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"Are we sure we want to go with this pair?" All Might asked, sweat gathering at his brow as he looked at the other teachers gathered in the room.

"Yeah, isn't that a little harsh? They clearly don't get along, this will likely only lead to more conflict." Midnight hummed eyes boring into Aizawa's as she spoke.

"Are you sure about this Shouta? You know how Mineta behaves towards people like us." Yamada had seen the fear in the boy's eyes every time he entered the classroom. The hatred in his gaze every time Kirito so much as breathed in his direction. "Izuku isn't going to appreciate this either."

"That's exactly why I put them together. I'm giving Mineta one last chance to shape up. If his prejudice remains as it is, then I don't see how he can keep his place in this school." Aizawa explained solemnly, looking to the principal for support.

"I agrees with Aizawa-san on this, Mineta-kun's future will likely be decided depending on his behavior in this exam. Trusting your comrades and in this case, your classmates, is essential in this line of work. He will need to learn to overcome his bigotry, as there is no place for discrimination here at UA." They all nodded at that, knowing the reality in those words.

"And do we all agree on the teacher selection?" Eraserhead continued, eyeing the file in front of him. This fight will at least be interesting, he supposed. At the affirmative nods he got, he switched to the next student. "Now for Todoroki's-"

The rest of their evening went by in a similar fashion, as they prepared for this year's final exams.

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The class buzzed with anticipation, the air thick with the weight of impending trials as they stood in front of ground beta. Izuku stood, his gaze fixed on the grey concreate floor, lost in a world of swirling thoughts. The prospect of the final exam loomed like a mountain, daunting yet surmountable.

Aizawa's monotone voice sliced through the tension, drawing Izuku's attention to the front of the group. Eraserhead stood, his eyes half-lidded but sharp, a testament to his unwavering vigilance. Beside him were the other UA instructors, their presence adding gravity to the occasion. This was going to be fun, he hoped.

"The final exam will be a test of teamwork and strategy," Aizawa began, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. "You'll be paired up for 2-on-1 battles against the teachers. Your goal is to incapacitate us or escape through the gate."

Izuku's heart skipped a beat as the realization sank in. Aizawa began listing the teams and their opponents one by one. His eyes widened in disbelief when Aizawa finally got to him, "Midoriya, you'll be paired with Mineta against Snipe."

A hush fell over the room, broken only by Mineta's audible gasp. Everyone was well aware of Mineta's hatred towards him and others like him. He glanced to the right, catching a glimpse of shock etched upon the boy's features, quickly morphing into something darker.

The boy's eyes narrowed, his lips contorted into a scowl. The disdain in his gaze was palpable, a venomous mixture of contempt and fear directed squarely at Izuku. His voice trembled with an undercurrent of rage. "Him? Why do I have to team up with a freak like him?"

Izuku's chest tightened at the hostility, the weight of Mineta's words hitting him like a physical blow. He could feel the weight of prejudice and unfounded accusations in Mineta's gaze, a judgment based solely on his status as an SAO survivor.

Aizawa's stern gaze flickered between the two, but his expression remained impassive. "This is the pairing for the exam. Deal with it and focus on strategizing. You both have the potential to complement each other." He could feel the heat directed at Mineta in the man's stare, clearly wanting to say more but refraining himself for some reason. He could feel Yashi stiffening from his place a little further away.