Chapter 4: The Test of Teamwork
The gymnasium buzzed with the energy of first-year students, all eager and nervous for their first official training session at U.A. High. The high ceilings and polished floors reflected the bright lights overhead as Jun'ichirō Yamamoto stood with his classmates, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his uniform. The students around him murmured, discussing what they expected from the day's challenges. Some were clearly nervous, while others seemed to be putting on confident fronts.
Jun wasn't exactly nervous, but he couldn't deny the undercurrent of excitement that thrummed beneath his calm demeanor. After all, this was U.A. High School—the institution that had produced heroes like All Might, Endeavor, and Best Jeanist. But, deep down, Jun knew that if he wanted to survive here, he couldn't afford to coast on his natural talent. He needed to prove himself, to show that he could be more than just a student with an alien quirk.
Aizawa, the class's homeroom teacher, stood in front of them with his usual disinterested posture, his arms folded across his chest. His disheveled appearance and dark circles beneath his eyes only added to the no-nonsense aura he exuded. His quirk, Erasure, was legendary, and it was said that if he looked at you, your quirk was nullified—an ability that made him one of the most dangerous teachers at U.A.
"Listen up," Aizawa's voice cut through the chatter, bringing the room to a sudden hush. "Today is your first real test. No more games. No more showboating. If you want to survive U.A., you'll need to prove you can work together, use your quirks effectively, and think on your feet. There will be no excuses."
Jun's eyes narrowed slightly. It seemed like Aizawa was going to make an example out of them right from the start.
Aizawa pulled out a small remote from his pocket and clicked a button. A large screen behind him flickered to life, showing a map of what appeared to be a battlefield. On the screen were various zones, obstacles, and what looked like several large robotic structures.
"This is the 'Rescue and Escape' exercise," Aizawa continued, his voice steady. "You will be divided into teams. Each team will have to navigate a mock city filled with obstacles and rescue a simulated civilian trapped in a building. However, you're not just going to be saving civilians. The situation will be chaotic. There will be simulated villains in your way. And there are no rules—only one objective: to work together and succeed."
A collective murmur rippled through the students. Jun could sense the rising tension. This wasn't just some obstacle course or simple test of strength. The exercise was designed to simulate the complexities of real-world hero work, where thinking on your feet and working with others could mean the difference between life and death.
"You'll each be assigned to a team," Aizawa said, tapping the remote again. "You will have twenty minutes to prepare. After that, we begin."
A holographic display appeared in the air, showing the names of the students along with their team assignments. Jun scanned the list.
Team 1:
Bakugou Katsuki
Midoriya Izuku
Jiro Kyoka
Jun'ichirō Yamamoto
Jun raised an eyebrow at the composition of his team. Bakugou, Midoriya, and Jiro. This should be interesting. He knew about Bakugou's explosive personality and Midoriya's remarkable quirk, but Jiro... she was a bit of an unknown. Still, Jun wasn't worried. He'd dealt with difficult personalities in his past life, and he was more than capable of handling this.
"Let's get moving," Bakugou growled, his usual scowl already in place. He wasn't exactly the type to make friends easily. His explosive quirk and hot-headed personality were well-known, but Jun wasn't about to be intimidated. After all, Bakugou might have raw power, but Jun had his own tricks up his sleeve.
The four of them were led to a section of the gymnasium where the rescue exercise had been set up. The mock city was an impressive sight—complete with towering buildings, narrow alleyways, and makeshift roads. The air was thick with the tension of the students as they looked over the terrain. The sound of footsteps echoed off the walls as Aizawa briefed them one last time.
"Your goal is to reach the civilian trapped in the building. You'll have to navigate through the city and avoid any obstacles, including the villains that will be sent your way. I'll be watching to ensure that no one gets seriously hurt. But remember, the objective is not just to win—it's to save as many lives as possible. You need to think about the bigger picture, not just your personal victories."
With that, Aizawa stepped back, his piercing gaze never leaving them. The students quickly began to disperse, getting into position and preparing themselves mentally for the test.
"Alright," Jun said, stepping forward and giving his team a glance. "Let's work together and do this efficiently. We don't need to fight for points or anything. We just need to save the civilian and get out of there."
Bakugou snorted. "Tch, you think this is gonna be easy?" His voice was filled with arrogance. "I don't need anyone's help. I'll get that civilian out myself."
Jun didn't flinch. He had already expected this kind of reaction from Bakugou. His explosive temper and need for personal glory were evident, but Jun wasn't about to let that derail their mission.
"Alright," Jun said calmly, "We need to move quickly and decisively. Midoriya, Jiro—do you have any ideas on how to approach this?"
Midoriya, ever the strategist, immediately started thinking aloud. "We could try to use the layout of the city to our advantage. I'm good at using my quirk for quick mobility, but if we can find a higher vantage point, we could figure out the best route to the civilian."
"I can provide support from above," Jun added. "I can use my quirk to transform parts of my body into various tools—like a sniper rifle, or I could create a shield if we run into trouble."
Jiro nodded thoughtfully. "I can help with sound amplification and stealth. I don't want to draw too much attention, but if we can figure out where the villains are, I can disorient them using my quirk."
Bakugou grunted. "Tch. Whatever. Just stay out of my way, nerds. I've got this."
Before anyone could respond to Bakugou's outburst, the exercise began. A loud siren blared, signaling the start of the operation. The mock city, once silent, now hummed with activity. The first obstacle appeared almost immediately—two simulated villains, armed with bladed weapons, charging toward them from the east side of the city.
Bakugou didn't waste a second. He immediately lunged forward, using his explosive quirk to launch himself toward the villains. His attacks were powerful and relentless, but Jun quickly realized that Bakugou was more interested in showing off than actually thinking through the strategy.
"Bakugou, wait!" Jun called, but it was too late. Bakugou was already mid-air, launching explosions at the villains. One of the villains managed to dodge the blast, but the other took the hit, crumpling to the ground.
Midoriya immediately moved into action, using his quirk to jump high into the air and survey the area. "There!" he yelled, pointing to a building on the far side of the city. "The civilian's trapped inside! But we'll need to go around the back to avoid getting caught in the crossfire!"
Jun nodded. "I'll cover you. Bakugou, hold off the rest of the villains!"
But Bakugou was already charging forward again, his temper flaring as he hurled explosion after explosion at the other villain. He wasn't listening to their plan, and that irritated Jun, but he knew they didn't have time to argue.
"Fine," Jun muttered. "I'll handle the support."
Without another word, Jun's body shifted into action. He reached out, extending his arm as his quirk activated. His fingers elongated and transformed into the sleek barrel of a machine gun. As he surveyed the area, he targeted the other villains coming their way, launching precise laser shots from his hand. Each shot hit its target with unerring accuracy, causing the simulated villains to fall one by one.
"Nice shot!" Jiro yelled, her voice filled with approval.
"Don't get distracted!" Jun snapped. "Midoriya, Jiro, move forward!"
The two of them rushed ahead, following the path Midoriya had scouted. Jun followed closely behind, ensuring no further threats approached. The building they were targeting was ahead now, and there were only a few more villains between them and their objective.
"Stay sharp!" Jun warned as the team approached the building's entrance. "We're almost there!"
Midoriya and Jiro nodded, ready for whatever was to come. But just as they reached the doorway, a larger group of villains appeared, cutting off their route.
Jun's eyes flashed with calculation. "I'll clear the path. Go ahead."
Bakugou was still engaged in his own fight with the earlier villains, but Jun wasn't concerned about him. He had his own job to do.
"Upgrade!" Jun muttered under his breath as his arm shifted, becoming a large bladed weapon. He dashed forward, cleaving through the nearest villain with a single swipe. The others hesitated for just a moment, unsure of the threat Jun posed.
In the ensuing chaos, the team moved forward, their mission clear. They had a civilian to rescue, and nothing would stand in their way.
The exercise was far from over, but Jun felt a small sense of satisfaction welling up inside him. Today, they weren't just competing against each other—they were learning what it truly meant to be a team.