37 Pep Talk

"Did your injuries increase?"

Because of the USJ incident, the school was given a day off but everybody showed up after that. Everybody had gotten closer because of this incident. Momo in particular was more interested in the bandages around my hands.

"Ever been stabbed by an angry vampire? Trust me, it's not fun."

Those words were spat out with hate.

"... You definitely did something wrong, didn't you?"

She had a pretty good grasp on my nature by now. But could she not accuse others like that? Especially since the person in question is hurt?

"It was a friend. I made her worry too much."

"And she stabbed you?"

Her expressions were covered in confusion. 

"Yep, that's how friends are."

"So I can stab you too?"

That was something that didn't need to be answered.

- Slide!

Thankfully, Aizawa entered the class, settling the children.

"Everybody, you might be at ease because of what you survived through. But it's not time to relax just yet."

He had a bad habit of tensing people up for something small.

"It's time for your first U.A. Sports Festival. It would be held at the end of the month so you guys better prepare youselves."

An irritating gaze was thrown at one side of the class. I was at the end of that gaze.

"Don't stare at me like that or I will blush, Aizawa-sensei."

The students felt slack-jawed at the '-sensei' part. I rarely ever called others by their names and now, I was adressing them politely? Something shady was going on in the shadows.

"Ha~ Unfortunately, the top student of the entrance exams has to give an opening speech at the festival."

"Oh~"

"This can't be good."

The students were all despairing. There was only one guy who could call their great hero, All Might, as 'Dental Ad'. And the same guy had to give an opening speech.

"Honestly, I want you to not say anything because even a faux speech wouldn't work. Just don't cause any legal problems, Anzai Masato."

Aizawa had a look of surrender on his face.

"But remember this thing. The festival will be broadcasted throughout the country so no pressure."

His sadistic smile was amazing. It reminded the students of another devil, sitting on the back row.

'Huh? Why are they looking at me?'

I tilted my head. I can understand them being grossed out by Aizawa's smile but why look at me?

"Oi, Exhibitionist, why are they looking at me?"

"... Can you please not call me that?"

"Huh? Don't be so shy. Be more proud of your taste."

Momo was really angry as she looked away, refusing to say anything else.

Soon, the classes ended and everybody started to leave. But there was a hold up at the entrance.

"Yo, Six-Arms, when do you want to train?"

"How's your leg?"

His glance was directed at the broken leg, which was perfect now.

"Eh~ It's a bit weak but it will probably get stronger as I kick you."

'I don't think that's a good thing. For me.'

Mezo gulped down his words and shook his head. He had decided to get stronger so he couldn't back down now.

To be fair, everybody in the class wanted to get stronger because of the recent fight. It wasn't he villains or the threat of death that pushed them. It was knowing that their classmate was way ahead of them.

They were thoroughly outclassed in their own class, even though they were supposed to be elites, who entered U.A. High. They felt incomparable to the real elites.

"Um... Could I join that training?"

Izuku spoke up, seeming a bit scared.

"You... Damn, I don't have a nickname for you. Wait, I got it. Jack!"

"Huh?! Why Jack!? There is no similarity between that name and me?"

Izuku was shocked about the strange way that my mind worked.

"It's a nickname. Don't worry about it, Jack. And you're welcome. Beating one guy alone would feel like bullying."

I pointed out the most important fact. Honestly, with the two of them, couldn't the weights be removed? It was 2-to-1 so weights weren't needed for a handicap.

"Could Ojiro-kun join too?"

It was surprising to see Mezo with a friend so I agreed.

"We can use the gym right now. I already have permission."

It was a small deal between Aizawa and me, which we pulled off during the lunch break. It included free training for me and more politeness and respect for him.

His reputation as a teacher couldn't be destroyed now, could it? Why else would I even call him sensei?

"Thank you."

Mashiro and Izuku expressed their gratitude as we walked towards the entrance to see the reason behind the hold-up.

"Hehe, is this Class A? Are they all arrogant, doesn't seem like much?"

"I heard they fought villains but this guy only seems arrogant."

A dark haired boy spoke up. If Aizawa wasn't married, one would mistake him for being Aizawa's son.

Shinso Hitoshi was one of the general course students. And behind him, there was Tetsutetsu.

Katsuki didn't get angry at their words and passed them by.

"Ahem! Ahem! I'm the person who's going to give the speech at the start!"

I proudly pointed that fact out but no one gave me any speck of attention.

- Pat!

"It's alright."

Mezo felt sorry for his friend and patted my shoulder.

"... Let's train."

I took out a key from my tracksuit, ready to beat-Ahem-train Mezo and the other 2.

Izuku and Mashiro just looked at each other, probably guessing what was coming next and sighed.

- Boom!

In the gym, the three of them were getting beat by me.

"Too slow, Tail."

I kicked the tail and the boy away. Before dodging an attack from Mezo. His limbs often provided him the opportunity to attack more than a normal human but...

Falling to my hands, I sweeped his legs before kicking his falling body away.

"You lack coordination between your limbs, Six-Arms."

Finally, Deku tried to attack from a blindspot, which I evaded. He fell forward and tried to kick me before the ground.

Jumping over his leg, I gave him an overhead kick.

At the end of an 2 hour session, those three were almost dead. So I started giving out advice. I started with Izuku, throwing a black watch with a single switch.

"You're just brute strength, Jack. You need more tactics and feints, basically learn boxing or something. Your base stats are as good as any strong teen but it won't do you any good to rely on it. Your quirk is volatile, right? Here, it's something that I came across."

Izuku took the watch from me and stared at me for an explanation.

"It's a [Quirk Inhibitor]. If you feel like you can't control your power anymore, just push the switch on that watch. It will stop the quirk for 5 minutes. Try to use your quirk more, don't control it. Just let it flow, Jack. When you feel like you are breaking, use the watch."

He didn't get the last part but he understood the rest of it.

"A-are you sure? Th-this seems like it's costly."

Honestly, it was just a reward from Muscular. 

"Hm~ How about this? If you come across anybody, who can't control their powers, give that watch to them since I'm too lazy to do that."

It would be useful for Eri since her quirk is almost uncontrollable.

"Six-Arms, you shouldn't create more limbs. Try and control those limbs. Unlike Jack, don't let the your power flow, bind it. As for the rest, you only lack experience and a fighting style. Learn grappling since you have so many arms."

Mezo nodded his head seriously.

"And you, Tail. Your quirk might seem weak but it's actually really strong. It can bend iron without any pressure. But when compared to that tail, your body fails. Here, have some [Pure Protein Powder]."

It was another reward from Muscular. Because of the recent 'Entrance Exam' and USJ incident, I got a lot of rewards from the system. It was fine to give away a few of them.

"Now, shall we continue our pep-talk?"

Since they had enough of rest, I took them for another round of beatings.

They swore that they would destroy my reign one day.... I just beat them harder for making me feel like I was a demon.

And so, two weeks passed by.

Izuku, Mezo and Mashiro were looking tired. But there was a strange feeling of confidence in them all.

"... Are you ready?"

Aizawa gave them a small glance and then looked at me.

"Never been better."

"No lawsuits, remember that."

"Now~ Do you really think I can say something that might get us sued?"

Aizawa took out a newsletter that said [Almight! The Hoarder of Tooth Pastes]. The source of this article was 'Anzai Masato'.

He clearly pointed at that source a few more times while glaring at me.

"Pfft!"

"Hahah!"

For some reason, the students of Class 1-A burst out laughing. All of them calmed down their tense nerves.

"Shall we go now?"

And with that, we all entered the stadium. Class 1-B was using another entrance but they were similarly nervous. General classes were also present but only the Hero Course was the main selling point of U.A. High., making them seem like some sort of side-characters.

"I'm winning this."

"I ain't gonna be beaten by you extras!"

"Hoo~"

"Darkness shall never fail me."

Izuku, Katsuki, Shoto and Fumikage all were prepared for war. While I was picking my nose. Among everybody present in this place, I was the only one picking my nose. And I felt proud about it. Like it was some sort of personal charm.