MHA: Guardian of the Golden Throne

Exam day had arrived. On the morning of the written test, some Class 1A students were tense and incredulous, yet looked extremely determined. The first bell had a strange effect on them, almost as if it signalled an impending end for some.

At the end of the day, when Aizawa brought the day to a close, Mina and Denki set Momo upon, eager to thank her for the revision lessons that had helped them perform better on the mid-term exam. Momo blushed slightly but was genuinely happy to have helped her classmates.

Now, the other half of the exam remained: the practical test.

No one was particularly anxious about the practical test since, according to students in their sister class, Class 1B, who had learned it from their senpai, the practical exam was expected to involve a combat exercise against robots.

Many in Class 1A were relieved to learn this, confident they would easily pass the second part of the exam. But as the saying goes: the only predictable thing about life is its unpredictability.

*****

At the internal campus bus station, Class 1A had gathered, wearing their respective hero costumes. Or rather, not quite everyone was wearing theirs.

«Midoriya-san, why aren't you wearing your armour?» asked Toru, pointing at him.

«Because that's what I was told,» stated Izuku with a sigh. «It seems that for my practical test, I'll have to wait until tomorrow.»

«Uh? How come?» asked Rikido, curious.

«We need more time to prepare for Midoriya's exam.» stated Aizawa. «However, right now you ought to concern yourselves with your own practical test.»

«Fighting against robots, right?» asked Denki, full of energy.

«It'll be a walk in the park!» Mina exclaimed, equally excited. «I can already see the fireworks! The curry!»

«Hohoho! I am sorry, but this year the exam will be slightly different!» stated Nezu, emerging from Aizawa's scarf with a raised paw. «Due to recent events and circumstances beyond our control, we have had to make these changes.»

At the principal's words, the warm, energetic atmosphere around the two young students cooled instantly, while the other students looked at the chimerical principal with doubt and apprehension.

«How will the exam be conducted, Principal Nezu?» asked Momo hesitantly.

«To prepare our beloved pupils for what awaits them, our test must resemble a real fight as closely as possible.» Nezu began to explain. «Therefore, dear students, you will be divided into pairs and will face one of the teachers present here.»

I see, Izuku thought rubbing his chin Class 1A can boast more combat experience than Class 1B. Naturally, I don't know whether the method changed for them too, but that would explain the change to the practical exam. Putting these kids against robots wouldn't help much, since, like any training weapon, they lack punch.

«If I am to take the exam tomorrow, why was I summoned as well?»

«Hohoho. The reason is simple, Midoriya-san.» chuckled Nezu, amused. «Recovery Girl has set up a temporary infirmary from which to monitor the progress across the ten exam locations and, as I thought it might interest you, you will keep Recovery Girl company to see how a particular pair fares during their exam.»

«A particular pair?»

«The pair who will have to face me, giving it everything they've got,» All Might said, stepping forward. «Shield and Bakugou.»

«Indeed, that could prove interesting,» Izuku said with an amused smile, his gaze falling on the pair.

«Fuck you, Deku!» exclaimed Katsuki.

«I'll do my absolute best, Midoriya-san!» stated Melissa, full of determination.

«Ribbit! Why should their fight interest you in particular?» asked Asui, curious.

«Uh? Ah, that's right. You don't know,» stated Melissa with an embarrassed smile. «You see, Midoriya-san has been training me ever since the Sports Festival was announced,» she finished, her cheeks flushing red as a warm aura enveloped her.

The entire class's gazes shifted back and forth between Melissa and Izuku several times. He could discern a mixture of envy, jealousy, and amusement in his classmates' expressions. Above all, the girls' eyes showed a distinct know-it-all note.

Izuku raised an eyebrow, slightly puzzled, before sensing a faint dark aura emanating from the row of teachers.

«Is something wrong, Midnight-sensei?» asked Thirteen.

«It's nothing.»

Out of the corner of his eye, Izuku noticed Thirteen, presumably confused, watching Nemuri, who wore a pouting, slightly annoyed expression. Nemuri's cheeks were faintly flushed, and she looked away.

For some reason, I have completely lost interest in figuring out why everyone is staring at me with this vast array of emotions, thought Izuku, letting out a weary sigh.

*****

«Oh! Welcome to my infirmary.»

«Recovery Girl-sensei, it's a pleasure to see you again.»

It took him only a few minutes to reach the mobile infirmary, but once inside, it looked more like a security control room, given the enormous number of monitors.

Fortunately, he arrived just as the teachers were explaining how the exam would unfold: each pair had approximately 30 minutes to capture the teacher acting as the Villain, or to escape from the training grounds; since the opponent's skill level was exceedingly high, this exam served to teach students not to get ahead of themselves and to remember that there is no dishonour in retreat. The teachers wore various gadgets to prevent them from exerting their full strength, giving the students a genuine fighting chance.

In other words, a Blood Game, but on an infinitely smaller, far less dangerous scale, Izuku thought, sighing.

«Ara, why the sigh, Midoriya-san?» asked Chiyo, curious. «Too easy for your liking?»

«If I were to speak as a Guardian of the Golden Throne, then yes, this exam isn't even worthy of being called an exercise.» Izuku said truthfully «But that's not why I sighed.» he concluded, crossing his arms and gesturing towards specific screens with a nod of his head.

As he directed her attention to the screens and she recognised who he meant, Chiyo sighed too.

Melissa and Katsuki took their exam in Ground Beta, an environment emulating a standard urban area with streets and buildings. Melissa and Katsuki were arguing heatedly over their plan of action. That hothead Katsuki refused to listen to reason. At the same time, Melissa, still not fully rid of her shyness and insecurity, which had unfortunately intensified after the revelations about One For All, did not affect him. It was like striking a wall with a rubber mallet.

It didn't echo inside the infirmary, but Izuku heard the blow Katsuki dealt Melissa with extreme clarity, giving him a fleeting, sudden wave of irritation. A sensation he promptly brushed aside.

Destroying a building a short distance away, All Might appeared in full power: his intimidating presence was palpable even through the screens, yet to Izuku, it felt like nothing more than a gentle breeze.

«Bakugou-san, we have no chance of beating him in a confrontation. We have to run!» exclaimed Melissa, appealing to logic.

«Don't give me orders!!!» roared Katsuki, infuriated.

Charging at his opponent, Katsuki unleashed a brilliant explosion, clearly meant more as a flashbang than to inflict damage. Though he was temporarily blinded, All Might was no ordinary man; even as Katsuki leapt straight at him, All Might caught him mid-air.

But it was a calculated move: Katsuki triggered several targeted explosions aimed directly at All Might's face, dealing light damage. None of the blows hit their intended mark, however, as Toshinori shielded himself.

«You'll need far more than that to defeat me!» All Might said, slamming Katsuki to the ground. «And don't think I've forgotten about—?!»

All Might turned toward Melissa, intending to focus on her, but he couldn't find her. In fact, she was literally nowhere to be seen. Wherever Toshinori looked, she was nowhere to be seen.

«Uh? Where has she gone?» asked Chiyo, failing to spot her on any of the monitors.

«Sensei,» called Izuku, drawing Chiyo's attention. «Both you and All Might-sensei were so focused on Katsuki that you failed to notice how Melissa took advantage of that moment of invisibility.»

«Huh?!» exclaimed Chiyo, confused, before resting her hand on her chin. «Indeed...»

«The first thing I taught Melissa was never to take her eyes off her opponent. I didn't do so merely to allow her to be more responsive during combat,» stated Izuku, pointing to one of the screens. «It was also to enable her to exploit the opponent's distractions.»

Chiyo followed Izuku's index finger. Melissa stood in a dark alleyway; her breathing, initially heavy, grew calm, and her eyes closed. She took a deep breath, and even through the monitors' audio feed, Izuku could hear Melissa's thumping, tumultuous heart return to a steady, calm, and constant rhythm. Almost as if she had isolated herself entirely from the world.

«What is she doing?» asked Chiyo.

«Regaining her composure, assessing her situation, reviewing the information she possesses on her opponent, and re-evaluating her objective,» stated Izuku with a satisfied smile.