Ticked Off [Boku No Hero Academia]

14: TRAINING CAMP: VILLAIN ATTACK

"Shut up." The kid turned away, glowering down the cliffside. "It's all so stupid. Everyone thinks they're so great... that they can solve every problem... Calling each other stupid names like 'hero' and 'villain'..."

Izuku softened his tone, not moving an inch. "What happened to your parents was awful... but in making their choice, they saved other people and let them go home to their families. It's an unfair trade, I know, but..."

"Just shut up! Get out of here!" Kouta yelled, stomping forwards in an aggressive stance.

"Sorry, I'm just rambling... I'll leave the curry here," he said quietly, crouching down to place the bowl on the rocks before turning and walking away, a heavy stone of guilt in his stomach.

The third day arrived, and he tried to keep his countenance calm and collected as the day drew on. As much as he wanted to, he didn't dare tell Aizawa about the upcoming attack so soon, because that would mean they'd likely all hop on a coach right back to UA, and as awful as the ambush was, it caused an important sequence of events that led to the take-down of All for One.

Darkness fell over the camp and the Test of Courage was announced. Izuku paced around the clearing, wearing a circle into the grass as he tried to ease off his anxiety. Uraraka and Tsu entered the forest. He waited for a moment before backing up a step behind his fellow classmates, keeping his gaze on the three Pussycats, and when they didn't turn around he bolted for the main building at top speed, bursting through the front door and skidding around a corner before slamming open the classroom door.

"Aizawa-sensei!" He gasped out, teeth gritted in a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Midoriya? What-" Aizawa went silent, a dark realisation flitting across his features. "You're a trouble-magnet, aren't you?"

"I need you to tell something to Mandalay," he ground out, already half-turned in the doorway, desperate to leave.

The teacher rushed out of the room after his student, leaving the other kids to Vlad King, much to his confusion. Izuku darted through the corridors, practically bounding off the walls in his haste. He glanced at his teacher with a frown, before making a split-second decision to dart over to him, picking the tall man up as best he could so they were able to appear next to the Pussycats almost instantly. Aizawa stumbled when he was dropped back down, and if it were any other situation he likely would've threatened to expel the kid who dared snatch him. As it was, he just stared down at the student expectantly, entirely ignoring the rest of the class who were stunned by their sudden arrival.

"Get Mandalay-san to tell everyone this," Izuku hissed. "Don't breathe in the gas. And... Sensei, we need your permission to fight. There are villains here. Tell them to come back to camp if they can. They're after Kacchan."

Aizawa hesitated before reluctantly nodding, rapidly telling the fellow Pro Hero to broadcast the message. Izuku darted forwards, delicately picking up Pixie-Bob who squeaked in surprise as he leapt backwards, landing next to the other Pussycats. They looked ready to scold him, but a second later two villains dropped from the sky. A rectangular object covered in a sheet slammed into the earth where the Pro Hero had just been. Everyone looked ready to fight, tensed up in battle stances.

"I know where Kouta-kun is," Izuku hurriedly informed Mandalay.

She glanced to him nervously as Spinner rambled about his ideologies. The lizard-man suddenly went silent, staring at the students.

"Hey, aren't you that kid – Deku?" Spinner asked, squinting through his imitation Stain mask.

"That's right." Izuku stepped forward threateningly.