Challenger 2

"Oh man Ojiro, I'm really going to have to think of a way to stand out! Maybe with a cheer! Or I could let glitter fall behind me!" Hagakure said excitedly, pulling Mashiro out of his thoughts. She was moving around energetically.

"Uh, sure! Maybe a shinier costume or something?" He said the first thing that came to mind and cursed his loss of brain power around the woman.

"That would make it kind of hard to use my quirk…" Stopping her movements, she looked at him like he was crazy. Oh man, someone rescue him-

The bell for lunch rang, and he sighed in relief.

Star glared at the door and groaned, wincing in physical pain. "That's it, screw this." Pulling a flask from the back of the waistband of her skirt, she quickly opened it and took a few gulps. Bakugo jumped out of his chair, causing it to fall behind him with a crash, and snatched it out of her hands.

"WHAT THE HELL RED, WHERE DID YOU EVEN HIDE THIS?!" He roared, dumping it out the open window.

"It's my emergency flask, in case of emergencies. I'm allowed to have it, you heartless jerk!" She whined, taking Mashirao's water bottle and taking a drink to get the taste out of her mouth. He was just thankful she hadn't hid alcohol in his water bottle this time, like she had when Hitoshi had tried getting her to quit.

"Then where's the emergency? Huh?!" Bakugo was glaring down at her, arms crossed.

Not answering, Star returned to glaring at the door. Bakugo followed her glare, and stormed over to slam it open. The rest of the class gasped at what they saw.

Standing in front of their classroom door was a sea of UA students, all carrying backpacks and curious expressions. Some of the crowd looked angry and determined, and they were all chattering.

"Do you students have business with our class?!" Iida spoke up, filling the role of class representative well.

"Why are you blocking our doorway? I WON'T LET YOU HOLD OUR CLASS HOSTAGE!" Mineta shrieked, reaching for the balls on his head before Midoryia stopped him.

"Tch. They're scouting out the competition, ya idiots." Bakugo said dully, turning around to look at Star, who had walked towards him. "They wanted to see us with their own eyes after the damn villain attack."

"See? Emergency." Star shrugged, reaching for her flask before remembering it was gone, glaring at Bakugo instead.

He didn't take his eyes off her as he talked, "At least they know now what future Pro Heroes look like." He glared back at the crowd, "Now move it, extras!"

"Bakugo! You cannot go around calling people you do not know 'extras'!" Iida said sternly, waving his stiff arms around erratically.

"So this is the rest of Class 1-A... of course you guys are impressive. I suppose it's only this ass that's delusional, then?"

Mashiro recognized Hitoshi's voice and rolled his eyes. He'll say it again. For a guy trying to transfer, he sure doesn't know how to play nice. Bakugo growled as everyone else gasped at the insult towards him.

"Mmm, I really hope the rest of you aren't ego-maniacs too. Then again, maybe it's better for me if you are. You see, I wanted to be a hero as well. Like many others here, we were forced on a different path, though." Hitoshi continued, ignoring Bakugo's 'tch', "I may not have cut it the first time around, but now I have another chance. If any of us do well in the sports festival, the teachers can decide to transfer us to the hero course… They'll have to transfer people out to make room, of course"

Gasps sounded out in the room as everyone watched Hitoshi with rapt attention. Mashirao and Star leaned forward with interest. He had found a way to get transfered! All their training had been worth it, this was what they had been waiting for!

"They may be scouting the competition, but I'm here to give you a fair warning. You all deserved to know, after all. So if you don't bring your best, remember that someone like me might steal your spot out from under you. Despite this being a declaration of war... good luck. You'll need it."

The spell over Class 1-A broke when Star stepped out the door, pulling Mashirao behind her. She tugged on Hitoshi's arm, pulling them both through the crowd. As someone from Class 1-B yelled angrily at the rest of Class 1-A, Mashirao watched a look come over Hitoshi, who still had his eyes locked with Bakugo's. Hitoshi maintained eye contact and swung his arm over Star's shoulders, smirking challengingly at the other male. Star relaxed into Hitoshi, used to the gesture and probably thankful for the peace away from everyone else's minds from the contact.

Mashirao glanced back at Bakugo, and saw him heatedly glaring at Hitoshi's back, face bright red as he ignored the Class 1-B student yelling at him. He heard Kirishima mutter, "I guess that's not what Bakugo was doing in Olivia's room then…"

"Why must you antagonize him, Hitoshi?" Mashirao scolded, shaking his head as he looked away from the scene, used to his partner's antics.

"He needed some motivation… Speaking of…" Hitoshi took his arm off Star, "How did cleaning with the Hot-Shot go?"

She sent him a glare, before staring straight ahead stubbornly, "It was terrible! I can't believe you let him do it, some friends you two are! He cleared out pretty much all of the alcohol and hid it in his room, saying I have to ask him when I need it so that I don't keep 'abusing' it and 'losing my workout gains'." She huffed.

Mashiro and Hitsohi exchanged a look. "You do abuse it, and it is the reason you haven't been building muscle or getting better stamina." Mashirao said exasperatedly, unable to believe that she still didn't know this, despite him telling her it every time she complained about her strength and stamina.

"All-Star here is right, which is why we didn't stop him, Olive." Hitoshi rolled his eyes.

"Not that it seems to be working, since you pulled out a flask in class…" Mashirao scolded the woman.

"She did what, now?" Hitoshi didn't sound too surprised, raising an eyebrow at Star.

"I told you, it was an emergency! Hum, that reminds me." She reached into a rip in her bag, feeling along the lining. "Ah ha!"

She victoriously pulled out a pack of vodka infused gummy bears, shoving them into her mouth right before either of them could stop her. She grinned happily, cheeks puffing out like a hamster from the snack.

Mashirao chuckled. Bakugo had no idea what he had gotten himself into…