Sentinel (BNHA x OC)

21: Ultimate Moves; Part 1: Class A

Before the new semester began, Class 1-A received an important announcement from their homeroom teacher, Aizawa. With a serious tone, he informed them that their Provisional Hero's License exam was approaching rapidly. This exam would determine whether they were ready to take on the responsibilities of being a hero in emergency situations.

"Naturally," Aizawa explained to his students, "the test is incredibly difficult. Even for provisional licenses, on average we see a fifty percent success rate."

"Even the provisional one's that hard to get?" Mineta exclaimed in disbelief.

"That's why, starting today," Aizawa continued, "each of you needs to come up with at least two..."

Suddenly, Ectoplasm, Cementoss, Midnight and Yaze entered the room and shouted in unison, "Ultimate Moves!!"

As the teachers filed in and stood behind Aizawa, the classroom erupted into cheers and excited chatter. "This is kinda like a school thing, but totally Hero-like at the same time!!"

"Ultimate Moves!" Ectoplasm explained. "These are your finishers. Your most unique techniques!"

"Internalize these moves. Make them your own until they become unparalleled." Cementoss added. "Combat is all about finding and making use of your particular strengths!"

"Your moves symbolize who you are!" Midnight concluded. "Nowadays, Pro Heroes without Ultimate Moves are a dying breed!"

"Let's move forward with a more detailed explanation and a practical demonstration," Aizawa instructed. "Change into your costumes. And meet us at Gym Gamma."

* * *

As the students entered Gym Gamma in their hero costumes, Cementoss explained the purpose of the building. "This is Gym Gamma. Also known as the Training Kitchen Lab. TKL for short! This facility was my idea. Here, I cook up the perfect terrain and objects to fit each student's needs. Hence, 'kitchen.'"

"I see..." Iida raised his hand excitedly. "May I ask a question?! Why must we create Ultimate Moves in order to acquire our Provisional Licenses? Please explain the intention behind such a requirement!"

"All in good time," Aizawa assured his student. "Calm down..."

"Heroes deal with accidents, catastrophes and disasters both natural and man-made." Aizawa explained. "It's our job to save people from just about any situation imaginable. In the licensing test, your ability to adapt in those situations will be observed, naturally. Intelligence gathering. Decision making. Mobility. Combat prowess. As well as communication skills. Charisma. Leadership abilities. The test contents vary from year to year, but applicants are always tested on a variety of criteria."

"Among the criteria," Midnight added. "You can be sure that combat prowess will be heavily prioritized for potential Heroes. Be prepared, and you've got nothing to fear! These moves could have a big impact on whether or not you pass."

Cementoss joined in with a friendly grin. "If you can keep a cool head and act with decisive, stable moves, that means you have a high level of combat prowess."

"There's nothing that says your Ultimate Moves must be an attack," Ectoplasm explained. "For example, take Iida's Recipro Burst. That sort of extreme speed boost on its own is intimidating enough to be called an Ultimate Move."

Iida shivered at his teacher's praise. "Is it... really suitable to be an Ultimate Move...?!"

"I get it..." Sato said. "So we gotta come up with with moves that'll give us a big advantage in battle."

"Yes! Remember how Kamui Woods showed his stuff last week?" Midnight asked. "His Lacquered Chain Prison is a cookie-cutter Ultimate Move. It's simple and easy to understand. He binds the opponent before they can do anything."