Our Darkest Hours

Practice Time

"The hero team wins!" All Might's voice boomed through the PA system. "Please untie your classmates and return for your rating." 

"Sophia, that was awesome!" Kiri yelled. "I didn't know you could do that!"

"I- I didn't know either," Sophia admitted sheepishly. "I was actually really confused once the tape changed."

"It sure didn't look like it," Mina chimed from below them, reminding the two that they had people to untie. Kirishima ran to help Denki, apologizing for not coming sooner.

"It's fine, man," Denki said. "It's not your fault we got our buts handed to us. Especially by a cutie." Sophia rolls her eyes at his flirting, not as uneasy as with Mineta.

"Sorry dude; You aren't my type," Denki groaned as Kiri finally got the tape off of his former opponent. 

"Man, and I was looking forward to taking you on a date." Sophia laughed at his whiny tone.

"How about a compromise? Keep the flirting to a minimum and we can hang out."

"Really?!" he asked, cheering up immediately. When she finished with Mina and nodded towards him, he ran to hug her, shocking her slightly. "Thank you! You won't regret being my friend."

"I hope I don't," she said, punching his arm letting sparks of yellow electricity fly out a little.

"Yeah, but I may win you over one day. I am very daring and dashing." He was doing a silly pose, one you would see an actor portraying nobility would do. Sophia and Kiri chuckled smally, but Mina outright laughed.

"More like shocked and dumb," she said.

"Hey!"

"I like that you all are getting along, as heroes should do, but please come back to surveillance room for your feedback," All Might said, less patiently this time.

"Yes Sir!" the group said in unison.

"Fun's over, I guess," Denki said. Sophia punched him in the arm again with a playful smirk.

"Race ya! Last one there has to buy the others lunch!" She took off, getting a head start. "And no quirks!" Kirishima and Mina accepted the challenge in full, but Denki was worried that he'd be paying everything, so he did his best to keep up.

. . .

"Aw man, I lost," Kirishima said breathlessly from the door. In fact all four of them were breathless. It was one thing to do a sprint, but another to do it going downstairs without falling. Denki and Sophia both did but both Mina and Kiri helped them up.

"Yes! I don't have to buy lunch!" Denki exclaimed. All Might chuckled at the group as they took their places.

"Alright you four, calm down," he said as the others laughed at Denki's outburst. "Now, the rest of you- who do you think did the best." Ojiro raised his hand. All Might gestured for him to speak.

"Honestly, I think Sophia did," he said. That surprised her, as well as Bakugou who was watching her from his position. Everyone else was as well. 

"Why?" She asked. "I didn't do anything special."

"I must agree with Ojiro," All Might said as he smiled at her. Did ever stop? "You took the initiative, leading Kirishima out of traps and made yours work. You covered every base that you could and knew your quirk well enough to know you needed to be the distraction instead of the aggressor. And when your quirk did something unexpected, you kept on going."

Sophia blushed at the compliment and made to dissuede any others, but the whole class (including Bakugou and All Might himself) ganged up on her. 

"Guys!" She yelled, shutting everyone up. "Really, it's not like I suddenly came up with this on my own. I was taught-" she stopped. Her mouth pressed in a fine line and she backed towards the door. She felt the emotions in the room change in an instant. Worry and confusion flooded her senses, causing her anxiety at the situation to heighten.