[Time: 09:00 AM][Location: U.A. High School – Ground Gamma]
The morning air was biting cold. Frost clung to the massive maze of industrial pipes and steel towers that made up Ground Gamma.
Class 1-A stood in a line, their breath misting in the air. Their hero costumes had been upgraded for winter—thermal linings, thicker armor, and darker colors.
Opposite them stood Class 1-B.
"We finally meet again, Class A!"
Neito Monoma stood at the front, his expression a mix of theatrical madness and genuine competitive drive.
"You think you're hot stuff because of the Yakuza raid? Because of the concert? Don't make me laugh! Today, we crush you! We—"
THWACK.
Itsuka Kendo chopped Monoma's neck. He collapsed silently into the snow.
"Sorry about him," Kendo sighed, dragging the unconscious boy back to the line. "He's just excited."
Aizawa stepped forward. His bandages from the High-End attack were gone, but he still looked exhausted. Beside him stood Vlad King, the homeroom teacher of Class B.
"Today isn't just a joint training," Aizawa announced, his voice raspy. "It's a reality check. While you were fighting villains, Class B has been training. Don't underestimate them."
Aizawa gestured to the side.
"And to make things interesting... we have a guest."
From the shadows of the entrance gate, a student walked out. He wore the U.A. gym uniform, but his gear was distinct. A voice-modulating mask (Persona Chords) covered his mouth, and long, grey binding cloths were wrapped around his neck.
Hitoshi Shinso.Quirk: Brainwashing.
Reiji's eyes scanned him instantly.
[Analysis: Hitoshi Shinso.][Class: General Studies -> Hero Course Candidate.][Gear: Capturing Weapon (Aizawa Style).][Threat Level: B (Conditional S in Team Fights).]
"He looks like a mini-Aizawa," Kaminari whispered.
"He looks like he hasn't slept in a week," Reiji noted. "Which means he's been training every night."
Shinso stopped in front of the two classes. He didn't smile.
"I'm not here to make friends," Shinso said, his voice flat. "I'm here to take someone's spot in the Hero Course. So don't expect me to go easy."
"Good mindset," Reiji muttered.
Aizawa pulled out a box. "We will be drawing lots for the teams. Shinso will participate in two matches—one for Class A, one for Class B. The teams will be 4 vs 4, or 5 vs 4 depending on his placement."
Reiji watched the drawing process with detached interest.
Match 1: Tsuyu, Kirishima, Kaminari, Koda vs. Shishida, Shiozaki, Rin, Tsuburaba. (Shinso with Class A). Match 2: Momo, Tokoyami, Hagakure, Aoyama vs. Kendo, Komori, Kuroiro, Fukidashi. Match 3: Todoroki, Iida, Ojiro, Shoji vs. Tetsutetsu, Kaibara, Honenuki, Pony. Match 4: Bakugo, Jiro, Sero, Sato vs. Tokage, Awase, Bondo, Kamakiri.
Reiji waited. The teams were almost identical to the original timeline.
"And finally," Vlad King shouted. "The Fifth Match!"
Class A Team: Midoriya Izuku. Uraraka Ochaco. Ashido Mina. Mineta Minoru. ...and Kurobane Reiji.
Class B Team: Monoma Neito. Yanagi Reiko. Shoda Nirengeki. Kodai Yui. ...and Shinso Hitoshi.
"Five versus Five," Aizawa stated. "The final bout. The main event."
Reiji stepped forward, joining Midoriya's group.
"We have Reiji-kun!" Uraraka cheered, pumping a fist. "That's a huge advantage!"
"Is it?" Midoriya looked nervous. "Class B has Monoma. If he copies Reiji's quirk..."
"He can't," Reiji said simply. "My quirk relies on an external energy source he doesn't possess. If he tries to copy 'Netherrealm', he'll just get a headache."
Reiji looked across the field.
Monoma had woken up. He was staring at Reiji.
"The Brutal Hero," Monoma grinned, his eyes wide. "The one who kills Nomus. I wonder... what kind of monster are you really? And that brainwasher... Shinso... let's see if your 'darkness' can handle our darkness."
Reiji ignored him. He looked at Shinso.
Shinso was adjusting his binding cloth. He caught Reiji's gaze.
There was a flicker of recognition. Two people who fought in the shadows. Two people who didn't fit the "Symbol of Peace" archetype.
"Don't get brainwashed, Kurobane," Shinso muttered, barely audible.
"Don't miss, Shinso," Reiji replied.
[Time: 11:45 AM][Match 5: Preparation Phase]
The first four matches had concluded. Explosions, mushrooms, and giant ice walls had reshaped the arena multiple times.
Now, it was time for the finale.
Midoriya's team huddled in the starting zone.
"Okay," Midoriya pulled out a notebook. "Here's the plan. Shinso is the biggest threat. We need to stay silent or use non-verbal signals. Monoma is the wildcard. Yui, Reiko, and Shoda are support and ranged attackers."
"I'll take point," Reiji volunteered. "I'll draw their aggro. Monoma wants me. I'll give him a target he can't ignore."
"But Reiji-kun," Ashido worried. "If Shinso brainwashes you, we lose our strongest fighter instantly!"
"He won't," Reiji tapped his temple. "My mind isn't exactly... unguarded."
[System Passive: Mental Fortress.][Effect: Resistance to psychic intrusion +50%.]
"Midoriya," Reiji turned to the green-haired boy.
This was the moment. The timeline divergence point.
"Be careful with your quirk today," Reiji warned cryptically. "You've been pushing 20% lately. Your core is unstable."
Midoriya blinked. "Unstable? I feel fine."
"Just... if you feel something pulling," Reiji said, his voice dropping to a whisper, "don't fight it. Control it."
Midoriya nodded slowly, though he looked confused.
"MATCH FIVE! START!"
The horn blared.
"Let's go!"
Reiji didn't run. He vanished.
[Skill: Shadow Step.]
He reappeared on top of a central pipe tower, gaining the high ground instantly.
Below him, the labyrinth of pipes twisted like a metallic jungle.
[Map Scan: Active.][Hostiles Detected: 5.]
"They're grouped up," Reiji analyzed. "Using Shinso as a sniper and Monoma as a vanguard."
Suddenly, a voice echoed through the pipes. It sounded exactly like Bakugo.
"HEY! DEKU! YOU DAMN NERD!"
Midoriya flinched. "Kacchan?"
"Don't answer!" Uraraka tackled him.
A binding cloth shot out from the shadows, snapping the air where Midoriya had been standing a second ago.
"Tch," Shinso stepped out from behind a pillar. "Close."
"Found you," Reiji whispered from above.
He drew a kunai.
But before he could throw it, the pipe beneath him rumbled.
"Twin Impact!"
BOOM!
The pipe exploded. Nirengeki Shoda had hit it earlier, priming the second impact.
Reiji was launched into the air.
"Gotcha!" Monoma appeared on a floating platform of junk (controlled by Reiko Yanagi's poltergeist quirk).
Monoma touched his own neck. He smirked.
"Let's test this out... Brainwashing!"
Monoma shouted at Reiji.
"Hey, Edgelord! Does your daddy buy your hero costumes?!"
It was a taunt. A direct question.
Reiji stabilized himself in mid-air using his Hover Greaves.
He looked at Monoma.
If he answered, he would be brainwashed.
Reiji smirked behind his mask.
He didn't speak. He opened his mouth and unleashed a Banshee Scream.
SCREEEEEEECH!
Sound waves didn't count as answering.
Monoma clutched his ears. "GAH! LOUD!"
"Midoriya! Now!" Reiji signaled with a hand gesture.
Midoriya charged forward, glowing with Full Cowl.
"I've got you, Monoma!"
Midoriya reached out with his right hand to capture the copying student.
And then it happened.
[System Alert: Anomaly Detected.][Source: One For All.][Energy Spike: CRITICAL.]
Black tendrils erupted from Midoriya's arm. They weren't just energy. They were physical, lashing out like wild whips, destroying the pipes, the floor, and the cover.
"WH-WHAT IS THIS?!" Midoriya screamed, panic in his eyes as the black energy began to consume him.
"DEKU-KUN!" Uraraka shouted.
Monoma froze, terrified as a massive black whip slashed past his face, cutting the steel pillar behind him like butter.
"He's losing control," Reiji realized. "It's stronger than in the anime."
Reiji abandoned his position.
"Forget the match!" Reiji roared, his voice amplified by spirit energy. "Everyone back!"
He teleported directly toward the rampaging storm of black energy.
[Quest Update: The Blackwhip Outburst.][Objective: Contain Midoriya Izuku without killing him.]
"Hold on, Midoriya!" Reiji shouted, dodging a whip that shattered the concrete next to his head. "I'm coming in!"
End of Chapter 135.
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