitsu slapping the back of his head to discipline him.

“Could we ask Mirio-senpai? To see if he could help us?”

Izuku smiled as he thought of his fellow intern.

“I don't know to be honest… you can try though. You might find something interesting about the duo if you do.” All Might wondered what Izuku would think if Mirio told him that he became friends with the Incarnation of Death and Fear.

The Mustafa Shopping Mall was mildly busy at this time. It was around the mid-to-late afternoon. School kids had begun to congregate in large groups all around the mall, either heading towards the super hero merch stores or hanging out at other places. The shops were all full of activity. The buzz and humdrum of activity filled the air. And sat over in a quiet part of the mall were two figures. Bakugou and Izuku both sat down around a circular bench, seemingly waiting for someone. Bakugou’s face bore his usual scowl as he glared over at Deku.

“Where the fuck is this guy? You said he’d be showing up.” Bakugou violently vociferate.

Waving his hands in front of his face, Izuku pointed to his phone, attempting to calm Bakugou’s frustration and impatience.

“Mirio-senpai said that he’d meet us here.”

Izuku had sent him a message shortly after leaving All Might’s office in UA. After a quick back-and-forth, they’d both agreed to meet in the Mustafa Mall. Bakugou had not been too happy about having to wait.

“I don’t know if you know this, but we don’t have a lot of time before we have to fight the brat. And I don’t want to spend most of my time sitting on this fucking bench!”

Bakugou angrily gestured towards the bench they were seated on. His impatience had seemingly boiled over.

“You're fighting Ghin?” A sudden voice popped up from beside them. Mirio already staring forward with his dumb grin on, as if making a grand comical entrance.

Recoiling slightly, Bakugou glared at the sudden appearance of this all too familiar face. Izuku shot out of his seat, raising one hand in a handshake.

“Mirio-senpai! It’s great to see you!”

“Heyo, Deku! I heard your plight, so I came as fast as I could!”

Briskly shaking hands, Mirio took a seat on the bench alongside Izuku. Bakugou kept his gaze on the Third Year.

“Thanks! Yeah… truth is, we’re a little troubled about the whole fight. He’s just… so much stronger than we could manage.”

Izuku began to look a little down, upon once again being reminded of the gulf in power.

“Hahahaha! That's ‘Bang’ for ya! Taking things so far that he can turn kids into mighty giants in little packagings!” Mirio laughed heartily as he smiled at Izuku.

“So, I take it you need some advice on handling his disciple?” He asked.

“Not just the kid. Any advice you’ve got on the man himself would be useful.”

Bakugou abruptly spoke up, turning his head to the Third Year.

“Eh? Oh it's you! The hellion at the Sports Festival!” Mirio shouted upon seeing Bakugou.

“As for any advice… no clue! You're screwed!” Mirio said as he laughed, dropping Bakugou’s expectations instantly.

Scowling, Bakugou glared at the laughing Mirio. He had expected him to be more useful. Especially after he’d taken on 1-A by himself.

“....What about him?”

“I'm joking! He offered me and my friends training! We just started a few days ago!” Mirio smiled as he clapped his hands together in an apology.

“I just got back from home after training. It was intense, I tell you! I needed to rest a bit before getting here.”

Izuku almost jumped at the realisation.

“So that’s why you’re so late! What did you do in this… training?”

“Getting my butt kicked to next Tuesday! Bang’s been drilling in my head the basics with a hammer and a nail! Not literally though, but close metaphorically!” Showing his forearms, both Izuku and Katsuki saw some blue markings on his skin. Bruises… which were currently healing.

The amount of bruises took Izuku back. It kind of looked like his own arm after his Smashes. Bakugou merely stared at the number of bruises, his face unreadable.

“...what kind of basics?”

Bakugou didn’t tear his eyes from the blue patches on the Third Year’s arms.

“The essence of combat.” Mirio informed.

“Bang is attempting to show me what is important in a fight. Not just any fight, but to fight with everything on the line, including my life.” Mirio added.

“.....”

Remaining silent, Bakugou said nothing. Izuku broke the sudden silence, interjecting with a question.

“So… do you know anything about Ghin or Him? Any weaknesses?”

“He allows no weaknesses! You're doomed if you think just that far! An easy path is the fastest path to the hospital, I tell you! To defeat him, you must become better than him!”

“Pfft. As if that would happen…”

Bakugou muttered to himself, scoffing.

“No no! Not in strength, but in improvement! You must not ‘stay still’ when you fight him! And hellion!” Mirio pointed at Bakugou suddenly.

“You will not win with that kind of mindset. You will lose long before you even threw the first fist. You should concede the test if that's the best your resolve can take you.” Mirio lectured at Bakugou with a surprisingly serious tone.

“.....”

Bakugou cast his eyes away from Mirio, clearly deep in thought. Izuku cast a momentary glance at his conflicted friend, before turning to Mirio.

“It’s about the mentality is it?”

Izuku was a little surprised that the mindset was stressed to be so important when facing Garou. However, he had bore the brunt of Garou’s bloodlust once before. He barely managed to bring out the will needed to resist.

“Yep! That's the first lesson! You need the correct mindset when facing Ghin!”

Taking a mental note, the green-haired student nodded in acknowledgment. Bakugou however, was still staring off into space.

“What else would you say we need?”

Mirio had said it himself. The mindset was only the first part. And knowing Garou, there were many more lessons afterwards.

“The second is about sheer will! But after that, no clue! I just started a few days after all!”

“Oh…”

Izuku seemed a little disappointed that there was nothing more they could find out. And Bakugou was right. They were running out of time. Bakugou had shaken himself out of his thoughts, looking directly at Mirio.

“So… you share a class with him?”

Bakugou had heard everything that Mirio had said. That he’d need to change his mindset.

“Yeah! It’s a very fun class with him around!”

“And he’s interning at Sir Nighteye’s?”
Izuku was still astounded by the fact that he and the Hero-Hunter shared the same building. The fact that he’d never seen Garou there was a little unnerving.

“He decided to intern at more than one agencies! Nighteye’s place was the first he picked!” Mirio grinned at Izuku

“Prepare to see more of Fenrir at your place, ahahahaha!”

Izuku shivered as he thought of potentially running into Garou every single day. Thinking of ‘Fenrir’s’ Hero outfit, Izuku remembered one of the other questions he’d wanted to ask Mirio.

“...That monster… Are you alright?”

Mirio’s smile turned into a straight line, all humor no longer present.

“It was… an experience I could never forget. The sight of an abomination eating law enforcement as if it was at a buffet. I nearly threw up when I saw the faces ate a man as if he was a chicken nugget caked in ketchup. It was terrible.” Mirio informed grimly.

Izuku paled at that extreme image. The news must have watered down the story, not showing the gore. All they saw was the devastation left in its wake.

“So… Garou killed it?”

“One punch. He killed it in one punch. His fist blasted the monster’s arm all the way through its stomach… it reminded me of how terrifying he really is to his enemies.” Mirio enlightened the two.

Moving his head slightly, Bakugou clenched his teeth upon hearing how easily Garou had dispatched the monster. His eyes still stared off into space.

“....could you have beaten it without him?”

Bakugou almost murmured, in a low tone.

“No. I nearly broke my fists even trying to break its eyes. It would've eaten Hado and the other heroes if Garou didn't come.”

“.....”

Staying silent, Bakugou turned away. Izuku could only smile awkwardly at the grim Mirio.

“Well… I guess it’s good he came when he did!”

Izuku looked downwards, pausing in consideration.

“Still… you looked injured in that footage. Are you sure you’re alright?”

“Yes, I am!” Mirio said in English.

“My ribs were reattached thanks to the hospital staff! Though Garou’s brutal training might send me back in a heartbeat! Hahahaha!” Mirio then laughed again, his cartoon face flapping his jaws with energy.

Despite Mirio’s upbeat attitude, Izuku still held a little concern. Cupping his chin in thought, Izuku began to think of anything that they could ask Mirio about either of the silver-haired duo.

“....Do you think we’ve got a chance? Against Ghin?”

“Hahaha… I've fought him once though. No Quirks, just our bare fists. I got to say, it is hard to believe that the kid was like that before he got his Quirk.” Mirio laughed again at the end of his sentence.

“Did you win?”

If anyone had a chance of beating Ghin in combat, it was probably Mirio. Izuku and Bakugou didn’t have his skill or experience.

“Nope! I almost stood a chance! My ample experience is the only thing that bought me time before he downed me, hahahaha!” Mirio laughed again as he remembered he the boy moved around him with his superior speed, prowling him like a predator.

“.......”

Izuku grimaced at the thought that the only reason Mirio lasted against Ghin was his experience. Something neither he or Bakugou had. Experience did seem to be the only thing Ghin was really lacking. But he seemed to make up for it in technique.

Standing up from the bench, Bakugou placed both of his hands in his pockets. He momentarily cast his eyes over to Mirio and Izuku, his face somber.

“....I’ve heard all I need to hear. I’m not going to listen to another person telling us we can’t win.”

He then turned to walk away.

“Hahaha! Well, you don't want to hear how he fights then?” Mirio asked before he took three steps.

Pausing, the blonde teen turned back. He narrowed his eyes, not moving.

“You could have started with that.”

“You didn't ask!” Mirio laughed again to Bakugou’s ire.

Sighing in frustration, Bakugou took his seat once again, his focus now entirely on Mirio. He leant forwards, staring at the Third Year.

“...Well then? How does the kid fight?”

“There's not that much words to describe his fighting style. But if I could, I would say… he is a predator.” Mirio stopped smiling as he recalled how the kid fights.

“Or should I say he fights like a demon?” He added.

“W-What do you mean?”

Izuku broke the momentary silence. Despite the fact that Ghin had indeed faced all of 1-A at once, who knew how he could have grown since then. He had been easier to take advantage of due to the massive number disparity.

“When we fought, young Ghin prowled around me, poking at my defenses and analyzing my reactions. He was cold, calm, yet fiercely intense with his methodical tactics. Not only that, he is very deceptive… both in his demeanor and fighting style. When he gets worked up, however… his dark side started to show itself up to its surface.” Mirio frowned. He could never forget it. The anger within Young Ghin when they fought, the driving force behind his desire for strength. His will.

“Yeah… I think I saw a little bit of that…”

Izuku recalled the dangerous air that the boy had let out, upon the reveal of his Quirk’s origin. The dark, oppressive aura that seeped out of the boy was truly terrifying.

“It seemed Garou nurtured something that Ghin never wanted to show to his only family there is. He knew though, but he could not do anything about it… it is Ghin’s demons, and his alone to face.” Mirio replied.

The atmosphere had grown rather grim. Thoughts of the level of hatred such a young boy could put out was frankly unnerving. Bakugou also recalled the fury that the kid had directed at him the last time, during 1-A’s ‘test’. How he had been… Bakugou quickly dismissed the memory, a rising sense of vengeance coming along with it. An uncomfortable silence quickly pervaded the air.

“The point is, he will be quite aggressive once worked up. Young Ghin apologized in the end, but it’s not something that can be easily dismissed. So, any questions, Baku?” Mirio asked already giving Katsuki another nickname.

Bakugou scowled at Mirio at the nickname he had suddenly been given. Narrowing his eyes, he glared at Mirio. He had an uncomfortable memory of the one time he’d taken the brat to such extremes.

“......how can we avoid that? What kind of stuff would rile the kid up?”

“Adrenaline mostly…” Mirio replies as he recalled.

“The more intense a fight, the more aggressive he becomes. Quicker if antagonized willingly.” Mirio added.

Izuku pulled out his notebook as he began to rapidly write down every piece of advice they were given. He occasionally glanced back up at Mirio, only breaking his gaze to look back down at his ever-increasing list of notes. Bakugou nodded at Mirio’s words.

“So we need to end it as fast as possible?”

“Yep. Though it will not be easy. Young Ghin won’t let himself be one-shotted by anyone. Well, minus Garou since he can't do anything about that hahaha!” Mirio laughed upon seeing how helpless Ghin was against Garou.

Izuku tore his eyes away from his now-considerable list of notes. He furrowed his brows in thought.

“...How could we get past his reflexes? He’d probably just block all of our attacks.”

“Bind or hinder his hands and feet somehow. You need something that he cannot smack away at his level.” Mirio replied. Izuku remembered that Ghin feared Mineta due to his Sticky Balls, since he does not have any way to truly counter them, except to avoid them at all costs.

Nodding, he added one additional thing to his notebook. Looking at it now, he had quite a long list of details when it came to Ghin. The main problem was, as Mirio said, to get past his blocking, they needed to bind his arms and legs. Both he and Bakugou lacked the capability to do that. Combined with Ghin’s monstrous strength, made Izuku doubt that grappling the young boy would work either.

“Is there anything else you could tell us?”

“…he can cut you up with his hands if he wanted.” Mirio threw in that tidbit.

Paling, Izuku wrote that worrying piece of information down. He hoped that Ghin would spare them the suffering of having to deal with such a weapon. If he chose to slice them up using only his hands, then they didn’t really have much of a way to counter.

“H-How is that possible?” Izuku asked, afraid to know the answer.

“Within Garou’s various martial arts, there is one that allows him to use wind pressure to cut through almost anything. The Whirlwind Iron Cutting Fist… I got to say, I dropped my jaw when he showed me that. And he wanted me to do the same too! Hahahah!” Mirio started laughing again.

“What other martial arts does the kid know?”

Bakugou kept his narrowed eyes focused on the laughing Third Year. His interest in the kid’s martial arts had peaked.

“Other than that, The Water Stream Rock Smashing fist and the True God Slayer Fist. The latter Ghin is struggling to master since it is so difficult.” Mirio answered.

Remembering All Might’s advice, Izuku turned to Mirio. His hand was poised, pen in hand.

“....how hard would it be to feint him?”

Given that Mirio had actual experience with Ghin, neither he nor Bakugou wanted to leave anything to chance.

“Very hard! Nightmare difficulty hard with Quirks, impossible with just martial skill below his level alone!” Mirio laughed.

Sighing, Bakugou merely shook his head. Izuku added one more note into his book, before placing it on the bench, closing it and resting the pen on top. Izuku rested both of his hands on his knees.

“You know, I can only be told ‘It’s impossible’ by so many people.”

Bakugou sounded resigned, with the ever present layer of frustration. When it came to the kid and his ‘teacher’, Bakugou was always irritated.

“If you want to feint him, be creative with your use of Quirks. He has little experience dealing with Quirks.” Mirio replies.

Quickly perking up as he swiftly remembered something, Izuku almost jumped in his seat.

“I forgot to ask! How was Sir Nighteye? In the… attack. Was he injured? And what about the rest of the Heroes?”

Izuku suddenly unleashed a barrage of questions, seemingly built up over a while.

“He’s fine! Not a single scratch on him! Though the other heroes were sort of out of commission when the monster used Ryukyu to smack them all away like a fly swatter.”

A breath of relief escaped the green-haired teen’s lips. He had certainly worried for the safety of Sir Nighteye after seeing the clip. Who wouldn’t?

“Are we done here?”

Scowling, Bakugou grumbled, clearly growing impatient.

“Anymore questions then?”

Shaking his head, Izuku smiled. He was glad he’d invited Mirio to meet. It was good to see his fellow intern. Picking up the notebook and pen, Izuku turned his smile to Mirio.

“No. I think that’s all we need.”

Bowing his head, Izuku remained in place for a moment. He could almost feel Bakugou’s glare on the top of his head.

“Thank you so much Mirio-senpai.”

“No sweat! Also…” Mirio no longer smiled.

“Prepare to have a good ‘talk’ with the kid. He is surprisingly philosophical when it comes to strength and will.” Mirio gave his warning to Bakugou and Midoriya as he stood up from the bench.

Raising his head, Izuku had a determined look on his face. He’d already seen Ghin’s surprising verbal skill. Nodding in acknowledgment, Izuku also stood out of his seat, followed shortly by Bakugou.

“We don’t intend to give a poor showing.” Locking eyes for a moment with Bakugou, Izuku could feel a sense of agreement, despite his scowl.

Clearly they had been talking for quite some time. The mall was now far more quiet than it had been when they had entered. Staff walked around the inside of their stores, waiting for someone to enter. A silence had settled over the mall. The sky was tinged a faint orange outside, a sign of the late hour. Glancing down at his watch, Izuku’s eyes widened as he realised how much time they’d spent gathering info.

“It’s pretty late. I think we should get going.”

Extending one hand to Mirio in a handshake, Izuku nervously laughed. This would probably be the last person they were able to ‘interview’ on Ghin. They didn’t have enough time.

Mirio accepted the handshake, and shook hands with Izuku.

“Good luck enduring young Ghin’s test. Try not lose your bones while you're at it hahaha!”

Merely nervously laughing in response, the green-haired teen nodded enthusiastically.

“We’ll try!”

“Hahaha! I better get going! My muscles are sore as hell to be honest! It hurts even when I shake hands!” Mirio laughed despite saying something very concerning.

Glancing down at his palm, Izuku grimaced for a moment, looking concerned. Bakugou merely huffed, crossing his arms. Turning to walk away, Bakugou began leaving as Izuku watched. Glancing back to the still Deku, he merely narrowed his eyes.

“Well? What are you waiting for?”

Realising what he meant, Izuku began to follow Bakugou, waving back at Mirio as they left. Smiling, Izuku began feeling the hints of anticipation building inside him. It didn’t make much sense to him, to be looking forward to such a potentially dangerous event. But he was looking forward to it. No doubt Bakugou was raring for his second round with Ghin as well.