MHA Rewrite: Plus Ultra

Scene: Monitor Room All Might's voice fades from the speakers. On the screen below, Midoriya collapses. Silence fills the room. All Might's hand lingers on the console button. Momo steps forward. "Sensei!" Her tone is pleading. All Might does not move. For a moment, no one else reacts. Students glance at one another, unsure what to do. Momo's eyes flick back to the monitor. She straightens and turns to the other students. "Please—can someone go get Recovery Girl-sensei?!" Kirishima shoots out of his seat. "I'll go!" He bolts toward the door. "Me too!" Kaminari scrambles up after him. "Don't." All Might's voice cuts through the room. The two boys freeze. All Might lowers his hand to the console. "There is no need." He presses another button. Below, two small medical transport robots roll onto the training floor. Transpo-Bot A: "Two patients detected. Preparing transport. Destination: nurse's office." Transpo-Bot B: "I know." Momo looks at All Might, brows furrowed in confusion and concern. "All Might-sensei... why did you allow that to happen?" All Might turns slightly toward her. For a moment, he says nothing. His gaze shifts back to the screen below, where the medical bots are loading Midoriya onto the stretcher. "...Because," he says quietly, "this was the moment the exercise became real." The room stills. "All of you just witnessed something important," All Might continues. "Villains do not fight fairly. They do not follow rules." He pauses. "And when a hero is cornered..." His eyes narrow slightly. "...they must decide how far they are willing to go." All Might turns back toward the class. "Reflect for a moment. Was what Young Midoriya did correct? Was it justified?" His gaze sweeps across the room. "And if you were in his position—when an innocent life is on the line—how would you respond?" No one answers. Momo lowers her gaze, her brows knitting together. "I... I don't know..." All Might nods slowly. "Unfortunately, there is no clear-cut answer." He glances back toward the screen. "Midoriya saved Uraraka..." A pause. "...but at what cost?" Students exchange uneasy looks. No one speaks. All Might watches the monitor for a moment longer. Then he exhales. "...That will be all for today." Students look up in surprise. "We will resume combat training another day." For a moment, All Might says nothing. But his thoughts— Well done, kid... —— Scene: Training Building The medical bots secure Midoriya onto the stretcher. Transpo-Bot A: "Patient secured." Transpo-Bot B: "I know." The stretcher begins rolling toward the exit. Uraraka remains on her knees where Iida released her. Her hands tremble against the concrete. "...Deku..." The stretcher disappears down the corridor. For a moment, the room is quiet. Then Uraraka's shoulders begin to shake. "I'm sorry..." Beside her, Iida stiffens. For a moment he hesitates. Slowly, he reaches up and removes his helmet. He tucks it under his arm. Then he kneels beside her. "Uraraka-san... please do not blame yourself." His voice is firm, though strained. "This outcome was the result of my decisions." Iida lowers his head slightly. "Forgive me." Uraraka just continues to cry. Across the room— Bakugo lies on his back. His head is slightly embedded in the cracked concrete where Izuku slammed him down. His eyes are open. His mouth hangs slightly open as well. He stares blankly at the ceiling. ...I lost. Faint voices. Distant. Like something drifting up from underwater. Kid Izuku: Wow, you're so lucky! Your Quirk is amazing, Kacchan! When I get mine, I hope it's just as cool! Kid Bakugo: Whatever, Deku! No matter what power you end up with... you'll never be able to beat me! Bakugo's fingers twitch weakly against the floor. He's just a Quirkless loser... His teeth clench faintly. He can't beat me...! Bakugo's eyes slowly widen. Images slam through his mind— Midoriya at the Quirk Aptitude Test. Standing at the top of the rankings. Another— Midoriya charging at the Sludge Villain. Dragging him out of its grip. Another— Midoriya pinning him to the floor. Holding him hostage. Another— Midoriya's fist landing a clean hit on Bakugo for the first time. Another— The final blow. Midoriya's fist driving his head straight into the concrete. THUD. Bakugo's fingers twitch against the floor. Again...! His teeth grind faintly. How does he keep doing it... again?! Bakugo's mouth begins to tremble. A memory surfaces. A riverbank. Two children racing along the dirt path. Kid Bakugo sprints ahead. He glances back with a grin. For a moment— He's winning. Then— Kid Izuku pulls past him. Bakugo's grin falters. Kid Izuku glances back. He smiles. Then keeps running. Bakugo pushes harder. Faster. Trying to catch up. Kid Izuku keeps running. And as Bakugo chases him— The boy begins to change. Kid Izuku becomes middle school Izuku. Then— Hero costume. Midoriya running ahead. Further. Further. Bakugo reaches out— But the distance keeps growing. He can't close it. A flash— A hospital room. Izuku sitting on the bed. Bandaged. Bakugo's mother standing beside him. Her mouth moves.  Saying those words. Back in the training building— Tears fill Bakugo's eyes Deku... surpassed me. ... Class 1-A walks out onto the training floor of Ground Beta. For once, no one is talking. Then they stop. Ahead of them— Medical transport bots roll across the floor, pushing a stretcher. Bakugo lies on it, unconscious, dry tear marks. His hand is wrapped in a temporary brace. His broken fingers are stiff and swollen. Several students stare. Kirishima exhales. "...Damn." Transpo-Bot A: Please clear path. Patient transport in progress. Transpo-Bot B: They know. The bots roll past them, carrying Bakugo toward the exit tunnel. Uraraka steps out of the training building. Iida follows a few steps behind her. Uraraka hugs herself as she walks, sniffling, her head lowered. Momo's expression tightens with concern. "Uraraka-san... are you alright?" Uraraka doesn't answer. She walks past them. Past everyone. And keeps going. Leaving Ground Beta. Mina frowns. She quickly hurries after her. Momo turns her attention to Iida. "Are you alright, Iida-san?" Iida's face tightens with regret. "...I was too careless." Jiro tilts her head. "What? You were fine. You were just playing your role." Asui ribbits softly. "No one could have predicted Midoriya would do that." Kaminari nods. "Yeah, man. Don't beat yourself up." Iida's hands clench into fists. "No." His voice hardens. "The fault lies with me." He lowers his head slightly. "I underestimated how far Midoriya was willing to go... To think he would go that far.." Kirishima shakes his head. "...That wasn't manly at all." Kaminari rubs the back of his neck, eyes looking elsewhere. "Well... honestly, I might've done the same thing." Several students stare at him. Jiro blinks. "...What?" Kaminari panics, raising his hands defensively. "I-I mean—yeah! I totally agree Midoriya went too far...!" He forces a laugh.  "...But he didn't really have another option, right? And he did save Uraraka, so—" "Be quiet." Kaminari stiffens. Iida's voice cuts through the air. He frowns.  "What Midoriya did was unacceptable... whether this was a simulation or not." His voice tightens. "Heroes are meant to embody peace, justice... and restraint." His fists clench. "If we abandon that—" A brief pause. "—then we are no better than villains." Silence. Kaminari shifts uncomfortably. "Right..." Sero scratches the back of his head. "...I get what you're saying, Iida-san." He hesitates. "But I still think Midoriya made the right call." Iida frowns at Sero. Jiro looks surprised. "Eh?! You too?!" Sero shrugs. "...All Might asked what we'd do in Midoriya's position, right?" He hesitates. "I mean, yeah... I'd restrain Bakugo first with my Quirk. But after that... what would I do to save Uraraka?" He exhales. "I honestly don't know." A pause. "...And I kept thinking—what if Uraraka was a real civilian? Or someone I cared about?" His expression tightens slightly. "And Bakugo was an actual villain..." He looks down. Another shrug. "A few broken fingers doesn't feel like that bad of a trade-off." Iida takes a step forward. "That is precisely the problem!" His voice sharpens. "Had I been a true villain, Midoriya would not have relied on my sense of morality to stop him!" His fists clench. "In a real hostage situation, you stall for time until reinforcements arrive! You do not take everything upon yourself and choose the quickest, most extreme option simply because it is convenient!" Sero frowns slightly. "But this wasn't a real hostage situation, right?" He gestures lightly. "There was no backup - any time Midoriya wastes is just another point for you." Iida's expression sharpens. "So in pursuit of points, you would abandon what it means to be a hero?!" The words leave his mouth— And he flinches. A flash— The entrance exam. Uraraka trapped beneath the rubble. Iida turning away. No rescue points. Midoriya running past him— Without hesitation. The memory snaps. Iida clicks his tongue. "...Tsk!" Asui ribbits softly. "I'm with Hanta-san. Given the situation, Midoriya didn't really have another option. And if it had been real and there was no backup... he'd have even fewer options."  Iida glances at her, eyes flashing with frustration. Sato crosses his arms, eyes closed. "Mmm... that makes sense. It was extreme—but necessary." Hagakure tilts her head. "So like... whatever it takes to win, right?" Tokoyami's gaze darkens slightly. "There is a darkness that resides within every man." A pause. "True strength lies in mastering it... not being consumed by it." His eyes close. "Midoriya was not consumed by his." Mineta stares, mouth hanging open. "You guys are all insane..." Kirishima steps forward, jaw tight. "Yeah! You can't just torture someone and still call yourself a hero!" Jiro snaps back. "Are you even hearing yourselves? He broke Bakugo's fingers!" Kaminari straightens, emboldened, smiling. "Ah! So if Bakugo was some random villain, you'd be okay with that." Jiro's eyes narrow. "Hah?" Kaminari flinches. "Eek! Never mind..." Ojiro frowns, crossing his arms. "Midoriya should've accepted the loss..."  Shoji nods. "That would've been the more mature choice." The tension spikes. Voices start to overlap.  Koda shifts forward, raising his hands hesitantly. A small, wordless plea. No one notices. The argument continues. Iida breathes, clearly agitated. He prepares to shout. "All of you are—!" "Iida-san..." Momo places a hand on his shoulder. She shakes her head. Iida clenches his teeth. His body slowly relaxes. Silence hangs— Then— Todoroki speaks. "...You're all wrong." The class stills. They turn to him. His gaze remains distant. Hands in his pockets. "This isn't about whether Midoriya was right or wrong." A pause. "It's about what kind of hero that choice creates." Silence. "...Would you trust him to save you?" No one answers. His gaze doesn't shift. "Or would you hesitate... and wish someone else came instead?" A beat. He exhales quietly. "A decision like that doesn't disappear. It stays with you. And the next time—" A brief pause. "—it becomes easier." Silence fills the room. Todoroki turns. "...Midoriya is broken." He walks toward the exit. "Simple as that." No one stops him.