Daily Meme Here
There will be a second chapter today!
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Ryukyu checked her watch. "We're taking a break. Then we move to the next phase."
I leaned against the wall. "Which is?"
"Decision-making."
Mirko stretched her arms. "Alright, time to see if you've got more than just fast feet and a big mouth."
Ryukyu set down her tablet. "We'll be running scenario drills. You'll be given different situations, and we'll see how you respond."
I cracked my knuckles. "So, choose between 'punch the problem' or 'punch the problem really hard?'"
Ryukyu ignored me. "First test—hostage situation. You walk into a robbery in progress. Two armed suspects, one civilian tied up. The criminals haven't noticed you yet. What do you do?"
Mirko grinned. "And no, 'hit them really fast' isn't a strategy."
I scratched my chin. "How close am I?"
"Twenty feet. You have cover."
I nodded. "Alright. First, I check for exits. If they're too close to the hostage, I don't rush in. I make noise, draw their attention, get them to move away."
Ryukyu nodded. "And if they don't?"
"Then I get creative." I pointed at Mirko. "You like breaking things, right?"
She smirked. "Obviously."
"Then I do the opposite. Controlled destruction. Knock something over, make it sound like reinforcements are coming. If that doesn't work, I talk. Keep them focused on me."
"And if that doesn't work?" Ryukyu asked.
I tapped my bat. "Then I hit them really fast."
Mirko snorted. "See? That's a strategy."
Ryukyu sighed. "Alright, next. Civilian caught in crossfire. You have seconds to react."
"Throw something heavy at the attacker, make them flinch. If I can't, I take the hit for the civilian."
Ryukyu glanced at Mirko. "That's one way."
Mirko shrugged. "Not the worst choice."
Ryukyu checked her tablet. "Next is a more complicated scenario."
The screen lit up with a detailed breakdown—hostages, multiple armed suspects, environmental hazards, and zero backup. A lose-lose setup.
The screen displayed a simulated hostage situation. The details were stacked against me.
Scenario:
Location: Abandoned multi-story office building, partially collapsed. Weak floors, exposed wiring, and unstable debris everywhere.
Hostiles: Five armed suspects, each stationed in different rooms. Two near windows, one on an upper floor, one watching the stairs, and the last moving between them.
Hostages: Three civilians tied up in the center of the second floor. One injured.
Time Limit: No reinforcements. No outside help. If you don't act fast, the hostages would be executed.
Complication: Electricity flickering, meaning the whole place could go dark at any second. Also, unknown security measures.
Ryukyu crossed her arms. "Alright, Midoriya. How do you handle this?"
Mirko smirked. "No backup, no mercy. Let's see what you got."
No clean entry. No guarantee I could take out all five before one of them panicked and shot a hostage. No way to control the battlefield without more information.
I glanced at the map. No proper ventilation shafts to sneak through. Main entrance was suicide. Back door led into an area with too much open space—anyone going through would get gunned down.
I tapped my fingers against my bat. "Alright. First move—I need more info. Who's leading them?"
Ryukyu shook her head. "You don't get to know."
Mirko grinned. "You gotta figure that out yourself."
So that meant there was a leader. Someone in charge of the others. If I took them out first, maybe the rest would hesitate. But that only worked if they weren't the type to go berserk without orders.
And normal heroes had no way of knowing which type they were.
I stared at the setup. No reinforcements. No guarantees. Just me, five hostiles, and three people who would die if I picked wrong.
How the hell was I gonna do this?
No good angles. No way to control the flow. No guarantee I could stop the hostages from getting hurt.
"This setup's bullshit," I said.
"Welcome to reality," Ryukyu replied.
Mirko leaned in. "C'mon, kid. No plans?"
"I could make one," I said. "But I would be guessing half the time. And guessing's the worst thing you can do in a real fight."
Ryukyu nodded. "Exactly. A bad read can get someone killed."
"Unless I'm good at it."
She gave me a look. "No one's that good."
I smirked. "I am."
Mirko crossed her arms. "Big claim. You gonna back it up?"
"Give me a test."
Ryukyu raised a brow. "What kind?"
"Bring out some of your sidekicks. I'll guess their quirks and skills just by looking at them."
Mirko grinned. "Oh, this I gotta see."
Ryukyu sighed but gestured to the side. A few seconds later, the door opened, and three pro hero sidekicks stepped in.
"Alright, hotshot," Mirko said. "What do you see? Good thing Nejire is not here. She is too easy to read."
Target: Sidekick #1
Quirk: Shadow Bind – Can extend his shadow to immobilize opponents. (Shikamaru is that you?)
Strength: 97
Agility: 103
Intelligence: 85
Charisma: 6
Luck: 10
Traits:
Patience is Key: Prefers ambush tactics.
Tunnel Vision: Too focused on securing a target, forgets his own positioning.
Target 2:Sidekick #2
Quirk: Elasticity (Body or certain parts stretch and absorb impact)
Strength: 135
Agility: 80
Intelligence: 64
Charisma: 9
Luck: 12
Traits:
Shock Absorption Lite – Can lessen damage but not negate it.
Gym Rat – Stronger than he looks, lives in the weight room.
Boring as Hell – Probably talks about workout routines too much.
Target 3: Sidekick #3
Quirk: Metallic Coating (Can reinforce parts of her body with a thin layer of metal)
Strength: 99
Agility: 65
Intelligence: 60
Charisma: 13
Luck: 11
Traits:
Steel Grip – Stronger grip when quirk is active.
Flex Mentality – Tends to overestimate her own durability.
Stylish Bastard – Probably spends way too much money on hero costumes.
I grinned. 'Time to bullshit.'
The three sidekicks stood in front of me, waiting. They didn't introduce themselves, no name tags, no context. Just three pros expecting me to figure them out like I had some secret insight. Joke's on them—I didn't need insight. Just confidence and a good guess, and of course system.
I took one step forward, hands in my pockets, eyes flicking over them like I actually had a plan.
The first guy stood stiff, back straight, arms crossed, trying too hard to look unreadable. His boots were scuffed, but only on the sides—not the toes, not the heels.
"Alright, you," I pointed at him. "You like to work in the dark, don't you? And I don't mean metaphorically. Your stance says control freak, but your boots say you spend more time moving sideways than forward. Which means you don't lead, you corner. Probably an ambush-type quirk. You don't fight head-on, you wait for openings."
He didn't react, but Mirko grinned.
The second guy was bulkier, standing like a gym bro waiting for someone to ask him how much he benches. His sleeves were stretched tight at the seams—someone who relied on strength. The fabric was worn down in specific places, but not from stress—elasticity. Stretched too often.
"You," I pointed next. "Big guy, stretchy quirk. Partial or full body? No, don't tell me, let me keep pretending I know what I'm talking about. You tank hits, don't you? You let people waste their energy swinging at you because you can absorb the impact. Probably the type who underestimates fast opponents, though."
He narrowed his eyes. Bingo.
The last one was a woman, arms crossed, watching with a smirk. Too calm. Her jacket had extra padding in the shoulders, but the sleeves were thinner—because she didn't need extra defense on her arms. The gloves were reinforced, though. Not just for show.
"And you," I said, tilting my head. "You're used to close combat, but you don't rely on raw strength. Hardening quirk? Metal quirk? Partial armor, maybe? You go for clinches, grapples, wrist control. I would bet money you have an ego about your durability, but if someone actually tested it, you would be in trouble."
The smirk dropped slightly.
Mirko barked a laugh. "Oh, I like this kid more and more."
Ryukyu checked her tablet. "That was surprisingly accurate."
I shoved my hands back in my pockets. "Surprising? I'm hurt. That was pure skill."
The shadow user exhaled through his nose. "Lucky guesses."
I waved him off. "It is not lucky guesses. My Luck stat is literally one."
They all stared.
"What now?" Ryukyu asked.
I shrugged. "Nothing. Well, I can guess because it is part of my Quirk."
Ryukyu squinted. "Really? U.A. did not state you had such an ability."
I nodded. "It is not an ability, so I did not register it. I read people easily, as if information comes to me. But it is not something tangible or something I can easily prove. I might just know these dudes. They are pro heroes, after all."
The sidekicks looked at each other.
"Alright," the shadow guy said. "Then what do you get from her?" He pointed at Mirko.
I turned to her. "Oh, that is easy. Likes fighting, hates standing still, gets bored fast. Probably sucks at paperwork. Has no patience for stealth. Probably stronger than she realizes, so she breaks shit even when she does not mean to. And," I paused, "eats like a starving wolf."
Mirko grinned. "Damn right."
Ryukyu sighed. "That was not a challenge."
"It kind of was," I said.
Ryukyu ignored me. "Alright. Next phase. We run a simulation drill, and you apply what you just did in a practical setting."
Mirko cracked her knuckles. "That means we get to hit him again, right?"
Ryukyu pinched the bridge of her nose. "You do not have to hit him."
"I feel like I do."
"Try to restrain yourself."
"No promises.
The sidekicks moved to set up the training area. Ryukyu pulled out a tablet and tapped the screen. A holographic layout of a building appeared, showing different rooms, possible threats, and various civilian placements.
"You are tasked with securing this location," Ryukyu explained. "You do not know how many hostiles are inside. You do not know their quirks. There are civilians involved. You need to assess, engage, and neutralize threats while minimizing collateral."
"Sounds simple," I said.
"It is not."
Mirko stepped in. "And to make things more fun, I am gonna be one of the hostiles."
Ryukyu glanced at her. "You were not supposed to say that."
Mirko grinned. "Oops."
"Of course," I muttered.
The training area reset, the layout shifting as barriers and props adjusted to form a makeshift building interior. The sidekicks moved into position, taking their roles. Ryukyu set a countdown.
"Five minutes to plan. Then you go in."
I exhaled, staring at the layout. The easiest way in was through the front. Which meant it was probably trapped. Side entrance was tighter, harder to move, but easier to clear. Windows were possible, but I did not know what was on the other side.
"Alright," I said. "Let us do this."
The timer hit zero. The doors unlocked.
I stepped inside. Here comes pain.
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Friends, Readers, Countrymen—
LEND ME YOUR STONES!
I come not to guilt-trip you (I absolutely do),
But to remind thee,
What light through yonder notification breaks?
'Tis the Power Stone button. And it beckons.
Deny it, and you doom me to obscurity.
Click it, and all the world shall say:
"Alas, that was peak fiction."
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