Unravelling The Lies ( MHA fanfic )

Chapter 17: The Rules of Engagement

Class 1-A gathered at Ground Beta, the anticipation thick in the air. Each student was decked out in their hero costumes, ready to begin. Suzuha felt a mix of excitement and focus as she observed her classmates around her, particularly noticing how everyone's costumes seemed to reflect their unique personalities and Quirks.

All Might stepped forward, striking a pose as he addressed them, his voice booming with energy. "SHALL WE BEGIN, MY WARDS?! It's time for BATTLE TRAINING!"

A cheer went up from the class, and Suzuha adjusted her gloves, preparing herself mentally. She caught a snippet of conversation nearby, where Mina Ashido nudged Denki Kaminari, her eyes bright as she whispered, "Look at Suzuha's costume! It's so sleek and professional. She looks like she's already a pro!"

"Totally!" Denki replied, nodding with admiration. "It's like... superhero chic!"

Suzuha, hearing their remarks, felt a warm but restrained pride. *I'm glad they noticed it,* she thought, quickly turning her attention back to All Might as he continued.

"All right! We all here, then? LOOKING GOOD!" All Might's gaze swept over the class, but when he spotted Izuku Midoriya in his costume, he stifled a chuckle. The resemblance to a certain pro hero's headpiece didn't go unnoticed, and All Might struggled to keep a straight face.

"SENSEI!" Tenya Iida called out, raising his hand with characteristic formality. "This appears to be the same field used in the entrance exam. Will we once again be performing cityscape maneuvers?"

All Might straightened, flashing a grin. "NOPE! You'll be moving on to step two - INDOOR ANTI-PERSONNEL BATTLE TRAINING!"

The announcement drew murmurs of interest, and Suzuha's mind was already racing. This wasn't like the entrance exam-this was closer to real hero work, with far less predictable conditions.

"Villain battles are most commonly seen outdoors," All Might explained, "but statistically, the most heinous villains..." He paused, letting the tension build. "...are more likely to appear indoors. Between confinement, house arrest and black-market deals... the cleverest villains out there LURK INDOORS!"

The weight of his words settled over them. Suzuha's focus sharpened, realizing this exercise was more than just combat training; it was about preparing them for real-world situations where villains used tactics and strategy in confined spaces. *Indoor battles-this will be about control and strategy as much as power,* she thought.

All Might cleared his throat. "NOW, you'll be split into 'villain teams' and 'hero teams', and face off in 'two-on-two indoor battles' !"

"Wait," Tsuyu Asui interjected, her calm voice carrying over the murmurs. "So no basic training?"

"PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE TEACHES YOU THE BASICS!" All Might replied with a grin. "The distinction here is that you won't be fighting disposable robots."

At once, the class erupted with questions. Momo Yaoyorozu asked thoughtfully, "What determines victory?"

Katsuki Bakugo leaned forward, a dark grin spreading across his face. "So we can go all-out, right? No need to hold back?" His tone carried a disturbing edge, making Suzuha shiver slightly.

Ochaco gave Bakugo a wary glance, then quickly shifted her attention to All Might. "Sensei, are you going to expel us if we mess up, like Aizawa-sensei did?" she asked, her voice a little uncertain.

The questions came in a rush. Tenya asked about team divisions, clearly eager to get things in order, while Yuga Aoyama struck a dramatic pose, asking, "How fabulous is my cape?" with a glint in his eye.

All Might held up a hand, cringing slightly. "ONE AT A TIME! MY QUIRK ISN'T SUPER-HEARING!"

When the class quieted down, All Might pulled out a small piece of paper, raising it dramatically. "LISTEN UP! HERE'S THE DEAL. The villains will be hiding a nuclear weapon in the hideout. Heroes, your job is to enter and secure it! The heroes have a limited amount of time to either capture the villains or secure the weapon. Villains, your goal is to either capture the heroes or protect the weapon until the time is up."

Suzuha's brow furrowed slightly as she jotted down notes. She couldn't help but wonder if All Might was improvising some of these details as he went, which made her smile slightly despite the high stakes.

To add to the excitement, All Might held up a box. "We'll draw lots to determine your teams and roles. Once the teams are set, you'll have a few minutes to strategize before we begin. Be sure to use this time wisely."

A murmur of surprise rippled through the class. Tenya's hand shot up, his face a mix of shock and confusion. "But... Sensei, are you certain that's the best way to form teams?"

Izuku gave a thoughtful nod beside him. "It does make sense, though. Heroes often have to team up with others from different agencies during emergencies."

Tenya's eyes widened as he processed this, his demeanor shifting to an apologetic one. "I see... My apologies for getting ahead of myself... My mistake!"

With their questions answered, the class lined up to draw their lots. Suzuha's mind was a whirlwind of strategies and possibilities, analyzing how she could best contribute regardless of her role. Gripping the cuffs of her costume, she adjusted her gloves, mentally preparing herself for any role that might come her way.

When her turn came, she reached into the box, her fingers brushing against the folded paper. She pulled it out, feeling a surge of anticipation as she closed her hand around it. This is my chance to prove my skill, she thought, her heart steady with resolve.

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