Walking back from the teacher's lounge, Izuku couldn't help but think about everything that All Might just told him.

The history of his own quirk and the destiny it sets for him is mind-blowing, to say the least. Izuku knew that being All Might's successor wasn't going to be easy. Today, he was reminded of that. He realized now the long road he had ahead of him. If he wanted to live up to All Might's expectations, he needed to do better, be better.

Enraptured in his own swirling train of thought, he didn't notice when someone called him out from behind. Nor did he hear, when the same person started yelling out to him.

Izuku stilled as a hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder. Acting on instinct, before his mind could even catch up, he promptly flipped the person over his shoulder.

It was only a moment later, after hearing a small groan behind him that he realized what he had done.

Ever so slowly, he turned around only to be startled again, as he saw, who it was, that he slammed on the ground.

"Oh my god..." Izuku whispered in mortification "Are you okay?!" His voice was louder now, as worry and guilt started pooling in his stomach.

"Holy shit." The purple haired teen spoke, bewilderment clear on his expression. He was still sprawled on the floor. "You're strong!" He laughed, sounding more like a wheeze.

"I'm so sorry! Shinsou, are- are you- oh my god- I'm so sorry!" The greenette rambled as he looked the teen over for any injury. "I- it was an accident, I-I'm so sorry!"

"S'...fine Midoriya" The teen slurred "I shouldn't have done that, it's just, I was calling out to you and you weren't- it was stupid, sorry" The purple haired teen mumbled that last bit quietly. Guilt flashing over his expression.

"No, it's just you surprised me, that's all... I get stuck inside my head sometime." Izuku replied bashfully, his hand rubbing at the back of his neck in a nervous gesture.

A couple of minutes passed by, as both of them remained silent. Izuku crouched down above the teen.

"...So... Are you going to stay on the floor all day?" Izuku asked as he tilted his head slightly, a small grin plastered on his features.

"Yup," Shinsou replied, making a small pop noise as he said the 'p'.

This earned him a small giggle from the greenette.

"Come on Shinsou-kun we have class in a few minutes!" Izuku didn't know why he was so comfortable around him. Up until now, the only person he was so relaxed around was Aizawa. It was strange and really calming to be able to act like himself without fear of the consequences.

With a groan, Shinsou lifted himself off the ground, accepting Izuku's outstretched hand as he got up.

They looked at each other for a moment. Only now realizing that the last time they saw each other was at the sports festival

"I'm- "

"Look, Shin- "

They spoke at the same time, their voices overlapping each other's.

"You go first, take it as an apology for flipping you back there." Izuku offered nervously.

"I- Uhm- I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry for telling the teachers despite promising you I wouldn't but I just...I couldn't let her hurt you anymore. I- I'm glad you're okay..." Shinsou apologized sincerely despite knowing that he'd do it again in an instant.

"Actually, that's what I wanted to talk to you about..." Taking a deep breath, Izuku lifted his eyes up to meet the teen's. Emerald burned into deep purple as he tried to convey his emotions. "That day... You- you saved me Shinsou. If you hadn't told Aizawa I- I wouldn't be here right now. So... Please, don't apologize and let me thank you. You- I guess I can say that you are my hero, in a way, I mean..." He stated, surprised at the firmness in his tone.

"Hero..." Shinsou whispered in awe. "I- I'm not- "

Izuku didn't let him finish, cutting him off with a huff.

"You are Shinsou and believe me when I say that you're going to be a great hero someday." Izuku's eyes burned with admiration and sincerity as if he was just stating an obvious fact.

Shinsou didn't know what to say. He felt overwhelmed. This was the first time someone not only encouraged his dream but actually called him a hero. Him, the kid with the villain's quirk. Someone- Izuku had called him his hero.

He was snapped out of his thoughts by an outstretched hand held up towards him.

"So, let's become heroes together, Shinsou-kun!" If Izuku saw the way his breath hitched he didn't mention it. Slowly, tentatively, Shinsou accepted the hand offered to him. Promising to make his friend proud no matter what.

________________________

Weeks past and the final exams had finally arrived. Izuku thought he did relatively well on the written part of the exams. Practical's were a whole other experience though.

The test, despite the rumors of it consisting of a fight against robots, ended up being a fight against the teachers instead. They either, have to escape the city or capture the teacher.

Every pair of students were paired with a teacher. Each one was chosen specifically to challenge their own weaknesses.

For instance, Uraraka and Aoyama were pitted against Thirteen. While students that were less prone to strategizing like Kaminari and Ashido were put up against Principal Nedzu. Kirishima and Sato against Cementos, Jirou, and Kouda against Present Mic. Todoroki and Yaoyorozu against Eraserhead and so on.

However, Izuku was teamed up with none other than Kacchan. Their opponent being the Symbol of peace himself. Oh boy! Were they screwed...

Now, Kacchan has mellowed down over the past few weeks. He's still his usual brash, explosive self. People don't change that easily but he's... He's trying. And Izuku can see that. It makes him hope that maybe, someday, things could go well between them. Maybe they'd even become friends again.

The buzzer sounds off and both teens step into the training ground.

Izuku tries to make up a plan with his teammate and strangely enough, Kacchan actually listens.

Izuku, having grown to cherish the man, believes that they should avoid a fight at all cost. It's All Might, after all, he'd crush them in an instant.

However, Kacchan has other thoughts. Knowing fully well, that even if they choose to make a run for the gates, All Might would easily catch up to them.

They end up deciding on a compromise.

__________________________

Bursting into the training ground at an unbelievable speed, All Might laugh as he destroys everything in his path. It's not his usual laughter either. Izuku and Bakugou look at his smile and shivers run down their spines. Because this is not the hero's reassuring smile, the smile that makes people feel safe and protected. No, this smile is... wrong. It's strange to see their idol in this light. All Might smile is intimidating, even scary. It's the smile he gives villains before he promptly destroys them.

"WHO CARES ABOUT KEEPING THE STREETS INTACT!" All Might's booming voice resounds through the city." I AM HERE TO DESTROY YOU HEROES" His catchphrase is used in such a wrong way, it makes Izuku feel sick. "SO, GIVE ME YOUR BEST SHOT!"

With that, All Might charges at them. His moves, so fast, that they could barely react before the force of the blow flung them both backward.

"Kacchan! NOW!"

Bakugou doesn't even need to be told twice before he's rushing towards the older hero. Using that as a distraction. Izuku runs towards the opposite side of the street.

"NOT SO FAST HERO!" All Might shout's as he easily dodges Bakugou's attacks. The ones that do hit him don't even phase him "IT WON'T BE THAT EASY TO GET PAST ME!" With one swift motion, All Might, grabs Bakugou by the wrist and hurls him at Izuku. The boys slam into each other, making both of them tumble ungracefully to the ground.

Quickly regaining their bearings, they both get up.

Nodding to each other, they go forth with phase two of their plan.

___________________________

All Might thought, that the kid would at least know not to underestimate him. Young Izuku, despite knowing full well that All Might was faster, decided to make a run for it.

Although, given that the strategy was a sound one.

While using Bakugou as a distraction would have granted Izuku the chance to reach the gates and win the test for both of them.

It was clearly not the right thing to do here. Given that he was there opponent.

Before he could mull things over, he realized the street around him was strangely quiet. Looking around him, All Might realized that in his moment of distraction, both boys had vanished. At least they were working together.

Looking at the exit gate, they were nowhere in sight. Now, where could they have gone if not for the exit? His thoughts were caught off by a beeping sound coming from one of his pockets. Slipping his hand inside, he realized all too late that the beeping was indeed a grenade. Before he could do anything though, the bomb exploded in his palm, effectively blinding him and disorienting him.

__________________________

Bakugou wouldn't admit it out loud but that damn nerd has the craziest ideas sometimes. At first, Bakugou wanted to just straight up fight All Might head on. However, after Izuku explained to him his plan, he couldn't help the mad grin that made its way on his face.

This was going to be fun.

At first, they decided to use Izuku as a distraction in order for him to be able to slip a couple of flash grenades in All Might's pockets. The hero wouldn't expect the distraction to actually turn out to be the one escaping and not the one attacking.

Now that the first phase of their plan was over, they had to go through the second part.

They knew that the grenades weren't going to stall the number one hero for long, so they needed to act fast.

Quickly, as they had previously decided, Izuku took on of Bakugou's gauntlets. Having already stored it with his nitroglycerine, Izuku now had additional firepower.

As soon as that was done, they both charged towards the symbol of peace, closing in on the hero from both sides, the front and the back.

Bakugou charges forward at All might, His speed only rivaled by Izuku's as the other zips through the clearing, green electricity sparking throughout his body.

Using his momentum, the blond jumps up, dozens of explosions compiling against each other as he turns himself into a living, breathing, detonation tornado.

"HOWITZER IMPACT" Bakugou screams as he performs one of his special moves.

At the same time, Izuku rushes forwards, going for a powered-up kick to the man back, quickly following the motions by detonation Kacchan's gauntlet directly as the man's back.

A normal opponent would have already been overwhelmed by Balugou's attack, however, given that this was All Might, the number one hero, it was expected to have a minimal impact. Yet, combined with the overwhelming strengths of both Midoriya, Bakugou's gauntlet, and his special move. Let's just say, the attack did what it was meant to do.

Using the opening they made themselves, Izuku quickly takes the quirk canceling handcuffs and places them on the hero's hands. Like that, the alarm rings, the exam.

MIDORIYA .A. IZUKU AND BAKUGOU KATSUKI HAVE PASSED THE FINAL EXAM.

The Speakers declare and Izuku hopes that no one is going to ask about the additional initial to his last name.

"We did it Kacchan!" Izuku yells as he pumps his fist into the air excitedly.

Bakugou can't help but feel excitement and pride bubble up in his chest. He looks at Dek- Izuku. His childhood best friend, the boy he relentlessly bullied and tormented for most of his life and finally sees how wrong he was about him. This boy, standing in front of him, is sure to go places. However, despite his train of thought, his only reaction is a huff and a grunted reply.

"Well, of course, we did nerd. What did you expect when you got teamed with me. We did a good job." The last part makes the greenette tear up, only increasing the blond's huffing.

_________________________

They walk out the training area, All Might congratulate them both on their good work. None of them were seriously injured aside from a few scratches here and there. Given Izuku's history, that was a feat in itself.

"You did good kid," Aizawa says as they walk into the observation room. His hand coming up to ruffle his ward's hair.

"Thanks, dad." It takes a moment for Izuku to realize what he just said, he freezes like a deer in the headlights. Mortification and embarrassment overwhelming his sense. His cheeks heat up, his face becomes redder than Kirishima's hair as he covers his face, stammering multiple apologies before scurrying off to recovery girl's office.

Izuku is so caught up in escaping that he doesn't see the way Aizawa's eyes widen, only to settle a moment later in a fond gaze. As his expression softens and his eyes shine in a new light. Nor does he see the smile that grazes his features for the rest of the evening.