Chapter 113: Dabi
It was a chilly morning at U.A. High School, and Shota Aizawa, a.k.a. Eraser Head, found himself staring intently at the itinerary on his desk. Business awaited him again—an unavoidable obligation to attend a hero summit. But as the weight of the meeting began to settle in his stomach, he couldn't help but feel a familiar pang of worry tugging at him. Who would look after Class 1-A in his absence?
By the time lunch rolled around, he had an audacious idea. He marched briskly to Principal Nezu's office, his mind racing with possibilities. When he laid out his plan, Nezu looked up from his paperwork, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "So, you want to reenlist the League of Villains as temporary instructors again? That's… unconventional. But I must say, it could lead to an interesting experience for the students. As long as you think they'll be safe."
With a smirk, Aizawa nodded, "Dabi will do it. He can handle a little chaos. That's what we need right now—a bit of unpredictability."
Nezu's expression shifted, amusement flickering in his eyes, "Very well, but do check in frequently. We wouldn't want to lose any students to villainous antics."
And so, with a few quick phone calls, Dabi was appointed to take the reins during Aizawa's absence. Days later, when Aizawa was well out of the city, the students were lined up excitedly in the training gym, unsure of what to expect. They were greeted by Dabi's signature laid-back stance, his hair falling over one eye as he blew lazily on a cigarette.
"Alright, kids!" he called out, his voice as casual as his demeanor. "I'm here to make you stronger. Not in the 'good guy' way but in a way that'll make you unphased by anything. So, we're gonna get a bit… hands-on."
Class 1-A exchanged glances, excitement mingled with apprehension. Dabi was notorious for his reckless behavior—his reputation for chaos was all too well known.
"First thing's first, let's talk about your quirks." He stepped forward, glancing over each of them. "When you want to push your limits, you need to understand them. I'll show you how to enhance your quirks beyond what you think is possible."
Through intense training sessions peppered with Dabi's irreverent remarks and occasional sarcastic quips, the students found themselves caught in a whirlwind of fierce drills. They learned to channel their emotions, their fears, and even their rivalries into their training.
However, no amount of training could erase the underlying tension that had been building between some of them. As rivalries flared, it was only a matter of time before it all boiled over.
One afternoon, during an exercise where mid-battle strategies were employed, Dabi noted how things were escalating, particularly between Bakugo and Midoriya. Instead of intervening, he merely leaned back against the wall with an amused smirk. "Why not? Let them fight it out."
"Are you serious?" shouted Uraraka, who was watching wide-eyed. "They could get hurt!"
"Exactly," Dabi replied, his voice dripping with nonchalance. "Let them sort it out. Sometimes you need a little chaos to see where you stand."
And with that, the match began. Bakugo and Midoriya launched at each other with a fierceness that echoed through the gym. The others quickly joined in, engaging in their own brawls—a free-for-all that was equal parts training and catharsis.
Dabi watched, arms crossed and a smirk playing on his lips, as rivalries clashed like the power of their quirks. Explosions rocked the gym, and Midoriya flew through the air, narrowly dodging another blast of Bakugo's flames. The energy surged around them, electrifying the class in ways training alone could not achieve.
Time slipped away, and for the first time in days, laughter and shouts of triumph replaced the tension in the air. Students paired off against each other, testing their limits under Dabi's unconventional guidance. He wasn't just a villain that they avoided in the shadows; in this moment, he became a catalyst for growth, his chaos allowing them to embrace their abilities fully.
Finally, as the dust settled and the students caught their breath, Dabi stepped forward, genuine surprise evident on his face. "Now that's what I'm talking about. Fighting is as much about knowing your strengths as it is about knowing your weaknesses. You kids have a lot more fight in you than I thought."
They looked at him, panting and exhilarated, realizing that maybe there was more to this villain than met the eye. As they dispersed, the tension that had once hung in the air was replaced with camaraderie, bonds forged through sweat and sparks.
By the end of the training session, they understood that learning could come from the most unorthodox sources. Dabi may have been chaotic, but within that disorder, they found the strength and respect for one another that would carry them through the trials ahead—all while Aizawa remained blissfully unaware that his students had grown in ways he never anticipated.