With the 4th match complete, Kaori's match came sooner than she'd expected. While she probably would've been nervous or felt unprepared, she was personally excited. She wanted to see Shinsou's progress, considering the fact he'd spent most weekdays at her home during his personal training. Having been given the go-ahead, Class A's team was already preparing in Ground Gamma. Midoriya traveled through the air as the other four took the ground. Considering Kaori had come in late and left another team with only 3 members, she made this round an even match. 5 vs. 5. Considering Quirks and all, they had a dysfunctional plan. Midoriya was good when it came to strength and speed, but he wasn't always the best strategist. Kaori had a way with scouting, but it required her full attention, meaning scouting while being ambushed wasn't likely. Mineta had powers like for capture, Ashido's Quirk was perfect for people keeping a distance. Uraraka would also be good for a bird's eye view. If they did this right, they could win using brains rather than pure brawn and power. Kaori walked somewhat behind the group, barely listening into their small conversation.
" We should start by going after Shinsou first, right? I'm kinda freakin' out about that weirdo, I don't want him snooping around in my head!" Mineta said, his lisp following as usual. Kaori sent a glare his way, speaking sharply.
" Watch your tone, you perverted shrimp." She threatened, Mineta's body shaking with a deathly chill. He nodded his head, up and down continuously.
" Don't get too hung up on one member of the team. They've got a lot of people who can attack from anywhere and catch us by surprise, that's true, but we make things," Uraraka pointed out, taking her helmet off before making it float. " Float!"
Mina shot her acid in the air, posing dramatically. " Melt!"
And, Mineta, he just grabbed a ball off his head. " Stick!"
Kaori stood there in confusion, wriggling her fingers in an odd way,
" Revert?"
At first, the three were confident before the two girls slumped, groaning in sync. " Not great~" Kaori starred in confusion before continuing to move toward the faux jail.
" We can't lay around and wait, we can't attack. What are we gonna do?" Mina asked, waving her arms around in aggravation. Kaori thought hard for a moment. Melt, stick, float. Melt, stick, float. Stick, Float, Melt! As Kaori was about to hatch her idea and present their win, Midoriya jumped over the faux jail, landing like a show-off and cutting her off.
" I can act as bait." Midoriya offered, standing again as his emerald electricity died off. Bit-...I was just about-...you know what, fail. I'm a Vigilante, I can handle myself. She crossed her arms, an unimpressed look on her face.
" Didn't you say your Quirk was acting weird earlier?" Uraraka questioned as Mina placed her hands on her hips, an unconvinced look also on her face. Deku tested out his limbs, the electricity returning every few seconds as he stretched his arms out. This idiot is seriously flexing?
" It was, but I think it's doing better." He said, giving an assuring smile. Kaori walked back up to the group, joining Midoriya at his side.
" After watching the 4th match, the other team will be on guard when it comes to me, and Kaori, too. They don't wanna repeat-Bakugou, meaning that you and I," Midoriya said, turning towards Kaori while pointing his finger from her to himself. " Will need to move a lot more than usual."
" Are you sure? You guys are the strongest here, we're counting on you. You can't get caught." Mineta said, unsure of Midoriya's idea. Midoriya gave another smile, closing his fist tightly.
" Don't worry. We'll definitely win." Midoriya assured, somehow encouraging their other teammates. Kaori looked from Mineta, to Midoriya, to the girls, then back around. She understood why this made them excited, Midoriya was a natural at pep-talks, but there was just something off. The atmosphere was changing. Kaori looked at the ground, an unsure look still on her face. She took in a deep breath, letting out a slow sigh.
" If that's the case," She said, gathering the others' attention. " I have to ask one thing, from all of you." They all looked at her expectantly, confuesed by that strange neutral expression.
" HERE'S THE FIFTH AND FINAL MATCH!! THIS IS WINNER-TAKES-ALL!! ARE YOU READY?!"
Both teams, although on opposite sides of the playing field, prepared themselves. Kaori cracked her index finger with her thumb, stretching her other fingers in and out. She was ready to complete this challenge. The team took off with a running start, Kaori taking to the pipes above, jumping from one to the next, taking charge of recon. She put a single finger to her temple, listening in on the footsteps approaching. Their footsteps were strange. She could tell Shinsou's apart from the others. He sort of dragged his feet when he walked, taking very small steps. Monoma walked in wide steps, elegant and planned. Poltergeist walked with light feet, as the girl with the shrink and enhance ability walked heavily with a slow pace. The boy with twin-impact walked in short, quick steps. The three walked together, heading on the track to meet them head on as Shinsou and Monoma walked a different path. Midoriya appeared on the pipe beside her, nodding to her lightly. She nodded back, pointing to the left before looking back at their teammates below. She motioned for them to keep going on, giving a thumbs up after. They all nodded, spreading out a bit before moving along. Her and Midoriya moved along, heading forward as bait. Please, remember the plan. Act as a unit, but don't be afraid to do it independently. She jumped lower and lower as Midoriya took the high rise, her body ducking under pipes as she moved through the shadows. She thought back to their earlier conversation.
A Few Minutes Earlier
" If that's the case," She'd said, gathering the others' attention. " I have to ask one thing, from all of you." They all looked at her expectantly, confuesed by her strange neutral expression.
" I need you to be able to go off on your own." They all looked at her in surprise, knowing immediately that splitting up was a terrible idea. Teamwork was always the answer, right?
" Are you crazy?! We can't handle this all individually!" Mina gasped, holding out her hands and waving them around. She expected a reaction like this, so she continued.
" Then what will you do when a teammate is injured and there's nobody to cover for them?" She asked, silencing their unconvinced expressions. Now she grabbed their attention.
" I don't care if your Quirk isn't suited for the job; if you can't handle yourself, then you can't handle being a Hero. We're going to be singled out in the Future, so this is the time to learn. Uraraka, you're experienced in hand-to-hand combat and have amazing control of your Quirk. You handled Bakugou at the Sports Festival, didn't you?" Kaori questioned, reviewing the harsh truth about being a Hero. If they hadn't figured it out at the USJ, they would've definitely known she was Aizawa's daughter now. Uraraka gulped, putting on a stern face as she nodded.
" You've grown from then, so show them that here. Mineta, as vulgar as you are, your...your balls are useful," She said, shivering at the fact she'd used those words in the same sentence. " They bounce off of you, don't they? But they stick to others. So, cover the areas with your balls." Mineta smirked at the fact she'd used that sentence, but was quickly smacked across the face. Kaori growled lightly before turning toward Mina.
" Mina, your Quirk allows you to coat stuff in acid and make it melt. You control the acidity, so you're job is to use that to your advantage." She encouraged, earning a smile from Mina. She looked back at all of them, seeing the new looks on their faces.
" You guys are capable of working alone and together. Don't let it psyche you out, got that?" She asked, giving a small smile to the three. They all gave an affirmative nod with a brave umph.
" Yeah! We got this!"
" Good. Go rain hellfire."
Present Time
Kaori slipped through pipes, travelling in the darkness with ease. Her feet clanked softly against the ground before lifting off as she jumped onto another pipe, watching Midoriya jump into the air easily. She hid in the shadows for a moment, hearing Monoma's footsteps pick up. She felt something pinch at her neck, slapping the back instantly. What the heck? Are bugs being attracted to me lightly? They've been going off like crazy! She watched as nuts and bolts suddenly shot at Midoriya as he stood atop of a pillar. Monoma appeared, using the Poltergeist Quirk. Kaori immediately started moving out of the shadows, moving higher up. She traveled across the ground quickly, listening with annoyance to Monoma's teasing.
" You know, I was having a pretty deep conversation with Shinsou earlier," Monoma called out from behind a pillar. Kaori sparred a glance as metal pillars and pipes blocked her view every few seconds. She put a finger to her temple, looking closer into the intricate maze of pipes across from her. Shinsou was their, moving silently and watching as Midoriya kept his distance from Monoma, shooting small air blasts from his finger. " Like about how those blessed with more power tend to have more destructive ways. You're frenemies with Bakugou, right? So, you must know." Monoma's taunting was starting to get a little off-track and Kaori figured that if she or Shinsou didn't step in at some point, Midoriya was gonna lose it. Kaori moved further up, having a perfect view of Midoriya from a side profile.
" How does he smile like he has nothing to worry about?" Monoma questioned as Midoriya shot into the air, aiming head on for Monoma. She watched as it played out, a scowl forming on her face. Midoriya wasn't the only one about to lose it. He doesn't smile because he has nothing to worry about, he smiles because he knows there's something to worry about. Kaori jumped through the pillars, coming to a small path, narrow and in perfect line to see the scene.
" He can't seriously smile like there's nothing in the world to stop him, not when he let himself get abducted by Villains! Not only that, that Shimura girl failed as well! And because they couldn't protect themselves, the SYMBOL OF PEACE IS GONE!!" Monoma antagonized, finally getting a reaction out of Kaori. Her hands twitched as an aggravated groan escaped her throat. She wasn't the only one. Midoriya growled lightly, ready to lease another blast. Until, the atmosphere changed. Kaori watched with wide eyes at the scene before. All For One's words played in her head, his smile bringing more sickness to her. It can't be...not now...
" Prepare yourself. There is a dangerous change in the atmosphere,"
Darkness towered over them, Monoma's face falling in confusion.
" I cannot tell, however, if it is meant for you, All Might's successor, or Tomura,"
Kaori's hands stopped twitching, her mouth hanging open in horror.
" But then again, " Midoriya watched as his sleeve was ripped apart by the unknown substance that emerged at miraculous timing.
"maybe it is a change in the person."