Chapter 145: Rescue Training Race
"I mean, can you guys stop looking at me like that? It's a lot of pressure..."
All Might stood with his hands on his hips, a stiff smile on his face as he looked at the group of students with sparkling stars in their eyes, not knowing what to say.
He knew that Aizawa had just held a class related to the Hero Killer. It was a unanimous decision they had all come to as teachers: these kids had to face this fear, this ideology, head-on. Because after the Stain incident, it was highly likely that the dark times would return, and these kids had to grow up, and fast.
But... could someone please tell him why these kids were looking at him like this?
"All Might! I heard that when you were in America, they called you a 'superhero'! Is that true!?" Mina Ashido rushed forward, her eyes filled with adoration.
"Ahahaha... maybe... I think... that might have happened..." All Might coughed a few times, trying to avoid the topic. He said loudly, "But that's not important, young men and women! What's important is today's class!"
"I'm sure you all learned a lot from your work-study experiences! So, to help everyone relax, for today's class, we'll be holding a rescue training race in the industrial zone of Training Ground Gamma!"
Behind All Might was a crowded industrial complex filled with factories and large machinery. It was one of the school's simulation training grounds. While the USJ was for various types of disaster rescue, this place, like the street area from their earlier combat simulation, was for mock battles.
"This time, you'll be divided into four groups of five for the training! When I give the signal, you'll all start from different positions outside the factory area at the same time! I'll be in the center of the site, and your straight-line distance to me will all be the same! This is a race to see who has the best observational skills and the fastest speed!" All Might gave a thumbs-up, flashing his pearly white teeth. "Do your best to reach me, young men and women!"
Aside from the contestants, everyone else was gathered on a stage-like viewing area, watching the live feed from the drones on a large screen.
"The first group is Midoriya, Ojiro, Iida, Ashido, and Sero? They put all the high-mobility people in the same group," Momo analyzed. "This lineup is very disadvantageous for Midoriya. His athletic ability isn't that outstanding, is it..."
"Sero has strong aerial abilities. Iida, even though he hasn't fully recovered from his injuries from the Hero Killer incident, his speed can't be underestimated. And Ashido's stamina is probably the best among the girls. It's just Midoriya..." Jiro said hesitantly. "To be honest, every time Midoriya makes a move, he gets hurt. I don't really see him as much of a competitor. He'll probably be last this time."
"I have to disagree," Yoshikage Kira said, sitting down next to Momo. He said, seemingly offhandedly, "Midoriya came out of the fight with the Hero Killer, Stain, completely unscathed. There weren't any of the usual injury marks on his arms or legs."
Kira had personally witnessed Midoriya's fight with the Hero Killer. His style of movement was very reminiscent of a certain someone.
"Haah!? Kira, are you saying that damn Deku got stronger again!?" Before Jiro could speak, Bakugo exploded. "Watch! Deku is definitely going to be last this time!"
"Bakugo, I disagree with you," Todoroki said, stepping in front of him and looking him straight in the eye. "Want to make a bet? I think Midoriya will be first this time."
"Tch. So even you've been bought over by Deku, you Half-and-Half bastard!? Fine! Let's bet!" Bakugo's face turned red as he craned his neck and shouted, "Even though I think Tape-Face is a total loser, his aerial ability is at least watchable! I bet he'll be first!"
"What are the stakes? I'm in!" Kaminari squeezed in between the two of them with a grin. "I'm betting on Ojiro! That big tail of his isn't just for show, you know." He then turned and called out to Kira. "Kira! You in?"
"I'll sit this one out," Kira said, shaking his head with a smile. "Gambling is a bad habit."
...Did you forget about the bet you made with me during the Sports Festival?
Todoroki stared at Kira for a few seconds, speechless, then turned back to Bakugo. "I was originally going to make you apologize to Midoriya if he won and stop calling him that derogatory name, 'Deku.' But I've thought about it, and it's better for Midoriya to solve that problem himself. So, the stakes aren't that high. Just a meal. The loser treats the winner of the race to a meal."
"Like hell I'd say sorry to Deku!" A vein throbbed on Bakugo's forehead. "It's just one meal? Fine! You're on!"
"So if Ojiro wins, you two are treating him to a meal, and it has nothing to do with me...?" Kaminari muttered under his breath, then smiled. "Alright, sounds fun! I'm in! What's most important in life is to have fun! I'm happy to do it!"
Yoshikage Kira saw that Momo was about to try and stop them, but in the end, she held back. "What's wrong?" he asked with a smile. "You're not going to stop them?"
"No. It's just one meal. A little bet like this might even improve their relationship," Momo said, tucking her hair behind her ear and looking at the big screen. "The race is starting."
Iida's straight-line speed was incredible, but because the course was full of twists and turns, it wasn't suitable for him to accelerate. As such, no one thought he would win. The situation on the field confirmed their guess; Iida would accelerate for a short distance, then be forced to brake hard when a sudden corner appeared, almost crashing into a wall several times.
Ashido's stamina was excellent, but compared to Ojiro and Sero, who were using their tail and tape to swing through the pipes overhead, even with the slick she was creating under her feet to slide, she couldn't match their speed. She was only slightly faster than Iida.
The most surprising person... was Midoriya.
A layer of green electrical energy crackled around his body as he continuously leaped between the water pipes, using them as footholds. He moved with an ease that looked nothing like someone who was about to break a bone. Soon, he had surpassed Hanta Sero. His style of movement was very similar to...
"That damn Deku actually learned to move like me!" Bakugo said through gritted teeth. "Does he think I'm a pushover!? That I won't sue him for plagiarism!?"
Kira shrugged. "It's not plagiarism. You can think of it as a tribute."
"What kind of smartass comment is that, you bastard!?" Bakugo spun around and glared at Todoroki, his voice grim. "Half-and-Half! You must have known! While I was being treated like an idiot these past few days, Midoriya was getting stronger!"
"No. This method of movement is also a surprise to me," Todoroki said, shaking his head. "However, the race isn't over yet. Midoriya hasn't won."
Is this guy trying to make me watch Deku win with my own two eyes!? What a sick bastard! Bakugo thought, gritting his teeth as he turned back to the big screen. No matter what the result, he could take the loss.
Todoroki had no such thoughts. He had simply noticed a flaw in Midoriya's movements. His leaps were too reliant on the friction between his feet and the flat surfaces. And the path ahead... was full of round, cylindrical steel pipes.
Before Bakugo's shocked eyes, in his next contact with a steel pipe, Midoriya's foot slipped, and he began to fall.
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