Chapter 3| Partner Problem

The day hadn't even hit second period, and already Y/n was fighting to keep her eyes open. She sat slumped in her chair, arms crossed, head tilted against the cool glass of the window. The early morning punishment shift still clung to her bones, a dull ache radiating through every muscle. Her hands smelled faintly like bleach. Her soul felt faintly like defeat. 

Across the room, Bakugou looked equally irritated, though his version of tieredd" just translated to extra scwolling and foot-tappinaggression. The bandage on his arm from dragging trash cans earlier peeked out from under his sleeve. 

Aizawa stood at the front of the classroom, rubbing sleep from his eyes with the enthusiasm of a man who regretted becoming a teacher every morning. "Alright," he drawled, "Listen up." Graffiti filled the room. "Nope. Save it. I'm not in the mood." That shut everyone up. 

Aizawa dropped a thick stack of papers onto the podium with a thud, "For the next two months, we're running a mandatory Team Synergy Development Program. That means structured partner training-combat, survival, communication exercises, rescue missions, and rotation sparring drills. All graded." 

Y/n blinked. "Two months?" Mina leaned over and whispered, "Oh no. That sounds like serious trauma bonding material." 

"Each of you had been paired based on complementary strengths and personality compatibility," Aizawa continued, with a tone that made it clear he knew exactly how ironic that statement was about to become. He looked down at the paper. "Bakugou. Y/n" They both sat upright at the same time. "WHAT!?" they snapped in unison.

"Stand up," Aizawa said, blandly, not even looking up. "Let's get this over with." Bakugo pushed his chair with a sharp scrape. "You've got to be kidding me-her!?" Y/n stood, eyes blazing. "I'd rather be paired with a villain." 

"You'd probably get them killed," Bakugou growled.

"At least they wouldn't treat me like dead weight!" 

Their glares locked across the aisle, heat practically pulsing between them.

The rest of the class?

Losing their minds.

Mina gasped dramatically. "Oh no! They're partners? That's practically marriage at U.A.!" Kaminari started humming the Wedding March under his breath. "'Til death-or mid battle-do them part," Sero added. Jirou smirked behind her hand. "Two months? Better start designing the cake." 

"Shut up before I incinerate this entire room," Bakugou snapped without even turning his head. Y/n groaned and dropped back into her seat. "This is a nightmare." 

Aizawa continued as if none of it phased him. "You two have the highest individual power ratings in the class and the lowest teamwork score. Your assessment is simple: get over yourselves." Y/n muttered, "That's rich coming from him." Bakugou shot her a look. "What'd you say?" 

"Say it louder." 

"FINE! I SAID-"

Aizawa sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "SIT. DOWN. Both of you. Unless you want to spend your afternoons mopping the arena on top of your mornings." Y/n sat immediately. Bakugou dropped into his seat with a muffled curse. The rest of the class tried not to laugh badly.

Kirishima leaned over from behind Bakugou and whispered, "At least now you can bond over mutual suffering." 

"I swear, Erijirou, I will detonate your desk." 

Aizawa cleared his throat and continued calling names, but Y/n barely heard them. 

Two months. I've been working with him. Of fighting beside him, listening to him, and depending on him. She rested her chin on her hand and let her eyes drift toward Bakugou. He was glaring straight ahead, jaw clenched, fingers twitching. She hated that she knew him well enough to see the storm behind his silence.

She aslo hated the part of her thar was already wondering what it would be like to train with him-not agaisnt him, but with him. And she hated most of all how some small, infuriating part of her wasn't dreading it. Not entierly.

Y/n groaned softly, sliding her face down her desk. "If I drop out now, maybe I can transfer to a normal high school." 

"You wouldn't last a day," Bakugou mutters, standing and slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Too boring." She shot him a halfhearted glare, grabbing her bag as well. "I'd rather be bored than emotionally scarred from spending two months with you." 

"Keep talking, and I'll speedrun your therapy bill." Before she could hurl another insult, Aizawa gestured to the door. "Gear up. Meet at the eastern training grounds in ten. You'll want to be on time-the terrain's unpredictable, and you'll be navigating it with your partner." 

Kaminari groaned. "Do we have to, like...do trust fall?"

Mina gasped. "Do we get matching uniforms!?"

Aizawa ignored both questions.

Ten minutes later - Eastern Training Grounds

The sky had brightened, and clouds scattered lazily overhead. The eastern fields were wild and open, lined with trees and scattered concrete blocks, ramps, trenches, and what looked suspiciously like a river at the far end. At first glance, it looked like a normal urban combat zone- until parts of the terrain shimmered and shifted.

"What the-?" Bakugou muttered, eyeing the glitchy movement in the corner of the field.

Aizawa stepped forward, scarf billowing slightly in the breeze. "For the next two months, this will be your new second home. These fields were modified with tech provided by Power Loader. They'll be reprogrammed regularly to simulate everything from city ruins to collapsed buildings, wilderness rescues, flash floods-whatever scenario we think will force you to work together."

Murmurs swept the class again.

The environment will change every few days. You'll be assigned missions based on your weaknesses. You'll have to plan, adapt, and rely on each other." Y/n crossed her arms. "So basically, it's a chaotic, ever-changing obstacle course designed to make us hate each other more."

"I'd call it a character-building opportunity," Aizawa replied without blinking. "And before you all start panicking, let me give you an example of successful-if-chaotic team synergy." A voice rang out from behind them: "YEEEEEAAAH, BABY! TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK!!"

Y/n jumped.

Present Mic landed with an overly dramatic somersault next to Aizawa, throwing up a double peace sign and flashing his signature megawatt grin. "I swear," Bakugou muttered. "If he yells one more time, I'm blowing out his vocal cords."

" And here he is," Aizawa said tiredly, as if mentally regretting every decision in his life. "My... unfortunate example." All might appeared next, far less dramatically, walking up with his usual broad smile in his casual form. Ah! Students! Good morning! I hear you've got some exciting teamwork ahead!"

Mina leaned toward Kaminari. "This is either going to be inspiring or a total disaster." 

"Place your bets now," Kaminari whispered.

Aizawa turned to the class. "When we were in school, Yamada and I were paired constantly. We were opposites. Loud and reckless-" he gestured at Present Mic "-and quiet, efficient, and focused."

"Translation: boring!" Micgrinned.

"Annoying," Aizawa corrected flatly.

"But," All Might stepped in, voice more measured, "Despite their differences, they learned how to support each other. They learned when to lead, when follow, and when to follow, and when to shut up and let the other do their job." Aizawa glanced toward Y/n and Bakugou. "Which some of you desperately need to work on." 

Y/n looked away, muttering under her breath. Bakugou shoved his hands in his pockets. "Whatever. I don't need a lecture on friendship."

"You don't need friendship," Aizawa said coolly. "You need teamwork. If either of you fails to improve your synergy score, you fail the entire two-month course." The tension in the air sharpened instantly. "No pressure," Mina whispered behind her hand. Kaminari leaned toward Sero. "Can we get popcorn for this arc?"

"Is this an arc?" Sero asked. "Or a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers novella?" 

"I WILL END YOU," Bakugou snapped over his shoulder. Y/n just groaned and rubbed her temples. 

All might clapped their hands together. "Alright, young heros! Pair up with your assigned teamates. First mission simulation begins tonorrow morning. Today's just for familiarzation and terrian adjustment." Aizawa turned to the class. Explore the grounds. Take notes. Figure out how to not kill each other."

His eyes flickered toward Bakugou and Y/n. "Especially you two." 

They looked eyes.

Again.

The spark was instant. And if their glares could kill, the entire class would be attending a double funeral by now.

End of Chapter 3