#week 23

MILTZA ART DUMP BELOW, GO!!!!

Girl (genderbend)

I just got home from a work trip, so it's later than I'd like, BUT, it's still technically Friday for me!

And we have TWO prompts this week to make up for my abject failure last week.

Week 23's prompt is: Garden.

The link to the collection is here:

Week 24's prompt is: Blink.

The link to the collection is here:

Tags below the cut!

Nerves

Final Exams are coming up next week, and the hero students are scrambling in their attempt to figure out what it is. Midterms were just ordinary exams, but U.A. isn't an ordinary school. They have no doubt that it's going to be something big. 

They start training extra long, pushing themselves further. Izuku incorporates his new grappling hook to his costume, and Mei, who volunteers to look after his costume, modifies it even further to turn it into a hookshot of sorts. It's basically a wristband with the grappling hook attachment, making it more subtle and accessible. (See: Ocarina of Time.)

But, while they train a lot, it doesn't make them any less anxious about their upcoming exam. Mei has already been told what it is for the support course – to make the best item they can. Kisai already knows her too – to create a presentation to introduce a theoretical new hero. Some of their new gen-ed friends know theirs too – written exams based on their after-school course they chose at the start of the year.

1-B haven't been told either. The older students have two different stories. The third year had to fight robots, while the second year had to fight one-on-one with each other, like the final game of the Sports Festival. Online forums have a multitude of stories too, some doing a large obstacle course, some fighting sidekicks of pro heroes, and so much more.

In other words: they have no idea what's in store for them.

While they do their best not to, their anxiety does end up affecting their concentration in lessons, (most of them, anyway). All Might takes notice of this, doing his best to assure them that all will be okay. Mic, also, tries to cheer them up, swearing that it won't be as dreadful as they're making it out to be. It will be fair.

Against all odds, it helps. To an extent. It's still nerve-wracking, but they can finally focus on their studies, making sure not to let them drop for the written portion. 

Bakugou is informed that he's now allowed to participate in combat, but that right can be revoked should the situation arise. He agrees, excited beyond belief, but also simpered by the knowledge that he could be stuck with a dummy for the rest of his days if he steps out of line.

-

It's WHAT!?

Saturday comes, their final day before the exams next week, and Aizawa finally comes out with it. (Vlad King, also, finally tells his students too.)

It's all part of his 'ruse', as he says. To make the students wary of the exam by not telling them what it is in advance, and thus gaining a better understanding of how they'd react to a scenario where information is scarce, and how they'd fare with an exam they have little preparation time for. 

Many of the students are spiteful of this, but they can't deny that it is a learning experience. As heroes, they will have to deal with not knowing on a regular basis. If they folded from this amount of pressure, they'd never handle it when they become heroes… Not that it erases the mental burden they'd already been carrying.

Aizawa comes out with it. "It's a civil war." Immediately, they're all listening intently, sweating in their seats. "There are two teams, each of which will be lead by two students: Team A by Yaoyorozu. Team B by Iida." Eyes turn to them, both becoming rigid. It makes sense – they're the class representatives. "You will decide who else in your team amongst yourselves. Each team cannot have more than eleven students."

Both Tenya and Momo begin to take notes, eyeing all the students around them, trying to figure out who to pick and who not to pick.

"Only those in this class are able to compete. Receiving any outside help will result in a disqualification. The goal is to capture the enemy leader, and keep them captive for five minutes. If neither team is able to capture the enemy leader within the time limit of two hours, both teams will lose. You have today and Sunday to decide your teams, and Monday morning to finalise them. The exam will take place after the written one at 10 am, beginning at 1pm."

The class realises exactly what this means. They have to decide whose side they're joining within one and a half days. They have to come up with some sort of plan within that time. They have to fight each other.

Aizawa grins. "By the way… There's a trip coming up the week after your finals. The team that fails… will not be allowed to join." 

Everyone, and I mean everyone, stills. A burning will flames in their hearts. Izuku's hand tightens on his pen. Half of the class won't be able to join the trip. And nobody wants to be the person who lets their team down. 

"Good luck. Work hard."

Or else it's your trip at stake.

-

Team-up!

The dorms are chaotic, both 1-A and 1-B scrambling to form teams. Momo and Tenya are both overwhelmed as their classmates struggle to decide who to team-up with, arguing with each other and hesitating. A poor choice in their team could spell the end for their trip.

(Itsuka and Setsuna, similarly, are being bombarded by their classmates, trying to sort through them and struggling horribly.)

The chaos comes to an end when Momo creates an alarm and blasts it, cutting through the noise. "That is enough! You are all acting unprofessional, and, quite frankly, I have half the mind to not allow anyone to join my team!"

"Agreed!" Tenya says, chopping his arms for emphasis. "We all need to calm down and decide on our own!"

"How?" asks Tsuyu, cocking her head. "We all don't really want to pick a side, kero."

Then Shouto raises his hand. "I want to join the team Midoriya's not on." Izuku is, frankly, insulted. Others are stricken by this too, but Ochako, surprisingly, agrees with Shouto too. 

As if to spit on him, Tenya does too. "This may sound selfish of me, but I, too, wish for Midoriya-kun to join the opposing team." By now, Izuku is practically dead. His closests friends. All wishing to be in a different team. "Please do not misunderstand me, Midoriya-kun!" He peers up, wondering how on Earth it could be a misunderstanding. "I think of you as my rival. It wouldn't do for rivals to team up."

"Me too," Shouto agrees. "I want to beat you. I can't do that if you're my teammate."

Ochako nods. "You're a great friend, Midoriya-kun! But, I really want to beat you."

With that, Shouto and Ochako join Tenya's team. Respecting their wishes and feeling something similar, Izuku joins Momo's team. With Izuku on Momo's team, Bakugou turns to Tenya. "Let me join your team. Please." And maybe it's because he was polite for once, but Tenya agrees, only making Bakugou promise to work together. Bakugou agrees.

Mostly to look after Bakugou and make sure he stays on the right path, Eijirou also joins Tenya's group, Denki and Mina following after him, mostly wanting to keep the group together and fight alongside their friends, not against.

Seeing Mina in Tenya's group, Tooru joins Momo's, excited to have a rematch against Mina. Yuuga also joins Momo's group, reckoning that he could probably work well with Tooru. Hanta joins Momo too, mostly wanting to prove himself against a group with so many powerhouses.

Hearing Hanta's reasoning, Fumikage joins Tenya's group, deciding that it will be interesting to fight against those with the power of light like Yuuga. Kyouka decides to join Momo's group, mostly because she knows that Izuku, at least, is a good strategist. Mashirao, however, joins Tenya's group, believing that he can get his time to shine after his many losses. Agreeing with him, Rikidou joins Tenya.

Tsuyu decides that she wants to challenge herself and joins Momo's group, mostly because she wants to know how she'd hold up against ice-user Shouto and acid-user Mina. Kouji follows after Tsuyu, believing Momo's group could help him realise the full potential of his quirk. Mezou also joins Momo, with the idea that he'll be able to help more in their team.

Minoru is left, and he observes both groups closely. Tenya's group full of powerhouses, or Momo's group with more tricky quirks to work with. He decides to join Momo's group, because maybe they'll help him figure out how to be strong.

With that, both teams have been decided. 

Team A, led by Yaoyorozu Momo, with Aoyama Yuuga, Asui Tsuyu, Hagakure Tooru, Jirou Kyouka, Kouda Kouji, Midoriya Izuku, Mineta Minoru, Sero Hanta, Shouji Mezou.

Team B, led by Iida Tenya, with Ashido Mina, Bakugou Katsuki, Kaminari Denki, Kirishima Eijirou, Ojirou Mashirao, Satou Rikidou, Todoroki Shouto, Tokoyami Fumikage, Uraraka Ochako.

From now on, they are enemies.

-

Confidence

To be honest, Momo is... concerned. She can't do this. She's not the right person for the job. In her opinion, there are other far more equipped for the job.

That's why, when Team A gathers for a meeting, the first thing she does is apologise. She apologises for being their leader, apologises in advance for her poor performance, and claims that she will accept all culpability, as the leader, should they lose.

And, for a moment, nobody speaks. Until Tooru does, "No way!" Tooru expresses that there's a reason Momo was voted as class president, and why they decided to join her group. Of course, Momo is taken aback, but also refutes this, stating that she has nothing compared to Tenya. That she's not cut out for action.

Fumikage, of course, disagrees, stating that Momo had no trouble fighting Tenya in the Sports Festival. Uwabami's words plague Momo's mind, reminding her what she's really good for.

Mezou backs Fumikage and Tooru up. Even if Momo is not as physically capable or weaker than Tenya, she makes up for it with her brain. They joined her team, not because they had no choice, but because they trust her leadership.

Izuku speaks up too, believing that Momo has some of the best potential in their group, the most versatile. If she can't believe in herself, then she can at least believe in her allies.

Momo... thinks about it. She thinks about how she couldn't do much of anything in the USJ, how she lost against Ochako in the Sports Festival, how she learned nothing but a woman's role in the industry in her internship.

She thinks about her friends' words of encouragement. She thinks about the trust they place in her, the honesty in their eyes.

"... Okay," she says. "I'll do my utmost to live up to your expectations! Thank you for trusting in me!"

-

Suspicion Afoot

Mic arrives in Nedzu's office, eyes dark, exhaustion coating his bones.

"I think… I've narrowed it down. To three."

Nedzu pulls out a cup of tea, inviting Mic in. "Come! Enlighten me."

-

Notes:

GASP! A civil war?? Oh my goooosh. Yeah, I decided not to go with the whole 'fighting teachers' thing. Not just because I wouldn't change much from canon, but also because this allows me to give even more students the spotlight

GASP! Bakugou being included?? Oh my goooosh. Bakugou has gone 23 weeks of counselling by now, and he's improved quite a bit. No longer screaming at everyone or insulting them, even being moderately friendly to other courses. He's allowed by now, I think

I love a good friendly rivalry. I will deliver on them. 

Conclusion:

Final Exams are next week

Aizawa tells everyone in advance what the exams are

Momo gets a pep talk

rules: put your music library on shuffle, then list the first five songs that come up in a poll to let people vote for their favorite! <3

Day 157

Song: Damn Door

Album: A City Dressed in Dynamite

Artist: That Handsome Devil

My Rating: 7/10

It’s official - Who beat the recurrent rule for another week, spending a 22nd week on the Billboard Hot 100!!

We will find out the song’s placement in the top 50 tomorrow, but in the meantime we know that Jimin extends his record as the longest charting K-soloist on the hot 100 in a decade.

And now that we know that hard work and Jimin’s magnetic talent secured week 22, we need to work even harder to get through week 23!

Today is the last that to buy physical cds from the US store and have them count towards week 23 on the charts 💪🏻