Chapter 54 - RUSH!

Izuku, Sero and Uraraka took cover in a large crater, serving as a makeshift foxhole. The break in the fighting had stopped, but Mera had continued to announce passing students over the intercom. Spots were quickly filling up, and they still had no idea where the rest of their class was. And what's more, Izuku could almost feel that the Shiketsu students were nearby, waiting to make their move. And they wouldn't underestimate them this time.

"This is bad," Said Sero.

"Yeah," said Izuku. "I know we'd be in trouble if we got split up. But at least we can probably do something about the group that is near us, and maybe even make a few points."

"Really?" Said Sero. "How do you figure?"

"Some of them have been attacking too soon," said Izuku. "They're panicking that they won't get enough points in, so they make poor decisions in the moment. Because they're attacking in a group, they'll most likely end up fighting over their targets the longer this goes on."

"So that as the spots continue to fill up, they'll break apart from their groups and become more vulnerable, right?" Said Uraraka.

"But if we stayed together as a course, wouldn't we be in the same boat?" Asked Sero.

"Not necessarily," said Izuku. "Many of our classmates have restraining-type quirks, such as you, Mineta and Todoroki. I was hoping that if we stayed together, we could restrain enough targets for all of us to pass. It's much easier tagging a still target than hitting a moving one."

"You make it look so easy with your batarangs," said Sero.

"It's anything but," Said Izuku. "But think about it, that's the whole point of the test. If it was simply target practice, the only thing they could discern from that is that we're good shots. They want us to use our quirks to outthink our opponents, getting them into a position where we can tag them."

"I see," Said Sero. "There's a lot more to this test than I thought."

"Wait," Said Uraraka, perking up. "Listen! They're getting closer."

Izuku turned on his detective vision in his cowl. Sure enough, there were several body signatures heading their way. They had to be from Shiketsu. They would be on them in a moment.

"What should we do?" Said Sero.

"Well, you and I are going to be decoys," said Izuku.

"What? Are you crazy?!" Said Sero.

"We need to restrain them in order to tag them," Said Izuku. "And they're not just going to let us do it. We need to distract them and lure them into a trap if we're going to win this. And I think I just might have a plan on how to do it."

Todoroki sat on a bench in the anteroom with the other applicants who had passed. They were watching the last part of the test from the jumbotron above them. Mera had announced that 70 people had passed. That meant space was now limited, and Todoroki hadn't seen any of his other classmates yet. He began to grow worried.

"Todoroki!" Came a familiar voice. He looked up with relief to see Yaoyorozu, Asui, Jiro, and Shoji walking his way.

"I'm glad to see you passed," Said Yaoyorozu.

"I didn't doubt you," said Asui. "Have you seen the others?"

"No," Said Todoroki. "So far, we are the only ones here."

"They're cutting it close," Said Shoji. "But we can't count them out yet."

"I thought Midoriya had everyone working together," Asked Todoroki.

"That was the plan," said Yaoyorozu. "But we got separated when one of the other applicants used an earthquake quirk."

"I'm surprised that Midoriya hasn't passed yet," Said Jiro. "Only thirty spots left, they don't have much time."

"No doubt Midoriya is attempting to make sure everyone else passes the test as well," said Shoji.

"I hope they all pass, too," Said Asui.

"We've faced impossible situations before," Said Todoroki. "And if Midoriya is out there with them, I have no doubt that our classmates will be joining us soon."

Izuku, Sero, and Uraraka found themselves in the middle of a veritable warzone.

Izuku and Sero dodged and weaved through the endless onslaught of applicants as they tried to tag them. But that was exactly what Izuku and Sero were hoping for. The close the other applicants got to them, the closer they drew to their trap.

"It's almost time!" Shouted Izuku. "Grab on, Sero!"

Sero followed suit, grabbing onto Izuku's outstretched hand. Izuku used his other hand to draw his grapple gun, using it to propel Sero and himself away from the crowd. "Uraraka, now!" Izuku shouted.

Uraraka, hiding in one of the craters, released her quirk on her command, causing the boulders that were suspended in midair to come crashing down. Each boulder had a long line of Sero's tape attached to it. Once they came down, they brought the tape down upon the other students, pinning them to the ground like flies to a flytrap.

"We better hurry," said Sero, producing the orange orbs. "Others might be coming for us soon."

"Hey!" Said one of the applicants. "Can't you give us a break? You're still first years, and we have to get our licenses this time!"

"I'm sorry," Said Izuku, producing the orbs of his own. "But so do -" Izuku was interrupted by a bright light flashing upwards from the center of the arena. He recognized it immediately as Aoyama's Navel Lazer, he was sure of it.

"It's Aoyama!" Said Uraraka. She had already tagged the other applicants, passing the exam. Already her targets were telling her to go back to the anteroom with the other successful applicants.

"Midoriya, what are you waiting for?" Said Sero. "Tag the targets so we can pass!"

Izuku hesitated. If Aoyama was there, then his other classmates might be there too. What's more, with so few spots left, they may not have enough time to pass, especially with the rest of the examinees continuing to bear down on them, as the others had with them.

"You guys go," Said Izuku. "Tag as many as you can and get to the anteroom. Hopefully, others will have passed by now as well."

"What are you doing?" Said Uraraka, alarmed.

"I'm going after the others," said Izuku. Before they could protest, Izuku used his quirk to propel himself towards the light of the navel laser. He knew he was taking a big risk, not taking the chance he had to tag the targets and pass, but he couldn't help himself. If he was going to pass today, he had to make sure that everyone one of them passed as well.

Aoyama was crouched and hiding under a small ledge, created when the ground broke apart. He was separated from his classmates, and no longer had the strength they as a group afforded him. He knew he was not the strongest in their class. He made it into the Hero course, yes, but only by the skin of his teeth, and was the worst-performing out of all of them. He didn't have Yaoyorozu's intelligence, Kirishima's spirit, Todoroki's talent, or Midoriya's unhindered ability. He didn't have what it took to pass this test.

A gust of wind brushed against him, causing him to jump in fright. He didn't know if he could defend himself against the other applicants, let alone tag them with the orange orb, but he readied himself for battle nonetheless. But instead of an enemy, he was met with the familiar sight of Tenya Iida.

"Aoyama!" He said. "I'm glad that I found you."

"Bonjour," said Aoyama. "Are you out here alone? What a coincidence, so am I."

"I've been trying to find as many of our classmates as I can," said Iida. "There's a handful of us gathered nearby, but I came to look for stragglers."

"You left the group just to help the others?" Said Aoyama. "How do you think you'll find people out here? And what are you going to do if everyone left behind passes without you?"

"First of all, I found you, didn't I?" Said Iida. "And I'm hoping everyone passes the test. That would be wonderful. As class rep, it's my duty to lead the others. Obviously, I want to get my provisional license, and the test will be coming to an end soon, but I'll continue to search for the others while trying to pass. You have to work with me."

They were interrupted by a large explosion as several other applicants began to close in around them. One of them lunged directly for Aoyama, orange orb in hand, but Iida managed to grab his cape and pull him out of the way.

"There's too many of them!" Shouted Aoyama. "You have to leave me!"

"What are you talking about?" Said Iida. "Giving up is not an option! If we stay here, we're sitting ducks. Hold on tight!" In a burst of speed, he took off, carrying Aoyama behind him in tow.

Things weren't looking good. Mera continued to announce the dwindling spots every few seconds, and their other classmates were nowhere in sight. And yet, Iida still continued to fight to protect his friend and find any of their other missing classmates. Aoyama felt shame creep into his heart at his cowardly hiding while his friends and classmates fought just to defend themselves against the horrible onslaught of the other applicants. It was time for him to do something. It was time to stand out.

He detached himself from Iida, who looked at him in surprise as he leaned backward, lifting himself into a bridge position on his hands and feet, and fired his navel laser directly into the air above him.

"What are you doing?" Said Iida.

"I'm standing out," said Aoyama.

"Yes, you are," said Iida. "But why?"

"Our enemies will be upon us soon," said Aoyama. "While I've got the spotlight, you can use your speed to sneak up on them and tag them."

"You're gonna sacrifice yourself?" Said Iida, alarmed. "You can't!"

"There's no time!" Said Aoyama. "You need to hurry!"

Iida was at a loss. He could see the other applicants running towards them. He could easily use his speed to tag enough applicants to gain a passing score, but he didn't dare leave his friend unattended. He was defenseless and would surely fail. He didn't know what to do. What would Midoriya do?

He couldn't be sure if he imagined it or not, but as if on cue, he could swear he could hear Midoriya now.

"Howitzer Impact!"

A large explosion erupted around them, causing the charging students to fly back from the force. Iida looked up to see Midoriya coming crashing down towards them, throwing batarangs and explosives in every direction as the students tried to approach them.

"Midoriya!" Said Iida.

"Heads up, guys!" Said Midoriya. "The cavalry's here!"

As he spoke, Iida looked up to see an army of various birds swarming on their position, attacking the other examinees. Iida immediately recognized it to be the work of Koda's animal quirk. As the birds continued to swarm, the remaining students from Class 1-A emerged from their collective hiding places. Tokoyami used Dark Shadow to force the remaining examinees back, while Mineta was throwing his sticky balls in every direction, with Ojiro knocking them over to stick them to the ground. Hagakure was using her special move, "Warp Refraction", to shine a blinding light around the applicants.

As the pandemonium ensued, Izuku and his classmates continued their barrage. One by one, he and his classmates began tagging the restrained examinees. They could hear Mera over the speaker calling off the remaining spots.

Ten spots left.

Eight spots left.

Five spots left.

One spot left.

At last, the first exam came to a close as Aoyama tagged the final student. The final signal sounded over the speakers as class 1-A cheered in triumph. It was only Aoyama that looked sullen.

"I don't understand," said Aoyama. "Why would you come for us?"

"We were getting desperate," said Ashido. "We didn't know where everyone was until we saw your bellybutton laser. Thanks to you, we were able to find each other and win this."

"I didn't do much," Said Aoyama. "You should have left me."

"It doesn't matter what you do," Said Izuku. "If you had done nothing, then the rest of us wouldn't have passed."

"We don't give up on each other," said Iida. "That's not what we do."

"Well," said Aoyama. "I guess this means my twinkling won't have to stop after all."

"No," said Iida. "Keep twinkling, whatever that means."

Izuku and the rest of class 1-A made their way back to the anteroom, celebrating their victory along the way. Izuku couldn't have been happier, but he knew that this was only half the battle, and the next test would be even harder. But he still could not suppress his jubilation.

He only wished that Bruce was here, and Alfred, All Might, and most of all, he wished that --

"So you passed," came a voice from behind him. Izuku turned to see the voice and nearly jumped out of his skin.

"Kacchan?!" Izuku said incredulously.

There he was, his childhood friend, standing before him, just as he remembered him: spikey-blonde hair, wearing a black junior high school uniform, his glaring gaze seemingly staring right through him.

"Since you have my quirk I can't say I'm surprised," Kacchan continued. "Good to see you're not screwing it up completely."

"How. . .how are you. . . ?" Izuku stammered.

"Remember what I told you," said Kacchan. "Don't you lose. Whatever happens, don't you dare fucking lose."

"Kacchan, I -"

"Deku?" Said Uraraka, walking up behind him.

"Uraraka!" Said Izuku.

"Who are you talking to?" She asked.

"I was just -" Izuku turned back towards his friend, but Kacchan was gone, leaving him even more confused than he was before.

"Deku?" Uraraka asked again. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," said Izuku. "Yeah, I'm fine. Let's go, the others are waiting for us."

Izuku continued walking with Uraraka, his previous jubilation gone. He was shaking, trying to process what he had just seen. He knew that because he had his quirk, a part of Kacchan still continued on inside him, like a memory, but neither J'onn or Bruce said anything about this. Seeing him in his mind was one thing, but while conscious in reality? Could it have been the shapeshifting girl from earlier? Unlikely. She couldn't have known about Kacchan. And it was the last words he said to him that really shook him.

Don't you lose.

These words gave Izuku an uneasy feeling. He couldn't put his finger on it, but whatever Kacchan meant, he didn't think that it was meant to be threatening. No, he was sure that he was trying to warn him of something. What that warning was, however, he had no way of knowing.

One thing was for certain: whatever happened next, be it in the licensure exam or after, Izuku knew he had to be ready.