Ch.20 - Smokescreen

Senshi could confirm that studying alone with Tsuki was successful for all of three days before she was roped into studying with Bakugo and Kirishima. Don't get me wrong the café set up was cute, but why couldn't they have studied where there weren't as many people? Senshi wasn't actually studying per-se, more like tutoring. Bakugo knew a lot, and only really made stupid mistakes in attempts to be the first to finish. Whereas Kirishima was actually lacking understanding in some places.

"No, so that ending goes with an adverb in most cases, but some times there's different ones." She kindly corrected. Kirishima made a noise of understanding as Bakugo silently and swiftly tried to correct his work.

"How do you even fucking know that, we've only learnt it recently." Bakugo stated, with a slight jealousy in his tone.

"I don't know...." Senshi responded, hunching her shoulders in a way that only further proved her point. To be honest, things like grammar stuck to Senshi's mind like glue. Senshi didn't know why she remembered them, she just did.

Though Senshi still did study with Tsuki at home, with headphones at full blast not wanting to hear the echoes in her home created by her parents. Tsuki would sit on Senshi's lap while Senshi was sat at her desk, it was a rather comforting thing for Senshi. Though written studies wasn't the only thing Senshi had to practice for.

With Senshi's return from her internship, her clubs had returned in full swing. Though not only that, Bakugo had demanded that they should train together once again; claiming that Senshi was the only person (other than Kirishima) who was worthy enough to fight him. She understood where Bakugo was coming from, she was the defence to his offence; it would be beneficial to both of them.

Senshi had agreed, not having the heart to say no; but also because she knew she would need to be able  to fight. As told by Kendo, the final exams were supposed to be robots, though that didn't sit well with Senshi. Though what other option has she got? She can't just begin to drive herself into insanity trying to think of what it could be. So settling with the information given was what Senshi's chose to do, dropping the thought after an few hours.

********

After the week of constant physical and mental stress, the first written exams began. The written exams were due to take place over a three day time period, which only meant more and more studying in between. Senshi could assume that her written exam went well, her never not knowing that answer.

A rather sweet thing occurred during this time however. On the final morning of written exams, during Bakugo and Senshi's training, Senshi just laid on the floor. She didn't know why at the time, though Senshi could comprehend that she was mentally exhausted; and didn't know if she would survive until tomorrow.

Though Bakugo only felt the same. Having the same emotions as your soulmate came at a price, especially during this time of year. Both of them were actually rather stressed underneath their facades, and seeing as they were both stressed, it meant double the stress.

So when Senshi laid down on the grass, and Bakugo assumed why, he laid down too. The two just laying next to each other in a tranquil silence, not being any what productive. Just looking at the purple, orange, and red morning sky. 

It was most likely the most intimate thing they'd ever done, and ever will do for a while.

Though that was the past now, seeing as the class of twenty students were stood outside of the central plaza, aka the training centre all in their hero costumes. Though one thing that confused most was the abundance of staff. "Now then, lets begin the last test. Remember it's possible to fail this final, if you wanna go to camp then don't make any stupid mistakes. " Aizawa-sensei announced.

"Uhh, why are all the teachers here?" Jiro asked, most silently agreeing.

"I believe some of you have gathered information and have some idea of what you'll be facing today-." Aizawa-sensei began, though was cut off.

"We're fighting those big old metal robots!" Kaminari excitedly shouted.

"Fireworks, s'mores here we come!" Ashido squealed.

"Actually this year's tests will be completely different for various reasons." Principal Nezu said, climbing out of Aizawa-sensei's scarf, causing everyone to freeze including the partying duo. So Senshi was correct to think that the robots were a complete scam.

You're changing things?" Yaoyorozu asked breathless, she seemed nervous.

"The tests now have a new focus, there will be hero work of course but also teamwork and combat between actual people so what does that mean for you? You students will be working in pairs to fight one of our esteemed UA teachers isn't this fabulous?!" Nezu explained in an elated tone. It was not fabulous. Senshi knew Aizawa-sensei, and she knew that he would put people up against their weaknesses, and out of the teachers, only one was her biggest weakness, Midnight. Don't get me wrong, of course she'd have a hard time against the others, but Midnight's quirk involved gas, and gas could travel through Senshi's force-fields. So, summary, lets hope that Midnight isn't Senshi's enemy.

"We're fighting the teachers!?"  Uraraka exclaimed, her face shell-shocked.

"Additionally your partners and opponents have already been chosen they were determined at my discretion based on various factors including fighting style, grades and inter personal relationships.

First Yaoyorozu and Todoroki are a team, against me. Then we have Midoriya in a group with Bakugo, and they're against-" Aizawa-sensei started, when All Might came flying down saying "I am here, to fight!" 

Senshi immediately felt bad for the two boys, who wouldn't?! The two might be powerful, but their constant feud and the fact that All Might is All Might, would render them almost helpless! 

"You're going to have to work together boys, if you want to win." All Might said, a sly smile on his face. His message was obviously towards the childhood enemies, though he still made a point. Everyone was going to have to work together, and for Senshi, she could only pray that she had talked to them at least once.

The teams were:
Kirishima and Sato vs Cementoss
Asui and Tokoyami vs Ectoplasm
Iida and Ojiro vs Power Loader
Yaoyorozu and Todoroki vs Eraser Head
Aoyama and Uraraka vs Thirteen
Ashido and Kaminari vs Principal Nezu
Koda and Jiro vs Present Mic
Mineta and Shouji vs Snipe
Sero and Tate vs Midnight
Midoriya and Bakugo vs All Might

So, Aizawa-sensei had noticed Senshi's weakness. Though Senshi couldn't help but remember something, Midnight's quirk worked better on boys than girls, maybe Senshi would be able to exploit that?

"To complete the exam you'll have thirty minutes, in order to win your objective is to put these hand cuffs on your teacher or you can win if one of you manages to escape form the combat stage." Nezu explained further.

"So we've either gotta capture the teacher or run away, it's basically like the combat training." Kaminari analysed.

"Yeah but is it really okay to just jet?" Ashido asked, a hopeful tone shining through.

"Yep" Nezu confirmed, so that was good news at least.

"It's gonna be a lot different than that combat training you all went through earlier after all, you're up against people way better than you." Present Mic went on.

"Better, really? Aren't you just the announcer?" Jiro said, interrupting Present Mic and  making him rather annoyed.

"Hey watch you mouth girl! Have some respect!" Present Mic retorted looking quite offended.

"This time your exam will be very similar to a real battle, as strange as it is please think of us as villains." Thirteen stated, it seemed at this point that the teachers had all of this planned out and rehearsed.

"Assumin' you come across your enemy, if you think you can win against them then fight, however-" Snipe began, though Aizawa-sensei finished his sentence.

"In instances where you're outmatched, it would be smarter to run away and find help. Todoroki, Iida, Midoriya, I'm sure the three of you understand." Aizawa-sensei continued. Senshi didn't know what Aizawa-sensei was talking about, though it may have been something to do with internships, it only made sense to be that way.

The teachers then went on about some ultra compressed weights that would add up to weigh half a person's body weight, this would give the students an advantage. Though would it really give them an advantage? They're trained to use their quirk, weights  aren't going to do anything about that.

"Lets begin, the teams will take the practical exam in the order you were called, there's a stage prepared for you. Sato, Kirishima, you're up." Aizawa-sensei instructed "Those waiting for their exam can either watch the exams or try to strategize as a team, it's your choice that's all." Aizawa-sensei said, while walking away as the other teachers followed suit.

Next hurdle to pass, talking a strategy. Senshi had never directly spoken to Sero, and Sero and never directly spoken to Senshi, great. Thankfully for Senshi, Sero was the person to initiate the conversation.

"Hi, so what do you think we should do against Midnight?" Straight to the point then.

"Umm, I-I was thinking that we're better of running."

"Why? Can't you just put up a wall?" Fair question, but no.

"No, gases travel through my fields. That doesn't mean we can't attack Midnight though." Senshi suggested.

"You're right, could you trap her?"

"Yes."

"Perfect."

********

Walking out to the mountain zone was rather tense, they both had a plan, yet they also didn't. It was a basic overview of what they needed to do, trap Midnight and run. Cool, but that wouldn't stop the gas. Senshi didn't know if Sero thought of that, but she at least hoped he did.

"Team Tate ad Sero, practical exam, begin." The loud speaker sounded. The two begin to run towards the exit, though Senshi remembered something. She didn't know if Sero knew, but Midnight's quirk works best on men, not women so....

"Look out!" Sero pushed Senshi out of the way of Midnight. Though Midnight was faster at letting off her quirk. Sero's body inevitably sunk to the floor sending a slight sense of panic through Senshi.

Now she was on her own.

"One down, one to go." Midnight said, seemingly talking to herself.

Senshi still had the cuffs, was there a chance of handcuffing Midnight?

"You wouldn't run from a teammate in need, would you Tate?" Obviously Midnight was pushing Senshi's buttons, she didn't want to leave Sero there, but what other choice did she have?

Although, an ingenious plan was rapidly formed in Senshi's brain. Part A, commence. Midnight stood up, leaving Sero on the floor. To combat that, Senshi placed Midnight in a dome. It wouldn't stop Midnight's gas from escaping, but it stopped any physical attacks.

Running forwards into the gas may have sounded foolish, but Senshi only had one attempt at this. "What a smart girl, you know how my quirk works don't you?" Midnight asked rhetorically.

Running even further into the gas on the rocky terrain, Senshi eventually made it into the force field, allowing herself in. Seeing as the space was very small and confined, there wasn't much room to move. Midnight was whipping her whip as Senshi, and the latter attempted to place handcuffs somewhere on Midnight. "You have a good plan, but it was foiled the moment it began."

Not it wasn't. No it wasn't. No it wasn't.

In one fluid movement, Senshi took the hand cuffs in her left hand and cuffed them on Midnight's arm all while knocking the woman's feet from under her. Her and Sero's battle was quite possibly the shortest one, but isn't that how a hero's supposed to act?

"Team Tate and Sero have passed the practical examination."

As soon as that was said, both Midnight and Senshi de-activated their quirks. Senshi immediately gasped for air, not having breathed in over a minute (which was a long time for Senshi). It was an overall success, and even if there was absolutely no plan and no backbone for the exam, Senshi passed; she could only hope that Sero did too, though who knows.