MHA; Traflagar D. Water Law

Chapter 13: The Heroic Gear-Up and Training Grounds

The male locker room in UA Academy hummed with a contagious energy. Metallic lockers lined the walls, their pristine surfaces reflecting the bright fluorescent lights overhead. A faint smell of cleaning supplies mingled with the excitement in the air. The room was alive with chatter and the occasional clang of a locker door slamming shut.

Kirishima stood in front of a full-length mirror, his wide grin lighting up his sharp, rugged features. He was clad in his self-designed hero costume—a crimson, sleeveless top with jagged edges, complemented by a matching pair of armored pants. His muscular arms flexed as he admired his reflection. "Finally!" he exclaimed, adjusting the spiked headpiece atop his hair. "The time has come to show you guys the masterpiece I designed myself!"

Beside him, Kaminari leaned casually against a locker, his own hero costume gleaming. A yellow jacket with black lightning bolt patterns covered his torso, paired with black pants and boots. A tech-like visor rested on his forehead. "Man, the best thing about UA," he said with a smirk, "is how they let us customize our costumes. Seriously, this academy knows how to keep things classy."

Midoriya stood nearby, his green eyes glowing with a mix of anticipation and nervous energy. He adjusted the green mask in his hands, preparing to slip it over his head. "This is our first real hero training session," he said, his voice tinged with awe. "I can't help but feel excited... and a little nervous."

As he donned the mask, Mineta, standing a few lockers down, let out a snicker. "You look like a burglar in that mask," he quipped, pointing at Midoriya with a sly grin. Straightening his posture, Mineta puffed out his chest and gestured to his own costume—a bizarre purple suit adorned with grape-like protrusions. "But check out my hero suit! I bet all the girls are going to fall for me now."

An awkward silence fell over the room. The lively atmosphere froze, and the boys exchanged pitying glances, unable to summon a response. Mineta blinked, breaking the tension with a confused, "What's with that reaction?"

Across the room, Bakugo was in his usual black-and-orange combat gear, the grenade-like gauntlets on his arms gleaming menacingly. His red eyes burned with disdain as he glanced at Trafalgar Law, who sat calmly on a bench. Law wore a casual outfit that contrasted sharply with the others' flashy costumes: a pair of blue jeans, a yellow shirt with black accents, and a white wool hat dotted with black spots. In his hand, he held a long sword, its sheath resting against his leg.

Kirishima, noticing Bakugo's glare, scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Uh, that's not really a hero costume, is it?" he asked hesitantly, his tone light. "I mean, it looks cool, but those jeans seem kinda hard to move in."

Bakugo's scowl deepened. "Don't talk to me, you trash," he spat, his voice dripping with venom.

"Trash?" Kirishima echoed, the insult barely above a whisper. His brows furrowed as he tried to make sense of Bakugo's volatile personality.

Bakugo strode toward the door, his boots clicking against the tiled floor. Midoriya, caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, stepped back instinctively, only to bump into Bakugo.

Bakugo's crimson eyes narrowed, his face twisting into a scowl of pure rage. "Deku, you damn nerd..." he growled.

Midoriya froze, his face a mixture of fear and guilt. In Bakugo's mind, memories of their early training resurfaced—particularly the moment Midoriya used his Quirk to launch a baseball into the stratosphere. The realization that his childhood friend had hidden such power from him for years gnawed at his pride.

"Che," Bakugo hissed through gritted teeth, pushing past Midoriya with a dismissive shove. As he stormed out, Law's gray eyes followed him, his expression unreadable.

In the quiet that followed, a voice echoed in Law's mind, calm and calculated: "Some matters are best left untouched. The bond between those two is complicated, especially at this stage of the story."

Law's lips twitched into a faint smirk as he stood, muttering under his breath, "And what makes you think I'd interfere in the first place?"

Nearby, Tokoyami's sharp ears caught the whisper. He turned to Law, his dark, bird-like features tilting in curiosity. "Excuse me?" he asked. "Were you speaking to me?"

Law adjusted his hat, his tone nonchalant. "No. Just... sometimes my thoughts escape me." With that, he walked toward the door, his sword tapping lightly against his leg.

Tokoyami watched him go, his piercing gaze lingering on the retreating figure. Slowly, the other students began filing out of the locker room, their footsteps echoing in the hallway as they made their way to the training grounds.

The Beta Grounds were a marvel of UA's engineering—an entire cityscape recreated within the academy's confines. Crumbling buildings, abandoned streets, and scattered debris painted a convincing picture of an urban disaster zone. The sun hung high, its rays slicing through the clouds and casting sharp shadows over the scene.

Standing in the center of the simulated city was All Might, his towering frame exuding strength and authority. The number one hero wore his signature grin, his golden hair glinting in the sunlight. To his left and right were two boxes—one red, the other blue.

As the students emerged into the sunlight, their costumes catching the light, a sense of pride radiated from them. They walked toward All Might, their confidence visible in their strides.

"You shine like the stars themselves," All Might proclaimed, his booming voice filled with admiration.

Aoyama, ever the showman, tossed his golden hair dramatically and adjusted his red goggles. "Well, of course," he said with a flamboyant twirl. "Though none of them shine quite as brightly as me."

All Might chuckled, his gaze shifting to Midoriya's costume. The green jumpsuit, complete with a hood styled to mimic All Might's iconic hairstyle, drew a fond smile from the hero. He covered his mouth to suppress a laugh, whispering, "The resemblance is uncanny."

Clearing his throat, All Might held up a clipboard. His presence commanded immediate attention. "Now then," he said, his tone professional yet warm, "I have here the team assignments for today's exercise. Each pair will take on a specific role—either heroes or villains. I'll explain the full details shortly, but first, the teams."

The students leaned forward in anticipation, their excitement palpable.

All Might began reading the list:

"Izuku Midoriya & Ochaco Uraraka (Team A)

Shoto Todoroki & Denki Kaminari (Team B)

Mezo Shoji & Minoru Mineta (Team C)

Katsuki Bakugo & Tenya Ida (Team D)

Yuga Aoyama & Mina Ashido (Team E)

Rikido Sato & Kyoka Jiro (Team F)

Eijiro Kirishima & Hanta Sero (Team J)

Fumikage Tokoyami & Tsuyu Asui (Team H)

Mashirao Ojiro & Toru Hagakure (Team I)

Yaoyorozu Momo & Trafalgar Law (Team G)."

The moment the final pair was announced, Law's gaze shifted to meet Momo's. Her dark eyes were already on him, studying him with quiet curiosity. For a brief moment, the world seemed to fade, leaving only the two of them locked in a silent exchange.

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