Chapter 40 - Unyielding Resolve

The simulated city sprawled out before you, a labyrinth of shattered buildings, narrow alleyways, and debris-strewn streets. The air was thick with tension as you, Shoto, and Momo moved cautiously through the maze-like environment. The quiet was almost oppressive, broken only by the crunch of rubble beneath your boots and the faint hum of your wings as they twitched involuntarily.

"I swear, I can smell him," you muttered under your breath, your sharp eyes darting from shadow to shadow. Every flicker of movement, every hint of motion in your peripheral vision, put you on edge. Your heightened senses were in overdrive, seeking out your elusive opponent.

"Stay focused," Shoto said, his voice calm but firm. His dual-colored eyes scanned the area, his left hand glimmering faintly with frost, while his right was ready to unleash fire at a moment's notice. "Aizawa-sensei knows how to use the environment against us. Don't let him distract you."

Momo nodded in agreement, her brows furrowed in concentration. "We need to stay together. If we split up, he'll pick us off one by one. That's what he's counting on." Her hands hovered near her utility belt, ready to create any tools or weapons they might need.

You groaned, flexing your claws slightly, the instinct to take to the skies tugging at you. "I know, but it's like he's everywhere and nowhere at the same time. It's... frustrating."

Suddenly, a soft whisper of movement caught your attention, and your wings flared out in response, brushing against a toppled streetlamp. "There!" you hissed, pointing towards a flicker of motion near a crumbling building.

Shoto and Momo both turned sharply, their bodies tensing for action. "Are you sure?" Momo whispered, her voice steady despite the nerves.

"Positive," you growled, lowering your stance. "He's close. I can smell the fabric of his scarf and... chalk dust? I think he's set up traps."

Shoto stepped forward cautiously, holding out an ice wall to shield your group as you advanced. "Good call. He's probably leading us into an ambush."

Momo quickly created a small sensor device, handing it to you. "Here, this might help pinpoint his exact location. If you're right about the traps, we need to be prepared for anything."

You accepted the device with a grateful nod, strapping it to your wrist. "Thanks. Let's flush him out."

The three of you moved as a tight unit, eyes scanning every corner, every shadow. The simulated city was eerily quiet, but the subtle feeling of being watched prickled at your senses. Somewhere out there, Aizawa was waiting.

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"You're good at this, Y/N, I'll give you that," came Aizawa's voice, calm and sharp as a blade.

You spun around, growling low in your throat as you spotted him hanging effortlessly from a cable strung to a battered streetlamp. His dark scarf coiled around him like a predator waiting to strike, and his crimson eyes locked onto you, activating his Quirk.

Your wings shuddered but didn't fold back completely. The glare you leveled at him was molten, defiant. You could feel the suppression of your Quirk buzzing faintly, but it didn't stop the fire boiling in your chest. Aizawa tilted his head slightly, as if waiting to see what you'd do.

"Y/N," he began, his tone measured but cautious.

Then you lunged.

Your tail whipped around with deadly precision, slithering like a serpent through the air. It caught the scarf mid-flight as he tried to reposition, coiling tightly around him with a strength that made him grunt in surprise. His normally unshakable composure cracked for just a moment as you yanked him down to the ground with a feral roar.

The impact reverberated through the simulated city as Aizawa hit the debris-littered street. He rolled instinctively to break the fall, but you were already on him, pinning him down with your claws as you loomed over him, wings spread wide in a dominant display.

"Run!" you barked, your voice ringing with urgency as you glanced back at your teammates.

Momo hesitated, reaching out toward you. "What? No! We're not leaving you!" she protested, her voice high with worry.

Shoto stood frozen for a moment, his mismatched eyes flicking between you and Aizawa. "Y/N, this wasn't the plan!" he called, his tone stern but edged with concern.

Aizawa grimaced beneath you, his eyes narrowing despite the weight of your pin. "This is reckless," he muttered, his voice slightly strained but still composed. "You're good, but you're not invincible."

You bared your teeth, your voice a snarl. "I don't need to be invincible to take you down. They need to finish this test. You trained us for this."

"Y/N!" Momo's voice broke through again, but her steps faltered, torn between running and helping you.

"Go!" you roared, your tail tightening slightly around Aizawa as he struggled beneath you. "I've got this!"

Shoto's jaw tightened, but he nodded sharply, grabbing Momo's arm. "We need to trust her. Let's go."

Momo hesitated, her hand lingering in the air as if reaching for you one last time, before she reluctantly turned and followed Shoto into the maze of the city.

Aizawa's lips quirked into the faintest of smirks as he met your glare. "You're not bad, Y/N," he admitted, his tone still calm despite his position. "But let's see how long you can keep me pinned."

You growled, doubling your effort to hold him down, but in the back of your mind, you knew: Aizawa was never just a man to overpower. He was a tactician, and the real challenge was only beginning.

You leaned in closer, your face mere inches from his, making Aizawa's cheeks flush faintly. His composure wavered, his crimson eyes narrowing, but there was an unmistakable tension in his expression now—a rare crack in his otherwise stoic demeanor.

"Y/N... what are you doing?" he asked, his voice quieter than usual, tinged with a note of uncertainty.

You smirked, letting your fangs glint faintly in the dim light. The corners of your lips curled in a way that was both mischievous and predatory. "Oh, I know how you feel about me, sensei," you purred, your voice low and dripping with confidence. "I can smell it, you know."

Aizawa's eyes widened slightly, and his breath hitched, though he quickly tried to cover it with a sharp exhale. "You're imagining things," he retorted, though his voice lacked its usual sharpness, betraying a flicker of unease.

"Am I?" you countered, tilting your head as your gaze bore into his. "You've always been good at hiding, sensei, but your body tells me the truth. Your heartbeat, your scent... it doesn't lie."

He stiffened beneath you, his jaw clenching as his cheeks darkened further. "This is inappropriate, Y/N," he muttered, though his tone wasn't as firm as he probably intended it to be.

You leaned back slightly, releasing some of the tension but keeping him pinned with your tail and a playful glint in your eye. "Relax, Aizawa," you teased, letting his name roll off your tongue. "I'm just toying with you. Maybe you should focus on how to get out of this instead of worrying about your feelings."

His eyes narrowed, the flush on his face still faintly visible. "You're testing my patience," he said, his tone regaining some of its edge.

"Am I?" you teased again, leaning in just enough for your breath to tickle his ear. "Or am I making this fun for you?"

Aizawa's lips pressed into a tight line, but you didn't miss the way his pulse quickened beneath your claws. For a moment, it was as if time had slowed, and the unspoken tension between you crackled like electricity in the air.

Then, with a sudden shift of his body, he managed to hook a leg against your tail, using your moment of distraction to create just enough leverage to break free. He flipped backward, landing a few feet away, his scarf unfurling around him.

"That's enough games," he said, his voice returning to its usual dry tone, though his flushed cheeks lingered. "You've made your point. Now let's see if you can keep up when I'm not holding back."

You smirked, unfurling your wings with a snap. "Oh, I'm counting on it, sensei."

With a fluid motion, you shifted into your dragon form, your massive wings unfurling as you leapt into the sky. The wind roared around you as you took off, your scales glinting faintly in the dim light. Below, Aizawa watched you ascend, his scarf fluttering faintly in the breeze left in your wake.

He sighed heavily, raking a hand through his disheveled hair as he muttered under his breath. "That girl... she was just playing with me."

Rubbing his eyes, he shook his head, more at himself than at you. "Stupid, stupid," he grumbled, the faintest hint of color still lingering on his face. Despite his frustration, he couldn't help but smirk a little.

"She's going to give me gray hairs before this semester's over."

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"Team C won!" Principal Nezu's voice rang out with cheerful enthusiasm over the comms. Cheers erupted from your team, and a satisfied smile spread across your face. The weight of the intense battle melted away as you realized—you'd done it.

You landed gracefully near the designated finish area, your wings folding neatly behind you. Momo rushed over, her usually composed demeanor giving way to excitement as she beamed at you. Shoto walked over with a subtle but genuine smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "We did it, Y/N," Momo said breathlessly. "We passed!"

Shoto nodded, glancing between you and Momo. "It was a solid team effort."

You grinned, your eyes glowing faintly in the aftermath of the adrenaline rush. "Yeah, we did great. Couldn't have done it without you two."

Momo blushed slightly at the compliment, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I think we all pushed each other to be better."

"Speak for yourself," Shoto said, his voice tinged with good-natured humor. "Y/N basically carried the fight."

You laughed lightly, waving it off. "Teamwork was the key, guys. We had each other's backs—that's what matters."

The rest of your class began to gather around, and even Aizawa stepped into view, his typical stoic expression softening just slightly. "Not bad," he said simply, though you could tell he was proud.

Now, it was Izuku and Bakugo's turn to face All Might. The rest of Class 1-A gathered around the monitors, the tension in the room thick as they watched the two rivals prepare for their battle.

The simulation city was eerily silent as the fight began. Izuku and Bakugo, as expected, immediately started bickering about the plan—or lack thereof. Predictably, they chose to face All Might head-on, refusing to work together.

It was a disaster.

All Might, holding back just enough not to cause any lasting damage, made quick work of the two. With a single powerful punch, the ground beneath them cracked, sending both boys sprawling. They scrambled back up, only to be taken down again, this time by a burst of speed that left them no time to react.

From your spot in the observation room, you sighed, shaking your head. "Those two never learn, do they?"

Momo, sitting beside you, nodded solemnly. "They're both so strong individually, but their inability to cooperate always holds them back."

Shoto crossed his arms, watching the screen intently. "It's frustrating. They'd be unstoppable if they could just put aside their egos."

Kirishima laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah, but that's kind of what makes them... well, them."

"Still," you said, leaning back and folding your arms, "at some point, they've gotta figure it out. If they don't, they'll never reach their full potential."

The screen showed Izuku trying to signal Bakugo for a combined attack, only for Bakugo to growl and charge in on his own, leaving Izuku vulnerable to All Might's counter. It ended with both of them flat on the ground, All Might standing over them, clearly disappointed but not surprised.

"You're both exceptional," All Might said, his booming voice carrying over the simulation comms. "But you won't always be able to fight alone. If you don't learn to trust each other, you'll never succeed as heroes."

Bakugo gritted his teeth, glaring at Izuku, who looked like he wanted to sink into the ground.

You sighed again, leaning your chin on your palm. "Guess they'll need another round to figure it out."

"Or two," added Uraraka with a small laugh.

"Or ten," Kaminari chimed in, earning chuckles from the group.

The battle had reached its breaking point. All Might's overwhelming strength and speed were proving to be too much for Izuku and Katsuki, who both struggled to keep up. Katsuki, his fists clenched, gritted his teeth in frustration, refusing to back down. His body was already bruised, but his determination burned brighter than ever.

Izuku had retreated instinctively, his body moving faster than his mind could follow. He wasn't built for this kind of fight. He was used to running, to fleeing. His thoughts flashed back to childhood—when he had watched All Might take on multiple villains without breaking a sweat. He had idolized him, admired his strength. But now, standing against the Symbol of Peace, Izuku realized just how far he had to go.

Katsuki, on the other hand, wasn't retreating. He stood his ground, stubborn as ever. "I'm gonna win, Deku. This is what it means to be a hero," he spat, his voice filled with that unyielding confidence. It was the same confidence Izuku had admired since they were kids. But this time, Katsuki's words cut deeper. It wasn't about being the best for the sake of being the best—it was about winning, no matter what.

Izuku's heart sank as the words echoed in his mind. What happened to the Katsuki who wanted to help people?

Suddenly, All Might moved faster than either of them could react, pinning Izuku to the ground with a piece of a broken fence. Katsuki barely had time to respond before All Might's powerful punch sent him flying into the dirt, his body slamming against the ground with a sickening thud. Katsuki coughed violently, his body shaking, but his resolve was still intact.

"You're nothing, you're a failure!" All Might's voice rumbled through the air.

Izuku's heart clenched as he remembered the old days—when Katsuki was always the one pushing forward, even when they were little. All Might, the man they both admired, had always been the symbol of the ideal hero. But what about now? Izuku wondered. What's happening to the Katsuki I know?

All Might's eyes narrowed, sensing the frustration in Katsuki's every movement. "You're fighting with your emotions, Katsuki. You're angry at Izuku's progress, aren't you?"

The words hit Katsuki hard, and for a moment, his anger flared. "I don't need to work with Deku to win!" he yelled back, trying to shake off All Might's grip.

But before anyone could do anything, Izuku intervened, pulling Katsuki out of harm's way. "Don't give up, Katsuki!" Izuku cried, his voice full of desperation. "You can't let it end like this!"

Katsuki shoved him away, still stubborn. "Let go, Deku! I don't need your help!"

Izuku didn't give up. He recalled a time when they were little, and Katsuki stood up to older kids because he believed that the strongest hero always wins. That unshakable belief had once been the foundation of their rivalry. It was still there, but now, it seemed buried under the weight of pride and stubbornness.

"I know you can do it, Katsuki. I know you don't want to lose like this!" Izuku pleaded.

Katsuki gritted his teeth. "Fine! I'll do it on my own. Just get out of my way."

Reluctantly, Izuku stepped aside. Katsuki darted forward, determined to prove that he was the one who could rise above it all. They worked together, just for a moment—Izuku using his quick thinking to provide Katsuki with an opening. With a flash of light and an explosion, Katsuki sent All Might stumbling back, giving them the chance to flee toward the escape gate.

But even with that brief opening, All Might wasn't done. He quickly caught up with them, breaking both of Katsuki's grenadier bracers and smashing him into a nearby building. Izuku, battered and exhausted, was too slow to avoid All Might's swift moves. The mighty hero grabbed him, pinning him down with crushing force.

"Is this it? Is this all you have?" All Might's voice rumbled, full of both disappointment and respect.

Katsuki, shaking off the pain, attempted to fight back with everything he had. He used his explosions at full output, pushing his body to the limit as he blasted All Might away with every ounce of power he could muster. He was hurting, but he wasn't going to stop.

Izuku, bruised and battered, stumbled toward the escape gate. He was slow, injured—but his mind was clear. He knew that All Might would come after him, and that would give Katsuki the opening he needed. With Katsuki's determination fueling him, Izuku made it to the gate.

But as he was almost there, All Might countered with his New Hampshire Smash. The force of it nearly broke Izuku's back, sending him crashing to the ground with a loud cry of pain.

"Get up, Deku!" Katsuki screamed, his voice full of urgency. "Get up!"

Izuku barely managed to move, but he could see Katsuki moving toward him, his hands trembling with pain. Katsuki had been relentless. His face was bruised, his body was battered—but he refused to accept that he couldn't win. Even as he gasped for breath, he wasn't giving up.

"I'll fight you until the end!" Katsuki roared, charging forward again. But All Might, too powerful and too fast, slammed both Izuku and Katsuki to the ground.

And yet, Katsuki still fought back. He refused to give up. He bit down on All Might's hand, refusing to acknowledge defeat even as his body screamed in agony.

It was at that moment, when everything seemed to be falling apart, that you appeared.

From the observation room, you had been watching, your wings twitching restlessly. Something wasn't right. This wasn't the Katsuki or Izuku you knew, and you couldn't stand to watch them suffer like this. You couldn't just sit back.

With a powerful beat of your wings, you soared into the arena, your dragon form crashing into the fray. All Might, distracted by your sudden appearance, barely had time to react as you slammed into him, your massive form knocking him backward.

"Katsuki! Izuku!" you shouted, your voice commanding and fierce. "Stay back!"

Izuku and Katsuki were shocked to see you, but they couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Y/N had come to their aid. You were there, not to fight them, but to protect them.

As All Might blinked in surprise, you growled, locking eyes with him. "L/N?" he exclaimed, his voice a mix of confusion and recognition.

Izuku's confusion turned into shock. "Y/N? What are you doing here?"

You didn't answer, simply narrowing your eyes at the hero in front of you. Your presence alone seemed to disrupt the flow of the fight. Katsuki's eyes widened in disbelief. He hadn't expected this turn of events, but he wasn't about to back down. You weren't here to fight him—but you were here to protect.

Momo, from the observation room, stared in confusion. "What's going on? Why is Y/N out there?" she asked.

Aizawa, observing the chaos, sighed. "I don't know, but I have a feeling things just got more complicated."

The scene before you was chaotic, but your message was clear. You weren't just going to watch anymore. You were here to help them both—whether they wanted it or not.