Amethyst. (Katsuki Bakugo x Reader)

PART 27 - The Balance Between Ember and Ice

Now then. Let's begin the last test." Aizawa stood before us, the entire UA faculty lined up behind him. "Remember, it's possible to fail this final. If you wanna go to summer camp, then don't make any stupid mistakes." His tone was, as always, pure sunshine — heavy monotone lacing every word.

I glanced around at my classmates, each of them in their hero costumes, ready for the practical exam. It made sense — after all, this was a practical test — but something felt... different. This wouldn't be the usual training session. I could feel it in my gut.

"I expect many of you gathered information and believe you've some idea of what you'll be faced with today," Aizawa continued, his scarf gently swaying in the light breeze.

"We're fightin' those big ol' metal robots!" Denki declared, practically bouncing with excitement. He wore his signature black and yellow hero suit, the metallic details gleaming under the sun. A wide grin stretched across his face as if he was about to head into a festival instead of a final exam.

Mina stood between Denki and me, her black and pink acid-proof suit perfectly hugging her form, complete with sharp knee pads and a pair of stylish goggles resting atop her fluffy pink hair. "Fireworks! S'mores!" she chimed in, her voice high with excitement. She hooked her arms through mine and Denki's. "Here we come, camp!"

I couldn't help but smile, their energy infectious, though I'd never admit that out loud. If they were right, this would be a walk in the park. The last time we faced those robots — at the entrance exam and during the Sports Festival — they'd been easy to take down.

But my gut told me otherwise.

I glanced over at Midoriya, his green curls bouncing slightly as he shifted his weight nervously. Determination lit up his eyes despite the anxiety written across his face.

"Actually, this year's test will be completely different, for various reasons," Principal Nezu announced, leaping onto Aizawa's scarf, his tiny paws clutching the fabric as he perched expertly.

Damn it. Why do I've to be right?

"You're changing things?" Momo asked, unease flickering across her face.

Nezu climbed down Aizawa's scarf with surprising grace, landing effortlessly on his paws. "The tests now have a new focus. There will be hero work, of course," he explained, his beady eyes glinting with excitement. "But also teamwork and combat against actual people."

He beamed at us. "You students will be working together in pairs, and your opponents will be one of our esteemed UA teachers!"

The class erupted in shock. Ochaco's voice cut through the chatter. "We're... fighting the teachers?"

So, that's the twist. Not bad. This could be helpful... or disastrous. Depends on the pairings and who we're up against.

"Additionally, your partners and your opponents have already been chosen," Aizawa stated. "They were determined at my discretion based on various factors — fighting style, grades, and interpersonal relationships."

Makes sense. Aizawa is our teacher — he knows us best. If we had chosen our own partners, we probably would've picked people we get along with and teachers we could easily overpower with our quirks. Shoto's and my quirks are pretty similar; pairing us doesn't seem logical. Besides, we're just starting to understand each other better — we're far from being a solid team.

My eyes wandered to Katsuki, his sharp silhouette instantly recognizable. His hero costume — black with bold orange accents — was as striking as ever, the grenade-shaped gauntlets glinting under the sunlight. The familiar scowl sat firmly on his face, jaw tense as always. I caught myself staring for a second too long before quickly shaking my head.

Best Jeanist had told Aizawa that Katsuki was my "anchor," something I still deny. But since the internship, we've learned each other's strengths and weaknesses. Teaming up could make it too easy to win — though with our teamwork issues, maybe not.