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It was a normal day. Izuku went for his morning run, did his other mundane preparations for the day, and went to class. His subject classes went well.. Or as well as one can be behind Kacchan’s targeted yapping. It was only during their heroic class that normal took a twist.
It was a joint lesson, a 1v1 between the classes more to the benefit of the teachers comparing notes than anything. However, the students moulded the activity as a class vs class competition of who’s the best. Winnings were being tallied, there was an abundance of trash talking, and best of all, they were having fun…
“Midoriya versus Monoma!”
…until they weren’t.
The two stepped onto the large training mat, cheered on by their respective classmates.
“Kick his butt, Midoriya!”
“Just say ‘ass’ you shitty hair!” Bakugo grunted, hands tucked into his pants.
“Eat him up, Deku-kun,.” Uraraka grinned evilly, the adrenaline rush from winning against Testsu having not passed yet. “And leave no crumbs!” She growled, juxtapositioned by Iida carrying her piggyback style so innocently.
As loud as class 1A were, so was class 1B.
“Ready to lose, Midoriya?”
“Get him, Monoma!”
“Make a path for Bone-Breakin’ Boy!”
Aizawa stepped in for just a moment, pointedly glaring at Midoriya. “Seriously, your goal here is no broken bones this lesson, are we clear Problem Child?” Narrowing his eyes at the name for emphasis.
Midoriya just nodded, and Aizawa went back to his spot next to Vlad King. He could vaguely hear Monoma rambling his self-praise and throwing 1A shade, but Midoriya needed to focus. Focus.
He needed a plan. If Monoma touched him, and caught his quirk, then… then… As All Might had described to him before: exploding limbs. From what he can observe from Monoma’s slimming hero suit, he would most definitely explode.
Monoma charged first, flailing his hands forward and laughing like a madman. Deku immediately dodged, twisting his body with practised finesse. Monoma danced with him, spinning around behind him. Izuku felt the incoming movement of the blonde’s hand about to reach his shoulder and Izuku panicked. Throwing his whole arm across and around him, Deku slammed his elbow into Monoma’s face. It successfully threw him off, the impact splattering blood on Monoma’s cheek, but it was a harsh blow especially for just sparring. Midoriya jumped back, re-squaring up.
“Midoriya.” Aizawa warned, then turned to Vlad King expectantly.
“Monoma, protect the face, it’s the most vulnerable.” Vlad added.
“Yes sir-” Deku supplied, shaking it off and recuperating.
He needed to keep a distance from Monoma.. He needed to-
“Got ya!” Monoma smiled, hand resting on Midoriya’s head, body tilted up as if he had jumped towards him and touched him mid-air.
Oh no.
“Midoriya watch out!”
“That’s a little late for a warning call, Mina.”
Oh god, please no.
“I have it!” Monoma cheered, leaping to the furthest side of the training mat with a wide stance. “Now let’s give this a test run.” His grin widened.
No.
Izuku stepped forward rigidly.
No, no, no.
His eyes widened.
All he cold imagine was his limbs exploding and-
Monoma’s eyes widened. Fear. Izuku panicked again.
“Stop the fight!” He yelled, he screamed.
“Midoriya, what-”
They were taking too long.
Time seemed to slow, and Midoriya had a clear shot. He dashed forward, lightning splashing around him as he reached out…!
He snagged Monoma’s shirt - careful to avoid any more skin contact just in case - and lifted him up above his head. Then, he swung him over his shoulder, slamming him into the padded ground.
Monoma grunted, “Get off!”
He wasn’t unconscious, he could still use his quirk. He could still explode! Izuku ignored his peers' cries, pining Monoma down as tight as he could and slamming his fist into his face repeatedly, until his eyes were glazed over.
“M-Midoriya?”
He looked up at the sound of his name, all of the students shocked.
“What an underhanded move, Mido.”
“Damn.”
“That’s cheating!”
Oh he did, didn’t he? He cheated… But, if he didn’t, Monoma would have, have..
“Alright, alright, Next pair warm up.” Aizawa shooed the class away, but they didn’t move. Sensei turned to Midoriya. “What’s wrong?”
That was too close. Too close. Too close.
“Hey,” Aizawa put himself in complete view of Midoriya, who still hasn't spoken.
“Don’t..” Midoriya started, lifting his hand up. “My quirk, it’ll.. It would have..”
Aizawa’s brow furrowed. In a flash of red, he effectively cancelled both his and Monomma’s quirk.
Midoriya took a deep breath, removing himself from his position shakily. Whispering a string of apologies to the still dazed Monoma on the floor, face smeared with blood.
Come on, Midoriya. This is pathetic. Just tell him. Tell the class. Tell Monoma. Do not let this happen again.
“I’m sorry, this- m-my quirk.” Midoriya started strong. “If Monoma had activated it, he would have..” He scrunched his face and closed his eyes, unable to hold any eye contact. “..exploded.”
There, done. He told them.
Silence.
“Sure felt like it.” Monoma coughed out. There was none of his usual whiny tone, just fear. “It was as if someone had set of a bomb right next my ear. I c-could feel it..” He shuddered, eyeing Midoriya carefully. “..my bones, and flesh start to rip and crack, like they were going to shatter and split like firewood at any moment.”
Whispers of shock and fear rippled across the crowd of hero students.
“Please,” Izuku started, turning to Monoma, head still facing the ground in shame. “Don’t touch my quirk again.” He peaked through his bangs, hoping his eyes conveyed his conviction. “No matter what.”
He never did.
END