Y'know as I and my editor(Who isn't imaginary), went over this, I really couldn't understand how I was supposed to see any stakes. Kuro and Bakugo are quite literally the strongest in 1-A. Then it hit me...this arc won't have any struggles with them. Sorry, not sorry!
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A few days after the UA Sports Festival, Bakugo and Kurokami Tenshin found themselves sitting side by side on a train heading toward Hosu City. The two couldn't have been more different—Bakugo, the ever-intense, explosive powerhouse, and Kuro, the perpetually happy-go-lucky class president who, despite his casual demeanor, was always ready to throw himself into battle with a grin. Yet here they were, on this train, bound by a common goal: hero work.
Well, at least that was the official reason. For Bakugo, it was more about getting a chance to train with Endeavor, one of the strongest heroes, and prove he could surpass even All Might. For Kuro, the goal was... a little less clear. He had invited Bakugo on this trip to "help a friend," which didn't make sense at first, given Bakugo's attitude toward social bonds, but the promise of training with the number two hero had been too good to pass up.
Bakugo leaned back in his seat, wearing an orange and black sweater, a gift from his mom who insisted he at least try to look "presentable" when doing professional work. He glanced sideways at Kuro, who was fiddling with his phone like someone who had just discovered what technology was. Kuro, matching in a reversed color sweater of black with orange stripes—because Bakugo's mother had insisted they look coordinated—was completely absorbed in figuring out how his phone worked. Bakugo sighed, watching him struggle, yet another reminder of how odd his classmate was.
"Oi, moron, click the green phone icon if you wanna answer a call," Bakugo muttered, his voice exasperated but familiar, as if this was far from the first time he had to explain something so basic.
Kuro looked up with that usual innocent smile, unaffected by Bakugo's sharp tone. "Ohhh, that makes sense now! Thanks, Katsuki!" His excitement was genuine, and Bakugo just groaned internally, wondering how someone like Kuro could exist. The guy was supposed to be their class president, right?
Bakugo narrowed his eyes. "Tch. So what's the red button for, genius?" He asked, almost knowing the answer would only frustrate him more.
Kuro tapped the red button and frowned thoughtfully. "Uhhh... oh! It ends the call, right?" His bright tone suggested this revelation was some sort of breakthrough.
Bakugo's eye twitched. "How can you not know this? Have you been living under a rock?!" Bakugo ran a hand through his spiky blonde hair, trying to calm his irritation. Dealing with Kuro was like babysitting a hyperactive toddler who happened to be one of the strongest in their class.
Kuro smiled again, unfazed by the insult. "Well, I usually leave my phone lying around, so I don't use it much. Like, that one time I left it with Mei in the Support Department… or when I forgot it at Todoroki's house… or your house… or that one time I dropped it during the USJ attack…"
"How do you even function?" Bakugo muttered, utterly baffled. "And what do you mean you left it at my house?!"
Kuro tapped his chin in thought. "Oh! That was when we had that study session for math. I might've left it on the counter."
"Study session...?" Bakugo blinked. He vaguely remembered Kuro dragging him into one of those "presidential meetings" where he tried to tutor the class, but it didn't leave much of an impression beyond sheer annoyance.
"Forget it," Bakugo grumbled, turning his attention back to the window. The urban sprawl of Hosu City was growing closer, and for some reason, the sight of the towering buildings and bustling streets made him feel uneasy. "I've got a bad feeling about this place," he muttered under his breath, his instincts kicking in as they often did before trouble.
Kuro was still messing with his phone, completely oblivious to Bakugo's mood. "Oh, look! Todoroki's calling!" He exclaimed, hitting the green button.
Bakugo didn't even acknowledge the call, already lost in thought. His mind drifted back to the real reason he had agreed to this trip. Kuro had told him about Iida—how his brother had been attacked by a villain named Stain, leaving him paralyzed and ending his career as a hero. Kuro wanted to "help" Iida, but knowing Bakugo, there was only one thing he cared about. Strength.
The promise of training with Endeavor had been the real motivator. The chance to learn from someone so powerful, to push himself beyond his limits, was too good to pass up. Still, something about the whole situation felt off.
The cityscape of Hosu loomed larger in the window, and Bakugo's jaw clenched. Whatever was waiting for them there, he'd be ready. He always was.
As the train finally pulled into the Hosu station, Bakugo stretched, cracking his knuckles as he prepared to disembark. "Oi, we're here. Try not to screw this up, idiot," he said to Kuro, who was still chatting with Todoroki about something unimportant.
"Oh, we're here already? Cool!" Kuro hung up and leapt to his feet with boundless energy, his usual carefree grin plastered on his face.
Bakugo rolled his eyes, shoving his hands into his pockets as they stepped off the train and onto the bustling platform. The air in Hosu felt thick with tension, though Kuro didn't seem to notice. He was already looking around, eyes wide with curiosity.
"Wow, this place is even bigger than Musutafu!" Kuro marveled.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Bakugo said, not in the mood for sightseeing. He scanned the crowd, his sharp gaze taking in every detail. "Let's get this over with. The faster we finish, the faster I can start training with Endeavor."
As they walked through the busy streets of Hosu, Kuro fell into step beside him, still radiating his usual optimism. "Hey, Katsuki, do you think we'll run into any villains?"
Bakugo smirked, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "If we do, I'll blast them to pieces."
Kuro laughed. "I guess that's one way to handle it."
The pair continued down the streets, unaware of the dark storm brewing just beneath the surface of Hosu.
...
Kuro and Bakugo were wandering the streets of Hosu City, their brief mission sidetracked by Kuro's obsession with finding a shop that sold chocolate and mangoes—his two personal vices. Every few minutes, Kuro would dart into a store, floating just above the ground as he moved in and out with bags of sweets. Bakugo followed behind, grumbling, his hands stuffed into his pockets as he tried to ignore the ridiculousness of his class president's sugar-fueled hunt.
Eventually, the pair found themselves inside a small corner store, Kuro happily floating about while Bakugo, with an annoyed look, paid for the mountain of candy Kuro had accumulated. Bakugo pulled out his phone, glancing at the screen when a notification lit up—a message from "Icyhot." He smirked, a devilish gleam in his eye that made the cashier instinctively take a step back.
Todoroki: "Endeavor's chasing a villain right now. You guys might want to get here. Looks like things are heating up."
"Hey, dwarf, we're leaving." Bakugo barked, stuffing his phone back into his pocket and throwing a wad of cash at the cashier.
Kuro, who was currently floating upside down near the ceiling, shoved the last handful of change into his backpack along with the candy. "Got it!" he chimed, flipping right side up in one smooth motion before floating toward the door. His casual grin never faltered, even as Bakugo's pace quickened, already gearing up for whatever chaos awaited them.
Meanwhile, Shoto Todoroki was in a narrow alleyway, his breath visible in the cool air as he put his phone back into his hero suit. His ice-cold demeanor mirrored the frozen state of the criminal before him, a thief who had been running at breakneck speed just moments ago. Now, the man's wrists and legs were encased in solid ice, rendering him immobile.
Todoroki glanced down at the criminal with disinterest. "Done," he muttered, stepping over the ice-captured thief as he made his way to the end of the alley. Endeavor, who had been pursuing the man, caught up and gave Todoroki a stern, lingering look.
Todoroki could feel his father's gaze on him, though he didn't bother to meet it. He knew that, despite their strained relationship, Endeavor had noticed his growth as a hero. Shoto's ability to track down the criminal had been effortless, the result of his sharp memory and his unique quirk. The thief had enhanced speed, but speed meant nothing when you could read the environment, predict movement patterns, and freeze the ground beneath your enemy's feet before they could even react.
"The city only has a few areas that aren't heavily patrolled at this time of day," Todoroki said matter-of-factly, checking his phone as though capturing villains had become just another mundane task. "This was the closest spot."
Endeavor didn't respond, but his silence was acknowledgment enough. Todoroki was perfecting his skills, no longer the hesitant boy he'd once been. As the number two hero, Endeavor could see his son's potential more clearly than ever. But even that thought was overshadowed by the sound of something—or rather, someone—approaching rapidly.
Before either of them could react, Bakugo and Kuro came crashing through the sky like twin comets, colliding mid-air and slamming into the ground in a chaotic heap. Dust and debris scattered around them as the two boys tumbled into a rolling mass of limbs and shouts, stopping only after hitting a nearby wall.
"I WON!" Bakugo yelled, scrambling to his feet, his fiery temper flaring as he dusted himself off.
Kuro, looking equally disheveled but no less cheerful, floated back upright with his usual serene expression. "Nope! Clearly, I was faster. Oh, hey, Todoroki." Kuro waved casually, as if they hadn't just crash-landed.
Bakugo yanked his backpack off the ground, looking at Todoroki with that same smirk he'd had since he got the message. "Hey, Icyhot, you saw that, right? Tell him I was faster than the damn dwarf."
Todoroki glanced between the two of them, an amused smile tugging at the corner of his usually stoic expression. Bakugo and Kuro were both powerful in their own ways, but the rivalry between them was more like that of two brothers constantly trying to one-up each other.
"You both tied," Todoroki said, barely able to suppress a small chuckle. He could tell Bakugo had been faster, but Kuro's nimbleness in the air was unmatched, so in a way, it evened out. "It was close."
The word tied hit Bakugo like an insult. "TIED?! THAT'S BULLSH*T!!"
Kuro beamed at the declaration. "See? Told you we tied. Which means I won."
"NOPE. BULLSH*T. REMATCH! NOW!" Bakugo's fists crackled with small bursts of explosions as his temper flared, clearly not accepting Todoroki's assessment.
"Well, if you insist. I'll win again, though." Kuro floated a few inches higher, ready for another round.
"You're dead, dwarf."
Endeavor watched the trio, his stern expression unchanging as he observed the interaction. Bakugo's raw power and Kurokami's finesse were impressive, but it was Todoroki's calm composure and strategy that caught his eye. The boy was growing, becoming more calculated, more perfect—the perfect hero Endeavor had envisioned. But even so, there was something undeniable about the fierce determination of both Bakugo and Kurokami. Their rivalry was pushing them all to new heights, much to Endeavor's begrudging approval.
"Enough messing around," Endeavor finally said, his deep voice cutting through the noise. "We're not here to play games."
Bakugo scowled but held back another outburst, his respect for Endeavor forcing him to listen. Kuro landed softly next to Bakugo, his expression now more focused, though still relaxed.
"Let's get to work, then," Kuro said, adjusting his backpack.
The air grew heavier as the four of them moved deeper into Hosu City. The bustling streets and towering buildings created a maze of activity, but beneath the surface, something more sinister was stirring. It was a feeling that had been gnawing at Bakugo since they first arrived, a bad premonition that something was about to happen.
Todoroki stayed close to his father, his eyes scanning the city for any sign of trouble. Kuro floated beside Bakugo, their banter momentarily silenced by the weight of the mission ahead.
As the sun began to set over Hosu City, the streets grew quieter, the vibrant city lights flickering to life. But in the distance, a sound echoed—a faint scream, followed by a chilling silence.
Bakugo's head snapped in the direction of the noise, his muscles tensing, that bad feeling flaring up again. "Did you hear that?"
Todoroki and Kuro both nodded, their expressions serious now. Endeavor's eyes narrowed. "Move."
And with that single command, they took off, racing toward the unknown threat waiting for them in the shadows of Hosu City.
...
Endeavor moved swiftly down the narrow alleyways of Hosu City, his sharp eyes scanning every shadow as Kurokami Tenshin floated above the rooftops, his purple aura barely visible as he stayed close to the walls, blending into the background.
Bakugo, flying just below him, had muted his explosions to minimize sound, while Todoroki, skating silently over ice he created beneath his feet, kept close to the ground. The team moved in near-perfect synchronization, each knowing their role.
Endeavor's deep voice cut through their focused silence, "Bakugo, you engage him first. Shoto, stay hidden in case he's keeping a hostage. Tenshin, be ready to act if the situation escalates. I don't want to spook him into running, and we don't know if he has allies nearby."
Kuro floated lower to nod his acknowledgment, eyes sharp and serious, a contrast to his usual playful demeanor. Bakugo cracked his neck, his fiery temper barely in check, but his focus clear. Todoroki remained calm, his breath visible in the cold air he generated beneath him, staying low and out of sight.
A few meters ahead of them, a bloodied figure stumbled through the streets. His clothes were torn, and his breath came in ragged gasps. The man, Randy, a freelance reporter, had wandered into a part of Hosu he shouldn't have.
Chasing a lead on criminal activity, he'd found more than he bargained for—a killer. His phone camera had accidentally flashed in the dark alley, and now a stab wound in his side was a grim reminder of how quickly things had spiraled out of control.
"Hah... hah... damn it..." Randy muttered, his hand pressed to his ribs, blood seeping through his fingers. He tried to scale a nearby wall, but his strength failed him. Collapsing back to the ground, he struggled to his feet and staggered forward, desperate to escape. The footsteps behind him were unnervingly calm, slow, and deliberate.
Randy's eyes widened in terror as he finally spotted the figure—Stain, the Hero Killer. Squatting on top of a car tire, his piercing eyes locked onto the reporter, calculating his next move.
The reporter froze, panic flooding him as he realized he had nowhere to go. He dropped to his knees, holding up his trembling hands in a futile gesture of surrender. "I'm sorry! Please, let me go! I have money! Do you want that?! I can take a loan, please...!"
Stain didn't move. His hand hovered over one of his dual katanas, but he didn't draw it. His voice was low, calm, and full of disdain. "You're not a hero... so you'll be spared." He stood up slowly, the moonlight reflecting off his blade as he finally pulled it free.
Randy, still trembling, tried to crawl backward, his back hitting the cold, unforgiving wall. His eyes never left the Hero Killer, who stepped closer, looming over him like a shadow of death.
Just as Stain raised his blade, a thunderous explosion cut through the air.
"DIE!!"
Bakugo shot into view, explosions blasting from his hands as he rocketed toward Stain. The villain moved with practiced precision, dodging the attack with ease, his katana held in a reverse grip. Bakugo landed a few meters away, smoke rising from his palms, his eyes sharp and full of violent intent.
"So... a hero?" Stain muttered, eyeing Bakugo with interest. He could already tell this kid was different from the weak-willed heroes he so often despised. There was fire in Bakugo's heart, a hunger that made Stain wonder if he was truly deserving of the title "hero."
"Thank you! Please save me!" Randy screamed, scrambling away from Stain, his voice thick with desperation. His body was shaking from fear, and he was barely coherent.
Bakugo didn't even glance in his direction, his crimson eyes never leaving Stain. "Mind shutting up?" he snapped at the reporter, his voice dripping with impatience. Despite his harsh words, Bakugo was fully focused on the threat in front of him. He knew better than to underestimate someone like Stain.
Stain's presence radiated something sinister—an aura that Bakugo couldn't quite place, but it made the hair on the back of his neck stand up. The League of Villains had been at the center of a lot of chaos lately, but Stain didn't seem like the type to work with others. Still, there had to be a connection. After all, this guy was causing too much trouble to be working solo.
"So... are you worthy to be called 'hero'?" Stain asked, his voice taunting as he sized up Bakugo.
Bakugo's lips curled into a savage grin, slipping on a pair of black gloves. They weren't as powerful as his gauntlets, but they'd protect his hands from the kinetic force of his explosions. "You're gonna find out soon enough," Bakugo growled, his eyes narrowing.
The tension between them was electric. Bakugo didn't need anyone else here—he wanted to prove he could take Stain down on his own. But he knew Endeavor and the others were close, watching, ready to jump in if things got out of hand. He wasn't stupid; this wasn't just about power. It was about strategy.
Stain's eyes flicked briefly to the side, sensing movement, but Bakugo didn't give him a chance to react. With a fierce explosion, Bakugo propelled himself forward, closing the distance in an instant.
He aimed a punch at Stain's head, only for the Hero Killer to duck at the last second, his katana flashing as it sliced through the air. Bakugo twisted mid-flight, narrowly avoiding the blade before countering with another explosion that sent them both flying backward.
"Too slow, you damn freak!" Bakugo shouted, already rushing in for another attack. His adrenaline was spiking, and he felt the familiar thrill of battle wash over him. This was what he lived for.
But Stain was fast. Too fast.
In a blur of movement, Stain was suddenly behind Bakugo, his katana slicing down toward the back of Bakugo's leg. The blade barely missed its mark as Bakugo spun, blasting an explosion between them to create distance.
Stain's smile widened as he licked a stray drop of blood from his blade. "You've got potential, brat. But you're still a long way from being a true hero."
"I'LL SHOW YOU A TRUE HERO!" Bakugo roared, his palms sparking as he launched another barrage of explosions.
Above, Kuro watched the scene unfold, his purple aura flickering around him as he floated silently. His eyes tracked every movement, calculating. He could tell Bakugo was pushing himself, but the fight was far from over. Any wrong move could tip the balance.
Meanwhile, Todoroki remained hidden, his icy gaze locked on Stain. If there was any sign of a hostage or an unexpected ally, he was ready to freeze the entire battlefield instantly. He just needed the right moment.
The streets of Hosu City had become a battleground, and the true test of their heroism was beginning.
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[Auther: Yo. Been a while huh?
Anyways, let me explain a bit, Stain was dodging, Izuku, Todoroki, and Iida, and Izuku had 5% which is fast enough to dodge bullets...clearly regular people in MHA are inhumane.