New Beginnings (A My Hero Acadamia fan story)

Chapter 8: The Stage is Set for Battle Training!

All Might leaves the class as we all gather our costumes and head to the locker rooms to go change. Now I understand why U.A. Had asked for our clothing size and dimensions a couple of months before our classes started. It was for the clothing registration forms to make our costumes ahead of time! I make it to the locker room and take off my uniform and pull out my costume I had designed. My costume drew heavy inspiration from my favorite video game which was street fighter, so I was really excited to put it on and try it out. My costume consisted of a black and red martial arts gi made of re-enforced fabrics to hold up with my extreme movement speed. I also had MMA gloves and boots made of durable but light weight alloy for striking and blocking. For my head I requested some lightweight but durable glasses that doubled as high tech range finders and binoculars to help me see and teleport farther distances. To top off the whole look I requested a headband made of the same durable fabric with built in pain stimulant that could be sent into my nerves via a button on the side of the headband. This was made to deal with my headache side effect to help me fight longer. At first I was hesitant to request this but the research team designed and engineered a safe and reliable prototype that was 100% reliable so huge props to them! I designed my costume to be lightweight and durable so that my movement wouldn't be restricted or caught on anything during battle, as well as working with my weaknesses to make me perform at my peak as long as possible. As I'm putting on my gi I look over to see Thomas and Nukkuru putting on their costumes too. Thomas looked straight out of an advanced tactical FPS video game! He wore black combat pants and long sleeve tactical shirt with a black tactical plate carrier complete with medical pouches and even a knife for close quarters. The main thing that stuck out was the futuristic metal exoskeleton that he wore on his back that attached to all of his limbs and head for strength and support from blows. He looked fearsome and ready for a fight and it was pretty intimidating! Nukkuru wore crimson red pants and shirt complimented by a stylish leather jacket and durable steel toed boots. On his head he wore a red bandanna and on his hands he had re-enforced fingerless gloves and his signature brass knuckles. He looked like he was ready for a street brawl with no rules and it looked really cool! I walk up to the two of them and say, "Wow...you guys look AWESOME!" They both thank me and in a muffled voice Thomas says, "Judging by both of your costume designs I'm assuming you are close quarters fighters am I right?" Nukkuru and I both shake our heads yes and he laughs and says, "Well then I hope we get paired together because my hand to hand is a bit rusty so it would be great practice!" I smile and say, "Yeah for sure, but don't think I'll take it easy on you!" Thomas replies with, "Well I would hope so because I'm not holding back either!" I give him a thumbs up and a smile as Nukkaru chimes in with, "The same applies to me, however don't you think we should get going? I don't know about you guys but I don't like being late." We all put our stuff away in our lockers and head over to testing ground Gamma where All Might was standing with other classmates huddled around him. We joined the group and waited for everybody else to finish getting changed. I look to see a giant square building behind All Might that looked like a mix between a skyscraper, and a parking garage. It had multiple empty floors that I could see through open windows that had no glass or shutters. "So this is where we will be fighting each other huh?" I think to myself. As I wait I noticed Jiro in the crowd wearing her punk chick themed costume with headphones and what looked like speakers on her boots! She looked great and I waved at her as she waved back. She looked me up and down then gave me a thumbs up to show her approval of my costume. I give her a thumbs up back and then throw in my ear buds to help the time pass. Once everybody arrived, All Might silenced the class with a booming laugh and said, "They say that clothes make the pros ladies and gentlemen, and you are no exception! Take this to heart...from now on you are all hero's in training!" Everyone looks around comparing costumes and admiring all the cool designs and creativity. All Might continues with, "Now let's get started you bunch of newbies! Now that you are all ready it's time for combat training! Most fights you see on the news take place outside but statistically speaking most fights with the more dangerous criminals with take place indoors! Think about it...backroom deals, home invasions, hidden underground lairs...the list goes on! For this training you will all be split up into teams of good guys and bad guys and fight two on two indoor battles!" I clench my fist and smile. All my hard work and training has prepared me for this very moment! Even though it's just practice, I'm going to treat this like it's the real deal so when the time comes...I'll be ready! All Might interrupts my thoughts by saying, "Here is the situation. Two villains have hidden a nuclear bomb somewhere in their hideout, and it's the hero's job tho find it and secure it. The hero's can achieve victory by capturing the evildoers, or by securing the bomb! Likewise the villains will win if they capture the hero's or protect the payload! The teams will be chosen at random by drawing lots so everybody grab a piece of paper!" The class forms a line and begins to draw from the box in front of All Might. I reach the box eventually and grab my slip of paper and open it to see I'm on team A with Thomas! Once everyone had found their team mates we all gathered around All might as he drew two random teams to go first. All Might's booming voice yells out, "The two teams to battle it out first are...team A and team D! The good guys are team A and the villains are team D!" I look over to see who I am facing on team D and I'm shocked to see Nukkaru and Rugo! I smile with confidence as I realize that I will finally get a chance to get Rugo back for what he said to me in the locker room! I'll make sure to knock him down a few pegs and show him that I'm not somebody to be taken lightly. The villain team goes into the training building first to set up while we wait outside. I turn to Thomas and say, "Hey man we need to think of a game plan to beat these two...got any ideas on what we should do?" He turns to look at me and says, "Well for starters we need to understand the enemy and what they are capable of and try to make counter play based on what our strengths are." I nod my head in agreement and say, "Ok so my quirk is called Blink, and it allows me to teleport anywhere I can see at light speed. I can also bring anything I am touching with me when I teleport, however the downside to my quirk is that I get headaches that increase in intensity the more I use it. I would say that's definitely my main weakness, but I specialize in high mobility and hand to hand combat." Thomas nods to me as he analyzes the information I just have just given to him then says in a muffled voice. "So speed and mobility are your strengths...does the enemy have anything to counter that?" I think for a second and try to remember what I knew about Rugo and Nukkuru. "All I know about Nukkuru is that he seems to have a quirk that deals with enhanced strength but I'm not sure if that's just in his arms or if it's his whole body that gets effected." Thomas says nothing but seems to be deep in thought. "Now that Rugo guy I don't really know anything about, and to top it off he got the lowest score in Izawa's fitness test. In fact I can't think of a single thing he stood out in." Thomas turns to me and says, "So he is a wild card that could potentially ruin our chances, or he could also be fairly weak and be a hinderance to his team member....damn! I hate when I get limited intel!" We sit there for a second as we both try to think up a plan that would give us a high chance of success. After several minutes Thomas pulls me to the side and says, "Okay I have a plan but it's success depends on what that Rugo kid can do and if you are able to take him out on your own." I nod to him and wait to hear his idea. "I'm guessing that they will be puppy guarding the bomb because they know that you can move very fast so a sneak attack won't be the best option. Out main priority will be taking out Nukkuru because if he can boost his whole body that means he is strong AND fast so if we can separate him from Rugo then our odds of success will be much higher. So the plan will be for you to locate Nukkuru and lure him over to me so I can take him out while you go fight Rugo and overwhelm him with speed!" I stare at Thomas and I'm stunned that he came up with all of this in just a couple of minutes with almost no information. I agree with everything he said too! Separate the two of them then counter Nukkuru's in power with Thomas's smarts, and I can counter Rugo with relentless attacks and high speed. I realize that I'm missing something really important and I turn to Thomas and say, "Hey Thomas I agree with the plan and think it will work as long as I take Rugo and you take Nukkuru, but I just realized something...what is your quirk and what does it do?" He turns away from me and hesitates, then right as he starts to tell me All Might interrupts him by yelling out, "Okay Team A your planning phase is over! He pushes us up to the entrance and says, " Good luck and may the best team win! Thomas looks at me and says, "Just go with the plan and trust that I can handle myself ok!" I nod in agreement and face forward as the doors open and All Might yells, "Begin!" Before Thomas and I enter the door, Thomas grabs the knife from his plate carrier and turns away from me. I look at him confused for a second then he turns back around with two shotguns in his hands! "Do you know how to use one of these?" He asked as he tosses one into my lil hands. I get over my confused state and respond with, "Ummm....no I don't...also where did you get these from?" He ignores me and continues with, "It's super simple actually! All 8 rounds are preloaded so all you need to do is pull the trigger and after the shot rack the pump action back and forth to load another round!" I look down at the weapon and say, "Seems simple enough but I'm not trying to kill anybody!" He laughs and replies with, "Well I would hope not, but don't worry because these shotguns are loaded with beanbag rounds so it's non-lethal!" I sigh with relief and let out a nervous laugh. "One more thing...I'll be taking the lead but I need you to focus on these three hand signs." Thomas says as he holds up his hand into a fist. "A fist means "halt" or stop moving, if I wave forwards it means follow me, and if if I point with a knife hand that means move to where I'm pointing...got all that?" I nod my head to Thomas as we take position and he waves us forward. Thomas and I start clearing every corner as we begin to move through the building. It was a lot of open rooms that were empty and hallways that curved in different direction almost like a maze. I tighten my grip on the shotgun as I realize we could get ambushed at any second. Thomas moved with quick and precise movements, like he had done this a thousand times before. I did my best to mimic him and follow his lead but I was sure I was messing stuff up along the way. Where did Thomas go to get this type of training? I was sure he had to have some sort of military or law enforcement background but I had no idea he was this well trained! As we both approach a big opening up ahead Thomas throws up the "Halt" hand signal and I stop. He turns his head my way and lifts up his gas mask just enough so he can whisper to me. As he does this I get the smallest glimpse of his chin and I'm surprised to see several scars around his cheek and jaw. "The room ahead is where they are keeping the bomb and they both have to be in there because we just swept the entire building and found nothing. I shake my head and whisper back, "Okay so what's the plan?" Thomas motions towards the opposite wall and says, "You are going to hide around that corner and wait for my signal then I'll engage them with my shotgun and get them to take cover. Once I'm out of ammo I'm going to need you to cover me while I prepare a tear gas grenade. Once I throw it in there we wait for them to come out, and then we take out our targets when their guard is down...any questions before I begin?" I shake my head no and he nods and motions me to the opposite wall. Once I get there it's time to begin! I take a deep breath and look at Thomas as he rounds the corner. Thomas let's off 4 rounds in quick succession with perfect precision and I hear Nukkuru yell, "What the hell?" And I hear Rugo yell, "Shit...take cover!" Thomas uses his remaining shots to keep them pinned down and once he is out of ammo I round the corner to provide Thomas cover as he takes out his knife and cuts his hand open to form the grenade. So that must be how his quirk works! He forms weapons and equipment using his own blood! I turn my focus back to shooting as both of our targets hide behind pillars. Once I'm out I get back behind cover as Thomas pulls the pin and throws it into the room. After a loud "HISSSSSSSS" from the grenade I hear coughing and cries of pain as the gas does it's work. So far the plan is working perfectly! I throw the empty shotgun to the side and prepare to engage Rugo when he walks around the corner. As I wait I notice that only one person is coughing now. That's strange...the gas should be effecting both of them right? I give Thomas a worried look as I can tell he noticed that something is off too. All of a sudden I'm stunned to see Nukkuru come flying around the corner reaching towards Thomas. Nukkuru had red eyes with tears streaming down his face from the gas as he grabbed Thomas's mask. Thomas was too surprised to counterattack as Nukkuru punched him straight in the chest, ripping the mask off of is face and sending him flying back several feet, but before I could do anything Nukkuru sprinted back into the gas and disappeared. I glance back over to Thomas as he picks himself up, but to my surprise he already had his face covered with another gas mask! Everything had happened so fast I hadn't even gotten a good look at his face. He must really want to hide something from everyone if he goes to all that length to keep his face hidden. After a couple of seconds I hear Rugo's coughing fit suddenly stop. So that was Nukkuru's plan! He took the gas mask so he could give it to Rugo allowing him to get back into the fight! Just then I hear a set of footsteps sprint towards the opening and I prepare for a fight as Nukkuru comes flying through the gas straight at Thomas but this time he was ready. Thomas dodges the straight jab effortlessly while turning his back to Nukkuru and throws an elbow into his gut. Nukkuru gasps as the air is knocked out of him, but Thomas goes even further by grabbing his arm and throwing him over his shoulder into the next room. Thomas quickly turns to me and shouts, "Here is where we split up! You take Rugo and I'll finish off Nukkuru! Good luck!" I give him a thumbs up as he sprints out of sight. I turn to the opening and see that all the gas had cleared, and Rugo was standing over by the bomb keeping it safe. I walk around the corner and walk halfway across the room then stop. Rugo slowly takes the gas mask off and tosses it to the side and glares at me. "Clever trick you had with the tear gas but it failed...let's hope that you don't disappoint me like your plan did!" Rugo says as he stares me down. I take up a fighting stance and respond back with, "Don't worry I'll make you regret what you said to me before...just watch!" He laughs at me then beckons me forward and says, "Well I guess you should put your money where your mouth is then...bring it on!" And just like that the fight had begun!