• Benevolence •

Chapter 23

"The ten teams will be starting their stages simultaneously. The general outline of the test will be explained by each of the teachers you'll be battling. You're to be transported by the campus buses," Aizawa-sensei drones. 
"Time is precious, so get in them promptly."

Our groups are listed off and soon I'm boarding a bus with Sero and Midnight-sensei. I spend the ride struggling to figure out anyway to fight her but I can't form a sound strategy.

When we arrive, Midnight leads us to the gates. "Okay, so this is where the test is taking place. You'll have 30 minutes to either pin these lovely handcuffs on me," she winked. "Or for either of you to escape from the stage."

Sero cocks his head. "We can run?"

"Of course! You'll be going against an opponent who's much stronger."

Sero glances at me before turning back to Midnight.

"Think of me as a villain. In the field, if you can fight and win, great! But if you can't, it's wiser to run and call for backup." She finished the rest of her explanation quickly. "Good luck."

We stand quietly for a moment when a speaker comes on.

"Everybody's at their marks, I take it? In that case, nows the time, freshmen of Yuuei High! Let's begin the end of year test!"

"Ready....GO!"

Suddenly, Midnight's voice echoes through the arena. "Oh yeah, us teachers fully intend on going after you seriously... and crushing you."

Sero rounded on me immediately. "Uh, got a plan?"

I think for a second. "Yeah, we should probably run."

"What?!"

"Close combat is obviously impossible with her quirk, we'll never get close enough to capture her. It'd be easier to escape, plus my quirk could come in handy."

He nods slowly before shaking his head, "I think we can take her, it'd probably look better as a score, too."

Against all better judgement, I sigh. "Alright, if you think we can do it..."

It quickly becomes apparent that we cannot do it. As we made our way towards the gate, Midnight finds us just as planned. However, Sero is out of the game.

"Advisory: The first team to clear the exam is team Todoroki/Yaoyorozu!"

At the announcement, I shake my partner roughly, trying to wake him up. "I told you this was a bad plan." My criticism fell on deaf ears.

"Even if you excel at binding, I'm hardly going to be captured just like that." I glance up nervously as Midnight approaches us, smirking.

My stomach dropped. Tugging Sero onto my back, I pull myself together. My plan it is. I wait for her to get as close as I dare, feigning fear. The sleeping gas makes my head swim but I brush it off.

"Freezing right up, aren't you? Poor boy..." She coos teasingly.

At her comment, I smile. "Nope!" I suddenly pop as far behind her as I can. Rather than run from there, I keep teleporting until I see the gate and in a split second, we've escaped.

"Advisory: Team [L/n]/Sero have passed."

Later, Kirishima, Mina, Kaminari, and Sato are in despair.

"Oh my god... you- you guys... I'm totes looking forward to... to all your stories... oh god.." Mina wails pitifully, the others brooding in silence

"D-don't despair! You don't know, there might be an unexpected twist!" Midoriya, ever the optimist, frantically tries to cheer them up.

"Midoriya, you'll just jinx it!"

Kaminari suddenly lashes out dramatically, "No! Those who didn't pass the final exam are stuck in remedial hell! And we never cleared the practical!"

Sero hops in, gesturing to me. "I mean I don't know, either. Thanks to [L/n] we technically both cleared it, but I was out the whole time. We don't know how we've been graded so-"

He's interrupted as the door slams open and I jump in my seat at the sound.

"When the bell rings, then you take your seats."

Aizawa-sensei makes his way to the front of the class before addressing us. "Morning. Now about your end-of-term exams... I hate to say that some of you failed."

A few heads drop at that and my heart hurts for them. They were so excited for the trip.

"And, as such..."

He grins maniacally, "Everybody's going to the forest lodge!"

"An unexpected twist!"

Looking to his papers, he continued. "None of you failed the written exam. For the practical, Satou, Kirishima, Ashido, Kaminari, and Sero all failed."

Kirishima tosses his hand in the air, "But we can still go, sensei?!"

I catch Sero's eye and give a sympathetic smile as Aizawa-sensei explains the reasoning behind the exams.

Smiling wildly, he adds, "It was a logical ruse!"

Iida jumps to attention, "Sir! All the same! If you keep piling up your 'ruses' our trust in you will begin to waiver, will it not?"

"Noted. Though it wasn't all lies."

Those who failed had begun to celebrate before they're interrupted. "Failing grades are failing grades. So you all have earned yourselves special remedial periods." They freeze.

"And to be blunt, they will be far more difficult than if you'd have stayed on campus. Now, I'm going to hand out the lodge guides so pass them back."

After class, everyone goes over the guides. I've never gone on a group trip before so I find myself brimming with excitement.

"A one week long boot camp."

"I'll probably need a bigger bag for everything on this list..."

"Ooh since tomorrow is free and exams are over, let's all go shopping together as a class!" Mina jumps around excitedly.

"That's a great idea! Our first class outing!"

Kirishima turns to Bakugou energetically. "Yo, Bakugou, you come too!"

"Tch! As if!"

Smile still intact, the redhead bounds over to me. "[L/n]! You're gonna come, right?"

He grins brightly, and a warm feeling glows in my chest at the sight.

"Yeah, of course. I'd like to get some more first aid supplies."

"Awesome! We can walk together!"

I almost miss the glare sent my way from a certain explosive blond.

"Sounds good!"

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I feel like my writing isn't as descriptive so I'm very sorry if it's losing quality but thank you so much for reading! It means a lot!!