I was 4th in the Midterms.
Now I just needed to pass my finals.

I was fine with 4th until I found out fucking Miss Perfect was first. And fucking Bakugo was third.
It was unacceptable. I had to get better scores than them in the finals.

"Sounds like I should be studying with her." Kirishima was talking to Bakugo about Yaoyorozu. She was hosting a study session.

"You think I don't know enough? Maybe I should beat the lessons into your skull." Bakugo aggressively responds.

Kirishima giggled and joyously side-smirked, "I'm counting on it."

At lunch, Todoroki invited me to eat with him and Iida. Not like I don't eat lunch with them most of the time. But this is the first time Todoroki asks me to join him.
I don't particularly hate his company so I had no reason to decline his offer.

I was having a nice lunch.

Todoroki sat next to me. Uraraka across. Iida next to Todoroki and Tsuyu next to Uraraka.

Peaceful. That's what I would call this time.

"Is this the table reserved for nepotistic students?" I hear a deep and familiar voice. Monoma. "Todoroki Shouto, why I wonder how many times you got away with things just because of your father...?"

I give a quick glance at Todoroki. Todoroki didn't seem bothered.
"Stop it." I demand, glaring back at Monoma.

"Y/n, come eat lunch with me. Won't you rather hang out with a person who actually worked hard to be here?" He proposed.

"Monoma from class B?" Uraraka asks outloud. Knowing that she was correct.

Monoma peered down at me and then glared at Todoroki and Iida. One could say jealousy gripped his heart. Though it also could have been hatred.

"I'm fine where I am," I reply. A bit annoyed by his authority-like behavior. "Maybe some other time."

Monoma didn't leave. "You three seem to be close. I heard you guys met the hero killer. During the internships. So you guys just hang out a lot or just occasionally?"

Iida and Todoroki were puzzled. I was too. I felt guilty for not texting him sooner and blowing him off. He's only acting like this because I haven't been a good friend.

"We're fellow friends," Iida responds confidently.

Monoma squinted his eyes. "Friends?"

Idiot Iida. We barely count as friends. I look at Todoroki and decided it would be best if I just left with Monoma. I start to get up but then Kendo appeared from amidst the shadows and karate-chopped Monoma in the neck, causing him to pass out. "Monoma you shouldn't treat your girlfriend like that. And don't be bothering class A. Sorry, this guy's heart's just kinda, you know."

"Are you stupid, Kendo?" Monoma awoke. "You're making me look bad. In front of detestable class A-"
Kendo chopped him again and then dragged him away from us.

Girlfriend? Is that what he thinks we are? Or was that a joke from Kendo? Monoma's best friend.

"You must really like him, Y/n..." said Uraraka.

"What?"

"He's...He seems like a lot." She tried to laugh.

"We're not...Together. We're just friends." I tell her.
"He's pretty okay but sometimes he is a little...He's just passionate."

"It just looks like he hates our class," Todoroki said.

It's not wrong for me to be friends so with someone who just happens to dislike my peers. Right?
I say nothing else.

Uraraka didn't bring Monoma up again either.
Looking at her reminded me of the type of hero Stain would have killed.
Funny.
The school is indoctrinating us into believing we are the definite good but...Many of us...Just aren't.
Perhaps Monoma would have been on his hit list too.

After class, something unexpected occurred. Bakugo called me out. A declaration of war. Much like the one Todoroki placed on me at the sports festival. "Hey! Y/n!" He was loud, as always. The voice was raspy and drenched in irritation. "I don't know what the hell is going on with your Quirk, but you seriously keep rubbing me the wrong way. I don't need another half-assed result like at the sports festival. At the upcoming finals, we'll get individual scores, so we'll see who's better whether you like it or not." Bakugo pointed his finger at me. "I'll beat you with an indisputable difference! I'll kill you!"

I said nothing.
For I didn't care much. He and I were bonded together like a cat and a dog. No matter what I say...There's only one ending.
We fight. One of us loses.
It was just a matter of time.

Bakugo transitioned his glare at Todoroki. "YOU TOO!" He yelled; He left. Slamming the door shut.

"It's been a while since I've seen Bakugo that intense," Kirishima says. He gave me a smile, revealing his jagged teeth. "What do you think about his threat Y/n?"

"I'll win," I reply.

Kaminari curved his eyebrows upward. "Aah..! her lack of words makes it sound so scary."

"Did you just moan?" Sero laughs.

The three males started goofing off.

"Y/n, you coming to study with us at Yaomomo's house?" Mina asks as she's leaning on my desk. Her baby-pink flesh glowed beneath the artificial lights of our classroom. Her fluffy hair curled on the ends and brought more life to her.

"No. I don't need to study." I don't need to study with you guys.

Mina giggled, "I understand but I meant you could help us! I know you guys had a little miscommunication at the beginning of the school year but-Don't tell her I told you-she actually thinks you're really inspiring."

I do not believe her. I wondered if Mina would lie to me, I was not sure. So I voiced my opinion. "Liar."

"Alright look- Momo!" Mina called the said name.

"What are you doing?" I try to hide my face so Momo doesn't see me looking at her. The betrayal-however small-was disgraceful.

"Can Y/n join the study group?"

I peeked from the corner of my eye. Momo bit her lip as she thought about it.

Oh god no.
I whisper, "I hate you. "

"Yes!" Momo approached my desk. "Of course, you're at the top 5 so you could help me with teaching them! That would be perfect!" She seemed...Happy? No. Excited.

"No," I repeat. This time with a hint of authority.

"You're going." Mina challenged that authority. Her black sclera and honey iris peered at me.

"Fuck you." I give in. "Whatever."
Only because if I could get personal information about Momo, I could use it against her.

•••

"Who the hell needs all this space?" I said whilst standing inside Momo's overly expensive dining room. It looked like royalty lived here.
Chandeliers glowing like the sun.
Curtains that probably cost more than my life.
Old Paintings. "Fuck her and her riches." I curse this place.

My dad has money but not this kind of money. Our place is more...modern.

Mina and Ojiro sat across from Jiro, Kaminari, Sero, I. Yaoyorozu's table was probably mahogany. Heavily decorated with candles and shit.

"I feel so out of place, it's making me nervous..." Ojiro awkwardly says.

Sero agreed with him.

Yaoyorozu entered the room with a table of tea and desserts. My bad-fancy tea set with fancy desserts. "I have brought Earl Grey tea!" She gleamed with joy.

After, Yaoyorozu got to the hard part of the day...Teaching. If Kaminari or Mina didn't understand something, I would simply explain what Momo had said but in a dumber way.
Sometimes I would get so frustrated that I would catch myself screaming at them while trying to explain something.
It worked if I screamed.

Anyways, when we took a break, I asked Momo where her bathroom was.
She had 4 in her house.

I decided to just explore her mansion until I found one.
Everything was going fine and dandy until I felt something following me.
Someone. Actually.
Sero.
"What?" I demand to know. Standing on the other end of a tiled and waxed corridor.

"Nothing. I'm looking around too." Sero's eyes twitched from me to the walls and the ceiling. I could tell he was caught red-handed by the way he tried hard not to look suspicious.
Now the question is: why?

"Okay. Explore somewhere where you don't look like a stalker." I shift around and turn the corner.

Hearing footsteps jog, Sero caught up with me. "Stalker? It's one house. We were bound to run into each other."

"House? This place is a mansion. You could get lost here."

"See? More reason to stick together. I have to be honest...I'm lost." He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck.

I simply say, "Fine. But I'm trying to find a bathroom. And now that you're here, we have to get back before they think we are sneaking around."

"Don't you have a boyfriend? Why would they think you would be sneaking around with me?" Sero asked, genuinely.

"I don't have a boyfriend and that's not the point."

"You don't? That's what you said though."

"I never said anything of the sort."

"About the boyfriend or about he sneaking around?"

I laughed. This guy was pressing my buttons.

"Why are you laughing?"

"You're stressing me out. I laugh because I'm this close to punching you."

Sero looked down at his shoes. His smile came back, "You're not dating that one dude...? What was his name? Oh! Monoma, right?"

"Stop asking questions," I tell him. "You're doing it on purpose."

"Hey, I'm just trying to make conversation."

I paused. "Why?"

Sero was taken aback. "Because we're friends."

Friends? Oh please. Spare me.

I exaggerate a sigh, "Whatever."

"Cool..." Sero's shoulder brushed with mine. And we said nothing the rest of the way.

Friends...what an ugly word. Yet this feeling is far from it.

·𖥸·

After the third day of the written exam was over, the day of the Practical Exam arrived.

Class 1-A was instructed to await at an arena.

Lots of teachers/pro heroes were present.

And while Aizawa was explaining something, Principle Nezu popped out from his scarf.

Nezu crawled down Aizawa's body. "From now on, we want to focus on person-to-person combat and hero work, and stress teaching that is closer to actual fighting! So...We'll have you form teams of two to fight against one teacher!"

"In addition, those partners have already been assigned," Aizawa said. "These were determined at my discretion based on various factors, including fighting style, grades, and interpersonal relationships. So here they are: First, Todoroki, and Yaoyorozu are one team, and they're fighting me."

Interpersonal relationships? What do they have as a relationship?

"And Y/n and Bakugo are a team,"

FUCK! I Glare at Bakugo and give him a face of dissatisfaction.

Bakugo did the same.

"And their opponent is,"

All Might appeared in his hero suit, "I will do it! Work together to beat me, you two!"

"The hell- what-Why?!" I look at Aizawa for an explanation. "Bakugo and All Might? Are you trying to make my veins pop?"

"We're trying to make you stronger. That's all." Aizawa said. "One more word from you Y/n and I'll make you stay for detention."

Fuck. Me.

In the end, we were last to go. To pass we had to capture the teacher or escape.

The teachers began explaining why it is better to run away from a strong opponent. "In cases where there's too big a difference in your abilities, it would be smarter to run away and get help. Todoroki, Iida, Y/n. I'm sure you three understand this well."

All the teachers put on weights to give us an equal standing.

And so, the first battle began with Kirishima and Sato.

The rest of us either watched the battle or talked strategy with our partners.

Like hell, I was going to try and talk to that bag of steroids. So I just waited patiently inside the monitoring room.

I wasn't watching the matches though.

I was just thinking of every possible situation I might encounter in my own fight.

All Might vs Me... that's gonna be so rad. I get to beat the fuck out of my own mentor. He has it coming for being a shitty teacher.

But if Bakugo gets in my way...That would be inconvenient. So we have to work together. As Mr. Aizawa said.
Whyyyyyy. I rather eat a bag of shit than attempt to work with Bakugo.

After Mineta's and Sero's match...I took a deep breath and began to make my way to the 10th match's designated location.

Bakugo was already there. Waiting. Quietly. He did make some eye contact and grunts but he said nothing.

His behavior reminded me of my own. At the training combat with me and Uraraka.
But the difference was that I was willing to talk with her...for my own benefit.

Bakugo isn't.

Granted, we declared war on each other but what good is it if we both trip each other up and fail the exam?

When it was declared to start, Bakugo walked off on his own.

I-as much as I didn't want to-ran after him. "Hey! So either we lose fighting each other or win with coordination. Personally, I would prefer to-" Bakugo kept walking. Ignoring me. But I tried again. "I want to-"

"Stop following me!" He yelled.

I flinched, shook my head, and kept following behind him. "All Might could literally be waiting for us! We have to stop walking straight to him. We have to detour and then-"

Bakugo kept pacing forwards, "Why should we work together?! It'd definitely be better if I beat him up!"

"Are you stupid?! That's the opposite of what I said! You should avoid combat no matter what!" I yelled back.

"I'll toy with him until it's almost over, and then once he's tired out, I'll beat him up!" Bakugo's eyes curved intensely.

He's a fucking idiot.
"You dense motherfucker, who do you think All Might is? Some old pro hero of averageness?! Even with weights on, you can't win against him-"

Bakugo struck me in the face with his gauntlet.

A yelp comes out of my mouth as my face was struck. I held my stinging, burning face, looking down at the ground.

"Don't say another word...just because things are going better for you doesn't mean you should talk. It's pissing me off." Bakugo speaks.

I face him, my eyes glowing red, filled with rage. "WHO THE FUCK FO YOU THINK YOU ARE," I scream at him. I wanted to grab him by the neck and choke him until all the air in his lungs disappeared. "Do you think you're invincible or some shit? Are you that delusional?!"

"I TOLD YOU! YOUR POWER ISN'T NEEDED TO PASS-"

"YOUR POWER ISN'T EVEN ENOUGH FOR YOU TO PASS ON YOUR OWN!!" I yell louder than Bakugo.

A wave of fast-moving wind hit us like bricks. Our bodies flew like they were made of paper.

"Who gives a damn about damaging the city?" All Might speaks. Walking slowly toward us.

I staggered up. My body subconsciously took steps back as All Might took steps forward.

We'll be overpowered in a heartbeat. He and I gotta work together...Ugh, but he isn't budging.

"If you think this is an exam, you'll be sorry. I am a villain, heroes. Come at me with everything you've got!" All Might said.

"He's roleplaying..! You can't take him head-on. Run!" I started to run away. Sprint away.

"Don't tell me what to do!" I heard Bakugo yell back.

I didn't let his incompetence stop me from running.

All Might went for Bakugo. Bakugo used his stun grenade move. "Come at me, you said, All Might! Even if you didn't say anything, I was gonna do that-"
As Bakugo jumped to All Might. The man grabbed Bakugo's face with little effort. No effort at all, actually.
He slammed Bakugo's body down to the dirt.
Bakugo's lungs went into shock.

All Might basically teleported to me, "You're not off the hook either, Young Y/n." He towered over me. "Are you leaving your teammate and running away?"

I didn't hesitate to jump up and elevate myself away. "Yup!"

"Move!" I heard Bakugo yell behind me.
I saw him in the air but I couldn't react fast enough. I thought Bakugo was done for but there he was.

His head slammed on my upper spine. And we both fell to the ground.

"Fuck!" I rub my shoulder blades.

Bakugo easily stood up and started to come after All Might again. His devotion is his strength now.

Fucking shithead.
"Bakugo!" I call him.

"Shut up!"

I stand up. "It's useless, you hear?!

Bakugo hung his head low and stomped. "I'll win. That's what it means to be a hero."

He isn't wrong but...He's got it so twisted.

"For now, here's a present for the one who wants to run away!"
All Might puncture a metal railing on top of me to trap me to the ground. My spine hurt even more.

Following that, he punched Bakugo in the stomach so hard that Bakugo vomited his lunch. He gagged while on the floor. Threw up some more.
Bakugo got up again.
He struggled but didn't give up.

All Might once again went after him. "I know why you're so angry. It's because of Y/n, right? But you know, just because she's strong like you, doesn't mean you have to see her as an enemy. Do you understand? You do, right? She's not only a worthy competitor but also a worthy ally-"

"Shut up, All Might...If I have to get help from that scum, then I'd rather lose..."

All Might got ready to punch Bakugo's face. The final blow. "Well...then.."

My blood boiled.

He can't be fucking serious?!

Without making hand gestures, the bar was removed from the ground and compressed into a ball. I powered up and flew to Bakugo. Punching him in the face. "DON'T YOU DARE SAY YOU'D RATHER LOSE!"
When Bakugo fell to the ground, I picked him up telekinetically and ran to the alleys.

"BITCH! PUT ME DOWN!" Bakugo squirmed in the air. Wanting to break free from my Quirk.

"SHUT UP!"
I threw him against a wall. My knees buckled and my body gave out.
As I settled down, I began to really feel the throbbing pain in my back and face.
"Fuck." I breathe out. "Fuck that guy. Motherfucker never heard of pulling punches?"

"Tch." Bakugo caressed his cheek. Where I punched him.

"That was revenge for what you did earlier," I tell him. After a few seconds of silence, I spoke again. "Before giving up, try this thing called teamwork. Have you ever heard of it? Teamwork makes the dream work or whatever-"

Bakugo cried out and as soon as I saw his hand aim at my face, I closed my eyes and ducked.

"I won't say it again..."
I open my eyes and Bakugo was a few inches from my face. His hand is on the wall; next to my head.
"Against that crazy speed, no matter how you run and hide, you won't be able to avoid fighting."

I listened. "Okay...But you can't fight him either. We have to do it together."

"Shut up! I'll kill you!" He screamed.

"See?! This is why I don't fucking like you! You never fucking listen to me or anyone! UGH!" I push him back against the other wall.
He was making me gag at how close he was.

"You're so fucking annoying, and you don't listen to me when I say to SHUT UP!" He replies.

"THEN SPIT IT OUT ALREADY INSTEAD OF MAKING USELESS THREATS!"

"He won't even budge with half-assed power!" Bakugo said. "I figured that out earlier with those consecutive hits."

"Agreed," I said, calmer.

Bakugo's breath and mine were synchronized. Upon realizing this, I purposefully messed up the sync.

"If I can't escape and you can't fight...Then we do both." I declare. "Together."

Bakugo said nothing for a while. If I hadn't been staring at his face, I would not have noticed the little vomit he had running down his mouth. It was gross.

Finally, Bakugo said, "We give everything we've got at a point-blank range. Our only option is to inflict damage and then put some distance between us."

·𖥸·

Bakugo leaped from the alley, "WHERE ARE YOU LOOKING AT?!" He got All Might's attention by blasting him. Twice. Thrice. "Y/N!"

On cue, I came up from behind All Might and blasted him with one of Bakugo's gauntlets.

Once I did, Bakugo went airborne and told me to run too.

I did. I flew next to Bakugo; away from All Might.

We were so close to the gate. So close.

So close and yet...

All Might, as easy as breathing, caught up with us.
Before Bakugo could point his other gauntlet, All Might destroyed it. Punched me away.
He kneed Bakugo in the jaw and when Bakugo came back, All Might grabbed me and threw my body toward Bakugo.
As we collided, my neck cracked. It felt good at that moment but later, it started to feel sore.

"That's wonderful children." All Might picked me up by the arm. His foot rested on Bakugo's back. "You cooperated-however reluctantly-and faced me! However, you two-that was a prerequisite for this exam!...What's with that face, Y/n?" He teased. Knowing damn well why my face is contorted with so much rage. All Might discarded my body like a banana peel.

When that happened, Bakugo made the same explosion he did at the sports festival. When he fought Uraraka. It was powerful and big.

I didn't see Bakugo clearly because of the dirt and smoke but I heard his grunts. Suddenly, Bakugo appears and picks me up, "I'm gonna send you flying!"

"What?" I didn't remove or move his hands.

"I don't like it, but with what we've got right now, this is the only way to win!" Without affirming, Bakugo throws me over himself with his full strength.

Amidst the air, I was aiming to reach the gate. That was until what felt like a whale, collided with me from the back. All Might. My spine curved into a c shape. With the impact, I was smashed into a bus and then ground.
The pain was so unbearable that I felt like passing out. I tried to stand up straight. Tried to focus my vision but everything was spinning.

"GO! Y/N! HURRY!" I heard Bakugo scream. He sounded hurt too.

I forced myself to walk. I limped while hunched but I tried to hurry.
I have to win...
I was almost there...If it weren't for my stupidity, I could have won already but...
I ran back to get him.
Bakugo.

All Might straddled him. Bakugo was unconscious.

I energy blasted All Might and when that didn't do much, I telekinetically threw the same railing All Might had used on him to get him distracted. I then blasted him again while telekinetically dragging Bakugo from under All MIght. I took steps back at each attack I threw at my mentor. All Might covered his eyes so much that he couldn't see me getting out of the arena. Finally, I reached the gate.

I left Bakugo in the ground. His uniform got so dirty from me dragging him all over the dirt. He deserved it.

And so...We passed.

Right when I stood still outside the arena...My eyes rolled back and I saw darkness.