Teachers pet (COMPLETE)

Chapter 60: A Test of Strategy

Mailin’s POV

The large screen in front of us lights up, and my eyes are glued to it. Round 1 has just begun, and though I’m not in the first battle, the anticipation gnaws at me. I sit among my classmates who aren’t currently fighting, all of us bundled up in our winter costumes, waiting for our turn. For now, we watch as Team Asui—Tsuyu, Denki, Koji, Eijiro, and Hitoshi—face off against Class 1-B on the battlefield.

The screen displays Ground Gamma, a maze of pipes, platforms, and industrial obstacles. It’s the perfect setting for chaos. My breath catches as I watch Hitoshi Shinsou, dressed in his hero costume, standing among his new teammates. His expression is steely, and I can tell how much this moment means to him. This is his chance to prove himself in real combat with us, the Hero Course students.

"They didn't have much time to come up with a plan," I murmur to myself, eyes tracking the screen. Tsuyu suggests sticking together, and that seems like the smartest move—overwhelm Class 1-B with their numbers. But the tension in their group is palpable. Denki keeps talking about using his Electrification, but Eijiro questions what he'll do once he's alone. I frown, feeling the unease creep in. This isn't looking great so far.

The screen shows Koji's birds returning, and his intel is immediately crucial—Ibara Shiozaki from Class 1-B is closing in, using her Vine Quirk to probe the area around her. That Quirk is dangerous with its wide reach. It can immobilize them if they’re not careful.

I lean forward in my seat, my heart pounding, feeling like I’m right there with them.

"They're going to get ambushed," Momo mutters beside me, her voice tense. I glance at her, realizing she’s thinking the same thing as me—this feels too predictable.

Suddenly, a massive figure charges into view on the screen. It’s Jurota Shishida, transformed into his beast form. He slams into Eijiro and Tsuyu with terrifying speed, sending them crashing through nearby pipes. The impact looks brutal. I wince as I watch, knowing how much force Jurota’s Beast Quirk carries.

"They used Ibara as bait," I realize aloud, watching as Kosei Tsuburaba jumps onto the screen, trapping Koji in a Solid Air Prison before Denki can even think about using his Quirk. I clench my fists. That was clever—Class 1-B knew Koji would find them, so they set up a decoy with Ibara, leaving Jurota to ambush them.

"This is bad..." Izuku mumbles from across the room, his hands tightly gripping the seat in front of him. He’s right. They’re getting overwhelmed. I can’t help but feel nervous for them.

On the screen, Hitoshi tries to capitalize on the confusion, and for a moment, there’s hope. He uses his new Persona Cords to mimic Kosei’s voice, successfully brainwashing Jurota. I feel a surge of pride. He’s adapting quickly, even using the Binding Cloth like Aizawa-Sensei to try and restrain Jurota. But my stomach drops when Kosei quickly traps Hitoshi in another Air Prison and breaks Jurota out of the brainwashing.

"Come on, Hitoshi!" I whisper, urging him on, but my heart sinks when Jurota smacks Denki aside as if he weighs nothing.

"They're struggling," Ochaco says, her voice worried. I nod, not able to tear my eyes away from the screen as the battle intensifies.

Despite everything, Denki manages to shock Jurota before he’s thrown, giving Tsuyu just enough time to grab Kosei with her tongue and drag him back to the jail to eliminate him. At least there’s some hope. But Jurota is relentless, transforming back and forth between his beast form and normal state to avoid getting caught.

On screen, Eijiro and Koji are both captured by Class 1-B, leaving the score at 2-1 in favor of Class 1-B. My heart pounds as the camera shifts to Tsuyu and Denki, who manage to free Hitoshi from his air prison.

“They’re going to need to turn this around,” I mutter. Hitoshi apologizes for his lack of experience, but Tsuyu, ever calm and collected, reassures him that they all could’ve come up with a better plan. There’s no time for regrets, though, as they quickly devise a new strategy.

“They’re using Tsuyu’s mucus to mask their scents!” Izuku suddenly exclaims, piecing together what’s happening on screen. I glance at him as he explains how Tsuyu can secrete her own mucus to confuse their enemy’s senses. Sure enough, Jurota starts to look confused as he picks up three different Tsuyu scents.

“Smart,” I whisper, eyes wide. The plan is coming together.

With Denki’s Sharpshooting Gear, they track Jurota’s location. But Ibara isn’t about to let them have the upper hand—she sends out a wall of vines, her super move Via Dolorosa, aimed straight at them. Denki is captured and bound by Ibara’s Crucifixion Quirk just as he tries to strike back.

For a moment, my heart stops. It looks like Class 1-B has them completely cornered.

But then, the screen shifts to Hitoshi using his Persona Chords to brainwash Ibara, mimicking Hiryu’s voice. Denki had offered himself up as a decoy, and it worked. I can’t help but smile as I watch Tsuyu and Hitoshi execute their plan with precision.

“They’ve got them,” I say, a little louder now, excitement rising in my chest. Ibara is brainwashed, and Jurota, still paranoid from Hitoshi’s Quirk, refuses to communicate with his teammate. The team dynamic of Class 1-B is falling apart.

When Jurota finally tracks down Hitoshi, it looks like the match might turn back in Class 1-B’s favor. But Hitoshi, using his Binding Cloth, manages to drop a heavy pipe onto Jurota’s head. At the same time, Tsuyu throws Hiryu at Jurota, and the two collide, knocking each other out.

The room erupts in cheers as Hitoshi and Tsuyu drag the remaining members of Class 1-B to the jail, sealing the victory for Class 1-A.

---

After the Match

The screen goes dark, signaling the end of Round 1. We all sit back, a wave of relief washing over the room.

“That was close,” Momo comments, leaning back in her chair.

I nod, still processing everything I just watched. Hitoshi did better than I expected, given how little combat experience he has. There’s something undeniably impressive about how he turned the tide of the battle with his quick thinking.

"A 4-2 win for Class 1-A," Vlad King announces from the sidelines as the students on the field begin to regroup. The teachers step forward, already planning to give feedback.

On screen, Aizawa-Sensei watches over his students, his expression unreadable. I can’t help but wonder what he’s thinking. This was more than just a test for the rest of Class 1-A—it was a major test for Hitoshi.

---

Aizawa’s POV

I cross my arms as I watch Hitoshi. He’s done well, but there’s more for him to learn. He knows that. His use of the Persona Cords was impressive, and he’s already showing signs of understanding how to integrate himself into team dynamics. But this was just the first battle. There’s more to come.

“All Might” steps up beside me, his eyes gleaming with pride. “He’s got potential, Eraser. That kid really knows how to think on his feet.”

I nod. “He does. But there’s still a long way to go.”

I glance toward the screen, where the next round of students begins to prepare. This training isn’t just about winning—it’s about pushing everyone past their limits.