The Class That Cried Werewolf

45 - Do-or-Die Survival Training

-Tatsuya's POV-

With the Provisional License Exam looming, the intensity of our training ramped up, pushing us to our limits. Each session felt like a trial by fire, a crucible designed to forge us into the heroes we aspired to be. The weight of the upcoming test hung heavy in the air, a constant reminder that even the most talented among us could stumble and fail. The stakes were high—many good students failed the exam every year, and even the most minor mistakes could be the difference between passing and falling short.

And so, we trained relentlessly, honing our ultimate moves, refining new tricks, and pushing the boundaries of our Quirks. But no matter how hard we trained, there was still an element of the exam that left us on edge: rescue operations. It was an aspect we hadn't fully mastered yet, primarily because our previous exercise had always involved combat rather than saving lives.

That's why, when Mr. Aizawa called us into the homeroom today, I couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation. If the teachers had noticed this gap in our abilities, they may have had a plan to address it. We needed every edge we could get. As we took our seats, the room buzzed with quiet speculation, each of us wondering what was in store.

Mr. Aizawa's gaze swept over the class, his expression as unreadable as ever. "Here's a useful tip about the big exam..." he began, his voice steady and serious. "Most years, you must rescue someone from a pretend disaster, which can be difficult. So let's prepare for it."

The blackboard behind him lit up, displaying two lists of names in crisp white letters. Each of us leaned forward, eyes scanning the lists for our names.

"You'll be split into two teams of ten. Each group will complete a training exercise together," Mr. Aizawa explained, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

I glanced at the names on my list, trying to assess our potential. Hagakure, Jiro, Ashido, Sato, Sero, Aoyama, Ojiro, Shoji, and Mineta... We didn't have Todoroki's overwhelming firepower or Yaoyorozu's versatile creation ability, but we had our strengths. We just needed to figure out how to bring them together effectively. As I considered the challenge ahead, I felt a flicker of determination ignite within me. We could make this work—if we played to our strengths and covered each other's weaknesses.

As I was lost in thought, a subtle sensation crept over me, a feeling like someone was watching. I turned slightly, my gaze drifting toward my right. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the collar of Hagakure's uniform subtly shifting in Mr. Aizawa's direction. Obviously, I couldn't see her face, but the way her shirt moved suggested her attention was fixated on our teacher. She hadn't interacted with me much lately, and that lingering sense of distance gnawed at me. I had a hunch she was trying to avoid me, but I pushed the thought aside. Now wasn't the time for distractions.

"Now then..." His voice cut through the quiet, commanding our attention once more. "You'll begin your exercise immediately! Everyone, change into your costumes and regroup at Ground Beta!"

The room burst into motion as we scrambled to our feet, the urgency of the moment propelling us forward. There was no time to dwell on the what-ifs or to second-guess our abilities. We had to move, to prepare, to face whatever challenges awaited us at Ground Beta.

As I headed toward the locker room, the gravity of the situation settled over me like a heavy cloak. This was more than just another exercise—this was our chance to prove we were ready for the Provisional License Exam, and nothing less than our best would be enough.

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Before this, I had already made a trip to the development studio, seeking changes in my costume. After training with the Big Three, I understood how to refine my approach. The mask stayed the same, but the rest had evolved. Gone were the shirt and pants; in their place was a sleek, form-fitting bodysuit. The material hugged my frame, reinforced with cutting-edge fibers designed to withstand battle yet flexible enough to allow a full range of motion. The deep black fabric absorbed light, giving it an almost shadowy quality, while fur accents along the collar, top of the boots, and the end of my gloves added a primal edge.