Villain Deku - Broken

Chapter 35 - The Provisional Hero License Exam Pt.3

BOOM!

An explosion rang out across the arena grounds, several audience members jumping slightly in shock.

"Aaah, about time," Deku said, yawning slightly as he removed the book from his face and turned his attention back to the test and its participants.

"Attention all heroes," the announcer began, any enthusiasm drained from his voice. "The villains who caused the terrorist attack have returned and are threatening to cause even more damage. Your job is to continue the excavation of innocent civilians whilst preventing the villains from performing any more criminal activity. Good luck." 

"Gang Orca, huh?" Deku said, noticing the Pro Hero walk into the arena, a large group of "minions" following behind him. "Good choice. He was voted No.3 in the recent "Heroes Who Look Like Villains Poll" He'll definitely inspire fear into the hearts of the heroes." Deku continued to mutter thoughts like this, causing Joke to turn around in concern.

"Aizawa, he isn't gonna blow up, right?" Joke asked, a half-smile plastered on her face.

"No, it's fine. It's just something he does." Aizawa didn't even turn to answer the question. "But this exam... it's extremely difficult, even for Pro Heroes like us."

"Agreed," Joke replied, a rare "serious look" on her face. "Most heroes would struggle to complete this task."

"Well of course they would," Deku interrupted. "That's the point."

"What?" Joke and Aizawa asked simultaneously.

Deku sighed in exasperation. "It's obvious when you think about it. All Might, the Symbol Of Peace, has stepped down from hero work, leaving a massive power vacuum. That vacuum isn't going to be filled overnight, so until that happens teamwork is going to be the main source of strength for the heroes of Japan. If everyone tries to fill the vacuum, we'll destroy ourselves, each other and everyone else."

Silence fell over the group. The kind of silence born of an uncomfortable truth hatching from the thoughts of its speaker, and raised by the acceptance and acknowledgement of all who heard it. This silence would remain for quite some time, poisoning the minds of all who had heard it, before being destroyed by Deku, who proclaimed, "And here is where Todoroki will fall."

"Huh?" Aizawa turned to face Deku. "Todoroki? How?"

"Earlier, when that Shiketsu boy introduced himself to 1-A, we caught a glimpse of his true colours when he saw Todoroki. His eyes were so full of hate I'm surprised no one other than Todoroki noticed it. There is a connection between those two that will drive them apart and make them incapable of cooperation. It is that disability that will result in their failure."

"What about Bakugo?" Joke asked. "You said both Todoroki and Bakugo would fail this exam. You've gone over why Todoroki will fail but what about Bakugo?"

"Oh Bakugo's just aggressive."

Aizawa and Joke paused for a moment. "Explain."

"A hero needs to not only be a pillar of strength but a pillar of support for his people." Deku spoke in an exasperated tone, amazed that he was having to explain this to a pair of Pro Heroes. "Whilst Bakugo more than checks the box for strength, his ability to support others needs some work. He's aggressive, loud and has a bad attitude which is only going to lose him points over the course of the exam."

The three instructors continued to observe the exam for some time, making the occasional note or observation, but never actually talking to each other. But when a tower of crimson heat erupted from the arena, that definitely sparked conversation between them.