[Third Person POV]
"You guys are something else, you know that…" Pixie-Bob said with wide eyes, her hands propped against her hips as she stared at the class with a mixture of amazement and disbelief.
Her feline grin twitched as if she couldn't quite decide whether to be proud or unsettled. "Honestly, I was expecting most of you to struggle for hours, maybe even get turned around a few times in the forest and only manage to crawl out by late afternoon. But instead…" She let out a small laugh, shaking her head, "you all just bulldozed through my Earth Beasts like they were nothing more than poorly built drywall!"
"Eh?!" Mina exclaimed, leaning forward in shock. "What do you mean late afternoon?! Didn't you tell us you expected us back by twelve-thirty?!"
Pixie-Bob blinked before scratching her cheek with a claw, looking just the tiniest bit sheepish. "Well… yeah, I did say that. But I was lying! It was supposed to motivate you kids to push harder." She waved her hand dismissively, as if her little trick wasn't that big of a deal. "The truth is, twelve-thirty was the time we—us pro-heroes—would have realistically finished the task. Yet here you are, arriving a whole hour earlier than even we would have! Can you believe that?!"
She ruffled her own hair with both hands in a dramatic display of disbelief, her voice going up an octave. "You brats are going to give me gray hairs even though I'm so young!"
Melissa glanced sideways at Aizawa, who had been quietly standing off to the side like a bored shadow, and raised a brow. "You're starting to be a bad influence on your fellow pros, sensei. First you lie to us to 'motivate' us, now they're picking it up from you too. This is definitely your fault."
Aizawa's only response was a dismissive scoff as he pulled his scarf tighter around his neck and looked away, deliberately ignoring the accusation. His expression gave nothing, but the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth suggested he knew she had a point.
Pixie-Bob clapped her hands together, regaining her focus as she let her gaze drift over the group. "Regardless, you all managed to impress me. The way you dismantled my beasts and carved a path straight through the forest—it showed signs of sharp instincts and dedicated training."
Her sharp eyes landed on Tony, and she pointed one clawed finger at him. "But the most impressive one out of everyone was you."
Bakugo immediately scoffed, crossing his arms with a harsh click of his tongue. "Tch. Don't give him too much credit. I took down more of those mud pies than he did."
Pixie-Bob tilted her head, unbothered by his arrogance. "It's not his strength that impressed me. He wasn't the fastest, he wasn't the most durable, and he definitely wasn't the most powerful out of your class… but he was the one who took charge. He coordinated all of you, kept everyone moving forward, and made sure you worked as a team. That's what got you through my forest faster than I thought possible."
She tapped her claw against her chin as she recalled the scene. "It was almost like watching a small pro hero direct an operation. He knew where to place everyone, when to call the shots, and how to maximize his class's strengths."
"Ha! That's our class prez for you!" Kirishima beamed proudly, slinging a heavy arm over Tony's shoulders and giving him a friendly shake.
Denki followed up with a playful slap to Tony's back. "Seriously, some of us wouldn't have pushed half as hard or figured out half the tricks we know now without you!"
Tony grinned, swaying side to side like he was trying not to let their praise puff him up too much. "Aw, shucks, you guys… you're going to make me blush."
Melissa rolled her eyes and smirked. "Please, your ego doesn't need any more feeding. You'll start floating away if they keep at it."
That earned a chuckle from a few of the students, though it was cut short when Midoriya's eyes drifted toward a small figure standing silently at Mandalay's side. The boy's tiny frame and distant stare stood out against the chatter and noise of the group. Midoriya tilted his head curiously.
"Um, I've been meaning to ask," Midoriya began, looking at Mandalay with polite curiosity, "who's that boy?"
"Ah, him?" Mandalay smiled softly, placing a reassuring hand on the boy's shoulder and gently nudging him forward. "This is my nephew, Kota. He'll be spending the week with us as well. Kota, why don't you go ahead and greet everyone?"
With his usual warmth, Midoriya stepped forward, crouching slightly to make himself less imposing as he extended his hand. His smile was bright, genuine. "Hi there, I'm Izuku Midoriya. Nice to meet you, Kota—"
"Ughhhhh!!"
Midoriya's words cut off with a strangled groan, his eyes bulging as he collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut. The reason became immediately clear: Kota had driven his tiny fist directly into Midoriya's groin. The green-haired boy hit the ground, curling up as if his very soul had been punched out of his body.
"BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!" Tony and Bakugo doubled over, pointing at Midoriya like a pair of special grade curse spirits, their laughter echoing across the training grounds.
"Midoriya!!" Iida yelped in horror, rushing forward, arms chopping dramatically through the air as he tried to figure out how to help. His gaze snapped to Kota, who was already turning to walk away, utterly unfazed. "Now see here, young man! Why would you go and do something so violent?!"
Kota glanced back over his shoulder, his glare hard and sharp despite his small stature. "I can't abide to jerks who want to be heroes."
Bakugo barked out another laugh, his grin practically splitting his face. "Heh, I like this kid already."
Melissa gave him a knowing side-eye. "You do realize what he just said describes you perfectly, right?"
Toru's voice chimed in cheerfully, "Yeah! A jerk who wants to be a hero—that's exactly Bakugo!"
Bakugo spun on them with a furious snarl, sparks crackling wildly from his palms. "ARE YOU TWO TRYING TO DIE?! WHO THE HELL ARE YOU CALLING A JERK?!"
Aizawa finally cut in, his dry tone carrying enough weight to immediately quiet the laughter and chatter. His sharp eyes swept over the group, making sure he had their full attention before speaking.
"Since you all clearly still have plenty of energy to spare," he began, his voice calm but firm, "don't think you're done just yet. Your luggage is still in the bus. Go get it, settle into your assigned rooms, unpack what you need, clean yourselves up, and then come back here for your promised breakfast. It should be finished by the time you're done."
"HAI, SENSEI!!" the class chorused, their voices overlapping as they threw up mock salutes with varying levels of enthusiasm. Aizawa rolled his eyes but didn't bother scolding them—if anything, he seemed grateful that they were actually obeying instructions without argument.
The group broke apart, scattering in pairs and clusters as they made their way toward the bus. Tony fell in step beside Momo, his shield slung neatly across his back, the polished metal catching the morning sunlight. He glanced sideways at her with a playful grin.
"I hope you don't mind if I keep the shield. I'm really starting to vibe with it. Honestly, I think it makes me look cool."
Momo blinked at him before letting out a soft laugh, her expression equal parts amused and exasperated. "Why on earth would I mind, Tony? Honestly…" She shook her head lightly, then her eyes flicked toward the way the shield rested on his back. With a teasing smile, she reached out and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Though I'll admit… it does look good on you. Especially when it's strapped across your back like that. It makes your shoulders appear broader."
Tony arched a brow, smirking faintly. "Oh? Do they now?" He leaned in just slightly, his voice dipping into mock seriousness as if he were trying to make her double down.
Momo's composure faltered instantly, color rushing to her cheeks. She glanced away quickly, her lips tugging into a nervous smile. "Stop it," she muttered, flustered, and gave his shoulder a playful swat with her hand. "Don't push it."
The two of them exchanged quiet laughter, their shared amusement drawing a few curious looks from classmates walking ahead of them.
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